So no one has any input on whether or not they would like more Brittany POVs?

"San, you have to leave your shoes here, remember?"

"Oh." I walk back to the front door and I slip off my hideous new snow boots that Brittany insisted I buy. They're the ugliest boots ever, but I guess they're much more comfortable and warmer than the designer boots I brought from LA. "Your mom is still anal about you tracking snow into the house?" I drop my boots by the door and wait for Brittany to do the same.

"She just doesn't want us to get hurt." She takes my hand and leads me to her room. "The last time I was here, I forgot to take my shoes off and Jamie slipped and fell. She looked like she had ice-skates on for like a second, but then she fell and got a nasty bruise on her elbow."

"Wish I'd seen that." I look through my suitcase and pull out some clean clothes. "I'm gonna jump in the shower."

"Wait," Brittany says.

I stop by the door and notice the worried expression on her face. "What's wrong?"

She presses her lips together into a frown before asking, "Do you think your parents are happy about us being back together?"

"Did you not hear the million questions my mom was asking?"

"Well, do you think your dad is happy about it?"

"Of course he is. He knows how much you mean to me. Just because he didn't jump up and down and cry happy tears doesn't mean he isn't happy."

"Yeah. Guess you're right."

I walk over to her and lift her chin up, forcing her to make eye contact. "Even if he wasn't happy about it, it wouldn't change how ecstatic I feel about us and that's what counts. I'm the happiest woman in the world. And you're responsible for that." Her lips twitch into a smile and I kiss them with a matching grin. "I'll be right back." I grab a towel off her dresser and head for the door. "We can talk to Jamie after I shower."

"Okay," she nods.

When I'm done in the bathroom, I go back to Brittany's room and change into some light clothes to laze around in until it's time to get ready to go to dinner.

Brittany and I walk down the hall towards Jamie's room until she tugs on my long sleeve. "San." I stop by Jamies door and look at her. She looks uncertain "What's wrong?" I ask.

"I think I'll just wait for you here," she says.

"Why? Don't you want to talk to her?"

"I don't think I'd be much help. I never say the right thing when I talk to her and you heard my mom... She looks up to you. I don't think she cares about what I have to say."

"Brittany," I frown. "Of course she cares. You're her sister. She's just being a drama queen."

"But she's always liked you. She thinks you're so cool... I mean you are. You're amazing so I can't really blame her."

"Britt, let me ask you something... Who did she go to for answers when she first heard about the birds and the bees?"

"...Me."

"That's right. She didn't go to me, or your mom, or your dad. Who did she want to sleep next to whenever I came over and we watched scary movies?"

"Me."

"And who did she insist on being there every time she got a vaccination?"

Brittany looks up and smiles. "Me"

"Yeah. You. Because you're her big sister. Although I agree that I'm as cool and awesome as anyone can get, I will always just be her sister's cool girlfriend, but you're her sister, Britt. No one can replace you."

Brittany's face brightens up and she embraces me tightly. "I love you," she whispers, then kisses my neck.

A chill runs down my spine. "I love you," I respond.

She lets go of me and knocks on the bedroom door. Shortly after, a very annoyed Jamie allows us in. "Hey," Brittany greets, timidly. "Can we talk?"

Jamie pulls off her headphones and makes room on her bed for us to sit. She might be pissed off, but even then she's still very pleasantly-mannered.

"I'm sorry for yesterday. I didn't mean to make you upset."

"It's okay," Jamie shrugs. "I... I did plan on staying to talk to Santana. So you weren't completely off." She looks at me and I smile at her embarrassment. "But I wasn't going to try to sleep there," she quickly adds. "I'm too old for that stuff."

"I know," Brittany nods. "I just forget sometimes. I forget that you're in high school now and aren't a baby anymore."

Jamie closes her magazine and sighs. "I'm sorry for making a scene. It's just that high school isn't as cool as I thought it would be. I get frustrated sometimes and I guess it follows me home."

"Who follows you home?" Brittany asks, worriedly.

"What? No one. I meant I get frustrated about school so sometimes I get annoyed at home too."

"Oh... What makes you feel frustrated?"

"Mostly people. I don't get them sometimes."

"What about them don't you get?" I ask.

"I don't know. The way they talk... I guess. Sometimes I don't get their humor and they think I'm stupid for not getting their lames jokes. I'm not stupid though. I'm passing all my classes. I'm doing a lot better than most of them."

Brittany glances at me. She's worried. She's worried because she knows exactly what it's like to not get people and she especially knows what it feels like to have people call you stupid. Not only that, but she's probably also worried about not saying the right thing to her sister because she looks as if she's ready to say something, except she's running it over and over in her head, trying to find the best way to say it.

"Jamie, as long as you know who you are-"

She scoffs. "That doesn't matter. They're going to keep being mean. I thought being smart was a good thing."

"It is," Brittany confirms. "I wish I was as smart as you."

"But you are smart." Jamie states, confused. "I wish I was as scary as Santana and as carefree as you. You guys never let people get to you when they were mean," she pauses and looks at me shyly. "Well, except that one time... With that guy, Finn?"

"Who told you about that?" Brittany asks.

"Mom. He sounds like the biggest jerk ever."

"The biggest," Brittany agrees. "And he thought he was such a big shot. Did Mom tell you about the time he sold kisses?"

"Brittany, we're getting off track," I comment.

She purses her lips, disappointed about not getting to scold Finn. "Don't pay them any attention, Jamie. I know it's hard. I've been there, but if I got through it I know you can definitely do the same."

She thinks about it for a moment then says, "Santana, maybe you can teach me how to be a little more... assertive?"

"That sounds like it could be fun," I say with a smile, but Brittany stares me down. "I think that you should be yourself though. It's the most overused advice and the cheesiest, but it's true."

"Jamie, high school isn't forever," Brittany says. "This is only your first year, maybe things will get easier. And you're really mature for your age. That's probably why you don't get those kids' jokes. You need to just block them out... Mom is really worried about you being unhappy, you know? It's making her sad."

"I know," she says, sadly. "I haven't been the best daughter, but sometimes I can't help it. Those kids just make me so mad and I take it out on Mom and Dad."

"It's okay. Well, I mean, it's not okay, but you just need to let them know what's going on. Mom especially. She really wants to help you."

Jamie nods. "I'll talk to her."

Brittany sighs, somewhat relieved. "Are Sara and Gaby still your friends?"

"Yeah. They always defend me." Jamie looks down at her magazine and says this next part in a low voice. "Chris is always there for me too."

"Chris?" Brittany questions. "Who's that?"

"My friend."

"Your friend or your friend-friend?" I ask. "Cause there's a difference."

Brittany eyes me. "Santana..."

"Well, he's kinda my... boyfriend."

"Ah! You see, Britt? Well, I'd love to meet this Chris. And I'm sure Brittany does too. Right, Britt?"

She nods. "Yeah, I want to meet him."

"So tell him to get his ass here before we leave for dinner tonight," I say. "He can go to Breadstix with us."

"He's not in town. He's at his soccer tournament in Columbus."

"He plays soccer too?" Brittany chirps. "That's so cute! You guys are a soccer couple. San, we should join some kind of sport at the gym or maybe you can take a dance class with me. Something like swing dancing. We can be swingers. We can be the swinging couple!"

I think about a different kind of swinging and laugh. "No, Britt. No way."

"Will you think about it?" She asks, hopeful.

I'm about to agree to that, but I catch her sneaky smile. She knows 'I will think about it' almost always ends up being yes and she's completely using it to her advantage. "Ha! Nice try. You almost had me. I will not think about it. It's a definite no."

A scratch at the door interrupts us and is followed by a very low whining sound.

"Is that Tubs?" I ask out loud. "About time he showed up."

Brittany opens the door and in comes Lord Fatso. Except the name doesn't really fit anymore. He looks at least ten pounds lighter and his coat looks a lot lighter too.

"You got a new kitty?" Brittany asks Jamie. She picks up the cat and strokes his head. "He seems kind of skinny. Are you feeding him right?" The cat presses his head into her hand and begins to pur.

"He's not new. It's Lord Tubbington," Jamie says.

Brittany chuckles. "No it's not. Lord Tubbington is big boned." The cat gives a low meow at the sound of the name. Brittany looks back and Jamie, then at me, and finally back at the cat. "Lord Tubbington?" He meows again, tiredly. "Oh my gosh!" She holds him tight against her chest, his head pressed between her hand and her breasts. "What happened to him?" She asks, alarmed.

"He's sick, Brittany," Jamie answers in an apologetic tone.

"Sick? What's wrong with him?" She looks down at him. "Why is he so thin?"

"His diabetes got worse these past few months and last time we took him to the Vet he said one of his kidneys is starting to fail."

"It's failing? Failing what?"

Jamie frowns. "He's just sick and he's getting worse."

Tubs whines in Brittany's arms. He's barely even audible. He sounds extremely weak and is without a doubt sick. Brittany removes her hand from his head and he looks up at her. "Tubby... What's wrong?" He attempts to meow again before giving up and burying his head in her arms. Brittany is on the verge of crying and it completely breaks my heart. I usually hate that cat, but I wish he was his usual fat and annoying self right now.

"Isn't there any medication we can get him?" I ask Jamie.

"We started giving him some stuff that we got at the Vet's office and we changed his diet, but he isn't really eating anymore."

I stand next to Brittany and flinch when my fingers make contact with Tubs's back. He feels like a bag of bones. I'm sure that if it weren't for his very thin coat of fur, all his ribs and spine would be visible. "Britt, give it some time. I'm sure he'll get better. He loves food way too much. He'll start eating sooner or later."

"He's so sick," she says while cradling him.

"I know, but he'll get better. You'll see." I kiss her cheek, then bend over to kiss the furry head that lays on her arm. Brittany smiles at me and a tear makes it out from her eyes. I wipe it with my thumb. "He'll be okay."

We spend the rest of the day in Brittany's room watching her very old dvd set of Sweet Valley High. Well, I watch it. And when I say 'watch' that's exactly what I mean. I have the volume almost all the way down because Brittany makes it feel like there's a dying child in the room. She lays on her bed, stroking Lord Tubbington as he sleeps near her chest. She hasn't left his side other than for bathroom breaks, always making sure to let me know that she'll be right back and that I should keep an eye on him. But it's not like he needs much supervision. The poor sack of bones hasn't moved all day, which is nothing new, but he also hasn't eaten or even asked to be let outside.

I take a break from the silent film Sweet Valley High has turned into and slither down the mattress until I'm laying down on my side. I can see Brittany's sad eyes across the cat's still body. "Britt." I wait until she looks at me to continue. "We don't have to go out to dinner. We can stay here if you want. We'll just order in. Maybe he'll want to eat some chinese food or something."

She gives me a sad smile. "Thanks, San, but we can't cancel it. You're parents want to celebrate with you."

"We can invite them over." I reach forward and stroke under Tub's chin. He doesn't move one bit. "We'll have dinner here."

She seems to be thinking about it but then shakes her head gently. "No, it's okay. I think he'll be fine if we leave him for a few hours. He's not moving much anyway."

I stretch my arm over the cat and rest it on Brittany's hip. "I'm so sorry. I wish I could do something to make him better."

"Me too."

Later that evening, as Brittany finishes fixing my hair, she glances at me through the mirror for what feels like the millionth time.

"Are you checking my hair or do you want to tell me something?" I ask.

She slips the last hairpin through my hair and sighs.

"Britt, it's okay if you want us to stay in."

"It's not that." She moves around the chair I'm on and gracefully sits on my lap. Her arms snake around my neck and she leans her head on my shoulder.

"What is it?"

"I don't want to leave Lord Tubbington here."

"You can't take him to the restaurant, Brittany. Even if he was allowed in, I doubt he'd want to go." I glance at him, still laying motionless on her bed. "We can just eat here."

"No, I mean... I want to take him with us, to LA."

I look at her through the mirror that sits in front of us. Her eyes are closed and her eyebrows are knit together. She's anticipating my answer.

"I don't know, Britt."

She tightens her grip around my neck. "Please?"

"He's really sick. We wouldn't have the time to look after him. Don't you think he's better here where your family can take care of him?"

"But he's mine," she says softly. "What if he doesn't get better...? What if he... I want him to be with me."

I hold a kiss to her forehead.

I really don't want to take him with us. We will both be busy with work and he'll be home alone most of the time. I won't tell Brittany this, but I'm almost one-hundred percent sure he won't make it past January. I looked up his condition and by what I read I think he's pretty much done. If we take him home with us it will only be worse. We'll have to end up putting him down or he won't wake up one day and Brittany will have to witness it. But would that be worse than him dying without her by his side? Either way Brittany will be devastated, but maybe if we take him with us he'll get to feel some kind of comfort being with her and so will she.

"Please, San... Can you at least think about it?"

"No."

She lifts her head to look at me. Her eyes are filled with sadness and confusion.

"I won't think about it. We can take him. We'll take him home with us. He needs to be with you. You're probably the only person he wants to be with." I kiss her lips. "I'd want to be with you if I were sick."

The left corner of her mouth curves upwards. "I'd want to take care of you." She runs her fingers over a stray hair by my ear, then gives me a soft kiss. "Thank you."

We finish getting ready and leave for Breatstix. When we get there my parents are already waiting for us. We don't sit at our usual booth because we obviously wouldn't fit, so my dad asks a waiter to push some tables together for us.

"Bri," my mom starts, and Mrs. Pierce smiles at the name.

Before I left my parents' house I made sure my mom understood Brittany's mom would now go by that name. She thought it was a little strange. She has always called her by her full name, but she got over it quickly. She's known Bri for a long time and knows she gets crazy ideas as often as my dad gets late night calls for emergency surgeries.

"The girls tell us you and your family would like to spend Christmas with us."
"Oh, yes. We would love if you had us over. Brittany and Santana think it's only fair if we spent it at your home since they're staying at ours."

"Well, I think it's a great idea," my mother says.

"One question though," Bri says. "Would it be alright if we brought my mother along with us? We always fly her in from Florida to spend Christmas here."

"Of course. That wouldn't be a problem. Nic's mother is actually coming over as well."

I stop twirling the straw in my glass of water and look up. "She is?"

"Yes, mija. You know she always spends Christmas with us."

"Well, yeah... but- Why didn't you tell me? You should have reminded me."

"Why?" My dad asks. "Would you not have made the trip if you had remembered?" He already knows the answer. He's just asking me to put me on the spot. That's what he does when he's disappointed in me.

He's disappointed because according to him, I wasn't the bigger person when I came out to my grandma and she rejected the true me. He's disappointed in me because I haven't talked to her since that day. But why should I have to be the one who goes looking for her? She's the one who didn't accept me and the one who should want to apologize.

I mean, my dad doesn't want me to apologize, per say. He knows she's the one with the wrongdoing. He was furious when he found out about what she told me and created a restraint in their relationship, but he and my mom have always encouraged me to try mending things with. Even Brittany thought it was a good idea, but I don't. I don't need anyone in my life who will not accept me for who I am and who will not acknowledge the love I share with Brittany.

"No," I say to my dad. "I would have came either way." It's a lie of course, but I won't tell him what he wants to hear.

Brittany rests her hand on my leg and gives me an encouraging smile which is wide enough for only me to see. She knows exactly what my dad is doing and wants me to know she's on my side. But I already know she is. I know she'll always be.

Throughout dinner, my mom and Bri talk about Christmas preparations while my dad holds a long conversation with Brittany's dad about finance. Mr. Pierce is a financial advisor. He's my dad's financial advisor. He's been advising my dad ever since we were in high school. This is another reason why Brittany likes to play it safe with her money. Her dad's only advice to her has been to save. Save as much as you can, Brittany. You'll need it one day. He would always tell her.

Brittany and I have kept mostly to ourselves until the clown gang arrives at our table. Every restaurant has them. They're that group of poor losers who get sent to sing embarrassing birthday songs.

I look over at Brittany with annoyance, letting her know I obviously don't approve of this, but she raises her shoulders and shakes her head. She's trying to convince me she didn't set it up, but her sly grin gives her away.

After the outrageous song is over. We are left with a small birthday cake, except it can hardly be called a cake because it's the size of a cupcake. I tell Brittany to pass it down to Jamie and she smiles shyly when it reaches her.

Once we finish dinner we all make our way outside into the chilly night. I can't wait to get to Brittany's room and have her warm me up. But then...

"Santana, can I talk to you?" my dad asks as I say goodbye to my mom.

I tell Brittany I'll catch up to her in a sec and she and my mom join the Pierces in the parking lot.

"I'm happy you decided to visit us. It's been quite a while."

"Well, like I mentioned before, it was Brittany who convinced me to come so you should thank her."

He nods his head silently. "How are you doing in Los Angeles?"

"Good. I'm moving up in the company pretty quick."

"Where did you say you were living?"

"Burbank. My apartment is small and the rent is kinda pricey, but now that Brittany is moving in permanently I'm sure she will insist on helping me with the rent," I pause, not sure if I should go any more into detail. "I'm thinking about asking her to pick a new apartment with me so that it could be ours, you know? So that she has a say in where she's living."

My father nods again. His expression unreadable, as usual. "Santana," he says, then pauses. I know I won't like what he has to say, I never do when there's a pause after my name. "I know you're excited about having Brittany back in your life... And I know she's a good kid. This isn't about me not liking her. It's about me wanting what's best for you."

I clench my jaw and cross my arms, already annoyed by his attempt at being subtle. "Just say what you want to say, Dad."

"I've talked to your mom about it, and even though she doesn't agree with me, I still want to give you the option."

"What are you talking about?"

"If you still want to try making a life for yourself in New York, I'll help you do it. I didn't agree with the idea before, but you're done with college now and that's all I wanted from you. I can help you make the switch. We'll get you a nice condo somewhere safe in the city. And you'll be much closer to us, I know that'll make your mom happy."

"Wait," I say, and hold a hand up in front of me. "If I made this switch would you be okay with me bringing Brittany along?"

He blinks his eyes, surprised by the question. He didn't think I'd read too much into his offer. He didn't think he'd get caught.

"Dad, I can't believe you. I thought you finally took what I have with Brittany seriously," I say, trying to contain my anger.

"Santana, I do take you seriously. I respect your sexuality."

"No, Dad! This isn't about my sexuality. This is about you understanding that I love Brittany. I'm in love with her. How could you suggest that I leave her behind again? I just got her back."

"I understand that, but what you need to understand is that she isn't the best choice for you, Santana. You nearly put off your education for her. She holds you back, don't you see that? She creates obstacles between you and your success."

I close my eyes and pray that a greater being gives me the patience to explain this to him.

"She doesn't hold me back. She propels me forward. If it weren't for her I would probably be living in New York, broke, and with no college diploma. She pushed me to go to school. She gave me up so that I could do what you wanted. Brittany is the core of every accomplishment in my life." I hold his gaze and wait for him to say something. I wait for him to recognize that I'm right, but he doesn't. "I'm sorry, Dad, but we're not going to ever give each other up again... The faster you get that through your head the better." I give him a quick hug. "I'll see you on Christmas." I turn to leave but then remember that I'm not quite done. "And Dad, please try to be a little more discreet about your disapprovement. She's not stupid. She notices."

With rapid steps, I swerve through the parking lot until I get to the Pierces' car.

"Is everything okay?" Brittany asks once I join her in the backseat. She smoothens out the crease between my brows with her thumb. "You're mad," she states.

"I'm okay." I kiss her cheek and try to mask my anger with a smile.

She leans towards me and rests her chin on my shoulder. "Do you remember how I use to relax you after Cheerio practice?" She whispers into my ear. I twitch a little at the feel of her breath tickling my ear and nod. "We can do that if you want. We have cucumbers at the house. I checked this morning."

"Brittany, I'm sitting right next to you. And you're not very good at whispering," Jamie says.

Brittany scoots as close to me as the seatbelt will allow her and hides her lips between my ear and her hand. "And we can also do our birthday ritual," she says, this time in a lower whisper. "I think I still have my hot police woman costume in my closet."

I swallow. I haven't seen that thing in years. The last time Brittany wore it we were in the tenth grade.

She holds a kiss behind the shell of my ear and I almost gasp out loud.

"Ugh. You guys are gross," Jamie comments, clearly not amused by our subtle PDA. "Can't you wait until you're in the privacy of your own room?"

Brittany settles back into her seat and rests her hands on her own lap. "We aren't doing anything. I was just making sure that Santana didn't have any spiders in her ear. We knew a boy who had to quit school because of that, you know?"

"Girllls..." Bri warns from the front seat.

I'm not sure who her warning was intended for, but I'm almost sure it was for me and Brittany. There's being several times where Bri has caught us in the middle of doing... stuff. It's no secret to her how physical Brittany and I were. Are.

We get home and Brittany makes up a lame excuse for us to stay in the kitchen.

"Gross," Jamie says under her breath before she leaves to her room.

Bri eyes us curiously, but Mr. Pierce wraps an arm around her and leads them to their bedroom. "Take it to your room, Brittany," Bri advices over her shoulder and I feel my cheeks get warmer.

Brittany giggles and begins looking through the refrigerator. "I saw some cucumbers here when we were making breakfast. They're already cut."

"Britt, it's kind of late. Maybe we can skip the facial and fast forward to the massage?" I didn't mean to sound provocative, but apparently that's exactly what I did because Brittany shuts the fridge close and gives me a seductive grin.

"Do you want Brittany to give you a massage?" She asks as she nears me. "Or would you prefer Officer Pierce?" She reaches me and places her hands on my shoulders. "Cause she's a sexy policewoman, but before she went to police school she wanted to become a professional massage giver." She rolls my shoulders and gives them a squeeze. "So she went to a massage school too." She leans forward and kisses my neck. "She wanted to specialize in certain areas. Like the neck." Her tongue darts out in between a kiss and I feel the hairs on my arms stand. God, how I've missed her role play. I don't know how she does it, but she manages to be the perfect combination between adorable and sexy. "And the chest," she continues. One of her hands slides down to my ribcage and her thumb runs along the outer side of my right breast. My breathing is already getting shallow, but it comes to a halt when her other hand flows down in between us and she gently lands it over my, what she likes to call, "And lady parts. Your lady part."

My lips part and I remember how to breathe. She's touching me over my dress and it's such a soft touch, but I'm about to pass out. It feels like it's the first time she's ever touched me. Maybe it's because I haven't gotten laid in such a long time. Wait-

"Brittany, hang on."

She frowns. "You don't want Officer Pierce?"

"No, it's not that. I do want her. A lot, but-"

"Come on! I'll put on the suit." She pulls me to her room and bursts us through her door. Usually Lord Tubbington would jump (or should I say jolt as far up as his fat self would allow him) at the sudden noise, but this time he barely even makes an effort to look up at us. He's in the same place on Brittany's bed where she left him and his food and water look untouched. "Tubby.." Brittany coos, letting go of my hand and moving to her bed. She strokes his back and he slowly drags himself closer to her. "I'm here. I'm sorry I left." She lays down on her spot from earlier and I squeeze behind her. "Is it... is it okay if we lay some blankets down on the floor to give you your massage? I don't want to move him." Her voice sounds tiny like it does whenever she's trying to hold back tears.

"Don't worry about it, Britt. We can call Office Pierce another night." I drape my arm over her and pull myself closer to her back.

"I'm sorry for ruining our birthday ritual."

"I don't mind skipping it this year. We'll have a lot more opportunities in the future."