Santana carried the trolley outside the airport security, with Mike dragging half of the bags along with them. Brooklyn was perched on Tina's arms while Brittany was holding the compress from the plane over her bruise. It was a sunny morning on the Bellacampa airport, and they were hailing any vehicle so they can move their asses to the coast.
"Hey, you okay?" Santana asked, her left arm firmly supporting Brittany's waist.
"Y-yeah…" Brittany nodded. "I'm…I'm fine."
"You sure?" Santana looked worriedly at Mike, then to Tina. They both wear the same worried look Santana have had.
"Yeah. I think…I just need a rest."
"Do you want to go and head back to New York? We can…uhh catch the next plane if you want…we can lea-"
"No!" the two Asians chorused. Brittany hung her head low, and then looked at Santana.
"It would be impractical, San," Brittany said, hoping to make her fiancé understand that she wasn't leaving Puerto Rico. However, Tina was there to bail for her.
"Uhh, I mean, you shouldn't. You've bothered to be here, so I think it would be very impractical for the three of you to head home. How about you, Santana Maria Lopez, find something or somewhere where the four of us could spend the night, maybe a few days perhaps? Find a lodging inn, or a pension house or something?" Tina growled. She's practically bossing Santana around, but she also spoke for damn sensibility so Santana just obeyed.
"Okay. Hey, Mike…" Santana called at the Asian man. "How about you watch the stuff, while I get us some car…or something?"
"Sure, uhh…that would be best. I mean, you know Spanish," Mike shrugged, unfazed, yet his eyes hold the worry.
Santana came back with a key and a sketched map on her hands.
"Come on, you guys. I got us two houses down Bellacampa. Mike that's your car keys," Santana tossed him a set of car keys. "The cars are out back. I told you I could find something."
Twenty minutes later, Santana and Brittany, along with their stuff and a sleeping Brooklyn were already on the road towards the shores of Bellacampa. Brittany was absently watching the trees that lined up the coastal road and blocking the shoreline.
"Hey, you okay?" Santana asked.
"He asked if he still have his rights as a parent," Brittany smiled. "I said fuck you."
"Damn right thing you did…" Santana smiled at Brittany. "I mean, he can't touch you guys."
"I won't ever lose her, right?"
"Damn right you won't! I'll have Papi's whole flock of lawyers if needs be," Santana looked at Brittany, and then she took the blonde's hands onto her own. "It's just that I don't ever want to lose you guys, because I love you both…so much."
"Thank you, Santana."
"You're welcome, baby."
They kept on driving for a few more minutes until they came to the address the car rental man had told Santana. It was a perfect house, or casa, as what she had heard from the man. It had a sandy beach, a porch, which was facing the Atlantic, a veranda that was facing the roadway and a terrace. The three-bedroom house was big enough. It had a pool, and there were lots of trees around. The driveway was secluded by trees and the house was immaculately clean. Mike's rented house was just beyond them and Santana could see him waving at her from the distance. Maybe, Boy Chang's lodge was as beautiful as theirs.
"Wow," Santana breathed out as she looked up once they pulled up in front of the house. "I can't believe we're paying this for ten bucks a day," Santana grinned. She had practically wormed her way into Brittany's head that she had to pay for the house rent.
"It's a bargain, San," Brittany smiled.
"Good morning," an elderly Puerto Rican lady smiled at them. She was fluent in English, and Santana was beyond thankful for it.
"Good morning," Brittany smiled, and then elbowed Santana to return the lady's pleasantries.
"Uhh," the Latina cleared her throat, "Buenos dias."
"Ha, tu hablas Espanoles?" the lady smiled wide.
"Ah, mas o menos…" Santana shrugged.
"That's fine. Me, too," the lady switched back to her English. "My name is Anita."
"I'm Brittany, and this is my…fiancé, Santana," Brittany waited for Anita to rant that having a girlfriend while you're a girl is a sin and that they should go to hell and their kid is never in a perfect family and all that belief bigot people had always believed in but Anita just stood there, her peaceful smile never faltering.
"Oh, lovely couple," she said at last. "But, honey, what happened to your cheek?"
The bruise Jeremy had left had formed an ugly, bluish-purple bruise by the moment, and when Anita smothered her hand over it, Brittany winced in pain.
"Hey, you're hurting her!" Santana growled, while hitching Brooklyn up her hip.
"I'm sorry," Anita smiled apologetically. "How about we put a compress over it and some carrabo oil to help you with that?"
"No, don't you dare treat my fiancé with anything traditional," Santana growled.
"Trust me, dear…" Anita smiled and then handed Santana some keys. "It's tagged. How about you sleep and let your lovely daughter sleep while I brew in some tea for all of you?"
Santana shrugged, and then went inside the house. The whole living room was sprawled with boho-coloured strips of carpet, and it had a whole summery feeling over it. Brooklyn's light breaths were grazing across her neck and she took great strides to one of the bedroom.
"Sleep tight, Brook," Santana laid the toddler on the bed. "Sleep real tight."
She went to the master en suite of the house, and she saw Brittany leaning on the window pane, silent tears were falling from her eyes.
"Hey," Santana ran a calming hand on the blonde's arm.
"San…" Brittany looked up at her; sad blue eyes were boring through Santana's soul. "Don't ever leave."
Instantly, Santana hugged her fiancé. "I won't. I won't ever leave. Promise," she entwined her little fingers around Brittany's. "How about you get some rest?"
Santana led Brittany to the bed, and laid her there. "Do you want me to sing to you?"
"Just, hold me tight, San…"
Santana and Brittany lay on the bed for a little while, Santana's hand rubbing the blonde hair gently, and cooing sweet Spanish nothings in Brittany's ear. After hearing Brittany's first string of light breaths and sleepy murmurs, Santana looked at the sleeping figure.
"Santana," Anita knocked on the door.
The Latina sprinted up to the door. "Hey," she breathed and airy tune.
"I've made tea," Anita presented. "And a compress for Brittany's cheek, too."
A short 'oh' fell from Santana's lips and she moved the tray of tea on the rattan-woven bedside table. "Fancy tables," she remarked.
"Local textiles, ma'am," Anita smiled. "Imported from the Philippines at a real low-cost deal."
"How charming," Santana smiled. "And these beds, too? Were they imported from the Philippines, too?"
"Yes. Good hands, good builders," Anita smiled.
"Lovely," Santana murmured, and her eyes raked over Brittany's face. Silence fell upon them both. And then, Santana whispered.
"There's nothing more lovely when you see the people you love sleeping so soundly, so quiet that they resemble angels. They look so innocent and so beautiful, and in the same way, so…vulnerable that all you'd want to do is just stay there, watch them sleep and protect them at all costs."
"You sound like, you've found true happiness," Anita murmured. "Oh, I have to go and look after my rabbits. Shall I cook dinner for you?"
"No. Leave it be," Santana turned her back to the door as she looked at her fiancé. She could hear Anita leaving the room. Santana smiled.
"I guess I have found happiness after all."
She bent down and kissed Brittany's hair, and then left shortly after to prepare dinner.
The Puerto Rican sun had kissed Santana's cheekbones. She groaned and then turned her head to the shaded part of the bed. She could feel the soft breaths ghosting across her jaw. She cracked one eye open and her eyes landed on to the tuff of blonde hair.
"Morning, love," Brittany was smiling at her. The bruise on her cheek was hardly noticeable, save for Santana's watchful eye. Santana has to thank that old lady, after all.
"Morning, baby," Santana smiled and then ruffled the golden locks underneath her hand. She leaned up for a kiss. The blonde dutifully gave it to her and smiled into their lingering kiss.
"I like the way you sound in the morning, babe," Santana smiled.
"Clearly, you're not a morning person," Brittany chuckled.
"Mama!" Brooklyn grinned her way through the room. "Hi Mama! Good morning."
"Good morning, bug," Santana kissed her daughter's forehead.
"Mama, can we swim in the sea today?"
"Yes, baby, we can swim in the sea today," Santana smiled.
"Mama, do I get to ride boats?"
"Yeah, you get to ride the boats…"
"San, how about breakfast?"
"Yeah, sure," Santana smiled as she wove her way through the kitchen. "Brook, come down here!"
They sat together for breakfast and after it, they went together for a walk under the palm trees. The Atlantic was as blue as Brittany's eyes, and Santana's breath caught up in her throat.
"It's beautiful," Santana said, mesmerized by the blue Atlantic.
"Yeah," Brittany agreed.
"Mama! Mommy! Look!" the toddler tore their attention away from the sea as she was dangerously looking down the deep water.
"Brooklyn!" Santana yelled. "Get up here at once!"
The shock on Brooklyn's face was evident as she scurried towards her Mama. The fear lurking in her eyes radiated from her body as she stood solidly on the ground, her eyes fixed at her toes. Santana sensed it and she quickly dropped to her knees and got to the level of the blonde toddler.
"Look, I'm sorry I yelled at you," Santana apologized, then she looked at Brittany, but the elder blonde was furiously texting away at God-knows-who because Brittany just literally ignored her.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you, I…I was just scared something might happen," Santana said softly. "I don't know, I kinda felt scared. I almost drowned once, maybe that's why. Next time when you do something like that you ask me or Mommy to come with you, okay?"
"But Mama, you scared all the fishes away," Brooklyn's lip trembled.
"Oh," Santana's shoulders sagged a little as she could see the sadness in Brooklyn's eyes. "How about, how about this one? You and me, we're gonna find some fishes today, huh? You down with that, Brook?"
Brooklyn only nodded.
"Hey, don't be sad now, baby," Santana pulled the child on her lap as she sat crossed-legged on the ground. "Come on, smile for me."
Brooklyn did not budge.
"Come on, Brook. Please?" Santana pleaded. "Please or I will tickle you…"
"But Mama," Brooklyn pouted, but then again she smiled. "I'm sorry, Mama."
"It's alright, Brook. You and me cool now?"
"Yup, we're cool," Brooklyn smiled and looked up to her Mom, who was at Santana's side. She was still texting on her phone and Santana found it very annoying.
"Hey, Britt, you done texting there? We're gonna head home," Santana growled.
"Oh, sorry, San…uhm," Brittany started to say.
"Never mind, Britt," Santana hitched Brooklyn up her hip and walked away.
Brittany looked at her phone again. Kurt hasn't answered yet and Quinn had just sent her a message telling her that she and Rae had arrived in Bellacampa.
Over the lobster salad Anita had prepared them, Brittany was fidgeting the lettuce on her salad when Santana gave her an incredulous look.
"San…" she started to say.
"Yeah?" Santana said impassively.
"Can you watch over Brook this afternoon? I need to pick up something, I mean…there's something I have to look at," her eyes darted from her iced tea to her lobster and then to Brooklyn. Santana scoffed a little. "And I'm sorry I ignored you earlier. I had some matters to take at my own hands."
"Your own hands? I thought it was an 'us'. Not a 'you and me'…" Santana said before she can stop herself. "I should go, and get some air."
Santana threw her napkin on her plate and quickly left the dining room. Brittany knew she was at fault with it, but she promises that she's gonna make it work. Brooklyn had looked at her with a worried frown on her face, so she turned to the kid.
"Go, and help Mama feel better, okay? I need to do this thing," Brittany patted her daughter's cheek.
"Are you and Mama fighting? Is she leaving us?"
"No, she's just tired and grumpy. And I won't let her leave us," Brittany reasoned. "I need you to make her feel better, because I have to do something big for her."
"Okay," Brooklyn said as she slid off her chair and scurried to the Latina's trudged direction.
A few moments later, Brittany called Anita and left the house.
She drove swiftly to the other side of the coastal town, and went inside a big bungalow. It could almost pass up for a mansion; she quickly made her way to the common room. There were nineteen people beaming at her, excited as to what she might say.
"Okay, guys, first of all, I really want to thank you, especially to Quinn and Rae-Rae, who had deferred their move back to Ohio," Brittany smiled. "And to Abuela Alma," she smiled shyly at Santana's grandmother. "I really appreciate it, Mrs. Lopez."
"Oh please, mija," Alma Lopez stood up. "I thought we were past that? I am now your Abuela, as well as Santana's Abuela."
"That, and thank you," Brittany grinned.
"Come on, spill the beans already," Jorge sighed excitedly. "I can't wait to see Santana's face tomorrow. I want to see her jaw fall and I get to see her throat line."
Everyone cracked in laughter, even Alma. But then, she ribbed Jorge. "Now, that's one way to treat a daughter."
"Nah, Mama, that's one way to treat a son, too."
Everyone laughed again.
"Now, guys…calm down," Kurt said.
"Okay, okay, so, here's the plan…" Brittany said as she discussed the plans for tomorrow's big day. "We're gonna head to the cove, as what Anita, our housekeeper had secretly told me about when she did the dishes. Finn, Sam, Mike and Noah, would help out with the flowers. Kurt and Blaine would watch out for our clothes. Tina, Quinn, Cedes and Rae-Rae, along with Abuela Alma would be at our house by the crack of dawn, Kitty and Artie would drive my Mom, Mami and Papi along with Mrs. Schuester to be with Brook. Mr. Schue and Coach Sue would help me pick out the butterflies."
"Seriously, Pierce? Butterflies?" Coach Sue growled. "I didn't raise you girls to be sappy dicks, excuse me Mrs. Lopez."
"I don't mind, Sue," Alma grinned.
"So, let's get it on, gleeks!" Finn said and laid his hand out, palm faced to the ground. Everyone put a hand in, even the adults and Coach Sue.
"Yeah!" they all yelled and everyone got on their feet, doing what they were ought to do. However, a hand laid on Brittany's shoulders lovingly, prompting the blonde to turn around. She was met by the same set of brown eyes she had fallen in love with, but the only different was they were kind of blurry and the wrinkles of long years had made themselves seen.
"Congratulations, dear," Alma smiled lovingly as she pulled Brittany for a hug. "I can't wait to meet my granddaughter for the first time in six years. Thank you for this chance."
"You're welcome…" Brittany smiled shyly. Somehow she can't believe that Santana's grandmother had accepted her and her granddaughter.
"I can't wait to meet Brooklyn!" she giggled excitedly.
"Me too, and I bet she couldn't wait to meet another Abuela," Brittany smiled proudly.
"How about I go with you and pick out butterflies for my Santanita?"
"Sure," Brittany smiled. Hand in hand. They went out the bungalow, made their way towards Brittany's car, hand in hand, while Mr. Schue and Coach Sue trailed behind them.