A/N: Mostly filler; tying up the whole Rachel thing. Yes, it's (mostly) OOC for Rachel ... but this is an AU and, honestly, it was easier to use Rachel than to create a new character.

xoxoxoxoxo

Chapter 10

It was one of Brittany's favorite days of the week: Tuesday. She got to spend the whole day with Santana and neither of them had anything pressing to do today so, after they finished lunch, they went for a walk. After a while, they sat down in one of the gazebos that littered the campus.

Brittany had her arm around Santana's shoulders and Santana had her head on Brittany's shoulder; they were sitting watching the sun slowly set. It was early, it was probably an hour before full sunset but they were in no hurry to get anywhere and the day was fairly mild for mid-October.

"Brittany? Brittany Pierce? Hi! Oh my god, I'm so glad to see you, I had so much fun last Saturday! We should definitely get together again!" The brunette was almost as tall as Brittany with mud brown eyes and a nose that looked like it had been broken and improperly set at some point. Brittany just looked at her. Santana looked up at the girl, then looked around the area.

"Excuse me? Do I know you?" Brittany knew she didn't know this girl. Knew they hadn't been together last Saturday because … duh … she was with Santana.

"Oh, don't be like that! We had so much fun at the Phi Gamma party Saturday night!" The girl moved closer, almost stalking over to them with a predatory grin. "You weren't that drunk."

Brittany just looked at the girl wondering what her deal was. She felt Santana gently nudge her side and almost imperceptibly nod to the right. Brittany cut her eyes to the right and saw what Santana did; Rachel, standing slightly behind a tree. Unfuckingbelievable.

"Look. I don't know who you are or what you're playing at but you can leave now."

"Oh, I see. Your girlfriend doesn't know about Saturday."

Santana finally looked at the girl. "Which Saturday?"

"This past Saturday. Brittany and I got to know each other real well."

"First; it's really. Second; Brittany was with me all night Saturday sooo … either you're lying, stupid, you were really drunk, or you're being paid off by a reject from Snow White's merry band of miners. Which is it?"

Brittany stood up and stretched, acting like she was going to talk to the girl before sprinting past her and grabbing Rachel – who tried to run away – by the upper arm and dragging her back to Santana and the girl.

"Once chance, she paid you yet?" Brittany clenched her jaw. This shit was going to stop.

"Yeah. Gave me fifty bucks to …"

"Shut up!"

"Nah, fifty bucks isn't enough to deal with this level of drama. She told me she wanted to play a prank. I'm getting the feeling she lied."

"She did. You can go." Brittany nodded and the girl couldn't get away fast enough.

Brittany tightened her grip and turned Rachel toward her as Rachel struggled to get away.

"Rachel. How nice to see you again." Brittany said through gritted teeth. "How about you explain why you're fucking with my life?"

"I'm trying to protect your life! The life we planned together! New York! Broadway Power Couple! All our dreams!"

"No, Rachel, all YOUR dreams. You need to listen and you need to really hear me." Brittany shook Rachel to make sure she had the shorter girl's full attention. "The whole reason, well, the main reason, we broke up was because our dreams, goals, and values didn't align. I don't want Broadway. I never did. I want to be a photographer and a videographer. I want a family. I want lazy Sundays. You want all that fame and glitz and glamour. I don't. I don't want eight shows a week and months of rehearsals. I never did. And you fucking with my life? Trying to get between me and my girlfriend? Is just pissing me off.

"That is my girlfriend." She pointed to Santana. "Her name is Santana and I swear by everything you hold dear that if you mess with her, or our relationship, again … I will make sure you never sing again. Understand me, Rachel, I'm not fucking around. I may not be violent but I do know some people who are and they'd be more than happy to choke you until your throat and vocal chords are damaged beyond repair." Brittany growled at the girl. Brittany would never condone violence but … Rachel didn't need to know that.

"You … you wouldn't! You don't believe in violence …" Rachel's voice wavered a little as if she wasn't sure.

Santana walked over. "No, she may not. But I do." Santana hauled off and slapped Rachel hard enough to snap her head to the side and leave a bright red imprint of her hand on Rachel's cheek. "That's twice now you've tried to get between me and Brittany. If there's a third time? Brittany won't have to do anything because I will. Nod so I know you understand."

Rachel gaped at Santana, one hand massaging her cheek. "You hit me."

"And I'll do it again," Santana snarled and Brittany had to admit that, this Santana?, a little scary but … damn, she was hot! "So, nod that you understand that I was nice this time. Next time, I will not be so nice. And … I probably won't be alone. And … Brittany won't be here to protect your stupid ass. I hope I've made myself clear."

Rachel looked terrified and Brittany was pretty impressed; Santana was all of 5'5" but she seemed so much bigger in this moment. Rachel nodded frantically and Brittany let go of her arm, watching as Rachel scurried off.

"Damn, San, that was … damn."

Santana ducked her head. "Sorry, I know you don't like violence. I guess I still had some residual anger from last Saturday."

Brittany pulled Santana into her arms. "No need to apologize. No, I don't like violence but, um, yeah, that was kinda hot."

Santana laughed and leaned up, capturing Brittany's lips in a soft kiss. Brittany's arms snaked around Santana's waist as Santana's found their way around Brittany's neck. The kiss deepened and Brittany finally decided to take that leap … she swiped her tongue lightly across Santana's full bottom lip. Santana didn't hesitate; she welcomed Brittany's tongue. It took less than a heartbeat for them to find a rhythm to the kiss. Their tongues just seemed to know what to do, where to go. Brittany heard Santana let out a small whimper as Brittany moaned.

They broke apart and leaned their foreheads together.

"That was definitely worth waiting for," Santana whispered.

"Yeah. It really was." Brittany kissed Santana softly. "Ready for dinner?"

Santana nodded and stepped back, lacing her fingers through Brittany's. "I'll cook tonight. Quinn and Daniel are at some seminar and won't be back until after nine."

"Great." Brittany smiled and the two of them walked, hand-in-hand, toward Santana's apartment.