When Brittany woke up that morning, the silence seemed almost overwhelming. It was everywhere, seeping through the walls and cracks in the door. She couldn't hear a single complaint or cry; only the melody of Santana breathing deeply against her came to her ears. It hit her quite violently, even if the silence wasn't even very exceptional. It was the same silence she had woken up to every morning since Sophia had grown up. They had celebrated her third birthday a few months ago and now, their little brown-haired and blue-eyed daughter was sleeping like a normal human being. Ten hours a night and, most importantly, ten hours straight. Forgotten were the dark circles around their eyes and the nervous breakdowns in the middle of the night they had know too well.

Brittany, just like Santana, had been so absorbed by their routine that she hadn't realized how fast time had passed. For the first time since Sophia had graced their lives, Brittany realized that their daughter was no longer an infant. She no longer required the same amount of care and had ceased to be as dependent on her moms nowadays. She was eating without help and they barely had to watch her during her bath. Suddenly, Brittany faced the fact that Sophia wouldn't need them as much as she had used to. She let her eyebrows furrowed slightly when she realized they were now about to tackle the age of Sophia experimenting things. Discovering the world was now something Sophia would be doing on her own. The feeling that, without them, Sophia couldn't live and function instantly vanished, like a cloud of smoke blown by the wind.

Brittany could have been sad or feeling melancholic by the thought. But to be honest, she wasn't. She really wasn't. Her baby was becoming a big girl and she was so proud. Proud of Sophia and proud of herself and Santana as parents for having taught and cared for Sophia until she'd reached this stage. Deep in thought, Brittany snuggled Santana more closely into her. She travelled far into her reverie, and listened to the silence for minutes that seemed like hours. This heavy silence that now made a lot of sense.

She thought about how it had once been. They'd been so used to waking up in a hurry for years, no cuddling time possible to embrace the day. They had been used to running around to make their daughter's bottle while one of them changed her diaper or tried to make her stop crying. It had once been a well timed routine they had forgotten by now.

Brittany kissed Santana's head gingerly. The alarm would ring in an hour. They would all start the day peacefully, around a breakfast during which Sophia would still be nodding off over. One of them would help Sophia dress for school, and they would all leave for work. It was as simple as it sounded. Santana would go to her studio. Carla, her ex-assistant, had became her coworker, her equal. Santana would leave quite early, like everyday, to go fetch their daughter at school and hence, she would leave to Carla the task of closing the studio at the end of the day. Brittany would take a little longer to come back home, depending on whether the scenes she was shooting for a new movie were fine or not. Another normal day. Another happy day in a stress-free life.

Santana moved in their embrace. She cleared her throat, welcoming her husky morning voice. Waiting for her to fully wake up, Brittany stroked her hair lovingly, peacefully.

"Hey..." Santana croaked, cuddling closer. Brittany's warm skin was much more comfortable than her own pillows.

"Sleep well?" Brittany whispered around a smile.

"Huh huh..." She answered, parting to stretch her arms, eyes closed so she would not have to admit she had to wake up at some point. As long as she kept her eyes closed, she was asleep.

She did all of this under Brittany's happy gaze. She yawned, making her bones crack, taking her time on every joint, every finger. A sweet dance she made every morning since, now Brittany realized, Sophia had stopped waking them up. Santana couldn't have been more content when, with eyes still tightly shut, she fell back in Brittany's arms like a light leaf or a feather falling to the ground. Minutes flew as Brittany waited for Santana to open her eyes and officially start the day. An infinity later it seemed, Santana tilted her head up and barely opened an eye; an enamoured black pupil around a smile, filling Brittany's heart with more tenderness.

They had time before the alarm clock blared like a gunshot through the peaceful silence. They didn't need to rush. Brittany made Santana fall on her back in a gentle move and leaned on her side, watching her wife slowly waking up to the world. Santana rubbed her eyes, her face, in the second act of her morning dance.

Brittany gazed at her. Right before her eyes was her wife. She traced the same black hair and tanned skin, with the added supplements of extra shy wrinkles at the corner of her eyes. On Santana's hands, which were rubbing her face gently, sat her engagement and wedding rings firmly stuck together, which had drawn over the years, a little hollow around her finger. The diamond which always fell on the side, had hardened the skin of her pinkie, where the rock used to rub. Brittany caught sight of all these little details routine had kept her from. Now that she had time to truly look at Santana they just became truly obvious.

The more Santana stretched, the more her shirt lifted across her stomach. It let appear her usual toned muscles, the ones that had never changed over the years. She was almost the same old Santana. She had just become a little more broad-hipped, the only trace of her pregnancy. And, even so, it was such a tiny change that probably only Brittany and Santana themselves would have noticed. And moreover, Brittany loved those curves. More than anyone could tell.

Brittany bit her lip, thoughtful. Cracking a smile, she took advantage of Santana enjoying her morning stretch, and grabbed one of the little pillows on the ground that they used to decorate their bed by day and removed by night. Softly, she put it on Santana's stomach. The brunette opened her eyes right away, surprised by the unusual gesture. Brittany shyly grinned at her, fingers nervously drumming on the fabric. She grabbed the end of her wife's loose shirt, and covered the pillow with it. She adjusted the shape to make it look more organic and then she leaned back on her side, beaming.

It woke Santana up like no bout of stretching ever could. Her mind was now fresh and ready, dizzy, as she stared at Brittany. She didn't even look down at the addition under her pyjamas. She knew the shape too well. In the secrecy of their bedroom, when she was alone, she might have slipped the same pillow under her shirt a couple of times. The round cushion that, when tight under a shirt, looked exactly like her old six or seven months pregnant belly, engraved deeply in her memories. Had she been remembering? Had she been dreaming about the future? Santana wasn't sure.

But the only thing that was sure, was that Brittany had witnessed it once and kept it quiet. She had obviously pondered on the act, trying to figure out what it meant. She had tried to resolve Santana's mind, the enigma of the entire thing. And then Brittany had understood, well... she had been dreaming too.

Brittany leaned on her elbow, waiting and grinning wide. Her wife couldn't stop drowning in her gaze. Santana looked like caught in her reverie, almost embarrassed by her secret gestures, which she wasn't sure were secret anymore.

Santana chuckled throatily, somewhat thrown. "Are you just wondering or are you... asking?"

Brittany smiled even wider, quiet and loving. Seconds melted as their stare intensified, speaking volumes without saying a word. Brittany bit her bottom lip, on the edge of giggling lovingly. Santana let out another chuckle, closing her eyes in a loving and thoughtful way. She mimicked stroking the fake bump and looked back. Brittany's grin didn't fade at all. Without a single word spoken to explain Brittany's train of thought, Santana knew. They were going to have a baby.

I'm back! Missed me? xD Finally, your perseverance has paid, I finally got some inspiration back to finally write this sequel. I hope you'll enjoy it :)