Monsters

Santana was shaken awake. She opened her eyes and noticed that it was still pitch black outside. Nobody woke her up at this time in the morning and got away with it. She turned to the figure she could see standing over her and practically growled at whoever had dared disturb her sleep.

"What the hell do you want? This better be good."

"I'm sorry, I was scared." The second Santana realised who had woken her up, her face softened. The two girls were having a sleepover. Santana had wanted Brittany to sleep in her bed with her, but Brittany insisted that it felt like she was cheating on Artie.

"It's okay Brittany. Why were you scared?"

"The monsters were going to eat me."

Santana wasn't sure how to respond to this. Brittany had obviously been crying. All she wanted to do was make it better for her best friend. She wanted to protect her from the world, keep her innocence alive. Santana climbed out of bed and lead Brittany to where she was sleeping, in the spare room.

"Where are the monsters?" She asked the blonde.

"They were under the bed. And in the closet. You won't let them get me though, right?"

"I'd never let anything hurt you Britt, you know that. Especially not monsters. I'll scare them away for you."

The two girls spent almost half an hour, searching the shadows and any other place that could conceal monsters thoroughly. Santana felt ridiculous, but she knew that this would help Brittany and she would do anything for the girl.

"I think they've gone." Brittany whispered. "You must have scared them away."

"Yeah." Santana agreed. "Something like that. Are you okay if I go back to bed now."

Brittany bit her lip. She knew that the monsters had gone for now, but what if they came back. Santana had scared them away and made her feel safe, but if Santana left, she would lose that safe feeling she always felt when she was around her friend. Santana protected her.

"Could you stay with me? Just for a bit. To make sure the monsters don't come back." She asked quietly, her eyes pleading Santana to agree.

"Of course I can."

And that is how the monsters under the bed changed everything.