#not just Brittany coddling her/doing everything for her

[sohemotional]

I know it’s easier to write Santana POV but I wish there were more fics that focus on Brittany’s side of things in Brittana, especially her insecurities and her emotions because it often feels like Brittany gets portrayed as this robot who’s the perfect gf who just exists to comfort/please Santana. Sure, she is basically the perfect girlfriend for her when it comes down to it but Brittany was still a teen girl with her own insecurities and she went through a lot of pain on her own/in their relationship through the seasons too. Sometimes Brittany needs to be the one getting comforted and cherished instead of the other way around.

[mediocre-riverdale]

WHY FINN HUDSON WAS THE WORST

#1. Cheating

Finn cheats on Quinn twice with Rachel, which evens out when Quinn also cheats, but no one ever mentions Finn cheating again. So, Finn gets cheated on by Quinn and Rachel, and both times he says how much it hurts and has an outburst. Despite now knowing the pain it causes, he encourages Quinn to cheat on Sam multiple times until she finally does it. He then continues to mock Sam, smirking at Sam and saying ‘I didn’t kiss your girlfriend’ in a teasing tone that implies to everyone that he did. Sam has done absolutely nothing to Finn except be nice and Finn shows no remorse at all for wrecking a relationship, even though he’s been cheated on twice. Again, no one calls him out on this besides Sam.

#2. How He Treats Rachel

Finn knows that Rachel has a crush on him because Rachel is very obvious about it. Despite the fact that he has a pregnant girlfriend at the time, he manipulates Rachel’s emotions and asks her out on a date with the intention to get her back in the Glee Club and not actually date her. He even kisses her (twice). So, after Quinn and Finn break up, Rachel assumes that her and Finn will date (since by this point they’ve kissed twice and been out on a date). Finn goes ahead and tells her he doesn’t actually want to be her boyfriend, which is fine because even though he led her on at least he’s honest.

He goes to hook up with hotter girls and when that doesn’t work out he goes back to Rachel, who now has Jesse. Rachel tells Finn that she’s moved on, which she has a right to do since Finn dumped her. Finn’s response? He’s not taking no for an answer and will not respect Rachel/Jesse’s relationship even though he had his chance. He goes on to betray Rachel’s trust and expose Rachel/Jesse’s relationship to everyone, taunt Jesse multiple times, and not back down. After Rachel tells him no again, he even sings Jessie’s Girl to her in front of multiple people and circles her while Rachel sits there uncomfortably.

After Finn leaves Rachel to go to the army comes back (after backpacking around for months without saying a word to anyone), he’s angry that Rachel moved on after he told her to do just that. He complains and is shown to be jealous of Rachel’s success. Once he finds out Rachel did kiss Brody, he runs off like a child to Lima, again without saying anything to Rachel. This forces Rachel to abandon her life in NYC for at least a whole day just to come find his pouty ass.

While Rachel maturely explains why they can’t be together anyone, Finn pathetically complains about how he now has no one in the world and how things will never be good again.

#3. How Finn Treats Other Males

I’ve already mentioned how he belittled Sam (also: when the Sam did the Justin Bieber experience, Finn claimed it was stupid and then after finding out he could get Quinn to cheat using a Bieber song, he stole Sam’s idea) and Jesse, and encouraged their girlfriends to sleep with him. So, let’s move on to Blaine. Blaine is a nice guy who joins the New Directions with the intention of helping them and finding love with Kurt. Finn, noticing Blaine’s talent, insults him multiple times and tries to make him feel as if he’s not part of the team.

Moving onto Kurt. Kurt is his friend and step-brother, yet he doesn’t really treat Kurt well. He indirectly calls him a fag, tells him to tone it down with the gay stuff, doesn’t stand up for him multiple times in fear of losing his high school popularity, and is shown to be uncomfortable in a lot of normal situations with Kurt. There’s an episode where Rachel asks Finn to stand up for Kurt and Finn blatantly says he can’t do it because of his reputation. In the end, all of this is resolved by him dancing with Kurt at a wedding (where the only people attending are the Glee clubbers and family members, all of which are already accepting), which does absolutely nothing to stop the fact that Kurt is being terrorized by Karofsky.

#4. Finn Is A Hypocrite

We’ve already covered the whole cheating thing where he constantly complains about being cheated on but encourages cheating himself. Let’s talk about how he berates Rachel for not giving up the spotlight or allowing talented people to join (Sunshine), but then is threatened and mean whenever any other talented male comes in. If Rachel insults someone or tries to steal a solo she’s a horrible, annoying diva. If Finn insults another nice male with more talent than him, Finn is an insecure teen who needs to be coddled and propped up by everyone.

In season one, Finn is creeped out by Kurt’s persistent crush on him. He says something along the lines of ‘if I did that to a girl, she would take out a restraining order’. But he does do stuff like that to girls. Again, Rachel says that she is dating Jesse and he needs to respect that and Finn continues to pursue her. Quinn says that she is dating Sam and doesn’t want to cheat, but Finn won’t take no for an answer and goes on anyways.

#5. Finn’s Prejudice

I’ve already mentioned how he screamed faggy at Kurt multiple times, but let’s look more into that. When Sam comes and wants to sing a duet with Kurt, Finn immediately finds Sam to say that he can’t do a duet with another guy. Sam says that he already promised and will be doing it, but Finn argues against it and later goes to tell Kurt that he shouldn’t sing with Sam. Poor Kurt is guilted into singing alone.

Finn later calls Sue’s baby a retard, even though he knows multiple people with Down syndrome and obviously knows that word is an insult. He says this when he is an adult, not a dumb teenager.

#6. Finn’s Reputation

Everyone constantly talks about how Finn was ever so brave for being nice to the Glee Club and joining them. No one mentions how Quinn, Santana, Brittany, Puck, Mike, and Matt also joined even though they were Cheerios/football players.

Finn cares about his reputation more than anyone else. At first, he won’t admit he likes Rachel because she’s a loser. He won’t pose in the Glee photo after promising Rachel he would. He won’t stand up for Kurt. In the episode where all of the football players have to choose between football and Glee, he is the only one not to show up. He basically tells Kurt to ‘tone down the gay’ multiple times. In another episode, he goes to throw a slushie in Kurt’s face because he needs to keep his popularity.

#7. Finn Compared to Others

Now, you might be saying ‘oh, but Santana, Quinn, and Rachel did bad stuff too’.

Okay, let’s talk about Santana first. Yes, Santana insults people all of the time and is a bitch. She also gets called out on it multiple times (while basically no one ever calls Finn out on anything), and she stands up for multiple glee members. Santana tapes a recorder to her under boob to get Sebastian in trouble after hurting Blaine, threatens Karofsky in the halls when he threatens to beat up Kurt/Blaine, creates the Bullywhips to protect Kurt, blackmails Karofsky so Kurt can come back to school, and threatens Brody with a Paula Abdul song after she finds out he’s shady.

Rachel is annoying yes, but everyone never forgets to tell her this. She constantly stands up for herself and others in the club. She’s the one that comes up with the idea for the guys to threaten Karofsky. She’s the one who offers everyone singing lessons, is down to do anything to help the club, and helps Kurt multiple times with songs/auditions. She’s nice to Quinn about the pregnancy, even though both of them know Quinn would have tortured her if the roles were reversed.

Now onto Quinn. I think Quinn is kind of a bad person, but again, people tell her this to her face. No one ever really tells Finn when he’s done something wrong, they just continue to praise him over basic human decency. Multiple people have told Quinn how horrible she is, and somehow acknowledging that she’s a bitch makes it less annoying to see because we know that something will be said/happen to her. For Finn, consequences don’t exist.

#8. Santana’s Outing

Okay, I’ve seen some people say that Santana was a bitch who deserved to be outed (no one deserves that) and that Finn wasn’t trying to tell everyone, just a couple people. So, we’ll disregard that he outed her in a high school hallway in a school that was openly homophobic.

After the outing, Santana slaps Finn and later Finn uses that as blackmail to get her back into the Glee Club for a week, saying it’s either that or no competition. Lady Music Week is humiliating. It consists of everyone singing a song while making deep eye contact with Santana while she sits there uncomfortably. Santana says multiple times that she doesn’t like the idea and doesn’t want attention on her, but of course Finn doesn’t listen because he can’t take no for an answer.

Finn sings Girls Just Want to Have Fun and everyone immediately disregards the fact that he said Santana’s biggest secret in front of multiple people.

#9. No One Blames Finn For Anything

Like I’ve said above, Finn cheats, isn’t there for his friends, insults people, has jealous rage, outs Santana, and cares about his reputation over everything, and yet no one says a word to him about this. No one goes ‘hey Finn, you’re acting like an ass’.

Finn is praised the entire show for being ‘the best guy in the world’. There’s a scene where Artie thanks Finn for being his friend and basically says that it was a sacrifice for Finn to step down from his popularity for a bit to slum it with the Glee Club. Again, Quinn, Santana, Brittany, Mike, Puck, Sam, and Matt all joined even though they could’ve been popular. They receive no praise.

#10. Finn Is A Lazy Complainer

Finn spends most of high school not studying and playing video games. He’s also on the football team, but doesn’t really commit to football that much. He’s a mediocre high school student.

When college applications time comes around, Finn has the audacity to be shocked by the fact that he doesn’t get a football or theater scholarship. He spends all of season three complaining about how he’ll never get out of Lima, even though all we’ve seen from him is him plotting how to sleep with girls, whining about his reputation, and occasionally doing a decent thing. We never really see him work hard at anything.

He just complains constantly about everything and when Mr. Schue, Rachel, and Emma try to help him by giving him college pamphlets, he doesn’t even read them. He throws them out in the trash as soon as possible and then later goes on a rant about how he won’t be young forever, as if he never thought or learned about aging.

Then, in college, he’s shown to be a slacker who parties all day, drinks, and makes grilled cheeses. He even lies and manipulates college girls into taking off their tops, so hey, maybe he’s moved up a little in the world. Anyways, Puck has to come and tell him it isn’t cool to skip your classes.

Basically, Finn complained, finally got into a college, and then just slacked off again without learning anything

[dancingbpierces]

OOC: what is Julie’s relationship like with everyone? Sorry if I’m asking so many question. I just get really excited to learn about the kids.

OOC: Chris: She’s still pretty close with Chris. He is like a cool older brother to her. She can tell him pretty much everything and knows that he isn’t going to lie to her about what he thinks. She may act like it annoys her. But deep down she respects him so much for it. She knows everyone around her likes to coddle her. But Chris won’t. Plus she loves his big hugs lol.

Charice: I think she and Charice have a mutual relationship. She respects Charice and knows what buttons to push and what not to push lol.

Santana: she likes Santana...She thinks Santana is very fun. But she hates when Santana goes into mom mode.

Dylan: she Loves Dylan! Especially when he lets them raid his bookshelf’s and go to the mall.

Sam: She isn’t really a big fan of Sam.. not after everything he has done to not only her sister and Chris but to Mercedes. But she knows how much Sam means to them especially to Arianna and Allison. So she tries to be nice. Key word... tries.

Mercedes: She loves Mercedes. She’s like another sister to her. Even though she knows Brittany is highly upset with her. Julie still loves Mercedes.

Her parents: As attached as she was to her parents when she was a baby. Is how detached she is from them... you’ll see what I mean here soon. But she still loves them and respects them. And obviously you know how close she is with Brittany.

Maya: you guys know she has a crush on Maya. So they are pretty close. They do everything together. Even though Maya isn’t part of the in crowd wishes Julie would follow her lead. Julie and Maya is still the best of friends.

Mariyah: they are close as well. Except Julie doesn’t like when Mariyah makes fun of Maya. Mariyah is the only one that knows her feelings for Maya.

I hope this is detailed enough! Lol awww it’s okay! Ask all the questions that you want! You asking this many question let’s me know that you’re interested in what’s going on and the characters.

[leigh-kelly]

Oh, Love You More Every Day

Some new Fire Island AU.

Each day, the weather gets colder and you find yourself baking potatoes in the morning to put in yours and Brittany’s coat pockets like your mother used to do when you’d have to walk to school when it was bitter. Though it was cold last winter, it seems to be nothing compared to this and Thanksgiving hasn’t even arrived yet. Each night, when you get home from work, you light a fire in the fire place and turn on the oven, hoping the extra heat will radiate upstairs so your bedroom is warm when you retire to it. So far, it seems to be working and you’re glad for the moment you curl up beneath the covers in Brittany’s arms. On a particularly cold day, the week before the Thanksgiving holiday, you come home and go about your routine. You know it will be a few hours before Brittany gets home, but you put a roast in the oven and you sit down at your typewriter to plan your lesson for the next day. When you’ve just begun, the phone rings and you go to it. You think that perhaps it’s your mother, calling to check that you and Brittany will still be visiting for the holiday, so you have a smile on your face when you answer it.

“Hello?”

“Santana, it’s David.”

“David.” Your heart drop down to your stomach and you sink down into the chair by the phone. “Is everything alright?”

“I’m at the hospital with Brittany, she had a real nasty fall at work.”

You take a deep breath, trying to stave off the tears that threaten to form in your eyes. More than anything, you know that you have to remain level headed and you ask David to tell you the name of the hospital. He promises you that he’ll be in the waiting room until you get there and you thank him profusely, so glad that Brittany is not alone. As soon as you hang up, you turn off the oven and slip into your shoes and coat, moving as quickly as you can as you walk down the beach. You want to catch the soonest ferry you can and you’re nearly running on the sand, no matter how unladylike it may be.

When you make it to the ferry, you find a corner away from everyone else and you begin to weep. You hate that Brittany works jobs that are so dangerous, you hate that you can’t keep her safe, and you hate that you can’t be to her more quickly. You know that you’ll be stationed in the waiting room when you get to the hospital anyway, but the idea of being in the same building with her makes you feel more calm. You want to be at her side, you want to take her home with you and care for her like you have the other times she’s been injured. When the ferry finally docks on the mainland, you find a taxi that will take you to the hospital. The sky is dark, but as the streetlights whir by, you take out your compact mirror and try to fix your face. You don’t want to walk into the hospital all tear streaked and make everyone nervous, so you do what little you can with what is in your purse. It feels like an eternity since you got the phone call, but finally, you’re pulling up in front of the hospital and you pay the driver before stepping out and rushing in the door.

“David.” You take a breath when you see him. “Have you heard anything?”

“No. I’ve just been waitin’ here hopin’ she walks out. Her arm was real bad, Santana.”

“I’m sure they’ll fix it.” You reassure him, though you think you might need reassurance yourself. Brittany works with her body, she needs her body to be working, and you worry about the type of injury an arm can sustain.

Because neither of you has much to say, you and David sit in silence. You watch the clock, counting the minutes that go by, thinking of how long it took you to get there and how’s she’s been behind the door for too long. Then finally, when you feel like you absolutely can’t stand it any longer, Brittany steps into the room and you breathe such a sigh of relief. Her eyes are glassy and red and her arm is cast, held close to her body by a sling. Had she not been hurt, you’d have wanted to throw yourself into her arms, worry wracking your body, but instead, you just stand and approach her slowly.

“Ya came all the way here?” She looks surprised and you nod.

“David called me, I’ve been worried sick.”

“I was gettin’ some tools down from the loft and I had a real bad fall. Doc says I’m lucky all I did was break my arm.”

“Brittany.” Tears run down your face and she reaches to wipe them away with her good arm.

“I’m alright, Santana. Ya know I can make it through anything.”

“I know, but—”

“I just want to head on home.”

David calls a taxi and he takes the front seat so you can sit in the back with Brittany. You think that the doctor gave her some sort of medication for her pain because even on the short drive, she keeps nodding off. When you get to the ferry terminal, David comes around back and lets her lean on him as you board. On the bench seat of the ferry, you sit as close as you possibly can to her, stroking her good arm as she goes in and out of sleep. Though you tell David you can get her home okay, he insists on walking her home with you and when you get to the house, he helps her up the stairs.

You thank David profusely and he leaves you with Brittany sitting on the edge of the bed. As carefully as you possibly can, you undress her and help her into her pajamas. Once she’s under the covers in bed, you go to put her clothes away and you find a pill bottle in her pocket. You put the bottle on her nightstand and then you sit beside her on the bed, holding her hand and repeatedly kissing her forehead. It’s obvious that she’s in a lot of pain by the way she holds her arm close to her body and you wish that there was something you could do, wish that you could take the pain away from her. Before you know it, you’re weeping again and you notice that the tears fall on Brittany’s face.

“Sweetheart, ya don’t have to cry. I’ll be good as new before ya know it.”

“I know, but it scares me when you get hurt. It reminds me that you do dangerous jobs and I couldn’t bear to lose you.”

“I’ll try and be more careful. Mr. Brewster wasn’t real happy that I was up in the loft again.”

“Again?”

“He told me last time that I ought to leave it to someone else, but I didn’t want anyone to think I couldn’t do it just because I’m a girl.”

“Perhaps no one should be up there if it’s that dangerous.” You sigh and wipe your tears from her face.

“Just lost my footing is all, it coulda happened to anyone. Doc says I’ll be out of work for six weeks, I think I might lose my mind.”

“Brittany, I don’t want you to do anything that could cause you to get more injured. If the doctor says that you’re to stay home, you ought to.”

“I don’t need to stay home, I just can’t go into work. We’re still gonna go to your mama’s house for Thanksgiving next week.”

“I don’t know if that’s the best idea.”

“Ya can’t keep me shut in here, Santana. I’ll be just fine takin’ the train.”

“Perhaps we shouldn’t talk about it tonight, you need to rest.”

“I don’t want ya treatin’ me with kid gloves just because I broke my arm.”

“Brittany, you broke your arm four hours ago. Forgive me for being a bit shaken up. I don’t think we ought to be discussing what we’re going to do for the holiday, I think if we’re going to discussing anything at all, it ought to be what you need to do to heal.” Your heart pounds in your chest and you close your eyes, trying to shut out how angry you feel that she’s taking this so lightly.

“I don’t need to be coddled. I don’t want ya to treat me like an invalid just because I got hurt.”

“I’m not treating you like an invalid, I’m rightly concerned.”

“Ya have been lookin’ forward to Thanksgiving for weeks and so have I. We’re goin’.”

“I don’t want to argue with you. I really think perhaps we should talk about this in the morning.”

“Fine. I think I ought to sleep.”

You can tell that she’s upset with you, but she closes her eyes and doesn’t say anything else. You sit on the edge of the bed for a long while and then you finally get up. Going downstairs, you discard the ruined roast and you make yourself a sandwich with the cold chicken in the ice box. Your stomach feels like it has a ball of lead in it and you can hardly stomach the food you try to put down. You never argue with Brittany, but it feels like the two of you are at an impasse and you couldn’t discourage her from going to sleep, especially because you were the one who suggested it in the first place.

When you finish your sandwich, you wash your dish and go into the sitting room. You turn on the radio but it can’t keep your attention, so you turn it off. You open The Sound and the Fury but you only manage to read a few pages before you become distracted from that as well. Eventually, you decide to go up to bed and you bring a glass of water up to put on Brittany’s nightstand in case she needs to take one of her pills during the night. You wash up and change into your nightgown and climb under the covers. You know that Brittany couldn’t hold you even if you hadn’t quarreled, but the distance between the two of you in bed feels like miles.

You wake up in the morning and Brittany is still asleep. Even after you bathe and dress for work, her soft snoring continues. It saddens you that you’ll have to leave without saying goodbye but you go downstairs, drink your coffee and eat an egg on toast before you walk out into the frigid air. All day you’re distracted and because you left your lesson plan half done when you raced out to go to the hospital, you struggle to fill the time in your day. The students don’t notice it though and you’re glad for that. When you let them go for the day, you’re quick to leave your classroom and you’re quick in your step to get home.

When you get there, you smell pork cooking and you go into the kitchen. Brittany is using her left hand to stir a pot of beans and you take a breath. You know that she’s incapable of resting, but you wish she would have let you make dinner. She turns around when you hears your footsteps and she shrugs sheepishly. All the frustration you’d felt last night melts away and you step toward her, wanting to embrace her but not wanting to hurt her.

“Hi.” You murmur, stepping into her space.

“Hi.”

“You’re cooking.”

“I don’t want ya to get mad at me again. I just got real stir crazy and figured I could make ya dinner.”

“I’m not going to get angry with you. I’m sorry if I made you feel worse last night. I was just really scared and I want you to be well.”

“I’m sorry I got angry with ya too. I took care of myself for so long and I never had anyone tellin’ me to watch myself. I never got treated like a baby, even when I was one, and it made me feel real frustrated.”

“I don’t want to treat you like a baby.” You tell her. “I want to treat you like my wife who I’m worried about. I’ve seen lots of bone breaks in my father’s office. If you don’t let them heal right, you can have a permanently damaged limb. All I want is for you to be cautious.”

“I’ll try to be. I just don’t know how to be still. This isn’t like my head or my foot, where it was just a few days. Six weeks is a real long time. It means I can’t go back to work until the new year comes. Workin’s in my bones.”

“I know it is, but the best thing you can do now is rest. If you really think it will do you well to go see my family next week, then we’ll do it.”

“I’ll be needin’ to get out of the house by then. But I hate that I can’t pick up the little girls.”

“They’ll understand.” You smile a little and manage to get the spoon out of her hand. “Now sit, let me finish up.”

“My arm is hurtin’ somethin’ fierce. I thought it’d stop by today, but I keep takin’ those pills.”

“After dinner you ought to lay down. You’ll let me take care of you?”

“Okay.” She nods and your smile widens.

“Thank you.”

For the next week, Brittany tries to putter around the house because she can’t sit still and every night you come home to her feeling a lot of pain. You hope what the doctor gave her really helps and you think that if Brittany will let him, you’d like to have your father look at her arm. You know that she went to a hospital and all should be well, but still, you’d feel better just knowing that your father verified that she was okay.

On Wednesday afternoon, school closes early and you go home to get Brittany and your things. Because Brittany can’t carry anything, you packed one valise to share and there’s something oddly intimate about packing your clothes alongside hers. When you come in the door, she springs up from the sofa and you know she’s anxious to go. She never stops moving, ordinarily, and while you savor the summer days where you don’t go to work, she is up early and out the door fishing. Winter is hard enough, you think, but her being forced to be inside for it is even harder.

Once the house is closed up, you walk together down the beach and she holds her arm close to her. She’s so stubborn sometimes that you think she’s really hiding just how much it hurts her. But you let her have her pride, you won’t say anything about it until you’re settled into your parents’ house. If you know your father, you’re certain that he’ll mention looking at her arm before you can even suggest it to Brittany and perhaps he can lessen her pain.

She’s quiet on the ferry and quieter still on the train. You truly hope that this trip isn’t taking too much out of her and you long to squeeze her hand. If it gets to be too much, you’ll go home before Sunday. You want her to know that but you don’t want her to think that you’re fussing too much. Perhaps you’ll tell her later in the quiet of your childhood bedroom when the little girls have fallen asleep. She won’t be able to get frustrated then and if you say it softly enough, she’ll know that you’re just expressing your genuine concern. But you know that she’s already sad that you’ve said no to taking your sisters to see the balloons. You think the walk is too much, you worry that she’ll be jostled, you think it’s just better to sit by the fire while you help your mother peel potatoes.

“I can’t wait to see your family.” She murmurs when you’re just about to the city. “It’s been so long.”

“It has. I miss them so terribly. Thank you for saying we should still come.

“I’ll feel better when I’m around everyone.”

“Brittany?”

“Yes?”

“Do you think perhaps my father can take a look at your arm?” You ask, though you hadn’t planned to. “Just to make sure it’s alright.”

“I don’t know how he’d manage with this cast on.”

“I didn’t think of that.”

“I don’t want ya to worry, Santana. It’ll heal right nice and the pain’ll go away.”

“You’ve been having trouble sleeping, even with the pills.”

“I just can’t get comfortable. It’s in my way. I’d like to be able to lie with ya in my arms and instead I’m stuck lyin’ on my back.”

She gets quiet again and you don’t interrupt her solitude. Instead, you see the city come into view and you smile. As much as you love your little island, there’s still so much joy in seeing the place you called home for most of your life. The train pulls into Pennsylvania station and you take the valise and escort Brittany off the train. Outside, you find a taxi and the driver takes you right outside of your parents’ building. You see the light on in your father’s office on the ground floor and as much as you’d like to see him, you assume he’s with a patient and don’t want to interrupt. So instead, you and Brittany walk up the stairs and Mariana is waiting with the door cracked open.

“They’re here! They’re here!” She cries out and the door swings open violently. She runs into your arms and you scoop her up, breathing all of her in. “Mama said Brittany got real hurt.”

“She did, you’ll have to be gentle with her.”

“But I’ll still play with ya, don’t ya worry.”

Carrying Mariana, though you know your mother will see she’s too big for that, you go into the apartment. Your grandmother is sitting by the fire knitting and you set Mariana on her feet so that you can kiss her hello. She doesn’t say much, she never does, but Brittany greets her and she smiles. Carlotta and Concetta run out of the bedroom and you bend down to them, letting them embrace you. Brittany tried to hug them quite awkwardly but they’re so gentle with her that you feel your heart burst. The apartment smells like pernil and tamales and you know your mother is in the kitchen preparing for your arrival.

”Mija.” She comes into the sitting room holding a fork and you fall into her embrace. “Brittany, it’s so nice you could join us again this year.”

“I’m very grateful for ya to have me. I’ve been lookin’ forward to it a whole lot.”

“Brittany! Brittany!” Mariana shouts. “Come see what I got!”

Excusing herself from your mother, Brittany follows Mariana off to the bedroom. Carlotta takes your valise to bring in there and you follow your mother into the kitchen, washing your hands so you can help. There’s a tres leches cake on the counter and you think that your mother has really gone out of her way this time. It’s been too long since you’ve seen her, but you easily fall back into a comfortable rhythm in the kitchen.

“I was surprised Brittany was able to come. You said she’s quite injured.”

“She insisted upon it and if she hadn’t, I’d have felt I should stay home and care for her.” You tell your mother, not quite lying, though you wouldn’t have wanted to spend Thanksgiving without her. “She’s in quite a bit of pain, I was hoping Papa could look at her arm, but in the cast, he won’t be able to see.”

“I’m sure the doctors did just right by her. Perhaps there’s something more he can give her for the pain though.”

“She’s so proud, she won’t complain.”

“She’s had quite a difficult year. It must be difficult for her to be without her father at the holidays.”

“Holidays weren’t much in Brittany’s family because her father always worked. She appreciates the company of our family quite a bit though.”

“She’s always welcome, mija. She makes a lovely guest and the girls are so fond of her. Now tell me, how is your teaching going?”

“Very well. I’ve made so much progress in just a few short months with these students. I’ve also noticed that they’re coming to school more often.”

“When I was a child, I’d have to stay home from school rather often to help my mother. I never wanted that for you girls and I’m glad these parents are wanting that for their children too.” Your mother smiles and opens the oven. “It was much different back when I was a girl.”

“I’m so very grateful that you and Papa sent me to such a good school and that now I can pass on my knowledge to others. How are the girls doing in their studies?”

“Concetta has fallen a bit behind, but Carlotta helps her immensely. Mariana is smart as they come, like you when you were her age.”

“Mama.” You smile and peer into the pot with the tamales.

“I know the Bible teaches that you shouldn’t be prideful, but you’ve made so much of yourself. Is there perhaps a gentleman that might make a fine husband for you?”

“No gentleman. I don’t spend much time among them.”

“I suppose you’re busy with work. I’d just like to see you happy, mi amor.”

“I promise, Mama, I’m so very happy.”

You cook by your mother’s side for a little while and then your father comes upstairs. He still has a limp and you try not to frown when you see it. When he hugs you tightly, you relax into his embrace and you bring him a drink from the kitchen when he sits down in his chair. Brittany is keeping the little girls busy, but you peer into the bedroom to see that Mariana has her whole treasure box spilled out on the floor, showing Brittany all of her finds.

“Santana! Are you still helping Mama or can you come play?”

“I can take a few moments to play, but dinner is just about ready.” You smile at her and look over to the bed where Carlotta is reading out loud to Concetta. “Girls, one more chapter and then Mama will be calling us for dinner.”

“Okay, Santana.” Carlotta nods seriously. “We’re at a really good part.”

“Santana.” Mariana grabs your sleeve. “You have to see the shiniest penny in the whole world.”

“Where did you get that?” You ask her, smoothing your dress as you sit with your legs tucked under you on the floor.

“Papa got it and he gave me it for my collection. See how shiny?”

“That is really shiny, and you’re very lucky. Is that what you wanted to show Brittany.”

“Yes! I knew you’d have to help Mama but I wanted to show you too.”

“Well I’m here now. And Brittany and I brought you some new sea glass for your collection.”

“Sea glass?” Concetta’s head pops up from focusing on Carlotta’s reading.

“Don’t ya worry.” Brittany grins. “There’s plenty for everyone.”

After you take the sea glass out of your valise and distribute it among the girls, you know that it’s time for everyone to wash up for dinner. You help Mariana put her treasures back in the box and then you usher her off to the washroom. Brittany straggles behind a little and you can see the pain in her eyes. You long to kiss her and make her feel better but you can’t, so you just find her pill bottle and remind her to take another. She swallows it down in the washroom and then she sits beside you at the dinner table, her bad arm resting against the table.

“I heard you were awfully hurt, Brittany.” Your father says, once Grace is finished.

“Truthfully, Mr. Lopez, I’m real lucky. I fell from a loft and only broke an arm so someone was watchin’ out for me.”

“That is especially lucky. I’ve treated patients who have had lesser falls than that and have had several broken bones. How’s your pain?”

“It’s manageable. I’ve been takin’ pills for it.”

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to have a look at what your doctor gave you after supper.”

“Of course.” She nods, ducking her head a little. “If it’s no trouble. I was real lucky to have Santana around to help me the first few days.”

“She’s a good girl, my little Santana.” Your father beams in your direction. “And you’ve been right good to her.”

“We’re good to each other, sir.”

“And they have the best house!” Carlotta chimes in. “When I’m bigger, I’m going to live on Fire Island too.”

“All my girls, ready to leave me.” Your mother sighs.

“Mama, you know you’re welcome to visit Brittany and I whenever you like. We don’t mind sharing a room so you can have a bit of space.”

“Oh, someday I will. It’s just a bit much right now.” She shakes her head and you know that she means caring for the little girls, you father and your grandmother that she has to do alone now. “But the girls tell me it’s lovely.”

“The house is a bit far down the beach, but it’s much closer to school than it would be if I were still living in the apartment above the bar. And now that we have our neighbors it’s even lovelier.” You smile, looking across the table at Brittany.

“It’s been so long since I’ve not had neighbors on top of me.” Your mother sighs. “Your whole life you’ve never had that, Santana.”

“I found that I was a bit lonely for it, but now that Sam and Mercy are just a short walk away, it’s nice. Especially with winter coming, it’s so isolated where we are.”

“It sure is nice havin’ them.” Brittany chimes in. “Sam helped me by puttin’ in the storm windows the other day since I couldn’t do it with my arm and Mercy brought the baby to play.”

“It must be nice having a little one around.” You mother looks off dreamily. “All my girls are getting so big.”

“I’m still little enough, Mama.” Mariana wiggles in her seat.

“That’s true, mija, you are.”

“It ought to be time you have one of your own, Santana.” You grandmother speaks for the first time, addressing you in English, which surprises you.

”Abuela, I’m very happy as I am.”

“You’ll never be happy enough until you have a husband and a child.”

After she speaks, your father changes the subject. You’re grateful to him for that and you quietly eat your pork. You hope so much that it’s not bothering Brittany but you don’t dare give her a glance across the table. When everyone is through, you get up to clear the plates, telling your mother to have a rest tonight, and when Brittany offers to help, you shake your head and tell her to continue her conversation with your father. You stand alone in the kitchen and you clean the plates, thinking about how deeply what your grandmother said upset you. It’s not true, there’s nothing that could make you happier than your love for Brittany, but you can’t explain to them why you’ve chosen not to get married.

When you’re through with the dishes, you go into the sitting room to find Brittany and your family. Brittany is sitting on the floor playing Sorry! with the little girls and your mother is turning on the radio. You find a place on the sofa and lean back. Your grandmother has gone into her room like she often does after dinner and you’re glad for it. You’re quiet as you watch them play on the floor, just listening to the music on the radio. Your mother has out her knitting and your father reads his newspaper, much like they both did when you were living at home.

“This is the last game, mijas.” Your mother says after a while and you think you’ll go to bed when they do. You’re tired from traveling and you’d like to speak with Brittany in the darkness of the bedroom once they have gone to sleep.

“Mama, can Santana read to us?” Concetta asks, leaning in her hands.

“Not for too long, I’m sure she and Brittany are tired from their long trip.”

“Santana!” Mariana cries out. “We didn’t start Betsy and Billy without you. Carlotta said we should save it to only read with you.”

“Well hopefully then we can get a bit of it read this weekend and save the rest for when you come to visit Brittany and I.” You smile, thinking how much you love that you still mean so much to the sisters you left behind. “Come now, little one, let me help you change into your pajamas and wash up for bed.”

“Santana! I know how to put on my own pajamas.” Mariana giggles.

You usher Mariana off to the bedroom whole Carlotta and Concetta clean up the game and you say goodnight to your parents, figuring you’ll stay in once the girls are settled. While Mariana is in the wash room brushing her teeth, you change into your pajamas and then take your turn in there. She’s just cuddling up into bed with you when Brittany comes leading the other two girls. While they all get ready, you snuggle with the baby, giving her the time that she craves and then when Carlotta and Concetta get into Carlotta’s bed and leave Concetta’s for Brittany, you begin reading. Brittany listens with attention just as rapt as the little girls and you smile seeing her like that.

“Just one more chapter, please, Santana?” Concetta begs, but you close the book.

“There’s always tomorrow, but tonight we ought to go to sleep.”

You lie awake with Mariana sleeping on your chest while you wait for Carlotta and Concetta to fall asleep. Once you hear the soft snores from their bed, you turn to Brittany who is lying awake and facing you. You can see the grimace of pain on her face and you know that she’s been fighting the expression of it all day. You long so much to hold her in your arms but you know that you can’t do you just begin to speak softly to her.

“What did my father say about your pills?”

“He said he might have somethin’ that’ll help a little more. The pharmacist isn’t open until Friday though, so I’ll have to live with this until then.”

“I don’t like seeing you in so much pain.”

“The distraction was real good today.” She promises you. “I sure am glad we came.”

“Even with my grandmother?”

“I know ya aren’t the one thinkin’ those things. She just wants ya to be happy, but I know I make ya happy. I wish ya wouldn’t fuss so much, I knew ya were stewin’ in the kitchen.”

“I just needed a moment to catch my breath. She doesn’t say much, but when she does, it startles me.”

“I imagine so. But I love ya a real lot, Santana. I wish it wasn’t so hard for ya to have to hide, does it hurt ya to come here?”

“No, I love to see my family and I love the way they’ve embraced you. I just wish I could be honest and tell them you’re not my landlady and more than my friend.”

“I know ya do, but at least it’s for the best that they let me come. They mean so much to ya that I wouldn’t want ya to have problems.”

“I couldn’t bear to lose them.” You sigh. “I love them all so much.”

“I know ya do. It’s so good to see ya among them. It gives ya a special brightness.”

“These little girls have my heart.” You hug Mariana closer. “If only there were a way I could see them more.”

“Ya know, I could look around at jobs on the wharf in the city if ya really had your heart set on movin’ back.”

“No, I want to stay on the island. You have the Alcott and your crew and I love our home. I just have to make a point to have the girls out more, if my mother would allow it. Money is really tight and she doesn’t like to take money from me to pay for their trips.”

“Maybe we could just pick up tickets when we’re on the way back, send ‘em in an envelope so they have a way to get to us whenever they’d like.”

“That’s not a bad idea. I’d like to have them out in a few weeks since I won’t see them for Christmas.”

“Ya sure you don’t want to come here?” She asks softly.

“It’s alright, I don’t want you to travel so much with your injury and I had such a nice Christmas with the Karofskys last year. I think we ought to keep up the tradition.”

“As long as that’s what ya want. I don’t want to sadden you in any way.”

“You never sadden me, Brittany. You do whatever you can to make me happy.”

[spaceorphan18]

Finding Kurt Hummel: What The World Needs Now

Masterpost

6x06: What The World Needs Now

So - after what’s been a really strong Kurt (Klaine) story - we’re going to pause a second and talk about Brittana (and Rachel).  And - it’s fine.  I think this episode is underrated a little because of the lack of Kurt and Blaine in it.  And this is really Brittana’s last big episode, and they don’t get many, so I won’t begrudge them that.  Plus - it makes my job easier for an episode - even if the Klaine story does feel like it’s coming to a grinding halt for an episode.  (I suppose when you watch these all together though, it doesn’t feel like such a road bump).  

Exposition

Kurt’s back and here to remind you that a minor win is a good thing and introduce the theme of the week -- Burt Bacharach.  Cause y’all know who that is, lol.  Well - you’ve probably heard a billion of his songs, but didn’t really know that he wrote them.  It’s a little weird for a final tribute episode, but it feels like Ryan Murphy wants to get out all his guilty pleasures before the show ends.  

Kurt’s also there to welcome back Mercedes.  Who - btw, is there to be okay with Rachel dating Sam, and help Rachel out emotionally.  Basically - she now has Kurt’s old job, and thank god.  I mean - I’m sorry Mercedes is relegated to this role, but it does free up Kurt from the shackles that is normal Hummelberry.  

Though honestly - Hummelberry has been... fine.  They’ve kinda been in their own little worlds when they aren’t teaching.  It’s almost... Healthy.  

And anyway - it’s actually nice to see Rachel and Mercedes be supportive friends.  There just isn’t enough positive f/f friendships on the show. 

Project Rachel

Mercedes has it in her head that while it’s nice the glee club is going again - Rachel needs to be back in New York again cause that’s where she’s supposed to be.  And while I don’t think she’s wrong, I am rolling my eyes at the one last time the show is going to coddle Rachel.  

I should note - there’s a quick mention that Kurt’s working on his ‘thesis’ for NYADA.  It’s an afterthought - sure, but at least the show remembers the other reason why he’s there.  But it’s also a reminder that coaching is only a temporary thing for Kurt, too.  I kind of wish the show didn’t gloss over it so easily.  But the point is - one of the reasons the show isn’t (unfortunately) focusing on Kurt’s career is that he’s not needing the push to go back to New York.  Returning really isn’t a question in his book.  His push is back towards Blaine - his version of home.  

See - way back in Loser Like Me, Kurt, Rachel, and Blaine are back in Lima because they needed to have a reset (like the glee club itself) and the point of season 6 is to get that reset.  Rachel’s eventually gonna get back on her path towards a performance career, while Kurt and Blaine get back on their path - wherever it might lead, together.  And the glee club will continue on and forward like it always should have.  It’s a whole full circle thing the writers were going for in this last season, while (questionably) tying up all the loose ends. 

Whether you find it satisfying or not I suppose is up to you. 

Anyway - Mercedes mentions she has a plan for Rachel to fall back in love with New York, and she apologizes (not really) to Kurt for bringing Blaine in.  Kurt kinda reacts - like - oh, so we’re gonna do that.  But I mean, nothing really comes of it.  I do like how flippant Mercedes is about it.  Just get your shit together, boys, there are other things to worry about.  Like the main character of the series. 

I kind of love that they call New York ‘endgame’ for Rachel, lol.  Also love that the only time Kurt’s on screen during this number is when he’s next to Blaine at the piano.  Nice touch! Unfortunately, he doesn’t sing at all - so boo! 

Alfie

So, um, Kurt I suppose is technically in this scene - faux singing backup in the background.  I don’t really like this song, nor do I really want to get into the Brittana of it all (do you guys care about my thoughts on Brittana? No? Didn’t think so).  So - this is here for completion purposes. 

Oh - I suppose though cause I’m feeling it - the one thing about Brittana that I want to say is -- Brittany’s speech to Santana’s grandmother is perfect, and I kinda wish they had let the story go at that instead of go the happily ever after route with the grandma in the wedding episode.  But ah well, it’s glee.  Happily Ever After is what they do. 

Family

Kurt: Family embraces you with open arms no matter what.   Blaine: They can see the pain in your eyes even when you’re fooling everyone else. 

So, long story short - we get a full Glee speech about the real meaning of family, The context is about Brittana - but I like to think it means more than just them supporting the girls and their wedding.  

Kurt says that family embraces you - and I like to think he’s talking from experience.  I mean look what Burt and Kurt have gone through throughout the series.  And how supportive they’ve been through everything that’s been thrown at him.  Santana, clearly, hasn’t had the same kind of upbringing - so this whole unconditional love thing seems almost a foreign concept. 

Meanwhile - Blaine mentions that family can see you for what you really are - and he looks to Kurt as he does so.  And I’ve always taken that to mean that despite their relationship issues, Kurt and Blaine can tell when the other one is hurting. (I mean - look at the previous episode - and despite their BS’ing words - their looks told another story - and they both knew it.) 

And... then we get a chorus of What The World Needs Now.  It’s love, btw, in case you didn’t catch on.  There’s also a bunch of commentary about gay rights in here, too - but I’ll probably save that for the wedding episode. 

We end with a party at Will’s house - where everyone is relaxing and having a good time, as the song goes on about the world needing more love in it.  

Kurt gets the door to invite Blaine in - and he’s delighted to see Blaine.  They hug - and it’s sweet, now super awkward like Loser Like Me, or finding their way again like in Hurt Locker Part 1.  They’re two people who are now comfortable again, and while not quite back to what they were - they’re in a good place with each other.  

And as Blaine comes in, Kurt’s noticing something else -- the distinct lack of someone accompanying Blaine, and he’s absolutely delighted about it.  Progress indeed.