This is a double shift day. There will be one more upload today: Say You Had A Problem.

"Those Are Wooden Wings"

6. Weston Lunch

Back in Lima they would never really get to wake up together. Whatever happened between them, com morning they would end up either in their own beds, or their own side of one bed, as though nothing had happened. But this wasn't Lima, and this wasn't their parents' homes. When Santana had awakened the morning after their night out with Aimee and Tessa, she felt so warm and peaceful, she might have thought she was still dreaming, only before long her senses had started to kick in, and so did her memories. After being out dancing as they had, she should have been achier, but she wasn't feeling it. What she did feel was... contact, skin, limbs, breath. She was enveloped in familiar arms, curved against Brittany as she still slept. When she'd turned on her back, slow so not to wake her as she continued so she would be resting on her other side and come face to face with the blonde, she could feel her stirring. As soon as she'd stopped, Brittany had settled, nuzzling her head where she could. Santana just stared at her with nothing but love and admiration. If ever there were days she doubted her actions, all she had to do was to look at her, and she'd remember.

She had laid there, holding her close while she slept, committing everything to memory, from this morning and working her way back through flashes of the night before, when they had gained this bed. Realizing how much she'd really missed the closeness of her, the warmth, the touch, now she was feeling her eyes sting with tears, tears of... joy, pain, love, confusion, relief... She'd squeezed her eyes to try and make herself stop, and then she'd felt her fingers touching at her face, careful in wiping tears away. Opening her eyes to find hers staring back, it was a look she doubted she could forget.

The morning might have seen some discussion, the potentially difficult 'what does this mean?' talk, but then Brittany's phone had rung, and though she'd wanted to ignore it, she'd been made to answer. It was a good thing, as there she was told by a fretful Tessa that Sherry Weston herself had called, requesting that Brittany meet her for lunch. She panicked, but once Santana had been caught up, she had gone into action. Grabbing shorts and a shirt to slip on, she'd sent Brittany to shower while she found her something to wear. The coffee was put on, a small breakfast put together. It wasn't long until she'd have to sit to lunch, but she still had to eat something now. Brittany would sit and eat this snack, in her robe, while Santana fixed her hair. Soon, she would be dressed, wearing one of Santana's better dresses, the few she had. Santana promised her she would be perfect, and she'd sent her off with luck and a kiss to seal it in.

When she'd reached the restaurant, taking a moment to make sure she wasn't out of breath or sweaty or anything of the sort, she'd walked in and was directed to Miss Weston's table. Brittany had only ever met her in person once before, the day she'd handed her card over along with an offer to join her dance company. Brittany had eventually accepted, and now she was thinking maybe the time had come where they'd be taking the next step.

Tessa had given her all the information she could hope for regarding the woman, who was from Indiana, the same town as Tessa, which was how she'd become such a personal hero to the redhead. At age forty, she had over two decades of fame on her back, and her name carried weight. That she'd been noticed by her had been such an issue of pride for Brittany, and she wasn't going to let her down.

She was so tall and refined, Brittany was just as nervous in front of her now as she'd been the last time. But then she'd see her and stand with that pearly smile and she'd remember how kind and generally easygoing Sherry Weston was, just as she'd understand why she was so beloved in their community.

"Miss Pierce, hello," she offered her hand, and Brittany shook it. "I'm so sorry for the short notice, my trip was moved up and I had to see you before I left the country."

"It's okay," Brittany promised.

"Good, good, well, alright," Sherry smiled. "So the last time we saw each other, I said I'd set things in motion for you, and I have. I am going to be out traveling as I've mentioned, but I would like for you to come and join us over the summer, sort of like an observation period. You can see how it all works, get to know the people, so this fall we can take another step. How does that sound?"

"I can do that," Brittany smiled and Sherry laughed.

"I don't doubt it for a second. I've been very pleased to hear about the progress you've continued to make, and I know you'll fit right in with our company."

"But… we have to move out of the dorm in a couple weeks," she remembered.

"We'll put you up in a hotel, don't worry about it," Sherry waved it off, and Brittany smiled… even better. She was anxious to go home and see her family, sure. But they would understand if she had to stay a little while longer. As for her… a few more weeks in Boston also meant a few more weeks with Santana. After what had happened last night, these extra weeks would be so very much appreciated. She didn't know how those weeks would unfold, but now she'd have a chance to find out. "So that's settled?" Sherry asked and Brittany nodded. "Excellent. You'll receive the information in a few days," she went on. "Now, let's order, I'm hungry, you?"

"Sta… Yes," she redirected.

"Honey, you can say starved, I don't bite," Sherry promised.

"Well I didn't really have time for breakfast," Brittany explained.

"Why didn't you say so, I would have saved the chatter for later," she flagged down a waiter. By how he and everyone else would tag their responses with 'Yes, Miss Weston' or 'Right away, Miss Weston,' it was clear she was a regular and she got the service it commanded.

Soon their table was dotted with dishes and baskets and this and that, and they could start to eat. Sherry asked after her finals, her dance review – which she had been allowed to sit in on. She gave a few kind pointers, which Brittany attentively listened to.

She could see why Tessa practically worshipped her. Listening to her talk about her career – in response to her questions – Brittany just imagined her as a child, how she still had the same passion for dance as she did back then… They weren't all that different, they'd both started small. Sherry had taken off and had gone so far. Now Brittany was on her way, too, with so many possibilities opening to her.

After leaving the restaurant, still walking on a cloud from all the good things that had happened since she'd gotten out of her last final, she couldn't wait to do one thing: tell Santana. She wasn't sure, hadn't asked, but maybe Santana could stay with her at the hotel. She deserved a vacation, too, and this would be perfect. Maybe it would be a lot, with how they were just barely starting to take some steps toward each other, but it wouldn't hurt to put the idea forward.

Either way, her summer was looking up. She still had a couple weeks left at school, but after that… Things were going well. She had a few hours to kill before Santana would be home, so until then she'd just have to get everything ready for when she arrived.

TO BE CONTINUED (TOMORROW)