Santana Lopez, a small brunette walked across the playground to the swings. She sat down and began pushing herself, watching the other second-graders play around her. In the distance, she noticed a blonde girl in between a couple boys at the edge of the basketball court. It looked like they were being mean to her, which was a daily occurrence during recess. There were always bullies out there, making fun of other kids. Santana didn't like that they did it, but no one really messed with her because she was never afraid to stand up for herself. Usually watching these boys bully someone wouldn't bother her, but the girl looked really helpless. Plus, usually they picked on other boys and would leave girls alone. One of the boys pulled the girls hair and pushed her to the ground and the girls started crying and Santana decided she had seen enough. She jumped off the swing and ran over to the boys.

"Hey, leave her alone!" she screamed loudly as she pushed the older boy.

"Or else what? You gonna run tell mommy?" the boy mocked. Santana looked over and saw the blonde girl on the ground crying. She wasn't sure why she got so angry at them after seeing her like that, but she turned back around and pulled her fist back and acted like she was going to punch him.

"Hey! I'm telling," the kid said as he stormed away from her, leaving Santana to tend to the crying girl.

"Are you okay?" Santana asked softly as she helped the girl stand up and saw that her knee and palms were bleeding from falling on the ground.

"Yes, those boys are big jerks," the blonde said through her tears, "They called me dumb and started pulling my hair."

"I don't think they'll mess with you anymore because I've got your back. I'm Santana," Santana explained as she helped the girl fix her hair that had been messed up by the boys.

"I'm Brittany. Thank you for coming and saving me from them," Brittany said with a sweet smile.

"No problem. You want me to walk you to the nurse's office so we can clean up your scrapes," Santana offered as she pointed out the wounds on Brittany's hands and leg. Brittany nodded and Santana put her arm around her and led her to the nurse's office.

Santana smiled as she remembered that day that they met so many years ago. She wasn't sure what it was that had drawn them together, whether it was fate or destiny, but she did know that she had never been the same since. She looked next to her in the bed and saw Brittany sleeping peacefully. The same look of innocence she had that day on the playground spread across her face. She was the only thing good in this miserable world. She was the only thing that helped her remember to breathe every day. She was the only thing that made her get out of bed every morning and helped her fall asleep at night. Even if Brittany was confused by what they were and by their relationship, she knew deep down that it meant something to her. Santana had used her naivety to her advantage so many times over the years so that Brittany would be okay with doing the things Santana had wanted to do with her.

Brittany began to wake up and smiled when she saw Santana lying next to her still. Lately, Santana had been getting up and leaving before Brittany woke up when she would stay over to get to class early. At least, that's the reason Santana gave her.

"You're still here," Brittany said groggily.

"Yeah," Santana replied softly. Santana pulled her closer to her so Brittany was lying on her chest with her arms encircled around her waist.

"You've been leaving a lot lately," Brittany pouted, "I don't get any morning cuddles or sweet lady kisses to start the day anymore."

"Well I'm here right now," Santana replied as she kissed her forehead.

To be honest, she really didn't know why she had been skipping out on Brittany. Maybe it was easier in the heat of the moment for her to express how she felt. There was no doubt in her mind that she loved Brittany, but this relationship was starting to get confusing, for both of them. Santana had convinced herself and Brittany for so long that them being together wasn't cheating on their boyfriends. Little had changed since high school. They came to college and Brittany started dating some guy she met. Santana knew she wanted to be with her. She had been outed a few years back, but she still wasn't even sure that Brittany felt the same we she did. Brittany liked having sex. She liked going on dates because Santana paid. She liked to cuddle. Santana had pushed out her feelings so much, that Brittany wouldn't even share hers with her because she knew Santana would get uncomfortable.

"I love you," Brittany said quietly. As if she had been inside Santana's head reading her thoughts, she lifted her head up and gently kissed her. "But I don't like it when you just leave me in the morning. You never used to do that. It makes me feel weird, like we had a one-night stand or something."

"Is that what you think this is?" Santana said defensively, "A bunch of one night stands until you meet the right guy for you. Britt, what do you want me to do. We came to college and the first thing you did was start dating some guy. Of course, I'm going to feel unattached to you when you do that."

"But I don't get it. You didn't have a problem hooking up all through high school and both of us were with guys the whole time. You kept telling me that you were only using me when you felt like it because your man was gone. I actually like kissing you and sleeping with you. But I would like it better if you were honest about how you felt when we did it. You can't just pull me in front of locker, tell me you love me and then be honest for a little bit of time then suddenly start pulling away," Brittany said, clearly upset. Santana got up from under her and went into the bathroom angrily. Brittany knew she had upset her and waited a few minutes before gently knocking on the door. When there was no answer, she turned the knob and softly opened the door. Santana was sitting against the wall wiping the tears from her eyes. Brittany bent down next to her and took her hand in hers, just like Santana had all those years ago on the playground.

"I'm sorry for making you upset. I just want us both to be honest about how we feel. I know you don't like talking about it but I had no idea me dating Brett was going to hurt you like this because you didn't tell me how it was making you feel," Brittany explained as she wiped the tears from Santana's cheeks. "If you wanted us to be exclusive, you should've told me."

"It hurt me a lot Britt. I thought we had something and then just like with Artie, you chose the guy over me," Santana replied.

"Santana, I love you way more than some dumb guy I had a fling with. I just need for you to tell me how you're feeling. I need to know that we both are in this together and that it isn't about sex and making out," Brittany said softly as she gently lifted the Latina's chin. Brittany smiled at her and kissed her.

"I love you so much," Brittany said as she gently brought her hand up to Santana's neck and pulled her in to another deep kiss.

"I love you too Britt," Santana replied softly, "more than anyone in this world. I just want this to be you and me. No guys involved. Just Brittany and Santana. I want to be able to call you my girlfriend and take you wherever I want and hold your hand in front of everyone."

Santana knew that this was something she never thought she'd say. She knew how she felt but this was what Brittany needed for the two of them to be together. She had to show it more and reassure Brittany that her heart was in it. She knew that Brittany needed the emotional side in order to stay in this relationship. She knew that she needed the emotional side for this to truly be the relationship she had always wanted.

"I want that too, so much. I need to know that you're all in." Brittany stood up and took her hand to help her up from the ground.

"No more Brett, no more boys on the side. I might have to kill them," Santana smirked.

"I'm pretty sure they'd run away screaming before you could lay a hand on them," Brittany laughed.