Santana felt tears sting in her eyes as she sung. She took around the room to all the people who meant everything. She looked to her Brittany, her beloved, the love of her life who held their sleeping child Alexandra in her arms while, their son Tommy ran around doing his best to cheer everyone up. That was Tommy, exactly like Brittany, never wanting anyone to be sad. They didn't understand what was happening. They were too young to grasp what it meant to lose someone you care about. They never knew their Abuela and they didn't know their Abuelo well enough to understand what had happened to him. They believe he had gone on a trip, they don't understand that he's never coming back. She feels a single tear roll down her face at that thought. The man who spent days teaching her to ride a bike, to swim, the man who spent nights holding her as she cried when people were mean to Brittany, the night he spent promising her everything would work out between her and Brittany. He was right. She smiled sadly through her tears at that. He was always right.

"Wind blowin' on my face,

Sidewalk flyin' beneath my bike,

A five year old's first taste,

Of what freedom's really like."

She glanced around the room again. Quinn. She sat with her head bowed unable to look at Santana, unable to look at the look of unhealable sadness that would surely be on her friends face. She glanced up, catching Santana's eye and smiled slightly, reassuring her that she would be there through everything. Puck sits beside her, tears flowing freely from his eyes. The father of my children. He understands. He's been part of the family since they were born. He lost him too. Not in the same way but as a role model. He lost him as the man who had taught him to respect everyone no matter what. That no matter who they are everyone deserves respect.

"He was runnin' right beside me,

His hand holdin' on the seat,

I took a breath and hollered as I headed for the street.

You can let go now Daddy,

You can let go.

Oh I think I'm ready,

To do this on my own."

Rachel sits with Finn in the corner, catching Santana's eye as her eyes flick over to them. Although split up, they are friends, more than that they are equals. They take comfort in that. Although they didn't know the man well, they know how hard it will be. They won't expect anything. She'll need that. The only people she has left who won't expect her to talk about it, to move on. They'll let her do it her way, the only way she's been shown how to express feelings. Through song.

"It's still a little bit scary,

But I want you to know,

I'll be ok now Daddy,

You can let go."

That's what this is about. His memorial. She sorted it herself, she knew him the best, she didn't trust anyone else to make these decisions, this is part of her process, she has to deal with it. She has to be strong like she promised her father. He is the man who gave her away to Brittany at her wedding but still hesitated although he had known Brittany all his life because he didn't want Santana to get hurt.

"I was standing at the altar

Between the two loves of my life

To one, I've been a daughter

To one, I soon would be a wife

When the preacher asked

"Who gives this woman?"

Daddy's eyes filled up with tears

He kept holding tightly to my arm

'Til I whispered in his ear."

Kurt and Mercedes sit in silence, watching her with tears rolling down their cheeks as they listen to the words. They won't understand until it happens to them. She knows that but she wouldn't wish it on anybody. They'll do anything but it is them that will get her to talk before she's ready. That's why she'll avoid them. Not because she doesn't like them, because she has to. To help herself move on.

You can let go now, daddy, you can let go

Oh, I think, I'm ready to do this on my own

It's still feels a little bit scary but I want you to know

I'll be okay now, daddy, you can let go."

Tina and Mike are sat with Brittany, holding her as she cries. It is Santana's job, but she can't. They understand and they will help her in any way they can. Particularly with Brittany and the kids. It's what she needs and the only way they know how to help.

Will Shuester is there. Sat near the entrance, he is watching her. He's lost parents, he knows the grief she will go through but doesn't know the strength she will feel it. He'd lost touch before she has never been without her father. He's been there for everything. Artie sits with him, Sugar at his side, unable to move further in, the jealousy is long gone from his eyes. Replaced with love and regret. Pity is there too but she chooses to ignore it. They all know she doesn't want pity. She wants understanding. She wants people to be there for her family while she can't be wholly, not until she can let go. The song is part of the process. The song she spent hours writing, to show how she is feeling, she knows she would have handled this differently once, but not now. She can't wallow in her grief. She has a family to protect now, just like her father had done for her.

"It was killing me to see the strongest man I ever knew,

Wasting away to nothing in that hospital room,

You know he's only hanging on for you,

That's what the night nurse said.

My voice and heart were breaking

As I crawled up in his bed and said,"

Matt is there too. Although he had transferred during high school, he is still my cousin. The only one who actually still speaks to me now but we have always been close. In reality he's my cousin, but in my heart he will always be my brother. He lived with us for most of his life, for him it's like lost his father too in losing mine, the only father he has truly ever known. She thinks of the two of them, playing together as kids, never wanting to be separated. Even in her father's hospital room they had stayed together, each refusing to leave, nurses often found them in the room; Santana curled up at her father's side while Matt sat in the chair holding their hands tightly. When Santana wasn't on the bed she was curled up tightly in the chair with Matt. The pair's hands clasped together until they whispered the words they knew he needed to hear, although the worst thing they had ever had to say. They know, as he will have known, they will never truly be the same but they will look out for each other and they will always be ok.

"You can let go now Daddy,

Your little girl is ready,

To do this on my own,

It's gonna be a little bit scary,

But I want you to know,

I'll be ok now Daddy,

You can let go,

You can let go."

A.N. Ok I'm hoping everyone liked it... it's my first time writing something like this so please R&R it would mean a lot to know what everyone thinks about this. The song I used was, 'You Can Let Go Now Daddy' By Crystal Shawanda. It's an amazing song although sad. I reccommend it actually it is an extremely good song and she is an extremely good singer. This story came to me from listening to this song, it's where I got my inspiration actually. I listened to it for the first time today and it meant a lot to me actually. :) Sorry enough of my rambling. This is a one-shot for now but let me know if you think I should continue it. I'm going to make a bunch of one-shot's like this I think, maybe not all about Santana losing her father but maybe about other hard things that can go on in people's lives. Let me know if you think I should write more one-shot's :) PM me :)

A.