"Mom?"
"SANTANA MARIE LOPEZ! How could you just leave like that?"
"Mom... I'm sorry, but I was upset and I needed to make sure Brittany was okay."
"You're in LIMA?" Her mother's outrage signals that she's going to be grounded for a long time.
"Yeah. I'm at Brittany's house. I found her."
She can almost see her mother rolling her eyes. "Of course you found her, Santana. It's not like she was that far away. It's Brittany we're talking about here. How far could she get? And what is this nonsense about you loving her? That is ridiculous."
The anger bubbles up inside her, ready to burst, but she ignores it. "I already told you that I'm... gay, Mom, so it's really not that ridiculous."
Complete silence on the other end of the line.
"You need to come home, NOW."
"No."
"NO? Who do you think you are, young lady?" Her mother starts speaking in Spanish and swearing and Santana knows she's in trouble.
"I hate it there, mom. I only have two years until I graduate. Brittany's parents already offered to let me live with them in their guest room."
"And do they know that you are... That Brittany and you..."
"Yes. Brittany told them she was bisexual a year ago and we just told them that we're dating."
"And what did they say about that?" Her mother's tone clearly indicates she doesn't think too much of them dating.
"They're fine with it." They're not homophobic, she wants to add.
"Let me talk to your father about it and we'll let you know what we decide. But until then you are not allowed to leave Brittany's house. Do. Not. Go. Anywhere. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Mom."
"Good."
Click. Santana stares at the phone and sighs before hanging up. Her mom is pissed, that much is very clear. She just prays that they'll allow her to stay with Brittany because she can't stand it in South Carolina. She needs to be with Brittany. Brittany needs her too.
"Hey Santana!" Brittany skips toward her and grins, before pulling her in for a quick kiss. Santana's sure she'll never get tired of that.
"What did your parents say? Did they say yes?"
"Um... Not exactly, Britt. My mom is going to talk to my dad and then call me back to let me know."
Brittany pouts. "I hope they say yes... I'll be really sad if you have to leave again."
"Me too."
"Awww... Don't be sad, Santana. I can cheer you up." Brittany smiles mischievously and gently kisses her left cheek, and moves toward her neck. Santana can feel herself getting aroused as Brittany's hands gently stroke her back.
"Brittany..." Her voice warns Brittany to stop.
"What?" Brittany looks at her, innocently blinking her blue eyes. She resumes kissing Santana's neck teasingly.
Finally, with a growl, Santana pulls Brittany flush against her and crashes her lips onto Brittany's own. They battle for dominance and relish in the taste of each other. This kiss, unlike the last, is possessive. Brittany is hers. She is Brittany's. She knows that's how it's supposed to be.
She loses herself in Brittany. Her hair, her scent, her taste. She loses track of time, until a voice clearing loudly jerks her out of her trance.
"Girls." Santana jumps away from Brittany and hangs her head, unable to meet the eyes of Brittany's father. He just smiles awkwardly and then grins as he shrugs his shoulders. "And this is why Santana is staying in the guest room."
Both women blush at the statement but Santana cannot help the small smile at Brittany's dad's way of handling the situation. He's so cool about it. She wishes her parents were the same way.
"Anyway, I wanted to ask what your parents said, Santana?"
"Um... they're going to discuss it and call back."
"All right. Would you girls like some supper now?" They head downstairs to the dinner table and Brittany's family include Santana in the conversation. She doesn't feel like an outcast here. She fits in better here than she did in her own home. That makes her sad but happy. Sad that she doesn't feel like she can be herself in her own home. Happy that she's finally found a place where people accept her for who she is. How is it possible to want to laugh and cry at the same time?
"SANTANA! PHONE!" Brittany's little sister shouts from downstairs so that Brittany and Santana, who are studying in Brittany's room, can hear her.
Santana and Brittany stare at each other in consternation. This is it. This phone call could mean the next two happiest years of their lives... Or the most miserable. Two years with each other... or two years apart. Which will it be?
Santana leans over and picks up Brittany's phone, which is a cat that looks suspiciously like Mr. Tubbington. "H-Hello?"
"Santana?"
"Yeah."
"Your father and I have decided... that you may stay at Brittany's house during the school year. During breaks and in the summer you must come home and spend time with your family."
She rolls her eyes. Spending time with the family means eating t.v. dinners while her parents watch the news and ignore her. Terrific.
"Fine. So, it's okay that I'm doing this?"
"You didn't really give us much choice, Santana. We know you'd just take the next plane back there." She smirks. She has to give her parents credit because they do know she's extremely stubborn.
They talk for a while more, with Santana telling her mom what to pack and ship here, and then Brittany's parents come on the phone to discuss rules like curfew and adult supervision with her parents.
She says goodbye and hangs up the phone, grinning, but at the same time, feeling a spark of sadness. There was something that went entirely unsaid in that conversation and she knew it. The real reason her parents were allowing her to stay with Brittany wasn't because she's stubborn. They could always ground her or refuse her access to transportation so that she couldn't get back to Ohio. No, the real reason they are allowing her to stay at Brittany's family's house is because they don't want her home. They don't want to explain to their high class friends why their daughter refuses to date their son. They don't want to have a gay daughter around.
They're ashamed of her, which breaks her heart.
She shakes off the despondent feeling and smiles because she's truly glad to be able to stay with Brittany. She runs over to Brittany and kisses her on the lips. "YES! I can stay here! Isn't that great, Britt-Britt?"
Brittany smiles widely. "I'm so glad, Santana. I would've been miserable without you. I mean, no one at school wants to talk to me about pandas or sparkly unicorns or how hippos really look like rocks. They all laugh at me."
"Well, now I'll be here to kick their butts if they do that again."
"Yay!" They jump up and down in each others arms.
As Brittany kisses her and then pulls her into a hug, Santana can feel herself smiling. She's so glad that the woman she loves, loves her back. She's so glad that she had the courage to come here and find Brittany. She's so glad that she had the courage to give her the letter.
For now, this is where she belongs.
The End! Thank you for reading! :) I apologize for taking so long to update with this last chapter! I had a difficult time figuring out the ending. Please leave a review on the way out, letting me know what I can improve on, etc.