A/N: Thanks everyone for all of the reviews/alerts/favorites. It was great to see a good response to this story! I have a bunch of ideas for it so I hope you stick around! Just had a couple of quick notes for you guys -
First, you'll notice the name changed (from Back to Black). I wanted to throw that first chapter up and see what kind of response I got and I really suck with titles, so I kind of just put down the first thing I could think of, which happened to be the song I was listening to at that moment. :-) But for the most part, this is a lighter story so I wanted to go with something that fit it a little better.
Second, I changed the rating to T for now. I didn't really know what I was doing the first time I posted, but I know it's easier to find this way and if I need to bump it up again in the future I will.
Hope you enjoy and look forward to hearing more from you!
"Rachel?" Finn called as he opened the door and peeked his head around cautiously.
"This is a disaster." she said as she laid face down on the bed and shook her head, her laptop in front of her.
"Hey," he said, picking up the laptop and placing it aside as he sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed circles around her shoulders. "It's going to be okay. We knew it wouldn't be easy." he said gently.
"This is worse than expected."
"I think maybe you need to realize that all this research you're doing, it's not going to work because this isn't like every other situation...I mean Santana and you don't have the standard roommate relationship and if you're going to get to that you may need to take your own path." she looked up at him before sighing and resting her head in his lap.
"What should I do? Just throw everything out? I'm not going to be miserable either. This is my dream too, I don't want to destroy it to make someone who hates me happy."
"She doesn't hate you Rachel." Rachel looked at him skeptically. "Look, you guys will figure it out. You're going to have to because for the next year at the very least we're stuck with them." She groaned and threw an arm across her face which he promptly removed. "I'm not saying throw out everything, maybe just make it more of an open discussion? Let her have a rule or two on the list. I think you both need to maybe...compromise?"
"Does she look like she's going to just compromise with me to you?" she asked sadly. He smiled and pushed a stray hair behind her ear.
"Let Brittany calm her down. You know she's good at that." she sighed but still looked a little wary. "Trust me, I've known Santana Lopez since kindergarten and if anyone can get her to act like a somewhat normal human being, it's Brittany. And you've seen yourself how it's even more true since they started dating."
"I guess you're right." she looked up at him. "Do you think Brittany will try?"
"Yeah, I do. Believe me, she doesn't like trouble and we just talked. I think you just need to give it a night to settle down and talk tomorrow." he smiled and leaned down to give her a soft kiss. "But you need to take a few steps back on that list okay? Or else we'll be here again and you will be miserable."
"Okay." she said softly.
"Come on, let's watch a movie in here, anything you want."
"Funny Girl?" she said with bright eyes and he rolled his eyes. "You know nothing else makes me feel better."
"Fine, go get changed and put it in, I'm just going to take a quick shower." he said before kissing her once more and heading into the bathroom.
"Thank God we have separate bathrooms." she said and he laughed.
"Yeah...I...just...yeah."
Meanwhile Brittany grabbed a couple of bottles of water and her bag in the hallway and headed into her own room, bracing herself for a very angry version of her girlfriend when she walked in.
"Hey." she said softly, as she closed the door behind her with her foot and dropped the bag on the floor. "Want some water?" she said, extending a bottle towards Santana, who was busy moving bags and boxes around the room at a furious pace.
"No thank you." she said curtly and piled her things up as Brittany put the bottle down and took a sip of her own.
"What are you doing?"
"We need to fix the furniture and unpack." she shook her head. "It's too chaotic in here."
"Santana," she said gently but the other girl just shook her head.
"Brittany, right now just help me figure out how we want the furniture. We can talk later...while we unpack." Brittany looked a little unsure but Santana's eyes pleaded with her so she sighed.
"Okay." she said before putting the bottle down.
After they had managed to re-arrange things to their liking and separate their boxes by room, they started to work on unpacking their room, splitting up the drawers and closet space. Brittany set up her
iPod dock and put on her playlist of Santana's favorites to try and soften her up and smiled when it appeared to be working as she caught her singing along while hanging dresses up in her closet. She gave her a few minutes before trying again.
"Soooo...you wanna talk?"
"No, not really." Santana sighed. "But you're not going to let it go if I don't so I don't really have much choice do I?" Brittany smiled.
"Well...are you ready to talk?"
"I guess. It's not that big of a deal I just can't help thinking that this might be a pretty big mistake. I wasn't in here for an hour an I already wanted to kill the dwarf."
"Okay, Santana, really I you have to try a little harder on the names." Santana narrowed her eyes.
"If nothing else, let me have that." Brittany just sighed, shaking her head. "You know what, I tried. I really tried to do what you asked and keep my mouth shut but that list was too much for anyone to be expected to take."
"Her heart is in the right place San, she's just trying to make life easier."
"Did you hear that list?"
"I know, I know...it was a lot to take. And I don't blame you for not being able to totally keep your promise because it was challenging. But Rachel is just used to being in charge of everything. She thinks she's making things better."
"Yeah, well she's not." Santana replied as she sat opposite her on the bed, cracking open a bottle of water. "You and I are not going to spend our first years of freedom from parents and high school living like prisoners."
"I agree, I really do, but maybe a list of rules isn't such a bad idea? I mean, clearly, you guys getting along is going to be a challenge and living together is going to be even more challenging."
"Fine, maybe I should make the list." she quirked an eyebrow.
"Maybe we should all make a list." Brittany said. "That would be the fair thing, don't you think? You know all four of us living here?"
"You think we're going to be able to sit down and lay out rules? Without killing each other?"
"Santana, we have roommates, we're going to have to learn to compromise. Maybe it kind of sucks, but honestly, we don't have a choice and I think that's the only fair way to do it." Santana groaned, falling back onto the bed with a thud. "But I need you to make me a promise."
"Not another one!"
"Santana! Come on, I know Rachel pushed your limits today, but you went a little far too, don't you think? You can't just threaten her anymore. Like you said, it's not high school." Santana sighed in frustration again and sat up.
"Fine, then what? Don't threaten her?"
"More like promise me you'll stay calm and not insult her throughout the entire time we talk."
"And what about when she tries to force some more crazy rules down our throat?"
"You can say what you think, just be...calm or let me handle it." she shrugged. "I think I have a pretty good idea of what you won't be able to tolerate. If you don't think you can handle something she says and you feel yourself getting to angry just...elbow me under the table or something and I'll help."
"My life SUCKS."
"Also, I need you to apologize."
"What?" she stood up. "Now I'm sure you have actually lost your mind." she started pacing. "Do you really think I'm going to apologize to Rachel Berry because she tried to torture me?"
"I'm not saying she doesn't owe you one too, but San," she said reaching her hand forward to grab Santana's and stop her from pacing, pulling her in front of her and squeezing her hand re-assuringly. "Baby, come on, you know we need to make this work – at least for a little while. You and Rachel were getting along so much better towards the end of the summer."
"When we weren't locked in a confined space with each other 24/7 and I was trying to convince my parents to pay for me to live in an apartment with my girlfriend." she said flatly.
"Well maybe the circumstances are different, but the reasons are still the same." she shrugged and pulled Santana into a hug on her lap. "We still need to do this and look," she said pulling back a minute and motioning around with her head, "this place is pretty awesome. We have our own room with a lock and our own bathroom. It's not so bad." she said kissing Santana softly before pulling back to smile at her. Santana let out a resigned sigh.
"I guess. Fine, I'll apologize, but she better do it too!"
"Hey, maybe you and Rachel will even end up friends." Brittany shrugged and Santana looked at her like she had six heads before throwing her head back in laughter.
"That's hands down the funniest thing I've ever heard you say." she said cracking up once more before letting out a deep breath in relief and kissing Brittany once more before standing up. "Thanks Britt, I needed the laugh." she said and Brittany just shook her head in resignation.
"Come on San, I'm exhausted, let's finish these boxes for the closets and head to bed. We can do the rest tomorrow."
"Works for me." she said throwing her back a smile as she returned to unpacking.
The next morning Brittany slipped out of bed, placing a soft kiss on Santana's hair before making her way out to the kitchen where Finn and Rachel were already up and heatedly discussing breakfast.
"I will not cook that."
"Rachel, we agreed breakfast was a good way to start the day and smooth things over."
"You didn't mention that you meant eggs and bacon and all of those other offensive things. Where did you even get this? We did not buy them at the store yesterday."
"That store on the corner while you were out running."
"I already made it clear how I felt about you cooking anything like this in the house, but if you must, I certainly will not be the person cooking it."
"Well I can't cook!"
"Me neither." Brittany finally spoke with a shrug, startling them both as they turned only to have their eyes widen once more at the sight of Brittany in her tank top and underwear.
"Um, Brittany..." Rachel started uncomfortably. "Where are your pajamas?" Finn nervously studied the floor in an attempt to make sure he didn't get himself into any trouble
"I slept in this."
"But..."
"Brittany!" Santana yelled as she ran down the hall, grabbing her by her hand towards their bedroom. "Pajama pants – now!"
"But San-"
"No but San anything, we do not live alone, no free shows!" she scowled as Brittany grabbed a pair of sweats and headed back down the hall with her.
"I don't get the big deal." she muttered.
"Don't fight me on this one. Full clothing only in the common rooms." Brittany furrowed her brow.
"None of these rooms are like any of the others." Santana closed her eyes to regain her patience.
"Full clothing in any of the rooms that we share."
"Whatever."
"Thank you Santana, I guess there's something we can agree on after all." Rachel attempted cautiously.
"Who'd have thought?" Santana ask. "What's all the discussion out here anyway?" she yawned lazily, laying her head on Brittany's shoulder.
"Well, we were actually discussing breakfast..."
"I'm starving." Santana said sleepily. "And I need coffee."
"Why don't we just go get breakfast out today?" Brittany asked, not wanting to touch the cooking conversation now that Santana was up. "I mean we can all talk about the...house rules and no one has to worry about cooking today."
"That's a good idea." Finn said eagerly. There would be no benefit to deciding who would cook breakfast at this point.
"Well, I've been looking all of these places up and most of them do brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, so we can do that if that's okay with you Santana?"
"If it gets me food and coffee I'm in."
"Wonderful." Rachel clapped. "I'll figure out a place to go while you guys get dressed."
Fifteen minutes later they were seated in a small cafe a few blocks away and looking over their menus as the waitress got their drinks. Brittany nudged Santana, who looked back questioningly. She nodded in Rachel's direction, with pleading eyes and Santana threw her head back in defeat before clearing her throat.
"Listen Berry." she said as humbly as possible. Rachel lowered her menu carefully to meet her eyes, "I'm really sorry about the threat thing last night. I just...it was really late and although your list was absolutely ridiculous, I admit I overreacted."
"Well, thank you Santana for apologizing, that was very big of you." Finn kicked her lightly under the table and she smiled. "Please accept my apology as well. I realize my list was extremely imposing and it was silly to assume that you and Brittany would want the exact same things as me."
Santana nodded and put on her best fake smile, eagerly taking the cup of coffee the waitress set in front of her. They placed their orders and handed over their menus before some awkward silence overtook them.
"I like it here." Brittany said looking around. "It's cute."
"The food is supposed to be excellent and they have plenty of vegan choices as well." Santana rolled her eyes and Brittany nudged her.
"Anyway, maybe we can re-visit that list again? I mean, rules probably make sense, I just think that we need to decide on them of a group."
"Absolutely," Rachel grabbed a notepad out of her purse. "I was actually hoping you'd say that, so I came prepared."
"Shocking." Santana muttered with a fake smile plastered on her face. "I guess the quiet time rule makes sense during the week to a degree, but not on the weekends. I'm not saying we're going to cause complete chaos and be up until 5 in the morning every weekend, but I want to hang out in the living room till 3, I'm going to." Rachel thought on this and Finn gave her an encouraging nod.
"Well, I guess it's not that unreasonable." She responded, sounding thoroughly unconvinced.
"Look Berry, I'm not going to be throwing raves in the apartment every weekend, but I can't promise that there's never going to be a Saturday during my college years that I want to party a little bit past 1 in the morning." she sighed. "I can't truly promise you that they'll never be a Thursday night I won't want to either but the thing is, I'm agreeing to the weekday rule and I promise to do my best to stick to it, but Friday and Saturdays are open game."
"I think it's reasonable." Finn spoke. "I'm sure we'll all bend that rule sometimes."
"I agree."
"Fine." Rachel said curtly, jotting down the rule.
"I'm not agreeing to any alcohol rules."
"Santana, this is supposed to be a group effort."
"It is, but I'm just going over your initial list and I'm not agreeing to any rules about alcohol. If I can get my underaged hands on a beer and want to drink it, I will."
"I found a great place for IDs." Finn said with a smile and pulled his wallet out tossing a small card across to Santana.
"Finn! Where did you get that? When did you get that?" Rachel looked at him with wide eyes.
"When I went looking for jobs the other day I was talking to a kid at the gym, he told me where to go. Fifty bucks." He shrugged. "I can take you."
"I don't need a fake ID."
"Of course you need a fake ID. This is college." Santana said, as she examined Finn's . "Not bad Lurch." she tossed it over to Finn as Rachel picked it up an examined it. "Britts and I will go down there with you today. You should come too Berry."
Rachel continued to search the ID for imperfections, handing it back to Finn and shaking her head as the food arrived.
"Anyway, what about the music piece?"
"Simple, everyone listens to what they want to in moderation in the living room and kitchen and whatever they want around the rest of the house." Rachel looked skeptical.
"How about the TV in the living room?"
"We should probably come up with a schedule for the big TV for major things, but Rach normally I think we can just kind of go with the flow." he said. Santana and Brittany nodded.
"Well for once I agree."
"I think we need some rules Rachel, but for the most part, I think we kind of have to see what happens." Brittany added.
"Do you have rules you think should be added?"
"Well yeah, I mean obviously we don't have an extra room so if we want anyone to visit and stay, everyone needs to agree."
"I absolutely agree." Rachel said, writing quickly. "So I think with that we can agree that if you ever want Quinn to visit she will be staying in a hotel." Santana opened her mouth to respond but Brittany elbowed her and shook her head, knowing it wasn't the time for that discussion. "What about visitors?"
Brittany shrugged. "I think we have to see how that goes."
"Yeah, it depends on the circumstances." Finn said.
From there they were able to agree on a few more basic rules without stirring up too much trouble amongst themselves. They stuck to the basics, agreeing to alternate grocery shopping for the household, splitting up cleaning duties and promising to always knock and wait for permission before entering each other's rooms.
"Now that we have that settled, I just wanted to talk about the other items that I had read about that are supposed to really help us all maintain healthy relationships with each other." Santana swallowed and internally counted to ten to prevent herself from commenting. "Two couples living together can certainly be challenging as you can imagine and most articles I've read suggest household dinners at least once a week. I was thinking we could all take turns cooking."
"I can't cook." Brittany said, shaking her head. "You don't want me to try and cook."
"Me neither." said Finn.
"Well, I mean I'm sure we can help, maybe Santana and I can alternate and sometimes we can just order in." she suggested. Santana looked quickly to Brittany who glared at her with a slight nod and she scowled.
"Fine, that sounds like it could work out, I guess." she shrugged. "I mean we all have to eat."
"Fantastic!" Rachel smiled broadly. "The other thing that's highly recommended is a weekly date night."
"A what?"
"Date night. You now, as two couples we'd both find something to do together once a week. I already have a million of exciting ideas already so don't worry."
"You want Britt and me to go out with you and the cabbage patch kid over here once a week? To do all kinds of 'exciting' things so that we can have double dates? You're kidding right?"
"Absolutely not, it's a great way for us to explore the city, spend time together as a group, and experience new things with our significant others."
"I think it sounds fun." Brittany shrugged, playing with what was left on her plate.
"Excuse me?" Santana said.
"I think it sounds like fun. I like dates."
"Yes me too Brittany, when it's you and I going on them."
"Whatever, it wouldn't kill us to hang out together every once in a while and a double dates sound like a good time."
"I'm fine with it." Finn said.
"As if you have an opinion of your own about anything." Santana said, stifling a laugh. "Your basically Berry's sock puppet."
"Santana!" Brittany warned and Santana looked over to her. "Come on Santana, please?"
"Fine!" she said angrily. "Fine...but I'm not letting you pick all the dates." she said pointing to Rachel. "If we're doing this then each person gets to pick."
"But-"
"No Rachel, I think that's more than fair." Finn said and she let out a huff of annoyance.
"Okay, then we'll each have a turn. But I'm starting. It was my idea."
"Exactly why you should go last, for subjecting us to misery." she rolled her eyes and signaled for the check. "Whatever, you go first, Brittany goes second, then Finn. I'll go last. This way it's even."
"Great. What night should date night be? Saturdays?"
"Oh no! You are not taking over my weekends." Santana shook her head. "Tuesday or Wednesday. Not like we can't move it. Why do you have to plan everything?" she asked with frustration.
"It's just easier." Rachel stated. "There's also one last thing I read about how we should all find different things to do with each other separately as well. You know, we should all spend some one on one time together." Santana's took a deep breath.
"Don't push your luck with me Berry. I've agreed to your group dinners and your ridiculous date nights. Under no circumstances am I having solo play dates with you and Hudson."
"But Santana-"
"Rachel." Brittany said, shaking her head. "I think we made really good progress today." she said encouragingly and Rachel rolls her eyes.
"Fine."
"Do you really want to hang out with only me Rachel? Seriously? Do you honestly think that's a good idea?" she asked as Rachel's thoughts flashed to the amount of times Santana had to be restrained from attacking her throughout the years.
"Yeah, on second thought, maybe we should hold off on that." she said nodding nervously.
"Exactly." she said, throwing money down for herself and Brittany. "Now come on, let's go get changed and Finn can take us to get IDs." Rachel opened her mouth to protest. "No! You're getting an ID, if I'm going to go on your absurd date nights, there will be alcohol involved."
Rachel sighed in defeat, putting her own money down, before joining them on their quest for fake IDs.