AUTHORS NOTE: OMG. I am so sorry for this super long wait. I had really bad writer's block and honestly I don't really feel too great about this chapter, but it's something right? I'll try to get better at posting sooner.

Chapter 23

Dinner was its usual when guests were over: the awkward "getting to know the new neighbors" stage. Sam kept smiling goofily at Quinn and Brittany only talking to answer any questions that were shot at him. Brittany, of course, had her way with her girlfriend's new neighbors. She was charming and engaging. So when Sam's parents asked the girl if she had a boyfriend and she said she had a girlfriend, she kicked it up a notch with the appeal. Everyone sat there enamored by Brittany and Quinn was reminded of one of the reasons she loved Brittany.

As soon as the Evans family left the Fabray residence, Quinn grabbed Brittany's hand and led her to her back porch to sit and talk.

"I'm sorry…"Brittany said after a few minutes as she looked down at their hands laced together in Quinn's lap.

"I…look, I know she's your best friend and whatever…I freaked out because of what she said today. And I'm not going to sit here and pretend like I'm not insecure, Brittany. I'm not going to pretend that I don't feel threatened by her, because I do. When Berry was getting Finn's attention, I admit, I was a bit jealous, but you…you mean so much more to me than he did which means it'll hurt more if anything were to happen to our relationship. It'll hurt much more if Santana has anything to do with it…"

"Quinnie…"

"No Brit, let me finish." Quinn interrupted Brittany, "I'm not going to be that girl that forbids you from having certain friends – being her friend. But I just want you to understand where I'm coming from. If Santana ever tries something with you again like what happened at Nationals, I want you to tell me. I just want you to remember that you love me, that you're in love with me." Quinn began choking up, not sure if she was asking too much of Brittany. She never felt so invested in a relationship and it scared her.

Brittany didn't know how to respond, so she did the only thing she knew, embracing her girlfriend, placing soft kisses to the top of her head. And Quinn let her.

After a few minutes of Quinn calming down, Brittany broke the silence again.

"Do you miss her?"

"Really Brittany? Santana and I used to be friends but…" Quinn didn't understand what Brittany was trying to get at.

"Not Santana. Beth…" Brittany said slowly.

"I…of course I miss her. I mean, I think about her sometimes, but then I realize it's too late for me to take her back. I wonder how different all of this would be…"

"Oh…"

"Brit, let's just not talk about it right now, okay? Just know that I don't want to lose you too."

"You won't." Brittany said before giving Quinn a reassuring kiss.

############

Meanwhile at the Puckerman residence.

"Hey hot stuff…as much as I love you barging in my house and room at night, I would like some kind of heads up. What if I was banging some hot chick?" Puck asked Santana, turning his attention away from the video game he was playing.

Santana rolled her eyes as she sat down on Puck's bed.

"You need some lovin' from the Puckerman?" Puck smirked.

"Not now, Puckerman." Santana scowled, crossing her arms and putting up the wall she was so good at rising. However, if she were to be real with herself, Santana was hurt; hurt that Brittany pretty much kept choosing Quinn over her.

"Hmmm, let me guess…it has to do with our two favorite blondes…I mean, damn, I heard about the fight you had with Q today. I'm a little bummed I wasn't there to get between it."

"Am I like the last one to know?" Santana said in disbelief.

"Maybe…I mean…I've known for a while." Puck shrugged his shoulders.

"And you didn't tell me about them?"

"Babe, it wasn't my secret to tell." Puck sat next to Santana, putting an arm around her, at an attempt to calm her down.

"How did you even know? Brittany told you and didn't tell me? Like what the fuck is that?" Santana said shrugging herself away from Puck.

"I guess you can say Quinn told me, but I already had a hunch. I saw the way they looked at each other. It was uhhhh…sweet. I may be a jerk off sometimes, but I understand all the sensitive things sometimes. I know what it looks like to care for someone a lot. I saw how you looked…how you look at Brittany." Puck tried explaining himself.

Santana looked at Puck like he was crazy. Hearing that explanation coming out of his mouth was awkward, especially with his little bad boy rep.

"B and I fought today. She pretty much called me a slut."

"Brittany wouldn't say that unless she was hurt."

"Yeah well I didn't say anything too bad about her, it was mostly about Quinn." Santana said as she recalled what happened.

"Maybe you should give Brittany a little space. Both you and Quinn need to stop making her feel like she has to choose."

"Well, I think she does." Santana stood her ground.

"Yeah well, that's just going to push her away even more." Puck went back to playing his game. "Look, I don't want to talk about all this sappy shit anymore. If you want some Puckerman lovin' just let me know, otherwise grab another controller or leave."