Hey, my darlings! Here's the first chapter of the SEQUEL! to 'What I Didn't Know'.

Brittana are finally established. Find out what troubles they will face. They still have a long way to go :)

Characters not mine.

Chapter 1

„I can't. I'm sorry, Britt, I just can't! I'm not ready!"

"But San, we said we'd tell them today."

"I know, but I can't! I mean, who knew they'd spontaneously invite half my family! I haven't even seen Tìa Carmen and uncle Julio in ages! And the boys are there, too!" I was pacing in front of my bed, Brittany watching my distraught movements from where she was sat on the very edge of the foot of the bed.

When my eyes traced over her as my hasty steps brought me back from the far end of the room, they got stuck on her.

My breath faltered for a second.

Brittany wore a beautiful, dark green, silken dress that hugged her in just the right places, but flowed freely around her thighs, making soft rustling sounds whenever she moved. And she loved to move in it. Actually, before this conversation, she had been twirling around my room, smiling at the sound the dress had made and happy about the way the skirt part of the dress floated up into the air, encircling her perfectly as she did one pirouette after another on my soft carpet.

I hadn't complained. The dancing had given me a nice view of her seemingly endless, toned legs and shown off just enough lacy underwear to stir up a comfortable tightness in my lower abdomen that sent tingles all throughout my body.

But then my mum had called up with her sing-sung happy voice she usually only used when we had visitors or she had a surprise for me. And this time it had been both. Our 'surprise visitors' were my dad's sister Carmen, her husband Julio and their two sons Marco and Ricardo, who we all called Richie – unless his mother was angry with him.

I loved my Tìa Carmen and the boys, and uncle Julio was nice as well even though I didn't know him too well, but they couldn't have picked a worse time to visit us.

It was two days before Christmas Eve, and Brittany and I had agreed that today would be the day we would tell my parents that we were together.

As in 'a couple' together.

Cause that's what we were now. A couple.

Ever since that fateful Tuesday a little over two weeks ago, when I had told Brittany that I loved her in the cheerleading locker room while a snow storm was raging outside, and she had said it back, we had been girlfriends.

Well, we hadn't actually said the words or talked about what we were until the following weekend. But after we had won Sectionals, we had all gone to Puck's, whose parents were away for three days, and had had a little victory party. It really hadn't been too wild, but for some reason Rachel had gotten drunk within the first hour and started slurring her wisdoms into everybody's ears, whether they liked it or not.

At first Brittany, Quinn and I had been watching in amusement – well, I had been amused anyway, whereas Brittany had actually just looked curious and Quinn weirdly enough a little sad and worried. Anyway, the three of us had been watching the train wreck that was Rachel Berry move from one Glee club member to the other, throwing her arm over their shoulders and making them obviously uncomfortable with her slurred words too close to their ears, until she had abruptly turned her head away from nuzzling Mercedes' ear, as if she had heard someone call out for her, and focused on us.

Once she had made her staggering way over to where Brittany, Quinn and I had been gathered around Puck's mum's high pop-up round table, she had leaned against Quinn who had seemed slightly awkward with Berry's arms slung around her neck, and had stared at the two of us – Brittany and me - and then just point-blank asked if we were girlfriends or what, because she was getting confused and she didn't like it.

I had been so stunned that I hadn't managed anything more than opening and closing my mouth helplessly, only too aware of the others, who had turned their collective attention towards us within a second, but Brittany had just smiled and taken my hand.

"Yes." Brittany simply said, while my heart hammered one hundred beats a second.

Her fingers tightened around my shaky hand and she leaned closer to me until our sides were touching. It was just what I needed and I managed to take a steadying breath and compose myself under Rachel's scrutiny.

"Huh" Rachel's head wobbled back drunkenly. "Good. I thought so." She was nodding now, obviously pleased with herself for having had the right suspicion.

I glanced at Brittany who smiled back at me, her face lit up with joy. Slowly, I smiled back and my heart rate came down to normal, until a high-pitched squeal ruined it and it was racing again.

Kurt was grinning a grin that was too big for his face as he rushed over and hugged first Brittany and then me, spilling 'congratulations's and 'welcome to the clubs' and 'This is so great's over our stunned heads. Well, my stunned head. Brittany just seemed to genuinely enjoy herself immensely, smiling big and returning hugs as Mercedes, Tina and Mike followed Kurt's example.

In fact, suddenly every single one of our friends was gathering around us, all of them with smiling faces and kind words. And as I looked over at Brittany again, I was overwhelmed at the joy I saw on her face.

I backed away a little as they all came and encircled Brittany, shaking my head with a small smile when they looked at me with questioning eyes. I wasn't uncomfortable with the moment or trying to exclude myself, I just wanted to step aside, take a second to take it all in, and just watch her. Watch Brittany. With a sparkle in her eyes and a permanent smile plastered on her face.

Seeing her so happy and relaxed worked like a charm, and before I knew it I was beaming as well.

They were okay with it. No, more than okay! They were happy for us!

After Brittany and I had walked into the choir room holding hands on Tuesday and nobody had reacted badly, I had been able to release a bit of the tension that had held my body rigid and alert for as long as I could remember.

Having them not freak out had already lifted a huge weight off my heart then, but as I watched Brittany now, laughing and nodding along to excited requests for official confirmation that we were a real couple, and just so simply delighted as our friends told us how happy they were for us, I was sure I had never felt so content in my life.

Quinn and I shared a secret smile over all the fuss and I hoped she could read in my eyes how grateful I was to her for all she had done for me.

She had been there from the start, had pushed me to come to terms with it and consoled me when I had felt overwhelmed and scared. And that was why she had been the first one I had told. That night, after our Glee 'Underdog' Sectionals rehearsal, when we had all parted ways in front of BreadStix, Brittany and I had lingered behind until only Quinn and we had remained.

Before we had even said anything, Quinn had already wrapped the both of us into her arms and told us how happy she was for us. For lack of more appropriate words I had made fun of her for sounding so choked up, but the teasing statement had kinda lost its edge as my own voice wavered halfway through and we had all laughed and hugged again.

Walking home through the snow, arm in arm, the three of us had reminisced about the first time we had met Brittany and the good times we had shared since then.

I remember thinking how blessed I was to have Brittany and Quinn in my life and I still couldn't believe how everything seemed to finally come together for me.

I swallowed thickly and nodded as Quinn lifted her cup, indicating that she was going to get another drink and silently asking if I wanted one as well.

She smiled and mouthed 'be right back'.

As soon as she was out of sight, my eyes searched for Brittany again of their own accord. She was about ten feet away from me, her head on Tina's shoulder, and her arm linked with hers. As if she had felt my eyes on her, she suddenly looked at me.

Her lips curled into a lazy, but happy, smile. 'Hi.'

'Hey.' I mouthed back.

"Hey, Lopez." A quiet voice distracted me from behind.

I turned around to see Puck standing in the doorway that led to the hall, his eyes laughing and his arms spread wide.

My lips curled into a happy grin as I flung myself into his arms. He was warm and strong as he hugged me tightly to his body, his familiar musky 'Puck' smell enveloping me gently, and I suddenly remembered all the reasons why he had been my best friend when we were growing up, other than Quinn of course.

"I'm really happy for you and Blondie." He murmured into my ear, his cheek pressed against my temple.

My heart clenched joyously and a breath got caught in my throat. Was it really possible to be this happy? I wanted to thank him, to tell him he was an idiot just for old time's sake, or to say that I had missed him…anything. But no words would leave my mouth, so I just pressed closer into his chest before releasing him.

We smiled at each other for another moment, before the crowd sucked us in again and I was in someone else's embrace.

Actually it was more than one someone and I was soon being squashed in a tight circle, as Sam, Mercedes and Tina hugged the life out of me.

I laughed loudly and squealed as we swayed and threatened to fall over, but Mike quickly came to my rescue, tearing first Tina and then a laughing Sam from my body by picking them up and lifting them away.

[ watch?v=BtnBQRjvuRc ]

Somewhere during all this time, someone – probably Berry – had put on the karaoke version of 'Loving you is easy' by Ben Rector and everyone was singing along loudly. A definite proof that most of us weren't one hundred per cent sober anymore, which also explained the enthusiastic hugging that had occurred. But I didn't mind.

Because for once – and I believed, from here on out – I could let go of my fears and let myself be happy.

And my heart sang along as well, as it felt lighter than it ever had.

I almost didn't hear her call my name over all the laughter, singing and the nice or teasing things that were still being shouted at me from our tipsy and happy friends, but as soon as Brittany's fingers skidded over the back of my hand, all I could see was her.

My fingers intertwined with hers and we gazed into each other's eyes for a second, or a minute, or an eternity, while another song came on and everybody started talking amongst themselves again.

Only when I heard sniffles nearby did I break our connection.

Behind Quinn, who had been talking with Mercedes, Rory was cradling a crying Sugar, looking more than confused.

I heard Quinn ask her what was wrong and Rory just shrugged and explained that she had said she was just so damn happy and now everything was gonna be okay.

I chuckled softly and Brittany, who had turned her head to look at Sugar as well, grinned as our eyes met again.

"Are you okay?" she asked me softly, and I just nodded.

I was more than okay. Brittany was my girlfriend and all of our friends seemed to stand one hundred percent behind us.

Even Finn, Joe and Rory had given Brittany a hug, although they had shied away from me when I had raised my eyebrow at them, not quite ready to have either of those three wrap me up in their arms.

Only Artie had merely watched the scenario unfold from a little way's distance, but his soft expressions told me he approved as well, and for whatever reason, that meant something to me.

Finally, Blaine and Finn calmed everyone down except for Rachel, who had vanished again, and the party continued like before with the one small difference that now, I was leaning against Brittany, my left hand intertwined with her right, while my right hand was wrapped around her right elbow, holding her close to me.

When Brittany started up a conversation with Blaine and Kurt who had replaced Quinn at our bar table, I rested my head against her shoulder and just let my mind wander as I listened to her voice.

I couldn't believe how fast everything in my life had changed.

Only a week ago I had been crying in my room, listening to sad love songs, and cursing myself for crushing on my best friend, all the while being strangled by gut-wrenching fear.

And now…now I was happier than I had ever thought possible and it was all because of her.

Brittany.

My girlfriend.

I had felt that happiness every day since we got together, and that was a big part of why I had said yes when Brittany had carefully asked me if I thought we could tell my parents before Christmas Eve.

She wanted to spend Boxing Day with me, but she didn't want to have to lie about our relationship when her parents asked her why she couldn't even wait two days to see me again.

I had blushed when she had said that and only hesitated a second before agreeing to tell my parents.

Brittany had known that I would want my parents to know first, because it would drive me crazy with worry if I had known that Anna or Robert might call up my parents and break the news to them before I got a chance to tell them myself.

So Brittany and I had made a plan.

I would ask if she could stay for dinner one night and then we would tell them together.

And tonight was that night. Well, tonight was supposed to be that night, but now half of my dad's family was here and I just couldn't.

"I'm sorry." I said quietly, pleading for her to understand, and feeling like a ginormous asshole for asking that of her. Again.

But, I wouldn't have needed to worry, because – as always – Brittany was nothing but supportive and understanding, and as she cooed a little 'naaw, honey!' and stood up to comfort me, I once again wondered how in the hell I even deserved her.

The second her strong arms wound around my neck, I relaxed, and my body molded against hers.

Her scent made me dizzy as I buried my face in her neck and it was a good thing she drew me closer, because it never took more than a simple embrace from Brittany to make me go weak in the knees.

"I love you." I mumbled against her warm skin, my eyes closed to savor the moment.

A deep hum rumbled up her chest and immediately set my skin on fire as her body vibrated against mine. "I love you too, Sanny." She whispered, and snuggled her cheek closer to mine.

I wondered if I would ever get used to hearing that. I chuckled softly. Probably not.

"What?" Brittany asked gently, a smile in her voice.

I leaned back and cupped her face with my hands.

"Nothing. I'm just still so shocked you're mine now. It's like…" I laughed lightly and shook my head. "So completely amazing and it's just still a little baffling to me, you know?" I kissed her softly, but lingered until the kiss said things I felt too inarticulate to say myself.

Brittany hummed against my lips, "Mmmh, baffling." She giggled lightly before cupping my neck and strongly pulling me into another kiss. She moaned into my mouth and the sound was so needy that it immediately set my body on fire and I felt sparks race up and down my spine. The urge to grab her, push her onto the bed and claim every part of her, was so sudden and strong, that I gasped loudly and took a step back.

"No fair!" I breathed heavily. Brittany's chest was heaving up and down as well and her eyes had turned so dark it made my stomach twitch violently. How did she do that to me with a simple kiss? A kiss I had originally initiated nonetheless!

"You were the one sweet talking me!" she gave back huskily and took a step towards me again, wrapping me in her arms. I pressed my left hand against her chest to keep her at a safe distance, but it was no use.

My thighs burned where hers touched them and my stomach rolled with unfulfilled need.

"Britt…" I whispered, as her lips skimmed over mine. She kissed me fleetingly before finding a soft spot on my neck and sucking gently.

"Oh god…" I groaned and craned my neck invitingly.

The way her heart hammered against my hand on her chest almost drove me wild with love and desire. I needed her. I needed her so bad, and feeling her need me to was indescribably beautiful.

Her hands stroked up and down my back and one of her legs found its way between mine. My hips bucked against her involuntarily and a low moan reverberated in my chest as my mind got foggy.

"I am, by the way." She murmured against my skin, making me shiver.

"Huh?"

She leaned back so suddenly that for a moment I thought I was falling or something. My grip on her tightened and I quickly opened my eyes. She was grinning at me, her hands safely on my hips.

"Yours. I'm yours." She chuckled quietly and gave me a quick peck on the cheek. "Come on, your mum said dinner would be ready about now." She whispered into my ear. I was so turned on that even those words elicited a longing groan, as my stomach tightened and her lips brushed against my earlobes.

"You are evil." I complained weakly as she just leaned back again and laughed lightly, winding her fingers around mine.

"I know. But it's okay, cause I'm staying over anyhow." She winked at me suggestively and I drew in a sharp breath.

Oh man…she's gonna be the death of me.

But as I got lost in her crystal blue eyes, I was pretty sure that I wouldn't even mind if my entire family heard us, as long as she was in my arms.

Maybe I would be brave enough to tell them after all.

"...y luego él dijo-"

"Speak English Marco! It's not polite to speak a language someone you talk to doesn't understand." Carmen told Marco off, before cleaning his mouth with one of our best cloth napkins my mum had put out for the special occasion.

"But Santana understands Spanish!" he defended himself with big eyes, leaning back to avoid another swipe with the napkin.

"But Brittany doesn't." she raised her eyebrow at him with a warning tone in her voice. Richie sniggered and I had to work to contain my smirk as well. I knew that tone of voice only too well. When I was about Marco's age I used to visit my auntie Carmen and uncle Julio a lot and it was quite common that that tone had been directed at me.

I heard Marco mumble 'But I wasn't even talking to her' as he leaned back in his chair, posture defensive, but he said it quietly enough that Carmen decided to ignore it.

I glared at him playfully from across the table and he looked a little sheepish. When I grinned though, the corners of his mouth twitched as well and he unfolded his arms from across his chest and sat closer to the table to dig in again.

"So, Brittany, we haven't seen you in quite a while. We would love for Santana to bring you along to ours again some time." Uncle Julio was saying and I felt Brittany sit up a little straighter next to me.

Brittany, my mum and I were sitting on one side of the table, facing my cousins and my aunt, while the two men were sitting at the opposite heads of the table.

"Oh, thank you. I'd love to come over again." Britt answered politely, a sweet smile on her lips as she let the fork she had just loaded with Fideuà sink back to the plate. "I loved your Piñata."

My aunt smiled and shared a look with her husband.

"B, the Piñata isn't always there. It's, like, just for special occasions." I told her quietly. Her eyebrows raised.

"Oh."

"No no!" My aunt's Spanish accent was very apparent. "Of course we can say it's a special occasion when Brittany is visiting." She smiled at my girlfriend kindly. Well, to her she was just my friend.

I looked over at Brittany and was surprised to actually see her look down and blush. Her mumbled 'thank you' was almost inaudible.

I shot her a questioning look and let the fingers of my right hand glide over her left forearm which was out of sight of anyone but me.

She glanced up and just smiled, her cheeks still rosy.

"Well, that sounds like a lovely idea." My mother said into the void. "Right Santana?"

I nodded and smiled first at my aunt and then my uncle. "Si, muchas gracias, tìa Carmen…y tìo Julio. That'd be great." Carmen waved me off nonchalantly and Julio just nodded smiling as he had just taken a big fork of food into his mouth.

"Mamita! Mamita, I'm full. Can Richie and I get up now?" little five year-old Marco asked.

"Si, cariño, but bring your plates in the kitchen before you run off. You haven't been raised like cavernìcolas!" The two were off before she had even finished the sentence and she let out an exasperated sigh and looked apologetic at my parents.

"I'm sorry. They're such whirlwinds." She laughed adoringly and my father joined in.

"Where only do I know that from?" he smirked.

"Hey! I wasn't…I…ugh whatever." The adults laughed at me happily and Brittany's broad grin made my own appear. Our eyes linked and the familiar sparkle in hers made my breath catch silently.

I wanna do it. I wanna do it now!

"Mum? Dad?" I stared into Brittany's eyes for a moment longer before actually looking at my parents who were sitting next to Brittany on our right.

"Hm? What is it, mija?" my mum asked. My dad looked at me calmly and openly and took a deep breath.

"I wanna tell you something. And I know this might be a… surprise for you-" I broke off, clenching my jaw to keep the rolling fear that had come up in the pit of my stomach at bay.

What if they hate me? What if they throw me out? What if-

I felt Brittany's eyes on me. Everybody's eyes were on me actually, but hers were the one I cared about.

She made me happy and I wouldn't hide it any longer. I wouldn't do that to her anymore. Or myself.

Brittany quietly reached over and I clasped my hand around hers in my lap.

My mum's eyes bore into me. "Santana?"

"I really really hope you're okay with this." I said quietly, doing my best to internally prepare myself for anything, before lifting Brittany and my conjoined hands onto the table, resting them between our plates.

"Brittany's my girlfriend. I love her and she's my girlfriend and I know you probably don't want this for me and didn't expect it, but I…I just…I'm gay, mum."

I expected gasps, angry Spanish rants from either my parents or my aunt or uncle. But everyone was eerily quiet. Except for my dad who was still eating his food as if nothing had happened. Nobody else moved and it was almost kind of comic how he chewed, looking up from his food, first at me, then at Brittany, before smiling softly and winking at us secretively.

I wanted to laugh from relief, but my mum still hadn't reacted in any way and slowly the uneasy feeling in my stomach tightened. I couldn't read her. Her expression was stony, frozen, as she stared at our hands. Unblinkingly. Somewhere upstairs Marco and Richie were screaming and laughing, probably chasing each other from room to room.

I almost wished I were up there with them instead of in this room. In this situation.

And my mum still hadn't spoken.

"Mrs. Lopez," Brittany began in her quiet, soft voice. She squeezed my hand a little tighter and I watched her in awe as she looked directly at my mum and spoke into the silence. "I love Santana. She's smart and proud and funny and strong and caring."

A pause.

My mum didn't visibly react, but my heart hammered inside of me. It wasn't just the fear of rejection and disgust though. Hearing those words from Brittany accelerated my heart rate like nothing else could. Well, almost nothing else.

Brittany tilted her head at my mum, as if trying to catch her eye.

"But you know all of that, because she hasn't changed. She's right here and nothing has changed at all."

That wasn't quite true though, I thought. Because I had never been this happy before, and I would have never been strong enough, brave enough, to do this, hadn't it been for Brittany. In a sense, everything was different, and still, I was the same.

I held my breath as my mum's gaze slowly lifted. She didn't look at me. Instead, she and Brittany locked eyes. They stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity and if I hadn't been so frozen I had been shifting uncomfortably in my seat. I shot a quick glance at my dad. Why wasn't he helping?

But he just watched the scene unfold with interest, changing from looking at Brittany to my mum, like in a tennis match. He held his hand up a tiny bit as I was about to speak, indicating I should let them handle it amongst themselves.

For a second I felt like the stereotypical teenage girl before her first date, who was anxiously awaiting her dad's assessment and approval of her boyfriend.

Only my mum was so much scarier than my dad could ever be and Brittany was so much more than just some stupid boy taking me out to my first day. She was my lobster, after all.

I frowned but didn't say anything, and finally my mum shifted her gaze to me. Her eyes were watery but she didn't let the tears fall. "Well…" I detected a tiny tremor in her voice. "We've always thought you and Brittany were quite the pair. I guess we just didn't realize just what a pair you are."

Her lips were a thin line and her posture was tight as she daintily cleaned her mouth with the napkin before standing up and taking her plate into the kitchen without another word. My heart dropped and hadn't it been for Brittany's reassuring hand in mine and for my dad, my fears would have taken over. But he was just smiling softly at his plate.

He wasn't worried.

So, I shouldn't worry either. Right?

My heart ached a little as I watched my mother's retreating back vanish into the kitchen, but at least I had finally told them.

Brittany blew out a breath and for the first time I noticed that I was shaking slightly as she circled her thumb over the top of my hand and searched my eyes.

I gave her a small smile and quickly got lost in her gentle, blue eyes. God, look at her. She was so amazing and now she's still taking care of me! Worrying about me. How can she be so perfect?

I still couldn't believe she had done that. Stood up to my mum like that and told her openly that she loved me, even though she couldn't have had any idea how my mum would react to that. I hadn't thought it was possible to love her even more, but now I had a feeling Brittany would manage to prove me wrong again and again. Someone cleared their throat.

My uncle and aunt looked slightly shell-shocked and seemed at a loss for words. "Um…well…this is- unexpected." Carmen said slowly, her expression still showing surprise. Then her light brown eyes softened. "Congratulations, Santana. Brittany." She smiled at us, before glancing at her husband, who tried not to stare too obviously at Britt's and my hand on the table.

She nudged him and he jolted upright. "Uh, yes, unexpected, uh..." Carmen rolled her eyes at him and my dad chuckled quietly.

"Your husband is so articulate, Carmina." He smirked fondly.

"Ay, give him a second, Hector! It's not every day your niece comes out." She chided him good-naturedly, flicking her wrist at him in a vivacious manner that was typical for my Hispanic family. We were all very temperamental. And proud of it.

Then she addressed Brittany and me once more. "He'll have a more appropriate response tomorrow morning, don't you worry." Her tone was slightly teasing and Julio frowned at her as she padded him on the forearm, which made her giggle.

A breathy laugh escaped me. This was not at all what I had expected, but somehow I was so happy that my family seemed to accept it so easily. Well, part of my family anyway. I felt something wet on my cheek and discretely wiped away the tear.

After a second of relatively comfortable silence in which we all just smiled at each other slightly awkwardly, my dad stood up with a stiff groan. "Well, who will help me clear the rests of our delicious dinner away?" he asked the table at large.

Brittany and I let go of each other's hands and got up immediately, and as chairs scraped over the floor and my aunt and uncle started talking sleeping arrangements with my dad, I drew in the first real breath since I had decided to tell them.

"What are you thinking?" Brittany asked me as we carried the remaining plates through the living room. I shrugged.

"I'm not sure yet. But I think it went…okay?" I tried to sort all of my feelings and the reactions from everyone in my mind.

I was relieved beyond words that my dad and aunt had acted so relaxed upon hearing the news. I wasn't worried about uncle Julio either. But my mum was another story.

Her silence and clipped words had seemed cool and distant. But then again, my dad hadn't seemed too worried and after all, he knew her best.

"She just needs some time." Brittany said quietly as if she had read my mind. I stopped just inside the kitchen. My mum's plate stood on the corner but there was no sign of her. I felt a small pinch in my heart.

Turning to Brittany, I found her eyes. "Yeah. Yeah, I hope so."

Her eyes held mine. "She loves you." She said. And she sounded so sure beyond a doubt, that I couldn't help but believe her.

She does. Mum does love me. And she'll come around. She has to.

"I know." I pressed my lips together and relaxed my shoulders. "Come on. She'll really kick me out of the house if we leave the kitchen in such a mess." I joked lightly, moving to dispose the dirty plates into the dishwasher.

Brittany gave me a 'don't even joke' look as my dad and aunt came in with some more dishes, they were laughing, apparently having mutually taken to teasing Julio about something, who I glimpsed sulking on the sofa.

I grinned big at Brittany and shook my head. Oh man, what an evening.

There was still a painful twinge persistently tugging at my heart as I cleared my mum's plate away, but when Brittany started humming happily, I bit my lower lip.

Everything would be fine. Everything would be just fine, as long as I had Brittany.

Right?

I was staring out of the window of my room. It was dark outside and almost invisible snowflakes soundlessly made their way to earth.

It had been over an hour since my mum had walked out and she still wasn't back. It wasn't like I was too worried for her safety, my mother was a tough woman and I wouldn't want to be the guy who ever dared to attack her.

I was worried for us. My mum and me.

What if she couldn't deal with it after all? What if she saw me differently now? What if she was disgusted by me?

Suddenly the dark purple pullover I had put on over my wine red dress I had worn for dinner didn't seem to be warm enough anymore. I shivered and wrapped my arms tighter around my middle, grabbing on to the soft, woolen material for comfort on either side.

"Are you okay?" a soft voice came from my bedroom doorway. I took a breath and turned around to greet Brittany with a smile.

"Did my aunt finally release you?" I smiled wryly, deliberately ignoring the question.

After cleaning up, my uncle Julio had brought the boys to bed and Carmen had immediately snatched up Brittany to question her about me and about her and about us. I had only been a fraction as worried what Brittany would tell her as I used to be.

We had had the 'don't tell people about our sex-life' talk more than once since the 'sex-is-not-dating'-phone debacle from almost three years ago. So, while the two of them had sat down on the sofa, my dad had gone into his study to call my mum and I had slipped upstairs into my room to get away from all of it for a second and to think. But of course, Brittany had eventually come to find me.

"Thought she'd never let you go." I said quietly. My eyes flickered to the floor for a second.

Brittany blew out a silent laugh and then she did that thing. That Brittany thing. She just stood there, slowly leaning against the doorframe, crossing her arms under her breasts, and looked at me. Really looked at me.

I never felt as naked, as vulnerable, as seen as when those bright, sparkling blue eyes caressed my face like they did now. Searching for me. Searching for what was truly in my head and my heart.

Brittany tilted her head, her blonde locks she had curled specially for the occasion this afternoon cascading down my bedroom doorframe and standing out against the black-painted wood.

"Santana." She prodded gently and I drew in a shaky breath. Around Brittany my walls always crumbled.

"What if she doesn't come back?"

"San."

"No, Britt! What if she doesn't come back?"

Brittany crossed my room in three big strides. Caringly, she eased my rigid body into her arms until I could nestle my face against her warm, slender neck. I let go of my jumper and slid my arms around her waist, pulling her even closer.

"Of course she'll come back. She's your mum." She hushed barely above a whisper. I shook my head softly.

"What if she doesn't come back the way she was? What if my mum doesn't come back, only this woman who's disgusted by me. Who hates me!" my entire upper body shook with two powerful, dry sobs and I buried deeper into her, seeking comfort. Because I could feel the pain, the fear, threatening to overpower me.

Her hands drew soothing circles on my back and massaged my neck lovingly as she hushed, "That won't happen. You know her. She loves you, she's just a little… scared right now."

I sniffed, letting the first tears carelessly roll down my cheeks, and leaned back so I could look into Brittany's eyes.

"Scared?"

"Mhm." She nodded with a sympathetic smile on her beautiful lips. "She's scared for you, honey."

I frowned in confusion and sniffed again, the pet name leaving my body tingling as always. "What do you mean? Why would she be scared for me?"

A warm hand cupped my check and she wiped away another tear with her thumb before brushing a stray strand of thick, dark brown hair behind my ear. This time her smile was bigger and lit up her whole face in a way that made me wanna blink from the brightness that seemed to illuminate her, but not blink at the same time, for fear of missing out on such a beautiful sight.

"Because," Brittany began, in a quite but almost teasing 'duh' voice. "She only wants the best for you-"

"But you are the best for m-"

"Shh!" she quickly covered my lips with a single finger, a smirk on her own. "She only wants the best for you, and she wants you to be happy." This time she only needed to raise an eyebrow to stop my protest in my throat. "And most people think that life can only be happy if it's easy. What you and I have isn't easy, so she's scared you won't be happy." One corner of her mouth lifted as she shrugged her shoulders matter-of-factly.

I couldn't do anything but stare at her. How the hell could anybody think she was anything but a genius?

I shook my head slowly, in awe of her once again. "How do you do that?"

Her eyes moved between my lips and my eyes. "Do what?" she asked in almost a whisper. Innocently. Almost distractedly.

"That! Be so…" my gaze shifted between her eyes, as if the right words were written somewhere behind them, but they eluded me. "Be so you. How do you know things about my mum, about me, while I'm over here, completely clueless?"

She giggled breathily, eyes still dropping to my lips every few seconds. She shrugged again. "Dunno. I'm just… you know, being me." Her smile wasn't shy, even though her soft voice was, her cheeks blushing just the tiniest bit.

I fanned my fingers out over her back and pressed her closer against me. The way her chest pushed into mine and the skin of her toned thighs lit mine on fire, shot an unexpected surge of arousal through my veins and we gasped at the same time. "You're perfect." The low, gravelly quality of my voice only spurred my senses even more and my breath quickened. "You're perfect and you're mine."

As Brittany's quiet moan mingled with my possessive growl, I surged forward, suddenly almost feeling out of my mind, my control slipping away from me like sand running through my fingers, and claimed her lips in a feverish kiss.

I didn't even give her time to react properly before I hungrily pushed my tongue inside her mouth, needing her closer, needing to be inside her. She moaned again, but this time she was ready for me, meeting my warm, exploring muscle with her own skilled tongue.

And like everything with Brittany, it was magic. And we danced.

Swaying on my tip-toes, I couldn't get enough of her. My hand tangled in her hair, cupping her neck and guiding her willing mouth to my throat. Immediately she sucked passionately low beneath my chin and I let out a strangled cry as she bit softly, before soothing the spot with the lick of her tongue and a gentle kiss.

My breathing was fast and heavy, and I could barely stand. If we hadn't been clinging to each other so desperately I might have sunken to the floor. "God, Brittany…" I sighed, as her warm hand slipped beneath my jumper and found my skin where my backless dress allowed it. She slowly walked me backwards, all the while planting little open mouthed kisses on my neck, until my hips bumped against something. Desk.

"Mmh, you taste so good." She murmured hotly against my skin. A shiver ran down my spine and made my nipples stand up under the layers of clothing still keeping my breasts from her magic hands. I wanted them off. My pullover, my dress, my bra, everything off. "Like summer."

"Britt…" through heavy lids I looked across the room. "The- mmh" she nipped at my earlobe and I temporarily lost track of what I had wanted to say.

"Hm? What, baby?" she purred into my ear, pushing her thigh between my weak legs. I jolted upwards and gave a little cry as the term of endearment sent sparks down my spine and the friction of her thigh against my crotch made me aware of my pulsing clit.

"Shit…uh, the…the door." I stammered out breathlessly. "Britt, it's still o-aah-" she pressed her thigh harder against me, which pushed me halfway onto the desk and my knee against her crotch. Brittany grunted and pressed her forehead against mine before kissing me hotly.

My head was swimming.

I clung to her strong upper arms to hold myself steady. "B-britt-" I mumbled against her wet lips, my whole body buzzing with sexual electricity. I was lost in her, but somewhere in the back of my mind something kept stirring.

Sure fingers stroked up my outer thigh and then pushed under the hem of my dress, bunching it higher up. I whimpered almost inaudibly as her tongue flicked over mine. Then her lips closed around my kiss-swollen lower one and she sucked. Instantly the heated knot in my stomach tightened powerfully and my abs trembled against her.

Ah shit! No, wait…the door…something was-

"I love you, San." Her words were so heavy and suddenly all I could see was blue as she stared right into my soul. It was like the depths of her dilated pupils were sucking me in, drowning me in Brittany. In love.

My breath hitched and suddenly I wanted everything at once because time wasn't enough. I wanted her to take me. Right there, right then. I wanted so badly to give myself to her. I wanted her skin against my skin, her need beneath my touch. I wanted to fill her and fulfill her in every way possible. And yet…

I couldn't move. All I could do was stand there, helplessly in her arms, her love devouring me while my lust ate me alive.

I choked at the first try. I cleared my throat. "I love you, too."

The voice was foreign, and yet I had never been more myself than I was like this. With her.

Our breathing was still ragged and I could feel my heartbeat thundering everywhere. But somehow I was afraid to move, afraid to breathe. Was it too good to be true? Was it all going to slip away if I dared to move?

So, I was afraid to.

How could that be, though? When at the same time just holding her was pure contentment.

We leaned in at the same time and when our lips met again – this time softly but possessively - all the desperation, the uncontrolled thirst, escaped me in the form of a long sigh.

I didn't need to hurry. I didn't need to worry. I was home.

A soft knock coming from the door startled us and our lips disconnected. Brittany swiftly took a step back as my dad's head peeked around the open door frame. "Could I borrow my daughter for a minute, Brittany?"

I pushed away from the edge of the desk. Brittany seemed to be just as hazy as me, when she merely nodded, eyes big and round. Her face was quite flushed and judging by how hot my own cheeks felt, they probably would have looked just as red if it hadn't been for my darker skin tone. My dad smiled at us and gestured for me to come out into the hall with him.

I reflexively straightened out my clothes and hair and shot Brittany one last glance before following my dad towards the top of the stairs, closing my bedroom door behind me.

My mind was running wild with feelings and my heart spilled over with emotions, but when my dad turned to look at me with a grief expression a sudden jolt of fear sobered me.

Shit.

"What? What is it? Is it mum? Is she okay?"

Oh my god, something really did happen to her out there! Oh my g-

"No, no! Your mother is fine, I just spoke to her. She'll be home soon." My dad said hastily, thankfully interrupting and muting my anxious thoughts. He leaned his back against the banister from where you could see into the entrance hall below and crossed his arms over his chest, eyeing me contemplatively.

The light in the upstairs hallway was dimmed, probably so my cousins could sleep with an open door, and my dad's face was partly obscured by shadows. "I just wanted to talk to you about all of this. It's been a big night for you. Both of you." His eyes searched mine and I thought I heard concern in his soft, deep voice.

I relaxed a little now that I was sure my mum was okay, and smiled weakly, suddenly feeling how tired I really was.

"Yeah," I agreed with a quiet laugh. "Yeah, you could say that."

He audibly took a slow breath before blowing it out through his nose. "Are you okay?"

I waited for there to be more, but my dad only continued to let his eyes wander over my face, not unlike Brittany's had when she had found me in my room, only with the slight difference that his gaze didn't do the things to me that hers did.

I was about to give the standard, 'I'm fine' reply, but then I paused and really thought about the answer. Was I okay?

"I'm…relieved. And I'm really, really happy. She makes me so happy, daddy," his smile softened. "But I'm also…a little upset." I confessed, my gaze not wavering as I watched for his reaction. He just nodded slowly and then looked down at his arms in thought.

"Your mother loves you very much, Santana. We both do." He said seriously, as he raised his head to meet my eyes again. "I hope you never doubt that."

I swallowed, a distant pain echoing inside me somewhere. "Yeah, I know. But…" what if it's not enough? What if she loves me but hates me at the same time? What if she can't stand being around me anymore?

I think my dad saw the unspoken questions in my suddenly watery eyes, because he shook his head with an assuring expression on his face and stepped forward, laying both of his hands gently onto my shoulders and bowing his head to look deep into my eyes. "Santana, she will always love you. Nothing will ever change that. You know your mother, querida. Sometimes she takes a while to take to new things." He chuckled softly.

I had to smile as well as I remembered the Christmas when dad had come home without the moustache he had had ever since before I was even born. She hadn't talked to him for two days. "Yeah. Yeah, you're right, it's just… what if this time is different?" I asked, my voice suddenly shaking so much I was sure my dad had to strain to even make out what I was saying.

"It won't be."

"Promise?" I asked in a childlike voice around my tightened throat, needing the reassurance more than I could say. He gathered me into his strong, protective arms. I leaned against him and let his familiar scent soothe me. His chin lightly bobbed against the top of my head as he nodded.

"I promise, mi corazón. Everything will be okay." He murmured softly, his chest rumbling beneath my ear. I let myself believe him for the moment.

We stood in this comforting embrace for a few moments longer, until I took a deep breath and leaned back, slowly sliding out of his arms. "Thanks, dad." I smiled at him, and I really meant it.

His eyes were warm and made me feel safe. "De nada. You just chin up and don't worry too much." For a second his gaze grew serious once more. "You did a very brave thing today, Santana. And I am so very proud of you."

A heavy lump built in my throat as another wave of tears threatened to overcome me anew. With quivering lips I breathed, "Thank you." And hugged him again. Only briefly this time.

When I stepped back, I averted my gaze and quickly cleared my throat, as he did the same. God, I haven't been this sentimental in front of my dad since Snickers died! Get it together, Lopez!

"Of course we'll have to set some new rules now." My dad surprised me in saying.

"Huh?" my eyes returned to him questioningly. My hand wiped away the last of my tears as he composed himself a little, trying to put on his authoritarian face and only failing slightly.

"Well, you've changed the game so now we have to change the rules. Since Brittany is your girlfriend I'm afraid the two of you can't have sleepovers anymore until your mother and I have come up with a new game-plan. This is quite new territory for us." He almost looked calculating, but all the while couldn't fully hide his smirk.

"Wh-? But dad, come on! It's not like she can get me pregnant!" he winced and held his hands up.

"Santana, I really don't want to think about what the two of you have been up to. There are some things a father should never talk about with his daughter. That's why god created mothers."

My eyes widened. "I can't talk about this with mum! I don't want to talk about this with either of you! I'm just saying that you don't have to worry about stuff like that with us obvi-"

"Seriously. I don't want to know." He interrupted, and I could have sworn I saw my dad - who was a few shades darker than me - pale considerably. I threw my hands up in frustration and blew out an irritated groan.

"I knew I shouldn't have told you about us!" I mumbled under my breath. My dad didn't comment, but from his amused expression I could tell he had probably heard.

"Well, until your mother and I have agreed on some things, that's the way it's going to be, mija. No more sleepovers. We love Brittany and she's always welcome here, but she can't stay over anymore for now."

I bit my inner cheek as my dad had said something that awakened another fear. "Is she though, dad? Is Brittany still welcome here?" I asked quietly, careful on the off chance that Brittany was listening at the door. I didn't want her to overhear his answer in case it was what I was afraid of.

There was no need to add that it was my mum I was mainly concerned about this time.

His face turned solemn. "She will always be welcome in this house, Santana. But in case your mother takes more time to adjust to this than we would hope…I think it's best if the two of you met somewhere else for a while. Just until we've tested the waters, bien, mi amor?" the solace the fact that he had said 'we' gave me was small compared to the disappointment I felt.

Despite all his encouraging words of comfort, my dad still knew that it wouldn't be easy for a while.

My girlfriend had just been banned from the house and I finally came to really understand that I had started something today that wouldn't be over for quite some time.

No matter what decision my mother would ultimately reach, it would be a long road until things would be normal again, I was sure of that.

I sighed in defeat. There was no point in arguing tonight. We all had to figure out how to go on from here.

I wished, like I had so many times before – especially in the last few weeks since I had admitted having a crush on Brittany to myself – that this wouldn't be such a big deal. That we lived in a world where no one had to come out, because nothing was assumed or considered more normal than other things.

But we didn't.

The world was what it was and there was nothing I could do about it for now.

"I'll say goodbye to her."

The words felt heavy on my tongue as I turned without another glance and walked back into my room to tell Brittany she had to leave. For now.

One thing was sure though, without a single doubt.

Now that I finally had her, I would never let her go.

No matter what.

So that's the first chapter, y'all :) What did you think?

I hope you enjoyed this beginning of a new adventure.

Spanish:

Y luego el dijo - and then he said-

Si, muchas gracias tia Carmen ...y tio julio - yes, thanks alot aunt carmen... and uncle julio

cavernicolas - cavemen

mi corazon - my heart/ my love

mija - honey/my daughter

de nada - no problem

big thanks to sheashoeaddict for helping me with the spanish :)

Reviews are love, my darlings :*