Author's Note: Hello everyone! Here I am, back from the dead, and with some momentum going! Thank you, thank you all for your patience! Hope it was worth the wait :)
In preparation for Friday's football game, with clearance from her doctor—and from Sara, for her mother's sake—Santana returned to active cheerleading practice. It didn't take long for her cheerleaders to fall back into line, even Kitty Wilde, the most stubborn, bending to Santana's whim. In bed that first night of her return to captaincy, Brittany teased her about it, kissing her neck and reminding her that was was born a queen. There was a new sort of ease between them, a playfulness, and Santana was uncertain whether it comes from Brittany's human side, knowing that she'd have one less thing to hide in just a few days, or from her alien side, yoked with the Dales stone, constantly feeling Santana's heart beat, strong and sure within her own, and knowing that she'd be safe, even when they were apart.
Santana was giddy the whole day of the game. Despite her constant aversion to fitting the mold that was cast for her long before she was born into this form, she actually enjoyed the sport. But more than that, once the game was over, she'd finally get to take Brittany on their first official date. She'd get to hold her hand on the table at Señor Chow's—despite the fact that her mother's blood boiled constantly over it, the nicest place in town was a Mexican-Chinese fusion—she'd get to grin as she walked into the diner, shrugging sheepishly at the nosy waitresses wanting to know why she was so happy. For all the time she'd fought against normal, she'd get to do normal with Brittany, something that felt maybe more special than anything she'd ever done before.
For her part, Brittany was absolutely beside herself. Even Quinn, with her perpetually snarky comments couldn't dull her excitement. She'd coyly told her parents that she had a date, and with the smile on her face, neither of them needed her to say who that date was with. She'd picked out a soft red sweater and jeans—which Sam had good naturedly teased her about, showing off her school spirit—and she stood at the bathroom mirror, playing with her bangs obsessively, in spite of the fact that this wasn't the first time Santana had ever seen her. She just wanted their first date to be perfect. Married in another world or not, wearing the stone that mirrored Santana's heartbeat into her own or not, Brittany Pierce wanted everything to be perfect for this. She wanted to be worthy, not only, of Reyneva, queen of Uecridis, but also, of Santana Lopez, Roswell's sweetheart.
"Britt, you ready, or what?" Sam rapped on her bedroom door. "The game starts in a half an hour, and we've still gotta pick up Quinn."
"Remind me again why she's coming?" Brittany opened her bedroom door, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "She hates football games."
"You think I know? The only good thing about growing up with Quinn Fabray is that other girls are way easier to get than she is."
"I mean...I'm sure there's other good things about her." She laughed a little, making Sam roll his eyes. "I'll think of them...eventually. So Mercedes is coming, right? She's gonna drop you guys off?"
"Don't worry, sis, no one's gonna get in the way of your date."
"Okay. Yeah, you know, cool." Her shoulder raised up in a half-shrug, knowing damn well that Sam was well aware she wasn't actually so breezy about it. "Hey Sam?"
"What's up?"
"So you how, uh, we're supposed to act normal and stuff."
"Nope, totally forgot about it. I didn't go to swimming tryouts yesterday or anything." Sam grinned at the thought of actually being able to be part of a team, even if it was too late for him to play football.
"Right, sorry. I can't wait to hear if you make it! But...like, okay, I know you follow stuff like this. Is there anyone not on the football team who's dating any of the cheerleaders?"
"That kid Artie, the one in the wheelchair, was dating Kitty for awhile, I think."
"Oh yeah, Santana totally can't stand that girl. But, uh, did he, like, go out to the field of anything after the game?"
"You're probably the only person with less game than me. It's probably a good thing that you have a cosmic soulmate, and you don't have to do this flirting thing with other people." Sam laughed, squeezing Brittany's shoulder. "No, you let her go do her thing in the locker room. I mean, you're a chick, so you're allowed in there, I guess, but if I were you, I'd wait outside for her. Especially because no one knows you're a thing yet."
"Oh, okay. Cool. So, should I like, bring her flowers or something? Oh, God, am I really asking you for dating advice though? Maybe I should talk to mom..."
"Or, maybe you could stop acting like you're not practically married to Santana. Just meet her and be normal."
"Right, the actual point."
"Well. I think the point if you taking Santana on a date is about more than just being normal."
"Actually, she's taking me out tonight." Brittany blushed all over, and figured that was exactly how Caderyna responded to Reyneva's everything. "To Señor Chows."
"Did you tell Mom that? Did she die?"
"I'm pretty sure she went in the attic to take down her wedding dress to start altering it to fit me. If she only knew..."
"Your cosmic star wife."
"Sounds like something that people do at the UFO Convention. A guy dressed up like Spock performs Vegas style drive-thru weddings. Hey, we could totally invent that."
"Next thing you know, you'll be working at the Area 51 museum."
"Isn't that what the conspiracy theorists are most worried about? Us hiding in plain sight?"
"I can't say their fears are unfounded." Sam laughed. "If they only knew the majestic alien queens were more worried about going on their first date than eating anyone's brain."
"Totally prefer eating other body parts." Brittany mumbled, and Sam choked a little. "Sorry."
"You enjoy yourself, Britt."
"Oh trust me, I will."
After ten minutes of Susan Pierce gushing over Brittany, pulling some errant hairs from her sweater and kissing both of her cheeks, she and Sam finally made it out the door. When they picked Quinn up, she didn't even bother to say anything, she just kept her headphones on when she got in the backseat, pulling the strings of her hoodie, and completely ignoring them. Upon arriving at the football field, Mercedes waved them over to the spot on the bleachers that she'd saved, and Sam nearly cleared a fence to get to her, his big goofy grin making Brittany smile and Quinn scoff.
"Santana asked me to give you this." Mercedes handed Brittany a single red rose, making her trip over her own feet, and fall into a sitting position.
"Our fearless leader." Quinn spit under her breath, pulling a soda out of her backpack, eyes darting at their surroundings. "I don't like them."
"Who?"
"That nurse and her husband." She narrowed her eyes as Terri DelMonico gives Brittany an enthusiastic wave.
"She's the school nurse, Quinn. She's really got no life, it's kind of sad, actually." Mercedes rolled her eyes. "She wants to be Santana's best friend or something."
"Exactly why I think something is up with her."
"Are you new to this town? People wanting to be around Santana Lopez is hardly six o'clock newsworthy."
"You are new to this." Quinn sniped back at Mercedes. "No one gets too close, everyone is a suspect."
"Being around you is a constant repetitive and paranoid conversation, isn't it? Are you sure they didn't mis-program you?"
"I..." Her mouth gaped open, and then quickly snapped closed, as she crossed her arms in a huff.
"There's Santana!" Brittany pointed out, then swooned when Santana waved, and followed it with a blown kiss.
Throughout the game, Santana made it very well known to all of Roswell that she had a girl in the stands. For Brittany, it was a strange sort of sensation, eyes constantly on her, and she struggled to ignore what looked like contempt on Kurt Hummel's face, while blushing furiously and shrugging her shoulders as Mrs. Lopez shot her a questioning glance from the front row. When it finished, and the football team scored their first win of the season, Brittany jumped to her feet, cheering for the team, cheering for Santana's aerial victory split—a triumph, not only because she was incredibly sexy doing it, but also, because she was well enough to pull it off—cheering for being a normal teenager who could.
As Brittany was saying goodbye, Sam awkwardly asked Mercedes to grab a burger, and Quinn grabbed her backpack, telling them she'd find her own way home. Ecstatic about her date with Santana, Brittany couldn't bother to engage Quinn, and instead, she made her way to the building that housed the locker rooms, behind the stands, and twisting her rose between her fingers, she waited for Santana to appear.
"Hey, you." Santana stepped out a half hour later, a black leather jacket belted at the waist over what appeared to be a very sexy red dress, and her cheerleading bag slung over her shoulder. Behind her some of the other exiting girls tittered, and she shot them a warning glare, making them scatter.
"Hi." Brittany's voice was caught in her throat, and when Santana stepped forward to press soft lips to hers, she felt the now-familiar burn between her breasts, as the yellow stone warmed in the presence of its mate. "You were awesome out there."
"I'm a little rusty. I'm probably going to have to run a hundred laps on Monday, if Roz has anything to say about it. But it felt good to be back."
"I'm glad." Brittany nodded, squeezing Santana's hands as warm fingers slipped through her own.
"Ready for our date, Britt?"
"I think," Her eyes danced playfully. "I can say, under no uncertain terms, that I was actually born ready for this."
"Touché babe, touché,"
Brittany lead Santana out to her car, parked way in the back of the lot, and she opened the truck so she could toss her bag in, grinning at the easy way she hopped in the passenger side and pushed the seat up so that she could play with the radio dials. Once she'd settled on a 90s pop station, playing Dave Matthews Band, she sat back, resting her hand on Brittany's upper thigh, squeezing it firmly as she drove across down to Señor Chows, relishing in the idea that the in one evening, they'd made it known to all of Roswell that they belonged to each other.
"Lopez, Santana Lopez." Santana told the hostess, when they got to Señor Chows, and the woman laughed.
"I love how you and your father both tell me who you are, as if we're not related."
"It's part of the experience, Dora." She flipped her hair over she shoulder, while Brittany wrung her hands in front of her. "Britt, this is my second cousin Isadora Martinez. Dora, this is my girlfriend, Brittany Pierce."
"Your father didn't tell me you had a new girlfriend." Dora stuck out her hand to shake Brittany's. "Your parents were in here for dinner three days ago."
"I'm sure Mami was thrilled." Santana snorted. "He and I aren't exactly on speaking terms at the moment. But of course, we're piling it all up under the rug, Lopez style. Brittany hasn't had the pleasure of meeting him."
"Well, I've met him, but not as your father."
"Totally different thing." Dora chuckled. "Good luck."
"Kay Dora, let's not ruin my date by talking about my father."
"Lo siento. I'll show you to your table."
When the reached their table in the back, Santana pulled out Brittany's chair, making her blush profusely, especially when her fingers tucked Brittany's tag in, brushing the back of her neck. Sitting down across from her, Santana beamed, Brittany's face in the candlelight calling into memory something else, something not from this life. When she reached across the table to seek out her hand, it hit her hard and fast, immediately stealing her breath away.
"Pardon, your highness?" The knock on the heavy door, and the subsequent opening of it made Reyneva's head snap up from where she'd been buttoning her garments. "My apologies, I didn't mean to startle you."
"Your apologies aren't necessary, Caderyna, come inside."
"Oh, no, you're dressing. I'll wait in the hall for you to finish."
"Nonsense. I'm clothed enough. Was there something you needed?" Reyneva finished her buttons, and Caderyna stepped in, her skin deep purple, and her antennae at attention.
"I...wow. You look...wow." The words Caderyna meant to speak got caught up, at the sight of Reyneva, in all her royal finery, glowing crown atop her head.
"You look very beautiful too, Cady. The garments are alright for you?"
"Yes. Yes, thank you for them. They're much finer than anything I've ever..." Caderyna trailed off, head shaking at the thought of her old life.
"Well they're very becoming. Are you ready for this party tonight?"
"Oh! That's why I came to speak to you. Are you sure you want me there? "
"Of course I do." She stepped forward, setting her hands where Caderyna's arms met her hands, and watched the way Cady's eyes shimmered. "I wouldn't have invited you otherwise."
"And...Azar?"
"My sister will be otherwise occupied with the males who've been trying to court her since birth, don't worry about her. If she makes you uncomfortable, speak to me, and I'll handle her."
"Does anyone know...?"
"Where you come from? Who you are to me?" Reyneva questioned, and Caderyna bobbed her head in the affirmative to both. "No one needs know anything more but that you're someone very special to me, and that Oskari is your brother and companion. But my Cady, you're under no obligation to come."
"My obligation isn't one to your kingdom, it is an obligation to you." She turned her small hands upward, waiting for Reyneva to take them. "As long as my presence isn't damaging to you, I will be there."
"Your presence could never be damaging to me. So I'll keep your place at my side, with the intention that someday in the future, it will be permanent."
With the press of Reyneva's mouth to the crown of her head, Caderyna returned to her chambers, and Reyneva continued her preparations for the evening. As she always did, she met with Polerma, going over what it was she'd say to her subjects that evening. Though she'd long reached the age of maturity, her early ascension to the throne, and her reputation as the child queen meant she heavily respected the counsel of her mother. It wasn't something she'd ever take for granted, and though Polerma took an opening to tease Reyneva about her strong, and very visible feelings for the visitor from the outside, she'd turned serious with discussion of the palace's relationship with the rest of the kingdom.
In the ballroom, Reyneva busied herself with the entertaining, but when Caderyna entered the room, that familiar physical pull jerked her head from conversation. Her mouth contorted in pleasure at the sight before her, Caderyna at her brother's side, one hand on the banister, and the flush of palest purple coloring her shimmering silver skin. Reyneva's eyes never leave her, and yet, she never misses a beat of her conversation, switching between the language of Uecridis' commoners and her own with ease. With the cock of her head, Reyneva calls Cadeyna over to her, and it's Oskari who encourages her all the way.
"Are you having a nice time?" Reyneva spoke softly, digits brushing up and down Caderyna's thin arm.
"I think so, though I don't have much to say to anyone."
"There's no need for you to say anything you don't wish to. Would you enjoy it more if you were at my side?"
"I enjoy everything more at your side." Caderyna's color darkened at her honest words. It had been only weeks since she'd met the Queen, and yet, with each passing day, the felt that pull grow stronger she felt that falling sensation grow stronger. "But you have your duty."
"Which your presence won't impede. It's a distraction with you across the room, by my side, I'd be much more content too. We don't have to announce our courtship, like I'd promised you. But perhaps, when we sit to eat, you'll let me hold your hand beneath the table?"
"I think, your highness, I'd like that very much."
Out of respect for the crown, no one questioned the presence of the mysterious female at Reyneva's side. It would be up to her to make the announcement, whenever she so chose, and instead, so simply introduced her as Cady, a visitor to the palace, in order to avoid any questions about the place she'd come from. When the meal was served, Caderyna took her place at Reyneva's right, a place traditionally reserved for one's partner, and one that had been left vacant for so long, with Azar to Reyneva's left, and Polerma beside her youngest. Caderyna knew the implications of her seating arrangement, though she was so new to the world, but instead of letting her thoughts wander off, she grasped blindly for Reyneva's hand, calming significantly when she found it.
"Are you alright, Caderyna?"
"Yes, yes, I'm just fine."
"Santana." Brittany called softly, knowing there was no way to break her from it, once she became engulfed in a vision of their past life. "Santana."
"Hi." She smiled dreamily, her mind blurring between the feel of Brittany's hand in her own, and the tactile memory of Caderyna's in Reyneva's. "You held my hand once, under the table at what I guess was like, a State Dinner? The first time, I think, we...they...were ever in public together."
"Wow, Reyneva was kind of go big or go home, huh? Should I be offended that you've only taken me for Chimexican?"
"Let's be real." Santana gestured with her head, over to where Dora was gossiping with someone else, and stealing glances at them. "This is probably more of a public announcement then some mysterious girl sitting at the right hand of the Queen. Wow, that didn't sound at all full of myself."
"So modest." Brittany laughed, squeezing Santana's hand. "But also probably true. Is that Cooper from the Gazette over at the next table?"
"Hey, don't joke! My making captain of the Cheerios actually was front page news."
"I know, I read it." She blushed, making Santana's face split into a wide grin. "I might, maybe still have it."
"You're cute with your crush on me."
"Hey, I was DNA coded to have that crush."
"Doesn't make it less cute. I love you a lot. Thank you for coming on this date with me tonight. I'll shield you from the paps on the way out."
"You go out the back door, I'll go out the front. No one will ever figure out that we're dating."
"Sounds like a plan! So what are you having?"
"I was thinking about ordering the shrimp fajitas I mean...shrimp is totally date food, right?" Brittany scrunched up her nose, considering putting, before cupping her hand over her mouth to whisper to Santana. "This is my first date ever."
"Brittany Pierce, I forgot!" Santana gasped, covering her mouth with her free hand. "So how am I doing? As good as you imagined?"
"Way, way better." She gushed. "It's perfect, you're perfect. Even if you weren't my cosmic star wife, I'd totally date you."
"Cosmic star wife, huh? So should I get a gold bikini and dress up as Princess Leia for you?"
"Okay, let's be real. There is absolutely no circumstance where I'd say no to you wearing a gold bikini." Brittany's tongue swiped over her bottom lip.
"First date, and the fantasies all come out." Santana propped her head on her hand and stared at Brittany, hardly blinking as blue eyes bore into her. "I never thought I'd say this, but this normal thing is kind of nice."
"Not so overrated, is it?"
"I don't want to test fate or anything, since I think it's mostly been on our side, minus the whole Reyneva dying thing, but I'd half expected Sheriff Hummel to come bursting in, guns blazing, or for Dora to shape shift into an alien with twelve slimy tentacles."
"Eww, gross. That's not what we looked like though."
"No, that's true. I dunno, iridescent, with sparkly eyes isn't exactly terrifying. Or, maybe it is? It's hard for me to even know, since I spend most of the time appreciating how beautiful you were. I mean, you're so beautiful now, but I guess there's a familiarly my soul has to that form." Santana whispered, her forehead nearly touching Brittany's. "You were also cute and blushy, which I guess is a weakness for me in all your forms."
"Santana." Another blush came to Brittany's cheeks, and Santana kissed one.
"See?"
"So." Dora stepped to the table, snapping them out of their reverie. "Are you two just going to be cute all night, or do you want to order some food?"
"Oh, trust me, Isadora, we can simultaneously be cute and order food." Santana scoffed. "Anyway, I'm starving, I had a game tonight so...are you ready, Britt?"
"Definitely. I'll have the spicy shrimp fajitas, and a Coke please."
"Santana?"
"Well, on the theme of disappointing my parents this week, l'll go Chinese. Moo shu pork, and a diet Sprite. Also—" Santana paused to smile at Brittany, hearts in her eyes. "An order of shrimp egg rolls to start."
For the entirety of their date, Brittany and Santana were able to chat casually, leaving behind their usual alien-related stress behind. After they finished their shared flan, and Santana kissed whipped cream off of Brittany's lips, giggling, they opened their fortune cookies, and Santana smirked, a playful glint in her eye.
"You have met your soulmate."
"What? Is that really what it says?" Brittany's eyes widened, but when she reached across the table to see, Santana pulled it back, laughing,
"Does it make it any less true if it doesn't?"
"No, but it definitely makes it way better than eat more Chinese food. It's like they knew I chose the fajitas."
"Okay, mine is still better than that." Santana pressed her tongue between her teeth, and handed the slip of paper over to Brittany,
"The man or woman you desire feels the same about you." She read, and covered Santana's hand again. "It's true, she does."
"Good."
After paying the check, Santana stood up, and offered Brittany a hand. She didn't let it go. Not as they walked back out to the car to grab Santana's bag, not as they walked the short distance from Señor Chows to the diner, not as they stood in front of the big glass doors, Brittany hesitating to say goodbye and end their date, even though she knew she'd crawl through Santana's window and into bed with her in just a few short hours.
"Thank you for dinner." Brittany shuffled her feet, taking Santana's other hand and swinging both between their bodies.
"You're welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
"Of course. Everything is enjoyable with you." Brittany told her seriously, and a smile spread across Santana's face. "What?"
"Just sounds like something Caderyna said to Reyneva." She shrugged, then stood on her tiptoes, pressing her lips to Brittany's, and wrapping her arms around her neck. She kissed her, kissed her, even after her chest started to burn beneath her pendant, and she grew breathless, and she was so caught up, she didn't even hear the diner door bang open.
"Mija!" Santana's mother crossed her arms over her chest as she looked between her and Brittany. "There you are. You don't answer your phone, you don't tell me you're not coming home right after the game. You have your father and I worried sick."
"I never come home after games on Fridays, Mami." She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose, and looking at a very uncomfortable Brittany.
"Things are different now. You never can be too cautious. They still...haven't found that man. And your father, he thinks that something isn't right with you."
"Of course he does. No one in their right mind would even disagree with him, would they? And what is with everyone acting like freaking Ted Bundy walked into the damn diner that day? Bunch of meatheads walk around packing heat in this town, what do you expect? A gun was bound to go off sooner or later. No one's out to kill me." She shuddered as she said it, a silent not in this lifetime, at least, following it. "I was out on a date, Ma, in case you didn't catch that, when you interrupted me kissing Brittany good night."
"I—" Heat went to Maribel's cheeks as she softened her hard stance and directed a smile at Brittany. "I was honestly so worried that I didn't notice."
"I kinda blend in." Brittany shrugged, then extended her hand. "Hi, Mrs. Lopez. I'm Brittany."
"Of course. Of course, Brittany Pierce, right? Your father is my attorney, and you were at the game tonight." She shook her hand, Maribel's warmth making Brittany smile.
"Yup, that's me, the one and only."
"So a date then? I wasn't aware you were seeing anyone, Santana."
"This was our first official date." Santana rolled her eyes a little, but couldn't hide the smile that threatened to spread across her face.
"And where did you take her? Or...her take you? I always forget his all this works."
"Tonight I took her to Señor Chows—"
"Oh was Isadora in? I swear, that's the only good thing about going there, getting to see her. Did she tell you that Maria is pregnant again?"
"Wasn't really part of my date plan, Ma, to ask Dora about her sister." Brittany felt the heat flare from the pendant on her chest when Santana's face flushed in embarrassment.
"Right, right, of course. So, Brittany, were you going to come inside then? I was just about to start putting the pies away, but if you ladies wanted some, I could probably rustle up some vanilla ice cream to go with it."
"I—" Brittany looked at Santana, unsure what the right response was. Santana, for her part, just shrugged a little, not wanting Brittany to think she didn't want her to come inside—and quite possibly run into her father—but also not wanting to pressure her if she had no desire to do that. "We had dessert already, but I don't think it'd be possible to say no to Intergalactic pie if I tried."
"Alright then, good, come on in." Maribel opened the door, and Brittany took Santana's hand, squeezing it tight.
For the hundreds of times Brittany sat in the booth in the diner, dousing her French fries in Tabasco sauce, watching Santana glide across the floor, wishing that she was part of her world, Brittany wasn't prepared for that moment when she actually was. The diner was nearly empty, save for a few stragglers, lingering over coffee, and two of the older waitresses, the ones who didn't have football games and dates and parties on Friday, sat at the far end of the counter, refilling salt shakers and gossiping. Santana sat on a cushioned stool, swinging it around to face the kitchen, that effortless way of doing something that comes from doing it a thousand times in a lifetime. Brittany was a little more cautious, not wanting to twirl herself right off the stool, but when Santana placed her small hand a top hers on the counter, the warmth that rose in her stomach didn't come from the pendant beneath her sweater, but instead, from the comfort of belonging in the very human world.
"Brittany, coffee?" Maribel smiled, plating two heaping slices of cherry pie, scooping ice cream on top, and sliding them across the countertop.
"Oh. Sure, if it's not too much trouble. Thank you." She felt Santana's soft eyes on her, her Brittany eyes, and she blushed further.
"Of course not."
"Thanks Mami, I'll have coffee too." Santana laughed sarcastically, making Maribel roll her eyes.
"I know you want coffee, you always want coffee."
"Blame Papi. He was the one feeing me it in my bottle."
"I did no such thing." Javier Lopez swung the kitchen door open, causing Brittany to shrink slightly, nervous at his presence. "Hello, Santana. I'm glad to see you made it home. Your mother was worried,"
"She said." Santana lifted her fork, moving the cherries that spilled from her pie around on her plate. "I'm fine. I was at Señor Chows, with Brittany."
"On a date, Javier." Maribel poured a fourth cup of coffee for him, and nodded to Santana.
"A date, hmm?" He eyed Brittany, and Santana could almost hear the wheels turning in his head, trying to figure out if Brittany was the cause of Santana's sudden change in behavior, as she'd heard him through the door complain to Maribel just the night before.
"Yes, sir. I was just walking her home, and Mrs. Lopez invited me inside. I believe you know my parents, Susan and Evan."
"The Pierces, of course." He extended his hand, suddenly remembering propriety. "You hang around this place quite a bit, don't you? With your brother and the Fabray girl?"
"I do, yes." She nodded slowly. "I'm a big fan of the milkshakes. Definitely makes studying more enjoyable."
"You're a senior also, correct?"
"Oh, here we go." Santana took a big sip of her coffee, them sputtered when it was too hot.
"I am, Mr. Lopez, yes." Brittany looked at Santana with concern, but she waved her off.
"What are your plans for the future then?"
"Well." She took a deep breath, hating to have to lie to her girlfriend's father, but knowing there wasn't much of an alternative, as her plans had mostly been stay in Roswell until I figure out why I'm here, and she hadn't really had time to figure out another plan since she no longer needed to wait for that reason. "I have a few things in mind, but for now, I'm planning on doing two years at Roswell Community, until I sort out just what I want to pursue."
"That sounds like a smart choice, and you sound like smart, levelheaded girl, Brittany." Javier nodded in approval. "And you, Santana? Have you made a plan yet?"
"I'd rather not argue with you right now, Papi. I have a few applications started, none of which are where you want me to go, so I'll leave it at that, in front of Brittany."
The tension thickened in the room, and Santana ate her pie in silent frustration. Brittany, not wanting to be rude, answered more of Javier's questions, all the while, stealing glances at Santana, hoping that she wasn't upsetting her more. She hated that this was a thing between them, she hated that Santana's formerly close relationship with her father was strained over her wanting to be her own person. She hated that she'd played a part in it, and that learning of their bonding was what caused Santana's sudden rebellion against him. But also, she was proud of Santana, proud that she'd stood up for her own dreams, proud that maybe she'd be a part of them, that maybe she and Santana could sit together on her bed, pouring over college catalogues, deciding on a school for both of them. And happy, so happy that this completely extraordinary thing was actually opening up a whole world of ordinary for her.
"Evenin', Maribel, Javier." Santana's head snapped up from her pie at the sound of Sheriff Hummel's voice. She saw Brittany try to maintain as much of a grasp of normalcy as she could, nodding and smiling at the man who swaggered in, one hand on his gun belt and the other holding his freshly removed hat. It was obvious he was trying to contain his surprise at seeing Brittany sitting there beside Santana, but Hummel didn't say a word. "Miss Lopez, Miss Pierce."
"Good evening, Burt." Maribel smiled, lifting the coffee pot back up. "Coffee?"
"Of course, that's why I swung by, thank you. Just heading into work now." He flipped the switch on his radio. "You've got my Thermos back there, I think."
"I do. You ought to be more careful with it, you're always leaving it behind." She winked, and took it down from the shelf, filling it up with the steaming liquid. "We were just meeting Santana's new little girlfriend, officially at least."
"Hmm." He surveyed both girls, and Santana's hand tightened over Brittany's. "How nice. I didn't realize you two knew each other."
"We have biology together." Brittany shrugged, unsure whose heart was racing faster at the sheriff's presence. They knew this would happen, they knew he'd question their relationship after his accusations, but, this came far quicker than either of them had expected. "Santana asked me out, and tonight was actually our first date."
"Well that's awful nice." He continued to observe them while he took a swig of his coffee, though there wasn't much he could say to that. "Good coffee, as usual, Maribel."
"Thanks, Burt."
"How's Kurt doing?" Javier asked, sipping from his own cup. "He looked good out there tonight."
"He's good, good. I can't even keep up with all of the activities he's got himself involved in now. Pretty impressive, those flip things he did out there tonight, huh?"
Exchanging a glance with Brittany, Santana took a breath. A scene from Friends flashed through her head, and she held back a laugh at herself. In trying to be nonchalant, she'd become rigid and far too proper. Never in her life had she sat and stared, wordless, as her parents had spoken to Sheriff Hummel. But there she was, dead silent, all the while, he was talking about cheerleading, of all things, something she could discuss in her sleep.
"First male flier in our school's history." She piped in, too quiet, but at least it was something.
"You don't say." He nodded. "Kurt's never told me that."
"It's a good thing he's starting his big growth spurt now, and not two years ago. I know Roz was worried about it, but he'll make it through the end of the year. And since he's decided he doesn't want to keep with it in college, he doesn't have to worry about having to change his position." Santana rambled on. Talking to the sheriff about his son was one of the sure fire ways to keep yourself out of trouble, every teen in Roswell had learned that before they even went for their road test. "Makes the team a whole lot better though, that's for sure."
"Well, I'm grateful to your coach, Miss Lopez, and you too, for making sure no one said a word to him about being part of it."
"Let he without sin cast the first stone, right?" Santana's eyes cast over to Brittany, and she squeezed her hand again.
"I'm not one for church myself, but sure, I appreciate the sentiment of that, so long as it keeps my boy safe."
"Kurt's safe." Santana swallowed hard, hearing the double meaning of his words.
"Hmm, well, never can be too sure, can we?" He took another sip of his coffee, and Brittany didn't miss the way he looked at her over it.
"I was just saying the same to Santana earlier. Still no suspects in the shooting, Burt?" Maribel asked, wiping down the counter in front of her.
"Must've been outsiders. Sure enough, someone would have come forward by now if they recognized anyone involved, right?" He cocked his head to the side, making Santana shiver. "Hasn't hurt business any, has it, Javier?"
"Oh, you know this town. Voyeurs, all of them. Fact is, I should probably post a letter of thanks to the gunman, for driving my business up fifteen percent these past few weeks."
"Javier!" His wife smacked his arm. "Basta! Don't say such things."
Sheriff, come in. The radio on Hummel's hip crackled.
"Excuse me, just a moment." He pulled the radio from the holster, stepping back from the counter and bringing it up to his mouth." Go for Hummel, deputy."
We've got a suspect in custody. Eighteen year old female, for an attempted break-in on Blackbird Lane. You wanna get down here?
"On my way." He returned the radio to its place, and set his hat back on his head. "Duty calls. Thanks for the coffee, Maribel."
"Of course, Sheriff. You stay safe out there."
"Will do." Burt Hummel nodded, and the moment the bells jingled on the door, signaling his departure, Brittany, with a sinking, sick feeling in her chest, pulled her phone from her pocket, fingers typing furiously on the screen to Sam.
Please tell me you're with Quinn.
