A/N: Thank you to my new subscribers and everyone who has read my story (especially those who have reviewed or sent me PMs). I've successfully responded to each and everyone of you :) I really appreciate the criticism.. because that's the only way I'll be able to become better at writing.. and the encouragement to continue! I know some of you said you were sad and heartbroken by the last chapter but I believe in the endgame! Also, happy birthday NAYA RIVERA 3!

6 days after the BLUR

Brittany took a deep breath before ringing the doorbell. It was almost a week since the morning she was tossed out of the Lopez house in nothing but an oversized jacket. The anxiety and embarrassment had not gone away. If anything her nerves were amplified by the million images running through her mind of how the next couple minutes would play out. She settled for thinking that she was either going to be confronted by a Mr. Lopez who had allowed time for reason to calm his anger or a Mr. Lopez whose resolve was to ensure heartbreak and separation from Santana. Either way, Brittany's shaken nerves were only silenced by her own resolve to be courageous and brave for the sake of a love she was so sure about. She stood in the cold staring at the door, slowly counting to a hundred to keep her mind occupied. Minutes passed but the door went unanswered. Brittany felt the pain in her heart tug sharper as minutes turned into hours.

Present time

Three weeks, two days, one hour, and three minutes later. Brittany impatiently stared at her phone knowing that she was only setting herself up for disappointment. She opened her phone gallery and swiped through the pictures of Santana. She had checked Facebook and Twitter daily, but there were never any updates. It was killing her. Everyone around her noticed the change. Even when she tried to hide behind a smile or muffle her screams behind laughter, Brittany knew that they all saw right through her. She tried wholeheartedly to be herself but things were clearly not the same. She just couldn't see the world under the same light without Santana. So hours, days, even weeks went by and all she could do was try to get through each day, one at a time, even if it was just her shell slowly making its way around.

"Brittany, honey, are you home?" Mrs. Pierce opened her bedroom door cautiously. "Can we talk?" She sighed and corrected herself. "Brittany, we need to talk."

"Mom? Yeah. Okay." She bit her lower lip. She hated it when people tried to cheer her up because let's face it, the only thing that would truly make her happy would be having Santana back in her life.

"Honey. You can't keep doing this.. I know that you're sad and that you're heart broken, but you need to start living again. I hate seeing you like this. I can't pretend anymore because it hurts too much to see you so.. so dead, you've become a ghost. You're so special Brittany, I hate not seeing the light in your eyes."

Brittany tried to blink back scalding tears, but no amount of effort could keep them from falling. She hated that her mom had to see her like this, but she was right and there was no denying it. Brittany closed her eyes and nodded her head.

"I.. I know, Mom." With so much sadness, she looked to her mom begging for answers, pleading for relief. "How do I make the pain go away? It hurts, everything hurts. I feel broken. I've tried Mom, honestly. But.. but I don't know what else to do."

Mrs. Pierce allowed herself to cry. She made her way towards her daughter and knelt in front of her. Brittany remained motionless at her desk chair.

"I remember when you came home from school one day and asked me if you were broken. You told me that you liked girls more than boys and that your classmates made fun of you because of it. Remember what I told you? I said that you weren't broken and that there was no reason to feel ashamed that you felt different. Different is good so long as you're being true to yourself. I will love you just the same, if not more for being such a courageous girl."

Brittany remembered the relief that washed over her when her mother had spoken to her that day.

"I remember watching you and Santana snuggle unusually close while watching A Walk to Remember in the living room. I was always so curious to see how you seemed to fit together like matching puzzle pieces. But I couldn't help to think that your friendship with Santana was not a good thing. I convinced myself into thinking that she had the power to not only change you, but to break your heart. Then, when your dad passed away, I saw how she was the only person to make you smile. She comforted you better than I could have ever imagined and I was so thankful for her being a part of our lives."

Brittany felt her mother's hands cup her face and run her hand tenderly through her hair.

"I remember the day you told me you two were more than just friends. At first, I didn't like the idea because I knew people would be judgmental and that you would have to face a lot of nasty things. But I saw that Santana was there to protect you from all of it. She's like a daughter to me too you know. When you told me that her father hit her, I cried. I can't imagine a parent doing something like that.. I would never do that to you, Brittany. I love Santana because she's good for you and I know that you're young, but sometimes, a lucky few find their match early in life."

Brittany felt her body crumble and she found herself slouched over on the floor, her mother quickly embracing her in comforting, strong arms.

"I promise to help you find Santana again. I promise to never let you forget about her. But you have to promise me one thing. Start living Brittany. You know that's what Santana would want. For you to be happy and healthy. You don't have to move on, but please.. move forward."

Flashback

Courtney needed answers. When Brittany franticly entered her office, the earth stood still as she listened to her baby narrate the events that had happened with Santana, her declaration of love, and Mr. Lopez's malicious behavior. She comforted Brittany, told her boss that she needed the rest of the day off, and took Brittany home. She took two more days off to stay home with Brittany. A mother can never describe the torture and pain that is felt to see your child so hurt. When Brittany finally found herself overwhelmed with fatigue and was forced into a deep sleep, Courtney made her way to the Lopez's residence.

Courtney patiently waited for her doorbell to be answered. Mr. Lopez's face dropped as soon as he recognized the visitor.

"Court," he said shortly.

"Mario," she responded just as coldly.

"I'd invite you in, but we're just about to leave."

Screw this she thought, and pushed passed him to enter the house to find Santana. She felt a tight grasp on her wrist which flung her back towards the door.

"You have no right to come in uninvited."

"And you have no right to put your hands on me OR my daughter!"

"I see you raised her to be a splitting image of yourself. Rude and disrespectful."

Courtney tried to fight back tears that were born from anger and the maternal nature of protecting her own.

"How dare you Mario. What would you do if I called the Police right now to report you?!"

"Let me do you a favor, I'll call them. Besides, I have nothing else to lose. Your daughter has ruined our lives, my daughter, and our reputation. Now get out before you and your family can cause any more harm!"

"What's so wrong about my daughter loving yours? Why are you so against that? Why can't you see and accept the happiness and love in their lives? They're special."

"Blasphemy! How dare you encourage such sin? It's no wonder Brittany is so stupid!" Mario nodded his head and never broke away from their intense stare down.

Courtney could not wrap her brain around his stubbornness and spiteful words.

"Call the Police then. I'd love to see how they would weight in on you laying your hands on our daughters."

Just then Maribel and Santana appeared, both eyes wide, red and swollen. Courtney quickly ran towards them, wrapping her arms protectively around them.

"Maribel.. Santana my dear. Are you two okay?"

Mr. Lopez walked briskly past them, making his way into the living room. In less than 5 minutes, Courtney gathered that Mario had resigned from his position at the hospital, sold their house, closed out all his bank accounts, and was forcing his family to leave Lima, Ohio.

Mario returned with suitcases in his hands. "It's time to go. Say your goodbyes." Then he was out the door and loading their SUV. Maribel and Santana looked defeated.

Maribel was the first to speak, "I'm so sorry, Courtney. I tried to reason with him. Please tell Brittany that I'm sorry too.. I couldn't protect them. But you have to know that I tried and that I love Brittany as if she was my own."

"I know," Courtney pulled Maribel into her arms, "and I love Santana just the same." Both women held each other tightly. They were friends who both understood the depth of their daughter's relationship.

Santana's sob echoed throughout the house and she found herself crashing to the ground. Courtney broke away from the embrace just in time to catch Santana.

"I'm so so so sorry Santana, it shouldn't be this way." She held Santana tightly, feeling every tremble in her body. "You have to know that we love you, Brittany and me."

She pulled away slightly to make eye contact with Santana, not knowing what else to say because nothing can possibly repair the heartache the Lopez women were feeling. An impatient Mr. Lopez leaned on the car horn, the awful sound ringing through the quiet neighborhood.

"I didn't even get to say goodbye. I love her. Please tell her. I love her." Santana whispered.

"She knows, she's always known."

"Please Mrs. Pierce, don't let her forget about me."

And in an instant, Courtney found herself standing alone in a very empty, very cold house. She didn't know how much time had passed. She had developed a bond with the Lopez women and she too felt the sting of heartache tugging relentlessly within her. Santana's plea repeated in her mind, "Don't let her forget about me." She shook herself, allowing the last of her tears to fall from her eyes. She shivered, turned to the door, and stuck her hands into her pockets. She felt a balled up paper in her left pocket and pulled it out to examine it. She uncrumpled and flattened the piece of paper.

Britt -

I love you. No matter what happens, know that you make me a better person and that I only started living the day you walked into my life. I'll cherish every memory of you and I'll try my hardest to make my way back into your arms. Don't be sad forever. Don't wait for me. Don't let me be a reason you don't follow your dreams or be happy. Live, be strong, and never let the magic in your world fade away. Please. You'll always be in my heart. When we find our way back into each other's arms, it will be when you can proudly call me yours. Until then, you have my heart.

With all my love, eternally and infinite. Santana 3

Present time

Mrs. Pierce knew it was time to tell Brittany that the Santana was gone. She spent days trying to find out where they went, but no one had a clue. Mario kept very few friends and didn't take the time to get to know his coworkers. After countless dead ends, she finally accepted that the Lopez's had seemed to vanish into thin air. Mario did not want to be found.

Mrs. Pierce looked to her daughter and revealed that Santana had left Lima, destination unknown. Brittany let out a haunting cry and all Mrs. Pierce could do was hold her closer.

"Santana's gone? But where? Why?" Brittany knew her questions would go unanswered.

"She loves you baby. There is no doubt about it. But please believe me when I say Santana wouldn't want you to stay this way. Promise me you'll start living again, I miss you."

Brittany found herself nodding, but she didn't believe that it could be possible. Mrs. Pierce took Santana's rushed note out of her pocket and placed it in Brittany's hands.

"Santana loves you. I promised her I would make sure you won't forget about her. I promise you that I won't stop trying to look for her. Come back to me, Brittany." Mrs. Pierce placed a kiss to her forehead.

Brittany sniffed, wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hands, and read the letter.

"Mom, I promise. I'll move forward, but I'll never forget," was all Brittany could muster. The words that Santana scribbled onto the paper replayed in her mind, a bittersweet lullaby that continued until she fell asleep in her mother's arms. The last thought that crossed her mind was the confirmation that Santana was gone and that somehow, she had to find the strength to move forward.

A/N: Thanks again for reading, I adore you! And as always, I'd love to hear from you. Also, still looking for a beta :)