Author's note: Here's the new chapter. Lalala, not much else to say about it. Thanks again to those that are reviewing and those that add this to favorites and alerts. Please continue to do that.

Happy reading!

Chapter Seven

The pounding in Brittany's head was what woke her. It was closely followed by the urge to release all her stomach's contents. She surged up out of her bed and had to grab onto the post to steady herself before she ran to the privy, barely making it in time.

She dragged herself back to her bed a short time later and closed her eyes. There was a tap on the door. She groaned painfully and rolled away, pulling her blanket over her head.

"Miss Brittany?" Santana asked. And though it was soft, it sounded like a bell was set off in her head.

"Too loud, Santana." She mumbled. She put her pillow over her head.

She felt the bed shift as her maid sat down beside her. The pillow was pried away and a cool cloth was pressed to her forehead. She relaxed a little.

"Better?" Santana asked softly.

"No." Brittany responded in a small voice. "Everything hurts and feels out of sorts."

"I'll be right back with my mother's hangover cure." She brushed a hand down Brittany's arm before she stood.

Brittany shot out her hand and grabbed her arm. She pulled the cloth away. "About what I said last night…"

Santana sat back down. "Don't worry about it, Brittany. I've heard people say some embarrassing things when they've had a bit too much to drink. You didn't know what you were saying."

"Saying? I said something after I kissed you?" With a groan, she rolled over. She spoke with her face pressed into the pillow. "Everything is fuzzy after about the third glass, but I remember very clearly kissing you. And then everything is fuzzy again." She moved her head to the side. "What did I say?"

"You don't need to worry about it." She stood and headed for the door. "I'll be right back."

For the next several agonizing minutes, Brittany searched her brain, trying to remember what she had said. And had she done more than just kiss Santana?

Beautiful, dark Santana. She deserves to be kissed. "I can't think like that." She berated herself.

"Can't think like what?" Santana asked softly as she sat down. She helped Brittany to sit up and then passed her a steaming cup.

Brittany's lip trembled. "Can't think the way I did last night? What did I say, Santana? Please tell me."

"It's nothing." She said softly. "Drink this tea. It will help with the headache and everything else."

She sipped the tea and studied the maid. "I asked you if you thought I was pretty." She said suddenly. "Didn't I?"

Santana nodded.

"What else did I say?" She demanded, putting the now empty cup away.

"You don't need to worry about it, Brittany."

"You haven't called me 'Miss Brittany' once this morning."

"Well, once you've been kissed like that by someone, there's not much reason for formality." She stood up and walked to the window. She threw back the drapes.

"No, close them. The sunlight hurts." Brittany pressed her face into her hands.

Santana closed the drapes again. "Can I get you anything?"

"Why won't you tell me what I said?" she accused. "What did I do wrong?"

"It's not just about you. What I said in response…" She sat down on the bed. "I pushed you away. You thought I was rejecting you, that I could never love you. But that's far from the truth. I told you—"

"That it was wrong, no matter if you loved me or not."

She nodded. "Because I'm a woman and so are you. Because I'm your servant."

"Even if we weren't both women…Don't you think love is important?"

"I do. But I'm still your servant."

"Santana—"

"Brittany, you need to stop. This can't work."

Brittany slowly moved her hand over and rested her hand on Santana's leg. When she didn't move, Brittany moved her hand up Santana's side. She sat forward as her hand cupped the maid's cheek. She pressed a soft kiss to her lips.

Santana tried to resist. She sat rigidly, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Then slowly, inch-by-inch, she moved her arms up to wrap around Brittany's back. She pulled her close.

The kiss deepened as Brittany pulled Santana down on the bed with her. The kiss went on and on. Brittany was sure it would never stop. And she didn't want it to. She was sure no one else kissed like Santana. She was also sure there wasn't another set of lips that fit against hers so perfectly or a mouth that tasted so right either. But unfortunately it ended all too soon.

Santana raised her head an inch away. She panted. She pressed her lips to Brittany's softly and then unwrapped herself from the blonde's arms. "That can't happen again." She stood and pressed her hand to her mouth. She let out a breath. "I want to, but it can't."

Brittany nodded, tears in her eyes. "All I know is that it feels right when I'm with you. Like I haven't ever felt around anyone."

"I know." Santana agreed. "God, I know." She clenched her teeth. "But it's not right, you know it's not. No matter how right it feels…" She walked back over and picked up the tea cup off the bedside table. "Rest and let the tea take effect. I'll be back if a few minutes."

Santana was so lost in her own thoughts as she made her way to the kitchen that she almost ran into her mother.

"Mija?" Marta asked, steadying her daughter. "Is everything all right?"

"Yes, Mamá. I'm fine." She smiled. "Just bringing Miss Brittany's tea cup back."

"This whole family overindulged last night." She said with a small chuckle. She took the cup from her daughter's hands. She noticed they were trembling slightly. "Santana?"

"Mamá, I…"

"Mrs. Lopez, you're needed in the kitchen." Someone called.

"We'll finish this conversation later." Marta assured her daughter before she turned and went into the kitchen.

Santana looked after her mother for a few seconds before turning and going back up to Brittany's room. She paused outside her door. She raised her hand to knock and then dropped it. She turned and rested against the wall.

"Santana?"

She looked up to see Penelope coming her way. She straightened up. "Yes, Miss Penelope?"

"Are you all right?" She asked softly.

Santana smiled. "I'm fine, miss. Thank you."

As demanding and particular as she was, Penelope Pierce was a kind young woman when she wanted to be. And she had started being even more so to Santana in the last several days. Did she know about Santana's feelings?

"I was just going to see my sister." She said with a smile. She knocked on the door.

"I don't want any visitors." Brittany called through the door.

"Too bad." Penny said, throwing the door open and walking through. She pulled Santana behind her. "I need you to get up and get dressed. You're coming with me."

"Where?" Brittany asked, eying her sister nervously.

"To see a man about a horse." She said with a laugh. "I'm going to see someone and I need you to come with me as an excuse. Papa won't let me go otherwise."

"Who are you going to see?"

"I am going to see a man. You are going to a party." She smiled. "Get dressed. Santana, make her beautiful. I need her to be a distraction." She turned on her heel and left the room.

The two remaining young ladies exchanged a look before Santana sighed and turned into the dressing room. Brittany followed reluctantly.

As she worked to help Brittany, Santana couldn't stop thinking about all the kisses they'd shared. She wanted more. She just wanted to lay wrapped up in her arms and kiss her for hours. And she knew Brittany wanted it too. So why couldn't they?

She brushed her fingers absently along Brittany's cheek as she pulled her hair into place. It made her fingers tingle. She hurried to finish her hair and then stepped back. "All done." She announced abruptly.

Brittany turned in her chair and looked up at her maid. She gently took her hand and pressed it to her lips. "Santana." She sighed against her skin. She pressed Santana's hand against her cheek.

Santana stood still and waited.

Brittany let her hand go. She stood and took Santana's face in her hands. She kissed her lips softly. "This isn't over." She whispered. "It can't be." She kissed her softly once more. She stepped away. "Thank you, Santana." She said in her normal voice.

Santana let out a long breath as she watched Brittany walk out of the room.

"I'm sure I won't need you to come with me since I'll be with Penny. I hope they don't run you around too much." She said with a gently smile.

Penelope came back a few minutes later and whisked Brittany away. Santana put her room back in order and then went in search of something else to do while she awaited Brittany's return.