A/N: This chapter ended up not as short as I'd thought.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Chapter 7 – Louisville, KY (August 13 – August 18)
xoxoxoxoxoxo
After leaving Chicago, they traveled into Indiana with shows in South Bend and Terra Haute. Then it was on to Louisville, Kentucky which left Santana with mixed feelings; she didn't have any particularly good memories of her time in Louisville and, with seven shows, she was hoping she didn't see anyone she knew. On the other hand, she was in a much better place now and, if she did run into someone, she was happy and in love. Not to mention, she was doing something she felt like she was born to do, loved doing, and was happy doing instead of feeling the abject misery she had felt the last time she was here.
Once again, the schedule had been grueling and Santana was lying in her hotel room with her arm over her eyes when Brittany came in from rehearsal. The label had hired two new dancers to replace Caleb and they just weren't getting it. Brittany was completely frustrated and, looking at Santana, she was also worried that Santana had been pulling away from her and couldn't help but wonder if that big decision was coming. What if Santana knew what the decision was and was pulling away so that the decision would be easier for Brittany?
"Hey."
"Hi," Santana didn't move her arm.
"You okay?"
"Headache. I think it's exhaustion. Come nap with me?"
Brittany smiled. And then she said something like that. "I need a shower. When I come out I will absolutely nap with you."
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Twenty minutes later, Britt came out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel; Santana was lying in the exact same spot. Brittany changed into a t-shirt and pajama bottoms and then grabbed two ibuprofen. She moved to the bed and sat next to Santana.
"Here, take these." She offered Santana the ibuprofen and the bottle of water that was sitting on the nightstand.
Santana sat up and smiled wanly. "Thanks," she said, taking the meds and swallowing them down.
Brittany put the back of her hand to Santana's forehead, checking for fever. "You're not warm."
Santana gingerly shook her head. "I really think it's just exhaustion. Lie down with me? Hopefully the ibuprofen and a nap will help then we can go grab some dinner later."
Brittany nodded and lied down next to Santana, pulling Santana toward her. Brittany loved that she and Santana shared 'big spoon' duties. There were times she needed to be held and times when Santana did; they simply did what felt right at the moment. Right now, Santana didn't feel well so Brittany wrapped her up and tucked Santana's head under her chin.
"Rest, angel," she whispered, kissing the top of Santana's head. Hopefully, Santana would feel better when she woke up and the two of them could talk.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Three hours later, they returned from dinner and Santana seemed to be feeling much better.
"Britt? Do you wanna stay in and watch a movie or do you wanna grab Mercedes and maybe go out and hit a club or see a movie out?" Santana looked at Brittany.
Brittany bit her bottom lip. "Um … do you think … maybe we could talk?"
Santana's face turned serious. "Of course." She took Brittany by the hand and led her to the bed. She tucked one leg underneath her and let the other rest on the floor.
Brittany mirrored her actions and took a deep breath to try and calm her nerves.
"Hey, look at me," Santana waited until Brittany looked at her, "whatever it is, we'll work it out, I promise." She extended her pinky and Brittany linked hers with it, hoping Santana could keep that promise; hoping that whatever was going on wasn't something that was going to tear them apart.
Brittany bit her bottom lip. "Are you … are you bored with me? Or … getting tired of me?"
Santana's jaw dropped as she stared at Brittany. She shook her head vehemently. "What? Why … NO! God, no, Britt, never. Why would you ask that? Why … why are you even thinking that? What did I do?" Santana rambled, almost panicky.
Brittany did what came naturally; she took Santana's hands in hers and ran her thumbs over the inside of Santana's wrists to calm her. Once Santana had calmed down, Brittany looked her in the eyes.
"It's just that … you used to love watching me dance and now you disappear with Mercedes after you finish your rehearsal."
Santana took a deep breath, her whole demeanor softening. "Britt …" her voice was soft, "I love watching you dance. You. But these new Fred Astaire wannabes with two left feet? It's painful. I watch you and you get twelve steps in and the choreographer has to call a stop because they already messed up. And you're so professional. Like, if I didn't know you, I'd think you were fine but I can see the frustration in your eyes and I wanna go all Lima Heights on those two. I just don't think that would be a good idea." She smiled at Brittany. "Tired of you? Bored with you? Never." She shook her head.
"There are times when I look at you, you know, and I wonder how I got so lucky. You could have chosen anyone but you chose me. Sometimes, it's silly but, I wish vampires were real so that I could spend eternity with you because seventy or eighty more years just doesn't seem like enough time."
"Santana …" the blush rose in Brittany's cheeks.
"Britt, I love you. You are my best friend, my girlfriend, my confidante, my lover, my partner … my everything." Santana closes her eyes for a moment then opens them and look at Brittany.
Her voice, soft and sweet, starts:
I could stay awake just to hear you breathin'
Watch you smile while you are sleepin'
While you're far away and dreaming
I could spend my life in this sweet surrender
I could stay lost in this moment forever
Where every moment spent with you is a moment I treasure
[Chorus]
Don't wanna close my eyes
I don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing
'Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream would never do
I'd still miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing
[Verse 2]
Lying close to you, feelin' your heart beating
And I'm wonderin' what you're dreamin'
Wonderin' if it's me you're seein'
Then I kiss your eyes and thank God we're together
And I just wanna stay with you
In this moment forever
Forever and ever
[Chorus]
I don't wanna close my eyes
I don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing
'Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream would never do
I'd still miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing
[Bridge]
I don't wanna miss one smile
I don't wanna miss one kiss
Well, I just wanna be with you
Right here with you, just like this
I just wanna hold you close
I feel your heart so close to mine
And just stay here in this moment
For all the rest of time
[Chorus]
Don't wanna close my eyes
Don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing
'Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream would never do
I'd still miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing
"Britt …" Santana said quietly when she finished the song, "loving you is the smartest, best thing I've ever done and I'm sorry that you thought, even for a moment, that you were less than everything to me."
Santana leaned forward and gently cupped Brittany's face, thumbing away the tears that slid down Britt's cheeks, then leaned further in to capture Brittany's lips in a gentle kiss.
Brittany smiles at her girl when she pulls away. This girl. This amazing, wonderful girl. "You're my everything, too, Santana."
Santana smiles at her and stands up, moving to lie on the other side of the bed.
"Come here," she beckons Brittany forward and Brittany is quick to comply.
Santana kisses the top of Brittany's head and holds her close; Brittany's arm draped around Santana's waist, her head listening to Santana's steady heartbeat. They lie like that for a long while, just … being.
Santana tips Brittany's chin up and kisses her softly, deepening it when Brittany tilts her head. She swipes her tongue across Brittany's lower lip and Brittany immediately grants her access. Brittany moans low in her throat as she feels her arousal building.
Without breaking the kiss, Santana straddles Brittany and deepens the kiss further, mapping the inside of Brittany's mouth; their tongues dancing, dueling, dancing again.
Santana pulls back and looks deep into Brittany's eyes. "I love you, Brittany S. Pierce. Always."
They spend the rest of the night showing each other just how much.
