Started my daily ficlets to make the hiatus pass, then decided to keep going with a 2nd cycle, and then a 3rd, 4th, etc through 41st cycle. Now cycle 42!

INTRODUCING "CHEAT SHEET" - If you want to know ahead of time when a certain series will be updated next, just reassemble the link below and check out the list, save it, print it, bookmark it, whatever you need!
Go to: gleekathon [dot] tumblr [dot] com [slash] cheatsheet

** UPDATED WITH CYCLE 42 CHEAT SHEET **

Countdown cycle #4 - Yes, it's that time again, where I select 16 favorite things (characters, ships, friendships...) from Glee and give them each a ficlet, and a chapter fic for #1. The previous countdown cycles, if you want to check them out, were c10 [days 190-210], c25 [days 505-525], and c29 [days 589-609]. Like the last countdowns, the #1 story is split in 3 blocks, the chapters posted on Tuesdays and Wednesdays over these three weeks, with #16 to #2 from Thursdays to Mondays.
Coming in at #1... - the countdown resumes with #11 on Thursday!

"Through the Looking Glass"
Brittany, Santana, Brittana
(technically while #1 does go to Brittany, this story is very much holding to Brittana,
and it's mostly from Santana's POV, but you guys won't complain, will you? ;))
Boston Britt series #4 (following 'Never Flew So High')

1. The Day You Left

Her roommates had offered go come with her and help, but she wanted to do this on her own, as a surprise. Santana had finally gotten her own apartment, after living with Artie's aunt and uncle for a month. She'd been working, waitressing for two weeks already. She hated it, and Brittany would sit patiently and listen to her unload about her days, but she needed the money so she would bear it. Upon leaving the Abrams', she'd handed them an envelope with money, with gratitude for their putting her up since her arrival in Boston. Her apartment, the first to her name, was… Well, it would need a lot of work not to look like something had died there… several times over. Brittany didn't like her living there, but Santana promised she'd be alright, and tried as she might Brittany couldn't convince her otherwise. So at the very least, they could make it better.

While Santana was off at work, Brittany had gone to the apartment, using the key she'd been given to let herself in. She had used a couple of her suitcases and borrowed one off Tessa and two off Aimee to bring everything she needed; she'd had to take a cab. She looked upon the place with hope and determination. Santana had sacrificed so much to be here, with her, and she didn't like this place. She imagined her staying here, looking at these walls… If she was going to be here, then she might as well have something pretty to look at.

For hours and hours, Brittany cleaned any and all displeasing surface. She couldn't do paint, not now, not by herself, but that didn't have to stop her. She would bring in color, life… She'd give her a home. A lot of the things she brought were her own, or donations from Aimee and Tessa and a couple other girls on their floor. She'd made a trip to the mall for some other things, too. Now all she had to do was to set it up. At some point she'd need a new bed, new couch… television would be nice, too… But when she was done, she was pleased… very pleased. This was more like it. The final touch was a personal one. She'd dipped into her stock of pictures she'd received from home, from the Glee Club, put them around the apartment. Santana had lost them too, coming here; she could say all she wanted, but Brittany knew she missed them, too.

Once she'd finished, the hours of work had hit hard, and in waiting for Santana she'd ended up falling asleep on the couch. She was awakened by a gentle touch to her cheek and she opened her eyes to find Santana standing over her, worn out from a long day but brightened just enough by the sight of her. "You're home…" She remembered what she'd been doing all day. "You're home!" she sat up, smiled. "Surprise…" she intoned, although she knew she would have seen her handiwork the moment she walked in the door.

"You did all this?" Santana looked around in awe. "When, today?" Brittany nodded.

"Do you like it?" she stood, stretching. Santana was quiet, maybe even speechless. "Do you hate it?" Brittany spoke, suddenly worried, which made Santana turn back to her, hug her close.

"I love it," she promised. "Oh, wait," she pulled back. "You're going to smell like French fries."

"That's okay, I like fries," Brittany shrugged, which made Santana laugh.

"I'm going to go shower, after that you tell me how this happened," she motioned around the apartment. When she'd returned, detangling her hair, she joined Brittany on the couch, looking deep in thought. "Hey… What's the matter?" Brittany looked up.

"It's my fault you have to live here," she declared. It had all looked great once she was done, but now she still saw the surface underneath, still realized this was a crappy apartment instead of a home back in Lima, with parents and comfort and…

"Hey, hey…" Santana sat by her, took her hands. "We've been through this. I'm here because of you, for you, but there's no fault. I'm here because I want to be. Remember that?" After a moment, Brittany nodded.

"Tell me about it?" she asked. Santana frowned, uncertain. "What happened, with you, with me… coming here," she went on. Santana nodded, understanding, sat back.

"From the beginning?" Brittany nodded. Santana took a breath. "You know I'm with you on all this, have been since you told us about your audition…"

X

Eight months ago - Lima, Ohio

Her brave face was well practiced. She could get cracked open by dumb things like tanning privileges getting revoked, but if that was cause for bravery then she had no part in it. Things like this day, that was what this face was for, days when the girl you loved told you that she could be moving off to attend this school out of state. Technically there was nothing certain, it was just an invitation to an audition, but who was she kidding if she pretended like she didn`t know how this would turn out? Brittany would audition, and then in a few weeks, when they'd send their answer, it would say that she was in. And Brittany, with this answer, well… She'd say yes, of course she would.

She hadn't even auditioned yet and Santana felt like she'd already left, like she'd lost her.

Once she was back in her room, alone, after being with her and Mike earlier, she'd shut the door, absently returning to sit on her bed. The realization had already happened, it wasn't as though she was pretending or in shock. She knew what was happening, but ever since she'd found out… all that mattered was for Brittany to see that she was with her, because if she showed any sort of doubt then… she could decide not to go through with it, and Santana didn't want to be responsible for that. Now she was alone though. Now whatever she felt was her own business, and no one would get hurt because of it, just her…

It seemed her face had been dry one moment and then the next it was just a mess of tears. It wasn't fair… Why now? Why now when it seemed they were so close, never closer to… They hadn't exactly defined it, but how would that have made it any better or worse? She was still going away, and she couldn't do a thing about it.

Brittany was special. She knew it explicitly, and now it seemed the world was finally taking notice. She deserved this chance, to get out of Lima and make it big. Selfishly, she didn't want it, but that was her cross the bear. If she said anything, then she was putting her own needs ahead of hers, and if she felt for her as she knew she did, then she couldn't do that. She had to keep her mouth shut, for both their sakes.

But immediately she just wanted to run to her, beg for her not to leave, to stay with her, to love her… She guessed that was always the way; the moment you got your act together, or started heading that way, you got bitch-slapped by the universe. Now she was devastated about the thought of Brittany leaving, and she was pissed off over being devastated… She needed to hit something, break something, and somehow center herself once again. She didn't want to be like this, all messed up and weird.

Her shock to the system would need to be achieved with a shower, the best thing she could do without raising any flags in her house. Maybe she was the one who needed the slap in the face, to tell her to just wake up and learn to live with her reality, the one she had known all along, before her emotions had gone haywire. Brittany had this great opportunity, deserved it and should go for it, and she loved her, so she wanted her to have it, would support her in any way she could.

She'd gone to bed not too long after, hair still wet, sticking to her back, keeping her cool. So long as she knew she understood this was right, she could still feel lousy, yes?

TO BE CONTINUED (TOMORROW)