Sorry it took so long to update this, I had some stuff going on recently so I didn't have time to write but the chapter is up now and hopefully I'll get back into a rhythm of updating again.
Chapter 15: We Need an Explanation
"Please tell me I'm asleep right now and just having a bad nightmare and this isn't real" Brittany says while getting off of the bed before beginning to pace around the room.
"This is real babe" I say.
"So what happens now then?" Brittany asks.
"I don't know, I really have no idea" I sigh. I don't know what to do or what to think, this whole thing seems like a complete mess.
"Do you not have any doubts at all after everything Jen put you through in the past?" Brittany asks.
"Yes I do have doubts but it does seem a bit contrived if it isn't true" I state. Jen would have had to go to a lot of lengths for this to be a lie and honestly I just don't think she would.
"I know you want to see the good in people but remember everything she put you through. Maybe this isn't all it seems" Brittany points out.
"Yeah I know but if that is my daughter then I can't completely dismiss her" I state.
"Santana no one would blame you if you wanted to look into things a bit more" Brittany reasons. "It's only natural after how badly Jen broke your heart" she says.
"I'm not saying I'm going to just invite the little girl to our house or anything but surely Jen wouldn't be nasty enough to lie to her own daughter" I say. "That would just be too cruel don't you think?"
"It would be but you don't know yet what the little girl knows" she replies.
"Honey you really should sit down right now before you get too stressed out. The doctor did say that stress isn't good for the baby" I say as Brittany continues to pace around the room.
"Ok I will" Brittany sighs while sitting down on the bed.
"I know this is hard for you but trust me, I don't know how to deal with things either. It's not every day an ex turns up and tells you that you've got a child" I sigh.
"I know but I didn't really want or need drama today. The baby has been moving around non-stop and my back is killing me right now. I just wanted to have a nice afternoon sorting out the room for the baby but now we have to deal with all this" Brittany sighs again.
"I don't want or need the drama either Brittany, I've got a big day at work tomorrow so I wouldn't have complained about a relaxing afternoon either but we do need to deal with things now" I reply. I appreciate Brittany isn't feeling well today but we can't just pretend Jen never arrived especially if this child is my daughter.
"We're fighting over something right now that isn't our fault, why does that always happen?" Brittany says.
"I don't know babe but we're going to sort it out eventually, I promise" I state.
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Monday 7th October 2019
Brittany and I are both in the kitchen having breakfast before we get ready to go to work. After our conversation yesterday, we decided to just take some time to calm down and agreed we'd talk about things today. We spent the rest of the afternoon finishing clearing out the guest bedroom before I made us something for dinner.
"Babe…" Brittany says wrapping her arms around me from behind as I stand in front of the sink washing my breakfast dishes.
"Yeah" I smile as I turn around in her arms.
"Can you sit down for a second because I want to talk to you" Brittany replies while removing her arms from around me.
"Sure" I nod before sitting down at the table next to her.
"I'm sorry for being such a brat about things yesterday and I know how hard it is for you" Brittany apologises. "It just seems that every time we finally seem to be getting on track then something else turns up to spoil it."
"I know babe" I nod.
"I don't mind if you have a daughter, that's not what bothers me but what does annoy me is all the uncertainty. If she is your daughter then it'll break your heart that you ever doubted it in the first place and if she isn't your daughter then you're still going to be upset because Jen did something yet again to be a bitch" Brittany says.
"I don't want this to come between us Britt" I say honestly.
"I know and neither do I" Brittany replies.
"Jen left me her number yesterday so I could get in contact with her so I've texted her this morning to see if we can meet once I finish work" I say. "Hopefully she'll tell me more and I can finally find out the truth."
"Did you used to think that Jen cheated on you?" Brittany asks.
"I had a few suspicions about her closeness with Stephen but I don't know if that was just because Jen made me so paranoid all the time. I mean he was married at the time as well and as far as I could see his wife seemed like a nice person" I reply.
"Do you think there is a slight chance the baby could be Stephen's?" she asks.
"Stephen can't have children, I know that for a fact" I state.
"But you think that maybe she still cheated on you with someone else?" Brittany asks.
"I really don't know" I shrug. "I wouldn't be surprised if she did because she was a horrible person but at the same time, I don't really remembering her hanging around with anyone else."
"I see" Brittany nods understanding.
"Jen didn't really have a very large group of friends and when she was particularly close to someone then no one else seemed to be in the picture. Basically when we started dating she only really had me and few friends so it'd surprise me if she was with someone else when she was good friends with Stephen" I say.
"Unless she was just using Stephen as an excuse, maybe when she said she was hanging out with him then it was actually someone else" Brittany suggests.
"That has crossed my mind but I don't really care anymore if she did or didn't cheat on me, I just care about the truth about Emma" I say.
"Emma, is that her name?" Brittany asks.
"Yeah, I would have told you but I was trying not to say her name aloud because then it would be too real. I know it doesn't seem respectful if she is my daughter but I don't want to know all the personal details about her because then it'll make it worse if I find out she isn't my daughter" I say.
"It's completely understandable if you don't want to get too close to the girl until you know the truth" Brittany says just as my phone vibrates indicating a text.
"It's Jen" I say looking at the text. "She's texted me her address and says that we can meet just after five this evening."
"Do you want me to come with you?" Brittany asks.
"No it might be best if I go alone, she might talk more that way. I don't mean to push you out or anything but you saw what she was like on Saturday when she wouldn't even give you her name when I wasn't there" I say.
"That's ok, I understand" Brittany smiles. "Just give me a text when you are leaving her place and I'll make a start on dinner."
"Ok, no problem" I smile back.
"I should go upstairs and change now though" Brittany says while standing up from the table.
"Well I should actually be leaving now, I need to speak to Artie quickly before I start work" I say while following Brittany out of the kitchen.
"I'll see you later then" she smiles as we reach the hall before leaning in to kiss me.
"Yeah I'll see you later, I'll text you when I get a break" I tell her before putting my jacket on.
"Ok" Brittany nods before going upstairs. Once I'm ready I leave the house and head off to work.
XXX
I was so busy at work today that the hours just seemed to fly in and now I'm sitting in my car outside of Jen's house. I'm just taking a few moments to gather myself together before I go over to the door. I'm nervous but it's not about seeing Jen, it's about finding out the truth. I just don't know what I want the truth to be, I mean I'd like to go back to my life with Brittany and our baby but at the same time there's a chance I already have a daughter and I can't not know her if she is indeed my child.
Once I do finally get myself together, I exit the car and head over to the house where I ring the doorbell.
"Hey" Jen says cheerfully before inviting me inside to the living room.
"This isn't a friendly visit and you know it so don't act as if we're friends" I state. "I want to know the truth Jen, I don't know how you expect me to believe you that I've got a daughter. You can't just turn up at my house and say that and expect me to believe it."
"You seemed to believe it yesterday, what changed…actually don't tell me because I already know" Jen says smugly. "Your little wife Bethany has put words in your mouth and now you think Emma isn't your daughter even though you seemed to believe it yesterday."
"My emotions were all over the place yesterday because of the shock of everything but I'm not that stupid Jen. There's basically a fifty-fifty chance of that girl being my daughter. The timing seems like it's appropriate for me to have a daughter but at the same time I never could predict what you got up to especially with Stephen" I say.
"I swear on my daughter's life that Stephen and I never cheated on you. We were only friends and we lost contact for a while before getting together" Jen states. "Also you know Stephen can't have children so it's not even possible for him to be a dad."
"I never thought the child was Stephen's but I do still have reservations about the child even being mine" I admit.
"Why would I lie about something like this, I don't want or need you in my life Santana so why would I be back here claiming you had a child if you didn't?" Jen asks. I know Jen has been a bitch in the past but I don't think she'd ever do something this cruel. Also if she really wanted my money then she'd have come after me in the divorce but honestly she probably gets paid ten times more than I do. I'm just so conflicted over everything.
"Emma is your daughter Santana" Jen states.
"I can't just take your word for it Jen, I need proof" I say seriously.
"Why won't you just believe me?" Jen asks.
"You can't expect me to just believe you like that. This is a big deal Jen so I need proof before I can ever get close to that little girl" I say.
"Look it's going to be hard to prove because she has my surname but she is your daughter" Jen states.
"It doesn't matter what name she has, I need actual proof Jen. I don't just want a copy of a passport because that doesn't prove anything apart from her name and how old she is" I state.
"What other kind of proof then?" Jen asks.
"I want a DNA test" I state seriously.
"You have got to be kidding me, she's four years old and you want me to start getting tests done on her for no reason" Jen says surprised.
"It's hardly lots of tests, I just need to know if my DNA matches her. It'd be as simple as a saliva sample, it's not as if I'm asking for her to get a blood test and for her to be in pain" I reply.
"My daughter is not going through something like that, you need to just grow a pair and admit you have a daughter" Jen says shaking her head. "I knew you wouldn't totally cooperate with me but this is absurd."
"Is it really that shocking after everything you put me through in our marriage?" I ask.
"We're not doing a DNA test, end of discussion" Jen says with finality.
"Ok well if she really is my daughter then you have yourself to blame about her never seeing me because unless I have proof then I don't want any part in this mess. Yes I feel bad for the child but what you're doing is worse so if you don't do this then that little girl will never see me" I state.
"You can't be serious" Jen states in surprise.
"I'm deadly serious" I state. "It might seem cold hearted but there is no way I am getting attached to someone that isn't my daughter so this is all on you. If she is my daughter and you don't do the test then you're the one to blame. I mean you hid her from me for four years anyway so either way you look at it it's all your fault" I say while standing up.
"Santana, just wait a second please" Jen says while also standing up.
"No, I need to go home to my wife and my unborn son. They are my family right now and if you have any sense you'll do the test and tell me if I have a daughter as well" I say while walking to the door. Before Jen can say anything else, I promptly leave the house and head to my car. I quickly text Brittany before driving off.
XXX
"Hey, is everything ok?" Brittany asks tentatively as I walk into the kitchen where she is cooking dinner.
"Not really" I say, tears threatening to fall. "I demanded that Jen do a DNA test but she won't do it and now that child could be my daughter and I'm never going to know her or the truth."
"Oh honey come here" Brittany says hugging me.
"I told her I didn't want any part in this if she doesn't do the test" I say. "I don't want to get attached and then get hurt if she isn't my daughter."
"That's understandable babe, no one would blame you" Brittany says.
"But what if she is my daughter and she thinks I don't want her?" I say worriedly.
"This is all Jen's fault and that little girl is going to know that when she finds out that Jen refused. Also doesn't it just prove Jen is lying if she doesn't agreed to the test?" Brittany asks.
"It could but she might genuinely be worried about Emma" I say.
"Perhaps you just give her some time to think it over and she might finally agree to the test when she knows you're not going to just give in" Brittany suggests.
"I really hope so because I can't bear the thought of Emma thinking I don't want to know her if she really is my daughter" I say.
"I know but this is going to be ok, I'll make sure of it" Brittany says hugging me tighter.
"I appreciate the effort you went to making dinner but I think I'm going to give it a miss right now, I'm just going to have a lie down" I say.
"Ok" Brittany says kissing the top of my head before I go upstairs to lie down.
I must have fallen asleep reasonably quickly after I lay down because the next thing I know I'm awakening from what feels like a deep sleep and Brittany has just lay down in front of me and pulled my arm around her so the palm of my hand if lying flat on her stomach. It's a simple move but a really comforting one at that.
"Your son is kicking me something terrible so I figured the only way to settle him was to see his mommy" Brittany says.
"I'm sure if I sing to him then he might just calm down" I smile before we shift our positions so I can get a better angle towards Brittany's stomach.
"I think he'd like that but I also think he'd like his mommy to keep healthy so perhaps you could eat some food" Brittany smiles back. "I kept the plate of food warm in the oven for you because I thought you'd want something to eat eventually."
"Thanks baby" I smile at her again.
"I understand you sometimes want some alone time to process things but I am here if you want to talk. I'll try and not let my hatred for Jen get in the way" Brittany replies.
"Thanks Britt, I don't know what I'd do without you" I tell her genuinely.
Brittany's POV
Tuesday 8th October 2019
I promised Santana that everything would be ok and that I'd sort things so that's what I'm going to do. We've got a study day at uni so I don't need to go in for any classes so I figured I'd take this opportunity while Santana is at work to talk to Jen. I've got plenty of time to study and I don't start work until later so it won't do any harm to talk to her just now.
As soon as Jen opens the door after I've knocked on it and she realises it's me on the other end, she quickly closes it in my face.
"That's real mature Jen" I sigh while banging on the door again.
"You have no right to be here so go away" Jen says through the closed door.
"I have every right to be here when you're upsetting my wife" I state. "Look just open the damn door so I can talk to you please."
"I have nothing to say to you Bethany so go away otherwise I'll call the police" she states.
"You call the police then and I'll tell them all about your harassment of my wife this past weekend" I state.
"I wasn't harassing Santana, I simply went to her house to tell her the truth but now you're causing a scene and becoming aggressive" Jen replies.
"I hardly think I'm being aggressive, I'm pregnant you idiot so I'm not going to touch you" I say shaking my head in disbelief. "Look just let me inside so we can have a mature discussion please."
"I told you, I've got nothing to say to you" Jen says getting frustrated.
"If this little girl really is Santana's daughter then that means she's a part of my life too so I need to know what's going on especially when it's upsetting Santana. How would Stephen like it if Santana turned up here and said things to you, I mean he's going to want to protect you isn't he?" I say.
"Obviously he would protect me but it's not like I'm lying to Santana so I don't know why you're acting like it's a bigger issue then it is" Jen says.
"Look I don't need to come inside, just at least open the door so we can talk" I say.
"Fine" Jen huffs and a second later the door opens.
"You can't just turn up and expect Santana to believe you after all this time so just get proof please" I sigh.
"Why would I lie about this, I have nothing to gain having Santana in my life again?" Jen says.
"Santana is giving you the benefit of the doubt because there's a kid involved and she loves kids. She doesn't want to believe anyone would be that cruel to use a child that way" I say. "But I can see through you so you better get a DNA test of the child."
"This is between Santana and me, it's not your business" Jen states.
"It is my business considering I am married to Santana and we're about to have a son. I need to know if my son has a sister or not" I reply. This woman really doesn't listen does she?
"I'm not doing the DNA test, she's only four years old" Jen states.
"Then you're lying then, if you weren't lying then you'd just let the test go ahead because you know you're telling the truth and have nothing to hide" I say. "And furthermore it's not going to hurt her."
"Is this the only way that Santana will see Emma?" she asks.
"It's the only way" I nod.
"Fine, I'll do it" Jen sighs.
"I'll leave you in peace now and no doubt Santana will contact you about it" I say while turning around to leave. "Oh and another thing, if you ever hurt my wife again then you can say goodbye to ever walking again because I'll break your legs and make sure you can never use them."
"Threaten me all you want but there's no way your fat ass could catch me" she says before slamming the door behind me.
XXX
"Hey, how was your day?" Santana asks as I get into bed next to her and she wraps her arms around me.
"It was ok but promise me you won't get mad if I say something" I say hesitantly.
"Ok, I won't" Santana shrugs.
"I went to see Jen today before work" I reply.
"You talked to Jen" Santana asks while sitting up in bed.
"You promised you wouldn't get mad" I say.
"I'm not mad babe, just curious" Santana smiles. "What was it that you went to talk to her about?" she asks.
"I thought I might be able to persuade her to do the DNA test and I think she might do it now. I told her that you'd be in touch" I reply.
"Do you really think she will go through with it?" Santana asks hopefully.
"Yeah I think she will now" I nod.
"Thank goodness for that" Santana says breathing a sigh of relief.
"You know I love you more than anything right?" I ask.
"Of course" Santana smiles.
"Good because I want you to know that no matter what happens I'm going to support you. If she's your daughter then I'll do whatever it takes to help you build a relationship with her and if she isn't then I'll kick the crap out of Jen" I say.
"Thank you" Santana smiles again. "Although don't actually kick the crap out of her because you are pregnant remember."
"Ok, I won't" I say laughing.
That's it for chapter 15, let me know what you think. The truth will finally be revealed in the next chapter.