Squirrel Friends

by your-street-serenade

Kurt and Santana are RuPaul's Drag Race super fans, and no one can convince me otherwise. Reimagining of Season 2 and onward focusing on Kurtana friendship with Brittana endgame.

5. Chapter 5

A/N: have The Beginning by RuPaul cued up for this chapter. That was Season 5's anthem and I feel like it's important to this chapter. It was used at the end of every episode of Season 5 and then at the reunion when Jinkx takes her crown.

Also I want to give a special shoutout to oldrazzle and maythejulianaaa who have all listened to me and my crazy Squirrel Friends ideas. Writing is often a very solitary thing so to have people who can say 'yes do that!' or 'that would work better' is really really helpful and encouraging to me. Also shellygirl for turning into one of the greatest squirrel friends I've ever had :)

This chapter was the most frustrating and challenging to write. I saw it in my head so clearly but I'm not sure I was able to translate it well for you readers. I hope you see what I see in this.

X

After Kurt had found them on his couch Santana and Brittany had gotten dressed and then as if sensing that they still had a few things to say to each other and sort out between them, he politely shoo'd them out of his basement bedroom. He insisted that if they stayed they would only distract him and that he really needed to watch the finale in private to truly appreciate it.

Santana gave Kurt a thankful nod as she and Brittany made their way out.

Once outside under the evening sky Santana offered to walk Brittany home. And so they started a very slow stroll through the neighborhood. Things had gotten real between them in Kurt's bedroom. Real emotional and real naked and yet as they walked together it almost felt like they were two strangers on a nice but somewhat awkward first date. Both of them were a bit nervous about getting to the serious heart of the matter about what they had just done and since Brittany had asked ''what's Drag Race'' only moments ago Santana tried to fill in all of the silence by explaining what she and Kurt had really been doing during all of those Spanish tutoring sessions.

Brittany listened intently as Santana rambled on with a very passionate yet childlike excitement over the show.

''So it's a reality show about drag queens?''

''Yes but, it's not just a reality show. Like on the surface it's easy to lump it in with all of the trashy disposable shows on TV but Drag Race is so much more than that. There's nothing else like it. It's a competition with singing challenges and dancing challenges and acting challenges and we get to watch the queens work through them, facing down their weaknesses and pushing themselves to be the best artists they can possibly be. That's really what they are, the queens are artists. But it's an artform that the mainstream has refused to acknowledge for so long because it was considered weird or deviant or whatever. The show helps people at home see that drag is just another form of entertainment that's just as valid as everything else. What's also really cool is there's a queen for everybody. They all have their different styles, aesthetics and personalities, you just have to find the queen that speaks to you, like okay Kurt really has a thing for comedy and theater queens which are fine and all I guess but you know what? Give me a really fabulous fashion queen and I'm happy. I need full on glamazon. But you know who you would like? The dance queens. You would so love a good dance queen. You would probably like a good death drop too.''

''What's a death drop?''

''What's a death drop? What's a death drop? That's it, it's settled, you're watching season six with us next year.''

Brittany looked at Santana as if she were the most precious thing in the world. ''You must really like this show.''

''You don't think it's lame?'' Santana asked with an airy chuckle. She knew how foolish and fangirly she must've sounded going on and on.

''What, no, I don't think it's lame at all,'' Brittany assured. ''It sounds like fun.''

''Then why are you looking at me like that?''

''Like what?''

''Like I'm some kind of puppy in a handbasket or something.''

Brittany tilted her head in thought. ''I guess I've just never seen you excited over something like this before. The only thing you ever used to get excited about was Breadstix, and sex. I like this though, I like seeing you excited about something.''

''I know it looks silly from the outside or whatever but it means something to a lot of people. The queens are these total rock stars. Totally gay rock stars who are like so unapologetic and so proud and…''

Santana went quiet but Brittany's sweet smile said she knew exactly what she was trying to convey. Unapologetic and proud is what Santana wanted to be and seeing the queens on her TV screen every week made her feel a little less lonely and a little more fierce. A little more brave. A little more hopeful. They gave her comfort when she had needed it the most. When she was alone.

''I get it,'' Brittany said appreciatively. ''And I think it's really cool that you found something like that. I'm also glad you had Kurt to enjoy it with.''

Santana tried to play it off lightly. ''He's okay.''

''I'm sorry if me dropping in ruined your watch party or whatever.''

''You didn't ruin anything.''

''Are you sure? It sounded like I crashed the finale?''

''Sort of but not really,'' Santana explained with a dismissive wave. ''Tonight's the finale with the last challenge and last runway with our top three queens but next Monday is the reunion special and official crowning of season's five's winning queen. That's when we really find out who wins.''

''So are you rooting for anyone?'' Brittany asked.

Santana smiled and shook her head about. She got the sense Brittany wasn't asking because she was all that interested but rather because she wanted to be encouraging of something that had come to mean so much to her. ''Nah, not really. I liked most of the queens this season but I never had a stand out favorite. Roxxxy is a really polished queen. She's also sort of a bitch which kind of appeals to me to be honest, but I'm not super invested in her taking the crown. Detox has been serving some serious looks. Alaska's pretty cool too. Kurt though, Kurt is really into this queen called Jinkx Monsoon this season which makes sense because I told Kurt he basically is Jinkx in spirit. He's really hoping she takes the crown.''

''It's a big deal then? The crowning?''

''Kurt mailed me a personalized golden embossed invitation for it even though I'm the only one he ever bothers to ask over. He legit made me RSVP for the ceremony.''

Brittany obviously didn't quite comprehend everything Santana was saying or know who any of the people being referenced were but she enjoyed listening to Santana speak. ''You know if you were serious about it I really would watch it with you guys.''

''Really?''

''Of course. I don't know how fun I'll be because I don't know much about the show but if it means something to you then it means something to me. If it makes you happy I want to know what it's about. Besides maybe I'll learn some new dance moves from these queens.''

Santana brightened at the idea of getting to share and experience the show with Brittany who genuinely seemed to want to support her interest. ''So then...would this be like...a date?'' Santana asked with a playful twinkle in her eye.

Brittany gave her a cute little grin as they came to a halt at the mailbox at the end of the Pierce driveway. She stepped forward to gently press herself against Santana, wrapping her arms around her neck in a loose embrace. ''However fast or slow you want to take this, I'm here no matter what just like I said but I would love for it to be a date.''

Santana moved to soothe Brittany's hair, playing with it and running a hand over it. ''Then it's a date.''

''I can't wait.''

''For your first Drag Race episode?''

''No...I mean I can't wait to do this with you. This. Date.'' Brittany pressed her forehead against Santana's. ''Me and you.''

''It doesn't bother you that it won't be out in public?''

''No. I can't wait for us to begin. At whatever pace, in whatever way, I just want to be with you more than anything.''

''I want to be with you too.''

With the pressure removed from the equation Santana felt a little more confident in taking this step forward. She didn't have to have it all figured out at that very moment and that was okay because Brittany was letting her set her own speed.

They both agreed then that they were just going to proceed slow and steady. What they had was theirs and nobody else's, there didn't have to be a timetable for how they moved forward. Junior year was already winding down and then they would have the entire summer to themselves to take it easy, to enjoy each other and find their footing as girlfriend and girlfriend. No more going in circles or repeating past mistakes, from here on out it was going to be a fresh start, a clean slate they both promised. All of this was sealed with a gentle kiss which Santana happily sank into. Unlike everything that had went down in Kurt's bedroom there was no rush or urgency behind it, it was slow and soft and full of promise and possibility.

After several moments they pulled away and gave each other soft smiles. Santana looked up at the lights leading to the Pierce's front door and then looked back to Brittany. ''So I guess this is goodnight?''

''Mmm, it can be, or you can sneak up to my bedroom with me and we can finish what we started on Kurt's couch,'' Brittany suggested slyly.

Santana groaned. Brittany's offer was ten kinds of tempting and a part of her really did want to commemorate their getting together with a couple of celebratory orgasms. She had enjoyed their quick and passionate romp but they didn't exactly get to take their time or even finish. Still as much as she was aching to be close to Brittany in that way again there was also something else there tugging at her heart.

''I think I'll have to take a rain check,'' Santana said apologetically.

''You don't want to come up?''

''No I totally totally do, it's just Kurt's room was kind of a mess when we left it and I've been gone long enough. If this was the me from like six months ago I wouldn't really care but-''

''-but now your friends,'' Brittany gently interjected.

''I wouldn't go as far as to say that. I'm just trying to turn a new leaf is all. And I mean we did screw on his couch which if you ask me is cause enough to declare it a national monument but I don't think Kurt was too happy it. I really should get back to help him clean everything.''

Brittany gave her a pout but accepted it with ease. ''You really care about him don't you?'' she asked, tickled but also pleased that just as she had hoped Kurt really had stepped up and been a real shoulder for Santana to lean on.

''Pah,'' Santana made a funny airy dismissive sound.

''Yeah well, if you ask me, he's lucky to have you.''

With that Brittany pressed another kiss onto her and whispered her goodnight before she started off towards her house. Santana stood in place and watched her go. She was still smiling long after Brittany gave her a tiny wave and disappeared through her front door.

Standing there under the stars Santana exhaled and for once felt like maybe the universe was on her side. She felt a peacefulness come over her as she began her short walk back to the Hummel house. She was floating on a high as she quietly let herself back in, bypassing Burt and Carole who were curled up watching TV in the living room and proceeding back to Kurt's bedroom. The TV was off and the room was silent as she made her way down the stairs.

''Wasn't expecting you back,'' Kurt said, not looking up from his vantage point.

He had swept up the snacks that had been spilled earlier and was on his knees in front of his couch. He had yellow rubber gloves on and appeared to be intensely focused on spraying and wiping at the fabric of the furniture, rubbing the cleaning solution into it furiously and with focus.

''I'm sorry I ruined your couch.''

''No you're not.''

''No I'm not.''

With a defeated sigh he stopped what he was doing and sat back onto the heels of his feet. ''I think I'm going to need some kind of special upholstery vac to clean this wet spot.''

Santana walked over and nudged him back a few inches and then proceeded to pull the cushion out. She flipped it over to the clean side and then placed it back down, tucking it back in place. ''Done,'' she declared.

Kurt let the matter go with a shake of his head as he picked himself up, peeled his gloves off and tossed them aside. ''Whatever. I trust you made sure Brittany made it home safely and I take it the two of you had a chance to talk matters out?''

''We talked.'' Santana busied herself and made a show of gathering their bits of trash from their abandoned Breadstix meal boxes from earlier in the evening. She stacked everything and stuffed it all into a garbage bin nearby.

''And?'' he urged her to go on, eager for details.

''And, she and I decided to give it a shot and see where things go between us.''

''Did you now?''

''We're going to take it slow,'' Santana continued, purposely making an effort not to appear too eager or too joyous as she lightly dusted her hands off and sat back down on his couch. ''We still have a lot of stuff to figure out for ourselves as people and for us a couple or whatever but...yeah, we're gonna give it a shot.''

Kurt beamed with delight. ''I'm really happy for you, Santana.''

''Why?''

''Because we're friends,'' he groaned with amusement, knowing full well he would only get a lame denial in response.

''What have I told you about calling us that?''

He gave her a long and meaningful look but in the end said nothing. He simply moved to join her there, comfortably taking a seat at her side on that white couch of his now that the matter of ''the spot'' was taken care of.

''So next week I invited Brittany to watch the crowning with us,'' she said, changing the subject quickly.

''Oh?''

''That's not going to be a problem is it?''

''Of course not. It'll be fun to introduce her to the show. Plus I feel like she would definitely be a more appreciative guest. Unlike you she enjoys my hosting efforts.''

Santana made a production of rolling her eyes. ''Whatever I just wanted to make sure you were good with it. Not that I like care or anything cause I don't.''

''Sure,'' Kurt humored her.

''And don't expect a thank you for butting your nose into my and Brittany's business okay? Cause it's not gonna happen.''

''Uh huh.''

''Cause we would've so totally gotten back together even if you hadn't gone meddling.''

''Right.''

Sorting things out and talking about her feelings with Brittany was one thing, but when it came to expressing herself to Kurt, there was still some resistance there that she had a hard time getting over. Because to share herself that way with him would just imply to him that she valued his company and she just wasn't there yet. For her own strange, petty and small reasons she couldn't say it out loud and put it out into the universe that she, Santana Lopez, appreciated Kurt Hummel as her friend.

And yet while she couldn't say any of this outwardly she did inwardly concede that there sitting on his couch this time around, something felt different. Like some silent shift had taken place during their evening. She still thought emotions were for ugly people and so instead of saying this she simply grabbed the remote - the same one they had tussled over earlier - and handed it over to him.

''Want to rewatch tonight's episode?'' she asked.

Kurt's face lit up. Without a word he answered by clicking his TV on and bringing up his DVR menu where he found and played the latest episode so they could enjoy it together. She couldn't express her friendship or her appreciation for him out loud but maybe this, sitting with each other and enjoying each other's silent company, was enough for the time being.

Santana smiled at the screen ahead as the theme song began.

Ru-Ru-Ru-Rupaul's Drag Race! Start your engines! Ru-Ru-Ru-Rupaul's Drag Race! May the best woman-best woman win!

X

After that night she and Brittany spent the rest of the week together.

Every day after school they would meet. Sometimes at the Lima Bean, sometimes on the bleachers, sometimes at a secluded nook of Brittany's favorite park, sometimes Santana would drive Brittany home and take the extra long way to the Pierce residence so they could doddle and have conversation, and together wherever it was they would talk their feelings out.

Brittany got a little bit of a kick out of hearing how Santana and Kurt had snuck into a gay club to see one of their favorite Drag Race queens perform. She was especially intrigued with finding out for herself if a Pink Squirrel did indeed taste like unicorn ass.

''Why?'' Santana questioned one day. They had picked up a couple of coffees and went to a nearby park where they took refuge on a bench and watched ducks gather around a small pond.

''I don't know, I'm not gonna lie, unicorn ass sounds kinda tasty.''

''Gross.''

Brittany stuck out her tongue and made a funny face in mock defiance. ''Don't shame me.''

It was in these small moments that they learned how to laugh together again. It was the most natural thing in the world Santana found as they snickered and giggled over complete nonsense. It felt like they were them again, sitting in the back row in glee whispering silly things in the other's ears.

It was just like old times. Except not.

Because this time around they were both aware that there were very real things at stake. As much as some things were just like it used to be, they were both aware that there were other habits they simply couldn't go back to and begin to repeat. In order to move forward they had to confront and address their mistakes and missteps from the past.

They had both done and said things that they couldn't take back, but what they could do they realized was acknowledge each of their actions and figure out how to forgive and move forward. On Brittany's end she apologized for pushing Santana towards decisions when Santana hadn't been ready to make them. And Santana had promised to work on her communication more because she was no longer interested in shutting her feelings away from Brittany. It took several conversations over the course of those days to get there but they came to the understanding that they both had some work to do on themselves and that was okay. There was no reason why they couldn't work on themselves while they were together. It was going to be a process and a journey, why not embark on it hand in hand they both thought.

Plus, like, orgasms you know. Those were nice to have together again too.

It was the very next Monday that they found themselves in Brittany's bedroom under the sheets making up for all of that lost time, or rather lost orgasms. Brittany's parents and younger sister were visiting family in a neighboring town over the week which meant she and Brittany had the house to themselves and while it was Drag Race night they still had a few hours before they were due to show up at Kurt's for the viewing. Naturally they made the most of their free time by falling into bed together.

Afterwards as they finally came to rest and catch their breath they both plopped down onto the bed pillows utterly exhausted and spent, sated in the best possible way.

Brittany lightly panted and stared above at the ceiling. ''Oh my god.''

''Sorry,'' Santana said with a grin as she came to rest at Brittany's side and propped her head up to watch as Brittany blinked herself back down to reality. ''I don't know where that came from.''

''When did you turn into the Energizer bunny?''

Santana couldn't help but get a little carried away as she poured herself into every kiss, every touch, every movement of her body as she tried to wordlessly communicate to Brittany just how much she felt for her and how much she was ready to give all of herself this time around. Her heart beat wildly when she realized Brittany was giving back just as much passion and seeing and feeling that desire of course only urged Santana on even more.

The first few rounds had been eager and impatient, much like it had been on Kurt's couch, but once they got the initial excitement of being together like this again out of the way they started again, slower and sweeter. Beneath her Brittany squeaked out a few sexy happy whimpers as she finished and then Santana let out a low little moan and then they both went completely still as they let the sensation of feeling and having each other in the most primal yet profound way roll through them.

''I didn't, I guess I just really really missed you,'' Santana answered eventually.

Looking slightly less dizzy Brittany turned onto her side as well so they were face to face. ''Trust me I could tell,'' she laughed. ''I really really missed you too just so you know.''

''You did?''

''Mmhm,'' Brittany hummed and ran her free hand over Santana's hip, tracing shapes on her tan skin, making her fingers dance up her side and onto her upper arm. ''I missed your hands and your lips and this, this little freckle right here on your shoulder.''

''You missed my freckle?'' Santana questioned with a squint.

''What? It's totally cute.''

''Nothing, I just thought maybe you would've missed some of my uh other features a bit more.'' Santana wiggled her brows. She surely thought that after all of that time apart Brittany would be interested in admiring other more delightfully dirty parts of her.

''Oh I totally do,'' Brittany assured her and took a sly peek down at Santana's bare chest. Santana beamed with a certain pride when Brittany even leaned down a tad to place a kiss against the swell of her breasts. ''I missed all of you. All of this. You know you're the hottest person in the universe to me. I love your body and I missed your body but...all that time we were apart, I didn't stay up nights thinking about your super cute butt or how awesome your boobs are.''

''So then what did you stay up at night to think about?'' Santana asked gently.

''The little things. It was the little things that I missed that kept me up. I thought about that freckle on your shoulder,'' Brittany laughed. ''I thought about how sometimes when you blink one eyelid closes just a tiny second before the other in the most mega adorable way, it makes you look like a chipmunk or squirrel.''

Santana howled at that, laughing as Brittany went on to describe the strangest and most random parts of her.

''Or how when you'd wake up in the morning, nine times out out ten you would have drool crusties on your face-''

Santana scoffed. ''I do not get drool crusties on my face!''

''Oh my god, you totally get drool crusties on your face, don't even act like you don't.''

''I don't, I'm not a baby, I don't drool in my sleep!''

Brittany carried on. ''You so do and when we would wake up together I would try to softly scratch them off and you would always get all grumbly even though I know you liked it. I missed that. I missed how when you would sing to me you would do this thing with your hand where you would place it in front of your body like you're reaching somewhere inside of your soul. Late at night I'd stay up sometimes just to think about your dimples too.''

''My dimples?''

''And how they only show when you're really happy, and how...how I would give anything to be able to kiss them every morning and every night for the rest of my life.''

''Really?''

''Really.''

Santana smiled so hard and wide that she felt her ears move.

''There they are,'' Brittany chuckled happily as she pressed her lips to each of the tiny indentations and made funny smacky sounds against the skin, laying silly, sloppy kisses into said dimples.

Santana vibrated with laughter as she toppled onto her back while Brittany moved to straddle her and place pecks all over her cheeks. It was a beautiful, sweet kind of surrender as she relaxed within the bedding and simply let Brittany worship her with her mouth. Santana moaned as Brittany's kisses started to become a little less playful and a little more hungry and passionate. Santana wasn't the only one who wanted to make up for lost time and lost orgasms.

And they were on their way to doing so until Santana's phone went off on a side table. The ringtone sang…

She's so wild, so animal, she gonna work that sexy body so sexual, she's like a female phenomenon, she's a glamazon. Female phenomenon, glama-zon-on-on-on-on.

Brittany pulled her mouth away from Santana with a pop and looked down beneath her questioningly. ''What is that ringtone?'' she giggled.

''Uhhhh it is the theme song to my life thank you very much. Do not make fun of a Rupaul classic okay.''

Brittany shook with laughter and Santana playfully swatted at her butt, silently instructing her to move off of her so she could sit up and check her phone. Santana squirmed to the edge of the bed and picked up her device.

''It's Hummel.''

''What's he want?'' Brittany asked and draped herself across Santana's back to view the screen as well.

''He told us to stop screwing around and not to be late,'' Santana scoffed, tossed her cell back onto the table and tried to curl back up with Brittany. She was hoping they could resume what they had been doing and maybe possibly squeeze another round or two in. ''Chhwhatever. We still have two hours until the show starts, he's just being his usual pushy self.''

''Mmmm,'' Brittany hummed as Santana pressed her body against her. ''You know I have been thinking.''

''Always a dangerous sign.''

''Maybe we should pause this,'' Brittany nodded down, indicating their bodies and the bed. ''And get up.''

Santana's brain was foggy with lust. In confusion she pulled her face out of Brittany's chest. ''Huh?''

''Well think about it, we'll always have time to to make up for lost time together, but from what I've gathered tonight is a special night for you guys. You said the crowning was important, right? Plus in his own little way I think Kurt maybe tried to help get us here together you know? Maybe we should do something for him?''

Santana pouted. ''But, sex.''

''I have an idea,'' Brittany hopped out of their embrace as well as the bed.

Santana was left to groan in frustration at the sight of Brittany's naked ass which in that moment seemed so very far away on the other side of the room. ''So do I and it involves your legs over my shoulders.''

Santana eventually decided to follow Brittany's lead and crawl out of bed. Mostly because Brittany bribed her with the invitation to shower together. It was while under the spray of warm water that Brittany shared her idea on how to possibly show Kurt their thanks for everything. It was also under the spray of water that Santana zoned out just slightly as she took to making sure Brittany's breasts were nice and soapy.

After they were properly cleaned up they got dressed and Santana found herself making a pit stop on their way to Kurt's at Brittany's request. Brittany really did want to do something special for Kurt to show their appreciation and Santana was just so happy with how everything worked out for them she went along with it. Brittany's idea was pretty sweet. After their pit stop they started off towards the Hummel residence with a small white box in tow.

''I thought you said you were going to be here though...I know...of course...yes...I understand. No, it's fine, it's fine.'' Kurt set his cell aside with a frown just as they arrived at the bottom of the staircase into his room.

Santana was a little tickled when she saw that unlike their regular Drag Race evenings Kurt had went all out. He had set up a clothed table where beverages were set up along with a bucket of ice as well as bowls of snacks. Not only that he had also apparently decorated his entire living space. He had placed several shiny gold accents around his white room for effect. Gold paper cups and plates, gold balloons, gold twinkling lights and streamers.

He had put a lot of thought and effort into the festivities she thought. It was all very tastefully muted.

Brittany looked around in wonder. ''Your room looks so pretty like this,'' she gushed.

''Yeah Kurt you really out gayed yourself,'' Santana chimed in with equal admiration. ''And I mean that as a compliment.''

''Taken as a compliment.'' Kurt made a tiny show of bowing his head and accepting their praise.

''Anyway what was that about?'' Santana threw a nod in the direction of his phone. His phone conversation seemed to have sucked the excitement out of him she noticed.

''Blaine's not coming,'' Kurt sighed with a quiet kind of disappointment. ''Apparently he has some obligation at Dalton he can't get away from. So.''

Brittany took the opportunity to swoop in with their gift. ''Welllll,'' she sang brightly. ''Maybe this will cheer you up. Santana and I got you a little something.''

She held out the white box and he took it with a nervous smile. ''What is it? It's not gross is it?''

Santana raised an eyebrow. ''Why would it be gross?''

''Because it's coming from you.''

''Just open the damn box will ya.'' Santana laughed and rolled her eyes while Brittany bounced on her heels at her side and clapped her hands like a baby seal.

And so Kurt did. He popped the lid open to see what they had presented him with. There within the white box were a dozen beautifully decorated cupcakes. They were covered in bright pink frosting with tiny gold paper crowns topping each of them off. A handful of them were crownless though and simply said Team Jinkx, Team Roxxxy or Team Alaska with sprinkles all over their names.

''Oh my god, these are perfect!'' he hollered in delight. ''Thank you!''

''It was Santana's idea,'' Brittany beamed proudly.

''No it wasn't.''

Brittany shrugged and poked Santana in her side. ''Well, the cupcakes were my idea, but Santana was the one who really came up with the designs. It's nothing huge but we wanted to do something nice for you, you know, because you've been so helpful and because you're hosting us tonight.''

''Well thank you Brittany.''

''You're welcome.''

''And thank you Santana,'' Kurt said.

''Whatever,'' Santana brushed off his gratitude and went to grab a Team Alaska cupcake only for her hand to get slapped away. ''Ah! What the hell?!'' She flinched at Kurt's swat.

''Not until the show,'' Kurt snickered, closed the box and placed it onto his coffee table.

''Fuh-ine,'' Santana whined half heartedly and went to collapse into the middle of the couch. Brittany toddled on after her, sinking into her side, and she was then followed by Kurt who took the opposite end.

''So is there anything I need to be ready for to prepare myself for this?'' Brittany asked the two of them.

Santana and Kurt shared a glance before Kurt shrugged and piped up. ''Just be prepared for a lot of singing.''

''And dancing,'' Santana added.

''And buffoonery,'' Kurt continued.

Brittany squinted. ''So, it's like glee club?''

''Pretty much,'' Kurt and Santana answered in unison.

After a bit of chatting and snacking and goofing the broadcast started. Santana was buzzing with certain kind of delight. The reunion and crowning was the culmination of everything. Together they had a handful of ups and downs and bouts of bitching and moaning but she and Kurt had survived the season together. When she first discovered Drag Race she would've never thought that within a span of weeks she would find herself feeling so grounded and comfortable around him.

Not only that, she never would've thought that by the end of this crazy season she and Kurt had experienced together she would be sitting here at the very end of it with Brittany at her side. Without Brittany she had needed to learn how to stand on her own two feet and walk her own path for a bit and Drag Race in its own way had helped her to do that, by giving her joy and laughter and showing her that there was power in owning and embracing her queerness.

She had found tiny bits of inspiration, whether it was watching Alyssa Edwards break down in Untucked about her struggle for her father's acceptance, or Monica Beverly Hillz deciding to tell the other queens as well as the world that she was in fact a trans woman or in watching Alaska tell the camera that the best revenge one can ever possibly achieve is to do better than those who are trying to tear you down.

It was funny how this silly and wonderfully ridiculous show had set in motion a series of events that had led her here. If she hadn't found Drag Race she would've never started spending time with Kurt, if she hadn't spent time with Kurt he would've never stuck his dainty nose in her business and urged her to confront her feelings which in turn meant finally having a face to face conversation with Brittany where they could both vent their emotions out.

Maybe she would've gotten there on her own. Maybe it would've just taken her a little bit longer. Those were possibilities but a part of her liked to think that Drag Race was the thing that tipped something in motion for her.

She wanted to believe that anyway but she didn't have much time to dwell on it though because the show had begun.

She watched as the season 5 queens walked the catwalk and were introduced one by one to the live audience which consisted of thousands. Kurt oooo'd and ahhhh'd over the fashion, and Brittany even chimed in on the theatricality of it all, everything and everyone was so bright and colorful she immediately took notice. Then once introductions were over and the music came to a halt, the stage went dark except for the slight illumination around the silhouette of Rupaul at the top of a staircase. As the mother of all queens descended Ru's ballad Can I Get An Amen? began to play, leading the queens as well as the live audience to begin swaying to the slow beat of the gospel themed song.

Santana felt Brittany and Kurt swaying against each of her sides and smiled.

''This really is totally like glee,'' Brittany noted all of the queens on stage swaying in the performance. ''Except the queens have way better style sense than most of the club.''

For the next hour the three of them watched as Ru spoke to the queens, recapping their most memorable moments on the show and catching up with what they were up to post-season. As the reunion progressed the three of them started to make their way through the snack bowls and special finger foods Kurt had prepared for the gathering. Between them they also definitely made a dent in the cupcakes, blindly scarfing them down and wearing mustaches made out of pink frosting. Brittany got especially excited about the weird song-break in the middle of the reunion that had dancers storm the stage and begin dancing to Peanut Butter by Rupaul. It was basically a song about ass. Kurt doubled over in laughter when Brittany got up and began to back her own ass up by doing some weird booty dance into Santana who wasn't exactly complaining about the view. Eventually though they watched Rupaul finally move things along to interview the final three queens.

The closer they got to the crowning the more anxious Santana became. She wasn't sure why though, she enjoyed all of the queens over the course of the season but wasn't really rooting for anyone specific this time around. It wasn't a paralysing tortured kind of anxiety though, there was nothing painful about it, instead it was the kind that made Santana's heart speed up and her tummy fill with nervous butterflies. She was ready to applaud whoever won the season, it didn't matter if her fav queen was a part of it or not.

Not when she had Brittany laughing and curling into her side. And not when she had Kurt cackling and swatting her shoulder when something funny happened on screen.

Someone would be crowned on TV tonight but in her own way Santana felt like she had won herself too, no matter the outcome.

''As always I have consulted with the judges and the fans but the final decision is mine to make…'' Rupaul stated to the camera as music began to swell in the background.

This was the moment.

On the couch Kurt reached over to take Santana's hand, Santana reached over to take Brittany's hand, and all three of them leaned forward.

''The winner of Rupaul's Drag Race, America's next drag superstar is…'' Rupaul took a dramatic pause. ''Jinkx Monsoon!''

And with that everyone screamed. Well Santana and Kurt did while Brittany clapped appreciatively. Kurt jumped up from his seat, spilling the bowl of popcorn from his lap onto the floor. In the excitement of the moment Santana herself stood up as did Brittany who went to flank Kurt's other side. He hopped in place a few times and used both hands to cover his mouth as his fanboy emotions overcame him. He beamed at the TV with pride as Jinkx came forward and took a bow to proudly accept her crown.

''Now prance my queen,'' Rupaul directed Jinkx to walk the catwalk and receive the wild applause that had erupted within the theater.

And as Jinkx walked forward taking the first steps of her reign the season five anthem began to play. The soundtrack to Jinkx's triumph, The Beginning.

Breaking up, fading out, holding on until tomorrow, shake it off, turn around, it won't be long till it's a brand new day. This is the beginning, the beginning, this is the beginning of the rest of your life!

The music quieted slightly as Jinkx returned to Ru's side. ''Do you have anything you'd like to say?'' Rupaul asked Jinkx, waving to the camera and audience in front of them.

Jinkx who had overcome so much doubt, pain and bullying over the course of the season looked straight into the camera and smiled. ''Get ready bitches, it's Monsoon season!'' Jinkx declared with a shout.

''Thank you so much,'' Ru said as she started her signature sign off. ''Remember America if you can't love yourself how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else, can I get an amen in here?''

''Amen!'' the live audience shouted back.

The live audience went wild as the music came back up and Jinkx's fellow season five queens came to surround her, laughing and dancing on each of her sides.

This is the beginning, the beginning, this is the beginning of the rest of your life! This is the beginning, the beginning, this is the beginning of the rest of your life!

It was strange then when Santana looked over to see that Kurt's sniffles had somehow without her even noticing turning into a full blown sob.

Brittany noticed as well. ''Why are you crying? I thought that was your favorite queen,'' she said.

''She is. I'm just...so proud of her,'' Kurt continued to blubber, lettings tears of joy, happiness and shock roll out of him. ''She worked so hard for this. No one believed in Jinkx.''

Kurt continued to ugly cry and for a brief second Santana contemplated pulling out her phone to capture the weird and intense faces he was pulling. The only thing that stopped her from laughing was looking over at Brittany who smiled softly back at her and gave her a sweet, pointed look as if to say let him lean on you. Although Santana read it more like let him lean on you and I'll let you do whatever you want in bed later.

Which yeah, that was an offer she couldn't exactly pass up.

''Hey,'' Santana said, bumping into Kurt's side supportively. ''So what if no one believed in Jinkx, because Jinkx believed in Jinkx and that's all that mattered.'' She pulled him into her with an awkward side hug. ''Now you need to stop with the tears, alright? One, because you're making me uncomfortable, and two, because you know where ever that goofy bitch Jinkx is right now she's celebrating.''

''Yeah,'' Brittany chimed in supportively.

Kurt wiped at his eyes. ''Yeah?''

''Totally. And you should be too.'' Brittany touched his shoulder affectionately.

''You're right,'' Kurt said with a nod as he gathered himself and began to let laughter overtake him. His favorite queen, the left of center Jinkx Monsoon, had beat out all of the fashion and pageant queens and won Ru as well as the viewing audiences hearts.

That surely was worth celebrating.

And so they did and as the music played Brittany began to dance with Kurt, doing some cute little encouraging jig to lighten him up before twirling him around a few times until he was spinning around on his own, and then she was grabbing ahold of Santana and pulling her over to join them. They played the song again, and again, and again, and again as they turned the volume up and started moving about Kurt's bedroom, bouncing and hopping around on his couch and coffee table.

Santana couldn't help but feel a little drunk on joy as she watched Kurt and Brittany begin to do their very own elaborate dancy lip sync performance as they slid around his floor in their socks and mimed the words, using her as their audience. She couldn't help but laugh when Kurt pulled out his famous hip wiggle and finger pointing moves, or when Brittany started doing some weird but slick disco robot dance.

She lost track of how many times they pressed repeat on The Beginning, because this here, Santana thought, as they laughed and danced and celebrated it felt they were at the precipice of something new, for all of them.

This is the beginning, the beginning, this is the beginning of the rest of your life!

X

And so with Season 5 having came to a conclusion, and with her and Brittany finding their way back to each other and meeting in the middle, Santana began to put her focus back into other things.

Her school work for one since she really had to think about taking it more seriously what with senior year just around the corner, not to mention giving more of herself in glee since Nationals were quickly approaching of course.

Then there was prom which was even more imminent.

And yet, instead of feeling some burning urgent desire to run and take the prom queen crown for herself all she found within her was a certain kind of calm about the whole event. Months ago, weeks ago she would have been hellbent on getting a nomination and win, but not anymore. It had always been a part of the plan, to gain as much power as possible to make herself invincible for the rest of high school. She was still very much interested in becoming invincible but now she just didn't think she needed other people's validation to achieve that.

She felt more like herself, more calm and confident when she was sitting on Kurt's couch watching drag queens read each other for filth than she knew she would feel parading herself around and pandering to all of the basic bitches in that school. She just didn't see the point of it anymore, she had Brittany and she was learning how to love and know herself in this brand new way Santana really didn't see how a plastic crown could factor into that growth. There was nothing to be gained by letting other people tell her her own worth. Not even the members of the glee club.

''You know if you did run I would totally support you, even if that just meant me being quiet and stepping aside,'' Brittany told her evening when they were out together at Breadstix.

Santana paused mid-chew. ''That's the last thing I would ever ask of you. I don't ever want you to hide for me. The last couple of months for me have been about figuring out how to go forward.''

''And I'm really, really proud of you for doing it on your own.''

''Me too which is why going backwards just seems like a waste of everything I've been working towards. Besides if for whatever reason I were to run for prom queen...I'd want it to be with you at my side.''

A goofy, toothy smile spread across Brittany's face. ''You mean like, campaign together?''

''Yeah. I mean why not. If I were ever going to do it then I'd have to do it in a way where I could be 100% me. But right now I'm just sorta meh about it, not because I'm ashamed and not because I want to hide you but because I'm done trying to look for answers in all the wrong things.''

''You are?''

''Totally. Would I look mega hot with a crown? Hells yeah. And part of me does feel badly that I would deny the world my beauty in that way,'' she said in complete seriousness with pasta sauce on her right cheek.

Brittany reached over and wiped her face with her thumb. ''You are...the cutest.''

''Puh, cute. To quote Alyssa Edwards I don't get cute, I get drop dead gorgeous.''

''I don't know who that is, but yeah, you do, you are...and even though I know you would look beautiful with a crown on your head I'm happy that you know you don't need one to prove anything, to anyone.''

Unconcerned with prom or with playing the popularity game that came with it, Santana opted to spend most of her free time planning and organizing an epic rewatch with Kurt of previous Drag Race seasons. They were both eager to get Brittany ready and familiarized with the show early on so that when the next season rolled around she would understand it fully.

It soon became abundantly clear that when exposed to the show Brittany really did enjoy it and find it entertaining but her zeal for it didn't quite reach Kurt and Santana's levels.

Santana and Kurt weren't just Drag Race fans, they were super fans. The kind of super fans who watched the show, plus Untucked, plus Fashion Photo Ruview, plus The Pit Stop, plus all of the behind the scenes clips Logo posted online that didn't make it to air, not to mention they had both recently began listening to Squirrel Friends Cocktail Hour which was an episode by episode recap podcast. They both felt that in order to fully appreciate and understand each episode of Drag Race you really had to watch and listen to all of the other Drag Race related content that went along with it. Brittany however couldn't grasp why they felt compelled to spend several hours a week digging into the inner workings of everything. Kurt and Santana literally devoted over six hours of their time each week to watching and listening to Drag Race media. Brittany admired their passion but didn't share in it to that extent.

Still she always supported Santana and always asked questions and lett Santana ramble on even though Brittany would sometimes get lost half in her Drag Race fueled spiels.

That was what being a couple meant Santana came to learn, encouraging the others interests and hobbies. Sometimes that meant Santana going on a wild goose chase to six different stores in search of fondue so Brittany would have some for her next web show, or sometimes it meant helping Brittany administer a suppository to Lord Tubbington which yeah, totally scarred Santana for life, but it also meant that Brittany was just as willing and happy to sit and support her love for the show and for the queens just because she knew it would make Santana happy.

Still, as their twosome became a trio it became obvious that the dynamics had gotten a little screwy in the process of Brittany becoming an official squirrel friend.

Kurt was the first one to notice it of course.

For so long it had just been Santana and Kurt on that couch, laughing and goofing and bitching, and they had settled into a very comfortable, familiar place with each other. For instance Kurt knew not to speak or bother Santana when workroom drama between the queens was going down because Santana lived for messy scenes, Santana knew not to poke or speak over the runway segment because Kurt liked to focus intently, absorbing each queens look in peace. Through all of those months spent together they had worked out most of the kinks and by now just knew how the other operated, they had a certain kind of shorthand with each other.

But Brittany, well, with her in the mix things began to shift a little bit.

Unlike Santana or Kurt, Brittany could look at the show with a much more objective point of view. She liked the show but she hadn't reached fangirl or fanboy levels of obsession like either of them which meant she was able to be more critical of things.

Brittany especially had a tendency to critique the dance rehearsal and performance segments, narrating to Santana and Kurt on what she would've done and how they could've been better. When Brittany finally learned who Alyssa Edwards was, Kurt and Santana both let out a loud offended gasp when Brittany stated she wasn't overly impressed with her dance skills.

''But that's what Alyssa does,'' Kurt insisted firmly, he looked like Brittany had just slapped him in the face in his own house. ''She's a dance teacher, she runs her own dance school! She's amazing!''

''I'm not saying she's untalented or that she's not an amazing queen, I'm just saying her dancing doesn't impress me.'' Brittany gave him a bored shrug. ''I'm just calling it how I see it. I see a lot of pointing and hair whipping, what I don't see is a lot of choreo.''

Kurt made some comical sputtery, scoffy noise and then looked to Santana as if seeking her say and support. ''You. Tell your girlfriend she's wrong.''

Sitting between the two of them Santana tilted her head and gave them both an expression that was half smile, half wince. ''I meaaaaannnn-''

''WHAT?! No, no, no!'' Kurt hollered. ''You love Alyssa Edwards! When she and Coco were feuding we were both on Team Alyssa!''

''I still like her!'' Santana shouted in her defense. ''But what Brittany is saying makes sense now that we're rewatching things. She moves her body with fluidity and she's obviously familiar with dance but, Brittany's right. We did way more intense choreo when we were Cheerios. In comparison Alyssa's moves are kinda basic.''

Kurt gave her an appalled look. ''You're just saying that because you want to side with your girlfriend.''

''Maybe my girlfriend is right?'' said Santana who was rewarded with a wink from Brittany that promised of more later.

''Maybe you're just whipped?'' Kurt sassed back.

''Maybe I should throw my drink in your little squirrely face?''

Kurt threw a hand up in front of Santana. ''Calm down Shangela.''

Then again there were some nights where it was the other way around and Brittany felt like the odd one out.

Like one evening when they were rewatching a Season 3 episode and Kurt and Santana started a hushed but very intense conversation about their mutual love and respect for one Mariah Balenciaga.

''But you know what, Mariah Balenciaga is like my style icon,'' Santana gushed with admiration. ''Everything she wore on the Drag Race runway, I would wear that. Did I tell you about last week?''

''What happened last week?''

''Oh my god you didn't see.'' Santana pulled out her phone, tapped on the screen a few times and then shoved it in Kurt's face. ''I made a comment on her Instagram and she LIKED IT and I DIED, that's what happened last week.''

Kurt made a strange dolphin noise in excitement. ''I hate you, you do know that right,'' he said with a laugh. ''My life would be complete if one of my favorite queens acknowledged me that way.''

''Is it weird that I screencapped it and sometimes go back just to stare at it?'' she asked.

''Uh no.''

From her side of the couch Brittany simply watched the two of them go back and forth in their exchange. Kurt was so intrigued and in awe of Mariah's involvement in ball culture because he thought the community was so diverse and beautiful. Santana had admitted that she wasn't particularly familiar with the ball community or even how the house system worked but she knew that it played a significant role within the history of drag, not to mention black culture. It was an important part of LGBTQ+ history and they both agreed they owed it to themselves to watch Paris Is Burning the next time they met up.

It wasn't that they were purposely trying to leave Brittany out, it was just that they were so far deep into the drag rabbit hole with each other and Brittany simply wasn't as invested in it as them. She sometimes just had to sit out the conversation and watch Kurt and Santana ping pong off of each other.

Of course after awhile Brittany found there were other ways to get Santana's attention. Like when an entirely different night found the three of them on the couch in front of the TV. They had been watching another episode together when Kurt began to hear the sound of kissing coming from their side of the sofa.

Out of the corner of his eye he could just make out Brittany working on Santana's neck while Santana who was practically vibrating in her seat struggled to focus on the show.

''Baby, uh, hey,'' Santana said, somewhere between a groan and a whimper. ''What are you doing?''

An obviously horny Brittany whispered, ''I want you.''

Santana quietly chuckled and whispered back. ''After the show.''

''But you've already seen this one,'' Brittany tried to reason.

''I know, but we were rewatching it for you. I thought you wanted to understand it better.''

''I do, and I am but please.'' Brittany spoke, quietly pleading and blinking with puppy dog eyes. ''I can't focus on it right now with you sitting here in that skirt you know I love.''

''Yeah?'' Santana smirked.

''We can do it quick,'' Brittany begged and attached her mouth back onto Santana's skin.

A peeved Kurt fluttered his eyelashes rapidly. ''You both know I can totally hear you right? Stop being gross.''

''Gross? Why? Because we're two girls?'' Santana asked with a huff.

''No, not because you're girls but because you guys are being one of those overly affectionate couples who get handsy in front of people. It's a little…'' Kurt made a face and tossed a wave in their direction.

Santana narrowed her gaze. ''You're just jealous because your boyfriend isn't here getting his cuddle on with you. You know what, why is Blaine never here?''

Kurt stared ahead sullenly at the TV screen. ''He thinks Drag Race is too campy.''

''Yeah well your face is too campy and he still likes you so, he should get over it,'' snarked Santana.

Kurt spent the rest of that evening listening to them make those uncomfortable lippy smacky noises together until they eventually excused themselves to his bathroom where they were gone for a good half hour before coming back down. Santana of course wore a very pleased, smug expression on her return.

It probably wouldn't have even been an issue had it - their wandering off for large chunks of time to canoodle with each other - not began to occur more and more often. Because yes, Santana Lopez loved Drag Race, but she loved orgasms even more, more specifically she loved Brittany induced orgasms. There were many nights where Santana and Kurt were deep in Drag Race related discussion only for Brittany to distract her with kisses and touches until they made a trip to the bathroom or a nearby closet to take care of each other, leaving Kurt alone on the couch.

He probably would've shrugged it off had it only been one or two or five instances, but it slowly became something that happened at nearly every single Drag Race night gathering.

He was happy that the two of them were together of course, but he was a little frustrated that what was once special and sacred - Drag Race night - had just turned into an opportunity for them to make out or fool around. He had hoped that bringing Brittany into the fold would make the entire experience even more wonderful and rich but it had just turned all awkward when most nights the three of them hung out he spent the majority of the evening listening to them have sex through a neighboring wall.

And that? That wasn't what Kurt had signed up for.

It got to the point where he just needed a break from it. One night Kurt decided to call and cancel their planned get together, claiming illness. He settled in front of his TV by himself with snack bowls at the ready and queued up an old episode. He was taken by surprise when half way in Santana showed up, sans Brittany, holding a bag from their local drugstore.

On screen Willam Belli had just cattily asked Milan ''is the carpet comfortable?''

Santana reached into the plastic bag in her hand, pulled out a box of tissues and hurled it at his head. It hit Kurt - who was the picture of health - with a tiny thud and he yelped in response. ''Oww! What the hell Santana? What was that for?!''

''What was that for? Uh the way you made it out over the phone I was expecting to find you propped up in bed, oozing snot out from every orifice but no! You're not sick!''

''I am too!'' he comically fake coughed.

Not buying it, Santana looked utterly betrayed. ''You lied to me...not only did you lie to me, you're rewatching Season 4 without me?''

''It's not what it looks like, I just...I just thought I could use a Drag Race night alone is all.''

''Why didn't you just say that though?''

He sighed and gave up on making any kind of excuse. Squirrel friends didn't lie to each other. ''I don't know. I didn't think it mattered. And anyway I figured you and Brittany would find something else to do together. Don't get me wrong, I love having you guys over and everything but...I just...it gets weird sometimes.''

''Weird how?''

''Sharing you.''

''Ew.''

''I just mean it was always the two of us, and since you and Brittany got together we had to make room for someone else on this couch. I'm glad you're together you know that but...it's just different and I guess, I guess I'm still getting used to it. It's not the most comfortable thing to have the two of you dry hump six inches away from where I'm sitting.''

Santana nodded in understanding and went to sit on the coffee table in front of him.

''I know it's no one's intention but some nights I feel left out,'' he continued with a sad shrug. ''Then again I know there are other times where I look over at Brittany and I can tell she feels like she's being shuffled off to the side and I don't want her to feel like that either. I don't want anyone to feel left out so I thought maybe we could all use a break from this…'' he made a wave to his sitting area in his bedroom. ''That's why I said I was sick. I thought you two would probably have some other couply thing to do and I... I'm okay with rewatching alone you know.''

Santana rubbed the back of her neck as she heard him out. ''So do you like, not want us to come over anymore?''

''What?'' he squeak-laughed. ''Of course I want you two to come over. I love having you over. I just thought maybe we needed a night off from each other. It doesn't mean I don't love having you and Britt here most of the time because most of the time it's actually pretty awesome. Like, having her around now is great. It's true we don't always agree on all things Drag Race but she challenges the both of us and that's refreshing. Plus she's a great guest, she always says please and thank you and she's always bringing me little host gifts. She says they're from you so you can look good but I know they're all from her. I know how much having her be a part of this means for you too.''

''I guess Brittany and I have been in our own little bubble lately.''

''And that's okay,'' Kurt added with a smile. ''You two just got together, it's new and it's exciting and I get it. You should be enjoying your time together...but if the two of you are in an amorous mood or just want some one on one time with each other, maybe tell me that you owe me a raincheck for another night instead of coming over and violating my couch right in front of me.''

''So...you're not pissed?''

Kurt pffted. The last thing he was, was mad.

''I guess now that there are three of us we probably should figure out how to move forward,'' Santana said. ''I know it's easy for me to get caught up in Brittany sometimes...a lot of the time...but, you do know I'm not doing it on purpose to be an asshole.''

''I know. And hey, I know I have some adjusting to do here too. Brittany's your girlfriend, she's a part of you, a part of this, and we'll figure out a balance.''

Santana looked down and felt some kind of responsibility for all of this. She hadn't thought about the shift in dynamics that would occur with Brittany taking part in their Drag Race nights. Kurt didn't seem majorly bothered though and he insisted all would work itself out, they just had to weather it through. Santana was only half certain about that though, even after he told her he was good to be on his own for the rest of the evening and that she should go and get some quality time in with her girlfriend.

''So, me and you, we're good?'' she asked as she got up and prepared to leave.

''We're good,'' he assured her.

''Not that it matters to me if we're not,'' she added in a rush, quick to re-establish the idea that she wasn't as invested in this relationship as he was. ''Or whatever.''

He gave her a soft humoring smile. It was kind of laughable that she was still trying to play it like this considering that when she thought he was sick she still showed up with tissues and medicine in hand as any good friend would do. And yet, she still refused to call them that.

But like Kurt had seen with her and Brittany, sometimes you just had to wait Santana Lopez out.

X

Later that night after Santana had departed Kurt's she went home and collapsed in her bed.

She texted Brittany an invitation to come over and then spent the next fifteen minutes waiting by scrolling through the 'RPDR' tag on Tumblr, looking for any reliable spoilers in the hopes of learning the names of next seasons queens because she read somewhere that filming for Season 6 had already began in secret. When Tumblr proved fruitless she moved her search over to the Drag Race Reddit and it was there she hit the treasure trove as she found spoilers galore.

She couldn't help her fangirl impulses and opened the thread and soon found herself checking out and following all of the queens who were rumored to be a part of the season 6 cast on her social media. Trinity K. Bonet. Joslyn Foxx. Adore Delano. Gia Gunn. Some clown named Bianca Del Rio that she could just already tell that Kurt was so going to stan. She followed them all.

''Who's that blond girl?''

Santana startled slightly when Brittany appeared out of nowhere and leapt onto the bed and came to rest beside her. Brittany immediately raised an eyebrow at the photo of the glamorous blond on Santana's screen. Santana had just found Courtney Act's Instagram and even she had to admit Courtney Act was serving up realness. She was blond and gorgeous and really convincing, so much so that surfing through her Instagram gallery kind of made Santana feel some time of way.

Courtney was hard to clock.

''Courtney Act,'' Santana answered rather sheepishly.

''Is she like a singer or a model?'' Brittany asked. She was obviously curious about any potential hot blonds Santana might be following on Instagram.

''She's both actually, she's also going to be on next season of Drag Race.''

Brittany did a double take, taking Santana's phone from her so she could scroll down herself. ''You mean she's…''

''A drag queen? Yeah.''

''Wow.''

''Right.''

Brittany nodded knowingly and handed her back her phone. ''I can already tell you're going to be Team Courtney next season.''

''Why is that?''

''Because obviously you have a thing for super gorgeous, super leggy blonds,'' Brittany answered.

''Oh yeah? You have a problem with that?'' Santana asked with a wiggle of her brows.

''No...not as long as I'm your number one.''

''You'll always be my number one.''

Brittany planted a kiss on her lips as reward and they moved closer towards each other on the bed to cuddle up. Santana relaxed when she felt Brittany's arm slide across her mid section and on her part she let her fingers sink into blonde hair, pushing it back and to the side, smoothing it over and over.

''So why aren't with hanging with Kurt tonight? You said he came down with something earlier,'' Brittany said as they got comfortable together.

''Yeah, about that...I just think he needed a night to himself is all.''

''Is everything okay?''

Santana winced. ''Can we talk about something?''

''Of course.''

''Do you only watch Drag Race with us because you just want to make me happy, or do you watch it with us because you actually like it?''

''I actually like it,'' Brittany said with ease. ''Not like you and Kurt like it, but it's funny and some of the queens can really move on stage and that's always cool to watch. Why?''

''I don't know. I was just thinking…''

''Talk to me,'' Brittany gently urged, poking her nose into Santana's cheek.

''So like okay.'' Santana began with a heavy exhale. ''I'm obviously not mad about it or anything but like I have sort of noticed that lately when we go over to Kurt's to watch the show like mid way through the night you start to get all kissy and groupy with me which - again - I love, but I guess I'm wondering if that mostly happens because you get bored with the show or with me and Kurt and you just want something to do. Something to do being me.''

Brittany blinked several times as it looked like she was seriously pondering her response. It took her a few moments of silence to finally speak. ''Well...if we're being honest which we've both promised to do in this relationship...I guess a part of me does maybe sort of kind of act out just a little bit sometimes when the three of us are together on Drag Race night.''

''Why?''

Brittany gave her a silly awkward looking smile. ''Okay I'm going to say what I'm going to say but you can't get mad at me.''

''What?''

''Just promise.''

Santana laughed nervously. ''Okay, I promise, what?''

''So like I do love watching the show,'' Brittany again asserted. ''But you and Kurt can get really intense about it which is really cute to watch...most of the time.''

''Most of the time?''

''But sometimes…'' Brittany looked adorable hesitant as she carried on. ''Sometimes when you and Kurt are watching Drag Race it's like watching my dad and my uncle when a football game is on TV. You're like super fanatical about it, yelling at the TV or getting upset at a judges critique like it was a referee making a bad call. Last week you and Kurt even wore matching tee shirts one night that said 'I'm a Heather' which I don't even know what that means but it's probably Drag Race related and like there's just so much to this show...and he understands all of it. And I...I don't.'' Brittany went quiet and she reached out to find Santana's free hand which she took inside of her own and squeezed. ''Sometimes I do feel left out just a little bit. I know you guys don't mean for it to happen, you just get caught up in it and...sometimes, sometimes I just want you to remember that I'm there and so I know that the easiest and best way to do that is by touching you and having you touch me and sometimes yeah I do get carried away.''

Santana softened. ''Baby, I'm sorry.''

''What?''

Santana sat up, inadvertently removing their limbs from each other. She began to shake her head as she walked about her room. ''I'm sorry. I had no idea.''

''No idea, what? And why are you apologizing? If anything I should be apologizing to you,'' Brittany insisted.

''I never wanted you to feel left out, hell I never wanted Kurt to feel left out either but both of you have and I hadn't even realized it until now.''

''It's no one's fault, you didn't do it on purpose and I'm sorry if it felt like I was purposely trying to take away from your special thing with Kurt because I wasn't,'' Brittany hurriedly added, shaking off the notion that Santana had anything to feel badly about.

''For some reason I thought the three of us could...I don't know...I just wanted to share with you what I share with Kurt but I sucked at making that work.''

''You don't suck! Well I mean you do suck and super well if you know what I mean but not at this,'' Brittany laughed and crawled out of the bed to go to Santana. She wrapped her arms around her neck, showering her with affection. ''Watching Drag Race with you and Kurt is one of the best parts of my week.''

''Really?''

''Really-really. I like when you get all excited and you reach over and take my hand and give me that smile...you know the one where you get all cute and dimpley. But even beyond you I really do think the show is awesome. The lip syncs are epic and I really like how there's a Snatch Game every season and I know I don't 'get' everything but what I do get about it I really love. I'm glad you and Kurt really love it too. We all just have to work on making sure no one gets lost or left out now that there's three of us on that couch.''

The two of them spent the rest of the night talking it out and they decided that maybe the best way to find that balance was to make sure that they had a proper one on one date night together each week aside from Drag Race night. They couldn't just rely on Drag Race night to be their date night because Drag Race night was about more than them. And by making sure they took the time to go on dates and have that special time together they knew that rolling into Kurt's basement together they wouldn't be clinging to each other as much because they would have already devoted time to just the two of them, meaning Drag Race night could then be about the three of them.

It had to be more than just holing up with each other in their bedrooms they decided. They did plenty of that already. Date nights had to be just a little bit special it was agreed. Going forward they decided that each Friday night would be their special night for just the two of them. On the other end of it Santana said she and Kurt would both work on making sure that they never got too intense to the point of forgetting that Brittany was in the room with them.

It took them a few more weeks but the three of them managed to work it all out much to Santana's relief. Soon the the three of them were back in that basement, laughing and shouting. Brittany finally figured out what being a Heather meant, though she told Kurt and Santana that she identified with the Boogers more on an emotional level. Kurt later surprised her with her own personalized tee shirt that said 'I'm a Booger'. It offended Santana because Santana wanted Brittany to be a Heather with them but Brittany loved her Booger shirt and wore it with pride much to Kurt's pleasure.

By the time prom rolled around all of their growing pains were water under the bridge for them. Kurt even had a hand in helping each of them pick out their dresses for the event. Santana had picked out a severe and sultry red number while Brittany had opted for something more playful in lime green. And as for Kurt, well they were both there for him as he worked to put the finishing touches on his kilt. He had explained to them how he had unveiled it to both his father and Blaine and how they had urged him to tone it down more or less.

''Surprisingly Finn was the only one who gave me any kind of support,'' Kurt sighed one night in his bedroom.

Santana and Brittany were sitting about on his couch while he fiddled with fixing a hem at his work desk. ''Wow,'' Santana said in sympathy.

''But you know what?'' Brittany started. ''Who cares if Blaine and your dad don't get it, it's not for them to get. As long as you love it then so what. Like the kilt is a traditional piece of clothing worn by men but like even if it wasn't, so what. There's no such thing as mens or womens clothing when you stop giving a poop about the rules of what's socially acceptable. Like ask yourself, who made that rule? Someone who was probably white and probably straight.''

Santana shrugged. ''I don't know about any of that but I do say you should wear what you want to wear. Is it loud? Yes. Is it attention grabbing? Totally. But so is Puckerman's white jacket that he plans to wear, so is Sam's ugly ass bolo tie he's been showing everybody for some reason, so is Brittany's green dress. We're all dressing up to get attention and if this is what you want to wear I'm for it. And honestly? I've seen you wear more ridiculous things. This…'' she made a wave to him and his prom outfit. ''...for you is toned down to be honest.''

Kurt grinned at that. ''Thank you.''

''Sure,'' Santana said nonchalantly as if it was nothing. ''You worked hard on it you said, so take it to the runway. You're serving traditional tartan realness up in here.''

X

Several days later they doubled to prom with Blaine joining them as Kurt's date of course.

Santana still hadn't figured out Blaine's thing yet, all she knew was that he was sorta bland but seemed nice enough she guessed. She only knew he was supposed to be some amazing voice and star but from what she had seen of him, he was just adequate in that regard. Barely. But overall she felt no need to tear him down because at the very least he didn't talk as much as Rachel. Plus he seemed to get along fairly well with Brittany and it meant something in Santana's books that Blaine didn't automatically dismiss Brittany as some airhead. Now she wasn't sure if he was worthy enough to be in her orbit just yet but she planned to figure that out if he stuck around long enough.

For the time being though she was just glad to see Kurt had someone.

When she walked into the Mckinley gym that night with Brittany on her arm she knew she was announcing in her own way that she had someone too, and that someone was Brittany.

They had talked it over countless times and in the end Santana knew that she had reached the point of no return. She was done denying herself or her feelings, she wanted to hold Brittany's hand, she wanted to slow dance with Brittany, she wanted to take really cheesy prom pictures with Brittany, and like hell was she going to let anyone else's ideas or opinions dictate her actions.

She wanted to be as brave and as fearless and as fierce as all of her favorite queens and in Santana's eyes she felt like she had taken enough time to get there, to be ready, to be brave, to be fearless, to be fierce.

Brittany had assured her that it wasn't necessary, but in turn Santana had assured her that she was ready. It was about more than being ready though, it was about wanting to experience her prom night with the girl she was in love with.

And so she did, as she and Brittany moved to that ridiculously stupid Friday song she felt a sudden sense of liberty. It was ten kinds of dumb but as they danced the night away she felt foolishly, blissfully free in a way she hadn't before. She didn't care about the people spinning around them on the floor, all she cared about, all she saw was Brittany in her arms beneath the spinning mirror-ball.

Santana hadn't been expecting what came next, neither had Brittany and certainly not Kurt who up until that point had been enjoying himself.

With Santana opting out of the prom queen race she had just assumed that Quinn would be a shoe in. In fact, a part of Santana had even hoped for Quinn to take the crown because she thought maybe possibly Quinn would calm the hell down. But what she hadn't expected, what no one had expected was for Kurt's name to be called when they announced the prom queen.

Like statues the entire student body stood for what felt like a tiny eternity there.

The only part of herself that Santana could feel was her heart which jumped inside of her chest as she realized what had just happened.

And then it was all a blur as Kurt ran out, and she and Blaine both began to jog after him with Brittany trailing behind.

Santana wasn't sure how she was keeping up especially in her heels, but the only thing she could think of, the only thing she could think to do was to reach Kurt. Something burned inside of her, pushing her to keep going even as she skidded against the floor in chase. Eventually she rounded a corner and saw him come to a halt against a row of lockers at the far end of the hall. She paused for a moment and turned around and made eye contact with Blaine briefly and then gave him a gentle touch to his chest.

Let me, she tried to say wordlessly. Please.

And while it looked like he wanted to push forward too he gave her a single nod in understanding. Brittany came up behind them and touched Blaine supportively as he stood in place and as Santana walked over to Kurt.

He was in tears.

''I can't believe I was so stupid,'' he said, shaking. ''Here I was thinking...thinking that maybe somehow some kind of progress had been made. I thought we could have this, you and me and Brittany. I was so stupid for thinking we could all just have one night where we could be just like everyone else, but we can't.''

''You're right...we can't,'' Santana started with a frog in her throat. ''We can't ever have that Kurt. Do you know why?''

''Because they're full of hate and ignorance?''

''That. That and, we can't have one night where we're like everyone else because me, you and Brittany...we're not like everyone else.''

''What does that mean?''

''It means that for us, for you and me and her, this is only the beginning. And for them?'' she made a vague wave back to the direction of the dance. ''This is it, this is the end of the road for them.''

Kurt said nothing, instead he just slid down against the lockers until he came to sit upon the floor where he crumbled within himself. Nevertheless Santana kept on as she stood before him.

No squirrel friend left behind.

''Maybe they did this out of ignorance or hate, who the fuck cares,'' she said passionately. ''In five years, in ten years, when we're out of this town, when we've made something out of ourselves...they'll still be here, in this small town living their small lives wishing they were us, wishing they were you. I know it, Kurt. I know it more than I've ever known anything.''

''Why are you saying all of this? Why are you here?'' he asked, almost angrily as tears continued to pour out of him.

''Because...because you're my friend Kurt.''

''I thought you had a problem with calling us that?''

''I did, for some stupid petty ass reason I did, but none of that matters to me anymore. This matters to me. You matter to me. And like hell am I gonna just stand by and have you think those basic ass bitches won over you...over us.''

He shook his head, not wanting to hear her words or encouragement. ''It's not that simple Santana!''

''Yes it fucking is, Kurt. Listen to me, let them say what they want because guess what?''

''What?''

Santana blinked through tears as she searched for the words, the perfect words. ''It's water off a duck's back.''

Kurt went still at her use of Jinkx Monsoon's famous, inspiring catchphrase.

''What did you just say?'' he asked.

''You heard what I just said. Water off a duck's back, Kurt. It's all it is, it's all it is. I'm not gonna stand here and tell you it doesn't suck right now, because it does. I know it isn't fucking fair or right. None of this is. You just have to remember that this...this night, this school, this town, it's all they're ever gonna know, but me, but you, we're gonna take over the fucking world one day and those people who voted for you, they're not gonna know what hit 'em.''

''They're not?''

''I think you deserve a crown, Kurt, but not for any of the reasons they think. You deserve a crown because you have more charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent than any of those people back there.''

''You're just saying that.''

''The fuck I am. I'm telling you this because you need to know it and you need to believe it. It doesn't matter if I believe in you or they believe in you or your dad believes in you, it matters that you believe in you Kurt. Like Jinkx believed in Jinkx. Maybe...maybe this is the universe's really fucked up way of telling you that you're meant for something greater than this.''

''So what do you think I should do?'' he wiped at his face.

''I can't tell you what to do but I'd tell you what I'd do.''

''And what would that be?''

''I'd march back in that room, take my damn crown and start my motherfucking reign is what I'd do.''

Kurt smiled a shaky, watery smile. ''Water off a duck's back?''

''Water off a duck's back,'' Santana repeated with reverence.

She reached out to offer her hand and he took it, allowing himself to be pulled up. He immediately wrapped her up into a hug that she didn't have it in her to fight off, she accepted it, letting him sink against her for several long silent moments.

''If you get snot on my dress you're dead,'' she warned after a few minutes.

Kurt somehow laughed through his tears and pulled away slightly to look at her directly. ''I can't believe you finally said it.''

''Said what?''

''That we're friends.''

''Yeah well-''

From down the hall Blaine cleared his throat and looked to them, giving a nod at Santana as he started to approach. He was obviously done waiting and wanted to have his own word with Kurt.

''I-'' Kurt began to say to Blaine only for Santana to cut him off.

''It's fine,'' Santana said as she looked between the two of them. Blaine was Kurt's boyfriend afterall. ''I'll just be with Brittany.'' She tilted her head in Brittany's direction, she was still standing a bit aways away.

When she reached her Brittany pulled her close and gave her a very sad smile as if to say, I hate that this happened but I'm so proud of you for being there for a friend.

''Are you okay?'' Brittany asked her.

''I'm fine. It didn't happen to me.''

''Still, baby.''

''I'll be alright.''

Brittany looked down the hall at Kurt who was now in conversation with Blaine who also looked like he was trying to comfort him. ''What about Kurt? Will he be okay?''

Santana exhaled and nodded. Kurt was stronger. Stronger than anyone gave him credit for. ''He's going to be more than okay. I mean tonight might blow but...he's strong. He'll make it. He will. We all will.''

Brittany placed a long and comforting peck on her lips. They waited close and in each others embrace as they waited for Kurt and Blaine to finish speaking. When they finally came around to joining them Kurt told them what he was going to do. He was going to go back in, get his crown, begin his reign and never look back.

Together, hand in hand in hand in hand, they started off and marched back into the gym. Blaine was on the one side of Kurt with their arms linked while Santana was at his other side. She felt him squeezing her hand. She squeezed back.

''Are you sure about this?'' Blaine asked him.

''Yeah, yeah I am.'' Kurt spoke with certainty.

It took everyone by surprise and there was a lot of awkwardness as Kurt approached the stage. Figgins looked almost wooden as he announced Kurt.

''Ladies and gentlemen, your prom queen Kurt Hummel,'' the older man spoke into the mic and then proceeded to hand him a scepter and place a crown upon his head.

The room was still suffocatingly silent.

''Do you have anything you'd like to say?'' asked the principal.

Kurt hesitated for a long moment until his eyes searched the crowd and he found Santana watching him.

He took a deep breath and declared with a jubilant shout. ''Get ready bitches, it's Monsoon season!''

No one understood what that meant of course, but it didn't matter to him, because Santana did. He knew that she knew and in that moment that was all that mattered.

Jinkx believed in Jinkx and Kurt believed in Kurt.

And everything else was water off a duck's back.