The rest of January passes in much the same way—Santana burying herself in the practice room, then losing track of time, then getting angry at herself for missing plans. Brittany tries to convince her that it's okay, that she understands. She herself is busy with work (which is going wonderfully), dance, tutoring, and classes. Life is definitely easier than last semester. The strategies to focus that her tutors teach her help, and not having to take notes and listen at the same time helps the most. Things are going well for her, and she tries to do her best to support Santana in any way that she can. She brings food to the practice room when Santana forgets to come to dinner and spends a lot of evenings sprawled out with her books, wearing earplugs, on the floor of the practice room, so that Santana knows she supports her and is there for her.

It's the beginning of February, and Brittany thought for certain the teacher would've laid off Santana by now. If anything, it's gotten worse. She spends more nights in her room, because she falls asleep before Santana finishes practicing. "Do you think you should tell another professor about what's going on?" Brittany asks her one day at lunch.

"No, B. I told you, I just need to keep at it," Santana responds roughly.

"I just don't like seeing you so stressed."

"That's what this is. It's a stressful industry."

"Okay. Sorry." Santana knows that she should be the one apologizing. Brittany shouldn't apologize at all; she's just concerned, and Santana shouldn't jump down her throat about it. Before she can open her mouth to apologize, though, Brittany changes the subject. "You know that Puck guy I told you about?"

"The asshole that hits on you and says inappropriate things?" Santana tries to keep the edge out of her voice.

"Yeah, him. He wants to meet you. I think you'd actually like him. He's nice if you can get past the dumb things he says sometimes." Puck turned out to be the kind of person you can't help but like at least a little. He's kind of like a puppy. She's spent a lot of time between classes talking to him and inadvertently learning to like him.

"Oh sure, B. That's exactly what I want to do—spend what little free time I have hanging out with the asshole that hits on my girlfriend." She doesn't miss the flash of hurt on Brittany's face. Desperately trying to swallow down her frustration, Santana takes a deep breath. Brittany doesn't deserve this. She needs to get out of here and calm down. "I'm sorry. I have to go. I'll call you after rehearsal. Love you." She kisses Brittany on the cheek and leaves.

Brittany tries not to get upset. She knows that Santana is under a lot of stress and that the brunette's anger isn't about her. Still, it hurts a little. She cleans up and goes to her next class. After class, she still hasn't heard from Santana, so she sends her a text to let her know she's thinking about her.

To Santana: Back in my room. I'll be up late finishing homework, so if you want me to come over tonight, I can. Love you.

As expected, Santana doesn't respond right away. Once Brittany gets back to her room, she turns on her computer. She's wanted to buy the strap-on for a while but hasn't exactly had the chance. Last week, she went into town and opened her first bank account so she can deposit her checks from teaching. It makes her laugh that her very first purchase with her new debit card will be a strap-on and a bottle of lube from a sex toy store.

About an hour later, Brittany's in the middle of homework when her phone starts ringing. Assuming it's Santana, she picks up without checking the caller ID. "Hey babe. You're done early."

"Talking about that stupid slut of yours?"

Brittany's breath catches. Why is her sister calling? "What do you want, Jen?"

"Can't a big sister just call her little sister to chat?"

"I'm sure some could. But you don't. Why are you calling me?"

"Tommy told me that you're dating someone. A girl."

"Yeah."

"You seriously left him for a girl? What the fuck are you thinking?"

"I didn't leave him for a girl. I hadn't been with him for months before I got together with her."

"Whatever. I'm just warning you, if Mom and Dad find out, they are going to flip their fucking shit. I'd leave her quick if you want to stay in school on their money and stay part of this family."

"I don't have to listen to this. How bad would it be for me, really, to not be in that family?" Brittany hangs up and takes a minute to compose herself. She goes to dial Santana's number but thinks better of it. While she needs to talk this through with someone, Santana is busy, and taking up her time is only going to add more pressure to her workload. Instead, she calls another number.

"Hello?"

"Hey Sam. Can I come over? I need to talk."

"Yeah. Need me to pick you up?"

"No, I'll walk. I need a minute."

"Okay. See you soon."

"Bye."

During the walk to Sam's, she thinks about what her sister said. She doesn't understand why her parents wouldn't be okay with her dating a girl. They aren't particularly religious or anything. She guesses it has more to do with people's opinions of them as a family than anything else. When she gets to Sam's, she tells him what happened.

"I wish I had something helpful to say, B. That's shit. I don't know what else to say. Your sister is a bitch."

"Yeah." She sarcastically laughs. "I'm not ashamed of Santana. I would tell them. It just hasn't come up."

"I know, B, but...maybe you shouldn't tell them. What if this all just breezes over?"

"I'm just so mad that they keep doing this to me. Why can't they either leave me alone or just stop hating me? I don't get it." She's starting to move from mad to upset. "I just want them to not affect me anymore. I wish I could stop caring." Tears start to fall, and Sam wraps his arm around her.

"It's hard. I know it sucks." He just rubs her back while she cries it out. "Do you want me to call Santana?"

"N-no. She's r-really busy. I'll tell her when she's done with practice."

Sam nods, still hugging her. "Movie?" Brittany sniffs and nods. "Any preference?" She shakes her head. After putting in Avatar, Sam sits on one end of the couch. Brittany only watches for a few minutes before she falls asleep. He lays a blanket across her sleeping body, then resumes watching the movie. About an hour later, he hears Brittany's phone vibrating on the table. Seeing that it's Santana, he picks up. "Hey Santana. It's Sam."

"Oh, hey. Where's Brittany?"

"She's asleep. She came over here pretty upset about some stuff with her sister. I can let her sleep here, or I can bring her to your apartment or something?"

"I'm coming to get her. See you in a few." Santana quickly hangs up and takes the turn to Sam's place. Her thoughts spin. Why didn't Brittany call her? Does she really think Santana's so busy that she can't make time to help her? Is Brittany mad at her?

When she knocks on Sam's door, he opens it pretty quickly. She gives him a half-hearted hello before pushing into the apartment to find Brittany. She's asleep. Peaceful, beautiful. Santana brushes hair out of her face, then presses a kiss to her smooth forehead. Brittany's eyelashes flutter against her cheeks before her eyes open to reveal a slightly muted blue. "San?"

"Hey baby. Want to go back to my place and go to bed? I could do with some cuddling."

Brittany nods before stretching and standing up. "How did you know I was here?" she mumbles tiredly as she slips her coat on and grabs her bag.

"Sam told me."

"Thanks Sam."

"Anytime, Britt." Sam hugs them both, and they say goodbye.

They're silent during the car ride back and while getting ready for bed. Santana doesn't want to push Brittany, but she also doesn't want to go to sleep with anything bad between them. As they climb under the covers, she finally asks, "What happened today, Britt?"

"My sister called. Tommy told her about us. She said that we should break up, and my parents better not find out. She was really mean."

"Why didn't you call me?"

"You were busy."

"I'm never too busy if you need me, Britt."

"I just don't want to stress you out any more," Brittany says, picking at the neckline of her tank top.

"You don't. B, I'm really sorry about earlier. I shouldn't have talked to you like that."

"You're under a lot of pressure. I understand."

"That's not an excuse. There is no justifying, okay? I'm really sorry. Do you forgive me?" Santana lifts her arm, and Brittany presses her body into Santana's.

"Of course."

"Thanks, baby. What are you going to do about your sister and parents?"

"I think she was just being a bitch. As long as I'm not ruining my parents' reputation, I think they'll just keep ignoring me. The other option is to tell them about us, which I would do. I'm not ashamed."

"I know you would, B. I think letting it pass over might be the better option for now. I don't feel comfortable with you near them. Plus, I know that they're still helping you pay for school."

Brittany nods, understanding what Santana's saying. "Can we let it go for tonight? Cuddle now, talk later if we still need to?"

Santana just pulls Brittany in tighter as a response.


Valentine's Day approaches without either of them giving much thought to the day. The day before, while Santana is getting ready for class, Quinn starts talking about her romantic plans with Rachel, which reminds her that she has nothing planned with Brittany. At lunch later that day, she learns that Brittany has also been working too hard to think about it. They decide they'll just go to a nice restaurant outside of town for dinner.

On Valentine's Day, they wake up together. Santana's so tired that Brittany can barely get her out of bed. Today is one of the days they can't eat lunch together, because their schedules don't match up. One of Brittany's dance professors must be in a particularly foul mood that day, because she pushes them harder than she ever has. After class, Brittany leaves, hoping a shower will help loosen up her muscles. When she gets back to her dorm, she sees Rachel holding up a dress to each pair of shoes she has laid out on her desk. Brittany's about to chime in with her opinion when her phone rings. "Hey babe."

"Hey B. Two things. One, would you be terribly upset if we stayed in and did Valentine's another night? I am so tired."

"Nope. Dance class kicked my butt today. Pizza and movies?"

"Perfect. And two, what brand of birth control shot do you use?"

"I don't remember. Why?"

"I read an article today about a warning on some of the 5-year shots being faulty."

"Oh, yikes. I'll call my doctor tomorrow and double-check."

"Okay. I'll try to remind you."

"In the meantime, you still have some condoms, right? Just in case."

"Yeah B." She laughs. "I gotta go. I'll pick you up after class, okay? Love you."

"Love you too." Brittany hangs up, feeling a little anxious. She hopes her shot isn't faulty, because she really doesn't want to have to start using condoms with Santana.

Meanwhile, Rachel only hears Brittany's half of that conversation. She tries not to listen; eavesdropping is unbecoming. Still, she can't stop herself. Why would Brittany need condoms? Where is she going tonight? She must have just misunderstood.

Walking up behind her, Brittany points at the pair of shoes she thinks goes best with Rachel's dress. "Where are you guys going tonight?" Brittany asks.

"It's a surprise. We're coming back here afterwards. You'll be at Santana's tonight, right?"

"Mhm. Gonna go shower before San picks me up." Grabbing her stuff, Brittany heads to the bathroom. Soon after she finishes and dresses in comfy sweatpants, Santana texts her to say that she's outside. "Have fun, Rach!" Brittany says as she runs out the door, leaving Rachel behind, still a little confused and a little suspicious.

When Quinn picks Rachel up just a few minutes later, thankful that Sam let her borrow his car, she can tell that Rachel is distracted. "What's wrong?" Rachel just shakes her head. "Come on. I can tell something is wrong."

Rachel can't keep it in anymore. She hates thinking that Brittany might be cheating, but if she is, Santana deserves to know. "I think Brittany is cheating on Santana," she blurts out.

"Wait, what? Why?" Quinn tries to keep her anger in check. There must be an explanation.

"I heard Brittany talking to someone today about having condoms."

"Why does that mean she's cheating?" Quinn asks, confused.

"Why would Brittany and Santana need condoms?" Oh. Quinn tries really hard not to laugh. Of course Rachel doesn't know. Despite her efforts, a tiny snort slips out. "This isn't funny, Quinn! This would crush Santana."

"It would. If it were true." She shakes her head and pulls her phone out to call Santana. "Hey San, are you guys at home? We're stopping by real quick." To her right, Rachel is whispering "no" over and over and wringing her hands. "Everything's fine. Be there soon."

"Quinn! I can't confront them about this! Oh, sweet Barbra." Rachel starts to breathe deeply, trying to calm herself down.

"Calm down, Rach. It'll be okay. We're just going to clear everything up." After parking the car outside her apartment, Quinn drags a reluctant Rachel into the living room, where Brittany and Santana are lying on the couch together, watching Brave. "Go ahead, Rach. Tell them what you told me."

"I. I. I, um—"

"Spit it out, hobbit."

"I think...I think Brittany is, is cheating," she whispers.

Quinn laughs at the confused looks on Santana's and Brittany's faces. "Tell them why." Her ribs are starting to hurt with the effort to contain the hysterical laughter threatening to bubble to the surface.

"Well, today, I heard you on the phone. You were talking to someone about...about having condoms."

Brittany takes a few seconds to register what Rachel is talking about, then starts to giggle.

"Oh," Santana realizes. "Oh. She doesn't know." She smacks Brittany's thigh to try and calm her now full-blown laughter.

"Just tell her, so we can clear this up and get on with date night," Quinn tells Santana, shaking her head in amusement.

"Fine. I have a...well, uh, a penis."

"You're a boy?"

Santana sighs. "No. I'm a girl, just born with a penis."

"And it works?"

Brittany nods emphatically. "It definitely does," she tells her roommate. Quinn rolls her eyes.

"Can you get Brittany pregnant?" Rachel asks.

"Obviously. Hence the condom question."

"Right." Rachel understands, sort of, but she's still a little confused. "So you've always had it?"

"Yeah."

"But you're a girl?"

"Yes hobbit, we covered that."

"You've always been a girl?"

"Yes. Where are you going with this?"

"How did you know?"

Santana shrugs. "I just did. Ever since I can remember, I've just known. I told my parents enough times that they took me seriously and started to look into things medically."

"Can I see it?"

"NO!" Brittany yells, putting her hand protectively over Santana's crotch.

"Sorry. I'm just curious."

"I think you're going to be late if you don't leave," Brittany responds.

Quinn laughs and takes Rachel by the hand, leading her out of the house.

When they're gone, Santana chuckles. "Jealous, baby?" she asks, kissing Brittany gently.

"Mine," Brittany pouts, kissing Santana back.

"Yours. Always."

When Quinn gets back early the next morning, it's to a half-eaten pizza on the coffee table, the DVD menu still playing (although muted), and Santana and Brittany curled up together on the couch, still passed out. She's pretty sure there will never be any cheating here.