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by your-street-serenade

Brittana AU. Two feuding rockstars handcuffed together for 24 hours. A rock and roll love story set against an unforgettable lost weekend at a music festival, filled with lust, mud, betrayal, porta potties and a hundred thousand people partying to the greatest music in the world.

15. Chapter 15

Life for The Dirty Pinks and The Make changed in some pretty remarkable ways after their Coachella adventure.

From that point The Dirty Pinks were able to capitalize on their viral moment and turn it into something substantial and after years of struggling and being shuffled aside they were suddenly being taken seriously.

It seemed that once people looked past the Santana Lopez of it all music fans really found themselves connecting with The Dirty Pinks own message and attitude. They didn't polish themselves, they didn't play games and they didn't make apologies. They were refreshing in that they harkened back to a more simple, more gritty era when rock stars were a little more rough around the edges. They resonated and found themselves being the subject of countless online articles and hot lists. People were finally paying attention, people were finally buying their album and with their new notoriety came more opportunities. Whereas before when they usually found themselves getting booked in grody bars and tiny clubs, they started playing at bigger and better venues, most of which would often sell out almost immediately. They had finally achieved mainstream success while still finding a way to maintain their indie sensibilities.

But with more media attention and hype came more tour dates, and with more tour dates came more time spent on the road. It couldn't exactly be avoided though, they had to strike while the iron was hot and that meant getting out and connecting to as many audiences as possible. Because sure the press and social media love was tremendously helpful but Brittany and the rest of The Dirty Pinks knew that the key to longevity was building a relationship with their fanbase.

And so while The Dirty Pinks went on the road and began to set the scene on fire, The Make found themselves taking it easy for a change.

After Coachella Santana and Sam had decided they needed to slow down a little bit to rediscover themselves. Their stadium tour had ended and all of the obligations that came with it had been met and yet, they decided they would continue on with a handful of more shows only this time they wanted to try something different. Instead of booking more massive sold out arena shows though they thought they could get back to their roots by hitting up smaller more intimate venues. They took a couple of weeks off in order to get all the dates and locations sorted and to of course work out stripped down renditions of all of their songs. They wanted this string of dates to be acoustic-only. Gone were the synths and electronic beats and blips, it was just them, their voices and their acoustic guitars. Low-fi. Simplifying everything and stripping it down was a way for them to get back in touch with themselves and their music. Playing to smaller crowds in more intimate settings allowed them to find their footing again, it helped them remember why they wanted to make music in the first place. It was fun and relaxing and it gave them a lot of time to repair what had been broken.

But with The Dirty Pinks and The Make both on the road it didn't exactly allow a lot of time for the blossoming relationship between Santana and Brittany.

They had reunited on their last night at Coachella and spent the remainder of their evening together with Santana spouting off promises and apologies and Brittany declaring that it didn't matter to her anymore as long as they could move forward together.

The unfortunate thing was as much as they wanted to, moving forward together was going to be difficult when they were literally being pulled in different directions. It was frustrating but they both knew it was what needed to happen.

Things had gotten a tad messy in the press for a few days after their big smooch on stage. As far as the public knew Santana had still been dating Lake when she made her romantic declaration for Brittany in front of hundreds of thousands of people. There had been a few seedy outlets that had published a handful of harsh pieces about Santana and her ''womanizing ways'', spinning tales about how she had tossed steady girlfriend Lake aside for some new squeeze, casting Brittany as some scandalous other woman.

If Santana and Brittany had immediately run off together then it would've only fueled the fires and made people spread more false stories and that was the last thing they wanted. The best thing they could do was to play it cool for the time being until the gossip blogs found another story to obsess over. Thankfully Lake did them a solid and tried to put out the fire. When asked about the situation in a scheduled interview she insisted that she and Santana had indeed broken up prior to the festival and that there had been no betrayal and no harm in the split and that they were in fact on friendly terms.

It took a few weeks but the press eventually lost interest in the story, or at the very least they lost interest in trying to push the love triangle angle when none of the parties were dignifying the rumors with a response.

All in all after Coachella and after the news of Laketana's demise faded from the headlines it almost seemed like the press had gotten a little bored with Santana. Photogs still tripped over themselves for shots of her and any televised performance she gave was generally well received, it was just that for the most part Santana had reigned in her behavior and toned down her dumbass partying ways. It was hard for gossip bloggers to write sordid stories about a rockstar who was suddenly well behaved. Where was the scandal in that?

True to her word, with Brittany in the picture Santana found herself letting go of a lot of her bad habits. Surprisingly it wasn't as hard as she thought it would be. She stopped drinking as much of course and no longer felt the need to attend every party or club she was invited to. She found herself saying no thank you to the giggly groupies and eager fangirls that would wait around for her after the shows. She had used many of those vices to stave off the boredom and the loneliness before yes but after Coachella they simply lost their appeal.

Instead of getting drunk or falling into bed with strangers on the road she had found that she got more enjoyment just staying in each night on the tour bus with Sam, reconnecting and nurturing their friendship which unfortunately for her meant weekly viewings of This Is Spinal Tap again but, in a weird way it made them stronger. When she wasn't goofing with Sam though she was more than content to lounge around the bus each night talking to Brittany who was out on the road herself.

They would literally be travelling in different directions while they would have these late night conversations that lasted for hours. They talked about what they wanted for the future, what they wanted for their bands and what they wanted with each other.

And it was enough for Santana.

For the time being anyway.

She had the world at her fingertips, access to everything and everyone and the ability and bank account to indulge in any number of habits and hobbies but none of that mattered to her anymore. She felt more fulfilled and more satisfied having Brittany even in this very limited way than she had felt with anyone or anything else.

That wasn't to say things didn't get tough sometimes. There were nights were Santana found herself itching to cancel a show so she could fly off and meet Brittany in whatever city she was in at the moment just to have a few hours together. There had been a couple of times where she had been close to doing so in fact. She and Lake really were on friendly terms, all she had to do was make a call and borrow the supermodel's private plane, but she had been talked out of it by Brittany herself. It wouldn't have been fair to their fans let alone Sam if Santana just up and disappeared like that Brittany insisted.

In the end Santana always listened to reason.

In the meantime though they had found other ways to be intimate with each other.

They definitely made a game of it and in the beginning it was more than just a little exciting, say when Santana would walk off stage after a show and find a flirtatious text message and a deliciously naughty picture of Brittany waiting for her on her phone. Or say when on a rare night they each had the tour bus to themselves and Brittany asked Santana to FaceTime her, naked. They both spent a lot of nights holed up in their respective bunks whispering to each other and pretending they weren't hundreds of miles apart.

They had fun with things and there was something to be said for building anticipation. But really it was the not being able to see each other, hold each other and support each other at the end of each night that tripped them up the most.

Now that Santana knew what intimacy was she had no idea how to live without it.

Some nights were harder than others and that's what gave Santana the idea. It was during their Coachella adventure that Brittany had found Santana's sex playlist. Santana remembered that Brittany said she was more interested in hearing what Santana's idea of romance sounded like. So Santana had spent days pondering, compiling, sorting and re-sorting until she had a list of what she thought were the greatest romance songs of all time.

''I made you a playlist,'' she told Brittany one night over the phone.

''How are you this cute?''

''Yeah yeah yeah,'' Santana had laughed. ''Tonight I want you to get in your bunk, get comfortable and turn off the light and I want you to listen to it for me, okay? Don't hit shuffle and don't skip either. It's all in the sequence, sequence is so important.''

''You really put a lot of thought into this.''

''You told me once you wanted to know what I think romance sounds like and I want you to know that when I think of romance I think of you and when I think of you I think of these songs. I can't hold you at night but maybe this way it'll feel like a part of me is right there with you in your bunk.''

It sort of became one of their things soon after. Sending each other their favorite romantic songs turned into one of the many small ways they were able to give each other comfort. They had both taken to doing it and for them it was a way to express themselves without actually having to say anything out loud.

When Santana sent Kesha's Past Lives Brittany heard Santana's longing and devotion. When Brittany sent Lorde's Ribs, Santana could hear Brittany's child like fire and spirit. And one night when they both found themselves listening to Transatlanticism from Death Cab, well, all they heard was the painful and empty distance between them. They both understood the yearning in ''I need you so much closer.''

It wasn't the same as being together but sharing music this way, it was something.

One very surprising thing that actually helped soothe them was when they both received an unexpected gift while they were on the road. It had seemed that Sugar Motta the entertainment reporter had went through the appropriate channels and contacted their management in order to arrange for two packages to be hand delivered to each of them at their respective tour stops. Santana had been the first one to tear into hers, what she found inside was a single USB stick and a note written in weird childlike bubbly scrawl. In the letter Sugar explained her actions, how she had gotten so swept up in the excitement and the romance of it all that she failed to see that following them around without their knowledge and recording their private moments throughout their evening together was inappropriate and wrong on her part. Sugar apologized and promised to not publish or sell any of the footage she captured and informed them that she had deleted all of it, all of it except for a few bits and pieces that she couldn't bring herself to trash. The only footage that survived was the footage on the USB Motta insisted in her letter. She said they were more than welcome to destroy it so it never saw the light of day but that she thought they may also want to keep it.

Part of Santana had wanted to flare up and be angry with the nutty reporter but when she plugged the stick into her laptop and opened up the video file, well, it was hard to.

The muscles on her face twitched into a smile as she watched, watched herself, watched Brittany, watched footage of their interactions from the very start, from their playful bickering that eventually escalated into some serious flirty back and forth. Not all of the footage had clear audio since it had been shot from afar but even then, even from a distance one could see how they traded loaded glances and charged little moments together. Sugar had edited a lot of the footage down, splicing together all of the best parts like some strange sometimes silent indie movie.

Being able to watch herself slow dance with Brittany in foam or intimately embrace as they laid across the top of a picnic table made all the miles between them feel just a little less brutal on her heart.

Later when she and Brittany compared notes they found Sugar had also apologized to her as well and gave her another USB stick with the exact same cut of all the footage. If possible Brittany was even more moved. Together they decided to let Sugar be. She had done wrong and recognized it and in her own way tried to remedy some of the damage she had done, and anyway neither of them were sure what kind of legal retaliation they could exact on her even if they wanted to.

Sugar had in her very strange fangirl way given them a gift, something tangible to hold onto while they were apart. Having this, getting to watch themselves in that way, actually being able to see their chemistry grow and blossom and turn serious right on camera it made it easier in some way because it reminded them both what they were working towards.

Still, as much as they were doing their best to make it work they weren't immune to small silly tiffs every so often. Like when one of them promised to call but fell asleep or got caught up in meetings, or during one specific instance when Brittany confided a rather strange story about an encounter with one of her own fangirls after a Dirty Pinks concert.

''A fangirl got a tattoo of your name where?'' Santana asked with a huff one evening after Brittany relayed her most recent fan interaction in which said fan revealed they had gotten Brittany's full name inked on them.

''She got my name on the small of her back,'' Brittany answered with a chuckle.

''You mean she got a tramp stamp of your name.'' Santana sounded all wounded and pitiful about it in the most adorable way. ''You know what? You see this girl again you tell her to get that lasered off her ass, the only butt that belongs to you is mine, so!''

It seemed that with the rise in popularity of The Dirty Pinks Brittany had become a little bit of a sex symbol and overnight had amassed a legion of her very own swoony fangirls, several of whom would often show up to her shows and try to wrangle a little one on one time with the blond lead singer. She had of course been completely honest about all of it to Santana who had shrugged it off in the beginning but had begun to grow frustrated with the fact that said fangirls were able to get more face time with her girlfriend than she was.

It escalated slightly when one day Brittany posted a picture of her and the rest of The Dirty Pinks relaxing. They had been doing press overseas in Europe and had taken up Lake's offer to visit her at her villa since they were roughly in the vicinity. There had been an impromptu pool party where the photo had been taken. In said shot Brittany happened to be sporting a bikini and needless to say her fangirls were salivating in the comments section. Sam called her on the phone a few hours later.

''Brittany, some fan is in your Insta comments drooling over you and writing things like 'Brittany's so fine I want to spread her like peanut butter' which first of all ew but I thought you should know Santana has been reading all of them and crying into her pillow,'' an amused Sam confided to her.

''I AM NOT CRYING INTO MY PILLOW!'' Santana shouted angrily from the other side of the bus where yes, she had indeed been crying into her pillow. ''BRITTANY HE'S LYING!''

Sam rolled his eyes at Santana's dumb dramatic ass and walked to another part of the bus to continue to address Brittany. ''I really think you two should work something out with the tour schedules and find a way to see each other because this is getting ridiculous. If you ask me this isn't even about your fans crushing on you, I just think the road is getting to her. I say you guys have earned a little time together and obviously I want you both to be happy but if you don't want to do it for yourself then do it for me because dealing with a weepy Santana is exhausting.''

With puffy swollen eyes that had undoubtedly been crying Santana walked up to Sam and plainly spoke. ''I just blew my nose all over your duvet,'' she said, sounding very much like a petty sibling. It had been clear retribution for telling Brittany that she had been crying into her pillow like a little girl.

Thankfully it wasn't too long after that when a couple of their tour dates intersected and for a three day period both bands found themselves in New York. It was exactly what they needed to relax after the stress of the road had taken its toll. Santana had decided to do it up right and rent a hotel room for them and be all legit romantic. It probably wasn't even necessary because the moment Brittany walked into the room, before she could even glance in the direction of the candles and flowers and food Santana had arranged for them, she was quite literally jumping onto Santana who thankfully managed to topple down onto the couch within the sitting area.

She attacked Santana with hungry desperate kisses which were returned with equal fervor.

''Miss me?'' Santana cracked several moments after their embrace when they pulled away for air.

''I can't believe we're in the same place at the same time,'' Brittany hummed with the contentment that came from feeling Santana's body beneath hers. ''Of course I missed you.''

Santana's eyebrows did a weird little dance as she looked off the side of the room. ''I just uh wasn't sure if you'd remember me, what with you being on the road for so long and everyone saying you're like this year's hottest sex symbol and you having all of your own fangirls and groupies lining up at your tour bus door now.'' Santana was clearly teasing but there was just a hint of insecurity there too.

Brittany grinned. With her own star rising life had definitely gotten more interesting on the road. ''There have been some intense fans and some persistent groupies showing up throughout the tour and I will admit it was pretty flattering at times but I was never interested in what they were offering.''

Santana gave her a hopeful half smile. ''So you were never tempted huh?''

''Not for a second. To be honest I spent a lot of cold lonely nights in my bunk with nothing but your Rolling Stone spread to keep me warm...of course nothing beats the real thing.''

''Well, the real thing really missed you too.''

''Oh yeah?''

''These three days couldn't get here soon enough.'' Santana propped herself up just slightly and tossed a nod in the direction of the rest of the room. The flowers, the candles, the elegant table where their dinner was waiting for them. Santana was like an excited little puppy, eager to get up and entertain. ''And I want to make them count. I was thinking we could have a nice quiet dinner here and then afterwards we could maybe go out to a show, I can get tickets for like anything in a snap, or if you're not up for that we could do the whole romantic horse carriage ride around the park, or if not that then maybe we could go see a movie? I don't really like going to movies because, ya know, people, but if there's something you wanted to see I could just buy out the entire showing so we'd have the theater to ourselves.''

''Or we could just stay in and get naked,'' Brittany suggested.

Santana made an adorable squinty face as if she were internally weighing her options. ''Movie date or get naked? Carriage ride or get naked? I vote get naked.''

They spent the next two hours making up for all of the distance and lost time by making love on every possible surface of that hotel room. Over the ottoman and on top of the desk and against the huge windows that overlooked the city. Together they knocked down a couple of vases and kicked over a lamp and had also accidentally made a small dent or two in one of the walls. In the end they were left nearly exhausted but thankfully had just enough energy to make their way to the dining table. Orgasm number four had really taken it out of them and they both needed a minute to recharge and since they had food there anyway they both decided to take a seat at the table, completely nude of course.

Brittany crossed her legs elegantly and primly placed a cloth napkin into her lap before picking up her utensils and digging in. Naked Santana on the other hand went about popping open the chilled bottle of champagne and pouring them both glasses.

''So I think we should talk about something,'' Brittany began.

''Is it about me crying during that last orgasm? Cause that was allergies.''

''No, I don't want to talk about your crying although that was really sweet and touching but, I talked it over with the girls and once this tour is over, we're going to L.A.''

The Make was due to finish their small, exclusive acoustic tour and afterwards would be heading back to L.A. which was their home base. From there the plan was to settle in for a good few months, take their time and get down to constructing new material for a future album. The Dirty Pinks tour would end roughly around the same time period and since they had risen in popularity and had saw a spike in sales the label had been eager for them to produce another record. The label wanted to continue to push their forward momentum and had generously told them they could record with whatever producer they wanted, in whatever studio they wanted, in whatever city they wanted. As long as The Dirty Pinks could give them another set of songs that sold as well as the previous had started to the label said they would give them support as well as proper promotion forit. While The Dirty Pinks had always called the east coast home they had all decided that they could use a change of scenery. The girls had all been supportive of moving their base of operations to Los Angeles, not just so they could all enjoy some fun in the sun but so that Brittany could pursue her relationship with Santana.

Santana was ecstatic to learn this. No more only seeing each other on their phone screens, no more figuring out complicated time zone differences. No more distance.

''We're really doing this then?'' Santana asked. ''We're going to live in the same place and be girlfriends? We're going to be girlfriends who do girlfriend things?''

Brittany raised an eyebrow at Santana's phrasing. ''I hope so. That's what we've been working towards during our tours isn't it? I mean….'' she bobbed her head around and looked hesitant. ''If you haven't changed your mind.''

''What are you talking about? Why would I change my mind?''

''I don't know,'' Brittany laughed. ''I guess a tiny-tiny part of me wondered if maybe the thrill or the novelty of this…'' she made a gesture between the two of them. ''Had worn off for you. What we had at Coachella was pretty whirlwind and wild. It was the kind of thing that was easy to get swept up in. I mean we did sleep together after only knowing each other for one day. The two of us touring at the same time hasn't been easy, and we've both had to work to keep this going-''

''I'm not going to lie, the road and the distance has been a pain in the ass but calling you every night and texting you every chance I get and making sure I was present in your life even though I was miles away from you, that wasn't work to me. Or if it was it didn't feel like it. The thrill isn't gone for me.''

Brittany bit her lip, pleased. ''It's not?''

''You know what I fantasize about at night?''

''Me in that pink bra you like so much?''

''Well yeah, that,'' Santana chuckled. ''But for the first time in my life I'm fantasizing about having things and doing things that I never even knew I wanted until now, until you.''

''Like what?''

''Like I can't wait to do things like go shopping at Target with you. That's a place where regular people shop right? Sometimes I find myself daydreaming about us buying laundry detergent together which is weird because I don't even do my own laundry or buy my own soap, I have an assistant and a housekeeper who do that stuff, but when I think about doing that stuff with you...it almost seems like it'd be fun.''

''You don't know how to do your own laundry?'' Brittany snickered inwardly.

''My point is, I'm still in if you're still in.''

''I'm still in,'' Brittany declared with a cute kitten grin.

''Good...now eat your dinner because after this I'm taking you to bed one more time and rocking your world.''

''Are you gonna cry again?''

''Maybe.''

For the record, Santana totally cried again.

Santana's occasional weepy moments were something Brittany was definitely going to have to get used to, especially when a few months later both The Make and The Dirty Pinks finally bid farewell to the road as both of their tour cycles came to an end and each band landed in Los Angeles for some much needed downtime.

They all managed to enjoy the fruits of their labor with The Dirty Pinks making more red carpet appearances and getting more exclusive invites to clubs and parties and events. Both Tina and Dani scored endorsement deals with Fender which meant lots of free new gear as well as the honor of appearing in print ads. There were some great perks without a doubt but there was also a little weirdness that came with the good, like the time Dani announced to the band that someone had forwarded her a link to a fanfic that revolved around the imaginary love story of Tina and Quinn who some fans had started shipping for some strange and inexplicable reason. It tickled everyone's funny bone and had them rolling on the floor in tears. There were even fans who had created entire blogs dedicated to their intense fan theories that, according to said fans, proved that Tina and Quinn were involved in some hot passionate love affair that their label was forcing them to keep hidden.

Fandom could be weird sometimes, but The Dirty Pinks learned to roll with it. For the most part though their fandom was good to them and generally respectful of their personal lives. Brittany of course had the most attention thrown her way, not only because she was the lead but because was in a not so secret relationship with one of the biggest music stars at the moment.

Days turned to weeks and weeks turned to months but Santana and Brittany didn't make any huge public announcement that they were together and in fact they had quietly decided that they weren't even going to attend any red carpets or discuss each other during interviews. They wanted to keep what they had together as far away from the spotlight as possible, at least for the first few months until they found their footing as a couple together. They wanted all of their firsts to be their own. They knew there would be blog articles and gossip about them anyway, but they at least wanted to control what they were putting out there and when it came to each other they remained mum in the media.

Still, there was no doubt that they were together when websites published pictures of them walking out of grocery stores being all cute and giggly with each other or when Brittany was snapped walking out of Santana's mansion at the wee hours of the morning sporting some serious sex hair or when a solo Santana was photographed walking out of a Starbucks sporting a Dirty Pinks tour tee shirt. Gossip bloggers and fans logged on and let their imaginations run wild on the internet and without comment Santana and Brittany let them.

They were much too busy with each other to care anyway.

While Santana had never been anyone's girlfriend before it turned out she was really awesome at the whole relationship thing. She never did anything half way, when she threw herself into something she did it with everything she had. She didn't want to just be a good girlfriend, she wanted to be the best girlfriend possible. Sometimes she went a little overboard in an overly eager way but Brittany always appreciated how dedicated Santana was to their relationship.

With her new relationship having a positive influence on her life outlook, her newfound calm began to leak into her work and writing.

The Make's music had always been slightly rocky yes but overall it was slick and glossy. It was fun and sexy but easily disposable music. It was all very vague, it was all about late nights and chance encounters with strangers in bedrooms. Santana and Sam were very capable musicians but there wasn't a huge amount of substance there lyrically. But with Brittany in the picture? Santana found herself writing about feelings and experiences she'd never had before, Brittany challenged her and that bled into her work. Santana found herself writing love songs. Her new tunes still had the same sleek sound but it was a little more hopeful, a little more romantic, a little more dreamy.

Sam was supportive of her expressing herself and told her he thought it was some of the best stuff she'd ever written. Maybe this is what The Make needed he had said, to get in touch with their feelings. Lyrically and thematically they had never truly explored the idea of love, mostly because they had never been in it. But now that Santana knew what love looked like and felt like, well there was a well of ideas and thoughts to work with.

Sam had also found himself in a new relationship. Several weeks prior Santana and Sam decided to have a night out together at a movie premiere for some dumb romantic comedy Sam really wanted to see because he had a crush on one of the actresses, Mercedes Jones. He had been hoping to maybe possibly meet her but he kept chickening out throughout the evening until Santana decided to step up and play cupid by purposely tripping him in front of Mercedes as she posed for the photogs on scene. Mercedes had helped him up and chuckled at his adorable flustered state and the two had been inseparable ever since.

They were both in love, and they were also both really excited for the world to hear this new side of The Make as they went about fine tuning all of the new tracks.

''You know people are going to put two and two together,'' Brittany said one afternoon when they were having lunch in Santana's giant pristine kitchen.

''About?'' Santana asked between mouthfuls.

''About your album, about who all of your new songs are about.''

''Probably...more than likely...is that like...okay?''

''Yeah actually. I mean we've been doing the low key dating thing for awhile now. Maybe it's time.''

''Time for what?''

''To make a public statement,'' said Brittany. ''Let's be real everyone knows we're together so this would just be us making it official.''

''What do you have in mind?''

''I'm not sure.''

''I could do a sit down interview with Oprah and start jumping on couches a-la Tom Cruise,'' Santana jokingly offered.

''Please god no,'' Brittany laughed at the thought of Santana bouncing around on a couch while fist pumping about being in love. ''I was thinking a more subtle approach. I can show up with you at your next red carpet or like the girls and I are going to New York Fashion Week-''

''Getting fancy now are we?'' Santana teased.

Brittany made a funny face. ''No, but Lake is going to be there doing her model thing and she invited Dani and the rest of us along. You could come too and me and you could make an appearance there and that would be it. Then people wouldn't have to assume or make up stories, because we'd be sending the clear message to the press: we're together and we're going public.''

''You seem really open to this. I thought you wanted to keep this between us.''

''I did and it's been great being all sneaky and sexy together but it's been almost seven months and I feel like we're ready for more. If we're serious about this-''

''I've been serious about you since the day I met you,'' Santana interjected sweetly.

''Going public on our own terms would be the next logical step in our relationship then, right?'' Brittany looked hopeful and enthusiastic at the prospect of taking things to the next level.

Santana didn't need a lot of time to consider it. She had been aching for the day that she got to show up somewhere with Brittany on her arm. The whole world had watched her fall apart and stumble when she was self destructing and she had hated every second of it, and yet, now that she had pulled her band and life together and had found someone who made her feel real and accepted, she wanted to share it, albeit in a subtle way and on her own terms.

A week or two later they eventually made their first official public appearance together at a charity event. Hand in hand they walked the red carpet and took photos together, their body language and proximity making it more than apparent that they were a romantic item. When approached by entertainment reporters who poked for details they simply smiled to the camera and gracefully sidestepped the questions, claiming they were more interested in talking about the charity and the cause they were there to support.

It was the perfect way to introduce themselves as a couple without giving too much away too soon. They wanted the world to know they were together, but they weren't about to throw all of their personal and intimate details about their relationship out there for all to know. They weren't in this for the publicity or the buzz, this wasn't a fling or hookup, it was their life and they didn't want to make a joke of it or exploit it.

It was a sort of dance they had with the media from that point on. But because they gave so little and were so protective of what they had it just seemed to fuel the public's fascination. Celebrity gossip magazines declared ''brittana is official!'' and plastered their faces all over their pages. It only got more intense as the two bands geared up for their respective new albums, because with a new album there was a certain amount of promotion they were all expected to perform. This meant lots of sit down radio and print interviews, not to mention countless photoshoots. Soon there wasn't a day that went by where one of them wasn't asked about the other.

When faced with those kind of intimate questions Santana tended to be very guarded. She was happy and she wanted to express that, but she wasn't down with using Brittany or their relationship to promote herself or her career. For instance she and Sam went in for an in studio radio interview with a well known disc jockey and they had both been happy and eager to talk about their forthcoming album and the upcoming tour but when the radio host turned the conversation to Santana's private life and started shooting out nosy questions she declined to answer.

''If people want to know what my life is like now or how my relationship is going just buy my record because it says it all,'' Santana said diplomatically, leaning forward to speak into the large mic. ''I'm here to talk about the album and about the tour, I'm not going to sit here and tell the world how Brittany and I spent our sixth month anniversary or what she got me for my birthday last month.''

''But these are harmless questions,'' the radio host chuckled from behind his console.

''They are harmless and I get that to you these seem like perfectly reasonable playful interview questions and I can half understand why someone would want to know those things but I'm not really interested in putting my relationship on display like that for other people's consumption.''

''This isn't about consumption though,'' the DJ countered with a smile. ''I just think the public and your fans want to understand. You went from throwing drinks at paparazzi and talking about how much ass you get in interviews to suddenly being in this committed monogamous relationship. People want to know what brought on this change.''

Santana swiveled in her rolly chair at the desk and continued to maintain her nonchalant dismissal. ''Here's the thing about making music I've learned: you're always going to have those fans out there who say 'you've changed!'. It happened when Tegan and Sara went from making indie rock to making a pop album, it happened when Nelly Furtado went from being a singer songwriter to making that R&B and hip hop album with Timbaland. Hell, Jewel went from being a folk singer to making a one off pop album and granted that pop album sucked nuts but still, you get where I'm going with this. Artists try new things and sometimes they stick and sometimes they don't but I respect it because it shows that they're open and willing to experiment and evolve. No artist or band should be making the same album over and over again because one, they're not challenging themselves by doing that and two, they're not challenging their fans. The album I made at 25...I don't want to be making that same album at 35 and I shouldn't be because I won't be the same person at 35 that I was at 25, I'll have grown and tried new things and hopefully evolved. Sounds may change, content may change, Sam and I are going to change because that's life. If people think we've changed it's because we have, and that's going to be reflected in our music and our lives. The person I was a year ago, she's totally different than the person sitting here in front of you right now. Change and evolution are natural in art and in life.''

Santana had mastered the art of deflecting and protecting her relationship from vultures in the media. Brittany was just as protective of them but she was a lot less diplomatic when someone crossed that line with her. Unlike Santana she had never been coached in how to handle herself in the public eye like that. Even now with a bit of success under her belt Brittany wasn't interesting in learning the ropes, in listening to PR people or taking their notes on how to conduct herself, she was much more content to navigate it all in her own uniquely Brittany way.

Like once when The Dirty Pinks were at the airport and on their way to fly off to do some promotion a TMZ cameraman scampered after Brittany, tossing out ridiculously questions as he videotaped her rolling her luggage. He was obviously trying to provoke her into some kind of reaction as the questions became even more personal and invasive, even after both Quinn and Dani had tried to swat him away.

''Come on, smile at the camera!'' the man goaded in a smarmy manner. ''Give me something here huh? Why isn't Santana with you? You don't feel nervous about leaving her on her own what with all those old stories about her bedhopping ways? If I were you you I'd be worried. She cheated on Lake with you, odds are she'll turn around and do the exact same thing to you.''

Later on, when Sam and Santana sat down to watch the clip on TV they had to laugh at Brittany's response which was basically to slap the camera and tell the man to get out of her ''bleeping bleep and go bleep yourself you bleeping bleep''. Needless to say that segment had to be heavily audio edited to air in the day time. Every other word out of Brittany's mouth had a bleep over it.

After awhile though they stopped paying much attention to the ''brittana'' craze in the gossip rags when it came time to promote and sale their latest albums to the masses.

The Make's new record had them taking on a slightly more emotionally approach but on The Dirty Pink's end if anything they were determined to be even louder and bolder than ever before. They wanted to show and prove that money and success hadn't made them soft and that they were still all about women making noise and inciting change. Critics wrote up rave reviews for The Dirty Pinks, calling it cohesive chaos in the best way possible. On the other end of it though, The Make's new album wasn't as well received with many listeners insisting it was overly sentimental and lacked a certain something. Die hard fans defended Sam and Santana expanding their horizons but several other so called fans said the new album was a snooze and contradictory to everything The Make had been about before which was: fun, sex and excess. Music critics didn't pan it but their responses were lukewarm at best. Sales were decent, if not modest, it wasn't a total bomb but it wasn't wildly successful either, at least not like The Dirty Pinks latest album.

''It doesn't bother you?'' Brittany would ask Santana months later after they both had a chance to study the sales charts and reviews.

They were in bed, getting their cuddle on. Santana had been sitting up reading with Brittany's head on her chest. She had been running her free hand through her blond hair. ''Does what bother me?''

''That my album is...more...''

''More?'' Santana raised an eyebrow and nodded at her to go on. ''What?''

''More successful than yours,'' Brittany finished.

Santana stopped playing with her hair and went silent. Worried, Brittany wiggled herself up a bit into a sitting position so she could face Santana who placed her book down at her side and stared at Brittany intently. ''Why would that bother me?'' she asked, stumped that such an idea would even occur to Brittany.

''It's just that I've seen couples I've known go through things like this, where one person finds success and the other has to watch and wait on the sidelines. Like before Dani joined my band she was in a band with some guy named Kurt and the minute great positive things started happening for him his bloated boyfriend Blaine got really bitter and petty about it and like it totally broke his relationship up because that Blaine guy couldn't handle not being the center of attention. When we met you really were the center of attention. You were the bigger more successful one obviously. My band was riding around in a junky tour bus and on the cusp of losing everything, we had no promotion and no real support while The Make, you guys and your music were kind of everywhere. And now-''

''And now you're getting plenty of attention yourself.''

''And you don't feel threatened by this?'' Brittany asked with a strange wince on her face.

''Why would I feel threatened that you're doing well for yourself? Me and you, we're in this together.''

''Of course but I just don't want there to be weirdness or jealousy or resentment or whatever because the tables have turned a little bit.''

Santana shook her head for a long moment and then gestured for Brittany to move closer. ''Come here,'' Santana whispered as she gently pulled Brittany onto her lap and let her hands drift down to rest on her hips, steadying her and keeping her in place. ''Listen to me okay? I think it's wonderful that you and the girls are getting the recognition you deserve. Don't get me wrong, I would've loved for my album to chart better but, Brittany, that has nothing to do with you or us.''

''It doesn't?'' Brittany looked relieved.

''This isn't a competition, this is a relationship, and I would never hold your success against you. Anyone who would, would be a shitty partner. I would never, ever-ever need to see you struggling in order for me to feel confident. That's not who I am.''

''That's not who I am either,'' Brittany rushed to add.

''I know.'' Santana said with confidence. ''So no, seeing you get the spotlight doesn't bother me, if anything it makes me proud that I'm with someone who follows her gut and gets shit done. I'm happy for you.''

''I was hoping you would say that...I mean I knew you would say that.'' Brittany beamed as she bounced in place and wrapped her arms around Santana's neck. ''I just wanted to make sure we were on the same page.''

Santana leaned forward for a reassuring kiss. ''We are.'' She made a record that she believed in, a record that showed she was being honest and open for the first time and unfortunately the public hadn't taken to it. ''This is just how the industry is. Listeners and critics can be fickle, but lucky for Sam and I, ticket sales are still really good. The new record wasn't the megahit like our first one but things could be a lot worse. And hey it's not like I'm hurting over here.'' She made a general nod to their surroundings. Her life was still pretty sweet. One moderate selling album didn't equal a failed career.

''Just so you know even if all this went away…'' Brittany waved around Santana's huge master bedroom located within her huge Hollywood mansion. ''I would want you just the same. You could go on and make a dozen hits or no hits at all for the rest of your career...I'd still be here with you. I'd still love you, Santana.''

''I'd still love you too.''

Of course as tides shifted there were some things that Santana found harder to handle. She was still hugely popular and widely sought after, her face still sold magazines and landed on billboards but there was no way around it. Santana was no longer seen as an It Girl on the music scene. There was a new crop of young starlets and musicians taking up the mantle of heartthrobs.

Faced with this Santana resorted to her usual dramatics of course. Poor album sales she could handle, but people questioning her hotness? She was devastated.

One day Brittany came home to find Santana face down in bed sighing like the sensitive little princess she was.

''Honey, what's wrong?'' Brittany went to her and began rubbing her back.

Santana spoke between pathetic little sobs (that Brittany was pretty sure were half fake). ''The AfterEllen Hot 100 list came out today and I DIDN'T EVEN CRACK THE TOP TEN!'' Santana cried out.

Brittany swallowed her laughter and tried to be supportive and understanding. ''Okay.''

''Okay? Okay?!'' Santana's lips trembled with emotion. ''Two years ago I was number one! Number one! This is NOT okay!''

''What were you this year?''

''Number twelve! Twelve, Brittany, twelve.''

''That's still pretty impressive.''

''No it's not.'' Santana wiped her nose on a bedsheet. It was not pretty.

''Yes it is, and even if it wasn't so what. It's just a dumb list. It doesn't mean anything. I know for a fact that you still have plenty of fans, twenty five percent of which hate me out of jealousy because they're in lust with you.''

''I know,'' Santana sniffled. ''And it isn't about that, it's just, you made the AfterEllen list at number four and I only made it at number twelve. You're a four and I'm a twelve. Why would a four ever want to be with a twelve? Don't look at me, you must think I'm hideous now!''

At that Brittany couldn't hold back anymore. Laughter erupted from her mouth. ''Santana, baby.''

''Don't Santana baby me,'' Santana whimpered. ''Admit it! You saw the list and you came here to pack your things and break up with me so you could date threes and twos!''

''Okay first of all have you seen you? You're the furthest thing from hideous alright? And I don't care what number you placed at because you'll always be the hottest to me.''

''I am?''

''You are,'' Brittany assured her and then recalled what Santana had once referred to herself as when they first met. ''You're like the dreamiest dream boat of my dreams.''

''So you're not going to leave me for someone hotter?''

''Who's hotter than you?''

Santana wiped her nose again, this time with her forearm.

''When you're not covered in snot I mean,'' Brittany joshed and laid a kiss onto Santana's hair.

And as months turned to years they found a healthy balance and they both recognized that it would always be like this. There would be stretches of time where Brittany found herself the talk of the town, receiving nods and recognition, only for the spotlight to shift back around to Santana. One year Brittany's album would be applauded and fawned over and then her next album could be a slight miss. The same with Santana, who could have a rough spell of things only to have it turn around during the next album cycle. They shared their victories and they supported each other during their losses.

There were hits and there were misses but no matter what they were there for each other at the end of the day. Santana didn't have to make some stupid hot list for Brittany to love her. Brittany didn't have to chart to a certain number for Santana to love her. What they had was beyond all of that.

They also figured out that as long as they managed to give the media scraps they were more or less left alone. And with less scrutiny they found themselves feeling more comfortable with sharing certain parts of their relationship. It took them a good solid two years before they decided to do a joint interview. They sat down with Vanity Fair for a very in depth piece that covered everything from the highs and lows of their respective careers and where they hoped to go in the future, to how they navigated their relationship in the spotlight. Along with the interview there was a photoshoot. They both insisted that the photos be authentic and organic, neither of them wanted their first interview to be accompanied by racy pictures because they thought that would just diminish what they were and what they had. They both wanted to show the world that they were real, just like any other couple. In the end the photographer agreed in going the organic and understated route, capturing images of them throughout Santana's gorgeous house, standing in front of a large bathroom mirror and counter and posed as if they were getting ready for their day, reading the paper together at the kitchen table like a married couple. The photos were simple and sweet, quirky and domestic but with a certain glossy atmosphere about them.

It began to get easier, to let the world in, to talk about each other freely. The more comfortable and secure they felt with each other, the more comfortable and secure they felt that nothing the world threw at them could tear them apart.

But like any couple there were minor spats here and there, especially when their contrasting tastes and styles clashed. Santana had experienced success right out of the gate and because of that she had acquired some expensive tastes pretty early on while Brittany had definitely struggled a lot more before finally breaking through. Brittany for the most part continued to live rather modestly but Santana, well she didn't quite know the definition of modest.

''I can't believe you would make a purchase like this without running it by anyone,'' Brittany said running a hand through her hair in disbelief.

''Is this our first official fight?'' Santana asked with a straight face. She really didn't see what the big deal was. ''If I would've known you were going to have an issue with this, I wouldn't have even done it. I buy one little yacht and you freak out on me.''

As they stood on a pier together Brittany pointed at Santana's recent purchase and laughed. ''A boat is little, a yacht is massive. How much did this cost?''

''For your information I got a really good deal on it and Sam and I went in on it together, so we did halfsies.''

''And how much was halfsies?'' Brittany asked, terrified of the answer.

''Three million.''

''I need to sit down.''

Of course all of this wasn't to say that Brittany didn't have moments where she indulged in something unnecessary and ridiculous. Like the time Santana came home to find a giant ten foot portrait of Lord Tubbington which Brittany had commissioned from a real painter.

One of the things that came with being in a relationship with Brittany was learning to love and live with Lord Tubbington who Santana realized was much more than just The Dirty Pinks unofficial mascot, he was Brittany's feline son who she adored beyond words.

''What the hell is this?'' Santana asked, pointing to the painting. ''Also why is he in a sailor outfit in the painting.''

Brittany shrugged. ''It makes him look regal. Do you like it?''

''It's….uh...something.''

''I had it commissioned by a local artist. Cost me a pretty penny too, like ten grand, but you know what they say, art is the best investment. I was thinking we could move it up into the bedroom on the main wall.''

''Oh hell no,'' Santana blurted out, because like hell was she going to have that fat cat staring at her every time she and Brittany went to bed or had sex. ''I mean, I think the lighting in the guestroom would compliment the painting better.''

Brittany tapped her chin and nodded. ''You know what? You're right.''

Life for the pair was never not interesting.

Money was never an issue and it definitely took some time but they embraced the fact that they just had different tastes, different styles, different indulgences. They also figured that with all of the work they did and all they gave up for their careers they should be allowed to treat themselves and each other every so often, even if it was in grand ridiculous ways.

They also made sure that going forward the road would never seperate them for too long. Santana and Brittany were both adamant that whatever they were doing, whatever album they were promoting they would make sure their schedules allowed them to spend time together. It took a lot of convincing and bargaining with their labels but with a handful of successful albums under each of their belts they both had more than just a little pull and power, they won. When Brittany was touring Santana took a break and joined her on the road and when Santana was touring Brittany did the same. On occasion there would be a week or two apart but they were never painfully separated for months on end anymore.

With the other tagging along for the ride going out on the road, touring for months on end didn't feel so painfully lonely anymore.

Santana could have thousands of fans screaming for her at the end of a show but there was no greater feeling than walking off stage to find Brittany waiting in the wings for her, ready to walk back to The Make's tour bus to retire for the night.

One evening the wheels began to turn in Santana's head. She and Sam had performed earlier in the evening and midway through the set a man had somehow managed to rush the stage. The fan had somehow been able to sneak past security and make his way over to grab Santana's mic off of its stand and there, center stage, he eeked out a proposal to his girlfriend in the audience. He had barely managed to get all the words out before security personnel were grabbing him and dragging him off. It had been a minor mishap and Santana and Sam were able to shake it off and continue on after a quick laugh but it was later, when she and Brittany were in the upper level of the tour bus curled up in her bunk that Santana's head started to itch with ideas.

''Would you ever do it like that?'' Santana asked.

Brittany yawned and pushed her face into Santana's neck. She was seconds away from dozing off to sleep. ''Do what like what?''

''Ask someone to marry you, I mean. I was just thinking about that guy who ran on stage tonight because he wanted to ask his girl to marry him from the stage.''

''I've never really thought about it.''

''No?''

''Mmmm. Well to start I was never serious enough with anyone before you to even imagine any what if scenarios.'' Brittany continued to speak drowsily, her speech getting slower and slower with every word. ''I'd be lying if I said I don't appreciate a big romantic gesture every so often, especially ones from you. It was kind of hard not to forgive you for the handcuffs at Coachella when you somehow got thousands of people to chant my name. But I don't know if I'd want anyone to pop the question to me like that, in a huge public setting. The world sees everything else we do. Every Starbucks trip. Every vacation. Cameras are even there every time you pump gas into your car. We live so much of our lives in front of people I think if someone were to ever ask me...if you were to ever ask me I'd want it to be the one moment of our lives that was just ours. Just mine, just yours.''

''Just ours?'' Santana repeated and turned in time to watch Brittany's eyes close as she drifted off into slumber. Santana smiled as she pulled Brittany closer and wrapped an arm around her mid section. ''Yeah...just ours.''

Brittany had obviously been speaking in the hypothetical but Santana took it to heart.

They were both happy, not with just their careers but with where the were, together. Brittany understood Santana's fire and passion and drive. Santana understood Brittany's determination and vision and authenticity. They worked with each other, they supported each other, they believed in each other. They also trusted each other which was a feat in their industry.

So many other couples with similar statuses fell apart because they didn't have trust or understanding. Brittany never had to worry about the nights Santana spent alone on the road when they had no choice but to be away from each other for brief periods of time. Brittany knew that Santana's devotion was unshakeable, unwavering. There was never a doubt in her mind that Santana would faithfully come back home to her. Santana had that same absolute trust in Brittany as well. But, they both also trusted that the other would alway be there at the end of the day, whether records flopped, whether endorsements were dropped, whether ticket sales plummeted, whether either of them lost it all. Neither of them had any doubts that they were in this together.

There was no going back.

The success and the money that came with it was great but it wasn't what attracted them to each other and it wasn't what kept them together. It was that trust, it was that understanding, it was the ability to always challenge each other to be the best, most honest versions of themselves they could possibly be, not just in the recording studio but in life.

When Santana made the choice she went and confided herself to Sam who was a little emotional...or rather, a lot emotional as they discussed it in her personal home recording studio.

''Oh my god stop crying,'' Santana warned him as she saw tears form in his eyes at the news that she was ready to pop the question to Brittany. ''It's gross.''

''How is it gross? You cry all the time!''

''Yeah but like it's charming when I cry. No one needs to see your giant ass fish lips trembling with emotion,'' she teased with a smirk.

Sam took a moment and shook his head about to compose himself. ''Fine. But why are you telling me this before you ask?''

Santana shrugged and looked all sheepish suddenly. ''Because other than Brittany, you're the closest person to me. You're not just my musical partner, Sam, you're my friend.''

Sam dipped his head, touched. ''Whatever you need, I'm here for you, I'm in. Also! I call dibs on maid of honor, only I'd like to be referred to as dude of honor.''

With the help of Sam, Santana brainstormed for weeks trying to figure out the best most romantic way to go about popping the question until it finally donned on her, just how and when and where.

It had been quite a few years since their first meeting at Coachella but Santana thought it was only fitting that she should ask Brittany the biggest most important question of all there, at the festival that had first brought them together in their very strange roundabout way.

The Make had just finished a successful and lucrative tour and was on hiatus between album cycles but The Dirty Pinks had just released their third record and had been doing a lot of travelling in support of it. It had been widely well received with many hailing it as their finest effort yet, in response to that the girls had been offered one of the headlining slots and had happily agreed. With her plans in motion Santana conveniently had her schedule clear of any obligations or appearances and had told Brittany she was game to just tag along for the ride. And so, The Dirty Pinks finally headlined Coachella and rocked their set from beginning to end. Santana watched the entire thing from the wings, smiling proudly.

For Brittany it wasn't so much about coming back and proving all the suits and naysayers wrong, it was more about knowing she could lead her girls there as headliners finally. It meant a lot to her that she could give them this, that they could stand on the mainstage and know that they were good enough. What made the performance even more satisfying was knowing as soon as she walked off stage Santana would be at her side.

Later, after the Pinks had played their final song, Quinn, Dani and Tina had tried to cajole Santana and Brittany into coming along with them as they went out to explore and celebrate their successful performance. Brittany declined though, telling the girls to go off and have some fun of their own because she and Santana just wanted to make a quiet evening of it and turn in.

Together, hand in hand, they made their way through the festival, passing rides and vendors, lights and parties. Everything was different but somehow familiar as they went along the path, except instead of retiring to The Dirty Pinks tour bus, or even the provided artist trailer Brittany had been assigned upon her arrival, Santana tugged Brittany off into another direction. They veered off past the noise and the chaos and the people until they came to a sparse section of the camping grounds where several large, elegant and fashionable yurts had been erected.

''I thought this might be a little more intimate,'' Santana said as she pulled aside the curtains and led Brittany into one.

It was more than just a tiny stuffy tent, the luxury yurt was pristine and beautifully decorated, decked out with twinkling lights, fluffy plush rugs, a couple of stylish chairs, not to mention the huge bed placed in the center of it all. Santana thought buying one of the exclusive and elite accommodation packages for the duration of the festival was worth it considering how much time they spent on tour buses and hotels. It was different, it was romantic and it was theirs for the next few days.

''Baby, it's so pretty,'' Brittany sang as she spun in place, taking everything in.

''Yeah, you like it?''

''I love it. Thank you.''

''I thought we should do something special.''

''Special huh?''

''Well this is our first time back at Coachella together.''

''It is?'' Brittany hummed and squinted off as if in great thought. And then, realizing that Santana had arranged for their bags to be delivered to their sleeping quarters she made for her own and went about undressing and preparing for bed. Brittany took her bag and went to a corner and started stripping down as she spoke with her back to Santana. ''I didn't even realize that until now but now that you pointed it out, the year after we met you and Sam came again but me and the girls were doing some overseas tour and didn't sign on to appear, then the year after that we came but you and Sam were holed up in the studio putting the final touches on an album. And then the last couple of years neither of us came so...this is the first time we've been to Coachella together since we met.'' Brittany smiled at the thought. ''God, I can't believe it's been so long.''

Brittany turned around suddenly and saw Santana kneeling down on both knees with a small black box in one one her hands.

Brittany's face froze in a delighted sort of shock.

Santana swallowed her nerves and attempted to play it cool. She didn't want this to be some ordinary proposal, she was way too boss for that she thought, and Brittany deserved something better than trite stuffy overused words.

''You know I think I felt it from the first second I saw you. I just knew. I just knew there was some part of me that needed to be close to some part of you, even then. The handcuffs, they might have given me an excuse but I'm pretty sure I would've followed you anywhere even without them. I would still follow you anywhere because I still feel it. I still feel that little tug pulling me to you. It's never went away. I feel it when you're in the next room or when you're on the other side of the world, I feel a piece of you tugging on a piece of me. But the thing of it is that tiny tug isn't this tortured, painful, suffocating thing because I know where ever you pull me is going to excite me and challenge me and help me know myself more.'' Santana held out the small box and cracked the lid open. ''And if you let me I'll do my best to excite you and challenge you and help you know yourself better for as long as I live, for the rest of your days, for the rest of my days.''

Santana inhaled and waited as Brittany let the reality of what was happening sink in.

And when it did, when Brittany finally let it all wash over her, her answer was to tug Santana up onto her feet and pull her into a delicious and long kiss. She poured herself into it and pulled Santana into her until their forms pressed together with a desperate kind of want. They moaned into the embrace.

''Is that a yes?'' Santana asked when they pulled away from their kiss with a big wet pop.

Brittany's grinned. ''That's a yes.''

Santana shuttered in happiness and relief.

She didn't just get one yes that night, she got a series of them from Brittany - that is when their kisses turned intense and serious and they fumbled to the bed, pulling at each other's clothing as they went. Granted, all of those yeses were accompanied by an orgasm but Santana knew it was more than that. Brittany's constant streams of ''yes, yes, yes!'' wasn't just to do with what Santana was giving her between the sheets (although it was a little bit to do with what Santana was giving her between the sheets). Inside each yes was a promise.

Later on after they christened the yurt and had collapsed with exhaustion beneath the big comfy crisp white bedspread Santana curled into Brittany's side and nuzzled against her.

They were both over the moon happy with the development but they didn't think the press had any business knowing about any of it, so they kept quiet and instead chose to celebrate their engagement privately. When they broke the news to their friends they swore Sam, Quinn, Tina and Dani to secrecy although it really didn't matter because in the end the press put two and two together when a few days later pap shots showed Brittany at an airport terminal with a rather impressive ring on her finger. With the cat out of the bag there was no use in hiding it. They had mastered the art of maintaining their privacy but with news of an engagement, it was like throwing chum into shark water. Suddenly, a renewed interest in them flared up as the press became excited about them making it legit and cementing their status as a super couple.

For a brief period of time they both felt slightly defeated and were certain that no matter what they did or how careful they were in the end their future wedding would be compromised and exploited. Either someone would find a way to sneak in and snap pics, or someone working for a caterer would sell information. They were resigned that their special day would somehow turn into another stupid headline.

Lucky for them they had some pretty genius friends. Dani and Tina were the ones who first came up with the idea. The gossip bloggers and paps loved to screw with their lives so why not turn the tables and screw with theirs Tina had suggested. She and Dani thought that instead of trying to hide the private details of their engagement and wedding planning process Santana and Brittany should instead overshare every little thing but instead of giving the press any real information they would just feed them false info. For instance instead of sharing with the press that they were actually planning a small intimate affair in Maui only to be attended by a handful of friends, Brittany told an interviewer that they were going to have a huge star studded Malibu wedding and that Adele would be officiating. Or instead of telling the press the truth that they were taking their time to actually write their own wedding vows she told a reporter that they were opting to quote their favorite Tupac lyrics at each other while standing at the altar. Instead of telling the press that they had decided to have a joint bachelorette party at a club where they may or may have not snuck into a private room where one of them may or may have not given the other a lap dance they instead told reporters that they were going to spend their last night unwed at separate locations because they ''wanted to be old fashioned'' and not see each other before the wedding.

They made up ridiculous and sometimes elaborate lies in place of their truth and their friends backed them up. Like when Sam was asked on a red carpet what Santana was going to walk down the aisle to, he said he was going to beatbox the wedding march for her final walk to Brittany.

In the end the press was so confused and confounded about all of the provided details that they never saw it coming. It just happened.

With the help of Lake and her private jet Santana and Brittany along with a few of their closest friends flew off to a remote location and had their perfect quiet beachside wedding. No nosy press, no unwanted cameras, just their friends and just them.

Their careers required them to give up some things in the glare of the spotlight, that was just a part of the life, but at least they had this for themselves and that was no small thing in their eyes.

In celebration they danced as wife and wife as the sunset behind them.

Several months later life had returned to normal for the most part. Or as close to normal as it ever was for them.

Sam and Santana remained on their hiatus, enjoying their break and filling their time with small side projects, producing and writing for others. The Dirty Pinks were settling back into their everyday life but making the promotional rounds as the album occasionally picked up awards or was featured in end of the year Best Of lists. Their latest had a lot of critical buzz and they really thought and hoped that this would be the one, the one to take them to the next level. Until they heard the news though, they were all taking it easy.

''And that's all I have for you today. Tune in tomorrow! We're gonna have life coach and new author Holly Holliday here to talk about her self help book! As always I'm Sugar Motta, Jesus holla!''

''Jesus holla,'' the live studio audience on screen repeated as it had become the entertainment presenter's signature sign off after every episode of her show.

In their shared house, Tina, Quinn and Dani stared at the television screen for a good long moment before Sam, who had dropped in for a visit, reached for the remote and silently turned it off.

''I can't believe that Sugar Motta chick got her own TV show,'' Tina said, mystified.

''I can't believe Holly Holliday is out there still giving people advice and getting paid to do it,'' Quinn added.

''Fame is weird,'' Dani offered with a shrug.

Their discussion was interrupted when Dani's phone went off and the others went silent as she answered. She made a big wavy gesture at them as she listened to the person on the other end of the line for several minutes. Tina and Quinn raised their eyebrows with curiosity until Dani ended the call, at which point she began to scream at the top of her lungs.

''What the hell,'' Tina laughed.

Sam placed a hand to one of his ears. ''Why are you shouting?''

Quinn winced. ''Did the press get ahold of your and Lake's sex tape? Cause I told you that was a bad idea.''

''First of all,'' Dani started. ''Sex tapes are never a bad idea, it's like in the Bible okay? And second of all no. That was our manager on the phone.'' Dani jumped up and onto their coffee table and then proceeded to almost fall off. ''Guess what? Guess who just got nominated for their first Grammy?''

''Who?'' asked Sam.

''Us, bitches,'' Dani declared with a loud whoop. ''The Dirty Pinks!''

''No way,'' Tina scoffed.

''Yes way Chang!'' Dani said firmly. ''Check your google alerts friend, The Dirty Pinks have JUST BEEN NOMINATED FOR ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR!''

Dani screamed again except this time Tina and Quinn stood up to join her, screaming at the top of their lungs as they began to hop around and hug.

Tina pulled out her phone and sure enough, within seconds she had indeed received dozens of texts and emails from her peers and friends congratulating her as well as the others. ''I think I'm going to throw up, or cry, or both!'' Tina shouted.

Quinn smiled at her band mates and pulled out her own phone. She too had messages but instead of going to them she went to dial a contact. ''I'm calling Brittany! She is going to freak!''

''She texted me an hour ago.'' Dani said. ''She said she and Santana were in the home studio, something about helping Santana work out a piece of music. She said she'd be tied up for the rest of the day.''

''No answer,'' Quinn said after the call went to voicemail.

''Call Santana then,'' suggested Tina.

''You know what, if they're in the home studio trying to nail a track down then they're probably not even paying attention to their phones.'' Sam stood up to join his friends, hugging each of them and giving them supportive pats on the back. ''We should just go over there and surprise them with the news.''

''Yes,'' Quinn declared. ''But on the way there we have to stop at a liquor store and load up.''

Dani nodded eagerly. ''Because tonight we are getting our drink on!''

''I'll drive.''

With Sam as chauffeur The Dirty Pinks were off, making a quick pit stop to pick up a few bottles of alcohol because when they broke the good news to their band leader the plan was to celebrate by cracking them all open. In a way they thought it was for the better that Brittany's phone was off, that meant she didn't learn of their nomination from a text or google alert, it meant they could be the ones to break it to her, as a band, together. It meant they could be the ones to deliver the news to their leader. That was something they really wanted to give her and themselves.

Once they arrived at Santana and Brittany's house Sam used his key to let them all in and then it was a mad rush as they jogged through room after room in search of the married couple. They weren't in the kitchen or the dining room, they weren't in the home office or the home gym. Dani even ran outside to check the pool and guest house only to find no one. Sam and Quinn had ran down into Santana's home recording studio and only found it empty and dark. Together the entire group then travelled up to the second floor where they checked Lord Tubbington's room (because Brittany had insisted that he have his own room and Santana had rolled her eyes but ultimately gave in) as well as the guest rooms and lounge until finally they unceremoniously ran into the master bedroom only to find themselves coming to a screeching halt.

Brittany was nowhere in sight but before them Santana was sprawled out on the bed wearing nothing but a bra and teeny tiny panties. She flinched in reaction when she saw them but she couldn't exactly move to cover herself, not when she was handcuffed to the bed frame. The chain of the cuff went around a slim bar which kept both of her hands in place above her head.

The five of them blinked in silence for a good long moment.

''Well this is embarrassing,'' Santana said more to herself than anyone else.

Tina started making weird snorty sounds as she laughed. ''You know I would've thought you and Brittany would be over the whole handcuff kink considering how you guys met.''

Quinn snickered at her side. ''So does this mean you're the bottom?''

''Oh she's totally the bottom, Brittany told me,'' Dani said helpfully.

"You're such a bottom Santana," cracked Sam.

''Shut up Sam!'' Santana warned. ''And you don't even know what a bottom is!'' Their friends cackled as Santana pulled on the cuffs in a fruitless attempt to get free. ''Brittany get in here before I murder your entire band in cold blood!"

''Santana, what are you-oh.'' Brittany walked out in a short robe from the connecting master bathroom and had the decency to look mildly embarrassed at the situation.

''So when you told me you and Santana were going to be tied up for the rest of the day, you meant literally?'' Dani teased.

Brittany sidestepped the question. ''Why are you guys here?''

''We did it,'' Quinn announced.

''Did what?''

''Made it,'' added Tina.

''Rock album of the year,'' Dani blurted out excitedly. ''We're nominated, we're going to the Grammys!''

Sam and the girls squealed and went in for a group hug with Brittany at the center. It was a blur with everyone shouting and laughing and crying and somehow they all ended up on top of the king sized bed, hugging and bouncing like a bunch of little kids in celebration of this career milestone. Each time one of them landed Santana flinched.

''I swear to god if someone steps on me you're dead!'' Santana huffed and puffed rather pathetically.

The rest of the group just continued to bounce around Santana on the bed, holding hands and letting out happy little squeaks, so caught up in their own emotions.

''Brittany! Sam! Quinn! Tina! Dani! Stahp!'' Santana grumbled as she wiggled in place, fearful of getting trampled on.

''So first we have to have a couple of drinks downstairs,'' Quinn insisted.

''And then we have to go out,'' Dani continued. ''We are not just celebrating here. I texted Lake and she said she's called in a favor and is renting my favorite club out for an impromptu party tonight in honor of our first Grammy nomination.''

''So drinks downstairs to start us off, then we all need to get dressed for the club,'' Tina clarified.

''I'm invited right?'' Sam asked.

''Of course you're invited. Come on let's go.''

Dani was the first one to hop down from the bed, the other soon followed after her. Brittany had bounced down to sit on the bed next to Santana's form but she remained still. ''Um, we'll meet you guys down there in a little bit. Soon as we uh finish up here.''

''Don't take too long!''

The gang snickered as they all proceeded out of the room, closing the door behind them leaving Santana and Brittany alone on their bed. As a precaution Brittany stood up and went to make sure the door was locked this time around.

''Remind me to bitch slap each and every one of them,'' Santana joked.

''I'm sorry they interrupted us.''

''It's okay,'' Santana chuckled, finally able to relax since it was just her and Brittany. ''But I guess you should uncuff me now huh?''

''Why would I do that?''

''Don't you want to go celebrate with your band?''

''Of course I do and I will. After.'' Brittany made her way back to the bed, shedding her robe and crawling up onto Santana who grunted in frustration when the cuffs prevented her from touching Brittany where she so wanted to touch.

''After?''

''Yeah after. I've been begging you to do it with the handcuffs again for ages, there's no way I'm letting you out of them until I have my way with you.''

Santana groaned. She was torn between wanting to stay in bed with Brittany and wanting to encourage Brittany to go with her friends. ''You can have your way with me later too. Britt, it's alright. This nomination is a big deal, a big stepping stone to the next phase of your career, you should celebrate that and you should celebrate that with the girls.''

''I will celebrate it with the girls. I just want to celebrate it with you first.''

Brittany kissed her and gently began to peel Santana's bra and panties off. As more of Santana's skin became exposed Brittany went to run kisses and licks over every inch available. Santana shivered in appreciation. ''You do?''

''I do. Tonight when we go out I know I'm going to have to shake a bunch of hands and pose for photos and listen to a bunch of imposters congratulate me and feed me a bunch of garbage about how they were 'fans from the beginning' and I get it, that's a part of my job but honestly all of that just seems like a bunch of noise to me. I don't want that, that isn't how I want to celebrate my first Grammy nom. I want to celebrate it with my super hot, super supportive rockstar wife.''

Santana groaned and again tugged on her cuffs even though she knew full well she was at Brittany's mercy. ''Guhhhh.''

''Trust me this is exactly where I want to be.'' Brittany went up to whisper against Santana's ear. ''I don't want to be in some club or bar or stupid event.''

''You don't?''

''No. I'd rather be in you instead.''

And really, who could argue with that.

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That's all folks! I want to thank each and every one of you who liked/reblogged/reviewed/whatever'd in support of this story. Your encouragement has meant the world to me and I appreciate you guys. This has been a really fun ride and it's brought me a lot of joy and I hope I made you guys laugh and smile along the way too because at the end of the day my only goal was to entertain.

I love hearing from you guys and honestly, you're feedback is the fuel that keeps fic writers going. As always you can find me on tumblr at yourstreetserenade.

Take care!