Title: Back
Author: agentb81
Fandom: Glee
Pairing: Brittany/Santana
Rating: R
Word Count: 2635
Disclaimer: Glee is copyrighted and belongs to the creators and Fox. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for-profit, it constitutes fair use. Use of other personalities is not a reflection of their real lives and is completely fictional.
Summary: It's back to school y'all after an interesting summer break. Oh how will our lovelies cope?
Spoilers: Up to Season 3

It was school.

The first day back at school to be exact. Summer was over, there was already a slight chill in the air and Santana snuggled further into her Cheerio's jacket as she stepped onto the premises of William McKinley High School. Raising her head with mock confidence, she strolled with purpose, through the doors and down the familiar corridor. It felt like she had never been away.

The summer had been kinder to Santana than she had expected. The previous school year had been full of much heartache and pain that pumped through her being. She had lost her best friend. There was a long story, and there was a short one. She had realised her true feelings for Brittany and whilst her constant state of fear kept the blonde at arm's length, they somehow found themselves in each other's lives once again. Nationals in New York had somehow brought everything full circle. They were friends again and to Santana she would take that over not having Brittany in her life at all.

She smiled warmly at the sight of the girl gracing her thoughts who was staring blankly at her locker. The Latina bounced on the balls of her feet and picked up her pace, eager to catch up with her friend.

"Hey Britt Britt." She sang, grinding to a halt beside the baffled cheerleader.

"I forgot my locker combination." Brittany said, her blue eyes glancing sideways at the brunette. Santana smiled widely, she had figured as much and reached over the other girl to open the lock. As it popped open, Brittany beamed with joy, quickly wrapping her arms around the brunette in appreciation. "Thanks San." She offered earnestly and pulled away quickly, very aware of Santana's trepidation at public displays of affection. But they were friends right?

Wrong. The summer had been even more eventful than the previous semester. Ups and downs was an understatement. They knew how they felt about each other, they loved one another, yet Santana was scared. Brittany was a unique human being. She was the only person in the world who had the Latina completely discombobulated. The brunette wanted nothing more to be with Brittany. To be the one who made her smile, laugh, moan with pleasure and growl with desire. She wanted to be Brittany's reason for everything. It started out friendly, slightly timid and a little unsure of how to be around each other. However it was summer break and they quickly slipped into a routine, spending more and more time together. They were becoming the Santana and Brittany of old. However the more time they did spend together, the closer they would become. It started with fleeting touches and sly smiles, before the pinkie linking began once again. It was natural to them, having done so for many years, it was stranger for them not to be touching in some way.

And then it grew. They were Brittany and Santana and their whole relationship was based on physical contact, leading to desire. Only now, with feelings – Brittany was right – it was so much better. It started with a sweet innocent peck on the lips. The blonde had danced and swirled around in the fading sunshine. The sun setting on the horizon, an evening picnic in the park had been Santana's idea. It was an opportunity to spend even more time with each other than they had all break. The brunette insisted the fresh air would benefit them both and she was determined to see at least one sunset that summer. They had spent a glorious evening strolling through the park, through the trees of the woods, feeding the ducks and of course the picnic. Santana, resting following a good feed, lay tiredly watching the blonde who was still so full of energy. The brunette smiled lazily as the blonde spun against the orange backdrop, her golden locks glowing like a halo in the dusk evening. She took Santana's breath away. It was a phrase the brunette had always scoffed at until she realised it's true meaning and it was not until she fell in love with her best friend that she realised the true gravity of the statement.

Growing tired, Brittany fell onto the blanket and leaned over Santana, her hair cascading like a golden river, framing her features like a priceless piece of art. Her smile was sweet and Santana found her to be the most captivating and beautiful thing she had ever set eyes upon. The Latina reached a hand up, gently caressing the other girl's soft cheek.

"You're so beautiful." She whispered, afraid her voice would not work. Her whole body felt weak, trusting her voice was a tall order. Brittany's eyes softened. She could see a new respect in the brown orbs, there was a deeper desire, beyond the physical Brittany had seen there so many times before. She melted. However strong Brittany had been in the previous few months, she could resist no longer and rewarded the brunette's praise with a chaste kiss to the lips. This time rendering the girl beneath her completely speechless. With a quick glance around, realising the secluded spot they were in was indeed private, Brittany swooped in, capturing Santana's lips with her own. They moved their lips slowly and sweetly against one another. It had been months since the two girls had been so intimate with one another, only this time it was more intense. Santana wanted to freeze time, to make the moment last for she was unsure when something so special would happen between them again. She kissed Brittany like she had never kissed her before and as though it was the last time. She put all the emotion she had in her into the kiss, their breaths, their tongues, their souls mingling.

Tender, pleasurable sounds emanated from the girls, unsure which moan or groan belonged to which young woman. Santana took a fistful of Brittany's shirt and pulled her closer, the blonde stumbled forward, falling flush against the brunette, their lips never once parting. It beat all of those after school make out sessions. They were older, they were wiser, but more significantly they were in love with each other and it made the passion in the kiss so much sweeter. Mind numbing even. It made Santana forget she ever had a problem in the first place.

"Hey." Brittany said, a concerned frown creasing her brow. Santana shook her head of the fleeting memory and blushed slightly, causing the blonde to tilt her head questioningly.

"Just thinking." Santana replied with a shrug. Brittany smiled widely, she knew the brunette would be thinking of at least one of their summer trysts. It would be so much harder to control their hands now they were back at school. Brittany was leaning against her locker, having organised herself for the day. Santana closed her own locker and turned toward the blonde who was gazing adoringly at her. "Later." The brunette said, moving her mouth closer to Brittany's ear. "I promise." She concluded, as if reading Brittany's mind. She had been itching to press her lips against Santana's since the moment she laid eyes upon her that morning. Gone were the gentle greetings of heavy lidded lazy kisses in the privacy of their own homes. That night following the picnic, the girls had talked. Again. It was something Santana had always shied away from, not able to express her feelings. However it seemed once she had started, with Brittany, she was unable to stop. She trusted Brittany with her life, she was her life. So desperate was she to be with the blonde, she promised, without regret, she would take baby steps forward in their budding relationship. They would start a relationship and set a number of ground rules. Brittany showed great pride in her colourful list, decorated with hearts and rainbows.

They could kiss, make-out, cuddle and hold hands. Each step towards acceptance on Santana's part would be met with another reward, a step further in their physical relationship. Next was coming out to at least one other person and a trip to second base. The Latina had rolled her eyes at the list, rules were for breaking right? Wrong. She knew this was her only chance with Brittany and she wanted Brittany more than anything in the world and would do anything for her.

"San?" Brittany asked. The brunette looked at Brittany, her guilty brown eyes portraying the very thoughts she was having. The blonde shook her head with a grin and tapped Santana on her nose.

"This is crazy." Santana mumbled. She was torn. She could feel her heart pulling her one way and head pulling her the other. One year. That's all they had left, they were seniors, they were both due to graduate at the end of the year. They had wasted so much time already. Santana's heart was filled with love, so much love for one girl. Keeping it trapped was causing an immense amount of pain and was beginning to cloud her thoughts. It was creeping over the line, it was winning. She had already endured a year of crap all alone, what's one more year of verbal and slushie abuse, only this time, not alone, with Brittany. The one girl so confident in Santana's abilities to deal with whatever came her way. Over analysing things always seemed so much worse than they ever actually were. How was that? The mind, the imagination always prepared her for a worst case scenario. So it could only get better. Right? Santana had so many questions, but the answers were hidden in the dark. She sighed sadly, took Brittany's pinkie in her own and walked her girl to class, like she had so many times before.

xx

Pancake mix was everywhere. Santana had left the kitchen for two minutes, two tiny minutes and Brittany had managed to forget to put the lid on the blender. Her careful 'oops' as Santana re-entered the room with wide eyes was too irresistible to ignore. One look at the innocent blue eyes, pleading pout and face splattered with batter undid the brunette. She could never stay mad with the girl, she was beyond adorable and so completely loveable. In that moment she could not care any less about the stupid rules. She rushed over to the cheerleader, pulled her roughly by the uniform and crushed her lips hungrily to the blonde's, nipping and forcing her way into the blonde's mouth with her tongue. Brittany relented, unable to deny the love of her life. Rules be damned, she wanted and needed to feel Santana as much as the brunette wanted her. Their love had so far been a barrier, a dam that was slowly crumbling. Santana kissed with a rough urgency, she pushed Brittany back against the counter before hooking her arms beneath the dancer's legs and hoisting her up onto the worktop. Brittany leaned back, so swept up in the moment, having been deprived of Santana's magical touch for months. The long, hard day at school had been the last straw, she wanted Santana. The brunette's hands slid easily up Brittany's thighs, slowing as they moved higher, her thumbs idly tracing patterns on the insides of the blonde's legs, which drove Brittany insane. She willed Santana to move with more urgency, however, her lips and her hands slowed, the pace taking a new turn.

"Ohmygod!" came the distinctive shriek from the doorway. Santana leapt away from Brittany, faster than she had moved in her life, Sue Sylvester would be proud of such moves, she thought fleetingly. Fear settled into the pit of her stomach as she turned to meet the questioning gaze of her mother. "What the hell Santana?" the older woman was clearly not amused.

"I err . . ." she turned and watched Brittany hop down with amazing grace from the counter. "It's not what it looks like."

"Which part?" her mother asked, "Brittany forgetting to put the lid on the blender again or you defiling my counter top with your best friend?"

"We, we were doing homework." She blurted, earning two very confusing stares.

"But San we're not taking woodwork." Brittany stated.

"Oh Brittany." Eva Lopez sighed, "I've missed you. Not as much as my daughter though, clearly." She added. Santana did a double take, looking inquisitively at her mother. Eva stood as tall as her daughter, similar waves of cascading raven locks, a smirk playing on her lips. Brittany watched the Lopez women size one another up. Eva Lopez was young, giving birth to Santana at just 21. She was stunningly attractive, dressed to impress in her designer garbs, and carried herself with confidence. She was just like her daughter, only an older version.

"What? Just, what?" Santana asked, her head shaking from side to side with sheer confusion. She could not have just heard her mother right could she?

"I know about you and Brittany." Eva stated.

"What?" Santana asked exasperated. "Why?"

"Why? You're asking why?" Eva asked. "Shouldn't I be asking that?"

"Does Dad know?" The younger Latina asked. Eva shrugged.

"Sure he does." She replied.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Santana yelled. Brittany watched the verbal tennis match with interest. This role reversal was confusing.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Eva challenged back.

"Because I wasn't ready!" Santana yelled. "You're ok with this?"

"Yes of course honey. I love you so much and I love Brittany like a daughter, a none blood related daughter obviously because well that would be weird." She laughed nervously, "But seriously girls. It's ok. San you've been so miserable without Brittany, it broke my heart." The elder brunette stated, placing her hand protectively over her heart. "Brittany." She addressed the young blonde, "Artie? Seriously? What the hell were you thinking?"

"I know, right?" Santana agreed with her mother, turning to look at her girlfriend. The blonde shifted nervously under the scrutiny of the Lopez women. Both stood questioningly, heads tilted to the same side, arms folded over their chests.

"Can you not do that? It scares me. I feel like I'm being stared at by scary Latina twins born 21 years apart." The women before her glanced at each other and shrugged.

"I loved Artie." Brittany began, she watched the scowl form on Santana's face. "But he's not Santana. I really love Santana Mrs Lopez." The brunette's scowl turned into a beaming smile, reaching her eyes, the young Latina turned to her mother.

"I love Britt so much Mom." She stated carefully. "Are you sure you're ok with this?" Eva smiled and rubbed her hand down her daughter's arm before pulling her into a tight hug.

"Yes sweetie, she obviously makes you happy."

"Good." Santana stated with an over exaggerated sigh as she pulled away. She grabbed a hold of Brittany's hand and yanked her toward the door.

"Where do you think you are going Santana Lopez?" Eva called after her.

"Just sticking to the rules." Santana yelled over her shoulder, earning a giggle from her girl, "We'll be right back."

"I seriously doubt that." Eva muttered to an empty, messy kitchen.