Santana soon realised that whatever Sophia decided to do was of no consequence because Mateo's taekwondo class was only an hour. What Santana was supposed to do with him once his class was done she wasn't exactly sure. She had to go back to work, today especially because Jesus was already there waiting for her, but also because she had three months to get as many songs written as possible before her process would be disrupted by touring.

The sensei at the dojo talked to the parents for twenty minutes after class. Santana tried to listen at first, but the longer he talked the more aware she was became of the clock. She'd been having a pretty good day at the studio today. After letting loose and just having fun with Malek and Jade, they sat down and discussed the idea of the album. She'd ironed out how many songs she wanted to be on it and what the difference between side A and B would be. Just before leaving to get Mateo they'd decided to start on the song that had been begging to come out for months now. She knew she'd be done with it in no time, so it made sense to start with that one.

It hadn't been too bad when the class was actually going on. She loved watching Mateo in the white taekwondo uniform which she'd learned was called a Dobok. He looked adorable following along with the sensei's instructions for each stance and yelling out 'yes sensei' every so often. She'd taken a few pictures and sent them to Brittany, Quinn and then the group chat with both hers and Brittany's parents and even talked to another mother who was there with her son about how cute all the kids looked.

This speech about how it was important for the kids to attend every class on time and in uniform in order for them to really learn the ways of responsibility, honour and discipline was pushing her limits a little bit though. She began to talk herself into just walking out, convinced that since he worked with kids the sensei surely understood that parents had a lot to do. She grabbed her bag as discreetly as possible from under her chair and slowly stood up. She smiled the mother she'd previously talked to and nodded at a few other parents who looked over at her as she crouched down and weaved her way through the parents.

"Mateo ven aqui papi." She whispered loudly as she passed by the kids. They were all sitting on the mat in the centre of the room, some trying to listen to the sensei, others playing as quietly as they could with each other. Mateo was wrestling with another boy at the back of the group. He looked up from his game at hearing her speak.

"Huh?" He asked loudly, drawing even more attention to them. Santana cringed, bringing her finger to her lips quickly and using the other to beckon him to her. "Oh" Mateo waved at the boy he was playing with and ran over to her.

"Go get your shoes" Santana whispered.

"Why are you whispering mami?"

"Cause I don't want everyone to hear me, they're trying to listen to the teacher."

"Sensei."

"Yes sensei. Go get your shoes amor." She turned him round by his shoulders and shoved him towards the crowd of parents. The kids' shoes were in cubbies at the back of the room, where the parents were seated, and Santana was not about to walk all the way back there. Especially not with how her heels were clicking loudly on the floor. Instead, she headed over to the door where the hooks were, and picked Mateo's bag. When she turned to see if he was done she could still see some parents watching her intently. A little embarrassed, she smiled again before quickly ducking out of the room. She'd wait for Mateo outside.

"Mami one of my socks is wet."

Mateo spoke as he opened the door.

"Shhh come here, come here." Santana pulled him away from the door and shut it with her foot. She didn't talk until they were close to the exit.

"Mami who are we hiding from?"

"No one" Santana cast a look over her shoulder before pulling the main doors open and ushering Mateo out. "No one honey. Um, why is your sock wet?"

"I don't know. I took it out of my shoe and it's wet."

"It just got wet on its own?"

"Yeah."

"Let me see."

Since one of Mateo's hands was still in a cast, he was holding his shoes between his good arm and his chest, the other clutching his socks. Santana tried to steal one of the socks from him but he danced away.

"No, no" he giggled. "Okay, it's not wet."

"I thought so."

They reached the car, which Santana unlocked and then opened for Mateo. He threw his socks then his shoes onto the mat on the floor and proceeded to climb in.

When he was in his booster seat Santana helped him with the buckle, making sure it was secure.

"I just don't want to wear my socks mama. Please."

"That's fine love."

She shut his door and made her way to the driver's seat, wondering where she was even going to drive to. Mateo hated being at the studio, though he wouldn't say so if asked. He always got so bored and frustrated since there was nothing for him to do there. Given that she actually had a lot of work to do, she didn't want to keep being disrupted by a whining Mateo.

Sliding into the driver's seat, she turned to face Mateo, who was punching the air with a loud 'haiya!' every few punches.

"What am I gonna do with you love?"

"If you fight me you'll lose, cause now I know taekwondo."

Santana laughed. "One lesson and you already know it huh?"

Mateo kicked the passenger seat, which he was sitting behind.

"Yeah. Sensei said I was a natural."

"I'll make sure not to get into a fight with you then."

With the energy Mateo was displaying, her studio was not an option. She couldn't drop him back at school because that was just stupid, but she couldn't take him home either because no one was there.

"Alright" She sighed, fishing for her phone in her purse. "Let's see what mama's doing."


Brittany didn't notice that the music had stopped playing until she felt Kaleb's hands drop from her waist.

"What's happening?"

She took the opportunity to tighten her pony tail.

"They're calling you to the front desk."

Brittany frowned. "Right now? We're busy."

"It's Santana."

Brittany's frown deepened. She studied Kaleb's face for a second to see if he was joking, then turned and walked to her bag, which was in its usual corner.

"Why didn't she just-" she broke off as she saw five missed calls from Santana. "Oh. I wonder if everything's okay."

"Go check" Kaleb said, making her look up. "We could use a break anyway."

"Okay. I'll just be a minute."

Brittany practically jogged all the way to the front desk, a little anxious about what she'd find. Santana knew she was choreographing today, so it was slightly alarming to find so many missed calls. She spent the whole way there convincing herself no one was injured or dying.

When she pulled the final door open and saw Santana standing with Mateo at her side, all her anxiety washed away. First, Santana looked so sexy standing in her red high heels and short denim dress with her hair falling slightly messily over her face. Perfectly messy. It made Brittany want to run her hands through it. Maybe kiss Santana too. Second, Mateo looked positively adorable in his taekwondo uniform. What topped the whole look off was that he was barefoot. She could just imagine him with a bandana round his forehead like the karate kit, and with the way his hair was overgrown he would look even cuter than he did now. Lastly, seeing Mateo in the uniform connected a few dots for her. His class was done and Santana had nothing to do with him.

They should have probably talked about that earlier.

Still, seeing Santana standing there with her hand on Mateo's head, talking to the receptionist was one of those moments that Brittany was struck with a sense of disbelief. It was like a vision rather than reality, where she saw her teenage self's dreams and then had to remind herself that it was real.

Mateo saw her before she could snap out of her musing. He lurched forward, running towards her, but was pulled back sharply by Santana's hand on the back of his shirt. Brittany laughed as he fell back into Santana's leg.

"Where do you think you're going mister?"

"To mama" Mateo pointed at her.

Santana's eyes met Brittany's as she followed Mateo's finger. She smiled, making Brittany smile, and then let go of Mateo's shirt. Brittany was ready for Mateo's attack, so when he jumped at her with a raised foot, she easily evaded him. She grabbed his foot before it was back on the floor, forcing him to hop to keep balance, and then grabbed him round his waist and lifted him upside down into the air.

He squealed and wriggled, all the time laughing uncontrollably, but Brittany ignored him. She slung him over her shoulder and walked to Santana, who was grinning at them.

"Delivery" Santana said, once Brittany was standing before her.

"I didn't order anything."

"Sorry but this order is non-returnable."

"Well…" Brittany looked at the receptionist as if stumped. "What can I do here? I don't have any money to pay for it."

"Hmm" Santana tapped her chin, looking up. "That's a hard one. You know…" she smirked, licking her lips and looking Brittany up and down. "You may just be one of the prettiest women I've ever seen."

"Oh" Brittany pretended to blush. She looked down and smiled, tucking a non-existent strand of hair behind her ear. "Thank you."

Santana shifted closer to her.

"So how about this. You give me a kiss and we call it even."

"Oh, I don't know if I could…We barely know each other."

"Come on" Santana wiggled her eyebrow, shifting closer still. "We've seen each other around here every time I make a delivery. We're hardly strangers."

Brittany fluttered her eyelashes, smiling coyly.

"That's true."

"So how about that kiss?"

Brittany looked at the receptionist with raised eyebrows.

"What do you think?"

The receptionist, who was clearly trying hard not to laugh, shrugged.

"I think it's a good deal" She managed to say.

Both Brittany and Santana grinned at her, glad that she didn't break the role play.

"See, even your friend thinks it's a good idea."

"Alright" Brittany said, nodding. "Close your eyes."

When Santana's eyes were closed, Brittany put Mateo down. With her now free hands she pulled Santana closer by her waist, one of her hands slipping between the buttons over her stomach. She saw Santana's eyes flutter, but they didn't open, then Brittany closed her own and leaned forward. She tentatively covered Santana's bottom lip with her own, as though it really was their first kiss, and giggled slightly when she felt Santana kiss back just as tentatively.

Santana was the one to pull back, already grinning.

"As perfect as I imagined it."

Brittany shook her head.

"Now that you've had your payment, can I have a real kiss?"

Laughing, Santana nodded. She cupped Brittany's face, tilting it up slightly and then kissed her, deeper and surer than the previous one.

"Hi love"

"Hi babe. So we forgot to plan what to do with this little munchkin huh?"

"Yeah" Santana laughed. "I'd take him but he hates the studio and I actually have a lot of work. I was hoping you wouldn't mind him hanging out here with you."

"No I don't mind. Course not. I am kinda busy though, cause we're choreographing for next week, so I won't be able to entertain him much, but he can totally stay."

"Awesome" Santana sighed. "Sorry for just dropping by, but-"

Brittany shook her head, pecking Santana's lips.

"I saw the missed calls."

"Okay." Santana glanced at Mateo, who was once again practicing his kicks and punches. "I hate to just drop him and run off but I really need to get back to the studio."

"Don't worry about it Santana. I got him, you go write a kick ass song."

"Okay" Santana sighed. "I'm going to go back to work now mijo okay?"

Mateo stopped jumping around the reception, running to Santana's side and clutching her leg.

"No don't go."

"I have to go back to work but you're going to stay with mama and help her come up with cool dances."

"Will you come pick me up?"

"You'll go with mama to pick up Sophia and Kyler, and then I'll see you at home."

Mateo laughed. "They're still at school."

"That's right. Lucky you huh?" She picked him up and kissed him. "I'll see you later okay?"

"Okay."

Without warning, Santana threw him into Brittany's arms. He screamed, clutching onto Brittany's neck.

"MAMI"

Winking at him, Santana blew him and Brittany a kiss before waving at the receptionist and walking out.

"Come on Kung Fu panda, let's go get our dance on."


When Santana got to the studio, she found Jesus in the practice studio with Malek and Jade, singing loudly into the microphone, which was off, as they backed him up. He waved happily at her when she opened the door, but didn't stop singing until the song was done. Santana clapped enthusiastically, cheering and hollering like fans at a concert. Jesus beamed at her, took a bow and then ran to hug her.

"Malek is awesome."

"Already converted my son huh?"

"I thought I should get in every advantage I can. He's got some skill on the drums too."

"I'm taking lessons. Guitar from my mami and piano."

"I guess talent runs in the family."

"That it does."

"Maybe you should headline on tour for us J man." Jade said as she placed her guitar down on its stand.

"Oh" Santana turned to Jesus, grinning. "Guess what?"

"What?"

"I talked to mama and we decided that you can come on tour-"

"I can come on tour with you?!" Jesus screamed.

"Yeah" Santana laughed.

"YES" Jesus jumped around the room, pumping his fists in the air, and when he was tired launched himself at Santana. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. You should thank mama too when we get home."

"I will."

That reminded Santana that they were supposed to call the doctor to set up an appointment to get Jesus' prescription. She checked the clock on the wall for the time.

"I'll be right back."

"Can we sing another song while you're gone?" Jesus asked.

"Yeah."

As she walked out, Santana heard Malek offering Jesus his drum sticks.

Setting up the appointment was easy. She and Brittany had synced their calendars so she and the doctor's receptionist quickly picked a day and time for them to come in. The day was set for the last week of November. Once that was done, she pencilled it into their calendar, shot Brittany a text letting her know and then made her way to Eve's office.

She knocked twice before entering.

Eve looked up from her computer a full minute after Santana had walked in, much to Santana's amusement.

"Did you-Santana?"

"Hey" Santana laughed.

"What…I'm so sorry I didn't know you were back yet. I assumed you'd gone home."

"No. I just needed to drop Mateo off with Brittany."

"Alright. Did you need something?"

"I just wanted to inform you that I've updated my calendar at the end of November."

"Okay" Eve nodded.

"It's just a day but keep the week after it as free as possible alright?"

"Will do." She scribbled something on a sticky note.

"Also, I will need you to email the kids' school. Soph, Niki and Jesus are going to LA net week, and Jesus is coming on tour with me so I need you to let them know."

Eve continued writing. "Got it"

"Ask them to prepare Jesus for a month off school, whether that means more homework or whatever it is before the Christmas break because as much as I'll make him study I don't want too much relying on how much he retains during that period."

"Fair enough. You can't really expect a kid to learn much in that environment."

"Most especially Jesus."

"Right" Eve chuckled. "Unless it's music related."

"Oh! That reminds me, could you line up a few kids' football trainers for me to look into for Ky. I've been informed that my coddling him is making him soft."

"Coddling?"

"That's what I have been told."

"I hardly think you've been coddling him."

"Well, whatever the case, I want to have a chat with a few trainers or coaches, whatever you can find me. Let's see what they have to say about it."

"Strictly kids' coaches yes?"

"Yes" Santana nodded.

"Alright" Eve looked up from her sticky note. "So Jesus is coming on tour with you?"

Santana couldn't help but smile.

"Is it weird for me to be so excited about that?"

"Of course not" Eve chuckled. "He's your best friend."

"He really is. This tour is going to be so fun. I was a little afraid I'd be overwhelmed after so long away but I guess I missed it more than I realised."

"Yeah you and you alone."

"What do you mean?"

Even stood up, rounded her desk and leaned against the other side of it.

"Santana you're the only one who didn't realise how much you missed music. The rest of us saw it at least two years ago."

"Two years?" Santana balked. "How?"

Eve shrugged. "After you took the break, you were definitely happier. You seemed lighter and more excited about life. It was really nice to see. But after some time there was something different about you whenever you'd talk about touring or recording. That's when I first realised you were missing it. You talked about it like you were talking about an old friend and all the good times you had together."

"Hmm" Santana hummed. "That's interesting. Why didn't I feel like I missed it then?"

"You weren't ready."

"To be honest I wasn't sure I was ready even now. Not until today."

"What happened today to make you sure?"

"Malek" Santana grinned. "He's great."

"Hot too"

"Eve!"

"What?" Eve chuckled. "I can say that, I'm not married."

Santana hadn't even been thinking about whether Eve was in a relationship or not. She'd just never imagined Eve thinking about people in that way. She'd always been a mother figure to the entire studio, and it felt a little wrong to know that she thought Malek was hot.

"I…I'm leaving now."

"Don't deny it."

"Yeah he's good to look at but I don't want to think about you…" She broke off, noticing as she had always been able to do, the slight change in Eve's expression. She looked apprehensive and a little guarded, like she was preparing to retreat into herself. Santana wasn't particularly sure why, but Eve seemed embarrassed. "Anyway I'm gay, and married to literally the sexiest person on earth so it makes no difference to me."

Eve's laugh was strained. She didn't meet Santana's eye as she stood up from the desk and retook her seat behind it.

"I'll uh…I'll get started on that email to the school."

Santana frowned. She needed Brittany in moments like these. She was always good at telling what someone was feeling, which was how she'd been so adept at spewing insults that hit just the right nerve, but when it came to deciphering why that nerve was a sore spot, Brittany was the master. Typically, Santana simply didn't care enough to figure out what was wrong with people, but even when she did, it usually took a lot of investigative work. It did not come as naturally to her as it did to Brittany.

"Okay" she said tentatively. "I'll leave you to work then."

When Eve nodded, still refusing to meet her eyes, Santana left the office. She thought through everything she'd said, wondering if maybe she'd said something insulting by accident, but she couldn't see what would have hurt or more accurately, embarrassed Eve like that. She'd ask Brittany later.


If Brittany hadn't called to see where they were, Santana was sure she would have stayed in the studio well past midnight. She hadn't realised how late it was until she saw the time right after hanging up with Brittany. She realised if they left immediately they'd be getting home right in time for dinner.

"¿Por qué no me dijiste la hora?"

Jesus, who was sitting on the back of the couch with his feet on the cushions looked down at his watch.

"No sabia que hora era"

"We have to go, mama is wondering where we are."

"Did she say we have to go now?" Jesus whined.

"You have homework?"

Jesus groaned loudly, dropping his head.

"That's what I thought."

Santana spun once in her chair before standing up and stretching her back.

"We need to be heading out. It's dinner time at home and this young man has homework to do."

Jesus jumped off the couch and hugged Malek.

"Will you be here tomorrow too?" he asked when he pulled back.

"I'm gonna be here every day until the album is out."

"Will you come on tour with us too?"

"Obviously" Santana laughed, playfully tugging Jesus' low ponytail. "He's my new drummer."

"You get new drummers all the time." Jesus smirked. "I wouldn't get too comfortable if I were you" He stage whispered to Malek.

Santana shoved his head, her mouth falling open.

"Go get your bag."

Laughing, Jesus opened the heavy studio door, having to pull with both hands, and made his way to Santana's office.

"Ignore him" Santana turned to Malek, rolling her eyes. "He gets his wit from me, and we don't always have the best tact."

"It's cool." Malek laughed. "It's nice that you guys have such a free relationship. I can't even remember ever laughing with my mum the way you guys laugh together. Not until I was at least 25."

"Yeah believe me I get it. My relationship with my mum pretty much consisted of screaming or the silent treatment."

"Ouch" Malek cringed. "I take it you're not close then."

Santana shrugged.

"We're better than I ever thought we would be. Sometimes I talk to her for a whole ten minutes on the phone."

"Wow." Malek snorted. "Practically inseparable."

"No but seriously, we're not best friends but I like to think we're close. It just wasn't the case when I was a teenager."

"Fair enough. They say it's a rite of passage for a teenage girl to butt heads with her mother."

"I hope that's not true. I have a daughter and I'd rather not go through even a fraction of what I put my mother through."

Santana shuddered at the thought. All the boys, the late nights with no explanations, drinking, drugs and impromptu sleepovers at Brittany's house with no prior warning would surely lead her to a heart attack should Sophia attempt any one of them. All of them, even with Brittany by her side, she knew she wouldn't be able to survive.

"Oh you have a daughter?" Malek asked.

"Yeah."

"How old is she?"

"Nine. She turns ten in November."

"Ten? Isn't Jesus ten?"

"Yup."

Malek stared at her with his mouth slightly agape.

"You have two kids that close in age and a six year old? I can't imagine when they were younger. How old is the fourth one…um…" He bit his lip.

"Kyler" Santana supplied. "Ten as well. He and Jesus are twins."

Again Malek stared at her. Santana laughed at the disbelief on his face. She could imagine him picturing her with basically triplets and a baby, and couldn't blame him for being shocked. She herself couldn't believe that they'd made it past the first two years after adopting Sophia and Mateo. Everything before Mateo's second birthday was a blur to her.

"Now I know why you took five years off."

"Yeah" Santana laughed.

Jesus came through the door again with his backpack over his back and Santana's purse held up in one hand.

"Forgot this."

"Thanks papi. You ready to go?"

Jesus nodded.

"I think you should get a new couch in your office mami."

"Why's that?" She placed her hand at the back of his neck as they made their way through the studio.

"It's old."

"It's not really. I got it just before taking the break-"

"Five years ago."

"Well what do you suggest I do with it?"

Jesus shrugged. "Give it to charity, if they'll take it."

"Ah" Santana breathed.

"I see what you mean about the tact" Malek laughed. As they waited for the elevator, he placed his hand on the small of Santana's back. Santana jolted at the sudden touch, spinning to face him.

"I'm gonna stay a bit, think some things through for us to discuss tomorrow." He said, smiling softly at her.

"Oh okay"

"You two have a safe drive home."

The elevator dinged open. Jesus got in, waving at Malek.

"Don't stay too late." Santana said, walking backwards into the waiting elevator. "We have time. No need to burn out early."

"Eye eye captain" Malek saluted, just before the doors closed.

"I like him." Jesus said.

"Me too." Santana smiled.


After dinner, Santana found she was more tired than she realised. She kissed everyone goodnight after a few minutes of idle chatting, leaving the job of actually putting them to bed to Brittany. She was lying comfortably in bed with her eyes closed and lights off when Brittany came in.

"Are you asleep?" Brittany whispered.

"No."

She felt the bed dip and then Brittany's hand smoothing over her back. She sighed happily.

"So I hear you have a new drummer."

"Oh yeah" Santana yawned as she shifted to face Brittany. "Yeah, Malek. He's my music director."

"Apparently he's the coolest thing since sliced bread."

Santana chuckled sleepily.

"You'll get it when you meet him."

"He's got tattoos and a piercing and dreads that go halfway down his back."

"He's got tattoos?" Santana frowned.

"And rides a motorbike, which apparently isn't a toy like the ones I ride."

Santana cracked an eye open, fighting back a smile.

"You're jealous."

"Yeah I'm jealous! He can keep his dreads and tattoos, but bikes? Bikes are my thing."

Santana laughed.

"He's just someone new. Jesus' infatuation will die in a month."

"Wait until Noah hears there's a male figure cooler than him in their lives."

"You two can form a support group" Santana yawned again.

"Why so tired baby?" Brittany lad down next to her, her hand still rubbing up and down Santana's back.

"I don't know. Did a lot of thinking I guess."

"Yeah thinking is hard work." Brittany chuckled lightly, leaning forward to place a gentle kiss on Santana's lips. Santana smiled sleepily, barely opening her eyes before they fell shut again. "I was doing some thinking today actually."

"Oh?"

Brittany sat up. She brushed the hair out of Santana's face, tucking it behind her ear before speaking.

"I was thinking we should have some time alone before I go to LA"

This got Santana opening her eyes.

"I know you're starting to get busy, and I'm really busy too, preparing for next week, but I'm gonna be gone all week and I'll really miss you….I do miss you. First it was the week of the convention and I was working late….I didn't even have time to take care of you when you were sick-"

Santana sat up, taking Brittany's hand.

"Baby stop feeling bad about that. It happe-"

"I know." Brittany nodded. "But still….First it was that, and now….we only really see each other in the mornings and at night." She played with Santana's fingers, looking down at them. "We don't get to spend a lot of time together and it makes me sad." She said quietly.

"Yeah." Santana agreed.

"So I was thinking." Brittany looked up through her eyelashes. "We could have some us time before I leave…"

"I'd like that."

"Yeah?" Brittany smiled.

"Yeah" Santana nodded.

"So….will you go on a date with me?"

Grinning, Santana pulled Brittany to her by grabbing the front of her shirt as she lowered herself onto the bed. Before their lips connected, she closed her eyes and breathed a happy 'I'd love to'.


The week went by quickly with Santana and Brittany equally busy at work. Every morning they dropped the kids at school and went to work. Jessie would pick Jesus and Mateo dropping them at Santana's studio and taekwondo respectively, stay with Mateo through his class and then go back to pick Kyler and Sophia. They had yet to come up with what to do with Mateo and Sophia while they waited, so they ended up just waiting at the school for another hour.

On Saturday they left the kids with Quinn so that they could go out for their date. They dropped them early so that they could have as much time together as possible, rather than just going out for the night. They cooked lunch together, eating it at the kitchen island as they talked, and then showered and got dressed to head out. Brittany drove, saying she was the one who asked Santana out so she was the one in charge of the night, and took them to a casino forty minutes from their house.

Santana had laughed hard when they pulled up at the entrance.

"Britt are you serious?"

"Yeah" Brittany grinned, getting out of the car and handing the keys to the valet. "It'll be fun."

So they made their way inside. They were tentative at first, unsure how to act or where to go, and seeing as neither of them really knew how to play most Casino games, they found themselves just roaming around, watching other people play.

"Come on, let's get a drink." Brittany said, tugging Santana towards the bar.

They spent a few minutes at the bar, becoming well acquainted with the bartender, before the alcohol loosened them up enough to relax into the scene.

"I think I've figured this game out." Santana said, pointing at the table nearest them. There were only two people seated at it, plus the casino worker who was dressed like a waiter. "Black jack right?" she asked the bartender. He nodded. "Come on Britts lets go try that one."

Brittany and Santana took seats opposite the dealer, one seat away from the two men already playing.

"Just a second ladies" the dealer said, holding up a finger.

"No problem." Santana assured. She was glad she would get the chance to watch the game up close before diving in.

"I don't get it" Brittany whispered to her, as the man at the far end groaned loudly and walked away.

"It's like 21. You remember that game?"

"I think so…"

Santana turned to look at her.

"Not really" Brittany admitted with a smile.

"Basically, you want to draw cards as close to 21 without going over."

"So when we play again you're going to try beat him?" Brittany pointed at the one remaining man.

"I thought so, but that other guy just left, and this one is still playing."

"It's me against the house." The man said, making Santana and Brittany jump. "Sorry, couldn't help overhearing."

"That's okay" Brittany said, smiling. "We're just trying to figure it out."

"Well I just lost, so why doesn't he deal you in and I can explain it to you."

He nodded at the dealer, who shuffled the cards quickly before dealing them out. He placed two cards in front of Brittany, Santana and the man, both facing up, then dealt himself two cards, one facing up, one facing down.

"Okay." The man said. "So from here it's pretty simple. First you need to put down a bet."

"One of your chips" The dealer said, pointing at the chips in Brittany's hand.

"Okay." Brittany put one chip in front of her and one in front of Santana.

"Alright now, you have a 14, the guy told Brittany, and your friend-"

"Wife" Santana corrected.

"Oh" The man blinked, clearly taken aback. "Well…sorry. Your wife has a 17. So you can both either decide to get another card from the dealer or stay with what you have."

"You have a 12. Does that mean I win?" Santana asked.

"No. You're not playing against me. You're playing against the house." He pointed at the dealer's cards.

"Oh so I just have to be higher than him."

"Yeah."

"Well what do you have?" Brittany asked the dealer.

"I can't show until you've decided to stay or push."

"Um…I think I'll stay." Santana said. "I might get a card too high. Anything higher than 4 means I lose right?"

"Right" the man said.

"I think I'll push" Brittany said. "14 is pretty low."

"I'll push as well."

The dealer gave her and the man another card each.

"Yay!" Brittany said as soon as her card hit the table. A second later the man was cursing loudly.

"Wow Britt, I think you win" Santana laughed.

Brittany beamed down at her six, giving her 20. She and Santana turned to the man, who was sipping what looked like whisky from a glass.

He'd gotten a J, which put him at 22, and therefore meant he automatically lost the game.

"Sorry" Brittany cringed.

"Not to worry, I'll have a break in luck eventually."

"Reveal time dealer." Santana said.

The dealer flipped his second card over.

"Yay!" Brittany cheered again. The dealer had a 9 and an 8, giving him seventeen. "I win right?"

The dealer smiled at her, placing a chip next to the one she'd bet.

"What does that mean for me?" Santana asked, once again turning to the man.

"You neither win nor lose. You play another round."

So they did. They played six more rounds, each time Brittany won. Santana won two, and the man won none. He kept his good demeanour though, smiling and laughing with them. After their fourth game he started explaining the intricacies of the game to them. He explained how to decide whether to get another card or to stay and when to walk away.

"So…we should walk away now?" Santana said after the sixth game.

"The one thing you can always guarantee, is that the house always wins. If you play long enough, you'll start to lose. First it'll be everything you've won" he pointed at the small pile of coins in front of Brittany. "Then when you're trying to win it back, it'll be everything you came in here with."

"Okay" Santana nodded. "She tipped an invisible hat at the dealer, who did the same, collected her chips and left, Brittany in tow.

"Let's get another drink." Brittany suggested.

"Would you like me to teach you the other games?" The man asked, following them to the bar.

"I see you were lucky." The bartender said, jerking his head at their winnings as he placed two glasses in front of them.

"Thanks to him" Brittany smiled at their new friend.

"Took them under your wing did you Jeremy?"

"I remember what it was like the first time I walked in here."

"All those eons ago?" The bartender laughed.

"Ha ha"

"So you come here a lot then?" Santana asked.

"Yeah. I'm here every weekend. I take the time to de-stress from work and life and so on. It's my happy place."

"I don't know why, considering you always leave with less money than when you came in."

"I'm not a gambler, if that's what you're thinking." Jeremy said to Santana and Brittany. "I put money aside for my weekend hobby, and I never dip into my actual bank account if I get cleaned out."

"I get it." Santana said. She took her drink from the bartender and sipped it happily. "It's like shopping."

Jeremy laughed. "I…yeah I guess so."

"Why do you come alone?" Brittany was next to get her drink.

"I like meeting new people, and I find that when I come with people I already know, I still think about my life and all the things I'm here to get away from."

"Fair enough." Santana said.

"So, what other games can you teach us?"

They only left because Brittany had made dinner reservations for them at a Japanese restaurant they had never been to before. It didn't feel like they had been there for over five hours, switching between playing the casino games and sitting at the bar with Jeremy. True to his word, Jeremy stopped playing two hours in, claiming he had spent all the money he had come in with. He stayed with Brittany and Santana though, couching them through poker and baccarat, which the two found they really enjoyed. Santana felt like she was in a gangster movie when she was playing poker. There were two men smoking cigars, and another who had rings on nearly every one of his fingers. Everybody was dressed so formally she half expected to be caught up in the middle of a drug bust or something. She loved it.

Brittany's favourite seemed to be blackjack though. After every few rounds of poker or roulette, she would drag Santana back to the blackjack table. Her winning streak eventually did come to an end, but she kept playing none the less. She even managed to get the dealer talking and laughing with her as they played.

Finally though, they said their goodbyes to Jeremy, wishing him luck in his next trip to the casino. Brittany drove slowly, partly because she was a little tipsy but mostly because she was really enjoying herself and didn't want to get to the restaurant so soon.

By the end of the night, Brittany felt warm and content. She drove back to their house with Santana's hand in hers, singing quietly along with the radio.

"I'm really glad we did this." Santana said.

"Yeah, thanks for coming out with me." Brittany smiled at her.

"Thanks for asking me."

"I just realised that I was leaving, and I wouldn't see you for a week….I couldn't stand the thought."

"Yeah. These past few years have really spoiled us huh?"

"Yeah. It was great having you around all the time. I miss you."

"I'm sorry I've be-"

"No don't." Brittany squeezed her hand. "You're busy and it's a good thing cause it means I'm about to get some awesome new music to choreograph to. Plus, I was busy first. I guess I just spent so much time worrying about preparing the kids for you not being around all the time, that I forgot to prepare myself."

"Aww…Britt" Santana leaned over the console, kissing Brittany's cheek. "I love you."

"I love you too. I don't know why I got so emotional about it. Maybe I'm pregnant." She laughed.

She didn't notice Santana staring wide eyed at her.

"Anyway, once I was over being emotional, I realised I could take advantage of my leaving to get some time with you."

"Yeah…good thinking" Santana mumbled, trying to calm down her heart.

"Do you think it'll be as funny to watch Quinn be all hormonal again? Or now that we're more mature will we realise how horrible it all is."

"Horrible" Santana said loudly. "It'll be really horrible. She'll get fat and have stretch marks and won't be able to fit into any of her clothes. Plus she'll be crying one minute and screaming at everyone the next. It'll be a nightmare for her and everyone around her. She'll probably regret it every step of the way."

Brittany pulled the car up to their gate and turned to look at Santana with a frown. She took in the wild look in her eyes and the frantic way she spoke, as if desperate for Brittany to believe her.

"Okay…." she said slowly. "Where did all that come from?"

"Nothing" Santana tried to shrug. "It's just…that's what's going to happen, that's all."

Brittany continued to stare at Santana, trying to understand what was wrong with her.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm just saying. It was funny when we were teenagers cause we were pissed at her and weren't there for her like as friends you know? But now we're going to see her go through it all and feel really bad for her."

Deciding to let it go, Brittany rolled down her window and pressed the intercom.

"Honey I'm home" she said loudly. The red light on the keypad turned green and the gate slowly slid open.

"Honey I'm home?" Santana chuckled. "Really?"

"It makes me feel like the house is welcoming me home."

Once in the house, Santana helped Brittany pack as they drank wine.

"I'm really glad we decided to go to the casino instead of a typical date night thing. Like just dinner or something."

"Yeah that was a really good idea Britt. I had a lot of fun. It was nice to have fun like that together."

"Yeah." Brittany folded the last of her shirts and placed it neatly on top of the pile in the suitcase. "You know, after all these years, you're still my best friend."

"Yeah?" Santana asked.

"Yeah. Like I could go there with Quinn or Kaleb and have a good time, but with you I just….I don't know I just enjoy myself more. I feel sillier and like everything is one hundred times funnier. It's nice after all this time."

Santana put her glass down on the bedside table and crawled over the bed to Brittany. As she passed it she pushed the suitcase from the middle to the foot of the bed before continuing till she was kneeling in front of Brittany. One hand curled around Brittany's neck while the other gently cupped her cheek. When she felt Brittany's arms wrap round her waist she leaned forward until their foreheads were resting together.

"That's everything after all this time."


Santana and Kyler took everyone to the airport the next afternoon. Quinn dropped the kids back first thing in the morning, but nothing really needed to be done since they'd already packed, so they all had breakfast together and then hung out at the house till it was time to leave.

"Are we going in our own plane mama?" Mateo asked as he dragged his small dragging bag behind him.

"No bud. We're going on a normal plane."

When they got to the check in area, Brittany made sure they all had their tickets, which her assistant had printed for her.

"Got them all?" Santana asked.

"Yeah."

"Your ID"

"Got it here" Brittany lifted her wallet from her purse.

"Alright. You're all set then, do all of you have your bags?" She asked the kids. They all nodded. "Okay. Soph honey, I think you should take your meds as soon as you get to the boarding gate okay?"

"Why not now?"

"You still have about an hour and a half before the plane leaves. The medicine only needs about thirty to forty minutes to work."

"Okay."

"You have it don't you?"

"Yeah, you put it in my bag." She removed her bag from her shoulders and placed it on the floor so she could rummage through it. A second later she was pulling out the box of tablet.

"Good girl."

"Everybody say bye to mami and Ky"

Sophia and Mateo hugged them both easily before moving to stand next to Brittany. Jesus hugged Santana longer.

"Don't do too much with Malek while I'm gone."

"No promises" Santana laughed.

"Can we talk every day so you tell me what you did in the studio?"

"Of course papi."

When he pulled away from her, he turned to Kyler, both looking like they'd never see each other again.

"Bye" Kyler choked sadly. Jesus' bottom lip instantly jutted out in a pout.

The two stared at each other.

"We gotta go love" Brittany said gently.

Jesus glanced at her then back at Kyler.

"It'll be okay right?"

Kyler nodded.

"It's only one week."

"It'll be weird not knowing what you're doing all the time."

"You should…You should write down everything you want to tell me so that you don't forget by the time you come back."

Jesus nodded.

"I will. I'll write down everything. You do that too."

"Okay." Kyler sniffed and Santana realised he was crying. Before she could pull him into her, Jesus grabbed him, wrapping his arms around him and forcing his head into his chest so that he could rest his chin on Kyler's head.

"I won't go if you want me to stay. I'll stay with you."

Kyler shook his head against Jesus' chest.

"You'll have fun."

"I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too"

Santana felt heartbroken watching the exchange. The twins had never travelled without each other before, and even though they had gone days without seeing each other before, like the week Jesus was sick and Kyler was at Puck's, she knew this was different. There would be no option to drop by and see each other if they missed each other. She knew it was about more than just being away from each other. Having to say bye at the airport made it feel like a bigger deal.

Kyler finally pulled back.

"Promise to come back for my game."

"Promise" Jesus said.

With a sad nod, Kyler wiped the tears from his cheeks and dipped his head. Jesus knocked his own against it, leaving them connected for a moment before pulling back and looking up Santana.

"Bye mami."

"Bye mi amor. Have a good time."

Still sniffing, Jesus walked to stand with Sophia and Mateo. Sophia took his hand.

Brittany bent down, hugging Kyler tight and whispering in his ear. Santana didn't hear what it was but it made him smile and nod. Brittany placed a kiss on his forehead and then faced Santana.

"Don't pout. You're going to make me cry."

Brittany giggled.

"I think there's been enough crying." She pulled Santana into a hug. "I'll see you on Sunday."

Santana kissed her cheek then pulled out of the hug and kissed her lips gently.

"Kick ass."

"Thanks."

"Are you meeting Kaleb there?"

"I think he's here. We're on the same flight."

"Oh nice. Okay. Well we better let you guys go before they close the gates."

She quickly hugged Sophia and Mateo again, giving them both kisses.

"I'll miss you my babies."

"Bye mami"

With a final wave, Brittany ushered them all to the free check in desk following Jessie, who had been standing off to the side.

Santana and Kyler watched until they disappeared up the escalators.

"I'll miss them."

"Me too buddy, but they'll be back before you know it and in the meantime, you and I are gonna have a great time."

As they walked back to the car she hugged him to her side, partially shielding him from the few paparazzi that had somehow known they'd be at the airport. Getting to the car was hassle enough, but once they were actually in and read to go, the paparazzi surrounded her car, blocking her from leaving.

Eventually she rolled down her window. The flashing lights caused her to instantly shut her eyes. She raised her hand to block some of the light and pushed her head out of the window.

"Can you move please?"

Of course they didn't. It was like they didn't even hear her. They simply shouted questions at her all the while clicking away at their cameras.

"I can't see the road with you blocking my car like that" she said a little louder. There was no change in their behaviour. Sighing angrily, she pulled her head back into the car and tried driving forward. There was a loud honk as a car came driving past, nearly hitting the passenger side of the car. The side Kyler was sitting on. He screamed as Santana hit the breaks. She was sure the bonnet of her car had scraped the other car as it sped past.

"Are you okay?" She turned to look at him. Despite wide frantic eyes, he seemed fine.

"Yeah" He said shakily.

"Are you sure?"

"Did we crash?"

"No. We're okay amor."

"Okay."

Sure he was fine, she got out of her car, slamming the door.

"You all need to back the fuck up. I can't fucking see the road with the way you're crowding around the car, I could get into an accident."

"We're just trying to do our jobs" One of the guys said.

"You're just trying to do your jobs? Does your job include killing my son?"

"We-"

"That car that just went past was going to hit us. If I didn't break it was going to hit us, and he could have died. I understand that you need to get the picture" she raised two fingers in air quotes, "but seeing as you've been trailing us since we walked out of the airport, I don't think it's reasonable to continue hounding us like this."

"We haven-"

"I don't ever say anything when you guys show up somehow wherever I am. I don't ask you to back off and I don't get irritated, as irritating as it can be. But this isn't even me wanting privacy. This is about you having basic human intellect. I have my son in the car with me, and therefore have no tolerance for the shit you are currently pulling. Take your fucking pictures but keep the fuck out of the road so I can see where I am going."

"San-"

"I'm not fucking playing around." Santana snatched the camera of the guy standing closest to her, much to the pure astonishment of all the men around her. "MOVE" She yelled. They all moved back. When they were far enough she got into her car and started it again. Only when she was ready to drive did she roll down her window and throw the camera out for whoever was ready to catch. She drove off before they could regroup.

"I hate the paparazzi" Kyler said.

"Me too Ky." Santana looked at him through the rear view mirror. "Me too."


Just as they got home, Quinn called. Kyler went up to his room as Santana answered.

"What's up Q-tip?"

She giggled at Quinn's exasperated sigh.

"Hey Quinn."

"Hey. Are you guys back from the airport?"

"Yeah just got back. Why?"

"Do you think I could take my godson for the night?"

"Tonight?"

"Yeah. It's a golden opportunity to spend time with just him. I got Sophia the other day so….can I?"

"Sure" Santana shrugged. "In fact that would be great. Then I can work on my music without worrying about him."

"Hey look at how that works out. Coincidence. So Theo will come pick him up in about an hour."

Santana paused midway through stretching her legs on to the couch. She placed them back on the floor and switched the phone from her right to left ear.

"Did Brittany ask you to take him?"

"Why would she?"

Santana smiled coyly. She leaned back on the couch, lifting her feet onto it.

"No reason, never mind."

She was eighty percent positive that Brittany had asked Quinn to help her with Kyler so that she could work, but given how evasive Quinn was being, and convincingly so, Santana figured Brittany had asked her not to tell her. Rather than press Quinn for answers, she decided to let it go. She liked the thought that Brittany was taking care of her, so she didn't need to hear it said outright.

"So can Theo come pick him up?"

"Yes" Santana said, switching on the tv. "He can come by whenever. I'll tell Ky to pack his stuff."

"Thanks Santana."

When Kyler joined her on the couch a few minutes later in cotton shorts and no shirt with his IPad, he threw himself onto it, dropping his head in her lap.

Santana smiled. She ran a hand through his hair, some of which was falling over his eyes.

"Do you have homework?"

"No. Finished."

She nodded. "Whatcha watching?"

"Pre-game predictions. PFT"

"Ah. What's he saying?"

"What we all know. They played okay last game but could be better. They need better defence than they showed if they're going to win against the Jaguars tomorrow."

"Hmm" Santana hummed, refocusing on the tv.

"Keep doing that please?"

She looked down, frowning slightly.

"What?"

Kyler lifted her hand, folded all her fingers save her index finger and then traced it over his hair line.

Santana smiled, taking over when she understood what he wanted. She hadn't even been aware that she'd been doing that.

"I wish I could watch this game in person."

"We asked which game you wanted to watch and you said Rams amor. That's why we're going to Tampa while mama has her convention."

"I know" Kyler looked at her over his IPad. "If I only get to watch one game then I want to watch that one, but I would watch all of them if I could."

Smiling, Santana shook her head.

"Is Uncle Noah coming to watch the game here?"

"Yeah. Oh, I forgot Theo's coming to pick you up."

"Why?"

"Cause Tia wants you to sleep at her house today."

Kyler dropped the IPad on his chest, looking up at Santana.

"Why?"

"What do you mean why?" Santana laughed. "She wants to see you."

"I…Is something happening at her house?"

"Nope"

"Elise?"

Santana finally looked down at him. "Since when has something had to be happening to convince you to see your Tia."

"It's just….If I go you'll be alone-"

"Oh" Santana tried not to groan. One thing Brittany had effectively passed on to their kids was the over worrying about her. She didn't always love it. "Honey I'm a big girl. I can stay at home alone. Don't worry about me."

"Are you sure?" Kyler sat up. He was looking at her intently, eyes flicking between hers.

"I'm sure." Santana placed her palm over his face and shoved him back playfully. That got the laugh she wanted, effectively erasing the serious look on his face. "I'll do some work in the studio."

"Okay" Kyler lay back down on her lap. "When is he coming?"

"No idea."

Theo showed up just before 4. He left just before 4:10.

Kyler lingered at the door with his overnight bag, nibbling on his top lip.

"What wrong mijo?"

He glanced at Theo.

"It's just for one night right? You'll pick me up tomorrow?"

"Yes" Santana nodded. "But honey you don't have to go. I'm not forcing you to go if you don't want to."

"But we're-"

"You shut up" Santana pointed at Theo. "Amor," she bent down so she was eye level with him. "Do you want to go?"

With a hesitant look at Theo, Kyler shook his head.

"But kiddo your Tia has planned-"

"Didn't I tell you to shut up?" Santana straightened. "Well, thanks for dropping by Theo, have a good day now."

"Santana" Theo said calmly. "Are you really going to make me go back without him?"

"Tell me what about me would have you believe that I would force my son to go with you against his will?" she cocked an eyebrow.

Theo leaned forward to look at Kyler round Santana's body, but she stepped in his way. When he looked up at her she folded her arms.

"Lovely to see you. Bye, bye now."

With a frustrated sigh, Theo stood straight.

"Can I at least get a hug Kyler?"

Dropping his bag, Kyler walked to him, wrapping his arms round his waist.

"Sorry."

"Nah" Theo ruffled his hair. "Your mami's pretty cool, I'd rather stay with her than hang out with me too."

Santana smiled at Kyler's giggle, dropping her arms.

"You're cool too sometimes Theo" Kyler took a step back. "Just…I want to stay here."

"I get you little man. Santana." Theo quickly pulled Santana into a hug, letting go before she could push him away. "I'll see you guys?"

"Yeah." Santana shook her head as she laughed. "Go and tell your wife you failed."

Theo stopped on his way out the door. He turned to grin lopsided at Santana.

"My wife" he said quietly. "That sounds good."

Santana couldn't help but gush a little at how smitten he was. She couldn't even bring herself to mock him.

"Yeah." She smiled. "Wait until it's official."

Flashing his smile even wider, Theo left.

"Do you think Tia will be mad at me?"

Frowning down at him, Santana placed her hand on his head.

"Don't be silly. Let's go watch the game."