A/N: Forgive me for this chapter – I just couldn't get it right.
Stories about the red string of fate appear in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean folklore. The ancient Chinese believed those who are destined to meet and be together have invisible threads tied around their ankles, while Japanese and Korean myths have a similar piece of red string tied around pinky fingers. The myths share one quality — no matter how much the strings are strained and tested, they are not meant to break.
The … I forgot the name of my character note: So Declan and Aubrey are a couple. I, for some inexplicable reason, changed it to Aubrey from Avery. If you see Avery … yeah, it's Aubrey. I am just not sure I caught them all since I upload chapters as I finish them (I just don't post anything until the story is finished).
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Chapter 68
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Friday, April 20, 2015
Brittany's POV
Brittany was backstage waiting for the show to start. She had never been so nervous before a performance but … Santana's out there! Santana's going to see me dance! Ugh! She briefly wondered if this was how the Latina had felt before she sang in front of Brittany that first time. Probably worse. At least now we're girlfriends; we weren't even dating back then.
"Britt! Seriously, calm down. She loves you and you're an amazing dancer so she's going to love it." Mike spoke calmly but firmly.
Brittany nodded. "Yeah. I know. I do. I just …" she huffed out a breath. "I'll be fine once I'm out there and the music starts."
And she was. The spotlight was on her and the music started and she wasn't in front of an audience anymore; she was in a meadow, meeting her lover; the one her father had forbidden her to see. The dance was one of longing, of love, of heartbreak, and of joy.
Somewhere in the middle of it, as she was dancing her feelings of having finally found her lover, her soulmate, she felt … something. She would be hard pressed to explain it but … she swore she felt Santana. If she had looked out into the audience, she'd have known right where she was. Like something was tethering them to one another. It reminded her of the red string of fate in Japanese culture. Her soulmate was there, with her, dancing in perfect harmony.
When it finished, and she and Mike were breathing heavily, thunderous applause brought her back to the stage. She looked five rows back and three seats from the aisle and locked eyes with Santana, who beamed that amazing smile at Brittany as she wiped a tear away.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Santana's POV
Santana was seated between Aubrey and Donovan; she was nervous waiting for the show to start.
"Hey, San!"
Santana turned around. "Reina! Jenah! I thought you guys couldn't make it? Weren't you supposed to be going home for Jenah's sister's birthday?"
Jenah shook her head ruefully. "My whole family came down with the flu so we decided to see if we could get tickets. There was a guy outside selling his; I guess he bought them for his girlfriend as a surprise but she broke up with him so he was just looking to get his money back."
"Lucky you. Britt says all three nights are sold out. Oh, sorry, Aubrey, Declan, Donovan, Jamie, this is Jenah and Reina. Jenah, Reina … reverse what I just said," she laughed.
They shook hands then settled down to wait for the show to start.
"This is so exciting!" Donovan was almost vibrating; Santana had to grin at the flamboyant man who reminded her a little of Kurt.
Jamie was soft spoken, gentle, quiet. He wore button down shirts in muted colors with khakis and sneakers. He didn't wear hoodies, but jackets; mostly wool or nylon windbreakers. Donovan was loud. Animated. He eschewed hoodies and denim for silk shirts and twill trousers. He like bright colors. He wore Marc Jacobs and other high end designers. Jamie was a musician, Donovan was a dancer. They'd been dating about a year and Santana had to admit that they were an awesome, if unconventional, pair.
"You're going to die, Santana! Just die! She is sooo amazing! Mike is sooo amazing! Together though? They are transcendent!" Donovan could not stop gushing about Mike and Brittany and how well they worked together. "I was sooo disappointed when Jonette assigned Martin to dance with Brittany," Donovan's face soured, "he's just lazy and entitled and, honey, he is not nearly as good as he thinks he is."
Santana had to giggle at that. The lights flickered letting them know the show was about to start and they all quieted down to watch.
Santana was enjoying the show; she wasn't awed or amazed, but all the dancers were very good – technically – some of them, though, it seemed like they were just going through the motions. Donovan, apparently, shared her opinion, if his snarky comments were anything to go by.
The stage went dark for a moment, then a single spotlight lit up the stage with Brittany standing in the center of it. The music started and Santana was mesmerized; Brittany was amazing. She danced and Santana felt everything she was dancing. Then, something odd happened, Santana couldn't explain the feeling; as Brittany danced her joy at finding her lover, her soulmate, Santana felt Brittany. Almost as though someone had thrown a lasso around her and handed Brittany the other end. It was breathtaking. And heartbreaking. And … it was everything.
When the music finally drew to a close and Mike and Brittany finished their dance, the entire theatre was on its feet cheering for them. Brittany found Santana's eyes and Santana couldn't help but wipe away a tear.
They'd found each other.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Saturday, April 21, 2015
Brittany's POV
They were sitting at the Griff, having dinner with Brittany's family before the performance that evening.
Uncle Rob and Jess had brought their three kids to see Brittany dance. Liam was thirteen and didn't really care; Aidan was ten and wasn't sure if he didn't care or if he just didn't want Liam to know he did care; Olivia was five and didn't really know what they were doing, just that she was spending time with Britty and her friend.
Olivia had taken to Santana immediately and was currently sitting on Santana's lap; the two of them were coloring while they waited for their food. Brittany couldn't help but smile; Santana was just so good with her. Just like she was with Katie. Santana had told Brittany that she didn't really have any experience with kids but you'd never know it, she thought, with how good she is with them.
When their dinners arrived, Jess tried to coax Olivia into her own chair but Olivia was having none of it.
"Sweetie, why don't we let Santana eat?"
Santana smiled at Jess. "She's fine, really, I don't mind." She shifted Olivia a little so they could both reach their plates and they settled into eating their meals.
"I can't believe how quickly Olivia took to Santana," Jess whispered to Brittany, "and Santana is really good with her."
Brittany grinned and whispered back, telling Jess the story about Katie. "She just, like, knew what to do. She's just awesome."
Jess smiled. "You really love her, huh?"
"So much, Jess. She's … I don't even know how to explain it … she's just everything."
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Santana's POV
Olivia insisted on sitting on Santana's lap for the show, despite both of her parents trying to coax her into being a "big girl" and sitting in her own seat.
Santana just smiled and said it was fine; Olivia would probably be able to see better on Santana's lap anyway.
She had expected the little girl to be fidgety or bored but the minute the music started she was awestruck. Her only disturbance was a breathy "Britty" when Brittany appeared on stage.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
After the show, Olivia pouted and was about to throw a temper tantrum because she was being taken back to the hotel room with the boys.
"Wanna see Santana sing!" she yelled.
Santana crouched down and spoke softly to the little girl. "Hey, I'll make you a promise, okay? Tonight isn't going to be much fun for you; it's going to be very, very loud and there are going to be a lot of people there. Even more than were at Brittany's show.
"So, I did some checking on the internet and guess what?"
Olivia's brown eyes were big as saucers. "What?"
"There are some places in Buffalo that will let me sing and they won't be as loud or as crowded as the place tonight. So, my promise is … you go back to the hotel now and be good for your brother and this summer when I come to Buffalo, I'll have your mom and dad bring you to see me sing at a better place. Okay?"
Olivia narrowed her eyes in thought. "You promise?"
Santana held out her right hand, pinky extended. "Pinky promise. So you know I'm telling the truth because a pinky promise can't be broken, right?"
Olivia smiled and linked her pudgy finger with Santana's. "Right."
"But you have to be good tonight."
Olivia nodded seriously. "Pinky promise," she said, squeezing her pinkie around Santana's.
"Good. Now, can I have a hug before your dad takes you back?"
Olivia leapt into Santana's arms and Santana hugged her tightly. "Oh, and I'll see you tomorrow before you go home!"
"Yay!" Olivia grinned as Santana handed her off to Rob. "See you, t'morrow, S'tana."
"See you tomorrow sweetie."
After Rob left, the others started walking toward The Palace.
"Hey, Santana?" Jess pulled even with the Latina.
"Yeah?"
"Did you really look up places where Olivia could hear you sing?"
"Well, not just Olivia. I mean, I wasn't sure if the kids would like me and I wasn't sure if they'd want to come tonight or be bummed that they couldn't so," she shrugged, "I just kinda … hedged my bets. So, yeah, I did look up kid-friendly places in Buffalo. I'm going to be in Buffalo a couple of times this summer with Brittany. She's got all sorts of plans," she laughed, "so we'll just have to coordinate with you and Rob and the kids. I mean, if Liam and Aidan are interested."
Jess just shook her head. "That was really thoughtful and turned out to be a great way to avoid a tantrum. So, thank you."
"Yeah, of course." Santana smiled.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Sunday, April 22, 2015
Santana's POV
After once again promising Olivia that she'd see her soon, Santana and Brittany waved goodbye to the family. The two girls then walked back up to Santana's apartment for a nap; they'd been out late the night before and up early this morning to meet David, Dave, Janine, Rob, Jess, and the kids for breakfast – not brunch. Santana knew she needed to lie down for a bit and could tell Brittany needed a nap before her performance that evening.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
"Brittany! Oh, my, god! You were amazing!" Quinn was gushing over the blonde dancer. "Oh, sorry, Mike," she grinned, "you were awesome, too."
Mike laughed. "Thanks, Quinn. Hey, this is my girlfriend, Lily. Lily, this is Quinn, her boyfriend Daniel, and that's Santana."
Quinn offered her hand. "So nice to meet you. Thank you so much for your help with the apartment."
"Oh, that was no problem. I was happy to help. Mike talks about Santana and Brittany all the time."
"Good things, I hope?" Brittany raised a brow.
"Of course." Mike grinned.
"Santana, how are you feeling? Mike said you got a pretty nasty cut?"
"I'm okay. The scar is a little itchy," she flexed her right forearm, showing it to Lily, "but the cut healed up pretty well."
"Good. I'm glad. Mike and I were just going to get something to eat, would you all like to join us?"
The group decided to go to the diner for their late night menu.
