Time dragged on surprisingly fast in Santana's mind. Her eyes were so captivated by the notes on the pages, noticing each decadence in tone and every elongated syllable, that she missed the sun as it disappeared from view and gave way to a bright crescent moon. She had never been so intent in perfecting every single detail of her songs before, always confiding that she would sound great with or without practice. But the printed words turned her stomach, and she started to think of possibilities. Possibilities that were completely out of her control, because her life no longer belonged to her solely, not really. Brittany was that other part of her, that she had heard her abuela describe countless times as a "media naranja"1… a soulmate.

"I heard… that you, settled down… that you, found a girl and you're married now…"

Brittany was her own person, and by God she couldn't understand how she was so patient with her. How she stayed by her side, even when she continued to keep her in the shadows, as a whisper. How Santana was able to speak her mind about everything else but her own feelings was beyond her. High school is just a phase in life, something we all have to get over and done with before we can really open ourselves up to the real world. What if Santana was just a phase to Brittany? A childhood sweetheart that would eventually be forgotten and put aside? What if Brittany was able to let go? Santana had known for a while now that she couldn't. She had given away her heart quickly and without question. But Brittany…

Her grip on the sheet music loosened the moment she heard the faint doorbell that her dad had neglected to fix for more than a year. "It's so freaking late already… who-?" Santana mumbled to herself, interrupted abruptly by the chime of her cellphone lying in front of her on the desk. The screen lit up to one beautiful word… a name. Brittany. As she checked the message, her body gave a slight jolt and the sheet music fell to the ground as she ran to her window.

Knock knock :)

As she leaned outside the air blew gently into her hair, and her eyes quickly searched the front porch for any kind of movement. Brittany quickly backed out from the front door, knowing Santana would look out that window. She always did. Brittany's face was beaming in the moonlit night, her hair falling gracefully on her shoulders, wearing one of Santana's shirts. She waved excitedly, but then turned her attention to the door.

"Hi Dina! I hope it's not late for a visit" Brittany's voice edged playfully, biting her lip. She managed to hide the smile that she saved carefully for Santana, but was still worried her eyes would betray her. If there was one thing she knew well, is that mothers tend to have a weird sixth sense. Dina couldn't help but chuckle at the sight in front of her, Brittany looked like a little girl asking for permission to stay up late.

"Oh don't be silly! Santana told me you might be coming anyways" She gave her a wink as she hugged her and let her in the two story house. "I'll be down here if you girls need anything" Without another word, Brittany jumped up the stairs in a second, abruptly stopping at the last step when she realized Santana was waiting at the top. They stood there, silent, Brittany looking up for once, and feeling the soft caress of Santana's eyes, gently running down her figure. Brittany placed her right hand slowly over Santana's, both resting on the rail, and letting out a small sigh at the touch of their skin.

"Well well, I never knew I would be taller than you" Santana broke out with a triumphant smirk.

"You. Wish." Brittany took the last step of the stairs, letting out the words in a whisper and making her girlfriend fall back in rendition. It was her turn to smile. Brittany moved her hand up to her neck, moving closer and leaning in to steal a kiss. Santana had lost the battle, staring intently into bright blue eyes and waiting for the one thing she had been yearning for all day. Brittany was moving too slowly, or perhaps it felt like time was about to stop. As their lips were about to meet, an urge shot into Santana, making her shiver and let out a small breath of air.

"Not here" Santana bit her lip, hating herself for pronouncing those two words. Brittany leaned back, blinking twice and suddenly understanding the tone of alarm in her girlfriend's voice, looking down the stairwell to ensure Dina was out of sight. She quickly grabbed hold of Santana's hand, leading them to her room and closing the white door in an instant. Santana was about to speak when Brittany gently interlaced their hands together and pushed her against the closed door, only giving herself a second to smile before closing the gap between their lips. Santana felt completely helpless, Brittany holding her prisoner, gently sucking on her lower lip and slipping her tongue into her mouth. All she could do was let out a small moan. Brittany's lips travelled slowly to her girlfriend's neck, placing gentle kisses on smooth tanned skin.

"How about here?" Brittany sighed out the words just below the girl's ear, as she started to deepen her attack on Santana's neck, tempted to leave a mark behind and imagining Santana walking around with a scarf for a whole week. Santana might walk the halls of McKinley High like she had dragon skin, hard and impenetrable. But Brittany knew well that it didn't take much effort to bruise the girl.

"Mhmm" Santana hummed as she pulled her girlfriend closer, wrapping her arms around Brittany's neck and closing her eyes. Blond hair fell over her shoulder, and the girl stopped when she considered the bruise would be dark enough in contrast to the tanned skin.

"How was the reunion?" Brittany shifted and locked her eyes with her girlfriend.

"It was … alright I guess" She shrugged, leaning in to steal another kiss from lips tasting of vanilla ice cream … or flowers.

"You don't sound convinced. AT ALL"

Brittany pouted her lips, retreating them both to sit at the edge of the bed. "The food my uncle Ben cooks is always weird looking, and I didn't like how I hung up on you. How are you?"

At those last words, Santana looked away, and for a moment her gaze fell on the sheet music that remained on the floor, taunting her. She had lost count how many times she had read through the words, and regrettably making them her own… adding her worst fears to a simple song.

"I've been better" Santana laughed quietly, sighing ghosts into a breath in hope that they might leave her alone. The amount of time she was wasting on the "accident" earlier that day was getting the best of her. But now that Brittany was here, beautiful and smiling with icy blue eyes, she felt better, like it was all just her being a paranoid idiot.

"Have you been crying?" Brittany scooted closer to her, grabbing her chin with her hand and forcing the girl to look at her. She noticed in their proximity that Santana's eyes were slightly around the edges, her nose a soft shade of pink.

"Adele is one tough bitch, is all. I've gone through our mash up so many times that I couldn't help but get into it. I won't be listening to her album for a while after tomorrow. Hey, is Sugar also torturing you will endless texts about how freaking nervous she is, or is it just me? If she sends ONE more text I swear - "

"San, don't leave me like this. It's alright if-"

"I'm okay"

"Fine" Brittany nodded to herself and unlocking her grip of Santana's hands, as if making up her mind about something. Santana eyed her suspiciously, when there was a knock at the door.

"Ladies, do you need anything? I know it's late, but I'm going to Sara's house to have a talk with her, she's in pieces the poor thing, you know Santana the girl who got married last spring? It's been a disaster and she needs someone to help her go through with the divorce and I'm talking way too much" Dina waited, expectant for an answer.

"Thank you Dina. I was actually on my way… it's getting pretty late." Brittany said this with regret, but knowing that she would leave if she was not needed.

Santana froze and searched for Brittany's eyes, but they remained focused on her mother.

"So soon? But you just got here!" Dina looked over to her daughter, surprised at the turn of events. She was almost sure the girls would arrange a sleepover, like they always did.

"Yeah well I was just dropping by quickly" Brittany rose from the bed and started to move to the door when she felt a hand take her wrist gently, grounding her in place. She turned around to look upon dark brown eyes, that were intently looking at hers and searching for some kind of explanation. Santana moved on instinct, a coldness started to enter through her skin as the idea of Brittany leaving came into her mind.

'I do need you' She wanted to say so many things, then and there. If Brittany left now, she would not be able to breathe, even dare to close an eye the whole night. The warmth she felt would go away, and all she would be left with would be the cold dark thoughts that threatened to drive her crazy.

'I'm not okay' She wasn't. Not since that afternoon in the hallway.

"Stay" was all she could breathe out of her mouth, quietly, pleading with her eyes. Brittany knew very well that Santana was not okay, that she needed her. Her eyes spoke a million words into one single glance, a glance that in itself broke Brittany's heart. She hated to see the girl so broken and confused, and even more the thought that she felt absolutely helpless at the possibility that someone might have overheard Hudson.

Dina gazed for a second more than she had wanted. The tone in her daughter's voice alarmed her, how sweetly she spoke to the girl in front of her. How sincere. With a firm grip on the door handle, she looked away, suddenly feeling like she was intruding in a matter that did not concern her.

Brittany looked at her for a moment, taking in what had happened. Her eyes grinning an 'I love you' in response. As an unspoken reality.

"Okay. I'll stay"

1 soulmate, your other half.