A/N: I am sorry that I caused some tears with the last chapter, but I wanted to make it as realistic as possible, and even though it's sad, that happens to a lot of teenagers. Thank you for all the responses you gave! There's only a few more chapters left. Also, I wrote a one shot for what happened after Brittana left the Sugar Shack in Heart, which can be viewed on my tumblr under my fic page (Heaven is a Place). Just a warning, it's not for children :) And as always thank you Frogs for being the best beta!
Chapter Eleven - You Are My Sunshine
Brittany felt Santana's body go limp against her side, her quiet sobs fading into a soft, sleepy murmur. When she was sure Santana had fallen asleep, her body completely exhausted, Brittany scooped her into her arms and carried her inside. Santana felt heavy and almost nonexistent at the same time, and Brittany mustered all the physical and emotional strength she had to cradle Santana in her arms. She didn't know how to make things better. She felt completely helpless as she carried Santana's broken and fragile body to her bedroom, carefully laying her down on her bed.
Santana's body involuntarily curled into a ball around Brittany's pillow, her back rising and falling with each slow breath she took. Brittany wanted to slip off Santana's jean shorts and replace them with her favorite pair of pajama shorts, the ones with kittens on them. They always made Brittany feel better. But she didn't want to wake Santana, afraid she would only start crying again.
Brittany changed out of her shorts and took off her bra, moving around her room in just a tank top and underwear. She grabbed the sheet that was bunched at the bottom of her bed, draping it over Santana's body. She tried very carefully to scoot across the mattress until she was pressed against Santana's back without waking her, but as she settled under the sheet, she felt Santana stir.
Hoping she wouldn't fully wake up, Brittany kissed Santana's shoulder with soft puckered lips and gentle reassurance. "It's okay," she whispered into smooth skin. Her arm fell around Santana's waist, pulling her closer. Brittany didn't want to let her go. She felt like the only thing she could do for Santana was just hold her, remind her that she was going to be okay and that she was loved, and hope that Santana wouldn't wake up a shell of the girl that had slowly been blossoming this past summer.
When Santana didn't stir any further, Brittany allowed herself to relax for the first time since she got home, her own eyes shutting in exhaustion.
Santana's eyes burned, and she felt the hard, crustiness of dried tears in the corners of them, clumping her eyelashes as they scraped against her skin. When she opened them a little crack, she felt sudden fear at not being in her own room. Her heart plummeted to her stomach before her eyes took in their surroundings. Her pulse began to slow down as she realized she was safe, the confines of Brittany's room coming into focus.
And then yesterday came rushing back to her. Everything that had happened flashed through her mind. Her body froze. Her eyes snapped shut. Her breathing quickened.
She was hoping it had been a very bad nightmare. But the warm body pressed against her back, holding on to her like she was going to disappear, was enough evidence that it hadn't been a dream. The way Brittany was holding her felt like a sliver of sun in the middle of a blizzard. The hot puffs of air against the back of her neck as Brittany breathed in her sleep were comforting. She tried to focus on them, but the sting of her mother's hand on her cheek started fresh tears in her eyes.
She felt so empty and lost, like one of those people who were trapped under the snow in an avalanche. And she prayed some big dog with a good sense of smell would find her and save her from being lost forever.
She didn't realize her body was shaking with tiny sobs until Brittany shifted behind her, tightening her hold around her waist. Santana felt the press of soft, sleepy lips against her skin, and she melted into Brittany, crying at the fact that someone had already saved her from her avalanche.
"Honey, it's okay." Brittany murmured, voice thick with sleep and exhaustion. Santana wondered how long Brittany had actually been able to sleep. She didn't even know what time it was now. It was still dark out, but Santana wasn't sure if that meant it was late at night, or really early in the morning.
"Britt." Santana squeaked, her hand pressing flat against the one resting on her stomach.
Brittany awoke further, sleep fading from her body as she heard the desperation in Santana's voice. "I'm here." She kissed along the outline of Santana's shoulder. "I'm right here."
Santana sighed and rolled over, her eyes full of more tears that she tried to hold back. Brittany pressed butterfly kisses to the apple of Santana's cheeks, hoping to stop their impending flow. "I'm right here." She whispered against fragile skin, her arm curling around Santana's back and her fingers running up and down it soothingly.
Santana nodded, willing her tears to go away. "I'm sorry I keep crying." She tried to laugh, but it came out strangled and insincere.
"Do not apologize for that." Brittany immediately answered, her eyes flicking back and forth between Santana's. "You have done nothing wrong." Brittany stated firmly. She needed Santana to know that. To know that what was happening right now was not her fault, and she had every right to cry. Brittany didn't understand a lot of things, especially why Santana's mother had acted the way she had. But she completely understood that it was not Santana's fault.
Santana nodded again, weakly, and she buried her face into the crook of Brittany's neck. "I was hoping it was all a bad dream." She breathed, fists clutched to the front of Brittany's tank top.
"I wish I could say it was," Brittany offered. She never had to experience what Santana had, and she really didn't know what to say to make things better. All she could think to do was love Santana, and hope that everything would be okay eventually.
"Do your parents know?" Santana asked, her voice small and soft. Like if she continued to speak everything really would be a reality.
"Know what?" Brittany wasn't exactly sure what she was asking. Her mom already knew about them, and Santana knew that because of how she had found out. And she was pretty sure her mom had told her dad, because he always gave them a funny little smile when Santana was over now.
"About what happened yesterday. Why I'm here." Santana uttered slowly, her voice hitching and breaking. Santana felt Brittany's head nod above her, and she let out a heavy sigh. "Are they upset I'm here?"
Brittany pulled back from Santana, and she stared down into frightened brown eyes. "Baby they talked to you last night, don't you remember?"
Santana shook her head. She vaguely remembered other people besides Brittany on her front porch last night. But the only words she could recall were Brittany's comforting ones, and her soothing arms holding her tight.
Brittany's lips slid into a sad smile, pulling Santana back against her chest. "They were really worried. And they could see you shaking, even though they couldn't feel it like I could. So my dad took Kenzie inside before she could bug you. And my mom kneeled in front of you, and tried to talk to you. But you wouldn't answer her. And you wouldn't look at her. So she told me to hold you and never let go. And that if I needed her for anything, to come get her." Brittany replayed the events in her head, knowing she would always remember the way her mom had looked at Santana. She had been so worried, and so concerned, like it was her own daughter who was hurt and crying.
Santana didn't respond. She definitely did not remember that happening. But as Brittany recounted it, bits and pieces of it started to click together. She felt worse for worrying Brittany's family. For showing up on their porch in the middle of the night crying, and not even bothering to explain.
"Do they," she swallowed and coughed, moving back from Brittany's shirt as she cleared her dry throat. "Do they know now?"
Brittany peered down at swimming brown eyes, glossed over and shining from the glow of the street light through her window. She shook her head, her hands firm and warm at the small of Santana's back, afraid that if she let go Santana would leave the safety of her room. She didn't know where Santana would go, but anywhere besides lying next to her was unacceptable for Brittany. "I didn't know if you wanted them to know."
Santana nodded, her eyes dropping to the scoop of Brittany's tank top. Her fingers unclenched from their fists, tracing the neckline of it as she tried to think about everything that had happened so quickly.
"Can I ask you a question?" Brittany whispered, fingers pressing into the fabric of Santana's shirt in little circles. She felt Santana's hesitant nod, her messy hair tickling the underside of Brittany's chin. "I don't like it when you're sad. And I hate it even more when I feel like I can't do anything about it. Lord Tubbington always told me that when people are sad and there's nothing I can do, then I should just tell them how much they're loved. So I want to say I love you. So much."
"That's not a question Britt." Santana let out an airy laugh, sadness coating her throat and making her voice deep and heavy.
"I'm not finished silly." Brittany giggled, pulling Santana closer against her, molding their fronts together like two halves of one of those plastic Easter eggs. "Will you let me take care of you?"
Santana smiled against Brittany's chest. She knew Brittany felt helpless and just wanted to help make her feel better. But there was nothing Brittany could do that would change things right now.
But Brittany needed something. So if she wanted to take care of her. Santana would not deny her of that.
"Of course B. I don't know how you can, but you're welcome to do whatever you want." Santana breathed against her skin, hands tucked safely between them.
"Are you still sad?" Brittany asked, immediately hating how ridiculous that sounded because of course Santana was still sad. She wanted to take the words back, but she hadn't quite learned how to do that yet. "I'm sorry. That was stupid." Brittany fumbled to try and fix it, hands squeezing tighter. But when she felt hot tears against the front of her tank top, and a shaking body beneath her fingertips, she knew she couldn't fix it.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry again. Of course you're still upset. You have every right to be." Brittany rambled, her heart hammering against her chest. She felt so bad and so stupid for making Santana cry. When all she wanted to do was make things better.
She panicked, palms pressed flat against Santana's spine as she tried to think of something to calm Santana down.
Santana always liked it when she danced. But dancing didn't seem like a viable option right now.
Brittany thought of the next best thing.
"You are my sunshine. My only sunshine." She softly sang, voice barely audible over Santana's sobs. "You make me happy when skies are gray." Brittany closed her eyes and willed her own tears to go away. "You'll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away." She finished, kissing the top of Santana's head.
She felt Santana's cries slow and quiet a little, but Santana refused to uncurl herself from Brittany's chest.
"You are my sunshine. My only sunshine." She began again, hands beginning to move up and down Santana's spine in a calming and soothing manner. "You make me happy when skies are gray." She could feel Santana quiet down completely, her fingers wiping over her eyes as her knuckles brushed across Brittany's chest. "You'll never know dear, how much I love you." Brittany sang, her words soft as a feather as they tickled across Santana's forehead. "Please don't take my sunshine away."
Santana focused on the sound, Brittany's voice wafting through her ears like floating steam. She breathed it in and tried to relax. She tried to forget about the sting of her mother's hand and words. She tried to forget about the look of complete disgust written across her face. She tried to forget all of it as Brittany's voice surrounded her.
"You are my sunshine. My only sunshine." Brittany started again, much softer and gentler now that Santana was calmer. "You make me happy when skies are gray." She felt Santana pull back a little, her teary eyes meeting shining blue as she tried to find an anchor to pull her to safety. "You'll never know dear, how much I love you." Brittany smiled, leaning down to press kiss after kiss against Santana's forehead. "Please don't take my sunshine away." She breathed into Santana's skin, sealing the song with a lingering kiss.
"Thank you." Santana whispered, fingers gliding down a pale shoulder and freckled arm.
"Don't thank me. I'm the one who made you cry in the first place." Brittany kissed down Santana's temple and cheek, trying to kiss away the evidence of her hurtful words.
"No you didn't." Santana shook her head, swallowing down the remaining tears. "You didn't make me sad." Santana clarified, sighing as Brittany continued to kiss away the streaks of tears over her cheeks. "You make me happy." Santana smiled as Brittany's kisses became sloppier and cuter as she kissed over Santana's nose. A giggle bubbled up from Santana's throat and soon she was laughing.
She laughed as Brittany wiggled her nose against her cheeks. She laughed as Brittany began tickling her sides, rolling her over until she was flat on her back with Brittany straddling her hips. She laughed as Brittany pressed sloppy kisses down her cheeks and neck, claiming she was just cleaning up the mess she created.
Santana laughed and laughed until she couldn't breathe. Brittany's hands stilled at Santana's sides, watching as her face lit up for the first time since she had showed up on Brittany's porch yesterday.
Brittany's smile fell to complete adoration as she looked down at the beauty lying beneath her. Her eyes were still puffy and red, and her cheeks glistened with smeared wetness. But she was still the most beautiful thing Brittany had ever seen.
Santana grew uncomfortable under Brittany's scrutinizing gaze, shifting underneath Brittany's strong legs. "What?" She smiled bashfully, her eyelashes fluttering as she looked away.
"You're so beautiful." Brittany muttered like it was the most obvious thing.
"I'm fairly certain that's not true." Santana mused, watching as Brittany's smile only grew as she nodded her head frantically.
"You are. Very. Very. Beautiful." Brittany emphasized, shimmying her hips against Santana's. She could feel Santana's body completely relax beneath her, letting out a relieved sigh as she bent over and hovered above Santana. "Can I ask you another question?"
"Should I prepare myself to cry again?" Santana joked, chuckling at the adorable pout that overtook Brittany's face. "I'm kidding." She smiled, wrapping her arms around Brittany's back and holding her on top of her.
Brittany stared down into dark eyes, watching as every ounce of fear and sadness slowly seeped out of them. "Can I kiss you?" Brittany whispered, her tongue darting out to wet eager lips in anticipation.
"Always." Santana breathed before tender lips pressed against hers. Santana kissed her back, taking Brittany's bottom lip between her own. Her head was swimming and her heart was thumping, and she felt a little overwhelmed with how softly Brittany was kissing her.
"Can I ask you one more question?" Brittany kissed against Santana's top lip, sucking on it gently as she waited for Santana to respond.
"Brittany," Santana whined. She didn't need to keep asking permission to ask her more questions. Brittany was always allowed to ask and say whatever she wanted.
Brittany sat up at the teasing sound of Santana's voice, creating enough space so she could look into dark chocolate and be able to read them. "Well I don't know if you want to, or if this is even a good time to do it, because I don't really know the right things to say and do right now." Brittany rambled, fingers tracing lazy patterns around Santana's collarbone.
Santana smiled and laughed at Brittany's utter lack of knowing exactly what to say or do. It was the most comforting thing Santana could ask for. She didn't want someone telling her the things everyone always said after something tragic happened. She loved the fact that Brittany was different. Because different was exactly what Santana needed.
Brittany took a deep breath and smiled, her nerves lessening when she saw how relaxed and happy Santana actually was at the moment. She brought her hand up to gently glide a strand of raven hair off of her forehead. "I want to take care of you. And comfort you. And I want to do that by making love to you." Brittany admitted, smiling with a hint of blush as Santana stared up at her. "I just don't know if that's the right thing to do after everything that happened."
"I don't think there is a right thing Britt." Santana's voice was soft and fragile, and Brittany wanted to kiss the brokenness away. Santana saw blue eyes drop and Brittany swallow with defeat. Her hands fell from Brittany's back to grip her hips. "And I'd much rather have you do things you want to do than what's supposedly the right thing to do. Because I'm positive that it'll be a million times better."
Brittany's lips curled until her eyes shined with love and complete happiness, before she pressed kiss after kiss to Santana's mouth. She kissed the corner of Santana's lips and across her cheek, the lingering taste of salty tears still present. She sat back on Santana's thighs, gripping the hem of Santana's shirt to pull it over her head.
When Santana fell back against the mattress, wild black hair falling in all directions, the sight took Brittany's breath away. Her dark skin contrasted the light blue of her sheets, causing her skin to glow in the dark. Her hands skirted over breathing ribs and bra covered breasts, simply admiring every inch of skin that was available to her.
She wanted Santana to feel loved. She wanted her to feel beautiful and special. Like she was a gift from God, to treasure and appreciate and worship. Like she was one of the wonders of the world.
Feather soft lips ghosted over her collarbones, dragging over the flesh with hardly any pressure. Santana's back arched as those lips traveled down the valley between her breasts, kissing her chest bone above the fabric of her bra. Her skin prickled with goosebumps. She wasn't sure she would ever get used to the way Brittany made her feel.
Brittany's hands snuck behind her back, unclasping her bra, and sliding the silk straps down tanned arms. Her mouth pressed light kisses to the curve and swell of Santana's breasts, taking in the way caramel skin buzzed beneath her lips.
She kissed over each rib, counting them in her head as she went. The plane of Santana's stomach caved as lips pressed against the top of her bellybutton, tickling her in a way that was pure excitement. Her lips dragged over Santana's stomach as her hands fumbled with the button to her jean shorts.
Santana lifted her butt off the bed to aid in Brittany's disposal of her shorts and underwear, her heart beating in her ears. Brittany's hands were soft and gentle, warm and careful as she grazed up nervous calves and shuddering thighs. Each touch felt purposeful and full of love, like she was mapping out every inch of Santana for future use.
Santana's body froze when Brittany's lips traced over the heated outline of her, tongue running through her like melted butter. Her hands gripped at the sheets at her sides, balling them in her fists as the middle of her spine left the mattress. She felt tears pool in the corners of her eyes, and she couldn't stop them from rolling down her cheeks, creating new paths as they fell off her chin. She bit her lip to keep the sobs inside. She didn't know why she was crying as Brittany's tongue flicked against her, and she definitely did not want to alarm Brittany and make her think that something was wrong.
Brittany pulled her tongue back into her mouth, savoring the sweetness as it coated the inside of her cheeks. She kissed over wet folds and down the crease of Santana's hip, making sure to worship Santana's body like it deserved to be. When she kissed across her lower abdomen, she felt the first shake that definitely wasn't from arousal. She looked up to see Santana's eyes clamped shut and her cheeks sparkling with fresh tears.
"Baby, what's wrong?" She sat up alarmed, scooting towards Santana as she hovered over her body. She wiped at a falling tear, concern written across her face as she watched and waited for Santana to open her eyes and tell her what was going on.
Santana breathed in deep, willing herself to get her shit together before she scared Brittany. "It's nothing. I'm fine." Santana whispered, shaking her head to convince Brittany and herself.
"Obviously not. You're crying." Brittany wanted to giggle to lighten the mood, but she was too concerned. Had she done something wrong? Was she moving too fast? She knew it was stupid to want to have sex with Santana after everything she had been through.
"I'm fine. Please." Santana cried, her hands still gripped tight to the sheets.
"San." Brittany worried, her own eyes glossing over as she watched Santana's face go from love and pleasure, to a degree of sadness she didn't understand.
"Please Britt. Just love me." Santana cried openly, her voice thick with tears as they rolled from her eyes and down her cheeks. "Please," she begged, and Brittany's heart broke.
Santana was crying, begging her to make love to her, and it was breaking Brittany's heart. She was so broken and more fragile than Brittany had thought, and trying to have sex with her right now was ridiculous. Brittany hated that she had even voiced the idea.
She grabbed the comforter from the bottom of the bed and pulled it over Santana's naked body, curling up next to her and scooping her in her arms.
"No. Please Brittany. Please love me. Please." Santana cried, even though she was curling into Brittany's arms like a scared child.
Brittany felt her own tears seep from her eyes, unable to hold them in any longer. How could she ever expect Santana to open up and make love to her when her wounds from yesterday were so fresh? Forcing Santana to relax and give herself to Brittany in that way was impossible without opening herself up to all the pain that yesterday had been.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't think…I wasn't…I'm sorry." Brittany breathed against Santana's forehead, holding her closer. "You are loved. I do love you. I'm so sorry."
Santana cried harder, her whole body shaking against Brittany's as the grip around her broken frame tightened. "Why doesn't she love me?" Her voice cracked as a sob wracked from her parted mouth.
Brittany felt powerless and helpless and somewhat to blame for Santana's crying. She should have known better, but Santana said it was okay. But she should have known that it wasn't okay. It wasn't okay to try and have sex with someone that just suffered something so tragic. She should have known that Santana wasn't ready to open herself up to something so full of emotion when she had cried so much earlier. She should have known that doing the thing that had caused the fight with her mother in the first place was definitely not okay.
"Why doesn't she love me?" Santana cried again, sniffling as she clung to Brittany like a life raft. "What's so wrong with me?"
"Nothing." Brittany almost shouted, swallowing as she cleared her throat and repeated in a softer tone. "Nothing sweetheart. You did absolutely nothing wrong."
Santana turned her head until her cheek was pressed flat against the hollow of Brittany's neck. "Then why doesn't she love me?"
Brittany sighed, every part of her body hurting for the tiny girl in her arms. "She does love you."
Santana shook her head, her cries slowing as Brittany rubbed at her back. "How do you know? She kicked me out. She told me she was disgusted with me. She told me that I was just confused and needed a cure."
Brittany's breath hitched at the awful things Santana's mother had said to her. She figured there had to have been more to the story than just a slap to the cheek, but she never would have guessed that her mother would have said such disgusting and untrue things to her own daughter.
She kissed the top of Santana's head, holding her closer until she could feel Santana's heartbeat against her own. "Because sometimes people do cruel things when they're afraid of the unknown."
Santana didn't respond. She wasn't sure Brittany was entirely correct, but it was better than thinking that her mother really didn't love her.
As the slight hint of the sun began to shine through Brittany's window, and as the birds began to wake and start their morning song, Santana fell asleep from pure exhaustion. Brittany listened to her uneven breathing before she allowed herself to slip into sleep, hoping that tomorrow would bring Santana a little bit of happiness.
Brittany woke before Santana, her eyes sore and a little crusty. She took a minute to breathe in the girl still sleeping in her arms before peeling her body away. She tucked her comforter around Santana, and pulled on a sweatshirt and shorts before heading downstairs. Her mother and father were sitting at the breakfast table, two cups of coffee and bowls of cereal in front of them. She poured herself a glass of orange juice before joining them, propping one foot on her chair as she sat.
"Morning bumblebee." Her father smiled over the top of his newspaper. She offered a tiny smile in return, sipping from her glass as she glanced over the front page.
"How is she?" Her mother asked, her face soft and caring, and Brittany wanted to curl up in her lap and have someone hold her for a little bit. She was trying to be so strong for Santana, but she didn't know what to do. She felt like everything she said or did was going to remind her of what happened and upset her. She just felt a little overwhelmed.
"She's sleeping." Brittany answered, pulling her father's unfinished cereal towards her and taking a spoonful to her mouth. "She cried a lot."
"Swallow first, then speak bee." Her father spoke into the morning paper without even looking at her.
She rolled her eyes playfully before doing as she was told. She took another sip of her juice before looking at her mother. "I don't know how to make things better."
"What happened?" Mrs. Pierce questioned, finishing the last of her cereal.
Brittany sighed, looking down at the soggy cereal floating in milk. "I've been writing Santana letters. To show her how much she means to me." Brittany's voice was soft and hesitant. She didn't know what was acceptable to say and what wasn't. When she looked up at her mother, her eyes sparkled with complete interest and concern, making Brittany continue. "In every letter I gave her a reason why we should be together." She swallowed, hoping it was okay to say this stuff.
When her mother nodded in understanding, Brittany smiled and picked at the edge of the placemat in front of her. "Santana taped each reason on the inside of her closet door. I found them once, and I was so happy. Because it meant that she was taking what I was saying seriously. Which is ridiculous to think she wouldn't, because she always takes what I say seriously. She's like the only person who does." Brittany mused, her cheeks warming a little at the act of talking so openly about her and Santana in front of her parents. This was the first time she was talking about their relationship in front of her dad, but he had to have known because he was acting as if everything was normal.
"Well yesterday her mother found them and said some really mean things to Santana and she slapped her and kicked her out." Brittany breathed and her mother gasped, her hand coming up to cover her mouth.
"That's awful." She mumbled behind her hand, slowing lowering it to the table as she stared at her daughter with slight unbelief. "She must be so scared. What kind of mother would hit their own child?" Mrs. Pierce asked, glancing to her husband as she wondered aloud.
"She thinks Santana's sick because she loves me." Brittany continued, thinking that was the answer her mother was looking for.
Her mother looked at her with wide eyes. "That is…" she swallowed as she shook her head. "That poor girl. She's just a child." Her mother nearly cried, and she turned her head to hide her tears.
Brittany watched with awe at the stark contrast between her mother and Santana's. It was unbelievable how one could be so loving and accepting, and the other so hateful and judgmental. It didn't make sense to Brittany. She didn't understand why Santana had to get the short end of the stick because someone like Santana deserved to be told every day how special and amazing they are, and how much they're loved. Especially by her own mother.
"I…" Brittany began, but was interrupted as Santana stepped into the kitchen, her hair piled on the top of her head in a messy bun. Her eyes were very red and puffy, and she had put on a pair of Brittany's shorts and an old Cheerios' sweatshirt.
"Hi." She spoke softly, afraid she was interrupting something important. She felt like she was overstepping her boundaries by being here, and she hated the feeling of being unwelcome. The thought of having nowhere else to go if they kicked her out too crossed her mind, and she had to swallow back the bubble of cries that threatened at the back of her throat.
"Morning honey." Mrs. Pierce smiled, standing and walking toward her. Before Santana could even shoot Brittany a questioning look, Mrs. Pierce wrapped her arms around Santana, crushing her in the tightest hug she had ever received. "I am so sorry sweetheart." She whispered in Santana's ear, squeezing her once before letting go. Her hands remained on Santana's shoulders, looking down into sad and scared eyes. "And you are more than welcome to stay here as long as you need."
Santana blinked as her eyes watered, forcing a smile across her face. "Thanks." She breathed, her hammering heart making it hard for her to say anything else. She walked around the table to stand beside Brittany, sitting Indian style in the wooden chair.
"Can I get you something to eat? Drink?" Mrs. Pierce offered, her smile strong and friendly, warming Santana instantly.
"Do you have some extra coffee?" Santana asked timidly. Brittany watched her, thinking she looked so small sitting around their kitchen table. She watched as her mother poured Santana a cup and sat back down. She watched as Santana talked to her dad about something she didn't care about. She just wanted to watch her all day. Just to know that she was here and okay, and as long as she wasn't crying, that maybe everything really would be okay.
Two days later, Brittany came running into her room to find Santana sprawled across the floor as she painted her fingernails, Lord Tubbington curled into her side. Brittany smiled at that because Santana always acted like she hated him whenever she was around. It was good to know that they were best friends when she was gone.
"Jeez B. Where's the fire?" Santana smiled as she coated her pointer finger in dark red.
Brittany's chest moved in rapid succession as she tried to catch her breath. She had a doctor's appointment earlier, and her mom had needed her car today because hers was in the shop. And she hated the idea of leaving Santana by herself all day, so as soon as she was done, she sprinted home, deciding she needed the exercise anyways.
"Just missed you." Brittany smiled leaning over to kiss the top of Santana's head. "And I see you've made a friend." Brittany smirked and nodded her head in Lord Tubbington's direction.
Santana rolled her eyes and continued her work. "He was the only breathing thing here to keep me company."
"I think you two are more alike than you think." Brittany played along, sitting down next to Santana as she picked up Lord Tubbington and plopped him in her lap.
"Why? Because we both love pussy." Santana joked, putting the brush inside the container to coat it in more polish.
Brittany gasped before shielding Lord Tubbington's ears. When Santana looked at her with a knowing smirk, she giggled, letting her cat go as he stalked out of her room and down the hall. She watched as Santana finished her nails, blowing on them to make them dry faster.
"So what do you want to do today roomie?" Santana smiled, sitting up in front of Brittany as she continued to blow dry her nails.
Brittany shrugged her shoulders, her cheeks coloring at the sound of roomie coming out of Santana's mouth. It made her think of college and the possibility of them living together even after that. "Whatever you want to do." She offered instead, picking at the carpet underneath her.
Santana scrunched her face, her eyes almost completely disappearing as she laughed in the way that always drove Brittany crazy. "Whatever I want huh?"
Brittany smiled and leant forward, kissing her as she laughed. "Not sex San."
Before Santana could respond, they heard a knock at the front door downstairs. Santana looked at her with her brow raised, wondering who in the world would be knocking.
Brittany shrugged her shoulders again as she hopped up and exited her room. Santana looked over her nails, making sure she hadn't smudged any of them yet as she heard Brittany open the door and a male voice ring through the house. She figured it was probably the mailman needing a signature for a package or something, so she carefully stood up and walked toward Brittany's bed.
Just as she was about to sit down, she heard Brittany call her name, telling her to come downstairs.
Santana wondered how she was needed to sign for a package when she didn't live here, but she decided not to second-guess Brittany. She made her way downstairs, keeping her eyes on her nails as she walked to make sure she didn't mess up the fresh polish that wasn't quite dry yet. She almost ran into Brittany, stopping behind her as she looked over at her. "What's up?"
Brittany didn't answer. She was staring at the man in the doorway.
Santana followed her gaze and when her eyes raked over the man, she froze. Her knees felt immediately weak, and she was glad Brittany was always able to read her. She felt strong hands on her hips, holding her up as she blinked in the sight in front of her. When she was sure she wasn't making it up, she swallowed as tears blurred her vision.
"Dad?"
