Chapter 45
Disclaimer: I don't own glee or this story
"So how are you enjoying Phoenix so far?" Brittany asked. "I saw there is a blizzard back in New York today." She cut Taylor's quesadilla into smaller slices for her and scooped some of the salsa and queso she ordered on the side on her plate, winking at her when Taylor smiled a thank you at her mother.
"I certainly don't miss the snow." Quinn laughed. "I got in yesterday afternoon, and honestly just went to sleep, long flight, a few delays added and I was super exhausted."
Santana fed Skylar another spoonful of rice, the baby opening her mouth wide with a smile before picking up the chicken on her plate and sucking the flavor off of the chicken but never biting it, which Santana noticed, before offering some to Quinn. "Thank you Smiley." Quinn smiled, and pretended to take a bite, Skylar blushing and reaching for her sippy cup, knocking it on the floor by accident.
"Uh oh!" Skylar yelled loudly, leaning over the side of her highchair to look for the cup.
Santana took a bite of her chimichanga and nodded. "It's okay, Sky." She assured her daughter, rubbing her back and scooping some more guacamole on her plate. She quickly grabbed her little arm when she leaned further over the highchair, tossing a chip in her mouth. "Careful." She mumbled while chewing for the baby and pulling her to sit upright again.
"Care." Skylar mimicked.
"I got it Sky!" Taylor smiled, slipping under the table in the booth and grabbing, handing it to Brittany who was already reaching for a wipe to clean it off, before just opening the cup and pouring the water into the extra one in her diaper bag. "But you don't have a bedtime Aunt Quinn."
"No I don't." Quinn laughed, "but sometimes I just need to go to bed early and yesterday was one of those days."
"Are you down here on a case or something?" Santana asked, eating a forkful of Brittany''s fajita quickly before her wife could protest and laughing when Brittany slammed her fork on hers. "Seminar." Quinn shook her head.
"There is a partner position opening up soon and I want to be in competition for it so I signed up for a seminar. They offered one in Miami as well, but I missed my goddaughters and you two, so I picked Phoenix."
Taylor glanced up at Quinn and smiled before handing Skylar a chip, the baby staring at it and setting it down on her plate where she had a stare off with it until Santana tapped her hand to get her attention so she could feed her more rice. "We got puppies!" She excitedly told Quinn. "I named them Hansel and Gretel."
"Whoa." Quinn laughed. "Real ones?" She asked Brittany, who nodded.
Brittany laughed and nodded. "We bought two husky puppies, they are about 5 months old. Taylor more than earned them, and does a great job cleaning up after them and feeding them."
Santana took a sip of her margarita, Skylar reaching for the glass but giving up when she saw Santana was ignoring her, and picking up her chicken to suck on it again, Santana once again raising an eyebrow at her daughter. "Yes she does a very good job, I walked around the yard this morning and you're doing a very good job with their poop too, I'm proud of you, Tay." Santana winked at her daughter. "You don't want the chicken Sky Sky?"
"Thanks Mami." Taylor smiled, taking a bite of her quesadilla and laughing at how excited Skylar got when Brittany set a small piece on Skylar's plate.
"Are you coming back over after dinner?" Santana asked. "We can give you a tour of the house, and since it's so nice out and have a drink outside...shit, I'm sorry."
"It's okay." Quinn replied quickly. "I'm still going to my meetings, and still alcohol free, but I would love to come over for some coffee."
"Cool." Brittany smiled.
Skylar picked up the new piece of chicken that Santana set on her plate and once again just sucked on it, instead of taking a bite.
"So it's between those two hospitals?" Quinn asked Santana, taking a sip of her coffee. The two were out in the backyard sitting by the firepit while Brittany went to make sure Taylor was in bed and to check on Skylar who was whining in the baby monitor.
Santana nodded. "Yeah, I updated my LinkedIn to showcase the move down here and I don't know if hospitals were watching my profile or what but my email was flooded with invitations to come tour their facilities that evening. It's been a little overwhelming, but I researched all the hospitals in the area and took interviews with the top two programs that I'm the most interested in."
Brittany walked out with Skylar, who was sleepily laying on her shoulder, holding Snoopy tightly in her hand, his paw in her mouth, and sat down. "She feels a little warm San, was the food too spicy for her, I think she has a stomach."
Santana reached for the baby and kissed her on the forehead to gauge her fever, noticing how she kept rubbing her ear. "She's cutting her molars." Santana stated softly. "She how she keeps rubbing her ear, and notices how she only wanted soft food at dinner, and how she's chewing on Snoopy's hand right now, she didn't eat much chicken but ate a lot of rice." Skylar exhaled deeply and began to whine softly as Santana began to rock her daughter slowly. "I'll pick up some more teething rings tomorrow and let her work on those to soothe herself." She added when Skylar put her hand in her mouth.
Brittany leaned forward and kissed Skylar on the forehead, getting a small smile before turning to Quinn. "So, how's work? I know you mentioned wanting to make partners, but how have your cases been going?"
Quinn shrugged and smiled at Skylar, who was staring at her. "I feel like New York is becoming oversaturated with lawyers lately, there aren't any good cases and the ones I have been getting have been settled out of court. I miss the action of going to trial and actually working, doing the grit work. I love being in the courtroom and cross examining."
"Well, you've been working non stop, take some time off and regroup, maybe take a trip." Brittany suggested. "It's one thing we've been working on, taking little trips, even if they are overnight, or just taking time for each other, or ourselves."
Santana nodded in agreement, glancing down at Skylar, who was now fast asleep. "I'm going to take her to bed."
Once Santana went into the house Quinn turned to Brittany. "I'm thinking of moving out of New York if I don't make partners, maybe Miami or Texas, somewhere warm and just starting all over."
Brittany's eyes widened quickly. "Whoa, are you serious?"
Nodding and taking a sip of her coffee Quinn smiled. "I think it's time, I've done some traveling on the weekends, going to different cities to see what the best fit for me would be. I've contacted some friends from law school to get a feel of their markets too."
"Have you considered Phoenix?" Brittany asked. "The girls would love to have you close again, I would love to have you close again. Santana would, even if she doesn't admit it."
Quinn smiled softly. "It's part of the reason I'm here, I want to get a feel for the city and the overall tone of the area, but we'll see what happens."
5am
Brittany's alarm went off, causing her to pop her eyes open quickly as she reached out for Santana, who was fast asleep, facing the other direction. She snuggled closer to her wife, sweeping her hair higher on the pillow so she could nestle closer, hiding her face in Santana's neck. The Latina stirred and woke up slightly, reaching behind her and patting Brittany's thigh before linking their fingers, pulling Brittany's hand to rest on her stomach as she drifted back to sleep before forcing her eyes open.
"Good morning." Brittany mumbled softly in her ear, kissing her on the neck. "Stay in bed this morning, I'll help Tay with getting ready for school if she needs it, and I'll make her some breakfast. You were up late with Sky, I felt you get out of bed a few times."
"Sky is going to start whining, I should get up with her." Santana replied, turning over in Brittany's arms, and hugging her while kissing her on the forehead. "I'm going to head to Target early and pick up some teething rings for her. Taylor didn't have pain with her molars, hers came right on in."
"No she didn't." Brittany agreed. "So that's why she's barely been eating, teething in general was rough for Sky Sky."
"Mmmhmm." Santana nodded. "I'm going to get her some more applesauce pouches and make some mashed potatoes for her too, or some mashed sweet potato, she'll probably nap a lot the next couple of days."
As Brittany opened her mouth to speak there was a knock on the door. "Come in Tay."
"Good morning." Taylor smiled, holding Skylar, whose face was red as she sniffled. "I think Sky is upset."
Santana sat up and reached for Skylar, who reached for her and cuddled into her chest right away, sticking her hand in her mouth again. "She's growing her molars, which are painful for her. So she's going to be a little cranky for a few days, and probably very cuddly."
"Like Mami, Sky likes to be held when she doesn't feel well." Brittany smiled, winking at Santana, who nodded quickly in agreement. Taylor climbed in bed and laid down next to Brittany, who tickled her before kissing her on the forehead and hugging her tightly.
"Will she be okay?" Taylor asked, staring at her baby sister as Santana slid down to lay flat, adjusting Skylar on her chest and rubbing her back, kissing the top of her head before kissing Taylor on the cheek.
"She'll be okay, we'll go get her some new teething rings and I'll freeze them so they soothe her gums." Santana told her sleepily, Skylar exhaling before sniffling and turning her head the other way, holding a fistful of Santana's shirt tightly.
Brittany ran her fingers through Skylar's hair slowly, massaging her scalp for a few moments, lulling her back to sleep. "Have you been thinking of ideas for your birthday party?"
Taylor sat up quickly and flipped over Brittany out of bed, Santana laughing at her slightly, not wanting to shake too much and wake Skylar. "Can I have a sleepover?"
Brittany turned and glanced at Santana, who nodded that she was okay with the idea. "Only 6 friends Tay." Santana chimed in. "Is that okay?"
"Yeah, I want Brynn, Michelle, Jacey, Heather, Addison, and Xena." Taylor listed quickly.
Santana nodded her head, trying to picture each girl. "Okay, after school today let's get some ideas for your invitations, and I'll look up those girls' phone numbers on the class list so I can call their parents."
"Cool!" Taylor smiled happily. "Why don't you start getting ready for school, honey." Brittany suggested.
Taylor nodded and ran out of the room, closing their door behind them. Santana cleared her throat. "I told her 6 friends, so we can fly Berkley down here and that'll make the party an even 8." Santana smiled. "I'll call Warren and Callie today and work out some details, maybe I can fly up there and fly back with her or something."
"Brynn..."
"She lives here, I don't have to fly anywhere to get her." Santana replied, sliding Skylar off of her chest to lay down on the bed, the baby immediately whining so she moved her back to her original position. "Okay, Mami will hold you."
"I don't feel comfortable with Brynn being here." Brittany stated, Santana immediately raised her eyebrow at her wife.
"Are you serious?"
"She attacked Taylor." Brittany mumbled.
"Not this again, baby." Santana shook her head. "If Taylor is okay with Brynn, then we should be too. This was a test and a learning experience for her, and she's handling it very well."
"Mami." Skylar whined.
"I know, sweetie, you don't feel good." Santana cooed. "Mami will take a warm bath with you then we can go get something for your gums."
Brittany reached over and rubbed Skylar's back. "Fine, and Berkeley coming will be the best birthday present ever for Taylor, I'll fly to pick her up, it'll be like I'm going for work, she'll get nervous and freak out if you go."
"Very true." Santana nodded.
"What are you two up to today?" Brittany then asked, getting out of bed and stretching, walking around to Santana's side of the bed and kneeling down so she was eye level with Skylar, who was staring at her, kissing her softly on the nose.
"I'm having lunch with Quinn." Santana replied. "If Sky is feeling okay I'll take her out to lunch somewhere, if not then I'll order something here or maybe even cook."
"Okay, I'm going to hop in the shower." She stated, kissing Santana chastely on the lips and walking towards the bathroom.
Friday 7pm
"Do you feel guilty?" Santana asked, a small smirk on her face as she grabbed Brittany's hand and held it tightly.
"Kind of." Brittany laughed. "But I think we deserved and earned this date night."
"The girls love Quinn, and she was available." Santana shrugged, glancing at Brittany, both of them laughing loudly as Brittany wrapped her arm around Santana's shoulder, kissing her on the temple.
"Are you sure Sky is okay with us being gone, I'm asking Dr. Lopez-Pierce right now." Brittany asked, stopping and reaching for Santana's hands.
Santana nodded. "As a doctor, yes, she's okay with us being gone. I rubbed a little medicine on her gums before we left and she has the teething ring which is soothing her. She has her gang of Snoopys, her big sister, who is watching her like a hawk, and her Q, who is all she wanted to cuddle with this afternoon when Quinn came over for lunch. She's okay, B."
Sighing in relief, Brittany smiled. "Okay." The pair continued to walk down the street, taking in the sight of downtown Phoenix. Since the weather was extremely pleasant they took an Uber to downtown and decided they would walk around and do some window shopping before going to dinner, and getting drinks afterward, maybe doing some dancing at a club.
Santana was dressed in a pair of tight black leather pants, a white silk blouse, with a red velvet blazer; black peep toe pumps on her feet, showcasing her new freshly done pedicure that she got that afternoon with Quinn. She had her down in big curls and had smokey eye make up gone, her red lipstick getting kissed off before they made it out of the bedroom, so had to be reapplied before they left the house. Brittany was wearing a pair of distressed skin tight white jeans, with a tan cashmere sweater hanging off her shoulder, nude Louboutin's pumps on her feet, she had her hair pinned up, showing off the 3kt diamond stud earrings Santana gave her as an anniversary present. They smiled politely at other people walking down the street, while making note of different stores they planned to come back to and buy things for themselves and for the girls.
"Where do you want to eat?" Brittany asked, stopping at a corner as Santana glanced at her Apple Watch when it vibrated with a text message.
"I kind of want a steak." She shrugged. "But I kind of want tacos." She laughed.
"Okay." Brittany laughed as well. "What about steak tacos?"
"We literally just had Mexican food a few days ago." Santana reminded her, pulling out her phone and replying to the text. "It's Quinn, wanting to know if she should give Sky more medicine."
"She's feeling worse?" Brittany asked.
"No, she said she's okay, but didn't know if she needed more every couple of hours or anything." Santana answered.
"Oh, okay." Brittany nodded as they crossed the street. "Let's go there for dinner." She pointed.
Santana raised an eyebrow at the restaurant but nodded and followed her wife to the door.
"Mine." Skylar told Quinn sternly, pointing at her toy car.
"I can't fit." Quinn shook her head. "Aunt Quinnie keeps trying but I'm too big."
"Big." Skylar mumbled angrily, staring at the car before getting in herself and turning it on.
Quinn laughed and took a few pictures of her, smiling when Skylar happily drove around the living room, crashing into almost everything. Quinn tossed her phone down quickly and caught the lamp that almost fell off the table when the baby crashed into it and laughed loudly.
"Ok." She sighed in relief as she set the lamp back on the table. "Close call."
"Can I go outside with the puppies?" Taylor asked, walking in, holding Grettel, Hansel running towards Skylar, who was speeding towards the dog, Quinn quickly picking up the puppy so it wouldn't run over.
"Yes, just for a little while." Quinn nodded. "The pizza will be here soon then it's time to come in."
"Okay." Taylor smiled happily, grabbing her other puppy and running through the kitchen outside.
"Tay!" Skylar yelled before shrugging and looking up at Quinn. "Mine." She demanded again, pointing to the empty seat next to her.
Quinn laughed when Skylar began to pout. "Look like Santana, but pout like Brittany." She told the baby, who stared blankly at her. "Okay, Aunt Q will ride with you." Quinn lifted her out, carefully squeezing herself in the car and lifting Skylar in her lap. "We can ride together."
Skylar clapped happily as Quinn drove the car around the living room carefully. "You are so much more talkative than before, really growing up on me Smiley."
"I Sky."
"Yes you are, and you're my Smiley." Quinn tickled her before kissing the top of her head as Skylar leaned back on her chest and held her arm tightly. "I missed you and Taylor so much."
Santana came back from the bathroom and saw the bottle of champagne with a sparkler on the table, she immediately blushed when Brittany stood up and clapped. "B." She laughed, looking around to see how many people were paying attention to them, and relaxing more when she saw most of the other people in the restaurant weren't paying attention.
"Congrats on the new assistant chief of surgery position at Lincoln Lutheran Memorial Hospital!" Brittany beamed, hugging her tightly before kissing her softly. "I thought we could celebrate."
"Thanks baby." Santana smiled brightly. "Ooooo, you popped for the good stuff tonight." She added while lifting the bottle of champagne before the waitress came and poured glasses for the two of them, taking the sparkler with her, another waitress setting down a tray of extravagant desserts.
"I'm so proud of you Santana, so proud of you honey." Brittany stated. "You've gotten a great position and we've only been here for around a month, so I was nervous when we moved. I was hoping your career wouldn't take a hit, or become stagnant in any way. I know how focused you are, and how much you love your career. You have the accolades and the certifications to be the best damn cardiac surgeon in the world, but a part of me just worried and wondered if I made the right decision by accepting the position, and seeing your face light up earlier when you accepted the position let me know that if it was the right decision."
Santana smiled, reaching out and grabbing Brittany's hand. "I'm so excited."
"I know, and I'm so excited for you too, I love seeing you in scrubs, you know how sexy I think you look in them." She winked, reaching in her purse and setting a box on the table. "Congrats honey."
Santana lifted the long red box and playfully shook it before opening it, and smiling instantly. "This is so cool." She quickly took the white and 24kt rose gold stethoscope out of the box and stared at it.
"I got it engraved for you." Brittany said softly, turning it over and tapped the back.
Santana read the inscription and smiled. "Thank you, thank you, thank you so so much." She replied, leaning over the table and kissing Brittany. "I love it."
Brittany lifted her glass of champagne as Santana lifted her glass as well. "To my amazing wife who has supported me, and always believed in me. I love you so much, and am so proud of you, I can't wait to hear about all your new surgeries and adventures as you save Phoenix one person at a time. I love you, baby."
"I love you too." Santana smiled, clinking her glass with Brittany's and taking a sip. "So which cake are we trying first?" She asked, picking up her fork and licking her lips as she looked over the spread on the table.
"Then she pushed me and I fell down the stairs, it was just a few stairs, but I fell down them and got a bruise on my back." Taylor explained. "It's still there, kind of faint."
Quinn's eyes widened as she nodded, handing Skylar the teething ring she was reaching for and rubbing her back when she climbed on the couch and into Quinn's lap, sitting down quickly. Quinn reached for her blanket and tossed it over her legs, handing her Snoopy to her, since she knew the baby would fall asleep soon. "But you are friends with her now?" She asked, taking a sip of the tea she was drinking.
"Yeah, we both apologized and everything, and now we're friends and my moms said she can come to my sleepover for my birthday!" Taylor smiled brightly.
"Well, that's good, I'm glad everything is okay now, but hitting and pushing is wrong Tay."
"I know." Taylor nodded. "I had a long talk about it." She laughed at Skylar, who turned and got comfortable in Quinn's lap, closing her eyes as she stuck her hand in her mouth.
"Did you fight when you were my age?" Quinn shook her head. "Not at your age, but I had a few fights in highschool, none that I'm proud of."
"Did you win?" Taylor asked with a smile.
"There's no winner when you fight." Quinn smiled. "Even if you win the physical part, sometimes the emotional part still messes you up. I learned to fight with my words, and that's why I became a lawyer. I like to fight with words."
Taylor licked her lips while she thought. "So I have to learn to fight with my words?"
"If the situation calls for it." Quinn replied.
"Okay." Taylor nodded. "I wish you lived closer, Aunt Quinn, then my moms would have more friends, they don't know anyone here, well momma does, but Mami doesn't. She just hangs out with Sky all day, Won't that make her sad?"
Quinn cleared her throat and smiled. "Your Mami has no problem making friends and with starting work soon I'm sure she'll make lots, but I'll try to visit more, how does that sound?"
"Cool!" Taylor nodded.
"Tomorrow we can go out for a birthday lunch before I leave and pick out a birthday present." Quinn suggested, opening her arm to Taylor who wiggled next to her, gently kissing Skylar on the cheek and picking up the remote to look for a movie to watch.
Brittany twirled Santana around before pulling her close as the two danced, big smiles on their faces. After dinner they went for a walk, exploring more of downtown Phoenix, before spotting a small bar and deciding to go to have a few drinks. They were three shots of whiskey in before they completely took over the small dance floor, dancing to every song that came on.
"Are we still drinking?" Santana slurred with a smile.
Brittany nodded and pulled her to the bar. "Two more shots of Honey Jack, and two lemon drop martinis." She ordered. "Put it on my tab."
The waiter smiled and nodded, Santana reaching in her pocket and set a ten dollar bill on the counter as a tip, Brittany moved behind her and wrapped her arms around her wife's waist dancing seductively behind her,
Santana turned around and wrapped her arms around Brittany's neck, blushing when Brittany kissed her on the nose. They danced for a few moments when their drinks were set down for them.
After taking their shots, they carried their martinis to a booth in the corner where Santana sat on Brittany's lap right away, the blonde running her hands up and down her wife's thighs, kissing her softly on the neck. "Are you having a good time?"
"Always with you." Santana drunkly nodded. "I want to have sex."
Brittany laughed until she saw how serious Santana was. "Shit, where?"
Santana looked around and spotted the bathroom, she slammed her martini quickly, wiping her mouth before nodding towards the bathroom and wiggling her finger, calling Brittany to follow her when she saw it was a single stall bathroom. Brittany looked around and slammed her martini as well before walking to the bathroom, Santana pulling her in and pinning her to the door right away and locking it quietly.
10am
Santana walked tiredly into the living room, holding Skylar who was biting on her teething ring and clutching to her mother tightly and sat down on the couch. "Thanks for staying last night." She told Quinn. "And for taking Taylor to her piano lesson for us."
Quinn, who was in a pair of Santana's yoga pants and a tshirt, nodded. "No problem, when I heard you two outside trying to figure out which key opens the door I figured you would need some extra help."
"Sorry about that, we were celebrating and just got carried away, champagne, tequila, whiskey..." Santana rattled off, Skylar crawling out of her mother's lap and sitting on the couch, staring at her feet, her curly hair all over her head. "I hope we weren't too much trouble."
"No trouble at all." Quinn shrugged. "You two stumbled up to your bedroom and I didn't hear a peep out of you at all." She laughed.
Brittany walked in with a mug of coffee, setting it down in front of Santana, another in front of Quinn, and a final cup for herself. She then quickly went back to the kitchen and came back with a breadstick and an applesauce pouch for Skylar, who smiled immediately and reached for the bread.
"Thank." Skylar mumbled, taking a small bite.
"Thanks for last night." Brittany told Quinn, sitting behind Santana on the couch and pulling her wife to lean back on her chest.
"What time is your flight tomorrow?" Santana asked, watching Skylar to see if she was able to eat the breadstick with minimal pain.
"3pm."
"We are thinking of taking the girls to the zoo here today, why don't you join us?" Santana suggested.
Quinn sat up quickly. "Sounds like a family thing."
"You're family." Santana winked at her. "Once my hangover fades I'll get dressed and we can go straight there after picking up Taylor from piano practice.
"I'll take you to your hotel when I finish my coffee." Brittany smiled.
Thoughts?