CHAPTER 12
A/N: Hi, I'm back! I know I haven't updated this story in a long time but things were pretty overwhelming for me lately, both at work and at home, and it was not an easy chapter to write. But anyway, here is the update you've been waiting for and it's a pretty long one, so I hope it makes up for it! Thanks to Itsskik, heyamustbreal, sandrienchen84, Tamardejong, santana is my satan, brittnsan, Lana66, Marie RieRie England, May1217, Jojo siwas bow, pacumeme57, Supergirl2121 and the Guest for their reviews! Special thanks to WhitWalk for proofreading this chapter and for listening to all my doubts along the way 😉
Here is what you missed (on Glee):
After a couple of dates, Santana and Brittany decided to get back together. At Santana's request, they are taking things slow and still keep their relationship secret from everyone, including their sons.
TWO WEEKS LATER (LATE MORNING) – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE – SANTANA's POV
"By the way, I was thinking of getting a new bed…" Brittany tells me in between sweet lady kisses, while the kids are at school. "And I was wondering if you would come with me to the store, and help me pick one?"
"Uh… I guess…" I shrug. "Why do you need a new bed?" I frown in confusion.
"Well, Nick picked the mattress I have now and honestly, I've always hated it! It's so uncomfortable! I never said anything because it was good for his backpain but… now, I actually don't have to keep it." She shrugs. "And I know you want us to go slow, but hopefully, you will share my bed again someday, so… I might as well get one that we both like…" She says in a flirty voice, before pressing her soft lips on mine. "Is that okay?"
"Yeah…" I nod. "It's pretty sweet, actually." I say and she immediately smiles at me, pulling me into another loving kiss.
THE NEXT AFTERNOON – AT THE BED STORE
"San, you have to try this one!" Brittany suddenly says in an enthusiastic voice, while I'm checking price tags a few feet away. As I turn around, I find her laying on her back, on top of what appears to be a king size bed. I take a few steps towards her and eventually lay down next to her, wiggling to test the mattress.
"Oh… yeah, it's comfy!" I agree.
"Right?" She smiles, turning to her side to face me. Our eyes lock for a moment and that's all it takes for me to remember all those mornings I woke up by her side. I used to say that seeing her pretty face was the best way to start the day…
"So, is it the one?" She asks.
"Yeah, it is…" I nod, even though I'm no longer referring to the bed…
"Great! Let's go buy it…" She smiles, getting up.
A FEW DAYS LATER – AT PARAMOUNT – IN SANTANA'S OFFICE
"I swear, San… I'm going to kill him!" Quinn says in a loud voice, clearly upset.
"What did he do now?" I ask, jaded. I feel like she's coming to my office every day to complain about Lee. I get it though, I know how irritating he can be…
"Well, according to him, he's basically doing everything by himself around here!" She says, raising her arms in frustration. "Even though I was the only one here at 5:00 AM this morning! I mean, if you listen to him, he's Superman! He's God even! Did you know that he created mankind?" She says ironically.
"Okay, look… I know he's a jerk but occasionally, he brings good projects, like this one." I argue. "And we could use his money, so… let the man speak, it's just words." I shrug. "And he's not fooling anyone! I know how hard you work, Q… The cast knows it, the crew knows it… Like you said, you're the one they saw this morning at 5:00 AM, not Lee."
"Maybe but I just…" She trails off. "God, he drives me so crazy that I have actual dreams about twisting his arrogant neck!"
"Oh, I know…" I nod, perfectly understanding her frustration. "He can make me lose my temper in a second, it's a talent! But trust me, it will be much easier on you if you ignore him. Otherwise, you…" I trail off when someone suddenly knocks on the door.
"Come in…" I say.
"Hi! Sorry, may I interrupt?" Brittany says, popping her head through the open door.
"Hi! Of course…" I gesture to invite her to come in.
"Hey, Q!" Britt says, giving her a warm hug.
"Hi, honey…" She tells me, kissing my lips before I have the time to stop her.
"Brittany!" I whisper, opening my eyes wide in shock.
"What?" She frowns in confusion. "Oh… sorry, I thought you wouldn't mind. I mean, Quinn knows we're together." She shrugs.
"I do." Quinn confirms before I can say anything. "And God knows that over the years, I've seen you two kiss in way more inappropriate places than your office, so… please, don't stop on my account." She says, making me roll my eyes.
"Anyway, I can't stay…" Britt says. "I just passed by because you left your reading glasses at home and I figured you might need them for work." She adds, handing them to me. "And before I go… um… do you remember that the kids have this school trip next week?" She asks and I nod. "Well, since they will be out of town for three days, I thought that perhaps, you could… stay over…?" She whispers, nervously playing with the collar of my shirt.
"Oh, um… I… um… sure…" I eventually whisper back.
"Great!" She smiles, clearly pleased with my answer. "Well, I should go…" She says, giving me a quick goodbye kiss. "Bye, Quinn!" She waves at her, before exiting my office.
"Well, well, well…" Quinn smirks, as soon as Brittany is gone. "So, it looks like you two are gonna have a little 'sexcation', uh?" She asks, wiggling her eyebrows.
"I… uh…" I stutter nervously.
"What's the matter?" She frowns. "You don't look happy right now."
"No, I am… I uh…" I sigh. "It's just that we haven't… um, you know. Yet." I say in a shy voice.
"Wait… what? You haven't had sex yet?!" She asks, obviously surprised.
"No…" I shrug, causing her eyes to widen. "Why did you think we did?"
"Because it's you and Brittany!" She argues. "You guys used to do it pretty much all the time! And I know you didn't want to move too fast, but you've been together for a few weeks now, so I just assumed you had gone back to your old habits…"
"Well, we didn't." I say. "But now that the kids will be away for three days, and three nights… I assume she will… um… have certain expectations…"
"Yeah, I guess so…" Quinn agrees, making me even more anxious. "How do you feel about that?"
"Nervous?"
"Why? It looks like it's going well between you two…"
"It is! It's going wonderfully well…" I confirm. "And don't get me wrong, I want her! I do… It's just that…" I sigh. "Given the circumstances, it's quite a big deal…"
"Yeah, I get it…" She nods. "But you know what I always tell you, San: you should talk to Brittany about it! It may help, you know…"
ONE WEEK LATER – AT THE KIDS' SCHOOL
"Be safe, okay?" Brittany tells the kids, hugging them one more time.
"And call us!" I add, kissing them goodbye. "I'm talking to you, Diego."
"Is that really necessary?" He sighs. "Gabriel will call you anyway, and I'll be with him the whole time, so…" He argues, making me roll my eyes.
"Well, I still expect you to keep your tongue out of girls' mouths long enough to call your mothers. Capisce?" I warn him.
"Fine…" He sighs again, getting on the bus.
Barely five minutes later, we find ourselves waving like lunatics as the kids' bus drives away.
"Well, there they go…" Brittany says, before turning to me. "So… um… do you have your stuff with you or do you need to stop by your house first?"
"I uh… I have my stuff in the car…"
"Great! Let's go home then!" She says with her legendary luminous smile, grabbing my hand.
LATER THAT DAY (EARLY EVENING) – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE – IN THE BEDROOM
"You okay, San?" Britt asks me as I unpack my bag.
"Uh, sure…" I nod. "I just… can I put my clothes in your wardrobe?"
"Of course! Anywhere you like is good." She smiles. "I'll go set up the table in the garden while you finish up here, okay?" She says, pressing her lips on mine.
Once she's gone, I take a moment to look around. It feels so weird to be here… I've only been to this room once since the divorce, to pack some of Brittany's stuff after she twisted her ankle. But back then, her bedroom looked nothing like it does now.
After buying a new bed a couple weeks ago, Britt dragged me into other furniture stores, and basically renewed her whole bedroom set. She kept saying her furniture was getting too old and it was time to change it, but I'm pretty sure she only did it because she wanted me to feel at home, and not in Nick's room. And that was a genius move because now that any trace of him is gone, I do feel at home here… I've always said that this room was my safe place, and it still feels like that today.
As I sit on the bed, I happily notice that Brittany also put back some pictures of us on the nightstands: one we recently took together and another one of us with the kids.
LATER THAT NIGHT – IN THE GARDEN – BRITTANY's POV
"Well, to us!" I say, clinking my glass of wine against Santana's, while sitting in our favorite corner of the garden.
"To us…" She smiles, before taking a sip.
"I didn't know Tony catered, by the way." She says, looking at the delicious meal on the table.
"Oh, he doesn't." I reply. "He only did it as a favor to me."
"Really? And how did you convince him to do that?"
"Oh, you know… It was pretty easy! I just flashed him my boobs." I say casually, making her choke on her food.
"What?!" She immediately frowns, both in confusion and jealousy.
"Relax, I was obviously joking!" I chuckle.
"You better." She warns, crossing her arms. "Because I'm not a…"
"Sharer." I cut her off, completing her sentence before she can. "I know. And I love that about you." I smile, giving her another kiss.
EVEN LATER THAT NIGHT – IN THE GARDEN
"Oh, I have one!" Santana says, propping up on her elbows, as we're lying together on the blanket. "I've always wondered if you were expecting me to propose all those years ago?"
"I really didn't." I immediately reply.
"Really?"
"Not a clue!" I confirm. "I mean, I figured we would get married someday but… knowing you, I always thought I would have to make the move."
"Knowing me?" She frowns. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Well, no offense but… you tend to overthink things, honey…"
"Right…" She admits. "But to be honest, I didn't have to think much about that one. I wanted you to be my wife so badly… I think I've never been so sure about anything else in my entire life!" She confesses and I can't resist the urge to kiss her tenderly.
"I'm really glad you did…" I whisper against her lips.
"Me too…" She smiles, but her expression quickly turns serious.
"What is it…? Are you overthinking our three days together?" I eventually dare to ask her, caressing her cheek.
"I just… I'm a bit nervous about us sharing a bed…" She says, raising worried eyes towards me.
"I get it." I nod. "You're afraid you'll snore." I tease her, to lighten up the mood.
"I do not snore!" She immediately objects, slapping my arm, and I can't help but chuckle.
"You know, San… You don't have to do anything you don't want to do." I say, a lot more serious. "I'll go with the flow… If you don't want to have sex, we can just sleep…"
"I want to…" She immediately says. "I'm craving you so bad that I could take you upstairs right now and rip off your clothes!"
"Why don't you…?" I shrug.
"Because I'm terrified?" She admits, looking embarrassed. "God knows I've never stopped loving you, Brittany, but… every minute I spend with you, I fall for you even more…" She shrugs. "And if we have sex, my heart will be completely exposed… And I can't get hurt this badly again, I just can't…"
"I won't let you get hurt." I immediately say in a soft voice, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"You can't promise that, Britt…" She shakes her head. "Neither of us would have ever thought we would end up getting a divorce, but we did."
"It's different this time."
"How so?" She shrugs.
"Because there's no way I'm losing you again." I say in a determined voice, staring into her eyes.
"You know, San… I thought I was happy with Nick. And in some ways, I was." I nod. "But when I'm around you, I feel so much more in love and happier than I ever was with him! And every time I kiss you, I feel like a million butterflies are fluttering in my stomach…" I admit. "I thought I had moved on from our divorce but the truth is that I never did. Now that I look back, I realize that I never even tried to build a life with Nick! I just kept living in the house I had bought with you, raising children I had with you, and basically asked him to fit into that life." I say. "And I kept hiding behind the fact that I couldn't have any more children but… if I had really wanted a baby with him, it wouldn't have stopped me. I could have got an egg donor or adopt… but I just… I didn't want to have a kid that would not be yours." I eventually admit, raising timid eyes towards her.
"And look what happened between us…" I say, caressing her cheek. "Even though we had officially ended our marriage and were in serious relationships with other people, we still couldn't stay away from each other…" I shrug.
"And that's because we're meant to be, honey…" I argue but she remains quiet, obviously still struggling with her fears.
SANTANA's POV
"Okay." Brittany suddenly sighs upon my silence, grabbing a napkin and pulling a pen out of nowhere. I had actually forgotten about this habit of carrying a pen with her at all times… "Let's make a pros and cons list." She suggests.
"What…?" I frown in confusion.
"Well, as I recall, that's how you managed to overcome your fears and agree to have another baby after Sofia, so… let's make a list about us, it might help!" She says. "So, for cons, we have 'potential heartbreak'. What else?"
"That's a huge con already!" I point out. "But this too…" I add, taking the pen from her hand to write "Break the kids' hearts again."
"Right…" She whispers sadly. "Well… any other cons you're thinking of?" She asks but I silently shake my head no.
"Pros then. Let me help you with that…" She immediately says. "So, I think I can already write 'amazing sex', right?"
"Obviously." I shrug proudly while she writes it down.
"And of course, I can also write 'be loved unconditionally', 'make the kids happy', 'have your best friend around', and… in case this works well, it could potentially lead to… 'being back at home', which essentially means 'living with your one true love' and 'seeing your kids every day'… Oh, and 'making our parents happy'…"
"Plus Abuela." I add.
"Of course, Abuela too." She agrees, scribbling it down.
"See?" She eventually says with a proud look, pointing at the much longer column of pros. "The list never lies." She adds, staring into my eyes.
Making lists is more her thing than mine, and yet, they always make the situation much clearer for me. And somehow, Brittany always manages to untangle my thoughts when I'm really overwhelmed.
"What…?" She asks as I keep looking at her in silence.
"I love you." I shrug in admission.
"I love you too…" She smiles, pulling me into a tender kiss.
LATER THAT NIGHT – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE
After finishing brushing my teeth, I take a last look at myself in the bathroom mirror. It's so surreal to be here… Although I've stayed over a few times in the past weeks, I was always using the guest bathroom. But tonight, I'm using Brittany's bathroom and being here brings back so many memories: the romantic baths we used to share, all these early mornings where she would tell me 'you're so pretty' out of nowhere, even though I was still half asleep and had messy hair… It's also in this room that we watched my pregnancy test turn positive and found out that we would become moms for the very first time…
But now that I'm about to join her in the bedroom, I feel very nervous. Earlier, she said that 'she would go with the flow', making it clear that we would only have sex if I was the one initiating it. But I don't know what to do, torn between my burning desire for her and my wish to take it slow. I even begged her not to wear her damn nightie tonight because I didn't want to be even more tempted than I already am.
After taking another minute for myself, I eventually make my way to her room, where she's been waiting in bed.
"Hey…" I whisper shyly.
"Hi!" She says with her usual heartwarming smile. "Do you wanna watch some TV?" She asks while I get under the sheets, probably trying to put me at ease.
"Sure!" I nod with a timid smile, moving closer to her.
"Back to the Future is on…" She says. "But if you want to watch something else…"
"It's fine." I smile, knowing how much she adores this movie. As I snuggle up against her, she places a soft kiss on my forehead, before wrapping her arms around me.
She may have seen this movie a dozen times, but she still laughs as if she was discovering it for the first time, and I can't help but smile. She's always had the cutest laugh in the whole world…
As time passes, I relax more and more in her arms, enveloped by her warmth and the scent of her perfume. She feels like home, and I could seriously stay like this forever.
Once the movie is over, Brittany turns off the TV and gets up, to put the remote control back on the dresser. As she comes back to bed, she mirrors my position and lays on her side, to face me.
I was afraid being together in bed would be weird, but it feels comforting, and intimate.
"You're in my bed…" She eventually whispers, as if she couldn't believe it.
"I know…" I say with the same disbelief. "Sometimes, I'm afraid that this is all just a dream and I'm going to wake up, only to find out that you're still with Nick…" I confess.
"Ow!" I suddenly let out as she gently pinches my arm.
"See, you're awake!" She smirks. "And I'm still here…"
"Okay, next time, can you prove that in a way other than pinching me?" I chuckle.
"Mmh, like how?"
"I don't know… With a kiss?" I suggest in mischief.
"Like this?" She asks, cupping my cheek to give me a tender kiss on the lips.
"Yeah…" I whisper against her mouth. "Except that it should be a longer one, because it's still not clear to me if I'm fully awake right now." I say on purpose, making her smirk.
Her eyes travel back to my mouth, and my heart pounds in anticipation, as she leans in to recapture my lips in a longer, sensual kiss.
Once again, I get lost in the moment, completely unaware of my surroundings. All I feel is the familiar taste of Brittany's mouth and her warm embrace.
"Don't stop…" I immediately beg when she suddenly pulls away.
God knows I've always loved kissing, I did with Melissa too, but it has never been addictive like it is with Britt… I just can't get enough of her!
Fortunately, Brittany quickly reconnects our lips and I find myself deepening that heavenly kiss even more when she progressively pulls me on top of her. My hands slowly wander over her sexy body and eventually sneak under her shirt, caressing her bare chest and the tone belly that once carried our sons.
I shiver at the gentle touch of her hands when they slowly slide along my back, caressing my ass and the back of my thighs, underneath my shorts.
Out of breath, I reluctantly break our kiss for a moment. But as I meet the lusty blue eyes of my perfect girl, I know I won't be able to resist her any longer. I need us so bad that my whole body is aching for her…
BRITTANY's POV
Trying to catch my breath, I watch Santana straddle me and suddenly remove her shirt in front of me. I glance at her bare chest in disbelief but before I can say anything, she gently cradles my face in her hands and pulls me back into a loving kiss.
"San… are you sure?" I eventually ask in between kisses, as she takes off my own shirt.
"Yeah, I am…" She nods. "I've been sure for 30 years, Britt…" She says, reuniting our lips.
As she lies back down along the full length of my body, the feeling of her nipples brushing against mine immediately sends a tingle between my legs.
In a desperate need to feel more of her, I hold her tightly in my arms, my fingertips tracing along the smooth skin of her back, while our tongues keep dancing together in a passionate kiss. Santana's hand slowly glides up my thigh but my shorts keep getting in the way, and I eventually flip us over, to get rid of them.
"May I…?" I ask timidly once I'm fully undressed, pointing at her own shorts.
She silently nods in approval, smiling at me, and I carefully slide her shorts and panties down her legs, before tossing them aside. As my eyes linger on her perfect naked body, I swallow hard in anticipation. To this day, Santana is still the most beautiful woman I have ever met… And I've been waiting so long to be intimate with her that my heart is pounding in my chest.
"Come here…" My Latina whispers, pulling me back down on top of her. Our eyes lock for a brief moment, until she tenderly cups my cheek and kisses my lips. My hands go back to exploring her body, but I pull away instinctively once I reach her lower belly, having been used to "taking it slow" for weeks.
"I want you, Britt…" She reassures me with a smiling nod, while guiding my hand between her legs, making it clear that she's ready to give herself to me.
Drawn to her like a magnet, I kiss her plump lips, my fingers slowly running along her inner thighs and over her clit, making us both moan at the touch. As she gently strokes my hair and caresses my back, I gradually adjust my position, to lay between her spread legs. I'm trailing soft kisses down her neck when her hands firmly grip my hips, inviting me to grind against her in a sensual rhythm. The intimate connection of our naked bodies makes me incredibly hot, intensifying that burning need to become one with her.
Although our night together in Lima was wonderful, tonight is even more special. Because this time, Santana is all mine. I don't have to feel guilty, or fear waking up in an empty bed tomorrow morning. I can express my love for her freely, especially since she has finally let down the walls that were guarding her heart.
"I love you so much…" I suddenly whisper in the middle of our heavy breathing, reaching out to intertwine our fingers.
"I love you too, honey…" She smiles, capturing my lips in another loving kiss.
Tearing my mouth away from hers, I place a few tender kisses on her chest and on her breast. As our eyes remain locked in a lusty gaze, I eventually wrap my lips around one of her nipples. I patiently swirl my tongue around it, to savor the sweet taste of her skin, while gently fondling the other one.
"God, Britt…" She pants, biting her lip.
Encouraged by her moaning, I take her other boob into my mouth, to give it the same amount of attention, while I caress her sides, gliding along the curves of her hips. Her breathing quickens in anticipation, as I slowly trail kisses down her stomach. My lips eventually reach her inner thighs and I can't help but smirk in satisfaction once I catch sight of her glistening core.
I carefully place a few wet kisses on her throbbing clit and slowly run my tongue along her folds, the familiar flavor driving me so crazy that it gets increasingly difficult to ignore the fire building up between my legs. But right now, I want it to be all about Santana, aware of how much courage it must have taken to finally let herself be vulnerable and fully open her heart to me.
Her moaning becomes more intense when I begin to gently stroke her clit with my tongue, occasionally sucking on it. My hand reaches up to cup her breast, allowing me to feel the racing beat of her heart against my palm.
"Oh, fuck… Brittany…" She gasps, caressing my hair and every inch of my body within her reach. "That feels so good…"
I gradually quicken the pace, savoring the taste of her wetness and fully enjoying the sexy sight before me: Santana gripping the sheets tightly, releasing uncontrollable moans of pleasure.
Understanding that she's getting close, I slowly slide one finger into her wet core, then another one, both of us moaning at the touch. God, it feels so amazing to be inside her again… I had missed this so much…
I eventually shift positions, allowing me to lie right beside her, face to face. After placing a few tender kisses on her mouth, I begin to gently thrust my fingers in and out of her, progressively going deeper.
Our eyes are locked in a passionate gaze when she tenderly cups my cheek, to keep my lips close to hers. In this moment suspended in time, I feel like nothing else exists… It's just us, making love.
Santana's moaning fills the room as I pick up the pace, and I can't resist the urge to give her another loving kiss.
"Honey, I'm… I'm gonna…" She stutters against my lips, arching her back, and eventually screaming my name as a powerful orgasm rushes through her body. Beaming with pride, I watch her reach her climax, knowing I'm the one who did this to her. And God knows I'll never get tired of that sight…
Waiting for her breathing to steady, I carefully hug her in my arms and tenderly press a soft kiss on her damped forehead, secretly thanking the universe for bringing her back to me.
MUCH LATER THAT NIGHT – IN BED
"Oh God… San…" I moan, my hand gripping her soft thighs as she continues to sensually grind against me.
She's so hot that the sight alone could push me over the edge. But it's the intimate friction of our sweaty bodies and the blend of our moans that drive me wild. It won't be long before I completely surrender to her…
As our eyes meet, I get lost in our passionate connection, until intense waves of pleasure suddenly wash over me, making me forget everything else. Santana must be reaching her climax soon after, because I hear the faint echo of my name escaping her lips, before feeling her body collapsing on top of mine.
"Well… I think I just saw God…" She suddenly breaks the silence, her chest having as she tries to catch her breath.
"Yeah, I think I will remember this night for a very long time…" I chuckle, still panting, while she settles comfortably in my arms.
"It's definitely one worth remembering…" She smiles, leaning in to place a tender kiss on my lips.
We stay quiet for a few minutes, wrapped in each other's embrace, my thumb gently caressing her cheek.
"What time is it?" I eventually ask.
"It's… 3:45 AM?!" She replies in shock, glancing at the alarm clock. "Oh my God, maybe Quinn is right… We're going at it like rabbits!" She adds, making me laugh.
"Well, we had five years to make up for…" I argue.
"True…" She smiles, snuggling closer against my naked body.
Cuddled in the tender embrace of her arms, I eventually drift off to sleep, feeling both satisfied and deeply in love.
THE NEXT DAY – IN THE GARDEN – SANTANA's POV
I'm lost in my thoughts, silently running my fingertips along Britt's arm, while we're cuddling on the pool deckchair.
"Have you talked to Nick since you broke up with him?" I suddenly ask out of nowhere.
"What?" She frowns in confusion, raising her head to look into my eyes.
"I was just wondering…" I trail off in a shy voice, shrugging.
"Well, I saw him a couple of days after our break up, when he picked up his stuff and gave me back his key." She replies. "But I haven't heard from him since then, and I haven't reached out either."
"Do you ever miss him…?"
"Sometimes, I guess…" She admits. "I don't miss dating him, but occasionally, I wonder what he's up to. It's weird, you know, going from sharing a life with someone to zero contact… At least, you and I were still talking after our divorce." She says. "I know it couldn't have been any other way, because of the kids and the Gleeks, but… I don't think I could have taken it if you had completely cut me out of your life." She shakes her head.
"I would have never done that." I immediately reply. "Even if it was sometimes hard to see you, it would have been even harder not to see you."
"It was hard to see me?" She asks.
"Yes." I confirm. "At first, it was hard to drop off the kids at your place and leave by myself, when all I wanted was to be with you and them." I say. "But for a long time, I also struggled with not being allowed to kiss you… Then, you got together with Nick and it was really painful to see you with him… Just the thought of you having sex with him was making me sick!" I admit in spite of myself.
"I get it…" She nods in understanding. "Frankly, it was also hard for me to see you with Melissa…" She says in a sad voice. "Have you heard from her at all?"
"No…" I reply. "I don't think I will."
"You miss her?" She asks, going back to the same question I asked her.
"Yeah, sometimes." I admit. "Just like you said, it's weird to suddenly have zero contact. But it's probably for the best… Because I choose you." I shrug.
"I choose you too." She smiles, giving me a kiss.
LATER THAT DAY – IN THE GARDEN – BRITTANY's POV
It was so hot this afternoon that Santana and I decided to take a refreshing dip in the pool. After swimming for a while, we started talking and eventually ended up kissing. It's crazy how we have not been able to keep our hands off each other since last night…
"San, wait…" I say, reluctantly pulling away from her lips.
"What is it, babe?" She asks, tracing her lips along my jawline and pressing her boobs against mine.
"You're getting me all worked up here…" I say, trying to catch my breath. "And we can't do that in the pool, honey… The neighbors could see us!"
"Well, how about we go back inside then?" She suggests, sucking on the pulse point of my neck.
"Okay, but let's go right now then…" I beg, panting. "Because I don't know how much longer I can control myself…"
THE NEXT DAY – AT PARAMOUNT – SANTANA's POV
"Okay, I'm here!" I say as I hurry into Quinn's office. "Sorry for being late, Q…"
"What…?" I frown as she just suspiciously squints at me, without saying a word.
"So, I see you've finally 'sealed the deal' with Brittany." She smirks, using air quotes.
"How did you even…?" I trail off in disbelief. "Seriously, I made sure not to sound too cheerful or look too dorky this time, so… how?!"
"Because you, Santana Lopez, said you were 'sorry'!" She argues, making me roll my eyes. "And you look really happy and… fulfilled." She adds after analyzing my face, wiggling her eyebrows.
"I am happy and fulfilled." I confirm with a proud shrug.
"Yeah? Did you even leave the bedroom?" She chuckles, teasing me.
"Of course, we did!" I frown. "Yesterday, we spent some time in the garden." I argue. "And you know, you need to get out of bed sometimes! At least, for food, or to shower…"
"Right… Did you shower separately?" She asks, crossing her arms.
"Well, showering separately would be a waste of water…" I shrug while she shakes her head.
"I take it it's still going well between you two then?"
"It's going really well!" I immediately confirm, before pausing for a moment.
"You know, Quinn… I truly loved Melissa… She was this beautiful, smart, fun woman, who was great in bed and pulled me out of my misery…" I say. "But with Brittany, everything is stronger! I love her more, I want her more, and God… she is – with no doubt – the best sex I've ever had! I just…" I trail off, sighing.
"You're falling hard, uh?" She asks.
"So hard it's scary… I'm so fucking in love, Q…" I shake my head in despair.
"Well, that's not a bad thing…" She replies. "You just said it was goingreally well!"
"It is." I confirm once more, nodding. "In fact, it's going so well that we've decided to tell the twins we're back together…"
"Oh, that's great, San! I'm sure the boys will be over the moon!"
THE NEXT DAY – AT HOME – IN GABRIEL'S BEDROOM
Now that the kids are back from their school trip, I know we can't postpone this any longer. It's time to tell the boys about Brittany and me.
"Okay, so…" I sigh nervously next to Brittany, looking at my sons sitting side by side on Gabriel's bed. "The reason why we wanted to talk to you guys is because… um… we know that there have been a lot of changes lately: your mom ended her relationship with Nick, I broke up with Melissa… And we… um…" I trail off, getting all shy.
"Mama and I have talked a lot since our respective breakups…" Brittany suddenly adds, coming to my rescue. "We've been spending more time together and… we've grown so much closer in the past few weeks that… we've decided to give our relationship another chance." She says, but our boys remain silent.
"Please say something…" I eventually plead, trying to get some sort of reaction out of them.
"Well, we already knew you had gotten back together, so…" Diego shrugs, making me drop my jaw in shock.
"You knew?!" I repeat in disbelief, exchanging a confused look with Brittany.
How did they find out? Sofia promised she would keep the secret until we were ready to talk about it, and I'm sure she didn't tell them.
"Of course! We're not blind, mama." Diego says, making me frown in confusion. "You're always here now, even when there is no reason to be." He shrugs again. "And you always giggle together in the kitchen, but as soon as we enter the room, you suspiciously go quiet! It was pretty clear that something was going on…"
Damn, I guess that Brittany and I were not as discreet as we thought…
"How do you feel about this, mijo?" I ask Gabriel who has not said a word yet.
"I think it's great, mama…" He eventually shrugs, with a big smile. "I'm really happy for you!" He adds, getting up to give us a hug.
"What about you, bud? You're okay with this too?" Brittany asks Diego but he just silently shrugs in response. It figures that he wouldn't have much to say about it, he has never been much of a talker. Just like me.
"You're moving back here, right?" He eventually asks me out of nowhere.
Okay, correction: Diego is not much of a talker, but he sure has a talent for putting his foot in his mouth! But then again, just like me…
"Oh, I… I don't know…" I reply in a timid voice, not knowing what to say. Brittany and I haven't even discussed this yet…
"Oh, please, how much longer do we have to keep going to your house?" He complains.
"What's wrong with my house?" I ask, offended.
"Nothing, but my room here is bigger!"
"And you really think the size of your room is an argument for us to live together?" I ask sarcastically.
"Well, mom's house is also much closer to my friends and school." He points out, making me roll my eyes.
ONE WEEK LATER (LUNCH TIME) – AT PARAMOUNT – BRITTANY's POV
Today is one of those days where I can't get Santana out of my head, even if we were together just a few hours ago, until she left for work. So, I decide to pay her a surprise visit, and take her out for a romantic lunch.
I'm on my way to her office when I get distracted by a text, and accidentally bump into someone in the parking lot.
"Oh, I'm so sorry… I didn't see you th-" I trail off, surprised by the sight in front of me.
"Julia." I eventually say in disbelief.
"Oh, hi Brittany!" She greets me with a smile.
God, the nerve of that woman! How does she even dare smile at me after sleeping with Santana?!
"Um… I didn't expect to run into you here. Are you working at Paramount?" I ask, praying that she isn't.
"Oh, no… I was just meeting with San." She says and just hearing her call my woman by her nickname makes me incredibly angry.
"I'm sorry, Brittany… But I have to run, I have another appointment." She says. "It was great seeing you!" She waves before walking away to her car.
"Yeah, it was definitely NOT great to see you." I mumble through my teeth once she's too far to hear me.
A LITTLE WHILE LATER – AT PARAMOUNT – IN SANTANA's OFFICE
"So, I ran into Julia in the parking lot…" I suddenly say, still wondering what the hell this woman was doing here.
"Ah, uh… yeah, she dropped by." Santana replies, obviously uncomfortable.
"I didn't know you were still hanging out with her." I say, unable to hide my jealousy.
"I'm not. She just had a business proposal for me and showed up unannounced to discuss it."
"Right, 'business' proposal…" I repeat in an ironic voice, using air quotes. "Is it the kind of proposal that involves being naked in bed?" I ask, feeling rage building up in my chest.
"No." She shakes her head. "She wanted to know if I would run a show she's producing."
"What kind of show?" I ask, terrified at the idea of Santana working with that woman.
"A drama." She says. "It's a pretty interesting concept, actually."
"Oh… uh… are you considering taking it…?" I ask nervously.
"No." She says much to my relief, caressing my cheek. But suddenly, I feel guilty, wondering if she turned it down just because of me.
"San… If that show is as interesting as you said and you want to do it, I um… I'll be okay with it."
"I don't want to do it." She shrugs.
"San, really, I'd be okay with it." I insist.
"Honey, I can tell when you're lying…" She chuckles. "God, you're so cute when you're jealous!" She says, pressing her lips on mine for a tender kiss.
"Okay, fine, I wouldn't be okay with it…" I admit. "But I would feel even worse if you turned down an interesting project because of me."
"Well, that I believe." She smiles, holding my hands in hers. "But I really don't want to do it, Brittany. I already received another proposal that is far more interesting. And I would be working with someone we both love!"
"Really, who?"
"Naya." She smiles.
LATER THAT DAY (EVENING TIME) – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE – IN BED
"I just… I have to know, San." I insist.
"Brittany…" She sighs in despair.
"Look, I don't want details, but… I need to know when, and how that woman got you in her bed." I say in a determined voice, referring to Julia.
"Fine…" She sighs again, obviously annoyed. "It happened about a year after we got divorced… And like I already told you months ago, it was just rebound sex, it didn't mean anything!" She adds, raising her hands in frustration.
"That still doesn't tell me how that awful woman got you to have sex with her." I point out, crossing my arms.
"You really want to know?" She asks, looking me straight in the eye.
"Yes." I immediately confirm, holding her gaze.
"Well, then I first need to tell you what happened a few days before I met with Julia." She says, making me frown in confusion.
"It was my turn to have the kids that week…" She says. "So, they were staying at my house, and so was Abuela. The old woman had just decided – without even informing me – to invite herself and stay with us for a few days, because she was 'worried about me'." She adds, using air quotes. "And…" She trails off. "… do you remember that after our divorce, Gabriel couldn't sleep, unless he was wearing that blue shirt, the one with the dolphin?" She asks and I silently nod.
"Well, turns out that for once, Super mommy, you had forgotten to pack the shirt." She shrugs. "He only noticed it when he was going to bed but… he looked so sad that I basically turned the whole place upside down, to be sure it was not somewhere in my house. But it wasn't. And I knew he was already having a hard time coping with our breakup, so… I tried to call you, to ask you if I could come pick up the damn shirt, but you didn't answer the phone. I thought that you were perhaps rehearsing in the dance room and just couldn't hear it ring, so… I decided to drive to your house."
"And I never told you this but… when I got there, I saw you all dressed up, on your doorstep,… kissing Nick." She eventually says with a sad shrug, making my jaw drop in surprise. "I didn't even know you were seeing anyone, I guess it was probably one of your first dates with him, but God… it hurt so bad to see you kissing someone else…" She adds, making me instantly sad.
"I was in such shock that I just stayed there in my car, unable to move, praying that you wouldn't invite him to come in." She admits. "Fortunately, you didn't, you just waved at him as he was driving away. But after witnessing that kiss, I didn't have the strength to come talk to you, so… I left." She shrugs. "And all I wanted was to get drunk but I knew I couldn't, because I had a very sad boy at home who would now have to sleep without his comfort shirt."
"So, instead, I went home, and told our son he could sleep with me that night. But all I could think of was you kissing Nick, my sadistic brain replaying it over and over…" She says, shaking her head in despair. "That was more than I could bear, so I decided to focus solely on the kids that week. And when I brought them back to your place, I pretended that everything was fine." She shrugs. "Then, I drove Abuela back to the airport and… I went straight to the pub, trying to forget that I had lost the love of my life and that she had already moved on, while I was clearly not over her."
"I had not moved on, San…" I whisper, staring into her sad eyes. "At the time, I didn't even know what was going on between me and Nick. He was just that fun guy I kept meeting at Danceathon and who had eventually asked me out on a date."
"Maybe so, but you were going on dates, kissing men, while I had just spent the entire year mourning our failed marriage! I just wanted to stop feeling that crucifying pain… I wanted to feel numb! So, I drank. Glass after glass, after glass. And then, I unexpectedly ran into Julia… She happened to be in town, to guest star in a TV show, and… we started talking. At some point, she asked how you were doing, so… I told her you and I were no longer together."
"Ah! I'm curious… How long did it take her to hit on you, after hearing that new piece of information? 5 seconds?" I ask sarcastically.
"Yeah, pretty much." She shrugs and I immediately feel enraged. But I don't know why I'm surprised, Julia was already going after Santana when we were still married! So, it figures that she would jump on the opportunity as soon as she heard she was single.
"It was subtle flirting at first…" Santana says. "… but when we went outside to get some fresh air, she made a move and kissed me. One thing led to another and… we eventually went to her hotel." She says in a shy tone and I can't help but clench my fists.
"You know… Somehow, you having sex with Julia – even if just for one night – is a lot more painful than you being in love with Melissa for three years." I eventually admit. "Maybe it's because I actually liked Melissa, and I just… hate Julia Peterson, with every fiber of my being!"
"I'm sorry…" She says, squeezing my hand. "But it really didn't mean anything, Brittany. I was just feeling sad and lonely, and I needed to stop thinking about you! I needed to prove to myself that I could move on too, at least a little bit… And Julia just happened to be there." She shrugs. "If I had not run into her, I would have probably picked up some random girl instead."
"But the truth is that I felt so much worse after that." She admits. "I went from making love to my best friend, my partner in crime, my… dream girl… to having a meaningless one-night stand with a woman I literally felt nothing for…"
"So… you never considered dating her?" I ask timidly.
"No." She immediately says. "I was not ready for a relationship at the time. And anyway, Julia is not the type of person I could fall in love with." She adds. "You are the type of person I fall in love with."
"Yeah?" I ask in a timid voice, still feeling a bit sad about this whole thing.
"Oh, yeah!" She smiles. "Brittany, you're the type of woman that… I marry and have children with!" She shrugs, making me feel better right away. "So, how about we forget all about Julia Peterson, and just think of us?" She suggests, caressing my cheek.
"I'd like that…" I nod and she smirks, pressing her lips on mine.
A FEW DAYS LATER (LATE AFTERNOON) – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE – SANTANA's POV
After a difficult day at work, I head straight to Brittany's house and find her waiting for me in the hall. I guess she heard me pull the car over.
"Hey!" She smiles.
"Hi…" I say, giving her a kiss.
"Rough day?"
"It's just Lee again…" I sigh. "But I don't even want to talk about it."
"I'm sorry, honey…" She says, pulling me into a warm hug.
"Thanks." I whisper, holding her tight. "You smell really nice…" I add as I catch a whiff of coconut.
"Well, I just got out of the shower."
"Wait, does that mean you're fully naked under that bathrobe?" I ask, gently lifting the collar to take a peek.
"Ow!" I let out as she slaps my hand, before pouting in protest.
"We don't have time for this, San!" She warns. "You know we're supposed to be at Mike and Tina's in 45 minutes. The kids are already at their house."
"Well, 45 minutes is plenty of time." I argue, still hoping for some action, especially since the kids are not home.
"Not when you have yet to shower and drive there. Come on, San… Go get ready."
"Fine…" I sigh in defeat. "But you know, after such an awful day, I could really use some affection from the woman I love…"
"Well, right now, I can only do this…" She says, pulling me into a loving kiss that immediately sends shivers down my spine. "But I promise that when we come home tonight, I will love you any way you want."
"Really? Any way I want?" I smirk.
"Really." She confirms in a flirty voice, pressing her lips on mine once more. "Now, go get ready or we're gonna be late."
LATER THAT DAY - AT MIKE AND TINA'S HOUSE
Ever since we moved to California, Mike and Tina always invite the L.A. Gleeks for a barbecue dinner around this time of year. I really love this little tradition because we always have so much fun! Even the kids like it! Brittany and I never missed one of these dinners, even though they were a bit awkward when we were separated. But now, we're back together and all our friends finally know about it!
"Someone took your clothes while you were showering in the locker room?!" Tina repeats, looking at Quinn in disbelief, as we reminisce about high school. "Oh my God, I thought only guys were playing that kind of prank!"
"Oh no, believe me, girls do that too." Quinn sighs. "I thought it was Santana but…"
"Excuse me?!" I frown, offended. "How could you possibly think I would do something that dumb?"
"Well, now I know it wasn't you but… Vanessa told me she saw you run away with my clo-…"
"God, that bitch!" I cut her off, crossing my arms. That Vanessa was always jealous of me.
"San…" Brittany sighs. "Can you not say that in front of the kids?"
"It's okay, mom. We hear that word at school every day anyway." Diego shrugs. "Besides, mama says this kind of stuff all the time when we're at her house, so…" He adds, making me open my eyes wide in shock, while Brittany throws a disapproving look at me.
Great, thrown under the bus by my own child.
Fortunately, Brittany gets distracted by Mike about something related to the dance school, and I immediately use this opportunity to talk to Diego.
"Okay, mijo, listen up." I whisper, making sure Britt can't hear me. "Although I really try not to, it seems I have a talent for doing things your mom doesn't approve of. So, I don't need you to draw her attention to it even more, capisce?" I say but he just shrugs in response.
"Oh, guys, before I forget…" Tina suddenly says. "The other day, Mike and I found old photos of our annual barbecues!" She adds, passing pictures around.
"Oh, I've never seen this picture before… When was that?" Quinn asks me, handing me a picture of myself and Brittany, wearing overalls covered in paint stains.
"Oh my God… That was the year we bought our house!" I say, looking at the picture in disbelief. "We were repainting the walls and we dropped by Mike and Tina's, to borrow some additional paintbrushes." I add. "They were having a barbecue and insisted that we grab a quick bite before going home. And that's basically how this annual barbecue was born…"
"Remember that one?" Tina chuckles, showing a picture of me sitting on Brittany's shoulders, fighting Mike and her in the pool.
"Oh yeah, we totally kicked your ass that day!" I laugh.
As I go through the pictures one by one, so many wonderful memories come back to mind: our whole group singing all together, me doing shots with Puck, Sam trying to impress us with his lame magic tricks, and Brittany standing behind me, with both of her hands on my very pregnant belly. That one must have been taken barely a couple of months before Sofia was born.
"Okay, this one is really the best!" Diego suddenly says. "I'm even thinking we need to enlarge that picture and frame it! Don't you think?" He asks his sister in a mischievous tone, holding a picture of Brittany carrying a very young Sofia, with chocolate all over her face.
"Give me that!" Sofia says, yanking the picture from his hand. "You think there are no embarrassing pictures of you at home? Because I can find tons and show them to your little girlfriends!" She threatens her brother.
As I go through the last pictures, all I can think of is that I really had a whole life with Brittany before our divorce… An amazing life…
I'm suddenly pulled out of my thoughts when my blonde puts her arm around my shoulders. Our eyes meet and as soon as she smiles at me, it strikes me again: I'm so hopelessly in love with that girl.
"Okay, I think it's time for a toast!" Tina sing-songs, getting up with a glass in her hand.
"Well, guys… I know I repeat myself every year, but I'm really proud that, even after several decades, we're still such good friends! And it's always a pleasure to host you here for our annual barbecue!" She says. "But this year is special… and that's why I would like to raise my glass in honor of Santana and Brittany…" She suddenly adds, much to my surprise.
"Girls, when you broke up, I was completely shocked. I think all of us were…" She says, while the others around the table nod in agreement. "I couldn't imagine you two being apart, and your divorce kind of shattered my vision of love…" She admits. "But I think I speak for all of us when I say that we couldn't be happier to see you back together! So… to Brittana!" She says in an enthusiastic voice, raising her glass.
"To Brittana!" They all repeat in unison, clinking their glasses against ours.
A FEW DAYS LATER – AT PARAMOUNT
"Okay, Hunter…" I say in an unhappy voice, crossing my arms in a threatening way, and looking him straight in the eye. "I know you're new here so I will let it slide this time. But do that again, and you're fired! Are we clear?"
"I'm really sorry, Ms. Lopez, I had no idea…" He stutters in a nervous voice.
"Well, let me break it down for you." I cut him off. "This is Brittany." I say, pointing at her while she's standing next to me. "Take a good look at her beautiful face so you remember her. Because she's not only my partner, she's the love of my life, and the mother of my children. So, that makes her the number 1 VIP here, okay? She's more important than Lee or any other Paramount big shots, she's even above royalty, capisce? So, when she asks you to see me, you call me immediately, even if I'm in a meeting or on set! Under no circumstance do you deny her access and make her wait outside!" I frown in outrage. "You install her in my office and bring her whatever she needs! Do you understand?"
"Yes, Ms. Lopez…" He nods, obviously terrified.
ANOTHER WEEK LATER – AT BRITTANY'S HOUSE
"Don't go…" Brittany pleads as we stand in the hall, her arms still wrapped around me.
"I kind of have to, honey… I was just supposed to spend two nights here, and I stayed for five! And even though I always pack more than I need, I'm running out of clean clothes now…" I chuckle.
"You could just go pick up some more clothes and then come back here…" She suggests, with a sad pout.
"Come on, Britt… I have to go to my house from time to time."
"But why?" She questions.
"Well, to pick up mail and make sure that everything is alright, to clean… And you know, I occasionally need some stuff from there…"
"Maybe it would be easier if you just had your stuff here…" She says, raising timid eyes towards me.
"Britt…" I sigh, knowing where she's getting at. "I can't move in here…"
"Why not?" She asks. "You're practically here all the time, San… This is your home! It's where your family is…" She says, raising her arms. "What's the point of keeping a house you barely live in? If you moved in here, we could live together again… And we would both see the kids every day!" She argues while I just silently stare into her beautiful eyes.
It is a very tempting offer because I would love to be with my family every single day, and sleep next to Brittany every night, instead of sleeping alone in a bed I used to share with another woman. And it's true that I feel at home here, I always have…
"Are you sure?" I ask, uncertain. "Because if I move in… it means all of my stuff would be here. And you may not remember, but I have a lot of stuff, Britt! I'm not like Nick and his three pairs of pants…" I say. "And you don't even know how many beauty products I have in my bathroom…"
"I lived with you before, San… I know what to expect." She shrugs.
"Yeah, but I'm older now… I have way more products than I used to! It takes work to be this sexy at my age, you know…" I say, making her chuckle.
"Well, I'll make room for your 'stuff'." She smiles, using air quotes.
"It's not just my things though… It also means I would be here, all the time…"
"That's kind of the point, silly…" She chuckles, wrapping her arms around my neck. "Move in with me…" She insists once more, resting her forehead against mine.
"You're making it very hard to say no…"
"Well, good. Because I really want you to say yes…" She smiles, capturing my lips in a tender kiss.
A FEW DAYS LATER – AT HOME – BRITTANY's POV
As soon as I hear Santana's car pulling over, I rush to the front door, arriving just in time to watch her help Abuela out of the car, while her parents unload their luggage. It's the first time I've seen them since we got back together and I'm really excited to have them over.
"Brittany!" Abuela says in an enthusiastic voice upon seeing me, giving me a warm hug. "It's so nice to see you, dear… You look fantastic!" She adds, squishing my face between her hands.
"It's really nice to see you too, Abuela. And you've never looked better!" I reply with a smile.
"Oh, you're so sweet… Thank God, you took my granddaughter back." She says, holding my hands in hers.
"She didn't 'take me back'!" Santana immediately objects, using air quotes. "We decided to give our relationship another chance!"
"Well, given your temper, you're lucky she still wants you, mija." Abuela says while Santana rolls her eyes. "But tell me everything, Brittany! How is it going between you two?"
"Oh, it's going great!" I say with a wide smile, glancing lovingly at Santana.
"I must say that you both look really happy." Abuela nods in agreement. "So, I guess everything is 'great' in the bedroom too then…?" She smirks and even though she whispered, I'm pretty sure that Santana caught that.
"Oh, for the love of God, Abuelita… Can you just stay out of our sex life?!" My Latina tells her grandmother for the millionth time, while I try really hard not to laugh. Sometimes, I think that Abuela does it on purpose.
"Fine, no need to get upset…" Abuela says, raising her hands defensively. "Do you mind putting my luggage in the guestroom, mija?" She asks, obviously trying to change the subject.
We both watch Santana walk away with the luggage, but as soon as she's out of the room, Abuela turns to me. "Okay, Brittany…" She whispers. "Seriously, tell me… How's the sex?"
"It's amazing…" I shrug, unable to hide my smile.
"Good." She nods in approval, clearly pleased with my answer.
"So, where is my Sofia?" She is quick to ask in a much louder voice as Santana walks back to us.
"She's at her boyfriend's but she should be back any minute now." I say.
"Oh, she's still seeing the Irish, uh?" Abuela smirks. "Do you think he could be… the one?" She asks me, wiggling her eyebrows.
"Don't you dare put marriage ideas in her head again, okay?" Santana immediately warns her. "I already can't believe that my baby girl is graduating high school tomorrow…" She adds in a nostalgic tone, while I gently rub her back to comfort her.
THE NEXT DAY – AT SCHOOL - SOFIA'S GRADUATION
"Excuse me…" Santana says, navigating through the rows of chairs with difficulty as I follow closely behind. "Mothers of the valedictorian coming through!" She announces loudly, making sure everyone can hear her.
"Oh my God, there are even more people than I thought." I say, as we finally take our seats.
"I know, it's crazy!" She agrees. "Are there really that many seniors graduating this year?" She wonders, before turning to the man sitting next to her.
"Hi, how are you? I'm the mother of the valedictorian." She tells him in a proud voice, extending her hand to him.
"I think the people in the back row may not have heard you…" I whisper ironically.
"Oh, you think? Because I would be more than happy to go introduce myself." She replies, looking over her shoulder.
"Okay, enough…" I say in a jaded tone. "We got it: your daughter is the valedictorian. It doesn't mean you have to rub it in their face…"
"Of course, it does!" She objects, frowning. "Brittany, there are three things I can brag about. One: I'm dating the sexiest woman on earth. Two: my kids are awesome. Three: my daughter is the freakin' valedictorian! So, please don't take this away from me!" She pleads, before tapping on the shoulder of the lady seated just in front of her.
"Hi! My daughter is the valedictorian. Which one is yours?" She asks while I roll my eyes.
LATER THAT DAY – AT SCHOOL
"Hey, mom!" I suddenly hear Sofia's voice behind me.
"Peanut, hi!" I smile, hugging her. "Your speech was amazing, I'm so proud of you!"
"Thanks!" She smiles back. "Where's mama?"
"Oh, she's over there…" I point towards Santana, who is a few feet away. "… busy telling yet another group of parents that she's the valedictorian's mother…" I sigh, making her chuckle.
"Look at you, you're all grown up…" I say for the third time today, holding her hands in mine. In her cap and gown, she looks just like Santana at her age.
"Okay, I'm gonna go find Liam before you start crying again." She laughs, squeezing my hands.
"Alright, but don't go too far! Mama wants us to take tons of pictures with you!"
A FEW DAYS LATER – AT THE RESTAURANT
"Oh, so it's confirmed? You're leaving?" Quinn asks me as we're having lunch, just the two of us.
"Yep, it's all booked!" I smile. "Santana and I agreed it was too important. You know, with the divorce, it's actually the first family vacation we take in years! And maybe it's also the last one…" I shrug. "With Sofia starting college in the fall, I'm not sure she'll still want to go on holiday with her moms, so…"
"God, I can't believe that little pumpkin is starting college already!" Quinn says, shaking her head. "I can still picture her carrying her teddy bear everywhere…"
"I know…"
"But tell me everything!" She says. "Where are you going?"
"Well… we're going to Europe, for six weeks!"
"No way!" She says, her jaw dropping in surprise.
"Yeah!" I nod in excitement. "Santana really wanted to mark the occasion, she basically said 'go big or go home',so… that's how we settled for Europe." I say. "We're leaving next week and I don't even recall the exact itinerary, because she planned it all herself but… I know we'll go to London, Paris, Barcelona… Oh, and we'll stop a few days in Ireland so that Sofia can see Liam, as he will be spending the entire summer in Europe. He will also travel with us for a bit… And then, I think we go to Sweden and um… Greece? I'm sure I'm forgetting half of it, but I know we'll spend the last two weeks in Italy, so that we can also relax and enjoy the beach!"
"Well, just so you know… I'm totally jealous right now." She says, making me chuckle. "But I think it's a great idea! And I'm sure the kids will love it."
"I hope so… I'm so excited I cannot wait!" I smile.
TO BE CONTINUED…
A/N: I briefly mentioned Naya in this chapter, because I wanted to honor her, especially around this time of year. I still miss her very much, and I'm sure you do too... If you want to know more about Naya and Santana's friendship, I refer you to my other fanfic, "Tell our story" (and for those who read this story too, I'll update it next!). But back to this chapter now… As indicated by the title, this was "Part I". The second part will cover their holidays and some other stuff, bringing us to the end of the story. But I will also post an epilogue after that, so that means there are two chapters left. I hope you enjoyed this one, please let me know what you think in the reviews! Oh, by the way, I'll finally go on holiday for a while, so please be patient with updates. Thank you and take care!