(I'm sorry this took so long! Thank you all so much for reading, it's been a long road, but now we get some closure for Brittany and Santana c:)

"Life is very interesting if you make mistakes." - Georges Carpentier

-2 years later-

Brittany rolled over to hit the snooze button when the alarm clock on her nightstand went off. She groaned a little as she stretched before rolling back over. Today was just another average day – she had to get up for work soon – and she loved it.

She snuggled back up against Santana who hadn't even budged at the alarm. Over Santana's shoulder, Brittany looked at the closet that now held two wardrobes. She craned her neck around to look at the additional dresser next to the original, and the pictures that were scattered over both of them.

Santana had moved in a year ago. After a year of traveling back and forth, and even then only seeing each other on weekends, they made plans to move in together. Well, plans for Santana to get out of town and come join Brittany. Brittany had worried the question over in her mind, just as she had with many points in her relationship with Santana; she just didn't want to mess up.

Finally she had asked, one weekend while they were lazing around in Brittany's bed, and Santana had giggled and said yes. Brittany asked what was so funny, and Santana kissed her chastely on the lips.

"Nothing, I was just wondering when you were going to ask," Santana smiled, speaking against Brittany's lips. Brittany pulled back, a small smile on her face.

"Then why didn't you say something?"

"Well, I wasn't going to invite myself to just move into your apartment!"

"Well, you could have and should have," Brittany said with the same playfully indignant tone. "Would have made my life easier," she had mumbled, burying her face in Santana's neck.

Santana had moved in shortly after that, and it only made them realize that much more how in love with each other they were. Now the snooze alarm went off, and Santana finally stirred.

"Mmph," she whined sleepily.

"Me too," Brittany groaned and turned the alarm off. Santana rolled over and placed gentle kisses up Brittany's neck. "We're supposed to be getting out of bed, remember? This isn't helping," she smiled despite herself as Santana nibbled at her skin.

"You're supposed to be getting out of bed. I don't have to be up till noon,"

"Lazy bum," Brittany teased, meeting Santana's lips for a morning-breath kiss neither of them ever seemed to mind.

Santana was being anything but lazy. She'd recently been signed to a small record label after nearly two years of sending out tons and tons of demos, and had been hard at work writing and recording. Brittany swelled with pride at just the thought.

Brittany had to get up to head over to the gym she was now the manager of. It was a small gym, but she'd spent a little over a year there as a regular employee and did some personal training on the side, and had just recently gotten promoted. She loved helping others get in shape, especially when they mentioned they were interested in kickboxing. It was a totally different game than boxing, but she still had some insight into the art, and was happy to help wherever she could.

It was weird for her to not be the one training every day. Of course she worked out, but even so, her workouts weren't even close to the training she did when she was with Donally's company. She honestly missed it. Not the politics of the game – that she'd had more than enough of – but the thrill of being covered in sweat and still going at it. The strategizing and the hitting, the way everything else fades away besides you and the opponent – Brittany definitely missed it, but she wouldn't trade her life now for anything. It was funny how her life had brought her to this point, but she was still eternally thankful for it.

Her mother and sister had also settled in nicely. Brittany's mom had worked a couple of jobs, but was currently at a swanky hotel restaurant downtown. It was a respectable job that easily paid for their humble lifestyle, and it was more consistent and professional than her previous gigs. Kait was in her new school, and had adjusted quickly, making new friends and even picking up a boyfriend. Brittany's brow had furrowed at that news, but Santana had reverted back into a teenage girl, and she and Kait gossiped and giggled over the boy in question. The line in Brittany's brow had only deepened with that, but Kait had promised he was a good boy, and that Brittany could kick his ass if he wasn't.

One of the biggest things for Santana and Brittany, besides their moving in together, was when Santana came out to her father. She had only sat him down a few months ago, and it was only after he had decided not to run for reelection and to retire. It had been a tension between Santana and Brittany – not fight inducing, but just an unspoken thing between them. Santana had been apologetic to Brittany about it though, but Brittany had been patient, always telling Santana to do what she thought best.

Brittany had taken the trip back with Santana, but had waited in a coffee shop nearby while Santana spoke with her father. After an hour, Santana had called Brittany, her voice shaky, saying that overall it went well. They met up outside, and Brittany wrapped Santana up in her arms, before suggesting they take a walk so Santana could tell her how it went.

Santana had said that her father wasn't as surprised as she thought he'd be. He'd seemed somewhat saddened that Santana had waited until he retired, but couldn't honestly say he would have wanted her to tell him if he had chosen to run for office again. Brittany had held Santana's hand as they walked, eventually sitting down on a bench, where Brittany then wrapped her arm around her. Santana said her father and smiled slightly when she mentioned Brittany. "The boxer?" he had asked. Brittany had smiled, and later that evening, when Santana's father had invited them out to dinner, Brittany promised him that she'd take care of his daughter.

Yeah, Brittany thought to herself as she rolled out of bed, her life had turned out pretty freaking awesome.

"Also, babe, I have class tonight, so I won't be back till late," Brittany leaned over the bed and kissed Santana's ear.

Santana pouted into the pillow, eyes still closed. "Okay."

"Just go upstairs and gossip with Kait about her boyfriend," Brittany grinned, saying the word "boyfriend" in a teasing, sing-song tone. She started picking clothes out of her dresser.

"Maybe I will," Santana retorted playfully.

Brittany let Santana doze and finished getting dressed in silence. She leaned over to give her girlfriend one more kiss before going into the kitchen, where she made herself a quick breakfast. She leaned against the counter as she ate, taking the time to reflect.

They hadn't heard from Ricky since Brittany moved two years ago. Whether he was still in prison or not, she had no idea, but as long as he didn't bother them anymore, she didn't care. Brittany swallowed thickly and smiled a little. Years ago, she hadn't dared let herself be happy; to trust fully in the happiness she felt. She was always cautious, sure that something would snatch all she loved from her in the blink of an eye.

Now, she let herself bask in it. She had her family and the woman she loved. She was working during the day doing something she loved, attending college classes every other night, and recently Santana had suggested getting a kitten or a puppy. Her life was perfect in her eyes, and it terrified her, but she wouldn't think like that. She couldn't even think like that if she wanted to. She kept rolling, taking each day with an eagerness she'd never known before.

As she walked towards the gym that morning, Brittany's eyes lingered over the window front of the jeweler's store a few blocks before the gym. She continued on, her mind still whirring over the ring she'd put a deposit on a couple of weeks ago. She pictured Santana back in their apartment, wrapping the covers tighter around herself. Maybe it was too soon, maybe it wasn't.

Brittany wasn't worrying about it.