They stayed in Lima for a week, a decision that Santana and Brittany barely even had to discuss. They both wanted to be there for Pierce and Susan, so cancelling the summer plans they'd made for that week was a no brainer. Even the kids had no complaints when they told them they were staying an extra week.

Pierce's recovery was, to Brittany at least, exponential. He was discharged three days after his heart attack, and by the end of the week was seemingly back to normal. His rehab trainer kept trying to get him to slow down, reminding him that his heart was still healing, and at home Brittany's mother kept hawk-like surveillance on him to make sure he didn't disobey orders, but on the walks Brittany took with her dad, up and down the block, she hadn't noticed him getting winded or having to lie down afterwards. He really did seem better. She took these signs of progress to heart, using them to ward off any negative, terrifying thoughts of her father having another heart attack, potentially more fatal.

Over the week Brittany spent any time she wasn't with her father, with Ashley, who seemed to have been hit harder by their father's heart attack than Brittany herself. She'd sent Ty back to L.A, despite his protests, and unlike Brittany, seemed to be almost avoiding their father. She'd told Brittany one late night when they'd both been sitting awake in the living room that every time she looked at their dad she felt a rush of grief, confronted with the truth of how much she would miss him if he did die, and no amount of reminding herself that he was alive seemed to help. Brittany understood. For the first time in their lives, she and Ashley had realised their father's mortality, and that was a hard thing to come to terms with. No one liked to be reminded that one day their parents would die. So Brittany kept Ashley company, trying to help her work through her emotions.

But as the week came to an end, Brittany and Santana started making their plans to leave. Brittany would have liked to stay, but her parents kept asking what their summer plans were and encouraging them to get back to San Jose, which Santana had translated to mean they were sick of all the hovering. If it weren't for the twins' birthday, the plans for which were hard to postpone, Brittany would have ignored her parents' subtle requests for them to leave and stayed with her father for the rest of the summer. As it was, with him so well recovered and nothing for them to really do but worry, she gave in.

It took an entire day to pack, because as always their kids had double the luggage than they had come with, all of which was scattered between Brittany's parents' house and Santana's. They made a trip to Santana's parents' house in the morning, to collect their stuff, but of course several things were forgotten. Brittany volunteered to go back with the kids after lunch, to give Santana a break. She'd been taking point with the kids for the whole week, so Brittany could be with her parents, so Brittany was happy to give her even just one hour of peace.

"Back again?" Stephen laughed as he opened the door to let Brittany and the kids in. The boys plowed him with hugs and then ran into the living room, Sophia took much longer with her hug, squeezing Stephen tight.

"Hi abuelo." She said.

"Hi Sophia, como estas?"

"Good." She said, then she pulled back and looked up at him. "How are you?"

She asked it so seriously that both Stephen and Brittany chuckled.

"I'm very good. Happy to see you."

She squeezed him in another hug. "I'm happy to see you too abuelo."

"Oooh my nietos are back?!" They heard Maribel exclaim from the living room.

Stephen patted her head. "Why don't you go say hi to your abuela, she'll be happy to see you too."

"Okay." Sophia finally let him go, walking quickly in the direction her brothers had gone in.

"She's so sweet." Stephen said, watching her go.

"She really can be." Brittany agreed. "She's a lot like Santana like that."

"So tough on the outside." Stephen nodded. "You're right, I see it." He smiled at her. "Not that I'm not glad to see you, but what are you doing back?"

"I think they left stuff here on purpose so they could come see you again."

"Are they sneaky like that?" He pulled Brittany into a hug.

"My kids?" Brittany asked incredulously. "Are you kidding?"

"So what exactly was left?"

"A few shorts, one of Sophia's dresses and some of her head bands."

"Those will be in your room, that's where she was sleeping with Santana. As for the shorts, you'll have to ask Mari, sorry."

"Now worries, let me go say hi."

Brittany intercepted Maribel and her sons on the way to the kitchen.

"Brittany!" She said happily, pulling Brittany into a hug. "How are you dear?"

"Good." They hadn't seen each other in a few days, since the first day after her father was discharged when they'd come to visit. She'd been staying in her old room at her parents' house, while Santana and the kids stayed at the Lopez house, so they wouldn't stress her dad too much. "I haven't had a chance to thank you-"

"Ah no no!" Maribel shook her head fiercely. "Nonsense."

"You've just been so helpful, with our kids and sending Santana over with food and everything. I want you to know how much it means to me and my parents."

"Surely Brittany, you should know better." Maribel clicked her tongue. "Nietos go to the kitchen, I'm coming."

The boys obediently made their way to the kitchen. Once they were gone, Maribel turned to frown sternly at Brittany. Brittany almost wanted to take a step back, feeling suddenly like she was about to be scolded.

"You are as much my daughter as Santana, I don't need to tell you that." Maribel said. "And I know we don't show it the same way as you Pierces. Even after all these years we still have a lot to learn in that department, but you are my daughter Brittany, and your parents are my family as much as my own cousins. Maybe more than," she said with a thoughtful head tilt. Brittany smiled. "My point is, family means a lot to us Lopezes. We take care of family. Comprende?" Brittany nodded.

"Entiendo"

"Good." She cupped Brittany's cheeks, pulling her forward and kissing her forehead. "Now I am going to take this opportunity to feed my grandbabies one more time."

Brittany chuckled. "Go nuts. The less take out I have to buy at the airport the better."

"Send Sophia my way if you see her will you?"

"Where did she go?"

"Up, I assumed to get her stuff."

"Oh okay. Sure."

"Thanks." Maribel bustled into the kitchen. Brittany made her way upstairs.

She found Sophia in Santana's room, sitting cross legged on one of the beds.

It had been several years since Stephen and Maribel had reorganized the room to suite the kids, which meant fitting two beds into Santana's room and the other spare room upstairs, and moving Santana's stuff into the guest bedroom. It still took Brittany by surprise when she opened the door to a baby blue room, rather than black.

Sophia was sitting with a photo album in her lap.

"Whatchu looking at hon?" Brittany asked, walking towards her.

"Some pictures."

Brittany sat beside her. "Oh" she giggled. "Trying to see if I was a cuter baby than you?" She teased, looking down at the pictures on the page Sophia was looking at, all of which were of her around five or six years old.

Sophia smiled but didn't laugh.

"You were pretty cute." She said. "You had a lot of freckles."

"Yeah I used to spend a lot of time outside." She bent down to see better. "Thank god those cleared up."

"I like them."

"Yeah?"

Sophia nodded, silently turning the page.

Brittany smiled, taking the pictures in. One of them was of her dad carrying both her and Ashley. She was sitting on his shoulders while he held Ashley in his hands, all of them smiling cheerfully at the camera.

"Hhmm" Sophia grunted.

"If you say Tia Ashley was cuter than me I'll bite you!"

Again Sophia smiled, but didn't laugh. She turned the page again.

"Oh my gosh." Brittany said, laughing. Looking at the picture on this page of her and her dad in princess dresses.

"Why is he wearing a dress?" Sophia asked.

"It was Halloween and I wanted to match with someone, but my mum had to stay home with Ashley, cause she was too young to go out trick or treating."

"What about mami?"

"I've told you I didn't know mami till I was a teenager."

"How old are you here?"

"Umm…." Brittany studied the picture, trying to remember. "Maybe eleven. I completely forgot he did that." She laughed again.

Sophia leaned against her, tracing her fingers over the picture. "Was he a fun dad?"

"Very fun, yeah." Brittany said. "He's a fun grandpa isn't he?"

"Yeah, but so is abuelo, and mami says he wasn't always fun."

"Yeah I guess that's true."

"You're lucky he's your dad." She said quietly.

"And you're lucky he's your grandad."

"Yeah…" her voice broke slightly as she said it.

Brittany frowned, looking down at her. To her surprise, Sophia was crying.

"Honey?" She said alarmed. "What's wrong?"

Sophia shook her head, furiously wiping her eyes.

"Sophia," Brittany said more seriously. "Why are you crying baby?"

Sophia remained silent, staring down at the photo album.

"Are you worried about poppy?"

Sophia said nothing.

"You don't have to be," Brittany said, draping her arm over Sophia's shoulders. "I know it was scary, and I'm really sorry you had to see it, but Poppy's okay I promise."

Sophia shook her head.

"He is. The doctor told us he just needs to do a little exercise to get strong again, then he'll be right back to normal."

"No mama, you don't understand."

"What?" Brittany asked, now confused.

Sophia replied in such a quiet voice, Brittany had to lower her head to hear, only catching the last few words.

"…a heart attack."

"What?"

Sophia sighed, closing her eyes.

"I'm the reason Poppy had a heart attack."

"No you're not." Brittany said immediately.

"I am!" Sophia stood up. Clearly unable to keep all these feelings inside anymore.

"Sophia-"

"I didn't want to be here. I was so angry with you and mami for leaving us here and I was even more angry that I was missing all the fun stuff my friends were doing."

"Honey I know you were mad but-"

"Poppy kept trying and trying and trying. He was doing so much to try make me have fun, but I was too angry. Even Jesús said it, I was being a negative Nancy even though he was trying so hard." Sophia spoke quickly, tears spilling from her eyes. "And then he had a heart attack. IT'S ALL MY FAULT." She screamed.

"Sophia!" Brittany stood up, gripping Sophia's shoulders. "It's not your fault at all."

"It is." She sobbed. She pushed forward, wrapping her arms around Brittany's waist and pressing her face into Brittany's chest. "He wouldn't have been running around and playing so much if he wasn't trying to make me happy. If I had just been like my brothers and been happy or pretended to be happy, he wouldn't have had a heart attack."

"No honey, his heart was weak." Brittany tried to explain, gently combing her fingers through Sophia's hair. "And you know Poppy likes playing even when you're happy."

"But he's never had a heart attack before. It happened that day because of me, because I shouted at him."

Brittany felt like crying herself. She hated that Sophia felt that her dad almost dying had anything to do with her, but worse, she hated that her daughter had been feeling like this for an entire week and she hadn't known.

"Baby," Brittany pushed Sophia back so she could bend down and look her in the face. "Listen to me please, listen to me okay?" She wiped gently at the tears still trickling down Sophia's face. "You didn't give poppy a heart attack okay?" Sophia shook her head, ready to protest, but Brittany spoke over her. "First I want to say that we all love you. Your grandparents, me, mami, Tia Ashley we all love you and your brothers so, so much, no matter how you act or what you say, okay? How much we love you will never change."

Sniffing, Sophia nodded.

"Okay. Then second of all, you're a kid Soph. You're still just a kid. You're allowed to be angry and make mistakes. I tell Jesús this all the time, being angry isn't wrong."

"But I shouted at him." Sophia cried.

"Were you sorry afterwards?"

"Yeah…." Sophia said hesitantly.

"Were you really?"

"Yes I was! But I never told him. I mean I did, at first, but that was only cause abuela told me to, and when I was actually sorry I was going to tell him but then he….he…." she cried so hard she could no longer speak.

"Oh honey…." Brittany pulled her back into a hug. "Poppy hadn't been feeling well for a long time. Even on the camping trip, he wasn't feeling well."

"Really?" Sophia asked in such a small, fearful voice that Brittany felt herself tightening her hold around her.

"Yes baby. The heart attack was scary, and we all wish it didn't happen, but it was always going to happen, whether you shouted at him or not."

"Are you sure?"

"100% sure."

Watching Sophia blame herself for something that was so completely not her fault made Brittany realise that she may have been doing the same thing. She'd thrown herself into taking care of her dad, wanting to be around him at all times, monitoring how he took his meds, how he was breathing after their walks, keeping track of how many naps he took, if he took any at all. She'd been trying to make up for not realising he wasn't okay.

"Can I tell you something?"

"What?" Sophia asked.

"I think I've also been blaming myself for Poppy's heart attack."

"How could it be your fault mama you weren't even here."

"Yeah I think that's the problem. Poppy was with us when he started feeling sick, and I never noticed, and then when he had the heart attack I wasn't there. I think I've been feeling like I should have been able to stop this."

"How would you have stopped it?" Sophia asked with a slight frown.

"I couldn't have." Brittany said, gently shaking her head. "I couldn't have known this was going to happen, even if I was here. The doctor told us Poppy's heart was just weak."

Sophia sniffed again, looking up at Brittany. "So will he have another one?"

"They're making sure he doesn't. That's why he's working with a doctor a few times a week, doing exercises to strengthen his heart, and the doctor gave him a list of foods he should eat to help keep his heart healthy so it doesn't happen again."

Sophia still looked unsure.

"You know…" Brittany said, squatting to give her back relief from bending, "sometimes when we feel like we let someone we love down, or we hurt them, it eats away at us."

"What does that mean?"

"It means we feel guilty, and every time we see them we feel even more guilty, even if they already told us it's okay. Sometimes it's even worse if they act all nice and happy towards you, cause you feel like you don't deserve it."

Sophia remained silent, thoughtful.

"Do you think you're feeling a little guilty because you still haven't apologized sincerely for shouting at him?" Brittany asked gently.

Sophia nodded. "Mostly I was feeling really bad because it was my fault he had a heart attack-"

"It's not."

"Now I know it's not," Sophia said, "but I think I should still apologise to him."

"I think that's a good idea." Brittany said, placing a soft kiss on Sophia's head. Sophia sighed. "Then what do you say you and I both stop blaming ourselves for things that aren't our fault and just be happy poppy's okay."

"Yeah." Sophia wiped her eyes, taking in a rugged breath as she finally began calming down.

"Do you feel better?"

"Yeah, but I hate crying."

"I know."

"It makes me feel like a baby."

"Crying doesn't make you a baby."

"A little bit it does."

"Did gammy cry when poppy had his heart attack?"

Sophia frowned thoughtfully.

"And Tia Ashley?" Brittany asked before Sophia could answer.

"Yeah…." Sophia said reluctantly.

"I cried when I found out. I cried a lot. And when I saw him in hospital I cried again."

"But that's different." Sophia said.

"Why?"

"Cause he was dying."

"And I was scared, and gammy was scared."

"Yeah…"

"And right now you were scared too."

"I guess."

"And now you feel better. Crying is just another way to get all your emotions out so you can feel better."

"Okay." Sophia said with a skeptical frown, "But I only cried cause you're my mum and you've seen me cry before. I could never cry in front of like…Aubrey."

"She's your best friend."

"Exactly." Sophia said like that explained everything.

Shaking her head, Brittany stood up straight, stretching her back. There was a soft knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Sophia asked.

"Abuela."

Brittany frowned.

Sophia hastily wiped her eyes, looking up at Brittany. "Do I look like I've been crying?"

"Yes." Brittany said honestly.

"Oh…one minute abuela." Sophia called, before running into the bathroom.

Brittany frowned more heavily.

"Okay no problem honey." Maribel called from the other side of the door. "Take your time, I was just wondering if you were going to come get some cookies."

In complete disbelief, Brittany opened the door.

"Oh Brittany, hi." Maribel smiled.

"You knocked." Was Brittany's reply.

"Pardon?" Maribel asked, confused.

"You knocked." Brittany repeated.

Maribel raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"

"And then you didn't immediately open the door."

"She didn't say I could come in."

Brittany's mouth fell open.

"What?!" She sputtered. "Does Santana know you do this now?"

"Brittany I don't understand what you're saying."

"Four years I listened to Santana yelling at you to knock before entering. Four years I listened to you saying you don't need permission to enter a room in your own house-"

"Ah." Maribel rolled her eyes.

"Now you not only knock, but you wait for her to say come in before you enter?"

"Brittany seriously-"

"You said, no problem honey. Take. Your. Time."

"Brittany surely." Maribel sighed. "You're making too big a deal of this."

"Take your time!" Brittany repeated for emphasis.

"I'm trying to give her privacy."

"Santana and I could have used that kind of privacy in high school. It could have saved us all a lot of embarrassment."

"Well…" Maribel pursed her lips. "When Sophia begins bringing her boyfriend or girlfriend over to this house for sleepovers and they share a bed, I'll be sure to enter unannounced."

Once again, Brittany's mouth fell open.

"Yeah abuela," Sophia said, walking out of the bathroom without a trace of the tears she'd just shed. "I want some cookies."

"Great." Maribel smiled, beckoning Sophia into her arms. "Let's go down before your brothers finish them."

"What's wrong mama?"

Brittany started, quickly shutting her mouth.

"Nothing baby."

"Do you want some cookies?" Sophia asked.

Maribel was smirking behind Sophia. Brittany narrowed her eyes.

"If you do want cookies, join us downstairs." Maribel said, steering Sophia towards the stairs. "Let's go nena. Are you okay? You're looking a little pink."

"I just washed my face." Sophia said.

Brittany shook her head, walking slowly behind them.

"I am so telling Santana."


Having made her parents swear to call her if they needed anything, or there was any change in her father's health, there was just one more thing for her to do before they went to the airport. She and Santana had agreed to do it the day before, but hadn't had the time, and their window to get it done before their flight was closing, but Brittany couldn't find Santana anywhere. She'd checked the entire house and asked her parents, but no one seemed to have seen Santana since Brittany and the kids left. She tried to call her again, but like the last five times, Santana didn't answer.

"Come on Santana…" Brittany muttered to herself as she typed out a text. "Where are you?"

The front door opened suddenly.

"I'm here!" Santana yelled. Brittany rushed to the front door.

"Where have you been?"

She stopped, staring at the large pile of presents in Santana's arms.

"Um…" Santana shut the door, "my abuela called…"

"Okay?"

"She knew we were in town from my dad. She heard what happened…"

"Yeah?"

"And she wanted to give the kids these…." She raised her hands, or tried to, to show the gifts. "She got presents for the twins' birthday but didn't want Soph and Niki to feel bad so she got them stuff as well."

"Oh okay." Brittany tried not to look annoyed. She must have failed, because Santana sighed.

"What?"

"What?" Brittany asked, raising her shoulders.

"What is it Brittany, just tell me."

Brittany licked her lips, debating whether or not to say what she was thinking. It was irritating to her that she'd been waiting for Santana for over thirty minutes, to do something they'd already agreed to do, but Santana had blown her off for a last minute call from her abuela.

"Do you not want her giving our kids gifts?" Santana asked in a voice that sounded forced calm.

"No…" Brittany said, pressing her lips together. "It's fine."

"Okay?" Santana asked. "So what's wrong?"

Brittany let out a sharp breath. "I mean she could have sent them with your dad next week."

"Sure, but we were here."

"And we had somewhere to be."

"Right, cause that's why you're mad." Santana said under her breath, but Brittany caught it.

"What does that-"

"WOAH!" Mateo screamed, running in from the living room. "Are those for me mami?"

Brittany watched Santana take a deep breath before she smiled.

"Some of them yeah. Some are for your brothers and sister too."

"Oh…" He said, sounding disappointed, but then he perked up almost immediately. "That's okay. Some presents are still better than none."

Santana chuckled. "That's the spirit. Why don't you help me put these in the living room by our bags."

"Okay." He happily took a few from her hands and made his way back to the living room. When he was gone, Santana turned back to Brittany, her smile immediately fading.

"Look Brittany, I'm trying to do this right, so you don't feel too overwhelmed, but I don't know what else I can do." She walked forward, looking Brittany right in the eye. "She hasn't spent time with the kids because you're not ready, and I am okay with that, but she's trying." She shrugged. "She's trying, and I'm trying-"

"So am I but-"

"Are you?"

"Of course I am." Brittany said, feeling hurt that Santana would even ask.

"I don't know B…." Santana said sadly. "I know you're mad, and god knows you have every right to be, but it doesn't feel like you are trying."

With another small shrug, Santana carried the rest of the presents into the living room, leaving Brittany standing alone. This was good, because Brittany was speechless.

Of course she was trying. It took every effort not to snatch the phone away from Santana when she was talking to her abuela and tell her to go to hell. Wasn't her agreeing to have short conversations on the phone proof that she was trying? What else was she supposed to do? Surely Santana didn't expect her to drop by for a visit. What were she and Alma even supposed to talk about? Brittany didn't even know why Alma kept asking to talk to her. They'd never had a one on one conversation, aside from the one over Christmas which Brittany wasn't keen to repeat and the one years ago as a teenager when Alma had called her the devil incarnate. She would be perfectly happy to never see or speak to Alma again, and frankly she didn't see why she had to. It was a relationship with Santana and her kids that Alma wanted, and Santana said she understood that Brittany wasn't yet ready for their kids to enter the equation. She wasn't standing in the way of Santana having a relationship with her, which to Brittany was the best thing she could do.

So what did Santana want?

"Alright let's go." Santana said.

"Huh?" Brittany blinked.

"You still want to go right? We have an hour before we have to leave for the airport."

"Yeah, let's go."

She'd think on it before raising the topic of Alma with Santana again. They had a long flight, and Brittany did not want to spend it with Santana mad at her.


They made it to Ty's house in fifteen minutes. Even though Ashley had sent him back to L.A, Tyler hadn't actually gone. Santana had found this out when she'd called to give him an update like he'd asked before leaving, and he'd offered to come by.

"Hey" Ty said, looking surprised to see them as he opened the door. "Oh are you guys leaving today?"

"Yeah." Santana said, "but we wanted to talk to you first."

"Sure. Wait," His eyes widened dramatically, "is everything okay?"

"Yeah everything's fine." Brittany said. "We just need to talk to you."

"Okay, uh come in." He stepped aside to let them in.

When they were settled in the living room, Brittany decided to just jump right to it. They didn't have a lot of time to beat around the bush after all.

"I had a conversation with Sophia today that made me realize that us Pierce girls might be taking this a bit harder than any of us really realize."

"What?" Santana frowned.

"She was blaming herself for my dad's heart attack."

"What?" Santana sat forward. "Why on earth would she think that?"

"Because she was so moody and grumpy and apparently she shouted at him a few minutes before it happened."

"Oh man." Ty said.

"Yeah but she's okay." Brittany assured Santana. "I talked to her, made sure she understood it wasn't her fault at all."

"Is that why she's been so quiet and clingy?" Santana said, relaxing back into the couch. "I just thought the heart attack had scared her."

"Yeah." Brittany said. "Any way Ty, my point is, we're all clearly not handling this well."

"Is this about Ashely?" He asked.

"Yeah it is. She's not okay."

"I know that." Ty said. "Why d you think I'm still here and not in L.A?"

"And that was smart of you," Santana said, "but it's not enough. You need to actually be there."

"She told me to leave." Ty shook his head. "If I go there I'll just piss her off."

"Sometimes we don't know what we need." Brittany said. "Ashley's scared out of her mind right now. I don't think it had ever occurred to her that our dad could die."

"She's said all of ten words to him all week." Santana said. "She spends most of her time in her room or out of the house."

Ty sighed, his head dropping into his hands.

"She's not coping." Brittany said.

"What am I supposed to do about that?"

"Make her." Santana said. "No one was better at making me face the things I was running from than Brittany."

"Then why don't you do it?" He asked Brittany.

"Because I'm her sister, and honestly she's never really believed that I understand her. She won't listen to me. She'll think I'm judging her."

"She listens to you." He said to Santana. "She looks up to you."

Santana shook her head.

"This is different. If I was still Brittany's cool best friend then maybe, but I'm her sister too. Whatever Brittany and I tell her she'll just see as us saying she's being a bad daughter or like we're saying we're better than her or something."

"She wouldn't think that."

"She told me." Santana said. "I tried to talk to her a few days ago. Tried to tell her that I know she's scared but she won't forgive herself if she makes her parents take care of her while also trying to take care of themselves."

"And?"

"She bit my head off. She said she already knows Brittany is the perfect daughter and doesn't need a reminder from the woman who was clearly the second daughter they wished they had."

Ty sucked air though his teeth, cringing. "Yikes!"

"Yeah." Santana nodded. "Point is, she needs to hear it from someone a bit more removed from the situation but who she loves and she knows loves her."

Ty's shoulders sagged. "She's just going to kick me out again."

"Probably." Brittany agreed. "But you just have to keep coming back. Believe me I know how scary it can be, knowing that you have to tell your person something you know they don't want to hear. I used to think on it for days before I could bring some things up with Santana when we were younger."

"How did you do it?"

Brittany took a deep breath, turning to look at Santana just as Santana looked at her, her brown eyes curious. She shrugged.

"At the end of the day, I wanted what was best for her." Brittany said honestly. "And if it was someone else standing in the way of her happiness I wouldn't hesitate to say something to them, so why should it be any different just cause the person standing in her way was Santana herself?"

"Cause if she gets mad at you she could break up with you?"

"Maybe, but when she calmed down she'd know that you were looking out for her." Santana answered, looking away from Brittany to look back at Ty. "She's already chosen you as her person. Trust that. Prove her right for choosing you."

Brittany couldn't help feeling like the advise they were giving Ty could apply to her own conflict with Santana's abuela. Santana was probably going to get mad when Brittany told her she had no intention of ever forgiving her abuela, but Santana had just said that once she calmed down she'd realise Brittany was just looking out for her.

"She needs you." Santana said seriously, bringing Brittany back to the conversation. "And when she comes out of this, you'll be glad you were there for her."

"Yeah." Ty said heavily. "You're right."

"Good man." Santana said.

"It's not going to be fun, but I didn't sign up for just the fun parts right?"

"Exactly." Brittany smiled, feeling so happy that her sister had found herself someone this good to spend her life with.

"Make sure you put that in the vows." Santana said.

"Santana." Brittany chuckled.

"What?" Santana shrugged with a coy smile. "We all know the wedding's coming. He could save himself a lot of time by writing his vows now."

"Don't you have a flight to catch?" Ty said.

"Yeah alright." Santana stood up. Brittany followed. "I want a daily update on how she's doing."

"Yeah that's not gonna happen." Ty laughed, hugging them both. "How about when I remember to, I'll call you."

"Fine." Santana pretended to be upset. "You know what maybe you're right. Maybe you're not worthy of marrying my sister after all. Can't even make daily calls to tell her family how she's doing."

"Leave the boy alone Santana." Brittany laughed, taking Santana's hand and leading her out of the house.

"Have a safe flight back home." Ty called. "Let me know when you land."

"Maybe." Santana called back. "If we remember to."

"I love you too Santana!"

As the door shut behind them, Santana turned, frowning at Brittany.

"Maybe she should have married a stranger. Then at least he'd be scared of me and do whatever I said."

"It's not too late." Brittany said.

Santana sighed dramatically.

"Yeah it is." She said. "We're stuck with this one."


The flight back to San Jose felt so long that when they arrived home at eight thirty everyone went straight to bed, even Mateo. Brittany could barely keep her eyes open as she kissed all the kids goodnight, and didn't bother searching for pajamas before entering bed. She simply stripped her clothes and climbed under the covers, curling into a ball.

Santana smiled, walking to the edge of the bed.

"Not going to take a shower?"

"No."

"But we've been flying-"

"No."

"You know I remember you used to say that we'll be glad we showered in the morning after a day of traveling. You used to say we shouldn't sleep gross-"

"I'm not taking a shower right now."

"Maybe I should force you." Santana said with a smirk. "You know like you used to force me."

Brittany cracked her eyes open. "You're not strong enough to force me out of bed or drag me to the shower."

"Aren't I?" Santana asked, cocking her head. Brittany frowned.

"Please don't."

Giggling, Santana pulled off her own clothes. "Don't worry, I don't want to shower either."

"Then why were you giving me a hard time?" Brittany whined, flipping the duvet back so Santana could get in.

"Just pointing out how much you've let yourself go."

Brittany's head snapped up.

"Excuse me?"

"I fell in love with an energetic cheerleader, who changed her clothes immediately she got home because she couldn't sit on her bed in 'outside clothes'." Santana crawled into bed, one hand doing air quotes. "Now look at you."

Brittany looked down at herself, which made Santana giggle again.

"Technically I'm not in bed with outside clothes." Brittany said, cracking a smile. "I took them off."

"Mmmh" Santana moaned, scooting closer to Brittany so she could drape her arm over her waist and kiss her. "Yes you did, and I am very glad."

"I didn't let myself go." Brittany said, pulling back from the kiss.

"No, I was just teasing." Santana tried to kiss her again. This time Brittany didn't pull away.

"Mh."

"It just took twenty years for me to finally rub off on you." Santana said.

"Wanky." Brittany quipped.

Santana grinned. "Exactly."

"What do you mean though?"

"It means I've made you lazy."

"No you haven't."

Santana smiled. "eeeh, I kind of have."

"I'm not lazy."

"I meaaaannn." Santana looked Brittany over.

Brittany frowned.

"It's not a bad thing. A little laziness is good for you." Santana moved in for another kiss, but Brittany pushed her back.

"Let's go shower."

"No!" Santana groaned. "That was so not the point of what I was saying at all."

"What was your point then?"

"That we've now been together so long that we're becoming the same person. It's a good thing babe."

Brittany bit her lip thoughtfully. "Quinn is always saying I'm becoming too much like you."

"See." Santana grinned. "Now can I please get my mack on?"

Brittany obliged for a few seconds, just long enough for Santana to really give into the kiss, and then she was pulling back and getting out of bed.

"Hey!"

"Let's go shower." Brittany said.

"No Brittany come on, I'm tired."

"You were just trying to make out with me." Brittany said, a hand on her hip.

"You're naked," Santana said, throwing her hand up. "As if I could just go to sleep."

Brittany grinned. "Aww."

"Come back."

"I'm going to shower. It'll be more fun if you join me." She wagged her eyebrows.

Santana narrowed her eyes.

"Nice try."

"Fine," Brittany shrugged. "I'll go on my own."

"Whyyyy?" Santana flipped to her back, kicking her legs petulantly.

"Because, I don't want us to become the same person."

Santana looked up. "Should I be offended?"

"No." Brittany giggled, lifting one knee onto the bed so she was crouched over Santana. "I love you. I think you're awesome. I mean I married you."

"Okay." Santana nodded. "Wait give me a kiss to soothe my hurt feelings." She tilted her head up and pursed her lips. Brittany kissed her, gently sucking her bottom lip before pulling back. "All better." Santana smiled. "So what are you saying?"

"I don't know I just think…me being me and you being you is what makes us so awesome."

"Yeah and now we're becoming a mix. I mean I'm becoming more like you too B."

"Yeah but…I don't know, I like you as you."

"I get what you're saying." Santana said, propping herself up on her elbows.

"You do?"

"Yeah. You miss when I used to come up with creative ways to insult people."

Brittany snorted. "What?"

"Don't worry I miss it too. I haven't called Quinn anything rude in years."

"That's not what I was saying and you know it." Brittany said, shaking her head.

"It's what I heard." Santana sang.

"Okay babe." Brittany stood up. "I am actually going to shower though. Are you going to join me or not?"

"Depends." Santana said. "Are you going to have some fun in there either way?"

Brittany cocked her head. "I wasn't planning on it, but you know what? Yeah."

Santana sat up. "Then I'm joining you."

Laughing, Brittany made her way to the bathroom.

As Santana was getting out of bed, her phone rang. She picked it up, intent on silencing it, until she saw who was calling.

"Santana?" Brittany asked, stopping at the bathroom door when she realised Santana wasn't behind her.

"Uh…" Santana looked at her. "Go ahead and start, I'll join you in a minute."

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah, it's just…" she hesitated, "Greyson." She decided to say.

"Who?" Brittany asked.

"He works for me. I hired him just before we went to France."

The phone stopped ringing.

"Oh okay." Brittany nodded. "Well tell him your wife is having a quick shower so if he keeps you, you won't get to get your mack on tonight."

"That's the first thing I'll tell him." Santana chuckled.

"Good."

Santana waited until she was sure Brittany was in the shower before calling back.

"Hello?"

"Hi Mrs Lopierce, how are you?"

"Fine, I'm fine. I assume there's a reason you're calling so just tell me."

"Umm…sorry. Yes-"

"No I'm sorry." Santana said, releasing a heavy breath and forcing herself to calm down. "It's just not a great time and this whole thing puts me on edge."

"Gotcha." Greyson said. "Well I thought you ought to know that while our pal Kevin may not be coming near your home or work places, he has been hanging around some very dodgy places over the last week."

"Like where?" Santana asked quickly.

"A couple of streets I happen to know are home to very shady deals."

"Like drug deals?" Santana whispered harshly.

"Bingo."

"Fucking hell." Santana cursed. A sober Kevin was already a pain in her ass. She didn't want to think of what he would start doing if he was getting high.

"I've been on him all day, and he's just come out of a motel room he's been in since yesterday afternoon. I didn't see him go in with food, he hasn't come out and no one has delivered. Kevin isn't looking too good either."

"Like he's just come off a twenty four hour high?"

"Bingo again."

"Fuck!"

"Santana?" Brittany called. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah B, coming."

When Brittany didn't say anything else, Santana turned her attention back to Greyson, lowering her voice.

"Look, like I said now isn't a good time. Let's meet tomorrow morning."

"Aye, aye captain."

"It has to be early, I have a flight tomorrow night."

"Do you rich people ever spend any time in your actual homes?"

Santana rolled her eyes, deciding not to reply.

"Goodbye Mr Greyson."

"Night Mrs Lopierce. See you tomorrow. 7?

"6."

"Got it."

Santana promptly hung up. She wasn't really in the mood to fool around with Brittany anymore. Not with the information she'd just gotten and Kevin back on her mind. Instead she took out some pajamas and got dressed, then went into the bathroom.

"B?"

"Hey," Brittany turned to face her. "You're wearing clothes." She pouted.

"Yeah sorry," Santana said honestly. "I actually am really tired. I'm starting to get a headache. I think I'm just going to sleep."

"Okay." Brittany said. "Are you going to take advil or something?"

"No sleep should do it."

"Okay. I hope so."

"Yeah….also I need to go into the office really early tomorrow, but I won't be more than an hour."

"Why?"

Santana took a second to decide how to answer.

"I need to have a quick meeting."

"Okay. Wake me up when you're going okay?"

"Sure babe. Goodnight." Santana blew her a kiss. When Brittany pretended to catch it and pressed it to her own lips, Santana went back into the bedroom and climbed into bed.

She was going to need to handle Kevin much sooner than she thought, now that he was back to doing drugs.


The next morning, Santana was up at five. She showered, secretly wishing she had hopped in with Brittany just so she didn't have to drag herself into the shower so early. At five thirty she woke Brittany with a gentle kiss to her temple, whispering that she was leaving but would be back in less than an hour and left before the sun had risen. She then sat in her car until long after the sun had risen, trying to figure out what she was going to do.

She already knew what Greyson was going to tell her, she just wanted to hear it in greater detail. But then what? How was she just supposed to go about her day? How was she supposed to go back home to her kids and wife who knew nothing about the private investigator she'd hired?

Even when she saw Mr. Greyson arrive and walk into the building, Santana didn't get out. She waiting an extra ten minutes, just hoping an idea would come to her. It didn't. So with no other choice she got out of her car.

The offices were completely empty. Not even the receptionist had come in yet. It didn't help the solemn feeling settling over her as she walked to the elevator. When she finally got to her office, Santana found Mr. Greyson leaning against the locked door.

"Mrs Lopierce." He greeted cheerfully. Too cheerfully for just past six in the morning. "Did you have a good trip?"

"At first." Santana said, picking the keys from her handbag. "But it kind of went downhill fast."

"Oh…" Mr. Greyson frowned. "I'm sorry to hear that."

Santana shrugged, pushing open the office door.

"Have a seat." She said, as she walked round her desk.

"Thanks." He unbuttoned his suit jacket and sat in the chair opposite Santana's desk, dropping his bag by his feet.

"Why are you-"

"So to put it simply-"

Having spoken at the same time, Santana and Mr. Greyson went silent, staring at each other. Mr. Greyson cleared his throat.

"Sorry Mrs. Lopierce I just assumed that like on the phone you weren't interested in much small talk."

"No you're right." Santana sat down and pulled herself closer to the desk. "I was just wondering why you're in a suit?"

"Oh." Mr. Greyson looked down at himself. "Well the first time I was here I could have been coming to see anyone, so it didn't matter, but at this time in the morning I assumed there wouldn't be many people here. I wanted to look like I was here on boring non-suspicious business." He raised his arms proudly, "so I dressed the part."

"Right…" Santana nodded, not bothering to tell him that plenty of people came to the office in hoodies and t-shirts. "Anyway you were saying?"

"Yeah to put it simply, Kevin is a druggie."

"You're sure?"

"Very. I caught him buying some of that good, good nose candy last night!" Mr. Greyson said with a huge grin.

"NO!" Santana growled, banging her fist against the table.

"Woah!" Mr. Greyson yelped, jumping halfway out of his seat, startled by Santana's outburst.

Santana couldn't even be bothered to apologise. She spun her chair around so she was facing the wall, her head dropping into her hands.

"I…think I might have misread the situation…" Mr. Greyson said after a few minutes of silence.

"Oh yeah?" Santana asked, with no interest at all in what he was saying.

"I thought this was a victory. I thought you'd be happy I found him doing something illegal. My client's usually are."

Santana shook her head, dropping her hands so she could stare hopelessly at the wall.

"I mean the whole reason I'm hired is because someone is trying to get one over on someone else. Maybe blackmail them, get them sent to jail, win in divorce negotiations-"

"Wait!" Santana spun back around so fast she had to catch herself with her desk to keep from turning the full 360 degrees. When she righted herself Mr. Greyson was staring at her with wide confused eyes. "What did you just say?"

"Well okay, maybe not the whole reason I'm hired." He said, rolling his eyes. "I get hired to solve cases too, when people don't want to involve the cops."

"No, no." Santana shook her head. "I could send him to jail."

"Oh…" Mr. Greyson's eyebrows raised. "Yeah totally. I mean I took pictures of him making the deal."

"Do you think you could get pictures of him actually doing the drugs?"

"Uh" he screwed up his mouth. "I mean that might be hard. He's not sloppy, like doing it out in the open or anything like that. Unless I could get an open curtain I'm not sure how I could."

Santana leaned back in her chair and folded her arms. Getting proof that Kevin was violating his parole by doing drugs was a sure fire way of getting him sent back to jail, and she wouldn't even need to talk to him. But how could she make sure Mr. Greyson got that money shot.

"What if you hid in his room?"

Mr. Greyson cocked his head.

"I mean I guess I could….but you wouldn't be able to use it in court."

"I don't intend to go to court."

Narrowing his eyes, Mr. Greyson studied Santana. Santana stared back.

"Yeah okay." He finally said. "I'll hide in his room."

"Good. Then send me the pictures as soon as you get them."

"Aye, aye captain."

Santana resisted the urge to roll her yes, wondering how Mr. Greyson could be so cavalier about what they'd just agreed to.

"He's dangerous by the way." She said, standing up.

"He killed a few people driving high." Mr. Greyson dismissed. "And I've got like thirty pounds on him. I think I'll be fine."

"If you say so." Santana shrugged.

Right on cue, her phone rang, a picture of Brittany flashing across the screen. Mr. Greyson's eyes flicked to the phone just as Santana picked it up.

"She doesn't know about me does she?" He asked.

"We're done here Mr. Greyson." Santana said coldly. "You can leave."

Smirking, Mr. Greyson tipped his non-existent hat, picked his bag and left. Santana waited a few seconds after he'd shut the door before answering her phone.

"Hey babe."

"Hey." Brittany's voice still sounded groggy, like she'd just woken up. "You didn't wake me before you left."

"I did," Santana giggled, "you even told me to say hi to Eve babe."

"Oh…" Brittany yawned loudly. "I don't remember."

"It doesn't matter, I'm on my way back now."

"Okay great. See you in a bit then. Oh can you bring me a bagel from the coffee shop I like?"

"Yeah sure."

"Thank you. I love you."

"I love you too."

Santana tried to squash out the guilt of lying to Brittany by picturing the complete terror that had flashed through her eyes when Eve had told them that Kevin wanted to meet with them, or the way she'd admitted to Santana in France that she didn't think she could face Kevin. Besides if Mr. Greyson could get that picture, then Santana would be telling Brittany the truth very soon anyway. Better to give her the news that she'd solved the problem, rather than more bad news about Kevin being on drugs. Brittany didn't need that stress.