CHAPTER 3
A/N: Many thanks to all of you who favourite and follow the story. And special thanks again to Berrylucky5, Cissou28 and the guests for their reviews. In this chapter, we go back to Santana's point of view.
ONE WEEK LATER – AT HOME
It's already 8:30 AM and I'm running late. It took me forever to find clothes that actually fit my ever-growing belly, seriously did this thing grow overnight? I'm now trying to figure out a way to put on my shoes but I'm interrupted by a text.
FROM "ABUELA": Engracia?
Oh my God, Abuela is seriously driving me insane! It's like she wants this kid to be bullied at school! Can't she propose a cute name for once? And are there really people cruel enough to name their child Engracia? I'm so not replying to this message, maybe that will finally make her stop.
"Britt!" I shout from our bedroom. "Could you come over here please?"
"Coming!" I hear her say.
"Wanky!" I reply back, making her laugh.
"What is it, honey?" she asks.
"Could you please help me put on my shoes? I cannot bend over anymore…" I say, pointing to my belly with despair.
"Wanky!" she replies.
"Hey! That's my catch phrase" I say with a chuckle.
She smiles and helps me with the shoes. "Done! But where are you going? I thought you were staying home this morning, to write?"
"That was the plan but D'Shon called me, he needs me to record some back vocals for his L.A. team, so I'm heading to the recording studio."
"San… are you sure it's a good idea? Now that Lee agreed to produce your Glee show, you already have enough on your plate."
"It's OK, Britt. It's just back vocals… that will only take a few hours here and there, that's it. And that's extra cash for us to spoil the baby."
"Fine…" she sighs. "How long will you stay at the studio today then?"
"Just the morning, because in the afternoon, I'm meeting with my label to discuss the release of my album."
"Your album? But I thought you were waiting with that?"
"Well… it was finalized and I have Mr Schue's blessing… So I can release it now. Why would I wait?"
"I don't know… because you're pregnant? You have to take it easy! If you release it, you will probably also have to do the promo!"
"I don't even know if they want to do the promo now. I'm actually going to that meeting so I can learn more about their plans. And even if I were to do the promo, they know that I am not interested in a tour. That's why I picked an independent label, remember? They probably will just ask me to come do a few interviews and they will put them online."
"But you already have to rework your scripts to accommodate the network's remarks and oversee the casting process for Glee. And now you're going to add back vocals and interviews to that? I don't know, honey… that doesn't seem wise. It's too much…" She says in a worried tone.
"Britt… you've got to chill!" I say, taking her hands in mine. "I can sit while doing all of those things, I'm not running a marathon. And besides, we just went to the doctor and she said that everything is going well! I'm good, the baby is good, you don't have to worry!"
I press my lips on hers before adding: "I have to go now or I'm really going to be late, especially considering that this child of yours is slowing me down when I walk."
She sighs and kneels to kiss my belly: "Bye munchkin, give your mama a kick if she works too hard, OK?"
ANOTHER WEEK LATER – AT PARAMOUNT STUDIOS
We have started the casting process for Glee and the network allowed me to put together my own team. Artie and I are watching what feels like a million of audition videos. Some are good but some are seriously awful. Why would people even send those? They just make us waste our time. I swear some people should not be allowed to open their damn mouth.
"Artie… I'm really worried for Rachel's part" I say. "I mean, God knows that she works on my nerves but the bitch can actually sing and none of those girls was good enough!"
"Not even close…" Artie says, in agreement. "But we knew that finding a good Rachel would be difficult. We just have to keep searching and in the meanwhile, let's try to move forward with the rest. Did you find any good Santana Lopez in your pile?" he asks.
"No! Sorry but first of all, none of them is of the right ethnicity! There was even a redhead that auditioned, can you believe it? And even if I look past that, these girls CANNOT sing! And I sure as hell didn't see anyone nearly as hot as me!"
"No one is as hot as you, babe!" I hear Britt say as she comes into our office. "You can't set the bar so high, it's not fair!" she adds with a smile.
"What's up Artie?" she says, hugging him.
"Hi Britt, that's a nice surprise!" he replies with a smile. "But what are you doing here?"
"I just came to pick up the wife, otherwise she works too much… Come on San, time to go home!"
"Fine…" I sigh.
"Oh honey, by the way…" Brittany adds. "Now your Abuela texts me. Apparently you stopped replying to her texts?"
"I was hoping that she would get the hint and stop with these ridiculous baby names! What did she come up with this time?" I ask.
"Alberta" she says, and I can't help but laugh.
"I actually find this name surprisingly pretty, we should consider it." She adds in a serious tone.
"What…? No, Britt, no! I'm not going to ruin this little girl's life before it even begins!"
"Relax, San, I was just messing with you!" she says, laughing. "That's a horrible name, but you've got to admit that it's quite fun. I mean, your Abuela's texts have become a daily joke!"
TWO WEEKS LATER – AT HOME
It's already 9:00 PM when I get home. Brittany is going to kill me for staying so late at Paramount. As I enter the kitchen, I see that Britt left a note on the fridge: "I got a last minute request for a private dance course tonight so I'll be home late. I love you. B."
Well at least she won't find out that I got home late too. I sit at the kitchen table to eat some leftovers for dinner.
It's 10:00 PM when I hear the front door open and Brittany's voice: "San?"
"Kitchen!" I reply.
She kisses my forehead and sits down across the table from me, smiling big.
"Why are you so excited?" I ask.
"You haven't found anyone to play you on the show, right?"
"No, not yet. Why?"
"What if I told you that I might have found a good candidate?"
"What, what do you mean? How?"
"My last minute private course? It was for an actress and I swear, San, she could totally pass for your sister! She has the same facial features as yours and everything!"
"Hold on… Is she actually good looking then?"
"Yes! She's very pretty! And she has a nice body too by the way!"
I frown and cross my arms. "Brittany Lopez-Pierce, did you check out another woman than your pregnant wife?" I ask.
"I didn't check her out! I didn't look on purpose but… I'm not blind, San!"
"Right…" I say, unconvinced.
"Can she sing?" I ask.
"She said that she can. But I wouldn't know… I haven't heard her sing."
"Can she dance?"
"Well at least I can answer that question: yes, she most definitely can dance, she's good! And she's super nice, I think you would like her! I told her about Glee and she was very interested. She even gave me her CV and I promised her that I would pass it on to you. If you like her, you can call her and give her the details for the audition process? I didn't know all that stuff by heart." She adds, handing me the CV.
"Alright, I suppose that I can have a look." I sigh, taking the CV from Brittany's hands. As I glance at the girl's picture, I can't help but react: "Holy shit, she actually does look like me!"
"See, I told you! And it's even more obvious in person!" Britt replies.
"OK, OK, fine… I guess I have nothing to lose… Tomorrow I will call this…" I search for the name written on the document before adding: "… Naya Rivera."
ON THE NEXT DAY - AT HOME
As I get up a bit later than usual, I spot Brittany on the couch and I remember that she's working from home this morning. She stays home when she's doing paperwork but that doesn't happen often.
"Morning" I say, sitting next to her and giving her a kiss.
"Morning baby" she replies, giving me what I call the "Brittany smile". It should be forbidden to be this cute.
"You know..." I say. "For once that you're home during the day, there are better things you could do than… this." I say, pointing to her summer classes schedule.
"Like what?" she asks.
"I don't know… like your wife?" I suggest.
"Subtle, San…" she laughs.
"I'm not known for being a subtle person, Britt…" I say, kissing her again. Before I know it, my hand is moving up her thigh.
"I'm supposed to work, though." She says, breaking the kiss.
"Or what…? It's not like you have a boss on your back, you're the one running that school. And you'll note that I don't wake you up anymore, I play by the rules every time" I add, pointing towards the daylight passing through the window, before kissing her neck.
"Is it your hormones again?" she asks, curious.
"Does it matter…?" I whisper between kisses. "I just want to go back to bed, with my wife…"
She cracks a smile before replying: "Well, how could I refuse such a tempting offer?"
She helps me get up and pulls me towards our bedroom.
TWO DAYS LATER
I just finished recording my back vocals for today when I receive a text from Mercedes.
FROM "WHEEZY": Hey mama! How are you feeling? Is my future goddaughter growing strong? How's Britt? Miss you all! Hugs from Barcelona.
TO "WHEEZY": Barcelona? God I hate you, girl! The baby and I are doing fine. Britt is her usual over-protective self. My belly got huge but at least I still have my fine ass! ;-) Miss you too, 'Cedes! How are you? Are you BFF with Beyoncé yet?
I notice that I have another message from the label asking me to drop by. They have not given me a release date for my album yet but I have been doing interviews every day. I hope that it is enough material to go on in case the release falls around the same time as our daughter's birth.
LATER THAT DAY - AT HOME
We're in bed and I am sleepy. Brittany is reading some kind of dance article out loud to the baby. I'm about to fall asleep when I hear my phone beeping. I'm waiting for a text from Artie so I quickly check but of course, it's Abuela…
FROM "ABUELA": Asunción
"OK that's it, really, I've had it!" I say, "I'm just going to call her to say that I'm questioning her mental sanity and that if she keeps sending me those crazy names, I will not leave her alone with our child!"
Brittany takes the phone from my hand and says: "Or… we can just text her back to say that we have already found a name so there is no need to send us more suggestions. And we tell her that we keep it a surprise until the baby is born."
"But we have not found a name yet." I say.
"I know but Abuela doesn't need to know that…"
She uses my phone to text her back.
"You always know what to do… you really are a genius." I say, smiling at her. She smiles back at me and I can't look away.
"What?" she asks.
"Nothing… You're just so beautiful" I reply. "You look like… an angel. I don't know why I nev-"
"Ow!" I let out a suffering moan at the sudden pain in my stomach.
"San? Are you OK?" she asks, worried.
It takes me a few seconds before I can speak: "I… I don't know… it felt like… a contraction.. or something… Oh my god… it can't be, right? I'm only at 29 weeks, it's way too early for th-"
I can't even finish my sentence, interrupted by the same sharp pain.
"San?" she asks, grabbing my arm.
"Britt… something is wrong…" I say in a panicked voice.
A/N: I could only imagine Santana working hard and at full speed despite being pregnant but that can have consequences… Sorry for ending it on this note, you'll have to wait until the next chapter to know more. As you noticed, I mentioned Naya in this chapter. I miss her and writing her into my story - even briefly - was a way to honour her memory. I don't know yet if she'll appear more but if you have any comments on that, or on the general story, don't hesitate to tell me in the reviews! Thanks!
