Despite having played to a multitude of people only hours before this was the most nervous Dani had felt tonight. As she paced the gardens she felt the butterflies in her stomach continue to flutter. The nausea of it all was practically painful, but that was love wasn't it? It caused you to ache, and need, and break when you were apart from the one you love. Honestly Dani wasn't sure how long she'd been out here. She'd rushed straight here after the concert, insisting she couldn't do a signing that night. As the cold wind gripped at her Dani's hope began to dissolve. Still standing she wrapped her arms around herself and buckled over, sobs beginning to rack her body.

Santana had left the apartment more than two hours ago. She didn't know where she was going but she knew she needed air, she needed to breathe. She'd walked the streets until she was too cold to move, and then she'd hit the bar, ingesting a few drinks to warm her up and to wash away some of the pain. As Santana sat at the end of the bar she took notice of the patrons, unfortunately for her they all seemed to be couples. Some clearly had no regard for privacy as they either rubbed up on one or another or attempted to swallow the other entirely in their kiss. Her and Dani had been much better kissers...Dani. San was still fighting the internal battle. She knew she could never go through heartbreak again so she figured she had two options. One; go back to Dani and see if they could figure this whole thing out. Two; be alone for the rest of her life, not counting on anyone but herself.

Dani was too inside her own head and misery to hear anyone approach her. By this stage she was fully doubled over, crouching on the ground, wondering how so quickly she had lost everything. Her eyes opened in caution as she felt a hand touch her shoulder. Dani's tear stained eyes opened to see a second pair of shoes next to hers. It could have been a stranger and Dani wouldn't care at this stage, there was nothing they could take from her that mattered anymore. Wiping the back of her hand along her wet cheeks Dani looked up to the tall figure above her. Her breath definitely caught in her throat, even after just a few days she could still be surprised by how beautiful the Latina was.

"Are you really here?" Dani said, her voice hoarse and week from crying.

"Uh, yeah I think so. I went out for air and this is kind of where I ended up." The interaction was awkward, neither girl knowing where they stood in the other's eyes.

"Well I'm glad, San...holy crap your hand," Dani said reaching out and taking it without a second thought.

Santana hadn't noticed but surely enough it was pretty scraped up, stained with a bit of blood.

"I had to climb the fence," she told Dani "It wasn't easy."

"Oh San," Dani chuckled nervously as she brushed the girl's hand with her own. For a time they only looked into each other's eyes, neither pulling from the physical contact. Physical affection was never their problem though, communication was.

"I suppose I should go first...I'm sorry San, I'm so so sorry. I shouldn't have drunken so much when I was by myself. I think at the time it felt like an easy escape from the whirlwind my life had become. Not that that's an excuse, because it wasn't a safe situation and it was stupid of me. I only ever want to be honest with you so you deserve to know that the guy in the pictures..." Santana winced at the idea, "...he tried to kiss me. I pushed him away though. You're the only one I want, the only one I'm sure I'll ever want."

"I know you didn't cheat...well I didn't but I do now. Dani this fame thing scares the crap out of me. I thought I wanted it, I love to sing and I wanted to share that with the world. But seeing what you go through, I can't imagine. Every single time we argue or you're out with someone else, are they just going to splash it all over the magazines? How do we handle it?"

As much as Dani was hearing Santana's concerns she also heard the word 'we' and that was enough for her to keep fighting, this wasn't over yet.

"That's why I said I'd give it all up. I love you! And I don't think I knew how much I could love until I spent these past few days moping after your absence. Nothing to me is worth more than having you in my life. If you want to move to the desert or an island somewhere I'd follow you, I'd go anywhere for you Santana Lopez."

"I don't want you to give it up."

Dani stepped backwards, distancing herself from the girl who said she didn't want Dani to make a sacrifice to keep her. The sobs were definitely threatening to erupt again. Santana stepped towards the other girl, refusing Dani's attempts to keep her back. Santana took a firm hold of Dani's jacket, holding it tightly in her grip so the girl had no choice but to stay and listen.

"I don't want you to give it up because it's your dream. When you're on stage you're giving people hope, and beauty, and strength. I cannot, in good conscience, take that away from the world. If we're to be together I'll need to learn to share you, in strictly a professional sense, and we'll need to put our relationship above all the media hype."

"If..?" Dani uttered out into the night.

"Well I figure you sang that song and wrote me that letter because it's something you still want," Santana suggested, a smile finally playing at her lips.

"Yes," Dani said softly, then louder, "Yes, YES! Of course, sorry. Santana Lopez will you please be mine again?"

"Only if you want a crazy girlfriend."

Dani smiled and ran into Santana's embrace. The tight hug held both girls in their place of safety and comfort. Santana breathed deeply, inhaling the scent of Dani that she'd missed. As she moved her hands around Dani's back she made the girl squeal as she spun her around in circles. Two a.m. and the girls were back to their regular selves, playing around in the garden. Dani insisted Santana stop when she started to feel dizzy. Allowing Dani's feet to touch ground again Santana held her until she was steady. Dani rubbed at Santana's cheeks as she stared into the girl's soft eyes.

The ensuing kiss was breathtaking. It began soft and slow, an adjustment to the emotional distance that had been caused by the drama. Soon enough though the girls were back in their rhythm; tongues battling as hands roamed bodies and moans were uttered.

"Stay with me." Dani meant for the night, and forever, and Santana seemed to understand. She sent a text to Quinn letting her know she was safe before following behind Dani into her apartment building.