As her alarm clock struck midnight on February 7th, Haley sat up in bed. "It's my birthday!" She cheered as Sam tiredly sat up beside her. "Happy Birthday baby, I love you, and I'm going back to bed." He said as she gave him a quick kiss.

As she arose in the morning, Sam came into her room with breakfast, and balloons. She clapped happily. If you knew Haley really well, she loved her birthday, and this was the second year, people really seemed to care.

"Happy Birthday, Hay." Sam said smiling, as she leaned up against him. "I love you so much, and you better be prepared for some surprises later on."

"Oh, trust me, I will!" She said excitedly, as Sam wrapped her into a hug. After a while he pulled away.

"Here's your gift." Sam said handing her a bag.

She opened it up, gasping when she saw a CD and a notebook full of songs and letters.

"I wrote some songs dedicated to you, and every night since we've been together, I've been writing you love letters, and then I also included a CD with songs that we love." Sam explained.

"Thanks baby, I love it, I love you." She said, pressing her forehead against his.

"I love you Haley."

----

As Haley entered the choir room, she saw balloons everywhere and she saw Tina carrying a cake towards her as everyone sang her Happy Birthday.

"Happy Birthday to Haley." Finn said as everyone wished her a happy birthday.

"Thanks guys." She smiled, giving everyone a hug and moving, to sit on Sam's lap, eating a piece of cake."18 feels great, not any different, but I feel old, like a young old." She chuckled, as everyone laughed.

After a few minutes of chatting and celebration, Finn began the class that week.

"Diva." Finn said, writing it down on the board. "So, now that we're back in the game, we've got to come strong. Diva Week is all about finding your inner powerhouse."

"Miss Pillsbury." He continued, giving her the word.

"That's right. The Online Urban Dictionary defines a diva as a fierce, often temperamental singer who comes correct. She is not a trick-ass ho and she does not sweat da haterz." Miss Pillsbury said.

"Great, so I guess the guys are screwed this week." Jake sighed.

"Hum... Guys can be divas." Blaine spoke up.

"That's right, we all have inner divas. I myself have been considered quite a diva at many local restaurants because I know what I want and I will send a dish back." Miss. Pillsbury said.

"You might as well just quit while you're ahead because there are only two ways to spell Unique, and one of them is. D-I-V-A... Diva. M'kay? Shante, I stay, and it will be brought, dished out, and served and mopped up by the time you even pick out a wig." Unique said, pointing to Tina, who wore an offended look.

"Looking at you, clocking that sadness. I have more diva in my little finger than you have in your whole angry inch, Wade-Unique." Tina replied.

"Tina, you've kind of been talking some ridiculous trash for months, unchallenged, and that stops now." Challenged Marley.

"Listen, guys can be divas." Blaine said.

"Nope, y'all, the true diva is in the house, and lucky for me, I had some training from Auntie Snixx herself. So you all can just move down the line, and out the door." Haley challenged, as Sam chuckled.

{DIVA-SUNG BY BRITTANY S. PIERCE, UNIQUE ADAMS, HALEY ALDRIN, BLAINE ANDERSON, MARLEY ROSE & TINA COHEN-CHANG}

As they finished arguing, they finally turned to their attention to Miss Pillsbury. "And that...Is how I made the manager cry at the Cheesecake Factory... By being a diva. Yay, divas!"

----

As Haley sat working on some homework alone in the dance studio, she heard a knock on the door. She swore that the balloons that had appeared, hadn't been there before.

"Hello?" She called. "If this is some prank, I'll go all Lima Heights on your sorry asses." She said, peaking, around the balloons.

"Glad to see my girl is still living it up here in Lima." She heard a voice behind her.

"Santana!" She squealed, as she hugged her best friend.

"I wanted to be here for your birthday! Of course I wouldn't miss it." Santana said, smiling at Haley.

"Well, thank you for coming!" Haley smiled, as the two girls walked down the hallway.

"I also have a little favor to ask." Santana whispered, as Haley nodded.

"Of course, the answers yes!" Haley answered, as Santana rolled her eyes playfully.

----

"They say that true divas aren't really mortal. They're more like the Loch Ness Monster or, Smeagol." Finn said.

"Terrible explanation, but okay." Haley muttered as Santana giggled.

"Divas walk and they talk and they breathe brilliance. So here to demonstrate that elusive brilliance is a very special guest diva."

"Raven-Symone." Brittany guessed, Haley giggled, quietly.

"All the way from Louisville and with a very special guest...Give it up for Miss Santana Lopez and Haley Aldrin." Finn announced

{NUTBUSH CITY LIMITS-SUNG BY SANTANA LOPEZ & HALEY ALDRIN}

After the performance everyone clapped and cheered, as Haley and Santana hugged.

"What about that?" Santana asked. "And happy birthday to one of my besties." She added, as Haley giggled.

Everyone shouted their approval and continued cheering as Haley ran to Sam who caught her in his arms spinning her around as she laughed.

"You were so hot." He muttered, as she blushed.

"Oh really?" She smirked, as she flirted by spinning around so he could see her full outfit.

"Yes. I'm proud of you, and Happy Birthday." He said, leaning down to kiss her, dipping her over as she kissed him back.

----

Finn began talking as he walked in the room later, after some discussion. "Winning dinner for two at Red Rooster Express Suites... The First Annual William McKinley High School Diva Award goes to...."

"If it's Satnana, I swear..." Tina muttered.

"Tina Cohen-Chang!" Both teachers said excitedly, as Haley and Sam popped confetti beside Tina as she got to retrieve her prizes.

"She never wins anything!" Brittany said surprised, as Haley giggled.

----

As Sam was helping Burt and Carol clean up from Haley's birthday celebration, he spoke up, knowing that Haley wasn't around, but she was out with Santana. It was the perfect time to ask.

"I was wondering if I could ask you both a question regarding Haley?" He asked, as they turned to look at him.

"Yeah of course, sweetie." Carol said, smiling at him.

"Definitely, go ahead." Burt added, also sending him a smile.

Sam sighed, before he turned to look at them, going over his little speech he had planned.

"So, I wanted to ask your guy's permission, for Haley's hand in marriage. I asked Santana and Finn because they are basically her other best friends. Now, I know that usually the guy asks the parents for permission, but you are both, who Haley calls her real parents. She really respects both of you. I want you to know that I love Haley, with all my heart. I genuinely care, respect, support and encourage her. I'm always there making sure she's happy, and she returns the gesture. She was here for me especially last week when I was failing at my SATs, and she runs to me when she's struggling with her anxiety, depression or eating disorder. We built our relationship on honesty, trust, and communication. We feel safe around each other, enough to be vulnerable. I don't take her for granted, but cherish every memory and time we are together. I want that feeling for the rest of my life." Sam explained, as Carol teared up, smiling at Burt before they looked back at the young man, who loved their second daughter so much.

"Of course. I don't need another explanation. My answer's yes." Carol answered, tears in her eyes, as Sam's face lit up.

"Really?" He asked.

"Yes. She didn't know what real love felt like until you came along, and for that I'm grateful that you are in her life. I'm grateful that you want to spend the rest of your life with her."

"I'm on the same page. I remember Haley two years ago, on Valentine's Day, crying in the kitchen, because she was in love with you, but she explained that you loved someone else. She was in a hard patch, but once you two got together, we saw her grow, and become happier." Burt said. "My answer is yes."

"Thank you guys, thank you so much." Sam said, smiling. "I won't disappoint you, I'm going to make sure she's happy."

"We know, we've known for awhile now." Burt said smiling.

"So do you have plans of when it's gonna happen? How you're going to do it?" Carol asked.

"I do! Here I'll explain everything." Sam answered as he sat down, with them, explaining his plan and showing them the ring.

••••

Thoughts? I believe it was special that he went to Burt and Carol for permission to ask Haley to marry him.