CHAPTER 33
A/N: Thank you to BrittanaAus, Buffycl, DarkSouls3777, Jacobantoniolp, Olivia, Lina Jacob2 and the guest for their reviews! I have hit the 200 reviews mark so thank you so much to all of you who have ever written a comment! Reviews make me happy :) I'm sorry it took me longer to post but besides the fact that I am really busy these days, I didn't know how to write this chapter, it really took me a long time to figure it out and many hours to write it… Anyway, in this chapter, I alternate a lot between Santana and Brittany POV so watch out... We start with Santana's.
Here is what you missed (on Glee)…
"Unfit mother…?" I suddenly hear behind us and I immediately freeze, a cold sweat washing over me.
Brittany.
SANTANA POV
I turn around and I feel a sting in my heart when I see her blue eyes filled with pain and anger.
"Brittany…" I say as softly as I can but she immediately walks away. I throw a desperate look at Abuela, wondering if I should go after Britt or give her a moment to cool off. But when I hear the front door slam shut, I panic.
"Abuelita…" I say as I rush to grab my jacket. "Can you please look after Sofia? She's still napping upstairs…"
"Of course! Go, go…" She nods, gesturing her hand.
I open the front door and look around to see if I can spot Brittany but she's nowhere in sight. How is that even possible?! She's pregnant with twins, it's not like she can move very fast!
I rush back inside to take my mom's car keys and my purse. On my way out, I notice that Brittany has not even taken her jacket so I grab it too and run to the car.
I try to call her phone while driving but she doesn't pick up and I get increasingly worried. She doesn't know her way around Lima and I don't even know if she has her phone with her! I keep driving around the neighborhood for a while until I finally spot her, walking on the sidewalk.
"Brittany!" I shout through the car's open window but she doesn't stop and doesn't even look at me.
"Britt, for God's sake, stop!" I plead.
"Go away, Santana." She finally replies.
"I'm not going anywhere! This is Lima Heights, Britt! You're out of your mind if you think that I'm going to let my pregnant wife walk alone around here! And where are you even going anyway?"
"I don't know!" She screams in frustration. "I really needed to go away from you so I just went out of the house without thinking… only to realize that I don't have anywhere to go! I don't even remember how to get to my parents' house!"
"Britt… If you want to go to your parents', I can drive you there. Just get in the car… please!" I say in a softer tone. "It's really cold for the season, you're going to catch your death!"
She completely ignores me and keeps walking… Out of patience, I stop the car - even though I can't park it there – grab her jacket and go stand in her way.
"You know what?" I shout, looking her in the eye. "You can be mad at me all you want, you can even hate me if you wish but I'm not going to let you get sick! So put the damn jacket on!" I add as firmly as I can, handing it to her.
She angrily looks at me for a few seconds but eventually takes the jacket from my hands and puts it on. We stare at each other in silence for a while but I can tell that she's furious. I can't believe this… We were finally making progress and now… it's all ruined.
"Can we please talk…?" I ask her.
BRITTANY POV
I'm so angry at Santana but it's nothing in comparison with the pain I'm feeling. I just can't believe how I went from walking on sunshine to crashing on the concrete in a matter of minutes…
When I woke up from my nap earlier, I decided to rest a little while longer in bed and grabbed a book that was in Santana's old room. When I opened it, I found a few old photobooth pictures of us and for the very first time, a memory came back to me. It was the strangest experience… like images quickly flashing through my mind, one after the other: the mall, a smiling Santana in her striped shirt and black skirt, the ice-cream shop, the pet store… When I put them all together, I eventually remembered that whole afternoon…
We were teenagers and I was sad that day because it was the anniversary of my grandpa's passing… To cheer me up, Santana took me to the mall and offered me an ice-cream, before making a dozen of funny faces together in the photobooth. We stayed at the mall for a while, did some shopping and even though we were not together at the time, we ended up kissing each other in a dressing room. On our way back home, she even brought me to the pet store because she knew that petting puppies always made me happy… I really didn't want to go home that evening, I just wanted to stay with Santana... I didn't even have to ask her if I could because she always knew what I needed. So she invited me to have dinner at her house and we cuddled in her room while watching Sweet Valley High. I stayed over for the night and even if she acted like a perfect gentlewoman and just held me close, I felt the irresistible need to be even closer to her and we eventually had sex.
Even though it was just one memory, I was so happy to finally remember something that I got really excited and rushed downstairs to tell Santana. But as I was about to enter the living room, I overheard the end of her shocking conversation with her Abuela… I can't believe that I have been so naive! I thought that we were doing fine and getting closer while she was complotting with a divorce lawyer all along! I feel so betrayed… And what is going to happen to me now? Am I going to lose my kids?
"I don't want to talk…" I reply.
"Fine, you don't have to talk… Just let me explain…" She pleads.
"Explain what exactly, Santana?" I shrug. "Are you going to tell me why I am an unfit mother to my children? I know that I messed up when I yelled at Sofia that one time but I didn't mean to, I was just overwhelmed! Everything was so confusing and frustrating for me at the time and… I know that I'm not as good a mother as you are but I'm learning… I try my best to get closer to Sofia and she's actually more affectionate with me now, she even asks me to play with her! And as for the twins… I'm careful, I do everything to keep them healthy! How can you think that I'm unfit?!"
"I don't!" She replies. "I think you're a great mom, Brittany! You've always been… It's the lawyer who used the words 'unfit mother'… It was just the strategy that he came up with but… I couldn't go through with it…"
"But why did you even meet up with a lawyer?" I finally dare to ask. "Do you plan to divorce me?"
"No! A divorce is the last thing I want! I... I love you..." She shrugs in admission. "And I love being married to you…"
"Then… why?"
"Because I was scared, Brittany!" She replies. "Don't you remember what happened after you met James? You said that you didn't love me… and you thought that I had cheated on you! And then, you said that I didn't even want the twins! Can you really blame me for thinking that you might leave me and take the babies with you? I went to a lawyer because I wanted to guarantee my parental rights…"
"So your brilliant idea to guarantee your parental rights is to take the kids away from me?" I ask with an upset voice.
"No… Britt, I would never take them away from you! I just wanted to make sure that the twins would also be my kids… that I would get to see them and raise them too… That's all!"
"But I never questioned the fact that you were their mother!" I react, upset. "It was always clear to me that I was having your babies and that we would co-parent!"
"How was I supposed to know that? You accused me of not wanting them!" She repeats once more. "And don't you remember how withdrawn and mean you were at the time, Brittany? You were angry at everything and everyone, especially me! I didn't know what was going through your mind or what you were planning to do!"
"Fine, I got it! OK? I'm not the 'ideal wife' I used to be but I have dealt with the situation the way I could, Santana! You have no idea how hard it is to have total amnesia!"
"Fine, it's hard!" She replies, raising her arms in frustration. "But you know what, Britt? You keep acting like you're the only victim of this accident but this whole shit didn't just happen to you, it happened to me too! You don't know how it feels to hear your wife saying that she doesn't remember you or doesn't love you anymore!"
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure it feels as awful as hearing that you're an unfit mother!" I reply out of anger.
She opens her mouth to say something but her phone rings at the same time.
"It's Quinn…" She says. "I guess we're late for dinner…"
"Let's go to Breadstix' then." I reply in a cold tone, walking towards the car without waiting for her answer.
"We don't actually have to go, Britt… We will see them tomorrow anyway!" She says while following me. "Maybe we should just go home and discuss, don't you think?"
"No." I reply. "Our friends flew from all over the country for me, we are not going to bail on them or make them wait any longer. So let's go already!" I add, impatiently.
LATER - AT BREADSTIX'- SANTANA POV
We are in the middle of our reunion dinner and I'm sitting next to Brittany but she has barely said a word to me since we arrived. She has been mainly talking to Berry, Kurt and Blaine while I have been chatting with Mercedes and Sam.
At some point, I discretely put my hand on her thigh to catch her attention but she pushed it off her without looking at me. I guess that she's still upset…
But if she won't listen, I have to find another way to show her that I love her and that I do want to raise our children with her.
AT THE KARAOKE BAR – BRITTANY POV
Just like a couple of days ago, we have ended up at the karaoke bar after dinner. While the Gleeks are arguing about who should sing what, Santana suddenly announces that she will go first.
I watch her go up the stage and take the microphone.
"Hello everyone! I should warn you that my friends and I are having a Glee club reunion this weekend so… we'll probably hog the microphone tonight, sorry!" She says.
"This song is for my wife, Brittany." She adds and I open my eyes wide in surprise. I didn't think that she would publicly sing for me… But as the music starts, she immediately locks eyes with me.
You're having my babies
What a lovely way of saying how much you love me
You're having my babies
What a lovely way of saying what you're thinking of me
I can see it, your face is glowing
I can see it in your eyes, I'm happy you know it
That you're having my babies
You're the woman I love, and I love what it's doing to ya
You're having my babies
You're a woman in love and I love what's going through ya
While everyone thinks she is just singing another cute song for her pregnant wife, I know it's more than that. I can tell by the way she is looking at me… She's talking to me through music and her choice of words is not random at all. It can't be a coincidence that she sings "you're having my babies" right after I used the exact same words! Is that her way to say that we'll do this together?
I'm still very upset by what happened but it's hard to stay mad at her when she sings with so much emotion and says things like "you're the woman I love"…
Once the song finishes, Santana invites Rachel, Sam, Kurt and Blaine to join her on stage.
"Sorry, I'm not going to be original…" She says. "Once again, I dedicate this song to my wife."
Two songs in a row, wow… Clearly, she has a lot to say…
Don't go changing to try and please me
You never let me down before
Don't imagine you're too familiar
And I don't see you anymore
I would not leave you in times of trouble
We never could have come this far
I took the good times, I'll take the bad times
I'll take you just the way you are
Judging by the lyrics, I guess that's about my amnesia... Once again, she has chosen the perfect song and even though the others are singing in harmony with her, all I hear is her beautiful voice… I'm even getting goosebumps.
I said I love you, that's forever
And this I promise from the heart
I couldn't love you any better
I love you just the way you are
By the end of the song, my anger has completely vanished. Anyway, who am I kidding? I'm falling for that woman, and fast… And now that one memory has finally come back to me, I actually remember how close we used to be and even how amazing it feels to have sex with her…
Santana gives me one last loving look and although I expect her to get off the stage, I see Rachel whispering something to her and gesturing for Quinn to join them. I guess they will sing something all together. This time, it's Rachel who picks the song and it's no longer addressed to me.
Once they're done, Santana and Quinn get off the stage. But before they can get back to our table, a girl walks up to them and hugs my wife. Judging by the excited look on Santana's face, she knows her well… I get even more confused when I see Quinn formally shaking her hand. They don't know each other? Who is that…? Did I know her before the accident?
I watch Quinn coming back alone to our table, leaving Santana and the girl chatting together.
"Quinn… Who is that woman speaking to Santana? Is it someone I know?" I ask, curious.
"Melissa something… Apparently she was San's neighbour when they were younger. I don't know if you met her before. Personally, it's the first time I see her."
"OK... thanks." I comment.
I keep watching them and I can't help but notice that Santana really seems happy to see her, she's all smiles. But that girl is a little too tactile for my liking, she went from holding San's face between her hands to squeezing her shoulders and touching her arm. I don't even know if she's into women but I'm feeling increasingly jealous.
Minutes pass but they are still talking together and it really starts to bug me. So when I hear Rachel and Kurt singing a slow song, I know that this is my chance to drag Santana away from her.
"Excuse me… I'm sorry to interrupt…" I say, gently squeezing Santana's arm. "But honey, I kind of hoped to steal you away for a dance…" I add innocently.
Santana throws a surprised look at me, probably because I have been ignoring her most of the evening and here I am, calling her "honey" and asking her to dance with me.
"Um… sure, Britt..." She replies with a timid smile before turning to the girl. "Melissa, this is my wife, Brittany. Britt, Melissa used to live next door when I was younger, she was my best friend."
Best friend?! That definitely sets me off. I am Santana's best friend, who the hell is this girl?
"Lovely to meet you, Brittany." She says, shaking my hand. So… I guess it's really the first time we meet? "You married a great girl!" She adds.
"Nice to meet you too." I lie. "Yes, I'm really lucky!" I add, putting my arm around San's waist.
"And congratulations!" She says, looking at my stomach. "Santana was just telling me that you're expecting twins!"
"Yes..." I reply with a fake smile. "Thank you."
Can you stop hovering around my wife now?
"I'm afraid that I'm expected on the dance floor, Mel…" Santana says. "But I will catch up with you later, OK?"
"Sure! I'm so happy I have run into you, San!" Melissa says, hugging her tight. "I will be over there…" She adds, pointing to a table. "Come by later so we can continue our chat! And we have to exchange phone numbers!"
"Absolutely! I'll come find you later!" Santana replies with a smile.
I really don't like this.
LATER – ON THE DANCE FLOOR
"So this… Melissa… If I understand well, I have never met her before... Not even before the accident?" I ask while we are dancing.
"Yeah, it's the first time you see her… She moved to Chicago just before I met you. I saw her a few times after that, when she was visiting her grandmother but then the old woman died and her family didn't really have a reason to come to Lima anymore. I haven't seen her in years… but she has actually not changed at all!" She says, with a wide smile.
"I see…" I comment. "So… how come she's in Lima now?"
"She moved back here a couple of weeks ago! Apparently, she recently had a bad break up and wanted to start her life over somewhere else… And she got a job in Lima, of all places! She's actually teaching at McKinley, can you believe it?" She says with a chuckle. "My mom will be over the moon when I tell her that I've run into Mel!"
Great. So Maribel likes her too? And Melissa is single? I can't shake off the feeling that she's interested in Santana… I quickly glance at her table and notice that she is actually watching us dance. I don't know what her intentions are but it's time to make it clear that Santana is taken.
Without warning, I press my lips on Santana's. She must be surprised by my move because she doesn't react right away. But I eventually feel her kissing me back. She's usually the one deepening the kiss but this time, I take the lead. I hope you're watching, Melissa, because you'll never get your hands on this!
Although I mainly initiated the kiss to establish my territory, I'm now caught at my own game because it feels so good that I simply can't stop kissing her... I really want more of her… I need more of her…
"Wow, ladies, that's really HOT!" Puck suddenly says next to us, making Santana break the kiss.
"You're such a pervert, Puckerman!" She angrily shouts at him and he defensively raises his hands before walking back to the table.
Santana turns back to me and as our eyes meet, I can tell that she's a little confused. She's probably wondering why I suddenly kiss her passionately when I have been mad at her for hours.
"I don't want to mess it up…" I whisper, looking into her brown eyes.
"Mess what up?" She asks.
"This… You and me, our family…" I reply. "I… I think I'm falling in love with you, San…" I finally admit out loud. "I really want this to work out…"
She smiles at me and caresses my cheek. "I want that too, Britt! You and the kids… you're my whole life…" She shrugs before giving me a soft kiss.
"I was thinking…" I whisper, nervously playing with the collar of her dress. "... that maybe when we go back to L.A, we could go together to this lawyer you talked to? I don't know how it works but... maybe there is a way to launch the adoption procedure even before the twins are born or… maybe he can prepare some kind of official document stating that you're their mother too… It's worth asking him."
"You… you would do that?" She asks, surprised.
"Of course I would, San… I know our marriage is a bit strange right now because of my amnesia but… no matter what happens between us, they really are your children too… And I completely understand why you want to make this official because… today I actually experienced the fear of losing the kids and… I don't want you to worry about that any longer."
She nods, her eyes getting watery. She doesn't say anything but she pulls me back into a loving kiss.
LATER THAT DAY – AT SANTANA'S PARENTS' – SANTANA POV
I don't know what has got into Brittany but… she is a lot bolder than usual! As soon as we entered my room, she started to kiss me and caress me, her hands even sneaking under my clothes. I was surprised to say the least but definitely not complaining…
One thing quickly led to another and… even if I still have trouble to believe it, we are now laying fully naked in bed, for the first time since the accident. God… That pregnant body of hers has got even sexier, if that's possible! I can't stop running my hands all over her and her kisses only make me craving for more… I want her so fucking bad! But I wonder if she's really ready for this…
"You're sure, Britt?" I whisper in between kisses. "We don't have to… We can just cuddle if you want…"
"I want more than cuddles…" She replies, looking into my eyes before reconnecting our lips. It feels so good that we both hum in the kiss but when her hand slowly moves up my thigh, all I can feel is the fire between my legs…
The kiss gets more and more passionate but I break it when I hear Sofia crying in the other room.
As our eyes meet, I can tell that my beautiful blonde is as frustrated as I am… "I'm sorry, Britt…" I whisper. "She always has the worst timing in the world but… I better go check on her…" I add, gently pressing my lips on hers.
A FEW MINUTES LATER – IN SOFIA'S BEDROOM
"Mija… There is no monster under your bed!" I repeat, looking under it for the 10th time. "They don't exist! And even if they did, I promise you that they wouldn't dare to go to Lima Heights Adjacent!"
I sit back on the edge of her bed and she immediately crashes into my arms. I rub her back to comfort her but she doesn't stop sobbing. "Can I sleep with you and mommy?" She suddenly asks with pleading sad eyes and an irresistible pout just like her mom's.
God… I was really hoping to go back to my hot naked wife and show her how much I love her but I guess that won't happen tonight…
ON THE NEXT MORNING – AT SANTANA'S PARENTS'
Once again, I wake up after being kicked in the thigh by Sofia… Seriously? Kids are so ungrateful! You give them life, you put food on the table and a roof over their head, and this is how they repay you! But when I open my eyes, I see that that my sleeping girls are actually holding hands… And that instantly makes my heart melt… Especially after what happened between them, it's a relief to see them so close again…
I go back to sleep for a while but when I open my eyes again, they are both awake.
"Hi mama!" Sofia shouts in my ear, forcing me cover it with my hand.
"Okay… Easy, kid…" I say, sitting up in bed and frowning. I'm not awake yet…" How is she so excited in the morning?
"Mama is grumpy…" She adds, turning to Brittany.
Of course, I'm grumpy! Because one: you prevented me from having sex last night. Two: you always have to sleep in the middle of the bed, preventing me from cuddling my wife. Three: you kick me in my sleep. Four: why the fuck do you have to yell in my ear?
"She is, huh?" Brittany says. "I think I know how to fix that…" She adds and gives me a tender kiss on the mouth before smiling at me.
"Did it work?" Sofia asks.
Of course it worked, I'm madly in love with that woman.
"Yeah…" I admit. "Mommy's kisses are magic."
Although it would work even better if there was no tiny intruder in our bed and if we could do grown up things!
"Can we play the phone game?" Sofia suddenly asks, tugging on my shirt.
"Fine, mija… We play but only for 5 minutes, OK? Because mama is starving!" I reply. "But you know that mommy has forgotten a few things since her car accident… so you need to explain it to her again."
"Okay!" She says before turning to Brittany. "It's really funny, mommy! It's like a real phone! Mama whispers something into my ear and then I whisper it to you. And then you tell me something and I repeat it to mama."
"I see, it sounds simple enough." Brittany says with a smile.
I will never understand how Sofia finds this game so fun, she's capable of playing it for hours. I'm usually the first one getting tired of it because I find it boring as hell! Fortunately, Britt and I found a way to make it interesting by whispering things that have a double meaning, allowing us to flirt without Sofia noticing. I love how oblivious kids are.
We play for a few minutes, and no matter what I whisper into Sofia's ear, she always giggles. I'm pretty sure that even if I was saying something like "Britt, you need to take out the trash", my baby girl would still get excited because she thinks it's some kind of privilege to know what I have said before her mom does.
"Ok… last round, mija, because I really need my coffee now!" I say, before whispering into her ear.
"Mama says that you're beautiful!" She proudly "whispers" to Brittany, although I'm pretty sure that half of the town could hear that because she's not being very discrete.
Britt smiles at me before whispering something into Sofia's ear. It must be complicated because our daughter asks her to repeat it one more time. Then, our little monster comes closer to me. "Mommy says she can't wait to rock your world."
I open my mouth in surprise, seeing Britt winking at me. I didn't even tell her about our habit to use double meanings and she did it on her own?
But I can't wait for that either…
LATER THAT DAY - AT McKINLEY – MS PILLSBURY'S OFFICE - BRITTANY POV
"I see that you've made a lot of progress since our last meeting!" Ms Pillsbury says with a smile. "I'm glad to hear that it's going well with Santana."
"Thank you…" I smile back.
"What about your memories?" She asks. "Has anything come back to you?"
I look down and my hands, wondering if I should tell her. I haven't told anyone yet…
"I… um… can you promise me that this will remain between us for now?"
"Of course, Brittany. This is a safe space, everything you say stays in this room."
"Ok… Well, I… I actually think that my memories might be coming back…"
"Really? Britt, that's fantastic!" She comments with enthusiasm. "Did you remember anything specific?"
"I…" I sigh. "It started yesterday afternoon, after the reunion… I was looking at old pictures of Santana and I… and out of nowhere, I got flashes of memories from an afternoon we spent together years ago. It was really like pictures popping up in my mind and each of them led to something else… in a matter of seconds, I started to remember… smells, bits of conversations, feelings I had that day… And since then, I... I got quite a few more memories…" I confess for the first time.
"Last night, the whole Glee club went to a karaoke bar." I add. "And… Mercedes, Santana and Tina sang Hell to the No and I got flashes of memories from Mercedes' tour… and I even remembered some moves from the choreography… Then later on, Puck ordered some shots of Tequila and I remembered Santana's 21st birthday party…" I add, not telling her that what I remember the most from that party is how we actually left in the middle of it to go home and have sex…
"It basically kept happening the whole evening, about very different things… And even this morning, when my mom drove me here… we spoke about my grandparents and I suddenly remembered their basement that was full of jam jars…"
"That's really amazing news, Brittany!" She says. "It means that your memories are still intact, they're somewhere in your head and you just have to let them come to mind! Did you tell Santana?"
"No…" I whisper. "I just… I don't want her to get her hopes up because... what if that's all that ever comes back? Yes, I have more and more memories but I still don't remember the important things like my wedding, or the birth of my daughter." I add sadly. "Even the twins... I have no recollection of my pregnancy before the accident…"
That's not completely true because at least, I remembered the day we found out that Santana was pregnant. The doctor had warned us that it could take a while so I didn't have much hope considering it was the first try. I was too afraid of getting disappointed so even though I was sitting right next to her, I let Santana look alone at the pregnancy test stick. And when she squeezed my elbow, I couldn't read her face until she smiled wide and told me "congratulations, mommy!" I was so happy that I was crying and laughing at the same time, and I couldn't stop kissing her.
"But those memories might simply come back later…" Ms Pillsbury replies. "You had a serious car accident, Brittany… Your brain was traumatized, you need to give it time… I'm not a doctor but I believe that you getting some of your memories back is a very good sign! You might remember it all, and who knows… maybe it will happen even faster than you think…"
I silently nod. Maybe she's right…
A LITTLE WHILE LATER – IN THE CHOIR ROOM
"Thank you for meeting me, Mr Schue…" I say.
"Of course, Britt! I'm always there if you need me, you guys are like my kids!" He replies. "So Santana is not with you?"
"No… She took Sofia to the park… She will come this afternoon, for the reunion."
"Ok… Well... Tell me everything, how can I help you?"
"I don't know what the plan is for this afternoon… I can only assume that you will all sing songs for me again. But I… I would also like to sing… for Santana." I say, a bit embarrassed. "It's just that with my amnesia, I'm not even sure if I'm still able to, and even if I can… I don't know what to sing! So I was wondering if you could help me find a song that would show her how I feel and help me learn it?"
LATER – AT McKINLEY - GLEE REUNION
"So Britt…" Quinn says once we are all reunited in the choir room. "San and I are going to perform I say a little prayer… That was our audition song when the three of us decided to join Glee club."
"Oh, girls…" Rachel interferes, raising her hand. "If you need a third one, I volunteer!"
"You think anyone can just join the Unholy Trinity, Berry?" Santana replies, crossing her arms. "Sorry but you don't meet the hotness requirements… or the height requirements for that matter."
The music starts and I suddenly get a few flashbacks... I remember rehearsing that song at Quinn's house and how she kept mocking Rachel.
A LITTLE WHILE LATER
Artie and Puck just sang a song that I apparently wrote myself, My cup. I have no recollection of that but judging by the lyrics, I'm the queen of double meanings…
Santana, Kurt and Blaine are now performing Our day will come and I'm really intimidated… mostly because Santana is sitting right next to me, holding my hand and looking into my eyes while singing. She said earlier that we sang this song at our wedding and it made me very sad. Why can't I remember anything from my wedding day? But the twins suddely pull me out of my thoughts by kicking me like crazy in the middle of the song. It's really amazing how much they react to their mama's voice…
EVEN LATER
After the coffee break, we all moved to the Auditorium. Ms Pillsbury took the seat next to me to keep me company as everyone else – including Santana – got on stage. I couldn't help but smile and clap my hands when they sang Loser Like Me and Light Up The World. Images from New York popped up in my mind but they were not from our high school times… I remembered Santana picking me up at the dance school one evening… She was all dressed up and we were going to the restaurant to celebrate something but I couldn't remember what…
"Britt… There is this saying we have..." Mercedes suddenly addresses me from the stage. "Once a troubletone, always a troubletone! So even though we couldn't get ahold of Sugar, Santana and I are going to perform our iconic Adele mash-up for you, Rumour Has It/Someone Like You, with Quinn and Tina as backup dancers."
LATER THAT DAY - CHOIR ROOM
Just like yesterday, we had lunch in the choir room… and I realized that I was a lot more at ease around the Gleeks. I'm glad Santana brought me to Lima, it really helped me… I got a lot closer to her and Sofia, I also feel more comfortable around my parents and I actually like to hang out with our friends now… Besides, my memories seem to progressively come back…
Santana is now singing Landslide to me, with Sam at the guitar, and I feel overwhelmed. I know exactly what this beautiful song means, I saw it on the show. And she is such an amazing performer that I can feel all her emotions…
By the end of the song, we are both in tears and all I manage to do is getting up to hug her, without saying a word…
EVEN LATER – SANTANA POV
The Glee reunion is coming to an end but at Brittany's request, Mr Schue just gave her the floor.
"I just want to thank you all…" She says, wiping her tears. "You guys dropped everything to come here and offer your support and… I can't even find the words to tell you how grateful and deeply moved I am. I'm really lucky to have such amazing friends…"
"But it wouldn't be a real Glee reunion if I didn't sing as well…" She suddenly adds, taking me aback. "Mr Schue kindly helped me prepare a song… and Kurt and Rachel agreed to do the backup vocals… I was told that a few of us danced on this song many years ago… But I won't dance today because… well, the twins are pretty heavy now…" She says with a chuckle, placing her hand on her stomach. "Santana, this is for you…" She adds, looking at me.
As soon as the band starts playing the first notes, I immediately recognize the song, even though Britt was not the one singing it back then…
Oh, girl, I've known you very well
I've seen you growing every day
I never really looked before
But now you take my breath away
Suddenly you're in my life
Part of everything I do
I suddenly feel emotional, listening to Brittany's angelic voice. She's still capable to sing...
Here in your arms I found my paradise
My only chance for happiness
And if I lose you now I think I would die
Oh say you'll always be my baby, we can make it shine
We can take forever, just a minute at a time
More than a woman,
More than a woman to me
More than a woman
More than a woman to me
There are stories old and true
Of people so in love like you and me
And I can see myself
Let history repeat itself
Reflecting how I feel for you
Her blue eyes are staring at me and I feel tears falling down my face, for the second time today… But after all the painful things she has told me since the accident, it really feels wonderful to hear her singing those loving words…
I know that in a thousand years
I'd fall in love with you again
More than a woman,
More than a woman to me
This time, I'm the one walking up to her to hug her. I don't know if she will ever get her memories back but at least, my Britt is back…
LATER – IN THE CHOIR ROOM – BRITTANY POV
The others are already at Breadstix' but Santana asked me to stay a little while longer in the choir room, just the two of us...
"There is one more song I want to sing for you, Britt…" She says, sitting at the piano. She starts playing the first notes and I realize that I didn't even remember that she could play an instrument...
For you, there'll be no more crying
For you, the sun will be shining
And I feel that when I'm with you
It's alright, I know it's right
That song… that emotion in her voice, it's very familiar… She has sung it to me before… And somehow I have the feeling it's related to that memory I got earlier today, when we were going to the restaurant in New York. What was it that we were celebrating? Oh God, please, please let me remember…
And the songbirds are singing,
Like they know the score
And I love you, I love you, I love you
Like never before
I think it was for our anniversary… Yes! We went to that fancy place and Santana looked so beautiful, I couldn't get my eyes off her… The food was delicious and we even had champagne.
And I wish you all the love in the world
But most of all, I wish it from myself
And the songbirds keep singing
Like they know the score
And suddenly, it all comes back to me… Santana wrote this song for me and she sang it to me that night, for the very first time. That was the most beautiful song I had ever heard. And... Oh my God... I remember! She actually proposed that same night! She hid the engagement ring in the CD cover case!
And I love you, I love you, I love you
Like never before, like never before,
Like never before
And just like that, flashes of memories multiply in my mind, over and over... As she finishes the song, we are both in tears and I feel the need to hold her in my arms. So I immediately come closer to engulf her in a loving embrace.
"San… honey..." I whisper. "I remember… I remember marrying you…"
A/N: So Brittany's memories are finally coming back! I know that many of you were eagerly waiting for that but I took my time because I really liked having them flirt with each other as if it was a new relationship... And as I said before, it was also the occasion to explore some things from their past... As always, I used songs that were featured on Glee one way or another, I hope I chose them well... For those who want to know more about Songbird and the proposal, I refer you to my first story.
What do you think about this chapter? Did you like it? Let me know in the reviews!
I take this opportunity to remind you that the Glee family has launched the second "Annual Snixxmas Charity Drive" which aims at collecting money for Alexandria House, in the name of Naya. This can really help women and children in need and it is a nice way to honour our lovely Naya! Unfortunately, we are really far from the goal and it closes on the 17th (which is actually also my birthday so let me insist here...) Please consider donating on gofundme Snixxmas2 (without space). Every dollar counts and Christmas is the perfect time to think of the less fortunates! Don't hesitate to spread the word around you! Thank you!
It might take me more than a week to post the next chapter because once again, I don't yet know what will happen next but... I suppose that we will go back to L.A. and talk about the twins. Thanks!