A/N: Ok everyone, sorry I didn't get around to putting one up yesterday, but hey after this we got about 11 chapters left and its over. I think you can skip a day ;) Let me know what you think!

Chapter 36

|The Next Day|

|Santana's P.O.V|

I got back home from school and rushed upstairs to my laptop. I overslept this morning and didn't get to check my emails. I was hoping to have one from Brittany. I texted her this morning, but didn't get a reply, and that was kind of worrying me. I opened my laptop and pressed power. 'Come on, come on, come on' I chanted over and over willing my computer to start up faster. Finally my background and icons loaded up and I hit the internet. I typed in the website and logged in to pull up my email. 'Junk, junk, junk, college, ACT scores, Quinn's college paper, and Brittany.' I ignored everything else, opened Brittany's email and read it.

I finished her email and felt tears forming in my eyes. I knew we only did good morning and goodnight emails, but I looked forward to them. I was going to miss our daily contact, what was I going to do without that for a week. I read over her email again before replying.

'Hey Baby,

I'm sorry about your phone. If u check this will u call me tonight? Maybe you can borrow your mom's or dad's phone. I really miss your voice. Tomorrow night the softball girls are coming over to practice, since it's so early and we, by rules, can't practice at school. There is too much time between now and softball season. I'm spending quite a bit of time playing tennis with Raquel. She's helping me get through this. I miss you so much babe and I'm really surprised that I have gotten this far in an email without crying, a little teary-eyed, yes, but not crying yet. I hope u check ur email tonight and call me. I love you and I'll hopefully talk to you later.

xoxo-Santana'

I walked over to my dresser and pulled out some workout clothes. Not only had I been playing tennis with Raquel a lot, I had also been jogging around our land a lot. I was trying to do so many things that Brittany and I never did because it was easier for me to not think about her. I didn't want to cry or be sad anymore. I just wanted to go back to being happy. She made me happier than anything, so getting anywhere near that level of happiness was going to be hard, but getting my mind cleared was a start.

I grabbed my iPod, earphones, and my phone and headed out the door. When my dad said we had a lot of land he wasn't lying. I put in my earphone, turned up the volume on my phone and started jogging. I passed the pool, the equipment shed, the batting cage, and our ball field area, as I passed them memories of Brittany and I filled my mind. About thirty minutes into my jog my phone started to ring, I checked the caller id, and pick it up.

"Hello?"

"Hey San, what's up?"

"Nothing, jogging, what's up Q?"

"Puck and I are inviting some people over to my apartment tonight for movie night, come hang out with us, please?"

"Yeah, I can do that let me finish this jog and take a quick shower. I'll be on my way after that." I had to admit I missed my Quinn and I need to get out the house.

"Great, I'll see you later, and San . . . if you need anything just remember I am here for you ok?"

"Ok Quinn, thank you."

"No problem, see you later, love you."

"Love you too, bye."

"Bye"

"Wait . . . wait Q?"

"Yeah, what's up?"

"Is it ok if I bring someone with me?"

"Sure thing, bye girl."

|Brittany's P.O.V|

I found a little time and got online around 6 p.m after school the next day. I read Santana's email and decided I would call her tonight. I missed her voice, and I needed to hear her. I ran downstairs and found my mom.

"What is it sweetie?"

"Can I borrow your phone and call Santana, please?"

"Yes, of course, but can you wait until after nine? You know the drill."

"Yeah, no problem, thanks mom." I said as I gave her a kiss on the cheek. "What are we having for dinner?"

"How does chicken alfredo and garlic bread sound?"

"Homemade?" I asked and she nodded. "Awesome" I replied and went to sit at the kitchen table to watch her cook.

"How would you feel about a little bonding?" She looked over her shoulder and winked at me. In response I pulled my hair up into a messy bun and went over to the sink to wash my hands and helped her cook. We talked about school, about softball, about the future, and even about silly stuff. This was how my mother and I spent our bonding time. We sang and danced without music. We had a flour fight and worked on cleaning while we cooked. We talked about everything and just solidify the fact that no matter who else was around my mom was my person. I never had to worry about her judging me or thinking less of me. She understood me. I was so lucky to have the relationship with her that I did. We got done cooking a couple hours later and sat down to eat.

"So, don't think I didn't notice we have avoided talking about Santana." She said as she twirled some pasta on her fork.

"I know mom, but I just don't know what to say about her."

"You know, you maybe fooling the people at school and everything with the perky exterior, but I am your mom. I know that you cry yourself to sleep and I know you miss her like crazy. I have been talking to your father every night. I don't know if you know this, but every night for one hour before we actually fall asleep we sit in bed and talk, about everything. They say communication is the key to a relationship, and they are right. That is how we stay strong, and this move is making that better. Now we can talk every night like we did when he was home. All that was to say we are really sorry about this. As parents it's our job to protect you and this is hurting you. I'm really sorry."

"Mom, don't worry about it. You and Dad are important to me and you know family comes before anything with us. I'm glad to have us back together. It's like it has been said before me and Santana will work it out if it's meant to be."

"Do you think it is?" She questioned and at first I wanted to get defensive, but I knew she was not asking me this to anger me.

"Really, I can't see myself being with anyone else. I love her, and yes I know I'm still young, but I've never felt like this. I loved Joanne, but it wasn't like this."

"Do you think it's like this because it's the first time you have felt like this, or is it that strong?"

"It's that strong. I could really see myself with her for the long haul. The thing is I love her so much I would do anything to see her happy, anything she wanted she could have. I don't know what I am going to do, if she is in as much pain as I am, I don't want that for her."

"Well, what are you going to do?"

"I don't know. I just need to think about it. I'm going to drive out to the lake in the town over us and think about it."

|1 Hour Later|

I just finished eating and got mom's phone to call Santana. I found where I wrote her number back down and dialed it. It rang 3 three times.

"Hello?" I heard her beautiful voice.

"Santana" I exhaled her name as I sat back against my headboard.

"Brittany . . . " She breathed out. I could tell she was smiling.

"How are you?"

"Better now" She said and it sounded like she was in a small place.

"Why are you echoing?"

"I'm in the bathroom. So, how are you?"

"Better now that I hear your voice. I miss you." I wanted to question why she was in the bathroom, but I was too happy to hear her voice.

"I miss you too Brittany." I heard something rattle in the background.

"Hold on babe" She whispered. I heard her moving and I guess the click of the lock on the bathroom door.

'Santana, what the hell? You drug me here with you and now you are hiding out in the bathroom. These are your friends. I love you so I came, but really? Get back out here. I'm tired of sitting on this couch alone with them looking at me like I don't belong here.'

'Jamie, shut it, Brittany is on the phone.' I heard her whisper then the door shut and lock. Wait . . . did she just say she loved her REALLY?

"Hey Babe, sorry about that." She said into the phone.

"Santana, are you busy?" I snapped.

"No, I want to talk to you. We are at Quinn's hanging out with everyone."

"We?" I asked like I didn't hear anything.

"Yes, me and Jamie"

"Jamie . . . that just said she loved you?"

"Brittany it isn't like that. She has been with me every day she is a really good friend, nothing to worry or get upset about. She quit all that flirting mess a long time ago."

"Whatever" I exhaled sharply. She was my Santana and Jamie shouldn't be saying she loved her.

"Brittany, baby, please stop." Her voice caught. Ok, I knew I was overreacting, but still jealousy was a monster.

"Ok, don't cry, I'm sorry. When are you going to be home?"

"The movie is almost over so we will be leaving soon, with in the next hour or two."

"Can I call you back when you are alone?"

"Do you promise to call back, or are you just saying that?"

"I'm going to call you back Santana, I love you and I'll talk to you in a couple of hours ok?"

"Ok, I love you too, talk to you soon."

I hung up the phone and leaned back against the headboard again and let my hand drop. I squoze my eyes tightly together and brought my knees up to my chest. I wrapped my arms around my legs and just rested for a minute. I knew I needed to go sit on the water. I did my best thinking around water. It calmed me and soothed me, even when my mind was racing. It brought clarity.

I walked downstairs gave my mom her phone, told her I was leaving, where I was going, and that I'd be back in a few hours. I pulled in at the lake, put my car in park, and got out of the car taking everything in. I looked out on the pier and saw it formed a 'T' shape with a bench and a picnic table on each end. I saw the moon reflecting on the water and I wanted to be as close to that as possible. I walked out on to the pier and went to the right at the end. I sat on top of the picnic table and stared out at the water. I looked down at the table and saw where everyone had written their names and so many people had written their initials and the initials of their boyfriend or girlfriend in hearts. I put my arms back and propped myself up on them and stared at the moon on the water. I watched the ripples in the water spread and a new set of ripples start. Every once in a while I saw a fish jump out and splashed back into the water. Watching this and breathing the fresh outdoor air I let myself become at peace and let my mind wonder. I thought about everything related to Santana and I. I finally checked my watch and it was two hours later. I needed to leave so I could go back and call Santana. I went to the car and got in and looked down and saw my collection of pens and sharpies. I grabbed a sharpie and went back out on the dock. I write 'SL' with a heart beside it. I remember the saying hearts break circles do not, so I put a circle around it. I, now, knew what to do.

I drove home and called Santana. I stayed on the phone with her for two more hours. We shared laughs, declarations of love, and more than anything we shared tears. As we were getting off the phone I needed to tell her what I thought about at the lake.

"Santana?"

"Yes baby"

"I . . ."

"What is it?"

"I need to tell you something." I finally said.

"What is it Brittany, you don't sound . . . you're scaring me."

"I was at the lake and I was thinking."

"Thinking what?" I heard her voice crack.

"I . . . I love you Santana." I said and put a smile on my face that I knew she knew was there through the phone.

"I love you too." She let out a relieved sigh.

"You need to get some rest. Let's go to bed. Good night Santana."

"Ok, I love you Brittany, goodnight." She said and I hung up the phone after I said 'night' again.

I couldn't tell her what I actually thought about, but she deserved to know. Why didn't I just tell her? I knew more than I thought I knew at the lake what I really need to do. I can't . . . I have to tell her . . . Damn it this was not good. She was going to hate me forever, but she would thank me for it later. I loved her and I couldn't let her be unhappy.

I opened up my computer and went to my email. I deleted some junk mail and opened up to compose a new message. I typed Santana's email and in the subject line I just typed 'Santana'. My tears started flowing as I moved my fingers over the keys.

'Never forget what we had. - Brittany'