Chapter 5

Disclaimer: I don't own glee or this story


Two weeks later, Saturday 9am

Brittany was lying on Santana's chest listening to Taylor tell Skylar a story through the baby monitor, mixed in with Santana's soft snores underneath her. Santana worked a double shift the previous night to close out her third shift schedule, she was then off the weekend and starting her new hours of seven in the morning to five in the afternoon, Monday through Friday, and third hour shifts one weekend a month. She got home around two that morning, checked on her daughters, changed Skylar's diaper and rocked her back to sleep right away after, she then took a shower quickly and snuggled close behind Brittany in bed. Brittany felt her presence and woke up slightly, turning over to open her eyes just wide enough that Santana smiled when her brown eyes locked with the blue ones she loved so much, to say hello and good night with a soft kiss, before lying on her chest, while Santana held her tightly and fell asleep almost instantly.

"and then the dog chased the cat." Taylor said animatedly, causing Skylar to laugh.

Brittany laughed herself, noticing Skylar laughed whenever Taylor got louder when telling a part of the story. She felt two lips on her forehead as Santana's hand began to rub her back, as she woke up. She glanced up at her wife and saw her brown eyes staring at her. "Good morning." Santana said softly through a smile which turned into a yawn for a split second..

"Morning, baby." Brittany replied with a smile, shifting to lie next to Santana on the pillow so she could look at her. "How was work last night?"

"Saved a life and lost a life." She replied quietly before she leaned forward and kissed her good morning, she smiled into the kiss and broke it. "Last night was a little rough for me." She added lying back on her pillow and yawning slightly.

"Sorry to hear that, are you okay?" Brittany asked. "I know you take it bad when you lose someone on the table."

"This was a young girl, hit and run car accident with a drunk driver." Santana shook her head. "Senseless death, I knew it was a long shot when I started but I did everything I could, everything B."

"I know you did, how old was she?" Brittany asked.

"Only sixteen, just got her license a few days ago." She answered as Brittany laid back on her chest and positioned her chin on her chest to look up at her, flipping over to her stomach so she was more comfortable, linking her hand with Santana's. "Her mother's screams were so heartbreaking, I had to go get myself together in an on-call room." She shook her head. "I just kept imagining what if that was us with Taylor."

"Oh baby." Brittany shook her head. "You know you can't think like that after every surgery."

"I know, but it's hard sometimes, you know?" Santana replied.

"I bet you're such a good doctor and surgeon." Brittany reminded her. "Losing a patient doesn't change that." She shifted so she was cuddled in Santana's side and rested her head on her shoulder, placing a light kiss to her exposed collar bone.

"I know, Brit, thanks." Santana smiled and wrapped her arms around Brittany again. "How were the girls last night?"

"Good, Taylor helped Skylar with her floor puzzle most of the night." Brittany replied. "I was able to get a lot of work done, I hung out in the living room with them with my laptop."

"Well I start the first shift again on Monday, so I'll be able to help you out at night more." Santana smiled.

"I'm excited to have you home more at night." Brittany told her.

"I'm excited too." Santana nodded, running her fingers through Brittany's hair. "I just hope Skylar adjusts well, you know?"

"We took her for a few days last week and she interacted really well with the other kids." Brittany replied.

"Yeah, but we were in there with her." Santana replied, relaxing as Brittany ran her hand up and down her bare arm slowly. "She could turn and see me, you know? What if she freaks out because we aren't there?"

"Then knowing you, her amazing mami, you'll be lurking around the daycare every chance you get and she'll feel your presence and be fine." Brittany assured her. "She's social and you know the staff, she'll be fine."

"Mooooo!" Taylor stated through the monitor again. "You try Sky."

Brittany picked up the monitor and held it up so her and Santana could watch the girls on the screen. Santana slid over and lay on Brittany's chest, wrapping her arm around her waist tightly, exhaling softly when Brittan ran her fingers through her hair and they watched their daughters interact.

"Mooooo." Skylar giggled.

"She's so smart." Santana stated proudly, staring at the screen.

"Yeah she is, you did a great job with her during the day the past year." Brittany smiled and kissed the top of her head.

They watched Taylor grab a small step stool and place it in front of the crib and lift Skylar out, wrapping her sister's arms around her neck. "Hold on Sky Sky." She told her, waiting for Skylar to hug her back before carefully stepping down.

"She must be headed in here." Brittany smiled and set down the monitor.

"Did you put pajamas on last night or just a top?"

"I'm fully covered." Santana assured her just as the door opened and Taylor carried Skylar, who was in matching purple and black footed pajamas as her sister, in the room.

"Mami!" Skylar screeched as Brittany and Santana both sat up.

Santana ran her fingers through her hair, flipping it all to the back and wiggling her fingers to the baby when Taylor set her on the foot of the bed. Skylar stared at Brittany and Santana with a big smile before crawling towards Santana's open arms as Taylor hopped in bed and snuggled in Brittany's lap.

"Good morning girls." Brittany beamed, hugging Taylor tightly and leaning over to kiss Skylar, who waited with puckered lips, her new favorite thing to do.

"How do you sleep, Tay?" Santana asked, noticing Skylar's toy keys on the stand next to the bed and handing them to her.

"Good, I had a dream we got a dog." She wiggled her eyebrows.

"Oh, really?" Santana asked Brittany, who shook her head no.

The past two weeks Taylor hinted at wanted a puppy every chance she got, she was bring it up at dinner, she talked about it non stop in the car, and during the hour of computer time she was allowed to play games she looked up dogs of all breeds and would leave printouts on her mothers' be.

"Yep, and I think I like Golden Retrievers best." She nodded, wiggling to get comfortable in Brittany's lap. Brittany kissed the top of her head, thankful that Taylor was relatively small for her age and wasn't heavy since she still loved to cuddle with them.

"Those get pretty big." Santana told her as Skylar began to bounce in her lap happily, reaching for Santana's face.

"Yeah, but they are so nice and easy to train." Taylor smiled brightly. Santana glanced at Brittany again, before answering. "Dogs are nice but..."

"But they teach responsibility, they are good companions, and they protect us." Taylor interrupted her.

"There are a number of other things that teach responsibility as well, Tay." Santana told her, running her fingers through Skylar's thick hair to get a few

tangles out. "Cleaning up your room, washing the dishes, helping momma out with Sky, you know like when you get her bottles for us."

"And Skylar is a great companion." Brittany laughed. "She's always ready to play." She smiled, ticklig the baby, who kicked her legs and laughed loudly before leaning Santana's chest to hide her face.

"What about protection from a burglar?" Taylor asked. "A dog will protect us."

"My 22 and my 38 will protect us." Santana mumbled.

Brittany looked at her quickly. "Don't tell her that."

"What are those?" Taylor asked, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion.

"Nothing, Tay." Brittany exhaled. "Why don't you grab a small bottle for Sky for some breakfast then we all can go out for some breakfast."

"Okay." Taylor smiled. "Be right back, Sky." She somersaulted out of the bed and went running, causing Skylar to stand and make a move, but was sat back down Santana grabbed her.

"You can stay with me and momma." Santana told her. "Taylor will be back." "Tay." Skylar pointed towards the door.

"She'll be back, sweetheart." Brittany told her. "Do I get a hug?" She asked and opened her arms, as Santana handed her over.

"I'm going to rinse off in the shower and get dressed, then I'll get Sky dressed so you can get dressed." Santana stated hopping out of bed and going to the bathroom.


7pm

"Taylor try these on." Santana told her daughter to set down a pair of boots for her in front of the couch.

"Why?" Taylor asked, looking up at her mother then back to the shoes.

"Because I asked you to, honey, and I want to see if they still fit." Santana replied. "It's supposed to be a bad snowstorm next week and I want to make sure you're ready." She added, glancing at Skylar who was fast asleep next to Taylor on the couch, she repositioned the pillows so the baby wouldn't roll off, she noticed Skylar was sweating so she unzipped her pajamas a little. "Are they tight?" She asked Taylor when she jumped off the couch.

"A little." Taylor nodded.

Santana bent down and felt around the boot, pressing her thumb on the top of the shoe to feel Taylor's foot. "Is that your toe?"

"Yes." Taylor nodded.

"Okay, take them off." Santana told her. "We'll go get some new winter boots this week. I know Sky will need some too."

"Are you still going to get me after school?" Taylor asked.

"Your mom will pick you up now, sweetheart." Santana replied. "You have to say an extra hour in the after school program until she gets there, I get off after you get out."

"Oh, so I can use the computers there?" Taylor asked.

"I would prefer you started your homework, but yes you can use the computers there, that's an option." Santana nodded, picking Skylar up and setting her in the playpen off to the side. "Can you help me with dinner so momma can finish up some work?"

"Sure?" Taylor smiled. "What about Sky?"

"We'll let her sleep for another twenty minutes, then we'll get her up and she can help too." Santana told her.


Brittany was in her office going over her powerpoint presentation, while making additional notes on a few note cards when Santana walked in with a glass of wine and a glass of juice.

"It's Saturday night, so I brought wine, but you're working so I brought juice too." Santana laughed and set down both glasses for her.

Brittany looked up and took her reading glasses off. "Thanks." She laughed. "I'll take the wine, since the presentation is done and I'm just making note cards." She took a sip and exhaled in contentment. "Is this the bottle you bought today?"

"No, this was a gift I got a few years back." Santana shrugged.

"This is good." Brittany nodded. "Very smooth."

"I thought you would like it." Santana smiled and sat on the edge of the desk in front of Brittany, who leaned on her wife's thighs. "Sorry I'm working tonight, I just need to get this presentation down."

Santana massaged her shoulders and shook her head. "Not a big deal, you got set back when I was sick and had to work from home, I have it covered, the girls are fed and clean, the kitchen is clean from dinner, I'm just reading some medical journals in my office."

"Where's Tay?" Brittany asked.

"Coloring in her new dog themed coloring book, and Skylar is done for the night." Santana stated, slipping her hand in Brittany's sweater to rub her back.

"Dinner was amazing." Brittany smiled as she sat and pulled Santana to sit on her lap instead.

"Enchiladas are your favorite." Santana laughed and began to massage Brittany's shoulders again when she turned to straddle her, as her wife took a sip of wine.

"So we need to talk about Taylor wanting a dog." Brittany told her. "I say no." Santana shrugged.

"I say no, as well." Brittany nodded.

"Sweet, that was easy." Santana laughed.

"We are too busy, we're basically never home and now with your hours changing, we would be leaving the dog here for hours on hours by itself all day." Brittany noted, handing Santana the glass of wine and watching her take a sip, before handing it back.

"I agree Brit, I don't like pets at all." Santana told her. "I don't even want fish, it's just like adding another child."

"You want to have another one?" Brittany asked.

Santana stared at her. "I'm not saying no, but I'm not saying yes, I am saying I'm 36 years old." She stated carefully. "I'm in good shape but the risk at my age...the elevated percentages of complications..."

"I wish I could carry." Brittany mumbled sadly.

"I know." Santana replied quietly. "If you want another baby, we can, I mean, I'm not totally against it, but we would need to start sooner than later."

"I'm not saying I do." Brittany shook her head.

Santana raised an eyebrow at her. "This conversation just confused me." She admitted.

"Me too." Brittany laughed. "I've been staring at my screen for too long."

"Well, can you take the rest of the night off and come cuddle with me and watch TV." Santana asked her. "And we can discuss a baby too, if you want."

"Yeah, sounds good." Brittany smiled. "Give me a second to shut down everything.

"Okay." Santana winked at her and kissed her quickly before standing up and grabbing the glass of juice and leaving the office.

"I wish I could have a baby." Brittany sighed before stacking her papers and turning off the computer.


Monday 5:30am

Santana carried a half asleep Skylar down the stairs to the kitchen and set her in her high chair, watching her eyes widen when Santana quickly began to move around the kitchen and start breakfast. She made Skylar a bottle quickly adding some cereal to it while glancing at her occasionally.

"Here Sky Sky." She said softly to her when the baby grabbed the bottle and looked up at her sleepily. "I'm sorry you have to get up so early with me."

She then quickly made scrambled eggs, toast, and sausage, putting on a pot of coffee to brew, as she started to make lunches for both her and Skylar.

"Good morning." Brittany smiled walking in the kitchen and kissing Santana on the cheek. "Morning Sky." She then smiled and pinched her daughter's cheeks, who was now wide awake and smiling after eating half of her bottle.

"Morning B." Santana smiled, pouring Brittany a cup of coffee, and then filling her thermos for the car ride. "Where's Tay?"

"Right here, mami." Taylor nodded, hugging Skylar. "Will you be okay at daycare today?" She asked her sister.

Brittany looked up from the plate she was fixing Taylor and smiled, glancing at Santana, who was making a sandwich for herself, and looked over at Taylor as well.

"Don't share your pacifier with anyone, or your bottle." Taylor told her, rubbing Skylar's arms. "Mami says babies carry germs and you don't want any germs that aren't Lopez-Pierce germs." She told her, causing Santana to nod proudly, and Brittany to playfully roll her eyes. "You have to share your blocks and whatever else you play with, but don't let anyone bully you. I won't be there to snatch it back from them to give back to you."

Skylar stared at Taylor and offered her bottle to her with a smile.

"No thanks." Taylor shook her head, and rubbed her hand so Skylar would lift the bottle back to her mouth. "Umm, umm." She stuttered before sniffling. "Don't let anyone that's not mami take you out of the daycare, you have to scream real loud if that happens, mami knows your cry and she'll come running."

Brittany walked over to Taylor, as Santana set down the knife when they noticed how quiet the kitchen got, with the only sound being Taylor softly crying. Skylar was staring at her sister, a frown forming on her own face as she set her bottle down, getting upset that Taylor was upset.

Brittany kneeled down and hugged Taylor tightly from behind, rubbing her stomach softly. "She'll be okay today."

"Yeah, I'm in the hospital with her Tay." Santana assured her.

"What if she gets lonely because none of us are there?" Taylor asked as tears dripped down her face. "What if the teachers are mean to her or the other babies don't play with her."

Santana sat in the chair and opened her arms. "Come here Tay." She called her mother as Brittany kissed her on the cheek and tickled Skylar, who was staring at Taylor still, unsure of what she should do.

"I love that you are worried about Sky, you're such a good big sister, but she'll be fine. The staff has my pager number, and my cell phone number, and they have momma's cell phone number and momma's office number...so if anything happens we'll be notified right away, and I'll run as fast as I can through the hospital to get there." Santana told her.

"It's the same daycare you went to." Brittany stated setting her plate on the table for her. "Calm down, sweetheart."

"Fix yourself up before school." Santana told her, hugging her tightly. "We have to stay brave for Sky, remember?"

"Oh yeah, right." Taylor nodded and wiped her eyes. "You'll do great, Sky." She turned and gave her a thumbs up.

"Have some breakfast." Santana told her.

15 minutes later Santana was zipping up Skylar's jacket and grabbing her diaper bag to head to work. "Bye Taylor." Santana smiled. "Have a good day at school." She told her, kissing the top of her head. "Bye beautiful." She then winked at Brittany, and kissed her deeply, only stopping when Skylar grabbed Santana's cheek.

"Bye Sky." Brittany kissed all over her face, as Taylor jumped up and grabbed Skylar's foot.

"Have a good day at daycare." She told her sister. "Drive safely." Brittany told Santana.

"You too," She replied and kissed her quickly again before heading towards the door. Skylar waved at her mom and sister over her shoulder.


"Alright Sky." Santana exhaled after taking her jacket off and walking her over to where a group of babies were playing. Skylar looked up at her before smiling and bending down to grab a ball.

"Dr. Lopez-Pierce." One of the day care staff smiled.

"Good morning, Heather." Santana waved. "I put her bottles in the cooler, they are labeled with her name, and I have some tupperware with some

applesauce and other snacks for her labeled as well."

"Good, she's in good hands." Heather assured her, when she noticed Santana staring at her.

"I know." Santana nodded. "You don't mind if I pop in a few times throughout the day to check on her, do you?"

"Of course not, it's encouraged." Heather smiled as Santana's pager went off.

"Fuck, my patient is coding;" Santana ran over to Skylar and kissed her on the cheek. "Bye Sky..." She told her softly before running out of the day care and down the hall.

Skylar turned and stared in the direction she ran. "Mami, no." She whispered.


Thoughts?