A/N: "What the World Needs Now" chapter. Part 3.
Here's my breakdown of how the timeline worked out (in my head):
Brittany got tested for ALS on October 18, results are received on November 5
Brittany goes to see Alma – November 9
Fondue for Two – November 10
Hallway scene – Queso Por Dos – November 11
Alfie – November 13
What the World Needs now performance: November 18
Schue's Friendsgiving – November 21 (Friday)
Thanksgiving 2014 – November 27 (this was the actual date of Thanksgiving 2014)
Re: Bus Service. In the show Alma took "three buses" to get to Brittany's house. Some analyses I've read have speculated that she came from Columbus or even Cincinnati.
I live south of the city of Buffalo. I can get to the northtowns in about forty minutes by car. I can take a bus but would have to transfer several times to do so (and it would take much longer). Since Alma (apparently) had such a big part of Santana's formative years, I find it hard to believe she was not in Lima (probably in Lima Heights (probably not the worst part of Lima but in a less affluent area, while Raphael moved his family to "Lima Heights Adjacent" - a fairly well off suburb) but in an area where she would have gotten on a bus and had to transfer to two other buses to get to Brittany's neighborhood.
That's my take on it. She was simply not on a direct bus line from her home to Brittany's.
This chapter is a little … experimental. I don't want to go over everything they did in the show but, rather, show the small shots we didn't get. Let's see if it works.
xoxoxoxoxo
Chapter 16 – Lima, OH (November 9 – 21)
(November 9)
Brittany knew she was taking a chance going to see Alma. Maybe Alma would remember Santana's "friend" Brittany; maybe Alma wouldn't let her in; maybe Santana would be mad … no, Santana would DEFINITELY be mad.
She sighed as she pulled into Alma's driveway. Lima Heights. She shook her head as she remembered the stories Santana told her about Lima Heights and Alma. She looked around; the area seemed a little worn out but not dangerous. Yards and homes were well-kept and there were kids playing in a yard a couple of houses down. Santana is sometimes ridiculous.
She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, put on a positive attitude, walked up the steps to the front door, and rang the bell.
xoxoxoxoxoxox
Well, that went better than she had hoped for; Alma didn't put two and two together and figure out she was Santana's Brittany. Tomorrow, Alma would come on Fondue for Two … or Queso Por Dos, she grinned as she thought of the big check she'd gotten from Univision. She hadn't figured out all the ins and outs of the "new" show but, she'd get there; Alma would be her first guest. She knew Santana would be out of the house to give Brittany space to film. She also knew Santana well enough to know she'd watch the livestream while she was out.
Her plan was to be asleep before Santana got home and leave in the morning before Santana got up; not that she was afraid of Santana, exactly, she just wanted to postpone the argument she knew was going to come.
Okay, maybe she was a little afraid of Santana; not that Santana would hurt her or even really 'yell' but Brittany really hated confrontation and confrontations with Santana were the absolute worst. She would just rather they have their argument during the day rather than just before bed.
Xoxoxoxoxoxo
(November 11)
"So, how are we going to do this?" Santana asked as she pulled out of the hug.
"I was thinking," Brittany said, "that we enlist the Glee Club and have them help us. I think you should sing. Show her that you're still you and, now that she knows me, maybe she'll see that love is love, you know?"
Santana nodded. "Yeah. Okay. What song?"
"Well, the Glee Club is doing Burt Bacharach so, maybe one of his songs would be good?"
"Alfie. It has to be Alfie. I believe in love, Alfie … " she sang. "It's perfect."
Brittany hummed a bit of it then nodded. "Yeah. It is."
They walked down the hallway to go talk to the Glee Club about helping them set up the performance.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
(November 13)
They stood there in silence after Alma left. Brittany was crushed; she was trying to be strong for Santana, to not cry as Santana leaned against her. She just couldn't believe Alma had rejected Santana … again. And it was her fault. Brittany had pushed for this, had believed it would work and it hadn't. Now Santana was hurting and it was Brittany's fault.
Santana pulled slightly away, without letting go of Brittany's hand, and turned toward the blonde. She looked sad and tired.
"Let's go home?"
Brittany nodded and they walked quietly out of the auditorium.
The ride home was quiet, each girl lost in her own thoughts. Getting ready for bed was a quiet affair as well. Brittany just didn't know what to say.
They climbed into bed and Brittany wrapped her arms around the brunette.
"I'm sorry," she said softly.
"For what?"
"It's my fault. I shouldn't have pushed. I should have just left it alone and … I thought it'd be okay, I thought … I just wanted you to be happy and have your abuela at the wedding and back in your life."
Santana lifted up on one elbow and looked at Brittany. "Hey. Wait. I am happy. You make me happy." She gently caressed Brittany's cheek. "You did what you thought was a good thing; there's nothing to apologize for. I meant what I said; if having you in my life means not having her, that's a trade I'll take any day. I told you; I choose you, every time." She leaned in and kissed Brittany softly. "I love you, Britt, you did what you did because you love me. How can I be mad about that?" She smiled softly and draped herself over the blonde, placing her head on Brittany's heart.
"Your heart is racing."
"Anytime you're around or, you know, when I think about you." Brittany smiled to herself as she wrapped her arms tightly around the Latina. She felt Santana's smile against her chest.
"I always feel so safe, so loved, when I'm in your arms, Britt. This is where I want to always be and if my abuela can't understand that," she shook her head, "then I'm better off without her." She snuggled down further into Brittany's embrace and fell silent.
Brittany was awake long after Santana's breathing evened out and became deeper. She knew Santana meant what she said but … she couldn't help but feel guilty. Sleep eluded her for a long time that night.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
(November 18)
"You guys are the best," Santana exclaimed as the Glee Club crowded around her and Brittany.
She smiled at Mercedes and pulled her into a tight hug. "Thanks, 'Cedes."
"Girl, you know I got you. Troubletones for life." Mercedes grinned at the Latina.
They were milling around talking and Santana separated from the group and went to crouch down next to Artie.
"Hey," she wasn't sure how to approach this but 'hey' seemed like a good start.
"Hey," the boy smiled at her, "I hope this was okay. I know, I mean, with what happened and everything …"
"This was more than okay. Thank you for reminding me that family isn't just your blood; it's the people who show up when things go to hell. So, thank you."
He smiled and nodded. "You're welcome."
She shifted a little uncomfortably. "Artie … I know we never really talked about what happened junior year …"
"Hey, Santana," he interrupted, "that was a lifetime ago, you know? Time and distance has kind of given me perspective on everything. Yeah, it hurt but … her heart was never in it. She loved me, I know that … in her own quirky fashion. But when she asked me to be your wedding planner, she acted like she didn't remember that we dated." He grinned and shook his head. "Four years ago, that would have cut deep … but now? I get it. So, no worries. Life has a way of working out the way it's supposed to."
Santana placed a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you, Artie, really."
"Any time, Santana."
She stood up and looked around for Brittany. The blonde was talking to Sam so she made her way over there.
"Hi, honey," Brittany greeted her fiancee. "Everyone is going out to grab some pizza. You wanna join them?"
Santana smiled. She could tell her girl really wanted to go. "Yeah, sure," she nodded her acquiescence and was rewarded with a toothy grin.
"Hey, guys, I'm heading home." Mr. Schue announced. "See you all on Friday for 'Friendsgiving'." He smiled and waved as he exited.
The rest of the group headed out to the parking lot to their cars.
"Where to?" Santana asked as she got in the driver's seat.
"Giovanni's on tenth."
Santana nodded and leaned over to kiss her girl.
"I love you," the blonde said, smiling.
"I love you, too. Always."
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
(November 21)
They were getting ready for bed after Mr. Schue's 'Friendsgiving'. They'd had an enjoyable evening; everyone seemed to be in good spirits and on good terms. It looked like even Kitty and Artie had managed a truce.
Emma had fawned over Brittany's ring and Brittany had watched as Santana talked to Mr. Schue while playing with Daniel. She was going to be a good mom someday and Brittany couldn't wait.
She looked at the Latina who looked dead on her feet. Brittany thought about it for a moment. Santana always seemed to be so much more tired after something like that; a crowded party of people not even necessarily drinking. While Santana seemed tired after a party, Brittany was amped up; she felt like she could go all night.
She slipped into bed and wrapped her arms around her pretty brunette fiancée.
"You look tired, honey."
Santana nodded. "Just being around all those people seems to wear me out." She yawned. "Not that I didn't have fun but … you think we can just be us for the next couple of days. You know, before the Pierce Family Holiday Extravaganza begins?"
"Absolutely, honey. We've got nothing to do … other than, you know, wedding stuff."
"We need to finalize the guest list and talk to the caterer. Make appointments for cake tasting. There's so much to do." Santana yawned again.
"We'll get it done. But, it's the weekend, maybe we'll just lie low for Saturday and Sunday … let you recharge? The Pierce Family Holiday Extravaganza starts next Wednesday; let's give it a couple of days."
Santana nodded. "'kay" Her voice was soft and Brittany could feel Santana getting heavy in her arms.
She kissed the Latina's forehead and held her close. "I love you."
"Love you, too. Always." She said as she drifted off to sleep, Brittany not far behind.
Xoxoxoxoxoxo
A/N: I wrote about the Pierce Family Holiday Extravaganza at length in Where In the World Is Brittana? so I'm not going to rewrite it all here. There will be a fairly large time jump from November 21 to January 2 for the next chapter.
Also, I have come to the conclusion that Santana is an introvert while Brittany is an extrovert. That's my head-canon and I'm sticking to it.
