CHAPTER 41
A/N: Thanks to Itsskik, Flmagic, Olivia, malorafan2k15, Mariu4, Lina Jacob2, Pat merrick, JerzyMare and the Guest for their reviews as well as those who gave me feedback on social media. Special thanks to pjay413 and butterflybarbie, they know why. I know it took me some time to update but I couldn't do faster… At least, it's a loooong chapter with many things happening, including a sex scene ;-p I alternate POVs between Santana and Brittany, but also other people so… watch out for that!
Here is what you missed (on Glee)
Santana had a fight with Naya after lying to her about the next season of Glee and what it meant for the cast. Meanwhile, Santana got invited by Julia to the Netflix dinner, an opportunity to hopefully meet Patricia Miller, the lady who decides what shows are picked up by the streaming platform.
AT PARAMOUNT – SANTANA POV
After my secret meeting with Terry Fisher, I'm on my way back to set when I spot Brittany talking to Naya and I find myself stopping in my tracks. I haven't really talked to Rivera since our fight except for pure business talk, to discuss a scene or the script…
I'm pretty far away from them but Britt's sixth sense must have kicked in because she suddenly looks in my direction and waves at me. I wave back at her awkwardly and exchange a brief and uncomfortable look with Naya before looking away… God, I really hate this situation! Naya used to be the one person I could go to, to discuss anything at any time, because she's just so easy to talk to! But now… I wouldn't even know what to say to her…
So instead of joining them, I just stand there and wait in my spot until Brittany walks up to me, pushing our sons' stroller.
"Hi!" My blonde says with her usual warm smile, cupping my cheek to give me a kiss.
"Hi yourself!" I reply, leaning down to kiss my baby boys. "That's a very nice surprise! What are you guys doing here?"
"Well… I was in the mood of going out of the house today! So I thought that the boys and I could come by for lunch before we go baby clothes shopping this afternoon…" She replies. "Can we go into your office…?"
"Of course!"
A LITTLE WHILE LATER – IN SANTANA'S OFFICE
"How did it go with Fisher this morning?" Brittany asks me while I'm holding my handsome Diego on my lap, kissing his little hands.
"Well… I learned that Lee submitted his proposal to the Board yesterday… and apparently, he asked to hold the vote already next week…" I say, shaking my head.
"This is a disaster, Britt… It's moving even faster than I thought it would and… I really need more time! So… I ended up making a whole desperate speech to Fisher! I told him that replacing the characters would be a huge mistake because the current ones are very popular. And I argued that they are popular because they are based on real people and portrayed by an amazing cast! Then I reminded him of the study I presented at the season launch party… I said that if ratings went up at the beginning of this season, it was thanks to the changes I made, like… more Brittana romantic scenes… but that ambitious musical numbers were also among the top requests! So I said that's what I was planning to show in the last episodes of this season - with or without Lee's blessing - and that surely, ratings would go back up… even though I have no idea if they will…"
"And then… I begged…" I shrug. "I told him that the show meant the world to me… that Lee's plan had nothing to do with my vision… And that after three years of devotion, I should at least have the opportunity to present a counterproposal before the Board vote. And fortunately, he agreed… So he will postpone the vote by one week but he can't delay it longer than that…" I sigh. "I'm not sure it's enough but it's better than nothing I guess…"
"I know it's a tricky situation…" Brittany says. "But you did good, honey… At least, you bought some time! And who knows, maybe you'll have a solution soon since the Netflix dinner is already tomorrow…"
"I don't know…" I sigh. "It won't be easy you know… First, I have to find a way to corner Patricia Miller… And then I have to convince her to even consider buying the show! And even if I manage to do all that, God knows how long she will take to make a decision…"
"Well… If there is someone who goes after what she wants, it's you, San! I'm sure you'll find a way to talk to her…"
"We'll see…" I sigh again.
ON THE NEXT DAY – AT PARAMOUNT – NAYA POV
I'm on my way to Quinn's office when I randomly spot her in the hall. "Quinn!" I shout, to get her attention.
"Oh… Naya!" She smiles. "Good, you got my text!"
"Yes… I left my trailer as soon as I got it! It sounded urgent…?"
"Yeah, it is… I had to make last minute changes to some of the scenes we are shooting today… and I thought that…" She trails off when we hear some loud voices from afar and I immediately notice the sudden change of look on her face.
"Come on…" She whispers, pulling me by the hand. Before I even have the time to understand what's going on, she hurries me into her office.
"Sshh…" She says, pressing her finger against her lips as she stands right beside her slightly open door, obviously eavesdropping. I remain silent, not even daring to move, but I notice that the voices are getting closer and closer.
"I don't know what game you think you are playing, Santana…" I overhear. Is that Lee?
"But trust me, I will find out what you're up to!" He adds.
"There is no game, Lee." Santana calmly replies. "I examined your proposal but I'm not convinced that this is the best way to go about season 4 so… I simply asked Terry if I could submit a counterproposal, that's it! You will get to go through it and give your opinion, just like everyone else. Who knows, maybe you'll even like it! And I will respect the Board's decision, whatever happens."
"Do you think I was born yesterday, Ms Lopez-Pierce?" He replies. "You have always been a rebel, trying to get your way! And after the stunt you pulled at the season launch party, I sure as hell do not trust you! I warned you… I warned you not to cross me again! And I promise you that if you dare to, I will make sure you become a pariah in the TV industry! No one will hire you ever again!" Lee threatens, ending their conversation right there and then.
I look at Quinn who seems to have forgotten all about me but I can hear the gears clicking in her brain… What the hell is going on? It seems like Santana is in big trouble… And what are they planning for season 4 exactly? But my thoughts are distracted when footsteps seem to get closer and Quinn suddenly rushes back to her chair.
"Quinn!" I hear as Santana suddenly appears at the door. "We need to…" She says before stopping mid-sentence when she sees me.
"Oh, I'm sorry… I didn't know you were busy…" She adds, her eyes shifting from Quinn to me for a brief moment. "Can you come to my office when you're done, Q? I really need to speak with you…"
"Sure, San… I'll be right there." Quinn replies and Santana immediately walks away without another word.
"I'm sorry, Naya…" Quinn says. "Here is the new version of the script, I underlined the parts that have changed." She adds, handing me a new copy. "I wanted to go through them with you but I'm afraid I have to deal with something more urgent… So can you have a look by yourself and call me if you have any questions …?"
"Sure… I will…" I smile. "See you later…" I add, getting out of her office, still puzzled by what I just witnessed.
A FEW MINUTES LATER – IN SANTANA'S OFFICE – SANTANA POV
"So… Lee found out you were working on a counterproposal, huh?" Quinn asks.
"Yeah…" I sigh. "It's not surprising tough, the Board is actually required to let him know if there are any counterproposals… But boy did he get pissed!"
"I heard… But you, on the contrary, were so calm! I was impressed!"
"I had to… I wanted him to believe that this was just harmless and not a threat so I tried to act like Brittany would in such situations… But apparently, I'm not as good as her because he didn't buy it…" I reply. "So… Quinn, Lee can't know that you're part of this. Whatever happens, we need to give him the impression that this is all me and that I'm the only loose cannon around here! So if he comes to you, you need to act all surprised and play it like I never even told you that I would make a counterproposal, OK? He has to believe that just like at the season launch party, you are the precious innocent child that has been kept in the dark all along. Make him even believe that you feel betrayed by your business partner that didn't have the courtesy to share her 'evil plans' with you. And I'll tell the same to Artie… Because if Lee fires me out of anger, I still need you guys here, to make sure he doesn't ruin the last episodes of this season…"
LATER THAT DAY – AT HOME – BRITTANY POV
"So at what time is the wife stealer getting here?" I ironically shout from the bedroom while Santana is getting ready in the bathroom.
"Julia will be here at 7:30 PM." Santana shouts back. "And she didn't steal me…"
"Though not for a lack of trying…" I mumble through my teeth while reading my dance magazine on the bed.
"So… how do I look?" Santana says as she enters our bedroom.
As I take in her appearance, my jaw drops in amazement and I can't stop staring at her. In my eyes, she's always been the most beautiful girl ever since we met but… she's definitely not a high school girl anymore… She's so… woman-like now and that just makes me want her even more…
"You're… breathtaking…" I manage to whisper, unable to look away. "And I'm sure that our friend Julia will admire the view…" I add, looking at her exposed cleavage and I can't help but clench my jaws at the thought.
"Well… let her look… She's never getting her hands on this anyway." She says, wrapping her arms around my neck. "And don't worry, I'll make sure you get an even better view when I come back home…" She adds with a smirk and pulls me into a kiss.
The more we kiss the less I want to let go of her but she eventually pulls away.
"Save some for tonight, will you?" She chuckles but I can only pout in response.
"What's wrong, honey?" She asks, caressing my cheek. "I already told you, you don't have to worry about Julia. Nothing is going to happen!"
"I know that… But it still bugs me, you know? Why does she get my pretty girl by her side?" I complain. "And everyone there will think you two are together…"
"Considering that we're not going to act like a couple, I don't think they will think that… But even if they do, I will happily correct them and let them know that my lady is at home, with our kids…" She says, kissing my lips again.
A WHILE LATER – AT HOME
I'm reading a bedtime story to Sofia when the doorbell suddenly rings. I look at the clock, it's only 7:20 PM. I can't help but smirk because Julia is early and Santana is not going to like that.
"Shit!" I hear her say from afar. "Britt! Can you get that? The twins took forever to fall asleep and I still need to retouch my makeup before I leave."
I don't feel like seeing Julia but I also know that she will be very uncomfortable if I'm the one opening the door and I would definitely enjoy making her panic for a minute…
"Yeah, OK… I'll get it!"
"You stay here, peanut." I tell my little girl. "I will come back in a few minutes to finish the story, OK?" I say before hurrying to open the door.
"Oh… Hi Brittany…" Julia says, obviously surprised and immediately looking very uneasy.
"Julia." I say in a cold tone, staring her down.
I'm trying my best to look unimpressed but I must admit that she looks great… God, why am I even letting my wife go out with one of the 'world's sexiest women'…?
"Um… Is Santana ready to go?" She eventually asks after a minute of uncomfortable silence.
"Yeah… She'll come down in a minute…" I say, reluctantly inviting her to come in.
"Who are you…?" I suddenly hear a little voice ask behind me, much to my despair. I really didn't want Sofia to meet Julia but I should have known that my daughter's curiosity would get the best of her…
"Hey there!" Julia says with a smile. "I'm Julia! And you must be Sofia?" She asks and my little girl nods in confirmation.
"You're pretty!" Sofia comments, looking at her in amazement. "You look like a princess!"
Great… Even my own offspring is siding with the enemy…
"Aaw, thank you so much!" Julia replies. "You're very pretty too!" She adds, making Sofia giggle.
Sure, go on and compliment my kid as if nothing happened! After all, it's not like you tried to sleep with her mama and wreck her home! Oh wait…
"What are you doing up, young lady?" I eventually ask Sofia. "You're supposed to be in bed…"
But before she can answer me, I see her running to her mama.
"I thought you were in bed, mija…" Santana says, lifting her in her arms.
"I wanted to tell you bye again…" Sofia replies, wrapping her arms around Santana's neck.
"Right…" Santana sighs, rubbing Sofia's back. "Hi Julia…" She says. "Sorry for making you wait… But things don't always go as planned when you have three kids in the house…"
"Oh please, don't worry… I fully understand!" Julia replies before pausing for a moment. "You look… stunning!" She adds, obviously in awe.
Is she seriously flirting with my wife right in front of me?!
"Um… thanks." Santana replies in an uncomfortable voice, exchanging a look with me. Our eyes meet for a brief moment but it's enough to have one of our telepathic conversations and I can hear her loud and clear: I still need her help to get in tonight, Britt... So please be nice…
I know how important that dinner is for Santana so even though it takes everything I have, I remain silent.
"Mija, it's time for mama to go now…" Santana says to our little girl, giving her a kiss before placing her in my arms. "Be good to mommy, OK?"
"Bye, honey…" She adds, placing a longish peck on my lips. "I'll see you later…"
"Bye… Have a good night…" I say, reluctantly watching her follow Julia outside.
I stay on the doorstep, holding Sofia in my arms, as they get in the car and eventually drive away.
LATER THAT NIGHT – AT THE NETFLIX HEADQUARTERS – SANTANA POV
"Here you go…" Julia says, handing me a glass of champagne as we stand around a cocktail table. "Cheers!"
"Cheers!" I reply, clinking my glass against hers before taking a sip. "So… why did we get here so early?" I ask, looking around. The room is… huge and very well decorated but there are only very few people.
"Because… as weird as it may sound, Patricia Miller likes to arrive early." She replies. "I think it's because she wants to settle before getting buttonholed by dozens of people… And she actually notices those who come early to her events so… I figured that it would give you an edge…"
"That's very thoughtful of you and I don't mean to sound ungrateful but… why are you even helping me?" I ask. "I haven't been exactly nice to you after… well, you know…" I say, remembering how I completely stopped talking to her after she tried to get me in bed.
"Because… I like you, Santana." She shrugs and I suddenly find myself speechless.
I guess I should not be surprised after everything that happened but I didn't expect her to say it out loud…
"Julia… I…" I finally mumble. "My situation has not changed… I'm still married and I still love Brittany so… nothing will happen between us." I clarify.
"I know, I know… I didn't mean that…" She says. "Although I'm not going to lie: I still find you very attractive… But I meant that you've got guts and I like that! I really admire how hard you fight for your show and your storylines… That's why I want to help you! And you don't have to worry… I'm not going to try anything. You were very clear when you… turned me down." She shrugs. "And I don't want problems with Brittany either. It's obvious that she already doesn't like me very much…" She adds. "I don't blame her though…"
"Anyway…" She adds. "I know how bad you need to talk to Patricia Miller but… I bet that every single guest will too! It won't be easy, even if we are at her table. You might only have a couple of minutes to talk to her… if you're lucky! That's why our first objective is to run into her as soon as she arrives, so that I can at least introduce you to her. And then… it will be up to you to make an unforgettable impression…"
"Ok…" I nod. "What can you tell me about her by the way? I tried to look her up but I couldn't find much except that she's a talented business woman… which I already knew!"
"Well, let's see… She's in her 50s, she knows everybody – and by that, I mean everybody – and… she's a bit of an atypical character! She's nice, quite funny too… but very direct! And she likes direct people as well so the more honest you are with her, the better!" She says. "What else can I tell you… Oh! She hates to be stuck in long conversations so whatever you say to her tonight, make sure you go straight to the point! Do not embellish the truth, do not get lost in details…"
A WHILE LATER – AT THE NETFLIX DINNER
Just like Julia predicted, Patricia Miller arrived early but we haven't been able to approach her yet because she basically can't make a step without running into someone she knows! Even if there are still very few people here!
"God… what if we never manage to speak to her?" I ask, getting worried.
"We will!" Julia replies in a confident tone. "I'm right within her sight… She'll stop by to say hi, I know it!"
And she's right because barely two minutes later, I see Patricia waving at Julia and finally walking towards us.
"Julia, how lovely to see you!" Patricia says, hugging her. "I see that you have yet another beautiful woman at your arm…" She adds with a smirk, looking at me. "Who do we have here?"
"Patricia, this is Santana Lopez-Pierce…" Julia says. "We worked together when I was on Glee, she's the showrunner."
"Oh… Santana, of course! I have a teenage daughter that is obsessed with your show!" She comments, holding out her hand to me. "It's nice to meet you."
"It's very nice to meet you too…" I say with my biggest smile, shaking her hand firmly. But as soon as I want to add something about Glee, I see her waving at someone else behind me. "Bill, darling!" She says before whispering a polite "excuse me" and it's with total despair that I watch her walk away.
"Don't worry…" Julia says with a comforting smile. "At least now she knows who you are! You have the whole night to catch her and talk about your project…"
A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER – AT THE TABLE
The dessert is now being served and I'm reaching a whole new level of despair… and frustration! Patricia has been buttonholed all night long! Every time I feel like there is an opening and I can finally initiate a discussion with her, someone else requests her attention! Julia also tried a few times but she didn't succeed either…
As I'm watching Patricia discuss with yet another person, Brittany's words suddenly come back to my mind. "Don't take no for an answer…" She advised earlier, before I left our house. And just like that, I'm reminded that I'm here on a mission! It's already a miracle I could attend this dinner at all, I can't just sit here and waste this opportunity! Failing is not even an option because Quinn and I have not heard back from any of the other streaming services and time is running out…
So when Patricia excuses herself to go to the restroom, I decide to follow her. I know it will make me look like a stalker but this is probably my only chance to corner her…
A FEW MINUTES LATER – IN THE LADIES' ROOM
I'm impatiently waiting by the sinks, pretending to retouch my makeup. I really wish Britt was here because I'm very nervous all of a sudden and she's the one thing that can keep me calm…
The door finally opens and I discretely look at Patricia's reflection in the mirror as she comes closer and eventually stands right beside me.
Deep breaths, Santana…
"Excuse me… Ms Miller?" I say as she's washing her hands. "I um… I know this is not a conventional place to have a business discussion but… I really need to speak to you…"
I don't want to give her a chance to turn me down so I immediately continue speaking, looking into her eyes in a determined way. "If I could, I would wait for a more appropriate time… and place… but I simply don't have this luxury. I have to speak to you today, I just… I can't go home unless we talk."
She silently stares back at me for what feels like forever but I can tell that I sparked her curiosity. "Fine…" she eventually says, throwing the paper towel in the bin. "You have three minutes, Ms Lopez-Pierce. Because… no offense but if I stay longer than that in a public bathroom with a lesbian, people are going to get the wrong idea." She adds. "So… what did you want to speak to me about?"
"I want to move Glee to a streaming platform so… I would like you to pick up the show and buy the rights from Fox Television." I say, going straight to the point, like Julia advised.
"I see… And why do you want to move it to a streaming platform?" She asks, crossing her arms.
"Because I'm sick of being told what to do with my show." I reply in a decided tone. "If Glee stays on TV, the network will continue to censor my scenes and interfere with my storylines. They even plan to change everything in the next season and I've worked too hard on this show to let this happen, Ms Miller. I just don't want to work with Lee Paulblatt anymore, he's an ass." I add in spite of me. "And since I'm a mother of three, the rigid TV shooting schedule doesn't work for me anymore. I need more flexibility so that I can be there for my children."
I hope that's direct enough for her because I just spoke with no filter whatsoever…
"Lee is an ass, isn't he?" She eventually says with a disgusted pout, much to my surprise.
"Look, Ms Lopez-Pierce… I fully understand why you want to do this… It's actually a smart move." She shrugs. "And I would do exactly the same in your position but… I'm a business woman and I have my own interests to protect. So… tell me, why should I pick up your show? What's in it for me?"
"Well… Glee has been very successful for the past three years, despite the ridiculous restrictions that the network imposed. If I can move it to a streaming platform, I will finally get the chance to bring the show to the next level and I'm confident it would increase its success even further." I reply in a steady voice. "I also want to maintain the current cast so I would bring popular actors to the platform, including Naya Rivera, who has millions of fans. And… if you pick up my show, I'm guessing that you would win sympathy points with your daughter…"
"Only a mother would think of such argument to make her case." She comments with a smirk. "You mentioned your own children earlier… How old are they?"
"My daughter is turning 4 this summer and I have twin boys that are five months old."
"Wow…" She chuckles. "I only have one kid… She is 16 and yet… she's a handful! So I can only imagine how busy you must be at home with such young children…"
"But since you're a mom and want more time for your kids, I need to be very clear, Santana… If I were to pick up your show – and I'm not saying I will – you would indeed have full freedom regarding the storylines and the shooting schedule… I would not meddle with that. But deadlines are hard deadlines and I would never grant you any extension, under any circumstances. If I order 10, 15 or 20 episodes by a certain date, I want them all by that date. You would need to manage your time correctly to make it happen. If you do nothing for 3 months and then have to work 24/7 to catch up, it would be your problem and your problem only. I would not care if you don't have time to sleep, if it ruins your marriage or if you miss your child's recital. Do you understand?"
"I understand." I reply without a flinch.
"And things can change extremely fast in the streaming world. When ratings go down, I cancel shows faster than you can imagine. Even if the season is not finished…"
"I know." I nod.
"Good…" She says. "Then I have one last question: why was it so important for you to speak to me today?"
"Because the Fox Board will vote on the next season's storyline in just a few days. And if they go with Lee's proposal, it will no longer have anything to do with what I created. I will lose both my show and my cast…"
And maybe even my friendship with Naya…
"I see…" She says before falling silent.
"Tell you what…" She finally adds. "Because I love the idea of pissing off that arrogant jerk of Lee Paulblatt and because this might indeed make me a hero in the eyes of my daughter, I will have a look at your proposal. But this is not a commitment because as I told you, I only pick up shows if it's in my own interest." She says. "Here is my card… send your proposal to my email address and I will get back to you." She adds, leaving me stunned.
Oh my god… Patricia Miller is really going to review our proposal…? I can't wait to tell Quinn! Even if we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves because this might not lead to anything… But at least, I have fulfilled my mission for today!
"Thank you so much for your time, Ms Miller… I really appreciate it!" I just have the time to say before she steps out of the ladies' room.
LATER THAT NIGHT – AT HOME – BRITTANY POV
I'm lying on our bed, reading a book, when I hear the front door close. Barely a couple of minutes later, Santana enters our bedroom, with a big smile on her face.
"You look happy…" I comment as she sits on the edge of the bed and kisses my lips hard in response.
"I managed to discuss with Patricia Miller, Britt!" She says in an excited voice, as if she couldn't believe it. "And I convinced her to look into our proposal!" She adds, making me open my mouth in amazement.
"You did it! I knew it!" I reply enthusiastically, hugging her. "I'm so proud of you, San…"
"Thanks! Of course, it doesn't mean that she will pick up the show but… at least, there is hope!" She says while removing her earrings and other jewelry. "Could you unzip my dress, honey?" She asks, turning around.
"Well… If Netflix doesn't pick up Glee, someone else will! The show is too popular." I shrug, unzipping her dress.
"Let's hope you're right, because that's the only solution I have…" She says before walking into the bathroom, leaving the door open so that we can talk.
"And did Ms Peterson behave?" I ask, doing a poor job at masking my jealousy.
"Yes, Britt… she behaved." She replies from the bathroom. "I caught her leering a few times but… she acted like a gentlewoman. Even when we danced, she maintained a respectable distance."
"You danced together?!" I repeat, upset.
So taking my lady out to dinner was not even enough for Julia? She had to make it even more intimate by dancing with her, basically challenging me on my own battlefield? My rage is building up fast…
"Well… she asked me and I couldn't really say no…" Santana shrugs. "She has been really good to me today, Britt… She didn't only invite me to the event, she also introduced me to Patricia Miller and she even gave me valuable advice on how to approach her! I owed her at least one dance… And besides… I promised you that you would get the best view… didn't I?" She says, her voice suddenly sounding a lot closer, making me turn my head. My jaw immediately drops when I see her standing fully naked in our bedroom, looking at me with those sex eyes and a playful smirk…
My eyes slowly travel along her perfect body and I feel like it's a million degrees right now… She was right: there is definitely no better view than my hot Latina wife in all her glory…
I swallow hard as I watch her moving closer until she straddles me, wrapping her arms around my neck to pull me into a kiss. My hands rest on her hips for a minute and slowly slide down her soft, bare thighs while her tongue caresses mine in an increasingly heated kiss. God… Santana really knows how to kiss me exactly the way I like it… It's so good that I can't even stop myself from humming against her lips…
It's getting hotter between us and before I know it, my hands land on her ass to pull her even closer. We keep making out for a while but she eventually breaks the kiss, leaving me craving for more.
"Let's get rid of these useless layers…" She whispers between heavy breaths, pulling my shirt above my head. I watch her get off my lap to remove my shorts but before she can climb back on me, I turn us over to lie on top of her, settling between her thighs.
Julia might have danced – and probably flirted – with Santana but I'm more than ready to reclaim my wife now.
SANTANA POV
I have barely the time to feel Brittany's warm naked body on top of mine that she gently grabs my wrists and pins them above my head with one hand… Unable to move, I'm left with her intense blue eyes and that hot territorial look in them… My breathing accelerates in anticipation until her lips finally crash on mine. Tender at first, the kiss quickly turns passionate, her tongue sensually swirling with mine while her free hand slowly runs through my hair. Her fingertips gently graze my cheek and the side of my neck, instantly leaving a burning feeling on my skin.
She eventually tears her mouth away from mine, slowly trailing wet kisses down my neck and my chest before briefly resting her lips in the valley of my breasts. I watch her eagerly take my right nipple in her mouth as her free palm caresses and kneads my left boob, her lusty eyes never leaving mine… She's so damn hot that my body is completely on fire right now and I find myself panting at her touch, soft moans ultimately escaping my lips… Her mouth alternates between my nipples, slowly swirling her tongue around them.
"God… Britt…" I whisper in between moans.
She eventually leaves my breasts and licks up my neck before lying back on top of my body. Our eyes lock for a moment while my chest raises up and down uncontrollably. As her tongue invades my mouth once more, she finally releases my wrists and I immediately wrap my arms around her naked body to hold her close. My hands run along her neck and back but I'm craving so much for her that I desperately buck up my hips, pushing my center into hers. She immediately smiles at my impatience, before whispering a teasing "not yet" into my ear.
God… that woman will be the death of me…
Taking mercy on me, she kisses down my stomach and gently spreads my legs further apart. I watch her place wet kisses on my inner thighs, slowly trailing up until she gets closer and closer to where I need her the most… After a last kiss right above my clit, she finally puts me out of my misery and licks up my slit, sending a shock of electricity throughout my body. I tenderly caress her blond locks as the tip of her tongue slowly rolls around my clit, her blue eyes still set on mine… She strokes it patiently as if she was savoring it and I can feel her hot breath hitting my skin… Her left hand slowly slides up my stomach and reaches for my boob while she sucks my throbbing clit into her mouth, twirling her tongue around it. She's so fucking good at this…
"Oh god… Brittany…" I moan loudly when she progressively quickens her pace, tightening my grip on her hair. But my breathing becomes even more erratic when I feel her fingers slowly dipping into me. I can't stop watching her devouring my clit while her fingers pump in and out of me, plunging deeper every time and hitting all the right spots…
The feeling of Brittany inside me drives me so crazy that it doesn't take long for my body to surrender to her completely… Before I know it, my eyes roll back and an intense current of pleasure flows through me.
A GOOD WHILE LATER – IN BED
"Well… that was some… pretty intense scissoring…" I say with a smirk, holding Brittany in my arms as we're both trying to catch our breath.
"I know…" She chuckles. "We're really hot together!"
"Definitely the hottest!" I confirm with a proud smile, before pressing my lips on hers.
"So you're not bored of having sex with me yet, right?" She asks.
"What?" I frown in surprise. "Who in their right mind would be bored of having sex with you?" I ask. "I could relive this exact same night a thousand times and I would still not be bored, Britt!"
"Good…" She laughs, holding me tighter.
"You know… now that I think of it…" She eventually adds. "… Statistically, we must have had sex together over a thousand times, after all those years together…"
"Oh wow… I had never thought of that… It's pretty impressive!" I say. "And yet… I still can't get enough of you…"
"Well… that's a relief because I can't get enough of you either…" She replies, placing a kiss on the crook of my neck.
We remain quiet for a few minutes and I'm even about to fall asleep when Brittany suddenly breaks the silence. "I was thinking of going for a run tomorrow morning…. You know, to start getting back in shape! But will you even be there to watch the kids? I don't remember at what time your parents are landing tomorrow…"
"Yeah, I can watch the kids…" I say in a sleepy voice. "My dad asked me to pick them up at the airport around 1:00 PM."
"Great, so it works! They will stay with us the whole weekend, right?"
"No, they won't actually…" I say. "The whole reason why they come here is because my dad has that conference in L.A. on Monday… And apparently, they got him a very nice room in a fancy hotel, so… they just decided to fly early to spend some time with us but they will head to their hotel on Sunday morning already."
ON THE NEXT DAY (SATURDAY MORNING) – BRITTANY POV
After a nice morning run, I come back home and find Santana and Sofia in the middle of the living room, standing face to face, each with their arms crossed… They seem to be in a silent staring contest, obviously defying each other and if the atmosphere was not so tense, I would laugh because they look so much alike right now.
"I'm mad at you!" Sofia says to Santana in a firm voice, pouting.
"Oh yeah? Well… get in line, kid…" She replies, as if she couldn't care less but I know that she does. "It doesn't change the fact that you're the child and I'm the parent so whatever I say goes."
Sofia immediately frowns, clearly not happy. "Then I won't give you ANY kisses until I get my dog!" She threatens her mama before walking out of the room.
"Well…" Santana says, turning to me. "She has been hanging out with you too much."
"Me?" I frown, confused by her comment.
"Yes, you! Withholding affection until I cave in is totally your thing, Britt."
"I don't withhold affection!" I object. "I just… occasionally withhold sex…"
"Potato, potahto…"
"I only do that when you're at the peak of your stubbornness, because it's the only thing that will make you at least consider other options, San…"
"Yeah? Well, this time, sex or no sex, I'm putting my foot down, Brittany." She replies. "I knew that the day my daughter would refuse to give me kisses would eventually come, but I thought I still had a few more years before getting there. But whatever! Just like I told her, I'm telling you too: there's no way we're getting a dog right now, OK? I already have enough on my plate with Glee and all the mess around it! I can't deal with a dog on top of that!" She says in an angry tone.
I'm about to react but she doesn't let me.
"I know what you're going to say, Britt! Yes, I'm aware that I promised her a dog – even though she completely tricked me! But I didn't promise we would get one right away! Maybe this summer… But she will have to wait at least until then! And for once, I would like you to back me up instead of siding with her all the time." She complains before leaving the room in a dramatic way, just like our daughter did a few minutes ago.
And then it strikes me: as if one stubborn Lopez was not enough, now I get two…
And there might even be a third one today, when her dad gets here…
LATER - AT HOME – EVENING TIME
San's parents arrived a few hours ago and even though we had a lovely afternoon with them and the kids, I should have known that this would not last... In the middle of dinner, the conversation between Santana and her dad took a bad turn, pretty much like every time they see each other. They are now arguing in Spanish while Maribel and I silently exchange desperate looks.
"No! You know what?" Santana says, agitated. "I'm not going to let you speak Spanish when Brittany is here! So whatever you have to say, say it in English so she can hear what you're telling me."
"Fine." He replies. "You should be more cautious when it comes to your career, Santana. You keep taking unnecessary risks! When you decided to get into producing, I told you that it was a bad idea. And I was right because it didn't go the way you wanted, did it?" He asks. "You were this close to lose a huge amount of money! And now not only you haven't learned your lesson since you still plan to produce more episodes but you want to move Glee to a streaming platform?" He adds, raising his arms. "Those platforms change their catalogue all the time, mija! There was this show that I really liked and it got cancelled after only 10 episodes… 10 episodes!" He repeats. "What will you do if they do the same to you? You should stick with TV, it is more reliable and your job will be safer!"
"Like you know anything about the TV business!" Santana replies with a sarcastic chuckle.
"And you think you know?" He asks. "This is your first TV show! Three short years is not a lot of experience… You have to be smarter than this, mija! You have a family now, you can't risk losing your income!"
"I'm so sick of you constantly treating me like I'm 12 years old!" She replies with a lot of anger in her voice. "In case you forgot, I'm all grown up, dad! I'm married, I'm a mom for God's sake! And look around, does it seem like we have money problems? Unless I'm missing something, my kids are well-fed and healthy, they have clean clothes on… We're not homeless so you don't need to call social services on me! I know how to take care of my family!"
"And I also know what I'm doing professionally!" She adds. "I created this show when I was a nobody… and I made my way to the top! I actually make more money than you ever did so I don't need a lecture from you, OK?"
"Money comes and goes, Santana! You have to think of your children before making such radical move."
"I am thinking of my children!" She replies, getting more and more agitated. "If I keep working for TV, I will finish so late in the evening that I won't have time for them! I refuse to be the kind of parent that quickly kisses her kids goodbye before rushing to work and comes back home when they are already in bed. And I'm not going to force Brittany to take care of them all by herself, like you did with mom when I was little!" She says in an accusing tone before exiting the room.
But when I see the look on her dad's face, I know that Santana's words really hurt him.
"Excuse me…" He eventually says after the initial shock. "I need some air." He adds, walking in direction of the garden, leaving me alone with Maribel.
Their fight seemed so particularly intense this time that I remain speechless and frozen on my chair.
"Remember when you and Santana got engaged and I said that patience was a 'must have' when you're married to a Lopez?" Maribel suddenly says in a jaded tone, breaking the silence.
Yeah, that was definitely relevant advice…
A WHILE LATER – IN GABRIEL'S BEDROOM – SANTANA POV
After the fight with my dad, I went straight to Gabriel's room because this is where I usually hide when I'm pissed. Fortunately, holding my sleepy boy in my arms eventually calms me down, like always… While my eyes are set on his angelic face, the peaceful silence in the room suddenly makes my thoughts louder. As I think back to the past few weeks, it's pretty obvious that things have not been easy for me… I still haven't got any promising reply from any of the streaming companies, Lee is on to me and I'm sure that it's just a matter of time before Fisher hates me as well. And if that was not enough, Naya is mad at me for lying to her, Sofia is mad at me because of the dog… God knows that I really didn't need my dad's criticism on top of it all…
Some discrete knocking on the open door pulls me out of my thoughts and I watch my dad enter the room without noise.
"How did you know I was here?" I ask, trying to keep my voice down not to wake up my son.
"Brittany and I had a little chat… and she said that you would probably be in here… Can we talk, mija?"
"It depends… Do you have even more criticism for me?"
"No… I came to say I'm sorry, Santana…" He replies, much to my surprise. My dad is apologizing to me? What?! I'm about to ask him if he's feeling alright but then I remember what he said when he entered the room: he had 'a little chat with Brittany'.
Of course… She did this. Only Brittany could convince my stubborn dad to apologize…
"I didn't mean to criticize your life, mija… It's just that…" He sighs. "Earlier, you said you were not 12 anymore… And somehow, it's hard to believe." He shrugs. "It feels like it was just yesterday that I was teaching you how to ride a bike… And then, I blinked and… you were a senior in high school, dating Brittany. And you know… high school romances usually don't last, so I naively thought that you would have a few girlfriends before finding the one but you got into a very serious relationship right away… And I barely had the time to blink again that you were married and pregnant with your first child…" He says. "You grew up so fast and accomplished so many things in just a few years that I sometimes feel like you have already had 10 different lives: besides building a family of your own, you went on tour, you recorded an album, you created your own TV show, suddenly earning a fortune… I have a hard time keeping up and sometimes I worry that you might be moving too fast! I just want you to think things through…"
The funny thing is that I can completely relate to his little speech. Even though Sofia is not even 4 yet, I can't believe how fast she's growing up. She can already write her name, dance like a mini goddess, play the piano and… she even has a boyfriend for fuck's sake! I also feel like I'm going to blink and she will be an ungrateful teenager, rolling her eyes while I speak…
"I do think things through, dad…" I eventually reply in a more empathetic tone. "I understand that you worry but you don't have to… I know what I'm doing and even though things seem to move fast, I do not make rushed decisions… I have discussed this with Brittany first, Quinn and I have researched our options extensively and I know how to use my connections… And believe me, I will never put my kids' well-being in jeopardy…" I say, looking at my baby boy. "In case I really lose my show, I will just find something else to do." I shrug. "And we will be fine, dad… Britt is going back to work in September and either way, we have enough savings to live off them for a while… We don't throw money down the drain…"
He looks at me silently and eventually nods, softly caressing Gabriel's hair.
"And I'm sorry too, dad… for what I said. It was not fair to you… I know that you did not have a choice back then." I admit. "But I am lucky enough to have a choice… and just like you said, kids grow up so fast… I just don't want to miss out on anything."
ON THE NEXT AFTERNOON (SUNDAY) – AT HOME
When I come back home, I find Brittany speaking on the phone while holding Diego. "Hi…" She mouths and places our baby in my arms before continuing her conversation.
"Hi mijo…" I whisper, giving him a kiss, as he grabs the collar of my shirt with his little hand. "Did you have fun with mommy?"
It's not that I expected an answer from him but I have barely asked the question that he tugs my shirt, looking at my boobs. His eagerness is actually not so surprising, considering that Brittany has started weaning the twins and will stop breastfeeding soon.
"Um… I know the package looks similar but those are just for show, pal… Mommy is the one with the milk… But don't worry, she's going to feed you now…" I say, hearing that Brittany is wrapping up her phone call.
"What was that all about?" I ask her after she hung up. "By the way, this little one is apparently very hungry…" I add as she takes Diego back in her arms.
"I bet… I was just about to feed him when I got a phone call from Mike…" She sighs, settling on the couch to breastfeed our son. "Apparently Allison's dad really doesn't like Kate's teaching style so he asked to meet Mike and me tomorrow… I don't know why he's making such a big deal, Kate is good!"
"Well… She might be good but she's far from being you…" I reply. "Even I noticed that at the dance recital, Britt… You can't blame the man for wanting the very best for his daughter!"
"I guess…" She sighs. "So you dropped off your parents at their hotel?"
"Yep!" I confirm. "Oh by the way… Melissa called me when I was driving back home and guess what? She found pretty cheap flights to L.A!" I add, excited.
"Oh really? Um… When would she get here then…?"
"If it all goes well, she would fly on Thursday and could stay in L.A. for a week!"
"Thursday?" Britt repeats. "But honey… Quinn's bachelorette party is on the next day…"
"I know… But we can take Mel with us! I don't think that Quinn will mind." I shrug. "I'm going to call her later to ask."
"Right…" She says. "So… I guess Melissa would stay here with us the whole week…?"
"Well… yeah!" I confirm. "It would be silly to make her pay for a hotel room when we have a guestroom here… You don't mind, do you?" I ask.
"No, no… of course, not…"
"Great! I'm going to call Quinn then… and I will confirm the dates with Mel." I reply.
"I can't wait!" I add with a smile, pressing my lips on hers.
LATER THAT NIGHT – AT HOME
I'm sitting on the couch, going over my counterproposal as I will have to present it to the Board next week. While I'm making the latest adjustments, Brittany enters the room with Gabriel in her arms, followed by Sofia.
"Hi guys!" I say with a smile.
Sofia is already in her PJs, obviously ready to go to bed. I watch her climb on the couch and get closer to me. "Good night, mama!" She says, giving me three kisses in a row.
"So… you give me kisses again…?" I ask her, surprised. Is she done being mad at me?
"Yeah…" She replies timidly. "One for tonight and two for the ones you missed…"
'Missed'… Yeah, that's one way to put it… although the truth is that she refused to give me a kiss last night and this morning.
"Thank you, baby…" I say, giving her a few kisses back. "Why don't you go play in your room for a few minutes and I'll come read you a story, what do you say?" I offer and she nods in approval.
"Well done…" I say to Brittany once Sofia has left the room. I don't know what she told her but I'm sure she's behind this.
"I don't know what you're talking about…" She shrugs.
"Sure…" I comment sarcastically.
It always amazes me how easily Brittany solves my issues… she's like a miracle worker!
"Could you hold this for a minute?" She asks, handing Gabriel out to me.
"This?" I laugh, happily placing my boy on my lap.
"Yeah…" She says, sitting on the edge of the coffee table, right in front of me. "I… um… I have something to tell you, San…" She adds, suddenly looking very serious. "And I know you won't like it… so I need you to hold Gabriel because he will keep you calm."
"Are you seriously using our son to tell me bad news?" I ask, frowning in outrage. But somehow, I'm not surprised because she knows I don't yell when the kids are around.
"Yes, I am." Britt immediately confirms without shame while I shake my head. I really do not like where this is going.
"Well, Brittany… what is it?"
"Ok… um… So…" She sighs. "When you were in Lima… I met up with James…"
"What?!" I react in an angry tone, already not liking the fact that he was anywhere near her, but even more upset that Britt tells me this only now.
"Remember that Gabriel is here, San…" She reminds me.
"You're not playing fair, Britt!" I complain, yet keeping my voice down. "And why did you even see that man?"
"Because you were so miserable, honey… And you were not even talking to me about it! I had to do something!" She replies. "And I figured that if I was to meet him alone, he was more likely to tell me the truth and give me more information. So… we went to that pub, the one you always go to with Naya… And even though he lied to me about pretty much everything that day… at least, he shared his parents' full names with me and that's what I needed. Since James doesn't even have a Facebook profile, I decided to track down his parents instead. I checked the profiles of all their contacts that had the same last names… It took me a while but then I finally found what I was looking for… There was a certain Erin Pearson whose face looked familiar. And then, I remembered… I had never talked to her before but I spotted her a few times at the fertility clinic."
"So I also met up with her…" She adds. "And she admitted she was the one who leaked my medical file to James. We actually had a very interesting conversation… and she said that James was indeed our original donor but…" She says and I immediately cut her off.
"Oh my god… he is the twins' father?" I ask in a desperate tone, feeling an endless pit in my stomach.
"No, honey… he's not." She says, placing her hand on my knee. "He was only our donor for the first three attempts but since the procedure kept failing, he was ruled 'incompatible' with me and the clinic switched to another donor. I guess our guardian angels were looking after us…"
"Another donor…?" I repeat, completely confused. "But…? Who? I... I didn't even know that they had switched to another donor! Did you?" I ask.
"No…" She shakes her head. "Erin was supposed to inform us but James asked her not to. Anyway, I got a copy of the new donor's profile… This is Diego and Gabriel's biological father…" She says, pulling a document from her back pocket. "Doctor Wilson made sure to pick another Hispanic donor… This one is a music teacher though… And he also works as a volunteer for a kids' non-profit organization… He seems like a good guy." She says with a smile.
"So… it's not James…?" I ask in a cracked voice after looking at the document.
"It's not James…" She confirms, squeezing my hand.
"But… can we even trust that Erin?" I ask, suddenly worried. "What if this is all part of their evil plan and they are still playing us?"
"I'm one step ahead of you…" She says. "Honestly, when I met Erin, I was pretty sure that she was telling me the truth but I didn't want to take any chances so… here." She adds, handing me an envelope addressed to her, coming from a "Luke Bennett".
"Who is Luke Bennett?" I ask.
"He's a friend of Artie's… We met him once at Artie's birthday party a couple of years ago, do you remember?"
"The forensic guy?" I ask, suddenly understanding what this means. "You asked for a DNA test?"
"Yes…" She confirms.
"But how…? Did James agree to the test?"
"I didn't ask James." She replies. "I didn't want him to know about the test because God knows what kind of strings he could have pulled to mess with the results. So… that's why I asked him to meet me in a pub. And when he stepped out to take a phone call, I used a napkin to take his empty glass of beer, wrapped it into plastic and put it into my bag…" She says while I look at her in disbelief. "I warned the pub owner about it so that I wouldn't get into trouble but apparently, being Naya's friend means you can get away with everything over there…" She smiles.
Following her explanations, I take a moment to look at the envelope in my hands and eventually open it.
"Probability of paternity… 0%…" I read out, raising hopeful eyes towards her.
"James didn't get me pregnant, San… He is not related to our sons…" She confirms, sitting next to me to carefully hug me and Gabriel.
I hug her back and before I know it, tears of relief are rolling down my face and I end up sobbing uncontrollably in her arms. I feel like this enormous weight has been lifted off my chest…
"I told James that I would ask for a restraining order and report him if he ever approached us again…" She whispers into my ear, still hugging me. "And Ben promised me that he will not let him into his pub ever again… You don't have to worry about this anymore, honey…"
I'm too emotional to speak right now so instead… I capture her mouth in a desperate kiss before tenderly pressing my lips on my baby boy's cheek. And despite my tears, I eventually smile… Those beautiful angelic sons of mine have no evil in them…
"Hold him, please…" I say, placing Gabriel on her lap as I wipe my tears away and get up from the couch.
"Where are you going?" She asks.
"To get Diego…" I say in an emotional voice.
A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER – BRITTANY POV
As I stand on the doorstep, I exhale deeply and eventually ring the bell. Almost immediately, I hear a few footsteps on the other side of the door before it opens.
"Brittany…" Naya says in a surprised tone.
"Hi Naya…" I smile. "I'm sorry to drop by unannounced but… could I talk to you for a minute?"
A/N: So… I'm going to write a longer note than usual and I really hope you'll read it. As you noticed, it took me a long time to post this chapter, for several reasons. First, I was stuck! That's the challenge of writing a story without having a long term plan in mind… Second, I have been too tired to write because as I mentioned, I went back to the office and I now have to commute 3hrs per day, aside my full-time job. Finally, I will also admit that I have been a bit demotivated lately between the lack of reviews and some disrespectful/abusive people I had to face recently as an author.
I was indeed bullied by someone claiming to be a fan of Naya who essentially told me that I "should get a job and a life", and mocked me for "wasting my time on writing fanfictions that no one cares about", even though that person admitted not having read my story. Occasionally, I get messages asking me to completely change what I wrote many chapters ago or even drop this story to write a "better one". This fanfic and myself have also been ghosted by some people for obscure reasons that I apparently don't deserve to hear but that don't seem to be even related to my writing!
So let me clarify a few things in reaction to all that: I will not disclose my age but I'm basically from the same generation as Naya so that gives you an idea. And just like Santana told her dad in this chapter, I'm also "all grown up" and I have been for a while! So yes, I do have a life and a full-time job. And it's probably due to my age that I chose to set the story when Santana and Brittany are adults and parents.
I have a background in journalism so as you can imagine, I love to write, it's a hobby of mine! I'm not ashamed of writing fanfictions because it's creative writing like any other, and it was a challenge I wanted to take on because I had never published anything else than press material. Like many of you, I was devastated when Naya passed away and I decided to carry on her legacy at my own level, by keeping Santana alive (as well as Naya) in my story, and by promoting arts - just like she did - because arts have always been an important part of my life.
Now, on the lack of reviews… as you can see yourselves, not many people review the chapters. This silence unfortunately keeps me in the dark – not knowing if the story is read and appreciated – and leaves more room for personal attacks against me. To give you an idea, the reviews account for only 2% of the number of views I get. And unfortunately, the number of views is not a useful indication to an author because it just means that people clicked on the link! It doesn't mean that they read the story and it doesn't tell you what they think about it.
While readers probably spend 30 minutes reading one of my chapter, I take days and days and days to write it because I'm not writing in my native language and I'm doing my best to avoid mistakes as much as possible. So after all that hard work, it's only natural to be disappointed if only a very few people react. I would therefore be extremely grateful if you could leave a comment, it takes just a minute and you don't even need to create an account to do so. Otherwise, I will remain trapped in the silence, not knowing if anyone out there is reading this besides the few loyal readers. Do not think that I'm forgetting about those who have commented so far because they are everything to me! And I sincerely want to thank them for taking the time to give me feedback!
But between the silence and the bullying, I have decided to take a little break from this fanfic because believe it or not, I have been doing this since May 2021 so it's been an entire year! And even though I'm baffled by these mean people's immature behavior and don't want to give them importance, it's also negative energy that I don't need so I believe I deserve a break :) Do not panic though, I will not take a three months long break or something like that and I will not abandon this story because I really hate unfinished business… And the story is far from being over anyway!
Now I have a few questions for you so please let me know what you think because this helps me so much when I write the following chapters!
- What did you think of the sex scene, since it's by far the hardest thing to write?
- Did you like Patricia Miller's character, do you think she will help Santana?
- Are you happy Britt finally told Santana that James was not their donor?
- What do you think about Melissa coming over soon?
Thanks in advance for your feedback and until next time… Take care of yourselves!