"Q's napping so how about I keep you company?" Santana slipped into the booth grabbing one of the sandwiches from the tray in front of Mercedes. She'd showered and changed into a simple sweater and jeans combo for the flight home. "How about you sing for your supper." Mercedes said taking the sandwich away from Santana and putting it back on the tray. "I usually sing with the band for a warm up, but I have to catch up on my work since I've been hanging with you girls, so tag, you're it." Mercedes pointed to the stage where the band was setting up.
"Oh this is bullshit." Santana muttered standing up, "You're lucky I love you."
"I know, now go play nice." Mercedes shooed her away so she could concentrate on her work and her end of helping Millie expand the food pantry and meal donations.
"Any song?" Santana asked climbing the steps to the stage with assistance from the guitar player.
"Obviously something they know." Mercedes rolled her eyes without looking away from her laptop.
The band knew Santana, they had been with Mercedes since she opened the place, not only did they know that Santana could sing they knew what she preferred and what would be best for the dinner crowd.
"You start, I'll jump in." Santana said standing behind the microphone stand.
"That's not Miss Mercedes." Unique tilted her head as they stepped through the door, Marley could hear it, she knew who it was, she'd heard her sing before. Grabbing Brittany's hand she quickly tugged the tall blonde through the door so she could see. Brittany -gasped seeing Santana on stage, Tina grinned watching Brittany trip on a chair because she was distracted by her girlfriend singing. Guiding Brittany to the table Marley slipped in the booth first making sure Brittany didn't fall when she tried to sit. Tina and Unique sat on the other side of Mercedes.
Finishing up Santana gave a slight bow of her head at the sound of polite applause "Thank you for tolerating me, I know your usual dinnertime entertainment is a powerhouse." she nodded in Mercedes direction busting into a smile at the sight of a flabbergasted Brittany, looking back to the main floor Santana said "Here's one I think you'll like." leaning Santana held the mic away from her mouth as she requested from the piano player "Do you know Songbird?" nodding he stood up pulling a songbook from his bench. "When you're ready." putting the mic back on the stand Santana gave Brittany a shy smile mouthing 'For you', listening for her cue she began singing her version of Fleetwood Mac's Songbird.
Lower lip quivering as she softly smiled Brittany's eyes never left Santana as the Latina softly serenaded her, it was different from when they were dancing together and Santana sang along with the random songs that Brittany had on her phone, this was emotional, Brittany could feel it, hear it in Santana's voice. It made her feel like the only person in the room.
Santana could own the stage, command every eye in the room but she remained standing behind the microphone stand sounding ever so sultry as she sang for her girlfriend.
Santana stepped away when the music stopped nodding to the piano player "Ladies and gentlemen Santana," he gestured to the Latina as she stepped off the stage helped by Shane, the dinner crowd politely applauded. "that concludes our set for the evening, thank you and enjoy your meal."
Clearing her throat as she approached the table Santana stopped in front of Brittany, taking her thumb Santana brushed a stray tear from her girlfriend's cheek softly saying "Hi."
"That was beautiful." Brittany murmured, leaning down Santana softly pressed a kiss to Brittany's lips.
"How about you two take that table over there." Mercedes pointed to a small table for two, "Go," she shooed the duo away "have alone time."
Taking Brittany's hand Santana went to the roped off table in the other corner, Mercedes nodded to the security guard to let them pass.
"I know we haven't had dinner at a fancy place, but if you ask I will take you anywhere you want to go." Santana pulled out Brittany's chair for her, pushing it back in once the blonde was seated.
"I don't need fancy," Brittany shook her head explaining "you just take me to your places and I'll take you to mine."
"Learn about each other through food and weekend trips?" Santana asked amused at the thought.
"I mean this trip I learned you were blonde." Brittany shrugged "I need to see pictures because I'm sure you were hot."
"Of course I was." Santana grinned. "Have you always been blonde?"
"Yes." Brittany nodded reaching across the table to take Santana's hand. "Aside from here, where's your favorite food place?"
"Usually little mom and pop places, that's where we found Millie but the owner was a complete ass hat so we were going to get her a place but Mercedes snatched her up first." Santana explained. "Speaking of, our food's here."
"Good evening, Miss Millie sent this over." the waitress smiled putting the sampler plates on the table.
"Thank you." Santana gave the waitress a polite smile before nodding to the kitchen door where she saw Millie peering out, mouthing 'Thank you' Santana returned her attention to Brittany. "So what do you think of New Orleans, I'm sorry I didn't show you around."
"That's okay, I know you had to help Mrs. Rose, I...I was wondering if you could help Pierce do the same thing, I mean he likes to help the people."
"If it's something he wants." Santana promised "We can talk to him when we get back home, but right now," she picked up Brittany's hand bringing it to her lips, kissing Brittany's knuckles Santana whispered "it's just you and me." And true to her word Santana remained focused on only Brittany during their meal, she knew if there was trouble Mercedes would let her know. "Any allergies?"
"None that I know of." Brittany shrugged.
"Try this?" Santana held up a nugget of fried dough.
"What is it?" Brittany eyed it.
"Gator bite." Santana gave a nervous smile.
"Gator?" Brittany blinked at the dough ball in between Santana's fingers "As in alligator?" Santana nodded "What's it taste like?"
"Not chicken?" Santana offered, giving a chuckle Brittany leaned taking a bite, popping the rest in her mouth Santana watched Brittany for her reaction.
Swallowing Brittany shrugged, "It's not bad." pointing at another item on the plate she asked "What's that?"
"Crab stuffed mushroom." Santana picked up two handing one to Brittany.
Santana and Brittany remained on their date until the restaurant closed down for it's shift to night club, Quinn rubbed her eyes stepping in club carefully avoiding the staff as they moved the tables to clear the floor for dancing. "So we're all packed and ready to go," Quinn said joining the girls at Mercedes table "and once we have everything set we'll send the plane for you guys so you can visit for Brittany's party."
"And meeting your soul mate?" Mercedes asked.
"I'm not sure how to even 'meet' him myself." Quinn admitted.
"And the no sleeping with everyone might make him a bit stand offish to even making a move." Santana added. "Sorry."
"How about the truth, like you want me to do." Mercedes suggested.
"Let's just see how it goes." Quinn shook her head.
They were on the plane relaxing when Tina asked "Won't he be able to feel it? The connection I mean?"
"Not everyone understands what it is, you didn't," Quinn reminded. "and since we met before and I didn't say anything, he may not believe it."
"But he's a god..."
"Gods lie all the time." Santana said not realizing the venom she'd used until she felt all three sets of eyes on her. "We lie to the mortals on a daily basis, I get some lies are to protect but others are just to keep their asses out of trouble."
"She's not wrong, my mom's birth is a lie." Quinn said quietly "Zeus isn't her father, Uranus is."
"As in the father of the Titans?" Tina asked, Quinn nodded. "The father of the titans?" Tina repeated in disbelief.
"It's like a telenovela." Santana admitted. "Read any myth from any culture and you'll see how they are like the modern soap operas and novelas, betrayal, lust, love and family."
"Chaos." Quinn said sipping her water. "Family implosion, death." Santana nodded agreeing with her sister.
"Yikes." Tina cringed "Okay, so play it by ear then?"
"Yep." Quinn sighed.
