"Good evening everyone. My name's Santana and I wanted to thank you for giving me this opoortunity to sing here tonight" Santana speaks into the mic as she addresses the diners "As always, I'm dedicating this song to the one I love most, Brittany"
Brittany is working the same shift too and is serving tables as she hears Santana's sentiments. Brittany puts on a small smile as she acknowledges the soft applause at her but she's still shaken up about her meeting with the doctor. When Santana begins her song, Brittany can't help but get emotional.
I took my love and took it down
I climbed a mountain and I turned around
And I saw my reflection in the snow-covered hills
Til the landslide brought me down
Oh, mirror in the sky, what is love?
Can the child within my heart rise above?
Can I sail through the changing ocean tides?
Can I handle the seasons of my life?
Well, I've been afraid of changing
'Cause I've built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Even children get older
And I'm getting older too
Well, I've been afraid of changing
'Cause I've built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Even children get older
And I'm getting older too
Oh, I'm getting older too
I take my love, take it down
I climb a mountain and I turned around
And if you see my reflection in the snow-covered hills
Will the landslide bring you down
And if you see my reflection in the snow-covered hills
Will the landslide bring you down, oh, oh
The landslide bring you down.
Brittany struggles to hold back tears as she's taken back to the time she and Santana had a fake wedding, with Uncle Charlie as the officiate. She loved how happy and carefree they all were and wished more than anything that they would be that happy for the rest of their lives.
The song ends and Brittany quickly wipes her tears as the crowd claps. She looks over at Santana on the stage who's smiling but Brittany knows there is pain behind those eyes.
Walking back home, Santana has her hand on Britt's shoulder as she senses something wrong with the girl.
"Britt?" Santana starts carefully and continues when she hears a hum in response "Are you okay? You're unsually quiet. Is there a problem?"
Brittany stops and looks at Santana. She opens her mouth to say something but shakes her head then continues walking "I just don't feel good"
Santana knows better than to argue so she lets her be as they continue to walk the rest of the way home in silence.
Not along after that night, Brittany makes another visit to Dr Rivera. She has been observing Santana a lot lately and she's worried that Santana still hasn't told her anything concerning her condition. Sometimes she hears Santana complaining at night about her eyes, so decidedly she has no choice but to turn to the doctor.
"Doc, what really is Santana's condition now? Even if she's not saying anything to me, I feel like she's suffering" Brittany says seriously
Dr Rivera sighs "That's what I'm afraid of , the infection must be spreading in her eyes. Brittany, I think we have to move fast. Take Santana to a good hospital in Cleveland so she can have the operation before it becomes too late"
Brittany nods at this information. She knows it's important but she still has no idea how she's going to make that happen.
That night, Santana find herself counting money on her bed again and sighs at what she comes up with.
"It's over, doesn't matter what I do. I won't make it. I won't be able to see again" Santana says sadly "But even if my eyes are hopeless, there is one thing that I am sure of. I love Brittany and I'm ready to work hard so I can give her everything… because she is the one I'm going to marry."
While Brittany's still out, Santana makes her way over to Uncle Charlie and talks to him about marrying Brittany. Of course, Charlie couldn't be happier. He knows they are good for each other and has always supported their relationship. In fact, he's quite excited about Santana proposing.
"Santana, you have to say this really well so that she'll understand. Okay let's practice. Go" Charlie sits back and waits for Santana to start.
Santana stands, squares her shoulders back and fumbles with the small box in her hands. Taking a deep breath, she starts "Um Britt.. I love you"
Little did they know, it was at that very moment that Brittany arrives back and walks in the room behind Uncle Charlie without him knowing and stops in her tracks
"You always say that I saved you but that's not true. Because it was you who saved me" Santana takes another breath "Because of you, I had hope .. because of you I learned how to dream. Because of you, I learned how to love. Brittany, my eyes may not see you but my heart can… and my heart doesn't want to look at anything else but you"
At this point, Santana gets down on one knee and opens the little box in front of Charlie (and unknowingly, Brittany) and continues her speech
"I'm sorry this ring is a little cheap.. but Britt, I can't give you anything else but my love" Santana smiles gently "Brittany Pierce. Marry me. One thing is important.. I love you. I hope that you will accept me even if I wouldn't be able to see again."
Uncle Charlie smiles proudly with tears threatening at his eyes but behind him, Brittany is definitely crying at the sight before her. She can't believe Santana is proposing to her. She's so overwhelmed with love that now more than ever she's determined to make Santana's wish to have sight again, come true.
She quietly makes her way over to her room and starts counting the amount that she has. Frustrated that she doesn't have enough, more tears fall down her face but she's definitely not giving up hope. Suddenly, Brittany has an idea.
The next day, Brittany has a plan set in mind. She and Santana were invited to their neighbour's little daughter's birthday party but she plans to go somewhere else in order to get things rolling in terms of finding money for Santana's operation.
"Britt, you're not going to the party?" Santana calls as she steps out of her bedroom, nicely dressed for the party. Brittany, on the other hand, is dressed more casually.
"I have an important thing to go to. " Brittany mumbles as she rushes to get her things so she can leave. Brittany can't even look at Santana as she continues "You just have to go on your own. You can do that. Sugar will pick you up from here. Okay bye"
And with that, Brittany rushes out of the house, barely hearing Santana call out her name after her goodbyes.
Brittany sets off to her first stop to talk things through with some one. As she gets to graveyard, she makes a beeline to where her mother rests and greets her upon her arrival.
At first, Brittany takes a few moments after her greetings to think about what she needs to say before she needs to get going. Her mind is in overdrive with all these thoughts that consume her – she doesn't know where to start. But she needs to get going so she just goes right out and says it
"Mom, I'm going to go back to gambling" Britt states "I know I promised you that I wouldn't go back… but it's Santana."
Brittany drops her head as she continues
"She needs that operation soon otherwise she's going to be blind forever. If I go back to playing poker with some highrollers, I'll earn more money, right?" Mom? Hey" Brittany calls at her Mom's tombstone then sighs.
Brittany wishes more than anything that her mom could answer her right now. Perhaps it would provide some sort of clarity to all her internal conflict but it seems that this is the only way that would work.
After spending some more time thinking it over, it's already time to go to the game Schuester set up for her so Brittany stands up, says her goodbyes to her mother and heads off.
As she gets to the venue, she spots Uncle Charlie waiting at the entrance. She's not entirely surprised as before she left, she sent a quick text telling him where she would be. She assumed he pieced it together and knew what she was up to. Looking a bit past him, she sees Schuester with some of his workers waiting. Sighing heavily before squaring her shoulders, she sides up to Uncle Charlie to greet him
The moment Charlie notices Brittany, he places his hands on his hips and looks disapprovingly down at her, raising his eyebrow. Brittany knew that look and he didn't even have to say anything.
"Uncle Charlie, I know you promised mother that you wouldn't let me come back to this but you said it yourself… It's not everyday we find someone we love. So I'm going to bet everything for Santana" Brittany says confidently.
Charlie merely looks at Brittany, shifting his sight between her eyes, trying to find any doubt.. but he found none. He knew he wouldn't be able to talk Brittany out of this one, so Charlie just nods in defeat and pats Brittany on her shoulder.
Brittany lets out a tight lipped smile and makes her way over to Schuester for her briefing.
The game goes fairly well and Brittany increases her chips as time goes by. She notices one of the players stare at her consistently throughout the game but brushes it off. The man, however, named Mr Evans is intrigued by Brittany's skill. He's even more intrigued by the fact her witnessed her talking to Schuester, who was notorious for his gambling crew. He put the two and two together and as he loses to Brittany in the game, he thinks of an idea that could possibly help him.
Not long after that match, Brittany's buying something at a store and walks out after making her purchases when a van pulls up and a man gets out
"Brittany!" he calls
Brittany pauses and squints at the guy "Do I know you?" Brittany says as she eyes his face, trying to figure out where she has seen him before.
The tall man lets out a crooked smile and replies "I thought you people have good memory. I'm Finn. Mr Evan's assistant. From the poker game? You should come with me, he wants to talk to you. It's important"
Brittany makes a confused faced. She had no idea why Mr Evans would even want to talk to her. "Me? Why?"
"I think Mr Evans should be the one to explain" Finn nods toward his van "You'll know soon enough"
Still slightly skeptical, Brittany decides to go along with him anyway and enters the van. She has met Mr Evans and he seems like a nice enough guy. However, she is still unsure as to what Mr Evans actually wants for her.
After a 20 minute drive, the van finally pulls up to a fancy looking house. They enter the gates where a guard stands watch and cruise along the driveway until they reach the front of the house. Brittany peers out the window and her eyes rake up the enormity of the building, slightly widening as she reaches the top.
The driver pulls up and stops the van. Finn turns to face Brittany from the passenger's seat "Come on, follow me."
They both exit the car and as the van starts up and drives off again, Finn leads Brittany inside through to the dining area. Brittany marvels at the sight along the way, taking in how modern and expensive everything looked. She was so amazed that she accidentally bumped into Finn's back as he stopped to turn to her.
"Oops, sorry" Brittany mumbles
"Don't worry about it" Finn smiles crookedly again "Take a seat. Mr Evans will be with you shortly. I will go tell him you have arrived"
And with that Finn walks out the room. Brittany realises she's standing in the dining room as she immediately finds the long dinner table that fits about a dozen guests. Taking a seat next to one of the heads of the table, Brittany fiddles with her thumbs as she waits for Mr Evans.
Soon enough, Mr Evans breezes into the room and greets Brittany straight away with a grin on his face.
"Brittany Pierce!" Mr Evans exclaims as he goes to the little set up bar in the corner and makes himself a drink "So glad you could make it. Would you like a beverage?"
Brittany politely shakes her head at the man "No, thank you sir"
"Suit yourself" Mr Evans chuckles and makes his way over next to Brittany, eventually situating himself at the head of the table "So.. how are you, Brittany?"
"Oh, I'm fine, thank you" Brittany replies hesitantly "Um, not to be rude, sir, but why am I here today?"
Mr Evans looks at Brittany from the top of his glass and lowers his drink, revealing a soft smile "I'm glad you ask that, Brittany."
"Well, it appears I know you're the best when it comes to playing poker" Mr Evans continues "And I also know that Schuester fellow trusts you"
Brittany raises her eyebrows and nods her head slowly "So, what do you need from me?"
"You're probably aware the tournament is this Sunday" Mr Evans waits for another nod from Brittany and continues when he finds one "The stakes are going to be high between Schuester and myself… and I want you to help me win"
A soft "oh" escapes from Brittany as her eyes widen "That's a dangerous idea you're proposing, sir"
"Hmm Maybe.." Mr Evans hums as Brittany glances away and eyes the guards standing by the door "But I'm willing to pay you. How does $1000 sound?"
Brittany whips her head back to look at Mr Evans, mouth agape and sees him with a genuine smile on his face. She looks between his eyes to see whether he's kidding or not but can't seem to read him. Either way, she couldn't accept this offer so she closes her eyes and shakes her head
"Why? You don't want money?" Mr Evans inquires "Tell me your price"
Scratching her head, Brittany averts her gaze, looks towards the way she came in then looks back at Mr Evans "Um.. the thing is.. I can never do that to Schuester"
"$5000"
Brittany's face instantly drops. That's a lot of money. Money that can be used for Santana's operation. But Brittany remembers Schuester and how much he has helped her. She couldn't do that to him.
"I'm sorry but…" Britt pauses "I'm sorry I can't do this, just talk to someone else. No, thanks"
And with that, Brittany stands up and makes her way over to the exit. However, before she makes it out the door she hears her name being called.
"Brittany" Mr Evans persists "This kind of luck does not come often. Don't let it pass you"
Brittany offers him a tight-lipped smile and then turns and walks out.