Chapter 3

"I haven't even met the guy and I already don't like him." Santana said dryly as she walked into her kitchen where Brittany was playing with Ella.

Brittany looked up at Santana from her spot on the floor with a confused look on her face. Brittany was lying down on the floor and Ella was happily dancing around her singing Hannah Montana. "Who?" Brittany asked as she put her arms around Ella to stop her.

"This Jackson guy. He's already an hour late!" She said as she fixed herself a glass of water.

"Uncle Jacky!" Ella shouted, an excited grin taking over her face.

Even in the few days Ella had been living with her, Santana could tell straight away how much she loves this man.

"Yeah sweetie, uncle Jacky. He should be here soon." Santana said with a gentle smile. She bent down so she was eye to eye with Ella. "You wanna drink?" She asked the little girl. Ella nodded but Santana shook her head. "Use your words Hun." Santana gently told her. Ella knew a few words, not too many but she was starting to get better and able to link words together so it was Santana's mission to get her to learn more.

"Miwk." Ella mumbled quietly. Santana smiled at her and rubbed her head before she stood up and went to put some juice in Ella's Sippy cup.

As she was putting the lid onto the cup they heard Santana's doorbell ring out. "I'M ON IT!" They heard Mike shout from where he was sat with Robert, Carly and Eric's lawyer.

"If he's not here by 4, then he's not coming in at all." Santana said with a determined look on her face. Brittany was listening to her husband off 11 months open the front door, interested to who was there.

"You must be Jackson?" She faintly heard mike say.

"I think he's here now." Brittany told Santana.

Santana looked at the blonde questioningly, wondering how she knew. If she had off been watching Ella she would have saw the small girl listening carefully, and her eyes brightening when she heard a voice. She ran out of Santana's arms and headed for the front door.

"ELLA!" Santana hissed as she was worried she would fall, knowing she doesn't have the best balance.

With Jackson...

He was late. He knew that. But in fairness it wasn't his fault, there was a crash on one of the major roads on the way to the house, he got stuck in it for an hour and a half. It did give him time to talk to the cab driver though. It turns out that he had served in Iraq not too long ago, at a similar base that Jackson was. It got Jackson thinking, what was he going to do for a career? He's going to need a way to provide for Ella; sure he has money saved up but not enough to bring her up.

"Here we go, man." The cab driver said as they pulled up. Jackson thanked the man and once again offered to pay him, but the driver still refused.

"Goodbye sir." Jackson said as he waved the man off. He turned around and looked at the building, he soon realised it was apartments. He walked up the door and glanced at his piece of paper again, number 13, it said. He walked through the front door and walked up the stairs, he carried on climbing and shifting his bag over his shoulder as he did. After the 4th load of stairs he came across door 13. He put his bag more security on his shoulder and knocked 3 times before taking a step back and waiting for it to open.

He heard a deep voice yell something and the door opened shortly after. "You must be Jackson?" The Asian man said as he opened the door and saw Jackson standing there.

"Yes sir." He said politely and put his hand out to shake.

"I'm Mike." The man told him with a smile before reaching out to accept the handshake.

"Jacky!" he heard a familiar voice yell. Since the first time Ella learnt to kind of say his name, he can't help but smile every time he hears it. If it was anyone else calling him 'Jacky' he would punch them square in the jaw, but since it's Ella he'll let her.

"Ella baby!" He said loudly as he picked up and spun the little girl around in his arms, it made his stomach go warm when he heard her joyous laugh. "How've you been baby girl?" He asked, grinning when he heard her laugh harder and squeal.

Meanwhile with Santana and Brittany. They both heard the sudden deep scratchy voice from the front room, and it caught both of their attentions. "Please tell me you just heard that voice version of sex?" Santana asked from where she stood.

"Can a voice may someone pregnant?" Brittany wondered out loud. Santana looked at her for a second before shaking her head and pulling Brittany into the front room. She froze at the sigh she saw there.

Ella was in the arms of a tall man. Not just any tall man, a tall army man. And not just any tall army one, a tall army man who's sex on legs! He had short hair that was saved on the back and sides but about 2cm's long on the top. He had bright blue eyes that where almost black around the edges. His jaw was sharp and covered into stubble. He had a light scar on his cheek bone near his eye but it was nothing that was standing out too much, hell Santana only noticed it because she was sensing that a new hobby of hers will be staring at his face.

Jackson noticed the women staring at him, a brunette and a blonde. Both where pretty, but the brunette was stunning. She had her hair down and slightly curly with light make up, which appealed to Jackson more since he prefers girls without it. She had on a pair of jeans with a plain white vest, simple but effective. She was thin, thinner than Jackson liked but it didn't take away from her looks.

"Hi!" The blonde said to him with a bright smile. "I'm Brittany." She continued. Jackson smiled at her and placed Ella on the floor and walked up to the blonde.

"I'm Jackson." He told her and stuck out his hand, offering to shake hands. Brittany shook her head and reached up to hug him, taking him by surprise. She let go after a few seconds and Jackson turned his head to the girl that was next to her.

Santana looked at Brittany hugging Jackson and instantly felt jealous, he looked so comfy. When he turned to her she smiled at him and stuck her hand out. "I'm Santana." She told him.

"Jackson." He stated as he took her hand. "Nice to meet you." He added with a smile, loving how his hand completely swallowed hers up.

"Mr Reece! You're late." Jackson heard a familiar voice complain.

"Robert. Always a pleasure." He told the man. Robert had never liked Jackson and he doesn't know why.

"Yes well, let's get down to business shall we?" Robert clipped before walking over to the chair near the couch and sitting down. Mike, Brittany, and Santana followed and sat on the three seated couch. Jackson looked around and just decided it would be easier to sit on the floor since there were no other seats.

"Wait, dude you don't need to sit on the floor." Mike said and nudged Brittany. The blonde soon got the hint and lifted herself onto Mike's lap, Santana then moved over a seat so she was in the middle which left the seat on the end for Jackson (Who Ella still hasn't let go off.)

"Thank you." He said with a nod. "Ella baby, why don't you go and play with Maxy for a bit?" He asked Ella gently, knowing that she loves to play with Maxy AKA the teddy he gave her when she was a little baby. The little girl nodded and ran to the den where she knew Maxy was.

They went through the will pretty quickly seeing as it was only a few things that they've actually thought to put on it at such a young age.

"And finally, Ella Masterson. It says she is by the request of Carly and Eric Masterson that she is meant to be in joint-custody of both Jackson Reece and Santana Lopez, her godparents." He announced and pushed his glasses further up his nose.

Jackson looked out of the corner of his eye at Santana, trying to see her reaction. "Does it say anything about living arrangements?" Santana asked with a frown.

Robert looked down at his paper and shook his head. "Then obviously she's living with me." Santana stated.

"Wait. What. Why?" Jackson protested.

"Because she's my god-child!" Santana replied.

"Yeah well she's mine too!" Jackson protested.

"Ok, I'm going to break it down for you. You just came out the army right?" She paused for his reply, carrying on when he nodded. "Which means you have no job, no house, and are in place to care for an 18 month year old!" Santana told him.

Jackson looked at her for a minute before looking at his hands. "Your right." He mumbled and stood up. He spotted the balcony on the opposite side of the room and quickly walked over to it, thankfully it was open so he opened the door and walked out on the balcony. He took out his cigarettes and pulled one out of the box along with a lighter. He lit one up and put it in his mouth and took a long drag.

"Fuck sake." He muttered to himself. He leant his arms on the ledge and looked at the people below him; he took another drag and then flicked it to get the ash of it.

Santana watched Jackson's retreating form and almost felt bad for what she said, well, not what she said but how she said it. She looked at him as he lit up his cigarette and glanced at her own that where in her pocket. Making a quick decision she followed him out the doors silently.

Jackson heard the sound of a lighter and Santana taking a drag of her own cigarette. "I'm sorry for being so harsh." She said as she breathed out.

Jackson shook his head. "No. You were right. I can't support a kid right now. I just...I love her so much." He mumbled.

"I wasn't saying it to be mean. I know you love her, I love her too. That's why her staying here would be best for now. I'm not saying you can't visit, I mean you can come over anytime to come see her." She offered, trying to give him some space. He was standing with his hands covering his face, cigarette still in hand.

"It's—I love her—it's a lot harder than I thought." He mumbled. Santana knew he was upset, she knew that feeling. She stumped her cigarette on the railing and let it rest next to her; she then walked over to him and put an arm around his back.

"Your gonna do great with her. It's new for both of us so we'll help each other...a little word of warning though...Never and I mean NEVER let Brittany dress her. I did once and she was in a rainbow jumpsuit. Not nice." She joked.

Jackson let out a small chuckle and moved away his hand and stumped his cigarette out.

"C'mon let's get back in there." Santana told him. Jackson followed after her, determined to sort his newly free life out.

Guys. Seriously a whole bunch of you are adding this to your alerts, but not reviewing! (Thanks Ggfanatic1993 by the way!) Seeing all the alerts make me so happy that people are enjoying it, but reviews give me motivation! Even if you want to see a certain thing happen in the story, tell me and I'll see what I can do!