a/n: Epiphany is such a cool word, so I'm glad I got to use it here. anywho, this is it, the final installment, my final goodbye to this version of Santana and Brittany. I really appreciate the love you've all poured out for this story. I know it's been a bumpy road, but I hope it was worth it. As 2022 comes to a close, I hope it was a great year. I know life has been tumultuous these past few years, and I only hope that as we go into 2023 things change. even if doesnt, i suggest taking note of Santana's epiphany in this chapter. Happy New Year- GEK
Chapter 10: Eves and Epiphanies
After calling it an early night, everyone got a good night's sleep in preparation for the long day ahead of them. They would meet in Times Square for lunch and then head into Times Square. The biggest worry for all of them was that there were no bathrooms in Times Square. So they all made sure to go before they left the restaurant and to drink next to nothing. They each brought only one water bottle to limit their fluid intake as much as possible, because leaving wasn't going to be an option. They all had, as embarrassing and uncomfortable as it was, donned adult diapers just in case. It was noon when they entered their corral area. They had also come with Dino, Lia and Brady. Tony was too young to stay up until midnight and certainly too young to hold his need for a restroom for twelve hours straight, so he stayed home with his mom. Good company made the first few hours pass pretty easily with just conversation, and they even befriended a few of the other people in their section. As conversation died down, Brittany pulled out her phone and they played Heads Up for quite a while, keeping themselves and their new friends for the night entertained for almost two hours. Santana was so glad they'd brought a portable phone charger. By the time that was done it was 5 pm- only an hour before the ball was raised and all the fun began. They ate their snacks and sooner than anyone could expect, it was six and they watched the ball climb into the sky. It was seriously magical. Performers began to take the stage, and despite the pain in their feet from standing so long, they started to have fun. Santana did admit, however, that this was not something her and Brittany would be doing again anytime soon, and that watching the broadcast was honestly better. You could eat and drink and sit. Izzy spent a lot of their time talking to Dino and Lia, and to their surprise, Lia had invited Jess along as well. Apparently Brittany forcing them together for a performance had formed a bond when Missy made it clear she was the real problem. Jess and Izzy instantly connected over being nonbinary, and it was really great to see them have someone to talk to, even if just for the night. Santana did feel bad for her parents- it was clear that by an hour before midnight both of them were uncomfortable. Her father also knew how dangerous it was to not use the restroom for twelve hours straight and was worrying. However, that last hour was the best hour. The performers were more exciting, and they could look forward to the subway bathrooms in an hour. Finally, the countdown began, and Brittany and Santana sealed the New Year with a kiss. This was quickly followed by them joining the crowd rushing towards bathrooms and trains to get home. They parted ways at the subway station, promising to see their families the next morning for breakfast after a well deserved bathroom break. They arrived back to their apartment and shared a private cheers for the New Year, clinking their vodka shots together. What could Santana say, she missed her drunken New Years Party. It'd been awhile for her. They sat down on the couch and were joined by the cats. Santana rested her head on Brittany's shoulder as they watched the continuing parties on the West Coast.
"Any resolutions for the New Year?" Brittany asked and Santana smiled and shook her head no.
"I've never been happier in my life. I wouldn't want to change anything. I sort of had an epiphany as we stared at a ball all night." Santana said.
"And what was that?" Brittany asked.
"That life's too short, and that the best thing we can do is live in the moment. You have to appreciate every moment to its fullest, good or bad. Because everything that we go through shapes us and makes us who we are. Worrying won't stop any of it, it'll only make the good times harder to enjoy. The more I plan and worry, the less life I get to enjoy. It's not a resolution, because those don't come true. They get dropped, we both know it. Instead it's just a realization that I can worry a little less and enjoy life a little more. I'm not gonna pressure myself to worry less, because then I'll worry about trying not to worry. That doesn't do any good. I'm just going to remember those moments where my worries about peeing my pants, dying from kidney failure or my feet falling off disappeared as I stared at that gorgeous crystal ball in the sky. When I start to worry, I'm gonna look into the crystal blue eyes that do the same thing. You make my worries disappear Brittany. That's the true epiphany. You are my perfect match because when I look into your eyes I know that this world will never tear me down. I know that no matter what's on the News, there is good in this world, and there's no one I'd rather experience it with than you." Santana blushed "I rambled, didn't I?"
"Baby, of course not. You just said something beautiful. Everything I've always wanted you to know when I force you to look at me when you don't want to- you've finally got it. And I'm so happy I get to experience the next year and the rest of my life embracing the world- good and bad- by your side." Brittany kissed Santana, trying to say what the words couldn't.
The next morning they joined their families for a final breakfast in New York. They were flying out on a red eye late that night, and Santana was desperately soaking in every minute. While all the adults agreed to avoid resolutions, Izzy made one that they wanted to come true immediately.
"My new year's resolution is to get a haircut that makes me feel more confident." they said "And I want to do it here in New York. Today."
"Really?" Whitney asked, "You don't want to wait until we're back in Ohio."
"No way, those stylists will eye me weird when I ask for shorter hair. Jess recommended a place last night. Can we go, please?" Izzy begged.
"I don't see why not." Pierce said "If it'll make you happy."
"It will dad. I promise. I want Britt and San to see it in person. I want to go back to Ohio as my real self." Izzy smiled.
"Let's do it! I'm sure it'll be better than Santana's uncle Jesse haircut." Maribel chuckles and Hector immediately pulls out his phone so they can all see that horrendous hairdo again.
"That's almost as bad as when you went blonde." Brittany sighs.
"Can we stop talking about my bad hair decisions and support Izzy's good one?" Santana asked and they all relented. They made their way to the barber that Jess had suggested- they had pride flags all over the place and tons of hairstyles to look at. All the stylists were extremely friendly and helped Izzy pick the style that would frame their face and give them the look they wanted. They decided on a pixie cut in the end, and they pulled it off perfectly. Brittany couldn't stop fluffing it up and playing with it, much to Izzy's displeasure. Santana fixed it once Brittany had her fun. After that, they went and saw the Empire State Building, something Maribel wanted to check off her list before they left. They all shared a lunch and made plans for visits to Ohio and visits to New York for the next few months. It was apparent to Santana that seeing their family, even just for a long weekend, was incredibly important. They ended up at Central Park again that afternoon where Izzy got to say a final goodbye to Dino and Lia. Tony was there and Santana told him all about Times Square. When he heard that they couldn't go to the bathroom or sit he decided he wasn't upset that he missed it anymore. Santana saw how her parents smiled watching her interact with the little boy, it was the same look Brittany would give her. Even Whitney was eyeing her. She seriously didn't know how her and Britt were going to get their parents to understand they weren't ready for a kid yet. She wasn't even sure Brittany agreed with her, but she knew she wasn't ready. However, she also knew the process was a long one. So maybe they could at least start the research. But that was a secret they'd keep as a couple. As the sun started to set, they went to Santana's favorite Italian restaurant in the city and had dinner. It was bittersweet as they finished dessert, as Santana knew that goodbye was coming soon. They had checked out of the hotel earlier in the day and so they headed back to the girl's apartment where they kept their bags. As it got later, goodbye got closer. Finally, at midnight it was time to drive them to the airport. They got in the rental and made their way to JFK International. Santana held strong until they stood beside TSA where they would have to part. She shared a teary hug with her parents, barely holding herself together as she hugged the Pierces. She made Izzy promise to call her anytime she needed as long as it wasn't between midnight and 7am. After the hugs were given, the women watched as their family went through TSA. They shared a final wave goodbye over the heads of other passengers and then their families disappeared into the crowd of others looking for their gate. Santana broke down into Brittany's arms and the blonde slowly ushered her back to the car. Santana cried the whole way home, and when they finally got into the apartment, Brittany joined her with her own cries. It was hard for them to see their families leave when it felt like they'd just gotten there- and that wasn't that far from the truth. Eventually, the tears stopped, but Santana stayed curled against Brittany. They passed out on the couch together, the Christmas tree lights watching over them.
Santana went back to work the next morning. She was dreading it, but Brittany offered to come and drop her off before she returned to the studio for the first time since the showcase. When they arrived, Stella surprised Santana with her very own office, and the Latina's eyes lit up with new hope. Brittnay did the honors of putting her name on the door.
"Santana Lopez-Pierce…that's my wife." Brittany smiled and Santana giggled. "My wife has a fancy office and a fancy job. Finn should be jealous."
"Rachel is on Broadway. I don't think he will be." Santana shook her head "But as long as my wife is proud, that's all that matters."
"I am so proud." Brittnay said and then whispered into Santana's ear "And totally turned on." causing her wife to blush. Stella laughed and shook her head- she was starting to see how Santana had fallen in love with Brittnay. It was more than her dancer's physique- Brittany was an unashamed open book who wasn't scared to be herself in a critical and judgemental world. Santana gave off such an air of confidence, but it was Brittany who'd built it. Stella couldn't be more grateful for the woman that Santana was thanks to her wife.
Brittany left after she added the final touch to Santana's office- a picture of them kissing on New Year's Eve that Izzy had snuck. She had another for herself, as she got her own, albeit much smaller and far less fancy, office at the studio. Being head choreographer was demanding, but she insisted she still got to teach one of her teen classes. She dropped all the adult and children's classes she taught, and she dropped her competition teens. However, she kept her contemporary interpretive class with Dino, Lia and everyone else. She'd never give up that class, it was the class that earned her the promotion. The first thing she added to her office beside the photo was a mini fridge stocked with extra food and a basket of snacks on top too. Never again would any of her students go without a meal. Not on her watch.
The world kept turning as 2016 began. And even though things weren't going to stay as great as they were that January, together Santana and Brittany would face whatever the world threw at them. In November, they held each other as a president no one expected to win. They watched as progress was undone and the Supreme Court was irreparably altered. They cried when 49 people died at Pulse, when a concert in Vegas ended in tragedy, and months later when 17 people lost their lives at a school in Florida. America was more torn apart than ever, and everyday they worried for their rights. With all the violence and tragedy, Santana was scared to start their family. But they tried for the first time on their anniversary in 2018, even as the news played the tragic events of the previous day. Santana fell pregnant that first time, and nine months later, baby girl Penelope Alma Lopez-Pierce, named after their grandmothers, joined the world. In 2020, shortly before COVID lockdowned the world, Penny got a little brother: Jose Steven Pierce, after their grandfathers. They spent every minute with their children, interacting with people only over video chat as COVID spread rampantly through New York. Jose wouldn't meet his grandparents until Christmas when the girls made the long drive to Ohio. No matter how dark the world got during the pandemic, no matter how scary things got concerning their rights, Santana and Brittany lived their life to the fullest, because they both knew the most precious thing in the world was time.
a/n: a final thank you for follows, likes and reviews. I enjoyed writing this and I hope it was equally enjoyable to read. AO3 crosspublsihing has begun. im i_am_gek there (underscores replaced dashes). see you here or there I hope!