Unexpectedly Your

21.

Brittany's point of view

The next morning, I woke up totally excited. You see even though Rachel and I have been dating for a while, today signified the fact that we are a solid couple. Of course, we're going to have little fights and arguments in the future, we are human after all. But today is a promise to everyone in our lives that I will never leave her. That I'll always love her.

Have I ever told her this? Crap, I don't think so. I need to tell her before we tell anyone else…

I turned over gently because we were still tangled together. I lowered myself down the mattress so that I could look at her easily.

She's so beautiful when she's sleeping. Hell, she's beautiful all the time, but never more so than when she's sleeping. What does she dream about? Broadway? Barbra? Me?

I saw her smile so I guess she was having a good dream.

"Brittany, I love you," she whispered in her sleep.

As quietly as I could I whispered, "I love you too and I'm right here…"

I wanted to pull her closer to me, but I knew that might wake her up so I fought the urge.

Then her eyes started to flutter. She was waking up.

When she woke up totally I wanted to make sure she saw me smiling at her. So I smiled brightly and held it. It didn't take too long.

When she opened her eyes, she jumped a little.

"Uh, hi," she said a little scared.

"Morning, I hope you're not too scared," I replied a little apprehensive now. I reached up and caressed her face.

"Um, no, how long have you been staring at me," she asked.

"Not long. I did want to tell you a few things. When you're ready. Take your time," I said and kissed her forehead.

"Can you give me five minutes? I need to use the bathroom," she asked.

"Of course," I answered back and then she tangled herself fully from my body, got out of bed and went to the bathroom.

Rachel, I love you. No, no, she knows that…get it together, Pierce!

Are you excited for today? I am. I want to tell you—

"Brittany," she kind of scream to get me out of my thoughts.

"Whoa! Hey," I answered back.

Geez, that was the fastest five minutes of my life!

"Where were you," she asked, "It looked like you were doing some major thinking!"

"Yea, I was," I said.

She had gotten back into bed by that point and went to wrap her arms around my body.

I kind of pushed her away and sat up. I turned in bed and faced her. She turned and faced me too.

"Oh, you don't want to cuddle," she asked hurt.

"No, no, I do, but if we do that I'll never have the guts and I'll forget what I wanted to talk to you about. Do you mind?"

"No, not all. Brittany, you're kinda scaring me, though," she said unsure.

"Rachel, honey, nothing to be scared of. Geez, I'm ruining this opportunity," I said and smacked my forehead.

She grabbed my hand and massaged my forehead. "Don't do that. It is okay. What do you want to tell me?"

"Well, are you excited for today?" I asked as I started the conversation.

"Yes, I am actually. Why? Do you want to postpone it? It's okay," she said, but lowered her head so I wouldn't see her disappointment.

"No, we are telling everyone today," I reassured her. She picked her head up and smiled at me.

"Ok, great. Is there more?" she asked.

"Yes, um, Rachel the reason why I want to announce this to our families is because I see this as a promise…"

"A promise of what?" she asked intrigued.

"A promise that I will never leave you. That even when we have little arguments or whatever you can always be certain of the fact that I love you," I said and started to get emotional.

She saw this and brushed the tears away from my cheeks.

"I am the luckiest girl in the world because I found you," she said and kissed my cheek.

"No, I'm the luckiest girl because you could have said, 'no' to me when I told you I had a crush on you," I said and smiled shyly. I was now sitting on my knees still facing her.

"You know why I didn't?" she asked timidly.

"No, why?"

"Because I saw and see something wonderful in you, Brittany. I wanted to get to know you. I've loved being your girlfriend. You have changed my life!"

I leaned forward and stole a kiss from Rachel. She wasn't expecting it so she jumped a little at the contact of my lips on hers, but my lips held onto hers. Then she brought her hand up and wrapped it around my neck to pull me closer. We stayed like this for a while.

After the kiss ended, I looked at her and smiled.

"I can't wait to make love to you," she said.

I was shocked because Rachel isn't the type of person who would say that.

"Um, um, um…" I mumbled.

She laughed and then she pulled at my tee shirt. Pretty soon I was lying on top of her. She brought her lips up and attached them to mine. I started to grind very gently on top of her. She started to moan so I took that as a good thing. Her tongue quickly darted into my mouth and danced with my tongue.

"Mmm…Rachel," I tried, but wasn't having much luck.

"Rachel," I tried again as I came up for air.

"Oh, sorry, I kinda got ahead of myself, I guess…" Rachel said and smiled shyly.

"Trust me, my love, we will definitely get there…"

Mrs. Pierce's point of view

My husband and I were sitting in the kitchen having coffee and reading the paper when we began to hear a lot of commotion bounding down the staircase and in the other rooms of the house.

"Lord Tubbington's still sleeping…keep it down," I yelled playfully.

When my daughter and Rachel came into my view, I immediately saw them holding hands and walking close to each other. This hasn't happened in front of us yet.

"Honey," I whispered.

"Hmm," he responded, but kept reading the paper.

"Look up quickly," I suggested.

His head bolted up and he saw what I saw. Our daughter and her…I guess, girlfriend were walking towards us with huge smiles on their faces.

"Good morning, Mom and Dad," Brittany sang out happily.

"Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Pierce. Hope you're well," Rachel said politely.

"I'm glad you both are here. I'd, no, we'd like to talk with you," Brittany said.

"Sure, baby…what's on your mind," my husband said and put down his paper. We both watched as our daughter pulled out a chair for Rachel.

"I know that you guys have noticed that Rachel and I have been spending a lot of time together. And that we've been going out on dates…"

"Yes, we do have eyes," I joked. I had a serious expression on my face so I knew that my daughter would feel upset.

"Oh, no, I know you do. I didn't mean to say that I thought you didn't know," Brittany said as she became sad. It was like she did something wrong.

"Honey, your Mom was joking," my husband said and smiled.

She looked at me and I smiled so she smiled.

"Well, anyway, we just want to tell you both that we are in a committed relationship. Mom, I know you remember our conversation about the 'love' issue…" Brittany said and I nodded my head.

"Oh, you told your Mom about that," Rachel asked and looked s little stunned.

"Yes, dear, she did," I said and tried to calm her down.

"Why?" Rachel asked.

"Rachel, I was upset that we were doomed to break up and live unhappily without each other. It was the first time ever that I told anyone, besides family, that I love them. I questioned it for about two seconds, but decided that my feelings were true and that I'd wait."

"Can I explain why I didn't tell your daughter right away that I loved her," Rachel asked us.

"If you feel comfortable, then sure," I answered as soothingly as possible.

"I just ended a relationship with Finn Hudson…"

"Jolly Green Giant," my husband muttered under his breath, but we all heard it.

We all chuckled.

"Yes, well, I really thought that I was in love with him. We had several dates and he told me that he loved me. Anyway, when your daughter told me that she had a crush on me my world changed…oh, for the better," she said, looked at all of us and continued, "It turns out that I didn't know what love was until Brittany walked into my dull life! I wanted to make absolutely sure that my feelings for her, which started on our Valentine's Day date, were real and true and from my heart."

"Have you told her yet," my Mom pushed a little.

I looked at my daughter and she smiled at me.

"Yes, I have. Now I can't stop saying it. I even think I said it in my sleep," Rachel confessed.

"Um, yeah, you did," Brittany said and Rachel blushed.

"So how do you know it's love now," my husband asked.

"Dad!" Brittany yelled.

"No, Brittany, it's a valid question and one that I want to answer. I know it is love because I can see a future with her. I couldn't with Finn. He was into himself. Brittany is all about me, you know, like doing romantic and kind things for me, telling me that she loves me all the time. And I've tried to be there for her…"

"My little Diva!" Brittany said and smiled brightly.

We all smiled.

"Brittany wanted to tell you both today and so did I. I knew that you both knew, but she wanted it make it official," Rachel said.

"I wanted to because she is going to be a major part of the rest of my life," Brittany said, smiled, and looked at all of us.

I got up from my chair, walked over to the two girls, and opened my arms up. I think Brittany thought I wanted a hug from her. As she approached, I shifted my body towards Rachel. She got up and walked into my hug.

"Geez, is that how it's going to be," I asked and laughed.

"Oh, hush," I said as I hugged Rachel. I left go of Rachel a few seconds after and then pulled my daughter in for a hug.

"Take care of her," I whispered into my daughter's ear.

"I totally am," I replied.

"Well, Rachel," my husband said and stood up. "Welcome to the Pierce clan!"

Rachel lunged at my husband and wrapped her arms tightly around him.

"Um, ok," he said flabbergasted.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Pierce, I just appreciate your acceptance of me and your daughter!"

"It's fine…I like your hugs," he admitted.

"Ok, ok," Brittany said and she pried Rachel off of her Dad.

"Uh, yea, in a little while we are going to my house to talk with my fathers," Rachel started, and then continued, "Then we are going out to dinner. I hope this is acceptable?"

"Sure. It's a school night, though." I told them.

"We know," Brittany said, grabbed her girlfriend's hand, and pulled them back to her room. The door slammed with a loud thud.

Hiram Berry's point of view

Our daughter and Brittany came breezing into the house and ran to us. My husband Leroy and I were in the den.

"Dad and Daddy, we have an announcement," Rachel said and smiled the widest I've ever seen.

"What is it, Pumpkin," Leroy asked as we motioned them to sit down.

Rachel motioned Brittany to sit first and then she sat besides her and grabbed Brittany's hand.

My husband and I immediately noticed this and smiled.

"So Brittany and I are here to share some exciting news with you. You know that we've been on several dates. From those special times together we have fallen in love, totally. I plan on spending the rest of my life with her. We are each other's forever," Rachel said through her tears. Brittany squeezed her hand tightly.

"Well," I said.

"Wow," Leroy said.

"Do you have any questions for me," Brittany asked my fathers.

"Um, I have one," I said.

"Ok, shoot!" Brittany said and moved back on the couch. Rachel sat back as well and didn't let go our Brittany's hand.

"How do you know, Brittany, that this is love," I asked.

"Well, sir, remember Valentine's Day when your daughter was coming down the stairs to meet me," Brittany started.

"Yes, you were in a trance. It was charming and funny," I replied.

Rachel giggled as she remembered.

"Oh, good. Well that trance, you mentioned, is how I feel around her all the time. Rachel is the most beautiful girl, no, woman, in the world to me. She has my heart and she has my love. She will continue to have both of these for the rest of my life. Noo," Brittany raised her voice. This startled us.

"She will have these things forever. Even when I am gone she will always know that I love her. She'll always feel that love and I hope that she'll take that and carry with her," Brittany said and smiled.

"Are you ready for all of her," Leroy asked.

"Dad," Rachel said and sighed dramatically.

"Yes, sir I am," Brittany said honestly, "She's 'my little diva'!"

We all laughed, but Brittany then said, "Actually that's another wonderful thing I admire about her…her boldness, her desire to strive for success, and her 'go get them' attitude! I'm learning a lot from just knowing her."

"Have you told her that you love her yet," I said.

"Yes, sir, I have," Brittany said happily.

"I was talking to my daughter," I said a little sternly.

"I, um, yes, I have," Rachel replied and looked nervous.

"He's just playin'!" Leroy said and chuckled.

"Whew!" Brittany said and smiled.

"Well," I started, looked over at my husband, and then said, "Brittany, we see how Rachel is when she's around you…we've never seen her this happy and content before. We owe you a debt of immense gratitude. We are so happy for the both of you. Hey, Leroy!"

"Yes, Hiram," he answered.

"Now we don't have to worry about what's his name, umm," I said. I pretended to think real hard.

"Oh, yeah, I got it. Finn Hudson!" I finished my sentence.

"I'll make you a promise," Brittany said.

"Oh, yeah, what's that," Leroy played along.

"You'll never have to worry about Finn ever again," Brittany said triumphantly.

"Hooray," I said and clapped my hands.

Then Rachel pulled Brittany and Leroy into a hug and Leroy pulled me into the hug.

"We've never had a Berry hug before. I like it!" Leroy stated.

We just stood there like fools in the Berry group hug.