Chapter 36

Brittany felt like she was having an out of body experience. She knew she was sitting on the couch, but she couldn't feel it. She couldn't even really feel her body. She blinked, and knew her eyelids had shut only because her vision was momentarily blocked. The only thing she could feel was pure joy. Blinking again, she allowed herself to just watch as Santana crawled on the floor in front of her, their two sons crawling around her with huge smiles on their faces as they listened to the story Santana was telling them. Both Brittany and Santana knew that they couldn't understand a word she was saying, but the joy on their faces, and the way they kept their attention on her as she turned sharp corners and rolled over sporadically, made Brittany think that maybe on some level they could. She thought about the things they had to go through for them to get here, and couldn't help thinking that as painful as it was at the time, it was all worth it. She wouldn't want even a single thing to have been different if it meant that this reality, where she got to spend afternoons in a house she bought with the love of her life watching said woman make her children giggle and squeal in the most adorable way, would be altered even an iota.

The sudden silence pulled her from her thoughts, and she had to bite down her tongue to keep from yelling. Santana had just pushed herself up from her stomach and was kneeling in front of the TV, and Kyler, who had been watching as she did so, copied her actions. He was now wobbling unsteadily on his feet, looking at Santana with a stunned expression. Brittany held her breath, not wanting to make any noise or movement that distracted Kyler and made him fall. Santana was holding her arms out to him, having scooted back a few feet. Her eyes flicked quickly to Brittany's and they shared a look of pure excitement before she focused back on her son. He was looking down at his feet as if unsure of what he was supposed to do next. Santana and Brittany had bought them both walkers that were supposed to help strengthen their legs, and get them used to the idea of being upright and using their legs to move, but neither of them had shown much interest in walking, so this development was a huge surprise to both women.

"Ven aquí papi" Santana said quietly, beckoning him forward with her hands. Kyler looked up at her, stretching out his own hands, and subsequently shaking wildly as he threw himself off balance. In an attempt to regain it, he took several steps forward before finally falling forward onto his hands and crawling the rest of the way to Santana. Brittany screamed, throwing down her phone, which had been removed to record the moment, and dropping to the floor.

"You did it buddy you walked" she said, kissing his head over and over as Santana hugged him. Kyler smiled, loving the attention he was getting, and babbled loudly to them over the fingers he had in his mouth. Santana sniffed, trying to hold back tears, and stood him up on her legs so that he could see Brittany properly.

"Mi amor you walked" she whispered to him. Brittany exhaled loudly, so that it sounded like a breathless laugh, and brushed his hair back from his forehead. He shook his head, pulling his hand from his mouth and pushing her hand away.

"Sorry baby" she said, removing her hand quickly, then she picked him up and threw him in the air. "You walked. You can walk now!" she exclaimed.

"Well, I think it's a long way from that." Santana said laughing. "But he's taken his first steps. So he'll definitely be walking before 1." She crawled to Jesús, who was standing by the couch throwing off all the pillows and blankets he could reach- a favourite pass time of his. When he felt her arms around him, he squealed mischievously and tried to get away. "You, my naughty niñito, need to get a move on. Your brother is already-"

"Don't" Brittany said quickly. Her tone wasn't sharp or accusatory, but Santana felt the sting non-the less. She grimaced, avoiding Brittany's eye.

"Sorry" she said sheepishly. "I wasn't thinking…I didn't mean…"

"I know" Brittany said kindly. "And we talked about this remember. You don't have to be sorry, I've done it before, and we're both bound to do it again. It's hard not to, but that's why we said we're both going to have to keep each other accountable. By the time they're old enough to actually understand anything, we'll be used to not comparing them."

Santana sighed and nodded, kissing an oblivious Jesús' cheek and nuzzling his neck. "Sorry mijo" she said quietly.

"Mama" Jesús said, just as quietly, patting her cheek. Santana pulled back abruptly, and stared at him, then at Brittany.

"Did he just…?" Brittany asked, walking on her knees so she was closer to Santana. Jesús was jumping on her thighs, trying to launch himself over her shoulder.

"Did he just…?" Santana echoed Brittany's question. Her heart was racing, not sure if she should dare to believe it.

"Do it again" Brittany urged.

"What?" Santana asked, pulling Jesús back down, much to his delight.

"I don't know, whatever you were doing, do it again!" she practically screamed. Santana nodded frantically trying to think. It was only seconds ago, yet she couldn't even remember what she was doing. She kissed his cheek, then nuzzled his neck, but Jesús did nothing but giggle. She did it again, which only made him laugh louder. Brittany frowned in disappointment.

"Your brother's holding out on us mijo" Santana said to Kyler, who was looking at her with great interest.

"Mama" Jesús said loudly, jumping up. Brittany and Santana grinned identically. There was no mistaking it this time, he had spoken. She kissed his hair while Brittany rattled off praises, trying to get him to say it again.

Santana put him down and let him crawl away from her. "Mijo" she called, when he was a few feet away.

"Mammaaaa" he yelled back, giggling. Brittany's eyes widened as Santana laughed.

"Mijo" she said as quietly as she could with him still being able to hear her.

"Mmaama" they heard him whisper, as he reached the toy box. Brittany burst out laughing this time too.

"Our children are geniuses" she said to Santana, putting a squirming Kyler down as well and pulling Santana in for a long kiss.

"I think I may start crying" Santana said, watching Kyler attempt to crawl up the stairs. Brittany nodded, her hand over her heart.

"They're going to start speaking and walking and being actual humans"

"Tiny humans"

"Our tiny humans"

"Who walk and talk"

They grinned at each other. "I can't wait to find out what they're like." Brittany said, pulling Santana close.

"We already know what they're like B" Santana said, rubbing up and down Brittany's arms.

"Yeah, except not really. We don't know if they'll like dance, or soccer, or if they'll be nerdy and just want to read and do maths. We don't know if they'll be shy or super confident or friendly or…" she broke off, smirking at Santana.

"Or a Lopez" Santana finished.

"Yeah. We don't really know. But once they start talking and walking, then we'll know."

"Because they're real humans"

"Exactly"

"I get what you're saying, except we do know them. We know that Jesús loves music more than Kyler, and has more energy and loves people. So he's probably not going to be shy. We know that Kyler is a freaking genius, and he's going to be super smart, but we also know that he likes to be on the move. He doesn't like just sitting around. I bet you anything he's into sports." Brittany grinned. "We know them B, all that's happening is that now we get to see the things we know about them be expressed in different ways."

"You're super smart too you know" Brittany told her, kissing her top lip quickly. "Now I'm going to go back to sitting on the couch and appreciating my wonderful life, so please go back to whatever it was you were doing." She tapped Santana's ass playfully and pushed her in Jesús' direction. He was kneeling against the window, banging it aggressively and yelling.

"Whatever you say honey" Santana said, crawling to Jesús, stopping to drag Kyler away from the stairs by the foot. "We should baby proof if they're going to start being actual people."

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"I can't believe we've gone this long without seeing our babies" Susan exclaimed, dropping her bags dramatically and crouching to pick one of the boys from where he stood clinging to Santana's leg. "You've grown a whole foot baby boy" she said, hugging him tightly to her chest.

"Wait don't tell us" Pierce said, walking in behind his wife and peering at the baby in her arms. He frowned in concentration, then looked proudly at Santana. "Kyler" he said confidently.

"Wrong dad" Brittany yelled from the living room. His face fell. Santana smiled sympathetically.

"I could have told you that" Susan said, finally pulling Jesús from her chest and kissing his cheek. He smiled at her.

"Oh yeah?" Pierce said sceptically, "And how would you have known that dear?" he said, looking at Santana.

"He let me hug him for far too long" Susan said. Santana smiled, rubbing her sons head as he stretched out his hands to her.

"Quédate con tu gammy mi amor" she told him, allowing Susan to pull her into a hug.

"How are you Santana?" she asked, releasing her.

"I'm good. Going back to work tomorrow, not looking forward to it but it has to be done you know?"

"I understand. Leaving your children for the first time is never fun, but soon enough you'll be happy to be doing what you love again."

"Yeah I know, that's what Brittany keeps saying, but it's easy for her to say when she still has a month."

"Oh come now honey S" Pierce said, using such an old nickname that Santana had to laugh. "You love to sing, and your job allows you such flexibility that soon enough you may be able to take the little buggers in with you." He grabbed her from Susan's side and gave her a crushing hug.

"Start them young" they said at the same time, making Susan roll her eyes.

"I missed you" Pierce said, laughing as he let her go.

"Your mami and poppy are so silly aren't they Jesús?" Susan asked.

"Are either of my parents going to come say hello to their favourite daughter?" Brittany yelled. Kyler yelled with her, and Santana couldn't wipe the smile off her face for anything.

"Honey B" Pierce yelled, Kyler yelled with him and Jesús laughed at the deep sound that was so rarely heard around their house. "You know I love you, if your mother would just let me pass, and your wife would stop holding on to me, I'd be by your side in a flash."

Santana laughed loudly, making Jesús giggle, and Susan just rolled her eyes.

"Your poppy is really really silly." She said, kissing him on the cheek again as Pierce walked past her.

"Are you holding any children?" they heard him yell.

"No" Brittany yelled back. He broke into a run. "Why-" her sentence was cut short by a loud scream.

"Shall we go see what my husband is doing to your wife?" Susan asked in a bored voice. Santana chuckled and nodded her head, denying Jesús' outstretched arms with a shake of her head. He pouted, but didn't cry.

When they entered the living room, it was to the sight of Brittany dangling from Pierce's shoulder, trying but failing to get down.

"Oh my god" Susan sighed.

"Dad, don't make me" Brittany yelled.

"Make you what?" he mocked her, swinging her around and dangling her even further down his back.

"Babe" Brittany shrieked. Santana rushed forward, picking up Kyler from the couch to make sure that whatever catastrophe that was sure to follow was not going to include him.

"I got him babe" she said, walking back to Susan's side.

"Dad, put me down, or I'm gonna have to get myself down" Brittany said. She seemed to have gotten over the initial shock of being hoisted in the air upside down, and Santana could see her eyes darting around the room. She could practically see the plan forming in her brain.

"I'd like to see you try." Pierce said. Having had Brittany at 20, Pierce was still very young, and he had definitely kept in shape. He towered over the women of his family, and could envelop every single one of them in his long arms and broad chest. He worked out often, so he was strong, exhibited by the fact that he was dangling his 25 year old daughter in the air, and didn't seem to be breaking a sweat. Santana didn't actually know who was going to win this. Pierce was strong and tall, and had several pounds on Brittany, but Brittany was nimble, and quick, and definitely had more strength than a lot of people would believe. Susan had watched her husband wrestle like this with Brittany since she was old enough to walk, and every time, Brittany seemed to get better and better at getting out of it. This time, she thought Pierce had bitten off more than he could chew. Brittany had that determined look in her eye that meant someone was probably going to be bleeding by the end of this game. She rolled her eyes in exasperation.

"Dad" Brittany warned one last time. "I don't want you to throw out your back." Pierce gasped, but Santana smiled, she knew that Brittany had said that purely to distract her father, and it had worked. Pierce loosened his grip on Brittany's legs as he craned his neck to look down at her in offense. In one quick motion Brittany pulled one leg from his hands, and wrapping it around his torso. She hoisted herself up- Santana licked her lips as Brittany's abs tightened. Now she was sitting on her dad's shoulders, one leg still over his shoulder, the other hooked awkwardly under his armpit and around his chest. She took one second to breathe, looking quickly at Santana.

'Careful' Santana mouthed, and Brittany just winked at her. The next moment, she was throwing all of her weight to her right, making sure her leg was gripping her father tight enough that she wouldn't fall. Pierce yelled, stumbling, removing his hand from Brittany's leg to try and hold on to something. Taking advantage of this, Brittany allowed herself to drop to her father's waist, wrapping both legs around him. She was now facing his front, her back brushing the floor. Pierce managed to finally get his balance, but it was too late, he looked down at Brittany, trying to decide what to do next, but Brittany used all her strength to simultaneously pull her father down to the ground, while twisting out of the way so he would not land on her. Susan screamed as Pierce landed on the floor, Brittany perched on his back grinning, but completely out of breath.

"Brittany!" Santana exclaimed. Jesús and Kyler were going mad with laughter. They were squirming to be put on the floor, clapping and screaming loudly. Susan shook her head. "Mr P are you okay?" Santana asked, walking down the steps and giving in to Kyler's request to be put down. "B get up" Santana said, beckoning Brittany forward. Pierce laughed, flipping on to his back once Brittany had stood up. His eyes were closed, but he was smiling in amusement, breathing just as heavily as Brittany.

"Pierce, you better be ok, or I'm going to be seriously pissed." Susan said, sitting on the couch directly in front of him. Brittany had walked to the kitchen, but now returned with a bottle of water, guzzling it quickly. She stood in the space between the living room and kitchen, looking down at everyone

"Dad?" she asked, sounding both worried and smug. Santana turned to her, trying to look disapproving, but unable to hide the fact that watching that had turned her on significantly. Brittany smirked.

"That…" Pierce said, still not opening his eyes, but lifting his arms to hold Kyler who had crawled on top of him and was bouncing up and down on his chest. He took a deep breath. "That, Brittany Susan, was damn fantastic." He cracked open one eye and grinned at her.

"Dios" Santana said, as Susan groaned and Brittany gasped. She jumped down onto the couched beside her mother, then onto the floor, handing her father the water.

"Dad you're bleeding" she said, no longer sounding smug. Pierce shook his head at the concerned look from the women around him.

"So that's what that taste is" he joked, taking a big gulp of water before resting his head on the floor and closing his eyes again.

"Dad I'm so sorry" Brittany said, not knowing what to do.

"Nonsense" Pierce said loudly, waving his hand. "That was the most amazing thing I've ever been a part of. Where did you learn to do that honey B?" he asked, opening his eyes again.

"I improvised a dance move. There's a way to do it properly so that no one is thrown off balance, or….or hurt…dad I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have-"

"Come now Brittany" her father said, groaning as he sat up. "It's not the first time either of us has been hurt in our little wrestling games. And we're always ok right?" Brittany looked uncertain.

"I for one, think that this needs to be the last of these matches." Susan said, apparently satisfied that her husband was ok, and turning her attention back to Jesús, who had stopped trying to get down. "One of these days one or both of you is going to get seriously hurt. Brittany isn't a little girl anymore Pierce."

"She'll always be my little girl" he said, winking at Brittany and then jumping to his feet. Brittany took this as a sign that he was actually ok, and her smug smile returned. Susan groaned and looked at Santana for help. Santana looked Pierce up and down.

"Do a jumping jack" she told him. He frowned, but did one anyway. Santana pursed her lips. "Do a squat" she said. He did one. "I think he's fine" she said to Susan. "And that seriously was fu-freaking awesome" she said, catching herself before she cursed. Brittany grinned at her and Pierce nodded, clapping Brittany on the back.

"My girl" he said proudly, giving her a proper hug. "I miss you so much everyday"

"I miss you too daddy" Brittany said, relishing in the way she was completely encased in her father's arms, feeling like a little girl. "I miss you too."

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"I can't believe we've gone this long without seeing our babies" Susan exclaimed, dropping her bags dramatically and crouching to pick one of the boys from where he stood clinging to Santana's leg. "You've grown a whole foot baby boy" she said, hugging him tightly to her chest.

"Wait don't tell us" Pierce said, walking in behind his wife and peering at the baby in her arms. He frowned in concentration, then looked proudly at Santana. "Kyler" he said confidently.

"Wrong dad" Brittany yelled from the living room. His face fell. Santana smiled sympathetically.

"I could have told you that" Susan said, finally pulling Jesús from her chest and kissing his cheek. He smiled at her.

"Oh yeah?" Pierce said sceptically, "And how would you have known that dear?" he said, looking at Santana.

"He let me hug him for far too long" Susan said. Santana smiled, rubbing her sons head as he stretched out his hands to her.

"Quédate con tu gammy mi amor" she told him, allowing Susan to pull her into a hug.

"How are you Santana?" she asked, releasing her.

"I'm good. Going back to work tomorrow, not looking forward to it but it has to be done you know?"

"I understand. Leaving your children for the first time is never fun, but soon enough you'll be happy to be doing what you love again."

"Yeah I know, that's what Brittany keeps saying, but it's easy for her to say when she still has a month."

"Oh come now honey S" Pierce said, using such an old nickname that Santana had to laugh. "You love to sing, and your job allows you such flexibility that soon enough you may be able to take the little buggers in with you." He grabbed her from Susan's side and gave her a crushing hug.

"Start them young" they said at the same time, making Susan roll her eyes.

"I missed you" Pierce said, laughing as he let her go.

"Your mami and poppy are so silly aren't they Jesús?" Susan asked.

"Are either of my parents going to come say hello to their favourite daughter?" Brittany yelled. Kyler yelled with her, and Santana couldn't wipe the smile off her face for anything.

"Honey B" Pierce yelled, Kyler yelled with him and Jesús laughed at the deep sound that was so rarely heard around their house. "You know I love you, if your mother would just let me pass, and your wife would stop holding on to me, I'd be by your side in a flash."

Santana laughed loudly, making Jesús giggle, and Susan just rolled her eyes.

"Your poppy is really really silly." She said, kissing him on the cheek again as Pierce walked past her.

"Are you holding any children?" they heard him yell.

"No" Brittany yelled back. He broke into a run. "Why-" her sentence was cut short by a loud scream.

"Shall we go see what my husband is doing to your wife?" Susan asked in a bored voice. Santana chuckled and nodded her head, denying Jesús' outstretched arms with a shake of her head. He pouted, but didn't cry.

When they entered the living room, it was to the sight of Brittany dangling from Pierce's shoulder, trying but failing to get down.

"Oh my god" Susan sighed.

"Dad, don't make me" Brittany yelled.

"Make you what?" he mocked her, swinging her around and dangling her even further down his back.

"Babe" Brittany shrieked. Santana rushed forward, picking up Kyler from the couch to make sure that whatever catastrophe that was sure to follow was not going to include him.

"I got him babe" she said, walking back to Susan's side.

"Dad, put me down, or I'm gonna have to get myself down" Brittany said. She seemed to have gotten over the initial shock of being hoisted in the air upside down, and Santana could see her eyes darting around the room. She could practically see the plan forming in her brain.

"I'd like to see you try." Pierce said. Having had Brittany at 20, Pierce was still very young, and he had definitely kept in shape. He towered over the women of his family, and could envelop every single one of them in his long arms and broad chest. He worked out often, so he was strong, exhibited by the fact that he was dangling his 25 year old daughter in the air, and didn't seem to be breaking a sweat. Santana didn't actually know who was going to win this. Pierce was strong and tall, and had several pounds on Brittany, but Brittany was nimble, and quick, and definitely had more strength than a lot of people would believe. Susan had watched her husband wrestle like this with Brittany since she was old enough to walk, and every time, Brittany seemed to get better and better at getting out of it. This time, she thought Pierce had bitten off more than he could chew. Brittany had that determined look in her eye that meant someone was probably going to be bleeding by the end of this game. She rolled her eyes in exasperation.

"Dad" Brittany warned one last time. "I don't want you to throw out your back." Pierce gasped, but Santana smiled, she knew that Brittany had said that purely to distract her father, and it had worked. Pierce loosened his grip on Brittany's legs as he craned his neck to look down at her in offense. In one quick motion Brittany pulled one leg from his hands, and wrapping it around his torso. She hoisted herself up- Santana licked her lips as Brittany's abs tightened. Now she was sitting on her dad's shoulders, one leg still over his shoulder, the other hooked awkwardly under his armpit and around his chest. She took one second to breathe, looking quickly at Santana.

'Careful' Santana mouthed, and Brittany just winked at her. The next moment, she was throwing all of her weight to her right, making sure her leg was gripping her father tight enough that she wouldn't fall. Pierce yelled, stumbling, removing his hand from Brittany's leg to try and hold on to something. Taking advantage of this, Brittany allowed herself to drop to her father's waist, wrapping both legs around him. She was now facing his front, her back brushing the floor. Pierce managed to finally get his balance, but it was too late, he looked down at Brittany, trying to decide what to do next, but Brittany used all her strength to simultaneously pull her father down to the ground, while twisting out of the way so he would not land on her. Susan screamed as Pierce landed on the floor, Brittany perched on his back grinning, but completely out of breath.

"Brittany!" Santana exclaimed. Jesús and Kyler were going mad with laughter. They were squirming to be put on the floor, clapping and screaming loudly. Susan shook her head. "Mr P are you okay?" Santana asked, walking down the steps and giving in to Kyler's request to be put down. "B get up" Santana said, beckoning Brittany forward. Pierce laughed, flipping on to his back once Brittany had stood up. His eyes were closed, but he was smiling in amusement, breathing just as heavily as Brittany.

"Pierce, you better be ok, or I'm going to be seriously pissed." Susan said, sitting on the couch directly in front of him. Brittany had walked to the kitchen, but now returned with a bottle of water, guzzling it quickly. She stood in the space between the living room and kitchen, looking down at everyone

"Dad?" she asked, sounding both worried and smug. Santana turned to her, trying to look disapproving, but unable to hide the fact that watching that had turned her on significantly. Brittany smirked.

"That…" Pierce said, still not opening his eyes, but lifting his arms to hold Kyler who had crawled on top of him and was bouncing up and down on his chest. He took a deep breath. "That, Brittany Susan, was damn fantastic." He cracked open one eye and grinned at her.

"Dios" Santana said, as Susan groaned and Brittany gasped. She jumped down onto the couched beside her mother, then onto the floor, handing her father the water.

"Dad you're bleeding" she said, no longer sounding smug. Pierce shook his head at the concerned look from the women around him.

"So that's what that taste is" he joked, taking a big gulp of water before resting his head on the floor and closing his eyes again.

"Dad I'm so sorry" Brittany said, not knowing what to do.

"Nonsense" Pierce said loudly, waving his hand. "That was the most amazing thing I've ever been a part of. Where did you learn to do that honey B?" he asked, opening his eyes again.

"I improvised a dance move. There's a way to do it properly so that no one is thrown off balance, or….or hurt…dad I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have-"

"Come now Brittany" her father said, groaning as he sat up. "It's not the first time either of us has been hurt in our little wrestling games. And we're always ok right?" Brittany looked uncertain.

"I for one, think that this needs to be the last of these matches." Susan said, apparently satisfied that her husband was ok, and turning her attention back to Jesús, who had stopped trying to get down. "One of these days one or both of you is going to get seriously hurt. Brittany isn't a little girl anymore Pierce."

"She'll always be my little girl" he said, winking at Brittany and then jumping to his feet. Brittany took this as a sign that he was actually ok, and her smug smile returned. Susan groaned and looked at Santana for help. Santana looked Pierce up and down.

"Do a jumping jack" she told him. He frowned, but did one anyway. Santana pursed her lips. "Do a squat" she said. He did one. "I think he's fine" she said to Susan. "And that seriously was fu-freaking awesome" she said, catching herself before she cursed. Brittany grinned at her and Pierce nodded, clapping Brittany on the back.

"My girl" he said proudly, giving her a proper hug. "I miss you so much everyday"

"I miss you too daddy" Brittany said, relishing in the way she was completely encased in her father's arms, feeling like a little girl. "I miss you too."