X
sing me something soft, sad and delicate
or loud and out of key
sing me anything
- Straylight Run
X
Later that evening Santana and Brittany along with all of the acquaintances - Ted, Emmett, Daphne, Jennifer, Carl, Debbie - they had made over the past week descended upon the comfy and warm home of Michael which he shared with his husband the handsome, brainy Ben.
Brian and Justin had been the ones to make the introductions to them. Ben was a teacher and writer and in Santana's objective estimation the most attractive man she had ever seen. She couldn't help but wonder what the hell he was doing with Michael.
Santana leaned up to slyly whisper into Brittany's ear ''oh my god, Hobbit 2.0 totally married up. Michael is so...and Ben is so...''
''Right,'' Brittany laughed in agreement. ''It's like...you know what it's like?''
''If Rachel hooked up with and married Quinn?''
''Yes! It'd be like the same exact hottness ratio!'' Brittany declared.
''Oh my god.''
''Oh my gross.''
They shivered together at the thought of some bizarre parallel universe where Quinn and Rachel genderswapped, fell in love and lived happily ever after.
''I need a drink,'' said a slightly wigged out Santana.
''I think I saw punch in the dining room,'' Brittany pointed off in the direction.
''Yeah, not that kind of drink.''
She gently nudged the blonde towards the nearby kitchen nook. Her hope was to find a bottle of something that would make this snooze of a get together a little less boring. Her quest for alcohol was temporarily thwarted when they came face to face with Debbie who immediately spotted them and with that scratchy but warm voice joyfully demanded to know how their date went. Brittany happily gushed and Santana remained silent, more than happy to let the other girl do all the talking as she recalled it all to the older woman who seemed pleased to know it went smoothly.
''I'm glad you two had a lovely date,'' Debbie said with a cheesy smile before dropping it completely from her expression and shooting a faux stern look at Santana, ''although you owe me for having to drag my ass up the Mon Incline in the middle of the night to set that picnic up for you.''
''Psh,'' Santana scoffed, playing right along, ''I don't owe you shit OWWW!''
Debbie reached out to suddenly snag Santana's ear as if she were a toddler who needed a timeout. Santana let out a yelp and bent her body to ease the slight pain. Even in her comical discomfort Santana somehow knew it was done with a certain affection and fondness. Debbie was sort of the matriarch of this rag tag bunch and had been known to give the occasional swat to those she called her own yet it was always done in motherly maternal way - in some ways she actually reminded Santana of her own grandmother.
''I mean thank you,'' Santana winced out and heaved a sigh of relief when Debbie released her from her grasp.
''That's more like it,'' Debbie laughed and went to pat Santana on the cheek with a tender touch.
Looking amused with Santana's peculiar friendship with the older woman Brittany went to peck her ear to make it feel better.
''In all seriousness though I was glad to be of assistance,'' Debbie admitted, looking at them and noting the open affection they were giving each other. ''I am however surprised to see you here. I would've thought you two would have much more interesting things to do than to show up at my boring little birthday dinner. You should be out, together, hitting Liberty Avenue.''
''We plan to later,'' Santana said.
''But after you cut the birthday cake,'' added Brittany.
Debbie gave them both affectionate pats, silently thanking them for showing up when she knew they could have wiggled their way out of attending. With an adorable bounce in her step Brittany then announced she was going to make a trip to the little girl's room.
Left alone with the older woman Santana hopped onto the counter and watched Debbie fix herself a cup of coffee.
''Can I ask you a question?''
''Shoot,'' Debbie said, ''and hand me the creamer there.''
Santana did as told, handing the small container over to Debbie. ''Was it hard for you?''
''Was what hard for me? Does this smell fresh to you? It doesn't smell fresh to me,'' Debbie waved the creamer under Santana's nose.
''Smells fine, but I mean...was it hard for you...you know...when Michael told you he was...gay?'' Santana asked slowly and awkwardly.
Debbie paused as if realizing the weight of such a question. ''Not really...seeing as he never told me...I told him.''
''You what?''
''To spare him the pain of having to tell me,'' Debbie explained. ''I knew, and I knew that he knew. I figured since we both knew the sooner we talked about it, the sooner we could help each other. He taught me and I made sure he always had the support he needed. I mean, I'm sure I embarrassed the shit out of him more than a few times along the way but...when he was growing up he and I were always a team. I wasn't going to let who he was change that, because it shouldn't. So no, it wasn't hard for me but it was something I had to understand and educate myself about.''
''And it doesn't ever wig you out or give you pause, like, the fact that you're constantly surrounded by gay men and women?'' Santana asked, curious. ''No offense, it's just...I guess I have this idea that most people your age-''
''My age!'' Debbie laughed.
''You know what I mean,'' Santana chuckled, ''most older generations are stuck. I guess I was just wondering because...you know...''
Debbie nodded, hearing what Santana left unsaid. ''They're just people, Santana. You're just people. I'm not going to lie to you. There are assholes out there who can only see things a certain way, who can see other people a certain way and when something or someone comes along and challenges them and their very narrow view of the world...not everyone will be as willing to evolve.''
Santana glanced away in thought. Her parents might take a moment to adjust and understand and she knew that when all was said and done there was a possibility that they might not be receptive to what she had to tell them when she returned to Lima but for the most part she wanted to believe that her connection to them was strong enough to handle anything.
It was her grandmother that she really worried about.
Telling the older Lopez woman was not exactly something she was looking forward to because that reaction was a question mark.
Alma Lopez much like Debbie Novotny could be a little brutal with her kind of affection. While she had never actually seen Debbie legitimately angry she knew her own grandmother enough to know her mood and touch could swing fast and almost violently. She worried what that would spell for her and for their relationship once she sat the older woman down and revealed herself to her.
Her grandmother was not an easy woman. Her love could be hard. Her words could shatter you. Even on good days.
''Hey,'' Debbie softened and leaned in, ''whoever it is that you're afraid you might lose...all you can do is try. You do your part and be honest and the rest is up to them. And if they don't have the guts to evolve that's their problem, not yours. Understand? No matter who you lose you will never be lost, because you're only lost if you're alone and you will never be alone.''
''But wha-''
''You will never be alone,'' Debbie repeated seriously and quickly, reaching out to tilt Santana's head so she could look her in the eyes and know this. ''Not if the girl in the next room has anything to say about it, '' she nodded towards the door Brittany had entered moments before, ''not if Justin has anything to say about it, not if I have anything to say about it and he may be the most irritating human being alive but believe it or not Brian Kinney gives a shit. In fact he'd probably deny it but I think he just may give the most shits out of all of us when it comes to the people he calls his friends. You may just be passing through Liberty Avenue but...the connections you make here...you take those with you when you go. Understand?''
Santana blinked.
Debbie tried again. ''Say you understand or I twist your ear again.''
''I understand,'' Santana said finally and gave the older woman a smile.
''Good.''
Debbie grinned and made to take a sip of her coffee. She took a swig and then promptly spit it back into the cup, all while making hilariously over the top faces as if repulsed.
''This tastes like shit,'' Debbie yucked and walked out screaming ''Michael what the hell are you serving me in here?''
Brittany re-entered the room a few moments later and came to stand near Santana and noticed her shift in mood.
''You okay?'' Brittany asked, holding her cheek and stroking it with her thumb.
''Yeah. More than.''
''You sure?''
''Way sure.''
Santana exhaled, feeling a soft sort of ease with Debbie's words and the depth behind them. Brittany held out both of her hands which Santana took as she hopped her way down from the counter and smoothed out her dress. Having given up on finding a proper drink they were about to walk out to join the others in the sitting room when they looked up to see what appeared to be a fourteen year old boy smiling at them as he held tiny cups of punch out for their taking.
''Hello ladies,'' he said in greeting, sounding like he had a mouthful of braces.
He was a scrawny, wiry little thing, even an inch or so shorter than Santana. He was obviously attempting to be smooth and charming, but it all came off rather lame. Brittany held in her laughter while Santana rolled her eyes.
''Missing child!'' Santana hollered to no one in particular. ''We have a missing child without parent or guardian here!''
''Who are you calling a child?'' the young man replied, looking ruffled at being referred to as such. ''I'm nineteen, I'm in college.''
''Right, I'm sure,'' Santana laughed in a pitying tone, ''look we don't have any candy so why don't you go run along to your mommy or daddy or whoever you're here with.''
''Uh, I live here,'' the young man replied quickly. ''This is my house. Michael and Ben are my dads and I'm really nineteen.''
''Did they like have you when they were twelve or something?'' Brittany asked, towering over him. ''Aren't they like in their thirties?''
''What? I'm adopted of course. They took me in a few years ago when I was fifteen,'' he explained. ''I'm Hunter by the way.''
''And we're not interested by the way,'' Santana said, and Brittany leaned into her side to underline the reason why.
The young man - Hunter - accepted the information easily with nonchalance. ''You're together? Rad.'' He gave them a little smile and looked apologetic. ''Sorry if I stepped on anyone's toes when I came over. I swear I wasn't trying to be a douche. Other than Justin and Daphne I'm always the youngest at all of these get togethers, I saw you guys and I just wanted to come say hi is all. I thought finally people my age, you know.''
Looking at his face and stance, Santana could tell he meant no harm. Even if he did though he had such a thin tiny build it was impossible to feel threatened or put off by him. He looked younger than both of them.
She raised a shoulder. ''Whatever, show us where they keep the booze and we're square.''
Hunter laughed and nodded at them to follow him over to a connecting room. He took a look around and when he was sure no one was looking swiped a bottle from a tucked away cabinet.
They introduced themselves as they all put a splash in each of their cups and they soon found that what Hunter lacked in build, he made up for in attitude. He spoke with a funny surfer boy lilt and just about every other word out of his mouth was 'dude'. He was pretty much an average teenage boy, except without the disgusting average teenage boy mindset of 'ooo, two girls, hot'. Hunter seemed more interested in telling them about his gaming system than in getting in between them.
They all eventually wandered into the main sitting room and took a seat with several of the others on an overstuffed sofa.
''No way!'' Hunter shouted, his mouth left open in astonishment. ''Justin and the guys let you hang out with them at a bar? They've only let me go into one with them once!''
''Why don't you get a fake ID and go out on your own?'' Brittany asked.
''Cause I look thirteen is why,'' Hunter laughed. ''Nobody would buy that.''
''You are kind of a runt,'' Santana remarked.
''Hey,'' Hunter pointed a finger at her, ''my growth spurt is coming any day now.''
''So what's it like having two dads?'' Brittany asked him.
''We know this one girl who has two fathers,'' Santana added, ''but I try to avoid eye contact and one on one conversations with her. If you look into her eyes she steals your soul.''
''Michael and Ben are pretty cool parents. Ben is into sports with me and Michael owns his own comic book store - I kinda lucked out dad wise,'' said Hunter. ''Course they do kinda suck when it comes to certain things. Thankfully I have Mel and Linds to call up when I'm having girl problems.''
''Oh, we met them today!'' Brittany said, which got Brian and Justin's attention and involvement in the conversation.
''Whoa, what, you met Lindsay and Melanie?'' Justin asked, leaning over the back panel of the couch.
''When?'' Brian wondered from a chair nearby.
''Uh, excuse me, me and my new friends we were in the middle of a conversation here,'' Hunter said, looking at the two other men who interjected themselves into it.
Brian made a funny little dismissive noise with his mouth and flicked at Hunter's ear in a silent playful warning to shush and keep quiet. He seemed to regard Hunter as a mere child, even though technically Santana and Brittany were younger he had never looked or dismissed them in that way.
''Yeah,'' Santana answered, ''they dropped by the loft earlier today looking for you and Justin.''
''And totally cock-blocked me and Santana in the process,'' Brittany grumbled sadly.
Brian nodded knowingly. ''They do tend to do that.''
It was then that the couple in question arrived. Melanie and Lindsay walked into the door with their two children with them. They were greeted and embraced by most everyone in the room who rushed to them but the last thing Santana thought she'd see is Brian leap up from his seat and jostle his way in as well, forgetting his cool in order to stand before his two old friends. After receiving hugs and hellos from Justin both women turned to Brian.
''Wendy,'' Brian said in greeting to Lindsay; his voice soft and full of emotion.
''Peter,'' Lindsay replied.
Brian then looked to Melanie. ''Mel.''
''Heartless intolerable prick,'' Melanie said her own greeting with a warm smile.
''I've missed you,'' he said to both of them.
Back on the couch Brittany and Santana both watched the sort of reunion take place as Melanie and Lindsay were immediately being pulled in a dozen different directions by their surrounding friends.
And so the party began.
Although Santana thought it could barely be classified as such, it was such a snoozy, low-key thing but then she guessed it had to be since there were children here. The next hour dragged on for her as everybody chatted about and filled up on food and drink, and after everyone serenaded Debbie with Happy Birthday the older woman then dug into her gifts. Most of which were nice and looked pricey and while she was thankful for them it was obvious that her favorite gift was the kitschy golden cat cookie jar Brittany had gifted to her. Britt and the older woman had a similar fondness and taste for the absurd as evidenced by the collection of porcelain cat figurines she had seen at Debbie's place that one night.
As hour two was quickly approaching Santana was about to pull Brittany aside so they could plan their escape when there was a small hubbub; a few people started hollering and jumping up and down, specifically Michael, Ted and Emmett who in the blink of an eye began hopping in place like a couple of five year olds. For a second there she half expected them to grasp hands and begin skipping in circles. The three men were practically dancing around Melanie and Lindsay who were attempting to talk as the guys frolicked in celebration of something the women had just said.
''You're moving back?! Are you serious?!'' Michael shouted.
Emmett was already fanning his face as if he were on the brink of breaking out into tears. ''You two better not be twisting my leg or I will cry!'' Emmett rambled excitedly. ''I'm already crying. You better not be making me ruin my guy-liner for nothing!''
''Just tell us,'' Ted looked to the female couple, questioning them. ''You just said you and Linds were moving back, were you serious?''
''We're serious,'' Melanie answered with a chuckle.
As they were surrounded by the others the two women took turns explaining that they were still doing well in Toronto. They had a beautiful home and stable positions and had even made a few solid friendships but that it simply had never quite felt like home there because, they said, they already one. The move to Canada was something they had felt was right for them at the time but now, Melanie said, they both believed it was time for them and their family to come back.
''I've already talked to my university about it and Mel has already sorted it out with her law partners and there's still some paperwork for each of us to sign, but...we're coming back, for good,'' Lindsay informed everyone who erupted in laughs and excited chatter.
''Damn it, Michael, put me down,'' Melanie hollered, comically trying to escape her friend's arms.
Santana watched the festivities and tilted her head at the realization that the arrival of Melanie and Lindsay had shifted something.
Before when she had gotten to spend time with the group it was obvious that they were all close, they were all friends, that they all meant something to each other. Sure they teased and laughed and threw bitchy one liners at each other but with Lindsay and Melanie now in the picture, the group somehow looked different now.
Balanced almost.
Like with this Mel and Linds, she thought, they were now complete. It was a sight, Santana thought, to see this female couple not only be accepted but celebrated. Melanie and Lindsay weren't just a piece of this group, they were, apparently, a central part of it. The glue.
This didn't look like a bunch of friends anymore. It looked like a family. A completely dysfunctional, loud ass family. A found family.
And as she stared at the people in front of her she wondered what it would be like to find that for herself.
She and Brittany were really doing this couple thing now and as terrifying as felt, she was excited for what was to come and she hoped that when they returned to Lima the few people she trusted and felt for could be something like this to them. If she and Brittany opened themselves up to people would those same people open up themselves in return.
What would it all come down to if she told them that this - her and Brittany - it wasn't for fun or to pass time or a phase, that this was who she was and who they were. Would they turn away, would they think nothing of it? How much would she lose, who would she lose?
Glancing over at a deliriously happy looking Debbie she thought once again to her own grandmother.
That loss was a very real possibility she knew and briefly she wondered if it would all be worth it.
Her answer came to her as she looked over to Brittany a few feet away as the blonde was laughing at something in conversation with Justin and Daphne. She watched as Brittany's cheeks rose, as the tiny muscles around her mouth worked to bring the corners of her lips up, how those beautiful cat-like eyes filled with the most amazing, captivating light.
Yes.
Yes. This would always be worth it.
Even if she lost everything and everyone it was still a small price to pay for the freedom to be who she always was.
Santana Lopez bowed down to nothing and no one. Whatever happened, if anyone walked away, she would deal and she would go on and one way or another she'd make it through.
She had to she told herself and maybe somehow, some way she'd make her own found family.
Hell, if Brian Kinney could somehow find a group of people willing to put up with his smartass, she could too. At least she hoped so, she thought, as she stared at the ruckus with a bittersweet kind of wonder.
X
A half hour later everyone - save for Carl, Debbie and Justin's mother Jennifer who had both opted to stay in and get in some snuggle time with Melanie and Lindsay's children - had made their way to Woody's so they could all have a drink, toast Lindsay and Melanie's return with a few rounds as well as watch Brittany and Santana have at their long overdue duet.
Once the entire group was in they located a couple of tables and everyone began to situate themselves so that everyone had room. But before Brittany could take a seat Santana took her hand and gently tugged it, silently requesting she follow. Brittany watched her girlfriend snatch a shot of alcohol from Daphne in passing and knock it back before they both came to stand in a dark corner of the bar.
''You ready?'' Santana asked, giving her hand the tiniest squeeze.
''To sing? Now? I thought you'd want to wait til later, you know, to show everyone up like last time we were here.''
''Wuh, that was different,'' she reasoned.
''How?''
''That was about shutting everyone up and putting Brian in his place. But this? Tonight?'' Her smile faded as she turned quiet and earnest. She blinked slowly in reply as if she were searching for the right words, as if trying to memorize this moment as she set them free. ''This isn't about showing anybody up. You and me getting on stage, that's about us, Britt. No one else. If you want to wait til later in the night we can wait but I'm ready when you're ready.''
''You are...aren't you,'' Brittany said, still astounded by Santana's willingness and readiness for what came with her coming out.
It was like something inside of her had been unleashed. Something fierce, something ready, something burning with urgency. Brittany was amazed and proud to see her taking these steps on her own, each of one of them more certain, more sure than the one before.
They then made their way to where the sound man was set up tinkering with his gear. He smiled in recognition of them as he handed over the binder that held the song selections available. Brittany pointed a finger at her choice.
''Didn't we do this in glee club once?'' she asked as she caught sight of it.
''Sort of, like a mash up of it,'' Brittany answered. ''Which was fun, but...''
Santana leaned into her side, curiosity all over her face. ''But?''
''You know back when things were different. When we were both trying to distract ourselves with other people and other things...me and you would have these amazing nights but then just go right back to having to pretend...I can't count how many times I laid awake in bed daydreaming about us. About what we could have. I saw us live a million different lifetimes, a million different ways. But no matter what or where, all of them had you and me singing this song, some way, some how. Always. It's what I hear in my head when I think of you.''
''Really?'' Santana blushed at the admission.
Brittany attempted to lighten up the moment with a little nonchalant playa shoulder shrug. ''Well, this and R. Kelly's You Remind Me Of My Jeep, cause 'girl, I wanna ride it' so totally like encapsulates our love.''
Chuckles rolled out of Santana at her lame attempt at a joke.
''So do you need a minute or two to prepare?'' the sound man asked, cueing up the tune on his system and producing two mics for them.
''Pfft,'' Santana began, ''I can do this in my sleep.''
''Yeah, I think we got this,'' Brittany added. ''Thanks.''
The sound man gave them a thumbs up as a go ahead just as the last performer was hopping off stage to bored, stilted, mild applause.
Right before they took to the steps Santana lifted Brittany's hand between them and kissed her knuckles, pressing her lips to them for several silent seconds. ''Let's give them a night they'll never forget.''
And then they were on.
A light ethereal synthy sound began playing from the system, followed by a piano. In recognition of the song many people in the bar sat up suddenly. Justin, Brian, Melanie, Lindsay, Michael and the rest were alert and attentive, and Emmett was already doing his cute little baby seal claps in his seat.
''What is this song?'' Ted leaned into Daphne's side and whispered.
Daphne twisted up her face. ''Oh my god, you don't know Beyonce when you hear it?''
''No.''
''But aren't you gay?''
Ted blinked. ''Excuse me, that is offensive. As a gay man I am not obligated to be knowledgeable or fawn over pop icon divas and their-''
''Shut up Ted!'' Brian and Justin said simultaneously in a sort of whispered shout as neither of them looked like they were in the mood to hear one of his little teachy PC spiels.
The stuffy accountant held up his hands, quieting himself along with the rest of his friends who were staring up at the small stage and at the two young women standing upon it. One dark, one light, both of which appeared to in this moment only have eyes for each other.
Over on stage for the first few seconds of the song Brittany felt like she might faint, or rather that she make wake up from some fainting spell to realize this was all a dream. Because for so long it had been a dream. This is all she had ever wanted, to feel that passion, that fire Santana had when performing and to share in it.
They were finally, after years, on a stage together - just the two of them - and for a brief moment Brittany actually feared she might have lost her own voice.
''Remember those walls I built,'' Santana began first, her eyes raking over Brittany and Brittany alone, completely neglecting the crowd before them to give all of her focus to her, ''well baby they're tumbling down and they didn't even put up a fight and they didn't even make a sound. I found a way to let you in but I never really had a doubt. Standing in the light of your halo, I got my angel now...''
As Santana sang to her, her voice warm and full of admiration, Brittany shook off that tiny tremor within her. Her worry over her own voice failing her quickly dissolving because with Santana at her side looking at her like this, giving her everything, she felt something proud rise up within her.
This was the moment she had waited for for so long. She wasn't about to let it pass her by.
''It's like I've been awakened, every rule I had you breaking, it's the risk that I'm taking,'' Brittany started in, layering her voice over Santana's. Her heart swelled at the sound of them both, alone-together. ''I ain't never gonna shut you out.''
''Everywhere that I'm looking now, I'm surrounded by your embrace. Baby, I can see your halo, you know you're my saving grace,'' Santana continued in that silky, soulful way of hers that gave Brittany chills, ''you're everything I need and more, it's written all over your face. Baby, I can feel your halo. Pray it won't fade away.''
And together they went in for the hook…
''I can feel your halo, halo, halo. I can feel your halo, halo, halo. I can feel your halo, halo, halo. I can feel your halo, halo, halo...''
With each 'halo' she watched as Santana's smile became wider, brighter and even more impossibly beautiful. She took tiny step by tiny step across the stage towards her as those deep brown eyes gazed at her.
It was like Santana was stripping everything away, every little barrier, every little obstacle or reasoning that her past self had once said no to all of this, each and every shackle that had tried to hold her heart captive, everything, all of that, had been slowly falling away and this here and now was the last piece as she walked through the fear and allowed her voice to flow out and find Brittany's own.
Brittany thought this is what it was to be made love to through song.
That's exactly what it felt like.
Pure.
Intoxicating.
Intimacy.
And even though they were in a room full of people she knew without a shadow of a doubt, this was all for her, for them.
About them.
''Hit me like a ray of sun, burning through my darkest night, you're the only one that I want, think I'm addicted to your light,'' Brittany took it from there, ''I swore I'd never fall again but this don't even feel like falling. Gravity can't forget to pull me back to the ground again.''
''It's like I've been awakened,'' Santana came in, moving her hand ever so slightly in front of her body as she emoted, ''every rule I had you breaking, it's the risk that I'm taking ain't never gonna shut you out.''
''Everywhere that I'm looking now, I'm surrounded by your embrace. Baby, I can see your halo, you know you're my saving grace, you're everything I need and more, it's written all over your face. Baby, I can feel your halo. Pray it won't fade away.''
By the time they got that hook again the bar erupted in appreciation, roaring for them with excitement. Several clusters of people were singing along and back at the table Justin, Daphne and Emmett were happily hooting, so in awe of the performance so far. Brian, Lindsay and Melanie all had open mouthed smiles, their eyebrows raised in a kind of marvel.
''I can feel your halo, halo, halo. I can feel your halo, halo, halo. I can feel your halo, halo, halo. I can feel your halo, halo, halo...''
Everyone was feeling it, everyone was loving it.
And on stage Brittany thought it funny how these three minutes could somehow feel like a lifetime. How time seemed to stretch on and expand when she was looking at the girl of her dreams. She wondered if it was possible to live inside this moment, to exist within it to the end of all time.
But when all was said and done and the final note was played and the crowd applauded with glee and enthusiasm their eyes found each other. Amidst the noise and the numerous distractions they blinked slowly at each other before Santana's arms found their way around Brittany's neck and without hesitance she laid a big giant one on her.
''Thank you,'' Brittany said pulling back and cradling her face, placing a thumb gently over the center of Santana's lips and smiling down at the contact.
''For what?''
''For doing this with me. You didn't have to, you didn't need to.''
''I told you I wanted to. When we were at Babylon you said every dance was mine,'' Santana whispered and Brittany nodded in recollection. ''I want you to know that every song I've ever sung or will ever sing is yours, Britt. They're all yours. Every note, every bar, every word. They belong to you.''
Brittany nodded again, wrapping her hands around her waist and grinning into their kiss which soon turned ridiculously playful as Brittany started bouncing in place mid-smooch.
When they stepped off the stage they laughed and kissed their way over to the bar where the bartender smiled and magically produced a couple of cute looking drinks and with a nod slid it over towards them without a single word. It was a silent, thankful gesture for the performance.
As they walked back to the table they were rewarded with polite hoots and hollers from several patrons and the rest of their party had all eyes on them.
''Oh god, I'm crying again,'' Emmett said, comically fanning his face once more. Nearby Daphne laughed and handed him a napkin to dab at his eyes with.
''That was something,'' Lindsay said to the girls as they returned to take their seats.
''Definitely something,'' Melanie said lighting up, equally impressed by what she had just seen.
''Britt and Santana know their way around a song,'' Justin said proudly. ''That was amazing, girls.''
Hunter, Michael's son, spoke up in his slurpy surfer boy voice. ''Dude, Beyonce would be proud.'' He got a few odd glances and shrugged with a wave of his hand, completely unbothered. ''What? I'm secure enough in my masculinity to admit I can get down with some Beyonce. You suckers judge all you want.''
''Hey, no judgements here,'' Melanie declared kindly.
''But I do say a toast is in order,'' Daphne encouraged, looking to Brittany and then Santana, ''you guys killed it up there.''
Everyone raised their glasses at Santana and Brittany and their moment on stage and the group soon fell into several different conversations. There were so many of them at the table they all soon splintered off into their own interactions.
''...Is it okay? I mean, is it hot?'' Brian asked Santana, patting a hand over his head.
''It's fine,'' Santana answered.
''Fine? I want more than fine. Give me your compact. I need to look at my hair.''
And while Santana found herself occupied with Brian briefly, Brittany found herself engaging with the other female couple, telling Lindsay and Melanie all about she and Santana and more or less explaining their finally getting together and coming out on Liberty Avenue and how tonight in its own way marked a very special occasion for them.
''It's kind of a big deal for us,'' Brittany admitted, her body still buzzing, ''singing together in front of other people. It's real now...but this somehow made it real-real.''
Brittany looked over to Santana who was now holding up a compact so Brian could inspect and fuss over his hair and once he found it satisfactory he took it and turned it so she could do the exact same. She had to grin. They were both such pretty princesses.
''I know San can be a little growly and cautious around new people, but she really does have, like, the most amazing heart,'' Brittany said to the other female pair. ''We've been hanging with Justin and Brian mostly since we got here which is cool and all. I mean Justin is the best and Santana and Brian have this totally weird friendship going on too but...I don't know. It felt different hanging with you guys earlier today. Like good different though!''
''It was nice meeting you both,'' Lindsay added warmly, looking touched. ''It's always amazing to see young people be fearless in who they are.''
Brittany shrugged, unsure if the praise was warranted. ''I don't know if we're fearless.''
''Oh fuck that,'' Melanie said abruptly, nudging Brittany in the shoulder in a playful, encouraging manner, ''don't ever diminish yourself or your voice. There's no doubt that the political and social climate is shifting-''
''Global warming is a problem, yes,'' Brittany said.
Melanie smiled and simply shook her head as she started again, ''what I mean is the world has changed in the last few years. Progress has been made and we absolutely have a long ways to go but it still takes a lot of guts to be queer. LGBTQA - no matter where a person stands in that acronym don't ever devalue yourself or your own bravery. That goes for both of you.''
Lindsay turned to her wife with an idea, ''we should take Brittany and Santana to some of the girl bars some time.''
''Right,'' Melanie had to agree, nodding at Brittany. ''I would be open to that, even if I had to endure an evening with your ever so charming girlfriend.''
Santana turned towards them and leaned into Brittany's side. ''I heard someone say my name over here,'' she said smoothly. ''All horrible things I hope.''
Lindsay laughed and Melanie brushed it off good naturedly as Brittany informed her. ''Mel and Linds just offered to take us to some girl bars! Cool right?''
''What? Really?'' Santana raised an intrigued eyebrow.
''Prohibited you be on your best behavior,'' said Melanie, looking more to Santana than to Brittany.
Santana squinted. ''Why are you looking at me?''
''Something tells me spending any amount of time with you is bound to result in a migraine, or a criminal record,'' the lawyer teased.
''Oh hush,'' Lindsay lightly swatted her wife in the arm then looked apologetically to Santana, ''she doesn't mean anything by it.''
''Well, if anything, it's this one here,'' Santana said, patting Brittany's head affectionately, ''that you should watch out for. Believe it or not with a few drinks in her she turns into the wild one.''
''And she,'' Brittany said, nodding back at Santana, ''turns into a weepy mess.''
''One time, that happened one time and I never live it down,'' Santana said in her defense. ''But you know what? As long I don't have to wear flannel I'm so totally in for checking out some girl bars.''
Brittany held up a finger. ''Ya know-''
''Do not even start! I am not wearing flannel.'' Santana laughed out her protest.
''But you'd be the hottest lumberjack ever!''
Melanie and Lindsay erupted into tiny shoulder shaking chuckles as they watched the back and forth take place. For the next couple of hours they mostly found themselves joshing around and interacting with the married couple who as it turned out were a lot less stuffy once in a relaxed environment and had a drink in hand. Melanie did a couple of shots with Brittany and Lindsay bummed a smoke from Brian and leaned over and allowed Santana to light the cigarette that hung from her mouth.
They might have been together for over a decade, they might have been parents, they might have been the more traditional out of the bunch but Lindsay and Melanie were just as loud and hilarious as their friends and both Brittany and Santana took a certain delight in this discovery.
They were fun and smart, down to earth but still sophisticated, prone to petty wisecracks but also socially and politically aware.
Their conversation veered from topic to topic, hitting on everything from Barbie and whether or not she was simply a dumb blonde toy or a feminist icon to where to go in Liberty Avenue to find the best scones to a wildly inappropriate game of Marry-Fuck-Kill featuring all the women of the Buffy-verse.
''I gotta say,'' Santana began to Melanie, ''you're cooler than I thought you would be. I pegged you as an uptight professional with a stick up your ass.''
''Eh,'' Melanie said with an unoffended shrug, ''I can be a little anal but this uptight professional knows how to let loose like the rest of them. Anyways I didn't peg you for the romantic type,'' the lawyer countered harmlessly, throwing a nod towards the stage and her earlier performance with Brittany. ''But that's the thing isn't it? People are surprising.''
''There's nowt so queer as folk,'' Lindsay said to the girls.
''What was that?'' Brittany blinked, not quite sure of what she heard.
''Say again?'' requested Santana, knocking a shot down herself.
Lindsay spoke once more, grinning from ear to ear. ''It's this Northern English saying I think...there's nowt so queer as folk. I teach art, Ben is the English professor so I'm sure he'd be a little more eloquent in explaining, but basically it means there's nothing as strange as people. Regardless of who we love or go to bed with at the end of the day every single person walking this earth, we're all a little odd, we're all a little bit mad, we're all a little bit surprising, we're all a little bit of...of...everything. There's nowt so queer as folk.''
Melanie rubbed her wives back but leaned across the table to loudly whisper to the girls ''you may be the stripper drunk and you may be the weepy drunk but as you can see my wife is the philosophical drunk.''
''What?'' Lindsay squeaked. ''I am not! I was being profound!''
''Well you're adorable when you're profound,'' Mel kissed her.
''Thank you.''
''All teasing aside you know,'' Melanie turned to the girls once more. ''Linds and I meant it about taking you two out one night, just the four of us. We'll show you some parts of Liberty Avenue that the guys aren't really familiar with.''
Brittany bit her lip and was on the edge of her seat imagining the possibilities and Santana looked pleased that the other couple were serious about their offer. They were both so jazzed that soon they both stood and made their way over to the bar to grab four more drinks for all of them. They were actually waiting on said drinks to be served when Michael, Ted and Emmett approached them. Michael stood at the forefront while Emmett and Ted flanked his sides and stood a step behind. All of them sporting cheesy smiles.
''You know what? I see it now.'' Santana turned to Brittany. ''When these three are together they do look like Alvin and the Chipmunks.''
''We have a favor to ask,'' Michael said, brushing off her teasing.
Emmett bounced on his heels. ''Please, please say yes.''
''We wanna do something special for Mel and Lindsay,'' Ted explained. ''But we could use a little back up.''
''Actually, we could use a lot of backup,'' Michael admitted with a wince. ''We want to sing them a song but we're kind of just okay as singers. But you guys? Each time you've been on stage you blew it out of the water. We could really use your voices in the mix.''
''Will you give us a hand?'' Emmett asked looking hopeful.
Ted continued. ''We just really want to make this special for Mel and Linds. Please.''
Santana looked to Brittany who nodded without hesitance. Santana shrugged. ''Alright, we're in.''
''But only because it's my childhood dream to get to sing with Alvin and the Chipmunks,'' Brittany informed them matter of factly, ''...and because Mel and Linds are pretty awesome.''
''So what are we singing?'' Santana asked the men who began to look amongst themselves.
Fifteen minutes later with all the details worked out, Brittany and Santana sat off to the side of the stage, on top of a table with a couple of mics in hand and watched as Michael, Emmett and Ted took to the spotlight and fidgeted in place for a moment. The three men looked slightly awkward and shuffled around until Michael finally stepped up to speak.
''Hey everyone. I'm Michael,'' the comic book store owner began meekly, ''me and my friends are regulars here. Most of you know us one way or another, and if you know us then you probably know Mel and Linds.''
He made a small gesture with his hand to the married couple. The crowd collectively chattered in agreement. Several of them spotting the female pair and hollered out friendly and familiar 'heys!' at them, some even throwing waves to the two women.
''It wasn't too long ago Melanie and Lindsay were regulars around these parts,'' Michael carried on, ''until they decided to move away to start a different chapter of their lives. Even though they were only going somewhere a short plane ride away, saying goodbye to them… it was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.'' He swallowed and looked to Emmett and Ted at his side on stage, both of them nodding sadly at the recollection of that particular farewell. ''It was one of the hardest things any of us have ever had to do. Because they're more than my friends, they're family. Tonight though, tonight I want to celebrate the fact that they're coming back, back for good.''
There were several laughs and happy hoots and even a few clusters of people applauding this news throughout the bar.
''And I thought what better way to greet them back than to sing something to them. Some of you might have been there a few years back when Lindsay and Melanie threw a little party that - thanks to a little E in the punch and the B-52's - turned into one of the best times of my life. I remember that day. I remember all of us laughing and dancing and singing but most of all I remember Mel and Linds were in the middle of all of it. That said, this one is for you two. Welcome home. Lindsay...Melanie...Liberty Avenue has missed you.''
Instead of a smoopy, slow emotional ballad however, a fun familiar beat began to pump out of the speakers. A tune everyone seemed to know right away, regardless of age.
Michael began, ''if you see a faded sign at the side of the road that says fifteen miles to the-''
Still sitting calmly Brittany took it from there, ''love shaaaaack, love shack yeah, I'm heading down the Atlanta highway, looking for the love getaway, love getaway.''
''I got me a car, it's as big as a whale,'' sang Ted who looked nervous as he tried to shake off his own stuffiness, ''and we're heading on down to the love shack. I got me a Chrysler, it seats about twenty so hurry up and bring your jukebox money.''
''The love shack is a little old place where we can get together...love shack, baby...'' Santana came in with Brittany echoing her, both of them remaining subdued as they allowed the song to build and allowed the three men to have a go at the forefront of the song.
''Sign says stay away fools,'' Emmett shimmied his way in front of Ted and Michael. Unlike his friends he took to performing with a lot more ease and charisma, his voice flowed, ''cause love rules at the luh-huh-ove shack. Well it set way back in the middle of a field. Just a funky old shack and I gotta get back.''
''Glitter on the mattress,'' Brittany sang as she hopped down from the table and held out her hand for Santana to take and helped her down as well as they played off of each other and made their way to the front.
''Glitter on the highway,'' Santana added into her own mic.
''Glitter on the front porch.''
''Glitter on the highway.''
They remained on the main floor, not bothering to even take the stage because as they took over the vocals and launched into that hook they took off in a spirited but slow sprint into the crowd. Brittany exited to the right and Santana made her way over to the left. They wandered through tables, riling up patrons to stand up and take part in the moment.
''THE LOVE SHACK IS A LITTLE OLD PLACE WHERE WE CAN GET TOGETHER,'' they sang in unison. ''LOVE SHACK, BABY. LOVE SHACK, THAT'S WHERE IT'S SHACK, THAT'S WHERE IT'S AT.''
Emmett, inspired by the girls, took off from the middle of the stage to follow them out into the sea of people with his own mic as he took another verse. ''Huggin' and a kissin', dancin' and a lovin', wearing next to nothing cause it's hot as an oven,'' he paused to sing to a specific table and fanned his face playfully. ''The whole shack shimmies when everybody's dancing around and around and around and around!''
As Brittany and Santana continued to make their way through the bar they soon discovered that the people of Liberty Avenue however needed little encouragement to sing and dance. In fact they took to it as if it were the most natural, ordinary thing and soon the entire bar erupted in a sort of wonderful, mad chaos. Men and women were up and dancing, not just on floor but on the pool table, on the bar, people were holding up their drinks in salute, swaying them to the rhythm of the song, not even caring when the liquid would occasionally pour out little by little. Everyone was alert and making noise, banging on table tops and singing at the top of their lungs.
Emmett continued to work the crowd and Brittany soon came to meet Santana in the middle of the rear and together they made for Melanie and Lindsay at their table where they widened their eyes, silently urging the other female pair to stand up and come with.
Lindsay and Melanie looked to be enjoying the entertainment but hesitated in taking part. It took some nudging from Justin, Brian and Daphne but they were eventually pulled out of their seats by their friends and gently pushed towards Santana and Brittany who took them by the hands and lead the married couple up to the stage where Michael and the others helped them up. Lindsay and Melanie looked completely amazed and overwhelmed by the attention and appreciation as they stood and surveyed this wonderful ruckus, this mad thunderous noise that was going on all around them.
Once the other female pair were standing center stage as their friends and bar patrons serenaded them, Brittany took Santana's hand and they braved the crowd yet again. This time as they made their way through they discarded their mics. Brittany tossed hers towards a gorgeous and elaborately dressed drag queen who was more than happy to lend vocals and Santana handed hers over to a group of young women who went all giggly when she made eye contact with them.
They both came to sit upon the bar at the rear where they had a nice slightly elevated view of the happenings. They leaned into each other's sides and found themselves both catching Melanie and Lindsay's eyes. The married couple smiled at them, mouthing a silent thanks and giving them tiny subtle nods for their hand in creating all of this madness in honor of their return.
Brittany thought it felt pretty amazing to have incited this kind of response, all in celebration of these two women and their return to the avenue that was and would always be a part of them.
''So what do you think?'' Santana asked, resting her head against the side of Brittany's.
''I think we gave them a night they'll never forget.''
''And what about you?''
''I don't see myself forgetting this one any time soon...'' Brittany grinned and moved a hand down to link into Santana's.
A young waitress with a name tag appeared, two drinks in hand. She smiled politely as she explained, shouting over the music to them, ''the manager said to bring these over to you and to tell you drinks are on the house for you two tonight.''
''Thank you!'' Brittany shouted.
''Shit, yes! Margarita!'' Santana's eyes lit up at the chilled drink.
''Drink responsibly ladies,'' the girl laughed before walking off.
With drinks in hand they sat and watched all of their new friends sing and dance and tear it up. A clearly already drunk off her ass Daphne was standing on top of a table sing-slurring. Michael's husband Ben was standing to the side of the stage with his hands to his mouth, whistling loudly in support. Justin and Hunter were both standing on top of chairs singing along as well. Brian was standing nearby hollering his own praise towards the stage, both hands cupped to the side of his mouth as he gave it up for Mel and Linds.
Either way she was really starting to realize what a truly colorful place Liberty Avenue was. It had time and again welcomed her into it's embrace, praised her every time she got on stage and opened her mouth and shared that part of herself. Not just her either, Brittany too.
It seemed on this street everyone was worthy of celebration.
X
''Britt...Britt...Britt, I'm cold,'' Santana croaked, her voice low and scratchy.
After Woody's descended into chaos and everyone except for Ben and Hunter (neither of which drank) had more than enough to drink they all came back to the loft, either tired or drunk or both, and while a few of them continued to knock a couple more back most everyone found a space to crash out on.
The next morning Santana was thankful to be waking up on a soft, comfy mattress but fidgeted slightly due to the chill of the A/C. In an effort to get warm she turned on her side and snuggled forward towards the body in front of her and after a moment began to blink herself awake. She soon found a pair of striking blue eyes blinking open as well. It took her a second for the fog of sleep to subside but when it did it immediately hit her that this was not the pair of eyes she usually woke up to stare into.
''Ah, what the hell?'' she asked, sitting up with a sudden jolt as she realized Justin was the person in front of her.
''Whoa!'' Justin squeaked himself, panicking for a millisecond before relaxing.
''Ow!'' Brittany yelped softly from somewhere behind Santana. ''Santana...you kicked me. What are you doing over there?''
''She was cuddling me,'' Justin announced sleepily, placing his head back onto his pillow.
''I was not cuddling you,'' Santana gave him a friendly swat in the side for his teasing before turning onto her other side to face Brittany, placing her head onto the same pillow. ''Sorry for the kick,'' she leaned in to kiss the blonde girl's nose as apology and then moaned at her own throbbing head. ''Oh my god. I feel. Like Hell.''
''You and me both,'' said yet another voice.
This time Santana, Brittany and Justin all jolted up into sitting position. Each of them looking over to see that behind Brittany Lindsay was lying about, yawning as she woke and sat up. The four of them had apparently slept sideways on the large bed, with Justin and Lindsay at the ends while Brittany and Santana were tucked in the middle.
They all took a moment to process their surroundings but Santana was the first one to move. She reached for her phone on the nightstand, tapped on the screen for a moment and lifted it up to take a selfie all while sporting a smug but sleepy smile.
''Why are you taking a picture?'' Lindsay yawned.
Santana angled the phone so the other three were in the shot with her. ''Because it's not every day I can say I woke up in bed with three blondes,'' she laughed.
With a straight, unamused face Brittany pushed Santana's phone down.
''Too early for orgy jokes?'' Santana asked and when Brittany simply blinked her response Santana took it upon herself to answer her own question. ''Too early for orgy jokes,'' she sighed.
It was then they heard a ruckus coming from the connecting bathroom. The four then stumbled their way out of the bed. Santana led the way with Brittany behind her as they went to open the sliding door.
It was then they all came face to face with the sight of Brian and Melanie laying on the tiled floor, both of them shivering and clutching their stomachs. She, Brittany, Justin and Lindsay all scrunched up their faces at the clear evidence that they two had apparently been taking turns vomiting into the toilet.
''Justin.''
''Lindsay.''
They each croaked comically and pathetically for their partners, seeking comfort. Justin bent down near Brian but winced at his boyfriend's breath and leaned his head away. Lindsay meanwhile grabbed a nearby wash cloth and placed it to Melanie's forehead. Both blondes did their best to aid their partners but in truth Lindsay and Justin looked like death had ran them over too and were barely any help.
''Oh shit,'' groaned Brian, pushing past Justin's embrace to spew into the toilet once more.
Santana looked to Brittany and together they grimaced in disgust and embarrassment for the man. This somehow seemed to set Melanie off as well.
It was truly a disturbing yet hilarious sight Santana thought as she covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. She and Brittany had knocked back a few drinks but many of the adults made it a point to get more wild than usual since it was the first time they were all together in a very long time.
''You know when my parents agreed to let me visit my cousin and spend time with his friends and family,'' Brittany began with a smirk, ''they probably thought I would be in the hands of upright responsible, respectable adults. I just want to thank you all for being such stellar chaperones.'' Brittany teased everyone over legal age in the room, as they were all hungover.
''Hey,'' Melanie half groaned, half laughed, ''no one ever said we were role models. Honestly, we're probably anything but.''
''Uhhhhhhhhh,'' Brian whined loudly at his friend's side.
Santana held up her hands at her sides. ''Alright, uh, even though I'd love to point and laugh at your misery a little more you're all going to have to clear out. I need a shower.''
''And I plan to join her,'' added Brittany, ''so unless you want to stay and watch, I suggest you go be sick in the living room.''
Needless to say that got everyone up and moving. The two other couples slowly shuffled out of the room and once gone she and Brittany went about stripping down and stepping into the shower cube. Once they were cleaned up and in fresh clothes they wandered out into the living room.
It appeared that Ted, Michael, Emmett, Daphne as well as Ben and Hunter had camped out the night on the couches and the floors. Everyone looked zombified to some extent after their evening at Woody's. Since it was now midday someone in the bunch had the bright idea to order a half dozen pizzas to get everyone recovered and recharged.
On her way to the front steel door Lindsay stepped over Brian who continued to lay face down on the floor and softly sang ''yoink'' to herself as she nabbed his wallet out of his back pocket and pulled out a handful of bills which she handed over to the delivery person.
Like a herd everyone charged for the boxes of food. Once plates and napkins were dispersed everyone settled down and relaxed, splaying themselves out around the sitting area.
''...Are you sure though?'' Brittany asked Justin in the middle of a conversation.
''I'm pretty sure It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia is just a TV show, Britt, and Paddy's Pub isn't a real place,'' he answered, laughing with his mouth full.
''I'm just saying though,'' Brittany shrugged, ''if it is a real place we should go check it out while Santana and I are in Pennsylvania. I totally want to get Lord Tubbington a pair of Kitten Mittons!''
''Plus, Sweet Dee is pretty hot,'' Santana added with a raised finger. ''Totally cray but hot.''
''Word! I cosign that,'' Hunter said in agreement.
Together the group laughed and goofed and teased, hopping from topic to topic.
After Brittany casually mentioned her knack for math Ted, the accountant, began to scribble out problems and equations on the cardboard pizza boxes, in between the grease stains and bits of cheese and Brittany happily solved them, one by one, to his amazement. Nearby Emmett and Daphne cheered her one with each new challenge the stuffy accountant threw at her.
A few feet away while Lindsay cuddled a still hungover Melanie in her lap, she regaled Santana with tales of her youth, specifically the span of time she discovered herself in college. How going out into the world opened her eyes, not just to issues and injustices, but to who she was as an individual.
''I think I always knew but it wasn't until college that I found my identity,'' Lindsay explained. ''I had to go out on my own and explore. I guess what I'm trying to say is some people always knew and for others it comes as a revelation later on but either way, coming to your truth is something to be proud of. And I'll be the first to agree with Melanie, none of us are role models but...I'm glad you're here even if it's only briefly.''
In some ways Santana still barely knew these people, but she couldn't deny that on some level she felt something for them.
And she, more than anything, wanted to believe that Debbie was right.
That when her time here was done she and Brittany could take these friendships with them.
X
A/N: I love the Glee 'Love Shack' party scene, but the reference here is to the 'Love Shack' party scene that took place in 2x07 of QAF (watch it on Youtube, Netflix changed all the original music, bah). It's significant to a Mel and Linds storyline. I thought the characters singing that to them as a welcome home would be a nice wink to the series and a sweet gesture between these two couples. I had to include this scene not only so Santana and Britt could see that Liberty Avenue really does celebrate everyone, but also because I really wanted to see Mel and Linds make their grand return to the neighborhood.
Mel and Linds are one of the best parts of QAF. They have it tough S1, but Season 2 they have some fun/cute/emotional storylines. If you ever check out QAF, I would say look at 2x11, their wedding episode. It is just filled with so many sweet moments. And their wedding freakouts are adorable and hilarious! So Mel and Linds are here to stay and I think Britt and Santana will spend some time with them here and there.
And I know it might seem odd for these grown adults to actually hang out with two teenagers at a bar, but looking back at the show 17 year old Justin was doing shots with Melanie and sneaking into bars to hang out with the group who would only half-heartedly tell him to go home and do his homework. I don't see this specific group of characters putting their foot down with Brittany or Santana about that.
I know people aren't here for the QAF characters and that's completely cool, but it's still important to me to try to be true to everyone. Britt and Santana will always be at the forefront but this is one of those chapters that focuses on the crossover aspect. The next few are getting back to Brittana and taking on some darker tones that will be really familiar to those who watched QAF...