''That was delicious.'' Brittany breaths out as she slides her empty plate away from her, Santana snickers as she looks down the second both napping kids in her lap groan and shakes her head.
''Stop moving, if you wake them, you will spend the night awake with them.''
''Without any of you kicking my ass?'' Brittany asks in amusement, Santana laughs reaching out to grab the hand trying to gently poke Beth and shakes her head.
''No chance Britt.''
Puck laughs as Brittany just smirks and watches Michael stand up with Amy in his arms. ''Let's tuck them in.'' He breaths out standing up to walk over to Brittany, he carefully takes Nicolas from her shooting Santana a glance to tell her to stay seated and smiles as Brittany just hums standing up with Beth in her arms.
''Did they just force us to stay here?'' Quinn asks turning to Abi and Santana as Brittany follows the two boys inside softly talking to Liv as she joins them with , Maribel laughs as her daughters just nod their heads and chuckles.
''Just sit back and enjoy it, the kids are in good hands and judging the way Nicolas and Beth drifted off while they joked around with Brittany they feel safe with her too.''
''They do.'' Quinn agrees. ''Beth adores her just as much as she adores San, whenever she is tired she just walks to one of them and leans against their legs.'' She glances at Santana and smiles. ''And Nic absolutely loves playing soccer with Brittany and whenever we hang out and spend the time in on of our backyards you can always find them on a patch of free grass with a soccer ball.''
Santana nods her head in agreement and chuckles. ''Yeah she always tries to teach him a new trick and he is captain of his soccer team now so she also shows him new formations before she talks about it with the rest of the team.''
''How old is she?'' Esmeralda asks curiously.
''Twenty-three.'' Santana looks up as she hears Brittany reply before any of them can and chuckles as she watches her push Puck, she smiles as she walks around the table to sit beside her again even though several other chairs are empty and takes a sip of her wine as Liv sits down between her and Abi.
''What is the plan for this weekend mami?'' Abigail asks after kissing Liv's cheek.
''We don't have anything planned tonight, but dance night tomorrow so I hope you all brought some nice clothes.'' Maribel replies with a grin. ''Mi mami, Hermana, Hermano and their familia will join us tomorrow so we will end the night with a full house.''
''Most of them are staying with us too.'' Esmeralda reassures as Santana and Abigail turn to each other with wide eyes. ''But we will all sleep here tonight.''
Santana shoots her sister a glare as she hears her snicker knowing exactly what she is thinking the second their dad turns to her and just nods her head. ''Si papi, Britt can crash in my room.''
She turns to Brittany pointedly ignoring Quinn's smirk and chuckles. ''Or do you want to sleep with the kids in one room and wake up at the ass crack of dawn with bruises because they all play soccer in their dreams?''
Brittany shakes her head and chuckles. ''I rather wake up without bruises.''
''Well I wouldn't recommend sleeping next to Santana either then.'' Maribel tells her laughing. ''Sometimes she grows a few extra limps with the way she tosses around.''
''If I wake up with a blue eye, your butt will land in the pool Lopez.'' Brittany threatens chuckling.
Santana scoffs out a laugh and shakes her head. ''Yeah right, good luck with that.''
''Word of advice, stay clear from the pool because she will try.'' Puck warns chuckling as he notices the challenge in his best friends eyes, Brittany just smiles innocently as Santana throws her a glare and takes a sip of her beer.
''She fits right in, doesn't she?'' Maria asks in amusement as everyone chuckles softly.
''From day one.'' Quinn breaths out chuckling. ''After the awkwardness between those two idiots faded and they finally hugged it out, she immediately joined our little group in LA and we spend almost every weekend together.''
''Or free day during the week.'' Puck breaths out. ''We also see her at Nic's training.''
''Or we see her in action.'' Liv breaths out with a grin. ''Speaking of.'' She turns to her fiance and smiles sweetly. ''Baabe.''
Abigail laughs and nods her head. ''Yes we will drive down to LA next weekend, I am sure Soph will love spending the weekend playing with Nic and Beth.''
Santana chuckles as they turn to her and rolls her eyes. ''The both of you have a spare key, you can come over whenever you want.''
''The both of you know her for longer too?'' Esmeralda asks curiously, Liv shakes her head and chuckles.
''No we met her last week Friday but we clicked immediately, the next day we went to her match and spend another night at her house because the game ended with her having a mild concussion.''
''So there is where that cut is from?'' Michael asks, Brittany nods her head and chuckles.
''Yeah I ran into the opponents goalie last match.''
''More like she ran into you fist first.'' Santana corrects.
Brittany hums as the group who attended the group snickers knowing Santana stayed up to keep an eye on Brittany without Brittany knowing because she was concerned and just shoot each other knowing looks. ''Yeah that.'' Brittany breaths out. ''But I am fine and the headaches are gone too.''
''Nothing major that happened today?'' Maribel asks, Brittany shakes her head and smiles slightly.
''No just a few tackles and maybe a few bruises, but that is all part of soccer.''
''Were you always interested in soccer?'' Maria asks curiously, Brittany shakes her head and chuckles.
''No I mostly played football back in high school here in the States, but the Netherlands didn't offer that so I just joined that what they offered and it was soccer.'' She shrugs her shoulders and smiles slightly. ''I loved it though so the second I moved to Orlando I tried out for their team and after graduating from college, the coach of Orlando Pride approached me and that's how I got drafted.''
''And the Angels?'' Maria asks.
''After playing a match against them I landed on Sue's watch list, the second she heard that my dream was to move to LA she approached me.'' Brittany replies. ''I only trained with them for three months but I didn't mind because it gave me the chance to open my restaurant and join the crew the first few months.''
Santana just shakes her head in amusement as she watches their jaw drop and takes a sip of her wine, she turns to her sister and nods her head to the wrapped gift as Brittany continues her conversation with Maria, Esmeralda and Michael. ''You didn't open it yet?''
Abi shakes her head grabbing the rather flat package and glances at the blonde. ''I also have no idea what it is.''
''Just open it.'' Liv murmurs, Santana leans over Liv as Abi rips the package open and tilts her head as she eyes the back of a wooden board. ''Turn it around.'' Liv breaths out with an eye roll.
Santana's jaw drops as she sees a beautiful picture collage of everyone Abi loves dearly, most pictures of her, Liv and Sophia, but also pictures of the both of them with and without Puck and with their parents placed all over. ''Oh holy shit.'' Abi just chokes out eyeing the big frame. ''Brittany!''
Brittany jumps and turns to her in surprise, she smiles slightly as she sees her holding the gift and shrugs. ''I asked for some help and Liv told me that your pride and joy is your family, I had no idea what to give you so I thought this would be a good gift.''
''Good?'' Abi just asks as she stands up, she walks around the chairs and leans down to hug her tightly. ''It's amazing, thank you so much.''
''Oh wow.'' Everyone around them just breath out as Liv holds it up for them to see. ''Is that glass?'' Maria asks curiously.
''Acrylic glass on a wooden background so it's stable enough to hang it up.'' Brittany replies with a grin, she pulls out of Abi's hug after kissing her cheek and smiles. ''You're welcome Abi.''
''You do know that you didn't have to give me something right?'' Abi asks as she walks back to her chair, she looks down at the frame and smiles lovingly as she runs her finger over each picture.
''That is one thing I can't and will never do.'' Brittany replies chuckling. ''I will never turn up empty handed, I either bring wine and if I get an invite to a birthday I will bring a gift.'' She tells her shrugging as she turns to her in confusion. ''Besides I know that we only know each other for a week but.''
She nods her head to Puck and smiles. ''His friends are my friends and I know the both of you hang out a lot with them which will mean that we will hangout more in the future too.''
''I hope so.'' Liv and Abi breath out in unison, Brittany laughs and reaches over Santana to push Liv softly.
''You can join whatever match or tournament you want, just shoot me a message beforehand so I can write you down for that day.''
''Tournament too?'' Liv asks in surprise, Brittany nods her head and smiles slightly.
''Family and friends from the players and the little angels join whatever match for free.'' She turns to Puck as he yawns loudly before Liv can reply and chuckles. ''Stop waking the kids Noah.''
''Screw you.'' Puck grumbles rubbing his face, Emilio laughs and glances at the time.
''Well it's one in the morning, I think it's time to call it a night and head to bed.''
Santana nods her head in agreement and slowly stands up after downing her wine. ''Yeah the kids will be up in seven hours and the night won't end till morning tomorrow.'' She breaths out chuckling as everyone stands up to help clean up, she grabs a few empty glasses and follows her mami to the kitchen as Brittany offers to help Puck, Michael and Emilio to carry the chairs and table into the shed.
One hour later.
Santana yawns as she walks into the bedroom after getting ready for bed. ''Tired?'' She looks up as she hears a soft tired voice and nods her head with a small smile as bright blue orbs lock on her own.
''Yeah a bit, shooting was filled with play fighting today and we had to do some parts three or four times from different angles.'' She breaths out tiredly. ''I also love my family but they are so loud that I didn't really had the chance to relax for a bit.''
She slides into the bed beside Brittany after placing her phone on the nightstand and hums softly as she immediately sinks into the mattress. ''You don't sound so awake either.'' She breaths out turning her head to looks at her.
''I'm not.'' Brittany breaths out chuckling as she flips on her stomach, she relaxes her hands on her arms crossed over her pillow and smiles slightly. ''I forgot how much energy a rival match takes, I didn't have the energy to work out after the match and my body doesn't complain about that either.''
''You know nobody would have complained if you decided to stay at home right?'' Santana asks softly as she lays down on her back to gaze up at the ceiling.
''I know but it's your sisters birthday.'' Brittany breaths out. ''And I promised Nic and Beth to join you here tonight, I won't break promises I make any of you.''
''So.'' Santana drawls out with a cheeky grin. ''If you promise me to not pull a night through, you wouldn't.''
Brittany hums and chuckles. ''Yep that is why I never promise that.'' She snickers as Santana turns to her with a scowl and shrugs. ''I'm trying and I slept more the past three months then I did the months before.'' She breaths out. ''Sometimes I just forget that a day only has twenty-four hours.''
Santana shakes her head and chuckles. ''Yeah I heard that one before.'' She exhales softly knowing Marcus always forgot it whenever he was planning his day to study, work and spend time with her and Nic.
She turns her head to look at Brittany and smiles sadly as she notices the confusion in her eyes even though she tries to cover it. ''Marcus.'' She clears her throat as her voice cracks and smiles sadly. ''Nic's papi told me the same every time he told me what he has planned for the next day and I pointed out that he couldn't pack all of it in one day.''
''Yeah sometimes you need someone to talk a bit of sense into your mind.'' Brittany breaths out, Santana watches her bite her lip and smiles slightly.
''You can just ask whatever you want to ask Britt.''
''What was he like?'' Brittany smiles slightly as Santana turns to her in surprise and bites her lip. ''I rather not ask something that makes you sad San, but I would love to hear about the second half of Nic's awesomeness.''
Santana smiles slightly and glances back up at the ceiling. ''I met him during my freshman year.'' She starts softly. ''I just joined the cheerleader team with Quinn and he just transferred from his high school and joined ours after our football coach approached him asking if he was interested to be his quarterback instead of only playing in the shadows of someone at his old school.''
''We started off as friends.'' Santana breaths out with a grin. ''He once rushed over because one of his teammates tried to corner me and Quinn asking some bullshit and after he pushed him away warning him to stay away from us he led us to our classroom and when we saw him leaning against the locker after our class was over we knew that we found ourselves a friend.''
''A rather cute friend.'' She exhales shakily, she glances at Brittany and smiles as she just looks at her with a small smile. ''The first thing about him that made my heart beat fast were his dreamy blue eyes, they were so bright and quite icy but he projected his feelings with his eyes.''
''Nic has his eyes.'' She breaths out, she licks her lips as Brittany just hums and gulps thickly. ''We were friends for two months but after a cinema night together because Q ditched us, we started dancing around each other until we got paired up for a project and we just couldn't take the shy glances and accident touches.''
''What started out as a Sunday night working on a project that would be graded, we ended up making out until Ab's barged in to steal a pair of my shoes.''
''Leave it to a sibling to barge in.'' Brittany muses.
Santana laughs and nods her head. ''Yeah but we were both glad because we didn't want to rush anything, we were both still young and we didn't want to be like the typical teen romance that immediately dive into bed together.'' She breaths out. ''So we returned back to our project and after we finished he asked me out on a date.''
''He was the perfect gentleman our whole relationship and always put my happiness in front of his.'' She croaks out, she shakes her head wiping away her tears and sniffles. ''Sorry.''
Brittany just scoots closer pulling her in a hug and smiles sadly. ''Never apologize for crying Santana.'' She whispers softly. ''We're friends, a part of friendship is supporting one another. You never have to apologize for crying and showing emotions, I will be here for you whenever you need a strong shoulder to just let go.''
''What?'' Santana asks softly in surprise pulling back to look at her in surprise.
I am your boyfriend San and part of my job as a loving boyfriend is to support you like you support me, please never apologize for your emotions because I love you and I will always be there for you.
She blinks as Marcus's voice enters her mind as Brittany repeats herself and covers her face. ''Now it makes sense.'' She whispers softly as she realizes that Brittany offers her the exact same comforting feeling Marcus gave her.
''Huh?''
''Nothing.'' She whispers, she shakes her head again and blows out a breath. ''Marcus lived to comfort other people.'' She breaths out. ''He was happy whenever his loved once were, he also tried his best to help others out.''
''He voluntarily helped out at papi's hospital during high school and the second it became clear that he wants to be a doctor, papi helped him get into Med School.'' She continues softly. ''He received got in after promising the commission and director to work at papi's hospital after graduating, papi helped him with the costs and told Marcus he didn't have to pay anything back but he still wanted to.''
''What did he want to do?'' Brittany asks curiously.
''Pediatrician.'' Santana breaths out. ''He first wanted to enter the crisis floor but after we found out I was pregnant, he changed his plans so he wouldn't be called in any time of the day.'' She continues softly.
''After I gave birth he told papi that he will only work for a few hours but that he wanted to be at home with me and Nic, he was home a lot the first two years and even if he had to work, he would stand up in the middle of the night to feed Nic, cuddle with him, tell him a story and tuck him back in to allow me some more rest.''
''Shortly after Nic's third birthday his exams started so he took a week vacation, he learned during the night but during the day we went out and did something fun.'' Santana wipes away a tear trickling down her cheek and smiles sadly. ''I told him that he needs to learn but he told me that he can combine everything even if it meant passing up on some sleep.''
''He just wanted to spend as much time as possible with you and Nic, before the full workload hit him.'' Brittany whispers softly, Santana nods her head and hums.
''Yeah he knew things would be stressful the first few months after graduating and he wanted to enjoy the peace with his family before it started.'' She whispers softly. ''Three days before his final exams he received a call from the hospital that a patient he treated for years got brought in and that they weren't sure if she would get through the operation.''
''I told him to go after he told me what the call was about.'' She chokes out. ''I knew he wanted to be there and she wanted him to be there too, hell he treated her ever since he joined to help papi out and whenever he entered her room she perked up for a bit and joked around with him.''
She exhales shakily tears streaming down her cheeks and gulps. ''He called the hospital telling them that he will come in and walked into the living room to tell Nic that he would be right back and explained him that someone at the hospital needed him, Nic also knew how much Marcus wanted to help other so we both walked him out of the house and after a hug and kiss he slid into his car.''
''San..''
She shakes her head closing her eyes as tears continue streaming down her cheek and sniffles. ''It was a fifteen minute drive to the hospital from our apartment.'' She whispers shakily tears clear in her voice. ''And he always texted me the second he parked his car.''
''About ten minutes after he left Nic and I sat on the couch and..''
Brittany pulls Santana in her arms and just shushes her softly as she breaks down. ''San, stop.'' She whispers softly, she cups the back of her head as she feels her face nuzzle against her shoulder and just pulls her closer with her other arm wrapped around her slim waist as tears soak through the shirt she wears.
''I felt sadness overcome me the second he passed away.'' Santana chokes out her voice muffled against Brittany's shoulder. ''And Nic started to cry out of nowhere, like we both felt that something wasn't right.''
Brittany closes her eyes knowing exactly what she means and just tightens her hold around the woman in her arms, silently letting her know that she heard her and that she is there for her.
''It sounds fucking weird.'' Santana adds sniffling.
''It doesn't.'' Brittany breaths out her own voice heavy with pain and sadness. ''I know exactly what you mean.''
''Did you..''
She nods her head before Santana can pull back to look at her and swallows thickly. ''Puck and I fell asleep right beside her, but the second it happened, we both woke up with a start practically jumping up but instantly crumbled down again with the weight that settled within us.'' She whispers sadly.
''How did you get rid of the feeling?''
''That is something you can ask Noah.'' Brittany whispers. ''I fight with nightmares every night, the only thing that keeps them at bay is knowing I have someone sleeping over so I won't wake them up or the weighted blanket.'' She continues softly.
''You lost your sister at a young age but..''
''Santana the pain doesn't have anything to do with how old we were, we both lost someone we love dearly and trying to come to terms with that is hard.'' Brittany whispers as she pulls back to look at her. ''We will never get over it but we can try to continue our lives knowing they are looking down on us proud to see what we make out of it.''
Brittany rubs her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose hard to keep the tears back and exhales shakily. She pushes the blanket off of them and slides out of bed holding out her hand.
''Wha..''
''I want to show you something.'' Brittany whispers softly as Santana just eyes her hand in confusion, she tugs Santana out of bed as soon as she felt soft fingers grace her wrist trying to ignore the shock traveling up her arm at the touch and walks over to the big window overlooking the backyard.
She glances up at the sky after opening the window and gently tugs Santana in front of her. ''Did you ever wonder why it seems like the stars lightning up the sky seem to get more and more every day?''
She gulps thickly as Santana just looks up and follows her gaze. ''I like to think that those aren't stars, but openings in Heaven where the love of our lost loved ones pours through to let us know that they are happy.'' She whispers softly. ''I think Em is one of the three brightest stars up there, you always see those three during the night.''
''They are still with us.'' She continues softly. ''Sadly not in person but they keep on living right here.'' She gently taps Santana's head. ''In your heart and.'' She looks down smiling sadly as Santana still looks up at the sky with silent tears running down her cheek and gulps thickly. ''In every story you tell, Nic will grow up knowing exactly how amazing his papi was and he will tell those story's his children to carry on his memory.''
''I needed to hear that.'' Santana whispers her voice cracking. ''I was afraid Nic will forget his papi but..''
''You have many amazing stories to tell him Santana.'' Brittany reassures him as she cuts herself off with a sniffle, she pulls her back in her arms gently running her hand up her spine to comfort her and leans her chin on the top of her head as her face once again buries into the shirt she wears. ''The first three years in a child's life are the most important years, everything the both of you thought him, will always be a guidance in his life and he will never forget that.''
''His papi is his guardian angel.'' She continues softly as Santana sniffles. ''But he has an amazing mami that will walk through fire for him and he knows that, Marcus will make sure nothing happens to him and you will raise him to be an amazing young man and from what I have seen you do it amazingly.'' She whispers as she feels her slim arms wrap tightly around her waist.
She leads her back to the bed, laying back down beside her after she slid in and pulls the comforter back up to their shoulders as she yawns. She slowly reaches out as they lock eyes and gently wipes away her tears with a small smile.
''You don't even know how much I needed this talk.'' Santana whispers softly as she feels a weight lift off of her shoulders, she gulps thickly as the fluttering in her stomach doesn't calm down and bites her lip as Brittany just keeps their eyes locked. ''I love our friends and I know Puck went through the same thing you did but..''
''It's still a bit different because he handles things with humor, it's his way to cope.'' Brittany breaths out with a small understanding smile. ''But sometimes you also need someone to just have a deep conversation with.''
She smiles as Santana just nods her head in agreement and squeezes the hand laying between them softly. ''I am here whenever you need to talk Santana.'' She promises softly. ''You can call me every hour of the day or come over whenever you want.''
Santana licks her lips and gulps thickly as she gazes into deep blue orbs noticing the depth and glances down at the hand still covering her own. ''What if I need more then just a deep conversation?''
Brittany blinks in confusion and looks at the emotion play on her face. ''Like?''
''I don't know.'' Santana breaths out quickly back tracking from the idea that entered her mind, Brittany just looks at her noticing the blush creeping up her face and quickly clasps her fingers around the wrist of the hand she still covers.
''Come here San.'' She just breaths out rolling on her back, she lifts her left arm feeling Santana slowly slide closer and turns her head to look at her as she hesitantly curls her arm around her waist.
She places her hand over the arm slung across her abdomen and curls the other around Santana to hold her close, she runs her fingers through thick dark locks and sighs softly. ''I am not only here for talks.'' She whispers softly. ''I might not look like it, but I do appreciate some cuddles.''
She smiles as she hears her soft hoarse chuckle and gently taps the back of her neck. ''It's almost five in the morning.'' She whispers softly after glancing at the alarm clock on Santana's nightstand. ''Please don't kick my ass for sleeping less then eight hours tonight.''
Santana shakes her head and chuckles softly as she scoots even closer. ''I can't kick your ass if I do the same Britt.'' She breaths out, she lifts her head from her shoulder and kisses her cheek softly. ''Gracias.''
''No hay de qué.''* Brittany smiles slightly as she feels her shake her head softly and chuckles. ''Good night Santana.''
Santana nuzzles her head back against her toned shoulder after Brittany reached up to turn off the lights and sighs softly. ''Good night Brittany.''
Three hours later Nicolas tiredly tiptoes into his mami's room and stops in his tracks his eyes widening as he sees his mami and Brittany cuddled up in the middle of the big bed, he turns on his heels with a big smile hoping his papi and god finally answered his prayers and tries to walk out of the room.
He freezes as he bumps against chair placed beside the door, causing it to bang against the wall and quickly turns back to the bed as he hears a soft groan.
''Hey buddy.'' Brittany croaks out tiredly as they lock eyes. ''You want to cuddle with your mami?'' She asks softly making sure she won't wake the sleeping Latina up.
Nicolas walks over as she invitingly lifts the blanket and climbs into the bed, he shakes his head as Brittany tries to scoot away hearing his mami's soft grumble and just climbs on top of the blonde. ''Stay like this, por favor.'' He whispers softly as she looks at him in surprise.
''Mami is comfortable.'' He adds in a soft whisper as he notices nothing but a relaxed facial expression on his mami's face, he slides closer to his mami still laying on top of Brittany and looks up at Brittany as he feels her arm slide up his back to hold not only him but also Brittany close.
''Gracias Britty.'' He whispers, he grabs the hand she dropped down beside her body on the mattress and kisses it softly before placing it back on his mami's arm. ''Mami feels safe and happy, I do too.'' He whispers.
Brittany smiles tiredly as she taps his back softly and kisses his cheek. ''De nada, Nic.'' She whispers. ''Let's try to sleep a bit longer.'' She whispers softly not noticing Santana just listening to them while acting asleep, she places her hand back on Santana's arm comfortably slung over Nicolas and allows her eyes to slip close as she feels the little boy on top of her relax, not noticing Santana's small grin before she also decides to go back to sleep.
*No hay de qué – Don't mention it.