CHAPTER 62
A/N: Hi everybody! It took me a while to update but as you can imagine, I did not always have access to my computer during the holidays. Originally, I was planning for this chapter to end with the birth of Brittana's new baby, but the chapter became SO long that I had to split it into two parts (and even like that, this first part is already 12K words long! lol) So, just a heads up - the baby won't be born in this chapter, you'll have to wait for the next one… However, you'll get to enjoy Brittany's pregnancy a little longer. Many thanks, as always, for all your reviews (from the loyal readers and the new ones too!) I hope you enjoy this new (mature) chapter, and many thanks to pjay413 for proofreading it!
EARLY JANUARY – AT MIKE AND TINA'S – BRITTANY's POV
"Ssshhh…" I tell the kids, placing my finger against my lips as Santana rings the doorbell.
"Happy new year!" We all scream in unison as soon as Tina opens the front door.
"Happy new year!" She replies with a beaming smile, while our kids run to her. "Oh, hi guys!" She chuckles, giving them a group hug before they all throw themselves at Mike.
"Aw, Britt… You look amazing!" Tina says, looking at my baby bump. "Everything okay with the little one?"
"So far, so good!" I smile. "How are you, T?"
"Pretty good! We just came back from Li –"
"Titana!" Nora interrupts us in her baby voice, heading straight for Santana.
"Hiii Nono!" Santana smiles, lifting her goddaughter to give her a kiss. "How are you, baby? Oh, and here comes mini-Chang!" She adds as Alex runs towards me, screaming "Auntie B!"
"Easy there, mister!" Tina says, stopping him before he can reach me. "Remember what I told you earlier? You have to be gentle around Auntie Britt so you don't hurt the baby in her belly."
"Sorry…" He tells his mom, before carefully hugging my leg.
"Hi buddy!" I smile, caressing his hair.
I saw Alex just before Christmas but I swear, he has grown so much since then! It kind of makes me sad, kids really grow up too fast…
"Titana, you know what I did today?" Alex asks Santana. "I built a Lego castle!" He says proudly.
"Oh, wow... A castle! Can I see it?" She asks eagerly, and I smile as I watch my godson pull her by the hand to go into the next room. It's funny how someone who used to say that ' she was not a baby person' is now so popular with kids that they all fight for her attention…
A FEW DAYS LATER (EVENING TIME) – AT HOME – SANTANA's POV
"Are you still upset about last night…?" Brittany suddenly breaks the silence of our bedroom, pulling me out of my thoughts. "I know I fell asleep in the middle of sex, and believe me… I feel terrible about it! But I didn't do it on purpose, San…" She adds before I can even answer, speaking faster and faster. "You remember how it is when you're pregnant, you can feel exhausted all of a sudden, and –"
"Hey, it's ok…" I interrupt her monologue, gesturing with my hands to make her slow down.
"I just don't want you to be mad…" She says in a sad voice.
"Honey, I already told you yesterday… I'm not mad." I say, squeezing her hand to reassure her. "Sure, my ego was a little bit hurt… but I'm not mad." I add, caressing her cheek.
"Let me make it up to you…" She whispers with pleading eyes.
"Brittany, there is nothing to make up for… You were too tired, I understand." I nod, giving her a quick kiss on the lips.
Before I can pull away, she places both of her hands on my cheeks to keep me close and captures my lips in another kiss that she progressively deepens. And just like every single time, the way she swirls her tongue with mine quickly drives me wild, making me hum against her lips.
"It's not fair to kiss me like this…" I eventually complain in a whisper, which makes her smirk.
"You know, I took a pretty long nap earlier…" She says between sweet lady kisses. "So, I'm ready to give you my full, undivided attention… And I even bet that tonight, I am going to tire you out…"
"You think so…?" I ask, unable to hold back my smile.
"Oh yeah!" She says confidently, reuniting our lips.
Still kissing me, she gently pulls me by the collar of my shirt, guiding me to lie on my side so that we're face to face. As I caress her thigh, her fingers graze my stomach beneath my clothes, making me shiver at the touch.
"Take it off…" Brittany eventually pleads against my lips, tugging at my shirt, and I quickly oblige, ending up topless. My hands caress her back and our kiss grows more passionate, her body pressing against mine.
"Oh my God!" I suddenly break the kiss, immediately sitting up while Brittany and I look at each other with wide eyes. "Did she just kick for the first time while we were making out?!"
"It surely looked like it…"
"God, she's a true Lopez…" I sigh and she chuckles, grabbing my hand to place it next to hers on her stomach. We remain quiet for a while, eagerly waiting for our baby to move again.
"I can't feel anything now." I eventually say, disappointed.
"Me neither…" She shakes her head. "Are you there, pookie? Can you say hi to mama and me?" She asks, rubbing her belly. But our daughter doesn't react to the request.
"Well… Maybe she went back to sleep." Brittany says with a shrug. "Don't worry, she'll do it again at some point." She adds, caressing my cheek.
"Yeah, I guess…" I nod, pressing my lips to her open palm.
We eventually lie back down, face to face, and I quickly lose myself in her blue eyes.
"You're so beautiful…" I say, tucking a strand of blond hair behind her ear.
"Right back at you…" She whispers, and I can't resist kissing her some more.
Her tongue slips back into my mouth as her arms wrap around my neck. A moan eventually escapes my lips, but we both break the kiss when another tiny kick against my hand interrupts our moment.
"I guess she's back…" Brittany says, laughing.
"Hola, mija!" I smile, putting my hand back on Britt's belly.
"Is she playing hide and seek with us?" I eventually ask, disappointed that our little girl goes quiet as soon as I try to connect with her.
"Maybe she only kicks when we kiss." Brittany says with a chuckle.
"Oh no, don't speak of bad luck…" I frown.
"Well, there's only one way to find out…" She says, pulling me into yet another loving kiss.
I kiss her back, ready to resume our sexy times, when the baby kicks once more.
"Okay, I was actually kidding when I said that…" Brittany says, addressing her belly.
"Oh, God, no… She's going to be like her sister and keep us from having sex!" I complain as the realization hits me.
A FEW DAYS LATER (EARLY EVENING) – AT PARAMOUNT – IN SANTANA's OFFICE
I have just shut down my computer and I'm finally about to head home when I hear someone knock on my open door. Of course, that's just my luck…
"Julia." I say, surprised.
What is she doing here at this hour?!
"Hi Santana! I hope I'm not interrupting?" She asks, smiling at me.
"Um, no… I'm done for the day." I reply, hoping that she will get the hint and won't keep me long. "So… what brings you here?"
"Well, I met with Patricia today and she told me that you were planning to end Glee this spring?" She says in disbelief. "Imagine my surprise!"
"Oh… I'm sorry." I say in an apologetic tone.
I had completely forgotten that Patricia Miller would be announcing the news to the investors this week…
"For what it's worth, it was a very difficult decision, but… it feels like the time has come." I shrug.
"I'm sure you know best… even if I'll miss this show…" She admits in a sad voice. "Do you know what you will do next? Because I would be happy to finance another one of your projects."
"Oh… Thank you, really, but... once the season is over, I'm planning to take some time off." I say. "I have poured my heart and soul into this show for the past six years, so… it's time for a break. Besides, it will take me a while to move on from Glee and figure out what I want to do next. In the meanwhile, I just want to enjoy my family."
"I understand…" She nods. "Is the rumor true, by the way? Brittany is pregnant?"
"Uh, yeah, she is…"
"Congratulations! Are you having a boy or a girl?"
"A girl." I smile.
"Aw, that's wonderful!" She smiles back. "How about we go for a drink, to celebrate the big news? As friends." She quickly adds. "I've met 'mama bear Brittany', I know better than to get too close if I want to stay alive." She laughs.
"I'm sorry, Julia, I can't… I've got to leave now if I want to make it home in time to give my children their goodnight kiss. And honestly, all I want to do tonight is snuggle with my wife while we look at paint colors for our baby's room." I say, surprised by my own words.
Since when do I choose paint colors over drinks at the pub?! But it's probably for the best, because I know Brittany wouldn't like it if I went out for drinks with Julia. And I don't want to upset my pregnant wife.
"Okay…" She nods in understanding. "I guess I'll go then. But I meant what I said… If you ever need a producer, I would be happy to finance your next project, even as a 'silent partner', as Brittany calls it. With you, I know that my money is well placed."
"Thank you." I nod in gratitude. "I'll keep it in mind."
"See you at the Golden Globes!" She says, waving at me a she disappears through the door.
A FEW DAYS LATER – AT THE GOLDEN GLOBES AWARDS CEREMONY
"We have five nominations this time, so they better give us at least one award!" Quinn argues while we're sitting at our table.
"I prefer not to get my hopes up…" I sigh, taking a sip of champagne, not sure of what to expect.
While five nominations are normally a good sign, I want long-awaited recognition so badly that I'm really scared of being disappointed again…
"Well, I for one have a very good feeling about tonight." Brittany smiles, placing a comforting hand on mine. "I bet you're going to get at least two awards."
"See? Brittany believes in us! And I like her odds very much." Quinn says. "Besides, Julia is not nominated for Best Actress this time. And there is no one else in this room that is as talented and popular as Naya, so…"
Let's hope she's right…
LATER THAT NIGHT – AT THE CEREMONY
"And the Golden Globe for 'Best Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy' goes to…" The presenter trails off, and I hold my breath as he opens the mysterious envelope.
"Naya Rivera, for Glee!" He eventually announces cheerfully, and my jaw drops in disbelief.
Oh my God, did I hear this right? Did she really win?
"See, I told you! No one is better than my girl!" I hear Quinn says like a proud mama while Brittany squeezes my hand tightly.
As I look over at Naya at the next table, I watch her bring her hands to her face before standing up to the crowd's applause. On her way to the stage, she stops by my table and I get up from my chair instinctively, just in time for her to pull me into a quick hug.
"Congratulations, Rivera! You deserve this so much!" I whisper into her ear.
"That's all thanks to you, Lopez." She says with a grateful nod and a kiss on my cheek, before continuing to the stage to accept her award.
"Wow…" Naya says into the microphone, looking at the trophy in her hand. "Thank you… Thank you so much! I um… I did prepare a speech just in case this happened, but even though it's pretty bad for an actress, I actually don't remember a single word of it!" She says, causing the audience to burst into laughter.
"So, forgive me if I forget anyone… but I just want to thank real quick all the people that are behind Glee: the entire crew – from the technicians to the production team – Patricia Miller and everyone at Netflix, my talented co-stars, especially Heather Morris with whom I share most of my scenes…" She says, looking out at Heather in the crowd. "I also want to thank Quinn Fabray and Artie Abrams… but there is one person in particular without whom I wouldn't be on this stage today, and that's our showrunner, Santana Lopez-Pierce… Santana, thank you from the bottom of my heart for trusting me enough to let me portray you on screen. You completely changed my career – and my life – when you offered me this incredible character and all these meaningful storylines… I will forever be grateful to you and I'm so proud to call you my friend." She adds, bringing tears to my eyes. "And before I go, I would like to dedicate this award to my wonderful mom, who has always been so supportive. Thank you!" She concludes before leaving the stage.
EVEN LATER – AT THE CEREMONY – BRITTANY's POV
The award for "Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy" just went to another show, and when I quickly glance at Santana, I can see the disappointment all over her face.
She kept a brave smile on when Glee missed two other awards earlier tonight, but I know that this one hurts. It's the award she has secretly been hoping for a long time and it breaks my heart that she didn't get it, because I know how much she has devoted herself to Glee over the years.
I wish I could hug her right now but I settle for discreetly grabbing her hand under the table and gently rubbing the back of it with my thumb.
Our hands remain intertwined throughout the announcements of the limited series winners, until Julia Peterson appears on stage to present the final category for which Glee is nominated.
"And the winner for 'Best Original Song' is…" Julia says, checking the envelope. She has not said it yet but the huge smile on her face leaves little doubt… I know that Santana just won.
"' Wifey' from Glee, written by Santana Lopez-Pierce!" She announces, her voice filled with enthusiasm.
"Oh my God!" Santana says, her eyes widening. "I won?!" She asks in disbelief, turning to me.
"Yes, you did!" I nod with a proud smile.
I cup her cheek as she presses her lips on mine for a quick kiss, and I smile even wider when I see the sparkle in her eyes. At least, one of her talents was recognized tonight.
She makes her way to the stage, and I can't help but frown in jealousy as I watch an excited Julia hug her before handing her the trophy.
"Thank you…" Santana says shyly into the microphone. "This is um… This is actually my very first award and it really means a lot…" She nods, looking down at the trophy in her hands. "You know, the best songs I have ever written have all been inspired by my family and this one is no exception. I always prefer to share my deepest emotions through music, because I'm not every good with words. And as you can guess from the title, this song is a love declaration to my wife, Brittany." She says, looking in my direction. "She's the most wonderful person I know and this award proves once again that I owe her everything good happening in my life. So, Brittany… this is for you. I love you." She shrugs, and I bring my hands to my lips to blow her a kiss.
MUCH LATER THAT NIGHT – AT HOME – SANTANA's POV
I'm about to head to the bathroom to get ready for bed when Brittany catches my wrist. "Wait…" She pleads, making me turn around. She pulls me into her arms and I can feel her pregnant belly against my stomach. "I want a kiss from my double Golden Globe winner…" She whispers, her fingers grazing the back of my neck.
"I only won one…" I correct her. "The other is all Naya."
"Well, Naya is an amazing actress who fully deserves her victory tonight, but you should also give yourself some credit, honey. She won an award for a role on your show, for the dialogues and storylines you wrote, and for playing an iconic character you created and who is based on the wonderful woman you are…" She argues, pulling me into a tender kiss. "I'm so very proud of you, San…"
"Thank you…" I whisper with a grateful smile.
I'm really happy to have finally received an award after six years of hard work, but nothing compares to hearing the woman I love say she's proud of me.
"How about we go to bed and celebrate properly?" She says in a sultry voice, slowly tracing my collarbone with the tip of her fingers, and I can't help but smile as our lips meet again.
ONE WEEK LATER (EVENING TIME) – AT HOME
I enter the kitchen after putting the twins to bed and find Sofia reciting her multiplication tables, while Brittany is doing the dishes.
"Six times two?" My blonde asks our little girl.
"12!" Sofia shouts confidently, making me smirk.
As I'm about to help Brittany with the dishes, my phone suddenly vibrates in my jeans pocket.
I sigh when I see it's a text from Abuela. Here comes the batch of ugly baby names…
FROM "ABUELA": Lucrecia?
TO "ABUELA": Are you even serious?!
FROM "ABUELA": Never mind… What about Candelaria?
TO "ABUELA": No.
I'm about to put my phone back in my pocket when it beeps again.
FROM "ABUELA": Raquel?
TO "ABUELA": No! I'm not naming my daughter after Gay Berry, thank you.
"Ten times two?" Brittany asks Sofia while I put my phone on mute.
"20!" Our little girl says in such a loud voice that I'm even afraid she's going to wake up her brothers.
"Well done, peanut!" Brittany says with a proud smile. "You know them all!"
"Come on, you little genius… It's time for bed now." I tell my daughter, caressing her hair. "Go brush your teeth, I'll come tuck you in in a bit."
"Okay… Night, mommy!" Sofia says, wrapping her arms around Brittany's hips.
"Sleep tight, baby." Brittany smiles, caressing her back.
"Night, baby sis!" She suddenly says to our surprise, placing a gently kiss on her mom's belly before exiting the room. It's the first time she has addressed her unborn sister.
"Oh my God, I love her!" Brittany says, melting at Sofia's cuteness.
"Yeah, she's pretty great!" I agree with a smile. "And I bet this one will be great too…" I add, caressing her stomach.
"Oh, I know she will…" She smiles, kissing my lips.
ONE WEEK LATER (FEBRUARY)
"Please, Ms. Lopez-Pierce…" A man in a suit says, pulling out the chair for me, before joining the other man already seated in front of me.
"I was not sure you would come…" The familiar voice says.
"Frankly, I hesitated…" I admit. "But I didn't want to miss the chance to see you behind bars." I say, locking eyes with him.
"I hear congratulations are in order." James says while I frown in confusion. "As surprising as this sounds, I actually got to watch the Golden Globes with the other inmates. And when you walked the red carpet with Brittany, it was pretty clear that she was pregnant."
"Let's cut to the chase, shall we?" I suggest, ignoring his comment about Brittany. "Why am I here, James?" I ask, looking around the legal visitation room at Los Angeles' Metropolitan Detention Center.
"Fine." He nods. "I asked my lawyer here to contact you because I have a proposal for you, Santana."
"A proposal?" I chuckle ironically. "What would you possibly have to offer?"
"You and I both know I sabotaged Brittany's dance school." He suddenly admits, catching me off guard.
Of course, I always suspected he was involved, but I never expected him to confess!
"Well, I didn't actually do it myself, but I did pay someone to do it." He specifies.
"Why did you do it?" I ask. "The school could have caught fire because of you! You put so many people in danger, including my wife and my kids!" I say, struggling to control my anger.
"I actually never asked him to tamper with the electrical system." He argues.
"Oh, please." I say, not believing a word.
"Look, Santana… I know I've lied to Brittany numerous times in the past, but she's pretty gullible and –"
"No. You don't get to speak about my wife like that." I cut him off, pointing my index finger at him. "In fact, don't you speak about her at all."
"Fine…" He nods, holding his handcuffed hands up in defense. "I just meant that, unlike other people, I have never lied to you. Because I know you see right through me, since day one."
"And yet, you told me you were my sons' father, even though you knew you weren't."
"I'm sorry but I never told you I was their father. I just said it would be ironic if I was." He argues while I shake my head at the technicality.
"I know I'm not a good man, but I wouldn't push it as far as to put innocent kids in danger." He adds. "I only wanted Brittany's school to be disqualified before regionals."
"Why?" I ask. "Was it some kind of pathetic revenge against Brittany because she hurt your little ego when she told you to fuck off?"
"No. It's not even about Brittany. I just needed Hannah's school to qualify for regionals." He says. "And for that to happen, someone had to drop out. I couldn't risk going after the top two schools because they qualify every year anyway. Targeting Brittany's school would have raised less suspicion." He explains. "But I never thought my guy would sabotage the electrical setup. I thought he would just hack into the IT system and make the finances look suspicious enough to get Britt's school investigated and disqualified."
"Why was it so important for you that Hannah's school qualifies?!"
"Okay, first, you have to understand that Hannah and I, we go way back… She was my first love." He shrugs. "We were together for a long time in high school, like you and Brittany. Then I got into a dance school in New York, but she didn't… We agreed that I couldn't pass up that opportunity, so I moved there alone. I was 18, young and stupid, and I suddenly found myself surrounded by the most attractive women I had ever seen! Despite my best efforts, I couldn't resist and I ended up cheating on Hannah… She eventually found out and broke up with me." He says. "I know I deserved it but honestly, I loved her and it took me a long time to get over her. That's why I decided to stay in New York. I figured it would be easier to build my life there than return to the same city she was in. So, I worked as a dancer there for a while, then became a teacher, and eventually ended up at the same school as Brittany…"
"She reminded me so much of Hannah…" He adds.
Is that why he was so obsessed with her?
"I know they don't exactly look alike but they have the same type." He shrugs. "Besides being both blondes with blue eyes, they have the same elegance on the dance floor, and share the same incredible kindness and patience with kids." He says. "I thought I could perhaps be happy with her, like I was with Hannah."
"Yeah, except that Brittany was not available and she didn't want to be with you." I remind him. "She wanted to be with me."
"Yeah, I know." He admits with a nod, but I can tell that he still has no regrets about trying to break us up. And he probably never will.
"I still don't understand why you sabotaged her school." I say. "It was just a dance competition! Why was it so crucial for Hannah's students to make it to regionals?"
"I'll tell you why… A few years ago, I was here in L.A. visiting family, and unexpectedly ran into Hannah. To my surprise, she agreed to have coffee with me, and we ended up spending the entire time I was here together. This is when she shared her dream of opening her own dance school someday and told me that she never had the funding to do so." He explains. "I thought that if I helped her, maybe I could win her back. So, I gave her the money, and she opened her dance school. But as you know, a new school needs to attract students to thrive, and there's no better way to promote it than by qualifying for regionals."
"You didn't use embezzled money to fund her school, did you?" I ask but when he looks down in silence, it becomes clear that he did.
"If I managed to keep this going for so long without being caught, it's because I had a pretty good system in place, Santana." He shrugs. "I used an offshore account and a fake donation platform to conceal my transactions. So, I just told Hannah that the donation platform was real and was specifically created to assist people like her, and I used it to fund her school."
"So, she didn't know where the money really came from?"
"No, she's completely innocent. She had no idea that the school had been funded illegally, but I imagine she does now, given that I was arrested and charged with embezzlement in front of her…" He replies. "Besides, my lawyers told me that the justice system will soon seize her dance school, so… she will lose her business and her income because of me." He sighs. "That's why I asked you to come here, Santana… I would like you and Brittany to hire Hannah as a teacher in your dance school."
"And why would we do that?" I frown, crossing my arms. "This is your doing, James. It's not our problem! We don't even know Hannah, we saw her only once at the dance seminar."
"Because if you agree to help me, I will write a statement confessing my responsibility for the sabotage of Brittany's school." He says, making my jaw drop in surprise. "I know your insurance claim was initially denied, but thanks to my statement, it will officially be recognized as sabotage and you will get the money."
"But if you confess to the sabotage, you'll face even more time in jail." I point out, wondering why he would choose to do that.
"Yes, I'll definitely do more time, but if I confess and cooperate with the police, my lawyer says they might reduce my sentence. And I'm ready to do anything for Hannah."
"She's… pregnant." He eventually adds, and my eyes widen in surprise.
"Is that even true?" I ask.
"I told you, I've never lied to you." He shrugs. "But if you don't believe me, maybe the document that my lawyer added to my file will clear things up." He says as his lawyer pushes a folder towards me.
As I open the folder, I find a copy of Hannah's blood test and a recent ultrasound, confirming her pregnancy.
"She's really in trouble because of me, Santana… She can't rely on me because I'll be in jail throughout her pregnancy and the early years of our child's life. I'm not even going to be in L.A! Since most of my offenses occurred in New York, I'm likely to be transferred there." He says. "I don't even know if I'll ever see her again, but I won't be able to provide for her and the baby from a prison cell. Hannah needs a stable income, but once it is known that her dance school shut down because of embezzlement, I doubt other schools will want to hire her as a teacher… That's why I need you and Brittany to offer her a job."
"What if I refuse?" I eventually ask after a moment of silence. "I don't need the insurance money, James. We found another solution and we already paid for the repairs, so…"
"Santana, I'm facing something like 6 or 7 years in prison. But eventually, I will get out. All I'm asking is for you to find a job for Hannah. If you do that, I won't forget it. But if you don't, I won't forget it either." He says, staring into my eyes.
"Is that a threat?" I ask, keeping our eyes locked.
"No. It's a fact."
I remain silent for a moment, weighing my options. If I agree to help Hannah, James will confess to the sabotage, which will extend his jail time and allow us to claim the insurance money. However, with Hannah working for Brittany, it would also mean that James might eventually come back to L.A., to stay close to his child.
If I refuse his deal, his resentment could grow during his time in jail, and he might come back to ruin our lives once he's released.
"I have a counterproposal." I eventually say, catching his attention. "I will find a dance teacher position for Hannah." I nod in confirmation. "But not at Brittany's school." I add firmly. "I don't want anything or anyone even remotely connected to you around my wife or my children. Besides, living in L.A. would be too expensive for Hannah as a single mom. And if you're imprisoned in New York, it would be better for her to be closer, maybe in New Jersey or something. That way, you might have a chance to see her or your kid, if she agrees to visit." I suggest, leaving him time to consider my proposal.
"Can you even find her a position there?" He asks, frowning in doubt.
"Yes." I nod. "Between my role as the showrunner of a musical TV series and Brittany's connections, we have ties with dance schools all over the country."
"Listen, James… It's either my proposal or nothing." I say firmly. "I promise I'll find a position for Hannah, with a good salary. But in return, you will confess to the sabotage of Brittany's school and stay away from my family, once for all. That means you won't meddle in our lives, we won't see you and we won't hear from you ever again." I add. "And if you don't keep your word, I will go to the police to press charges against you for illegally manipulating our file at the fertility clinic, and you will be back in jail. Is that understood?"
"You're tough in negotiations." He eventually says.
"I do what it takes to keep my family safe."
"Yeah… Who would have thought we would have this in common?" He says while I keep staring him down.
"Okay, Santana… we have a deal." He nods.
"Good. I'll contact your lawyer once I find a job opening for Hannah." I say, standing up. "And since this is the last time we'll ever see each other… goodbye, James."
"Give Brittany my best." He says in one last provocation that I choose to ignore, before leaving the room.
A FEW DAYS LATER (EVENING TIME) – AT HOME – BRITTANY's POV
I'm watching a TV dance show when I hear Santana open the front door and take off her shoes in the hall. She joins me in the living room barely a minute later, and when I see her in her bodycon black dress, I suddenly feel very hot. I know she had an important meeting at work today but she was not dressed like this when I left this morning. Oh God, this is so not going to help with my current state of constant horniness.
"Hello mija…" Santana says as she joins me on the couch, placing her hand on my belly. "Hi honey…" She adds, pressing her lips on mine for what seems a somewhat long peck, but I need more than that. So, before she can pull away, I place my hand at the back of her neck to keep our lips connected. My hand eventually moves down over her shoulder and across her chest as I kiss her more deeply, our tongues swirling together for a minute.
"Oh, God, I'm so sorry… It's these hormones, they're taking over me!" I sigh in despair, suddenly pulling away. "You just got home after a long day, you must be starving… And here I am, jumping on you as soon as you walk through the door…"
"Well, I had a sandwich at work, so… I'm good." She shrugs. "And you should never be sorry for jumping on me, wifey…" She says with a flirty smirk.
Just like when I was expecting the boys, I am now in the phase of my pregnancy where I have an insatiable sex drive, and it strikes at the most random moments. I often wake up Santana in the middle of the night or early in the morning because I suddenly crave sex, and yet, she always complies. And if I'm exhausted and am only capable of cuddling, she holds me in her arms until I fall asleep. I'm so lucky to have a wife as understanding as she is, who goes with my flow, and even out of her way just to keep me happy…
"But you deserve at least some romance..." I argue.
"I'm not complaining." She shrugs. "But if it makes you feel any better, we can set up a more romantic atmosphere…" She suggests, caressing my cheek.
"Come with me, I have an idea…" She suddenly adds, holding out her hands to help me get up from the couch.
Before I know it, she leads me to our bedroom and makes me sit on our bed.
"First, we need music." Santana says, launching a romantic playlist on her phone. "And candles of course…" She adds, taking a few out of the drawer to light them up.
"And now, if I switch off all the lamps, I can even use this!" She says, grabbing a mysterious device that looks like a tiny projector.
"What's that?" I ask, frowning in confusion.
"Oh, it's something I bought on the street yesterday, to support a breast cancer charity. I was keeping it for Sofia, but now seems like a good time to use it too." She smiles.
As soon as she plugs it in, the device projects a large pink heart shape onto our ceiling, surrounded by bright little stars.
"Oh wow, it's pretty…" I look at it in amazement as she lies next to me on the bed.
"I'm afraid that's the best I can do on the spot." She says, turning so we can lie face to face. "But it's going to be romantic either way, honey… because it's you and me." She shrugs while I watch the dim light illuminate her pretty face.
"You're right…" I nod with a smile, capturing her lips in mine.
Our kiss quickly grows passionate as my hands slowly slide up her bare thighs, slipping under her dress, until I eventually help her out of her clothes.
My eyes travel over her beautiful body for a moment, driving me wild. I want her so badly that I can't hold myself back any longer, kissing her cleavage with desire as I impatiently unhook her bra.
I feel her hand running down my back under my shirt, sending shivers through me. She keeps pulling it up as we make out, and I eventually lift my arms to help her take it off.
"Is that my bra…?" She asks in confusion, looking at my chest.
"Oh, uh… yeah." I shrug, feeling a bit embarrassed. "I bought a new bra last week but it already doesn't fit anymore! And I didn't have time to go shopping today, so … I borrowed yours. You don't mind, do you…?"
"No…" She chuckles. "You wearing my underwear is kind of sexy actually…" She smirks, unfastening the bra before turning me around to make me lie on my back. Her lips trail down my bare chest and eventually kiss my nipples.
"Mmhh, San…" I moan as she takes one into her mouth, my hand gently stroking her hair. Her hands roam all over my body until one sneaks into my underwear and slips between my folds. She pauses and arches an eyebrow when she realizes that I'm already more than ready, a smirk forming on her lips.
"I told you, these damn hormones are driving me crazy…" I say, feeling half embarrassed and half desperate for release.
"I've got you, honey…" She smiles, slowly licking through my folds for a while, before carefully adjusting her position to straddle me.
She starts grinding against me sensually, and I help her move as much as I can, craving even more friction. I want to enjoy it to the fullest because I'm pretty sure we won't get to use this position for much longer with my belly growing week after week.
"You're so hot…" She whispers between moans, intensifying her grinding until all I see and feel is her sexy body writhing against mine.
"San… I'm so close I won't be able to hold off unless you slow down." I admit between moans, knowing I'm going to come embarrassedly quickly if she keeps up this pace.
"Don't fight it, honey…" She says, panting while keeping up the rhythm. "You know you need a release."
Just like I suspected, it doesn't take long before I come, intense pleasure coursing through my body. I guess it pushes Santana over the edge too, as I hear her moan louder before she collapses on the bed next to me.
"Thank you…" I eventually say, resting my forehead against hers as I try to catch my breath.
"Oh, I can help any time you need it." She chuckles, placing a soft kiss on my lips and extending her arm so I can rest my head on her chest.
We stay in a loving embrace for a while, until I break the silence.
"Have you ever imagined what it would have been like if we had met only after high school, maybe in a club or a bar?" I ask. "Would you have talked to me?"
"Of course, I would have!" She replies. "I would have even tried to seduce you and take you home."
"So, even if you knew nothing at all about me, you would have had sex with me on the first night?"
"Duh! Brittany, you're incredibly hot!" She argues. "If I had just met you and you agreed to spend the night with me, believe me, I wouldn't have questioned it."
"So, we would have been a one-night stand?" I frown.
"No. It might have maybe started as a one-night stand, but I'm sure it would have ended with marriage and kids."
"Oh yeah?" I smile.
"No doubt in my mind." She replies, kissing me. "I love everything about you, Britt. And I'm sure it would be the same in any timeline, or universe, because how could I not?" She says while I pull her closer to me, running my fingertips along her back. It's insane how much I want her. How much I need her…
"Ready for round two…?" I eventually ask.
"Always…" She smiles, pulling me into another kiss.
LATER THAT NIGHT - SANTANA's POV
"You're so beautiful…" I say, admiring Brittnay's naked body, my eyes travelling over her glowing face, her full breasts and the round belly carrying our child. "I love your pregnant body so much that I want to keep this memory of it forever in my mind."
"Okay…" She chuckles, giving me a proud look as if she was posing for a fashion photoshoot, before getting up.
"No, wait!" I'm quick to object.
"What?"
"I need to look at you a little longer." I say in such a serious voice that she understands I'm not being playful right now.
"Why…?" She asks, locking eyes with me.
"Because… I…" I trail off, sighing. "You're five and a half months pregnant now… which is around the same time you had your car accident while expecting the boys. And since you were amnesiac and things were strange between us for a few weeks, I missed that whole part of your pregnancy then. So, I couldn't admire your body or even place my hand on your belly…" I trail off again, eventually shrugging in silence.
Without saying a word, Brittany lies back down beside me, facing me. She takes my hand to place it on her belly, and I suddenly feel overwhelmed with emotion.
"I'm really sorry you had to go through that…" She says. "I know it was tough."
"Yeah…" I confirm with a sad nod. "It's just that everything that made you ' you' was suddenly gone…" I say, recalling the period of her amnesia. "Your smile, your patience… Your infinite love for me and the kids, your passion for dance…"
"I missed you so much." I admit. "And I missed the boys too, because I didn't get the chance to connect with them during that time…"
Just as I finish my sentence, our baby girl suddenly kicks, surprising both of us.
"Well, it looks like someone just woke up." Brittany laughs, making me smile.
"I know it doesn't make up for what happened with the twins, but this little girl is clearly connecting with you, mama." She says. "And you know how much the boys love you! And so do I."
"I love you too…" I whisper and she smiles at me, before pulling me into a kiss.
THE NEXT MORNING – AT HOME – BRITTANY's POV
"Come on, guys… time to go to school!" I say, placing my hand on Diego's back as I guide him down the hall.
When I open the front door, the kids and I come face to face with Puck, standing on our doorstep. I must have opened the door before he even had a chance to ring the doorbell.
"Uncle Puck!" Sofia says, throwing herself at him.
"Hey mini-San!" He smiles, caressing her hair. "Hi boys!" He adds, bumping fists with them.
"Hi Puck!" I say, hugging him.
"Hi!" He replies, hugging me back. "You look beautiful, Britt!" He adds with a small smile as we pull away. "All good with the little one?"
"So far, so good!" I nod, placing a hand on my belly. "I didn't know you were dropping by, are you here to see San?"
"Um, yeah… I'm sorry for showing up unannounced but I need to talk to her, if she's around?"
"Yeah, she is." I confirm with a smile. "I'm sorry, Puck, but I have to run… I have to drive the kids to school. But go ahead, Santana is in the kitchen."
"San! Puck is here!" I shout, waving goodbye and heading out the door.
SANTANA's POV
"What?" I frown in confusion, coming out of the kitchen.
"Oh, so I heard it right." I add, seeing Puck standing in front of me. "What are you doing here, Puckerman?"
"Well, I had to come here." He says. "I called you like 5 times last night, and you never picked up. Then I texted you to say that I had something really important to discuss, and you didn't even call me back!" He complains.
"I have three kids and a pregnant wife, you know. I was busy!"
"Oh, come on, your kids go to bed pretty early." He argues. "You're so busy that you couldn't find a minute to return an important phone call?" He adds, starting to get on my nerves.
"I was having sex, if you must know!" I retort, raising my hands in frustration. "So, yeah, I was too busy to return your phone call!"
"Nice!" He grins and nods in approval, holding up his hand.
"I'm not high-fiving with you." I shake my head, crossing my arms. "Anyway, why are you here?"
"So, you didn't even read my text?"
"I have 17 unread texts, Puckerman." I sigh, checking my phone. "Yours must be buried somewhere in the list. And I bet the other 16 are all from Abuela, suggesting awful baby names." I say, scanning the screen. "Seriously, look at this: Teofila, Jeronima, Barbola…" I sigh again, shaking my head in despair. "But anyway, I didn't mean to digress… What did you want to talk about?"
"I got the job." He says. "You're looking at the new Air Force Training Instructor. Effective as of Monday." He adds proudly.
"Oh my God… Congratulations!" I say enthusiastically, hugging him. "I'm really happy for you!"
"Thanks…"
"So… no more missions?"
"No more missions." He smiles.
"What did Quinn say?!" I ask, curious.
"I haven't told her yet…" He says, to my surprise. "I don't want to upset her, which is why I wanted to discuss it with you first. Do you think I should I tell her now, or wait a little while…?"
"You should absolutely tell her! She's going to be so thrilled!" I immediately say. "But don't talk about babies yet." I warn, pointing my index finger at him. "Just share the good news with her and let her do some thinking on her own."
A FEW DAYS LATER – AT HOME
"So, do you like it?" I ask Sofia who has just put on the "Cheerio" outfit I made for her.
"Yes!" She says with a big, proud smile. "So, can I wear it tomorrow?"
"Of course!" I smile back. "Tomorrow is the perfect day for it!"
Given Mercedes and Brittany's advanced pregnancies, Mr. Schue decided to exceptionally hold this year's Glee reunion in L.A. and even invited the Glee kids to join us.
As soon as Sofia heard about it, she begged me to make her a Cheerio outfit so she could look just like me and her mommy did back in the days.
"And you will wear yours too?" She asks me. "You promised…"
"Yes, I will." I confirm, knowing that I can't break a promise to my daughter.
"And you, mommy?" She asks Britt.
"I'm afraid I can't fit into my Cheerio outfit anymore, peanut… Not with your little sister in my belly…"
"Okay…" Sofia says, sounding a little disappointed.
"Can I go play?" She eventually asks.
"Yeah, but stay inside so you don't ruin your new outfit before the reunion." I say and she nods, running out of the room.
"By the way, Britt… I uh… I actually made a Cheerio outfit for you too, one that fits your current condition…" I say timidly as she looks at me with surprised eyes. "It's basically a dress, but it has the same colors and logo as our Cheerio outfits…" I add, showing it to her.
"You did this for me?" She asks in disbelief.
"Yeah, it was no big deal." I shrug. "Once I found the right fabrics, it was pretty easy! You don't have to wear it, if you don't want to, though… I just thought I would give it a shot."
"Oh, I'm absolutely wearing it! It's beautiful!" She says, taking the dress in her hands. "Thank you, honey…" She kisses my lips.
"And I also made this for our baby girl…" I say even more shyly, showing her a onesie. "I mean, obviously it's for next year, but –"
"Oh my God, this is so cute!" She cuts me off, taking a closer look. "I can't wait to put it on her!"
"You're really an artist, mama, you know that?" She adds, cupping my cheek.
A FEW DAYS LATER - AT HOME
"You went to see James in prison and you're telling me only now?!" Brittany says in an upset voice, after I've told her the whole story about our last encounter. "I hate when you hide things from me, Santana." She adds, crossing her arms.
"I didn't hide anything, Britt!" I object. "The reason I didn't tell you back then is because I didn't even know what this psycho wanted from us. And I'm sorry, but I'm not going to apologize for protecting my pregnant wife!" I argue. "And since he is a compulsive liar, I was not sure if he was even telling the truth. So, I asked Mason to investigate to be sure his story checked out."
"And?" She asks, impatient. "Does it?"
"It does, actually…" I sigh. "Mason confirmed that Hannah Cross is pregnant, and that she's not allowed to keep her school open. And James' lawyer sent me a copy of his confession about sabotaging your school." I add, showing her the document.
"So, he respected his end of the deal…?" Britt says in surprise while scanning the document. "I didn't think he would."
"Honestly, me neither." I admit. "He must really love Hannah…"
"I guess so…" She nods. "So… if you got his confession, I suppose you found a job for her?"
"I did." I confirm. "It took me a while but thanks to Zach, I managed to find her a decent teacher position in New Jersey. She will be able to provide for her kid and she's not too far from James if she ever wants to visit him."
"Okay… So, what now?" She asks.
"Well, now we can finally forget about that asshole and move on with our lives." I shrug. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I really think he's going to leave us alone this time."
"Thank God…" She sighs in relief, pulling me into a hug.
"And since he admitted to his crime, it also means we're going to get the insurance money… So, you can expand the dance school if you want."
"No…" She says, pulling away from me. "I don't want his money. I don't want anything from him."
"But… Brittany, it's not his money…. It's compensation for the money we spent to fix the damages he caused!"
"I know, but I still don't want it." She says firmly. "I can't have him connected in any way to my school, or my life."
"But honey, this money is going to be transferred to us, whether we want it or not…"
"Then we'll just have to find something else to do with it. Something good, to balance his wrongdoing."
"Like what?" I ask, confused.
"Well, Mike and I were talking about starting a scholarship for kids in L.A. who want to dance but can't afford classes, just like I couldn't when I was younger… Maybe the insurance money can be used for that."
"Oh, honey… That's a fantastic idea!" I say, taking her hands in mine.
"Yeah, you think?"
"Absolutely!" I nod enthusiastically.
ONE WEEK LATER (MARCH) – AT THE HOSPITAL – BRITTANY's POV
"Hi guys!" I smile as I knock on the open door of Mercedes' room in the maternity wing.
"Hi!" Mercedes and Sam say in unison, smiling back.
"Oh, I didn't know the gays were here!" Santana says while Sofia runs to her Uncles Kurt and Blaine.
"You know I hate when you call us that, Satan!" Kurt sighs, shaking his head. "I'll let it slide this time, but that's only because you picked me as your future princess' godfather." He says, pulling me into a hug.
"Yeah, well, there was no one else, so…" Santana mumbles while I frown at her.
"What?" She asks me with a shrug. "There was no one else I was okay with." She clarifies, making it slightly better.
"No offense to Kurt, but I actually thought you would pick Artie." Sam says.
"He dated my wife, so no." Santana replies. "He should already be happy we're still friends with him." She adds while I sigh.
I once asked her why Artie couldn't be the godfather since Puck is Diego's, even though he also slept with me. But she just repeated her usual argument: "sex is not dating".
"Anyway, what Santana is trying to say is that we're very happy you accepted to be our daughter's godfather, Kurt." I clarify to put an end to this conversation. "But today is not about our baby, it's about Mercedes and Sam's little boyyyy!" I sing song. "So, where is our nephew exactly?" I frown in confusion, looking around.
"Oh, the nurse just took him for some checkup, but she's going to bring him back any minute." Mercedes says.
"Wait until you see him… He's really cute!" Kurt says.
"So, you guys have already seen him?" Santana frowns, clearly not happy that they got the exclusivity.
"Well, Blaine couldn't wait to meet his godson, so we took an early flight." Kurt says.
Barely a second later, the nurse enters the room and places the newborn in his mother's arms.
"Wow, you were right, Lady Hummel. That is one beautiful baby boy!" Santana says, observing his face. "You did a great job, mama!" She smiles at Mercedes, squeezing her shoulder.
"He's such a cutie pie!" I agree with a wide smile, rubbing his tiny hand with my finger."Does he have a name?"
"He does." Sam nods. "Guys, meet… Jackson Evans." He adds proudly while we all gasp in excitement.
"After the King of Pop?" Santana asks, making Mercedes chuckle.
"After my father." She corrects her. "But I must say that having the same name as the King of Pop is pretty cool too. Isn't that right, baby?" She asks her son.
"Kids, you say hi to your cousin?" Santana asks our children.
"Hi Jackson!" Diego is the first to greet him, and I smile when they all wave at the baby. I always love witnessing their first meetings with their Glee cousins. I can't believe the new generation already counts 6 baby Gleeks! And our little girl will join them soon…
A FEW DAYS LATER (AFTERNOON TIME) – AT HOME – SANTANA's POV
"Hi you!" Brittany greets me with a kiss while I'm folding laundry on our bed. "I have something for you." She adds, handing me a large envelope.
"For me?" I repeat in surprise, and she nods in confirmation.
Curious, I hurry to open the envelope and find photos of her at the beach, wearing an elegant dress that perfectly highlights her pregnant body.
"Oh my God, you look stunning in these!" I say in awe, looking at the photos. "When did you do this?"
"A few days ago…" She shrugs. "Since you said you wanted to remember how I looked pregnant, I thought I would do a photoshoot, so you would have a memory of it forever. The mom of one of my students is a professional photographer, so I asked her… Do you like it?"
"Oh, Britt… I love it!" I say, holding the picture close to my heart. "Thank you…" I whisper, pressing my lips on hers.
"I think I'm going to send a copy to my parents." She says and I nod in approval. "And I was also thinking that you and I could perhaps go back to the photography studio together, to shoot some pictures of just the two of us? And a few with the kids?" She suggests.
"I would love that…" I nod, smiling.
"Great, I'll set it up." She smiles back. "I have one last photo to show you though… But that one is just for you." She adds with a hint of mischief, handing me another envelope.
I open it and I pull out a picture of her fully naked, her hair and her hands strategically placed to cover her breasts and her lady parts.
"Oh, wow… Britt…" I whisper, at a loss for words. "You're magnificent! A real goddess!" I eventually confess, unable to look away from the picture.
"You're going to make me blush…" She says timidly.
"Well, I'm sorry, but truly, you're the most beautiful woman I have ever seen." I say, caressing her cheek.
ONE WEEK LATER (LATE AFTERNOON) – AT HOME – BRITTANY's POV
Santana and I are comparing our lists of favorite baby names in the living room when Sofia interrupts us.
"Mommy, can I invite Liam over on Thursday, after school?"
"On Thursday?" I ask in surprise, thinking that this is oddly specific.
"No, mija. It's a school night." Santana says before I can even respond.
"Why don't you invite him over on Friday instead, peanut?" I suggest.
"Because he's leaving on Friday." She says with a sad pout. "He's going to Ireland with his family for spring break, and it's really far! He says it's on the other side of the Atlantic ocean!"
"Oh…" I say, understanding that she wants to say goodbye before he leaves.
"Not on a school night." Santana repeats, not even looking up from her list of names.
"Peanut, why don't you go do your homework in your room?" I wink at her discreetly, so she understands I'll try to negotiate with her mama.
"Okay…" She says in a sad voice, walking out of the room.
"Don't bother, Brittany." Santana says, still not looking away from her paper.
"I didn't say anything." I shrug innocently.
"No, but I know you and you're about to."
"San, she won't see her boyfriend for two weeks, let her at least say goodbye to him…" I plead.
"She shouldn't have a boyfriend at her age." She says while I roll my eyes.
"What's that, pookie?" I ask, looking at my pregnant belly. "Mama is being insane? Oh, I know!" I say, making her finally look at me.
"You know she can't talk yet, right?" She questions.
"But if she could, that's exactly what she would say! With old-fashioned and strict comments like yours, she might even be too scared to come out of me!" I argue while she rolls her eyes at me.
"Well, let her be scared. That way, maybe she won't start dating boys as early as her sister!" She complains. "No boys until you're at least 15, okay?" She warns, pointing her finger at my stomach.
At least there's progress. When Sofia was little, Santana said she couldn't date boys until she was 35…
"Look, I know you think that Sofia is too young to have a boyfriend, but Liam is seven years old. As I already told you, he's harmless!" I say. "And it's not because our daughter is young that her feelings for him aren't real! How would you have felt when you were younger if I had to leave for two weeks?"
"Fine." She admits, sighing. "We'll call his parents on Thursday, and she can video chat with him to say goodbye."
"I'm sorry, do you have a heart of stone or something?" I ask her, looking at her in disbelief.
"What?" She shrugs.
"He's coming here on Thursday, San." I say, to make it clear. "That way, Sofia can spend some time with him before he leaves and say goodbye in person."
"Or what?" She asks, crossing her arms defiantly.
"You know exactly what."
"Oh, great, so you're going to withhold sex again?" She asks. "As if…" She mumbles, chuckling ironically.
"Well, like you said, I've done it before, so…"
"Yeah, except that with your current crazy high sex drive, I think I'm safe. You won't be able to hold out for long. I give you a day, tops." She says while I open my mouth in outrage.
"Oh, you wanna bet?" I ask, looking at her straight in the eye. "Even with my 'high sex drive', I'm sure you'll give in before I do!"
"Right!" She laughs. "Well, bring it on, Pierce." She challenges me.
LATER THAT DAY – AT HOME – SANTANA's POV
"Mama…" Gabriel pouts, pulling on my sleeve as I sit next to him at the living room table. "Can we do another one?"
"You're already done?" I ask in surprise, glancing away from my script to look at him. "Oh wow, you're really good, mijo!" I say, checking the words he has carefully copied onto a sheet of paper after I wrote them. "Okay, you know what? I think you're ready for full sentences now! What do you want me to write?"
"Uuuum…" He says, looking around the room. "I want to write that mommy is dancing and she's pretty!" He says, pointing at his mom.
"Aaaw… thank you, bud!" Brittany says with a smile.
I was so focused on my script and Gabriel that I had not even noticed Brittany dancing just a few feet away. Of course, she's too pregnant to execute elaborate choreography but her movements are still so graceful that it's a joy to watch. She's always been so sexy when she dances, even more so when she's pregnant, and that combination is making me a bit hot. God, I can't keep looking at her, or I'm going to lose our bet…
"Um… Britt?" I ask. "Why don't you go to the dance room? You'll have more space." I suggest.
"Oh, I don't think it's necessary." She replies. "I mean, I'm not repeating a choreography, I'm just stretching and moving a bit so I don't get back pain. Besides, it would be too cold in the dance room."
That's when I realize that she's dancing here on purpose, because she's doing a lot more than just stretching, especially in that outfit that perfectly outlines her curves. And it's not too cold in the dance room, it's so well insulated that it's the perfect temperature all year long! She's just trying to get me all hot so I'll cave in before her. But fine… if she wants to play, I'll play.
LATER THAT NIGHT – BRITTANY's POV
Santana is already in bed when I get under the sheets, writing notes on a printed script. She's so focused that I don't want to disturb her, so I grab my magazine and read it in silence.
"What are you reading?" She eventually asks, putting her script away.
"Oh, it's something I got for free with the last maternity clothes I bought." I say, showing her the cover.
" The latest fashion trends for babies." She reads out loud. "Really? Can I see?" She asks, moving closer to me to check it over my shoulder, and the delicate fragrance of her perfume immediately intoxicates me. She's wearing my favorite and it's very distracting…
"This one is super cute!" She says so close to my ear that I can feel her hot breath on my skin. When I turn to her, I'm met with her deep brown eyes and her damn glasses that always make her look so sexy.
God, I have to get away from her before I get out of control…
"Sorry, I… um… the baby is pressing on my bladder." I suddenly say, getting out of bed. Even though this is probably the most credible excuse I could have used as a pregnant woman, I know I'm busted when I see her smirk.
I go to the bathroom and splash some fresh water on my face, trying to think of something else than the sexy Latina waiting for me in bed. I know she's getting back at me for dancing in the living room earlier! Maybe I shouldn't have initiated that stupid bet… But at the same time, I'm doing this for a good cause: Sofia. I will just have to step up my game a notch starting tomorrow.
THE NEXT MORNING – AT HOME
When I enter the kitchen, Santana is leaning against the counter, sipping her coffee, while the kids finish their breakfast at the table. She hasn't seen me yet and I sigh as I take in her appearance. She's wearing the "magic earrings" as I call them and my favorite dress, making it clear that she's still playing the game.
"Hi guys!" I eventually say, kissing our children hello.
"Hi honey!" Santana says with a smile, brushing her plump lips against the sensitive spot at the corner of my mouth. Oh yes, she's definitely still playing.
"How did you sleep?" She asks.
"Pretty well…" I yawn. "Thanks for letting me sleep in, by the way."
"Well, you seemed so peaceful, I didn't want to wake you…" She says with a shy smile, and just that is enough to make me fall in love with her all over again. Why does she have to be so cute?
"You look fancy…" I say.
"Yeah, well, I'm meeting our investors today, so…" She shrugs.
Yeah, and she also wants to seduce me, which is definitely working. Urgh, it's going to be a long day…
"Come on, guys, go grab your bags. It's time to go to school." She says, turning to our children.
"I'll try to come home early today." She says, placing a kiss on my lips.
Before she pulls away, I wrap my arms around her neck to pull her closer and reunite our lips. This is a unique chance for me to level the score, because I know exactly how she likes to be kissed.
I swirl our tongues together, trying to find the right balance between tender and passionate, and when I hear her moan against my lips, I know I've won this round.
"I… uh… I…" She stutters as our lips eventually part. I try not to smirk so that I don't make it obvious, but I'm pretty damn proud of myself right now.
"Mama, we're ready!" Sofia suddenly shouts from a distance, pulling her out of her daze.
"I'll be right there, mija." She replies, her eyes still locked with mine.
"Bye, honey…" I smile, placing one last lingering kiss on her lips.
"Bye…" She sighs and I see her eyes flicker to my mouth for a moment, before she pulls herself together and leaves the room.
Now, it's going to be a long day for her too.
LATER THAT DAY (AFTERNOON TIME) – AT HOME
I'm helping Sofia with her homework when Santana gets home and joins us in the living room.
"Did you go to the hairdresser?" She immediately asks me upon seeing my wavy hair.
"Oh, yeah. I passed by during lunch time to make an appointment for another day but it turned out that she had a free spot today, so…" I shrug. "What do you think?"
"It's beautiful…" She says, letting out a desperate sigh.
Truth is, I practically begged the hairdresser for an appointment today because I know it drives Santana crazy when I wear my hair like this.
"I'm uh… I'm going to change, I'll be right back." She says, kissing my forehead.
Unfortunately for me, she returns wearing a deep v-neck t-shirt that shows way more than I can handle right now…
Okay… this has to end tonight because I can't go on like this!
LATER THAT DAY (LATE EVENING)
I look at myself in the bathroom mirror one last time, making sure I look perfect. I'm determined to win this bet tonight!
I enter our bedroom and slip under the sheets without glancing at Santana. But I catch her jaw dropping from the corner of my eye as I grab my book.
Great, I made an impression on her, just like I hoped to.
"Is that new…?" She eventually asks, breaking the silence.
"Mmh?" I reply innocently, turning to her.
"The nightie, is that new…?" She clarifies, her eyes travelling over my body.
"Oh, yeah… I bought it the other day."
I did buy it a few days before we challenged each other, but I knew it would work in my favor. Santana likes when I wear blue, and she loves it even more if it shows cleavage and highlights the curves of my body.
"It's very, very cute…" She whispers, moving closer to trace one of my straps with her fingers.
"Thanks, I like it too." I say as she starts kissing my neck. Oh, God… I really have to remain strong right now, because I can't give in before she does! But it's clear she won't make it easy for me, even more so now that she's sucking on the most sensitive spot of my neck.
I feel my heartbeat racing even faster as her hand slowly slides along my thigh, but I try to stay focused. I can't let my breathing become more intense, or she'll know she's driving me crazy.
Her mouth eventually leaves my neck and our eyes meet for a couple of seconds. I just have the time to catch a glimpse of love and lust in her gaze before she presses her lips against mine. Gentle at first, the kiss quickly turns heated and it doesn't take long before my body betrays me, pulling her closer.
We kiss for a couple of minutes until I find the courage to pull away.
"Wait…" I whisper, placing my hand flat on her chest to keep her at a distance.
"Everything alright?" She asks.
"I don't know, it depends on you." I say while she frowns in confusion. "Are you okay with Liam coming here on Thursday?"
"Brittany…" She sighs. "Come on, I can tell you want me… And you know I want you." She says, locking her desperate eyes with mine.
"Of course, I want you." I nod in confirmation. "But I can't let you keep Sofia from seeing Liam before his trip."
"It's a school night!" She argues, raising her arms.
"You know as much as I do that this is just an excuse, San! We can make an exception this time and let her say goodbye to him."
"So, you really won't have sex with me until I agree?" She asks in a frustrated voice.
"I'm sorry…" I shake my head no.
"Fine." She says, clearly upset. "Then I guess I'll sleep." She adds, turning off her bedside lamp, before turning her back on me.
"Okay, I guess I will too." I sigh, putting my book back on the nightstand. "Night…" I say, kissing her cheek before turning off my lamp.
Silence fills the room, and I'm not sure how I'll manage to sleep because my body is literally burning with desire for her right now. But I'm proud of myself for standing up for Sofia, because Santana really overreacts when it comes to Liam. He's such a good kid but she will just hate any boy who gets too close to her daughter! And that habit has to stop, especially since we're about to have another little girl. I can't go through this all over again!
"Okay, you win!" Santana eventually breaks the silence, turning her lamp back on. "I'll pick up Liam and Sofia on Thursday and bring them back here after school."
"Thank you." I say with a small smile, placing a quick kiss on her lips.
"Can I please make love to you now? Because I can't take it anymore…" She admis with desperation.
"Yeah…" I nod with a chuckle, moving closer to bring our lips together.
"So, when you said 'I give you one day tops'…" I eventually say between kisses. "I guess you were referring to yourself?" I tease her, laughing.
"Shut up and kiss me, Pierce…" She begs, making me smile, and I immediately press my lips back on hers.
A/N: So, tell me, what did you think of the chapter? Do you think James got what he deserved? Did you expect his final encounter with Santana to go this way? And yes, it really is their last encounter, I won't be bringing him back. Did you enjoy the sexy Brittana scenes? In the next chapter, I will focus a bit more on Paramount as they shoot the last episodes of Glee, and of course, on the birth of Brittana's baby girl! By the way, if you have any suggestions for baby names (better than Abuela's please!), let me know, because I'm still undecided. Thanks, and until next time!