It's another cold December night and you decided not to go out with your friends, instead opting for sitting warmly tucked away in a corner of your favorite Starbucks.

Favorite book in hand and extra hot coffee sitting on the table, you're convinced that this is the best Friday night you've had in a long time. Glancing out the window you notice the snow beginning to fall and it makes you smile. Sure, you had snow in Ohio but there's something almost magical about the snow in New York. Your vision blurs for a second when you see someone walk by. It makes you shake your head because you're either seeing things or daydreaming again.

After placing your bookmark back in the book, you lean on the table attempting to clear the moisture from the window, trying to sneak a peek. When you don't see this mysterious figure anymore, you remind yourself to set an eye appointment with Dr Ferguson on Monday.

This time instead of reaching for your book, your mind drifts back.

Taking you back to a year ago when you were a completely different person. Heartbroken and utterly lost but you vowed to never ever be that person again. What still surprises you about that night is not the fact that Schue was stood up at his own wedding or even later when everyone found out that it was Finn who kissed Miss Pillsbury, no. It's the fact that the person you leaned on was none other than, Santana Lopez. The two of you always had an intense history of rivalry and of course, let's not forget the slapping.

You laugh remembering the fight by the locker, Brittany yelling to stop the violence but you quickly snap back to Valentine's day.

After a few drinks, courtesy of the fake ids, the two of you sway on the dancefloor as Rachel and Finn continue to sing.

You're surprised at how easy this is, there are no hateful comments, no hidden agendas, just two heartbroken friends dancing, consoling each other. Tonight, the air between you two is filled with flirty banter and compliments. It not only surprises you but also makes your heart flutter, in a way it has never done with anyone else and you're starting to wonder what the shift is. Normally the brunette on your arm is tearing people down, effortlessly handing out sarcastic comments left and right but tonight she allows you to see another side of her.

She speaks to you in such a manner that makes you wonder why Brittany would ever break her heart. But you don't want to think about her, Sam or Puck tonight no, tonight is about the two of you. You don't want to jump to conclusions or make any assumptions but the way her hand runs up and down your arm every so often and the way her breath is hitting your neck it makes you think that maybe she wants more. That thought alone makes you equal parts excited and terrified for two simple reasons.

One is because you've never been interested in other women but then again, Santana isn't like other women is she?

Two, she's your best friend, regardless of the petty fights and slaps you know she would move heaven and earth if you needed her too.

You pull her closer into your embrace, wrapping your arms tighter around her small frame and when she exhales softly into your neck, it makes your eyes close. The two of you sway for a few more songs before you ask if she wants to go upstairs. She leans back and looks into your eyes, her eyebrows furrow and your nerves are starting to get the best of you. Finally she nods and pulls you towards the elevators. During the short ride to the fourth floor you both lean against the railing. Finding your confidence once again, you reach your pinkie out towards hers. Neither of you make eye contact but her reflection in the elevator door tells you, she's smiling. As the doors beep open she all but pulls you out as the two of you run down the hall laughing like carefree teenage kids. "Ow What the" She turns laughing as you trip, landing in front of her before turning back towards your room. Continuing to laugh, you trip once more and she laughs even louder this time as you try to unlock said door. Once open, you turn, curling your pointer, calling her into the room as she tosses her hands up letting out a loud cheer.

"Ma'am?" You hear as your blurred vision restores, snapping you out of your reverie.

"I'm sorry" The waiter apologizes "We're closing"

You nod, apologizing as you collect your things. Tossing the book into your bag and flinging it over your shoulder you quickly exit the now dark coffee shop. Stopping for a second you adjust your stance because even after all this time your back still gives you problems and you still hate it. Once you toss the empty coffee away and resecure the bag you continue walking. Tugging your coat closer to your body, you look around determined to find her, but where?

Noticing the only open establishment, you make your way and once they come into view,

your breath hitches.

There she stands. Her head is thrown back as she laughs with Rachel while they wait in line.

You stand back, taking a long hard look at her, in high school she always had a perfect body and it seems that time has definitely been on her side. Her long brunette hair is down and almost seems to flow in slow motion as the wind catches it. She rubs her hands together, bringing them up to her lips as she attempts to warm them and you immediately go back to the failed wedding. You remember how skilled those fingers were and it makes you shiver.

A part of you just wants to stay here forever and watch her but the other part of you wants to know why she's in New York when the morning after that night, she told you she was accepting the scholarship offer to attend the University of Kentucky.

.

Mustering all the courage you can find, you decide not to waste another second.

Your breath shakes as you play a million different scenarios in your mind.

What will you say? Do you hug her?

Before you can decide, you're standing directly behind her. As if sensing it, she stops talking and slowly turns to face you "Q" She says breathlessly as her smile fades into shock and all you can do is nod "Hey San" You respond looking into the same brown eyes you've dreamt of for the past year.

Rachel is the first to embrace you, although your eyes haven't left the other brunettes.

She seems almost frozen in place so you decide to make the first move, leaning in before wrapping your arms around her waist. It takes her a few seconds to respond but once she does her arms wrap tightly around you. She nuzzles perfectly into your neck and your eyes close on impact. She inhales deeply before whispering "I've missed you Q" and you squeeze her a little tighter because you've missed her just as much if not more "I've missed you too, San"

Reluctantly, you both let go of each other and immediately miss the contact

"Quinn, it's so great to see you!" Rachel says smiling as she looks between the both of you

And you know you're being rude but you're not here to talk to Rachel are you?

"Hey Rach." You respond shortly, keeping your attention on the latina "What are you doing here?" You ask and she smiles "I live here now, Q. Kentucky blew so I transferred to Columbia, I start Monday"

You nod, unable to believe that she is really here. She's only sixty four miles away from you now instead of the seven hundred and ninety one point six miles when she was in Kentucky.

Not that you've counted or anything

"That's awesome, I'm so proud of you" You respond, your words genuine because she's always deserved more than she's settled for. She's always been destined for greatness and maybe now she finally sees it. Her chest seems to almost puff out when she hears those words and it makes you smile.

"What are you doing here?" She asks furrowing her eyebrows "I'm here visiting some friends for the weekend, I leave back to New Haven Sunday evening."

Her face seems to relax at hearing this. Rachel stands back watching the interaction before getting the hint, she hugs you inviting you over to the loft and you agree, before turning your attention back to…. Her

Without the third wheel in the way, the two of you seem to gravitate closer to one another.

She smiles brushing back a stray hair behind your ear and it makes you blush.

"I'm sorry I never called" She exhales and you shrug "It is what it is, I guess"

"No, I wanted to, it's just…" You shake your head "It's fine, Santana."

"It's not, actually" She moves impossibly closer and now you can feel her breath on your lips "I wanted to call you the minute I got off that damn plane. And the reason I didn't was because I wanted to be all set up"

"Set up?" You furrow your eyebrows as she nods "You're Quinn Fabray you don't do surprises and you certainly don't do randomly show up at your doorstep. We both know that"

The fact that she knows you THAT well, makes you blush once more

"You know, I haven't stopped thinking about you or that night but I promise once I was settled, I was going to call you"

The smile that spreads across your face would probably be embarrassing if anyone else saw but you've learned that when she's near, it has a nasty habit of showing up so it's something you're going to need to accept.

"You were" You ask, making sure you heard correctly and she nods, smiling "I was"

"Well I'm here now" You boldly state, touching the front of her coat as you quirk your eyebrow and now it's her turn to laugh "You sure are"

.

A few minutes pass before either one of you says anything. You just stare into each other's eyes. No words are needed right now and you smile at the familiarity. She smiles because your cheeks are pink once again and the blush is now traveling to your ears.

She reaches out and rubs your earlobe gently as you lean into her touch.

"You want to watch this movie with us?" She offers pointing behind her and you shake your head "I better pass, I don't enjoy being kicked out of movie theaters"

A smirk spreads across her face as she shakes her head "You didn't mind last time"

You laugh hitting her jacket "If I remember correctly, I was the one in the compromising position not you. Well, I guess I better let you go, Rachel's waiting, soooo."

"Will you still be in town, how about dinner tomorrow night?" She offers, ignoring your comment.

You smile nodding "I will be and I'd love too"

She looks back at Rachel who is now pointing at her watch as Santana rolls her eyes

"Looks like you're being summoned" You joke, waving your hand and now it's she who playfully hits your jacket

"I'll see you tomorrow"? The gleam in her eye makes you tingle and you can only nod.

.

She returns the nod before leaning in, placing a soft kiss between your cheek and lips and your eyes close immediately "Can't wait" She husks, her lips ghosting the shell of your ear.

She walks backwards before winking and giving you a small wave.