A/N:

This is my first attempt at an actual Brittana story. I've been wanting to write one for a while now, and I finally got inspired while listening to a little Christina Perri =). I've gotten a few chapters written, and it all depends on how everyone likes this first chapter whether or not I'll post the rest. I also do not have a beta, so I'm super sorry about any errors in grammar, spelling, or tenses.

So...enjoy!

Los Angeles. Present Day.

She finds herself digging through the chest at the end of her bed for the third time this week.

"I swear this thing gets harder to get into every time." She grunts as she tries to relieve the chest of its false bottom where she stashes her heart. She's been lugging the same old wooden chest around with her since she was 14. No matter where she went she kept it with her to remind her of the very reason she breathed.

It finally pops open to reveal some of her most prized possessions and the raven-haired beauty heaves a sigh of victory. She bends into the chest and takes in a deep breath; a sad smile reaches her face just as it does every time the scent of old mahogany and a hint of dust reaches her nose. The smell of vanilla and spring time that the box used to contain has been gone for years now, but she never fails to check and make sure. She pulls out an old, faded purple sweater and hugs it close. She holds on for dear life for a few seconds before she places it securely back into the box and grabs for one of the notebooks that are hidden away instead, and begins writing.

"Brittany,

Today was harder than usual. You would think after almost 4 years this would be getting easier, but its not."

She looks at the words she's so accustomed to writing and turns her mouth down sadly as a stray tear rolls down a tan cheek. She's been writing to Brittany ever since they were separated, hoping her form of therapy would somehow find the girl she loves one day. So she would never doubt that no matter how much time or space separated them she was always with her.

"Every day has been a challenge. I feel like I die a little each day... because, I haven't had you. I just want to hold you in my arms and be a lovesick 13-year-old kid again. I want to lay my head on your stomach and just watch your eyes bounce around my room with each new smile I always managed to coax out of you. I just want to have you back.

This is the reason for every single thing I've done these past few years. I can't find you but I'm damn sure going to make it impossible for you not to find me. That's what I have to keep reminding my self of every time I feel like just giving up. I looked for you for so long. God knows running away from home when I was 14 was one of the hardest things I've ever gone through, but not nearly as hard as it was losing you. Nothing could be harder than watching your heart and soul being ripped out of your arms. I hated my mom for so long for what she did…I still do hate her, I guess.

After 2 years of looking aimlessly for you and hating myself for never learning more about your family so it would actually be a possibility to find you, I decided to try a different route… I got myself famous Britts! I've been working my ass off trying to get famous enough; hoping one day you'll come to me. I know our love will bring us together. I know once you see me you will be drawn to me, just like you drew me in years ago, no matter what they say. I know once you hear my voice...it has to work."

She drifts off into her own world for a second while she plays over old memories in her head like a montage of home videos. Memories of meeting Brittany on the playground for the first time, memories of playing in the tree house her father built, memories of playing Marco Polo in the pool almost everyday, and losing almost every time because Brittany always knew where she was, memories just seem to spill out like a broken faucet she can't turn off. Santana sits in silence for a few minutes longer, smiling and crying at the same time, just thinking of her love, her Brittany. She looks down with a determined glare to the pale carpet. "It has to work," she repeats to herself.

"Its been a tough run, but I finally got a record deal and I've been singing my heart out waiting for you to come find me ever since. I have done tours in every country, every major city, and every Podunk town across they U.S (that my manager would let me go to) just in hopes I would get to you."

A sad sigh blows a few stray hairs out of her face, before she's tugging them behind her ears.

"I'll never give up on you. I couldn't even if I wanted to, because no one can live with a dead heart, and I've already told you… mine beats just for you. I will fight everyday to find you. I just need you to help me out. I started wishing on the stars, Britt-Britt, just like you taught me when we were 8...praying that some miracle will happen and we'll be together again. I need you to find me a miracle baby, I'm getting so tired of searching."

A shaky hand finally puts down the pen and paper and tucks everything back into the chest as neatly as it was before she took it out.

Santana wasn't meticulous about much, but when it came to that she wouldn't be able to sleep unless she knew it was perfect. She places a small kiss on the inside of her fingers and places them on her favorite picture of a younger blonde and brunette.

They are smiling and holding on to each other a few feet away from a Charlie Brown style Christmas tree. Santana is wearing one of her many larger than life smiles that only Brittany's kisses can bring out of her. Brittany is just staring at the smaller girl next to her, with complete adoration. What she wouldn't give to step back into that picture and turn to see those blue eyes looking at her with that pure love she's only seen in Brittany's eyes. She would never look away from those eyes again. Santana remembers her mom was getting annoyed because it was the third picture she had snapped that Brittany was looking at Santana or Santana was looking at Brittany. It had taken them 5 shots to get one where they were both smiling at the camera, but Santana told her mom she wanted this picture. It was the night of their first real kiss. It was from Brittany to Santana for picking out the smaller tree instead of the one Santana had really wanted just to appease the blonde. They were 12 and totally carefree. She can still distinctively remember every second of that kiss and the events leading up to it.

Santa Fe, New Mexico. Winter 2006

Santana was staring at the most perfect Christmas tree she had ever seen. Brittany was by her side and staring up at the large pine with the same awe in her eyes as her shorter counter part who had turned to Brittany and smiled. Her gaze was returned as the eager blonde started to twitch her mouth up into one of her giddy smiles, until she stopped. She looked past a confused brunette and pulled her mouth down into a frown. Santana looked over her shoulder searching for whatever was responsible for making her friend look so pitiful.

There it was, the saddest tree she had ever seen was sitting amongst a nursery of large flourishing plants. It was half way rotted and at least a good foot shorter than most of the Christmas trees around it. Santana's face wriggled up in disgust. She knew that look on Brittany's face, and there was no way that disgusting excuse for a tree was sitting in her family living room. (Santana got to pick out the tree for the living room, while her parents picked out the tree for the den. This tradition started when Santana was 4 and thought one tree wasn't enough for ALL her Christmas presents to fit under.)

"Uh-uh, Britt-Britt. There's no way I'm letting that thing stink up mi casa."

Santana lifted her head and put her nose in the air to clarify she was not kidding. Brittany knew this, but still she pouted.

"But Saaaan. It's the loneliest tree. It needs a home before it dies. How can you deny a tree's dieing wish?" She drew out her best friend's name with her bottom lip jutted out and tried to reason with her. "All the other trees will have no problem finding a home. This one will die…alone." She tilted her head down and looked at the unwavering girl in front of her through light blonde lashes.

"Brittany. Trees do not have feelings. It won't know any better if it withers and dies out here or in my house, but only one of those options includes me cleaning up after it." Santana argued, her face rising and falling with her words.

She finally looked away from the tree and back to Brittany who was still sporting her best pout and 'pretty please' face. The desperate girl started moving her feet under her and digging her toes into the ground, kicking a few crumbles of dirt when she would lift one of her legs to swing. She moved closer to Santana and pressed her forehead against the shorter girl's.

"Plea-" Brittany started to whine.

"Okay" Santana interrupted in a huff of breath. Her pulse was already starting to quicken with the blonde being so close to her. She didn't think she would ever understand these new intense feelings her best friend was giving her, but she couldn't stand it anymore. She would give Brittany anything she wanted as long as she felt like this, and she knew it. "Just no more begging, please I can't handle it." She added while she closed her eyes shut tight, trying to shield herself from the powerful pout.

Brittany let out a throaty "Thanks" before she made a move she knew was the right one. The pit of her stomach was telling her it was the only move she could make. She moved the rest of her body to press against the other girl and brought her hand up to wrap around the back of Santana's neck and under her pitch-black hair. With the new contact and the intense heat cutting through the slight chill in the air between the two of them, Santana's breath hitched in her throat.

Brittany pulled her by the neck and paused, her lips mere centimeters from Santana's. She soaked in the way Santana's mouth twitched and the way her breath became more labored in anticipation before she pressed their lips together snugly. Santana's eyes flew open from the shock of electric current surging through her body caused by the newness of this kiss. Sure they had pecked before and held lingering kisses on the cheek, but this was something different entirely. The tiny sparks those left her with had nothing on this. She soon found her eyelids feeling heavier and drop over darkening chocolate eyes as she melted into her favorite kiss. Her hands found their place on Brittany's hips and she pulled her impossibly closer, before wrapping her arms around her thin torso completely. She started to move her lips against her friend's and found the movement came as naturally to her as breathing. Brittany let out a small whimper when Santana's tongue traced the line of her bottom lip, causing her to part her mouth and grant the tan girl access. Santana snuck her tongue in slowly, testing her reaction. Another whimper came and gave her courage to dive in further. Brittany tightened her grip on Santana's neck while her other hand moved up to cup her cheek. Their tongues ran over one another's in sync and they both basked in the perfection of their first kiss.

With lips still quivering, it was as if time had crept to a slow crawl just for them. Santana was the first to break away, panting and smiling like a fool. Brittany's expression matched hers as they both finally opened their eyes. Santana was met with bright sapphire spheres staring back at her. She doesn't think she's ever seen her friend's eyes look so stunning. She felt like she was swimming in them, with eyes like those she was afraid she'd be lost for days. She always wanted to give Brittany the world, but now she knew she needed to.

"Fuck." She whispered, "You can have all the trees, Britt." She leaned in again and placed light pecks on Brittany's slightly swollen lips with each new word that left her mouth. "Every. Single. One."

Brittany let out an airy laugh, full of joy and triumph. She went to lean again into the girl that made her heart want to jump out of her chest, until they heard a voice calling for them from between the many trees blocking them from the rest of the world.

"Santana. Brittany. Where'd you two run off to?"

They both heard Santana's mom, Gloria, calling for them and quickly put some distance between each other. They made their way towards the searching voice, but not before sneaking in once last smirk in the other's direction. Santana quickly linked her pinky around the taller girl's and led them through the tiny man-made forest.

Santana smiles at the memory and blushes slightly, remembering how flustered she was that Brittany had been the bold one that night, instead of herself. She closes the bulky chest and lovingly strokes her fingertips over the top of it, trying to remember what it looked like in Brittany's room. It used to sit in front of her bed, just how Santana had positioned it in her own room. It held Brittany's toys when she was younger and later on her winter clothes, because she hardly ever needed them in New Mexico.

One day Brittany saw Santana just staring at the chest and decided to give it to her as a Christmas gift, leaving her favorite sweater in there on purpose for her friend, on nights they couldn't stay together. Santana did like the chest, although the reason she was staring at it that day was to avoid a naked Brittany walking around in just a short towel that revealed the bottom of her perfect round ass every time she would move the wrong way.

Santana sighs again, not understanding where all these memories are coming from all of a sudden and walks over towards her open window. It's a cool night without a cloud in the sky. She can make out a few stars and looks for the brightest one, wishing again for Brittany… simply, Brittany.

Lima, Oh. Present Day.

The alarm clock is wailing its tireless cry at precisely 7:11 am. A groggy blonde finally lifts her head out her pillow and turns towards the clock. She giggles as she turns the offending sound off. Setting her alarm at 7:11 always makes her laugh and starts her day out on the "right side of the bed". This is also the reason her alarm clock is propped on her nightstand located on the right side of her bed.

She reaches her slender arms in front of her face and wipes the sleep from her eyes on the back of her hand while a steady yawn escapes her dry mouth.

"Another new day to make it count!" She releases the words, she memorized from an old 'quote of the day' calendar, with a lighthearted smile. There were lots of quotes for her to pick from, but this one always seemed to come to her mind first. She kicks the sheets off that were tangled with her body and swings her legs over the bed and onto the bare wooden floor, cringing a bit at the unexpected chill that runs up her legs sending goose bumps up her arms. She quickly moves her feet slightly to the left and into her rubber ducky slippers that swallow her feet in warm fluff. She stretches her long torso up and lets her arms reach as high as they will go, secretly wishing one day she'll be able to reach the ceiling.

"Brittany! Time to get up for school! And don't forget to brush your hair!" a voice calls from the other side of her bedroom door.

"I'm up! I won't!" Brittany smiles at her mom for reminding her of the simplest thing, although she probably would have forgotten if she hadn't reminded her.

She throws on her cheerleading uniform, brushes her golden locks, and ties them up into an almost perfect ponytail. A few stray hairs refuse to go up into the tail like the majority, but she just twirls them around the rest of her hair, pretty certain they will stay in place all day. She makes her way down stairs, with her usual perkiness giving her a hop in her step, and through the kitchen. She tries to go straight out the door, eager to start her day, but her mom, Maggie, tosses her a banana before she has a chance to escape.

"Gotta eat something, young lady. No more skipping breakfast. I won't have your teachers calling here again saying your even more spacey than usual, because your belly wasn't full enough."

"Thanks Mom." she says after a giving her mother a quick peck on the cheek and then skips out through the back door.

"And don't forget to be home in time for dinner! Your Father and I want to eat with our daughter tonight!" Maggie calls before the back door swings shut.

"K!"

She makes it school on time and gives herself a pat on the back, literally. She hasn't been late in almost a week since her last detention got her grounded from the school dance. She didn't have anyone in particular she wanted to go with, but moving freely through the student body of McKinley High to the beat of the music always sat well with her.

"Britt!"

Quinn Fabray calls at her, bringing her out of her daydreams of dancing and floating through the school gymnasium.

"Huh?" she looks around to spot her expectant best friend, "Oh hey there, Quinnie the Pooh!" She gleams at the now scowling girl that's donning the same cheerleading uniform as her.

"Dammit Brittany, I told you not to call me that! Especially not in public."

"But I like it and you're the shit." Brittany offers with a shrug.

"Yeah well, I don't, and I don't want to be associated with a chubby bear or poop."

Brittany lets out a defeated groan and remembers the weight of the folded paper in her hands.

"Fine, whatever. Have you seen Artie Abrams?"

"Who?" Quinn asks as she links their arms together and leads them through the double doors of William McKinley High School.

"That boy in the wheel chair." Brittany states plainly.

"Oh, um no." Quinn displays an obvious grimace at the mere thought that she would have any idea where some loser like him would be. "Why are you looking for him, anyways?" She asks as if she's just had the nastiest taste stuck in her mouth.

"He left this note for me in my locker. I replied and wanted to give it back to him." The tall blonde says as she pulls her arm free to hand her friend the note she's been holding on to. Quinn snatches up the paper and begins reading curiously.

'Brittany Pierce,

You don't know me, but I think you are very pretty. I've never seen you with a boyfriend, so I'm assuming you are single. Would you like to go on a date with me to Breadstix?

I'll pay.

-Artie Abrams

PS: I would have asked you this in person, but every time you see me you quickly turn around and go in the opposite direction. I tried following you once, but I got stuck in the doors when you ran out of the school.'

Quinn lets out an evil laugh and turns the piece of paper over.

'Artie,

I don't date robots. Please leave me alone.

-Brittany'

Quinn looks up at Brittany after reading both sides and gives her a questioning look.

"Robots?"

Brittany just nods her head seriously and takes the paper from Quinn, quickly folding it back up and placing it in her sock for safekeeping. Quinn was used to being confused by the way Brittany's mind worked so she chooses to ignore that and focuses on something else that was in the note. Artie was right; she has never known Brittany to have an actual boyfriend. She has seen her go on a few dates, but that's it. She never even shows any interest in any of the guys at their school. Sure, most of them are not worth a second glance, but she thought for sure that after Britt's date with Sam when he first started that they would have hit it off right away, he was sort of weird like Brittany, after all.

"You know, that crippled dork has a point. You've never had a boyfriend for as long as I've known you, Britt. Why is that?" She makes sure to keep her tone calm and soothing as to get an honest answer from Brittany.

"I don't know. Guess I just don't like any of these guys. They're gross. They all play with garbage, port-a-potties, and sticky slushies…that's weird don't ya think?"

Quinn gives her a quizzical look and wants to point out that they aren't playing with those things, that they are just using them as torture devices on the unpopular kids, but realizing that doesn't sound much better she lets it go.

"Yeah…well what about Sam? He's nice and I thought you got along really well with him."

Brittany thinks over the question. It was true, her and Sam did hit it off the first night they hung out. He took her to a movie and even let her pick out the candy. He walked her to her front door at the end of the date, like a gentleman, and puckered his lips waiting for her to kiss him instead of groping her and trying to stick his tongue down her throat. She thought he was really nice, but when she did lean in and kissed him, it still felt like every other kiss. It felt wrong and like a piece of her was being torn away and she got the sense that she was missing something all night afterwards. She hated that feeling, like when she was baking cookies and she forgot to add in the egg. She had that nagging feeling the whole time until they were done, and it wasn't until she tasted them that she remembered what is was she had forgotten to put in. She didn't want to keep kissing boys and then realize something horrible when it was too late, she'd rather wait until it felt right.

"He was nice, super nice, just not my type. I want a man, not a boy who thinks he can." She quotes one of her favorite Spice Girl songs and shrugs as she walks away, not giving the other girl any time to question her further on something she didn't want to talk about.

The school day went by like any other. Brittany drifted in and out of consciousness through most of her classes and ended up in Cheerio practice afterwards. Brittany always found this part of high school to be the most appealing. She hated learning about things that she felt she heard over and over again, everything seemed to mash together and it bored her to tears. One day, it really did bore her to tears and she got weird looks across the class, she's been able to keep her emotions in check since then, though. When she got to cheer, the rest of the day just melted away.

"Alright ladies! Quit gossiping about your gorilla boyfriends and how much you wish you could all be orange guidettes like Snookie and gather over here!" Sue Sylvester shouts at the squad. Once they all manage a collaborate eye roll and were circling her, she picks her megaphone up and yells for their personal DJ to start the new song they would be working into their routine.

'Stomp stomp I've arrived

Drop the beat, nasty face

Why ya lookin' at me?

Flyin' flyin' flyin' flyin' through the sky

In my spaceship

I'm an alien tonight

We can do it like the man'dem, man'dem

We can do it like the man'dem,

Sugar sugar sugar

We can do it like the man'dem, man'dem

We can do it like the man'dem,

Sugar sugar sugar

Boys, come say what you wanna

Boys, you need to lick my dollar

Boys, gettin' hot under the collar

Holla holla woah

Boys, come say what you wanna

Boys, you need to lick my dollar

Boys, gettin' hot under the collar

Holla holla woah'

Brittany instantly feels her heart drop and her ears perk up to the foreign music and the chills it gives her. She can't quite put her finger on it, but even though she's never heard the song or the singer before, it all seems so familiar. Sue lets the music play for another few seconds before signaling for it to be shut off.

"Coach Sylvester, Who was that?" Brittany's eyes mimic all the wonder that her voice holds. She looks up to her coach wide-eyed and nearly bouncing.

"Well that, doe-eyes, was the new hot mama, Santana Lopez." Sue says as she bends down towards a sitting Brittany then straightens herself out and redirects her attention to the rest of the Cheerios.

"We will be working this piece of sexiness into our routine for State. I got a hold of this track after working my many charms on a record producer and compelled him into keeping it unreleased until after we use it to our advantage against the competition."

Sue thinks back to that night with a gleam in her eye.

"If you play this song on the radio I will burn your dog!" Sue shouts furiously as she holds up a picture of a very cute miniature poodle.

Brittany looks over at Quinn with an excited smile spread across her rosy cheeks.

"I loved it! Who is Santana Lopez?"

A/N:

Okay, so I'm sorry if its a bit confusing, I swear all questions will be answered throughout the story. Also, with Santana being famous, I've given her songs from other artists, to fit into the story. I do not own any of the lyrics.

I used part of, "Do It Like a Dude" by Jessie J in this chapter.

Feel free to review, good or bad. =)