A/N: Finished the new season of Orange is the New Black and part two of this chapter earlier than expected.

Enjoy :)

Lima, Saturday, 2 weeks ago

Brittany POV

My eyes fluttered open as warm light seeped into the room. Immediately, my attention went to the raven-haired beauty wrapped in my arms. At some point in the night, we must have rolled over because we were laying on or sides, Santana the small to my big spoon. It was our default position whenever we slept together.

Naturally, I hugged her closer me, her soft snoring never faltering. I had missed sleeping with her so much. Granted, hot lady sex usually came before us spooning, but just having her here with me again sleeping while I held her was a feeling like none other.

The citrusy smell of her hair wafted in the air and made me nuzzle my face closer to her. My fingertips ghosted over the smooth bronze skin left exposed by her tank top. The hand that wrapped around her smoothed over the curve of her hip. Everything about her was still so intoxicating.

Deciding to avoid the familiar temptation of having Santana's body pressed into mine, I sneaked my arm out from under and around her and tiptoed out of my bedroom to the living room.

It was as quiet as we had left it last night. Turning on the TV, I flipped through the channels until Spongebob and Patrick appeared. My silenced cell phone caught my eye, and I turned it on as I made my way to the kitchen.

Immediately all the unacknowledged messages blew up my phone. The thought of looking through twelve unread texts, mainly from my MIT friends, instantly drained me. Dancing the past week had reignited this fire in me I thought had died out from my endless hours in the MIT math labs. It also left me conflicted on whether MIT was where I should be. I mean, I was a mathematical genius. "A mind comparable to Stephen Hawking's," my colleague had described. It was my duty to solve world peace or something, wasn't it? I mean, what good's this brain of mine if didn't put it to use? Even if I was miserable most of the time.

Skimming through the texts, I decided no one was dying, so they could wait and returned my phone to the counter to focus my attention on making breakfast.

As I took out the eggs and bacon from the fridge, my mind wandered to last night. So much happened, but all I could focus on was the last thing Santana had said. She wanted to be with me. Her girlfriend - no, ex-girlfriend - gave her an ultimatum, and she chose me. The selfish part of me wanted to smile at that, but I knew Santana had to be hurting. She didn't let herself care about just anybody, so losing Dani wouldn't be the easiest thing to move on from. No matter what, I'd be here to help her through it. I didn't care how long it took as long as she would have me.

I had just flipped another pancake when the slow shuffling of feet made Santana's presence known. Her eyes were still half shut, her hair in disarray, and her mouth in a small pout. Her demeanor didn't surprise me. Santana was never a morning person, but she still looked so adorable.

"Morning, Sunshine," I chirped, pouring the last of the pancake batter on the griddle.

She didn't answer me. Instead, I felt narrow arms wrap around my middle and her face press between my shoulder blades. My heartrate sped up at the feel of her around me. She stayed like that so long, I was almost sure she fell asleep again until she shifted and rested her chin on my shoulder.

"Thank you for last night," her voice thick with sleep crooned in my ear.

I set the last of the pancakes on a plate and turned off the stove before turning to look at her fully.

"I didn't do anything."

"No, you did, Britt," she said, taking her time to push my hair behind my ear. "Even when I feel like complete and utter shit, you always know how to make me feel better."

"Well, that's cause you're my best friend," I smiled, linking one of my pinkies with hers. "I know you better than the inside of my eyelids."

Her eyes softened, and a small smile graced her lips. "That you do. But I need you to know how sorry I am for blowing up on you like that."

"You don't have to be sorry, San. You were hurting really bad," I shrugged, stroking my thumb along the back of her hand.

"I was, but that's no excuse. You didn't deserve that, Britt. I was mad at the whole situation and mostly at myself, but not you. Never you. I'm sorry."

I cocked my head slightly in confusion. Why was she mad at herself? She didn't do anything wrong.

Her apology is what I focused on though. I looked into her earnest eyes and smiled. When we were together, Santana wasn't always keen on apologizing so freely. It would talk a pointed look from me or an argument that almost always ended with an orgasm or two, and even then, she'd look a little constipated saying sorry. Now here she was, apologizing for something I wasn't even mad at. In more ways than this, she had become more mature in our time apart, and it made me so proud of her. All I wanted to do right then was kiss her. If I'm being totally honest, I wanted to hike her legs up around my waist, take her back up to my bedroom, and really show her that her apology was accepted. Instead, I took the safe route.

"Apology accepted."

She smiled warmly and let her soft lips linger on my cheek, heating my face up instantly, before hugging me again.

"Thanks, B," she breathed in my ear. When she pulled back, her eyes flitted briefly to my lips before she cleared her throat, stepped out of my embrace, and made her way to the counter.

"Woah, Britt. When'd you learn to cook a spread like this? Last time I checked, cereal was your specialty."

I laughed at her incredulous tone and sat on the barstool next to her as I brought the plate of pancakes to join the bacon, eggs, and fruit.

"This is pretty basic, San," I said, dishing out the pancakes between us. "I had to learn to cook something or else I would've starved at MIT. All the cafeteria food tasted like cardboard, and you know I don't eat that anymore."

"Say what you want. This is fucking delicious." I laughed at her garbled words as she tried to speak through pancakes stuffed in her mouth.

We didn't say much else as we ate. A comfortable silence settled between us.

"Thanks for breakfast, Britt," she said, picking at her last of bacon.

"Anytime." I eyed her and smirked. "So back to you confessing your undying love for me."

She choked on the last piece of food she put in her mouth and took a sip of orange juice to alleviate her coughing. The shock on her face eased when she caught me laughing at her.

"Oh, don't flatter yourself," she rolled her eyes and couldn't help the smile that deepened her dimple and the pinkness that colored her cheeks. Seeing that lightness return to her made me flash her another toothy grin.

"How are you feeling though?" I said more seriously. "About Dani and everything."

Her shoulders slumped forward as she shrugged. "I feel better than I did last night. I'm not a blubbering mess at least. I know I'm prone to an ugly-cry."

"You're always beautiful, Santana. There's no such thing as an ugly-cry when it comes to you."

When she blushed, I set my open palm on top of the counter and smiled when she took it and intertwined our fingers.

"Thanks again, Britt," she said softly. "Last night was kinda rough to say the least, and you made it… a lot less rough."

"Of course, San. I'll always be here for you. Even through breakups that don't involve me."

She looked at me for a while before speaking, "You know, when I asked you meet me in the choir room last Fall, I thought breaking up with you would be the hardest thing I'd ever have to do, but it wasn't. Getting over you was. Well, attempting to was at least. Trying to live my life knowing you were somewhere out there in the world but not with me, it was… hell," she said as her thumb scratched my palm. "As much as I tried so hard to pretend like it isn't, this thing between us is still there. Honestly, I don't think it'll ever go away. I felt it instantly the moment I saw you walked through that door on Monday, and I've felt it ever since. Like my mom said, I think it took a minute for my head to catch up with my heart." Her eyes flitted across my face, searching, memorizing, remembering. When they paused on my mouth, then my eyes, my breath hitched. A familiar glint flickered in her eyes before she continued, "I love you too, Brittany. I honestly don't know how not to."

My insides fluttered at her admission. It felt like someone lit a candle in my chest. I felt so warm and just insanely fucking happy to hear her say she loved me.

Before I could react, soft, pillowlike lips pressed firmly into mine and all thoughts flew out of my head. My breath released as I melted into her sweet kiss. My head felt so light, and all I could feel was Santana. Kissing her was complete and total bliss.

All too soon, she pulled away back into her chair, but the smile on her face that no doubt mirrored mine was unmistakable.

"Still the best kisser you've ever had?" I teased.

The laugh she let out stirred the butterflies inside me once again. God, did I miss that laugh.

"Of course you are, you dork," she blushed.

I smiled and caressed her soft cheek. Her lips glistened slightly with moisture having kissed me and looked so tempting. But as much as I wanted to, I wasn't going to push her any further. I'd let her decide when she was ready.

Bzzt! Bzzt! Bzzt!

The abrupt sound of vibrations against the countertop made us jump apart.

"Shit," I cursed at the phone once again disrupting my time with Santana. Ignoring the call, I put it on silent and shoved it into my pocket.

"Aren't you gonna answer that?" she asked as I took our empty plates to the sink.

"Nope, they can wait," I said, taking her hand on my way back to the living room and pulling her into me on the couch. "This is San and Britt time, and we have a lot of catching up to do."

Her eyes crinkled when she smiled as I kissed her temple.

"Alright," I said. "Now tell me what's going on with you and Rachel."

A/N: These chapters in Lima are based on what's happening in Season 5: Episodes 12 ("100") and 13 ("New Directions") for those wondering. I'll recap as much as is relevant in the story, but definitely check out those episodes if you want a refresher.

Thanks to everybody who followed/reviewed/PM'd. I love hearing from y'all :)