Danny knew what he wanted even before he left Miami to return to New York. Erik and Juan had been compiling a list of opportunities, one of which would be beneficial to both of them in taking care of people who they cared about.

Juan had plans for the future, and part of those plains entailed getting those he cared about squared away. Robbie needed a career. Danny needed a career. Once upon a time each man had been a part of a security detail. Juan had spoken to Erik about his idea and as Danny enjoyed his lunch on the plane ride back to Miami Juan gave the man a call. Juan's man handed an unsuspecting Danny the phone and Juan began to speak.

"Hola Danny. Hope your trip has been a good one so far. I don't want to impose upon your relaxation time and so I'll make it quick. Erik and I spoke yesterday and he has a number of exciting opportunities lined up from you to choose from. I'll let him present those to you as planned when you get back to New York. I have a few of my own should those not suit you, but one in particular excites me the most. How would you feel about owning your own security company? Well, being a part owner. Roberto would be an owner as well, and we will make a paid consultant available to you until you two learn how to run the business. Of course it would be a totally legitimate operation, untouched by anything that would cause you and Roberto any issues. You both need a clean, fresh start and worked security. It just makes sense, and neither of you will have to answer to anyone. Your success or your failure will be in your own hands. Erik and I will set you up for success. You two will have the best available start to kick off your venture. You put the work in and it can become anything you want."

"That sounds amazing, thank you." Danny gasped.

"You don't have to answer now. You shouldn't answer now. Hear all of your offers. Hear the things that Erik managed to line up. Hear the other opportunities that I was able to locate. Weigh them all. I can send Robbie out and you can hear his ideas. See if you two would feel good working together and what ideas you would have. I'm thinking about doing something similar for the twins here in Florida. Everyone I care about who worked for me that I want to see settled and away from this business worked in security in some fashion. If you needed a staff you could trust when starting out I know the girls have their own dreams I plan to help them with but Luciana is already used to running a business. She has a business degree and has been running the travel agency for a few years now and doing an excellent job. Quinn and Imani are trained in security as well. Of course you and Robbie do what you wish. I'm just mentioning things that Robbie has already spoken to me about. This would be yours and Robbie's and if you grow it right you can branch off without one another later. It just seems easier and more prudent for you two to learn together for now. Figure it out, and call Erik and I if you have any concerns."

And that's how 3 months later Brittany's life felt like it was perfect, even though Brooke was moving to Nevada. Her moving to be with the love of her life and following her heart felt brave and wonderful, especially since she didn't want to leave now that she and Brittany had become so close. Brittany assured her that she had nothing to fear, that they would only continue to build on that now that loving one another wouldn't be holding either of them back. They could afford to see one another as often as they wanted to, and Brittany could continue to get to know her father and brothers better each time she visited. Danny had made his brave move, and now Brooke had made hers. It was Brittany's turn to face her biggest fear.

Danny would be keeping the apartment and so she had her best friend back. Santana was happy living with her, and even happier that Robbie had moved to New York in order to jumpstart the business with Danny. Things seemed to be going perfect for the girls, and Brittany and Santana had decided that it was time for a vacation. They had been dating for well more than a year officially, had been living together for almost 8 months. They were happy, and now that everyone was settled they felt like they could focus on just the two of them. So Brittany and Santana had taken two weeks off from work, at Brittany's request, in order to enjoy Santana's birthday and the cruise the week after that the Lopezes had gifted Brittany on her birthday. The ladies were excited and Brittany knew that Santana needed this. She worked too hard, and Brittany wanted to make this vacation special. It would be special in so many ways.

Brittany had picked up the rental car for a road trip to Miami where the cruise would be leaving from. Yes, it was an exceptionally long drive but Brittany insisted she had some pre birthday surprises before the cruise. That's why they were leaving a week early. Danny would stay home with a bitter Lord Tubbington since Brooke was in Nevada helping Erik get things in order for the move. Danny had traveled just the week before with Robbie on some mission for the business and Tubbs was still in his feelings over Brooke leaving. So Danny was left to try and keep Tubbs from exacting his own revenge against everyone for leaving him so often.

Brittany loaded the bags into the car. As she tossed the old duffle bag in Santana furrowed her eyebrows at the choice.

"Doesn't the thought of that bag and a rental car bring back traumatic memories for you?" Santana asked only half jokingly.

"It's this Ford Focus that's giving me flashbacks. They were out of full size cars. I hadn't even thought of the bag," Brittany said while dropping the bag into the trunk. "I needed a bag and it was there."

"You could have asked me, I have plenty. That bag is not even a little bit stylish Brittany."

"I thought Luciana stole yours." Brittany quipped.

Santana laughed. "Excuses, excuses. Apparently this is the adult version of your Tinkerbell bag."

Brittany just smiled, "Maybe it is, Carmen."

The women started out their drive with Brittany driving first. Soon Santana quickly learned that they weren't heading out of town.

"Where are we going?"

"I need food for this road trip, thought I'd go out to Brooklyn for some cheesecake."

"We're making a detour all the way in Brooklyn for cheesecake?"

"Junior's cheesecake is world famous babe."

Santana just laughed. "Anything you want mi amor, I'm just happy to be going anywhere with you."

Brittany smiled.

The two stopped for cheesecake, even though initially that was a ruse, because fuck now Brittany wanted cheesecake. Once they had their cheesecake Brittany continued to their destination. The pair pulled into the parking lot of the City Inn on Eastern Parkway, the place where their road trip together started. It was only then that Santana knew that something was up.

Brittany exited the car and then handed Santana the old duffle bag. It was only then that it clicked with Santana what Brittany was wearing. Blue skinny jeans, high top white sneakers, a black muscle shirt and a blue track jacket. Brittany would have never remembered what she was wearing that day, but Santana had mentioned on many occasions how hot she thought Brittany looked that day.

"Here's your bag of clues, Carmen. This road trip, this tiny ass Ford focus I rented, this dusty old bag, you're going to have to figure out the clues, and I'll be here to help you."

"What the hell is going on here?" Santana smiled, confused.

"Let's check in and we'll go through the bag." Brittany smiled.

Brittany went and got the room key, the same room they had been in the first day that they started their road trip, and Brittany grabbed the bag and carried it through the door. Once through the door the two women settled down.

"Were going to be here for the night at least, it seems, so are you just going to stand there with your jacket on?" Santana smiled.

"Oh yeah," Brittany said and removed her track jacket to reveal her toned arms in her muscle shirt. She was wearing her gun holster.

"Britt, why the hell are you carrying your gun?" Santana asked. "What the hell is going on here?" Just then Santana's eyes caught Brittany's weapon, a bright pink water gun. Santana smiled.

"What are you up to, Britt?"

"The clues, Carmen. As for the holster, well you said I looked hot in it and I didn't want to carry a gun with me so I brought our friend here to protect us from extreme thirst on the road."

"You're such a cute dork."

"A sexy math genius dork who can dance, speak Spanish and stealthily kill a man." Brittany smiled, repeating the same words she had said to Danny when the three were joking around.

Santana just shook her head. "Well give me that bag, Blondie."

Brittany handed Santana the bag. It was filled with numbered yellow envelopes.

"Now here are the rules. You only get to open the first envelope now. As time goes on you get to open more."

Santana smiled and opened the first envelope. It contained a simple white envelope with her name printed neatly on the front. She opened it to read it as Brittany made herself comfortable at the small desk.

Dear Santana,

I'm honored to be a part of this journey that you and Tink are starting today. She asked me to kick things off, because she says losing me is what started you two off the first time. I guess that's true, but I'd like to think that it would have only been a matter of time before you two found one another no matter what. Maybe you would have stumbled across one another in a park or the supermarket, because I refuse to believe that I live in a world where you two may have never met. That would have been the real tragedy. So if I had to take a bullet in this hard head of mine to make that happen I'm okay with that.

You're welcome.

Anyways, Tink has told me that this trip is all about facing fears and growth. I've done some of that recently and so has Brooke. Tink has done a ton of that and I suspect that this journey is about you traveling the rest of that road together. Fear often precedes growth. Tackling our shit is never easy. Still, I've become a believer that stepping out on faith leads to great things. I stepped out on faith and met this beautiful blonde girl who changed my life, and now I'm watching her fall in love more and more each day. I'm watching her do so many wonderful things with her life. I'm so blessed now because I put my fears of caring about another person aside long enough to let the most amazing little girl in the world in and it's been incredible.

So don't feel confused about how you let her in, she has this magic way of doing that to people, getting them to set their fears aside and let her in. She's totally worth it, though. Trust me when I tell you, she's sent miracles my way.

Santana, I think I liked you before I even met you. Luciana and Valentina would share stories about you guys growing up and I would overhear them as they talked to Roberto about you and you seemed like such a special person. Then I met you and you are beautiful and outspoken and tough and tender and everything my Tink deserves and trust me I don't say that to anybody because I didn't think a person existed that was good enough for my Tink. I was wrong. She told me what you did for her, when she thought she had lost me. Don't be embarrassed but she told me how you firmly told her to get her shit together or you would walk out on her. She believed you, because you had done it before. Then she told me you made love to her until she came to her senses. She told me that night you restored her sanity, her humanity, her focus. That night she truly learned how to love a woman, to think about how what she did in the world affected them. You taught her a kind of love that Brooke and I would never be able to teach her and that she never thought she wanted to learn. You set her on the type of journey that she had to take to get to where she is now, in this moment. You've been on that journey for some time now yourself, and now you get to take these next few steps of it together.

May you have a healing journey and I love you Santana Lopez. I love you for keeping Tink safe and sane and not letting her do anything she would regret for the rest of her life. I love you for telling your parents you would die for her (yes, she told me that too, get used to it). Tink can't stop telling me all of the wonderful ways you have enhanced her life. I know she's in good hands with you.

You should know that you're in good hands with her too, so buckle up and embrace the ride.

With love and appreciation for you,

Danny M.

Santana smiled as she folded the letter and placed it back into the envelope.

"That was so nice!" Santana smiled. "Now can I open the second envelope?" Brittany smiled as Santana dug into the bag looking for the second envelope.

"Pace yourself Carmen, we're just getting started."

Santana smiled, looking at her hopefully.

"Ugh, go ahead. I can't say no to that face." Brittany whined. "Just remember this is a journey you can't go tearing through all my clues at once."

Santana opened the second yellow envelope smiling. It was a picture of Luciana flipping her the bird.

"Charming," Santana said, rolling her eyes.

"Study the clue Santana," was all Brittany said.

Santana finally got past that shit eating smirk on Luciana's face and the joy she seemed to be taking in flipping Santana the bird. She noticed the Linkin Park tee shirt the woman was wearing.

"I guess were going on a road trip back to Lincoln Park."

"Sexy and smart," Brittany said.

"Okay Brittany, now that I got your clues, do you want to explain a little more what this is all about?"

"No."

"No?"

"Where's the fun in that, Santana? Just go with it okay? Trust me. I'm hoping this will be your best birthday ever. It better be. Everybody wanted to spend your birthday with you and so I had to steal you away if I wanted any part of you to myself."

"Ok" Santana smiled. "Can you at least tell me what brought all of this on?"

"Sure," Brittany said. "Danny finally starting his life, finally searching for his own personal happiness, it felt like the final piece of my family puzzle was beginning to make their dreams come true. You never knew this but Danny and I had a long talk with my mother the night after she had that conversation with you in the kitchen. Everything we wanted was right there and it was like we were all afraid to just reach out and grab it. You took a step that night, you agreed to move in with me. My mother took one step closer to getting closer to my father, she gave up the subsidy for her apartment. Then there was Danny, who felt better but was too afraid to go and face his past and his future even if he would never admit it. My mother and I were okay, even if we both still harbored some fears of taking the next step towards the things we really wanted in life. He couldn't use us as an excuse. He had to take a leap, to accept help, to say goodbye to someone he loved, to say hello to someone new. We're all doing that now, everybody around us, everybody that we love. They will all be here in spirit, on this journey with us, for your birthday. They will all be here to help us find the answers. So the people we love brought this on. For me especially, it was Danny and my mom. My mom with all of this wisdom that had been locked away under all of this darkness in her mind. Danny with all of this fear hidden behind this unbreakable exterior. Nothing can break him. A bullet to the head didn't break him, and if he can face his fears, so can I."

"What are you afraid of, Britt?"

"This is another journey into the unknown for us, just like the first time. The first time we didn't realize that it would lead to so much self discovery. This time I'm counting on it, so that we can grow together and face our fears."

"I'm not afraid of anything Britt."

"Maybe you aren't, and maybe you don't know that you are. I remember how afraid I was to ask you to move in with me and how afraid you were to let go and just do it. Now look at us, it's like one of the best decisions we've ever made. Fear isn't always staring us in the face, sometimes fear lies dormant underneath until something or someone, like an awesome blonde babe for example, asks you to look it in the eye and move in with her."

Santana smiled. Brittany had a point. Still, she didn't know where this was going.

"So we are on this journey and our family and friends will be a part of it from the start this time, helping us discover more of what is yet to be discovered."

"And so we kick this journey off with Luciana flipping me the bird?" Santana asked.

"Yup, because like it or not she was a part of you discovering who you were in this life of yours. She was a piece to your puzzle. Keep reading the clues, you'll gain more clarity as we go along."

"I'm just following your lead, Blondie."

"Thanks Carmen. Now, if I recall correctly the first night we spent here there was Chinese and Italian food involved."

"We can skip that part if you like."

"Nope" Brittany said, popping her "p" as she spoke (Wanky). "Carmen San Diego Lopez, when lunch time comes around I'm going out and getting more food than we can ever eat and then we will have lunch and leftovers for dinner. Then I'm going to hide out in here with the love of my life getting our Netflix and chill on. Then we will get a good night's sleep because we're off to Chicago and clue number 3."

"You have this all planned out to the letter don't you Brittany."

"Yes I do Carmen." Brittany winked before pulling Santana onto the bed with her and cuddling into her as Santana reached for the tv remote.

Santana and Brittany shared a nice evening kicking off their adventure just as Brittany promised they would. The next morning Brittany started out driving and the two shared the task until they reached what would be Brittany's favorite spot, the halfway point. Brittany managed once again to get the same room booked that they stayed in the first time. There would be no new clues on this stop, just perfect memories. The first time they trained together, their first unofficial date, ending in the first time they made love to one another. Santana would be lying if she didn't say that she thinks that this will be her favorite stop as well. This stop was indeed huge in their love story.

Santana couldn't help but smile as they walked into the simple room, and Brittany couldn't take her eyes off of her. The girl was beautiful. Looking at her was like looking at a sunrise and a sunset and a rainbow all at the same time. She was radiant.

"So, Ms. Lopez. If you recall we will be going out to dinner tonight."

"I recall," Santana smiled.

"And afterwards..."

"Strawberry ice cream."

"Holey moley" Brittany smiled.

The ladies settled in to the room and when dinner time came Brittany wore the same outfit she had worn that night, down to what she had labeled her lucky underwear because she got lucky with Santana in them. Santana wore a different simple black dress, because once again she never leaves home without one. The ladies admired one another before leaving out to dinner, again sharing dinner and wine and dancing. By the time they stopped in the small strip mall for ice cream both ladies could barely contain their arousal. By the time they made it back to the hotel room and Santana put the key in the door there were no more words to say, no more memories to reenact. There was just want between the two women.

"Santana", Brittany said breathlessly, pulling her in tightly as soon as the door shut behind them.

"Te voy a joder tan buena" (I'm going to fuck you so good.)

"Puedes hacerme lo que quieras bebe." Brittany smiled. (You can do whatever you want to me, baby.)

Santana smiled, and this time what happened between them was as beautiful as their first time, and yet far more intimate. This time, without Santana even knowing it, was Brittany trying to open up that last bit of herself to her. Trust. Letting go. Falling backwards and knowing that this person will give their life to catch you. Brittany thought that only Santana was holding back that night. Only months later did she learn that she wasn't as good at letting go as she thought she was. Brittany only learned after Danny came back from the dead that she had her own trust issues in love, her own fear of letting go, of being rejected, of losing that person she valued most, of being let down. Tonight she's telling Santana her secrets as their legs tangle together and their centers meet, moist and warm, and they move together towards true healing, true trust, true love.

Danny and Brooke have really given Brittany the gift of being able to love. Brittany had discovered that she had never fallen in love because of fear. Then Santana came along when she was broken into a million little pieces and slipped in while her armor was cracked and it was the warmest feeling she had ever felt. That night when Santana had agreed to move in with her, when she had told her a story in a way she had never told it to her before, she knew more than ever that she would have to do this and do this soon. She would have to see Santana complete the journey that she completed that night that brought her to this trip, this moment.

Brittany's heart felt like she was going to explode, as she felt Santana's hands roam against her, as she felt the heat from her core, and she couldn't understand how in all of the bodies she's touched in this way none had managed to truly touch her back. She felt warm from the inside out, as if she had bitten the sun and swallowed a part of it whole, and there was a heat and a light burning inside every inch of her. She would have floated away had she not heard Santana cry out her name and she smiled because that's what Santana does, she keeps her grounded.

"I'm here," Brittany breathed out softly, so softly she thought that Santana may have missed it, but as usual Santana heard her, she saw her, and she always has.

Brittany untangled herself and positioned herself between her lovers legs, licking straight through her core and straight up her body, allowing her tongue to dip into her navel on its journey north. Tasting the sweat on her stomach as her tongue moved up to her chest. Tasting the saltiness of her sweat and then finally reaching her breasts, where she took one into her mouth as she reached a free hand between Santana's legs. She wasted no time joining with her, one finger at first and then another until Santana moaned and she had to look at her, to look into her eyes. As if sensing what her blonde wanted Santana opened her eyes and what she found there was something she's seen a million times but had never seen like this before. The love in Brittany's eyes for her was so strong it felt like something had pierced her chest when she saw it and she had to close her eyes in fear of it consuming her. Santana hadn't let go yet, not in the way that Brittany has. She still has her fears and her doubts and that nagging voice that questions when she wants something to badly. Brittany is okay with that, because she knows in her heart that by the time this trip is over, she will never have those fears again. She would free her from herself, the same way that Santana had freed Brittany that night when her own darkness threatened to consume her.

The two made love for what felt like hours, and it just may have been, because by the time they were finished both were too tired to move and even look at the clock, collapsing sweaty and exhausted into a heap of disheveled sheets and falling asleep without even the strength to say I love you. They both knew that it didn't need to be said, they had been saying it to one another the entire night.

The next morning the women arrived at their next destination, the hotel they stayed at in Chicago. Once again Brittany managed to get the same room room and once they settled in and relaxed they ate the lunch they had brought in with them. Finally Brittany handed Santana the duffle bag.

"Time for another envelope Carmen. Open the one with the number three on it."

Santana smiled as she opened the bag and dug out her next clue to what all of this was about. Inside she saw a simple white envelope with her name on it. She clearly recognized that the handwriting belonged to Luciana. She took the letter out the sealed envelope to read and Brittany stood to give her the privacy to read it.

"Have you read this?"

"No, and I didn't read the first one either or any others that may be in that bag. Whatever is in there is between you and whoever wrote it."

"I don't mind..."

"Santana, whatever is in there is between you and Luciana."

"We don't have anything to hide from you," Santana assured.

"I know Santana," Brittany smiled. "Just read it, it's meant for you, not me. I trust you, I trust what you and Luciana have. I'm glad you have each other." Brittany said before walking away and jokingly dropping to the floor and doing a few push ups.

Santana howled with laughter at the memory and Brittany jumped up and went off to the restroom. Santana opened her letter and read the contents inside.

"Dear Ana,

So you've reached the point in this journey where you and I had our heart to heart talk, our reconciliation, our reconnection. Good, because while so much was said so much was left unsaid, just as it will always be with us, because we are so much alike, but maybe one day it won't have to be that way. You are growing, and maybe so am I, and maybe one day you'll revisit this letter and that statement will have been proven wrong.

Well, here is a truth I kept to myself that day. At the time I was just so happy that you were okay but now I get to say it. I was angry at you Ana, for leaving us behind. Maybe it was part of the reason I slept with Valentina in the first place. I was young, and I often reacted out of anger by doing whatever the hell I wanted no matter if it pissed someone off. Maybe I even did it in part to piss them off. Remind you of anyone else you know? That night, coming out night, I was as angry at Valentina as you were. To me it was like watching her swallow a bottle of poison. I knew she was signing her death warrant. I knew, just like you knew, that she had chosen to sacrifice herself to a life we had all promised to avoid, and I'm sad to say I hated her that night Santana. I wanted to hurt her, for you, for me and for what her actions would mean for our families. She turned her back on us, and she endangered all of us, but most of all she endangered you. I couldn't stay mad at her though. Nobody could ever stay mad at her. She just had this light Santana, just like you do, and it draws everyone in. So that night we used one another to punish Val, even though being with you was something that I had wanted for a long time. I suspect it had crossed your mind a time or two as well, and so we sought comfort and vengeance and then it became something more, even if neither of us could ever understand what it was at that time. I'm glad we understand it now, after finally talking about it. It was love, and all love doesn't have to be romantic. I love you Santana, even if I turned right around and did the same thing to you that I'd done to Valentina.

All of sudden Valentina and I were alone. I knew that she was the love of your life. We had always had a connection, she and I, but it was never a romantic one. I want you to know it never became romantic. What we had was a way to not feel lonely. I was angry at you Ana. I understood why you left. I understood why you got far away from Valentina, what I didn't understand was why you left me. I was not surprised that you didn't ask me to go, was not surprised that it wasn't hard to walk away from what we were doing. What surprised me was that you were able to walk away from our friendship. That you were able to leave and not even care about how I was doing.

I gave you time, I gave you more than a year, and you never reached out. You didn't call, you didn't write, not on my birthday or Christmas or when I just needed to tell my oldest friend that I missed her and that I will always be there for her. At some point I got angry. We were the best of friends since birth. Our mothers gave us the same middle name, a bond they created for us through their own bonds with one another. We shared cribs and we took baths together. We fought each other and we fought the world together. So for you not to call, to write, it took some time for me to get over that. I wished you luck, but I was hurt and maybe I wanted to hurt you too when I slept with Valentina, or at least that was what I thought at first.

Soon it became evident that what we did we did because we missed you. Each of us held close a part of you, and being together brought those parts together to mourn your loss. Most of all Santana, we all loved one another, and I came to see that Valentina needed someone even more than I did. I had my share of women when you left, it was not hard for me to move on in that way, but I saw Valentina suffering with Manuel, and she was my friend for many years. She was suffering without you most of all, but she was also suffering without me and Robbie, without our families. I reached out to repair our friendship because to not reach out felt like what I was doing to her was the same as what you were doing to me, even though we felt she had betrayed us all. She clearly knew how she hurt you, and she came to understand how she hurt me too. I'm glad I did reach out to her, because I got to understand what she was up against, and how she did what she did so that you could have a life and be protected, even if we knew that we could have helped her find other ways. Still, her heart was always in the right place. I came back to her, and then she had Robbie and I at the very least, and I saw some joy in her again. I am glad we were there for her and that she didn't die without love in her life. We loved her, we all loved her. We always will.

When Valentina moved close and kissed me for the first time Santana, I want you to know that it wasn't lust, it was hurt and pain, and I couldn't turn her away. It wasn't my anger at you like I tried to tell myself to justify the fact that I was about to make love to the only woman my best friend ever loved. It was partly me wanting to alleviate some of her pain, because I loved her too in my own way. I wanted to give her comfort and love and joy but the truth of the matter was I needed all of those things as well. I was in pain too, in some strange way because of the both of you.

So when you returned to us, when Valentina brought you home for the worst reason imaginable, I knew the first thing I wanted to tell you was that I was sorry for what happened between Val and I, but then I realized that I'm not, just like I'm not sorry about what happened between us. We were all friends, and we were there for one another when we needed each other even if it was in the most unconventional way. I learned from you and Val that sharing your body with someone can be so much more than just making love in the romantic sense. Sometimes that connection is as powerful as life itself. The need to feel, to be touched, to touch. I think you understand now, and I think you truly forgave me, just as Val truly forgave both of us and understood what coming out night was really about. I forgive you both too. I'll always love you girls.

When I saw you with Brittany I thought "this is it, this is her chance." I knew you would be typical stubborn Santana Marie Lopez and fight it but la rubia is just what you need. She's stubborn and vulnerable and she loves you. She's all heart like Val but in a way that won't lead to a lifetime of pain for you. So when she asked me to be a part of this journey she wanted to take you on this weekend, this journey of healing and understanding and growth and discovery, I was honored and even thankful, because this letter is healing for me too. I don't know if Brittany ever told you but she and I had a beautiful conversation after that morning where she thought that something was going on between you and I. She invited me out for coffee to apologize and she admitted that she had some insecurities because of our past and how close we instantly became again once we reconnected. It took a real woman to do that Santana, because we all hold our fears and insecurities so closely. So what she is doing for you now, giving you space and a place to set each of your own insecurities down one by one, that's what good love looks like hermana. I'm so fucking happy for you. No one deserves it more.

That conversation didn't only provide comfort and clarity to your rubia. I got something out of it, too. She helped me understand even more clearly the feelings I had when I shared my time with the two of you. The seven stages of grief, your rubia taught me that. I like talking to her. I like her for you, Ana.

So I am so thankful that she gave me a safe space to speak to you, to explain my feelings and my actions more fully, to maybe give you closure that you didn't know you needed. Ana, she wants to give you everything, even the things that you can't see that you need yet. What a love she has for you. I know you have the same love for her as well. It's a magnificent thing to see.

I love you Santana, from the cradle to the grave.

Luciana

Santana had tears in her eyes after reading that. So much of this she knew, even the things that she wouldn't admit to. She and Luciana never really spoke about how Santana had cut all contact with her. They simply always understood one another. Luciana knew that after enough time had passed it would be nearly impossible for Santana to reach out to her. She just didn't know how. Her pride, her shame, would never allow it. So after some time Luciana had come to accept that she had lost her best friend and it hurt like hell.

Luciana also knew that it wasn't about her, it was about Santana and how deeply she loves and how deeply she feels loss. Santana felt like she lost everything when she lost Valentina, because everything she had in the world somehow reminded her of Valentina. She had to leave, for her own sanity. She had to leave everything and everyone behind. Even the small bit of contact she had with her mother hurt. Everything hurt until she met Brittany.

Santana cried silently for a while and Brittany lay on the bed pretending to rest her eyes, giving Santana space to heal. When she heard Santana stand up and tuck the letter back into the bag Brittany opened her eyes and made eye contact with the love of her life, offering her a soft smile and open arms to welcome her. Santana kicked off her shoes and climbed in next to Brittany, laying her head on her chest as Brittany wrapped her arms around her.

"You okay?" Brittany asked, planting a soft kiss on Santana's head.

"Yeah." Santana answered simply.

"Do you remember the gift you gave me here, Santana?"

"I remember everything that happened Brittany."

"I love how you held me when I was falling apart, right here in this bed, and gave me refuge from all of my turmoil. I was alone in the world then, and you made me feel like I would never be lonely again. Now I know how true that is, I will never be alone again. I have so much, and that peace of mind started here with you, even if it was only for a brief moment. You gave me hope when I thought that Danny was gone and that my mother was still a mess and that she would now be my mess to handle alone. You held me and watched tv with me and ate gas station junk food with me. You kept me safe. You kept me in touch with my humanity."

Santana took Brittany's hand and kissed it softly.

"I found a piece of myself here in this room, and hopefully you just found a piece of yourself here, too."

"I did, mi amor. I found a piece of myself here the first time as well. It was here where I decided to reach out to my father again, to reach out to everyone. It was here that I promised not to abandon Luciana and leave her alone again. This is where I opened the door to reclaiming my loved ones." Santana answered.

"And it was in this room that I realized my feelings for you could never be denied. Te amo, Santana."

"Te amo, Brittany."

Santana and Brittany lay that way for a while and later that night went out for a nice dinner. When they returned to the hotel Brittany handed Santana the bag again.

"Ok beautiful, time for another clue."

Santana was beginning to enjoy this journey. She took the bag and opened the third envelope, eager to see what was inside.

Inside was another plain envelope with her name on it. She smiled at the handwriting on the envelope. It was from Brooke.

Dearest Santana,

I hope you're enjoying your journey so far. I'm so happy that you and Brittany are out enjoying love and life. You don't know what seeing the two of you together does to my heart.

I remember the night that Brittany brought you home with her. I could see on her face that she was so troubled, so raw, because of the pain she felt over losing Danny, because she didn't know what would become of me or even herself. One look at you could wipe that look of trouble from her face. One look at you and her eyes would get more blue, more clear. You settled her spirit in the calmest way, and that's exactly what she needed, because her life had been full of storms.

Santana, I see so much of myself in you two. I understand you both. It's okay to be cautious. It's smart to be cautious, but the beauty that happens when we cautiously throw caution to the wind and allow ourselves to fall, my goodness the only thing more amazing than witnessing something like that is feeling it. That night she brought you home I saw pure romantic love in her eyes for the first time and I was thrilled. I'd seen the love of a child looking at her mother in those eyes, I'd seen the love and appreciation of a girl looking at her guardian angel in those eyes when she would look at Danny, but this love...this is what a mother waits for her child to feel for the first time. That moment when her baby comes to her and tells her she found the person that gives her life that extra special purpose. The only thing that's better than that is when a mother trusts that the person her child found is the perfect person for her.

You're the perfect person for her, Santana. I couldn't wish for anything more for her.

I'm writing this just after I sat to tell Brittany that I was moving to Vegas. I was torn. I didn't want to leave her when I just got her back. Still, I have a chance at a life with a man that loves me for the first time in my life. Still, for months I said no, I'm not going. I wasn't going to leave her yet again. One thing finally changed my mind Santana. It wasn't Erik, it wasn't Danny returning and moving in downstairs to watch over Brittany, it was you Santana. Brittany was starting her life, and she doesn't need me or Danny 5 minutes away, she has all she needs just being at home with you. When you first moved in even she didn't know how much her life would change, how much it had already changed. Brittany moved to New York as a girl, a child running away from danger once again and towards a brighter future. She made that happen for herself as I prayed and Danny supported her from afar. She can live alone just fine in New York, but even if Danny moved a thousand miles away I know Brittany will never be lonely as long as she has you. So thank you, Santana. Thank you for loving her in a way that not only gives her the freedom to fly but also me the same freedom. My guilt over all of the things I didn't do for her in her life would have kept me close even if she didn't need me to be. Danny's protectiveness would have kept him close because he knows what losing him had done to her emotionally and he would never be able to bring himself to leave her behind again. Now he knows, I know, that everything she needs is there when she lies her head next to yours at night.

Brittany told me the sweetest thing about you two as we cooked together one night. She said that her favorite thing is when she wakes up holding your hand. She says you're a cover hog and you take up far more than your fair share of the bed but no matter how much you toss and turn at night when she wakes up if you aren't holding one another close at the very least your hand is in hers. She doesn't know how or when it happens but your hands find one another. It means you search for one another in the darkness and you both don't rest until you find one another. She won't leave you behind, and I know that you won't leave her, either.

Santana, I don't know what causes you to toss and turn at night. I hope you're just a restless sleeper. Still, I hope over time you let Brittany's love, her presence, calm you. Your love calms her in ways you have yet to discover. I pray for you girls. I pray that this journey leads to a level of peace and trust that you both have yet to experience. I wish you both happiness and wholeness. I love you Santana. Take care of one another, you're each other's most precious gift to one another.

Love always,

Brooke Pierce

Santana was once again in tears and emotional. Brittany came over and gave Santana a soft kiss on the lips before Santana carefully returned the letter to its envelope and packed it back into the duffle bag.

"You okay babe?"

"I'm so okay Britt," Santana replied.

"So did you understand the clue?" Brittany smiled.

"I'm guessing we need a good night's sleep because we're driving to Florida?"

"Nope, but close. We're flying to Florida. Not Jacksonville this time, though."

"Where then?"

"Orlando. I want to show you where I'm from. I want you to see where I came from before I show you where I want to go."

Santana didn't know why, but her heart ached at visiting the place where the woman she loved had endured so much heartache. Still Brittany had planned this journey for a reason, and all Santana knew is that she trusted Brittany enough that anywhere Brittany wanted to go, she would follow.