Wow thanks for all the reviews. I just want to say that I have never been to counseling and thus I'm sorry if I got anything wrong about it.
"Thanks mom for watching the kids." Brittany says giving her mom a hug before turning to Maria to hug her as well. "Thanks for coming too Maria."
"Well I know neither of us would ever miss a chance to spend time with our grandchildren." Maria says hugging her daughter-in-law.
"We just want you and Santiago is to fix whatever problems you have with your marriage." Susan tells her daughter.
"Even if that means kicking my lazy son in the ass." Maria says knowing full well he's caused many of the problems between them.
"I hope this will be the first step to fixing our marriage. I love him so much." Brittany says wiping away a tear. "Well I'd better get going."
Brittany heads out not wanting to hear her mom or Maria talk about her marriage anymore. It's obvious that they know something is wrong, but they don't know what it is. Starting the car, she pulls out of the driveway. Earlier she told Santiago that they would arrive separately since she knows after their session that she'll want to be alone. Then she found out that he was going to work before their appointment and it pissed her off slightly. He just got home and now he's working yet again. When he started getting more famous and needing to go on tour, she agreed to take a step back in her career to take care of the kids. Now she's really starting to regret agreeing to this. Pulling into the office parking lot she smiles when she sees Santiago's truck parked there already. He waits until she parks before opening her door.
"Hey Britt," Santiago says helping her out of the SUV.
"Hey San," Brittany says smiling at how cute he's being.
"So…can I hold your hand or what?" Santiago asks looking around for paparazzi.
Instead of answering she takes his hand and squeezes it, smiling up at him.
"Thank you for agreeing to do this." Brittany softly says as they walk in.
"I want to fix us Britt. I'm willing to do anything to make things right between us." Santiago tells her.
She smiles cause yeah he maybe a cheating bastard when he's on tour, but when he's home he's the most loving man to her. She just wishes that he could control himself on tour these last two years.
"I just want you to know that I love you." Santiago says stopping her before they enter the office.
"I love you too." Brittany says opening the door.
It takes them ten minutes before they go in to see their marriage counselor.
"Good afternoon Santiago and Brittany Lopez. It's very nice to meet you two." the counselor says. "My name is Doctor Dallas."
"Hello," Brittany says shaking his hand before sitting down.
"Hi," Santiago says sitting next to him.
"So I understand that you two require some help in fixing your marriage." Dallas says liking to hear from them what is wrong.
Santiago is about to say something smartass when Brittany elbows him to stop him. Dallas notices this and takes some notes.
"Yes, we probably have several issues you can help us with that we don't realize, but the big one is the fact that every time he goes on tour he cheats on me." Brittany tells Dallas.
"Santiago what do you think of this?" Dallas asks curious to hear what he has to say to this.
"I've cheated on my wife five times since my career took off three years ago when she was pregnant with our youngest child." Santiago says hanging his head in guilt.
Brittany looks away trying not to cry. In a way she's glad that it's only been five people since she thought it was more.
"How does that make you feel Brittany?" Dallas asks he figures they might as well just jump in.
"I feel betrayed, sad, mad and pissed. I don't understand why he cheated, why I wasn't enough for him." Brittany says tears starting to fall.
Dallas watches waiting to see what Santiago will do. He's very interested in helping this couple who despite this huge problem are obvious in love.
"Baby," Santiago says starting to get teary eyed. "I honestly don't know why. I don't actually care about any of them; you're the only one I love."
"Then why can't you stay faithful." Brittany asks.
"When you're not an option, like I'm going to be away from you for days on end I have a hard time saying no to beautiful women who throw themselves at me." Santiago says looking ashamed.
Brittany is about to say something when Dallas stops her.
"It sounds to me like you might have some impulse control issues when you get horny and you're alone." Dallas says. "Does he always tell you or call you so you'll find out?" he asks.
"Yes, he'll call and most of the time I can guess." Brittany says.
"I want you to tell each other how this makes you feel, starting with you Brittany." Dallas says.
"I get so mad that you keep doing this and then feel the need to tell me. It's like you're rubbing the fact that you're sleeping around in my face." Brittany growls at him.
"I'm so sorry baby, that's not my intent. I always feel so guilty afterwards that I feel the need to call you so you'll catch me." Santiago softly says.
They continue to talk about how the cheating has affected them for the rest of the time.
"Our time is almost up." Dallas tells them. "I feel like you two have made really good progress for this being your first session. Now I'd like to suggest that we meet twice a week for now until we get ahold of your big problem and all the little ones it has caused."
"We can definitely do that." Santiago says willing to do anything to save their marriage.
"You two should take things slow for now. That means dating, but no sex. You two need to reconnect as you try to forgive." Dallas says the last part to Brittany. "Santiago this means staying out of situations that could lead to more."
"Thank you so much for everything you've already done and will do." Brittany says getting up and shaking his hand.
"I'm always happy to help those couples who are in love like you two are." Dallas says.
He so hopes that they make it.
"So I'll see you at home." Brittany says hoping he doesn't have to work.
"Yes and then I was thinking that I could take you out on a date?" Santiago hopefully asks.
"I guess, but it'd better be good." Brittany says secretly smiling as they haven't been on a date since this whole mess started.
"It will be." Santiago says.
"Okay, I'm sure our moms will watch the kids for a few more hours." Brittany says. "You know how they like to spoil them."
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Santiago opens the restaurant door for his wife. He decided to take her out to a nice restaurant called Silver City. It wasn't too fancy, but still nice enough.
"I haven't been here in ages." Brittany says as they are seated in the back away from any windows and paparazzi taking photos of them.
"I know," Santiago says glad that she seems to like his choice.
They order drinks and their food before they settle into an uncomfortable silence. He has no idea what to say and wither he can or should talk about their marriage or stay away from that topic. Finally Brittany decides to end the silence.
"I think unless Doctor Dallas tells us we should leave talking about our problems in consulting. Let's talk about our kids and other things, that way we don't end up fighting." Brittany suggests.
"That sounds good; I really want to make us work." Santiago says staring in her eyes to show that he's serious.
"I know you are and so am I." Brittany says reaching across the table and grabbing his hand. "I love you so much, always remember that."
"And I love you too Brittany Pierce-Lopez." Santiago says kissing her hand.
"Well that's good since you're married to me." Brittany says giggling.
Santiago can't help, but smile at the fact that his wife seems to be the happiest he's seen her in a long while.
"When do you have to go back to performing?" Brittany asks.
"I'm not leaving the state for the next few months. I don't want anything getting in the way of us plus I have to work on my new album." Santiago tells her knowing that touring is off the plate for now.
"Good, I'm going to need you to watch the kids more as I have a recurring role on Grey's Anatomy for the next three weeks." Brittany tells him.
"I'd love to spend more time with the kids." Santiago says so proud of his wife. "I know your career has taken a backseat to mine so if you want to do a movie I'd be fine with that."
"Thank you for being so supportive." Brittany says smiling at him.
"You've always supported me, I feel like I need to return the favor now." Santiago says.
Their food is brought out and they fall into a comfortable silence eating. Brittany sneaks a few fries off of his plate smiling when he frowns at her.
"Don't be stealing my food." Santiago grumbles.
"Oh please San I married you so I could steal food off of your plate." Brittany says stealing another fry from his plate.
He grumbles something under his breath, but allows her to steal yet another.
"Do you want to finish my chicken? I'm full." Brittany says holding his plate out.
"Heck yes," Santiago says grabbing her plate.
"Babe don't choke yourself." Brittany says as he stuffs his face.
"I won't," Santiago says through a full mouth.
Once he finishes they order a slice of apple pie.
"The kids love having you home." Brittany says smiling as he offers her a bite of pie.
"I love being home too." Santiago says. "I was thinking that we could spend a day at the beach or park on Saturday." Santiago says.
"That sounds lovely." Brittany says.
"Good,"
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"Aly and Jamie are both asleep, but Taylor wouldn't go to sleep." Susan tells them when they get home.
"Mommy," Taylor yawns reaching for her.
"Come on little man let's put you to sleep." Brittany says taking him in her arms. "Thanks again mom and Maria for watching them."
"Go put the little man to sleep, he's beyond tired." Maria says.
"Say goodnight to daddy." Brittany says.
"Good night little man," Santiago says kissing him on the top of the head.
Brittany carries him upstairs to put him to bed.
"So how was it?" Maria asks her son.
"I think it went well and our date was amazing." Santiago says.
"So there won't be any divorce?" Maria asks.
"No mom, we're going to work through our problems." Santiago says sighing.
"That's good, you and Britt belong together." Susan says.
"Thanks again for watching the kids." Santiago says.
"I take it you want us to leave." Susan says.
"Yeah I'm tired and the couch is my bed for now." Santiago says.
"Good night son, behave and get your marriage fixed." Maria says hugging him.
"Tell Britt bye for us." Susan says hugging him as well. "You'll get through this rough patch." she whispers.
