Santana Lopez was only eight years old when she developed her very first crush. She didn't have a crush on a famous celebrity, or even a boy band member, nope her first crush was on her baby sitter Quinn Fabray. Santana thought she was the prettiest person she ever saw other than her mother, and of course Cinderella. She was so excited when her mom and dad told her that Quinn was coming to baby sit her tonight; this is the reason why she is tearing through her closet trying to find the perfect thing to wear. After spending an hour trying to find something to wear, she finally decided on a black skirt, with white polka dotted leggings, and a black and white sweater, it was one of Quinn's favorite outfits. She looked at herself in long mirror in the corner of her room and smiled, she looked good. Santana was about to sit down at her vanity, when she heard her mother calling her to come down stairs.
"I'm coming mami!" Santana yelled as she ran down the stairs, almost sliding across the hardwood floor at the bottom of the stairs.
Maribel rounded the corner just in time to catch her daughter, "Mija, what did I tell you about running down the steps? You could have been hurt."
Santana gave her mom a sheepish smile, "Sorry mami, I will be more careful when coming down the stairs. Is Quinnie here yet?"
Maribel shook her head, "Not yet, why don't you go into the family room and watch cartoons until she comes." She gave her daughter a knowing smile. Maribel knew that her daughter had more than a little crush on Quinn, to her it was cute, but she didn't let Santana know that she knew.
"Okay mami." Santana easily agreed as she made her way to the family room and turned to the Disney Channel.
As soon as the theme song for Kim Possible started playing the doorbell rang. Santana hopped off the chair and made her way towards the door pushing her father out the way.
"I'll get it! It's probably Quinnie." She ran to the door and came to a stop as she fixed her hair and smoothed over her outfit. She opened up the door, and true to her guess, there was Quinn standing there.
"Hi munchkin! What did mom and dad tell you about opening the door without asking who it is first?" She playfully scolded the girl as she picked her up in her arms.
Santana frowned a little, "Not to open the door without asking who it is." She replied softly, "but to my defense, mami is right there." She pointed to where her mom was standing.
Unknowing to Santana her mom sent Quinn a playful wink. They knew the only time Santana was allowed to open the door without asking was if it was Quinn or Judy. Even if Kurt and Mercedes came by, her mom and dad would always answer the door.
"Santana, let Quinn come into the house, we want to talk to her too." Her father's voice floated through the room.
"Sorry papi. I was just so happy to see her." She replied as Quinn put her down. Santana was a little put out that Quinn had to put her down.
"Thank you for agreeing to do this on short notice. I hope you didn't have to cancel any plans to come watch Santana, Judy would have been more than happy to watch her." Xavier told the teenager standing before him.
Quinn gave a small smile, "I didn't have any plans tonight, besides I love watching my favorite girl." She replied, playing with a strand of Santana's hair. This caused Santana to look up and give Quinn a big smile.
"I'm going to finish getting ready. I will leave the two of you to it." Maribel excused herself and made her way upstairs followed by her husband, leaving the teenager and their daughter alone.
"What do you want to do munchkin?" She asked as she tickled Santana's sides.
Santana started laughing uncontrollably, she was very ticklish, and it was hard for her to talk. Quinn didn't let up on her assault, she loved hearing Santana laugh to her it's one of the cutest sounds ever.
"Quinni-ie stop no more." She squealed in delight, "I'm gonna pee on myself." She finally said, she knew that this would get Quinn to stop.
True enough Quinn stopped tickling her and let Santana catch her breath. Once Santana caught her breath, she touched Quinn, "Tag you're it!" She yelled as she took off running with Quinn hot on her heels.
Santana hid under the desk in her dad's office, she knew that is one place that Quinn would ever think to look. She could hear Quinn calling her name, but she didn't come out. She heard the footsteps on the carpet in her dad's office.
"Where can Santana be?" Quinn walked over to the little closet and opened it, "She's not in here. I guess I have to tell mom and dad that she disappeared. Then they will give away her room and all her toys." She looked all over the spacious room and walked out, she knew Santana was hiding under the desk, but wanted the little girl to think that she didn't know where she was.
Santana popped her head up from under the desk to make sure that Quinn wasn't still in there. When she saw that the room was empty she got up and made her way to the door, ready to sneak out, but she closed the door softly when she heard footsteps. Once the footsteps became lighter, Santana opened the door and she heard her parents and Quinn talking.
"I don't know where she could be. We were playing hide and go seek and she disappeared into thin air." She heard Quinn explaining to her parents.
"I'm sorry Quinn, since she disappeared; we don't need you to baby sit anymore." Her mother replied.
Santana gasped and opened up the door and ran into the kitchen where her mom and dad were.
"I'm right here! I didn't disappear; I was hiding under the desk. Please don't send Quinnie home." She pleaded with her parents.
Quinn came up behind Santana, "Gotcha munchkin!"
Santana crossed her arms with a scowl on her face, "That's not funny. I don't want you to go."
"I'm not going anywhere, you're stuck with me cutie." She reassured the girl.
Maribel smiled; those two were too cute for words sometimes. She was glad that Santana had taken a liking to Quinn and vice versa. It's not every day that she gets to see a big smile on her daughters face. Sure Santana smiled a lot, but she had a smile that was only meant for Quinn.
"Alright girls, we are getting ready to go." Xavier chimed in, he knelt down so that he was at Santana's level, "Santana, be good and listen to Quinn. She is in charge, not you." He told her, even though they both knew she knew this.
"I'm always on my best behavior for Quinnie." She told him sweetly.
He gave her a hug and a kiss on the nose, before standing up and doing the same with Quinn followed by a hug and kiss from Maribel. The two girls followed them to the door and once they were gone, Quinn locked the door and turned to face Santana.
"It's just you and me munchkin. Did you eat yet?"
Santana shook her head, "No, mami put the lasagna in the oven already. You just have to make the salad and the bread sticks."
Quinn smiled, "Why don't we go watch a movie until it's time for me to take the lasagna out."
"Can we watch The Little Mermaid?" She asked.
"Don't you ever get tired of watching that movie? There are more Disney movies you know?" Quinn asked her charge.
Santana shrugged, "Duh, I know there are different Disney movies but I like The Little Mermaid. Ariel is awesome; I love when she turns into a human."
Quinn just nodded her head in agreement and led Santana in the family room, where they sat on the couch and prepared to watch The Little Mermaid. Although, Quinn has seen this movie a million times already, she can't help but smile when Santana sings along to the songs and quote her favorite parts of the movie. She remembered what it was like to be that young and innocent.
The timer on the oven went off while Santana was singing "Kiss the Girl", Quinn got up and made her way to the kitchen she hoped Santana wouldn't notice that she was gone. She milled about the kitchen making the salad and warming up the breadsticks. She had to admit babysitting Santana brought her such joy. There was something about the little girl she just loves, plus it gives her a chance to do things, that a girl her age wouldn't be caught doing. Santana's so full of life and very mischievous, she was like a little sister she never had. The salad and breadsticks were done; all that was missing is Santana.
"Santana, dinners ready. Pause the movie and come eat." She called out into the family room.
Santana made her way to the kitchen, "Good. I am really hungry." She sat down at the kitchen table, as Quinn brought their plates to the table.
"What kind of salad dressing do you want munchkin?" Quinn asked, she already knew the answer.
Santana frowned, "Quinnie, you should know this already." She stated.
Quinn smiled, "I know munchkin, just wanted to see what you were gonna say." She poured a little ranch dressing over the little girl's salad. "Now eat up."
Quinn didn't have to tell Santana twice when the girl started eating her food. Santana is a hearty eater; nothing stands in the way of her and food. They made small talk about school, and other things.
Santana stopped eating and looked at Quinn, "Did you mean it when you told mami and papi that I was your favorite girl?"
Quinn swallowed her food and turned to Santana, "Of course you are. You're the only little girl in my life, and I wouldn't change it for the world." She gave Santana a reassuring smile.
Santana smiled, "You're my favorite babysitter. I don't want another one, just you."
Quinn smiled as her heart melted, "I'm glad. I would be hurt if you were to replace me." She joked.
They started eating again until Santana stopped again, "What's high school like?"
Quinn had to think about how she wanted to answer; Santana was still young so she had to think about how she was going to respond. She wanted to give an answer the girl could understand.
"High school is a lot different than elementary school. There are a lot of classes, there is no recess and the school is bigger. You'll see when you get older."
Santana furrowed her eyebrows, "I don't want to go to high school. I want to stay little forever, I will be able to play with my friends and have recess."
"When you get older you will probably think different. Now finish eating so you can get a bath, and we can finish watching your movie."
Santana crossed her arms, "I don't have to take a bath. I took one earlier, and I haven't been outside. I'm clean. Smell me." She leaned into Quinn so the other girl could smell her.
Quinn shook her head and stood firm, "You know the drill munchkin, bath, movie, and sundaes." She knew that Santana wouldn't protest to Quinn's famous sundae.
The smaller girl pushed her chair back and got up from the table, "We will have sundaes right? This isn't a bribe to get me to take a bath is it?"
Quinn tried not to laugh at the serious look Santana was giving her. She was so adorable trying to be intimidating. Quinn had a feeling that when Santana got older that glare would probably send people running, but for now it was just so damn cute.
"It's not a bribe, now get upstairs and get in the bath. I will be up there in a few minutes to wash your hair." Quinn got up from the table, taking the used dishes to the sink.
She watched as Santana turned and made her way upstairs. That little girl was going to be the death of her. Quinn went about straightening up the kitchen and washing the dishes. The Lopez house has always been a second home to her and she considered them family, and she knew that they considered her and her mom as family too. She was actually thankful that the family of three moved in when they did. They were her escape when things at home were bad between her mom and dad. Quinn shook her head to rid herself of the negative thoughts. The kitchen was cleaned and the bowls, spoons, and all the ingredients for the sundaes were placed on the counter. Quinn turned off the light and headed up the stairs to help Santana wash her hair.