A/N: Special shout out Vero! All the rest of you fill my little writer heart with glitter and rainbows. Thank you! Puppies and kittens for everyone!
Mrs. Lopez walked in the door and saw Quinn and Brittany in the kitchen talking and smiling.
"How was your day Mama?" Santana asked from her half-hidden corner of the couch.
"Oh, I didn't see you there! It was good, thank you," Maribel smiled. "Are you still reading MacBeth?"
"Yeah. Britt and me are reviewing it after dinner. Well, we're going to start reviewing it. It's the first book on her syllabus for summer school."
Mrs. Lopez nodded, and looked down at Santana's bare feet and her bruised toe. "What did you do?"
"Didn't find a job in New York yet. I was a little…frustrated," Santana admitted with an embarrassed smile.
"So you took it out on your toe?" Maribel arched an eyebrow, judging Santana for her outburst.
"I took it out on my desk actually," Santana admitted.
Maribel waved her hand dismissively at Santana and walked into the kitchen. She wondered if Santana would ever not kick furniture. She wasn't getting in fights anymore, so that eased Maribel's mind.
Quinn and Brittany were talking over a small bowl of ice cubes and the kettle on the stove was starting to steam. Quinn was reviewing basic chemistry concepts to Brittany and making them as real life as possible. Maribel smiled at them and said hello.
"You staying for dinner Quinn?" Maribel asked.
"Thanks, but I can't Mrs. L. Mom wants me home for dinner as often as possible," Quinn explained with a hint of annoyance.
"Too bad. The girls are cooking tonight."
"We are?" Brittany asked with not so hidden worry.
"Every night this week, remember? We didn't do all that grocery shopping and meal planning for nothing," Mrs. Lopez explained. "Don't worry Brittany, I'll be here helping."
Quinn wrapped up the review with Brittany and they made a plan for going over the concepts with which Brittany struggled. Quinn said her good byes to Maribel and Brittany. She walked passed Santana and threw a balled up piece of notebook paper that bounced off Santana's head.
"Bite me Fabray."
"I'm pretty sure you're the biter Santana," Quinn replied casually, opening the front door.
"See you tomorrow Q!" Santana called, not letting Quinn have the satisfaction of a reaction.
"See you girls tomorrow," Quinn replied as she shut the door.
Brittany cleaned up her chemistry papers and sat awaiting instruction from Mrs. Lopez, Koosh pen poised at the ready.
"Brittany, this isn't chemistry class. You're cooking, I'm supervising. Santana!" Maribel called. "Brittany's not cooking dinner without you, so get in here!"
Santana walked in and lightly patted Brittany on the butt, as she was leaning in the refrigerator. Brittany quickly stood up, with a head of broccoli in her hands and glanced at Mrs. Lopez. Her back was turned away. Santana winked. Brittany bit her lip and shook her head.
"So what's on the menu?" Santana asked.
"It's on the fridge door Santana," her mother replied.
Santana checked, and sure enough, the entire week's dinner menu they had worked on was up.
"So what do we do first?" Santana asked.
Brittany was starting to cut the broccoli.
"I'm not telling you. You start, and I'll step in if I see a disaster in the making," Mrs. Lopez explained.
Santana frowned, but accepted the challenge. She got out the chicken breasts and the box of wild rice.
Santana and Brittany were doing well to start. Santana had remembered to rinse off the chicken and pat it dry. She warmed up the pan on the stove, added the oil. Brittany consulted Mrs. Lopez on how much water should be in the pot for the broccoli and how long to cook it without it getting mushy. The only thing they got wrong was the timing. The broccoli was done before the chicken and the rice took another 15 minutes after the chicken was done. Maribel was impressed.
"Timing is the hardest thing to learn. Once you do this a few times, you learn how long everything takes and you can figure it out."
Brittany was busy writing notes in her notebook. "So," Brittany paused for thought. "Rice first, chicken second, broccoli last."
Maribel nodded. Brittany beamed. Santana looked up with her mouth full of chicken. "We totally got this," Santana mumbled.
"What did I say about talking with your mouth full?" Maribel commented, cutting up her chicken.
"Sorry," Santana mumbled and swallowed.
"Can you drop me off at work and take my car to get the oil changed tomorrow? I'm going to visit your Dad in Columbus this weekend."
"Sure!" Brittany replied for Santana.
Santana looked over at Brittany and frowned. "How early?"
"You know I leave at 8:30. So that's a yes?" Maribel asked Santana.
Santana shrugged, "Sure."
After dinner, Mrs. Lopez took care of the dishes, and Brittany and Santana went upstairs to Santana's room to start the MacBeth review. Santana knew Brittany stumbled over the old English writing, so Santana decided visuals were needed.
Mrs. Lopez was talking to her husband on the phone, when she heard muffled yelling from upstairs.
"What the…" Maribel interrupted her conversation with her husband.
"Honey, what is it?"
"It's Santana and Brittany, but it doesn't sound like studying. Hold on," Maribel said, walking up the stairs. "I'm going to check this out."
"Good, I want to talk with Santana anyway," Dr. Lopez replied.
As Maribel got closer to Santana's door, she could hear Santana doing a terrible Scottish accent. She pushed open the door to see her acting out the 'three witches' scene, and Brittany in rapt attention.
"Oh my…" Maribel uttered.
Santana whipped around, started by her mother's presence.
"Mama! You're supposed to knock first," Santana complained.
"Sorry," Maribel stifled a smile. "Forgot. Um, you're Dad wants to talk to you," Maribel said, handing over the phone.
Maribel left Santana and Brittany alone in her room.
"Hey Dad," Santana greeted. "What's up?"
"Hi honey. Not much. Missing you and your Mama," Dr. Lopez replied.
"I miss you too Dad," Santana smiled.
"How's Brittany settling in?"
"Good! Mama's making us doing a bunch of house stuff and cooking, but it's good."
"And her cat?"
"Fat and happy and sleeping on your favorite chair," Santana teased.
"He better not be when I get home," Dr. Lopez warned.
"He doesn't take direction very well, but we'll try."
"How's the job and apartment hunting going?"
Santana sighed, stood up and walked into the hallway. "It sucks. I can't get a job until I get there. No one is hiring out of state. And even with the graduation money, apartments are really expensive. But…" Santana put on a brave face. "…it's going okay. I'm going to talk with Rachel, since she's already been to New York looking at apartments and I'm looking into asking April Rhodes for some job advice."
"That's great honey. I know you'll find something. There's no standing in your way when you put your mind to something," Dr. Lopez praised.
"Thanks Dad," Santana smiled weakly. "We'll see."
Dr. Lopez could hear the doubt in his daughter's voice, but put it aside for the moment.
"Anyway, I'll be home in a few weeks, and we'll take a trip out to New York for a weekend, okay?"
"That'll be great Dad. Thanks! Can't wait," Santana replied.
Santana spoke with her father for a few more minutes, before handing the phone back to her mother downstairs. When she returned to her room, she found Brittany reading the scenes that Santana just acted out.
"This makes a whole lot more sense now," Brittany said, looking up from the book.
"Yeah?" Santana asked, pleased with herself and Brittany's compliment.
"Totally. Thanks," Brittany said, getting up and giving Santana a kiss as an extra thank you.
"How's your Dad?"
"Good, though he sounds tired. And we're going to have to try to keep Tubbs off of his chair," Santana cautioned.
"Good luck with that," Brittany replied with a grin.
The next morning, Brittany drove Mrs. Lopez to work, while Santana slept in.
"You didn't have to get up Brittany. I could've gotten Santana to take me," Maribel explained as they pulled into her work parking lot.
"It's really no problem, Mrs. L. I always wake up early. Santana's grumpy all day when she doesn't get enough sleep. This way, I'm guaranteed to have a happy girlfriend all day," Brittany smiled.
"Well, thank you again," Maribel smiled as she got out of the car.
Brittany watched Mrs. Lopez walk into work before she left the parking lot. When she got home, Brittany made a pot of coffee and brought it up to Santana's room. Santana's one eye struggled to open, as she felt the bed sink with Brittany's weight.
"Mornin' beautiful," Brittany cooed as she wafted the coffee mug under Santana's nose.
"Hey gorgeous," Santana sleepily smiled.
After Santana had her coffee, they took a shower. It wasn't until the water started going cold that they realized they should actually get clean. Santana and Brittany drove Mrs. Lopez's car over to Hummel's Tire Shop for the oil change. As they pulled up, Kurt walked out to greet them.
"Ladies! What brings you to Chez Hummel today?"
"Hi Kurt!" Brittany hugged him and gave him a peck on the cheek. "I like your coveralls."
"Why thank you Britt," Kurt smiled. "I played with the design, you know, for the more discerning mechanic," he explained as he spun around.
His coveralls were still the original gray-blue color, but Kurt had tailored them to fit more snug, and added pyramid silver studs to his collar and shoulders. Silver piping ran down the side of each pant leg as well. They matched is studded neckerchief that poked out of the top of his outfit and his studded Doc Marten boots. His outfit was a cross between quasi-military and Michael Jackson.
"I'm actually making some alterations for the guys. They want some different utility pockets and some hemming."
"We're here for an oil change not a fashion show Lady Lips," Santana smirked as she emerged from the car. "It's for my Mom, so make sure your Dad does it," Santana added as she tossed Kurt the keys. He dropped them.
"Is he home? I thought he was in Washington?" Brittany asked.
"Summer recess. He has some events to go to around the district, but he's in the shop a few days a week," Kurt explained. He then turned to Santana, "So you and your Mom's car are in luck Satan," Kurt teased.
Burt Hummel wiped his hands and greeted Santana and Brittany as they entered the shop.
"Hi girls," Burt beamed. "How's your summer treating you two?"
"Good! Santana and Quinn are helping me with summer school," Brittany replied.
"You're staying at the Lopez's while your parents are gone, yeah?" Burt asked.
Brittany nodded with a confused look to Burt.
"Your dad brought the car in for a full tune-up before they made the trip to New Mexico. Good luck with summer school. I'm sure you'll do great," Burt put an encouraging hand on her shoulder.
"Thanks Mr. Hummel," Brittany appreciated the warm gesture.
"And how about you Santana? I heard you got into Louisville, but then a little birdie told me you might be headed to the Big Apple?"
"Working on it. Signed up for some classes. Job and apartment hunting now," Santana explained with some extra confidence she was able to muster.
"You should talk to Kurt. He's doing the same thing," Burt encouraged, gently directing her to Kurt, who was on the phone with a customer. "Oh, hey, when's your dad back in town? I'm supposed to get a check up with him, but his office said he was away. I went to that other guy he works with last time…what's his name…his partner…it's on the tip of my brain…I didn't like him as much though…"
"His name isn't important, and he's not his partner anymore," Santana quickly replied. "Dad's back after the 4th of July. Make an appointment after that."
"Why don't they practice together anymore?" Burt asked, with some concern.
Santana shrugged.
"He said some not so nice stuff when that ad came out last year, so Santana's dad broke up with him," Brittany replied.
Santana could see Burt's hands tighten their grip on his greasy rag.
"It's nothing. Really. Call my Dad's office. I'm sure he'd love to see you after the 4th," Santana smiled at Burt, trying to end the conversation.
Burt understood and let it drop, but gave a sympathetic look to Santana, then over to Kurt.
"Hey Santana!" Finn called from behind a car.
Brittany's shoulders stiffened. Burt left to pull Mrs. Lopez's car inside.
"What are you doing here?" he moved from behind the car and walked toward them. "Hey Britt," he greeted with a smile.
"Hey Finnocence. I thought you were going into the Army? Didn't pass the physical?" Santana teased.
Finn let out a sigh of frustration. "Basic doesn't start for another couple of weeks, so I'm helping Burt out until then."
Santana nodded. "So, you're surviving without Berry nipping at your heels?" Santana asked.
"She got back last week from the city. She found an apartment. But it's been weird. She's being kind of distant," Finn confessed.
"You broke up with her," Santana scoffed.
"No, well, yes, in a way," Finn stumbled. "But for when we actually go. I didn't mean to break up with her before that. Not really."
Brittany put her hand on the small of Santana's back. "Why don't you sing a slowed down acoustic version of 'Pour Some Sugar On Me'. I'm sure that'll make her putty in your hand," Brittany dead-panned.
Santana put her hand on Brittany shoulder and lightly squeezed it.
"You think that would work?" Finn asked.
"Totally," Brittany replied with a forced smile, and led Santana away from Finn and toward Kurt.
"Thanks!" Finn called after them as they walked away.