A/N: Thought I wrote this earlier but … a pretty thorough search through my document says I didn't.

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Chapter 72

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Two Weeks Later

Santana POV

Santana was sitting in the living room studying; exams were coming up in two weeks and she just didn't feel prepared. All the crap with Britt's mom and her father and grandmother, she sighed, she was still waiting for her grandmother's play.

Her father was in jail without bail because he was considered a flight risk. The DA was not inclined to press charges against Santana for the assault; after hearing the story, he figured no jury in the world would convict her and he didn't want to waste time on a losing case. The Ring exonerated Daniel so the only one in trouble was Julio. They threw in trespassing, intent to commit felony kidnapping (they'd actually found a syringe filled with ketamine in his pocket), and resisting arrest in addition to the original conspiracy charges. Santana was pretty sure she didn't have to worry about him anymore.

The she-devil, however, was another story. Santana's mother hadn't had any information on Carmela's dealings so Santana simply stayed on guard.

She stretched and yawned and checked the time; two-forty. Quinn should be home … the sound of the key in the lock alerted her.

"Hey, San," Quinn's voice floated down the hall, soon followed by Quinn herself. She flopped onto the love seat. "What's up?"

Santana shook her head. "Just studying. Then started thinking about Carmela; I hate this waiting. I know she's going to try something … I just wish I had a clue."

"Yeah. I get it."

"You okay? You seem distracted."

"I need to talk to you."

"Okay," Santana sat up and set her book aside at the serious tone in her friend's voice.

"Daniel asked me to move in with him."

Santana squealed and jumped up, diving on top of Quinn. "Quinn that's awesome! Congratulations!" She sat back. "Wait. Why do I seem more excited than you do about this?"

"No, I'm excited. I am … it's just …"

Santana's face fell. "Quinn …" she sighed and moved back to the couch, "you can't keep living your life for me. You need to live for you. You spent all of junior high and high school making sure I wasn't alone, that I was protected and defended and okay. You and Bobby split up because of me."

"No." Quinn shook her head vehemently. "Bobby and I broke up because he was an insecure jerk who told me to choose between you and him. As if I'd choose him. I mean, yeah, I liked him but I didn't love him and we were gonna break up by grad anyway. I had more fun at prom with you and the Gleeks than I would have if I'd gone with him. He'd have just gotten drunk and tried to get me out of my dress." She rolled her eyes. "And, yes, I know I have to live my own life. I just don't want you to be alone."

"Honey, I'll be okay on my own. I wanted to talk to you anyway … about moving. I just don't feel safe here, you know? I want to move and just not tell my mother the address so the she-devil can't find it. I'll just find a small one bedroom." She shrugged. "Or a small two bedroom so I have a place for my recording stuff."

"What about Brittany?"

Santana frowned in confusion. "What about her?"

"Well, I mean, you guys practically live together now. Have you thought about actually moving in together?"

Santana shook her head. "We haven't even talked about it. We haven't been together that long. I mean, you and Daniel have been together for almost two years."

Quinn quirked a brow. "Seriously? Didn't you two decide after the shooting that other people's rules weren't meant for you? And, honestly? If it were anyone else, I'd say it probably was too early. You and Britt, though? You could have moved in together in January and I wouldn't have been surprised. When's the last time you spent a night apart?"

Santana ducked her head and bit her lower lip.

"That's what I thought. Just talk to her about it." Quinn shrugged. "It's a conversation worth having, right?"

The sound of the key in the lock had them both glancing toward the hallway.

Brittany came in and flopped next to Santana on the couch. "Ugh."

"Rough day?"

"A little. One of my lit professors decided that the final was going to be all essay. He gave us a list of the possible topics and, most of them? I have no freakin' clue. That's on top of Hum II."

"Oh, honey. We can study Hum II together. I can take a look at your lit essays and see if I can help you there."

"Thanks, baby. So what's going on here? Seems kinda somber? Like, did someone die?"

"Daniel asked Quinn to move in with him."

"Awesome! Quinn that's great!" Brittany enthused.

"Yeah."

"Wait. This is good news right? Why are we so serious? You don't seem very happy. Do you not want to move in with him?"

"I do."

"She's worried about me. Quinn …" Santana sighed again.

"Well, I can solve that problem. Matter of fact, makes my decision that much easier." Brittany sat up and turned toward Santana. "Move in with me."

"What?"

"Seriously, move in with me. I wanted to ask you but I didn't want to step on Quinn's toes." Brittany shrugged. "My apartment has two bedrooms; we can use one as an office or for your recording stuff or whatever. I mean, we practically live together now. Why rent two apartments with four bedrooms when we only need one bedroom? We almost never spend the night apart anymore. I can move in here if you don't want to move."

Santana shook her head. "No. I was just telling Quinn that I don't really feel safe here anymore and I was going to ask her to move."

"Well, now you can just move in with me. I love you. I love falling asleep with you, I love waking up to you. I spend more time here than at my place and we seem to do okay." Brittany gave Santana a toothy grin. "Seems like a win-win for everyone; you don't have to live here anymore, Quinn doesn't have to worry about you living alone, and I get my favorite cuddle buddy 24/7."

Santana laughed and smiled brightly at the blonde before nodding. "Yeah. Okay. Let's do it."

Quinn squealed louder than Brittany and piled on top of the two of them. "This is awesome!"

The three of them laughed as they disentangled themselves.

"So, I've already started packing my room up. We need to start packing this place up. My dad, Grams, Gramps, Uncle Rob, Jess, and the kids are all coming up the first week of June to help me move. I'm sure they'll be more than happy to help you and Daniel move and, of course, they'll help Santana. Reina and Jenah will still be here and they said they'd help me so I'm sure they'll be okay helping you guys, too."

Quinn smiled brightly. "Thank you, Britt. That would be really helpful."

The three girls spent the next several hours making plans for the "big move" which, it turns out, was less than a month away.