A/N: So I couldn't stay away. I really did try, but I miss writing this and Role Reversal too much. And I've missed you guys too much. Like an insane amount :) Every time I'd sit down to work on my manuscript, I could feel ideas for my Brittana fics stirring in the back of my mind and my concentration was perpetually divided.
So I'm splitting my time – during the week, I'll focus on my manuscript and the weekends will be reserved for these fics :) This means, unfortunately, that I won't be updating as regularly as I used to, but it's better than a hiatus, right? :)
A review that I received a few days ago really cemented my decision to make time for both fanfiction and my manuscript, so thank you, Deanieboy :)
Because I love y'all a stupidly ridiculous amount, we shall kick things off with a glorious overload of Britanella fluff :D And to show you how much I've missed you, here's an extra long chapter :)
And now, onward and up! :D
-H
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee :(
CHAPTER 37
Santana stretched widely as her body awoke. She couldn't help but smile as her movement caused Brittany's arms to tighten around her and pull her closer. Santana took a moment to allow her girlfriend to snuggle into her, breathing in the heavenly scent that only Brittany could ever possess.
It had been a month since they'd gotten back together, and Santana didn't think that it could have been any more perfect. They were stronger than ever and living with Brittany had been so natural. She'd slipped straight into all of Santana and Bella's routines without a problem and Bella loved having Brittany around all the time. Santana had lost count of how many times she'd simply watched her two girls dance or tell each other stories or braid each other's hair or discuss the underlying meanings in Disney movies.
Life actually could not be more perfect for Santana at that particular point.
That particular Friday was a very special Friday. A certain little Latina was celebrating her seventh birthday and Santana had a huge surprise for her. Not even Brittany knew about it, but she was pretty sure that her girlfriend would be just as excited.
Santana lifted her head slightly and blinked her eyes open. It had just gone six, but she needed to get up and start preparing for Bella's super special day. Her birthday was all about her – she got her favourite breakfast and a present in bed (being Bella, one present was never enough, but Santana loved spoiling her daughter). She and Santana would then rummage through her closet to pick her outfit for the day and Bella would pick the music for the morning (ok, so that one wasn't restricted to her birthday) and they would sing loudly as they got ready for the day.
The Latina lifted a hand from its resting place on her girlfriend's hip and softly brushed strands out of her sleeping face. She smiled and settled back on her pillow to look at her beautiful Brittany. Even though they'd known each other for so long and she'd been in love with her for most of that time, she could never get over how stunning she was. It astounded her everyday that she got to wake up to this goddess every morning. It certainly made all the heartache she'd gone through worth it. The sense of peace she felt when she did things like this outweighed anything bad that they'd dealt with before.
"It's creepy when you stare like that," Brittany mumbled, her eyes still closed.
Santana grinned and snuggled closer to her girlfriend's warm body.
"Can you blame me?" she replied in a whisper, nuzzling her cheek. "I'm the luckiest girl in the world because I get to wake up to the most beautiful woman in the world every morning."
Santana didn't need to pull away or open her eyes to know that Brittany was blushing.
"Besides," she added, "I'm allowed to stare at you."
"Oh, yeah?" Brittany replied, slowly opening her eyes and smiling at Santana.
"Yeah. I laid claim to that gorgeous face years ago. I'm the only one allowed to stare so unabashedly."
"So my body's fair game?" Brittany teased.
Santana pulled her girlfriend's naked body flush with her own. "Hell no," she growled softly. "You're all mine." She leaned in to kiss the blonde's exposed shoulder. "Every single millimetre of your body is all mine."
Brittany shivered and Santana smiled against her skin.
"Think you could live with me owning you?" she murmured.
"Yes," Brittany breathed. "It's all I've ever wanted."
Santana pulled her lips away and settled her head back on the pillow so that she could look into the blue eyes that had so captivated her heart.
"This month has been the best that I think I have ever had," Santana said softly. "I know you know how much I love you, but I don't think you realise how thankful I am that we're here, in this moment, right now. That we're happy, in love, living together, working together, and living our dream. And this time, it is our dream. It's not just mine or just yours. We're so much stronger than we were even a month ago and infinitely stronger than we were eight years ago and I am so grateful to you and to the powers that be or whatever that you came back to me."
Brittany took a deep breath and Santana lifted a finger to wipe away the tear that had run down her girlfriend's cheek.
"Once again, you prove to me that even though I think there's no possible way for me to love you more than I already do, you go and say something like that and make my heart want to burst with happiness. Santana, you are my world. I was put on this planet to love you and spend my life with you. I believe that now more than ever. I'm going to grow old with you and I'm going to love every single second of it."
Santana smiled brightly and leaned in for a soft, sweet kiss that led to several soft, sweet kisses. After a few minutes, she broke away gently.
"I love our cocoon, but I need to get up and get things started," Santana said softly.
They'd renamed their bedroom 'the cocoon' because it was their safe haven, a place for just the two of them. They spoke about things that were bothering them, they cried if they needed to, but most importantly, they spent hours making love far away from the outside world.
Brittany's eyes immediately sparkled. "Can I help?" she asked timidly.
"Of course, my love," Santana replied with a smile. "Did you really think I'd leave you out of the biggest celebration of the year?"
Brittany rolled onto her back and pulled Santana with her, hugging her tightly.
"That's another thing that makes me love you more and more every day," she whispered.
"What's that, babe?" Santana asked softly, tracing her fingers along Brittany's shoulder as she rested her head in the crook of the blonde's neck.
"You let me into every aspect of your life, no questions asked. I would've been so happy if I'd just gotten you, but now I have Bella too and it's like my birthday and Christmas and Thanksgiving all rolled into one and I feel like the happiest person in the world."
Santana grinned and kissed her girlfriend's neck.
"I doubt Bella would let me keep you all to myself anyway," she teased. "That girl loves you almost as much as I do."
"I love you," Brittany said, rolling them back onto their sides.
"I love you too."
They shared a few more kisses before Santana's guilty conscience started nagging at her and she pulled away. She rolled out of bed and sent Brittany a look after getting a catcall.
"You'll need to get that sexy ass out of bed of you want to help me with breakfast."
Within seconds, Brittany had bounded out from under the covers and was rummaging around for something to wear.
"Babe, half your clothes are on the floor," Santana chuckled as she pulled on a pair of shorts and a tank top.
"I'm looking for something," Brittany muttered.
Santana bit her lip at the allure of her girlfriend's bare ass sticking out of her closet, but closed her eyes and waited patiently. A naked Brittany was almost impossible to resist at the best of times so when part of her sexy body was on offer like that, it made the temptation even more difficult to resist.
"Aha!" Brittany said triumphantly, pulling out a onesie.
"Uh, B, what the hell is that?" Santana asked, trying not to laugh.
"Bella and I got matching ones last week," Brittany said with a smile. "They're awesome, right?"
She pulled it on and Santana bit her lip to stop from giggling. It was so ridiculous, but so cute and adorable and so Brittany. And, by extension, so Bella.
"She wore hers last night so that she could wake up in it today. It wouldn't be fair if I wasn't wearing mine too."
"You are too fucking adorable for your own good," Santana said lovingly, pulling her girlfriend to her for a lingering kiss. "I love it."
"We should get started on breakfast," Brittany mumbled between kisses.
"Hmmm," Santana hummed in response, slowly backing away towards the door, Brittany's lips following her.
They made it into the kitchen still fused together until Brittany broke away to pepper soft kisses down the exposed skin on Santana's neck.
"Ugh, God. Baby, we have to…breakfast!" she squealed the last word as Brittany bit down.
"But you are my breakfast," she pouted, pulling away. "I eat you every morning."
Santana's mouth dropped open and she tightened her legs.
"B, Jesus. You can't say shit like that today. Today's about Bella and I can't be thinking about that ridiculously talented tongue of yours doing the most amazing things to my body. Not. Fair," she reiterated. "You have to behave yourself today."
Brittany pouted, but Santana knew her well enough to see the teasing glint in her eye. Their game had only grown since coming out to the faculty. DC had been in full support of their decision to be open about their relationship. It hadn't taken long for the students to cotton on either, especially the kids in the musical. Santana and Brittany were never openly affectionate, and they'd really dialled down on the looks and subtle touches, especially since being caught by Chloe.
But they exuded a definite energy when they were around each other, which was pretty much all the time and anyone in the same room as them could tell that there was something between them.
Unsurprisingly, the cast of the musical were ecstatic that two of their favourite teachers were together and it also meant that Bella's little public comments about their home life made a little more sense to everyone.
"You're lucky that we have other focuses right now, Ms. Lopez," Brittany husked, purposefully pressing her body into her girlfriend's. "I guess I can go one morning without breakfast. But I may get peckish around lunch time."
Santana squeezed her eyes closed and her legs tighter together.
"Fuck," she breathed.
"Later, my love," Brittany purred. "We have a birthday breakfast to make."
That woman is going to be the death of me. At least it'll be the most pleasure-induced death ever.
"I love you," Santana said with a smile, opening her eyes.
"I know," Brittany replied with a wink, turning the stove on.
Santana slowly pushed Bella's door open and glanced behind her at Brittany carefully carrying the birthday girl's breakfast. They tiptoed in and knelt on either side of her bed.
"Happy birthday to you," Santana started to sing softly and Brittany joined in on the second line.
Bella stirred and blinked her dark eyes open, a huge smile appearing on her face.
"Good morning, birthday girl," Santana whispered, matching her daughter's smile.
"Thanks, Mommy," Bella said, yawning widely.
"We brought you breakfast, Little B," Brittany said softly.
Bella grinned and sat up in bed eagerly. Brittany carefully laid the tray across her lap and Bella clapped in excitement. Seven pancakes in the shape of ducks (Brittany's idea) and a strawberry cupcake with a candle (tradition) with a glass of purple cooldrink. Santana would normally never allow such a large intake of sugar so early in the morning, but on Bella's birthday, she bent completely to her daughter's will.
"This is super awesome!" Bella squealed. "Mommy, do you want a bite?"
"I'd love one, baby girl," Santana replied, smiling. She caught Brittany's eye and winked.
Bella used her fingers (duh - knives and forks were a forbidden birthday breakfast utensil) to break a piece of pancake off and held it out to her mother. Santana made an exaggerated move to bite her daughter's hand off, but just nibbled softly on her fingers before taking the piece of pancake. Bella giggled and it set Santana's heart alight. Seeing her daughter so happy brightened her day every single time she heard a laugh or giggle.
"Your turn, Big B," Bella said, holding out a piece for the blonde.
Brittany politely took the pancake from Bella and tossed it into her mouth,
"Hey! I'm pretty sure her piece was bigger than mine," Santana playfully teased, adding a pout for emphasis.
"No, it wasn't," Bella replied, smiling. "And you ate half my hand as well, so you got more than enough."
"Hmmm, you make a valid case, Miss Lopez," Santana conceded, grinning at her daughter's sharp mind. "Would you like to see your present?"
"Yes!" Bella yelled happily, causing both Brittany and Santana to lean back because of the sheer volume.
Santana chuckled. "I'll be right back."
She jogged into her room and pulled two envelopes out of her school bag. It was the only place she could hide Bella's present (and Brittany's, by extension) where her girlfriend wouldn't find it.
"Ok," Santana announced, walking back into Bella's room with the envelopes behind her back.
"Will I like it?" Bella whispered to Brittany.
"I have no idea, Little B," Brittany whispered back. "Your mom has been a total ninja about your present."
"Because I knew Bella would be able to get it out of you," Santana teased, kneeling next to her daughter's bed again. She took Bella's hand and her daughter focused her attention on her again. "Baby, this has been a very…interesting few weeks for us. We've had a lot of changes in our lives, good ones," she sent a sidelong glance to Brittany, who smiled warmly, "and sometimes things were a little difficult too." She saw Bella's eyes get sad so she sped things up. "My gift to you is a chance for us to be a little like we used to. Just for a bit."
Bella looked at her mother in confusion so Santana handed the first envelope to her daughter, checking that it was the right one. She watched with anticipation as Bella frowned at it, before carefully opening the flap. Santana was surprised – normally her daughter ripped her presents open eagerly. It was odd seeing her so apprehensive.
Her smile got wider when Bella pulled the tickets out of the envelope and her eyes got bigger. Brittany anticipated her next move and quickly grabbed the tray seconds before Bella jumped out of bed, landing on top of her mother, shouting happily. Santana fell backwards from the force and returned the tight embrace.
"Mommy, this is the best present ever! I knew you heard me wishing for this on that shooting star last week! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Santana laughed heartily, holding her daughter to her.
"I'm so glad you like them, baby girl."
"Britt! Did you see?" Bella shouted, wriggling away from her mother and jumping on her bed in excitement. Santana had to concede that her daughter looked adorable in her onesie. "Mommy's taking me to Disneyworld!"
"Little B, that is the coolest birthday gift ever!" Brittany agreed enthusiastically, looking down at the tickets.
Santana saw the frown on her face and she quickly slid around Bella's bed to kneel next to her. Bella continued jumping on her bed in excitement, chattering a million miles an hour about all the rides she was going to go on and all the Disney characters she was going to meet.
"This is great, San," Brittany said quietly, looking at the two tickets in front of her. "You guys are gonna have a great time." Her voice held an edge of sadness, though.
Santana smiled. "Happy one month re-anniversary, baby," she said quietly, sliding the second envelope in front of her girlfriend.
Brittany's eyes went big and she looked at Santana in disbelief.
"You didn't really think we were going without you, did you?" she teased, leaning in and kissing her cheek gently. "You're a part of our family, B. You're stuck with us, I'm afraid."
Brittany threw her arms around her girlfriend and for the second time in quick succession, Santana found herself on her back.
"I'd be happily stuck with you anywhere, babe," Brittany whispered, digging her face in the crook of Santana's neck as she squeezed her tightly.
"Like I'd let you go anywhere," Santana chuckled in response.
She felt an additional weight as Bella landed on Brittany's back.
"We're going to Disneyworld! We're going to Disneyworld!" she chanted. "All of us! This is going to be the best birthday ever!"
Brittany rolled over and Santana automatically held her daughter steady until her girlfriend was lying on her back next to her. She rested Bella across the both of them, anchoring her with a steady arm.
"Thank you, Mommy," Bella said sincerely. "I love you."
"Te amo, mi carina," Santana replied with a smile.
"Britt, it's so awesome that you're coming with cos now I have both moms with me!" Bella said excitedly, forgetting her filter. She realised it immediately after and gave her mother a worried look, but Santana just smiled and winked at her. She smiled in relief and rested her head on her mother's shoulder, one arm around Santana's neck and the other around Brittany's. Santana felt her girlfriend's finger entwine with hers and she closed her eyes, revelling in the perfection of having the two most amazing girls in the world in her arms.
"Baby, are you almost ready?" Santana called from her bedroom, slipping her earrings in.
"Yes!" Brittany and Bella called simultaneously.
Santana chuckled. She needed more distinctive pet names. She glanced at her watch and decided that it was time for the second present of the day. Luckily, she'd had some help with this one.
"Would the birthday girl like another present before she goes to school?" Santana queried innocently, knowing full well what the answer would be.
"Yes!" Bella squealed, running into her mother's bedroom and jumping onto the unmade bed.
"I'm starting to wonder if I should be worried that you've managed to keep these presents a secret," Brittany grinned as she walked in, pulling her hair into a high ponytail, reminiscent of the hairstyle she donned when she was wearing her Cheerios uniform.
Santana winked at her and sat down next to her daughter.
"Ok, birthday girl," she said seriously. "This one's from your grandparents. They can't come down this weekend, but they'll be here in two weeks. So they sent me to deliver your present."
Brittany smiled and sat on the other side of Bella. Santana handed her daughter another envelope and she looked up at her in confusion.
"Mommy, do I only get grown up presents now cos I'm seven?"
Santana's brow creased in confusion.
"She's just giving you the super awesomest presents now and they're so small that they'd get lost in all your other presents," Brittany jumped in, reaching behind Bella to rest her hand against her girlfriend's back.
Santana smiled gratefully. Brittany always understood what Bella was saying when she didn't. It made her realise how many times she'd had to ask her daughter to explain herself in the past. It was kind of relieving not to appear so clueless.
"Why don't you open this first and then we can talk about your other presents on the way to school?" Santana suggested.
Bella nodded with a smile and opened the envelope with the vigour that Santana was used to when her daughter received presents. She pulled out three pieces of paper and frowned at them as she tried to decipher what they meant. Brittany's eyes went wide as she realised what the papers were for and the hand on her back moved to squeeze her hip. Santana shuffled closer to her girls happily.
"Mama, does this plane mean we're going somewhere?" Bella asked, pointing to the logo at the top of the page.
"Correct, baby girl."
Bella perused the page again. She sighed in frustration. Santana pointed to a date. "You know when that is?"
"That's today," Bella said, smiling. "It's my birthday."
"And the time?"
"Five o'clock."
"So what does that tell you?"
Bella looked up at her mother in disbelief. "Are we going on a plane, Mommy?"
"Indeed we are, baby girl."
"Yay!" Bella squealed, bouncing up and down in the bed. "Are we going to see Abuela and Abuelo?"
Santana smiled and leaned down to whisper in Bella's ear, "Think about your first present."
Bella gasped. "We're going to fly to Disneyworld? Today?"
Santana nodded, her heart about to burst with happiness at the look of excitement on her daughter's face.
"We're going to the airport straight from school and we're coming back on Sunday evening," she said, kissing Bella's head.
Bella stood and started jumping up and down on the bed again, forcing Brittany to break her hold on Santana for fear of a broken arm.
"Isabella Lopez, it may be your birthday, but you're still not allowed shoes on the bed," Santana said in a semi-stern voice.
Bella immediately jumped off and started doing an impromptu happy dance, much to the delight of Brittany. Santana quickly sidled up to her girlfriend and kissed her cheek.
"You wanna help Bella pack, babe?" she whispered.
"Really?" Brittany asked, her sparkling eyes wide.
Santana nodded. "I'll pack our stuff."
"No pjs," Brittany husked in a low voice, pecking her girlfriend's lips before grabbing a still dancing Bella and waltzing (literally waltzing) out of the room, pausing only to send a saucy look over her shoulder.
Santana fell back on the bed and fanned herself. Her temperature had skyrocketed about thirty degrees in five seconds.
Brittany's tongue…that tongue…
When she felt less aroused, Santana pushed herself off the bed and started packing clothes for their weekend away. She smiled as she busied herself. A whole weekend away with her girls, where they would be in their absolute element. She couldn't wait.
Santana and Brittany sang as they swung Bella between them on the way to her school. Bella squealed as she went higher than planned and started laughing uncontrollably when her feet touched the ground again. Santana and Brittany couldn't help but join in, even if they had no idea why she was laughing in the first place.
By the time they'd all got their breaths back, they'd reached Bella's school.
"Hi, Bella!" a voice called from the top of the stairs.
"Hi, Ms. Reacher!" Bella shouted back, waving.
"Her teacher's name is Ms. Reacher?" Brittany mumbled in Santana's ear, causing the Latina to burst into a new wave of giggles.
"Hi, Santana," the young teacher greeted.
"Hi, Erica," Santana replied with a smile.
Brittany arched an eyebrow. First name basis? She eyed Bella's teacher giving her girlfriend the once over and she felt a familiar fire in her chest. But she kept her cool. Seriously though, what was it with teachers lusting after her girlfriend? Obviously Santana was all kinds of sexy, but…Argh. She had no argument.
"So, how's the birthday girl doing?" Ms. Reacher asked, leaning down.
"I'm awesome!" Bella shouted happily. "We're going to Disneyworld!"
"Oh, wow!" Ms. Reacher said enthusiastically.
Brittany made a face internally.
"I bet you and your mom are gonna have an awesome time there," Ms. Reacher continued.
"And Britt," Bella added with a smile.
Little B, you are the shizz.
Bella's teacher finally looked in her direction with a surprised expression. "Sorry, I don't believe we've had the pleasure. I'm Erica Reacher-"
"Bella's teacher," Brittany finished with a barely concealed smirk. "I'm Brittany." She held out her hand. "Nice to meet you."
Erica grasped her hand and shook it firmly. Brittany simply held her smile and released the young teacher's hand.
"Babe, we should go," Brittany said to Santana, making sure that Erica heard them. They didn't really need to go. They had plenty of time to get to Griffin Hill.
Ok, so what if she was staking her claim? She was entitled to.
"Yup," Santana agreed, kneeling down in front of Bella.
"Have an awesome day, baby girl," she said, hugging her. "Britt and I will be here after school to fetch you, ok?"
"And then we're going on a plane?" Bella asked excitedly.
Santana laughed. "Yes, we are, baby."
Bella cheered and hugged her mother once more. They traced fingers over their foreheads and kissed each other. Brittany watched them with a warm heart. She loved seeing Santana with Bella. She wished so much that she'd seen how her girlfriend had raised her daughter. But she knew that they still had a long road ahead of them. Who knew what the future could bring.
"Big B?"
Brittany snapped out of her daydream and dropped to Bella's height.
"Are you back?" mini-Santana asked curiously.
"For now," Brittany winked. "Gotta go and visit Lord Tubbington every now and then."
Bella giggled and Brittany chuckled.
"Have a good day, Little B. Learn lots."
"I will," Bella replied, hugging the blonde tightly. "Love you!"
Brittany froze in her hug and she felt her breath catch in her throat.
"L-Love you too, Little B," she eventually managed to get out.
Bella released the shocked blonde and started running towards the school. Brittany felt Santana's warm hands around her own as she knelt down in front of her where Bella had been moments before. Where she'd…
"Baby?" Santana said quietly. "Was that-"
"Yeah," Brittany breathed, her eyes focusing on Santana's dark ones. "That was the first time."
Santana smiled. "This day is turning out to be pretty awesome, huh?"
Brittany grinned back and nodded. "It's not even my birthday, but I feel like it is."
"You've still got over a month to go, baby," Santana chuckled, standing up and pulling her girlfriend with her. "Your turn will definitely come."
"Do you need me to keep Bella in class until you fetch her?"
Erica's voice interrupted their moment and Brittany tried hard not to roll her eyes, but she was sure her irritation came across. Santana didn't let go of her hands though.
"Oh, no, that's not necessary," the Latina said with a smile. "We'll just fetch her at the normal time. Got a big weekend ahead." Santana turned back towards Brittany with a wink and her special smile. "Oh!" she said quickly, turning back to Erica. "I apologise for her energy today. She had a very sugary breakfast. Birthday girl gets what she wants." She shrugged.
Erica laughed and Brittany's teeth grated. She really hoped that Santana wasn't blind to the obvious flirtation.
"I'm sure she'll be fine. She's a pleasure to have in my class," Erica said, smiling brightly.
Santana glanced down at her watch. "Shit, we're gonna be late. Thanks, Erica. Have a good weekend!"
"You too!" Erica called as Santana pulled Brittany down the road.
"Babe, what's the rush?" Brittany chuckled, grabbing her girlfriend's waist and walking behind her to slow her down. "We've got plenty of time."
"I know," Santana replied, turning around. "Erica's just a little…too friendly for my taste." She linked her arms around Brittany's neck.
"Ok, good. Cos I totally thought I was gonna have to throw down back there," the blonde teased.
"Getting jealous, baby?" Santana smirked.
Brittany shrugged. "Just so long as they know they can't touch, I'm happy. You belong to me."
Santana's eyes immediately darkened and she bit her lip. "It's so fucking sexy when you do that," she mumbled.
The blonde grinned. "I know."
Santana chuckled and leaned in for a quick kiss, ending it far too quickly for Brittany's liking.
"I want more sweet lady kisses," she pouted.
"Aw, baby, don't worry," Santana cooed, linking their fingers together and starting a slow walk. "You'll get plenty of sweet lady kisses this weekend. And all day today if you're really good," she added with a wink.
Brittany rolled her eyes. "You planning on hiding in my office again, San? That didn't work so well last time."
Santana giggled. "Today may be Bella's birthday, but it's also another very special day for you and me."
Brittany smiled big. "Our one month re-anniversary?"
"Uh huh," Santana replied, leaning her head on her girlfriend's shoulder. "The whole Disney thing just popped into my head the other day, although Bella swears I heard her wish, but anyway. I always knew that you were going to come with us and I guess this weekend just seemed perfect with everything that was happening. Plus, I think we all need a break from life in New York."
Brittany hummed in agreement and tightened her grip on their entwined fingers.
"We should probably get a cab, babe," she said softly.
"Nah, we don't need to," Santana said simply. "Let's just walk."
"San, we'll be super late to school if we don't get a cab," Brittany replied, frowning. "We've never been late before. You really wanna start now?"
"Well," Santana drew out the sound, "we're not going to be late because we're not going in today."
Brittany stopped dead and stared at her girlfriend, who was sporting a proud smirk.
"Come again?"
Santana's smirk grew. "Well, we can definitely talk about that later," she began.
"Santana," Brittany said warningly, but couldn't stop a small smile of her own creeping onto her face.
The Latina chuckled. "Ok, here's part two of your gift." She stepped closer to the blonde and looked up at her shyly. "I organised for both of us to get subs for today because you and I need some girlfriend time. There are a few things that I would like us to do. First thing, I want to walk through New York City holding my girlfriend's hand."
She stepped away and started walking forward, but Brittany was trying to compute everything that she'd just said. They were teachers. How did they just get to take days off?
Santana tugged her hand and the blonde shook her head, returning to the present. She took a few quick steps to catch up with her girlfriend and tightened their handhold.
"Now I know why you aren't wearing heels," Brittany teased, nudging Santana's shoulder.
Her girlfriend laughed. "I was wondering how long it would take you to pick that up."
"Ok, so we're just walking through New York?" Brittany asked, looking around her.
"Well, yeah," Santana said with a shrug. "To start," she added with a sultry edge to her voice.
"I love how that gorgeous mind of yours works," Brittany said with a smile, kissing her girlfriend's head for emphasis, eliciting another giggle. "So, the musical? Did you cancel today's rehearsal?"
Santana nodded. "And I cleared everything with DC. Considering how hard we've been working the last two weeks and how well behaved we've been, when I explained my whole plan, he was happy to help." She chuckled. "I think he may be a little jealous of us."
"Why?"
"Cos we're so totally, completely, utterly head over heels in love with each other," Santana replied, pulling Brittany to her, pressing their bodies together.
"Well, I'd be jealous of us too," the blonde replied, brushing her lips across her girlfriend's jaw. "You know, if I wasn't already a part of us."
Santana chuckled and Brittany leaned down further to capture the movement in the Latina's throat with her lips. The laugh immediately turned into a gasp.
"B," she whispered.
Brittany pulled away and continued their walk. This time she had to pull Santana along with her. Her girlfriend gave her a slap on the arm and she just chuckled.
About an hour later, they were strolling past a few clubs and Brittany was pointing out which ones she enjoyed and which ones she steered clear from.
"Oh," the blonde said quietly, coming to a stop in front of a particular club.
Santana looked up at the sign.
"Oh, I remember coming here. In fact, it was exactly a year ago," she mused with a smile. "That was a fun night, actually."
"I remember."
"Huh?" Santana asked in confusion.
"I, uh, I was here that night. Today's also a year that I've been back in New York. I guess it was fate that I saw you the day that I got back."
"Wait, wait, back up," Santana said, scrunching her eyes closed. "You saw me a year ago?"
Brittany nodded, her eyes still on the club.
"Ok," Santana said slowly. Her girlfriend's odd behaviour was strange, even for her. "Why didn't you come and talk to me?"
Brittany suddenly flushed and looked down. She started walking away from the club and Santana had to pull her hand back to stop her.
"B, you're kinda freaking me out here," she said slowly. "I'm starting to feel like something happened that night that I'm not going to like very much."
"Oh, no, no, no, San," Brittany said quickly, stepping in front of her girlfriend and kissing her forehead. "I'm sorry. It's just…it's kinda embarrassing."
Santana pulled back so that she could look up at her girlfriend. "Embarrassing how?"
Brittany looked up and closed her eyes. Santana didn't press her and just waited whilst her girlfriend gathered up the courage to spill the beans about what had happened a year ago.
Wait! Rachel had told her something after she'd seen Brittany again for the first time in the elevators. She'd said that she and Kurt had seen Brittany at this club that night, but they hadn't said anything.
"Rachel and Kurt saw you here," she offered quietly.
"Huh?" Brittany opened her eyes and met Santana's eyes.
"That night. A year ago? Rachel told me that she and Kurt had seen you. They didn't tell me though."
Brittany just nodded and took a deep breath. "Ok, in hindsight, this whole thing sounds ridiculous, but from my perspective at that time, it totally seemed possible."
Santana just nodded, squeezing Brittany's hands in encouragement.
"Ok, so I was inside and I saw you. Well, I actually saw your legs first, but I knew that it was you."
Santana chuckled at that.
"You took your phone from your bra and I loved how I knew you kept it there, even after so long and you went outside. I just…I didn't know what I was expecting, but I just followed you. I guess I've never been able to stay away from you if I could see you." She shrugged and Santana simply squeezed her hands again, giving her a sweet smile.
"I came outside and you were standing on that corner and you were talking to someone in Spanish, I'm guessing one of your parents." Santana nodded and Brittany took a deep breath. "And then I heard you talking to someone else and you were telling them how much you missed them and couldn't wait to see them and how much you loved them. You said Bella and I thought…I thought…"
"You thought she was my girlfriend," Santana said softly.
Brittany nodded sheepishly and looked down at the small space between them.
"It hurt, San. I felt like I'd lost you all over again and that there was someone else getting everything with you that I had. I knew immediately after seeing you in the club that I was still in love with you. I always was. All it took was seeing you to remind myself."
"Oh, baby," Santana whispered. "Now I kind of understand why things were so awkward between us at first. Besides the obvious. You thought I was happy with someone else and you didn't want to create any problems."
Brittany simply shrugged. Santana pulled her into a tight embrace.
"It was only ever you, Brittany," she said into her neck. "There wasn't even a potential after you left. Barring the mishap seven years and nine months ago, that is."
Brittany let out a small laugh and wrapped her arms around her girlfriend's small body, pulling them impossibly close.
"Regardless of what happened a year ago or seven months ago, we're where we are now because we're meant to be together," Santana said softly, running her fingers through Brittany's hair. She'd pulled out her ponytail about ten minutes into their walk around the city. "And today is about celebrating that."
Brittany smiled and pulled away slightly so that she could lean down and kiss Santana deeply. Their breaths meshed and arms wrapped even tighter around each other. Two bodies became one.
Santana was the first to pull away breathlessly. "Th-the second thing on my list is to see how much of that week in Columbus we can cram in before fetching Bella."
Brittany was already facing the road, letting out a piercing whistle. Two seconds later, a taxi was stopped and the two women clambered in, giggling. Brittany gave the driver the address and the rest of the trip was spent staring into each other's eyes, fingers intertwining over and over, soft smiles and lusty looks. The latter were definitely becoming more popular as the cab finally reached its destination.
"I love you," Santana said breathlessly, slamming their apartment door closed behind them.
"I love you," Brittany replied tenderly, slowing down the heat of the moment completely by softly running her fingers through her girlfriend's luxurious hair and pressing her lips against her forehead.
Santana loved how she did that. They could interplay hot, passionate sex and soft, tender love making as easily as singing and dancing together. It was a big part of how they worked, and it was what had made their reunion a month previously so special.
Brittany took off her jacket and dropped it on the couch. Santana followed suit and took her girlfriend's outstretched hand, allowing herself to be slowly led into their bedroom, loving smiles on both of their faces.
A/N: That's all, folks! Well, for now ;) So much of happy to be writing again :D Hope you guys like it :)
-H