Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who reviewed and left feedback, even the negative kind, it's all very much appreciated. If you're enjoying this story, awesome. If it's not for you, that's cool too. To each their own I always say. :)

X

The past few hours had been an emotional whirlwind for Brittany. She'd gotten the call from her agent with the offer from the network and she hadn't stopped to catch her breath since.

She and Sugar had popped a bottle of cheap champagne and spent the better part of an hour dancing around their apartment in celebration of Brittany getting booked as a lead in a big budget network project. They sang and screamed and hopped from piece of furniture to piece of furniture, only taking a break when Sugar bounced off of an ottoman and almost broke a bone.

''This is it,'' Brittany said as they both came to lay on the floor, laughing as they stared up at the ceiling, finally winded. ''I have a starring role, you're going to be in the writer's room, we're doing it, Sugar. We're really doing it.''

''Hollywood isn't going to know what hit it. You know what this means right? As this generation's Lucy, you're going to be America's Sweetheart.''

Brittany smiled but shook off the idea. ''I don't care about that, I just want to make people laugh.''

Sugar hummed and reached for her phone. ''Let's see who else is going to be on the cast list, shall we?''

''I don't think they've issued an official press release yet.''

''Girl, it may not be public but trust the internet to know.'' Sugar sat up and quickly typed in a few key search words and in about five seconds she found a list of the rumored cast of the reboot. ''Okay, we've got Dave Karofsky as lovable grump Fred Mertz.''

''I've seen him in stuff,'' Brittany said with a nod. ''I've heard he's nice.''

''I've heard he's closeted,'' Sugar added but quickly moved on. ''And Tina Cohen Chang as Lucy's BFF and partner in crime Ethel Mertz. Which brings us to your on screen lady love...Santana Lopez as Ricki?'' Sugar looked up from her phone with raised eyebrows. ''She's going to be your love interest? The Santana Lopez.''

Brittany tried to not seem too interested in the casting. She was glad Santana got the role but only because Brittany thought that she made the best scene partner. Nothing else. ''So?''

''Have you met her?''

''We read together in one of the casting rounds, yes.''

Sugar widened her eyes as if expecting some kind of elaboration. ''And?''

''She was…nice. A little jaded but by far the best scene partner I had. We worked well with the material. It's like we turned on when she was Ricki and I was Lucy.''

''Oh I bet someone definitely got turned on. '' Sugar held up her phone. This time to do an image search for the subject of their conversation. ''Once you're in the orbit of her hotness, will you be able to resist?'' Sugar scrolled through a number of photos featuring Santana and was sure to show Brittany each and every one of them in all of their smoldery glory. ''Who even looks like that in real life?!''

Brittany stared at the photo in question which had Santana in nothing but a bra and panties in front of some kind of wall of greenery.

''She makes shrubs look sexy, Brittany! Shrubs!''

Brittany had to laugh. Yes, Santana was beautiful and yes, Brittany could appreciate that but that didn't mean anything was going to happen between them. Even if Santana did make those shrubs look so damn sexy. Stupid sexy shrubs.

''I also heard trouble tends to follow her wherever she goes,'' Sugar added casually as if she herself was unsure of how reliable that information was.

''Well I'm guessing the whole reason she went after this role was because she's probably trying to get away from that. This is going to be a wholesome family sitcom.''

''True, true, but you and I both know the kind of drama that can go on behind the curtain. How many E! True Hollywood Story episodes have we watched together? Just last week we watched The Brady Bunch episode and half of those kids were sniffing cocaine up the butt!''

''I don't think it's physically possible to sniff cocaine up your butt.''

''Well then you haven't been to the same parties that I've been to.''

''And thank god for that.''

X

The next couple of weeks seemed to pass in a blur of conference calls, media training sessions and pre-filming makeup tests.

It was weird, Brittany thought, all the work that went into a show even before it began production. All she wanted to do was make people laugh but hundreds of hours of work had to go into preparation before she would even set foot on a soundstage. Costuming and set production and color tests, a whole crew behind the scenes had to create the world of the Ricardos. In all of that time though it felt like she'd only seen Santana in passing. They were doing the same kind of pre-filming preparation but on what felt like two entirely different schedules.

That is until one day she was booked up for a whole day of costume fitting. Again, another part of pre-production that took time and effort. Brittany had been ushered into a large open room in one of the production offices which contained countless racks of clothing. There were a couple of costuming people fluttering around the place with clipboards and garment measuring tape around their necks. They were too preoccupied with their tasks to notice her and in the end she came to stand and watch one of the costume people - a tall, lean man wearing a weird little hippo broach - have an intense but slightly muffled conversation with someone behind a thin separating partition that seemed to be working as a changing area.

''I'm not wearing this!'' An article of clothing was tossed over the partition and landed on top of the tall man's head. Someone was clearly throwing a bitch fit and directing it all at him.

The man merely pulled the clothing off his head and sighed to himself. ''Oh my god, I'm going to strangle this actress with my measuring tape.'' And then gathering himself he spoke at a normal volume to whoever was on the other side of the partition. ''What's wrong with the dress?''

''It's not short enough.''

The man rolled his eyes. ''If it's any shorter the viewing audience is going to be able to see your whole ass!''

Santana, the source of the voice behind the partition, walked out half naked in nothing but panties and a bra. She went to him and petted his bouncy perfectly styled hair as if he was some kind of pet. ''That's the point, my ass is my best feature. Make the alteration. Take it up an inch.''

''Fine,'' the man said with a groan.

Brittany chose this moment to clear her throat loudly, garnering the man's attention along with Santana's, whose eyes widened in recognition. Brittany could have sworn she saw the woman gulp before gaining her composure and straightening herself.

''Excuse me, hey, hi,'' she began with a smile and a wave. ''I'm here for my fittings. Brittany, Brittany Pierce.''

The man tossed the discarded dress over his shoulder in order to offer his free hand over to her. ''Brittany Pierce, yes, of course. I was expecting you. I'm Kurt Hummel.''

''Your hands are soft like a baby's,'' Brittany noted.

Kurt laughed at her odd compliment. ''Right, well, thank you? I'm head of the costuming department and I'll be taking care of you today and hopefully for seasons to come. It's nice to meet you.''

''Nice to meet you.''

He held up his finger and spoke to them in turn, starting with Brittany. ''So I'll be right back with a rack of outfits for you to try on, and you,'' he swiveled to point a finger at Santana, still standing defiantly in front of him, ''take your butt back behind the curtain, you have fifteen more outfits to try on before you can take off.''

With that Kurt and his hair bounced away, leaving Brittany and Santana to stand in place. Santana was still in a state of undress and Brittany didn't exactly mind it either except-

''What?'' Santana felt Brittany's stare.

''Your ass,'' Brittany began.

''You a fan?''

''You really think it's your best feature?''

"Most of the women I've been with tell me it is."

Santana walked back towards the partitioned changing area, giving Brittany a few seconds to admire said feature before disappearing behind the curtains.

With a grin Brittany followed her, once behind it though she saw that there were a few more partitions set up, plenty of room for both her and Santana to slip in and out of clothes in their own makeshift sections. She could still view Santana and Santana could still view her, but only from above the shoulders. In essence Santana became a floating head behind a curtain.

''Congrats by the way,'' Santana said from her side. ''I know we haven't had the chance to touch base since we read together but I'm glad it came down to you.''

''Ditto. I read with some decent actresses but it would have been a crime if anyone else other than you got Ricki.''

Santana went right up to the partition. ''The studio seems to think we have sparks.''

''Now we just have to make the rest of America think the same.''

''So are you coming to the party tonight?"

"Party?"

''Yeah, the executive producer is throwing some big shindig at his house. The core cast, most of the execs and producers, probably even some network people. I forget his name but it's that one with the butt chin.''

''Will Schuester.''

''Yeah, him. Executive Producer Buttchin. The guy is like a walking sweater vest but I've never been known to turn down free drinks and dinner. You didn't get an email about it?''

''I might have. I haven't really been the best at keeping up with my messages. Especially after the cast list got leaked. The second people knew I was starring in the show I've had like thirteen cousins I never even knew I had DM to tell me they always knew I'd make it big and oh by the way can they have five thousand dollars.''

Santana chuckled. ''I remember those days after my first big role. Everyone comes out of the woodworks claiming to have been your bestie way back when.''

''Anyways, if I was invited, the message probably got lost in the mix somewhere.''

''You're literally the star of one of the most anticipated shows of the last decade…I guarantee you were invited.''

''Oh.''

''Listen, it's not my first rodeo. Some advice: enjoy being in the spotlight and while you have the chance take advantage of it. You're going to be Lucy Ricardo, from here on out just assume you're always invited to the party okay?''

Brittany nodded. ''Right.''

''So tonight you're coming.''

''Didn't you say the guy throwing the party was boring?''

''Yeah and he is, but I'll be there so naturally it'll be the event of the season.''

''I see.''

''Besides it'll give us the chance to spend some time together.''

Brittany began to slowly undress to prepare for the fittings. ''Oh?''

''I mean, for the show."

"The show huh?"

"Yeah. We've been stuck in this technical pre-production phase but I was thinking you and I should start preparing for our roles. We're going to be spending an ungodly amount of time together on set playing a couple, right? All I know about you is that you make balloon animals and wear panties with candy hearts all over them…'' Santana had allowed herself to peer over the partition and gaze down at Brittany's bottom half. Brittany smiled as she realized Santana had to be standing on her tippy toes to see over. ''If you're supposed to be my Lucy then I think I need to get to know the real Brittany. This party will give us a chance to hang out.''

''You don't get told 'no' very often do you?''

''Not really, no. So are you down for tonight?'' Santana asked.

Brittany took a moment to study Santana. The woman did have a point. Brittany really didn't care about schmoozing with execs and such but it wouldn't hurt to meet the rest of the cast she thought and more than that, Santana was going to be playing her other half on screen. That would probably be the most vital professional relationship going forward because if they didn't get along behind the scenes, who knows what kind of onscreen tension that could lead to. She and Santana had to have simpatico. It was important to the process and important to the show, Brittany told herself. If anything, spending an evening with Santana would probably better their performance.

"I'm in," Brittany answered.

''Yes!'' Santana's face lit up with a wide and genuine grin and then as if catching herself, she wiped it off of her face and donned a more neutral, sultry expression, hardening her features. Brittany had caught it though, that tiny girlish moment of glee. ''I mean, cool or whatever.''

"Wait! Ohmygod. That's your best feature!" Brittany laughed.

"Huh?"

"Your dimples."

"What about my dimples?"

"You told Kurt that you thought your ass was your best feature but it's not. You just smiled really big and I saw your dimples and…yeah.'' Brittany cleared her throat and tried not to sound like she didn't find them to be absolutely adorable. ''Your ass is cute but if you ask me, your dimples are your best feature.''

Santana looked like she was fighting the urge to smile at the compliment which made her dimples look even more pronounced and that's when Brittany knew she was in trouble.

Those dimples would be her downfall, she was certain of it. Stupid sexy dimples.

X

''You're going out with Santana?!''

''I'm not going out with her! It's not a date, it's a work party thing,'' Brittany explained later that evening as Sugar watched Brittany tear up her closet trying to find the perfect outfit for the party. Not that she was trying to impress or attract Santana or anything. She just wanted to look her best for this totally professional event of course. ''Will Schuester, the executive producer, is throwing it. I'm surprised you're not coming.''

Sugar shrugged. ''I guess the writers weren't on the guest list.''

''I could always take you as my, like, plus one?''

''Tempting.'' Sugar tapped her chin as if she were a cartoon character contemplating the offer. ''But being your plus one would probably make it a lot harder for you to get nice and cozy with Santana Lopez?''

''Who's getting nice and cozy?'' Brittany pulled a red dress off the rack and turned around to face her friend. ''It's an industry thing and since I'm the face of the show, I'm expected to show up and shake hands. Santana said-''

''Oh Santana said huh,'' Sugar teased.

''Oh my god, it's not like that at all. I've been in other things before, I've had other co-stars before, why do you think Santana Lopez would be anything more than my colleague?''

''Uh, because one: I've seen the kind of girls you drool over, don't even lie, you totally dig that sexy, busty Maxim magazine type. B: you and her, two insanely hot people spending long, late nights on set, having to be all over each other on camera. Odds are, sparks will fly. And fourthly-''

''You didn't even list three things.''

''FOURTHLY! The writers room finally took a peek at the video of your chemistry test together,'' Sugar revealed. ''We wanted to get a sense of who we were writing for and what kind of dynamic to capture and we watched it.''

''Okay and?''

Sugar smiled knowingly. ''I've watched you act before and you're pretty good at what you do…but I mean this with love…the way you look at her…you can't act that. I mean clearly it's why it came down to the two of you. Chemistry. You two have it and if you have it on screen then something tells me that doesn't just go away when the camera shuts off.''

''You have a really great imagination, Sugar. I can tell why you're a writer. Because this idea of yours? Pure fantasy.''

Sugar didn't sound convinced. ''We'll see about that.''

Brittany wasn't interested in entertaining this line of conversation. Instead she swallowed and nodded down to the dress in her hands. ''What do you think of this dress?''

Sensing Brittany was over it, Sugar moved on. ''You'll stun 'em.''

''Thank you.''

And with that Brittany walked to her bathroom. As much as she loved Sugar she didn't have time or patience to listen to her wild ideas about her and Santana and chemistry. Her friend had definitely seen one too many romantic comedies.

X

The giant mansion of Will Schuester was the most bland and beige thing Santana had ever seen she thought later that night as she took her first sip of the evening.

She'd been to plenty of these parties thrown by executives and studio heads. It never failed to amaze Santana how the people in charge of networks and giant media corporations were some of the most boring, least creative individuals and yet they were the ones determining what was and wasn't a worthy, artful story to tell.

Santana always thought you could tell a lot about a person by the home they designed and judging by his style and decor Will Schuester was definitely a cookie-cutter creative mind. Everything felt so…stock.

But then that was the thing she supposed. Over the last fifteen years Will Schuester had stamped his name across several different successful projects that, while not critically acclaimed, seemed to resonate with audiences. Part Sherwood Schwartz, part Chuck Lorre. Santana supposed she shouldn't be so quick to judge and dismiss him, he was after all the reason she was getting this second chance in her career. He was gambling by offering her the role.

And anyway it's not like she even had to talk to him. He had been flanked by other producers and studio executives since she arrived and while the rest of his house was uninspired she was happy to see he had a gorgeous fully stocked bar in the corner of his second dining room, because yes he was disgustingly rich enough to have two dining rooms. Not only that, Schuester even seemed to have a wait staff working his dinner party, including a female bartender pouring generous drinks. There was champagne and wine and she'd even spotted a few fruity colorful drinks being mixed.

''Waiting for somebody?'' the bartender asked with a light chuckle.

Santana flinched. Sure she had been sitting on the same barstool for the past hour but she didn't like the sound of that. Santana Lopez waited for no one. ''No.''

In truth though Santana had been waiting and watching the door for Brittany like a hopeful, lonely puppy. Where the hell did that come from? No one ever made her wait. She felt pathetic each time a new dinner guest entered and she swung her head over to them only to realize it wasn't Brittany.

''Well, whoever it is, they'd be a fool to keep someone like you waiting.''

Santana picked up her glass and tipped the very last sip into her mouth.

''Would you like another?'' the female bartender asked Santana.

''Umm no thank you.''

She was taking Quinn's note and trying to start a new path. This new show was a second chance and she didn't want to waste it. She had to have her wits about her tonight and that meant not getting sloppy drunk and maybe not prioritizing her libido over her professional obligations. Comedy wasn't exactly what she did, but My Favorite Wife was a chance to rebuild herself and her career.

She also didn't want to get too tipsy because she was hoping to impress Brittany. With her professionalism of course. Nothing more, she told herself.

It's just that everything felt so charged and alive when they went back and forth in dialogue. It made Santana excited for the first time in a very long time. Acting alongside Brittany made Santana remember why she wanted to be an actress in the first place. It was as if she felt a tiny dormant part of her spark back to life. She wanted more of that and maybe My Favorite Wife and the role of Ricki was a way to feel that again.

Maybe getting to know Brittany was a way to feel that again.

Or maybe she was just hopeless.

Either way she wanted the chance to see it through. She wanted to start this friendship and working relationship off right and that meant being on her best behavior during this party and keeping her head on straight.

The bartender accepted her answer with a sigh and moved on to tend to others. And then just like that whatever doubt Santana had about making the right choice was washed away the second she turned and saw Brittany walk through the doorway.

She was standing statuesque wearing a form fitting red dress with her hair loose and cascading down her shoulders. She was a sight. Who knew that underneath her cute girl next door appeal there was a bombshell that could make Santana do a double take. How was someone so funny also…so hot? She felt like she was malfunctioning, especially when her legs temporarily stopped working when she made to step away from the bar and accidentally hooked one of her heels on a stool leg and went crashing to the floor. Face planting.

The rest of the room let out a collective gasp. They hadn't just watched anyone take a fall, they had watched one of the show's leads take a fall. Talk about awkward. Within seconds a number of people stepped forward with concern but also with a bit of caution, it was as if they were unsure to help Santana up, lest they embarrass her further.

"Owww shitfuck!" Santana groaned into the hardwood floor.

"And I thought Lucy was supposed to be the clumsy one." Brittany quipped as she stepped out of the concerned crowd and actually crouched down. She offered both of her hands to help Santana, who tried to recover as gracefully as possible. "Are you okay?"

"I'm dazzling," Santana said, trying to downplay her embarrassing moment as she gathered herself.

Thank goodness she was saved by Executive Producer Buttchin himself.

''I'd like to take this opportunity to make a toast,'' Will Schuester announced as he tapped on a glass with a utensil. Suddenly all eyes in the room moved to focus on him. ''I want to thank everyone coming tonight to support the show. There were people who said this reboot would never work, that the original was too iconic, that you couldn't replicate what the original Lucy and Ricky had on screen…and I would have had to agree with them if I hadn't found two amazingly talented actresses to step into those shoes and make this all come to life.'' He lifted his glass up into the air and the rest of the guests did the same. "Here's to our two leading ladies, Brittany Pierce and Santana Lopez, to redefining the formula and to My Favorite Wife.''

And with that everyone drank and moved on, dissolving into various conversations amongst each other. Will however came to saddle up next to Santana and Brittany as they stood together. He waved a nearby waiter towards them and placed two champagne flutes into their waiting hands.

''I hope the two of you are ready,'' he said. ''If all goes well, you'll be America's favorite TV couple.''

Santana and Brittany smiled at that, at a loss for how to respond. They just took a drink which seemed to appease Will.

''Are you ready for our first table read?'' he asked them.

''Definitely,'' Brittany answered.

''Speaking of next week, there's someone important I want you both to meet. I'll have my assistant give you the details later.''

''Is this something my manager needs to be made aware of?'' Santana asked.

Will waved his hand dismissively. ''Oh no, nothing to fret over. My friend Holly Holliday is an image consultant. The studio suggested you two have a sit down with her about a few things we need to be mindful of as we go forward. It's mostly a formality, but a necessary one. There's nothing to worry about.''

Will gave each of them a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder before dipping his head and excusing himself to mingle with his other guests.

''Why does it feel like I just sold my soul to the devil?'' Brittany asked once he was safely out of earshot.

''Because you did. We all did. This is Hollywood, selling your soul is par for the course.''

Brittany smiled at Santana's bleak assessment. ''That would be, like, really cool and dramatic if you didn't have a drink umbrella in your boobs as you said it.''

Brittany's eyes traveled slightly south and Santana followed her line of sight and looked down to realize, yep, a tiny drink umbrella had made its way between her cleavage when she had taken her spill on the floor a few moments before. She plucked it out and tossed it to the side with a wince on her face. So much for being smooth and professional.

The rest of the night flowed rather easily, especially when they sat down for the first course of dinner and got to chatting with their co-stars, Tina Cohen Chang and Dave Karofsky who were to be playing the Ricardo's neighbors and friends, Ethel and Fred Mertz.

Tina was nice and down to earth and had a relatable quality that, judging from the reruns Santana had watched, would make her perfect for playing second banana Ethel. As for Dave Karofsky, Santana clocked him as gay within the first five minutes. He was tall and stocky and while he didn't look much like the original incarnation of his character, he looked like he had what it took to play disinterested, grumpy husband Fred regardless. Santana had to give it to the network. Sure the suits were all about the bottom line and finding ways to sell the series but as far as casting, they really allowed the show to color outside of the lines in terms of race and orientation.

''I was doing some reading last night,'' Tina started. ''Is it true that Vivian Vance's contract required her Ethel to be ten pounds heavier than Lucy?''

Brittany's eyes lit up at the mere mention of behind the scenes I Love Lucy facts. ''It was! Which was so messed up. It's still debated whether that was something Lucille Ball demanded or if that was from the network but regardless, totally gross, right? But I guess that's how studio's operated back in the day. When they owned you, they owned you.''

''Well just to be clear, I'm not gaining ten pounds to make you look thinner on camera,'' Tina laughed.

''Wouldn't dream of asking,'' Brittany said, waving off the idea.

Dave chimed in then as he happily cut into his steak. ''I however would have no problem gaining a few if needed to look more like frumpy Fred.''

''You can just call it method acting,'' Santana said.

''Exactly,'' Dave said between chews.

There was definitely an ease there that made Santana think they would all work well together. She could see herself getting along with these people. Other than her own, no one seemed to have any overactive ego running wild. They all just wanted to make a damn good show.

After they dined, the four of them made the rounds. It was a part of the job Santana knew they all had to show up for. They were hired to act on the show but they were also required to perform in this way too. To shake hands and hobnob with people who had no idea what it meant to be on stage. An hour into it Dave and Tina were able to peace out and make their covert getaway but from the looks of it Santana thought Brittany was going to have a much harder time. It seemed she was the darling of the evening which was to be expected of course, she was the star of the show, the fresh new face that everyone was banking on being the next big thing. Santana watched from afar out of respect. She had once had a taste of this, being the next big thing in the spotlight, and she didn't want to intrude or overstep.

It looked like Brittany could handle it, or she did for a while at least but after another hour of forced smiles and feigned interest she could start to see her co-star begin to slowly crack. Engaging with the suits could be draining. When people weren't fawning over her they were picking her brain, coming at her from all angles with all sorts of questions. They weren't just picking her brain about her career or her comedy though, people like that, sometimes they just talked to talk but said nothing of any value or importance. Santana could tell Brittany's battery was dangerously close to running out. When she flashed Santana a look of panic after being pulled into her tenth conversation by some slick looking suit, Santana decided to step in. The vultures.

''You know what, if you'll excuse us, my co-star and I need to make a trip to the powder room,'' Santana said to the group of industry people who had been crowding Brittany.

And like that Santana swept them both away out of the room and down several hallways and through several doors until they came to stand outside of the mansion in the lush garden under the moonlight. The inside of Will Schuester's place might have been expensive and drab but his backyard garden? It was serene and beautiful. Even in the dim light it was easy to see the vibrant tropical plants lining the space. He also had really tall, elaborately trimmed shrubs.

''You good?''

''Yeah. I just needed a break from all of….whatever the hell that was. My anxiety was like whoa for a second there.''

''Yeah well, I didn't have any balloons for you to blow up so I figured I'd rescue you.''

They existed in silence for several long moments. Santana didn't want to come off like another person vying for Brittany's attention and so she just let the woman be.

''You don't have to stay out here with me,'' Brittany assured her. ''If you want to get back to the party you can.''

Santana produced a bottle of her favorite liquor from behind her back. She had swiped it on their way out. ''Nah. I could use some fresh air.'' With a pop of the cap she then offered the first swig to Brittany who took it happily.

''Do you ever get used to it?'' Brittany asked. ''Jumping through the industry hoops I mean.''

''No. You just get numb to it.''

''Mm. So is that what you are? Numb to them.''

''I suppose. To tell you the truth I think I just stopped caring. I had to, otherwise this town would have eaten me alive. Or…who knows. Maybe it already did.'' Brittany offered the bottle back to Santana who took her own sip. ''Tonight we shook hands with lots of boring, stuffy people with titles like Head of Network Marketing or VP of Development. Excluding the cast, everyone at that party spends 40 hours a week sitting behind a desk and thinking about consumer data and how to find ways to sell things to people that they really don't need. I guarantee if My Favorite Wife is a success they'll find a way to cross market us to hell. Ten months from now our faces will probably be on a crock pot next to some Pioneer Woman air fryer.''

''Right. Tell me you're jaded without telling me you're jaded.''

Santana laughed. She really hadn't meant to sound so bleak. ''Sorry. Like I said, not my first rodeo.''

''Well, it's my first rodeo and I'm totally wearing rainbow print assless chaps. My cheeks are to the wind here so it's good to know that one of us knows about the ins and outs of how this stuff works. Any help covering my ass is greatly appreciated.''

''Yeah well, I wouldn't want anything to harm your ass,'' Santana teased. ''But in all seriousness, I might talk big but…I barely know what I'm doing. I know a few things but in all the time I've been here I haven't figured this town out yet. I'm trying to do this thing though and turn a new leaf. I'm aware I have a reputation-''

"I don't care about your reputation," Brittany said. "I'm not interested in what gross tabloids or the internet has to say about you, or anyone for that matter. It's not how I operate."

Santana looked relieved to hear that. There was something about Brittany that let her feel like she could breathe. "I'm glad. I just want you to know that as your co-star I'll always have your back. I want to make you and me work…on screen I mean.''

''Me too, Santana. I appreciate that coming from you.''

Brittany took the bottle from Santana's hands and held it up.

''Here's to…us. Being in it together,'' Brittany declared, toasting under the moonlight. ''The Ricki to my Lucy.''

Santana could only grin and take her own drink. She felt free and tipsy on something other than alcohol though with Brittany in front of her. ''To us,'' she said.

Santana smiled in the darkness. She didn't mind the idea of that. Being in it, together, with Brittany.

''There they are again.''

Santana half turned to look around, expecting some of the vulture guests to have interrupted them. ''What, who?''

''You. Your dimples. There they are again,'' Brittany clarified.

Santana turned back and relaxed. ''Oh. Yeah.''

''You told Kurt you thought your best feature was your ass but for me…it's your dimples.''

Santana reached up to touch her hand to her face, feeling the tiny indentations in her cheeks.

''They really are one of your best features, you know. Not that the rest of you is hard to look at or anything but…yeah. There they are.''

''Thanks?''

They dissolved into laughter together and there in a garden, under the moonlight, sneaking drinks with Brittany, Santana felt loose and unburdened. Right then and right there in Brittany, Santana swore she found the only real thing in the ghost town that was Hollywood.

''Hey, Britt…would you…would you want to have dinner with me?'' Santana asked, her voice going quiet and almost hoarse.

''Dinner?''

''Like, to run lines,'' Santana quickly amended. ''Maybe the night before table read? We can go over things and make sure you and I are on the same page before we read in front of everyone else.''

''Dinner huh?'' Brittany bit her lip as she looked to be contemplating this offer. Santana watched as Brittany's facial features twitched into a dozen different kinds of smiles.

''My place. I'll even cook. What do you say?''

X

Later that night as Brittany entered their apartment she found Sugar sitting in front of a muted TV with her laptop in front of her.

Sugar looked up from writing. ''So how'd it go?''

''It was an industry party. Everything looked like it was really expensive and the people were mostly boring.''

''Hmm.'' Sugar hummed. ''Meet anyone cool?''

''Uh, not really." Brittany kicked off her shoes as she recalled her evening. "I met a guy who said he's trying to make DoorDash: The Movie happen and also some lady who said she's trying to make a franchise of movies based off of those Build-a-Bear stores."

"Not gonna lie, I'd watch a Build-a-Bear movie so hard."

"So yeah. I shook a lot of hands and just smiled and nodded most of the night. You really didn't miss anything exciting." Brittany gave her a flat smile. "Welp, I'm gonna get ready for bed."

Brittany started to move briskly through the living room to her bedroom but was halted by Sugar.

"Hey, you down for karaoke this Friday?" Sugar asked. "The bar we like FINALLY fixed their raccoon infestation."

"Ummmm." Brittany swung her entire body around to face her friend. "Friday night?"

"Yeah. It'll be chill," Sugar said. "We can make it a girl's night."

"That…sounds awesome but maybe we can push it back a few days?"

"But the free drink vouchers they sent me for almost getting rabies at that place are only good for that night."

"Pick any other day though and I'll pick up the tab."

"What do you got going on Friday?" Sugar asked then closed her laptop to pry further.

"Just a dinner thing."

"A dinner thing huh?"

"With a uh, a colleague." Brittany coughed and averted her eyes in an attempt to look cool and aloof.

"Oh my God, you're seeing Santana!" Sugar shouted, amused and scandalized.

"Okay you're making it sound like something it's not. It's two coworkers having a working dinner."

"Uh huh, what happened to 'Sugar, don't be ridiculous, Santana Lopez is my co-star and will never be anything more' huh?" Sugar adopted a shrill nasally voice to imitate Brittany.

"Okay first off, I don't sound like a sixty year old woman. And once again, this isn't a date. It's a work thing."

"Riiiiiight. Work. And where is this work thing happening?"

"At her place. At night. She said she wanted to make me dinner."

Sugar looked at her with a frozen grin on her face.

"I know, I know!" Brittany laughed with embarrassment as she rushed to explain herself. "But you don't understand, okay! She has these dimples, right, and they're like freakishly adorable in a way I can't even explain and on top of that she asked me to dinner when we were outside at the party! She was standing in front of shrubs, Sugar! There were shrubs involved! And as we already established she makes shrubs look sexy! So there she was being all sexy next to shrubs with those stupid sexy dimples and…I couldn't say no. I didn't want to say no."

"To quote Whoopi, you in danger, girl."

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Does everyone remember when the fandom made a bunch of memes shipping Santana with shrubs? The schrub bit is half a nod to that, but also to that old Maxim photoshoot Naya did. I'll be posting reference pics on my tumblr if you want to check it out, for science. As always, feel free to tell me what you think of the story so far. Thanks for reading.