A/N: Norms – group of friends you hang out/study with

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Chapter 53

They had finished dinner and Santana was cleaning up and doing the dishes having refused to let Brittany help.

"It's the one day of the year you are required by law not to do anything, Britt."

Brittany laughed. "Except go to school or work and study. And if I live alone?"

Santana pouted. "Briiit …"

Brittany laughed again. "Sorry, San."

So Brittany sat at the tiny kitchen table, keeping her company, while Santana cleaned up from dinner. When she finished the dishes, wiped down the counter, dried her hands on a dish towel, and hung the towel on the handle of the stove, Santana took Brittany's hand and led her back into the living room.

Santana sat at the end of the couch, her back against the armrest, and one leg tucked under her facing Brittany who was mirroring her position in the middle of the couch, her elbow on the back of the couch, head resting in her hand.

"I know we said we weren't going to talk about it anymore but … it's got to be Susan, right? There's no one else who would have any reason to cause trouble between us?"

Santana shook her head. "Rachel is the only one that comes to mind but I doubt it's her. I'm pretty sure I frightened her off. Besides … people around the Fine Arts Building would know Rachel."

Brittany nodded. "I just … it doesn't make sense. It does in a way, yeah, but, really, doing it where people know us? When we have friends who might tip us off? Like Aubrey, Sophia, and Jamie?" They had both received texts about the mystery woman during dinner. Brittany from a dancer friend and Santana from the young man who had been directing traffic during the shooting.

Santana considered that for a moment. "She doesn't know me or what I look like, really. I mean, Nick could have given her some description but probably not a really detailed one. So she goes where people know us because if she went to, say, the quad, there'd be no guarantee of her finding anyone who even knows who we are. And she doesn't even know my last name."

Brittany nodded her head in agreement.

They sat in silence for a few moments before Santana broke it.

"So," Santana bit her lower lip, "I have a gift for you."

"San," Brittany smiled softly, "you made dinner and I get to spend it with you. You didn't have to get me anything."

Santana shrugged and smiled shyly. "I saw this and knew it was yours." She slipped her hand into the pocket of the sweatshirt she was wearing and pulled out a small velvet bag, handing it to Brittany. "Um, sorry it's not wrapped or anything. I, uh, didn't even think about it." She scrunched her face in apology.

Brittany giggled. "It's fine, Santana, don't be silly." She took the bag and opened it, turning it upside down, and gasping as the beautiful amethyst ring tumbled into the palm of her hand. "San! It's beautiful!" She smiled at the Latina.

Santana took the ring from Brittany's hand and grabbed Britt's right hand. "I, uh, was kinda glad when you decided to get the infinity rings for our middle fingers," she spoke softly as she slipped the ring on Brittany's right hand ring finger. "Because I bought this at that Antiques Mall we went to and, um," she took a deep breath and gazed into Brittany's ocean-blue eyes before continuing with a quiet confidence, "I wanted this to be a promise ring. My promise to you. I promise to be faithful and kind. To consider your feelings when I'm making a choice. I promise to talk to you when I'm scared or angry. I promise that I will always have your back, will always support you, and will always love you. You're my favorite person, Britt, and I promise to be by your side until you don't want me to be." She finished softly, never breaking her gaze from Brittany's.

Brittany bit her lower lip and she couldn't stop a few tears from slipping down her face as Santana slid the ring on her finger. She shook her head and smiled at the Latina. "I love you, too, Santana. And … is being by my side forever okay with you? Because that's how long I'm going to hold you to this promise."

"Totally okay." Santana leaned forward and captured Brittany's lips in a soft kiss.

"Get a room!" Quinn's voice broke the moment and Brittany looked over to the doorway Quinn, Daniel, Jenah, and Reina were walking through. Brittany giggled as Quinn came over and kissed her on the cheek. "Happy Birthday, Britt."

The others all wished her a happy birthday as they wandered in and then Brittany saw three more people she hadn't expected. Leaping up and over the coffee table, she grabbed her father and grandparents in a fierce hug. "Oh, my, god! What are you doing here?"

Her father laughed. "Well, it's your birthday and Santana mentioned she was going to have a little celebration for you." He shrugged. "It's Friday so your grandparents and I decided to come up for the weekend."

"When do you have to go back?"

"We leave Sunday. We figured we'd catch Santana's show tomorrow night and have brunch with you girls on Sunday before we head out. Unless you have plans?"

Santana walked in from the kitchen carrying a cake with lit candles. "Nope. I made sure we were free." She set the cake down on the coffee table and started singing.

Once they'd sung and Santana had served the cake and ice cream, Brittany opened her gifts from her friends and family. She received gift cards to local eateries, a few small trinkets, and her grandparents told her they were taking her grocery shopping the next day. The party was in full swing and Brittany had been proudly showing off her gift from Santana. She smiled at her girl from across the room and couldn't believe her luck in finding such an amazing person to spend her life with. Yes, her life. She was going to marry that girl.

At some point, she managed to get her father alone.

"Um, dad?"

"Yeah, honey?"

"Have you, um, left Susan yet? Like served her with divorce papers or whatever?"

"Not yet. I've moved the majority of my things out of the house; either into storage or to your grandparents' house. Why?"

Brittany told him what had happened earlier and watched as his normally summer-sky blue eyes turned a bluish gray and his jaw clenched.

"That woman … I swear," he took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, honey. I'm sure she suspects something; I'm fairly certain I'm being followed by a not-so-subtle private eye." He rolled his eyes. "It doesn't matter what I'm doing; New York is a no-fault divorce state so even if I was cheating, it wouldn't matter. But to do that to you …" he shook his head. "I'll talk to her when I get home and tell her to leave you and Santana alone."

"Thanks, dad. Our friends gave us a heads up so at least we know what's going on. I mean, I'm pretty sure it's Susan but, I guess, there's a chance that it's not? Maybe?"

David sighed. "Can you think of anyone else who'd want to screw with your life?"

"San and I talked about it earlier and couldn't come up with anyone." She shrugged.

David pulled her into a side hug and kissed her temple. "Whatever she's got planned, I've got you. And Santana. Don't let her get into your head, honey. Soon enough, we'll all be free of her."

Brittany nodded. "Thanks, dad."

xoxoxoxoxoxo

They were cuddled up in bed after everyone (except Quinn and Daniel) left. Brittany sighed in happy contentment.

"Good birthday?" Santana's voice was hushed.

"Best birthday, San. Seriously, I don't think I've ever had a better birthday. Thank you for everything. Dinner, the ring, the party … inviting my dad and grandparents … it was all just awesome."

"Good. You deserved it, Britt." She leaned up on one elbow and kissed Brittany softly, deepening it after a moment. "And, if you're not too tired," she husked as she broke the kiss, "I've got one more gift for you." Santana rolled them so she was on top of Brittany.

Needless to say, Brittany was not too tired.