Living in New York with her girlfriend Brittany Pierce, Santana and her daughter Emily laugh together playing Twister with Rachel Berry and Kurt Hummel. Emily Lopez is four, and was a mistake but a beautiful one at that.
"And here is Danielle Taylor, Camp Rock's sixteen-year-old super teen superstar." The DJ on the radio announces before playing Danielle Taylor's Camp Rock song she won performing.
"I LOVE HER!" Emily drops everything and starts to sing along to every word. Santana is twenty-years-old along with her best friends and girlfriend. Emily has heard the song fifteen times and has become a huge fan. Santana honestly loves her music too. She looked her up on Youtube where her original songs her friends and family recorded her singing and performing at Camp Rock over the last two years.
At the end of the song, Emily frowns before listening to what the radio host has to say.
"And that was Danielle Taylor and her first ever hit. She is performing here in New York in three weeks at the stadium. And she's opening for the Yankees game new week."
"Mommy, can you get tickets for my birthday?" Emily begs Santana who laughs.
"We'll see."
On Emily's birthday a week later, Emily got two front row tickets and back stage passes to meet Danielle Taylor. She even got meet and greet passes. Santana went full out for Emily's fifth birthday.
"I love you mommy." Emily squeals hugging Santana tightly.
"I love you too." Santana whispers.
Santana is in a down mood because she caught Brittany having sex with Sam Evans. Sadly Santana didn't have the chance to end it with her. She wants to do it face to face.
"Hey baby." Brittany greets sitting down and pulling Santana into a kiss but Santana stops her.
"I'm furious with you." Santana states, "And right now in front of my daughter is not a good time."
"What's wrong?"
"Not here." Santana gets up and storms into her's and Emily's room where Emily is playing and closes the door lightly.
"What's wrong mommy?" Emily asks.
"Mommy and Brittany are fighting."
"Again?"
"Yes."
"She hurts you mommy."
"I know."
"Break up with her."
"Why do you say that?"
Emily smiles sadly, "You hurt too much."
After Emily goes to bed that night, Santana and Brittany are in the kitchen as Rachel and Kurt, who lives with them, are gone to work.
"We're over." Santana states leaving no room for arguing, "I caught you cheating on me with Sam yesterday."
"San," Brittany starts.
"No. It's over. Yesterday was the last time. I don't even know why I stayed with you after the first time you cheated on me in High School."
"Because you love me."
"Loved."
"You don't love me anymore?"
"I love Emily. I love Rachel. I love Kurt. I'm always hurt by you. So no." Getting up, Santana walks into her room feeling like a heavy weight has been lifted from her chest. Locking her door, she crawls into bed and cuddles up to Emily.
It is the day of the concert and Emily is beyond excited. Carrying her slushie as she and Santana walk outside seeing a van pull up, Emily forgets about her slushie and gets excited seeing Danielle step out of the catering van. Running up to her, the slushie slips from her tiny hands and splashes into her dark hair and all over her shirt.
Hearing a cry close to her, Danielle turns seeing a little girl and an older girl run over.
"Oh sweetie, are you okay?" Danielle asks noticing the fallen slushie and her shirt and hair.
"She got over excited seeing you." The older girl answers picking up the crying girl.
"She can have my Camp Rock shirt. It will be big on her though." Not taking 'no' for an answer, Danielle climbs into the van and pulls out the shirt and a hair tie, "Come in."
Climbing in, the older girl removes the soaked shirt and slips the Camp Rock shirt over the sniffling girl's head.
"Would you like to wash her hair?" Danielle offers.
"That would be great. Oh, I'm Santana, and this little princess is Emily."
"It's nice to meet you both." Danielle smiles, "Just start washing her hair in the sink there and I'll grab a towel."
Doing what she is told, Emily lays on the counter on her back, letting her mom wash her hair. After drying her hair, Emily gives Danielle a hug around her neck before getting Santana to pick her up.
"Are you here for the meet and greet?" Danielle questions.
"Yep." Emily nods, "We also have backstage passes. They were for my birthday."
"Wow. You are a very lucky girl, Emily. You both should head in, I have to catch up to my mom and head in."
"It's nice meeting you." Santana smiles.
"You too."
At the meet and greet, Danielle answers questions and spots Emily and Santana sitting quietly. As the questions stop, Danielle smiles.
"This one little girl's birthday present was tickets to the concert and I hope I don't let her down. So the whole concert goes out to her. Right Emily?" Danielle looks straight at Emily. All the other fans turn to see the little girl smiling and nodding.
As the concert begins, Emily wears earplugs to cover the screaming just like Santana. As Danielle begins to perform, Emily cheers and climbs onto Santana's lap to get a better view.
Before performing her hit single, Danielle whispers to her security guard and asks for him to ask Santana if Emily could come up on stage.
"Now, I'm going to perform my hit single, but first I want to see if my little friend, who's birthday just passed, is allowed to come up and sing with me." Danielle waits and smiles seeing Santana finally nod and allow the security guard to lift Emily up on stage.
As the song begins, Danielle could tell Emily is terrified so she sets the mic on the stand and lifts her into her arms. Singing softly and allowing Emily's voice to overpower her's, Danielle is surprised hearing the Spanish accent faintly. Because her single is the closing number, Danielle wishes everyone good night and a thank you.
Backstage, Danielle keeps Emily close, knowing it's what Santana would want. As her fans, that's such a weird term in Danielle's eyes, come up to her and tells her it's a great show and gets a picture with her, along with an autograph, they turn to Emily.
"Happy belated birthday, cutie. You're such a lucky girl." A fan speaks to Emily. Emily blushes and hides her face in Danielle's neck.
"I want mommy." Emily whispers to Danielle as they leave.
"She'll be here soon." Danielle promises. While they are alone, Danielle sits down with Emily on her lap holding her close, letting her doze off as they wait.
"I'm sorry, backstage pass hours are over." Danielle hears a security guard speak. Looking up, Danielle stands up to see whom he is talking to.
"She has my daughter." Danielle recognizes the voice. Santana.
"Let her through." Danielle steps in walking over.
"Are you sure?" He asks.
"I have her daughter." Danielle states. The man nods and stands behind Danielle, making her roll her eyes.
"Mommy!" Emily smiles now wide awake seeing Santana in the dark.
"Hey superstar." Santana takes Emily from Danielle and hugs her close, "Thank you for taking care of her."
"It's no problem." Danielle grins.
"How could I return the favour?"
"Well, I really don't want to go home with my mom and see my dad. I know it's a lot to ask and we just met," Danielle starts to rant.
"Danielle Taylor, get to the point." Santana chuckles.
"Could I crash at your place?"
"I could be a serial killer."
"Then why do you have a daughter?"
"Why would a superstar like yourself, would like to sleepover at my place?"
"I could explain that later? Here is not a good place. And it's not for young ears."
"Please mommy?" Emily asks listening to the full conversation. Giving Santana her famous puppy dog pout and eyes, Emily wins the battle.
"Hey mom!" Danielle calls out earning herself her mom's full attention, "I'm sleeping over at a friend's house."
"Will there be boys?" Her mother asks. Danielle turns to Santana who nods.
"Yes."
"Will there be alcohol?" Danielle rolls her eyes but looks to Santana who shakes her head.
"No."
"Will there be girls?"
"No kidding."
"Danielle." Her mother says her name strictly.
"Mother." Danielle returns.
"I can say no."
"And I would go anyways."
"Don't make me call the police on you again."
"That was ten times and for running away. That's because I can't deal with the Master."
"Danielle." Her mother growls.
"I'm leaving and that's that."
"Are you going to stay in New York?"
"Yes."
"Fine, go." Following her mother to the van, Danielle grabs her overnight bag and packs it with some clothes before grabbing Emily's forgotten shirt and slipping it into her bag as well along with her Camp Rock bear that she plans to give to Emily. Hey, she has another one in her bag. Following Santana to the car, Danielle hops into the front passenger seat and buckles up throwing her black hair into a ponytail. Danielle's middle name is Michelle or as her friends from Camp Rock called her, Mitchie.
As Santana climbs into the front seat, Danielle hears Emily's voice.
"What's in your hand, Danielle?" Emily asks.
"Something for you. But do you think you could wait until you get home?" Danielle questions as Santana drives.
"Okay."
"By the way, just call me Dani. Danielle is too formal and drives me crazy. It's like getting yelled at by your parents." Dani tells Emily and Santana.
"Dani? Like that?" Emily asks.
"Yes."
"I like it better."
"I do too."
Halfway through the drive, Emily falls asleep and Santana and Dani talk about Santana's roommates, Rachel, Kurt and Brittany.
"It sounds like Brittany hurt you by the tone of your voice." Dani admits, "And I don't mean to pry."
"Brittany's my ex." Santana whispers shyly.
"Does your daughter know?"
"Yes."
"Good. That means I have the right to glare at her. So what does she look like so I glare at the right one?"
Santana snorts, "Brittany is blonde and Rachel is brunette."
"Big difference, so I'm good." Dani grins happy she made Santana smile.
Pulling up to parking lot, Santana parks the car before unlocking the doors. Following Santana up the stairs, Dani is happy she is wearing converse with her dress and tights that go to her knees.
Arriving to a door, Santana knocks on it before watching it slide open revealing Rachel.
"Oh my gosh." Rachel gasps seeing Dani next to Santana, "You're, you're, you're,"
"Dani." Emily answers rubbing her eyes.
"Come on in." Santana places her right arm around Dani's shoulders leading her into the apartment.
"Wow. Bigger than my whole house." Dani comments.
"Seriously?" Rachel asks closing and locking the door.
"Yeah. We live on the poor side of New York."
"But you're famous now." Dani shakes her head.
"The money helps us keep the house and put the food on the table, but we only touch it when we need it." Dani explains, "It's really for putting me through High School and college."
"Dani?" Emily asks. Dani turns to the tired five-year-old to see her pointing at the bear.
"Oh, this is for you." Dani hands her the bear and Emily accepts it.
"Really?"
"Really. When I go to Camp Rock again, maybe if it's okay with your mom, you both could come with me."
Emily's eyes widen with a huge smile as Santana stares at Dani in shock.
"Em, it's passed your bedtime." Santana whispers making Emily frown.
"But Dani is here." Emily groans grumpy.
"I'll be here in the morning." Dani promises.
"Really?"
"Really."
"Okay mommy. Sleepy time."
Once Emily is in bed, Santana sits on the couch with Dani, who still has her bag. Rachel joins them in the armchair and Santana tells Rachel how they met Dani.
"Awe, that's cute." Rachel smiles as Dani and Santana both finish each other's sentences, "And you two are cute. Finishing each other's sentences like you did." Dani blushes as Santana groans.
"You are not playing lesbian matchmaker." Santana laughs blushing as well.
"So what if I am?"
"One, Dani's famous and two, she's underage. And three, she might not even be a lesbian." Dani opens her mouth to answer but no words come out.
"You're only twenty, Santana."
"I'm not famous." Dani corrects.
"Yes you are." Rachel and Santana look at her, laughing.
"I'm not that younger than you guys." Dani gives up the 'I'm not famous' argument.
"By four years."
"Actually three. I turn seventeen in a week."
"And Santana just turned twenty a month ago." Rachel grins, "Now, are you straight, bisexual or a lesbian?"
Santana rolls her eyes, "She doesn't have to answer that."
Dani bites her lip before answering, "Do you promise to keep it quiet?"
"Yes." Rachel and Santana nods.
"I'm in the closet."
"You're a lesbian?" Santana concludes. Dani nods softly looking down at her lap, "Have you been kissed or had a girlfriend?"
"Yes. My parents flipped and moved us to New York from Indiana. I then had a summer fling pretending to be straight my first year at Camp Rock. I then became a rebel, doing drugs and alcohol, selling them both and my body to make money to help my parents. Neither cared until I ended up pregnant and stole my dad's credit card to pay for an abortion. I was stupid and only fourteen.
"Last year I came out to my parents as a lesbian and they literally locked me in the closet for a week and wouldn't let me out until I said I would become straight again. I lied because I know I can't. Then came Camp Rock and me getting signed to a record company. My parents cannot touch the money I make. I made that clear because I know they would just take it all and leave me broke and living in the streets.
"With my parents you have to literally watch out. My dad is an alcoholic and a workaholic. My mom is a drug dealer and a drug abuser. When I was ten, she would inject me with heroin to the point my neighbour found me passed out in front of their house on my way home from school and rushed me to the hospital. My mom was arrested and we lost the house because of her bail.
"Short version to the story, my parents are addicts and abusive." Looking up with tears falling, Dani could see Rachel and Santana's shocked faces. Santana moves closer to Dani and pulls her into a hug. Rachel gets up and sits on the armrest of the couch and hugs Dani tightly.
The next morning, Emily awakes to find herself in the middle of the bed. Sitting up, she spots her mom on her right and on her left is Dani. Squealing, Emily stands up and jumps on the bed waking up the sixteen-year-old and the twenty-year-old.
"You stayed!" Emily squeals tackling Dani with a hug making Dani laugh.
"I promised." Dani whispers tired and hugging Emily back.
As Emily watches Saturday morning cartoons, Santana originally had Dani sitting at the table but Dani keeps getting up to help cook breakfast so Santana finally gave up.
"Morning, Emily, San." A new voice greets, "Unknown person." Dani turns to see the blonde hair girl, Brittany.
"Brittany." Dani nods surprising the girl.
"How do you know my name?" Brittany asks.
"I heard about you."
"Morning, Em, Santana, Dani." Rachel smiles walking out of her room, "Brittany. Who made breakfast?" Rachel spots the food on the table and picks up Emily.
"Dani and I. She wouldn't stay at the table." Brittany and Rachel freezes looking at Dani and Santana shocked.
"What?" Dani asks.
"No one goes near Santana when she's cooking. Only Em." Rachel explains.
"I don't get it."
"I was called Satan in High School. Still am." Santana clears up, "I wasn't very nice until I came out of the closet."
"Oh." Dani nods, "So a bully in a way."
"Very much so."
"Morning everyone." Kurt walks out in his pyjamas like the rest of them. Kurt freezes seeing Dani sitting next to Santana and Rachel, in his chair, "Oh my gosh."
Emily giggles pointing at Dani, "Her name is Dani. She likes it better."
"Hi, I'm Kurt." Kurt introduces himself sitting down at the end of the table.
"Dani, just like Emily said." Dani smiles.
"Who cooked?"
"Santana and Dani." Rachel answers shocking Kurt again.
"Wow, you're a miracle worker, Dani." Kurt chuckles.
"Don't know how." Dani blushes not used to compliments.
"Can we eat now?" Brittany asks ruining the calmness and bringing the awkwardness.
As they eat in silence, Emily talks about Dani's concert like crazy bringing up her excitement again and showing off the t-shirt she's still wearing.
"It was so good!" Emily finishes, "Hey mommy, we left my old shirt behind."
"No you didn't, it's in my bag." Dani reveals, "And I had it cleaned while the concert was going on."
"You didn't have to do that." Santana replies.
"I wanted to." Dani smiles looking from Santana's eyes to her lips and back. Santana starts to lean in.
"I have to go to work." Brittany interrupts Santana and Dani's moment. Dani mentally shoots Brittany in the head and becomes a wanted murderer. But if it's to taste those lips, it's worth it.
Doing dishes with Santana as Rachel and Kurt gives Dani hugs before leaving to go food shopping, Santana puts bubbles on Dani's head and Dani throws water at the older girl. Wrestling for the hose, Dani turns it on and sprays Santana with it making the older girl laugh and gives Dani a wet hug. Breaking the hug, they don't notice Emily peeking around the corner on her knees with her fingers crossed.
As they move in, Dani's cell phone rings on the counter. Emily groans quietly and leans back against the wall with a frown.