A/N: Hi everyone, thank you for reading and for your support. I really appreciate all of your reviews.

I know this chapter leans more toward the dramatic side - it's interesting to explore those "flaws" in their relationship but I do think it will lead to them overcoming some conflicts in the future and help them realize what they really want with each other.

What do you think of Brittana's relationship and how each of them are acting? What about the other characters? What are you looking forward to the most?

As Brittany expected, Santana didn't exactly handle the news of Tina's party too well. They were hanging out in the blonde's bedroom while Brittany did homework on the bed and Santana lazed around nearby, helping her when she needed it.

"A party at T-T-Tina's house?" Santana snorted, just like Brittany expected her to when she told her. "What's she gonna do, serenade us with Phantom of the Opera songs and make us drink each other's blood? Cry on us? Perform an exorcism? God this sounds depressing."

Brittany was unable to hold back her laughter, shaking her head at her girlfriend.

"Not exactly but she's having a Christmasween costume party theme. Like, as in Christmas and Halloween combined in one, since it's on December 15th which is like halfway between them I think… I still never really learned how to read a calendar."

Santana wasn't too enthusiastic.

"That's the lamest thing ever. What has my life come to when this is a social event of the season? Years ago, I wouldn't have even stooped so low as to set foot in Mrs. Chang Squared's house and now I'm going to one of her loser parties."

"It won't be so bad, San. I think it sounds fun. It's mainly just the Glee Club people. Even Rachel, Mike, Quinn and Mercedes are coming back to town for a visit. I know they're all kinda annoying, especially Rachel and Kurt but it'll be kinda nice for us as a couple."

"Berry, Aretha and Tubbers? Plus the Glee Club dorks? Don't tell me Wheels is coming too. This can't get any worse. Just when I thought I got as far away from Grandma Berry as I could."

"I know but on the bright side, you'll have me and we're a team, right, so it's not like either of us is gonna be thrown to the wolves in there. C'mon, it'll just be for a couple hours."

Santana thought it over for a while. As much as the thought of being interrogated by the Glee Club and putting up with their annoying performances got on her nerves, she really wanted to make her girlfriend happy and Brittany seemed excited about this. She couldn't let her down.

They hadn't really been socializing with others for a while either, since Brittany was frequently sick and they both got tired of all the questions they had to deal with from others about their situation. She didn't want Brittany to go there alone either or with someone else, especially when she was pregnant, without Santana beside her to protect her in case anything went wrong. She knew the blonde was strong and could handle herself but her being pregnant made Santana's protective instincts go into overdrive.

"You know what, Britt? I'll take you."

Brittany squealed, throwing her arms around her neck and jumped into her lap. It made Santana grin widely, her arms settling around her girlfriend's waist.

"Yay! I love you so much!"

"I'd love you go with you. Anything for you." Santana whispered, kissing her cheek and listened in amusement as her girlfriend told her all about her ideas for their Christmas/Halloween hybrid couple costumes.

As soon as they arrived for Tina's "Nightmare Before Christmas" style party that Saturday night, Santana noticed that the crowd was much bigger than she expected as it seemed a lot of random students who weren't involved in the club had showed up as well, even some of the cheerleaders and jocks, which was pretty shocking. The club must have been performing well to have this type of popular student being interested in their events.

Tina had a pretty large house that was almost the size of Santana's and it was fully decked out in Christmas/Halloween hybrid decorations, just as Brittany had warned her it would be.

Brittany's jaw dropped, impressed and fascinated. Tina had really gone all out. The entire house was adorned in all black, white, red, and silver. There was a giant black Yuleween tree, along with black wreaths and they were all decorated with silver skulls, spiderwebs, bats, and jack-o'-lanterns. There were also plenty of spooky snowflake decorations everywhere they looked. Brittany clung to Santana's arm, a little nervous about all of it.

Santana had grumbled the entire way there, complaining about every member of the Glee Club and while Brittany agreed with her, her girlfriend's bad mood had become a little exasperating for the patient blonde even. She held her hand tightly, rubbing her thumb over Santana's hand and trying to calm her down whenever she got agitated.

Though she initially wanted to be a sexy Krampus, Santana was dressed up as the Yule Cat "but the hot version" as she called it, as Brittany had pleaded with her so strongly to go with that idea while Brittany was a sexy scary elf, though she wasn't exactly scaring anyone.

They soon met up with some familiar faces, including Finn who had been in charge of leading the club in Will's absence, Rachel who looked most concerned about all of the noise and chaos around her, Mercedes looking more grown up and confident, and Quinn, who waved at the two of them.

Finn and Rachel were a dark version of the gingerbread man and a sugar plum fairy, Mercedes was The Snow Queen, Quinn was sporting a dark nutcracker look, Sugar was a tiny snow woman, Mike was a sinister-looking Jack Frost and Tina was dressed as The Grinch.

The couple passed several others dressed as Krampuses, The Red Death, Christmas Witches, Jack Skellington, Mr. and Mrs. Scrooge, the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come, along with a very gothic Frosty the Snowman, and an all black-wearing Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Tina greeted them immediately when they came in with a loud "Merry Creepmas! Greetings from the Krampus!" giving them each a big hug. She pulled away pretty quickly from Santana who gave her a sharp, warning glare and narrowed her eyes in return at the Latina. Sugar, Artie, Marley, Mike, and Jake were standing nearby with drinks in hand.

Brittany was really into all the appetizers, feasting on crab cakes, one bite mac n cheeses, quiche, and shrimp cocktail as Santana watched in amusement.

Santana had to shield some of Tina's creepier dishes from her girlfriend's view, including some spooky Christmas cookies, not wanting to make Brittany feel sick again. Brittany did enjoy the striped orange, black, green and purple candy canes, however, along with the gingerbread mummies, Christmas pumpkin pie, and gingerbread haunted house.

At some point, Tina somehow convinced the Glee Club, including a reluctant Santana into performing a spirited rendition of Masquerade from Phantom of the Opera.

After they each got drinks - purple sodas, as Santana didn't want anything alcoholic either since she wanted to be able to look after Brittany with a clear head - they separated briefly to talk to some of the others.

"Hey, Santana. So what brings you back to Lima?" Mercedes asked, after the blonde had walked away to talk to some of the others. "You're not living in New York anymore?"

"Um," Santana struggled to think of how she could explain things. "I'm just figuring stuff out and besides, Britt needs my help with the baby and all."

"Right," Mercedes seemed rather bewildered. She lowered her voice, leaning closer to the Latina. "Brittany just told me she's having a baby, which was pretty obvious as soon as I saw her. It's such a surprise. I know it probably isn't any of my business but I'm just really confused… since, you know, you and her?"

Santana tensed up, instantly going on the defensive. What gave people the right to even ask them?

"It's our baby. She didn't get pregnant by some guy or whatever and you're right, it's none of your business."

"Oh, sorry. So you planned the baby together through IVF or something?" Mercedes tilted her head to the side thoughtfully. "I thought a second ago you two were broken up."

"Um, not exactly planned. The baby wasn't planned at all, actually." She admitted.

"It's just that well… It seems really early in your lives. Those things are so expensive and she's in school. I know your family is seriously rich but I don't really get it."

"All you need to know is that it's our baby and this is our decision."

"So no plans for college at all, Santana? Are you working?" Artie asked and all of the others stared at her expectantly, the room going silent as everyone waited to hear Santana's answer. She felt annoyed and put on the spot.

"Yeah, Santana, what are you doing lately?" Tina piped up. "Marley told me she saw you at Sheets n Things when she went to pick up some duvet for her mom the other day."

Santana felt her cheeks burn, beyond embarrassed.

"Why are you all looking at me like I'm pathetic? You're the pathetic ones. I have a plan, okay? You nosy bitches can just wait. I'll be better than all of you, even Berry!" She finally snapped, completely losing her temper.

There was no way she was going to admit she had been jumping from one crappy job to another in Lima and still had no real plan for her education or future. There was no way Santana Lopez could be seen as a failure.

"Rude." Tina huffed, crossing her arms over her chest as their other friends groaned but were more than accustomed to Santana's harshness.

Hell, she barely even had a plan for how she was going to manage the baby with Brittany when he was born. She felt ashamed of herself but she wasn't going to show that to the others so she lost her temper and walked away, unable to handle anymore of that.

Santana wanted to plug her ears to block out the shrill sound of Rachel singing some Funny Girl song on the stage they had set up. By the time the music died down and she had escaped from the questioning of the others, she was beyond irritated. Santana went to find Brittany.

Santana watched Brittany talking to Jake happily and felt her heart clench. She knew rationally that the blonde was just being friendly and keeping a distance between them but she saw the way his eyes lingered on her girlfriend for a little too long and his tone of voice turned flirtatious.

She had heard from Brittany that the boy and that Marley girl had broken up recently but she also knew that he was a part of the friend group the blonde girl spent most of her time with at school while Santana was away at work.

She was happy for her having all these friends but she was accustomed to her and Brittany being together for everything. She had spent everyday of her life with Brittany before she went away. Ever since Santana left for college, it was like Brittany had all these new friends and was part of this world Santana wasn't involved in. It made her feel jealous of Jake when the two of them laughed at some inside joke. It reminded her of all of the time Brittany spent with the others when Santana was away.

Santana had the horrible feeling that he had set his sights on her blonde girlfriend as his next conquest. So it seemed girls next door like Marley weren't his only type.

She had already had to put up with all the judgmental looks from the other friends at the party and was interrogated about why she was in town, then now she had to watch while some playboy dude tried to chat up her girlfriend, which was even worse torture.

Mercedes' words, when she had asked about Brittany floated back to her. The implication was there, Mercedes had just assumed Brittany could only have got pregnant by a guy. A guy like Jake could get Brittany pregnant with no extra complicated science or magic involved even so that meant he had something to offer the blonde that Santana didn't. Society would just believe a couple like them could have a baby and there wouldn't be any judgment.

This had always been one of her fears with Brittany, ever since they were children and the blonde expressed an interest in having babies one day.

She felt so low and despite normally being so confident, she suddenly had this irrational fear that Brittany might think Santana wasn't good enough for her anymore.

She continued to sulk, glaring in the direction of the two with her arms crossed until Brittany skipped over to her.

"Santana? What are you doing over here by yourself?"

"Nothing." She mumbled, unable to hold back the irritation and hurt in her tone. She felt betrayed somehow, even though Brittany technically hadn't done anything to her. She felt like no one wanted her there.

"Then come dance with me, Silly. I've been looking for you all night."

"Don't you want to dance with Jake instead?" She retorted.

Santana knew she was being childish but the words slipped out before she could stop them. Brittany's smile fell and she rolled her eyes in disbelief.

"You're mad at me?" Brittany sighed but still smiled at her. "You're acting like Lord Tubbington when I pet the neighbour's cat and he smells their scent on me. I saw you giving us all these angry looks. How come you're being so Grinchy? What happened?"

"Can't you tell? He was practically all over you!"

Brittany was so confused.

"Not really. Not, like that. He was being friendly. We were talking like friends."

"Maybe for you it was but he obviously wants more with you. I'm sick of this fucking party already."

Brittany just watched her in silence, leaning back against the wall as she seemed to look right through her with those piercing eyes.

"I'm just confused because I just don't understand why you're being like this tonight. It's really no big deal. You were mostly fine all day before this and…" Brittany giggled. "Sorry, I can't take you seriously when you look like that. You look too cute."

Santana flushed, pulling off the black cat ears that Brittany had begged her to put on for the party. She rubbed at her cheeks, wiping off the whiskers that were drawn on.

Santana groaned and Brittany was embarrassed noticing that all of their friends, including Jake were now listening in to their argument. They were probably shocked because Brittany and Santana never argued about anything.

"Look, I don't want to talk about it."

"Why not?" Brittany pouted.

"Santana, calm down. You're being ridiculous," Jake cut in, barking out a laugh. "Get a grip. You're jealous of me or something?"

"You, shut the fuck up," Santana growled with venom in her voice and he shrank back in fear. "If you think you have a chance in hell with her, you're so fucking wrong. She doesn't need you for anything, don't even try it."

"I don't understand. Why are you being like this?" Brittany asked, hot on her heels as she tried to keep up with her. Santana choked out a painful laugh, frustrated by the whole situation. The more she thought about it, the more she seethed with jealousy.

"Maybe because I had to watch some dude perving all over my girlfriend all night. Did you ever think about how that makes me feel when I see that?" The words just came out before she could stop them. She felt like an hormonal teenage idiot as soon as she said it but she couldn't stop all of the hurt inside of her from spewing out.

That set Brittany off a little and all of her emotions boiled over.

"So you can go fuck all those cheap whores you picked up at bars like I know you did at college but if I so much as talk to a guy and you get like this? You're being possessive and normally I would think that's really hot from you but I don't like Jake in that way, he's just a friend, and you know it - he knows we're together and I would never do that to you - but you have some serious double standards, Santana."

Brittany felt herself starting to sob, tears stinging her eyes as her face flushed red because she was so upset. Santana was in shock, having rarely ever heard Brittany curse like that or raise her voice to her in that way. She was speechless, not knowing what to say about the points Brittany had brought up.

"I- it's just different." Santana argued when she found her voice again. Though she couldn't exactly find a good argument for why it was different, she was too jealous and hurt to think that one through.

"How is it different?"

"It just is."

"Santana, stop it."

The tension rose sharply between them. Santana couldn't take the way the blonde was looking at her. She leaned up, capturing her lips and kissing her hard because she couldn't handle Brittany being mad or disappointed at her like this. She didn't know how to explain herself with words. Plus, she just wanted everyone around them, especially Jake, to know who Brittany was going home with and in whose arms she was going to be.

Brittany gave in to it at first with a whimper, closing her eyes as she felt those heated, full lips against hers, before pulling away, frustrated and creating some distance between them. She shook her head at Santana warningly and pushed her shoulder.

Brittany loved her and the kiss was really hot but if Santana thought she was going to get away with anything by kissing her, she had another thing coming.

Santana could tell Brittany was angry because she would never have reacted like that to her kisses normally. Her blue eyes were heated, flashing with intensity and her lips were set in a straight line, showing Santana that she was not amused.

Santana tried to kiss her again, reaching for her waist but Brittany pushed her hand away gently yet firmly, keeping her lips out of reach, which told Santana she had really done something bad.

Santana sighed, slumping back against the wall instead as she raked her fingers through her hair awkwardly, unable to look her girlfriend in the eye. She felt like such a fool.

"Wait. Fuck, Brittany, I didn't mean to… "

It was too late because Brittany shook her head again, storming away in a huff.

"Oh, you messed up. That is not the way to talk to a girl." Tina chimed in from nearby, having watched the whole spectacle as Santana stuck her middle finger up at her.

Brittany was exasperated with how insecure and frustrating Santana was being. Oh boy… jealous Santana was something else… They slept together in the same bed every night, they did everything together, she was pregnant with her baby, and Brittany thought she had made it more than obvious how she was committed only to her, yet Santana was still being a jerk tonight?

It was obvious Santana felt cornered and threatened for some reason, though Brittany couldn't figure out why that could be, so that had been her reaction. She knew Santana still was working through her insecurities about boys being with Brittany and that hot temper that the girl had for as long as she knew her but it still hurt when the Latina got all moody like that and took it out on her.

She wiped a tear from her cheek, marching out onto the dance floor Tina had set up for them with a huff. If Santana was going to be like that, Brittany was just going to dance by herself until her dark-haired girlfriend got over herself and lightened up. So Brittany continued to dance, trying not to cry and trying desperately to keep her thoughts off of her girlfriend.

Five minutes and two songs later, she felt a strange presence behind her and looked up to see a boy she barely knew but recognized from school.

"Hey, Sweetheart. You look great. You can really dance," The muscular, dark-haired footballer began dancing beside her close. Brittany winced uncomfortably. "You're Brittany, right? I'd love to get to know you better."

Clearly, this guy hadn't seen or heard the whole situation go down with her and Santana. Or if he had, he hadn't taken it seriously. He was getting the wrong message entirely from Brittany.

He probably was too drunk to read her body language anyway and kept flirting with her even though Brittany made it extremely clear that she wasn't interested, moving a few steps back every time he came closer with no smile on her face.

It was Tom, the same jock who had been practically stalking her for weeks now. Though he was technically handsome and had a good body, Brittany had never liked him too much even while she was still single.

She kind of regretted not telling Santana anything about the guy before. She had thought she could handle it herself but he was genuinely making her feel uncomfortable and Brittany didn't like confrontation. She was already feeling awful after her argument with Santana.

"Do you want to get out of here?"

Brittany shook her head, irritated with him and letting it show on her face as she shut him down. Something about his vibe made her feel very uncomfortable and all of her senses were on edge. She wanted to get as far away from this guy as possible but so many people were crowding around them and the music was getting louder, so no one seemed to notice Brittany's distress.

"No thanks. I'm dating someone."

"I've been watching you dance and I haven't seen you with any guy tonight. Where is he?"

"Look, just leave me alone."

This guy was just so pushy and aggressive. He kept moving closer until Brittany was backed into a corner, his grip on her arm tightening. She flinched and shrank away with a whimper, suddenly aware of how much taller and bigger he was. He was so much stronger than she was.

"Stop, I'm pregnant, okay? I don't feel well and I'm not into you."

He looked down at her stomach and then his eyes drifted back up at her face, his facial expression turning from interest to disgust and scorn.

"Pregnant? You're stupid enough to get pregnant in high school? What kind of fucking easy dumb slut are you?" He laughed mockingly. "I guess the rumours I heard about you really are true."

Brittany started to cry openly because yeah, most of the time she was able to put up with all the looks and stares from other people at school but sometimes it really hurt.

Out of anything others at school had said or done to her, this guy jeering at her as she continued to sob hurt the most and after her argument with Santana she was already on edge. She felt all alone.

"Hey, excuse me, Fuckface. That's my fucking girlfriend you're talking to and she's pregnant with our baby."

A familiar, raspy and strong voice cut in, then Brittany was looking up into familiar, dark brown eyes that were filled with intense fury as Santana glared at the man beside her murderously. Brittany had never felt more relieved to have Santana's love and protection.