One week later:
''Hola querido.'' Brittany smiles sadly as she hears the sadness in Santana's voice as she watches her and Nicolas crouch down in front of a blue pearl headstone and stands back to allow them some time alone. ''Happy birthday.''
''Happy birthday papi.'' She hears Nicolas whisper softly as he leans back into Santana's embrace. ''We miss you so, so much.''
She smiles as she hears the both of them talk about everything they experienced the past months knowing they always fill Marcus in on what happened and glances up as the sky suddenly brightens up, she watches the clouds slowly disappear, showing the sun and turns back to her girlfriend and Nicolas.
''We want you to meet someone querido.'' Santana breaths out shakily.
''Si, you will love her as much as we do papi.'' Nicolas exclaims with a grin, Brittany slowly steps forward as they both turn to her and crouches down behind Santana so she can lean back against her and take some pressure off of her still bruised ribs.
''This is Britty, papi.'' Nicolas introduces as he also leans back against Brittany. ''Mami's, Novia.''
Brittany kisses the back of his head and looks at the headstone, she eyes the picture of a beautiful Latino with bright blue eyes, seeing many of Nicolas's features in that one grinning picture and smiles. ''Hey Marcus.'' She greets leaning forward to tap the stone softly.
''She makes us happy querido, just like you always wanted.'' Santana exhales shakily. ''She brings out the smiles that we lost almost four years ago.''
''I aim to keep that smile on their faces, I will make sure they are always safe and protected.'' Brittany promises as Santana turns her head to hide her face in her neck, she glances, squinting as a sun suddenly blinds her and turns back to the stone. ''I take that as a thank you.'' She breaths out as Nicolas also looks up into the sun.
She runs her hand up Santana's back as she feels silent tears run down her neck and keeps her eyes on the stone as she tugs Nicolas closer hearing his soft sniffle. ''I love to hear every single story Santana, Nicolas and the Lopez family tells me about you.'' She continues.
''It allows me to see the amazing man that Nicolas surely will turn in to, he looks so much like you but has Santana's attitude so nobody will expect him lashing out if he needs to.'' She smiles slightly as she hears Santana's tearful chuckle and kisses Nicolas's forehead as he looks up at her with a grin similar to the grin Marcus wears on the picture, she runs her free hand through his dark locks and winks. ''He is also an amazing soccer player, seeing Santana isn't as sporty I am quite sure he inherited his talent from you.''
''Rude.'' Santana breaths out as Nicolas giggles.
''But the truth.'' Brittany murmurs chuckling, she smiles as she feels the sun hitting her skin and kisses the top of Santana's head. ''And Marcus agrees.''
''He always did whenever someone teased me.'' Santana fake grumbles also feeling the sun warming her skin. ''You had to hear him and Q gang up on me every single time we hung out.''
''And yet you love it whenever someone you love gangs up on you because you know that it's also a way for them to show their love.'' Brittany points out, she winks as tear filled brown orbs lock on her own and lovingly kisses her forehead. ''Nic is a perfect mix of the both of you San.'' She whispers. ''He is Marcus's copy but his temper, traits and character that is all yours.''
She turns back to the stone as Santana just smiles sadly and sighs. ''Everyone misses you dearly Marcus.'' She breaths out. ''And that will never change but it's clear that you are still making sure that the two people you loved the most are happy and I am honored that you led me into Santana's life and trust me with not only her but also Nicolas's heart.''
''I am one hundred percent sure that you and Em both had a say in this.'' She continues as she intertwines her hand with Santana's on Nicolas's back as he cuddles into them. ''Greet her from me, if you see her up there.''
''Mami, Britty.'' Nicolas whispers, he points to a small patch of grass near the stone and smiles. ''Look a tiny rainbow.''
Brittany turns to look at it and smiles lovingly as she sees that a beam of light hits a small glass picture on another stone causing the colors on the grass. ''Hey baby sis.'' She just whispers knowing her little sister absolutely loved rainbows, she glances at Santana trying to hide her surprise and just shakes her head as she turns to her the surprise clear in her eyes. ''Told you.''
Santana just shakes her head in amazement and turns to the stone. ''Thank you querido.'' She whispers her voice cracking. ''You too Emily.''
Brittany takes off her leather jacket so Nicolas can sit on it instead of on the muddy ground in front of them and looks at the stone as he thanks her with a kiss on her cheek. ''I promise to try and keep that beaming smile on their faces Marcus, they have an amazing guardian angel up there to make sure higher forces won't harm them but I will make sure nothing else will hurt them either.''
''I am sure Em's told you everything about me so you know I stand to my word.'' She muses. ''I definitely owe you because thanks to the both of you leading Santana and Nicolas into my life, I am finally happy again, happier then I was the past almost eight years.''
''The three of us owe you.'' Santana agrees as her eyes lock on Marcus's picture still contently reclined back against Brittany. ''The both of you made sure your loved ones still down here will spend their lives in happiness, you guided Brittany into my life making me see that I do need someone and can't live off of only Nicolas's happiness so yeah thank you for opening my eyes and leading another crazy person into my life.''
''Am not crazy.'' Brittany scoffs.
''You are.'' Santana and Nicolas tell her in unison, Brittany shakes her head as she watches Santana and Nicolas lock eyes as they giggle gently placing her hand on Santana's ribs so they won't bother her and rolls her eyes.
''Yeah thank you for leading two crazies into my life.'' She breaths out, she chuckles as Nicolas and Santana both turn to her and winks. ''You are and you can't even deny it.'' She breaths out laughing.
She winks as they both grumble and reaches into Santana's purse pulling a small bottle out, she takes the four shot glasses attached to the bottle off of it and places them down on the ground in front of them.
''What is that?'' Santana and Nicolas ask in unison.
''Birthday cake.'' Brittany murmurs as she dips the shot glasses in a bit of water and adds sprinkles to the rim. ''White chocolate milk with a dash of hazelnut syrup, cream and vanilla sugar.'' She explains as she fills the four glasses.
She leans forward placing one glass on the stone and turns to Santana holding out a glass after handing Nicolas's his. ''It's Marcus's birthday.'' She explains shrugging as she notices the surprise in her eyes. ''We can't celebrate a birthday without cake, babe.''
''You're amazing, you know that?'' Santana asks softly as she takes the offered glass, she leans back against her, with her back against her front and turns to Nicolas. ''You want to say something mijo?''
''We miss you each and every day papi, but your birthday will always be special to us.'' Nicolas breaths out leaning forward to gently tap his glass against the one on the stone, Santana kisses his head as he sits back down on Brittany's jacket and looks at the stone.
''We really do but we know you're always our guardian angel querido.'' She breaths out also leaning forward to tap the glass against the one on the stone, Brittany licks her lips as they both turn to her silently asking her to say something after she came up with the idea to bring the drink and eyes the picture.
''Your spirit will always be carried on.'' She promises with a small grin, she leans over Santana tapping the glass with her own and holds it up. ''Happy heavenly birthday Marcus.''
''Happy heavenly birthday papi.'' Nicolas whispers.
''Happy heavenly birthday querido.'' Santana echoes the three of them simultaneously sipping on the drink in their hands, Brittany throws her head back after scooping the sprinkles up with her tongue and opens her eyes as she feels the sun heating her up.
She slightly nods her head up to the sky, sending up a promise to keep Santana and Nicolas happy and turns to Nicolas as she feels his little arms wrap around her shoulders. ''Gracias Britty.''
She wraps her free arm around his waist after placing the glass down and kisses his head. ''Anytime buddy.'' She murmurs, she glances at Santana gently pulling her closer as she sees the unshed tears in her eyes and just kisses the top of her head as she cuddles close the three of them silently agreeing to stay a bit longer.
Four hours later.
''Hey buddy, enjoyed your bath?'' Brittany asks as she walks into Nicolas's room after they had dinner and enjoyed an evening filled with building Lego's and joking around.
''Si.'' Nicolas whispers with a grin, he scoots over and pats the spot beside him in the big bed. ''Can we cuddle?''
''Of course we can.'' She breaths out as she lays down beside him, she smiles lovingly as he immediately cuddles into her arms and kisses his head.
''Can you tell me a story?'' He asks cutely as his arms wrap around her midsection, Brittany hums softly gently running her fingers up his spine and glances up at the ceiling quickly thinking of a story that is child friendly.
''Do you know the story of your magic light?'' She asks after a few minutes.
''My magic light?'' Nicolas asks looking up at her in confusion, Brittany nods her head with a kind grin and taps his nose not noticing Santana leaning against the door frame to listen too.
''Yes your magic light.'' She confirms softly, she runs her hand through his dark locks as he shakes his head and clears her throat. ''Once upon a time, you lived in your mami's belly.'' She starts softly.
''Inside you was a spark of light. It glowed warm, like a dancing firefly.'' She continues as she feels him look up at her, she winks as he grins and scoots further down the bed as he crawls on top of her to nuzzle his head against her chest. ''It was happiness and love all wrapped up together.''
''Because mami was the first to feel this little spark of light, she was the first person to know what it was.'' She gently runs her fingers through his hair as he leans his chin on her chest to look at her and winks. ''That light made her so happy.'' She whispers.
''She got bigger and bigger with happiness until one day she had to let it all out.''
''What happened?'' Nicolas asks cutely.
''You came along.'' She tells him softly. ''Once you were born, your little light flickered, and fed from the beautiful world, it grew.''
''Every time you saw a sun rise, heard a bird sing or cuddled someone, you grew a little bit brighter.'' She runs her hand down his back and taps his legs softly with a wink. ''Day by day, you grew taller and stronger, and the little light grew so bright that it started to light up others, too.''
''How?'' Nicolas asks the tiredness seeping in his voice.
''Every time you smiled at someone with your biggest toothless smile, everyone just had to smile back.'' She replies with a loving smile. ''And that caused their own little lights, like yours but still different, because they were their own.''
''Well their lights grew larger too.'' She murmurs as tired blue orbs lock on her own. ''Then those people went down the street and smiled at the bud driver, the shop assistant or a random passerby causing their lights to flare brighter too.''
''It was a sort of magic.'' She whispers tapping his nose. ''You magic did that Nic.''
''My magic makes people happy?'' He asks with a tired smile, Brittany nods her head and kisses his forehead.
''Your magic makes everyone happy.'' She whispers against the warm skin, she pulls back to look at him and smiles. ''You already graced the world with your magic for almost seven years and it has a huge impact on everyone around you.''
''By the end of your very first year, if someone like my little sister looked down on the planet from heaven.'' She continues softly. ''She could see the tiny starts between all the people you'd met, and the people they'd met.''
''They would flicker and grow with the light that had been passed between them, in all colors of the rainbow.''
''That is what makes the world so beautiful?'' Nicolas asks as he tiredly nuzzles his face back in her chest, Brittany hums softly pulling the blanket over the both of them and kisses his head.
''It does yes.'' She agrees softly. ''All the people you'd met, and the people they'd met, even the people they'd met, were now walking around with lovely feelings, like shooting stars, which passed from one person to the next.''
''You were born at just the right time, buddy.'' She whispers against the top of his head as she feels him fight sleep. ''When the world needed the particular kind of light that your soul grows.''
''You were born for it, to share your own glow with the people around you.'' She continues softly knowing he will continue fighting sleep until she reaches the end of the story. ''When things feel bad or hard, it's a good time to remember that your light can help take that away.''
''Like mami's pain on papi's birthday or anniversary?'' He asks tiredly.
''Like taking your mami's pain, your smile lights up her life.'' She agrees. ''Sometimes it's only a little light, it might feel too small to light up the world, but.''
She gently tilts his head up smiling lovingly as tired blue orbs lock on her own once again and kisses his forehead. ''The secret about your light is, that it's a gift.'' She whispers as she pulls back. ''You've got to give a gift, the world tells us so.''
''Even if your light feels small or sad, remember how the biggest trees grow from tiny seeds.'' She continues as she runs her thumb over his cheek. ''Never make your light smaller, because you think it's too bright for others.'' She advises. ''You can never be too bright Nic.''
''Grow your light with beautiful things instead.''
''Like with soccer and spending time with mi friends and familia?''
She nods her head and smiles. ''Exactly, grow your light with things that make you the happiest because when your light sparks brightly, everyone around you will feed off of that and their lights will flare up too.''
''You can also grow it by helping others, like you help me in the kitchen, help your mami with chores, help your Tio and Tia's with powering the girls out.'' She lists up. ''You show them how to love and how to be loved buddy and in that way you and everyone else love themselves and the people around you.''
She kisses his head as he slides up to nuzzle his face in her neck and holds him close as she feels him yawn. ''Watch the happiness and love spread between everyone like dancing fireflies.'' She whispers softly. ''That is a soft of magic, but your magic is the brightest.''
''You were born for it and I will be forever thankful that I can see your light and feel your love.'' She whispers as she runs her fingers up his spine. ''Never change yourself for anyone because you are perfect just the way you are.''
''Te amo Britty.'' Nicolas mumbles tiredly as she slowly turns on her side to place him down, she leans down to kiss the back of his head as she tucks him in making sure to hand him the teddy bear he always cuddles with and smiles lovingly.
''I love you too, sweet dreams buddy.'' She slowly slides out of the bed after kissing his temple and turns on the nightlight on the nightstand so he can easily find the bathroom, she walks out of the room quickly covering her mouth to muffle her groan as a little body practically tackles her against the wall and looks down at Santana. ''Babe?'' She asks softly.
She wraps her arms around Santana's shoulder as she feels her shake her head and softly kisses her temple as she feels her arms wrap tightly around her waist. ''What's going on San?''
''Nothing bad.'' Santana croaks out keeping her face hidden against Brittany's shoulder. ''Just..'' She cuts herself off pulling back to look at her and sniffles. ''You are amazing, you know that?''
She bites her lip as Brittany lovingly wipes the tear tracks off of her cheeks with a frown and shakes her head. ''I had to listen to what story you came up with for Nic, you told everyone around us that you are bad in telling stories and rather joke around with him until he falls asleep but suddenly you come up with such a meaningful story about life that is completely child friendly.''
Brittany sighs softly leading her into the bedroom and walks over to her bed, she sits down biting her lip as Santana just looks at her the love clear in her eyes and gulps thickly. ''I know everyone but Puck believed me, the second I uttered that.'' She murmurs. ''I am not bad in telling stories, it just..'' She cuts herself off and shrugs.
''I always told Em a story before she fell asleep.'' She whispers her voice cracking. ''It just brings back many memories good but also bad.'' She explains. ''The story I just told Nic, was the first story I told Em after asshole one and two started leaving us alone after her diagnose I just changed it almost completely and instead of telling her that she started as a light inside of bitch, she started as a light that graced not only mine but later on also Puck's life.''
''You know that you don't have to tell him a story, if it brings back memories that hurt you right?'' Santana asks softly as she sits down beside her.
''I know but I want to.'' Brittany breaths out as she turns to her with a small smile. ''There is a reason we entered each others lives San and I have a bunch of stories memorized that I would love to tell Nic.''
''Are those record worthy too?'' Santana asks with a small cheeky grin.
''Record worthy?''
''I had to record the both of you, it was adorable to see how hard he tried to stay up to hear the end.'' She explains with a small loving smile. ''I struggled to stay up too though, you already have a calm voice but the second you started to tell the story your voice changed completely and immediately told our minds that it's time to sleep.''
Brittany laughs and nods her head. ''Yeah I heard that often, Em's always managed to fight sleep and stay up till the end but Puck started to snore one minute in.''
''Talking about Puck, you might want to check your phone.''
Brittany frowns in confusion, slowly taking her phone from Santana as she holds it out for her and scoots up the bed gently tugging her with her. She leans back against the headboard wrapping her arms around her waist as she immediately sits back against her and unlocks her phone holding it so they both can look at the screen.
She opens her messenger as she notices ten messages waiting for her and taps the group chat, she chuckles as she notices everyone just replying with heart eyes on the video of her and Nic, Santana had send and exits the chat tapping the private message from Puck.
From Noah: You good?
She kisses the back of Santana's head as she types out a reply and smiles as she feels her relax against her with her own phone in her hand, she turns back to her own phone and hits send after sending a kiss heart emoji.
To Noah: Yeah I am, it was weird at first but I always loved telling stories. I can't try and stop everything I did with Em just because it hurts, I have an adorable little boy and niece who will often ask me to tuck them in and telling a story is definitely better than hyping them up before they have to sleep. As hard as it sounds, but life goes on and Em lives on within us and we will share the memories we cherish with everyone who would like to hear them.
From Noah: She is with us every single day, Beth also loves the stories I tell her because those are the same stories you told Em, well the ones where I managed to stay up. I saw Nic fighting sleep too, told you, your voice is better than a drug.
She laughs softly and shakes her head showing Santana his message. ''He is right.'' Santana breaths out in amusement. ''Your voice calms us down quicker than any kind of medication can.'' She leans her head back against Brittany's toned shoulder and bites her lip. ''Can I share it on Insta, I would love to share the lesson you unconsciously tried to teach him.''
''You can.'' Brittany murmurs as she sends Puck a reply and wishes him a good night. ''You can post whatever you want babe, just no topless pictures please.''
''Hell no.'' Santana breaths out chuckling. ''That is for my eyes only.''
Brittany chuckles opening her Instagram as she relaxes back against the pillows behind her feeling Santana turn on her side and kisses the top of her head as she nuzzles her face against her shoulder, she likes a few posts from friends appearing on her timeline and taps the notification that Santana tagged her in a post.
She smiles as she sees the same video she posted in the group and scrolls down to read the message she wrote underneath.
Words can't even describe how happy it made me to stand to the side and observe them during Nic's nightly bedtime ritual, today was a hard day for the both of us because it's Marcus's birthday but ending the day watching BrittanyStriker and my little boy together definitely soothed the pain.
Britt you've made such a big difference in his life, you are always willing to lend an ear, to help him with his homework or just sit beside him when he needs someone to talk to someone after an exciting day. I really appreciate everything you did and still will do for not only him but also for me.
Every time he comes home after spending the day with you, he always has lots of amazing things to tell and the big smile on his face only grows with every story he tells. Every day we spend together just the three of us or with mi familia, is a day I cherish because even though we both have a packed schedule we do take the time for each other and that is what makes our relationship work.
We both fight to make it work while still putting every ounce of energy in our careers and my all time favorite thing is walking into mine or your house after a long day of shooting and just relax and talk about the day reclined back in your arms with the fireplace crackling or the TV playing a mindless movie and Nic fast asleep upstairs after an eventful day.
I thank our two guardian angels every day for guiding your sweet, loving nature into mine and into the life of mi hijo.
Te amo.
She kisses Santana's shoulder as she likes the post, smiling against her skin as she sees already twenty thousand likes and scrolls down to the comment section to type her reply. She snickers as she already sees lots of comments with heart emojis and shakes her head. ''You broke the internet babe.''
Santana laughs and shrugs her shoulders. ''I don't post long texts often, but whenever I do, almost everyone following me likes and comments.''
''Mh Holly reacted too.''
''What did she say?''
Brittany laughs as she reads the comment and shakes her head. ''I am glad Britt entered your life Santana, after meeting Britt, I knew she would make someone very happy, the second she dropped that stupid no dating shit, she put down for herself and I am so happy that you and your little boy are the two people who managed to worm past that strong ass wall and enjoy her love!''
''We sure are lucky.'' Santana agrees softly.
''I am the lucky one.'' Brittany breaths out as she kisses her temple, she turns back to her phone to send off her reply and turns her head as she yawns.
I thank our guardian angels too for forcing us to open our eyes and accept the happiness they chose for us, love.
If I could express how much I love you and Nic in words, the words in the dictionary won't be enough. I love every single minute we spend together, with and without our friends and family.
Sure juggling our demanding careers and private life is hard but we will make it work, it will get much better soon.
I love you too.
''What do you mean with that?'' Santana asks softly. ''What will get better?''
''Juggling our careers and finding time.'' Brittany murmurs, she smiles slightly as Santana turns to her in confusion and shrugs. ''I still have to train the little Angels but you are mostly there too and soccer is still pretty demanding, but the restaurant runs without me being there and with Marley being the manager I will probably only go and take a look once or twice a week.'' She explains.
''And.'' She continues as Santana hums. ''After 4th of July, Mike's demands will be history too.''
''Why is that?'' Santana asks in confusion. ''You think he will suddenly stop bothering you after your session that night?''
''No but it will be mine and Jay's last night playing for Avalon.'' She chuckles softly as Santana sits up to look at her in surprise and smiles slightly. ''Nightingale gave me an offer that I can't decline.''
''May I ask what kind of offer?'' Santana asks softly.
''You can ask anything.'' Brittany whispers with a grin. ''They offered me to play on holidays that are not based on family, and a Friday or Saturday every two months depending on my soccer schedule.''
''The only thing I have to do is ready some mixes so other DJ's can use them and Jay will play twice a month on his night off from the restaurant and jump in whenever he can and wants.'' She breaths out. ''They doubled the salary and offered me a bonus for every finished mix tape per month, so instead of earning between 400 and 800 pro night I will earn between 1100 and 1500 pro night.''
''Also a V.I.P booth for whoever wants to join me whenever I have to play.''
''That sounds amazing.'' Santana whispers with a grin.
''They do have one condition.''
''And that is?'' Santana asks with an eyebrow raised.
''I have to drop the mask.'' Brittany breaths out. ''But their club is filled with security and they also offered me two people who will guide me home and shadow me whenever I need them.''
''So for matches and so too?'' Santana asks softly, Brittany nods her head and smiles.
''For matches too yes, I can call them whenever I need them and they will immediately drive over but whenever I am out with you, you have to guys shadowing you and Nic so I don't think we need them right?''
Santana shakes her head and smiles. ''Nah they already keep an eye on you too.'' She shrugs as Brittany's eyebrows raise in surprise and licks her lips. ''You are out with Nic and I don't need them whenever I am on set so they shadow you, you just never noticed because they blend into the crowd.''
''You are also in the public eye ever since we went public, so whenever Nic is with me or my parents and I am somewhere safe too, they are with you too just to be sure no one approaches you.''
Brittany blinks slowly and snickers. ''Now it makes sense why no one but kids and soccer fans ever approached me.''
Santana hums softly and chuckles. ''I know my fans are the reason I am so successful in my job, but some of them just don't accept that I have a private life too and want to know everything.'' She explains. ''That means that they want to know everything about you too and will try to find you everywhere, so I send them to shadow you whenever I know Nic and I don't need them.''
''Did they ever disturb you somewhere, where you really didn't want to have them?'' Brittany asks curiously.
''Yeah last year near the graveyard, thank god the bodyguards grabbed them before they could follow me.'' Santana breaths out with a sigh. ''Everyone knows about Marcus and knows what happened, but I don't want them near his grave same goes for the paps.''
''Understandable.'' Brittany murmurs as she kisses her head. ''People just need to accept that celebrities have private lives too.''
''They leave me alone after I promised the paps to sue them and wrote a very long message for the fans, a lot of people understood it and whenever someone does try to find out shit and writes a message about it, many comment on it telling him or her to leave me, Nic and now also you alone.''
Brittany hums softly and bites her lip. ''Did Ab's find someone who want to do the interview after we canceled it last time because of the paps?''
''Shit I totally forgot about that.'' Santana groans out. ''Yeah she did, she told me about it before the accident on set.''
''When is it?''
''Next Friday.''
''I still have the time.'' Brittany reassures softly. ''I have training on Saturday and have to train the little Angels on Sunday.''
''I hope they won't ask question that causes everyone to chase you even more.'' Santana murmurs tiredly as she snuggles close, Brittany smiles lovingly placing both of their phones on Santana's nightstand and slides down to lay flat on her back after turning the bedside table lamp off.
''We can go over the kind of questions we will answer and which not.'' She offers with a grin. ''We can talk about it during the week, let's go to sleep so we are fit for Nic's match tomorrow.''
''Think the little ones are prepared enough?''
''Nic sure is.'' Brittany whispers with a chuckle. ''He carried the team to the semi finals, he will carry the team to the finals too.''
''You carried the team to the semi finals together with him.'' Santana breaths out chuckling. ''You never sat down during any of the matches and guided them through the gaps of the defenders, you also ran out every time one of them had a cramp or got tackled.''
''I am still surprised all the parents came to all matches.''
''That is because you are there.''
She snickers as she hears Santana's soft grumble and pulls her closer. ''So what? I am going home with you babe, let them join us for me, the kids think it's for them and give everything to make them proud.''
''True.'' Santana whispers as she kisses the hinge of her jaw, she turns her head as she yawns and sighs. ''I don't even know why I am so fucking tired.''
''It was a hard and sad day.'' Brittany murmurs with a sad smile, she runs her hand up her back as she hums and kisses her head. ''Go to sleep love.''
''Mh you too por favor, don't stay up.''
''I won't.'' Brittany promises as she nuzzles her nose in her dark locks. ''Good night baby.''
Santana tilts her head up to peck her lips and smiles tiredly. ''Good night Britt-Britt, te amo.''