My Love (Wale feat. Major Lazer, Wizkid, Dua Lipa)

OCTOBER

Santana's POV

After Marco died, as shitty as it may sound, I felt like I was reborn.

It was like I had been operating as his ex-wife, ex-whore, and baby Mama all wrapped into one, and now that he was gone, I could focus on being Brittany's wife, my monsters' mom, and a soon-to-be Abuela.

Essentially, in Marco's death, I was finding new life.

Going to London and seeing Mercy for the first time since South Africa was a wholly enlightening experience for both of us.

She was killing it as an international pop & RnB star. American fans loved her; they didn't know that she was officially settling in England while keeping her house in L.A. She liked it that way.

She and Azimio seemed enamored with the English countryside and their kids' freedom to run about without fear of someone being overtly racist.

"I can't believe you're going to be the first of us to be a grandparent."

"Well, you know how the Cheerios are; we like to lead the pack. Q was the first to have a kid, and then I dropped two in a year."

"Fast behinds." She said as we casually listened to the tracks we'd just cut in the three days I'd been there.

"I know."

"How are things with you and Quinn?"

Of course, Mercy knew about that; since she'd saved Quinn's ass in high school, they chatted once every few weeks like siblings.

It was always cute until she looked at me with a spark of knowledge I didn't quite have.

"You know something too?"

"I know a little about a lot of things."

"Don't be vague."

"All I know is that you two aren't attached at the hip like you used to be, and from what I can tell, she's sad about it."

"Well, she's a fucking martyr who probably has herself convinced that I did the shunning, but I have been around to support her. Maybe I haven't been stealing kisses in hallways, but I have tried to stay close to her."

"I know."

"You do?"

"It's what Q does; she gets herself all knotted up and backed into a corner, then will die rather than ask for help."

"I hate that she's like that."

"Well, you aren't very different; Britt keeps you from becoming like Q."

"Yeah, my kids do too."

"I'm happy that you and Britt seem to finally be settling into being an old married couple, but in the best of ways."

"Me too." I bit my lip, and she raised her eyebrow.

"What was that face? Is there trouble again?"

"She's been keeping something from me, and we argued about it before I left."

"You left things like that knowing tomorrow isn't promised? Have you learned nothing?"

"If you know so much, what do you suggest I do?"

"You could start with acknowledging her birthday for once…it's in a few days, after all."

"Shit…it is!"

"When was the last time you gave her a real birthday, Santana?"

"I don't know."

"Well, if you want her to be open to you, then soften her up, and you can do that by making sure that she feels special."

"Are you kicking me out?"

"No, I'm redirecting you so you can keep being amazing. You write good music when you're settled and happy, so get on a plane and be a good wife."

At first, I thought of planning something elaborate and getting the kids involved, but I wasn't sure how Britt would be when I got home.

I hadn't even said goodbye to her at the airport; instead, I had kissed Daniela and smiled at Britt. Since I'd been in London, we'd talked twice but only because Gia had handed her the phone.

She was hiding something from me and asking me to trust that she was doing it for a reason, but we'd been through way too much bullshit for me to take that kind of thing lightly.

But losing Quinn's friendship was doing a number on me, and the last thing I wanted to do was ostracize the one person who had my back without exception.

So, instead of creating some elaborate plan, I packed my suitcase and got on the first plane to New York.

By the time I landed, it was well after midnight, meaning it was already Britt's birthday.

The ride through the city in the middle of the night was magical now compared to when I used to traverse the city for jobs back when I was 18.

I felt grateful for God's grace as I walked into our TriBeCa building and didn't need to flash a badge.

And when I walked into our pristinely silent and clean penthouse, I was filled with an appreciation for my wife for taking care of things when I wasn't around.

I left my bags by the door and crept into our bedroom.

She was a lump under the covers, snoring lightly, and I was grateful she was a heavy sleeper.

I took a quick shower and moisturized my body before slipping underneath the covers.

Her body was warm as I pressed my bare skin against it.

Like magic, her arm found its way around me and her face nestled against my boobs.

Then she went stiff.

"Happy Birthday, Britt Britt." I said softly against her face before kissing her lips.

She grinned and then finally opened her eyes.

"You're here."

"I am."

"I missed you."

"I missed you too."

"Are you still mad at me?"

"I trust you, B. I don't like that you're keeping things from me, but I trust that you have a good reason."

She was on top of me then, kissing my lips and nibbling on my neck like she hadn't seen me in ages.

"I want to tell you." She finally said as she pulled back, hovering over me in the sparsely lit room.

I cupped her chin, "Then tell me."

"Celia is drinking again." I felt the air leave my lungs; that was not what I expected. "And she's hurting Quinn a lot. Q asked me to help her leave Celia, but like not just helping her move to the city but also out of the country."

"Shit."

"She didn't want Celia to blame you for this."

"I get that."

"She has a whole plan of us hosting Thanksgiving at the new house, and when Celia is preoccupied, leaving."

"Did you promise her that you wouldn't tell me?"

"Yes."

"And you told me anyway?"

"She's my friend, but you're my wife, Santana; my loyalty is to you first."

I wanted to be mad about her keeping this from me, but all I could think of was all the times she had lied to me or done something shitty for her own gain.

This was different.

Mercy was right, we'd grown into something amazing, and I didn't want bitter shit to get in the way.

"Well, I think you were right to want to keep me out of this because it is hard to be stuck between Ceily and Quinn, so how about you keep me in the loop but don't tell Quinn that I know."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"You're the best."

"I know."

"I want to have a sexy time with you, but would you mind if we just cuddled?"

"Anything for the birthday girl." I said, then I shifted my hips, so she fell down next to me. "Today is your day, so we can do whatever you want."

"Anything?"

"Yes…I owe you a million birthdays; it was like even after all those years since my rape, October 31st belonged to Marco…and now, well, now it's only yours."

I could see how my words had hurt her, but I was past wanting to spare her feelings; I wanted her to know my intentions.

"Let it be OUR day, Ana banana. It can be a family day full of only fun stuff."

"Okay, so what do you want to do?"

"Be tourists. The kids haven't ever had the tourist experience here. We should take them to the Statue of Liberty and Times Square."

"That sounds like fun, B. Do you think you could call around and score us some tickets for Hamilton?"

"Yup, I know a few people in the Company."

"Perfect! Anything else?"

"Yes, a helicopter ride over the city and trick-or-treating before we have dinner somewhere fancy."

"That sounds like an awesome plan, Britt Britt."

She hugged me tight and then released me just enough for me to have some freedom of movement without her pulling away completely.

"I have one more idea that I think would make this day even better."

"What's that?" I asked as I stared into her sparkling eyes.

"Letting Quinn be our third for the day."

I felt numb.

"I don't know, B."

"She thinks that you won't choose her, Ana. I told her you would, but she doesn't believe it."

"I get that, but are you sure that you want today to be that day? I want to celebrate you."

"Just you being here is more than enough."

"It's your birthday, Britt, so if you want Quinn to be our third for the day, then your wish is my command."

"Awesome, I'll call her when it's morning; for now, I just want to hold you."

"Say less." I said, not wanting to burst her bubble by telling her that most of the things she wanted to do were extremely mobile, and it was hard for Quinn to fully get around.

It was Britt's birthday, and I would move heaven and Earth if I needed to, just to see her smile.

Quinn's POV

I was an idiot in agony.

Halloween was on a Saturday this year, and Celia had insisted that I come home a day earlier so we could have a fun-packed weekend for the kids' sake.

She was sober from the look on her face.

Her face got puffy when she drank for days, but she looked clean as a whistle and unswollen.

So, I went only to discover that my kids weren't home.

The moment I stepped into the house, she grabbed me by the hair and threw me to the ground, sending my cane in the opposite direction.

"Ceily, baby, please don't! Whatever I did, I'll fix."

"You took your passport from the safe." She growled.

"What?"

"When do you leave, Lucy?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." I said and then bawled up because I could sense her next move.

She kicked me, and I could feel her boot connect with my hip a little too hard. "Mentirosa!"

"Where are the kids?" I cried. "Quincy?! Simone?"

"With Sandra."

"Oh, God."

I was convinced that she was going to kill me.

And then her phone rang.

"Yeah?" She said as I sobbed into the carpet.

Her look was stern as she put her phone on speaker.

"Ceily, we are headed back; apparently, Quincy forgot part of his costume."

"I'll bring it to him, Sandra."

"Too late; I'm already pulling up your street. I just wanted to make sure that you hadn't left."

"Okay, see you in a bit." She said before ending the call. "Get up."

I tried to roll to my back, but the pain was shooting through my body.

"I can't." I sobbed.

"Get the fuck up, Lucy!"

"I…I can't."

She bent over, gripped my arms, and pulled me until I was on my feet.

But my back wasn't sustaining me as I stumbled against her.

It was the closest we'd been in a while, and I'd missed her.

How sick was I?

She smelled like liquor; if I could smell it, Sandra would.

Celia leaned me against the wall and grabbed my cane.

I was practically panting as I struggled to breathe.

"Where did you park?"

"Garage."

"Good, I'm going to help you to your car; once she leaves, I want you to get the fuck out of here and NEVER come back."

"I need my things, Celia."

"Fuck your things. I'll kill you if I have to look at your lying face again."

"Ceily, please don't be like this." I begged as she helped me to my car.

Once I was inside it, she gripped my chin through the window and stared straight into my eyes. "I know you're planning something. I followed you; just know this, if you plan to go be with that puta who lives in my sister's bed, you can kiss our kids goodbye."

"Ceily?" I heard Sandra call, and my wife let go of me, glaring until she was back in the house with the door closed.

I didn't wait for Sandra to leave.

Instead, I opened the garage door and pulled alongside her car.

Quincy was sitting there staring straight at me.

I put my window down, and he put down his.

"You're hurt." He said.

"I know."

"Can I come with you?"

I knew our time was short. "Come on, but you have to hurry."

Quincy got out of Sandra's car just as the front door opened.

Celia stood in the doorway with her nostrils flaring as Quincy climbed into my backseat, but she was powerless to argue when Sandra was at her side.

She muttered something to her sister, and Sandra waved at me with her goofy grin.

Anyone else would have put an end to shit right then and told the truth to the only sister who was probably strong enough to put Celia in her place. Instead, I stared over at Simone, asleep in her car seat, as my heart ached.

I'd miss her, and I was sure that Celia would draw biological mother lines in the sand; it would hurt, but honestly, it wasn't the first time I'd lose a child, but I was hoping to God that it was my last.

"Mama?" Quincy came into my room on the morning of Halloween with a plate of waffles. "Izzy came over to invite us to celebrate Titi B's birthday. There are lots of plans. He brought you waffles. I said you were still asleep."

"Thank you, my sweet boy."

"Titi San is there too. We should go with them today. You need something happy."

"I can't move, Quincy…everything hurts."

"Want me to get Titi B and Titi San?"

I didn't want to ruin Britt's birthday, but I knew something was broken, and I needed medical attention.

"Get Titi B, but only her."

Quincy put the plate on the bed and then left me laying there, reevaluating my life choices.

I closed my eyes and began to drift off when I heard the click of stilettos which meant that San had ignored Quincy asking for only B, and she'd come instead.

"Holy shit, Q…did my sister do this?"

I had my eyes closed as the tears soaked the bed. I couldn't look at San when she saw me like that.

"It's what Mami always does when she drinks the stinky stuff." Quincy said, and I sobbed harder.

"Little Q, I will take care of your Mama. I need you to go to my place and have breakfast with the other kids."

"But Mama needs me."

"Don't worry, I'll come to get you for your help in a little bit; she just needs some adult help right now."

"You won't hurt her right, Titi San."

"No way, Jose. She's safe with me."

I didn't hear Quincy move and knew he was waiting for me to say it was okay to go.

"Listen to your Titi, sweet boy. I'm okay."

"Okay. I love you, Mama."

"I love you too."

I finally opened my eyes to see San kick off her shoes and pull off her jacket.

"I'm climbing in the bed with you. I'm not taking no for an answer."

"Okay." I groaned as I tried to move to make room for her.

"Don't fucking move." She snarled, and I flinched.

"Please don't yell…I'm sorry." I whimpered, and San froze because she knew that feeling of being snapped at right after you'd been beaten down.

"I'm sorry, shit, it's been so long since I've…I'm sorry."

When her body leaned against mine, and soft hands rubbed my back, I whimpered again.

"I know Britt told you."

"What?"

"I know she told you my plan."

"Q, honestly, I don't know what you're talking about."

She was a terrible liar, but if she wanted to pretend not to know, I wasn't going to keep picking.

"I can't do it anymore, San. It hurts too much."

"Then don't. I got you, okay? I'll protect you."

"You can't."

"I can and will. I choose you, Q, always and forever. You're my person, and I'm yours until death, and probably beyond, you and I will haunt bitches together."

I chuckled and immediately regretted it.

"Fuck."

"What hurts?"

"Everything."

"Can I look?"

"Okay." I was beyond fighting her because even though I had pushed her away, I still needed her in my corner.

She pulled the sheets back, exposing my naked body and hissed.

"That bitch."

"Is it bad?"

"Q, your left side is nearly black."

"She kicked me."

"You need a sister pile." She said, and I buried my face into the bed.

"No."

"Okay, well, at least let me call Mari. You need a doctor, and she can be here fast."

"Fine, but please, no one else."

"Okay."

"Did you come here for Britt?"

"I did."

"From London?"

"Yes."

"I'm proud of you." I said, and she rolled her eyes as she texted.

"Stop trying to concern yourself with me; right now, you need to let this be about you. Be selfish, Q."

"It's not that easy."

"It's like riding a bike."

"I'm sorry I ruined your day."

"Hush, I'm concerned for you and the kids. Where's Simone?"

"With Sandra."

"Thank God."

"Can you just lay here for a bit before you call anyone?"

"Obviously, I just texted Britt to call Mari. For now, it's just you and me."

"The way God intended." I joked, and she leaned in, kissed my lips, and then wiped away a tear.

"I should have fought harder to keep you in my life, Q. I won't make that mistake again." And then she kissed me again, her sister be damned.

The door opened and closed as San let me go.

And then I felt another body on my other side.

Britt.

"The kids are baking cookies and watching a movie. I wanted to come to see if you needed me for anything."

"I ruined your birthday, B. I'm sorry." I whispered as she rubbed gently at my back.

"This is better than anything we planned. All I wanted was the trinity back together."

"And all it took was getting my ass kicked so badly that I can't move." I joked, but San tsked and shook her head. "What? Too soon?"

I lay between them as they told me of the plans they were going to make and how they would do them the next day instead so I could go too.

I wanted to feel like shit for taking them away from much-needed family time, but right then, I was allowing myself to be selfish.

I was touch starved, and having them there, holding me and keeping me safe, was the kind of shit I had stopped expecting but was relieved to have.

Brittany's POV

Telling Ana had been the smartest thing that I had ever done.

With my wife in her corner, Q didn't have to talk to any of the sisters on her own.

Mari had come to check on her and then went with us to the hospital to get x-rays.

Quinn broke down when the results came back that she had a spinal injury requiring her to be in a wheelchair until the swelling around her spine decreased.

They kept her in the hospital for observation, and her only ask was that we take care of her kids, which was enough for Ana to want to pick up Simone.

With that knowledge, Ana was on the warpath, and I was right next to her as she raged from the moment we left Quinn's hospital room all the way to Connecticut.

"How the fuck could Celia do this to her?"

"I know."

"There's no fucking way she's getting away with this!"

"What do you want to do?" Mari asked from the back seat.

"Mari, can you call Sandra and tell her that we need to have an intervention at Celia's."

Ana kept spontaneously breaking into sobs while I drove toward Connecticut.

"Apparently, she's already there; she smelled alcohol on Ceily and has been there since trying to get her to agree to rehab." Mari said.

"Good, tell her we are on our fucking way. Enough is enough!"

"I told her."

"B, we might need to delay moving into the house while Quinn recovers."

I shrugged, perfectly content with staying in our penthouse.

The new house was nice, but since we'd been back in our old place, I'd fallen in love with it all over again.

"That's fine, Ana. I don't mind."

She squeezed my thigh, "Thanks, B."

I glanced over at her and saw the guilt all over her face.

"Hey, stop feeling guilty about today. Just getting to spend the day with you is more than I've had in the past. It doesn't matter what we do."

"Oh shit, I forgot! Happy Birthday, Britt." Mari said from the back seat.

"Thanks!"

"Let's get Celia squared away and then have dinner as a family. The kids could probably use happiness after everything they've witnessed between their moms."

"Agreed!" I said, and then decided, why not keep it going? "Tomorrow we are seeing all the sights and going to a show. You should come and bring the kids, Mari."

"I'm on call tomorrow, but I'm sure Norah and Solomon would love to tag along. Plus, Saul is off; he loves all that tourist stuff. It couldn't hurt to have a big guy like him with you."

"Oh, awesome! We never get enough time with him; I'm sure Izzy would like that." I said while Ana stared out the window and occasionally brushed away her tears.

When we pulled up outside Celia's house, I could hear the screaming. When we got out of the car, Mari and Ana looked at each other before dashing towards the slightly open front door.

Sandra was holding a shaking Simone in her arms while Celia was screaming and throwing shit around.

Mari and Ana stood by Sandra, watching as their sister lost her mind.

I had been there more than them, so I handed Ana my car keys and walked straight into the storm.

Celia paused with a statue in her hands and stared at me with that same Lopez stare that dared you to stop them.

And she should have known that I dealt with the angriest of the Lopez sisters daily.

She could never hold a candle to Santana.

"Back off, Brittany!" She warned, but I kept moving until I stood in front of her, looking down into her eyes.

The fact that I stood at least six inches taller than her helped matters.

"You're a good mom, Celia."

"What?"

"I needed to remind you that you're a good mom because right now, you're only seeing what you've lost, but what I need you to know is that you are a good mom, and right now, you are scaring your baby girl."

She looked over at Sandra, cradling Simone, who was shaking hard while she cried against Sandra's shoulder.

"Oh God, oh God, oh God." Celia dropped the statue and moved closer to Sandra, but Ana stepped in front of her.

"Sis, you need help."

"You're the last person I want to see, Santana!"

"I don't give a fuck. I'm here anyway."

"Well, you shouldn't be."

Ana pulled out her phone, and Celia froze.

"What are you doing?"

"You don't want to listen to any of us, so I'm doing what I have to do."

"Nothing you do can scare me right now, NOTHING." Celia said, but I could see the nervous twitch in her jaw.

Ana held up a video call, and on it, I could see an older version of the woman who had made Brenda's funeral hell.

Felicia.

"Celia?"

"Mami." She whispered.

"You're drinking again, beating up your wife and kids?"

"Mami, no."

"No? That's not true?"

"I can explain."

"And it would all be lies. You fought for me to acknowledge your relationship with Quinn only for you to beat her up?"

"I didn't."

"I saw the pictures. Santana sent them to me this morning."

"You fucking bitch!" Celia snapped at Ana, and I could see her fist ball up.

"I don't think so." I said, jumping forward just in time to grab Celia around the waist and pull her against me.

"Oh, so only you are allowed to beat my sister?" Celia said, trying to hit me where it hurt.

"I got help. You need help. Take it." I growled as I kept her in place.

Ana nodded at me and mouthed a thank you before turning the phone around. "We'll see you soon, Señora."

"Soon?" All three of Ana's sisters said at once.

"I had to do what I had to do. Ceily is only afraid of your mom, so that is who she needs to keep her from dying in a fucking gutter. In the meantime, Quinn asked me to look out for the kids, but Simone seems attached to you, Sandra…do you want to keep her until Q is out of the hospital?"

"Yeah, I think she needs some personal attention right now." Sandra said.

"Okay, well, Celia, choose a car; either way, you're coming back to the city, I'm taking you to the airport, and you're riding back to Texas with your Mom."

"The fuck I am." Celia snapped.

"Sis, my balls are bigger than yours, and because I have more money than you, so does Quinn."

"How do you figure?"

"Easy, You're worth $25 million, and I'm worth $860 million, which means the lawyers I keep on retainer will bury you if you don't get your shit together. I'll buy your galleries, your plane, and I'll make sure that Quinn bankrupts you."

Money talks.

Celia was stiff in my arms, but she didn't move toward my wife. "That's so fucked up, Santana."

"No, what's fucked up is that my best friend is in a wheelchair because of you. What's fucked up is that your children had to see you beat their mother repeatedly. All you had to do was stay in rehab until you were better, and we believed you. We trusted that if you needed help, you'd come to us but instead, you were a fucking monster."

"And you're no better throwing your money around like it means something. You're still a fucking junkie who likes to pretend they've been sober for nearly a decade…maybe I am not as rich as you, but I know people, Santana. Before you call my shit out, make sure you don't have shit to hide."

Ana rolled her eyes. "You're projecting, Celia. It's not a good look."

"I'll go to Texas, but just like I told Quinn, I don't want to see your fucking face again." Celia said before spitting on the floor, and then she took a deep breath, "You can let me go, Britt. My sisters sucked the life out of the room just like they do with everything else…if I'm leaving, I'm going in the car that Santana isn't in. She's dead to me."

Mari decided to ride with Sandra and Celia to the airport, leaving me with Ana alone for the first time all day.

"You okay?" I asked, and she smiled tightly at me as we sat in the driveway long after Sandra had left.

"Can you look up meetings in the area?" She said, her voice sounding empty and tight.

I pulled out my phone and found a meeting that was already in progress a mile up the road.

"There's one; it started ten minutes ago."

"Can you take me there and stay with me?"

"Of course."

I held my wife's hand as she talked to a bunch of strangers about helping her sister go back to rehab and how much it hurt to be accused of falling off the wagon again.

She squeezed my hand as she talked about why this day had always been hard for her and how she was trying to create new traditions, but drama kept popping up.

And she chuckled when she said that Halloween was cursed. A few people agreed.

When we left, she held out her hand, "Do you mind if I drive, B?"

"Are you sure?"

"I need to focus on something. Is that okay?"

"Yes."

"Good. By the time we get home, it will be dinner time. Should we check in with our chef to see if he's making anything?"

I nodded and then called Izzy.

The call picked up on Bluetooth, and the sound of a piano played loudly in the background. "Hello?"

"Hey, Iz!" I said.

"Mama! Are you almost home?"

"Should be in another half hour."

"Great! You're coming straight here, right? No detours?"

"No detours."

"Fantastic. See you soon!" And then the call ended.

"Ah, our son, ever the conversationalist." Ana muttered and then smiled, "Should we stop somewhere?"

"We just told him no detours."

"Yeah, well, he's not the boss of me."

"Ana, no detours."

"Ugh, fine." She grumbled but kept driving home.

"Baby?" I said, rubbing her thigh.

"Yeah?"

"Tonight, when you make today up to me, I'll let you pick the position."

There was the award-winning smile. "I want to be on top, riding that big strap you have been saving for a special occasion."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yes, Daddy."

"Sugar offered to come to take the kids trick-or-treating; maybe we can have some fun then."

"You don't want to trick-or-treat with them?"

"No, I'd much rather be fucking you, Ana."

"Say less. Operation 'pawn the kids off on Sugar' is a-go."

NOVEMBER

Santana's POV

For five and half months, despite doctor visits and a heartbeat, it was easy to forget Daniela was pregnant if you were basing it on her appearance.

Other than a slight pudginess, there was no change to what her body looked like.

Which meant that her request to keep her pregnancy a secret from the family until we couldn't anymore was easy to fulfill…until it wasn't.

The entire family was set to converge in our penthouse for Thanksgiving, and for all we knew, Daniela's secret would continue on.

She moved about our penthouse eating everything in sight and breaking into fits of tears at the slightest bit of sadness, but to my sisters, she was just a hormonal preteen like Norah.

Two days before Thanksgiving, though, after Britt, Isaac, and Gia left for the day, Daniela came banging into my bedroom, startling me out of my sleep with tears in her eyes.

"Mami, wake up!" She yelled, and I rolled to my side to glare at her, only to see her in her underwear with an actual baby bump.

"You popped!" I said, sitting up with glee. I was so freaking excited to see my little grandbaby make its presence known.

"Why are you smiling? This is terrible!" She stomped her foot as she rested her hand on her stomach, I reached out and touched her bump, and she glared at me. "Mami, I'm serious!"

"But you're so cute!"

"Everybody is going to know now!" She whimpered before slumping onto the bed with me. "Mami, I…I'm scared."

I opened my arms wide and held her close as she sobbed her fears out.

"I know, Beba, I know."

"What if they hate me?"

"They won't."

"But what if?"

"If anyone has a problem with you, they'll have to take it up with me."

"You mean that?"

"I do."

"I…I don't want Thanksgiving to be about me. Can we tell them today?"

"Sure, you want me to call Titi Sandra and Mari over for dinner; that way Mama can be here too?"

"Yes."

"Okay, you have some studying to do in the meantime, and I have another half hour of sleep."

"How can you sleep at a time like this?"

"Daniela, for the love of God, do you want me to be bitchy today?"

"Ugh! Fine, I'll put the kettle on after my online test. I'll see you after you wake up."

"Perfect." I yawned and curled up with Britt's pillow pressed against my face. Before Daniela had come into the room, I had been having the best sex dream, and I was hoping to fall right back into it.

Of course, my luck was shit because I heard the doorbell as I fell back to sleep and was suddenly wide awake.

So much for my sweet lady kisses; I guess I would have to wait for the real thing.

Daniela's POV

"Why are you here? You're supposed to be in school, Niko."

"For what?"

I shoved his shoulder as he held out his peace offering.

"What's this?"

"I brought Madri coffee and you a bagel from the cart down the street from the house, just like you like. Now let me see."

I took the coffee and bag from him them let my robe fall open.

Mami would not approve, but she was sleeping, so what she didn't know wouldn't cause me shit.

His eyes got huge when he saw my baby bump, and then his cold ass hands were touching my stomach.

His green eyes mesmerized me as he stepped closer and sent chills all over me.

"Are you trying to make a twin?" Mami's voice cut through the fog in my mind, and Niko jumped back, closing my robe for me before I turned around.

Mami was glaring at me, and I held out the coffee.

"Niko brought you this."

"That doesn't make up for him feeling up your body in my fucking living room, does it?"

"No, Madri," Nikolai said. "Lo siento."

"Mami, I was just showing him my bump."

"Go get dressed." Mami growled, and I reached for Niko's hand, terrified that she'd rip into him, but then she raised her eyebrow, and I knew better than to push it.

"Sorry." I muttered.

As I was walking away, Mami made me stop in my tracks.

"Try that shit again, and I'll make sure you have a cell right next to your father's. Just because I'm not upset with Daniela doesn't mean that you and I are okay."

"Sorry, Madri."

"Why is the first time you have crossed my threshold since she told us?"

"I…I didn't think you'd want me here."

"And you thought right."

I turned to say something before Mami could start a rant, but Niko was faster.

"Look, Madri, I love her and our baby. I'm sorry we did this now, but I'm not sorry that she's having my baby."

"Well, I am because I know what you're into now."

Niko got pale and shot me a look before crossing his arms over his chest. "I don't know what you mean."

"Don't bullshit me. You don't think I know that you've been dealing?"

"I…I don't know what you mean."

"You're really going to stand in my home and lie to my face?"

"I just want to support my family."

"You don't need to worry about supporting that baby financially. I've already paid that price for MY family. If you want to support your kid, you do it by finishing school, which neither Carmen nor Nico ever did. If you want to be in Daniela's life, you must do it without drugs."

"It's not a big deal, Madri; it's not like I'm using the stuff."

"I'm an addict, Carmen is an addict…and Marco was an addict. If you don't think that it's a big deal that you're out in the streets selling smack, then you're fucking delusional."

Mami was looking at me now with a glare, and I shook my head because I didn't know.

There's no way I was okay with him selling drugs.

"I don't want that, Niko." I said to him, and he sighed, nodding before throwing up his hands.

"I'll stop. I'm sorry."

I had to walk away as a wave of tears hit me. Had Niko sold to Papa?

There's no way, right?

They were close, and Niko had been there a lot in those last few weeks.

"Dani, please don't be upset." Niko said when I returned to the kitchen where Mami was actually drinking coffee instead of her usual cup of tea.

I'd seen her drink coffee only a few times, and it was always when she was angry.

We had a system in our family. If Mami started showing signs of slipping, I was supposed to tell Mama immediately, but when I took out my phone to text Mama, my phone was taken out of my hands.

"I earned this coffee. I'm not slipping. No need to snitch." Mami said, and then put my phone in her pocket.

"Can I have my phone back?" I asked, and she nodded towards Niko.

"Talk to him while you still can because when I'm finished with my coffee, we are headed to Titi Sandra's. I tried to get her to agree to dinner, but she insisted we have lunch instead."

Mami turned away from me, and I looked at Niko, standing with his coat on, staring at my stomach. "Can I touch her belly, Madri?" He asked Mami instead of me.

She nodded and topped off her cup.

I could feel the heat coming off her and knew I'd be getting the lecture of a lifetime before the day was over.

Brittany's POV

Just so you know, I'm having coffee. Can you meet me at Sandra's for lunch?-Ana

I had just finished a run-through with the understudies when my phone buzzed with Ana's message. If she was drinking coffee, something had set her off, which was super annoying since I'd given her some of my best work the night before.

What time?-Britt

Now-ish-Ana

Okay, should I bring anything?-Britt

Just yourself, I miss you!-Ana

Can you still feel me?-Britt

;)-Ana

Round 2 tonight?-Britt

I'm going to need it!-Ana

Say less! Leaving now.-Britt

Gladys had taught me never to show up empty-handed, so I stopped on my way to Sandra's to grab donuts and a bottle of prosecco for Sandra.

Just because I hadn't been drinking for a few years didn't mean I wouldn't get Sandra's favorite.

I had self-control.

Thankfully.

When I got to Sandra's, it was at the same time as Mari, which made me worried that something big had happened.

Why else would Ana ask me to come across town in the middle of the day?

I was anxious as I walked into the living room to see Dani in a big bubble coat, even though Sandra had the heat on high.

Ana was holding a coffee cup and biting her lip as she watched Sandra try to convince Dani to take her coat off.

I kissed my wife's head and took her mug from her. "How many cups is this?"

"Five." She muttered but didn't fight me on taking her cup, especially since I had replaced the mug with donuts.

She grinned and then took them to Sandra. "Here."

"What's this about Santana, and why is Dani sitting there in that coat?"

Dani stood up and took the coat off, stomping her foot. "There, it's off…I'm pregnant…I didn't want you to yell at me. I was trying to get up the nerve."

"I knew it!" Sandra beamed and then held her hand out to Mari. "$100."

Mari glared at Dani and then handed over a bill to Sandra. "I was hoping you would have told me so I could have betted correctly. Does Norah know about this?" Mari asked Dani.

"Yes."

"Which doctor have you been seeing?" Mari, of course, was more concerned about Dani's health than anything else.

"Dr. Cabot." Dani said, calmer since her aunts only asked good questions instead of attacking her.

"Is this why I'm here?" I whispered to Ana.

"I figured you'd want to be here for this…also, go check out that belly."

Dani was in a black sweater, so I couldn't see her baby bump at first, but when she hugged me, I could feel it.

I stepped back and rubbed her little belly, her body went stiff, and she put her hand on mine. When I looked into her eyes, I could see the worry. "She's not okay today."

"I know, I can tell." I whispered back.

"She had like a million cups."

"I had five, and I was honest about it." Ana said from right beside me. "You're so busy talking about me. Did you also tell your Mama how Nikolai was feeling up your half-naked body in our living room this morning?"

All the chatter in the room stopped.

"Wait, he's like your adopted son!" Mari said.

"Is that his baby?" Sandra added.

Apparently, a pregnant twelve-year-old was one thing, but add Nikolai to that equation, and everyone had an opinion.

Ana threw up her hands before they could interrogate Dani, thankfully.

"Nobody is more pissed off than me. So, spare her your opinions. It's hard enough for her to have lost all the things that she has, and now this…all she needs right now is support. Can you do that?"

"Of course!" Mari said.

"Definitely." Sandra added.

Quinn's POV

I woke up in excruciating pain a few mornings before Thanksgiving, and I was never more grateful that the kids were with Ceily.

It was not ideal for my children to see me hurting so badly that it drove me to tears.

San had knocked on my door that morning, but I had feigned sleep until I knew she was gone.

Normally, she'd check in with me around lunchtime, so I was banking on that, but hours went by, and she didn't show.

I took a few pills and tried to readjust myself in bed, but it was no use.

The door to the penthouse chimed to alert me to someone entering, so I grabbed my phone to check the camera.

As much as I missed my wife, I was always afraid she'd show up to finish me off.

I had never thought in a million years that I would turn into my mother, but I was terrified of the woman I had vowed to love above all others.

"Q?" Britt popped her head into the room and turned on the light. "Why are you still in bed?"

I put my phone down and tried to smile, but she shook her head and sat beside me.

"Aren't you supposed to be at work?"

"I took the rest of the afternoon off. We had lunch at Sandra's so Dani could tell the sisters about the baby."

"Was Celia there?"

I hated that my mind went to Ceily, but I couldn't help it.

"No. I don't think she was invited because she's still not talking to Ana."

"Did San really stand up for me?"

"She did."

"I guess she is choosing me, then, huh?"

"I told you that…and now I'm going to tell you something else."

I sighed, hating that Britt gave me a look that told me I wouldn't like what she had to say.

"What's that?"

"The renovations are taking too long, so we are staying in the penthouse for a few more months…I already talked to Ana, and we agreed that you should move in with us."

"Why? I thought you said I could never live with you and San again."

"I was stupid back then; besides, you're not even using this big space. We are moving Izzy up to the second loft, and we'll put Quincy's bed up there. Simone can stay in the room with Gigi, leaving an empty room just for you."

"But why?"

"You're going to make me say it, aren't you?" Britt looked so uncomfortable, and honestly, I had no idea what the fuck she was talking about, but I went with it.

Maybe whatever she thought I was forcing her to say was something I needed to hear. I never quite knew what was going on in Britt's head, but it was never dull.

Britt took my hand and brought it to her lips, kissing my fingers.

"Why?" I asked once more, pulling my hand away so that I could focus.

I hadn't been touched so softly by anyone in years until the last few weeks around Britt and San.

It was unnerving.

"I'm trying to do what God intended. The trinity needs to be together. When we lived in the house together, think of how happy we all were."

"At first, until you slept with my girlfriend." I said, with a grin, loving how her face twisted in disgust at the thought of fucking Rachel.

"You're never going to let me live that down, are you?"

"Not a chance."

"And I was nice enough not to mention you sleeping with my wife."

"Touché."

She shrugged and then raised an eyebrow. "I know I'm making it seem like I'm giving you a choice in the move, but we own the building, and we want to renovate this space to be Ana's studio…so move in."

"I'm being evicted?" I teased.

"Is she giving you a hard time, B?" San said from the doorway. I looked over at her and could see that beautiful fucking smile that I could never get enough of.

"You bet I am." I said, and San nodded.

"Put her out of her misery, Q."

"Okay, I'll move in with you, but you'll do all the work."

"Work?" San rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right, not when we have people on the payroll. You just sit in your chair and direct the movers; they'll be here in an hour."

"Say less." I tried to say cheerfully, but then San was frowning and tilting her head.

"My Mexican third eye is making me wonder if I should be worried, Lucy Q." She said as she came closer to the bed.

"On that note, I'm gonna go." Britt went to stand, but we both glared at her, and she sat back down with a huff. "On second thought, I'll stay."

"San, I'm fine."

I could tell she wasn't buying it.

And I knew a lecture was coming, but she had every right. "You want to go back to her, don't you?"

"No way!" Britt said, and I dropped my head in shame.

I wasn't even ready to admit to myself that all I wanted was to be home with Ceily.

"It's complicated." I muttered.

"I know, I've dealt with abuse many times over…sometimes they change." San looked over at B, but then she traced the scar on her wrist. "And sometimes, if given a chance, they'll hurt you until they physically can't anymore, and other times, they never stop until you're dead…it's scary because you never quite know which it will be."

San was thinking of Marco and her father more than Britt.

On her meds and right mind, Britt was back to being docile and non-violent. Prison had stripped her of her need to control San…but we all knew…that deep down, all it would take was the wrong meds or drinking to unleash the sleeping monster behind Britt's eyes.

I could tell that Britt wanted to leave, but she didn't move a muscle.

"Just because I want to go home and be with Ceily doesn't mean I will." I admitted. "I learned from your experiences, both of you. I don't want to hate her, but God knows I can't trust her."

"She will not be happy with you moving in with us. Are you ready for that?" San asked me, and I shook my head.

"I'm not."

"Well, she won't bother either of you. She doesn't scare me." Britt said, her voice turning cold. Yeah, that violence was very much alive…but she was using it for good.

From the looks of San, there wasn't a trace of fear of her wife left in her, unlike with Marco.

How had the world turned upside down like that?

I was always the one on the outside of the drama after I lost Beth…now though, I was the nexus.

And I hated it with every fiber of my being.

In the two days since moving into San's penthouse, I had spent less time in bed and more time in my chair than I had since I got the thing.

And I hated to admit it, but I felt better.

My godchildren were enough to lift my spirits between Izzy's amazing meals, Gigi's giggles, and Dani getting back into her music.

But the nights spent with San and Britt laying with me until I fell asleep were my favorite.

Britt would massage my back while San would brush my hair, and I hoped to God it didn't end anytime soon.

Living with them was something I could get used to. I could see now why Sugar had fought to stay in their lives.

Seeing them domestic and happy was something I had stopped imagining with all they'd been through, but there they were, being more of a family than ever.

For two days, I had felt better than I had in years, so when I was parked at the dining room table folding napkins on Thanksgiving morning while Britt took the kids with her to pick her parents up from the airport, and San started cooking, I didn't think my day could get worse.

I convinced myself that with San's protection, nothing could go wrong.

But then the door opened, and my wife stood there with the kids on either side.

My kids seemed afraid to move toward me as I sat frozen.

San had just gone to the bathroom, so the four of us were alone, and I was terrified.

"Go say hi to your Mama." Celia urged the kids, and they unstuck themselves from her side and came over to me.

"I missed you!" Simone said as she held her arms out for me. I lifted her onto my lap and began to show her how to fold the napkins while Quincy stood by my side without a word.

"So, it finally happened. You're their third?" Celia asked me, and I didn't let her bait me.

"Will you be here for dinner, Celia?" I asked as I corrected a fold for Simone.

"Mami is insisting that I come here and make peace. She's parking, so I came up without her."

I heard San's room door open, and then I watched as she walked straight to the kitchen without a word to her sister.

"Titi?" Quincy called to her, and she looked up at him.

"Hey, little Q."

"Where's my room?"

She pointed towards the second loft, and Quincy grabbed his bag, kissed my face, and then went upstairs.

I felt tense as I sat there, focusing on Simone. When the door to the penthouse opened, and Britt came in like a tornado with her parents and the kids, I was never more grateful.

It was like we all could finally breathe.

More people filled up the penthouse, and I escaped to my room to take a pill before dinner.

I could feel a presence behind me and prayed that she wouldn't dare hurt me with everyone so close by.

But when I turned my chair, it was San that was following me.

"What are you doing?" I asked, and she shrugged.

"She was making her way closer to you, and I wasn't about to have her touch you."

"How are we back to this, San?"

"I have no fucking clue, but I wish people would stop using us as punching bags. We are too old for this shit."

I took my pill and then nodded behind her.

"Close the door for a second."

She closed the door, locked it, and then crouched in front of me. "Talk to me."

"San, I love you. I love what you're doing for me, but I can't do this…I can't be around her, especially not when I'm still in this fucking chair."

"Okay, what do you want me to do? I'll throw her out."

"No. What I need is to leave, just for a little while. I need to live on my own and rebuild my confidence. Judy once told you that when they play nice, it's a lie. I tried it her way, you know, making a deal with the devil so they can let you walk through hell…and it landed me in this chair for God knows how long. I can't do it anymore."

She was at war with herself, and the tears in her eyes broke me a bit, but then I watched her lips turn up into a little smile.

An idea had sparked in her eyes.

"I get that more than you know, Q. If I help you, I need you to promise me something first." She said as she clutched her phone in her hand.

"Anything."

"If I send you away, promise me you'll come back."

"I don't know if I can do that."

"Quinn, I'm asking…please, no matter how long it takes, promise me that you'll come back."

I hated that she was putting a condition on helping me escape, but I knew her. If she was helping me, then nothing would get in her way.

"I promise."

"Okay, for the next few weeks, I'm going to work with you every day, get you in P.T., and get you on the road to walking again. They told you this isn't permanent, but you've been wallowing and using too many pills instead of actually trying to walk again."

"You noticed?"

"Yeah, of course, I noticed."

"Okay. So, when can I go?"

"After Christmas, I promise. I'll work out all the details. I need you to bust your ass to get out of this chair. I'll take care of the rest."

I pursed my lips, and she leaned forward, kissed me quickly and then stood back up. "Thank you."

"Say less."