"Merry Christmas," Santana said gently, as she shook Quinn awake. She knew today was going to be rough and hoped to fight as little as possible.
"I'm sick…" Quinn whined.
Santana bit back her sigh and tried again. "Come on Baby, we have to be at my parents in an hour, and I know you want to shower."
"I don't wanna go." Quinn pouted.
Santana sat on her side of the bed crisscross-applesauce and put a smile on her face, "I know, trust me, but we talked about this a few days ago and you were fine."
"I wasn't fine," Quinn grumbled as she pulled her blankets over her head. "I just didn't want to argue and get a spanking, you had already taken my phone."
Santana looked up to heaven for strength. "Both of our dad's worked really hard for us to come over, it would be rude not to."
"I don't believe I asked my dad to do that." Quinn snapped.
"I'm working hard to not lose my temper here, Quinn. I know this isn't how we were planning to spend today. We just wanted a calm morning to ourselves, and then spend the night with Britt and Rae. Our dad's want to see us, don't you want to see your dad? It's been what? Six weeks?"
Quinn slowly pulled the blanket from her face, "I do want to see my daddy."
"I know, baby, so let's hop in the shower." Santana said, standing from the bed, hoping Quinn would follow.
She wasn't disappointed, but slightly irritated, when Quinn's cold hands wrapped around her shirtless stomach. "Hey, freezing!"
Quinn laughed. She kissed Santana, "I love you." She twisted past Quinn and turned on the hot water.
After a quick shower and they were both dressed, Quinn in a red 1950s style dress and Santana in a pair of black skinny jeans and a dark red shirt, Santana sat Quinn down in the living room. "Quinn, I know today is going to be super hard, but we are both going to be on our best behavior, do you hear me?"
"Yes Ma'am." Quinn said picking at an invisible piece of lint on her dress, something, that while San would never bring up, was something her mother would do.
"That means no raising to either of our mother's bait. Smiling politely as you open gifts, whatever they may be…" Santana trailed off.
"I know what best behavior mean S." Green eyes shot up to glare at dark brown ones.
"Do you? Because this isn't what I mean by it." Santana said, not breaking eye contact.
Quinn looked away first, she wished she could just slap Santana like she would have before they were dating. "Okay."
"I know that you are stressed…"
"Can we just leave?" Quinn asked. "We're going to be late to your family's breakfast and that's not really a good start to this day from hell."
"Yes, let's go." Santana said, knowing that the sooner they got there the sooner it would all be over. "One more thing though," she said, reaching out to stop Quinn from her movement out the door, "We can drink tonight, but I don't want you drinking and adding alcohol to emotions with our parents."
Quinn froze for a moment, "at all? You want me to hang out with Judy totally sober?"
"Yes." Santana said. She watched Quinn nod, and let it go that it wasn't a verbal answer.
Santana sighed when they pulled up in front of the house that she had grown up in. Quinn tilted her head to the side, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," San said, "Let's just go in."
Santana walked up to the door, Quinn trailed behind, holding the boxes for Santana's parents and grandma. She knocked and waited for someone to answer the door. It surprised them both when her mom answered the door.
"Hello Santana," Her mom said stepping aside.
"Hi Mami." Santana said softly, surprised that her mom wasn't upset enough to stay upstairs the whole day. Both girls walked into the room, Santana's dad came bounding down the stairs and instantly pulled his daughter in a hug. "Santana you look amazing, it's so nice to have you in my arms."
Quinn stood awkwardly to the side for a moment. "Quinn, can I take those boxes?"
"Thank you, Mrs. Lopez," Quinn said handing them over, and watching her mom put them under the tree.
Mr. Lopez walked over and drew Quinn into a hug. "We've missed your energy around this house girl."
Quinn smiled into the warm embrace that she had received many times through the years growing up, "I've missed you too."
"Well," Mr. Lopez said, pulling his wife in for a hug. His wife kissed his cheek lightly. Everyone in the room knew that the relationship was strained. "We wanted to talk about that didn't we Maribel?"
"Yes," She said, "Come, let us open presents while we talk."
Quinn and Santana walked into the living room that they had spent many hours in coloring first, and then practicing cheer routines, while Mrs. Lopez stood over them and fussed about how they were going to break some bones. Quinn watched as the very full tree was soon emptied in front of her and Santana.
"Well?" He asked, "Start opening."
"Santana, I'm sure that it's going to take you a long time to forgive me, but I miss you in this house, both of you. Gosh Quinn, you spent about as much time here as you did at home over the last few years." Mrs. Lopez started. "Things won't just go back to normal, and I won't always understand things, Santana, but I'm hoping maybe we could build something better."
Quinn looked over to see how her girlfriend was doing. Santana's eyes were brimming with tears. "Well, I would love to try and rebuild something…"
Quinn reached out and held her hand. "I love you."
San smiled at her, "Love you too baby."
"Alright," Mrs. Lopez said reaching out to hug her daughter, who gladly fell into her arms.
"Gifts?" Mr. Lopez said, tears brimming in his eyes as well.
Quinn looked at her pile and started opening slowly. Santana did the same and soon they both had a large pile of household items in front of them. Lamps, candles, pots and pans, basically a new kitchen it felt like. "Thank you," Quinn and San said in unison as they moved to the dinning room for breakfast.
"Well, we have one more gift," Mr. Lopez said.
"Papi, it's really too much already." Santana said.
"No, we should have done this from the start." He cut in.
"Also, don't interrupt your father." Mrs. Lopez said curtly.
Quinn grinned as Santana blushed at her mother's scold. It had been a long time since Santana had been scolded, but Mrs. Lopez didn't seem out of practice at all. "Yes Ma'am. Sorry Papi."
"It's okay, now as I was saying, your Mami and I are going to take over you and Quinn's rent. We thought about asking you both to move here, but I'm sure a tiny room isn't appealing after living on your own." He said.
"That's too generous." Quinn said instantly.
"Nonsense, parents should take care of their children, and I've already called your landlord and set up automatic payments." Mrs. Lopez said.
"That should give you guys some room to work a little less, you girls are so young and overworked for sure." Mr. Lopez chimed.
"You called our landlord without talking to us?" Santana asked. Quinn could see the anger boiling in her girlfriend.
"Watch it Santana, I'm not fond of your tone, and you know that spoon in the kitchen has a tanned a teen backside before." Mrs. Lopez cautioned.
Quinn remembered that spoon from the few swats she had gotten in the house, and the many times her girlfriend had nursed a very sore backside. Santana blushed again. "We are capable of paying our rent."
"No one thinks you aren't, you just shouldn't have to." Mr. Lopez said.
"San." Quinn cut in. Knowing that things would end not nearly as great as they had started if Santana flipped.
"Q." Santana said, her tell that she was angry.
"Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Lopez, being able to work a little less would be nice." Quinn spoke for both of them.
"Q. You are overstepping now, and my nerves only have patience for one of you to step on them right now." Santana warned her girlfriend.
Mrs. Lopez's body stiffened, "I think that you are forgetting who you are speaking to little girl."
Quinn pulled her phone and noted the time, "Thank you for all of the gifts, but I think that we need to be headed out to my parents house soon."
"Yes, will you come for dinner next Sunday?" Mr. Lopez asked.
"Yes, that sounds nice, right San?" Quinn asked, trying to distract her girlfriend who hadn't broken eye contact from her mother.
"After church maybe?" Mrs. Lopez asked.
Quinn had to work hard not to roll her eyes at the dig. "Maybe, San, come help me grab this stuff and put it in the car please."
"I'm not done with this conversation." Santana said. Quinn knew that she was being told not to be rude. She just rolled her eyes and Mr. Lopez helped her put the stuff in her car. She stood making small talk for ten minutes when Santana came out to the car.
"Bye Papi, I will see you Sunday." She said hugging him.
"Did you and your mother work it out?" He asked, looking down seriously at her.
"Yes Sir." Santana said honestly.
"Good, you two drive safe."
They drove in silence for ten minutes when Quinn looked over, "are you upset with me?"
Santana looked shocked over at her before quickly glancing back to the road, "No, why would I be?"
"You told me that I overstepped and then you haven't been talking to me since."
Santana reached out and grabbed Quinn's hand and kissed it. "I'm not mad. I'm just thinking about what happened. It's crazy isn't it?"
"Yes, you know it's not going to be like that at the Fabray house, right?" Quinn cautioned.
"You don't know Baby, would you have thought that it would be like that at my house?"
"No," Quinn admitted, "but you won't get angry if it's not like that at my parent's, right?"
"As long as you don't do anything to instigate it, that's fine," Santana said.
"Also," Quinn started in her arguing tone.
"I already don't like the start of that. Try again." Santana broke in.
"You broke two of your own rules." Quinn just cut to the chase.
"What?! When?!" Santana asked.
"First you argued with your mom…" Quinn started.
"My mom and I will always have a relationship like that…" Santana rebutted. "You and Judy do not have that type of relationship. Again, try again."
"Also, you didn't graciously accept their gift." Quinn continued.
"I didn't accept the delivery method." Santana told her, "But you are right, I should have been more gracious."
"So, what's your consequence for that?" Quinn asked, smirking over at her girlfriend as they pulled up to her parents gated community.
Santana rolled down her window and typed in the code before looking over at Quinn, "I don't know, what do you propose?"
"I think you should stand in the corner when we get home for 30 minutes." Quinn said, not thinking that Santana would agree.
Santana shrugged as she went slowly down the street, "Okay, if you think that's fair."
"Really?" Quinn asked shocked.
"I've always said that I'm willing to follow the rules that I set for you. You're right, I asked you to do something today that I didn't do." Santana told her levelly.
"Where did you two end up on that issue?" Quinn asked, as they pulled down her parents' driveway and stopped behind Franny's car.
"Will it bug you a lot if we talk about that when we get home? If it will we can talk about it now, but it will take more than a minute." Santana told her turning off the ignition and turing to face Quinn.
"When we get home is fine." Quinn agreed. They got out of the car, and this time Quinn went to the front door while Santana grabbed out the gifts. Quinn waited for Santana to join her and then knocked.
Russel must have been waiting because within seconds the door flew open and he was beaming down at them. He pulled Quinn in for a hug and kissed her forehead. Before Quinn had left, both Fabray parents hadn't been very affectionate, but now whenever Russel saw either of his girls, he made sure to hug them. He pulled Santana in next for a hug. "How are you ladies?"
Quinn giggled at her dad's attempt to respect their adulthood, "I'm good Daddy."
"Me too Mr. Fabray."
"Santana please, it's Russel, we've known you since you were yay high," he gestured to his calf, "You are practically one of our girls."
"More than practically," Franny said, coming into pull first Quinn and then Santana into a hug. "I'm pretty sure you've been subject to most of the Fabray family meetings." A tall skinny kid in a blazer and jeans slowly came into the foyer too. "Quinn, San, this is Mitch, Mitch my sister Quinn and her girlfriend, Santana."
Santana looked over at Russel, she knew that he was pretty accepting of the girls, but never had either of their parents acknowledged the title. Leave it to Franny to push ahead. Russel just pulled Santana in for another hug, "Like I said, one of the family."
Franny looked over at Quinn, "You've lost weight."
Quinn frowned sharply at her older sister. "I have not." Santana rolled her eyes at the response she also got anytime she brought it up.
Franny pulled her close, "You have too."
"Get after her Fran, she won't listen to me." Santana said.
"You look like shit too San, you're both overworked." Fran said.
Quinn laughed at that, "Thanks Franny, we appreciate your frankness."
"Fanny be nice to Quinnie," Russel scolded.
"I'll play nice, but only because it's already noon and Daddy hasn't let us open gifts because we are waiting on you."
"You guys didn't have to do that," Quinn said as they all walked into the living room.
Santana's breath always caught when she walked into the Fabray living room at Christmas time. Her house always had a naturally homey feel that Quinn's never did, and Quinn loved. Santana always had helped her parents decorate the tree and the decorations consisted of many homemade ornaments. Quinn's house looked like a hotel. The garland draped the stairwell and the fireplaces in the Livingroom and dinning room. Lights hung beautifully from the ceiling and the tree was always perfectly shaped and decorated by some outside company. While Santana loved the look, Quinn always loved decorating at Santana's house.
Standing next to the tree, drink in hand, was Judy. "Why would we do presents twice, that's just silly. Hello Quinn, Santana."
"Mom." Quinn said.
"Hello Mrs. Fabray," Santana said.
"Why don't you pass those gifts out Santana, and I will pass the rest out." Judy said. Quinn sat down next to Fran and they started to chat about life. Mitch sat silently on the couch behind Fran and Santana joined Quinn and Fran on the ground.
"Anybody want a drink before we start?" Russel asked.
"I'll take a martini Daddy," Fran said.
"Do you have any beer?" Mitch asked.
"Yes, San, Quinn?"
"We're okay, thank you." Santana spoke for both of them.
Russel came back with drinks just as Judy finished passing out gifts. Russel rubbed his hands together, "Alright. Let's get started. Youngest first. That's you Quinn."
"Yes, always baby Quinnie first." Franny teased.
Quinn pushed her playfully and then opened her first gift and posed with the new Fitbit box for her family to see. "Your turn, San."
This was completely new to Santana, at her house everyone just opened gifts at the same time. She opened a box that looked similar to the one Quinn had opened and also, although more awkwardly, posed with her Fitbit.
Fran laughed at Santana's awkwardness, and then picked up what she knew would also be a Fitbit and opened it. "Yay, we can tease each other if we get too lazy now, do you have one too Mom?"
Judy pulled up the sleeve of her sweater to reveal hers. "I thought it might be a nice way to stay in touch."
"It is," Fran agreed, looking at her little sister to see how she was feeling.
"Thank you, mom, Daddy."
"Of course, Baby. Mitch, you're up next."
Mitch opened a pair of cufflinks with his initials. They continued in a circle until all that was left in the living room was boxes and trash, and 6 neat piles of presents stacked by each of it's owners.
"We have a few more gifts." Judy said, she stood from the chair that she had been in and walked over to the fireplace and pulled down an envelope. She handed the it to Quinn, "It's for you and Santana both."
Quinn watched as her dad got off the couch and went to stand behind Judy, a sign that always meant they were united in whatever was coming. "Thank you," Santana said. She watched as Quinn slowly opened the envelope. She slowly pulled a form out for the church camp that she had attended since she was in the third grade, every year except the last summer when she had moved out. "Q…" Santana started.
"We aren't going." Quinn said firmly.
"Don't be ridiculous, we've already paid for you both to go, of course you are." Judy said.
Fran winced at her mother's wording, knowing that it would make Quinn rebel. "No, we aren't. What do you think that we can just pray away the gay?" Quinn stood up, "Come on San."
"Wait, Quinn." Fran said firmly, "We can work this out, just sit down."
"No, let's go Santana." Quinn said.
"No, sit down, let's be rational about this." Santana said.
"I will walk," Quinn threatened.
"You will not." Santana said back deadly calm.
"It would be a good way to get your steps in for the day," Franny said.
"Shut up Fran!" Quinn shouted.
"Cool it, Q." Santana said.
"Quinn, your mother and I both thought and prayed for a long time about this gift, and we agreed to give it to you." Russel said.
Judy had stood to pour herself a drink. "Fran and Mitch are going to be counselors this year. I know that you have always loved camp, and I wanted you to be able to share that with Santana and have time with Franny. There was nothing malicious in its intent I assure you, is your tantrum over?"
"No!" Quinn snapped, "I mean I'm not throwing a tantrum."
"There are tickets in there to cheer camp as well, I know that you and Santana couldn't afford it last year. It's your senior year, we want you to have the world. Do you not want those either?" Judy asked, turning to frown at her daughter.
"If it's both or nothing, then we don't want them either!" Quinn said firmly.
"Hold on," Santana broke in.
"No," Quinn said again.
"Of course it's not and either or thing," Judy said walking back to her chair with her new drink. "You have made it perfectly clear with your temper tantrums this year, that it will be your way only."
"Mom," Fran cautioned.
"Temper tantrums?" Quinn shouted, "We haven't spoken, what tantrums?"
"We ask you to take a minute to seek God in this choice to date a girl and you up and move out, then don't speak to anyone, nearly killed your poor father and sister, until they gave into your fit, and then you speak with them! What do you call that Quinn?"
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Quinn shouted.
"Quinn!" Russel, Fran and Santana shouted at the same time.
"Alright, it's time for a family tradition. Quinn, come help me make the hot chocolate." Fran said standing up.
"No, I'm staying another minute in this house." Quinn said.
"Yes you are, now come on." Franny said, pushing Quinn into the kitchen.
"What in the hell are you thinking?" Fran asked.
Santana followed a moment later, she leaned on the counter next to Fran and crossed her arms, glaring at Quinn, "I'd like to know the answer to that too…"
"Come on that gift was baiting…" Quinn said.
"I think that you are just sensitive right now." Santana told her.
"You know that I normally take your side, Q. I think this gift though was genuine. I think it's why it came with the cheer camp too." Franny told her.
"Fine, both of you take her side." Quinn snapped.
"Stop," Santana said. "I don't like this attitude…"
"If you are trying to show Mommy that you are an adult, and not throwing a fit, you are doing a really bad job." Fran told her sister.
"I didn't move out because I was throwing a fit!"
"I know that and so does Daddy. Mommy is trying, you need to meet her part way." Fran said.
"I think that it has been going nicely, until you got upset." Santana told her. "That was the opposite of graciously accepting a gift."
Fran started to make the hot chocolate and pulled out the bailey's Irish crème to put in. "San, do you want Bailey's in yours?"
"No, and neither does Q." Santana said firmly.
"No, I do want some in mine." Quinn said, irritation heavy in her voice.
Franny paused over Quinn's cup, "I'm not looking to start another fight here."
"Quinn, we talked about this." Santana stated.
"That's true and I changed my mind, you're driving it isn't a big deal." Quinn said. "Go ahead and add it Franny."
Fran added it to her sister's cup too. "You need to go back out there and apologize…"
"I will not!" Quinn snapped.
"Fran, can you bring these out yourself? Quinn and I will follow in a minute." Santana asked.
Fran pulled a tray out and carried the four mugs out. "What?" Quinn asked taking a sip of her hot chocolate.
"First of all, you are going to drop this attitude." Santana whisper yelled. When Quinn didn't speak, she kept going. "Second, put that cup down." Quinn took another sip defiantly. "Q. You are getting a big spanking when we get home, and you will be lucky if I let Britt and Rae come over now, do not push this any further." Quinn looked her right in the eye and downed the hot chocolate. Santana spun Quinn around and swatted her hard twice. Quinn froze. "Are you back, or do you need more?"
"I'm back. I'm sorry." Quinn said submissively.
"Go out there. Apologize to Judy, thank her and Russel for the gifts and then keep your mouth shut the rest of lunch if you don't have anything kind to add to the conversation, do you understand me?" Santana asked harshly.
"I just want to go home," Quinn whined.
"No, Quinn, trust me you don't right now. I need time to calm down." Tears came to her eyes at that. Santana had never been this angry with her.
"Yes ma'am." She whispered. She put her empty cup in the sink, handed Santana her cup and they walked out to see everyone in the dining room. "I'm sorry for getting upset." Quinn said.
"Thank you both for the gifts," Santana added.
"You guys are staying for lunch, right?" Judy asked.
"Yes, we are." Santana told her.
The rest of the stay was dominated mostly by Santana, Russel and Franny talking. Around three, laden down with gifts, Quinn and Santana took their leave.
It didn't take long into the drive for Santana to notice Quinn crying as she looked out the window. Santana reached for her hand again and squeezed it. Quinn looked over and her sad eye's broke Santana's heart. "What are you thinking, Q?"
"I've never seen you so angry with me." Quinn whispered.
"I've never seen you so defiant." Santana told her honestly.
"Are you still that angry with me?" She asked.
"No, not as upset as I was in the kitchen, but I'm still pretty angry." Santana admitted. Quinn started to cry again. "Hey, are you scared of me?"
"No, but you weren't even half this angry when you started spanking me every night, and I really hated that. And I'm sure we can't have the party now, and Britt and Rae can't come over…"
Santana pulled over on the side of the road, "Whoa, baby, breathe." While difficult, Santana moved her seat back and pulled Quinn over into her lap. "First of all, you are panicking about things that I haven't said are or are not going to happen."
"I know you," Quinn hiccoughed.
"Quinn, I don't even know what I'm going to do, I'm a little bit at a loss here." Santana told her honestly. "Britt and Rae are supposed to be over in an hour, and I'm excited to see them. I think we need to get home and figure this out, so we can have a relaxing night with them. What do you think?"
"Okay," Quinn said. When they got to the apartment, Santana told Quinn to leave the stuff in the car, that they would get it later, and they started the trek upstairs.
"Quinn, when we get in there I want you to go stand in the corner in the living room, while I figure this out." Santana told her, unlocking the door.
"SURPRISE!" Rachel and Brittany shouted as they walked through the door. "We thought today would be stressful, so we wanted you just to be able to come home to good friends…."
"And wine." Rachel added.
Quinn turned around to see what Santana wanted her to do, "Go stand in the corner Quinn." Quinn grimaced but didn't argue and went to stand in the corner. Quinn shifted for a minute before Santana's voice called out, "Stand there the right way or I will help you. Britt, I'm gonna grab a laundry basket to grab the stuff out of the car, would you come help me please."
"Yes," Britt said standing up. "Rach, leave Quinn alone."
"Okay," Rachel said.
Santana grabbed the basket and then walked over to Quinn. She swatted her hard, "This isn't over."