AN: This chapter is dedicated to LeighAnnNY because you appreciated the Streets of Fire reference. My friends do not understand my obsession with that movie.
Special thank you to my friends - Rivera for correcting the google spanish translations and breakdown6 for her attention to detail and desire to make this the best story it can be.
Chapter 48
Brittany bites her lip then asks, "Can I ask you something?" Quinn nods. "What do you see in Rachel?"
Quinn opens her mouth to answer and is surprised when no words come out. She frowns and tries again, but is still unable to explain why she's interested in the brunette.
Brittany rubs her thumb across Quinn's hand. "Think about it." She rises and leaves Quinn alone in the kitchen with her thoughts. She returns to the dining room and pauses in the doorway to watch Santana feeding Kelly.
"Is that delicious my little angel?" Kelly slowly sticks her tongue out and pushes the pureed fruit out to dribble down her chin and onto her bib. "Hmm, I guess not. Let's try some oatmeal." This time, Kelly gums happily and kicks her little legs. "Much better." Santana mixes the two and tries again. Kelly gums it a little slower this time, as if contemplating the contrasting tastes in her mouth, but she doesn't spit it out. "Bueno, mi angelita."
"Mami, I want to feed her," says Ella holding out a small waffle piece over the table.
"Come sweetie." Santana pulls her daughter into her lap. "Kelly isn't old enough to eat our food yet, but I'm starving. Do you want to share with me?" Ella shoves the mushy waffle into her mouth and Santana hides her grimace wondering if that piece had been in Ella's mouth a minute ago. "Mmm, that's delicious! Okay, let's feed Kelly. Hold this spoon tight and dip it into the oatmeal." Ella shakily lowers the spoon into the small dish. "Now, very slowly feed it to Kelly... Oh! Her mouth honey, not her nose. Bueno!" Ella beams proudly and climbs off her mother's lap.
"Aunty Quinn! I feeded Kelly!"
Santana wipes Kelly's nose and takes up feeding her again. Smiling, Brittany walks up behind her and embraces her as tightly as she possibly can. Her lips graze Santana's ear as she whispers, "My heart is so filled with love for you right now that it's going to burst out of my chest."
Santana leans her cheek against her wife. "I love it when you say things like that."
"It's true." Brittany moves to the side of her wife but faces her and cups her cheek. "I'd like to talk to our parents tonight about providing childcare for a new baby. Is that okay?"
To say that Santana smiled would be an understatement. She beamed, she glowed, she radiated happiness. She's so choked up that all she can do is throw her arms around her wife and hold her, mumbling what sounds like I love you repeatedly into Brittany's neck.
Brittany ignores the oatmeal that has splattered onto her face and the back of her neck from the spoon that Santana still has clutched in her hand. She kisses every expanse of dark skin that she can reach until Santana pulls back and captures her lips in a passionate and surprisingly unchaste kiss considering they are in front of their children.
Brittany smiles into the kiss and pushes Santana back, their lips separating with a small pop. Santana's eyes are darker than Brittany has seen in a long, long time and it actually causes a shiver to run up her spine, and goosebumps to cover her body. Brittany swallows, trying to reign in her weakening resolve and finally says, "Tonight." Santana doesn't budge or blink. Her eyes are locked on her wife's and the intense desire looming there is literally making Brittany's mouth water.
An ice cold blast of water hits both girls and they jump up screaming. The twins burst into laughter. Quinn stands behind them with an empty cup in her hand, shaking her head at her best friends.
"What the hell Q?"
"Calm your t-i-t-s! We've been calling both of you for a whole minute. It was either douse you or leave the house."
"And you couldn't have thought of any other way to get our attention?"
Quinn shrugs smugly and hands her the phone. "It's your mom."
Santana takes the phone but speaks to her kids first. "Do not copy Aunty. She was a bad girl!" With one more glare to Quinn, Santana hands her the spoon. "Hola Mami... dinner?" Santana covers the mouthpiece and whispers to the girls, "Tonight was supposed to be the parents' dinner."
"I forgot!" Brittany wipes her face on the dry parts of her shirt. "We could still have a dinner party. Is that okay, Quinn?"
"Of course, it'll be fun." Quinn smiles but can't help the disappointment that bubbles within her. Tonight has been the evening she looked forward to since saying goodnight to Rachel many weeks ago. Still, she has to admit, seeing the parental Lopez-Pierce's is always something she enjoys.
Later that evening, the girls are preparing for dinner. Santana is spooning Quinn's mushroom risotto into a serving dish, Brittany is outside grilling the vegetables and Quinn is in her room getting ready.
The Lopez's arrive first. Mrs. Lopez lays her quiche lorraine on the table while Mr. Lopez goes out and insists on taking over the grilling.
"Go take a shower and get ready, cariƱo." Mr. Lopez kisses his daughter-in-law on the temple and gives her a gentle nudge toward the house. "But first, cafe por favor."
"Okay papa." Searching the kitchen, Brittany says, "Baby, dad wants espresso. Where'd we put the -"
"Above the fridge with the vases."
"Do we have espresso beans?"
"Damn we forgot to buy. Check the freezer."
Brittany kisses her cheek. "Honey, relax."
"What? I'm relaxed."
"Are you kidding? I can take your pulse just by looking at that throbbing vein on your forehead."
Santana instinctively covers the traitorous vein and pouts. "I'll have coffee, too." She calls out loudly, "Mami!"
Mrs. Lopez, smartly dressed in a blue silk top and dress pants walks in the door and frowns. "Santana, you are not five years old. No grites en la casa." (Do not yell in the house.)
"But, it's my house." Santana teases. Her mother shoots her a scowl that could instantly crown her HBIC of Lima. "Perdon," Santana apologizes and hangs her head meekly. Twenty five years old and her mother was still scolding her like a child.
"Mami quieted cafe?" asks Brittany.
"Yes but I will make it." Mrs. Lopez plugs the machine in and grinds the espresso beans. "Ya te banastes?" (Did you bathe?)
Brittany frowns and sneakily sniffs under her arm but Santana catches her. "What are you doing?" asks Santana.
"Both your parents told me to bathe. I wanted to see if I stink."
Santana laughs. "I think it's because of how you're dressed."
Brittany looks down at her outfit - a thin gray tanktop with no bra and sweat pants - stained with grease and other grilling splatters. "Is this bad? Cuz you're still wearing your boxers."
"Shit! Why didn't you say something sooner?"
Quinn walks in dressed to perfection in a beautiful yellow floral summer dress with a matching tie in her immaculately styled golden hair. "Why are you two still dressed like that?"
"Shut up! We're gonna go shower and change now. Finish setting the table."
The Pierce's arrive just then and push into the kitchen. "Daddy," Brittany rushes over and kisses her father.
"You've gotten taller since I saw you last," Mr. Pierce jokes.
"And you've gotten wider," teases his daughter with a poke to his rotund belly. "We're gonna go upstairs and shower."
Mrs. Pierce is carrying Kelly. She laughs at their clothes and shakes her head. "Go." She pushes them out the door then calls out after them, "But shower separately, we're hungry." She turns to Quinn, "You were always our favorite daughter. Always ready on time."
Mr. Pierce laughs heartily and walks out of the kitchen, calling for the twins. Mrs. Lopez laughs. "It's true and you look stunning."
Quinn grabs the risotto with one hand and side hugs Mrs. Lopez. "Te extrano." (I miss you.)
The doorbell rings and Quinn stiffens immediately and yells, "I'll get it." She rushes out the swinging door then turns around and rushes back in. "The risotto!" She thrusts the dish into Mrs. Lopez's hands, thanks her and runs out.
"What was that?" asks Mrs. Lopez.
"If I didn't know better Mari, I would say she is expecting a special someone."
Quinn returns to the kitchen downhearted. "It was Papa Pierce playing a game with the twins."
The mothers share a knowing glance. This child is definitely expecting someone.
Santana and Brittany bathe quickly and dress in minutes, both opting for comfort over glamor. Brittany in her Mighty Ducks jersey and jeans while Santana goes for a plain red v-neck and black yoga pants but adds mascara and lipstick.
"Who are you getting gussied up for?" asks Brittany.
"You, of course. Come here and I'll do your eyebrows."
Brittany giggles, secretly loving when Santana takes the time to do her makeup. She is capable of doing it herself, but it's more fun when Santana does it. As per their makeup routine, Brittany slides her hand under her wife's shirt and slowly up her back - enjoying the feel of smooth warm skin - and pulls her closer.
Brittany first started doing this when they became an official couple because she was so thrilled to finally be able to touch Santana without reservation. Over the years, it became a part of what they do when applying makeup and neither had a desire to stop it. Although right now it is proving a tad distracting. "Why are we wearing makeup?"
"B, hands. I'm still turned on from this morning and I can't concentrate."
"Sorry." Brittany smiles angelically, sits up straight and folds her hands in her lap.
"Goof." Santana kisses her once then goes back to applying her wife's eyebrows. "Why are we wearing makeup? Did you not see Q? I don't want to wear a dress in my own house, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna be a plain Jane next to her glamoured up puss." Brittany's eyes go wide with shock and Santana laughs, "It means face, Britt. Face."
"Ohhhhh," says Brittany exaggeratedly, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes.
Santana slaps her leg. "Why baby, why do you do that?"
"It's fun." Brittany responds with a giggle which explodes into hysterical laughter when Santana tickles her mercilessly.
Santana, Mr. Pierce and the twins are playing with blocks on the living room floor while Mr. Lopez watches TV with Kelly bouncing gently on his knee. Brittany, her mom, Quinn and Mrs. Lopez are standing around the kitchen and dining room chatting.
The doorbell rings and Quinn almost knocks Mrs. Lopez over in a rush to answer the door. Santana takes one look at the disheveled blonde, intercepts her with a firm grip to her wrist and whips her toward Brittany. "Baby, calm her down please. I'll get the door."
Brittany pulls Quinn into her bedroom. The smaller blonde's once perfectly styled hair is now in dire need of a brushing; a thin sheen of sweat shimmers on her face; and the sides of her dress are wrinkled from being fisted nervously. "Look at me." Brittany is surprised to feel Quinn's hands shaking. "Honey?"
"I forgot to call Puck and ask him what he thinks about us seeing other people well I didn't really forget it was more that I put off calling him and now it's too late because she's already here and what happens if I can't control myself and then I end up kissing her or worse what if she likes it and then -"
"Quinn!" Brittany takes Quinn's head in her hands and presses their foreheads together. She takes a deep breath and Quinn instinctively mimics her and does the same. Brittany continues a few more times until Quinn's breathing has evened out. "Tonight is about family and friends. If you start to feel nervous or feel yourself losing control, signal one of us and we'll come get you. Okay?"
Quinn agrees and hugs Brittany tight. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Brittany pulls her over to the vanity, pulls out the ribbon from Quinn's hair and hands her a brush. As Quinn occupies herself with redoing her hair, Brittany bends down to smooth out the sides of her dress. When they're done, she hugs Quinn from behind and rests her chin on her shoulder. "You look beautiful." Brittany pulls her towards the door then gives her a gentle nudge toward the door. "Let's go greet our guests."
Santana thanks Blaine and Rachel for the food as they set it on the dining table, looks up and sees Quinn hovering in the doorway. "Hey Q, Blaine and Berry brought salad, dessert and to-fur-key." She scrunches up her nose in mock disgust.
Quinn says something unintelligible and Santana laughs earning her a playful slap on the ass from her wife. Quinn blushes.
"I brought a couple desserts that I hope you'll enjoy." Rachel smiles genuinely. "Quinn, come into the kitchen with me?" Quinn follows her and watches as she cuts the tape on a white bakery box. She lifts the lid and holds it open for Quinn to see. "They're from Voodoo Donuts. I think they're just regular glazed donuts with crumbled bacon on top, but I'm not exactly sure. I also brought Candied Maple Bacon Ice cream to go with it."
Forgetting her nerves, Quinn claps excitedly. "Let's try a piece." She grabs a knife and cuts one of the donuts in fourths and her mouth waters instantly. "This smells so good." She hands Rachel a piece but then remembers she's a vegan. "Wait, you brought a dessert that you can't eat?"
"Yes, but it was worth it just to see how excited you are. Taste it and tell me if it's as good as it looks."
Quinn's eyes sparkle with affection for the brunette. "That was really sweet. Thank you." Without further hesitation, she pops the donut piece into her mouth and moans. "Ohhhmyyygodddd. This is good!"
Santana walks in and eyes her quizzically. "Whatcha eating, Orgasmo?"
Quinn ignores the jibe and hands her the other donut piece. Santana declines but Quinn shoves it into her mouth. "Mmmmmm! That's fricken delicious!"
"Santana! Language," scolds her mother.
Santana rolls her eyes confident that her mother can't see her. "I feel like a child tonight. She keeps scolding me in my own house."
"She's still your mother," Quinn says as she licks her fingers.
"I guess. Wait, did I taste bacon in that dessert?" Rachel nods. "You brought a non-vegan dessert?" She nods again. "Wow. Didn't see that one coming." Santana eyes the other cut pieces of the donut but Quinn subtly (or perhaps not so subtly) closes the box. Santana shakes her head and laughs. "Come on, let's go eat."
The family is gathered around the dining table making their plates. Santana whines, "Mami, you didn't make paella or enchiladas?"
"Just because I am hispanic doesn't mean I cannot bring Quiche. Besides, this is Quinn's favorite and I added extra bacon."
Santana pouts but bounces excitedly when she sees Mrs. Pierce's famous fried chicken. "I love love love you!"
"Mami, is that mine?" Ella asks, pointing to one of the plates in Santana's hand.
Santana morphs from her childlike persona back to being a mother. "Yes baby. I'm making plates for you and your brother."
"I want that," Ella exclaims, excitedly pointing to the to-fur-key and licking her lips.
"Ok honey. It looks delicious, doesn't it?" Ella nods. "Do you want broccoli or cauliflower?"
"Ummm..."
Brittany chimes in, "Green trees or white?"
Without hesitation, Ella yells, "White!"
Santana giggles. "White cauliflower trees, coming up."
Blaine chuckles to himself. Kurt was right. This is definitely not the Santana that he remembered.
"Daddy did you bring the hot sauce?" asks Brittany.
"Sure did. I never leave home without it." Mr. Pierce reaches into his pocket and hands her the bottle of Habanero Hot Sauce from Hell.
Brittany liberally douses her chicken causing those around her to wave away the potent fumes.
"Do you always carry hot sauce in your pocket, sir?" asks Blaine.
"Yes, that's the best place for it. The body heat keeps it flowing nicely."
Blaine nods enthusiastically as though he's just been handed the secret to life.
Quinn hands Rachel her plate and explains the vegan options. Rachel grabs her forearm, "You made my favorite - cucumbers with cashew cheese." Quinn nods and goes on to explain the ingredients of the other items so Rachel can eat guilt-free.
They all settle around the patio tables and dig into their meals. Brittany lifts a piece of chicken to her lips but is stopped by the tan hand gripping her forearm. "Wait." Santana leans over and gives her three quick pecks on the lips. "Okay, go ahead."
Brittany grins at her adorable wife then frowns down at her chicken and back at Santana. Her pout silently asks, "If I eat this does that mean I don't get sweet lady kisses later?"
Quinn sees Brittany's question and chokes on her water receiving a look from the blonde that says, "It's an important question."
Santana kisses her again and winks, "It'll wear off by the time we go to bed." Quinn Santana says aloud, "Eat baby."
Brittany grins and takes a huge bite - hot sauce dripping down her chin. Rachel hands her a napkin. "Thanks Rach."
Rachel whispers to Quinn, "Wow, you can understand them?"
Quinn answer nonchalantly, "Yah, I can."
"That's incredible. I've never seen anyone be able to do that outside of those two."
Quinn smiles warmly. "We've been doing it since we were eight."
"Oh, no wonder! 17 years? I didn't realize you've known them for so long. I wish I had friends I could do that with. It would be a great party trick."
Quinn looks between Santana and Brittany. Rachel is right. That kind of communication comes from years of friendship. How many times has she foolishly gotten upset that Puck couldn't read her mind? Too many to count. Quinn laughs to herself, Scratch that one off my 'perfect mate' wish list.
Mrs. Pierce asks Blaine and Rachel about the Revival of Spring Awakening. "How's the show coming along?"
Rachel and Blaine turn to each other to determine who will speak. "Ladies first," says Blaine. Rachel thanks him and jumps into her story about the phenomenal reception they've received in several cities. After a few minutes, she nods to Blaine and he takes up the rest of the story.
Well, that's new. Brittany thinks to herself. I've never seen Rachel check in that way before. I like Blaine's hair. He must've switched to mousse. Much better. This chicken is amazing, but I hope this hot sauce wears off by bedtime. I would hate to burn Santana again. She wouldn't let me go down on her for weeks after that.
Mrs. Lopez appears beside the girls and asks Santana to help her with dessert. Santana is about to object at being told what to do when it's her dinner party, but Brittany taps her thigh and almost imperceptibly shakes her head. Rising, Santana chances a glance at Brittany before following her mother into the house. Brittany's expression is full of concern and suddenly, so is Santana's.
She enters the kitchen to Mrs. Lopez starting a large pot of coffee, her back turned to Santana. "Mom, you don't have to do that. You're a guest." Mrs. Lopez remains silent and moves to the sink to fill the carafe with water. Santana sidles up to her mother and places a hand on her back. "Mami?"
Mrs. Lopez takes a deep breath and faces her daughter. "I have something to tell you and you're going to get upset with me, but please don't make a scene." Santana crosses her arms, but waits patiently for her mother to continue. "Your father's health is not good. He had a small heart attack while we were in Florida."
"What? You told me he was fine! You said we shouldn't even bother visiting him in the hospital." Santana turns to rush out to see her father but her mother grips her right arm and stops her.
"Wait. Please. We didn't want you to worry."
"You didn't want me to worry?" Santana grabs the carafe to busy herself and attends to the coffee. "You should've told me. We would've made sure tonight's food was heart healthy. We wouldn't have bought him the box of cigars I have hidden upstairs for his birthday. How bad is it?"
"He's going in for more tests next week." Mrs. Lopez sniffles and Santana turns to face her. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I've felt guilty since we arrived."
"That's why you kept scolding me and treating me like a child. You didn't want to face that I am an adult that deserves to know these things?" Mrs. Lopez nods. "So, what changed your mind?"
Mrs. Lopez looks out into that patio at Mrs. Pierce and smiles. "Did you know that in China there was a proposed law to force adult children to visit their parents?"
Santana laughs, realizing that this tidbit of information must've been how Mrs. Pierce got her mother to see the error of her ways. "No, I didn't. So, those parents felt so neglected that they thought it was better to force their children to see them than to just talk with them and tell them what they needed?"
"Yes. And, I realized that I've never felt that way about you. You've always made sure to visit us, to help around the yard and fix things that needed tending to. You've always taken care of us and it was wrong of me to keep this from you."
"Okay. What can I do to help?"
"We don't really need anything right now, but if we do I promise to call you."
"Can I go with you to the appointment next week?" Mrs. Lopez nods and hugs her daughter. Santana says, "We should cut up the desserts."
"I'll go out and take the coffee orders."
Seconds after Mrs. Lopez leaves the kitchen, Brittany walks in. "Hey, everything okay?"
Santana bites the inside of her cheek, wondering how Brittany will take the news. "My mom said my dad did have a heart attack in Florida. It isn't as benign as she led me to believe." Brittany is by her side in an instant, holding Santana's right hand in both of hers. "I'm sorry."
"Why are you sorry?"
"I don't know what's going to happen. What if he isn't able to work and I'm asked to help out physically or maybe even financially. It kind of screws up our baby plans."
Brittany pulls her wife into her arms and squeezes tight. "Honey, don't worry about that. We're not in any rush." She raises Santana's face by her chin, kisses her sweetly and mumbles into her lips trying to lighten the mood. "Fortunately for you, we shoot blanks." Santana frowns in confusion and Brittany's lips curl into a smirk. "We can fuck all we want and I won't accidentally get pregnant." Without thinking, she sucks on her wife's lower lip and slips her tongue in to deepen the kiss.
"Ahhhh!" Santana pushes Brittany off of her, frantically turns the sink on and bends down to drink greedily from the stream of water. "Shit!"
"I'm sorry! I forgot!"
Santana swishes the water around and spits it into the sink. Brittany hands her a glass of milk and she drinks, desperately trying to ease her burning mouth.
Quinn walks in, "What's going on?"
"I forgot about the hot sauce and kissed her."
Quinn rolls her eyes at Santana's dramatic reaction. "You're such a wimp, Santana. That stuff isn't even that hot."
Once again bent over at the sink and drinking from her left hand, Santana lifts her right and flips Quinn off. Blaine walks into the kitchen and laughs to himself. Now, there's the Santana I remember.
AN: Reviews make me happy. :)
