Brett secured Oliver snugly in his car seat, ensuring the straps were tight and secure, James, ever eager, buckled himself into his booster seat with practiced efficiency. "Hi, Samtana!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement as he greeted Santana, who sat before him. "Hey there, James!" Santana replied with a warm smile, with everyone safely buckled in, Brett slid into the driver's seat, his hands gripping the steering wheel with anticipation.
As they pulled up at Hayden Falls Park, Brett carefully put Oliver into his backpack carrier, securing him with practiced ease. James, unable to contain his excitement any longer, bounded out of the car and ran, his laughter echoing through the air.
"Hey, come back!" Brett called after him, his voice tinged with amusement as he jogged to catch up. James darted ahead, his small frame disappearing around a bend in the trail, leaving Brett to chase after him with Oliver nestled securely against him.
As they ventured further into the park, Brett took Santana's hand in his, feeling the warmth of her touch as they walked side by side along the winding trails. Ahead of them, James bounded along the trail with boundless energy, his laughter echoing through the trees as he explored his surroundings. Brett couldn't help but chuckle at his son's exuberance, marveling at the sheer joy radiating from the young boy. "Slow down, bud!" Brett called out, his voice carrying over the rustle of leaves as he watched James darting between trees.
Oliver cooed softly from his carrier, his curious eyes taking in the sights and sounds of the forest as James came to a stop ahead of them, his eyes wide with wonder as he pointed to something in the distance. As they drew closer, they were greeted by the breathtaking sight of a waterfall.
The rushing water cascaded over the rocky cliffs, creating a mesmerizing display of mist and spray. Santana stood beside him, her hand still clasped in his, "It's beautiful," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper as she leaned into him. Brett wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close as they stood together in silent appreciation of the waterfall's beauty.
As the afternoon sun began to dip below the horizon, James led the way back as they followed winding paths that meandered through towering trees and lush undergrowth, their footsteps echoing in the quiet of the forest. As they walked, Brett found himself lost in conversation with Santana, their words flowing easily as they laughed together at James' antics and marveled at the beauty of their surroundings.
Brett glanced at his watch, the digital display showing 3:00 PM in bold numbers. He felt the rumble of hunger in his stomach, a reminder that it was time to think about dinner. Turning to Santana, he suggested the idea of having an early dinner. She nodded in agreement, a smile playing at the corners of her lips.
Before long, they arrived at a Chili's, they were quickly seated at a booth near the window, the late afternoon sunlight streaming. Brett picked up the menu, scanning the options with anticipation as Santana did the same beside him. The array of dishes looked tempting, the Triple Dipper caught their eye so they decided to share it, along with a side of creamy guacamole and crispy tostada chips.
As they placed their order, Brett couldn't help but notice the playful glint in Santana's eyes. She teased him about her family's reaction to seeing her in a Chili's, joking that her abuela would likely have a heart attack on the spot if she knew. Brett chuckled at the thought, imagining Santana's traditional family's reaction to the Tex-Mex dining experience.
They both couldn't help but laugh as they watched Oliver dive into his bowl of Mac & Cheese with reckless abandon. The little boy's face was a mess of cheesy noodles, his chubby fingers grasping fistfuls of pasta as he giggled with delight.
Brett sat across from Santana in the cozy booth of the diner, a slight furrow forming on his brow as he pondered their conversation. The chatter of other diners filled the air, mingling with the soft clinking of cutlery and the distant hum of the kitchen. Santana watched him with a curious expression, her gaze gentle and understanding.
"Does your family know about me?" Brett asked, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between them. Santana nodded, her dark eyes meeting his with a hint of hesitation. "Yeah, they know about you" she replied softly, her voice tinged with a mixture of apprehension and honesty. Brett leaned forward slightly, his gaze searching hers. "Do they know everything?" he asked, his voice low and earnest as he glanced toward the two boys sitting beside them.
Santana's lips twitched in a faint smile as she reached across the table to rest her hand on his. "I told my mom after I found out about everything" she admitted, her tone tinged with vulnerability. "She knows about us, about the boys."
Brett's heart skipped a beat at her words, a rush of emotion flooding through him, "And how do they feel about it?" he asked, his voice soft with concern. Santana shrugged slightly, her expression thoughtful. "They're okay with it" she replied, her tone casual yet tinged with underlying tension. "But even if they weren't, it wouldn't matter to me. This is my life, my choice" She paused, a wry smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Although my abuela probably won't agree with this, at all."
Brett nodded slowly, absorbing her words as he finished off the last bite of his slider. He couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over him at Santana's reassurance, grateful that her family seemed to be accepting of their relationship – or at least, not outright opposed to it.
"Does your family know about me?" she asked, her voice soft but curious as she met his gaze. Brett nodded in response, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Yeah, they know about you" he replied, reaching for his glass of water.
Santana raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a playful smirk. "And?" she prompted, her tone teasing as she leaned in slightly. Brett chuckled, shaking his head at her persistence. "Well, my sister may or may not have stalked you on Facebook and Instagram" he admitted, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Santana's laughter filled the air, light and infectious as she shook her head in disbelief. "Seriously?" she exclaimed, her eyes widening in mock surprise. "We're not even friends on Facebook." Brett shrugged, joining in her laughter as he took a sip of his water. "Yeah, well, she's got her ways" he replied, a playful glint in his eyes.
As their laughter subsided, Santana's expression softened, her gaze meeting his with a hint of vulnerability. "What about Emily's parents?" she asked, her voice quieter now, more serious. Brett's smile faltered slightly at the mention of Emily, "They know about you too," he confirmed, his tone thoughtful as he considered his words. "And they're happy for us."
Santana nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "That's good to hear," she replied, her voice warm with gratitude. "I'm glad they're supportive." Brett reached across the table, his hand finding hers as he squeezed it gently. "Yeah, me too," he said softly, his eyes meeting hers with sincerity. "They just want to see me and the boys happy."
Santana's heart fluttered at his words, a rush of warmth flooding through her at the simple sincerity of his confession. She squeezed his hand back, a soft smile gracing her features as she met his gaze.
As they stepped into Brett's home, the boys scampered off to their playroom, their laughter echoing through the house. Meanwhile, Santana gathered her belongings, preparing to head home after their day together. Brett approached her, his expression soft as he reached out to gently touch her arm. "I've had a great day," he said, his voice warm with sincerity as he looked into her eyes. Santana returned his gaze, a soft smile gracing her lips. "Me too," she replied, her tone filled with genuine affection. "It's been perfect."
His heart swelled at her words, a rush of gratitude flooding through him. Leaning in, he pressed a tender kiss to her lips, savoring the moment of closeness. Pulling back slightly, he met her gaze with a grateful expression. "Thank you again for being patient with everything," he said softly, his voice tinged with appreciation. "Especially with the boys. I know it's not always easy."
Santana's eyes softened with understanding, her hand coming up to gently cup his cheek. "You don't have to thank me," she replied, her voice gentle but firm. "I'm here because I want to be." Her words washed over him like a soothing balm, easing the tension that had been lingering in his chest. With a small sigh of relief, he leaned into her touch, closing his eyes briefly as he savored the warmth of her presence.
"I know," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I just want you to know how much I appreciate it." A soft smile played at the corners of her lips as she pressed another kiss to his cheek.
Santana walked into the cozy apartment as she dropped her bag on the floor with a soft thud. Puck and Quinn were curled up on the couch, their quiet conversation coming to a halt as they turned to greet her. "Hey," Santana said, breaking the silence with a small smile as she made her way over to join them. Quinn's eyes lit up with curiosity as she looked over, a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Where have you been? You didn't come home last night," Quinn teased, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. Santana rolled her eyes, accustomed to Quinn's nosiness, and shook her head with a sigh. "I had a date with Brett" Santana replied, her voice tinged with amusement. "And then I spent today with his kids as well."
"So, was the date nice?" Quinn asked, a hopeful smile lighting up her face. Santana nodded, a soft smile playing on her lips as she recalled her time with Brett. "Yeah, it was nice," she replied, her voice tinged with warmth. "Brett asked me to be his girlfriend." Quinn's reaction was immediate – she jumped up from the couch, a squeal of excitement escaping her lips as she threw her arms around Santana in a tight hug. "Oh my god, that's amazing!" she exclaimed, her excitement contagious. "I'm so happy for you, Santana!"
Puck, who had been lounging on the other end of the couch, smirked knowingly as he glanced over at Santana. "So, you let him hit it?" he asked, his tone teasing. Santana rolled her eyes, used to Puck's blunt approach to conversations about relationships. "Seriously, Puck?" she replied, her tone exasperated.
But Quinn, ever the curious one, leaned in closer, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Was the sex good?" she whispered, barely able to contain her excitement. Santana's cheeks flushed at the question, a soft chuckle escaping her lips "It was..." she began, her voice trailing off as she searched for the right words. "It was, so good" she admitted, a shy smile gracing her lips.
Quinn grinned triumphantly, her excitement bubbling over as she clapped her hands together. "I knew it!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with glee. "I could tell by the look on your face!" her excitement was visible. "I'll go get a bottle of wine," she said eagerly, her voice filled with anticipation. "We can have a girly gossip session."
As Quinn disappeared into the kitchen to grab the wine, Santana couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude for her best friend. As she settled back into the couch, wine glasses in hand and laughter ringing in the air, Santana couldn't help but feel a sense of happiness wash over her.
Santana stepped out of her office building, the midday sun warming her skin as she made her way to the deli where she was meeting Brett for lunch. As she approached, she spotted him sitting at a table with Oliver. A smile spread across her face as she caught sight of them, her heart swelling with affection for the two of them.
Brett looked up as Santana approached, his face lighting up with a smile as he greeted her. "Hey, beautiful," he said warmly, leaning in to give her a quick kiss on the cheek. "I've already got your sandwich." Santana returned his smile, feeling a surge of happiness at the sight of him. "Thanks, Brett" she replied, her voice soft with gratitude.
Her attention then turned to Oliver, who was sitting beside Brett with a mischievous grin on his face. She couldn't help but laugh as she noticed the chocolate smeared all over his cheeks. "Looks like someone's been enjoying himself," she remarked with amusement, her eyes twinkling with affection as she looked at the young boy. Brett chuckled, reaching over to ruffle Oliver's hair affectionately. "Yeah, he loves the crepes" he admitted with a fond smile.
As Santana took her seat opposite Brett, she glanced down at the sandwiches he had brought for them. Her mouth watered at the sight of the Buffalo Chicken and Steak & Cheese sandwiches, "Wow, these look amazing," she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "Thanks, Brett."
Brett grinned, a hint of pride evident in his expression. "I thought we could go halves," he suggested, sliding one of the sandwiches towards her. "That way we can both try a bit of everything." Santana nodded in agreement, reaching for a napkin as she prepared to dig in.
"How's work been this morning?" Brett asked, breaking the comfortable silence between them. Santana smiled, a soft expression crossing her features. "Same old, same old" she replied with a shrug. "Spreadsheets, emails, you know the drill." Brett chuckled, nodding in understanding. "Yeah, sounds about right" he agreed, taking a sip of his drink.
Their conversation was interrupted by a quiet rustling beside them, and Santana glanced over to see Oliver staring at her with wide eyes. She smiled warmly at him, but the young boy quickly turned his attention back to his food, seemingly shy in her presence. Brett noticed Oliver's reaction and reached out to reassure her. "He'll warm up to you soon," he said softly, his voice filled with encouragement. She knew that building a relationship with Oliver would take time, but she was more than willing to put in the effort.
Their conversation shifted as Brett shared some news with her. "I was talking to my mom last night," he began, his expression thoughtful. "I'm going back to California for the holidays." Santana listened intently, curiosity piqued by Brett's revelation. "That sounds nice" she commented, offering him an encouraging smile. Brett nodded a hint of excitement in his eyes. "Yeah, it'll be good to see everyone again," he agreed. "We usually spend New Year's at Lake Tahoe – it's a family tradition."
As he spoke, Santana couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness at the thought of Brett being so far away during the holidays. "I was wondering… maybe you'd like to join us?" he asked tentatively, his gaze meeting hers. "For New Year's, or even just for a few days for my birthday. It's up to you."
Santana's heart skipped a beat at Brett's invitation, warmth flooding through her at the thought of spending time with his family. She knew that it was a big step in their relationship, but she couldn't deny the excitement bubbling inside her. "I'd love to" she replied, her voice filled with sincerity.
Brett's face broke into a relieved smile, and he reached across the table to squeeze her hand affectionately "Good" he said softly, his voice filled with quiet contentment. "That means I can have a birthday blow job."
Santana's eyes widened in shock, her mouth falling open as she choked on her mouthful of food. She coughed and spluttered, trying to compose herself as Brett smirked mischievously across the table. "Brett!" she hissed, shooting him a scandalized look. She glanced nervously at Oliver, who was happily munching away on his food, oblivious to the conversation taking place.
Brett merely shrugged, his smile widening. "What?" he asked innocently, feigning innocence as he leaned back in his chair. "It's my thirtieth birthday, after all." Santana rolled her eyes, a mixture of amusement and exasperation dancing in her gaze. She couldn't help but laugh at Brett's audacity, even as she felt a blush creeping up her cheeks. "You're disgusting" she teased, shaking her head in mock disapproval. But despite her playful reprimand, their laughter filled the air.
Santana stood outside the deli with Brett as they said their goodbyes. She watched as Brett carefully buckled Oliver into his car seat, as Brett turned to her, he pulled her into a warm hug, his arms wrapping around her in a comforting embrace. Santana melted into his embrace as he pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.
"Have a good weekend" Brett said softly, his voice tinged with a hint of reluctance. "And try not to drink too much" he added with a playful grin. Santana chuckled, shaking her head at his teasing. "I'll do my best" she replied, returning his smile.
With a final squeeze, Brett released her from his embrace, stepping back to give her space. "I'm sad you can't come to Rachel's party" Santana admitted, a hint of disappointment coloring her tone. Brett sighed, a regretful expression flickering across his features. "Yeah, it's the joys of parenting" he replied with a sad smile. "Plus, I promised James a game of Mario Kart on the weekend if he's a good boy at pre-school."
Santana nodded understandingly, knowing that family commitments always came first for Brett. "Well, I hope you and James have fun," she said sincerely, reaching out to squeeze his hand. Brett returned her gesture, his eyes softening with affection. "Thanks," he said gratefully. "I'll see you next week?" Santana nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Definitely" she replied, her heart feeling lighter at the thought of seeing Brett again soon.