*Next Day*
"Hon, are you sure you want to do this?"
"Yeah Britt, I need to at least know that she's okay. I don't think I could live with myself if something happened to her because my parents refused to talk to her, because of me. I need to talk to her once and for all and that way if necessary I can cut the cord once and for all. I promise I will be back soon okay?" She asked as she got into the car. I walked over to the car window.
"I just don't want you to get hurt, if her feelings haven't changed San," I said adding in a pout at the end because that usually works.
"Hey put that pout away, trust me baby, please?"
I shift my feet a little. I'm not really comfortable with Santana going to meet her grandmother alone and I'm not really comfortable with the things her grandmother might say to her but as I have learned over the past seven months that I've been with her is that there really is no use in arguing with her, especially when it comes to things like this.
"Fine, but please be careful and text me if anything goes wrong. Got it? Anything. I mean it Santana!" I say firmly making sure to use her full name so she knows I'm serious.
"I got it Britt. I love you," she said leaning out of the car window to kiss me.
"I love you too."
I watch her pull out of the driveway and head towards her grandmother's house hoping that she knows what she's doing.
*Santana's POV*
I drove up to the house. The house I haven't seen in years. The house that I have thought about a million times. To be honest I don't really know what I'm doing here. I have every right to be flat out pissed at my abuela, no questions asked, but for some reason I still feel the need to look after her. For some reason I still love her despite her not loving me.
I step out of the car and hear the sirens that everyone gets so used to in Lima Heights Adjacent. It brings back memories. Memories that I quickly try to push away. I need to stay composed here, I can't lose it, I can't let this trip affect my emotions.
I up the pavement and to the porch slowly. As I reach the steps I start to doubt what the hell I am thinking. Maybe I need to check myself into a mental hospital because this is insane. I look down at my phone and see the number I have been dying to call and remember why I am here. For Brittany.
I ring the doorbell. I hear footsteps and cursing in Spanish behind the door as a tiny Hispanic woman comes into view.
"Santana." She says obviously surprised by my presence. "What are you doing here?"
"I have something's I need to ask you about. Something's I need to get out of my system once and for all."
"Would you like to come in?"
"Actually I would kind of prefer to talk out here if that's okay with you."
"Sure," she says pointing to the chairs on the porch.
We sit in silence for a few moments, both un-prepared for the visit and both trying to figure out how to start the conversation, we both have needed.
"Okay look I'm just going to come right out and say it, Santana, I still don't support your decision."
My heart sinks. It was dumb of me to think her opinions would have really changed.
"Okay fine, that's all I needed to know, but there is one more thing I want to say to you." I reach into my purse and pull out the slip of paper. "This is my phone number. I don't care if you aren't okay with who I am, I should but I don't. I should be really angry with you for abandoning me, and I shouldn't feel like we're family because the truth is we haven't been a family for years, but I do. No matter how much I should be angry at you and sometimes I am, you are still my abuela, and I still care about you whether you care about me or not. I'm giving you this because I want you to be able to call me if you need help. I want you to have someone there for you, because I know what it feels like to not have someone there for you."
She takes the piece of paper slowly from my hands. I wait for her to say something but she doesn't. So I leave. I walk down the sidewalk back to my car and drive away. It's the simplest goodbye I have ever had. It was effortless, and now I will never wonder how she feels or whether she has changed her mind. Now I can move on.
I pull up outside my house, but before getting out of the car to go inside I fish around for my phone in my bag. When I finally get it I see the number that I got from Brittany's phone yesterday while she was in the shower. I take two deep breaths and dial the number.
"Hello?" I hear man's voice come on the line.
"Hi, this is Santana Lopez, I was hoping to speak with Michael Pierce."
"This is he what can I help you with Ms. Lopez."
"I don't know if you know me or not sir, but I am Brittany's girlfriend…"
"Oh Santana!" he cuts me off, "Yes, yes we have heard a lot about you. Britt talks about you all the time."
I smile at the thought of Britt telling her parents about me.
"Yes well I was actually calling because I have been thinking a lot about my relationship with your daughter and I wanted to know if I could get your permission to ask Brittany to marry me. I love her more than I have ever loved anyone Mr. Pierce and I want to spend the rest of my life with her."
"Well Santana, I have never heard my daughter talk about anyone the way she talks about you, it is very obvious that you mean a lot to her and from the emotion in your voice it is very obvious she means a lot to you too, so…"
*Next Day *
"Please be careful on the flight in," my mom said wiping tears away from her eyes.
"Mama, we'll be fine I promise, it's standard fist class airfare to Los Angeles it's not dangerous or anything."
"You never know!" She says finally bursting into tears. I wrap her up in a hug as Brittany and my dad check our bags.
We reach the terminal a few minutes later. First I hug my dad, thanking him again for sticking up for me, and then I hug my mom promising to be careful and to treat Brittany with respect. They both hug Brittany and before we know it we are headed towards our plane hand in hand.
October 22, 2013 – Santana Lopez heads back to work at Snixx LLC after hometown visit with Brittany Pierce
October 25, 2013 – Brittany Pierce and Santana Lopez movie night with friends
October 31, 2013 – Santana Lopez and Brittany Pierce: Justin Timberlake's Halloween Party
November 10, 2013 – Santana Lopez announces signing of former publicist, Rachel Berry
November 15, 2013 – Brittany Pierce to choreograph Lady Gaga tour
November 22. 2013 – Santana Lopez and Brittany Pierce LA shopping after Thanksgiving
November 30, 2013 – Santana Lopez announces signing of new artist, Lorde
December 5, 2013 – Santana Lopez and Brittany Pierce dinner in downtown LA
December 19, 2013 –
I'm still not entirely sure why Santana had me come here. I mean yeah this is our favorite restaurant but it's closed. I pull on the door expecting it to be locked and almost fall backwards when it opens. From the outside it looks completely dark but as I walk through the door I notice the flickering of candles. I turn the corner and here soft piano music in the background. It takes a while for my eyes to adjust before I see Santana sitting in front of the piano playing softly.
"Santana, what's happening?" I ask softly.
"Shhh," she says coming down and getting me a stool to sit on, "just listen."
She walks back up and sits down at the piano. She begins to play a soft melody, and hum. Finally she starts to sing along with the music.
This is my love song to you
Let every woman know I'm yours
So you can fall asleep each night, babe
And know I'm dreaming of you more
As confused as I am as to why I am here, it all flies out my head when I hear Santana sing. I swear her voice is like an angel, soft and sweet. I sit up a little more listening to the lyrics as she sings soft and slow.
You're always hoping that we make it
You always want to keep my gaze
Well you're the only one I see love
And that's the one thing that won't change
She takes a deep breath and continues on.
I'll never stop trying
I'll never stop watching as you leave
I'll never stop losing my breath
Every time I see you looking back at me
And I'll never stop holding your hand
I'll never stop opening your door
I'll never stop choosing you babe
I'll never get used to you
I feel hot tears start to form in my eyes. I see her shake with emotion, pouring her heart into the song.
I'll never stop trying
I'll never stop watching as you leave
I'll never stop losing my breath
Every time I see you looking back at me
And I'll never stop holding your hand
I'll never stop opening your door
I'll never stop choosing you babe
I'll never get used to you
She finishes the song softly and stands, making her way towards me. She stands in front of me, wiping away my tears gently.
"This is the restaurant where we first saw each other from a far, and even then I knew that you were special, but there is no way I could have known how special you are. Brittany, you are everything to me. You are the reason I get up in the morning and you are the reason I fall asleep safe and comfortable. You are my best friend. You are always there for me, no matter what. You never judge me you never think I'm being silly, and you trust me just like I trust you."
She stops taking in a sharp breath as I hear her voice shake.
"I gave up on love a long time ago when the person who meant the most to me walked out of my life, because I was finally being myself. I didn't believe in love, I didn't believe in soul mates or fate, but you, you changed all that. You rescued me. You showed me what it felt like to be loved and valued, and that is the greatest gift anyone has ever given me. I can't imagine my life without you anymore. You're like air, I just need you. I am madly, deeply, hopelessly in love with you. And with all that being said I called your dad a few months ago, and asked for his permission to ask his daughter to marry me. So Brittany Susan Pierce will you marry me?"
I smash my lips against hers, feeling the hot tears run down my cheeks. I wrap my arms around her neck and pull her close. "Yes, of course I will, I love you Santana."
"I love you too Brittany."
A/N: This is the part where i say goodbye (at least for a while). I am on the fence about creating a sequel if that's something that you guys want make sure to let me know. This has been the most amazing experience, writing for you guys. I hop the ending is satisfying enough, and i hope you know what a genuine pleasure it has been to write this for you guys. Thank you for all your feedback and your reviews and your favorites and your follows and i hope that it was worth it for you.