Chapter Ten
11 Days until NYC
Brittany didn't waste any time making it back to her apartment complex. She jogged through the lobby of her building and had nearly made the elevator when she heard Rory, the kid at the desk, call to her.
"Hey Britt, lovely day."
"Awesome day," she said as they elevator doors closed.
She rifled through her pockets for her gum and when the car opened on the sixth floor, she tossed the whole pack to little Wes Brody.
"Whoa, thanks Brittany!" the little boy said as he ran down the corridor.
"Butternut Squash!" April Rhodes greeted her.
Brittany deftly avoided the oncoming ass slap, grabbed the styrofoam cut in the drunk's hand, and chugged the whole damn thing.
"Hey, that was my passion fruit mango Afternoon Delight," April complained.
"It was delicious, now go make another one," Brittany told her as she led April into her apartment.
She had the key in the lock of her own apartment door when Mike and Tina opened theirs.
"Hey," Tina said. "Long time, no see."
"Yeah," Brittany smiled and pushed her door open. "Busy."
"Not too busy, I hope," Mike replied. He reached out his hand to do the usual hallway spin.
Brittany gave him a low five, "Love ya. See ya," and she shut herself in her apartment.
She threw down her keys and rushed over to the cabinet where she kept Lord Tubbington's afternoon meal. She had already served the Salmon Surprise when Tubby waddled in with a meow. He was pleased that Brittany had finally been trained to feed first, do anything else later.
"From Russia with Love," Sam said as Sean Connery from the couch. He pointed to the television.
Brittany stopped moving and checked out the screen. "We get channels from Russia? I never knew that."
"It's the movie," Sam told her.
"Oh," she was still a little confused, but she really didn't care. She had other things to do as she made a move toward her room. "That's great, Sam. I hope it's as good as BBC."
"You don't want to watch?"
"Not now. FaceTiming Santana. Going to New York," she called over her shoulder right before the door shut.
"Going where?" was Sam's muffled reply.
Brittany swiped her computer off her desk and carelessly fell onto her bed. Just a few clicks and there was Santana. No waiting.
"You're real," Brittany said as soon as she saw her.
Santana laughed and the blonde thought that her heart had stopped. She had heard that laugh so many times, but she had no idea that it was so beautiful to watch.
"So many times in the last couple months, I wondered if you were real," Brittany told her.
When the other woman had settled in a smile, she said, "I'm very real, Britt. And you're even more beautiful than in your pictures."
Brittany couldn't hide the deep blush that floated across her cheeks, "Don't do that."
"Do what?"
"Make me all giggly and stuff."
"It's true."
Brittany bit her lip, which made her grin a bit lopsided.
"You can't tell me not to compliment you and then look so fucking cute, Brittany."
"I'm sorry."
They stared at one another for long moments, smiling, then laughing at themselves, then smiling again.
"I can't believe you're going to be in New York in eleven days," Santana finally broke the silence.
"It was a surprise to me, too."
"Good surprise?"
Brittany nodded sharply, "Best surprise."
"I didn't mean to put you on the spot about staying with me earlier," Santana said seriously. "If that makes you uncomfortable or anythi-"
"No, no," Brittany interrupted. "I was hoping you would ask."
"I can't wait to have you here, eleven days feels like forever right now."
10 Days until NYC
"Tell Sam, I said hi," Santana said.
"Okay, sure."
"Britt, there's a mirror behind you," Santana pointed. "I can see him hovering in your doorway."
Soon enough, Sam had appeared just behind Brittany's shoulder. "Hi Santana."
"Hi Sam," Santana waved with her fingers. "Nice to see you."
"Nice to see you, too, finally," Sam said with a big-mouthed grin.
"So?" Santana leaned in a bit closer. "Are you going to give me some kind of 'talk' or something?"
"No!" Brittany shook her head.
"I'm not a hundred percent sure about Brittany staying with you," Sam talked over the blonde woman.
Brittany palmed his face and pushed him away, "Will you stop it?"
He appeared again after slapping her hand, "You're going to take care of her, right?"
Something in the vulnerability of the question and the way Santana's face softened from 'don't fuck with me' to 'I get where you're coming from' made Brittany take special notice.
"Her well-being will be my number one priority, Sam," the brunette answered. "I'll take good care of her."
"Thank you," he said sincerely.
9 Days until NYC
"What are you doing?" Santana asked.
Brittany was lying on her stomach, stretched across her couch, poking at the screen of her phone. "I'm poking your dimple."
"Which one?"
"Right."
"Nice," Santana turned her face a little. "I can almost feel it."
"Nine days."
"Nine days," the other woman sighed. "Uh, Britt Britt. Lord Tubbington is giving me that look again."
Tubby had taken up residence on Brittany's back and was watching Santana over her shoulder. He found her just as fascinating as Brittany did.
"He likes you," the blonde said.
"He looks like he wants to eat me."
"It's been over an hour since his last treat," Brittany told her. "He's probably considering it."
"Will he be okay while you're gone?"
"Sam will take care of him," Brittany replied.
"Okay," Santana said. "I just don't want him to be lonely."
Brittany was amused, "He'll be fine. I've left the two of them alone before. And I've already explained to Tubbs that he might have to share me."
"Is he okay with that?"
"He warming up to the idea."
8 Days until NYC
"Don't rain on my paraaaaaaaade," Rachel finished with a flourish.
Brittany, who had been watching from Santana's phone, gave her an enthusiastic clap.
"Don't encourage her," Santana said when she reappeared in the window.
"You're the one who said I had to suffer with you," Brittany reminded her. "I liked it."
"If she thinks you enjoy her performances, she'll never leave you alone."
"I'm not going to be rude, Santana."
"Brittany hates you," Santana told Rachel offscreen.
"I didn't say that, Rachel!"
"Brittany says to stop torturing me," she kept on.
"My turn!" Kurt said as replaced Rachel on the stage area of the master closet. "Make sure Brittany can see me."
"She'd rather soak her eyes in bleach," Santana told him.
When Santana's face came back into a view, she had a mischievous glint in her eye. She was smiling broadly, obviously amused with herself. When she noticed Brittany's pout, she stopped smiling. "What?" she asked.
"I'm mad at you," Brittany told her, "but you're still so hot.'
One Week until NYC
"Are you nervous about the pitch?" Santana asked.
They were both working, but they had started to leave their connection open nearly all the time now. Brittany's brows were furrowed as she poured over some market research.
"A little," Brittany answered with a glance to the screen.
"You shouldn't be, Britt," Santana encouraged her. "You have some great ideas. They'll love you."
"I hope so," she said distractedly.
"I can't imagine anybody not loving you."
Brittany's head shot up, but Santana had already gone back to whatever she had been working on.
She smiled knowingly, though, when she heard the unmistakable humming of Don't Stop Believin'.
6 Days until NYC
"Just under a week now," Brittany reminded Santana as she made her way back home after work.
"Are they adding hours to the day?" the other woman asked. "Because it feels like it."
"Is it a leap year?" Brittany searched her brain for the exact meaning of that term. "Don't they add stuff to leap years?"
"Yeah, but that was in February," Santana answered. "It's already been added, Britt."
"Oh crap, it's Matt," Brittany had just turned the corner onto her street when she saw him coming through the double doors of her building.
"Who's Matt?"
"Just this creepy guy who lived in my building. I thought he had moved, but he may be visiting April," Brittany filled her in. "Quick say something funny."
"Something funny."
"Yeah, ha. For real, so he'll think I'm too busy laughing to talk."
"Why don't you just say that?"
"Because it's mean, Santana," Brittany told her. "Make me laugh."
"You're putting me on the spot, Britt. I feel pressured. I can't deliver under pressure. Okay, okay, you want a joke? Maybe a cynical observation? I have plenty of great stories about Rachel that might work. Kurt's love life is really good for a few laughs. A dirty limerick? Have I ever told you about my brief interest in shrubbery conservation?"
"Nevermind," Brittany told her. "Matt's gone. I got by with a wave."
"Oh."
"You really suck at that game."
"Maybe we should talk about this so next time you have a laughing emergency, I'll be better prepared."
5 Days until NYC
"Your eyes are so blue," Santana observed as the two of them lied in their respective beds in their respective cities. Brittany had decided that if they set their phones up against their extra pillows, it almost felt like they were together.
"Yours remind me of Whoppers," Brittany commented. "My favorite movie candy used to be Dots, but I'm pretty sure it's Whoppers now."
"We're a study in contrast."
"Is that a legal term?" Brittany asked.
"No, Britt," Santana smiled. "It just means we look totally different from each other."
Brittany's face lit up, "We're a double rainbow!"
4 Days until NYC
"Okay, is there anything in particular you want to see?"
"I probably won't have the time," Brittany answered.
"Yeah, I know, but if there was just one thing..."
"I can't think of anything," the blonde said without ever looking up from her work.
"Are you sure? I'm willing to take you to any touristy places you want to go," Santana offered. "And that's totally against my better judgment. I'm making exceptions for you."
"That's sweet, San." Brittany said.
"I'll even take you to the top of the Empire State Building," Santana laughed. "Worked for Tom Hanks."
Brittany finally stopped working and looked at the brunette. "Will it have the giant heart?"
Santana shook her head, "Probably not."
"Then, no," Brittany continued with her project.
3 Days until NYC
When Brittany's phone rang at 6:22 that evening, she knew she shouldn't take the call. She knew she shouldn't, but she also knew it was Santana. Santana tended to trump whatever good sense she had.
"Hey!" she said after she answered.
"Hey," Santana was squinting at the screen. "Are you still at work?"
"Yeah," Brittany waved her hand around behind her. "We're doing a run-through and Holly's been throwing tomatoes at us."
"Harsh words, huh?"
"No, she was literally throwing tomatoes at us." Brittany held up a garbage bag with a neck hole and red splatters. "She thinks it helps us be light on our feet and quick with the draw. We had to make a few adjustments and she had to make a run to Whole Foods. Organic tomatoes pack a better punch."
"Interesting motivational techniques."
Now it was Brittany's turn to lean in and squint at her phone screen, "Where are you?"
"I'm in Rachel's limo, she's doing some surprise guest thing at Sunshine Corazon's big Madison Square Garden finale concert."
"Why are you sitting in her limo?"
"Oh," Santana looked a bit sheepish. "Um, well, I've been trying to make sure my schedule is all clear when you'll be here. I had to make some phone calls."
"San, you don't have to do that," Brittany held up some of the diagrams in front of her, "I'll be working."
"I know," Santana shrugged. "But I want to be as available as I can be."
"Aww," Sugar said as she rolled into Britt in her chair. She craned her neck until she was in frame. "You're cute, Savannah."
"Santana," Brittany told her for the thirtieth time.
"Thanks, I guess," Santana took the compliment anyway. "Who are you?"
"Sugar Motta." She nudged Brittany hard, "You haven't told her about me?"
"Of course, I have," Brittany's eyes widened to signal Santana.
"Sure, she has," Santana backed her up. "Sugar. Motta. Coworker."
"Did you tell her about me?" Blaine asked as he leaned over the other side of the table. "Hi Santana."
The New Yorker took a good look. "You must be Blaine."
"Yeah," the man was pleased.
"Boring Bowtie Blaine," Santana nodded. "Brittany's mentioned you."
Brittany took a quick glance around to find Artie looking on curiously. She flashed her phone at him, "Santana, Artie. Artie, Santana."
Artie jutted his chin in acknowledgement.
"You must be the tool."
Artie looked to have wanted to defend himself, but never got the chance.
"Three days, Brittany!" Kurt shouted into the mic as he slid in next to Santana.
The blonde in Seattle laughed, "I know, right!"
"We can't wait," Kurt told her and then poked Santana's arm. "This one is counting the seconds."
"Shut up, Kurt," Santana punched him.
"Aww," Sugar said again.
"Which one is Santana?" Will asked pushing Sugar out of the way.
"The woman." Brittany thought that was obvious.
"Who's that?" Blaine tilted Brittany's screen ever so slightly so he could see the new arrival on the other end.
"Oh, that's Kurt," Brittany explained. "Kurt, this Blaine and Sugar and Will."
"Hi," Kurt said with a wave. "Nice to meet you."
"Who are we meeting?" Brittany heard as Rachel appeared on the other side of Santana. "Oh, hi Brittany."
"Hi Rachel," Brittany smiled.
"That looks like Rachel Berry," Blaine pointed out.
"Uh..."
"Oh my god, that is Rachel Berry," Sugar tapped the screen. "You didn't tell us you knew Rachel Berry."
"The actress slash singer?" Will was angling for a better view.
"Yes, it's me, Rachel Berry," she gloated. "How are you all?"
Brittany let out a frustrated breath, "Rachel, this is Sugar and Blaine and Will." She felt the presence of Artie rolling up behind her with the news that the Rachel Berry was now part of the equation. She hooked her thumb backward, "And Artie."
"Is that Brittany?" the group heard a voice without a face.
"Beiste says hello," Santana explained and turned her phone around to show the bodyguard waving like a maniac.
"Hi Shannon!" Brittany waved back.
"We can't wait to see you," Beiste gave her a lame thumbs up.
When the phone spun back around, they caught the tail end of Santana mumbling something about 'these fuckwads bogarting Brittany.'
"We're all excited about her first visit to New York," Rachel scolded Santana.
"I loved you in Glee," Artie yelled, practically gushing all over Rachel.
"Calm down, Artie," Brittany hissed.
"You were in a play with my brother once," Blaine said excitedly. "Well actually, you were the lead and he was the understudy to Dying Man #3. You were brilliant."
"I'm sure it was a great experience for him," Rachel smiled her big fake smile. "You should all come over for dinner at my place when you're in town."
"Fuckin' hell, Rach-" Brittany heard Santana say before she cut off the FaceTime. She rolled away from the group and could still hear Rachel going on about her 'obligation to meet adoring fans.'
After a moment, it was just Santana's voice. "So much for keeping that secret, huh?"
"I can't believe I didn't accidentally spill it earlier, to be honest," Brittany replied.
"It's okay," Santana assured her. "It's not a big deal. But it looks like we'll be getting the whole group together now."
"Hm," Brittany replied.
"I know."
"That's okay as long as we have some time to ourselves."
"I promise you, Britt," Santana said seriously. "You're not leaving New York until I get you to myself."
2 Days until NYC
"Do you think...maybe..." Santana took a deep breath, "we should set some ground rules?"
"Ground rules?"
"I just want you to be completely comfortable."
"Santana," Brittany flopped back onto her bed, taking her computer with her, "you're over thinking this."
"I don't think so."
"Okay," Brittany gave in. "What kind of rules are we talking about?"
"Well, you know..."
"Sex rules?"
Santana immediately licked her lips. She was so easy sometimes. "Not sex rules per se..."
"Then what?" Brittany was curious as to where this was going. "Do you have a side of the bed?"
"Left," Santana said quickly. "Unless you like the left."
"I just want to be next to you, I don't really care what side of you I'm on."
Santana scratched at her nose and let a moment pass. She was nervous and Brittany was just soaking in all the little nuances that came with the ability to actually see the other woman.
"I want to take you out."
"Out?"
"Out," Santana repeated. "Like a date."
"We've had a million phone dates," Brittany said. "And movie dates and coffee dates."
"I'm not sure it counts as a date when we're three time zones apart."
"Why not?"
Santana rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "I want to take you out and do all the things you're supposed to do when you meet someone and like her and you want to spend every second with her."
"We can go out."
"I know, but, I don't want to get ahead of ourselves. We're already so far ahead of ourselves."
"I told you, you're over thinking this."
"I want to do it the right way."
"We're already doing it the right way," Brittany argued. "Our way. This is our way. I like our way."
"I like our way, too," Santana voice rose ever so slightly. "Just...let me take you out...on a real date...before anything else happens."
"We'll see," Brittany winked at the woman on her screen.
1 Day until NYC!
"So you'll fly into LaGuardia and then head to the hotel."
"Yep," Brittany answered. She was packing the last of her things while Santana was lying in her bed in New York. "Then I'll be in meetings for most of the day."
"Okay," Santana shifted higher on her pillow. "Are you sure you don't want me to pick you up from the airport?"
"Transportation is already arranged, plus the whole group will be with me."
"Yeah," Santana remembered. "And you'll let me know when you're done."
"As soon as humanly possible," Brittany smiled. She threw her favorite sweatshirt in her suitcase and walked over to the desk where her computer displayed Santana's face.
"I can come get you."
"I'll be fine."
"I'll send Figgins."
"I have your number, your address, Kurt's number, his address, and the number to the NYPD, Santana." Brittany held up her phone as proof. "I think I can manage to get to you."
"If you need anything, call me, okay."
"I will."
"You promise?"
Brittany shook her head at the cuteness of overly protective Santana. "I promise!"
"Okay." Santana looked reluctant to shut down the call even though she was yawning like crazy.
"Get some sleep," Brittany told her. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Oh wow," Santana choked a little. "Say it again."
Brittany didn't even try to force back the giddiness. "I'll see you tomorrow."