Chapter 37
Disclaimer: I don't own glee or this story
7pm
"Now that dirty diaper is all gone." Mrs. Lopez smiled, kissing her granddaughter on the cheek and setting her on the floor, tossing the diaper in the pail.
"New dipe." Skylar told her grandmother, looking up at her with a sleepy
smile before hugging her leg.
"Si, Buela got you a new diaper." She smiled, putting the container with the wipes back on the shelf next to the powder.
"Thank." Skylar mumbled, now staring at her socks, bright yellow with white and orange stars.
"You're welcome, honey." nodded, extending her hand to the baby, who stared at it with a big smile and grabbed it quickly. She kneeled down and lifted her up in her arms, kissing her on the forehead when Skylar cuddled close to her and grabbed her shirt. Mrs. Lopez grabbed a pacifier and handed it to the baby, who simply held it, but didn't stick it in her mouth. "I think someone is tired." She laughed when her granddaughter exhaled deeply against her neck.
Once she got downstairs she walked in the living room where Santana and Brittany was cuddled on the couch, watching TV. Brittany was in the corner of the sectional, Santana leaning into her side, stretched out on the chaise part. Sitting down on the couch next to Brittany, she adjusted Skylar on her chest and reached for the thin blanket to the side of her, placing it on her back. Skylar sleepily staring at her mothers, still holding her pacifier in her hand.
Santana leaned forward and reached for the pacifier, tossing it on the table, Skylar watching her but not making a sound or moving to reach for it back, she instead grabbed a handful of the blanket and held it tightly. "We are trying to keep her away from those, Mami, only when she's beyond inconsolable." She told her mother quietly, wanting to make sure her voice stayed even and calm so her mother didn't think she was being aggressive in anyway.
"Lo siento." Mrs. Lopez nodded with a smile, rubbing Skylar's back and rocking her side to side, lulling her to sleep.
"Did she ask for it?" Brittany asked, leaning forward and taking a sip of her bottle of water.
"No, I just handed it to her, she didn't put it in her mouth at all, just held on to it."
"She likes to hold it sometimes, I think it gives her a sense of control." Brittany replied, smiling at her daughter, who locked eyes with her. "I sometimes give it to her to hold it too, since I know she won't put it in her mouth, she just likes to hold it."
"I see." Mrs. Lopez replied, glancing at her daughter to see her facial expression.
Santana nodded. "She does like to just hold it sometimes, but I don't want her to even think about it to be honest." She sighed. "But...it's a compromise I'm willing to work with." She added. "If she just wants to hold it sometimes, then I'm okay with that." She shrugged, reaching over and rubbing Skylar's leg. The baby stared at her mother and blushing before rubbing her eyes and sighing.
"Have you two started potty training yet?" Mrs. Lopez asked, continuing to rub Skylar's back slowly.
Skylar rubbed her face against her grandmother's arm and wiggled to get comfortable, Brittany adjusting the cover on her and winking at her, the baby smiling at her mother before yawning. "Not yet, we were trying to wait until she turned two, right Santana?" Brittany asked.
Santana nodded. "Yeah, we were planning on two. I think with the move right now and us being in and out of the house while we get things settled and Brittany doing some traveling during the day for work it wouldn't be a good time to start."
"Well, anytime a baby can tell you it's time to change their diapers then it times for potty training." Her mother smiled. "She practically grabbed my hand and pulled me to the changing table."
Santana laughed. "Yeah, she does. I see what you're saying Mami, Brit, baby, we can talk about this tonight in bed."
Brittany nodded as Mr. Lopez and Taylor walked in the house. "Puppies are all walked out for the night." Mr. Lopez smiled, sitting down with a beer. "I think I'm all walked out too." He added.
Santana smiled. "You look tired, old man." She teased.
"Well Taylor had me all over your subdivision showing me where all the cool things were." He laughed. "I'll be fine."
Taylor came running and kissed Sky on the cheek, waking her slightly before sitting down next to Santana. "Go take a shower, Tay, you smell like outside, honey. Shower, then some reading."
"But Buela and Papi are here." Taylor whined quietly.
"We'll be here all week, Taylor." Mrs. Lopez smiled. "Maybe after some reading, we can watch a video together?" She glanced at Santana, not wanting to overstep, and smiling when her daughter nodded.
"Reading, then you can watch a movie with Buela." Santana nodded.
"Cool." Taylor smiled, jumped up and ran upstairs happily.
"Is it okay that we stay all week?" Mr. Lopez asked.
"More than okay." Brittany smiled. "I'm in LA Monday and Tuesday, so you two being here to help out Santana is a big help."
"Well, you're home at night, aren't you?" Santana frowned. "I thought they were day meetings?"
Brittany smiled. "They are, but I talked to your parents earlier and asked if they mind staying with the girls, so you can come with me, we need a little vacation, and I can still get some work done."
"You're sure you don't mind Mami and Papi?" Santana asked quickly.
Mr. Lopez shook his head with a big smile, while Mrs Lopez laughed while kissing the top of Skylar's head. "And miss more moments like this...please go to LA." She added teasingly as the baby exhaled and slipped into a deeper sleep, hugging her grandmother tightly.
"Geez, B." Santana blushed. "I need to start packing."
"Go pack, so I can sit next to my wife and mini love." Mr. Lopez laughed, shooing the pair upstairs He then sat next to Mrs. Lopez, kissing her on the cheek and rubbing Skylar's back, the baby drifting into a deeper sleep as her grandmother leaned back and got comfortable.
9am
Santana woke up to Brittany kissing down her neck and smiled at her. "Good morning." She rasped when she locked eyes with the blue eyes that were staring at her.
"Good morning." Brittany beamed.
"You woke up in a good mood." Santana laughed slightly.
"I am, I'm excited your parents are here, it's good to be around some family right now, and I can tell the girls are excited too." Brittany replied. "Not to mention I'm excited about you coming to LA with me Monday, I know it's only for a night, but I think we really need this little getaway."
"Yeah we do." Santana agreed. "I think I'm going to call Uncle Ramon, I can have lunch with him while you work, or at least meet him for coffee."
"You can, but I really want you to relax, you've been back and forth between here and New York for the past month, moving and running with the girls. I want you to pamper yourself Monday while I'm gone. Relax in the hotel, get a manicure and pedicure, book a massage, just relax...sleep!" She laughed. "You're exhausted, San, you won't admit it, and you are still the most gorgeous woman in the world to me, but you look exhausted."
"I am." Santana sighed. "I think I will, maybe we can meet Uncle Ramon before we come back on Tuesday."
"That's a good idea, or even drinks after dinner on Monday, whichever one you want." Brittany smiled.
"Ready to get up and go see our babies?" Santana asked. "You know we don't exist when the grandparents are around." She rolled her eyes playfully.
The pair showered and got dressed before heading downstairs where they immediately heard the laughter and screeches from their daughters.
"Good morning." Santana sang, walking in the kitchen where Skylar was holding a muffin, running from her grandfather who was smiling while chasing after her. Taylor stood on a stool next to Mrs. Lopez at the stove, the elderly woman showing her a recipe.
"Hola Mami." Taylor smiled before hopping off the stool, running over and hugging her tightly, before turning and hugging Brittany. "Morning momma."
"What's going on here?" Brittany asked, laughing at Skylar, who was now hiding under the table, peeping out at her grandfather, pointing and laughing at him.
"Buela's letting me help make breakfast!" Taylor smiled happily. "It's the family recipe she said."
"Your breakfast chorizo hash?" Santana asked with a big smile.
"Si." Mrs. Lopez nodded.
"Very important part of every Lopez girl's life, Taylor isn't 10 years old yet." Santana replied, accepting a mug of coffee from Brittany, who got on the floor and started crawling towards Skylar, the baby laughing while taking a bite of her muffin.
"No, she isn't but she's just a month shy if I recall." Mrs. Lopez smiled.
"You know how to make this Mami?" Taylor asked, glancing up from her stirring.
"Yes, I learned from my abuela when I was 10 years old." Santana answered in Spanish, laughing when Skylar emerged from under the table and jumped on Brittany's back happily, laughing when the blonde flipped her over and began to kiss all over her face.
"Why don't you two go take the puppies for a walk while I finish up Taylor's lesson." Mrs. Lopez suggested.
Santana glanced at Brittany, who nodded, the two knowing that they were interrupting Taylor's lesson and the younger girl wouldn't focus with her moms around.
"Sky Sky, you want to come with momma and me?" Santana asked.
The tiny Latina shook her head quickly. "Papi!" She ran to her grandfather and hugged his leg, taking another bite of her muffin as he lifted her up in his arms.
"We are going to grab some apples from the store, so we have plans." Mr. Lopez smiled.
"Gracias Rafael." Mrs. Lopez replied softly. "Good Taylor, now add in another scoop of the chorizo."
"Come on, B." Santana smiled, extending her hand to her wife.
"I feel so at home down here." Santana smiled as she walked hand in hand down the streets of their subdivision. "It's so much quieter than New York."
Brittany nodded, bending down and picking up the puppies poop, wrapping it tightly in a bag. "We didn't live in a bad part of New York but I get it, I feel really at home down here too."
"One week down...a lifetime to go." Santana laughed. "Don't bite your sister." She quickly added, rolling her eyes as Hansel jumped on Gretel and began to bite her ear."
"How long are your parents staying?" Brittany asked. "Did they ever say?"
"No." Santana shook her head. "Can I admit that I don't mind them being here to get a little rest, I mean Mami is cooking right now, Papi is going to do the yard work. We are totally being spoiled right now."
Brittany laughed. "We will definitely be spoiled by the time they leave." She wrapped her arm around Santana's waist and kissed her on the temple as they continued to walk down the street, idly talking about an array of topics, they were finishing up their walk when they reached their block again and bumped into a group of women who were jogging. Santana moved the puppies leashes and stepped to the side, wanting to give the women space to run by when they came to a stop in front of them.
"Hi, you two are new to the neighborhood right? Just moved in the brick house about half way down?" A Hispanic woman pointed down the street.
"Yes." Brittany nodded. "I'm Brittany, and this is my wife, Dr. Santana Lopez-Pierce." She smiled, extended her hand, and winked at Santana, who blushed at the introduction. "We officially moved in about a week and a half ago."
"I'm Yesi." The woman smiled, before nodding to the three women with her. "That's my wife, Daphne." She pointed to a brown skin woman, who immediately smiled and waved. "And that's Rosalyn and Amanda."
"Nice to meet you all." Brittany smiled, Santana agreeing as everyone greeted and shook hands.
"Are you from the area?" Rosalyn asked.
"No, we relocated from New York." Santana explained. "My wife took a promotion at work that led us out of the snow and cold."
"Congrats." Yesi smiled. "Well, do either of you run? We have a little running crew that runs two or three times a week, I'm a personal trainer so I'm always out here, and most of the women on our block and the next kind of trickle in when they are able to, we run in the morning or afternoon, then grab drinks at night." She laughed.
"I actually run." Santana smiled. "I haven't for a while, but I want to get back into it."
"Awesome." Daphne nodded. "Well, whenever you want to join us, just give
a holler, we live across the street from you and two houses down, we have the fountain in our front yard."
"Sunday mornings are at 10am, then we grab breakfast afterwards at the cafe a few blocks away, otherwise Tuesday evenings around 7pm and Thursday's around 7 as well, we have kids and it works for everyone that way." Yesi added, looking at Santana's body and nodding in approval, which didn't go unnoticed by Britttany. "It'll be nice to have a doctor in the neighborhood as well." She winked. "Nice to meet you both, see you around." She waved before the group began to run again.
"That was cool." Santana smiled, bending down and pulling a leaf out of Gretel's mouth.
"She was totally checking you out." Brittany raised an eyebrow.
"Who?"
"Yesi." Brittany replied, mimicking the woman's accent.
"Don't do that." Santana replied quickly, hating whenever Brittany would use a mock accent to make fun of someone, finding it offensive and rude.
"Sorry." She sighed. "Seriously, you didn't see her gawking at your ass in those leggings?"
Santana shrugged. "I don't pay attention to other women, only you." She answered truthfully. "I was thinking of running with them sometime, but if you don't want me to, then I won't."
"I trust you, so if you want to, that's fine." Brittany replied quietly.
Santana stopped walking and stared at her wife, grabbing her hand. "Hey, there's nothing to worry about when it comes to me."
"I know." Brittany smiled, kissing her softly. "Let's get home, I'm starving and can't wait to eat your mom's breakfast."
Monday 2pm, LA
Brittany walked into the hotel, finally done with her meetings for the day and exhaled deeply as she set her briefcase on the couch and yawned. Santana was sitting out on the balcony, sipping a glass of wine while reading a book when she looked up and spoofed Brittany. She poured her wife a glass and quickly went inside with a big smile.
"Hey you, how was work?" She asked sweetly, handing Brittany the glass and kissing her softly on the lips.
Brittany drank half of the glass in one gulp. "That's how work was." She laughed in reply, stepping out of her heels and wrapping her arms around her wife, hugging her tightly. "These are probably the worst clients I've ever had, they really just don't like anything."
Santana frowned. "What the fuck is up with that?"
"I don't know." Brittany shrugged. "I may have to stay an extra day and have more meetings on Wednesday if they can't get this deal closed tomorrow. I can get you a flight back if you don't want to stay."
"I'll stay, let's play it by ear then we can call my parents tomorrow." Santana replied, she grabbed Brittany's hand and led her out to the balcony, where she had a large fruit tray. "Relax for a few minutes."
Brittany sat on her wife's lap, allowing Santana to take her blazer off and unbutton her blouse slightly while rubbing her stomach. "Feel like doing some shopping, retail therapy is needed right now."
Santana wiggled her eyebrows and smiled. "When have I ever said no to shopping, and in LA."
"We can grab a late lunch, are you hungry?" Brittany asked.
"I've been eating fruit and nuts all day, trying to wait for you. I'm starving." Santana nodded.
"Okay, let me get changed, and we can go." Brittany smiled, she kissed Santana again and stood up, disappearing back in their suite.
Santana picked her book back up just as her cell phone rang, she saw Quinn's name flashing and answered right away.
Hello?
Hey Santana, it's Quinn.
Yeah, I have a caller ID. She laughed softly. What's up?
I called Brittany, but I think she's busy. Her phone went straight to voicemail.
She's been in meetings all morning, her phone might have died or could be
in silence. She just got back to the hotel, did you need to talk to her?
Hotel? Are you two on vacation?
Brittany is in LA for work today and tomorrow, and I came along for the short trip. My parents are in Phoenix with the girls, they surprised us.
Nice, no I didn't need her specifically. I'll be in Phoenix for a business trip with a colleague in the next couple weeks and was hoping we could grab dinner, I would love to see the girls. I miss them.
Sure, that's no problem, just let us know the details, you can come over for dinner and hang out with them.
Thanks, I'll let you go, tell Brittany I said hi, and when you get back home, hug and kiss the girls for me.
Okay, bye.
Bye.
Santana set her phone down as Brittany walked back out on the balcony, now dressed in a white button up Ralph Lauren shirt and a pair of ripped jeans, rolled up to her ankles, tan loafers on her feet. She topped her outfit off with a tan fedora hat and a pair of chocolate Ray Ban aviators.
"Damn, you look good." Santana blushed.
"Stop it." Brittany laughed, waving her wife off. "Did you want to change or you are keeping on your outfit."
"I'm okay with this." Santana smiled, looking down at her white neck fitted shit, dark denim skinny jeans, and the pink and purple plaid shirt around her waist. "Let me grab my shades and purse quickly."
8pm, LA
"You were right, this is a much needed trip." Santana smiled over the table at Brittany.
"Told you." Brittany nodded, lifting another oyster and eating it.
"But, I do feel kind of bad for leaving the girls, we just got down here." Santana sighed, taking a sip of her wine.
Brittany looked across the candlelit table at her wife and nodded. "You are such a good mother, a great one actually, you run yourself ragged for the girls, and for me. Just enjoy this time, these two days to yourself. The girls are sage and sound with their Bua." Brittany teased, and we are a flight away, just about an hour or so. If something happens, we can be home in no time."
Santana exhaled. "I know, it's just a foreign place, but you're right. Trust me
I'm thoroughly enjoying this time with you, and I am very relaxed right now."
Brittany smiled. "Have fun shopping?"
"Hell yeah, you're like my sugar momma now." She teased. "I know I'm just worrying like crazy, but you don't have to buy me all this stuff, baby."
Brittany shrugged. "Since you aren't in scrubs all the time, and we can have a few date nights with your parents in town, and I'm sure my parents are coming soon, you need some red bottoms to strut around in."
Santana blushed. "Well, thank you. So you've pampered me all day, the massage, the mani/pedi, shopping, and now dinner. What can I do to make this up to you?"
"Make love to me." Brittany replied simply. "Nothing fancy, just slow and sensual sex."
"You got it." Santana winked. "Do you want to take a walk on the beach tonight? It's not often we are this close to one."
"Of course I want to walk on the beach with you." Brittany nodded.
"Well, let me take care of the bill and we can go." Santana smiled happily.
8pm, Phoenix
"This one goes here Sky." Taylor told her sister, who was sitting between her legs on the floor. The two were working on a puzzle where Skylar had to place the letters in the alphabet back in order.
"No Tay." Skylar mumbled before standing and walking over to her Snoopy toys, that she insisted on lining up earlier with her grandfather. She sat in the middle of them and looked around sleepily as Mrs. Lopez came into the living room and smiled.
"Taylor, bath time then Papi will go over your math with you." Mrs. Lopez told her. "Your mom called and said you are still struggling with long division."
"Si Buela." Taylor nodded, "it's hard."
"Okay, well Papi is very good at math, so he can help you." Mrs. Lopez told her, glancing at Skylar, who was sitting in the middle of her Snoopy's, her little arms crossed and a frown on her face. "What's wrong with the little one?"
Taylor shrugged. "She was okay while we did the puzzle and then suddenly got upset and walked over by her toys."
"She seems tired." Mrs. Lopez replied. "Go on up, I'll clean up the puzzle for you."
Skylar stared at Taylor as she ran over and hugged her little sister tightly, kissing her on the cheek as she told her good night, she poked her in the stomach, getting a small smile before Skylar shook her head no and crossed her arms again. Mrs. Lopez cleaned up the puzzle, glancing at Skylar, who was staring at her every so often.
Once she sat on the couch she stared at her granddaughter and opened her arms. "Do you want to cuddle with me?" She asked the baby, who frowned at her.
Skylar shook her head and frowned again.
"What's wrong?" Mrs. Lopez asked in Spanish.
Skylar processed what she said before pointing at Snoopy. "Snoopy play wif Sky."
"He didn't play with you?" Mrs. Lopez asked, a small smile covering her face when Skylar shook her head sadly. "Buela will play with you and Snoopy."
She told her softly, opening her arms to her again. Skylar stood up slowly and picked up two of her Snoopys, dragging them to her grandmother, who lifted her on the couch, grabbing the Snoopys quickly so they were on the couch too. She began to make Snoopy talk to Skylar, her little tired eyes lighting up in excitement as she made the other one babble in reply.
"Your Mami used to be obsessed with Snoopy too, we would play for hours when she was your age." Mrs. Lopez told the baby, continuing to bounce Snoopy around as Skylar bounced hers.
"Mami Snoopy." Skylar frowned.
"Si, she likes Snoopy too." Mrs. Lopez nodded just as the doorbell rang. The elder Latina frowned but stood up. "Stay right here on the couch."
Skylar stood up on the couch but nodded as her grandmother walked to the door, opening it slowly. "Good evening, can I help you?"
"Hi, my name is Yesi, I'm a new neighbor and brought over some goodies for Santana to welcome her to the neighborhood."
Mrs. Lopez raised an eyebrow at the woman, inwardly frowning at the sports bra and biker shorts she chose to wear over. "I'm Santana's mother, I'll be sure to let her and Brittany know you come over."
"Oh...yeah Brittany too." Yesi mumbled.
"Mmmmhmmmm." Mrs. Lopez hummed. "Have a good night." She added before closing the door, she walked over to the kitchen and threw the tray of baked goods away.
"Who was at the door?" Mr. Lopez asked.
"Trouble." Mrs. Lopez replied. "Nothing but trouble."
