CHAPTER 8
A/N: Thanks to Berrylucky5 and kelenhermitha for the reviews. This is a special chapter, I explain why below, at the end.
AT HOME – MORNING TIME
I just woke up… by myself. Wait… how is that even possible? For the past three months, I have been woken up every single morning by my baby. I glance at the alarm clock and see that it's 8:30 AM! WAIT… WHAT?! That must be a record, usually Sofia's cries wake me up much earlier than that! My first reflex is turning around so that I can spoon Brittany but I'm disappointed when I see that she's no longer in bed… The sheets on her side are actually cold, she must have been up for a while… Well, time to get up too then…
I find my wife in our living room, making funny faces at our daughter in her bassinet. Sofia is smiling back at her.
"Morning…" I say.
"Morning, honey" Britt replies, walking up to me to give me a kiss. I was expecting our usual morning peck on the lips but she cups my cheek to pull me closer and gives me a long loving kiss that leaves me breathless.
When she pulls away, I see her blue eyes looking at me intensely.
"Wow… what was that for… ?" I whisper, trying to catch my breath.
"No reason... I just really wanted to kiss you." She says with a smile.
Damn Britt and her cuteness, how does she still melt my heart after 8 years together!
"Did you sleep well?" She asks.
"I actually did! How come you got up and the little one didn't wake me up?" I ask as I place a sweet kiss on Sofia's cheek and poke my tongue out at her, earning another smile from my daughter.
"I couldn't sleep anymore so I went watching Sofia sleep for a while. She was so peaceful, I could have stayed there forever! After a while, she woke up and cried though… But I was right there to calm her down and I thought that my other baby could use some extra sleep." She says, winking at me.
"Thanks honey" I say with a chuckle. "I definitely needed to catch up on some sleep."
Suddenly my phone beeps so I quickly check it.
FROM "WHEELS": Hi San! All good? I attach some pictures of the McKinley sets, they are fully built! It looks awesome but you can come see it for yourself if you want. We have also shot on location for outside footage."
"Who is it?" She asks.
"It's Artie, they have built the sets for the pilot… Do you think you could take care of Sofia by yourself today, at least for a while? I would like to go to Paramount and check it out."
"Sure, I'm here this morning… But I have to go to the dance school this afternoon though…"
"OK… well I'll make sure to be back by lunch time then."
LATER - AT PARAMOUNT
I'm on set, standing in the "choir room", with Artie and Quinn. I'm completely amazed, it looks so much like the real McKinley, they really did a great job! Artie and Quinn are looking around and I can tell that we are all feeling emotional. Not only it brings back so many memories but the Glee TV show project suddenly looks a lot more real. It's no longer just words on pages, it's starting to take shape.
"Ok so… Wheels, bring me up to speed, what did I miss?" I ask.
"Well… we are basically ready to shoot the pilot. We have the sets, the songs have already been recorded… As you know, the pilot script was approved by the network and we already did the table read before you went on maternity leave. The cast has been rehearsing lines during your absence, they just need to learn the choreographies and we are good to go."
"Awesome news!" I reply with excitment.
"Quinn, did the actors manage to meet the rest of the real Glee club?" I ask.
"Yes, Rachel spoke to both the girl who plays her and the guy that plays Finn. Mercedes, Puck, Sam and Kurt also all visited when you were away. For the teachers, this was not possible to arrange, except for Mr Schue. So we set up video chats with Sue, Emma and even with Principal Figgins!"
"That's great, thank you so much for overseeing this in my absence." I comment.
"Artie, hum… there is something I need to talk to you about" I add. "As you know, I nominated you as the Director for the pilot, so you'll be in charge of the shooting. And I'm really grateful for the fantastic job you did with the outside footage, I'm sure that the rest will be great too. But I really would like to be on set with you when you film the actual acting scenes… you know, the ones with dialogues? I worked so hard on this script, I need to make sure that the actors get it right. Is that OK?"
"Of course it's alright, San!" he replies.
"Ok, great! Now I just have to find a way to be present when you shoot… Let me talk to Brittany first?"
"Sure. In the meanwhile, I'm going to contact the network and confirm that we are ready to shoot!"
LATER THAT MORNING – AT HOME
I get back from Paramount earlier than expected and I find Brittany napping on the couch, carefully hugging our sleepy baby on her chest. I instantly feel butterflies in my stomach at the sight of such a cute and endearing scene… I snap a picture to capture that moment and then sit silently on the chair, to watch them for a while. I'm sure that I must have a goofy smile on my face right now. Sometimes I think it has not sunk in yet: I actually have a family of my own now...
And all of a sudden… I hear my inner voice, just like all those years ago when I was watching Britt sleep in our New York bedroom. My inspiration has always been sneaky… I need to write down my thoughts before I forget them, so I quickly grab a notepad and start scribbling down some words. I haven't done this for a while but it seems that out of nowhere, I'm actually writing a new song…
THAT AFTERNOON – AT HOME
As Brittany has now left to go to the dance school, I use my time to sit at the piano, trying to come up with a nice melody. Sofia is asleep just a few feet away from me and she doesn't seem at all bothered by my music. That's my girl!
My creative process is interrupted by a text.
FROM "QUINN": San, I know that technically you're still on maternity leave but after Artie informed the network about shooting the pilot, they have ordered 13 episodes. We have to work on the scripts for episodes 7-13. We won't know if the show is picked up until after the pilot airs though…
TO "QUINN": OK I will work on the general storyline and plan today, can you come over tomorrow to work with me on the new scripts?
FROM "QUINN": Sure! See you tomorrow and I can't wait to see your little princess again!
LATER THAT NIGHT – AT HOME
We're in bed. Brittany is reading a book but I see her fighting to keep her eyes open. I want to talk to her about going to Paramount when they shoot the pilot scenes but I'm scared to bring it up. It's probably going to take a lot of hours… It's not ideal as Sofia is so little and I'm still breastfeeding her… Besides… Brittany also has stuff to do, she won't be able to take care of Sofia by herself the whole time…
"What?" she says with a smile, turning towards me.
"Hum… huh… nothing" I say shyly.
"Honey… you have been staring at me for a few minutes… I'm your wife, I know you by heart. So… what is it that you want to tell me but don't dare to say?"
Brittany always jokes about being the world's foremost expert in the field of Santana Lopez but she sure deserves that title. It's even creepy how well she knows me.
I inhale deeply before saying: "When I went to Paramount today, Artie said we are ready to shoot the pilot… He will direct the episode but… Britt… I… I really want to be there when they shoot the scenes, there is too much at stake, it's my only shot to have the show picked up! And now that we have a daughter, I want more than ever for young people to know what acceptance is all about… To show them that it's OK to be themselves, and love whoever they want… And to also show how important the arts are! I want to make a difference and I really believe that this show is the way I can do that..." I sigh. "I know that Sofia is only 3 months old and… to be honest, I haven't figured out how I'm going to manage this but…"
"We'll make it work" she just says, leaving me speechless.
I look into her eyes for a few seconds before asking: "Are you sure…? I mean, you were pretty strict when I was pregnant…"
"Yes, because you were pregnant, honey! You were not taking your condition into account and it was getting really unhealthy for you and for Sofia! But now… it's a different situation. I know how much this project means to you and I also want Sofia to see how hard her mama is fighting to promote those values and make the world a better place! So… I understand why you want to supervise the shooting of the pilot. We just need to get organized, to maintain Sofia's balance. For now, I'm still on leave anyway, although… I will have to go to the dance school from time to time… But we'll find a way!" She replies.
"Well, I don't need to be on set when they film the performances, it would just be for the scenes with dialogues. And if I'm at Paramount when you need to go to the dance school, you could bring Sofia on set… I will have my own trailer so I can stay with her in between scenes and I can even breastfeed her there if needed. Maybe I will need to hire an assistant that can babysit her when I have to be on set though, or maybe just ask Quinn? It seems that she can't get enough of Sofia…"
"See… we will work it out!" She says with a smile, giving me a kiss.
"Ok…yeah…" I reply.
She gets back to her book for a couple of minutes before asking me: "San, what is it…?"
"Huh… nothing."
She laughs and adds: "Babe, you were staring again. You're so cute when you get shy like this!"
"OK, fine… There is just… one more thing… You and Mike came up with the choreographies for the pilot when I was pregnant, but… do you think you could teach the moves to the actors? I know it's a lot to ask but it's the pilot and… I don't trust anyone else than you with this."
"I would love to, honey! But then you would need to care of Sofia while I teach them…"
"Yes, of course" I say.
"Then it's settled!" She replies.
"Thank you, Britt…"
I capture her lips in another kiss. I really have the most supportive wife in the world.
A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER – AT PARAMOUNT
"Britt should be here any minute to teach the choreographies to the cast, I'm going to check if she has arrived" I tell Artie.
As I'm walking around set, I spot Brittany busy chatting with Naya. The actress is holding our daughter in her arms and that scene is pretty surreal to me. That girl looks so much like me, especially in that cheerio uniform… Watching her, in that "Santana's outfit" as Artie calls it, holding my daughter and talking to my wife… it kind of feels like my past is meeting my present. As if the 16 year old version of me was getting a glimpse of what her future life could be like. If only I would have known at 16 that some day I would end up marrying Britt and having a child with her…
Brittany suddenly notices me and smiles in my direction while Naya waves at me. I wave back at the actress and watch my wife walking up to me, with Sofia back in her arms.
"Hi you!" she says, kissing my lips, before handing me our daughter.
"Hi honey…" I reply. "Hi mija, I missed you!" I say, kissing my baby girl's forehead.
"And you didn't miss me?" Britt asks with a pout.
"I always miss you!" I say with a chuckle. "So… Sofia seemed completely captivated by Naya?"
"Yes, I believe our little girl just made a new friend, didn't you peanut? Did you see? She smiled at Naya the whole time, it was so cute!" She laughs. "I think it's because she looks like you."
I don't know if I should take this as a compliment or if I should be offended that my own child cannot tell her mama apart from other people… But in all fairness, that woman looks like my twin.
LATER - AT PARAMOUNT
While Brittany is teaching the dance numbers to the cast, I'm sitting in my office with Sofia and Artie.
"Artie… You have spent more time with the cast than I did… could you tell me more about Naya?" I suddenly ask.
I'm really curious to know more about this girl. She made an impression on both my wife… AND my baby and she's going to play me after all. The world is going to know Santana Lopez through her. God, I hope she won't screw it up…
"Naya… Well, I absolutely love her!" He says.
"Really?" I ask, curious.
"Yes! She's really great to work with. Very professional… always on time… and when we rehearsed, not only she knew all her lines by heart, but she even knew the others'! What else to say… she has a great singing voice, as you know! I was there when she recorded her songs at the studio and I was truly impressed. And… she blows my mind every time she acts! First, the resemblance with you is disturbing as hell! I mean… the other day she was in the choir room, wearing the cheerio uniform and I actually called her Santana by mistake! And you will see it for yourself but when she gets into the role, she actually manages to sound like you! It's FREAKY, I swear! Oh and everyone here loves her! The cast, the crew… she makes everyone laugh."
After hearing Artie speaking so highly of her - which is actually unusual from him - I'm even more intrigued. Naya's audition tape was very good but I need to see for myself what she's got.
"And she still gets along with Heather?" I ask.
"They are always hanging out together so I would assume so." He replies.
NEXT DAY - AT HOME
While Sofia is napping, Brittany is sitting at our desk, doing paperwork again. As I pass next to her, minding my own business, I feel her grabbing my arm and pulling me towards her, making me sit on her lap. Before I can say anything, she traps me into a long kiss that becomes hotter by the second. Her tongue is dancing with mine and I feel her hand moving slowly up my thigh. I don't know what's up with her lately with all these kissing attacks but I'm definitely not complaining… As I let out a moan I can't suppress, I feel her smiling against my lips. Her hand keeps moving up my belly and over my breast, which drives me crazy. She places her other hand on my cheek to pull me closer.
I feel really hot all of a sudden and I reluctantly pull away from the kiss. "Honey… Quinn is going to be here any minute…" I say.
But she doesn't reply and just kisses me some more while her hands keep caressing my body, under my clothes this time. God, why is she doing this to me? How the hell am I going to focus on writing scripts with Quinn after… this.
I hear the doorbell ring and I break the kiss out of reflex, left with her lusty eyes looking at me. I'm seriously considering the option to just pretend that no one is home but I know that Quinn would not buy it. Besides I think that I left our car just in front of the house, dammit! While I'm debating with myself on what my next move should be, Brittany kisses the corner of my mouth and whispers in my ear: "let's continue this tonight…"
I sigh. Tonight seems like an awful long time away.
A FEW DAYS LATER - AT PARAMOUNT
We have finally starting shooting the pilot and so far, it's going pretty well. I know that Artie had a hard time to film the choreographies because it's a lot of things to coordinate but he got what he needed.
I'm finally about to see Naya act, as she's up next for her scene.
As soon as Artie screams "action", Naya is transforming into… well… into me. I attentively observe her facial expressions, her body language… I'm also carefully listening to the tone of her voice when she's verbalizing the words I wrote in the script and… I'm completely blown away and God knows that I don't get easily impressed. But that girl is good! Especially now that I know that everyone finds her sweet, it's quite amazing how bitchy she manages to sound when throwing the insults I wrote in the script… A true Santana Lopez!
A/N: Are you still here, guys? Since this Thursday is the one year anniversary of our beloved Naya's passing, I wanted to make her more present in this chapter and post it just on time so people can read it on that day if they wish. It's one of the many ways I will honour her this week. Honestly... I'm just as sad as I was one year ago, if not more… So I send hugs to whoever misses her as well. One remark: even though on the real show, Santana does not have any line in the pilot (I still can't believe that she was just a background character back then!), I figured it would be different if Santana was the one writing the script... ha ha! Any comment about this chapter? Thank you in advance for your feedback, it's always very helpful!
