A/N: THANK YOU FOR THE REVIEWS. SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG TO GET POSTED.
"What the hell just happened?" Santana asked in shock.
"I think Rae just broke up with you," Brittany said on the verge of tears.
"Like hell she did," Santana spat following the direction of Rachel and cornering her in the singer's office before slamming the door behind her. Rachel looked up from her desk with tears in her eyes begging to fall.
"Screw you, Berry!" Santana started off. "I didn't do all this for money. I don't give a rat's ass about that and you know it. I protect you because you are my family and my best friend. So if you want to fire me for being a friend and having your back, so be it. I love you, Rachel. You can fire me as your manager, but you can't fire me from being your friend."
"Santana, what if she's my Brittany?" Rachel asked. "I've made more money the last six years to last a lifetime. So what if I take a hit on my reputation. Maybe my coming out would open other doors if this one closes."
"I know you, Rachel. I have known you since we were kids. You won't be happy unless you are on that stage belting out songs and drinking in the applause of the crowd. If this is truly what you want, you know I will always have your back, but if you don't listen to me, you might lose it all," Santana said sitting on the corner of the desk.
"We are going to have to figure something out, San. I want my cake and eat it too," Rachel said.
"Your blonde cake, you dirty little midget," Santana said with an impish grin.
"Santana!" yelled Rachel unable to stop the grin from crossing her lips.
The door burst open and a red-eyed Brittany all but fell through the doorway and into the office. She looked between her girlfriend and her best friend.
"Rae, you can't fire Santana. I know she can be overbearing and pushy and occasionally a little evil, but we are a family and she would never hurt you," Brittany exploded.
"Wow, I feel loved," Santana muttered.
"Britt-" Rachel got out before Brittany interrupted her.
"No, Rae. We have to stick together. We are all we have. We're a flock of ducks flying and Santana leads the way. Without her, we will just fly in circles honking," Brittany cried.
"I'm not firing her, Britt. Everything is going to be okay," Rachel comforted her friend.
"But you can't give up on Quinn either. I really think you two are going to be really good for each other," Brittany added.
"What makes you so sure, Babe?" Santana asked genuinely.
"I knew I would be good for you didn't I?" Brittany said turning to her love.
"Point taken" Santana replied.
Santana made her way back to the hotel she had just left a few hours earlier. She was definitely not happy, but she had made a promise to Rachel to try and figure something out and help. The last word made her vomit a little in her mouth. There was something about this blonde girl that didn't sit well with her. The Latina knocked on the door and waited.
"Really? Twice in one day?" Quinn said as she opened the door and let Santana into her room. "You know, people are going to start talking," Quinn added sarcastically.
"Look, twinkie, I'm not thrilled about being here, but somehow you have planted your little ass in Rachel's life and I promised to help her keep you her dirty little secret," Santana offered.
"What?" Quinn asked.
"Your little tryst can't be made public since you refuse to exit the competition. So here's how it's going to go down. When in public, you will not make eyes at or do anything deemed unprofessional towards Rachel. When you two hang out or whatever, it will be in the privacy of the house. Either myself or Brittany will pick you up and take you there. Should it last that long, we will deal with after the competition then. Any questions?" Santana asked.
"Um, no" Quinn replied.
Santana took in the blonde in front of her for a moment. Quinn was a beauty there was no denying it. The hazel eyes in front of her were captivating and spoke volumes. Santana knew how Rachel could fall so quickly for her, even if she didn't like it.
"Right, so Rachel wants to know if you want to head over tonight for dinner," Santana relayed.
A dreamy look washed over Quinn's face as she replied with a simple, "Yes."
"That right there can't happen. You are going to have to work on that face of yours. One of us will pick you up at six downstairs," Santana said making her way to the door. "You are so going to make my job that much harder," Santana muttered when she was finally in the hallway.
Rachel fluttered around the kitchen adding spices to sauces and cutting vegetables. She was singing softly for her as she worked completely immersed in her preparations. She didn't even notice when Santana entered the room and leaned against the wall.
"What's for dinner?" Santana asked causing Rachel to jump and call on her idol Barbara.
"Pasta, shouldn't you be on your way to pick up Quinn?" Rachel asked.
"Britts wanted to do the honors, and you know I can't say no to her," Santana said with a shrug.
"You are so whipped," Rachel said with a wry smile.
"Don't I know it," Santana said.
"Look, Santana, I'm really sorry about ruining your weekend away. I know you had things that you wanted to get accomplished while you were away. Why don't you take some time and get them taken care of now," Rachel suggested.
"I can have the music shipped here, that's not a big deal. As for the other part of my journey, I took care of that first," Santana answered.
"Can I see it?" Rachel asked with a little giggle.
Santana reached into her pocket and threw a small box across the kitchen to Rachel. Rachel opened it quickly and her jaw dropped. An exquisitely cut one carat diamond sat sweetly in a solitaire setting.
Santana this is beautiful and classic. Brittany will love it. This must have set you back a fortune," Rachel awed.
"She's worth it and we have been together for so long, it just seemed like the next logical step to take. I know it's what she wants and there is no one else for me. I've been in love with her one way or another since the first time I saw her," Santana said in an unusual show of emotion.
"I know that feeling finally," Rachel all but whispered as she handed the small blue box back to Santana.
Santana reached out and took her best friend's hand. "Please, be careful. I don't want to see you get hurt."
Rachel smiled as they both heard the front door open. Santana quickly shoved the ring box back in her pocket as Brittany danced into the kitchen and into Santana's arms. Quinn followed her through the doorway. She walked right up to Rachel and framed her face before guiding their lips together for a long passionate kiss.
"I will be worth the trouble," Quinn whispered as they came apart for air.
"I know you are," Rachel whispered back as they gazed into each other's eyes.
"And with that, we're out," Santana smirked taking a smiling Brittany with her.
Soft music filled the candlelit room where Rachel and Quinn cuddled on the spacious couch. Rachel's head was on Quinn's lap as the blonde ran her fingers' through her hair. Quinn bent down and kissed Rachel sweetly on the tip of her nose and pulled away. Rachel reacted quickly pulling her back down so that their lips met.
Quinn ran her tongue over Rachel's bottom lip before being granted access to the star's mouth. The fire and need ran through both girls' bodies. Rachel maneuvered Quinn down to the couch so they were on equal footing. Hands flew and clothes began to be discarded as the need became unbearable.
Santana sat Brittany down in her favorite chair in their sitting room which doubled as Santana's home office. Usually, she would sit at her desk working on one proposal or another while Brittany would flip through style or dance magazines enjoying the pictures and ignoring the articles. Tonight would be different though, as tonight she was going to propose.
"Britt?" Santana asked squatting down in front of her girlfriend.
"Yeah, San," Brittany replied not looking up from her magazine.
"I love you," Santana said.
"I love you too," Brittany returned.
"You know we have been together for a long time, and I have loved you for most of my life. I can't picture anything without you. I feel like I can't breathe unless you are there beside me, and I'm not sure I would want to. Marry me," Santana offered as she pushed down the magazine and produced the ring.
Brittany blinked twice and screamed before throwing herself into Santana's arms taking both of them to the floor. She kissed her long and passionately before Santana placed the perfectly sized ring on her finger.
"I have to show Rae!" Brittany said shooting out of the room before Santana could stop her.
"That was amazing," Quinn purred from her spot lying with her head on Rachel's chest.
"Mmm," Rachel responded kissing the blonde's head.
They both shot up at the sound of the scream from somewhere deep in the house. Quinn looked at Rachel with a quizzical look and Rachel shook her head and lay back down wrapping her arms around Quinn's waist. They were laughing, kissing, and enjoying each other. Everything was perfect.
"Sweet Mother Mary!" Santana exclaimed as she followed Brittany into the room where Quinn and Rachel were lounging. "Don't you have a massive bed for this?"
"Rae, we're getting married!" Brittany exclaimed not being phased by the lack of clothing.
Quinn and Rachel flew off the couch gathering clothes both bright red from embarrassment. They threw on their clog thes while Brittany danced around the room with excitement.
"That must have been one hell of a dinner, Tiny," Santana said with a smirk.
"Shut up, Santana," Rachel growled.
"Um, congratulations, Brittany," Quinn offered her new friend with a genuine hug. "I'm so happy for you."
"I never imagined San would do it and then she did and I feel like a princess! Oh Quinn you have to be my maid of honor cause San is going to want Rachel and you're like my best new friend and it will be so much fun!" Brittany rambled on hugging everyone in the room.
"I'm honored you would ask me, Britt, but don't you want someone you've known longer than a couple of weeks?" Quinn asked.
"We don't get out much," Santana offered with a shrug.
"Of course I will," Quinn said suddenly feeling bad for the three girls standing in front of her. Fame had taken a toll on all three of their lives.
"Rachel!" Santana yelled as she came through the front door of the house after dropping Quinn off at her hotel. "Rachel! Get your diva loving ass out here!"
"Santana, how many times do I have to tell you to use the intercom? That's why we had it installed," Rachel said as she entered the foyer.
"Yeah, whatever, look we might have a problem," Santana said.
"Is Quinn alright?" Rachel asked quickly.
"Yeah, she's all tucked away back at the hotel," Santana said rolling her eyes. "Focus please."
"What's the problem?" Rachel asked.
"So when we left tonight there were some paparazzi outside the house and I'm pretty sure they got some shots of Quinn and I leaving," Santana said.
"OK," Rachel said.
"And there were more at her hotel. If the papers put two and two together they aren't going to come up with five, Rachel," Santana said. "I told you this was a bad idea."
Rachel wrapped her arms around her best friend and kissed her furrowed brow. "You worry too much, Santana."
"And you don't worry enough," Santana muttered as Rachel pranced out of the room.
A/N: So what do you think? Please review and let me know. I love the feedback and it helps me with the process.