I was on a writing spree, so ta-da! Thanks for all the reviews!
Santana abruptly wakes at the sudden ray of sunshine thrust upon her face. She covers her face then squints her eyes at the culprit responsible for waking her this early.
"Wakey wakey, Little Miss Sunshine!" Kurt's merry voice echoes a little too loud in her bedroom. Upon closer inspection, he's donning new complete workout attire of short shorts, elbow and kneepads, brightly colored sneakers, skin-tight compression shirt, and to bring it all home, a purple headband.
"Five more minutes. It's my day off." Santana whispers, agitated. She buries herself in the covers only for Kurt to take it all off on her, making her shudder.
"No, no, it's not! You say that every day and it turns into an hour!" He exclaims. "Now, come on. You have a very hectic schedule for today. Breakfast is in the oven and will be ready in an hour downstairs."
Santana mutters Spanish expletives under her breath. She glances at her bedside alarm and reaches for the orange juice brought to her. She sits up in her bed while rubbing her eyes. "It's five thirty in the goddamn morning, Hummel. We got in late last night. Let my brain catch up to all this madness first." She says, motioning to Kurt's outfit.
"Fine. But we can't waste time. So, let me walk you through your schedule today again." He says and resorts to do some stretching instead. "At seven thirty, you have a breakfast meeting with PM Martinez and his wife to talk about a charity fundraiser for the Chicos orphanage this month. At nine, you will be taking part as the guest of honor along with Diego for the Veterans' parade downtown. At noon, you and Diego will meet the Queen back here in the Palace to welcome the Prime Minister of Scotland and her husband and have lunch with them.
"Around two, you will conduct a statement accepting the Queen of England's invitation to visit the UK next month. Remember to emphasize that you will be representing the King. After that, you have a break from the public but you'll need to try on the gown you'll be using for the Europa Press next week and get your speech ready. And finally, at seven, you and Diego will do the honors of opening the art fair downtown. The binders with the picture of the sample pieces you requested were delivered last night. Make sure to buy a few." He ends just as he does his second round of warming up.
"Oh, joy." Santana remarks with a sigh. She finishes the remains of her drink. "Will you leave my five to six vacant? Diego and I promised Papa that we'll take him on a stroll today for his daily exercise. I want to show him the binders too so I can make a purchase for him." She adds with a soft tone.
"Of course, Princess."
"Good." Santana cracks her first smile of the day. "Anything else I need to know?"
Kurt pauses to think. "I saw on the Internet that you are now the third most popular Royal family member in the world after William and Kate. Tourism is up by eleven percent too because of you." He grins. "I'm sure if you requested, a monument will be erected in your place now. You'd be known as 'Santana, the Gay'. What do you think?"
"I'm unable to think just yet. Give me a few more minutes and I'll come up with something that will make you lose your will to live." Santana smirks. She gets up from bed, stretches a bit, trudges to the bathroom then to her walk-in closet to change into her workout gear.
"By the way, the Queen wants to talk to you before we leave for the art fair later." Kurt cries out from outside the closet.
Santana peeks out. "Did she tell you why?"
"Oh, yes, we gabbed about it as I braided Her Majesty's hair in between bites of chocolate chip cookies and warm milk while watching Downton Abbey-"
"Yes, yes, I get the point, Kurt." She rolls her eyes. "It sounds serious. What could it be about? The last time we had a 'talk' she banished me to Paris for a semester for partying too much." She adds then resumes putting on clothes.
"Maybe it's good news this time. And I stress this as a bit hard to swallow-"
"Kurt, my good friend, you shouldn't use such a phrase when we both know you have never had difficulty gulping down a lot of things." She cuts with a mocking tone.
Kurt ignores her retort. "That you've behaved quite well since we came back. It's really unbelievable, if you think about how evil you are."
"Were." She corrects him just as she comes out of the closet.
"Miracles don't exist but sure." He shrugs. She goes to the mirror and fixes herself up. He gives her a brief once over and treads slowly with his next words.
"So," He trails off, walking over to her. "it's been three weeks since we left New York."
Santana glances at him through the reflection.
"You've been busy. Taking over half of the King's duties and assuming all your royal responsibilities. You even got a part-time job at Museo del Prado! Can you believe it? Because I really don't sometimes. You? 'Responsible' and 'working' in the same sentence? I'd laugh in your face if you told me that two months ago."
"Thank you so much for the support." Santana chuckles. "Now what's the point of this, as you Americans call it, segue into what I'm sure is an apt early morning conversation topic."
"Well… Brittany."
She casts him a deadpan look. "I told you. I don't want to talk about it, Kurt."
"I know for a fact that Brittany's not doing anything at the moment. Tonight's her second audition too. Maybe wish her some luck?" He says. She ignores him. He continues, "We had time to stop then so you could talk to her but you didn't."
"I was too preoccupied with my father. I might not have been able to go if we stopped to talk to her."
"Yes, but are you just going to leave it at that? A short phone call?" He utters, throwing her a look.
Santana sighs. She places her hair in a ponytail and faces Kurt with a steely gaze in her eye. "What do you want me to do, Kurt? Her life is in the US. Mine is here. I can't just up and leave to follow her nor can I ask her to do the same for me."
"Then how about inviting her here? For a vacation, maybe."
"What's the use? She's not going to stay anyway."
"But don't you want to see her?"
Santana bites her lip. "Of course I do, Kurt. I miss her so, so much. But there's nothing I can do and I have to live with that." She breathes deeply. "Besides, it's not as if she's crazy to see me. I tricked her into believing I was a commoner and when it came to making it up to her, I left without saying goodbye in person. One more and I will hit 'Tic Tac Toe' with her."
"It's Bingo, Princess." Kurt smiles. "But is that it? The end of an era?"
"As far as I'm concerned, it already ended. There's no coming back from that."
"Okay. But there's that swan painting you bought for Britt at the Met. And those books you purchased before we left. I think I saw you writing a little note too. What do we do about all that?"
"Up to you. Just keep it away from me."
Kurt purses his lip, nodding. "If you say so, Your Highness"
Santana flashes him a small smile. "Now, would you care to tell me why you're so excited to exercise for the first time in your life and the abomination that is your glow-in-the-dark attire?"
"Oh. Pablo the driver is subbing for your fitness trainer today. Thought I'd join in and stand out." He grins from ear to ear.
"I knew it was too good to be true. You are, what do Americans call it colloquially speaking? Ah! You are such a slut, Kurt. A highly paid slut." Santana makes a face on their way out her bedroom.
Brittany remains in heavy thinking for the whole trip back to Bushwick.
Her second audition for the American Jazz and Ballet Dance Company ended almost an hour ago. Still, she can't help but be anxious about her results. Her evaluators, who were as emotionless as a robot, only had a few words to say: "That was something, Miss Pierce."
And that was it.
There were no smiles. No compliments. Nothing to gauge if she did well at all. No. There was only silence and nonchalance in that room. Looking back now on her routine, the most emotional one she's ever executed, Brittany might have flushed her chances down the drain.
Maybe she shouldn't have let her emotions about Santana take over her dancing. Maybe she should have just played it safe like the others. Oh well. At least she tried something new. What sucks is she wouldn't know the results until after a month or two.
She sighs audibly as she reaches their apartment complex. It has been three weeks. The thought of Santana constantly invades her mind. She distinctly remembers waiting with Sugar and Mercedes outside the bar, both of them excited to interact with Kurt and Santana again. Then came that phone call.
"Britt, I won't be able to make it." Santana said.
It felt as if her heart was dropped from a high-rise building. It was one disappointment after another and she was ready to give Santana a piece of her mind for stringing her along. But being the dumdum that she is, she asked, "Why?"
There was a long pause from Santana's line, Brittany remembers. The sound of powerful gushes of air and indistinct chattering in the background. Then the Princess spoke.
"I'm heading back home to Spain. It's my father. I'm so sorry. I can't."
Then the line was cut.
Brittany's sure she held her breath far longer than she should have. She recalls being furious but confused. Upset but anxious. On the verge of tears but rendered indifferent. Ooh! Her emotions were all over the place! She couldn't understand what Santana meant about her father, why she sounded gloomy. Just when things were starting to go right again then bam! She couldn't understand why they can't seem to catch a break. She couldn't understand why Santana couldn't say goodbye face to face. But then again, what did she expect from involving herself with a real life Princess anyway? If there's anything that's thrown her back to reality, that their romance is not a fairy tale, then that was it.
The explanation came a few days later.
Brittany came back working part-time for Ken, to distract herself mostly, when she saw the news on one of the TV screens during closing time.
The King of Spain had a massive heart attack and was in a coma for a week. Soon enough, talks of the King's abdication were rife. Some even thought Princess Santana was going to ascend as Queen. But she didn't. Not just yet. The brunette's face was plastered in every news outlet there is. Suddenly and as the King rested, Santana became the face of the Spanish monarchy.
Brittany understood why. Brittany realized that there was no freaking way in hell that a commoner like her would have a chance of a happy ever after with not just a Princess, but the future Queen of Spain. It was time to move on, she decided for herself then. She had to try.
Brittany enters the apartment to the sight of her friends sprawled on the couch with pizza and alcohol lying about and Netflix on the screen.
"Hey, guys." She greets, a tad confused with the sudden disarray of the living area this early in the night.
"Hey, Britt! This was all supposed to be a surprise but we got hungry and thirsty." Mercedes responds, grinning.
"Don't worry about it. The train was late." She waves a hand in disregard. "So, what's all this for?"
"It's a mini-celebration after your second audition! Thought we'd make you drunk before you become filthy rich and famous." Tina chimes in.
Brittany chuckles. She goes to her room to change into comfortable clothes then settles in with them. "I hate to say this but don't hold your breath."
"Why? What happened?" Sugar asks. The other two lean in to follow the conversation.
"I'm not sure. I don't think I impressed them."
"What? That's crazy! You're the best dancer in your class!" Mercedes counters.
Brittany sighs. "I just hope I did enough to get in. I want this so bad."
"Baby girl," Tina cuts in, handing her a glass of champagne. "we are here to take your mind off of your worries tonight, alright? We are going to talk about boys, well, girls for you, and we will have you wasted in no time!"
Brittany laughs and grabs the glass from Tina. She drinks it all in one go with the girls cheering for her.
In no time, they become intoxicated, loud, and rowdy. Conversations frequently jump from one to another. Some of them about school gossip. Some about their recent romantic, or for Sugar, sexual episodes. Nevertheless, Brittany never ceases to feel better in the comfort of her friends.
"So, Britt," Sugar leads, playfully raising both eyebrows and grinning widely. "you and Santana, huh?"
Tina and Mercedes groan. Brittany chuckles and says, "Sugar, I'm afraid we're a bit too late to the party for that."
"Ooh! Britt, come give us the goods!" Mercedes drunkenly slurs, eliciting a loud cheer from the other two.
"You had a fling with a real-life princess and we've never talked about her. We never got the dirt!" Tina cuts in, smirking.
"There's no dirt, you guys." Brittany retorts, taking a huge sip from her glass. "It's not even a big deal anymore."
Her friends howl in disbelief. "Yeah, right!" Sugar cries out.
"B, you've been moping around these past few weeks. We saw you staring at Santana's picture in your laptop the other day in your room." Mercedes chimes in.
Brittany gasps. "I-I did not!"
"Yes, you did!" The three women say in unison.
"You know what, we are going to talk about establishing boundaries, alright?" Brittany gives them a look. "A-And there's nothing to talk about. It's all over." She adds with a stern tone.
An awkward silence ensues. Brittany munches on the pizza while her friends share knowing looks with each other.
Sugar whispers in the softest of tones, "Britt, you, like, banged a Princess."
The whole room erupts in fits of uncontrollable drunken laughter.
"Sugar! Oh my God!" Brittany exclaims all horrified but can't help but cackle with them. "You can't go saying things like that." She adds, reining in her laughter.
"Asperger's." Sugar shrugs, chuckling.
Brittany shakes her head, casting them an unamused glance. "It wasn't anything casual like you're putting on. It was-" She purses her lips. "It was quite romantic."
They nod along. Tina smirks, "So, it was that good, huh?"
Brittany tries to deflect but no words come out of her mouth. Instead, she throws her hands up and covers her face to hide her blushing. The other girls further taunt her.
"Speaking of royalty sex scandals," Mercedes trails off. "guess who called me last night?"
"Channing Tatum?" Sugar teases.
"Nah, girl. It was Kurt. He just said hello and we got to catch up a little bit. Apparently, Santana's gotten quite busy which we all know, with the news and all. Oh! I told him you had your second audition today too."
Brittany nods along. She feigns disinterest and places all her attention on the food instead.
"Why don't you come visit Santana?" Mercedes utters. The other girls subtly agree. Brittany squints her eyes at her friend.
"You mean, go to Madrid?"
"Why not? You're not doing anything right now. You and her are 'good friends'. Why not go and have a little vacation in good 'ol Spain?"
"W-What? That's crazy! What am I going to do there?"
"To go get the girl?" Tina grins.
Brittany chuckles bitterly. "If this were the movies, I would. But the 'girl' we're talking about here is the future Queen of Spain. I'm nothing but a poor commoner. There is no 'getting the girl'."
"Do you love her though?" Sugar asks. Brittany stops sipping her drink midway. Tina and Mercedes look up to see their friend's reaction.
Brittany's eyebrows furrow. She clears her throat and brushes the question away. "T-The point is I don't stand a chance. B-Besides, how am I going to make contact with her? Ring the doorbell on their Palace gates and ask for the Princess?" She mockingly laughs to herself.
"We could try to contact Kurt. Fat chance but we could always try." Mercedes remarks. "Let's tell him you're coming to visit and see Santana."
Brittany thinks. "N-No. I can't, okay? Her father just had a heart attack and she's busy with work. The news says so. I don't belong there. Let's just leave it that way. It's time to move on."
Her friends decide not to push anymore. They open up a new conversation about school and Tina's nearing engagement party. All the while, Brittany remains aloof. She pretends to listen to their conversations while engaging in her own private fantasy about following Santana to Spain.
A knock on their steel front door stops the on-going conversation. They cautiously glance at each other.
"Did somebody order more pizza?" Tina asks. Everyone shakes their head.
Another knock on the door, louder and firmer, startles them. This time, they all stand up and assume previously talked about positions sporting their makeshift weapons apt for living in Bushwick whenever someone knocks on the door in the dead of the night. As randomly elected, or as a sacrifice if worse comes to worst, Sugar approaches the door and takes a peek through the hole.
For some unknown reason to the other girls, Sugar relaxes and slides the door open to unveil a brown-haired woman and two men in suits.
"Hello." The woman utters with a heavy Spanish accent. "I am Lope Verano. We come from the Palacio de la Zarzuela in Madrid, under Her Royal Highness's office."
"The what now?" Sugar raises an eyebrow.
Lope barely cracks a smile. "We are looking for Miss Brittany Susan Pierce. Is she around?"
Brittany hesitantly walks to the door. Tina and Mercedes stand with Sugar at the sides.
"H-Hello. I'm Brittany Pierce."
Lope regards her then extends a hand. "Miss Pierce, I am Lope Verano, the Communications Assistant to Mr. Kurt Hummel. He sent me here to personally deliver a package from Her Royal Highness Princess Santana. Where shall we put it?" She utters, looking around the apartment with some hint of reproach.
Brittany blinks. "A-A package delivery? What?"
Not waiting for an answer, Lope gestures for the men to enter the apartment. They step back to grab a yard long rectangular package wrapped in cloth and bubble wrap then place them on the couch for lack of a space.
Brittany's eyebrows raise, mouth open as she looks around in confusion. She gazes back at Lope who cuts in before she's able to say something.
"These are also for you, Miss Pierce." She says, handing her a parcel packed in brown paper with a knot around it.
"I- Uh- Did you come all the way from Spain just to deliver all these?" Brittany motions to the gifts.
"Yes. Mr. Hummel told me that it was a direct order from Her Royal Highness."
"O-Oh my- But why?"
"I believe that's above my pay grade, ma'am. What I can tell you is that Mr. Hummel had strict orders that they should be delivered with utmost care." Lope forces a smile. She reaches from her purse and hands Brittany Kurt's calling card. "He's expecting your call, Miss Pierce."
"Oh, I have to ask. Is there any way I can contact Santana directly? Or maybe you can do it for me?"
Lope raises an eyebrow at the casual demand and the use of the Princess's name, as if Brittany just asked to be handed a million dollars. "I'm sorry. We are not allowed to communicate directly with the Princess unless absolutely necessary. Until then, any and all communications go through Mr. Hummel. But," She pauses, handing Brittany a miniature red envelope with a small royal seal on it. "Sir Kurt wanted you to have that. He mentioned that it is the Princess's personal contact details. He had very, very precise instructions that it is for your eyes only."
Brittany's breath hitches. The other girls gasp.
Lope smiles. "If there's nothing else we can help you with, Miss Pierce, then we'll be on our way."
"T-Thank you." Brittany retorts, staring in disbelief at the fancy envelope. It's only now that she realizes that they had definitely taken Kurt and Santana's commoner status in New York for granted.
Lope bids goodbye and leaves with the men. The whole apartment is subdued in silence with the girls hovering over the package by the couch. All of them suddenly sober at the sudden turn of events.
"So…" Tina trails off. "Do we open it?"
Brittany nods frantically. They carefully unwrap the first one while she stays in the sidelines to watch the scene unfold before her.
It's an unfamiliar portrait of lovers perched on a bench in a park, completely smitten with each other, ignoring the musings of the swans in the background. By the corner, the signature of an artist named 'Kellerman'.
Brittany squints her eyes. She can practically hear the gears on her mind turning as she analyzes the portrait.
Why does it look familiar? She's seen it somewhere before, she's sure of it. Why did Santana send this particular piece? Two lovers deep in love, ignoring the outside world. It's almost as if Santana's telling her that she could not care less about the world. That Brittany is the only one who matters to her.
"We got you cheap champagne for your second audition and this girl got you a painting worth more than your lives combined." Sugar remarks, chuckling.
"What's that?" Tina points to the parcel in Brittany's hand. She snaps out of her trance and unwraps it.
The parcel contains two books and a brown envelope. The book on top is a travel guide for Spain. The other is a small Spanish-English translation dictionary. The envelope holds a first class ticket from New York to Madrid. Upon closer inspection, a small note is tucked inside. It says:
How good is your Spanish, Brubru?
Brittany can't help but crack a smile at the resurrected nickname. She looks up at the painting then glances back down on the note and ticket.
"I think she wants me to come to Spain." Brittany whispers.
The girls immediately flock to her spot, taking a peek at the things in her hand.
"Dude, what are you still doing standing here? The flight on the ticket is in two hours! Start packing your bags!" Mercedes jests.
"Y-You guys think I should go?"
"Hell yeah!" Tina exclaims. "Come on, I'll help you pack!"
"Girl, I will so happily jump on that plane, come to the dark side, and do some lesbianing with Santana if you won't go." Sugar remarks.
"But I don't know if I'm ready. I-I need to plan things first. I can't just go there. I don't even have an idea where to go and how to-"
"For the love of God, Brittany Susan Pierce! Just do one impulsive thing in your life and go get the girl!" Mercedes cries out. "Now stop with this nonsense or so help me I will slap you so hard that you will read my fortune from the handprint on your face!"
Brittany blinks rapidly. "Yeah. I'll go."
"Good!" Mercedes holds up both hands. "I'm sorry. I'm so excited that everything is coming out three octaves higher."
Tina hugs Mercedes while laughing. She turns back her attention to Brittany. "Let's get packing then!"
"Wait!" Brittany protests. "There's only one problem: I don't have money. I only have a hundred and thirty bucks to my name right now."
"But you have a ticket and you can call Kurt or Santana from there." Tina retorts.
"I know, I know. It's for Plan B." Brittany bites her lip. "This ticket is one way to Madrid. I need to have extra money on me just in case things turn sour."
They all nod in understanding. Then Mercedes shouts, "Screw that! I have two hundred here."
"I have two hundred too, Britt." Tina adds.
Brittany's heart melts at the gesture. Before she can say sappy things, Sugar cuts in.
"Oh my God, stop this madness!" She waves a black card then practically shoves it in Brittany's face with the sweetest of smiles. "Here you go, darling. Go get you some nice things." She adds, winking.
The action leaves the rest of them thunderstruck. She doesn't object and merely takes it as Tina and Mercedes repeatedly whispers in her ear.
"Thank you… so much." She croaks out.
"Don't mention it. I got a few more here anyway." Sugar waves a hand in disregard. "I totally ship this romance, so defile away."
Brittany saves herself from the incoming unfiltered bevy of words. She retreats to her room and packs a holiday bag as fast as she can with the help of her friends. Soon enough, she's on her way to the airport with her heart thumping to the beat of the drum.
"One hundred euros says that I did something wrong during one of the engagements." Santana says with a huge smirk as they walk along the halls of the Palace to the Queen's study.
"What makes you think you did something wrong, Princess?"
"Just a hunch." Santana shrugs. "So, what do you say? A hundred euros?"
"Sure. How about we throw in dinner at Santceloni too? Loser buys."
"Deal." Santana grins. They walk along the next few seconds in silence. It isn't until they turn to a corner leading directly to their destination that Santana speaks again.
"Oh, I forgot to ask. Is he riding alone with me tomorrow at the parade?"
"Yes. Both of you will be leading the parade. The King and Queen will ride with the carriage."
They knock on the Queen's study and a soft voice tells them to enter. Santana is greeted by the sight of her mother arranging some flower arrangement.
"Kurt, will you kindly have them send us some tea?"
Kurt bows his head and exits the room. Santana nervously remains in her spot.
"How have you been, Mija?" Maribel leads, attention still on the flowers.
"Well. At least I think I am."
"Come sit with me." The Queen says and motions to the sofa much to Santana's nervousness. Her Mother gives her a once over and smiles.
"W-What is it, Mother?"
The Queen shakes her head. "Nothing. Your father and I have frequent conversations about you."
"Oh." Santana says a bit taken aback.
"There's something different about you since you came back from New York. It's as if you're a changed person." Her Mother says. "You have gotten yourself a job in the Museum. You're attending all your engagements on time and religiously. You are taking more control and shown yourself as a leader in the past few weeks. You have even established quite the connection with the masses. Your father and I are quite impressed." She adds, grinning.
Santana chuckles. "For the record, my being on time to all my appointments and everything else should be attributed to Kurt."
"Yes. Kurt really is something. Hiring him as your secretary was a great decision." The Queen laughs then turns serious. "I know you have somewhere to be so I shall keep this short. There are two points we need to discuss. First is the parade for the opening of the parliamentary session. We have decided that you will be the one to open the session."
"What?" Santana looks on dumbfounded.
"Your father raised the idea and I agree with him. A few more weeks and he's strong enough to resume some of his duties. He can do it tomorrow if he wishes but he elected that you take over. As a way to slowly transfer some of his duties to you. Officially."
She raises an eyebrow, having a hunch where this conversation is going.
"Your duty of opening parliament tomorrow serves as one of the first steps to your becoming Queen. Seeing your surge of popularity, we expect that the media would speculate about the sudden substitution. Further, starting tomorrow, we will start turning over most of your father's duties to you. And in return, you will turn some of your own to Diego. He will be first in line when you become Queen, after all."
"W-Wait. What are you saying, Mother?" Santana breathes through her mouth as deep as she can.
"Mija," Her Mother trails off, placing a hand on her knee. "your father, as stubborn as he is, needs to devote himself to recovering full-time. This leads me to our second point. We're planning to announce your father's abdication from the throne next month then have the official ceremony the month after. It means that we have two complete months to prepare for your ascension to Queen.
"A-Are you saying that-"
"Yes." The Queen says in a gentle manner. "In two months, you will no longer be Santana, Princess of Asturias. In two months, you will officially become Santana, Queen of Spain."
We're moving to Spain, people! Keep the motivation coming ;)