Hey all, I will be on vacation starting this Saturday till the end of the month which means that I won't be updating until I am back. But I will try to upload one or two more chapters till Friday.
I decided to continue this story until I find a nice way to end it or to start one shots about it, I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas for future chapter. This story will contain a few time jumps but mostly nice things happening, like Santana getting nominated, the little boys growing up, Nicolas being following in his mommy's footsteps but also drama (Maybe Alma returning?).
''Lopez.''
Santana looks up as she hears her wife answer a phone call and sits up as she watches the blood drain from her face.
''I'm on my way.''
She immediately stands up with QT in her arms as she hears her voice crack and grabs the twins jackets they threw on the two seater in the living room as she hears her wife sprint up the stairs. ''Mijo get dressed, por favor.''
''What's going on mami?'' Nicolas asks as he carefully places Oliver beside Quinton on the couch.
''No idea but it doesn't sound good.'' She whispers. ''Grab your jacket por favor.'' She murmurs as she hears Brittany sprint down the stairs, she looks up after zipping up Quinton's jacket and shakes her head as she opens her mouth with a frown. ''Don't tell us to stay here.''
''It isn't safe for the kids.'' Brittany whispers as she walks over to take Oli from her after she zipped up his jacket. ''The restaurant is on fire.''
''Let's go.'' Santana just tells her immediately, she picks Quinton from her and turns to Nicolas as he walks into the living room. ''Mijo grab your scarf.'' She follows Brittany into the kitchen as Nicolas quickly grabs one of the scarfs hanging around and turns to look at her as they follow them to the garage. ''How bad?''
''No idea.'' Brittany breaths out as she places Oliver in his seat, she hands him the teddy he dropped and gulps thickly. ''Can you please stay in the car? I will park further away.'' She looks up knowing she is about to say no and glances at their three kids in the back seat after they both slid in. ''Please, love.''
Santana sighs as Brittany pulls out of the garage and pulls out her phone, she dials her sisters phone number and holds it up to her hear listening to the dial tone. ''Hermana meet us at the restaurant por favor, preferably without Soph.'' She hums as she replies that they will be there in five and turns to her wife.
''Liv and Ab's will be there too, Soph is at a friends house.''
Brittany hums as she speeds down the street, completely focusing on the street and bites her lip. ''Okay.'' She just whispers, she glances in the rear view mirror and licks her lips. ''Sweetheart can you watch something on your phone?''
''Paw patrol?'' Nicolas asks. ''QT and Oli like them too.''
''Whatever you want sweetheart.'' She breaths out trying to keep the edge out of her voice, she taps her fingers on the steering wheel as she stops at a red light and gulps thickly as she notices the big cloud of black smoke rising up behind a few buildings. ''Not good.'' She murmurs.
Santana hums softly in agreement also noticing the big black cloud and points to Liv's car parked in front of a road block. ''Liv and Ab's are right there.'' She jumps out of the car the second Brittany parked her car and takes the keys from her wife, she walks over to Liv and Abi both eyeing the road in concern and holds it up. ''Hermana, Liv can you please take the kids to mami and papi?''
''San…'' She holds up her hand effectively cutting Brittany off and locks eyes with her sister.
''Mami and papi have frozen milk, diaper bag is in the trunk.''
''What's going on?'' Liv asks as she takes the key, she holds hers out for Santana to take so they can swap cars and glances at Brittany in concern as she watches her fidget.
''Fire.'' Santana just breaths out as she turns on her heels to walk to the car, she opens one of the back doors and kisses Oli's head knowing Brittany already kissed them, she leans over him kissing Nic and QT's heads and locks eyes with Nic. ''Tia Liv and Ab's will drive you to Abuelo and Abuela, behave por favor and mommy and I will pick you up tonight okay?''
She closes the door as he nods his head and turns to her sisters. ''Gracias.'' She turns to her wife as they just nod their heads and nods her head to the road block. ''Let's go.''
''Babe.'' Brittany just breaths out. ''You don't have to leav…''
''I know I don't have to.'' Santana breaths out as they both jog to the police standing beside the road block, knowing they both still struggle with leaving their five month olds for longer than a few hours. ''But I want to.''
''Ma'am you can't go through here.'' One of the officers tells them as they reach them, Brittany pulls out her ID and locks eyes with him.
''That is my restaurant, I need to make sure my employees are fine sir.'' She taps her foot on the concrete as he grabs his radio to ask for confirmation and turns to Santana, she holds out the scarf Nic grabbed and sighs. ''Please cover your mouth babe.''
''You can go through, but not farther than the second block ma'am.'' Brittany nods her head feeling Santana intertwine their hands and jogs past the police, Santana bites her lip knowing she is jogging extra slow so she won't be out of breath and slowly releases her hold on her hand.
''Go Britt-Britt, I am right behind you.''
Brittany shakes her head, grabbing her hand once again and gulps thickly as her restaurant comes in view. ''Fuck.'' She breaths out as she watches the sea of fire rise up through the roof, she blows out a breath as she hears Santana's soft gasp and looks around scanning the crowd for the crew.
''Marls!'' She calls out as her eyes land on the brunette, she jogs over with Santana as Marley turns on her heels and staggers back as Marley sprints over and tackles her in a hug.
''B.'' She closes her eyes, cupping the back of her head as she breaks down and glances at the restaurant, she hugs Kitty as she immediately walks into her embrace too feeling Santana's hand on her back and gulps thickly.
''Are you all okay?'' She asks as the whole crew walks over, she hugs everyone while still keeping her hold on Marley and locks eyes with each of them. She hugs Jay and Jess after Kitty stepped back slightly, not once loosening her hold on Marley and raises an eyebrow. ''Are you all okay?'' She repeats.
She looks around as they just swallow thickly and scans the crew noticing the tears in everyone's eyes. ''Where is Kevin?'' She asks as she notices his familiar face missing.
''Britt..'' She shakes her head as Jay steps forward and turns to him.
''Where is he?'' She asks her voice cracking.
''He didn't make it.'' Marley cries out, Santana covers her mouth to muffle her soft gasp and quickly slide behind her wife to hold her up as her legs buckles.
''What..'' She clears her throat as her voice cracks and gulps thickly her heart breaking for the group that also belongs to her group of friends. ''What happened?''
''We can't really tell.'' Jay breaths out as he hugs his fiance close. ''One moment I am serving drinks and the other moment we all hear an ear deafening explosion.''
''Where did it start?'' Brittany asks softly, she turns to Kitty knowing she is also permanently in the kitchen and raises an eyebrow. ''Did you get hurt?''
''No it didn't start in the kitchen.'' Kitty whispers. ''It started in the office, that is where Kevin was too.''
Santana and Brittany both frown and turn to each other, Santana turns to Kitty and raises an eyebrow. ''You mean someone did this?'' Santana asks, Brittany looks around as Kitty slowly nods her head and kisses Marley's head.
She gently pushes her in Kitty's embrace and sighs. ''I will talk to the firefighters.'' She steps around the crew as her eyes land on the chief and walks over hearing Santana follow her. ''Sir?''
''Ma'am, please stay back.''
''Sir I am Brittany Lopez, restaurateur of this restaurant.'' She crosses her arms as he turns on his heels to face her and licks his lips. ''Is the cause of the fire known yet?''
The chief shakes his head and sighs. ''Not yet ma'am.''
''My employees told me that it started in the office, one of my cooks didn't make it out.'' She tells him, she rolls her eyes as he hums still keeping his back to her and sighs. ''Sir aside from two desks, two chairs and a whole load of paperwork, there was nothing in there.''
The chief turns on his heels and tilts his head. ''You mean that there was absolutely nothing that could cause this fire?''
''Nothing at all sir, the office was empty I have the computer standing at our house because I mostly work from there.''
The chief nods his head and looks around. ''Deputy!'' He calls out, he waves him over as he looks up and turns back to Brittany. ''Are you positive ma'am?''
''I am.'' Brittany breaths out confidently. ''I moved all electronics over to my house a few months ago sir.''
The chief nods his head and turns to the deputy as he joins them. ''Suspicious fire officer Blake.'' He just tells them.
''Are you sure?''
The chief nods his head and mentions his hand to Brittany. ''This is Mrs Lopez, restaurateur of the restaurant.'' He introduces. ''Mrs Lopez told me that there is absolutely no chance that something could have started a fire in the room where it started.''
''Can I ask you a few questions ma'am?'' Officer Blake asks as he turns to Brittany, Brittany nods her head following him to the police car after intertwining her hand with Santana's and locks eyes with him.
''Just for documenting, can you state your name and position ma'am?''
''Brittany Lopez, restaurateur of the young, wild and crazy grills sir.''
''Can you tell me what you told Chief Brandon?''
''My employees told me that the fire started in the office.'' Brittany starts. ''One of my cooks was in there before the fire started, he didn't make it out.''
''I am sorry for your loss.''
Brittany nods her head and clears her throat. ''I moved the computer, phone and small TV in there out of the office a few months prior sir, aside from two desks, chairs and paperwork, there was nothing in there.''
''Why did you move it?'' The deputy asks curiously.
''I moved it to our house to work from there, my manager is here to run the restaurant and I am working in the background after my wife got pregnant.'' She explains. ''I wanted to be home more often so I moved my office to our house, I left the desks and chairs there so my employees could use the room to go over recipes and create new ones.''
''And your cook had no reason to set the fire?'' The deputy ask, he gulps thickly as flashing blue orbs lock on his own and bites his lip. ''I am sorry but I have to ask ma'am.''
Brittany blows out a breath as she feels Santana squeeze her hand and shakes her head. ''No I can assure you that none of my employees would have ever done any of this sir.'' She tells him not able to keep the anger out of her voice. ''They aren't just my employees, they are friends too and every single person who works for me, loves their jobs and I prioritize mental health, I only need one call that they need a day off and they will get it.''
The deputy nods his head and writes it down. ''Did the room have a window?''
Brittany nods her head and points to the parking lot. ''A window facing the parking lot yes.''
''Do you have security camera's outside ma'am?''
Brittany drops her head and sighs. ''Why didn't I think of that yet.'' She breaths out, she takes out her phone pulling up the surveillance camera app she has on her phone and scrolls through the camera's.
She taps the two camera's pointed at the parking lot and turns her phone so he can look at it, she turns to Santana as he steps back to concentrate on it and gulps thickly. ''Who the fuck would do this?'' She asks softly.
''I have no idea mi amor.'' Santana whispers as she tugs her in her arms, she rubs her back as she feels the tenseness in her body and glances at the deputy. ''I hope he finds something if not we will ask Tio Fernando to take over the investigation.''
''Ma'am can you send me all the recordings all camera's made?'' The deputy asks as he walks back over, he hands her the card with his email on it and hands her, her phone back.
''Did you find something?'' Brittany asks as she takes her phone and the card, she looks up as he stays silent and raises an eyebrow as she notices him trying to ignore her question. ''Sir?''
''It's a running investigation ma'am, I can't tell you anything yet.''
''So you did.'' Santana tells him, she turns to look at her wife stepping back as she slightly nods her head and smiles sadly. ''Excuse me.''
Brittany takes a deep breath as Santana walks off to call Fernando and licks her lips. ''I just send it to you.'' She tells him not telling him that she also mailed it Fernando. ''Can I go back to my employees?''
She turns on her heels as he nods his head and walks back to the crew, she immediately hugs Marley again as she walks over and kisses her cheek. ''Talk to me Marls.'' She whispers softly.
''I am sorry.''
''Sorry?'' She asks in surprise. ''Why are you sorry?''
''That this happe..'' She shakes her head tilting her head up so they can lock eyes and gently wipes away her tears.
''None of you could have changed this.'' She tells her while also glancing at the crew. ''I am just happy that you all made it out uninjured, please don't apologize for what happened, I can build all of this back up but I can't replace any of you and I don't want to replace any of you.''
She tugs Marley back in her arms and glances at her still burning restaurant with a soft sad sigh. ''Did one of you call Kev's parents?''
''I did.'' Kitty breaths out her voice filled with tears. ''They are on vacation but will grab the first flight back.''
Brittany opens her arms not noticing Santana walking back over to them and sighs. ''Come here.'' She wraps her arms around Kitty and Marley as they immediately slide over feeling the whole crew join and drops he head. ''This is a suspicious fire.'' She tells them softly. ''Someone started it and the police will investigate, whoever the fuck did this will be found.''
''Who would do this?'' Jay asks as the rest gasp softly.
''I have no idea Jay.'' She murmurs. ''But we asked Santana's uncle who is a detective for the LAPD to take over this case, he will make sure that whoever did this will suffer from the consequences.''
''My worry right now is making sure you all are fine and that Kevin's parents know how loved their son was.'' She straightens up and sighs. ''I will go and visit them tomorrow and I want you all to do me one favor.''
''What?'' Marley asks softly, her voice still filled with tears.
''Go to the hospital and get checked out, I will ask Liv to make a note to run it over the company insurance card.'' Brittany breaths out. ''Find someone you can talk to and focus on yourself.''
''What about Kevin?'' Jess asks as she wraps her arm around Santana's waist, just mentioning for her to join their group hug.
''His parents will decide but Britt and I will take over the costs.'' Santana tells them before Brittany can reply. ''Fernando told me that he will talk to deputy Blake at the station, we can't do much here right now.''
Brittany nods her head in agreement and sighs. ''I want you all to get checked out today, just to make sure none of you breathed in smoke.'' She slowly pulls back as they nod their heads and sighs. ''I will tell Liv or Emilio to call the hospital and inform them that it can run over the restaurant insurance, can you all send me a message after you went?''
She hugs them after they all nodded their heads promising to send her a text and turns to Santana as they all walk off. ''It fucking sucks that I have absolutely no clue, who could have done this.''
''I know, mi amor.'' Santana murmurs softly. ''But Tio Fernando will find him or her.'' She gently places her hand on the small of her back and sighs. ''Want to head to mami and papi?''
''Yeah let me just hand the chief and deputy Blake my card.''
''Already done that.'' Santana murmurs. ''I told them that you were focusing on the crew, that their well being is your priority right now but they will call the second they found something.''
''Thank you.'' Brittany whispers dropping her head on Santana's shoulder as she feels her arms wrap around her waist, Santana just kisses her temple and squeezes her hips softly.
''Let's head to mami and papi.'' She whispers as she fishes Liv's car keys out of Brittany's pocket, she intertwines their hand as she hums softly and leads her away from the commotion around them.