AN: Epic shout out to naynay1963 for motivations, good ideas and random info checks.

For my fine Best Trick readers: The new chapter is with my Beta so hopefully updating soon.

February 1st

Santana sits across from her mother folding napkins absently. The logo of her family's cafe is more shape than words after so many hours spent working here; before school, during summer breaks this was her place to think and fold napkins. She doesn't make a habit of it anymore—moving across several states usually prohibits it—and she certainly isn't getting paid to do it now but she needs to have words with her mother. Face to face words.

Santana watches the nervous waitress bring Maribel a fresh coffee. The waitress disappears quickly but Maribel doesn't even seem to notice as she takes a tentative sip, her lips quirking to one side at the taste. Santana smirks, knowing that the new barista isn't going to last long. She almost feels sorry for the guy. Maybe she could get Brittany to come and work her magic for him. Find someone to help take his mind off losing his job.

The fringe benefit of getting to see her girlfriend again isn't lost on Santana.

Although. Girlfriend might be the wrong word. Friend obviously isn't enough. Lover feels tacky and wrong for them although it does contain the word love at least. Santana thinks of how she felt when Brittany said she loved her. They'd known each other for no time at all but it just felt so damn right. What doesn't feel right in the least is the fact that she's barely seen Brittany since that first night. She'd be worried but something happened that night which connected them. Santana can feel Brittany's love and it feels…

Santana's mother is talking to her.

"Sorry, what?" Santana resumes her folding so she has an excuse to look down and hide her blush.

"I asked why you are here," Maribel repeats. "But I think I already have an idea." Her Mother's knowing smirk is just as irksome now as it was for her as a teenager.

Santana hums. "Oh really?"

Maribel nods solemnly, taking another sip of her unsatisfactory coffee. "Yes, I've seen this many times before." She points to the pile of napkins already folded and stacked neatly to one side. "As for example, when you were ten and had your first crush on that lovely little girl in your class; or when you were sixteen and finally asked that same girl to be your girlfriend and were so frightened of telling me."

Santana sighs. She'd been terrified of coming out to her mother. Tina's parents had known and supported them both but Maribel had been the wild card. Santana just didn't know how she would ever react to things. Santana was also thoroughly convinced after sixteen years of corroborating evidence that her mother lived to mess with her.

She looks up at Maribel now, seeing the glint of gold jewellery at her wrists and neck. Maribel had always said her jewellery was passed down from her grandmother. Santana never thought she'd be wondering if that grandmother had horns hidden away in her hair.

}B{ — — {S} — — }B{

Brittany loves clubs. The music charges through her in the best, dark and dirty way. And not just her. With the right music and the right atmosphere people can lose themselves. That's something everyone needs ever now and then. With Brittany winding, dancing and grinding her way through the crowd and working her magic it just gets better.

She's at one of her favourite clubs. It's dark, underground and always completely sexy. Just like anything remotely sexy(or beautiful or exciting or existing) this place reminds her of Santana. She hasn't seen her in nearly a too long because of work and it's hard. She misses her all the time.

The last time she saw her Santana didn't even know it. It wasn't spying per se. More like observing. God, she sounds like Quinn with her siren obsession. Speak of the devil(with shiny, shiny wings) Quinn is making her way through the crowd towards where Brittany is dancing.

"Come on Britt, we're done in here," Quinn crosses the dance floor, effortlessly willing people to move from her path.

Brittany just shakes her head and keeps dancing. She raises her arms above her head, dragging the tip of her arrow across the exposed skin of the nearest girl's back as she does. Brittany feels that wonderful warmth seeing that girl fall into the arms of the person she's dancing with.

She can feel Santana thinking about her, maybe even talking about her and it's just as wonderful. Better—intoxicating even. Brittany compares it to sitting by a warm fire on a cold night. Like the warmth of flames kind of crossed with static electricity. Like when you can feel the charge in a helium balloon and it makes your hair stick up. She means to ask Santana if she feels the same thing when Brittany thinks of her. Whenever she sees her.

Soon, Brittany thinks.

}B{ — — {S} — — }B{

"So what is it then?" Maribel leans back in her chair. "Why are you really back in Lima? I know it's not just to see me."

Santana shrugs, stalling for time. "There's no good breadstix in New York?"

Santana's mother just looks at her. No. Stares at her, sipping her coffee and waiting for Santana to crack.

"Okay, fine. Stop looking at me like that." She folds the last napkin and puts it to one side. "I met someone."

Maribel's eyes light up as she laughs and claps her hands together once. "Oh, excellent. I love being right. Who is she? Is she here in Lima with you?" She looks around as if this 'girl' she has in her mind might pop out from behind the plastic ferns or something.

"She's not here," Santana finally admits. "In fact I don't know where she is. I never do."

Maribel is immediately subdued. "Oh. So she's…" she trails off in obvious confusion.

Santana sighs. Brittany could be anywhere. When she'd explained that she'd be busy—"People need other people to keep warm at this time of year San"—Santana hadn't imagined quite so long a time apart. And now her mother is waiting for an explanation and Santana doesn't even know where to begin. How does she explain any of this? What if Maribel isn't even the one of her parents with the magic? Santana shakes her head because, no. Everything that Quinn said, everything that she found in her research into satyrs describes Maribel to a T. It has to be her.

"What do you know about magic?" Santana looks up from her hands to see that Maribel is staring at her, coffee half raised to her mouth which has fallen open. "Mamá?"

Maribel seems to recover herself as her mouth snaps closed and she returns her coffee to the table top. "I don't know what you mean Santanita."

Oh, so that's how she wants to play it. Santana rethinks her approach quickly. "Her name's Brittany." Santana's annoyance with her mother is immediately diminished, smothered by the warm glow she feels whenever she thinks of Brittany. "She's beautiful and so smart and really great at her job." Santana knows she's gushing. She can't help it. "She's got beautiful blue eyes and she loves everyone. And me." Santana looks up to see Maribel wearing a warm smile. "I love her too. I mean I hadn't even imagined really falling in love with anyone but..." She trails off. Partly because she doesn't know how to finish that sentence but also because Maribel is looking at her strangely. "What?"

Santana's mother shakes her head a little. "I guess I didn't imagine... What about that other girl Dana or—"

"Diana," Santana finishes for her.

"Yes that one," Maribel agrees. Didn't you only break up a few months ago? How long have you know this Brittany girl for?"

"Since New Years."

Santana almost wears her mother's coffee as Maribel chokes into her cup. "A month?" She splutters. "You're in love with her after a month?"

"I was in love with her after an hour. What does it even matter how long it's been. I'm saying I'm in love with her not proposing." As Santana says it though she can't help but imagine Brittany in a beautiful white dress. She wonders if Brittany would wear a suit if she wore the white dress. They could always both of them wear dresses. That would be nice too.

}B{ — — {S} — — }B{

Brittany feels such a full and consuming surge of love that she just needs to grab and kiss someone. She looks around as though Santana will just appear. Of course, that's impossible. Quinn is right there though. And totally cute and all. Brittany puts her hands on either side of Quinn's face.

"Hold still," she says then presses her lips firmly against Quinn's.

Quinn's arms flail out at her sides for just a second until she finally relaxes into the kiss and tilts her head just a little. Brittany smiles as she does, even sneaking her tongue out to taste her lips. Brittany sinks into kissing her mentor as she just feels every heartbeat that fills with Santana's love for her.

}B{ — — {S} — — }B{

Maribel just stares at Santana.

"What?" Santana whines. "Mamá what is wrong with you? God, I could get better conversation out of a—"

"What is she?"

Santana blinks, not sure if she really heard what she thinks she heard. "What is...?"

"Don't play with me Santana. You can't have fallen this fast for a human I'm sure of it. So what is she?"

"Wait does this mean you'll admit it?"

"Admit it?"

"That you're full of shit and you handed down the freak gene to me in your placenta or whatever."

"Language Santana," Maribel starts in a warning voice.

Santana rolls her eyes. "The truth please."

"Fine. But just tell me what this girl is first."

Santana crosses her arms over her chest in a show of non-cooperation. "I don't know. I think I'm suffering from some memory loss on this one. Much like you did for the past nineteen years of my life."

Maribel sighs. "Honestly Santana, you act like you would have believed me if I'd told you."

Santana just rolls her eyes even more spectacularly.

Maribel sighs through her own eye roll. "Fine. You're magic. Are you happy?"

"No. Because you have tormented me for years. Hell I've tormented everyone my whole life. I have to be brutally honest with people and tell them when they suck. All the time. It's like a disease. Now I know the reasons why but that's not cause my mother told me. No. I had to find out from a freakin Cupid girl with a ten foot wingspan. Wingspan Mamá!" She keeps getting louder but catches herself on the last word, looking around self consciously.

All of the staff are looking pointedly busy which means they're all listening very closely.

Maribel is looking thoughtful. "Cupid girl?" Her eyes snap back to Santana. "You mean... Oh no."

Santana panics for a moment as her mother's tone turns to one very much resembling dismay. The panic evaporates, very quickly replaced by annoyance when the devil woman who calls herself Santana's mother starts laughing. Loudly.

"Oh no Santana you didn't." She pushes out the words through gasping guffaws of laughter.

"Didn't what?"

"Not an Amore!" Maribel exclaims.

"Yeah, Amore. That's what Quinn said. I couldn't find anything on Wikipedia though."

"Well of course not." Maribel is still laughing to herself enough that tears are coming to her eyes.

"What is so goddamned funny?" Santana demands.

"Well they're hardly the most...glamorous of magical beings sweetie. And they're not exactly known for their fidelity. You know you could have gone for a nymph or something. Some nice forest girl with a little lineage at least."

Santana is shocked. "Wait are you being a snob about this?" Santana chooses to point blank ignore the fidelity comment. "I tell you I'm in love with a girl.In love. And you're trying to tell me what? She's not magic enough for you? It's not like we have horns and cloven feet, or cool powers or anything."

Maribel's chuckles finally start to slow and she swipes at the laugh tears that have escaped her eyes. "Okay, I'm sorry Santana. Please tell me more about this—" Another snicker escapes Maribel but she makes a concerted effort to straighten out her features. "Tell me about this Amore of yours."

}B{ — — {S} — — }B{

She finally lets her hands drop from Quinn's face and steps away. There's a skip in Brittany's step—or in her dance at least—as she walks away from her slightly frazzled friend.

"Okay, so where do we hit next Quinn?" Brittany looks over her shoulder expecting to find Quinn right there but the space is empty.

Quinn is standing stock still, right were Brittany kissed her. Before the dancing crowd can get back between them Brittany moves to her side again.

"Quinn?" Brittany shifts to stand directly in her eye line. "Q are you okay?"

Brittany is pretty sure she broke Quinn. The other girl is just standing there with a vague expression, her hand half way to her mouth.

"Does it always feel like that?" Quinn finally asks.

"Does what feel like—"

"Kissing. Kissing someone. Is it always…nice?"

Brittany just gapes at her. "You mean you've never even. What about Rachel? I thought you've—"

"Brittany I've never even spoken to her."

Quinn pushes her hair back over her head, the flicky blonde locks falling back into their perfect place. Brittany thinks she finally understands something about Quinn. She's got a big bug up her butt cause she's never been in love. Or at least, never acted on that love.

"Oh. So you… I thought you loved that—"

"N-no. Britt we bring other people love. It's not ours to have."

"I thought you said the arrows were for lust not love."

"Huh?"

"You said—"

"Oh, right. Yeah but…" Quinn looks at Brittany, tears shining in the dim lights of the club. "I can't Brittany."

With that Quinn turns away and disappears from the club not leaving so much as a feather behind.

}B{ — — {S} — — }B{

February 13th

It might not be New Years but it's still Times Square and tourists are still Santana's favourite game. Right now the square is full of sweethearts, staking out their spot to have the big valentines smooch tomorrow. Santana thinks they're all suckers but then that might just be the bitterness talking since she's already assumed after a solid week of radio silence that Brittany won't be making an appearance.

Santana stalks through the crowd, looking for an easy target and spotting several candidates. The easiest is a woman with her husband taking photos of everything in sight. Her bag is not only open but Santana is pretty sure that she can actually see the edge of her purse sticking out. It's almost too easy to bother with but she figures if she doesn't take it then someone else will.

Santana makes the pass, slipping the wallet smoothly into her own jacket. After another few paces she slips through another crowd of asian tourists, successfully missing the passports this time to grab two more wallets. She doesn't look behind her, she just keep walking like she has somewhere better to be.

On the other side of the square Santana leans against a bench to grab the cash and throw away the wallets. She unzips her jacket and reaches in for the woman's wallet. It's pretty bulky and Santana really hopes that it's cash and not just a bundle of those stupid loyalty cards.

Hold the phone.

Santana pats down her whole waist and checks through every pocket and slip of fabric that makes up her coat. The wallets—all of them—are missing.

A laugh sounds from behind her and makes Santana's heart skip a beat.

Brittany.

Santana is too nervous to turn around because what if this is another one of those times when she thinks she feels Brittany near her but it turns out that Brittany must just be thinking about her because—

"Aren't you going to turn around?"

Santana's smile can't get any wider as she spins around and runs into Brittany's arms. Brittany almost falls over backwards at the impact of Santana's body running into hers and somehow that little jolt of her heart has everything to do with Santana and nothing to do with nearly falling on her ass.

"I can't believe you're here. Are you staying?" Santana says, face buried into Brittany's shoulder. Santana breaths in deeply. "You know you smell awesome?"

Brittany laughs again. "I can't say I'd put much thought into how I smell. And I've only got a bit over an hour."

Santana hums, trying not to think about the fact that they only have an hour. "Yup you smell awesome and feel awesome. And warm…" Santana takes a step back but doesn't relinquish her hold of Brittany's arms. She looks her up and down. "You even look warm. I didn't know you could do that."

Brittany just shrugs. The coat she's covered her usually bare shoulders with moves with her. It almost, sort of resembles the weight of her absent wings. Santana looks down the dark, skinny jeans to her black boots appreciatively. Brittany does't do the clothes thing very often but she figured this was a special occasion. She hasn't seen Santana in a while and she has something important to discuss.

Before she gets the chance to bring up anything Santana asks, "So you do have a home? Do you have a cupboard full of clothes and," she tugs at the flap on Brittany's hat. "Fuzzy bear hats?"

Brittany shakes her head. "Nope. Well, I have a home but I don't have a wardrobe or anything."

Santana looks like she wants to ask something more but Brittany interrupts before she can. "Do you want to do something tomorrow?" It all falls out in a rush.

Santana's hands still against Brittany's shoulders, though her thumbs keep stroking the soft fur of Brittany's hat. "Well, mostly I was going to buy a bottle of Jack and drown my sorrows."

Brittany's brow furrows in confusion. "Why, what's wrong San?"

Santana shrugs. "I figured you'd be kinda busy on valentine's day so I was just going to be home alone thinking about—"

Brittany doesn't let her get any further. She leans in and kisses Santana with everything she's got. It hurts her heart to think of Santana being so sad like that. She wonders for the first time if Santana has been feeling like this the whole time she's been away.

By the time Brittany pulls back, Santana's hands have crept up under Brittany's shirt and both of them are breathing hard.

Santana kisses Brittany again briefly. "Ill take that as a maybe?"

"That," Brittany says with another quick brush of their lips together. "Is a definitely. I am definitely not busy and I will definitely be spending tomorrow with you."

"But how does that work? Is the holiday like tacky so you all give it a miss or…?"

"Not really. Well… yes it is tacky but the cool thing is that the greeting card people do all the hard work for us. So I get the night off."

"Like a public holiday?"

Brittany shrugs. "I don't know what that is."

Santana just laughs and takes a small step back, knowing that she's wearing a likely goobery expression. "Wow, you really are like an alien sometimes."

"Oh," Brittany says looking a little crestfallen.

"Oh, oh no," Santana's heart plummets to her stomach at the hurt expression and she slips her hand into Brittany's. "No, Britt I mean that as a good thing."

Brittany looks like she doesn't quite believe her. "Really?"

Santana smiles as brightly as she can manage. "Yup. I love it."

Brittany's eyes light up on the word love. "Well I'll just keep being an alien then."

Santana bounces a little on her toes as she grins up at Brittany. "So does that mean you can go to dinner with me?"

Brittany doesn't look quite as excited. "Like, out?" she ska.

"Well Yeah."

"At a restaurant?"

"Well that's where valentines dates usually—"

"Where they put up all the chubby cherubs in diapers carrying my bow?"

"Oh." Santana's eye go wide in realisation as she immediately start internally kicking her own ass. "Oh, I'm sorry Britt, I should have—"

Brittany just laughs a little at Santana being so hard on her self. "You couldn't of known. How about we do something else?"

"Yeah," Santana feels immediately responsible. "Leave it with me. I—I'll think of something." She can't even begin to fight the wide grin from her face. Except. "Britt did you give those wallets back?"

Brittany just claps her hands once with her own grin then jumps forward to hug and then (most distractingly)kiss Santana breathless.

}B{ — — {S} — — }B{

February 14th

Santana is sure it's overkill. She looks around the apartment filled with little tea light candles in jars. She's working on a budget but she can still do atmosphere. Except it's overkill so Santana starts moving around candle by candle and blowing out the flames.

But then.

She's thought about it all day and come to the conclusion that Brittany deserves the epic romance. Brittany has never been in a relationship before. Before they met, Brittany was all new and fresh. Since Santana deflowered the girl this is the least she can do right? Or this is all overkill. She hesitates with the last candle poised in front of her. She looks around at the gloom that's been left without the candle's flickering glow.

It's not overkill. Brittany deserves the epic romance and Santana is going to give it to her. That's why she's wearing the figure hugging, little, black dress. That's why all the candles. She finds the matches and rattles the box. As she makes her way around the room relighting candles she quietly hopes that she won't run out of matches before she stops changing her mind.

Brittany watches from the window as Santana relights the candles for her. She can't think of a single person who has acted more adorably. She certainly can't think of anyone who has acted like this for her. It fills her heart with an incredible feeling of warmth. It nestles up alongside the lovely flicker that persists with Santana's own loving thoughts.

She retracts her wings and concentrates on forming a flowy dress around her body. Santana startles and spins around when Brittany clears her throat. Brittany has to smother a laugh at Santana's startled expression. She's just holding a match somewhere near the wick of the candle but she looks like she's been caught doing something really naughty.

"Hey," Brittany says.

Just hey and Santana has already lost herself in love for this girl.

"Hi," she says back like her insides aren't evaporating.

Brittany glances at the candle in her hands. The match burns down to her fingertips at that second and she drops it with a yelp. Brittany is next to her in an instant.

"Ouch, are you okay?"

Santana just looks up at her. "It burned," she says like her vocabulary has evaporated along with her insides.

Brittany is fighting a smirk and Santana is grateful that she isn't outright laughing at her. For some reason this goddess has returned to Santana's apartment. For valentines day. And all Santana can do is stare and do damage to herself in stupid accidents.

Brittany holds the back of Santana's hand carefully. She curls Santana's fingers in toward her palm; all except the burned one. Santana lets Brittany guide her hand upwards. Somewhere along the way she must have passed out because suddenly Brittany is licking Santana's finger gently into her mouth then drawing back to blow over the wetness.

Holy sweet hell.

Then her phone beeps. It's only a message and Santana is more than content to ignore it. Then it buzzes again and Brittany looks at the device curiously.

"Do you need to feed your…bird?"

It's such a strange question regarding the chirping of her phone that Santana can't help but laugh. Really laugh right from her belly because Brittany is perfect.

Brittany releases her hand—that suddenly feels much better—so Santana can read the text message. From her mother.

I hope you're getting some of that Cupid Girl for valentines tonight Santana. You seemed stressed. Love, Mami.

Santana just groans because her mother is so embarrassing. The sign off at the bottom of the message is bad enough, let alone the content.

"You told your Mamá about me? About us?" Brittany has read the message over Santana's shoulder. Anyone else doing that risks death but of course Santana doesn't mind Brittany doing it. Especially when she winds her arms around Santana's waist from behind at the same time.

Santana nods as she turns in Brittany's arms. Brittany feels a rush at the heat of her body against her.

"When was this?" Brittany asks, coming to some interesting conclusions about their time apart.

"When I went home to Lima for a few days," Santana starts. "Must be, two weeks ago."

"I knew I felt something big," Brittany says, squeezing Santana closer to her. Excitement like a new discovery colours her voice. "What were you thinking about?"

Santana hesitates, feeling colour in her cheeks. "Okay," Santana can't believe she's about to admit to this. "So there may have been a small, vague, totally non binding… image of you and I… in wedding dresses. Getting married. To each other."

Brittany just blinks at her for a moment before a gorgeous smile lights up her whole expression. "Totally non-binding?" she asks with a light laugh. "But that makes sense. I totally felt it. I kissed Quinn and everything."

The rush of blood through Santana's ears suddenly becomes very loud. "What?" She pushes away Brittany's arms. Her mother's words coming back to her like she's in the room. 'Not known for their fidelity'.

Brittany looks a little hurt that Santana pushed her away but seems otherwise unconcerned as Santana's world falls down around her.

"I've never thought of Quinn like that," Brittany explains. "But you were just so all up in my heart I couldn't just not kiss someone you know?"

Santana shakes her head as she wraps her arms around herself defensively. "But you could just not kiss someone Britt! Seriously, you just pulled in the person closest to you?" Santana feels hurt and anger boiling up inside her.

"Yeah," Brittany shrugs like it's no big deal. "I don't understand what—"

Santana lets out a growl of frustration. She doesn't know how to do jealousy. All these feelings have just crept up on her. "You're—This whole thing is just so stupid I just don't even…and how can my mother be—"

Brittany doesn't hear any more than 'stupid'. Tears prick her eyes because now she knows for sure. Santana thinks like everyone else after all. Brittany's done the wrong thing and even though she doesn't really understand what that wrong thing is Santana is going to leave.

Well then.

Brittany doesn't need to wait around for that to happen. She lets her wings fill the space behind her and is at the window before Santana even has the chance to turn around. Brittany hesitates just long enough to see Santana's eyes one last time before she drops from the window and into a steep dive. Santana is at the window calling something to her. Brittany doesn't care to hear it.

}B{ — — {S} — — }B{

Santana tries to call Brittany. Over and agin but it's no use. She knows Brittany can feel her calling. Every time Brittany feels the call and thinks of her, Santana feels her own little pull.

Brittany is ignoring her. And it hurts. It literally hurts like someone is clamping down on her heart and lungs and twisting.

Santana paces across her living room, gnawing at her lip and trying to think of something she can do. Maybe her mother knows someone...no. Then she'd have to tell her mother that she made Brittany angry at her. The judgment and condescension alone would make Santana want to punch someone. Although. Talking of punching people. Quinn would have to know where Brittany is. Better than that, Quinn could probably take Santana to her right? With the right persuasion.

The tricky part is getting Quinn to come to her. How do you even call an Amore you aren't connected to? Brittany said she can feel Santana's longing and be drawn to it. But Santana doesn't long for Quinn. If anything the opposite is true. Santana flops down on the couch. She's not cut out for all this magic crap. She's not used to thinking about things like this.

She closes her eyes. Maybe if she just thinks about Quinn real hard? Okay. Hazel eyes, blonde hair, an unfortunate midget fetish apparently…

She peaks an eye open just in case Quinn has appeared at her window. Nothing. She tries again. Nothing. Maybe there really does need to be some kind of emotional attachment. Santana thinks of Brittany instead. She thinks about what she feels when she's with Brittany then she remembers what she feels when Brittany isn't there. It hurts. Especially when that pang of hurt reflects in Brittany(wherever she is) and is echoed back in her own chest.

"Dammit Britt." Santana sighs out in frustration. "Where are you?"

She tries to hold onto that feeling a little longer and then thinks of Quinn. She thinks of how she last saw the other Amore all the while holding onto that ache in her chest that feels like Brittany's touch.

"What the hell do you want Santana?" Quinn's voice appears out of nowhere. Actually her voice comes through the open window.

"Holy shit!" Santana scrambles to her feet as Quinn climbs in through the window.

It's actually quite fascinating to watch as Quinn flexes and twists her wings as well as her body to get through the very average sized window with her wings still unfurled. Her tiny shorts don't even ride up. Not that Santana was looking(okay, she was totally looking). But seriously Quinn just comes out the other side like there was never a chance to be ruffled.

"I can't believe you did that." Quinn is fuming. "Do you not know that I have to answer a call like that? And on my day off? Come on Santana."

"Do you really think I'd call you like that if I didn't have to?"

"Well I don't know do—wait." Her expression goes from mildly annoyed to seriously angry in a heartbeat. "What did you do to Brittany?"

Santana feels her heart plummet all over again. Because she really did hurt Brittany's feelings and that is so not okay.

"Quinn, I don't have time to explain okay. I just said something really stup—I mean not nice and I didn't mean it and I really just want to find her to apologise but she's ignoring me." She approaches Quinn to implore more directly. "Please Quinn. I know you care about her but I—I love her and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I just. I need to find her."

Quinn still doesn't say yes but her posture loosens.

Santana tries a different tack. "What about that girl Brittany told me about. The siren you've been following around for months. If you could be with her what would you do?"

It's potentially a very low blow. Santana isn't sure though so she can only hope the gamble pays off.

Quinn sighs and glances out the window. Santana wonders if she's looking toward the girl she's been stalking, observing, whatever.

"Fine," Quinn says finally. "But I'm warning you Satyr if you so much as—"

Santana knocks the last words out of Quinn as she flings her arms around her neck. "Thank you Quinn. Thank you." Santana can feel Brittany's heart breaking alongside her own. "Can we hurry up already?" Quinn gives her a look. "Umm, please," Santana amends.

}B{ — — {S} — — }B{

Brittany shoots another arrow into the group of ducks to see them waddle apart in their funny little circles. The arrows don't affect them the same way they do humans but it ruffles their feathers a little and Brittany thinks she sees a few Lothario ducks in the mix. Okay, so maybe disturbing ducks isn't the most charitable thing she'll do all year but it makes her feel better. A little better.

Okay, not at all better. Every pang she feels in her chest just keeps reverberating around as it connects with Santana's worry and hurt. To make it worse of course, Santana keeps calling her name and thinking about her and loving her all at once. It's too much.

Brittany lets another arrow loose amongst the ducks. She misses and the arrow disappears into a small puff of pink in the frost burned grass. She never misses. But Santana is there; all in her head and heart and distracting her. If Brittany could just shut it off then… No she couldn't. She really couldn't even if she tried. The more she thinks about not seeing Santana the more she knows that she can't just walk away. Maybe if Santana apologises…

Brittany rolls her eyes at herself because… duh, she's the one that flew out of a window. What was she even thinking? It's like, she can't go back because that would set a bad precedent right? Just going back? But then how can Santana explain herself otherwise? It's not like Santana has any way of talking to her. Not in anything other than vague emotions.

}B{ — — {S} — — }B{

Santana blinks and she's in a park. Central Park. She looks at Quinn to ask what they're doing when suddenly her stomach churns and the world tilts and she's on her knees dry heaving into the frozen grass.

"Holy shit. What the fuck was that Blondie? You trying to kill me?" She wants to look up to glare at Quinn properly but then she's not entirely sure which way is up.

"You're welcome," Quinn snarks.

"Really, what are we—" Santana finally figures out the gravity situation but looks up to find that Quinn is already gone.

Great. Now she's alone in central park with half frozen slush melting into her jeans AND she still doesn't know where Brittany is.

"Stupid ducks. What are you even doing here right now? Aren't you meant to be in Australia or something?" Brittany's frustrated grumblings are music to Santana's ears.

She struggles to her feet and then sways on the spot for a moment. Damn that trip was rough. She can't see much of anything except shrubbery but when she stands on tiptoes she thinks she can see the top of a blonde head. The sounds of pure frustration could only be coming from Brittany.

Brittany. Is right there. And upset.

Santana is not prepared for this. Any time her previous relationships had hit a snag she had been the first to bail. She doesn't know how to do this apology thing. If she's going to do this though, if she's going to be with Brittany for the long haul then she's going to have to learn to apologise. Cause let's be real here, this won't be the last time Santana needs to apologise for something.

Santana moves out into the open grass in time to see Brittany bring up her bow, and draw a fresh arrow out of the quiver on her back. She's back in her usual clothes, complete with impressive wingspan and enviable legs on display. Santana can't help but just stare at her for a second. Her head tilts to one side as her gaze settles on Brittany's ass. God, how she loves that ass.

Even shooting at ducks this girl is the hottest thing to—wait, ducks?

"Brittany, don't! I'm sorry don't—don't shoot anything—" her voice cuts off as Brittany spins around, startled.

Brittany looses hold of her arrow as she spins and before she knows what's happening the arrow is flying straight at Santana's chest. She can't stop it and it hits with an impressive burst of pink. She expects the cloud to dissipate but somehow it only keeps growing and growing until they are completely surrounded by pink smoke.

Santana's eyes are wide. "Brittany, what's happening?"

Brittany doesn't know. She's never seen this before. But then she's never fired her arrow into someone she loves before either. "I don't know. Are you okay?"

Santana takes a deep breath, assessing her body's responses. Nothing seems broken. She can't admit that her life flashed before her eyes because all she really saw was Brittany. Brittany and then pink.

She feels an hysterical giggle bubble up from her throat as Brittany reaches for her hand.

"Did I scramble your brain?" Brittany asks.

There's so much concern wrapped around those lovely, silly words that Santana just sighs through another laugh. "Marry me?"

The words slip out like they've just been sitting on the tip of her tongue. Brittany's eyes go incredibly wide and Santana's face must register the same shock.

"Wh—What?" Santana hears herself ask.

"You said marry me," Brittany answers, her voice more than a little awed. Or shocked. That could just be shock.

"Shit. I did didn't I?"

Brittany just nods. Then she frowns. "If this is your way of getting our of apologising Santana then—"

"No, it's not. I swear. I don't actually know where that…I mean I do because I thought about it but… I'm sorry." Santana trails off, reaching for Brittany's hand. She doesn't touch her yet though, waiting for Brittany to rejoin their hands.

Brittany sees Santana reaching out for her and she can't help but automatically take Santana's hand in her own. At their contact the pink mist changes again. Brittany sees a fresh stream wrap around their joined hands like she's seen happen thousands of times between thousands of couples that she'd brought together. Her palm tingles.

She looks up to those eyes that show all Santana's hesitance and worry.

"I am so sorry Brittany," she says again. "I shouldn't have reacted like that. I just. I was jealous and a bitch and I should have listened. Please forgive me?"

Brittany knows what she wants to say—what she needs to say. She just doesn't know if she's ready to face what it could mean.

"Please?" Santana asks again, her voice low and scared and so, so sweet. She looks up at Brittany with wide brown eyes, her forehead crinkled in worry and question.

Brittany reaches out with her free hand to smooth it out and push a stray lock of hair back behind Santana's ear. "Yes." One simple little word for so, so much.

Santana smiles hesitantly. "Yes, you forgive me?"

Brittany nods and Santana sighs in relief as she pulls Brittany into her arms. Brittany feels like she's come home.

Santana's grip gets tighter and Brittany can feel the smaller girl's breath hitch as she leans in to whisper in her ear. "Yes, I'll marry you."

AN: Happy Valentines Lovelies.

Next chapter: Morning sex and family time.