Brittany awoke with the sun that day. Kurt had already left to get started with his business. She decided that she might as well go and see the schoolhouse and introduce herself to the other teacher there.

"Brittany!" Brittany stepped into the hotel restaurant and was immediately called over by a charming voice.

"Mrs Quinn, how are you? Mind if I join you?"

Quinn accepted the company and Brittany sat opposite the lady. They spoke fondly of the show and of Rachel's voice. Quinn voiced how she did not care much for the saloon yet her husband seemed to be very fond of the place. Brittany thought back to the ladies on the balcony and bet he did. Their topics ranged from Quinn's travels in the east to Brittany's life in the west. Brittany noticed that the more Quinn spoke of her hometown and the life before she was married, the more far off she looked.

"So you were a Doctor's aid? That is pretty respectable Quinn. Have you thought of helping the doctor here? She's a woman and from what I hear a very well respected Doctor"

Quinn looked at Brittany with her hazel eyes that held a thousand emotions. She looked like she was either going to burst into song or cry her heart out. Quinn had it all really, the money, the looks, a husband, an education. But really, Brittany thought, she had everything and nothing at the same time.

"I have thought about it. Biff isn't too keen on it however." Quinn looked down at this, lost in her own thoughts of her overbearing, pompous husband.

Brittany really liked Quinn. She seemed like a strong woman who would do well around these parts. She looked at the sadness sweeping across her face and wondered that if someone like Quinn was not truly happy in her life, what chance did she have?


Brittany left Quinn when she went to retire to her room. She decided that she was going to see Burt before she wandered to the schoolhouse. She entered the large barn like structure and was hit with the smell of leather. It reminded her of her childhood, when Burt would come in and sweep her up in his arms, smelling of leather.

She located him at the back of the room and once again he swept her up. If she closed her eyes, she could imagine that she was an eight year old girl again.

"Brittany, how are you? I am so glad you're here."

"Thanks Papa. I just wanted to see you before I went off exploring. I know we didn't really get to talk that much yesterday."

Burt looked at Brittany. This girl, who he raised and nurtured as his own. She was his. And now she was Kurt's too.

"I'm swell Brittany. So, how is being married to Kurt? I must say it shocked me a little when I heard the news."

Brittany looked down at this, she was ashamed that she had to lie to the one man that meant so much to her. But he couldn't know the truth. Not for Kurt's sake.

"He is such a wonderful man Papa. He must get it from you. I love him" Not one lie from Brittany's mouth.

Burt looked at Brittany, she was looking everywhere but him and he knew exactly why, he did raise her after all.

"Brittany…I know. I know that this marriage may not be what maybe a marriage should be. And I may not know exactly why, even though your age is an acceptable one to be wed. And I know you love Kurt and he loves you. You are practically family anyway. So I don't need to know, okay? I don't need to know how you two made this decision. All I need to know about you two is that you're safe and happy. It's all I care about."

Brittany looked into Burt's eyes. The same eyes she first saw when she had no hope at all. The man who she owed so much to that she would never be able to repay him. Her saviour really. And in that moment, she realised that Burt Hummel may be the very best man she could ever hope to meet. He knew this marriage was not a marriage based out of romantic love. He could see very clearly. But he didn't want to know any more and this was something Brittany would be eternally grateful for.

"I love you papa." Simply put. She did, more than he may ever know.

Burt smiled at this and let Brittany go, getting back to his work, mind filled with images of a young, blonde haired girl who he first met covered in blood and shivering behind an upturned wagon. An image he would never forget.


As Brittany wandered down the side road that the hotel was located, she took in the town of McKinley, a town she would soon call her home. She saw April the drunk slouched over, bottle in hand, she saw the Sheriff walking into his office, shiny badge gleaming on his chest. Unfortunately, she saw the boy with the funny gait not soon enough. She came crashing into him and he tumbled to the ground.

"Oh sir! I am so incredibly sorry. Here let me help. You didn't break your package did you?"

The boy waved away her hand and slowly rose to his feet. Not accepting the help of the young lady who he recognised from the Saloon last night.

"That's certainly okay Miss. My fault entirely, my package is fine too. But please, call me Artie, I am no sir."

Brittany looked over Artie. He had wide eyes that she thought resembled a frog, bulging at the sides. His brown, unkempt hair swung over his forehead and his attire was rather tatty and dirty. He was quite skinny and his knees slanted inwards, giving away his unnatural limbs. She saw he clutched a brown sack, weighed down by whatever was inside. Clinking loudly as he came to his feet.

"I must get going though Miss. If I don't get this back to Santana soon she's gonna kick my legs in again."

And with that, Artie scurried away. Limping yet trying to walk as fast as he can, back to the Smythe saloon.

Brittany stopped when she heard the word Santana. The mysterious woman from last night. The absolutely beautiful woman from last night. Who would kick that poor man's legs in if he didn't hurry. She had hoped that he was joking, but she didn't think he really was.


Artie stumbled across the way and came through the back door of the saloon. He saw Becky cleaning tables in the far corner and Sebastian cleaning down the bar. He looked over and saw Santana slumped on one of the stools. Head buried in her arms on the side as Sebastian cleaned around her head. A bottle was in her grasp, half empty.

He rolled his eyes and walked over to the woman. His unnatural walk giving away that he had returned. Santana shot up, looking over at his, her eyes slanting as she took in his dishevelled appearance.

"Hey gammy legs! Where the hell where you? Did you sail all the way to China?" Sebastian chuckled at this. Santana snapped her fingers as Artie handed over the sack. She then waved him away and he scattered to some dark corner.

"You know San, you could try being nicer. They do a lot around here." Santana scoffed at Sebastian's words.

"Nice? They do a lot around here because they fear my wrath if they don't move there asses." Sebastian rolled his eyes at his friend's words. Not bothering to point out that Santana's barbs and insults go into Mercy and Becky's ear and out the other. They give as good as they get.

Sebastian looked over his friend. She looked terrible, dark rings circled her eyes and her hair was matted. Dress hanging off her shoulders and a wilted peacock feather in her hair. He loved this girl, but he still ran a business, and with that needed her to be in fine form for the customers. Reel them in with promises of the night of their lives and then hand them off to Cassandra or Marley or one of the others.

He would never whore her out the way that they whored out the others. He meant too much to her. And she would be broken beyond repair if she didn't have a choice but to service men each night. So making her the madam and business partner was something that he did not regret.

However, some respectable men travelled quite a way to be in the company of Santana Lopez and it was business that both of them knew they could not turn down. She knew and understood that. And she was great at her job, ruthless but protective. He just wished that he could take some of the weight from her. Both Puck and himself would die to protect her, just like he knew she would do the same for them. And for her girls. And even for Becky and Mercy and maybe Artie.

He knew what she did most nights, when she would retire to her room and lock the door and take out that needle from the secret box she wouldn't let anyone see inside of. He knew why she did it, and why she drank just enough to forget but not enough so that she couldn't do her job each night. He hated that she did it, but he understood that she had to.

But he did wonder, what would've been of Santana Lopez if he wasn't travelling through that town four years ago. Stopping off at that seedy saloon, talking to the owner who rattled on and on about the wetback that the men seemed to love but he had to teach a lesson to each time she gave him lip.

Sebastian saw Santana for the first time that night. And she was just as breath taking as she is now. And he knew that he had to do what he did for the both of them. Two lost souls travelling the plains together.

He would do it all again.

"Well Howdy Saloon keepers!" Santana groaned as she heard the cheery voice of the town Doctor Holly Holliday. It was too early for her shit.

"Hey Doc. Looking mighty fine today" Puck ambled down the stairs, tying his trousers up with a shit eating grin plastered across his face. He walked over to Santana and gave her another sack, also clinking, this time with the money he owed for Lauren.

"San she was great. Did you teach her that trick with the tongue and the jam?" Santana lurched for Puck and smacked him round the head three times.

"Ouch! Okay alright, I'm sorry! Here take the money, and this is from Kitty as well. She kept grumbling about the curly hairs she found in her teeth this morning. Looks like Jacob had fun." Santana pulled a face and tried to rid herself of that image straight away.

"Oh and the tailor should be around sometime today with the new dresses. We can just keep the old ones in case of emergencies or something."

Santana nodded to her friend and turned her attentions back to the Doc, trying to focus on her instead of another Blonde that popped into hear head when the word 'tailor' was uttered.

"Hey Holly, all the girls are upstairs, there shouldn't be any problems. Maybe Lauren but that's only because she's been with this disgusting man" Santana looked over to Puck whilst Holly burst into laughter. She got up to follow Santana up the stairs and start her weekly inspections of all the girls in employment here.


Later that night, and Kurt was struggling to unroll the blanket onto the floor by the double bed in his hotel room.

Brittany looked over to him once again and sighed loudly. She appreciated what he was doing but knew it was completely unnecessary.

"Kurt, please just take the bed as well. We've known each other forever and I am certainly not worried about you becoming handsy in the middle of the night. Anyway, we can't afford any suspicion and you sleeping on the floor instead of with your wife will raise a lot."

Kurt sighed and looked at Brittany. Knowing she was right and internally his back was thanking him for giving up. He got up and went to the other side of the bed. Lying down stiffly, not wanting to over step the invisible line in the middle of the bed.

"So, I went to the saloon today, to measure dresses for all of the girls. I managed to get all but one done. They look marvellous, the men won't be able to keep their hands off of them. The only one I need to finish is for the Madam. Santana. Completely terrifying that woman. Absolutely gorgeous but I thought she was going to bite my hand when I measured her."

Brittany looked over at Kurt, completely enraptured by his story of Santana.

"Anyway, her dress is great, and it will be done tomorrow but I have a prior fitting with Deputy Karofsky and I don't want to cancel on the deputy. So, I was just wondering if you would take the dress to Santana."

Brittany stopped, there was no doubt in her mind that she would do this for her husband. She had wanted to see the Madam again ever since she left the Saloon the night before. To see her dark eyes bore into her, and her perfect face in front of her. Her raspy voice talking to her.

"Yes, of course Kurt. I can take the dress to Miss Santana" Inside she was dancing for joy. Tomorrow, she would get to see her again, talk to her again, and be in her company. Maybe forge a starting point to a friendship.

Who knew?