Brittana future family fiction ~ this is nothing but happy fluff so it's not Steinbeck but it is sweet and fun and happy and the world could always use more Brittana

No D/D, no real angst

Unedited – All mistakes are mine / I don't own anything related to Glee / The kids are my own invention.

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Current age of the kids! Our ladies are about 38 years old.

Danielle Alexandra Lopez – 15 years old

Jason Santiago Lopez – 13 years old

Michael Rafael Lopez -9 years old

Abigail Lucia Lopez - 7 years old

Chapter 6 Anger Management

Michael had been struggling with his temper and it had been starting to get him into trouble. Brittany and Santana sat down and talked with him and realized he was just easily frustrated and provoked. The other kids in school had realized how easy it was to make him angry and had made a game out of getting Michael to blow up. It was fun for them to watch. Not so much fun for Michael or his parents or the school administration.

The same thing was happening at home, like other siblings they loved to torment each other and it was fun with Michael he always blew up.

Brittany and Santana lie in bed entwined together as they discussed their son's latest temper tantrum and what to do about it. They had sent him to bed early with the promise they would discuss it in the morning. It had made everyone sad that night. His mothers could tell he felt guilty and terrible about it and they hated to punish him over something neither one was sure was completely his fault. They just knew he couldn't be allowed to get away with using his anger in a destructive way.

"B are you still awake?" San whispered softly as she gently stroked long silky blonde hair.

"Hmmm hmmm I'm just thinking."

"Cheerleading always helped me, just all the physical exercise alone I was usually too tired to punch anyone. It taught me disciple and focus, maybe Michael just needs a sport of some kind to help him."

Brittany sat up and faced her wife, "That's actually a great idea, do you have anything in mind?"

The brunette nodded solemnly knowing her wife was going to react badly to this, "I was thinking boxing."

Blue eyes widened comically, "WHAT? Absolutely not, we are trying to teach him not to hit people by teaching him to HIT people! Are you out of your mind? What kind of sense does that make at all? Let's just teach him new more efficient ways to punch someone! Jeez Santana, I thought you were taking this seriously!"

The Latina let her finish but that last bit about not taking Michael's problems seriously hurt a bit, she couldn't lie and she couldn't hide it, "I do take it seriously Brittany, completely serious, but I can relate to how he feels and what's going on in his head and I know you try to understand but you've never had a violent impulse in your life."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean that, I know you take it seriously, I do, but boxing, they grow up to be angry violent men and we haven't even discussed the part where people are trying to punch our baby in his head! Have you seen Muhammad Ali? That damage is from being punched in the head continuously."

Santana sighed, she had to admit Brittany had a point and she wasn't sure she could watch someone try to hurt her son, "What about karate or hockey? Although I think he would do better one on one and not part of a team at first."

The blonde looked thoughtfully at her wife and said quietly, "What about running Santana, that way no one has to hit anyone else?"

The brunette nodded, "I was going to ask him if he wanted to help me get back in shape and he and I could go for a run every morning before breakfast, but he needs something more, he needs to hit something more physical to get his frustrations out. He does babe, I know he does, why do you think I still have that old punching bag in the basement with the gloves? Sometimes I just need to hit something to feel better, I'm sorry I know that disappoints you but I do." Santana finished feeling guilty that Michael had her temper.

Brittany smiled and her eyes filled with love and compassion, "Oh sweetie, I could never be disappointed in you, you're the love of my life and a fantastic mother. I just don't understand that need to hit something but I do respect it and I respect you more than words can say for recognizing it and getting it under control. If anyone can help Michael through this and help him become the wonderful man he is destined to be it's you."

"Thanks babe, you've always made me want to be a better woman, a better person and a better mother. It was your love that saved me from all that anger and rage that I've always had inside me and together we can save Michael from it as well."

The blonde's heart filled to near bursting and she leaned forward and kissed her wife, "Alright, I trust you completely, you pick the sport and I'll do my best to be loving and supportive as a wife and mother. But Santana Lopez, if my baby gets a broken nose or concussion or teeth knocked out I swear to ….."

Santana laughed and pulled her adorable wife in for a gentle hug, "Relax mama bear, I'll keep him safe I swear it on my honor! I think I will present him with a choice and let him feel he has some say in what he would like to do."

"What choice?" Brittany murmured against Santana's chest.

"Well I think the ones that would help the aggression are karate, football, or hockey. I can get him in any of them. I agree with you about boxing but I think I'm going to teach him how to use the bag and get him a pair of gloves so when he feels frustrated like I do he can go downstairs and punch that bag senseless. Now punishment, what do you think B?"

The blonde sat up again and looked sadly at her wife, "He already feels so guilty, I don't know what to do.

"That's why there has to be a punishment or else the guilt will eat him alive babe."

"Well I hate all the time he wastes on those stupid video games and they are so violent. How about we take the games for 1 week and then he has to earn back playing time by participating in the sport of his choice. Equal time for the sports and homework and games so he does an hour of sports and homework he gets an hour playing time? Maybe some time alone in his room thinking and writing lines? "

Santana nodded in agreement, "I think we need to make the running mandatory and learning the bag mandatory as well but I don't want to make it part of the punishment. If he is anything like me, and we know he is, if we make it a punishment it will make him fight it but if I introduce it as something fun later on he might get excited about it. Besides whenever someone tells me I have to do something, I just refuse to do it on general principal."

Brittany snickered in agreement having dealt with that stubborn streak head on, "I also want to have a family meeting with the other three. I want them to understand what Michael is going through and they need to quit teasing him and goading him. He's their brother they need to help and if they don't and one of them has pushed him into losing his temper than they get the same punishment as Michael. He gets grounded a week, they get grounded for a week. I was thinking you could pick him up from school tomorrow and talk to him one on one about the sports and the running and stuff. I know how much he loves you and all of them love the special time with their Mami."

Santana excitedly thought about what junk food they could go eat while talking, the possibilities were endless, "Sounds good and tomorrow after dinner when he goes to his room early to write, we talk to the other three about how they keep provoking him for sport. Agreed?"

"You know I've been so worried about him, if this doesn't work maybe we should take him to talk to someone professionally?" His gentle mother asked her wife.

The Latina had an instant urge to squash that idea, she hated the idea of counseling but took a breath and wondered if she had help early with her anger issues maybe her life in high school would have been better, easier, "Ok Brittany, I'm worried as well so let's keep that open as an option and give our ideas a little time, if we don't see a big improvement we should let him talk to someone."

Brittany was pleasantly surprised, "I love you Santana with all my heart, our children are so lucky to have you as their Mami, I know you would go to your grave fighting and protecting them. I can't believe I have a partner as wonderful as you to raise my kids with and spend my life with. When I think of all the people alone in the world it just makes me cry." She said finishing with tears shining brightly in her crystal blue eyes.

"Well there is only so much of wonderful me to go around!" The Latina said in her most cocky manner earning her a gentle slap. They both laughed at her words, "I'm the lucky one babe, the day you said you loved me back and every single day since, you've given me my life back, my children and the happiest home I could dream of. We will fix this babe, because we have love on our side and there is nothing stronger in the world than love."

The blonde leaned forward and kissed Santana passionately, "Wanna make out?" She whispered flirtatiously.

"I thought you'd never ask." She kissed the blonde passionately and lied down pulling the blonde on top of her.

Tomorrow would take care of itself, tonight they had each other.

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Santana picked up Michael the next day from school, "Let's go get something to eat, I'm starving, what do want to eat?"

Michael immediately said, "Pedro's Taco Palace and some fried ice cream after?"

"A man after my own heart! I could do with some of his famous fish taco's for sure!"

He laughed at his Mami, "One day Mom is going to find out about all this junk food and then we are all in big trouble!"

"Well that day isn't today is it, so let's go; besides your mother doesn't scare me." Michael flashed her the Fabray eyebrow so she shook her head guiltily and looked away. She would never understand if she lived to be 100 how her son given birth by Brittany wound up looking more like her best friend. It was very weird.

Sitting there eating, Santana told her son all about her struggles with her temper, she talked to him about how difficult it had made her life and how she had fought against anger all her life, "Michael, you need to know that I understand and because we have known each other since we were very little, your mom understands. You have to try to do better so I want to try some things that worked for me when I got angry. Are you willing to try buddy?"j

He was munching on a taco and sipping his soda, "What kind of things Mami?"

"You know I run every day? I want you to come running with me every morning, it's actually really cool, no one is awake and the sun is coming up and the birds are singing, it's really peaceful to run then. It will be our special time together. What do you think?"

His eyes lit up, all the kids loved alone time with their Mami, "I would like that a lot. How does it help with being mad?"

"I'm not really sure but it does, If I'm angry when I'm running I just pretend the person I'm mad at is taped to the bottom of my shoe and I imagine stomping on them while I take each step I take."

They both laughed, "That's a good idea Mami!"

She leaned forward and whispered to her son, "We should probably not tell mom about that part ok?"

He nodded in agreement.

"Now, when we leave here we are going to run to the sporting goods store and buy a punching bag and some boxing gloves for you and me and I'm going to teach you how to punch properly and then every single time you get mad and want to hit someone or break something you have permission to go to the basement and beat the crap out of the punching bag."

He was amazed, "Did you have a punching bag Mami?"

"I did, it helped a lot, and sometimes I would tape a picture of the person I wanted to beat up on the bag, it was mostly Aunt Rachel to tell you the truth…. Maybe let's not tell mom that part either ok?" She stopped talking uncomfortably, "You know it's not ok to keep secrets from me or mom right and I don't want you to lie to us either, but we just don't have to volunteer any incriminating stuff either." She huffed in irritation when all she got was the Fabray eyebrow.

They finished with fried ice cream and headed to the store.

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Michael was very relaxed by the time they got home and both Mami and son were laughing. Brittany was very happy that their talk went well. Santana winked at her and smiled as Michael headed downstairs to the basement.

"Good talk?" Brittany said leaning over and kissing her wife on the lips gently and smacked her lips, "Taco's" She narrowed her eyebrows at her wife who quickly headed for the basement, "hmmm hmmm." Britt muttered darkly.

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After dinner, a dinner that Santana and Michael were suspiciously not hungry for, Brittany and Santana sent the other kids to their rooms so they could talk to Michael.

"Michael, I know you're sorry and feel bad about what happened but you understand that you need to be punished for losing your temper and striking out, right?"

The young boy lowered his head and shook it yes.

"Hey buddy, it's going to be ok, you're Mami is going to help you learn how to handle your temper and pretty soon you will know how to handle things that make you angry before you lose your temper. We love you honey and we are very proud of you."

They explained about earning his video game playing time, which didn't thrill him in the least but he didn't whine or pout at all. They told him that he needed to go his room now and he would have to write, "I will think before losing my temper." 50 times and then he had to go to bed early tonight.

He kissed both his moms goodnight and hugged them tightly before going upstairs.

Santana said, "Call us when you are done writing and no television, video games or computer, all right?"

"Yes, Mami!"

"Good man, now send your brother and sisters done here, tell them mom and I want to talk to them."

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It took 15 minutes and Brittany having to go upstairs and force her teenage daughter off her cell phone but they finally got organized for a family meeting.

Danielle came grumping into the family room, "It's not fair mom, I was coming I just needed to finish my conversation."

"Well you didn't finish it quickly enough, so therefore you're grounded from your phone for the weekend." Brittany said sternly.

"Moooooom! I need my phone, I have a life you know!" She whined louder.

"Then I suggest you stop arguing or you will need to live you very busy life without a phone for an entire week." Brittany said stopping and holding her hand out for the phone.

Danielle tried the Lopez pout but it didn't work at all, she huffed and slapped the phone into her mother's open palm getting a glare for her trouble, "Sorry Mommy, I didn't mean to do it that hard." She quickly added.

Brittany just pointed to the couch in the family room, "Go Sit Down young lady."

Dani threw herself into the loveseat dramatically as Santana just smirked at her daughter's little hissy fit.

Santana was content to let Brittany run the show but the blonde wanted a united front so she got up and stood next to her wife and addressed their children.

Brittany started, "I'm very disappointed in all of you." Santana watched in amusement as every single one of their children's face fell in dismay. They all hated when Brittany was upset with them.

"They don't act like that when I'm disappointed, they laugh at me.." She grumbled to her wife.

Brittany looked at her wife with a measured look, "Do I have 4 children or 5? Are you going to help me here or pout?"

"Sorry babe." Santana glared at Danielle when she heard the teen snort at her.

Brittany continued, "Michael is your brother and you know hard he struggles with his temper, you know how upset he gets when he gets caught and is punished for it and yet every single one of you tease him and goad him into getting angry."

"Frankly, it's not very loving of any of you to treat your brother like that. We are a family and families have each other's backs, at least this one does!" Santana interjected.

The blonde nodded and said to her children, "From now on whenever one of you teases Michael into losing his temper, you will share in his punishment."

She was greeted with loud groans and exclamations complaining about the unfairness of sharing a punishment with their hot tempered brother.

"Enough!" Brittany said firmly, "Your Mami and I have already decided so that is how it's going to be from now on. He gets grounded for a week, you get grounded. He writes lines, you write lines. He goes to bed early, you go to bed early. Any questions?"

Everyone shook their heads no, not looking very happy with this new development at all.

"All right then, back to homework. Hugs and kisses, let's do the Lopez huddle!" Santana said loudly and everyone knew to huddle up with their mom's before going off to their rooms.

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Michael opened his door and called out, "Mami! MAMI!"

Santana was in her bedroom so she stuck her head out and yelled, "WHAT!" Causing Michael who hadn't seen her standing next to him to jump about a foot in the air.

"Geez Mami, you scared me half to death!"

Santana snickered, "I'll go grab your Mom, you get in your pajamas, we'll be back in a few minutes."

Brittany had heard what happened and met her wife on the stairs, "What was all the yelling about?"

Santana just shrugged as Brittany rolled her eyes.

They looked over the lines and then hugged and kissed their son and helped him into bed.

"No more tantrums buddy ok?" Brittany said leaning over and kissing her son on his forehead and tucking the covers up under his chin.

"We still running in the morning?" Michael grinned up at his mothers' and shook his head yes in excitement, "Ok I will get you up early and we'll head out." She leaned down and kissed her son and ruffled his hair, "Love you bud! Goodnight!"

Brittany and Santana headed to the door, "Sleep tight baby, your Mami and I love you so much and we are so proud of you. I'll have a nice big breakfast for my two favorite marathon runners when you get back so I hope you'll be hungry seeing as how neither one of you was hungry at suppertime. I'm actually a little worried; you two usually eat me out of house and home." She hid her smile when she saw two guilty faces tried to avoid detection.

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Brittany finished brushing her teeth and climbed into bed next to her wife and cuddled up next to her favorite Latina, "I think that went well don't you?" Santana muttered sleepily.

"It did actually, much better than I expected especially with the other three. You never did tell me what sport did Michael choose; karate, hockey or football?"

"Ah, he surprised me actually, I thought he would pick football since he loves to watch it with me but he was really excited about karate."

"You're going to set it all up then and take him?"

Santana nodded and then cleared her throat, "Hey Britt, about dinner!"

Brittany just cuddled further into her wife and grinned in amusement, "Oh it's ok honey, I wasn't that worried, you'll be hungry in the morning. Goodnight my love!" She leaned up and pecked Santana's lips very amused by the shocked look on her wife's face.

She didn't have the heart to deprive her wife of her sneaky snacks with their kids, plus she loved how the Latina thought she was actually getting away with something. It was so cute.

Santana kissed her wife back and wondered how she got away with it one more time. Then she smirked and thought to herself, "Because I'm Santana Lopez and I am badass that's why!" She settled down to sleep feeling very proud of herself and blissfully unaware she had gotten away with nothing.

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