Author's Note: Sorry about the delay. I had a large project due. So, this is the last chapter before sexy times. Also, don't make too much fun of the date – it is a riff (because in real life there were other aspects that made it more romantic) off of something done in real life.
Enjoy!
Santana was quiet, but not angry quiet or sad quiet or content quiet. She was nervous quiet and it was Brittany's second favorite kind of Santana quiet. It was the only quiet where she was just quiet, with no furrowed brow, narrowed eyes, or – the best – small smile. No, when Santana was nervous she was just quiet with this blank expression. Brittany remembered the first time she ever saw Santana's quiet nervousness, they were trying out for the Cheerettes, the middle school cheerleading squad – you had to be a Cheerette to be a Cheerio. Santana had not said anything for 5 straight minutes – a rarity in those days – and Brittany had looked over to see her face completely blank. She had asked Santana why she looked that way and she told her that when she was really nervous she thought too many thoughts and her face just went blank from too much thinking. Obsessing was the word that Santana had used. Brittany took that piece of information – Santana's quiet, blank face means extreme nervousness – and stored it away in her brain under "important things about Santana that only I know."
Brittany thought it was cute, how nervous Santana was. Clearly whatever she had planned tonight was something that she cared deeply about – Santana only got nervous quiet when she was very nervous. Brittany reached over and took Santana's hand, stroking the top of it with her thumb. Santana turned to her and smiled softly with the kind of smile that only Brittany saw – a breath that Santana did not know she was holding finally leaving her chest. They had not been driving long when the car slowed and turned into Santana's driveway and then pulled into her garage.
"Did you forget something San? I forget things all the time!" Brittany exclaimed.
Santana chuckled. "Umm, no Britt. Just, can you wait here for like, two minutes while I go inside and then I will come out and get you?"
Brittany had a slightly confused look on her face. "But, I want to go with you." Santana smiled. "I just need two minutes babe. Then you can be with me all night." Brittany pouted, but Santana climbed out of the car and into her house.
Santana ran inside, the food was already laid out. But she unfolded the blanket in the living room, placing the DVDs on top with the candy, chips and popcorn next to it. Then she ran around the dining room lighting candles, opening the red wine, pouring water into glasses, and grabbing serving utensils for the food. A quick sprint upstairs – to make sure that the card and rose were placed on the end of the bed and to grab the small gift – which she placed next to Brittany's seat at the dining room table.
Perfect. She thought. I really hope it is OK. Maybe I should have just taken her out to a nice restaurant. Of course you should have done that Santana. What were you thinking? She is going to be so disappointed. This was supposed to be a night out. Well, you can't change it now. Santana was freaking herself out. Taking a deep breath she went into the garage and opened the passenger side door of the car, seeing Brittany – nose buried in the flowers – and extended her hand. Santana pulled Brittany out of the car and stole a quick kiss, before shutting the door to the car and walking Brittany towards the door.
"Santana?" Brittany questioned.
"So, I know that we were supposed to go out and stuff and – umm – I mean, I am sorry, I just wanted to do something and it is like our three month official anniversary, but I have loved you for like, ever, and I just thought. We can go out instead if you don't like it. I know that out is like, normal and proper, but you – I guess that I just think that – you deserve more than just expected. But, if you don't like it, we will go out. Wherever you want." Santana replied.
Brittany smiled. Santana was trying to do something sweet and romantic. "But I don't even know what it is yet silly." She said playfully. And then added, voice much lower and much quieter, "I am sure that I am going to love whatever it is. Because you did it for me."
Santana took Brittany's hand as she led her into the house, softly lit, barely lighter than darkness. She stepped behind Brittany and grasped the collar of her jacket, slipping it off of her shoulders revealing the gorgeous navy dress. Brittany smiled at her a soft "thank you" escaping her lips.
"I'm so excited!" She whispered. Santana chuckled.
"Wait until you actually see it you goof!" Santana took her around the corner into the dining room. Brittany's eyes grew wide as she took in the soft candle light, perfectly set table, and red wine. But, there on the table, were all of her favorite foods – with little notes attached. Mac and Cheese (from this little diner) with a note that said, "because I couldn't find Fondue and you love the Kraft kind so much …" and Spaghetti and Meatballs from Breadstix ("Lady and the Tramp?"), Shrimp cocktail from the seafood place ("This makes it a date") and pizza ("'Cause we always have pizza"), salad ("Because Sue would kill me if there wasn't salad") and nachos ("I'm Hispanic, and Lebanese"). All of her favorite foods. Brittany just looked at Santana whose eyes were cast down, half expectantly, half nervously.
Brittany just smiled and closed the small distance between them, placing her hand along Santana's jaw and bringing her into a slow, firm kiss. "It's perfect. I love it." She mumbled into Santana's lips. She could feel the smile spread across Santana's lips, "You like it?" She asked. "I love it."
"I just, I wanted time with you. Alone. It seems like we are always around family or glee club or someone so, even though I should have taken you out, I wanted to keep you all to myself."
"You shouldn't have taken me out. Because this is so much better than out. This is us. And I am so excited! All my favorites!" Brittany started to squeal. "Although, I hope that you have a run planned this weekend because all of these foods are against the Sue Sylvester Cheerio Diet."
"Well, I haven't planned a run, but I am planning on making you burn off plenty of calories – 'cause it's just you and I alone in an empty house for 3 days. So, I don't think that you need to worry about calories tonight baby –" Santana purred. Brittany loved that low sexy rumble that Santana got whenever she spoke about something she wanted, or when she was turned on, or when she was singing the songs she loved. That was Brittany's favorite: hearing Santana sing those bluesy, jazzy, raspy numbers that she would sing into Brittany's skin, words skimming over her surface as Santana would drag her lips across. Brittany held her breath for a second before she noticed the present on the table – and her eyes grew wide again.
"Baby, shall we sit down?" Santana asked, pulling out Britt's chair at the same time. Brittany smiled and sat down before flicking her eyes toward the present and back towards Santana. Santana just gave a small nod in return, smiling as Brittany excitedly grasped the present and began to unwrap it. When the paper was gone Brittany saw the box that said "Sony Cyber Shot".
"You got me … a digital camera?"
"Well, yeah, I mean, I got us a digital camera, because – Britt, I love you and I am just really happy to be with you and I love the pictures that we have, being friends and glee club and Cheerios, but I got us this so that we could start to take pictures to remember us and our life together. You know? And what better time to start than this weekend?"
"Sanny, that is really sweet. Really sweet. And, I love it. And I love your sweet side. It is the best part of you. And this is an amazing gift. Because we can use it together!" Brittany immediately took the camera out of the box. "Awwww, we need to charge it!"
Santana chuckled. "Here, Britt-Britt, I'll plug it in, it will be ready to go in no time!"
Santana came back from the kitchen, where she plugged in the camera, and immediately picked up the wine, pouring some into her glass and into Britt's. "Trying to get me drunk?" Brittany smiled.
Santana chuckled. "Britt, after all the football parties we have been to it is going to take a lot more than a couple of glasses of wine to get you drunk. Although, I am hoping to have my way with you later."
"Mmmm, San, you can have your way with me whether or not I am tipsy." They both laugh. "I love you and this is amazing and you are amazing … can you pass the Mac and Cheese?"
Happy. It is a feeling that Santana only feels with Brittany or, sometimes, with her family. But, sitting across from Brittany – talking about how as President she gets to make so many decisions about Prom – Santana feels the warm feeling creep up through her chest until she is smiling at Brittany. Santana blinks slowly, as if even her eyes are relaxed. When she breathes out a word slips out – "forever". Santana's eyes grow wide – she had not meant to say that.
"I want forever with you, too." It was always so simple for Brittany. Santana just smiled, took Brittany's hand (their feet and legs were already entwined under the table) and pulled her in for a kiss. They had been eating and talking for an hour, but there was still so much food left – but all of the wine had been finished.
"So, baby, there is another surprise in the living room, and I am going to bring you there, and then you are going to do one little chore while I put this food and get one or two things."
"Sanny, you are being cryptic again! But, I have decided that I love cryptic Santana. Fun things always seem to happen when she is around." She says with a wink. Santana pulls Brittany out of the chair and kisses her while walking backwards into the living room. On the floor was a blanket, pillows had already been set up on the floor so that they could snuggle in and get comfortable for the movie. On the blanket was candy – lots of candy, dots, sour patch kids, chocolate, plus pretzels and potato chips (because you needed something salty to eat with chocolate) – and a selection of some of Brittany's favorite Disney movies.
"Baby! The Little Mermaid!" Brittany squealed.
"Your job: pick a movie and get it all set up. I am going to put away the food and open the champagne. Told you I was going to get you tipsy…"
"Ummm, San, I think that you are tipsier than I am."
"Well, then it is just you that is going to have to be the one taking advantage…" Santana threw a little smirk over her shoulder as she headed into the kitchen.