So, yeah, that last chapter was really short and sucky and I hope that's why I got so few reviews for it, and not because people have stopped reading this fic. Hopefully this chapter will make up for the last one?

Thank you everyone that did read and review the last chapter tho, especially those that asked me questions or sent me PM's. If I haven't gotten back to you yet, I apologize. I WILL respond, I just wanted to get this chapter out asap since I was 'in the zone' these past few days. I'm still looking for more ideas for future flashbacks, so do keep the suggestions/questions coming!

Also, this is something I should have mentioned way back in the first chapter, but totally didn't think about it until now (I will still add it to the authors note in that chapter after I post this). Anyway, this story is not a complete AU. It actually follows canon up until the beginning of the third season, when Brittany and Santana become "secret girlfriends". So everything that happened after, say, 3x04, did not happen in my AU (most specifically, Santana's outing). This also means that things such as Santana and Puck dating, her being on the Cheerios, and also her specific style of dress(that is to say, very feminine and revealing) is still the same and all still happened. Again, I'm sorry I didn't mention that sooner, since I know a lot of you were asking questions about how she was in high school. :/ Also, keep in mind that I do intend to fully work with the info we were given/shown, and will explain how the choices she made back then were influenced by the turmoil going on inside her. It'll all make sense, I promise.

And lastly, please don't be mad at the two gleeks I reveal are paired up in this chapter. When I first created this story, this couple was still together on the show and I absolutely fell in love with my future version of them and their family. So trust me, it will be sickeningly sweet and awesome and worth any initial discomfort you may end up experiencing had this pairing not been to your liking on the show.

Now that I've got you all scared (lol), I hope you guys enjoy this installment!

Reviews, as always, are totally appreciated!

Chapter 05

Brittany - Present Day

You're late. At least ten minutes or so and by the time your family enters the small church in the center of town, the memorial services has already started. Instinctively, you reach out and place a reassuring hand on your husbands arm. "It'll be okay." You whisper quietly as you navigate your family through the small foyer towards the closed double doors leading into the reception hall. It's your fault that you're late, or at least, the child your carrying's fault. The drive from the hotel to the church should have only taken 15 minutes, but you'd had a bit of a 'bladder emergency' along the way and there were a lot less gas stations in Lima than you remembered there being.

The double doors have two panes of glass on them, and you watch in amusement as Santino sidles up to the wall and attempts to sneak a peek through the glass without being seen by those already inside. It's funny because he's trying to be ninja, but with William in his arms and Sara holding onto his jacket, he can't get close enough to the doors without squashing one or both of the kids. "Brit... Everyone's probably seated already... If we go in there now-" You don't need him to finish his sentence to know what he's nervous about, so instead of letting him continue, you simply reach out and grasp the handle to one of the doors and pull it open.

At the sound of your opening the door, numerous heads swivel around to stare at the source of the interruption. He was right; everyone was already seated and you smile apologetically at the unfamiliar faces as you once more grasp your husbands arm and tug him into the room behind you. Your thankful that at least the service itself hadn't started, so you weren't interrupting anyone's eulogy.

With your grip still firmly on your lover's arm, you keep the three of you moving down the aisle between the rows of chairs. Puck had txted while you were still en route to say that he'd managed to snag an entire row so both your families could sit together. Scanning the sea of faces, you breath a small sigh of relief when you finally spot the familiar mohawk in the second row. "They're up front." You whisper to your right, wincing at the anxiety blatantly etched all over Santino's face. Nodding your head in the direction of your friends, you gently tug on his arm in the hopes that he'll calm down once he's seated next to Puck. "Baby, they saved us seats, come on."

The number of people watching you is slowly growing the longer you stand motionless in the middle of the aisle. Beads of sweat are forming on your husbands forehead as his breathing becomes shallow and forced. He's panicking, but even worse than that, he's panicking while still holding your son. It's not that you're worried he'll hurt him without realizing, it's that your son tends to attract unwanted attention due to his 'unique appearance' and sometimes your husband has a hard time reminding himself that they are looking at William and not at him. Not that either of you enjoy strangers scrutinizing and inspecting your baby, but after four years you're slowly growing used to the unsolicited curiosity.

"It's okay, let's just sit back there." As badly as you want your husband to stand up to his anxiety, you know that this isn't the time or place to push the issue, so turn and direct your family towards an empty row of chairs at the very back of the room. Taking a seat, you immediately pull William into your lap as Santino sinks into the chair next to you. Sara is on his other side, and you share a brief look with her, mouthing a silent 'thank you' when she wraps her arms around her father in comfort.

"It's okay Daddy. This way we don't have to be close to the dead body." She whispers matter-o-factually. He's still incredibly tense, but manages to wrap an arm around her shoulders and places a kiss to the top of her head. It hurts you to see him defeated so easily, but again, this isn't the moment to address his fears. Other than Puck and his wife, you hadn't spotted a single other familiar face. At least, none that had just been watching your families entrance.

Wanting to give your lover some time to collect himself, you turn your attention now to the boy in your lap, rolling your eyes at the continued deterioration of his new outfit. "You poor thing." You murmur sympathetically, reaching into the bag you'd set on the chair next to you for a clean rag. "At least it's this end and not the other, right?" You wipe as much of the latest mess as you can from the fabric before stuffing the dirty cloth into a separate compartment of the diaper bag. Next, you hunt around until you find one of your sons many pacifiers and after placing it in your mouth for a few seconds you press it to his lips, relaxing when he immediately latches on. It's not a foolproof solution, but you find he tends to spit up less if his mouth is otherwise occupied. And at this rate, you're going to be lucky if he makes it through the service without needing to be fed.

Hushed voices are still echoing around you as the rooms occupant continue to wait for the service to begin. It's at least twenty minutes past the hour, and the guilt you'd felt earlier at being late has already vanished. Glancing over at your husband, you study his taught face as he works at keeping himself composed. Sara is still resting against him, tho her eyes are actively canvasing the crowd. You're about to finally utter something reassuring, when your phone begins to vibrate from inside the bag by your feet. Balancing William on one leg, you awkwardly reach down around your swollen belly and begin to hunt through the pockets, finally finding your now silent mobile. Sitting back, you readjust your son so he's more evenly in your lap and glance at your phones screen.

'is he okay? - puck'

Looking up, you strain your neck to see over the crowd towards where your friends were sitting. Puck is turned around in his seat and you quickly nod your head once the two of you make eye contact. He doesn't look convinced, so you start to respond into your phone.

'he thinks everyones staring at him. hell be okay once it starts'

'want us to come back there? - puck'

You can't help but smile at the suggestion and the concern behind it. It's still strange to think that at one point in time your husband and Puck were together. Well, not your husband. Not technically anyway.

'i think well be okay. but thank you for offering.'

'no problemo mama. txt us if you need anything - puck'

Turning your phone to silent, you place it down on the bag next to you, facing upwards so you could at least see it light up if you got another message. "Puck?" It's not so much a question as a statement, but you nod nonetheless. "He thinks i'm freaking out." Again with the statement, tho this time you simply shrug your shoulders in response. Despite the drastic differences between Puck and Santino's current bro-ship, and what they shared back in high school, the older boy still felt responsible for protecting his friend, or at least, watching out for him. It's actually kind of sweet, and even tho he would deny it outright, you know that Santino appreciates the support.

Placing a hand on on his leg, you squeeze his thigh gently in response. You've long since learned that physical reassurance is much more effective than anything you could possibly say. Pinky linking back in the day hadn't just been a convenient way to keep from being separated whist walking around. You grin at the sudden memories, and are half tempted to slide your little finger around the one your husband has clenched in his lap, but a sudden buzzing from inside his jacket steals the moment from you.

Pretending to be busy fussing over William's shirt collar, you watch from the corner of your eye as Santino reads his new txt. The worried tension that had been present on his face for the last few minutes begins to slip away, replaced by an almost embarrassed amusement. Without any prompting from you, he tilts his phone so you can read the message on its screen. "Oh he did not." You balk, clasping your hand over your mouth as you realize the volume in your exclamation. San's laughing now, and it's almost enough to forgive your friends indiscretion just to see him carefree again. Almost.

Grabbing your own phone, you quickly scan through the contact last and type out your message.

'are you aware that your husband is currently sexting my husband?'

Barely three seconds go by before there is a high pitched yelp and you peer over the heads in front of you just in time to see Lauren smacking her husband in the back of the head. Also noticing, Santino bumps his shoulder against yours and you look at him innocently. "What?" He only shakes his head and leans forward, pressing his lips gently to yours. Closing your eyes, you melt into the kiss, forgetting for the moment everything that is going on around you. That is, until the phone still in his hands begins to vibrate again.

"Mom, Dad, you're embarrassing me." Sara's voice interrupts at the same time, and you reluctantly pull away, tho not before placing one last kiss to your lovers nose. Mirroring the stupid grin currently on his face, you look down at your daughter apologetically. "No, not the kissing. Your phones. It's rude." Rolling your eyes, you run a hand over the girl's cheek, unable to hold back the laugh at how stern she's trying to appear. "I'm serious. You don't like people looking at you, but you'll sit and txt in the middle of a funeral."

"No, she's right, sorry baby." Santino is quick to respond, and while you're grateful that your daughter is actively concerned for your families outward appearance, you wish that could have found a better way of expressing her displeasure that didn't result in the reappearance of 'anxious, self conscious Santino'. She does notice tho that her words have had an unintended negative effect on her dad, and looks back at you for help.

You're about to tell her that it's fine, that she didn't do anything wrong, but a loud crackling of feedback erupts from the speakers around the room and all of your attentions are quickly drawn to the petite, ginger haired woman standing behind the podium at the front of the room. You immediately recognize Mrs. Emma Pillsbury-Shuester, and without consciously thinking about it, your hand finds its way into your husbands lap, his pinky finger wrapping tightly around yours as the service finally, officially, begins.

Yes, Puck and Lauren... Pizez. I know that they broke up between the second and third season, but I'll find a way to work that into their backstory. I really hope it doesn't turn anyone off this fic. They are important characters/players in Brittany and San's life after high school, and as such, will eventually show up in some of the upcoming flashbacks. That being said, they are still background players, and the focus of this fic will always be with Brittany/San/their family.