JADE
My mother was a mess. This strong bad ass had been turned into a weepy little girl in like three days. The first day Mom was gone, Mami took me and the boys to the park, and then we got ice cream, and we played board games all night. Mami was clearly trying to keep her mind off her wife. The second day she was constantly on her phone. She was texting Mami, or Facetiming her, or scrolling through her Instagram. The third day it really went downhill. She brought all of her blankets out to the couch, and watched three seasons of this old show New Girl. On Thursday and Friday I basically had to take care of myself and Tyler. Mami kept James with her and cried with him.
It was Saturday morning and I was tired of it.
I walk into the living room with two babies on my hips. I set them down and cross my arms, looking at the sad lump on the couch.
"Ay, Mami!" I snap. The lump stirs. "Mami stand up."
My mom stretches and sits up on the couch, rubbing her eyes. She looks at me. "What do you want?"
"Stand up," I demand. She glares at me and rises to her feet. I shake my head slowly.
"Look at you," I spit, "You look like trash. You smell like it too."
"Shut up nina, I'm sad," Mami mumbles, looking at the ground.
I pick up her son from the ground and hold him in front of her face. "This child hasn't been touched by his mami since yesterday. I haven't been able to call my girlfriend for longer than five minutes because I'm taking care of your children. I get it, you miss Mom. But also you're a grown woman so get over yourself."
Mami hesitantly takes James from me and a tear leaks out of her eye.
"Please don't cry," I groan.
Mami sniffles and then straightens her back. "Sorry, I'm sorry. I'm alright, I'll go get ready for the day."
I nod, exasperated. "Imagine if Mom saw you like this, she would leave you in a second."
Mami looks back at me and glares. "Don't you dare say that."
I giggle, "Sorry Mami, you go upstairs."
A smile breaks through Mami's scowl. She continues to walk up the stairs to her room. "Thanks for taking care of me JJ. Te amo. Go call your girlfriend and be happy and in love with her as I cry alone."
I roll my eyes at her drama and settle on the couch. The first thing I do on my phone is check my Instagram. I haven't been on Instagram since Thursday. My latest post has five million likes. It's a picture of me with my Mami wearing matching sunglasses. Most of the comments are nice.
"Wow, they're both so beautiful!"
" Like mother like daughter!"
" Twins!"
"Imagine being Santana Lopez's daughter!"
Just stuff like that. Since my Mami is a famous producer, but also a major presence on social media, and did some performing herself before I was born, being connected to her made me sort of famous myself.
I respond to a text from my Grandmother and finally call Ava.
It rings twice before she picks up. I can't see anything.
"Hello?" I say.
Ava's face comes into view, her dark hair hanging in her face.
"Hey!" she says, "Sorry I just got out of dance. Guess what?"
I lean back on the couch, "What?"
"I got the lead!"
I grin, "The swan? Congratulations!"
"I know! I have my own dance and everything. You're coming to the recital right?"
"Of course, I wouldn't miss it for the world."
Ava smiles softly. "I miss you," she says shyly.
I bite my lip, "I miss you too."
"Do you want to hang out this weekend? We can get lunch at that diner you like?"
I frown, "Noo! I'm going to L.A. this weekend, remember?" My voice is sad. I wish I could see her so bad.
Ava pouts kindly, "It's ok, you must be so excited to see your mom dance!"
"Yeah I'm stoked! She's going to be so good. Also I'm excited for my Mami to get her back, she's been miserable."
Ava giggles, "That's so cute!"
Ava thinks that my mom's relationship is the cutest thing in the world. She would literally beg to come over just to talk to them. I understand why she loves them so much though, they are like her Lesbian Role Models.
Speaking of Mami, I hear footsteps coming down the stairs. I look over the back of the couch to see my mami coming down the staircase. The twins are trailing behind her.
Mami actually looks put together. Her hair is brushed and tied up in a bun. She even put on makeup. She's wearing tight leggings and a big sweatshirt, the only thing that reminds me of her misery. The sweatshirt is Mom's favorite.
But nonetheless, Mami has a smile on her face.
"Hi Ava!" she calls out.
Ava waves through the phone, "Hi Mrs. Lopez-Pierce!"
Mami comes and stands behind the couch. "How's your dad?"
"He's doing well! He wanted me to ask you about dinner some night?"
Mami squeezes my shoulder, "That would be fun! Once Brittany gets back from her tour of course."
Ava nods. "Can't wait!"
My mami straightens her back and steps away from the camera. "Wrap it up hija, we're bringing the boys to your uncle's house."
I look at her, "Why aren't they coming to L.A.?"
"It would just be easier if they stay here."
I turn back to my phone, "Ok, I gotta go! I'll talk to you later."
Ava brings the camera up close to her face. "Bye! Call me soon!"
I giggle, "I will."
We hang up and I put my coat over my shoulders. I follow Mami out to the car and buckle into the seat next to her.
"Ready?" she asks.
"Yup," I respond. "I have seen Uncle Eddie in like three years."
Mami starts the car and pulls out of the driveway.
"We're so close to his house though," I continue, "And him and Mom are so close in age. Hey, how come we never see him?"
Mami clears her throat. "It's complicated. But it doesn't matter anymore."
I turn in my seat. This is all news to me. "Why? What happened?"
"He was just surprised by Brittany and my relationship, that's all. It took him a bit to get over it but he's better now."
"Well how come I never see him?"
"Britt's still bitter about it. They were really close and she was disappointed when he didn't react the way she hoped."
I look at my hands, "Oh," I say. "But he's better now?"
"Yeah," Mami says, forcing a smile on her face. "Although his wife is a bitch so don't be surprised if I have to give her a piece of my mind when we get there."
I laugh, "I won't Mami."
SANTANA
When we pull up to Eddie's house I feel a familiar twist in my stomach. His face always makes me relive these bad memories I wish I could forget. Memories of Brittany sobbing into my chest after a whole day without hearing a word from him. Memories of the looks and the little comments about how Brittany and I were going through a phase and how what we had was fake. It makes me mad.
"Ready?" Jade asks. She unbuckles her seatbelt and climbs out of the car.
Jade and I bring Tyler and James up to his front stoop. I think James senses what's happening, because he has his arms wrapped tightly around my neck, and his blond head is buried deep into my shoulder. Jade knocks and we wait for a second.
A tall blonde man appears at the doorway. His eyes match Brittanys perfectly, and I realize for a second how much I miss those beautiful eyes.
Only a day more, I remind myself.
"Hey Eddie," I say to Brittany's younger brother, "It's been a minute."
Eddie's eyes travel to each of my children, and then he looks at me. "It sure has, please, come in."
Jade squeezes my arm twice before following my inseda the little town house. It's a cute home. Sort of reminds me of a magazine. Everything is in a designated place. Even the small girl sitting on the white couch, with a book in her hand.
Suddenly I remember they have a daughter. A ten year old daughter named Elizabeth. I've only met her once, and that was when my hatred for Eddie's wife began. That stuck up bitch kept comparing my life to hers, comparing our daughters and our partners and our jobs. Don't even know why she bothered though, because the last I knew she was a mere accountant and I had a multi million dollar company with a multi million dollar wife.
Elizabeth looked at me and rolled her eyes.
"Is there a problem?" I asked, faking sweetness.
"Only the two babies I have to spend the next couple days with."
She said the word babies like it carried a disease.
"My boys are perfect," I responded, "A word you wouldn't know if it slapped you in the face."
In the worst possible timing, Tyler let out a rumbly belch, and looked at me, drool dripping down the side of his mouth.
Elizabeth smirked, "Mhm… perfect."
I glared at the girl and moved to wipe Tyler's mouth.
"That's enough Liz," Eddie finally said. "Why don't you show Jade around the house while Santana and I talk."
"Do I have to?" Elizabeth whined.
"Now Liz," Eddie urged. The girl groaned and closed her book. As she and Jade left the room, I heard her say, "So if Brittany carried the twins, that means you aren't actually their sister."
I rolled my eyes and looked at Eddie. "Well she's lovely," I said with a sarcastic smile.
Eddie sighed, "Give her a chance Santana, it would be good for her to know her family a bit more."
I ignored him, "She reminds me of your wife."
On cue, Eddie's wife Karen(Not kidding, she is literally a Karen) comes down the staircase. She looks like a doll, dainty and pale.
"Santana!" she exclaims, embracing me and kissing my cheek. I flinch.
"Karen."
"How is the family?" she asks.
"Great," I responded.
"So Brittany's excited about her little dance recital thing right? That's cute, that she gets a taste of her dream."
I glare at the small woman, "Brittany's very excited about her tour. You've heard of Mercedes Jones?"
Karen's cheeky grin never leaves her face. "Elizabeth listens to her sometimes, when she's not learning or doing charity work."
"Well Brittany and I are best friends with Mercedes, and Brittany's going to be dancing with her for her biggest tour yet. It's much more than a little recital."
Karen's expression falters, "Oh! How fun!"
Eddie clears his throat, sensing the tension, "Karen, take the twins up to their room, while I get all the emergency information from Santana?"
"Yes dear," Karen says, like a little robot.
I bend down and squeeze my boy's cheeks. "Los amo mis hijos," I whisper my love in their ear. As I smother their faces in kisses, James begins to whimper. Karen scoops them up and carries them away.
"Mami!" James screams as he's being carried up the staircase. Tyler waves his fingers at me sadly. I rip my eyes away to stop me from crying.
Only for a few days, I remind myself.
I give Eddie the name and number of the hotel we're staying at, the name of the boy's pediatrician, and the numbers of my parents.
"Thanks Eddie," I say, after he's written down all the information. "We appreciate it."
'Anytime Santana, just… say hi to Brittany for me alright?' Eddia says, looking anywhere but my face. He misses Brit a lot, I can tell.
"Alright Eddie, see you around."
We exchange a smile before I turn my head and yell for my daughter in Spanish. As she comes around the corner we say our final goodbyes and march out the door.
When we slide into our seats in the car Jade looks at me. "Well his daughter is a stuck up bitch but Eddie doesn't seem that bad."
I start the ignition and pull out of the driveway. "Well he can't be that bad, having the same blood as Brittany. It's the women in his life that make me go mad."
Jade giggles and stretches out in her chair. "So when are we leaving for L.A?"
"Tomorrow morning. Like the second the sun comes up. Brittany's first performance is at ten tomorrow night, so you'll probably spend the day with your aunties and uncles while I stay with your Mom," I respond.
"But won't she just be practicing?"
I snort, "Try to get me to leave her side. I dare you."
Jade throws her hands up, "I would never."
After we drive in silence for a couple of minutes, my phone rings. It's Quinn calling, I pick up and it goes to speakerphone.
"Hey Auntie Quinn," Jade says.
"Hey JJ is your mami there?" Quinn asks.
"I'm right here," I say, "Is everything alright I haven't heard from Brittany in a bit?"
"We need you to get down here as soon as possible," Quinn blurts out. My heart stops.
"Is everything okay?" I exclaim, "Is Brittany hurt?"
"Yes!" Quinn reassures me, "Everything is okay Brittany is just in a funk, okay? We need your help she's convinced she can't go onstage tomorrow. Can you just come now?"
I grit my teeth, "Yeah, but we only have hotel rooms booked for tomorrow night and Sunday."
"It's fine," Quinn says, "You can stay with Tina tonight."
"Tina's coming too?" I say.
"Yeah she decided to come, Artie's really busy with his new movie but even he might pop by."
I laugh, "Wow, it's like a whole ass reunion isn't it?"
I hear voices on the other side of the line. "Santana, are you coming?" Quinn asks, changing the subject to the more pressing matters.
"I'm coming Quinn, be there in an hour."
I hang up the phone and face Jade. "Ok JJ, you have ten minutes to pack all your things and get back in the car. We're getting to L.A. tonight and we're gonna make your mother dance again."
"Si senora," Jade says, bolting out of the car and running inside the house.
I follow her quickly, shoving all of my needed clothes and toiletries into various bags. I separate a smaller bag for my shoes, and another one for my makeup. I put my work bag in the pile(because I run a freaking million dollar company I can't really take vacations) and cover it with a giant blanket, because the hotel one's really suck. After three trips I shove all of my stuff into the car and get in the driver's seat.
About a minute later, Jade comes out of the house with one rolling suitcase in her hand. She tucks it neatly under the seats and climbs in the car.
"Is that all you're bringing?" I ask as we speed away from the house.
"Yeah," she says, pulling out her phone, "it's only for three nights."
Jade glances at me. I keep my eyes glued on the road. "Why?" she asks, "How much did you pack?"
I stay silent.
"How many bags Mami?"
I still say nothing, until Jade shifts in her seat, facing me with her dark eyes shooting beams of guilt into my side.
"Okay!" I admit, "Maybe like… four or five… or six bags. And sheets and a comforter. Oh and pillows too."
Jade groans and collapses in her seat. "Ay dios mio."
By the time we reach the city, Jade has fallen asleep for the second time on the short drive, and my butt has scooched it's way to the very end of the seat in anticipation. I follow the Google Maps directions Mercdes sent me until I pull the car up next to a short square building. The parking lot is only half full, and the only ounce of color on the gray building is the sign hanging about the doors.
It says Dance.
That's literally the name of the studio. Very creative if I do say so myself.
"Jade wake up," I shake the shoulder of my daughter. She stirs and rubs her eyes.
"Are we here?" she asks, but I'm already out of the car. Jade groans and follows me.
"Slow down Mami," she mumbles as she catches up and grabs my arm. We walk into the studio together. There's a man sitting at the front desk, I can only see his dyed pink hair peeking over the top of the magazine in his hand.
"Hey I'm here to see Brittany she's dancing with Mercedes who is also a good friend of mine I'm just going to go right into the studio now thank you have a good day," I say in one breath, speeding past the man. I hear Jade calling my name, and then explaining my mindset to the man.
I don't stop moving.
Eventually I reach a room that has Merecedes' name on it. I hear her newest song pumping through the speakers on the other side of the door. I grasp the handle in my hand and push through.
In the room I see five people, including Mercedes. None of them are my wife.
"Hey where's Brittany?" I ask in a hurry. Mercedes looks at me and a grin breaks out on her face.
"Santana! Long time no see!"
I try to smile quickly, and then I ask again, "Where's Brittany?"
Everybody in the room points me to another door in the back. When I go through this, I see a sort of locker room for rich kids. Quinn is sitting by one stall, leaned up against the door. As I barge towards her, her brown eyes widen and she moves out of the way.
"Brittany?" I call out, standing still in front of the stall.
I hear movement, and locks clicking. A teary eyed Brittany emerges from the stall, and when our eyes land on eachothers faces she breaks down into tears. My wife throws herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck, and her legs around my waist. My hands grip her back, whispering sweet nothings into her ear. I hear Quinn slip out of the room. After we cling to each other for a minute, I pull back to study Brittany.
Brittany sniffles as she brings a soft hand up to my cheek.
"You're so pretty," she whispers, her voice cracking.
I pull her closer to me. "So are you baby, I've missed your pretty face."
Brittany wipes at her eyes, and I take her hand and kiss it softly.
"Santana," she says, "I don't deserve you."
I freeze. "W-what?"
I stare into my wife's eyes, searching for any clue to what's going on in her mind. She's never said anything like that before. Brittany holds eye contact, but then buries her head into my shoulder and I feel a fresh batch of tears leak onto my bare skin. I run my fingers up and down her back, trying to comfort her.
"Britt?" I ask, "Can you hear me?"
"Yes," she says quietly.
"Will you talk to me?"
Brittany stays quiet, and I take that as a yes. Very gently, I tug at Brittany's head so she will look at me.
"What's going on, love?"
Brittany rests her hands on my shoulder and takes a deep breath. "I'm not cool anymore San. I used to be cool. I used to be hot, and I used to turn heads when I would dance. Now I'm just an old mom who's only chance at fame will be backup for a high school friend."
I stare. It's all I can do. The hottest person in the world is saying she's not cool anymore?
"Brittany," I press my forehead against hers, "You are the coolest person I know. And trust me baby you still turn heads. And I always tell you this, and I mean it more every time I say it- You are the hottest thing to walk this earth."
I smile at her, and as she tries to open her mouth to talk, I capture her lips with mine, and immediately she melts into the kiss, like she was just waiting for it. I hold her tightly in my arms.
"Hey, hey hey," I whisper, "I don't want you to waste one more precious breath on all this 'I'm not good enough' talk, because if anyone can do this, it's you."
Brittany kisses me again, "I love you so much."
"Yeah," I giggle, "I know."
We gaze at each other, before Brittany shakes out of it and grabs my hand, separating her body from me. "I should probably go rehearse."
She brings me along to the door, "I can introduce you to all of my friends Santana! Did you say hi to Mercedes yet? She's been waiting for you and Jade to get here, apparently everyone's so excited to meet Jade. Wait- I still have to say hi to Jade! C'mon Santana! Let's go!"
I grin as we walk into the studio, glad to have my wife back in my arms, like it should be.
Comment want you want to see from the rest of the New Directions, because they'll be with Jade for the next chapter! Please tell me if you'd like more brittana, more Jade, more New directions, anything and I'll obey! Comment and share and favorite! I'll try to upload more regularly...