Brittany / April 2012

Santana arrived at the restraint right at 8 o'clock dressed in a tight elegant blue dress which made Brittany feel a little under dressed in her floral sundress , but seeing Santana smiling at her made her forget all about that almost instantly. Grandpa has gone to Will's house for the evening so there was no one to make her feel uncomfortable.

"You look beautiful Britt. Are you ready to go?"

The stunning Latin women asked as she opened the door for Brittany. The blond waitress blushed and nodded as she stepped out into the night air. Despite Quinn's in distance Brittany did in fact shave her legs, she just had to hope things didn't go too far and if they did...well it wouldn't be the end of the world. Santana opened the door to her lexis and made sure Brittany was comfortably buckled before getting in the car herself.

"So where are we off to?"

Brittany kicked herself for being so terrible at making small talk. Maybe if she let Santana do all the talking then there might be a stronger chance of a second date. Santana just smiled.

" It's been a really long time since I've taken someone out on a first date so I was thinking that we could just go for a walk in the park and uh..Get to know each other a little better first…if that's okay with you. "

Brittany couldn't hide her smile Santana's shyness was too perfect and it made her feel more comfortable to know that she wasn't the only one who was nervous.

"That sounds perfect."

The stroll through the park was actually a brilliant idea. The trees were all lit up with lights and decorations. Street performers played music for them as they walked by and talked. Once they got started the conversation seemed to flow so naturally between the two of them as if they had been close friends for years. Brittany laughed at all of Santana's jokes and even the small things that Santana hadn't even realized were even that funny. In turn Santana appreciated all the keen insight Brittany had on the world. The fact that Santana understood her and appreciated her ideas made the blond swoon. She decided to open up and tell her about the trip to California.

"… I'm really nervous to go on the plane though. I've never been on one before and I'm a little terrified."

"You've never been on a plane before? How come?"

"Well ever since I was little I've had a….."

Brittany stopped herself just in time. Her time with Santana hand been going so well and now didn't seem like the right time to drop the heart surgery bomb on her. The last thing she wanted was for Santana to start acting differently towards her

"You what Britt?"

"Oh, not me, my grandpa…Ever since I was little my grandpa's been sick so we couldn't ever make and long distance trips…"

"That's awful he seems so healthy…"

"Uh...No. Now he is. He's good now it's just that he doesn't like to talk about it much or like...At all. If you see him don't even mention it because he gets like… weirdly upset about it."

Brittany kicked herself again for such a stupid lie. She just hoped Santana would believe it.

"Ah gotcha… well that is sad. I guess since you told me something personal I should say something too then huh?"

"You don't have to if you don't want to."

"No. no. I want to. I think you have a right to know. So you've heard me mention my wife before right? "

Brittany nodded.

"She and I met my sophomore year of high school thanks to my friend Sam. We dated all throughout high school and college then eventually got married. About a year ago we were working on a huge project… you know the gorilla habitat restoration? "

Brittany nodded again.

"That was all her. She put the whole thing together and I designed the enclosure. We had gone to a gala to raise the last bit of money we needed to break ground…"

Santana was quiet for a long moment before going on.

"It was raining and we were hit from the side by a drunk driver who had run a stop sign…Mackenzie died almost on impacted."

Brittany brought her hand to her mouth in sorrow.

"Oh god Santana I'm so sorry." She confessed.

"It's okay. She's with me every day and I love her everyday but I have to live my life you know? I'm sorry I know this isn't first date talk but I figured you should know. You're the first person I've met since she's been gone that actually makes me feel something again. You remind me a lot of her and I don't think that's a bad thing."

Brittany's heart warmed at the confession. Somehow it made her feel closer to Santana.

"I don't think it's a bad thing ether." She said with a playful nudge. "Did Mackenzie like ice cream?"

"She loved it."

"Then let's go get some"

Brittany took Santana by the hand and raced with her to a vender several yards away selling ice cream.

"Do you care if I get two scoops?"

Santana shook her head and laughed.

"No you're only allowed one! Of course you can have two scoops."

The two girls bought their ice cream and laughed at each other's silliness.

"Hey, I'd like to show you something… is that okay?"

Santana asked trying to hide her blush, but Brittany could easily see the distinct rosy color in her cheeks.

"I would love for you to show me something."

Twenty minutes later the two girls stood at the top of one of the largest buildings in the city. During the day it was an office space but few knew that there was a beautiful garden at the top. The view over looked the entire city. The lights below glowed bright lighting up the night sky.

"Santana this is…"

Brittany couldn't find words to express her amazement. It sent a small shiver down her spine. Delicately Santana draped a jacket around her shoulders when she saw Brittany shiver.

"This was the first building I ever designed. It's one of my favorites."

"It's beautiful Santana."

"I come up here a lot when I need to clear my head."

There was a long silence between both women as they took in the beautiful sight. Brittany hugged the jacket a little tighter as the wind blew past them. She could feel Santana shift awkwardly next her then clear her throat.

"Mackenzie and I got married before we were twenty-five and we started dating when I was fifteen, so this might sound a little immature, but I was wondering if I could hold your hand."

Santana's eyes looked to Brittany's as she put her hand out. Brittany studied her for a moment. Her heart pounded hard because she had never met a single person as sweet as Santana in her life.

"Yes. I'd love that."

She could feel the other women's warmth slip between her fingers as it spread throughout her body. She stepped closer and rested her head against Santana's shoulder as she closed her eyes. To Brittany this moment just felt so right as if she had finally come home.

Santana pulled up to the front of the restraint and got out to open Brittany's door and walk her to the back gate where they had first put the coverings over the flowers together.

"Thank you for coming out with me tonight. I had a really fun time with you."

Santana said stopping in front of the vine-covered gate. Brittany felt cold when Santana let go of her hand so that they could face each other and talk.

"I did too…oh! I should give you back your jacket "

Santana's hands came up to stop her and adjust the collar.

"You keep it. I'll get it back from you when we go out again..."

Brittany blushed hard and looked away but gave a sweet okay.

"Besides it looks really good with your dress…"

The next several moments happened in slow motion for Brittany. When she thought about it later it felt as though she was watching some horrible movie that she was powerless to stop. First she felt Santana's fingers brush the buttons of her dress that covered her scar which ran down her chest. The touch caught her so off guard and before she could register what she was doing her pale hand collided with Santana's caramel cheek with a defining crack that echoed down the back ally way.

"Oh GOD! Are you okay!?"

"Jesus Christ! What was that for !?"

Santana stood clutching her now bright red cheek as Brittany fumbled for an explanation.

"Oh my god I am so sorry! Did you...Um...Did you see anything?"

"No. I wasn't looking..."

The other girl's voice sounded a little offended that Brittany would even think that.

"I know you weren't oh god...it was because I had a heart…."

Santana raised an eye brow as she rubbed her sore cheek

" ..A heart…w-warming dream…uh…about...you?"

"It must have been awful..."

Santana retorted

"Nonono... You were very uh…"

"Scary?"

"Sexy."

" … You had a sex dream about me?"

Santana asked in disbelief

"No! Not that… I mean I hardly met you and I…"

There was no way she would be able to explain to Santana what just happened so Brittany decided to cut her losses and go for what she really wanted before it was too late. She leaned in and pushed her lips to Santana hoping that the other women hadn't changed her mind in the last five seconds. When she didn't pull away Brittany relaxed a little and melted more into the kiss. Once she was satisfied that she hadn't ruined her chances with the beautiful Latina she pulled away, wished Santana goodnight, and ran inside the house like a school girl. The other women just stood there for several moments looking utterly confused until a small smile crossed her lips before returning to her car.