Title: a way home: sam

Author: zombie otep

Disclaimer: not mine obviously

Summery: when Brittany refuses a lift home it leads to revelations that wanted to be kept hidden. Based on a prompt I read somewhere age's ago

Author note: Thanks to creedog for help with the editing. And once again sorry this was so late.As I plan on changing the character setting each chapter depending on who is in it, I'd suggest story alerting if you're interested in following.

Sam was a good older brother.

He had two younger siblings and couldn't stand it when either of them was sad or hurt. And he felt the exact same brotherly protectiveness when the glee club discovered Brittany's situation. She didn't seem hurt or sad, but just knowing some of the things Brittany had to put up with at the home, such as theft and bullying, sent that protectiveness souring.

Unlike most of the glee club It didn't take long for Sam to think of something to do for Brittany. He knew he couldn't really do anything to make her life easier, but he could take her out for a little fun. He never did get to go to Color Me Mine when he was dating Quinn and he figured no one would enjoy it more then Brittany.

So one weekend he organized to pick Brittany up from the children's home and they drove a few towns over to the nearest Color Me Mine centre.

Brittany was practically vibrating her seat "What do you think they will have to choose? I kinda want a cat, no wait, a duck and I can paint it purple and then I can say I have a purple duck."

Sam smiled as he pulled into a parking space "I think I want to paint a horse for my mom, she loves horses."

"That's nice" She smiled at him as they got out of the car, "You know I've never seen a green horse"

"Me either. Might need to do something about that."

They walked into the building, though Sam was sure Brittany was skipping more then anything. They were shown where to select paints and brushes, and then allowed to choose there ceramic before being shown to a table.

Sam ended up choosing a unicorn mid-stride, while Brittany decided on a parrot sitting on a branch.

They spent almost three hours painting, talking and just enjoying themselves. Sam felt proud of himself as he watched Brittany relax and enjoy herself. Knowing he helped put that smile on her face. And as proof of this fun filled day they would walk away with a blue unicorn with a green horn, and a pink bodied, purple winged and red beaked parrot. Or at least they would, of course, after the statuettes are fired and sealed in the kiln.

Before they headed home they decided to stop at a small café for lunch. "I don't know if I can wait till next weekend to see my parrot."

"I know but it will be worth it," he promised as he unwrapped his turkey sandwich. "What are you going to do with your parrot anyway?"

"Hmm, well, at first I thought I might let Santana look after it, but I don't think she'd like it in her room, she kinda likes everything to match."

"Really? Never thought Santana would be such a neat freak"

Nodding while taking a drink from her milkshake, Brittany replied, "Yep, she's never liked having anything out of place. So I thought I might give it to Tina's mom; she's been helping me with my homework so I thought she might like it."

"That's nice. I'm sure she will love it."

"Will you still give yours to your mum?" Brittany asked "It's not exactly a horse, but I still think your unicorn is very pretty."

"Yeah I think so; that or my little sister."

They ate in silence for a few minutes before Sam got up the courage to break the silence. "Brittany could I ask you a question?" when the blond only nodded Sam took a deep breath and asked the one question that had been on his mind since he found out about Brittany. "Did you ever have parents?"

Surprisingly Brittany just laughed. "Of course I did silly. I wouldn't have been born if I didn't"

Sam shook his head. "That's not exactly what I meant." Scratching the back of his neck he continued, "I mean have you always been in the foster system, or did you have a mum and dad? Do you remember them?"

Brittany scrunched her eyes as she nodded her head "Yeah, well I remember my mum anyway, and only a little. She left me alone a lot, and usually came home drunk and stuff. I got taken by Child Services when I was five so I don't have a lot of memories. I don't even remember what she looks like really."

"I'm sorry."

"Why?" Brittany asked with an absentminded smile. "It wasn't all bad, sometimes I had nice families, and I've got Santana and glee. I wouldn't have you guys if I had stayed with my mum."

Sam smiled and couldn't help but feel humbled. "You always know how to look on the bright side don't you"

"Yep" she said with a bright smile, "No point only thinking of the bad stuff. Especially when ducks are much cuter to think of."

Sam couldn't do anything else but smile.