A/N: I love when people think outside the box! Keep up the good work. I don't like to torture you unnecessarily, that wasn't my intention. I will kill the suspense though, soon enough...I don't want this to go on forever! I'm way over budget ;)

I may give you chicas two chapters today...depends on how encouraged I feel. ;)

Enjoy! :)~

Big White Room (Jessie J)

"Why are you calling me?"

"I needed you."

"Really? How is that even possible?"

"I should paint these walls."

"Ana?"

"You've seen these walls...this place needs some color...right?"

"Ana, focus."

I laid staring at the ceiling and the walls, completely naked.

My skin felt like it was on fire and the only relief was opening all the windows and laying completely still and naked.

"I am focusing."

"Where is Quinn?"

"She's on her way...she should be here soon."

"And yet you are calling me? We discussed this."

"I know. I just...I don't know."

"I'm hanging up."

"I know."

"Don't call me again until you talk to her."

"Fine."

I hung up and tossed the phone to the side.

Maybe I could try to sleep some more.

She had been serious about cutting me off.

And it hurt.

I had her but really...I was still alone.

And now I was crying.

Great!

Fuck her.

Sleep didn't happen.

The moment that I closed my eyes again, my head began to pound and my skin felt too tight.

Too hot.

So I got up again, made the bed and walked through the house once more to make sure that it was immaculate.

The cleaner the better.

It calmed me.

"What now?" I whispered as I stood in the foyer and looked into the house.

If my time was correct, Q would be here in the next half hour.

Should I call her?

But then my phone buzzed and there was Nicky's smiling face.

I now had the perfect distraction...

Brittany.

"Hey, B."

"Hi! Merry Christmas Eve!"

"Thanks, B. How's New York?"

"Cold. I got used to the sunshine...I miss it."

"Mmmhmmm...I totally understand."

"How are you? Do you need anything?"

I could tell from her voice that she was chewing on her lip.

"I'm fine, B. Quinn's on her way...she should...um...be here in a half hour."

"Oh...I'm guessing it was her idea. I guess now, I can't distract her for you anymore. You're gonna tell her right?"

"I was thinking about it."

"Hmm."

"What?" I snapped.

"Are you sure you don't need anything? I could...um...help...if uh-"

I walked out onto the front stoop and looked out over the property.

And then I saw the front gate...

Crap.

I didn't tell them that she was coming.

Crap.

One more thing to explain.

"Exactly...you can't do anything. If you hadn't gone to New York maybe she wouldn't have wanted to come here."

"Hey! That's not fair...why wouldn't I want to come see my son? My husband? You should have been honest with her from the beginning!"

She was pissed.

Back in high school, Britt snapped at me from time to time but she never raised her voice.

But now she was.

"I was waiting for the right time." I said lamely.

And that seemed to break the ice because she chuckled.

"Oh Ana...sweetheart, there is never a right or wrong time. All you have is now. You told me that before. Take your own advice before it gets worse."

"You're right."

"I know."

"What should I do?"

"Tell me how you feel?"

I took a deep breath and ran my hand through my hair a few times before taking a big breath.

"Hot. Sore. Tired but in control."

"Sounds like a beach day...take her to lunch...go to the beach...and maybe lay the groundwork for what you need to talk about."

"Yea...I um...I think that's...when did you get so smart?"

"I'm a genius remember? Oh and Q has recently discovered bacon sushi...just a tip. Derek is pointing at his watch. I've got AA...take care of yourself, promise me."

"I promise, B. Merry Christmas."

I walked back into the house, across the big living room, through the gigantic dining room and into the stadium style kitchen.

This had been my home.

Big and white.

Luxurious and empty.

It was enough to make a person go crazy.

But I didn't really have a choice.

I pressed the alarm buzzer and waited to hear a beep.

"Ms. Lopez?"

"Hi Cesar. I've got a visitor coming."

"Name."

"Quinn Fabray."

"Ahhh...I finally get to see the wife."

"Don't give me shit, Cesar. Not today."

"Okay, how long is she staying?"

"Two weeks...maybe?"

"Okay...I will give her a pass."

"Thank you."

Quinn's POV

"I don't understand, Britt. What aren't you telling me?"

"Why didn't you tell me that you were thinking of going to L.A.?"

"I didn't think that I had to."

"You don't...it just would have been nice to know."

"Bullshit. She's keeping something from me and you know about it."

"What?"

"Tell me that's not true, Brittany."

There was silence on the other end.

And suddenly my heart was plummeting to my stomach.

I felt bad for sucking Britt into the middle of our marriage issues but from what I could tell, she was already in the middle and had picked a side.

She sighed and then I heard her sneakers squeaking on the floor.

She was pacing.

This was serious.

"I can't lie to you."

"Oh God." I pulled to the side of the road.

Tears were blurring my vision as I rested my head on the steering wheel.

I couldn't focus on anything but the squeaking of her shoes.

And the faint sound of her footsteps.

"She came to see me in rehab...just before she left for L.A."

"Oh God...Britt, I'm freaking the fuck out." I said as I slammed my hand against the steering wheel.

"I can't tell you more than that...just that she needs to talk to you. She plans to talk to you...just wait her out. Let her come to you about it."

"I don't think I can."

"You can...and if you want your marriage to..." She sighed again and then the squeaking stopped and she started whispering. "I know from experience that sometimes pushing a person to do what you want, can ruin a marriage. She needs you to just be there and listen...be there and be encouraging. I'm telling you, Q...for your own good and hers...back off until she is ready. Remind her of what she has waiting at home for her. Promise me that you will do that."

"I can try." I whispered back.

"No...you need to do more than try."

"Okay...I will wait for her."

"Okay, okay...good. Look I need to get back to my AA meeting or Derek is going to freak out. Have fun in L.A. I love you."

"Love you too, B."

I should be at her place by now.

But I'm not.

After talking to Britt, I just needed to sit there and think about things.

I kept going over the last few months in my mind.

My gut hadn't been wrong.

She wasn't the same Santana.

The sex had even been different, if I really thought about it.

It was like she was restraining herself.

The passion was intense and gentle but I could tell that she was holding back.

But I hadn't really given it much thought until now.

It seemed like every single thing that I had fallen for, had changed.

And now I was faced with a tough decision...

I could turn around and go home...make up an excuse and just wait for her to come to me.

Or...

I could go to her and pretend that everything was fine...pretend that I didn't know that we needed to talk...pretend that she wasn't hiding something.

Or...

I could go in there...guns blazing...and make her talk to me.

What other choice did I have?

Three different ways...the Brittany Pierce way...the Fabray way or Santana's way.

My phone was ringing as I sat there staring out at the road.

I had been sitting there for about an hour just looking at the palm tree in front of me.

Thinking about which way to choose.

And then I looked at my phone screen and I saw her face.

Smiling...laughing and I knew what needed to happen.

I shifted into drive.

My mind was made up.

I would do what was necessary.

For our marriage to survive.

She didn't even have to ask.

A/N: I know...I'm vague...but admit it...you love it.

You love me.

Just accept it ;)

-A