A week and a half later.
''Hey Marls, what's going on?'' Brittany asks as she walks into the kitchen of the restaurant, she raises an eyebrow as she sees everyone gathered around and glances down at Nicolas.
''Buddy?'' She holds up her keys and points to the blue door beside the entrance. ''Can you watch Netflix in my office for a few minutes?'' She hands him her phone as he nods his head with a grin and kisses his head. ''I will join you soon.'' She promises.
''Okay.'' Nicolas breaths out smiling brightly. ''Hi crew!'' He greets excitedly with a wave.
''Hey buddy, we will talk soon.'' Marley promises as she ruffles his hair, she turns to Brittany as he nods his head and licks her lips as she hears the door to the office unlock. ''We had three visitors this afternoon.'' She tells her as soon as Brittany slightly nodded her head telling her that he is in the office.
''Visitors?'' Brittany asks in confusion. ''Who?''
''Bill Addison and Jonathan Gold.'' She breaths out as the crew just smirks.
''You're joking.'' Brittany breaths out with wide eyes knowing they are two of the most famous food critics around LA, Marley shakes her head and snickers.
''Nope they left about an hour ago.''
''And?'' Brittany asks biting her lip, Marley steps forward with a grin and holds out an envelope.
''They asked me to give you this.''
Brittany takes it from her noticing the envelope is still sealed and shakes her head. ''You know that you and Kitty are allowed to open things Marls.''
''I know, but we want to see you open it B.'' Kitty tells her before Marley can, Brittany nods her head slowly opening the envelope with the knife Jason holds out for her and takes out the letter.
She glances at the crew after unfolding the letter and looks down at the text with a grin as she notices everyone standing close to each other. ''Dear Brittany Pierce, restaurateur of the Young, Wild and Crazy Grill.'' She starts.
''Congratulations! You have been nominated for the James Beard foundation Award!'' She chuckles as the crew cheers loudly and shakes her head in amazement. ''The winners will be announced during the 4th of July weekend, mid June three food critics will announce their visit and are looking forward to taste your restaurants specialty!''
''Holy shit.'' She just whispers with a shake of her head.
''Shit just got real boss!'' Marley breaths out grinning as she tackles her in a hug.
''Dollar!'' Brittany laughs as she hears everyone warn Marley in unison and kisses her cheek.
''Not today.'' She tells them with a grin. ''Seriously guys, I don't know what to say.''
''James beard this month, Michelin stars coming soon too Britt.'' Jason tells her with a grin. ''It's about time people start recognizing your restaurant and the amazing food you offer!''
''This would have never happened without any of you.'' Brittany tells them as she runs a hand through her hair, she shoots Marley a look before she can protest and winks. ''I want to speak to you and Kitty in my office.'' She holds her back as she tries to walk towards the office with a nod of her head and chuckles. ''In a few minutes.''
She turns to the crew and smiles. ''I want to invite all of you to my house this weekend, we can create a few cocktails like always but we will tone it down a bit because Nicolas and San will be there too.''
''I'm in.'' Jason and Jay exclaim in unison, Brittany laughs as everyone just nod their heads with big smiles and winks.
''As soon as this restaurant rises, we need to change all of your contracts guys.''
''Why?''
''Because all of you build this restaurant with me, contracts will change and titles will change too.'' She explains. ''I will talk about two positions in a few minutes but as soon as I see that we need more hands, I will start hiring more people and all of you will stand above them and they will know it.''
''So no one will go?'' Jason asks to clarify, Brittany shoots him a look and chuckles as he raises his hands in surrender.
''This restaurant is mine on paper, but how much blood and tears have all of you put in it during the slower months?'' She nods her head as they just smile slightly and winks. ''This is our restaurant guys.'' She mentions her hand around the kitchen and shrugs. ''Jason, Kitty and Mike, the three of you are the reason the food tastes like it does.''
''Yeah but those are your recipes.'' Kitty points out.
''True but who cooks them?'' Brittany nods her head as she shuts up and chuckles. ''You all create everything, the recipes exist yes but it takes six pair of hands to make sure we have everything in stock and the customers are happy.''
She turns to Jay and winks. ''Jay and Kevin are the kind faces behind the bar, every cocktail is beautiful because they let their creative minds go crazy.'' She looks around and shrugs.''Even though they aren't around now, Kylie, Steph and John are the kind faces everyone sees the second they enter the restaurant.''
''Ann, Fran, Jess and Ash are the friendly faces walking around the restaurant making sure all the customers are happy and.'' She turns to Marley and chuckles. ''Marley is here to do everything, she jumps in whenever I can't, takes over my tasks and runs the restaurant with me even though she will deny it.''
She laughs as Marley shuts up and pats her shoulder. ''You can't deny it and everyone agrees with me.'' She just winks as she hears a collective hum and squeezes Marley's shoulder softly. ''Office?''
She turns to the crew as she nods her head and smiles. ''I will leave soon after with Nic, I promised him to play soccer at the park but I will see you all this weekend.'' She hugs them as they all nod their heads and follows Kitty and Marley into her office.
''Is it bad?'' Kitty asks the second Brittany closes the door, Brittany shakes her head picking Nicolas up from her desk chair and sits down with him in his lap.
''Not bad at all.'' She locks eyes with them as soon as they sit down and smiles slightly. ''Not bad in my eyes, I don't know if it's something bad for you.''
''What is it?'' Marley asks curiously.
''The both of you know your positions in my eyes right?'' Brittany asks.
''The both of us are co-owners of the restaurant in your eyes.'' Kitty breaths out. ''But we aren't, the restaurant is yours Britt so please take the positive things and be happy.''
''I am.'' Brittany replies. ''On contract the both of you stand as waitress and sous chef.'' She bites her lip as they hum and shrugs. ''I want to change that.''
''B..'' Kitty starts.
''Not to co-owner.'' Brittany reassures.
''But?'' Marley asks.
''Kitty you are the leader in the kitchen, you jump in even on your day off.'' Brittany breaths out. ''The restaurant is growing and we will have more people running around the kitchen soon, to be sure everything runs the way we want to, I would like to promote you to kitchen manager.''
''Before you deny, you already do almost everything a manager does.'' She continues as Kitty opens her mouth to object. ''You go over recipes with Jason and Mike, you check their work stations to make sure it's clean and you handle their working time and breaks, some more tasks will join those but I am always around to jump in when needed.''
''And for Marls?'' Kitty just asks.
''Marley currently has a contract for Maitre d hotel.'' Brittany breaths out. ''I would like to promote Steph and give her that contract, she locks eyes with Marley and licks her lips. ''Marls you are my right hand ever since we started, I would love to promote you to President/manager.''
''One thing would change and that is making schedules and hiring people.'' She explains. ''The three of us will hire people together, Marls, you and I will handle the waiters, barkeepers and such.'' She continues. ''Kitty, the both of us will hire everyone else.''
''We can also make the schedules together but you already did most of the tasks the past two months Marls, you definitely wouldn't get paid for the things you did if I hadn't added that bonus on top for the both of you.''
''What positions will the others take?'' Kitty asks curiously.
''Ann and Fran will keep the contract they have now I will just add a small bonus.'' Brittany breaths out. ''Jay and Kev will become beverage managers but still work as barkeepers too, Jason will be the sous chef also second in command in case you are off.'' She continues locking eyes with Kitty.
''Mike will become the broiler cook, we have to start planning and preparing for bigger demands and I want everyone who started with us to take the lead and I know they can and will.''
''We need one more position.'' Marley breaths out.
''Shoot.''
''A manager for the celebrities part of the restaurant.'' Marley breaths out.
Brittany nods her head and smiles. ''Anyone in mind for that position?''
''I would love to do it and have someone else be the manager of the other part of the restaurant.'' Marley offers with a shrug. ''I can do it together with Steph, we both manage to keep our faces neutral no matter how popular the customer is.''
''Alright so you and Steph for the celebrity part, Kylie and Ash for the other part?'' Brittany adjusts her hold on Nicolas as he leans back against her still watching something on her phone with headsets in and reaches into the drawer to her right, she takes out two contracts and slides them over to them. ''I already prepared these months ago but I knew the both of you would still say no, will you please take your time and read them over?''
''We don't want you to pay an insane amount Britt.'' Marley breaths out.
''I won't.'' Brittany promises. ''I counted everything together and the amount on this contract is what the both of you deserve for everything you do.'' She tells them. ''I will still try and join you all a few times a week but soccer is getting pretty demanding too, as soon as it's getting too much we might have to sit down together again Marls.''
''I won't be your co-owner B.''
''No I know but you might say yes to being the CEO, I will still do every task in the background but you will run the restaurant.''
''We can discuss that as soon as that time comes.'' Marley breaths out after glancing at her girlfriend. ''But.'' She continues tapping the contract. ''This is a yes from me and from Kitty.''
''I love you both, you know that?'' Brittany asks with a grin. ''I would have never dreamed of all of this without the both of you helping me girls, if there is anything I can do for you, just holler and I will make sure I can help you.''
''We know B.'' Kitty breaths out as they stand up sliding the contract in her bag, she smiles as Brittany also stands up with Nicolas on her hip and walks around the desk to hug her. ''This fits you.''
Marley laughs as Brittany pulls back in confusion and hugs her, she nods her head to Nicolas contently cuddled in Brittany's side and winks. ''She means the little boy attached to your hip, you will be an amazing parent B.''
''Too soon girls.'' Brittany breaths out blushing, she glances down at Nicolas making sure he is still distracted and smiles lovingly. ''But I never knew I could love someone this much, he definitely wormed his way into my heart fast and Santana followed soon after.''
''We know, we can all see how happy the both of you make you.'' Kitty breaths out. ''We are happy that you took a step back to enjoy it and that is why we agree to this now, we all know how busy you are with soccer, the restaurant and Avalon, it's nice to see you cut back and enjoy life.''
''I always told you all that I would cut back if I meet someone who is worth it.'' Brittany murmurs. ''San and Nic are definitely worth it.''
''We know so please keep that up and enjoy your life B, there is more than just your career.''
''I know Marls.'' Brittany tells her with a grin. ''I am not planning on letting anyone ruin it.''
''Does Mike C see it as we do?'' Kitty just asks with an eyebrow raised, Brittany shakes her head and sighs.
''No he keeps bothering me almost every weekend, I already told him to pull Jay out of the restaurant on calm nights but I am pretty sure Jay loves working here more than working for his brother.''
''And what do you say to him?''
''That I won't cut my weekend short to mix on an open night, I will only mix on special nights but I will cut back on that too, if he keeps bothering me I might call it quits.''
''Tell that to your fans.'' Kitty whispers with a shake of her head. ''Diamond is the talk of the night life B.''
''I know.'' Brittany grumbles. ''But I also have a private life and now that I have Puck, his family and now Santana, her family and Nic in my life, I just don't want to skip sleep to work, that time is over.''
''I am sure you will find a solution soon.'' Marley tells her with a grin. ''The both of you want to have an early dinner here?''
Brittany holds up a finger as her phone buzzes the same second and takes it from Nicolas as he holds it out for her, she frowns in confusion as she notices a message from Abi and taps it.
From Abi Lopez: B don't panic, but can you pick us up from the hospital?
''Don't panic?'' She asks herself softly as she types out a reply.
To Abi Lopez: Don't panic and hospital don't go in the same sentence, what happened? And which hospital, we are on our way.
She looks up at the girls and sighs. ''Rain check.'' She tells them softly after covering Nicolas's ears. ''Santana's sister just texted, I have to pick her up from the hospital so something happened.''
''Go!'' Marley and Kitty just tell her straight away.
Brittany nods her head grabbing Nicolas's jacket and walks out of her office after hugging them again, she adjusts her hold on Nicolas as her phone buzzes again and looks at the text.
From Abi Lopez: San had an accident on set, Papi is waiting downstairs for you and will take Nic, I don't think San wants him to see her like this.
To Abi Lopez: How bad? Will be there in five.
She sprints out of the restaurant still keeping a hold on Nicolas and unlocks her car mid sprint knowing the girls will tell the crew, she opens the back door placing Nicolas in his seat and kisses his head. ''There is a small change of plans buddy.'' She tells him as she buckles him in.
''What change Britty?'' Nicolas asks curiously as Brittany slides in the drivers seat.
''Your Abuelo and Abuela want to spend a Nieto night.'' Brittany tells him as she glances in the rear view mirror. ''Abuelo is waiting for you at the hospital, we will play soccer this weekend okay?''
''Okay!'' She smiles as he easily accepts the change of plans and races down the street making sure she won't break any speed limits, she glances at her radio as she feels her phone beep and bites her lip as she reads Abi's reply instinctively pushing her foot further down to speed up.
From Abi Lopez: Heavy concussion and bruised ribs, will tell you what happened as soon as you are here.