AN: Does this chapter qualify as the protective Britt request filled?
About time I reminded everyone, I own nothing, nada, zilch.
School and the next few days passed in a blur. Santana did her damnest not to let her parent's absence affect her mood. Brittany had been extremely attentive, never leaving her alone for more than a few minutes, and being super adorable to pull her back up, whenever she did let herself fall into the occasional little funk.
On the night of her Papi's birthday, Santana felt particularly low. Dinner with the Pierces had been the usual colourful affair, after which she had headed up to Brittany's room, meaning to make a start on their glee project. However they soon ended up with Santana staring down her math homework whilst Brittany doodled aimlessly on hers.
Santana tried to focus on the numbers on her page, but her mind was elsewhere, wondering about the family who didn't want to spend time with her, and all the attention she wished she didn't crave.
Finally snapping, she jumped up from her seat on the bed, hurriedly stuffing her books into her bag, her sudden actions caused the blonde to startle a little. "I should go B." she explained, grappling for an excuse, "I think I left my flat iron turned on."
Brittany's mouth popped in a perfect 'Oh' her eyes wide. "I'll come… If there's a fire I remember what Mrs Ashunt taught us in kindergarten! S., if your bedroom is on fire, just drop, stop and roll and it will go out okay?" She instructed as she grabbed her sneakers.
"Actually Britt, I'm just gonna go, I can handle it alone" The Latina immediately saw the hurt flash through the blue eyes she loved so much, and cursed herself for being such an ass. Every part of her screamed to take it back, to say something, anything, and quickly make Britt smile again, but she just couldn't.
Part of herself she kept hidden deep, deep down, was rising to the surface, and quickly; she could feel her walls fracturing. She just wanted, to be wanted, to feel loved.
She just wanted a tiny piece of Brittany had so effortlessly, without so much as a second thought, it was just inherently there for the Pierce family. Santana loved the blonde haired blue eyed clan who had, loved her back as their own, but part of her always hungered for just a fraction of that same love, and same acceptance from her own family, her blood. The hunger, usually so controlled was now ripping through her in tidal waves. She just wanted to curl up, collapse in on herself, and cry.
"You didn't leave on your flat iron…" Brittany's voice was quiet, and Santana fought between the urge to just give in to her tears, and make a run for it. She could feel her hands beginning to tremble and the colour draining from her face as she battled to get her emotions under control.
Before she could act, Brittany had made the decision for her, and crossed the room and wrapped the smaller girl in her arms.
At the physical contact and tender touch Santana felt the last of her resolve crumble. The blonde carefulyl guided them both to the ground, their limbs tangling together as the brunette gave in to the sobs she had fought so hard to hold back.
"I'm so sorry baby" Brittany murmured against her hair, as she rocked her lightly back and forth, holding her tight in her arms, and pulling her into her lap as she cried into her neck.
No explanation was needed, though Brittany was considered by many to be not so smart, one thing she knew she definitely was, is Santana-smart. The blonde desperately wished there was something she could do to change her girlfriend's home life, to make her parents see what an amazing and wonderful daughter they had, so they would want to spend time with her, and get to know the brilliant young woman she was growing into.
It made the blonde's heart squeeze painfully, knowing how desperately, self-sufficient and independent, Santana Lopez craved attention and acceptance, that she was in reality never going to get.
Brittany couldn't say Maria and Ramond Lopez were bad people On the occasions she had been at Santana's house and they'd been home, they'd been very nice, in a sort of formal, uninterested way. However the pair were, for the most part, completely preoccupied with their high profile jobs, and then with each other, leaving them nowhere near enough time for their only daughter.
Santana coughed a little, and Brittany's hand moved instinctively to rub her back. "I'm so sorry S." she whispered again, "I love you so much, I'm so glad you're here with me" she admitted truthfully, knowing they were the words her girlfriend needed to here, just from the wrong person.
"I love…you… I'm…so sorry" The Latina choked out.
"No, no baby, don't be sorry, it's all okay" Brittany cooed, kissing away a tear making a trail down her flushed cheek.
"No…You shouldn't have to deal with this….with…me and my shit, my….stupid…issues" she choked out again, wiping angrily at her tears, the feelings of desperation quickly morphing to anger and shame.
"Hey" Brittany chided sternly, easily grasping both of her girlfriend's wrists with one hand, and using her other to gently bring them eye to eye. "When Puck made me cry in pre-k who dealt with my shit?"
Santana was momentarily thrown off guard, Brittany hardly ever cursed. "Me" she replied in a quiet whisper.
"And in second grade when Lauren pushed me off the jungle gym and I skinned my knees, who dealt with my shit?"
"Me."
"In forth grade, when the kids called me stupid and stole my binder who dealt with my shit?"
"Britt…" Santana tried to interject.
"Answer me" Brittany's voice was firmer than the Latina was used to.
"Me." She gave in.
"In sixth grade when I'd never been kissed, who dealt with my shit?"
"I did" Santana couldn't help but smile at that memory.
"When Lord Tubbington went missing, who dealt with my shit?"
"Me."
"Last year, when stupid boys made me cry, who dealt with my shit"
"Me" Santana's tears were dry now, and she was staring lovingly at her girlfriend, amazed that she still recalled so many times she had been there for her.
"A few days ago, when some jocks ragged on me, who dealt with my shit?"
"Me."
"And when I fell completely in love with my best friend, and my heart really, really, really hurt, who eventually got over themselves and dealt with my shit?" Brittany finished with a smile.
Santana felt her own expression change to mirror her girlfriend's, and rather than reply she leant in and pressed their lips together in a gentle kiss.
"Love you B." she smiled, pressing their foreheads together so their noses brushed.
Brittany released her hands, and wrapped her arms around Santana's slender waist, pulling her closer. "I love you too S., and like I said, all those times you dealt with my sh… stuff, and you were there for me. Just this once, let me be there for you…okay?" she questioned, blue eyes locking onto brown.
"Okay" she whispered in reply.
Xxxxx
Aladdin was playing for what Santana guessed was at least the hundredth time, as she finished the cocoa Brittany had insisted on making for her. The blonde had forgotten the milk, and it had the consistency of thick lumpy gravy, but the Latina drank it anyway, eager to show her appreciation for the kind gesture.
As she placed Brittany's 'super special duck mug' on the nightstand, she felt a strong pair of arms guiding her back to the bed, and her own body was moved back, to lay against Brittany's chest.
Exhausted from her earlier outburst and grateful to finally be in her sleepwear, the Latina let her head fall into the hollow of her girlfriend's neck, snuggling closer and planting a gentle kiss to the skin there, as pale arms pulled the comforter around them.
"You're my Princess Jasmine" Brittany breathed, barely tearing her eyes away from the screen.
Amused Santana tilted her head to study her girlfriend's face. The blonde was completely enthralled with the movie, her lips curling into a smile as the animated tiger graced the screen.
I am?" Santana questioned, smiling at the sweetness of the statement, "Does that make you my Aladdin?" she enquired curious.
The dancer's nose scrunched adorably, her eyes never leaving the animated world as she considered the question. "I think I'm your Princess Cinderella" she finally decided, her features relaxing, as pleased with her answer she fell easily back into the plot of her DVD.
"I think you are" Santana agreed happily, even without trying Brittany was just adorable, and her heart swelled with love for the quirky blonde. The previous events of the evening still hung over her, but spending time like this, so alone and intimately with Brittany, made it difficult for her spirits not to rise.
As the movie played on, and Brittany's fingers found their way to play with Santana's hair and scratch her head in just the right way, the Latina found herself slipping easily towards a contented sleep.
Just as she was about to completely slip into dreams, an ear-splitting squeal from somewhere behind her, and every inch of soft muscle below her, suddenly becoming taut with excitement, meant she was yanked back to full wakefulness with a bang.
The brunette grumbled, unintelligibly.
"Sanny! I've got it!" Brittany exclaimed cryptically, bouncing on the spot with excitement, jostling the sleepy Latina sprawled across her chest.
"What baby?" Santana questioned, careful reigning in the urge to snap at being interrupted from sleep. As soon as she looked up into Brittany's baby blues sparkling with excitement, the urge was altogether gone.
"Our glee assignment…we can sing this song!" she motioned to the TV, her eyes trained on her girlfriend, eager for a response.
"A whole new world?" Santana asked warily, suddenly fully awake at the prospect of getting her gay on with Britt, in front of the whole Glee club, "It's not really liberation B." she offered warily, testing the water, and praying Brittany wasn't going to push for this as hard as she feared she would.
"It's perfect!" Brittany shot back, still giddy with excitement.
Unable to think of an argument that didn't involve 'Not getting her lesbi-feelings out' in front of all the glee losers, Santana decided evasion was her best tactic, until she had thought of a suitable way to get out of the situation altogether.
"Can we talk about this in the morning babe?" she questioned tentatively, judging the dancers mood as she went, "I'm pretty exhausted" she added for good measure.
"Of course, go to sleep Sanny" Brittany gave her a reassuring smile, though Santana could see the hint of sadness behind it, that she hadn't been as excited about the blonde's idea as she'd hoped.
"We'll talk about it in the morning okay?" Santana added, trying to reassure Brittany, without actually promising anything – she wasn't sure she was ready to take that step just yet. Sure Q. knowing was one thing, but the whole fricken club, was another entirely.
"Okay" Brittany agreed, appearing pacified.
"Love you BrittBritt" Santana murmured, snuggling back into her girlfriend's sides, and enjoying being once again enveloped by her strong arms, swatting away the guilty feelings settling over her for not being able to grant the perfect blonde her every wish.
"Love you too Sanny, sweet dreams" Brittany didn't miss a beat.
With all her plans to come up with a plan, of how she was gonna get out of the 'whole new world' debacle without upsetting Brittany flying out of the window, Santana, not realising just how exhausted she actually was, slipped almost immediately into a deep, dreamless sleep.
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Also please check out my HeYa fic, She's Beautiful – I'm Breaking. Had a pretty huge positive response to it, which was just unexpected, and I'd love for you guys to read it. Thanks!