Title: Locksmith
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 12.1k

Summary: Even now, after ten years together, you still aren't in the right place and it's like you can never fit right together for too long before one of you shifts and it happens again.

Notes: Sorry it's been so long! I don't want this story to end! Also I love writing the flashbacks, so if anyone wants to see anything that happened, leave it in a review!

/

Twelve and a half years ago…

There was a few times where you considered asking Brittany out for a drink, and not in a friendly way like you did every other Friday with your other best friend, too, just to see if there could be something there.

The first time occurred a few weeks after you'd woken up with her pressed up against you, after she told you she'd missed you when you hadn't gone out with her and Quinn one weekend. You didn't know until you saw her that you did miss her, like a lot, as well, and it wasn't like you had a thing for her or anything, but you did get on like really well and it made your heart swell when you heard how she felt, and even though Quinn had warned you and said it was like, girl code to not hit on your best friend, you found yourself intrigued.

Brittany was pretty, she had legs to die for, she had the bluest eyes that you just wanted to drown yourself in so you could stay there forever, and she made you feel safe and comfortable. She was touchier than any of your other friends, past or present, and it was when you were at work one day that you were watching her, and the thought crossed your mind when she was mindlessly humming whilst near the cash register, coming close to you at times she didn't need to, and you felt your body physically react.

Like your skin would sizzle and sparks would form beneath the surface. Like the hairs on the back of your neck would stand up when she giggled as she passed you.

It was a rare day where Quinn wasn't working, and you were cleaning up the left over pastries after closing the store down and Will – unsurprisingly – had left without cashing up properly. Brittany was super smart, so she offered, and you began clearing the days stock into various fridges to use tomorrow, as well as throwing out the stuff that wouldn't last until and that's when she shot you a playful wink when she caught you staring and all of sudden, you were considering asking her out for a drink all over again.

You had to bite your tongue to stop natural flirtation from just flying out because you didn't want to disrespect her by just being too casual about it. You had your friendship at stake and had the shoe been on the other foot, you wouldn't feel too good if Brittany just made a joke about potentially going on a date with you as you thought your connection was too strong to just give up the friendship you'd built, on a whim.

So you decided to beat around the bush. You knew she had been seeing some douchebag in one of her college classes called Broden or Brody or something, so you chose to start with that as it was totally normal to ask your best friend about their current dating life and maybe you could go from there. You just needed to do it smoothly and it wasn't like you were entirely single as you'd been sleeping with one of the dance teachers, Cassie, but she was just for sex at that moment in time and Brittany was… Well, Brittany.

She could've been more, so you just wanted to weigh up your options.

Subtly, though.

"So," you cleared your throat and dropped a few stale pastries into the trash, trying to come across as casual as possible, not meeting her eyes but feeling them on you the second you spoke. "You still seeing that guy from your modern dance class?"

Unlike a few seconds ago, there was no sound of the till beeping or soft humming as Brittany stopped what she was doing but answered quickly. "Brody?" She chirped and you tried not to wince. What a dumbass name. "Yeah, we've gone out a couple times," she explained but her voice slowed down, and you finally looked at her, blue eyes narrowed your way. "Why'd you ask?"

Heat flooded to your cheeks, but you hoped it didn't show. You hadn't expected her to ask that. "Was thinking we could go out and find people to hook up with on Friday if you weren't," you quickly blurted out, hoping it was calm enough convince Brittany that you had alternative intentions than just pure curiosity. Not that you were for sure; you just wanted to see if she was single or not and maybe go for a drink with just you two and not to a club to look for other people to bang. "But it's cool if not."

"Haven't we got that thing with the others on Friday?" She shot back and you froze, mind reeling back to a few days ago where Kurt text you asking if everyone could go out to celebrate some gay event in his life. "I think Quinn was on the phone to Puck earlier about looking after Beth and mentioned us three going together."

You'd forgotten about that entirely, but it was an easy way out of the topic as had you remembered that, you wouldn't have even brought Brody up or plans for Friday night. But then you started to feel hot and panicky and like a total idiot as Brittany didn't even know about Cassie – she totally wouldn't have approved of it as you two went to the same college – and so you couldn't even tell her about your current relationship status, regardless of being emotional or sexual as an explanation as to why you were asking about her love life.

"Oh, yeah," you shook your head and exhaled shakily, moving to your feet, and grasping the trash bag in your hand, pushing your tongue behind your top lip as your mind searched for the next thing to say. "You gonna bring your boyfriend?"

Brittany frowned, her brows knitting together, and you knew you were being noticeably weird as her eyes flitted all around your face, narrowing the more she did it. Plus, you did just call Brody her boyfriend even though she'd just explained that they'd just gone on a few dates and that probably didn't mean they were exclusive yet, and the tone in which you used wasn't exactly the friendliest as you basically spat out the term.

So much for being smooth and subtle.

"He's not my boyfriend," Brittany whispered, the corner of her lip twitching like she wanted to smile, and she dropped the notepad in her hand to the side, pen along with it and crossed her arms over her chest. She studied you for what felt like hours, when in reality it was just ten seconds or so, but you'd gone from wanting to see if she was single and perhaps asking her out for a non-platonic drink to getting all weird and making up her relationship status for her. "But no… We're not at the meeting friends stage yet."

You nodded and shut the sliding door to the cabinet shut, tying the trash bag up before dropping it into the back room, ready to take out. You could still feel her eyes on you even though you had your back to her, so you took advantage of the lack of eye contact and breathed in deeply, spinning around and forcing a smile that you hoped she wouldn't see through.

"That's cool," you said and ignored the urge to gulp as Brittany was still very much staring at you like she was before; like she was reading a book. "I'll go take the trash out and then we can leave if you're done?" You quirked, eyes darting down to the envelopes stuffed with dollar bills, signalling the end of the cashing up process.

"Sure," she dragged out, like she totally wasn't buying it, but you knew you didn't have any other way of getting out of it and you were feeling entirely stupid for even considering it. "I'll be finished in two minutes," she added on, sucking her lips into her mouth, and cocking her head to the side when you reached for the trash bag.

You didn't say anything back though, too scared that she'd press you for more answers as to why you were suddenly so interested in Brody, or her, as you hadn't shown much interest before and quickly headed out into the back alley to the dumpsters.

You were stupid for asking.

/

Everything hits fast forward after winning your last hand.

Quinn takes you to go and buy rings, and Sugar takes Brittany to go and find the cutest chapel available and it's all a rush to the head as the hour flies by. You don't even remember half of it, apart from Rachel blabbering in your ear about writing vows and how a Vegas wedding is a little cheap in her opinion, but Quinn quickly quietens her down by using concealed sapphic powers that you will never understand, and you don't need to spit any venom her way.

Not that you think you could; the only thing you're remotely aware of is how dazed you are, like you aren't really here but in the best way possible, because you're going to marry Brittany.

Fuck. You're going to marry her. You're going to get married, like legally and shit and every time you think of it, your stomach flips and heart lodges in your throat.

Because you've gone through hell and back and you've come to the big finale where you get your happy ending forever. Sure, you've been here a few times before and been wrong, but something about this feels final and you can't help but grin to yourself as Quinn and Rachel tug you into a jewellery store and begin fussing over the plethora of rings surround you, that will soon be sitting on your hand.

You can't really believe it.

"Are you just going to sit there or are you going to buy something?" Quinn snaps, after noticing you hovering in the back.

Rachel whips her head around and frowns at you. "You're not getting cold feet, are you?" She says and steps forward, obviously trying to seem menacing with folded arms but it breaks you out of your daze and you click your tongue at her.

"God, no," you groan and head over to the counter they're stood at, eyes searching the platinum and diamonds sparkling up at you. "Just feels too good to be true, that's all," you shrug, not noticing how honest you just were until there's a short silence that follows. "What?" You squeak, eyes flitting to your friends who have their eyebrows raised in shocked pride, but it just makes you want to hiss at them. You hate it when people look at you like that, even though you're fully aware it's because you're a total sap when it comes to Brittany, and you can't really be blamed for being over the damn moon (and super vulnerable) right now.

"Nothing," Quinn retorts and clicks her fingers at Rachel, finger pointing down to the counter. You're kind of glad she knows you well enough to know that you hate that look. "Do you know Brittany's ring size?"

You hold back the scoff but throw her an expression that would accompany it perfectly. "I've known her ring size for years, Fabray," you spit, trying to come across smug but Rachel just hums and bounces in her spot like she wants to clap her freaking hands and it just makes your eyes roll. "Oh, shut up," you drone. "It's not like this is the first time I considered proposing, you know."

"Why didn't you before?"

Rachel asks the question, and your neck almost snaps as you whip it round, not wanting to reply with the real answer… Because you were an asshole and didn't have you priorities.

That's in the past now though and you don't want anyone to bring it up, let alone Rachel Berry who irritates you endlessly anyway and you begin wondering why it was a good idea for her to tag along. You're not even sure you invited her, but after sticking her tongue down Quinn's throat and making everyone feel entirely uncomfortable – bar the guys who were staring with wide eyes and wider mouths – you suppose she probably chose to follow Quinn round like a horny dog.

Anyway, you're not here for that and you press your palms to the glass of the counter, peering over at the rings (and simultaneously ignoring the troll) and the numbers tacked to the jewellery should shock you, but nothing's going to stop you from doing this, financially or otherwise. It wasn't planned, but when you plan shit it always goes wrong so maybe spontaneity is a good thing here.

Buying rings last minute, finding the chapel, even down to letting a game of blackjack decide your relationship status and leaving it all up to fate… It just seems right, and it doesn't take long before you spot a pair and you feel something deep inside your chest blossom, like you've found what you were looking for.

Even if it was that quickly. Guess you are just super lucky tonight.

"You found one?"

A smirk comes to your face, and you twist to look at your friends, unable to hide the sheer happiness turning your expression into a wide grin. "Better," you correct and Rachel frowns, but Quinn begins smirking too like she already knows what you're about to say. "I found both."

They share a look, and then you grin.

/

Thirteen years ago…

The second time you considered asking Brittany if there could be anything between you, was shortly after she broke up with Brody.

It had only been a week, but you couldn't shake that it was far too convenient to be for any other reason than doing it in reaction to you breaking up with Cassie. A few months back, you'd felt super foolish for even thinking about it when she was touching you and shit back in the coffee shop when you were closing up, but every time you spent time with her, or cuddled her on the couch, or woke up in one of your beds since then, it had thrown your mind into a mental hurricane, and you'd run out of reasons not to do it all over again, even if it didn't quite pan out the way you though it would the first time.

Quinn had told you that Brody was kind of a douchebag and had a freaking pager that he carried around on his belt, and you knew you didn't like the guy purely based off that even though you never met him. Only drug dealers and hookers did shit like that, but you chose not to involve yourself in finding out for sure as you didn't want to come across as jealous or anything.

You weren't, and you didn't want to be perceived that you were.

But as much as you could shake off your interest in finding out, you couldn't shake off the interest in finding out how her and Brody went from being good to breaking up in literally a matter of hours and whether it was anything to do with you.

So you had to ask her.

You waited until Quinn wasn't around, fearing that she'd convince you it wasn't a good idea or come up with her own conclusions as to why you'd want to know, and you chose to do it in a totally mundane moment when you were helping Brittany change her bed sheets. You helped her with shit like that as you spent a lot of time sleeping in her bed, so it seemed only polite, and it was the opportune moment to bite the bullet and ask.

"Hey, Britt?"

Brittany glanced up from the opposite side of the bed, clutching the pillow and ridding them of their cases. "Yeah?"

Your throat was thick, blood rushing around your body a little faster than it was a second ago and held her eye for a couple of seconds. It was totally normal to ask a question like the one you were about to, so you didn't know why your body was telling you that you were nervous to do it. "What happened with you and Brody? You never said."

She didn't flinch at your question, seem thrown off by it or anything and it made you relax a little. You could've sworn you saw something flash behind her eyes though, and saw a small gulp, but before you could think it over, she was replying. "We just weren't working out," she explained, but it was vague enough to make you suspicious.

You tugged the bottom sheet off the bed and tossed it to the side, focusing on the task at hand to come across as normal as possible. "In what way?"

Brittany did flinch that time, pausing her movement as she began redressing the pillows and you unfolding the clean sheet from the side table. You weren't looking at her, staring at the pattern on the fabric in hand, and you'd wished you were in that moment you had been looking because again, before you could catch an immediate reaction, she was ducking her chin to her chest and doing the same thing as you were, focusing on changing the bed.

"We just weren't compatible, that's all," she uttered with a small shrug, and it made you suspicious.

They'd been going out for like, three months and even though that's nothing in the grand scheme of things, to people who don't date long term like you and Brittany, it was one of the longer relationships and she had spoken highly of him. Apparently he had killer abs and could dance and sing, and you rolled your eyes when she wasn't looking as they were qualities you possessed too, but then you thought about how weird it was to be doing the comparison and forced yourself to stop.

But that time you didn't.

You felt like she was dodging answering truthfully and it made the suspicion grow as she busied herself, still changing the pillows and throwing them to the top of the bed as you unfolded the sheet finally and threw her the other side. You didn't speak immediately after, choosing to use your knowledge of her to get a better read and she kept meeting your eye hesitantly, sucking her bottom lip as you manoeuvred the sheet, and it was the first time since your weird run in in the bathroom a couple weeks ago whilst grabbing condoms that you felt that thing again.

Like there was more than met the eye.

Still, you waited until the bottom sheet and comforter were on the bed, and you both threw yourself on top of it – like you usually did after doing this kind of thing – and ruining the smoothness of fresh bed sheets before you spoke. Doing that was sort of an unspoken thing you did, like cuddle on the sofa and crap that made you feel weird, but not uncomfortable, but you just put it down to being super close to her and feeling good around her and thought of that as you both lay on your back, staring at the ceiling with no body part touching, but hands hovering near each other between your bodies.

"Not compatible, huh?" You chose to say, trying to make light of it and Brittany giggled, rolling on to her side and propping herself up on one elbow, tracing patterns up and down the arm that was so close to hers a second ago.

"He was kind of a dick," she finally admitted, scrunching her face up but you could see the amusement in blue eyes. "And I'm not, so…"

You chose to scoff, purposefully trying to offend her and she threw her head back laughing, pushing your shoulder until you had to grab at her hand as you both chuckled together. You didn't let go of it though, instead choosing to drag it on to your stomach and press it palm down on top of your shirt, almost to show that you had abs better than that Brody dude without saying it.

Not that you'd say it out loud, nor had she even mentioned it, but you felt like you knew where to go from there after doing that and you were wanting to find out the real reason and not that bullshit compatibility excuse.

"Was it because his abs were better than yours?" You teased, waggling your brows, and sticking your tongue out.

Brittany, however, always seemed to surprise you and the laughter stopped quickly, her brow raising in a way that made you hot under the collar and she rolled on to her back, lifting up her shirt with no preamble and revealing her toned abs. You'd seen them before. You'd seen them so many times you already knew where every freckle on her skin was and the lines those tight muscles, but it still completely caught you off guard as you leaned up on your elbow, eyes shooting down to marvel the perfect, soft skin that you just wanted to reach over and touch.

"Puh-lease," she drew out, all sorts of cocky and confident as she peered down at you through narrowed blue eyes, and you would've liked to have said you weren't borderline drooling, but she was just so fucking hot, and she knew it. "Like he'll ever hook up with someone as hot as me or someone who has abs like mine."

She threw in a wink that would've made you jelly leg to the floor had you been standing, but luckily you were propped up and so you forced yourself to laugh it out, needing to know more than ever what compatibility meant if it didn't mean physical attraction. Plus, it gave you an opportunity to tease Brittany a little as she took her hand away from your stomach before you could slip it under (as a joke obviously) and so you laid back like she was, doing the same thing she did and yanking up your top to reveal your toned abs, too.

That time, Brittany was the one to stare unabashedly. Her eyes popped open, mouth did too, and you began smirking to yourself as you got a strange kick when she looked at you like this. It wasn't the first, and it wasn't going to be the last and had it not been for Quinn and her stupid big mouth saying it was against girl code to potentially see if there was a line to cross, you would've done it already. You knew how to seduce a woman, but there was something holding you back with Brittany.

Probably because she was your best friend and on the off chance shit didn't work out, it wouldn't have been wise to risk it.

But you still loved flirting with her and had zero shame anymore as you knew she found you equally as attractive as you found her, so you just rolled with it. "Are mine better than his?"

Your voice was low, raspy and a total contrast to the teasing note it was just on, and Brittany heard it too as blue eyes snapped up to meet yours, almost hooded now but still narrowed. Not in the teasing way either, and there was a sudden shift in the room as you stared at each other that was unavoidable. It was like the air got hotter and heavier, even if you had been in this position a million times over and even slept next to each other in underwear, but that time… It hit different.

"So much better," Brittany gulped, seeming more honest than ever before and you couldn't help but gulp too, dropping your shirt even though it didn't completely cover your abs, and she must have seen that as an opportunity as she returned to leaning over you, her hand reaching out to peel back the fabric once more.

She wanted another look, and you just laid there, frozen in state, allowing her to admire you in a way that she hadn't before. Usually when she checked you out, it was on a night out and you could tease her and play it off, but that time you were laying in bed, so fucking close and you were running out of reasons as to why you shouldn't potentially consider even kissing her, then seeing if she wanted to go out for a drink based off how that went.

But no… Shit. Why were you thinking of kissing your best friend? That was definitely against girl code, and you instantly pushed your shirt back down, moving her hand away before it could begin tracing over your skin – she always did that to you on some part of your body – and you shifted up to lean on your elbows, still on your back, but trying to be cool.

You were asking about Brody. You needed to get back to that.

"So what was it really?" You pressed on, pushing your tongue to the back of your teeth as you observed Brittany.

She didn't seem put off that you knew the excuse she gave before was a lie, instead smiling a little and it made your stomach flip inside your chest. It made you feel giggly about the situation, and no longer as weird and so you felt confident you weren't going to feel too much of that hot and heavy atmosphere anymore. Maybe you should have kept your clothes on though, as that was tempting the devil far too much.

Feelings was one thing, like asking her for a drink wasn't exactly totally inappropriate to see what could be if there was a potential, but you couldn't just have sex with her. She deserved better than that and you'd never initiate it either.

"He just wasn't what I wanted," Brittany finally answered, looking you straight in the eye and it just confirmed to you that before she must have been lying because she couldn't look you in the eye and do something like that. She always had to hide her face, knowing you would see behind her eyes and behind whatever expression she tried to pass it off with, but you knew in that moment she was being genuine as she didn't break eye contact.

But it apparently wasn't enough of an answer for you. "What do you want then?"

Brittany exhaled loudly through her nose, probably as you whispered the damn question, and it came out completely different to how you intended it to do. The atmosphere shifted, the heaviness back and she dropped your gaze, trailing it down the front of your shirt and she reached up again with her hand, choosing to disregard your earlier motion of shifting up to remove it, and began tracing invisible lines along the waistband of your jeans, over your hipbone until you had to bite your tongue to stop yourself from whimpering.

You had no idea why she had such an effect on you. She was your best friend and yeah, quite possibly the hottest thing you'd ever laid your eyes on, and you were possibly considering asking her to go for a drink to explore the way she made you feel, but there was that damn thing holding you back.

"Someone who can be my best friend and my partner," Brittany answered, so quietly you had to lift your neck up to look at her as you'd dropped it to stare at the ceiling, focusing on the patterns there to push back the heat growing between your thighs. "Someone who can make me laugh," she continued with a stroke of her finger, like she was reading off a list. "Someone who doesn't make me feel dumb," her eyes flicked up to meet yours and the instinct to tell her she was a genius struck, but then she flicked over your hipbone, and you swore you nearly died. "Someone that just gets me… You know?"

Her head cocked to the side, eyes narrowed like she wanted to check she was explaining it correctly, but she was. You were ticking off your very own check list inside your head, unable to stop comparing yourself to the points she was providing, and you had to suck your lips into your mouth not to say something stupid. Something like how it sounded a lot like she was describing you, as shit, you were her best friend and that was where she started with her list.

"Brody didn't do any of those things? Wasn't that for you?" You managed to get out, taking a second to do so as you scrambled to remember his name. You could barely remember your own as she was still fucking touching you and you were alarmingly aware of it.

Brittany bit her lip but shook her head, the corner of her mouth twitching up and you didn't know why, but the silence that followed made you think she was trying to tell you something. "No."

But before you could think of a way to push her on it, or ask questions that you knew would lead you somewhere very specific, there was a loud vibration coming from behind Brittany and you jolted, she broke the touch and you found a way to breathe as she leaned over and swiped her phone off the counter, frowning instantly when she looked at the screen.

"I've gotta get this," she said.

And just like that, the moment was over, and she shot you an apologetic smile before picking up and you heard her mom's voice down the line as she swung her legs over the side of the bed and quickly made her way towards the door, pulling it to behind her.

You flopped back down to the bed, arms spread widely beside you and tried to process what just happened.

/

Sugar calls you and tells you that she's sent your dress up to your room.

Apparently you need to wear one, even if it's a last minute thing and you're not even sure you need to do that in a chapel, but you ask her where Brittany is, and she tells you that you aren't allowed to see the bride before going down the aisle and Quinn and Rachel laugh, agreeing as they overhear the conversation. You aren't happy, but Rachel stands in front of the door when you tell them it's bullshit and she tries to seem menacing which makes all the fight drain out of your body – you haven't spent more than five minutes away from Brittany since last night – and you and Quinn fall back to the bed laughing.

But then you're getting into your dress, impressed at the shape and style chosen for you and both your friends burst into tears when they wander back in, having changed into more formal dresses themselves. Everyone's waiting downstairs, and you take a deep breath in the mirror as you stare at yourself, biting your lip as you think of all the places you can do this again when you get back home, with all your family and Lucas, and not just your old coffee shop people.

Not that you're ungrateful, but you want to do this as many times as physically possible and celebrate the love you and Brittany have fought tooth and nail for.

"You look so beautiful," Rachel sighs, hands clasped together in front of her, and she wipes away the tears that fall from her eyes.

Quinn hums in agreement, stepping forward and hands over a few items that you blindly take from her, trying to look at them and lifting a brow as you look back to her when she blocks you from doing so. "Something blue," she explains, pointing to a blue beaded bracelet that she quickly retrieves to clip on your wrist. "Which is also borrowed as I may have stolen it from a display in that jewellery store," she whispers, throwing in a wink that makes you laugh and Rachel gasp like she's personally offended. "And then there's this…" She pauses and grabs the last thing and emotion shoots to the back of your eyes as you recognise the piece of jewellery.

"Something old…" She draws out and Rachel squeaks when she realises what it is, as it's one of the most important items that has existed between you and Brittany. It's the necklace that she paperclipped back together the other side of ten years ago when she got back from London, and you reach up after she steps behind you to clasp it on to your neck . "You left it at mine once and I never gave it back because Beth was obsessed with it and hid it," Quinn explains and answers the question that almost leaves your mouth as she returns to being in front of you. "But I guess everything happens for a reason and it ended up in my suitcase somehow."

Your heart flutters as it's just another reminder that fate has been leading you to this moment, and you can't help but let a few tears spill out your eyes – which is totally going to ruin your make up but screw it, you're having a moment – and you take the rare opportunity to throw your arms around both of your friends and pull them into a hug. They're shocked as you're hardly a cuddly person, but it just seems right, and you let it go on for a few seconds before you pull back and look between two pairs of glossy eyes, affection blossoming inside your chest.

You don't think you've ever been this happy. Not even when you told Brittany's parents or your parents that she was pregnant and that was hands down one of the best moments of your life.

"Let's go get you married, huh?" Quinn quirks, probably as Rachel is now crying a river and pressing her forehead into Quinn's arm as she clutches on to her, and you roll your eyes as you take one final look over yourself in the mirror, removing the mascara smudge and taking in a deep breath.

/

Over Twelve Years Ago

Brittany was always clumsy.

She claimed that inanimate objects jumped out at her, or that she just didn't see things sometimes – she had a tendency of mentally flying with the fairies at random times – but it scared the hell out of you as she usually ended up wounded or downplayed it.

And that's what she did one day, when she was at work, and you weren't on shift. Quinn wasn't either, and you were lounging around in your apartment on your day off – finding excuses to visit your best friend – when you got a call from Will, your boss. Apparently you were Brittany's emergency contact, and you would've overthought that but then the next few words were informing you that Brittany had to be taken to hospital after passing out behind the counter, and you'd gone straight into panic mode.

You two had been best friends for over 3 years, and in recent times, there was a weird atmosphere between you, but you were sure it was nothing. She was just your best friend, who you kind of fancied the hell out of, but you'd never have admitted that as Quinn would always flick you in the ear or lecture you about 'girl code' which sucked ass. You knew she found you attractive too, but you were such good friends it would've been stupid to hook up or whatever.

(Even if you had put some serious thought into it before.)

(More times than was appropriate.)

Anyway, you didn't even bother thanking Will before you were shouting at him to tell you which hospital, and you left your apartment without a jacket, concern and fear shooting through you as you raced to your destination.

The cab driver wasn't driving fast enough enough, selfish assholes were causing a back up of traffic and you ended up throwing him some dollar bills, climbing out the cab and running the rest of the way there because you just had to see Brittany. You needed to make sure she was okay, and you pushed through the crowd of people blocking the entrance before falling into the reception counter, hands braced against the top.

"I'm for here Brittany Pierce," you panted, chest rising and falling rapidly as you wet your drying lips.

The nurse eyed you, leaning back into her chair and continued filing away some paperwork, and when she didn't immediately respond, you got angry. It surged through your veins, heating them in a way that the on foot part of your journey didn't, and before she could tell you about the no verbal abuse policy that you're sure would be pointed out with the way you were looking at her, your teeth were bared and you were reaching over the counter, pinching the top of the file in her hand, and stopping her movement.

"What room is she in?" You followed up, in a far more aggressive tone this time.

But that bitch wasn't having it. She pressed her lips together, peering over the top of her glasses at you and dropped her gaze to your fingers on the paperwork, sharply tugging it out of your grip. "Are you family?" She asked, probably already knowing the answer due to your skin colour, but you didn't care.

"Not blood related, but yes," you snapped back as it was an answer, but you knew it was the wrong one when she smirked back.

You really didn't want to be thrown out the hospital before finding Brittany, but that bitch was seriously testing you. There was a reason they were so strict on verbal abuse in that place, probably because it happened all the time due to nurses like her having such a fucking attitude, but somewhere in the back of your mind you knew that Brittany was at the top of the list, and you needed to be there for her.

You didn't even know what happened. You'd hung up on Will before he could tell you and you needed to find out. It was why you were being so insistent.

(You would've fought like hell if it was necessary.)

"I'm afraid visiting hours for 'non-blood related' family are between 9am and 4pm," she said, and you could hear the smugness in her tone as she picked up her wrist, purposefully looking at it and shooting you a grin that you wanted to wipe off immediately. "And it's 2 minutes past 4," she added on.

And you swore in that moment, you'd never wanted to hit anyone so much. Your fingers were curling into a fist by your thighs, and heat was flaring across your body but all you could think about was finding out if Brittany was okay, and somehow it made you simmer down. Just the thought of blonde hair and blue eyes was enough for your brain to reside in your own personal zen for a few seconds as you pinched the bridge of your nose between your thumb and your forefinger, leaning back and dropping your shoulders.

Clearly this nurse wasn't going to take forcefulness, so instead you'd go with cold, hard facts. She was a person, a nurse, so she had to have a heart in there somewhere.

"Her family live in Nebraska, and I'm her emergency contact," you explained, even though the nurse didn't look like she gave a shit, but you knew from your dad being involved in the medical world years ago that it was a thing to have one person allowed to visit, despite not being family, as long as they were on the system. "Check her file, and my name will be there," your eyes dropped down to the computer in front of her. "It's Santana Lopez."

Her eyes narrowed as they looked over you, noting that you were backing down and you freaking hated that as she didn't deserve anything other than venom and a sharp tongue with that freaking attitude, but you knew how to play that game. You knew you could call your dad up and get him to make a fuss, but that would probably result in a few hours wait and you didn't have any time.

You had to see Brittany, and you had to see her right then and there.

You just needed to know she was okay.

Apparently, the desperation seemed to show because after a long moment, the nurse let out a long huff and began typing away, eyes scanning the screen before she turned back to you, and the smugness had gone. Instead, there was this irritation in her eyes, like she hated what she read and as much as you knew you had to try and come across friendly, you couldn't help but smirk as she clicked her tongue quietly and folded her arms over, looking entirely unimpressed at what she was about to say.

"Down the hall, in the ER, bed number 46, ward A," the nurse said and clenched her jaw. "She's out of triage, and just waiting to be checked over for a doctor before she leaves."

You let out the longest sigh of relief, clutching at your chest to feel your heart return to a normal beat and didn't bother even thanking her before your legs were leading you down the hall, and your eyes were searching for the room. Within seconds, you found it, and you knew Brittany was okay because of what the nurse had just said, but you still needed to see it to believe it.

And you did, finding Brittany sat up on the bed, legs dangling off the bed, hands clutched on to the edge and not looking at all like she needed to be there. She was breathtakingly beautiful, even though there were a few butterfly strips near her hairline and that image made you panic again as you darted across the room and watched as blue eyes flashed to you.

"Santana?"

You choked, stumbling the last step until you fell into her, arms wrapping around your body and couldn't help it as heat crept behind your eyelids. But she was okay, she was in your arms and stroking the back of your hair, which meant you were okay, and the pressure that had formed on your chest slowly lifted as you pulled back out of the embrace, looking her in the eye, vision flitting across her face.

She grinned, eyes curious but a knowing glint behind them and if you weren't so full of adrenaline, you would've noticed the blush on her cheeks, too. "What are you doing here?" She whispered, hands clutching at your biceps.

You just shook your head. "Will called," you got out and you could see her studying you, unsure why you were so worried. "What happened? He said you passed out."

For a second, she looked guilty but you knew it was because she hated making a fuss of things. "I didn't feel well when I woke up and got too hot, I think," she shrugged and you pinched your lips up at the side. If she knew she wasn't well, why did she go to work? Had you known, you would've made her stay. "I didn't have breakfast either, but it's company policy to get a check up at the hospital when something like that happens," she tried, waving it off but you weren't in that mood.

You were genuinely terrified when you got that call, and she could see it in your face, which was why she was refusing to meet your eyes. "Britt," you tried, and she looked at you sheepishly, but you just shook your head, cool relief flooding through you as you reached for her hands, holding them tight.

"You can't play it down if you don't feel well... You hit your head this time which is getting off pretty lightly," your vision darted to the small cut in her hairline. "But it could've been worse," you explained and even though you were kind of scalding her, she was starting to smile and it was really breaking your resolve to be stern. Especially when she saw the crack in your expression and you had to look away, internally cursing yourself for not being able to control yourself around her. She always made you smile when you didn't want to. "Britt, I'm serious," you whined.

She just giggled though, hooking her feet around the backs of your thighs until you were trapped between her legs and tugged you forward. You stumbled, hands dropping out to grab her thighs to steady yourself, and hers just covered them as her head dipped, brows raised and she looked deeply into your eyes.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, but her face didn't look sorry and it made you scowl as you tried to pull your grip out from underneath hers – you were slightly mad at her – but she wasn't having it and used the strength you always forgot she had to keep your hands there. "I'm serious... I won't play it down next time and I'm sorry for scaring you," she entreated and then her head cocked to the side, blue eyes roaming all over your face and when she spoke next, her voice was softer. "You're cute when you worry about me, you know."

Your eyes flashed to hers, heat flooding to your cheeks. "I'm not cute," you hissed back but she just grinned and laughed. "And I didn't know what happened, so in my head, you were dying or something and then that bitch nurse almost didn't let me in and so I'm worked up about that, too," you got out with amusement in your tone and her nose scrunched up, eyes sparkling and God, when she looked at you like that, it was really hard to remember the 'girl code' thing because she was just super freaking pretty and did something weird to your chest.

"Well I'm not dead," she replied and followed your eyes when they tried to dart away to focus on something that didn't make your stomach flip, but it didn't work. You couldn't not look at her and so you let her stare into your soul, the smile on her face increasing in size.

With anyone else, it was weird to hold eye contact but with Brittany, it was normal. It was like you got lost in her eyes, even if that totally wasn't a normal thing to do with a friend but hey, you were both attracted to each other and you flirted a lot. There was no harm in looking as long as there wasn't any inappropriate touching and that's what you always reminded yourself.

Probably a lot more than you should've done, but it was really hard to maintain that when those damn blue eyes dropped to your lips, the smile slowly dropping from her face and you found yourself unable to look away for a whole other reason then.

Her face had changed, from amused to something else... Something deeper, like when you two had that run in in the bathroom, whilst trying to find a condom for your respective people, and your fingers touched and it felt like you'd been set on fire. Her head was cocking to the side, face softening and eyes clouding over as they darted around your face and her hands were creeping up from yours, grasping your forearms and holding them like she was securing you there whilst she was trying to figure something out.

Why was she looking at you like that?

"Have you got concussion?" Left your mouth, the only reasonable explanation for her sudden daze but she blinked out of it, shaking her head instantly and laughing, but it sounded a bit forced. Like she was nervous, but you didn't call her out on it.

"No, I'm fine... What happened with the nurse, anyway?"

Just as you were about to explain that you almost got barred from the hospital for throttling a nurse and pulling her over the counter whilst doing so – even though you really wanted to ask Brittany why she looked at you weirdly a second ago – you heard Brittany's name being called and span around to find a cute doctor there. He was slightly older, with greying hair and a killer dental plan by the look of it, and you recognised him as you were sure he came into the coffee store every now and then.

But you shook it off – you probably wouldn't ever see that guy again – and tried to step out from between Brittany's legs, but she just held your waist and you could only slightly shift to the side, so you were very much still touching her. You were cool with it, and even cocked your head to the side with a raised eyebrow when the doctor started talking and paused, like he was waiting for you to move out the way but it wasn't your choice that you were there as Brittany was holding on to you.

(Although even if she hadn't been, you would've been stuck to her side.)

She was discharged after a brief conversation and one final check over, the doctor telling her that she shouldn't be alone for the rest of the day and you just scoffed.

Like you were going to leave her alone after that.

/

You feel like you're in a movie when you head down to the lobby.

Quinn and Rachel are grinning widely at you, looking like they might pee all over the carpet and you try to show you don't want them staring at you as you're already feeling super nervous about this – it just feels too good to be true – with a roll of your eyes but they don't stop. You know how you look. You know that you look like something out of a freaking bridal magazine, and you inhale a deep, shaky breath as you begin descending the stairs, palm skimming across the rail connected to it.

There's hundreds of people below, but you try not to think about that mostly because this is Vegas which means there are far more people wearing weirder outfits than a freaking wedding dress, but also because if you do, you might fall down and that's so not a good look.

You feel light on your feet. Not to the point of feeling dizzy but like you're not really here and each step you take feel's like a whole floor, but you put all your focus into thinking about what Brittany's going to look like and how Quinn and Rachel have bouquets in their hands. You weren't expecting to come back to your hotel room with a dress waiting for you, so Sugar obviously went all out and the nerves you once felt swiftly transform into sparks of excitement.

It doesn't matter what Brittany's wearing, she's going to steal all the attention in the room, so you're good. She could be wearing a damn trash bag and still outshine everyone.

"Wow," is all you hear from beside you, and you shift your gaze to Rachel who's staring, wide eyed down the last couple of stairs and that's when you finally lift your gaze, finding all of your friends gathered in a small circle at the bottom, but you barely notice them.

Because right in the middle, waiting down there in a short white dress with long sleeves, and short white cowboy boots, is Brittany.

The breath you try to take lodges in your throat and you're glad that Quinn had the forethought of holding up the bottom of your dress over your shoulder, because you almost trip over your own feet. You blink rapidly, wishing you'd put in some new contacts because you've been wearing this damn contacts for so long they're drying out, so you choose to move faster until you're coming to the last step, and the most beautiful thing in the room steps out from the small crowd, offering out her hand.

You don't think you've ever quite seen anything like her.

"Santana," Brittany breathes, more of a gasp than anything else and you take her hand, ignoring the way your entire body ignites at the simple touch. "You look…" She trails off, shaking her head and you see nothing but amazement in blue eyes as they drag up and down your body, unabashedly staring. "You look beautiful," she finally chokes out, and you can't help but reach out and swipe away the tear that seeps out the corner of her eye.

You giggle, which comes out more as a sob as you realise you're crying too, taking a step back and doing the same study to her that she just did to you, awed by her long legs and how perfect this dress is. It's just so Brittany and you begin crying even harder when you think that Sugar chose these dresses. You're gonna have to thank her for that.

"You're perfect," leaves your lips and you swear you've never meant anything more.

Blue eyes shine so brightly at you that you almost wince, but you don't even think about saying hello to your friends, or seeing their reactions to you because all you need is Brittany. All you want is her and her thoughts and everything about her because she has always been and will always be the best thing that ever happened to you, and somehow… Somehow you've been lucky enough to love her, to be loved back by her and now you're going to marry her.

You don't know what you did to deserve this. You're going to spend the rest of your life proving why you two were meant to be.

Nothing more is said, and you manage to steal one last look into her eyes before you move forward, hand cupping her cheek and you kiss her. Your lips fit against hers, and your body melts when she grabs back at you, and everything else around you just disappears as you lose yourself against her mouth.

Apparently though, there are other people around and after too soon, Brittany's smiling against your lips but not deepening it, pulling away and staring deeply into your eyes as someone coughs, and thankfully she takes the opportunity to glare as this is your shred moment and no-one else's.

"Shut up," she hisses and your eyes dart to the side, finding Rachel being on the end of it but she just sucks her lips into her mouth, looking entirely unapologetic as she steps forward.

"The reservation is coming up soon," she states and grins at you. "You guys ready to get married?"

Hearing it out loud just makes you melt inside, but also freeze in fear. You meant what you said earlier, as this just seems to good to be true, but you know you want it more than anything and steal a quick glance to Brittany who bites down on her bottom lip, still grinning somehow and bobs her head excitedly. It means she's equally as excited as you are, and that this isn't too good to be true because it's freaking real, and without further ado, you inhale deeply and look back at Rachel.

"Never been more ready."

/

Twelve years ago…

You and Brittany had slept together more than a few times.

Anyway, it had only been a couple of days since the last time, but your body was aching for her. You always had a more than healthy appetite for sex, but with her you felt like you were in constant need and had to spend a lot of energy into not texting her with something flirty and funny and have her turn up at your door. But there was also a question lingering around in your mind because every time you saw each other and didn't have sex, there was no kissing, and just cuddling and you really liked kissing her.

Not that it bothered you or anything that you didn't – you were totally cool with keeping it about sex – but it was one day after work, that she kissed you for the first time without the potential of sex immediately after and it totally threw you off.

You'd finished a long ass shift, with Brittany telling you to come over to Quinn's as she was babysitting, and you basically ran home, throwing any clothes on that you could find before you were bolting it out the door once again. You hadn't seen Brittany in like, 16 hours, nor had you touched or kissed her in well over 48, and you knew that wasn't normal to feel that way about your best friend, but you weren't exactly normal friends.

Not anymore.

Anyway, you knocked repeatedly once you got up to Quinn's floor, hearing the shuffling of Brittany coming from behind the door, telling Beth that she needed to get to bed, and you tapped your foot impatiently against the cheap wooden flooring until it swung open. Then the breath you tried to take was stolen, as Brittany was right there, being the sunshine on a rainy day, smiling widely at you in a way that made you sigh out loud.

Blue eyes sparkled, and she didn't even give you an opportunity to speak before she grabbed your wrist and pulled you inside, instantly wrapping you up in a tight hug. You sunk into her, arms sliding around her neck, and she almost picked you off the floor with excitement and shit… A thousand butterflies began fluttering around your stomach as she giggled quietly into your ear, brushing down the back of your hair with one of her hands and turning to whisper into your ear.

"God, you smell so good," she chuckled lowly, and you held back the urge to shiver, instead pushing her back to stop yourself from staying there too long.

"Hey," you breathed, forcing your lungs to do it because your mind wasn't telling it to. Her hands fell to the low of your waist and you took a step back, but the grip she had meant you could only go so far. "Where's Beth?" You peered around the room, knowing if you looked at her for too long, you'd do that for an inappropriate amount of time, too.

Brittany narrowed her eyes but grinned. "Getting changed for bed," she answered and sucked her bottom lip in. "Quinn's not going to be back until 11, though."

It was about 7, and Beth usually went to bed shortly after that, so for a second, you were confused as to why Brittany invited you over, but then you saw the way her eyebrow quirked, how she stopped sucking her bottom lip and started biting it and fuck. You knew exactly why she'd invited you over, but that was Quinn's place. You couldn't do it in your best friends apartment, especially seeing as she had no idea about you two and you weren't even considering telling her, and oh yeah, her daughter would also be sleeping in a room down a short hallway.

But you didn't get to voice that before Beth was bouncing in down said hallway, large toy bear in her arms that was almost as big as she was, and she was asking Brittany to tuck her in. She gasped and clapped when she saw you, running full force into your legs and almost causing you to fall over, but Brittany held strong on your waist and steered you away from doing that before you bent down to hug the kid, telling her you'd just come to see 'Aunt Britt Britt' and that she should go to bed.

Beth, being just a child, didn't pick up on the atmosphere that had formed, nor did she see the alternate intentions behind your words and instead pressed a sloppy kiss to your cheek, grabbing Brittany's hand and tugging her down the hall.

You let her go, really needing a moment to yourself and you were always comfortable at Quinn or Brittany's place, so you made yourself at home, fetching two glasses of wine and turning the lights down low, and it only took a couple of minutes before Brittany was returning, scaring the crap out of you by setting two hands on your shoulders from behind as you sat on the sofa.

"Jesus," you gasped, hand pressed to your chest as you turned to look at her. "You scared the hell out of me."

Brittany scrunched her nose up at you, giggling. "Sorry… Beth's down for the count," she said and came around, dropping into the seat beside you, all up in your personal space. "You wanna watch a movie?"

You bobbed your head, knowing that Netflix and Chill was a thing because it had obvious intentions, but you couldn't deny you were nervous. The last times you had sex, there was definite preamble and flirtation which led you two it – bar the first two times – and even though there had been a soft moment when you walked through the door, it didn't feel like that was on the cards.

Still, she grinned and flicked on the television, finding a movie, and switching it on, and you took the opportunity to watch her in all her glory, looking effortlessly beautiful as she settled back down.

You only got to do it twice before she caught you though, and you had the urge to ask her how her day was and why she was babysitting just because you wanted to. She was your best friend and even before sleeping with her you'd done it, so it totally wasn't weird. "How was your day?"

"It was okay," she shrugged, picking her legs up and tucking them beneath her as she leant into you. Again, you did that before, but cuddling was weird now. Cuddling could lead to sex and before, that wasn't a possibility, but the development had happened and so you didn't know how to start it should that particular thing happen. If that's what she even wanted that night when she invited you over as you didn't know. "Missed you, though," she added on through a whisper, looking up through her lashes at you and your mouth popped open in shock.

It sounded so different now when she said shit like that now, but you really had to put effort into not trying to read into it. You were just best friends who had amazing sex. That was all.

So it wasn't out of the blue when you responded in a similar manner. "Missed you, too," you admitted, rolling your eyes when she grinned widely at you. She had to stop doing shit like that. It was kind of confusing. "I had a shitty shift," you continued because you really didn't want to hover over what was just said. It was normal to miss your best friend after not seeing them for a day or two, right? "Glad you invited me over, though."

"Well, I wanted to see you," Brittany drew out, tilting her head back to look at you and you didn't miss the way blue eyes dropped to your lips. "Haven't seen you since the whole Quinn and Rachel almost catching us thing."

The memory made you laugh and groan, your head moving on it's own volition and throwing back against the sofa. "That was close," you commented, thinking about how you needed to give Brittany's neighbour back the boots and jacket she let you borrow. "We've gotta be more careful next time."

You didn't realise what you said until silence answered you, but when you did, your eyes bugged open. Your mouth did too, and you choked on the breath you tried to take as you peered down at your best friend, fully expecting her to look the same but she didn't. Instead, blue eyes were dark and narrow, in a way that made you want to pinch your thighs together as heat spread across your body, and you knew that look only too well as it had been before having sex those four times.

"Next time?" Brittany repeated, her tone full of amusement but she sat up, twisting to face you but you were frozen. You didn't mean to be so presumptuous. "So there's going to be a next time?"

Fuck. You fucked up. You hadn't talked about how many times you were going to have sex, and you were both consenting adults, so it wasn't like the conversation was necessary, but you were in deep fear that you'd assumed wrong in that moment. Hot, panicky sweat formed beneath your boobs, and you sat upright, almost spilling the wine in your hand on Quinn's cream sofa, desperately scrambling for something to say because you felt like a total ass, but then there was a laughter flowing through the air and Brittany was grinning widely at you.

"Uh, I mean–"

"It's okay, San," Brittany cut in, her voice now soft as she took your glass off you, sliding it on the coffee table before manoeuvring to her knees, leaning over, and coming dangerously close. "I want there to be a next time too," she whispered, and her face got so close that all you could see was her, and all you could smell, and feel was her.

It was still entirely unusual, as she'd gone from making you feel affectionate and protective towards her, to wanting to rip her clothes off and make her moan and that's what you thought about as you began counting the freckles on her cheeks and remembering the colour of her eyes. The whole thing was so freaking confusing, but you wanted to roll with it. She was hot, you were hot, you could make her come until she couldn't breathe, and she knew how to work you like no-one ever had before and so fuck it, you didn't need to know the intricacies or reasons as to why either of you wanted to do it.

You just did.

Still, just before her lips pressed against yours, the sound of Beth yelling Brittany's name echoed down the hallway, and despite your entire body wanting to grab Brittany, turn her over and press your lips together, you knew that she was looking after the kid, and you couldn't exactly be irresponsible and ignore the little one. Brittany knew that too, stilling with her breath coating the lower half of your face, and you looked into her eyes since apparently yours had fluttered shut at some point, to see hers filling with disappointment.

"Let me go see if she's okay," she got out, her voice strained and you remembered what it sounded like to hear your name said the same way, but you really needed to let her go. Your hands were gripping on to hers, since apparently they were on your thighs, bracing her body weight as she leaned over to you, and you really should've paid more attention as you were so zoned in all you thought about three seconds before that was kissing her.

You nodded, unable to verbalise anything and she climbed to her feet but paused at the last second to peer down at you. You sucked your lips into your mouth, the disappointment sinking in as you really fucking wanted to kiss her then, but you could wait a few minutes. Kissing Brittany was supposed to lead to sex, and that was one of the lines you should've probably kept as friends with benefits didn't kiss randomly.

But it seemed that the blonde had different idea because before she left, she bent down at the hip and came close to you again, stroking a finger beneath your chin before she looking deeply into your eyes.

"I'll only be a second," she uttered, like you'd asked her a question, but you didn't, and you almost got that out but then she was closing the gap and you melted when her lips touched yours. It was just a gentle kiss, a peck if anything, but it lingered for a long moment and when she pulled away, you almost fell off the sofa trying to follow her.

She giggled, then winked, and you watched her retreat down the hallway with a swing in her step before disappearing into Beth's room, bringing your fingertips up to your mouth to feel if your lips were on fire because it felt like they were.

/

Apparently, Sugar paid someone to get to the top of the list for the Chapel of Flowers.

It's the highest rated chapel on TripAdvisor, as Rachel tells you on the journey over, but you don't really listen, just stare at your soon-to-be wife right next to you, eyes bright as they beam back at you and it's like nothing else exists.

Before you know it, you're outside and the building isn't that big, but it seems to tower as you finally remove your gaze from the blonde to peer up at it through the window. There's a large steeple on top, the building is (obviously) white and a few limos litter the car park, very few trees in the front for decoration, but to be honest... You don't care. As long as you get to marry Brittany, you don't care where you get married and you spare a quick glance to her – just to check – but she's already grinning and bobbing her head.

She doesn't care either. She just wants to be Mrs Lopez.

(God, you think you're going to throw up.)

"Ready, guys?" Quinn calls, adjusting her dress in the seat opposite you as Rachel ducks her head, being the first one to open the door and clamber out with the blonde following right behind.

It leaves you with Brittany, and you take in a deep breath and meet blue eyes, your stomach flipping over and over and making you feel sick but in an excited kind of way, but she's already staring back at you. Your heart skips a beat, you feel heat creep up your spine and you exhale slowly, watching as she offers out her hand, palm up, and you look at it for approximately 3 seconds before slipping your own into it and climb out the car together.

/

How we feeling? Excited?

Also, I've completely rewritten NKIN from start to finish, so it's like a whole new story. Go give it another read over and then this again if you need something! :)