Brittana's Eighth Anniversary

February 20th, 2023

It had been eight magical years since they had tied the knot. Eight years of her life spent with the beautiful blonde beside her, her hair splayed out across the pillow. It was hard not to stare. Brittany was like a goddess and Santana never let her forget that she should be treated as such. She'd given her that treatment before they'd fallen asleep, having finally settled the twins for the night. They'd been sleeping through the night for more than a year now, but bedtime still came with its fair share of challenges, especially now that Nick and Hannah employed their, albeit limited, newfound speaking abilities whenever possible. They had a good amount for words for 18 months, a mixture of Spanish and English and even Spanglish coming out halfway intelligible. Still, they were the other loves of her life, and every little thing they said was memorable. Not to mention they were walking already, no longer on shaky legs or holding on to anything.

"You're staring." Brittany mumbled and Santana blushed "And blushing." Brittany blinked open tired blue eyes "Why aren't you sleeping? The kids aren't screeching yet."

"Just totally and utterly in love with you." Santana kissed a pale nose.

"You let me know that last night, and it involved a lot more than staring." Brittany wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

"I know baby, I know. Sorry I interrupted your sleep." Santana bites her lip nervously.

"Hey" Brittany tuts and Santana lets her lip go "Don't do that. It's okay." Brittany swipes a thumb over the small bit of blood spilling from her wife's lip "Why are you apologizing? I was just teasing you. You didn't disturb my sleep. I'm glad to have a few quiet moments with you."

"Sorry." Santana shifts uncomfortably, she needs to do something like bite her lip to ease her anxiety."

"Honey." Brittany pulls Santana in. As much as Santana loved their kids, it had been an easy road to get them and guilt was something Santana never really got over. Brittany got pregnant on the first try and carried the twins to term. Santana, on the other hand, had gotten pregnant on the second try and had an early miscarriage. It wasn't any more common than in a natural pregnancy, and they really didn't understand why it had happened. As soon as they could try again, despite the emotional trauma Santana had barely overcome, they tried again. She carried this baby much longer but miscarried at 5 months. It had been incredibly difficult, and Santana had spent weeks sick to her stomach about something outside of her control. Regardless of all that, Brittany loved her and willingly carried their babies, born almost exactly 7 months after their 6th Anniversary, which was days before they found out that they were pregnant. Their rainbow babies, born September 9th, 2021 . "Where'd you go my love?" Brittany strokes Santana's hair "We don't go on adventures in our brain alone, remember?"

"I know. I didn't mean to. I'm sorry. Dang it. I apologized again. Sorry." Santana mumbles a list of swears under her breath.

"Shh. I'm not upset. You can apologize. I get it. You can say sorry. I just don't want you to bite your lip." Brittany assures.

"Can we wake up the kids?" Santana asks.

"Soon. I wanted to trade gifts before we got them." Brittany says and Santana nods, sitting up. They each grab their gifts from their bedside tables.

"I want you to go first." Santana said "Open it." she urged and Brittany carefully tore the paper away from a framed bronze soundwave. Engraved on the frame were the words "I Wanna Dance With You Forever". That's how Brittany knew the soundwave was I Wanna Dance With Somebody, their first dance song. Santana was always so sentimental and never failed to pull off the perfect gift.

"Well mine feels silly in comparison." Brittany shrugged "But I hope you like it." Santana smiles encouragingly. She knew that Brittany wasn't the best gift giver and that was okay. Santana was the best at receiving gifts. The other way around worked far better. Brittany loved planning ways to spend time together and Santana loved those moments. So, where she opened up the stay-home DIY pottery date kit it was absolutely perfect.

"Britt, it's perfect" Santana said "We can have a date night right here at home. No need for a babysitter or getting out of my pajamas."

"Really? That was kind of my thought but you got me this beautiful, probably incredibly expensive, sentimental piece of art." Brittany shakes her head.

"And we'll make two more pieces of art with this kit. I love it." Santana assured "Now can we get the kids?" she asked.

"Yes, I'll put this stuff in the closet for safekeeping. We'll put the sound wave up later." Brittany promised and Santana went to get their kids.

"Nick, Hannah, good morning." Santana sang as she turned on their light.

"Mami!" Hannah said immediately, holding her arms up to be scooped up. Nick said "Mama?"

"Right here baby boy." Brittany said, coming into the room and picking him up "Time to get you two dressed, it's a very special day." She spun around with Nick making him giggle.

"Me!" Hannah said as Santana was halfway through changing her.

"When I'm done." Santana said, getting the girl into her warmest tights under the long sleeve dress. "Alright, switch kids." Santana said and they did it perfectly as always. "Hi Nicholas Finn." Santana tickled his little belly "Let's get you all handsome." She put him in black jeans and a warm flannel button up. Brittany smiled from where she was, Hannah balanced on her hip.

"Can you tell Nick he looks nice Hannah?" Brittany asked.

"Nick." she repeated, pointing at her brother.

"Nick, can you tell Hannah she looks pretty?" Santana asked.

"Hannah, sissy." he pointed.

"Close enough." Brittany shrugged "Shall we go get brunch with Kurt and Blaine then?"

"Oh yes, brunch with the gays and their demon child. What a joy." Santana rolled her eyes "You said I only had to spend our anniversary with them every five years."

"Yes I did. But it'll be fun. And their daughter is not a demon." Brittany criticized.

"You're joking right? Kylie is Rachel Berry and Kurt Hummel-Anderson incarnate." Santana crossed her arms "Total diva."

"And also almost three years old. Leave her be. She's just a kid." Brittany reprimanded "Besides, Kurt and Blaine only ever say wonderful things about the twins."

"That's because the twins are perfect." Santana shrugged.

"In our eyes sure, but that doesn't mean they are to everyone." Brittany gently reminds her. Santana nods and they head to their favorite brunch spot. They got a different table than usual and let Kurt and Blaine know they'd been seated. A few minutes later the two men joined them with their daughter putting her in a booster seat beside the twins.

"Hey Britt!" Kurt said as the blonde got up to hug him "You're glowing, you're not pregnant again are you?"

"No, no. Just happy. You look stunning." Brittany admired Kurt's outfit.

"Thanks. Hey Santana." Kurt said and Santana smiled lightly "I heard about your most recent case. We all know that the judge was wrong."

"It's the way the world works Porcelain." Santana takes a page from Sue Sylvester's book.

"It's good to see you Santana." Blaine said, ushering Kurt to his seat "We were pleasantly surprised by Brittany's invitation."

"It's been less than two months since we all saw each other on New Years." Santana deadpanned.

"And it would've only been days if you'd attended the Valentines day party. Everyone missed you." Blaine explained.

"The feeling isn't mutual. I'm going to use the ladies room. You know my order Britt." Satana walks inside briskly.

"Sorry." Brittany says "I'm not sure why she's so irritable."

"It's perfectly fine." Blaine assures taking his seat "What do you suggest here?" Brittany points out some of her favorites and Santana's usual. The twins start getting fussy so Brittany gives them their bottles of milk and Gerber cereal. They'll have some scrambled eggs too, but this will keep them happy for the moment. To make sure she doesn't get upset Blaine gives Kylie her cereal too. She was a relatively fussy eater so they always had a stash, but he'd cut up some pancakes for her too. He puts Pediasure in her sippy cup and gives her that too.

"Sorry." Santana says as she returns "Were the kids fussing?"

"Yeah, it's a bit late for breakfast, so I'm not surprised." Brittany says and Santana nods.

"Hi, sorry for the wait" says the waitress out of breath "Can I start you all off with some drinks?"

"Actually, I think we're ready to order." Brittany says and everyone nods.

"Of course." the waitress says "What can I get you?"

"I'll take the waffle combo with mixed fruit topping, scrambled eggs and bacon please." Brittany smiles. "And a small glass of orange juice."

"The two egg breakfast with scrambled eggs, bacon and rye toast please." Santana says "And a coffee."

"I'll take the pancakes with bacon and scrambled eggs." Blaine asks "And a coffee please."

"I'll take the veggie omelet with wheat toast and a fruit cup instead of potatoes." Kurt says "And orange juice please."

"Got ya. So that'll be a fruit waffle combo with bacon and scrambled, the two eggs scrambled with rye and bacon, the pancake combo with scrambled and bacon, and the veggie omelet with wheat toast and fruit. Two coffees and two OJs?" The waitress confirms and they all nod.

"Anything for the littles?"

"Can we get a glass of milk?" Santana asks. The waitress nods and hurries off. She returns a few minutes later with their drinks and Santana splits the milk between the twins bottles.

"I wish we could just give Ky milk." Blaine says, smoothing her curly hair.

"We give the twins pedialyte sometimes." Brittany assures "Nick really dislikes it though. We have to dilute it with milk."

"It's one of the few things Ky actually likes." Blaine sighs "She's been so picky ever since we weaned her. Almost two years of mushy peaches, Gerber cereal, Pedialyte, pasta, hotdogs and pancakes."

"I'm sorry." Santana says "That must be hard. We were really blessed I guess."

"Ky doesn't mean to be difficult. The doctors keep telling us they are concerned about her speech development." Kurt runs a hand through his hair.

"I swear them saying they're doing well is almost as bad, it's like I just keep expecting the hammer to drop." Santana sighs.

"You worry too much. Your kids are just how they're supposed to be." Blaine softens "You're doing great."

Their food comes not much later and they go their separate ways after brunch. The kids play quietly and Santana falls asleep, her head in Brittany's lap. Her anxiety had been bad ever since the case. It was a case that should've been clear cut, an easy win. All the evidence had been carefully handled and pointed to the suspect. He was accused of kidnapping raping, and murdering three teenage girls. There was evidence proving he'd catfished them to meet him at a park. There was surveillance of them being forced into his vans by two accomplices who had both plead guilty with a plea deal to reveal him. The bodies were found with DNA evidence. Despite all of this, the judge had let the guy off with only a registry on the sex-offenders list, especially because the crime couldn't be determined to have happened in New York because the bodies were found in New Jersey. The kidnapping had happened in the city though, that was certain. Unfortunately, between double jeopardy and a biased judge, he walked the streets. Santana heard from the detectives that they were already suspecting him of more. Working for the DA was never what she'd wanted, but when she went back to work last year her boss had been approached. She was his best lawyer, and it was a great opportunity. He paid her to take the gig. After this case, she wanted to quit. She wanted to go into social work like she'd always dreamed. It didn't pay well but they could afford it. Brittany had told her to chase her dreams. She called the DA.

"Hello?" she said.

"Yes DA Kennison?" It's Santana Lopez Pierce." Santana said.

"Hello Santana. What is the reason for your call?" the DA said knowing what was coming.

"I would like to resign. I'll submit my official two weeks on Monday." Santana says with finality.

"I won't fight to get you to stay Mrs.Lopez Pierce. I will however help you find a placement. You want to go into social work, yes?" DA Kennison asked.

"Yes ma'am." Santana nodded.

"Well, I'll help you with that. I'll see you in my office Monday to help you with that." the DA says and the end their calls.

"So you did it?" Brittany asks, and Santana nods. "I'm proud of you."

"You are?" Santana questioned

"You're chasing your dreams, I'm always proud when you do." Brittany assured.

"Happy Eight Years." Santana kisses Brittany.

"Happy eighth anniversary of the next infinite anniversaries." Brittany grinned