A/N: I tried to avoid this for as long as I could...but in the beginning it was my plan and I have to follow it through. Please be gentle! This song was just there and so was I and out this came.

Enjoy it.


Chapter 54: The Great Escape (P!nk)


There weren't any words for how I felt about him.

Just a shit load of emotions.


Ari's POV


"I have been through this a zillion times before...and each time it turned out to be the worst."

"Doesn't mean that it's always going to be that way, it could be different this time around, Ariana."

"I wish I had as much faith as you do."

"Its not the amount of faith baby...it's that you have it at all."

"Well right now I don't have any."

"Don't say things like that...I know you have faith."

I looked down into those midnight black eyes and saw that comforting little smile that Gloria reserves just for me and tried to smile back.

But the sound of the machines around me and the smell of disinfectant made it drop.

"Okay...but if it is Cancer again...are you going to leave me?"

Now she wasn't smiling anymore.

She looked offended and I felt sick about it.

"Ari...I promise you, this...what you and I have, is the real deal. I don't plan on going anywhere. Ever."

"You say that now...but it could get bad. I mean really bad. I wouldn't blame you if you decided to leave."

My heart was racing as she wrapped her arms around me and held me.

"Never. I'm going to marry you one day...I can't do that if I leave...can I?" She whispered before kissing my face and pulling me closer.

"I love you, Gloria."

"Te amo, Ariana."

I rested my face against hers and tried to stay positive.

Her love was pushing me through this.

She was my faith.

My hope.

And even though now, I knew that she was in this...it was still hard to believe that things would end up okay.

It took everything in me to try and pull out my faith as I waited for my test results.

I should be a pro at this...but it hurts just as bad, every single time.


Things had started a week ago...I was nearly done my time off and was all set to go back to the show when I got really sick.

I pushed through it and went on stage.

Thankfully it was just a rehearsal.

I kept dancing in hopes that things would just calm down...but then the incident happened two days ago.

Just before curtain call, I felt a wetness soaking my legs.

Right there on the stage...I peed myself.

It was the most embarrassing moment of my life.

Thankfully...Katie was standing in front of me and moved onto center stage in my place.

Nobody but her and Frank had seen.

The moment that he got me backstage...he insisted that I don't come back until I went back to the doctor.

Up until that point, I was going to wait it out.

My logic was that if I was going to die...then there was no better place than the stage in the very auditorium that my mother took her last breath in.

Morbid...I know.

Gloria though...was not going to let me go out without a fight.

So now here I was...waiting...endlessly.

"Thank you for being here." I said as I squeezed her hand.

"There is no place I would rather be than by your side."

"Sap." I tried my best to put on a brave face.

But on the inside...I was still a wreck.

Please God...just this once let it just be a fluke.


Santana's POV


When I stepped onto the sidewalk, I didn't expect for Mami to be standing there waiting for me.

Britt was already sitting in the car and from the looks of it she was on the passenger side.

She wanted me to drive.

I mean sure it was my truck but I really wasn't looking forward to driving with my back in so much pain.

"Anything I should know before going in there to talk to him?"

I felt my eyebrows raise as I met Mami's eyes.

"I let him meddle in my life when it was me and Felo...I was grateful when he got me out of jams in high school...but him telling me that Brittany is too stupid for me...that shit just isn't cool with me."

Her eyes got wide as she nodded.

"You and Felo? Why don't I know about that?"

"Nobody did...look it was high school...right after my quincenera. It's silly. Right now...I'm more concerned with the fact that he thinks that he is my father. His word doesn't mean anything to me anymore and you know what else...I don't think I want to come by here anymore."

"I'll talk to him."

"I bet you will...but I don't think it's going to be good enough."

"Don't say that."

"No...I'm serious. Brittany is my entire world and he can't just come around and think that he can push her out of my life. Where was he when Marco was beating my ass or whoring me off to half of New York City?!"

I knew that I was yelling in the middle of the street but I didn't care much at that moment.

For me, all that mattered was that Mami understood just how much her husband had just fucked me up.

This was one of those moments where even though it seemed like she was agreeing with me...I just couldn't be near her.

He was her husband and she had been around while I was in that coma.

She should have known something was up.

It took me like two seconds to figure out.

For someone who is a self-confessed intuitive person...she is way off.

Now that I think about it...she always has been.

And I knew that when everything was said and done...there was still shit that we needed to talk through.

Old wounds that had never properly healed...just covered up were starting to hurt again.

After all these years of peace between us, Pa was dragging them back to the surface.

I shouldn't have to deal with petty bullshit like this.

Especially now.

I was beyond pissed.

He had crossed the line.

I didn't give Mami the chance to respond, instead I just walked away.

I had enough.


Now that I was fuming mad, driving didn't really sound like a big feat.

I slammed the car door and then sat back.

When I felt the cool, softness behind me, I couldn't help but smile.

Britt knew me too well.

I looked over at her and could see that her face was flushed, she had been angry.

Now though she was smiling at me.

She was trying to hold back the emotions that she felt.

"He's wrong, B and now both he and Mami both know it."

I started the car and pulled out onto the street, hoping that I could just focus on getting home without getting more upset...

Then the bluetooth went off.

"Call from Felix."

"Seriously..." I grumbled as I turned towards the highway.

Pa must have called him.

"Hello?"

Just hearing Felix's voice made me smile.

There was so much underlying history between us.

And the feelings had never gone bad.

He was that guy for me.

I'm convinced that ever lesbian has one...the guy that you would marry if you weren't gay.

Maybe it's just me...who knows...but I used to know for a fact that Felix would be the guy for me.

He was easy to love and command.

Like a loyal puppy.

He was also my godbrother...which was why we were ended before we even got off the ground, once Pa found out about us...it was over.

"Hey Felo...how are you?"

"Um...I was fine until Hector called me about ten minutes ago. I didn't pick up so he left this nasty message about how I needed to set you straight about things. Can you tell me why I need to set you straight?"

"What an asshole."

"Who me?"

"No...your godfather."

"My godfather...I believe you were always his pride and joy...I was just someone he ignored until I started dating you."

"What?" Britt cut in.

I looked over at her and could see the irritation on her face.

I had never really told her that we were dating...just that we had fooled around.

"Felo...Britt's in the car...can we talk about this later."

"No...you guys talk about it now...no more secrets." Britt said as she rested her hand on my thigh.

"Fine...he doesn't want me with Britt...the same way he didn't want me with you."

"We were kids though...you two are married with a bunch of kids." He chuckled in disbelief.

"That's what I said. He is crossing a million boundaries with me and I am done with him right now. So you are apparently supposed to set me straight."

"No offense...but I don't think ANYONE can set Santana Lopez straight...except Brittany."

I looked over at Britt and could see that she was blushing.

Thankfully, Felo had completely turned her mood around by complimenting her.

"Look, I don't want you dragged into this okay. Just ignore him...he's not your boss anymore...he can't fire you if you pay him just as much attention as he has paid you over the years, it should be enough to get him to back off."

"Ha! Which is none...good one. Okay...well, I just clocked some ass at 95 on Market. I need to go. Take care ladies and don't let him get to you Brittany...he's an asshole."


Gladys' POV


"Why did you do it?"

"Ay, Glady...why are you letting your daughter's decisions run your life? She is an adult now. She doesn't need your protection."

"You saw her, Hector. You saw what that monster did to her! How could you say that?"

"I know that's she's been hurt. There just comes a point where she has to have some accountability."

"You know...for years...I thought you were so much wiser than Aden...but not when it comes to Santana. Aden may have been a cabron but he would never blame Santana for what that man did."

"You don't think so? Really? He started this mess in the first place."

"You see...how can you blame her for this? She was minding her own fucking business when he pulled her off the street. She's still a kid Hector."

"She isn't the same...Santana is not the little girl that she used to be. This woman she has turned into is complacent and lazy."

"I can't believe you right now, Hector!"

"If you would open your eyes, you would see it too."

"See what, exactly?"

"The effect that girl has had on her life. She will never move on from the wrongs that Marco did to her as long as she is with someone so weak and stupid. Brittany is no good for her."

"So this is Brittany's fault? That's what it comes down to right, her not being good enough? You never liked that Anita ended up with a gringa, that's what this is really about. You and your Spanish pride can't deal?"

"That's not what this is."

"Your blaming that girl because she white. I know it."

"I'm not racist Glady."

"No? What about Samuel?"

"What about him?"

"Hector when was the last time that you spoke to your own son? Seen your grandchildren?"

"Not this again."

"No...answer the damn question. How long?"

"Eleven years."

"Why?"

"You know why."

"Tell me...say the truth."

"Fine. I didn't approve of who he married and the life that he is living with her."

"A sweet asian girl who is from Connecticut. She is so good to your son...they have a regular life. I thought when we moved to New York that you would reach out to him. He lives less than twenty miles away. You haven't seen him once. So you don't get to tell me how I am with Santana...I am a good mother. Are you a good father?"


I was distraught.

Sure, I had dropped the ball when it came to my daughter.

A lot.

Now though, I was atoning for that.

I was here for her and that was all that mattered.

Hector didn't agree.

We sat there in the kitchen for a while just staring each other down until he decided to go to bed.

Now here I am, trying to figure out how to fix this situation.

My husband and my daughter...at odds.

Again.

When Aden died, I was sure that I wouldn't be in this situation again but here I was.

Back then, I had tried to be neutral...I would let her go somewhere to escape him.

And while she was gone, I would get him to see the issue from my point of view and he would get over himself.

Me having a talk with him would get through to him.

Then Aden would calm down and allow her to come home.

Hector was different.

And Ana was a woman with her own mind.

I used to have a hold over her...

Now though...she didn't live with me and her wife was threatening to make sure she and the kids didn't come here anymore.

Now Ana was threatening to cut her own Padrino out of her life.

And if she cuts him out...some of me is going to go along with it.

But I get that she needs to stand her ground.

And I can't help but agree, Britt is her life...the one that she will always choose.

Hector be damned, I was never going to stand in the way of that.

Ana needs stability and comfort, she shouldn't have to come to my house and feel like she has to be someone who she isn't.

Too much of that had already occurred.

Never again.

I wouldn't allow it.


Ari's POV


I could manage this.

Things would be fine.

They would be fine.

I would be fine.

Just have faith.

Just have faith.

God this hurts.

Just have faith.

No doubts.

Be optimistic.

This is not a death sentence.

I am bigger than this.

I can't leave her.

I just found her.

Just have faith.

Just have faith.


"Amor? Say something."

I looked over at Gloria and could see how glassy her eyes were.

She wanted to cry.

Maybe I should let her go.

She was so good...

So amazing.

Why should she suffer with me?

How could I do that to her?

"I..."

Everything that I wanted to say was gone.

There was nothing to say.

I looked straight ahead at the doctor as he tried to talk to me.

Gloria's hand had grown sweaty in mine but she didn't let go.

If anything, she held on tighter.

"Ari...he wants to know which plan you want to follow."

"I'm so tired." I finally whispered as the cool tears poured from my eyes.

I kept thinking back to being just a kid, barely able to read and going through chemo for the first time.

Everything hurt.

Nothing felt right.

Walking had been agony.

My bones were so weak and frail.

And people treated me like I was made of the finest crystal.

I don't know if I could do it yet again...

I was just so fucking tired.


Santana's POV


I knelt on the bathroom floor with Britt as we gave the kids a bath.

They were both more interested in the new bubble bath and all the toys that Britt had dumped in the water.

Which was fine...seeing them happy was all that I wanted.

I felt a new peace fill me as we were watching them play together.

This was what I fought for.

Growing up...all I wanted was family and to feel like I had something.

Someone.

And looking at my little family...I knew that despite the obstacles, I had succeeded.

"I missed this." I said after wiping away Isaac's tears.

Daniela is in a hitting phase just as Isaac is starting to break out of his.

I don't like that she is getting into the hitting.

It's going to stop.

I am going to use this week to try and break her of the habit.

In the mean time, Isaac was pitching a fit.

"Mami, Dani mean."

"It's okay, Papa...she's sorry. Right, Mamita, you're sorry."

"Yes. I sowy." She said in a cheerful voice before continuing to play with her belly button.

I couldn't help but smile as I watched the two of them play together just a few seconds later.

Isaac had taken a deep breath and went back to playing with his boat.

"I missed it too." Britt whispered as she floated a little duck across the water.


"Nigh Nigh." Daniela whispered as she drifted off to sleep.

I kissed her face a hundred times before finally turning the light off and closing the door.

Britt and I met in the hallway and I couldn't help my smile.

It was just like old times.

This had been the longest three weeks of our lives.

"He is still in a crappy mood...how is she?"

"Already asleep...sweet as always."

"She's definitely my kid."

Britt was smiling really big as she kissed my face and then started walking towards the baby's room.

I punched her shoulder and made my way towards Isaac's room before turning back.

"Hey B?" She turned and looked at me, still smiling. She looked like she was up to something. "It's fine, you know. Claim her all you want...I'll never fight it because when she hits puberty...she's all yours."

I winked before stepping into my son's room.

He was sitting up in bed with his arms over his chest.

He was pissed about something.

Again.


I was really starting to get sick of my son's poor attitude.

How could a two-year old be so mean?

"What's wrong?" I asked as I knelt in front of him.

And just like that we were back to hitting.

He slapped me right on my arm.

It didn't hurt or anything but the point was that he was doing it.

"Isaac Aden...you do not hit people. It's not nice."

"You not nice."

This kid!

"Why?"

"You go away."

My heart fell.

"I'm right here, Papa."

"You go away soon?"

I wanted to cry.

This was what I was to him...already.

Just like my parents were to me.

"I'm here, Papa."

"I no Papa...I Izzy." He said with a growl.

"I can't call you Papa?"

"No!" He snapped at me.

"Is everything okay?" Britt popped her head into the room.

I shook my head and stood to my feet.

"No...it's not. He's mad at me."

"What? Why?"

"Because I keep leaving."

She leaned down and pulled his arms apart.

He put them back.

Britt was insanely patient as she pulled his arms apart again.

"Lay down. It's time for sleep."

"No!" He screamed.

"He was fine like two minutes ago...how did he get like this?" She mumbled as she pulled his arms apart again.

"It's me."

I leaned over to kiss his head and he hit me again.

This time, it made me feel so close to tears that I had to leave the room.

Let Britt handle him tonight.


Gladys' POV


"Thank you for coming."

"Of course, tell me how I can help."

"Talk to him."

"Did he really try to come between them?"

"Yea, I tried to talk to him...maybe you can get through to him."

"It's been a long time coming...does he know that you and I have been talking at all?"

"I hinted at it tonight...but I don't think he really paid much attention to it."

"And the drinking...is he doing more of it?"

"Yea...that's my fear Sam."

"Where is he?"

"Upstairs second door on the left...do you want me to walk you up?"

"No...it's about time that I stood up to my father."


Calling Samuel had definitely been a risk.

Over the last few months we had been talking and meeting for lunch.

I wanted to get to know him better and had found him to be all the things that I loved about Hector.

He was kind and intelligent.

Loyal and brave.

And he loves hard.

His wife is the sweetest person that I have met.

She is everything that Hector should want for his son.

I didn't think that he would agree to come talk to his father...but he did.

Almost immediately.

Now, I had to fix things with my daughter...I just didn't know how exactly.

So I did the only thing that I could think of.

I went to church.


Ari's POV


"Ari? Sweetheart...you have to change."

"No."

"It's not really an option."

"Please...just let me rest a second...please?"

I hated the way that I was whining.

"For how much longer?"

"I need to call Frank."

"It's late...can't it wait for the morning?"

"No...please?"

"Fine...but just to update him...then will you let me help you get dressed?"

"Sure."

"Good. Well go ahead...call him."

"Are you just going to stand there?"

I was tired, in pain and fucking annoyed that she was standing there smiling at me.

This was not a time to smile.

"Yes...I'm not leaving. I'm going to stand by you."

"Why?"

"Because I love you and even though I know you want to push me away...I'm not going to let you."

"This would be easier if you were just a bitch."

"How so?"

"I wouldn't feel bad about being mean to you."

My dry attempts at humor always fall flat with people...

But never with Gloria.

"Is it because of the whole nun thing because I'm sure I can dig up an old habit?"

She smiled and then sat down on the edge of the hospital bed with a gown in her hands.

Even though I was trying my best to be annoyed...I just couldn't.

Her comebacks were just too perfect.

She was just too awesome.

She was here...and even though it was the last thing I wanted for her, I was grateful not to be alone.


"Please don't freak out."

"Ariana, take whatever time you need. Take care of yourself...is Gloria with you?"

"Yes."

"And they said it's bad?"

"I guess."

"Have you talked to Brittany?"

"No...just you."

"Okay. Call me in the morning."

"Okay."

"I'm praying for you."

"Aren't you an atheist?"

"Yea well...you can use all the prayers that you can get right?"

"Yea...I have to go. I'll have Gloria call with any news."

"Okay. She has my number right? I can give it to her? Will you give it to her? Becaus-"

I cut off his rambling as my head began to pound.

"Frank?" He kept going. "Frank!" My scream came out as more of a yelp but it got his attention.

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine...I have to go."

"Right."

"Bye Frank."

"Take care."


"Go ahead...rub it in."

Gloria swallowed her laughter and shook her head.

"No...I think you regret calling him enough all on your own."

"Ugh...are you going to help me or not?"

"Definitely...any chance to see you naked."

She winked and I laughed.

My chest felt like it was going to cave in.

"Are all nuns freaks like you?"

"A bunch of hormonal, undersexed women...one priest...it gets a little like fatal attraction sometimes."

"I bet."

"So why don't you sit here...and I'll take it from there."

"Okay."

I was too tired to fight.

All I wanted was this to be done with.

I wanted it to be some nightmare that I was going to wake up from.

But when the doctor came in with all those fucking needles a few minutes later...

I knew that this was my harsh new reality.

And now that she was intending to stand by me...she was going to suffer through this with me.

How had I gotten so lucky?


Santana's POV


"He hates me."

Britt wrapped her arms around me as I hovered over the stove.

It was late and everyone was in the guest houses but I still hadn't eaten.

This baby was hungry and so was I.

Britt offered to cook but she doesn't make pancakes like I do...so I was making them myself.

She rested her chin on my shoulder and rocked me slowly.

"He doesn't hate you."

"He does. From the moment that he realized that he had to share me with Daniela...he has hated me because soon after that...I was moving away to Rachel's and then to Lima. Then he went into the hospital-"

She cut me off.

"And you were there with him...for like a month after that you went to see him every single day."

"Yea but it's not the same. Then after he got home from the hospital...this happened. Wait until he realizes that he has to share me with another baby."

My mind was wandering as I flipped my pancake onto a plate and poured more batter.

"He loves Dani and he will love this baby."

I felt chills run through me as she moved her hands from my waist and cupped my non-existent belly.

"If you say so."

"I do."

There were abs there...track had given me my high school figure back and now I was going to lose it again.

But that was the least of my concerns.

Right now...I was trying to figure out how I had failed my kids so terribly.


"Hello?"

I sat at the table with my stack of pancakes when Britt's phone went off.

My mind wandered back to a time when her getting phone calls after eleven would have set off alarms.

Now though...we were so much more...so much bigger.

It seemed like an eternity since we were those two girls in my apartment back in Lima.

If I knew then what I knew now...I wouldn't have been so hard on her.

Shit...I would probably even have let her go off on tour with Frankie.

Now though...everything that we had gone through just proved that we can make it through anything.

"What's up?"

I asked without looking up at Britt as she walked back into the room.

"It was Frank, he just got a call from Ari...it's back, she and Gloria are at the hospital now."

The loud clanging sound of my fork hitting my plate echoed throughout the house as my heart began to race.

"No." I whispered as the tears came rushing to my eyes.

Britt slid into the chair across from me and reached out her hand.

"It's not looking good...she has been ignoring the symptoms and it's farther along than before."

"This can't be happening right now...oh God...I need to see her."

"Wait until morning...we can go then. It's really late right now."

"Fuck...this just isn't fair!"

"Ana...just breathe."

"Fuck!" I shoved my plate off the table and it went crashing to the floor.

But that didn't matter.

Nothing mattered but the fact that Ari was sick again and it wasn't looking good.

Last time she nearly died.

Every time...she nearly died.

My fear was that one day...it would be time for her to actually be gone.

What if that time was now?


A/N: Are you guys still reading? Am I doing okay? Review.