Chapter 2: Happy Birthday, Santana

"Hey guys, I'm home..."

"Oh well, I guess I'm gonna be spending my birthday alone."

"No you're not..." I was shocked to hear someone speak behind me. She slowly walked towards me.

"B - Brittany?" I slowly turned around.

"Hi!" She said with a wide smile. I automatically smiled when I saw her.

"Wait... what are you doing here? H-how did you find me? Did you follow me here?" I rattled out.

"Whoa! One question at a time please..." She teased. "But yes, I uh... kinda followed you here. Sorry..."

"Wow. No, no. Don't be. I'm just a little surprised."

"Don't freak out. I - I'm just here to give you this anyway." She handed me a box.

"What's this?"

"Happy birthday, Tana." She kissed me on the cheeks but withdraw immediately. She seemed shocked at what she did. "Oh, I'm sorry..."

Tears clouded my eyes as I can feel the heat radiated through my body.

"Are you okay? I am really sorry for-" before she can finish her sentence I wrapped my arms around her neck and pulled her close to me.

"Thank you, B!" I missed you, Britty! "How did you know?"

"Well, you said it out loud a while ago." She teased again but I gave her a knowing look. She rolled her eyes playfully. "Okay... how can I forget that today is your birthday, Santana? You were my best friend." Oh, "were". Ouch!

"Oh, thank you for this... umm, do you want to come inside?" I asked shyly.

"A-are you sure? I don't want to intrude... besides you have to celebrate your birthday tonight. Maybe you're planning a special night out or something." Trust me, as much as I wanted to - I can't! I'm broke. I can't even afford to buy my own dinner now.

"Nah, I'd rather spend it with you. I haven't talked to you since grad." I opened the door wider as an invitation for her to come in. I turned the lights on and-

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Santana, happy birthday to you!" Puck, Quinn, Mercedes, Tina and Rachel sing together. Quinn walked towards me with a birthday cake on her hand.

"Happy birthday, Santana. Make a wish." Quinn kissed me on the cheek and light up a small candle on the cake. I closed my eyes and blew the candle. They all cheered and hugged me. Their cheers suddenly turned to a deafening silence. I looked at them and see them looking at the direction behind my back. Oh, Brittany...

"Brittany?" Tina first spoke. Rachel widens her eyes and screamed. I turned around and see Brittany a little overwhelmed as well.

"Oh gosh! It's Brittany!" Rachel said and ran towards Brittany. She hugged the taller girl and the others followed.

"Where have you been?" Tina said.

"How are you?" Quinn said after she hugged her.

"Girl, I missed you!" Mercedes came after.

"Well… well…" Puck whispered behind me as we watch the scene in front of us.

"What?" I smiled at him.

He smirked, "I know that smile, S."

I sighed, "Nah, I just ran into her."

"Did you talk to her?"

"A little…" My mood suddenly changed from happy to disappointed. Puck nudged my shoulder and pulled me into a tight hug. "Happy birthday, San. Let's forget about everything for a moment, okay?" He cheered me up.

"Okay… okay. Can't breathe, Puckerman!" He laughed and squeezed me a little before he finally let go of me. He walked towards Brittany and started talking to her.

After a few minutes Brittany came towards me in the living room while the others are still busy eating and drinking. They were all busy in the dining. I don't know what they're planning to do.

"Hey…" She said while sitting down on the couch beside me. I took a sip from my beer and smiled back.

"Hey there." I replied. "Did you like the food?"

"Yup, definitely. I don't have any idea that Quinn could cook that much food." I laughed as she took a sip from my beer. "Why are you here though?"

"Nothing… I'm not really in the mood tonight."

"Why?" She asked me curiously. Oh, boy. I miss seeing those piercing blue eyes of yours.

"I don't know… I'm just not in the mood." I shrugged and stood up to look for the remote of the TV.

"Here… is this what you're looking for?" She offered the remote.

"Oh, yeah. Thanks." Okay… this is really awkward.

"There is something you said earlier about me. You said that I've changed." She told me in a serious voice.

"Hmm… don't think about it. Doesn't matter." I finished the bottle of beer. I stood up to get another bottle but Brittany took a hold of my other hand.

"Are you avoiding me or something? If I'm making you uncomfortable I can leave."

My eyes widened in horror, "Oh no! I mean, yes, it's a bit awkward but I don't want you to leave. Please don't think like that."

"Okay. I'd like to stay for awhile if it's okay so we could, you know, just talk." She stated. I nodded at her and sat down beside her.

"Let's get the party started!" Rachel shouted from the dining area and headed towards the TV. "Karaoke time!"

"Not again…" I groaned to myself. I heard Brittany chuckled. One of those little things I missed about you is hearing that simple chuckle of yours.

"Okay." I heard Rachel said in the microphone. We are all gathered in the living room. Puck and Quinn are seated on the other couch while Tina sat on the bean bag. "I'd like to greet you once again a happy, happy birthday, Santana! I know that you're going through a rough time right now but I assure you that it will eventually pass-"

"Just sing a song, Rach!" Puck shouted and we all laughed. He earned a glare from Quinn and a pained expression from Rachel. "Seriously though, c'mon Rachel."

"I agree with Puck!" I said and wipe the tear that fell out of my laughter.

"Fine. So, this is a song for you, San." She smiled and took a deep breath.

Happy birthday to you, this is your day
On this day for you, we're gonna love you in every way
This is your day, your day
Happy birthday to you, to you, to you

Brittany grabbed my hand and placed it on her thighs while starting humming with Rachel. I side glanced Puck which is looking at our joined hands. He sighed then looked at Rachel again.

Happy birthday to you, you're so young
Age is just a number, don't you stop having fun
This is your day, your day
Happy birthday to you, to you

This day only comes once every year
Because you're so wonderful
With each and everything you do, hey

Happy birthday to you, this is your day
On this day for you, we're gonna love you in every way
This is your day, your day
Happy birthday to you, to you

This day is only for you
'Cause you're so special in every way
Happy birthday to you

"I hope you're happy this day, Tana." Brittany whispered and kissed me on the cheek.

A few hours and tons of shots later…

Tina, Rachel and Mercedes all went home totally drunk. Puck passed out that's why Quinn and I lifted him to bed. After they were settled in their room, I returned to the living room to fix the pillows on the couch. I remembered that Brittany is still there so I grabbed two blankets just in case. I was disappointed when I didn't see her there. She took off without saying good bye again.

"Let me guess… you're thinking of me, aren't you?" I heard her coming from the kitchen.

"Shit! You scared me!" She laughed and mumbled a 'sorry'. "I thought you left."

"Nope. I made you this…" She said and handed me a cup of coffee. "I know you're tired and won't get a comfortable sleep if you haven't had coffee tonight. You surely drank a lot."

"I'm glad that you still remember a bit about me." I joked.

"Of course… I remember a lot about you." She emphasized.

"Oh, yeah?"

"U-huh. I'll give you a list…" She started pouting her lips while thinking. "You were this awesome, popular, hot and smart girl from Lima. You love to read super thick books that I don't even understand, no one else knew about this aside from me and Quinn. You wear glasses at home because you said that your contacts need to rest once in awhile. Hmm… You are also a compassionate and loyal glee club member." She smirked at me, "Oh and you only sleep wearing your shirt and panties on. Do you still do that?" We both laughed and I playfully smacked her arms.

"That's quite a list." I told her through laughter.

"I told ya!" She smiled and rubbed my back gently. "But to top it all up, you are this girl who is heartbreakingly perfect!" She became serious and her eyes full of emotions.

"Thanks Britt. Today has been a special day because you're here." I hold her hands and squeeze it. She wiped away a tear that escaped from my eyes.

"Why are you crying, San?" She asked me while wiping another tear.

"I…I don't know. Life has been tough and crazy things happened to me today. I just don't know how to handle them anymore. My life is pretty messed up." I sobbed and she pulled me to an embrace. We were lying on the couch as I am resting on top of her. She held me tight until my sobbing stopped.

"Feeling better?" She asked me.

"Yeah…" I sighed. She reached for the bottle of water from the table and gave it to me. I sit up and took a sip. I lay back down on her. We lay down in comfortable silence. "Britt?"

"Hmm?" She was stroking my hair.

"Can we talk?" I mumbled.

"Yeah… we'll talk but not tonight. You need to rest, San. You had a really long day. Please go to sleep. I'll hold you, don't worry." She said and started to sing me a song.

When it's black,
Take a little time to hold yourself,
Take a little time to feel around,
Before it's gone,

You won't let go,
But you still keep on falling down,
Remember how you saved me now,
From all of my wrongs yeah,

If there's love just feel it,
If there's life we'll see it,
This is no time to be alone, alone, yeah,
I, wont let you go,

I fell asleep in the middle of her song.

Songs: Happy Birthday by New Kids on the Block (Rachel's part)

I Won't Let You Go by James Morrison (Brittany to Santana)

Thoughts?