A/N: I can't even express how awful it's been to be away and almost.. ALMOST giving up on this story. With my new job and life starting to feel vibrant again, my muse came back as though it never left. So here I am, seeing this baby though to the end. I love you guys, and I am in eternal love with this AU.


Chapter 9: If You Close Your Eyes.

August 13th, 79 AD

Though her time in Pompeii had been short in reference to the length of her life previous to arriving in the city, Brittany felt as though she had almost lived out an entire lifetime. Though that lifetime meant that she had experienced great loss and explicit pain, she had also known much happiness and love.

Being the bright optimist that she was, it was rather easy for Brittany to favour the things that gave her joy.

Now that seeing the gorgeous daughter of the house had become a very regular occurrence daily, Brittany found Santana to be the one thing she looked forward to. She was the first thing she thought of in the morning, and the very last thing she drifted off thinking about at the end of the day, when she was tucked up and drifting to sleep.

Sure, Brittany had the experience of having friends before. When she was younger, she was very likable when it came to being one of the children of Oplontis. She would play running games with the other children, and talk about their families and how they had seen the soldiers marching for duty the day before. She was no stranger to having people around her.

But Santana was a whole different world.

A whole other universe.

It was a fond memory to Brittany, to remember how they had sat side by side next to the intricate fountain that adorned the courtyard, both sets of hands submerged in the cool, clear water. Brittany had shown her how to beat the fabric properly with the palm sized stones, and Santana had perfected her technique. The blonde's heart skipped beat after beat to catch up with itself when Santana turned to her, a bright smile lighting her beautiful face.

It was a marvel to the slave girl, how simply helping her get through her daily tasks would bring the practical Goddess so much joy.

Seeing Santana smile, or making her chuckle softly with a compliment had very quickly become Brittany's favorite pass times. It wasn't as though the young woman had much to fill her days with, other than the chores she was assigned on a daily basis. Being so attentive to her friend was a pleasure.

"Brittany," Aelia's comforting voice rang out, snapping Brittany out of my task of trying to delicately sew the edge of my tunica, where she had snagged it in the kitchen. The deep purple bruises adorning Brittany's legs, and the lack of sleep that plagued her awareness, she had fallen an easy victim to bumping into things while trying to work. Her tunic had taken the worst of the damage, but she had quickly asked to Aelia for equipment to fix the problem. Looking less than presentable would have only made the Master of the house unagreeable with her.

Brittany was in no position for anything of the sort.

Looking up from her task, and her pricked fingers, she found the grey, smiling woman at the door to their bedchambers.

"I am almost finished, if you need the thread," The young blonde reassured, only to receive a friendly dismissal of a hand wave.

"No, my child. Santana has been asking for you, from her wash room,"

Though the two have them had been spending plenty time together – so much so that it had been noticed with some confusion from the other members of the housestaff, Brittany was still rather touched that the lady of the house called for her by name. Though she did so with Aelia when it came to fixing her clothes, or most recently Gaius, when she was to ask about dinner. To Brittany, it was still touching when she was to ask for her. It was different with the two of them. Santana cared for her.

And she cared for Santana a great deal.

With a smile that shined almost as bright as the great midday sun, Brittany stood up from her bed. Aelia's matured eyes flickered over Brittany's bare body with a flicker of sadness. Even having been the one to rub oils on the deep forming bruises, or gently rubbed at the young woman's back until she fell to sleep after tiptoeing back in the middle of the night, Aelia was still affected by the sight.

Brittany's pale body was once sought after and the perfect vision of beauty. Her parents had thanked the Gods and Goddesses for the gift of beauty that had been bestowed upon their daughter. Born in such a small settlement, with a lack of wealth, her looks were something that meant that she could have a life. Even in house slaves, the wealthiest of Italy wanted the appearance of being able to afford what was the best to offer.

Now she had her innocence taken from her, porcelain skin was tarnished a purplish blue. The gnarled outline of ribs were visible at her sides, body perishing from not being able to keep down the little food that she ate.

If Santana hadn't become a wet rag to dampen her heated pain, Brittany wasn't sure if she could have mustered a single smile otherwise. Even with the pain between her thighs, the occasional stabbing in her stomach when she moved too fast and the weakness in her muscles when she moved, Brittany had a spark in her life.

Letting her soft tunica flow back over her bare frame, Brittany smoothed out the fabric to ensure she was at her upmost presentable. As she lowered her arms, the blonde fought back a wince, but it didn't go unnoticed by Aelia.

"Whatever she has you do, little one, please don't push yourself. You know I.. Worry,"

Brittany smiled warmly, taking the few steps towards the older woman, covering leathery hands with her own.

"Santana has been nothing but wonderful. She and I.. we talk. She share things with one another. She told me how you raised her after the God's took away the lady of the house. She won't hurt me. You raised her wonderfully," Brittany reassured, a grateful smile tugging at her thin lips.

In an instant, Aelia's eyes softened in understanding, gently squeezing at the hands that joined with her own.

"Just keep yourself safe. The Master can be protective of her,"

Though Brittany's head cocked a little to the side in confusion, she was soothed by a weathered palm stroking gently against her face.

"You best go," Aelia finished, gaining herself a nod from Brittany.

xXx

As soon as she stepped into the doorway, fingers lingering against the cool stone, Brittany felt her stomach drop and throb with the beat of her heart as she let her eyes fall on Santana.

Sitting on the intricately upholstered che lounge, Santana sat running a comb through her damp hair. The sun shone through the window break in the wall, illuminating her figure, draped in a tunica the same light blue as Brittany's eyes.

"I can feel you standing there," Santana called out, turning slightly to smile at Brittany over her shoulder.

Brittany could have sworn on the deities that she had never seen a sight so breath-taking as Santana's face, shining and fresh from her bathing.

Returning the smile with a bashful one of her own, Brittany's eyes flickered to her wrapped feet for just a moment, before she stepped fully into the room.

"Aelia said you sent for me," Brittany finally spoke up, meeting Santana's gaze with a rosy tint to her cheeks.

"Yes. I need some help with my hair,"

Though Brittany could clearly see that Santana was doing just fine on her own, she decided against saying anything. If Santana wanted to call her to her assistance just to be able to spend time with her, she wasn't one to complain. Just having the chance to revolve around Santana for just a short amount of time always put a spark in each and every one of Brittany's days.

It was her happy place when she had to escape into her head for a while.

Taking the brush out of Santana's hand when she closed the distance between the two of them, Brittany gave Santana the time to turn back around before she started to work. Letting Santana's slightly damp hair slide through the teeth of the comb, she worked the locks free of tangles.

"Have you ever applied gladiator sweat to your face?"

It wasn't uncommon for Brittany to utter the strangest things, but for once, she had taken herself by surprise.

"I can't say that I have," Santana replied, an obvious waver of confusion etching her words like bookends.

"I just heard that some young women do here.. It has properties for complexion and beauty," Brittany shrugged slightly, fingers running through silk-like hair. "And you're the most beautiful person I think I have ever seen,"

Reaching over her own shoulder, Santana's hand stilled and covered Brittany's hand against her shoulder. Warmth of the skin on skin contact sent a vibration through Brittany's body. There was something about the raven haired beauty. She was electric.

"You call me a Goddess, Brittany.. But all of the paintings and the murals. They could be of you,"

Not being able to help herself, Brittany let out a small laugh that echoed from her stomach. Though she was initially filled with glee, the far in her stomach muscles was too much to get by without pain. Wincing, Brittany let out a small cough, pulling her hand away from Santana's through no choice of her own, to grasp at her frail sides.

Though she tried her best to not bat an eyelid at the way Santana's face contorted in worry, it was hard not to feel the instant change in mood within the open room.

"Brittany.." Santana sighed, voice shaking a significant amount of unease.

Weak on her legs, the fragile blonde was easily manipulated into being moved to sit down next to the lady of the house. She wanted to protest – to insist that she could finish at least one task without Santana having to help her, but the instant relief that overcame her at sitting was too overwhelming.

Opening her mouth to say something in protest, Brittany was silenced with the gentle addition of a finger against her lips.

"You do not have to say anything. You do not have to ever explain anything to me," Santana reassured, finally letting her finger fall from Santana's lips in favour of a delicate hand sliding against a pale cheek.

Letting out a shuddering breath, Brittany let her eyes fall shut as she leaned against the very welcome comfort of Santana's hand.

"Being around you.. I think this must be like the hallucinations that come from eating a Salema Porgy fish," Brittany hummed, before she found the pair of them encased in a cloak of silence. Peeking through her eyes, Brittany expected to see yet another confused look on the wonderful young woman's face, but instead, she found a smile.

Dare she say, one of great affection.

"Oh, Brittany," Santana sighed, letting soft fingers tickle against Brittany's face.

Just as she thought she was getting her breath back, a pocket of air was sucked into the blonde's lungs as Santana was suddenly invading her space and senses. Feeling Santana's still damp forehead against her own, Brittany's stomach dropped to her knees. Goosebumps erupted all over her body like miniscule mountains and craters, she dare not open her eyes. Seeing Santana's eyes that close, and the perfection which they held, was sure to cause her body to fail from the inside out.

As if moving on its own accord, Brittany's chin jutted upwards, her nose brushing against Santana's. If she had to take a guess, it would be that the God's were shining a light on the two of them.

"You are so wonderful," Brittany whispered.

"As are you, Brittany. You really are,"


A/N: I hope this was half decent, even if I am a little rusty! Please read & review!