More Brittana and Brittana+Mateo fluff coming up.
Would you all like to see the award show in Santana's view or in Brittany's?
After arriving at the house and jumping under a hot shower after they all rinsed off most of the mud, Brittany parks her ATV beside Puck's truck after Mateo almost fell asleep in the garage leaving the boys and Mercedes to lock back up and turns around to look at Santana. ''He still awake?'' She asks.
Santana shakes her head feeling her son's helmet covered head leaning on her back and smiles slightly. ''No he is definitely knocked out.'' she smiles as Brittany chuckles and watches her climb off of the ATV after making sure she pulled the handbrake, she feels the weight against her back lessen as Brittany picks Mateo up after carefully unbuckling him and jumps off herself.
She bites her lip as she notices her son just continue his nap while snuggled into Brittany's hold and reaches forward to gently take off his helmet, she places the helmet on the ATV and takes him into her own arms kissing his head as he sighs contently. ''Take a nap mi corazón.'' She murmurs as she follows Brittany to the tent, she crouches down with him still tucked in her arms and crawls in thanking Brittany softly as she holds it open for her.
She tucks him in after taking off his jacket and throws it into the other section along with his shoes, she kisses his forehead as he immediately grabs his teddy bear and smiles lovingly. ''Te amo mijo.'' She murmurs after running her hand through his hair, she crawls back out after grabbing her jacket and walks over to Brittany building the campfire. ''Need any help?''
Brittany shakes her head as she uses the flint and steel to start the fire, she leans back as it sparks up at the second try watching a small flame start up and stands back up. ''All done.'' She murmurs. ''Want to drink something?''
''Is it too early for a crown and sprite?'' Santana asks chuckling, Brittany shakes her head and smiles slightly.
''It's almost four, I think it's fine now.'' She walks over to the table as Santana laughs and grabs the crown, sprite and a cup, she grabs herself a can of coke after mixing Santana's drink and walks back to the Latina watching the fire start up. ''Here.'' She murmurs holding the cup out.
''Need help cooking?'' Santana asks softly as she takes a sip of her drink, Brittany turns to look at her after grabbing the small first aid kit she brought with her and smiles.
''The boys and Mercedes will grab us something from a local diner tonight, we all didn't feel like cooking but I would love your help for breakfast or lunch tomorrow.'' She leans back in her seat as Santana just nods her head with a grin and looks at the fire. ''May I ask a question?''
''You don't have to ask.'' Santana breaths out as she turns her head to look at her. ''Ask away Britt.'' She watches her contemplate, still facing the fire and raises an eyebrow already knowing what she wants to ask.
Brittany clears her throat feeling Santana's eyes burn in the side of her head and turns to look at her. ''What made you open up your own cupcake and catering service?''
Santana smiles slightly and raises an eyebrow. ''That is not the original question you wanted to ask.'' She tells her smiling slightly. ''You won't insult me with that question Britt, just ask it's easier to answer then to start explaining it myself.''
''I will but I would love to hear your answer to this one too.'' Brittany murmurs with a small grin as she takes out the bandage roll she brought with her, she rips the package open after applying a bit of cooling gel on her hand and looks down at her hand.
Santana stands up as she watches her struggle to hold onto the beginning of the bandage and crouches down in front of her making sure Brittany sees it, she gently takes the roll from her and smiles slightly. ''Well I always loved cooking and baking.'' She starts as she starts wrapping the bandage around Brittany's hand.
''During the first year of high school I had my focus set on becoming a doctor, but along the years my interests changed and well after finding out I was pregnant I knew that I couldn't fight through medical school, the hours a doctor makes and raising a little one with only C around to help while she also focused on her own future.''
She glances up at the blonde as she feels her hum and smiles slightly. ''Cedes kind of encouraged me to go to culinary school and mostly take online courses so I could still stay at home with Mat, we both moved to LA together after graduating and well she worked her ass off while also following online courses and hearings at UCLA to make sure we could keep our apartment, feed and buy all the things we need.''
''I worked too but only in the middle of the night after Mat slept through the night and she was at home, I just stood in a 24/7 store but C definitely earned the most during that time.'' She breaths out as she grabs the tape to fasten the bandage. ''After I graduated I had no idea where to go or what to do, until Mercedes came back with an order from one of her colleagues exclaiming that everyone loved the cupcakes I made for her last day at the diner and that her colleague would love to order more for her coming birthday.''
''And that's how it started?'' Brittany asks softly as she feels Santana's cool fingertips graze her wrist after the taped the bandage.
Santana nods her head and smiles. ''And that's how it started.'' She confirms. ''It was kind of difficult at first, but now almost two years later I have regular customers, new ones coming in every once in a while and social media also allows me to advertise and boost my little one woman baking and catering service.''
''So you and Mercedes met in high school? Or did you know each other beforehand?''
''We went to the same elementary but never really talked or hung out.'' Santana breaths out chuckling. ''The first year and a half of high school went on the same, C belonged to the geeks, she loved school choir and was a member of the book club and I was head cheerleader so the complete opposite.''
''I never bullied her like other peers did, I just didn't feel the need to act like people wanted me to just because I was popular.'' Santana breaths out. ''But we just had different groups of friends and just never interacted aside from some moments in class.''
''What changed?'' Brittany asks curiously.
Santana licks her lips and chuckles. ''She saw right through me.'' She breaths out. ''I struggled with a lot of things during high school, but the biggest struggle was coming to terms with my sexuality.''
''I am definitely not proud of this small chapter of my life, but.'' She takes a deep breath and slowly stands back up, she walks back to her chair feeling Brittany's eyes follow her and takes a big sip of her drink. ''I tried to turn myself back to being 'normal''' She breaths out air quoting the last word. ''I grew up in a religious household and I had to do whatever my parents told me to do, mostly it was just bringing home the best grades and keep up my success with the cheerleader team but the older I got the more they wanted.''
''So instead of allowing you to experience things on your own, they wanted you to live the life they had in vision for you.'' Brittany breaths out frowning.
Santana nods her head and sighs. ''Yeah, but I started to rebel against those rules.'' She adds cracking a small grin. ''They forbade me going to parties and such but with the help of one of the girls on my team, I could go and enjoy drinking and partying with the other students while they thought we were at her house studying.''
She smiles slightly as Brittany chuckles and leans back in her seat watching the fire. ''During one of the parties someone invited Mercedes and her friends too, while most of the teens around were drunk out of their minds, I stood somewhere in a corner sipping on a drink watching several girls on the dance floor just letting loose until C sneaked up beside me.''
''The first thing she said.'' Santana shakes her head and chuckles. ''Not even hello or something, but just damn Lopez, I already thought such but could you dress any gayer? Your hairstyle makes the look complete.''
Brittany laughs softly and shakes her head. ''Short hair?''
''No same hairstyle I normally wear outside of school.'' Santana breaths out laughing. ''At school I had a signature high ponytail, but outside of school I wore them down, only different that night was that I curled it a bit and combed most of it to one side.''
''I cursed her out but the second I turned to her, I am sure my face showed some kind of utter shock because she immediately softened and that caused me to shut up too.'' She turns to Brittany and bites her lip. ''I am a weepy drunk so that a girl that barely knows me, saw right through the act I put up to keep my parents pleased and to fool everyone else shocked me so bad that I teared up almost immediately.''
''Instead of teasing me though, Mercedes just pulled me out of the house and to her car.'' Santana whispers with a small grin. ''We spend that night just talking, she was the first person who really listened to me and instead of judging she just held me while I cried and promised me that things will get better.'' She locks eyes with the blonde and shrugs. ''That night was the start of our friendship.''
''We all can see the strong bond the both of you have.'' Brittany whispers with a small grin. ''Along the years your friendship definitely turned in family.''
''Yeah that's for sure.'' Santana replies after taking a sip. ''We both grew up with no siblings but after we started to really talk, we noticed how much we have in common, definitely not family wise because her dad is definitely one of the best out here and also became an adult I look up to but she struggled a lot with mobbing the second we became friends I told everyone to leave her alone unless they wanted to deal with me.''
''Mat will also grow up knowing that Jackson, Cedes's dad is his granddad and that Cedes is his aunt.'' She adds with a small smile. ''My parents kicked me out the second they noticed that I was pregnant and disowned me on the spot, Jack and Cedes took me in and well they might not be blood related, but just like you say to the boys, they are family none the less.''
''We sadly can't pick out our family.'' Brittany murmurs after taking the last sip of her coke. ''But we can chose who stays in our lives and if your parents don't accept your life like you want it to run or support you like they have to, they don't deserve you as their daughter Santana.''
Santana just smiles and nods her head. ''Yeah they aren't a part of our lives anymore, the day they kicked me out, was the last day I heard something from them.'' She locks eyes with the blonde and raises an eyebrow. ''Now want to ask your original question?''
Brittany throws her empty can towards the trash bag they placed beside the table with drinks, grinning as the can flies in and turns to Santana hearing her soft chuckle. ''I honestly have no idea how to word my question.'' She confesses softly.
Santana nods her head knowing she is afraid to insult her in some way and forces a small smile. ''Well.'' She rubs the back of her head, downing her drink in one go and sighs. ''Let's just say that my baby boy, is the aftermath of me trying to please my parents once again.'' She whispers. ''As much as I regret what I did back then, I will never regret having him.''
''You can regret the cause of how it happened, but everyone sees how much you love him and he loves you Santana.'' Brittany whispers as she reaches out to pat her thigh softly as she sees her bounce her legs nervously. ''What did they forced you to do?''
''Date one of my mom's colleague's son.'' Santana breaths out with an eye roll. ''He was the linebacker of our football team and I already turned him down more than once, but the second he found out that my mom and his worked together he just went to her and started gushing and shit.''
''So after a long fight which resulted in the three of us screaming at each other, I had to give in because they got fed up and told me that if I don't date him, I would be grounded until graduation.''
''Graduation?'' Brittany asks shocked. ''How old were you?''
''Fifteen.'' Santana grumbles as she stands up, she walks over to the table to mix herself another drink knowing she will need it and looks over her shoulder. ''Want another coke?''
She grabs a can as Brittany hums and walks back over, she sits back down after handing Brittany her drink and pulls her feet up on the chair after kicking her shoes off. ''So I agreed to go on a date with him and it was fine, we just went out to watch a movie and the second he tried to wrap his arm around my shoulder and I stopped him he accepted it.'' She continues as she rubs her legs as a cold wind hits her legs.
''Wait.'' Brittany whispers as she notices her shiver, she places her can down and stands up. ''I will add some more logs, you are freezing.'' She walks over to the truck to grab a few logs and eyes her leather jacket, she shrugs her shoulder grabbing it too and walks back to the campfire.
She walks back to her chair after adding the logs to the campfire and stops in front of Santana. ''Here.'' She murmurs with a small grin as she covers her legs with her jacket. ''Hopefully the wind dies down soon.''
Santana smiles slightly, thanking her softly as she watches her walk back to her chair and slides her arms through the jacket. She glances at the blonde as she leans her chin on her knees, trying to ignore her heart thumping wildly as Brittany just winks and clears her throat.
''Continue?''
''If you want to.'' Brittany whispers. ''You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to Santana.''
''I want to.'' Santana reassures just as softly as she shoots her a small smile, she turns back to the fire as Brittany nods her head and licks her lips. ''We went on many dates for two or three months after the first but I still kept my distance, we only talked about school and his life but barely about my private life and only about cheerleading or my grades.''
She bites her lip as she notices Brittany just raise a surprising eyebrow and shrugs. ''He never asked and I just didn't want to talk, hell I didn't want to date him in the first place and during those few months he managed to hold my hand once and that was a morning where I was deadly tired and he surprised me on my way into our school building.''
''Effectively firing up the rumor around school and well after some kid running a schools newspaper asked him if we were dating and he said yes, everyone suddenly knew.'' She continues with a soft sigh. ''Mercedes already knew why I went through that hell but nobody else knew and after that day my co-captain and also former friend completely freaked out and started to turn the other girls against me because she had a crush on him.''
''What a bitch.'' Brittany breaths out frowning, Santana laughs softly and nods her head.
''Yeah Lucy was something else but I could handle her bitchy ass, the other girls quickly changed their minds after I made them clear that even though she was co-captain, that I am still the one in control.'' She crosses her arms on her knees, leaning her chin on top of them and bites her lip.
''That went on for another three weeks until the quarterback threw a party after winning some important rival game, I didn't want to go but after Sam, that was his name, called my parents and begged them to allow me to go because it would be good for our reputation, they told me to go and my mom practically dragged me into her car to drive me over.'' She continues softly.
''After she drove off telling me to not do something stupid, I walked into the house and the first thing I grabbed was a bottle of jack and down three shot glasses.'' She bites her lip as Brittany turns to her in shock and nods her head. ''Now thinking back, I agree that, that was the dumbest thing to do with a horny boy just waiting to grab his chance but that day I didn't care.''
''I don't think I will like what's coming next.'' Brittany grumbles softly, Santana forces a smile and shakes her head.
''I hate this part too.'' She breaths out. ''Sam was somewhere doing god knows what with his teammates for about two hours and I befriended several bottles and just hung out with several girls from the team until he staggered over.''
''I honestly don't remember much from that night and I am kinda glad, but that what I still remember is..'' She shakes her head taking a big sip of her drink and leans back gazing up at the sky. ''All I remember is that he tugged me up the stairs after making sure the people we knew were occupied and led me into one of the empty bed rooms, I told him no at first after he tried to kiss me but after he told me that he will be the only one in my life who will ever show me love I just gave in.''
''In hindsight I know that he manipulated me to get me into bed, but in that moment I only had the words that no one will love me swarming in my head.'' She whispers as Brittany pinches the bridge of her nose, she drops her head on her knees as her voice cracks and licks her lips. ''Now I am just glad that my baby boy is a male copy of me and has no features of him.''
Brittany stands up as she hears her voice crack once again and walks over as she hears her muffled sniffle, she crouches down in front of her as she keeps her face buried in her knees and gently places her hands on her calves over the jacket. ''I can understand that you are glad that you don't remember much from that night but I hope you know that what he said isn't true.''
''Everyone can see that Mercedes loves you as her sister but most importantly, your little boy loves you so much Santana.'' She murmurs. ''I know back then it sounded like it was the truth because your parents are assholes, but look at what you have build up for yourself.'' She continues softly as Santana slowly looks up with red rimmed eyes, she nods her head to the tent and smiles lovingly.
''Just look at your little boy, you raised him on your own Santana and he definitely knows how to behave better than some other people around.'' She squeezes her calves softly as she just cracks a smile and locks eyes with her. ''He will grow up knowing how much the family you build yourself loves him and that is all he will ever talk about, he doesn't need a deadbeat dad or two controlling grandparents, all he needs is you and the people you allow not only in his but also in your life.''
''I don't even think you know how much that means to me, to hear that coming from someone who is not Mercedes or Jackson.'' Santana whispers softly as she gazes into sparkling blue orbs, Brittany smiles patting her leg softly and stands back up.
''Oh I will gladly repeat myself time after time, just to tell you that San.'' She murmurs with a grin, she takes Santana's empty cup and holds it up. ''You want a refill?''
Santana shakes her head feeling the alcohol warm up her insides even more and smiles slightly. ''No I think I will take a coke for now, maybe I will take another mix tonight.'' She watches her walk to the table and clears her throat. ''Hey Britt?'' She asks as she stands up, slowly walking over after sliding the jacket properly on.
''Yes?'' Brittany asks with a smile as she turns to look at her, Santana just shakes her head stepping even closer as she reaches her and slowly wraps her arms around her waist.
''Just thank you.'' She whispers as she feels the blonde's arms wrap around her shoulder.
''Anytime.'' Brittany just murmurs as she feels Santana's head fit perfectly under her chin, she looks down at she feels her pull back, slowly loosening her hold around her shoulder and smiles slightly as she just looks up at her with a curious look on her face. ''What?''
''How come you just accept things how they are and don't question further?'' Santana asks softly.
''What do you mean?''
''I am sure you did the math.'' Santana breaths out. ''So you know I gave birth at the age of sixteen, normal people would have some kind of judgment, but you just listen, tell me one thing I only heard from C and Jackson till now and continue like nothing happened.''
Brittany smiles slightly and runs a hand through her hair as Santana takes a small step back. ''Do you know how old my mom is?''
Santana shakes her head and frowns in confusion. ''No, I know she went viral after the song you published but you never mentioned her age.'' She locks eyes with Brittany and raises an eyebrow. ''What has that to do with my question?''
Brittany just shrugs and smiles. ''My mom is twice my age San.'' She chuckles as her eyebrows raise in surprise and bites her lip. ''My dad was thirty-five the day they met, she was fifteen and quite rebellious.'' She explains softly.
''He worked at his dad's restaurant here and she was one of the regulars along with a few of her friends, what was planned to be a one night stand for them due to the attraction they felt turned into an eleven year long relationship and a baby girl.''
She cracks two cans of coke open, holding one for Santana out as her eyebrows raise in surprise and sighs. ''His parents forced him to marry her the second word got out that he impregnated a teen, my mom's parents were against it and disowned her but she still went through knowing it would stop the talks around the city and that I would grow up with less worries.''
''Well she thought I would grow up with less worries, the second dad found out that I was a girl and not a boy like he wanted, he quickly pulled back and only came home deep in the night and left early in the morning blaming his work.'' She smiles sadly as Santana just scoffs and hums. ''Ever since I can think, I know that I only had one parent who gives a shit and that is Ma. He just started to be more apparent in my life the second I joined the football team in elementary to please him and continued in high school because I didn't want to listen to his bitching.''
''What changed?'' Santana asks softly.
''He didn't accept my dreams and tried to talk me out of them, his dream is for me to take over running my granddad's restaurant but as much as I like to cook, I just can't see myself standing in the kitchen my whole life.'' Brittany replies with a sad grin.
''What made them divorce if you don't mind me asking.''
Brittany shakes her head and sighs. ''Their marriage was never about love, it was just about my granddad forcing dad. I think I never had dinner with him and Ma together, Ma made dinner for us, ate with me, sat down to help me with my homework and such, he just visited some matches but left right after to go god knows where.''
''They divorced shortly before my tenth birthday because my granddad passed away two months before, his hold over him was over and so was their marriage.'' She breaths out. ''And I am honestly glad that it ended because right after I noticed ma finally be happy and stop walking around like she had the chance to step on egg shells, I noticed that a weight lifted off of her shoulders and as much as she tried to make me not hate my dad, along the years I started to do just that because the only time he wanted to meet up was whenever he had a new bitch and she wanted to get to know his child.''
''I don't mean to sound so harsh, but why don't he just hide his past?''
Brittany chuckles and shrugs. ''I asked him the same a few months ago but received no answer, I will be glad if he keeps me out of his life and out of his mouth around new women he meets but ma told me I can decide myself if I want to go to him or not, after our last meeting I will be glad if I never see him again.''
She looks up as she hears two engines sounding through the otherwise quiet air around them and turns to Santana. ''Dinner is here.''
Santana chuckles and nods her head. ''I will wake Mat.''
''Lemonade for him during dinner?'' Brittany asks, she walks over to the pitcher as Santana nods her head and smiles as she walks towards the tent after squeezing her hand softly knowing it's a silent thank you.
She fills a cup with lemonade as she hears the ATV's near the camp and grabs two bottles of beer for the boys, she fills a cup with rum and coke for Mercedes and places the drinks besides each chair.
''Dinner time!'' She laughs as she hears Mercedes holler and turns to look at the three as they walk up to her.
''Santana just entered the tent to wake Mateo, he took a much needed nap after falling asleep on our way here.'' She raises an eyebrow and smiles. ''What took the three of you so long?''
''We showed Cedes our town.'' Jake breaths out as he takes a sip of his beer. ''Did you manage to relax too?''
''Yeah we just sat around the fire and talked.''
''Talked?'' Puck asked noticing the glassiness in his best friends eyes.
''Yeah about our pasts and just some small talk.'' Brittany replies not about to tell Santana's story, Mercedes raises an eyebrow and tilts her head.
''Whole past?'' She bites her lip as Brittany hums and hands Puck her cup, she turns on her heels to walk over to her best friends tent to check on her and crawls in after tapping it. ''S?'' She asks softly as she notices her best friend just laying beside Mat with her head propped up on her hand to look at him still napping.
''Hey talk to me.'' She whispers as she hears her soft sniffle, she lays down behind her and hugs her from behind.
''I told her everything.'' Santana just chokes out softly. ''Just too much old wounds opened at once.''
''So this has nothing to do with her reaction?'' Mercedes asks slowly relaxing, she cracks a smile as Santana immediately shakes her head and snickers softly. ''Good, I don't think I will get away with body slamming Britt.''
Santana covers her mouth to muffle her surprised laugh and turns on her side to face her best friend. ''Please don't.'' She whispers giggling. ''She reacted with so much understanding, it's quite weird hearing that come from a teen.''
''I don't think they are normal teens.'' Mercedes breaths out chuckling. ''Just like we weren't.'' She gently wipes away the tear tracks on Santana's cheek and raises an eyebrow. ''What did she say?''
''I told her what happened with Sam and why I decided to drop my defenses that night.'' Santana whispers softly. ''The only thing she told me that she can understand why I felt like that back then, but hopes that I know that I am loved now and that I only have to look at you and Mat to see what success I have build up for myself.''
''She isn't wrong.'' Mercedes whispers with a grin. ''You can be hella proud of yourself babe, I sure am and I know dad and Mat are too.'' She kisses her cheek as Santana just smiles and pulls back. ''Wake up baby boy, I will make sure the fire is running and our food is on plates.''
She crawls back out as Santana just hums softly turning back around to face Mateo and jogs over to the fire and the three surrounding it, she slides to a stop in front of Brittany ignoring her shocked look and hugs her tightly chuckling as she grunts. ''Just thank you Britt.''
Brittany just smiles and hugs her back. ''Don't mention it Cedes.''
