"I want to hear you sing."
It comes out of my mouth matter of factly while I spoon some of the dessert sitting on the table between us. When I look up, you're looking at me with your mouth open like you're shocked.
You really shouldn't be shocked. You told me you were a back-up singer putting together a demo on our first date and I still haven't heard you sing. I see you gather your wits about you and you smirk, "Well, I want to see you dance."
I chuckle and grin, "I asked first."
Your eyes get bashful and you send me a small smile. You take another bite of our dessert and stare at me, baiting me.
"Come on, you can't expect me not to ask. Plus, your voice when you talk is sexy as all hell, so I can't imagine what you sound like when you're singing."
I can see your blush from here, even in the low lighting of the restaurant.
"Yeah, well your legs are sexy as hell when you're walking so you'll probably kill me when you dance. I guess it's a good thing I haven't seen it yet, I like breathing."
You smile as I lose myself to laughter. When I look back up to you, you shrug like it's nothing. "What? I'm just telling it like it is, babe."
Lucky for you the waiter comes over with the check, and you hand him your card, not even looking inside.
"San…"
"I did the asking, so it's my treat."
"Yeah but this place is expensive."
"Worth it, B."
The flicker of the candle in your eyes sets my heart on fire, and I just smile again and finish the last bite of dessert. I know you left it for me. We've only been dating a short while, but I already know how sweet you are. You always let me finish dessert, you always hold doors for me, and your voice is always softer when you're talking to me.
When we first met, you told me that people think you're hard, tough. And I think you believe it. You are hard, and tough, but you're strong. You are the strongest woman I know because you're also soft, sensitive. You are one of the most sensitive people I've ever met, you have so much emotion underneath that exterior, you just don't show everyone. It would hurt you too much if you did.
But I can see your emotions all over your face, especially when I look in your eyes. It's all there for me to read. Maybe other people can't read you. Maybe I'm just lucky that I can.
Oh, how lucky I am babe.
You're different with me, like you are your truest self. I don't see the mask others see, I see you and all the feelings you have for me. Your friends even joke that you're whipped and you laugh them off, but you know you are. Just like I am. I would do anything for you and I haven't even told you that I'm falling for you yet.
The waiter comes back and thanks us and you stand to help me out of my chair, leading me out of the restaurant. When we get outside, I assume we're going to head back to our neighborhood so I start walking towards the subway, but you grab my arm and stop me, pulling me in the opposite direction.
We walk a few blocks down the street and you guide me towards a small, dark, bar. It's very clearly a piano bar when we step down and inside the door, it's tucked away and easy to miss, but the music coming from inside is beautiful. A giant man greets you with a big smile and a hug and you introduce us.
"Marcus, this is my girlfriend, Brittany. Brittany, this is Marcus, he owns the club."
At the word girlfriend I feel my stomach drop to my knees and the butterflies it usually houses take flight all over my body. We haven't talked about that yet, we haven't labeled anything yet, and I am so, so happy you just did.
I extend my hand to him, but he pulls me into a hug as well. I can see your eyes sparkling at me and your face lights up in that giant smile that I love.
"Brittany, it's good to meet you. Santana's never-"
You cut him off before he can finish his thought, "My booth still open?"
He rolls his eyes, "She always likes to cut me off, afraid I'm going to embarrass you?" he slaps your shoulder, "Your booth is open, reserved just for you even though it's been a while."
Marcus leads us inside and sits us in a cozy booth near the back of the club. It's dark, mysterious, intriguing. Whoever was singing when we arrived has finished and the pianist is playing some jazz. Marcus winks at me as he saunters away, and I feel like I'm missing out on something.
Your hand squeezing mine under the table pulls me from my thoughts. I look at you and you're biting your bottom lip, your face slightly apprehensive. "Was that ok?"
"Was what ok?" I can't miss a chance to play along, you look so cute all worried.
"That… what I…outside."
"What about outside?"
Your eyes grow wide, like you can't believe that I don't know what you're talking about. "That I called you my girlfriend. Was it ok? Are you my girlfriend?"
I giggle at your stress and lean in to kiss you lightly on the lips, "Of course."
I can see your sigh of relief everywhere in your body, "Really?!" your voice is so shy, I just want to kiss you silly right here.
"Santana, yes. Yes! We're girlfriends. I'm your girlfriend."
"Britt…" you smile, your hand coming to my cheek to guide me to those lips. You kiss me passionately, deeply, intensely. I feel the smile on my lips start to grow as I think about what just happened, about us becoming official, exclusive, labeled.
I pull away and kiss your dimple and your cheek and your ear, "And you're mine."
"Mmmm…I wouldn't have it any other way." You kiss me again until we're interrupted by the waitress coming over to the table.
"Nice to see you back here, Santana. It's been a while…I see you've been busy."
You laugh, "I have been. Kelsey, this is my girlfriend, Brittany."
"Nice to meet you Brittany. You'll have to keep this one in line, she's usually alone and she likes to get a little feisty sometimes."
"I like feisty." I see a shocked look cross your face before you turn your attention back to Kelsey and order for us.
She leaves and you slide out of the booth, "Bathroom." I nod and let you go, thinking about what both Kelsey and Marcus have said and feeling oh so special indeed. I feel like I'm seeing a piece of you that no one really gets to see and it makes me feel so many things for you. Those butterflies are swooping inside.
Kelsey comes back with our drinks before you do, and I take a sip. I hear the pianist address the crowd and look up and there you are on the little stage.
My heart stops.
"We have a real treat for you tonight, folks. Ms. Lopez here has decided to sing for us and you don't know how lucky you are."
But I do, I do know how lucky I am.
You step up to the mic and I hear a nervous giggle escape your throat. You run your fingers through your long dark hair and scan the crowd. "Hey everybody. This is one of my favorite tunes and I'm glad that Brad here knows it. It's been a while so bear with me…" you look straight to where I'm sitting and lock eyes with me, "This one's for you, B."
And the music starts, and you open your mouth and the most heavenly sound I've ever heard comes rushing out. Your voice is smoky, raspy, soulful.
It's the most gorgeous thing I've ever heard.
The sound leaving your lips shifts everything inside of me, and it feels like my body is making room inside for you.
And I never want to listen to anything else.
You sing a slow, stripped down version of a song that I also love, 'Valerie' by Amy Winehouse. But the depth that you add makes it sound better than I ever imagined.
Your voice seeps into me like smoke, water, air, and fills me up. I can't breathe.
And I know, I know, I know that I have fallen for you. So, so far.
Your eyes closed as you let the emotions wash over you, and as you near the end of the song you open them and meet my own again, a huge smile, my smile, adorning your face.
And I know, I know, I know that you're falling for me too.
The song comes to a close and you giggle again. More bashful than I think I've ever seen you, though I don't know why. You've got it. Your voice, your soul, is haunting in the best possible way. You thank the crowd, some of whom are standing on their feet to clap and whistle at you, and hurry off stage.
I haven't been able to move one muscle since I saw you standing up there. And when you approach the table with that small, shy smile back on your face, I finally feel myself breathe. I grab your hand and pull you into the booth, into me, and kiss you with everything I can muster. When we pull apart your dazed eyes meet mine, "Thank you." I rasp out.
You smile and I just have to kiss you again. It's shorter and sweeter than before.
"That was…your voice..."
Your eyes meet mine and I can see the shyness there fade away as they change into pools of melted chocolate. Your sweetness oozing out of you.
"Anything for you, Britt-Britt."
The sound of the nickname rolling off your lips makes everything inside of me shift again.
You kiss my cheek and grab my hand before you take a sip of your drink with your free one, leaving me dazed in the best possible way. I see you look at me out of the corner of your eye and you smirk that cocky smirk, the one that makes my stomach drop, and squeeze my hand in yours. "You still owe me a dance."
A/N: thankyouthankyouthankyou again for all the love! Chuckleshan, seriously that was so so sweet. THERE IS SO MUCH LOVE AND HAPPINESS AND HOPE IN THIS FANDOM RIGHT NOW! We stayed the course, y'all! Thank you all for spreading the word and the love!