I was in school today and the cafeteria had this candy bar. Not joking! It was called Holly – the original. I was like fuck you candy bar! So I bought it and stepped on it. Then I felt bad about wasting food so I picked it up again and fed it to birds.

So chapter 25 was originally supposed to cut right to March but my therapist was like what's with the stress, yo? And since I have this huge essay due like an hour ago I was just itching for reasons to not get started, and I thought why not write another chapter? It's a little fillery but hopefully not yuckishly boring.

CHAPTER 25

"Take this"

January 5th

"Merry Christmas and a happy new year." Santana said like a cheesy recorded voice when Emma opened the door.

"We come bearing gifts!" Brittany chirped shortly after and handed Emma a big plastic bag stuffed with presents. Santana and Brittany stepped inside and proceeded to take their big jackets off. It was super cold outside.

"You're like Santa." Emma said smilingly while peeking in the bag. Brittany squealed with joy at the statement.

"Are you okay with carrying that? Here, let me." Santana said and took the bag away from Emma again.

"Santana, it's fine." Emma said but was ignored by the Latina who continued into the living room.

"Look at you." Brittany said lovingly and put her hand on Emma's stomach. With seven months you could definitely tell what was going on in there.

"Oh my God he kicked!" Brittany exclaimed. "He kicked, he kicked." She repeated excitedly. Emma half giggled, half hummed in approval. Santana came rushing back into the hall, looking flustered as ever.

"What? How? Where?" She asked nervously.

"In the stomach, silly." Brittany said in a little chuckle.

"Here." Emma said softly and took Santana's hand, guiding it to the previous spot of activity. Santana was almost afraid to even touch Emma's stomach because she was so afraid to do something wrong and hurt the baby but she held her hand in place softly and waited. Brittany skipped into the living room and took a seat on the couch, waiting for the others to join her.

"I don't feel it…" Santana whispered almost inaudibly and pursed her lips as she was trying to hold back tears. Emma was a little taken by the strong reaction and almost felt guilty that her little baby wouldn't kick on command.

"Just wait." She said gently and tried giving Santana a reassuring nod but the Latina's eyes was so fixed on the round belly she didn't even see it. A few more seconds passed and Emma tried hard to will a kick to happen. She lifted her own hands and put them over Santana's. To her relief she felt the little one stir inside her and Santana drew an urgent breath at the feel of it against her palm.

"That's amazing." Santana whispered and withdrew her hand, turning her palm upwards and looking at it like she could see the kick in dancing in it. Brittany popped her head in again.

"Come on you guys! Presents!" She chirped with more excitement and clapped her hands. Every one walked into the living room and Santana and Brittany sat down on the couch while Emma took one of the armchairs on the other side of the coffee table. Brittany was in heaven with this and handed gift after gift to Emma. Mostly it was just baby stuff. Cute little outfits, cute little shoes, some toys but there was also stuff for Emma and a thing or two for Emma and Noah as a couple.

"This is so much…" Emma said hesitantly but gratefully.

"Don't look at me." Santana joked and lifted her hands in defence. Brittany just smiled. She didn't think there was such a thing as giving too much.

"Who wants tea? Or coffee? Or cookies?" Emma asked and stood up again.

"I'll get it!" Santana offered quickly and motioned for Emma to sit down again. Brittany giggled at how nervous Santana seemed to be about this whole baby thing.

"Santana. It's fine." Emma said, a little more firmly this time and walked into the kitchen.

"You're being weird." Brittany joked lovingly.

"I'm not being weird." Santana was quick to respond and her attempt to sound casual failed miserably. Brittany was just joking and this was not the reaction she had expected so she was a little lost on words.

After a while of not saying much Emma entered the room again, carrying a large tray with three cups and a plate of chocolate chip cookies. Santana clenched the cushion with one hand as she was itching to stand up and help but doing everything she could to fight that urge.

When Emma had finally put the tray down Santana could relax. The cups were distributed. A coffee for Santana, an herbal tea for Emma and a hot chocolate for Brittany.

"So how was Ohio?" Emma asked and raised her eyebrows in interest. Santana giggled and leaned back in the couch.

"Well, the new year came off to an interesting start, right B?" Santana said playfully.

"Stop it." Brittany said, sounding a little embarrassed, and nudged Santana with her whole body.

"Britt punched Holly in the face." Santana said, ignoring Brittany's request and causing Emma to almost choke on the hot liquid in her mouth.

"I didn't... punch her hard or anything…" Brittany said coyly and lifted her hands in an apologetic manner.

"Right in the face." Santana repeated and gave off a proud smile as she glanced over at her bad ass girlfriend.

January 1st, 2014

After the fireworks Brittany and Santana walked hand in hand back to the house. They were both freezing and could not be more eager to go inside. Brittany was the first in the door but stopped just a few steps in. Santana was a little distracted and walked right into Brittany due to the blonde's sudden halt.

"Britt, what the-" Santana started but was interrupted.

"Well, if it isn't tweedle dumb…" Holly snorted at Brittany, not at all pleased with having Santana's girlfriend back in the house. She stood right in the middle of the vestibule with her hands on her hips and that disgusting smirk on her face like she owned the place.

"I think you should leave." Santana said, stepping forward slightly to stand next to Brittany like the allies they were.

"I'll drink to that." Álvaro chirped in the background but didn't get acknowledged by any of the three ladies.

"San, c'mon. This idiot?" Holly said and pointed to Brittany.

"Hey! You cannot call my girlfriend an idiot. It's mean, it's bullshit and I won't accept it." Santana hollered angrily. There was quite the gathering around the intriguing event by now and Santana's loud words had even more of the guests tuning in.

"Geez, calm down." Holly breathed and rolled her eyes. There was a little pause and the suspense grew in the group of surrounding spectators.

"Santana, look at me, and then look at… her." Holly said and spitefully eyed Brittany up and down. Santana turned and looked at Brittany. The blonde mimicked and let her blue orbs fall deep into Santana's brown. Smiles formed on there lips as if automatically and it was like nothing else mattered. They stared into each other's eyes for seconds and Santana gave a little reassuring nod, letting Brittany know she didn't have to doubt Santana again.

"Is this what you mean when you say they have eye sex all the time?" Sam whispered to Carmen without taking his eyes off Santana and Brittany's intense stare.

"Uh-huh." Carmen nodded and rolled her eyes. These two seriously needed to stop humping each other with their eyes. The moment was sweet and appreciated by everyone but Holly who grew impatient.

"So, what's it gonna be Lopez?" Holly asked. Admitting defeat did not exist to her. Holly always gets what Holly wants. Santana didn't turn back to Holly just yet but Brittany's eyes shot the rivalling blonde.

"She's with me." Brittany said firmly.

"Why don't we let Santana decide?" Holly said condescendingly and tilted her head in the same manner. Brittany was getting so fed up with being treated this way.

"No, why don't you let me make something very clear?" Brittany said, louder this time, and even took a step closer in such a threatening way it had Holly's whole demeanour changing slightly. Holly was stumped for words but Brittany wasn't about to let her speak anyway.

"Santana is my girlfriend. Santana is my future wife, and one day she'll be the mother of my children. If you think a ten dollar boob job and a slutty little dress is gonna change that you are seriously mistaking." Brittany said and she was so angry she didn't even care that she was being mean, something otherwise impossible for her. Santana just stared with wide eyes. She was also so angry with Holly, she was extremely intruiged by this new side of Brittany and mostly she was just freakishly turned on.

"Urgh, get out of my face. I don't have to take this from you." Holly said affrontedly.

"Take this." Brittany snorted and having already balled her fist she lifted it and launched it right towards Holly's face. There was a thump at the impact and all around in the crowd were wide eyes and dropped jaws. Santana's breath stuck in her throat and she said the only thing that came to mind.

"Wanky."

The drive home from Emma was silent. It had gotten pretty late. Puck came home after a couple of hours and they had dinner, then dessert, and time just flew by.

Santana looked out the dark window on the passenger side and Brittany looked ahead, fully focused on the road. Santana yawned first and Brittany was close behind. They giggled but neither started a conversation.

The elevator ride up the apartment was silent. Santana let her head rest on Brittany's shoulder but pretty soon they had reached their floor so she lifted it upright again and in silence they walked down the hall to their apartment.

"So, do you wanna just go to bed?" Santana asked carefully when they had taken off their shoes and jackets and were walking together towards the bedroom.

"Yeah, sure." Brittany responded and took her shirt off, carelessly throwing it on a chair. Santana gave Brittany a look that asked what the hell was going on, but since Brittany wasn't looking at Santana she didn't see it.

Pretty soon Brittany was in her pyjamas and went to brush her teeth. They crossed paths in the hallway as Brittany was coming out and Santana was going in.

"Good night." Brittany said as they passed each other.

"Babe, I'll be right in…" Santana protested but Brittany didn't stop or even answer over her shoulder. Santana started going over in her mind what she could have done wrong.

This wasn't like Brittany. She usually just spoke out if she was upset about something. And usually she didn't even have time to speak out before Santana realized her mistake and apologized but this time she didn't see what she had done. She brushed her teeth, washed her face, and peed.

When she came back to the bedroom Brittany was already lying with closed eyes, on her side of the bed, facing the wall instead of facing Santana's side. Santana sighed and crawled into bed. She tried lying calmly on her back, on her side of the bed, but she didn't like it.

She tried lying on her side but it wasn't comfy enough to fall asleep. She tried her stomach too and pretty soon she had twirled around and tried every position possible three times each. She sighed again and shifted closer.

A little closer. And the last final bit until her thighs touched the back of Brittany's thighs, until the blonde's butt curved against her stomach and until she smelled Brittany and felt her warmth. She even let her arm snake over Brittany's hip but there was no change in Brittany. Santana knew she wasn't sleeping, she could hear it on her breathing.

"I'm not weirded out about what you said. About me. Becoming your wife and mother of your children." Santana blurted suddenly. Brittany hadn't actually suggested it but Santana just had this feeling that was what Brittany was thinking.

"You're not?" Brittany asked and spun around under Santana's arm quickly, sounding almost surprised. So Santana had been right and Brittany had been thinking it.

"No." Santana answered calmly and shook her head in an amorous smile. "I want those things too some day."

Brittany's face scooted closer. A little closer. And then the last final bit until her lips pressed softly against Santana's. Santana's hand closed its grip around Brittany's pyjama top and converged them even more. A little whimper escaped Brittany upon tasting Santana. She couldn't even go a couple of hours without missing it.

Brittany moved to lie on top of Santana, not breaking the gentle kiss, and had their stomachs flat against each other and their breasts crushing together. Santana ran her tongue over Brittany's bottom lip but instead of opening her mouth and granting it entrance Brittany pulled away.

"Wanna practice making a baby?"