Author's note: I'm sorry it's been a while since I updated. I've got a lot of books I need to read and a lot of fics to update. I actually started a new Glee fic called What I See that is the sequel to My Story Give All My Secrets Away. They both star Dave and Sebastian in the world of the show. I worked on the first with my bestie actresswithoutastage and she's going to help me a lot with the new one.
As for this story, I was informed that the same bestie that she felt this was moving a little slow, so I'm going to try to pick it up a little in coming chapters. Just stick with me.
Happy reading.
Chapter Fourteen
Santana's fingers played lightly over Brittany's skin. The sky was lightening in the distance. She'd have to leave soon and wasn't ready for it. It was so warm in Brittany's bed. And the day ahead was going to be busy.
She leaned over and kissed Brittany's cheek. She whispered, "Wake up, love and tell me good morning before I leave."
She turned and wrapped her arms and legs around Santana. "No. Stay."
"I can't. You know I can't." She brushed her lips over Brittany's. "But I wish I could."
Brittany opened her eyes slowly. "I do too."
"Would you like to see what I have for you for Christmas?"
"You mean I get more than just a memory of an amazing night?" She smiled seductively and bit her lip.
Santana kissed her back and then removed herself from her lover's embrace. She shivered in the cold air and pulled on her dressing gown. She reached in the pocket and pulled out a small book. She handed it over as she sat down beside her once more. "I made you this. It's some of the words and phrases my mother has been teaching me in Spanish."
Brittany leaned forward and met her lips. "Thank you."
Santana opened up the book to the front page and pointed. "Gracias."
She smiled and repeated, "Gracias."
"De nada." She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Te amo."
"And what does that mean?"
"I love you." She brushed a kiss softly across her lips.
"Te amo… as well."
She laughed softly. "Tambien. It means as well. You say, 'te amo tambien.'"
"Te amo tambien."
Santana kissed her once more and then stood reluctantly. "I need to go."
Brittany watched as she dressed quickly.
"Would you like a bath this morning?"
She shook her head. "Just warm the water in the pitcher. That will be fine. Mama wants us to go to early service today. With Sebastian and Sugar. It will be our first Christmas together."
"I really wish you weren't marrying him." She said for the thousandth time as she headed for the door.
Brittany just nodded and rolled away. She propped her head on her hand and looked out the window.
Santana walked back over to her and sat down. She leaned over and kissed her shoulder. "I'm sorry."
"I don't want to have this conversation again."
"I know. That's why I apologized." She kissed her cheek. "I'll be back in a little while. Sleep some more."
"We still have a month." She rolled onto her back and pulled Santana to her for a fierce kiss. "Don't be long. I have something for you as well."
"You didn't have to get me anything."
"And yet I did."
She stood once more. "I'll be back, love."
Santana nearly ran over her mother as she hurried to her room.
"Santana, where on earth have you been?"
"I woke up early and couldn't get back to sleep so I took a walk." She lied.
She looked her up and down. "In your nightgown? It is indecent."
"No one was awake Mamá."
"You don't know. Go get dressed now. And you and I will have a talk about this later." She turned on her heel and walked toward the kitchen.
Santana watched her mother for a moment before she ducked into her room and quickly dressed. She hurried to get everything ready for Brittany. She carried up a tray full of breakfast. Brittany never ate it all herself. Often lately, they lingered over breakfast together, getting as much time in alone as possible. All the wedding preparations had taken her away.
Today, she wouldn't be able to linger. She knew her mother would expect her to help in the house with final preparations for the day. The Pierce family had invited several people to a Christmas feast that would begin not long after they returned from the church. The kitchen had been busy for days.
She knocked on the door and waited for Brittany to call to her before she pushed it open. She sat the tray down on the table beside her bed. "Here you are, love."
Brittany sat up and stretched, the blanket falling away from her chest to pool at her waist.
Santana watched her hungrily, wishing she could push her back down on the bed and make love to her once more. But they would have the night again. Only a few more hours. she told herself. She brushed a knuckle down her cheek. "I'll be back later to take your tray. Ring when you're ready."
"You're not staying?" She asked, her face falling.
"I can't. My mother is suspicious. She caught me just now trying to sneak into my room."
Brittany caught her hand and kissed her palm. "I miss you already."
"I miss you, too." She kissed the top of her head. "Eat up, you need your strength."
The rest of the morning passed in a blur of activity. Her fleeting moments with Brittany were he only bright spots. And the closer it drew to sending the family off to church, the more Santana dreaded it.
"Santana." Brittany said softly as they walked together down the steps to meet the rest of the family in the foyer.
"Yes?"
"I didn't get a chance to give you your gift." She stopped. "It's sitting on my bedside table wrapped in cloth." She smiled shyly. "I hope you like it. It's only the first of three. I'll get you the others if you like it."
"You really needn't get me anything, Brittany."
Penny cleared her throat from a few steps above them.
They turned.
"Happy Christmas, Santana." She said with a sad smile.
"Happy Christmas, Miss Penelope." Santana said back.
"Are you coming to church?" She asked.
"No." She said softly. "We have to finish a few things for the feast. I volunteered to help."
"That's too bad." She dropped her voice. "Noah won't be there either."
"Sorry."
She shrugged. "Such is life." She smiled mischievously. "He might come to the party later." She scooted past them and trotted up to her father who was tapping his foot anxiously.
"Happy Christmas, Miss Brittany." Santana hurried away.
She avoided her mother as much as possible. She didn't even have a chance to go back to Brittany's room until it was almost time for the family to return. She made the bed and straightened up. Then she sat on the edge of the bed and picked up the cloth-wrapped package and opened it slowly.
Brittany excused herself as soon as they arrived home and walked up to her room. She was shocked to see Santana curled up on her bed, reading.
She closed the book quickly when she heard the door. "I'm sorry."
"Why apologize?"
She stood. "I should be working."
"I wish you could live a life of leisure with me." She said wistfully.
"You would get tired of me."
"Not for a long time."
She kissed her softly. "Thank you for the book."
"I'd give you the world if I could, Santana."
"As would I, love." They shared another brief kiss. "Do you need anything?"
"No, I'm fine. Thank you."
"Then I best be going." She put her book on the bedside table. "I'll come back for that."
"You had better." She smiled.
Brittany watched her leave and then flung herself across the bed. She'd had to endure the entire service with Sebastian beside her. His fingers had somehow ended up playing with hers. She tried to move away, but he only leaned closer and draped his arm across the back of the pew and twirled some of her stray hair around his finger.
"We're in church." She hissed.
He only smiled and continued to play with her hair. And then he had insisted on her riding in the carriage with him. And when she was in the carriage with him, he had once again, pawed at her. His sister was across the carriage, but she kept her gaze firmly out the window and chattered on as though nothing was amiss.
She endured it. After all, it only lasted a few minutes and then she was home. And seeing Santana curled up on her bed with the book she'd given her only made things better. And yet it was also worse at the same time. All she wanted to do was curl up with her and escape the rest of the day.
She sat up with a resigned sigh. She joined her family in the drawing room. The rest of the guests had finally arrived.
Sebastian stepped up to her and slipped her arm through his, holding it tight to his side. "Where did you run off to?" he asked, accusation plain in his voice.
"To be alone for a few minutes." She assured him.
"When we're married, you will be telling me everywhere you go."
"And I should always answer to you?"
"Of course. A man has a right to know what his wife is up to at all times."
She opened her mouth to tell him she didn't have to answer to him, but she was interrupted by her father calling them over to greet someone. They moved around the room together as her father introduced them as betrothed to everyone they knew and invited them to the wedding the following month, telling them to keep an eye out for the official invitation within the week.
After a while, Sebastian turned his charm on Brittany's father. "Might I have a word, Mr. Pierce?"
"Yes, of course. We can go to my study."
Sebastian leaned in and whispered in Brittany's ear. "Don't you leave this room."
She pasted a smile on her face. "Hurry back to me."
He kissed her hand and then followed her father out of the room. She plopped down beside Penny on a sofa in a back corner of the room. "When are we leaving?" She asked under her breath.
"We're still pretty far away from being able to do that." She slipped her arm through her sisters.
She sighed. "I just don't know if I can do it, Penn."
Sugar bounded over and sat in the empty seat beside Brittany. "Hello." She said kindly.
"Hello, Sugar."
"If you want to call me Melanie, I wouldn't mind. In fact, I wish more people did." She said almost sadly. "My mother used to."
"Melanie is a pretty name. You've always been Sugar, so it will be hard to get used to. But I will do my best." She smiled kindly at her betrothed's sister.
Her smile turned grateful.
"Are you having a good Christmas?" Brittany asked, patting her hand.
"Oh, yes. Sebastian got me almost everything I asked for. I even got a new horse."
"And how many does that make?"
"Six. I just need one more and I can ride a different horse for every day of the week." She was smiling, but Brittany noticed something flashing in her eyes.
"Melanie?"
"Yes?" She swallowed.
"Is your brother ever mean to you? And not just normal picking like a brother would do, but… Has he ever hurt you?"
She opened her mouth to answer, but was interrupted.
"Sugar." Sebastian's voice came from close by. "Why don't you go get yourself something to drink?"
She mumbled an apology and stood.
Sebastian grabbed her arm as she passed him. "Be a dear and get something for Brittany, too."
She nodded and scurried off.
He looked at Penny, giving her a sweet smile.
She didn't return it.
He turned his gaze to Brittany. "I asked your father first because I wanted to make sure he didn't think I was being too forward." He handed her a small box. "Happy Christmas."
She opened it to find a ring with a very large sapphire set into it. "Sebastian." She gasped. "You really didn't have to."
"I know I we said no gifts, but I saw that and I thought of you."
"Thank you."
He kneeled in front of her and took the ring out of the box. He slipped it on her finger and leaned over her hand. He pressed his lips to the ring and then again to the back of her hand.
The room erupted in cheers and catcalls at the gesture.
Brittany smiled, but wished she could run away.