"Brittany!" Santana yelled walking into the living room, exasperated, "Your parents, who by the way, don't even like me, are going to be here in three hours and you are playing with a Barbie doll."
"No, I am taking care of our children." Brittany answered, also growing angry as she stepped out of the living room and followed Santana.
"Our children are safely playing with each other, they are taken care of." Santana growled, throwing the toilet brush in her hand to the floor. "I am pissed."
"You are acting like a child yourself," Brittany responded yanking up the toilet brush and placing it in the bathroom.
"No, I AM not. I am here cleaning the toilet, and picking up the toys, and vacuuming, and cooking, and trying to keep your mother the least pissed off she can be, and you are trying to decide whether Barbie should wear her Malibu beach outfit or her holiday sparkle dress."
"I'm done. You are being ridiculous," Brittany yelled as she stormed away from Santana.
"Yeah that's alright. I'll just stay here and continue to work."
"Mami?" Spencer asked timidly as she slowly walked into the kitchen.
"Yes, hija?" The brunette spoke, her voice still a little elevated but she gave her daughter an apologetic smile.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, Spence. I'm okay." Santana responded. Spencer looked at her suspiciously. "Everything is okay baby," Santana picked Spencer up and nuzzled her face, "I was just getting a little worried about Grandma and Grandpa coming."
"Me too." Spencer nodded her head vigorously. "I and Sutton pretend that we have to do the opposite of all the things she says. We are the sneakiest in the world. Maybe you can play that game with mommy." Spencer whispers as if she will get caught. Santana laughs loudly and without a care in the world.
"Why thank you Doctor, I think the opposite game sounds like just what I need." Santana says in her best British accent.
"Mami," Spencer giggles breathlessly and places a kiss on her mothers' nose.
"What?" Santana questions as she dances with a laughing Spencer in her arms around the kitchen and through the living room before dropping her with a twist and flourish next to her sister."
"Hey baby" Santana ruffles Sutton's hair as she passes, getting a scowl in return. "Sorry bubble," she says and adds a kiss. Santana makes her way to her bedroom to try and talk to her wife. She walks in slowly and leans against the far side dresser nervously.
"If you came to ask, I chose the Malibu beach outfit," Brittany says flippantly before returning to her book.
"Good. Sequins are overrated." Santana responds venturing towards the bed. "I am sorry. I was just getting nervous. I hate when your parents visit, and I think I was breathing in the bathroom cleaners. I didn't mean to snap. I love that you play with the girls. It's one of the many things that make you a great mother. I never meant to insinuate that you aren't helpful. " Santana rambles trying to organize all of her feelings.
"I know baby, and I am sorry too. You are doing so much work for my mother, who doesn't even appreciate you."
"Well, it's for you. I love you and well I guess that means I have to keep her too," Santana says seriously with an eye roll.
"I know that," Brittany says grabbing for Santana's arm and pulling her onto the bed. "And I should have been helping or showing you how grateful I am. So this is me saying thank you," Brittany says while placing a kiss on Santana's forehead. "Thank you for cleaning the house immaculately without any help. When your mom visits, I'll clean." Brittany compromises, while placing another kiss at the apple of Santana's cheek. "Thank you for putting the effort in with my mother. And for that you will be rewarded later" Brittany winks.
"Oh really," Santana grins with a cheeky smile.
"Yes, and thank you for supporting us, and for being the best mother for Spencer and Sutton," Brittany kisses the bridge of Santana's nose. "Thank you for watching the comedy last night when I know you wanted to watch the scary movie and thank you for never buying those ridiculous smelling cheeses," Brittany kisses Santana's mouth but quickly pulls away with a mischievous grin.
"Later," she says pointedly, "Now let's take the girls to the park. We still have an hour and a half."
"Laurie, how are you?" Santana asks reaching for a small hug. Mrs. Pierce steps back. "I'm okay." Santana looks down awkwardly before Brittany joins the small group, throwing an arm around Santana. "Mom, how long has it been since you have seen the girls?" Brittany looks around having expected them to have joined the commotion already.
"I've seen pictures." Laurie answers, as if it compares. Brittany squeezes Santana tighter, hoping they can lean on each other.
"Well, I would love to see them." Mr. Pierce replies bending down to tuck Santana into a hug, "Sorry Sweetie" he whispers. "I'm sure they look like their mothers, so much more now that they are sprouting so fast."
"I swear you can see now how Sutton has the same cute nose and stubborn personality as Santana," Brittany agrees.
"I don't see how that is possible," Laurie mumbles from her position across the room.
"I'll get them," Santana mutters as she quickly walks away. As soon as Santana has turned around Brittany stalks up to her mother. "Clearly this is not changing," Brittany commands, "This is my wife, these are my children and this is MY home. If you cannot show, at the very least, respect and common courtesy to them, your visits will be unwanted Mom. I love you and I want to share this beautiful part of my life with you, but you are not making it easy for me. I can only hang on for so long."
"I'm trying." Laurie defends.
"You are not, Ma. You have had the last twenty years to try. It's about time you just deal," Brittany says before heading back to her father and children.
"Oh, " Graham Pierce gushes, "They are talking so well, and reading, wow. And as beautiful as ever."
"Yeah, we can't get any quiet time now," Santana adds, suddenly feeling fingers tangle with her own. She looks up to see if Graham is uncomfortable but he is still smiling.
Brittany agrees with a nod of her head, "They literally babble about everything and anything."
"How about dinner?" Santana asks, seeing Laurie cringe out of the corner of her eye. Everyone professes their hunger and they head to the dining room, Laurie dragging behind. However, as they go to sit at the table Laurie pulls a chair right up between the twins and begins talking with them.
"I think we might have hit a development," Santana mumbled whipping up the last of the mashed potatoes and nodding her head to the girls showing Laurie their ballerina moves.
"I sort of, maybe told her that I wouldn't see her if she didn't cut the shit," Brittany mumbled as she picked up the rolls to bring to the table.
"Are you okay?" Santana asks when Brittany returns, rubbing her hands up and down Brittany's arm.
"I kind of hate myself for coming to that but it's working, so," Brittany shrugs to replace the remainder of her sentence.
"Don't hate yourself Britt. You gave her time and time to come around, and now she is here. So, I think we move from this point forward."
"You're right." Brittany nods, as they all sit down to eat.
"She really likes me now. I can tell, baby." Santana says excitedly as they lay together that night.
"Honey," Brittany brushes a stray hair back behind Santana's ear. "She said she liked your potatoes."
"And she used my first name," Santana pointed out. Brittany nodded before laughing.
"The postman uses your first name, does he 'really like' you too?"
"Why are you ruining this?" Santana asks playfully, swatting at Brittany.
"I don't know," Brittany concedes the mood suddenly shifting. "I guess I'm apprehensive. I'm afraid she thinks she only needs to compliment your cooking and refrain from using 'you with the big head' as your name. Well, that's not enough. She missed everything and it hurts. She can't get this so easy. She missed the wedding and the twins; she missed all the holidays and the birthday parties, and the promotions. Your mom knows Sutton will only wear the purple polka dot headband if it is raining. My mother probably thinks Sutton is the street we live on."
Santana runs a soothing hand up Brittany's stomach, "Can we just agree that my head is not that big?"
"Your head is perfect," Brittany states softly as she glances at Santana.
"You feel however you want to feel baby, and you do whatever you want to do, because you were treated so unfairly. And me," Santana continues, "I'll be right next to you holding your hand.
