"Saved two months, bought a little diamond, tonight's the night, feels like perfect timin' ...

...Man, I'm gonna die if she really says yes, I wanna know how forever feels."

- How Forever Feels, Kenny Chesney

They're lying in bed when she mentions it. It's been bothering her all day, but it's only now, when she's lying draped across Brittany like this, arms and legs completely tangled, her head resting on Brittany's chest, in that moment when they're drifting off to sleep, that's when she finally brings it up. Not that Santana has any idea why she feels the need to even ask the question. Maybe it's the fact that she's been spending a lot of time with Rachel Berry lately, she has always suspected that that thing where Berry seems to just let every single thought tumble out of her mouth unfiltered may be contagious. Maybe it was having to watch Mr Shue and Ms Pillsbury being all over each other, actually looking happy for once. Or maybe it was the sheer awesomeness of their performance of We Found Love. Or maybe it was just how freaking much Brittany was rocking that swim suit. Or maybe it's a lot of other things that she hasn't even realised yet.

"Would you have said yes?" She knows Brittany is still awake, can tell by her breathing, and now she feels her shift slightly. Santana just presses closer against her.

Thankfully Brittany seems to know what she's talking about. "To Mr Shue?" There's confusion mixing in with the the sleep that laces Brittany's voice.

"To whoever. Just if someone proposed to you like that, would you have said yes?"

Brittany's silent for a moment, and Santana knows she's thinking about her answer, and that makes her nervous. She thought they were past the days where Brittany would carefully choose her words around her, as if worried saying the wrong thing could set Santana off, lead to her being pushed away yet again. "Would you?"

"I dunno. I just think some things should be kept private, you know?"

"Yeah, I know." Now there's nothing but sadness in Brittany's voice and Santana really regrets starting this conversation.

"I guess it was kinda awesome though."

"Yeah, it was."

"It was awesome, and yeah, okay, probably the biggest public display of affection you can have, without actually getting your mack on in front of everyone, but I dunno, I guess it just felt a little like we were intruding or something."

She feels Brittany lacing her fingers with hers under the covers, her other hand is busy drawing shapes across Santana's bare arm, circles at first, then words that Santana can't even begin to make out. She thinks that's maybe Brittany's way of telling her she understands. She hopes it is anyway. She takes a deep breath, then continues, "When I ask you, it's gonna be more personal, more intimate. Big flashy displays like that are so not me. And I guess, I guess I just need to know that you'd be okay with that, that you won't be disappointed with something a little more low key than what Mr Shue pulled off today."

She's not sure at what point in her rambling it happened, but she only notices now that Brittany has frozen, her fingers stopped mid-doodle. She lifts her head, trying to make out Brittany's features, but the lack of light in the room makes that difficult. If she had to guess she'd go with shock. She shouldn't have said anything, she really shouldn't have said anything, she certainly hadn't meant to upset Brittany, she'd just wanted some reassurance that she wouldn't be required to make a fool out of herself in public with this. Not that she wouldn't do so gladly if Brittany asked her too. She's suddenly scared that Brittany might not know that though and quickly tries to backtrack. "But hey, if you want the big public proposal, babe, you'll get it. You know I'd..."

She doesn't get to finish that thought though as suddenly Brittany's lips are on hers, kissing her long, slow and deep. By the time she pulls away, Santana can't even remember what she had been saying. Instead she just blinks a few times. "What was that for?"

"You said when."

"Huh?" Santana finds herself a little lost here, it doesn't help that she's still seeing stars from that kiss.

"You didn't say if. You said when. You wanna marry me."

She swallows, not really sure what to say to that. Okay, so maybe she has been imagining what it might be like a lot lately, to be able to call Brittany her wife, to come home to her every day, and maybe, just maybe one day...

She shakes her head slightly, trying to stop her mind going there just yet.

Brittany must take that as a denial though as she laughs. "You totally do. You want to marry me."

Santana is pretty sure she's blushing right now, and is suddenly very thankful that it's so dark in here. "Well, can you blame me? Not my fault you're so damn marriable."

"Is that even a word?"

"Doesn't matter, it's still true."

And then Brittany is kissing her again, with a little more urgency this time, and soon she's moved from kissing her mouth to her jaw, cheek, basically any part of Santana's face she can. She soon stops though, too soon for Santana's liking, and instead just rests her forehead against hers. "Just so you know, when you do ask me, I'm gonna say yes."

The certainty with which Brittany tells her that sends a shiver running through her body. Knowing that it won't end in rejection takes some of the pressure off, but it doesn't mean that she won't still worry about how to propose. Lying there, staring into Brittany's eyes, she's almost lost to the moment, suddenly wanting it all now, the white picket fence and 2.4 kids, to give Brittany everything she wants. Thankfully her brain kicks into gear, telling her this isn't the time or place. That it's not like they can even get married while they're still living in Ohio, that she needs to be patient and wait, that she's got the girl and that has to be enough for now. So instead she just kisses Britt one more time, then settles back down against her chest. "I'll keep that in mind."

She falls asleep hating Mr Shue for setting the bar so high with his over the top, completely ridiculous proposal, but at some point those thoughts give way to happier ones, of white dresses, flowers, and disturbingly of Rachel Berry serenading her and Britt while they dance close. She wakes up with a start at that image and shudders. Oh yeah, she's definitely been spending far too much time with Berry, something she vows to put a stop to right now.

She glances down at Brittany, who's softly snoring beside her. She leans down and places a kiss against her cheek. "I promise, Britt. When I do ask you, it's gonna be totally awesome. I can do way better than Shue. You'll see."