- Santana's POV –

I wake up to the sound of faint singing.

I blink a few times to gather my environment and embrace how comfortable the bed is. The memories of the past two weeks with Brittany come rushing back to me in an instant, bringing a huge smile to my face. I turn towards the other side and to my surprise, my wife isn't beside me. I slowly sit upright with the comforter covering my upper body, ignoring the slight ache in certain parts of my body that is greatly outweighed by the pleasure that brought about it in the first place.

I look absent-mindedly around our bedroom. We had just gotten back yesterday afternoon in Manhattan from our wonderful honeymoon in The Bahamas. And unfortunately, it's time to go back to work today again. I'm just about to move and get out of bed when a half-naked Brittany comes in carrying a hand-carried table of what seems to be our breakfast.

"Oh, I was supposed to wake you up with your plateful of bacons. I underestimated its inherent power over you." Brittany trails off, grinning. She approaches the bed and settles herself beside me, the small table with a scrumptious looking breakfast locking me in my place.

"You mean your bacons, right?"

"I'd never say no to that, San." Brittany teases, giving me a quick kiss on my lips.

"I must say, you are knocking it out of the park for the past two weeks as my wife. I did good, didn't I?"

"Oh, honey. I am the bomb! I'm a rare breed, San. It's the best decision you've ever made in your life."

"You make it seem as if you're one of those collectibles in cereal boxes or a Pokemon. Which one is it?"

"Harhar. So funny." Brittany makes a face. "We'll talk about catching 'em all after you eat your breakfast."

"Okay then. Go lie on the bed and open your legs as wide as you can." I smirk, placing a hand on her upper thigh.

"I will after we've gained some much energy." Brittany chuckles nervously, raising an eyebrow at me. "Anyway, we have two hours to get ready for work. Quinn's probably throwing us a welcome back party in the firm."

"She probably has a banner." I groan audibly. "Oh! I have something for you, babe. I was supposed to give it to you last night but we were dead tired so," I trail off, stretching my body until I'm able to get a small gift box from our bedside table drawer.

"Ooh… A gift!" Brittany happily exclaims, her face immediately resorting to a confused expression upon taking the lid off. "Keys?" She adds, holding up the object in question.

I grin excitedly. "Surprise! I bought you a car!"

"A-A car?"

"Yeah, it's a blue convertible Beetle. I know you don't want anything grand and I remember you saying that you've always found them to be cute. I bought it before the wedding and only had it delivered last night with a little help from your sister, so it's at the basement parking right now. I just don't like it much when you take the subway or a cab around town, especially at night." I ramble like a fool.

I thought I was due for another lecture on the dangers of cars and their carbon footprint but instead, Brittany smiles warmly at me. "Thank you, babe." She says softly, kissing me deeply on the lips. "Oh, this is my first car! Ooh… We can go on road trips in it too! Gosh, I'm so excited! Can we use it later?" She declares joyfully.

"Yes, we can and I'll let you drive." I say, grabbing her by the waist and kissing her tenderly. "So, how about we go back on the topic of eating you out?" I wiggle my eyebrows suggestively.

"Uh-huh. I told you I am all for that, honey. But we need to get to work too. I have my pre-trial later and you have tons of meetings. We need to get ready."

"No, we don't." I tease with a smirk, taking a sip of my coffee.

"Yes, we do."

"Says who?"

"Says me, your wife." Brittany raises an eyebrow at me.

"But I say no." I grin in a dopey manner.

"And what makes you think you're right?"

"I'm always right, Britt."

"Not anymore."

"And why is that?"

"Because you're married to me now. I think after all these years we've been together you should know by now that I'm always right. All the more so now, actually." Brittany says, earning a chuckle from me.

"Ah… The sexy, glorious ball and chain in the form of my lovely wife. I think I'm good with that any day, Britt."

"You should be because you're not going anywhere now, Mrs. Santana Marie Lopez-Pierce." She teases, placing the breakfast tray on the nearby table before making her way towards me again.

"Wouldn't have it any other way, Mrs. Brittany Susan Lopez-Pierce."

All good things must come to an end. And when I say that, I meant me selfishly keeping my wife to myself for two complete weeks in The Bahamas.

The past two weeks have been a blast and if I had the choice, I don't think I'll ever leave that place. It's just so freaking beautiful! But alas, and sadly, we have to go back to reality in the form of the incoming mass onslaught that is today, Monday.

"Welcome home!" Quinn shrieks loud enough for our entire floor to hear from the doorway in her office with her arms open wide, the people walking by literally jolting awake in surprise.

"It's eight in the freaking morning and half of us here haven't had coffee, Q." I tease as we approach her. On the other hand, Brittany screams as well and runs the few steps towards Quinn, the both of them jumping happily in unison while exchanging stories animatedly at the same time.

"See you later, babe." Brittany whispers, throwing a quick wink at me before being dragged by Quinn inside her office.

I chuckle lightly at their silliness and proceed to go inside my office as I decide to let them be since I'm sure they're going to talk about everything, from the wedding, honeymoon, and a few gossip Quinn collected while we were away.

It doesn't take me more than a few minutes of lounging around my office and checking everything that I've missed and what needs to be done when I notice a folder with a post-it dated a few days ago attached on it by someone whose handwriting I'm not familiar of.

Menkins and Beiste came down a few hours ago, insisted to finish the merger today. Reviewed everything. Merger will push through in two weeks, just need documents from respective offices.

P.S.

Old ball and chain huh. Congratulations?

S.S.

"Shit!" I grit through my teeth and immediately bolt out of my office like a madwoman. I didn't miss the curious looks coming from the people passing by, even from Brittany and Quinn in the latter's office as well.

Sebastian pushed through with the merger without me? He deliberately went against what I specifically told him we should do while I'm away? I should have fucking known!

Shortly, I arrive at his office floor. I run into a few co-Senior Associates who I mostly just nod at before finally arriving in front of his glass office where he's working on his computer. I forego knocking and enter the place without any warning.

"And I thought we're civilized people who knock before entering." He utters in a bored tone then turns his attention to me with a smug smile. "Can I help you?"

"Yeah, you can explain this note to me, you son of a bitch." I scoff, slamming the post-it in my hand on his table.

"My mother wouldn't appreciate that even if it's true." He comments while examining the note. "Ah, you finally got the message. Good for you."

"This is not a fucking joke!" I exclaim angrily. "You went behind my back and did exactly what I told you not to do!"

"I'm not your servant or whatever you think I am in this place, Lopez. I work here and I'm on your team. I did what I had to do."

"You didn't have my authorization! I told you that I'll review it once I get back but you just to do it while I'm away, didn't you?"

Sebastian sarcastically chuckles. "Spare me the drama. We both freaking know it was going to head that direction anyway, it only got there faster."

I grit my teeth and try to remain as calm as I possibly could. "I don't know what you and Other Gay Frat Boy are trying to pull but I can't let you go around me like this. I'm first chair and you don't work my case without me! You know damn well why I was having doubts on the merger."

"Doubts that were unfounded, Santana. I had their books a week ago and it was all clear." Sebastian rolls his eyes. "Say whatever you want but at the end of the day, you'll see that all I did was take care of things while you were away-"

"Yeah, you did, you fucking snake!"

"And speed up the process." He seethes. "All the files are back with us and you can review everything to your lesbian heart's content, we're not hiding anything. The merger's done and we're just waiting for the other legal papers. You should actually thank me for sparing you all the work, easy million and possibly more for each of us with that huge merger account. You'll probably need it to compensate for that extravagant wedding of yours." He adds, smirking.

I look at him quizzically. If we weren't in the office right now, I probably would have 'accidentally' punched him at least twice already. "I'm not thanking you just yet." I say with a hard tone.

- Brittany's POV –

It's my pre-trial for Ryder's sexual harassment case today.

I haven't been to Court for a month now so I'm a bit nervous, as usual. Santana was supposed to come with me today and be my silent, adorably clingy cheerleader but something came up judging with the way her demeanor suddenly changed after she talked to Sebastian.

I'm going up against Rod Remington, quite handsome in his 40's and looks like he's been doing this for a long time already. I heard he's quite sleazy but we'll see. I'm alone in the table allotted for me while Rod is with his associate whose eyes are seemingly ogling me from afar when the chamber doors open.

"All rise!" The bailiff exclaims as we all do so.

The judge enters and takes his position behind the bench, motioning for us to take our seats.

"All right, ladies and gentlemen, I have a lot of backlog and I'd wish to go through at least a few today, so let's cut to the chase." He declares in a bored tone. I'm a little baffled by his words but nonetheless try to keep it together. I stand up and am about to say something when Rod beats me to it.

"Your Honor, we move that this case be thrown out." He starts. "Other than the facts of the case, the plaintiff doesn't have any evidence at hand."

I sigh deeply and proceed to counter his argument. "Because such evidence is tucked away in the station company's personnel files where the defendant works as a TV reporter and also with the defendant herself. All of which are comfortably hidden and something they are deliberately refusing to hand over."

"Those files contain sensitive information. We can't just breach my client's right to privacy for an outlandish assumption. Whatever claim Miss Pierce has on my client does not carry burden in the rule of law."

I bite my lip and try not to get annoyed by his condescending tone. "You're right but what carries burden is that an investigation of sexual harassment must be conducted without any duress whatsoever."

"And what is your point exactly?" The judge speaks up.

"Everyone being interviewed and the investigator himself reports back to the person being accused of the crime. Using threats or in this case, constraints to coerce someone into doing something against their will or better judgment. That is duress, Your Honor." I answer confidently, earning an irked look from the adverse lawyer.

"That is preposterous, Your Honor-" He trails off but I cut him off this time.

"Imagine that 'B' accused her boss, 'A' of sexual harassment. In this regard, 'A' hired 'C', her bodyguard, to investigate the charge. Now, how probable would it be that 'C's investigation bore any unbiased and just conclusion?"

"Counsel has no basis, Your Honor."

I ignore the other lawyer's words which the judge does so too. "And what if 'B' did come to 'A' directly about it? But instead of discussing matters professionally, 'A' betrayed 'B' by firing him for unfounded reasons. Now, how exactly is that free of duress?" I argue.

It takes a few moments of silence before the judge finally speaks up. "Release the documents and hand them over before 5pm today." He exclaims as he slams his gavel, much to Rod's chagrin.

I nod at the judge and smile to myself as I gather my files. I'm just about finished all while running the things I'll have to do later in my mind when the associate from earlier approaches me.

"That was quite interesting, Miss Pierce-"

"Lopez-Pierce." I say dismissively, holding up my left hand for him to see that shining, shimmering wedding ring. I don't give him time to react as I turn on my heels and walk out of the Courtroom.

Hmm… I'm liking this pro-bono thing, after all.

- Santana's POV –

Mother wanted to see me today for an unknown reason.

She usually calls two or even the three of us but it's only me today. It's probably something about the merger case. Or is it? It's unlikely of her to talk about personal matters in the office either. It's a new client or case, alright.

I greet Greta as usual and make my way inside the office where Mami's animatedly talking to someone on the phone prior to hanging up upon seeing me.

"Who was that?" I say, chuckling as I take my seat on one of the chairs in front of her.

"It's my favorite daughter-in-law." She answers cheerfully.

"You mean, my wife?"

"Oh, Mija. I never thought I'd hear those words come out of your mouth."

"Well, you better get used to it, Mother. Brittany's going to hang around until your dying day. 200 years, give or take?"

"Laugh all you want, Santana. I will still haunt you well until after you've turned into an old lady yourself. Or your children." I laugh heartily before she speaks again. "Anyway, I called you here because I need you to take care of something important."

"Oh, okay. Is it a new case? One of your clients? It's the Oil Tycoon, isn't it?" I say with a slightly bored tone.

"Not exactly."

"Then what is it?"

"Santana, I need you to substitute for one of my classes in Harvard." Mother utters with a grin.

I blink a few times to try and gauge just how serious her statement is. When she doesn't flinch for even a slight second, I finally gather that it is completely and genuinely legit.

"Y-You want me to teach?!" I say a little too loud.

"Yes. It's just for one class." Mami replies nonchalantly.

"What class?"

"Corporations."

"When?"

"Thursday, two weeks from now."

"Why?"

"I'll be in Spain taking care of business. It's only the first month of classes this Fall and I don't want any of my students to get the wrong idea that my class is easy."

"Mother, we've taken your classes. Believe me, there is nothing easy about it. If your students need help, I'd gladly pray for them because they'll need it." I argue as I nervously chuckle.

"And I'd like to keep it that way." She utters with a raised eyebrow. "Someone else could substitute for my class, of course. But I'd rather you do it so you can tell me what you think of my class this year and you graduated there anyway. It's only my second time teaching in Harvard, you know. You took my class before too so it won't be a problem." She adds with a sly grin.

"That was Evidence, this is Corporations we're talking about."

"Potato, potato." Mother waves a hand in disregard. "So, will you cover for me? It's just one class, Mija."

"I don't know, Mother. It feels as if you're offering me illegal drugs." I retort as I look at her skeptically. "Would the Dean even allow me to sub for you?"

"Oh, honey. She was overjoyed at the prospect of you teaching. I'm sure she'll welcome you with open arms."

"I don't even know how to teach and don't you think it's going to be weird for me? You're a legend, Mami."

"And so are you in Harvard. Have I told you that one of my students asked me if we were related on my first day with them? They associated me with you! I felt like a rockstar that day."

"Wait, what? One of the students had the nerve to ask you anything in the first place? That's interesting." I chuckle. "But still, I don't know how to address a class or do what you do."

"That's not true. You're excellent at what you do, sweetheart. Just do what feels natural and the words would come off like a breeze."

I smile softly at her. "I still need to talk to Brittany about this before I make any decisions. She's still in Court so-"

"What did you think you wife and I were talking about before you came in? I called her a few minutes ago and she loves it but she says it's up to you." Mother grins widely and I shake my head in disbelief as she places a few files on her table for me to see. "This is where we are right now. You've got two weeks to prepare and run through everything you wish. What do you say, Santana?"

I sigh deeply, contemplating all the pros and cons in my head. This is a huge deal. As if I'm taking over a non-existing mantle from my Mother no matter how minor it is. Oh well. I've got nothing to lose anyway. I purse my lips and look up at Mami with a wide albeit knowing grin.

"I would love to, Mother."

Calm before the storm?