Santana woke up really early the next morning. Her alarm wasn't set to go off for another hour or so, but she was too excited to sleep. She got into the shower to decide what she was going to say. She didn't know if she could just lay it all out on the table for Brittany or if she should just give it time and take it slow.

Unfortunately, she hadn't decided by the time she got to the coffee shop. So she sat at the small table, coffee in hand and agonized over what was going to happen.

All agonizing stopped when Brittany waltzed in. Her whole face lit up when she smiled at Santana. The blonde walked over to the table, shrugging off her jacket. She was wearing a green and gray striped sweater underneath that hung off of one of her shoulders and skinny jeans with heeled boots. She was the picture of a New York fashionista who a couple of years ago couldn't turn on a computer.

She draped her scarf and coat on the back of the chair across from Santana, keeping her purse on her arm, "I'm going to go get some coffee. Do you need some more?"

Santana shook her head and watched in awe as Brittany walked away. She knew that when she saw Brittany for the first time on that stage that something in the other girl had changed. Something was more confident and independent. It seemed that being separated a year had caused Brittany to grown up a lot.

It dawned on Santana that she may have stunted that growth all these years. That Brittany may have already been that confident, independent person, but she was keeping her down. That caused Santana to frown and stare at Brittany's jacket on the back of the chair until the blonde sat down, blocking her view.

The dancer beamed again, "Good morning."

Santana let out a lazy smile, not being able to stay in a bad mood around her ex. "Good morning."

"What were you thinking about?" Brittany asked, tilting her head to the side. Even after all those months she could still tell when Santana was upset.

Santana took a deep breath. She prided herself on being fearless and she was scared to death to say the wrong thing to Brittany. She held Brittany's eyes for a while before the blonde brought her coffee to her lips, "San, what's wrong?"

Santana threw caution to the wind and flat out asked, "Did I…hold you back? Not like with dancing or anything, but with…other stuff."

To anyone else 'other stuff' could have been any number of things, but Brittany could usually tell what Santana meant. 'Other stuff' was growth. Knowing what to do and how to do it on your own was what came to mind. Maybe Brittany had gotten a little street smarter and maybe, just maybe a little book smarter, but she was the Stephen Hawking of reading Santana. Never being one to lie though, Brittany answered, "Maybe."

"Really?" Santana slumped back into her chair.

Brittany smiled sweetly, "There were some things I didn't actually want to know anyway."

"Like what?"

"Like when bills change colors it's not because the Vogue announced the new color of the month," Brittany sipped her coffee again.

Santana chuckled. Yes she had sheltered Brittany from their monthly financial crisis when they were together, but it was only because she wanted the blonde to be happy all the time. It seemed that she found out the hard truth about money on her own and apparently in a very short time because right then, Brittany didn't seem to have any money problems at all.

Another question was on the tip of Santana's tongue. She didn't want to ask, but she had to know, "Did I hurt you?"

Brittany lowered her head and stared hard at her coffee. Her voice was so low Santana almost didn't catch the, "Yes."

Santana could take that. She hurt the one person she'd ever loved completely. She shot out of her chair and shoved open the door. Just as she was about to get to the end of the block she heard that same small voice call, "Santana, wait."

Santana slowly turned around not realizing that tears were pouring down her cheeks. Brittany took a few purposeful strides to her and took both of Santana's hands. Brittany had forgotten her jacket and scarf in chasing after Santana so she was starting to shiver.

Santana wrapped her arms around Brittany to try to keep her warm while whispering, "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."

Then Brittany uttered three little words that made all the weight on Santana's shoulders disappear. "I forgive you."

Santana closed her eyes and squeezed Brittany. She loved this girl…this woman with all her heart and now they had a clean slate. She pulled away enough to look into the tearful blue eyes. "I love you. I never stopped loving you."

Brittany sniffled through a smile, "I love you too." She put a freezing hand on either side of Santana's face and pulled her in for a kiss.

There on that New York City street they rekindled the fire that they once had. However this time, they were both a little bit smarter. Santana have a great new appreciation of what she had had with Brittany and Brittany had a new appreciation of what Santana used to do for her. They both pulled back at the same time and looked each other over. They were both a year older and a little worse for the wear, but they were the same people that each one of them had fallen in love with in high school.

"I never stopped missing you," Santana confessed.

Brittany pulled Santana to her body and echoed the confession.

Finally Brittany's shivering pulled Santana out of her euphoric haze, "Let's go back inside and get your coat."

The blonde nodded, letting go of Santana save for her hand that she swung between them on the way back inside. Santana helped Brittany put her coat on and draped the scarf around Brittany's neck.

"What time do you have to be at rehearsal?" Brittany asked, taking Santana's hand again as they walked out.

Santana grinned and looked at Brittany contemplating just not going. However Brittany wouldn't go for that idea so she just replied, "In an hour."

"I'll walk with you," Brittany offered.

Santana was actually planning to take the subway, but walking with Brittany seemed so much better at that moment. She smiled at Brittany then at the ground, then the sky and back at Brittany. Today was probably the best day of her life.


The End