Santana, Brittany and Puck spent the next few days alternating visiting Quinn in the hospital. Santana, who was no longer working, spent most of the day there, then Brittany and Puck would show up in the late afternoon, and Theo, who had only been able to get two days off work, would come back after five. Quinn's mother had arrived late on Saturday, and had barely left the hospital since. She and Theo argued nightly over who got to spend the night at the hospital, since the hospital only allowed one person to stay with the patient. Theo won most of those fights, so Judy wound up sitting in the NICU, watching her granddaughter sleep until she was allowed back in Quinn's room.

A week after her surgery, Quinn still hadn't been cleared for movement, something she'd complained about non-stop every single day since it meant she couldn't go up to the NICU to see Addison, and Addison ended up having to spend a few more days in the incubator than the doctors had first anticipated. So since their first meeting, they hadn't seen each other.

Santana and Judy were the only ones in Quinn's room, since Theo, Puck and Brittany were all still at work. They were helping Quinn plan the final details of the wedding, which at the moment meant picking out favours to be handed out to guests at the reception. Santana couldn't believe how elaborate Quinn's wedding was turning out to be. She thought flying everyone out to Disneyland was expensive, but having a front row seat to Quinn's ideas Santana realised she and Brittany had done the bare minimum.

"What do you think about candles?" Quinn asked, looking up from her laptop. "Everyone likes candles, and we can get them in custom jars."

"That's cute." Santana nodded. "You could put them in mason jars, so people can reuse them even once the candle's done."

"And every time they look at it they'll always remember your wedding." Judy said.

"Yeah that's a good idea." She looked back down at her laptop, typing quickly. "Now I just need to find someone that can make one hundred and fifty custom candles in time." She sighed heavily. "I wonder how much that's going to cost…oh and I need to go through the RSVP list again, to confirm the numbers with the restaurant."

"Quinn…" Judy said hesitantly. "Honey….don't you think you should be taking it easy?"

"I have been taking it easy." Quinn said, not looking up. "I've been stuck in this bed for a week."

"Yes but your blood pressure has been high, the doctors think that's what caused the-"

"I know!" Quinn snapped. "But I'm not pregnant anymore mother."

Judy looked helplessly at Santana. Santana sighed.

"Look Q, you may not be pregnant, but you're still healing. Stressing yourself out won't help."

Quinn finally looked up from her laptop, frowning.

"Do you want to be stuck in here for another week?" Santana asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You have no idea the kind of hell I'm going through." Quinn said, as she pushed her laptop from her lap to the bed.

"No…" Santana acquiesced. "And I know it has to suck," she licked her lips and smirked, "but try having to listen to you complain about it every two seconds."

Quinn narrowed her eyes, but Santana could see she was fighting a smile.

"We're just worried about you Quinnie." Judy said.

"Alright, alright." Quinn sighed. "I'll take it easy, but the wedding still needs to be planned."

"That's why they invented something called delegating."

"I did delegate. I told Theo to pick the outfits for his groomsmen and that still isn't done."

"Did you tell him when to do it by?" Santana asked.

Quinn hesitated. "…No."

"Well then he hasn't failed has he?"

"I need things to get done on time." Quinn said, frustrated. "I don't want to be worrying about this at the last minute."

"I get it bu-"

"And now Addy's a month early, and once we're both discharged we're not going to have time, or even be able to remember the things we need to do."

"Fair." Santana said. "But guess who has a best friend who is no longer working and has all the time in the world?"

Quinn raised a suspicious eyebrow.

"Really?"

"Of course." Santana nodded. "I'm your maid of honour."

"And I would be happy to help as well." Judy said. "I can stay as long as you need me to honey."

"Between the two of us, we'll make sure everything gets done." Santana smiled.

Tears welled in Quinn's eyes, her bottom lip trembling. Santana pressed her lips together, fighting back a laugh. Post-pregnancy Quinn was even more emotional than eight-months-pregnant Quinn and it was very amusing to Santana. The only reason she wasn't laughing was because she had learned from experience that the tears could turn to anger very quickly, and she didn't want to rile Quinn up after just giving her a speech about taking it easy.

"Okay." Quinn took a deep breath and wiped her tears. "Thank you."

"Oh come on, you don't need to thank me Quinnie." Judy said. "Now what I'm going to do is call around, see if I can find someone that does custom candles. Then I'll set up some meetings where we can get a few ideas on design and cost. How does that sound?"

"Good." Quinn smiled.

There was a light knock on the door, seconds before it was pushed open and two doctors walked in. Santana recognized them as the two doctors that had come out to tell them Quinn was going to live.

"Good afternoon." The taller one said, smiling at Santana and Judy, then he looked at Quinn. "Quinn how are we feeling today?"

"I like you Dr. Byrne." Quinn said. "But I'm not going to answer that. You know how I'm feeling."

"Coming down with cabin fever I imagine." The other doctor chuckled. Dr. Byrne picked the chart hanging by Quinn's bed, looking it over.

"Yeah."

"I know it can be hard, but your body went through a very traumatic experience and it needs to rest in order to recover."

"I know." Quinn rolled her eyes. "Everyone keeps telling me that, but it doesn't make it any easier."

"Well then I have good news for you." Dr Byrne grinned, looking up from Quinn's chart. "Your results look good, the nurse has noted that your incision is healing well. Everything looks good so-"

"I can walk?" Quinn asked, sitting up.

"One question." He held up one finger. "Are you in pain?"

"Like she'd say if she was." Santana scoffed. "knowing you're about to give her freedom."

Quinn smiled sheepishly. "If I say yes will you tell me I have to stay put?"

"No." The other doctor said. "It will just determine how much freedom we give you."

"Okay, then a little bit only when I sit up and lie down."

Both doctors nodded, Dr. Bryne making a note in the file.

"That's to be expected." He said. "After a C-section your stomach muscles will take a while to regain strength."

"So what does that mean?" Quinn asked.

"It means you are now in the Physical Therapy portion of your recovery." The other doctor smiled. "You'll need to build your strength back up, so a physician will come by once a day for the next few days to help you walk around the ward."

"Yes!" Quinn cried, bursting into tears.

"Oh my god Quinn." Santana laughed.

"Shut up Santana." Quinn wiped her eyes. "Does that mean I can go up to the NICU?"

"Better." Dr. Bryne put her chart back and walked to the side of her bed, placing his hand gently on Quinn's arm. "She's coming down."

"What?" Quinn chocked.

"She's done her time, just like her mama, and she's done great. The pediatric surgeon wants to take her out of the incubator."

"Oh my god." Judy said, grinning from ear to ear with tears in her eyes as well. "That's amazing."

"Thank you!" Quinn sobbed, pulling the doctor into a hug.

"You're welcome." He chuckled, patting her back.

"She'll be in here for a day or two, so nurses can observe how she's doing without the incubator, and if all goes well, she'll be discharged." The other doctor said. Judy stood up, and hugged him as well.

"Thank you so much for taking care of my girls." She said.

"Of course." He said, looking slightly awkward.

"Okay Fabray women." Santana said, standing up as well. "Release the poor men."

Judy and Quinn let go of each doctor.

"Sorry." Quinn blushed.

"Not at all." Dr. Bryne said reassuringly. "This is the best part of the job."

"When is she coming?"

"An hour or two? A nurse will come by with some paperwork for you, and as soon as you sign them she'll be brought down."

Quinn let out a heavy sigh, shaking her head slowly.

"I can't believe it."

"Just one thing…" the other doctor said. "Remember that you're not supposed to lift anything heavy for about a month."

"So I can't hold her?" Quinn asked, her eyes widened.

"No, you can hold her, when you're sitting or lying down and she's propped on pillows. You just shouldn't lift her."

"I'm sorry." The other doctor said, looking genuinely sorry for bursting her bubble.

"It's okay." Quinn shook her head. "She'll be here, and I can hold her…that's everything I need."

"Good." Dr. Bryne smiled. "Then that's it from us. I'm happy with how you're recovering Quinn."

"Thanks Dr." Quinn pulled him into another quick hug. "Thank you so much."

The doctors smiled, nodded at Judy and Santana and walked out.

"Wow." Santana said. "So she's finally coming down."

"I can't believe it." Quinn grinned. "Oh my god, I should call Theo."

"I'm so happy for you Quinn." Santana said honestly. She knew the pain of being apart from your children, and the relief of finally getting to be with them. With everything Quinn was having to go through, Santana was happy that she no longer had to put up with that at least.

Quinn smiled at her, putting her phone to her ear.

"Babe guess what?" Quinn said when Theo picked up.

Santana decided to let Quinn and Theo have their moment. She left the room, making a call of her own. She hadn't spoken to Malek since the release party, but she'd spent the entire week trying to figure out what to do. Brittany said she didn't care whether Santana fired him or not, but Santana wasn't sure if she really believed her. It felt like Brittany was trying to make up for telling Santana to fire him the first time, when it had felt like she was saying she didn't trust Santana.

A part of her hoped Malek didn't answer, because truth be told Santana still didn't know what she wanted to do. She was angry with him, in a way she hadn't been able to process much since he'd kissed her because of what had happened with Quinn not too long after. She felt betrayed and embarrassed, and just royally pissed off, but she was also confused. First of all, he was the best drummer she'd ever had, and an amazing musical director, but second, she just couldn't understand why he'd done it.

Over the past few days she'd been trying to see if she'd actually missed the signs that he was into her. She'd revisited a lot of their moments together in her head, trying to see if she'd led him on somehow, or if their interactions blurred any lines. So far she hadn't been able to find anything. As far as she could tell Malek had kissed her completely out of the blue, and in order to decide what to do with him she needed to know why he'd done it.

Unfortunately Malek answered.

"Hello." He said hesitantly.

"We need to talk." Santana said, keeping it short and to the point.

"Okay…"

"Are you at the office?"

"I am yes."

"Okay. I'll be there in half an hour. Meet me in my office."

She hung up before he said anything more. This wasn't a conversation she was looking forward to having, but it needed to be done. Something wasn't making sense, and whether she fired him or not, it would continue to bother her. Better to get it over with now.

When she walked back into the room, Quinn was still on the phone. Good, Santana thought, that way she wouldn't have to tell her where she was going and hear Quinn lecture her on Malek again. She'd had enough of that to last a lifetime.

"Judy." She whispered, walking to Quinn's mum. "I need to leave. I just have something I need to take care of quickly."

"Okay, no problem." Judy hugged her. "I'll be here."

"Okay. Let her know I went to the office but I'll be back."

"Okay."

"Thank you."

Santana picked her purse, waved at Quinn, who frowned but waved back, and left.


When Santana got to the studio she wasted no time in heading to her office. It would be easy to go looking for Jade or Eve to buy herself some time to think, but she knew the sooner she had this conversation the better. She wouldn't be any more prepared an hour, a day or a week from now. The door to her office was open. She stopped outside, taking a deep breathe. Angry as she was, she didn't want to lose her temper. When she felt calm enough, she walked in.

Malek was sitting in the chair opposite her desk, staring at the wall.

She cleared her throat to get his attention. He jumped, head snapping to look at her.

"Hi." He said.

Santana nodded, but didn't speak. She walked to her chair, dropped her purse on the floor and sat down. The skin around Malek's left eye was a dark brown, evidence of the pounding Puck had given him. Santana hadn't seen Malek since, but she imagined he must have looked horrible if the bruise was still showing a week later. He also had a cut on his bottom lip.

"How are you?" He asked tentatively.

"We're not here to catch up. I need to get back to the hospital so this conversation needs to be quick."

"Right." He looked down. "How is Quinn?"

Santana narrowed her eyes. "Why don't you tell me why you kissed me?"

Malek sighed. "I don't…I'm sorry."

"I don't give a shit." Santana said, feeling herself get annoyed. "I don't care if you're sorry, and don't tell me it was a mistake again because that is bullshit." Malek looked up at her, looking tortured. "That's sexual assault you get that don't you? On stage, with the entire music industry there, photographers, my fami-Brittany?!"

"I know, I know." He dropped his head into his hands. "I'm sor-"

"Don't say you're fucking sorry." She raised her voice. "Why did you do it?"

"I don't know."

"Is Quinn right? Do you…" She hesitated, the words stuck in her throat. "Do you have a thing for me?"

Malek shook his head. "I don't know."

"Oh god…" Santana said, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You do don't you?"

Malek didn't answer, continuing to shake his head. Santana's anger was reaching breaking point. This pathetic act he was putting on was worse than she'd been expecting. She wished he'd just come out and say he liked her, profess his love for her, tell her he was really drunk and wasn't thinking, anything. Yet instead he was quiet, not even bothering to try and explain. She wasn't sure if he was hoping she'd take pity on him or that if he said less he'd be in less trouble, but either way it was doing the opposite.

"You know what? I'm not even sure why you did it matters. I can't believe that you just…you just violated my trust like that. You embarrassed me in front of literally everyone I know. You risked my career, my reputation, my marriage!"

"Santana I never wanted-"

"Shut up!" Santana slapped the table. "It doesn't matter what your intentions were, what matters is what you did, and what you did….Malek…" She shook her head. "What you did was…a betrayal. It crossed so many lines that I don't think can be uncrossed. I haven't been able to bring myself to look at you for a week and now that I am…" She was looking at Malek, someone she'd liked from the moment they met, and who she'd always been happy to have in the studio, someone whose company she actually really enjoyed, she was looking at him and feeling nothing but anger. "Now that I'm looking at you all I want to do is slap you."

"I…My wife died."

Santana frowned, thrown off by the randomness and shock of his statement. Malek wasn't looking at her, he was looking down at the floor.

"What?"

"My wife died." He repeated.

"You.." Santana was confused. "You were married?"

"For five years." He nodded, a small smile pulling at his lips. "My wife was larger than life. She was bold and fierce and tackled every day with this…this fire." He chuckled airily, clearly lost in a memory. "You know people who do something just because they're told they can't or shouldn't?" He peeked up at her. Santana nodded. "That was her. I loved her so much."

"When did she die?" Santana asked quietly, feeling sympathy despite her anger.

Malek took a moment to answer, once again looking down at the floor.

"Two years ago." He finally said.

Santana's shoulders dropped. "I'm so sorry."

Malek shrugged. "I was a wreck. I know people say that but I was really…" he shook his head. "She loved to travel, so after her funeral I just took off. I didn't pay rent, didn't even formally quit my job I just left everything behind."

Santana could understand that. If Britany died and she didn't have kids she couldn't imagine giving a shit about rent or work, or anything really.

"I ended up in Europe, Germany after a while, with barely any money, just kind of wondering around. I spent all my time in bars drinking till I blacked out, getting into bar fights, winding up in hospitals."

"Jeez." Santana breathed.

"I was going to get myself killed, I knew it, and I didn't care at all. Maybe a part of me was doing it on purpose, hoping I would die so I could see her again."

Santana swallowed, feeling oddly emotional. She wasn't sure what this had to do with her and why he'd kissed her, but it was hard to be mad at someone who had been so hopeless and defeated that they thought about dying. She'd seen a glimpse of it with Theo just a few days ago, so she could imagine how Malek had fallen apart. She remembered the look on Malek's face when Puck had accused him of being the reason Quinn was dying and Theo was about to lose everything. He'd looked heartbroken. Now it made sense.

"How long were you like that?" She asked.

"Six or seven months."

"Wow."

"My father in law was the one who came to get me out. He found me in a bar in Germany, I don't even know how. I was seeing double, I remember because he handed me a beer and I reached out with two hands thinking he was giving me two beers, and the bartender told him that's why he'd cut me off. He sat there while I drank the beer, and when I was done he told me it was time to come home. He said throwing away my life like that was the worst insult to his daughter's memory that he could think of, and that if I wound up dead she would never forgive me."

"Harsh."

"I needed it." Malek shrugged. "He left me there, but I didn't drink anymore. I remember crying all through the night, for the first time realising how I was living. I called him after a few days, told him I was ready to come home and he bought me the ticket. I crashed with a friend of mine, who helped me get my job back at the studio I'd been working at in Miami, and…" he looked up at her, tears in his eyes. "It's been two years of me trying to move on from that darkness."

"Why are you telling me this?" Santana asked, dread rising in the pit of her stomach.

"I'm…I don't think I'm in love you," he said "but the fact that I don't know is confusing for me."

"For you?" Santana scoffed.

"After my wife died I couldn't feel anything. Not happiness, not anger…I was depressed. When I got back to my life, I was still depressed. I was numb. Sure I could work, and I could go out for drinks with friends but I wasn't feeling anything. Then I move here and meet you and you're bold and fierce just like my wife. I wanted to be around that, it made me feel close to her.…you make me feel Santana."

"No." Santana stood up, holding her hands out. "Don't say that."

"Santana I'm sorry." Malek pleaded. "I didn't plan on kissing you, and I swear I've never thought about doing it before. I just liked your company and how you made me feel…Like I was alive again. I'm mortified at what I did that night, I wish I could take it back."

"Well you can't." Santana said, her anger returning. "I'm sorry about your wife, I really am. I can't imagine how you even go on after losing her, but I can't be the person that brings you back to life." She shook her head. "I can't have you in my band, knowing that the time we spend together means anything more than work to you."

"Why not? I'm not going to make a move on you or something. I'm not pining after you, constantly wishing you were mine. I made a mistake but why can't we-"

"Why?" Santana asked incredulously. "You kissed me. You didn't just make a mistake, Malek you kissed me on stage. You might not know what you're feeling but kissing someone generally means you're attracted to them, and I'm sure as hell not going to stick around while you figure out whether you are or aren't in love with me."

Malek slumped, shaking his head.

"You asked why not?" Santana picked one of the small picture frames standing on her desk and turned it so Malek could see.

"Because of my wife. Because of Brittany, Malek." She tapped the picture of Brittany for emphasis. "Because I love Brittany so much, and I respect her too much to have that kind of relationship with you, with anyone."

"She wants you to fire me?" He asked dejectedly.

"No. She said she doesn't care."

Malek's head snapped up. "Then…Okay then we can figure this out. I swear I will never, ever do anything like that again."

Santana pursed her lips, studying Malek. He looked sorry enough, and with the story he'd just told her she found she had a lot more compassion for his actions than she would have thought possible, especially given the week she'd spent in the hospital grateful for her best friend's life.

"No Malek." She said, rounding the desk. "We can't."

"You're firing me." He muttered.

"Yeah." Santana said quietly, feeling bad but knowing she had no choice. "There's a lot I can forgive, and we may have been able to work through this if you'd talked to me, but…" she sighed. "You disrespected my marriage, and I would never put Brittany through even a second of having to wonder what your intentions are. I can't work with you when even I don't know whether you're thinking about kissing me or how much like your wife I am. It's not right, for either of us. I mean seriously after telling me that I make you feel alive when nothing else does, am I really supposed to go on tour with you? For months? Leave Brittany here trying to convince herself everyday that nothing is going to happen?"

Malek let out a long breath, covering his face with his hands.

"I'm…." She let out a sharp breath, running her hand through her hair, "I want to say I'm sorry cause of the story you just told me, but I'm really not. You did this, not me. You broke my trust, not me. You made a fool out of both of us and my wife. Think about what would have happened if I'd lost it on stage and slapped you, the rumors that would have spread. People were already talking about us, god…" She threw her hands up. "I told Brittany that it was nothing. That you and I were nothing but colleagues, then you go and do this!"

"I wasn't thinking, I didn't plan it. I'm so sorry."

Santana had to clench her jaw to keep from screaming. She was getting really tired of hearing how sorry he was.

"It doesn't matter." She looked down at the picture in her hands. "I can't put Brittany through all that, the rumors and tabloids and fan theories…not again, and definitely not after this. I won't do that to her. Brittany comes first, always."

Malek nodded, dropping his hands. Santana was relieved to see that he wasn't crying. He just looked tired.

"I understand." He stood up as well. "I really am sorry."

"I know, but that doesn't change anything."

"We had a good thing going. You're one of the best artists I've ever worked for…I shouldn't have messed that up."

Santana shrugged.

"What's done is done." She walked back round her desk, wanting to put some space between them, and the instinct to do that told her she was making the right decision. She would never be able to relax around Malek again. She'd constantly be worried that something she said or how she acted or something as simple as standing next to him, would be reminding him of his wife, making him fall for her. She'd never want to be alone with him and she'd feel guilty if she was, feeling like she was leading him on and betraying Brittany at the same time.

She dropped into her chair.

"Not everyone is meant to be in your life forever."

"Thanks for the last couple of months. They helped me…even if it's over."

"I'm sorry about your wife."

He nodded.

"I guess I'll go…." He jerked his thumb towards the door.

"Yeah I think you should."

He turned, but stopped after just a step.

"How is Quinn?" He asked without looking at her.

"Alive." Santana said. "She and the baby are both alive." He nodded, letting out what sounded to Santana like a silent 'thank god.'

With nothing more to be said between them, Malek walked out.

Santana sighed heavily, feeling like a weight had both been added and lifted. It didn't feel right to fire someone for missing their dead wife, and maybe if she wasn't married she wouldn't have fired him, but she was. Like she told him, Brittany always came first.

On that note she took her phone out of her purse and called Brittany.

"Hey." Brittany said cheerfully. "How's Quinn?"

"Having the best day of her life. Are you busy?"

"I'm doing paper work." She said miserably, Santana could practically hear her pouting. "I hate paperwork."

"I know." Santana chuckled. "Want company?"

"Yeah." Brittany perked up. "You wanna come here?"

"I'm already on my way."

"Cool. Is everything okay?"

"I just need to be with you."


Spending the afternoon with Brittany was exactly what Santana needed. They hadn't been able to spend time together like this in months, and Santana had really missed it. She'd moved one of the chairs from the other side of Brittany's desk, placing it right next to Brittany, and proceeded to be as distracting as she could without actually making Brittany stop working.

"Santana." Brittany giggled, grabbing Santana's hand, which was creeping up her thigh, and holding it in place.

"What?" Santana asked innocently.

Brittany looked away from her computer, raising an eyebrow.

"I would love to lock the door and take advantage of the great mood you seem to be in," her eyes flicked to Santana's lips, which Santana licked, slowly, teasing her. Brittany smirked. "But Syth needs me to send these to him by four."

Santana sighed, pulling back her hand.

"Fine." She said dramatically.

Giggling, Brittany turned back to her computer.

"What are you doing anyway?"

"Urgh." Brittany groaned. "Reviewing dancer's profiles, for potential hires, doing this months evaluations to see who's doing well and who we might have to fire, all the fun stuff." She said with fake enthusiasm.

"Isn't that Syth's job?"

"Yeah but I've been taking on a bit more admin."

"Why?"

"It's the price I have to pay for a lighter workload. If I'm not dancing or teaching then I have to be doing something…"

"Ohh." Santana nodded. "You don't have to do this you know?"

"We talked about this." Brittany looked at her. "You said you get it."

"I do get it, but admin? Britt you did not work your ass off all these years to spend your time behind a desk."

Brittany shrugged.

"It's not that bad, especially when I have great company." She wiggled her eyebrows playfully.

Santana laughed, but reached over to take Brittany's hand.

"Babe I'm serious."

"I know, but it's really okay." Brittany insisted. "Syth was taking over most of my classes so I could be with the kids while you were writing and recording and everything, so it's only fair I do this." She pointed at the computer. "It's not forever. Next month when we're reworking the schedule I'll take on less classes and projects and Syth can take back his boring paperwork."

"Are you sure." Santana asked.

"I'm sure." Brittany nodded. "I have my convention and I'm mentoring Ryan and Kaycee, both things I don't want to give up. Working at the studio is something I can give up."

"Okay."

Brittany leaned forward, gently kissing Santana's cheek.

"Don't worry."

"But you know I'm not really going to be doing anything until July." Santana said. "So you can still teach or dance or whatever."

Brittany chuckled, turning her attention back to her computer and typing quickly.

"Why can't you believe that I want to spend time with our kids?"

"I do! I just know that you love your job and I don't want you to feel like you have to give it up for me. We'll figure something out."

Brittany bit her, pausing in her typing. Santana didn't notice.

"Just because I've gone back to work doesn't mean you have to stop working. I don't think one of us has to be a stay at home parent in order for our kids to be taken care of. I mean people do it all the time, both parents working, and the kids are fine. Maybe we just don't know how to do it because…well you grew up with your mum at home and both my parents were workaholics, but we're not our parents. We can figure out how to do it."

Brittany turned, looking at Santana apprehensively.

"Do you mean that?" She asked.

"I knew it, you want to work don't you?" Santana said with a triumphant smile. "You love dance too much to just sit at home."

"I don't love dance more than you love music."

"Eh." Santana cocked her head. "You might. You've been dancing longer than I've been singing. It's a part of you."

"And I'm not giving it up, I'm just scaling back."

"And I'm saying you don't have to."

"I'm saying I want to!"

"You just asked me if I was serious about-"

"That's about something else." Brittany interrupted. Santana frowned.

"What?"

"I kind of forgot about it, because….well everything went to hell and I had more important things to think about."

"What Brittany?"

Brittany took a deep breath. "Halsey asked me to join her tour."

"Oh!" Santana's eyebrows shot up. "That's great!"

"It's in July."

"Oh…" Santana deflated. She wasn't really sure what to say. Her tour started in July as well, and she knew Brittany knew that so there was no reason to point it out, and she'd just been trying to convince Brittany that their careers didn't always have to take a backseat to each other's. But since having kids neither of them had been on tour at the same time. "Okaaay." She said slowly.

"I don't know if I want to go-"

"Of course you do." Santana said. "It's Halsey. You've always said you'd love to tour with her again."

"Okay." Brittany smiled. "I don't know if I can go, because you'll be touring as well."

Santana nodded. "Yeah it's bad timing."

"Yeah." Brittany sighed.

Santana turned Brittany's chair until her whole body was facing her, then she took both her hands and moved them into her lap.

"Do you wanna go on this tour B?"

Looking right into her eyes, Brittany nodded.

"Then we'll figure everything else out."

"How?" Brittany asked.

Santana didn't know yet, but denying Brittany this opportunity didn't sit right with her. Brittany had been an angel about Malek kissing her, even though she had every right to be mad at Santana, and it reminded Santana that she was lucky to have Brittany. Brittany was amazing, and deserved everything, so if Santana could give this to her, she would find a way.

"We'll figure it out."

"Okay." Brittany smiled.

Santana moved her hand to the back of Brittany's neck, gently pulling her in for a kiss. When her lips enveloped Brittany's bottom one she let out a soft sigh.

"I love you." She mumbled, not detaching her lips from Brittany's. She felt Brittany smile, but instead of saying it back, Brittany tilted her head to the side and deepened the kiss. Her tongue pushed into Santana's mouth, caressing Santana's tongue, then she nipped at Santana's lip, sending a shock of arousal straight between Santana's legs.

Santana groaned, her grip tightening on Brittany's neck.

Brittany kissed her even deeper, barely letting Santana take a breath. Her hands slid up Santana's thighs to her waist, and before Santana knew it was being pulled out of her chair and into Brittany's lap. She let out a shocked gasp, which turned into a moan as Brittany's kisses moved down along her jaw to her neck and her hands moved from her waist to squeeze her boobs.

"Britt." She moaned, tilting her head back to give Brittany more space.

"I've decided to let you distract me." Brittany husked against her neck. Santana shivered as Brittany roughly untucked her shirt, and snaked her hand up her shirt.

"Okay." Santana breathed. The door wasn't locked, and anyone could walk in at any time, but Santana couldn't care. She lifted up enough to swing her leg over Brittany's so she was straddling her. The action sent the chair rolling back, but Brittany's hand shot out, gripping the table to keep them from going too far.

"Hot." Brittany said, once they were stable.

Santana chuckled. She stripped her shirt, tossing her hair over her shoulder and relishing the hungry look in Brittany's eyes. She shivered again when she felt Brittany's slightly cold hands press against the bare skin of her stomach.

"Best distraction ever." Brittany said, before leaning forward and sucking hard on Santana's neck.


With both Quinn and Addison getting the all clear from their doctors, and now that Addison was no longer in the NICU, Brittany and Santana decided to take their kids to visit them. They'd been asking about Quinn since the release party, anxious to meet the baby, and today felt like a good day to take them.

They picked them up from school at exactly three, since the school year was coming to and end Kyler no longer had swimming training, and headed straight to the hospital.

"Mama is Tia sick?" Sophia asked as they got their visitor's stickers.

"No." Brittany said, lifting Mateo into her arms. She didn't want him running around, making noise in the maternity ward. Pregnant women had enough to worry about. "No honey she's not sick, she's just taking some time to rest."

"But why does she have to rest in the hospital?" Sophia frowned up at her. "Can't she rest at home?"

"Remember we told you that baby Addy came a bit too early?"

All the kids nodded.

"Well because she wasn't really ready yet, the doctors had to remove the baby, instead of her coming out…by herself."

Mateo frowned, his whole face scrunching up in confusion.

"How does she come out by herself?"

"Uhhh…" At a loss, Brittany turned to Santana. "Wanna help me?"

Santana and the nurse who was handing Kyler his sticker both laughed.

"Okay." Santana said. "A baby is in their mommy's tummy right?" Mateo nodded. "When they're ready, the mommy comes to the hospital and the doctors give her a lot of pain killers and she pushes and pushes until the baby comes out."

Mateo was still frowning, but looked at least a little less confused. He looked back at Brittany.

"Like poop?"

The nurse snorted, Jesús, Kyler and Sophia all giggled, but Brittany and Santana kept straight faces.

"A little." Brittany said.

"But instead of poop it's a baby, and the doctors catch the baby and wash off all the…" She faltered. "Wash the baby, wrap them up and give them to the mama."

"Okay." Mateo nodded, accepting this explanation.

"Phew." Santana whistled, wiping fake sweat from her brow. The nurse grinned at her.

"Well handled."

"Thank you." Santana smiled.

"You're all set to go." The nurse told them. "Visiting hours end at six, but I know you know that."

Thanking her, Brittany and Santana steered their kids to Quinn's room.

"So if that's the normal way, what happened to Tia?" Kyler asked.

"Tia…she started having her baby while we were still at the party."

"And that's bad?"

"Yeah." Brittany nodded. "It was a little dangerous, because Addy was too little and the doctors couldn't give Quinn any of the medicine."

"Oh." Kyler said.

"So Tia was in a lot of pain?" Sophia asked sadly.

"Yeah honey."

"But not anymore." Santana said, placing her hand on Sophia's head. "When she got here the doctors took Addy out and fixed Tia up, but they just want to keep an eye on her to make sure she gets all the rest she needs so she can get better quickly."

"So she's okay?" Jesús asked.

They stopped outside Quinn's room.

"Yes she's okay. Everyone's okay." Brittany said.

"Okay?" Santana tilted Sophia's head up so she could look at her.

"Yeah." Sophia nodded.

"Now when we go in, first thing all of you do is go wash your hands."

"Why?" Mateo asked, looking down at his hands. "My hands are clean."

"Because Addy is a really small baby, so we can't bring any germs around her."

"Can we hold her?" Kyler asked.

"You wanna hold her?" Santana asked.

"Are we allowed?"

Brittany and Santana looked at each other.

"Um…We'll ask Tia okay?" Brittany said.

"Okay."

Brittany pushed open the door.

Quinn was alone, with a small bassinet by her bed and an even tinier baby inside. She looked up when they walked in, smiling wide when she saw the kids.

"Oh my gooood." She held her arms out, tears springing to her eyes. "Come here, come here!"

The four kids ran up to the bed, hugging Quinn. Kyler had to pick Mateo, helping him onto the bed so Quinn didn't have to bend so low to hug him.

"I missed you four so much!"

"We missed you too Tia." Sophia said.

Mateo knelt on the bed, facing the baby.

"She so small." He said.

"Yeah." Quinn agreed. "But cute right?"

Mateo didn't say anything, instead bending to see Addison closer.

"Are we allowed to hold her Tia?" Kyler asked.

"You want to hold her?" Quinn's voice cracked, the tears that had formed earlier returning with a vengeance.

"Uh…" Kyler looked nervously at Santana and Brittany.

"Quinn you're freaking them out." Santana laughed.

"Don't worry guys Tia isn't sad, she's crying happy tears."

The kids didn't look too sure.

"Having a baby makes you crazy." Quinn told them, furiously wiping her eyes. "And your mum is right, I'm just really happy to see you. I love you guys."

"We love you too Tia." Jesús hugged her again.

"Niki!" Santana snapped. Mateo, who had been inching closer to the baby, poised to poke her cheek, froze. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing?" he quickly retracted his hand.

"Go wash your hands, all of you." Brittany said. Mateo jumped off the bed and the four kids went to wash up.

You need to get that crying under control." Santana laughed, hugging Quinn.

"I know." Quinn shook her head. "I really can't help it."

"Don't listen to Santana." Brittany said, hugging Quinn as well. "You're doing fine." Then she turned to the baby sleeping soundly in the bassinet, crouching over her. "Oooh you're just so cute." She said in a voice much higher than her usual one. "I could eat you up Addy, I really could."

"Don't eat my baby please." Quinn chuckled.

"Just a small nibble." Brittany reached out to take the baby.

"Britt," Santana said quickly, "we should go wash up as well."

Brittany blew the baby several kisses before straightening.

"I'll be right back." She promised the baby, before rushing to the bathroom.

Santana watched her go with an amused smile.

"How did you guys do it?"

"What?" Santana asked.

"Manage to have kids exactly like you."

Santana frowned. "What do you mean?"

"If Niki is not Brittany, then I don't know who he is."

Laughing, Santana rolled up the sleeves of her shirt and made her way to the bathroom, which Kyler and Sophia were now coming out of.

"We're just awesome like that."


On Saturday morning, Santana woke up feeling like everything was okay for the first time in months. She had nothing on her mind. She wasn't worried about Quinn, now that she had her baby with her, she wasn't mad at Malek, trying to figure out what to do with him, she wasn't stressing about finishing her album or overthinking the recording process or hiding anything from Brittany. Everything and everyone was okay.

So she took her time waking up, enjoying the stillness of her mind. When Brittany woke up they lay in bed together, talking about what to buy Addy as a 'congratulations for surviving birth' present, then Brittany told Santana about working with Ryan and Kaycee and how that's been going. They decided that Santana would go with her to France, but what to do with their kids they weren't yet sure.

They heard their kids wake up, but none of them came to their room. There was a bit of noise as they washed their faces and brushing their teeth but then they all made their way downstairs and it was quiet again.

"Wow." Brittany said, sitting up. "It's like they don't even need us."

"And you wanted to have a baby." Santana said, shaking her head. "Do you think we would have been able to sleep in to…" she looked at her alarm clock, "Nine thirty, with a baby."

"First of all," Brittany held up a finger "I didn't want a baby."

"Right." Santana chuckled. "I spent months thinking you did so I forget." She shrugged.

Brittany clicked her tongue. "And second of all, I know it's great they're all independent and stuff, but they're growing up too fast." She pouted.

"Aw." Santana scooted closer to Brittany so she could rub her arm. "Babe…"

"Soon they're going to be teenagers and not even be in the house at all."

"Where are they going to be?" Santana asked with a frown.

"Where were you when you were a teenager?"

"Your house, and now your house is their house so…"

"Santana." Brittany giggled.

"Look, we'll just have to make sure that our house is the fun house, that way all their friends will want to come here instead."

"I guess. What about parties?"

Santana's eyes widened. "Oh my god."

"You didn't think about that did you?" Brittany smirked.

"Our babies are gonna be getting drunk and making out-"

"Stop, stop!" Brittany clamped her hands over her ears. "Don't say that, Mateo is six."

"Almost seven." Santana mused. "Man you're right, they are growing up too fast."

"MUUUUM!"

There was a loud scream from downstairs. Brittany and Santana jumped out of bed, rushing to go see what had happened. They nearly collided with Jesús, who was sprinting up the stairs.

"Mum you have to come quick."

"What happened?" Brittany asked.

"Come and see."

He turned and led them back down the stairs.

Santana's heart was hammering in her chest, imagining one of the other kids had cut off a finger or something.

"Is everyone okay?"

They ran into the back porch, where Sophia, Kyler and Mateo were huddled together, facing away from them.

"What happened?" Brittany asked again.

Mateo turned, his hand pressed against his mouth.

"Urgh." Santana sighed. Of course it was Mateo. "Show us."

"It wasn't my fault." Kyler said. "Sophia told me to."

"Show us!" Santana snapped.

Slowly, Mateo dropped his hand. His mouth was covered in blood.

"Oh my god!" Brittany rushed forward, kneeling in front of him. "What the hell happened?"

"I was making breakfast," Jesús said, taking a step back, "I don't know."

"Niki said his tooth was shaking." Sophia said.

"And Sophia told me to pull it out for him."

"He said he wanted it out." Sophia defended.

Santana went to bend next to Brittany.

"Open your mouth papi."

Mateo complied, opening his mouth wide. They could clearly see which tooth it was. One of his bottom front teeth was bent outwards, sticking out.

Brittany let out a sharp breath, her hand pressing against her chest.

"You gave me a heart attack." She said, sitting back on her heels. "You should have started with that."

"He's okay?" Sophia asked.

"Yeah." Santana gripped Mateo's chin, angling his head so she could see better. "He's fine. The tooth was shaking."

"So I didn't hurt him?" Kyler asked, looking relieved.

"No."

"Why is he bleeding so much?" Jesús asked.

"It bleeds when you pull out a tooth buddy." Brittany said, standing up. "It'll stop in a minute."

Mateo began playing with his tooth, pushing it back and forth with his tongue.

"Don't do that." Santana said.

"Can you take it out." He asked, without closing his mouth.

Santana reached into his mouth, trying to grip the tooth with her thumb and index finger, but she couldn't get a good enough grip to yank it. She was also worried about her nails scraping his gum.

"Uh babe, are your nails shorter than mine?"

Brittany looked down at her nails.

"Yeah I think so."

"You do it then." She stood up and backed up to give Brittany space.

Brittany had no better luck than Santana. Their fingers were just too big for his tiny teeth.

"We could always tie it to a string." Santana said thoughtfully. "Yank it out."

"Ky you were able to hold it?" Brittany asked.

"Yeah." Kyler nodded.

"So why didn't you take it all the way out?"

"Sophia screamed." He scowled at her.

"There was blood." Sophia pointed at Mateo's mouth. "I thought he was doing something wrong."

"Did it hurt Niki?" Santana asked.

Mateo, who was once again playing with the tooth, shook his head.

"Okay, then go ahead Ky."

"I take it out?"

"Yeah."

Mateo opened his mouth wide again.

"Don't scream again." Kyler said to Sophia as he walked up to Mateo.

It took a moment, but finally Kyler gave a sharp pull and the tooth came free. Sophia hissed, covering her own mouth, which amused Santana because Sophia knew from experience that taking out a tooth wasn't painful.

"There." Kyler placed the tooth in the palm of his hand and held it out for Mateo to see.

"Coool." Mateo grinned.

"I'll get you some cotton wool." Brittany said, walking into the house.

"It's so small." Mateo said.

"They're called baby teeth." Jesús laughed. "Of course it's small."

"Let me see." Santana said. Kyler turned to show her the tooth, but she shook her head. "No not the tooth. Papi come here." She beckoned Mateo to her. "Open up."

The space where his tooth had been looked just like the twins' and Sophia's had when their teeth had fallen out, so Santana assumed no damage had been done.

"And you're not in pain?" She asked just to make sure. He shook his head. "Good."

"Here you go." Brittany returned, holding a small piece of cotton wool. "Put this in the hole, to help it stop bleeding."

Mateo took the cotton wool and pressed it into the space between his teeth.

"I'm going to put this in some tissue." Kyler said. "Then you should put it under your pillow for the tooth fairy."

"How much is she going to give me?" Mateo asked, barely understandable thanks to the cotton wool.

"I don't know." Kyler shrugged.

"I got fifty dollars once." Jesús said.

Santana looked meaningfully at Brittany, pursing her lips as Mateo's eyes widened.

"It was his…That was because it was your last tooth Jesús." Brittany said. "You'll probably get five Niki."

"Aaw." He sulked. "I want fifty."

Santana chuckled.

"You're not going to get fifty." Brittany told him.

"You don't know." He said, frowning at her. "The tooth fairy might like me more."

"He's got you there." Santana teased. "You're not the tooth fairy Britt. You don't know how much his teeth are worth."

"Yeah okay." Brittany said, rolling her eyes playfully. "We'll see."

They all made their way into the house. The kitchen was a mess, with eggs, bacon and sausages spread out on the counter, the packet of bread and jar of cinnamon lying open, and vanilla essence uncapped beside it.

"French toast?" Santana asked.

"Yeah." Jesús walked round the counter, picking the spatula. "I was about to put the bread in when I heard the scream."

"Do you need help?"

He shook his head. "But can you sit here while I cook?"

"Of course." Santana smiled and sat in one of the high chairs. Brittany sat next to her.

"I told you they're growing up too fast." Brittany whispered. "Now he's losing teeth?"

"I know." Santana rubbed Brittany thigh.

"How will I know when it's stopped?" Mateo asked.

"Give it five minutes." Santana told him, then to Jesús she said, "Where are the tunes dude?"

Jesús quickly dropped the bread he was dipping in the egg and moved to the Ipad they always kept in the kitchen.

"No, No, no." Santana jumped up. "Don't touch it with your egg-y hands."

Cringing, Jesús went back to the food.

"Niki go put a song please."

Mateo happily went to choose a song.

"Ya basta Jesús, you don't want it to get soggy."

"Okay." Jesús took the bread out of the bowl with the egg and placed it on the pan.

"So other than going to see Quinn and Addy, what do you want to do today?" Brittany asked.

"I don't know." Santana said, playing with her hair. "Can we stay in?"

"Can we go watch Batman at the movies." Jesús asked.

"Batman?" Santana frowned. "Is that a kids' movie?"

Brittany shrugged.

"I don't think it's for kids mijo." Santana said.

"Aw." Jesús pouted.

"Mum it's almost my birthday right?" Mateo asked, pulling the cotton wool out of his mouth.

"Is it bleeding?" Brittany asked. He tilted his head up so she could see. "No you're good."

"Yay." He threw the cotton wool into the bin.

"Yes it's almost your birthday." Santana said. "What do you want to do?"

"Camping." He said instantly.

Santana's mouth dropped open before she could stop herself.

"That sounds fun." Jesús said, plating the toast he'd made.

Brittany looked at Santana, looking as shocked by his request as Santana felt.

"Camping?" She asked. "Like…in the backyard."

"No." Mateo climbed into the chair beside Brittany. "In the woods."

"Can we also go fishing?" Jesús asked.

"Yeah!" Mateo cheered.

"Wait, wait." Santana held up her hand. "You…you want to go sleep in the woods?"

"Yeah." Mateo grinned. "Jordan went camping with her family and she said it was a lot of fun. They roasted marshmallows and made smores."

Santana should have known he got the idea from his best friend. He'd never expressed any interest in camping before, none of their kids had, and it had never occurred to Santana that it would be something they were interested in.

"So can we go?" Mateo asked hopefully.

Internally, Santana wanted to refuse. She had no desire to go camping, or hiking in the woods, or fishing. She liked the comfort and luxury of their home and her bed and the distinct lack of bugs in both. The look on Brittany's face told her Brittany didn't really want to agree either, but it was his birthday and camping was a simple request. She raised an eyebrow, silently asking Brittany. After a second, Brittany nodded begrudgingly.

Santana sighed, resigning herself to her fate.

"Yeah love." She said, despite her mind begging her not to. "We can go camping."