A/N: I'm back! Thank you for being patient with me. Finally this semester from hell has ended and now I can focus on sleep and writing. Well at least until my job starts, then it is three more things to focus on. As always I wanted to thank everyone for their kind reviews, they got me through this semester. I do have to suggest something, though, everyone needs to read I'll Teach You to Dance. Seriously, one of the best stories I have ever read and I'm obsessed. So now here is a new chapter! Enjoy!
Chapter Seventeen
I've been staring at the phone for the last ten minutes. I keep willing myself to pick it up, but it's not that easy.
"You've been sitting there for ten minutes," Santana says as she comes into the kitchen, where I'm sitting at the table.
She takes a seat on my lap and places a kiss on my temple. She starts drawing random patterns on my shoulder. "Want me to dial the number?"
I look up at her and shake my head. "No."
I take a deep breath and begin dialing the number, but stop mid dial. "Um will you just stay with me?"
Santana smiles sweetly at me. "Of course baby," she says and leans in to give me a reassuring kiss on my lips.
I dial the number I've known my whole life. It begins ringing and it takes my father three rings before he answers.
"Hello, Matthew Pierce speaking," my father formally answers.
"Hi dad," I say letting out the breath I've been holding.
His tone automatically changes, softens. "Brittany? Hi sweetie, how are you?"
"I'm good. How are you?" I ask.
"I'm doing better now," he answers.
There's a minute of silence as I try to figure out what I want to say.
"Brittany I," dad interrupts my thoughts and the silence."
"Santana told me you came to her," I interrupt him before he continues.
"Yes. I did, I owed her an apology as much as I owe you an apology," he starts. "Sweetheart I'm really sorry. I should've never jumped so quickly to judge Santana. It was unfair of me and unfair to you. I should've trusted your judgment better. She really is a fantastic woman, Brittany."
"I know," I say and then lightly smile at Santana.
"I'm so sorry for my reaction. Could we please do lunch or dinner sometime this week? I would really like to see you. Bring Santana and that adorable daughter of hers."
"I would like that. Maybe lunch tomorrow?" I ask.
"Yes that works perfectly." I can hear how excited my dad is. "How does one sound at my favorite place?"
"Works for me," I say.
"Great! I'll see you tomorrow. Bye princess," dad says and then hangs up after I say my goodbye.
I put the phone down on the table and lean my head against San's back while holding her tightly. She rubs her hand up and down my arm.
"I'm proud of you baby," she says. "So you guys are doing lunch tomorrow?"
I nod against her. "You and Nina are invited if you want to come," I mumble into her back.
"That's sweet of your dad, but I think you should go alone. You guys need the time," she says.
"I'm going to marry you one day," I whisper into her shoulder.
"What was that babe?" she asks.
"I love you Santana," I say a little louder.
It's too early for marriage talk, but that's how I feel. She's so supportive and loves me and I can't imagine my life without her. One day Santana Lopez will be my wife.
I pull back to look up into her beautiful brown eyes. There's so much love staring back at me that I can't help the smile that over takes my lips.
Santana cups my face and brings her lips to mine. The kiss is sweet and simple, but expresses everything we feel. When she breaks away she leans her forehead against mine and says, "I love you too Brittany."
We stay like that for several minutes just holding each other, in our own little world. Every now and then she'll place small pecks on my lips.
"I am so in love with you," I whisper to her, like it's a secret that should be kept between us.
"And I am so in love with you," she repeats my words barely above a whisper. "And I'm so proud of you for reaching out to your father."
I just nod my head against her forehead. I bury my head in the crock of her neck and let her hold me tightly. We're interrupted several minutes later by a soft noise. We pull apart and look to see Nina staring at us with Rex sitting next her.
"Yes sweetie?" Santana questions while chuckling at the two as they look up at us with their big brown eyes.
"Is Britty okay?" Nina asks and my heart melts a little.
"Yeah munchkin. I was just needed some hugs from your mommy," I say.
"Oh. Were you sad? Cause I always want mommy hugs when I'm sad," she says.
"I was a little sad, but your mommy's hugs have made it all better," I smile at Nina.
"Okay good. Could you read me a bedtime story now? Mommy said you would," Nina says matter-of-factly.
"Oh she did now. How can I refuse that request then? Okay go get settled into bed and I'll come in to read your story," I say.
"Okay," she takes off down the hall to her bedroom.
I chuckle lightly and look down at Rex sitting next to us. "Oh go on and join her," I point and he takes off after Nina.
"Well you heard her. She's ready for her bedtime story," Santana says.
I laugh and peck her lips before she moves off my lap. I walk into Nina's room and see her under the covers with a book on her lap and Rex lying beside her with his head on her legs. I settle in next to Nina and open the book. It only takes five pages before she is fast asleep. She must be exhausted; her class had a field trip today. I turn off her lights and walk into my room, where Santana is sitting up reading one of her law books. She's wearing her glasses that make you look absolutely sexy. I crawl into bed and slide up next to her.
"Have I ever told you how sexy you look in those glasses?"
She giggles and without looking up says, "Just every time I'm reading with them on."
"It never gets old."
"No it doesn't."
I start playing with the hem of her shirt. "How many chapters do you have to read tonight?"
"Three more pages, but if you keep doing that I'm never going to get through them," she says.
I don't stop. I move my hand under her shirt and draw out random patterns on her stomach. I move my hand lower to play with the hem of her waistband.
"How are those three pages coming along?" I sweetly ask.
She sighs and puts her book on the bedside table. "Yeah this isn't happening."
Before I know it, I'm on my back with Santana straddling my hips. She leans down so her lips are centimeters away from mine. "You're becoming a distraction."
She closes the gap between our lips with a passionate kiss. She pulls away and leans down to whisper in my ear, "but you're the best kind of distraction." Her words send a shiver down my spine. Things heated up pretty fast and the next few hours were spent in pure love making bliss.
The next morning when I wake up, I don't have Santana wrapped up in my arms and I don't like it. But that feeling quickly leaves when I smell something wonderful coming from the kitchen. Within seconds Santana is walking in with a tray filled with breakfast foods. More specifically pancakes.
"Aw damn you're up, I wanted to wake you," she says as she set the tray on the beside table and crawls into bed.
"You made me breakfast in bed?" I ask.
"Mm hmm," she nods and kisses my lips. "I took Nina to school and since we both have today off, I thought we could cuddle up in bed before your lunch."
"I love how you think," I say and kiss her.
Before things get heated, much like last night, she rolls off me and grabs the tray of food. I sit up as she lays the tray on my lap.
"I love you, thank you for this."
"Aw babe anytime." We spent the rest of the morning cuddled up in bed, watching some TV and talking. These were rare moments lately and we both take full advantage when we can.
I'm getting closer to the restaurant were I'm meeting my dad for lunch, and I'm getting nervous. I shouldn't be nervous about seeing my dad, but we haven't talked for almost over a month and I was so hurt by what he did.
I walk into the restaurant and there my dad sits at his favorite table. Immediately he sees me and stands to greet me with a hug. It's a little awkward, but I step into the embrace.
"Oh Brittany it's so good to see you," he says as he pulls away and pulls out my chair for me to sit.
"How are you?" he asks as he takes the seat across from me.
"I'm doing well. The show is keeping me busy."
"That's great. I'm so proud of you sweetie, you're doing something you love."
"Yeah," I say being short with him.
An awkward silence settles in between us. It only last a few minutes before my father sighs and being to talk. "Britt I'm so sorry for letting things get like this between us. I only want what's best for you and I see that Santana is what's best for you and I'm sorry I didn't see that before."
I search his eyes while he apologizes and see his sincerity. My father is not always an easy man to read, except if you're his family. When it comes to his daughters or his wife, he wears his feelings on his sleeves. People say I get that from him.
"I want there to be peace between us. I want my daughter back," he finishes.
I let out a deep breath. "I want my dad back, too."
He smiles brightly, a smile that I inherit and one that I return.
"How is Santana?" he asks.
"She's doing well. She's studying right now at home."
"And where's Nina?"
"She's at preschool."
"I met her. She's a very sweet kid and looks exactly like Santana."
"I know it amazes me how much they're alike. She is Santana's mini me. She has so much sass and she is so smart. Rex absolutely loves her," I gush.
"I bet he does," my dad says warmly knowing how Rex is. He's like a little kid himself. "If you don't mind me asking, and you don't have to answer, but where is the father?"
"I don't know. Santana doesn't talk about him and doesn't say much, so I don't push her. She was never in a relationship with the father, but I think he didn't want anything to do with Nina, which is a shame because she is such a great kid."
"And how are you handling everything? With work and dating someone with a little girl?" he asks because he cares.
"It was a little overwhelming at first, but we have a set schedule now. Everything is great. We block out Sundays for us. Nina loves the park so that's usually where we go."
"Sweetie I'm so impressed by you and I'm so proud. You've grown up so much and into such an amazing woman."
"Thanks dad."
"How's the new apartment?" he asks cautiously.
"It's nice. We like it," I shrug.
"You know if you ever want to move back to your old place you can."
"Thank you dad, but I like my new home. It's not just mine, but it's mine and Santana's home."
"I understand."
Dad and I talk for another hour as we eat. We say our goodbyes with plans for him to come over to dinner next week. He really wants to see the new place and get to know Santana a little more, especially how the first meeting went. I walk into the apartment to find Santana sitting at the kitchen table with books and notes laid out.
"Hi gorgeous," I say as I take a seat next to her and place a quick peck on her cheek.
"Hi," she says looking stressed.
"Hard class?" I ask.
"Yeah," she sighs, but she closes her books and continues, "How was lunch?"
"It went really well. We had a really good talk. He's coming over next week for dinner. He wants to see our place and spend some time with you. Kind of like a redo for the first time you guys met."
"Aw sweetie I'm happy for you guys," she says and gives me a kiss.
"Hey do you want to go with me to pick up Nina or do you want me to stall and let you study some?" I ask.
"I want a break, so I'll go with you," she says.
We decide to take Rex with us and as I hold my dog's leash and my girlfriend's hand, I can't help but think how life couldn't get much better than this.
Please R&R it's most appreciative :)