This chapter is written from Brittany's and Lily's and Santana's point of view. You guys will be getting more Brittana then I've regularly been writing as well in the next few chapters. Hope you enjoy!
Eleven. Never Too Late
"It's been too long and we've been down and out without laughter,
No smiling just tears."
- Never Too Late, Hedley
I manage to fall asleep almost instantly after retreating to mine and Santana's bedroom. My eyes only open in response to the feeling of warm arms belonging to my wife wrap around me.
I take a moment to simply take in the smell of Santana as I look at the bedside clock. I'm surprised to see that it's already past nine o'clock. "Good morning beautiful." I say, taking Santana's hand in my own.
I receive no verbal response from her, only a stifling of a cry and a sniffle. Carefully, I roll over so that I am face to face with Santana whose eyes are bloodshot and rimmed faintly with tears with tear streams staining her face.
"Hey, it's okay." I wipe the teats that are slowly rolling down her cheek. Before I get the chance to say anything more Santana buries her face in the crook of my neck, tightening her hold on me as she does.
"Just tell me what happened." I say, almost whispering, before placing a kiss on top of her head of blonde curls.
It takes her a few moments to regain her composure, enabling her to speak. "She died." She sniffs before continuing. "Julie died. I tried everything in the book but I couldn't get her back. She just slipped away. She slipped away and I couldn't stop it."
We both knew this day was coming but unfortunately Santana had become very attached over the two and a half years Julie had been her patient. Ever since we had had children, over the years there were a smaller amount of children on her ped's floor that Santana considered her own, but Julie, Julie was closest to her out of them all. Her and Santana had been close almost immediately after her admission to Mount Sinai.
"I know it's hard, honey, I know you loved her in your own way but you've got to let go."
Julie had advanced cardio myopathy, especially considering she was eleven years old, and was unable to accept a heart transplant because of a pre-existing blood condition. Santana had fought to keep her alive nearly the whole time she was her patient, trying every procedure she could, even those that weren't necessarily encourage by the board; trying to give her more time.
"I tried everything. I know that she didn't have all that much time left but I was hoping there would be a breakthrough at Mass. Gen. with the research they've been doing. I was hoping that they'd have a cure before her time ran out." She shakes her head, and then hangs it as if in embarrassment. "Maybe, I was being naive but I really thought they would have found the cure."
I can feel Santana's entire body begin to shake. "San, honey, I need you to listen to yourself. You tried everything. You did your job to make her life the best it possibly could have been but it was simply her time. Sure, it may seem too soon for her but she doesn't have to suffer anymore. God will make sure she is safe." I say comforting her the best way I know how. I wrap my arms around her, pulling our bodies as close as possible.
"I know, I know, but it still doesn't change the fact that she'll never get to grow up and have a life of her own that is outside the four walls of a hospital room." With her words I begin to feel fresh warm tears wetting my shirt.
"It's hard I know but you've got to let her go, sweetheart," I begin to run my fingers through her hair trying to stop her from crying. "You can't go back. You've got to move forward. We can move forward this weekend at the cabin if you want, if you feel comfortable about leaving the kids home alone all weekend that is."
Santana pulls away just enough to be looking me in the eye as I give her a goofy smile fully knowing that it was bound to make her smile back. I'm proven correct as a small smile revealing the slight laugh lines she'd acquired over the years crosses Santana's face. "I knew there was a reason why I married you." She chuckles through her slight cries.
"And why is that?" I smirk trying to humour her.
"Because you're a genius." The small smile on her face grows making her laugh lines more prominent.
I don't get a chance to verbally respond due to the breathtaking hindrance of Santana's lips capturing mine. I involuntarily moan in response, as Santana's hand cups my cheek. We don't separate until the need for oxygen becomes unavoidable. As I take a breath her lips begin to leave trails of kisses down the side of my face not stopping until they reach my pulse point.
"Santana." I manage to pull my head out of the gutter and begin trying to get her to stop. "San." I pull away slightly, still holding onto her waist.
She looks up at me, pupils wide. Her look on her face is as if to ask what was wrong.
"It's 9:30 in the morning and I just heard the sink going in the bathroom upstairs." I say with a small chuckle.
"Children, when will they ever learn to sleep in?" She shakes her head in fake disbelief before giving me a wide smile.
Santana hauls herself up out of bed and begins to take her now dirty clothes off. As she is changing into her casual clothes I can help but watch in amazement of how even after all this time the sight of her wearing my college sweatshirt and a pair of shorts still makes my heart beat faster.
Before leaving the room, to what I'm assuming is make the only breakfast food she knows how for the kids and ourselves, she comes to my side of the bed and kneels down. She gives me a smile sweet enough to give a cute eighty year old man with false teeth cavities. "I love you." She says almost whispering before placing an affectionate kiss on my forehead.
"I love you, and nothing will ever change that, I'm here for you no matter what." I give her a smile, "Its okay to grieve honey but don't get lost in it."
Santana closes her eyes for a moment as if to reset her brain and let everything wrong slip away. "I'm okay." She says before opening her eyes. "Now, who's up for banana pancakes?"
Her voice is the most cheerful I've heard it since the other night in the restaurant and I can't help be glad that I had the courage to tell her that I saw her pain and I wanted to make it better, no matter how bad it was.
After changing out of my pyjamas and into a pair of cargo shorts and a sweatshirt I walk out of our bedroom to find Santana in the kitchen singing faintly to herself, which is a rarity in itself, not including the back she was cooking.
As she whisks the eggs into the flour I can pick out the lyrics to a song I haven't heard since before the kids were born. "And you light up my life. You give me hope, to carry on." I can't help but smile as I continue to walk up behind her. "You light up my days and will my nights with songs."
Once reaching her I begin to wrap my arms around her waist only to be met with the sound of Santana's squeal. As she turns around to face her 'attacker' she knocks over the bag of flour onto the counter. As Santana turns around the smile that was on her face is replaced by a classic Santana scowl.
"Way to go, Santana." I almost snort. I can't help but laugh at her. "If it wasn't me who," I do not get the chance to finish my sentence as my face it hit with a cloud of flour.
Before opening my eyes I hear Santana's giggle echo through the kitchen. "What were you saying, dear? She says through her laughter.
I wipe the flour from my eyes and mouth before speaking. "Oh no, you didn't!"
I wrap one arm quickly around Santana's waist, a squeal escaping her mouth. With my other hand I grab one of the eggs remaining on the kitchen counter and she fights to get out of my hold.
"Don't you dare!" Santana yells as she continues to squirm.
I continue what I was doing and crack the egg over my wife's head. After throwing the shell in the sink as quickly as possible I scramble across to the other side of the kitchen to hide behind the island.
I sit in silence, waiting for my wife to surrender for what seems like an hour before bombs in the form of eggs crash down on me. "Gotcha!" Santana giggles from across the room.
I immediately jump out from behind the island and begin to chase Santana around the kitchen, making the mess we had created even larger.
"Mom? Ma? What the heck are you doing?" Lily practically yells.
Santana stops in front of me causing me to bang into her; thankfully I stop her from falling to the floor. I only now notice Lily and Catalina standing in the doorway leading into the kitchen.
"Just having a little fun." I laugh, placing a kiss on Santana's cheek, not caring that it was currently dripping with egg whites.
"Who wants breakfast?" Santana giggles with a wide smile.
"I'll get the milk." Lina chuckles before cautiously making her way to the fridge.
"I'll get the fruit loops." Santana responds almost instantly.
"Oh no, you two are showering before you do anything else because I personally do not want to have eggs and flour all over me when you guys lean over me to grab the cereal box." Lily follows suit, smirking before letting out a small chuckle.
I look over at Santana who is giving me a knowing smirk. "You've got a deal." There was definitely going to be more getting dirty then clean during this shower.
After helping my parents clean up their mess in the kitchen with my sister and eating a breakfast consisting of the strange yet delightful combination of fruit loops and peaches I decided to head over to the Berry residence to have a well needed talk with my best friend considering last night's events.
As I pull into the driveway I notice that the light over the door is still on. "Of course they're not home. Only me would pick the strangest times to do these things." I think to myself as I put the gearshift in reverse and start to slowly back out of Drew's parking pad.
Before I know it I'm putting on my brakes at the sight of Drew pulling open his front door standing there in his Batman t-shirt and pyjama pants waving at me. "I thought you guys were gone." I yell out as I roll down my window before pulling back up the driveway.
"No, Mom got called into work at 5 and left the light on outside and I didn't notice it until now." He chuckles, shaking his head in slight embarrassment.
"Smooth moves, Drew, smooth moves." I laugh as I shut of the T-bird.
"Well sorry, are you coming in or not?" He says almost sarcastically.
"What does it look like genius?" At my words I remember the reason I came here in the first place. My conversations with Cam and my Mom had prompted this well needed conversation with Drew.
"You never change, do you?" He smirks as I roll up my window.
"Aren't you glad about that?" I say with a smile after getting out of the car.
"Hmm, I'll have to think about that one." Drew crosses his arm across his chest and swings up his other arm so that his hand is on his chin, as if he was mimicking Rodin's 'The Thinker'.
Reaching the top of the patio steps I slap him playfully on the arm. "Why thank you, Andrew. That was very kind of you." I laugh with a smirk. "I love you too, brother."
He grins. We had considered ourselves practically siblings since we ten years old, thankfully that hadn't changed over the years. "Love you too, sis."
"So what is it this morning?" Drew asks as he takes a seat on his bed while I snatch up his gaming chair that was more comfortable than any bed could have been.
"What do you mean?" I ask trying to avoid the subject as long as possible; I wanted to talk about it but I wanted enjoy the normalcy of the morning I've had since I've woken up, barring my parents food fight in the kitchen that is.
"Lily, to be blunt," he pauses for a moment, "just cut the crap." He says somewhat nonchalantly. "I've known you since birth. I know when you've got something to say and are trying your best to avoid it."
"Fine." I half grumble, pulling my feet up in front me so that I am wrapping my arms around my calves.
"So, as I said, what is it this morning?" Drew gives me a heart warming smile, which actually helps take the edge off. "You know me. This is a no judgement zone."
"Well can I ask a question first?" I request.
"Bring it on, Lily."
"Why haven't you asked Penny out on a date yet?" I attempt to hide behind my knees, just keeping from my eyes up visible as a blush starts to creep across his face. There was no doubt that he was Aunt Quinn's son, considering she'd blush at the drop of a hat. "Is it because you think it's too soon, that you haven't really known her all that long?"
With my last comment I've somewhat given myself away. "Lily, is this about me and Penny or about something else?" Matt raises his eyebrow slightly.
"Both." I reply honestly.
"Well, that is part of the reason. But I haven't really known her, known her all that long. I mean I don't really want to just go jumping into things. I mean I've known her since we were kids because you, Penny, and I used to play together when they used to visit every few years from Ohio, remember? She's your cousin so I just don't want to start dating her and realize that she was different then who I remembered and who I thought she was and only like her a just a friend and hurt her right?" He rambles.
"I get your point."
"Then again, half the fun is getting to know the other person, right?" He smiles again causing me the blush is beginning to fade slightly from his cheeks.
"And that also is a good point." I smile and the memory of hanging out with JJ in my Ma's office asking her questions like what her favorite TV show was when she was little.
"And if this is what I think it's about," The smile on his face chances to an almost cocky looking smirk. "Then I think you should go for it but just take it slow."
"Are you sure? I mean Mom and I talked about it and she said almost the same thing but I don't know." I pause, running my fingers through my bangs pushing them out of my eyes. "Mom said that I would never know what would happen if I didn't try. She then proceeded to tell me the story of how she and Mom had their first kiss." I can't help but smile remembering the look on my Mom's face when she got into telling the story.
"Lily, I can tell by the look on your face that you're taking this really seriously, considering that this is the first time since Casey," I can't help but flinch at Drew mentioning her. "See, this is the first time I've seen you act the way you used to before Casey around someone who you don't consider family. So, yes I'm sure, you're ready and willing by looks of it." He smirks.
I grab the closest object and throw it towards him. "Shut up, chemistry boy." I scowl.
"I'm right and you know it." He smiles as he catches the TV remote that was intended to hit him.
"I haven't felt this way since Casey." I shake my head, unable to contain a smirk. "I might be seeing things but I spent last night at the hospital with her when Ma had to operate on her brother," I don't get a chance to finish my sentence as I'm interrupted.
"Is he okay?" Drew's eyes widen in concern, leaning up off the wall.
"He's alive but he's going to be contained to a wheel chair for the rest of his life."
"Ouch, that's definitely going to be different. How old is he, I've never seen him around school?"
"He's Nik's age but he's a pre-med student at Columbia. He's a genius." I chuckle. "And he knows about Casey, and my feelings about JJ." I can feel the blush beginning to flush my face.
"How does he know about all that?" His face contorts in confusion.
"I'll get to that in a minute." I assure him. "I sweat with some of the looks she gives me she might feel the same way about me as I do about her." I notice his smile widens as I speak. "She blushed simply because when we were sitting on the couch in my Ma's office her feet landed on mine when she put them up on the couch. Do you think that means anything?"
"I think that you think that it means something, therefore I think it means something. So as I asked earlier, how does Cam know all about Casey and your feelings about his sister?"
"I'll address this first question first. Me and JJ were asking each other questions trying to get to know each other and she asked me what my most embarrassing was I vetoed it so she dropped it. But later on once she had fallen asleep I told her all about Casey and Cam found out because he woke up and heard it. And he knows about my feelings for JJ because apparently it's obvious to everyone besides her."
Drew gives me a look, "I could have told you that."
"Is it weird that when I feel bad about losing my Abuelo or anything else that makes me feel just upset in general when I look at her I feel better? Its crazy I know but it's true." I can't help but smile at the look on JJ's face when she smile for the first time after we entered my Ma's office.
"It's not weird, it's good." He smiles. "I think you've made up your mind, Lils. Just go talk to her already."
"Only if you ask Penny out on a date." I give him a look, as if to say 'You do this or I'll be somewhat pissed at you.'
"You've got yourself a deal, Lopez." Drew leans towards me. "Go get your girl."
After cleaning up the breakfast dishes with Lina, Brittany and I decided to tell the rest of the kids that we were going to be gone for the weekend. It was especially times like these I was thankful we had kids we were able to trust. We had already put Lily in charge before she left for the Berry's and Brittany had planned to call Nik to check up on them every once in a while. As usual we had told the kids to have their cells on at all times.
"They'll be okay won't they?" Brittany asks as she shuts the hatch after placing our suitcases in the back of my Suburban.
"Of course they will, why wouldn't they be?" I ask chuckling slightly.
"I may have came home to find an upset daughter of ours painting at five in the morning." She replies tentatively as she takes shotgun.
"You what?" I practically whip my head around, looking at Brittany with widened eyes. "Why didn't you say something about this earlier?"
"Because I was trying to cheer you up." She gives me a small smile. "And I think I fixed the problem." She proceeds to chuckle.
"And what problem was this?" I ask raising an eyebrow, even though I have somewhat of an idea.
"I'll tell you once we get on the road because if we don't get on it soon we're not going to get to the cabin until late. And then,"
I cut Britt off, already knowing what she was going to say. "We'd miss sunset. I know." I giggle slightly as I put the car in reverse and begin to back out of the driveway.
"It's not my fault that you're a sucker for them. And that it takes you forever to pack." Brittany chuckles, receiving a playfully slap on the arm from me after I put the car into first gear. She had taught me how to drive standard after our one year anniversary when she had finally bent on the 'Brittany is the only one allowed to drive the Bug' rule.
"You know me I like to be prepared, and stop trying to change the subject." I smirk, letting on to the fact that her tactics on trying to get me to go faster weren't exactly going to work.
"Who says I was changing the subject?"
"I did, so spill." I say in my best cop voice which causes Brittany to laugh. "Did I say that you could laugh?" I keep my face serious as I glance over at her slightly.
"No, Ma'am." She attempts to stifle her laugh but it eventually comes out anyhow. "Sorry, I just didn't want to worry you. I think I handled it."
"Britt would you just tell me already, you're killing me here by not tell me." I almost half yell at her as I turn onto an on ramp. She truly knows how to push my buttons; she knows how much it bothers me when a person dances around a subject for so long without any details.
"When I got home I found Lily downstairs, paint brush and palette in hand, staring at that piece of canvas she hasn't touch in months. She actually added something to the painting Santana." Brittany gives me a wide grin before continuing. "To someone that doesn't know her it wouldn't seem like such a big deal but you know that she hasn't been able to paint since your father passed away."
The scowl that has been on my face is replaced by a blossoming smile. "And this is upsetting why?" My tone has automatically changed to my usual excited pitch.
"It's not the painting thing that upset her. You and I both know that she has a crush on JJ," Brittany pauses as if waiting for a reply. She only continues after I give her a nod in response. "She got upset because she didn't want to act on it only to be dropped on her ass again and be hurt. But do you know what I told her?"
I'm slightly hesitant even though I know I was right when we were fighting at the point in time in our relationship when kids became the subjects of fights. Brittany was a great mom, no, she was the best mom. She was even better than I imagined she would be. I was extremely thankful that I had realized that I didn't need to be afraid of change and that moving forward with Brittany and having children would be a good thing. Turns out it was for amazing than I could have ever dreamed.
"What did you say?" I ask giving her a smile brought on by the memory of the look on Brittany's face when she found out we were pregnant.
"I told her a little anecdote about a certain feisty Latina that changed my life in ways I didn't think were possible and that it only took one person to make your life turn around. I told her to not make the mistakes we made and to live life because she'll never know unless she tries." Out of the corner of my eye I can see my favorite goofy grin crosses Brittany's face, making my heart skip a beat.
"Have I ever told you that you are the best Mom ever?" I chuckle.
"Uh huh, and I believe I told you that we tie for that award." She chuckles as she takes my hand after I put the car into the appropriate gear for the freeway. "Thank you for giving me the chance to be a Mom along side the most amazing woman in the world." She lifts my hand to her lips, placing a kiss on the top of my hand before bring our hands back down to rest on top of the center console.
"No regrets?"
Brittany's words are like a beautiful symphony to my ears. "No regrets."
Not long after making my deal with Drew I find myself in Mount Sinai Hospital parking lot sitting there in my car, unable to bring myself to get out. I was not the type to go back on deals or promises but right now I couldn't help but consider the possibility of starting my car and getting out of this parking lot as soon as possible.
I look out my windshield to find a joyful looking redhead woman being pushed to her car by an orderly as she holds the hand of brunette woman. I can't help but chuckle, putting my hand over my eyes. In its own twisted way it was near impossible to not consider this a sign. I am reluctant but I force myself open the door to my car to get out fully knowing that the results could be disastrous.
As exit the elevator onto the ped's floor I receive a few smiles and pleasantries from some of the nurses who are usually on my Ma's service. After reaching Cam's door I take a deep breath before knocking on the open door, careful not look in knowing that it was likely that was bound to make me more anxious.
"Come on in." Cam's voice echoes through the room, reaching the doorway.
"Hey Cam." I pause as I enter the room and notice that Cam is the only person in the room. "How's it going?" I smile hoping that he's feeling just as good as he was last night. I was actually extremely surprised at his strength after he had received the new that he wasn't going to be able to walk again.
"Pretty good actually. You got to love cable TV and physiology." He holds up a text book the size of an encyclopedia with a chuckle.
"Sounds like some interesting stuff. What topic?" I ask genuinely curious.
"Respiratory. Personally not my favorite subject but it's better than watching soap operas all day long like I would if I was a 70 year old woman."
I can't help but laugh at his joke, "That is true." I say with a smile.
"I'm assuming you're not here to see me per say due to the look that was on your face when you walked in." Cam says as if he's completely okay with having some alone time.
I immediately begin to feel blush cross my face out of embarrassment, "Since you're a mind reader I'll have to come clean on that one." I smile sheepishly.
"I guess you are now." He chuckles. I'd have to give him credit; he was definitely quite the optimist.
"I was actually looking for JJ but she's obviously not here." I say nervously.
"Oh, I see." His tone implies that he understands what I meant. "She left for home about an hour and a half ago."
"Well I'll guess I'll see her at school on Monday then," Nervous laughter automatically leaves my mouth.
"Well, you could always go to our house you know." There he goes again with that grin. "I'm assuming you didn't simply come here to see how she was. Am I correct?"
"See there you go with that whole mind reading thing again." I smile. "After talking it out I decided that it was best to get everything out in the open. Let the fresh air get at it and rid of anything that taints it. But I don't want to intrude, considering your family had a rough day yesterday."
"Lily, I don't know you very well but I can tell by your behaviour that if you don't tell her now you're going to have a hard time telling her later. Even harder time than you're having now." He gives me a sympathetic look.
It doesn't take a genius like him to know that he's right. "Do you think I should tell her?"
"Do you think you should?" He asks, emphasizing the first 'you'.
"Cam, can you stop being so shrinky and just answer my question?" I pause for a moment before adding a small please.
"I don't think that shrinky," he uses air quotes around his last word, "is actually a word."
"You know what I mean. Can you please just answer my question because you know her better than I do and I really need to know if she's going to take this bad and freak out."
"Well are you going to freak out?"
"Well I'm going to be nervous, even more than I am right now. But unless she completely freaks out then I'll be fine. So Cam," I pause to give him a slight glare jokingly, "will you please answer my question."
"She's going to freak out," With his words my stomach drops. "But it's going to be an internal good type of freaking out, though." He quickly adds with a chuckle, as a look of relief almost immediately crosses my face.
"So I should do this?" I ask nervously one more time just to be a hundred percent sure on my decision.
Cam gives me a reassuring smile. "You should do this."
"Geez, Brittany did you add bricks to this thing when we stopped at that convenience store and I went in to get you a Popsicle?" Santana asks as she lifts the suitcase out of the back of her SUV.
"Uh no, I leave my stash of bricks at home for Puck and Artie." I say with my tone completely serious even though I was only joshing her.
As she puts the suitcase down on the gravel driveway she turns around. The look of shock on her face was enough to make me giggle. "I'm kidding, Santana."
I take the suitcase and begin to roll it behind me as I head towards the cabin. As I reach the front steps I realize she is still standing there shell shocked and I can't help but smirk.
"Are you coming or not?"
As I stand on the small patio outside JJ's house, waiting for someone to answer the door I can't help but feel knots in my stomach. I felt like a thirteen year old boy who's about to ask his best girl friend to their first junior high dance. I only realize I had begun pacing as the door opens once I reach the opposite side of the patio facing the edge of the street.
"Lily?" The perplexed voice of JJ's mother now enters my conscience. This takes me by surprise causing me to trip over my own feet.
I hear a gasp which I assume has come from JJ's mom. I only respond as I land on the front lawn. "Uh, hi Mrs. Abrams." I say completely embarrassed which is probably supported the slight rosy blush now crosses my features.
"Lily, honey, are you ok?" Her tone is worried and her words rushed as she hurries down the two steps to the front lawn. She sticks her hand out as for me to take, "Here, let me help you up."
"Thanks." I smile sheepishly as I take her hand as she helps pull me up off the ground.
"Are you alright, Lily?" I only now notice that JJ's mom's face is flushed slightly as well.
"Yeah, I'm fine. My clumsiness tends to get the better of me sometimes." I chuckle throw the pain I'm currently feeling.
As Mrs. Abram goes to move her bangs out her face, something that JJ has picked up from her I'm sure, she stops and stares at her hand. She holds her hand out to me and I realize what's wrong. Her palm is smeared with blood, which I know is obviously mine.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't realize," I begin to ramble out an apology but she cuts me short.
"Don't worry about it, Lily. I think it would be best that you come in and clear out that cut because it does look particularly nasty." She gives me an apologetic look.
I only now look down at my hand to see that there wasn't just a small cut like you'd expect, it was more like a gash straight down the middle of my palm. "No wonder you're feeling pain, doofus." I think to myself.
"I've been telling Artie ever since we've moved here that a rock garden among all this grass does not count at a garden. That man can be so stubborn so times." Mrs. Abrams smiles, the blush that was on her cheeks becomes more prominent for a moment.
"It's okay I definitely didn't inherited my Mom's graciousness. Considering how clumsy I am sometimes I'm glad that I've never met my father, that man must be a complete wreck." I chuckle trying to make light of the situation and loosen the knots that my stomach was inevitably tied in.
She gives me a sympathetic smile before chuckling herself. "Artie's got more than one first aid kit in the house, so we'll manage to clean that," she pauses for a moment, "I was going to say cut but that is definitely deeper than a simple little cut, huh?" She smiles.
"I'll have to agree with you on that one." I chuckle nervously.
"Come on, let's get you cleaned up before it starts to get infected." She says motioning for me to follow her as she walks up the patio steps.
As I step into the porch I can't help but be amazed. From the outside of JJ's house it did look quite large but I'm awestruck at the cathedral ceilings outlined with dark wooden beams which accent the red living room attached to the porch.
"You can take a seat in the laundry room there." She opens a door on the wall adjacent to where I am standing to reveal an airy room with an island counter with a sink in the middle and two stools. I sit down on the stool closest to the door following her instructions."I'm sure you're not here to make small talk with me, so I'll get JJ for you."
Before I even get the chance to stop her out of anxiousness she's gone. I'm left alone with my nerves which I am sure are going to be the death of me.
After unloading my SUV Brittany had decided she wasn't going to let me do anything, "I'm spoiling you this weekend. We haven't had 'us' time in a while and you deserve to just relax" is what she had said. We had been at the cabin for all of fifteen minutes before she had turned on the stove and started to make her Chicharrones, which she of course knew were my favorite.
"So what's new? I feel like I haven't had an actually conversation that wasn't about the kids in forever." I say as Brittany hands me a container of strawberry yogurt for dessert before taking a seat next to me on the patio.
"Hm, let's see." She says wrapping her arm around my shoulder, causing me to kick off my shoes and curl up next to her, resting my head against her. "You know Hannah, right?"
I nod my head in response, "The one whose always wanted to ride a bike right?" Hannah was one of Brittany's favourite students. She was born with a curved spine so everyday life was a little difficult for her but she always had a smile on her face.
"Yes, her. Well she had surgery on her spine at the beginning of last week and she's finally going to be able to ride a bike like normal kid." I can tell there's a wide smile on Brittany' face even though I'm not even looking at her.
"That's amazing, Britt. I bet she was so excited." I can't help but amazed at Brittany, her compassion is one for the books.
"She was more excited than I've ever seen her on her last day of school before the surgery. And you and I both know that's saying something. That girl is more smiley than I was when we were little."
"And that's partly because of you, don't forget that." I'm usually not the type to say that teachers we have a whole lot of control of someone's life but I know from hearing Brittany describe her job and what she does with the kids it was definitely partly because of her Hannah was so happy. Brittany always did her best to include Hannah in with the rest of the kids.
"Stop it." She says; I can hear the embarrassment in her tone.
"Fine." I giggle. "Do you want some of this yogurt?" I ask trying to relieve her embarrassment.
"You know I don't like yogurt."
"But it's strawberry, Britt-Britt. You love strawberries. It's not the icky vanilla kind that gives you a headache. It's great. Come on, have some." I turn around so that I'm holding a spoonful of yogurt in front of her face.
"I'm good, San." She gives me a look which assures me even more than she doesn't want anything to do with my yogurt.
Even so I continue to push her buttons because I know she's enjoying this just as much as I am. "Are you sure Britt? You're missing out." I pause for a moment, hearing her take a deep breath. "Fine then, more for me."
"Just give me some of the darn yogurt, Santana." She sighs, as she shakes her head in defeat.
I can't help but smirk at her attempt to resist me, and my strawberry yogurt, as I turn around even more, inching the spoon closer to her mouth. As she finishes the spoonful I notice a glob of yogurt on her upper lip. It takes everything I have not to giggle at my wife.
"Britt, must you always make a mess."
She looks as me curiously. "I don't see a mess, and you're the one with the spoon there anyhow Sherlock."
I lean forward and place my container of yogurt, which also contains the spoon Brittany was referring to, on the patio coffee table. I turn my body sideways as lean back.
I say as I lead towards her, "You've got yogurt right," I don't finish my sentence as I capture her lips with my own, removing the glob of yogurt in the process. "There." I say with a small smirk as I pull away.
"What is it with you and food lately?" Brittany chuckles as she wraps her arms around my waist pulling me closer.
"I just love food okay" I joke. "But you know what?" I try to make it look like I'm thinking harder than I actually am.
"What, Santana?"
"I love you even more." I smirk.
Brittany giggles slightly before placing a tender kiss on the top of my head. "I love you too, San."
Right now in this moment I can't believe I ever had a doubt about her and what I really wanted, I should have always known; her.