Hi all I am still alive. School has been kicking my butt lately. We're nearing the end of this story, probably around four chapters left. Thanks for the love, I'll be updating Meeting Again next hopefully in the next two weeks.
Brett stands just out of view of the gym waiting for them to announce his name.
"You'll do well kid so long as you don't let him hit you in the face." Mario says placing his hand on Brett's shoulder.
"Thanks Mr. Lopez," Brett says more nervous now than ever before.
"And also fighting for Santana Lopez, Brett 'Fierce' Pierce!" is announced and Mario pushes him out.
Brett's surprised with how many people cheer for him, mostly women. The look on Santana's face is priceless. She doesn't like all the female attention her man is getting. She can see Dani out of the corner of her eye cheering extremely loudly.
"I hate her so much." she grumbles under her breath.
"Sis stop obsessing and help me." Antonio jokes glancing across the cage to his opponent and best friend.
"Sorry, but honestly you know what to do." Santana says not wanting to tell her brother to mash her boyfriend's nose any more than it already is.
"Are you okay with this?" Antonio asks.
I have to be, for you to win you need to." Santana sighs.
Antonio nods, understanding what his sister means and respects her for it.
"Thanks for this sis." Antonio says getting up.
"Kick butt little brother."
Brett meets Antonio in the center of the cage with the ref.
"Shake," the ref says.
"Good luck man," Brett says holding out his hand.
"May the best man win." Antonio says shaking Brett's hand.
For the first two minutes they manage to block and avoid each other's attacks. Brett is mostly on the defensive, trying to protect his nose as best he can. Antonio is in fight mode and just wants to win. He keeps swinging for Brett's face knowing that at some point Brett will open up more to protect his face.
"Tighten up!" Mario shouts.
"Keep swinging!" Santana shouts.
Brett lifts his hands higher to protect his face opening his torso up which Antonio takes advantage of. He starts landing punches on Brett's torso. For the first five punches Brett doesn't move but on the sixth, he drops his hands and Antonio punches him square in the face. With that Brett crumps to the ground. The ref waves Antonio to the side and starts counting, Brett bounces up much to Santana's relief. She's having to hold herself back from jumping in and cradling Brett's face in her hands.
"Continue," the ref says after the two fighters are lined up again.
Antonio goes on the attack again tasting victory near. Brett stumbles, falling back before scrambling back onto his feet. He barely keeps his hands up to protect his face. Running is all he can do to keep from getting knocked out. He has yet to land a single punch. He's about to completely fail when the round is called.
"Shit," Brett shouts slumping onto the chair that was just placed down for him.
"How's the nose?" Mario asks checking it as best he can without touching it.
"Hurts," Brett grumbles.
"You need to get some hits on him or you'll lose. You haven't hit him yet." Mario tells him.
"I can't without risking my face and that punch to my nose nearly knocked me out. I was in so much pain." Brett says.
"Then you're going to have to wear him out and get a knockout before the end of the fight." Mario says.
Brett knows this is true, but isn't sure if it will work. His only hope is that he manages to get in one good punch.
"Don't tire yourself out." Santana tells her brother.
"I've got this sis." Antonio says getting up.
"Just be careful, he's tougher than he looks." Santana reminds him.
Brett and Antonio meet in the center and wait for the ref's signal to start up. Just like the first round Brett is on the defensive protecting his face.
"Hit him daddy B!" Sofie yells standing up on her chair.
"Don't cheer against your uncle." Maria whispers to her granddaughter.
For some reason this kicked Brett into gear. Hearing Sofie shout at him had him going on the offensive. He throws punch after punch causing Antonio to back up. On one right hook, Antonio opens up his left side allowing Brett to land a kick. The kick lands just right, knocking the breath out of him. This gives Brett the change to get the knockout punch in since Antonio isn't protecting himself. Brett backs away and waits for the ref.
"One, two, three…." the ref starts counting off.
With no movement from Antonio from Antonio, Brett is declared the winner.
"And Brett Pierce with a KO wins the match and the spot in the UFC."
Santana and Mario as soon as Antonio went down ran to his side and have waved the medic over. Maria has jumped up and ran to the cage. Brett can't enjoy his victory while his friend is hurt. He watches as the doctor comes over to check on Antonio. Sofie runs over to Brett who picks her up.
"Is uncle Antonio okay?" Sofie softly asks.
"I'm not sure little one." Brett whispers holding her tightly to him.
"You won though right?" Sofie asks clinging to his neck.
"Yes I did," he happily says.
"I knew you won." Sofie says giving him a kiss on the cheek.
Antonio finally starts moving a bit and gives the thumbs up even though he's being held down.
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"So we're not celebrating?" Vicky asks as they all hang around a hospital waiting area for the second day in a row.
"Not while your brother's girlfriend's brother is here." Susan tells her daughter harshly.
She's sitting with Maria comforting her. They all feel bad for Antonio especially Brett who feels responsible. He's sitting next to his girlfriend wanting to hold her, but wasn't since he didn't want to upset her.
They end up waiting for an hour before a doctor comes out and says Antonio has a concussion and they're keeping him overnight.
"But he'll be okay?" Maria asks the doctor holding onto her husband's arm tightly.
"Yes, he's okay we just want to watch him. He hit his head pretty hard. He'll have to take it easy for a week or so." the doctor tells her.
"Thank god," Maria mumbles.
The doctor leaves and Tia comes out from Antonio's room.
"Brett, Antonio wants to congratulate you on winning." Tia says smiling at him.
Brett nods and starts to follow her when he feels a hand slide into his. He looks over to see his girlfriend giving him a loving look. He's finally able to breathe a sigh of relief knowing she doesn't blame him.
"Sorry for ruining your win, but man you knocked me out good." Antonio says.
"You didn't, I'm sorry I knocked you out." Brett says.
"Dude, you didn't do anything wrong. We were fighting and I dropped my protection. It was my own mistake. No one blames you." Antonio tells him.
"B, you won fair and square. I don't blame you." Santana tells him squeezing his hand.
Brett let's out a soft sigh of relief. He's so glad that neither of them blames him. He's about to say something else when the door opens and the rest of the Lopez's and the Pierce's come in.
"Thank god you're okay." Maria says rushing to his side.
"Mami, I'm okay." Antonio says.
"You took that hit like a man though you really should have kept your hands up." Mario tells his son.
"I know dad," Antonio sighs. "Now you all should go celebrate Brett's win."
"I'm staying with him you all should go." Tia tells Maria and Mario.
It takes a few more minutes of convincing before they're all headed out to celebrate Brett's victory. On the walk out Mario bumps his wife and nods towards Brett.
"Brett," Maria says knowing what her husband means. "Congratulation on your win. We all know this wasn't your fault."
"Thanks," Brett says really relieved no one is blaming him.
The Pierce's and Lopez's get into the Lopez SUV while Brett, Santana and Sofie get into his car. Sofie is sound asleep.
"You were amazing even though you got punched badly in the nose." Santana says reaching across the console and taking his hand in hers.
"Thanks honey," Brett softly says squeezing her hand.
"You did get your nose checked while we were waiting right?" Santana asks.
"No, but I did make an appointment to get my nose reset tomorrow morning." he tells her.
"So that means I can't kiss you." she jokingly asks.
"I won't be opposed to it even if it hurts my nose." he replies.
"Good cause I love kissing you." she says leaning over and kissing his cheek. "Stubble?"
"I figured I might try growing a beard. You know Sofie and yourself have made mentions of wanting me to grow a beard." he says pulling into the restaurant parking lot.
He's about to get out of the car when she stops him.
"You really did an amazing job today. I'm so proud of the way you fought." she seriously says. "I'm so thankful that I get to be the one who continues to train you."
"Great as much as I admire your dad, I like your training methods better." he says cupping her face and kissing her.
"You're such a sweet talker." she says smiling brightly as they get out.
He opens the backdoor and lifts the still sleeping Sofie into his arms. She looks too cute sound asleep to wake up. Santana though has no problem waking her up as she takes her sleeping daughter from Brett.
"No mami," Sofie whines.
"She is just like you when waking up, cranky." Maria says having just arrived.
"Mami," Santana whines.
"Honey I'm sure Brett already knows that about you." Mario says trying not to tease his daughter too much.
"Don't I," Brett jokes.
"Brett here was an angel as a child unlike his sisters." Susan says just to take some pressure off of Santana. "They were a handful and always causing problems."
"Hey," all three girls abject.
Santana chuckles at this and Susan winks at the other girl.
"Sofie you want to sit by me?" Mary asks taking the little girl out of Santana's arm.
"Yes, you can help me color." Sofie says wrapping her arms around Mary's neck.
"That sounds so cool, I haven't colored in a long time." Mary says leading the way into the restaurant.
"Hey I wanna color too!" Vicky loudly says quickly walking to catch up to them.
The rest of them follow the three girls in and are seated quickly thanks to Mario. He's pretty big time in town and can always get tables at restaurants even at their peak hours quickly.
"Little bro, sit next to me." Jana says once they reach the table.
Mary and Vicky are sitting on either side of Sofie while Mario sits at the head of the table and Maria and Susan sit next to each other. This leaves Brett to sit at the other head and Santana to sit next to him and his mom and Jana to sit on the other side of him.
"Order anything I'm paying." Mario says wanting to treat.
He's so happy with how the last few days have gone. Brett's family is amazing. His wife has a new friend, his daughter is happier than he's ever seen her and his granddaughter is being dotted on by two of the Pierce girls. Not to mention that his son even though he's currently in the hospital has a new best friend in Brett.
"Thanks daddy," Santana says.
"Thank you so much Mr. Lopez." Jana says.
"Thank you Mario,"
"Thanks sir,"
As thank you's fly around the table, Sofie is drawing a picture of a dog which is something she desperately wants. She knows that she needs to first convince her daddy B who will then talk her mom into it.
"So Brett I was thinking that we'd set up your first UFC fight in about three months. Does that work for you?" Mario asks.
"Honey no shop talk tonight. We're celebrating Brett's victory and our daughter's. She out trained you." Maria says rolling her eyes at her husband.
"It's just we have to set it up soon to get a fight in before the holidays." Mario counters his wife.
"Can't we wait until his nose heals dad." Santana says squeezing Brett's hand under the table.
"Maybe we should see what Brett wants." Mario suggests looking over at Brett who hasn't said anything.
"I'll do whatever you and San think is best." Brett says not wanting to upset either of them.
"Good answer son." Susan says chuckling.
"Daddy B, you fight for Chris-mas?" Sofie asks looking up from her drawing over at Brett.
"Looks like I'm fighting around Christmas if you two can set it up." Brett says to Mario and Santana.
"We will," Santana says smiling over at her daughter.
Jana watches this whole interaction and wonders when her brother is going to propose to Santana. The fact that Sofie calls him dad makes her think it might be soon. And she's so happy for her brother. When she first met Santana and Sofie, she wasn't sure about them but now she can't imagine her brother without them.
"So what are your plans now?" Jana asks her brother.
"Train, train and train." Brett tells her.
He leans close to her to whisper so only she can hear.
"I'm going to surprise them with a vacation to Hawaii."
"Wow little brother." Jana whispers.
He leans back smiling, proud of himself.
"Mom, when are you four headed home?" he asks.
"Trying to get rid of us already." Vicky jokes.
"No, but I know you all will need to go back to work sometime soon."
"We'll be driving back tomorrow." Susan tells him. "But I still expect to hear from you every week and to visit once a month at least." she tells him.
"Yes mom,"
"Don't worry Mrs. Pierce I'll make sure he does." Santana says.
The rest of dinner is light with most of the conservation about Sofie. When they leave the Pierce women say they'll take a cab so the Lopezs can go back to the hospital. Brett looks over at Santana who looks torn.
"Do you want to go see your brother?" he asks.
"I don't have to, you need to rest and Sofie won't want to sleep for a while." she talks almost as if she's trying to convince herself.
"Go San, I'll take Sofie home." he urges her.
"But-"
"Go, he's your brother."
Santana reluctantly agrees and rushes to catch her parents before they leave.
"We get cream?" Sofie asks pouting.
"You didn't have enough to eat?" Brett says shaking his head.
He picks her up and helps her get into her car seat.
"Can we?" she asks again, holding her hands up as he buckles her in.
"Yes little one we'll go get ice cream." he gives in knowing if she pouts again he'll buy her the whole parlor.
"Mint chocolate chip with gummies." Sofie says.
"Okay,"
He gets her a cup from Baskin' Robbins before heading back to the apartment. He is fairly tired from waking up early, fighting and having to be on for the last four hours. Though he knows that Sofie isn't close to being tired so he won't be able to sleep yet. Sofie sees her daddy B yawning and frowns. She wants to play with him, but she remembers her mom telling her days ago that if daddy B is tired to let him sleep. By the time they're home and Brett has helped her out, she's made up her mind.
"Daddy B, I tired." Sofie softly says.
"Okay little one, let's get you ready for bed." Brett says breathing a sigh of relief.
"I sleep with you." Sofie says running upstairs to get changed into her princess pajamas.
Brett heads upstairs to change before Sofie comes running in. He throws on a pair of basketball shorts and oversized T.
"Brush your teeth." Brett says when Sofie appears in the door.
He follows her to insure that she does brush her teeth before he helps her up on his bed.
"Night sweetie," Brett says tucking her in on Santana's side before climbing in himself.
Much later that night Santana comes home and her heart melts when she sees her daughter sleeping with her feet in Brett's face.