Jackie was humming to herself as she was moving around the kitchen. She had music from her dance classes on as she was making dinner. Her hips swaying to the music, a smile on her face. One that had been so easily put on her face these last couple days. And all because of one person, and that person was Santana. She couldn’t make words for it but god...being with her was an amazing feeling she had not gotten the pleasure to experience yet. All she could do was enjoy it because she didn’t want to think too much especially with all the chaos going on. So she shook her head and moved her attention back to making dinner for the both of them.

Santana sighed as she arrived back at Jackie's early that evening, using the key Jackie had lent her and letting herself into the apartment. She paused for a moment, leaning back against the door and biting her lip. This - this was the right thing. Jackie was the right thing or her, she had to be. She took a deep breath, smiling slowly and then moving out toward the kitchen. "Babe? I'm back-"

Jackie started to sing along to the song almost in her own little world as her hips and body moved to the music. She didn’t didn’t even notice Santana walking in until she heard her voice. Causing her to jump slightly and turn around. A grin growing on her lips along with a blush across her cheeks. Almost as red as her lipstick. “Tana, hello gorgeous.” She turned the food off that was done just in time and took a few steps towards the girl. “Sorry got a little lost while cooking.”

Santana blinked for a second, glancing between the pans and the gorgeous girl in front of her. She smiled, stepping close and taking her hands in hers. "You know, you don't have to cook for me every night, baby."

Jackie laced their fingers and squeezed them softly. “I know I don’t have to, but I want to.” She brought one of her hands up to her lips to kiss her knuckles. “Plus I finally have someone to show off my cooking skills to of course I will do as much of it as possible.”

Santana shook her head with a soft smile, lifting a hand free to gently lifting up Jackie's chin, leaning in to kiss her softly, not realising her chest is aching or that a tear has run down her cheek as she pulls back.

Jackie couldn’t help but smile against her lips when she kissed her. But only for a moment until she kissed her back. Her hand moving on top of her arm that moved up. Although that smile quickly faded when she pulled back and saw the tear. Her hands quickly moved to cup her cheeks and wipe the tear. “Santana, darling...what’s wrong? Did I say something?” She asked softly trying to search her eyes for any answer.

Santana's lips parted slightly, and she blinked through another couple tears as she met Jackie's eyes, smiling a little shakily. "Jackie - I - I think I love you-" she paused, "Fuck, no I didn't mean to fuck that up, I didn't mean 'think'. I - I'm falling in love with you. And it's fucking terrifying but you make my day instantly better just by smiling at me, and I just - I'm choosing you, that is - if you want to choose me .... I love you."

Jackie jaw probably dropped at what she heard Santana said. She tried to quickly pick it back up and blink a few times to make sure it wasn’t all a dream. “Tana...” she managed to whisper out. No one has ever said those words to her... not like this. And the even crazier part what that this must have been that feeling that had been fluttering in her mind and heart. A feeling she never felt or thought she would feel for awhile. A small smile grew on her lips. Her fingers moving along her cheek bones. “I’m falling for you too, Santana...I haven’t...no one has...” she tried to say then let out a shaky breath and just smiled at her.

Santana tugged her closer, a hand lifting to cup her cheek as she smiled nervously, "You are?" she whispered, blinking back her tears and biting her lip as she looked at her.

Jackie just nodded, “I was trying to figure out if there was a word for what I was feeling...” She started letting one of her arms wrapped around her. “And I think you just put words to it.”

"I love you," she whispered again, her heart aching, holding Jackie tight against her, closing her eyes, their foreheads still resting together.

“God that sounds so wonderful coming you.” She mumbled out, moving her head slightly so their noses could brush together. “No one has...god.” She muttered noticing she was rambling again. “I...I love you too.”

Santana grinned softly, rocking slightly as she she held her, closing her eyes and sighing softly. "Fuck, I was so scared about what you'd say."

Jackie let her eyes flutter closed as well to just take in the moment. A breathless chuckle leaving her lips. “Scared? Tana...I have adored you for so long. You always had some hold on me.”

"I didn't know if it was - was more, though. I - honestly, I've only just realised it myself. How much you make everything better for me."

“That is all I ever wanted...” she whispered, “to make things better for you...to make you happy. And I was willing to be whatever you would let me be to make that happen.”

"Jackie-" she whispered, nudging her nose again hers as she blinked open her eyes, "I only ever want you to be you , don't you know that?"

Jackie let out a soft hum in response to her name, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment at what she said before opening them. "I...yes." She whispered her eyes soft having to take a moment to have the confidence behind her words.

Santana ran her thumb over Jackie's cheek, breathing out a little shakily, smiling softly and leaning in to kiss her gently. She pulled back after another moment, "I - I should probably tell you about Dani, though.... I think i do anyway,"

Seeing Santana's smile made her own grow, something that she had always been able to do. That smile staying on her lips as they kissed. This all still felt like such a dream...someone loved her, more important than that, Santana loved her. When they parted her eyes opened to meet hers. "Dani?" She asked raising an eyebrow but quickly nodding only knowing a little about their history. "Yes of course, Tana. You can tell me anything."

"Let's go sit down?" she said quietly, glancing behind them. "Does anything need our attention first?" she asked, meaning the cooking.

Jackie nodded and glanced back at the food, "I turned off the stove but I should probably move it and turn off my music...we can worry about dinner later." She said softly before turning her head back to glance at the girl.

Santana nodded, "Okay, okay," she murmured, "I'll turn off the music-" she moved over to the stereo then

Jackie moved to make sure the stove was off before moving the food to the counter. A shaky breath leaving her lips. Her mind still trying to process all of this letting her eyes shut for a moment, a small smile on her lips before opening them then walking towards the couch.

Santana moved over too, sitting down and automatically reaching out for the girl to pull her into her arms, dropping her head against the side of Jackie's. "I just - I feel like you need to know this, but I want /you/."

Jackie smiled as they moved closer to each other, almost like it was a habit for them and what felt right and it sure did. She took one of the girls hands once she was pulled closer and laced their fingers together. "Of course...I should tell you about some thing too. But I want you too, you are all I want."

Santana paused, raising an eyebrow but nodding, leaning back at holding her against her. "Okay. Should I go first?"

Jackie shook her head, "It isn't much...but I want you know I'm open with you too." She added on to try to push down any worries that could have possibly come up. Then she nodded, moving her thumb across her knuckles. "Yes, you can if you want to."

Santana nodded, shifting back and sighing softly. "Dani and I - we had... we have an intense relationship. We grew up together before she left, we've both screwed each other over a million times, hurt each other. But I do love her. I - I'm sorry, I can't pretend I don't. I just- I wasn't expecting her back so suddenly, she disappeared without telling me, and before she went, she asked if I would wait for her to be ready and I said yes."

Jackie listened to everything that she said nodding to let her know she heard. She felt her own heart hurt for Santana, she couldn’t imagine what that would be like. She turned her head and reached her hand out to move some hair from her face. “That couldnt have been easy, Tana...watching someone you love disappear like that.”

Santana blinked, trying her hardest not to let the tears roll down her cheeks, lifting a hand to wipe at her eyes. "It was always just... so much, y'know? We'd probably both die for each other but we still would screw each other over and I just - it exhausted me. And - and I was gonna wait, I thought I was but then you came," she breathed out shakily, "And we've always had this thing but something just happened and you made me feel light again, and like things were okay, and - and you gave me this kind of hope that I haven't felt in the l-longest time-"

Jackie reached out and wiped some of her tears away. A soft smile on her lips hoping that combined with her touch could help relax her. Feeling so surprised when she said she came and changed things. “You deserve to feel that hope all the time, Tana....the happiness, the light...I hope you know that.” She said softly and let her fingers move to run through her hair.

Santana was shaking just slightly, unable to help the tears flowing now as she shifted closer, biting her bottom lip. "I just - I was talking to Blaine about it, and he made me realise how - how good for me you are, how much I love you. How you're the first person that comes to mind when I need someone, no matter what. You're who I want to fall asleep next to every night, and that's cheesy as fuck, but it's fucking true. And I don't know if you'd want me like that, I know- I'm a lot. I'm a lot to take, to be with."

When Jackie felt the girl starting to shake she quickly took her into her arms hugging her close. Her fingers continuing to move through her hair as she pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Tana...” She whispered and squeezed her slightly. “You are the same person for me...when I came to you the other day I didn’t even realize what I was doing until I noticed I was at for door. Something always bring me back to you.” She explained letting out a soft sigh. “It has been an amazing few night waking up and falling asleep together hm?” Jackie teased as she squeezed her shoulders. “I haven’t...been with anyone like that before. I have had people ask me on dates, some happen some fall through...but I would love to learn with you, Tana.”

Santana sniffed softly, burying her head in Jackie's neck and holding onto her tight, breathing out shakily. "You want me?" she whispered against her skin, hands curling in the back of Jackie's top, "You'll be mine?"

Jackie kept her fingers tangled in her hair, turning her head slightly only to press another kiss against her hair. “Even though I wasn’t sure before I have always wanted you.” She mumbled against her hair then moved to lean her head against hers. “Be yours....” Jackie let out a sigh, as she felt her heart flutter. “God, that sounds wonderful.”

Tana lifted her head up, meeting her eyes and smiling nervously, "It does?" she whispered, shifting closer, lifting her own hand to the back of Jackie's neck.

Jackie nodded, “Yeah, god I did not think that someone would want me in that way...at least not until further down the road...” She shook her head but smiled. “You keep proving all my thoughts and fears wrong and I love it.”

"God, are you kidding? Jackie, you could have anyone-" she whispered, sniffling slightly and tucking the girl's hair behind her ear.

Jackie let out a soft chuckle and let her eyes fall on the girl. “I could have a fun night with anyone, Tana...a relationship? I haven’t even had a serious one yet.”

Santana cupped her cheek, leaning in to press a gentle kiss against her lips, "I want to be your first then," she whispered. "I wanna be your girlfriend."

Jackie swore her heart was doing flips in her chest at her words. Her body melted against hers and into the kiss.”I would love that...I would love to be your, girlfriend.”

Santana grinned softly, "Even with everything? I have a lot of baggage," she whispered, just wanting to make sure the girl was sure, kissing her again quickly.

"We all have baggage, Tana" She said softly with a smile still on her lips. "You just have to find the person you want to share that with..." Jackie added on, kissing her back with the smile still on her lips.

Santana pulled her properly into her lap, holding her close and leaning in to kiss her softly, slowly, putting everything into it, her chest aching with how much she cared about the girl.

Jackie easily moved into the girls lap with a grin on her lips, her hands moving to caress her cheeks as she kissed her. She pressed countless small pecks to her lips before kissing her back softly. Hoping the kisses could translate the joy moving through her.

Santana smiled against her lips, leaning back to lie down and pull the girl into her arms, "I know you made food, but can we just lie here for a while?" she whispered.

Jackie smiled when Santana laid down, her arms moving around her to hold her close. Her head moving to rest in between her shoulder and neck. "The food can wait..." She mumbled, "I just want to be close to you." She mumbled the pressed a soft kiss to her neck before relaxing again.

Santana grinned lazily, her hand lifting to scratching through Jackie’s hair. “What did you make?”

Jackie let out a happy hum when the other girls fingers moved through her hair. Letting her eyes flutter closed as she listened to her voice. "A fun recipe I found for Italian Chicken and Penne pasta. It looks delicious."

Santana hummed softly, grinning then, “Oh my god, that sounds amazing. You know how much I love chicken and pasta.”

“Mhm...that is part of why almost all of my Pinterest board is full of recipes including those two things.” She said with a smile, “I thought I should learn more of them when you moved in.”

Santana shook her head in disbelief at how thoughtful the other girl was, tucking a strand of hair behind Jackie’s ear and pecking her lips. “Thank you, gorgeous.”

Jackie picked her head up to look at the girl. Nudging her nose against hers after she pecked her lips. “It is my pleasure, darling.” Her eyes not being able to help but get lost in her eyes. “There is also some lasagna dishes as well but maybe we could make one of those together.”

Santana grinned and nodded, “I’d love that,” she murmured.

Jackie leaned in to press another soft kiss to her lips. “And I love you.” She mumbled against her lips. Still trying to process how amazing that felt to say.

Santana closed her eyes at the kiss, smiling against her lips. “I love you,” she murmured.