A/N: Well hello everyone! I bring bearing a gift! In chapter form. So this chapter is sort of a break from the angst, I felt that it was becoming a little bit overwhelming. Also, I got some hate for having the Brittberry pairing, and I thought it would be good to sort address my decision here. I believe Brittberry is a completely under-rated pairing, and I felt like exploring it , and I will explore it to it's fullest potential. So if that bothers anybody, I apologize, but I am NOT changing my decision. That being said, for those of you who still are loyal to the story, I thank you. Thanks for sticking with it, and having faith in the pairings.
P.S. I don't own Glee. But reviews would still be really, really nice. I love and appreciate it all.
Santana was a mess, to put it lightly. The whole ordeal with the Glee club earlier had her on edge. She felt like she had been betrayed in the worst way, even if it was just Finn being an asshole. The Latina wasn't one to let her problems get the best of her, but right now, as she sat in Quinn's driveway waiting for the blonde girl to gather her things for their day with Rachel and Brittany, Santana let her worries sink in.
'I should have known this would happen. I shouldn't have been so stupid to believe that everybody would be happy for us. What the hell was I thinking? Q and I would come out, and Finnocence would run over and suffocate us in a giant hug? They would all sing Melissa Etheridge and the Indigo Girls in honor of us? And what about Quinn! I promised to protect her. Dios mio, estoy una idiota.'
Santana was brought out of her mental assault on herself by her car door opening and closing. She glanced over at Quinn for a second and found a new wave of emotion hitting her. Quinn must have noticed that the smile sent in her direction was forced, because the blonde leaned over the console to pull Santana into a bone crushing hug.
Santana stiffened at the unexpected contact, but immediately relaxed into Quinn's embrace. The Latina felt her tears spill over, but she couldn't bring herself to care. This breakdown had been brewing like a storm for the past hour or so, and Santana knew there was no stopping it once those first tears got out. Quinn had to hold her breath as she felt the brunette collapse against her fully, Santana's entire weight shaking against her own body.
"Shhh San, it's okay, please it's okay I promise." Quinn whispered to the smaller girl convulsing in her arms.
Santana barely registered what Quinn was saying, all she could do was grip the blonde girl tighter as she let loose.
"He's an asshole, Santana. We all know that." Quinn continued, her hand raking through Santana's dark locks. "Mr. Schue took care of him, and the rest of the club has our backs."
"My fault." Santana rasped out. "I'm so damn stupid."
Quinn raised an eyebrow, silently wondering how any of this was Santana's fault.
"What are you talking about?" the blonde inquired.
Santana pulled away from Quinn then, and began wiping at her eyes. "I should have known Frankenteen was going to pull something, but I went ahead and put you in a dangerous situation because I wanted people to back the fuck off of you."
Quinn rolled her eyes. "It takes two to tango, Santana. I wanted people to know as well, and I especially wanted Finn to stop trying to ask me out."
Santana shook her head. "It's not the same Q! I'm supposed to protect you! But instead, I let Finn get all up in your grill. I should have beaten his ass when I had the chance. That damn pendejo."
"Santana, I'm going to tell you this once, and only once. I appreciate your protectiveness, I really do, it's usually adorable, but today you scared the crap out of me."
At Quinn's words, Santana felt her world fall apart. "Good going Lopez, she's scared of you now.' the Latina thought bitterly
"No, don't get that look." Quinn said, noticing the guilt spread across Santana's face.
Santana looked at the blonde curiously, her eyes pleading Quinn to continue.
"I'm not afraid of you, San, and don't try to make up some kind of excuse, because I know that's what you were thinking."
Santana felt her mouth drop open in awe of how well Quinn knows her. She was about to utter some sort of an apology before Quinn cut her off.
"I was afraid for you." the blonde admitted as she moved her hand to stroke Santana's cheek.
Santana sighed gently and leaned into Quinn's touch. "I'm sorry."
Quinn nodded, acknowledging the apology. "Don't be, it's just, seeing you next to Finn, it just hit me. I don't want anything bad to happen to you, and I know you have this notion in your head that you're the knight in shining armor, but what about me? I want to protect you too, and I can't do that if you're picking fights with people three times your size."
Santana swallowed hard. She had never stopped to think about how Quinn felt about the situation. The Latina was so used to being the strong one; that was just the way things were. When her mother left, Santana picked up the broken pieces of her father. She would be home from school on time to clean up the house and to start dinner for her dad. Santana would do anything for the people she loves, including taking a few swings from the oversized oaf that is Finn Hudson, but never did she stop to think how Quinn would feel about her heroine persona.
"I am so, so sorry querida." Santana sobbed out, the tears beginning to spill out from behind her eyelids once again. "I shouldn't be so selfish."
Quinn sighed heavily. "Don't apologize, I understand you like having control, and I know that Finn deserved to get his ass kicked, but please, if it happens again, leave it to Puck or Mike. I can't lose you, Santana."
The Latina nodded into Quinn's hand. Everything the blonde had just said made total sense to Santana. 'If I want this to work out with Q, I have to stop the badass charade.' Santana thought to herself before clearing her throat to speak.
"You're right Q, about everything. I'm so sorry I didn't think about how any of this would affect you, and I promise to let the guys deal with Finnessa."
Quinn smiled and Santana felt the blonde girl wipe at the tear tracks that now stained her face. She leaned in once again, the feeling of Quinn's fingers against her cheeks was too good to resist. The Latina had to hold back a gasp when she felt Quinn's lips connect with hers. Santana kissed back eagerly, her tongue shot out of her own mouth to lick at Quinn's lips, begging for entrance. When Quinn finally obliged, Santana set out to explore the taller girl's mouth with all the love she could pour into the kiss. Unfortunately the kiss had to end, for one, Santana was pretty sure that neither girl could breathe that well, and they did have to get to the mall to hang out with Brittany and Rachel. Santana begrudgingly pulled away and placed a chaste kiss on the slightly swollen pair of lips that belonged to Quinn.
"Thank you." Santana said sincerely. "For putting up with me, and for kissing like that."
Quinn laughed heartily. "You're welcome, on both accounts."
Santana flashed the blonde girl a smile before pulling out of Quinn's driveway and heading towards Lima's excuse of a mall. The fact that Quinn could make Santana feel so much better with the simplest of actions and words never ceased to amaze the brunette. Within a few minutes Santana was parking her car in the lot outside the mall and getting out to help her girlfriend out of her seatbelt.
They walked hand in hand into the mall, ignoring the stares from some of the elderly shoppers. Before long they found their friends sitting next to each other at a table in the middle of the food court. Brittany had one arm resting on the table, and another slung around Rachel's shoulders. The smaller brunette was laughing as she fed Brittany a French fry.
Santana felt her heart flood with warmth at the sight of her best friend so happy. Sure, there was a time where Brittany and Santana had fooled around, but both had realized that it was to fill a void. For the Latina, Brittany was as close as she could get to Quinn without actually being with her, and for Brittany, Santana was just someone to be with, someone who wouldn't hurt her or expect too much from her. They had one of the most genuine friendships of all time, and Santana was more than ecstatic that her better half had finally found someone who could love her.
"Hey guys!" Quinn yelled out from across the court.
Brittany and Rachel looked up, and noticing it was Quinn and Santana walking towards them, waved enthusiastically.
"Sanny! Come here, you have to try these French fries." Brittany said as the other girls finally reached their table.
Santana smiled before sitting down on the blue eyed blondes' other side. She gave Brittany a fist bump and nodded at Rachel before reaching out to steal a fry. Her eyes widened at the taste, and she grabbed another one.
"God, I forgot how good junk food is. I am so glad we quit Cheerios." Santana stated as she ate the greasy food.
Quinn laughed from her place next to Santana. "Could you imagine if Sue caught us eating this crap while on the squad?"
"She'd freaking kill us! Suicide laps until we died." Santana said seriously, and at that everybody laughed.
Brittany eyed the food carefully. "It would totally be worth it though."
"Hell yeah, Britts." Santana agreed.
"So, I'm guessing you both want an explanation as to when Brittany and I started dating." Rachel said, looking back and forth between Santana and Quinn.
"Yeah, hello to you too, Rachel." Santana replied sarcastically, earning a nudge from Quinn.
The Latina shot the blonde a half serious glare, before muttering an apology.
"It's quite alright, Santana. I understand that this might be a little uncomfortable, but I assure you that I have worked on my rambling and I will tone it down when we are all together."
Santana raised an eyebrow. "That's your idea of toning it down?"
"Santana" Brittany and Quinn said warningly.
The scolded girl hung her head. 'Damn it, I can't win if both of them team up against me. That's like kryptonite.'
"God, I'm sorry! You just make it so damn easy, Berry." Santana apologized again.
Rachel offered her a small smile. "It's okay, really."
Santana smiled and held her fist out for Rachel to bump. The singer looked like she was meeting Barbra Streisand, but connected her fist with Santana's. Quinn and Brittany smirked at each other, knowing Santana and Rachel would soon have the lezbromance of the century.
"Alright Rachel, spill it." Santana said as she laced her and Quinn's fingers together.
Brittany started giggling. "You called her Rachel!"
Santana just rolled her eyes. "Yeah well, I guess I can be nice now huh?"
Rachel laughed and pressed a kiss to Brittany's cheek. "Well, I'd like to say that we had some great romantic gesture, but really this one came up to me in the choir room one afternoon asking if I could help her write an original song for Regionals."
"I really liked her song, My Headband, and I wanted help with my song." Brittany cut in.
"Yes, and your song was very good sweetheart, I can't wait to suggest we sing it for Nationals.." Rachel said, earning a blush from Brittany.
"Okay, okay, enough with the looks get on with the story!" Santana urged on, growing impatient.
"Well one night we were sitting on my bed, and Brittany was playing with my hair. I don't know what came over me, but I kissed her, and she reciprocated, but afterwards she ran out."
Brittany frowned slightly. "I didn't mean too, I was just scared. I'm sorry."
Rachel shook her head. "I've already told you, it's forgotten. You're my tiny dancer now, remember?"
Santana faked a gag at the sweet kiss that took place then, but Quinn smiled and squeezed her hand gently.
"What happened next?" Quinn inquired curiously.
"Well I wrote "Get it Right" because I thought I did something wrong, and I thought maybe Brittany would forgive me if she knew how I was feeling." Rachel continued on.
"It totally worked too!" Brittany cut in again.
Rachel smiled. "Yes, after we won at Regionals, Britt pulled me aside backstage and kissed me."
"Then I asked her to be my girlfriend!" Brittany finished happily.
Santana smiled at her best friend before turning her gaze to Rachel. The Latina laughed silently as she saw the other girl swallow hard, obviously nervous. Santana decided then to put the singer out of her misery.
"You're pretty chill, Rachel."
Quinn laughed at the look of relief that flooded Rachel's features. "Yeah, Rachel, what Santana said."
Brittany clapped her hands together and stood up to wrap Quinn and Santana in a hug. "Thank you guys, really, this means so much to me."
Santana nodded. "Come on, there's a Dance Dance Revolution machine in the arcade that's just calling my name. Britts, I'm going to kick your ass this time."
Brittany laughed. "You wish!"
"Oh chica, you are so going down" Santana said before running off in the direction of the arcade. Brittany trailed behind her slightly, yelling at her friend to slow down.
Quinn and Rachel were left looking at each other, shaking their heads at their girlfriends. The blonde was the first to speak.
"So my new friend, would you care to play air hockey?"
Rachel answered by linking her arm with Quinn's and running to the arcade, just like Brittany and Santana had done moments ago.
The girls decided to call it quits after spending two hours in the arcade. They left the mall in high spirits. Brittany, as was expected, had beaten Santana at Dance Dance Revolution no less than twelve times. The tall dancer was now gloating happily as she and Rachel walked their friends to Santana's car.
"Britts, I love you to death and everything, but if I hear one more victory screech I will freeze your bra tonight." Santana spat out as she climbed into her car.
"Don't listen to her, B. I'll make sure the sore loser goes nowhere near your bra."
Santana rolled her eyes. "You're supposed to stick up for me Q! I'm your girlfriend."
"Yeah, but I like Brittany better." Quinn responded jokingly as she fixed her seatbelt.
The Latina feigned hurt. "You're in trouble now, preciosa."
Quinn stuck her tongue out at Santana, and before the brunette had a chance to make a comment about how that tongue could be put to better use, Rachel knocked on her car door window.
"Just follow my car, okay?"
Santana mock saluted Rachel, who returned the salute with enthusiasm. Brittany looked at them confused.
"Rach, are you and Sanny joining the army or something?" Santana heard Brittany ask Rachel as she climbed into the singer's car.
The Latina shook her head happily before turning to look at Quinn. "Who would have thought that Brittany would be dating Rachel Berry?"
Quinn chuckled. "Not me. But hell, she's happy, and I actually really like Rachel."
Santana nodded her head before pulling out of the parking lot to follow Rachel's car. They reached the brunettes' house faster than anticipated, and soon enough Santana was making herself at home on Rachel's couch with Quinn while Brittany and Rachel changed into their bathing suits.
"You guys better be down here within five minutes. No joke." Santana yelled up the stairs once she heard giggles from the future Broadway stars' bedroom.
"Oh be quiet you." Quinn said as she snuggled into Santana's side. "We still have to change, and the more time they take, the more time I have with you."
Santana answered with pressing what she intended to be a quick kiss to Quinn's lips. The blonde girl, on the other hand had other plans because the second Santana's lips met hers, she moved so that she was straddling the Latina's hips and kissed back fiercely. Santana had enough sense to bring her hands to rest on Quinn's back, so she could have some type of control in the situation.
Just as she was about to move her hands southward to Quinn's ass, Santana heard a throat clear from behind her. 'Oh fucking great.' the Latina thought as Quinn jumped off her, blushing at the intrusion.
Brittany and Rachel were standing at the bottom of the stairs, looking at the pair on the couch while trying not to laugh.
"And you were yelling at us." Rachel said accusingly.
Quinn buried her head in Santana's neck, trying to hide her blush.
"Oh callate, Rachel. Like you didn't just get your mack on with Britts up in your room."
Now it was Rachel's turn to blush. "Well yes, but this is my house! I can kiss her if I want to!"
Santana stood up and placed her hands on her hips. "I'm busting on you, munchkin. Now, where's your bathroom, 'cause I wants to get my hot tubing on and I can't do that in jeans and a t-shirt."
Rachel shook her head. "Your grammar is horrendous. But go up the stairs and to the left. Brittany and I will be downstairs in the basement, getting our "hot tubing" on."
"You learn fast, Berry. Good job." Santana said as she ran up the stairs, Quinn trailing her with their bags.
As soon as the bathroom door shut Santana pushed Quinn up against it. The brunette attached her lips to Quinn's neck, sucking and biting at the soft skin she found there. Quinn let out a loud moan when Santana managed to place her thigh in between Quinn's legs. Smirking to herself, Santana thrust her weight into Quinn, eliciting another moan from the girl beneath her.
"Santana." Quinn pleaded quietly, grinding her hips against the Latina's thigh.
Santana was deep in thought. Surely there had to be some kind of law against fucking your girlfriend against your friend's bathroom door. Sighing in defeat, Santana was about to pull away from Quinn, but she made the mistake of looking at the blonde girl.
"San." Quinn repeated. "Please."
Santana let out a shaky breath before taking of her shirt, and shedding her pants. When she turned back to Quinn, she found her girlfriend naked, and couldn't help but laugh.
"Eager much, Q?" Santana said with a smirk.
"Oh shut up."
Santana laughed before pressing herself against Quinn, her hand immediately going downwards to where Quinn needed her most. She pressed hard against the blonde girl's clit, enjoying the cry that escaped Quinn's throat.
Santana gasped when she felt Quinn do the same to her, hesitating for a moment before entering her with two fingers. The Latina let out a moan before thrusting her hips down to give herself more friction. She sped up her own movements and before long both girls were coming undone with each other's names on their lips.
"I love you, Santana." Quinn managed to get out in between gasping for air.
Santana felt her stomach contract with butterflies. "I love you too, Quinn."
Santana leaned up slightly to press a kiss to Quinn's lips before moving away to pull her bathing suit on. She gestured for Quinn to do the same as she put away their clothes.
"Who knew you were such a horndog, Q." Santana said as they walked down the stairs to Rachel's basement.
Quinn's eyes widened in horror. "Shut up! They'll hear you."
Santana laughed as they reached the bottom of the stairs. Rachel's basement was huge. There was a mini-stage, liquor cabinet, and couches against the walls. Towards the very back there was a door, and judging by the splashing sounds coming from that direction Santana was willing to bet that's where the hot tub was.
"Hey you guys, we're coming in so you best be decent." Santana yelled from just outside.
Brittany's laugh carried out from inside the room. "We just finished its okay!"
"BRITTANY!"
Quinn and Santana looked at each other before laughing at their friend's forwardness. The pair walked in to see Rachel sitting against Brittany in the hot tub, obviously trying to sink away from the embarrassment. Santana settled into the scorching hot water before extending her hand out to Quinn. The blonde took it willingly and allowed herself to be pulled into Santana's lap.
"Don't worry Rach" Santana started with a grin on her face. "Q and I totally just got it on in your bathroom."
"SANTANA!" Quinn yelled out.
The Latina just smirked. 'Hell if Britts and Rachel got it on, there should be no reason why we couldn't get it on.'
"I'm just keeping it real querida." Santana stated with a shrug.
"Well, I sincerely hope you didn't make a mess of my bathroom." Rachel said with a sly smile.
Santana reached her fist across to Rachel for a fist bump. "I knew there was a reason why I liked you, Berry."
Rachel returned the fist bump eagerly, earning a whoop from Brittany.
"See guys, I told you we would all be great friends!"
Rachel smiled gently at the taller blonde. "You were right, Britt. You're always right."
"She really is." Quinn said. "She knows everything."
Brittany beamed. "That's because I'm totally people smart. Book smart, not so much, but I know people."
"Hell yeah B. You're like a genius." Santana stated as she tightened her hold on Quinn.
That night, after all the excitement had died down, and Rachel had shown Santana and Quinn to the guest room before retiring to her own with Brittany, Santana took a minute to think about how much her life has changed in the past three months.
The Glee club was headed to Nationals, prom was fast approaching, and Santana pretty much had the most amazing person ever as a girlfriend. There was no doubt in her mind that Santana would be going to prom with Quinn. 'Everybody is going to be jealous of me when I walk in that gym with the greatest girl at the school.' Santana thought happily. Not to mention that her best friend finally found somebody worth her time and Santana found an epic lezbro in Rachel Berry.
Now, as she lay in the really soft bed that inhabited Rachel's guest room, watching as Quinn's chest rose and fell with every deep breath she took in her sleep, Santana felt like nothing could touch her. It didn't matter that Finn was being an ass and it definitely didn't matter that she was probably going to be on the receiving end of a slushy facial on Monday, because as long as she had Quinn there really was nothing that could keep her upset for long.
'We still have to come out to our parents, but that's a worry for another day.' Santana thought before wrapping her arms around Quinn and nestling in for a well deserved slumber.