It took awhile before Heather moved her feet. For the longest time her feet had felt like cement, even with the rain pouring down she couldn't move. She just stood staring at Naya's front door wondering what was happening on the other side of it.
As she started her walk home she contemplated going back to Naya's but she knew how stubborn the girl was. She also felt guilty for assuming that Naya had run back to James, she should have known better. She passed a news stand, one of the magazines caught her eyes and it was as though she had some sudden epiphany. Reaching down she grabbed the magazine as she paid the man behind the counter who said a polite thank you before going back to listening to his radio.
She covered the magazine with her coat as she raced into her apartment building. Once inside her place Zach walked over to her and meowed before walking away as though he knew that she had just been fighting with Naya. Taking her coat off, she slipped off her shows as she tossed the magazine onto the kitchen table. She calmed herself then and headed upstairs to change into something warm and dry. Her mind was still on Naya and their fight, she didn't want to leave things like this, not again.
After changing she headed back downstairs to make herself a cup of coffee to warm up and sit by the fire place even though despite the rain it was still warm out. As she made her coffee the magazine on the table caught her eye again as Naya's words played over and over in her heard. It was then that everything hit her, why Naya had continued to be so guarded. She set her cup down and ran upstairs to get something out of her closet before rushing back downstairs, grabbing the magazine off the table and heading out the door.
Heather paid for her cab and crossed the road, running up Naya's front steps. The rain was still coming down relatively hard as she rang the doorbell. No response. She rang it again. Nothing. Holding the box under her arm she knocked on the door repeatedly. Nothing. "Come on Naya let me in. I'm not leaving until you do!" She heard Maurice start to bark and she hoped that was a good sign. She continued to knock and ring the door bell until one very pissed off Naya Rivera opened her front door. It was apparent that she was upset and it broke Heather's heart knowing it was her that had upset her."What? Have you not done enough?" Naya's angry, loud voice had diminished and she was left with one that was weaker and tired, almost as though she was giving up.
"Please just listen to me." Heather pleaded now completely soaked from the rain. "I love you, I have always loved and no one could have more proud of you than I was, than I am. I know I didn't call and I didn't write and I wasn't there and I have never forgiven myself for that. You deserved so much better than what I was giving you and that's why the second I saw you on the tv with James I got so incredibly jealous because he was there for you when I wasn't and I don't know how to compete with that. I never should have let you leave that day at my house, after I ran outside after you and saw you driving away I should have got in my car and went after you. I was mad that you left but I was more upset that I hadn't told you then I was mad when you didn't come home. I spent so many nights just wishing I would wake up from the nightmare my life had become. When Taylor moved in and you were gone I tried to convince myself that it was right, that it felt right but it never did. Then I got the box of my stuff that you gave to Dianna and it hit me like a tonne of bricks. You were done with me and I couldn't blame you, I hurt you in a way I swore I never would. I let you walk away but I promise you I never stopped loving you not a for a single second."
Naya stood still not really knowing how to process everything that Heather was telling her. She wanted to believe her but it was so hard to let her guard down, to let Heather in again. "I am never not going to chase after you again. I'm never not going to be there ever again. I have five years to make up for and I want to make up for them from now until forever and even that won't be long enough." Heather looked up and saw a tear fall down Naya's cheek. "I was meant to be here, I was meant to run into you, life has a plan of its own and it's been trying to tell me that for years but I'm finally listening." Heather couldn't see it or feel it but Naya's heart was starting to beat out of her chest.
Without thinking Heather opened the box that was in her hand causing papers to fly out all over the place. On instinct Naya ran outside and down the steps to try and catch the ones flying away. When she picked up an article she saw a picture of herself from Rolling Stone magazine. They were all articles about her, each and everyone. "Heather what is all this?"
"I was upset and hurt Nay but I was never not proud of you. Every article about you that I could get my hands on I bought and put away. I've always been your biggest fan and that never stopped. I was at your release party, I walked in and saw you with everyone and I just didn't know if you wanted me there so I sat outside and listened to you sing your heart out. When I invited you to the wedding I think I just wanted you to stop me but then you said you were bringing a plus one and it all went to hell…"
Heather was cut off when she felt Naya wrap her arms around her neck as she leaned up to kiss her. Soft lips brushed over hers and in that moment she could feel both their hearts race. It had been way too long since she had felt Naya's lips on her own except this was different. This was them and not Brittany and Santana. The lid flew off the box again making the rest of the clippings fall out. "It's all getting ruined." Heather said breathlessly as Naya pulled away only slightly.
"You don't need any of that anymore, you have the real thing, you have me." That was all Heather needed to hear. She let the box fall to the ground as she picked Naya up and spun her around and she brushed her lips over Naya's. Setting her back down on the ground Heather reached her hand up and let her thumb trace over Naya's cheek. They didn't stop until they heard Maurice bark from where he stood just inside the front door. Picking Naya back up Heather carried her inside and closed the door with her foot. "We should probably get you dried off, I can't have you getting sick." Naya said, a smile on her face that went from ear to ear.
"Upstairs?" Heather questioned as she leaned her forehead against Naya's. Once she felt the woman in her arms head nod against her own she carried her upstairs. It seemed like it took her no time at all to get to Naya's room where she finally set her down. When she did she lifted her hand and cupped Naya's cheek before leaning down and capturing Naya's bottom lip between her own. She lightly brushed the tip of her tongue against Naya's lip, instantly getting tingles from head to toe.
"As amazing as that is, if I don't back away it could lead to something way more than kissing and I think we should take things at least sort of slowly. Besides I'm freezing cold and I really just want to go sit by the fireplace, if that's okay with you." Heather nodded as Naya went to the closet and set some things on the bed for her to change into while she walked into the washroom to change.
Once behind the closed door Naya finally let herself breathe. It all seemed like a dream and she was terrified that she was going to wake up and Heather was going to be married to Taylor. She moved towards her bathroom sink and looked at herself in the mirror shaking her head trying to wake herself up. Looking down she saw her phone on the counter and didn't hesitate to pick it up, dialing a familiar number.
"She said what to you?" Dianna asked exasperatedly on the other end of the phone.
"You know what she said, I just told you. I don't know even know what is going on right now."
Naya held the phone back from her hear as Dianna let out a few yells of excitement. "Would you be quiet she's going to hear you through the phone, or the walls, whichever. If I wanted a basket case I would have called Lea."
"Okay, I'm good now. Go with the flow Nay, its you and Heather you two don't need help getting along. Relax, get dry and I'll see you tomorrow afternoon."
Naya took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "You're right this will all be fine."
"It's finally happening so let it."
With that they said their goodbyes as Naya walked back out into an empty bedroom. Before she left her room she looked in her mirror one more time, looking herself over. "It's like I'm back in high school, I need to get a hold of myself." She whispered to her reflection.
An hour later they found themselves laying on the floor with the fireplace their only source of light since the storm had knock the power out. Naya's head was resting on Heather's stomach as Heather played with Naya's fingers, running her free hand through Naya's hair. Maurice was laying under the table next to them, asleep.
"That day you walked out of my house and I watched you walk away was one of the stupidest things I have ever done. Everything in me was telling me to go after you but for some reason I couldn't."
"Life wasn't ready for us yet, I think we needed to grow as individuals before we could even think about growing together."
"You have no idea how much I missed you. I'm pretty sure Dianna was going to block my number because I called her so often to see if she'd tell me anything about you."
Naya turned her head and looked up at Heather. "You didn't."
"Oh I definitely did. Can I just say that night of your release party you looked amazing, beyond amazing actually."
"Most of that album is about you, it was all real, every song, every line. If it wasn't for you I don't think that album ever would have happened."
"It would have because you've always been so incredibly talented." Heather smiled at Naya as she watched the other women's cheeks blush.
"Okay, okay, enough about me. What's been your favourite New York memory to date?"
Heather smiled as she stopped running her fingers through Naya's hair. "When I saw you standing in the park, it was dark but I knew it was you. I'll never forget the way you looked that night or how disappointed I was when I saw you with a ring on your finger."
"I thought I saw a ghost that night." Naya joked as she turned on her side so that she could look up at the blonde. "It was really good seeing you that night and every other night after that."
"I can't believe I bought your old apartment."
Naya giggled her adorable laugh. "Yeah I can't believe that either, this world is so crazy sometimes."
"So what's yours?"
"My what?"
Heather rolled her eyes. "Your favourite New York moment."
"This one is definitely getting up there." Naya smirked as she pulled Heather's hand closer and kissed her palm. "Why are you looking at me like that?" She asked as the fire crackled behind them.
"Because I really want to kiss you right now and I don't know if that's okay."
"Since when do you follow rules anyways?"
Heather looked up and thought for a minute. "That night in the apartment, the last big storm there was, by the way does this always happen? The storms that is? Anyways there was then oh and the night you hurt your ankle, and a million other times."
"Really?"
"Do you not remember that night at my house when we were standing there dancing and it felt like time had stopped. All I wanted to do was pull you into me and kiss you but it never happened."
Naya laid her head back down and looked up at the ceiling remembering that night as though it was yesterday. She stood up and grabbed her phone that was on the couch. She went through the list of songs as Heather sat up on her forearms looking at Naya inquisitively. Once the song started playing she smiled shyly as Naya put her hand out to her and started singing. "I'm going to love you more than anymore, I'm going to hold you closer than before." As she had so many years before Heather took Naya's arm and put it around her neck taking her other hand in her own as they started to sway to the music.
This time when the music stopped Heather didn't hesitate to lean in and brush her lips over Naya's. She brought her hand up to cup Naya's cheek, deepening the kiss as Naya ran her finger tips along the back of Heather's neck. Heather let out a soft "mmm" as Naya tilted her head up and sucked on Heather's top lip barely letting her teeth graze over it.
When air became a necessity they backed away slightly as the lights came back on. "I forgot how good you are at that." Naya joked as she leaned their foreheads together.
"I guess I could remind you from time to time."
"Careful, I might take you up on that." Heather smiled, her cheeks turning a red that Naya had never seen before as she leaned down and picked her keys up. "What are you doing?" Naya asked with a questioning look as her fingertips reached out to brush over Heathers hand.
"Home."
Naya shook her head. "You should stay, the storm is still bad, and I know its close but why go out in that if you don't have too. Oh and to answer your question it happens a couple times during the summer but it's not so bad."
"Are you sure?"
"Really its just a little rain." Heather smiled with a slight chuckle as she looked down at Naya. "Oh you meant, yeah its fine." She gave her nervous laugh making Heather burst out into laughter herself. "What?"
"Nothing, I'll tell you later. Movie?"
"Works for me, you can head on upstairs, I'll let this one out quickly and meet you up there."
Heather nodded as she watched Naya walk away she headed upstairs to make a quick phone call.
"What's up stranger danger?" Ashley laughed as she answered the phone causing Heather to shake her head.
"Nothing just in Naya's bedroom."
"What? Hemo you stud, but really what's up."
Heather rolled her eyes. "Seriously."
"Wait you aren't joking?" Heather chuckled slightly.
"No I'm not joking. I'll explain everything later I just wanted to tell you that you were always right."
Without hesitating Ashley knew exactly what was Heather was talking about. "I know, just talk to her Heath it'll make sense but for now just enjoy that you finally have what you wanted, what you needed. Call me later with the details. You can't see but I'm totally winking at you right now."
"Okay will do, wink wink." Heather said with a laugh as she
An hour later both women laid under the covers of Naya's four poster canopy bed watching the Wedding Planner. Maurice laid between them fast asleep but once Naya turned off the tv he got up and moved to the end of the bed as though he knew exactly what that meant.
"Should I turn on the radio?" She asked as Heather went to get out of bed. "Where are you going, stay." Naya reached out and pulled Heather back towards her. Being too tired to argue Heather simply nodded and laid back down under the blanket as Naya turned on her Pandora. "Tell me something." Naya said as she got comfortable, turning on her side to face Heather reaching out for Heather's hand as she entwined their fingers.
She heard Heather let out a small noise that let her know the woman was thinking. "I was scared that when and if I ran into you that you were going to be this totally different person. Someone I didn't know at all."
"What do you mean?"
"Just the normal A list celebrity that has a chip on their shoulder and thinks that they're the best thing to walk the earth. I guess I was scared you weren't going to be my Naya."
Naya laughed as she shook her head. "First, only a select few people are like that, most people are just as normal as anyone else. Second, I would never be that person, it's not in my nature. Let's face it I'd much rather walk around in yoga pants and a hoodie than being this glammed up princess."
They went a few minutes without talking as the song switched to Slide by the Goo Goo Dolls making Heather laugh ever so slightly at the irony of the night they were having. She looked over at Naya who's eyes were closed and had been for the past several minutes. She couldn't get over how beautiful the woman lying next to her was, even when she was sleeping it her beauty made her heart race. "What you feel is what you are and what you are is beautiful." She sang softly, watching Naya's fingers as she brushed a few strands of hair out of Naya's face.
After another few seconds to leaned back and rested her head back down on the pillow closing her eyes. "Oh may, do you want to get married and run away. I wanna wake up where you are." Naya sang softly causing Heather's eyes to fly open. "You have a thing for singing this song to me don't you?" She joked as she took in Heather's expression.
"I thought you were asleep."
"Mhmm. I know. It was just so cute when you did that the first time that every time after that I just decided to let you think I was asleep.
"Are you saying that every single time I've done that you've been awake?" Naya smiled like a child who felt amazing because they had just outsmarted their parents.
"That is what I'm saying but it's sweet and incredibly cute." Naya watched as Heather's cheeks once again turned a crimson red. "What's with the blushing?" She asked as she reached out and let her thumb trace back and forth over the other woman's cheek.
Heather shrugged with a smile as she closed her eyes letting herself relax under Naya's touch. "Your bed has always been so comfortable."
"Has it? Because I feel that way about yours." Heather nodded, keeping her eyes closed pulling Naya closer.
"It feels even better when you cuddle with me before falling sleeping first."
"I do have a tendency to make up on your shoulder." Naya moved her head so it was lying on Heather's chest stretching her arm out across the blondes waist.
"That's better. How have you nightmares been?"
Naya made a noise which Heather knew meant better. Smiling to herself to tilted Naya's chin up with her finger tips and kissed just her bottom lip before kissing just her top lip. Naya made another noise as she leaned up ever so slightly and brushed her lips over Heather's ever so slightly.
"It's cute when I get feel your heart beat." Naya mumbled. Not long after that both girls fell asleep happier than they had been in years.
The next morning Heather made her way downstairs after waking up to an empty bed. The smell of breakfast led her to the kitchen as per normal. Once she got there she leaned against the door frame for a second taking in her surroundings. Maurice was sitting next to Naya who was wearing a pair of spandex shorts and the hoodie that Heather had showed up in last night.
In that moment that Heather realized how much she had truly missed Naya, she missed waking up to Naya stealing her clothes and cooking breakfast. She had missed the atmosphere that surrounded them whenever they were together.
"You going to come over here and get your coffee or are you doing to stand there all morning?" Naya threw a smile over her shoulder at Heather.
"I suppose." Walking over Heather skipped the coffee pot and stood behind Naya wrapping her arms around the women's waist and kissing her shoulder. "That smells really good."
"Of course it does, I'm an amazing cook."
Heather smirked and started to kiss Naya's neck trailing kisses from her collarbone to her jaw line. "You taste amazing too." She grinned as she spun Naya around in her arms.
Without wasting another moment Naya pulled Heather down slightly and pecked her lips before laughing and turning around.
"What was that?"
"That was me teasing you, go let Maurice out would you, its beautiful outside today." Heather laughed as she moved back towards the sliding doors, calling Maurice with her. "Hemo?" Naya turned and smiled as she watched Heather turn back to look at her. "I missed you."
To be continued…A/N: I wanted to take a quick second to say thank you to everyone who is reading this, I appreciate all the feedback. If anyone has any questions or comments feel free to PM me too, I always respond, most of the time quickly. Once again thank you all so much and I hope you liked this long awaited chapter.
