Hello kids, I'm back ;)! Sorry it took so long! I've been busy with uni and then christmas and new year festivities! Here's to you guys! Hope you like it, comments and reviews are appreciated! :)
It's quite weird having something to look forward to again. She has forgotten how it feels to have a reason to wake up each morning and not to have a shitty feeling in the pit of your stomach telling her, "Kid, your life is falling apart". She has forgotten how amazing it feels, to feel again. It may seem like the cheese fest of the year but that's how things are right now.
Normality is finally making its way back to her life again and she feels like the mother of a prodigal child coming back home. Days like these, when she wakes up to a soft kiss on her shoulder and warm hands snaking around her waist, she regrets all the time she wasted on trying to get Brittany back because just being in her presence makes her feel a million times better. It's the simple things like how the bed is warmer when they snuggle; how the pillows and sheets smell like both of their moisturisers and shampoos mixed together; the comfort she finds when the space beside her on the bed dips when Brittany climbs under the covers; the little conversations they have before drifting off to sleep. It's the simple things that really make her realize how much she needs this woman in her life. She'll go further to say that Brittany is her life.
She'll admit it, she's still shit scared. Scared that she'll do something to fuck everything up and lose her again. Even though they are both moving on from the past, it's inevitable for Santana to be a worrier. She's always been the worrier and Brittany's always been the one to calm her down and ease her mind but at the moment, her worries are kept within the confinements of her thoughts because she feels like her fears are insignificant and it makes her seem weak. She doesn't want to be weak; she needs to be strong for both of them.
"San, you need to get up. Finals are coming up and you need to study." Brittany mutters against the caramel skin. "Baby, get up."
"I'm awake, Britt. I just don't want to get up; it's too early. Let's just lie here for a bit?" She pleads, turning over to face Brittany and her cute sleepy features, "Even you're not fully awake."
"That's because I don't need to be anywhere until this afternoon. Babe, we both know you'll stress out later if you don't get up now." The blonde reasons out as she inches closer to the brunette, giving her a quick peck on the lips.
"I really don't think that helped, Britt. Now, I really don't want to get up." Santana smiles devilishly as her hand found its way under the taller woman's tank top and teasingly inched its way up, closer and closer to Brittany's chest.
"San, baby, we'll have sweet lady kisses later. Go study?" the taller woman insisted in that sweet, adorable way when her lips form a pout and her blue eyes go innocent and pleading; how could she even say no to that?
"Oh Britt, you're doing it again. Okay, I'll get up mom." She joked rolling out of bed as quickly as possible so she couldn't convince herself that being in the bed with her blonde is a better idea. She wrapped her dressing gown around her to replace the warmth enveloping her body under the covers but it didn't do her justice. She sighed heavily, Brittany is probably right, she really needs to get cracking on her studies; she hasn't exactly been student of the month for the past few months. The last thing she needs is her parents breathing down her neck about how they pay for her education and her living costs. Blah blah blah.
As she makes her way out of the bedroom, her phone starts ringing. It's only 7 in the morning and someone's already phoning her? This must be some wrong number or those annoying adverts she so grumpily takes. She runs to the bedside table to grab her phone, "Mami Lopez" was flashing on the display. Her eyebrows furrow in confusion, what exactly could her mother want at this time of the morning?
"Hello Mami?" she answers half whispering, as she made her way out of the room; catching one last glance at the blonde haired woman sleeping soundly on her bed.
Brittany was aware of the phone call Santana just answered. She knew the brunette's mother would not be calling unless there's something important; closeness in the Lopez family wasn't their strongest point, although she knew the older woman was way more affectionate towards Santana than the brunette's father. She pretends to be fast asleep but keeps an open ear for their conversation on the other side of the wall.
"Hello mija, how are you doing?" there was something in her mother's tone she couldn't quite point her finger on. Somewhere between the odd call timing and the restrained sound of her voice, she knew something was up.
"I'm doing well. I just got up early to start studying for finals. How are you and Papi?" she casually answers; trying not to dwell on her prediction.
There was an uneasy pause on the other end of the line, "Mami? Are you still there?"
She thought she heard a restrained sob but she wasn't sure until her mother finally answered.
"Santana, I need you to fly back to Lima. As soon as possible." There was a desperate pleading in her voice; something that the young brunette hasn't heard of since that time in the limo on the way back to their house after Marco's funeral.
"What's wrong? What happened? What happened to Papi?" she questioned. Her voice was full of unexpected concern. It surprised her as much as it did her mother. Santana and her father have never been the closest individuals in their family but there was something about losing a family member. She didn't want to go through that again.
"He's… he's in the hospital, mija." The quivering voice of the older Lopez sent a disheartening feeling all over Santana. She wished she was in Lima, Ohio right now comforting her mother who was all alone and vulnerable. She's never thought she's say those exact words.
"What happened to him?"
"We were out having dinner last night even though he'd been complaining that his arms felt a little numb for a few days now. I told him to speak to one of his colleagues but you know your father. Anyway, he insisted on going so we did. Everything was fine until during the middle of our meal he started slurring his words and I noticed a slight dropped on one side of his features. Then he started choking on the food, that's when I yelled for someone to call an ambulance. The doctors said it was a—"she was cut off before she could even finish her sentence.
"Stroke." Santana whispered on the phone, trying to keep her calm. She knew the symptoms; she remembers her father making up a game of "guess the illness" when she was younger. It was one of his failed attempts to bond with her. He got too impatient that the young brunette didn't guess anything right. How ironic that she was able to tell what happened to him.
"Yes, mija. You're father had a stroke. He's unconscious right now but the doctors said he's stable. They don't know the permanent damage yet because he hasn't woken up. Please, Santana, fly back to Lima as soon as possible. I know you and your father have your differences but he loves you very much." Once again her mother pleaded, and it was evident in her voice that she was crying on the other line.
"I'll leave as soon as possible. I'll be there Mami for you." She answered, making her point clear.
As soon as she put the phone down, she made her way back to the bedroom where she found Brittany looking at her with concerned eyes. She tries to smile and not breakdown in front of her but it was useless. Brittany is the only who can make her feel okay to be vulnerable. She suddenly finds herself under the taller woman's embrace as she sobs. Why she's crying so much is such a surprise to her; of course she was sad to hear the news about her father but frankly, she never thought she cared this much. After all he put her through, she still cared this much.
"Baby, what happened?" Brittany soothingly touches the brunette's back to ease her from shaking.
"My father, he just had a stroke. I need to fly back to Lima." She explains in between tears.
"It's going to be okay. I'm here for you, San. Anything you need, I'll help you with it." Strong, slender arms wrapped around her torso tighter pulling her closer.
Santana broke free from the embrace and looked at the blue orbs intently, "Will you come back with me? To Lima?" she asked hesitantly. She wasn't sure if Brittany was ready for this, especially because they just sorted their issues recently.
Brittany pauses for an answer. She's not quite sure it was a good idea for her to see Santana's parents especially her father after what happened but here was Santana looking vulnerable and distraught. It was difficult to say no but at the same time saying yes felt like some kind of sentence. She squeezes the brunette's hand to show her concern, "Of course, I will. I know you need me to."
A slight smile forms on the Latina's face, "Thank you Britt. I love you so much."
"I love you too baby." She answers as she pulls Santana to her side and wraps her arms around her.
Their moment of bliss is somehow ruined by this deeply saddening news but at least this time Santana knows they have each other, for certain and that thought is keeping her from breaking down and losing her sanity.
So a little angst but not between Brittana! It'll be nice to see how they'll both deal with this and more Brittana moments to follow dont you worry!