Two days later:
After Santana picked Nico, Emily and Mason up from the hospital running the idea of a family vacation by them after Nico told her that Em had another nightmare at the hospital and asked them to start planning it with her after they immediately agreed.
The following night leading up to the dinner on Friday:
''No babe!''
Santana wakes up with a start the second her wife's terror filled scream wakes her up and scrambles to sit up hitting the bedside lamp on her nightstand, she blinks against the lights suddenly blinding her biting back a soft grunt and turns her head to look at her wife.
''Oh Britt-Britt.'' She whispers sadly as she sees her trying to silence her sobs with her pillow, she immediately scoots closer pulling her in her arms and immediately nuzzles her face in her blonde locks as she feels her hand come up to grab her shirt trying to ground herself. ''Talk to me baby.'' She whispers softly.
''Same fucked dream, every fucking night.'' Brittany chokes out on a sob as she slowly tries to shake off the nightmare, she jumps as she a soft knock on the door startles her and closes her eyes forcing herself to take deep calming breaths the second she hears her wife's soft reassuring voice telling her that it's okay.
''Come in.'' Santana calls out after managing to calm her wife down enough to make her stop trembling, she looks over at the door as it slowly opens and smiles tiredly as Emily walks in looking just as tired with Mason contently cuddled into her chest.
''Hey.'' Emily whispers softly as she walks over to the bed kissing the top of her sons head. ''Someone wanted to cuddle a bit after his nightly feeding.'' She smiles as Santana sits up gently placing her son in her arms and turns to her mother still partially hidden under the blanket. ''Hey mom.'' She whispers soothingly.
''Hey sweetie.'' Brittany forces out trying to sound normal, Emily shakes her head climbing up onto the bed behind her and wraps her arms around her waist from behind.
''Don't put on an act mom.'' She tells her softly. ''We are both struggling, in these four walls we can be us.'' She just nuzzles her face against her moms toned back and sighs. ''Woke up from one too but baby boy decided it was time for his feeding so he managed to distract me right away.''
Santana watches her wife slowly relax smiling lovingly as she sees her eyes turn back to her normal blue color and scoots down laying flat on her back keeping a secure hold on Mason, she smiles lovingly as she feels her wife wrap her arm around the both of them and locks eyes with Emily. ''Forget doing it next month.'' She tells her softly. ''We will start planning on leaving this Monday, I will talk to your schools to give you a few weeks off before the holidays putting it down as an emergency.''
She looks up as she hears the door open once again after a soft knock and chuckles as her other kids also tiredly walk in, she watches them all lay down after kissing their cheeks Nico easily sliding behind his girlfriend while wrapping a protective arm around her and his mom and looks down at her wife as they immediately drift back off to sleep. ''We might need a bigger bed.'' She murmurs softly as Alex and Ryan lay right beside her and Val squeezes herself between their legs nuzzling her face in her mothers abs.
''It's scary to see them so in sync with our feelings.'' Brittany whispers softly as she feels Emily also relax against her back knowing the girl fell asleep too, she nuzzles her face against her wife's shoulder while gently running her hand over their grandsons back and swallows thickly. ''Sorry for waking you baby.''
Santana shakes her head clicking her tongue softly and turns her head to lock eyes with her. ''Don't you dare apologizing for things you can't change Brittany Susan Lopez.'' She sighs softly as she sees her just frown and tilts her head up to kiss her forehead. ''I would be more concerned if you acted like nothing happened.'' She gently grabs the hand wrapped around their grandson and moves it towards his head maneuvering it beneath him to place it on her heart. ''We are all here safe and sound mi amor.'' She tells her softly. ''We will work through this as a family, starting with a relaxing vacation next Monday so we can free our minds and reassure ourselves that everyone we love is right where we want them to be.''
She smiles as Brittany just hums softly and kisses her forehead once again leaving her lips pressed against her sticky skin, she curls her free arm around her shoulders smiling as she feels Emily and Nico tightly pressed up against their mothers back and gently runs her fingers through her blonde locks. ''Go back to sleep baby.'' She whispers soothingly.
She smiles lovingly as she feels her grip on her shirt tighten and slowly reaches for the lamp on the bedside table to turn it off after making sure everyone is tucked in, she nuzzled her nose in Brittany's blonde locks closing her eyes as she feels the warmth of their kids around them and her grandson contently cuddled into her. ''Te amo, mi familia.'' She murmurs before following her wife, kids and grandson into the land of hopefully harmless dreams.
Five hours later.
''Do you guys have your minds on a certain city for your vacation?'' Naya asks her sister as they all relax in the backyard watching Brittany and the boys fire up the grill, Santana turns to her sipping on her wine and shakes her head.
''No I am currently playing with the idea of searching for last minute cruise ideas, it would be relaxing for all of us and B wouldn't have to walk so much and strain her leg while it still heals.''
''Do it.'' Demi tells her shrugging. ''Cruises are amazing for kids and adults, little Lopez will also enjoy the soothing motions of it.'' She takes out her phone as it beeps and smirks. ''I will help you search in a minute, the Paris clan just arrived.''
Santana smiles brightly as they all suddenly jump up and follows Demi into the house, she opens her door smiling brightly as she locks eyes with her cousin and squeals. ''Maria!''
''Santanita!'' Maria breaths out with a big happy smile as she pulls her cousin in a big bone crushing hug, she kisses her temple just holding tightly while watching her husband and son hug the other girls and closes her eyes. ''So glad to hold you again San, where is your wife?''
''Outside with the boys and kids.'' Santana tells her softly as she pulls back, she hugs Diego and Mateo as they walk over to her and kisses their cheeks. ''I am so happy to have the three of you here again, it's too long ago!''
''It sure is Tia.'' Diego agrees with a frown. ''How is Tia B doing?'' He asks concern clear on his face and in his voice.
''Come on you can find out yourself.'' Santana tells him knowing the three were angry they couldn't come by sooner to see Brittany, she leads them out to the backyard and whistles smiling as her wife and kids immediately turn to look in her direction. ''Look who's here!''
''D!'' The kids all squeal sprinting over to him, Brittany laughs slowly following the boys on her crutches and grunts as Mateo reaches her first to pick her up in a bone crushing hug.
''Loosen up a bit Mat.'' She coughs out. ''Ribs are healed but still sore sometimes.''
''Sorry.'' Mateo murmurs while loosening his hold a bit, he pulls back looking at her as he notices his wife still greeting the group and cups the blonde's cheek gently kissing her cheek. ''How are you doing B?''
''A bit better everyday.'' Brittany answers honestly. ''Nightmares are still a bitch but we will work past that too.''
She grunts as two bodies suddenly tackle her sides and closes her eyes in pain while automatically wrapping her arms around Diego and Maria to hug them.
''Careful guys, she is still healing.'' Santana and Naya warn simultaneously both noticing the pain on Brittany's face.
Diego immediately loosens his hold gently taking the crutches from his aunt and hands them his dad, he kisses his aunts cheek and pulls back to look at her. ''How are you Tia B?'' He asks concerned.
''Getting better bud.'' Brittany replies with a small smile as she kisses his cheek, she tightens her hold on Maria as she feels her body tremble and sighs softly kissing the top of her head. ''I am okay Maria.'' She reassures softly.
''You scared the fuck out of the three of us Britt.'' Maria tells her sniffling. ''I am glad to see you up and walking though.''
''I scared the shit out of all of us.'' Brittany tells her smiling sadly. ''But I am well on my way to getting one hundred percent better, I am okay.'' She pulls back as she notices Nico and Emily walk back out after managing to escape the group and smiles slightly. ''But seeing me was not the reason we send D's pilot to fly out though.''
''It was not?'' Maria asks confused.
''No it wasn't or well maybe it partially was, but we also want you to meet someone.'' Emily breaths out as she walks over to them with her son in her arms, she giggles leaning back against her boyfriend as three squeals suddenly erupt the three family members that just arrived and smiles lovingly as she feels Nico's arm come up to also hold their son.
''Tia Maria, Tio Mateo, primo, we want you to meet Mason Diego Lopez.'' Nico introduces while looking at his cousin grinning as he sees his eyes widen, he slowly nods his head and chuckles. ''Yes D, he is your namesake.''
''Oh my god he is so beautiful.'' Maria breaths out tears running down her cheeks as she watches her son hold the newest member of their family, she turns to Santana and hits her arm. ''Why didn't you tell us?''
''Ow bitch!'' Santana exclaims groaning as she rubs her arm, she shoots her wife a glare as she breaths out a chuckle and turns to Maria. ''Because we planned this right after leaving the hospital three days ago, it was Britt's idea though.'' She groans as Maria hits her again and scowls. ''What was that for?!''
''I won't hit your already injured wife.'' Maria tells her with the exact same scowl planted on her face. ''So you suffer again.''
Brittany covers her mouth laughing and leans against Ryan to keep herself upright, she smiles innocently as her wife turns to her with a glare while Diego distracts Maria successfully by handing her Mason and sucks in her lips. ''Sorry love.'' She murmurs apologetic.
Santana just rolls her eyes hearing their family snicker and scoffs. ''We will discuss this later.'' she rolls her eyes as she sees her looking at her in shock and turns on her heels to walk into the kitchen shooting their family and friends a smirk.
''Well fuck.'' Brittany grumbles holding her hand out for her crutches. ''Gimme my third and fourth legs.'' She takes them from Puck as their kids giggle and excuses herself to walk after her wife into the kitchen. ''Baabe.'' She whines as she moves towards the door leading into the house not noticing their friends all covering their mouths laughing.
''Yes mi amor?'' Santana asks in amusement with her arm crossed in front of her chest while leaning against the entrance watching her wife move as fast as she can.
''You bitch.'' Brittany grumbles as she sees the amusement clear on her face hearing their friends and family burst out laughing, she shakes her head as she laughs and drops her head. ''Not nice to let the cripple waddle San.''
Santana chuckles softly quickly walking to her and wraps her strong arms around her waist allowing most of her weight to lean on her. ''Mh and it's nice to let Maria hit me for the choices you make?''
''No but I didn't ask her to hit you!'' Brittany tells her with a frown.
''And I didn't tell you to follow me.'' Santana fires back, she sucks in her lips as Brittany just raises an eyebrow and sighs. ''But yes I knew that you would follow.'' She smiles sheepishly as Brittany just hums and leans up on her tiptoes to kiss her softly. ''As much as I know you hate it, it's good to see that you can pick up speed on those things tho.'' She leans back and slaps the back of her head suddenly.
''The fuck?'' Brittany asks with a grunt. ''What was that for?!''
''Cripple?'' Santana just asks with an eyebrow raised, she rolls her eyes as Brittany just scoffs while mentioning her head down to the crutches she holds with an eyebrow raised and sighs. ''They don't make you a cripple Britt-Britt.'' She tells her in a forceful but gentle tone. ''They help you get back on your feet the right way without you trying to overdo.''
''It's fascinating to see how the both of them can go from teasing, to joking, to loving, to scolding and back to loving.'' Demi comments as she watches their best friends with an amused smirk as they watch Brittany softly agreeing to what Santana said and apologizing for calling herself a cripple.
''And here I am thinking that only pregnant woman can have mood swings.'' Sam breaths out with a soft laugh, he freezes as all woman turn to him as one glares clearly on their faces and gulps. ''What?''
''Nic I am not able to do it, can you?'' Brittany asks still glaring at Sam, Nico laughs placing his son in his girlfriends arms and walks over to his uncle.
''Sorry uncle Sam.'' He apologizes quickly before pushing against his chest and jumping back watching him topple into the pool, he walks over to his mom smiling as he hears everyone laugh and kisses her cheek. ''Always my pleasure to be your sidekick mom.'' He whispers with a smirk.
Brittany just laughs wrapping her arm around him smiling as her wife easily joins their hug and watches Sam climb out of the pool. ''I would rethink your words before speaking them guppy.'' She tells her with an amused grin. ''Every other man here has had his experience with pregnant woman, being moody and having mood swings doesn't only occur during pregnancy though.''
''B is right.'' Puck tells Sam as he throws a towel to him with a laugh. ''And judging Cedes her face, she also disagrees with you Sam.''
Emily shakes her head as she giggles and walks up to her parents and boyfriend. ''I will bring him back to his room.''
Nico immediately shakes his head gently taking his son from her and leans down to kiss her softly. ''I will bring him mi amor, please go sit down and relax a bit.''
Brittany chuckles turning to Emily after the three of them kissed Mason's head and wraps her arm around her shoulder pulling her against her side. ''Listen to your boyfriend.'' She murmurs softly. ''Sit and relax sweetie.''
''You too mom, you are standing for too long.'' Emily tells her frowning, she leads her over to the table shooting her mami a grin as she just kisses her cheek and helps her sit down sliding into the empty chair beside her.
''Did you all get a flashback too?'' Maria asks turning to her husband and son, Diego nods his head and snickers.
''Yeah sure did mami.'' He tells her as Mateo nods his head in agreement.
''What kind of flashback?'' Naya asks in confusion noticing everyone else turning to the Paris clan with their brows furrowed.
''Nic interacting with Em and Mason.'' Maria tells them with a chuckle, Diego laughs as everyone just frowns and nods his head to his aunts.
''Tia B and San were exactly the same, every time Tia B tried to tuck the kids in Tia San told her to sit down and relax and that she would do it.''
Santana glances at her wife and chuckles. ''Well yeah, I loved tucking our kids in and B was always the one up and at m in the middle of the night to allow me to sleep so I jumped up every chance I got during the day so she just could sit in relax knowing how tired she was.''
''Same goes for Em.'' Nico tells them as he walks back out holding the baby monitor, he leans over his girlfriend placing it on the table and kisses her head. ''You are always up in the middle of the night to feed our baby boy, so I gladly jump up every time if that means that you can just sit and relax for a bit mi amor.''
Mateo watches him sit down pulling Emily in his lap and glances at the group with a soft sigh. ''How are you all really doing?''
''Getting better day by day Mat.'' Naya tells him with a sad smile, Puck nods his head in agreement and reaches out to pat his best friends shoulder.
''Watching B making progress day by day and knowing she is getting better, makes the sad thoughts fade.''
Brittany stands up as she sees her kids and wife smile sadly and sits down in Santana's lap after kissing her kids heads, she wraps her arms around Santana's shoulder feeling her arms come up to wrap around her waist and turns to the Paris clan. ''You know us, we just need a bit to get our lives back on track.''
Mario nods her head locking eyes with her and smiles sadly as she sees the tiredness clear in her bright blue orbs. ''And you will do that with a vacation?'' She asks having heard of the planned trip.
Santana hums and tilts her chin up to kiss Brittany's temple. ''Yeah we will take a family trip, just the eight of us, Em and B are both haunted by nightmares so we all hope a trip away from LA will ease all of our minds.''
''We came over everyday for a few hours to just sit around and talk.'' Heather continues. ''Being near my sister, feeling, hearing and seeing that she is doing better made all of our worries ease.''
Brittany runs a hand through her hair and glances around the group while reaching out to grab Emily's hand knowing the subject bothers the both of them. ''Alright guys, topic change.'' She tells them. ''Em and I are fine.'' She pauses locking eyes with everyone and smiles reasuringly. ''We will be fine.'' She corrects softly.
Santana slips her hand under the shirt her wife wears running her fingertips up her spine and hums softly. ''We are a fighter family, no matter what shit lands in our path we will fight it as a family.''
''That we will Hermana.'' Naya agrees with a loving grin, Heather nods her head in agreement slowly standing up and walks over to her sister leaning down to kiss her head.
''We really are.'' She agrees softly, she smiles as her sister looks up to lock eyes with her and gently covers the tattoo on her side. ''A family's love replaces all your darkness with with their brightest lights.''
Brittany grabs her hand as she sees the tears in her eyes and pulls her close, she leans up still seated in her wife's lap and kisses her forehead. ''Forever and Always sis.'' She whispers softly, she looks around and bites her lip. ''Now that everyone I love is here and knowing our grandson is napping inside.'' She turns to Demi and smiles slightly. ''Can you grab my guitar please?''
She ignores everyone turning to her in confusion as Demi just jumps up to grab it and shoots them a small sad smile. ''I am not allowed to work yet and I am definitely cutting back much more as I already did, but my head still has a mind of it's own and the lyrics keep flowing so I wrote something and before I publish it I want you all to hear it.'' She nods her head to Ryan and smiles slightly. ''Ry and I recorded it in the basement just a few days ago, so it's ready to be send to the studio I just wanted to wait till you all heard it and found out the guest appearance.''
''Here B.'' Demi murmurs holding out the guitar, Nico stands up holding out his hands for his mother and helps her up, he leads her over to the chair Ryan placed down beside the table and stands behind her placing both of his hands on her shoulders.
''Ready?'' Brittany whispers softly while glancing up at him, she smiles as he just hums and glances down at the guitar in her hand slowly running her thumb over the strings while placing her fingers on the chords she needs.
Love ain't supposed to be a walk in the park
If it was we'd all have
It's more like a blindfold reach in the dark
And you're lucky if you can grab it
Now your hands in mine
I'm gonna keep you close
No matter what curves or roads gonna throw
We won't let go
'Cause we both know
Santana's jaw drops the second she hears her wife's voice filled with emotions and leans back against her kids as they all stand behind her while also looking at their mom, Nico locks eyes with his girlfriend nodding his head as his mom's voice fills the backyard and licks his lips glancing down at her as he feels her tilt her head up smiling as they lock eyes.
We're gonna be the strong ones
Still standing when the hell comes
Still running when the well runs dry
Still believing when the sun don't shine
Ain't afraid of a hard day's night
Won't quit when it don't go right
Let the world bring your dance on
Girl, we're gonna be the tough ones
Yeah, the tough ones
''Holy shit.'' Emily gasps softly as her boyfriends voice blend in beautifully with his moms, Santana just watches them with tears in their eyes and sniffles as she hears the same emotion in their sons voice knowing both boys found their forever too.
Brittany watches her sons walk over to their respective partner knowing Alex recorded his part at the studio so Ryan wouldn't find out and locks eyes with her wife as their boys serenade their partners.
Ain't gonna say there won't be some days
That'll give us all we can take
But we won't back down
Or make it through somehow
If we lean on love and faith
We're never gonna break
She places her guitar down holding out her hands for Santana so she will walk over and locks eyes with her as she slowly does tears streaming down her cheeks, she slowly stands up taking a hold of Santana's hands with one of her own and lifts the other cupping her cheek to wipe away her tears.
We're gonna be the strong ones
Still standing when the hell comes
Still running when the well runs dry
Still believing when the sun don't shine
Ain't afraid of a hard day's night
Won't quit when it don't go right
Let the world bring your dance on
Girl, we're gonna be the tough ones
Yeah, the tough ones
''Fuck Britt-Britt.'' Santana gasps out through a sob as she drops her head on her shoulder, Brittany just pulls her close lifting her injured leg so she doesn't put too much weight on it and kisses the top of her head.
''I love you Santana Lopez.'' She murmurs softly. ''Life never went easy on us but the rocky path it led us through has brought us where we are now, five perfect kids who will be successful in their lives, a grandson fast asleep just a few feet away and a love that will never end.'' She continues as she leans their foreheads together not noticing Liv recording everything for future usage. ''No matter how much hurt we had to live through, it brought us back stronger as ever, it brought us right where we wanted to be and nothing will ever change that. I know the past few months took a toll on all of us, but you tried to stay strong for me and for our kids.''
She pulls back cupping both of her cheeks in her hands and runs her thumbs over her cheeks catching the tears streaming down. ''But even the biggest rock can crack under all the pressure added on it baby, our vacation is not only for me and Em to set our minds back to all the happiness surrounding us it is also for you, for you to let loose, to be yourself and to also work past the horrors you had to go through day in and day out for the past two months.''
''We all appreciate what you did and still do for us, but you forgot yourself along the way Santana. We all noticed that, so starting today I am begging you to take a time out.'' She holds out her hand taking the tickets Nico holds out for her and holds them up for her wife to see. ''I want you to grab the girls and go out, get pampered and enjoy the day with them.''
She puts her finger up to her mouth knowing she is about to protest and tilts her head up so they lock eyes. ''I am begging you babe, please just take these and go with the girls. I will be fine here with the boys, they will all stay and as soon as you all come back we will have a nice dinner and relax more.''
Santana swallows thickly and sniffles. ''But..''
Brittany shakes her head and leans down to kiss her effectively cutting her off. ''No buts, go out, get pampered, get a massage I begging you for that one because I know your back is killing you and as soon as you come back you will see that I am doing just fine.'' She glances at the boys and smiles slightly. ''Believe me, Ry, Lex and Nic won't allow me to stand up or do anything so I will probably just chill on the couch and game with them and cuddle with Mason as soon as he wakes up.''
''We will make sure mom will be fine mami.'' Alex reassures as he walks over to them with his siblings, boyfriend and Emily, he stops right beside his mom and locks eyes with his mami. ''But mom is right, you forgot to take care of yourself the past two months because your focus was on all of us so please, please take those tickets and treat yourself to some relaxing.''
Santana licks her lips gazing into her wife's pleading blue orbs and sighs softly turning on her heels to look at all women surrounding them while wrapping her arms around Val and Emily's shoulders. ''You heard them, move your asses.''
Brittany sighs softly in relief glancing at their boys and nods her head as they just shoot her a grin, she taps her daughters back and winks as she turns to look at her. ''Baby girl, will you go up and grab the bag I packed for your mami? I know you and Em already brought yours down to the car.''
Santana turns back around as they all stand up and wraps her arms back around her wife's shoulders feeling the boys leave their sides, she tilts her head up and kisses her softly. ''I love you Britt-Britt.''
''I love you too San, proudly so.''
