Here ya go. Warning: Possible Cuteness Overload

Chapter 22: I Love You

Santana's POV

I wake up and smile.

I am lying on my side, my arm draped over the warm, soft skin of Brittany's waist. My legs are tangled with her impossibly long, toned ones.

I open my eyes to look at her. Brittany is lying on her side too, facing me. Still asleep and beautiful as ever. I tickle my fingers up her side underneath the bed sheet. She doesn't move, doesn't even twitch.

I watch as Brittany breathes in deep and then lets the breath out. In and out. Inhale and exhale, over and over again. I reach up with my right hand and brush my fingertips over her cheek. Brittany's eyebrows twitch a little but she doesn't wake up.

I still can't really believe that this beautiful girl is my girlfriend. I can't believe she has stuck up for me and believed in me. I really can't believe that she put up with all of my shit. Nobody puts up with my shit, well, maybe my dad. But that's not the point. I was terrible to her when we first met. I was mean and I yelled and she just took it. I still don't know why but god I'm glad that she did and that she stuck by me cuz we are here now.

After last night, yesterday, I am more sure than ever that I love this girl. How can I not? She is amazing. I feel like the luckiest girl in the whole world. I know I said that I wanted to wait but last night was it. That was the perfect time, the perfect moment. And now that I think about it, today is perfect, as well. And what I'm about to do is going make it even more perfect.

A few minutes pass by, probably five or so before I can't help myself anymore. I scoot forward until my chest presses against Brittany's. A shudder runs through my body at the feeling of our naked skin brushing together.

I push forward and brush my lips across the skin of her shoulder. So smooth and sweet. I place kisses over her shoulder, across to her neck, up the side of her neck to her cheek, and coming to the my finally destination. Her lips.

I give Brittany a little peck on the lips at first. But, then, I kiss her with a little more gumption. She starts to stir a little. I pull back so I can look at her face as she wakes up. She grumbles, probably at the loss of my lips on hers. I lean forward again and kiss her some more.

Brittany moans and I pull back again. Blue eyes pop open and she smiles at me. "I love being woken up by your sweet lady kisses." She mumbles, her voice low and full of sleep.

I freeze. There's that word. Love. Now is the time.

I suck in a big breath. "I heard you the other night."

Brittany's face scrunches up. I can see the confusion in her eyes. "What are you talking about?"

"The other night. When you thought that I was asleep." I clarify a little. I know that she knows what I mean now. I can see the realization cross her face and her eyes widen a little. I go on. "You said you-"

"I love you." Brittany cuts me off. "I said, I love you." Her face twitches like she's not sure if she should smile or frown. "You heard that?" She whispers and I barely hear her.

"Yeah-" I start to say. "-and-"

"I know, it's too soon but-" Brittany speaks up again.

I cut her off this time because she's wrong. "I love you too." I push her shoulder gently until she falls onto her back. I scoot over until my body rests over Brittany's. She spreads her legs and my hips nuzzle between her thighs. I rest above her, my elbows holding myself up. I look down at the beautiful blonde laying beneath me. She's looking up at me with wide, adoring eyes. I smirk and lower my head to her chest and start kissing over her collarbone. Brittany's hand grips the back of my head and holds my lips to her skin. I kiss all over her chest.

"Santana." Brittany sighs. I cease my attack on her skin and lift my head to look up to her eyes. Her eyes are closed though.

"Hmm?" I hum and lick my lips. The taste of Brittany's skin on my tongue.

Brittany eyes slowly blink open and she looks like she is in utter bliss. "I- I-" She stutters but doesn't really get any words out.

So, I lower my lips to her skin again. This time the skin of her neck. I start at the hollow of her collarbone and work my way upwards.

I reach her lips again and runs my tongue along her bottom lip. Brittany gasps and parts her lips and I sneak my tongue into her mouth.

After a intense make out session I stop to try and catch my breath. "Hey Britt-Britt?" I smirk stretch my neck backwards until I can see her whole face.

"Yeah?" Brittany is smiling but her eyes are still closed from our kisses.

"Is it weird?" My fingers of my right hand brush over the pale soft skin of her arm.

"Is what weird?" She peeks an eye open and squints at me.

"Me, being naked in your bed?"

Brittany's other eye pops open. "Oh!" She leans up on her elbow and looks over my body. The bed sheet rests on my hipbone covering my lower half. Brittany's eyes scan down and she bites down on her bottom lip and drags her eyes slowly back up. A finger runs up my right arm as her eyes return to mine. A second later her finger is under my chin tilting it towards her. Brittany leans in and connects our lips together.

"No." She mumbles against my lips. Her hand comes down and stills on my chest, right over where my heart beats. "It's not weird. Different, maybe. But, not weird."

I nod dumbly. Wait. Different?

"Ya know. Different. Like, I'm not used to it. Not bad, but just different." Brittany answers my question without me having to ask it.

"Oh."

"Yeah. And-." Brittany taps my chest with her index and middle fingers. "-for the record-" She then wiggles her eyebrows at me. "You are more than welcome to sleep in my bed neked anytime you want." Then she gives me her best brightest smile. The one that's all teeth and heart. The one that makes me love her a little bit more.

"Neked?" I ask with raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, neked." She giggles and I can't help but laugh a little too. Whenever she laughs it's like I have to laugh too. I don't know how or why but I just do.

"Ok, Britt." I sigh and duck my head down and under her chin. Brittany corresponds and rests her chin on the top of my head and wraps her arms around me and holds me close to her.

I don't want to be anywhere else. I don't want to go anywhere else. "Can we just stay here like this all day?" I whisper.

"Hmm. I would like that but I actually had a plan in mind for the day." Brittany says and kisses the top of my head.

"You and your plans."

"What? Don't hate on my plans. You don't even know what they are yet." She says never letting me go. Actually, her hands are rubbing soothing paths up and down my back. If I don't get out of bed soon I might actually fall back to sleep.

"Are you going to enlighten me on these plans then?" I ask. I feel her nod against the top of my head. "Well?"

She chuckles. "Patience, babe." Brittany is silent for a few seconds. But just a few before she speaks up again. "I thought- that maybe- if you wanted to- we could take a shower- like together. And after that we could have breakfast and then go for a walk in the park but I have to work at five so we need to be back here by four at the latest. How does that sound?"

"Sounds perfect." I pull back from under her chin and lean up til I can press my lips to hers. "How about that shower now?" I ask suggestively.

Brittany winks at me and suddenly whips the sheets back. "Last one to the bathroom is the loser." She jumps from the bed in all her naked glory and runs out of the room. All I can do is watch.

After she is gone for a few seconds my brain finally kicks into gear and I get out of bed and make my journey towards the bathroom as well.

By the time I get to the bathroom the shower is already on and Brittany is already in. It didn't take me that long. A minute at the most but that girl is freakishly fast. I pull the shower door open and step in careful not to get my arm wet.

"Took you long enough." Brittany wraps her wet arms and body around me. I shiver. "Here." She must feel it too.

She spins us around and steps forward pushing me under the hot water. I raise my left hand in the air. "Sorry." Brittany mumbles.

"No. It's okay." I step out of the water a little. "I'm just not suppose to get it wet."

She ducks her chin to her chest. "Right." I can tell she feels bad now.

"Hey." With my right hand I put a finger under her chin and tilt her head back up to look at me. "It's not your fault. It's not a big deal. Come here." I pull Brittany into me and wrap my right arm around her back.

She sighs into my ear and holds onto me. The feeling of our wet skin touching is beyond exhilarating. It's amazing, exciting, and awesome all rolled into one. I kiss her on the side of the head and pull back. "How about we start over here?" I suggest. Brittany nods sheepishly. "We can do- whatever- but I can't get my hand and cast wet. What do you want to do?" Is that a weird question to ask in the shower. Probably.

She bites her bottom lip and it's super adorable. I just want to kiss every inch of that beautiful face. "Can I wash your hair?" She asks quietly. So quiet that I almost don't hear her say it.

I tilt my head to the side. "We are in the shower, naked, and you want to wash my hair?"

"Yeah." She ducks her head again.

"Britt?" Nothing. "Britt-Britt?" The second time I call her name she looks up. "You can wash my hair if you really want." I don't know why she is being so shy all of a sudden.

"Okay." She leans up and kisses the corner of my mouth and then squeezes behind me so that she is the one that is mostly under the water. She reaches for the bottle of shampoo and squirts some into her hand. "Take a half step backward, please." Brittany instructs and I do what I am told.

I feel her hands on my head next, rubbing the shampoo into my hair. Her fingers massage my scalp. It is a heavenly feeling. I close my eyes and let Brittany do her thing.

"I love your hair. Did you know that?"

"No." I say quietly.

"Well, I do. Since the first day I saw you. You with your dark and shiny hair. It was intriguing and mysterious. I just wanted to run my fingers through it and see what it feels like. It's not like my hair. And now that it's wet. It's slick and sexy. I love it even more."

"That feels so good, Britt." I practically moan.

She giggles. "Good. Just relax babe."

"Oh, I am." I giggle out.

She stops massaging my head a few seconds later. "Okay, rinse." Brittany pulls me back gently by my shoulders and I tilt my head back under the hot water. She runs her fingers through my hair getting all the shampoo suds out. "Okay." I take a step forward and turn around to face Brittany. "You look funny." She says.

"I think I fall more and more in love with you every single day. This, here, is just proof of that. Here we are in the shower and all you want to do is wash my hair. You could have your way with me-" Brittany's eyes get really big at that. "-but you just want to do this. To make me feel relaxed and special and cared for. And I do, I feel all of those things and so much more. You are by far the most amazing woman on the planet."

"Santana, I love you so so much. I have wanted to tell you for so long but I thought it was too soon. I am going to tell you and show you everyday how much I love you. That's what happens when two people love each other. They do things for each other and they care for each other and they tell them they love them."

"I know that, Britt. I've just never felt like this before. I don't think I've ever, truly, been in love. That's sort of a scary thought but at the same time it's really exciting."

"It is." She leans down and kisses me on the tip of my nose. "Now." She then boops my nose with her finger. "No more talking. Just showering." I'm smiling up at her. Probably like an idiot. I nod as three little words repeat over and over in my head. 'I love her. I love her. I love her.'

Brittany grabs the bar of soap and starts lathering it up and then rubbing it all over her chest. I reach out and stop her. My good hand wraps around hers. She looks at me and I nod. She flips her hand over and I take the soap from her hand. I go across her chest, much like she had. My eyes follow the movements my hand is making. I wash down over her stomach and then lower. I look up and Brittany is watching my hand and biting down on her lip again. That's it.

I lean up on my tiptoes and kiss her. At first, she doesn't kiss back but a second or two later she does. I kiss her harder. She steps forward and pressing her body into mine. Brittany takes my hand and then the bar of soap from it. She runs the bar up over my arm to my shoulder and then takes a step back, breaking the kiss. She smirks and runs the soap over my chest covering every inch and then on a downward path washing just about every inch of my body. Every move she makes is slow and gentle and I can feel the love pouring from her touch.

When Brittany is done, she sets the soap down, and grabs the conditioner. She twirls a finger around and I get the hint and spin around. I hear her squirt the conditioner in her hand and close the cap.

Her finger in my hair again make me want to curl up in bed with her and fall asleep. I feel a peace. I don't have a care in the world right now. Well, except for the wonderful girl that is currently taking care of me.

She tugs back on my right shoulder and I lean in under the water. She runs her fingers through my hair a couple more times. And then I hear the shower turn off. I spin around confused. "You didn't wash your hair?" I whisper.

She smiles. "I know. Don't worry about it. I'm gonna shower before I go to work."

"Oh." Wait, so she just wanted to get me in the shower so she could wash my hair. That's why she was so shy about it. That's why she did everything she did.

"Put on something comfy for the day." Brittany tells me as she gets out of the shower. I nod and follow behind her. She gets a towel. "Lift." I lift my arms and she wraps the towel around my body. "Now go find something to wear." She says and pats me on the butt.

I giggle and walk out of the bathroom and back into her bedroom. I stop once I see the bed again. It's a damn mess. The pillows are laying all haphazard and the sheets are nearly coming off the bed. I look around the rest of the room and realize that I only have the clothes that I was wearing yesterday.

"Britt?"

"Second drawer, get something out of there." She yells from the bathroom.

I shake my head. She knows me all too well. 'I love her.'

I few seconds later I am dried off and clothed. A few more seconds pass and Brittany returns. She drops her towel and opens the top drawer and pulls out some underwear and the opens the next drawer and pulls out something to wear.

"You're staring." Brittany is looking at me. Standing there in sweatpants and a bra.

I shake my head. "Sorry."

"Don't be. I'm teasing. You can stare at me all you want." She winks.

"You're very beautiful." My eyes roam from her cute bellybutton up her torso until I meet hers.

She smiles. "Thanks." She mumbles and pulls her shirt over her head quickly.

"I mean it. You are beautiful. All of you. Your mind. Your heart. Your soul. And your body. A golden haired beauty." I twist nervously in place. God, that was some corny, sappy shit.

Brittany takes two steps until she is directly in front of me. "I know you mean it. And let me tell you that you are quite stunning yourself. We are two damn good looking ladies, if I do say so myself." She leans in like she is going to kiss me but at the last second she tilts her head to the side and kisses me on the cheek and I melt all over again. "Oh. And- it was difficult not to just jump your bones in the shower." She says and turns and leaves the room.

I stand there in a little stunned. I don't know how she does it. She's all cute and adorable and sweet and caring one second. The next she is talking about sex. "Hurry up. Breakfast isn't going to make itself." Brittany yells through the apartment. And she's back to normal like she didn't just mention having shower sex. I jump into action and skip out of the bedroom. Actually freaking skip.

Brittany made blueberry pancakes for breakfast. I helped a little but mostly I just watched her. After we ate Brittany insisted that we had to play with Lord Tubbington. He was sleeping on the couch and Brittany went over, sat down, and put him on her lap. I sat next to her as she pet him. He's a big fat cat so he doesn't do to much in the 'playing' departure anymore. She gave him the attention that he wanted and after a few minutes he had enough and got up and walked away.

Brittany looks around the room and then stands up. "Ready to go to the park?"

I nod. "Yep." I'll do anything with her.

Brittany holds the door open for me. I smile in thanks, and pass her by, and start down the stairs. I get to the bottom and stop to wait for Brittany.

"Oh. Hello. I thought I heard something." It's Mr. Carlson. "Santana, right?"

"Yes. How are you today?" I smile at the middle aged man.

"Very good. Thank you. And yourself?"

I look up the stairs that Brittany is now descending. "Never been better." I look back to him and he is peeking his head around the corner looking at what I was looking at. Brittany.

"Good morning, Brittany. How are you?" Hank asks her once she reaches the bottom step.

She doesn't answer his question though. Instead she bends over and gives me a peck on the lips. My eyes widen in shock. Did she just do that? She turns to him.

"Hank, I would like to introduce you to my girlfriend."

"Brittany, we've met before." I remind her.

"You have met but not as my girlfriend." She tells me. "Hank, this is my girlfriend, Santana. You might be seeing a lot of her around here."

He chuckles. "So, I take it that you are good then."

"Very much so." Brittany nods. "Are you off to work?"

"Yep. See you ladies around." He says and waves as he walks away.

"What was that all about?" I whisper as soon as the man is gone.

"What? I just wanted to introduce you as my girlfriend. Is there something wrong with that? Do you not want me to introduce you as my girlfriend? Cuz I really want to but if you don't want-"

I cut her off with a kiss. "Calm down." I chuckle. "I just meant you reintroducing me and Mr. Carlson. We already know each other."

"I just really wanted to tell him that you were my girlfriend and to show you off to him." Brittany explains.

"Okay. And just to be clear it is totally fine that you introduce me to anyone you want as your girlfriend."

"Good." She reaches for my hand and I give it to her. She kisses the back of it and then holds on. "Lets go." She tugs and I follow.

It's a beautiful day for a walk in the park with a beautiful girl. "This is nice." I comment as we walk hand in hand.

"It is." Brittany turns her head and smiles at me.

There hasn't been a lot of talking between the two of us. We just walked and walked enjoying the day and each other's company.

"Lets sit." I say as we approach a bench. The bench looks out over a pond. There are geese and ducks swimming around in the pond but they don't seem bothered that we are going to sit and watch them.

Brittany sits down first and then I sit down and swing my legs over so they are across the top of hers. She wraps her arm around my back and pulls me into her side. I sigh because I'm just so comfortable and content. I'm happy and excited and all we are doing is sitting here sharing the day together.

"What are you thinking?" She asks me.

"That I don't want today to be over. It's been perfect."

"I don't want the day to be over either. But, if today doesn't end there won't be tomorrow or the next day. And I am really looking forward to all the days that follow today, with you."

"God, Britt." I rest my head on her shoulder. "That's probably the most romantic thing anyone has even said to me."

She kisses me on the top of the head and holds her lips there. I can feel her smiling. "As great as this is I have to work at five so what do you want to do?"

I take my head off her shoulder and look into blue eyes. I want to spend as much time with her as possible but I have things that I need to take care of. I need to look for a job and I need to get one as soon as possible.

"I should go home. Even though I don't really want to."

"Okay. How about I drive you back to your work or I should say your former work. You can get your car and then go home. Then I'll go home, shower, and go to work."

"Sounds like a pretty good plan." I agree.

We sat on the bench for a little while longer and then we started our walk back to Brittany's apartment.

"Do you wanna get your clothes?"

Do I? "Could I just leave them here and then I could have something to wear some other time. Although, they are work clothes. Screw it, I'll leave them. If you don't mind washing them for me."

"I would love to." Brittany says. "I'll move a few things around and start a drawer for you. Next time you come over you bring some other things that you want to keep in the drawer."

"Okay." I already have a few shirts in mind that I want to bring over. "Okay." I say again for no reason.

"Get in, goof." Brittany says when she puts a hand on my back. I was too much in my own head to realize that we are at Brittany's car. She had opened the door for me and is holding out her hand to help me get in.

"And who said chivalry was dead?" I joke. Brittany smiles. I go to sit and Brittany makes sure I don't bump my head or anything.

"Thanks." I say shyly. She just somehow manages to reduce me to a blushing schoolgirl.

Brittany goes around and gets in and starts the car. I tell her where to go and within minutes we are in the parking lot of my mom's insurance company. Right now I wish I didn't leave yesterday in such a rush. I don't have my keys, I don't have my bag. They are both inside on my desk.

"Wish me luck."

"With what?" Brittany asks.

"I have to go in there and face everyone. I haven't talked to my mom since. She probably worried about me last night. But now that she knows about us, I'm sure her mind was a little at ease. She probably figured I was with you. I left all of my stuff here. My keys, my phone."

"Right. I'm sure it will be fine. You don't have anything to worry about. Your mom understands what you are doing even if she doesn't agree. She understands and she loves you. And I loves you." Brittany leans over the center console and gives me a quick kiss.

"Thanks, Britt. I loves you too." I'm so in love with her. I just stare into those memorizing blue eyes. Our faces are only about an inch or two apart.

"You better go or your going to make me late." Brittany whispers, her breath tickling my face.

"Oh, so your gonna blame me."

She giggles. "Yep. All your fault."

I tilt my chin so I can kiss her. If she's gonna be late than I'm gonna make sure it's worth it. The kissing continues for a few minutes.

Brittany pulls back and rests her forehead against mine. "Okay. Okay. I have to go. And so do you."

"But, I don't wanna." I whine.

"Me neither, babe, me neither. But life is calling."

"Alright. Can I get a hug though." I ask somewhat pathetically.

"Of course." Brittany wraps her arms over my shoulders and around my back. I squeeze my arms under hers and wraps her up too.

"Okay. I really gotta go." She pulls back and I reluctantly let her go. "Go in there and get your stuff. Say hi to your mom for me. Okay?"

I nod and Brittany kisses me. "Okay. Bye Britt. Love you." I pull the handle on the door and it swings open.

"I love you too. Bye San." I get out and wave at her and shut the door. She waves back and I walk over to the front door of my now former work. I turn and watch as she drives away before going inside and getting my stuff.

Today my goal is to go job hunting. Yesterday, I spent most of the day with Brittany and it was amazing. But, today I have other plans. I need to get a job as soon as possible. I have bills I need to pay. I need money, period.

I have a few places that I am going to apply at but I have one place in mind that I want to work at. There is a sports store in town that I think would be a really good fit for me. I love watching sports and I know a lot about them so why not. I know I would enjoy the work too.

So, I am going to apply there and as back up I will apply at the local grocery store and maybe I could work at one of the sports bars in town. If I worked at a sports bar I might work similar hours to Brittany.

Here's hoping for the best.