Brittany sang quietly as she stirred the chopped tomatoes into the minced beef now bubbling on the stove. José was perched firmly on her hip dozing contently against her porcelain skined shoulder. As she danced slowly around the kitchen, adding herbs and seasonings to the pan as she went, she smiled appreciatively at the calming influence of Van Morrison's 'Days Like This' as the music filled the room. With one hand she flicked the hob off and pushed the pan to the back.
Opening the top kitchen draw, gathering the cutlery to lay the table she heard the front door catch and light footsteps on the wood flooring of the hall.
Dropping her brief case on the kitchen floor next to the door Santana took in the aroma of Italian cooking.
"Wow, something smells great"
José murmured and nuzzled his head back into Brittany.
"Look José, aunty San is home from work" Brittany smiled walking over to the Latina beauty before kissing her hello.
"Hello handsome" Santana said looking at Brittany questioningly, all the time running the back of her fingers along the top of the baby's head.
"Your brother dropped him off earlier. He wants some time with Susie this weekend and asked me if we would watch him for a couple of days".
"Are they alright?" Santana asked concern obvious in her voice.
"I'm not sure. He seemed kind of wound up but you know he would never talk to me" Brittany looked a little sad as she spoke.
Santana slipped off her jacket, hanging it casually over the back of a kitchen chair. "Don't worry babe, he's even more emotionally defunct than me!"
"Wow, that really is saying something isn't it José" Brittany laughed which to her delight was followed by a chuckle from the infant.
"Seriously, he's like four months old and he's already ganging up on me with you. I thought I was going to be his favourite aunt". Santana pouted at José.
"Well San, what can I say... the boy has taste"
Santana smiled at the sight in front of her before she quickly blushed.
"Go to Aunty San" Brittany purred as she handed the bundle over gently. "Dinners nearly ready I just need to put some pasta on".
Santana looked slightly awkward as she stood in the kitchen with the baby at full arms length. Tipping her head to one side she eyes the child suspiciously.
"What is aunty B making you listen to little man?" Santana said trying desperately to keep a straight face.
"It's Van Morrison and he likes it".
Brittany walked over to Santana with a glass of ice tea, putting it onto the table next to them.
"He was kind of upset when he was dropped off but the songs seem to comfort him" Brittany spoke softly but with a sad worry in her eyes that Santana rarely saw.
Santana simply nodded embracing the baby slowly rocking to the music.
Brittany scurried around the kitchen placing Spaghetti in a pan and pulling freshly baked bread out of the oven.
"I think he's asleep. What should I do?"
"Seriously San?"
"Right, yeah, I'll put him down". Santana walked over to the travel basket she had spied in the corner of the kitchen. She tucked José in with a soft white blanket and tenderly kissed his head.
The kitchen was large with a counter roughly dividing the room in two. One side was full of cream painted units, black granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances. The other side had a large scrub wood kitchen table surrounded by eight chapel chairs, a tweed covered sofa and a large kitchen dresser. The Walls were covered in photos and paintings all in different frames, all showing the same handful of people.
Santana sat at the table picking up her iphone and putting it on silent.
"Wow Britt, this looks great" she smiled as the blonde placed the meal on the table in front of her.
"So how was your day dear" Brittany said as she sat next to Santana before bursting out in uncontrollable laughter. "I feel like a 1950's housewife".
Santana shook her head a little but a grin appeared barely visible at the corners of her mouth.
"Things are good. I went through last week takings and we are up on last quarter already so..."
"What about the dancers for Saturday? Is it all sorted?"
"Yes B, Mercedes has all the entertainment under control for the rest of March and April. I told them we wouldn't be in until Monday afternoon. But, then again" Santana sat back in her chair looking over at the baby basket "that was before I found out we were being invaded by Squirt over there. Maybe a weekend working in a club full of Lima losers might just be more tempting than a weekend of smelly diapers".
"Don't listen to her little man" Brittany said smiling at Santana. "This will be great – we can spoil him rotten all weekend".
They dug into the pasta with enthusiasm. "This is really good Britt" Santana said pouring them both a glass of white wine.
"I know. I can't believe I used to try and cook from recipes. It's so much easier just to make it us as you go along!"
Brittany twirled her fork around her plate, her eyes focused in the condensation forming on her wine glass. Santana saw her glazed expression and smiled at the blonde.
"Earth to Britt"
"Sorry, I was just thinking. We should really plant a spaghetti tree in the garden. There's plenty of room and I love pasta".
Santana looked away sceptically before snapping her attention back to the blonde noting that she was indeed being serious.
"There are just no words B" Santana said secretly delighted that Brittany hadn't changed that much since high school.
Santana woke up and looked at the red light on the alarm clock. 3:42am. She could immediately sense she was alone and as she rolled over the bed sheets felt cold. Swinging her legs out of bed she walked out of the bedroom and down the wide staircase. As she walked bare foot through the house she realised she was following the faint sound of music. She walked quietly into the lounge and stood momentarily by the door. The lounge was dark, lit only by the flickering flame from the fire. The lounge had a calm feel to it. It was a large room but it felt snug in the way they Brittany had decorated, each of the sofas and chairs slightly miss matched from the other, thick plush drapes framing the sash windows and if you looked closely enough, little duck ornaments dotted about.
Brittany was in the middle of the room with José cuddled close to her chest. She had her eyes closed but she danced beautifully in front of the crackling fireplace. Brittany dressed in duck patterned PJ bottoms and a black vest top still looked elegant and José almost glowed in a bright yellow sleep suit which Santana could just make out was also covered in ducks. Santana smiles wistfully looking at how Brittany had dressed him up for bed.
Santana walked up to the vision making a little noise so as not to scare them by her approach. Running her arm around Brittany's waste and placing a hand on José's back, rubbing gentle circles as she did, she looked into the blue eyes twinkling at her.
"He woke up. I've fed him and changed him but he wouldn't settle. I think he is missing his mummy and daddy. We thought some music and a dance might help".
Santana said nothing, smiling she started dancing with Brittany and José.
As they leisurely danced in the middle of the room Santana sang along softly to the music as José rested his head on the pillow created where his aunt's bodies touched.
Don't stray
Don't ever go away
I should be much to smart for this
You know it gets the better
Of me sometimes
When you and I collide
I fall into an ocean of you
Pull me out in time
Don't let me drown
Let me down
I say its all because of you
As she sings Santana kisses the top of José's head, stroking his dark hair softly and taking in the intoxicating baby smell.
and here I go
Losing my control
I'm practising your name
So I can say it to your face it doesn't seem right
To look you in the eye
And let all the things you mean to me
Come tumbling out my mouth indeed its time
Tell you why
I say its infinately true
Say you'll stay
Don't come and go
Like you do
Sway my way
Resting her forehead against Brittany's Santana smiles the most contented smile Brittany has seen in months. They continue to 'sway' as the haunting sound of Bic Runga sweeps the room. As her breath deepens Santana kisses Brittany softly, taking in her soft pink lips. The blonde smile's into the kiss as Santana gently nibbles Brittany's bottom lip opening her eyes as she does. Her hazel eyes say everything to Brittany that Santana rarely puts into words. Their kiss quickly becomes more passionate. The familiarity of the kiss makes it no less electric. Their dance continues as does Brittany's free hand running along Santana's honey skin which contrasts beautifully against her oversized (yet short) white nightshirt.
They pull back and look at each other as a small coo comes from the bundle which is contently snuggled on their chests. The both look down instantly and laugh quietly as José sucks his thumb, gargling but sleeping soundly. Santana kisses Brittany again never taking her eyes from the blonde before she takes her hand and leads her temporary family back up the stairs leaving the calm of the music still playing in the lounge.