Brittany's eyes flutter open when she feels the late morning sun shining on her face through the curtain. It's too bright at first and she quickly closes her eyes back up. With a groan, she peeks open one eye and looks to the space beside her which is clearly empty. She shifts onto her forearms and reaches a hand over onto Santana's side, only to feel that it's cold. If it wasn't for the scent of fresh pancakes that wafts its way into the bedroom, the moan that escapes her lips would have been a rather disappointed one.
With a grin, Brittany tosses the blankets off of her and swings her legs to bring her feet to the ground. She lets the smell of deliciousness be her guide, following the sweet scent of breakfast cooking in the kitchen. Her feet shuffle their way down the hall against the hardwood floor, letting in on the fact that she is awake be known.
As she reaches the end of the hall she leans her shoulder against the wall where the kitchen starts. She smirks because Santana is standing in the kitchen, still in her pajamas, spatula in hand and one of Brittany's aprons on. Before she can say hi, Santana looks over her shoulder and crinkles her nose cutely over at her.
"Smells amazing in here." Brittany comments as she pushes herself away from the wall. Her arms cross over her stomach, not because she's starving or anything, but because there is still this invisible line of weird separating the two of them. Normally, she would walk up behind Santana and wrap her arms around her stomach instead. But, rather than doing what her body desperately wants to do, she forces herself towards a chair and kneels down to it. "Do you need any help?" Santana pulls the pan from the stove top, carries it over towards the table and flops two pancakes into each plate.
"All done." She says with a quick wink. "You always know just when to wake up." She notes, bumping her hip affectionately into Brittany's shoulder while she makes her way back towards the stove.
"Because I love food." Brittany chants like a little kid and claps her hands garnering a giggle out of Santana.
"That's good, 'cause I heard that food has a total crush on you." Santana jokes back, instantly rolling her eyes at her lame attempt at morning banter. "Uhh," She clears her throat, unties the apron and pulls it over her head and sets it down onto the counter. "Coffee or juice?" She asks, even though she already knows the answer and reaches for two coffee mugs and a glass.
"Both." Brittany tells her and adjusts in her chair so that her feet are on the ground and not under her butt. Upon hearing the clanks of the cups hitting against each other, she looks up from her yummy looking plate of pancakes to find Santana juggling two coffees and a glass of juice. "Here, give me…" Brittany reaches her hands out to take the juice, but Santana simply shakes her head and lets out a quick 'uh uh'.
"I do this at work every day, Britt." Something Santana and Quinn always say when anyone tries to help them with stacks of plates and millions of cups to carry. "Sugar or syrup?" After she puts the cups down, she holds the sugar in one hand and the syrup in the other. Once again, already knowing that Brittany is probably going to take both, which she does.
Santana smirks at the way Brittany coats her pancakes in a thin layer of butter, sprinkles some sugar over the small stack and then tops it off with a generous layer of syrup. It's the same routine every other time they've had pancakes before. Her eyes fall to her plate, comforted by the fact that some things won't ever change.
"Mmm," Brittany moans out, mouth full of pancakes and she covers her mouth. "These are really the best." She hums, pointing her fork down at her plate.
"Thanks." Santana cuts into her pancakes, ready to take part in the fun yum party that her pancakes apparently are. "So," She finishes chewing her bite and swallows. "How'd you sleep?" She's been wondering since she started making breakfast. Surely last night's sleep is the best she's had in a very long time.
"Good." Brittany nods all the while continuing to enjoy her food. "You?" She looks up from her food.
"Same." They smile at one another for a moment before diving back into their food. But, the comfortable silence only lasts so long.
"Actually," Brittany is the one who breaks it and taps her fork nervously against her plate. "I slept great."
"Yeah." Santana agrees, almost instantly. "Me too." She shyly lifts her gaze once more from her plate. "Umm," She clears her throat and shifts in her chair. "Did you wanna go to the studio after breakfast?" Santana offers, adjusting her pancake slices around with her fork.
"Oh." Brittany tilts her head from side to side and Santana can see the tiny hint of uncertainty in those blue eyes.
"What's wrong?" Santana worriedly looks down at the food and then at the juice. "Is there pulp? I could have sworn I picked up pulp free." She turns her head towards the carton of orange juice sitting on the counter next to the refrigerator instead of in it.
"No." Brittany chuckles, waving that thought away. "No pulp." Santana lets out a breath as though the future of their relationship would have actually been decided on the possibility of pulp being in the juice. "I'm just… as anxious as I am to find out whether or not everything I've worked so hard for is further on its way to becoming a reality, I kind of want to spend the day with you." She bites on her lower lip softly and shrugs her shoulders. Santana can't help but smile because Brittany is just so darn cute sometimes.
"You're sweet." She reaches across the table, offering her hand to Brittany which is gladly accepted. "And I would love to spend the entire day with you, but," She gives her food a sad look before sending that look to Brittany. "I have work tonight."
Brittany mouths an 'oh' and nods her head a few times before trying to fall back into that comfortable silence as well as her pancakes. Santana follows suit and slowly digs back in to the rest of her small stack, every now and again taking small sips of coffee.
"I mean," Santana starts again. "I could call out?" She offers even though she knows Brittany would never ask her to do that and wouldn't want her to do that either.
"No, it's okay." Brittany waves the suggestion away and smiles at her, appreciating the idea. "Are you closing?" She asks after realizing she is going to have to keep herself busy for a good part of the evening.
"I'm pretty sure even if I was, I could get Quinn to switch."
"So, not closing?" Brittany once again smiles when Santana shakes her head. "Okay, cool."
After a nice breakfast the two chat about everything except what they are probably supposed to talk about. But, it's a nice break from all of the inner tension and the regular kind of tension that sat right in the middle of the kitchen right along with them. They simply enjoy one another's company, which is something neither of them has been able to do in a long time.
Brittany cleans up, even though Santana tries to take the reins on that one. She explains that it's only fair that since Santana cooked, she should do the dishes. Eventually, they opt for one cleaning and the other in charge of drying.
"You know," Brittany says as she hands a plate over to Santana for the drying portion of their agreement. "We do have a dishwasher." She nods her head in the direction of said dishwasher and Santana regards it with a quick glance.
"Eh," She shrugs her shoulders and continues to towel dry the plate in her hand. "I like doing it this way." She smiles at Brittany as sets down the plate once it's water free.
"Yeah, it's kinda relaxing." Brittany muses, handing over another plate. "Plus," She continues and rinses the rest of the soap off of a bowl. "I like you close to me." She bumps her hip into Santana's who can't help but giggle.
"Me too." She grins and greedily accepts the bowl that Brittany hands to her.
It's probably silly to wash dishes by hand when there's a perfectly good dishwasher in the same room. Silly or not, both of them can appreciate the alone time something so simple can give them. It's only fifteen or twenty minutes of their time, but that's the most important part in that it's their time.
When they're done, Santana excuses herself to take a shower and once again leaves Brittany alone to her own devices. The last time she was by herself in the apartment, since her return, was when she found the ring. Well, she didn't exactly find the ring; she found what was holding the ring. Regardless, when she walks into the living room she spots that little black box still sitting on the coffee table.
For a few minutes she just stands behind the couch, leaning her hands on the back of it and stares down at the box. She chews on her bottom lip and shifts from foot to foot. Of course she wants to look inside. Curiosity is not lost on Brittany. But, she didn't look at it when she first found it and told Santana she hadn't seen it, so, peeking now would not be a very good idea.
Surely Santana would understand how could she not? In fact Santana even suggested Brittany wear said ring upon finding it. Even with that though, it wouldn't be right especially with Santana away in the other room. Brittany shakes her head, this is foolish. Of course she can't look inside that box. As much as she wants to, she equally doesn't want to.
She pushes herself away from the back of the couch and slowly walks around to the front, even closer to the ring. Her body falls comfortably onto the cushions and she grabs at one of the pillows, tugging it close to her chest. Brittany sets her chin to the pillow and sighs, her focus still on the little black box.
Santana had said that she bought this freshman year and she wonders how nervous she's been keeping it hidden this whole time. Was it somewhere super secret or was it somewhere so obvious that it happened to be the perfect place? Santana had said that she was going to ask at the beginning of this year. Was there a speech? Were there plans? Was there romance, flowers, candles and music? Did she have some beautiful night or day planned out?
But, as she thinks about all of these what's and where's and when's, she knows that she was right with what she said. She isn't ready, especially not after everything that has transpired. Cleary, Santana isn't ready either or she would have asked back in September or October or whenever she was thinking about doing it. The only problem is, is that it's here. It's kind of like the elephant in the room.
Brittany had tried to keep that door open, well, not open but at least unlocked by saying she's not ready to say 'yes' and that Santana isn't ready to ask. It's out there that the question wants to be asked by both sides. But, the issue for Brittany is… what now?
"Hey Britt, how about…" Santana comes into the living room to find Brittany sitting on the couch, no television on, with the ring box in her hand. "Uhh, what… what are you doin'?" She asks with wide eyes, her feet slowly taking her way to the side of the couch. Brittany clears her throat, holds the box out towards Santana to show her, and shifts uncomfortably in her seat on the couch.
"I was just," Brittany stammers and brings the box back to her lap to hold it with both hands. "I guess I was… I don't know." She shakes her head and swiftly leans forward to set the ring box back to the coffee table. Santana looks from the box to Brittany a few times before finally letting out a long breath.
"Okay." Santana drawls out, finally moving herself to take a seat beside Brittany. "Umm," She pats her thighs and rests her feet on the edge of the coffee table. "It really blows that you know about this." Santana sighs and motions towards the black box wielding elephant in the room. Brittany of course tilts her head, sucks in a pout and tucks her hands under her chin with her eyes focused on the ring box once again. "I mean, now it's all ruined." Santana waves her hand in a huff and crosses her arms over her chest.
"Santana," Brittany turns her attention back to the girl beside her. "Nothing is ruined." She smiles and shrugs her shoulders before setting a gentle hand on her girlfriend's arm. "It's just, different." Santana glances down at the small touch of affection and half smiles. "We just… need to work around it." Brittany suggests, instantly catching a perplexed and offended look from Santana.
"Around it?" Santana blurts out and Brittany quickly regrets her choice of words.
"I mean," She hands her head and slides her hand down Santana's arm to grip her hand. "What I meant was that we can't pretend it doesn't exist." She tries to backtrack, but fails because she isn't the best at explaining not with words anyway. Santana looks long and hard at Brittany, then over at the ring, takes a deep breath and then looks back at Brittany.
"It's just that the surprise factor is completely taken away." Santana defends her feeling of everything that comes along with this ring being ruined. "Now, it's out there and one day we are going to be all 'hey, I guess it's time let's do this'." She shakes her head and runs her fingers through her slightly damp hair. "It's totally the opposite of romantic."
"Are you kidding me?" Brittany scoffs. "Santana, you have been holding on to this ring for the past four years." She motions with both hands towards the coffee table to emphasize her point. "How you even paid for it I…" She jerks her head back and sends her girlfriend an inquisitive stare, but then waves it off because that's a conversation for another day. "Do you know how romantic it is that eighteen year old you went out and bought an enga… a ring because you knew you wanted to spend the rest of your life with me?" She searches Santana's eyes, hoping that this rant will show her how amazing and obviously romantic it still is. "In a way I'm kind of happy to know this is here." She looks back down at the box. "Because now I know it isn't just me who sees that."
"Sees what?"
"Our future." They smile at one another, trying not to notice their eyes flicker down to each other's lips every couple of seconds. "I have an idea." Brittany whispers. "I think one of the scariest parts of figuring out a proposal is that tiny fear that the person is going to say 'no'. Or that even the person asking isn't exactly ready but does it anyway."
"What's the plan Britt? 'Cause the prologue is kind of depressing."
"What if," She leans forward and grabs the box. "I'm in charge of this for right now." Santana quirks an eyebrow and nervously gnaws on her bottom lip. "I'll hold on to it, keep it in my side table so that when I'm ready for you to… ask me, I'll put it somewhere out in the open." Santana nods, showing she's listening. "And then," Brittany smiles and claps her hands before placing them on her lap. "It's all up to you again." Seeing that Santana is confused by her idea, she contemplates a different way of putting it. "We can still make it romantic and surprising and it will be easier for you to know when I'm ready this way. Plus, I won't know when you'll do it." She grins and watches everything sort its way out in Santana's mind.
"So," Santana lets out slowly, dipping her head down but maintains eye contact with Brittany. "It'll kinda be like you asking me too." She smirks and shuffles her body a little bit closer to Brittany's.
"Yeah, I guess so." Brittany cannot not smile. She's definitely considered who would ask who and had even imagined the perfect way to propose to Santana. But, even with this ring and the ball in Santana's court so to speak, she still sort of gets that opportunity in a different kind of way. "So?"
"I mean," Santana bobs her head from side to side, eventually turning it into a nod. "I guess that's a pretty good plan."
It was settled then and the plan was now in effect. Sure, it doesn't take away all of the stress that this ring can potentially and already caused, but it helped knowing it wasn't necessarily going to run everything. Together, they walk into their bedroom and Santana watches Brittany place the box into the drawer of her bedside table. In a way, it's kind of exciting that Brittany has this kind of power and that Santana gets the chance to be surprised even if only by the very ring that she herself bought.
With the drawer closed, Brittany turns to Santana and gently places her hands on her hips. She steps that last bit closer and sighs out a smile when Santana's hands come up to her shoulders. Her eyes fall and somehow land right on the ring she'd given to Santana Christmas of freshman year.
"One day, right?" She breathes out. Santana looks down at her hand, following Brittany's line of vision, and wriggles her finger against her arm.
Instead of saying anything back, her lips move to Brittany's in one swift motion as though their mouths were magnets. Brittany gasps at the feeling, but is quick to give in to the touch and pushes her lips into Santana's. Last night they had kissed and it was soft and sweet and short. They'd kissed before Brittany had left a month ago, but it was angry and sad and desperate.
This kiss is different and like all of the ones they'd had when things were great between them. Only, this one was a little better, with only a little bit of tongue. It tastes like future and love and forgiveness. It feels like home and promises. It's not a kiss that leads them closer to the bed, but one that leads them closer to each other. When Brittany pulls back they both hum out in approval and appreciation. Santana's hands slide up from Brittany's arms to her neck, letting her thumbs graze the skin just below her hairline.
It's only then, with the creeping of silence and the knowledge that they're in a tight embrace, that they take notice to the bed behind Santana. The idea of sex isn't exactly at the top of the list of their homecoming, but, it's also not at the bottom either. Of course make up sex had flooded through their minds all through the night when they were sharing a bed for the first time in months. But both of them know that sex isn't something they should jump into. Not yet anyway.
"Uh," Santana struggles to breathe out and tears her eyes from Brittany's. "Did you want me to come with you to the studio?" She leans back in Brittany's arms, hoping that by creating some space between their bodies will slow down her heart rate.
"Actually, I figured I would go in while you were at work." Brittany explains, her fingers playing with the fabric of Santana's shirt. "I don't want to be going through all my mail, catching up with everyone at work and have you just stand there." She reasons.
So with that decided, the rest of the morning and early afternoon going food shopping. Then, instead of bringing their sheets and comforter to the dry cleaners the couple decides it's time for new bedding. They figure it is a good start to some of the 'new' they want to bring into their life. Plus, their comforter is kind of falling apart at the seams; literally. What is first thought to be a day filled with nerves and uncertainty is taken over by sweet touches, hand holding and small talk. It is nice because even the small talk is laced with some of the big topics but without the stress and nausea.
On their way back to the apartment, new bedding in tow, Brittany offers to walk Santana to work which of course is accepted. They discuss if they should repaint their bedroom now that they have new blankets and sheets, that perhaps it would be fun to create a new atmosphere. But, after a very short silence as they both contemplate, Brittany and Santana laugh it off because paint isn't going to fix or change a thing.
"Wait, hold on." Brittany says, holding a finger up and pulls her hand from Santana's. She vanishes for a moment in a corner store only to emerge with a single rose in her hand. Santana can't help but smile widely when Brittany offers it out to her. "For you."
"Aww, Britt." Santana bashfully accepts the rose, instantly bringing it to her nose to take in its luscious scent. "A ring," She flashes the new silver ring on her right hand. "Well, two really." She playfully rolls her eyes and lifts her left hand and Brittany breathes out a small giggle. "A rose." Her head shakes and she sighs, looking from the rose to Brittany. "I don't have anything for you, except for a black box that's in your side table that's off limits for the time being and a comforter." She points to the giant bag in her hand holding their new blanket. Instead of pointing out that Santana has everything to offer her, Brittany steps closer to her, sets her hand on her cheek and slowly leans in.
"Well, then I'll have to settle for a kiss." She whispers onto Santana's lips before closing the gap between them.
Santana pushes through the front doors of Nelson's, apron hanging over her arm, book in hand and her hair moving in the wind her speed is creating. Quinn arches an eyebrow and smirks at the state of her friend. Her cheeks are a bit flushed, there's a tiny twinkle in her eye and she keeps sucking her lips in and out of her mouth, a tell tale sign that there has been some kissing.
"Everything." Quinn demands with a beckoning finger. "Go." Santana rushes into the kitchen, tying her apron behind her back.
"Brittany's back." She blurts out, still surprised at the events of the last twenty four hours. Quinn nods, watching her friend hurriedly tie her hair up in its usual Nelson's ponytail.
"Yeah, I know." If it wasn't so serious a situation or that intriguing then Quinn would be laughing right now.
"Brittany's back." Santana repeats as she tightens her pony and then fixes the collar of her shirt.
"Are you guys back?" Quinn curiously prods and leans her elbows on the counter top by the soda station where they always do their work banter and gossip. Of course this is the question she asks. Santana isn't surprised and Quinn isn't even worried about being so forward.
"Well," Santana sighs while she sets her pens on her apron. "We slept together last night."
"Santana!" Quinn shouts, jumps up from her leaning position and slaps Santana in the arm. A few of their co-workers send them odd looks, but eventually get back to their job because it's Santana and Quinn and they were always getting a bit loud. "Santana." She repeats in a hushed tone. "I can't believe you guys had sex the first night she's back. Especially after everything that happened." She shakes her head in disappointment, making Santana roll her eyes and huff.
"Relax, Mom." She groans and spins around to lean against the counter. "We literally slept. Like, next to one another in the same bed." She clarifies
"Oh."
"And it was great." Santana smiles to herself, staring off at the soda fountain as she remembers her arm under Brittany's pillow.
"Yeah, sleep can be really awesome." Quinn nudges her to go into the dining room before they get in trouble, yet again, for socializing and not working. "But, like, did you guys talk about anything?"
Santana stops at the first computer station they come to and glances around the room. She hasn't gotten say yet, but really, work is kind of the last thing on her mind. Instead, she's remembering the past few hours she'd spent with Brittany. It was sweet and incredible and surprising and… and then she remembers something kind of important.
"She found the ring." Santana sighs. That wasn't something she'd really expected to happen. She figured that when she got back with the pizza, they'd eat and talk which they did do. But, Brittany finding the engagement ring Santana had successfully kept hidden for almost four whole years was kind of a curve ball.
"Wait, what?" Quinn jars her from her thoughts and yanks on her arm. "How the hell did she find the ring?" She asks, her tone desperate and confused.
"I don't know, she…" Santana tries to remember the previous night's events and all in all it really didn't matter how it happened all that mattered was that Brittany now knows that ring exists. "I guess I left it out when you were over, I don't know." She shrugs her shoulders and inwardly groans when she sees one of her tables getting sat with two middle aged women. "Doesn't really matter, Q. It's out there now." She goes to grab to beverage napkins and ready herself for the daily and repetitive greeting she gives each table, but Quinn grabs her by the elbow.
"So?" Santana can tell by Quinn's look that she's asking a bunch of questions, even though she's only said one word.
"Time out." Santana makes the international sign for 'time out' with her hands, something they often do at work when in the middle of discussions, and heads over to her table.
"What does it look like?" Alexis coos, her eyes wide with excitement.
"I don't know." Brittany tells her with a shrug as she sorts through her mail. Before she can get through the first few envelopes, Alexis's hand pulls them down to get Brittany's full attention.
"What do you mean you don't know?" Alexis blurts out in disbelief. Brittany searches her friend's curious eyes, knowing that her answer is going to be followed by a string of more questions.
"I didn't open it." She admits innocently. Those wide eyes staring back at her only grow wider, if possible.
"What do you mean you didn't open it?!" Her friend covers her mouth when she realizes she is practically yelling.
"Lex," Brittany sighs and settles the stack of envelopes in her hands down to the desk. "I…" She shakes her head because, even though she knows why she didn't open that black box and look at the ring, she can't seem to find the words to explain herself.
"Well," Alexis chuckles and her shoulders relax. "You're a stronger woman than I am." She pats Brittany on the arm.
"I don't know about that."
"Are you kidding me? Of course you are. Any other girl who found a little black box, the perfect size for a ring, would have pried that thing open without another thought." Alexis assures her with a serious but humorous tone. "So, what are you guys gonna do now?" She asks and Brittany takes in a deep breath and twists her lips.
"Is that really gonna work for you?" Quinn asks in her challenge stance; arms crossed and eyebrow arched. Santana looks away, not wanting to get sucked in to Quinn's over share of feelings corner.
"It's not like I really have a choice." She shrugs her shoulders while she sets glasses up on a tray. "Plus, she makes a good argument. When or if she feels like she's ready, then it gives me time to make it special." Quinn sighs, uncrosses her arms and leans her elbows on the counter.
"When." Quinn hums and taps her finger tips on the cool metal by the soda machine.
"What?" Santana jerks her head to the side as she fills up table thirteen's diet cokes.
"It's not an 'if' Santana, it's a 'when'." She pats her friend on the back and then heads out to the dining room to check on her tables.
"That's totally romantic." Alexis practically melts after hearing about what Santana and Brittany have decided upon the latter finding the ring.
"That's the idea." Brittany's smile widens at how her friend's eyes are glistening with envy and excitement.
"I hate to be a buzz kill at such awesome news, but," She pokes at the envelopes in Brittany's hands. "What are you gonna do about this now? I mean, it's a really awesome opportunity." Brittany looks down at the stack of letters and nods in agreement.
"I have to talk about it with Santana." Brittany explains easily. There's no question about it. "I was really hoping to have the chance to deal with the me and Santana part of my life without anything else getting in the way." She shakes her head and blows some hair from her face before looking up at Alexis and sending her a nervous smile. "So much for that."