Snixxwrath asked: 99. "Don't you ever change."
Despite agreeing to move in, it takes a couple weeks before they're actually moving the first of Brittany's boxes into Santana's apartment. Brittany's off work, so she starts to slowly pack up all of her stuff, everything she's accumulated ever since she first moved to the city, fresh out of the academy, all those years ago. It's really slow going, what with Brittany only really having full use of one arm and all (Brittany wants to be moved into Santana's apartment, like, yesterday, but a crowbar to the shoulder will really slow you down, as Brittany has learned over the past few weeks).
Santana's busy with the shop during the day; with Mercedes already flown out to L.A. to record some demos even before the fire, Santana is left with just some part-time staff, some better than other. She comes home exhausted, more often than not, complaining loudly about the laziness of her staff (the only person she doesn't complain about is Jane, and Brittany's pretty sure, aside from being Jane actually being really hard worker, Santana has a huge soft spot for the girl; Brittany's pretty sure that Santana would promote her to assistant manager if she wasn't waiting to hear if Mercedes is coming back). During the evening, Santana makes room for Brittany in her apartment, in her life, and it's easier than either of them thought it would be. Santana doesn't find she minds rearranging her stuff and getting rid of old things when she knows she's doing it to make room for Brittany.
They've practically been living together for months now in everything but name; Brittany had already taken over a couple dresser drawers and a section of the closet, her shampoo and conditioner and razor had ended up in Santana's shower long ago, her toothbrush had a spot beside Santana's a couple weeks after they first spent the night together, and there's a cupboard of Brittany's favourite snacks to take to work in the kitchen. But there's something different and thrilling now that they are officially moving in together, that all of Brittany's useless little things and her pictures and her dress uniforms and childhood knickknacks, all the things that make her place hers, will now be in Santana's apartment and make the place theirs.
It's an ordinary Tuesday afternoon, until it is suddenly the best Tuesday of Brittany's life. Santana shows up at her apartment around one, dressed in the cutest overalls ever and her old sneakers; she wears her brightest smile, the one that reveals her dimples and scrunches her nose, and Brittany can't really help it when she swoops towards Santana and kisses her, deep and enthusiastic and wholehearted.
"Hi," Brittany whispers when she pulls back.
Santana bumps her nose against Brittany's and giggles. "Hi."
"You're early," Brittany says. "Like, four hours early. What are you doing here?"
Santana's smile widens and her eyes soften and Brittany melts. "According to Jane I was too 'jittery' to be of any help at the shop, so she chased me off."
Brittany grins and kisses Santana again, and then again, and then again, and then a couple more times after that because every time she pulls back, Santana's adorable dimply face just makes the urge to kiss her even stronger. Brittany's pretty sure that the urge to kiss Santana will never go away, because no matter how many times or how long she kisses Santana, she never seems to be sated. Eventually, Santana forces herself away with a giggle, quickly kissing Brittany's pouting bottom lip before she slips past Brittany and into the apartment, pausing in the living room where all of Brittany's life is packed into twelve neatly taped boxes. Brittany follows after Santana and wraps her in a hug from behind; she really doesn't want to be any farther from Santana than she needs to be.
Santana gives her a warning look that's belied by the adoration crinkling her eyes. "Watch it, Pierce," she threatens toothlessly, "We've got work to do."
Brittany kisses that sensitive spot right below Santana's ears and grins when Santana's breath hitches. Even though Brittany wants to just stay right here, nuzzling into Santana's warm body, she wants to move into Santana's apartment even more, so she reluctantly untangles herself from Santana and moves to the pile of boxes. Santana doesn't say anything as she follows Brittany and hefts a box into her arms, but her smile tells Brittany all she needs to know. They get all of the boxes downstairs and packed into Santana's car (Santana can't really see out of the back, but she just smiles and shrugs and kisses Brittany). Brittany's already had a couple people come through to look at her apartment, and it was sold before she knew it, so they lock up Brittany's place for the last time and Santana holds her hand all the way back to the car, and then keeps holding it the entire drive back to Santana's apartment — to their apartment.
They unload the car and have all of Brittany's boxes spread throughout the living room and bedroom before suppertime. They order takeout for an early supper and eat curled up on the couch before they start unpacking all the boxes. They finish the living room first; hanging up Brittany's Law Enforcement Diploma up beside Santana's Small Business of the Year Award, adding photos of Brittany's childhood to the empty spots beside Santana's, putting some of the decor Brittany's had for years on the coffee tables and on the shelves where it fits in with Santana's furniture and paint colour seamlessly.
They move on to the bedroom: Brittany hangs her work clothes up in the closet and shoving pajamas and underwear beside Santana's in the dresser while Santana unpacks all of the little knickknacks that Brittany has collected over the years.
Brittany's in the closet when she hears Santana gasp from where she's perched on the bed unpacking one of the last boxes. Brittany emerges from the closet and immediately freezes when she realizes what's in Santana's hands.
Santana looks up at her with a smile so wide it makes it look like her dimples might permanently indent her cheeks. "You still have your first detective's badge?" she asks, her voice warm and melty as she carefully traces the toddler-sized toy with a delicate finger.
"Oh, uh," Brittany stutters, blushing furiously. This is the woman she wants to spend the rest of her life with, and she really doesn't want her to think she's childish for keeping something that seems kind of dumb now that Brittany's thinking about it. She kicks one leg behind her and starts chewing harshly on her lip. "I— We don't— I forgot that was in there. Just— Just look the other way and I'll toss it out."
Santana clutches the toy badge to her chest with an adoring smile. "Are you kidding? It's so adorable, I love it!"
Brittany frowns and plays with the hem of her sweater. "Really?" she mumbles. She's looking down, so she doesn't notice when Santana gets off the bed and takes quick steps towards her until Santana's hands are on her jaw, tipping her head up to meet Santana's eyes, which are so deep that Brittany's pretty sure she might drown in them. Santana's got that soft, dimpled, I love you so much smile of hers on her face and Brittany swoons.
"I love it," Santana promises, "because I love you. Don't you ever change."
Brittany sighs and turns her face to kiss Santana's thumb where it's brushing her cheek. "I love you," she murmurs.
Santana beams up at her and bounces up on her toes to kiss her, long and deep. "I love you too," she whispers, "Welcome home."
Brittany's pretty sure she's never heard anything so beautiful.
