I love how this chapter turned out. I hope you guys like it just as much as I do. Let me know what you think. Enjoy.

Chapter 12: The Morning After (Saturday)

The alarm goes off at ten am and I nearly jump out of bed to shut it off. But I realize I can't as soon as I am conscious of my body or, more so, what's covering my body.

I reach over gingerly to the nightstand and shut off the blaring alarm clock. I look across my shoulder to see Santana lying on her stomach with her eyes closed. But I know that she is awake. I know because the arm that is draped over my stomach keeps twitching like it is unsure of what to do.

I sneak my fingers across my stomach until I get to her hand that is resting there. I pat it a couple of times. "Time to get up Santana."

I give her the out and she takes it. She yawns, pulls her arm from my stomach, and stretches both her arms above her head. After her little stretch she rolls onto her side. I watch as a coy little smile makes it's way across her lips. I know she is thinking about the same thing that I am. Thinking about when she kissed me last night. It wasn't anything that I expected. I didn't even see it coming, literally, I didn't see it coming and then her lips where on mine. But it was mostly over before it began. I have the urge to kiss her right now. With her laying next to me in my bed just after waking from sleep. It would be perfect but I know that I can't kiss her.

Not now. It's not right. The timing isn't right. A lot of things need to be figured out before I feel like I can actually kiss her and not have anything bad happen in return. I'm rambling now.

I smile back at her and she gets all bashful again and hides her face in her pillow. "I have to be at work at noon so-" I feel like it's best to inform her now so we can lay out what will happen between now and then.

"Okay."

"I'm gonna go shower and then we can have breakfast."

"Okay." She pulls the blankets all the way up so that just her nose and eyes and forehead are showing.

"Okay." I parrot. "And when I'm done you can shower if you want." Santana nods and with that I get out of bed. I pull some clothes out of my dresser to wear. "Do you want something to wear?" I ask her, thinking about getting myself dressed, and thinking about her still wearing my sweatpants underneath the blankets.

"That would be great, if you don't mind." She says timidly, hiding her face some more under the blankets.

"Ya know, if this keeps happening you might want to pack an overnight bag and keep it in your car." I shrug. "Just in case." I pull out a t-shirt and throw it at Santana. "Does that work or do you want some pants too because that might be a little more difficult. I don't know if we are the same size."

"No, this is fine. Thank you very much."

"You are very welcome." And I am off to take my shower.

After I showered I came out and started breakfast. Eggs and bacon for today. Santana is in the shower now. I wish I had more time with her today but I have to go to work and I'm sure she has other things to do. I feel like I am running on a high though. I had no idea that one teeny tiny kiss would do this to me yet here I am. I feel like I've won the lottery. I am dancing around the kitchen as I monitor the eggs in the frying pan.

"You're good." I stop and spin around at Santana's voice.

"Oh, I didn't know you were done."

"Yep. Have you had dance lessons or are you just a nature dancer?"

I shrug. "I did have lessons when I was a kid but I guess I am pretty good." What I don't tell her is that my friend Mike and I get together sometimes just to dance.

"Well, you are definitely good either way." She comments and takes a seat at the kitchen island. I pass a cup of coffee over to her with a warm smile. "Thanks." She smiles back before sipping her coffee.

"We're having eggs and bacon. I hope that's okay."

"I don't eat bacon but I love eggs." Okay, so Santana doesn't eat bacon I won't be making that for breakfast if we ever have breakfast together again. Though, I think that at this point the possibility of having breakfast together again is possibly very high.

"Okay. More bacon for me." I joke and flip the eggs out of the frying pan and onto two plates.

She giggles at my dumb joke. I hand her her plate and start on making the bacon. "Soooo, do you have any big plans for today?" I ask as I throw five strips of bacon into the pan.

"No. I actually don't want to go home." I turn and she is cutting her eggs. "My mother will probably start yelling as soon as I walk in the door about how I didn't come home again last night."

"Oh."

She chuckles. "Yeah. The funny thing is thought that I wasn't even drunk last night. Most night when I don't return home it has something to do with my drunkenness."

"You could stay here-" I don't know why I even offer. Santana stops. Her hand hanging in the air, fork halfway to her mouth with a piece of egg on the end of it and stares up at me. Not blinking or moving. "-Or you could hang out at the bar during the day."

She doesn't say anything so I turn around and attend to my sizzling bacon.

After I plate my bacon I take a seat next to her and we eat in silence. Santana finishes before me and sets her silver wear on her plate and turns to me. I stop eating and give her a curious look. I'm not sure what she wants and maybe this is about what I said before or-

"Okay." She says.

"Okay, what?"

"Okay, I will hang out at the bar today. I would stay here but you won't be here and that would be weird. What would I do all day? This isn't my house. I feel like I would be intruding. A really don't want to go home yet but I could hang out at the bar."

"Sweet." Now I'm excited. I get to see more of Santana today. This day just keeps getting better and better.

I finish my breakfast and Santana offers to help me with the dishes but I tell her no that guests don't do dishes in my home. She is petting Lord Tubbington and watching Jersey Shore reruns in the living room. It almost time for work though. I finish the dishes and grab my coat. It's April but it's raining. You know what they say- April showers bring May flowers.

"Okay. Time to go." Santana grabs the sweatshirt that I put out for her off the back of the couch and pulls it over her head. I walk over and pat Lord T on the head. "Be good while I'm gone." I tell him. Sometimes I gets into things and makes a mess of the apartment.

One time I came home after work and there was flour all over the kitchen. I forgot to put the bag of flour away before I left and Lord Tubbington must have jumped up on the counter (I have no idea how though) and knocked it over and spilled it all over the counter and floor. I found him and he just meowed at me as if he didn't do anything wrong.

"Ready to go." I ask Santana. She smiles that big Santana smiles and nods. "Alright work, here I come."

"Do you always talk to yourself?" She asks, her head tilted to the side.

"No." I say immediately but then think over it. "Well, maybe. Living by yourself I think makes people talk to themselves more than people who live with others."

"Hmm. I guess that makes some sense." She adds as I shut and lock my apartment door. She waits for me at the top of the stairs like she did the last time.

We are walking down the stairs. "Brittany." Her voice is quiet and shy so I stop and turn to her. I nod for her to continue. "I just want to thank you again before we get over to the bar. For last night. For everything, really. You are a great friend and- and-" She stumbles over her words.

"No problem. Like I've said before it's my pleasure." I tell her before she gets anymore flushed then she already is. The little bit of red tint to her cheeks makes her look so adorable. "Anything else?" She ducks her head and shakes it. "Okay then. Let's go."

It's hard to imagine the Santana that I met for the first time in the Santana that I know today. I know they are the same person and that that first Santana is somewhere inside of her. But I can't help but think that she is happier now than she was the first day that I met her. She might still have the same problems and issues but she somehow seems happier.

I know that I am happier than I was the day that I met her. And that she has a lot to do with that.

We get to work and my mom's eyes are on me immediately. I know my mom saw her because I can see that she wants to question about why we showed up together. It makes me blush and I whisper into Santana ear that I am going to punch in and she sits down in her spot at the bar. She nods and I disappear into the dining room and go in the kitchen that way. I know my mom will find me in a matter of seconds.

I'm correct. And as soon as I close the door the other door that enters from the back of the bar is swinging open and my mom slides through.

I can feel Finn and Will's eyes on me. "Brittany a word." My mom doesn't sound to happy. "In private." We both walk into the break room and I punch in as my mother begins talking.

"What was that? You showed up with Santana Lopez? Tell me that's a coincidence."

"Nope. It's not. We're friends and she stayed at my place last night." She smile brightly over at my mom.

"Brittany." She say exasperated. And I know why she said my name like that.

"It's not like that mom. It's all innocent. We're just friends-" I grin like an idiot because yes Santana and I are just friend but I think I want us to be more than that. "-for now." I add.

"Brittany." She does it again. "This is the chick and that came in here screaming at you not that long ago. You know that right?" Mom sets her hands on her hips.

"I know. And that's not the real Santana. If you got to know her you would know that too. She is misunderstood."

"Good grief, Brittany." My mom doesn't swear but when she say 'good grief' you know she isn't happy.

"Santana's a great person, you'll see." I tell her and walk past her to go start my shift. My mom huffs in response but drops the matter. She just doesn't understand yet, but one day soon, she will see. I just know it.

"Can I get you something to drink Miss?" I ask Santana with my best sly grin. I may or may not be flirting with her.

"Hmm." She brings her index finger and thumb to her chin and rubs them back and forth across her jawbone. "How about- uh- water?"

"You don't want any of our fine spirits. A lovely variety of beers and whiskey and vodka and you want water? It's surely not as tasty as ones of the mixed drinks I could make you."

"No. Water, please." Santana brings her hand down and folds both her hands together on the bar top. She is speaking in this weird British accent. "I just had breakfast not too long ago and I think it inappropriate to follow so soon with an alcoholic beverage. Perhaps later, Ms. Bartender."

We both bust into laughter when she finishes her little speech. Me holding on to the back of the bar top to keep myself upright and her leaned over the bar with her forehead on her folded hands.

"Very well." I say and try to stop laughing. I turn to get a glass to fill with water and my mother is eyeing me up. I can tell that she is trying to figure it out.

The day passes rather quickly. Santana stays all day and we talk a little when I have time but I have to remember that I am working and that is my first priority. It's hard though, when my beautiful dark-haired Latin friend is sitting at the same bar that I am manning.

All day I couldn't stop smiling like a little kid on Christmas morning. I feel great and Santana is part of the reason that I feel this way. It's amazing really. It's not until Sugar comes in for her shift at five that I feel a little less than amazing.

"Hello Brittany." Sugar practically yells as she enters the bar. Everyone including myself turn to see her enter.

"Hey Sugar." I say as she makes her way through the bar to the other end. She stops dead in her tracks though. "Something the matter?" She stands there frozen. I look from her to Santana. Santana shrugs at me like she couldn't possibly know what the problem is.

Sugar slowly turns her head to the side. She is standing about two feet from me and standing direction opposite Santana. The actually bar the only thing between the two of them. I watch as she narrows her eyes at Santana and then looks her up and down from head to toe. Well, head to waist cuz she can't see the bottom half of Santana's body with the bar top in the way.

She slowly turns back to me. "What?" I ask.

"In the kitchen now." Sugar rushes passed me all of sudden and through the door into the kitchen.

"Looks like you're in trouble." Santana giggles.

I giggle too. "I don't know what this could be about. You didn't say anything that would offend her, did you?"

"No. I've heard even talked to her."

I shrug. "I better go see what she wants then."

I get into the kitchen and don't see Sugar in there. I turn to Will. "Have you seen Sugar?" He points to the break room. "Thanks." He returns to his work and I walk into the break room.

"Sugar, what the hell is your deal?"

"Brittany. What happened after I left last night?" She comes up to me and the toes of her shoes bump into mine. She's that close. Her nose and my nose would be an inch apart if she were as tall as me but she is shorter and has to look up to stare into my eyes.

"Not much, why?" I shrug. I don't know why she is on the verge of- I don't even know what. She's just on the verge.

"She wearing your fucking sweatshirt." Sugar whisper yells and points behind her in the direction of the bar.

"Oh." I smile like an idiot again. "Yeah."

"What do you mean 'oh, yeah'? Brittany, did you and Santana sleep together? And why is she here? Wearing your clothes?"

"Listen, it's not as scandalous as you make it sound. We are friends and Santana stayed over at my place last night and needed something to wear today." I leave out the part where Santana kissed me while we where in bed last night about to go to sleep.

"But what about all that stuff about her not returning your messages for two weeks or coming in here to see you or any of it."

"That's in the past." I shrug. "It was easy for me to put all of that behind me as soon as Santana explained everything to me."

"Wow. Brittany Pierce and Santana Lopez." Sugar says in amazement.

"Don't say it like that, we are just friends."

"For now." Sugar grins evilly.

"Maybe." I agree. The smile on my face can't be contained. "Can I get back out there now?"

"Yeah. Yeah. Go see your girlfriend." Sugar waves her hand at me dismissively.

"She's not my girlfriend." I growl at her.

"Yet." She teases some more.

"Shut it, Sugar."

"What do you want for supper?" Santana cocks her head to the side and scrunches up her face in that cute confused way that she does. I give her a warm smile and explain. "I'm gonna get food from the kitchen and take it home after work. What do you want?"

She nods in understanding. "Can I see a menu?"

"Sure, but it's basically the same food that every other bar and grill has. I could tell you what my favorites are though. A recommendations so to speak."

"Hmm." Santana hums as I hand her a menu. She looks it over and then hands it back to me. "I have a better idea. You order something for me. One of your favorites."

"Are you sure? I don't want to order something that you won't like."

She slides her index finger on her left hand around the rim of her beer glass. She watches the action as she does it and so do I. "I trust you." She says without looking up.

"What?" I am half memorized by her finger and spaced out. I think I heard what she said but feel I need her to clarify it for me.

She looks up now and looks deep into my eyes. "I trust you, Brittany." She says it and I don't think we are talking about food anymore.

"So, what will I be eating?" Santana is sitting on the couch after I suggest that we eat our supper's in the living room.

I unpack the brown paper bag of food setting the six items down on the coffee table. I sit down next to her and hand her the first item. "First things first, we have a Super Burger."

"And what is that exactly?" She asks as she starts to unwrap the burger. I hand Santana one of the two plates that I got out of the kitchen before I sat down. She puts the burger on the plate. "Two quarter pound beef patties, two pieces of cheese, lettuce, pickles, onions, and the special sauce. Oh and of course a bun."

"So, basically, a Big Mac."

I shake my head. "No way. This burger is so much better than a crappy McDonald's Big Mac."

"Okay. What else?"

I hand her a little baggie. "In here are Broccoli Poppers. They are so yummy. I was going to have them but decided that you should have them instead and I got Mozzarella Sticks. They are deep fried and have little piece of broccoli with melty cheese and little bits of bacon inside a breaded shell. Here, you have to dunk them in ranch. That's the only acceptable way to eat Broccoli Poppers." I hand Santana the little cup of ranch. "They are like the best appetizer on the planet."

"I think you might be drooling." She chuckles.

"They're just so good." I moan.

"Well, maybe I will let you have one of mine." Santana offers.

"I would like that. And you could have a Mozzarella Stick, if you want."

"That sounds great. What else did you get?" She asks me.

I unwrap my burger and put it on my plate. "A special little burger that I created when I worked in the kitchen and showed Will how to make so I can order it without having to make it myself."

"What's on it?"

"It's similar to yours." I point to the burger on her plate. "Except it only has one hamburger patty. Two pieces of cheese melted on top, pickles, lettuce, and on both buns a little bit of the special sauce. On the top bun though is a little tiny bit of barbeque sauce. It gives it an extra little kick."

"Wow."

"And the Mozzarella Sticks and sauce." I add.

"You seem like quite the cook."

"I'm alright. I'm not really that great with recipes but other stuff I can do. What I mostly do is stuff that I create. Experiments. I worked in the kitchen until I could work in the bar at age eighteen. I can deep fry the crap out of food and make a mean burger but I'm kinda limited to grilled and fried food."

"But you still seem to know what you are talking about. I might have to have you cook for me sometime."

"I'd be honored." My smile feels like it could split my face. "Now lets eat before our delicious food gets cold. That would be such a shame."

Santana laughs at my enthusiasm and I bite into my specialty burger.

I finish my burger a little before Santana and start on my Mozz Sticks. I offer her and one she nods and takes it from me. "Here dip it in the sauce."

"Does your special burger have a name?" Santana asks as she dunks.

"Not really. It's not on the menu or anything. But I have always called in The Brittany."

She giggles a little. "Of course." She takes a bite of the mozzarella sticks and the cheese stretches and then snap and gets stuck to her chin. I laugh and she sticks her tongue out to try and get the cheese off. It takes her two tries but Santana eventually gets the mozzarella cheese off her chin.

She reaches for a Broccoli Popper and I am so excited for her to try them. I really love them and I hope she does too. "Your turn." She hands the appetizer out for me to take.

I tilt my head to the side. "There's no ranch on it." I pout.

She smiles. "Okay. Okay." She dunks one end in the ranch and then holds it back out in between us for me to take.

I lean forward and wrap my lip around the appetizer. I make sure to watch her as her eyes widen as my lips wrap around two of her fingers and her thumb. She definitely didn't expect me to do that. She probably thought I would take it with my hand and put it in my own mouth like she did. I suck the food from her fingers into my mouth. Her jaw drops and her mouth opens ever so slightly. I release her fingers with a pop and a hum. I smirk as I chew the food in my mouth. Her hand fall away, to her lap, as she watches me.

"Those Broccoli Poppers seem extra yummy today for some reason." I say with a wink and she averts her gaze. I can see the faint blush that dusts her cheeks as she turns away.

"Uh- uh- Brittany." She manages to at least stutter that much.

Well, it seems that my little experiment worked. Santana is a stuttery mess and lets just say I am slightly aroused.

It's fairly quiet for the rest of the time it takes to finish eating. I glance over at Santana every minute or two. The first time she is looking down at the plate in her lap munching on a Broccoli Popper. I don't know why but her shyness just makes her adorable.

I finish my food and put my plate down on the coffee table. I look over and watch as Santana dunks her last Popper into the cup of ranch and then pops the whole thing into her mouth. I can't help the slightest chuckle that comes from my throat. Her head snaps up and she tilts her head to the side. Slowly chewing the rest of the food in her mouth, her face turns to that cute confused look. The one with the creased eyebrows and the scrunchy face.

She finishes chewing then wipes the corners of her mouth with her index finger and thumb each on one side. "What?" She nearly whispers. "Is there something on my face?"

"No." I shake my head. "You are so damn cute, right now." Her eyes widen at my somewhat bold statement. I move on quickly. "So, were they as good as I said they were. Cuz I think from just watching you, right now, I would say that you liked those Broccoli Poppers pretty fabulously."

It's her turn to chuckle. "They were great. I think I have a new food to add to the list of my favorites. And the burger too it was good. Thanks."

"Good. I'm glad." I'm not sure what to do or say next but Santana saves me from having to say anything.

Santana reaches forward and places her empty plate on the coffee table. "I should probably go home now." I don't necessarily want her to go but know that she has to. "My mom has been calling me all day. She is probably wondering if I am dead in a ditch somewhere. I should go home and let her know that I am, at the very least, alive. And then she can bitch at me for being gone all night and all day."

I can't help myself. "Why do you put up with it?"

"The bitchin'?" She asks and I nod. "I don't know. Cuz she's my mom."

"Okay." I know I'm not gonna get anything else out of her so I just drop it. "Well, I had fun today and last night too. Even though I was working most of the time."

"Yeah, it was fun." She says picking up the plastic bag by the door with her shirts from yesterday in them. "I'll get your clothes back to you as soon as I can."

"It's not a problem. I have plenty of shirts." I open the door for her and step off to the side.

"Okay. So-" Santana mumbles.

I don't want this to turn into some awkward goodbye. "Come here, silly." She steps forward and I pull her into a tight hug. I bury my face in her hair and it smells like my shampoo. Just another little reminder that she was here and has been with me for nearly the last 24 hours.

We break apart. "I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"

A big smile breaks across my face. "Okay."

"Bye, Brittany."

"Bye." I say and we stand there for a few seconds just looking at each other. Eventually, she smiles and turns to go. I watch as she descends the stairs and exits the building. That's when I shut the door and do a little celebration dance on the spot.

God, that girl makes me feel good.