Nearly a week had passed at the camp and Santana was really starting to enjoy herself, things between her and Brittany were good, they had spent a lot of their time together, often with other people around but occasionally on their own too, Santana was a lot more comfortable and even though they were very flirty towards each other nothing else had happened between them.

That was until today. It was a Saturday and the girls were spending the day out on Brittany's dads boat. It was Brittany's birthday and as a treat Mr Pierce had let the girls take the boat out and go swimming, Sugar, Tina and Rachel had joined them.

Brittany had steered the boat away from the island, having grown up watching her dad, she had picked up on all his tips. She cut the engine after 15 minutes and the girls found themselves in a secluded part of the river, it was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and the water was warm and clear.

When the boat stopped, the girls were quick to part with their clothes, having their bikinis on underneath ready to jump into the water. Santana watched as Brittany peeled off her shorts and top to reveal a deep red bikini, the bottoms just about covered everything but the top was strapless and when she moved Santana could see her breasts bounce slightly, Santana felt the blood rush to her cheeks, even before her eyes found Brittany's tight, toned abs. Her breath caught in her throat and she had to cross her legs to try to ease the throbbing between them.

As Brittany's shorts hit the deck she turned round to look at Santana to see if she was ready, instead she found a red faced, fully dressed Santana with her eyes lingering up and down her body.

"Like what you see?" Brittany smirked amused, tying her blonde hair in a bun on the top of her head.

"huh? Er, um, yeah….I really erm like your bikini," Santana stuttered out, Sugars laugh behind her made her spin round to find the girl watching the interaction between the girls.

"Shut it Sugar," Santana sniped.

"Hey," Brittany whispered, suddenly next to her ear, "be nice." And then she stuck her bottom lip out into a pout and Santana couldn't deny the girl anything.

Santana tried to stop the smile forming on her lips but she couldn't, instead she brought her finger up to Brittany's lip and poked it, pushing it back inside, "fine," she uttered, "just stop pouting," and she laughed as Brittany smiled too.

Brittany chose to bomb into the water first soaking all the others, the girls all screamed as the water hit them and jumped in after her. Santana took her time getting undressed and enjoying the first real hot day of the summer. Suddenly she felt water hitting her back and she turned to find Brittany treading water and creating waves, which she flicked up at Santana.

Her eyes lingered up and down Santana's body, as she stood there in her dark blue bikini; it fit her perfectly and Brittany was suddenly very jealous of that bikini top, the way it got to hold Santana's perfectly rounded breasts all day. Realizing that she was staring, Brittany moved her gaze up to Santana's eyes.

"Hey, quit splashing me," Santana shouted, shielding her eyes from the sun.

"Well get your butt in the water then, and bring the ball with you please," Brittany asked.

Santana went to fetch the ball and chucked it over to Sugar who wasn't looking and it bounced off the top of her head.

"Hey," Sugar shouted as she swam over to the ball to retrieve it, "very funny Satan," she cried, Brittany laughed out at the name Sugar had called and began swimming away from the boat.

"You think that's funny do you Pierce?" Santana shouted as she leapt from the boat after Brittany. Brittany had a good head start and with her long legs Santana had no chance of catching her so Brittany slowed down waiting for her to catch up.

As she got to her, Santana dived underwater and swam through Brittany's legs, brushing along her thighs as she passed. Brittany's giggle was the first thing she heard as she rose up from the water and clung to Brittany's back, wrapping her legs around her.

Brittany had to work harder to stay afloat and what was making it extra tricky to concentrate was Santana's breath by her ear, it sent a warm sensation through her body, knowing that Santana was only wearing a bikini and she was literally wrapped around her, Brittany shuddered. Santana's fingers dug into Brittany's ribs causing her to thrash about.

To tease Santana she decided to duck under water with her on her back, as she was nearly under, Santana started flapping, trying to free her legs which were round Brittany, the girls ended up wrestling in the water, both pairs of arms waving round trying to tickle the other one.

This continued until both girls were out of breath and giggling.

Sugar swam over with Tina as Rachel had climbed back on board to sun bathe. She was shaking her head back and forth watching the girls until they noticed her. She challenged them to a game of catch but with teams, she quickly picked Brittany to have on her team, leaving Santana with Tina. Santana swam over to Tina and pulled her in for a team talk, Sugar and Brittany raised their brows at this, "someone is clearly competitive," Sugar commented; suddenly regretting her choice in opponent.

"Ok, we're ready," Tina confirmed swimming over to Sugar, "the rules are, there aren't any rules," she said as she swiped the ball out of Sugar's hands pushing it towards Santana, Sugar screamed as Santana leapt for the ball grabbing it and swimming away from the rest of the players, Brittany was quick on her tail, chasing her and as she got close she lunged at Santana's leg, gripping onto her left ankle, Santana squealed and quickly chucked the ball in Tina's direction before loosing her balance.

Brittany was quick to wrap her arm around her waist to steady her before she off again chasing the ball, Sugar and Tina were tumbling around in the water trying to get the ball, Tina was stronger and again hit the ball away in Santana's direction. Throughout the game, Santana and Brittany's hands found their way onto the others body, each touch burning the others skin, both girls felt it but didn't comment, instead letting their gasps and moans do the talking.

After the game, which Santana and Tina clearly won, the girls climbed back on the boat to dry off, Rachel pulled a basket out which she had hidden from Brittany as a birthday surprise and the girls sat at the front of the boat, eating the sandwiches, fruit and crisps that Rachel had gotten the cook to pack.

The conversation was easy and all the girls were relaxed. Once she had finished, Brittany decided she wanted to swim to the island, which was about 300 meters away, as she reached for her sun lotion out of her bag she asked Sugar, who she was sitting next to, to rub some on her back for her.

Sugar chimed up that she was still eating and as Santana had finished, maybe it was best that she do it. Narrowing her eyes at Sugar, Brittany looked over at Santana who seemed to be doing the same thing.

"Do you mind?" Brittany asked quietly, offering the bottle to Santana.

"No, not at all" Santana croaked, getting up to sit behind Brittany.

Brittany leaned forward as Santana squirted the lotion into her hands and rubbed them together before rubbing her hands across Brittany's back, avoiding her bikini. She massaged the cream in, counting Brittany's freckles as she went along, letting her hands wander to Brittany's neck and rubbed the lotion in, up over her shoulders and down her sides, she was lost in her own thoughts, taking in each inch of Brittany's skin, the touch of it, the color of it, the smell of it, the way it reacted to her touch. She was brought out of it by the long throaty moan, that escaped Brittany's mouth; she shuddered just hearing it.

"That seriously feels so good, San," Brittany muttered in a raspy breath.

Taking her hands away, Santana rubbed them together to keep herself from touching Brittany further. "Yeah, I took a massage class once, I kinda remember the basics," she blushed.

"That was not basic, wow, thanks," Brittany said, standing up in front of her whilst she rubbed the lotion into the front of her body.

Santana closed her eyes to calm herself as the image of Brittany rubbing lotion onto herself was too much, before she knew it though, her mouth had opened without her permission.

"What about the backs of your legs, want to do them?" and not even waiting for a response she was reaching up for the bottle and pouring a healthy amount into her hands.

Brittany froze in place as Santana's hands trailed their way up first her left and then her right leg, massaging the lotion in. Brittany's legs were tight from all the dancing she did, so the way Santana's thumbs dug deep into her skin, made her legs buckle and tremble.

Once it was clear there was no more lotion to rub in Santana cleared her throat to bring Brittany out of her trance.

"Thanks," she muttered, "you want me to do you?"

The thoughts that ran through her head at Brittany's comment had her again clamping her legs together. Brittany blushed at the realization of what she had said and shifted her gaze at anything but Santana.

"You guys are just so cute," Sugar giggled, watching how embarrassed both girls were.

"I'm going to cool off," Brittany told them jumping into the water leaving a big splash behind her.

Santana and Sugar watched her go and then sat in silence for a while, Rachel and Tina had gone to the back of the boat to spread out.

Sugar shuffled back so she could rest against the side and Santana lifted her towel onto the front of the boat so she could lie down there, (and so she could watch Brittany in the water).

After a few minutes she felt Sugar's presence next to her; lifting her head up she took out her headphones.

"What do you want?"

"Just wanted to see how you were coping that's all," Sugar replied, trying to find eye contact with Santana.

"What do you mean?"

"You know, with the whole, I don't fancy the pants off Brittany thing,"

"I don't know what you are talking about," Santana answered, laying her head back down hoping she would go away.

"Oh come on Santana, you can't fool me, I've seen you guys together, it's only been a week but it's like you've known each other your whole lives and I see that spark you guys have," she paused as she watched what she was saying process it's way into Santana's mind. "I know she likes you back if that's what you're scared of," Santana looked up at her but didn't say anything so Sugar continued, "she told me what happened between you guys, in the tree house and in your hut, she was so upset at the idea of upsetting you and pushing you into something you didn't want to do."

Santana stopped her, "she thought that? That I didn't want to do that stuff?"

"Well, didn't you tell her to forget about it and it couldn't ever happen again and it had confused you?"

Santana thought back to what she had said to Brittany in the heat of the moment of nearly getting caught by Mrs. Motta. "I guess she could of taken it like that, yes," she sighed, "but I was scared, caught up in the fear of nearly being caught and I just panicked, I said all of those things to protect myself."

"Protect yourself from what?"

Santana looked up, "from actually falling for Brittany, a girl, who by the way is well out my league."

Sugar snorted at that, "well Brittany is way nicer than you and is pretty much happy all the time, where as you are pretty much a bitch and is mopey and angry all the time."

"Are you finished?" Santana snapped

"No, actually I was going to say, in spite of all those differences I think you'd be great for each other and believe me, I've seen Brittany with boys and girls and she has never been as smitten as she is with you, seriously, the girl has it bad for you."

Santana smiled in spite of herself at that comment, she wasn't going to lie; that did make her feel good. "It's not about that though, if I was to let myself have feelings for anyone, I would want them to be for Britt, but I'm just too scared."

"What are you scared of?"

"Of the comments, the funny looks, being made to feel different and that I'm doing something wrong, all of it," the panic started to rip across her chest again.

"Santana, those people that think like that, those are the ones whose opinions don't matter, it's what you think and feel what's important, just think about that ok, let yourself be happy."

"I've tried, you don't think I've had this conversation with myself over and over again?"

"I'm sure you have, you just haven't had it with any other people," she paused to look out into the river, Brittany was still on the island dipping her feet into the water, "I just want you to think about it that's all, I don't want to see either of you get hurt, because at the end of the day, you both deserve to be with someone who is proud to have you on their arm and I know Brittany would be proud to have you, you just need to make sure you feel the same."

They both sat in silence for a few minutes, both watching Brittany, "she is pretty amazing," Santana smiled watching Brittany splash her legs around the water, "she is the nicest, caring, loveable person I have ever met."

"She sure is and she would never hurt you."

Santana shuffled to turn back to Sugar, "I know that, I just don't want to hurt her either."

"Is that because you'd be scared of me kicking your ass," Sugar teased trying to lighten the mood.

"That too, but mainly because she deserves the best," she replied quietly, "I've got some thinking to do."

"You sure have," Sugar said patting Santana on the back as she stood up, "let me just ask you this, when you look at her or are around her, how do you feel?"

Santana looked back to Brittany as she chose her words carefully. "I feel alive, like I am the real me, someone who is not a failure. I notice the sunshine, the birds singing, the positives I never picked up on, but most of all, my body comes into it's own, my skin burns at her touch, my tummy turns and flips when I hear her giggle, I notice her freckles and the way she flicks her hair and scrunches up her nose and my chest gets tight when she's not near." She chocked out.

"I thought so," Sugar whispered in awe of Santana's response.

"You knew all that?"

"Well, yeah I had an idea, I just wanted you to know all that."

"Do you think Brittany knows?" Santana asked panicked.

"She has no idea," Sugar replied sadly, "I guess you need to decide whether you are going to tell her or not, if she is worth the fight."

Santana's eyes darted back and forth between Sugar's letting her words sink in, her heart was telling her one thing but her head another.

She smiled up at Sugar and thanked her with her eyes. Sugar left her then to think, not wanting to push her anymore.

Brittany climbed back on the boat a while later, with stories of unicorns she had seen on the island, Santana found herself smiling along to her stories and just watching how animated she was sharing her made up adventures with the others, she was everything that is good in the world, Santana found herself thinking.

After another hour of playing around in the water, whilst Santana watched from the boat, the others were tired and it was decided they would head back to camp, the ride back was really nice with the wind created a welcomed breeze.

As they gathered there things to climb back onto land, Santana grabbed Sugar's hand, "I was wondering if you could help me with something tonight?"

Sugar raised her eyebrow in question.

"I wanna do something really nice for Britt, for her birthday," she stumbled.

Again Sugar didn't say anything.

"Fine, I want to tell her how I feel, but it's got to be special, I was thinking at sunset, in the tree house, I have a present too I want to give her, but I have a few more ideas, will you help me?"

Sugars smile said it all, "totally," she replied and squeezed Santana's arm in excitement.