A/N: Hi guys. So for the second to last section in this, I was inspired by the song All About Us by He Is We (feat Owl City). I'm not usually one to listen to music while writing, but someone on Tumblr showed me this song and I fell in love. So check it out if you're looking for awesome Brittana feels.

There's a stillness in the air when you wake up that lets you know it's early and you barely slept at all. A glance at the alarm clock shows you that it's only seven. Brittany rolled over in her sleep and you feel cold without her arms around you. Your eyes feel sore and puffy, but you have no desire to go back to sleep, so you quietly get out of bed and throw on sweatpants and a hoodie.

You get the coffee pot going, but feel antsy as you wait. After rummaging through your purse, you find a nearly empty pack of cigarettes and pull one out. Then you slide open the window for the fire escape and sit on an overturned trashcan that you put out here when you first moved in. You light up and try to find some satisfaction in the long drag you take.

The stillness has disappeared since you've stepped outside, replaced by honking horns, sirens, and the other sounds of the city. The quiet is gone, but you feel strangely at peace. You're tranquil and contemplative, like all you needed was a good cry to help you come to terms with how old you're getting and how maturity was seemingly thrust upon you so quickly.

Even your thoughts seem dry and calm.

As you exhale a stream of smoke that turns to a puff of condensation from the cold air, you can't help but feel grown up. Congratulations, it only took you twenty six fucking years, Santana.

You're not bitter or anything. It feels more like a strange acceptance. You feel mature and sad and good all at the same time. Maybe it's the realization that you can remain calm while feeling so many things at once that helps you accept such maturity.

Why are you even thinking this shit?

Maybe it's your subconscious New Year's resolution or something, but it's nice to just sit and think. It's relaxing. You kind of like being by yourself actually.

Of course, as soon as you think that, a leg sticks its way through the fire escape window and a foot finds stability on the ground. The rest of a body follows and a butt sits on the windowsill. A hand wrapped around a mug reaches out toward you.

"I brought you some coffee." Cass says quietly. You warily take the mug, not sure if you're ready to talk yet.

You sit in silence for a while, the two of you just staring at the red-brick building across from you. It's a wonder you don't have to pay extra for that view.

Cass has tucked herself into the windowsill, back against one side and feet pulled up to her chest. Her hair is in a sloppy ponytail and her eyes are red and puffy and there are bags under them. Maybe she was cold too, because she's dressed like you, even sporting your NYU hoodie that you had last seen Brittany pulling over her head and discarding on the floor of your room. Maybe she went in there looking for you. You furrow your eyebrows and take another drag on your cigarette. It's almost gone by now.

"I didn't know you smoke." Cass finally breaks the comfortable silence.

You shrug and drop the cig on the ground before stomping it out. "Just when I'm stressed." You lean back against the wall to your building and close your eyes, letting out a deep breath.

"Why are you up so early?"

You turn your head and look at her. "Why are you?"

Cass continues to look ahead of her, staring at the side of the window she isn't leaning on. "I couldn't sleep." You watch as she rests her chin on her knees and scrunches her toes. You don't even know why you notice that. Her socks barely poke out of the end of her long sweatpants. Actually you're pretty sure those are your pants, too.

"How are you feeling?" You finally ask, because you don't know what else to do. And because you don't want her throwing up all over your nice fire escape.

Cass shrugs. "Shitty."

One side of your lips involuntarily curves up. "You look like it."

"I know." Her voice is all soft and quiet and you feel pressure behind your eyes, but dammit if you're going to cry again. Not going to happen.

"Do you want to talk about last night?" You ask hesitantly, not sure if something was wrong, or if she just overdid it and accidentally pissed you off or…?

She shrugs and a few tears slip down her cheeks. "I don't know. I'm so sorry. It won't happen again, I promise."

You don't know what to do. Are you supposed to comfort her or reprimand her? Maybe you aren't so grown up. You decide to just sit there and wait for her to do something.

She sniffles quietly. "I don't know what I'm doing sometimes. I'm so lost." Her palms rub at her cheeks and you bite your lip, trying not to let your own tears escape.

"I guess that makes two of us." You take a sip of coffee because you need something to do with your hands and you left your pack of cigs inside.

Cass half snorts and half sobs. "No. You always know what to do."

Your eyebrows crinkle together. Does she really think that? "I have no idea what I'm doing most of the time actually." You can see her disbelieving look even though she's looking away from you. "I thought that I used to know. I was like a zombie, working and fucking my life away." She shoots you a small watery smile. "I was like, on this fucking cloud. Except I didn't feel high or on top of the world or anything like that. It just felt like I was looking down and watching someone else live my life for me." You pause and take another sip of your coffee, but the air is making it cold and it's gross. "I thought that I could work and then drink and then fuck to get through the shitty routine that my life had become."

You shake your head. "I was stupid. I was still that young kid from Ohio who'd been kicked out. I was young and felt unloved and I didn't have a dream or anything to do with my life. And I guess I never really outgrew that depressing person I was. I just stayed on that fucking cloud, while everyone else walked on and lived their life, and I was just floating in place."

"Does it still feel like that?" Cass asks quietly.

You nod. "Sometimes. But it's different now."

"Different how?"

"I'm not on that cloud anymore, but I still feel lost sometimes. Like I'm working at a stupid bar and will always be stuck there." You shrug. "Mostly I feel lost when you freak me out like that." Your throat is thick and you physically will yourself not to cry. "I get worried about you. I know you're a teenager and that you're going to have sex and get drunk and party and do these things. I know. But I just want you to be safe."

She finally looks at you and she looks so sad and you remember that face of drowning disappointment from your teenage days. It's like looking in a mirror. "I make you feel lost?" She squeaks out and you want to hug her, but you stay sitting on your stupid, cold trashcan.

"No. I feel lost because I don't know what to do with you sometimes." You look back at the brick building. "It's like… I was on that cloud you know? And I felt really lost and shitty. But then one day, here you were in my apartment and suddenly I was responsible for someone and I crashed back down to reality. And then Britt came into my life and it was like my eyes were opened and I was shown that working and drinking and fucking doesn't make me who I am. It's the choices I make and the way I experience life and those choices that make me the person I am."

You pause and glance at her, but she has her eyes closed and her hands are balled into fists in the sleeves of her sweatshirt. "I was on a fucking stupid cloud, getting by in life," you finally continue. "Then the two of you came, and you brought me back. Now I see that I have other reasons to feel lost. Real reasons. Like trying to help you not make dumb decisions and get in trouble and push you to fulfill your own dreams. And not screwing things up with Britt because she's like, the best person I know and it's no wonder my life was so shitty before, because she wasn't in it. You know?"

"That's a lot to process," she breathes out with a small smile.

You shrug. "I'm complicated, get over it."

She chuckles softly and meets your eyes. "I don't mean to make you worried."

"I know." You bite your lip before continuing. "Just… That person, who worries me sometimes, it's not you. You're not like that Cass."

She sighs and a puff of air floats out of her mouth. "You don't know me. I'm two different people."

You raise your eyebrows and look at her curiously. "What do you mean?"

"There's New York me, who goes to class, even stupid gym with Britt. This me stays home on weekends and watches Jersey Shore with you and goes to the bar and sits in the corner and does homework with Quinn." She shrugs and avoids your eyes. "Then there's the me you don't know. The me from Ohio, who goes out and drinks enough to rival her stupid alcoholic father. That me sleeps around and ditches class to smoke pot behind the bleachers. That me draws on napkins and doodles in notebooks all the time, but still gets Ds in art." Cass absentmindedly runs her hand across her face. "Ohio Cass follows me to New York and takes over my body sometimes. And it's like no matter how hard I try to run from Ohio me, she always catches up when things start to seem okay again."

Your hands are numb from the cold, but you barely notice. You consider what Cass is saying and think you can understand. "Maybe you should just let her catch up and just accept that she is part of who you were, but you can be a different person now if you want to."

Cass looks at you, her eyes clouded. "Do you think it's that easy? To just accept it and change who you are?" She tilts her head to the side and gives you that calculating look. "You ever experience something that you know you'll never forget and the hurt from it will never go away?"

Slowly, you nod. "Yeah."

"How do you move past something like that?"

You think about the hurt you still feel sometimes that comes from your mom disowning you. "You don't. You just accept that it happened, and eventually time helps you understand that it might always hurt a little, but that you'll feel okay in the end. But if you don't accept it, it will just keep festering and never start to heal." She looks at you carefully and nods. You wonder what has had that impact on her. Probably something to do with her dad. "Do you want to talk about it?" You ask again.

"No, not really." She smiles softly at you. "I think I might try to get some sleep actually." She swings her legs inside, but keeps her head out. "You should come in, it's really cold out here."

"I will in a minute."

"Okay." Then she slides back inside and you're left alone, the cold air weighing down on you.

You stare at the brick wall for a few more minutes, just thinking about everything. Then you follow Cass back inside and creep back into your room, intent on cuddling back up to Brittany and getting some more sleep.

Things go back to normal pretty quickly after that. The days went by and it seemed the New Year's Eve spectacle was just another moment to live and another confusing experience that made Cass an even more mysterious and beautiful person to you.

It's a Tuesday afternoon and you're sitting on the couch with your laptop on the coffee table and a notebook in your lap, furiously scribbling away as you squint through the dirty lenses of your glasses. You'd forgotten to order your stupid contacts. Damn your shitty eyesight.

You're cursing how colleges always find it necessary to make you click through eight billion pages to find out any useful pieces of information when your door opens and you hear the jangling of keys and the soft patter of feet on the floor.

You look up as Brittany flops down on the couch next to you. "Hey babe."

"Hey Britt. How'd you get in here?" Not that you mind that she's here, but you'd rather not anyone just be able to walk into your apartment whenever…

"Cass gave me her key." Brittany props her feet up on the coffee table and kisses your cheek.

"Oh. Yeah, she said something about having to stay after school a few days a week for some art project she's doing." You bite the tip of your pen and glance at her. She's giving you this curious look that you can't place. "What?"

She shakes her head. "Nothing. What are you doing?"

You sigh and lift your glasses up a little bit to rub your eyes before setting them back down on your nose. "Looking at colleges for Cass."

"Isn't that something she should be doing?"

"Yeah, but I wanted to help her narrow it down so I'm doing some research." You show her the pad you've been writing down colleges and tuitions on.

"These are so expensive," Brittany comments.

You sigh because you were worried about the same thing. "I know. I went to my bank this morning and set up a savings account for her, though. I realized if we cut out some things from the budget, I can put a third of my salary into it each month and hopefully get some money saved up for her." You tilt your head to the side as something occurs to you. "I'm not sure if her dad had any accounts or anything for her. Maybe I should look into that…" You trail off, thinking.

Brittany smiles softly at you. "That's really awesome of you, San. To do that for her, I mean."

You feel heat on your cheeks, but you shrug. "How else is she going to be able to get the education she deserves?"

Brittany shakes her head absentmindedly and bites her lips before leaning close. "You look really sexy in your glasses."

You shiver as her breath hits your face and your legs clench at the unexpected turn the conversation has taken. "Uh… I forgot to order my stupid contacts."

"You're like… a sexy librarian." She lightly drags her lips up your neck and you feel her smile against your skin. Thank God for your shitty eyesight. "You should wear them on our date."

You almost miss the second statement as you close your eyes and breathe in deeply. "Wait, what date?"

Brittany hums contentedly as you lean into her lips for more contact. "The date we're having on Thursday. You have that night off right?"

"Yeah…" You manage to squeak out as she takes your earlobe between her teeth.

"Good."

"Ummm." Her lips are now attacking your pulse point and as you shift on the couch, the notebook on your lap falls to the floor. "Wait." It's hard to think when her hand is inching under your shirt. How is she having a conversation with you and doing that at the same time? "Where are we going?"

"I can't tell you, it's a surprise." She pushes you down completely and straddles you.

"Is this a special occasion or something?" Her fingers start working on the belt of your jeans. Guess you're not looking at college stuff anymore…

"Can't I just take my girl out and woo her? Is that a crime or something?"

Blonde hair cascades around your face and you scrunch your eyebrows. "Woo me?"

She sighs, exasperated. "Yes, Santana. Can I not woo you?"

"Sorry, woo is just such an awkward word."

Blue eyes flash and her hands continue pushing their way up your shirt. "Whatever. I'm still going to do it."

"But… why?"

"You talk too much."

"Sorry," you grunt out as one hand slides above the waistband of your underwear and the other traces between your cleavage.

"As this is my only lesbian relationship, I have never had the opportunity to woo someone." Brittany's lips are on your neck again. "And since I love you so very much, I will be damned if I don't get to woo you once in a while. So just go with it or I will get up right now, and you will be left unsatisfied."

You giggle slightly. "That's evil."

"Shut up."

"Okay, sorry, sorry." Your hands land on her stomach as her shirt is discarded on the ground somewhere. "Your abs are so hot, Britt-Britt."

"I know." She kisses you on the lips slowly and heat rushes all the way to your toes.

"What should I wear?" You ask when she pulls away to take your shirt off.

"That one red dress. Now shut up."

"You already picked out what I should wear? Wait what are you going to wear?"

"Right now, nothing." Brittany unclasps her bra and you watch in amazement as it falls to the floor and all thoughts of the date leave your mind.

"Okay, that sounds nice."

"Yeah."

"Okay."

"Now shut up."

"You look muy caliente, Tía."

You look at your reflection in the mirror and spin around to look at your butt. "You think so?"

"Totally."

"Well, Britt did tell me to wear this…"

"You're whipped, you know that right." Cass leans against the doorframe to your bedroom and smirks at you.

You shrug and lean in close to the mirror to touch up your makeup. "Yeah."

"Britt should just move in with us, she's always here anyway."

You almost stab yourself with the mascara wand. "Seriously?" You look at her and she shrugs.

"Yeah, why not?"

You sigh unsure. Has it been long enough for that? "When did you two get so close anyway?" You change the subject.

"Uh… I don't know. It just happened I guess." Cass sounds unsure and you raise your eyebrows at her. "Don't give me that look, Tía."

"Whatever." You turn back to the mirror and finish doing your makeup.

"So where are you going?"

"I don't know, Britt wouldn't tell me." You take one last look in the mirror before making your way to the bed and slipping on your black high heels. "She just told me to wear this and look pretty."

Cass laughs. "She's got you on a long leash, I see."

You snort. "Must you always harass me when I'm getting ready to go out?"

"Yep." She smirks at you and you push past her and into the kitchen to make sure you have everything you need in your purse.

"Whatever." You glance back at her to see that she's followed you into the kitchen. "Promise to be good when I'm gone, okay?"

She huffs. "I'm not five."

You give her a stern look as you put on your jacket. "No boys. No alcohol. Just watch TV or do your homework or something. Please?" You add as an afterthought.

Cass throws her hands in the air. "Where is the trust in this relationship? I trust you to go out and not get your girlfriend pregnant. Can you not trust me?"

There's a knock on the door and you grab your purse. "I trust you. I'm just reminding you." You open the door but continue to look behind you at Cass. "Why don't you draw or something?"

She sighs. "Okay, okay. Have fun."

"Will do. Bye."

You're swinging the door shut when her last shout hits your ears. "But not too much fun!"

You shake your head and finally look up at Brittany. "Hi."

"Hey." She smiles at you and you are once again reminded that you're dating the most gorgeous girl to have ever existed. "Ready?"

She offers her arm and you take it. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see soon enough."

You roll your eyes, but smile. "Why does everyone always think it's cute and romantic to surprise their dates by not telling them where they're going?"

"Because it is."

Oh. Right.

Once outside, Brittany hails a cab and helps you in. She tells the driver a location you're unsure of, so you just sit back and watch as lights and cars flash by outside. Brittany takes your hand and you lean into her side.

"You look beautiful tonight," she whispers into your ear.

"So do you."

She places a kiss to the side of your head and you bask in the warmth that fills you to the core. Eventually the driver pulls up to the curb and Brittany helps you out of the cab. You see you're in front of a nice restaurant. You follow her into the place and look around. It's really fancy.

You follow the hostess to your table and Brittany helps you out of your jacket and pulls out your chair, which you find to be extremely unnecessary, but if she really wants to woo you… then whatever. You guess it's kind of nice.

There's a candle in the middle of all the tables and the lights are low. Brittany orders a bottle of wine to share and you try to decide what to eat. "All of this is super expensive, Britt."

She gives you a look. "Santana, I'm only going to say this once tonight so listen carefully. We're on a date. I took you to a nice restaurant and I'm going to pay and you're going to have a great time and you aren't going to complain. Understand?"

You quirk an eyebrow. "Oh is that so?"

"Yes." The waiter brings your wine and Brittany taps your glass with hers after thanking the waiter.

"I like when you're demanding." You shoot her a wink and smile as you take a sip from your glass.

She giggles cutely and your heart melts a little. "Good because I'm in charge tonight, so you're just going to have to deal with it."

"I guess I could do that." You smile and she places her hand on top of yours on the table.

Dinner passes by like a carefree breeze. The food is delicious and Brittany pays and you enjoy yourself more than you thought was possible. It feels like a little bubble of happiness is inflating inside your chest as you lean against Brittany on the cab ride home. She keeps leaving light touches on your skin and her hands are always on some part of your body. Lingering kisses are left in your hair and sweet whispers reach your ears.

When you get back to your apartment, Brittany smiles at you and leads you to the middle of the living room, between the TV and the couch. It looks like Cass is already sleeping.

"Don't move," she says. "The night isn't over yet." She lets go of your hands and moves to the stereo, where she fusses with a few buttons and puts in her own cd. A soft song you've never heard before comes out of the speakers and you look at her questioningly.

She just smiles and takes your hands in hers, placing them around her neck. Her arms encircle your waist and she starts to sway to the music.

You giggle quietly. "Slow dancing? You're cheesy tonight, baby."

She hums contentedly and spins you around. "Dancing is how I express my emotions. I just want you to feel how much I love you."

Your eyes meet bright blue and you can't help but smile. "I do."

"Mhmmm." She brings your body closer to hers and presses your chests together. You feel feather light in her arms as the music softly flows through the room. It's a pretty song and you lean your face into Brittany's neck and breathe in slowly, letting the comforting atmosphere fill you up.

"This is nice," you whisper finally. You look up to see her eyes are shining beautifully. Your breath catches in your throat and you gently press your lips to hers. Your eyes flutter closed and you revel in how soft Brittany feels as your lips slide together.

Everything disappears and you know it wouldn't matter if you were alone or if there was a room full of people watching, all you see and feel is Brittany. Everything that she is fills you up and you take in the moment, feeling safe and brave in her arms.

Suddenly, her lips and hands leave your body, but the next thing you know, she's hoisting you in her arms like you weigh nothing. Your eyes are wide in surprise but they soften into a smile as she walks to the stereo and shuts it off before making her way to your bedroom.

"Now you're carrying me?"

"I said you're going to enjoy it and not complain, how hard is that to understand?" Brittany looks down at you with fake annoyance. She gently sets you on the edge of your bed once she's shut the door. Carefully slipping off your heels, she kisses your knees and helps you stand up. She turns you around and unzips your dress, letting is slide off your body. Your underwear is quick to follow. Then she slowly picks you up again and lies you down on your pillow.

After taking off her clothes, she crawls up your body, placing kisses along the way. Goosebumps spread over your skin as her lips touch your stomach, your chest, your collarbone, and finally your lips. Her body gently rests on top of you and there's a burning where your skin touches hers.

You roll over slightly so both of you are lying on the pillow, legs entangled and bodies touching. You breathe in deeply and your lips are light and gentle as they leave Brittany's to explore every inch of her body. It's so beautiful and you realize it must be cherished and not taken for granted. Everything about her is unimaginably perfect.

Her breathing increases in your ears as you give proper attention to her neck. Hands tug you closer, splayed across your back. Your own hands move to Brittany's chest and you feel her short gasp hit your cheek.

You lean in so your noses are touching and drag one of your hands down Brittany's stomach. It clenches as your fingers brush it and move down down down. God. She's so wet. You carefully slide a finger through her folds and place a soft kiss on her lips. Your thumb circles her clit and she lets out a soft moan.

Suddenly you need to see her. You lean your head back slightly and look and look and look. Her cheeks are flushed and her lips are slightly parted. Her eyes zero in on yours and even through their slight haziness, they burn clear and blue. You smile softly and carefully enter her with one finger. She gasps out and her hips thrust into yours. You pump in and out, reveling in the small sounds coming from her mouth before entering another finger.

You feel her stomach clenching against yours and pick up your rhythm. Her eyes never leave yours; they stare into yours and beyond them. You hit a spot and curl your fingers as her thighs shudder. Finally thin eyelids close like veils over that miraculous blue and a last small gasp leaves her mouth before her body stills. You look at her in awe, never having seen anything or anyone so beautiful. You let her down slowly and smile when her eyes flutter back open to meet yours.

"I love you," she breathes out and lazily smiles.

"Move in with us." The statement escapes your lips as Cass' words from earlier float in your ears. You want to do this every night to her, as long as you can see how beautiful she is. You want to wake up and feel her next to you as she kisses you goodbye when her and Cass leave for school. You want her to come home from work and sit down and eat a dinner that you made together. You want it more than anything.

Brittany's eyes widen in surprise and uncertainty. "What?"

"Move in with us." You kiss her gently. "With me."

"Are you sure? What about Cass?" She licks her lips, still breathing slightly harder than normal.

You smile. "It was her idea actually."

"I…" She tucks a strand of hair behind your ear before her face breaks out in a wide smile. "Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yes." Brittany continues to smile and it makes you smile harder. "Definitely. Oh my God, yes." She rolls on top of you, pinning you to the bed, laughing. "Mike will be so happy I'm finally moving out."

You laugh along with her as she positively beams down at you. Your heart flutters happily in your chest. "I love you."

"I love you too. Santana, I love you so much. I'm like, filled with happy unicorn rainbow love." You can't stop laughing as she laughs excitedly. Then she starts placing kisses along your jaw and the laughter peels off as your breathing picks up.

The rest of the night you learn that dancing isn't the only way Brittany shows you she loves you.

Sweat drips down your face and you're quick to wipe it away as you set down another box. Looking around the room, you see it's filled with cardboard boxes, all labeled with Brittany's loopy handwriting.

"I think… that's the…last one." Cass pants and drops a box next to you.

"Finally." You sigh and sink into the couch. Cass slumps down next to you with a huff. "Where's Britt?"

"She had to pee."

"Oh."

"I think it's because she wanted you to carry that last heavy one so she ran away."

You laugh and roll your eyes because, well, of course. A second later, Brittany lands on your lap and her hands come around your neck. She kisses you on the cheek before scrunching her nose. "You're all sweaty, S. Gross."

"That's because you made me carry all the heavy boxes!" You tickle her sides and she squirms and grabs your hands.

"Stop!" One of your hands works its way free and pokes her side again. "San, cut it out!" Brittany laughs and leans away from your hand.

"What was that B? I didn't hear you?" You continue to dig your fingers into her skin and she falls off your lap onto the ground. Grinning, you slide down on top of her, basking in the amazing feeling of knowing Brittany's moved in now. Your home is her home.

"Oh my God, you guys are so lame." Cass tries to slip away into her room, but you grab her foot. She wobbles slightly and glares down at you. "Not happening. Let go."

Laughing, Brittany grabs her other leg and tugs and Cass falls next to you with a loud grunt. She rolls over and smacks Brittany on the arm. "Come on, Cass, loosen up," Brittany says playfully.

"Yeah, Cass, loosen up."

"Mature, Tía. Really?" She huffs and you dig your heel into her side. She lets out a noise that's half laugh and half yelp and it has you giggling uncontrollably.

Brittany squirms beneath you and you start tickling her again. "San! You're supposed to get Cass, not me!" She laughs and her face starts to turn red. "Stop!"

"No." You're giddy and are laughing too hard to care that you feel like a little kid.

"Shit, stop, stop." Brittany pants out. "If you don't stop, I'll withhold sex for like, a week."

You grin in triumph. "Liar, there's no way. You'd cave after like, two days."

Cass makes a choking sound beside you and you laugh evilly, before using one hand to poke her again. "Stop, or I will ends you! Not cool, Santana."

"What, Cass, too grumpy for terms of endearment?"

"I hate you," she laughs out as she wiggles away from your fingers. There's a loud knock on the door and you lunge for her as she pushes herself off the ground. "Stop! There's someone at the door, you bitch." She laughs again and hops over you and Brittany on the ground.

You turn your attention back to Brittany who pushes up slightly and kisses you. "I'm really happy, San."

You smile hugely. "Me too."

An unintelligible exclamation comes from the hallway and you look at Brittany questioningly, but she shrugs. You push yourself up and poke your head around the corner. What you see makes your mouth drop open in shock.

Cass is standing in front of the open front door, arms crossed and feet squarely planted on the floor, glaring at the person standing in the doorway.

"Mom?"

It feels like all the breath rushes out of your lungs as Sonya Lopez looks up and meets your eyes. She looks almost the same, just older. She has the beginning lines of wrinkles around her mouth and eyes and a few strands of her dark hair are slightly graying. She looks as intimidating as you remember, even though you stand a few inches taller.

Brittany steps around you and stares in confusion at the woman. You see your mom look her up and down. "Hello, Santana. Who's this?" All traces of your happiness from moments before have disappeared.

You look between her and Brittany, shocked. "Umm… this is Brittany? Mom, what are you doing here?"

Your mom glances at Brittany warily and rolls her eyes. "I see you stand by your ridiculous decision to be with women, Santana." She looks back at you. "I'm here to see my granddaughter."

You look at Cass, but she is shooting your mom a death glare. "How did you know where I live?"

"Roberto has your address in case he wants to contact Cass." Sonya says calmly and with certainty.

Cass' arms drop to her sides. "You've seen my dad?"

Sonya nods. "Yes. And he informed me that you were living here, and I found that to be completely outrageous." Her lips thin. "You can't live here, Cass."

Cass' arms cross again. "Why the fuck not?"

"Don't you dare speak to me like that, young lady." You watch as your mother plants her hands on her hips. "This isn't a healthy environment for you."

Cass mirrors her stance. "I like it here."

Your mother glances at you. "There is a reason you didn't know about Santana before this whole ordeal, Cass."

"There's nothing wrong with Santana," Cass yells. "And you didn't even want me in the first place!"

Sonya sighs and pinches her nose. "I admit I was a little upset about the decisions you had been making. But past sins can be forgiven and I cannot let you come here and continue to make bad choices."

Cass opens and closes her mouth, bewildered. You move to stand behind her and place your hands on her shoulders. You feel Brittany shrink into the background slightly. "What is she talking about, Cass?"

Your mother gives Cass a hard look. "You didn't tell her? Or does she not care, the same way she doesn't care that it is against God's plan to live her chosen lifestyle?"

Cass leans back into you. "It doesn't matter, abuela, it's in the past and I can't undo it, so I'm trying to move on." She glares at the older woman. "You should too."

Sonya shakes her head. "I pray for you every day." She looks up at you with pursed lips before peering back down at Cass. "You need to come home."

You feel Cass stiffen. "I'm not leaving here."

Anger flashes in Sonya's brown eyes. "Cassandra Isabella Velasquez! You will do as I say!" She makes a grab for Cass' arm, but you step in between them.

"Hold up." You glare at your mom and cross your arms. "You can't just come into my home after all these years and make demands. I signed the papers and you didn't and if she wants to stay here, she can stay here."

"Roberto specifically chose me to be Cass' caretaker. I may have misjudged the situation, but I am here to claim the responsibility now."

"Well that's not how it works." You feel anger pulsing in your blood. What the fuck is happening right now?

Sonya shifts her eyes between your defiant stance and Cass behind you. "Fine. My lawyer will be in contact with you."

Lawyer? Is she taking you to court? What the fuck? Your scowl increases. "Get out." She stares at you for a minute. "Now!"

Sonya Lopez glares around the room one final time before making her way into the hallway, slamming the door behind her.