A/N: I'm back with more so soon! I can't even believe it! :-) This chapter was just flying out of me so I went with it and it's kinda long and pretty damn fluffy but I figure it's necessary to get a bunch of fluff in with the summer separation coming up. Still on track for about 3 more chapters before the sequel I believe but I think they'll all be fairly long because there's a lot of ground to cover.
One thing I wanted to mention - a bunch of people were worried about cheating and I don't want to lay out the next chapter (which will deal with the summer apart) but seriously - please don't. This isn't that kind of story I promise. I said it on my tumblr but I'll just repeat it here for anyone who doesn't follow me there - I don't believe these characters would ever do that too each other because of the deep love and respect they have for one another. I want to focus on them getting through the things life throws at them together, not start up third party drama. Promise.
Thanks again for everything and please continue to review/alert/favorite. It definitely helps. I really want to write the next one so hopefully it'll be ready relatively soon. Really hope you all enjoy!
"Baby!" Santana called loudly, boxes towering in her arms. "Britt!" she said as the box on the top came dangerously close to sliding off.
"Whoa!" Brittany said, running over and grabbing it before it slipped. "Got the rest?" Santana nodded. "Where are they going?"
"Our bedroom." she answered, nodding her head and Brittany quickly led them down the hall and into their room. She let out a heavy breath in relief as she plopped them on the ground next to one of the closets.
"I thought you were just going to feed the cats and grab sandwiches?" Brittany asked. Santana shrugged.
"I figured this room is painted, we might as well start bringing stuff over when we can. It's going to be tiring on Wednesday."
"Paying for the extra week was totally worth it."
"Definitely." Santana cracked a little smile. "I would never want to move into this place without you."
"I feel bad you're doing so much without me already – yesterday and the next few days till we move." She said with a frown. "But the bedroom looks great."
"It's okay Britt, you had work last night and you have lots going on with work and rehersals." she reassured her. "Plus Finn and Rachel are actually coming to help while you're at work tomorrow...though I'm not sure how useful she'll be, she can barely reach halfway up the walls." Brittany laughed.
"That's cool, I'm sure you guys will get a lot done."
"We should definitely be done painting by Tuesday."
"Oh! That reminds me. I traded Friday for Monday."
"Babe, that's not even worth it, why are you even working Monday?" she shrugged. "Clearly Friday is your last night here so you can't work, but I mean, for the little you'll make Monday it's not even worth it." she pouted and Brittany sighed.
"I just feel like we just moved in and we should be making as much as possible. Which reminds me, I talked to Steve more last night and there are a couple people out for the summer because they're going home, so not only is he relieved you'll pick up my bar shifts, but he said you could definitely have one or two more if you want. He said you can work it out with him Thursday."
"Awesome." Santana said, leaning back against the wall. "I wouldn't mind seeing if I can grab a couple shifts on the floor when school comes back too...I'm want to find something. It's great my dad is paying for a little more than half of this but still...I want making some cash now that we're on our own."
"I'm so glad you're holding my spot for the summer." she smirked. "Makes me feel better."
"Why because you keep your job secure or because you get to have spies watching me half the time?" Santana asked, smirking and raising a brow suspiciously. Brittany chuckled and scrunched her nose in thought.
"Well...both."
"Thought so." Santana said.
"And also, it keeps that money coming in and it gives you something to do." she shrugged and looked at her seriously. "I'm worried about you." Santana rolled her eyes and sighed.
"Don't, I'll be fine...well, I mean I'll be miserable with you gone but I'll survive...barely." She joked and Brittany pouted.
"I can still back out."
"Don't be silly. You're doing this." Santana waved her off and pushed off the wall she'd been leaning on, walking towards the door. She placed a peck on Brittany's lips before smiling and rubbing her thumb against a smear of pain on her cheek. "You decided to paint yourself too while I was gone?" Brittany giggled, rubbing at the spot. "Come on, let's get back to work. I want to be able to enjoy Friday in here with you."
"Okay." Brittany said sweetly, grabbing her hand and following her back into the living room.
The next couple days Santana spent the majority of her time, both packing and getting the new apartment ready as much as possible. As much as Rachel's singing along to every song that came on was annoying, she had to admit they were a huge help on Sunday and she was grateful. She even bit her tongue a few times on some obvious insults out of appreciation. It was the least she could do.
Brittany rehearsed on Monday but took Santana's advice and sacrificed her shift that night to stay back and help, which actually allowed them to finish up a day early. Besides that excuse, they both had to admit that they were happy to get an extra night to spend time with each other with the date of their separation approaching. Even if they were spending their time working on the apartment, there was something fun and exciting about knowing they were setting up the place they were going to call home for at least the next two years, as their lease stated.
Santana found herself even more grateful for Monday night on Tuesday when she realized between rehearsals and work she would hardly be seeing Brittany at all. With the new place pretty much ready for moving in she tried to spend her time packing up all of the remaining items in their old place, which was becoming even trickier given that Brittany had to pack a summer's worth of clothing as well.
By the time Wednesday actually rolled around they were in pretty good shape and once Brittany came home from dancing, they spent time trying to organize her things as much as possible. Once the evening rolled around, Finn and the boys from the band appeared and never was Santana so happy that she decided to be part of that group since for a few beers each they were more than happy to help the move.
They took care of most of the heavy lifting first, moving out the bedroom furniture and the majority of the living room furniture that Santana had contributed. Soon they moved onto the boxes and smaller items and with 7 sets of hands, they actually got done much quicker than anticipated.
As Brittany loaded an unsure Sebastian and Ariel into their carriers, Santana stood in the kitchen with Rachel, taking the keys off Brittany's ring to hand them over as the boys sat at the table drinking and chattering about the new baseball season. She slid the two keys over to Rachel before picking up her own key ring to do the same again.
"Wait, no!" Rachel said, reaching a hand out to stop her. Santana looked at her in confusion. "It's just, you know, I think it would be good for you guys to have a set of keys for here, in case of emergencies." She shrugged. "You never know when one of us couldn't get home to feed Hubbell or someone gets locked out..."
"Okay." Santana nodded and smiled understandingly.
"It's good to have people you trust living so close and you never know."
"Sure, that's a really good idea. I mean, we should probably do the same." Rachel smiled.
"We'd be happy to keep a set of yours as well in case you ever need anything."
"They're totally freaked out." Brittany said with a frown as she came to stand next to Santana at the counter. "What if they hate the new apartment? I mean, this is like, the only home they've ever known. Now they're going to this new scary place and a couple days later I'm like abandoning them." Her eyes widened. "Oh my god, what if they forget me...or worse, what if they hate me?" she said turning to Santana with panic.
"Breathe Britt." Santana grinned and squeezed her arm. "Lord Tubbington still adores you when you go home and he hasn't forgotten you, right? And you've been gone for way longer than this." Brittany nodded and let out a breath in relief.
"True." she bit her lip. "I still think we need to have a serious conversation with them tonight." Santana nodded.
"Whatever you want." she smiled and Brittany grinned back happily. Rachel just shook her head and sighed.
"Oh!" Brittany said, eyes widening once more. "I almost forgot...something." she said, before running off. Santana narrowed her eyes in confusion before shaking her head.
"What was that all about?"
"Who knows." Santana shrugged. "Brittany is always stashing stuff, it could be anything. Sometimes, it's better just not to ask." Rachel chuckled.
"So, a serious conversation with the kitties...I will miss experiencing just how you whipped you are on a daily basis. Santana scowled.
"Relax Froto, I'm sure you'll still see us more than I'd like."
"Hopefully." Rachel said, getting a little choked up. "I really am going to miss having you guys here. I know you and I are not the best of friends or anything and we've all had our ups and downs, but I couldn't have picked anyone else that I'd rather have spent the past 19 months living with than you and Brittany. You've been wonderful roommates."
"Aww, Berry, look at you getting all sentimental and overly emotional. How...not shocking." Santana joked and sighed, looking around before meeting Rachel's eyes once more and smiling. "I will miss this place a little bit, I have to admit. It did turn out better than expected. When we first moved in I thought I was going to murder you before the first week was up." She said with a smile as Rachel looked disturbed.
"I'm going to miss this place a lot." Brittany said, coming back and placing her hands on the counter. "This place is special for all of us. I'm glad you guys are keeping it for a while. I'm going to be really sad when you move."
"We'll have to throw a big party." Rachel said, with a grin.
"I'm going to miss you guys a lot too." Brittany pouted. "Both of you," she said slapping the back of Finn's head playfully and causing him to hop up and join them. "I really loved living here with you guys."
"You guys going to hang out and have a beer?" Finn asked with a smile. "You did buy them." Santana shook her head.
"No," she said glancing at Brittany to confirm their plan, "we're both pretty tired and we still have to get ourselves and the children situated over there." she said, nodding towards the cats playfully.
"I love it when you call them our babies." Brittany said, kissing her cheek proudly.
"Well, they kinda are." she said before turning back to Finn and Rachel. "We'll see you guys tomorrow night though?" she asked.
"Of course." Finn nodded. "We wouldn't miss it."
"Yeay, my going away party where I'm the only one who can't drink since I'll be working." Brittany said with mock enthusiasm.
"Aw, Britt, if it makes you feel better, I can't either. I have to work at midnight." he said, giving her a one armed squeeze.
"At least I'm not alone." she said with a chuckle and sighed. "We better get going. The kitties are restless." She said as the cats continued crying and scratching through their carriers. Rachel smiled sadly.
"I know we'll be seeing you tomorrow but seriously, please don't be strangers."
"Never." Brittany said and hugged her tightly before doing the same with Finn. Santana rolled her eyes and gave them each a brief hug before they thanked the others and headed out towards their place carrying the cats and the last few things they left behind.
They were almost to the corner when Santana heard a sniffle and looked over to see her teary eyed girlfriend walking alongside her.
"Oh no, Brittany." she said, stopping and giving her a sympathetic smile. "Don't be sad baby. We're going to see them and the apartment and Hubbell all the time."
"I know, I know...it's just...not the same." she shrugged and laughed. "I'm just being silly and sentimental."
"It's okay." Santana said, leaning over to place a sweet peck on her lips as her hands were full. "I get it. But just think of how totally exciting this is going to be too." Brittany broke into a wide grin.
"Trust me, nothing is more exciting than moving into the new place with you. And I can't even wait to spend the night there today." Brittany said almost bouncing before letting her sad smile return once more. "Just give me the walk home to miss the old place." Santana nodded and smiled.
"Deal." she said, nodding her head in the direction of the new place. "Come on, my arms are killing me."
"It's so...empty...and quiet." Finn said, frowning as he stood behind Rachel looking at their almost bare living room once they had walked the guys out.
"I know." Rachel sighed. "I don't know what to do with out the sounds of trashy reality shows coming out of the TV. It's kind of depressing. "
"I'm really glad we got them to deliver new furniture on Friday." he agreed. "I should have gotten the guys to move our desk into the extra room."
"Ugh." Rachel groaned. "I don't even want to think about move moving right now."
"I know. At least we dont' have to un-pack like they do." he mused.
"Very true." she said, turning to him with a smile. "So have we come to a final decision on the extra room?"
"Well, I still really think it would be most useful as a man-cave." he said determinedly and she scowled.
"I thought we'd discussed this and agreed that clearly the best use of that room is a space for me to work out of. A rehearsal room of sorts. I've already dug out all my old Broadway posters to line the walls." She said, eying the apartment hungrily. "I actually can't wait to decorate this place over now that we have no one to protest or set limitations on how much Barbara can be visible." Finn looked at her with uncertainty.
"Well, I'd like a say in how the house is decorated too." he whined. "And I don't want all Broadway in Barbara either. I was thinking we could get one of those pictures of the Browns stadium to put over the TV." he said proudly and Rachel turned to him in disgust.
"Absolutely not. Why would we hang something like that in this house? It doesn't fit the theme!"
"Our apartment doesn't have a theme." Rachel huffed.
"No, not yet. But it soon will."
"This is exactly why I want to take over that room. I need a place where I can be me and hang whatever I want on the walls. This way if I want to go in there and play Call of Duty for hours on end, no one will complain."
"Video games and posters of sporting events are hardly good enough reasons to justify taking over an entire room of our apartment. Besides, that's going to be a guest room as well. It needs to be a comfortable environment for everyone who stays in it and your desired decoration certainly doesn't do that!"
"Neither does a bunch of posters of Wicked and Rent!"
"Those are pieces of cultural importance!"
"Yeah, well so are the Browns!" They stood facing off until Rachel finally cracked and burst out laughing.
"This is ridiculous. Brittany and Santana haven't been gone for an hour and we're already fighting over what to do with their room." she said and Finn softened, beginning to chuckle himself.
"I guess your right." he said guiltily and laughed. "It is pretty ridiculous." She sighed and leaned forward to wrap her arms around him.
"Let's figure it out later, ok?" she said. "I'm sure we can come to some kind of...compromise." He nodded.
"Sounds like a plan."
"But I still want the room." she said, pulling back and quirking a brow.
"We'll see." he said, narrowing his eyes. "I'm not going down without a fight."
"I'm always up for a challenge. You should be well aware."
"Oh I am...all too aware." he said with a sigh, pulling her close once more."
"It kind of stinks that there's nowhere to sit." she said with a frown. And no TV."
"Yeah...that really stinks." he said, looking around in thought. "I guess it's watching movies in bed tonight huh?" he asked, looking down at her.
"It appears that's the case." she agreed, smiling up at him.
"Well, I guess there are worse things." he said, leaning down to kiss her sweetly. "Come on, let's go relax."
"Okay." she smiled, kissing him once more before pulling him behind her as they made their way into the bedroom.
"This is exhausting and confusing. Can we try not to move as much as possible?" Brittany asked with a pout as she surveyed the boxes and bags all over the living room.
"Yes." Santana agreed as she moved around in the kitchen muttering. "It's impossible to find anything."
"What are you doing in there?" Brittany asked.
"Nothing, I'll be right there, just sit down a minute." Santana said and Brittany bit her lip with curiosity as she watched her girlfriend searching through boxes in the kitchen through the cutout in the wall that joined the living room and kitchen.
"Ok..." she grumbled and made her way to the couch where she sat laughing as she watched Sebastian and Ariel stalk around the boxes hunting each other. They had protested for the first couple of hours, but had since moved on to exploring.
"Okay, we don't have champagne glasses – yet -" Santana said pointedly, "so these will have to do." She handed Brittany a wine glass and smiled, sliding out a small bottle of champagne from under her shoulder. Brittany broke into a broad smile.
"You got us champagne?" Santana nodded.
"Nothing crazy, just a regular bottle. Originally I thought we'd do this when we were all set up, but since our schedule has been accelerated..." she paused, carefully turning the cork to lift it off, "I figured what makes more sense than tonight?"
"None." Brittany agreed happily. Santana poured each of them a glass and sat down, raising her glass to Brittany's.
"To our first night in our new home...and the real start of our life together." she said and Brittany clinked glasses with her, taking a sip as her eyes remained focused fondly on Santana.
"What?" Santana asked from over her glass as she took another sip and allowed herself to settle into the couch, facing Brittany. Brittany just shook her head.
"I'm just really happy right now." she said with a smile that soon faded. "But I'm really going to miss you...and being here with you." she said looking around their new place. Santana nodded, smiling sadly.
"I know baby. But let's try not to go there tonight okay? They'll be plenty of time for that from tomorrow night on...but today's been exhausting enough." Brittany nodded.
"You speak the truth." she said seriously with a sigh, leaning her head against the back of the couch and looking over to Santana. "What else needs to get done tonight?" Santana shook her head.
"Nothing." she said, we got the bed set up and our bathroom stuff...I think we're good for tonight."
"I don't want to leave you with a mess."
"There's time tomorrow in the day, but don't worry about it. We're in here now, that's all that matters." Brittany looked unconvinced but decided to let it go, as her eyes flicked to the clock.
"Shit." she said. "It's already 12:30." She closed her eyes. "I have to be at the studio by 9 again."
"We can go to bed."
"Soon, just a few more minutes." she said, her eyes flickering open to look at her girlfriend. "I just want to sit and enjoy like 10 minutes of peace with you." she said.
Santana scooted over closer and took the glass from her hand, placing it on the table. Brittany looked up at her smiled curiously, not moving her head from where it still rested on the couch. She watched as Santana's eyes traveled over her face, studying everything about her expression and bringing a hand up to stroke her cheek softly.
They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, exchanging unspoken words with their eyes. Finally, after tucking a few strands of hair that had come down from Brittany's bun away from her face, she leaned in and placed a soft, loving kiss onto her girlfriend's lips.
Brittany reached up, pulling Santana's hair down from the ponytail it was tied up in so that she could run her fingers through it, causing Santana to sigh contentedly into her mouth. She felt the tip of a tongue at her lips and immediately granted it entrance as they sat slowly making out for the next several minutes before Santana pressed a firm kiss to her lips and pulled back with a smile, leaving Brittany dazed.
"What was that?" Santana shrugged.
"Just because."
"Just because?"
"Yeah, just because we're here and we don't have to worry about anyone else and because I'm really happy and I just felt like it." Brittany smiled and picked up her head to capture her lips once more.
"Works for me." she mumbled against them, sliding her arms around Santana's waist and pulling her closer.
"Mmm, as much as I hate to say this, it's almost 1 and you need to sleep." she said, trailing kisses across Brittany's jaw as she groaned in protest.
"Why am I doing this again?" she asked with a pout.
"Because you're the most amazing dancer and it's an amazing opportunity." she said kissing her once more on the forehead before leaning back and standing up, and pulling Brittany with her. "Come on let's go sleep in our new apartment."
"Okay." Brittany yawned, following and calling the cats to follow as they made their way into bed for the night.
"So, what do you want to do tomorrow night?" Santana asked, squeezing her hand as they walked to the bar. "We can do whatever you want. Go out to a nice dinner, go see a movie or even a play. I dont' care."
"I don't want to spend a block of my last night sitting in a theater where I have to pay attention to something that's not you." Brittany said shaking her head and Santana nodded.
"Good point." She thought. "Well I mean, whatever you want to do-"
"Why don't we just have a nice night in the new apartment?" Brittany asked
"It's still such chaos in there." Santana said, looking uncertain as they stopped and and turned to face each other.
"I don't care San. Honestly, I really don't. I mean, it's sweet you want to plan a whole romantic night, but honestly, I just want to be with you and be in our new place. We were supposed to have the whole summer and now we just have a couple days and I'm working all night tonight...I just want to lock myself in the apartment with you and not come back out till I leave Saturday. Is that okay?" she asked carefully. Santana grinned broadly.
"That is more than okay. In fact when you put it that way, I think that's perfect." She nodded and leaned forward to give her a sweet kiss. "I just want to be with you too. I was just trying to make it special."
"It will be special no matter what we do. It would be impossible for it not to be special with you." Brittany promised, pecking her lips once more. "Come on, I"m gonna be late." she said groaning. "It sucks I have to work. You don't have to stay the whole night if you don't want."
"Yes I do." Santana said, rubbing her thumb across her hand as they walked. "I pretty much need to spend every waking and sleeping moment with you till you leave to stock up on as much Brittany as I can." Brittany laughed, as they walked into the bar.
"You're such a sap."
"Your friends are coming, right?"
"Yeah, like I said yesterday - my own little party where I can't actually drink." Santana laughed.
"I'm not drinking too much either." she said, lifting Brittany's hand and placing a small kiss on it as she made her way around the bar.
"What? Why? You can drink as much as you want." she said waving to Trevor and getting herself organized.
"You're really missing the point of how much I value the little time we have left aren't you?" she asked and Brittany smiled shyly.
"You're too sweet...but I'm kinda glad." she admitted.
"I know." Santana said knowingly and Brittany rolled her eyes playfully as she started to take care of customers and switch out with the previous bartender.
A couple hours later Finn and Rachel and most of Brittany's friends from school as well as most of the band were hanging out at the bar.
"So that's why I'm still debating the proper season for the wedding." Rachel said seriously. "I mean, I'm just not sure what fits us best, although I'm thinking early fall of next year might just be it." Santana rolled her eyes.
"This is a nightmare. It's like now you have an excuse where you're allowed to babble on for hours about yourself and no one can say anything." Santana said, sipping lightly on the beer she'd been nursing. "I, for one, think you should just get married tomorrow, so we can stop discussing it."
"You're just jealous." Rachel huffed and Brittany laughed as she wiped up the bar.
"I think the fall could be really pretty." Jeff's girlfriend added, breaking up the small tension.
"Don't you?" Rachel asked excitedly and Santana turned back to face Brittany who was resting her chin on her hand and staring at her with a smile. She narrowed her eyes.
"See what you're leaving me with?" Brittany nodded, with an adoring smile.
"I'm totally going to make sure they keep an eye on you too." she smirked.
"You're already leaving, there's no need to be evil."
"I don't want you alone all the time."
"I have friends now." Santana reminded her.
"Yeah, but you don't hang out with them that much."
"Whatever."
Brittany laughed as she stood up to help a customer at the other end of the bar. Santana continued to watch her, drowning out the conversation that was still taking place around her about Rachel's wedding plans. She sighed, trying to push away her sadness one more as she shook her head, but was still unable to do anything but watch the girl she loved, even as she completed the most simple of tasks.
"You okay?" Brittany asked, pulling the caps off of beers as she studied her girlfriend with concern.
"Yeah, I'm fine." she lied, but Brittany saw through it.
"You're a terrible liar." Brittany said, her previous question still lingering but Santana shook her head.
"Don't worry about me now, it's no biggie." she said, plastering her best smile to her face.
"Okay." Brittany said, clearly unsatisfied as she grabbed the beers and walked over to hand them to the customers.
By 1:30 all but Rachel and a few of Brittany's friends were gone. The crowd had dissipated over the past hour or so. It was a really rainy Thursday and it kept people away so it was relatively quiet.
"Okay Pierce," Trevor said, grabbing the towel from Brittany's hands. "Go hang out with your friends and your girlfriend and have a drink on me." he said, nodding to the other side of the bar.
"What? No, I have late." He rolled his eyes.
"And I won't tell. You've done it plenty of times for me before. And I can't stand watching Santana anymore, she looks like someone kicked her puppy." he smiled. "There's no one in this place anymore. Cash out." he said reassuringly. She nodded.
"Okay. Thanks Trevor."
"No problem. Just tell Santana she owes me one one night when we're working." he winked as she grabbed herself a beer and cashed out, making her way to the other side of the bar and kissing her girlfriend on the cheek.
"What's up? Break?" Santana asked, eying the beer in Brittany's hand as she instantly slipped and arm around her waist.
"Nope. Done." she said with a smile and her friends let out a small cheer. "It's dead and Trevor feels bad, but he said you owe him one." she said and Santana laughed, looking back and nodding in confirmation to the other bartender who smiled in recognition.
"Awesome." Santana said, tightening her grip on Brittany as conversation resumed.
Brittany smiled and leaned down to give her a kiss. "I love you." she whispered into her lips.
"I love you too." she returned seriously, knowing that Brittany was also feeling that dull ache that told her time was ticking to the date they'd both been dreading. They conveyed unspoken emotions with their eyes before Brittany smiled and squeezed her tightly once more and turned back to conversation.
They spent the next hour and half chatting with their much more drunk friends. Santana was just glad to watch Brittany have fun, playing with the juke box and dancing until everyone started breaking up around 3. They put Rachel into a cab with Todd so she wouldn't have to walk the couple blocks alone and made their way back to their own place so that they could enjoy each other's company for the remainder of their time together.
After spending a relaxing and lazy day in bed with Santana, ordering in breakfast and watching TV, Santana decided to go grab some things from the store and make dinner. Brittany could tell she needed some time and offered to go for a walk and eventually wound up at her old apartment knocking on the door persistently as she awaited an answer.
"Brittany!" Rachel said, shocked as she opened the door, closing her robe tightly. Brittany frowned.
"Why are you so red?" She asked, glancing over her attire and looking behind her to see a shirtless Finn approaching.
"Who is it babe?"
"Oh...ew...maybe I should go." Brittany said.
"Wait! No! What did you need? Is everything okay? I thought you were spending the entire day with Santana today since we said goodbye last night and everything." Brittany nodded.
"I was, I just..." she bit her lip as she tried to think of the appropriate words to express what she wanted to say. "Santana wanted to go get a few things because she's making me dinner and she seemed to want to do something romantic so I offered to take a walk, but I really need to talk to you guys. I hope that's okay?" she asked carefully.
"Of course it is." Finn said.
"Yeah, whatever you need." Rachel said, opening the door and letting her step in past them as Finn walked over to the couch and threw on his shirt.
"Someone else found the benefits of having the place to themselves huh?" Brittany asked knowingly and Rachel turned a deep shade of red.
"I'm going to go get dressed. I'll be right back." Brittany nodded, sitting on the couch.
"This couch isn't as comfortable as ours."
"Thanks for reminding me." Finn said with a sigh. "So what's up Britt?" She frowned sadly, fiddling with her fingers for a moment as Rachel came back out, sitting down next to Finn and watching as they waited for her to answer.
"I just...I know I'm doing this and everything. It's great and it's really exciting. But I'm really scared and sad too." she said sadly.
"About Santana." Rachel said and Brittany nodded. "Well that's understandable Brittany, you've never had to deal with this before."
"It's just so long and she's been so sad even though I know she's doing her best to hide it, but it's so obvious to me."
"Are you saying that you're re-thinking your decision Britt?" Finn asked, concerned.
"No, it's something I have to do and believe me she'd never let me do it." she said, looking back down at her hands. "But I'm going to really worry about her and I know you guys just got engaged and you're really wrapped up in that and Finn's working a lot and Rachel, you've got your theater group and it's summer but..." she looked back up at them. "Do you think you guys could kind of take care of her?"
"Of course." Rachel said, emphatically.
"She's so difficult, especially with people who aren't me and she's not going to make it easy. I mean, she's like one of those little baby birds that keeps trying to jump out of the nest way too early when they're totally not ready to. She's so stubborn and she thinks she can do everything by herself, but she can't."
"I know." Rachel said, smiling kindly and squeezing Finn's hand. "And it's natural of you to be this concerned. I'd feel the same way. But I promise, even though she protests, we won't stop checking up on her." Brittany smiled with relief.
"Thank you. Because seriously, she has her friends and my friends, but she's not really close to anyone and I hate thinking about her being lonely in that apartment all summer. It's supposed to be beautiful and shiny and new and now she's just going to think about sadness and loneliness in it." she said sadly.
"Britt...you guys have plenty of good times to come in that place I'm sure. It was unfortunate timing, but it's going to be okay." Finn said.
"I hate this." she said, running her hands through her hair in frustration. "I'm sad, she's sad, I'm worried about her...and I feel kind of insecure too..."
"Brittany, if there's anything you shouldn't feel it's insecurity."
"I'm just worried she's going to be so lonely and she'll just need someone..."
"Sweetie, you have to know Santana absolutely crazy about you. That girl doesn't like anyone, but she adores you. I mean, just last night, she couldn't even focus on anyone else because she couldn't take her eyes off you. I've seen the way she is with you. Trust me on this one if nothing else – you shouldn't be anything but confident in her feelings about you." Brittany smiled appreciatively.
"I know...I know I shouldn't. And I know...she's amazing to me. And she always has been. I just...you know..."
"It's natural." Finn said, reassuringly. "But try and put that out of your head as much as you can. And no matter what, we promise to look out for her. Even if she hates us for it." he smiled.
"Thanks guys." she smiled sadly. "I'm disappointed I'll miss your engagement party."
"Us too." Rachel said, pouting. "But it's okay, you're doing something so cool and I'm really proud of you."
"Thanks!" Brittany said, smiling broadly before glancing over at the time. "Crap, I better get back. I was walking around for a while before I got here and I got lost." she rolled her eyes. "Santana will be really upset if I'm late." She said, starting to stand.
"Actually, just one thing before you go." Rachel said and Brittany fell back down into the couch.
"Sure."
"Well, seeing as you are missing the engagement party, we thought we'd ask you before you left..." she siad, glancing at Finn who smiled and pecked her cheek. "I feel as if we've grown closer between the last year of high school and the time we lived together here..."
"Of course we have." Brittany said as if it was obvious, biting her lip in confusion.
"Well, we were wondering if you'd be in our bridal party?" she asked and Brittany's face let up instantly as she hopped up and hugged them.
"I'd love it!"
"And actually...to be honest, I'd like you to be my maid of honor." she said smiling. "You've been a really great friend to both of us. And it feels like a position you deserve."
"Oh my god, guys, I'm totally honored." she said, hugging them once more before standing back up and frowning. "Now I feel even worse about not being here for the party."
"Don't worry about it." Finn said.
"Santana can be like my stand in."
"Exactly." Rachel smiled.
"Who else is going to be bridesmaids? I promise I won't tell them...if I even know them."
"I'm going to ask Mercedes and my friend Keri from theater." Brittany nodded. "I did debate asking Santana but I just...we've decided to only go with three and sometimes I just..."
"It's cool. You're not there yet." Brittany smiled and Rachel nodded relieved.
"We're going to involve her somehow. If she'd like."
"I'm sure she would. Even if she tells you the opposite." Brittany laughed and jumped as her phone went off in her pocket.
Santana 3 (6:03 PM): Where are you? Come home...dinner's ready...
To Santana 3 (6:03 PM): Be right there, two blocks away.
"Sorry, I really gotta go." she said, flashing her eyes back up to them. She wrapped them each in one quick hug and they said goodbye once more, promising she'd call them while she was away and check in.
"Hey baby, sorry I'm a little late!" Brittany said, throwing her jean jacket in the closet.
"It's okay." Santana said from the kitchen. Brittany looked around and took in the soft candlelight and music and smiled.
"Babe, it looks so pretty in here." she said, walking over and putting her hands on Santana's cheeks before pulling her into a tender kiss. "Thank you, this is sweet." Santana smiled and kissed her again.
"Your welcome." she said, leaning back and handing her a glass of wine. "Go sit...unfortunately this place still looks like a bomb hit it."
"It's okay." Brittany said. "We just moved in and it's been nuts."
"And unfortunately, we'll have to sit up at the counter since we don't have a table yet." she said, motioning to the stools that sat at the counter.
"Santana." Brittany laughed sternly. "It's okay, now I get to sit next to you and it's easier to touch you." she smirked and Santana laughed.
"Well aren't you Miss Positive tonight?"
"Trying." she said, sipping her wine as Santana put the food down and slid in next to her, grabbing her hand immediately. Something about the idea of not touching for 2 and a half months seemed to send them into touching overdrive for the past few days, like they were unable to get enough.
They ate dinner leisurely, just appreciating the feeling of being in each other's company in their own place. They carried on light conversation and fed each other, sipping casually on the very expensive bottle of red wine Santana had sprung for.
After dinner Brittany insisted on helping so they cleaned up what was left of the dishes together before Santana sat her down with a glass of wine and told her she'd be back for her in a few minutes. Brittany looked curious but knew Santana was up to something so she figured she'd just let it be. She sat lazily petting Ariel who had curled up next to her until Santana finally motioned with her head for her to come over.
"What's up?" Brittany asked, picking up her glass and following her girlfriend into the bathroom that was cutely decorated with more candles as her iPod doc sat on the window. Brittany turned to her and smiled knowingly and Santana just shrugged.
"I know, I know...I'm sentimental. But I thought we could take a bath and relax."
"Sounds perfect." Brittany said, reaching for Santana's shirt but she held up a hand.
"Wait, just...you get ready I'm going to go blow out all those other candles before the cats burn our new apartment down."
"Good point." Brittany laughed.
A few minutes later, Santana sat in the tub with her back up against Brittany's front, their hands entwined as they played with each other.
"You're so quiet tonight." Brittany said, squeezing her arms around Santana and placing a kiss to her temple.
"Just thinking I guess."
"You still think you can fool me but you can't." Brittany said. "You're just sad." Santana just sighed. "It's okay Santana, I'm sad too. I mean, I'm a little bit excited-"
"I'm excited for you." Santana insisted.
"I know you are Santana. But right now, I'm mostly sad and so are you. And that's okay." Santana considered this for a moment before speaking again.
"You know, I was thinking about something when I was shopping today. Like I know it sucks for anyone to have to go two months without seeing the person they're in love with. But we're kind of taking it really hard and I know why."
"You mean a reason besides the fact that we're crazy about each other?" Brittany whispered into her ear and trailed her fingers across her stomach, causing her to shudder but she swallowed determinedly.
"Yes."
"What is it?" Brittany asked gently, continuing to make the most of her position and kissing just behind her ear.
"Well, do you realize that in all the time we've known each other we've never been apart for more than like a week or so when someone went on a family vacation? Even when we weren't dating." Brittany considered this and nodded.
"Yeah...I guess you're right." she said. "That's actually kinda crazy."
"I know, but I mean, for the last 12 years of my life, I've hardly spent a day away from you...let alone 85 of them."
"Ugh, when you say that number it sounds like so many."
"Because it is." she said, turning to kiss her softly. "Especially for us." she looked up into her eyes and saw Brittany's brimming with tears.
"I feel so stupid because I'll be back and it's not forever." she said. "Some people are married to like soldiers who go to war and don't come back for years and they have to spend every day hoping that they're not dying."
"Yeah..." Santana said, pausing to think. "That's true and it's pretty awful, but everything is based on perspective. And for us, this just sucks. So it's okay to be sad, because I'm really sad too." Santana admitted. "Especially after actually living with you for the last 19 months, I can't imagine not waking up with you next to me in the morning." Brittany smiled, a tear sliding down her cheek and she pulled Santana up to kiss her.
"Me neither." Brittany said.
"But you're you're going to be busy too Britt and you'll have a lot of people and friends and you'll have fun." Santana said confidently. "I know you will."
"It won't make me miss you less." Santana smiled.
"Just don't meet some random guy or girl and fall for them and never come back, okay?" She said with a small smile, but looked down at their hands as she fiddled with Brittany's fingers.
"Santana," Brittany tugged on her hand so she would turn back to face her, "don't ever think that." she said.
"I was kidding."Santana said with a dismissive shrug, still refusing to meet her eyes.
"Maybe a little bit, but you're nervous. I can tell." she said lifting her chin so their eyes met. "And I get that, okay? No one likes their girlfriend taking off for 2 ½ months and traveling all over the place without them. But please believe me when I tell you that you have nothing to worry about."
"I know." Santana said, softly, but unconvincingly as she looked away again. Brittany just shook her head and smiled, tilting her chin up once more.
"Do you have any idea how crazy about you I am?" she said plainly. "Because I'm absolutely and completely madly in love with you and I always have been. I've known you for 12 years and I still fall more and more in love with you every single day. There's not a single person besides you in this entire world that I'm interested in. No one." Santana sniffled, quickly wiping the tear she couldn't hold back. "I'm yours Santana, and I know it's going to suck, but please, don't forget that okay?"
"Okay." Santana nodded. "I just...you're going to be so many places, with so many people and-"
"It doesn't matter." she said firmly. "Only you."
"I love you so much." Santana said, gliding her hand behind Brittany's neck to gently pull her in for a kiss. "So much."
"I love you too." she said, letting her hands drift to Santana's hips so she could turn her gently and allow them to continue more comfortably. They sat trading gentle kisses until the water became cold and it was time to get out and head to bed for one last time before Brittany left for the summer.
The next morning they woke groggily after very few hours of actual sleep having spent the majority of the night making love and having conversations that ranged from TV to their own future and everything in between. All in all it was the perfect final night and as tired as they were, neither regretted it, even Brittany who actually had to get on a plane and start travelling.
Santana carted a suitcase down to the car as Brittany kissed the cats with tears in her eyes and did a final run through of the apartment to make sure she wasn't missing anything. She carted her carry on and another bag down the stairs, kissing Santana gently as she grabbed them from her and packed them into her trunk.
Santana hopped into her front seat, taking a sip of her coffee and popping on her sunglasses before they pulled away to make their way towards the airport. She grasped her Brittany's hand tightly across the console, brining it up to her mouth and kissing it sweetly, before resting them together once more as they weaved their way through the Manhattan streets.
"So they don't mind you meeting them at the airport?"
"Nah." Brittany said, applying lip gloss in the mirror, before popping it shut. "A bunch of people are."
"You have the whole schedule right?" Brittany asked and Santana laughed.
"Yes, for the millionth time baby, it's on the fridge."
"Just making sure." Brittany said, chewing her nails nervously.
"I almost have it memorized anyway." she said. "Today you fly to DC and then you guys travel mostly by bus across the whole freaking country and parts of Canada."
"Pretty much." Brittany agreed, playing with the iPod as they continued to drive.
They continued to hold light conversation until they arrived at the airport and parked the car. Santana immediately opted to check in the bags right away so they could be free of them and they sat and got a quick breakfast before it was just about time to head to security.
"Well, this is as far as I can go." Santana said sadly and Brittany took a deep breath nodding. "Don't be so nervous Britt." Santana chuckled, squeezing both her hands in her own. "Everything's going to be fine." Brittany nodded.
"I know I'm just...you know." she shrugged and Santana nodded.
"I know." She paused and swallowed hard. "I'm going to miss you so much Britt."
"Me too." she smiled sadly, pulling her closer. "I'm going to miss you like crazy." She said before leaning in to place a long, lingering kiss on her lips. They stood like that for a few moments until they finally broke apart and rested their foreheads together.
"I love you so much baby." Brittany whispered, looking into her eyes. "I'm going to call you the second we land okay?" Santana nodded, through a few tears that slipped through. "And we'll go along with all our plans, we'll text and talk and skype...and then I'll be back."
"Okay." Santana said, kissing her softly. "I love you too. Have fun, okay?" she asked and Brittany smiled.
"I'll try."
"Okay, okay...go ahead." Santana nodded towards the checkpoint. "Before I don't let you." she said and they giggled, sharing one more quick kiss before separating, hands entangled till the last possible moment.
Santana stood and watched Brittany as she made her way through the scanners and turned once more, blowing her a kiss sweetly, before turning and heading towards her gate. She slumped her shoulders slightly, biting her lip as she decided it was time for her to head back to the car.
Once she got there she opened the door and sat in her seat taking a deep breath and realizing just how empty she actually felt. She looked over at the empty passenger seat and chewed her lip in thought, wondering how exactly she'd do this for the next 85 days. She felt her phone buzz and dug into her bag, pulling it out and looking at the screen.
Brittany 3 (9:47 AM): Already counting minutes until I get to see you again. I love you.
She smiled and tapped out a quick text of her own back.
To Brittany 3 (9:48 AM): So am I...I love you too...have a safe flight. Get some sleep. XO
She took one more breath before tossing her phone into the console and pulling out to head back to the house. After a relatively quick drive back, she struggled to find a parking spot but once she did she made her way back up to the apartment where Sebastian greeted her happily, rubbing up against her and darting in and out of her legs as she sighed, surveying the mess that the apartment still was.
Not ready to fight that battle just yet she made her way into the bedroom, Sebastian hot on her trail to find Ariel cuddled soundly into Brittany's side of the bed and a note attached to a red rose on her own side.
Santana,
By the time you read this, I can promise
you I'll be missing you already. I'll be
thinking of you ever minute of every day.
Take care of my babies. ;-)
I love you more than you could even
imagine.
Love,
Brittany
She sighed, smiling and looked at the small box that was underneath the paper, opening it to find a pretty silver locket. Cracking it open she found a tiny picture of them on one side and a tiny picture of the cats on the other. She giggled, shaking her head before laying on the bed and letting herself sink into the mattress as she wondered how exactly she was supposed to get through the next two and a half months.