A/N: Thanks for all the reviews, alerts, and favorites!

Wow, it's been a month. I apologize for the delay. Those of you who have PM'd me or hit me up on tumblr know my grandmother suddenly passed away a couple of weeks ago. Things have been hectic to say the least as her memorial service approaches next weekend. But I'm working my way back. Thank you for the well wishes :)

Just a reminder to any of you who aren't aware, I posted the Zoxie one-shot here about three weeks ago. You can find it on my FF story page.

A big thank you to DieZeitVergeht

Enjoy...

Chapter 37: Cancer and Virgo

I know you belong
To somebody new
But tonight
You belong to me

Roxie softly sang and plucked at her ukulele while she sat with her girlfriend on Zoe's living room couch. The school year had just ended and the girls were enjoying a lazy early June day, trying to shield themselves from the late spring heatwave.

Although we're apart
You are a part of my heart
But tonight
You belong to me

Zoe flashed her eyes up from her writing and cracked a restrained smile at being serenaded.

Wait down by the stream
How sweet it will seem
Once more just to dream in
The moonlight
My honey I know
With the dawn
That you will be gone
But tonight
You belong to me

"You know, it's really hard to concentrate on what I'm doing when you're being too fucking cute," Zoe laughed and sat up.

"It would be even cuter if you would be the Bernadette Peters to my Steve Martin and duet it with me." Roxie stopped strumming and smugly smiled.

"Yeah, I don't know who those people are." Zoe blankly blinked back, running her fingers through her hair.

"What!" Roxie sharply gasped. "You have never seen The Jerk? Bernadette Peters and Steve Martin duet 'Tonight You Belong To Me' while walking on a beach...?"

"Nope, never seen it," Zoe chuckled, shaking her head.

"Oh my god! You're killing me, baby!" Roxie threw her head back in pained disgust. "You know what, never mind. What are you writing anyway?"

"I'm planning out my summer schedule."

"Um, why do you need to write out your summer schedule? Doesn't that like defeat the purpose of having a fun and spontaneous summer?" It was Roxie's turn to blink blankly at her girlfriend.

"It's something I've been doing since my parents divorced," Zoe explained. "I just got used to planning out two different schedules for both parents."

"Except you're about to be seventeen, your dad lives in London, and your mom is working mega overtime at the New York City Ballet," Roxie reminded her.

"So..." Zoe laughed. "Rox, this is the summer before senior year! This is like prime time to add last minute bulk to my transcripts. I signed up for those transferable dance theory classes at Brooklyn College and I have that summer dance camp at the NYCB. Not to mention, I have to get my showcase together in time for Juilliard auditions next February. Mrs. LP and I have to pick my music and work on the choreography-"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Roxie waved her hand, giggling. "Zo, your Type A personality is giving me chest pains. Take it down a notch!" she teased some more.

"Oh, whatever," Zoe giggled and grabbed Roxie's hand. "It's not that much."

"Uh, yeah it is. School just ended three days ago and you're already making plans into the start of senior year. Did you happen to pencil me in that little schedule of yours?" Roxie gestured to Zoe's schedule.

"Of course! I can fit you in once a week after NYCB camp every Thursday night," she grinned.

"That's not funny, Zoe..." Roxie pulled her hand away.

"Awww, I'm just playing, baby." Zoe grabbed Roxie's face and planted a hard kiss. "You know I'll always make time for you," she whispered into another kiss.

"I know..." Roxie went back to mindlessly plucking her ukulele.

Zoe studied her face. She was always careful before bringing up certain topics, but she was curious about Roxie's future plans. Often times, her girlfriend wasn't too big on divulging anything about the future beyond what she wanted for lunch the next day.

"So..." Zoe started, with a bit of hesitation before continuing. "Have you looked into any music schools you might be interested in after graduation?"

"No..." Roxie stopped playing and scrunched her brows.

It was new territory for the young couple. Any talk about the future usually just involved Zoe going on forever about Juilliard or possibly living together at some point.

"Why not?" Zoe nervously chewed her top lip.

"I dunno," Roxie shrugged. "I just don't think about things like that."

"Roxie, you live and breathe music. How do you not think about things like that?"

"Because, the idea of more school after high school isn't the most tantalizing idea to me, Zoe."

"So, what's tantalizing to you?" Zoe probed some more.

"Right now? You and me hooking up on your mom's expensive couch." Roxie answered her own question with a smirk and went in for a kiss.

"I'm being serious, Rox..." Zoe backed her head away before she made contact.

"Ugh, fine..." Roxie rolled her eyes with a huff. "The answer honestly is... I don't know. I mean, a lot of things interest me."

"Like what?" Zoe propped her head in her hand, leaning against the couch.

"Like teaching music one day, maybe. Owning my own record store would also be really fucking cool. Playing music professionally, like as a studio musician or in a band. Or songwriting, like my mom and Auntie Cedes do for Ramen Records."

Roxie swallowed and looked away, plucking at her ukulele again. It was the first time she had admitted any of that out loud. Zoe always had a way of getting the deepest buried secrets out of her.

"What about... playing your own original stuff professionally for people?" Zoe softly asked.

"I-I don't know..."

"Babe, you have notebook after notebook of original music and lyrics. You should play at an open mic night this summer." Zoe nudged her.

"Yeah, I'm not sure about that." Roxie blushed. "You saw how nervous I was to perform at Musician Square last summer. And that was only after you dared me."

"But you can grow out of that with a little practice. That's why I was so excited for you to play in the May Showcase until you got suspended from it." Zoe's voice dropped and she deadened her eyes in disappointment.

"That's okay, because Cassie's skank ass was suspended from it too. So, it's all good." Roxie proudly stated.

"Roxie," Zoe clicked her tongue and nudged her again. "It's not funny. You had a chance to play original music in front of like thirty music school scouts. That opportunity doesn't come again until the Fall Recital or next year's Winter Concert."

"Zoe, can we just not?" Roxie rolled her head to one side. "It's summer, baby. I just wanna concentrate on having the best vacation with you, filled with mindless fun, junk food, and like the best sex." She mischievously smiled into a kiss, leaning back and pulling Zoe on top of her.

"Mmm, that's all you want?" Zoe giggled into her mouth.

"Mhmmm..." Roxie hummed into her cheek and up her jawline.

"Mkay, I'll stop bugging you..." Zoe breathed out and was succumbing fast to the dizzying kisses. "But before we get it on, I want to finish my schedule." she suddenly pulled away, chuckling.

"Ugh, blue-balled!" Roxie grimaced at her girlfriend before sitting back up.

"I can't help my 'Type A personality'," Zoe mocked and moved to go back to her writing. "Serenade me again, and I might go faster," she smiled.

"Yeah, yeah..." Roxie chuckled and picked up her ukulele to start playing.

Stars shining bright above you
Night breezes seem to whisper "I love you"
Birds singin' in the sycamore trees
Dream a little dream of me

Say nighty-night and kiss me
Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me
While I'm alone and blue as can be
Dream a little dream of me

Stars fading but I linger on, dear
Still craving your kiss
I'm longin' to linger till dawn, dear
Just saying this

Roxie strummed and huskily sang the 1930's American standard, gazing lovingly at her girlfriend while Zoe wrote. No matter how great the clash was between their type A and B personalities, Roxie was determined to never make it an issue. At least, not that summer.

Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me...

"I think he's gonna be a dancer just like his mommy." Brittany grinned at her phone screen as she recorded her son dancing.

Gabriel was in a simple cotton shirt and diaper, standing by the piano bench as Roxie pounded out the Ray Charles rhythm & blues classic, 'Mess Around' one evening. She was encouraging her little brother to dance while she played. And Gabriel was doing the international one year old dance where he simply bounced up and down on his tiny legs. He giggled and clapped as he jerked off balance and mostly out of rhythm.

"No, Auntie, he's gonna be a piano player like his sissy!" Roxie loudly corrected over her piano playing.

"I think I'm gonna have to agree with Rox on that one, babe." Santana looked up from her laptop as she sat against the arm of the couch. "Think about how awesome piano lessons will look on his resume when we apply to the Magic Kingdom Nursery School in a year."

"Santana, we talked about this." Brittany whipped her head around at her wife. "Gabriel isn't going to any preschool where there's an outrageous two year waiting list."

"Okay, okay..." Santana raised her hands. "I'm just saying it would look good on any application."

"Besides, he does more slobbering than playing on his toy piano. What do you think he's going to do on a real piano right now?"

"Actually, the real question is... can you guys afford my rates?" Roxie stopped playing and laughed. "My piano lessons aren't cheap."

"Consider the fact that we've put a roof over your head and food in your belly for almost two years your upfront commission, mija," Santana quickly shot back.

Roxie made a face back at Santana, but had to no comeback at the truth being shoved back into her chest.

"So, do you have any major plans for the summer, Rox?" Brittany asked and casually placed Santana's feet over her lap.

"Not really. Should I...?" Roxie pulled Gabriel up and let him tinker on the piano keys.

"Well, it is the summer before senior year-"

"Jesus! What is everyone's obsession with that?" Roxie semi snapped.

"Whoa! What crawled up your butt and died?" Santana laughed and typed away without looking up. "I thought that was a pretty innocent question."

"I'm sorry, Auntie B. It's just Zoe was mapping out her crazy summer schedule earlier today and talking about the same thing. How I should be using the vacation to bolster my transcripts or something."

"Zoe's right," Santana continued to type. "Rox, your mom and I were in like ten different clubs before graduation. We won nationals for Glee club and cheerleading before we even started college."

"Wait, you guys were cheerleaders?" Roxie cracked an incredulous smile at the new information.

"Yeah," Brittany giggled. "Haven't you seen the picture of us in our uniforms hanging in the stairwell?"

"I thought those were like kinky Halloween costumes from a few years ago."

"No!" Santana scoffed. "Those were our official uniforms. In fact, I was the co-captain of the Cheerios."

"Your team was called the Cheerios?" Roxie snickered and gently tried to block Gabriel from slapping down on the keys too hard.

"Yes, Roxie, they were." Santana squinted her eyes. "And you are trying to change the subject. The point is, your girlfriend is right. You need to be pumping up the extracurriculars."

"For what!"

"College!" Brittany and Santana said in unison.

"Oh, that..." Roxie nodded. "Yeah... um, I-I'm not too sure if college is for me..." she suddenly tried to make her voice too small to hear, knowing the reaction she would probably get.

"What!" The couple shrieked at the same time.

"No, no, no!" Santana wagged her finger. "You're going to college."

"Tía, I-I don't think it's for me."

"How do you know?" Santana shrugged. "You haven't gone yet."

"I just know, okay." Roxie looked stubborn and brushed Gabriel's hair back.

"You know this isn't actually debatable," Santana sharply stared at her daughter. "I don't care if it's music school, state school, the Ivy League, community college, or a freaking clown school. You're going somewhere, Roxie!"

"How is that even fair, Tía?" Roxie's voice tensed as the argument looked primed for escalation.

"It's fair, because I said so!"

"Oh, that's mature!"

"Enough!" Brittany finally broke it up.

"Rox, what we're just saying is that college is an amazing opportunity and would open so many doors for you." Brittany gently smiled. "And... we've been saving for it."

"You guys have been saving for my college education?" It was the first time Roxie had heard the news.

"Mhm, since last year, sweetie." Brittany played with the hem of Santana's jeans. "As soon as we decided we wanted to adopt you, we went to the bank and started a college fund for you and the baby."

"Oh..." Roxie swallowed and didn't have any words for the generous gesture. "I-I didn't know that..."

"Look, we'll make a deal with you right here and right now." Brittany looked over to Santana before focusing back on Roxie. "You can have the summer to think about it. No pressure from us and no nagging. But come the start of the school year, we want to hear your plans. Okay?"

Roxie stared back at her mothers and quirked her mouth deep in thought before answering. "Yeah, sure. I can be down with that," she nodded and smiled.

"Good," Brittany was jubilant.

Santana watched the entire interaction between her wife and daughter without saying a word. Mostly because she had to bite her tongue. As far as she was concerned, it really was not up for discussion. Roxie was going to college and that was the end of it. But Santana had epically failed in convincing her daughter of that because of her domineering tone, and Brittany had gotten her to take a positive step forward with a softer approach. It was another one of those funny things about parenthood and marriage. Santana would take the backseat to Brittany on this until the topic came up again in a few months.

"You might have gotten out of this discussion, because of your mom giving you a three month stay. But you're not getting out of dress shopping tomorrow for Quinn's wedding, Rox." Santana pointed.

"Oh yeah!" Brittany clapped. "We're gonna have so much fun all day tomorrow! We have to get your dress and Gabriel's little tuxedo. He's gonna look sooo cute!" she cooed.

"Oh man," Roxie groaned, leaning her forehead against the back of Gabriel's head. "I hate shopping with you guys. Can't you just pick me out something nice and save me the pain of being dragged around Brooklyn for six hours?"

"Sure, mija. If you want us to pick out the pinkest and frilliest thing we can possibly find," Santana teased.

"Never mind, I'll go." Roxie quickly replied.

"Yay, Roxie." Brittany cheered and Santana laughed.

The couple was still in hysterics at teasing their daughter when suddenly, Santana's phone lit up on the coffee table with an incoming call. The laughing stopped all at once as Santana and Brittany leaned over and saw the call was from Maria. She usually called her daughter in the evenings, but something seemed different. It was a little earlier than usual and everyone in the room seem to pick up on that fact. The couple shared a poignant look before Santana answered her phone with the shakiest hello Brittany had ever heard leave her wife's lips.

Brittany and Roxie watched as Santana sat up with urgency, placing her laptop on the table and standing. She paced with an arm crossed around her stomach as Maria seem to be delivering the news as calmly as she possibly could for her daughter. It felt like they were in a vacuum; the room void of any sound or air. Brittany couldn't even register Gabriel's off key piano playing as her focus was solely on Santana. And when she saw a hand go to her mouth, tears well in her wife's eyes, and Santana's knees slightly buckle underneath her, Brittany couldn't help the innate reaction to jump off the couch and be at her side.

Things had turned in a second, and Brittany still didn't know what Maria had said to Santana to make her drop the phone and sob uncontrollably. Had Miguel passed away? Or was he just in the hospital again? Santana tried to get the words out between fits of violent sobbing in Brittany's chest, but couldn't. Everything felt as if it was taking place underwater. It was dreary and muted - viscous and in slow motion. And as Brittany locked her tear stung eyes with Roxie from across the room, there was an unspoken understanding that their young family was about to be tested once again.

Brittany yawned and regripped the steering wheel. She readjusted her eyes and tried her best to focus on the road ahead of her. The family had made the almost ten hour drive from Brooklyn to Lima as soon as Brittany was able to calm Santana down and get everyone organized. Roxie proved to be the ultimate help in getting Gabriel's stuff together while Brittany took care of packing for her and Santana. They made it into town at about five o'clock in the morning. Brittany hadn't even had enough time for coffee and greetings when they dropped their children off at her parents' house.

She yawned again as they sped down Bellefontaine Avenue towards Lima Memorial Hospital, where Miguel was in the ICU. He was in his final throes of his illness and it seemed like the family couldn't get to Ohio fast enough so Santana could be at his side. Brittany reached over and interlaced their fingers over the center console. They had barely shared any words beyond Brittany consoling her through fits of crying during the car ride. She was at least grateful that her wife had managed a few cat-naps in between the tears.

"How are you feeling, baby?" Brittany asked and immediately regretted the dumb question once it left her mouth.

"I just wish there weren't so many fucking traffic lights," Santana sniffled and wiped a tear.

"I know, honey, but I see the hospital right ahead. We're almost there." Brittany brought her hand up to her lips for a reassuring kiss.

"I just..." Santana breathed out. "I want to be there when..."

"I know..." Brittany nodded. "I think we're good. Your mom would have called if anything happened."

Santana nodded back at Brittany and was a little more at ease. It still felt like an elephant had been sitting on her chest for the better part of ten hours, but she was coming to terms with the devastating news. Somewhere, deep down, she knew the phone call was coming sooner or later, especially after seeing her father at Gabriel's birthday party and then again for Memorial Day weekend. That weekend he was doing even worse.

A few minutes later, Santana rubbed her sweaty hands together as the elevator ascended to the ICU level. Everything was feeling utterly surreal at the moment, and tinged with a foggy dreamlike haze. Maybe it was from all the crying, the long car ride, or sheer exhaustion, but Santana had the sudden urge to pinch herself before the elevator doors opened. Her mind and heart had been at a fast pace all night and early morning, but as soon as they were met with the familiar sounds of hospital heart monitor beeps and the hissing of oxygen machines, everything had come to a halt. The dreamlike haziness cleared in that moment and reality had set in.

A nurse had signed them in and gave them both a visitor pass before they could go into the main corridor. They were met with Maria standing just outside Miguel's room. She was just hanging up her cell phone when she turned and locked eyes with a fast walking Santana.

"Mamí..." Santana led in with tears and a bear hug. She grabbed onto her mother like she had never before. Maria felt skinny and frigid. Taking care of a sick husband for all these months had taken a toll on her.

"Shhh, it's okay, mija..." Maria pet her daughter's hair as she held her. She was beautifully stoic, like she had been for the better part of eight months. She waved Brittany in for a quick hug as well while Santana stayed planted in her chest.

"W-what happened? What did the doctor say?" Santana finally managed to sniffle out before pulling herself away.

"He's been weaker than usual the last few days, Santana. He had some shortness of breath again and collapsed after dinner." Maria explained. "They said he's probably had walking pneumonia for a while. It's not uncommon for people in endstage."

"Okay, are they treating him for that? When's the last time a doctor came in to see him?" Santana was having one last bout with denial.

Maria just shook her head at her daughter while Brittany stood close by, watching without saying a word.

"No, no doctor has come in to see him lately? Or no, they're not treating him for his infection? What kind of a hospital is this? This shit would never go down at Saint Rita's! Call the insurance company, mamí. We're moving him!" Santana raised her voice an octave.

"Shh, calma..." Maria shushed her. "No... there isn't anything they can do beyond making him comfortable..." she swallowed and looked into her daughter's eyes.

"What are you saying?"

"He's unconscious and in full organ shutdown, honey." Maria looked sad for her daughter. "It could be hours or a couple of days. We don't know."

"Oh my God..." Santana breathed through tears. The tightness in her chest returned with a vengeance and she felt like she wanted to be sick.

"I'm so sorry, San," Brittany whispered with tears in her eyes and rubbed her back. Her heart hurt so much for her wife, and there was no way she could make it better.

"He wants to pass at home, mija," Maria informed. "We had talked about this moment a lot over the last few months. And your father wants to be comfortable at home."

All Santana could muster was a nod at what her mother was telling her before finally speaking. "Can... can I see him now?" she cleared her throat and wiped some tears.

"Sure, bebé." Maria turned and opened the heavy hospital door.

Santana slowly followed behind her mother with Brittany slowly trailing behind her as they walked into the room together. She didn't know what to expect, but she was pretty sure there was no way of being prepared for what she was about to see. She was met with the erie, but recognizable hospital room smell of sanitizer and metallic ozone, as well as the usual monotonous beeping noises. There her father laid attached to every tube in the world. Santana found it hard to hold back a fresh batch of tears seeing him in such a state as she slowly approached his bedside. He was alive, but barely. His skin was clammy and pale; his eyes bruised and sunken in. He was a complete shell of himself.

Santana bent down and gently kissed Miguel's cheek before whispering some words into his ear. She held his hand and momentarily looked out the window just in time to catch the sun rising over downtown Lima. It was ironically one of the most serene and beautiful sun rises she had ever seen. It calmed her. Santana was finally at peace and had fully come to terms with the situation.

"Let's take him home, mamí..." she looked at her mother and reluctantly nodded.

Santana stepped onto her parents' back patio later that evening. She stretched her back and rubbed her shoulder. It seemed like just a minute ago the sun was rising over Lima, and now she was watching the last remnants of the Midwestern sunset peek under the neighbor's roof. It was a bit of a process to get her dad signed out of the hospital, but they were finally able to get him transported home by late morning. Since then, it had just been a steady stream of friends and family members coming by the house to say their goodbyes. Even the Pierces had spent most of the day there, cooking dinner before leaving back home with Roxie and Gabriel. Santana didn't want either of their children there overnight.

Santana took in a long breath before collapsing in a patio chair. Her, Brittany, and Maria were all taking turns keeping a vigil over her father as his breathing and blood pressure became weaker with each passing hour. It was only a matter of time now.

She sat, taking in the early June breeze and letting herself become mesmerized by the lit up pool in front of her. The water was clear, and it distorted the light just enough to create underwater prisms of beautiful colors. She closed her eyes and breathed in the mild chlorine smell, letting the memories of happier days play in her mind like a silent movie.

"So many good memories at your parents' pool." Brittany softly said as she walked up from behind.

"Yeah, there are..." Santana weakly smiled back.

She followed Brittany until her wife took a seat in her lap. Brittany brushed some hair out of her face and leaned forward to kiss her forehead. She lingered and Santana finally surrendered. She let her hands wrap around Brittany's waist and held her tight, breathing her in. She had been so busy throughout the day with friends and family that she wasn't even aware of how much she missed Brittany's touch - how much she needed Brittany's touch.

"Thank you for driving the whole way, Britt." Santana mumbled into Brittany's chest.

"It was no problem. I would do anything for you, you know that." Brittany kissed the top of her head.

"God, I'm so exhausted."

"Then sleep, honey." Brittany pulled back to tuck some hair behind her ears.

"I can't. He's getting weaker. We need to stay up. I want to be with him when it happens..." she swallowed down a growing lump.

"We're all taking turns watching him. You can fit in a nap, and someone will wake you up if anything happens."

"Maybe," Santana sighed. "Who's watching him right now?"

"Your mom is. Your Uncle Ernesto just left," Brittany swept some more hair behind Santana's ear.

"Oh..." Santana sighed again.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she shook her head. "It's like it just hit me that she's about to be alone, Britt."

"Your mom is not gonna be alone though, Santana. She has you and our family. She has my family here in Lima too," Brittany quickly reminded her.

"I know that. I'm just so sad for her though. I just keep thinking about if it was me, and if I was losing you."

"But you're not losing me right now, San."

"But I could!" Santana looked up with with glassy eyes. "Something could happen tomorrow, or when we're really old and you'll pass away. Part of me actually wants to die first, Britt. That way I don't have to live through losing you."

"Don't say that, Santana." Brittany clicked her tongue.

"I can't help it right now."

Brittany held Santana's face in her hands and sucked in a breath before speaking. "It's natural to project on yourself at the moment. I get it, sweetie. But you have to keep everything in perspective right now. You just have to be there for your mom for the months and years to come."

"Mhm, I know." Santana nodded.

"I know you guys have been getting along lately, because of your dad. And that's been so great. But I'm worried that after a few months you'll go back to the way it was; back to you trying to get out of holidays with her, or playing the phone tag game."

"Why would we go back to that?" Santana wiped an errant tear.

"Because, she's a Cancer and you're a Virgo." Brittany stated rather matter-of-factly.

"What?" Santana cracked a half smile up at her wife and chuckled. It was her first laugh in a day. "Baby, how does that have anything to do with it...?"

"It has everything to do with it," Brittany slid her arms around Santana's neck. "A Cancer parent and a Virgo child have one of the most complicated relationships out of all the zodiacs."

"Is that right?" Santana didn't look sold and often found her wife's astrology talks farfetched.

"Mhm. You're both not the easiest to understand. You both hide your emotions under a tough exterior. You both can be insensitive to others, goal-oriented, moody, and short tempered. Tell me any of this isn't true, Santana."

"Okay, a teeny bit true." she quickly agreed.

"But at the same time, you guys both admire each other so much. The love is always there, you're both just unsure how to show it."

"So, what are you saying, Britt?"

"I'm saying, the relationship takes time to develop. But once it gets going, it gets stronger over time." Brittany brightly smiled.

"Soooo, you're saying you want my mom to move in with us so we can keep the good vibes going? Because, I don't think that'll work-"

"No!" Brittany chuckled. "I'm saying I want you to talk to her sometime soon, San. Let her know even after all this happens you still want her close. You don't want to waste anymore time of being negative or angry."

Santana searched Brittany's face and let the words sink in. She still didn't believe all the universe talk Brittany seemed to be so into. But her wife was honestly making sense. Deep down, Santana had the same fear as Brittany. Soon, her mother would be all she had and Santana didn't want them to be cursed to a forever distant and cold relationship.

"You're a genius, Brittany. You know that?" Santana reached up to rub her cheek bones with her thumbs. She leaned in for a long kiss.

"Mm, I think you've told me that once or twice." Brittany smiled as she broke the kiss.

"It's because it's true. You've always been the smartest person I know."

Santana held Brittany close for a few more minutes. They held onto each other and stared at the pool together, replaying the the countless happy memories of the Lopez backyard. She squeezed her eyes shut, wishing she could stop time and buy herself just a few more minutes before walking back into the house - before walking back into reality.

Santana was finally making her way back down the hall and into her parents' bedroom when something caught her attention just before she entered. She stopped herself at the doorway and peeked into the large master bedroom to catch her mother praying over her father with her rosary beads. She leaned against the doorframe, not wanting to disturb, and watched the rare intimate moment between her parents. She looked on as her mother whispered the prayer into his ear on the bed while her father slept peacefully under the blankets with his oxygen mask on.

"Creo en Dios, Padre todopoderoso, creador del Cielo y de la Tierra.
Creo en Jesucristo su único Hijo, Nuestro Señor,
que fue concebido por obra y gracia del Espíritu Santo;
nació de Santa María Virgen;
padeció bajo el poder de Poncio Pilato;
fue crucificado, muerto y sepultado;
descendió a los infiernos; al tercer día resucitó de entre los muertos;
subió a los cielos y está a la diestra de Dios Padre;
desde allí ha de venir a juzgar a los vivos y a los muertos.
Creo en el Espíritu Santo, en la Santa Iglesia Católica,
la comumión de los Santos en el perdon de los pecados
la resurrección de los muertos y la vida eterna.
Amén."

"The Apostles' Creed." Santana finally walked in after her mother finished the prayer.

Maria looked up from her spot on the bed, where she had been lying with her unconscious husband, and sat up with a tired smile against the headboard.

"You remember El Credo?"

"Of course, I remember, mamí." Santana clicked her tongue and gently sat on the end of the bed. She couldn't help but zero in on her father's breathing. It was even shallower than when she first left to get some air by the pool. "And I was also aware of everything Father Rubio was saying when he gave papí his last rights a few hours ago."

"I'm surprised," Maria quietly chuckled. "I thought you were always asleep during Mass, or secretly texting Brittany."

"Well, I was always secretly texting Brittany. But I still would listen... sometimes." Santana tried to joke.

"Eh, you're forgiven," Maria waved her hand. "He doesn't know that I know, but I would catch him checking his Fantasy Football scores during church all the time."

Mother and daughter both let out a rare vibrant laugh as they became more comfortable with the situation.

"He was a good husband..." Maria finally admitted as she looked down on him.

"He was an even better daddy," Santana countered.

There was a moment of silence as both women were reflective before Maria finally spoke again. "Santana, I want to apologize for the way I was when you were growing up-"

"Noooo, mamí. Don't do that." Santana winced at the conversation her mother was trying to start.

"No, I have to. I wasn't there a lot because of work. And when I was, I was controlling and domineering. You are an amazing daughter. I should tell you that more often."

"I had this conversation with dad a few months ago at Christmas," Santana scooted up more on the bed. "And I'm gonna tell you the same thing I told him, mom. You guys gave me every opportunity in the world. And when I came out, you both were right there to support me at a time I was scared to death. You two were amazing parents, and I'm sorry I never told you that more often."

"Hm," Maria proudly smiled at her daughter with tears brimming. "Are you sure you're my daughter?"

"Mamí..." Santana rolled her eyes.

"No, you're so warm, Santana. I see you with your family. I see you with Roxie and Gabriel. You're such a good mother."

"So are you." Santana crawled up closer to her mother and grabbed her hands.

"I'm so scared, mija..." Maria breathed out and finally let the tears go. "I'm about to be sixty years old, and I don't know what my life is without him. I don't know what happens tomorrow," she cried.

"Oh, I know, mamí." Santana held her mother to her chest and cried with her. "I'm so scared too, but that's okay, because we can be scared together. You're never going to be alone."

"Promise me it'll be different, honey." Maria pulled back and wiped her tears. "Promise me we will make a better effort to be closer after this. I want Roxie to see me as a warm person and I want Gabriel to grow up knowing me as nothing but the most loving abuela."

"I promise, mamí! I want that so much too. I love you." Santana nodded vigorously.

"I love you too, bebé." Maria reached up and wiped Santana's tears with her thumbs. "But you know what I really want right now?"

"What?"

"I want to sleep," she chuckled.

"Oh my God, me too." Santana laughed.

"I want us to sleep like when you were a kid, and would run into our room when it rained really hard."

"Okay," Santana whispered.

She kissed her mother's cheek before scooting closer to her father, so she could be in the middle, like old times. Maria slid behind her daughter and pulled a big blanket over the three of them. Mother and daughter were finally able to doze off after finally putting so much heavy baggage behind them. Santana laid her head on her father's chest and listened to his dimming heartbeat. He wouldn't make it through the night. The cancer had won the battle. But it didn't defeat him, because he had gone out on his terms.

On his terms: in the comfort of his own home, in his warm bed, and with his newly mended family at his side.

End Note: I know it was really heavy, my dears. Thank you for sticking with it if you did. It will be a year next month that I started this crazy story lol. So, we are in the back stretch of the journey now. I don't want to commit to a chapter count, but I would say roughly about five chapters to go. Thank you again for always supporting my story :)