I KNOW I KNOW! Please don't kill me guys! I seriously have had no time to really think in the past few months.. I work 40 hours a week and then also am taking a full course load.. then of course I need to find time for my family and girlfriend and such and this kind of got put on a back burner unfortunately. I will try my best to not let THIS big of a gap happen again. I promise. I really am sorry..

Luckily Frankenstorm (AKA Hurricane Sandy) has given me a few days off work so I was able to finish this chapter up (since it has been started since before Chapter 36 was started) and maybe, hopefully I can get the next chapter written tomorrow.. I promise nothing though.. this one is shorter as a way to get me back in the swing of things though. I hope you all don't mind too much.

Thanks to everyone who has stuck with this story even though I have failed misserably at getting it updated and stuff. I am sorry that I havent been getting back to the reviewers anymore. They mean the world to me but I figured that I should try to write when I find the spare time. Please know that every review means so much to me and I appreciate every one I get along with the favorites and alerts.

Thanks to Toastedmarshmellow08 for helping out with this chapter and GE0309 for the beta.

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 37

Santana's POV

I'm not even sure how time flew so quickly. It feels like just yesterday that I found out Rachel's secret and met Skylar, and now I'm helping Rachel set up for Skylar's first birthday! Although honestly at the same time it feels like I've known Skylar all her life rather than just half of it. I seriously cannot believe that my baby is turning "1"! Ok so she's not really my baby, but still I hope to one day be able to call her mine. Though I think I'm getting ahead of myself with that.

I let out a sigh as I string up a few more streamers. I really wish that Rachel and I were a little older, I wouldn't even hesitate to ask her to be my wife and for permission to make Skylar my daughter legally. Unfortunately, that is not the case, and we're still a bit too young to start thinking about all of that. Plus I'm not even sure that Rachel would want me to officially be Skylar's parent. I mean sure we always say that we're a family, but that doesn't really mean what I want it to mean. Regardless of my title in respects to Skylar, I will always be there for both her and her mother, so I suppose right now that's all that matters.

I let out another defeated sigh as I tape the last streamer into place. As I move to pull my shirt back down, which had risen up as I reached up for the streamer, I feel small, warm hands run against the exposed skin and pull their owner flush against my back. I instantly recognize the person as Rachel and relax back into her hold.

"What's all the sighing coming from over here about?" She husks into my ear before placing a lingering kiss on the skin behind my ear. I panic slightly when I realize I can't exactly tell her the truth.

"Just thinking about how ridiculous it is that Skylar is already turning one," I come up with quickly. Technically it's not a complete lie since I was thinking that also, but it wasn't really the main point of the sigh.

"You think?" She asks sarcastically with a breathy chuckle as she pulls away from me. I let out another unhappy sigh at the loss. "How do you think I feel? I gave birth to her almost a year ago! That just doesn't seem right. She should still be my little newborn princess! Instead she's basically a toddler!" She says getting a little more panicked with each statement and starts pacing the living room.

I can hear her breathing starting to pick up and I rush to stand in front of her and cup her face between both of my hands. She hasn't really had many panic attacks lately. She had one right before Regionals because she was afraid that Jesse would show up again, but luckily the lack of his presence and the trophy they handed her and Shelby managed to calm her down. I would really like to keep that record clean now though.

"Babe, relax. Babies grow up, it sucks but it's a fact of life ok? Look at her though," I say as I motion to the little ball of energy that is currently crawling after a few balloons that Rachel had thrown on the ground after blowing them up. Though the baby had managed to walk a few steps at a time, she is still partial to crawling since she has found it to be less painful. "She is an incredibly happy, healthy, beautiful little girl Rae. You did that! So yes she is growing up, and I don't like it any more than you do, but she is going to be an amazing kid who will grow up to be an even more amazing person, who will always look up to her amazing mother," I tell her while leaning forward and placing a tender kiss on her lips.

I feel her nod into the kiss as she attempts to deepen it. I let out a little giggle as I pull back from the embrace.

"I think we should finish up here, people are going to be here soon and the birthday girl is still in her pajamas and if I am correct, a dirty diaper," I say while scrunching up my nose.

"Close to six months and you still make that face every time she has a dirty diaper," she says with a giggle. She plants one last kiss on my lips before fully pulling away and moving to grab the little girl. Skylar screeches in pleasure and starts crawling away from her mother as quickly as she can, thinking that this was some sort of tag game.

"Get back here you stinky monster!" Rachel giggles out as Skylar pulls herself up to stand against the couch before half walking, half running over to me on unstable legs. When I see the toddler start to show the telltale signs of a soon to be fall I reach down and scoop her up. As Sky looks behind me to see Rachel 'sneaking' up on us she lets out a loud squeal and buries her head in my chest giggling. For Skylar's sake when Rachel finally reaches us and wraps her arms around both of us I let out a small 'surprised' squeak.

"Ah! Skylar she's got us! Nooo!" I yell playfully.

The smallest brunette looks up from her hiding spot and frowns over to Rachel. "NO!" she yells very seriously (of course that is the only other word she has mastered after mama).

Rachel laughs a bit before leaning down and leaving a wet raspberry on the baby's cheek.

"Come on stinker, let's get you changed for our impending guests!" she says in her voice designated for Skylar and Beth.

"Do you want me to get her ready?" I ask while keeping my eyes on the smiling facing look up at me.

"No don't worry about it I got it. I shall clean the dirty diaper as always!" She says dramatically.

"If you're sure," I say with a shrug while passing Skylar over to her mother.

"Oh nice San," she says with a laugh and I finally let mine out that I was trying desperately to keep in.

"Really though, do you want me to take her?" I ask reaching out to take the baby back.

"No it's alright, I want to get her ready," she says with a smile while rubbing her finger over Skylar's cheeks. "Do you mind finishing up with the decorations?" she asks. I respond with a small shake of the head.

"Of course not, you're right, this is a special time with your daughter," I say with a small, semi-sad smile.

Rachel shoots me a confused, questioning look before finally asking, "What's that supposed to mean? Babe you are more than welcome to come and help, I figured it would just be quicker to split up."

"No I totally get it. You're right, that makes the most sense," I relent before placing a small kiss on the mother's lips and one on Skylar's temple.

With one last weary look Rachel nods slowly before taking Sky upstairs. I don't know why I'm being so ridiculous about this right now. I mean these feelings have been present for a while now. I am completely aware that Skylar is Rachel's biological and legal daughter, but for some reason Rachel inadvertently proving and solidifying that for me hurt more than I can describe. I should really figure this shit out, because I refuse to allow it to affect my relationship with either girls, because really this is all about me.

As I finish fastening the last balloon to the doorway I look over the room and roll my eyes at how outlandish it is. There are streamers everywhere, and balloons are hanging down so that anyone over 5'4" needs to duck as they enter each room. Rachel is definitely overcompensating for her lack of birthday parties when she was younger, but I let it all go and helped her plan and put together this party because she deserves it and so does Skylar. God I'm so whipped!

A few minutes later, Rachel walks back into the room holding a watery-eyed baby who was now wearing a poufy pink dress instead of her pajamas.

"She doesn't seem to like the pretty dress we picked out for her," the diva explains with an eye roll before even fully entering the room.

"Oh no, you're not pinning this on me. I told you from the beginning that this poufy, itchy monstrosity would not be a hit with Mi Princesa," I chuckle out.

"Yeah, yeah just throw me under the bus like that," Rae responds with a giggle.

When Skylar finally sees me she instantly throws her arms and body weight towards me while more crocodile tears fill her eyes as she lets out a pitiful "momma".

Just like that everything stops. Rachel just stares at the child still in her arms for a full minute before looking at me and staring with an equal intensity. I am caught between so any emotions that when my eyes well with tears I can't even decide what they are for. I am beyond happy that Skylar truly saw me as her mother, terrified about what this development truly meant because as much as I love the idea it's still scary to think about me as a mother before even turning eighteen (I have no idea how Rachel handles it honestly). But I'm even more terrified that this may negatively impact my relationship with the young mother. For a long time Rachel only had Skylar and I'm not sure how she feels about me usurping the title so easily. All I can do is hope that Rachel doesn't take this as a sign that this has been moving too quickly or that I've been getting to close and deciding that it's time to end this before things can take a turn for the worse; especially since I have proven in the past that I am not the greatest role model or parent. Skylar for her part just looks utterly confused and annoyed about the fact that not only have I not picked her up as requested but that both Rachel and I seem to be staring at her strangely.

"She...she called you mom," Rachel says slowly as if still processing. The lump that is forming in my throat prevents me from speaking so all I can do is nod. Without taking her eyes off Skylar, she continues "and...uh...how do you feel about that?" she asks slowly.

"Honestly?" I ask, still incredibly worried about how she is about to react, still I cannot stop the huge smile from taking over my face. "Incredibly honored and equally happy." As I finally finish processing my smile fades. "More importantly how do you feel about it?"

"I think it's more important to know how you feel since you're the person who is being roped into parenthood at just under eighteen years old. Regardless, I am extremely happy that you like the idea and I can't even put to words how amazing I think it is that we can take another step towards being a real family," she tells me as a gigantic grin fills her face and tears leak from her eyes. "I have actually been wondering how you would feel about this since it's only natural for Skylar to think of you as a mother too. I was worried that when the situation arose that you would run for the hills," Rachel continues even though it seems like she is more rambling than actually having a conversation with me.

"I was worried that you would think I was ridiculous for even thinking of Skylar as my daughter. I didn't want to bring it up in case it would've upset you," I confess.

"Well this whole thing has been silly then I suppose," Rachel says with a small chuckle. I can only agree with her assessment.

When Skylar has finally had enough of being ignored she tosses her weight towards me again with another "momma" thrown in. This time I relent and take the one year old into my arms and allow myself to enjoy the sound of being called momma.

After kissing all around Skylar's face I move and place a kiss on my girlfriend's lips. Just as I'm about to deepen the kiss though the doorbell rings, alerting us to the arrival of the first guest.

"Saved by the bell," I laugh out as I pull away.

"Interrupted by the bell," she mumbles as she wraps her arm around me so we can open the door together. Moments like these used to end up being bitter sweet for me; I loved that we already seemed like a family but at the same time it reminded me that we're not. Not really. But now, after all that just happened I am able to fully enjoy the feeling and happily mold into Rachel's body while still holding Skylar close to me.

"Five bucks says it's my mom," she's says with a chuckle.

"I'll take that bet and counter with my dad," I say putting my hand out to shake, which she readily does, followed by a string of giggles.

When we open the door we both lean around to try and see who it is first and she lets out a huff when she sees Papi standing on the porch.

"Geez don't seem so happy to see me Rach," Papi laughs.

"Sorry Tony, of course I'm happy to see you," she says with a fond smile as she opens the door wider so she can give my dad a proper greeting.

"There's the welcome I was waiting for," Papi jokes as he returns the hug and places a kiss to the side of Rae's head.

When their hug ends he turns towards Skylar and I, and I give him the biggest smile I can.

"Hey Papi!" I say while leaning in for a hug. My smile turns into a frown when he returns a quick 'hey' and a quick peck to my forehead.

"There's my birthday girl!" he then says with a huge smile as he grabs Skylar out of my arms. My face instantly forms a pout. I hear Rachel giggle quietly as she bumps my shoulder; when I look over at her I see that her lips are tugged up in an amused smile.

I try my best to keep the pout in place and not let the smile take over as I mutter, "Shut up," but as the words leave my lips I can't help the smile anymore. I try to recover with an annoyed "I can feel the love Papi."

He lets out a loud laugh as he settles Skylar on one hip and pulls me into a proper hug and lands a long kiss to my hairline. "Sorry Mija, you know I love you."

"Yeah yeah," I joke while wrapping my arms around him, being mindful of the birthday girl in his arms.

"Birfday Sky!" I hear from the street. I let out a light chuckle as I pull back from my father's embrace to see Shelby struggling to get a squirming Beth to stay in her arms, the little girl gripping onto a package wrapped in birthday paper. The little girl for her part goes between yelling for her mom to put her down and yelling 'happy birthday' to Sky. The newest one year old still has no idea what is going on but, loves the attention while also squirming to get down so she can get to her best friend.

"Momma" Skylar whines out while leaning towards me when it becomes clear that Papi isn't going to let her down. I see Papi freeze in his motions as I grab the littlest brunette into my arms.

"She's calling you 'mom' now?" he asks just as Shelby and Beth finally reach us. Shelby adopts a surprised smile as well. A huge smile forms on my lips again as I kiss Skylar's cheek and nod my head 'yes'. "Does this make me Grand-Papi?!" he says with an excitement level that would be consistent with winning the lottery.

"Yes Tony," Rachel says with a giggle, "that makes you Grand-Papi."

"Sky! Birfday!" Beth squeals again, clearly oblivious to the current conversation.

"Before we leave these girls to play, give me my grand baby," Shelby says finally breaking the smile fest happening. We all laugh a little as Rachel grabs Beth out of her arms and says hello to the little spitfire as I hand Sky over to her grandmother. "Hey there Birthday Girl! How are you on this special day? I love you!" Shelby says in a voice a few octaves higher than her normal speaking voice as she places kisses all over Sky's face, causing the baby to giggle hysterically.

After finally get her fill of her grandmother's kisses Skylar let's out a warning whine and leans away from Shelby reaching her little arm out to the ground and opening and closing her fist. In my opinion the one year old is being generous with this warning, she would usually just start wiggling until she is given what she wants. Something that I'm about 90% sure Rachel hasn't figured out she is doing. Every time Skylar starts crying Rachel rushes to give her everything she could possibly want. I find it kind of funny watching Rachel run around like a mad woman. Don't get me wrong, I don't want Skylar to grow up to be a spoiled brat, I just thought that it wasn't my place. Though after today maybe my opinion will be better received; after all Rachel didn't seem to mind Sky calling me mom so that has to mean that I have a more solid spot in the family, right? I'll have to file that away for a later date.

"I think someone has had enough of adult attention and wants some time to play with her aunt," I say with a chuckle.

"It's strange to think of it that way," Rachel says with a small shutter.

"Yeah I'm not a huge fan of looking at it like that either, but it is something I've noticed in the past. Also something that we should probably come to terms with since they are going to grow up and learn about family trees and have a bunch of questions," Shelby says with a sigh and a small shake of the head. It's obvious that she has thought about this in depth at some point. I raise my eyebrow at her to ask if she's ok and she just gives me a small smile and another shake of the head. I'll have to remember to talk to her about it later. For now though, I just put my hand on her arm as a show of support as I follow everyone else into the living room.

Rachel's POV

Not too long after the two little ones were sat together to play while the rest of us talked and kept an eye on them, the doorbell rang signaling more arrivals. We had decided that since there weren't really any little kids that Skylar is close to, besides Beth obviously, that we would just invite Shelby's family, Sue, Barb, all of the glee club, and a few of the cheerios that we deemed smart enough to understand that this is going to be a one year old's birthday so there cannot be any alcohol or rough housing. They trickled in a few at a time, until the house was fuller than we assumed it would be. Honestly I never imagined that the Cheerios would actually come. Either way I was happy that so many people had shown up to celebrate my little girl's first birthday. Everyone there was showering the birthday girl with affection and presents and Skylar kept going between loving it and hating it, wanting to just be left alone to play with her friend. Finally once everyone had given her a hug, Santana and I decided to ask everyone to just give her some space for a bit.

We had taken a while to decide what we wanted to do at the party since neither of us are really too knowledgeable of the normal activities of a first birthday party, and finally decided that we should give her the birthday party that reminded us of our favorite birthday, not that I really have anything to go on. Ok, so maybe this was more for our amusement than for the one year old's. Whatever, I mean there's not really too much you can do with a one year old. We did however get a pretty awesome cake that has Skylar's face on it, and then a big cake so that when she destroyed that one, we would still have something to feed the guests.

Everyone seemed to think nothing of it when we started blindfolding guests and asking them to pin the tail on the donkey, though it might have taken a couple of minutes to explain to Brittany that a donkey's tail wasn't really pinned on. Oddly enough my mom won the competition and deemed it necessary to gloat about winning the game. I think she noticed a few minutes later what she was doing and what she was so proud of herself for, because she quickly turned bright red and became instantly quiet; though it didn't stop her from playing the rest of the games.

The piñatas came out next because it was a game that Skylar could play with us. We had decided that instead of getting the kind you beat with a stick we should get the newer kind where you just pull a string and the right string breaks the barrier, that way nothing in the house gets broken by Puckerman and the birthday girl can actually partake in the activities. We hung both of the candy filled piñatas from two different doorways, one hung a lot lower than the other, and deemed one just for the two small children and one for the rest of the party members. Everyone loved it; it was like everyone was transformed back to when they were children. Ironically though, Skylar and Beth were playing nicer than the teenagers who were pushing each other to get to the candy.

I let out a loud laugh before deciding to intervene, "Guys you do realize that Sky is far too young for candy and the other piñata is filled with way too much candy for Beth to eat? If you would just be patient enough to allow the birthday girland the other child to finish their game, I am sure that you could nicely go over after Shelby deems Beth's hands full enough and take some of that candy," I say with an eye roll, making sure that they understand what I'm telling them.

Skylar flinched when she pulled a string and instead of the nice, colorful string just falling off nicely like the others, the latch tore and candy went flying to the floor. It obviously does not have the same effect on Beth because she quickly leans down to scoop up as much candy as her small arms can carry. Sky let out a small whimper while looking up at me thinking she had done something wrong.

"It's ok Princess, it just means you won!" I tell her in a soft, yet overly excited voice so that she knew that she hadn't just broken her new toy. When she raises her arms for me I gladly pull her into my arms and allow her to lay her head on my shoulder.

"She is probably overly tired, she usually has a nap by this point in the day," Barb says as she comes up beside me rubbing the little girls back. "Isn't that right Skylar?" she asks the little girl who now has her thumb stuck in her mouth as she looks up at her babysitter with a small smile.

"Yeah we should probably do cake and then call it a day," I agree, though the cake may make it difficult to actually get her to sleep.

We all filter into the kitchen where Santana is already setting up the two cakes. There is a candle in the shape of the number 1 on the small one and I feel the same nervousness I did when Santana first suggested the idea. To me, fire and one year olds do not mix, but Santana assured me that she would hold the little girl's arms down so she couldn't reach out and touch the flame.

We set the birthday girl into the chair and finish setting everything up. Santana gets the candle and starts to light it while Beth tries to climb up my leg to get close to the little cake.

"I help?" she asks as she points down at the little cake.

"Beth, this is Skylar's candle to blow out," Shelby chastises lightly as she grabs her out of my arms.

The cutest, most deadly, little pout forms on the little blonde's face as she lets out a pitiful "I help."

"How about you can help if Skylar can't do it alone?" I reason with her and her pout is immediately gone. I'm not sure if she actually listened to anything past 'you can help'.

Everyone in the room started to sing 'Happy Birthday' and I had to laugh because we sounded really good, I guess that's what happens when you bring in a winning glee club to sing. Shelby must notice my amusement because she smiles as she sings and shoots me a wink. I lean into her side as if on instinct and continue to sing the song.

"Ok Princesa, now blow out the candle. Like this," Santana says as she demonstrates how to do it. Skylar is struggling to get her hands out of her grasps but still tries to do as her mentor is doing. She tries to blow but instead only manages to spit all over the cake. After a few more tries we finally let Beth blow out the candle for her and everyone claps and cheers. Skylar loves the whole thing and claps along with everyone.

As soon as the candle is removed and Skylar's hands are released the little girl flings both hands into the small cake. Everyone in the room who has never seen the little girl being fed gasped and leaned back. I can't help but let out a full belly laugh. Skylar just stuffs the cake into her mouth and all around her face, completely unaware of the people around her who were awing at her adorableness. She is a mess but she looks so cute that I don't even try to stop her from smearing it on her forehead or on her chin. After a second of this I look up to Shelby and tilt my head towards the other cake and silently ask her to start handing it out. I don't really want to leave the little girl alone during this. With a nod, she sets Beth down on the table and quickly bats away the little girl's hands which instinctively move to treat this cake the same way Skylar was treating her own. The same pout forms on the toddlers face but it lights up when she receives her own piece of cake.

We were all laughing and joking as we each got our own pieces as the doorbell rang out through the house. I look around perplexed trying to figure out who it could be. Everyone we invited was here, and there wasn't really anyone who would be coming to the house otherwise. Santana gives me a face, which I assume is similar to what mine looks like, letting me know that she has no idea who it is either.

"Mom, can you watch out for Skylar while we get that?" I ask and start walking towards the door once I receive a nod of her head.

I open the door, not really sure what I am about to find. I let out a small gasp as I see who is on the other side.

"Hello Rachel."

"What are you doing here?" I ask incredulously. I'm not even really sure how to act right now. Should I be happy, sad, anxious, or angry? Probably that last one.

"Now is that anyway to speak to your fathers?"

Ok guys I hope that was even a bit worth the wait! Im sorry again :(

Please leave reviews guys.. I know that I have sucked and you are probably all angry with me but reviews really do help me to get into the mind set to write... soooo prettttty please leave reviews :)