Thank you for the reviews and I'm happy you all are enjoying the story! I don't want to give too much away. Here's chapter 2
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Santana can talk her way out of anything, even if it's an insult 90% of the time.
And she has fire inside of her-which is why she's such a good lawyer. She doesn't back down from anything and she loves challenges.
Brittany always loved that about Santana, that fire.
Sometimes she was a gentle flame, like all the times they had made love. Most of the time Santana was the light of Brittany's world; she would tell the blonde how lucky she was the have a woman like Brittany. And Brittany always felt lucky to have someone like Santana. Especially when she would use the blazing fire inside of her to stick up for the blonde.
She loved that the most.
She never failed to put Brittany first, when they were kids and Brittany missed the ice cream truck Santana would run up to the convenient store and grab her favorite ice cream, and when they got older she always walked the blonde to school so she wouldn't get lost, and on their wedding day she vowed to never leave Brittany behind no matter where her career took her.
But here they were, 7 years later and 30 years old and separated. It was almost like they had lost their way… like they just couldn't connect the way they used to. She could have never predicted this would happen… her and Santana divorcing. It seems so strange...
But over the past year Santana had done nothing but throw herself into her work. Sometimes, Brittany actually thought that Santana forgot she had a wife and daughter because she would sit in her office with her glasses sitting on the bridge of her nose; making phones calls and doing paperwork and collecting all the evidence she needed. She had ignored every holiday, locking herself away from family and friends because she had more work to do. The only holiday she participated in was Christmas, showering Manuela and Brittany with every diamond, toy, or new electronic device on the market. But even then… she wasn't there to see their face when they opened the gifts.
Brittany opened the door to Santana's office; the Latina looked so tired and so fed up that Brittany almost turned around. But no, she knocked softly, smiling when Santana looked up at her. "Merry Christmas,"
"Is it?" Santana asked going back to her lap top. Brittany shakes off the comment and perks back up. She moves across the large, hard wood floor and sits down across from Santana at her desk.
"Manuela loves her dolls house, and the scooter, and the bike, and the princess doll, but she wanted to know if you would play with her-"
"I've never played dolls, Brittany." She knew that, of course but she could at lease watch while Manuela played. Brittany chews on her bottom lip and smiles again,
"I liked the diamond charm bracelet you got me… I loved the duck charm and the cat charm and the heart one too… but the S charm was my favorite."Brittany keeps her eyes on Santana who's still paying no attention to her. "I was thinking I could get you a matching one with the letter B," Santana just nods and flips through some papers on the side of her.
"Brittany… is some part of this conversation relevant?" She asks the question slowly, trying not to hurt the blonde's feelings. Santana glances up at her, "I know you like the back of my hand, of course you like the bracelet and all the charms; they're your favorite things. Just like I'm sure you liked the Disney classic disc-set, and the new lap top I got you so you can do your work without being scared it'll shut off or going too slow, and the Micheal Kors purse, and the Ugg's sweater with the matching boots so you'll be comfortable and warm while you teach those god-awful children-"
"I know… I loved them all...You're so thoughtful" Brittany gets quiet and Santana starts typing, "I wanted to give you your gifts,"
"I'll open them later-"
"Or you could open them now?" Brittany presses on and Santana lets out a sigh.
"Britt, I have to finish this work. Later, okay?"Brittany deflates, her shoulders drop and the pout appears on her face.
"Okay,"
Brittany was a little disappointed when she woke up and didn't feel the warmth of Santana that she had fallen asleep in, but then again she had been having that feeling for almost a year and a half. Falling asleep without Santana and waking up without her as well, in fact, she had barely really seen Santana. She started to lightly touch the bracelet on her arm, she looked at her S charm and smiled; it really was her favorite one.
She finds a pair of pajama shorts and starts down the steps, expecting Santana to be gone because she had to get to the firm, of course. But she freezes when she reaches the kitchen and see's her wife cooking. She blinks for a moment,
Santana never cooks.
She never has time. Brittany always just made two slices of toast and put them on the table for Santana to grab on her way out the door; if she was still home.
But here Santana was at 6 am; cooking pancakes, eggs, bacon, toast and sausages.
To make it worst… she's wearing little to nothing. There's a crisp, white button down shirt hanging off her shoulders and draping her body perfectly, but it's open, revealing Santana's black bra and thong.
Brittany gulps when Santana turns to face her, "Good morning," The other woman says brightly, happily even. But Brittany's at a loss for words, the last time Santana cooked and said good morning like that was the first year they got married and everything was new and much simpler. "I made breakfast for my beautiful queen," She steps closer to Brittany, a blush creeping on her cheeks.
"W-We won't have time to eat all this… we've gotta be out the house by 8." Brittany looks from the food and back to Santana, "Why are you still here?"
"It's a snow day for everyone." Santana says, never taking her eyes off of Brittany. "It's on the news, all schools are closed… even my office is."
"Oh… okay."
"I was thinking we could let Manny sleep in while you and I have breakfast," Santana wraps arms around Brittany's shoulders, draping them there so that she can pull the blonde closer. She smells just like frosting… or vanilla and it makes Brittany want to kiss her. "I'll cook Manuela something when she wakes up." Brittany nods and moves away from Santana has quickly as she can.
There's a plate already made for her.
They don't talk about much, it's almost like there's nothing to say. So they both focus on the food in front of them. But finally Brittany is the one to speak.
"We should talk about custody," She murmurs and Santana shakes her head,
"There's no need for that because we're not getting divorced."
"Santana," Brittany tries again, her voice soft. "I'm willing to do joint custody… so I get her for a month and you get her for a month, and we can discuss holidays-"
"She'll hate us if we do that to her," Santana says in a stern voice, "Just imagine how she'll feel going back and forth like that. Then who gets her on Christmas? And her birthday… thanksgiving?"
"Well how else are we going to do it? Do you want weekends or weekdays-"
"I want us all to be together."
"No you don't-"
"How can you say that?"
"Because you don't act like it."
"I said I was sorry for my behavior-"
"Sometimes apologies aren't enough-" Santana bites her lip, trying not to get too loud.
"I don't expect you to forgive me at the drop of a dime… but I do expect you to forgive me." Brittany doesn't answer, "We've been through so much, this just seems silly-"
"Oh, I'm silly now? You're basically calling me dumb and belittling my feelings!"
"That's not what I'm doing at all!" Santana shouts back. "I'm just trying to make this better."
"You're doing a damn great job then, Santana." Brittany bites back.
"Mami? Mama…" The tiny voice stops their arguing and they both look down at their daughter who is in tears,
"Hey mija," Santana get's up and kneels to her daughter, giving her tummy a little tickle to cease her crying, "It's okay… you don't have to cry. Sonrisa."
"I can't smile because you and mama are yelling at each other," She sobs harder and Santana looks over to Brittany,
"W-we weren't yelling at each other." Brittany tries but Manuela shakes her head,
"Yes you were! You were yelling and mam was yelling and- and you both were really angry-"
"We were just having a disagreement…" Santana says softly, "But everything's okay." Manuela just moves closer to her mami and puts her little arms around Santana's neck. She picks her daughter up and carries her over to Brittany who is standing now.
"We're okay," She tells Manuela and the little girl looks up from her hiding spot on Santana's shoulder.
"Promise?" Brittany just nods,
"Do you want some pancakes?" Brittany asks and Manuela gives a little smile and a nod,
"Chocolate chip?" She asks and a small voice and Brittany nods her head,
"Whatever you want."
They watch Manuela eat in silence, looking up at each other every now and then but giving their attention back to their daughter. Santana can't imagine having to trade Manuela every month. She doesn't want to imagine her and Brittany permanently living in different houses.
Manuela finishes up, pushing her plate away and looking to her parents, "Can we watch a movie?" They both smile at her and nods their heads, "You don't have any work, mami?" Brittany raises an eyebrow and glances over at Santana,
"No baby, it was closed today and I've finished most of everything for my cases." Manuela nods her head, approving of the answer and gets up to find a movie of her choice.
She picked Snow white.
Santana hates Snow white.
"Why's this bitch so stupid?" Santana mutters to herself and Brittany slaps her arm,
"Stop," she giggles
"Manny, if an old woman ever gives you an apple; don't eat it. Strange danger."
"Okay mama," Manuela laughs keeping her eyes on the film.
"And don't get me started about these living arrangement-"
"Santana it's a movie-"
"Telling young girls that it's okay to stay in a house occupied by 7 men. Great message." Brittany can't help but laugh, Santana's comments had always made her laugh,
"Just enjoy the movie." Brittany says and Santana gets quiet, she looks over at Manuela, who is laying in the middle of the floor with her eyes focused on the large flat screen on the wall.
"I'd enjoy it more if you were in my lap," Santana knows it's a bold move… but she's a bold woman. She notices Brittany's blush and she takes it a step further, lifting the small woman up by her waist and placing Brittany on her lap.
Santana watches to see Brittany's reaction, and when the blonde doesn't move- she actually cuddles closer to Santana hesitantly- Santana wraps her arms around her waist, pulling her closer and letting her fingers rest high on the top of her thighs. Brittany's hair smells like strawberries and Santana leans in to smell it some more. Brittany forgot how good it felt to be in Santana's presence like this; she melts into the other woman's arms. She takes in a sharp breath when she feels Santana's lips on the back of her neck.
Her lips are so soft and they feel so good and Brittany lets her eyes flutter shut as she enjoys the sensation of Santana's lips on her skin.
When she feels Santana's tongue licking her skin she lets out a breath, pressing her legs together. She can feel Santana's fingers dancing on the top of her thighs, caressing her skin and pulling her to insanity. Everything about this feels good, Santana holding her, her tongue, her fingers creeping up Brittany's thighs and between her legs-
"Santana," She whispers and she can feel the Latina's lips curving into a smile,
"Just relax-"
"But Manuela-"
"Is totally into the movie." Her lips are back to her neck, curving around to suck on the skin below Brittany's ear. Brittany's eyes roll back and she sinks deeper into Santana. "You're so beautiful," Santana breathes, her breath is hot and sends chills down Brittany's spine.
She can't remember the last time Santana told her that.
"I'm sorry," She whisper, and for a moment Brittany believes her, "Let me show you how sorry I am-" It's the fire that makes Santana so irresistible, that makes her so good at everything she does; she never gives up. She's persistent and determined, so sure of herself and confident.
Santana removes her lips from Brittany's skin and she lets her fingers move Brittany's knee, but she keeps the blonde on her lap and lets herself snuggle into her before she asks, "Manny, wanna come join us up here?" The four year old perks up and runs to her parents, settling between the two.
Santana notices it when she and Brittany are cleaning up the kitchen after dinner.
Manuela won student of the month for the month of December.
It was written in golden letters on a card stock kind of paper with a royal purple boarder. Manuela-Nicole Lopez-Pierce was also in golden letters with a gold metal on the side.
It made Santana's heart swell and she smiled with pride.
Her baby was student of the month.
And not just student of the month, she has a lot of awards on the refrigerator. Like star student, helper of the month, spelling bee champ.
"Her teacher says that she's very helpful around the classroom, and that she pays attention and catches on quick." Brittany tells Santana, noticing her eyeing the award. "She also made honor roll, and helps other kids in her class read." Its then that Santana feels bad… how had she not noticed any of these? And she didn't congratulate her daughter. Now she feels like a terrible mother, what mother doesn't shower their children with attention for accomplishments like this? Santana chuckles and so does Brittany,
"I'm… a terrible mother." Santana whispers and Brittany shakes her head. She drops the dishes and goes to Santana right away.
"No you're not! Don't say that!"
"I didn't even know that they had spelling bees or helper of the month!" Santana grumbles, she looks back up at the refrigerator and there's a chart and Manuela's chart is filled with stars for books that she can read all by herself. "She can read… I didn't even…"
"Santana… you're busy-"
"I should never be so busy that I neglect my daughter," Santana says, "Or you."
"You're an excellent mother… if it weren't for you Manuela wouldn't even be able to go to a prestigious school like Blaire Academy. God knows I couldn't afford it."
"Yeah but-"
"You read to her every night when she was a baby and a toddler… you worked with her so much."
"Britt-"
"And how about those voice lessons and dance programs she's in? You want the best for her...don't say things like that about yourself." Santana nods her head slowly, noticing that Brittany is only inches away from her now.
"Do you remember how…" Santana pauses, "How I was never picked to be student of the month?" That makes Brittany frown because she does remember. And she remembers how sad it had made Santana as a child. She nods her head as Santana continues to look at her daughter's awards. "Do you remember how you made me your star of the year?" She asks shyly, hoping Brittany will remember and when the blonde nods Santana smiles. "You made me an award out of bright pink paper and my reward was that I got a hug from you every morning when I got to class… and you wrote all the letters in different colors and you told me that I would always be your star." Brittany laughs lightly,
"We were like 8…" She says,
"I still have the award you gave me…"
"Really?" Santana nods, "It's framed… in my office at work." Santana looks over at Brittany,
"I felt bad because… because you were always fighting for me. That's why you didn't get picked-"
"I didn't get picked for plenty more reasons than that." Santana and Brittany both laughed, "But I didn't care after you gave me your award because all I cared about was you."
"Do you remember when my mom gave me that awful haircut?" That makes Santana laugh out loud.
"Yes I do…" Santana bites her lip and grins, "I also remember cutting Taylor Edwards ponytail off because she wouldn't leave you alone about it." Santana shrugs, "She didn't bother you the rest of the year."
"You shouldn't have done that-"
"She should have left you alone." They laugh for a minute before it dies down and now they're so close- it feels so good though. Santana's pressed against refrigerator, her eyes locked on Brittany's lips.
"Do you remember our first kiss?" Santana whispers and Brittany nods. How could she forget?
"We were in my tree house…" Brittany stutters, "And you were upset about Puck… he called you average and-and he was dating an older girl," Brittany chuckles and so does Santana, neither of them backing away.
"You told me that I was beautiful… and that he was blind." Santana says, "You told me that if I was your girl you'd kiss me every day and tell me how gorgeous I was-"
"Because you deserved to hear it." Brittany finishes, "And then I kissed your cheek, then your lips-"
"And we didn't stop." Santana breathes, "We kissed for hours and-and I loved every second of it."
"Me too." Santana leans in closer, but Brittany steps back,
"We need to go check on Manuela."
Brittany gives her a bath while Santana sets her pajama's out. Once she's dried and dressed Santana lift's Manuela into the air and brings her back into her arms tightly. "Congradualtion, hija. Estoy tan orgelloso de ti!"
"Why are you proud of me?" Manuela giggles,
"Well… I'll always be proud of you no matter what, but I'm very proud that you were student of the month, and that you help your teacher and friends. Muy bien!"
"I like making you proud." Manuela smiles, "I can red green eggs and ham. And Harold and the purple crayon. And all the Llama llama books. My teacher says we're going to start reading chapter books after Christmas break!"
"Maybe you can read me a story tomorrow night? Hm?"
"I want you to read me one tonight." Santana smiles,
"I can do that." Manuela hops up and goes to pick out a book, she chooses a book from her shelf and Santana starts to read.
Before she's finished with the book Manuela is fast asleep. Santana tucks her 6 year old daughter in and her and Brittany tip toe out of the room.
"See, amazing." Brittany smiles once the door is shut. Santana surprises her by lightly pushing her into the wall.
"No, you're amazing." Brittany's throat goes dry as she and Santana are face to face. The Latina's fingers creeping up the sides of her thighs and up to the small of her back. Santana waits for Brittany to say something, and when she doesn't she leans into Brittany, allowing her lips to kiss Brittany's neck.
Brittany doesn't know how to tell Santana to stop. It's like she can't get the words out. She's growing so dizzy from Santana's lips on her neck and her hands groping her ass with great force. She lets out a groan as her eyes flutter shut and she lets her head fall to the side, giving Santana plenty of more room.
Brittany knows they should stop. She knows that this is inappropriate on so many levels… but it's been so long that she's had Santana this close to her… she really doesn't want to stop.
When Santana hugs her closer and bites down gently on her neck, kissing and licking the same spot Brittany moans out loud.
Santana's lips have always been her weakness.
Santana has always been her weakness.
She can feel Santana all over, she's getting hot and she would like nothing more to be naked in bed with this beautiful woman- her beautiful wife. But something… something's telling her to-
"Stop," She whispers, but the shorter woman doesn't respond. She keeps going, obviously too lost in Brittany to really listen. "Santana," Brittany says a bit louder, "Santana… you have to stop. We have to stop-"Santana pulls away long enough to look at Brittany, and her eyes are so dark and so full of lust and love and need that Brittany actually feels bad for stopping her.
"I've missed you-"Santana husks, her hands cuffing Brittany's ass, "I need to feel you, Brittany." Her hands move around her waist, making their way into her shorts and to her panties, "I need you to feel me," Brittany gasps, her body melting from Santana's touch,
"I said no," She whispers and Santana stops, her body freezing, her eyes locked on Brittany's.
She's not sure if Brittany is serious or not.
Brittany looks away; she looks almost ashamed of her words. But Santana can tell her meant what she said.
She actually wants her to stop.
Santana's heart is breaking and she doesn't know how to stop her tears from falling at that moment.
"Y-You don't want me?" She asks, her voice broken. Afraid to hear the answer. But Brittany doesn't, she doesn't say a word. Santana moves away from Brittany. "Do you actually want to divorce me?" She continues and Brittany finally looks up to her; Blue eyes drowning in emotion and doubt, regret and uncertainty.
"I don't know," She whispers.
"It's a simple fucking question," Santana says harshly, "Do you want me-"
"Do you want me?" Brittany spits back and Santana crosses her arms, she looks hurt by the question. What kind of question is that?
"Of course I want you."
"Really-"
"Yes!" Santana shouts, "Y-you're the only person I've ever wanted… I've ever loved. The only person I'd build my life around-"
"I understand that Santana but things get really hard around here when you're at work," Brittany cries, "You are an amazing mother and you support us in so many ways… but…"
"Brittany-"
"So you tell me… do you want us… do you want me? Or do you just like the thought of me being here?"
"I want you, Brittany. I want this family…" Santana says in a soft voice, "I didn't mean- I didn't mean to make you think otherwise…" Santana tries, "I can't live without you, Brittany. I can't… I can't do it." Santana wipes her tears away and Brittany watches her carefully. "Fuck," Santana grumbles, "You should have told me how you felt sooner!"
"It's gotten kind of hard to talk to you." Brittany says,
"So this is my entire fault?"
"It's not about fault, Santana." You whisper,
"So what's it about, Brittany?"
"I don't think you love me anymore." And with that, Brittany pushes her way away from Santana and goes to her room to shut the door.
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