''Let's go for a walk.''
''What happened Britt?'' Santana asks softly after they walked along the pond for half an hour in complete silence.
Brittany looks at the water and sighs. ''You told us that your mom works for child protection service and that you joined her often back in your old hometown right?'' She asks, she glances at Santana as she just hums softly and bites her lip. ''What happens when a child is neglected, in danger for possible abuse and just in a household that does more harm than good?''
Santana stops in her tracks turning to look at her and bites her lip. ''Who are we talking about?'' She asks softly noticing the way Brittany tries to avoid eye contact, she notices her tense and gently reaches out to grab her arm.
Brittany glances at her hand her whole body heating up at the single touch and gulps thickly. ''Before I tell you, can you promise me one thing?''
''Of course, what is it Britt?''
''Promise me to listen but to not act on your instinct for now? I just need to get some major shit off of my chest and you were the first person I thought of telling.'' Brittany whispers with a soft sigh as she looks at the ducks swimming around in the pond. ''I know that all alarm bells in your head will ring right after I finish talking but I..'' She cuts herself off as her voice cracks and turns to look at Santana smiling sadly as she sees her eyes widen slightly knowing her tear filled eyes throw her off. ''Just promise me that it will stay our secret for a while?''
Santana slowly nods her head fearing for what she is about to hear and sighs softly. ''I promise.'' She whispers softly keeping their eyes locked to show her she means it, after a few seconds she sees her slowly nodding her head knowing she convinced her that she is telling her the truth and follows her to the pond sitting down on the grass right.
Brittany pulls her knees up to her chest right after she sat down and looks at the ducks gracefully swimming around in the pond. ''I know it's unfair of me to ask this kind of thing knowing it will be hard to keep it a secret but.'' She glances at Santana and sighs softly. ''Ever since we met I have this weird feeling around you, a feeling I never felt before and as much as it scared me at first it's definitely very welcomed.''
''That feeling is definitely mutual.'' Santana whispers softly as they lock eyes, Brittany just smiles a bit and looks back at the pond.
''I don't even know where to start.'' She breaths out with a soft sigh, she leans her chin on her knees and sighs. ''Let's start with the fact that I didn't even know I was a big sister, not until my mom walked into the house carrying an almost one year old Mason.''
''Excuse me what?'' Santana asks shocked.
Brittany just hums and laughs humorlessly. ''Yeah that was the exact same thing I asked her that day.'' She glances at the water sparking in the sun in front of her and gulps. ''I was thirteen at the time and she always left me to my own devices for days on end, I managed to take care of myself and learned how to cook thanks to Cedes her mom but the second she walked into the house with him I knew I had to learn how to take care of a child while still being a child myself.''
She folds her hands together on her knees leaning her chin on them and runs her finger over the engraved Best big sister ring Mason gave her for her sixteenth birthday. ''I had to learn quickly because only a few hours after she brought him home she left for almost a week.'' She breaths out with a soft huff, she glances at Santana and smiles sadly as she notices her listening intently. ''I think if we count all the days she was home for him together, we would reach about maybe a year and a few months since she brought him home.''
''Is that why you took over all the important things a child needs to learn?'' Santana asks curiously. ''Yesterday at the mall you taught him all day manners, you scolded him when needed and at the ranch you called it a night the second you noticed he was starting to get tired.''
Brittany nods her head and sighs softly turning back to look at the pond. ''Yeah I took over the mother role for him, I didn't want him to grow up in the shitty world I grew up in because he is way to amazing for that.'' She drops her head on her hands and gulps thickly. ''At first I managed to play this shit off and every time he asked I made up an excuse, but since a few months he really starts to notice things and every time she is home and he hears her the first thing he does is run into my room and stay with me so she doesn't come near him.''
''Well can't blame him.'' Santana mutters a bit shocked at what she hears. ''He never had the chance to build up a relationship with her, all he knows is that he has an awesome sister who will go out of her way to make him happy and he shows you that with his actions.''
''This morning he asked me why he can't have me as his mom.'' Brittany mutters the shock of hearing his question still sitting deep, she grabs a twig laying near her and absentmindedly snaps it in small pieces to keep her hands occupied. ''Shocked the hell out of me but after our eventful morning I can understand why he feels so shitty.''
''What happened this morning?'' Santana asks softly already dreading her answer, Brittany scoffs softly and shakes her head.
''It's literally always the same thing that happens and the both of us see her and not only hear her come in, she talks shit, eats the shit I buy and tries to tell me that she is the one paying for everything so she can grab whatever she likes.'' She looks back at the pond keeping her eyes on the ducks and smiles sadly. ''This morning it escalated a bit tho and Mason heard it, normally I manage to hide it from him but he wasn't in his or mine room like he would normally run to the second she is there.''
''It ended in a bit of a screaming match or well she screamed, I kept my voice low being mindful of the little ears around.'' She continues softly closing her eyes as she feels Santana's hand on her leg the second her voice cracks. ''I think I struck a nerve the second I told her that she doesn't deserve to have Mason around and that he would be better of without her.''
''Did she hit you?'' Santana asks carefully, she glances at Brittany's red cheek noticing the small cut and gulps thickly. ''Is that the reason why your cheek is so red and there is a cut right in the middle of the redness?''
Brittany slowly touches her cheek hissing as she touches the cut and bites her lip. ''I didn't even know there was a cut.'' She whispers shocked. ''But yeah she did but I can take her shit, Mason heard everything though and ran in right after it happened.'' She continues shaking her head in anger. ''She tried to grab him so I probably left a bruise on her wrist the second I prevented that and told her that she should leave forever the next time she left the house.''
She turns to Santana and shrugs. ''I ran up the stairs to calm Maze right after but she left, I doubt it's for good though but I am afraid of the consequences happening next time she is home.''
''Did she ever harm Mason?'' Santana asks biting her lip, feeling a weird protective emotion fill her gut at the thought of the little boy getting harmed.
Brittany immediately shakes her head and turns to look at her. ''Hell no I will never let that happen.'' She replies immediately. ''Aside from trying to grab him from time to time, she doesn't really become the chance to be near to him because I am always there and he hides behind me clearly showing her that he doesn't want to be near her.''
She blows out a breath and looks down at her hands quickly avoiding gazing Santana's intense eyes. ''I don't even know what will happen if she ever manage to touch him, I think I will cause her more pain then she caused for him the past six years.''
''I can understand that.'' Santana starts softly. ''But please don't lower yourself to her level.'' She continues. ''Mason can bear losing her, but he can't bear losing you Brittany.'' She tells her softly as she squeezes her thigh softly. ''She is never present in his life and missed out on a lot of amazing things but you stood by his side or behind him, probably even cheering him on during certain moments in his life.''
She turns her body so she is completely facing Brittany and gently grabs her fidgeting hands in her own, she squeezes them softly silently asking her to look at her and smiles sadly as troubles blue orbs lock on her own. ''The first years in a kids life are the ones that make the biggest impact and all he knows is that he has an amazing sister always there to support him his whole life, I only met him yesterday and had the honor of watching you in the big sister role and I can tell you that Mason feels as lucky and happy as he shows he is Brittany.''
She licks her lips as she sees her eyes fill with tears before she can push them back knowing she always tries to show everyone that she is tough and sighs. ''I am an only child so I can only imagine how you felt the second your life changed when you were thirteen, but you didn't even hesitate and took on the role of a mother.'' She tells her smiling sadly. ''Normal teens wouldn't give a damn and just go on with their lives, but you threw your own life around to make him fit into it and you build your own little family with the group.''
''That's not the same though.'' Brittany murmurs sadly. ''I can't show him what parental love is.''
''Not every child needs parental love Brittany.'' Santana tells her gently. ''Mason doesn't need parents, he only needs his big sister and the crazy big group of friends who have his best interest at heart too. I know I am new in this city and also in your group of friends, but from what I can tell, Puck, Cedes, Q and T adore him and you bring out the biggest smile and the cutest pout out on his face.''
Brittany smiles slightly and nods her head. ''Yeah they really love him and spoil him rotten, they really act like his bigger siblings too.'' She mutters softly. ''Puck is the first one who knew because we know each other since we were little and always offers to take him so I have a bit of time for myself, I know he is safe with them so I don't have to worry and I know they will keep Finn and Rachel's questions to a minimum so I am not worried about them joining the group at the park today either.''
''The second Mercedes found out she started inviting us over to her house and well her parents don't really know what is going on but I am sure her mom has an idea and taught me some easy recipes to cook which don't take much time and much ingredients so he is fed and I don't have to work a lot while still going to school and taking care of him.''
''You might not always feel like it but you managed to build a strong support system around you Brittany.'' Santana tells her while keeping their eyes locked. ''But while Mason is having the time of his life, I notice that you are slowly breaking and sometimes you have to fall back on that support too.''
''I am f..''
Santana shakes her head immediately cutting her off and raises an eyebrow. ''You don't have to tell me that you are fine Brittany, I can see that the opposite is the case.'' She softly squeezes her hands as she frowns and sighs. ''You act tough and like nothing can break you, but even the biggest rock can crack under enough force.'' She shakes her head again as Brittany opens her mouth to object and smiles sadly. ''I am in no way telling you that you are weak, but you are slowly reaching your breaking point Brittany and what happened today caused the first crack in that hard ass shell you build around yourself.''
''It's fucking scary to listen how easily you figured me out in not even four weeks of knowing me.'' Brittany breaths out with a frown.
Santana chuckles softly and shrugs. ''Everyone needs a person in their lives who can see right through them, I might be yours.'' She tells her with a sad smile. ''But I am sensing that this whole conversation is not about you letting me in, there is a deeper meaning behind it right?''
Brittany blows out a breath and slowly nods her head. ''What happens if I decide to call in child protection?''
Santana leans back to look at the pond and gulps thickly. ''The one thing I think you don't want to hear.'' She tells her softly. ''The both of you lived through years of neglect and well you live through abuse too.'' She turns back to look at her and smiles sadly. ''They will make sure Mason will be placed into another home or foster care till he is old enough, you are seventeen so I don't think they can do much for you.''
Brittany drops her head and shakes it. ''Yeah that's not going to happen.'' She mutters sadly. ''As selfish as this might sound, but I am now allowing them to take my little brother and force me to let the only family in my life go without a fight.''
''That doesn't sound selfish at all and while some workers may understand my mom being one of them, they can't do much because technically you are still underage and in no condition to take care of a kid while going to school in every ones eyes.'' Santana tells her sadly. ''They won't care about the fact that you are already doing it ever since you were thirteen.''
''What happens if I go to them after I turned eighteen?'' Brittany asks softly while looking at her with glistening eyes, Santana runs a hand through her hair keeping her other one connected with Brittany's and sighs.
''That's hard to tell but I think they will hear you out and Mason might gets to have a say in it too, I have a bit of knowledge but this goes way past the things I know Britt.'' She tells her sadly. ''I sadly can't tell you what will really happen and I also can't ask my mom because she will start asking questions.''
''Yeah please don't do that.'' Brittany breaths out quickly angst filling her voice, Santana shakes her head and sighs.
''I won't, I promised you at the beginning of our conversation that whatever you will tell me, will stay between us and I won't break that promise and bring more pain in your life Brittany.''
Brittany slowly shakes her head and sighs in relief. ''Thank you.'' She whispers softly, she runs a hand down her face trying to get rid of the tears still gathered in her eyes and slowly allows her body to relax. ''You don't even know how much this conversation helped me Santana.''
''I am happy to listen whenever you need to talk Brittany.'' Santana mutters with a gently smile. ''And thank you.''
''Thank you?'' Brittany asks in confusion, Santana nods her head and smiles slightly.
''Yes thank you for trusting me enough to tell me about your life and for trusting me enough to have Mason also hanging out with us with me still being the new kid.''
Brittany shrugs her shoulders and chuckles. ''You might still be new to this city but somehow I feel like I know you for years.'' She tells her with a small smile. ''Also Mason adores you since the second he met you, you were all he could talk about before falling asleep last night he really enjoyed riding with you and you made his whole day by sitting beside him and asking about his favorites during lunch at the mall.''
''He belongs to the group and I loved talking to him, he is really intelligent for a boy his age and really well behaved too.'' Santana tells her with a grin. ''You did and still do a damn great job of showing him how to manage life Brittany, I meant every thing I said to you before you are an amazing big sister.''
Brittany just smiles shyly glancing at her watch and sighs softly. ''Talking about Maze, ready to go meet up with the group?'' She stands up offering Santana her hand and helps her up too, she bites her lip glancing at her as they stand still for a few seconds and softly clears her throat blushing a little. ''Hey San?'' She asks softly
''Hey Britt?'' Santana asks with an eyebrow raised noticing her nervous behavior, Brittany gulps turning her body to face her and pulls her in a hug gently brushing her lips over her cheek.
''Thank you.'' She whispers softly.
Santana wraps her arms around her waist feeling her stomach flutter at the sensation of Brittany's lips gracing her skin and tightens her hold around her waist softly. ''Anytime Britt.''