This was the first Dantana I ever wrote. I didn't intend to continue it any longer than this but if you have any ideas message me on here or on tumblr (stay-strong-smile-forever) and I may keep it going:)

Santana walked into the apartment she shared with her two friends and collapsed on the couch. It had been a long night at work and she just wanted to go to sleep. Although it had been nice getting to do the graveyard shift with her girlfriend, Dani, she was still exhausted. Her eyes fluttered shut as she thought about the previous night. A sleepy smile crept onto her lips as she remembered…

"Dani, stop it!" Santana said between loud bursts of laughter.

The shorter girl rocked onto her tippy toes as she rested her chin on the taller girl's shoulder from behind, "Why should I?" She asked with a sly grin.

The dark-haired girl turned her head and met the girl's eyes, "Because I said so and I cannot be responsible for any injuries you will get if you keep tickling me!"

Dani smirked, "Are you gonna go all Lima Heights on me?"

The blonde's eyebrows raised as Santana's eyes narrowed. "I know you didn't just mock me." She said while slowly turning to face Dani. "You are SO asking for it tonight."

Dani's chin fell from the taller girl's shoulder as she turned. That's when she saw the devious look in the dark-haired girl's eyes, "Oh shit" she mumbled under her breath. She took a step back, and the dark-haired girl followed. Then another and the girl followed again. She went to take a final step back when her back hit the wall. Fear filled her eyes as she looked up from her feet to see the dark-haired girl take another step forward.

Santana shuffled her feet closing the last few inches between them, "You pushed me on the wrong night, Danielle."

The shorter girl tilted her head up to meet Santana's gaze, "Did I?" She slowly ran her fingertips up Santana's arms until she wrapped her hands around the taller girl's neck.

Santana felt a shiver shoot down her back at the gentleness of Dani's touch. Instinctively, she raised her hands from her side and pulled the blonde closer by her hips. "I think you did," Santana whispered into the girl's ear.

Dani shuddered as she felt the dark-haired girl's breath on her neck. Something about Santana always left her speechless. She watched Santana's eyes as she leaned forward closing the distance between their lips.

Just then Santana's phone rang snapping her out of her slumber. She reached forward and fumbled it as she brought it to her ear. "Hello?" she said her voice more raspy than normal.

A solemn tone on the other end answered, "Hello, is this Santana Lopez?"

Santana sat up straight, "Yes, what is this about?"

"I'm very sorry to inform you but your mother is in the hospital. She had a stroke a few hours ago."

The voice was interrupted, "Oh my God…" Santana gasped as the words hit her.

"Your father is here and she's stable but he told us to let you know. He didn't think he could tell you himself. We can tell you more once you get here. We usually don't give out information over the phone." The voice continued to talk in a serious tone which only worried Santana more.

"Okay, I'll be there as soon as I can. Thank you for calling me."

"No problem."

The phone beeped letting the girl know the call had ended. A few seconds later Santana felt her breath catch in the back of her throat. Tears welled up in her eyes as she inhaled harshly. She realized she still had her phone in her hands and unlocked it. She looked at the screen through blurred eyes and found the number she was looking for. She clicked it and waited as it rang.

"Santana what the hell are you—" Dani was interrupted by a loud sob.

"D…" her voice cracked.

"San, what's wrong?" The blonde was already out of bed and slipping into her shoes. It was a good thing she chose to wear sweatpants to bed tonight because there was no time to waste. Santana needed her.

"M-my mom…" she stuttered through the words as another sob escaped her lips.

Dani grabbed her keys off the table and slammed the door behind her. "Don't worry baby, I'm coming just hold on."

Santana nodded slightly, knowing the other girl couldn't see her. It didn't matter; it was all she could manage.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Dani jumped out of the car and took the steps two at a time. She knew how strong Santana usually seemed so this must've been something bad, really bad. It's a good thing she had worked the night shift with her because otherwise she would've been with Rachel and Kurt at work right now.

"San!" Dani shouted at the door as she knocked on it loudly.

The only response she heard was the sound of her girlfriend's strained breathing.

"San, open the door!"

The girl lay on the couch paralyzed by her mind.

Finally, the blonde stuffed her hand in the pocket of her sweatpants and found a bobby pin. Santana had taught her how to pick a lock after she complained about having to get up every time the blonde-haired girl would come over. She bent the bobby pin and fiddled with it for a few seconds before hearing the tumblers drop. She twisted the doorknob and pushed the door open. There she saw the girl curled with her knees against her stomach on the couch. She dropped her keys and shut the door behind her.

"San, it's okay," she said walking over and sitting next to her. "I'm here now, it's okay." She assured the girl as she rubbed her thigh. She felt Santana place her hand on top of her own. The girl's tear-filled eyes met hers. Her eyes glazed over with a pain Dani knew all too well. They pleaded for comfort, safety, anything to show that her world wasn't falling to pieces. Dani then slid behind Santana, her back pressed against the back of the couch. Almost instantly the girl turned and pressed her face against the blonde's neck. Dani slid her arms around the girl's waist, pulling her closer.

"Thank y-you…" Santana finally mumbled barely loud enough for the blonde to hear it.

"Hey," Dani said rubbing her back lovingly, "I got you. It'll be okay."

There was so much running through Santana's head. Her mom. Her dad. Lima. McKinley. Mr. Shue. Karovsky. She wasn't just crying because she was scared for her mom. She was crying because that small town in Ohio brought so much back. She was feeling the pain of the cold slushies every day. The even deeper pain of the words she made sure everyone knew 'didn't bother her.' Then there was Dani. Santana took a deep broken breath as she pulled her head back from the blonde's shoulder. The girl stared at her with those big brown eyes that had melted her heart from the beginning. Dani untangled an arm from her waist as she brushed the dark hair out of her eyes and tucked it behind her ear. She leaned down and kissed Santana's forehead before pulling her head back to lock their eyes again.

"Can you tell me what happened now, San?" She said softly as she rested her hand on the girl's cheek wiping the tears away with her thumb.

A breath caught in Santana's throat as she opened her mouth. "I…um…came home…and fell asleep on the couch," a smile flashed onto her face as she remembered what she had been thinking about. It then disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, "then a call woke me up. It was from a doctor." She saw the confused look in Dani's eyes and kept going, "My mom's in the hospital, D. She had a stroke. Before I left for New York we um…made this promise to each other. We said that we would both be okay until I came back to visit. And now, now she's not okay and I wasn't even there to do anything." A soft sob escaped her lips as she buried her face in the blonde's neck again.

Dani snaked her arm back around the girl's waist and continued to rub her back. "It's not your fault, San. It'll be okay."

Santana slowed her sobs as she attempted to control her breathing. She was too tired. Neither her nor Dani has slept in the past 24 hours. Her body was giving up on her. It was too tired to keep feeling all this pain. Finally, she stabilized her breathing. Dani noticed and gently pulled her arms back as she propped herself up on her elbow.

"Why don't we get you to bed? You need to rest."

Santana just nodded and slowly they both got up. Dani reached for the taller girl's hand and intertwined their fingers. She tugged her hand and pulled her towards her own bedroom. Once they stepped through the doorway Santana squeezed Dani's hand and she looked back at her.

"Will you stay with me?" She asked quietly. "I needs me some Dani cuddles right now."

Dani smiled. "There's my girl," she said grateful to hear some happiness had returned to Santana's voice. "Of course I'll stay."