CHAPTER 49
A/N: Thanks to brittnsan, Tamardejong, pjay413, Olivia, Yadi, Itsskik, Berrylucky5, Marie RieRie England, Lolfiction55 and the Guests for their reviews. Special thanks to Whit Walk for proofreading this chapter. I'm sorry it took me so long to update the story but I struggled a lot with this chapter!
A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER (EVENING TIME) – AT THE PUB – SANTANA POV
"Thanks for meeting me, San…" Mike says, hugging me.
"Of course…" I say, hugging him back. "How are you holding up?" I ask in a concerned voice, taking a seat in front of him.
"I uh… I'm not doing so well to be honest…" He replies. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole mess but I don't understand what happened! And I don't even dare tell Tina because I don't want her to worry while she's pregnant. But I'm not sure how long I can keep this from her…" He adds. "Not only don't I have any income right now but I have just received a cost estimation for the repairs and… we're going to drown in debt for the rest of our lives! I don't know if we can keep the studio, San… Maybe we should just sell it…" He says in a sad voice, looking down in despair.
"Sell?" I repeat, surprised. "No… you cannot sell, Mike!" I immediately object. "You and Britt have worked so hard to open your own school!"
"I know but… I don't know what else to do…"
"How much would it cost? To reopen?" I ask.
Instead of replying, he pulls a document out of his briefcase and places it on the table, in front of me. I look at the paper and my eyes open wide when I see the astronomical amount… I never expected it would be that much.
"Oh my God… but how is this even possible?" I ask in disbelief.
"Apparently, we have to replace cables as well as parts of the generator and better isolate the electrical equipment… but that's only part of it." He says. "This financial estimation also includes additional costs: we have to pay a huge fine to the county, hire lawyers, reimburse a part of the students' registration costs… And we also need to pay to get our license back!" He adds. "And all that while coping with the loss of our public funding… It's an absolute nightmare!" He says, unable to hold back his tears.
"Hey…" I whisper, placing my hand on top of his. "We'll find a solution, ok?" I say, trying to sound as reassuring as I can.
It breaks my heart to see Mike like this, he's usually in such good spirits! And now that he's in trouble, he can't even discuss it with his wife…
"How is Britt doing?" He asks.
"She's depressed…" I sigh. "Frankly, I'm very concerned… She barely gets out of bed, up to a point that I had to tell Sofia she had the flu because our little girl kept asking 'what's wrong with mommy?'…" I say. "I even asked Quinn to come over tonight because I didn't want to leave the kids alone with Britt when she's so absent minded."
"She was already falling apart the day the school got shut down…" I add. "…but I think that all those awful calls and messages from angry parents really broke her! And now, it's like she's in her own world! So, I don't think she can be of much help right now but… I'm here for you, Mike! We're going to get to the bottom of this, I promise!" I say, squeezing his hand.
"By the way, can I ask you a question?" I say and he nods in approval. "The electrician that checked your equipment at the beginning of the year… is he legit?"
"Honestly, I don't know…" He replies. "It's the first time we were working with him. Up until this year, we always worked with Pete but he retired a few months ago so we had to find someone else. I tried to call him by the way – the new guy – but I can't get hold of him."
"Really?" I say, finding this suspicious. "Could you give me his contact details? And Pete's as well?"
LATER THAT NIGHT - AT HOME
"Has she eaten?" I ask Quinn once I get home from the pub.
"I prepared a plate for her and put it on her nightstand but she hasn't touched it…" She replies, shaking her head. "Don't you think we should call a doctor, San? I have never seen Britt like this!"
"No, not yet… If I call a doctor, they will just stuff her with pills." I sigh. "But I think I'm going to stay home for a few days, Q… She needs me." I say with a sad shrug. "So… could you supervise things at Paramount in my absence?"
"Of course! Don't even think about work, I've got it!" She nods with a sympathizing smile, squeezing my shoulder to comfort me.
EVEN LATER THAT NIGHT – AT HOME
"Please, honey… you've got to eat…" I whisper, tenderly caressing Brittany's cheek.
"I'm not hungry." She whispers.
"Just a few bites, Britt…" I insist. "Can you do that for me?"
"Fine…" She sighs, sitting up in bed and I watch her reluctantly take a couple of bites before giving up, having barely eaten anything.
She immediately lays back on her side and I spoon her tight… desperately trying to comfort her.
"I love you so much…" I whisper, nuzzling against her neck.
THE NEXT MORNING – AT HOME
"I have been doing some research…" I tell Mike over the phone, making sure that Brittany can't hear me. "… and there is something really dodgy about this new electrician… I don't know if you managed to get through when you called him a few days ago but when I tried today, I found out that his number was out of service! I tried to email him but his email address is no longer valid and his website doesn't exist anymore!" I add. "There's not even any record of him online so I'm pretty sure he gave you a fake name."
"Are you serious?" Mike asks, obviously surprised. "But why would he pretend to be someone else?"
"I don't know…" I say. "But what if he actually tampered with your electrical installation?"
"But…" He mumbles, pausing for a while. "… he just replaced a few light bulbs and tested the equipment, that's it! At least, that's what the invoice says, he didn't charge us for anything else."
"Maybe he didn't charge you for what he actually did." I reply. "What about the previous electrician, this… Pete? Can he be trusted?"
"Pete? Oh, yes, I fully trust him! He has always had a very good reputation, he even used to check the electrical equipment of all the dance schools in the area! And we have had a great cooperation with him all these years."
"I know he retired but… do you think that, as a favor, he could come have a look at your installation? Maybe he will be able to tell us more…"
"Well, I can always call him and ask. But we can't enter the premises without the Inspector, so he will have to join us as well…"
A FEW DAYS LATER (LATE MORNING) – AT HOME – BRITTANY POV
"Britt…" I hear Santana whisper behind me while I'm still in bed. "You've got visitors…"
"What…?" I say in a sleepy voice, immediately opening my eyes. Why would she bring people here? I'm really not in the mood to see anyone!
I have barely the time to turn around that Sofia already climbs in bed next to me and Santana sits on the other side, carrying the twins in her arms.
"Look, mommy… I made a drawing for you! And I even wrote a few words on it!" She says proudly, handing me a sheet of paper.
"Oh, you can write now?" I say with a smile.
"Well, mama wrote it for me. But I'm the one who told her what to write!" She's quick to clarify.
I look at her beautiful drawing which appears to be a beach, with a big shiny sun above the sea and a rainbow in the blue sky… There are a few words written on the bottom right corner, in Santana's handwriting. "You're the best mommy in the world and I hope you feel better soon! I love you very, very, very, very, very (She said it even more but I'm sick of writing the same word over and over!) much. Sofia."
"Aww… thank you so much, peanut!" I say, kissing her forehead. "I love you too! And you are the best daughter in the whooole world!" I add, hugging her tight against my side.
"These two little boys also want their mommy…" Santana says, placing them both on my lap.
"Hi my loves!" I say, grabbing their hands in mine and when I see their big happy smiles, I can't help but smile myself.
"And there is one more visitor that I will exceptionally allow in here…" Santana adds, snapping her fingers. Barely a second later, Penny runs into the room and jumps on our bed.
"Can we watch the cartoon now?" Sofia asks, impatiently.
"Yes, mija…" Santana sighs, rolling her eyes. "I hope it's ok with you, wifey… but we thought that there was no better way to start our Saturday than watching a cartoon in bed, all together."
"That's perfect…" I smile, resting my head on her shoulder.
"Alright… here it goes then!" She says, grabbing the remote control before kissing my forehead.
LATER THAT MORNING – AT HOME
"Fine, you can play with Penny but you do that in the garden, not here, mija." I hear Santana say as I join them in the kitchen, right before Sofia runs away, followed by Penny.
"Aah… someone is up!" Santana says with a smile.
"Well, my very smart wife used my children to overload me with cuteness and affection, and now I'm craving for more…" I say, wrapping my arms around her neck.
"Oh really?" She asks with a flirty smile, placing her hands on my waist to pull me closer. "You've come to the right place then, we have unlimited supply of affection in this house!" She adds and I can't resist pressing my lips on hers for a loving kiss.
"Thank you…" I whisper.
"Well, I just wanted to remind you that even though some things suck right now, there are four people in this house - plus a dog - who love you more than anything, Britt…" She replies, kissing my lips. "You're our whole world, mommy… the soul of this family even!" She adds and I hug her tighter, my eyes filled with tears.
"But you can't give up on the dance school, honey…" She whispers into my ear. "It's always been your dream! You have to fight for it, ok? And I'll fight too, by your side…"
ANOTHER COUPLE OF DAYS LATER – AT THE DANCE SCHOOL – SANTANA POV
"So… did you find anything?" I ask Pete.
"Well, the cables are definitely not the same as last year." He replies.
"Are you sure?" I ask.
"Positive." He confirms. "The cables you have right now are very old ones, I don't think you can even find them on the market anymore! You can even see it by their color: only blue cables should be used in dance schools because they meet all the requirements. But these… are grey. And it's the same situation with your generator: some parts are incredibly rusted and it's not possible because that generator is barely two years old, I remember installing it myself!"
"Are you saying that someone intentionally replaced those parts with non-compliant ones?" I ask.
"Yes." Pete immediately replies, confirming my suspicion. "I'm sorry but I'm afraid you were victims of sabotage…"
"Sabotage…?" Brittany replies in disbelief, exchanging a confused look with Mike. "But why….? Who would do something like that to us?"
"I don't know, honey…" I say, rubbing her arm. "But if you remember on what date the guy was here, we can maybe identify him on the CCTV footage…" I suggest.
LATER THAT DAY – AT THE DANCE SCHOOL
"I can't believe that he even managed to disconnect our surveillance system…" Mike says, shaking his head. "Now, not only don't we know his real name but we don't even have a way to ever find him!"
"He clearly knew what he was doing…" I reply. "Are you sure you didn't know him? Is there any chance he could be a former student… or a parent?" I ask.
"No, it was the first time I ever saw that guy…" Mike replies.
"What about you, Britt?" I ask.
"I had never seen him before either…" She replies in a sad tone. "I still don't understand why anyone would wish us any harm…" She adds and I take her hand in mine, gently rubbing it with my thumb.
"Well, the police are on their way now…" I say. "Hopefully, their investigation will bring some answers…"
THE NEXT AFTERNOON – AT HOME
I'm taking care of the boys by myself while Brittany is out for a run, to clear her head. I was so relieved to see her finally getting out of the house! She has been hiding here ever since the dance school got shut down - except for yesterday, when we met up with Pete.
I have just put the twins down for a nap when I suddenly hear people arguing outside. As I look through the curtains of the living room, I see a strange man yelling at Brittany and I immediately run outside.
"HEY!" I scream to interrupt him, gently pushing Brittany behind me, to stand between them. "What's going on here?"
"That's none of your business!" He immediately replies.
"Excuse me?!" I say, frowning. "You're coming to my house and yelling at my wife, so it's definitely my business!" I add. "Who the fuck are you?"
"It's Allison's dad…" Brittany replies behind me and I get even angrier because he's one of the people that have been harassing her over the phone. And now that she has finally got out of her depressed state, I'm not going to let this guy push her back into darkness!
"Get inside, Brittany…" I say in a softer tone, never breaking eye contact with him. "And you…" I say, addressing him. "… get off my property immediately or I'll call the cops! Is that clear?"
"I just want to talk to her." He says in a calmer tone while Brittany gets inside the house.
"You seriously think I'm going to let you talk to my wife after all the threatening texts you sent her?" I question, continuously stepping forward, to force him to walk back to the street. "If you want to talk, you're going to talk to me, Mr…?" I trail off.
"Danes…" He replies, reaching the end of our property and I immediately lock the gate between us.
"Well… Mr Danes, let's hear it." I say, crossing my arms behind the locked gate. "Do you have any more creative insults or threats for us?" I ask without giving him time to reply. "You know, I find your attitude absolutely fascinating! You insisted for Brittany to be your daughter's dance teacher and now, you're the first one to turn on her!"
"I didn't mean to threaten her but…" He says.
"Oh, you didn't mean to?" I immediately cut him off in a sarcastic tone. "You sent her 21 bullying texts, Mr Danes! 21! And we have saved them all by the way, so if you ever come back here, I won't hesitate to share that with the police."
"I just…" He sighs. "You don't understand… My daughter… she… she loves to dance! She took as many classes as she could with your wife and a few others with Mr Chang too… She was at the dance school every single day and now I hear that she was not even safe in there!" He says and even though he's a total jerk, I definitely understand that gut fear a parent can feel for their child.
"Look…" I sigh. "I understand you're angry but I can assure you that Brittany and Mike never meant to put anyone in danger! Our four-year-old daughter used to go three times a week to the dance school! Do you really think my wife would have let her go if she thought it was not safe?" I argue but he doesn't answer and just looks down at his feet. "I know you assumed this situation was due to neglect but the police investigation is still ongoing and indications seem to point to an act of sabotage! So, maybe you should wait for the police conclusions before condemning anyone!" I say and he looks more embarrassed than ever.
"Do not come back here ever again." I warn before walking back to the house.
A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER – AT HOME
"No, I'm not using the dance fund, San!" Britt objects. "We agreed you would use it to finance Glee!"
"That was before your school was shut down, Brittany!" I reply, raising my hands in frustration. "You heard the lady from the insurance company, they won't intervene unless we can prove it was sabotage and you know as well as I do that this could take a very long time! We don't even know if we will ever be able to prove it!" I argue. "We need to get started on the repairs now so you can reopen the school as soon as possible!"
"No!" She repeats once more, getting upset. "This sabotage has already ruined everything for me and Mike and I'm not going to let it affect your career on top of it, ok?"
"But…"
"End of discussion, Santana!" She cuts me off in an assertive voice, before exiting the room.
And then people say I'm the stubborn one in this marriage?!
A FEW DAYS LATER – AT HOME
I am reworking scripts in the living room when Brittany suddenly comes in and I can tell by the look on her face that she's upset.
"You transferred the dance fund over to Mike?!" She asks with a mix of disbelief and anger. "I specifically told you I didn't want to use it!"
"What…?!" I say, frowning, trying my best to look confused. "What are you talking about? I didn't do anything…"
"Don't you lie to me, Santana Lopez-Pierce." She warns, looking me straight in the eye.
Yeah, I should have known that my wife would be able to read me like an open book… And I better be careful, considering that she didn't even stop at "Santana" this time… When she adds "Lopez-Pierce" to it, you know it's bad…
"Mike told me he got an 'anonymous' donation!" She adds in a sarcastic voice, using air quotes. "But I know it's you!"
"I…" I open my mouth to start explaining but she doesn't let me talk.
"In case you forgot, this is a marriage!" She says, gesturing between me and her. "You don't get to spend this much money without consulting your wife!" She adds in outrage.
"Why should I have consulted you since you keep repeating that this is my money and you don't want anything to do with it?"
"It is your money! You earned it from your hard work on Glee!"
"Well, then I guess I can spend it the way I want, can't I?" I argue and she only crosses her arms in response, silently holding my gaze.
Brittany is usually so sweet that the rare times she gets pissed, I always feel intimidated.
And also a little turned on.
"Britt…" I eventually say in a softer voice. "You pushed me to use this money when Lee refused to finance my Glee numbers, and I love you for that… But it was called the 'dance fund' for a reason! It's money I specifically put aside for renovations at the dance school. And now is the time to use it, we don't have a choice!"
"We always have a choice!" She replies.
"No, we don't, Brittany!" I say, raising my arms. "I know this is hard for you because you are basically the most supportive wife in the world and you want my show to succeed but… honey, this is no brainer!" I add. "So what if I don't have all the ambitious musical numbers I was planning?" I shrug. "It's not worth losing the dance school over it!"
"But Glee is your dream…" She argues.
"I still have Glee, Brittany… And I'll find another way to get good ratings, ok? You don't have to worry about it."
"But…"
"It can't be about me, honey… not this time." I cut her off, shaking my head. "Think about Mike! He has lost his income when he has a son and a baby on the way." I say, knowing that this is perhaps the only argument she might consider. "And then, there is your staff: the secretary, the teachers… They are all out of a job right now! And what about your students who want to keep learning dance with you? We have to be reasonable here… Using the dance fund was the right thing to do."
THE NEXT DAY – AT PARAMOUNT – IN SANTANA'S OFFICE
'I'm so sorry, San…" Quinn says, after hearing that I lost the funding for Glee. "What do we do now…?" She asks.
"Well, we drop a few songs and… we downgrade the other performances to more simple numbers." I sigh. "I've already reworked the scripts to take that into account… And here is the list of orders we need to cancel." I add, handing her a document.
"Ok… I'll take care of it." She says, getting up, ready to leave the room.
"Wait, Q… I have a few more things to discuss with you…" I say and she sits back in front of me.
"Despite this unexpected change of plans, we still have more creative performances than we did in the past seasons… and Zach told me that it was getting too much for one person. He asked for a temporary assistant choreographer and… I would like to give this position to Mike…" I say. "He's one of the best and he needs the money so… could you discuss it with Zach and prepare a contract? ASAP?"
"Of course, I'll get right on that!" She says, nodding.
"You're a really good friend, Santana Lopez…" She adds, squeezing my hand.
THE NEXT DAY – AT HOME
"Ok, so… I know this situation has been overwhelming for you both…" I tell Mike and Britt. "That's why I put together what I call a 'crisis task force'."
"A crisis task force?" Mike repeats, exchanging a confused look with Brittany.
"Yes." I confirm. "There is a lot to address and considering what happened, I think it's safe to say we can only work with people we fully trust. So here is what I propose: now that we have the money for repairs, we're going to ask Justin - Puck's buddy - to coordinate the works and also reinforce the current surveillance system." I say. "But since this incident significantly hindered your reputation, it's time to restore it. That's where Lucy comes in. She's working with us at Paramount and she's amazing, a real shark!" I add in a confident voice. "I asked her to prepare a crisis communication plan and she will brief you later today, so that you know what to say to parents but also to local media. And finally, Mike, I have um… a job offer for you." I conclude and he looks at me with confusion in his eyes.
"You have a son and a pregnant wife so you need another job, at least until the dance school reopens. And it turns out we need an assistant choreographer on set so… if you don't have any objection, you're starting on Monday." I add and he opens his eyes wide in surprise.
"I… I don't even know what to say…" He replies, in disbelief. "Thank you, thank you so much…" He says, standing up to hug me.
LATER THAT DAY – AT HOME
While Justin, Lucy, Puck and Mike are discussing in the living room, Brittany joins me in the kitchen where I'm preparing snacks for our guests.
"Hey…" I say with a smile. "So did you go over the communication plan with Lucy?"
"Yes, we did…" Brittany nods. "She's great, just like you said!"
"Oh she definitely is… You don't even know how many times she saved our ass at Param…" I say but I'm interrupted mid-sentence, when she suddenly kisses my lips out of nowhere.
She gives me one of those long kisses that always make me forget my surroundings and when she pulls away, I'm having a hard time catching my breath.
"I… uh…" I mumble, unable to form a correct sentence, my heart beating fast.
"I'm so lucky to have you…" She says, caressing my face. "You're always there for me, and you always know what to do."
"Well, we're a team, wifey…" I shrug.
"The best team in the world…" She comments with an emotional smile, before hugging me tight.
THE NEXT DAY – AT PARAMOUNT
"Can you think of anyone that would benefit from your wife's school being shut down?" Private Detective Mason asks me. "Maybe a rival school competing for funding?"
"But dance schools in this area don't need to compete for money… they get the exact same share of public funding from the county." I argue. "The rest comes from private investors, which in this case are me, my wife and Mr Chang."
"No one else?" He asks.
"No, it's just us."
"What about this dance tournament…" He adds. "Your wife's school qualified for... regionals, is that correct?"
"Yes, they won sectionals and qualified for regionals." I confirm.
"Ok well, I'll look into the schools that were eliminated then." He says and I frown in surprise. Is there really a school that would go as far as sabotage just because they lost sectionals?
"Anyone else that might have a motive? Someone who might have a personal vendetta against your wife or Mr. Chang?"
"No, I don't think so. Mike and Brittany don't have any enemies." I shrug. "They are very well appreciated in the community. I don't see who could possibly want to harm th…" I trail off, when someone suddenly comes to mind.
"Well… except this guy maybe." I add, handing him my phone.
"Who is he?" Detective Mason asks.
"His name is James Pearson, he's a professional dancer." I reply while the Detective scribbles on his notepad. "He lives in New York but he has family in L.A. and he um… he's always been interested in my wife." I add. "Romantically."
"When you say 'interested'… is that your own assumption or is it a fact?"
"It's a fact." I immediately reply. "He tried to kiss her, even though we were already married, and he tried to break us up on multiple occasions." I add. "He was so obsessed with her that he even tried to um… illegally become her sperm donor."
"Well, he sure sounds like an amazing guy…" The Detective comments in a sarcastic tone.
"But what would he go after Brittany's school?" I add. "It doesn't make any sense! He's always been nice to her! If he would see anyone as his enemy, that would rather be me, not her."
"You said he tried to kiss Brittany… So I assume she turned him down?"
"Well, yes… She told him several times not to contact her and the last time they talked, she told him to stay away from her and our family."
"When was that last conversation?" He asks.
"Some time last year." I reply. "I would say in May, or maybe June."
"Have you heard from him since then?"
"No." I reply after taking a long inhale.
"I'll track him down." He says. "But since you mentioned you were also one of the private investors, is it possible that the person behind this was actually targeting you, Santana? Can you think of anyone that would want to come after you?" He asks and I chuckle nervously.
"Well… How much time do you have?"
A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER - AT QUINN'S HOUSE – BRITTANY POV
"Thanks for making some time for me, Quinn…" I say, taking a seat on her couch.
"Of course, Britt!" She smiles. "What's on your mind? You sounded very mysterious over the phone…"
"Well, I assume you know that Santana reallocated the Glee funding to my school…?" I ask.
"Yeah, she told me…" She whispers, nodding.
"She keeps saying it's not a big deal if she can't do all the musical numbers but… I know she's lying to me." I say, locking eyes with her. "So… I need you to tell me the truth, Q."
"Brittany…" She says, shaking her head. "If I tell you stuff that Santana doesn't want you to know, she's going to go all Snix on me! Usually, I'm not afraid of her but when it comes to you, she's so protective that she does scare me!"
"I won't tell her, I promise!" I reply right away. "I just need to know what the situation really is, that's it! Please, Quinn…" I insist but she remains silent for a while, obviously hesitating.
"Ok…" She eventually sighs. "But she can't know I have anything to do with this, I'm serious!" She warns, raising her index finger.
"She won't." I repeat, to reassure her.
"Ok well, um… a few weeks ago, Santana said that for Glee to be renewed, we needed to do even more musical numbers… especially towards the end of the season." She says. "At first, I thought that she was exaggerating because we already had plenty of numbers but…" She sighs. "… I think she's right." She admits and I immediately feel a mix of sadness and guilt in my heart.
"Now that Glee moved to Netflix, we don't know what our audience will be and how they will react to the show… It's a huge bet!" She adds. "Especially because we deliver the season all at once, so we don't even have a chance to turn it around mid-season like we did on TV! It's really all or nothing… And let me tell you, Patricia Miller is not one for joking around! If ratings are not good enough, she will cancel the show! And if Netflix drops Glee…" She trails off. "… it will be a very uncomfortable situation for Santana, considering that the cast even renounced part of their salaries for this show…"
"I see…" I whisper, my original assumptions now being confirmed. "Well, then… we have to find another way to shoot all the musical numbers she was planning."
"I'm afraid it's not possible, Brittany…" She says in a sad tone, shaking her head. "You know, Santana didn't even want to use the dance fund in the first place… She only considered it because we couldn't find any other way! Musical numbers are so costly that the expenses skyrocket really quickly…"
"But there must be something we can do!" I object in a desperate voice.
"Santana gave me everything I have ever dreamed of, Q…" I add in a sad whisper. "Love, a family and… you may not know this, but she's the very reason why I even have the dance school!" I say. "When Mike and I found the studio, I didn't have much money… but Santana had some savings, from the songs she had written for Mercedes and Rachel! And she invested her money in the dance school, without thinking twice!" I shrug. "And now that everything is falling apart, she's still the one saving it!"
"She waited so long to run Glee the way she wanted and now that her own dream finally came true, my problems are ruining everything for her! I can't let that happen, I just can't!" I say, upset. "If it was not for me, you guys could have done all the musical numbers! So, can we please brainstorm together, Q? We have to find the money, one way or another!"
LATER THAT DAY – AT HOME
When I get back home, Santana is not in the living room but I eventually spot her getting out of Diego's bedroom.
"Hi!" She whispers, trying not to make noise. "I didn't know you were back home! Did you have a nice time with Quinn?" She asks with a luminous smile - the same one she used in our teenage years, to cheer me up whenever I was sad. And just like that, the conversation I had earlier with Quinn comes back to mind: Santana has always been caring and protective, having the back of people she loves and fighting for their happiness…
Instead of replying to her question, I grab her hand and pull her with me as I walk through the hall.
"Where are we going?" She asks, obviously surprised.
I lead her to our bedroom and close the door behind me. "Are the kids asleep?" I ask, making her frown in confusion.
"Well… yeah, they…" She replies but I cut her off by pressing my lips on hers, holding her face between my hands. She's taken aback for a couple of seconds but eventually kisses me back, her arms wrapping around my waist to pull me closer. I make sure to keep the kiss tender, taking my time to explore her mouth.
While we're kissing, I eventually make her slowly walk backwards and gently lay her on the bed. As she pulls me on top of her, our kiss intensifies and I feel her hands sneaking under my shirt, caressing my bare back.
"Wait…" I whisper, breaking the kiss, and she looks at me with a mix of confusion and disappointment in her eyes.
"I want to make love to you…" I confirm in between kisses, to reassure her. "But I'm gonna put on a little show for you first…" I add in a flirty voice, wiggling my eyebrows.
"Okay…" She whispers and sits up in bed, looking at me expectantly.
After placing one last kiss on those lips I love so much, I get up and take a few steps away. I grab my phone and play sexy music, making sure it's not too loud because I really don't want to risk waking up the kids! Our tiny humans will just have to sleep through the night because Santana and I need some time alone…
I start dancing in front of my lady, sensually moving to the rhythm of the music. Never breaking eye contact with her, I slowly unbutton my shirt, giving her a sneak peek of my chest. I eventually take it off and gently throw it at her. Even though it takes her by surprise, she manages to catch it on time and I smile when I hear her chuckle.
Still dancing, I slowly run my hands down my chest, over my breast and my stomach, until I reach my pants. After unbuttoning my jeans, I turn around and bend over to slowly pull down my pants. Although I can't see her right now, I'm pretty sure Santana is taking a good look at my ass… I keep dancing, swaying my hips in a sultry way, knowing that this will drive her crazy. When I eventually turn back to her, I find her eyes travelling my body, full of desire.
Locking eyes with her, I let my panties slide down my legs and unhook my bra, giving her a minute to appreciate the sight of my naked body. I slowly walk back to her and I can't help but smirk when I see her swallowing hard in anticipation.
Back in bed, I straddle her and pull her into a deep, sensual kiss. While our tongues swirl together, I feel her hands slide up my bare thighs and land on my ass.
"Someone is overdressed…" I whisper against her lips, before lifting her shirt above her head. As my fingers trace along her bra and unclasp it, I can't look away from her exposed chest… She eventually reconnects our lips and even though I can't see what I'm doing, I fortunately manage to unzip her skirt. I really, really need her naked now…
As I finally remove her panties, I take a moment to look at her, in all her glory… And just like every single time, I reach the same conclusion: Santana is – without a doubt - the most beautiful woman I have ever seen!
But she's also so much more than that… She's my best friend, my babies' mama, the love of my life! And tonight, it's going to be all about her.
A LITTLE WHILE LATER
"I love you…" I whisper in between passionate kisses, laying on top of her.
"I love you too, wifey… so much…" She smiles, holding me tighter in her arms while my thumb caresses her cheek. We silently look into each other's eyes for a moment, until I can't resist pulling her into yet another kiss. While her tongue dances with mine, her hand runs through my hair and slides down my back, leaving my skin on fire…
My lips eventually move to her jawline and kiss her neck, only stopping at her pulse point to gently suck on it. I can hear Santana's breathing accelerate as I slowly trail kisses down her chest, eventually reaching one of her hard nipples. My tongue runs over it a few times, savoring the sweet taste of her skin, before taking it in my mouth. Moans escape Santana's lips when I suck on it, my hand gently squeezing her other boob at the same time. I play with her breasts for a while, making sure to give them equal attention.
Her nipple is still trapped in my mouth when I look up, searching for her soulful eyes.
"God, Brittany…" She pants while locking eyes with mine, caressing my head.
I smirk at her and place feather-like kisses all over her stomach, before gently spreading her perfect legs. Trailing kisses on her inner thigh, I slowly make my way to her glistening center. The intoxicating scent of her arousal sets my lady parts on fire right away but I try to ignore it, determined to focus exclusively on pleasing her.
I settle between her legs and run my tongue over her clit, in a slow and gentle way. Santana immediately hums in pleasure, her hand tangled in my blond hair. Patiently, I vary my strokes and eventually flick her bundle of nerves, before gently sucking on it.
"Britt…" She lets out in between moans.
As my hand reaches up to cup her breast, I can feel her heart racing under my palm, encouraging me to keep going. Hungry for her, I twirl my tongue around her throbbing clit, before running it through her wet folds. I lick up and down her slit a few times and she tastes so good that I can't resist pushing my tongue inside her.
"Oh my God…" She whispers in the middle of heavy breathing, her grip on my hair tightening.
My tongue slowly thrusts in and out of her, exploring her insides. But the sweet taste of her is driving me so crazy that I can't help but quicken my pace, making her moan faster.
My fingers eventually replace my tongue, easily sliding into her, and I move back up, to lick her bundle of nerves.
I pump in and out of her while devouring her clit, humming against her wet skin. I look up at her and she looks so sexy that it's getting really difficult to ignore the desire between my own legs. Her eyes are closed and her chest is moving up and down fast, her open mouth moaning my name. She's holding on to our bed sheets and I can tell by the way her body tightens around my fingers that she's getting close.
Desperate to feel closer to her, my lips leave her clit and I adjust my position to lay next to her body. While my fingers are still buried deep inside her, I capture her soft, plump lips in a tender kiss and gently rest my forehead on hers. Our eyes lock and I occasionally kiss her mouth, whispering "I love you" against her lips.
As she moans my name one last time, I see her eyes eventually roll to the back of her head and I feel her coming hard on my fingers.
I patiently wait for her to come down from her high, before gently taking my fingers out of her. Her eyes open again and she gives me such a cute dopey smile that I can't stop myself from placing a loving kiss on her lips. I hug her body tight and rest my head on her chest, listening to her pounding heartbeat. She immediately holds me in her arms but it takes a minute for her breathing to slow down.
"Oh my God… That was…" She whispers erratically, still trying to catch her breath. "Is it me or you're getting even better at this? How is that even possible?!" She asks, making me chuckle. "I'm serious, Britt… I was not sure my heart could take it…"
"Well… your body can rest and recover now…" I say with a smile, placing her kiss on her chest.
We lay still, in a tight embrace, until I break the silence. "Do you want to sleep?" I eventually ask.
"What?" She says, surprised. "No!" She frowns. "I want to make you feel as good as you just made me!" She adds, giving me a long kiss.
"You don't have to, San… Tonight was all about you!"
"That's very generous of you, Britt…" She says, kissing my lips again. "… but you're a fool if you think I'm going to leave you sexually frustrated, wifey! You deserve to get off too…" She adds with a smile, wiggling her eyebrows.
A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER (LUNCH TIME) – AT THE RESTAURANT
"Hi Britt!" Quinn says, hugging me. "I'm afraid I can't stay long…" She adds, taking a seat. "We have a really busy day at Paramount today! I was not even sure Santana would let me go so I told her I had a medical appointment over lunch time." She says. "And now, she thinks I'm pregnant!" She adds, rolling her eyes. "Anyway, I'm here now so… do you have any news?"
"Well, I talked to Rachel and Mercedes…" I reply. "And they both agreed to invest money into Glee." I add, showing her the total amount on a piece of paper.
"Oh, that's very generous of the girls!" Quinn says, impressed. "But I'm afraid it's still not enough, Britt…"
"I know…" I sigh. "I also went to Terry Fisher and asked if he would agree to produce an episode but he told me it would be a conflict of interest, since he's still part of the Fox Board…"
"Yeah… Unfortunately, it's true." She confirms.
"What about you, any luck?" I ask.
"Well… Artie, Naya and I also agreed to invest some money… and if I add it to Rachel and Mercedes' contribution, I think we have enough to do all the musical numbers we planned for episode 9."
"One episode, that's all?!" I say, surprised and disappointed. "But what about the season finale?"
"I'm sorry, Britt…" She shakes her head.
"How much more would you need to do everything Santana initially planned?"
"The last episode is the most ambitious one of the season, so… it's likely to cost the double of episode 9…" She says and I find myself completely discouraged.
A FEW DAYS LATER
Even though I have been parked for at least 15 minutes, I'm still sitting in my car, hands tight on the steering wheel. I'm feeling so nervous that I take a few deep inhales and exhales, to give me courage.
I eventually get out of the car, take the few steps separating me from the front door and ring the bell. I really don't want to be here but I know I have to swallow my pride. I just love Santana too much to let her sacrifice Glee for me.
The door finally opens and I swallow hard, feeling my heart beating fast in my chest.
"Brittany?" I hear, detecting surprise in the familiar voice.
"Hi…" I say. "Could we talk for a minute?"
A/N: I know, I end it again on a cliffhanger... sorry! Before I ask you my usual questions, I wanted to say – for those who don't already know – that I am writing another Brittana fanfic in parallel, called "She knows me too well". You can find it from my fanfiction profile.
Here is the synopsis: "Santana and Brittany are in their early 40s, they are divorced but still co-parent their three children and get along. Can they find their way back to each other?"
Before you panic, yes it is based on this fanfic but no, it is NOT the future of "Tell our story". That new story is taking place in a different universe! And I know that it might not be appealing to read that they are divorced, but give it a chance as a few people who were initially reluctant to read it eventually like it!
I also wanted to say that I don't know if I will update "Tell our story" before the end of the year (maybe, maybe not). So in case I don't, I wanted to wish you all a Merry Snixxmas and a Happy New year! Thank you for still being here and reading my stories, it means a lot! And please, do not forget to enable your notifications (by email or on the app) if you want to get an alert when I update my stories.
But now, I have questions for you:
- Did you like this chapter?
- Who do you think is behind the dance school sabotage and why?
- And who is Brittany visiting at the end of the chapter?
Please let me know in the reviews! Thank you!