''How are you feeling sergeants?'' Sue asks as she walks beside Sam and Brittany during the parade having decided to join them, Brittany turns to look at her hearing fireworks explode in the sky and smiles slightly.
''Surprisingly good doc, looks like the intense therapy really did it's job.''
Sue smiles brightly as Sam nods his head in agreement and reaches out gently patting both of their shoulders. ''I am glad to hear that, we still have a lot of sessions in front of us but the both of you walking this parade with your former brothers and sisters shows me just how much progress you made the past two months!''
''Thank you for making this possible doc.'' Sam tells her smiling brightly saluting their commander as he walks past them, Brittany chuckles as she hears her family cheer their names and nudges Sam.
Looks like we reached the crazies.''
''Not only the crazies.'' Sam mutters smiling brightly as he sees Santana standing securely between Quinn and Holly while Puck stands behind her to shield her from the crowd around them, he points over at them as soon as he sees Diego donning a children air force uniform and snickers. ''Look at that.''
Brittany looks over into the direction he is pointing at and a big smile forms on her lips the second she locks eyes with Santana. ''She came.'' She breaths out, her eyes slide down her body as she sees her arms hanging down and a soft gasps escape her lips the second she sees Diego waving wildly at her with a big grin. ''God that is just adorable.''
Sam laughs and grabs her hand. ''Come on, I am sure nobody will mind us escaping the line to say hi to our family.''
Sue laughs and pushes them softly. ''Go I will keep these two spots free for you!'
Brittany pulls her hand free from Sam's as they both jog over and catches Diego as he jumps in her arms squealing her name, she lifts him above her head smiling as he giggles loudly and kisses his head.
She places him on her hip adjusting the blue air force cap he wears and taps his nose. You look amazing D.
We match! Diego tells her excitedly while wrapping his little arms around her shoulders after high fiving Sam, Brittany nods her head in agreement kissing his head once again and turns to Santana with a loving smile.
Hey you. She quickly hugs her aunt and best friends as they walk to her and kisses Santana's cheek as she hugs her right after, she pulls back humming in surprise as Santana pecks her lips glaring her aunt, Quinn and Mercedes as they squeal and blindly throws her arm that was wrapped around Santana's waist to the left easily hitting Puck and Sam with it as she hears them holler.
Santana giggles as she watches both men fold over probably groaning and gently grabs Brittany's arm wrapping it back around her waist, she wraps one arm around her son placing the palm of her hand on Brittany's shoulder blade and looks up at her with an eyebrow raised signing one handed. Be nice Britt-Britt and hi, you look amazing.
Brittany just smiles sheepishly and halfheartedly apologizes, she rolls her eyes as Holly cracks an imaginary whip and blushes as she hears Santana giggle knowing she saw it. ''Shut up Aunt H.'' She turns back to Santana adjusting her hold on Diego and bounces him on her hip smiling as he giggles. This is a very nice surprise.
Santana smiles seeing the excitement clear in her blue eyes and just tilts her head up kissing her softly. ''For you we try.'' She tells her loud enough so only she can hear her, she pulls back locking eyes with her and smiles shyly. We missed you.
I missed the both of you too. Brittany tells her while also looking down at Diego smiling as he just wraps his arms tightly around her shoulders, she tilts her head as he nuzzles his face in her neck and rubs his back.
''What you didn't miss your brother?'' Puck asks teasingly.
Brittany turns to him with a glare and smirks. ''I missed kicking your butt yes.''
Santana giggles and shakes her head. Again, be nice Britt-Britt.
Brittany just shakes her head and chuckles. I will be if he stops teasing.
''Sergeants, get your butts back here!'' Sue yells whistling loudly, Sam sighs kissing Mercedes softly and turns back to Brittany.
''Time to go back B.''
Brittany nods her head turning to look at the different army troops all gathering in front of the huge podium sat up in the middle and locks eyes with her commander raising an eyebrow as a silent question, she smiles as he just nods his head while mentioning his hand at his own family surrounding him and looks at the group. ''Do you all want to join us?'' She asks also signing it for Santana.
She smiles as they nod their heads already following Sam and locks eyes with Santana smiling reassuringly as she eyes the crowd, she holds out her hand for her to take and wriggles her finger. ''I won't stray from your side I promise and we will search for a spot with less crowd.''
Santana nods her head after gazing into her calming blue orbs and slowly reaches out to grab her hand, Brittany intertwines their hands keeping a securing arm around Diego's waist and follows their family.
''B over there!'' Sam yells pointing at the right side of the stage near there troop, Brittany looks over nodding her head as she sees several familiar faces and follows him looking around for a less crowded spot.
She let's go of Santana's hand as she feels it tremble and quickly wraps her arm around her waist showing her that she won't let go, she leads her through the crowd glaring at several soldiers as they drunkenly try to bump into her and shakes her head. ''Watch it Privates!''
''Pfft get lost air bitch!''
''Oh hell no, B not now!'' Quinn calls out sliding up beside her, Brittany just turns to look at her and smiles slightly.
''No worries Q, I won't not with him on my hip and with San by my side.'' She chuckles as she sees her eyebrows raise in surprise and leads Santana over to their group shooting Puck a grateful smile as she sees that he is shooing a few of her mates away after silently explaining why, she let's go of Santana the second she feels her relax and looks down at Diego chuckling as she sees him looking around in amazement.
She softly taps his leg calling for his attention and winks as he looks up at her the amazement clear in his brown orbs. Shoulders? She lifts him up as he immediately nods his head with a big grin and places him on her shoulders, she pulls Santana in front of her as soon as she made sure he is sitting comfortably and wraps an arm around her waist placing her hand on her stomach.
Santana tilts her head back as she feels her draw a pattern on her stomach silently asking if she is okay and nods her head telling her that she is, she looks at her son smiling lovingly as she sees him sitting on Brittany's shoulders with her hand placed on his leg so he can't fall off and leans up on her tiptoes to kiss her cheek. ''I am glad you are back Britt-Britt.''
Brittany just smiles lovingly kissing her forehead not noticing her aunt shooting a picture of them and glances up at the sky as it fills with another colorful burst of firework, she looks back down as she feels a tap on her stomach and smiles slightly as she sees Santana looking at her in concern.
Okay? Santana asks tilting her head, Brittany nods her head and smiles slightly.
More than okay, Sue really knows what to do. Still have a bit more to work through but for today it's enough.
She turns her head as she feels a tap on her shoulder and sees Sam's concerned face, she leans closer as music suddenly bursts through the speakers and raises an eyebrow. ''What's wrong?''
''Sue just told me they planned fire breathers with the colors of our flag.''
Brittany bites her lip looking over at Sue and sees her watching them from the side to make sure nothing will happen, she just nods her head and shoots Sam a small smile. ''We have to Sam, we already made it this far we can't back down now knowing something with fire is happening.''
She watches him nod his head and turns to her aunt as he walks back to Mercedes. ''Aunt H?'' She smiles sadly as she walks over to her concern clear in her eyes and bites her lip. ''Fire breathers are coming, Sue prepared us for loud things but not for fire can you make sure Sam will stay grounded?'' She shoots her a grateful smile as she nods her head walking over to Sam pulling Quinn with her and turns back to look at Santana, she taps her hand softly as she sees her watching the fireworks and nervously bites her lip as she turns to look at her.
Sue prepared us for loud noises but the therapy was not based on our greatest angst the fire, she just told Sam fire breathers will come onto the stage.
Santana immediately nods her head knowing what she wants to say and raises her arms wriggling her fingers silently telling her son to come down, she grabs him as soon as Brittany lowers him and places him on her hip tapping his nose as he pouts. You can go back to Britt in a few minutes mijo.
What is happening mami? Diego asks curiously as he watches Puck stand behind Brittany placing his strong hands on her shoulders, Santana bites her lip and sighs softly.
Remember what happened at the beach a few weeks ago? She runs her hand through his hair as he nods his head and smiles sadly. B can take loud noises now thanks to the nice lady over there. She tells him pointing at Sue, she kisses his head as he turns back to her after turning to look at Sue and mentions her head to the stage. But now we found out they are doing a few fire tricks and B doesn't know how she will react.
We help her feel home? Diego asks smiling cutely, Santana nods her head and smiles.
We will but as long as we don't know what happens, B and I both prefer you not sitting on her shoulders.
She smiles as he nods his head in understanding and walks over to Brittany shooting Puck a small concerned smile the second they watch three men walk out onto the stage, she grabs Brittany's hand intertwining their fingers and watches her son reach out placing his little hand on Brittany's shoulder near her neck.
Brittany gulps thickly as she watches the guys lightning up their torches and breaths deeply through her nose the second a huge flame lights up the whole stage, she closes her eyes the second three huge flames combine into one flinching at the sound of thundering applause and fights the flashback trying to enter her mind.
''It's not real, it's no plane, just a trick.'' She whispers softly to herself not noticing Sue slowly walking over to them after Holly, Quinn and Mercedes gently moved Sam closer to her.
''That's right sergeants it's just a trick, the both of you are still here and safe.'' Sue continues watching them tremble. ''It's just your mind playing a sick game, you are safe keep repeating that!''
''We are safe.'' Sam breaths out his eyes shut closed blindly reaching for Brittany, Brittany grabs his hand the second she feels his searching for her and nods her head.
''We are safe.'' She confirms holding his hand in a death grip.
Sue watches them still tremble knowing the flashbacks are still near and looks around. ''Who is Puck?'' She asks randomly, Puck raises his hand and frowns in confusion.
''I am.''
''Good you are her brother keep whispering that.'' Sue tells him, she turns to Santana gently reaching out to tap her shoulder knowing she can't hear her and smiles gently. ''Santana right?'' She asks slowly, she smiles as Santana nods her head and points at Brittany. ''She is still here but fighting the flashbacks, Brittany told me you have a bit of knowledge about PTSD do you know how you can make her feel home?''
Santana bites her lip thinking of the best thing to bring Brittany completely back and quickly nods her head as only one thought enters her mind, she kisses her sons head and turns to Holly mentioning her hand down at him silently asking her if she can take him.
She places Diego in Holly's arms the second she walks over to take him and turns to Cedes, she taps her own lips and points at Brittany silently telling her to kiss Sam. She smiles as she nods her head, grateful that she understood her and turns to Brittany gently cupping her cheek, she leans up on her tiptoes brushing her nose against hers and sighs. ''You are safe Britt-Britt, you are home with us.''
She tells her before leaning in, she gently captures her lips with her own just staying like that and wraps her arms around her shoulders making her feel everything. She smiles against her lips as she feels her rapid breathing slow down and gently scratches the nails down the back of her neck.
Brittany slowly opens her eyes noticing she is standing and not flying and quickly closes it again as she feels Santana's lips on her own not noticing Sue's triumphant grin, she wraps her arms around Santana's waist easily pulling her closer and kisses her softly.
''Now that ladies and gentleman is what I call, love breaks through all walls!'' Sue announces cackling in glee as she sees both Sergeants kissing their girlfriends, Puck chuckles as he sees Sam and Brittany both smile and turns to look at Holly and his wife slowly nodding his head as he sees the same big smile on their faces.
''Yeah they will be more than fine.'' He tells them as he walks over, he takes Diego as he holds his arms out for him and places him on his shoulders after he ruffled his hair.
Brittany slowly pulls out of the kiss keeping her arm wrapped around Santana's waist and smiles lovingly as she gives her an Eskimo kiss, Santana gazes into her eyes smiling brightly as she sees no trace of angst and pulls back a bit. ''You back?''
Brittany nods her head and smiles. I am, I am right where I belong.
Santana smiles lovingly and hums watching their friends all join them and Sue walk off after Sam probably thanked her. ''You belong right here with us Britt-Britt.''
Brittany just smiles lovingly pulling her back in her arms and kisses the top of her head as she cuddles into her side, she lowers a bit as she sees her aunt walking over to her with Diego and locks eyes with him while tapping her own shoulders.
''Up you go buddy.'' Puck tells the little boy as he takes him in his arms, he places him on Brittany's shoulders making sure he can't slide off and steps beside Brittany and Santana with Quinn in his arms. ''You okay sis?''
Brittany turns to look at him hearing fireworks soaring up and nods her head smiling slightly. ''I will be Noah.''
Quinn watches her with a loving smile as she sees Santana contently cuddled into Brittany's arms with no sign of stress and reaches out squeezing Brittany's hand softly as they all hear Diego squeak the second three rockets fly up lightning the sky in red, white and blue. ''I never saw you so soft before B, it's amazing to experience.''
Brittany bites her lip smiling as Santana intertwines their hands on her stomach and locks eyes with Quinn. ''They woke up a whole other side within me Q.'' She tells her softly. ''They make me happy and I hope I can make them just as happy.''
''Judging the content grin on Santana's face and the big smile on D's you already do B.'' Quinn murmurs with a loving smile. ''We hung out a lot the past week and a half and I think I speak for all of us when I say that we never saw her looking at her phone so often before, the smile breaking out on her face the second you texted lit up the whole room.''
Brittany just smiles unconsciously pulling Santana closer and hums keeping her eyes locked with Q's. ''Well I am glad I have the same effect on her, she is one of a kind guys I don't even know how to explain what I feel.''
''It might be early as fuck but call it love at first sight sweetheart.'' Holly tells her silently telling the three that they all listened to them. ''She allows you to be yourself and helps you fight the horrors in your life, you help her open up more and show her that it's okay to be herself.'' She gently runs her hand down Brittany's back and smiles.
''We heard her voice for the first time ever a few days ago, it shocked us a bit but we all reasured her that we will never make fun of her or of D.''
Brittany smiles slightly and nods her head. ''Yeah I told her the same, it warms my heart every time I hear her laugh or talk.'' She bounces D on her shoulders chuckling as he giggles loudly and bites her lip. ''I love hearing his giggles.''
She looks up as she feels Diego tap the top of her head and unwinds her arms from around Santana as he reaches down silently telling her he wants to cuddle, she picks him up off of her shoulders ignoring the pull in her back and places him on her hip.
Santana watches them with a loving smile reaching out and runs her hand through her sons dark blonde locks. Picture with B and Sam mijo?' She smiles as he nods his head and pulls out her phone, she turns to Sam and clears her throat. ''Sam?'' She smiles shyly as he turns to her in shock and bites her lip holding up her camera silently asking if he wants to take a picture.
Brittany smiles adjusting Diego's cap as Sam slides up beside her and adjusts her hold on him smiling as Sam wraps an arm around her shoulders, they both adjust their caps and look at Santana with a grin.
She tickles Diego as Santana lifts her camera chuckling as he giggles loudly and kisses his forehead as he nuzzles his face against her shoulder, Santana smiles lovingly snapping another picture of Brittany and Diego as soon as Sam steps away allowing her to capture the sweet scene and lowers her camera as she sees her son yawn.
Brittany looks down at the little boy cuddled into her as he yawns and raises an eyebrow. Tired buddy? She curls her arm around his waist hoisting him further up so he can nuzzle his face in her neck as he nods his head and taps his back softly, she smiles as he wraps his arms around her shoulders and gently rubs his back silently telling him to nap.
''Are the two of you still needed here?'' Holly asks curiously as she sees the little boy cuddle into her niece's arms allowing sleep to take over, Brittany shakes her head and smiles.
''No I think it's time to go, D needs his bed and I need a bit of rest too.''
''Yeah we didn't really sleep well the whole time we were gone.'' Sam mutters yawning. ''I need my bed and cuddles.''
Brittany smiles as the group easily agrees leading them through the crowd to the parking lot and nods her head at her commander as they walk past him, she turns to Santana as she feels her intertwine their hands and bites her lip as she looks at her in concern.
Did you sleep at all during the past week and a half? Santana asks as she notices the tiredness in Brittany's blue orbs, she pouts as she shakes her head smiling sadly and sighs. You need to rest Britt-Britt, you can't function well on zero sleep.
I know San. Brittany tells her with a sad smile. But every time I tried a nightmare woke me up and Sam also came into my room quite often because of a nightmare.
Santana nods her head in understanding and turns to look at Holly as they stop at her car. Holly do you mind me kidnapping Britt?
Holly chuckles and shakes her head. ''Not at all sweetheart.'' She turns to Brittany and raises an eyebrow. ''Need the car?''
Brittany shakes her head and sighs. ''No I won't drive now, I don't know how being sleep deprived works on my driving so I rather not try it right now. Not with D and San in the car.''
Santana just squeezes her hand softly and turns to Holly. It's only a five minute walk from here, we will walk. She steps closer letting go of Holly's hand and hugs the group. Lunch this weekend.
''Yeah at our place, just come by around noon.'' Quinn tells her smiling brightly, Brittany sighs tiredly hugging her friends and kisses her aunts cheek.
''Sounds good, see you then.''
''Go to bed sweetheart.'' Holly tells her frowning in concern, Brittany glances at Santana smiling as she sees her joke around with Puck and turns back to her aunt.
''I am sure she will force me to sleep aunt H.''
''I hope so, see you tomorrow B.''
''See you tomorrow aunt H.'' Brittany murmurs kissing her cheek once again, she steps back after kissing Puck's cheek and intertwines her hand with Santana's once again. Santana looks up at her running her thumb over the back of her hand and smiles lovingly.
''Come on, let's go make sure you will rest a bit before dinner.''
Brittany nods her head and follows her down the sidewalk with a tired sigh. I hope you don't mind but I think we need to move our date to tomorrow San. She tells her as they wait for the light to turn green, Santana shakes her head lifting her hand up to her lips and kisses the back of it with a small grin.
I don't mind that at all, today we will have a cuddle date.
That sounds amazing. Brittany replies adjusting her hold on Diego as they cross the street, Santana just smiles squeezing her hand softly and looks around the neighborhood her eyes falling on a small restaurant on the corner.
She bites her lip as they walk past it noticing the phone number on the window and pulls out her phone quickly taking a picture without Brittany noticing, she shoves her phone back in her pocket taking out her keys as they near the apartment building and glances at her son smiling lovingly as she sees him still fast asleep in Brittany's arms.