CH9.
"Daddy.."
Santiago looked up and sighed, "Yes Bill, what is it?"
Isabell pouted, "When awe you gonna play wif me.."
Santiago closed his eyes and looked at the clock. "Baby, we just went to the park! Can't you just please watch some television? I need to finish this and then I'm going to make dinner." He gave his daughter a little smile and turned back to his reading. Santiago was almost finished with school, he passed his exams and all he had to do was turn in a few exams. Usually Quinn or Rachel would watch Isabell, when he needed to study, but both of them had exams as well.
Brittany was supposed to be with Isabell, but she was running a bit late. Santiago didn't want Isabell to go to the daycare, thinking Britt could walk in any moment, but he was starting to regret that now…
"When is momma coming? I want mommy.." Isabell's lip started to tremble.
Santiago sighed again, the last few weeks were a bliss. Isabell turned three and they threw her a big party with their family and friends there. She got all kinds of presents, but Isabell didn't really care about that. All she wanted, was to spend time with her parents. She loved her mother at home and although she used to be a true daddy's girl, al she wanted now was spend time with her mom. Preferably in her mother's arms of lap…
Santiago was glad to see Isabell's love for her mother, but sometimes it was driving him crazy. Brittany tried to take Isabell with her as much as she could, but there were moments where it just wasn't possible, resulting in Isabell throwing a tantrum. The usually calm and behaving girl, quickly became Santiago worst nightmare...
There was the night where Brittany was staying out late at the studio, meeting up with Mrs. Wright, when Isabell screamed until she saw purple, wanting her mother to tuck her in.
There was the morning where Brittany was in the shower and Santiago tried to get Isabell to eat, but the little girl refused to eat, unless her mother prepared it…
Santiago clenched his jaw.
"Isabell! Please! Your mother will be here in minute, just be a good girl and sit down!"
Isabell scowled and huffed. She grabbed poor Sunny of the floor and walked over to the couch. She sat down with the kitten on her lap and tried to fight her tears. Santiago didn't notice it, his nose already back in his books. He didn't want to ignore her of be mean, he just really needed to finish his work. He checked the time again and sighed, Brittany was running almost two hours late and he was nowhere near finished… Santiago sighed again and grabbed his phone.
Hate to rush you, but please come home. Isabell is getting impatient and I need to finish school. x
He didn't wait for a reply and continued to read and ramble on his laptop. After a couple of minutes, he heard a key in the lock and sighed in relief.
Brittany came walking in, her phone clutched between her ear and shoulder, talking rapidly about new paintings. She dropped her bag and laughed when Isabell launched herself from the couch, hugging her mother's legs.
"Finally mommy, you hewe! I missed you lots.."
Brittany smiled and quickly told the person on the other line she had to go and hung up the phone.
"Wow sweets, I've only been gone for a couple of hours! Didn't you have a nice day at the park with daddy?" She lifted her daughter in her arms and pressed a kiss on her head.
"No." Isabell answered shortly and shot a glare to her father, before hiding her face in her mother's neck. "I want youuu.." she whined.
Brittany looked up confused, while Santiago simply shook his head. "She's just being a spoiled brat." He grumbled and turned back to his back. Brittany laughed, "Baby, sometimes I have to go to work, there is nothing wrong with spending time with daddy. Don't be silly." She stroked Isabell's hair, before letting her down again.
"Why don't you go get your new puzzle? We can play together." Brittany smiled as she watched Isabell race off. She walked over to the table where Santiago was sitting, trying to get back to his reading. Brittany placed her hands on his shoulders and gave him a quick massage. "Was she really that much trouble?" She asked. "She's just a kid, San.."
Santiago huffed, "Easy for you to say, Britt."
Brittany let go of him in surprise, "What's that supposed to mean?"
Santiago sighed, "Look, I'm just getting behind with this, I'm so close to finishing, Britt.. I need your help here, I need you to take care of Isabell, she's doesn't even want me to spend time with her! She wants you, so please, just take care of your daughter, so I can finish this shit!"
Brittany blinked, baffled by his ranting. "You don't need to raise your voice to me, San.." She mumbled. "And I'm doing the best I can!"
Santiago huffed again, "You're two hours late, Britt. That means I get to stay up until three in the morning again to finish this."
Brittany frowned, "Well excuse me for being busy with our future."
Santiago looked up, "What the hell do you think I'm doing here?!" He shoved his chair back and got up, collecting his stuff together. "I'm just going to study at the library." He shoved his books and papers in his bag and grabbed his laptop, before walking out the apartment, without saying goodbye, leaving a stunned Brittany behind.
"Okay mommy, let's play!"
Isabell snapped Brittany out of her thoughts and she quickly nodded. "Yeah sweets, let's do the puzzle on the floor.." She smiled at her daughter and got on her knees. "Mommy, whewe's daddy?" Isabell looked at her mother and frowned. "Is he mad?.."
Brittany shook her head, "No honey, daddy's just busy. But Isabell, why did daddy tell me you don't want to spend time with him?"
Isabell shrugged and looked at the floor. "I don't know.." She whispered.
Brittany frowned and pulled Isabell closer, cupping her face. "Look at me, sweets, what is it."
Isabell's lip quivered, "I just want you! What if you go again? I wanna be with you.."
Brittany swallowed heavily, her absence clearly left their tracks and she hated it. Was this what Santiago had to deal with every day?
"Honey, like I said before, I'm here to stay! Just like daddy.. I'll be coming home every night, sometimes it will be past your bedtime, but I will be here, every morning when you wake up, I promise you!"
Isabell nodded slowly. She bit her lip and looked up, "daddy's mad at me, mom.."
"Why do you think that, sweets?"
"I want you and not him and I said that and he was sad like I was when Sunny didn't come out and then he said nuthing anymowe and he went to his stupid, stupid boowks!" Isabell took a deep breath and balled her little fists. "I want daddy too, mommy, I want to all!"
Brittany let out a laugh, "Baby! Sweets, relax, it's okay! I get it and I'm sure daddy will understand too. But daddy is going to be busy a lot, honey. He needs to finish his schoolwork, but it won't take long, I promise, just be a little patient with him, okay? And you need to listen to him, he is still your father, young lady."
Isabell looked down ashamed, "I'm sorry momma.. When is daddy back?"
Brittany sighed, "I don't know, actually. Maybe after your bedtime." She swallowed and wondered if Santiago would come home before her bedtime… "Well, let's just make the most of it together, sweets! We're going to do this puzzle and then you can help me fix supper."
Santiago groaned when he walked in the apartment and checked the time. It was almost 1.30 in the morning and the apartment was completely dark, expect a little light in the living room. Santiago kicked his shoes off and rubbed his arms. When he left, he didn't think about taking his jacket, but he got pretty cold on the way back.
Santiago let his stuff on the kitchen counter and walked in the living room, smiling sadly when he noticed his girlfriend on the couch. Brittany fell asleep waiting for him, barely covered by a little blanket. She wore a frown on her face, making Santiago's smile falter. He got closer and gently shook her shoulder. "Princess, let's go to bed.."
Brittany got up a little, "San? What time is it.." She sounded sleepy and rubbed her eyes. Santiago smiled, loving how much Isabell looked like her mother at times like these. "Very late.. Why did you stay up, baby? I'm sorry for walking out.." He mumbled. Gently he wrapped the blanket around her, before lifting her up, bridal style. Brittany nodded and yawned, "You're a jerk.." She pressed her head against his chest and kept her eyes closed. Santiago laughed as he walked to their bedroom. Brittany smiled, feeling the vibrations from his chest against her head. "You're my jerk, though.."
When Brittany woke up the next day, she expected to find Santiago next to her, but was surprised by her daughter's sleeping form. She rubbed her eyes and got up a bit, looking around. It was barely 7 o'clock… Brittany smiled when she noticed a little note on her nightstand.
Good morning princess,
I'm sorry for leaving you with our little sleeping beauty,
but I need to finish my school work today…
I'll bring us lunch later, love you xxS
PS. Please give my Billy a hug, I love her.
Brittany dropped back in her pillows, clutching the note to her chest. She looked beside her and smiled, noticing her daughter still asleep. She had her legs pulled up, her dark curls sprawled out over the pillow. Brittany turned to her side and gently stroked her daughter's hair. She leaned in and pressed a kiss on her forehead, before snuggling back under the covers and closing her eyes again. Poor San.. She thought, figuring he only had about 4 hours of sleep. She smiled and decided she was going to ask Quinn and Rachel to take Isabell for a night, next weekend, so she could pamper Santiago. They both deserved, Brittany figured. She was busy with the dance studio almost opening and could use a night alone with her boyfriend.
When Brittany woke up again later, it was because Isabell poking her in the face.
"Mommy…" she whisper-yelled. "I need bweakfast.."
Brittany laughed, "Yeah, yeah, I'm awake!" Isabell giggled happily and jumped up and down on the bed. "Pancakies?"
Brittany frowned, "You know I don't make the best pancakes, sweets."
Isabell pouted disappointed. "But I always get pancakies in the mowning.."
Brittany nodded, "But daddy makes the pancakes, baby and he's not here right now.. I can make you blue berry muffins, I know you like those?" She smiled reassuringly. Isabell froze in her place. "Whewe's daddy?" Brittany looked up in surprise when she heard the panic in Isabell's voice.
"He is already gone to finish his school work, sweets. Don't worry, he'll be back in a few hours." She tried to reassure the little girl, but Isabell's eyes filled with tears. "Is he still mad at me?.." She whispered. Brittany quickly shook her head and pulled her daughter in her lap. "No, no, no sweetheart, daddy is just busy! Remember what I told you?" Isabell nodded and hid her face in her mother's neck. "So.. No pancakies?.."
"I've got fooood!"
Isabell looked at her mother and jumped of the couch. Brittany smiled and put her reading down. She watched Isabell sprinting to the front door, clinging to Santiago's legs.
"Daddy, I misses you lots!"
Santiago looked down in surprise, "Hey Billy, what's up?"
Brittany walked up to them and smiled a little, she noticed Santiago's tired face and was instantly worried.
Isabell just hugged her father's legs and looked up, "I love you, daddy."
Santiago's grin was so wide, it almost looked like he won a huge prize. He looked over at Brittany and winked, "hey baby, you hungry?"
Brittany smiled and shrugged, "I could eat. I'll set the table."
A couple of minutes later, the family was seated at the table, Isabell on the head of the table with her parents on either side of her. She was happily chatting about Sunny's actions, almost forgetting to eat her food. Santiago couldn't take his eyes off Brittany, still feeling guilty about walking away the night before, while Brittany just felt guilty about Santiago being tired… They smiled at each other and finished their meals.
"Go sit on the couch, I'll clean up." Brittany told him, when Isabell was finished too. "I want to talk to you about something in a minute." Santiago nodded and sat down on the couch with Isabell, reading a book together. He wondered what Brittany wanted to talk about, but was glad to see Isabell happy and talking to him again.
When Brittany sat down next to him, he got nervous though. He asked Isabell to play with Sunny, so he and Britt could talk. "So, what's up?" Santiago tried to play it smooth.
Brittany laughed, "Relax, honey, I just wanted to run something by you. I was thinking we could ask Quinn and Rachel to watch Isabell for a night, over the weekend. So we could have a night for ourselves.. Sleep in late.. You know?"
Santiago slumped down on the couch and stretched. "Heck yeah!" He grinned, "Sounds great." He yawned and made himself more comfortable. "I'm sure Quinn's okay with it." Brittany smiled happily and pulled Santiago's legs on her lap. She patted his legs and reached for her phone. "Oh crap, I forgot, Quinn's got a new number and I forgot to save it.." Santiago had his eyes closed and grinned slyly, "Well take my phone then." Brittany nodded and held her hand out, her eyes still on her phone.
When she felt nothing in her hand, she looked up and rolled her eyes. Santiago only lifted his hips a bit, "Just reach in, baby."
Brittany laughed, "You're an idiot…" But she did lean over and reached in his pocket and slowly pulled his phone out. "So, should I ask if Saturday night is okay?" She watched Santiago and knew he was about to drift off. "Hmhm, yeah that's good. "
Brittany smiled at his sleepy face and unlocked his phone. She went to his texts to compose a knew message, when she noticed a unread text. "You've got a new message, babe." Santiago opened one eye, "Hm? What does it say?" Brittany opened the text and froze in her place.
Santiago raised his eyebrow. "Babe? Who sent it?"
Brittany clenched her jaw, "Had a great time last night, did you get to finish?" She pushed his legs of off her legs roughly and stood up, "xo Chrissie?" she continued. Santiago frowned, "Yeah I saw her in the library, we decided to study together, she helped me out actually.."
Brittany caught him off, "Oh so while I was waiting for you, worried, you were 'having a great time' with her? Is that why it took you so long, huh?"
Santiago quickly got up, "Britt! Don't act like this, come on, we talked about this.." He tried.
Brittany scrolled through the other messages, a lot sent by Christine. "Why the hell are you texting so much?!"
Santiago frowned, "Baby, please.. We study together, that's it. Just open the texts, read them all! It's nothing.. And last night, we didn't have a 'great time', I don't know why she would call it that. We just studied, we weren't alone, not for a second, our studygroup was there too."
Brittany scowled, "If it's nothing, why didn't you just tell me right away?"
Santiago shrugged, "I don't know. I didn't think it would be a big deal, actually.." He tried to get closer to Brittany, "Please, baby." He sighed, "You trust me, right? We talked about this.."
Brittany bit her lip. "Yeah and I told you I would continue to be jealous, you could have seen this coming, you should have just told me right away, San! Would you have told me later on?"
Santiago sighed again and gripped his hair. "Britt, please! It's just not a big deal, I didn't think it would matter!" He frowned and shrugged again, making Brittany even more angry. "Oh come on, I told you, San! I fu.. Friggin' told you, I would stay jealous. You . Should. Have. Told me!"
She threw his phone back on the couch and shook her head.
"You know what, just forget it.. I'm overreacting, never mind."
Defeated she run her hand through her hair and took a deep breath. She swallowed and put on a smile, "I'm taking Isabell to the store for groceries. You coming?"
Santiago stood frozen in his place, "I.. Don't.. I.. Okay?.." He mumbled, confused. Brittany nodded, "Okay, good. I'll go get Isabell ready." She took a step closer and pressed a quick kiss on his cheek. "I do trust you with her. I just don't like you with her." She simply said and looked at him with sad eyes. Santiago nodded, "I'm going to change my shirt.." He said, still confused. Damn, is she pregnant again or something?!
AN: Is she? I don't even know yet!
Lemme know what you think!