CHAPTER 2

A/N: Thank you to JerzyMare, pacumeme57, Santana is my satan, Itsskik, Mariu4, Whit Walk, BizzleB90, Kitana1, Writersblock1000, elisemiller67 and the Guests for their reviews! To answer elisemiller67's question, I'm not sure if I will continue this story or not, it really depends on the feedback I get. But I wrote another chapter (in which the timeline accelerates a bit) so let's see what you think of this one… By the way, I forgot to mention that the story is taking place in Los Angeles.

I also want to warn you that the Fanfiction administrators have changed the system for update alerts on stories that you follow. There are still some issues with the app notifications but if you want to get an email when a story you follow is updated, you will have to manually activate the email notification in your account settings (the email notifications are currently disabled by default). To active it manually, you need to go to account - settings - Email opt-in.

Enjoy the chapter and special thanks to Itsskik for proofreading it!

ONE WEEK LATER (EVENING TIME) – AT THE ARTS SCHOOL – SANTANA POV

As I enter the auditorium, I see that a lot of people are already there and I'm not sure where to go. I look around for a minute until I finally spot Brittany waving at me. She's already seated, next to Nick, and has obviously saved a few more seats. Tonight, Gabriel is going to read out some poetry that he wrote and I really cannot wait!

"Hi!" I say, kissing Brittany's cheek before taking the empty seat next to her.

"Hi Santana!" Nick says, throwing a timid smile at me.

"Nicholas…"

"I thought Melissa was with you?" Britt asks, stressing her full name on purpose, just to remind me one more time that I should call her boyfriend "Nick."

"Oh, she is... She just had to take a phone call from a student's parent but she'll join us in a few minutes." I reply. "So… how is my boy, I hope he's not too nervous?"

"He was pretty quiet in the car but he didn't seem nervous…" Brittany replies. "I can't wait to find out what he wrote though! Did he show it to you?"

"No…" I shake my head. "I don't think he wanted to show it to anyone until it was perfect… But I assume his teacher saw it."

"I'm so sorry for the delay…" Melissa suddenly says out of nowhere, taking the seat next to me.

"It's ok, babe… It hasn't started yet!" I reassure her, placing my hand on her thigh.

"Hi Britt, hi Nick!" Mel says, turning to them, and they all wave at each other.

"And where are Diego and Sofia?" I ask, frowning.

"They couldn't come unfortunately…" Britt replies. "Diego's coach scheduled a last minute baseball practice tonight and since we had already planned to come here, Sofia volunteered to drive him there. I think that after being grounded for one long week, she just jumped on the opportunity to go out, even if it meant going to her brother's baseball practice." She adds with a chuckle while I roll my eyes.

LATER THAT NIGHT – AT THE ARTS SCHOOL

The arts show just ended and we are now all waiting for Gabriel in the bar area.

"There he is, the star of the day!" Brittany says as our son finally joins us. "You were spectacular, bud!" She adds enthusiastically, giving him a hug. "You even made your mama cry!"

"You were crying harder than me!" I object, frowning.

"I always cry!" She shrugs. "But to make you cry, one has to be really good!"

"Well… he was really good! I'm very proud of you, mijo…" I say, hugging him tight. "I didn't know you were so talented with poetry! You know, I could use your help for my next songs…"

"Really?" Gabriel says with open eyes, obviously interested.

"Really!" I confirm. "God knows I'm already good but you, my boy… You have a way with words that I could never hope to have! I was really impressed!" I add and my angel boy looks so pleased with my compliments that I can't help but smile.

Ever since he was a baby, Gabriel has been a happy, smiling child that irradiates light wherever he goes, much like Brittany. At least, until the divorce… When Britt and I separated, he changed… Although he remained kind, he became completely indrawn, processing his pain in silence. But it seems that with poetry, he has finally found a way to express his deepest feelings, exactly like me with music. And it really feels good to see him so happy again…

"You were really amazing, pal!" Nick says, holding his hand up for a high five. "So… shall we get drinks to celebrate?" He suggests. "The first round is on me!"

ANOTHER WEEK LATER - AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE

"I don't know if it's a good idea, Britt…" I say, sitting in her living room after bringing back our children to her house.

"But you know that the kids would love it, San! And our parents too! They're still friends, they hang out together every week! And they were all planning to come here anyway…"

"Maybe so but… spending Thanksgiving all together? I really don't know…" I repeat, unconvinced.

So far, Britt and I had a pretty good system in place, allowing the kids to split the holidays between us in a fair way.

"Wouldn't it be weird for Nicholas to have your ex-wife around?" I question.

"Well… I discussed it with him first and he's okay with that." She shrugs. "What about Melissa, do you think she would be up for it?"

"I don't know…" I shrug. "I can always ask her but her parents are supposed to come here as well for Thanksgiving…"

"So…? Bring them too!" She suggests. "We have enough room here!" She adds and I can only sigh in response. Spending Thanksgiving with my girlfriend, my ex-wife and her partner seems like the craziest idea ever! Especially with all our parents around… But it's true that the kids would love having everyone reunited in the same place.

"Please…" She pleads, joining hands in a prayer gesture.

"Ok, look… I'll discuss it with Mel and if she and her parents are fine with it… then I guess I'm ok with it too."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She says in an excited tone, smiling at me.

THREE WEEKS LATER – THANKSGIVING – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE

Much to my surprise, Melissa was ok with spending Thanksgiving at Brittany's. "At least we won't have to cook a huge dinner ourselves!" She said, only seeing the practical side of it. "Although we should bring a few things, to help Brittany and Nick…"

Her parents didn't mind either, which I found even more shocking! How am I the only one thinking it's weird for a divorced couple to spend Thanksgiving together?

But I must say that dinner is going really well! The food is absolutely amazing, everyone seems to get along - even those who met today for the first time - and I can tell that the kids are over the moon!

LATER THAT DAY – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE

"Do you know that everyone is looking for you?" Brittany suddenly asks, joining me on the balcony attached to the dance room.

"How did you know I was here?" I ask, surprised. No one ever checks the dance room and even if they did, they wouldn't see me because I made sure to stand in a spot that is completely invisible from inside.

"San… we lived together in this very house for 15 years! I know where you hide." She shrugs.

"Right…" I whisper before falling silent. Sometimes, I hate how well Brittany knows me… Even if we no longer live together, she can still make pretty accurate guesses about my feelings and usually predicts my reactions better than anyone else… I should have known that she would find me, especially in this beautiful house...

Being here always makes me so nostalgic… We had such happy moments in this place…

FLASHBACK TO 5 YEARS AGO – AT THE LAWYERS' OFFICE

Brittany and I are sitting opposite to each other at a huge table, in a fancy meeting room. We each have our lawyer next to us and even though we have been here for half an hour already, none of us has spoken… except to agree with the lawyers' proposals.

"Since all parties agree on the shared custody of the three children… we can now talk about assets…" Brittany's lawyer says. "Given the situation, we would suggest to put up the house for sale and…"

"No." I suddenly say, making everyone turn to me, including Brittany who raises her eyes towards me for the first time since the meeting started.

"Ms. Lopez…" My lawyer says but I ignore him.

"Brittany… we can't sell…" I say, shaking my head. "This is the house the kids grew up in! Our separation is already messing up with their lives enough as it is, they shouldn't have to leave the only home they have ever known!"

"Ms. Lopez!" My lawyer calls me again. "Don't you remember what I told you?" He adds in a whisper. "It is best if you don't address Ms. Pierce directly…"

"Ok, you know what?" I say, louder. "I know this is a divorce procedure but no one cheated and we do not hate each other so stop implying that we do!" I tell him. "At this minute, Brittany is still my wife and I don't need your permission to talk to her!"

"Britt…" I say in a softer voice but she's looking down at her hands. "Can we please go talk outside for a few minutes? Just you and me… no lawyers."

"Ms. Pierce, I strongly advise against it…" Her lawyer says.

"No one asked for your opinion!" I interrupt him, sending him a death glare. "Brittany, please…" I repeat, standing up.

I wait for what feels like forever but she eventually looks back at me.

"Okay…" She whispers, getting up as well.

We walk out of the room together, in total silence. Once I feel we are far enough from the meeting room, I stop and turn to her. I'm pretty sure my eyes must reflect the same sadness I can read in hers right now…

"You should take the house…" I suggest after taking a long inhale and I can tell by the look on her face that she didn't expect that.

"But… you love this house…" She replies. "You have always loved this house!"

"I know but… I can't live in there without you…" I shrug. "I just can't." I whisper, shaking my head. "But one of us should keep it… It's a great house! And at least, the kids would have a place where they feel right at home… Plus, there is a dance room and… you need a room like that! I don't."

"But even if I wanted to keep the house, I can't afford buying your half, San… As a dance teacher, I don't make as much money as you do in the TV industry…"

"I don't want any money for the house, Britt…" I say. "If you want it, it's yours."

"But… no, that's not fair!" She objects. "San, you own half of this house… I can't just take it without buying your part!"

"You can… and you should." I nod, looking into her eyes. "Look, I know we both have the kids' best interest at heart… And this is what's best for them… so please, just take the house, Britt." I insist.

PRESENT TIME – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE

"And I know that you usually come here when you're overwhelmed…" Britt says. "I'm just surprised you didn't take wine with you this time…" She smirks.

"Yeah well… this is no longer my house so it's not like I can just snatch a bottle of wine."

"True…" She replies. "But since I live here, I can." She adds, suddenly pulling a small bottle of wine from under her cardigan before handing it to me with a smile.

"Oh my God…" I say with open eyes, impressed. "Brittany S. Pierce, you're really the best hostess ever!" I add, grabbing the bottle. I take a sip before handing it back to her and she does the same.

"So… may I ask you why you're feeling overwhelmed? Is that because there are too many people in the house right now?" She asks.

"Well… yes, it's partly because of that…" I admit as I always feel a bit oppressed when I'm stuck in a room with lots of people talking really loud. "But to be honest, I'm also hiding from Melissa's parents…"

"Oh?" She says, surprised. "I thought you were getting along with them?"

"I do but…" I sigh. "Ever since they arrived, they keep hinting at marriage and… I don't feel like having that conversation with them."

"Marriage uh…?" She repeats before pausing for a while. "I must say I have often wondered why you two had not tied the knot yet… Melissa seems like the type of girl who wants to get married."

"She does…" I confirm.

"And you don't…?" She asks timidly and I take another sip of wine before answering.

"I just… I don't think I believe in marriage anymore… you know?" I say, our eyes meeting briefly. "I mean, I'm realistic… If you and I didn't work, how could I make it work with anyone else?"

"I know what you mean…" She nods. "That's also why I never agreed to marry Nick…"

"Oh… I didn't know he proposed…"

"He didn't… I mean, not really. But he brought up the idea a few times…" She replies. "I guess he was trying to see if it was worth asking me officially but… I think now it's pretty clear in his mind that he shouldn't ask me."

"I see…" I whisper and we find ourselves in total silence for a minute.

"You know, sometimes I feel bad for Mel…" I confess. "She's such a great girl, she deserves a marriage… and kids…" I shrug. "I just can't give her any of that…"

"You never considered it?" She asks, looking into my eyes. "Having a child with her I mean…"

"Oh God, no!" I frown. "I don't have the strength to deal with yet another child! Three is plenty already!" I say. "And I learned from my mistakes! I let you get into my head once and convince me to have a second child… and look what happened! It turned into three!"

"Well… it's not like I could have predicted we would have twins!" She chuckles.

"I know but… I'm definitely done having kids, thank you." I say and we both take a few more sips of wine.

"I know it's awfully selfish of me but…" She trails off. "… a part of me is relieved you won't have children with her." She confesses, catching me off guard. "I'm fine with you two being together, she's a lovely woman and everything…" She quickly adds. "… but I think it would be really tough on me if you had a child with someone else, anyone really…"

I don't know what to say so I remain quiet but deep down, I completely get it… Despite the divorce, Brittany and I still have a special bond because of our kids. And I don't think I could stand it either if she had a child with someone else…

"What about you…?" I say. "Is Nicholas okay with… um… not having kids of his own…?" I suddenly dare to ask, knowing that after the twins, the Doctor told Brittany she would not be able to have any more children.

"I don't know… He says he is…" She shrugs. "Anyway, he knew this from the start… I told him very early on in our relationship…" She adds. "But are you ever going to call him Nick?" She asks, probably trying to change subject.

"It's not in my plans no." I immediately reply, taking yet another sip of wine.

"San…" She sighs in a disappointed tone.

"No, Britt… Look, I admit that he's a decent guy, ok? He obviously takes good care of you, the kids like him… and I really appreciate that he has always known his place when it comes to our children. I mean, he's there for them but he never tried to play dad, he respects my role as their mother…" I acknowledge. "But… he's also the fucker that has sex with my wife." I add. "Ex-wife…" I correct after a brief moment. "So I'm afraid I'll call him Nicholas until the end of times! Please let me have that at least…"

"Fine…" She sighs, nodding in understanding before drinking some more wine.

MUCH LATER THAT NIGHT – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE

"Thanks again for having us, we had a lovely time!" Melissa's mom says as we're leaving, throwing a friendly smile at Britt and Nick.

"You're very welcome, it was our pleasure!" Brittany says, standing on the doorstep while Nick puts his arm around her shoulders.

"Mama, don't forget that my dance recital is this Saturday!" Sofia suddenly says as we're walking to the car. "I have a solo this time!"

"I know, mija… It's been in my calendar for weeks! I wouldn't miss it for the world!" I reply. "Keep practicing with your mom until then, ok?" I add before getting into the car with Mel and her parents.

"What about your Abuela?" Melissa asks.

"Oh, she's riding with my parents… they will follow us." I say, looking into my front rear view mirror. "Ah… I think they're ready to go…" I add, seeing my dad raising his thumb at me. "Alright, let's go home…"

A/N: Please let me know in the reviews if you still want me to continue this story, and what you thought of this chapter. Please remember to go to your Fanfiction account and opt in for email notifications if that's how you want to be informed when a new chapter is published. Thank you!