Holy crap! Did you guys know the total reviews for this story practically doubled after the last chapter? Thank you so much! :D

I'm mad sorry it's taken me this long to update! I've been super busy with extra shifts at work and designing the cover for this and not knowing how the hell to write Santana's reaction to the kiss.. I was out tonight but after StraightShark reviewing again just to get me to get it done faster, I have now finished this chapter at 03:37am.. I have work at 07:30.. It's my own fault XD Thank you all again so much for reviewing and favouriting and alerting!

By all means, please continue with that ;)

As you were, comrades!

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*Santana POV*

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"..Here we are, with my blade to your skin, your life hanging in the balance!"

I watched as she laughed at me. Still frozen in shock, I couldn't think how to react to the sudden turn of events.

Pierce... I knew that name! A few years ago one of the older men in the gang told me about a Pierce family and a 'debt' they had to pay. I was also told that my mother had spared their daughter, a move that was controversial, in the eyes of the men…

"Fuck…" I breathed as my shoulders caved.

After every bad thing I've done, something like this was bound to happen. If not now, it'll happen eventually…

"Go on then. Do it," I said. "You want my life so bad? Take it."

I knew I should have felt scared, angry, upset, anything. But all I could feel were guilt and hatred.

I felt the guilt of her past as if it had been I who killed her parents and ruined her life. I felt hatred towards my parents. How could anyone take away what mattered most to Brittany, what made her happy? The thought of her watching her parents killed by mine makes me sick. But most of all? I felt hatred for myself. I felt as if it were somehow my fault that Brittany was left an orphan at the young age of thirteen. If it weren't for me, she wouldn't have been made to live without her parents.

That hits me hard. The thought of Brittany not living actually causes a stab of pain in my chest, even if she wants to kill me.

Another thought has me determined.

If she had waited any longer for this moment, anything could have happened. Almost every day the gang gets into fights and injuries are common. If she got hurt… If she got killed…

If she gets this over with she can leave, never to see the gang again and continue with her life, her parents avenged. She can be as safe as she was before…

I die, she lives.

Brittany hesitated, her blade stilled over my skin.

"I said take it!" I shouted. I quickly grasped her wrist roughly and pulled her dagger harder to my skin. The razor-sharp edge contrasted starkly with the soothing cool of the metal.

She flinched and tried to pull away, but with my grip still on her she could only pull away about a centimeter. If anything, that angered me more. I hated my family and myself in that moment. I deserved what Brittany had planned.

My heart hammered my ribs, my blood thudded in my ears and adrenaline raced through my veins.

I watched impatiently as she stared at me.

Why the hell didn't she just do it already?

Her cobalt eyes were wide with shock, as I know my espresso ones had been earlier. Her light brows were raised slightly in a high frown. Her fair skin paled further, she looked sick almost. Her rose lips were pushed together into a slight, subconscious pout.

My heart skipped a beat. Maybe three.

I couldn't look away, my anger faded.

She was so beautiful…

No other thought registered as I stared into her eyes.

I didn't even pay attention to when her weapon hit the ground, the hilt hitting the toe of my boot.

I couldn't even tell my feet to move when she stepped even closer to me.

I couldn't even tell my lungs to breathe when she held my face in both hands.

I couldn't even tell my eyes to open when they fell shut.

And I couldn't tell my lips not to sink into hers when they met mine.


If I had hoped that any thought process I might try to conjure would be coherent, I would have been sorely disappointed. The only thought that makes its way through to me is how perfectly our lips fit together. As Brittany caresses my top lip, I gently suck on her pouty lower one.

After what felt like forever, but must have only been seconds, I feel her tongue glide slowly across her captive and my lips part, meeting it half way with my own tongue. Amidst our heavy breathing, a moan sounds out loudly but I'm unable to determine which one of us emitted it.

Her hands still hold my face firmly but softly at the same time, not letting me go. I never want to let go. I reach for her hips and pull her closer, losing myself as she engulfs my senses. Her body falls flush against mine and I feel her chest expand and contract as her heavy breaths have her lungs working hard.

One of her hands reaches around to the nape of my neck, tangling in my hair, pulling me and my lips closer than I would have thought possible. My grip on her hips slips up to her waist and tightens, holding her there.

Eventually we break apart, only to rest our foreheads against each other, breathing so hard the relief of air is almost painful. I feel heat spread along my cheeks as I stare into her azure eyes and notice the indiscreet blush across hers. My eyes fall closed and my lips twitch upwards at the corners.

Until I remember she had been trying to kill me.

And that apparently, I'm turning into a fucking poet.

I bring my hands up and push her away roughly.

"What the hell was that?" I scream at her.

Sure, in the moment, I had wanted her to kill me, because I felt guilty. But fuck, that moment's gone. I let her in, shattering the walls I had built to protect myself.

Well guess what, brick by brick, these walls are coming back up faster than a mountain lion takes down a jackrabbit.

"Uh- I don't-… Huh?" Brittany stutters, her eyes so wide I'm almost worried they're going to burst.

"You kissed me! Women don't kiss each other! It's a sin!"

She laughs. She actually fucking laughs.

"A sin? Shall I remind you who you are? You're Santana Lopez! You kill, you steal, you fight, you look the other way when your men rape and pillage! You think kissing a woman would make much difference to God's judgement?" She snarls.

I'm speechless. What on earth do I say to that?

I'll admit though…

… She has a point.

"So you think that just because I'm a sinner, you can be another sin to add to my collection?" I snarl right back once I have found my words.

"No. I kissed you not because I wanted to be another sin, but because it felt right. I gave up on my faith long ago, 'God' can think what he likes, because I stopped believing there was such a thing when I was thirteen years old." She says evenly, never breaking eye contact.

"It felt right? Well you should have just slit my throat and be done with it. To me it felt nothing but wrong."

Well, that was a fucking lie.

And that lie hurt even me.

Why did I lie?

The way she made me feel scares me. Nobody has ever made me feel so whole, like I was a puzzle long given up on because one final piece was missing, but finally, I uncovered that last piece and fitted it right where it was meant to be… Supposed to be... Destined to be…

Just from a kiss, Brittany makes me feel like that. I've never ever felt that with anyone. Not Puck, not Adams, not Nelson, nobody. Just with Britt.

I watch as distinct pain washes over her features and I swear I feel it too.

BOOM.

BANG.

THUD.

Hear that?

That's what's left of my walls, crashing down harshly, brick by solid brick.

The sight of her sadness makes me feel like that puzzle piece is being ripped slowly, agonisingly from my chest.

That can't happen.

Call me selfish, but if this is what it feels like seeing her upset, then I will do everything in my power to make her smile again. Always.

I take two long strides towards her and envelope her into my arms, burying my face in her blonde tresses, smelling her beautiful scent.

I feel her whole body tense up in shock but after a few seconds she relaxes completely, letting out a long, shaky breath.

Her arms glide upwards and wrap around my waist, desperately holding me close.

It feels nothing but right as I wait for her breathing to even out, slowly stroking the palm of my hand over the back of her head, brushing my fingers through her hair.

When I know she's as calm as she can be right now, I pull back a little and press a light kiss to her forehead, my lips lingering there.

"I'm sorry…" I whisper, my lips ghosting over her skin and she shivers a little.

She nods gently, careful not to perturb our position and sighs, holding me tighter.

I laugh quietly, shaking my head a little.

"What has become of us? At first I was dubious about you, then you wanted to kill me, which I wanted you to do and now… Now I don't ever want to be without you…" I sigh.

She pulls back to look at me, a smile dancing upon her lips and I feel my own curling upwards.

Told you I'd get her to smile.

Just sayin'…

"And ever since I were a child, I wanted to kill you. Then I met you. The want was always there, always, but…" She trails off, searching for words. "There was always something about you that kept me from doing it… I didn't know what it was. Whether it was your startling beauty or your hypnotising laugh, I don't know… But I do know that now I have felt a touch of how your lips feel, a taste of them… The feel of your heart against mine… And I never want to leave your side. Ev- Oompf!"

Were you looking to know the rest of her beautiful, heart-warming, loving speech?

Tough.

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

Hah! That was another lie, I'm totally not sorry.

I have to hold her up as she melts into my kiss, sighing contentedly. I grin hugely, loving the effect I have on her already.

I laugh again, louder and freer than before, grinning up to the sky. This isn't the kind of happiness I'm used to, this is off the charts!

I feel like I'm floating on the highest cloud, breathing in the coldest, freshest air, and screaming to the world that they'll never be as happy as I am in this moment. And I don't even understand it!

I look back down to Britt who has the same smile stretching her pretty lips, reaching her eyes.

Do I know why I feel this way? No.

Do I know what on earth just happened? Nope.

Do I remember what it felt like before this elation crashed down on me? Hah! Nope!

Do I think I could handle this all the time? Bring it on.

I lean forward and pepper Brittany's face with little kisses before pulling back completely and just taking her hand in mine.

"Come on, let's go join the chase." I wink at her.

"Chase?" Her brow furrows, creating a cute little wrinkle in the middle.

"Oh yeah," I say seriously, although I know my eyes are probably twinkling mischievously. "Big chase. Sheriff Shue's gone crazy about the robbery and got all his boys on the case. He was running to the bank when I left, Puck and Quinn took our boys and are heading west. I told them we'll meet them at Rio Bravo, but I know a shortcut, just so we can have a little fun." I wink again.

"Well what are we waiting for?" She laughs and takes her hand back. She sets off running and jumps, literally jumps, onto Archer. "Come on, Slow Coach!"

Impressed as I am, I still have to be more impressive.

What can I say? I'm a proud person.

I bring my index finger and thumb up to my mouth and whistle loudly and clearly. Sapphira comes cantering around the corner from where she wandered off to. I trained her to do that whenever I dismount. She stays close by, but hidden. She comes running only if there's a threat or if I call her.

I pull myself up into the saddle, smirking.

"A race then! But this time, you can't win, because I have to show you where to go!" I laugh heartily, seeing the false dismay on her face. "Let's go!"


Sooooo! What did you guys think? Leave a review and let me know, you sexy little things, you! ;D