After they easily overtook Puck, Brittany pulls on both sides of the reigns in her hand and leans back a bit. ''Easy girl.'' She tells Shadow feeling the weight of Santana and Mason pushed against her body, she feels Shadow slow down and slowly relaxes her hold patting the horse's back. ''Good job.'' She praises softly.
She turns to Santana after calming Shadow down and chuckles as she sees her looking at the view in amazement. ''You okay?''
Santana slowly nods her head pulling her eyes away from the beautiful lake in front of them and turns to look at her. ''Yeah I thought I would be scared shitless but the second we took off all nerves just fell off.''
Brittany just smiles sliding off of the saddle and easily lands on the ground below them, she fastens the reigns around one of the trees around seeing her friends do the same and walks back lifting Mason off of the saddle first.
''Can I go to the water Britty?'' Mason asks as soon as his feet touches the ground, Brittany looks over at the lake and nods her head as she sees Puck, Mercedes and Quinn already sitting on a blanket one of them brought with.
''Yeah stay near C, Q or Noah alright?'' She turns back to Santana as he nods his head taking off towards her best friends and smiles. ''You can get off the same way you climbed on, just instead of boosting yourself up gently lower yourself.''
She smiles as Santana does as she says and steps forward placing her hands on her hips noticing Shadow is a bit too high for her to touch the ground properly, she helps her lower herself and laughs softly. ''Next time we will take a horse not that tall.''
Santana rolls her eyes and softly throws her elbow back smirking as she hears her surprised grunt the second she hits her side. ''Really a height joke?''
Brittany steps back and laughs. ''That wasn't my intention, I swear.'' She tells her in amusement, she smiles innocently as Santana just turns to her with an eyebrow raised and snickers. ''It really wasn't.'' She promises. ''It's just easier to get up and down on a horse that just a bit taller as you are, this one.'' She gently runs her hand over Shadow's back. ''Is more around my height.''
Santana smiles slightly hearing the apologetic undertone and winks. ''I'll let it slide this time, next time your ass will land in the water.''
''Already thinking of ways to make me wet huh?'' Brittany asks smirking teasingly, she burst out laughing as Santana's eyes widen a bright red blush creeping up her cheeks and turns on her heels sprinting away as she sees her eyes squint ready to glare.
''Get your butt back here Pierce!'' Santana yells out laughing immediately sprinting after her not noticing their friends glance at each other in shocked amusement as they both sprint past them, she smirks as she notices Brittany trying to run around a tree and slides up on the other side to cut her path.
''Oh fuck.'' Brittany gasps trying to turn on her heels, Santana smirks devilish and pushes against her shoulder jumping back as she loses her footing and lands into a puddle of water right behind her.
She laughs as she hears her squeal and turns on her heels sprinting over to the group doubled over in laughter, Mason giggles looking up at Santana and shakes his head as she sees her trying to sit down.
''No don't sit Sanny.'' He warns her still giggling. ''Run!'' He squeals while pointing at his sister running up behind Santana.
Santana squeaks ducking down in a crouched down position the second Brittany tries to reach her and dodges her arms sprinting further down the path hearing their friends laughter and Mason's giggle following her, she glances over her shoulder her eyes widen as she sees Brittany almost reaching her and dodges a low hanging branch laughing. ''Hey no chasing! I don't know where the fuck I have to go to escape you!''
''Had to think of that before making me fall into a puddle.'' Brittany tells her laughing as she easily catches up to her, she wraps her arms around her waist from behind and skids to a stop her boots leaving marks in the soft sand beneath their feet.
''You lost your footing.'' Santana defends laughing while trying to escape her arms. ''Can't blame me for your clumsiness!''
Brittany chuckles breathlessly still holding onto her waist and easily hoists her up smirking as she hears her squeal loudly, she walks over to the lake with Santana thrown over her shoulder laughing as she continues struggling and walks into it ignoring the water soaking through her boots and jeans.
''No, no, no Brittany!'' Santana squeaks laughing as she sees them walking further into the water. ''Let me go!''
''You sure?'' Brittany asks in amusement loosening her hold around her waist.
''On the ground!'' Santana quickly squeaks out tightening her hold around her neck. ''Not in the water!''
Brittany laughs reaching up to loosen the tight hold Santana has around her neck and looks at her with an eyebrow raised. ''Truce?'' She asks hearing their friends still laugh and Puck yelling at her to let Santana fall in the water.
She walks back to the path as she nods her head and chuckles. ''You can be glad that almost everything you wear is new.'' She tells Santana softly. ''Next time you won't be this lucky.'' She let's her down as soon as they reach the path and quickly crouches down cupping a bit of water in her hand, she splashes it towards Santana smirking as she gasps at the coldness hitting her and shoots her a wink as she looks at her in shock. ''Still needed a bit of payback.'' She tells her snickering.
She glances at her brother and smirks filling her cupped hands with water as she sees Mercedes distracting him, she shoots Santana a wink and jogs over to the blanket making sure to still keep a bit of water in her hands.
She skids to a stop right behind Mason and drops the water right on top of him snickering as he jumps up with a loud squeal, Santana burst out laughing as Mason looks up with a pout and walks past both siblings dropping down beside Mercedes with a deep sigh.
''Damn.'' She breaths out landing on her back trying to catch her breath. ''Why the hell is she so fast?'' She asks turning to Mercedes, Mercedes turns to her laughing as Brittany just smirks while sitting down beside them with Mason in her lap and pats Santana's leg.
''Well Mason keeps her fit and that girl loves all kind of running, none of us can outrun her.''
Brittany chuckles running her hand through Mason's wet hair and smirks. ''I had to chase this one around the park more than once when he was little, he never wanted to leave and fled the second I stood up.'' She smiles as Mason giggles while cuddling into her making sure to wipe his wet locks on her shoulder and turns to Santana. ''Before that Puck and I also did some free running, I don't like any of the after school activities our school offers so I try other things to stay fit.''
Santana just shakes her head still trying to catch her breath and chuckles as she sees Mason wiping his wet hair on his sisters shirt. ''Well that is one way to dry yourself Mason.''
Mason giggles and cuddles into his sister. ''My hair dries fast but this way it's faster.''
Brittany just snickers ruffling his hair and smiles slightly. ''You need a cut soon bud.''
''Will you do it again?'' Mason asks tilting his head back to look at her, Brittany turns to Puck smiling as he nods his head and turns back to Mason.
''Yeah we can go to Puck soon and use his trimmer.''
Santana observes their interaction with a small smile and turns to Mercedes raising a silent questioning eyebrow, Mercedes immediately shakes her head knowing she is curious why Brittany takes on many task a parent would and pats her leg softly while leaning close to whisper. ''You are one of the first people she is ready to open up to, give her a bit of time and you will find a few things out.''
Santana slowly nods her head not noticing Brittany also glancing at Mercedes the both of them having a silent conversation with their eyes and sits up with a soft sigh. ''Now care to tell me where exactly we are?''
''Maze?'' Quinn asks smiling lovingly. ''You want to tell her?'' She asks before anyone else can explain, Mason nods his head turning to Santana and points at the lake.
''This is the lake called hope, Britty and Puck found this when they were children and it's there spot to relax.''
Puck turns to Santana after nodding his head silently telling Mason he explained correctly and chuckles. ''This is mine and B's go to spot to relax, we both have a spot around here that's ours but this one.'' He mentions his hand around them. ''We dubbed this one our friends hangout spot.''
''It's really beautiful out here.'' Santana breaths out looking around, Brittany hums in agreement looking out at the lake and smiles.
''Yeah it's really calming and we never saw anyone here before, we just hangout and chill here whenever we go riding and sometimes meet up in the evening and build a small campfire right there.'' She mutters nodding her head to a couple of stones placed in a circle near three fallen trees.
''With smores.'' Mason adds with a bright smile, he turns in his sisters lap and looks up at her with wide eyes. ''Can we do that soon?''
''You have sch..''
''Sure we can but only on the weekends bud.'' Brittany tells him with a small smile cutting Finn's reply off after shooting him a glance.
''In a few weeks it will be warm enough for us to go camping.'' Puck exclaims grinning. ''Maybe we can all agree on a camping spot and just chill a bit away from the daily stress.''
''Summer break is soon.'' Brittany tells him shrugging. ''I am sure we can plan something.''
''Will you join us Sanny?'' Mason asks with a big smile jumping up from his sisters lap to land in the Latina's lap wrapping his little arms around her shoulders, Brittany watches them with a loving smile and shrugs as Santana glances at the group silently telling her that it's her choice.
Santana looks down at Mason after everyone just shot her a small grin and slowly nods her head. ''I think I will Mason.'' She tells him softly, laughing as he squeals. ''I am sure my mom will love the fact that I am spending more time in nature instead of in my room watching TV.''
''All the amazing things happen outside S.'' Mercedes tells her with a grin. ''TV is awesome from time to time and we all also like to chill and watch a movie sometimes, but we are mostly hanging out outside.''
''Yeah you will find out soon just how often we are outside just doing whatever.'' Quinn tells her chuckling.
''These two.'' Tina starts pointing to Puck and Britt. ''Know all the amazing spots around Tennessee, during summer they just randomly think of awesome things and spontaneously picks us up and we just spend the whole day sometimes even night outdoors.''
''Well my mom will love the idea of that.'' Santana tells them chuckling as she looks down at Mason cuddling into her, she gently runs her fingers over his forearm and looks at the group with a small grin. ''She always tried to make me go outside more but I rather spend time in my room doing whatever, back in Lima I never had someone knowing the town as good as I knew it and it was a small town so definitely boring as hell.''
''Tennessee is everything but boring.'' Brittany mutters with a soft chuckle. ''Next week the carnival will come to the city so we'll probably kidnap you a day to drive down there.''
''Yeah and the country nights are starting soon.'' Puck exclaims excitedly. ''Lots of artists will announce spontaneous concerts around the city so be prepared for sudden texts to get ready.''
Brittany laughs softly as Santana frowns in confusion and locks eyes with her. ''Country artists all around Tennessee started a thing called country nights, they will announce a concert two hours before it starts and the first let's say hundred people can join the concert for free.'' She explains with a small smile. ''Puck and I both keep an eye out for announcements like that and the second we find one and it's from an artist we think we all like, we drop everything and pick you all up to go there.''
''That sounds cool.''
''It is Sanny.'' Mason replies grinning. ''Whenever it is during the day and on the weekends, I am allowed to join and we all sing and dance.''
''You do?'' Santana asks looking down at him with a smile. ''What was your favorite concert?''
Brittany watches her little brother tap his chin while he tilts his head back against Santana's shoulder to think and turns to her friends smirking. ''I bet ya it's Kane.''
''For sure.'' Quinn mutters laughing.
''Kane brown!'' Mason exclaims with a grin. ''He jumped down the stage right in front of us and danced with us!'' He continues excitedly. ''He also gave me a shirt and asked me to line dance with him!''
Brittany smiles lovingly as she sees the happiness in his eyes and looks out at the lake. ''When he is in town this year, you will join us again Maze.'' She glances at the time as she hears him yawn and turns to the group. ''It's time to go back before he crashes.''
''Yeah today was exciting.'' Tina agrees as they all stand up, Brittany hums walking over to Santana and picks Mason up, she locks eyes with her and smiles.
''Ready to go back?'' She holds out her hand as she nods her head and helps her up, she leads her over to shadow after making sure they have everything and smiles. ''You can hop on first, Maze is getting tired so I rather place him in front of you instead of having him sit first.''
She helps her onto Shadow making sure she won't fall off and pats the horse's back after placing Mason in front of Santana smiling as she sees her immediately securing him, she easily straddles the saddle after grabbing the reigns and glances at Mason as she hears him yawn once again. ''Think you can stay up for five more minutes Maze?'' She turns to the group as he hums and smiles slightly. ''I'll go first, I don't want him falling asleep while riding.''
She taps her heels against shadow after telling Santana to lean back against her so she can support her weight before they speed up and tenses her arms to make sure they are both safe, she tilts her head as she feels Santana's head land on her shoulder and focuses on the path in front of her spurring Shadow on to go faster. ''You okay?'' She asks softly as she feels Santana lean further back against her.
Santana hums keeping a strong hold on the horn while also having an arm wrapped around Mason and glances down at the little boy as she feels his face nuzzle in her chest. ''He is out.''
''Yeah we powered him out.'' Brittany mutters with a soft chuckle. ''I know he won't fall off but I don't like riding with him when he is tired, it's a bit easier having someone else with us though because I am not the only one who can hold onto him.''
''You are an amazing sister you know that?'' Santana asks as they near the ranch, she tilts her head back to look up at Brittany as she feels her pull on the reigns and tells Shadow to slow down and shrugs as she glances down at her with an eyebrow raised. ''I don't think I ever met a big sister who takes her little brother out to do all the amazing things you do with him, he speaks with so much excitement of all the things you guys did before and I can see the strong bond between the both of you.''
''Growing up together made our bond strengthen with each moment passing.'' Brittany mutters shrugging. ''He is amazing but sadly not everyone agrees with that, life is hell but he makes it definitely worth it.'' She continues as they stop at the ranch, she swings her leg over the saddle throwing the reigns to Puck as he walks up to them and easily jumps down as he fastens Shadow to a pole.
She shrugs off her jacket taking Mason into her arms and wraps it around him, she turns to Santana sliding up behind her as she sees her easily getting off of Shadow and helps her down. ''You definitely are a quick learner San.'' She compliments softly, Santana turns to look at her and smiles.
''I have a great teacher.'' She smiles as she sees Mason sleeping while contently cuddled into his sisters arms and gently takes off his hat after glancing at Brittany silently asking for permission, she hands it Puck along with her own and reaches up to grab Brittany's hat off of her head also handing it Puck so he can store them in the bag.
''Alright let's get going, little dude needs his sleep.'' Mercedes exclaims after they all made sure they fastened the horses correctly.
''Without him we could have sat there longer you know?'' Finn asks frowning. ''It's really nice outside today.''
''Yeah but he is with us so we'll call it early.'' Brittany responds as she places Mason in Puck's truck, she buckles him in and turns to the group. ''I will sit here beside him, y'all can fight who will sit cramped up this time.'' She turns to Puck and sighs. ''Can you drop us off first? I know Mercedes normally is the first stop but..''
Puck shakes his head sliding into the drivers seat as he sees Quinn and Tina telling Santana to sit beside Brittany once again and smiles. ''Nah we will drop you guys off first B, no need to explain.''
Santana raises an eyebrow as she hears Finn still grumbling softly and turns to Brittany biting her lip as she sees her rolling her eyes with a frown clear on her face knowing she hears him too, she gently places her hand on her thigh and raises an eyebrow as she turns to her after glancing down at her hand.
Brittany just shoots her a small forced smile and leans in closer to talk without any of their friends listening in on their conversation. ''Every damn time we are out with Maze and I call it an early night, he complains.'' She explains softly. ''I try to ignore it but it's getting harder every damn time he opens his damn mouth to complain.''
''Puck can you drop us off at the park?'' Finn asks suddenly. ''It's still nice as f.''
''I know he is asleep, but watch the language Finn.'' Sam warns.
Finn pauses shooting him a frown and sighs. ''It's still nice out.'' He corrects with a huff. ''Rach and I will walk home from there.''
''I will after we dropped Britt off.'' Puck tells him glancing in the rear view mirror.
''What, why? We are drivin..''
Puck shakes his head and cuts him off. ''I am driving and I am telling you that I am dropping Britt and Maze off first.'' He glances at the rear view mirror once again as he hears him scoff and raises an eyebrow. ''If you have a problem with that, take your own crappy car next time.''
''Why the hell is everything based on that litt..''
''I don't know what the hell you want to say, but I would choose your next words carefully Finn.'' Brittany warns with a soft growl, she turns in her seat as he immediately shuts up and raises an eyebrow. ''Since the beginning you know that Maze is a part of our friend group, if you can't be a bit understanding you are free to leave.''
Santana squeezes Brittany's thigh softly hoping it will calm her a bit down feeling the mood shift within the truck and sighs. ''Ignore them Britt.'' She whispers softly.
Brittany turns to her and sighs slowly relaxing as she feels Santana squeeze her thigh once again, she takes off her seat belt as Puck takes a right turn into her street and swallows thickly as she sees her mothers car parked in the driveway. ''You can let us out here Noah.''
She reaches over Mason to unbuckle him the second Puck's truck comes to a halt and picks him up, she slides over the seats out of the car as Quinn throws the door open and turns to them thanking Mercedes softly as she hands her the bag with Mason's new Lego set. ''See you all tomorrow, good night guys.''
''Night Britt!'' The group except Finn and Rachel call out with a grin, she turns on her heels after slamming the door close and adjusts her hold on Mason as she takes out her keys.
She walks into the house after unlocking the door scrunching up her nose the second the smell of weed hits her and shakes her head tilting her head a bit so the smell won't bother Mason, she walks down the hall after taking off their boots dropping them in front of the door and walks towards the stairs.
''Where the fuck were you?!''
She stops in her tracks the second she hears her mothers yell and looks over her shoulder biting back a growl as she sees her leaning against the entrance of the kitchen with a stranger leaning right behind her with his hand placed on her ass.
''Out with friends.'' She replies shortly, she shoots her a glare as she feels Mason stir and shakes her head. ''Don't you dare wake him up.'' She warns as she gently runs her hand up the little boys back to soothe him.
''I told you to wait here for me!'' Susan Pierce yells glaring at her daughter. ''I told you to listen!''
Brittany scoffs bouncing Mason in her hold as she feels his breathing pattern change knowing he woke up and turns on her heels to face her mother. ''Yeah you told me or well us to wait for you three weeks ago, you wanted to talk on a Sunday so if you still want to talk sober up and wait one day so you can have you damn Sunday talk!''
She turns on her heels as she notices her mother just glare at her while the man behind her whispers something in her ear and jogs up the stairs, she walks down the hallway towards Mason's room and sighs. ''We have to lock our doors tonight Maze.'' She tells him softly.
''Can I sleep with you?'' Mason asks tiredly, Brittany frowns hearing the fear clear in his voice and turns on her heels walking to her room instead.
''Of course you can.'' She whispers softly as she unlocks her door, she walks inside locking the door behind her and walks over to her bed to place him down. ''You can sleep in your undies tonight.'' She murmurs as she helps him out of his jeans and plaid shirt, she throws them on the chair in front of her desk and gently runs her hand through his blonde locks. ''Go back to sleep.''
Mason shakes his head reaching out to grab her hand as she tries to walk away and tiredly looks up at her. ''Please stay.'' He whispers softly knowing his sister wants to go back downstairs to talk to their mother.
Brittany glances at the door after gazing into his pleading blue orbs and sighs slowly nodding her head, she quickly changes into a long shirt dropping her dirty clothes into the hamper and slides into the bed beside him. ''Come here Maze.'' She whispers softly.
She strokes his back as he immediately curls into her both trying to ignore the loud music and noises coming from downstairs and kisses his head. ''I will stay right here okay?'' She nuzzles her nose in his blonde locks as he nods his head wrapping his little arms around her waist and sighs. ''Go back to sleep.'' She tells him once again.
She grabs her phone as she feels him nuzzle his face in the crook of her neck with a soft sigh and opens her messages, she taps Puck's contact and sends him a message.
To Noah: Bitch is home with one of her many one night fucks, yelled so loud to wake Maze and scare him. We won't join you all at the park tomorrow, she wants to talk.
She smiles slightly as she sees him immediately reading her message knowing he just waited for her message and reads his reply.
From Noah: High as fuck again? Ugh never mind no need to answer that, stay safe B and call if you need me!
To Noah: I will Noah promised, will go to sleep now Maze and I are both in my room with the door locked. Talk tomorrow, love ya.
A bit more Brittana moments with friends and Mason, both girls are flirty but this is a bit of a slow burn. Brittana will happen soon but the next few chapters will be a bit angst with Maribel also being more present.
How would you all like to see Brittana's relationship develop? During the angst or rather after Santana found out what is going on in Brittany's life?