"Every mother's prayer
Every child knows
Lead her to a place
Guide her with your grace
To a place where she'll be safe."
- Céline Dion, "A Mother's Prayer"
Gabriella Lopez loved her daughter more than anything, even more than her husband who spent late hours every night at the hospital. It wasn't a shock, she supposed, when Santana came home crying and slammed the door behind her, not even making eye contact with her mother.
But Gabriella decided she was happy when the simple diversion of Santana's six year-old brother knocking over the milk in the kitchen occurred. She helped José clean up the spilled milk, which he was crying over, making her roll her eyes.
Finally, when José was satisfied at the table with his glass of milk and the milk securely back in the refrigerator, Gabriella faced herself with the dread of going upstairs and knocking on Santana's most likely locked door.
She climbed the stairs, her hands shaking - she wasn't used to giving comfort to her children, as they rarely needed it, but she wondered what somebody had done to put Santana in such a terrible state.
Gabriella could hear the wracking sobs pulsing through Santana's body at an inconsistent rate. She opened the door without knocking, surprised that it wasn't locked. She sat down on her bed, observing the dark room.
She heard the mumbled "get the fuck away" from the face in the pillows and almost laughed Santana's unusual vulnerable tone, but regardless, it didn't stop her from adding a sharp "Language, Santana!"
"Go away mom! I don't want to talk."
"Just know I'm here, Santana. I can't remember the last time we really talked."
Santana rolled her eyes, obviously annoyed with the fact that her mom was encroaching on her territory. "If you really want to, I guess," she said in her best bitchy tone, but her voice cracking completely broke the façade and tough walls.
Gabriella was clearly not wanted, but pressed on. "Something's clearly wrong, Santana. I want you to tell me."
"ItoldBrittanyIloveher..." Santana spoke as fast as she could, only to trail off at the end as a fresh tear fell down her tan cheek.
"What?" Gabriella asked sharply.
Santana took a deep breath, coated with tears. "I told Brittany that I love her. I'm gay. And then she rejected me...For Artie," she added with particular disgust.
Gabriella had to once more restrain a laugh as Santana shot her a glare. "I'm sorry honey, I know what it's like to get your heart broken, that's all? Oh, honey, I've known for ages. You and Brittany are so much closer than normal friends. You know, these walls aren't soundproof."
"Shit!" Santana muttered.
"Language, Santana!"
Santana's voice completely wavered as she asked her next question. "You're not going to kick me out?"
Gabriella took Santana into a hug and breathed in her scent as she hummed a soft song in her ear. Santana leaned into her mother's chest and inhaled deeply, trying to keep the last tears from falling.
"I love you, Santana. I know that beneath your exterior, you love me. I love you no matter what," Gabriella murmured into her daughter's ear.
Santana half-smiled under her mother's embrace. "I know."