Hey guys, I just wanna shout out a few people who have left me such amazing feedback over the last chapter(s). I appreciate your patience and love for this story so much, and it was a challenge pushing out daily chapters like that, but I'm glad it was all worth it! Special shoutouts to anyone who left a review but especially: May1217, GrrrrsRandomness and pinkmatter258 for your kind continuous words.
Also to the people who have left more constructive criticism. Even if you have not ended up liking the story, it's good to hear your thoughts.
I just want to address the anonymous review around this story being a disappointing slow-burn because of the way things came together so quick in one chapter. Firstly, I really didn't feel I could have dragged it out any longer without killing the story, and in having their feelings for each other being realised so slowly after everything they've been through, to me would have done just that. Secondly, I always have to go with the way I feel the characters would react organically, and I felt them having that talk after years of pent up mutual feelings, was the organic way for them. These two have been in love for years, and had so many missed opportunities, so I always knew when the time came for them to realise their feelings it would be instantaneous in how fast everything would unwrap and all their hidden feelings would spill out. They wouldn't have been able to hold it in any longer. But what I will say, is there is still a long way to go in the story in terms of them developing as a couple and figuring out their new relationship together, and making that transition from friends to lovers and the way that impacts those around them. So I hope if you managed to stick with it, you'll enjoy that element of it, but thank you regardless for the feedback.
Hope you enjoy this one guys! 40 or so chapters of their friendship turning to more and all those pain-filled missed opportunities. Now onto to the second part of their journey, building their lives together :)
Santana woke up from an amazing dream about her and Brittany finally getting it together, to Mila's hand lightly tapping her face. Then she realised it wasn't a tap, more a stroke. And as she opened her eyes to adjust to her surroundings, she realised the hand didn't belong to her daughter, it belonged to Brittany. Last night hadn't been a dream at all. Brittany really was here, lying with her, tenderly stroking her face with a smile.
"Morning beautiful" she whispered.
"Morning" Santana smiled back, her voice a mere croak.
"I'm sorry, I didn't want to wake you, but I couldn't resist not seeing you to say goodbye, before I had to leave."
Santana glanced at the clock on the bedside table. It was just past 7am, and it felt like they had barely slept.
"You're leaving already?" she pouted.
"I don't want to, but I really need to. Breakfast starts at 8am, and I need get out of here before people see me and wonder why I'm leaving your room and I'm not with my husband".
Santana nodded her understanding.
"Yeah I should probably text Quinn actually, I said I'd meet her downstairs" her eyes bore into Brittany's soft blue eyes "I'll miss you though".
"I'll miss you too" Brittany smiled, dabbing her finger playfully on Santana's nose "But hopefully, in a few days' time, we'll be sunning it up in Hawaii together. Then we'll have all the time in the world".
"Does that mean we'll have all the time in the world to do things like this?" Santana smirked, before leaning forward to capture Brittany's lips into a deep kiss. A kiss that Brittany gladly reciprocated.
It was strange. Not 12 hours had passed since they'd made the move from best friends, to whatever they were now. It didn't feel as awkward as it probably should have felt, because it felt like they had both been waiting for this moment for years. There was no label on what they were yet, just a mutual understanding that they both loved each other, and a willingness to explore that together.
Of course, there were still obstacles to come; Brittany being married and having to tell everyone they were getting said marriage annulled, the fact they lived in different states, telling people about their new-found relationship with each other, and also the fact Brittany had never actually been with a girl before. But it was something they were prepared to face together, and though they weren't quite sure where the journey would take them, doing it hand-in-hand just felt right to them.
"Okay I really gotta go" Brittany said, reluctantly pulling away as Santana let out a groan. "I'll see you downstairs anyway, but text me when you know about Hawaii".
They both knew that in the breakfast room they were going to have to act like just friends, so now was the goodbye. This wouldn't feel so difficult if they hadn't had to wait so long for each other in the first place. Now they finally had each other, but for the time being had to sneak around. They both knew that it would all be worth it, and as Santana pulled Brittany in for one last kiss, she felt the butterflies swirling around her stomach. She knew being with Brittany would be amazing, but nothing prepared her for how intensely good it would feel. It was better in real life than it ever was in her imagination.
As Santana greeted Quinn outside of the breakfast hall, she let out a giggle, seeing how she looked a little worse for wear. She couldn't resist teasing her about it.
"Well it looks like someone had a good night after I left them".
Quinn rolled her eyes.
"Don't even start okay? I need like every form of liquid they have, and then we can talk" she groaned, heading straight over to the drinks station.
Quinn wasn't lying, and Santana had to laugh when Quinn returned to the table armed with a tea, a coffee, an orange juice and a cranberry juice. As soon as she sat down, she filled her glass with water from the jug on the table, and sank it back in one, before refilling it and making a start on the coffee.
Santana glanced to her right where Brittany and Sam were already seated, and when Brittany turned to stare at her she offered a shy wave. Brittany returned the wave, a coy smile splashed on her face, and as Quinn glanced up to see what was distracting Santana, she stopped talking about having to stop by Lima Memorial for an IV fluid drip since she was sure she was dying of thirst, and her mouth dropped open.
"Oh my god!"
Santana snapped out of her trance and span back around to face Quinn, her cheeks flushing since she had obviously been caught.
"What!?"
"Something's happened between you two hasn't it?"
"What? No! What gave you that impression?" Santana panicked. They were meant to be keeping things on the down low after all, and she didn't want anything to ruin that.
"Santana please!" Quinn laughed "It's written all over your face. Yesterday when you looked at her, your face was full of despair. Now the two of you are exchanging flirty looks from opposite sides of the room. I'm not stupid babe".
Santana swallowed. Were they really that obvious?
"Okay, okay, but please keep your voice down! We're supposed to be keeping this quiet for the time being".
"You have my word!" Quinn smirked "But tell me everything".
So, Santana recounted the story of Brittany turning up at her door just after Quinn had left, and the long talk they'd had about their mutual hidden feelings, and how they had finally kissed, and that Brittany wasn't going to be staying with Sam, plus Brittany's offer for Santana to join her in Hawaii.
Quinn squealed, squeezing Santana's hand excitedly, as Santana warned her once again to keep the noise down, nervously glancing around to check nobody else was listening. But having known Santana and Brittany were perfect for each other all along, Quinn was just so happy for her best friend.
"I mean, I'm so glad I left when I did!" Quinn joked "After all that, you didn't need me anyway. Speaking of, how was the sex? Was it mind-blowing and passionate? Was it everything you hoped for and more?" she winked.
"No Quinn I- we haven't done that yet" Santana shook her head.
"Oh. Sorry I just assumed, after years of pent up tension between you, and the fact you had a nice hotel room, that you wouldn't be able to keep your hands off each other".
"No, last night was way too emotional for any of that. We just did a lot of talking, and it was needed. I mean, don't get me wrong, obviously I want to – badly, but...I want to make sure I do things the right way. I really care about Brittany the way I've never cared about anyone else before, and it's taken us so long to get here, I don't wanna screw that up. It's deeper than just sex, you know? Plus, Brittany hasn't ever been with a girl before, so I wanna leave it up to her for how fast or slow we take it".
Quinn nodded her understanding.
"So, what happens now for the two of you?"
Santana chanced a look at Brittany, who was spreading butter on her toast. A smile immediately lit up her face as she watched the blonde, before she turned her attention back to Quinn.
"Well I guess we have a lot more talking to do, some time to transition into this new "period" we're in. Hawaii will be perfect for that, but I just need to see if I can get the time off work and if my mom will watch Mila".
"I can watch Mila for you. That's half the job done". Quinn smiled confidently.
"But what about work?" Santana frowned.
"Well that's the beauty of being the manager, I can take time off whenever I want" Quinn laughed "Claire will have it covered, and I can just drop it when Mila is at school". said Quinn, referring to the Assistant Manager who she trusted very well.
"Well if you're sure?" Santana checked. Quinn staying with Mila would be a hell of a lot easier, since she knew where Santana was actually going. Santana was going to have to tell Maribel she was going on a business trip, since she couldn't know she was going away with Brittany, who was supposed to be on her honeymoon with Sam. Santana would need to tell Maribel about her going out of state either way, but she could just drop it in passing over the phone if she already had Quinn looking after Mila, in favour of her mother's infamous Spanish inquisition she would inevitably receive if she had to go around there to drop Mila off.
"Two weeks with my awesome goddaughter? Of course, I'm sure. We're going to have the best time".
The two of them were suddenly interrupted, by Finn awkwardly hovering over them.
"Hey Quinn" he smiled, before turning to nod at Santana "Santana".
"Hey" both girls said in unison, Santana eyeing him up questioningly.
"I uh…just wanted to give you this" Finn fumbled, sliding a piece of paper across to Quinn "You know after last night…"
And as Santana's eyes grew wide at the realisation that they so obviously got it on last night, she watched as Quinn screwed her eyes shut in embarrassment.
"Thanks, Finn".
Finn scratched the back of neck nervously, as Santana suppressed her laughter.
"Okay well I uh…I better get going. Bye girls." he muttered, before crashing into an incoming waiter pushing a trolley "Sorry erm…it's this way, I need to go this way" he said, turning on his heel away from the angry looking waiter who bent down to clean the dropped items.
Quinn rolled her eyes to the high heavens, and Santana burst out laughing as they watched Finn scutter off, likely kicking himself with embarrassment.
"Well…it looks like someone did in fact get laid last night" Santana smirked; her eyebrows raised teasingly.
"Shut up Lopez" Quinn blasted, but she couldn't contain her laughter either.
"And in true Quinn Fabray style, you have turned the boy to jelly" Santana laughed, as she picked up the number he had left on the table, playing with it in her hands "You gonna call him?"
Quinn paused for a second before letting out her signature scoff.
"As if!"
Getting the time off work was easier than Santana thought it would be. She had throughout her years there rarely ever used her full yearly entitlement for vacation days, the one exception being 2015 when she went to the UK to visit Brittany. Her boss loved her. She was hardworking, loyal and always went the extra mile, so he agreed, thinking it would be good for Santana to have some time to herself, especially after a tough year with the recent loss of her father and her relationship breakdown. He of course didn't know that the reason she was even going on this trip, was because she was about to start a new relationship with the woman she had loved for years, but he didn't need to know the ins and outs. No one did.
As Monday rolled around, with Mila safely delivered to Quinn, on the pretence that mommy was on a business trip (Santana hated not telling her the truth, but she knew why they couldn't say anything yet), Santana headed to Columbus International Airport. A place where she had shed many tears and said many sad goodbyes to Brittany, but today the only feeling she had was one of excitement and extreme happiness. She wasn't heading to the airport to wave Brittany off, she was there to greet her instead, and it had felt like a long couple of days without her. It made Santana worry about how she was going to cope when Brittany did go back to New York, but it was something she wasn't prepared to let herself think about right now.
As Santana headed into the terminal and found Brittany waiting for her by the check in desks as discussed, she found herself running towards her. Brittany had her arms open for a hug before Santana even reached her, and while Santana would have totally got in for the kiss, she could understand why now might not be the time or place. They were still in Ohio, so chances of seeing somebody they knew were still high.
It had actually worked out cheaper to book new last-minute flights rather than do a name change from Sam Evans to Santana Lopez, so they had done just that. This meant when it came to checking in, they were given separate seats, and Santana had to laugh at Brittany's adorable pout as they checked their tickets after coming through security.
"We have the whole two weeks to spend together, just the two of us" said Santana, cupping Brittany's face softly, her eyes wandering and aware of passers-by. She knew she was being almost too wary, because even as friends they had always been overly tactile. Brittany soon diminished her worry, by placing her own hand over Santana's and offering her a smile.
"Let's go get some wine. We have a long journey ahead of us, and now that I know I have to spend hours so close, yet so far from you, I definitely need the wine". Brittany laughed; her tone dramatic, as she pulled Santana towards the airport bar.
The journey wasn't as bad as expected. Their first flight from Columbus to Denver, Colorado was only 3 hours long, and whilst Brittany took full advantage of the in-flight entertainment system, Santana spent the time listening to music. As Brittany passed to use the restroom for the third time in an hour, it really being just an excuse for her to stop by Santana and chat to her for a few minutes, she peered over at Santana's iPhone with a curious smile.
"What you listening to?"
"Nothing!" Santana exclaimed, her cheeks flushing as she hid the phone from Brittany's view. Now Brittany really was curious, and a playful glint appeared in her eye. She knew exactly what to do to get the phone from Santana, and she began tickling her, ignoring the frowns from the grumpy looking man seated next to the Latina.
Santana started laughing hysterically, unable to catch her breath and pleading with Brittany to stop.
"Okay, please, please! I'll show you; I'll show you".
As Santana loosened her grip on the phone, Brittany knew instantly the reason for her embarrassment. Santana had been listening to a love playlist. Santana looked up at Brittany nervously.
"I know, I know, I've become one of those cliché's who's all happy and loved up, so now I'm listening to an abundance of Adele songs. Don't tease me okay?"
But all Brittany could do was bend down and give Santana a light kiss on the cheek. Not only did she look adorably embarrassed, the thought of Santana being so happy and loved up because of her, so much so that she was listening to love songs, was just so endearing to Brittany.
When they had landed in Denver, they had a short stopover before their 8-hour flight to Maui. With the flight being longer, they made sure they stocked up on snacks, and headed to the bathroom to freshen up, with not much time left to do anything else before they needed to board again. The layover had proven advantageous though, because it meant Brittany could pull Santana in for a long deep kiss in the bathroom, no need to worry about PDA since they were the only ones in there.
"What was that for?" Santana grinned softly, touching her bottom lip, because she was so sure there were currents of electricity flying out of it.
"I've just waited way too many days to be able to do that, so I needed to do it now before we're back on a plane again" Brittany laughed.
"You think that will be enough to keep us going for the next 8 or so hours?" Santana smirked.
Brittany leaned forward again to capture Santana's lips, in a shorter but equally as sweet kiss.
"It is now" she winked, as Santana smiled, her head dizzy with happiness. Now that she knew what it felt like to kiss Brittany's velvety lips, she never wanted to stop. They were like a pair of love-struck teenagers.
The flight to Maui, although longer, actually went by pretty quick. Both girls fell asleep at some point, which made the journey go a hell of a lot quicker. Before long, Brittany was woken by a gentle tap on her shoulder, just before they made their descent into Maui.
"Hmm?" she groaned
"Brit, wake up" came the soft voice, belonging to Santana.
Brittany squeezed her eyes tight shut, struggling to open them, as she stretched. When she finally did manage to peel them open, they were met by love-filled, tender brown orbs, staring right back at her with an apologetic smile.
"Sorry babe, I just didn't want you to miss this" Santana whispered, wary not to wake the other passengers, as she gestured to the sunrise forming outside the window.
As Brittany stared out at the sigh, enveloped in angry hues of burnt orange, melting into vibrant yellows and soft pink, she audibly gasped.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Santana said, as she watched Brittany take in the sight.
Brittany nodded sleepily, before flashing Santana a smile.
"I guess that makes two beautiful sights to wake up to this morning" she sighed contentedly, admiring the sight of Santana's rounded cheeks, turning crimson. When she smiled, the dimple in her left cheek appeared, and it was a sight that had always turned Brittany crazy. Now she knew she was for sure the reason behind her smiles, it was driving her even crazier.
The seatbelt sign flashed on; and Santana had to reluctantly return back to her seat. But as the two of them stared out the window, they were filled with excitement for the two weeks ahead.
The drive from the airport to their resort took 30 minutes, and Santana had no idea what to expect. Brittany had at least seen a few pictures, but for the most part she had let Sam pick everything. She had just tossed Sam her credit card, meaning luckily it was her name on the booking, and he hadn't even thought to book it under her new marital name. She was somewhat relieved when she asked Sam the details and he said it was simply reserved under Brittany Pierce. Having to explain why she was there as Mrs Evans without her husband, would be awkward to say the least.
As they walked into Hotel Wailea, both girls glanced around in awe. The resort was like something out of a movie, the epitome of a romantic sanctuary, tucked away from the beachfront crowds. They both felt an immediate sense of tranquillity, as they walked past the cascading waterfalls and wooden architecture. Avocado and mango trees adorned the walkways, with timber footbridges crossing koi ponds to lead you into the lobby.
The lobby was spectacular in itself, overlooking the ocean and looking down over West Maui, with views of Molokini and Kahoolawe. The open rafters contained a nest of love birds, that sang out as soon as Santana and Brittany walked in, their very own songbirds there to greet them. It was so perfect, that Santana felt like it was a real pinch me moment, while Brittany wondered if she'd be able to appreciate the resort in all its beauty, had she come here with Sam instead.
"It's like…Animal Kingdom, but better" Brittany said, gazing around in awe. And Santana let out a laugh, because only her sweet Brittany could make everything a comparison to Disney World.
They walked over to the desk to check in, any tiredness they felt from their journey had long withered away, and they were greeted by a friendly woman.
"Hi, welcome to Hotel Wailea, my name is Kayla and I'll be checking you in today. Could I please have the name on your reservation?"
"Yes, it's Brittany Pierce" Brittany smiled.
As Kayla pulled up their reservation, she happily chatted away to Santana and Brittany, asking them the standard questions about their journey and if it was their first time visiting Hawaii.
"Oh, well I don't need to ask you what your reason for visiting is, I see that you are both here on your honeymoon! Congratulations!" she smiled widely.
Brittany froze, and she turned to Santana who looked just as nervous. Clearly Sam had booked them the honeymoon package and forgot to change it. Now that they were here, it would have been extremely awkward for Brittany to explain she wasn't on her honeymoon, and that she was here with her "friend" instead, having split from her husband already.
"No, we…" Santana began, but Brittany cut her off.
"Yes, yes we are!" Brittany smiled enthusiastically, digging her elbow into Santana so that she would go along with the plan.
"That's awesome! My sister is actually a lesbian, and she gets married herself next year" she smiled to herself "Sorry, I'm going off on a tangent. It just makes me really happy seeing two women in love, after seeing first-hand all of the struggles my sister went through. I'll be right back, just need to go and get your key. It's Mrs Pierce as well, I'm assuming?"
Santana realised Kayla was addressing her and she swallowed nervously. Hearing herself being addressed as Brittany's wife and referred to as Mrs Pierce, albeit not real, was doing something to her insides.
"Um…yeah" Santana stuttered.
The two of them watched Kayla go off, and whisper something to the bellman, before she went off to get the keys. As soon as she was out of earshot, Santana turned to Brittany.
"Babe, we're not in Ohio anymore you know? We don't need to worry about people wondering why you're not with Sam. Nobody knows us or our story here".
"I know but imagine the awkwardness of having to explain I'm no longer on my honeymoon. She would have thought I was crazy" Brittany laughed "it's only a teeny-tiny white lie. This is kind of still my honeymoon, just…not with the man I married".
"I guess…" Santana laughed.
"Do you have a problem playing my wife for two weeks, Mrs Pierce?" Brittany nudged her playfully, a seductive glint in her eye, causing Santana's stomach to do flips.
She swallowed nervously. She didn't have a problem playing Brittany's wife at all. The problem was, she was enjoying the sound of it way too much, for someone she had effectively just started dating.
"Actually…I think it has a rather nice ring to it" Santana raised her eyebrows with a smirk, mimicking Brittany's playful behaviour. "Just don't expect me to carry you over the threshold", she winked.
"Pleaseeee!" Brittany scoffed "we both know that I'd be the one carrying you".
They didn't have time to carry on their playful chat, because Kayla returned.
"Okay Mrs and Mrs Pierce, I've handed your keys over to Marcus, he'll escort you to your room." she smiled, gesturing over to a different bellman than the one she had earlier whispered to.
"We upgraded your package to the honeymoon suite, which is on the top floor, and I'll have someone deliver your bags to you right away. Breakfast is included for you every morning, and you can either have that down at the restaurant, or we'll deliver it to your room so you can eat on your lanai. The WiFi is free, and you can find the code just here" said Kayla, pointing to the code on the brochure she had handed them "We also offer a complimentary car valet service, and a beach valet service, so we can provide you with beach chairs, towels, umbrellas and water, as well as any water sports equipment you may wish to rent. We highly recommend the ocean view restaurant and the cocktail lounge, so if you need any help making reservations, we can do that for you here, as well as helping you with any island activities. Is there anything I can do for you in the time being?"
Kayla asked politely, as Santana nodded her head trying to take all the information in. She looked at Brittany to check she had nothing to ask, then turned back to Kayla.
"Nope, I think that's everything!" Santana smiled appreciatively.
"Perfect!" Kayla grinned "Well, have a great stay with us Mrs and Mrs Pierce, and I really hope you enjoy your Honeymoon. Congratulations, once again"
"Thank you" Santana and Brittany replied, both in unison, their expressions slightly sheepish.
Marcus politely led them to the top floor, before handing over the key for Brittany to do the honours.
"Your bags should be up in a moment. Is there anything else I can do for you here, Mrs and Mrs Pierce?"
"No, I think we're good. Thank you, Marcus." Brittany smiled, as she reached into her purse for a tip.
When he had gone the girls both giggled.
"Of course, we've been upgraded to the honeymoon suite!" said Brittany.
"I've never received a free upgrade in my life. If being married to you brings me this kind of luck, maybe I should actually pop the question" Santana laughed.
As Brittany opened the door, the two of them certainly had no regrets about pretending to be married, when they saw the room they were staying in. With a vaulted ceiling and panoramic ocean views, and a large king bed that had been covered in rose petals, it was certainly the romantic honeymoon experience.
A tropical fruit platter had been left for them on the table, alongside a bottle of Laurent Perrier Brut, and a note that read "Congratulations Mrs and Mrs Pierce". Santana made an educated guess that the other bellman they saw Kayla whispering to, had quickly set this up for them.
Their room even came equipped with a hot tub out on the large lanai, which offered the most spectacular ocean view when you stood on it. With the table and chairs set out on there, Brittany decided in her head there and then that this was the perfect place for them to eat breakfast, rather than mingle with the other hotel guests.
"God San! I'm not even sure we'll need to leave the room…" Brittany gasped, spinning around to admire every angle.
"I know! Brit this is amazing!" Santana squealed, taking hold of Brittany's hands and squeezing them with her own "Totally worth the white lie" she winked.
They gazed down at the large pool, littered with private cabanas, and Brittany's eyes lit up.
"Okay I know I just said we won't need to leave our room, but I so wanna be down there!" Brittany exclaimed, jumping up and down like an excited five-year-old, melting Santana's heart in the process.
"Well what are we waiting for? Let's go change into our swimwear and get down there!" Santana grinned, mirroring Brittany's excitement.
As Brittany ran to change into her bikini, deciding they could leave the boring bit of unpacking until later in favour of making the most of the days sun, Santana walked over to the champagne. She figured they had to pop this open now and toast their vacation.
She struggled for a few minutes with the stiff cork, her face screwing up with determination, until Brittany appeared in her blue bikini that left little to the imagination. The colour of the garment only accentuated Brittany's aqua eyes further, making them sparkle in the light. Santana had of course seen Brittany in a bikini many times before, but this felt different.
Her mouth dropped open at the sight of Brittany, at the very same moment the pop corked, startling them both.
The sound was enough to bring Santana back to reality, and she laughed nervously, pouring the champagne into the glasses, as she tried to clear her brain of all the thoughts she was having. This vacation, being around a half-naked Brittany covered in lotion was going to be the end of her, she was sure of it.
Brittany smirked, because she could see the effect she was having on Santana, and how her appearance had caused her to loosen her grip on the bottle sending the cork flying.
But Santana managed to compose herself and handed Brittany her glass, before picking up her own.
"Well…here's to the start of an amazing two weeks together here in Hawaii. Cheers wifey!" Brittany winked, the joke having a calming effect on Santana's nerves.
"Cheers, Mrs Pierce!" she winked back, before taking a looooong sip to steel her thoughts and regain her composure from this effect Brittany was having her.
It was going to be an eventful two weeks.
Next up: a couple of sun-filled chapters in Hawaii, filled with fluff and also lots of talk about their journey moving forward :)
