CHAPTER 61
A/N: Hello! I'm sorry, I know I made you wait a long time for this chapter... I was actually working on it all this time, but it was not an easy one to write. You will understand why after reading this update. I also wanted to thank you for all your reviews, and I hope you're still with me! Special thanks to pjay413 for proofreading this new chapter. Enjoy!
Here is what you missed (on Glee):
"I'm pregnant…" Brittany says with a beaming smile.
SANTANA's POV
"We're having a baby?!" I eventually ask in a hopeful voice, my eyes locked with hers. I really need her to repeat it to believe it's real…
"Yes!" She confirms with a wide smile and I finally snap out of my daze, rushing towards her to take her face in my hands and pull her into a desperate kiss.
"I love you so much, Brittany Lopez-Pierce…" I whisper between kisses.
"I love you too…" She smiles, pressing her lips on mine one more time, before hugging me tight. "I can't believe it worked! And on the first try…" She says in my arms, her voice getting emotional as if it was only sinking in now.
"Well, I told you… We Lopezes are just irresistibly drawn to you, honey…" I say, earning a chuckle from her as she wipes her tears away.
"May I…?" I eventually ask, timidly pointing at her belly.
"Of course!" She nods, lifting her shirt to expose her bare stomach while I kneel in front of her.
"Hi baby, it's mama… Thank you for holding on to mommy like we asked you a few weeks ago…" I smile, placing a soft kiss on Brittany's belly. "You're so loved already…" I admit, unable to hold back my tears of joy any longer.
"That you are…" Brittany confirms, rubbing her thumb on her stomach. "And you picked the best family in the world!" She adds, making me smile.
"God, I'm feeling such a rush of adrenaline!" I say as I stand back up, my heart racing like crazy.
"Me too…" She nods. "It's such a miracle… We should celebrate!"
LATER THAT NIGHT – IN BED
"God, that was… the most perfect celebration!" Brittany says, placing a soft kiss on my lips.
"I'll say…" I chuckle, holding her naked body tighter in my arms as she lays on top of me.
"What?" I eventually ask as she seems to be studying my face, her hand caressing my cheek tenderly.
"I just… I can't believe there's a part of you inside me…"
"Wanky!" I say in spite of myself.
"San…" She sighs, shaking her head in despair.
"Sorry… but we just had sex, Britt! You can't blame my mind for going there…" I shrug timidly. "But more seriously, I know how you feel…" I nod. "Every one of our pregnancies has been special in its own way – Sofia, because she was our very first child; the boys, because we had to wait so long to have them and surprise, they were twins – but this time… this time, we really made this baby together." I smile, giving her a tender kiss.
"I hope our child looks like you…" She confesses, her fingers slowly tracing the features of my face.
"Well, there's a chance they will." I say. "Personally, I hope this baby turns out to be caring and full of light like you… Because the world really needs more people like that." I add and she kisses me in response, before adjusting her position to rest her head on my chest.
"I'm sure I'll worry about this baby as of tomorrow, but right now, I'm just happy…" She eventually says, hugging me tighter.
"You know what? Let's make a deal with the universe right now." I suggest. "Our previous pregnancies were hectic and scary, so we deserve a peaceful one this time! No accidents, no drama. Okay? This baby will grow and remain safe in your belly until it's the right time to come into the world. And then, we'll bring our child home and be happy forever."
"I couldn't agree more." She says, kissing my chest. "That's why there's something I need to ask you…" She adds in a serious tone, staring into my eyes. "No business trip while I'm pregnant, please… I can't be worrying about that."
"Okay, no business trip." I eventually nod in confirmation, before pulling her into another loving kiss.
ONE WEEK LATER (MORNING TIME) – AT HOME
I tug on my shirt one last time as I look at myself in the mirror, and hurry out of my bedroom. I have to drive the kids to school in a few minutes, but as I pass Sofia's open door, I find her still in her PJs, sitting on her bed.
"You're not ready yet, mija?" I ask in surprise. "We have to leave in five minutes! What are you waiting for?"
"Mommy said she will braid my hair and help me get ready." She shrugs. "But she's still in the bathroom."
"Ok, wait here… I'll see if mommy is available, otherwise I'll help you get ready." I say, before walking towards the bathroom.
"Britt?" I ask, knocking on the closed door. "Everything okay? May I come in?"
"Yeah… Come in…" She says in a hoarse voice.
As I open the door, I find her sitting on the floor next to the toilet, looking pale and nauseous.
"Oh, honey…" I say in an empathetic voice.
"Don't get closer!" She warns when I take a few steps towards her, holding her hand up.
Morning sickness has taken a toll on her lately, and although I wish I could take care of her, I know she doesn't want anyone around when she feels like this. Not even me.
"Rough morning, uh?" I ask.
"Well, I didn't keep my breakfast down, that's for sure…" She says, breathing heavily.
"I'm sorry…"
"Don't be." She says, swallowing hard. "It's not my favorite part of being pregnant, but… it's worth it." She nods.
"Is there anything I can do…?"
"You can't help me with this, San… But could you go see Sofia? I promised I would do her hair, but I don't think I can…"
"Of course…" I nod. "Call me if you need anything, okay?" I say and close the door, before running back to Sofia.
"Mija, I'm going to help you get ready. First, we need clothes." I say, opening her wardrobe.
"Is mommy sick…?" My little girl asks, looking at me with big worried eyes.
"Mommy is fine, don't worry."
"But she threw up…" She says much to my surprise. Crap, I didn't know she had noticed that…
"Um… she just ate something bad at breakfast, that's all. She's going to be okay." I reassure her.
I wish I could tell her what's really going on, but Brittany made me swear not to tell anyone until she completes the first trimester.
"There are only four people on this entire planet that know about the baby, San – you, me, Dr. Wilson and Dr. Montgomery. I don't want to tell anyone else until we're sure that everything is fine." She had said then. "Not our friends, not our parents, and certainly not the kids, okay?"
"You promise?" Sofia asks me.
"Yes, baby, I promise… Trust me, mommy is going to be just fine." I repeat. "Here…" I say, giving her a blue shirt and a pair of jeans.
"But mommy said I could wear the shirt with the kangaroo!" She objects.
"We don't have time, mija… We're already late! Put this on, you can wear the kangaroo shirt tomorrow."
"But I want to wear it today!" She insists, looking at me in the same defiant way Britt does when she's upset with me.
"Fine…" I sigh in defeat, knowing that the only way for me to arrive at work on time is to let her wear yet another animal shirt… "Here is your kangaroo… Come on, let's get you dressed."
A FEW DAYS LATER (AFTERNOON TIME) – AT PARAMOUNT – IN SANTANA'S OFFICE
"Okay, here you go, mijo…" I say as I sit Gabriel on my lap, handing him his stuffed dinosaur. "Mama has some documents to read, so how about you do some coloring?" I suggest, putting his crayons on my desk.
"Which one do you want to do?" I ask, turning the pages of his coloring book.
"This one!" He says, pointing at the drawing of a dolphin. "For mommy." He adds and I can't help but feel jealous. What about me?! Don't I exist too…?
"And that one for you." He suddenly adds as if he had read my mind, and I immediately feel guilty for ever doubting my lovely boy.
"Thank you, baby…" I smile, kissing his forehead.
Minutes pass and I'm halfway through the documents when someone knocks on my open door.
"Hi there!" The familiar voice says.
"Julia… Hi!" I eventually reply, surprised to see her there.
"I see you have a new assistant." She says. "Your son, I assume?"
"Uh yeah… This is Gabriel."
"Hello, Gabriel!" She smiles, waving at him.
"You say hi to Julia?" I turn to my boy.
"Hi…" He says timidly, before hiding his face in my neck.
"Sorry, he's pretty shy with people he doesn't know…" I say, caressing his blond hair. "The little guy is supposed to be at daycare but he got sick, so they asked me to pick him up…"
"Oh, I hope he doesn't feel too bad?"
"Well, he seems okay… At least, he doesn't have a fever. And now, he gets to hang out at mama's work until it's time for our appointment with the pediatrician. Right, buddy?" I ask, gently tickling him until he giggles.
"Is it me or he looks a lot like Brittany?" Julia eventually asks, her eyes set on my son.
"Yeah, it's not just you…" I chuckle. "He took a lot after her." I nod in confirmation, pressing my lips to his forehead. "So, what's new with you?"
"Well, it's been pretty busy on my side, but I'm on a few very nice projects, so I can't complain!" She says. "By the way, do you know where Quinn is? We were supposed to meet now to decide which Glee episodes I could produce."
"Oh, I'm sure she's going to be here any minute, she was just finishing a meeting with the costume manager. You can wait in her office if you want?"
"Thanks, I'll do that." She nods. "By the way, when I had her on the phone, she said you had not yet defined the storylines of the second half of the season?"
"Um… yeah, that's right." I admit. "I have a lot of ideas, I just want to reflect a little longer…"
"Alright… Just so you know, I would like to produce the season finale too, if possible."
"Oh, sure." I nod. "You'll have to share with me though, because I was planning to co-finance it."
"I don't mind." She smiles.
"Julia, I'm so sorry for keeping you waiting!" Quinn suddenly says in an apologetic voice, barging into my office. "There was an issue with the costume department I urgently needed to solve…"
"No problem." Julia says. "It gave me the opportunity to chat with Santana. And Gabriel."
"Oh… hi, baby!" Quinn smiles, finally noticing my boy's presence. "Let me just give him a kiss, and we can go talk in my office."
A FEW DAYS LATER (EVENING TIME) – AT HOME
I have just gotten out of the car after a long day when Brittany opens the front door, with the dog and Diego both jumping up and down on each side of her.
"Mama! Mama!" Diego says, waving at me.
"Hiii!" I smile. "Wow, there's a whole committee to welcome me home!"
"These two have been impatiently waiting for you ever since they heard your car in the alley." Brittany laughs.
"Oh yeah? I missed you too, guys!" I smile again, taking my beautiful boy in my arms and petting Penny as she stands on two paws.
"Hi my loves…" I say, kissing Brittany's lips and carefully placing my free hand on her belly. "How are you feeling?"
"Feeling just fine." She smiles, shutting the door behind me. "How was your day?"
"Oh, well… Let's just say that coming home is by far the highlight of my day…" I sigh.
"I'm sorry, honey…"
"It's ok." I nod. "So, what did you do today, mijo?" I ask my Diego, placing another kiss on his cheek.
"I saw puppets!" He says enthusiastically.
"Puppets? At daycare?" I ask and he nods. "What kind of puppets?"
"Cwocodiles." He replies in his baby voice.
"Crocodiles!" I repeat. "Wooow! Were you scared?" I ask but he shakes his head no before giggling, and I can't help but laugh along with him.
"I hope you don't have plans for tonight…" Britt says, observing me and our son. "Because I swear, all I heard from the kids this afternoon was 'mama' here, 'mama' there! Gabriel is dying to sing this new song he learned at school for you, and Sofia asked me at least 10 times when you were coming come, because she couldn't wait to show you the very good grade she got for her writing skills. She's really proud of it!" She adds as I release Diego on the floor.
"And once they're all in bed, I will need your full and undivided attention, mama…" Britt whispers in a flirty tone between kisses, making me smile even wider.
God knows I've had a terrible day, because everything went wrong at Paramount today! But coming home to them totally makes up for it…
A FEW DAYS LATER (OCTOBER) – AT PARAMOUNT – IN SANTANA'S OFFICE
"I'm sorry… what?!" Quinn says, looking at me in shock.
"I've been thinking about it… and I've decided that this season will be the last one." I repeat once more, keeping our eyes locked.
"But you can't be serious!" Quinn raises her voice, frowning in protest. "San, the show is doing really well, we have the best ratings we've ever had! And we have so many investors knocking on our door that I don't even know what to do with all this money… We can't possibly walk away now!"
"It's actually why I want to walk away now, Q…" I reply. "You know it's better to end a show while it's in its full glory than dragging it on until it falls into oblivion. Besides, we're getting very close to the point I always imagined as the end of the show… And since Netflix ordered 20 episodes, we have enough time to nicely wrap up everyone's storyline." I argue, even if I'm leaving out yet another reason behind this decision: I also want to stay at home once the baby is here.
"Who else knows about this?" She asks.
"Just Brittany." I shrug. "I didn't want to tell anyone else before I told you… But I'm meeting Artie later today and I plan to tell him too."
"But you haven't told Patricia Miller yet, right?" She asks and I shake my head no. "Okay... then, at least, you still have time to change your mind."
"I'm sorry, Q, but I'm not going to change my mind." I warn. "I know this comes as a surprise to you, I get it… But I didn't make this decision lightly, you know… I thought about it for weeks."
"But are you really sure this is what you want to do?" She insists. "It's a big decision, San. Maybe you should take more time to think about it."
"I don't need more time to think about it, Quinn! I know in my guts that this is the right call." I say in a sure voice, staring into her eyes to make it clear that I mean it.
"I just… I always knew it would come to an end someday, but I didn't think it would come this quickly…" She eventually admits in a sad voice, after a long moment of silence.
"I know… But we still have an entire season to enjoy before the final curtain falls…" I say to cheer her up, squeezing her hand. "And I promise you it's going to be the best season we've ever made!"
LATER THAT DAY (EVENING TIME) – AT HOME – BRITTANY's POV
I'm watching TV in the living room when I suddenly hear the front door open. Barely a few seconds later, I see a gloomy Santana curl up next to me on the couch and lay her head on my lap, without saying a word.
"Bad day…?" I ask, caressing her hair softly.
"Terrible…" She mumbles, her hand resting on my knee. "I finally told Quinn that I was planning to end the show this Spring and she took it really badly…" She sighs.
"Oh, honey… She's probably just in shock." I shrug. "She'll come around, she just needs some time to process the news."
"Honestly, I'm not sure she will…" She sighs again. "She kept telling me to think about it some more before making my final decision. And even though I told her I wouldn't change my mind, I'm so not used to Quinn disagreeing with me that it's fucking with my head!" She confesses. "Am I making a mistake, Britt?" She eventually asks, turning around to lock her worried eyes with mine.
"I can't tell you what to do here, San… But if you really feel the show has run its course, you should trust your judgement."
"I do feel it has run its course." She nods in confirmation. "Ever since I wrote the pilot, I know exactly what I want the last episode to be, and we're getting there."
"Then it's the right decision." I say, kissing her forehead.
"So, why do I feel so shitty about it?" She asks in a desperate voice.
"Because it's the end of an era…" I shrug. "The show has been such a big part of your and Quinn's lives for the past six years, it's only natural to be sad about it. But you still have a few months to wrap your head around it and once it's all over, you both will eventually move on to other things." I say, adjusting my position to be able to spoon her.
A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER (EVENING TIME) – AT THE PUB – SANTANA's POV
Puck and I have been sitting at the bar for 20 minutes but he has yet to say a word.
"You know I could be at home cuddling with Brittany right now?" I break the silence, getting impatient. "But I blew her off to come to this dump, because you said you had something important to discuss with me. So, start talking, Puckerman."
"Fine…" He sighs, taking a long sip from his scotch.
"I heard you're going to end Glee." He eventually says.
"Yeah, so?" I frown in confusion.
"Well… the other day, Quinn said she had no idea what she would do once the show is over. So, I told her she could just take some time for herself, you know?" He says and I nod silently. After all, it's good advice, Quinn could definitely use a break.
"And then, I told her that since she would be free from any obligation, it would perhaps be a good time to… start a family." He says. "But she got really angry at me, and… well, now I'm sleeping on the couch."
"God, you're such a moron…" I sigh, shaking my head.
"What?" He shrugs, obviously not understanding what he could possibly have done wrong. "She said in the past that given all the work you guys had at Paramount, it was not the right time to get pregnant. So, I figured that now that –"
"Glee never was the problem, you genius." I cut him off. "Trust me, I know. Because not so long ago, I was just like her."
"What is the problem then?" He asks, confused.
"She's just scared!" I say, pointing the obvious. "And when you tell her something like 'Hey, honey! How about we try to make a baby in May?', she sees it as a deadline pressuring her to do something she's clearly not ready for yet."
"But I didn't mean it as a deadline!" He objects, raising his hands. "I just suggested that, since she's in between professional projects, it might be a good time to launch our own 'personal project'…" He argues. "Is that so crazy? I know she wants a family too, Lopez. She said it before!"
"No, it's not crazy." I admit. "And of course, she wants a family. She told me as well…"
"Then, what do I do now?" He asks. "I mean, I assume I have to back off, but… is there anything I can do to help her be less scared about it?"
"Maybe. But you're not going to like my answer." I warn him.
"Try me."
"Well, as I told you, I used to be just like her… I also wanted a family, but the idea of being someone's mom terrified me! I barely had it together, so how could I be in charge of another human being?" I argue. "But what helped me was knowing that no matter how scary the shit would get, Brittany would be by my side every step of the way. So, if you really want to be a father… maybe it's time to get out of your Air Force missions." I eventually add, making him frown.
"Come on, Puckerman… I know how much you love Quinn, but you've got to admit that you're often absent…" I shrug. "I see her every single day, and I can tell how lonely she is when you're on mission. Frankly, I think this is also why she's freaking out so much about Glee coming to an end. At least, the show keeps her busy when you're away." I explain. "But it doesn't change the fact that every time something shitty happens in your absence – like her car that broke down last year, or that leak in the house a few months ago – she has to deal with it on her own. And do you remember how stressed she was when she had to plan your wedding all by herself? You even called me to look after her! So, can you really blame her for not jumping into making a baby in these circumstances?"
"I guess you have a point…" He finally admits.
"Yeah. In case you forgot, I'm always right."
A FEW DAYS LATER – AT DR. MONTGOMERY'S OFFICE – BRITTANY's POV
"Do you still experience morning sickness?" Dr. Montgomery asks me as I lie on the examination table.
"Well, the meds you prescribed last time have been helping a lot… I occasionally still have light nausea but I don't vomit anymore."
"Good. Maybe you could try to decrease it to half a pill now, and even see if you can gradually stop. But if you throw up again, go back to the full dose." She advises.
"In any case, your blood test is excellent, Brittany." She adds, going through the different sheets of paper while I exchange a smile with Santana. "Are you ready to take a look?"
"More than ready!" I nod in confirmation. This is the very first ultrasound and I can't wait to finally see our baby…
"Alright, take a deep breath, relax… and here we go…" Dr. Montgomery says, looking attentively at the screen.
Even if I'm excited, I'm also a bit nervous, which is not lost on Santana, given the way she's grazing the back of my hand with her fingertips. She knows I've always found that soothing.
"Well, everything looks fine!" Dr. Montgomery eventually says, making me so relieved. "So, without any further ado… this, ladies, is your baby." She points at the screen as Santana squeezes my hand tighter.
Even though I've been through this before, I still feel the same strong emotion taking over me every time I meet one of my children for the very first time… And judging by the sparkles in Santana's eyes, I'm not the only one…
"Wait, there's just one baby this time, right?" My Latina suddenly asks the doctor. "Because I don't think I could handle another multiple pregnancy… I mean, we already have three monsters at home, four if you count the dog, so…"
"Just one." Dr. Montgomery confirms with a chuckle.
"Oh thank God…" Santana sighs in relief.
A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER (EVENING TIME) – AT THE PUB – SANTANA's POV
"Here you go…" I say, bringing Quinn and Artie their drinks.
"So, what are we doing here?" Quinn immediately asks me, jaded. "You usually bring us to the pub when you have bad news, but I don't see what could possibly be worse than you cancelling the show." She argues, making me sigh. Ever since I decided to end Glee, she has been in a terrible mood.
"It's not only for bad news! I brought you here to celebrate when we signed the deal with Netflix!" I argue.
"Yeah, well, I think this is not why we are here today, is it?" She says in a provocative tone, crossing her arms.
Damn, I hope Puckerman is on a short mission this time, because she needs to get laid!
"Maybe we should just listen to what Santana has to say…" Artie suggests, looking a lot calmer than Quinn.
"Thank you." I say, turning to him. "So, I wanted you to know that I had a meeting with Patricia Miller this morning, and I told her I was planning to end the show at the end of the season."
"Did she go against it?" Quinn is quick to ask, with hopeful eyes.
"No." I frown. "You know she has no right to oppose it! Our contract specifies that as long as there is sufficient funding and good ratings, I'm the only one that can end the show! Me, Quinn." I repeat, to make sure she understands once for all that this is my call.
"So, why are we here if the show can't be saved?" She rolls her eyes, sighing.
"I'm sorry, is it a torture for you to have a drink with your friends or what?!" I ask, sick of her attitude. "Believe it or not, I do have some good news for you, even if it's not about Glee. I talked to Patricia about you and Artie, and she assured me that you two will always be part of the Netflix family and she would be happy to work with you again. She has several series and movie projects in the pipeline that she's ready to discuss with you, Artie, to see if you would want to direct any of them. As for the sourpuss here…" I say, turning to Quinn. "She said she's ready to hire you as a writer, or even a showrunner. Talk about upgrade!" I add, raising my hands.
"And who said I was interested?" Quinn argues in a cold voice before walking away, leaving us both stunned.
"She'll come around…" Artie eventually says in a compassionate voice.
"I hope so…" I sigh.
"Are you also pissed at me?" I ask.
"Honestly, your decision caught me by surprise… But no, I'm not mad. We had a good run…" He shrugs. "And I really appreciate that you talked to Patricia Miller about us."
At least, someone appreciates it…
A FEW DAYS LATER (BRUNCH TIME) – AT HOME
"There is my little man!" Sam smiles at the sight of Gabriel and rushes to bump his fist against my boy's, making explosion sounds. "How are you, buddy?"
"Good!" Gabriel replies proudly.
"I like the sound of that! So, tell me… What game are we going to play today?"
"The plane!" Gabriel says in an over-excited tone.
"Oh, that's an excellent idea!"
"Well, then you have got to do that before we eat, otherwise the boy is going to throw up his lunch." I warn.
"Wait, before Sam goes play with the kids, there's something we would like to talk to you about." Mercedes suddenly says, looking at me and Brittany.
"Now?" Sam whispers to Mercedes and she nods silently, leaving us confused.
"Okay, um… Go play with your brother and sister, bud. I'll be there in a minute". Sam says while I watch my son run towards his siblings.
"Um… Is everything okay?" I ask, getting concerned.
"Yeah, yeah… Everything is fine!" Mercedes nods to reassure us. "It's just that…" She trails off, turning to Sam.
"It's just that…" He repeats, pausing for a brief moment. "Well, I guess there's only one way to say this, so… we're going to have a baby!" He eventually adds, leaving us in shock.
"Oh my God, guys! That's wonderful news!" Brittany says in an enthusiastic voice, as we both get up to give them a warm hug. "When are you due?" She asks Mercedes, holding both of her hands.
"March." She smiles while I exchange a quick look with Brittany. I know we're thinking the same thing: this means that our babies will be born barely two months apart. I'm sure she wants to tell them as much as I do, but it's still too early for that…
"Do you know what you're having?" I eventually ask.
"A boy!" Sam replies with a smile.
"So, since I'll be surrounded by men, I might ask you to send me Sofia more often, especially when I'm in desperate need of girl power…" Mercedes sighs, making us laugh.
ONE WEEK LATER (EVENING TIME) – AT THE DANCE SEMINAR
Even though the seminar has not started yet and people are only getting to their seats, Brittany already can't stop clicking her pen, a clear sign that she's nervous.
"Look at all these people…" She says, her desperate eyes pleading me to take her away from here. "I'm not good at talking in public… Mike usually handles this kind of things. I can't believe he got sick…" She sighs. "I'm afraid I'll say the wrong thing, or stutter, or worse… freeze!"
"It's going to be okay, honey…" I say, grabbing her free hand in mine. "Your speech is great! And if you don't remember what to say, you can always look at your cards." I suggest. "And if you feel overwhelmed, just look at me." I smile, placing a soft kiss on her lips.
"Thanks for coming with me…" She says, squeezing my hand in gratitude.
"Of course, wifey!" I smile.
"Well, they really accept anybody to this event these days…" We suddenly hear a voice say behind us, making us turn around.
"James." Brittany says in a surprised tone while I drop my jaw in shock.
God, what is this fucker doing here?!
But when I see Hannah Cross on his arm, I understand that he's just her plus one. It's actually not surprising that she was invited tonight, considering that she runs a dance school too…
"Why don't you go find our seats, honey?" He asks Hannah, much to my surprise. They're dating again?!
"I'll be there in a minute, just the time to 'catch up' with my old friends here…" He smiles as Hannah walks away.
"We're not friends." Brittany says in a firm voice, staring at him.
"Well, you and I could have actually been more than friends if you weren't a dumb girl that chose to settle for mediocrity." He replies, nodding towards me to make it clear that by mediocrity, he means me.
"Excuse me?!" Brittany says in an upset tone while I watch him grin in satisfaction. Of course, he wants to provoke her, just like he did with me so many times.
"Come on, Britt, let's go…" I suggest in a soft voice, grabbing her arm.
"Oh, you're leaving already? It was really nice to see you!" He says sarcastically as I hurry to lead Brittany further away.
"That man is so awful!" She says once we are far enough from James. "What is he even doing here?! And the things he says… God, I just want to shut his mouth!" She confesses, unusually mad.
"You shouldn't get angry over him, honey… He's not worth it! And it's not good for the baby." I remind her.
"How come you're so calm?!" She asks me, not believing her ears. "It's not like you…"
"I told you before… Every time I put him back in his place, he goes on doing something even worse! Think about it… At first, he was just trying to seduce you, but it has escalated so much since then!" I say. "I'm still convinced he's the one behind the sabotage of your dance school. And you know how dramatic it could have been, Brittany… The school could have caught fire when you or the kids were there…" I argue. "God knows how far will he go next time!"
"I hate that he dared call you 'dumb'… I wish I could punch his face again, but if I do, he's going to get all fired up… And I don't want to give him any reason to revive his obsession with us, especially now that you're pregnant! I'm actually relieved you don't show yet, because I certainly don't want that man to know we're expecting… I just want him to forget us once for all! That's the only reason I'm keeping 'my cool'…" I say, using air quotes. "Besides, I heard something very interesting about him today, something he doesn't even know yet…"
"What do you mean? What did you hear?" She asks, hanging on my every word.
"Well, I got a call from Mason earlier."
"The private detective?" She asks in surprise. "Is he still working for you?"
"He's not investigating anymore, but I asked him to warn me if James was coming to L.A." I say. "So, he called me to say that James had taken a flight to California, and –"
"And you didn't tell me?!" She cuts me off, frowning.
"Well, you were already so nervous about your speech, I didn't want you to worry about him on top of that. And frankly, I didn't expect he would show up at the seminar, since it's only for schools of the area." I shrug. "But anyway, according to Mason, James will be arrested in the coming weeks. Apparently, the police has been watching him for a while and he's about to be charged with embezzlement. They're gathering evidence against him."
"Oh my God, are you serious?" She asks with open eyes while I nod in confirmation.
"Mason said that although James only embezzled small amounts of money at a time, they believe he has done it from many different sources. So, he's likely to do time in jail…"
"I would have never imagined that…" She eventually confesses after a moment of silence.
"I know, but that's not entirely surprising either… He's a bad man." I shrug. "At least, it looks like karma is finally catching up with him! And who knows, maybe the police investigation will also uncover evidence that he is responsible for the dance school sabotage… But to be honest, at this point, all I care about is for him to be out of our lives."
"Me too…" She admits, nodding. "And you know he's wrong, right? I didn't settle for 'mediocrity', I settled for greatness." She says, holding my cheek.
"Oh, I know he's definitely wrong, because my wife is not 'dumb'. She's a freakin' genius!" I reply, kissing her lips.
ANOTHER WEEK LATER (NOVEMBER) – AT HOME – BRITTANY's POV
It's already early evening when I come home after my dance classes. I find Santana waiting for me in the hallway, with a mischievous smile on her face.
"Hi…" I say, finding this suspicious.
"Hi, honey!" She smiles again, kissing my lips.
"What's going on?" I eventually ask.
"I kind of improvised us a date night…" She says with sparkling eyes. "At home." She's quick to add, much to my relief. I'm so tired these days that I wouldn't have had the energy to go out anyway.
"Nice!" I smile. "So, what's on the program?"
"Well, first, as you can tell by the unusual silence surrounding us, the kids are not here." She says, making me chuckle. "Sofia couldn't stop talking about Naya, so I arranged a sleep over at her house. And Mercedes and Sam actually begged me to have the boys overnight, to 'practice parenting'." She says, using air quotes. "So, on my way back from their house, I went to the market, and to the butcher, to make a nice homecooked meal for my pregnant wife and my baby. And I don't want to brag, but I think I outdid myself." She adds in a proud voice.
"Oh, San… That's so sweet!" I say, touched that she went through all this trouble just for me.
LATER THAT NIGHT – IN THE BATHROOM
I sigh in contentment, feeling more relaxed than ever in Santana's arms, as she sits behind me in our bathtub.
"A homecooked meal, a relaxing bath, and you… That's exactly what I needed." I confess while she nibbles at my neck.
"And it's not over…" She says. "Once we're done with our bath, I plan to give you the best massage you've ever had!"
"Mmh, you're spoiling me…"
"You deserve to be spoiled, Brittany…" She says, kissing my shoulder.
A FEW DAYS LATER - AT DR. MONTGOMERY'S OFFICE
"I've also received your latest test results, and you and your baby are perfectly healthy. Everything is progressing as expected." Dr. Montgomery says, making me smile. All I ask is for our miracle baby to be fine…
"And if you want to know the gender, I have it right here…" She suddenly adds, placing her hand flat on the folder. I immediately turn to Santana, who nods silently in approval.
"Yes, we would like to know the gender." I eventually confirm. We've never been patient enough to keep it a surprise anyway.
"Alright. Well… You're expecting a little girl!" The doctor announces with a smile.
"You don't say…" Santana mumbles ironically.
She predicted we would have a daughter as soon as I got pregnant. 'This baby has Lopez DNA, Britt. Of course it's going to be a girl!' She had explained.
"And here is a printed picture from today's ultrasound. I thought you would want to kee –" Dr. Montgomery trails off when her phone vibrates. "I'm sorry, I have to take this. I'll be right back." She says, leaving us alone in her office.
"So… It looks like you will have to deal with yet another Lopez girl at home…" Santana says as we look at the picture together. "She's probably going to be a pain in the ass too, you know… Are you sure you're up for it?"
"Oh, I couldn't be happier! My heart beats for Lopez girls…" I admit with a smile, cupping her cheek to press my lips on hers.
ONE WEEK LATER – AT PARAMOUNT – IN SANTANA'S OFFICE – SANTANA's POV
"Come in…" I say, after hearing someone knocking on my door.
"Hi you! I hope I'm not disturbing you?" Brittany asks, popping her head through the door.
"You're never disturbing me!" I reassure her with a smile, getting up from my chair. "And I love your surprise visits…" I add, kissing her lips. "Did you just get here?"
"Well, not exactly… I ran into Artie on my way here, so I spoke with him for a while." She says. "By the way, how come you didn't tell me he had a new girlfriend?!"
"Ah, yeah, he's seeing one of our production assistants, Lori." I confirm. "I don't know, I guess I was waiting to see if it gets serious."
"It sounds pretty serious to me…" She says. "They've been together for six months, and he –"
"Six months?!" I repeat in shock, cutting her off. "He only told me about her something like a month ago!"
"Well, I guess they dated secretly for a while…"
"That little fucker!" I frown. "How did I even miss that? I usually notice this kind of things!"
"I suppose they were discreet." She shrugs. "But I've got to tell you, he really sounds like a man in love when he talks about her! We should invite them over for dinner, I want to meet her." She says while I sigh.
"What's the matter? You don't want to?"
"I don't really care about Wheels' love life." I shrug. "The only time I did was when he was dating you." I add through gritted teeth.
"You know you don't have to be jealous of him anymore, right? Considering that I'm married to you and I'm carrying your child, it's water under the bridge now." She says, kissing my lips.
"You're right, I so won." I comment proudly, making her chuckle.
"Yes, you did." She smiles, giving me another kiss. "But Artie is still our friend, and I want to make sure that this Lori is good enough for him."
"Fine..." I sigh in defeat. "Invite them over…"
A FEW DAYS LATER (THANKSGIVING EVE) – AT HOME
"So, you're actually our first guests since we finished the renovations… But I'm sure you'll appreciate the extra comfort." I tell our parents and Abuela, as they follow me through the new hall connecting our house to Sean and Megan's former house. "See, it only takes a minute to get to the kitchen in the other house… and behind this door, we have Brittany's new dance room."
"Oh wow, it's huge!" Whitney says, looking around with open eyes.
"Yeah, it's 30% bigger than the old dance room…" Brittany confirms. "And it's soundproof!"
"Amazing…" Her mom comments as we leave the room to continue the tour.
"And here, as you can see, we have the stairs." I say. "But after what happened to Abuela this year, we also decided to install a lift, so that –"
"I can climb the stairs just fine, mija!" Abuela objects, crossing her arms.
"I know you can." I say. "But it's not just for you, Abuelita… What if any of us is too old to take the stairs someday, or has a broken leg? What if Artie needs to stay over? This lift can come in handy." I explain as we get to the first floor.
"So, on this floor, there is a bathroom…" I say, as we pass in front of the open door. "There is also another small shower next door, a toilet, and across the hall… we have your new bedrooms, ladies and gentlemen!"
"Oh, I love this kind of furniture!" My mom says in an enthusiastic voice, running her hand over the top of the dresser.
"I know… I picked it just for you." I smile. "So, dad… What do you think?" I ask, knowing how picky he can be.
"Well, I must say it looks pretty nice, mija…" He admits timidly, and I take it as a huge personal victory. God knows he and I have often fought about this house, but I'm glad he can finally acknowledge that Brittany and I made a nice home for ourselves.
THANKSGIVING DAY – AT HOME
"You ordered our Thanksgiving dinner?!" Abuela repeats, outraged.
"Well, yeah." I confirm. "Since you all got here yesterday, I figured that you would be too tired to help me cook…" I shrug. "And there's just too much to do on my own."
I hope she's not going to argue that Brittany could help me out, because now that she's pregnant, cooking makes her nauseous…
"But Thanksgiving is sacred, mija! There are certain things our family must eat today, it's tradition." She argues.
"Don't worry, Abuelita. I hired a Hispanic caterer, so I promise we will have everything we usually eat." I reassure her.
"I sure hope so. Because if that caterer ruins my Thanksgiving, I promise he'll hear from me! And you too, Santana." She warns while I roll my eyes.
"Before we sit down for dinner, there is something that Sofia wanted to tell you all…" Brittany suddenly says, probably trying to calm things down. "Peanut? Do you want to tell your big news to your grandparents now?" She suggests and our little girl immediately runs to us, all excited.
"You remember what you want to say?" Brittany asks her in a whisper, and Sofia nods.
"So… what's your big news, mija?" My mom asks her with a smile.
"We're getting a baby sister in May!" Sofia screams with a mix of enthusiasm and pride, leaving all the grandparents in shock – just like the kids were a few days ago, when we told them.
FLASHBACK TO A FEW DAYS AGO – AT HOME
"A little sister?!" Sofia repeats in an excited tone, looking at us with open eyes.
"Yes…" Brittany confirms with a wide smile.
"And she'll play with me?" She asks in a hopeful voice, turning to me.
"Of course!" I nod. "Well, not right away though… You will have to wait a little bit, like you did with your brothers, because brand new babies don't play. They mostly eat and sleep."
"And cry." Sofia adds.
"They sure do…" I sigh at the thought of the short nights that await us.
"Then I don't want her in my room!" Diego suddenly objects, pouting.
"She won't be in your room, buddy." Brittany reassures him. "She'll have her own room, just like you all."
"Does she like dinosaurs?" Gabriel asks me, curious.
"Um… I don't know, mijo." I say, surprised by his random question. "We'll have to ask her when she's here."
PRESENT TIME
"Wait, what?" Abuela turns to me with a frown, clearly not expecting that. "But… you said like a hundred times that you were done having children." She argues, as if we were pranking them.
"I know… But we changed our mind." I shrug, handing them a picture from the last ultrasound.
"Oh my God!" My mom and Whitney are the first ones to scream in joy, as they finally understand it's real: they're going to be grandparents again. They immediately get up from the couch to come hug us tight, closely followed by our dads and Abuela.
"So… which one of you is pregnant?" My mom eventually asks, her eyes going back and forth between me and Brittany.
"Mommy is!" Sofia answers before we can.
"Oh, honey…" Whitney says in an emotional voice, hugging Brittany again, before taking a step back to look at her belly.
"I'm not showing yet, but… she's in there." Britt nods, smiling big.
LATER THAT NIGHT – AT HOME
"Given the circumstances, none of us could get pregnant on their own." Brittany explains, as we tell our parents about her unusual pregnancy. "But with the help of modern medicine, we combined our strengths and found a way to make this baby… She will have Santana's genes but I will give birth to her." She smiles, squeezing my hand resting on her thigh.
"And she will actually be Sofia's biological sibling, because we used the same donor." I add.
"Well, the first one turned out pretty great!" My mom says, making both of us smile.
"Have you picked a name yet?" Brittany's dad asks but we both shake our heads no.
"I'm on it!" Abuela immediately says, scribbling something on her notepad while I roll my eyes, aware that I'll spend the next six months hearing the most horrendous baby names…
EVEN LATER – AT HOME – BRITTANY's POV
"Brittany, if you have a moment, I would like to ask you something…" Abuela suddenly says, taking a seat next to me on the couch while the others are still talking at the table.
"Sure!" I smile, curious.
"There is this ancient belief, although it's more of a prayer, really… to protect the baby to come." She says. "According to tradition, the prayer must be said out loud by the oldest member of the family – that would be me – while they keep their hand on the mom's pregnant belly. I did it with Santana, when she was expecting Sofia, but I didn't dare to ask you when you were pregnant with the twins, because I didn't want to overstep my boundaries… But then, you got into a car accident and the boys almost died before being born, so… I was thinking that if you're comfortable with that, this time I –"
"Of course." I immediately nod before she finishes her sentences, grabbing her hand to put it on my stomach.
She gives me a timid smile in response and I keep my eyes on her as she starts reciting something in Spanish. Her hand feels warm on my belly, as if she was sending me all her positive energy, until she eventually ends the prayer with a sign of the cross.
"Thank you…" I say in a grateful voice, smiling at her.
"You're such a blessing, Brittany." She says, taking my face in her hands. "You make Santana happy, I can see it…"
"I thank God for you every day." She eventually confesses, making my heart swell. It's so moving to hear these words coming from her, especially since she initially rejected the very idea of me and Santana. She really has come a long way…
MUCH LATER THAT NIGHT
"You look happy..." Santana says with a smile, joining me in bed.
"I am happy." I confirm, smiling back at her. "I have a great job, a beautiful home, a lovely wife, wonderful kids… and a new baby on the way…" I add with an even bigger smile, gently rubbing my belly. "And I'm so glad the whole family knows now… It makes it even more real."
"I know… I'm so happy we can finally tell other people!" She agrees. "By the way, I think we should tell Quinn next. And Mike, so he has time to find your replacement."
"You're right." I nod. "Let's tell them next week."
A FEW DAYS LATER (DECEMBER) – AT HOME – SANTANA's POV
"Oh my God, you've got to be kidding me!" Quinn reacts in an upset tone to our baby announcement, sending us a death glare before getting up from the couch.
"Quinn!" Puck scolds her, obviously as stunned as us by her strong reaction. But she keeps walking towards the garden, without saying a word.
"I've got it…" I say, placing my hand on Brittany's arm so that she won't get up.
I take my time to walk my way to Quinn, assuming that she could use the extra minute to cool off. I eventually find her at the back of our garden.
"You want to tell me what happened back there?" I ask behind her, making her turn around.
"I'm sorry…" She sighs. "I didn't mean to be such a bitch… You know I'm thrilled for you and Brittany, right? And I already love your baby with all my heart, I do! It's just that…" She trails off.
"It's just that… what?" I ask. "What's going on, Quinn? You've been a pain for weeks now!"
"I know…" She admits, nodding. "I just feel like… my life is being turned upside down." She shrugs. "First, you unexpectedly decide to end the show. Then, there is Puck, who has been nagging me about having a baby… And now, with Mercedes being pregnant, and you and Britt repopulating the planet, it will just give him more reasons to argue that we should get started too."
"It's not a race, Q…" I say. "It's not because we are having children now that you have to. If it's not the right time, just tell Puck, he will understand."
"It's not the right time." She immediately confirms. "There are already too many things changing, I don't need to add one more…" She sighs.
"What is changing?"
"Everything!" She replies. "I mean, Mercedes was so reluctant to have kids any time soon, and now, she's glowing about it! You kept insisting that you would never have any more kids, but here you are, having yet another one." She says. "How did Brittany even manage to convince you this time?"
"It was my idea, actually."
"What?" She frowns in confusion.
"I'm the one who suggested to have another baby..." I clarify, while she looks at me in shock.
"Who are you?!" She eventually asks, raising her hands in disbelief.
"I just see life differently since the earthquake, Q…" I shrug. "It made me realize that life is short, and I just want to spend the time I have left being happy. And do you know when I'm at my happiest? When I'm with Brittany and our children are running around laughing." I confess. "So, yeah, I wanted to bring another one into the world, while we still can. And now, there is this little lady who is going to enter my life in a few months, and I don't want to miss out on precious moments like I did with the boys. I want to be there, from the first smile and the first giggle, to the first steps and the first words. So, that's yet another reason why I wanted to end Glee soon."
"I understand all that, but you're taking my job in the process, San… And I really love that job!" She eventually confesses in a sad tone and I don't say anything, because I can tell she needs to get it off her chest.
"It's not just because I get to work with you and Artie, or because it's fascinating and creative…" She continues. "You heard some of the fan stories that Naya and Heather shared: there are actual people who found the courage to come out to their families thanks to our show! And others who got over suicidal thoughts because our characters made them feel less lonely…" She shrugs. "I know it's just TV, but with Glee, I feel like I'm actually helping people and making the world a better place."
"You can still do that, even when Glee is over, Q…" I shrug. "You're really good at your job, you know… And I'm not saying that because we're friends. There's a reason why Patricia Miller is ready to hire you as a showrunner: your work speaks for itself! And for what it's worth, I think you should take her up on her offer… I know that change can be scary but sometimes, it's a good thing. You could find another show, or a movie, that inspires you, and keep challenging people's mindsets. There are so many themes you could explore… The sky is the limit!"
"Maybe…" She eventually admits in a whisper.
LATER THAT DAY – AT HOME
"Hey…" Puck says, joining me in the kitchen. "With all the drama, I didn't get a chance to congratulate you." He adds, opening his arms for a hug.
"Thanks…" I say, hugging him back.
"I should have known that if any woman were to find a way to trick nature and knock up their wife, it would be you, Lopez."
"I didn't really knock her up…"
"Isn't it thanks to you that she got pregnant?"
"Well, yeah, in a way… But –"
"And isn't she carrying your baby, like your actual DNA?" He argues while I find myself at a loss for words.
"See, you did knock her up." He shrugs, making me chuckle. "I'm really happy for you, you know… And I'm sure your little girl is going to be a great kid, just like her siblings."
"Thank you." I say in gratitude, touched by his words.
"I'm sorry Quinn reacted so badly though…" He adds with apologetic eyes.
"Don't worry. We had a good talk and we're okay." I nod, to reassure him. "But if I were you, I wouldn't bring up the baby talk for a while… At least, not until you can find a way to get out of your missions."
"Yeah, it's pretty clear she's not ready…" He sighs. "I talked to my Lieutenant though, and I might have found a way to get out of missions."
"Oh, yeah?" I ask, curious.
"Yeah, he said they actually need someone to train the new recruits, so I'm going to apply for the job." He says. "I would still get to fly since I would have to train new pilots, but I would come home every night…"
"That's great, Puckerman!" I smile, squeezing his arm.
"We'll see if they choose me though…" He says. "And I won't know for a few months."
"Well, it's probably for the best, it will give Quinn some time to calm down…" I say. "But make sure you show them you want it." I advise, pointing my index finger at him.
"I will." He nods.
A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER (EVENING TIME) – AT PARAMOUNT – IN SANTANA'S OFFICE
"Please, say something…" I beg Naya as we sit alone in my office.
She opens her mouth a couple of times but no words come out, as if she didn't know what to say… Or maybe it's still sinking in.
"When you said you wanted to talk to me after everyone had gone home, I figured it was about something confidential… But I didn't expect you to tell me you were ending the show!" She eventually says. "Honestly, I'm kind of shocked here, Lopez…"
"I'm sorry… If it's any consolation, it's not exactly easy for me to announce either. That's why we're doing this with alcohol!" I say, pointing at our shots. "But you know as much as I do that finishing Glee is actually better for your career… Now, at least, you won't have to turn down the many showrunners and movie directors that keep courting you for the lead role."
"I guess." She sighs. "But I'm so deeply attached to this character, it's going to be really hard to say goodbye to her…"
"Tell me about it… I'm pretty sure I'm going to be a crying mess by the time we film the last scenes." I admit. "But even though your role as Santana Lopez is coming to an end, you'll still have the original Santana in your life!" I shrug with a small smile. "Because I hope you know you won't get rid of me that easily, Rivera… I have grown so fond of you that you and I are still going to hang out together long after the show is over!"
"You better…" She warns, pointing her index finger at me, before falling silent again.
"I know I kind of ruined your night with this announcement, so… maybe I could also share my other news with you? It is equally shocking but much happier." I tease.
"I'm intrigued…" She says, frowning in confusion.
"How about I tell you that… you're going to be an aunt again…?"
"Say what now?" She asks, dropping her mouth open in surprise.
"Brittany is pregnant, with a little girl…" I shrug. "She's due in May."
"Oh my God, Lopez!" She says, getting up to give me a bone-crushing hug. "Wait, we're happy about this, right?" She asks, just to make sure.
"Oh, we're over the moon…" I confirm with a smile.
ANOTHER COUPLE OF DAYS LATER (EARLY MORNING) – IN THE BATHROOM
I was so sleepy when my alarm clock went off this morning that I jumped into the shower, hoping that it would help me fully wake up.
I have been in the shower for barely two minutes when I suddenly hear Brittany's voice in the room.
"San?"
"Yeah?" I say, keeping my eyes closed because of the shampoo lather.
"Do you have to leave for work soon or do you have some time?"
"I have time, I don't have to leave before a couple of hours actually. Why?" I ask, trying to rinse the shampoo off my hair.
"Do you want some company?" I hear a lot closer, making me turn around to find Brittany standing in the shower, right in front of me.
"Well, hello…" I bite my lip, my eyes running up and down her naked body. Her breasts have obviously grown even more since the last time I saw them, but now, she also has a visible baby bump. It's small but it's there… And it's sexy as hell!
She smirks at me as her flirty eyes are locked with mine, clearly satisfied to see me checking her out.
"The kids are still asleep…" She whispers as she moves even closer, wrapping her arms around my waist as the running water soaks her hair.
Before I can say anything, she pulls me into a sensual kiss while her hands wander all over my body.
Well, that is most definitely going to wake me up…
"Since we're leaving for Lima in a few days, we should take advantage of the few moments we have alone until then…" She suggests between kisses.
Wait, does that mean she has reached the horny stage of her pregnancy…? Because I'm more than ready for that!
A FEW DAYS LATER (THE BOYS' THIRD BIRTHDAY) – IN LIMA – AT SANTANA'S PARENTS'
"Will you give Auntie Mel a kiss to thank her for the great birthday gifts she got you?" I ask my sons, as they both sit on Melissa's lap.
"Thank you!" Diego and Gabriel say in unison, each kissing one of Melissa's cheeks before she releases them to the ground.
"God, I love your kids…" She says.
"Well, in a few months, there will be one more to love." I smile.
"Oh, I can't wait to meet that little mini-San! And let me tell you: whoever ends up being her childhood best friend will be very lucky!" She says, making me smile even bigger.
"That reminds me, I have something to ask you." I say. "Brittany and I talked about this and… we would like you to be the baby's godmother… if you agree."
"Oh my God, are you kidding? I would love to!" She stands up, pulling me into a hug.
A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER (MORNING TIME) – IN SANTANA'S PARENTS' KITCHEN
"What the hell…" My dad suddenly mumbles while I finish my coffee, his eyes set on something in the corner of the room.
"No! Wait!" I hurry to say when I understand what's going on, but it's too late, he has already smashed the bug with his foot.
"Oh my God, what did you do…" I say, hiding my face in my hands in despair.
"What? It was a cockroach, it's disgusting!"
"Yeah, I agree with you, believe me…" I sigh. "But unless you want to attend its funeral, we need to remove any trace of what just happened. Now." I say, getting up.
"What?" He frowns in confusion.
"What do you think is going to happen when your animal-loving granddaughter and her hormone-driven pregnant mom see the dead cockroach?" I question. "There will be tears, you will be called a murderer and you will be forced to attend the bug's funeral."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes! Do you know how many of these funerals I've had to attend over the years? Cockroaches, spiders, flies… you name it! And that's not just the ones you kill! It's every time my girls find a dead creature, even of natural causes, like butterflies, or birds… Have you ever given an eulogy for a bee? Because I have!" I say, raising my hands. "And then, you'll have to find a little box, flowers, and bury the little guy in the garden."
"Oh…" He lets out once he understands that I'm actually not kidding.
"Come on, we have to clean this up before they get here for breakfast…" I say, hearing Brittany's voice in the next room.
"Okay, okay…" He says, grabbing a paper towel. "Here… it's gone."
"What do you think you're doing?" I ask when he's about to throw the towel in the kitchen bin. "Not here! If they see the 'corpse', they're going to interrogate all of us, until they find out who is responsible for it. And believe me, you don't want them to find out it's you! Go throw it in the outside garbage…" I advise, watching him hurry out of the room.
A FEW DAYS LATER (CHRISTMAS DAY) – AT SANTANA'S PARENTS'
The whole family is gathered in the living room for the Christmas present distribution, and I can't help but chuckle when I realize that Brittany is as excited as the kids, if not more!
"So, this one is for…" Britt trails off, whispering the mysterious name into Gabriel's ear.
"For you, mama!" He runs to me with a big smile, handing me the wrapped present.
"Aw, thank you, mijo!" I lift him to sit him on my lap and give him a kiss. "Oooh, apparently, it's Nana Alma who asked Santa to bring it to me! Come on, help me unwrap it, baby…" I tell my son who giggles as if it was for him.
"Spanish baby names?" I eventually say as I discover the book she got me.
"Yes, there are like 700 names in there!" Abuela says while I sigh at the names she wrote down on a post-it: Josefa, Melchora, and Fidelia.
It figures…
"Thanks, I… uh… I'll consider these…" I lie just in the spirit of Christmas, even though there is no way in HELL I'll give any of these names to my daughter.
LATER THAT DAY – AT SANTANA'S PARENTS'
Since Brittany was feeling a bit tired, she took a seat on the couch, and I sat right next to her to keep her company. Her head rests on my shoulder as we watch the kids operate their new remote-controlled car with their Abuelo, and I can't resist kissing her temple every now and then.
"Can you believe that next Christmas, we'll have one more child by our side?" She suddenly asks, rubbing her thumb on the back of my hand.
"I know… And even long before that!" I smile, knowing that she's already halfway through her pregnancy.
"You know, donating your egg to me was really the most wonderful gift you could have ever given me…" She says with her legendary luminous smile, before pressing her lips on mine.
TO BE CONTINUED...
A/N: So, there is a reason why this chapter is called "the end of an era". It's not just because Santana is ending Glee, it's also because we're getting close to the end of this story. There is at least one chapter left, maybe two (it also depends if I write an epilogue or not, I haven't decided yet). But that's why I struggled so much to write this chapter... It took me a long time to figure out where I wanted to go and include the elements I need to soon resolve whatever was left up in the air and wrap up everyone's storyline.
Now, I have lots of questions for you :-D Are you happy Brittana are expecting a little girl? (If you have any baby names to suggest, let me know!) Did Santana's decision to end the show or James' return surprise you? Do you understand why Quinn behaved the way she did?
As you know, we're approaching the anniversary of Naya's passing, that's why I wanted to make sure she would make an appearance in this chapter. It's also the opportunity to repeat that this story wouldn't exist without Naya. She's THE reason I even started to write in the first place. It was my way to honor her memory...
I hope you liked this chapter, and if there are things you want to see in the story, it's time to ask, because there won't be many other occasions… Thanks in advance for your comments and take care!