it was love to me Chapter 10: Stand Up, Sing Hallelujah, a glee fanfic

A/N: so I'm not quite sure what I'm doing, but I started a tumblr. I'm yourstreetserenade. If you want to come say hi or ask me a question. I'd love to find some cool people to follow as I figure it out, especially if you post a lot of Brittana graphics. I needs some pretty in my dash yo.

So I went back to watch some scenes and couldn't help but notice Justin and Brittany's bedrooms are very similar. Light blue walls with pictures and drawings all over them. They both have an eclectic quality to them that really speaks to their personality and creativity. Contrast that with Brian and Santana's bedrooms, which are very dark and severe. It makes me smile that Santana has a poster that reads 'Jah Babylon' above her bed. It's simply a random coincidence I know but I like to believe that in some weird way these ships have a cosmic connection to each other. Babylon, the dance club on QaF, is such a significant place to both Brian and Justin, and I wanted to sort of play with the idea that it too would be a very liberating, magical place for Britt and Santana as well.

all you sinners stand up, sing hallelujah

show praise with your body, sing hallelujah

and if you can't stop shaking lean back

and let it move right through ya

say your prayers, say your prayers, say your prayers

Panic! At The Disco

Together, Santana and Brittany stood at the threshold of Pittsburgh's most popular dance club, Babylon, and felt the pulse of the electronic beat vibrate through them as they surveyed the building which was so open and vast it almost felt like a cathedral of sorts.

The wide large two storied room, the high ceilings, the rays of colored light moving all around them, the crowds of bodies in constant motion. It was like Babylon was a place of worship and dance was a form of praise and their god was the thumpa-thumpa, the beat of the dance track they were moving to.

The large portion of the crowd did seem to be men, but there were several groups of women throughout the club as well. Everyone was dancing with everyone though as they gave themselves over to the music.

''Santana,'' Brittany sang under her breath, ''it's so beautiful.''

''It is,'' Santana said, smiling up at the neon lights.

A few nights before she had felt the serene, peaceful thrumming of Liberty Avenue in the backseat of a taxi cab. The sound of it's streets had been comforting and calming, but this...this wonderful sense of elation that flowed through her here and now in Babylon spoke something equally as positive but vastly different.

This was exhilarating. This was spiritual. Transcendental. A tiny flicker of light within her heart shifted and sparked and became, suddenly, a roaring fire that ignited something in her blood and bones.

There was something in the air that compelled her to give herself over to it.

And so she did.

Soon Santana and the rest of their group were on the dance floor moving together and around each other. No one was really dancing with anyone in specific, everyone just went with it, not really paying any mind and simply enjoying each other's company. Justin would move along with Ted for a bit before turning around and sharing a brief moment with Brittany who would dance with Brian only to turn around and have a moment with Michael who moved with Santana who would then dance a bit with Emmett. They circled around, trading dance partners every few moments, because in this room all that existed, all that mattered was the song playing through the loudspeakers.

On this dance floor there was no judgement. No dread. No doubt looming over anyone's heart and all Santana could see, all she could feel was joy in the purest, simplest form exuding from everyone around her. Including herself. Moving with the crowds and the music and the lights she felt transformed.

Absolved of pain and fear.

Baptized by song.

Her soul felt restored, strengthened and awakened as she and the others laughed and jumped and swayed and gave their bodies over to movement. For the first time in a very long time she felt whole and alive and certain.

She felt strange.

She felt changed.

Reborn.

With it's throbbing bass and the roar of the carefree, jubilant crowd, Babylon spoke something to her. It spoke of salvation and freedom. It said she was a part of this and this was a part of her. Between the notes it said have faith, it said let there be no doubt, it said be proud.

Be proud.

And after years of fighting it, hiding it, denying it, she finally, finally allowed itself to not only feel that emotion but to be overcome by it. Pride. In who she was, in who she was becoming, in who she would go on to be.

And it was there in the middle of the dance floor, in the middle of a song that she found Brittany smiling and dancing in front of her. Her mirth was stunning in a way that made Santana's heart feel like she could die and be resurrected a hundred times over. In that moment there was no doubt in her mind that whatever the cost, whatever the form, whatever the world, she would always find a way to come back again and again, lifetime after lifetime just to see that girl smile.

Because she was sure that all of space and time, a million years into the future, a million years into the past, everything that came before or would come after only existed so that brown eyes could meet blue ones to create something inevitable and infinite.

This was it.

She had imagined doing this a dozen other ways but none of them had seemed right, to say what she needed to say.

But this, here, now. What if this was the moment?

What better way, what better place to put it all out on the line than on a dance floor, in front of what had to be hundreds of people as she watched shiny confetti landing in Brittany's blonde hair. She watched the girl look skywards, basking and delighting in the downfall of the tiny pieces of colored paper, like stars falling.

It was then Santana moved forward to capture Brittany's lips and pull her into a passionate, heated embrace, opening her mouth and giving the girl everything she had to give, pouring her soul into a kiss that felt in that moment never-ending.

Right there in front of everyone, in front of Justin, Brian, Michael, Ted, Emmett and Daphne and the swarms of people surrounding them, Santana Lopez finally understood what it meant to be proud.

The perfect awed look that spread across the blonde's face when they eventually pulled away from their kiss took her breath away.

''Everyone's watching,'' Brittany said in shock.

''Yeah...yeah, they are,'' Santana replied proudly, fully aware of what she had just done and the significance of it.

Something passed between them then. Brittany heard and saw the sureness in Santana's voice and eyes and knew. Knew in that second, in that moment what this meant. This wasn't just a kiss, it was a silent declaration. This is who I am, you are who I want and I don't care who sees or knows anymore. I'm not hiding. That stops here and now. Let them be witness.

''Really?'' Brittany asked, wanting to be sure this is really what Santana wanted. ''You mean it?''

''I've never meant anything more. That is if you still want...''

With an eager watery smile Brittany pressed their foreheads together and nodded. ''That's not even a question.''

''I'm ready, Britt. I am.'' Beaming Santana sank her hand through soft, blonde locks. ''I love you. I love you.''

''I love you too,'' Brittany said, trembling slightly, still trying to wrap her head around the fact that this was really happening here, out in the open in front of everyone. ''More than anything.''

They were too wrapped up in each other to care about remaining with the rest of the group. As they danced on together they found themselves moving further and deeper into the club. People parted like the Red Sea for them as they remained in an embrace that left no doubt that they were most definitely together. For each other and about each other.

All eyes were on them and for good reason.

They were the most beautiful thing on the dance floor.

''Well, I guess that answers the question of are they or aren't they,'' Michael said from the other side of the club, watching the pair as he and the others came to congregate near a set of stairs that led to the upper level of the club.

Daphne let out a squeak of excitement as she watched the girls kiss each other hotly and passionately once more. ''Sorry, Justin, Brian, I think they may have just taken your title as the most beautiful couple Babylon has ever seen.''

Justin laughed and looked to Brian as if trying to gauge his response and found his boyfriend actually smiling at the young female pair who was at the center of attention and owning the night.

''I don't know about that,'' Brian said, gently taking Justin's hand within his own and guiding him to follow, ''but I do know I want to dance with my prince tonight.''

The two made their way down the stairs and through the club goers to join Brittany and Santana on the floor. The four looked to each other, silently acknowledging each other as they continued on, their bodies guided by that thumpa-thumpa beating throughout the building. None of them spoke or made an attempt to interrupt the other pair, they just danced. Uninhibited and unashamed.

Ted shook his head, smiling at the rather peculiar sight. ''I still think it's weird that they all look so much like each other.''

''Well, I don't,'' Emmett said, ''I think it's beautiful.''

Daphne concurred with ''I think it's fate.''

''Well, whatever it is there's no going back,'' said Michael with a laugh.

An hour later the club was still pumping.

''That song was amazing, this place is amazing, you are amazing!'' Brittany said, full of excitement as she and Santana made their way up to the mostly deserted second level of Babylon.

The upper level had no dance floor. Instead it had a catwalk that went all the way around the building. Those standing on it could simply look down onto the bottom floor. They both came to stand near a portion of the railing, taking a break from the dance floor to catch their breath and have a moment to themselves while the rest of the group were still hanging out below.

Santana laughed. ''Let me look at your pupils. I think you might be high on all of the confetti and glitter in the air.''

''Maybe...or maybe I'm just happy.'' Brittany licked her lips, as if still tasting Santana on them. ''I can't get over it. I can't believe you stood in the middle of the dance floor and kissed me in front of everyone.''

Santana pulled their bodies together and blinked slowly before flirtatiously offering ''I can do it again if you need more proof that it happened.''

Playfully Brittany lifted a shoulder as if she was unsure and needed more convincing, but the twinkle in her eyes made it pretty obvious this really wasn't so much about needing further proof so much as wanting another kiss. Santana obliged, tilting her head and pressing her mouth against the blonde's. Their kiss, long and sure, went on for several moments with Santana trying to press every promise and every emotion she could into it. Brittany was the first to break contact, only withdrawing to let out a happy chuckle. Santana, though, smiled and went back in, adamant that the girl know this wasn't a fluke or mistake.

The kiss downstairs had meant something: she was ready and she meant it.

''Okay, okay, I believe you,'' Brittany laughed into her mouth, tickled by Santana's proud persistence. ''We're really doing this then? You and me? A couple? Together-together?''

Santana nodded, her nose bumping Brittany's slightly as she did so. Of this she was certain, the moment she stepped into Babylon she had felt a kind of clarity, sudden and profound. It was time to come out. It was time to be proud. Now that she was here she wasn't about to take it back or pussy out.

''Together-together,'' Santana repeated. ''We're really doing this. I want to show you...I want to show everyone who you are, what we are.''

Brittany looked like she was floating. ''You're unbelievable.''

''It's true...I am,'' Santana replied with a self-satisfied but playful little smirk.

''What made you do it? Why here? Why now?''

''…I wish I could explain it, but I can't. I don't know if any words could ever explain it.''

Santana looked below to the happy, loud dancing crowds, at two guys in barely there short-shorts laughing and dancing up on each other, at two young women kissing at the bar, at people being who they were and making no apologies for it.

Showing Brittany that she was capable and ready for this was important, but more than that she needed to do this for herself. There was still a lot that she needed to learn and understand, she was aware, but she was Santana Lopez and there was nothing in this world that she couldn't kick square in the nuts and conquer.

There was something about the loft, about Liberty Avenue, about Babylon that spoke to her. Made her feel safe and sure in her own skin.

Santana Lopez was bigger than fear, more powerful than doubt, more forceful than any obstacle standing in the way of what she wanted.

''There was just something about this place...Liberty Avenue that makes me think I can be whoever the hell I want to be.''

''You always could be whoever you wanted to be.''

''I know. Deep down I knew that but maybe I needed to see this place to take that final step.''

''I'm so proud of you.'' Brittany glided a hand over dark hair, soothing it gently. ''With that kiss you just...you told everyone who you were here with.''

''And who I'm going home with,'' Santana said with ease and certainty. ''From now on I want to hold your hand when I want to hold your hand and I want to kiss you when I want to kiss you. I want to do all of those things out in the open where everyone can see.''

Quietly moved by these words Brittany kissed Santana yet again, seriously, passionately open mouthed again and again. Happy and overwhelmed and emotional and...

''I am so fucking wet for you right now,'' Brittany said eventually pulling away to whisper into her ear.

Santana tried to hold in the shiver she felt. ''Oh?''

''Mmhm.''

''How wet?''

Brittany raised an eyebrow before looking around at the half dozen other club goers on the upper level; they were several yards away, practically on the other side of the building. They were leaning on the railing and their eyes were clearly focused on the dance floor below watching the crowds. Feeling they had enough space and privacy, Brittany pulled Santana a few feet back so they were in the shadows and then took her hand which she then placed at the hemline of her own dress, silently urging Santana to find out for herself.

She soon did as her hand travelled up a smooth thigh, pushing aside the already soaking panties and slowly and gently pushing into the blonde. Brittany wrapped her arms around Santana's neck as she pumped in and out a couple of times, content to just be inside Brittany and feel her flutter and tighten around her fingers. That slick heat was the most perfect place she had ever known.

''When?'' Santana asked, curious as to when Brittany had started to become aroused.

''Downstairs. When you were dancing with me, kissing me, and you had your hands on my hips...and then you went to squeeze my ass...showing everyone who exactly you were here with...couldn't help it, I got so wet for you.''

Santana knew it shouldn't be like this.

Their first time as official girlfriends should be all candles and roses and violin music. It should be sweet and romantic and perfect in every way. It shouldn't be in a dark corner of a dance club as Rihanna's S&M pumped through the speakers. That song was the shit as far as far as she was concerned but romantic it was not. But after the thrill of performing in front of an eager and appreciative audience at the bar and getting her blood pumping on the dance floor and making the biggest, best, most honest decision she's ever made in her entire fucking life she was overcome with a desperate need to have Brittany close. To be a part of her. To feel her from the deepest, most sacred place.

Brittany apparently needed the same thing as she moved her hips forward, wanting Santana to pump into her again.

''Britt, I promise you,'' Santana said between rushed kisses, ''I'll do the slow, gentle take you to bed for hours thing to celebrate all of this but right now I just need to-''

''Yeah, yeah, yeah,'' Brittany panted in total understanding and agreement. ''Romantic later. Just get back inside me pluh-''

Santana didn't even wait for her to finish the word. Still blanketed in the shadows she gently moved Brittany against a wall and went to work. Only this time she impatiently tore Brittany's panties, even with them pushed aside she didn't like the obstacle between them. She grinned when she heard the sound of fabric tearing.

''I want you,'' Brittany said, urging her on and letting out little sexy noises with her mouth.

''Oh Britt...Britt...Brittany,'' Santana chanted against her neck, lost in the words with each rhythmic thrust of her hand. Going mad with excitement at the incredible amount of wetness she found and how the girl's inner muscles were pulling at her as if begging to be fucked.

''Santana, oh god, oh god, OH G-''

''Hey guys!'' Michael, ever the unbearable hobbit, exclaimed from a few yards away as he reached the top of the stairs and began walking towards them.

At the sound of the short man's voice Santana and Brittany paused all movements and widened their eyes at each other before quickly scrambling about.

Fucking fuck.

Due to the darkness and Santana's position in front of Brittany's body it would be difficult for anyone to actually see what exactly they were doing in that corner, but with Michael and the others coming near they couldn't just keep going. Santana pulled her hand out of Brittany and frantically looked for somewhere to wipe the evidence away, finally noticing and using a thick curtain hooked near Brittany's head. Brittany meanwhile shimmied her dress back down, turning to make sure her ass was covered before kicking her torn panties off of the edge and down to the bottom floor.

''I was going to keep those!'' Santana said in an intense whisper.

''They were ruined.''

''Exactly.''

''You're so dirty.''

''It's why you love me.''

''Well, that and about a million other reasons.''

''Finish this later?''

''Hell yes,'' Brittany took a breath to compose herself.

They traded grins and a quick kiss before turning to see Michael leading the way as Emmett, Ted and Daphne strolled up behind him, laughing as they came near. The group of friends seemed completely clueless as to what they had just almost walked in on. Everyone had a drink in hand, however Emmett and Daphne carried one in each hand. Once they arrived in front of Brittany and Santana they each held the extra beverage out, offering it to the girls.

''We've been looking all over for you two,'' a completely oblivious Ted informed them.

''We figured you guys could use a drink after the show you put on downstairs,'' said Daphne who sipped at her own fruity concoction.

''And by show we mean the dancing,'' Michael explained bashfully, ''not the making out.''

''Although that was pretty darn hot too,'' Daphne laughed.

''That's very wanky of you to say, Daphne.'' Santana teased the other dark haired girl.

''Some of us may have had an inkling but we weren't exactly sure until now,'' said Emmett. ''And now that it's out there may I just say you ladies make a gorgeous couple.''

''Thanks,'' said Brittany, beaming from ear to ear, delighting in the attention.

''Well, whether this is something old or something new, whatever the case,'' Ted began in his kind but stuffy tone, ''we're glad for you, honestly. I don't think anyone has ever commanded the dance floor quite like you girls, not even Brian and Justin which is saying something.''

''Speaking of, where are Brian and Justin?'' Brittany looked around.

''Ah, they wandered off into the VIP section,'' said Daphne, who pointed across the catwalk to the other side of the upper level where a section was curtained off. A muscled man with a headset stood outside of it.

''Babylon actually has a VIP section?'' Santana asked.

''Brian owns Babylon,'' Michael said and slurped the last of his drink loudly. ''The VIP section is his home away from home.''

Emmett amended, ''I think you mean fuckpad away from fuckpad.''

Daphne tapped both Brittany and Santana in passing. ''Come on, you should check it out. We totally have to crack open a bottle of something to celebrate too!''

The group made their way across and over to the curtained area and once the club employee at the entrance recognized a few familiar faces in the bunch nodded at them to proceed. Behind the curtains was a nice, large dimly lit lounge area with several couches, a few small tables and a private bar.

Justin and Brian were sitting together, half making out, half having a conversation with each other when the group walked in. They pulled away from each other with an audible pop to acknowledge them.

While the others scattered about the space Brittany and Santana made for the couch opposite Justin and Brian so that they sat parallel to them.

''Thank god you guys have clothes on,'' Ted said to Brian and Justin as he came to lean against a wall nearby, ''I was worried you'd be screwing up here.''

''Probably would be if you all didn't have such superb timing,'' sighed Brian, looking somewhat disappointed at the interruption.

Emmett flapped his hand at Brian's grumpy remark. Michael, meanwhile, made for a platter of hors d'oeuvres placed upon a table and popped one into his mouth. ''Puh, you act like going without an orgasm for one night is the end of the world.''

''It is,'' Brian and Santana sighed simultaneously.

''Yeah, well, both of you,'' Daphne used both hands to point at Santana and Brittany and Brian and Justin before she turned towards the bar area and proceeded to grab a chilled bottle from the ice box as well as glasses, ''will have to sex it up later. Right now we totally have to toast Santana and Brittany and their coupling up officially.''

''So that's what that was then? Out there on the dance floor?'' Justin grinned at them both in turn, looking pleased. ''You're unveiling as a couple?''

Santana turned to Brittany who was doing a happy little lip bite thing in anticipation of her response. ''Yeah...that's what that was,'' Santana answered with a calm smile. ''Me and Britt, we're sort of a couple. No, wait, I'm sorry, we're not...we're not sort of a couple. We are a couple.''

Justin, Emmett and Daphne let out a collective awwwwww at this, and the others chuckled as well. On cloud nine over all of this Brittany cupped the side of Santana's face and pulled her in to give her a slow, deliberate kiss to the cheek before cuddling into her side.

''You guys are so cute it makes me want to vomit all over myself,'' Brian said, although the grin on his face gave away the fact that this was his version of a compliment. ''I totally fucking called this by the way.''

''You did not,'' Michael scoffed.

Ted shook his head. ''Yeah, I don't think you did.''

''I so fucking did, that one night at Woody's, I did,'' Brian responded and looked ahead at Santana and Brittany as he continued, ''You both know, tell everyone I did so they can suck it and Michael can stop making his derp face.''

''I do not have a derp face!''

Emmett rolled his eyes at Brian. ''Do you ever get tired of being obnoxious?''

''No, not really,'' replied Brian. ''I find it pretty freeing.''

''Yeah, it's very liberating,'' Santana concurred.

Justin and Brittany laughed at their sides and everyone discarded food and other drinks as Daphne went about handing out the now filled glasses of champagne to them all.

''Now I just met you both and I don't know the whole story behind the two of you,'' Daphne started, ''but I do know chemistry when I see it. Unfortunately I don't see it very often. I see lots of people try to fake it or create it, but it doesn't work that way. It's not something you can force. You either have it or you don't. The first time I met you two, I saw it. Right there. Clear as day. Maybe not everyone here knew what they were seeing, but I think they saw it too. That nameless undeniable kind of magic.''

Santana looked to the faces of the others as they nodded along and added hear hears to Daphne's kind toast and found everyone smiling back, genuinely glad to be a part of the moment, to see her and Brittany proudly step out on their own as a couple.

Emmett took a seat on an arm of a nearby couch and asked, ''So, tell us. When did this all begin? Was it a slow burn kind of thing? Or one of those love at first sight kind of things? Did one of you see the other from across a crowded room? At one point in your courting phase did either of you suffer from temporary amnesia? What Nicholas Sparks novel or Julia Roberts movie most resembles your love story? Gimme details!'' The tall man clapped quickly like a happy baby seal.

''I'm not sure,'' Brittany said, ''I don't think we ever fit in a box like that though. We met at cheerleading camp-''

Brian raised his hand and quipped ''already this sounds like a porno.''

''Shut the hell up,'' Santana warned him with a laugh. Brian's only response was to stick out his tongue.

Brittany resumed, playing with Santana's fingers and warmed when Santana squeezed back gently, ''and...I'm not sure what it was for Santana, I can't speak for her but for me? I knew. From the moment I laid eyes on her I so knew. It sounds dumb and silly but I knew she was the one the first time I saw her. And the rest? That's ours.''

''As it should be,'' said Justin, cutting off anyone else who wanted to be nosy.

The group fell into conversation then, talking over each other as they sipped from flutes. While the others chattered amongst themselves Santana and Brittany found themselves being engaged by Justin and Brian in their own little conversation separate from the others.

''Congrats on being the latest queers to openly and proudly grace Liberty Avenue with your presence,'' Brian said with a playful air of formality. ''Had you told me you two were going to make a public announcement tonight I would've had a gift basket here ready for you. I apologize for that, it's in the mail though.''

Justin smiled at his boyfriend but addressed the girls in a more sincere tone. ''This really is amazing. I know what a big step it is. I'm so, so happy for you guys.''

Brian eyed both blondes. ''Just to be clear though, Justin, Brittany, I don't want either of you to get any silly ideas about double dates with the four of us at the fucking zoo or sharing milkshakes at an old timey malt shop-''

Santana nodded and picked up from there. ''Or going antiquing or playing miniature golf together or whatever the hell-''

''Oh my god! We should do a mini-golf double date!'' Justin said, perking up at the unintentional suggestion.

''Yes!'' Brittany exclaimed, mirroring Justin's excitement. ''I have the perfect outfit. Plus I just bought some new patterned knee highs that could totally pass for golf socks!''

''This morning I read there's going to be an outdoors arts and crafts fair downtown later in the week!''

''We could take a cooking class together!''

Brittany and Justin disentangled themselves from their partners, sat up and began talking animatedly to each other, their voices going higher and higher in pitch as they got more fired up at all the double dating prospects.

Santana and Brian looked to each other, sharing horrified facial expressions. Santana immediately grabbed for the bottle of champagne on the table and took a long swig straight from it, once she was done she handed it off to Brian who did the exact same thing.

''What the hell did we just do?'' she asked him.

Brian shook his head sadly. ''I think we just gave them ideas.''

Santana shivered. ''I just heard the words quilt expo.''

''We're gonna end up doing half these things aren't we?'' Brian closed his eyes as if in great pain.

''I don't know, how good are you at saying no to Justin?''

''Probably about as good as you are at saying no to Brittany.''

''Fuck,'' sighed Santana, taking the bottle of drink from him once more.

''We're gonna get through this,'' Brian said lowly and intensely, as if they were talking about a life and death situation and not the prospect of cute, harmless double date activities. ''We're gonna get through this.''

''What if we don't, Brian? What if they take us to a fucking IKEA? IKEA?!''

''Don't think like that! Don't you dare think like that!'' Brian roared before lowering his head as if he were about to break out into a sob.

Justin and Brittany, mere inches away, were now simply watching their partners comically overreact. Brian and Santana had obviously tuned the blondes out in order to put all of their energy into their silly ridiculous fits. If it were anyone else Brittany and Justin would be rolling their eyes but because it was Santana and Brian they couldn't help but smile at the adorableness of them.

Brian and Santana liked to think themselves as severe, stoic and sexy but they were so easily reduced to humourous huffing and puffing over the smallest of things.

''Are we really gonna make them do those things?'' Brittany whispered to her cousin.

''Nah, I just wanted to see how they'd react. Though I meant it about mini-golf.''

''Oh for sure.'' Brittany nodded.

Done with their teasing the blondes sat back and relaxed against their partners and slowly coaxed them out of their funks. Always more receptive to touch than words, it took a lot of hair stroking and rubbing of knees and temple kisses until Santana and Brian, who relished the attention, were functioning like adults again.

Collectively the entire room hushed when the intro of Barbie Girl began to play downstairs.

''This song is total trash,'' Emmett said, his mouth half full of finger foods.

''So annoying,'' added Daphne.

''Complete and utter garbage...We should totally go dance to it!'' Michael squeaked, and Daphne and Emmett nodded vigorously in agreement. The song was trash but it was damn catchy trash. They all excitedly began to make their way to the door to head back to the dance floor, eager to get their bodies moving once again.

Justin looked to Brittany with a raised eyebrow. ''Ready for that dance off?''

''Oh, it's on,'' Brittany announced. ''Get ready for your blonde boy ass to be kicked.'' She then turned to Santana. ''Come with?''

''Give me a few minutes,'' Santana said, ''this song makes me want to punch myself in the neck. But I'll be down to steal you away from Justin in a bit.''

Brittany smiled and kissed her, and kissed her, and kissed her, and kissed her, even as she stood up, even as a chuckling Justin took her hand and gently began tugging his cousin towards the door, Brittany made sure she got in as many licks and kisses as she could before leaving the area.

Once she and Justin flitted out, Santana and Brian were left in the room with Ted, who looked at them both in turn and must have quickly concluded that staying with the two of them would only open himself up to rude remarks and mockery. Deep down Brian cared for his accountant friend but Brian tended to show this fondness for his friends through really elaborate, nasty insults. It seemed to be the same exact way Santana showed her affection as well. Ted Schmidt was, quite frankly, a little terrified about what might come out of their mouths if left alone with them. Handling one of them was aggravation enough, he didn't want to imagine what it would be like if they joined forces. With two dark pairs of eyes on him he smiled awkwardly before running after to join the others back downstairs.

Left alone, Santana and Brian remained in silence for awhile. Both of them came to lay down on their respective couches, perfectly parallel to each other as they listened to the slightly muted thumping of the music downstairs.

''You've had a big night,'' he said to her casually as he stared up at the ceiling.

''Yeah,'' she replied cooly. ''I guess I have.''

''I don't say this to just anyone you know...but... I really believe you could do it.''

''Do what exactly?''

''Become the best possible homosexual you could possibly be,'' he answered in a surprisingly quiet, sincere tone.

She feared a motivational, inspirational speech coming on. ''Is this the part where you tell me that because you're gay and I'm gay that means we're both a part of some big happy gay family and that we need to take care of each other and support each other and that with our powers combined we can change the world?''

''Hell no,'' he laughed. ''I don't subscribe to that bullshit notion and I'm certainly not a part of the queer PC police. I'm not here to be your mentor-''

''Thank god.''

''Because a) I don't have time for that shit and b) you don't need one.'' He turned his face to look her in the eye. ''You don't need anyone or anything. You're the only one you've got, you're the only one you need. In all of this, just remember, you don't need anyone else's validation. This is you...make no apologies, have no regrets.''

''Why are you telling me this...I mean, if you don't care...''

Brian tensed his jaw slightly. ''Because.''

''Yeah that totally explains everything. Thanks.''

''You're not like the others,'' he admitted slowly, turning back to stare up at the ceiling, unwilling to actually look her in the eye as he actually coped to have some kind of affection for her. ''Do you have any idea how many baby gays stroll into Liberty Avenue every single day? How many people come and go and somehow remain utterly unremarkable, I mean in comparison to me.''

Santana rolled her eyes.

''But you're not like everyone else,'' he said. ''You have something. I don't know what, I don't know why. I just know that you do. So don't waste it worrying about lesser thans.''

''I thought this wasn't going to be a pep talk?''

''It's not and if you tell anyone I said any of that I'll deny it.''

''You're literally the biggest bitch I've ever met which is surprising because I've met a lot of bitches. I speak bitch. I'm fluent in bitch. I once attended a seminar on how to bitch most effectively where the keynote speaker was Omarosa Stallworth.''

''I was at that!'' he joked along.

''A couple of hours ago during karaoke you were being a giant pissbaby-''

''I was not being a pissbaby.''

''Total pissbaby.''

''Stop saying pissbaby.''

''And now,'' she continued, ''you're being all tolerable and chill and shit. You have one of the most bipolar, exhausting personalities I've ever encountered in my life.''

''Yeah...well...ditto. I hate to break it to you, but you're not exactly a bucket of sunshine and rainbows either.''

''You're vain.''

''You're so damn smug.''

''With your cocky-''

''Over-inflated sense of self.''

''All around-''

''Pain in the ass.''

And then simultaneously, ''but I like you.''

''Why is that do you think?'' he wondered.

''Hell if I know,'' she answered. ''Look, whatever this is, we only really have to tolerate each other for a month. After that, we'll never have to see each other again. For now we're just going to have to deal for Justin and Brittany's sake. Whether we like it or not I get the feeling tonight means the four of us are going to be spending more time together.''

Brian quirked an eyebrow considering this. ''...I guess it wouldn't be the worst thing if I had someone there to bitch with if they do end up dragging us on some double date bullshit activity.''

She shot him an oh please look. ''You say that like you wouldn't bend over backwards to make Justin happy.'' She changed the tone of her voice in an attempt to impersonate the sweet, soft manner he had about him when with Justin. She even fluttered her eyelashes about for comic effect. ''Oh, Sunshine, you're so amazing and so sweet, give me hugs and kisses and hugs!''

''First of all fuck you, second of all I do not sound like that. But even if I did it still wouldn't be as pathetic as you sound,'' Brian softened his voice to in turn imitate the tone she used when being affectionate with Brittany, ''Britt-Britt, you have an eyelash on your cheek, here I got it, blow on it and make a wish!''

''She loves making wishes - so fucking what!''

''Ugh!''

They were being petty and ridiculous and they were perfectly aware of it. Santana actually found herself laughing when after a long moment of silence Brian smiled over at her and paraphrased the famous line from Casablanca ''...Santana, I think this is the beginning of a very fucked up friendship.''

Somewhere deep inside of her she knew this to be true.

They were only three songs into their ridiculous dance off before Justin, sweating and breathing heavily, threw in the towel and declared Brittany the obvious winner and the superior dancer. He was good but simply no match for his slightly younger, far more advanced cousin.

Justin was bent over slightly, his hands resting on his kneecaps as he inhaled and recovered. At his side, despite the competition being over, Brittany continued to dance on, looking like she could go for hours.

''Okay,'' he heaved, holding onto his side, ''I lost, I bow down, you kicked my butt, but do I really have to draw a portrait of Lord Tubbington?''

Brittany tilted her head in consideration. ''Maybe not, I have another idea. There's something else I want you to draw. We'll talk later. Let's keep dancing!''

''Let me take a break, I'm winded.'' Justin adorably hobbled over to the bar. Brittany followed. He procured two bottles of water, one for himself and the other he offered to her which she accepted. They came to lean against the bar for a rest.

''I can't believe how much energy you have. I knew you were a fantastic dancer already but I'm even more impressed watching you like this.''

''I have to admit,'' she shouted over the music, ''I probably had an unfair advantage; I'm not wearing any underwear right now. I don't know why but I always dance way better than I usually do when I forget to put on underwear.''

''You forgot to put on underwear today?''

''No, I totally started tonight off wearing underwear but then Santana and I-''

''Nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh,'' Justin shook his head and waved his hand about. ''Don't give me too many details.''

''Fine, but if you see a red thong somewhere on the dance floor pick it up for me-''

''I will do no such thing.''

''-because Santana really wanted them, as like a keepsake or something.''

Justin laughed. ''So it happened. Tonight. You and Santana are officially official now huh?'' he asked, excited for her.

Brittany took a drink of water and simply nodded, unable to find the words to express herself she just smiled. ''She did it,'' she said eventually. Her eyes lighting up in amazement. ''She really did it.''

''I'm glad you're finally getting the things you always wanted, Britt. I know it wasn't easy getting to this point. I gotta admit I'm kinda glad it happened here if only for the fact that I got to see it. You looked so, so happy.''

''I am.''

''Then,'' Justin wrapped an arm around one of her shoulders and squeezed affectionately. ''I say we celebrate this most momentous occasion by dancing until the sun comes up...''

After a few moments he caught his breath, rehydrated and they made their way back to the dance floor where they found the rest of the group getting down. Justin joined Michael, Ted and Daphne while Brittany found herself moving along with the very energetic Emmett who began to show off his own dance moves. He had many of them, all of them ridiculous and awesome.

He was doing a funny little sway with both of his hands up in the air when he informed her matter of factly, ''I call this move the Praise Jesus.''

She laughed. ''I love it.''

Brittany was trying her own hand at the basic move when Santana appeared. Emmett grinned at them both in turn and then Praise Jesus'd himself away so Santana could take his place.

''Can I have this dance?''

''You can have every dance.''

Santana clasped Brittany's hands and brought them up to her lips, kissing the knuckles tenderly before putting her arms around her neck as they moved together to the loud dance beat.

''I'm sorry it took me so long.''

Brittany shrugged. ''It's only been fifteen minutes.''

''I meant...for me to be ready, for me to be with you like this where everybody could see.''

''We're here and that's all that matters to me. I don't care how long it took us. It was worth it. You were worth it. I know we both took some detours along the way but this is exactly where I knew we would end up. It was just time. That's all it was.''

She picked a handful of pieces of confetti out of Brittany's hair and then lightly blew it up in the air between their faces, making the blonde laugh as it rained down on them.

''Tonight is the best night of my life,'' Brittany gushed. ''I never want to sleep again. I want to stay up forever so that I never wake up from this.''

''You won't,'' Santana assured her. ''I mean...you can go to sleep tonight and tomorrow morning, we'll wake up and this will all still be real. We'll still be real, Britt. Although I had thought I'd do it all differently...''

''Do what differently?''

''This. This whole tell the world I'm super fucking gay thing. Like with you, I thought I was going to do the whole ridiculously romantic thing with the candles and the music and the fancy dinner. I'd be my usual charming, sexy self and finally show you how I felt. What I felt. That I was ready. And then you'd kiss me and I'd kiss you and it'd be everything you wanted… everything you deserve...and then, then we'd take a walk through some park or whatever the hell and when we got back to the loft I'd take your clothes off and kiss you...kiss you everywhere so you know how much I want every single piece of you and then when we were ready we'd make love for the first time and-''

Brittany let an airy little laugh which caused Santana to halt her speech.

''I'm glad my idea of romance is amusing to you.''

''No, no, it's not that,'' Brittany shook off her laughter. ''That sounds like a really romantic night actually. It's just, come on, it would've hardly been us making love for the first time.''

''What are you talking about?''

''Me and you, we've made love hundreds of times,'' Brittany stated.

''Have we?''

''Are you serious? We made love earlier tonight in this very building.''

''I fucked you in a dark corner of a night club. I'm not sure if that qualifies as making love,'' said Santana. ''We've had a ton of sex with each other, a ton of really fantastic, hot, flexible sex, yeah but as amazing as it always is, it isn't always soft or flowery or nice. Sometimes it's silly or hard or dirty… really dirty… I don't know...is any of that really making love?''

Brittany stared at her unblinking and then with an unshakable certainty in her voice she said ''...it was love to me.''

Santana remained silent, not quite following.

''Every time we've ever been together,'' Brittany carried on, ''no matter how it was or where it was or when it was...it was love to me. You were never just screwing me or fucking me. I always knew it was more, even if you didn't.''

''How can you say that?''

''Because it's the truth. Tonight when you started to take me against that wall upstairs? That was making love to me. And three days ago when I woke you up because I needed to touch you? That was making love. And two weeks ago, back in Lima when we did it in the backseat of your car, or last month when you had me in your bed and told me you wanted to stay inside me forever, or a year ago when you said it could never mean anything between us. Like I said I knew what we had and what we were from the first second I saw you. That summer we met when you took my virginity. I knew it then. It was love to me, Santana. From the moment I wake up to the moment I fall asleep and all the minutes in between, when it comes to you...it's always been love to me.''

''I'll never understand how you can love me the way that you love me.''

''You don't have to understand it...you just have to accept it. All that romantic stuff, that's nice but I'm glad it happened this way. Here. You danced with me in front of everyone. I'd rather have a dance in confetti than candles or violin music. This was perfect. Tonight was perfect.''

''I love you so much.'' Santana stared deeply into her eyes and inhaled the other girl.

''I love you too.''

''I want every dance for the rest of my life to be yours. They've always been yours. Always have been, always will be.''

It was a promise.

And so they danced, and danced, and danced. Danced like there was no one and nothing around them. Because when their hands were on each other everything else fell away.

Under the lights and confetti and the grace of Babylon, their every kiss was evolution.

The end of the night found everyone functioning in a sort of happy exhaustion, drunk off of pure exhilaration and standing about on the sidewalk outside of the club. Everyone was debating on whether to call it an evening or move on to another location to hang out. There was lots of back and forth, teasing and laughing until someone asked...

''Wait, where are Santana and Brittany?'' Michael looked to the group and found that the two young women were missing.

''They're right...'' Daphne began, turning slightly to make a wave at her side, only to find the girls were nowhere to be seen. ''Well, they were right here two seconds ago.''

The group stopped their conversation to glance up and down the block, convinced the female pair were nearby and had simply gotten mixed up in the crowds littering the pavement.

Emmett quirked an ear when he heard some little noises coming from the opening of a nearby alleyway a few feet away. As the others were occupied he moved closer to investigate, stepping between the two buildings and peeking around a dumpster only to immediately walk right back out to the sidewalk to the others.

''Oh my sweet lord in heaven,'' Emmett said in his southern lilt, looking disturbed and ruffled.

''You okay, Em?'' Ted patted his friend on the back.

''I just found Britt and Santana,'' Emmett closed his eyes and wiggled his head about as if trying to dislodge an image, ''they're in the alley, but don't go in there.''

''Why?'' Ted asked.

No one waited for his reply. Curious the group went to the opening but rather than peek in or enter they all simply turned their ears to listen. Judging from the heavy panting and girly moans and groans emitting from the space, everyone got the picture.

''Are they...oh my god.'' Daphne's eyes bugged, both amused and scandalized.

Michael swallowed. ''Santana must be really good.''

Brian burst out into shoulder shaking laughter as he turned to Justin and said, ''Oh Sunshine, your cousin's getting fucked so hard.''

Justin looked suddenly queasy. Through the years Brittany had done plenty of oversharing about her sex life with Santana, but hearing about it and actually being a few feet away from it as it was actually happening were two very different things. He was slightly squicked out having to listen to his own cousin's breathy panting sex sounds.

Nearby Emmett appeared to be having a panic attack as if traumatized by what he had seen. ''I need to lay down. I need life alert. Is this a heart attack? I can't feel my arm!''

Ted shook his head and announced to the group. ''Okay, well I think that's a sign we should call it a night. I think I need to get Emmett home before he faints.''

''Yeah, I think I'm going to head off too,'' said Daphne.

''Same here, I gotta get home to the husband,'' yawned Michael.

With Michael, Ted, Daphne and Emmett saying goodnight and departing the scene, Brian and Justin were left on the sidewalk alone to wait it out. They could have left as well, but Justin insisted they wait and see the girls off and make sure they got home.

They stood against a brick wall, one of Brian's hands softly twisting into Justin's hair, his dark eyes staring deep and meaningfully into Justin's blue ones. ''What are you thinking?'' the blonde man asked.

Brian blinked slowly and took a deep breath as if he were preparing to say something deeply romantic. ''I'm thinking...were you serious earlier about no blowjobs tonight or can I score one off of you while we wait?''

Justin jabbed him in his side lightly.

Brian yelped and straightened. ''Okay, okay, okay, I'm thinking I can't believe I'm standing here listening to the faint sounds of lesbian sex on a Saturday night.''

''Tonight was pretty eventful, huh?''

''Not really. I did call it the first night I met them,'' he reminded Justin. ''Even though you refused to tell me, I knew.''

''It wasn't my place to say though. Britt has always confided in me and I would never betray that. Admit it, though, you like them.''

Brian scoffed and made a face. He could inwardly accept that yes, somehow, even after only a week and a handful of interactions he had come to form some kind of affection for the female pair.

Brittany with her smile and energy very much reminded him of seventeen year old Justin. The blondes had that innocent thing going for them but under that layer of sweetness was also a layer of smartass that most would never expect. She shared so many traits with Justin it was simply impossible for him to look at the blonde girl and not have a special affection for her.

Santana however. Well, whatever it was he felt towards her still confused him. He supposed it could be defined as a sort of friendship like he had said to her earlier in the private room, but deep down he knew it was more than that. This strange, almost frustrating inexplicable connection he felt towards her.

He admired her wit and her ability to keep up with him and even surpass him in the art of insults but it was still hard for him to admit out loud that he could possibly see some of himself in her, or even that deep down he saw some of her in his own self.

Justin continued on with a grin, seeing through Brian's bull. ''I know you do, you like them. Brian Kinney gives a shit about them. You were smiling when we saw them on that dance floor together. You gotta admit Brittany is the most adorable person on earth and as for Santana, you two have this weirdly complex thing going on. You bitch and snap at each other, not because you don't get along, but because you're so alike. In a twisted way it's like you are each other.''

''Huh?''

''Think: if you, proud asshole and self professed hottest person on earth, were to be reincarnated it would make sense that you would come back as a cold-hearted, sharp tongued ruthless popular mean girl cheerleader - how can you not see that?''

''You're drunk.''

''Only slightly.''

''And anyway, both she and I are alive and well and exist within the same universe which means she can't possibly be my reincarnated self and I can't be hers. That kind of stuff only happens in Michael's comic books.''

''Maybe, but there's still no denying that you two were cut from the same cloth. Like this thing I've always had with Britt, how we've always understood each other on this strangely profound level. Maybe that's what you have with Santana.''

Brian opened his mouth, as if about to refute this, laugh at the idea, but then stopped himself and simply shook his head. Not admitting it, though not denying it either. They went quiet and the line of conversation was halted as Brian went to embrace Justin. Smiling at the way his creative brain worked. He opened his mouth to deepen the kiss when…

''Where the hell did everybody go?'' Santana asked, stepping out of the dark dead end alley with Brittany at her side and looking for the rest of their group.

Brian turned to her, disappointed with their timing. ''They went home after being traumatized by hearing you get Brittany off.'' He then made a show of looking at his watch. ''Took you long enough by the way.''

''Only because we went twice,'' Brittany informed them proudly, smoothing down her dress.

Justin playfully placed his hand over his cousin's mouth to stop her from giving them any more details. Brian scrunched up his nose. ''I'd think twice about doing that, you don't know where her mouth has been, Justin.''

Realizing this Justin yanked his hand away just as Brittany burst into laughter, tickled by his horrified expression. She and Santana laughed along together and only paused it when Brian took Justin's hand and began leading him into the dark alleyway.

''Uh, what the hell?'' Santana asked confused. ''Where are you two going?''

Justin turned and gave her sly little smirk. ''We waited for you and Britt, you guys can wait for me and Brian to bang one out!''

Obnoxiously Brian stuck his tongue out at the both of them. When the men were out of sight, Brittany and Santana looked to each and pulled exaggerated faces as if wigged out by the very thought.

''Ew. How come it's hot when we do things like that, but it's just gross when they do,'' Santana grumbled playfully, shaking her head about.

''Don't know, don't care,'' Brittany said, uninterested in dwelling on the idea as she cuddled up to Santana.

Santana kissed her on the sidewalk and wrapped her arms around the other girl and together they looked out at Liberty Avenue.

It looked exactly the same as it had at the beginning of their evening, lots of men and women strolling about, a few elaborately dressed drag queens laughing hysterically in passing, music pumping from every corner and every inch of the place. It was bright and beautiful and she got the sense that after tonight it was about to open up to them in an entirely new way.

A/N: On QaF one of the things that's always implied to us as viewers is that when a character is in doubt, pain or heartache they can always count on finding peace, comfort and resolution on the dance floor of Babylon. It's a special, sacred place because it's symbolic of liberation to the characters.

I thought what would be the best way, the right moment for Santana to realize that she's ready to make that leap. I had her doing it a dozen different ways and none of them felt right until I realized that if she and Brittany shared some kind of cosmic connection to Brian and Justin, then she too would feel the pull of the dance floor at Babylon. Because that - dance - to those four characters is a holy thing. And if Babylon is a symbol of liberation then this would be the place where she'd feel most safe, most certain of who she is. I couldn't get away from the idea that Babylon would be her transformative moment.

I don't know how well I got that across though, especially to those unfamiliar with QaF.

Next chapter needs a lot of work but so far it includes: sexfrast (which is what you get when you mash up sex with your breakfast), Brittany, Justin and Michael discuss bringing Snix into the Rage-verse, Brian and Santana bitch and bond over fashion,music and a joint, an embarrassed Daphne enlists the girls to accompany her to a sex shop and I'm not sure yet but maybe a Brittana/Britin double date. Like I totally see them doing something ridiculously cute like Putt-Putt golf and Britt and Justin are just there to have fun but end up being really good but Brian and Santana get frustrated with their own lack of skills and he ends up throwing his putter in one of those little ponds and she kicks a hole in one of those fake animal statue things because they are the king and queen of adorable tantrums.

Anyhow! As always if you're out there reading I'd love to hear from you!