Boy, I can't wait to get through all this. I have MEGA plans ready for this story and I promise you it will be angst and smut/fluff. EXCITEMENT! Enjoy and review. I don't really have much else to say... Lol.

I own nothing!

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"So, like a forgotten fire, a childhood can always flare up again within us."- Gaston Bachelard

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Little Santana wandered around aimlessly one warm summer night, a certain blonde torturing her thoughts to no end. One of her meager hands was wound tightly around the feeble string-like material of her blue balloon that bobbed in the sky with each of her passing steps. Below the bare pads of her feet the grass was soft and trimmed to perfection; an easy indication she made her way out of Lima Heights.

Santana didn't have too many friends as a child, she never really did at all. Parents kept their kids away from her, assuming she was bad for them since she lives in Lima Heights. Secretly, Santana always wanted tons a friend to play Barbie with and messily paint each others nails. Her mother would always yell at her, mad her daughter couldn't make at least four friends. It was nothing Santana could help though, their parents would make up horrible stories about her so they wouldn't even look her way.

Brittany was different. She talked to Santana the moment her eyes found her sitting alone on a tree stump in the park. Her mother was different. She walked over to Santana's mom and pointed out their children were playing well together. Santana always thought Brittany was an angel sent from God to cheer her up when she was sad and alone. Quinn was different. She talked to Santana on rare occasions but it was friendly. Her mother wasn't different. If Quinn got caught talking to Santana, she would get sternly punished.

Being apart from Brittany too long made Santana scared she would never see her again. She would make herself nervous that Brittany's mom would suddenly take her away for good like all the other parents have. Terrible thoughts would fill her mind that the only thing she had in her life was Brittany. She would tell herself she's at least thankful for something.

One day, she found a strategy to hide all the pain away and lock it shut. It was in art class and the children were learning how to make masks using clay and paint. The teacher specifically said, "When you're wearing a mask, no one can know it's you! It's like you're a whole new person, but still the same you! And you can make as many as you want!"

That day, Santana made over five masks in one class while all the other students made only two. They were all average kids though, so Santana didn't mind. She knew she stuck out from everyone else and she accepted it because she didn't have any other option. Shooting stars granted none of her wishes.

Santana's lazy steps lead her to Brittany's house. Brittany was away on vacation and hasn't been home in two trekking days. Tears fill Santana's puppy eyes as she pleadingly looks up to the empty building and silently begs for her dear friend to come back. She began to think Brittany didn't really leave on vacation but that she left so she won't come back and didn't want to hurt Santana's feelings. Santana asked herself what feelings she has remaining to possibly hurt.

Shoulders slumping in defeat, she trudges over to the porch and plops onto the first white step.

"I got you this balloon Brittany but you're not here," she mumbles to herself sadly.

She fumbles around with it until it's tied around her tiny pinky. Closing her eyes, she imagines Brittany's holding her pink and a small smile graces her face. Eventually, she gets up and leaves back to her house. It became routine every night until Brittany finally got back and Santana could hand her the balloon that replaced her for the duration of her vacation.

"Lady Gaga," Marissa slurs, waking up and flopping herself over the side of Brittany's seat. "Is just- such a nice lady."

"Shut it, Marissa," Santana deadpans, driving the car through the night with her clothes still partially soaked. "It's good to know you're alive though."

Brittany looks over to the girl with a super toothy smile. She shamelessly reached out and touches the girl's ginger hair.

"Wow! You're like Valerie! I don't know any Valeries but San misses one. She sung about it. But I guess your names Marissa because San says so and San is always right. Right, San?" Brittany asks, looking over to Santana.

Santana sighs but nods her head. Brittany must really enjoy repeating the girl's name because it never seems to get old to her. Marissa is a little taken aback in seeing how radiant Brittany is. She almost forgot even how she ended up in Santana's car. What happened before was impossible to forget, though.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Brittany! You're the lucky girl!" Marissa grins, watching Brittany as she played with her hair. "Oh and Santana I'm going to have to thank you later..."

Santana shrugged and accepted the offer. Same old Santana Lopez. Not like she didn't risk her life for the girl or anything special like that. Brittany blushed shyly when Marissa said she was the lucky girl.

"Marissa," Santana began lowly. "What happened to you?"

Marissa froze in her position while Brittany still fiddled with her hair, making braids and undoing it. It's hard for her to act indifferent about everything that had just occurred; she nearly killed herself.

"I don't want to talk about it," she whispers, pulling away from Brittany's hands and slumping back in her seat.

Santana tightened her grip on the steering wheel. Lately she doesn't know what's gotten over her. Since when did she give a fuck about Quinn, Puck, Rachel, and a random new ginger kid? She's not supposed to be like this, it won't result in anything good. Santana isn't going to be a pathetic, vulnerable person.

"Whatever," Santana mumbles, finding her previous character. "Where the hell do you live?"

Marissa pulls at the bottom loose stitches of her sweater and watched the world pass by beyond the car. She must have messed everything up now. Who was she to think she had a chance at being Santana's friend anyway? Seeing how everyone reacts when they hear the girl's name says it all.

"I'm your neighbor."

Santana's eyes went wide. Wouldn't she have noticed this before? Realization hits her when she recalls those enormous moving trucks making those loud noises, resulting in her sleep-deprived nights. Fortunately, they are still near Lima Heights so Santana drives a quick path to her house. They drive up the worn pavement covered in snow and slightly slip to an abrupt stop.

"Get out," Santana ordered, turning back to look at Marissa. "We'll talk some other time. Tell anyone I'm with Brittany and I will destroy you with razorblades. Is that clear?"

Marissa clamps her mouth shut and violently nods her head as if her life depends on it. Brittany watches Santana thoughtfully, wondering what has gotten into the girl. She prays she isn't going to her old self again, no one likes the mean-masked Santana. That mask is the ugliest of them all.

"Thank you for everything, Santana," Marissa whispers before rushing out of the car and closing the door close behind her.

Santana shakes her head and turns out of the street. She leans over the side of her seat to watch as she rears the car out when she suddenly lost her concentration. Brittany quickly moved in to kiss Santana on the lips the second she saw the girl's intentions. She pulls away after a moment and gazes into Santana's eyes.

"Don't be mean, San," Brittany murmurs with her lips brushing Santana's before she settles back into her seat with a smug smile clear across her face.

Santana sat in a haze before abruptly collecting herself. A heavy sigh left her throat and she gave into Brittany's request. Brittany gets anything in the universe she delights. Hell, Santana could bring her to the moon if she liked and if not she could bring the moon to her.

They sat together in silence throughout the duration of the ride to Brittany's house. Half way through, the blonde reached out and laid a gentle hand to soothe the silk skin of Santana's knee. The Latina clung to the wheel to calm herself as her sexual frustration reached a deadly peak. She kept herself contained as they reached the girl's house, internally proud of her wits.

Santana got out and went to the trunk to get Brittany's wheelchair. Hauling out the steel object left Santana with a bitter feeling, thinking to herself she shouldn't be doing this because Brittany should be okay; she should have been there to push Brittany out of the way of that speeding car. Wheeling the chair over to Brittany's side, she opened the door and lent out a hand to the beautiful blonde.

"Why thank you," Brittany fondly commented with a coy grin, reaching out her hand to lace it with Santana's.

Santana's face lit up when she felt the spark Brittany's warm hand gave her. Every time she feels that special spark it makes her fall in love with Brittany all over again. Just like the first time they met...

"Santana find a partner already!"

The little Latina quivered in her seat when she felt all the eyes of the gathering students set on her. Her cruel teacher was yelling at her for no valid, rational reason- again.

Brittany's head poked up from the colorful rug when she heard the teacher roar again. Her blue eyes scanned the crowd until joining them at their obvious stare on the panicing caramel-skinned girl. Salty tears began to pool in Santana's eyes as she looked around desperately, biting on the skin of her knuckles as she pleadingly searched for a willing soul. Only faces filled with disgust glared back, judging her based on stories their parents made up.

"I- uhmm," her little voice broke as the first tear rolled down her rosy cheek, the room spinning around her.

Suddenly, she felt a sharp shock to her back. She jumped in her seat and turned around at meet apologizing blue eyes.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to attack lightening to you!" Brittany instantly cried out, holding her hands to her chest strongly. "I just wanted to know if you would be my partner cause I want you to be my partner really badly!"

Santana, along with the entire class, stared in awe directly at Brittany. On account of the girl's incredibly improper grammar, mean assumptions had already been thought. Brittany took all the attention with pride for Santana. She was more glad Santana didn't have to panic or worry than having the attention itself.

"I- I-" Santana couldn't find the words as her throat and lips grew dry.

"Pretty please?" Brittany pleaded, bouncing a little in her spot with anticipation.

Santana glanced at the crowd, then the teacher, they were just as shocked as she was. Quinn caught Santana's eyes for a second and nodded her head sternly, silently ordering her to accept Brittany's offer. Santana gave her a thankful smile before turning to Brittany with a new confidence.

"You can be my partner," Santana grinned, reaching out her pinky to Brittany's.

There was another shock when they linked fingers. Both of them giggled before skipping to work. All the other students shot them odd looks and backed away from them. Santana didn't care; she had Brittany and that's all that mattered. Brittany looked at little Santana with a smile.

Brittany looked up at Santana with a warm smile, feeling that exact identical shock. Santana pulled Brittany carefully out of the car by her waist and gently set her in the chair. She was about to pull away when Brittany only tugged her back in again.

"San, I love you," she whispered into her ear with deep meaning.

Santana bit down on her bottom lip and just let herself soak up the words. She felt like the more Brittany says it, the more meaning it obtains.

"I love you too, Brittany," she grins, tightening her hold and Brittany before letting her breathe. "Now text your parents and tell them to come outside."

Brittany nods with a bright smile and takes out her phone. She taps the screen a few times and less than a mintue later her parents are flying out the door.

"BRITTANY!"

"MY BABY!"

"YOU'RE HOME!"

"WE LOVE YOU AND MISSED YOU!"

"THANK YOU FOR DRIVING HER SANTANA!"

That went on for quite awhile until they finally got into the house. Everyone gathered to the table for a late dinner and ate. Santana feels as though she hasn't ate with Brittany's family in years; it's a dull and dreary feeling. Being back with them means the world to her, lighting her days a little more every moment.

Afterwards, Brittany's mother cleaned the dishes and her father proceeded to watch some sports in the living room. Santana and Brittany stood in front of the stairs, looking up at every step with a horrified face.

"How are we...?"

"Put your arms around my neck and lay on my back."

It wasn't an option; Santana ordered Brittany sternly. She told herself she would get Brittany up to her room and that's exactly what she's going to do. Brittany gave out a little meep before doing as told and sliding out of her chair onto Santana's slouched back. The Latina wrapped her hands around Brittany's and held them so she wasn't getting choked to death.

Then, careful step by step, she made her way up the stairs with Brittany on her back. When they finally got to the top, both girls fell to the floor in a fit of giggles.

"You did it!" Brittany laughed, holding her hands up in fierce fists.

Santana laughed back and twined her arms around Brittany's waist.

"Yup, sure did," she smiled bashfully, nuzzling Brittany's neck. "You smell like Berry's candles and it keeps reminding me of her face. Let's get you washed."

Brittany pulled away from Santana with a face full of fear and uncertainty.

"How-?"

"I'm going to help you," Santana winked, biting her lower lip.

Brittany's face already flushed a deep red at the thought, not to mention her dampening panties. She took a quick moment to thank the lord her lower area still works. It would be way too embarrassing to just pee and not even know it.

Santana brought them into the bathroom before Brittany could protest, which she didn't, and sat her on the sink. It's a little awkward since Brittany is much taller than Santana but needlessly to say, the sight is very endearing with Santana's cute efforts. Santana turns the water on in the tub, making it a content warm temperature.

"Where to start?" Santana playfully asks herself as her figners dance along the bottom hem of Brittany's shirt.

Slowly, she brought up the material and threw it behind her. It sploshed to the tile floor like nothing. Santana gazed at Brittany's toned stomach with lustrous eyes, licking her full lips delightedly. Brittany blushed and ducked her head down.

"Hey," Santana murmurs, lifting Brittany's averted stare by her chin gently. "You look beautiful."

Brittany looks deeply into Santana warm chocolate eyes, drowning in the swirling dark colors reflecting in the dim yellow light. They're rimmed by the dull yellow and slightly tanned by it's lighting, creating a nice, romantic surrounding. A bright smile lit up Brittany's face.

Santana offered a wink before pulling down Brittany's sweatpants. She carefully tugged the soft cloth down until it fell off the blonde's immobile feet. Crawling her way back up, she leaned into Brittany and held her at the hips.

"You really are beautiful," Santana says into Brittany's ear, reaching behind her to unclasp her bra.

She pulls away from her and watchs it fall, exposing Brittany's perfect breasts. Not wanting to embaress the girl, she doesn't look for too long until she reaches down for her pockadot panties. She slides her index finger under it and hooks it around the thin lace, not breaking eye contact with Brittany. Gradually, she drags it down and off Brittany's feet, forcing it out from under the sitting girl.

Finally, she wraps her arms around Brittany's waist and brings her to the tub. Brittany sits up in the water with the support of her arms loosely on the edges.

"Is it warm enough?" Santana asks, hoping it wasn't too hot or cool.

Brittany shivers from the goosebumps forming up her arms. The water is at the perfect temperature, she has nothing to complain about except that Santana isn't in with her.

"It's perfect, San," she says, looking up at the girl with need in her deep blue eyes. "Come in too?"

Santana pulls off her cloths and lets Brittany shamelessly watch. When she's finally free of all the winter clothing, she steps into the warm tub and places herself behind Brittany. The blonde lets her body relax and lean back into Santana's bare front, a content smile on both of their faces. They sat for awhile, Santana's arms around Brittany's as she holds her close.

"I love you, Britt."

"I love you, too. Proudly so."

LOL no sex. Oh well! I'm not that horny tonight. Sorry folks. LMAO! There will be sex, though. I promise.