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THURSDAY (LATE AFTERNOON) - AT THE MALL – SANTANA's POV
"But I want to check the new mics they got!" Diego protests.
"Fine…" I sigh. "… but I'm not buying anything! You just take a look, OK? And if you…"
"Santana?" Someone suddenly says behind me, making me turn around.
"Megan?" I say, surprised. "Oh my God! It's so nice to see you!" I add, hugging her.
"You too!" She says, hugging me back. "I can't believe it! It's been… what, 10... 12 years?"
"Yes, something like that!"
"Oh my goodness, is this Sofia?" She asks in disbelief after looking at my daughter.
"The one and only." I reply with a smile. "You remember Megan, Sofia? She and her husband used to live
next door when you were little."
"Oh… yes! You had a pet rabbit, didn't you?" Sofia asks.
"That's right! And you were quite obsessed with it!" Megan laughs. "How old are you now, honey?"
"I'm 17."
"17? Oh my God, time really does fly… I still remember you when you could not even walk yet!" Megan
says. "And these big boys here must be Diego and Gabriel?" She asks and the twins throw her a timid
smile.
"Yes…" I confirm. "13 years old… and as you can see, they are already as tall as me…" I add, making her
laugh.
"Sorry, mama... but can we go check the mics? The store is going to close." Diego suddenly says, getting
impatient. Of course, chatting with his mother and some other "old" lady must not be entertaining enough
for a boy this age.
"Fine… you can go but you all stay together!" I instruct and the three of them immediately hurry away.
"Sofia, I count on you to watch your brothers!" I shout and she just raises one arm in acknowledgement,
not even bothering to turn around.
"I can't believe your kids are already so big…" Megan says, shaking her head.
"I know… Sometimes I can't believe it myself. It seems like it was just yesterday that they were babies…"
"And what about Brittany, is she here?" She asks, looking around. "I'd love to say hi!"
"Um… no… She…" I trail off but I know that there is no point to hide the truth. "Brittany and I… um…
we're… divorced."
"Oh…" She says in surprise. "I'm so sorry, I had no idea… I…" She mumbles in embarrassment.
"It's OK, Megan… It's been five years, it's water under the bridge now…" I shrug with a small smile, to
reassure her. "Besides, we both found someone else and… Britt and I still get along just fine."
"That's good…" She nods. "It's really important for children to have parents that get along…"
"Definitely…" I confirm. "To be honest, it was not easy on the kids at first… The divorce hit them pretty
hard, especially Gabriel, but… Brittany and I always tried our best to maintain a sense of family, despite
our separation. And I think we are all in a good place now..."
A FEW DAYS LATER (SUNDAY EVENING) – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE
After spending a week with the kids, I drive them back to Brittany's.
"You really didn't have to walk us to the door, you know." Sofia tells me in a provocative tone as Brittany
opens the front door.
"Actually, I did." I reply. "So that I can tell your mom that you're grounded for two weeks!" I say while
Sofia rolls her eyes.
"Grounded?" Brittany repeats in surprise.
"Don't you think I passed the age to be grounded? I'm 17!" Sofia complains.
"Yeah well, I also thought you were too mature to still pull up this kind of sh-"
"San…" Brittany sighs, interrupting me.
Right, that bloody rule of not swearing in front of the kids.
"Do you know what your daughter did, Britt? She forged my signature on an excuse note and cut school
on Friday afternoon, to go to the mall with her friends."
"What?" Brittany says with a disappointed frown, looking at Sofia.
"How did you even find out?" Our daughter asks me. "Are you following me?"
"I have my ways." I shrug.
"Mom, please… You can't let that happen!" Sofia begs Britt. "I'm supposed to spend the night at
Charlotte's next Friday! And you guys have to chill! I only missed two periods and one of them was
gym!"
"Chill…?" I repeat, outraged. Is she even serious?
"I'm sorry, peanut… but I'm with mama on this." Britt replies.
"Are you ever going to stop calling me 'peanut'?" Sofia asks, clearly getting upset by the whole situation.
"Nope!" Brittany replies. "You're my daughter, I'll always call you peanut! Even when you're 60 years
old."
"You might both be dead by the time I turn 60." She mumbles.
"What's that?" I ask. "Sorry to disappoint you but we'll be 85 then and there's a pretty good chance we'll
still be around to beat some sense into you."
"You're really going to side with her?" Sofia asks Brittany again.
"Yes." Britt replies. "You know it's not okay to cut school! And this year is very important for you, you're a
senior!"
"Urgh… why can't you be like other divorced parents and hate each other or compete for the love of your
kids?" Sofia complains, raising her arms while walking into the house.
"You're still grounded, Sofia Lopez-Pierce! For two weeks!" I shout as she climbs the stairs, to make sure
she still hears me.
"Bye mama…" Gabriel says, giving me a hug.
"Bye mijo, be good…"
"And goodbye to you too, Diego!" I say, raising my arms as he gets into the house without saying
goodbye, too busy playing his videogame.
"Yeah, yeah, bye!" He says, not even looking at me.
Have kids they said…
"What?" I ask as Brittany smirks and crosses her arms.
"Two weeks, isn't that a bit severe?" She questions.
"She cut school and she lied to me so... no." I reply. "I thought you were siding with me?"
"Well… we always promised to back up each other in front of the kids and I agree that she needs to be
punished but this might be a bit over the top… We used to cut school too, San."
"No, we didn't!" I protest.
"Really?" She chuckles. "That's odd because I remember quite vividly that we used to skip the last period
to go make out under the bleachers."
"I have no idea what you're talking about." I lie.
"Right, my bad… I must be confused with someone else then…" She says.
"What? Who else did you do that with?" I ask in spite of me, before seeing a satisfied smirk on her face.
Crap. After all these years, she still manages to get me right where she wants. When will I ever learn?
"You want to come in for a minute?" She offers.
"Um… thanks but I can't." I reply. "Melissa is waiting for me, her parents just arrived and we are going
out for dinner tonight. Besides, I wouldn't want to impose on Nicholas." I say in a mocking tone.
"How many times do I have to tell you to call him Nick?" She calmly asks. "He hates the name Nicholas!"
"Oh I know!" I nod with a proud smirk and she throws a disapproving look at me, shaking her head.
"Well… this has been fun but I better go…" I say.
"Ok… but before you leave, I just wanted to ask you… did you notice anything strange with Gabriel
lately?" She asks.
"Not really…" I say. "He's still very quiet but not more than usual, why?"
"Well he might act differently around you - considering how close you two have always been - but… I
have noticed that recently, he tends to shut down… and despite my best efforts, he doesn't open up with
me so… could you have a conversation with him next time and check if everything is alright? I figure he
might talk to you…"
"Of course." I nod. "I'll talk to him."
"Thanks!" She smiles before kissing me goodbye on the cheek. "Well… have a great night and say hi to
Melissa!"
"Will do. And give my best to Nicholas." I say, over articulating his full name on purpose. She rolls her
eyes in response before waving goodbye at me and closing the door.
Notes:
I know that many of you probably don't like when Brittana are separated/divorced but I have had this story in mind for a very long time. Let me know what you think in the comments, please. Thank you for reading and for your feedback!
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ONE WEEK LATER (EVENING TIME) – AT THE ARTS SCHOOL – SANTANA's POV
As I enter the auditorium, I see that a lot of people are already there and I'm not sure where to go. I look around for a minute until I finally spot Brittany waving at me. She's already seated, next to Nick, and has obviously saved a few more seats. Tonight, Gabriel is going to read out some poetry that he wrote and I really cannot wait!
"Hi!" I say, kissing Brittany's cheek before taking the empty seat next to her.
"Hi Santana!" Nick says, throwing a timid smile at me.
"Nicholas…"
"I thought Melissa was with you?" Britt asks, stressing her full name on purpose, just to remind me one more time that I should call her boyfriend "Nick."
"Oh, she is... She just had to take a phone call from a student's parent but she'll join us in a few minutes." I reply. "So… how is my boy, I hope he's not too nervous?"
"He was pretty quiet in the car but he didn't seem nervous…" Brittany replies. "I can't wait to find out what he wrote though! Did he show it to you?"
"No…" I shake my head. "I don't think he wanted to show it to anyone until it was perfect… But I assume his teacher saw it."
"I'm so sorry for the delay…" Melissa suddenly says out of nowhere, taking the seat next to me.
"It's ok, babe… It hasn't started yet!" I reassure her, placing my hand on her thigh.
"Hi Britt, hi Nick!" Mel says, turning to them, and they all wave at each other.
"And where are Diego and Sofia?" I ask, frowning.
"They couldn't come unfortunately…" Britt replies. "Diego's coach scheduled a last minute baseball practice tonight and since we had already planned to come here, Sofia volunteered to drive him there. I think that after being grounded for one long week, she just jumped on the opportunity to go out, even if it meant going to her brother's baseball practice." She adds with a chuckle while I roll my eyes.
LATER THAT NIGHT – AT THE ARTS SCHOOL
The arts show just ended and we are now all waiting for Gabriel in the bar area.
"There he is, the star of the day!" Brittany says as our son finally joins us. "You were spectacular, bud!" She adds enthusiastically, giving him a hug. "You even made your mama cry!"
"You were crying harder than me!" I object, frowning.
"I always cry!" She shrugs. "But to make you cry, one has to be really good!"
"Well… he was really good! I'm very proud of you, mijo…" I say, hugging him tight. "I didn't know you were so talented with poetry! You know, I could use your help for my next songs…"
"Really?" Gabriel says with open eyes, obviously interested.
"Really!" I confirm. "God knows I'm already good but you, my boy… You have a way with words that I could never hope to have! I was really impressed!" I add and my angel boy looks so pleased with my compliments that I can't help but smile.
Ever since he was a baby, Gabriel has been a happy, smiling child that irradiates light wherever he goes, much like Brittany. At least, until the divorce… When Britt and I separated, he changed… Although he remained kind, he became completely indrawn, processing his pain in silence. But it seems that with poetry, he has finally found a way to express his deepest feelings, exactly like me with music. And it really feels good to see him so happy again…
"You were really amazing, pal!" Nick says, holding his hand up for a high five. "So… shall we get drinks to celebrate?" He suggests. "The first round is on me!"
ANOTHER WEEK LATER - AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE
"I don't know if it's a good idea, Britt…" I say, sitting in her living room after bringing back our children to her house.
"But you know that the kids would love it, San! And our parents too! They're still friends, they hang out together every week! And they were all planning to come here anyway…"
"Maybe so but… spending Thanksgiving all together? I really don't know…" I repeat, unconvinced.
So far, Britt and I had a pretty good system in place, allowing the kids to split the holidays between us in a fair way.
"Wouldn't it be weird for Nicholas to have your ex-wife around?" I question.
"Well… I discussed it with him first and he's okay with that." She shrugs. "What about Melissa, do you think she would be up for it?"
"I don't know…" I shrug. "I can always ask her but her parents are supposed to come here as well for Thanksgiving…"
"So…? Bring them too!" She suggests. "We have enough room here!" She adds and I can only sigh in response. Spending Thanksgiving with my girlfriend, my ex-wife and her partner seems like the craziest idea ever! Especially with all our parents around… But it's true that the kids would love having everyone reunited in the same place.
"Please…" She pleads, joining hands in a prayer gesture.
"Ok, look… I'll discuss it with Mel and if she and her parents are fine with it… then I guess I'm ok with it too."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She says in an excited tone, smiling at me.
THREE WEEKS LATER – THANKSGIVING – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE
Much to my surprise, Melissa was ok with spending Thanksgiving at Brittany's. "At least we won't have to cook a huge dinner ourselves!" She said, only seeing the practical side of it. "Although we should bring a few things, to help Brittany and Nick…"
Her parents didn't mind either, which I found even more shocking! How am I the only one thinking it's weird for a divorced couple to spend Thanksgiving together?
But I must say that dinner is going really well! The food is absolutely amazing, everyone seems to get along - even those who met today for the first time - and I can tell that the kids are over the moon!
LATER THAT DAY – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE
"Do you know that everyone is looking for you?" Brittany suddenly asks, joining me on the balcony attached to the dance room.
"How did you know I was here?" I ask, surprised. No one ever checks the dance room and even if they did, they wouldn't see me because I made sure to stand in a spot that is completely invisible from inside.
"San… we lived together in this very house for 15 years! I know where you hide." She shrugs.
"Right…" I whisper before falling silent. Sometimes, I hate how well Brittany knows me… Even if we no longer live together, she can still make pretty accurate guesses about my feelings and usually predicts my reactions better than anyone else… I should have known that she would find me, especially in this beautiful house...
Being here always makes me so nostalgic… We had such happy moments in this place…
FLASHBACK TO 5 YEARS AGO – AT THE LAWYERS' OFFICE
Brittany and I are sitting opposite to each other at a huge table, in a fancy meeting room. We each have our lawyer next to us and even though we have been here for half an hour already, none of us has spoken… except to agree with the lawyers' proposals.
"Since all parties agree on the shared custody of the three children… we can now talk about assets…" Brittany's lawyer says. "Given the situation, we would suggest to put up the house for sale and…"
"No." I suddenly say, making everyone turn to me, including Brittany who raises her eyes towards me for the first time since the meeting started.
"Ms. Lopez…" My lawyer says but I ignore him.
"Brittany… we can't sell…" I say, shaking my head. "This is the house the kids grew up in! Our separation is already messing up with their lives enough as it is, they shouldn't have to leave the only home they have ever known!"
"Ms. Lopez!" My lawyer calls me again. "Don't you remember what I told you?" He adds in a whisper. "It is best if you don't address Ms. Pierce directly…"
"Ok, you know what?" I say, louder. "I know this is a divorce procedure but no one cheated and we do not hate each other so stop implying that we do!" I tell him. "At this minute, Brittany is still my wife and I don't need your permission to talk to her!"
"Britt…" I say in a softer voice but she's looking down at her hands. "Can we please go talk outside for a few minutes? Just you and me… no lawyers."
"Ms. Pierce, I strongly advise against it…" Her lawyer says.
"No one asked for your opinion!" I interrupt him, sending him a death glare. "Brittany, please…" I repeat, standing up.
I wait for what feels like forever but she eventually looks back at me.
"Okay…" She whispers, getting up as well.
We walk out of the room together, in total silence. Once I feel we are far enough from the meeting room, I stop and turn to her. I'm pretty sure my eyes must reflect the same sadness I can read in hers right now…
"You should take the house…" I suggest after taking a long inhale and I can tell by the look on her face that she didn't expect that.
"But… you love this house…" She replies. "You have always loved this house!"
"I know but… I can't live in there without you…" I shrug. "I just can't." I whisper, shaking my head. "But one of us should keep it… It's a great house! And at least, the kids would have a place where they feel right at home… Plus, there is a dance room and… you need a room like that! I don't."
"But even if I wanted to keep the house, I can't afford buying your half, San… As a dance teacher, I don't make as much money as you do in the TV industry…"
"I don't want any money for the house, Britt…" I say. "If you want it, it's yours."
"But… no, that's not fair!" She objects. "San, you own half of this house… I can't just take it without buying your part!"
"You can… and you should." I nod, looking into her eyes. "Look, I know we both have the kids' best interest at heart… And this is what's best for them… so please, just take the house, Britt." I insist.
PRESENT TIME – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE
"And I know that you usually come here when you're overwhelmed…" Britt says. "I'm just surprised you didn't take wine with you this time…" She smirks.
"Yeah well… this is no longer my house so it's not like I can just snatch a bottle of wine."
"True…" She replies. "But since I live here, I can." She adds, suddenly pulling a small bottle of wine from under her cardigan before handing it to me with a smile.
"Oh my God…" I say with open eyes, impressed. "Brittany S. Pierce, you're really the best hostess ever!" I add, grabbing the bottle. I take a sip before handing it back to her and she does the same.
"So… may I ask you why you're feeling overwhelmed? Is that because there are too many people in the house right now?" She asks.
"Well… yes, it's partly because of that…" I admit as I always feel a bit oppressed when I'm stuck in a room with lots of people talking really loud. "But to be honest, I'm also hiding from Melissa's parents…"
"Oh?" She says, surprised. "I thought you were getting along with them?"
"I do but…" I sigh. "Ever since they arrived, they keep hinting at marriage and… I don't feel like having that conversation with them."
"Marriage uh…?" She repeats before pausing for a while. "I must say I have often wondered why you two had not tied the knot yet… Melissa seems like the type of girl who wants to get married."
"She does…" I confirm.
"And you don't…?" She asks timidly and I take another sip of wine before answering.
"I just… I don't think I believe in marriage anymore… you know?" I say, our eyes meeting briefly. "I mean, I'm realistic… If you and I didn't work, how could I make it work with anyone else?"
"I know what you mean…" She nods. "That's also why I never agreed to marry Nick…"
"Oh… I didn't know he proposed…"
"He didn't… I mean, not really. But he brought up the idea a few times…" She replies. "I guess he was trying to see if it was worth asking me officially but… I think now it's pretty clear in his mind that he shouldn't ask me."
"I see…" I whisper and we find ourselves in total silence for a minute.
"You know, sometimes I feel bad for Mel…" I confess. "She's such a great girl, she deserves a marriage… and kids…" I shrug. "I just can't give her any of that…"
"You never considered it?" She asks, looking into my eyes. "Having a child with her I mean…"
"Oh God, no!" I frown. "I don't have the strength to deal with yet another child! Three is plenty already!" I say. "And I learned from my mistakes! I let you get into my head once and convince me to have a second child… and look what happened! It turned into three!"
"Well… it's not like I could have predicted we would have twins!" She chuckles.
"I know but… I'm definitely done having kids, thank you." I say and we both take a few more sips of wine.
"I know it's awfully selfish of me but…" She trails off. "… a part of me is relieved you won't have children with her." She confesses, catching me off guard. "I'm fine with you two being together, she's a lovely woman and everything…" She quickly adds. "… but I think it would be really tough on me if you had a child with someone else, anyone really…"
I don't know what to say so I remain quiet but deep down, I completely get it… Despite the divorce, Brittany and I still have a special bond because of our kids. And I don't think I could stand it either if she had a child with someone else…
"What about you…?" I say. "Is Nicholas okay with… um… not having kids of his own…?" I suddenly dare to ask, knowing that after the twins, the Doctor told Brittany she would not be able to have any more children.
"I don't know… He says he is…" She shrugs. "Anyway, he knew this from the start… I told him very early on in our relationship…" She adds. "But are you ever going to call him Nick?" She asks, probably trying to change subject.
"It's not in my plans no." I immediately reply, taking yet another sip of wine.
"San…" She sighs in a disappointed tone.
"No, Britt… Look, I admit that he's a decent guy, ok? He obviously takes good care of you, the kids like him… and I really appreciate that he has always known his place when it comes to our children. I mean, he's there for them but he never tried to play dad, he respects my role as their mother…" I acknowledge. "But… he's also the fucker that has sex with my wife." I add. "Ex-wife…" I correct after a brief moment. "So I'm afraid I'll call him Nicholas until the end of times! Please let me have that at least…"
"Fine…" She sighs, nodding in understanding before drinking some more wine.
MUCH LATER THAT NIGHT – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE
"Thanks again for having us, we had a lovely time!" Melissa's mom says as we're leaving, throwing a friendly smile at Britt and Nick.
"You're very welcome, it was our pleasure!" Brittany says, standing on the doorstep while Nick puts his arm around her shoulders.
"Mama, don't forget that my dance recital is this Saturday!" Sofia suddenly says as we're walking to the car. "I have a solo this time!"
"I know, mija… It's been in my calendar for weeks! I wouldn't miss it for the world!" I reply. "Keep practicing with your mom until then, ok?" I add before getting into the car with Mel and her parents.
"What about your Abuela?" Melissa asks.
"Oh, she's riding with my parents… they will follow us." I say, looking into my front rear view mirror. "Ah… I think they're ready to go…" I add, seeing my dad raising his thumb at me. "Alright, let's go home…"
Notes:
What did you think of this chapter? Please let me know in your comments, I would be grateful for your feedback! Thanks
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A FEW DAYS LATER (MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT) - AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE – BRITTANY's POV
"Britt... honey…" I hear from afar as a gentle hand carefully shakes my shoulder.
It takes me a few seconds to emerge from sleep but when I open my eyes, I see Nick standing over me, all dressed up in his navy suit.
"Hi…" I say in a sleepy voice. "You look really handsome…" I add, smiling at him.
"Thanks!" He chuckles. "You look very pretty too!" He adds, kissing my lips.
"What time is it…?" I ask, sitting up.
"It's 5:00." He replies in a soft voice, caressing my cheek. "I only woke you up because you insisted I say goodbye before going to the airport... but you should go back to sleep now."
"No… I want to walk you out!" I say, getting out of bed before he can object, and we walk hand in hand towards the front door.
"Do you really have to go?" I pout, wrapping my arms around his neck.
"I'm afraid so…" He replies, placing his hands on my hips to pull me closer. "It's only for four days, I'll be back before you know it!"
"That sounds like an eternity…" I complain in a sad tone and he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, before giving me a long goodbye kiss.
"I have to go…" He whispers against my lips.
"Ok… Call me when you get to the hotel?"
"Will do." He replies, kissing my lips one last time before walking to the cab parked in front of our house. "I love you!" He says, waving goodbye.
"I love you too!" I reply, waving back.
I stay on the doorstep until the car drives away, and get back inside, to an empty house. The kids are with Santana this week and now that Nick is going to Dallas for a seminar, it's just me and the dog here…
THE NEXT AFTERNOON – AT THE CINEMA – SANTANA's POV
"No, Diego… We have popcorn for an army here, there is more than enough!" I say.
"But I'm hungry!" He complains.
God, that boy is always hungry! Where does he even put it all?!
"Eat these first and if you're still hungry, we will have dinner after the movie anyway… So, I think you'll survive!"
"Oh, mom is here!" Sofia suddenly says, immediately walking away, followed by her brothers.
Wait, what?
As I turn around, I spot Brittany a few feet away, hugging our kids.
"Well… Hello stranger!" I say, joining them.
"Hi!" She smiles, kissing me on the cheek. "Sorry, I had no idea that you guys were here!"
"Yeah, well… these three kept insisting on seeing the new action movie and I thought it would be a nice way to kick off the weekend… But what about you, where is Nicholas?" I ask.
"He's in Dallas for a few days… And I was so bored at home that I thought I could catch a movie for once…"
"Okay…" I reply. "Well… do you want to join us?"
"Oh… no, I don't want to impose… It's your week with them…"
"I don't mind." I shrug. "I still get to be with them either way!" I add with a smile, knowing that this argument will ease her mind.
"Well… sure, why not?" She eventually says, making the kids smile.
"You're sure Mel won't mind?" She asks as we are walking behind the kids, on our way to the screening room.
"Oh, she's not here, she took her students to the theater tonight… but I'm sure she wouldn't mind." I say, knowing that Melissa is not the jealous type.
A FEW MINUTES LATER – AT THE CINEMA
"It's 'embarrassing' to sit with your mothers?!" I repeat, frowning.
"Of course it is, I'm 13!" Diego replies.
"Oh, yeah, sorry… I forgot you are a man now!" I repeat sarcastically. "But I'm still not letting you sit by yourself, so…"
"It's ok, Sofia can sit with me." He suggests.
"Fine by me…" His sister shrugs, jaded.
"Oh, so sitting next to me is embarrassing but next to your sister, it isn't?" I ask.
"No, it's fine. People will just think she's my girlfriend."
"Excuse me?" Sofia frowns. "As if anyone would believe I would date a 13 year old boy!"
"Oh yeah? Well, I'm sure that even at 13 years old, I'm more mature than your 18 year old boyfriend!"
"Keep dreaming…" Sofia mumbles, crossing her arms.
"Ok you two, enough now!" I say. "Actually, I don't mind if you sit somewhere else, at least I'll be in peace!" I add and they both roll their eyes before walking away.
"Come, mijo…" I tell Gabriel. "You can sit next to me." I add but he doesn't move, looking down at his feet.
"Don't tell me you don't want to sit with us either…?" I say in a sad tone.
"I'm sorry, mama… but I just spotted Stella in the room, so I… um…"
"Fine…" I sigh, giving up. "Go sit with your brother and sister then…" and I have barely said that that he's already gone.
"Who's Stella?" Brittany whispers.
"It's a girl from his poetry class. And he's all smitten for her!"
"Really?" She asks, obviously curious. "I didn't know he had a crush!"
"Oh, big time!" I reply. "I only know because he asked me for advice on how to flirt with a girl…" I chuckle. "But it broke my heart, I'll tell you that… My handsome boy used to only have eyes for me and now, he's too busy looking at girls…" I complain.
"Maybe it's for the best…" Britt says. "He was way too obsessed with you when he was a baby... Do you remember that he would cry like crazy as soon as you were out of his sight?"
"Oh, and Diego was not obsessed with you?" I argue.
"Well, maybe… but he's not anymore."
"Of course, he's not… because now, he has a girlfriend."
"What, he has a girlfriend?" She says, surprised. "When did this happen? And how come you know all about our sons' love life?"
"Actually, I don't know if she's his 'girlfriend girlfriend' but when I picked them up at school the other day, Diego was busy kissing a girl. And by kissing, I mean really kissing…" I say and Brittany's jaw drops in shock.
"It's all your fault!" I complain. "You made two handsome boys and now girls are all over them."
"Right…" She chuckles. "But have you seen Gabriel's crush? I want to see what this Stella looks like…" She adds, looking around the room.
"I'm sorry, I don't know where she's sitting right now, but he sent me a pic of her anyway… Look!" I add, handing her my phone and she immediately starts laughing.
"What…?" I ask, frowning in confusion.
"I should have known he would fall for this type of girl, she looks just like you did at her age!"
"No, she doesn't!" I protest.
"Come on, San… She's clearly Hispanic and she's a pretty, brown eyed girl with big hair, it's totally you!" She argues. "Apparently, his Oedipus complex is not yet solved…" She adds, making me roll my eyes.
"And yet, if you were not here, I would have watched the movie all by myself because apparently, our kids have no problem abandoning me…" I sigh.
"Well… look at the bright side: more popcorn for us!" She says with a smile, plunging her hand in the bag of popcorn I'm holding on my lap.
LATER THAT DAY – AT SANTANA'S HOUSE – IN THE KITCHEN
"You sure it's ok if I stay for dinner?" Brittany asks me, uncertain. "I don't want to abuse…"
"Of course it's ok, Britt! It would be silly for you to go back home alone when we have a ton of food here! Come on, sit…" I say, pointing at a chair.
"I made a traditional Spanish dish, based on a recipe that my Abuela found a few months ago. It was hidden in an old family book, can you believe it?" I add. "It's so good that the kids can't get enough of it! I'm sure you're going to love it too!"
A WHILE LATER – AT SANTANA'S HOUSE
Even though having dinner together was not planned, I really enjoyed this family moment with Britt and the kids! And I think it made our children happy too… After all, since the divorce, we are not often gathered around the same dinner table…
While the boys are playing videogames upstairs, Brittany and I are chatting in the kitchen when Sofia suddenly joins us.
"Mama…?" She says and I already know by the tone of her voice that she's about to ask me something that will upset me.
"Could Liam um… spend the night here tomorrow…?" She asks shyly.
"No, Sofia." I immediately reply, frowning. "He can't."
"Mom…" She pleads, turning to Britt for help.
"Don't you look at your mom!" I immediately say, offended. "My house, my rules! And as long as you live under my roof, you're not spending the night with your boyfriend!"
"But because of you, mom won't let him stay at her house either!" She complains.
"Yeah, well, tough luck." I reply, not giving a damn.
"I can't wait to have my own place…" She mumbles between her teeth, walking away.
"Can you believe this?" I say, turning to Britt.
"Actually, I can…" She replies, taking me aback.
"What?"
"They're 17…" She shrugs. "And they've been in love since they were like 2 years old... They've been together literally all their lives, San."
"So? I'm still not going to let them sleep in the same bed, we know what would happen!" I argue but Brittany doesn't say anything. Instead, she pours some more Martini into my empty glass.
"Drink this." She says, pushing the glass towards me.
"Why?" I ask, confused.
"Trust me, San…" She says, nodding to encourage me and even though I find this weird, I drink half of my glass.
"It already happened…" She eventually says but I can only frown, not understanding what that means.
"Sofia and Liam… it already happened." She repeats upon noticing my confusion.
"What?!" I eventually say in an angry tone, opening my eyes wide. "That Irish jerk defiled my daughter?!" I add louder before drinking the remaining Martini to ease the shock.
"Shhh…" She says, pressing her index finger against her lips. "He's not a jerk! He's a polite young man that has always cared very much for her. And… 'defile', really?" She asks, questioning my choice of words.
"How else would you say it?" I argue.
"I don't know… They 'made love'?" She suggests.
"Oh God…" I say, shivering in disgust. "She can't make love - or any other way you say it - she's a baby!"
"I'm afraid none of our kids are babies anymore, San…"
"How do you even know it happened? Did she tell you?" I ask and she shakes her head no. "I thought you had an open door policy to discourage them from being too close, like us here!" I say, raising my arms. "Oh my God... did you walk in on them?" I ask, horrified.
"No, I didn't walk in on them… and we do have an open door policy."
"Then how can you possibly know?" I ask, still hoping she got it all wrong.
"I just can tell… And you would too if you were not living in denial." She says.
After thinking in silence for a minute, I suddenly get up from my chair.
"Where are you going?" She asks.
"To break his balls!" I reply in an upset tone, taking my jacket.
"Okay, you're not going anywhere…" She says calmly, grabbing my arm to stop me.
"Oh, I am!" I say, trying to walk away but I can't because she's too strong.
"What are you going to do exactly? Going to his place and attack him in front of his parents?"
"No… you're right." I say in a calmer voice and she eventually lets go of my arm. "I should confront him at the school exit, it's safer."
"Are you insane?" She asks me. "You're not going to attack or confront anyone, okay? Look, San… It would have happened eventually. So, isn't it better that her first time was with her steady boyfriend who we know is a good guy?"
"A 'good' guy?" I repeat, outraged. "I've never liked him! Not even when he was a toddler!"
"Oh, I know that…" She sighs. "But the truth is that you just decided that he was… no, actually you decided that no one is good enough for your daughter!"
"That's not true!" I object, crossing my arms. "But she definitely deserves better than him!"
"You mean better than a guy who is madly in love with her and has always been there for her? Better than a good student with a bright future, who offers to help her mothers around the house?" She questions.
"See? He's a loser!" I say, knowing that I'm not making any sense right now.
"San… even your parents let us spend the night together when we were their age…" She says, trying another type of argument.
"That's only because they thought it was a sleepover between friends, Britt! If they had known what was really going on in my bedroom, they wouldn't have let you set a foot in our house!"
"Exactly my point." She says. "What was really going on is that at 17, we were having sex together, San. Even long before that! So, maybe we shouldn't be hypocrites…"
"It's so not the same!" I argue.
"Why isn't it the same?" She asks.
"Come on Britt… Are you really going to make me say it?" I sigh, knowing that the answer is obvious. "With us, there was no risk of an unplanned pregnancy! And I don't want her life to be ruined because of a boy, okay? Besides, I can't be a grandma already!" I add, raising my arms. "I look way too hot for that!"
"She's on the pill…" Brittany suddenly confesses in a whisper and my jaw immediately drops, in a mix of surprise and anger.
"What...?" I frown. "You put her on the pill without even consulting me?!" I ask, offended. "I'm sorry but last time I checked, she was our daughter, Brittany! She's not just yours!" I add, raising my arms and she looks down at her hands.
"Did she ask you for it?" I eventually ask.
"No, she didn't ask me for it… I am the one who suggested it, because I could tell by the way they were always all over each other that it was about to happen in a near future… and… better safe than sorry." She shrugs. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you but I knew it was not something you were ready to hear… And putting her on the pill was the right call, San… Deep down, you know it too."
"No, it wasn't! That's why we have an open door policy in the first place, to be sure that nothing happens and that there is no need for a pill!"
"Are you even serious right now?" She asks. "She did have sex, Santana... despite our open door policy! They don't necessarily do it at their parents' you know!"
"And where else?" I ask, crossing my arms.
"I don't know…" She shrugs. "Liam has a part-time student job and Sofia has an allowance, so maybe they paid for a motel room… Or they cut school during the day, to come back home while we were not there… or maybe in the car, or…"
"What is this? The top 100 places for teenagers to have sex?" I cut her off, crossing my arms.
"My point is that you couldn't have prevented them from having sex, San… Just like our parents couldn't stop us when we were their age! And you know that if we didn't have your bedroom at your parents' house, we would have found some other place." She says and I remain silent because I know she's right. I was so madly in love with her back then that nothing would have prevented me from being with her.
"So… what now?" I shrug.
"Well… She knows all about safe sex and she's on the pill… And most importantly, she's a smart young woman, so… I say we trust her?" She shrugs and after taking a long inhale, I eventually nod in agreement.
"I can't believe it… It feels like she was 5 just last week..." I say in a nostalgic voice, shaking my head before sitting back on the chair.
"I know…" She replies, squeezing my hand to comfort me. "It feels that way to me too…" She adds when her phone suddenly goes off.
"Sorry, I have to take this… It's Nick." She says before walking a few feet away, to have her privacy.
I'm lost in my thoughts, trying to digest everything Brittany told me tonight when her laugh suddenly brings me back to reality, making me look at her. She's still talking on the phone and I can't hear what she's saying, but I smile as I hear her chuckle. As much as I love mocking Nick, I know he makes her happy…
A FEW DAYS LATER (EVENING TIME) – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE – BRITTANY's POV
After hearing the bell, I open the front door and find Santana on my doorstep.
"Hi!" I say with a smile.
"Hi!" She replies. "So, here you go… the drawing material that your son forgot at my house." She says, placing it in my arms, and I can't help but smirk. The other day, she went on and on about how Sofia is our daughter - and not just mine - but when the kids do something wrong, they're always just my kids…
"And if it was me…" She adds. "… I would tell Diego he shouldn't wait until the day before his drawing class to do the assignment he got one week ago but… it's your week, mom… so, it's your problem!" She says, pointing at me.
"Well, you will be pleased to know that it's exactly what I told him." I reply. "And I even said that next time, he should be more careful when he packs, so his mama doesn't have to drive all the way here just to bring his stuff back…"
"Exactly, thank you!" She says, raising her arms.
She must be going somewhere tonight because she's all dressed up in an elegant red dress, and has clearly put extra effort into her hair and makeup…
"You look very nice by the way…" I say.
"Thanks!" She smiles. "It's um… it's my anniversary with Mel, so…"
"Oh… congratulations!" I say. "Any big plans?"
"Yeah, we're going to that new fancy restaurant downtown and… um…" She trails off but I already know what she was about to say. After dinner, they will go back home, and knowing Santana, I can only imagine they will spend the rest of the evening having sex.
"Oh, yeah… I heard a lot of positive comments about that place…" I reply, to fill the silence. "Well… have fun then!" I add with a smile.
"Thanks! Kiss the kids for me?" She asks.
"Of course!" I nod, waving goodbye.
LATER THAT NIGHT - AT SANTANA'S HOUSE – SANTANA's POV
"More champagne?" Melissa asks me, ready to refill my glass as we're sitting on the living room couch.
"Hey!" I say, placing my hand on top of my glass to stop her. "You think I don't know what you're doing? You're trying to get me drunk to take advantage of me!" I add, making her laugh.
"As if there was such thing as 'taking advantage' of you!" She argues. "Even if you were completely sober, you would still jump on me."
"Damn right I would…" I say, pulling her into a slow kiss and it's so good that I end up humming in her mouth.
"You know the best part about shared custody?" I ask in between kisses.
"What?" She smiles.
"That I can do this…" I say, unbuttoning her shirt while kissing her. "… even if we are in our living room, because… the kids are with Britt tonight and we have the house all to ourselves..." I add, wiggling my eyebrows.
"I know… I definitely love shared custody…" She smiles, before reconnecting our lips.
A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER (LATE MORNING) – AT SANTANA'S HOUSE
I'm at home, working on a song, when my phone suddenly rings.
"Hi Britt!" I pick up, after seeing her name on my screen.
"Hi San… I hope I'm not disturbing you?"
"No, no, it's fine! What's up?"
"Well… I know it's my week but... I was wondering if you could pick up the twins at school this afternoon?
"Um… sure!" I reply. "Is everything alright?" I ask, suddenly having a weird feeling in my gut. She doesn't sound like usual…
"Well… I've been better…" She says. "I slipped during my dance class this morning and I um… I badly sprained my ankle…" She adds. "It was such a stupid fall! But I am not able to drive, San… I can barely walk, even with crutches! So, I can't go pick up the kids myself…"
"Oh, Britt… I'm so sorry! Are you… ok? Where are you now?"
"At home. I'm ok… One of my students' father drove me to the hospital… And um… yeah, it's not broken and it should be ok in a few days, but… it's definitely a bad sprain. Maybe the kids should even stay at your place actually, because Nick is in Dallas again and I can't take care of them by myself in this condition…"
"What, Nicholas is in Dallas again?" I ask, frowning. Since Sofia is away on a school trip until the end of the week, that means that Brittany has no one to look after her.
"Yes… He's teaching a seminar over there until Christmas, that's why he's been going back and forth…"
"Ok, well… tell you what! I'll ask Melissa to pick up the boys while I come over and bring you back here."
"What? No, no… San, it's not necessary. If you can take care of the kids, it will be a huge help already!"
"Britt, I'm not going to leave you all alone in that house when you can barely walk! What if you fall and you can't get back up? You're staying with us until Nicholas comes back home, end of story."
"But…"
"I'm hanging up now!" I say, cutting her off. "I'll be there shortly."
A WHILE LATER – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE
"Ok, so… I packed a few t-shirts, some pants…" I shout from Britt's bedroom while she's laying on the living room couch… "Is your… um… underwear still in the same drawer as when we were living together? Because I do not want to open the wrong one and find Nicholas' undies, ok?" I warn.
"Um… yes, it's still the middle drawer…" She replies.
"Ok, so um… underwear is in the bag…" I eventually say. "I also took your painkillers, bandages and everything you need for your ankle." I add, walking back into the living room. "And I've got your phone, your laptop and the chargers… So, I believe we have everything! Are you ready to go?"
"No…" She replies, shaking her head. "If I'm going to your house, I need to take a shower first. I'm not going to let Mel see me like that."
"But Britt, no one cares." I reply in a reassuring voice.
"No! San, I feel filthy as hell… I danced and sweated for two hours before I fell… I'm not going to stink up your house."
As if she ever smelled bad in her entire life! But I know I'm not going to win this fight.
"Fine…" I sigh, giving up. "But taking your crutches in the shower is not an option, so… I don't know, maybe I can just put a chair in it, so you can sit?"
"Yes, that's a great idea!" She nods in approval.
Fortunately, it only takes me a few minutes to find a suitable chair and place it in the shower. But when I come back to the living room, I see Brittany struggling to remove her dance leggings.
"Need some help?" I ask.
"No, um… I…" She trails off, looking at her crutches before realizing that this will not work.
"Just lay down, Britt… I'll take them off." I suggest and after a moment of hesitation, she does as told. I carefully remove her leggings and shyly look at her when I realize that she won't be able to take off her underwear by herself.
"I can… um…" I stop mid-sentence, struggling to say the words out loud, so I just point at her panties without looking.
"Oh… I… I don't know… Wouldn't it be weird?" She questions.
"Well… I won't look." I reply to reassure her.
"Right…" She says in a sarcastic tone, clearly unconvinced.
"Hey, I have a girlfriend!" I object. "And it's not like I haven't seen you naked a thousand times before, Brittany… I don't even need to look to see you naked! I can just close my eyes and see it from memory." I add, closing my eyes for the fun of it.
"Stop doing that!" She protests, kicking my thigh with her good foot.
"Okay, okay…" I say, keeping my eyes closed on purpose.
"Stop it!" She repeats. "You think you're the only one that can do that?" She asks. "Because I have a pretty good memory too, San…" She adds in a threatening tone before closing her eyes.
"I don't mind." I say with a proud shrug. "Now that you're with Nicholas, you poor thing, you deserve some eye candy once in a while…" I add to tease her.
"His name is Nick!" She says, offended, and I'm having a hard time trying not to laugh.
"Look, Britt… I can put a bathrobe on top of you or something, if that makes you more comfortable… But it's either I undress you myself, or we ask Melissa when we get home. So… which one do you pick?"
"Fine…" She sighs, raising her arm to give me her green light.
Thanks to the bathrobe, I manage to undress her, help her sit in the shower, and dress her again without making it too uncomfortable.
"So, are you ready to go now?" I ask, picking up her bag.
"You're forgetting something…" She says, leaning on her crutches.
"What?"
"Penny!" She says, as if that was obvious. "We're not going to leave the poor dog here alone for two days!"
"Fine…" I roll my eyes. "Penny!" I shout before whistling, and it takes barely a second for the dog to run towards us.
"You know what's the greatest thing about our divorce?" I say, already pissed for having to take Penny with us. "You're the one who got the dog!"
"I didn't get the dog, you refused to take her!" She objects. "Even if you're the one that bought her for Sofia."
"I bought her when Sofia was 4 years old! I never thought for a second that all these years later, the damn dog would still be alive!" I say to defend myself. "Seriously, she must be 100 years old in "dog years" by now, no?" I add and she rolls her eyes at me.
"Let's just go…" She sighs.
Notes:
So… I'm sure some of you didn't like the parts with Nick and Melissa, but I wanted to show that at this point of the story, the girls are both happy with their respective partners, and that even though they are divorced, they are still "Brittana" (hopefully I succeeded but let me know!). I also wanted to explore how they would react to their daughter growing up, and I could only imagine them react in very different ways.
What did you think of this chapter? Please let me know in the comments! Thank you for reading and until next time!
Chapter Text
THE NEXT MORNING – AT SANTANA'S HOUSE - BRITTANY's POV
I spent the night at Santana's and I don't know if it's because of the painkillers or the very comfortable bed in her guestroom, but I slept like a baby! I feel guilty for imposing on her like this but I am really grateful for her invitation, because I still can't get dressed by myself or walk without someone's help.
While the boys and I are having breakfast in the kitchen, Santana is talking to Melissa in the living room. Even though I can't make sense of their conversation, I can hear them giggling through the open door and Santana occasionally laughing out loud. Of all the people I know – including me - Melissa is the one that makes Santana laugh the most… It's really a talent! And I'm pretty sure that's why Santana fell for her in the first place.
"It's time to go, boys!" Melissa suddenly shouts from the living room and they immediately get up, kissing me goodbye. "Have a good day, Brittany!" She says.
"Thanks, Mel, you too!" I shout back, turning my head just in time to see her giving a tender kiss to Santana.
After shutting the front door behind them, Santana joins me in the kitchen.
"You're not going to Paramount today?" I ask.
"Nope… I switched days with Quinn so that I could stay here and keep an eye on you. Besides, I need to work on my songs so… it's all for the best!"
"Okay…" I reply, hoping it's really not too much trouble for her. "How is it going with your new TV show by the way?"
"Well, so far so good… But we'll only know at the end of the season if we're renewed or not…"
THE NEXT DAY (LUNCH TIME) – AT SANTANA'S HOUSE – SANTANA's POV
When I enter the living room, Brittany is still sitting on the couch, with her legs extended.
"Hungry?" I ask, carrying a plate in my hands.
"Oh my God, yes! I'm starving!"
"Ok, wait…" I say, placing the tray over her lap. "Here… I made your favorite."
"Oh, that's so sweet!" She says, looking at the food. "But you didn't have to…"
"It's ok, Britt… You're in pain, you deserve a treat! How is your ankle doing?"
"Well, painkillers help making the pain bearable but... I took a look earlier and it's not pretty! It's still swollen."
"It will heal, you just need to rest." I reply. "But once you're done eating, I'll apply some more anti-inflammatory cream, okay?"
"Okay." She nods. "Oh, by the way… You know who called me while you were cooking?" She asks. "Alice!"
"Oh, Alice!" I repeat in an enthusiastic voice. "How is she doing?"
"Not so great, actually…" Britt replies. "She's been pretty depressed since she and Greg split up."
"What?!" I say, shocked. "They split up?! When?"
"Um… six months ago already…" She replies, confused. "Didn't I tell you?"
"No, you didn't!" I say, still trying to process that unexpected news. "What happened?"
"He left her for another woman…" She sighs, shaking her head. "A younger woman."
"God, what a jerk!"
"I know…" She nods. "It's been really tough on her, obviously... I wish I could do more than comforting her over the phone, but New York is very far away from here… Fortunately, she has quite a few good friends over there but she was just telling me how lonely she feels. I told her to put herself out there again but she said she's not ready to date."
"She should have rebound sex, it helps." I say in spite of myself, making Brittany look at me in shock.
"What?" She eventually asks, frowning. "What do you mean, 'it helps'?" She adds and I look down at my hands, mentally slapping myself for saying that out loud.
"Oh my God, you had rebound sex?" She asks.
"Well… After our divorce, I was not ready to date either…" I shrug. "It was really difficult for me to imagine being someone else's girlfriend after being your wife for so many years, so... yes, I opted for rebound sex, to ease the transition." I add, finally daring to raise my eyes towards her, only to find her looking pissed, with her arms crossed.
"What?" I shrug again. "I have needs, okay?"
"Was it with Melissa?" She asks.
"What? No!" I say, offended. "Melissa was not a one night stand! We went on several dates before we even slept together!"
"Who was it then?" She asks.
"It's not important."
"Is it anyone I know?" She insists and I don't know what to say, so I remain silent.
"I don't think we should have this conversation, Britt."
"Oh, come on, San… I'm with Nick now, you're with Mel, it's water under the bridge! I'm just curious."
"Are you sure you want to know?" I ask, not convinced.
"Yes." She replies in a sure voice.
"Ok…" I sigh, pausing for a moment. "Well… It was Julia." I say and judging by the angry look on her face, it's clear I should have trusted my instincts and not have this conversation.
"You had sex with Julia Peterson?!" She says in outrage, sounding so upset that I find myself at a loss for words.
"Are you jealous?" I eventually ask, frowning in confusion. "What happened to 'it's water under the bridge'?" I add. "And how can you be okay with me having sex with Melissa for years but not okay with me having a one night stand with Julia Peterson?"
"Because it's so not the same!" She argues. "Melissa is your long-term girlfriend! And you guys started dating when you were available. Do you really need me to remind you that Julia tried to get you in bed while you were married to me?! She is a womanizer who doesn't even draw the line at married women!" She says, raising her arms.
"Ok, you're right, she shouldn't have tried to seduce me while we were married, but it didn't work anyway!" I say. "And when she tried again, I was actually single, so…"
"Among all the women in the world, you really had to pick Julia Peterson for rebound sex?"
"Why not?" I reply. "She's a hotshot actress and a beautiful woman… who made it clear she wanted me, no strings attached. So, why should I have turned her down?"
"Because she tried to destroy our family, Santana!"
Here we go, she's using my full name now… a clear sign that she's definitely angry.
"Ok, Britt… I know you're upset but…"
"Of course, I'm upset! It's the woman I despise the most on this planet!" She replies. "How would you feel if I had sex with James?"
"What?!" I say, suddenly raising my voice in anger. "Oh my God! You didn't have sex with that asshole, right?!"
"No." She replies and although her voice still sounds angry, I immediately feel relieved.
We stay quiet for a minute until she breaks the silence. "Was she good?" She suddenly asks, taking me aback.
"I'm not answering that, Brittany." I reply firmly, shaking my head.
"Why not?" She asks. "Media keep hinting at her so called 'sexual prowess', so since you actually got in bed with her… is the rumor true?" She insists once more.
"I'm not going to discuss my sex life with my ex-wife, okay?"
"I'm not asking about your sex life." She argues. "I'm just asking about what you referred to as a 'one night stand'. And it happened years ago, so… why don't you answer?" She challenges me, but I remain silent.
"Let me guess... She was the hottest one night stand one could ever dream of?" She says with an acid edge in her voice.
"Well, she sure knew what she was doing." I eventually reply, getting more and more pissed at her for all these questions.
"What does that mean?" She asks but I keep my mouth shut.
"Was she better than me…?" She eventually adds in such a sad tone that my anger instantly flies away.
"No." I immediately clarify, looking into her blue eyes. "How could a one night stand even compare with the woman who was my partner for 20 years?" I admit with a shrug and she instantly calms down.
"I know it's not my business, but… was there anyone else? Between Julia and Melissa…?"
"No." I say and she slowly nods in silence.
"And you…?" I eventually ask timidly. "Anyone else than Nicholas?"
"No." She replies and just like her a minute ago, I simply nod in acknowledgement.
"I uh… I should get to my songs…" I suddenly say, feeling too uncomfortable to stay in the same room as her right now.
"Oh, yeah, of course." She nods.
"Just shout if you need me." I say. "And don't do anything stupid like trying to get up by yourself, ok?"
"Yeah, ok."
"Promise?"
"Yes." She nods. "I'll shout as many times as needed, whenever I need something. I promise."
LATER THAT DAY (EVENING TIME) – AT SANTANA'S HOUSE
"Thanks for looking after Britt in my absence, I really appreciate it." Nicholas tells Melissa and me, while helping Brittany walk to the car.
"Of course!" I reply. "We were not going to leave her alone at home in that condition." I add and while Melissa discreetly slaps my arm, Brittany sends me a death glare. I guess the reproach I couldn't help throwing at Nick was not as subtle as I thought.
"Do you need any help?" I ask Nicholas, trying to be nicer.
"No, it's ok, I've got it." He replies, successfully helping Brittany sit in the car, placing Penny on her lap.
"Ok, well, take good care of her!" I say. "My children need their mom to be healthy and well."
"Will do!" He replies. "Have a good night, ladies!" He adds while Brittany waves goodbye, before driving away.
"Don't you think he was feeling guilty enough already?" Melissa asks me with a disapproving look, crossing her arms. "He couldn't have predicted that she would get injured while he was in Dallas."
"That's true but he could have also come back home once he heard about it!" I argue. "What kind of man leaves his girlfriend all alone at home when she can't even walk by herself? If you had got injured, I would have taken the first flight to be with you!"
"I know, but not everyone is as great as you, San…" She says, kissing my lips.
ONE WEEK LATER – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE
"Any clue what it is about?" I ask Britt as we both make our way towards Gabriel's bedroom.
"None." She shrugs. "He just said he needed to talk to us both and that it had to be tonight."
"Hey, bud!" Britt says, knocking on our son's open door. "Mama is here, can we come in?"
"Yes." Gabriel says, inviting us to sit on his bed.
"So… what did you want to talk about, mijo?" I ask, curious.
"It's about my birthday…" He replies. "I um… I invited Stella and… she said she'll come." He adds timidly.
"Aww, that's great news, buddy!" Brittany comments in an over-excited voice.
"Yeah, but um… I… I need your help…" He says, looking embarrassed.
"With what?" I ask.
"Well… I… I…" He mumbles, pausing for a second. "Since Diego and I will have a party here, I was planning on… inviting her to dance but… I can't dance."
"What are you talking about?" I frown. "You have been learning dance with your mom ever since you were a baby! You're an amazing dancer, just like your brother and sister!"
"Yes, when I'm performing choreography with a group! But I don't know how to slow dance with a girl..." He argues, looking down at the floor.
"I can teach you how to slow dance." Brittany offers. "It's easy! Come on…" She says, getting up from the bed before playing a slow song on her phone. She holds her hand out to him but he shakes his head no, obviously too embarrassed.
"Um, ok… You want a demo first, perhaps?" She suggests and he nods his head in approval. "San?" She says, turning towards me.
"Me? But…" I object but she cuts me off.
"Your son asked for your help." She says, using that argument on purpose so I can't interject further.
"Fine…" I sigh, getting up to stand in front of Brittany.
"Ok so… watch closely, buddy. For a slow dance, girls usually put their hands here…" She says, placing my hands on her shoulders. "If she's comfortable with you, she might even wrap them around your neck." She adds, nodding at me to remind me that I'm supposed to demonstrate what she says. "And you, you'll put your hands here…" She adds, placing her hands on my waist.
"And not higher or lower than that, ok?" I warn, turning to Gabriel. "And don't get too close to her either, leave some space between your bodies. If Stella wants to close the space, she'll get closer to you."
"Ok…" He nods, listening attentively.
"So… once you are both in position, you just need to move your feet like this, to the rhythm of the music… and spin slowly at the same time, to move in circle…" Brittany explains. "And don't forget to maintain eye contact with her."
"Oh, no, no, no…" Gabriel suddenly says, panicking. "I can't look into her eyes while we're dancing, I'm way too shy for that!"
"It's going to be one awkward dance if you never look at your partner…" I say. "Besides, you have your mom's blue eyes and that's a real asset, trust me!"
"But won't it be creepy if I keep looking at her?" He questions.
"Well, you don't have to stare at her like you're hypnotizing her…" I reply. "Just talk to her while you dance and it'll come naturally. And don't hesitate to smile, because that's definitely going to make her fall for you!"
"And if you feel like it…" Brittany says. "You can grab her hand and do this…" She adds, lifting my arm, to encourage me to spin on myself. "Or you can guide her backwards, in a dip…" She says, making me lean back.
"What is this? 'Dirty dancing'?" I ask Britt. "It's the boy's first dance with a girl, let's keep it simple."
"Fine…" Britt shrugs. "Do you want to try with mama now?" She asks our son.
"Can you just show me once more first?" He says.
"Ok, but just once more." Britt agrees as I place my hands back on her shoulders. "You need to try yourself a few times, bud… Practice will help you feel more comfortable, and more confident."
Brittany and I demonstrate the slow dance once more for our boy, and although I'm having fun, I suddenly get intimidated when her blue eyes meet mine. I can't recall the last time we danced together, I don't think it has happened since the divorce. And her face hasn't been this close to mine in a very long time either. I'm starting to think it's not appropriate to slow dance with my ex-wife when I have a girlfriend, but her eyes are so mesmerizing that I can't manage to look away. Fortunately, the song eventually comes to an end and our bodies separate from each other.
LATER THAT NIGHT – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE – GABRIEL'S BEDROOM
"I really, really like Stella but… I don't know if she feels the same." Gabriel tells us. "What can I do to get her to like me?"
"You should never have to do anything to get anyone to like you, bud." Brittany replies. "You want people to like you for who you are! So, just be yourself and if it's meant to be, you guys will get together." She adds with a smile but Gabriel turns to me, apparently not satisfied.
"You know your mom has the best advice in the world, I can't top what she just said!" I reply.
"But you always say that I am just like mom." He suddenly tells me, making me confused.
"So? Anyone knowing you and your mom says that, mijo! You guys are like clones, and not just physically!"
"Well, then tell me what made you fall in love with her, maybe that will help me with Stella." He suggests and I find myself in a very uncomfortable position. Once again, I find this conversation inappropriate but he looks so sad, with that damn "Brittany" pout on his face, that I can't turn him down.
"There are many reasons, mijo…" I eventually shrug. "I first noticed her because she looked like an angel, with her blond hair, her blue eyes and that magic smile of hers." I say, avoiding looking at Brittany while I say that.
"And she passed all of that on to you, so it's definitely a plus! That's why you really shouldn't hesitate to make eye contact with Stella and smile at her." I advise. "And… your mom was just the sweetest person I knew! She was a ray of sunshine, who was kind to everyone. And that's again qualities that she gave you, so she's right when she told you to just be yourself." I add. "And I guess another reason why I fell for your mom was because she was such a talented dancer! But since you and Stella are in the same class, she already knows you're a talented poet. So, don't overthink it… Any girl would be lucky to have you, you're a catch!" I shrug.
Just like his mom was.
LATER THAT NIGHT – AT SANTANA'S HOUSE
It's later than usual when I finally get back home.
"Hey!" I tell Melissa, before giving her a kiss. "Sorry, I meant to come back earlier, but Gabriel insisted to speak to both Britt and me tonight. So… I had to drop by her house on my way back."
"Oh, it's fine." She replies with a smile. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah, he just wanted to discuss a few things about his birthday and… girls."
"Girls?" She repeats, raising her eyebrows.
"Yeah…" I sigh. "Now it's official: all my kids are teenagers…" I add, taking a seat on the couch. "Why do I find that so depressing?"
"Aww…" She says, sitting next to me. "I think it's because you're a very nostalgic mama-bear…" She adds, caressing my cheek.
"I guess…" I admit, snuggling up against her, placing my head on her chest.
"What if I told you I just got something that will cheer you up?" She says.
"Ooh, is it a naughty outfit?" I ask, wiggling my eyebrows.
"No, sorry…" She chuckles and I immediately pout. "Naughty things will have to wait, at least for a few hours, because… I just managed to book us a table at 'The hit place'!" She adds, and I immediately sit up in surprise.
"What?!" I say, not believing my ears. "But I have been trying to get a table for like an entire year, they are always overbooked!"
"I know… But if you still feel up for it, we can eat there tonight, at 9:00 PM."
"Oh my God, you're kidding!" I say, suddenly very excited. "But how did you manage that?"
"I can't give away all my secrets, honey! Otherwise, how will I keep surprising my lady?"
"Oh, your lady is definitely surprised!" I say. "You're the best!" I add, pulling her into a long kiss.
"See, I told you I could cheer you up!" She smiles. "But we should go get ready… We don't want to be late."
Notes:
So what do you think of this chapter? Do you still want me to continue? Please let me know in the comments, thank you!
Chapter Text
SATURDAY NIGHT (TWINS' BIRTHDAY PARTY) – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE – BRITTANY's POV
I'm in the kitchen, refilling bowls and platters with snacks, when I hear someone knocking on the window of the back door. I smile when I see it's Santana.
"Hey!" I say, opening the door for her.
"Hi! I'm sorry for going through the backyard, but I figured Diego would be embarrassed if I went through the front door and ran into his friends."
"It's ok." I say, to reassure her. "And you did well because he already confined me to the kitchen! I can 'watch them from afar' but 'I cannot make myself visible, under any circumstances'!" I add, using air quotes. "I cannot even bring them snacks, he said he will come get them himself." I say in an offended tone, making her chuckle.
"What about Gabriel?" She asks. "I suppose Stella is here by now… How is he doing?"
"Well… look for yourself…" I smile, nodding towards the open door.
"Oh, he's dancing with her?" She opens her mouth in surprise and excitement.
"He is! And I've seen them talking together most of the night, so… it's looking good!" I smirk. "I feel like I'm watching a romantic movie, I keep wondering if they're going to kiss!"
"It's hard to know… Our boy is pretty shy." She whispers, still spying on them.
"I know… unlike his brother!" I reply. "Because Diego has already kissed a girl tonight!" I laugh and she rolls her eyes.
"Blondie, I assume?" She asks.
"Um… no, it was a brunette…" I correct her.
"What?! But I saw him kissing a blonde the other day! How many girls is he dating?!" She frowns.
"Well, you know… He's young and exploring… but maybe we should have a discussion wi-…" I trail off, pausing for a second. "Oh my God, San, look!" I whisper, grabbing her arm. "Gabriel and Stella are kissing!"
"What, seriously?" She says in a surprised tone, turning her head towards them. "Oh, my…"
"What are you doing?" Sofia suddenly asks right behind us, startling us.
"Oh, God! You almost gave me a heart attack!" Santana complains, her hand on her chest. "Where did you even come from?"
"From outside… I just got back from dance practice." Sofia shrugs. "How come you're here?" She asks her mama.
"What do you mean 'how come I'm here'?" Santana frowns, crossing her arms. "I'm here to wish my sons a happy birthday! And eat some cake." She shrugs, as if that was obvious.
"Ah, right, the 'birthday rule'." Sofia comments, using air quotes.
After our divorce, Santana and I agreed that the kids' birthdays were too special and none of us could miss them. That's how we came up with "the birthday rule": whoever has the kids that day hosts celebrations and the other drops by when it's time for cake.
A LITTLE WHILE LATER – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE
"Where's Nick?" Santana asks while helping me with the cakes.
"He's napping upstairs. He's got the night shift this week…" I reply. "He will probably get up in an hour or so."
"Really? He can sleep with all this noise?"
"Well, he's just like me, he can sleep through anything!" I shrug.
"Right, how could I forget…" She rolls her eyes. "You know, I still can't believe you would sleep like a baby on the couch, even though my dad was screaming his head off at the TV right next to you!" She adds, chuckling.
"Well, since you snored when we were married, I was used to ignoring loud noises." I tease her.
"I do not snore!" She objects, offended.
"Sure…" I say sarcastically.
"Melissa never told me I snored!"
"I asked her once actually, and she confirmed that you still do, so…"
"What?! I don't! And when did you guys talk about me?!" She asks, crossing her arms.
"I don't remember exactly… We just talk about you every now and then."
"What?! Okay, that has to stop!" She says, raising her index finger.
"Why?" I frown in confusion.
"Because I can't have my ex-wife and my girlfriend talking about me, Brittany. It's weird! Especially when it's about bed stuff!"
"Bed stuff? Woah, woah, woah… It was just an innocent talk about snoring, San. We didn't discuss sex stuff! I wouldn't want to know anything about that!"
LATER THAT NIGHT – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE
"Alright, I said goodbye to the boys… although they made me stay outside the room." Santana says, rolling her eyes. "When did I stop being cool?" She asks, making me chuckle.
"You're still very cool, San!" I reassure her. "But being embarrassed by their parents is just part of the teenager package."
"I guess…" She sighs. "I know I said it many times before – and I will say it again – but… sometimes, I really miss the years they were little and I would get thousands of free kisses, for no reason."
"I know…" I nod in understanding. "I miss that time too..."
"Well, I better go…" She says, after checking her watch.
"You're sure you don't want to stay a little more?" I ask.
"Thanks, but… Mel is waiting for me at home and even if she's very patient, I shouldn't abuse that." She replies. "But I'll see you tomorrow anyway, when I pick up the kids?" She asks and I nod in approval.
"Okay, have a good night, Britt!" She says, kissing me goodbye on the cheek, before heading out.
THE NEXT DAY – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE – DIEGO'S BEDROOM - SANTANA's POV
"So…" Brittany says, looking at Diego. "The reason why mama and I wanted to talk to you is… um… because… um…" She trails off, obviously struggling to formulate her point.
"It's because you seem to kiss a different girl every two days." I'm quick to add.
"So?" He shrugs.
"So, I know you're young and it's exciting times, but… you may want to slow down a little, mijo."
"Why?" He asks, frowning.
"Because I'm not raising a womanizer!" I reply, raising my arms. "So, instead of kissing all the girls from school, why don't you try to know them first and only date one you really like?"
"That sounds like a lot of work just for a kiss." He says, making me drop my jaw in shock.
"Well… kissing is much better when it's with someone you really like." Brittany argues.
"Maybe." He shrugs. "But what if it doesn't last?" Diego asks. "At least, by kissing girls I'm not in love with, I don't risk getting my heart broken."
"And what if it does last?" Britt asks, using the same logic. "Look at your sister! She met Liam when she was a toddler and they are still together now. And your mama and I were your age when we met."
"Yeah and look how well it turned out!" He replies. "You guys were divorced before you were even 40!" He adds, leaving us both stunned. "Even if no one in this world thought you would ever break up! Not me, nor Gabriel, nor Sofia... Not even Aunt Quinn, Uncle Mike or any of your friends..." He says. "Grandpa and Grandma didn't even believe you would go through with the divorce, because you were 'too much in love', and Nana Alma said that 'God wouldn't let it happen'! And yet, you did get a divorce. So, if it doesn't work for you, why should it be any different for me?" He shrugs, before leaving the room.
"Wow…" Brittany says, turning to me with open eyes.
"I know…" I add, trying to process what just happened.
"Did we actually fuck up our kids?" I eventually ask with a frown.
"Well… our son doesn't believe in love, and that's clearly on us." She replies with concerned eyes.
A FEW MINUTES LATER – IN DIEGO'S ROOM
"Okay, look…" I tell Diego, after we convinced him to continue our conversation. "I know it was tough on you when your mom and I split up, but… sometimes it's for the best, mijo."
"If you say so." He replies, jaded. "All I know is that I don't want to be like you and waste 20 years of my life on someone I end up divorcing."
"Okay, hold on!" I say in an offended voice, raising my index finger. But Brittany is quick to place her hand on my arm, and I know that's the sign I should let her do the talking.
"Listen, bud…" She says in a soft voice. "I know that a divorce sounds like a huge failure. Aand in some ways, it is…" She admits. "But we didn't waste time! The way I see it is that for 20 years, your mama and I were very happy together! And when I look back to that period of my life, all I remember is how much love there was in this house, so I don't have any regrets." She shrugs.
"Me neither!" I add, proudly. "And even if we're no longer together, mom and I still care very much about each other."
"Exactly." Britt confirms. "And the most amazing blessing came out of our marriage: you, your brother, and your sister! Just for that, I would do it all over again! Right, San?"
"Isn't the word 'blessing' a little strong?" I question but Britt immediately sends me a death glare.
"Um… I mean…" I mumble as her reproachful eyes are still set on me. "The point is that just like mom said, I wouldn't take anything back." I admit.
"Being in love is such a wonderful feeling, bud…" Brittany tells our son. "I don't want you to miss out on that just because you're afraid it may not work. It's always worth giving it a try! And it's not because our marriage didn't work that it will be the same for you."
A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER (LUNCH TIME)
I'm on my way to the restaurant, to meet my girl Mercedes, when my phone rings.
"Hi Abuelita!" I hurry to pick up.
"Santana, hello! How are you, mi cielito?"
"I'm great! How are you?"
"Not bad for an old woman…" She replies. "And how are my precious great grandchildren? Did the boys have a nice birthday party?"
"They're all doing just fine!" I say. "And yes, the twins did have a lot of fun at their birthday party! They pay a bit too much attention to girls for my liking, but…" I trail off.
"Oh, really?" She asks in an excited tone and I can picture her smirk all the way from here. "I can't wait to hear more about it when you guys come to Lima! Speaking of which… I wanted to talk to you about Christmas, mija. I ran into Brittany's mom yesterday at the supermarket, and she told me that Brittany changed her plans and is also spending the holidays in Lima this year?"
"Yes, she is." I confirm. "But that doesn't change much from the original plan, Abuelita… It's her turn to have the kids, so… they will still spend Christmas day with her. The good news is that since we'll both be in Lima, I get them for Christmas eve."
"I see…" She replies. "But I was thinking… Since I'm hosting the Christmas dinner at my house, I could also invite Brittany and her parents. That way, we can all spend Christmas with the kids! What do you think?"
"What?" I frown in surprise. "No, Abuela, I don't think it's a good idea…"
"Why not? We were all together at Thanksgiving and everybody had a good time!"
"I know but it doesn't mean we have to spend all holidays together!" I argue. "Don't get me wrong, I love having Brittany around, but we are divorced, so… we have to set some boundaries. And it's not fair to Melissa to constantly impose my ex-wife on her!"
"Yeah, about that woman… Is she even feeding you, Santana? Because last time I saw you, you were all bones, like Jesus on the cross!"
"She doesn't have to feed me, Abuela! I'm perfectly capable of feeding myself!" I say, offended.
"Well, you should eat more then!"
"I thought this was a call about Christmas, not my food habits!" I complain.
"Fine… It is about Christmas." She confirms. "Do you remember what I have always told you, mija? Family is the most important thing in the world! And I should be able to spend Christmas with my great grandchildren!" She argues. "Because who knows if I will still be there next year? I'm not getting any younger, you know!" She adds while I roll my eyes.
LATER THAT DAY - AT HOME
Even though I had a great time with Mercedes during our lunch, and a pretty good afternoon at work, I'm still pissed by my conversation with Abuela when I get home.
"Hi…" I say, kissing Melissa's lips.
"Hi!" She replies. "Oh, what's that angry frown on your pretty face?" She asks, caressing my cheek.
"It's Abuela…" I sigh. "She called me earlier, to say that she's going to invite Brittany and her parents to her Christmas dinner!" I say, raising my arms in frustration.
"Oh…"
"I tried to talk her out of it but she didn't want to hear it! All she wants is having Sofia and the twins on Christmas day, no matter the consequences!" I say.
"I'm really, really sorry, honey…" I add, taking her hands in mine. "You shouldn't be forced to spend Christmas with Brittany."
"It's okay…" She says, bringing one of my hands to her lips. "I knew when we started our relationship that Brittany was part of the package… She's the mother of your children!" She shrugs. "And it could be worse… At least, she's a nice girl."
"And as long as I get you to myself, I'll be fine." She smiles, placing another kiss on my lips.
"You're too good for me, you know that?" I say, wrapping my arms around her waist, before kissing her back.
I'm really lucky I found Melissa… She has always been so patient and understanding... Since day one, she made room in her life for my children, and she has never complained about my co-parenting relationship with Brittany.
CHRISTMAS DAY – IN LIMA – AT ABUELA'S HOUSE
"Absolutely not!" I tell Abuela while I'm helping her in the kitchen. "I went along with it today, but this is a one time thing only, okay? We're not spending Christmas with the Pierces next year!"
"But why not?" She shrugs. "If we celebrate all together, everybody gets what they want, Santana."
"No, not everybody!" I complain, raising my arms.
I don't even know why I'm surprised… Just like she couldn't stay out of my marriage, Abuela can't stay out of my divorce! But now it's time for me to have a serious conversation with her.
"Can you take a seat, Abuela?" I suddenly ask, pointing at one of chairs around the kitchen table.
"What?" She frowns. "But we have to clean up this mess, Santana!" She says, pointing at the dishes in the sink.
"We will. I just need five minutes." I say. "Please." I insist, pointing at the chair once more.
"Fine…" She sighs in defeat, taking a seat while I sit in front of her, across the table.
"Look… I know you were disappointed when Brittany and I split up, but… do you really think any of us wanted it to get there? Getting a divorce was the hardest decision we ever made!"
FLASHBACK - 5 YEARS AGO – AT THE LAWYERS' OFFICE
To get some very much needed privacy, I locked myself up in the ladies' room, desperately trying to wipe my tears away. The judge pronounced mine and Brittany's divorce 17 minutes ago, officially putting an end to 20 years of love, 15 of which married.
Standing in front of the sinks, I close my eyes and take a few deep exhales, to calm down. As I open my eyes and catch a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror, I can't help but notice that I look like shit.
I grab my purse and try my best to adjust my makeup, before wiping my skirt flat. I can do this… I just need to hold back my tears until I reach my car in the parking lot. Then, I can fall apart.
After a few minutes, I finally exit the ladies' room and wait for the elevator on the 30th floor. There are so many people in that lift that I struggle to find room for myself, but fortunately, they all get off at the same time, leaving me alone.
The elevator stops on the 17th floor and I feel a sting in my heart when I see Brittany getting in. I suppose she went talking to her lawyer after the judgement, as his office is on that floor.
Our eyes meet for a brief moment and I can tell that she cried too… I quickly look away, feeling my heart getting even heavier than it already was. We both remain silent as the floors pass, and although it's killing me, I wouldn't even know what to say…
Weirdly enough, no one joins us in the elevator, and we are down to the 10th floor when I finally dare look at her again, only to find her eyes already set on me. Before I know it, she cups my cheek and presses her lips on mine, in a desperate loving kiss.
I know we shouldn't because it doesn't make any sense… And yet, here I am… tenderly kissing back the woman that I just divorced. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I gently pull her closer to me, knowing this kiss is my last chance to show her how much I've loved her during the past 20 years.
As the beep of the elevator signals that we're about to reach the ground floor, she slowly pulls away and rests her forehead on mine, her thumb softly running over my cheek. Her sad blue eyes lock with mine one last time, right before the elevator doors open.
"Bye, San…" She whispers, getting out of the elevator. Even though my legs feel like jelly, I manage to get out too but I find myself frozen in the reception area, watching her walking away.
This time, my marriage is really over… Brittany is no longer my wife.
And I know this was the last kiss we'll ever share.
PRESENT TIME – CHRISTMAS DAY - AT ABUELA'S HOUSE
"Honestly, Abuela, I was so heartbroken that I didn't think I would ever get over it…" I say, shaking my head. "I was miserable for a long time... But then, I met Melissa and against all odds, I fell in love with her." I shrug in admission. "And things are going so well between us, I really don't want to mess that up! After my failed marriage, I need this relationship to work out." I insist.
"Okay, but what does it have to do with me?" Abuela asks, frowning in confusion. "I have nothing against Melissa, Santana. She's welcome here any time!" She shrugs.
"I know that, but…" I sigh. "Look, let's be honest for a minute. I know you're very fond of Brittany, God knows you've never tried to hide it… And I get it." I shrug. "You have known her and her family for a very long time, and… she gave you great grandchildren. But she shouldn't be here, Abuela. Because I'm with Melissa now!" I say, raising my arms. "And you're so happy to see Britt that you focus all your attention on her, basically forcing Melissa to live in her shadow!"
"You're exaggerating, mija…"
"No, I'm not!" I reply, getting upset. "And the same goes for Nicholas. The poor guy should have the chance to spend time with Brittany's family without having me around!" I say. "And frankly, even though I'm happy Britt found someone to take care of her, I don't need to see her kiss him under the mistletoe again, okay? Because it hurts!" I admit out loud for the first time.
"Okay…" She eventually nods after a moment of silence, placing a comforting hand on mine.
"I know you want to be with the kids for Christmas and no one understands this better than me…" I say in a softer tone, looking into her eyes. "You don't know how much I hate being apart from them during the holidays… or seeing them only every other week! But that's how it works when a couple with kids get a divorce…" I add in a sad voice.
THREE WEEKS LATER (MID JANUARY) – IN LOS ANGELES
I'm just out of the coffee shop on this sunny day when my phone suddenly rings.
"Hi Britt!" I say, after seeing her name on my screen.
"San..." She says in a cracking, sobbing voice, and I immediately freeze in the middle of the sidewalk.
"What's wrong?" I ask in a worried tone, getting a bad feeling in my gut.
"It's Diego…" She says, crying. "He collided into another player at baseball practice… and he had a bad fall…" She adds in between sobs, making me drop my coffee cup on the floor.
LATER – AT THE HOSPITAL
After driving way faster than I'm allowed to, I finally get to the hospital and run into the waiting room.
"Britt!" I call her, when I spot her nervously pacing in the room.
Upon hearing my voice, she runs towards me and pulls me into such a tight hug that she's suffocating me.
"Is there any news?" I whisper in her ear, hugging her back.
"No…" She says, before pulling away to look at me. Her eyes are all red and I'm pretty sure that I must have the same worried look as hers right now. "They said the doctor would come find us once they are done examining him."
"I'm really freaking out, San…" She adds, shaking her head.
"It's gonna be ok, he's in good hands now…" I say in my most reassuring voice, rubbing her arm.
"Excuse me…" We suddenly hear behind us. "Are Diego Lopez-Pierce's parents here?" The doctor asks, looking around the room.
"Yes, we're here!" Brittany says, raising her arm.
A WHILE LATER – AT THE HOSPITAL – IN THE WAITING ROOM
"Your son has a couple of bruised ribs, a concussion…" Dr. Collins says while Brittany and I exchange a worried look. "… and he also has a spine injury." He adds in a serious tone, leaving me in shock. Upon hearing those words, Brittany immediately grabs my hand and I hold it tight because right now, she is the only person on this entire planet that can relate to the indescribable fear I'm feeling.
"He regained consciousness when we were examining him, so we used the opportunity to carry out some tests and… I'm afraid that he couldn't feel his legs…" Dr. Collins says and I watch Brittany cover her mouth with her free hand, while I stay frozen in my spot, feeling like I'm going to throw up.
"In some cases, this paralysis can be temporary. In others, it is permanent… We will only know where we stand once we can perform additional tests." The doctor explains. "But between the confusion, the pain, and the realization that he couldn't move his legs, Diego became quite agitated… So, we decided to put him in a medically induced coma." He adds and I feel Britt squeezing my hand even tighter.
"How long will he have to stay in a coma?" I eventually manage to ask.
"We'll wake him up in a couple of days and we will reassess the situation." The doctor replies. "I'm sorry I don't have more answers for you at this time, but we need to wait and see how his condition evolves."
"Can we see him?" Brittany asks, wiping her tears away.
"Of course, I'll take you to his room."
LATER THAT DAY – AT THE HOSPITAL
"But I want to see him!" Gabriel protests, with big sad eyes.
"I know, mijo…" I say, caressing his cheek, aware of the strong bond he shares with his twin brother. "But I'm afraid that right now, only your mom and I are authorized to visit him…" I add and my heart breaks when I see how desperate he looks.
"How about I put the phone to his ear later and you can tell him anything you want?" I suggest but my blond boy remains silent, looking at his feet. Even though he eventually nods in defeat, I can tell that this solution is far from being enough for him.
"You guys should get something to eat…" I say. "Can you take your brother to the cafeteria and see if there is something you like?" I tell Sofia, giving her my bank card.
"Okay…" She whispers, her worried eyes briefly meeting mine.
I silently watch them walk away when Melissa gets back to me.
"Hey… How are you holding up?" She asks, caressing my arm.
"I don't even know…" I sigh. "I'm trying to focus on the positive: at least, my son is alive and he's out of danger. And since he's sedated, he's not in any pain." I say. "That brings me some comfort… but it's hard not to worry about his spine injury…"
"I know…" She says in a sympathetic voice. "But let's cross that bridge when we come to it, ok? Like you said, he's out of danger! And for all we know, his paralysis might very well be temporary." She adds in a hopeful voice and I silently nod, trying to hold back my tears.
"Come here…" She says, pulling me into a tight embrace. "He will be okay…" She whispers into my ear.
While we hug, I spot Nick a few feet away, kissing Brittany's forehead and taking her into his arms.
"Is there anything I can do?" Mel asks as she breaks our hug, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
"Well, could you bring me some clothes?" I ask. "The doctor said that Brittany and I could sleep in Diego's room tonight, but I have nothing with me."
"Sure! I'll go home and pack you a bag." She says, nodding.
"And um… would you mind if Sofia and Gabriel stayed with you tonight? Nicholas is on the night shift this week, so he can't look after them… But I would prefer if they were with you anyway."
"Of course!" She says. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of them." She adds, kissing my lips.
EVEN LATER THAT DAY – AT THE HOSPITAL
Brittany and I are taking coffee from the vending machine when the nurse informs us that Diego's room is now all set for us.
"I'm afraid we only had a one-person bed left, so… you and your wife will have to share it." She says, looking at me.
"Oh… no, we're not m…" I try to clarify, but I'm interrupted by her pager beeping.
"Excuse me…" She says, immediately walking away.
A FEW MINUTES LATER – IN DIEGO'S ROOM
"Um… you can take the bed if you want." I tell Brittany. "I'll sleep on the chair…" I add, taking a seat by my boy's bed.
"Don't be silly!" She replies. "We've shared a small bed before, San… Don't you remember the sofa we slept on when you were living in New York with Rachel and Kurt?" She says, making my mind travel back to that time, so many years ago. That sofa was so narrow that we basically had to lay on top of each other to avoid falling! But I really didn't mind…
"If we squeeze in, I bet we can both fit." She adds, pulling me out of my thoughts.
"I don't think it's appropriate, Brittany… What would Mel and Nicholas say?" I question, staring at her.
"I don't think they would worry, San. We're in a hospital, with our son in the room!" She says, pointing at our boy. "I think they know nothing is going to happen."
"Fine…" I sigh, even if I feel weird at the idea of sleeping in the same bed as Britt. But I have bigger fish to fry right now, considering that my beautiful son is laying unconscious in a hospital bed…
I look at him for a minute and stand up from my chair, to caress his hair. "Hi mijo…" I say, gently taking his hand in mine. "I hope you're having nice dreams… Mom and I will spend the night in your room, so… don't you worry about a thing and just rest, ok? We've got you."
A FEW HOURS LATER (NIGHT TIME) – AT THE HOSPITAL
"San… are you awake…?" I suddenly hear Brittany whisper, breaking the silence.
"Yes." I sigh, turning around to face her, but the bed is so small that I find myself just a few inches away from her. "Can't sleep either?" I ask.
"No… I'm too worried to sleep…"
"Me too…" I admit.
Without warning, she grabs my hand under the sheets and I intertwine our fingers, also needing this connection that I can't have with anyone else. Not even with Melissa, because even though she loves Diego, he's not her son. She will never fully understand how scared and helpless I feel right now… But Brittany gets it. And I'm so grateful I don't have to go through this alone.
"What if he can't walk again…?" She eventually asks in an emotional voice, and even in the darkness of the room, I can read the overwhelming worry in her blue eyes.
"He will be fine." I reply, in an attempt to comfort both of us.
"How do you know?" She sobs, now unable to fight the tears.
"He just… He has to…" I say, also struggling to keep my emotions under control.
Tears fall down her cheeks, and it's so heartbreaking to see that I can't resist pulling her closer to me. Without saying a word, we hug each other, her head resting on my chest, just like when we were married. I gently rub her cheek with my thumb, knowing that it always helps soothing her.
We stay in a tight embrace for a while, until she breaks the silence again.
"Do you remember when he spilled ketchup all over our white carpet?" She suddenly says, making me chuckle.
"You say it like it was an accident but he did that on purpose!" I argue.
"I'm Detective Diego and this is a crime scene!" She adds, using the same serious tone as Diego when he was six years old.
"Yeah, well… That was definitely a crime! He completely ruined that prestigious and very expensive carpet." I sigh. "That taught us an important lesson though: never have anything white laying around with three kids in the house!"
"And when he switched the sugar pot with the salt shaker?" She recalls. "I can still see your face when you drank your cup of coffee that morning!" She laughs.
"Oh my God, I so wanted to kill him for that!" I say. "He really was a little monster when he was a child, always pulling evil pranks like these!"
"Well… we had two well-behaved kids, so it figured that the third one would get into mischief… Otherwise, it would have been too easy!"
"Excuse me, but Sofia was not that well-behaved when she was little!" I object. "Don't you remember that she drew with permanent markers all over our walls? And how she would systematically cry whenever we were about to have sex? I swear, I was this close to leaving her at a fire station!" I complain, making her chuckle.
"But that was only when she was really, really little…" Britt says. "After that, she became a sweet girl."
"Yeah, after ruining our sex life for long enough…" I mumble.
"Come on, it was not that bad…" She chuckles, resting her head on my shoulder.
As we fall back into silence, a few other memories from Diego's childhood flash through my mind: his first steps, the way he used to cling to Brittany's leg wherever we were going, how proud he was when he won the junior guitar contest…
"Do you remember the day he said he would marry you when he grows up?" I suddenly ask.
"Oh, yeah!" She laughs. "I told him 'But what about mama? I'm already married to her!' And… what did he say again?" She asks, searching for the right words.
"He turned to me and told me "it's ok, mama, we can share! I get mommy from Monday to Saturday, and you can get her on Sundays'." I say while she bursts into laughter. "That little rascal and his 'sense of sharing'!"
"He's a really good boy though…" She adds, her smile quickly turning into a worried pout.
"Yeah, he is…" I say, searching for her hand.
Diego has always been the clown of our family… Sure, I sometimes got angry at his pranks when he was little, but his good sense of humor often gets me belly laughing. No one can lighten up the mood better than him. And he's definitely a good boy, like Brittany said. I'll always remember that one year when he decided to give a homeless woman all the money he had got for Christmas…
He has always been quite popular at school, mostly because of his performances on the baseball field and his skills as a guitar player. But unlike most popular kids, he has never had a bad word for anyone, and I've always been very proud of that… He's really a much better kid than I was at his age.
THE NEXT MORNING – AT THE HOSPITAL – IN THE WAITING ROOM
"But I thought you were a doctor?" Sofia impatiently tells Nick. "Can't you just take us to see him? Last time I checked, siblings were family!" She complains and I completely understand her frustration. I also wonder why the hospital would not let anyone see Diego, except for Britt and me.
"I'm sorry, I tried, but this is not the hospital I work in, so… I don't have privileges here." Nick replies. "But if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them."
"Well… there is something I still don't understand…" Gabriel says timidly. "I thought doctors tried to wake people from their coma, not put them in one…"
"I know it's confusing, buddy…" Nicholas nods in understanding. "Diego hit his head and he has what we call a 'concussion'. It's a head injury that can make the brain swell… which is precisely what we want to avoid. That's why the doctors put him in a coma, so his brain would not be solicited and could heal faster…"
"What about his other injuries?" Gabriel asks.
"Well… Your mom said he has a couple of bruised ribs, and although that can be painful, it's nothing to be concerned about. It will heal in a few weeks."
"But the spine injury… how bad is it?" Our daughter asks in a worried voice and I immediately panic. Brittany and I decided not to tell Sofia and Gabriel about their brother's paralysis, because we didn't want them to worry until we knew more. I'm about to open my mouth to interrupt their conversation, but Brittany immediately grabs my arm, to stop me. God, it's unbelievable how she can always predict my every move!
"It's okay… He knows what to say." She whispers, nodding.
"We will have to wait for a few days to find out." Nicholas says. "His spine is probably swollen because of the fall, but the swelling might decrease by the time they wake him up." He adds with a comforting smile, and although I'm grateful he gave my kids some hope, I feel completely devastated.
LATER THAT DAY – AT THE HOSPITAL – IN THE WAITING ROOM
"Any update?" Melissa asks me as I sit back next to her.
"Nothing new… Dr. Collins just said that Diego is stable, and he repeated that we will only know more when they wake him up…" I sigh. "God, I hate waiting like this, it drives me crazy!" I add, laying my head on her shoulder.
"I know…" She says, putting her arm around me, to pull me closer.
"Distract me…" I beg. "What are you planning to do with the kids tonight?"
"Well… Actually, Gabriel asked me if we could go to church later, to light a candle for Diego… So, I was planning to take them there and I was thinking that we could order burgers and fries on our way back… I know it's not healthy but I cooked them a very respectable meal last night." She says in justification. "And I figured that after everything they went through, they could use some comfort food…"
"It's okay…" I chuckle. "It's perfect!" I shrug.
"Yeah?" She asks in an uncertain voice and I nod in confirmation. "Okay, great! Then we'll do that and then, I think we'll go back home and watch one of their favorite comedies… because they had enough sadness for one day." She adds and I smile at her in gratitude. She's always been so thoughtful with them...
She smiles back at me, gently rubbing my knee, and all I can think of right now is what a great mom she would make…
THE NEXT AFTERNOON – AT THE HOSPITAL – IN DIEGO'S ROOM
I'm lost in my thoughts when Brittany suddenly places a comforting hand on mine, making me turn to her.
"Take deep breaths, San…" She says, making me frown in confusion.
"You've been wriggling in your chair for a while…" She adds. "And I know you do that when you're particularly anxious."
"Right…" I sigh, before taking a few deep breaths.
It figures that once again, Brittany would know exactly how I feel… I am indeed very nervous, wondering what's going to happen in the next minutes or hours, since Dr. Collins stopped Diego's medication this morning. Our boy is now breathing on his own and he has even opened his eyes a couple of times, but the doctor warned us it might take a while before he fully wakes up.
But one hour later, he's still not conscious and I become more and more agitated in my chair.
"Okay..." Britt suddenly says, closing the magazine she was reading. "Braid my hair." She suggests, pointing at her blond locks.
"What?"
"Braid my hair!" She shrugs. "It seems you've reached the stage where it's the only thing that will calm you down, so…"
"Oh, no, it's not necessary…" I repeat. "I'm not nerv-" I lie but she immediately cuts me off.
"I think sometimes you forget we were married for 15 years, San. That lie doesn't work on me." She says. "I can tell you're about to burst."
"Fine…" I sigh in defeat. What's the point of arguing, she knows me so well that she could write a manual about me!
But another long hour and many different styles of braids later, Diego is finally fully awake.
"Hi buddy…" Britt whispers as we get closer to his bed, before gently caressing his hair.
"You're okay, mijo." I nod to reassure him, taking his hand in mine.
Our son doesn't say anything but I can tell by the way he looks at me that he understood what I just said.
LATER THAT DAY – AT THE HOSPITAL
"Can you squeeze both of my hands?" Dr. Collins asks Diego, in front of us.
"Very good…" The doctor comments and I exhale in relief.
"And on a scale from 1 to 10, how much pain are you feeling right now?"
"Four…" Diego manages to whisper.
"Okay… Don't worry, we'll give you something for the pain soon." The doctor replies. "Now, tell me… Can you feel this?" He asks, slowly dragging his pen on the sole of his right foot while I hold my breath.
Notes:
Sorry for the cliffhanger but I like to give you something to look forward to. What did you think of this (longer) chapter? Did you enjoy the flashback? What do you think will happen next? Don't hesitate to comment, it's always useful! Thank you!
Chapter 6: The necklace
Notes:
Here is what you missed (on Glee):
"Can you feel this?" The doctor asks Diego, slowly dragging his pen on the sole of his right foot.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
AT THE HOSPITAL – IN DIEGO'S ROOM - SANTANA's POV
"No…" Diego sadly shakes his head, before turning to us like he's about to cry.
"You just woke up, mijo…" I say with a smile, in my most reassuring voice. "You have to give your body some time…" I add, squeezing his hand to comfort him, while discreetly grabbing Britt's with my other hand.
I have no idea if time will change anything but I'm not ready to accept any other outcome, and above it all, I don't want hope to be taken away from my son.
"Your mother is right…" Dr. Collins says but I can't tell if he means it or if he simply doesn't want us to panic just yet. "Let's see if other parts of your legs are already awake… Can you feel this?" He asks, touching the left foot this time.
"Yes!" Diego says in an enthusiastic voice, opening wide his hopeful eyes and I finally release the breath I was holding in.
"Okay, that's excellent!" Dr. Collins comments in an encouraging voice. "And here…?" He says, touching the sole of his right foot again. I can see that he's pressing harder this time.
'Please, God… Take mine if you want but please, please make his legs work…' I silently pray. 'Besides, if you don't, Abuela will be on your back day and night… You know how relentless she can be! She will probably contact the Pope and all the churches in the world to pray for a miracle… Whereas if you give me a sign right now, to let me know that my son will be okay, I won't even have to tell her about this. So… do we have a deal?'
"I feel some tickling…" My boy answers and I exhale in relief, raising my eyes toward the ceiling in gratitude. 'Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!'
"Alright…" The doctor says, scribbling on his notepad. "You're doing great, Diego!" He nods with a smile.
"This is Rita…" He adds, pointing at his colleague. "She's our very best nurse and she'll take good care of you while I talk to your moms, ok? We'll be back in a few minutes."
"See you in a bit, mijo…" I smile at him, bringing his hand to my lips while Brittany kisses his forehead.
A FEW MINUTES LATER – JUST OUTSIDE DIEGO'S ROOM
"So… it's too early to make a real diagnosis, but I just wanted to say that the first tests are very encouraging. He has already regained some feelings in both legs, which is a significant improvement compared to when he was brought in. At this stage, his right leg seems weaker than the left one, but we have to wait and see if it persists. I recommend starting physiotherapy tomorrow and we'll reassess in a few days."
"Thank you so much, Dr. Collins…" I nod in gratitude.
"Of course." He replies. "I'll give you a moment…" He adds, before walking away.
Brittany and I silently look at each other, both of us sighing as if a huge weight had been lifted off our chest. She smiles timidly at me and I immediately pull her into a tight hug.
"I've never been this scared in my entire life…" I confess as she hugs me back.
"I know… I was terrified too…"
LATER THAT DAY (EARLY EVENING) – AT THE HOSPITAL
I'm leaning against the doorframe of Diego's room, watching him interact with Sofia and Gabriel, when Brittany gets back.
"Hi!" She whispers, stopping right next to me, to avoid interrupting the kids' discussion.
"Look at them…" I say, nodding towards our children as they are laughing. They might have only 10 minutes together, as Diego needs to rest, but I can tell that they all really needed this.
"Reunited at last…" She comments with a smile.
"I know I'm biased but… we really have great kids." I say.
"That we do…" She smiles in agreement.
THE NEXT AFTERNOON – AT THE HOSPITAL
"You're sure?" I ask Brittany.
"Yes! Diego is making great progress and now that he managed to wiggle his toes on both sides, he's not so scared anymore… We don't need to both be here, San." She confirms. "And since Nick is still on the night shift, I can stay with our boy tonight. So, go home!" She shrugs. "Be with Sofia and Gabriel, we have abandoned them for long enough. And spend some time with your girlfriend."
"Okay, okay… But when Nicholas is back on the normal shift, I can sleep here so you can go home too, ok?"
"Sure…" She smiles.
"Okay… I'll go say goodbye to Diego then…" I add. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow? But you call me if there is any change, ok? I mean it, Brittany! Any change, good or bad." I warn her, raising my index finger.
"I will." She nods and although I could kiss her goodbye on the cheek like I usually do, I decide to hug her instead.
"I don't think I could have gone through this nightmare without you…" I whisper in admission, hugging her tight.
"God, me neither…"
A FEW DAYS LATER – AT SANTANA'S HOUSE
"So, he was finally discharged?" Melissa asks me.
"Yeah…" I sigh in relief. "He won't be playing baseball any time soon, but… the doctor said the swelling around his spine has gone down even more, and he should make a full recovery."
"Oh, that's really great, San!" She says with a wide smile, before giving me a hug. "He's staying with Britt?"
"Yeah, we figured it was best… He can actually walk with a cane now but he doesn't have the stability to use the stairs yet. And unlike us, Brittany has a bathroom on the ground floor. Besides, Nicholas will be able to help with his physiotherapy and lift him if needed, so… Diego is going to stay there for a while. But Britt said I could come see him whenever I wanted."
"I think it's indeed wiser like that…" Melissa says, caressing my cheek.
As she's about to step away from me, I pull her back right away and passionately kiss her by surprise, holding her face between my hands.
"I missed this…" I admit in between kisses while she wraps her arms around my waist.
"Me too…" She whispers, smiling against my lips.
"I'm sorry I've not been here much lately… But I'll make it up to you." I say. "And since the kids are with Britt, how about we start today, with a romantic evening?" I suggest, wiggling my eyebrows.
"Well, you know me… I always love romantic nights…" She says in flirty voice, pressing her lips back on mine.
ONE WEEK LATER (DANCE RECITAL) – AT THE DANCE SCHOOL
I really love coming to Mike and Britt's dance school! Since the staff has known me for years, they always treat me like a VIP. I'm greeted as if I was the Pope, I have my own reserved seat on the very first row, without forgetting the best part: I have backstage access. And I'm sure as hell going to use it.
"Hi mija!" I say as I enter backstage, spotting Sofia stretching.
"Mama!" She smiles. "You're here early."
"That's true…" I hear Brittany say behind me. "How come you're here so early?" She squints, obviously finding this suspicious.
"Why are you both trying to make it look like I'm always late?" I ask, offended.
"Because you are always late." Sofia immediately says.
"No, I'm not!"
"Here you go, Sof…" Someone suddenly says and as I turn my head, I see the Irish midget hand a bottle of water to Sofia, before kissing her lips right in front of me. What the hell?
I'm about to say something but Brittany is quick to grab my arm. "We'll be right back." She tells the kids, dragging me further away.
"Don't." She says once we are far enough, looking me straight in the eye.
"What?" I frown in confusion.
"I know you were about to say something either unpleasant, insulting, or embarrassing."
"I wasn't!" I object. "I was just about to ask what the leprechaun is doing here, that's all!"
"Why do you constantly mock his Irish origins?" She asks. "You have Irish friends!"
"Yeah, well, my Irish friends do not have sex with my daughter, so…"
"Sshh…" She says, looking around to make sure that Sofia and Liam didn't hear us. "Let me remind you that you're not supposed to know that, so… you're going to be nice to the boy, Santana."
"Oh, because that won't be suspicious?" I say sarcastically. "I have never been nice to him!"
"I know. He's even scared of you."
"Well, good. He should be!" I say, crossing my arms.
"He's here to watch his girlfriend dance."
"You mean he's here to leer at girls." I correct her, making her roll her eyes.
"San…" She sighs. "Your daughter is very excited about going on stage tonight." Britt says. "Don't you dare ruin this for her, ok?" She warns, raising her index finger at me.
"Fine." I sigh.
"You promise?" She asks, unconvinced.
"Yes!" I say, impatient. "What, do I need to swear on the Bible?"
"No, as long as you give me your word."
"If he behaves, I'll behave too." I shrug. "Happy?"
"Yes." She replies. "But now, seriously… tell me. How come you're here so early? It's not like you at all."
"I don't know! I just left earlier than usual, I guess. What's the big deal?" I frown.
"San…" She insists, clearly not buying it.
"Fine." I sigh. "Melissa's parents are staying with us for a few days…" I eventually say. "And there is no change: every time I'm in the same room as them, the word 'marriage' seems to come up a lot, so… I may or may not have told them that our daughter's dance recital was starting a little earlier than it really is…"
"A little?" She chuckles. "You're two hours early!"
"So?" I shrug. "I'm sorry, is my presence an inconvenience or something?" I ask, offended.
"Oh, no, you're always welcome here, 'mama'!" Britt laughs, before walking back to the kids.
"I don't see Nicholas anywhere around by the way!" I shout, poorly trying to get back at her for mocking me.
"He's working tonight." She shrugs, still laughing.
LATER THAT NIGHT – AT THE DANCE SCHOOL
"And now, for a very special number, please give a warm welcome to my goddaughter, Sofiaaa LOPEEEZ-PIEEEERRCE!" Mike announces while the audience claps enthusiastically.
As the first notes of music play, Sofia starts dancing and I'm immediately in awe. I know that I have seen her dance all her life and Britt already started teaching her when she was barely walking… but damn, she's good! And she gets even better with each performance. She's so… precise, and elegant! And clearly, I'm not the only one to notice, judging by the way Liam is looking at her right now, his mouth hanging open.
"Hey, McNugget." I whisper, leaning closer. "You may want to close that mouth or I'll close it for you, capisce?"
"Um… yes, ma'am. Sorry…" He says, looking embarrassed, before closing his mouth.
My eyes return to the stage but my jaw drops in shock when I see Brittany joining Sofia and dancing with her in perfect synchrony. What is happening? I know Brittany used to perform at the school's recitals but she has not done so in years...
"Did you know about this?!" I ask Tina.
"Yeah, I did." She smiles. "Apparently, Sofia insisted that Brittany perform with her."
"But... why didn't they tell me?" I ask, confused.
"They wanted to keep it a surprise." Tina replies. "They're great, though! Don't you think?"
"Yeah…" I nod, my eyes still set on them. "They are."
I've always said that even if Sofia has my genes, she moves just like Brittany. They both have the exact same posture, whether they are sleeping, sitting, walking or dancing. No wonder they can synchronize their moves so perfectly!
I haven't seen Britt perform in such a long time but God, she still got it! She's just as sensual and confident as ever! And that damn body of hers… I don't know many women in their 40s that still have abs and such long, sexy legs…
My eyes travel her body and I suddenly feel like the temperature is a million degrees… Oh my God, what the fuck am I doing? I can't be looking at my ex-wife like that! I have a girlfriend!
To keep things appropriate, I decide to focus solely on my daughter. But it doesn't take long before I'm drawn to Britt again, completely mesmerized by the way she moves. Nicholas is a really lucky guy…
Despite my best efforts, I can't seem to look away, until I feel eyes on me. As my head turns to the right, I see Liam smirk ironically at me, and that's how I realize that my mouth is hanging open, just like his was.
"Shut up…" I say in embarrassment as I quickly close my mouth and sit up in my chair.
TWO WEEKS LATER (LUNCH TIME) – OUTSIDE THE RESTAURANT
I'm so pissed today that I'm even smoking a cigarette, outside the restaurant where I just had lunch.
I was in such a bad mood that I even told Quinn she shouldn't join me, because I would be horrible company.
I knew that working again with Lee Paulblatt was a bad idea! I don't even know why I agreed to this, he's just the same arrogant, self-centered jerk he was 15 years ago! How am I going to go through a whole day with him when it only took him one hour to piss me off?
"San!" I suddenly hear someone calling me, pulling me out of my thoughts. As I look to the right, I spot Brittany waving at me enthusiastically.
"Britt?" I say, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, you know, shopping…" She smiles but I quickly see her frown once she notices the cigarette in my hand.
"You're smoking?!" She asks in a reproachful tone while I roll my eyes. I know she always hated it when I smoked, but I'm not in the mood for one of her lectures.
"So, you have a problem with that?" I ask in a defiant tone that seems to catch her by surprise. "Because you know what, Britt? Unlike when we were married, you can no longer punish my smoking by withholding sex! If I want to have sex, I just go home to Melissa and have it."
"Sorry, I didn't know it was such a crime to care about your health, Santana." She replies in an angry tone, crossing her arms.
"Did you actually want something or you were just saying hello?" I ask, impatient.
"As a matter of fact, I needed to discuss something with you, yes." She replies in a cold voice. "I know it's my week but I wanted to know if you could take the kids this weekend? It's a long story but Nick got free tickets to a wine tasting out of town, and…"
"Okay, no." I cut her off. "We agreed on a schedule, Brittany, and I basically organize my whole life around it. You can't change it all the time like this! And you're the one who wanted to have children, so you don't get to drop them on my doorstep just because you're in the mood for a sex weekend with your boyfriend!"
"A 'sex weekend'?" She repeats, stunned. "We're going to a wine tasting!" She objects, raising her arms in frustration.
"Same thing." I argue. "I know how horny drunk you get after a couple of glasses." I add and she opens her mouth wide in shock, looking both pissed and offended.
"You know what?" She says, looking me straight in the eye. "At least, I won't be the one dealing with your explosive temper when you go home tonight! You're Melissa's problem now, and I really wish her good luck because she'll need it!" She adds, before walking away.
LATER THAT DAY (EVENING TIME) – AT SANTANA'S HOUSE
I'm pacing in the living room, contemplating if I should light the cigarette I'm holding in my hand. Just like I suspected, I had the most awful afternoon with Lee and even though I have been home for a while, I'm still on edge. And since Melissa is at her pilates class, there is no one here to calm me down, so… I really could use a smoke.
I place the cigarette between my lips and I'm right about to light it when Brittany's angry face suddenly flashes through my mind.
Dammit! Even though we're not married anymore, she still has a fucking hold on me!
And the truth is that I actually spent the whole afternoon thinking about our fight. I really shouldn't have taken my anger out on her, she had nothing to do with that…
I sigh and put the cigarette back in the pack, before grabbing my phone. And for the 500th time since Brittany and I got divorced, I start typing the letter "w" in my contact list as a reflex, wrongly looking for "wifey". Old habits really do die hard…
After correcting and typing the letter "b" instead, I select Britt's name, and send her a text.
TO "BRITT": I'm sorry I was such a bitch earlier.
EVEN LATER THAT NIGHT – AT SANTANA'S HOUSE
"Hey you!" Melissa says as she gets back home, kissing my lips before dropping her sports bag on the floor.
"Hi…" I mumble.
"Someone is grumpy…" She squints in confusion. "What's wrong?"
"I had a bad day at work…" I sigh.
"Oh, what happened?" She asks. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"No."
"Mmh, okay… Do you want to shower with me?" She offers.
"Oh, God, I thought you would never ask…" I reply, making her chuckle.
"Well, meet me in the shower? I just need to start the washing machine first."
"Yeah, ok…" I nod, watching her walk away.
At least, Melissa didn't force me to talk about it. If it was Brittany, she would have kept nagging me until I got it off my chest.
I quickly check my phone, for the hundredth time tonight. But even though Brittany read my message, she has not replied yet.
THE NEXT MORNING – AT PARAMOUNT – SANTANA'S OFFICE
I feel a lot calmer this morning, not only because I had sex last night, but also because I won't be seeing Lee today. And since I'm supposed to write scripts, I even get to spend the whole day in peace in my office.
I have only been working for 20 minutes but I can't resist checking my phone once more. Unfortunately, there is still no news from Brittany and I'm starting to worry. Since she won't tell me anything, I will have to go to other sources if I want to find out how pissed she really is…
TO "SOFIA": Hi mija, how are you? All good in school? What did you guys do last night? Love you.
I have barely put the phone back on my desk that it already beeps. That's the great thing about teens, they are always glued to their phone!
FROM "SOFIA": Hi mama, all good here. And you? I went to the movies with Liam yesterday, it was great! X"
Goddammit! Of course, the one time I need inside information, she's out, sucking faces with the Irish midget!
TO "DIEGO": "Hello mijo, are you ok? I hope you're still doing your physiotherapy exercises? It's really important! What did you do last night? Te quiero."
FROM "DIEGO": Hi mama, yeah, I'm ok. YES, I do the exercises! You don't have to ask me every day, you know!"
Seriously?! He didn't even answer my question! Why is it so hard for them to tell me what their mom was up to last night? This is probably why I have three kids, so that the third one can save the day when the other two drive me crazy.
TO "GABRIEL": Hi mi cielito, I hope you're having a great day! What did you do last night? Love you!
FROM "GABRIEL": Hi mama :) I watched the game with Nick and Diego last night. And you, what did you do? Love you too!
It figures that my sweet boy would be the only one answering the question, although I still don't know what Britt did.
TO "GABRIEL": That sounds fun, mijo! Mom was not there? Mel and I stayed in last night.
FROM "GABRIEL": Mom was home but she was working on a choreography in the dance room. Did you see the poem I sent you this morning?
So, Britt was in the dance room… probably trying to dance her anger away, like she does when she's really pissed. God, I'm definitely in trouble.
TO "GABRIEL": Yes, I read your poem, and you're getting better and better every time, mijo! And even though you didn't say, I know this one is about Stella. :)
LATER THAT DAY (AFTERNOON TIME) – AT PARAMOUNT
Taking a break from my writing, I check my phone again. But when I see that I still have no message from Britt, I decide to send her another text.
"Fucking hell!" I let out when I realize I searched again for "wifey". When will my brain ever learn?
TO "BRITT": Please, say something, Britt... I hate when we fight.
EVEN LATER THAT DAY (EVENING TIME) – AT SANTANA'S HOUSE
I sigh when I see that my two messages to Brittany are still unanswered.
TO "BRITT": Come on, Britt… I already said I was sorry… Can we please make peace?
After another hour of silence, I reach the peak of my impatience and decide to call her. Fortunately, she picks up.
"Hi Satana!" I hear a male voice say, much to my surprise. "It's Nick. Britt is a bit busy right now, so she asked me to pick up. How are you?"
This catches me completely off guard and I find myself at a loss for words.
"Hello?" He says.
"Yes! Yes, I'm here. Hi Nicholas! Sorry, I um… I got distracted. I'm good, how are you?"
"I'm good too, thanks!" He replies. "What can I do for you?"
"I um… I was calling because…" I mumble, not knowing what to say. I never thought he would pick up the phone! "… Britt asked me if I could take the kids this weekend, since you had tickets to a wine tasting, and um…" I add, trying hard to find a reason for my phone call. "… at the time, I told her it was not possible but um… it turns out that I could move some things around, so… if you guys still plan to go out of town, I can take the kids." I say, in spite of myself.
"Oh, that's great news! Thank you so much, Santana! Is it ok if we drop them at your house Friday night?"
"Sure, it's fine."
TWO DAYS LATER (LATE MORNING) – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE
I sigh loudly as I ring the doorbell.
"Santana?" Britt says, opening the door. "What are you doing here?"
"What am I doing here?" I repeat in an angry tone. "I had to come here, since your phone is apparently broken." I say sarcastically. "You can't ghost me like this, Brittany! We have children together, I have to be able to reach you!" I add, looking her right in the eye.
"I…" She mumbles. "I'm sorry… you're right." She eventually nods in admission. "I just… I got so mad at you!"
"I know…" I sigh. "Look, Britt… I was having a terrible day and you just caught me at a bad time, that's all." I shrug. "But I shouldn't have spoken to you like that, I'm really sorry…" I admit. "Can we please talk for a minute?" I plead with apologetic eyes.
"Okay…" She sighs. "Come in…"
A LITTLE WHILE LATER – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE
"I suppose Nicholas told you but um… I can take the kids this weekend." I say.
"Yeah, he told me…" She whispers. "Thank you."
"Sure…" I reply with a timid smile but we immediately fall into an awkward silence.
"I don't even smoke!" I eventually say out of nowhere, desperate to get the conversation going.
"You're allowed to do what you want, San…" She replies, after a moment of confusion. "As you said, we're not married anymore… It's not my business." She shrugs.
"I just… Look, I don't want to get into the details, but… I'm working on a short web series on the side, with Lee Paulblatt, and he…"
"Lee Paulblatt?!" She repeats, stunned. "Why would you even work with that guy?!"
"I just liked the series' concept." I shrug. "It's about Hispanic immigrants and I'm sure Abuela will be proud of me for taking on this project." I say. "I thought that after 15 years in this business, I was more experienced and I could deal with Lee more easily, but… this guy sure knows how to push my buttons!" I add, raising my hands. "Anyway… I was so pissed and frustrated that I took a cigarette. But that was my very first cigarette in years, the first one even since you made me quit! It tasted disgusting, by the way…"
"And I can't stand it when you're mad at me, Britt…" I admit. "So… to help you forgive me, I brought you a little something…" I sigh, handing her a small box.
"What is it?" She asks, surprised.
"Open it…" I shrug.
BRITTANY's POV
I open the white little box and my jaw drops in shock when I see the turquoise necklace. Ten years ago, I spotted the exact same necklace in a shop and I fell completely in love with it. But since I was in a hurry, I decided to come back on the next day, only to find out that it had already been sold. I asked the shop owner where I could find another one, but he told me that it was handmade and that each piece was unique... I was so disappointed, especially because I also loved the legend behind that necklace: whoever owned it was assured of "eternal love".
"Oh my God… but how…?" I eventually whisper in disbelief, raising questioning eyes towards her.
"Well… A few weeks ago, I went to a new shop near Paramount. I was looking for a Valentine's gift for Melissa and… that necklace was on display." She says. "I recognized it immediately, it was exactly the same as the picture you showed me 10 years ago... I was scared someone else would take it before I could tell you, so… I bought it." She shrugs. "I wanted to give it to you right away, but it would not have been appropriate to do so around Valentine's day, so… I thought I could perhaps give it to you for your birthday. But we had our fight in the meanwhile and… I really want us to be good, so…"
"I'm really grateful but... I can't accept this, San. It's too much…"
"You have to accept it, Britt! It has kind of become an apology gift now, so… it would be cruel to refuse it…" She argues.
"But you don't have to give me apology gifts, you know…" I say. "I would have forgiven you eventually."
"I know…" She nods. "But... have I already mentioned how much I hate fighting with you?" She asks with a shrug. "I'm not sure it was clear…" She adds, making me smile.
"I hate it too…" I admit. "But this…" I say, looking at the necklace. "I… I don't even know what to say…"
"Well, do you like it?" She asks.
"Of course! I love it!" I nod in confirmation. "I can't believe you remembered…"
"Well, it was not hard to remember… I think that ever since I met you, there are only two things you have wanted so badly: the kids and this necklace." She smiles.
It's true. And somehow, Santana is the one who gave me both.
"Do you want me to put it on you?" She asks.
"Sure…" I nod, holding my hair up.
"There…" She says, securing the necklace and I get a shiver when her fingers graze my neck in the process.
"How does it look?" I ask, as her eyes are set on me.
"It looks perfect." She smiles.
ONE WEEK LATER – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE
"So… I know it's a bit early…" Nick says, sitting next to me on our bed. "But since you'll have the kids next week for your birthday, I thought we could do something special this weekend, just the two of us. So... happy early birthday, babe!" He adds with a smile, handing me an envelope that I open with excitement.
"You got us tickets to the ballet?!" I open my mouth in surprise. "But how? I've been trying to get tickets to this show for months and it's always sold out!"
"It was definitely not easy… I might even have posted a dozen of hopeless messages online…" He admits in between chuckles. "But I finally got them, and that's all that matters! And guess what? We even get to have dinner there, before the show!"
"Oh my God, I've always wanted to have dinner over there!" I say in excitement. "Thank you, honey…" I add, wrapping my arms around his neck to pull him into a kiss. "You really spoiled me…"
"Well, you deserve it." He smiles, pressing his lips back on mine.
"Are you still in the mood for Chinese tonight?" He asks.
"Yes!" I confirm enthusiastically, knowing we both like it.
"Great, I'm going to order it now then…" He says and kisses my forehead, before exiting the room.
As I place the envelope with the tickets on my nightstand, my eye catches the little white box I got from Santana.
I open it and take the necklace in my hand, observing it for the thousandth time. I really like how the light reflects off the venetian glass medallion, in so many shades of blue.
"Can I tell you a secret, Penny?" I tell the dog as she's resting next to me, on top of the bed.
Penny has always been my best confidant, it's almost therapeutic for me to share all my thoughts and feelings with her. Not only do I feel like she understands everything I say, but since she's a dog, it's not like she's going to repeat it to anyone else.
"Your daddy is a great man." I say. "Can you imagine that he got me tickets to a ballet that I have been trying to see for almost a year? Everyone complains it's impossible to find tickets, and yet, he's such a superhero that he managed to get them! And how did he even guess that I wanted to have dinner there? I've never told him that! It's really a thoughtful gift…" I add while petting the dog.
"So, how come I prefer your mama's gift…?" I eventually confess in a timid whisper, holding the medallion close to my heart.
ANOTHER WEEK LATER (BRITTANY'S BIRTHDAY) – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE - IN THE GARDEN
"You have everything you need, guys?" I ask Sam and Mercedes, as they stand in front of the open buffet.
"We do, but I hope you have enough food, Britt… Because Sam is wolfing it down like he has not eaten in years!" She says, looking at him with reproachful eyes.
"But these are so good!" He says while chewing. "Where did you get that from, Britt?"
"Oh, it's a local catering company… Nick is friends with the owner. I'll send you the details if you want."
"Oh, please!" He says, nodding enthusiastically. "We've got to order from them for our next party, babe!" He tells Mercedes.
"Okay, okay…" She sighs. "In the meanwhile, leave some for the others, will you? Come on, let's go back to Quinn and Puck." She adds. "You're coming, Britt?"
"Um, I'll be there in a minute." I reply, spotting Santana and Melissa entering the garden.
"Hi guys!" I greet them with a smile. "I'm glad you could come!" I add, knowing that Santana always finds it weird to come to my birthday party. But I always tell her it would be equally weird if she didn't make an appearance, since we have the same group of friends.
"Of course, thanks for having us!" Mel replies. "And happy birthday! We put our gift on the pile with the others by the way."
"Thank you but you didn't have to…" I say, embarrassed. Fortunately, the waiter brings us champagne right at that moment.
"I love your necklace, Britt!" Melissa suddenly says. "Is that a gift from Nick?"
"Oh, thanks! Um… no, it's a gift from… an old friend." I add, while Santana throws me a discrete smile. I know she doesn't want me to tell anyone it's a present from her.
"I don't know if Nicholas would be happy you got a necklace from your ex-wife, Britt. And I'm not sure what Melissa would think either, to be honest…" She said the other day. "It's better if they don't know, it can be our little secret..."
"Isn't it beautiful?" Mel asks, turning to Santana.
"Yeah, it's… lovely." Santana replies. "Well, to you, Britt…" She quickly adds, raising her glass of champagne.
"Cheers!" I smile as we all clink glasses.
"Oh, by the way, San, before I forget…" I say. "I had Mr. Schue on the phone this morning and we discussed the Glee reunion of next weekend… He said he will hold a special workshop for the Glee kids the day before, on Friday. He asked me if our kids would join but since you're the one who has them next week, I was not sure when you were planning to fly to Lima?"
"Well, since the kids are on holiday, I was planning to fly with them already on Wednesday, so… they would be free for the workshop." She replies. "Have you heard about the 'grandparents' surprise', by the way?" She whispers, looking around to be sure that the kids can't hear us.
"Oh, yeah, my mom told me. They want to take them to an amusement park or something, right?"
"Yeah, and they even want to spend the night there!" She says in disbelief. "I get they want to do something fun with the kids but… I thought they would want to see us as well instead of going on a trip while we're back home!"
"Well, to be fair, we're pretty busy during the reunion anyway… so it's not like we would see much of them." I reply. "Nick doesn't even want to come along anymore because he gets bored."
"Well, I can understand him…" Melissa says. "Don't get me wrong, I love the fact that you guys have an annual reunion, and God knows how excited this one gets about it…" She adds, pointing at Santana. "But…"
"I'm not that excited!" Santana objects. "Sure, I love seeing everyone, but the reunion also means being stuck with Berry for two days!" She adds, making me chuckle.
"And yet, you seem to have lots of fun!" Melissa says. "Anyway, my point is that although I know and love all your friends, it's hard not to feel like an outsider at those reunions… I mean, I can't sing or dance, and I can't relate to your show choir anecdotes, so… I prefer to just leave you Gleeks enjoy it among yourselves."
"Oh, so you're not coming either?" I ask Mel.
"Nope, not this year. I'll fly to Chicago instead, to see my parents." She says and I nod in understanding.
"When are you flying, Britt?" Santana asks. "Do you want to come with me and the kids?"
"Thanks, but I can't… I'm teaching a special dance class until Thursday, so… I will have to fly on Friday morning." I reply. "But I can't wait for the reunion!"
Notes:
As you can guess, in the next chapter, we will go to Lima for the Glee reunion, and it will likely be split in two parts. What did you think of this chapter? Please let me know in the comments! Thank you for reading!
Chapter Text
FRIDAY AFTERNOON – IN LIMA – AT SANTANA'S PARENTS' – SANTANA's POV
"What time will you get here?" Abuela asks me over the phone, as we are working out the details for the family dinner she's hosting at her place tonight.
"Well, I have to pick up the kids at McKinley around 4:00 and then, they have to pack for the grandparents' trip. So… I would say 7:00 PM? Is that alright?"
"That's perfect, mija." She replies. "I'm really looking forward to it! And I have even found a way to further improve my recipe, so… I hope Melissa likes it!" She adds, much to my surprise.
"Melissa?" I frown. "But... Abuela, Melissa is not here."
"What do you mean, 'she's not here'?!" I hear her say in a reproachful tone.
"Well… Since I'll be busy the whole weekend with the Gleeks, there was no point for her to come along, so… she went to Chicago instead."
"What?! But, mija… Since you always complain I don't pay enough attention to her, I made her favorite, just for her! And I planned the quantities thinking she would be here! What am I going to do with the extra food now?"
"I'm sorry, Abuelita… I didn't realize you were expecting her to be here. But you don't have to worry about the extra food, Diego eats like four people!"
"But I had already factored that in, Santana! You think I don't know my own great-grandson?" She replies in an upset tone.
"Can't you eat the leftovers on the next day?" I suggest. "Or we can take them with us if you prefer…"
"No, this type of meal won't keep! Which means that I have to find someone else to join us!" She sighs in complaint. "And since your parents are at a retirement party tonight, I don't know what I c- … Oh, what about Brittany? She must have arrived by now, right?"
"Abuela, we already went over this…" I sigh.
How many times do I have to explain the same thing?!
"Yeah, yeah, you're divorced, I know…" She replies, jaded. "But even then, your kids still deserve family time, Santana! And since they will be away with their grandparents the whole weekend, I'm sure Brittany wouldn't mind spending the evening with them." She says and I sigh again, knowing there is no point in arguing further. Obviously, Abuela has already made up her mind and whatever I say won't change anything…
LATER THAT DAY (EVENING TIME) – AT ABUELA'S
"So, what did you do with Mr. Schue at the 'Glee kids' day'?" Brittany asks our children as we are all having dinner together.
"Sofia, Diego and I sang 'How deep is your love'." Gabriel replies. "We learned how to sing it in harmony while Diego also played the guitar."
"Wow, I definitely want to hear that!" I say, impressed. "Will you sing it for us after dinner?" I suggest and they all nod in agreement.
"And please, tell me he also made you sing 'Don't stop believin'?" I ask in a teasing voice.
"Just like every year…" Diego says, jaded.
"Great, I can't wait to hear that too!" I laugh.
"But you hate that song!" Brittany frowns, turning to me.
"No, I hate it when I'm the one that has to sing it! But watching others going through that pain is a lot of fun, actually." I reply while Britt shakes her head.
"So, mija…" Abuela suddenly says, turning to Sofia. "How is it going with the Irish boy? Are you two still together?"
"Always!" Sofia replies with a proud smile, while I roll my eyes. Even in Lima, we can't escape that damn leprechaun!
"Remind me again, what does he want to study?" Abuela asks.
"Sound engineering."
"Oh, that's right! An engineer, how interesting!" Abuela says, impressed. "And since he's Irish, I assume he's catholic… right?"
"What are you doing?" I ask Abuela before Sofia can even answer.
"What?" Abuela shrugs while our eyes are locked. "I'm just taking an interest in my great-granddaughter's life."
"Really? Because it sounds like you're trying to find her a husband." I say, crossing my arms. "She's too young to be thinking of marriage."
"You were not much older than me when you proposed to mom." Sofia argues, making me turn to her in shock.
"That's so not the same!" I object.
"Why not?" My daughter asks with a shrug.
"Because in my case, time was of the essence! I didn't want to risk your mom realizing she could do better than me before I proposed!" I say. "But you have nothing to worry about, mija, because just like mom, you are the prize in your relationship. And the potato eater knows that! Unfortunately for me, he's not going anywhere, trust me."
LATER THAT NIGHT – AT ABUELA'S
As we're watching the kids perform 'How deep is your love' in the living room, I feel prouder than a peacock! I've always known they were individually talented, but why haven't they performed together before? They sound so good! And Diego has apparently further improved as a guitar player, if that's even possible.
As Brittany and I exchange a look, I can't help but return her proud smile. No matter what else we fucked up, we did at least one thing right, because our kids are amazing! The next generation of Gleeks is clearly assured.
EVEN LATER THAT NIGHT – AT ABUELA'S
"Do we really have to keep watching that?" I ask, annoyed.
"Oh, I definitely want to watch more of this!" Sofia chuckles and I'm getting increasingly irritated. The kids have been mocking me ever since Abuela put on some old videos of me as a child.
"Do you even know how lucky you are, Santana?" Abuela says, turning to me. "I have no video from my own childhood. And considering the state of the old tapes, we would have lost these precious images of you if it was not for the neighbor!"
"Oh yeah, how tragic that would have been…" I mumble sarcastically to myself.
But after a few more minutes of laughter, I can't take it anymore and decide to retire in the kitchen.
A LITTLE WHILE LATER – IN ABUELA'S KITCHEN
"You're ok?" Brittany suddenly asks behind me, making me turn around.
"It's never a good sign when you take your glass of wine to another room…" She adds, pointing at the glass in my hands. Damn, nothing gets past her.
"I already don't like seeing myself on screen, but I definitely don't want to go back in that room if it's to be mocked by my own children." I complain.
"Well… for what it's worth, I thought you were really cute when you were three years old!" She says, stealing the glass from my hands to take a sip of wine, like she used to when we were married. "You've always been cute." She adds with a shrug and I'm pretty sure I must be blushing right now.
"Nice necklace, by the way…" I say, seeing she's wearing the one I gave her.
"Thanks…" She smiles. "I got it from someone that has great taste."
"Obviously." I comment with a smirk, taking the glass back from her, to take a sip.
"Can I ask you something?" She suddenly asks and I silently nod.
"When you and Sofia talked about marriage earlier…" She trails off, pausing for a moment. "Did you really think I was the prize in our relationship?"
"Of course you were, Brittany!" I shrug. "Everyone knew you were too good for me."
"Well, I don't agree with that!" She protests, crossing her arms. "When you proposed, all I could think about was that the beautiful, fierce, talented Santana Lopez wanted me to be her wife! I felt like... I had won the lottery." She shrugs.
"Yeah, well… It took you long enough but you finally came to your senses."
"Don't say that…" She whispers sadly, shaking her head. "I didn't ask for the divorce, San…"
"I didn't either." I immediately say.
"I know… That was just the last option we were left with, after all others failed…"
"Yeah…" I whisper, suddenly feeling sad.
"I bet that if you could go back in time, you would tell your younger self to run away as soon as I proposed." I say, poorly trying to lighten up the mood.
"I would still say yes." She immediately replies in a certain voice, taking me aback.
"Really? Even if you knew for a fact that we would get a divorce after 15 years of marriage?"
"Yes." She nods. "I would still want those 15 years with you." She adds with a shrug.
I don't say anything but I nod in understanding, giving her a small smile.
If it was me, I would also tell my younger self to still propose, arguing that it's better to have her for 15 years than none…
THE NEXT DAY (SATURDAY) – AT SANTANA'S PARENTS'
It's still early morning when we gather outside my parents' house, to say goodbye to the kids. They are about to go on their "fun trip" with all the grandparents and won't be back until Monday.
"I know you can walk just fine now, mijo." I tell Diego. "But your leg is not at 100% yet, you still have to be careful! So nothing crazy, ok?" I say, hugging him tight.
"Yes, I know!" He complains, clearly annoyed. "Can we go now?" He pleads, looking at my dad.
It will never cease to amaze me how clingy kids are when they're little but how bad they want to get away from you when they're teenagers!
"I'm gonna miss you, kids…" I say, hugging my Gabriel. At least, with him, I know I'll get some love back.
"Really?" His sister questions in a sarcastic tone. "You will have time to miss us with all the singing, drinking and partying?"
Man, this girl is growing up way too fast.
"Yeah, with comments like these, I must say I'll miss you a little less." I reply.
"You're welcome!" Sofia sings songs and pats my arm, making me roll my eyes. I swear, she's becoming more and more like me with each passing day.
"Have fun, guys!" Brittany says as they get in the car. "And take lots of pictures! Oh, and text us!"
"And be good to your grandparents!" I shout as they drive away, while waving at them.
"And then, there were two…" I say, realizing how weird it is to be in Lima with no kids and none of the grandparents.
"Do you want to grab breakfast at Breadstix'?" I ask Britt.
"Sure!" She replies with a smile.
LATER THAT MORNING – AT BREADSTIX'
"So, how was the 'special' dance class that kept you in L.A until yesterday?" I ask Britt while we're having breakfast.
"Oh, it was great! I was teaching a young couple… They wanted a special choreography for their first dance at their upcoming wedding."
"Oh, really? I didn't know you were giving that type of class." I say, surprised.
"Well, it was the first time. But I think I might do it again, I had a blast! And they were so in love, it was really cute!" She says. "They reminded me of you and me before our wedding..."
"Do you fancy a refill, ladies?" The waitress asks us out of nowhere, before I can even say anything.
"Uh… sure." I nod and she immediate pours some coffee in my cup.
"So… what are you going to sing today?" I ask Britt.
This year, Mr. Schue said that instead of us choosing songs ourselves, he would randomly pick an old solo number for each of us. I got 'Valerie' but I don't know what songs the others will do.
"I'm not telling you that!" She frowns. "Mr. Schue asked us to keep the secret until the reunion."
"Oh, come on… I'll tell you which one I got." I say, trying to convince her.
"But I don't want to know!" She objects. "It's more fun to find out live!"
"Fine, forget it…" I mumble in defeat, before taking a sip of coffee.
EVEN LATER THAT MORNING – AT McKINLEY - GLEE REUNION
"I'm so happy to see you, guys!" Mr. Schue says with a wide smile as we all take a seat in our good old choir room. "You know, our annual Glee reunion has become my favorite time of the year!" He adds. "But this reunion is very special, because it's the 25th anniversary of your victory at Nationals!" He says in a very enthusiastic voice while we all clap.
"And to mark the occasion, I have prepared a special program for you. Of course, we'll start with... 'Don't stop believin'!" He adds, making me roll my eyes. At this point, this song will even be played at our funerals…
"And we will also sing 'Paradise By The Dashboard Light', because how could we not?" He adds. "Then, each of you will perform the songs I assigned to you. But the real surprise will come tomorrow!" He adds with a mischievous look on his face. What is he up to?
LATER THAT DAY – IN THE CHOIR ROOM
"Thank you, Rachel!" Mr. Schue says, clapping enthusiastically after her performance. It figures that Berry would get "Don't Rain On My Parade"… How random is Mr. Schue's selection exactly?!
At least, Brittany got lucky: she missed Rachel's number because she had to change. She's the next one to perform and I can't wait to finally find out what song she got.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen… Brittany will perform one of her iconic numbers, 'I'm A Slave 4 U'!" Mr. Schue announces.
Wait, what?
As the band plays the first notes, I see Britt enter the room, wearing a blue trench-coat.
I know I may be young
But I've got feelings too
She has barely said a few lines that she lets the coat drop off her shoulders, revealing the same sexy outfit as all those years ago. My eyes slowly go from her green bikini top to the damn tight shorts, and I can only swallow hard. God, she looks amazing! How can she even still fit in that, 25 years later? Especially after giving birth to twins!
"Wow, Brittany is fucking hot!" Puck suddenly whispers, immediately earning a slap on the arm from both myself and Quinn.
"Ow!" He says in protest. "Ok, I get why Quinn slapped me, but why did you?" He asks me. "You guys are not even together anymore!"
"She's still the mother of my children!" I frown. "So, you don't get to speak like that about her, got it? Shush it now!" I add, my eyes quickly returning to Brittany.
I'm a slave 4 U
I cannot hold it
I cannot control it
Britt and I actually had sex the day she first performed this song, and it's really no wonder! This choreography is so fucking hot that I find it harder and harder to look away from her abs and those sexy legs of hers... Especially when she moves with such confidence, like she's the boss! God, why did Mr. Schue have to put me through this torture…
LATER THAT DAY (EVENING TIME) – AT BREADSTIX'
"Have you heard from the kids yet?" I ask Brittany as we're having dinner with the whole Glee club.
"No... I just got a text from my parents, the one I told you about earlier, to say they had arrived safely."
"God, they're always on their phone - which we pay for, may I add - and they can't even bother sending us one text?" I complain. "That's it, I'm texting Sofia right now." I say. "Actually, no, I'm going to text Gabriel. He's our best shot!"
TO "GABRIEL": Hi mijo, how is it going over there? Are you having fun? I hope the grandparents are not sick of you all yet! Lots of kisses from me and mom.
"More wine, San?" Sam asks me, holding the bottle.
"Sure, Trouty Mouth… Hit me!" I say, pushing my glass towards him.
I have barely taken a sip of wine when my phone beeps.
"Finally! Britt, I've got a message from Gabriel." I say, turning to her.
"Oh, great! Show me!" She says in an impatient voice.
FROM "GABRIEL": Hi mama! All good here, it's a lot of fun! I'll send you some crazy pics from our roller coaster rides later :-) We just finished dinner and we're gonna go see a magician's show now. Everyone says hi!
"God bless that beautiful boy…" I sigh in relief.
"Well, it sounds like they're having a blast!" Brittany says with a smile.
"They sure are!" I agree. "But you know what, Britt? We should take a selfie." I suggest. "To show them that they're not the only ones having fun!"
LATER THAT NIGHT – AT THE KARAOKE BAR
"Girl, that was awesome!" Mercedes says, holding her hand up for a high five, after singing "River Deep, Mountain High" together. And judging by how loudly people are cheering us on right now, it's safe to say we set the karaoke bar on fire!
"That was great, girls!" Rachel says with a smile while getting on stage next to us. "But please stay put, because I need you both for 'Pumpin Blood'!" She sing songs, before calling Kurt and Blaine to join us all.
As we're singing at the top of our lungs, I spot Brittany shaking her body to the rhythm of the music, with Mike and Tina. She looks really happy, and also pretty drunk.
But I think at this point, we all are…
MUCH LATER THAT NIGHT – AT THE KARAOKE BAR
It's already 2:00 AM and yet, some of us are still at the bar. But we lost a few on the way: Artie, Mercedes, Sam, Rachel and Jesse already went home a while ago. Blaine and Porcelain are on stage right now, while the rest of us are sitting at the table.
"Okay, so… we're going to sing 'More Than a Woman'…" Kurt suddenly says into the microphone. "And since I see that some of our song partners are still here tonight, I'm officially asking Mike, Tina, Santana and Brittany to handle the dance part while my husband and I sing."
"What?!" I frown, looking at the others. "He's asking us to dance at 2:00 AM?! Is he kidding?" I complain.
"Come on, San…" Mike says, getting up at the same time as Tina. "You know how special the reunion night is! We have the rest of the year to rest!"
"As if that was only for tonight!" I immediately reply. "How much you bet we'll be here again tomorrow night, doing the exact same thing?" I ask but they are already walking towards the dance floor.
I turn to Brittany and see that she's already standing up, holding her hand out to me.
"Not you too…" I frown in despair.
"Come on, San… It'll be fun!" She smiles.
"I don't even know if I still remember the damn moves." I sigh, as she pulls me by the hand to the dance floor.
"That's ok, I'll lead you." She says in a reassuring voice while we're taking our spot, next to Mike and Tina.
Oh, girl, I've known you very well
I've seen you growing every day
I never really looked before
But now you take my breath away
It beats me why two gay guys would sing 'More Than A Woman' but I must say that their voices are a good fit for this song.
Just like I suspected, I don't remember the moves very well but fortunately, it gets pretty easy when I just follow Brittany's lead. It feels a bit weird to dance together on this though, especially when she places her hands on my hips like this…
It's crazy to think that the last time we danced to this song, Brittany and I were a couple, believing we would be together forever… And Hudson was still alive…
More than a woman
More than a woman to me
Just like 25 years ago, Brittany is holding me close to her, our hands clasped together, and I feel a bit intimidated. Except that one time we taught our Gabriel how to slow dance with a girl, we haven't danced together in years…
Staying true to the choreography, Britt makes me spin on myself, before making me lean back in a dip. Her blue eyes lock with mine for a moment and I suddenly find it harder to breathe.
And I can see myself
Let history repeat itself
Reflecting how I feel for you
Okay, these fucking lyrics are really not helping! As if I had not been flustered enough already today!
Fortunately, the song eventually comes to an end, and I rush to the table, to gulp my glass of wine. Maybe that will calm me down…
THE NEXT MORNING (SUNDAY)
The daylight wakes me up and I immediately feel the most awful headache… God, why do I always drink so much at these bloody reunions? As I grab my phone from the nightstand, I see that I have a text from Melissa.
FROM "MEL": Hi babe, how did it go last night? And how's the hangover now? ;-) Love you.
I smile upon reading her text and immediately type my reply.
TO "MEL": All I know is that there was a lot of wine and too many shots with Puck… I feel like a fucking truck ran over me! How are things in Chicago? Love you too!
As I scroll through my messages, I see that I have two unread ones.
FROM "MOM": Hi mija, how are you? We're all good and having a fabulous time here! I wanted to warn you that we're going on a treasure hunt this morning and we may lose phone signal at times. Don't worry if you can't reach us, we'll be in touch later."
FROM "MR. SCHUE": Morning guys! Don't forget that we're meeting at 11:00 today. See you later!
Crap, what time is it? But fortunately, I see that it's only 9:00. I have time to shower and eat something greasy… Hopefully that will melt away this massive hangover.
I yawn and stretch, before sitting up in bed, but my mouth drops in surprise once I see Brittany sleeping next to me. What is she doing here?!
I look at her in confusion for a moment, before finally noticing that I'm actually not at my parents', I'm at Brittany's parents'! What?!
And that's when I remember: Britt was so drunk last night that we took a cab together and I even had to help her get to bed. I guess I must have passed out before going home…
But without warning, dozens of memories from last night suddenly flash through my mind: hands intertwined, passionate kisses, Brittany's naked body in my arms… And with every image, other memories come along: her intense blue eyes staring at me in bed, the taste of her in my mouth, and moaning filling the room…
Oh my God… It can't be, right?!
I immediately take a peek under the sheets, to check if I still have my clothes, but when I see that both Britt and I are fully naked, I know it was not a dream…
I had sex with Brittany.
A LITTLE WHILE LATER – AT BRITTANY'S PARENTS'
Still in shock, I find myself unable to move, my hand covering my mouth while my eyes are still set on Brittany.
God, what have I done… How did this even happen?!
I'm eventually pulled out of my trance when my phone suddenly vibrates in my other hand.
FROM "MEL": Oh, I'm having a great time here! I visited my brother and I also had dinner with Martin and Cassandra last night. I guess the Glee reunion continues today?
Oh my God, Melissa… Fuck, what am I going to tell her?!
I'm now completely surrendering to panic, breathing rapidly. God, I have to get out of here!
I carefully get out of bed and despite my agitation, I manage to pick my clothes up off the floor and exit the room without waking up Brittany. I hurry into the bathroom and get dressed as fast as I can. But as I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I open my eyes wide. Oh my… I've got to fix that sex hair! I quickly grab a brush, to make myself look as presentable as possible. It's not great but that will have to do…
On my way back, I pass Brittany's bedroom door and stop for a moment. As I'm debating whether I should go back into the room, a thousand thoughts fly through my mind and I find myself frozen in my spot.
I take a long inhale and exhale, before eventually deciding to make my way to the front door. Without making noise, I get out of the house and carefully close the door behind me.
Notes:
What did you think of this chapter, did you expect this ending? What do you think will happen next?
Please, let me know in the comments! Thank you for reading.
Chapter Text
LATER THAT MORNING (SUNDAY) – AT McKINLEY – SANTANA's POV
I arrive at McKinley so early that I'm the first one in the choir room. Even Mr. Schue is not here yet! But I couldn't stay in my parents' empty house any longer, it was so quiet over there that I could hear myself think and it was making me nervous.
I have been desperately trying to get Brittany out of my head since I left her house this morning, but she's all I can think about… And I'm getting even more anxious now that I'm here, knowing that we'll be in the same room for the whole day!
Oh my God… What if she sits next to me?! Oh no, no, no… I can't have that! Because knowing Britt, she's definitely going to want to talk about last night and that's really the last thing I want to do… I guess I'll just have to make sure she can't sit next to me, unless… Oh my God, what if she doesn't even remember that we had sex? That would not be so crazy considering that she was pretty drunk last night and I was gone by the time she woke up…
A WHILE LATER – IN THE CHOIR ROOM
Fortunately, it doesn't take long before Mr. Schue and a few Gleeks join me in the room. I eventually decide to sit next to Gay Berry, on the far end of the first row. And if that's not a cry for help, I don't know what is...
A minute later, Lady Hummel and Blaine take the seats right behind me, much to my relief. There is no way Britt could sit anywhere near me now.
"Oh… Santana, I wanted to ask you something!" Rachel suddenly says, pulling me out of my thoughts. "I was talking to Mr. Schue earlier and he said that, although he will assign a duet number to each of us, we were also free to choose a second duet ourselves!" She adds in her annoying over excited voice. "So, I was wondering if – "
"I'm not singing with you, hobbit." I immediately cut her off.
"But I…"
"Listen to me, Berry." I interrupt her again. "Every year, you ask me to sing with you and every single time, I turn you down. When are you going to get the fucking hint?" I say, looking her straight in the eye.
I've barely finished my sentence when Brittany enters the room and as our eyes meet, it only takes me a split second to understand that she remembers everything about last night… Feeling my heart suddenly pounding hard in my chest, I quickly look away, to avoid her gaze.
"Ah, Brittany, you're here… Good!" Mr. Schue says with a smile, acknowledging her presence. "Take a seat, we're gonna start."
I discretely watch Britt from the corner of my eye as she takes the empty seat next to Mercedes, on the second row.
"So, this afternoon, we'll focus on duets." Mr. Schue says. "I will randomly assign you one and then, you'll sing another duet of your choice. But as I told you yesterday, I also have a surprise for you!" He smirks. "You know that we usually redo old numbers at our reunions, but I thought that this morning, we could sing and improvise on brand new songs!" He suddenly announces, earning enthusiastic clapping from all of us.
LATER THAT DAY (AFTERNOON) – IN THE CHOIR ROOM
After a very fun morning singing, we all had lunch together in the choir room. Even though it was not easy, I managed to sit with Quinn, Puck, Mike and Tina, successfully keeping Brittany away from me.
"Alright, guys… It's time to get started on the duets!" Mr. Schue suddenly says, inviting us to get back to our seats. "To keep it fun, I have written down each of our duet numbers on pieces of paper, which I put in this hat… And I will now randomly pick them, until everyone has one." He adds, plunging the hand in the hat.
"So, the first duet is… Sam and Quinn, with 'Lucky', which – I remind you – was the victorious song of our duet competition!" He says, earning proud smiles from Fabray and Trouty mouth. "And they will be followed by… Mercedes and Tina, with 'Dog Days Are Over', and Rachel and Kurt, with 'Get Happy/ Happy Days Are Here Again'…" He announces, before pulling another piece of paper from the hat. "And then, we'll have… 'I wanna dance with somebody', by Brittany and Santana…" He adds, immediately sending cold sweat down my spine.
Fuck.
LATER THAT AFTERNOON – IN THE CHOIR ROOM
I have been so nervous at the idea of singing with Brittany that my mind went completely blank during the first three duets. I could have shared a song with anyone but of course, the universe decided to put me with the woman I slept with last night! That's just my luck.
Mr. Schue just announced it was our turn and I watch Brittany take her spot in the middle of the room, my heart beating increasingly fast. Just like 25 years ago, she's going to sing the first part of the song by herself.
Clock strikes upon the hour
And the sun begins to fade
As Britt is about to sing the chorus, she pulls a few Gleeks by the hand, inviting them to dance with her.
Oh, I wanna dance with somebody
I wanna feel the heat with somebody
I watch her walk in my direction, her eyes locked with mine, until she eventually holds both of her hands out to me. Swallowing hard, I grab her hands and let her lead me to the middle of the room, while the others get back to their seats. It's my turn to sing now.
Somebody who, somebody who
To hold me in her arms, oh
I find myself highly uncomfortable, feeling like everyone in the room knows what we did last night, even if it's impossible. I'm sure Brittany picks up on it though because she gives me a comforting smile, before singing the next part.
I need a woman who'll take a chance
On a love that burns hot enough to last
Her blue eyes are staring at me and I can't help but wonder if she's simply singing the lyrics of the song, or if the last two sentences are also some kind of a secret message for me. We could have sung any random song, but of course, it had to be one with ambiguous lyrics! Oh yes, Universe, you definitely have a wicked sense of humor, don't you?
Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody
With somebody who loves me
Brittany and I are now singing in harmony while dancing in synchronicity, and I can hear the others cheering us on.
At the end of the song, she engulfs me in a hug and I can feel her breath on my neck, which immediately sends electricity throughout my entire body. I give her a timid smile in response, before silently getting back to my seat.
EVEN LATER THAT DAY – IN THE CHOIR ROOM
"Seriously, you want to sing 'River Deep, Mountain High' again?!" Rachel asks me. "But you and Mercedes already sang it last night! Isn't it a bit repetitive?"
"Repetitive how?" I frown, sending her a death glare. "Is it more or less annoying than you constantly telling us how many Tonys you've won?" I ask while she rolls her eyes.
But when I suddenly spot Britt walking up to me, with a determined look in her eyes, I panic and decide to immediately change strategy.
"Okay, Berry, you win." I add out of nowhere, much to her surprise. "Let's sing a duet together." I say through my teeth.
"Oh my God, are you serious?" She asks in disbelief.
"Hurry, before I change my mind!" I reply, quickly pulling her by the arm before Brittany can join us.
"Okay!" Rachel says in her irritating cheerful voice. "What number do you want to do?"
"I don't care. You pick."
A FEW MINUTES LATER – IN THE CHOIR ROOM
After briefly talking to the band, Rachel runs back to the middle of the room, to stand right next to me.
"Let's change it up and swap our parts… I'll start, okay?" She whispers to me and I only shrug, not even knowing what song she picked.
My eyes open wide and my jaw drops in shock once I realize she chose "So Emotional".
Livin' in a world of fantasies
I can't get you out of my head
Oh my God, why on earth did I even let Rachel choose the damn song? It's like everything is against me today! But before I can think this through, it's already my turn to sing.
I got a love of my own, baby
I shouldn't get so hung up on you
I seriously fucking hate Gay Berry for making me sing these words on a day like today! I feel completely exposed right now...
Totally oblivious to my discomfort, the Hobbit just smiles at me and joins me in harmony, putting her arm around my shoulder.
Oh I remember the way that we touch
I wish I didn't like it so much
It figures that this is what I get for singing with Rachel… Dammit, I should have known better!
EVEN LATER THAT DAY – AT McKINLEY (IN THE LADIES' ROOM) – BRITTANY's POV
I sigh as I look at my own reflection in the mirror, trying to process everything that has happened in the last 24 hours. It's still hard to believe that Santana and I had sex, because it was so out of the blue! I'm not even sure who initiated it… I think it was mutual? All I know is that one minute, she was taking off my shoes, helping me get in bed and the next, we were kissing. But it was clear to me right away that we would go all the way, because once her lips were on mine, I knew I wouldn't be able to stop myself.
But I can't say I was surprised when I woke up to an empty bed this morning… This is just classic Santana! She's going to go to great lengths to dodge any discussion about her feelings! The fact that she's even willing to sing with Rachel - of all people - just to avoid me speaks volumes.
But I have to find a way to talk to her, because this is too huge… And knowing her, it's not going to be easy, especially with all the Gleeks around… Maybe I can corner her before we all go to Breadstix' for dinner…
A FEW MINUTES LATER – IN THE CHOIR ROOM
But when I return to the room, Santana is nowhere to be found. Where is she?! She can't be in the bathroom since I was just in there!
"Sorry, guys…" I tell Quinn and Artie, interrupting their conversation. "But um… have you seen Santana?"
"Oh, she left a few minutes ago." Quinn replies, much to my surprise. "She got a call and said she needed to go home before dinner. She'll meet us directly at the restaurant."
"I see… Well, I actually also need to do an errand before dinner, so I… um… I'll meet you there too, okay?" I say, walking away before they can even react.
A WHILE LATER
As I park my car in front of Santana's parents' house, I suddenly feel nervous. But I know this is my only chance to have a conversation with her while we're in Lima.
After taking a long inhale to give me courage, I eventually get out of the car and ring the doorbell.
I hear a few steps getting closer, on the other side of the front door, until it finally opens.
"Melissa…?" I frown in disbelief upon seeing her.
"Oh, hi Brittany!" She smiles.
"Hi! I… um…" I trail off, not knowing what to say. I really didn't expect her to be here! "I thought you were in Chicago this weekend?" I eventually ask.
"I was, but I kind of felt guilty for not coming to Lima with Santana… And I was missing her too much!" She shrugs. "So, I decided to surprise her!" She smiles. "I suppose you want to talk to her?"
"Um… no… I mean, I just came here to see if… she wanted a ride to the restaurant?" I lie. "I don't plan to drink alcohol tonight, so I thought I could perhaps drive her… you know, to let her enjoy the evening…" I say. "I could drive both of you, actually!" I'm quick to add. "I assume you'll be joining us for dinner?"
"I wouldn't miss it! And I must say, it would be really great if you could drive us!" She says with a smile. "But please, come in…" She adds. "Santana should be here any moment now, she was just getting ready."
I follow Melissa into the living room and I have barely taken a seat when Santana enters the room.
"Brittany…" She says in a surprised tone, as our eyes meet for brief moment. Even though she's trying to hide it, I can tell that she's panicking right now. "Um… what are you doing here?"
"Brittany kindly offered to drive us to the restaurant." Melissa replies before I can say anything. "Which means we're both free to enjoy some alcohol tonight!" She adds with a smile.
"By the way, are you ready to go, honey?" She asks Santana, and I can't help but clench my jaw upon hearing the term of endearment.
"Um, yes… I'm ready." Santana replies, forcing an embarrassed smile. "You're really sure you don't mind, Britt? Because Mel and I could easily take a cab, you know…" She says in a calm voice, to keep up appearances. But I can hear her thoughts loud and clear: 'What the hell, Brittany? You know it's a terrible idea!'
"It's fine." I lie.
LATER (EVENING TIME) – AT THE KARAOKE BAR
Without surprise, the trip to the restaurant was really awkward, you could cut the tension with a knife. Fortunately, I don't think Melissa noticed anything, she was too busy telling us about her stay in Chicago. I caught Santana's eyes a few times when looking in the rear mirror but sadly, I also caught Melissa giving her a few kisses. And that's when it finally hit me: I'm the other woman.
I don't know how I ended up being part of this love triangle, but it's every bit as hurtful as one could imagine.
During dinner, I purposely sat as far as possible from Santana. With Mel here, it's not like we're going to be able to talk anyway… And I surely don't need to witness any more acts of affection between them!
We have been at the karaoke bar for a while now and I'm starting to regret my choice not to drink tonight...
EVEN LATER – AT THE KARAOKE BAR
"Oh my God, babe… That was so hot!" Melissa says in an enthusiastic voice, hugging Santana after she sang 'Nutbush City Limits'.
Since the other cheerleaders are not here, Santana did the dance moves on her own but just like Melissa said, it was still smoking hot…
While everyone praises her performance, I remain quiet at the table. It's crazy to think that barely 24 hours ago, she was all mine, and now, someone else gets to kiss her.
"Well, it's our turn now." Rachel suddenly says. "Come on, Blaine!" She adds and they both get on stage.
As they sing the first verses of 'We've Got Tonight', a few couples make their way to the dance floor, including Melissa and Santana. As I watch them dance together in a tight embrace, it quickly becomes too much for me and I decide to go out for a while, to get some fresh air.
A WHILE LATER – AT THE KARAOKE BAR
As I enter the ladies' room, I unexpectedly find Santana and Rachel talking, while adjusting their makeup by the sinks.
"Ah, Britt! I was looking for you earlier..." Rachel says with a smile. "You've got to sing tonight, we haven't heard you yet!" She adds while I look around, noticing that all toilets are free.
"Could you give us a minute, Rachel?" I ask out of nowhere.
"Oh, um… sure…" Rachel mumbles, putting her makeup back in her bag.
"You can stay, Berry." Santana is quick to say, grabbing her arm to prevent her from leaving. "Come on, Britt… Tonight is a celebration! I'm sure that whatever you have to say can wait another day." She adds, looking me straight in the eye, to make it clear that I don't have a choice. But I don't care anymore.
"Rachel, please leave us." I insist, not breaking eye contact with Santana.
"I uh…" Our friend lets out, obviously not sure what she should do.
"Get out, Rachel!" I tell her in a louder and impatient voice. "Now!"
Rachel opens her mouth, as if she was about to say something, but eventually remains silent. After throwing a quick apologetic look at Santana, she hurries out of the room, leaving us alone.
"We need to talk, Santana." I say in a firm tone.
"Not now, Brittany." She replies, not even bothering to look at me.
"Yes, now. You've been ignoring me for long enough and I…"
"When are you going to get it, Britt?" She cuts me off, turning to me. "I don't want to talk! And even if I did, this is certainly not the time nor the place!"
"Yeah, well, if it was up to you, it would never be the time or the place!" I argue. "So we might as well talk now."
"Brittany…" She sighs. "Can you even imagine the chaos that is my head right now?" She asks with a shrug. "You know that I'm not good at talking! I need time to think, and with Melissa's unexpected visit, I haven't even got a chance to process any of this!" She says, raising her arms in frustration. "I don't even know how to act around my girlfriend right now! So, I'm sorry, but you're gonna have to wait." She adds in a determined voice, before getting out of the room.
LATER THAT NIGHT – AT THE KARAOKE BAR
Sitting at the table, I watch a drunk Melissa getting all over Santana, making me increasingly jealous. I can tell that Santana doesn't know how to handle it, obviously having a hard time finding the right balance between acting normal with her and sparing me from this display of affection.
God, how did we even get caught in such a messy situation?
On the contrary of Santana - who tends to run away from her emotions - I need to talk to process mine. And it's really driving me crazy not to be able to discuss what happened between us! I eventually get so sick of it that I decide to get on stage, for the first time tonight.
Since I'm not allowed to talk, maybe I can express myself through music instead.
SANTANA's POV
As soon as the first notes of music play, I recognize the song that Brittany is about to sing.
Somebody said you got a new friend
Does she love you better than I can?
I'm sure everyone thinks she's just redoing one of her old numbers but I know this is directed at me. It figures that even though I specifically told her I didn't want to talk, Brittany would find a way to get her message across.
I'm in the corner, watching you kiss her, ohhh
Our eyes occasionally meet and even though it makes me uncomfortable, I don't manage to look away.
I'm giving it my all, but I'm not the girl you're taking home, oooh
I keep dancing on my own
I know she's sad, I can hear it in her voice. But I don't know what to do right now…
God, this is such a fucking mess!
LATE THAT NIGHT – AT SANTANA'S PARENTS' – BRITTANY's POV
"Thank you so much for the ride, Brittany!" Melissa says with a smile, as we all stand right outside the house.
"Oh, you're welcome…" I shrug, feeling uneasy.
"Well, good night, Britt…" Santana says, obviously trying to put an end to an uncomfortable evening. "Get home safe."
"San, wait…" I say as she's about to get inside the house. "Um… since the kids are coming back tomorrow morning, can we quickly work out the practical details?" I ask.
"Okay, I'm sorry but if you don't mind, I'll leave you two to it, because I've really got to pee right now!" Melissa suddenly says. "Bye, Brittany!" She waves, before hurrying into the house.
"This better really be about the kids, Britt." Santana warns, once Melissa has gone.
"It is." I nod in confirmation.
"Well, my mom said that they should be home by 10:00." She says. "But I would like to spend some time with them before Melissa and I leave for the airport, so… Is it ok for you to pick them up around 11:00?"
"Sure… 11:00 is perfect." I say. "What time are you flying back to L.A.?"
"Our flight is at 3:30 PM." Santana replies. "What about you?"
"Oh, we'll take the evening flight. Since I got to Lima only on Friday night and they all went on their weekend trip the next day, I have barely seen my parents, so… I thought I would spend a few hours with them, before flying back home with the kids."
"Okay, it sounds good…" She says. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow morning then?"
"Yeah." I nod. "Night, San…" I whisper, placing a soft kiss on her cheek, keeping my lips on her skin a little longer than I should.
As I pull away, our eyes briefly meet and all I can think of is how bad I want to kiss her right now. But she's not mine to kiss…
Just like I sang earlier, I'm not the girl she's taking home... And no matter how much I hate that thought, she's gonna share a bed with someone else tonight…
THE NEXT MORNING (MONDAY) – AT SANTANA'S PARENTS' - SANTANA's POV
"Even if it was way too short, it was great to see you, dear…" My mom tells Britt, hugging her tight.
"You too, Maribel…"
"Will you come to my poetry showcase on Thursday, mama?" Gabriel asks me as we say goodbye.
"Of course I will, mijo!" I reply, holding his face in my hands. "I'm always there to see my kids shine!" I smile, before hugging him once more.
"Come on, boys…" I add in a soft tone while Sofia is hugging my parents. "You don't want to make your mom late." I say, helping them get in the car.
"Well, I guess I'll see you in L.A.?" Brittany asks me, her piercing blue eyes locked with mine.
"I guess so…" I smile timidly.
"Have a safe flight!" She says, kissing me goodbye on the cheek. And just like yesterday, I feel my skin burn under her touch.
"What's going on between you two?" Sofia whispers out of nowhere, looking at Brittany and me. Fortunately, there is no one to hear it, since my parents and Mel already went back inside the house, and her brothers are in the car.
"Did you guys have a fight?" She asks. "You look weird today!"
"What? No!" I frown. "You look weird!" I tell my daughter, as if I was 12 years old.
"Right…" Sofia squints, clearly not buying it. "That reaction of yours just makes it even more suspicious, you know!" She adds, making me roll my eyes. God, she's such a smarty pants!
"Well, look at the time! I think you need to go now, mija!" I tell my daughter, trying to put an end to this conversation.
"If you say so…" Sofia says, her eyes still set on me, as if she was trying to read my thoughts. "Well, see you in L.A., mama!" She adds, hugging me.
Notes:
So, this is how I imagined Santana would react, you may or may not agree... At this stage, we don't really know what she thinks though, except that she's not ready to talk about it.
You probably noticed that I didn't even mention Nick in this chapter but that was on purpose, because the girls were in Lima and the situation was already complicated enough due to Melissa's presence. But he will be part of the next chapter and we'll see what that brings.
Now, please tell me... What did you think of this chapter? Did you expect it would turn out like that? What do you think will happen next? Please let me know in the comments, I'm dying to know what you think! And thanks for reading!
Chapter Text
THE NEXT DAY (TUESDAY) – AT PARAMOUNT – IN SANTANA'S OFFICE – SANTANA's POV
"I mean, don't get me wrong…" Quinn says, as we're having lunch in my office. "I love that Mr. Schue organized a 'Glee kids' day' in Lima, but I'm not sure that travelling with children for just one weekend is worth it. Because then, they have jet lag and the first night back in L.A. is always a nightmare! Especially with your goddaughter! I swear, I think she woke us up like 3 times last night… which is manageable if you have a few days off, but when you have to work on the next day, it's…"
"I slept with Brittany." I suddenly cut her off, raising timid eyes towards her.
Quinn looks at me in shock but stays silent, for what feels like forever.
"What…?" She eventually frowns in confusion. "When?!" She asks and I'm not sure why she's whispering, considering that it's just the two of us in my office right now.
"Saturday night… after the first Gleeks night out…" I reply in a shy voice.
"Saturday, but…" She frowns again, as the realization that I was with Melissa on Sunday finally hits her.
"So… I take it that Melissa doesn't know?" She asks and I silently shake my head no.
"My life is such a disaster, Q… I don't even know what to do!" I say in a desperate voice, on the verge of crying.
"Okay, okay…" She says in a comforting tone, squeezing my hand. "Let's just… rewind a little." She suggests. "How did this happen…?"
"I don't know… I… Britt was pretty drunk that night and I didn't want her to go home alone in that state. So, we split a cab and I was planning to go to my parents' right after dropping her off, but… she was struggling to open her front door…" I say. "So, I helped her get to her room, and I swear, I never meant to stay there! But even if I keep thinking about it over and over, I honestly don't even know how it happened, Q! We just kissed out of nowhere and… I… I just… I couldn't stop…" I eventually confess with a shrug.
"Well, you were also pretty drunk that night, San… We all were."
"I know but… I can't blame what happened on alcohol." I say, looking down at my hands. "I was still lucid enough to know what I was doing." I finally admit.
"And cheating on my girlfriend is already awful enough but… with my ex-wife? The mother of my children?" I add, shaking my head in despair. "I've created such a fucking mess for so many people, Quinn…" I sob, hiding my face in my hands.
"Shhh…" She says, moving closer to me on the couch, to engulf me in a tight hug. "It's gonna be okay…" She whispers, rubbing my back while I sob hysterically in her arms, finally letting it all out.
"What happened after?" She eventually asks once I calm down. "What did Britt say?"
"Nothing, I uh… I left before she woke up."
"You what?!" She says in an outraged tone, slapping my arm.
"Ow!" I frown. "I know, okay?" I say, getting up from the couch before she can slap me again. "But I panicked, Q! I knew that Brittany would want to talk about it and I was not ready to face her or what we had done! So, I went home." I shrug. "And then, Melissa showed up in Lima and things got so complicated, I… I didn't know how to handle it…"
"And now, I have all these confusing feelings…" I add. "I can't have sex with my girlfriend, because I feel too guilty for cheating on her. And whenever Melissa kisses me, now I also feel like I'm cheating on Brittany! Even though we're not even together!" I say, raising my arms in frustration. "I'm so lost that I don't know where to go from here…"
"Ok, I know you don't want to hear this…" Quinn says. "But I really think you should start by talking to Britt, San… You have to discuss what happened, and find out what it meant! Besides, can you imagine how she must be feeling right now? You sleep with her and then, not only are you gone by the time she wakes up, but she sees you with Melissa on the next day?!" She adds and I immediately feel guilty.
"I'm just… I'm terrified…"
"Why? Aren't you curious to know how she feels? And what she thinks?"
"I'm not sure I want to know…" I trail off. "What if she says it was just a drunken mistake and she goes back to Nick?"
"But you don't know that, that's why you should talk to her." She repeats. "What if she says she wants to be with you?"
"That's just as scary, Q! We're divorced! Do you know what that means? It's not just a box that I tick on forms under 'civil status', okay? There was a point in our lives where Brittany and I both decided to end our marriage!" I say, raising my arms. "At least, Melissa and I have a great relationship! Am I supposed to throw that away, just to fail with Brittany again?"
"Look, I'm not trying to point fingers here but… no matter how great your relationship with Melissa is, it didn't stop you from cheating on her." She shrugs and I immediately look down at my feet, feeling ashamed. "And I know you're scared it may not work with Brittany… But you're not in the same situation as five years ago, San. And you know it."
"Maybe but…" I sigh. "It doesn't mean it would work! What if Brittany and I get back together, and then we break up? I don't know if I can go through that pain again, Quinn…" I say in a sad voice, shaking my head. "And what about the kids, uh? Don't you remember how bad it was for them after the divorce? Gabriel stopped talking for weeks! Do you even know how devastating it was for me to see my sweet, happy boy completely shut down like that?" I add. "I don't want to put my children through that again…"
"I know how tough it was on all of you, I was there…" Quinn nods in sympathy. "But Gabriel is doing just fine. He's got poetry and his girlfriend… And every time I see him now, he's all smiles, just like before!" She says. "But you know what, San? I think you should forget about other people for a minute…" She adds, making me frown.
"I'm serious!" She says upon noticing my confusion. "Don't think about Melissa, Nick, or even your kids… You can consider all that later. But for now, you should just focus on the most crucial question: you need to ask yourself if you want to be with Brittany." She adds and I only sigh in response, looking down at my feet once more.
"How did it feel… being with her again?" She eventually asks, breaking the silence.
"It felt like… coming home…" I whisper, with a shrug.
LATER THAT DAY (LATE EVENING) – AT SANTANA'S HOUSE – IN BED
I was planning to sleep early tonight but given the way Melissa is kissing my neck right now, she apparently has something else in mind. I would normally happily go along with it but… I'm not myself since my night with Brittany.
"Mel, honey…" I say in a soft voice, once I feel her hand on my breast.
"Mmh?" She says, still kissing my neck.
"I'm sorry but… I um… I'm not feeling very well tonight." I eventually say.
"Still not?" She asks, looking at me with concerned eyes, before placing her hand on my forehead. "You don't have temperature but… maybe you're coming down with something?"
"Yeah, I don't know… But I should probably rest." I say. "Is it ok if we just sleep?"
"Of course, honey!" She says, pressing her lips on mine. "We'll catch up when you feel better…" She adds, wiggling her eyebrows, before hugging my body, her head resting on my chest.
It's the third night in a row that I make excuses to avoid sexy times and I'm not sure how long I can keep this up… Melissa knows all too well that I'm not the kind of person that turns down sex…
A WHILE LATER
It's quite late now and if Melissa is long asleep, I'm definitely awake. My head is full of thoughts and as my eyes are set on the ceiling of my bedroom, I can't help but wonder if Brittany still has sex with Nick…
But the simple thought of his hands on her body drives me so jealous that I decide to focus on happy thoughts instead. Fortunately, after a while thinking of my children, I eventually fall asleep as well.
THE NEXT MORNING (WEDNESDAY) – AT SANTANA'S HOUSE
Mel has just left for work when someone suddenly rings the doorbell.
"What are you doing here, mija?" I frown upon seeing Sofia on my doorstep. "You're supposed to be in school!"
"I know, and I promise I'll be in school by the time the second period starts… But I had to see you, mama. It's an emergency!"
"What's going on?" I ask in a worried voice, inviting her to sit on the living room couch.
"I suppose you haven't heard yet, but… mom and Nick broke up." She says, making me open my eyes wide.
"What? When?"
"I'm not sure… I think they may have broken up the same night we came back from Lima…" She says, uncertain. "But what I know for sure is that Nick didn't come home last night and mom was acting really strange. She first said he was on the night shift but I knew she was lying." She shrugs.
"He already did the night shifts when we were in Lima and he's not allowed to do it for such a long period. And then, I noticed that some of his stuff was gone, so… I confronted her and she broke into tears, saying it was over between them." She says and weirdly enough, I immediately feel sad. I don't want Brittany to be in pain, and I never meant to hurt Nick either.
"I… uh…" I trail off, not knowing what to say.
"Did something happen in Lima?" She asks.
"What makes you think something happened?" I shrug innocently.
"Because you were both acting strange when we came back from our trip with the grandparents. And mom and Nick are now broken up, even though they were completely fine before she went to Lima!" She says. "And you look very weird right now too."
"You always say we're weird, mija, so…"
"But I usually say that because you don't act like a normal divorced couple."
"What would you possibly know about what divorced couples are supposed to be like?" I ask.
"Most of my friends' parents are divorced, mama! And they either hate each other or barely talk. While you and mom have always been super close." She argues. "But this time, something is different…"
"What's different?" I shrug.
"I don't know… Now, you actually act all distant, like a real divorced couple. And it's not just me who thinks so, Diego and Gabriel noticed too."
Of course, the kids would pick up on that, because they've always seen me and Britt getting along. Even after the divorce, we would still talk and laugh together, occasionally teasing each other, and always backing each other up in front of our children.
"Did you have a fight?" Sofia asks for the second time, her worried eyes set on me.
"No, mija… We did not have a fight." I say right away, to reassure her. "You don't have to worry about mom and me, okay?"
"But if it was not a fight, then… what was it?" She asks. "Because something is going on, mama!"
"Nothing is going on…" I sigh.
For fuck's sake, when is she going to drop it?!
"Oh my God!" She suddenly says, her eyes opening wide and her jaw dropping in shock as if she had an epiphany. "You slept together?!" She says in disbelief, and I find myself completely frozen in my spot, unable to say a word.
How did she even figure it out? And what am I supposed to say now? Should I deny it and play it like that's insane? But it's probably too late for that… And what if she asks her mom the same question, would Britt tell her the truth? God, of course, Britt would tell her the truth!
"Ok, mija, listen to me…" I eventually say. "You can't tell anyone about this, okay?" I add, aware that I basically just confirmed her suspicions. "I don't know if mom told Nick, maybe she did and maybe this is why they broke up… But I haven't told Melissa." I sigh in a sad tone. "It's… it's complicated."
"Are you guys getting back together…?" She asks, obviously still trying to process the situation.
"I don't know." I shrug. "It's all happening so fast that I haven't even got a chance to wrap my head around it! So please, promise me you won't tell anyone until mom and I figure it out! Not Melissa, not Liam, not even your brothers…" I plead.
"Okay…" She eventually nods. "I won't tell anyone…"
"Thank you." I whisper, squeezing her hand in gratitude.
LATER THAT DAY – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE
As I'm standing on Brittany's doorstep, I'm feeling nervous as hell. Knowing myself, I could stay here for hours without ever ringing the doorbell, or even just walk back to my car and go home. But I know I can't hide forever… Brittany and I have children together, it's not like I will be able to avoid her for long.
After taking a few deep inhales to give me courage, I eventually force myself to ring the doorbell. My heart immediately beats faster and although it only takes Brittany a few seconds to open the door, it feels like forever.
"What are you doing here, Santana?" She frowns.
That's not very welcoming, but I guess I deserve that.
"Hi… I uh… I thought that maybe we could talk…?" I say timidly.
"Oh, now you want to talk?" She says, crossing her arms.
Okay, she's definitely angry… And seeing how red her eyes are, she obviously cried.
"I just… I came to see how you were doing…" I shrug. "You broke up with Nicholas…?" I ask, in a mix of compassion and disbelief.
"His name is NICK!" She says in a frustrated voice. "And how do you even know I broke up with him?" She asks. "Oh… Sofia told you." She adds and I silently nod in confirmation.
"Well, you don't have to worry, Santana." She says. "Even if Nick deserved the truth, I didn't tell him I cheated on him with you, to be sure it wouldn't get back to you. So, you're free to be with Melissa if that's what you want." She adds before walking towards the living room, leaving me on the doorstep. Even though she didn't invite me in, I eventually close the front door and follow her.
"Why did you do it? Break up with him…" I ask. "I know you loved him."
"I did love him." She immediately confirms and although I have always been aware of that, I still feel a sting in my heart. "But if I really loved him the way I thought I did, I wouldn't have been able to cheat on him! Not even with you." She shrugs, and I immediately look down at my hands, thinking that she makes a valid point. Can I really claim I love Melissa after sleeping with another woman?
"He's a wonderful man…" She says in a cracking voice, trying to hold back her tears. "And I hate that I hurt him, but… he deserves better."
"Are you really sure this is what you want, Britt?" I ask. "I mean, you were pretty drunk that night, and…"
"It had nothing to do with alcohol, San…" She cuts me off. "Sure, I was tipsy enough to be clumsy with my keys and lose balance, but… I knew what I was doing." She admits. "And although I didn't plan for us to kiss, I decided not to stop it… I wanted it to happen."
"And as soon as I got back to L.A, I knew I had to break up with Nick. He deserves a faithful girlfriend who only wants him, not a woman who is in love with someone else." She adds, taking me aback.
Did she just say "in love"…?
"Britt…" I sigh. "I just don't want you to ruin your relationship over something we know is not working…" I say in a sad voice. "We divorced for a reason…"
"I know… But as much as it was a reason back then, it's not a reason anymore, San…" She shrugs. "Our lives are so different now, and the kids are older." She argues while I remain silent, not knowing what to say.
"Why are you pushing me to get back with Nick? Don't you love me…?" She eventually asks while moving closer to me, her blue eyes staring into mine.
"That's not fair…" I whisper, shaking my head. "You know I love you, Brittany… I always have! Even the divorce didn't change that, because… I just don't know how to unlove you." I shrug, having a hard time hiding the emotion in my voice. "But that doesn't mean it would work between us…"
"But how can we know if we don't try?" She says with pleading eyes. "San, that night with you… it felt right." She shrugs. "And as much as I loved Nick, I had not felt this kind of connection in a long time… Not since 5 years ago. And I know you felt it too…" She whispers, standing so close to me that I can feel her breath against my lips.
Our eyes are locked and once again, my heart is pounding hard in my chest. She eventually closes the gap and tenderly presses her lips on mine, sending shivers down my spine.
Even though I kiss her back for a few seconds, I eventually pull away.
"No, no… We can't do this..." I say, out of breath. "I just came here to talk, Brittany! So… here." I add, placing a chair between us. "There has to be furniture between us at all times, because we both know what will happen if we kiss again!"
"Fine… You want to talk? Let's talk." She shrugs. "I'll even start, okay?" She suggests, taking a long exhale.
"I really want to be with you." She eventually says in a sure voice, looking into my eyes. "Our night together was eye-opening, San... And now, I'm sure more than ever that I belong with you."
"And I know Melissa is great, but… you can't re-create what you and I have." She says and I'm so intimidated that I immediately look down at my feet.
"So… it's your choice." She adds, slowly going around the chair to kiss me on the cheek. "If you want me, I'm here." She whispers.
THE NEXT DAY (THURSDAY) – AT THE RESTAURANT – BRITTANY's POV
"How are you doing, Britt?" Quinn asks me as we're having lunch just the two of us.
I can tell by the softness in her voice and the compassionate look in her eyes that she knows… She knows both about my night with Santana and my break up with Nick. And that's not really surprising, considering that Santana and Quinn usually tell each other everything.
"Well, this week has certainly been an emotional hell…" I sigh. "My break up with Nick was so horrible, Q…" I say, shaking my head. "I know it had to be done, but… I still broke his heart…"
"I'm sure it was hard, but you did the right thing, Britt." She nods, squeezing my hand.
"And um… how is it going with San?" She asks.
"I don't know…" I shrug. "We had a good talk yesterday – which I guess is progress already – and I told her I wanted to be with her, but… I haven't heard from her since then."
"Oh, well, you know San…" Quinn says. "She's as slow as a snail for these things! Everyone will figure out what she really wants before she does herself..."
"Yeah, I guess that's pretty accurate." I sigh. "But what if she picks Melissa?" I ask in a worried voice.
"Honestly, I don't see that happening, Britt…"
"She loves her though." I shrug. "I know she does, I saw the way she was looking at her all these years…"
"Well, I'm sure she loves Melissa, just like you loved Nick, but…" Quinn trails off. "Okay, I'm not supposed to tell you that, but when Santana and I talked this morning, she admitted – and I quote – that 'she'll always love you the most', so… I think it's not even about Melissa anymore… She's just scared." She shrugs. "She's afraid of what failing again would mean for both of you, and for your kids… But she'll come around, you'll see."
"I hope you're right…" I whisper.
"For what it's worth, even if I appreciate Melissa, I'm totally rooting for you two! Team Brittana all the way!" Quinn says while raising the fist, making me chuckle.
"Thanks, Q…" I say with a small smile.
LATER THAT DAY (EARLY EVENING) – AT THE ARTS SCHOOL – SANTANA's POV
When I enter the auditorium to attend Gabriel's poetry showcase, Brittany is already seated on our usual row.
"Hi…" I say in a shy voice.
"Hi…" She smiles timidly. "I uh… I saved you a seat." She says. "A couple of seats actually, I didn't know if Melissa was coming with you or not…"
"Thanks." I reply, taking the seat next to her. "And um… no, Mel is not coming. She's at a PTA meeting tonight." I say and we immediately fall into an uncomfortable silence.
"What about Sofia and Diego? Are they here?" I ask, trying to keep the conversation going.
"No, I'm afraid they will have to skip this one." She replies. "Diego is at the birthday party of a boy from his baseball team, and Sofia is at Charlotte's, to work on this science project they have to turn in tomorrow."
"Right…" I say.
So… that means I will spend the whole evening alone with Brittany.
I must be cursed.
LATER THAT NIGHT – AT THE ARTS SCHOOL
"So, what did you think?" An excited Gabriel asks me and Britt, after the show ended.
"Oh, you were so good, bud!" Brittany says, hugging him. "You gave me goosebumps all the way through your 'shattered heart' poem!"
"Same here." I add. "I know I'm going to repeat myself, but you really have an immense talent, mijo! I'm one proud mama!" I say, giving him a kiss.
"Thanks!" My boy says with that magic smile of his, making all in the world good again.
"You're ready to go home?" Britt asks our son.
"Well, um… since Stella is here too, I was wondering if we could stay a little longer?" He asks shyly.
"Sure, buddy, we can stay for a while." His mom nods and he smiles wide, before running to his girlfriend.
"Do you want to grab a drink?" Brittany asks me, nodding towards the bar.
"Oh, I uh… I don't know…"
"Come on, San… Are you really going to leave me here all alone while I wait for our son?"
"Um... Well, I guess I can stay a little longer…" I say, checking my watch. Melissa's PTA meeting is most likely still going on anyway.
A WHILE LATER – AT THE ARTS SCHOOL – AT THE BAR
"Stop looking at me like that…" I whisper, before taking another sip of wine, even though all I want right now is gulp the whole glass.
"Like what?" Britt asks, frowning in confusion.
"Like you saw me naked!" I whisper.
"Well, I did…" She shrugs with a smirk, making me roll my eyes.
"Britt, what are you doing?" I sigh.
"I'm flirting with you." She shrugs.
"Yeah, I know that!" I say, raising my hands. "You have been flirting with me the whole evening! You're even wearing that damn dress." I add, pointing at her outfit.
"What about my dress?"
"Oh, please, Britt… Don't play innocent with me! That's the dress you used to wear every time you wanted to get things your way. Because you knew I would want to have sex with you after seeing you in it, and I would eventually give in to whatever you were asking."
"Well, does it still work?" She asks.
"What?!" I frown in confusion.
"Does it make you wanna have sex with me?" She asks in a sultry voice, making me swallow hard.
"I… uh…" I mumble, suddenly feeling intimidated.
"Mom, I'm ready to go home now." Gabriel fortunately interrupts us, while Brittany's eyes are still set on me.
"Alright… Well, I guess we'll go then." Britt smiles at our son, before gathering her stuff.
"Bye, mama… Thanks for coming!" Gabriel says and I get up to hug him goodbye.
"It was my pleasure, mijo! I'll see you soon, okay?"
"Bye, San…" Britt says, leaning to press her lips on my cheek for a little too long, her hand resting on my shoulder.
As she pulls away, her seductive blue eyes briefly meet mine, and I feel like all the air has been sucked out of my lungs.
I sit back on my stool, waving one last time at them. And as I watch them walk away, all I can think of is that Brittany's dress most definitely still works…
A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER (SATURDAY EVENING) – AT SANTANA'S HOUSE – IN THE LIVING ROOM
"Well… I think I'm gonna go to bed." I tell Melissa, as the movie we've been watching just ended.
"Already?" She asks, surprised.
"Yeah, I'm beat! But you can stay up longer if you want, honey." I smile, before kissing her forehead.
"San, wait…" She says once I'm almost out of the room.
"Yeah?" I ask, turning around.
"Are we…" She says, pausing for a second. "Are we okay?" She eventually asks, raising worried eyes towards me.
Notes:
Please, let me know what you thought of this chapter in the comments, because without the feedback, I can't know if the story is appreciated or not... What do you think will happen next: will Santana tell Melissa? Will she stay with Mel or try again with Brittany? Thank you for reading!
Chapter 10: One week
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
LATER THAT NIGHT (1:00 AM) – AT QUINN AND PUCK'S HOUSE – QUINN's POV
"She didn't even say what it was about?!" Puck asks me as I'm getting out of bed.
"No…" I shrug while putting on my bathrobe. "She just said she was outside our house and didn't dare ring the doorbell because she didn't want to wake up the kids."
"Anyway, I better go get her…" I add, leaving our bedroom.
I climb down the stairs as quietly as I can, before hurrying to open the front door.
"Hey…" I whisper upon seeing a distressed Santana on my doorstep.
She must have dressed quickly because her clothes don't match at all and her hair is all messy. Her eyes are red and shiny, a clear sign that she'd been crying.
"I'm so sorry to show up unannounced at such a late hour, Q, but… can I please sleep here tonight?" She asks and I can hear the despair in her voice.
"Uh… yeah, of course!" I nod, inviting her to come in.
"What happened?" I ask.
"I um…" She trails off. "Mel and I broke up…" She eventually says in a shaky voice. "And then, she threw me out of the house, so…" She adds with a sad shrug, before breaking into tears right in front of me.
"Oh, San… Come here…" I say, pulling her into a tight hug.
"I'm really sorry to barge in here like this, Q…" She repeats, sobbing and clinging to me as if her life depended on it.
"Don't be silly, you're always welcome here!" I say, rubbing her back to comfort her.
Even though we remain silent, I keep her in a tight embrace for a while, until she calms down.
"I never meant to hurt her…" She eventually whispers, breaking the silence.
"I know you didn't…"
FLASHBACK TO EARLIER THAT NIGHT – AT SANTANA'S HOUSE – SANTANA 's POV
"I don't… I don't understand…" Melissa frowns, shaking her head.
Yeah, if roles were reversed, I wouldn't understand either… In the three and a half years we have been together, Mel and I never even had a fight! We got along since day 1, and things have always been amazingly easy with her because she just got me.
"You said you loved me..." She argues, sobbing.
"I do love you…" I say in a cracking voice, unable to hold back my tears.
"Then why are you breaking up with me?" She asks, locking sad eyes with me, but I remain silent, not knowing what to say.
"Are you seeing someone else?" She eventually asks.
"No!" I immediately reply.
I didn't tell Melissa I cheated on her. I figured it would only cause her additional pain, without changing the outcome. Even though it took me a while to accept it, I know I don't have a choice. I have to break up with her… Because even if a part of me just wants to pretend nothing happened, I know that everything has changed and that it will never go back to what it was.
But I'm not sure it's a lie when I say I'm not seeing anyone, because I'm actually not seeing Brittany.
"You really expect me to believe that?" She asks, upset. "San, we haven't had sex in two weeks!" She argues and God knows that for anyone who has ever dated me, that would be enough to know that something is off.
"I'm not seeing anyone!" I repeat. "But I…" I sigh, trailing off. "I do have feelings for someone else…" I eventually admit in a whisper and judging by the painful look on her face, it's clear that I just broke her heart in a thousand pieces.
Seeing her hurting this bad kills me so much that I just want to engulf her in a tight hug. But I know I can't.
"It's Brittany, isn't it…?" She suddenly whispers, much to my surprise, and I find myself at a loss for words.
"God, I'm so stupid!" She says, shaking her head in despair.
"Don't say that…"
"You know what's ironic?" She asks. "My mom actually warned me about this! She said that you were getting along too well with your ex-wife, and that I shouldn't have any expectations from a woman who clearly had no desire to marry me!" She adds and I don't know what to say so I just remain silent.
"I thought you were the one…" She says in a cracking voice, her sad eyes meeting mine. "I wanted to have a family with you!" She sobs.
And that's when it hits me: I was her "Brittany"…
THE NEXT DAY (SUNDAY, EARLY MORNING) – AT QUINN AND PUCK'S HOUSE
Even though I was completely exhausted when I got here, I couldn't sleep at all. I just kept thinking of Melissa all night long…
I'm still ruminating in bed when my phone suddenly rings.
"Hi Abuela…" I say upon picking up.
"Hello mija! How are you?"
"I'm fine…" I lie. "How are you?"
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, why?" I say, pretending that everything is alright.
"Santana, you know it's a sin to lie to your grandmother? I know something is wrong, I can hear it in your voice!"
Yeah, I should have known that her psychic Mexican third eye would see right through me...
"It's just that um… Melissa and I broke up…" I eventually say.
"Really?" She asks, apparently genuinely surprised. "I'm so sorry to hear that, mija… What happened?"
"I uh… I cheated on her…" I reply in spite of myself.
God, why would I even confess something like that to Abuela?! Is it maybe because I feel so guilty that a part of me wants to suffer?
"What?! You cheated on your girlfriend?" She says in a reproachful tone. "Oh, Santana… You were raised better than this, mija!" She adds and I can clearly hear the disappointment in her voice.
She's right, I was raised better than this. And I had never cheated on anyone before… I mean, I used to "cheat" on Puck and other boys in high school all the time, but I had never cheated on anyone I actually loved…
"I thought you loved Melissa? And you always said how bad you wanted it to work, so… Why would you sabotage your relationship like that? And who's that woman you cheated on her with?!"
"It's… Brittany…" I sigh, knowing that there is no point to stall because Abuela would not have stopped until she got it out of me.
"Brittany?" She repeats as if she couldn't believe it. "Are you two getting back together?" She eventually asks, not even bothering to hide the obvious hope in her voice.
"Oh, now you're fine with me cheating!" I say in an ironic tone.
"It's not cheating if it's with your wife." She replies.
"Brittany is not my wife, Abuela! We're DIVORCED!" I say, not believing my ears.
"Well, you may be divorced in the eyes of law but not in the eyes of God, mija. Marriage is sacred! You took vows, until death do you part."
"We didn't even get married in a church!" I protest.
"So? You don't have to be in a church. God is everywhere! Even more so when I'm there, because I bring Him with me everywhere I go. And I was at your wedding, so…" She replies, making me roll my eyes.
"And I don't think it's a coincidence that you cheated on your girlfriend with Brittany." She adds, even though no one asked her. "Maybe it's God's doing!"
Is she even serious?!
"And what about Brittany?" She asks. "Is she still with Nick?"
"No, they broke up too." I sigh.
"Really? Oh, mija, that's fantastic!" She says in an excited tone.
"Fantastic?" I repeat, frowning.
"Well, yeah! There's no one standing in your way now."
"Yeah, I'm sorry, Abuela… but I have to go." I only reply, getting sick of this conversation.
"Wait!" She's quick to say. "You are getting back together with Brittany, right?"
"I don't know, okay?" I say in an irritated tone.
"But you have children together!"
"And so what?" I ask, getting more and more impatient. "Are you seriously telling me I should get back with her just because of the kids?!"
"Well, no, but…"
"Then can you just let me figure it out on my own?" I cut her off.
"Fine." She replies. "But let me say one more thing." She adds while I roll my eyes again in frustration.
"We both know you love Brittany, mija." She says in a sure voice. "If there's a chance to get her back, you have to seize it! So please, don't mess this up… I beg you!"
LATER THAT DAY (EARLY AFTERNOON) – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE – BRITTANY's POV
Santana and I have been standing in the dance room for a few minutes but she has yet to say a word. I'm not sure what's going on because all I could get out of her since she arrived was that "we needed to talk, just the two of us". But it must be bad because she has puffy eyes and looks very tired, as if she had not slept at all.
"San…" I eventually whisper, to get her out of her trance.
"Yeah, okay… Here it goes…" She sighs, pausing for a moment. "Mel and I... are over." She eventually says, making my jaw drop in disbelief, although it's not a complete surprise. Why else would she be so sad?
"And I really don't want to talk about it, Britt… So, please don't make me." She begs.
"Okay…" I nod in understanding. "I'm really sorry, San…" I add, rubbing her upper arm.
"Thanks…" She replies in a sad voice. "But the reason I'm here is because I wanted to ask you if the kids could stay with you this week?" She says, much to my surprise. "I know it's my turn but um… Melissa wants me out of the house for a few days, just to give her time to gather her stuff and move out, so…"
"What?" I frown. "But isn't it your house?!"
"Yeah, but… it's the least I could do, considering…" She trails off.
I know I should be more understanding, especially because I'm the reason they broke up, but I'm fuming! It's not just Santana's house that Melissa is taking, it's also my children's home!
"Where are you staying?" I only ask, forcing myself not to comment further because I don't want to make it more difficult on her.
"At Quinn and Puck's." She replies. "They're fine with me staying there for a while but there's not much room, so… I can't bring the kids with me."
"Well… you could stay here…" I suggest timidly.
"Here?" She repeats, surprised. "No, Britt… I can't." She shakes her head, as if it was a bad idea.
"Why not? You still own this house, San…" I shrug. "And you deserve time with your children!"
"I'm not sure I deserve anything…" She whispers, looking down in guilt.
"Of course you do!" I immediately say, frowning. "And if you won't do it for yourself, at least do it for the kids! They deserve to see their mama."
"But, Brittany… I've barely broken up with Mel and you're asking me to stay at the woman's I cheated with? It wouldn't be right…"
"No, I'm asking you to stay with your children." I argue. "And you wouldn't be here in the first place if Melissa had not kicked you out, so…" I shrug.
"Look, San… I'm not saying we have to share a bed, you can stay in the guest room if you want." I offer. "I just don't want the kids to be punished when this whole mess has nothing to do with them!"
"But wouldn't it be a bother?" She eventually asks, after taking a moment.
"No." I immediately reassure her. "We have plenty of room here…" I shrug.
LATER THAT DAY – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE – IN SOFIA'S BEDROOM – SANTANA's POV
"Wow…" Sofia says in disbelief, after I told her that Melissa and I broke up.
"Are you okay?" She eventually asks.
"No… But I will be, eventually." I nod, to reassure her.
"So… what happens now?"
"I don't know, mija…" I shrug. "I guess I'll stay here for a few days, until Mel moves out. And then, I'll go home."
"Go home?" She frowns in confusion. "But… why would you go back there just to be alone in that big house? Don't you want to stay here?"
"I can't stay here, Sofia…"
"Why not? I'm sure mom would love to have you here..." She insists. "And we would too, mama."
"That's very sweet, mija, but… I need some time for myself." I confess. "I know you want mom and I to get back together, and frankly, it seems that everyone around me is pushing for that! But I just broke up with my long-term partner." I argue. "I need people to let me be sad for a while, you know?"
"Yeah, okay…" She nods in understanding. "But… can I just say one thing?" She asks timidly and I silently nod.
"I was 12 when you two got divorced, mama…" She reminds me. "So, I have lots of memories from the time we were all living under the same roof. And what I remember the most is you and mom always being all over each other! I would catch you kissing pretty much every time I dared stepping out of my bedroom!" She chuckles and I can't help but smile because that's actually very accurate…
"I know you still love each other." She adds in a sure voice, staring into my eyes. "Even after the divorce, it was still there. Frankly, you had to be blind not to notice it!" She says. "And what happened in Lima proves it."
"Having sex after drinking too much is hardly a proof of anything, mija…"
"Really?" She asks. "Because the truth is that you and mom slept together the only night you were ever left alone in 5 years."
Oh my God… I had never thought about that… But she's right!
"You were both in a committed relationship, with people you actually loved…" Sofia continues. "And yet, one night is all it took for you two to do the nasty and break up with your long-term partners! So, I'm sorry, mama, but there's no way you're gonna make me believe that this was just an accident!" She adds and this is one of these moments where it hits me in the face: my little girl is definitely growing into an adult woman.
"Since when did you get so smart?" I only manage to say, with a timid smile.
"Well, as a smart girl, let me tell you: I understand that you need to mourn your relationship with Melissa for a while, but is that really it? Because we both know that mom is the one you want! And now, you're actually both single, so what's stopping you exactly? Seriously, what are you afraid of?" She asks in an empathetic voice and I let out a long sigh, taking a moment before answering.
"Do you remember when mom and I told you guys we were getting a divorce?" I ask and she silently nods. "I've got to tell you, mija... That is by far the absolute worst moment of my entire life." I confess. "I can still picture your heartbroken faces and hear your cries… It's a memory that has been haunting me ever since…" I add in a sad voice. "And I also remember how surprised you were, Sofia. You kept arguing that 'it couldn't be true', because mom and I 'were never fighting'." I say, quoting her words. "But even if we never yelled at each other, we did fight, mija. It's just that we made sure to never do it in front of you."
"And things eventually got so difficult that we agreed it was better to end it… We really didn't want to risk getting anywhere near the point where we would resent each other... The most important thing for us was to still get along and be able to take care of you together, even if it meant having to end our marriage."
"And although that was the healthiest decision, I know how tough the divorce has been on you and your brothers… Because of us, you guys suddenly had a broken home…" I say in a sad voice. "Gabriel stopped talking, you were crying all the time, and Diego… Well, he was being Diego, but I knew he was not okay either." I add, shaking my head.
"So, what if we try again and it still doesn't work? I don't want to cause you any more pain…" I say. "Maybe mom and I were just meant to have you guys, not spend the rest of our lives together…"
"You don't actually believe that, do you?" She frowns. "Of course you're meant to be together, mama! Everyone knows that! And I really think it would work out this time, because the circumstances are completely different from five years ago... And even if it doesn't work, you don't have to worry about us! We are older now." She shrugs. "And I'm a senior... In a few months, I'll be off to college and I won't even live here anymore. And Diego and Gabriel will also be gone in three or four years…" She reminds me and even though she's right, it still feels unreal to me! My babies are growing up way too fast for my liking…
"I'm not gonna lie, I really wish for you two to get back together..." She admits. "But I don't want you to do it for us, mama. I just truly believe you and mom belong together!" She shrugs.
EVEN LATER THAT DAY – AT SANTANA'S HOUSE
After telling the boys about my break up, I texted Melissa to ask if I could come pick up a few clothes, and she agreed.
But as I'm packing my stuff, alone in what used to be our bedroom, I can't help but feel sad. I had lots of happy moments with her in this house, and it feels strange to know that it's all over now…
One full suitcase later, I climb down the stairs and enter the living room, maintaining a distance of a few feet from her.
"I um… I'm gonna go…" I say timidly, feeling uneasy.
"Okay." She simply acknowledges, in a cold tone.
I'm about to open the front door and get out of the house when I suddenly turn around.
"I know you need to hate me right now… And I deserve it anyway." I shrug. "But… even if you don't have to believe me, I never wanted to hurt you, Mel… And I'm truly sorry, about everything."
But when I see that she remains completely silent, I eventually walk back towards the door.
"Can I ask you something?" She suddenly says, making me turn around.
"Why did you never want a baby with me?" She asks, much to my surprise. "What was so wrong with me?"
"Nothing was wrong with you!" I immediately reply. "I was so lucky to find you, Mel… Anyone would be lucky to have you! It's just that… I already had three kids." I shrug. "I never even meant to have that many, let alone a fourth one..."
"And you wanted Brittany's babies, not mine…" She whispers sadly and I don't know what to say, because that's also true. Brittany is the only one I have ever wanted to have kids with.
"I'm so deeply sorry, Mel…" I repeat, in a cracking voice. "You deserve so much better than me…" I admit. "And for what it's worth, I hope you get to have a baby some day… You'd be such a great mom!" I add, meaning every word. "I really want that for you…"
THE NEXT DAY (MONDAY, AFTERNOON TIME) – AT PARAMOUNT
"Ah, Q!" I say as I'm running into her in the hall. "I was looking for you... I'm gonna take off."
"Right." She nods. "Are you coming back to my place or you're going to Britt's?"
Last night, I decided to stay at Quinn and Puck's again. I was so depressed after my discussion with Melissa that I didn't want to talk to anyone and I went straight to bed, which would not have been possible if I had stayed with Britt and the kids.
"I'm going to Britt's…" I say. "Given the circumstances, it's my only option to be with my children this week, so…"
"Well, I think spending time with them will do you some good." She says. "And with Brittany too."
"Let's hope you're right…" I sigh, still unsure if this is a good idea. "The house will actually be empty for a few hours, but Britt said I could go there early, to settle in…"
LATER THAT DAY – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE – BRITTANY's POV
"Come on, boys… How many times do I have to tell you to put your shoes in the cabinet?" I sigh, as we finally get home after I picked them up from school.
"Sorry, mom…" Gabriel says, grabbing his shoes.
"Sofia, can you do it for me?" Diego asks his sister.
"No!" She frowns. "Who do you think I am, your maid?"
"But you're a lot closer to my shoes than I am!" Diego complains, already half way through the hall.
"Okay, bud, enough now…" I tell Diego. "You're a big boy, just grab your shoes yourself."
"Fine…" He sighs, walking back to us.
While the kids go upstairs, I make my way to the kitchen and unexpectedly find Santana cooking.
"Hey…" I say.
"Hi!"
"What's all this?" I ask, looking around.
"Well… I thought I would make dinner, as a thank you for letting me stay here."
"Oh, that's really sweet, San, but you didn't have to... And you're welcome to stay here as long as you want! You know that, right?"
"Yeah…" She nods timidly. "Thanks."
"Can I help with anything?"
"Um, well… you could peel the potatoes?"
"Sure, I can do that!" I smile.
After washing my hands, I take a seat at the table and start peeling the potatoes, in silence. Santana is stirring mysterious pots on the stove and I can't help but smile. It's so nice to have her around, I had not realized how much I had missed sharing the day to day life with her…
EVEN LATER THAT DAY (DINNER TIME)
"So, mijo, how was English class?" Santana asks Gabriel, as we are having dinner in the living room.
Just like in the good old days, she and I are sitting on opposing ends of the table, with our kids on each side. When Nick moved in, I actually started to sit in Santana's former place because I didn't want him to take hers.
"It was good!" Gabriel replies. "The teacher graded our poems."
"And…?" Santana asks, curious.
"I got an A…" He says in a shy voice.
"Well done, bud!" I say, holding my hand up for a high five.
"I'm really proud of you, mijo!" Santana adds. "I was sure you would get an A, that poem was the best you've ever written!" She says, making our son smile in pride.
"Oh, mom, by the way…" Diego suddenly says, turning to me. "Uncle Sam asked if I could come by after dinner, he wants me to practice a guitar duet with him. Could you drive me there? He said he will bring me back home when we're done."
"Did you finish your homework?" Santana asks him.
"Yeah!" He sighs, rolling his eyes. "So, can I go?" Diego asks again, this time to Santana.
"Fine, you can…" She shrugs.
"I could drop Diego at Uncle Sam's on my way to Liam's, if you want." Sofia suggests, turning to me.
"Oh, you're going to Liam's tonight?" I ask, surprised.
"Yeah, we're just gonna watch a movie at his place, I won't come back late." She says. "And I also finished my homework before dinner, so…" She adds but when I quickly glance at Santana, I see that she's frowning.
"Don't you see the Irish enough already?" Santana asks, crossing her arms. "You guys are in the same class, you see each other all day long!"
"So?" Sofia asks, frowning. "You and mom were also in the same class and you were seeing each other at Cheerios practice and Glee club…" She argues. "And yet, you were still hanging out together after school and even spending the night together! Which is a lot more than I've ever been allowed to do!" She adds in a defiant tone, while Santana turns to me, looking all offended.
"She's got a point…" I shrug, looking back at Santana.
"Will his parents be home?" She asks Sofia.
"Yes!" Our daughter says, holding her mama's gaze.
"So, if I were to call their house later, his parents would pick up the phone?" Santana asks while Sofia rolls her eyes.
"You can even call them every 10 minutes if that makes you feel better…" Our daughter says, shaking her head.
A WHILE LATER – IN THE KITCHEN
"I just don't understand why she has to hang out with him all the time! It's a school night!" Santana complains while we're doing the dishes.
"It's just a movie, San… We used to do that too."
"Oh come on, Britt! You know all too well that when we were telling our parents we would go 'watch a movie'…" She says, using air quotes. "… it was code for at least second base! And we would usually do a lot more than that."
"We already went over this, San…" I sigh. "That ship has sailed, you have to accept it…"
"Yeah, well… It doesn't mean that she should have sex every night!" She argues.
"They don't even see each other every night." I reply. "Besides, his parents will be there tonight, and they also have an open door policy."
"And how can we know if his parents will really be home?" She questions. "She might have lied about that!"
"I actually called Liam's mom right after dinner, and she confirmed they would be home and were expecting Sofia, so…"
"You did?" She asks in a calmer tone this time.
"Yes, I figured it would help avoid unnecessary drama… So, can we move on now?"
"Fine…" She mumbles.
MUCH LATER THAT NIGHT – IN THE GUEST ROOM - SANTANA's POV
I'm about to get into bed when I suddenly hear someone knocking on my door and I hurry to open it.
There stands Brittany and I can only swallow hard when I see she's wearing a tight blue nightie that reveals both her cleavage and her long legs. God, I had forgotten how sexy she looked when wearing these things…
"Hi…" I say, trying to ignore the tingle between my legs.
"Hi!" She smiles. "I just wanted to check on you and make sure you have everything you need?"
I thought I had everything I needed but now that I see her right in front of me, I can't help but think that there's a sexy blonde missing in my bed.
"Uh, yeah… I'm okay." I eventually nod.
"Great! Well, good night then…" She says and places a kiss on my cheek, allowing me to catch the familiar scent of her shampoo.
God, this is torture…
"Night..." I whisper, feeling my heart beating fast in my chest as I watch her walk away.
After closing the door, I quickly get into bed and although I'm trying very hard to focus on my book, all I can think of is that Brittany is just on the other side of the wall…
THE NEXT MORNING (TUESDAY) – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE
"Hi!" I say in a raspy morning voice, upon seeing Brittany in the kitchen. She's still wearing that damn nightie and God knows that if we were together, I would take her right back to the bedroom, for some hot morning sex.
"Morning!" She smiles, being her cheerful self. "You want some coffee?"
"Please…" I reply, taking a seat at the table.
"So, how did you sleep?" She asks, placing a mug in front of me.
"Um… pretty well, I must say. And you?"
"Me too!"
"Are the kids up yet?"
"Not yet… But they will be pretty soon."
"I can drop them at school by the way." I tell her, before taking a sip of coffee. "God, this coffee is good!"
"Well, I know how you like it, so..." She smiles. "Are you going to Paramount this morning?"
"Yeah, all day, actually… I'm the one supervising the shooting today."
"Oh, ok… Will you be home late then?" She asks and somehow, this is when I fully realize what a weird situation we're in. My "home" is actually not here, but it almost feels like it is because Brittany and I are basically living together right now.
"Um… I don't know yet… It depends on how the shooting goes."
THE NEXT EVENING (WEDNESDAY) – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE - BRITTANY's POV
I have just got home from the dance school when I see Gabriel sitting at the living room table, doing his homework.
"Hey, buddy!" I say, leaning to kiss his head. "Is mama around?" I only ask, trying not to interrupt him for too long.
"Yeah, she's outside." He replies.
After drinking a much needed glass of water, I move to the garden and eventually spot Santana in a corner, kneeling on the grass.
Oh my God, is she actually gardening…?! She hates that!
"Hey… What are you doing?" I ask her, confused by the sight in front of me.
"Oh, well… um… I noticed that most of the flowers seemed to have died and… I know how much you love having some in the garden, so… I thought I would plant a few for you." She shrugs.
"And you picked my favorite…" I say in disbelief, profoundly touched by this gesture.
"Well… I knew I couldn't go wrong with these…" She replies with a timid smile.
THE NEXT DAY (THURSDAY EVENING) – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE – IN THE LIVING ROOM
"Do we really have to keep watching that?" Sofia questions, throwing an angry look at her laughing brothers, as we are watching some old videos of her.
"See? It's not so funny when people mock your childhood videos, is it?" Santana smirks, clearly getting back at her for what happened at Abuela's the other day.
"When was that?" Gabriel asks, curious.
"Well, it looks like Sofia is about 2 years old on this…" I reply.
"But was it for a special occasion?" He asks.
"Not even…" Santana laughs. "It's just that at the time, your Auntie Q was totally obsessed with your sister! She would constantly film her and would get completely excited, even if Sofia was doing absolutely nothing interesting!"
"Aww, look at that..." We hear Quinn's voice on the video. "You're playing with colored cubes, baby?"
"See? Case and point." Santana says.
"Oh my God, she was the most boring baby in the world!" Diego complains after a few minutes, immediately earning a slap on his arm from his big sister.
"Now, let's see what your moms are up to, shall we?" Quinn says, moving the camera. "And without surprise, they're kissing again!" She adds in a jaded tone, as Santana and I appear on screen.
"You don't say…" Sofia mumbles ironically while rolling her eyes, and I can't help but squeezing Santana's hand. We were so happy back then…
"Can we have some privacy here, Fabray?" Santana asks the camera, in an angry tone.
"Oh my God, we look so young!" She chuckles, watching us in disbelief.
"And what is that outfit you're wearing?" Diego asks his mama, laughing. "You look like a nerd!"
"Hey, that was very fashionable at the time, okay?" She objects. "Everyone was wearing that!"
"Seriously, all girls were wearing that?!" He asks, frowning in disgust. "Oh my God, I'm so happy I was born in a different time…"
THE NEXT DAY (FRIDAY, LATE AFTERNOON) - AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE – SANTANA's POV
On my way to go take a shower, I pass the dance room and the open door allows me to catch a glimpse of Brittany dancing.
Leaning against the doorframe, I observe her for a few minutes, admiring her elegant choreography, to the sound of a slow and melancholic music. Every time I watch her dance, I feel like everything is happening in slow motion, as if the rest of the world had stopped. Her face is focused and yet so expressive, and her graceful body is just… a pure work of art. I think Brittany dancing might seriously be the most beautiful thing I have ever seen…
"Hi!" She suddenly says, pulling me out of my thoughts.
"Oh, hi! Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt…" I say, blushing for being caught looking at her.
"You're not interrupting." She smiles.
"That was really beautiful! What is it for?"
"Thanks, that's my number for the next recital… I hope you'll come see it?"
"Oh, I'm definitely not going to miss that!" I immediately reply, with a smile that she quickly returns.
"Dance with me?" She asks out of nowhere, holding her hand out to me.
"Oh, I… I don't know, Britt…" I whisper, embarrassed.
"Come on, San…" She says, moving closer to me. "It's really a great song to slow dance to…" She insists.
"Fine…" I eventually nod, following her to the middle of the room.
While I timidly put my arms around her neck, she places her hands on my hips and gently leans her head against mine. We slow dance for a couple of minutes and I find myself pulling her closer to me, enjoying the warmth of her body and the scent of her perfume.
She eventually pulls away a little, to look at me, and carefully tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. I'm so drowned into her beautiful blue eyes that I feel the irrepressible desire to kiss her. As my eyes travel to her lips, it's getting harder and harder to fight the magnetic pull she has on me.
"Anybody home?" We suddenly hear Sofia's voice from downstairs, brutally interrupting our moment suspended in time.
A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER (SUNDAY, EARLY EVENING) – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE
Since Sofia is out with the Leprechaun, and the twins are at the cinema with some friends, Brittany and I are alone at home tonight. It's actually my last night here, as Melissa said I could get the house back tomorrow.
"We should do something special for your last night…" Brittany suggests. "Maybe we can drink some wine?"
"I don't know if it's a good idea, Britt… Last time we drank together, we ended up naked in bed."
"Well, that would be fine with me…" She shrugs.
"Come on, Britt…" I chuckle nervously. "You know I need us to take things slow…"
"Yeah, I know…" She nods. "But we could just have one glass! I think I still have a bottle of that Spanish wine your dad brought for Thanksgiving."
"Oh, that wine was so good!" I immediately say.
"See? Okay, wait here… I'll check if there's a bottle in the basement." She says, getting up from the couch.
She has barely passed the door when her fix phone suddenly rings.
"Britt! The living room phone is ringing!" I shout.
"It's fine, let the machine catch that!" She shouts back.
"Hi Brittany, it's Theo, from danceathon." I hear a male voice say on the answering machine's speaker.
Who is that…?! I've never heard about a Theo before…
"I don't know if you still have this number, but I actually don't have your mobile phone number, so… Listen, I know this might sound a bit strange but the word on the street is that you and Nick have broken up… And I don't know if you knew this, but… I had a massive crush on you when we first met! I really wanted to ask you out at the time but Nick beat me to it… So, this time I thought I would let you know how I feel sooner rather than later…"
What the fuck…?!
"Anyway, I don't know if you're in a dating mood but if you are, maybe we could grab a coffee some time? Here is my phone number…"
"Who's that?" Brittany asks, coming back into the room as the message ends.
"Some guy named Theo." I mumble through my teeth.
"Who?" She asks, sitting next to me.
"Theo, from danceathon." I repeat, getting more and more pissed.
"Oh, Theo!" She smiles. "I haven't heard from him in a long time! What did he want?"
"He wanted to ask you out on a date." I immediately reply, unable to hide the anger in my voice.
"What?" She frowns in surprise. "Oh…" She eventually adds as she realizes that this is not a joke.
"Are you jealous?" She asks, locking eyes with mine.
"No." I lie. "You're single, so… You can date whoever you want, Britt."
"Well, there is only one person I want to date, San… And that's you." She says, gently caressing my cheek. "And I know you need some time to process everything that happened with Melissa, but… when you are ready, I really hope you'll ask me out…"
THE NEXT DAY (MONDAY, LATE EVENING) – AT SANTANA'S HOUSE
I was so dreading going back to my place that I stayed as late as possible at Paramount.
But now that I'm standing on the doorstep, I know I can't hide from this forever. So after taking a long exhale, I finally open the front door and walk around the empty house, noticing that all of Melissa's stuff is gone. She really took everything she owned: her books and paintings, her beauty and care products, even her coffee mugs and the big armchair that used to be in the living room.
But it's only when I enter the bedroom and see that her clothes are missing from the wardrobe that I really understand that she's gone. There is no more trace of Melissa in this house, as if our life together had never existed...
Before I know it, I break into tears and find myself laying in a fetal position, on what used to be our bed.
A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER (WEDNESDAY) - AT THE RESTAURANT
"I don't know, Q…" I say, as we're having lunch at a restaurant nearby Paramount. "I think in some ways, it was good for me to go back home, because it was actually the first time I could have a moment alone since my breakup with Mel... But I hate being there now! I miss the kids so much…"
"The kids, and Brittany, right?" She asks with a smirk, clearly reading my mind.
"Yeah… Brittany too." I admit with a sigh. "That whole week I spent with them, it just… it felt so much like home, as if I had never left... Even though it was not exactly like before, because I was sleeping alone in the guest room, but… it's crazy how quickly I fell back into my old habits around the house! I even still knew where everything was in the cupboards!"
"Well, it used to be your house too, San…" Quinn says. "And your family is over there." She shrugs. "If it feels so strange in your own place and you feel right at home at Britt's, maybe it's simply because you belong there… with Brittany and the kids."
"Maybe…" I whisper.
"You know, Sofia told me the other day that I shouldn't worry about her and the boys…" I add. "She said they would be fine, no matter what happens. But I'm still so scared to have my heart broken again…"
"I know…" She says. "But if you want to get what you really want, you'll have to put yourself out there, San…"
LATER THAT DAY (EARLY EVENING) – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE – BRITTANY's POV
I'm busy doing the dishes when I suddenly hear the doorbell and I hurry to make my way through the hall.
"San?" I say upon opening the door, surprised to see her there.
"Hi! I… uh… I just… um…" She trails off, before falling silent. "God, I used to be so much better at this…" She sighs.
"I was just wondering if…" She tries again, looking all shy. "… you would go on a date with me?" She eventually asks in a timid voice, making me open my eyes wide in surprise.
"I would love to!" I immediately reply, unable to hide my excitement. "When?"
"Um… How about Friday night…?" She suggests. "Pick you up at 8:00?"
"It's a date!" I say, smiling so big that my face hurts.
Notes:
A/N: What did you think of this chapter? Please let me know in the comments! And of course, I will cover the "first" Brittana date in the next chapter ;-)
Chapter 11: The date
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER (FRIDAY NIGHT) – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE – BRITTANY's POV
"Have you decided what you're gonna wear?" Sofia asks me while doing my makeup in the bedroom. Santana will pick me up for our date in about an hour.
"I'm not sure… I was thinking the silver dress?"
"Oh, well, it's a very nice dress, but…" Sofia trails off. "I mean, the plan is to drive mama crazy, right?"
"Um… yeah, I guess…" I chuckle.
"Then you must wear your light blue dress."
"Oh, peanut, I don't know… It's a plunge neck dress and I…"
"But that's exactly my point, mom." She cuts me off. "That dress is perfect! It shows cleavage and it also highlights your hips… Plus, it's going to bring out your eyes." She argues. "I'm sure that when she sees you in it, mama's eyes will pop out like in cartoons!" She adds, making me laugh at the thought.
"Okay, okay, you convinced me!" I chuckle and she immediately gives me a proud smirk that looks just like Santana's.
"Alright, I'm done with your makeup." She says, handing me a mirror.
"Oh, wow, peanut… It looks great!" I say in amazement, looking at my reflection. "I didn't know you were so good at this!"
"Oh, well, you know… Charlotte is obsessed with makeup and she taught me a few things…" She shrugs.
"Okay, I think my work is done here…" She says, replacing my loose curls over my shoulders. "I'll let you get dressed."
ABOUT AN HOUR LATER – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE – SANTANA's POV
Standing on Brittany's doorstep, I take a few deep breaths and finally ring the doorbell.
God, why do I feel so nervous?
"Hey!" Brittany says with a smile, upon opening the front door.
As soon as I see her, I feel like all the air in my lungs has been sucked out. She's so fucking beautiful, she looks like an angel! A really, really sexy angel…
"Hi…" I eventually manage to stutter in a timid voice. "You look… absolutely breathtaking…" I sigh in disbelief.
"Thanks!" She says, looking adorably shy. "You're stunning too…"
"Um… Are you ready to go?" I eventually ask, realizing that I should stop staring at her like that.
"Sure! I just need to let Sofia know we're leaving…" She says. "Peanut?" She shouts.
"Yeah?" Sofia says from afar, before joining us in the hall. "Oh, hi mama!" She adds, giving me a kiss.
"Mija…"
"So, we're gonna go…" Brittany tells our daughter. "Can you keep an eye on your brothers?"
"Sure!" Sofia nods.
"And no boyfriend over while we're gone, okay?" I warn my daughter.
"You don't have to worry about that, because Liam is out of town. He's at his uncle's for the weekend."
"Well, that might be the best news I've heard today!" I say with a provocative content smile.
"Oooh, look, it's time for you to leave!" Sofia says in a fake disappointed tone, before pushing us out. "Well, have fuuun!" She sing songs.
"And make sure to bring her back by midnight!" She shouts in my direction as Britt and I walk to the car, making me roll my eyes.
A FEW MINUTES LATER – IN THE CAR – BRITTANY's POV
"But I can't see anything with this sleep mask…" I complain, while Santana is driving us. Why would she make me wear this thing?!
"That's kind of the point, Britt…" I hear her chuckle. "I don't want you to know where we're going, because it's a surprise…" She explains. "But don't worry, we'll get there very soon! And it will be worth it, I promise…"
"Fine..." I sigh in defeat.
We drive for another 2 or 3 minutes, before she eventually parks the car. She was right… Wherever we are, we got there really quickly.
Too quickly, even… Where can we be? There are no restaurants this close to my house! Unless…? No, it can't be… Right?
"Let me help you take this off…" Santana suddenly says in a soft voice, gently removing my mask. Her mischievous smile is the first thing I see, until she nods towards the right, and I turn my head to take a look through the car window.
"Oh my God…" I say, opening my eyes wide in disbelief, although my initial suspicion was right. "We're at Tony's?!"
"Well, I figured it was the best place for our date…" She shrugs timidly. "Is that okay?"
"Yes!" I immediately say in excitement.
I can't believe it… I haven't been here in years, not since our divorce. Tony's used to be our favorite place and I simply couldn't imagine coming here without Santana. We have so many memories here… This is where we would spend all our date nights and celebrate our wedding anniversaries, or any other big milestones, like getting pregnant… I even used to refer to it as our "Angelenos Breadstix".
It's funny because we discovered this restaurant by chance, about a year after moving into our house. But we loved it right away! The food was amazing, the atmosphere was romantic, and Tony was so welcoming that he made us feel like family! He even used to say that we were his favorite customers.
We loved this place so much that we selfishly decided to keep it a secret. We never mentioned it to our family or our friends, and we never even brought the kids here.
"Well, shall we?" Santana asks with a smile.
"Uh, yeah, but…" I trail off. "Did you book a table? I mean, is Tony even expecting us…?" I ask, suddenly embarrassed.
God knows we used to eat here very often, but we stopped coming from one day to the next, when Santana and I broke up. I'm not even sure Tony knows about our divorce… To him, it must have looked like we had just vanished, without warning.
"You don't have to worry, Britt…" Santana says in a reassuring tone. "I did call Tony to book us a table, and I explained the whole situation. He completely understood and he said he couldn't wait to see us."
"Okay…" I say, feeling a lot better. "Let's go then…"
After crossing the street, we enter the restaurant and we have barely passed the door when Tony sees us.
"BRITTANA!" He says way too loud, spreading his arms while walking towards us. "Look at you! You haven't changed one bit, ladies! You're just as beautiful as ever!" He adds, hugging us.
"Hi Tony…" I say, giving him a warm smile.
"It's good to see you, Britt!" He says, returning my smile. "You too, Santana!"
"But come, come…" Tony adds, leading the way to what used to be our table, the "best table in the whole restaurant", according to him.
"Here…" He says, pulling the chair for me to sit. "So… you'll have the usual?"
"You still remember what we used to order?!" I ask in disbelief.
"Of course! You didn't think I would forget my favorite customers, did you?" He protests, winking at me to make it clear he's not offended. "I'll be right back."
"Thanks, Tony!" Santana says, as he walks away.
"God, this is so unreal…" I say, looking around. "This place hasn't changed at all!"
"I know." She chuckles. "Five years have passed and lots of things happened… And yet, here we are. Same restaurant, same table… Same pretty girl…" She says, locking eyes with me, and I'm sure I must be blushing right now.
Somehow, it feels like we have come full circle. When we were teenagers, Santana and I didn't plan the first time we had sex, it just happened out of nowhere. We had our first real date only long after that – at our favorite restaurant in Lima – and eventually got into a serious relationship.
The recent events followed a similar pattern: we had sex without planning it, and are now having our first real date, at our favorite restaurant. I can only hope that with time, we'll eventually get back into a serious relationship…
"I'm really happy to be here…" I say, reaching out for her hand, across the table.
"Me too, Britt…" She smiles, giving my hand a squeeze.
"So, here we go, some antipasti…" Tony suddenly says, placing a platter in front of us. "And some champagne, on the house!" He adds, filling our glasses while we give him a grateful look. "Enjoy, ragazze!"
"Cheers!" Santana says, raising her glass.
"Cheers!" I repeat, clinking my glass against hers, before taking a sip.
LATER – AT TONY'S
"It's the first time I got to do it all by myself, you know?" Santana says with enthusiasm. "I mean, to be fair, I did write the script with Quinn, but… I handled all the rest alone: I selected the cast, I wrote all the songs, and I even directed and edited it myself!" She adds with pride while I drown into her sparkling brown eyes. I've always found fascinating how invested she is in her artistic projects… It's the sexiest thing!
"Of course, Lee tried to take all the credit but I didn't expect any less from him." She sighs. "Quinn, on the other hand… I swear, you should have seen her offended face! It was so funny that sometimes, I even laugh alone in bed just thinking about it!" She chuckles.
Santana is so beautiful tonight that I can't look away. I'm even getting butterflies all over my stomach, just by seeing that luminous smile of hers.
"So, ladies, did you enjoy your meal?" Tony suddenly asks, pulling me out of my thoughts. When did he get here?
"It was even more delicious than in my memories!" I say while he takes our plates away.
"I second that!" Santana immediately adds, nodding.
"Well, you know… A good cook is like a fine wine, it gets better with age." Tony replies, obviously proud at the compliment. "I hope you still have some room for a 'Brittana' cake?"
"You still do that?" I ask, not believing my ears.
Years ago, Tony asked us what our favorite cake was and while I said chocolate, Santana replied strawberry. That same night, Tony served us a single cake that was half chocolate, half strawberries, with two forks. And he named it the 'Brittana' cake.
"Of course! It's sitting in the kitchen and ready to be served! I'll bring it over…" He replies, walking away.
"That guy is really one of a kind…" I say, shaking my head in disbelief.
"He sure is." She chuckles.
A LITTLE WHILE LATER – AT TONY'S
"So, how is it?" Santana asks me as we are sharing the famous cake.
"Oh my God, it's so good!" I say, covering my mouth still full. "Do you want a taste of my half?"
"Oh, I'll taste any of your halves…" She says, wiggling her eyebrows, and I can't help but chuckle. At least, she's flirting with me…
"Try that, silly…" I say, bringing the fork to her mouth.
"Wow, it is good!" She nods in agreement. "Wanna taste mine?" She asks.
"Oh, definitely…" I say with a smirk while staring into her eyes, showing her that I also master the art of double meaning.
"You're a naughty one, Pierce…" She chuckles, shaking her head.
"Well, as I recall, you used to like that…" I argue, holding her gaze.
"I still do…" She admits in a whisper, smirking at me.
EVEN LATER – JUST OUTSIDE BRITTANY'S HOUSE
"Well, it's 11:57 PM…" Santana says, after parking the car a few feet away from my house.
"That should make our strict daughter happy." I reply, making her chuckle.
"Come on, I'll walk you to the house…"
We cross the street together and as we reach the sidewalk, I feel her grabbing my hand, intertwining our fingers.
We walk hand in hand for a minute but she eventually stops just outside the gate, most likely not to be seen by the kids. I know there is no point to invite her inside because during dinner, she repeated her wish to take things slow… And although she was fine with Sofia knowing about our date, she said she didn't want to tell the twins yet, not until we're sure it's working between us.
"I had a really great time tonight…" I say, looking into her eyes.
"Me too, Britt…" She smiles.
Our eyes are locked but my gaze eventually moves to her perfect plump lips. I have been wanting to kiss them all night, but I know I can't make the first move. Since she's the one that wants to take things slow, it has to come from her.
I'm pulled out of my thoughts when her hand suddenly cups my cheek. As our eyes meet again, I can feel my heart pounding hard in anticipation, until she finally leans in and tenderly presses her lips on mine.
And just like that, the fluttery sensation in my stomach returns, ten times stronger than during dinner. She keeps our lips connected for a few seconds but eventually pulls away a little, and all I want is for her to kiss me again.
Fortunately, she soon pulls me back into a slow, loving kiss, that she progressively deepens. I kiss her back passionately, my hands finding her waist, to keep her close to me. This kiss is different from the others we've recently shared, most likely because this time, we don't have to feel guilty. She's not Melissa's anymore, she's a free woman and I definitely want her to be mine.
She eventually breaks the kiss, resting her forehead on mine as we're both trying to catch our breath.
"Does that mean there will be a second date…?" I ask, panting.
"Oh, definitely…" She chuckles.
A LITTLE WHILE LATER – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE
As I silently make my way to my bedroom, I notice a slit of light under Sofia's door.
"Peanut?" I whisper, knocking gently.
"Yeah, come in…" I hear through the door and I immediately open it.
"Hey…" I say, sitting on the edge of her bed. "How did it go with your brothers tonight?"
"It was fine, we watched a movie." She says, placing her book on her nightstand, before sitting up in bed. "But what about you, how was your date?" She asks with a smirk.
"It was wonderful…" I say, unable to hide my smile.
"Aww… look at you, you're all smitten!" She chuckles. "Did you guys kiss?"
"We did…" I confirm in a timid whisper.
"Yay! Well done!" She says with an enthusiastic smile, holding her hand up for a high five.
"Thanks…" I laugh.
"So, what happens now?"
"I don't know…" I shrug. "Mama wants to take things slow, but she also said there will be a second date, so…"
"That's great, mom!" She says, squeezing my hand. "I'm really happy for you! And for mama, too."
"Thank you…" I say, kissing her forehead.
THE NEXT DAY (SATURDAY) – AT PARAMOUNT – SANTANA's POV
"Good morning!" I tell Quinn, walking into her office.
"Why are you so cheerful?" She immediately asks, squinting in suspicion.
"What?" I frown. "I'm not allowed to be in a good mood?"
"In a good mood?!" She repeats, looking shocked. "Since when? You're usually grouchy when we have to work on a Saturday! Especially when you haven't had coffee yet. And I don't see a coffee mug in your hand." She says.
"Oh my God! Did you get laid?" She whispers.
"What? No!" I frown, offended. "Seriously, Fabray, I just say 'good morning' to you and you automatically assume I had sex?!"
"Well, yeah!" She confirms in a sure voice. "Why else would you be so happy?" She adds, making me open my mouth in offense.
"There are lots of reasons why I could be happy!" I argue.
"Not really, no…" She says, making me roll my eyes. "But okay, if it's not sex, it's still gotta be related to Brittany, right?" She asks but she doesn't even give me the time to answer.
"Ah, I knew it!" She says with a proud smirk. "What happened? Tell me everything!"
"Well, um… we… we went out on a date last night." I say, unable to contain my smile.
"Oh, finally! So, how was it?" She asks in excitement, wiggling her eyebrows.
"It was great! It was… us." I shrug.
"Aww… Did anything happen between you two...?" She asks, obviously curious.
"Well… we kissed."
"Oh, yay!" She says enthusiastically, pumping the fist. "And how was that?"
"It was amazing…" I shrug. "Seriously, she makes me feel stuff that I don't feel with anyone else…"
"I'm really happy for you, San…" Quinn nods. "But… no sex then?"
"No, I just… I need to take things slow." I confirm, until I see her smirk.
"What are you smirking about?"
"Oh, nothing. It's just that Puck owes me 50 bucks."
"What?" I frown.
"We bet on whether you and Brittany would have sex on the first date. And I won!"
"You bet on my love life?!" I ask, outraged.
"Don't be offended, Puck and I bet on everything! It's easy money, I win every time!" She shrugs proudly. "But let's not digress. When are you going to see Britt again?" She's quick to ask.
"Well, tomorrow I guess… We figured it would be nice to spend the day together with the kids, as a family."
THE NEXT DAY (SUNDAY) - LUNCH TIME – AT THE PARK
Since the weather was really nice, Brittany and I decided to take the kids to the park and have a picnic there. We both brought some homecooked food and it was so good that it felt like a feast!
"I'm so full…" Sofia sighs.
"Me too…" Gabriel says.
"Really?" Diego asks in disbelief, making me shake my head. It figures that he would still be hungry, the boy is a bottomless pit! "I'm super thirsty though, and we don't have any water left…"
"Well, you can drink the rest of my bottle if you want…" I suggest. "It's still half full."
"What?!" He frowns in disgust. "No, thanks. I'm not going to exchange saliva with you, it's gross!"
"And yet, it doesn't seem to bother you when you suck faces with half of your school!" I argue.
"It's so not the same!" He says. "You're my mother." He adds, as if that was some kind of insult.
"You're right, I am your mother. I'm the one who wiped your tooshie day after day when you were little! And you're disgusted by a little saliva?"
"Did you really have to bring that up while we're eating?" Sofia complains in a jaded tone, looking at me.
"Well, trust me: talking about it is not anywhere as disgusting as actually doing it." I reply.
"Okay, now I'm done eating for sure…" She says with disgust and walks away, shortly followed by her brothers.
"Can you believe this?" I say in an offended tone, turning to Britt.
"Well… for what it's worth, I personally love exchanging saliva with you…" She says with a flirty wink, before getting up as well.
LATER THAT DAY (EVENING TIME) – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE
After doing the dinner dishes in the kitchen, I make my way to the bathroom when I'm suddenly pulled into the home office. Before I can even understand what's going on, Brittany's lips crush against mine.
"Britt… what are you doing?" I whisper after the initial shock, pulling away. "The kids could see us…"
"It's okay, I just checked on them and they are all upstairs." She replies, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "Sofia is on the phone with Liam and the boys are playing video games, which means that they will all be busy for a good while. So, please, San… Just kiss me… I have been thinking about this all day…" She confesses, biting her lip.
I swallow hard in anticipation as her mouth gets dangerously closer to mine. But this time, I don't protest when she reconnects our lips.
EVEN LATER THAT DAY – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE
"Do you hear that?" Sofia suddenly asks while we're all watching a movie together.
"Yeah, the wind is surely blowing hard!" Brittany replies.
"Well, apparently, there is a storm coming…" Diego says, checking the news on his phone.
"Really?" Britt asks, sounding a little more worried this time.
"Yeah, they even recommend against going outside..." He replies.
LATER – IN THE KITCHEN
"Stay here?" I frown. "Oh, come on… You can't be serious!"
"I'm very serious, San." Britt says. "You heard what they said on TV: it's too dangerous to be on the road right now!"
"But, Britt…"
"You're not driving in this weather, Santana." She warns, looking me straight in the eye, as if the use of my full name was not already chilling. "You're not going to risk your life and go back to your empty house just out of principle!"
"Fine..." I give in, crossing my arms. "But I don't have any of my stuff with me: I don't have my pj's… I don't even have a spare pair of underwear!" I complain.
"It's still not a reason to take the car." She argues. "And I can lend you underwear." She shrugs, immediately sending my mind to a dirty place.
"Don't." She warns while raising her index finger, clearly reading me like an open book.
Busted.
MUCH LATER THAT NIGHT – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE – BRITTANY's POV
"San? All ok with the clothes?" I whisper, after knocking on the door of the guest room.
Even though I would have preferred to share my bed with her, we agreed it was best to sleep in different rooms tonight, especially since the kids are home with us.
"I look ridiculous!" She complains upon opening the door. Even though I gave her some clothes that had shrunk in the wash, they are still slightly too big for her.
"It doesn't look that bad." I shrug.
"Are you kidding me? I look like a human tent!"
"Come on, San, you're exaggerating… You used to wear my t-shirts in bed all the time!" I argue. "And they were bigger than this."
"It's so not the same!" She immediately says. "I didn't have to impress you then, you were already in my bed!" She adds, raising her arms.
"Well, if that helps, I'm very impressed with what I'm seeing…" I say in a flirty voice, before giving her a warm smile.
"You're just saying that…" She mumbles, looking down as if she was embarrassed.
"I'm definitely not just saying that…" I reply, raising her chin with my fingertips.
Our eyes lock and just like earlier - like every time really - I feel pulled to her mouth like a magnet.
I gently cup her cheek and after searching her eyes for approval, I eventually capture her lips into a tender kiss.
This time, she doesn't break the kiss, probably because she knows the kids are already asleep. Instead, her hands move to my waist, pulling me closer to her. As I'm in my nightie and she's wearing a simple t-shirt, I can easily feel the curves of her body pressing against mine, quickly making me aroused.
"Um… maybe we shouldn't…" I eventually whisper against her lips, feeling hotter and hotter.
"Right." She nods in agreement. "We should know we can't be trusted in a bedroom together…" She sighs.
"Yeah…" I whisper, knowing all too well that it's true. "Well, um… good night?"
"Good night, Britt…" She says, and I hurry to exit the room before I can change mind.
THE NEXT DAY (MONDAY MORNING) – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE – SANTANA's POV
By the morning, the weather had fortunately gone back to normal. I'm dressed in the same clothes as yesterday – and Brittany's underwear – as I make my way to the kitchen, where everyone is already having breakfast, except Sofia. I guess she's taking her car out of the garage.
"Morning…" I say, taking the seat I had for years, between Diego and Gabriel.
"Hi mama…" I hear the boys reply, while Brittany smiles at me.
I don't even have time to say anything before she's already pouring coffee into my mug and fixing me a plate.
"The car is not starting!" Sofia suddenly complains, barging into the kitchen while I'm halfway through my breakfast.
"What, are you sure?" I ask.
"Yes! I think the battery is dead." She says with despair. "What am I gonna do? You guys both work on Mondays, so I can't even borrow one of your cars." She adds, turning to me and Britt. "And I was supposed to drive the twins to school and pick up Charlotte on the way!"
"Okay, okay…" I say, trying to calm her down. "Look, I actually don't have to be at Paramount until 9:45 AM, so I can drive you all, including Charlotte."
"Oh, thanks, mama…" Sofia sighs in relief. "But we should get going." She adds, pointing at the clock on the wall.
"Right." I sigh, getting up. It figures that I wouldn't have the chance to enjoy my morning coffee…
A couple of minutes later, we're all in the hall, ready to leave.
"Diego, did you bring your swimming things?" I ask and judging by the look on his face, it's clear that he didn't take them and didn't even pack them.
"Um… I… I…"
"I swear, if your head was not attached to your shoulders, you'd forget it too!" I sigh in despair.
"Here, buddy…" Brittany says with a smile, handing him his swimming bag.
When the kids were little, I used to nickname Britt 'Supermom' because she was always a step ahead. And here she is, coming to the rescue once again…
"Okay, go get in the car, I'll be there in a minute." I tell the kids, as they kiss Brittany goodbye.
"And that's for you…" Britt says once they're outside, handing me a thermos. "I know how bad you need your morning coffee." She smiles.
I stare at her in disbelief for a couple of seconds, touched by her thoughtful gesture. But why am I even surprised? In addition to a devoted mom, she was also an incredible wife, who always knew what I needed.
And that's when I realize that she gave me a thermos I had not seen in a very long time: the one with "S" and "B" on it, united by a heart shape. This was a gift I gave her years ago, when the twins were babies. I can't believe she kept it all this time…
I quickly look over my shoulder to check if the kids are in the car, and slightly push the door, so that I can press my lips on hers without being seen.
"Bye…" I whisper, looking one last time into these blue eyes I love so much.
"Bye…" She replies, smiling at me.
THE NEXT DAY (TUESDAY) – AT PARAMOUNT
"Yeah, she was pretty good during the audition I must say…" I tell Bill as we walk towards the conference room for our next meeting.
"But isn't she already working on another show?" He asks.
"Well, it actually got cancelled and she said she would be free in a couple of…" I trail off once I see Brittany in front of us. "Britt…" I say in surprise.
"Hi!" She smiles.
"Uh… hi…"
"I'm sorry, I don't believe we've met…?" She says, holding her hand out to Bill.
"Oh, sorry…" I say. "Brittany, this is Bill, one of our new producers. Bill, this is Brittany, my… uh… my…" I stutter, suddenly realizing that I have no idea how to define Britt to new people.
I can't exactly call her my girlfriend, because we haven't discussed this yet and we only had one date after all. But 'ex-wife' won't do it either, because it always makes people uncomfortable and it gives the impression the relationship is over, when we are actually starting something new.
"My best friend." I eventually say but I immediately mentally slap myself for picking that option.
"Oh, how nice!" Bill says, totally oblivious to our special situation. "It's lovely to meet you, Brittany!" He says, shaking her hand.
"The pleasure is mine." She smiles.
"So, uh, Britt… What brings you here?" I ask.
"Well, I was in the neighborhood, so I thought I could invite you for lunch, if you were free?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, but we actually have a lunch meeting in 10 minutes…" I say.
"That's alright… I should have called before barging in here." She shrugs. "I'm sorry…"
"No, no, don't apologize!" I immediately say. "Look, I should actually be done by 2:00 PM today, so… we can meet later for coffee, if you like?"
"Sure!" She smiles. "Just text me the details when you're done." She says, waving goodbye before walking away.
LATER THAT DAY
When I get to the coffee shop, Brittany is already there, sitting on the big couch and sipping her tea.
"Hey…" I say, sitting next to her.
"Hey there, bestie!" She says ironically and I immediately feel bad. I knew she wouldn't like it…
"Yeah, about that, Britt…" I say but I'm cut off by some dude suddenly calling her name.
"Oh my God, Theo!" Britt says in disbelief, before getting up from the couch to hug him.
Theo? From danceathon?!
"Uh, yeah." Theo says while looking at me, and that's when I realize that I have been saying it out loud. "I'm sorry, do I know you?" He asks me.
"Um, no… I'm uh…"
"This is Santana…" Brittany says. "My b…" She adds but I'm quick to intervene when I understand she's going to say "best friend", probably to get back at me.
"I'm the mother of her children." I hurry to say, cutting her off.
"Oh…" He says. "Oh!" He repeats, apparently realizing that Brittany used to be married to a woman.
"I uh… It's nice to meet you." He eventually tells me, before looking back and forth between me and her.
That's right, fucker. She used to have sex with me.
"Thanks, it's nice to meet you too, but um... We were actually in the middle of a conversation here. So, if you don't mind…" I say, trying to get rid of him.
"Right, I'm sorry." He says, before turning to Brittany with apologetic eyes. "I didn't mean to interrupt, but… Britt, since you're here, I just wanted to know if you got my message?"
"Um… yeah, I did." She says. "And I'm really flattered, but I'm afraid I'm not interested. I'm sorry…"
"Oh, I… I understand…" He nods, forcing a smile, even though he's obviously disappointed. "Well, it was nice seeing you…" He adds, before exiting the coffee shop.
BRITTANY's POV
My eyes are set on Santana as she watches Theo walking away. I'm trying not to smirk but I really enjoyed seeing her jealous just now.
"So, you wanted to talk to me about something, bestie?" I repeat again, to provoke her one more time.
"Okay, I'm sorry, I just panicked!" She shrugs. "It didn't seem we were already at the 'girlfriend' stage and 'ex-wife' just felt wrong, so…" She trails off. "And then, I realized that there were only two things that we have always remained, through good and bad: best friends and co-parents. So, I said 'best friend' to Bill but when I heard myself saying it, it immediately felt too… light." She shrugs again. "At least, 'co-parents' does more justice to our history…"
"I guess I just don't really know where we stand right now…" She admits.
"Well…" I say, knowing that I have to be diplomatic here. Not only did I promise her to take it slow, but she's clearly not ready for the word 'girlfriend' yet. "We went on a date and we agreed to go on another one soon, so… I guess we're… 'seeing each other'?" I suggest.
"Yeah, okay…" She nods. "We're seeing each other." She repeats with a smile.
A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER (THURSDAY) – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE
Since the kids have many after-school activities on Thursdays, Santana and I decided to meet at my house, to hang out just the two of us. We were supposed to watch a movie together – until it was time to pick up our kids – but somehow, things heated up and we ended up making out on the couch…
It's quite ironic because when we were teenagers, we used to make out behind our parents' back. And I remember that back then, I couldn't wait to be a grown up, so that I could finally make out with my girl whenever I wanted to. But now, we're back to hiding – this time, from our kids. I'm not complaining though, because just like when I was a teenager, I'm completely addicted to her lips. And God knows I love when she's lying on top of my body like this.
As our tongues dance together, my hands slide under her shirt and my fingers slowly run along her back. Even though I eventually reach the waistband of her pants, I don't stop there and my hands sneak under her panties, earning a moan from her as I start caressing her bare ass.
Our kissing intensifies, and I feel her hands roaming all over my body, until she abruptly sits up.
"Okay…" She whispers out of breath. "We have to stop, because this… This is the opposite of taking things slow, Brittany!"
"Right…" I say, trying to catch my breath as well. "I um… Maybe we should place some pillows between us?" I suggest, not knowing how else I could keep my hands off her body.
"Yeah, maybe we should." She nods.
LATER – IN THE LIVING ROOM
Even though we behaved for quite a while, Santana and I eventually got back to making out, and it's even hotter than earlier! But this time, I know I have to be more subtle, and only keep my hands over her clothes if I want this to last. Fortunately, she doesn't protest when I start caressing her boob.
Meanwhile, her hands slowly move up and down my thighs, before landing on my ass. We're both moaning inside each other's mouth when she unfortunately pulls away again.
"God, how does this keep happening?!" She sighs in despair.
"Well… I…" I trail off, before taking a deep breath. "Maybe we should just stop denying the obvious, San… We clearly want each other…" I shrug.
"I know, but… I really don't want to fuck this up, Britt…" She says, with a concerned look.
"I don't want that either, but I think it's actually going pretty well between us... Don't you?"
"Yes, but maybe the reason it's going so well is because we're taking our time!" She argues. "I just… I need us not to rush this."
"Okay… We won't." I nod in agreement.
"And I'm really sorry…" She suddenly adds, looking down.
"What for?"
"Well, for making you date someone who won't even put out…"
"I'm okay with waiting, San… Really." I nod.
"Right." She says, clearly not believing me.
"I am." I repeat but she still looks doubtful. "Okay, listen… I admit I am a little sexually frustrated right now, but… I know it's worth the wait." I add in a sure voice, squeezing her hand.
It's not like Santana to hold off sex but I'm very aware that if she's doing it, it's because she's terrified to let her guard down.
"I want you to be comfortable." I say, looking into her eyes. "And I also want this to work, so badly. So, if moving slow is what it takes to get there, then it's what we're going to do." I add, bringing her hand to my lips, and she eventually nods.
"But in the meantime, I have a proposal for you…" I say, apparently sparking her curiosity. "There is a charity dinner in Newport Beach this Saturday. And it's a long story, but I was invited. So, I was wondering if you would like to go with me, as my date?"
"I would love to." She immediately says with a smile.
A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER (SATURDAY EVENING) – IN NEWPORT BEACH
"Wow, this place looks great!" Santana says, looking around.
"Right?" I nod in agreement. "But you know what the best part about tonight is? We don't have to hide, because no one knows us here..." I say, before placing a kiss on her lips, right there in the open.
"So, I can do this?" She asks, grabbing my hand in hers, to intertwine our fingers.
"Oh, it's even encouraged." I nod enthusiastically, making her smile.
"Shall we go find our table?" I suggest, gently pulling her by the hand.
LATER THAT NIGHT – SANTANA's POV
After a delicious meal, the host is now explaining how the money raised tonight will be used. But I get distracted once I feel Brittany's fingers drawing patterns on my bare thigh, under the table. I instinctively turn to her and she immediately smiles at me, with eyes full of love.
It's crazy to think that a few weeks ago, we were still dating other people and yet, being with her tonight feels so right… Like I'm where I'm supposed to be.
"Will you grant me a dance?" She suddenly asks, once the host is done talking.
"Sure!" I nod, following her to the dance floor, where we find ourselves surrounded by couples swaying to the slow and romantic music.
Brittany places a hand on the small of my back, to pull me closer to her, while I wrap my arms around her neck, and I can immediately feel the warmth of her body through the thin fabric of my dress. Her perfect blue eyes are locked with mine as we start moving slowly together, to the rhythm of the music. After a minute, I'm feeling so relaxed that I dare to rest my head on her shoulders, closing my eyes and letting myself drown in her sweet scent. I wish this moment would never end…
The songs follow each other but we remain on the dance floor, enjoying our tight embrace. As our eyes meet again, I feel such a rush of love and desire that I can't resist the urge to kiss her. Tender at first, she progressively deepens our kiss, her tongue caressing mine.
Gasping for air, I eventually pull away and find myself panting, while she gently rests her forehead on mine, our bodies still pressed against each other.
EVEN LATER THAT NIGHT
On my way back from the restroom, I spot a middle-aged man sitting at our table, talking to Brittany.
Who the fuck is that?!
"Hello, I'm Santana."
"Hi! I'm David." He says, looking me up and down, his eyes lingering a little too long on my body. "My God, I don't think I have ever seen this many beautiful women in the same room." He smiles, looking at both of us.
Right, so hitting on Brittany was not enough? He has to flirt with me as well?!
"It's nice to meet you, David." I lie. "Thank you for entertaining my girlfriend in my absence."
"I hope I was not too long, honey…" I say, placing my hand on top of Brittany's, before pressing my lips on hers.
"Well, uh… I hope you ladies enjoy the rest of your night." David says and quickly walks away, clearly embarrassed.
"So… 'girlfriend', uh?" Brittany asks me.
"Yes, girlfriend." I confirm after a second, in a sure voice. "And since I'm not a sharer, we'll have to be exclusive." I warn. "So, um… What do you say?" I ask timidly.
"Oh, I'm so in." She smiles, leaning in to kiss my lips.
Notes:
A/N: What did you think of this chapter? I hope you liked it! Please let me know in the comments :-) Thank you for reading!
Chapter 12: Brittana (Part I)
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
TWO WEEKS LATER (LATE MORNING) – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE – SANTANA's POV
"By the way, I was thinking of getting a new bed…" Brittany tells me in between sweet lady kisses, while the kids are at school. "And I was wondering if you would come with me to the store, and help me pick one?"
"Uh… I guess…" I shrug. "Why do you need a new bed?" I frown in confusion.
"Well, Nick picked the mattress I have now and honestly, I've always hated it! It's so uncomfortable! I never said anything because it was good for his backpain, but… now, I actually don't have to keep it." She shrugs. "And I know you want us to go slow, but hopefully, you will share my bed again someday, so… I might as well get one that we both like…" She says in a flirty voice, before pressing her soft lips on mine. "Is that okay?"
"Yeah…" I nod. "It's pretty sweet, actually." I say and she immediately smiles at me, pulling me into another loving kiss.
THE NEXT AFTERNOON – AT THE BED STORE
"San, you have to try this one!" Brittany suddenly says in an enthusiastic voice, while I'm checking price tags a few feet away. As I turn around, I find her lying on her back, on top of what appears to be a king size bed. I take a few steps towards her and eventually lie down next to her, wiggling to test the mattress.
"Oh… yeah, it's comfy!" I agree.
"Right?" She smiles, turning to her side to face me. Our eyes lock for a moment and that's all it takes for me to remember all those mornings I woke up by her side. I used to say that seeing her pretty face was the best way to start the day…
"So, is it the one?" She asks.
"Yeah, it is…" I nod, even though I'm no longer referring to the bed.
"Great! Let's go buy it." She smiles, getting up.
A FEW DAYS LATER – AT PARAMOUNT – IN SANTANA'S OFFICE
"I swear, San… I'm going to kill him!" Quinn says in a loud voice, clearly upset.
"What did he do now?" I ask, jaded. I feel like she's coming to my office every day to complain about Lee. I get it though, I know how irritating he can be…
"Well, according to him, he's basically doing everything by himself around here!" She says, raising her arms in frustration. "Even though I was the only one here at 5:00 AM this morning! I mean, if you listen to him, he's Superman! He's God even! Did you know that he created mankind?" She says ironically.
"Okay, look… I know he's a jerk, but occasionally, he brings good projects, like this one." I argue. "And we could use his money, so… let the man speak, it's just words." I shrug. "And he's not fooling anyone! I know how hard you work, Q… The cast knows it, the crew knows it… Like you said, you're the one they saw this morning at 5:00 AM, not Lee."
"Maybe, but I just…" She trails off. "God, he drives me so crazy that I have actual dreams about twisting his arrogant neck!"
"Oh, I know…" I nod, perfectly understanding her frustration. "He can make me lose my temper in a second, it's a talent! But trust me, it will be much easier on you if you ignore him. Otherwise, you…" I trail off when someone suddenly knocks on the door.
"Come in…" I say.
"Hi! Sorry, may I interrupt?" Brittany says, popping her head through the open door.
"Hi! Of course…" I gesture to invite her to come in.
"Hey, Q!" Britt says, giving her a warm hug.
"Hi, honey…" She tells me, kissing my lips before I have the time to stop her.
"Brittany!" I whisper, opening my eyes wide in shock.
"What?" She frowns in confusion. "Oh… Sorry, I thought you wouldn't mind. I mean, Quinn knows we're together." She shrugs.
"I do." Quinn confirms before I can say anything. "And God knows that over the years, I've seen you two kiss in way more inappropriate places than your office, so… please, don't stop on my account." She says, making me roll my eyes.
"Anyway, I can't stay…" Britt says. "I just passed by because you left your reading glasses at home, and I figured you might need them for work." She adds, handing them to me. "And before I go… um… do you remember that the kids have this school trip next week?" She asks and I nod. "Well, since they will be out of town for three days, I thought that perhaps, you could… stay over…?" She whispers, nervously playing with the collar of my shirt.
"Oh, um… I… um… sure…" I eventually whisper back.
"Great!" She smiles, clearly pleased with my answer. "Well, I should go…" She says, giving me a quick goodbye kiss. "Bye, Quinn!" She waves at her, before exiting my office.
"Well, well, well…" Quinn smirks, as soon as Brittany is gone. "So, it looks like you two are going to have a little 'sexcation', uh?" She asks, wiggling her eyebrows.
"I… uh…" I stutter nervously.
"What's the matter?" She frowns. "You don't look happy right now."
"No, I am… I uh…" I sigh. "It's just that we haven't… um, you know. Yet." I say in a shy voice.
"Wait… what? You haven't had sex yet?!" She asks, obviously surprised.
"No…" I shrug, causing her eyes to widen. "Why did you think we did?"
"Because it's you and Brittany!" She argues. "You guys used to do it pretty much all the time! And I know you didn't want to move too fast, but you've been together for a few weeks now, so I just assumed you had gone back to your old habits…"
"Well, we didn't." I say. "But now that the kids will be away for three days, and three nights… I assume she will… um… have certain expectations…"
"Yeah, I guess so…" Quinn agrees, making me even more anxious. "How do you feel about that?"
"Nervous?"
"Why? It looks like it's going well between you two…"
"It is. It's going wonderfully well!" I confirm. "And don't get me wrong, I want her, I do… It's just that…" I sigh. "Given the circumstances, it's quite a big deal…"
"Yeah, I get it…" She nods. "But you know what I always tell you, San... You should talk to Brittany about it! It may help, you know..."
ONE WEEK LATER – AT THE KIDS' SCHOOL
"Be safe, okay?" Brittany tells the kids, hugging them one more time.
"And call us!" I add, kissing them goodbye. "I'm talking to you, Diego."
"Is that really necessary?" He sighs. "Gabriel will call you anyway, and I'll be with him the whole time, so…" He argues, making me roll my eyes.
"Well, I still expect you to keep your tongue out of girls' mouths long enough to call your mothers. Capisce?" I warn him.
"Fine…" He sighs again, getting on the bus.
Barely five minutes later, we find ourselves waving like lunatics as the kids' bus drives away.
"Well, there they go…" Brittany says, before turning to me. "So… um… do you have your stuff with you or do you need to stop by your house first?"
"I uh… I have my stuff in the car…"
"Great! Let's go home then!" She says with her legendary luminous smile, grabbing my hand.
LATER THAT DAY (EARLY EVENING) – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE – IN THE BEDROOM
"You okay, San?" Britt asks me as I unpack my bag.
"Uh, sure…" I nod. "I just… can I put my clothes in your wardrobe?"
"Of course! Anywhere you like is good." She smiles. "I'll go set up the table in the garden while you finish up here, okay?" She says, pressing her lips on mine.
Once she's gone, I take a moment to look around. It feels so weird to be here… I've only been to this room once since the divorce, to pack some of Brittany's stuff after she twisted her ankle. But back then, her bedroom looked nothing like it does now.
After buying a new bed a couple of weeks ago, Britt dragged me into other furniture stores, and basically renewed her whole bedroom set. She kept saying her furniture was getting too old and it was time to change it, but I'm pretty sure she only did it because she wanted me to feel at home, and not in Nick's room. And that was a genius move because now that any trace of him is gone, I do feel at home here… I've always said that this room was my safe place, and it still feels like that today.
As I sit on the bed, I happily notice that Brittany also put back some pictures of us on the nightstands: one that we recently took together and another one of us with the kids.
LATER THAT NIGHT – IN THE GARDEN – BRITTANY's POV
"Well, to us!" I say, clinking my glass of wine against Santana's, while sitting in our favorite corner of the garden.
"To us…" She smiles, before taking a sip.
"I didn't know Tony catered, by the way." She says, looking at the delicious meal on the table.
"Oh, he doesn't." I reply. "He only did it as a favor to me."
"Really? And how did you convince him to do that?"
"Oh, you know… It was pretty easy! I just flashed him my boobs." I say casually, making her choke on her food.
"What?!" She immediately frowns, both in confusion and jealousy.
"Relax, I was obviously joking!" I chuckle.
"You better." She warns, crossing her arms. "Because I'm not a…"
"Sharer." I cut her off, completing her sentence before she can. "I know. And I love that about you." I smile, giving her another kiss.
EVEN LATER THAT NIGHT – IN THE GARDEN
"Oh, I have one!" Santana says, propping up on her elbows, as we're lying together on the blanket. "I've always wondered if you were expecting me to propose all those years ago?"
"I really didn't." I immediately reply.
"Really?"
"Not a clue!" I confirm. "I mean, I figured we would get married someday, but… knowing you, I always thought I would have to make the move."
"Knowing me?" She frowns. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Well, no offense but… you tend to overthink things, honey…"
"Right…" She admits. "But to be honest, I didn't have to think much about that one. I wanted you to be my wife so badly… I think I've never been so sure about anything else in my entire life!" She confesses and I can't resist the urge to kiss her tenderly.
"I'm really glad you did…" I whisper against her lips.
"Me too…" She smiles, but her expression quickly turns serious.
"What is it…? Are you overthinking our three days together?" I eventually dare to ask her, caressing her cheek.
"I just… I'm a bit nervous about us sharing a bed…" She says, raising worried eyes towards me.
"I get it." I nod. "You're afraid you'll snore." I tease her, to lighten up the mood.
"I do not snore!" She immediately objects, slapping my arm, and I can't help but chuckle.
"You know, San… You don't have to do anything you don't want to do." I say, a lot more serious. "I'll go with the flow… If you don't want to have sex, we can just sleep…"
"I want to…" She immediately says. "I'm craving you so bad that I could take you upstairs right now and rip off your clothes!"
"Why don't you…?" I shrug.
"Because I'm terrified?" She admits, looking embarrassed. "God knows I've never stopped loving you, Brittany, but… every minute I spend with you, I fall for you even more…" She shrugs. "And if we have sex, my heart will be completely exposed… And I can't get hurt this badly again, I just can't…"
"I won't let you get hurt." I immediately say in a soft voice, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"You can't promise that, Britt…" She shakes her head. "Neither of us would have ever thought we would end up getting a divorce, but we did."
"It's different this time."
"How so?" She shrugs.
"Because there's no way I'm losing you again!" I say in a determined voice, staring into her eyes.
"You know, San… I thought I was happy with Nick. And in some ways, I was." I nod. "But when I'm around you, I feel so much more in love and happier than I ever was with him! And every time I kiss you, I feel like a million butterflies are fluttering in my stomach…" I admit. "I thought I had moved on from our divorce but the truth is that I never did. Now that I look back, I realize that I never even tried to build a life with Nick! I just kept living in the house I had bought with you, raising children I had with you, and basically asked him to fit into that life." I say. "And I kept hiding behind the fact that I couldn't have any more children, but… if I had really wanted a baby with him, it wouldn't have stopped me. I could have got an egg donor or adopt… but I just… I didn't want to have a kid that would not be yours." I eventually admit, raising timid eyes towards her.
"And look what happened between us…" I say, caressing her cheek. "Even though we had officially ended our marriage and were in serious relationships with other people, we still couldn't stay away from each other…" I shrug.
"And that's because we're meant to be, honey…" I argue but she remains quiet, obviously still struggling with her fears.
SANTANA's POV
"Okay." Brittany suddenly sighs upon my silence, grabbing a napkin and pulling a pen out of nowhere. I had actually forgotten about this habit of carrying a pen with her at all times… "Let's make a pros and cons list." She suggests.
"What…?" I frown in confusion.
"Well, as I recall, that's how you managed to overcome your fears and agree to have another baby after Sofia... So, let's make a list about us, it might help!" She says. "So, for cons, we have 'potential heartbreak'. What else?"
"That's a huge con already!" I point out. "But this too…" I add, taking the pen from her hand to write "Break the kids' hearts again."
"Right…" She whispers sadly. "Well… any other cons you're thinking of?" She asks but I silently shake my head no.
"Pros then. Let me help you with that…" She immediately says. "So, I think I can already write 'amazing sex', right?"
"Obviously." I shrug proudly while she writes it down.
"And of course, I can also write 'be loved unconditionally', 'make the kids happy', 'have your best friend around', and… in case this works well, it could potentially lead to… 'being back at home', which essentially means 'living with your one true love' and 'seeing your kids every day'… Oh, and 'making our parents happy'…"
"Plus Abuela." I add.
"Of course, Abuela too." She agrees, scribbling it down.
"See?" She eventually says with a proud look, pointing at the much longer column of pros. "The list never lies." She adds, staring into my eyes.
Making lists is more her thing than mine, and yet, they always make the situation much clearer for me. And somehow, Brittany always manages to untangle my thoughts when I'm really overwhelmed.
"What…?" She asks as I keep looking at her in silence.
"I love you." I shrug in admission.
"I love you too…" She smiles, pulling me into a tender kiss.
LATER THAT NIGHT – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE
After finishing brushing my teeth, I take a last look at myself in the bathroom mirror. It's so surreal to be here… Although I've stayed over a few times in the past weeks, I was always using the guest bathroom. But tonight, I'm using Brittany's bathroom and being here brings back so many memories: the romantic baths we used to share, all these early mornings where she would tell me 'you're so pretty' out of nowhere, even though I was still half asleep and had messy hair… It's also in this room that we watched my pregnancy test turn positive and found out that we would become moms for the very first time…
But now that I'm about to join her in the bedroom, I feel very nervous. Earlier, she said that 'she would go with the flow', making it clear that we would only have sex if I was the one initiating it. But I don't know what to do, torn between my burning desire for her and my wish to take it slow. I even begged her not to wear her damn nightie tonight because I didn't want to be even more tempted than I already am.
After taking another minute for myself, I eventually make my way to her room, where she's been waiting in bed.
"Hey…" I whisper shyly.
"Hi!" She says with her usual heartwarming smile. "Do you wanna watch some TV?" She asks while I get under the sheets, probably trying to put me at ease.
"Sure!" I nod with a timid smile, moving closer to her.
"Back to the Future is on…" She says. "But if you want to watch something else…"
"It's fine." I smile, knowing how much she adores this movie. As I snuggle up against her, she places a soft kiss on my forehead, before wrapping her arms around me.
She may have seen this movie a dozen times, but she still laughs as if she was discovering it for the first time, and I can't help but smile. She's always had the cutest laugh in the whole world…
As time passes, I relax more and more in her arms, enveloped by her warmth and the scent of her perfume. She feels like home, and I could seriously stay like this forever.
Once the movie is over, Brittany turns off the TV and gets up, to put the remote control back on the dresser. As she comes back to bed, she mirrors my position and lies on her side, to face me.
I was afraid being together in bed would be weird, but it feels comforting, and intimate.
"You're in my bed…" She eventually whispers, as if she couldn't believe it.
"I know…" I say with the same disbelief. "Sometimes, I'm afraid that this is all just a dream and I'm going to wake up, only to find out that you're still with Nick…" I confess.
"Ow!" I suddenly let out as she gently pinches my arm.
"See, you're awake!" She smirks. "And I'm still here…"
"Okay, next time, can you prove that in a way other than pinching me?" I chuckle.
"Mmh, like how?"
"I don't know… with a kiss?" I suggest in mischief.
"Like this?" She asks, cupping my cheek to give me a tender kiss on the lips.
"Yeah…" I whisper against her mouth. "Except that it should be a longer one, because it's still not clear to me if I'm fully awake right now." I say on purpose, making her smirk.
Her eyes travel back to my mouth, and my heart pounds in anticipation, as she leans in to recapture my lips in a longer, sensual kiss.
Once again, I get lost in the moment, completely unaware of my surroundings. All I feel is the familiar taste of Brittany's mouth and her warm embrace.
"Don't stop…" I immediately beg when she suddenly pulls away.
God knows I've always loved kissing, I did with Melissa too, but it has never been addictive like it is with Britt… I just can't get enough of her!
Fortunately, Brittany quickly reconnects our lips and I find myself deepening that heavenly kiss even more when she progressively pulls me on top of her. My hands slowly wander over her sexy body and eventually sneak under her shirt, caressing her bare chest and the tone belly that once carried our sons.
I shiver at the gentle touch of her hands when they slowly slide along my back, caressing my ass and the back of my thighs, underneath my shorts.
Out of breath, I reluctantly break our kiss for a moment. But as I meet the lusty blue eyes of my perfect girl, I know I won't be able to resist her any longer. I need us so badly that my whole body is aching for her…
BRITTANY's POV
Trying to catch my breath, I watch Santana straddle me and suddenly remove her shirt in front of me. I glance at her bare chest in disbelief, but before I can say anything, she gently cradles my face in her hands and pulls me back into a loving kiss.
"San… are you sure?" I eventually ask in between kisses, as she takes off my own shirt.
"Yeah, I am…" She nods. "I've been sure for 30 years, Britt…" She says, reuniting our lips.
As she lies back down along the full length of my body, the feeling of her nipples brushing against mine immediately sends a tingle between my legs.
In a desperate need to feel more of her, I hold her tightly in my arms, my fingertips tracing along the smooth skin of her back, while our tongues keep dancing together in a passionate kiss. Santana's hand slowly glides up my thigh but my shorts keep getting in the way, and I eventually flip us over, to get rid of them.
"May I…?" I ask timidly once I'm fully undressed, pointing at her own shorts.
She silently nods in approval, smiling at me, and I carefully slide her shorts and panties down her legs, before tossing them aside. As my eyes linger on her perfect naked body, I swallow hard in anticipation. To this day, Santana is still the most beautiful woman I have ever met… And I've been waiting so long to be intimate with her that my heart is pounding in my chest.
"Come here…" My Latina whispers, pulling me back down on top of her. Our eyes lock for a brief moment, until she tenderly cups my cheek and kisses my lips. My hands go back to exploring her body, but I pull away instinctively once I reach her lower belly, having been used to "taking it slow" for weeks.
"I want you, Britt…" She reassures me with a smiling nod, while guiding my hand between her legs, making it clear that she's ready to give herself to me.
Drawn to her like a magnet, I kiss her plump lips, my fingers slowly running along her inner thighs and over her clit, making us both moan at the touch. As she gently strokes my hair and caresses my back, I gradually adjust my position, to lie between her spread legs. I'm trailing soft kisses down her neck when her hands firmly grip my hips, inviting me to grind against her in a sensual rhythm. The intimate connection of our naked bodies makes me incredibly hot, intensifying that burning need to become one with her.
Although our night together in Lima was wonderful, tonight is even more special. Because this time, Santana is all mine. I don't have to feel guilty, or fear waking up in an empty bed tomorrow morning. I can express my love for her freely, especially since she has finally let down the walls that were guarding her heart.
"I love you so much…" I suddenly whisper in the middle of our heavy breathing, reaching out to intertwine our fingers.
"I love you too, honey…" She smiles, capturing my lips in another loving kiss.
Tearing my mouth away from hers, I place a few tender kisses on her chest and on her breast. As our eyes remain locked in a lusty gaze, I eventually wrap my lips around one of her nipples. I patiently swirl my tongue around it, to savor the sweet taste of her skin, while gently fondling the other one.
"God, Britt…" She pants, biting her lip.
Encouraged by her moaning, I take her other boob into my mouth, to give it the same amount of attention, while I caress her sides, gliding along the curves of her hips. Her breathing quickens in anticipation, as I slowly trail kisses down her stomach. My lips eventually reach her inner thighs and I can't help but smirk in satisfaction once I catch sight of her glistening core.
I carefully place a few wet kisses on her throbbing clit and slowly run my tongue along her folds, the familiar flavor driving me so crazy that it gets increasingly difficult to ignore the fire building up between my legs. But right now, I want it to be all about Santana, aware of how much courage it must have taken to finally let herself be vulnerable and fully open her heart to me.
Her moaning becomes more intense when I begin to gently stroke her clit with my tongue, occasionally sucking on it. My hand reaches up to cup her breast, allowing me to feel the racing beat of her heart against my palm.
"Oh, fuck… Brittany…" She gasps, caressing my hair and every inch of my body within her reach. "That feels so good…"
I gradually quicken the pace, savoring the taste of her wetness and fully enjoying the sexy sight before me: Santana gripping the sheets tightly, releasing uncontrollable moans of pleasure.
Understanding that she's getting close, I slowly slide one finger into her wet core, then another one, both of us moaning at the touch. God, it feels so amazing to be inside her again… I had missed this so much…
I eventually shift positions, allowing me to lie right beside her, face to face. After placing a few tender kisses on her mouth, I begin to gently thrust my fingers in and out of her, progressively going deeper.
Our eyes are locked in a passionate gaze when she tenderly cups my cheek, to keep my lips close to hers. In this moment suspended in time, I feel like nothing else exists… It's just us, making love.
Santana's moaning fills the room as I pick up the pace, and I can't resist the urge to give her another loving kiss.
"Honey, I'm… I'm gonna…" She stutters against my lips, arching her back, and eventually screaming my name as a powerful orgasm rushes through her body. Beaming with pride, I watch her reach her climax, knowing I'm the one who did this to her. And God knows I'll never get tired of that sight…
Waiting for her breathing to steady, I carefully hug her in my arms and tenderly press a soft kiss on her damped forehead, secretly thanking the universe for bringing her back to me.
MUCH LATER THAT NIGHT – IN BED
"Oh God… San…" I moan, my hand gripping her soft thighs as she continues to sensually grind against me.
She's so hot that the sight alone could push me over the edge. But it's the intimate friction of our sweaty bodies and the blend of our moans that drive me wild. It won't be long before I completely surrender to her…
As our eyes meet, I get lost in our passionate connection, until intense waves of pleasure suddenly wash over me, making me forget everything else. Santana must be reaching her climax soon after, because I hear the faint echo of my name escaping her lips, before feeling her body collapsing on top of mine.
"Well… I think I just saw God…" She suddenly breaks the silence, her chest having as she tries to catch her breath.
"Yeah, I think I will remember this night for a very long time…" I chuckle, still panting, while she settles comfortably in my arms.
"It's definitely one worth remembering…" She smiles, leaning in to place a tender kiss on my lips.
We stay quiet for a few minutes, wrapped in each other's embrace, my thumb gently caressing her cheek.
"What time is it?" I eventually ask.
"It's… 3:45 AM?!" She replies in shock, glancing at the alarm clock. "Oh my God, maybe Quinn is right… We're going at it like rabbits!" She adds, making me laugh.
"Well, we had five years to make up for…" I argue.
"True…" She smiles, snuggling closer against my naked body.
Cuddled in the tender embrace of her arms, I eventually drift off to sleep, feeling both satisfied and deeply in love.
THE NEXT DAY – IN THE GARDEN – SANTANA's POV
I'm lost in my thoughts, silently running my fingertips along Britt's arm while we're cuddling on the pool deckchair.
"Have you talked to Nick since you broke up with him?" I suddenly ask out of nowhere.
"What?" She frowns in confusion, raising her head to look into my eyes.
"I was just wondering…" I trail off in a shy voice, shrugging.
"Well, I saw him a couple of days after our break up, when he picked up his stuff and gave me back his key." She replies. "But I haven't heard from him since then, and I haven't reached out either."
"Do you ever miss him…?"
"Sometimes, I guess…" She admits. "I don't miss dating him, but occasionally, I wonder what he's up to. It's weird, you know, going from sharing a life with someone to zero contact… At least, you and I were still talking after our divorce." She says. "I know it couldn't have been any other way, because of the kids and the Gleeks, but… I don't think I could have taken it if you had completely cut me out of your life." She shakes her head.
"I would have never done that." I immediately reply. "Even if it was sometimes hard to see you, it would have been even harder not to see you."
"It was hard to see me?" She asks.
"Yes." I confirm. "At first, it was hard to drop off the kids at your place and leave by myself, when all I wanted was to be with you and them." I say. "But for a long time, I also struggled with not being allowed to kiss you… Then, you got together with Nick and it was really painful to see you with him… Just the thought of you having sex with him was making me sick!" I admit in spite of myself.
"I get it…" She nods in understanding. "Frankly, it was also hard for me to see you with Melissa…" She says in a sad voice. "Have you heard from her at all?"
"No…" I reply. "I don't think I will."
"You miss her?" She asks, going back to the same question I asked her.
"Yeah, sometimes." I admit. "Just like you said, it's weird to suddenly have zero contact. But it's probably for the best… Because I choose you." I shrug.
"I choose you too." She smiles, giving me a kiss.
LATER THAT DAY – IN THE GARDEN – BRITTANY's POV
It was so hot this afternoon that Santana and I decided to take a refreshing dip in the pool. After swimming for a while, we started talking and eventually ended up kissing. It's crazy how we have not been able to keep our hands off each other since last night…
"San, wait…" I say, reluctantly pulling away from her lips.
"What is it, babe?" She asks, tracing her lips along my jawline and pressing her boobs against mine.
"You're getting me all worked up here…" I say, trying to catch my breath. "And we can't do that in the pool, honey… The neighbors could see us!"
"Well, how about we go back inside then?" She suggests, sucking on the pulse point of my neck.
"Okay, but let's go right now then…" I beg, panting. "Because I don't know how much longer I can control myself…"
THE NEXT DAY – AT PARAMOUNT – SANTANA's POV
"Okay, I'm here!" I say as I hurry into Quinn's office. "Sorry for being late, Q…"
"What…?" I frown as she just suspiciously squints at me, without saying a word.
"So, I see you've finally 'sealed the deal' with Brittany." She smirks, using air quotes.
"How did you even…?" I trail off in disbelief. "Seriously, I made sure not to sound too cheerful or look too dorky this time, so… how?!"
"Because you, Santana Lopez, said you were 'sorry'!" She argues, making me roll my eyes. "And you look really happy and… fulfilled." She adds after analyzing my face, wiggling her eyebrows.
"I am happy and fulfilled." I confirm with a proud shrug.
"Yeah? Did you even leave the bedroom?" She chuckles, teasing me.
"Of course, we did!" I frown. "Yesterday, we spent some time in the garden." I argue. "And you know, you need to get out of bed sometimes. At least, for food, or to shower…"
"Right… Did you shower separately?" She asks, crossing her arms.
"Well, showering separately would be a waste of water…" I shrug while she shakes her head.
"I take it it's still going well between you two then?"
"It's going really well..." I immediately confirm, before pausing for a moment.
"You know, Quinn… I truly loved Melissa… She was this beautiful, smart, fun woman, who was great in bed and pulled me out of my misery…" I say. "But with Brittany, everything is stronger! I love her more, I want her more, and God… she is – with no doubt – the best sex I've ever had! I just…" I trail off, sighing.
"You're falling hard, uh?" She asks.
"So hard it's scary… I'm so fucking in love, Q…" I shake my head in despair.
"Well, that's not a bad thing…" She replies. "You just said it was going really well!"
"It is." I confirm once more, nodding. "In fact, it's going so well that we've decided to tell the twins we're back together…"
"Oh, that's great, San! I'm sure the boys will be over the moon!"
THE NEXT DAY – AT HOME – IN GABRIEL'S BEDROOM
Now that the kids are back from their school trip, I know we can't postpone this any longer. It's time to tell the boys about Brittany and me.
"Okay, so…" I sigh nervously next to Brittany, looking at my sons sitting side by side on Gabriel's bed. "The reason why we wanted to talk to you guys is because… um… we know that there have been a lot of changes lately: your mom ended her relationship with Nick, I broke up with Melissa… And we… um…" I trail off, getting all shy.
"Mama and I have talked a lot since our respective breakups…" Brittany suddenly adds, coming to my rescue. "We've been spending more time together and… we've grown so much closer in the past few weeks that… we've decided to give our relationship another chance." She says, but our boys remain silent.
"Please say something…" I eventually plead, trying to get some sort of reaction out of them.
"Well, we already knew you had gotten back together, so…" Diego shrugs, making me drop my jaw in shock.
"You knew?!" I repeat in disbelief, exchanging a confused look with Brittany.
How did they find out? Sofia promised she would keep the secret until we were ready to talk about it, and I'm sure she didn't tell them.
"Of course! We're not blind, mama." Diego says, making me frown in confusion. "You're always here now, even when there is no reason to be." He shrugs again. "And you always giggle together in the kitchen, but as soon as we enter the room, you suspiciously go quiet! It was pretty clear that something was going on…"
Damn, I guess that Brittany and I were not as discreet as we thought…
"How do you feel about this, mijo?" I ask Gabriel who has not said a word yet.
"I think it's great, mama…" He eventually shrugs, with a big smile. "I'm really happy for you!" He adds, getting up to give us a hug.
"What about you, bud? You're okay with this too?" Brittany asks Diego but he just silently shrugs in response. It figures that he wouldn't have much to say about it, he has never been much of a talker. Just like me.
"You're moving back here, right?" He eventually asks me out of nowhere.
Okay, correction: Diego is not much of a talker, but he sure has a talent for putting his foot in his mouth! But then again, just like me…
"Oh, I… I don't know…" I reply in a timid voice, not knowing what to say. Brittany and I haven't even discussed this yet…
"Oh, please, how much longer do we have to keep going to your house?" He complains.
"What's wrong with my house?" I ask, offended.
"Nothing, but my room here is bigger!"
"And you really think the size of your room is an argument for us to live together?" I ask sarcastically.
"Well, mom's house is also much closer to my friends and school." He points out, making me roll my eyes.
ONE WEEK LATER (LUNCH TIME) – AT PARAMOUNT – BRITTANY's POV
Today is one of those days where I can't get Santana out of my head, even if we were together just a few hours ago. So, I decided to pay her a surprise visit at work, and take her out for a romantic lunch.
After leaving my car in the parking lot, I'm on my way to her office when I get distracted by a text and accidentally bump into someone.
"Oh, I'm so sorry… I didn't see you th-" I trail off, surprised by the sight in front of me.
"Julia." I eventually say in disbelief.
"Oh, hi Brittany!" She greets me with a smile.
God, the nerve of that woman! How does she even dare smile at me after sleeping with Santana?!
"Um… I didn't expect to run into you here. Are you working at Paramount?" I ask, praying that she isn't.
"Oh, no… I was just meeting with San." She says and just hearing her call my woman by her nickname makes me incredibly angry.
"I'm sorry, Brittany… But I have to run, I have another appointment." She says. "It was great seeing you!" She waves before walking away to her car.
"Yeah, it was definitely NOT great to see you." I mumble through my teeth once she's too far to hear me.
A LITTLE WHILE LATER – AT PARAMOUNT – IN SANTANA'S OFFICE
"So, I ran into Julia in the parking lot…" I suddenly say, still wondering what the hell that woman was doing here.
"Ah, uh… yeah, she dropped by." Santana replies, obviously uncomfortable.
"I didn't know you were still hanging out with her." I say, unable to hide my jealousy.
"I'm not. She just had a business proposal for me and showed up unannounced to discuss it."
"Right, 'business' proposal…" I repeat in an ironic voice, using air quotes. "Is it the kind of proposal that involves being naked in bed?" I ask, feeling rage building up in my chest.
"No." She shakes her head. "She wanted to know if I would run a show she's producing."
"What kind of show?" I ask, terrified at the idea of Santana working with that woman again.
"A drama." She says. "It's a pretty interesting concept, actually."
"Oh… Are you considering taking it?" I ask nervously.
"No." She says much to my relief, caressing my cheek. But suddenly, I feel guilty, wondering if she turned it down just because of me.
"San… If that show is as interesting as you said and you want to do it, I um… I'll be okay with it."
"I don't want to do it." She shrugs.
"San, really, I'd be okay with it." I insist.
"Honey, I can tell when you're lying…" She chuckles. "God, you're so cute when you're jealous!" She says, pressing her lips on mine for a tender kiss.
"Okay, fine, I wouldn't be okay with it…" I admit. "But I would feel even worse if you turned down an interesting project because of me."
"Well, that I believe." She smiles, holding my hands in hers. "But I really don't want to do it, Brittany. I already received another proposal that is far more interesting. And I would be working with someone we both love!"
"Really, who?"
"Our friend Naya Rivera." She smiles.
LATER THAT DAY (EVENING TIME) – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE – IN BED
"I just… I have to know, San." I insist.
"Brittany…" She sighs in despair.
"Look, I don't want details, but… I need to know when, and how that woman got you in her bed." I say in a determined voice, referring to Julia.
"Fine…" She sighs again, obviously annoyed. "It happened about a year after we got divorced… And like I already told you months ago, it was just rebound sex, it didn't mean anything!" She adds, raising her hands in frustration.
"That still doesn't tell me how that awful woman got you to have sex with her." I point out, crossing my arms.
"You really want to know?" She asks, looking me straight in the eye.
"Yes." I immediately confirm, holding her gaze.
"Well, then I first need to tell you what happened a few days before I met with Julia." She says, making me frown in confusion.
"It was my turn to have the kids that week…" She says. "So, they were staying at my house, and so was Abuela. The old woman had just decided – without even informing me – to invite herself and stay with us for a few days, because she was 'worried about me'." She adds, using air quotes. "And…" She trails off. "Do you remember that after our divorce, Gabriel couldn't sleep, unless he was wearing that blue shirt, the one with the dolphin?" She asks and I silently nod.
"Well, turns out that for once, Super mommy, you had forgotten to pack the shirt." She shrugs. "He only noticed it when he was going to bed, but he looked so sad that I basically turned the whole place upside down, to be sure it was not somewhere in my house. But it wasn't. And I knew he was already having a hard time coping with our breakup, so… I tried to call you, to ask you if I could come pick up the damn shirt, but you didn't answer the phone. I thought that you were perhaps rehearsing in the dance room and just couldn't hear it ring, so… I decided to drive to your house."
"And I never told you this, but… when I got there, I saw you all dressed up, on your doorstep… kissing Nick." She eventually says with a sad shrug, making my jaw drop in surprise. "I didn't even know you were seeing anyone, I guess it was probably one of your first dates with him, but God… It hurt so bad to see you kissing someone else…" She adds, making me instantly sad.
"I was in such shock that I just stayed there in my car, unable to move, praying that you wouldn't invite him to come in." She admits. "Fortunately, you didn't, you just waved at him as he was driving away. But after witnessing that kiss, I didn't have the strength to come talk to you, so… I left." She shrugs. "And all I wanted was to get drunk, but I knew I couldn't, because I had a very sad boy at home who would now have to sleep without his comfort shirt."
"So, instead, I went home, and told our son he could sleep with me that night. But all I could think of was you kissing Nick, my sadistic brain replaying it over and over…" She says, shaking her head in despair. "That was more than I could bear, so I decided to focus solely on the kids that week. And when I brought them back to your place, I pretended that everything was fine." She shrugs. "Then, I drove Abuela back to the airport and… I went straight to the pub, trying to forget that I had lost the love of my life and that she had already moved on, while I was clearly not over her."
"I had not moved on, San…" I whisper, staring into her sad eyes. "At the time, I didn't even know what was going on between me and Nick. He was just that fun guy I kept meeting at Danceathon and who had eventually asked me out on a date."
"Maybe so, but you were going on dates, kissing men, while I had just spent the entire year mourning our failed marriage! I just wanted to stop feeling that crucifying pain… I wanted to feel numb! So, I drank. Glass after glass, after glass. And then, I unexpectedly ran into Julia… She happened to be in town, to guest star in a TV show, and… we started talking. At some point, she asked how you were doing, so… I told her you and I were no longer together."
"Ah! I'm curious… How long did it take her to hit on you, after hearing that new piece of information? 5 seconds?" I ask sarcastically.
"Yeah, pretty much." She shrugs and I immediately feel enraged. But I don't know why I'm surprised, Julia was already going after Santana when we were still married! So, it figures that she would jump on the opportunity as soon as she heard she was single.
"It was subtle flirting at first…" Santana says. "But when we went outside to get some fresh air, she made a move and kissed me. One thing led to another and… we eventually went to her hotel." She says in a shy tone and I can't help but clench my fists.
"You know… Somehow, you having sex with Julia – even if just for one night – is a lot more painful than you being in love with Melissa for three years." I eventually admit. "Maybe it's because I actually liked Melissa, and I just… hate Julia Peterson, with every fiber of my being!"
"I'm sorry…" She says, squeezing my hand. "But it really didn't mean anything, Brittany. I was just feeling sad and lonely, and I needed to stop thinking about you! I needed to prove to myself that I could move on too, at least a little bit… And Julia just happened to be there." She shrugs. "If I had not run into her, I would have probably picked up some random girl instead."
"But the truth is that I felt so much worse after that." She admits. "I went from making love to my best friend, my partner in crime, my… dream girl… to having a meaningless one-night stand with a woman I literally felt nothing for…"
"So… you never considered dating her?" I ask timidly.
"No." She immediately says. "I was not ready for a relationship at the time. And anyway, Julia is not the type of person I could fall in love with." She adds. "You are the type of person I fall in love with."
"Yeah?" I ask in a timid voice, still feeling a bit sad about this whole thing.
"Oh, yeah!" She smiles. "Brittany, you're the type of woman that… I marry and have children with!" She shrugs, making me feel better right away. "So, how about we forget all about Julia Peterson, and just think of us?" She suggests, caressing my cheek.
"I'd like that…" I nod and she smirks, pressing her lips on mine.
A FEW DAYS LATER (LATE AFTERNOON) – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE – SANTANA's POV
After a difficult day at work, I head straight to Brittany's house and find her waiting for me in the hall. I guess she heard me pull the car over.
"Hey!" She smiles.
"Hi…" I say, giving her a kiss.
"Rough day?"
"It's just Lee again…" I sigh. "But I don't even want to talk about it."
"I'm sorry, honey…" She says, pulling me into a warm hug.
"Thanks." I whisper, holding her tight. "You smell really nice…" I add as I catch a whiff of coconut.
"Well, I just got out of the shower."
"Wait, does that mean you're fully naked under that bathrobe?" I ask, gently lifting the collar to take a peek.
"Ow!" I let out as she slaps my hand, before pouting in protest.
"We don't have time for this, San!" She warns. "You know we're supposed to be at Mike and Tina's in 45 minutes. The kids are already at their house."
"Well, 45 minutes is plenty of time." I argue, still hoping for some action, especially since the kids are not home.
"Not when you have yet to shower and drive there. Come on, San… Go get ready."
"Fine…" I sigh in defeat. "But you know, after such an awful day, I could really use some affection from the woman I love…"
"Well, right now, I can only do this…" She says, pulling me into a loving kiss that immediately sends shivers down my spine. "But I promise that when we come home tonight, I will love you any way you want."
"Really? Any way I want?" I smirk.
"Really." She confirms in a flirty voice, pressing her lips on mine once more. "Now, go get ready or we're going to be late."
LATER THAT DAY - AT MIKE AND TINA'S HOUSE
Ever since we moved to California, Mike and Tina always invite the L.A. Gleeks for a barbecue dinner around this time of year. I really love this little tradition because we always have so much fun! Even the kids like it! Brittany and I never missed one of these dinners, even though they were a bit awkward when we were separated. But now, we're back together and all our friends finally know about it.
"Someone took your clothes while you were showering in the locker room?!" Tina repeats, looking at Quinn in disbelief, as we reminisce about high school. "Oh my God, I thought only guys were playing that kind of prank!"
"Oh no, believe me, girls do that too." Quinn sighs. "I thought it was Santana, but…"
"Excuse me?!" I frown, offended. "How could you possibly think I would do something that dumb?"
"Well, now I know it wasn't you, but Vanessa told me she saw you run away with my clo-…"
"God, that bitch!" I cut her off, crossing my arms. That Vanessa was always jealous of me.
"San…" Brittany sighs. "Can you not say that in front of the kids?"
"It's okay, mom. We hear that word at school every day anyway." Diego shrugs. "Besides, mama says this kind of stuff all the time when we're at her house, so…" He adds, making me open my eyes wide in shock, while Brittany throws a disapproving look at me.
Great, thrown under the bus by my own child.
Fortunately, Brittany gets distracted by Mike about something related to the dance school, and I immediately use this opportunity to talk to Diego.
"Okay, mijo, listen up." I whisper, making sure Britt can't hear me. "Although I really try not to, it seems I have a talent for doing things your mom doesn't approve of. So, I don't need you to draw her attention to it even more, capisce?" I say but he just shrugs in response.
"Oh, guys, before I forget…" Tina suddenly says. "The other day, Mike and I found old photos of our annual barbecues!" She adds, passing pictures around.
"Oh, I've never seen this picture before… When was that?" Quinn asks me, handing me a picture of myself and Brittany, wearing overalls covered in paint stains.
"Oh my God… That was the year we bought our house!" I say, looking at the picture in disbelief. "We were repainting the walls and we dropped by Mike and Tina's, to borrow some additional paintbrushes." I add. "They were having a barbecue and insisted that we grab a quick bite before going home. And that's basically how this annual barbecue was born…"
"Remember that one?" Tina chuckles, showing a picture of me sitting on Brittany's shoulders, fighting Mike and her in the pool.
"Oh yeah, we totally kicked your ass that day!" I laugh.
As I go through the pictures one by one, so many wonderful memories come back to mind: our whole group singing all together, me doing shots with Puck, Sam trying to impress us with his lame magic tricks, and Brittany standing behind me, with both of her hands on my very pregnant belly. That one must have been taken barely a couple of months before Sofia was born.
"Okay, this one is really the best!" Diego suddenly says. "I'm even thinking we need to enlarge that picture and frame it! Don't you think?" He asks his sister in a mischievous tone, holding a picture of Brittany carrying a very young Sofia, with chocolate all over her face.
"Give me that!" Sofia says, yanking the picture from his hand. "You think there are no embarrassing pictures of you at home? Because I can find tons and show them to your little girlfriends!" She threatens her brother.
As I go through the last pictures, all I can think of is that I really had a whole life with Brittany before our divorce… An amazing life…
I'm suddenly pulled out of my thoughts when my blonde puts her arm around my shoulders. Our eyes meet and as soon as she smiles at me, it strikes me again: I'm so hopelessly in love with that girl.
"Okay, I think it's time for a toast!" Tina sing-songs, getting up with a glass in her hand.
"Well, guys… I know I repeat myself every year, but I'm really proud that, even after several decades, we're still such good friends! And it's always a pleasure to host you here for our annual barbecue!" She says. "But this year is special… and that's why I would like to raise my glass in honor of Santana and Brittany…" She suddenly adds, much to my surprise.
"Girls, when you broke up, I was completely shocked. I think all of us were…" She says, while the others around the table nod in agreement. "I couldn't imagine you two being apart, and your divorce kind of shattered my vision of love…" She admits. "But I think I speak for all of us when I say that we couldn't be happier to see you back together! So… to Brittana!" She says in an enthusiastic voice, raising her glass.
"To Brittana!" They all repeat in unison, clinking their glasses against ours.
A FEW DAYS LATER – AT PARAMOUNT
"Okay, Hunter…" I say in an unhappy voice, crossing my arms in a threatening way, and looking him straight in the eye. "I know you're new here so I will let it slide this time. But do that again, and you're fired! Are we clear?"
"I'm really sorry, Ms. Lopez, I had no idea…" He stutters in a nervous voice.
"Well, let me break it down for you." I cut him off. "This is Brittany." I say, pointing at her while she's standing next to me. "Take a good look at her beautiful face so you remember her. Because she's not only my partner, she's the love of my life, and the mother of my children. So, that makes her the number 1 VIP here, okay? She's more important than Lee or any other Paramount big shots, she's even above royalty, capisce? So, when she asks you to see me, you call me immediately, even if I'm in a meeting or on set. Under no circumstance do you deny her access and make her wait outside!" I frown in outrage. "You install her in my office and bring her whatever she needs! Do you understand?"
"Yes, Ms. Lopez…" He nods, looking terrified.
ANOTHER WEEK LATER – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE
"Don't go…" Brittany pleads as we stand in the hall, her arms still wrapped around me.
"I kind of have to, honey… I was just supposed to spend two nights here, and I stayed for five! And even though I always pack more than I need, I'm running out of clean clothes now…" I chuckle.
"You could just go pick up some more clothes and then come back here…" She suggests, with a sad pout.
"Come on, Britt… I have to go to my house from time to time."
"But why?" She questions.
"Well, to pick up mail and make sure that everything is alright, to clean… And you know, I occasionally need some stuff from there."
"Maybe it would be easier if you just had your stuff here…" She says, raising timid eyes towards me.
"Britt…" I sigh, knowing where she's getting at. "I can't move in here…"
"Why not?" She asks. "You're practically here all the time, San… This is your home! It's where your family is…" She says. "What's the point of keeping a house you barely live in? If you moved in here, we could live together again… And we would both see the kids every day." She argues while I just silently stare into her beautiful eyes.
It is a very tempting offer because I would love to be with my family every single day, and sleep next to Brittany every night, instead of sleeping alone in a bed I used to share with another woman. And it's true that I feel at home here, I always have…
"Are you sure?" I ask, uncertain. "Because if I move in… it means all of my stuff would be here. And you may not remember, but I have a lot of stuff, Britt! I'm not like Nick and his three pairs of pants…" I say. "And you don't even know how many beauty products I have in my bathroom…"
"I lived with you before, San… I know what to expect." She shrugs.
"Yeah, but I'm older now… I have way more products than I used to! It takes work to be this sexy at my age, you know…" I say, making her chuckle.
"Well, I'll make room for your 'stuff'." She smiles, using air quotes.
"It's not just my things though… It also means I would be here, all the time…"
"That's kind of the point, silly…" She chuckles, wrapping her arms around my neck. "Move in with me…" She insists once more, resting her forehead against mine.
"You're making it very hard to say no…"
"Well, good. Because I really want you to say yes…" She smiles, capturing my lips in a tender kiss.
A FEW DAYS LATER – AT HOME – BRITTANY's POV
As soon as I hear Santana's car pulling over, I rush to the front door, arriving just in time to watch her help Abuela out of the car, while her parents unload their luggage. It's the first time I've seen them since we got back together and I'm really excited to have them over.
"Brittany!" Abuela says in an enthusiastic voice upon seeing me, giving me a warm hug. "It's so nice to see you, dear… You look fantastic!" She adds, squishing my face between her hands.
"It's really nice to see you too, Abuela. And you've never looked better!" I reply with a smile.
"Oh, you're so sweet… Thank God, you took my granddaughter back." She says, holding my hands in hers.
"She didn't 'take me back'!" Santana immediately objects, using air quotes. "We decided to give our relationship another chance!"
"Well, given your temper, you're lucky she still wants you, mija." Abuela says while Santana rolls her eyes. "But tell me everything, Brittany! How is it going between you two?"
"Oh, it's going great!" I say with a wide smile, glancing lovingly at Santana.
"I must say that you both look really happy." Abuela nods in agreement. "So, I guess everything is 'great' in the bedroom too then…?" She smirks and even though she whispered, I'm pretty sure that Santana caught that.
"Oh, for the love of God, Abuelita… Can you just stay out of our sex life?!" My Latina tells her grandmother for the millionth time, while I try really hard not to laugh. Sometimes, I think that Abuela does it on purpose.
"Fine, no need to get upset…" Abuela says, raising her hands defensively. "Do you mind putting my luggage in the guestroom, mija?" She asks, obviously trying to change the subject.
We both watch Santana walk away with the luggage, but as soon as she's out of the room, Abuela turns to me. "Seriously, tell me… How's the sex?" She whispers.
"It's amazing…" I shrug, unable to hide my smile.
"Good." She nods in approval, clearly pleased with my answer.
"So, where is my Sofia?" She is quick to ask in a much louder voice as Santana walks back to us.
"She's at her boyfriend's but she should be back any minute now." I say.
"Oh, she's still seeing the Irish, uh?" Abuela smirks. "Do you think he could be… the one?" She asks me, wiggling her eyebrows.
"Don't you dare put marriage ideas in her head again, okay?" Santana immediately warns her. "I already can't believe that my baby girl is graduating high school tomorrow…" She adds in a nostalgic tone, while I gently rub her back to comfort her.
THE NEXT DAY – AT SCHOOL - SOFIA'S GRADUATION
"Excuse me…" Santana says, navigating through the rows of chairs with difficulty as I follow closely behind. "Mothers of the valedictorian coming through!" She announces loudly, making sure everyone can hear her.
"Oh my God, there are even more people than I thought." I say, as we finally take our seats.
"I know, it's crazy!" She agrees. "Are there really that many seniors graduating this year?" She wonders, before turning to the man sitting next to her.
"Hi, how are you? I'm the mother of the valedictorian." She tells him in a proud voice, extending her hand to him.
"I think the people in the back row may not have heard you…" I whisper ironically.
"Oh, you think? Because I would be more than happy to go introduce myself." She replies, looking over her shoulder.
"Okay, enough…" I say in a jaded tone. "We got it, your daughter is the valedictorian. It doesn't mean you have to rub it in their face…"
"Of course, it does!" She objects, frowning. "Brittany, there are three things I can brag about. One, I'm dating the sexiest woman on earth. Two, my kids are awesome. Three, my daughter is the freakin' valedictorian! So, please don't take this away from me!" She pleads, before tapping on the shoulder of the lady seated just in front of her.
"Hi! Which one is yours? My daughter is the valedictorian." She tells her while I roll my eyes.
LATER THAT DAY – AT SOFIA'S SCHOOL
"Hey, mom!" I suddenly hear Sofia's voice behind me.
"Peanut, hi!" I smile, hugging her. "Your speech was amazing, I'm so proud of you!"
"Thanks!" She smiles back. "Where's mama?"
"Oh, she's over there…" I point towards Santana, who is a few feet away. "She's telling yet another group of parents that she's the valedictorian's mother…" I sigh, making her chuckle.
"Look at you, you're all grown up…" I say for the third time today, holding her hands in mine. In her cap and gown, she looks just like Santana at her age.
"Okay, I'm gonna go find Liam before you start crying again." She laughs, squeezing my hands.
"Alright, but don't go too far. Mama wants us to take tons of pictures with you!"
A FEW DAYS LATER – AT THE RESTAURANT
"Oh, so it's confirmed? You're leaving?" Quinn asks me as we're having lunch, just the two of us.
"Yep, it's all booked!" I smile. "Santana and I agreed it was too important. You know, with the divorce, it's actually the first family vacation we take in years! And maybe it's also the last one…" I shrug. "With Sofia starting college in the fall, I'm not sure she'll still want to go on holiday with her moms, so…"
"God, I can't believe that little pumpkin is starting college already!" Quinn says, shaking her head. "I can still picture her carrying her teddy bear everywhere…"
"I know…"
"But tell me everything!" She says. "Where are you going?"
"Well… we're going to Europe, for six weeks!"
"No way!" She says, her jaw dropping in surprise.
"Yeah!" I nod in excitement. "Santana really wanted to mark the occasion, she basically said 'go big or go home', so… That's how we settled for Europe." I say. "We're leaving next week and I don't even recall the exact itinerary, because she planned it all herself, but… I know we'll go to London, Paris, Barcelona… Oh, and we'll stop a few days in Ireland, so that Sofia can see Liam, as he will be spending the entire summer in Europe. He will also travel with us for a bit… And then, I think we go to Sweden and um… Greece? I'm sure I'm forgetting half of it, but I know we'll spend the last two weeks in Italy, so that we can also relax and enjoy the beach!"
"Well, just so you know… I'm totally jealous right now." She says, making me chuckle. "But I think it's a great idea! And I'm sure the kids will love it."
"I hope so… I'm so excited I cannot wait!" I smile.
Notes:
A/N: Happy new year 2024, may it bring you what your heart desires! I have a few things to say about this chapter. First, I hope you've enjoyed the sex scene because I really struggle with those! As you might have noticed, I also briefly mentioned Naya Rivera in this chapter, and if you want to know more about Naya and Santana's friendship, I refer you to my other fanfic, "Tell our story" on FFN. This will explain how it's even "possible" that they know each other. But back to this chapter for now… As indicated by the title, this was "Part I". The second part will cover their holidays and some other stuff, bringing us to the end of the story. But I will also post an epilogue after that, so that means there are two chapters left. I hope you enjoyed this one, please let me know what you think in the comments! Thank you and take care!
Chapter 13: Brittana (Part II)
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
A FEW DAYS LATER – IN EUROPE (LONDON) – SANTANA's POV
"What do you mean 'Liam has to sleep in the twins' room the whole time he is traveling with us'?!" Sofia asks me, frowning. "You can't be serious!"
"Oh, I'm dead serious." I immediately reply.
"You know that I'm turning 18 in just a few weeks, right?"
"And I'm turning 43 around the same time. What's your point?" I shrug.
"Okay, where's mom?" She's quick to ask, obviously looking for support.
"She's taking a shower." I say. "But if I were you, I wouldn't bother, mija. Mom and I already talked about it, and she agrees with me."
"Well, can we at least discuss it?" She insists, crossing her arms.
"Not that it's going to change my mind, but... sure, let's discuss." I say in a jaded tone, inviting her to sit down across the table.
We end up staring at each other for a while, without saying a word.
"I know you know that Liam and I have sex." She eventually says, completely catching me by surprise.
Even though Brittany already told me months ago, part of me was still hoping that she had just misunderstood "the signs", but hearing Sofia saying it so bluntly doesn't leave any more room for doubt: my daughter is sexually active.
"I know mom figured it out a while ago…" She adds. "And she told you, didn't she?"
Crap, what am I supposed to say now? Brittany made me promise that if it came up, I would act like I didn't know anything.
"Um… I… uh…" I trail off, not sure how to react.
"What's the point of discussing if you won't even be honest?" She challenges me, locking eyes with me.
Damn, Brittany is right. That girl becomes more and more like me…
"Fine…" I sigh. "Yes, I know about you and the leprechaun… But don't be mad at mom for telling me, mija. We were just…"
"It's okay, mama." She cuts me off. "I was actually hoping she would tell you."
"What…?" I frown in confusion, not expecting that.
"I didn't mean to hide it from you… I was just too scared to tell you myself." She shrugs. "I was sure mom would eventually tell you, and I thought it was for the best, because you would take it better if it came from her anyway."
"Better…" I repeat with a sarcastic chuckle, remembering how bad I reacted to the news, even with all the Martinis Brittany made me drink that day.
"I'm sorry…" Sofia says, understanding that I didn't take it well. "I get it though… Even I feel weird when I see Diego and Gabriel kiss girls, so I can't imagine how you must feel, knowing that I… um…" She trails off. "But when you were my age, you were already dating mom, and you guys were also sleeping together…"
"It's not the same, mija."
"It's exactly the same, mama! You and mom were even moving a lot faster than me and Liam." She argues. "You were not even 20 years old when you moved in together, and you got engaged just a few months after that! So, why can't I share a bed with my boyfriend for a few days?" She asks, making me sigh.
"I already told you, Sofia… I know it's not fair, but it's not the same."
"Why? Because I could get pregnant?"
"Yes!" I immediately say, raising my arms.
"But I'm on the pill and we're careful…" She argues. "And what if we lived in a world where mom could have gotten you pregnant at 18, huh? You know it wouldn't have stopped you."
"I… uh…" I stutter, trailing off. Damn, I hate when she's being so smart.
"Well?" She asks, getting impatient. "And remember: you promised to be honest."
"Ok, fine. I would still have had sex with her." I admit.
Who am I kidding, anyway?
"Exactly. So, can you please stop being so old-fashioned about it?"
"I can't help it, mija." I shrug. "I was basically raised by your nana Alma, so what do you expect from me exactly?"
"I don't know, could you just try to remember how you felt around mom at my age?" She asks. "Besides, you know that in a couple of months, Liam and I are moving to New York. And you won't be there to stop us from spending the night together."
"Well, when you're in college, you'll do what you want." I shrug. "But right now, you and Liam are my responsibility! And there is a reason why we – and his parents – have an open-door policy, mija… My job is to make sure nothing happens between you two here, so I'm not going to provide a bed and put rose petals on it, okay?" I say while she rolls her eyes. "You'll understand when you're a mom."
"But it's not just about sex!" She argues. "I want to be able to cuddle with my boyfriend! When am I supposed to do that?"
"During the day." I shrug. "When there's someone else in the room. Or with the door open."
"So much for intimacy…" She complains.
"Oh, because you think I had any intimacy with your mom when you were little?" I ask. "There was a time where you invited yourself in our bed every night, mija! That's just how it is, parents and children ruin each other's sex life." I shrug. "So, to be clear: the Irish will sleep in your brothers' room and he's not allowed to set a foot in yours." I add, pointing my index finger at her. "And I'm warning you: I will regularly come check on you, at any time of the night. Okay? And if you dare break the rules, I swear I'll put him on the first flight back to Ireland. Capisce?"
"Fine…" She sighs in defeat.
ONE WEEK LATER – IN SWEDEN
"Well, that music museum was really impressive!" I say enthusiastically while walking with Diego, right behind Liam and the rest of our family. "What did you think, mijo?"
"Uh…?" He says in a distracted voice, obviously more interested in the two girls we just walked past. "Oh, uh… yeah, sure, it was cool."
"Do you really need to look at every girl we happen to cross paths with?" I ask, jaded.
"I'm sorry, but have you seen the girls here? They are all beautiful!" He says in disbelief. "How come you don't look?" He asks. "I thought tall blondes with blue eyes were your type."
"No." I frown. "Your mom is my type."
"Well, last time I checked, she was a tall blonde, with blue eyes."
"My point is that she's not just any random beautiful blonde, mijo. She's the love of my life!" I reply. "And if you stopped ditching girls after just two days, maybe you would find yours."
"Well, maybe one of these girls is the love of my life." He argues, eyeing yet another Swede, while I shake my head in despair.
A FEW DAYS LATER (EVENING TIME) – IN SPAIN
"I really love this place!" Brittany says in an excited voice as we sit on the terrace of a tapas bar, sipping cool white wine.
"Oh, me too!" I immediately agree. "I have everything I need to be happy: good food, good wine, a beautiful woman to keep me company…" I say, bringing her hand to my lips. "And it's good for the kids too, they get to practice their Spanish, and experience the local culture…" I add, nodding towards our children, who are chatting with friends on the beach, a few feet away. "Looks like they're having a great time! Except for Sofia, maybe."
"Well, I guess she's a bit down, it's Liam's last night with us."
"Oh yeah, how sad..." I say sarcastically.
"San…"
"What?" I shrug. "I did my part, Britt! I invited him – for free may I add – to join us for two weeks, so she could spend some time with her boyfriend. But I'm not going to pretend I'm sad he's leaving." I warn. "Besides, this is a family vacation! With him gone, maybe our daughter will finally pay attention to us and her brothers."
"Okay, you know what? Name three things you like about Liam." She suddenly challenges me.
"I don't like anything about him." I'm quick to say.
"Santana…" She sighs.
Oh, here it is… the full name.
"What?" I ask again, raising my arms.
"Look, I don't want to freak you out, but… I think he might be the one for her, so… you need to learn to like him."
"Oh come on, Britt… You know that apart from our family and close friends, I generally don't like people. And he's sleeping with my daughter, so… I have all the reasons to dislike him!"
"But that's exactly the issue. Ever since he was a little boy, you've seen him as someone who will corrupt your daughter's innocence."
"Well, I was right, wasn't I?" I argue while she rolls her eyes.
"I bet you would actually love him if he was not dating Sofia." She says. "So, just pretend he's gay or something, and find three things you like about him." She insists.
"Why is this so important to you?"
"Because I know how miserable you were when your Abuela didn't approve of me. And I don't want Sofia to experience the same pain." She says and I just remain silent, not knowing how I could possibly go against her smart arguments.
"If you find three things, I'll make sure to reward you in bed tonight…" She eventually whispers, staring into my eyes while placing her hand on my bare thigh, under the table.
"You could have led with that." I point out, making her smirk.
"I'm listening…"
"Fine." I sigh in defeat. "I guess he's kind of well-mannered…" I reluctantly admit while she nods in agreement. "And uh… he's a talented musician. I mean, he plays the violin well, at least."
"One more…" She insists, caressing my thigh.
"He's… um… he's rather considerate around Sofia, I guess…" I eventually say in a whisper.
"That's right." She smiles. "Thanks for making the effort, honey." She adds, pressing her lips against mine. "We should do this every now and then."
"What?!" I frown. "Okay, Britt… no. I'm not going to wrack my brain just to…"
"I'll reward you in bed every time you find three new things." She cuts me off.
"I… um… you…" I trail off, hesitating. God, it's not fair! She keeps confusing my brain with these thoughts of her naked!
"Every time, really…?" I eventually ask, in spite of myself. Damn, I'm weak.
"Every time." She confirms, caressing my cheek.
"Okay, I guess he's quite smart." I say. "After all, he's always had decent grades. And he's a Christian, so at least, Abuela won't be on my back. Oh, and once, he also stood up for Gabriel against that bully, Tom what's-his-name. Not that it was necessary but still, that was pretty cool of him."
"Ok, I didn't mean you had to find them all right now." She chuckles.
"No, no, I'm sure I can find more!" I quickly say. "Um… Oh yeah, he never misses Sofia's dance recitals. And he's a pretty responsible kid, he's cautious when he drives and…" I add but she eventually cuts me off with a kiss.
Well, I guess I'm getting lucky tonight.
ONE WEEK LATER – IN POLAND – AT THE RESTAURANT
"You're awfully quiet tonight…" Brittany says while I'm lost in my thoughts, playing with my fork. "I thought you loved these dumplings?"
"I do. I was just thinking…" I sigh, aware that everyone finished eating a long time ago already.
"About what?" She asks, caressing my hand.
"The kids…" I shrug, glancing at them outside chatting.
"What about them? You look worried."
"I am…"
"But… why?" She asks in a concerned voice.
"I don't know, I think it's because we're almost half way through our vacation… which means we're getting closer to the moment our little girl leaves our home and moves across the country…" I sigh.
"I know… But it's time for her to start her own life, honey…" She shrugs, squeezing my hand to comfort me. "And you know you don't have to worry about her! She's smart, she's resourceful and she can look after herself. Besides, she won't be in the middle of nowhere, she will be in New York, on campus... And Liam's school is not far, he will take care of her."
"The Irish? That's supposed to reassure me?" I question with a frown.
"Okay, well… What if I tell you that Rachel, Kurt and the other Gleeks will watch over her?" She says in a comforting voice. "Better?"
"A little bit, yeah…" I admit. "But it's not just Sofia… We have what, three years before the twins leave too?" I shake my head in despair.
"Mmh, it looks like someone is showing early signs of the empty nest syndrome…" She says, caressing my cheek.
"How come you're not?" I ask. "You have more of a maternal instinct than I ever did!"
"I know you always say that, but that's not true, San. You're a wonderful mama, and you're crazy about your kids! Why do you think I chose to have them with you?" She smiles. "But even when the boys are gone, you'll still have me, honey." She adds, kissing my lips.
"That does make me feel better…" I admit, giving her a timid smile that she immediately returns.
"You know, we actually had that same conversation a long time ago, when Sofia was 5, I think…" She says.
"We did?"
"Yes." She nods. "Don't you remember? We talked about all the things we would do once the kids move out."
"Like what?" I ask.
"Well, we said we would travel more, maybe even to Australia, or Japan… And that we would go on a cruise…" She says. "Oh, and we also said we would have sex all over the house, any time we want." She whispers, wiggling her eyebrows.
"Now, you're talking…" I smirk.
"And some day, we'll probably have grandkids staying with us every now and then anyway, so the house won't be empty."
"Woah, woah, woah…" I say, putting my hand up. "Not too soon, okay?"
"Not too soon…" She repeats with a smile, pulling me into a kiss.
A FEW DAYS LATER (EVENING TIME) – IN CZECH REPUBLIC – IN BED
"Night, honey…" Brittany kisses my lips before lying on her side, obviously ready to sleep.
"Wait, what? I thought we were going to have sex tonight…" I pout in disappointment.
"Well, yeah, but that was before you said you were not feeling well." She shrugs. "You should rest, honey. We can have sex tomorrow night."
"No, we can't, it has to be tonight!" I object.
"Why?" She frowns.
"Because tomorrow night, we'll be in Croatia already."
"So?" Britt shrugs, obviously confused.
"Okay, here's the thing…" I say. "Before we left, there was only one country I had ever had sex in: the United States. But now, thanks to our trip through Europe, I'm at nine!" I say proudly. "And tonight, we have the opportunity to reach the magic 10." I wiggle my eyebrows.
"But San, if we do it in Croatia tomorrow, you will also reach 'the magic 10'." She says, using air quotes.
"Or we can even reach 11 tomorrow, if we don't skip Czech Republic tonight." I argue. "See, that's why we should have stayed more than two days here…"
"So, you're having sex with me just to tick off countries on a map?" She asks, crossing her arms.
"No!" I immediately object. "I have sex with you because I love you, Brittany. But wouldn't it be fun to say 'Czech Republic? Oh yes, I've been there. As a matter of fact, I even had sex there.'?"
"And to whom would I possibly say something like that?" She questions.
"I don't know, Puckerman?" I shrug but she rolls her eyes, clearly not convinced.
"Okay, look… You know what I will remember from our very short stay in Czech Republic?" I ask. "The music, the beer, Charles Bridge… and hopefully, the amazing sex I had with my lovely girlfriend…" I say with hopeful eyes but she remains silent.
"Brittany, we were apart for five long years… And now that we're back together, I want to enjoy my time with you to the fullest." I confess. "Because the one thing I learned from our divorce is that I shouldn't take anything for granted. And I love you wherever we are, honey…" I shrug. "So, please, let me show it to you…?" I say in a flirty voice, placing a tender kiss on her cheek.
"Are you even sure you feel up to it?" She eventually asks, hesitating.
"Yes, I feel fine now." I nod. "But I'm sure I would feel even better if you made love to me…" I say innocently.
"You're incorrigible, you know…" She whispers against my lips, before pulling me into a loving kiss.
A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER (LATE AFTERNOON) – IN CROATIA
After strolling through the local market stalls for a good hour, Brittany and I were ready to call it quits, but the kids insisted on exploring a little longer. So, my lovely blonde and I resigned ourselves to waiting on a bench nearby.
"I think that must be the 75th hat Sofia has tried on…" I say, my eyes following our daughter's every move.
"That must be just about the same for Diego and the sunglasses…" Brittany chuckles.
"And of course, our Gabriel is going to check every single book that is for sale…" I add.
"Yeah, I don't think they'll be done anytime soon…" Brittany says, intertwining our fingers. "Do you want to take another look around?" She asks.
As I turn to her, I catch the light of the setting sun reflecting on her hair, making the blue of her eyes even more captivating than usual. God, she's so beautiful…
"No… The only thing I want to look at is right here…" I smile, squeezing her hand tighter.
A FEW DAYS LATER – IN GREECE (LESBOS ISLAND)
"San, honey, wake uuup…" I hear Britt sing song from afar, feeling her lips against my cheek.
"Mmhh…." I grunt.
I'm so exhausted that I don't even manage to open my eyes. And I feel heavy, but maybe it's because Brittany's entire body is apparently lying on top of mine.
"What time is it…" I barely can articulate, my eyes still closed.
"It's early… 5:30 AM." She says, trailing kisses along my jawline.
"What…?" I frown, my eyelids now half open. "Why would you even be awake at 5:30? We're on holiday!"
"Because I want you…" She whispers, kissing my chest. God knows that I would normally happily go along with it but it's the middle of the night right now!
"But, honey… we had sex barely 5 hours ago…" I complain in a tired voice.
"So?" She asks, pressing her lips on mine, caressing my sides. "I don't know, maybe it's because I'm having the most wonderful time on this trip with you and the kids – or perhaps, it's because this beautiful island is a symbol of lady love – but I definitely want to love my lady right now…" She says in a sultry voice, gently sucking on the most sensitive spot of my neck, while running her hand over my bare breast.
Oh God… That is definitely going to wake up my lady parts…
"Besides, the kids won't wake up for hours…" She whispers, the hot air of her breath brushing against my skin.
"Only you can turn me on at 5:30 AM…" I shake my head in despair while she smirks, obviously pleased with herself.
Without a word, I wrap my arms around her naked body and pull her closer, kissing her passionately.
ONE WEEK LATER – IN ITALY – ON THE BEACH – BRITTANY's POV
"You ready, honey?" Santana asks me as we're about to go for a walk with the kids.
"Yep, I am." I smile, grabbing my small purse.
"Where's Diego?" Santana frowns, looking around.
"Over there…" Sofia says, pointing at her brother.
"Oh my God, is he yet talking to another girl?!" Santana says in disbelief, shading her eyes from the sun to see better.
"That's Valentina." Gabriel says. "We met her at the arcade two days ago."
"Oh wow, she managed to last two whole days? That girl must be something!" Santana says sarcastically.
"Mijo, it's time to go!" She shouts, waving at Diego.
"Well… it looks like Valentina will be joining us." I say, watching them walk towards us, hand in hand.
"Good Lord…" Santana sighs, rolling her eyes. "You know we're gonna have a dozen random girls in our holiday pictures, right?" She asks, turning to me.
LATER THAT DAY – ON THE BEACH
"San, you've got to taste this gelato… I think this may be the best I have ever had!" I say in an excited tone, bringing it to her mouth.
"Oh, yeah… very tasty! Damn, I should have gotten that one too…"
"Well, we can share if you want." I smile. "How about you, guys? You like it?" I ask our kids.
"Yeah, I must say it's really good!" Sofia nods enthusiastically. "No wonder everyone is talking about this place."
"What about you, boys?" Santana asks but she quickly turns to Gabriel when she sees that Diego is clearly more interested in Valentina than his ice-cream.
"I really like it but I was hesitating between this one and another flavor, and now I wonder if I made the right choice…"
"Well, tell you what, mijo… How about we come back tomorrow, so you can try the other one?"
"Really?" He asks.
"Of course! We still have a couple of days before flying back home, so… why not?"
THE NEXT EVENING – IN ITALY – AT THE RESTAURANT
"Let me get this straight: you want to pay for dinner?" Santana asks our kids in disbelief, as we just finished eating.
"Yes." Sofia confirms. "We know how lucky we are, mama. Not many kids our age get the opportunity to travel through Europe, let alone for six weeks! So, to thank you guys, we've decided to put our money together and treat you."
"Wow, I didn't think you had it in you…" She says. "Even though all the money you have is money we gave you, I thought you would blow it on clothes." She tells Sofia. "Or on girls." She adds, looking at Diego. "Or on yet another gift for Stella." She teases Gabriel.
"What mama is trying to say is that we really appreciate the gesture." I clarify, with a chuckle. "And we had a great time with you guys over the past 6 weeks!"
"We really did." Santana nods in agreement.
"Well, then maybe it's the perfect time to tell you that we have another surprise for you." Sofia suddenly says in a mischievous tone. "Shall we, boys?" She asks, looking at her brothers, and they all get up while Santana and I exchange a confused look.
Our children walk to the small stage that was set up for tonight's open mic, and sit side by side, on stools. While Sofia and Gabriel adjust their microphones, Diego grabs the guitar that a staff member hands him.
Oh my God, I can't wait to hear the song they're about to perform!
"This song is for our moms." Sofia says into the microphone, pointing at us.
As soon as Diego plays the first notes on the guitar, I gasp and look at Santana, immediately recognizing "Songbird". I can't believe they picked the song she wrote for me, the very one she sang the day she proposed, years ago.
The kids take turns, each of them singing a few lines, and I don't know which one amazes me the most… But once I hear them sing the chorus together in harmony, I can't hold back my tears. God knows this song will forever be special to me, but it's particularly moving to hear our own children sing it…
I can't help but smile through my tears when Santana takes my hand in hers and wraps her other arm around my shoulder, pulling me closer to kiss my cheek.
If someone had told me a year ago that I would get my family back and would be travelling through Europe with the girl I've loved my whole life, I wouldn't have believed it. There were many twists and turns, but I'm so grateful to the universe for bringing us back together.
ONE MONTH LATER (SEPTEMBER) – IN LOS ANGELES – AT HOME (GARDEN)
"But… Brittany…" Santana sighs in despair. "You can't plant vegetables here, I was planning to plant flowers in the exact same spot!"
"Where else am I supposed to plant them, San?" I ask. "This is where they will get the best light."
"Well, FYI, flowers also need sun!" She argues. "And why do we even need all these vegetables anyway?!"
"Because then, we can eat our own vegetables, and we'll be sure they're fresh!" I say. "Why do we need all these flowers?" I also question.
"Because it's pretty!" She argues and I can't help but smirk.
"What's so funny?!" She frowns, crossing her arms.
"I just really missed fighting with you over the garden…" I admit, cupping her cheek to give her a kiss on the lips.
When we were married, Santana and I disagreed at least once per year on what to do with the garden. It's never been a big fight, but being in this position again is just another reminder that we're back to building a life together, and I really love that.
"Look, how about you plant just half as many flowers, and I also reduce the number of vegetables?" I suggest as a compromise. "That way, we will have enough space for the two of us."
"Fine…" She sighs.
"Great! Now that this is settled, give me another kiss, please…" I say, pulling her back into my arms.
A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER (OCTOBER) – AT PARAMOUNT – SANTANA's POV
"Ms. Lopez…" Hunter says while I'm on set. "I'm sorry to interrupt but Ms. Rivera has arrived, and Ms. Pierce is also here, I've set them up in your office."
"Thanks, Hunter." I reply, making my way towards my office.
"Well, two of my favorite ladies are visiting… It must be my lucky day!" I say, as I find them laughing together in the room.
"Hi, honey…" I whisper, kissing Brittany's lips. "Rivera, it's so good to see you!" I say, pulling her into a tight hug.
"You too, Lopez!" Naya says. "Ow!" She lets out when I slap her arm. "What the hell?" She frowns.
"That is for disappearing on me for the last six months!" I say as a justification for the gesture.
"I didn't disappear!" She protests. "I was shooting a movie, Lopez. And I texted you!"
"Maybe, but… you missed everything, because there are certain things you just can't announce through texts!" I complain, crossing my arms.
"Oh, I know… I go for six months and when I get back, I find out that you broke up with your girlfriend, got back with your ex-wife, and even live with her now?" She says in disbelief. "But I've got to tell you… I'm absolutely loving this!" She adds with a smile, gesturing between me and Brittany.
"Thanks, Nay…" Brittany says in gratitude, wrapping her arm around my waist.
"Aw, look how cute you are together!" Naya says, crossing her hands over her heart, while I roll my eyes.
"So, how's my godson?" I ask her.
"Josey is fine, thank you." She smiles. "He's full of energy, just like any other 10 year old."
"Well, enjoy it while it lasts… Because once they hit 14 years old, they apparently become apathetic and it's a struggle just to get a three-words sentence out of them…" I sigh.
"Oh, tough times with the twins?" She asks.
"Well, your godson is pretty easy to handle. But Diego, it's another story… I swear, that boy is going to give me white hair!"
"Don't listen to her, she's exaggerating…" Brittany sighs, turning to Naya.
"I'm not!" I object.
"Honey, I love you, but you are exaggerating… Diego is a sweet boy, he's just a teenager." Britt shrugs, kissing my lips. "Anyway, I'll leave you two to your meeting… I promised Quinn to take her out for lunch."
"Don't you guys talk about me!" I warn, pointing my index finger.
"You know we will, San." She smirks, completely ignoring my warning. "Naya, it was really nice to see you!" She adds, hugging her. "Why don't you come for dinner this weekend? I'm sure the boys would love to see Josey!"
"Oh, sure, that'd be great!" Naya says in an enthusiastic voice.
"Wonderful!" Brittany smiles. "I'll see you then." She adds, leaving the room.
"So…" Naya trails off, once we're alone. "You and Brittany, uh?" She smirks.
"Yeah…" I say in a timid voice, shrugging.
"You know, it's funny…" She says. "Part of me is completely blown away – because I didn't expect you two to get back together – but the other part of me is not surprised at all, like I knew it was just a matter of time." She shrugs. "And seeing you together just now, it looks so normal… It's like the divorce never happened!"
"Well, honestly, that's pretty much how I feel about it too… Things are so good between us, I feel like I'm right where I belong…" I shrug.
"I'm really happy for you, Lopez!" She smiles.
"Thanks…" I smile too. "So, should we get down to business?"
"Sure." She says. "Well, tell me… What did you think of the proposal my assistant sent you?"
"Honestly, I think it's a great concept. And a show that you write yourself and in which you star…? Where do I sign?" I smile, making her drop her jaw in surprise.
"Wait, you're serious? You'll run it?" She asks in disbelief.
"Of course! I can't wait to work with you again, Rivera!"
"Oh my God, I'm so happy!" She says in an excited voice, throwing herself at me for a hug. "I didn't expect it to be so easy, I had even prepared a whole speech to convince you."
"Well, let's hear it… It might be fun!" I chuckle, teasing her.
A FEW WEEKS LATER (THANKSGIVING) – IN LIMA – AT ABUELA'S HOUSE
Just like a year ago, the whole family is meeting for Thanksgiving, but circumstances are so different. It's funny how quickly life can change… Last year, Brittany and Nick hosted us in what used to be their house, and I arrived with Melissa. Her parents were present too and kept hinting at marriage, while I tried to ignore the ache in my heart every time I caught Brittany and Nick sharing a kiss.
But this year, there is nothing painful to witness. The Lopezes and the Pierces are reunited as one big family in Abuela's house, just like when we were married. And I get to fully enjoy my glass of champagne, sitting comfortably on her couch, with Britt gently tracing patterns on my thigh.
"So, mija… How's college?" Abuela asks Sofia, as I taste one of her appetizers.
"Oh, I love it!" Sofia smiles. "My classes are pretty interesting and I've met lots of great people already."
"And how's your boyfriend? Does he like it too?"
"Yes, he does." She nods. "I think we've both found our true calling."
"I'm very pleased to hear that!" Abuela says enthusiastically. "And what about you, mijo?" She asks Diego, turning to him. "How's that girl of yours? Tessa, right?"
"Tessa and I are no longer together, nana." He replies. "I'm with Naomi now."
"Oooh, a new girlfriend?" Brittany's mom interjects, clearly eager to know more. "Do you have a picture, honey? I want to see what she looks like!" She says, getting up from her seat.
"Santana…" Abuela whispers into my ear while everyone gathers around my son, to see pictures of his new love interest. "Every time I see Diego, he has a new girlfriend…" She frowns.
"Abuelita, every time I see Diego, he has a new girlfriend…" I shrug, in a jaded tone. "Believe me, I've tried to tell him that he doesn't have to date every single girl he meets, but unless he finally finds his 'Brittany', I'm afraid nothing will change." I sigh.
LATER THAT DAY (DINNER TIME)
"Thank you, Lord, for bringing us together on this Thanksgiving night, and for the food before us." Abuela says, as we all join hands around the dinner table. "Today, I want to express my deepest gratitude for my beautiful family. And I am especially thankful that You brought Brittany back in my granddaughter's life." She suddenly adds out of nowhere, making me roll my eyes.
After saying grace, Abuela finally gives us the go ahead to feast on the delicious meals she prepared. The following hours are nothing but the usual blur of too much wine, divine food and laughter, just like in the good old times. Once again, I end up eating way too much, as if I didn't know when my next meal will be.
"So… what are you thankful for this year?" Brittany asks me, wrapping her arm around my waist, while we watch the kids play cards with their grandparents.
"Mmh, well… our kids, obviously. And you." I say, gently rubbing my nose against her. "Oh, and the sex…" I add in a whisper.
"Oh God, yeah, me too!" She whispers back with a smirk, before kissing my lips.
A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER (JANUARY) – EVENING TIME – AT HOME – BRITTANY's POV
"This is really nice…" Santana says as I play with her hair, while we're cuddled up on the couch. Since the twins are at friends', we decided to have a "wine and TV" night, just the two of us.
"It is…" I say. "See, it's not so bad when the kids are not there…" I smirk, stealing the glass of wine from her hands to take a sip.
"You're right, as always…" She says, running her fingers along the collar of my shirt.
Sometimes, it surprises me how happy I get, even though we are doing the simplest things in the world. I guess I had forgotten that I actually don't need much, as long as Santana is around me.
We keep watching the movie for a while and it's so funny that I can't stop laughing.
"What?" I say in between chuckles when I see her eyes staring at me.
"I love you." She simply replies.
Santana and I have never been shy about saying "I love you" to each other, we can say it in a variety of situations: at the end of a text, when one of us leaves the house, during sex… But my ultimate favorite is when she says it like she did just now: when it's random, without any specific reason.
"I love you too." I say with a smile, giving her a tender kiss.
A FEW WEEKS LATER (MARCH) – AT HOME – SANTANA's POV
"Call me when you land?" Brittany asks me as I double check my purse one more time.
"Of course, honey…" I smile. "By the way, Lucy knows all about my itinerary if needed, but… like I told you, I will first go to…"
"I know." She cuts me off. "After you land, you're going straight to Rachel's, to settle. Tomorrow, you will spend the whole morning at the radio studio for your interview, and in the afternoon, you will visit Sofia on campus. The rest of the week depends on how your shooting goes."
"Well… yes." I say, completely impressed by her good memory.
"Just be careful." She says, pressing her lips on mine. "And hug our little peanut for me…"
"Will do." I smile, wrapping my arms around her neck. "I miss you already…"
"Me too…" She whispers, pulling me into another tender kiss.
A FEW WEEKS LATER (APRIL) – AT HOME – BRITTANY's POV
"So… mama has great news for you, guys!" I tell the twins in an enthusiastic voice as they look at us in confusion. "San?" I say, turning to her.
"Well, I did my homework…" She tells our sons, trailing off in a mysterious voice. "And I think I have found you some pretty sweet deals for spring break." She adds with a big smile.
"Poetry classes at the arts school?" Gabriel is quick to ask in a hopeful voice.
"Even better." Santana smirks. "For you, I found a junior writing workshop at... UCLA! It lasts for one week and it's specifically for people your age. They have poetry, and creative writing sessions by theme… Honestly, their program looks pretty impressive!"
"Really?" He says in disbelief.
"Yes! And they still have a couple of spots left, so… If Stella is interested, she could even go with you."
"Thanks, mama! That's amazing!" He says with an excited smile, pulling her into a hug.
"My pleasure, mijo." She says, hugging him back. "You're happy?"
"Very happy!" He says, eagerly checking out the flyer she just gave him.
"Well, I hope you didn't sign me up for a workshop." Diego warns. "Because Gabriel might like that, but I sure don't."
"Of course, not. I know my sons!" Santana argues. "So, I've set up an internship for you at D'Shon's recording studio. I shared the demo of you playing the guitar with him a while ago, and he was very impressed! He even specifically requested you to be the lead guitarist on a new album he's producing."
"What?!" Diego says, obviously not believing his ears. "You're serious?"
"Oh, I never joke about music, mijo." She immediately replies. "By the way, you'll be paid for your work there." She smirks while he looks at her like he just saw a ghost.
"It's a pretty great opportunity that mama found for you, bud!" I say. "Don't you think it deserves a hug…?" I suggest.
"Right." He says, finally getting out of his daze. And for once, he doesn't complain and immediately gets up to hug his mama.
"By the way, I have also arranged something for you…" Santana tells me while the kids are chatting together.
"For spring break?" I frown in confusion.
"Yeah… It turns out that UCLA organizes a big welcome dinner for the kids on the first day, and D'Shon already told me he would need Diego to stay later at the studio that day too, so… how about a date night at Tony's with your sexy girlfriend?" She says with a mischievous grin.
"Oh, I'm so in!" I immediately reply, smiling back at her.
ONE MONTH LATER (MAY) – AT THE DANCE SCHOOL – SANTANA's POV
"Excuse me, is this seat taken?" A lady asks me, as I have just settled down, pointing at the chair next to mine.
"Uh… no, it's free." I reply. Normally, I always sit with Tina, but she's got the flu and had to stay home.
"Is your child performing tonight?" The lady asks me, sitting down beside me.
"Oh, no… My daughter used to perform but she's in college now, so…" I trail off. "I'm just here to support my partner, she's one of the two directors of the school."
"Oh, so you must be Brittany's partner?" She asks and I nod in confirmation. "She's such a good teacher, my son loves her!" She adds, making me smile. I know Brittany is an amazing teacher, but I always love hearing other people say it.
"Who's your son?" I ask, curious.
"Cameron Prescott, he's 8."
"Oh, yeah… Brittany told me about him, she said he was very talented!"
"Well, he really loves dancing…" She smiles. "And he was very excited to have a solo today."
LATER THAT NIGHT
My eyes follow Brittany's every move while she's performing a graceful duet with Mike, and unlike last year, I don't have to feel guilty about it. Now that Brittany and I are back together, I can look at her sexy body all I want. I don't have to feel bad for being aroused as I watch her execute every single movement with poise and sensuality. It's even totally fine to imagine ripping her clothes off…
God knows I've seen her dance thousands of times, but she's all I see… As if I was the only person attending the recital, and she was the only one performing on stage, dancing just for me.
She's so perfect that I still can't believe she's mine…
ANOTHER MONTH LATER (JUNE) – AT PARAMOUNT – QUINN's POV
"Quinn, I'm off." Santana suddenly says out of nowhere, while I'm working at my desk.
"What?" I frown in surprise. "But I thought you said you could stay late today?"
"Yeah, but I changed my mind after getting this text." She says, handing me her phone.
FROM "BRITT": Can you come home early tonight? The boys are staying at Mike and Tina's until tomorrow and I have a surprise for you… ;-)
"But San, you know that the crew will…"
"Okay, let me save us both some time, Q…" She cuts me off. "There is nothing you can possibly say to convince me to stay after this kind of text! Even if my car broke down and my legs didn't work anymore, I would still find a way to crawl back home to Brittany, okay?"
"Fine…" I sigh in defeat, knowing that there is no point in insisting. "Go ruin your lady parts or something…"
"Oh, thanks, I definitely plan to." She says with a proud smirk while I roll my eyes.
A WHILE LATER (EVENING TIME) – SANTANA's POV
Even though I left Paramount as soon as I received Brittany's text, I got caught in traffic and it's pretty dark when I finally get home.
"Britt?" I shout after opening the front door, but there's no response. I'm about to place my keys on the table when I notice a piece of paper with Brittany's handwriting. 'Go to the garden' I read and I can't help but feel disappointed. I was really hoping she would be waiting for me naked in bed…
I have barely stepped into the garden when I see the strings of multicolored lights, draped along the branches of the trees. The air is filled with the fragrance of the flowers I planted weeks ago, mixed with the scent of the burning candles placed all around. God, only Brittany would find a way to create such a romantic and magical ambiance…
I look around in amazement until I spot my blonde, at the end of the illuminated path. She's wearing a stunning dress that has always been my favorite, and I suddenly panic, freezing in my spot.
Oh my God, did I forget some kind of anniversary…? But which one could that be? We celebrated our first year back together just a few weeks ago!
"Don't worry, San… You haven't forgotten anything." She chuckles.
Damn, she knows me too well.
"What's all this?" I eventually ask, as I take the last steps towards her.
"Well, that's part of the surprise…" She smiles, taking my hands in hers.
Her lovely blue eyes are staring at me and I find myself swallowing hard, suddenly feeling intimidated.
"We've been back together for more than a year now…" She eventually says, her eyes still locked with mine. "We even live together again, and… I feel happier than I have ever been!" She shrugs.
"I'm happy too…" I whisper with a shy smile that she immediately returns.
"You're my family, San… And I'm not just saying that because we have kids together. You've always been my family, ever since we were 14…" She says in an emotional voice. "My life completely changed when I met that cute, angry Latina high school girl, who had vicious words for everyone but somehow only kind ones for me." She adds, making me chuckle. "I immediately felt safe with you, like I could tell you anything… You became my best friend, gave me my very first kiss, and even took my virginity." She says with a nostalgic smile. "It could have stopped at that, but it didn't. You made me fall madly in love with you, you became my girlfriend, then my wife, and eventually, my baby mama…"
"I've loved you for 30 years, honey…" She adds, gently squeezing my hands while I take a deep exhale through my trembling lips, feeling completely overwhelmed by emotion. "And although I hate the fact that we lived separate lives for 5 years, there is something else I hate even more…" She says, making me wonder what that could be.
"I really hate not being married to you." She eventually admits, making my jaw drop. "I don't want to be just your 'girlfriend', or your 'partner' anymore… I want to be your wife. And I want to be called Brittany Lopez-Pierce again, because that's my name!" She shrugs.
"So…" She trails off, getting on one knee in front of me.
Oh my God, is this really happening…?!
I feel my heart racing like crazy as I watch the woman I love pull a beautiful engagement ring from her pocket.
"We both know we belong together, San. And if you let me, I would like to spend the rest of my life with you." She says in a determined voice while I hold my breath.
"Santana Lopez, will you marry me again?" She eventually asks, locking hopeful blue eyes with mine.
I look at her in disbelief for a couple of seconds, wondering if this is real. When I got home tonight, I was far from imagining that Brittany would propose...
"Yes…" I eventually answer in a cracking voice, breaking into tears of joy as a smiling Brittany crashes into my arms.
"I love you so much…" She whispers into my ear, hugging me so tightly that I can barely breathe.
"I love you more, fiancée…" I say, capturing her lips in a long, loving kiss.
THE NEXT AFTERNOON (SATURDAY) – AT HOME – BRITTANY's POV
This morning was quite busy for Santana and me. First, we drove to the airport, to pick up Sofia, as she's back in L.A. for the summer. On our way back, we stopped at Mike and Tina's to get the boys and finally went back home. I'm so happy to have the whole family under the same roof!
After giving our daughter some time to unpack and settle in, we gathered the kids in the living room, to tell them about what happened last night.
"So, guys… mama and I have exciting news…" I tell them, taking Santana's hand in mine.
"Oh my God, you're pregnant!" Sofia suddenly says in an enthusiastic voice.
"No, we're not pregnant…" I chuckle.
"See, I told you they were too old to have a baby." Diego tells his sister.
"Hey, we're not that old!" Santana protests in outrage. "I know mom has issues but technically, we could still have a baby together."
"But you won't, right?" Our son asks.
"Oh, hell no!" Santana says, with a frown. "The three of you are more than enough."
"Okay, good. Because if you had a baby now, you would be a gazillion years old by the time they gradua–…"
"Okay, we got it!" Santana cuts him off. "Can you please let your mom finish?" She asks and Diego just shrugs in response.
"So, as I was saying… um…" I trail off. "Mama and I are engaged."
"To each other?" Diego asks, infuriating Santana even more.
"Of course, to each other! As if I would let your mom marry anyone else than me!" She frowns, raising her arms.
"Yeah, bud… We're getting married!" I repeat with enthusiasm, but they all remain silent, leaving me confused.
"That's so great!" Gabriel eventually says in excitement, throwing himself at us for a hug.
Santana had a feeling he would be the happiest one about this news, as "he was the one that suffered the most from our divorce." And as always, she was right. It's even scary sometimes how well she knows our boy…
"Congrats, mommies!" Sofia is quick to follow, joining our group hug. "I'm so happy for you!"
"Finally, you came back to your senses. It was about time!" Diego says, crossing his arms. But I know it's his way of saying he's happy.
SANTANA's POV
"So, when's the wedding?" Sofia asks.
"Oh, we haven't worked out the details yet, mija…" I say.
"Actually, San… I was thinking we could perhaps get married in September?" Brittany suddenly suggests. "That way, we could have it on the same date as our first wedding…"
"But Britt, that's just three months away… It's too short to plan a wedding." I say, although I would have also loved to reuse our wedding date.
"Well, we could have it here, at home… and we don't need a big wedding." She says, much to my surprise. I actually thought she would want to have a big ceremony, with everyone we know.
"We don't?"
"No." She confirms with a shrug. "We already had that kind of wedding. Frankly, the kids are the only people I really want there."
"Well, honestly, I would be fine with that." I nod. "But we still need witnesses, and a minister, and..."
"I can do that!" Sofia suddenly cuts me off, raising her hand. "I'm 18 now, so I could get ordained online and officiate your wedding…" She offers, while Brittany and I exchange a quick look.
"I guess it would be kind of cute to have our own daughter marrying us…" I admit.
"Okay, then!" Brittany smiles. "Peanut, you're officially in charge!" She says while Sofia pumps the fist in satisfaction.
"What about us?" Diego frowns.
"Well, we still need two witnesses. One for mama and one for me, so…" Brittany trails off. "And we each need someone to give us away."
"I'll do it!" Diego immediately says in an unusually excited voice. "I mean, if that's what you want, I'm cool…" He adds, pretending to be jaded, but I can see right through him.
"I can do it too, right?" Gabriel asks in a hopeful tone.
"Of course, you can, mijo." I smile, caressing his cheek. "We'd love to have you both!"
"Well, it sounds like we have a wedding plan after all…" Brittany smiles, squeezing my hand in hers.
THREE MONTHS LATER (WEDDING DAY) – AT HOME
I'm putting on my earrings when I hear a knock at the door.
"Mama, it's Gabriel. May I come in?"
"Sure, mijo..."
My blond boy enters the room, looking so incredibly elegant in his blue suit that it takes my breath away.
"Look at you, you're so handsome…" I say in awe, gently caressing his cheek. Even though I'm wearing heels and he's not even 16 yet, he's already a lot taller than me.
"You're beautiful too…" He says and his smile reminds me once again of how much he looks like Brittany. He already did as a baby, but he really becomes more and more like a male version of her with each passing year…
"How are you doing?" He asks, squeezing my hand.
"I'm actually nervous." I admit. "I know it's silly, because… well, I've married your mom before." I chuckle. "But I really want this marriage to last forever, you know?"
"It will." He says in a sure voice. "You and mom are perfect for each other." He shrugs, with a smile that I quickly return.
Gabriel has been through tough times but he's always been a calming force, much like Britt. And just like her, he has a reassuring presence that instantly calms me down.
"How's your mom doing?" I ask.
MEANWHILE – IN ANOTHER ROOM – BRITTANY's POV
"What do you think, peanut?" I ask Sofia, as we both look at my reflection in the mirror.
"You're stunning, mom…" She nods in approval. "I'm sure mama won't be able to take her eyes off you." She adds, making me smile.
"How is she doing?" I ask, curious.
"Well, she seemed pretty nervous when I spoke to her earlier, so I asked Gabriel to go check on her. Besides you, he's the only one that can keep her calm." She adds, making me chuckle.
"And what about you?" I ask. "Are you ready to officiate?"
"Oh, yeah!" She immediately says. "This is not my first time." She winks with a mischievous smile, taking me back to when she was 3 years old.
When she was little, she got really sad about having missed our wedding – even though she hadn't been born at the time. So, we decided to reenact it just for her, and she remarried us herself in the garden.
"And you were amazing at it!" I say, with a nostalgic smile.
"Oh, I know." She nods proudly. "But I'll be even better this time, you'll see."
LATER THAT DAY
I make my way to the garden and finally discover the set up, as the kids forbade us from taking a peek before the ceremony. But they really did a fantastic job! They placed a couple of chairs on each side of the tree, the very one on which Santana and I engraved our initials when we first move into this house. Rose petals are scattered on the ground, forming a path towards the tree and the podium, which I assume is for Sofia.
But for now, my little peanut is sitting on a chair, playing the guitar herself, as Diego will be walking me down the aisle. It takes me a few seconds to recognize it but she's playing a cover of "At last", the same song that was played at our first wedding.
"Ready?" My son asks with a smile, offering me his arm.
"So ready." I smile back.
Diego and I start walking towards the tree, and I can't stop smiling. It's still hard to believe that in just a few moments, I'll be marrying Santana again. But I don't have time to think further about it as I catch sight of my lovely Latina on the other side of the path, holding Gabriel's arm. God, she's so beautiful that I could just look at her forever…
I watch her walk slowly towards me, and we exchange warm smiles when our eyes meet. After taking the remaining steps, she kisses Gabriel's cheek and eventually takes her spot, facing me. I feel so in love that my whole being just wants to scream "I do" already and marry her right this second.
While the boys go stand behind us, Sofia takes her place behind the podium, ready to start the ceremony.
"I could start with 'dear beloved' and make a standard speech, but since this is an intimate ceremony, l prefer to skip the formalities and speak from my heart." Our daughter says. "Mama, mom… I know I also speak on behalf of the boys when I say we couldn't be happier to share this very special moment with you, as you're about to reaffirm your love and commitment to each other."
"Your love story is one of a kind." She shrugs. "You were both very young when you first met, but you instantly created a deep connection that never faded. You showed us that the unconditional love you have for one another goes beyond any relationship status, and can withstand any twist and turn. Even in the darkest of times, you've always cared for and supported each other" She adds. "It is such an inspiration that everyone that knows you – family, friends, and even the general public – has always been strongly rooting for 'Brittana'."
"But let's take a moment to officially recognize your biggest accomplishment: together, you've brought the 'three most exceptional human beings' into this world." She says with such self-pride that it makes us all chuckle. "You've filled our home with love, laughter, music and improvised dance parties." She adds with a smile. "And even though we don't say it nearly enough, we couldn't be more grateful for that."
"For us, it's always been obvious that you belonged with each other." She admits. "And now that you've finally realized it too, I invite you to exchange your vows." She says, turning to Santana.
"Wow, thank you for the great opening speech, mija!" Santana chuckles, before turning back to me.
"Brittany…" She eventually says in a more nervous voice, taking my hands in hers. "As you know, I'm not very good at putting words to my feelings, so… I'll keep it short." She warns. "I've loved you since day 1. And no matter what happened between us, these feelings have never gone away because like I said before, I simply don't know how to unlove you." She shrugs. "Even when I tried to put our thing down and walk away, I couldn't. Because deep down, it's always been you, honey. Just like our daughter said, we belong together and I can't wait to be married to you again." She adds while I struggle to hold back my tears.
"Mom…" Sofia says, turning to me this time, and I silently nod, taking a long exhale to help me keep it together.
"Okay, I'm so emotional right now that I might actually make it shorter than you, for once…" I tell Santana, making her chuckle. "San, I just… I love everything about you." I shrug. "Even when people complain you're in a bad mood in the morning, I love the challenge of earning your first smile of the day." I admit. "Our journey together has been filled with ups and downs, but I know we've ended up exactly where we're supposed to be. You're my forever… and I love you with all my heart." I add in a trembling voice, while she squeezes my hand.
"Do you really need to make us all cry?" Sofia suddenly complains, wiping her tears. "I spent a long time doing this makeup, you know!" She adds, making us laugh.
"Fortunately, it's time to exchange the rings." She announces while Diego carefully places the wedding band into in my palm.
"Mom, do you promise to love mama forever?" Sofia asks, turning to me.
"I do." I immediately confirm, staring into Santana's sparkling eyes, before sliding the same wedding ring onto her finger as years ago.
"Mama, do you promise to love mom forever andLetLiamSleepOver?" She adds really fast.
"I d…" Santana trails off, stopping just in time. "Oh, no, no, no…" She tells our daughter, shaking her finger. "This may have worked when you were a toddler, but you won't trick me again." She warns. "Ask the correct question, mija."
"Fine…" Sofia sighs in defeat. "Mama, do you promise to love mom forever?" She asks again.
"Hell yeah, I do!" She replies, making me laugh.
After placing the ring back on my finger, Santana takes my hands in hers and we both turn expectantly towards Sofia.
"Well… By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you… wife and wife!" Our daughter announces enthusiastically. "So, go on, kiss each other!" She adds impatiently, in the same bossy tone as when she was three years old.
"Hear that, wifey? We have to kiss!" Santana says, using the exact same words as the first time Sofia "married" us. My heart skips a beat as soon as I finally hear the endearing nickname that I have longed to hear again. I tenderly take her smiling face between my hands and pull her in for a heartfelt kiss, while our children cheer and clap loudly.
"Okay, okay, we said 'kiss', not 'make babies'!" Sofia interjects, making us break the kiss.
I take a moment to lean my forehead against Santana's and look into her eyes, gently rubbing my thumbs on the back of her hands. I can't believe we're married again… This is one of those moments I will remember for the rest of my life…
LATER THAT DAY – SANTANA's POV
Just like they did last year during our holiday, the kids sang their own version of "Songbird", while Brittany and I were having our very first dance as a married couple.
"That was amazing, guys! Thank you!" Brittany says, her arm still wrapped around my waist.
"You know, you should record your version in studio. I'm sure it would sell." I tell the kids.
"You think so?" Diego asks, obviously interested.
"Yeah, I really do!" I reply. "If you want, I can discuss it with D'Shon, to see what he thinks?" I offer and they all nod enthusiastically.
We continue to dance for a while, until I decide to go sit at the table with Sofia, while Brittany keeps dancing with the boys.
"So, where's the leprechaun tonight?" I ask her.
"At his parents'." She replies. "It's your big day, so I didn't want you to bother with that today."
"That's nice, mija. But you should invite him."
"What?" She frowns, clearly surprised. "But…"
"Your mom makes me happy." I shrug, cutting her off. "And the Irish makes you happy, so… he can come over. But he won't sleep here." I warn.
"I know." She nods. "But anyway, none of us will sleep here tonight, mama." She says, much to my surprise.
"Why not?"
"It's your wedding night! You and mom should have some time alone." She says. "Besides, I think it's best for our own sake…" She chuckles, making me roll my eyes. "So, the boys and I will sleep at Aunt 'Cedes and Uncle Sam's tonight."
MUCH LATER – IN BED – BRITTANY's POV
"You know what…" Santana says in the middle of her heavy breathing. "Married sex is seriously the best!" She adds, snuggling up against my naked body.
"Oh, I couldn't agree more…" I say, pressing my lips against her forehead.
As she rests her hand on my chest, my eyes catch the sight of her white gold wedding ring, making me smile big.
"Now, everyone will know you're taken, Mrs. Lopez-Pierce." I smile, running my thumb over the ring.
"The same goes for you, Mrs. Lopez-Pierce." Santana smiles back, capturing my lips in a loving kiss. "You know, I still can't believe this is real... Even in my wildest dreams, I never dared to hope we would remarry…"
"Well, believe it, because as I told you earlier, this is forever!" I say, caressing her cheek.
"Forever…" She repeats with the cutest smile, before pulling me into a passionate kiss.
Notes:
A/N: I will publish one last chapter, which will be a short epilogue that fast forwards 10 years later
For those who would like to know more about the "wedding ceremony" Sofia officiated when she was 3 years old, or how she met Liam in the first place, you can read more about it in my other fanfic, "Tell our story", on FFN (same username).
I hope you enjoyed this chapter, please let me know in the comments what you think! Thanks!
Chapter 14: Epilogue
Notes:
A/N: So… here it is, the final update… This chapter starts 10 years later and will cover another 10 years of their lives! It's mainly Santana's POV, except towards the end where it's Brittany's. Enjoy!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
10 YEARS LATER – AT THE SUPERMARKET – SANTANA's POV
Since Brittany is spending the entire day at the dance school, I had no other choice but to do the grocery shopping by myself, which I hate! But at least, I'm almost done… Only 3 more items to put in my cart and I'm out of here.
I'm double checking the label of a product when a little girl next to me suddenly drops a few cereal boxes on the floor, looking all embarrassed.
"Hey there… You ok?" I ask her with a smile, helping her pick the boxes off the floor.
"Ellie?" I overhear behind me, before the little girl can answer me. "There you are! What did you get yourself into agai-…" The woman's voice trails off upon seeing me.
"Santana…" She says, as if she had seen a ghost.
"Mel…" I say with the same disbelief, my jaw dropping in surprise.
I had not seen Melissa in over a decade – not since we broke up, actually – but she has barely changed. Of course, she looks a little older, but she's just as beautiful as ever…
"You… uh… Is this your daughter…?" I ask as I eventually come out of my daze, noticing the resemblance.
"Um… yeah… That's Ellie." She says, resting both of her hands on her child's shoulders.
"Hi Ellie!" I say in a kind voice, waving at the little girl. "How old are you, sweetie?"
"I'm 7!" She says with such pride that I can't help but chuckle.
"She's beautiful…" I comment, before looking back at Melissa. "You have a kid…" I smile, genuinely happy for her. I know how badly she wanted to be a mom…
"Yeah… I have two, actually." She says. "I also have a 5 year-old son, Owen. But he's still recovering from the flu, so he stayed home, with my wife…"
"Oh, you're married?"
"I am." She confirms with a smile.
"I'm really happy for you, Mel." I say sincerely, nodding.
"Thank you…" She replies. "It looks like you're married too?" She adds, pointing at the wedding ring on my left hand.
"Oh, uh… yeah…" I say in a shy voice. It's pretty awkward to confirm I'm married now, considering I never agreed to tie the knot with her when we were together…
"To Brittany?" She eventually asks.
"Yeah…" I whisper, with an apologetic shrug.
"That's alright, San. If you had to marry someone else, I would rather it be Brittany than some random girl." She says, with a reassuring nod. "How are the kids?"
"Oh, they're great!" I reply, grateful for the change of subject. "Sofia is pregnant, actually…"
"No way!" She says in disbelief. "Wow, that's big news! Congratulations!" She adds in an excited voice. "So, you're gonna be… an 'Abuela'?!"
"Yeah, apparently so…" I sigh. "To be honest, it still feels completely surreal, but… I have 4 more months to wrap my head around it."
"Does she know what she's having?"
"Yeah, it's a girl!" I say. "I guess making girls is part of the Lopez DNA or something…" I add, making her laugh.
"Is it Liam's?"
"Yes." I sigh. "She married the Irish three years ago."
"I see you still don't approve of him." She smirks.
"Well, I've actually come a long way… for Sofia's sake." I say. "I even walked her down the aisle and gave her away. But that was before that leprechaun made me a grandma." I complain. "He's so back on my list now!" I say, making her chuckle.
"And the boys?"
"Oh, well, they're both doing fine. Gabriel is teaching poetry and literature at UCLA, and he just published his first novel!" I say with pride, while she opens her mouth in amazement. "And um… you remember Stella?"
"Of course!" She nods.
"Well, they're moving in together next month, so… it's pretty serious now." I say. "As for Diego… He's making quite a comfortable living as a guitar player, and he's been dating the same girl for a year – which is a new record for him! So, who knows, he might actually keep that one…" I add in a sarcastic tone, crossing my fingers.
"And Brittany… is she well?" She eventually asks in a timid voice.
"Yeah, she is." I nod. "As you can imagine, she's super excited about our first grandchild! That's basically all she talks about these days…" I shrug. "And she's good, you know… Still teaching dance. With Sofia, actually."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah!" I nod. "Sofia toured for a while, as part of a dance troupe. And Liam even found a way to tag along, by getting himself hired as a sound engineer. They had an amazing time, but... just like me and Britt at their age, they realized that that kind of career would not be very compatible with family life. So, Sofia decided to join the dance school, as a full-time teacher. And now, Britt is even training her so she could take over the school someday…"
"That's fantastic!" She smiles. "I can totally picture her running the dance school."
"Yeah, me too! She's always been a 'second Brittany' when it comes to dance, so…" I shrug.
"Oh, by the way, I bumped into Nick a few years ago." Mel suddenly says. "He was engaged at the time…"
"Yeah, he's married now." I confirm. "We ran into them at Danceathon a couple of times… They have a son, I think he's six or something…"
"Well… It sounds like it worked out for everyone." She smiles.
"It did…" I smile back.
"Can we go see the dolls now, mommy?" Ellie suddenly asks in an impatient voice, tugging on her mom's hand. I was so absorbed in our discussion that I had forgotten she was even there.
"I'm sorry, I guess I have to go…" Mel says, with an apologetic look.
"It's alright..." I nod in understanding, remembering how kids are at that age.
"It was really great seeing you, San!" She says, kissing my cheek. "Say hi to Brittany and the kids for me, okay?"
"Will do." I smile, watching them walk away.
"Oh, Mel, by the way…" I suddenly add, making her turn around.
"Yeah?"
"Being a mom looks good on you." I nod.
"Thank you." She smiles, waving one last time.
I take a long exhale as I watch her disappear into the next aisle, as if a weight has been lifted off my chest. Even though I knew she would be better off without me, I've always felt guilty for breaking her heart all those years ago. But now that I've seen the happy life she's built for herself, I finally feel at peace. Like she said, it worked out for the best.
A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER – AT THE STORE
"Aww, look at that…" Brittany says, showing me a tiny baby girl dress. "It's so cute!" She squeals in excitement.
"Right." I sigh.
"What's the matter, you don't like it?"
"No, no… I like it! And I'm sure Sofia will too. It's just this grandmother thing… It makes me feel so old."
"You're not old!" She objects. "And you're going to be the sexiest grandma ever, San." She adds, kissing my lips.
"Oh, come on, Britt… The words 'sexy' and 'grandma' don't even go together."
"That depends on the grandma." She argues. "And you are sexy! Even if I was 20 years old right now, I would totally fall for you."
"Right." I chuckle sarcastically.
"It's true!" She insists. "I find you so much sexier than 20-something-year-old girls…"
"Well, I guess it's good…" I shrug. "Because you know, this is all you get." I warn, pointing my hands at my body.
"Lucky me!" She smiles, capturing my lips in another kiss.
ANOTHER COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER – AT THE HOSPITAL (MATERNITY WING)
"Hi… Excuse me, we're looking for Sofia Dolan's room?" Brittany asks the reception nurse. "We're the grandmothers!" She adds proudly while I roll my eyes. Does she really have to tell everyone we're old enough to have a grandchild?
"She's in room 37." The nurse replies. "Third one on the left." She adds and Brittany immediately pulls me by the hand, obviously eager to meet the new Lopez-Pierce generation.
"Hiii!" My blonde sing songs, knocking on the open door. "Can we come in?" She asks Sofia, pulling me into the room before our daughter can even answer.
"Hey!" Sofia smiles in excitement, holding a tiny baby in her arms, and I just stand there in my spot, watching them in disbelief. It's so crazy to think that my baby is a mother now! I still remember so vividly holding her in my arms for the first time, when she was just as small… God, where did the time go…
"Look, baby girl…" Sofia tells her daughter. "It's Abuela San and Grandma Britt! You want to say hi?" She says in a soft voice, carefully handing the baby to Brittany.
"Oh my God… She's so beautiful!" Britt says in an emotional voice, already head over heels. "She looks just like you, peanut! Don't you think, San?"
"Uh I… Uh… Yeah, she does." I eventually confirm, still trying to process the whole thing.
"Although there's some of you as well, Liam." Britt says, turning to him.
"That's nice of you to say, Brittany… but that's all Sofia." He replies. "And Santana." He adds, looking at me.
"Oh yeah, she definitely has the Lopez trademark!" Britt confirms, smiling at me.
"So, does that pretty baby have a name or what?" I eventually ask, finally coming to my senses.
"She does." Sofia replies with a mischievous smile. "Mama, mom… Meet… Nina 'Brittana' Dolan." She says with pride while Brittany and I exchange a surprised look.
"Her middle name is 'Brittana'…?" I ask in disbelief.
"Yes, it is." Sofia nods, smiling. "Obviously, Liam wanted her to carry his surname, but adding Lopez-Pierce to it was simply too long… And I didn't want to choose between Lopez and Pierce, so… I figured that with 'Brittana' at least, she would have something from you both! And that's actually a name, you know, so…"
"I don't… I don't even know what to say, peanut…" Brittany comments in a cracking voice, holding back her tears.
"Thank you, mija… That means a lot to us…" I nod in gratitude, also struggling with my emotions.
"Here, honey…" Britt says, placing the baby in my arms. "It's time for you to properly meet our mini-peanut!"
"Hola mija…" I say in my sweetest voice, taking the opportunity to observe her more closely.
Brittany is right… With her dark hair and her plump lips, Nina is definitely a Lopez girl.
"Do you even know how loved you are already, baby?" I eventually say, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead, unable to look away from that little wonder.
I can't believe I'm someone's Abuela… How did this happen?
A FEW WEEKS LATER (EVENING TIME) – AT HOME – IN BED
I can't stop humming against Brittany's mouth as she gives me one of those deep, passionate kisses that I love so much. I gently pull her down onto me, to hug her tightly in my arms, her bare boobs brushing against mine in the process.
God, she feels so fucking amazing…
My hands slide along her naked back and over her ass, earning a sexy moan from her. I'm about to pull down her shorts when Nina's cries suddenly interrupt our intimate moment, for the third time tonight.
"God, she's really her mother's daughter!" I complain loudly, tearing my mouth away from Britt's. "It figures she would also prevent us from having sex!"
"I'll go check on her." Brittany offers in a soft voice, rolling off my body. "Maybe I will manage to put her back to sleep quickly..." She shrugs.
"Right." I say sarcastically. "You will see, with our luck, this…" I add, gesturing between our topless bodies, "… is not going to happen tonight." I sigh in despair.
"Well, if we can't have sex tonight, there is still tomorrow, honey…" She says, placing a quick kiss on my lips, before getting out of bed.
"But I really, really want you right now…" I pout. "Why did we even agree to this?"
"Because Liam and Sofia needed some rest."
"And when are we supposed to get some rest?!" I ask, reluctantly watching her put on her shirt.
This should not even be happening! My sexy wife should not be putting on more clothes, she should be taking them off.
"Come on, San…"
"I'm serious, Brittany." I cross my arms. "At this point in our lives, we've earned the right to peace and tranquility! But that's never going to happen, is it? First, it started with Sofia's damn dog, which was supposed to be her responsibility. But who had to take care of it for the 17 long years she was alive? Us. Because Sofia was either too young or in college… Then, of course, she just had to get another dog! And who ended up taking care of Penny II while she was on tour? Us, again. And now, we even have a baby in our house!" I say, raising my arms. "And the short nights, the diapers… we did all that already, Brittany… three times! God knows I love spending time with our granddaughter, but I thought we would just be watching her for an afternoon, or picking her up at school… that kind of stuff. I didn't think it would be having to get out of bed every 10 minutes, when all I want is to make love to my wife!" I complain.
"You know it's just for one night, honey…" She shrugs, walking towards the door. "Look, just wait here. I'll go take care of her, and when I come back, I promise I'll kiss that pout away..." She winks, leaving the room.
Have grandkids they say…
5 YEARS LATER – AT PARAMOUNT – IN SANTANA's OFFICE
"I don't know, Rivera…" I say, not convinced.
"Come on, Lopez… You know that every time we've worked together, it turned out to be a raging success!"
"I know, but I can't take on a new TV show now… To be honest, I was thinking of retiring soon, and…"
"Retiring?!" She cuts me off, obviously surprised. "But you're too young for that!" She objects.
"I'm about to turn 60, Naya." I argue.
"So? Everyone knows 60 is the new 50! And you barely look 45."
"I know." I say, with a proud shrug. "But I would rather retire when I'm still fit enough to enjoy life to the fullest, you know?" I add and she nods silently.
"And coming to the office was fine when Brittany was also busy during the day, but… now that Sofia has enough experience to run the dance school, Britt is seriously thinking of retiring at the end of the academic year… And that changes everything! Why would I work when I can spend the whole day with my beautiful wife?" I shrug. "There are still so many things we want to do… like going to Japan, for example." I say. "And it's not like I need to work. We have enough savings to live off of, my house is fully paid for, my children are married – even Diego... And most importantly, I have three grandkids! Now is the time to have fun with them…"
"Yeah, I understand..." She whispers, suddenly looking really sad.
Damn, I feel guilty now…
"Okay, look…" I eventually say. "I can't do a TV show, because I just can't commit to a project that will last several seasons. But… since there are still a few months to go before my Britt retires, I'll do that movie with you, if you want." I add, pointing at one of the scripts she brought today. "But that's it, okay? After that, I stop for good."
"Oh, you won't regret it, I promise!" Naya says in an enthusiastic voice, throwing herself at me for a bone-crushing hug.
ANOTHER 5 YEARS LATER – IN LIMA – AT McKINLEY – GLEE REUNION
Just like every single year since we left McKinley, we are back in Lima for the annual Glee reunion. But this year, we celebrate a very special milestone: the 50th anniversary of our Glee club!
It's crazy to think we were already singing together half of a century ago, in this very room. But it's even crazier that we're still close friends today… Who would have thought?
As usual, we kept one chair empty, for Finn. It's hard for me to believe that he's been gone for so long… Sometimes, it feels like he was just here yesterday.
"Santana, I understand you and Brittany have an announcement to make?" Mr. Schue suddenly asks, turning to me.
Our favorite teacher is over 80 years old now and retired a long time ago. He has white hair and a white beard, but he's still in pretty good shape for his age.
"Yeah, we do." I confirm, pulling Brittany by the hand, to go stand in the middle of the room.
"So, as you know, we all make sure to bring our grandchildren with us to the Glee reunion, which is why there are 5 little Lopez-Pierces running around today…" I say, glancing at our grandkids. "But since this is the place we always announce big news, Brittany and I just wanted to tell you that… we're going to be grandmothers again, twice!" I add in an excited voice, showing off two fingers, while they all gasp in surprise.
"Oh my God… Is someone having twins?" Rachel asks, with open eyes.
"No, not this time." I chuckle. "It's purely coincidental but it turns out that Gabriel's third child, and Diego's second, are both on their way." I shrug. "And they're even expected to be born around the same time this summer…" I say while they all applaud enthusiastically.
"So… that would make a total of seven mini-Lopezes? Wow, that's a lot for the world to handle…" Puck suddenly lets out, earning a slap from Quinn.
"Shut up, Puckerman!" I immediately say in outrage, frowning.
"San…" Brittany sighs.
Right. Just like I couldn't swear in front of our children, I can't swear in front of our grandkids either.
"And it's not 7 mini-Lopezes." I can't stop myself from clarifying. "It's 7 mini Lopez-Pierces. Britt's side is going to balance it out."
"Well, thank you for sharing this wonderful news with us, ladies. And congratulations!" Mr. Schue smiles, squeezing my shoulder. "Come on, take your seats now, it's time for Don't Stop Believin'!" He says in an excited voice while I sigh in despair. Dammit, we will never get rid of that song, will we?!
LATER THAT DAY – AT McKINLEY
"Oh, there you are!" Brittany says, joining me in the hall. "I was looking everywhere for you!"
"Sorry, I was just looking around... Are the kids in the choir room?" I ask.
"Yep, I just left them with Mr. Schue and Ms. Pillsbury. They said we should come back in an hour, to hear the mysterious song they are working on. Oh, and guess what? Mr. Schue said Nina will even play the piano this time." She says, as we walk away, side by side.
"Really?" I say, surprised.
"Yeah! I guess he got tired of hearing her usual 'my Abuela is teaching me piano every Sunday'." She adds, making me chuckle.
"Well, she's really good at it, so I'm glad he finally gave her the opportunity." I smile. "Plus, I'll get to rub it in Berry's face!" I smirk in satisfaction. "It's not her granddaughter that will play the piano…"
"Come on, San… You know that's because her granddaughter is a lot younger than Nina, I don't even think she's three yet."
"So?" I frown. "At two years old, Nina could already play 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star' perfectly!" I argue. "Our grandkids are just much more talented than hers, that's all." I shrug proudly while she rolls our eyes.
"You're so busy bragging that you didn't even notice where we are, honey." Britt says, suddenly stopping in her tracks.
"Aw, our old lockers…" I say with a nostalgic smile.
"This is where you told me you loved me for the very first time, almost 50 years ago…" She says, holding both of my hands in hers. "And yet, I can still picture your beautiful face as if it was just yesterday."
"I know…" I whisper, recalling it with equal clarity. "Even just thinking about it, my heart beats as fast as it did that day…" I admit and she gives me a tender kiss on the lips, gently holding my face in her hands.
"So…" I eventually say, intertwining our fingers. "I assume the others are at the coffee shop already… Shall we go?"
"Actually, I have a better idea…" Britt replies, with a mischievous smirk.
"What?" I ask, curious.
"Well, we have to come back here soon anyway, so… how about we go make out under the bleachers, for old times' sake?" She smiles.
"Oh my God, yes!" I agree enthusiastically, and she immediately pulls me by the hand, leading the way.
A FEW MONTHS LATER – IN LOS ANGELES – AT HOME – BRITTANY's POV
Just like every Sunday, our children and grandchildren are coming to our house for lunch. And since the weather is beautiful today, we decided to stay in the garden.
"Abuela, look!" Nina shouts, running towards Santana out of nowhere, before proudly showing her her wrist.
"Oh wow, that's a very pretty bracelet you have there, mija! Where did you get it?"
"It's a gift from Lucas!" Nina says enthusiastically.
"Who's Lucas, sweetie?" I ask, curiously.
"My boyfriend." She says with pride, before running back to her cousins.
"Boyfriend?!" Santana repeats in outrage. "Oh dear God, it's starting all over again…" She sighs in despair.
"Oh, please, mama… don't start." Sofia says, in a jaded tone.
"She's 10 years old!" Santana protests, raising her arms. "Why do you all feel the need to get boyfriends this early?!" She turns to Sofia.
"There's no need to make a drama out of it, okay?" Our daughter replies. "It's just holding hands and some innocent kisses here and there." She shrugs. "It's not like she's getting married!"
"So says the girl who married her childhood boyfriend!" Santana protests. "In case you forgot, this is exactly how it started with you."
"But it doesn't mean she's going to do the same as me." Sofia argues.
"Damn right, because this time, I'm going to act on it before it's too late." My Latina warns.
"And what are you going to do exactly, San?" I ask, sighing. "Are you going to sit the boy down and ask him what 'his intentions are towards her', like you did with Liam when he was 5?"
"Of course, not!" She says, much to my relief. "That obviously didn't even work on him, so…"
"Maybe not, but Liam has been scared of you ever since." Sofia admits in a whisper, glancing at her husband who is chatting with Gabriel on the other side of the garden.
"Good. And I will make sure to scare that 'Puke-cas' boy as well." She says, while I shake my head in despair.
Well, clearly, some things never change…
LATER THAT DAY – IN THE GARDEN
"Oh, come on, mama…" Diego frowns, getting both impatient and upset.
"But what do you want me to say, mijo?" Santana asks him, shrugging. "I already told you: your demo album is great!"
"But you're just saying that because I'm your son!" He objects. "Everyone knows you're a business shark! You're picky and if something is not good, you don't spare people's feelings, you just say it. And that's exactly why I shared this new demo album with you, so you would tell it like it is!"
"Okay, you know what?" Santana says, obviously not happy that our son dared to question her honesty. "You, mijo, can be lazy, distracted, messy… God knows you drove me crazy when you were a child, and you dated way too many girls for my liking as a teenager… But your album is GREAT!" She insists, looking him straight in the eye. "And that's my professional opinion! As a 'business shark', I would sign you up immediately."
"For real?" He eventually asks, after a moment of silence.
"For real." She repeats. "Now, don't get me wrong, I give all the credit to Sarah." She adds, in typical Santana fashion, while our son frowns in confusion. "Just like your mom did for me, she brought a much needed balance into your life. See all the great things you can accomplish when you have a loving wife by your side?"
EVEN LATER – IN THE GARDEN
We were having such a wonderful day together that everyone agreed to stay for dinner, much to our delight. After enjoying the delicious meal prepared by my Latina, I spent some time playing with the grandkids, while the others talked at the garden table.
As I look around for Satana, I eventually spot her alone on the swing, quietly sipping her glass of red wine.
"Watcha doing?" I ask, sitting by her side.
"Watching the Lopez-Pierce dynasty…" She shrugs, handing me her glass of wine so that I can take a sip, like we've been doing for over 40 years.
Santana always said that when she retired, she would spend her Sunday nights sipping wine on the garden swing, while watching our kids and grandkids 'live their best lives'. And I always said I would sit right by her side.
Without saying a word, I glance at our two newborn grandkids, peacefully asleep in their respective moms' arms. Our daughters-in-law are laughing with Gabriel and Sofia, while Diego and Liam are debating over who the greatest rocker of all time is.
On the other side of the garden, Nina is happily playing with her brother and cousins, and we can hear their infectious laughter all the way over here.
"Three kids, seven grandkids…" Santana eventually says, breaking the silence. "You've got the big family you've always wanted…" She adds, smiling at me.
"I do." I smile back. "And I owe it all to you, Santana Lopez-Pierce…" I say, taking her hand in mine. "Can you imagine that none of them would exist if it was not for us?"
"I know… We've built a pretty amazing family together, huh?" She says and I immediately nod, gently squeezing her hand.
"I love you…" I eventually say after a moment of silence, staring into her soulful brown eyes.
"I love you too, wifey…" She smiles, capturing my lips in a loving kiss.
Notes:
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this epilogue! I really wanted to share what Melissa and Nick had been up to, because these two souls also deserved some happiness. And of course, I wanted to show Brittana as grandmothers, and who the kids would grow up to be. 😊
Please, don't hesitate to leave a comment, even if the story is complete, and even if you read this years later after it ended. It's always interesting for authors to get feedback.
As I mentioned several times, this story was based on my other ongoing fanfic on FFN, "Tell our story". So, if you want to read about the kids when they are little or Brittany as new mothers, don't hesitate to check it out!
Take care!
Channi21 on Chapter 2 Sun 22 Oct 2023 09:08AM UTC
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wordsofmo on Chapter 2 Sun 22 Oct 2023 09:37AM UTC
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sooffanyy on Chapter 4 Fri 03 Nov 2023 02:06AM UTC
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wordsofmo on Chapter 4 Fri 03 Nov 2023 11:29AM UTC
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sooffanyy on Chapter 5 Mon 06 Nov 2023 08:07AM UTC
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wordsofmo on Chapter 5 Mon 06 Nov 2023 12:37PM UTC
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munch (Guest) on Chapter 6 Sun 30 Jun 2024 04:15PM UTC
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wordsofmo on Chapter 6 Sun 30 Jun 2024 04:55PM UTC
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munch (Guest) on Chapter 8 Sun 30 Jun 2024 04:58PM UTC
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wordsofmo on Chapter 8 Sun 30 Jun 2024 10:42PM UTC
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volvo24_43 on Chapter 9 Sun 10 Dec 2023 07:32PM UTC
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wordsofmo on Chapter 9 Mon 11 Dec 2023 05:20PM UTC
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volvo24_43 on Chapter 10 Tue 19 Dec 2023 09:34AM UTC
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wordsofmo on Chapter 10 Tue 19 Dec 2023 04:41PM UTC
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sooffanyy on Chapter 11 Wed 27 Dec 2023 10:50PM UTC
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wordsofmo on Chapter 11 Wed 27 Dec 2023 10:55PM UTC
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46chan (Guest) on Chapter 14 Thu 28 Mar 2024 12:38PM UTC
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wordsofmo on Chapter 14 Thu 28 Mar 2024 09:50PM UTC
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