Brett's alarm woke him up at 6am. He climbed out of bed and took a shower before getting dressed. He grabbed his phone and sent Santana a text.
Brett – Morning Beautiful. I hope you have a great shoot today.
He walked to the kitchen and froze, seeing Emily eating toast at the kitchen table while wearing a large t-shirt and underwear.
"Hey…" Brett said.
"Morning, Brett." She smiled, "I kinda stayed with Finn last night…"
Brett nodded, "I gathered that." He said quietly as he walked over to the fridge to see if they had any food.
"I have food in my fridge. All you guys have is beer and bread." Emily said.
Brett shook his head, "I'll just pick something up on the way to work. Thanks though."
Emily nodded, licking her lips, "Santana seems great."
Brett nodded, "She is great." He grinned, "Well I gotta get going. I'll see you later."
Emily smiled, "Yeah…have a good day."
Brett nodded a little awkwardly before walking out of the apartment. His phone dinged in his pocket and he pulled it out.
San - Morning Handsome. Thank you. I can't wait to see you tonight
Brett grinned and pressed the elevator button, slipping the phone back in his pocket.
Brett finished his interviews around noon and headed to Kitty's studio. He walked in and heard Kitty laughing in her office. He walked back there and knocked on the door.
"Come in!" Kitty said with a phone against her ear.
He walked in, grinning.
"Hey!" Kitty smiled before turning her head to talk into the phone, "Hey Baby, I gotta go. Brett is here…alright…bye." She said before hanging up.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt…" Brett said.
"No it's fine. We just haven't seen each other all day."
Brett nodded, "I understand." He muttered, missing Santana.
"So…" Kitty smirked, "You're in love."
Brett chuckled, "What makes you say that?"
Kitty rolled her eyes, "You're my brother. I know you and you are totally and completely in love with Santana Lopez."
Brett took a deep breath but didn't reply.
Kitty tilted her head, "Brett! Just say it!"
Brett scratched the back of his neck, "I told her I was falling in love and she said that she was too."
Kitty beamed, "I am so happy for you!"
Brett smiled, "Thank you. She's amazing." He sighed, "How's it going with Ashley?"
"She's great. We're having a lot of fun." Kitty smiled.
Brett nodded, "Is it turning into anything serious?"
Kitty shrugged, "I don't know. Maybe."
Brett nodded and they sat in relaxed silence. Both thinking about their girlfriends.
Brett cleared his throat, "So is this dinner thing mandatory?" he muttered,
Kitty sighed, "I know you can't stand him…neither can I but he is our father. It's one dinner, Brett."
"I know but I just have this feeling I'm going to hate it more than usual." He groaned, rubbing his jaw.
She nodded, "I know what you mean but we need to just get it over with."
"I'll go but only because I don't want you stuck there alone." He sighed.
"Okay good." Kitty smiled, "So tell me about your new apartment."
They talked for a while till her next appointment came in.
Brett headed back to his apartment to change into a suit for dinner. He pulled on a navy suit with a white dress shirt.
He walked out to the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water.
There was a knock on the door. He sighed and set the glass down before walking to the door.
"Hey Emily. Finn's at work." Brett said.
"I know I just go this mail that belongs to you, so I thought I'd drop it by." She said, "You're looking really nice. Plans?"
Brett nodded, taking the envelope form her hand, "Dinner with my sister and father."
Emily nodded, clearly checking him out, "Well I hope you have a nice time. See you later, Brett."
Brett nodded and shut the door before pulling his phone out.
Brett – Hey Baby. I'm heading to dinner. I'll see you soon.
He sighed and grabbed his nice coat before leaving.
Brett walked into the restaurant and took off his coat.
"Good evening sir." The host said.
"Hey I'm meeting John Wilde and Kitty Pierce." Brett said.
The host nodded, "Right this way."
Brett followed him to a table where Kitty was sitting with a blond man in his early 50's. He was very handsome and had the same striking blue eyes as Brett.
Brett laid his coat over the back of his chair and sat down, "Hey Kit." He said before clearing his throat, "Dad."
"What would you like to drink, sir?" the host asked.
"Whiskey, straight." Brett said, "Make it a double."
The host nodded and walked away.
Brett's phone buzzed in his pocket and he checked it.
San – I hope it goes well. Can't wait to see you.
Brett bit back a smile and looked at his sister before turning to his father.
John Wilde looked at his son, "How are you doing, Brett?"
Brett nodded, "I'm good. How about you?"
John nodded, "I've been great. Anne and I are doing well. She misses you guys."
Brett clenched his jaw but nodded.
Anne Wilde was John's wife. She was 26 years old and had gone to school with Brett and Kitty,
Kitty lightly kicked her brother's leg.
Brett cleared his throat as a waiter brought over his drink. He took a sip and sighed, "What's this about?"
Kitty groaned quietly knowing that the two men were nearing the edge of arguing.
"You know, Brett, I just want to have a nice dinner with my children. Is that okay with you?" John said with edge.
Brett took another sip and glanced at Kitty. She pleaded to him with her eyes making him sigh.
"Yeah, it's fine." Brett muttered.
John nodded and looked at his daughter, "Kitty, how have you been?"
"I've been great. Working a lot." Kitty said.
"How is the photography going? I'd love to see some of your work." John said.
Kitty nodded, "Yeah…uh I could show you some."
"Oh you don't want me to see the nudes?" John said, "It's artwork and I'm sure you do a great job."
Brett clenched his jaw. The idea of his father seeing a picture of Santana naked significantly bothered him.
Kitty could tell what was bothering her brother and nodded, "I've got some great pictures I took of this couple, Quinn and Sam." She said, grabbing her phone.
Brett took a sip of his whiskey while Kitty showed John to photographs.
"Wow, Kitty. These are great." John said, flipping through the album.
"Oh wait." Kitty said, grabbing the phone right before he flipped to a picture of Santana. In the confusion, John dropped the phone.
"Sorry." John said, reaching for it. He looked at the screen and his brow raised, "Wow this one is…
Brett felt nauseous and reached over, grabbing the phone. He looked at the screen and swallowed seeing the first photo he had ever seen of Santana at the show.
"Brett!" Johns said, "What are you…"
"It's okay, Dad." Kitty said.
Brett handed Kitty back her phone and took another sip of his drink.
The waiter walked over, "What would you all like to eat?"
John cleared his throat before ordering.
When they finished ordering, John turned to his son, glaring, "What was that about?"
"It's fine, Dad. Anyways, how is Anne?"
John continued to glare at Brett for a moment before glancing at Kitty, nodding, "She's great. I know' she'd love to get together with you guys. How about you bring your new girlfriend and Brett can bring a date to our place Saturday night?"
Kitty glanced at Brett who shook his head.
"Oh come on guys. I'd like to meet whoever you are both dating, and I know Anne would too." John said looking at both of his kids.
Brett clenched his jaw, "I'll see if she wants to."
John smiled, "Great."
After John paid for their dinner, the three of them headed out of the restaurant.
"I really enjoyed having dinner with you guys. I hope to hear from you about Saturday night." Johns said.
Kitty nodded, "I'll let you know if we can make it."
A limo pulled up next to them.
"Do wither of you need a ride home?"
"Now we're fine." Kitty said, knowing Brett really didn't want to talk.
John hugged his daughter before nodding to Brett. He slid into the back of the limo, shutting the door before the limo took off down the street.
"That's wasn't too bad…" Kitty said quietly.
Brett huffed, "Yeah…except that if we have dinner with him Saturday night, he's going to realize that I'm dating the nude model he just saw."
Kitty nodded, "And you think he'll hit on her."
Brett clenched his jaw, "Are you forgetting that I went on a date with Anne in high school and now the son of a bitch is married to her."
Kitty nodded, "I know. I remember but I don't' see Santana leaving you for our father."
Brett chuckled, "Yeah I just…ugh!" He groaned, "That man drives me up the fucking wall."
Kitty sighed, "I know."
Brett shook his head, "I'm sorry, Kit. I know tonight was important to you."
"No, Brett, it wasn't. You and Mom are what is important to me. Not him. I would like to at least be civil with him." Kitty said, shrugging, "But you and Mom are my family."
Brett nodded, "Same. I mean I don't give a shit about being civil with that asshole." He muttered.
"Brett" Kitty chuckled, "Just ask Santana about dinner Saturday night."
Brett nodded, "I will."
"Okay. I love you and I'll see you later." She said, hugging her older brother.
"Love you too." He muttered before they went their separate ways.
Brett hailed a cab and gave the driver Santana's address.
It was around 9pm when he got to the penthouse and knocked on the door.
While he waited, Brett thoughtfully rubbed his thumb along his jaw, thinking over the evening's events with his father.
Santana opened the door smiling, "Hey!"
Brett grinned, having not realized how bad he needed to see her. He stepped forward, pulling her into a deep kiss.
She hummed in surprised as he cupped her jaw to deepen the kiss. She smiled and kissed him back.
After a moment, he pulled back and pressed his forehead against hers.
She smiled but felt a little concerned, "Baby?"
Brett nodded, "I'm okay. I'm just…I missed you." He breathed.
Santana nodded, "I missed you too. Come inside."
Brett smiled and shut the door, pulling off his coat.
Santana poured him a whiskey while he hung his coat up and sat on the couch.
"What happened?" She asked as she sat next to him, handing him the glass.
Brett rubbed his chin before explaining everything about dinner.
"So are you wanting me to come Saturday night?" She asked, taking a sip of her old fashioned.
"No." He said, "I mean, yes I do but I haven't even decided if I want to go. I sort of…" He sighed.
"What?" She asked quietly, cupping his jaw.
Brett swallowed, "I wanted you to meet my mom first."
Santana smiled, "Okay. Well how about we have lunch or something with your mom before Saturday?"
Brett smirked, "You're ready to meet my mom?"
"If you're ready for me to…then yeah." Santana said, slightly nervous.
Brett smiled, "I'll call Mom tomorrow."
"Okay. What's her name?"
"Laura Pierce." Brett said.
"She still has your dad's last name?" Santana asked, surprised.
Brett shook his head, "Kit and I took her name after they divorced."
"Really? What's his name?" she asked, taking a sip of her drink.
"John Wilde." Brett replied.
Santana froze, "John Wilde…is your dad? John Wilde…the architect?"
Brett nodded, "Yeah."
Santana sighed, "I had no idea."
"Why?" Brett asked.
"He knows my father." Santana muttered.
Brett groaned, "How?"
"He designed my parent's house."
He nodded, "Of course he did. Have you met him?"
She shook her head, "No. I guess I will now though."
Brett rubbed his face, tiredly.
Santana set her glass down and straddled his lap, "Baby, look at me."
He met her brown eyes and felt a little less stressed. He rubbed his hands up and down her thighs, feeling the soft material of her gray sweatpants.
She cupped his jaw, rubbing her thumb along his cheekbone, "What are you so worried about?"
Brett sighed, "He saw a picture of you tonight."
Santana tilted her head, "What picture?"
"A picture Kitty took. She was showing him some of her work and your picture popped up."
Santana nodded, "So he's seen me…naked."
Brett nodded, "I'm sorry."
"Brett, baby, I don't mind. It's my job. People see pictures of me nude all the time." She said.
Brett nodded but didn't say anything.
"That really bothers you…" She said, pulling her hand back.
Brett shook his head, feeling it all building up inside him, "No. I've told you; I get your job. What bothers me is that son of bitch seeing it. What bothers me is him having an image of you in his head. What bothers me is…is I know my father isn't a good guy. Whether Kitty ever admits it or not, I know him, and I don't want to ever be anything like him."
Santana shook her head, "I don't know your father, but I know you, Brett. You are an amazing, caring, sweet, respectful and genuine man and I'm lucky to have you in my life."
Brett let out a breath and swallowed, "I don't if I'm those things but…but you make me want to be. I want to be a better man…for you."
Santana smiled, blushing as she leaned forward, kissing his lips. He squeezed her thighs and kissed back.
She pulled back, cupping his jaw, "I love you, Brett." She said for the first time.
Brett nodded, looking into her eyes, "I love you too, Santana." He said, kissing her lips once, "I really do."