Chapter 10 - Fearless (Taylor Swift) - Part 1

Brittany was walking away by the time Santana finally found her voice again. "I really will think about it." It was all she could think to say. The blonde turned around with a questioning look. "I know I just said that but I want you to know that I mean it."

Brittany nodded. "Do you need help getting back up?" She asked politely, trying not to let her disappointment show.

"I should be alright, thanks though." The blonde turned to leave again when Santana saw a lightning bug. "Do you want to go sit out on the hammock?" Santana knew Brittany loved the hammock and was only surprised that the Pierce family didn't have one of their own.

It may have been dark but Santana could see the smile on Brittany's face. It wasn't the biggest of smiles but it was so genuine and real. As Brittany walked back towards her she felt her heart speed up as it always did when she was in the same room with the girl. No words were spoken as they walked further into the Lopez backyard, going around the pool and patio furniture. The yard wasn't as big as Brittany's but it was still a fair size and the hammock happened to be almost all the way back.

Santana reached the hammock first and laid down grabbing the blanket that she had left there earlier. Brittany sat down on the edge and stayed a safe distance from Santana, not wanting to push her luck. Neither spoke for the longest time until Santana noticed Brittany shiver. "Come here." She lifted the blanket so Brittany could get under but the girl hesitated. "It's not like we haven't shared a blanket before, come on you're cold. Unless you'd rather just go home?" Brittany shook her head no before quickly slipping under the blanket.

Santana wasn't sure what they were doing right now but she did know that she had missed Brittany. As much as she could say she was friends with Mercedes and Tina it was Brittany who had made this place feel somewhat like home. Though she wasn't sure why because most of her still wanted to catch the first flight back to L.A. Brittany managed to keep the rest of her grounded. "Thanks again for the other night, you know for getting me home and all that. Guess you're becoming my knight in shining armour."

Santana stayed silent for a few moments unsure of what she wanted to say. "Just because I'm mad at you, was mad at you doesn't mean that I don't care about you. You can't just suddenly stop caring about someone. Besides I owed you for not letting me sleep in my car."

"So that's all it was then, repayment?" Brittany had clearly missed the first part of what Santana had said.

"You really are blonde aren't you? Go catch some lightning bugs."

Brittany looked at her with a confused expression. "How do you know about my liking of lightning bugs?" Santana gave her a look and it was as if the lightning bugs went off in her head. "Oh no, what did I do?"

"You're a cute drunk you know? Running around chasing lightning bugs like you were five again." Even in the dark Santana could see Brittany's cheeks turn a shade of red. "Like I said, lucky you're pretty cute." She reached a hand out of the blanket and tapped the tip of Brittany's nose.

"Are you flirting with me Santana Lopez?"

Santana shrugged. "Guess you'll never know."

Without warning Brittany moved a little closer and wrapped her arms around Santana, causing the hammock to sway. After a minute Santana realised that Brittany wasn't going to let go and despite trying to keep up a tough act she knew it was crumbling. She wrapped her arms back around the other girl and let her hold her close. The butterflies once again started up in her stomach along with a warm fuzzy feeling that she didn't know even existed outside of movies.

After another minute Brittany pulled away and looked at Santana. "Sorry, I know I probably shouldn't have done that but I couldn't help it."

"It's fine Britt, just a hug but I should probably head to bed, I'm dead tired." Brittany nodded and stood up reaching her hand out to help Santana.

"Thanks, for at least thinking about giving me another chance. No matter what though I promise to be your friend."

Santana couldn't help but smile at the admission. More than anything she didn't want to lose Brittany as a friend. "Likewise."

"She said likewise?" Quinn asked and Brittany could tell even over the phone that Quinn wasn't pleased.

"Yes ma'am that's what she said." Brittany could almost see Quinn shake her head.

Huffing the other blonde wasn't sure what to do. "All I can say is that she went thru some things that left her a little bit sour. She acts tough and she is, she's as stubborn as they come, I'm sure you already know that by now. All you can do is be yourself, trust me she can't resist you."

"Really? Because I don't think that's been the case so far."

Quinn laughed. "You have no idea do you? How many ways do I have to put it B. Santana can't stop talking about you, and if I know her, which I do, she can't stop thinking about you either. She's scared and I don't blame her. New town, new friends, totally out of her comfort zone, she's not some naïve little girl, she's been hurt."

"I know you told me." Brittany's voice was soft, knowing that she had hurt Santana made hurt her ten times more.

"All I can say is that she loves cookies, you've probably noticed that by now but especially home-made cookies."

Brittany smiled. "Got it. Thanks Quinn, it means a lot."

"Anytime, I never really liked her with Puck anyways but hurt her again and you'll find that southern charm of yours down south if you catch my drift."

Brittany let our a nervous laugh. "I got it, hope to see you soon, Sam misses you like a lost puppy."

"Talk to you later B."

"Bye." Brittany hung up the phone and laid back on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. She knew she had to find a way to convince Santana that she could trust her.

"Brittany honey, can you do me a favour before you go out please?" Her mother asked as she walked into the kitchen.

"Sure mama, what do you need?"

The older woman walked around the kitchen and put a few things into a bag. "Can you bring these back over to the Lopez's. They aren't home but Maria told me to let myself in, she said Santana is home but never hears the doorbell if she's in the backyard."

Brittany nodded. "I was going to go over there anyways, I baked Santana some cookies."

Her mother nodded. "I thought I smelt something baking early this morning." The older Pierce smiled. "Whatever it was that happened can be fixed if you're willing to fix it."

She rang the doorbell even though she wasn't expecting an answer. Looking down at her watch she figured the girl was outside since her car was parked in the driveway. She tried the door handle and smiled when it was, in face unlocked. It wasn't until she was in the kitchen that she heard the music playing. The sound of someone singing and playing the piano filled the air and for whatever reason Brittany had to find where it was coming from.

Following the sound down the hall she realised it was coming from the basement. It was the one place in the house she had never really been. There was a sort of rec room down there that her and Santana had watched a few movies in but that was the extent of it. Thinking that it could be a relative Brittany made her way outside and realised Santana wasn't laying by the pool like she'd normally be at this time. Shrugging Brittany let her curiosity get the best of her as she made her way downstairs. Getting closer to the sound she could hear the raspy voice singing and a distant place in her mind wondered if it could be Santana.

Almost as quickly as she had thought it she let it go. Figuring if Santana could sing like that she would have heard her at some point. Sure she'd heard the girl sing in the car or hum and she could carry a tune but nothing more than that. As she made her way down the hall she heard the music getting louder, and it was clear that it was someone singing. She couldn't help the smile that crossed her face as she finally saw who the stunning voice belonged too. All she could do was lean against the door frame and watch as nimble fingers played over the ivory keys of the piano. She was awestruck at the sight in front of her, Santana not only playing the piano but singing and she could definitely sing.

"I've known it from the moment that we met, no doubt in my mind where you belong." Brittany smiled and wondered if just maybe that line held any truth. She felt like she should tell the girl in front of her that she was there, the last thing she wanted to do was startle her. Instead Brittany stayed still for another minute before slowly making her way back upstairs. Grabbing a piece of paper she left a note for Santana because as much as she was sure she could stand there all day and listen to her sing she felt like she was invading the girls privacy.

Making her way upstairs Santana felt better than she had in awhile. Something about singing always gave her a little more liveliness. Making her way into the kitchen she saw her mothers Tupperware and next to it was a plate of cookies. Looking around she realised that no one else was home and she hadn't heard anyone come. Lifting the note she smiled from ear to ear. Southern charm was definitely something Brittany Pierce had, and she had a lot of it.

You sound amazing! Can't believe you've been holding out on me. Made these this morning, just for you. No I'm not trying to poison you smart ass.

- Princess Charming

Santana shook her head as she went into the kitchen for her phone. She had a text from Quinn that she quickly opened. Give her a chance bitch face. Rolling her eyes she tossed her phone back onto the couch. Walking back into the kitchen she poured herself a glass of milk before sitting on the counter and eating a cookie. "Mmm, talk about holding out Britt." She mumbled to herself as she had a few cookies.

A few hours later Santana was sprawled across the hammock reading under the fading light of the sun. Feeling a cool breeze she pulled the blanket up to her chin and instantly closed her eyes. All she could smell was Brittany, a sweet scent that she was positive she could never get enough of. That's when it hit her, she really didn't have a choice at all about going to the fair with Brittany because fate had spoken loud and clear the moment the two girls had met.

Throwing the blanket back she put her book down and raced towards her neighbours house. She waited after ringing the door bell but didn't get an answer. Moving around the corner she saw that Brittany's truck was in the driveway and that typically meant the girl was home. Following her gut feeling she made her way around the back of the house the way Brittany had showed her. No one was on the back deck but the lights in the kitchen were on, that too normally meant Brittany was close. That's when she heard the music coming from the pool house. She shook her head as she got closer and saw Brittany doing laps in the pool.

She stood pool side waiting for Brittany to notice her but after a few minutes Santana decided to stop waiting. Hold two fingers in her mouth she let out a loud whistle causing Brittany to finally look over at her. "Sometimes we have to be fearless and I that is what I want to do, be fearless at least when it comes to you." Brittany had pulled herself out of the pool and was now standing in front of Santana with a quizzical look on her face. "Let me rephrase that. "Yes, I'll go to the fair with you, how can I say no to my princess."

"It's a date." Brittany said as she picked her up and spun her around.

"I don't know if I'm ready for that but I miss getting to spend time with you and besides you at least owe me a cute stuffed animal." Santana said when Brittany finally put her down. She wasn't trying to dampen the girls mood she was just being honest, but somewhere she knew she had to let Brittany back in. "You can put me down now especially since I'm soaking wet."

Brittany grinned and put the girl back down. "I miss getting to spend time with you too."

"Of course you did, I'm awesome and beyond hot."

This time it was Brittany who raised her eyebrows, copying Santana's 'oh really' face. "You do look like you need to cool off a bit." Brittany said as pushed Santana into the pool before jumping back in herself.

"You are so dead." Santana laughed as she swam over to where Brittany was. "I'll have you know I was actually cold."

"Good thing I have a heated pool then isn't it." They were both now in the shallow end and Santana had Brittany cornered.

"You're lucky you're cute. Now come on lets go make me some more cookies cause those were good even though you're a little creeper listening to me sing. We'll talk about that later by the way."

"Should I be scared?" Santana nodded trying to keep a stern look on her face only for it to be wiped away when Brittany shook her head no. "You aren't so scary, you should work on that."

"I'm plenty scary, thanks very much." She answered as she moved her head a little closer to the blondes only to quickly move aside and lift herself out of the pool

Brittany turned around and looked at Santana standing with her hand on her hip. "You might not be scary but you're definitely pretty and I can't wait to take you to the fair. I mean let's face it ya'll know I'm the cutest thang around."

"You better be careful, or I may just change my mind."

The blonde pulled herself out of the pool and grabbed a towel for Santana before grabbing one for herself. "It's so a date."

"No, its not. Especially after you pushed me in the pool."

"Oh well alright then I can invite Mercedes and everyone…"

Santana cut her off. "No! It's our night out but it's not a night little miss Southern Bell."

"Fine, but one week from tonight I'll change your mind about that." Brittany winked. "Let's go get you some dry clothes. Stay over and watch a movie?" Santana nodded and followed Brittany back to the house, a part of her hoping Brittany could change her mind, the other part of her knowing that her mind was already changed.

A/N: I promise that the next chapter will be the fair, I just got a little carried away with this one and didn't want to rush the fair. Also a big thank you to misscorylynn for keeping me motivated to write this otherwise I'm not sure when I would have gotten to it. So this one was for her J