What Really Matters

Shaking her head Santana went to move back towards her tables, but jumped back in shock when she saw Dani standing right in front of her "Jesus Christ you scared the crap out of me, what are you a freaking mime or something?" Santana said taking a deep breath.

Dani laughed "No I'm a musician" Santana noticed how Dani's eyes moved towards the table where Ryan was sitting with her friends "So I think there may have been something you forgot to mention earlier" she said with a soft smile.

Santana laughed nervously as she looked down at her feet "It's a really long and complicated story" she said.

Dani smiled softly "How about this, I take you out for coffee after work and we can get to know each other a little better?" Dani asked.

"Oh uhh…well…I" Santana started to say but was cut off by Rachel interrupting her.

"She would love to" Rachel said with a large smile.

"But Ryan" Santana started to say yet again but was cut off.

"He's staying with Kurt and I, he wanted to have a sleep over and you know I can never say no to him, plus tomorrow's the weekend, which means Kurt and I have no school or work so we'll keep him for breakfast as well" Rachel said with a smile "Your welcome" she said before skipping away.

Dani smirked "Well that's settled, so what do you say about that coffee after work"? Dani asked again.

Santana smiled "Yeah I'd love to" she said.

Dani smiled "Good" she said before going to a couple who had just sat down in her section.

Shaking her head Santana moved towards the table where Ryan, Kurt, and Blaine were sitting "Hey baby, you going to stay with Uncle Kurt and Aunt Rachel tonight?" Santana asked Ryan.

Ryan smiled nodding his head "Yeah is that okay mommy?" he asked.

Santana smiled ruffling the little boys hair "Yeah baby that's okay with me, I'll call your dad in a little bit and tell him to call Aunt Rachel so he can talk to you tonight okay" Santana said.

Ryan's smile got even wider "Yay it's a daddy night" he said excited.

Santana laughed kissing the little boys head "Okay mijo I'm going to go finish up a couple of things before I get off work, and then I'll walk you out with Uncle Kurt, Uncle Blaine and Aunt Rachel" Santana said.

"Okay mommy" Ryan said.

Thirty minutes later Santana had just gotten off work, she was in the back throwing her apron in the dirty clothes when Dani stood next to her, her apron gone and a guitar strapped across her back "You ready for that coffee?" she asked with a smile.

Santana smiled "Yeah, just let me say good night to Ryan and then we can go" Santana said as she grabbed her stuff.

"He's a really cute kid, how old is he?" Dani asked as they walked back out front.

Santana smiled "He turns four in two months".

"Wow, I'll uhh meet you outside" Dani said as she headed for the door.

Santana smiled as moved towards Ryan who ran into her arms lifting the little boy up she kissed his cheek "You excited for your night?" she asked.

Ryan nodded his head "Yup, did you call daddy?" he asked.

Santana nodded "I did he's going to call your Aunt Rachel at seven thirty just like he always does. You remember the rules for when you go to Aunt Rachel and Uncle Kurts?" Santana asked.

Ryan nodded "Yup I have to be on my best behavior, no throwing tantrums and I have to take my bath and go to bed on time" Ryan repeated.

Santana smiled kissing him one more time as they walked out of the diner "Good job mijo, you be good for Uncle Kurt and Aunt Rachel okay? I love you mijo" she said.

Ryan nodded his head "Luv you to mommy" he said as Santana set him down, he immediately running to Rachel who picked him up.

Santana smiled "I'll probably join you guys for breakfast and then we'll do our normal Saturday routine" she said to Rachel and Kurt who nodded.

"Sounds good San, now go enjoy your coffee date and have some fun" Kurt said pushing her towards Dani.

Ryan giggled "Yeah mommy go endoy your date" he said to her.

Santana shook her head stepping away from them "Don't compeltey corrupt my child please" she said.

"Don't worry we won't corrupt him too much, we know you reserved that right" Rachel called out as they started walking away.

Santana laughed as she stopped next to Dani "I'm hoping you know a coffee place that's still open because all the ones I regularly go to are closed" Santana said.

Dani smiled as she stood up "Don't worry I know the perfect place, and it's not far from here" she said.

Dani started walking and Santana followed eventually falling into step with girl, "So I know your name is Danielle but what's your last name? And why do you go by Dani?" Santana asked trying to start a conversation.

"My last name is Collins, and I'd rather be called Dani because Danielle is just too common and boring, I never liked it, even as a kid" Dani said. "What's your last name?"

Santana laughed "Only the most common Spanish speaking name you can think of, my last name is Lopez" she said.

Dani laughed "Well that is extremely common, but it fits you, plus I like your name I can come up with so many nicknames from it".

Santana groaned "I swear to god if you call me Tana I will never speak to you again".

Dani lifted her hands in fake surrender "Noted never call you Tana" Dani said stopping in front of a small coffee shop, holding open the door Dani motioned for Santana to go in first. Inhaling deeply Santana immediately relaxed at the smell of coffee. Dani led them to a small table in the corner by the window "What would you like?" she asked.

Pulling out her wallet Santana started to answer but Dani cut her off "No I got this don't worry about it, I asked you to come here with me, so I'm paying, what kind of coffee do you like?" Dani said with a smile.

"Umm just a caramel latte" Santana said, whenever she went out on a date or whatever this was she always ended up paying for herself or even the entire thing.

Dani smiled before moving towards the counter, telling the barista their order, Santana stared out the window watching as people walked by. She couldn't help thinking about Ryan, even though she knew he was in great hands she couldn't help but worry that something would happen to him. When she had to return to school six weeks after Ryan was born, Santana almost had a panic attack but her mother told her that was something every mom went through and it never went away, and she was right, Ryan was almost four and Santana still had a hard time leaving him with anyone who wasn't her.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Dani setting her coffee down in front of her as she took the seat across from Santana "Sorry I didn't mean to interrupt your deep thoughts" Dani said.

Santana smiled "It's okay, I need the distraction anyways" she said taking a drink of her coffee.

Dani grinned "Do I count as a good distraction?" she asked.

"Yes a very good distraction" Santana said with a grin.

"Good" Dani said as she took a drink of her coffee "So I already know that your gay, had an ex-bisexual girlfriend, your parents took you being gay pretty good but your grandmother didn't, and that you have an adorable three year old son, and that your incredibly beautiful, tell me some more about you Santana Lopez" Dani said.

Santana blushed at the complete, something that never happened to the Latina "What do you want to know?" she asked.

"Everything" Dani said simply a grin forming on her face.

"Well I'm from a really small town in Ohio, where I was a cheerleader and in Glee club along with Rachel, Kurt and Kurt's fiancé Bliane as well as some of my other really good friends. I love to sing and dance even though I don't do them as often as I used to, and I really want to become an actress, I do some commercials here and there, but there nothing big" Santana said starting off with the basics of her life "What about you Dani Collins?" she asked.

"Well I'm from Texas, and when my parents found me making out with a girl I grabbed my guitar some clothes and all the money I had and bought a bus ticket for New York. I waitressed at the diner for about a year and a half, when I had a really bad break up I ran and spent some time exploring Europe, eventually I realized that I missed New York so I came back. I love to sing and write songs, and I'm hoping to make it big someday but right now I'm pretty content with just waitressing and playing small gigs around the city" Dani said.

"Is that why you carry your guitar around with you?" Santana asked.

Dani smiled "Yeah I never want to miss an opportunity to perform. If you love singing and dancing so much why don't you do it very much anymore?" Dani asked.

Santana looked down at the worn scratched up table "Having a three year old makes it kind of hard to always do the things you love. I still sing, put it's mostly to help Ryan fall asleep when he's scared or sick, or just playing around our apartment" Santana said.

Dani smiled "Sing with me" she said.

"What?" Santana asked shocked.

"Sing with me, right here, right now, they have a stage here, and as long as you have the courage to get up and start singing they don't really care, and I have the perfect song. You ever heard of Here Comes the Sun by the Beattles?" Dani asked.

"Of course I have but that doesn't mean I'm going to sing with you" Santana said still shocked Dani was trying to get her to sing with her.

"Come on you said you used to sing in Glee club which means your fine with crowds, and there's like six people in here, come on it'll be fun, I promise" Dani said holding her hand out for the Latina.

Santana huffed "Fine but if I make a foul out of myself I swear I'll go all Lima Heights on your ass" she said.

Dani laughed "I have no idea what the hell that means but okay. Just relax it'll be fine" Dani said as she moved around the stage turning on the microphones and placing two wooden stools in front of the microphones. Following Dani's lead Santana took a seat as Dani tapped the microphones "Hello everyone my name is Dani, and this is my friend Santana and were going to sing a song for you tonight" she said getting everyone's attention.

Dani smiled encouragingly at Santana as she started strumming her guitar taking the first verse, Santana following along, and actually enjoying herself. And she loved hearing Dani's voice it was truly amazing, and Santana could tell Dani felt at home on the stage. As the song ended Santana realized that she and Dani had moved so they were facing each other and were very close to each other, Dani took a chance and closed the distance between them, pressing a light kiss to the Latina's lips.

When Dani pulled away finally noticing the claps around them Santana didn't even try to hide the goofy grin on her face "You want to get out of here?" Santana asked.

Dani smiled nodding her head "Yeah I'd love to" she said thanking the audience the two women stood up exiting the small coffee shop, they walked side by side for a little bit before Dani reached out intertwining their hands.

Santana smiled as she looked down at their hands, never before had Santana felt an instant connection with someone before, not even Brittany. They made small talk as they approached Santana's apartment, stopping in front of the steps, hands still intertwined Santana realized that she didn't want to say good bye yet, she still wanted to talk to the amazing girl in front of her.

"So I guess this is good bye" Dani said with a small smile.

"It doesn't have to be" Santana said taking a chance.

"What do you mean?" Dani asked.

Santana nervously looked down at her feet "I don't usually do this, but I really like you and I don't want to say good bye yet, and Ryan isn't home. So I guess what I'm trying to say is do you want to come up and we can talk some more" Santana finally blurted out.

Dani smiled lightly squeezing Santana's hand "I'd love to" she said. Santana smiled wider then she even thought possible as she led Dani up the steps and to her apartment.

Once inside the two woman decided that they both needed to get out of their horrible uniforms even though Santana said she liked seeing Dani in the uniform causing the later to blush, but Santana had found Dani an old pair of sweats and a t-shirt to wear. When Santana came out of her bedroom she found Dani in her small living room looking at the pictures Santana had up on the walls and on her book shelves.

"Do you want something to drink?" Santana asked, making Dani turn around with a slight jump.

"No I'm okay thanks though" Dani said as she turned back around to look at one of the pictures hanging up on the wall "Is this Ryan's dad?" she asked softly.

Santana stepped behind her looking at the picture of Ryan's first birthday, Ryan sat in his high chair, cake covering his entire face and torso, as Santana and Puck stood next to him with large proud smiles on their faces. Santana smiled at the memory it seemed like yesterday her baby was just turning one not almost four "Yeah that's Puck, it was taken on Ryan's first birthday" Santana said.

Dani turned around not even bothered by how close the Latina was "His name is Puck?" she asked slightly concerned that someone's name was actually Puck.

Santana laughed as she intertwined their hands again "His real name is Noah Puckerman, but everyone calls him Puck" she said as she pulled Dani onto the couch with her, pulling her legs underneath her Santana faced Dani keeping their fingers still intertwined.

Dani smiled "Okay good I thought you were going to tell me his name really was Puck" she said with a laugh.

Santana shook her head "No it's just his nickname, he hates being called Noah unless it's by his girlfriend Quinn" she said.

"So is he still in Ryan's life?" Dani asked softly.

"Your waiting for me to tell you the entire story aren't you?" Santana asked with a smile.

Dani nodded her head "Yeah I just couldn't figure out a way to do it subtly".

Santana laughed "It's okay, I'll tell you. Before I finally admitted to myself or anyone else that I was gay, I dated Puck, I dated a lot of guys actually trying to push it away I guess. But anyways Puck and I had been dating off and on for a while, finally we broke up for good and I finally admitted that I was gay even though I only admitted it to Puck and my two best friends Quinn and Brittany who I was also in love with. A couple months later I found out I was pregnant with Ryan, I was seventeen. At first I thought about adoption but when I went to the first ultrasound and saw that alien looking picture and heard my babies heart beat I knew I couldn't do it. So me and Puck did everything we could to raise the amazing little boy he is now. I finally openly admitted I was gay and Brittany and I started dating, after graduation we had a really bad break up. I went to college taking Ryan with me before I realized, college wasn't for me so Ryan and I joined Rachel and Kurt out here, and been here ever since. Puck is an amazing dad; Ryan doesn't see him very often because Puck joined the Air Force wanting to do something Ryan could be proud of and to honor our friend Finn who died. But he calls every other night when he can, and visits Ryan whenever he's on leave. He's actually dating my best friend Quinn, who Ryan adores" Santana said.

"Wow you continue to amaze me Santana Lopez" Dani said as she sat one leg on Santana's thigh.

"And you're not completely freaked out by the fact that I have a three year old son with an actual dude?" Santana asked "Because every other girl I've tried dating ran at the mention of Ryan" she said.

Dani smiled "No, actually it attracts me to you even more. I don't care that you have a son; I think it's amazing that you're a teenage mother and managing to do so well for yourself and your son, it shows how strong and brave you are, and I think that's incredible. I really like you Santana, and I want to get to know you, and if you'll let me I want to get to know Ryan as well" she said.

Santana stared at Dani her eyes wide in shock, the beautiful woman in front of her was even more amazing, not knowing any other way to reply Santana did what she did best and followed her impulse. Leaning forward Santana pressed her lips to Dani's.