Chapter 8

The next day, Brittany sat anxiously on the couch in the recording room Santana always used, trying and failing not to panic. She had seen a few pictures of Dani, but those were almost a decade old. She didn't know if Dani would be more or less attractive, or if she was even more fun than she had been before. Brittany knew she was fun because Quinn had told her everything she thought about Dani when she had gone to New York. Fun was one of the words she'd used to describe her. She knew Dani was one of those cool, laid back, go with the flow type of people, who exuded confidence, according to Quinn, but she didn't really know what that meant. Would she be bitchy? Would she be mad at Brittany for getting Santana to break up with her? Or be happy for them that they stayed together after all these years?

Brittany hated not knowing what to expect. She had fussed over her outfit well before Santana even woke up, wondering if she should dress up to show off how hot she is, or whether to be casual, showing how confident and secure in her relationship she is. She decided against anything with an animal on it, because she could just imagine Dani sneering at her with a condescending, 'cute'. Instead she went simple but elegant. She wore a tight strapless black dress and a red leather jacket that actually belonged to Santana. She pulled up the sleeves of the jacket, showing off her charm bracelet that matched Santana's, which she happened to wear on the same hand as her wedding ring. She figured that was the perfect balance of marking her territory, showing off how good she looked, and looking like she dressed like that all the time. Santana commented twice how good she looked, and Eve had called 'looking good Britt' as she passed her desk.

"You ready babe?" Santana asked, sitting next to Brittany on the couch. Unlike Brittany, Santana had not put any effort into her outfit at all. She was wearing an old grey Fleetwood Mac t-shirt with a blue jean skirt and black converse. She didn't look bad at all, but she looked very casual. Brittany liked that. It meant Santana didn't care what Dani thought of her at all.

"Yeah…is she almost here?"

"Yeah. Just relax okay? It really doesn't matter why she's here, or how she acts right?"

Brittany nodded, taking Santana's hand and kissing the back of it.

"I love you B" Santana smiled at her. Brittany smiled back, but was cut off from answering as someone walked into the room. She had short black hair that was in a pixie cut. Brittany couldn't help but notice that she was a lot hotter than the pictures she had seen. The black hair suited her better than the blonde she used to have, and the cut gave her an edgy cool-girl vibe that completely threw Brittany off. Dani smiled as she entered, her manager right behind her. She shook hands with Jade, Eddie and Lucas, and then stopped in front of the couch Brittany and Santana were sitting on. Santana stood up, pulling Brittany with her, since they were still holding hands.

"Santana Lopez" Dani said, and Brittany had to supress an eye roll. Of course she had a smokey, raspy voice. Could she be any more opposite to Brittany if she tried? Santana smiled and opened her arms.

"Danielle Ruiz" Santana replied with a smirk, which Dani returned. They looked at each other for a few seconds, and then Dani pulled Santana into a hug. Brittany loosened her grip on Santana's hand so that she could hug Dani properly, but Santana held on tighter, refusing to let go. Brittany smiled. Just as she was beginning to wonder if she should be worried about the length of the hug, Santana cleared her throat and pulled back. Brittany noticed that Dani seemed displeased by this, but the look was soon replaced by her smile. She turned to Brittany.

"So this is the famous Brittany?" she asked Santana, looking Brittany up and down. Brittany swallowed and nodded.

"That's me" she said, forcing her voice to be calm. "It's nice to meet you Dani." She extended her hand. Usually she was a hugger, but hugging your wife's totally hot and talented ex…she'd rather not. Dani smiled and shook her hand.

"I see what all the fuss was about" she winked at Brittany, and turned to Santana, pulling her into another shorter hug. "I actually missed you bitch. Life was just too dull without snixx, so I have returned."

"Well" Santana said, casting a quick glance to Brittany. "Here I am. What exactly did you want from me? Collab or sound engineer?"

Dani pursed her lips in thought. "Can't I get both?" she asked with a cheeky smile.

"Depends on how many hours you're going to be expecting from me." Santana said with another smirk, this time looking more meaningfully at Brittany, so that Dani gets the point. "Me and the wife here have a schedule that works….I'm not gonna upset that by taking on a crazy work load."

"Even for a sexy client?" Dani smiled innocently. Brittany cocked her head and Santana raised an eyebrow.

"When one shows up I'll let you know" Santana answered easily. Dani gasped in mock offence and slapped Santana's arm.

"I thought age would have made you nicer. Guess some things never change"

Brittany wasn't sure what to make of this woman. She reminded her of Elaine, with all her flirting, but she wasn't sure if it was innocent or not. What she was sure of though, was that Santana was very relaxed. She wasn't defensive, or aggressive, which told Brittany that she was waiting, giving Dani a chance. So Brittany would too.

"So how many hours would you be needing a day if we did both?" Santana asked. Dani waved her hand dismissively.

"We can talk over that in the meeting sometime this week" she said. "I didn't just move all this way to work. I wanted to catch up, meet your wifey and kids. I actually have missed you Lopez."

Santana sighed, though it wasn't really exasperated.

"Do you want to go to lunch?" Brittany asked. Santana turned to her quickly in shock. Dani grinned.

"Totally Brittany. Are you guys free today?"

"Yeah" Brittany said, smiling as well. "I took the day off."

"Excellent" Dani said. "Well, I'll go meet some of the other people I'll be working with, and then you guys can tell me when and where you want to go." She smiled at a still shocked Santana, and left the room. Santana turned and frowned at Brittany.

"We're having lunch with her?" she asked incredulously.

Brittany shrugged.

"I don't think that's a good idea B"

"Why?"

"I don't know. Hanging out with the ex always has some unforeseen consequences. I don't want us to start fighting about something I said all those years ago, or for you to feel bad being reminded about that year we spent apart."

"I'm not going to feel bad Santana. Besides, it wasn't even a year, and it's not like I didn't tell you to go to New York and get a girlfriend. Plus…it totally doesn't matter. If she tries to make me feel jealous about the time you spent with her, I have 13 years on her. All of which we've spent as best friends, 5 dating, and 4 married. 3 of those 4 spent with kids. I can play whatever game she wants to try play, so don't worry."

Santana smiled. "You're so sexy when you're being all cunning."

*****************************************************************************

Santana had never felt so awkward in her entire life. As she walked into the restaurant, Brittany right behind her, Dani in front, she wished more than anything that she could be anywhere else. Never in a hundred years had she imagined that Brittany would meet her ex, let alone that they would be having lunch together. Even as they sat down, and Dani told them idly about her life, Santana couldn't shake the feeling that this was not going to lead to anything good for her.

"So yeah….worked at the Spotlight Diner for another two years, started playing gigs here and there, made some cover videos on Youtube, and then decided to move to LA. Two years ago I finally got recruited, they helped me put out an album, which didn't do all that well, but we kept working at it, still playing gigs, and then finally a couple of months ago your label said they were interested in signing me. I did some research and found out that you were signed here as well, and working as a sound engineer, so I knew they had to be good. And yeah…here I am."

"Wow…well congrats" Santana said, unsure of what else she was really supposed to say to the girl she broke up with on Facetime, so she could run away with her high school sweetheart.

"Thanks" Dani said with a sweet smile, taking a sip of her wine. "So what about you? Last I knew, you were going for the end of your high school glee club, never to return." She turned her eyes to Brittany, who shifted uncomfortably.

"Oh yeah…uh" Santana cleared her throat uncomfortably. "We went back to New York actually."

"We?" Dani asked, leaning back in her chair, eyes still on Brittany.

"Yup" Brittany said cheerfully. "I moved to New York with her, got a job as a kids dance instructor for a while when I was in school, but then I got referred to this other studio, started off as an assistant and made my way up to choreographer two years later." She smiled at Santana, who nodded proudly.

"Oh you're a dancer?" Dani asked. Brittany frowned slightly at her.

"You didn't know?"

"I don't know much about you other than you're blonde and Santana's ex. Sh-"

"Wife" Brittany cut in.

"Sorry?" Dani asked confused.

"You're Santana's ex, I'm her wife."

Dani shook her head and chuckled. "Yeah…obviously…sorry. I meant at the time, I didn't know anything about you other than you were her ex. Santana didn't talk about you…like ever, and Kurt and Rachel always told me not to ask."

There was a short awkward silence that no one seemed to know how to fill. Finally Dani cleared her throat.

"Uhh…so I've been waiting 9 years to hear what happened at that glee reunion. I never really got an explanation."

"Why do you wanna talk about that now?" Santana asked, lowering her glass of wine. "It's an uncomfortable topic that happened a long time ago. Why should we bring it all up again?"

"I think if we're going to be working countless hours together, I deserve some answers. Don't you Brittany?"

Brittany eyed Dani, trying to see any hint of malice in her eyes, but she saw none. She sighed and turned to Santana.

"Damn it B" Santana said as she sighed as well. "Why are you always forcing me to apologize to exes?" she asked in Spanish. Brittany smiled.

"Because it's the right thing to do. She got caught up in our drama just like Artie. We hurt her." Brittany replied in Spanish as well, rubbing Santana's thigh under the table.

"You speak Spanish Brittany?" Dani asked, seeming amused.

"Yup" Brittany replied with a smile.

"Does your family-"

"I learned it for Santana" she cut in. Dani looked taken back by this information. Before she could reply, Santana spoke.

"Okay…if we're going to get into this Elle…." Santana broke of suddenly, as Dani's smile returned. "Uh…Dani…" she amended awkwardly. "Then I just want to know why you came here. Are you trying to cause some drama for my family? Trying to get me back for how things ended or something?"

Dani rolled her eyes. "Tana when have I ever been involved in drama?" Brittany stiffened at the nickname. It sounded strange, since she had never heard anyone call Santana that, but it also seemed kind of fitting. She could see the New York Santana going by Tana.

"Don't call me that" Santana said quickly, glancing at Brittany. Dani glanced at Brittany as well.

"You called me Elle"

"I corrected myself"

"Okay" Brittany said. "You both need to relax. Let's just use this lunch to get everything off our chest so that we can all have a somewhat friendly relationship going forward. I'll go first. Dani, I kissed Santana when we were at the glee reunion. I kissed her, she told me it wasn't a good idea, I told her I wanted her back, and asked her to run away with me."

Dani sat back in her chair and crossed her arms.

"I'm sorry that you got hurt, but I'm not sorry that I told Santana how I felt."

Again there was silence. Dani was watching Brittany as if she was trying to catch her in a lie.

"So you didn't cheat on me?" She asked Santana.

"No. Brittany told me how she felt, and I…" She stopped herself from saying 'broke up with you', "we ended things that night."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did it take you until that night to call me?"

Santana immediately took Brittany's hand in hers, knowing this wasn't going to be fun to hear. It definitely wasn't going to be fun to say. She thought about lying, but she realised that would mean lying to Brittany too, which was something she never did.

"I hadn't made up my mind yet about what I was going to do."

Silence for the third time. Brittany was looking off to the side so Santana couldn't see her face, but based on the fact that she hadn't tried to take back her hand, she figured she wasn't mad or hurt.

"Anyway," Santana continued, "we got back together the next day, which I hadn't been planning on doing, and left immediately after graduation to go to Lesbos, and uh…" she bit her lip. "Hawaii, and then moved back to New York."

Dani still didn't say anything. Santana began feeling uncomfortable.

"For what it's worth, I am sorry about how things ended. I know I didn't give you a real explanation, and you deserved one. Where Brittany is concerned I've always handled things pretty badly with the other people involved."

"I was actually pissed at you both for a long time. I thought you guys had been planning it somehow. Like you had been trying to figure out a way to break up with me and decided that it would be easier to do when you were in Lima. I literally never saw you again, and Kurt told me you got back together and he had no idea where you'd disappeared to. It was just all so sudden."

"It was sudden for all of us" Brittany said. "I didn't plan on getting back together with her. I was just coming back to say goodbye to glee. But then she was just being so…" Brittany sighed. "I wasn't in a good place at all….I wasn't myself, and nobody cared, except Santana. She forced me to stop accepting the horrible life I was being forced into…and I just couldn't let her go back to New York without me. I wasn't functioning without her." She said all this while still looking off to the side.

Dani and Santana looked at her for a while, Santana rubbing her hand soothingly.

"Well…like I said" Dani said, "I was mad. I kept wondering how Santana could throw away the awesome thing we had. But then she blew up and got famous, and I knew it was supposed to happen that way. I wasn't holding her back, but I wasn't pushing her. We were happily living the struggling artist life, and being awesome at it, and we were having fun and being young, always saying how we had time to do what we needed to. When you both got famous I stopped being bitter about it. Santana was always meant to take over the world, and I wish more than anything that I had pushed her to do it, cause then maybe I would have been better for her than you. So I decided I was gonna work my ass off and become good enough for her, and then I'd try get her back…" she trailed off, looking down at the table. Brittany's head snapped to her and Santana stiffened. "But nothing ever worked. I did everything right, but I just couldn't make it. Then, you adopted those adorable boys of yours, and I tortured myself watching all your cute family videos on instagram, and watching all the interviews where you both talk about how amazing it is to be mothers and to be raising a family with the love of your life….finally, I accepted that it wasn't supposed to be me. That nothing I did was going to change the fact that you guys were going to be Brittany and Santana forever. So…I let you go. And wouldn't you know, as soon as I did that, I got recruited."

Santana turned to Brittany with wide eyes. Brittany looked relieved.

"So you're not here to…" Brittany didn't know how to finish that sentence.

"To ruin your marriage?" Dani laughed. "No. Like I said before, I'm not into drama. I just want to make awesome music and maybe make some friends in this city. Santana and I did used to have a lot of fun together, and from what I've seen online of you Brittany, you seem pretty fun as well. So…" she raised her glass, "what do you guys say to forgetting the past and starting fresh."

Brittany smiled at Santana, lifting her hand and kissing it. Then she took her glass from the table and clinked it with Dani's. "I'd like that a lot" she said sincerely.

Santana let out a breath, smiling as she clinked her glass with Dani's as well. She should have known not to doubt Brittany.

**********************************************************************************

Brittany fancied herself a very reasonable person. She usually gave people the benefit of the doubt, and she trusted them until they gave her a reason not to. She never over reacted or jumped to conclusions, in fact usually things had to be spelled out clearly for her. So when the New Year rolled around and Santana started working with Dani, she wasn't surprised when she didn't really feel anything. The conversation they'd had with Dani over lunch had settled her a bit. It had given her the chance to see Dani for herself, see how she interacted with Santana, how Santana looked at her. And she wasn't threatened. It was very clear that Dani was a part of Santana's past. She was still stuck there, wanting to remind Santana about things that happened while they were in New York. But Santana had grown so much since then. They'd been through so much together, fame, motherhood and marriage, actually learning what it means to build a life with someone. So Brittany didn't care that Dani was constantly reminiscing. She knew there was no way for her to really connect with Santana now. Not in a way that would have her worried about her marriage.

But Quinn didn't see it that way.

It was finally getting hot enough to spend most of the day outdoors so Brittany had invited Quinn and Puck over to hang out with her and the boys. They were sat at the patio with some chips, dip and wine, while Puck played football with Jesús and Kyler.

"Brittany" Quinn said sternly, and Brittany already knew what was coming.

"Don't start Q" she sighed.

"Britt come on."

"No you come on. Why are you trying to make me paranoid? They have to work together for at least a year. Wouldn't it be better for me to spend that year feeling secure, instead of constant anxiety about what they're doing?"

"Obviously" Quinn said, rolling her eyes and taking a bite of her salsa covered chip. "Which is why you should tell Santana you aren't comfortable with them working together. Then you won't have to worry about anything."

"I'm already not worried about anything. We had lunch-"

"People lie Britt"

"She wasn't lying." Brittany said with conviction.

"Oh yeah?" Quinn asked in amusement. "And you know this because you know her so well?" Brittany didn't say anything. "Look. You and I both know that Santana is not going to cheat on you, that's not what I'm suggesting. I just think it's weird for her ex to be so eager to work with her. It doesn't matter how well things end between people, hanging around your ex who left you for someone else just isn't something people do, and Santana didn't exactly do a good job of leaving things friendly."

"That was almost a decade ago. She told us how mad she used to be, and that she thought of coming back to fight for Santana, but that she had enough time to work through it. Now she just wants to be friends. With both of us."

"That conniving bitch" Quinn spat, lowering the glass that was halfway to her lips. Brittany sighed again.

"What?"

"She told you about her ideas of getting Santana back so that you trust her. If you didn't trust her, she would never have time or access to try mess up your marriage. Santana would have stayed far away from her, always keeping an eye out. Now you've both let your guard down. You let her spend as much time as she wants with Santana, not even questioning it."

Brittany couldn't help it. She rolled her eyes. "They're working. You just said you know Santana won't cheat on me."

"Yeah. Doesn't mean she won't try make you suspicious. Plant seeds of doubt. Get you guys fighting. Then she'll start suggesting she and Santana hang out outside of work to get her mind off how much you guys are fighting. Next thing you know she's kissed her, and Santana is trying to tell you she didn't want it, that she pushed her off, but by this time you've been fighting so much, and you're wondering if maybe Santana did want her to kiss her, even if it was just a small part of her. Then-"

"Okay I'm going to stop you there Quinn Fabray." Brittany held up a hand. "You're insane and watch too much television. Santana and I have discussed this ad nauseam. I trust her. Even if Dani kissed her, I would still trust her. Plus, since we got married when have Santana and I been in an argument for longer than a day?"

Quinn had to give Brittany that one. She and Santana usually only allowed one night of anger or unresolved problems between them, before they had it out. Even if it meant a long and explosive fight, they would have it out until it was resolved.

"Fine…but I still think it's weird that she wants to be around her ex."

"You're around Puck" Brittany pointed out.

"Puck and I didn't date." Quinn said matter-of-factly.

"No, you just had a baby together" Brittany retorted, sipping her wine. Quinn narrowed her eyes at her.

"I think you've spent too many years with Santana. She's turning you into a bitch. "Brittany laughed, shaking her head. "I'm just worried Britt."

"Why don't we go surprise Santana at work? She's texting me so she's not too busy right now. We'll stop by for an hour, and you can meet Dani and see for yourself. Quinn nodded. "Awesome." She yelled for Kyler and Jesús who came running to her. "Who wants to go visit mami at work for a little bit?" they both screamed, jumping up and down.

"I do! I do!"

"Okay…let's go get changed and we can go." They ran into the house as Puck sat down heavily next to Quinn.

"I'm staying here. There's a game on, and I'm tired." He told both women.

"No problem. We'll see you in an hour or so." Quinn told him, standing up.

The paparazzi seemed to be in some sort of frenzy since Dani's arrival, as if trying to catch Santana cheating, or Brittany being jealous. They had been nothing but unbearable. So it came as no surprise to them when they were followed all the way to Santana's studio. The security there was used to the paparazzi, so they handled them pretty easily, which meant that it wasn't hard for Brittany and Quinn to make it into the building, something Brittany was immensely grateful for, because though her sons liked the attention of fans, the shouting men with cameras always scared them.

As soon as they were safely in the building, both boys were let down, and without even wasting a second, they made their way quickly to the studio room they were so familiar with, stopping only once to jump into Eve's arms. Quinn followed closely.

"I don't want to give Dani any time to cover up what she's doing" she told Brittany, who had stopped at Eve's office to chat. Brittany didn't even respond, shaking her head at her crazy friend.

"What?" Eve asked with a frown.

"Quinn is convinced she's going to catch Dani trying to break up my marriage." Eve looked at her alarmed, but Brittany just laughed. "That's Quinn. We let her have her crazy sometimes."

Leaving Eve, she made her way to Santana's pseudo office, since she spent most of her time in there anyway. She could hear the sound of her excited sons before she even walked into the room. It made her smile. When she walked in she nearly burst out laughing. Santana was sitting with both boys on her lap, engrossed in a very animated conversation, and Quinn was standing with her arms crossed, glaring daggers at an uncomfortable looking Dani.

Santana looked up at her entrance and smiled. "Hey love" she said, patting the empty space next to her on the couch.

"Hi baby" Brittany said with a matching smile. Once she was sitting, Santana leaned close to her and kissed her sweetly. It was short, but not a casual peck, it made Brittany smile wider.

"I missed you" Santana whispered against her lips, before pulling back and redirecting her attention to the boys on her lap. Brittany turned to Dani, noting a strange look on her face but not caring enough to dissect it.

"Hi Dani" she said cheerfully. Quinn rolled her eyes. "You remember Quinn don't you?"

"Kinda" Dani replied, looking at Quinn. "I think we met once. Santana's best friend right?"

Quinn didn't move or respond. She just stared.

"Well…I'm Santana's best friend, but yeah" Brittany said, now frowning at Quinn. "What's wrong with you Q?" Quinn turned to face her.

"What?" she asked shrugging.

"Anyway" Santana interrupted, before Brittany could reply. "What are you guys doing here?"

"Visit you mami" Kyler said lovingly, leaning into her chest. Santana kissed the top of his head.

"You wanted to visit me papi?" she asked, feeling her heart swell. Brittany nodded and kissed her shoulder.

"Yes" Jesús answered, jumping down from her lap and moving towards the mixing console, carefully looking at all the nobs and buttons. "Did you use it yet mami?" he asked, without even looking at her.

"Not yet mijo no. We're having a meeting first." Santana told him. He nodded and walked back to Brittany, leaning into her so much that his forehead touched her stomach. She ran her fingers through his hair.

"What's up bud?" she asked him. He mumbled something into her shirt that she couldn't hear. "I can't hear you my love." He lifted his head and looked at Quinn, then at the other occupants of the room.

"Can I stay with mami?" he asked, his voice barely audible.

"Sure" Brittany said, slightly confused about her son's shyness. He glance again at Dani, and Brittany realised his grip on her waist tightened. She looked at Santana, who was frowning as well. "What's wrong baby?" she asked, figuring he'd be more likely to say if she spoke in Spanish. He pulled his head back, lifting it to her ear.

"Who is that?" he whispered. Brittany didn't need to ask who.

"A friend-"

"She works with mami" Brittany cut Santana off. As much as she didn't think Dani was going to try and steal her wife, she didn't think she could handle it if her sons fell in love with her. There were only four people who Jesús and Kyler considered family, besides Santana and herself of course. Quinn, Puck, Jessie and Brittany's dad. Everyone else, like Susan, Ashley and Santana's parents, they understood they were related to, and therefore would name them as members of their family if asked, but they didn't feel it. If they were ill, or sad, or tired, only four people were in the circle of family that they would agree to be left with if Brittany or Santana were unavailable. From what Quinn had told her about Dani, she may well be fun and charming enough to win her kids over, and Brittany was not going to give her the leg in by telling them she was a friend of Santana's. So she ignored the raised eyebrow that Santana was giving her.

"What's her name?" Kyler asked.

"Dani" Brittany whispered, not wanting the woman to hear her. Jesús burrowed further into Brittany's stomach until she just picked him up. He proceeded to hide himself between her and Santana.

"Papi, what's wrong?" Santana finally asked, thoroughly confused. Jesús pulled back and looked at Kyler. They stared at each other for a long time. Finally Kyler huffed and crossed his arms. Brittany bit her lip to keep from laughing.

"He doesn't-"

"I don't like her" Jesús blurted out. Santana's jaw dropped, and once again Brittany had to stop herself from laughing. Internally she did a victory dance at her son's words.

"What's wrong?" Quinn asked, taking a step forward.

"Nothing" Brittany quickly told her.

"Mijo….why would you say that?" Santana asked him.

"Did you give her a chance?" Brittany asked, clearly not doing a good job of hiding her glee, if the look Santana shot her was any indication.

Jesús nodded frantically. "She tried to pick me up mama" he nearly cried.

"It's true" Kyler said with a solemn nod, as if that fact was a great disappointment.

"What?" Quinn asked. She was ignored.

"Oh" Santana chuckled. "Well mijo she didn't know she wasn't allowed to do that." This time Brittany did laugh at the look of scepticism Jesús was giving Santana.

"Everybody knows" he told her, as though she should already know this. He and Kyler turned to glare at Dani.

"Uh…" Dani shifted uncomfortably. "Sorry…did I do something?"

"Um…" Santana laughed nervously. Brittany was all too happy to have this conversation. Because her wife was uncomfortable….Obviously.

"You tried to pick him up" Brittany told her. Dani stared as if waiting for an explanation. None came.

"Oh…yeah. Well they came running in, and…" she trailed off like she suddenly wasn't so sure why she did it. "They uh…I was just saying hi."

"You've never met them before. They don't know you." Quinn said, rolling her eyes hard. "Why would you just decide to pick up a random kid who comes running in to a room?" Dani was turning steadily redder.

"Look" Santana said quickly, trying to stave off the growing tension. "It's not really an issue. We just don't allow people to pick them up"

"Or touch them really" Brittany added.

"Yeah, so they're just not used to it."

"I'm sorry" Dani said. Quinn scoffed. "I didn't know."

"Everyone knows" Jesús repeated. Brittany forced down a smirk.

"Bien, entendemos" Santana told him sharply. He pouted at her, but didn't speak.

"I know now little man okay?" Dani said, flashing a smile at Jesús. He continued to look unimpressed. "I won't do it again okay?"

Deciding she had allowed her sons to act like Santana long enough, Brittany intervened.

"Don't be rude Jesús. Say okay."

"Bien" came his small reluctant reply.

"Okay" Kyler translated for Dani, though he too didn't look like he believed her.

"Okaaaayy" Santana drew out, un-nerved yet again by how like her Kyler and Jesús were. "So are you still staying with me?"

"Yes" Jesús said, removing his gaze from Dani. "I want to stay with you"

"Okay" Brittany said, standing up. "Then I'll take Ky back home. He can go back to playing with Noah."

"Puck?" Dani asked a little too loudly. Everybody turned to face her. "Are you guys back together then?" she asked Quinn. Santana sighed, settling into her seat to watch the impending argument unfold.

"What?

"Well when Santana and I were together she told me all about you guys. You weren't on the best of terms back then I think…" she scrunched up her nose as she tried to remember, missing the 'when Santana and I were together' that Quinn mouthed irritably at Brittany. "I can't really remember, but if Puck's around now I assume-"

"Why would you assume that?" Quinn asked angrily. "You of all people should know that just because exes are in close proximity it doesn't mean they're getting back together." Dani shifted, sending a glance in Santana's direction that made Brittany narrow her eyes. Quinn frowned at her.

"Well…okay, my bad I guess. I'm just doing and saying all the wrong things today huh?" she joked, looking at Santana. Santana just raised her eyebrows and pursed her lips. There was brief silence as Brittany, Quinn and Dani awkwardly tried to avoid looking at each other. Santana was whispering with Kyler and Jesús about her day. Finally Dani couldn't take it.

"I think I'm just gonna take a break. Tana I'll be back in an hour or so."

Quinn frowned so heavily her eyes looked closed. Brittany tensed.

"I told you not to call me that Dani" Santana called after her as she walked out. She stopped at the door and turned her head, a smirk playing at her lips.

"Old habits" she shrugged, and walked out.

"Old habits" Quinn repeated in disbelief. She turned to Brittany, folding her arms and raising her eyebrows.

"Okay, okay" Brittany said with a sigh.

"What?" Santana asked.

"I'm not saying I told you so, but…" Quinn said.

"What?" Santana repeated.

"Nothing babe" Brittany said. "We'll talk about it later." Santana eyed her suspiciously, but let it go. Seeing this, Brittany changed the subject. "So do you have any songs for us to hear?"

"Oh!" Santana said excitedly. "As a matter of fact I do"

**********************************************************************************

Sitting alone in the recording studio while Quinn took their sons round the studio and the rest of the band took a break, Brittany and Santana were silently enjoying each other's company, something they didn't get the chance to do very often. Santana combed her fingers through Brittany's hair while Brittany lay with her head against Santana's shoulder, tracing random shapes on her bare thigh.

"What are you thinking about baby" Brittany asked quietly.

"Just…remember when we were living in New York? Like when we just got there?" Brittany nodded, letting out a hum in acknowledgement. "I was so happy then. I had just gotten you back, and we were finally starting our lives together the right way. I was happier than I had ever been in my life B."

"Are you not happy now?" Brittany asked hesitantly, her hand momentarily stilling. Santana sat up straighter, forcing Brittany's head off her shoulder. She put both hands on Brittany's cheeks and locked eyes with her.

"BSP are you crazy?" she asked, leaning down so her lips brushed against Brittany's as she spoke. "Since the day we met, all I've ever wanted was to know you for the rest of my life. And then I got to know you, and I knew, even if I denied it for a while, that I wanted to be with you, just you. To see you every day, and have a family with you. Britt…you've given me every single thing I could have dreamed to ask for, how could I not be happy?"

Brittany took a few seconds to process Santana's words, feeling warmth spread through her insides, feeling love and happiness and just pure lust, coursing through her veins. Without even thinking about what she was doing, she grabbed the back of Santana's neck and pulled her into a passionate kiss.

The next thing they both knew, they were inside the recording booth. Santana's legs wrapped around Brittany's waist as she was pushed roughly against the wall.

"You're so sexy" Brittany husked, her hands running up Santana's shirt, feeling the tight muscles, and stopping at the base of her bra. "Fuck Santana how the hell do you keep getting hotter."

Santana couldn't answer. The combination of Brittany's hands on her, and the feel of her lips against her neck was sending shocks of arousal straight down to her clit, which was throbbing almost painfully. When Brittany's hands finally unclipped her bra and slid underneath, thumbs rubbing against her nipples, she let out a loud moan, leaning her head down against Brittany's shoulder.

"Baby…" she breathed out.

"Mmmh" Brittany half hummed half moaned.

"I need you inside me"

"Yeah?" Brittany licked a long line from Santana's collarbone to her ear, causing her to throw her head back against the wall.

"Fuuck…yes! I'm so wet for you B"

Brittany groaned, quickly lowering her hands to lift Santana's skirt. Her index and middle finger brushed against Santana's underwear and she shuddered.

"Fuck" she said, stilling for a few seconds as she remembered how to breathe. "You're going to kill me Santana Lopez." Without warning, she slid her fingers into the underwear and into Santana. They both moaned loudly.

"Sa…antana…Pierce" Santana forced out around several breaths as Brittany's fingers explored inside her.

"Fuck" Brittany said again. She was so turned on it was a real possibility that she would cum just from watching Santana consumed by pleasure. There was something about hearing Santana take her last name that was just…arousing. Sure, they both took each other's names, and more often than not they went by Lopierce, but that didn't mean that hearing her last name like that didn't make her feel like Santana was hers. It made her want to make her cum all the more.

Santana could hardly breathe. Brittany had picked up the pace, and all she could do was hold on to her shoulders and throw her head back against the wall.

"Baby I'm close" She said, her voice breathy and raspy and low. Brittany moaned at the sound. She used one hand to lift Santana higher, pushing against her with her body to keep her against the wall, and pushed into her with more strength. "Fuuckk meee" Santana moaned, one of her hands tangling in Brittany's hair, pulling her forward and crashing their lips together. A moments later she was trying not to bite too hard on Brittany's lip as her orgasm washed over her. She trembled slightly, pulling Brittany so close that there was no space between them and then pulled her even closer. Finally she exhaled and her body relaxed. Brittany slowly let her down and pulled back enough to kiss her.

"You are the sexiest, most beautifully gorgeous person in existence, Santana Pierce" Brittany grinned, and Santana smiled sweetly at her, nodding her head in encouragement for her to continue. "And I will love you from now to infinity."

"MAMI" they heard shouted from somewhere down the hallway. Both women scrambled to find their clothes before one or both of their children, and whichever adult was with them saw them in their post-sex state.

"Shit where's my shirt?" Brittany whispered in a panic.

"It might be in the other room on the couch…" Santana screwed up her face as she frantically tried to re-clasp her bra. "Or maybe on the floor by the couch"

"Fuck, fuck, fuck…fucking fuck…" Brittany ran to the other room, tripping on one of Santana's shoes. Seeing her shirt just by the door she hastily put it on, just as the door opened and Eve walked in, Jesús right behind her.

"MAMA" he yelled, making Brittany flinch as he jumped into her arms. "Did you know there's a recording studio being built? It's going to have two recording booths, and more space, and the new mixing table and microphones and everything! MAMI"

Santana emerged from the recording booth looking better put together than Brittany, but her hair was still messy and her lips were swollen. Brittany bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing as she noticed the hickey blooming on the side of her neck.

"Yes mi amor?"

"Did you know there's a recording studio being built down there?" he twisted in Brittany's arms and pointed in the direction of the construction.

"Yeah I did know bud….isn't it so cool? I'll bring you to see it as soon as it's done."

Jesús squealed and bounced so much that Brittany had to put him down. When she stood back up she noticed Eve looking at her.

"What?" she asked innocently.

"You two just had sex didn't you?"

Santana pretended not to have heard. Brittany blushed a deep red, but shrugged. "I can neither confirm nor deny that."

Kyler and Quinn came into the room at that moment, and Brittany decided to take the out.

"Well…now that you guys are back, we should go. Mami needs to get back to work." Eve smirked, but didn't say anything. Once Kyler had said bye to his brother and Santana, Brittany ushered them all out. As she picked him so they could walk to the car, just in case there were any paparazzi waiting, Quinn leaned in close to her.

"Just so we're clear…this little trip totally proved I was right." She said smugly.

"Maybe not totally, but I'll give you this, I definitely don't trust her." Brittany replied.