Closing chapter – What is meant to be…
The next week…
Brittany…
After the wedding they spent as much time together as possible. Santana even told Will she couldn't come to work because of a fever only to spend hours with Brittany in the truck. But when the desire to be with each other in that way became too big to ignore, Santana asked her abuela to take Iker in for a couple days. She told her she needed space to clean the whole house and that Iker would only stand in her way.
Her abuela didn't seem to mind and since Tony had a new computer game, he only left his room to use the bathroom. Her Dad was thankfully on a two-day work trip out of town so they basically had the house to themselves.
They both couldn't quite believe their luck but they quietly thanked the universe without further questions. They made love in Santana's bed, ate dinner and breakfast right out of the fridge, watched one Julia Roberts movie after the other and just consumed the time they had together.
"I think Tony knows about us… and that he doesn't mind." Santana whispered one night when they were lying awake, arm in arm. Brittany let her fingers run over Santana's naked shoulder blade, breathing in the scent of her hair.
"What makes you think that?" She wondered.
"It's just a feeling…" Santana replied. Brittany thought about it for a minute. The idea of not having to hide for the rest of their lives was tempting.
Her thoughts got pushed aside when warm lips started kissing down her jaw. She was tired and could have easily drifted off to slumber but she knew Santana needed her.
So she rolled on top of her, finding a comfortable position between Santana's thighs and kissed her. She kissed her lips, her cheeks, her collarbones and the small dip right in between. She kissed her breasts and smiled at the soft moans in response. She let a hand wander between their lower bodies and created a slow rhythm once she entered her carefully.
She felt so incredibly close to the woman below her that she didn't believe anything could come between them ever again. In order to keep quiet, they kissed deeply, only voiceless gasps escaping from time to time.
The thin layer of sweat between their bodies let her know that it was way too hot under the sheets, but Brittany wanted to stay like that forever. Guarded in their own little world where they could be.
Hours later she woke up with a start, only to find Santana curled up at her side. The alarm clock on the nightstand let her know that they didn't have to get up for another couple hours, so she pressed a kiss to the warm skin connected to hers.
Brittany loved Santana. Nothing was clearer to her than that. If it meant that they could be together for real one day, then Brittany was willing to give it all and work hard for her dreams.
Suddenly playing the lead in the new show didn't seem so frightening anymore. She had something to look forward to. Something that gave her hope. Whatever obstacles they might have to beat in the future, she was willing to find out.
/
Two weeks later…
The phone call came sooner than she expected. The show was back on track and waiting for Brittany to become the center.
She and Santana had promised not to cry when they'd have to say goodbye but the minute they both jumped out of aunt Patty's truck at the bus station, the tears came floating.
Santana had gotten her driver's license in the meantime, so she was going to drive the truck back to the trailer but Brittany would have loved nothing more than hopping right back in there and continuing the utterly short everyday life they had created.
They hugged each other tightly, whispering sweet promises. None of them felt empty or insincere.
Brittany mouthed an 'I love you' when she was already sitting in her seat and watching Santana through the bus window. Santana did the same, a cute laugh mixed with tears escaping when the bus drove off.
Brittany knew they were going to see each other again soon as she had invited all of them to come watch the show's premiere. Still it felt like a goodbye for another long time.
She wiped her tears when the bus left the town behind. In her heart she knew what counted and she was ready for the next big step.
/
A year and a half later…
The numbers on her account balance made her want to scream. For the first time in her life, she made more money than she needed to spend each month. It still wasn't much compared to what other artists made in the business but to her it was a fortune.
Her schedule was extremely busy, she barely found the time to do something just for herself in her scarce free time anyway so she was actually able to make some savings.
Sometimes her coworkers talked her around to get drinks after a very successful evening on stage. They needed to shake off the pressure they were constantly under.
She still loved dancing. It was the one thing that made her feel like she was going to be good at no matter what. But from time to time she needed to let loose a little bit.
One night they all went clubbing, partied until the early morning hours and on their way home, she found one of the background dancers trying to get her to go home with her. The girl named Layla grabbed Brittany's arm and put it around her shoulders.
She slurred something into Brittany's ear and giggled. She was very good-looking, Brittany couldn't deny that… but when she reached for Brittany's face and tried to kiss her, Brittany gently but determinedly grabbed her wrists and said no.
All she could think about was Santana's face and her skin and the way her hug made her feel safe.
She and Layla never talked about that night again. Shortly after Layla had a new boyfriend which made Brittany feel relieved. When she called Santana on the landline and told her about the incident, she was scared to hear disappointment in Santana's voice but unexpectantly she giggled tenderly and told Brittany to stop messing with straight girls' heads.
In that moment she wanted nothing more but to jump on a bus and drive the seven long hours to Santana's house but she had another show the next day…
Instead they talked about all kinds of stuff until they were close to falling asleep on the phone, feeling almost as close to each other as if they were in the same room.
/
Two or three years later…
Santana…
The laundry was wet and cold when she carried it in a basked outside. It was a nice sensation to hold the damp pieces in her hands for a couple seconds before hanging them on the ropes in the front yard. The heat was striking and inside it was just a little bit cooler.
Santana was still getting used to living in abuela's house. It wasn't isolated very well and everything was smaller and narrow. However it was still a thousand times better than living with her Dad.
When her abuela needed to move to a nursing home, she wanted her grandkids to live in the house. Santana and Iker didn't need to be asked twice but Tony stayed with their Dad.
Santana had a hard time accepting the fact that he didn't want to go with them but in the end she had to. He was old enough to make his own decisions. She knew he had feelings of guilt to leave their father behind. She still hoped that one day he'd be able to follow them but until then, she focused on her younger brother.
Iker was doing a lot better now that he had more space to himself. He was a sophomore in high school and when he brought home a girlfriend one day, Santana felt incredibly weird but also proud at the same time.
Once she emptied the basket, she wanted to head inside to go check on a lemon cake in the oven but the noises of tires on gravel made her turn around. She shielded her eyes from the evening sun to watch one very old truck coming to a halt.
She bit her lip when a blonde-haired woman with a big smile on her face jumped out of it. Santana already wanted to wave and yell her name but then she realized that Brittany's huge smile wasn't for her but for-
"Daisy!"
Brittany kneeled to the ground to pet her four-legged friend. Santana couldn't believe that ugly old cat was still alive. She always hissed whenever Santana thought about giving it a try and pet her. She adored Brittany though. They always reunited like old friends.
When finally Brittany didn't only have eyes for the cat anymore, Santana patiently waited for the blonde to walk over, a travel bag hanging on her shoulder.
"Could it be? The famous Brittany Pierce pays a visit to this little old town?"
Brittany wiggled with her eyebrows. When they were one step apart, she dropped the heavy bag and fell around Santana's shoulders. Santana could feel the exhaustion weighing on her. She rubbed Brittany's back and kissed her lips after a long and tight hug.
"How was the final show?" Santana asked as soon as Brittany pulled back and forced herself to stand steadily on her own feet.
"Phenomenal… the audience wouldn't stop clapping. But now I need time to detox so… my visit might be a little longer than usual."
Santana leaned in to peck her on the lips again. Whenever they hadn't seen each other in several weeks, she couldn't help but kiss her all the time.
"Lucky me" She whispered and then grabbed Brittany's travel bag. "Oh my God, what's in there my love? Did you pack some…" She trailed off when she turned around to make a joke at what Brittany could have put into her bag to make it extra heavy. But when she saw Brittany pulling something from her pocket and getting down on one knee, her breath hitched in her throat.
"What's happening?" She asked completely and utterly caught off guard.
Never, not once had they talked about something like that.
"Santana, will you put down my bag for a moment?" Brittany asked with a nervous chuckle.
Santana let it drop to the ground with a loud thud, her mouth open.
"I know we can't lawfully get married… maybe one day we can – I fully believe in it" Brittany began. Santana slowly shook her head. Not because she didn't want Brittany to continue but because she couldn't believe it. She couldn't grip what was happening.
"But I know one thing and that's the fact that I love you."
Santana swallowed dryly when Brittany opened the little box in her hand. A shiny diamond ring got revealed and sparkled in the rays of sunlight.
"Will you be my wife?"
Santana didn't know where the tears came from that instantly formed in her eyes. She nodded hastily, unable to say something at first. Brittany's eyes widened, a relieved laugh erupting from her.
"Yes?"
Santana joined her laugh and exclaimed a "Yes!" before she let Brittany put the ring on her finger. She pulled her onto her legs and jumped around Brittany's neck. They nearly tumbled over but Brittany held her safely in her arms, burying her face in Santana's neck.
A happiness she had never experienced before fulfilled her chest and made her feel like she was about to explode. She kissed Brittany with everything she had. Whatever was about to come – they were going to be by each other's side.