CHAPTER 56
A/N: Hello people! I know it's been a while but there have been so many technical issues with the FFN platform in the past month that I'm getting desperate. By the way, email notifications are not being sent out at the moment, so check your favorite stories manually, to see if they were updated... I wanted to wait until it is fixed before publishing, but it doesn't look like there will be a solution in the near future, so I have decided to update the story anyway. Thanks to everyone who reviewed the previous chapter and to pacumeme57 and WhitWalk for proofreading this one. Enjoy!
Here is what you missed (on Glee):
Santana is slowly recovering from the injuries she suffered during the earthquake. In order to spend some quality family time, Brittany suggested that they go to Hawaii with their kids, their parents and Abuela.
ONE WEEK LATER – ON THE PLANE TO HAWAII – BRITTANY's POV
"Hey, sweetie…" My mom suddenly says, appearing by my seat without warning. "Oh… is she asleep?" She whispers, nodding towards Santana, whose head is resting on my shoulder.
"Yeah…" I nod.
Even though it was my idea to go to Hawaii and Dr. Spencer allowed Santana to take the plane, I have been very nervous at the idea of her flying in her current condition. So, I made special arrangements, to ensure she could rest during the flight: I asked the grandparents to take care of our kids by themselves, and I book seats for Santana and me as far from them as possible. I even kept the aisle seat for myself, to be able to block Sofia, in case she escaped her grandparents' vigilance and came running to her mama. Fortunately, our little girl hasn't come to us since we took off three hours ago. I guess the grandparents managed to keep her entertained…
"Do you need anything, honey?" My mom asks me, keeping her voice low.
"No, thanks, I'm good…" I smile, and she quickly nods, before walking back to her seat.
"I have everything I need…" I whisper to myself, glancing at Santana's peaceful face.
LATER THAT DAY – IN HAWAII – AT THE BEACH HOUSE
It's only when we arrive at the beach house that I finally release the breath I have been holding in for weeks. With everything we went through in the last couple of months, I really, really need this break…
EVEN LATER
After the long trip and all the unpacking, we were all pretty tired, so we decided to order some pizzas and go to bed early. Despite her nap on the plane, Santana looked particularly exhausted, so I put the kids to bed myself. But Sofia was so excited about our first night in Hawaii that she took forever to sink into slumber…
When I finally enter our bedroom, Santana is already asleep. I take a minute to watch her in silence, as I've done every night since she came back home from the hospital. It's still very hard for me to shake off the thought that she could have died, but watching her sleep always helps me calm down a little.
Without making a sound, I slip under the sheets and gently spoon her, wrapping my arm around her waist. After placing a feather-like kiss on her shoulder, I nuzzle into her hair, losing myself in her scent.
"She's here, she's alive…" I repeat to myself over and over, trying not to surrender to scary thoughts. I love Santana so much that sometimes, it even hurts…
THE NEXT MORNING – SANTANA's POV
I wake up to an empty bed and immediately pout in disappointment. I hate waking up after Brittany got up! I need my morning cuddles…
I turn around and my eyes open wide in shock when I glance at the alarm clock. 10:00 AM?! What?! Did I really sleep 13 hours in a row?! No wonder that Brittany is already up…
As I get out of our room, the first thing I notice is that the house is silent, which I find extremely suspicious. I love my little monsters more than anything but they're not exactly quiet, so… where are they?
I walk through the hall and every single room I pass looks empty, until I eventually reach the kitchen, where I find Abuela sitting by herself.
"Morning, Abuelita…" I say in a raspy morning voice.
"Ah, mija, finally! I was wondering when you would get up!" She says. "Sit, sit, I made breakfast for you."
"Where is everyone?" I ask her, taking a seat at the kitchen island. "And how come nobody woke me up?"
"They're all at the beach." She replies, much to my surprise.
What…? They went to the beach without me?!
"Brittany thought it was better to let you sleep in and recover from the trip." She continues. "I told her I would wait for you, and that we would join them later. But now, it's time to eat, mija!" She instructs, pointing at the plate. "You need to get stronger, you're even skinnier than usual!"
"Yeah, that's what an earthquake does to you…" I sigh, before taking a bite.
"How are you feeling?" She asks.
"I feel fine!" I shrug, annoyed at being treated like a patient all the time. "Sure, I needed a good night's sleep, but not for 13 hours…" I sigh again. "Especially since I slept most of the flight yesterday."
"Well, if you didn't wake up earlier than that, it's because your body needed the extra time." She argues, making me roll my eyes.
No, what my body really needs is cuddling with my wife…
LATER THAT MORNING – AT THE BEACH
"Where are you going?" Abuela asks me as soon as we step on the beach.
"Over there." I say as if it was obvious, pointing at Brittany's empty beach towel a few feet away. Besides Abuela and me, there is actually no one here right now. I guess they have gone for a walk.
"That's not your spot." She replies, making me confused.
What does she even mean? I'm married, my spot is always by my wife's side!
"Brittany said she would set up two beach beds for us under the parasol." She adds, pointing to the designated spot.
"What is this?" I frown, crossing my arms. "The 'disabled corner'?"
"Hey! I might occasionally need a cane, but I'm still in a better shape than you, mija!" Abuela argues in an offended tone, and I remain silent, because as crazy as it sounds, it's actually true…
Part of me really wants to be all rebellious right now, because I'm an adult and I can go sit where the fuck I want! But I don't want to have yet another argument with Brittany, especially about something as trivial as a spot on the beach. With that stubborn wife of mine, I have to choose my battles wisely.
So, I stay under the parasol where I chat with Abuela for a while, until I catch sight of our family slowly walking back to us. Brittany is at the front with our moms, holding Sofia's hand. Our dads are right behind them, carrying the boys on their shoulders.
"Wow!" Abuela suddenly lets out. "I had never seen Brittany in a bikini before, but that's one sexy woman! You're lucky, mija…"
"Yeah, I'm painfully aware…" I say in spite of myself, my eyes not leaving my wife's amazing body.
"What do you mean?" Abuela frowns, obviously confused by my answer.
"Oh, um… nothing." I'm quick to say, trying to dismiss her question.
"That didn't sound like nothing. What's going on, mija?"
"I told you, Abuelita… It's nothing."
"So, it is about sex." She suddenly says, much to my surprise.
"What?" I frown.
"Well, first, there's that strange comment you just made when I mentioned Brittany's body. And sex is the only topic you systematically refuse to discuss with me, so…"
God, I should have never let this slip out…
"Fine, it was about sex." I eventually confirm. "But do you really think it's appropriate to talk about that with your granddaughter?" I question.
"Why not?" She shrugs. "You're an adult now! Besides, what else would we talk about?"
"There are plenty of other things we can talk about!" I argue. "The kids, for instance…"
"Come on, mija… I'm old and I'm a widow. There's nothing exciting going on in my life… So, give me something juicy!" She pleads while I roll my eyes.
"You know, when you were little, you would tell me all about the cute boys in your class." She says. "And I know it's my fault you and I didn't talk when you started dating Brittany, but… since we were apart, I missed out on everything! And I still regret it to this day…" She adds in a sad tone.
Damn, she's good.
"We still have a few minutes before they get here…" She adds, nodding towards Britt and the others, who are now busy talking to an old couple.
"Fine…" I sigh in defeat. "But please, please, promise me you will not say anything that makes me uncomfortable!" I beg, looking her straight in the eye.
"I promise, mija." She nods, sounding sincere.
"Okay…" I sigh. "So, um… The reason I said what I said is because… Brittany and I, we haven't… um… we haven't… had sex since the earthquake." I whisper shyly.
"Why?" She asks. "Oh, you're not allowed to?"
"Oh, no, I'm allowed!" I immediately clarify. "I asked Dr. Spencer a while ago, and Brittany was even with me when the doctor gave me the green light, but… it seems it's the last thing on her mind." I say with a sad shrug.
"Well…" She trails off. "Okay, I'm not trying to make you 'uncomfortable' but… how often do you and Brittany normally have sex?"
Weirdly, the first thing that comes to mind when she asks me that question is Quinn's crazy comparison with rabbits, but I know I can't tell her that. Besides, Quinn exaggerates… kind of.
"Often." I reply simply.
"Maybe she thinks you don't feel good enough for it, or that you don't want to."
"Oh, believe me, she knows I want to." I immediately reply.
"Well… Did you try to… put her in the mood?"
"Of course! I flirt every occasion I get, and the rare times we 'make out', I make sure to kiss and caress the spots that usually drive her crazy, but… I don't seem to get anywhere." I say, in a sad tone. "I think she's still traumatized by the whole earthquake ordeal…" I eventually add. "You know what Quinn told me before we came here? That Brittany barely ate, and didn't sleep the whole time I was missing! And I have also noticed that she has nightmares lately…"
"Nightmares?" Abuela repeats, frowning.
"Yeah… Every now and then, she gets agitated in her sleep and startles awake… I tried to ask her about it a few times, but she always makes up a fake excuse, like she watched something scary on TV before going to bed. But I know it's not that! Recently, I even had to wake her up because she was screaming my name in her sleep, and not in a good way! She sounded so scared that honestly, I'm worried about her…"
"I see…" Abuela says, looking concerned. "Maybe you should just give it time, mija… You're getting better every day, Brittany is eventually going to see that. And now that she's on holiday with all of us, she will probably relax." She adds in a reassuring voice.
"I hope so… Anyway, let's change the subject because they're coming."
"Mama!" Sofia screams with a wide smile as soon as she sees me, letting go of Brittany's hand to run towards me.
"Peanut, remember to be gentle with mama!" Brittany reminds her, and my little girl immediately slows down, before giving me a cautious kiss hello.
"Hi, mija!" I smile, kissing her cheek. "How are you, baby? Did you guys do anything fun?"
"Yes! We went for a walk, and I had a waffle!" She replies in a very happy voice.
"A waffle, yuuum! Was it good?" I ask, and she nods enthusiastically.
"Well, hello, ladies!" Brittany smiles, sitting on the edge of my beach bed.
"Did you sleep well, honey?" She asks me, kissing my lips.
"I did. I even slept 13 hours, so…" I say, noticing the most satisfied smile on her face.
"And she finished her breakfast!" Abuela adds out of nowhere, but I guess it's her way to reassure my overprotective wife.
"That's fantastic!" Britt says in an enthusiastic voice.
"I missed you this morning though…" I shrug.
"Well, I'm here now." She smiles, bringing my hand to her lips.
LATER THAT DAY – AT THE BEACH HOUSE
"Okay, so I went through your medical file…" says my new lung therapist, Leslie. "And I know it can seem long and frustrating, but it looks like you're making consistent progress!" She adds in an encouraging voice.
I'm so grateful she said I'm recovering well in front of Brittany, because it's always best for her to hear it directly from a medical professional. Maybe that will finally convince her that I'm not dying…
"At this point, you could actually decrease the sessions to two per week, but I recommend sticking to three, it will speed up your recovery."
"Can we do even more sessions than that?" I ask, eager to be done as soon as possible.
"I'm afraid it's not recommended to do more than three, because that would put too much strain on your body. It's actually more efficient if we space out the sessions." Leslie says. "We can start tomorrow. Of course, in parallel, you should still use your inhaler and continue your exercises with the incentive spirometer."
EVEN LATER (EVENING TIME) – IN THE GARDEN
"I win again!" Abuela smirks, as we're playing cards.
"No kidding." I say, annoyed. "We've played my whole life and I never managed to beat you once... I'm pretty sure you cheat!"
"Don't be a sore loser, mija. I'm just the queen of that game, that's all!" She replies in a proud tone.
"Right…" I say sarcastically. "Anyway, I'm going to bed."
"Ooh, are you scared I'm going to kick your ass again?" She smirks.
"No." I frown. "But Brittany has been glancing at me a few times already…" I say, looking at my blonde who is sitting on the swing with her mom. "And I'm pretty sure that if I don't turn in soon, she is going to come here and tell me to go to bed, so…"
A FEW MINUTES LATER – BRITTANY's POV
"Sorry to interrupt, ladies… but I just came to say good night. I'm going to bed." Santana suddenly says, much to my relief. I was getting worried she would stay up too late, but it looks like she's being reasonable tonight.
"Night, sweetie!" My mom tells her, with a smile.
"Good night, Whitney." My Latina replies, kissing her on the cheek.
"Here, Britt… take my vest, it's getting chilly." Santana says, taking it off herself to drape it around my shoulders.
"Thanks…" I say with a small grateful smile, cuddling up in her vest. I love that it smells like her perfume…
"I'll be there soon." I add.
"Okay…" She whispers, placing a soft kiss on my lips, before going inside the house.
"I love Santana!" My mom confesses out of nowhere. "She's always so thoughtful with you!"
"Yeah… She's the perfect wife…" I sigh, suddenly feeling sad.
"What's the matter, honey?"
"I don't know, I just can't stop worrying about her…"
"But she's fine now, isn't she? I mean, I know she's not at 100% yet, but she's okay, right?"
"I guess, but I'm just…" I trail off, sighing. "I'm still terrified something bad is going to happen with her heart, or her lungs, and I will lose her…" I eventually admit in a sad voice. "You didn't see her at the hospital, mom… She was so weak! And her coughing attacks were so horrifying that I still check several times per night that she's breathing…" I shake my head in despair.
"That must have been very scary…" My mom says in a compassionate voice, squeezing my hand. "But she's safe now, sweetie. The doctor even allowed her to fly here, that's the proof she's getting better! And you'll see, after a month here, she'll be as good as new!" She smiles.
"I hope you're right…" I say, not convinced.
A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER – ON THE BEACH – SANTANA's POV
"Here, San…" Brittany says, suddenly handing me a bottle of water.
"Oh… Thanks, honey, but I'm not thir…"
"Drink it, it's hot today." She insists, cutting me off.
"Fine…" I sigh in defeat, immediately recognizing the determined look in her eyes.
But after all, if me drinking a bottle of water can help her relax, I might as well do that.
LATER THAT DAY (AFTERNOON) – IN THE GARDEN
"You're sure it's a good idea to nap here?" Brittany asks me while I lie in the hammock. "You would be more comfortable in our bedroom… At least, we have air conditioning inside."
"But, Britt… It's perfect here!" I argue. "There's a nice breeze today, and the trees keep this spot fresh anyway. Besides, you know that I cough when I'm exposed too long to the air conditioning."
"Right…"
"Why don't you come nap with me?" I suggest.
"I don't know, San… You need your rest."
"Well… I, for one, can't think of a comfier place than my wife's arms…" I shrug and I swear I can see the beginning of a smirk on her face. "Come on, Britt… The kids are at the playground with my parents, so why don't we enjoy the peace and quiet while we can?" I insist, raising pleading eyes towards her.
"Are you sure…?" She asks, hesitating.
"Positive!"
"Okay…" She eventually caves in, carefully climbing in the hammock, next to me.
I give her moment to settle in and move closer to her, to snuggle up against her body.
Now, at least, we both have what we want: she gets me to nap and I get to cuddle with her…
THE NEXT EVENING – AT THE BEACH HOUSE
I'm sitting at the kitchen island, surrounded by my parents and Abuela. It was agreed that the Lopezes would make dinner tonight, even if my mom and Abuela are the only ones actually cooking. My dad is just trying to decide which wine to pick, while I'm mainly there for moral support, because Brittany won't even let me cook! But, at least, being here with them gives me a nice break from my wife's strict rules and I can also use this time to catch up on the Glee scripts…
While my mom and Abuela argue about tonight's recipe – just like always – I open the lid of my laptop and click on the latest draft script that Quinn sent me.
By the time I finish reading the draft, my mom has given up and agrees to do whatever Abuela says – just like always.
While they continue cooking, I decide to type a short email to Quinn.
TO "QUINN FABRAY": Hi Q, how are you? Everything is fine here! I'm making progress in my recovery and it's great to be with the whole family! I finally managed to read your draft script for episode 4, you can find my edits and comments in attachment. Sorry I'm so slow, but with Britt on my back, it's not easy…
I have barely pushed the "send" button when I hear steps approaching. I hurry to close the lid and put the laptop on my lap.
"No one rats me out." I whisper, pointing my index finger at my family.
"Hi!" Britt suddenly says, popping her head through the door. "Mmhh, it smells delicious in here!" She adds in an enthusiastic voice, entering the room.
"Well, thank you, dear!" Abuela replies in a proud tone. "We're not ready yet, but you're welcome to stay with us if you want."
"Thank you, but I'm afraid I can only stay for a minute… I still have to give the boys their bath." Brittany replies, before taking a few steps towards me. Before I know it, she silently stretches her arm in front of me, palm open.
"What…?" I eventually ask, frowning in confusion.
"Give me the laptop, San." She sighs.
Good lord, how can she even know about the laptop?! As she's standing behind the kitchen island, my lap is completely hidden to her!
"It's not in our bedroom, so I know you have it with you." She says, as if she could read my mind.
I'm pondering what to do next when she speaks again.
"I thought we had an agreement." She says, crossing her arms.
FLASHBACK TO A FEW DAYS AGO
"What do you mean, 'two weeks'?" I ask, outraged. "Brittany, I can't wait two weeks to work on my scripts!"
"But you're not even supposed to work, San! You're on holiday, and in recovery!"
"Yeah, well, maybe if you had not limited my writing time for weeks, I would have finished already! But I can't postpone this any longer, Quinn needs my input!"
"Fine." She sighs. "Just rest for 10 days then."
"Two." I bargain.
"Eight."
"Two." I repeat again.
"You're supposed to meet me half way, not hold your ground!" She objects.
"Okay, fine. Three."
"That's not half way!"
"Five, then." I say in an impatient voice, raising my hands while she shakes her head.
"Seven, and it's my last offer." Britt warns, locking me straight in the eye.
PRESENT TIME
"We agreed you would rest for a week before working on your scripts." Brittany says.
"No, you said seven days. I never agreed to that! My offer was five." I object.
"And yet, it's only been four days, and you're already not keeping your word." She argues while I shake my head in frustration. I don't even understand what the big deal is! In L.A, she allowed me to work on my scripts two hours per day, so why do I suddenly have to take a full one-week break from writing? Is it because she considers I need time to recover from the flight, or to adjust to the time difference? Or is she simply getting even more stressed than before, if that's possible?
"Hand it over, Santana." She insists in a calm, yet very serious voice. Our eyes lock for a moment and I quickly understand I better not poke the bear. So, without saying a word, I eventually hand her the laptop.
She immediately takes it and silently shakes her head in disapproval, before leaving the room.
Well… Fuck.
"What?" I shrug innocently when I see that all eyes are on me.
"Mija, do you remember the advice I gave you on your wedding day?" My dad suddenly says. "The one rule you should always respect if you want to keep a happy marriage?" He adds while I roll my eyes.
"Well?" He insists upon my silence.
"Do not piss off the wife…" I eventually mumble in a jaded tone.
"That's right." He confirms.
"But that was not my wife, dad! That was doctor Pierce, and she's stricter than a dictator!" I say in a frustrated voice. "I'm not allowed to do anything, not even be in the sun… and God forbid I stay up past 10:00 PM! She barely lets me take care of my children!" I complain. "Seriously, what difference does it make if I sit and read a book, or if I sit and review scripts?" I ask, raising my hands.
"My job is a golden opportunity for our family!" I argue. "It allows us to put money aside for our kids' future, it's what paid for our house, or for the dance school's renovations… But what Brittany seems to forget is that unfortunately, it won't last for much longer, because TV shows are usually short lived! And Glee won't be any different, I know that…" I add in a sad voice. "Who knows what I will even do after that? Maybe I will have a job that barely pays, like I had before…" I shrug. "And I know it's a side effect of my accident, but there is maximum attention on the show right now, and I have to keep the momentum going! Because let me tell you… I intend to milk this job as long as possible, so that I can provide for my family for years to come! And for the show to remain successful, good scripts are essential!"
"I understand you're frustrated, mija…" My mom nods in understanding. "But if Brittany does all that, it's just because she worries about you." She adds, making me sigh.
"I know she got scared, I do, but I'm okay now… At some point, she has to stop treating me like a patient!" I say. "You're my mom, you were also worried, and yet you're not breathing down my neck all the time!"
"Well, the only reason I'm not is because I know Brittany is. Otherwise, believe me, I would be a much bigger pain in the ass than she is." She says, making me roll my eyes.
A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER – ON THE BEACH
"Mamaaa!" Sofia suddenly shouts in excitement, running towards me. "Can you come play with me?"
"You know mama can't play, peanut." Britt immediately tells our daughter, before I can say anything. "She has to rest and take it easy."
"But I want her to play with me!" Our little girl pouts, crossing her arms. God, she's the cutest thing when she gets upset!
"I know, but not today." Her mom says. "She will play with you when she's better."
"But she looks fine!" Sofia argues, clearly not happy.
Thank you, kid! At least, someone sees it…
"Well, she's not fine enough to play." Britt replies, in a stricter tone this time.
"But I…"
"Sofia." Brittany cuts her off and our little girl immediately falls silent. Just like me, she has already experienced her mommy's chilling use of the "full name" and she knows better than arguing further…
"You used to be more fun." Sofia eventually tells her mom in an assertive voice, before running back to her grandparents. She's barely gone that Britt turns to me, looking shocked and offended.
"The kid's got a point…" I say in a soft tone. "Brittany, I know I can't lift our children right now, but I can play with them! Sofia probably just wanted me to sit with her and build sandcastles together…"
"It's really hot today, San… You know that in such circumstances, it's best for your heart to stay quiet under the parasol, where it's fresher."
"But…"
"Santana, please." She interrupts me, getting impatient. "Can you just stop going against me when I'm trying to take care of you?" She complains and I just nod in silence, because clearly, now is not the time to discuss this.
It's too bad we're not having sex, because seeing how tense she is, it would definitely do her some good…
LATER THAT DAY (AFTERNOON TIME)
My mom and Abuela are having ice tea when I join them in the kitchen.
"There you are!" I say, having been looking for them for a while. "Can you please take me out this afternoon?" I ask, unable to hide my frustration. "I'll go anywhere!"
"What's going on, mija?" My mom asks, confused.
"God knows I love the woman, but she drives me crazy!" I say, raising my hands. "I've managed to keep it to myself until now but you don't know how hard it is when she's on my back every five minutes! I need a break."
"Well… I was about to go shopping with Abuela." My mom says. "You can come with us if you want?"
"Oh, thank you…" I sigh in relief. "But maybe we should take Sofia with us, because I think Britt is also getting on her nerves…"
LATER – AT THE MALL
"Which one is it?" I ask my little girl, after she pulled me by the hand all the way to the kids' section.
"That one!" She says, pointing at a koala t-shirt.
"Oh, um… Are you sure you want another t-shirt with an animal, mija? You've got lots of these, already… It might be nice to take something different for once?" I suggest.
"But I like that one!" She pouts.
Yeah, it figures.
"You're really your mommy's daughter…" I sigh in defeat, grabbing the shirt.
EVEN LATER – AT THE MALL – IN THE CHANGING ROOM
"What do you think, mija?" I ask Sofia, as I try on a tight black dress.
"You're really pretty, mama!" She says, enthusiastically nodding in approval.
"Aw, thanks, baby…" I say, giving her a kiss. "You think mommy will like it too?"
"Yes!" She nods again.
"Alright… Well, I guess I'll buy it, then!"
"Santana?" I suddenly hear my mom say from behind the curtain.
"Yes, mami?"
"I'm done, so I thought I could take Sofia for an ice-cream while you finish up here? Abuela will stay with you, she still has a few things to try on."
"Oh, sure, thanks!"
A WHILE LATER – AT THE MALL
"Mija, can I come in?" Abuela asks, just as I put on a pair of jeans.
"Yeah, hold on…" I say, before opening the curtain.
"I saw this and I thought you could maybe try it on…" Abuela whispers and I open my eyes wide when I see lingerie in her hands. "Maybe this could help with um… your bedroom situation…"
Good lord, I knew I shouldn't have told her anything!
"Do you remember when I asked you to please not make me uncomfortable about this?" I whisper back. "Well, you picking out lingerie for me is definitely at the top of the list!" I complain. "And that thing is slutty, even for me!" I say, noticing the laces on the sides and how short that nightie is. "Oh my God, is it see-through around the boobs?!" I ask, not believing my eyes.
"Well… You have nice boobs, you should use them!"
"I can't even believe we're having this conversation…" I sigh in despair.
"Look, do you want to have sex with your wife or not?"
"Of course, but…"
"Then, try it on." She cuts me off, shrugging. "What's the worst that can happen exactly? That Britt doesn't like it? Wouldn't you like to see your wife in this kind of thing?"
Oh, I definitely would love to see Brittany in this… Just the thought of it makes me all hot.
"Does it come in red…?" I eventually ask in a shy voice. "Brittany likes me in red…" I shrug timidly.
"I'll go check." She says, walking away.
THE NEXT AFTERNOON – AT THE BEACH HOUSE
"Good work today, Santana!" Leslie says, holding her hand up for a high five. "You're progressing so well that next time, I would like us to try a couple of aquatic exercises in the swimming pool. How does that sound?"
"Honestly, I'll do whatever you want me to, if that can speed up my recovery." I shrug. "But I would have a favor to ask you, Leslie…"
"I'm listening." She smiles.
"Would you mind telling Brittany how well I'm doing after each session? She still thinks I'm a lot more fragile than I really am, and… I…" I trail off. "I just need her to understand that I'm not going to break just because I go for a walk or something like that."
"She's giving you a hard time, huh?"
"That's the understatement of the year…" I sigh. "She just worries so much that she's constantly on my back! And frankly, I don't know how much longer I can take this."
"Well, it's pretty common for spouses to struggle with post-traumatic stress after an accident like yours. It can actually take a while before they can get out of the emotional distress they were in at the time of the ordeal." Leslie says. "Has Brittany talked to anyone? A professional, I mean."
"No…" I shake my head. "She doesn't even acknowledge that she's struggling…" I say. "She dismisses it every time I even so much as hint at it… She just turns the argument against me, saying that if I was more careful during my recovery, she wouldn't have to worry so much." I sigh. "She talks about me like someone who is out of control, but the truth is that she overreacts all the time! She scolds me even when I just take two steps in the garden!"
"I see… Well, we could try to involve her more in your recovery process. That way, she will see with her own eyes that you're doing better… For instance, we could ask her to join us in the pool and help with your aquatic exercises?" Leslie suggests and I immediately nod in agreement.
A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER (EVENING TIME) – AT THE BEACH HOUSE
The kids are long asleep but the grown-ups are still in the garden, chatting at the table. Everyone is having wine, except me. I will only have my checkup in a few days, and until then, I'm still not allowed to drink alcohol.
Brittany offered to stay sober with me, but I insisted she drinks along with the others. Even though today's therapy session in the pool helped, I still find her a bit on edge and I really hope alcohol will help her relax a little…
LATER THAT NIGHT
"Hey! What are you doing?" I ask Brittany, as I spot her in the kitchen on my way back from the bathroom.
"Oh, they sent me fetch another bottle of wine." She says. "And I've decided to pour myself a glass right now, before our dads drink it all…"
"Right…" I chuckle.
"It really sucks not being allowed to drink…" I eventually admit.
"Well, you can't drink but you could taste…" She shrugs, making me frown in confusion.
"What?" I ask while she's taking a sip.
"Here…" She says and cups my cheek, pulling me into a kiss before I can even react.
Her bold move takes me aback for a couple of seconds but as soon as I feel her soft tongue caressing mine, I forget everything else. Her mouth tastes like wine and… Oh! That's what she meant by "you could taste." I get it now!
"Wow…" I whisper when she pulls away, trying to catch my breath. "I might need you to remind me again later how wine tastes…" I add, making her smirk.
"Don't worry, I will make sure to remind you plenty…" She winks, before walking back outside.
Well, at least, she's flirting with me…
EVEN LATER – IN THE GARDEN
Whitney is telling us a funny anecdote from the time she was a student, making everyone bursts into laughter every two minutes. They're all a bit drunk by now and talking so loudly that I'm worried they might wake up the kids… I hope not, because I really don't feel like getting up right now!
Britt had me sit on her lap a while ago, her hands resting on both of my thighs to keep me steady. Every now and then, I feel her kiss my shoulder, but I find myself particularly distracted when her fingers start tracing patterns on my bare thighs.
I know that sadly, we won't have sex tonight. But I hope we will soon, because I'm really longing for her touch all over my body…
THE NEXT MORNING – AT THE BEACH HOUSE
"San, honey…" I hear Brittany's soft voice while I'm still half asleep, my head resting on her chest and my arms hugging her sides.
"I have to get up…" She says in the same sweet tone and I just grunt in response. She's so comfy that I don't feel like moving at all. "The kids are going to wake up soon." She adds.
"So…?" I mumble. "That's why we have 5 grandparents in the house, I'm sure someone will take care of them." I say, my tiredness preventing me from articulating properly.
"I guess, but…"
"Just cuddle with me…" I plead in a sleepy voice, cutting her off. I really need these sweet and peaceful moments with her, because the only time of the day she doesn't scold me is basically when we're in bed.
"Alright…" She eventually says and presses her lips against my forehead, hugging me tighter.
LATER THAT DAY (EVENING TIME) – AT THE BEACH HOUSE
"Okay… Abuela, San, you're up!" Britt says, starting the Pictionary timer.
Abuela is the one drawing but she's so damn slow that after what feels like forever, I still don't even have any hint of what it could be.
Seriously, what the hell is that? It looks like a round "W" letter…?!
"Five seconds left." Brittany warns, after Abuela adds two small circles inside the W.
"Oh, boobs!" I suddenly let out, and Abuela turns to me in shock.
"Time's up!" Britt announces at the same time.
"Boobs?!" Abuela repeats, obviously not believing her ears. "Those are eyes!" She corrects me, offended. "That's the eyeball, and there…" She says, pointing at one of the small circles. "… is the actual eye."
"Oh… eyes." I say, squinting. "Well… In my defense, they totally look like boobs! You even have the nipples and everything!" I argue.
"No, they don't!"
"Abuelita, I'm a big fan of boobs! Trust me, I know what I'm talking about…" I argue, while she rolls her eyes.
"Guys... be honest, who else here thought she was drawing breasts?" I ask, looking around me.
Brittany and our dads immediately raise their hands, eventually joined by Whitney. I'm sure my mom thought so too but she probably doesn't want to upset Abuela even more.
"You're all a bunch of perverts…" Abuela mumbles between her teeth, before sitting down on the sofa, her arms crossed.
How ironic from the woman who made me buy slutty lingerie…
A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER (EVENING TIME) – AT THE RESTAURANT
Patrick arrived in Hawaii yesterday and this year, he's staying in the house right next to ours. He came by earlier with his kids to say hi, and Sofia was so excited that she literally threw herself at Leo and Lily. I'm so glad my little girl gets to see her summer friends again!
In order to catch up with "blue shorts", Brittany suggested to take us all to her favorite restaurant, the one we loved going to last year. That was the first time my parents and Abuela ate there but they were very pleased with the food and the setting, just like all of us.
As usual, the staff opens the dance floor right after dinner and I immediately turn to Brittany, who is sitting next to me.
"Do you want to dance?" I ask her, thinking that this is the perfect opportunity to share a romantic moment together.
"You know you shouldn't dance, San." She replies in a serious tone, immediately making me pissed. I thought she was getting better – since she let me cook the other day – but I guess I was wrong, because now, I can't even dance?! Where does she even get all these rules from? The doctor never said I was not allowed to dance!
"You don't want to tire yourself." She says.
"But it's a slow dance, Britt! How tiring can this be?" I argue while she sighs in exasperation.
"You're not dancing, Santana." She simply says, making it clear that it's not even up for debate.
"Would any of you ladies care to dance with me?" Patrick suddenly asks at the exact same time, glancing at the women of the family.
"I would love to!" I immediately volunteer, having more than enough of these stupid restrictions.
"Wonderful!" He smiles.
"What do you think you're doing?" Brittany whispers, clearly not happy.
"Well, since my wife won't dance with me, I'm going to dance with our friend instead." I whisper back, holding her gaze in a defiant way until I get up to join Patrick.
BRITTANY's POV
I watch Santana take Patrick's hand and walk towards the dance floor, in disbelief. I'm so angry right now that I can literally feel the smoke coming out of my ears! It figures that once again, she would do exactly what she wants, regardless of the consequences on her health!
"Excuse me…" I eventually say, leaving the table to go calm down.
I have not even been by myself for two minutes when my mom joins me.
"Everything okay, sweetie?" She asks, obviously concerned.
"No." I shake my head. "Nothing is okay…"
"You're not jealous of Patrick, are you?"
"What? No!" I frown.
"Then, what's the problem…?" She asks, rubbing my arm in a comforting way.
"The problem is that I'm trying to keep my wife safe after the terrible accident she got in, and she keeps doing the exact opposite of what she should be doing!" I say, raising my hands in frustration. "I tell her to rest, she works on her scripts! I tell her not to dance, and… just look at her!" I add in an irritated voice, pointing at Santana, who is still dancing with Patrick a few feet away. "She did it on purpose!"
"I know you're just looking out for her, honey, but… don't you think you might be a little too hard on her…?" She asks, much to my surprise.
"Don't tell me you're taking her side?" I say, offended.
"It's not about taking sides, Britt… But since we're all staying in the same house right now, I have seen how you act you around Santana and… I don't know if you realize it, but honey, you're constantly telling her what to do, or not to do." She says. "And honestly, I think she has tried really hard to keep it to herself for your own sake, but the more you push her, the more she's going to do the opposite." She shrugs and I remain silent, because I know she has a point. "She's not in the same state as when you saw her in the hospital, sweetie… She has come a long way since then! I've watched her and she's been doing everything to get better: she takes her medication, she puts the work requested by the therapist, she doesn't drink alcohol… All that must be hard enough as it is, without you adding an extra layer to it. She's on holiday, let her live a little…" She shrugs. "And you're on holiday too, Britt! You don't have to be constantly on edge like this. Let yourself live a little…" She adds, squeezing my hand.
"You really think I'm too hard on her?" I eventually ask, calmer.
"Yeah." She nods. "It's just a dance, Brittany… Nothing bad is going to happen! And I'm sure she would rather dance with you than Patrick."
A FEW MINUTES LATER – AT THE RESTAURANT
"May I cut in…?" I ask as I join Santana and Patrick on the dance floor.
"Oh, of course!" Patrick says, stepping away from Santana. I give him a grateful closed mouth smile before he walks away.
"Is that okay?" I ask Santana timidly.
"Yeah…" She nods in an encouraging way, but I can feel the awkwardness between us.
I gently wrap my arms around her waist while she wraps hers around my neck, and start moving my feet. The atmosphere is so heavy right now that we don't even dare look at each other.
"I'm sorry…" I eventually say after a minute, reflecting on my mom's words.
"I'm sorry too…" She replies and our eyes finally meet.
I was so preoccupied with her well-being that I had not even noticed how beautiful she looks tonight. Her hair style, her makeup and her dress are just perfect… Her cheeks have even gotten fuller, which I'm guessing is thanks to Abuela's cooking.
My eyes eventually flutter to her mouth and I suddenly feel an irrepressible desire to kiss her. So, without saying a word, I timidly lean in and capture her plump lips between mine. As she kisses me back, I pull her closer to me. It feels so good to hold her tightly in my arms, I realize I don't really do that anymore these days, except when we cuddle in bed.
"We need to talk about this, Britt…" She eventually says with concerned eyes once our lips part.
"I know…" I sigh, nodding. "Just not tonight, please…" I plead. "I don't have the strength to discuss it yet…"
"Okay…" She eventually nods in understanding, before resting her head on my shoulder.
THE NEXT DAY – AT THE HOSPITAL – SANTANA's POV
Brittany and I are sitting in Dr. Beaumont's office, after I spent the whole morning taking a battery of tests for my checkup.
"So… Santana, I have examined your test results from this morning, and I have some good news!" The doctor says. "Your spleen has fully healed, so you can resume your normal habits."
"Wait, are you telling me that I can finally lift my children and carry them in my arms?"
"Absolutely."
"Even my 5 year-old?"
"Yes." He nods in confirmation and I immediately smile big. I seriously can't wait to go home and pick up the kids!
"Does that mean I can also drink alcohol?" I ask.
"You can drink and eat all the same things you did before your accident." He smiles.
"Is that really safe?" Brittany asks, obviously concerned.
"Completely safe." He nods. "The tests show that your wife's spleen is as good as new!" He adds and I can hear Britt sigh in relief.
"Now, as you know, it takes longer for the lungs to recover." He says. "But you're making excellent progress, Santana." He adds in an encouraging voice, looking at me. "As a matter of fact, your lung capacity has increased a lot in the past week, judging by the report of your therapist. So, just keep it up, and I promise you will make a full recovery."
"What about her heart?" Brittany asks.
"Well, the EKG is normal." He says. "Santana's heart is strong, and regular."
LATER THAT DAY – AT THE BEACH HOUSE – BRITTANY's POV
I can't stop smiling as I watch Santana take the kids in her arms one after the other, giggling together and giving each other too many kisses to count. It's obvious she's been waiting for this moment for a long time…
"Okay, I hate to be the one interrupting the fun, but it's time to wash the sand off of the little guys… My parents are almost ready with lunch." I say.
"Can I give them their bath?" Santana is quick to ask, obviously eager to take care of it herself. It's one of the things she was forbidden to do in the past few weeks, since it required lifting the kids.
"Oh, um… sure!" I say, struggling to get used to this new routine. "Well… I guess I'll go see if my parents need any help." I add, taking a few steps towards the kitchen.
"Not so fast, mommy!" Santana suddenly says, making me turn around. "Don't you think you're forgetting something?"
"What?" I frown in confusion.
"Where's my kiss? Everyone else gave me one!" She protests, crossing her arms.
"Right, sorry!" I chuckle, walking back towards her to place a soft kiss on her lips.
LATER THAT DAY – AT THE BEACH HOUSE – IN THE GARDEN
"So, I was thinking…" Santana says, as we get into the hammock for our afternoon nap. "Dr. Beaumont gave us such great news today that it calls for a celebration, don't you think?"
"Oh, um… sure! What do you have in mind?"
"Well, honestly, I'm dying for a glass of wine! And I can't think of a better person than you to share my very first post-surgery drink with…" She smiles. "Besides, it's been a while since we did something fun just the two of us… So, what do you say?" She asks, raising hopeful eyes towards me.
"I would love to…" I nod, which makes her smile big in excitement.
EVEN LATER (NIGHT TIME) – AT THE WINE BAR
Santana and I decided to go to a wine bar recommended by Patrick and I must say that it doesn't disappoint. It's cute and cozy, and we even managed to get a table on the outside wooden terrace that overlooks the ocean.
"So, what should we toast to?" I ask, as the waiter brings us our glasses of wine. "To your good test results? To your rekindled love story with wine?" I add, making her chuckle.
"You're my only love story, Britt." She says, making me blush. "How about we toast to my renewed spleen?" She suggests.
"Okay… To your renewed spleen!" I say enthusiastically, clinking my glass against hers.
"Oh, God… I really missed wine!" She says after taking a sip.
"And luckily for you, they served us a good one!" I smile.
"Thanks for coming with me…" She says, taking my hand in hers.
"I wouldn't have missed it for the world…"
"I also really missed date night with you…" She confesses, staring into my eyes while gently rubbing her thumb on the back of my hand, making me feel all fuzzy inside.
"Me too…" I admit. "You look beautiful, by the way! Is that a new dress you're wearing?"
"Oh, yeah… I bought it the other day, when my mom took me to the mall. I showed it to Sofia and she approved, saying you would like it."
"She was right, I love it…" I say in a flirty tone, my eyes not leaving hers.
"Maybe I should go shopping with her more often." She chuckles.
LATER THAT NIGHT – AT THE BEACH HOUSE – SANTANA's POV
Today has been a really good day! First, I didn't expect Dr. Beaumont would tell me my spleen had fully healed, but obviously, that was a very pleasant surprise. And I'm glad Brittany was with me, so she could hear that I was recovering well.
I also finally got to take care of my kids and play with them, just like before my accident. The evening was the cherry on top, with a long awaited date with my Britt.
But what's happening right now is completely exceeding my expectations! As soon as we got home to a sleeping house, Brittany started to kiss me out of nowhere and led me to our bedroom without even parting our lips.
I don't know if it's because of the wine – since she's the horny drunk type – or because she finally managed to relax after my good test results, but she seems really into me right now, considering how passionately she's kissing me, gently pressing me against the wall of our bedroom.
"I want you so bad…" She whispers in between kisses, her hands wandering all over my clothes. I can't even answer that I want her too because her tongue slips back into my mouth, making me hum against her lips.
Still kissing me, she makes me walk backwards to the bed and gently lays me down on it. Her lips eventually move to my neck, which sends tingles all over my body, and I kind of regret not wearing the slutty nightie Abuela made me buy the other day. But that's quickly forgotten when Britt tugs on the neckline of my dress and places open mouth kisses right along the contour of my bra.
She caresses my belly through the fabric of my dress and eventually lifts up my skirt. She smirks when she sees that my underwear is already wet, before kissing my bare thighs. I can't help but moan her name as her mouth gets real close to the edge of my panties. Her lips eventually leave my skin, and she helps me sit up, to take off my dress. But right as she lifts the dress above my head, I see her freeze in her spot, with a shocked look on her face.
"Britt…?" I say, wondering what's going on. But she doesn't even seem to hear me, her eyes still set on my belly. And that's when I understand.
"It's just my surgery scars, honey… It will fade away." I say in a soft voice, caressing her cheek. I had forgotten she had not seen them yet, since we haven't been intimate lately and I always wear a one-piece bathing suit on the beach, mainly so the kids wouldn't get scared.
She's still not looking away from my belly and I hear her breathe increasingly fast, making me wonder if she's having a panic attack.
"Brittany…" I say again, lifting her chin to make our eyes meet. "I'm okay, honey. You heard what Dr. Beaumont said earlier: my spleen is as good as new." I remind her to reassure her, but that doesn't seem to help.
"You died…" She eventually whispers in a shaky voice, before bursting into tears.
"Hey… come here…" I say in my softest voice, pulling her into a tight hug.
She's crying hard in my arms, clinging to me as if her life depended on it. God, it really kills me to see her in so much pain… But that also confirms what I have been suspecting all along: she's still traumatized by what happened… And maybe even more than I thought. Which means that this time, we have to talk…
TO BE CONTINUED...
A/N: Before asking you what you thought about this update, I would like to say a few things. First, my other fanfic, "She knows me too well" is complete, in case you want to check it out. This means that I can now finally focus on one single fic (because updating multiple stories at once was honestly too hard for me). As I mentioned a few times on my social networks, I also need to warn you that I will finish "Tell our story" (there are a few chapters left), but I will not write any more new stories after that.
To be completely honest with you, I started writing these fanfics because it was an opportunity for me to engage with other Brittana fans, which helped me cope a bit better with Naya's sudden passing. It was comforting for me to share these stories with you, and I hope, for you too. But lately, regardless of the reasons behind it, the engagement is fading. I get less and less reviews, less and less views, and I feel that the community is going further and further away, which is simply demotivating for me as an author.
I still would like to thank every one of you who reached out in the past, whether it was through a review or PM, it was very much appreciated. But don't worry, like I said, I will finish this story in any case. And since there are still a few chapters left, it will take a while before we reach the end :-)
But now, tell me, what did you think of this chapter? Was Santana a bad patient? Was Brittany too strict? Did you enjoy the return of Abuela? Please let me know in the reviews, because as the stats module is down, I have no way to check if my chapter is being read. Thank you and until next time!