A/N: Okay, I think it's REALLY winding down this time. Maybe. I hope. I had only ever planned to write their sophomore year as their relationship grew and then a bunch of stuff I hadn't planned on happened. It's been a helluva sophomore year for our girls. The rest of this should just be a few short chapters in junior and senior year. This one is definitely on the short side.

But, I don't always get a say in this.

And again with the car problems ~eyeroll~

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Chapter 75

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

May 30, 2015

Two weeks later

Brittany's POV

Moving day. The landlord had given them permission to move in the weekend before the first since the first fell on a Monday. They were up and moving early; they had three people to move into two different apartments.

They worked pretty efficiently; they unloaded all the boxes and bags to their appropriate apartments, then the women split up to set up the two kitchens. It seemed sexist but Quinn would be doing the majority of the cooking at her place and Santana would be doing the majority of the cooking at hers. Quinn, Jenah, and Jess were at Quinn's while Santana, Reina, and Grams worked at Santana's. Janine said the kitchen was the most important room to have set up; everything else could wait and would be easier to handle with a functional kitchen.

Brittany, Daniel, Rob, David, and Dave Sr. were in charge of furniture while Liam and Aidan handled smaller things; Olivia was set up at a small table in an out of the way corner of Santana and Brittany's place.

They finished up around six and were all spread out at Brittany's and Santana's; Dave Sr had ordered too many pizzas and everyone was happily munching away. There were still boxes everywhere but quite a bit was done and they all felt they'd earned the break.

Brittany was in the kitchen area when Quinn walked up to her. It was an open concept so it wasn't really private but Quinn lowered her voice to speak with the blonde dancer.

"Britt … I don't even know how to thank you for what you've done for her. You know," she said thoughtfully, "freshman year was nothing like I'd hoped for her. After everything that happened, I pretty much figured Santana would live with me forever." She chuckled a little. "When Daniel and I got married, she'd live above our garage or in an in-law apartment or something." She shook her head. "And then, beginning of this year, you just kind of exploded into her life," Quinn glanced up at Brittany, "in the best way possible. You know, I was jealous of you at first. I was so used to being her best friend, her go-to, her person. But … you just … gave her everything. Friends, a family, someone who loved her … all the things I couldn't. Not that I didn't want to but I just didn't have a way to do it."

"Quinn," Brittany smiled, "all I did was give her a safe place to heal. She did all the heavy lifting. I introduced her to my friends but she had to let them in. Same with my family." Brittany shrugged. "She made them love her. I opened the doors but she had to walk through them.

"I love her, Quinn and, you're right, it wasn't something you could give her – the way I love her. You couldn't be her partner because you had a partner. And, frankly, you're straight." Brittany found those brown eyes she loved across the room. Santana smiled softly at her and Brittany couldn't help but return it. "I could be her partner, give her time you couldn't, give her a different kind of support. I'm not downplaying your importance in her life; you are her best friend and she will always need you in one way or another. I'm just going to give her the things she wants, the same things you want; someone to share her life with, a home, maybe kids. Somewhere to rest at the end of a long day."

"Yeah, you did. So, thank you. Thanks to you, I have the best friend I met fourteen years ago back. Only she's even tougher, stronger, brighter."

Brittany pointed to the mosaic hanging on the wall – at Santana's insistence, it was hung in pride of place in the living room. "See that? It started life as a really pretty vase. It got broken but the pieces were still beautiful so I made that. It reminded me of Santana; broken but still beautiful. When she told me her story, I told her I was all in to see what she became. Santana was beautiful … now? She's absolutely breathtaking. She's shaken off her past and embraced her present and future … SHE did that. I just …" Brittany smiled softly, "handed her the glue."

Quinn laughed softly at that and then hugged Brittany. Brittany smiled and hugged her back. They rejoined the group, saying goodbye to those who were leaving.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Almost everyone had left; only Grams, Gramps, and her father were left. When the reached the door and hugged goodbye, her father hesitated.

"Walk us down?"

Brittany looked confused. "Okay …"

"You too, Santana."

Brittany and Santana exchanged glances then shrugged and followed the elder Pierces down the stairs.

When they reached street level, David turned to the girls.

"You're not allowed to get mad at me or your grandparents," he started off before reaching into his pocket and pulling out two sets of keys, "this is for both of you, from the three of us," he said, handing one set to Brittany, the other to Santana. They each had a monogrammed keychain attached. "It's kind of a gift for me, too," he grinned, "you two are going to be coming back to Buffalo more often; this way you don't have to take a bus or rely on me."

"Dad …" "David …"

David shook his head and pointed to a blue Toyota Highlander Hybrid parked a few spaces down. "It seats seven; it's a hybrid so it might take some getting used to, the brake pedal is a little soft. It's used but low mileage and in good condition. I've taken care of the insurance but you girls will have to keep up with the maintenance.

"I know you want to argue with me but this will seat you two, Daniel, Quinn, Jenah, and Reina when you come to Buffalo. It will handle the hills in the winter so I don't have to worry about you coming home for Christmas or driving back after break. Your grandparents and I talked about it and we really wanted to do this for you. It also offers you a little more independence for going into Rochester or out to Letchworth or even just to the grocery store instead of buying stuff at the convenient store."

The girls gaped at the three older people and then glanced at each other before coming to the decision to just hug them and say "thank you."