Chapter 53
One Year Later
"Happy Birthday Charlie!", everyone shouted just before Charlie blew out the five candles on her birthday cake.
"Sissy, sissy!" Matthew shouted as he clapped his hands too. He had celebrated his first birthday two months earlier. Both birthdays were emotional days for the family. On Matthew's birthday they not only celebrated his first year of life they celebrated his birth because he had saved Charlie's life. Santana and Brittany wanted to make sure Matthew's life wasn't just celebrated for saving Charlie's. They wanted his life celebrated because he was a part of their family. Even though he was a surprise in their lives he was a part of the family just like all of the other children. Matthew had developed a special attachment to Riley just like Riley had developed a special attachment to Matthew when he was born. Charlie and Matthew had a special attachment as well. He called her Sissy instead of Charlie. Santana and Brittany had decided he called her sissy because Charlie would say things to Matthew like 'your big sissy loves you' or 'give your big sissy a kiss'. Charlie loved being a big sister.
Charlie laughed at Matthew when he shouted Sissy and clapped his hands. She leaned over and kissed his cheek. Santana and Brittany couldn't believe a year had gone by since they had celebrated Charlie's birthday in her hospital room. So much had changed in their lives and the lives of their family since then. Santana and Brittany stood there together on their patio watching their family and friends enjoying the party and barbeque for Charlie's birthday.
"So much has changed since last year on this day." Brittany said quietly. Santana, who leaned her head on Brittany's shoulder, nodded in agreement and Brittany continued talking in a low voice so other couldn't hear. "Andrew and Sugar are expecting another baby already. Puck and Quinn had a miscarriage. I wonder if they will try again. They have two great kids but I know they want at least one more. We know how devastating a miscarriage can be. I worry about them. My father had a heart attack. Thank God it was a small one and didn't do much heart damage. My mother is driving him crazy with eating healthy. Your parents seem to be enjoying life more and more each day. Is it me or have they been acting like love sick puppies lately?"
Santana laughed, "Yes they are acting like teenagers in love. They seem to almost be falling in love with each other again."
"I know exactly how they are feeling because I fall in love with you all over again every day I wake up to your beautiful face." Brittany said before giving Santana a gentle kiss.
"I feel the same way baby." It was Santana's turn to initiate a kiss.
"Mommy! Mommy!" Matthew shouted as he ran over to them. He called them both Mommy but it didn't matter because they both always answered. Brittany scooped Matthew up in her arms. "Sissy, Sissy!" He shouted as pointed to Charlie who was waiting patiently as her abuela and grandma cut her birthday cake. They had gone to the bakery and ordered Charlie's cake together. Since they spent so much time together during Charlie's illness at the hospital they had become best friends. Santana and Brittany loved that their mothers were so close.
Matthew wiggled to get down so Brittany put him down and he immediately ran over and sat beside Charlie on the picnic table. He was given a piece of cake which he started eating with his fingers. Brittany and Santana giggled at him, "He's going to have frosting in his hair and every place else. He's going to need a bath." Brittany stated as she took Santana's hand and had her walk with her to two lawn chair that were set up on the patio. They sat down but didn't let go of each other's hand. Their fingers were laced together in a perfect fit.
Santana watched as her mother gave Collin a piece of birthday cake. He was their first born and would be 11 years old on his next birthday. He was at the age where he isn't a little kid anymore but he's not a teenager yet. Collin took his role as big brother seriously and was especially helpful to his siblings when Charlie was sick. Santana and Brittany knew the day might come when they would have to tell him his Uncle Andrew was the sperm donor Santana chose when she got pregnant with him. They didn't know if he would ask when he got older if Santana knew who the donor was or if some of circumstance may come up where they would need to tell him. He has a special relationship with his Uncle Andrew. They go to baseball games together and go play basketball in the park. Santana and Brittany watch as Collin ate his cake and laughed with siblings. "Collin is such an awesome big brother. He always wants to take care of Maya, Riley, Charlie, and Matthew. I remember how serious he was when he came to our bedroom one night to ask a question.
Six Months Earlier
Charlie has been home from the hospital for about five months and everything had been going well. They had to make sure she wasn't exposed to germs which meant everyone in the house was constantly washing their hands. If any of the other children got sick they would go stay with the Lopez's or Pierce's until they were better. Life for Santana and Brittany had started getting back on track. Brittany was working almost every day the dance studio although she may time to spend with Charlie at least two afternoons a week. Santana was a stay at home mom and she loved it.
They were sitting up in bed one night both reading magazines when there was a knock on their bedroom door. "Wonder which one it is tonight?" Brittany asked. It seemed like every so often one of the kids would knock on the door and want to sleep with them. It didn't happen every night and the kids seemed to take turns. Santana and Brittany thought it was because of the time they spent away from the other kids when Charlie was sick. "Come in."
The door opened and their stood Collin. He came to there once in a while but he didn't want to sleep with them he usually just wanted to talk about something that happened at school, or something he read about, or something he saw on TV. However, tonight was different because he would normally get a running start and jump upon his mothers' bed but tonight he stood by the door with a serious look on his face.
"Hey sweetie, come sit down." Santana used soft, loving motherly voice. Collin walked over got upon the bed and sat between his mothers. "What's going on? You look like you've got something serious on your mind." Collin nodded his head yes. "You know you can talk to us about anything."
Collin looked down at his hands before he lifting his head up to look at his mothers. "I know Matthew being born made Charlie better but don't understand how."
Santana looked at Brittany because they knew they would have to explain it to all of the kids someday. They had hoped they could explain it to all them at the same time. Santana took in a deep breath and let it out before starting to explain. "You remember a while ago we had the talk about how a woman gets pregnant (Collin nodded his head yes). We also told you and showed you pictures about how a baby is born. Do you remember what the umbilical cord is? (Collin thought for a few seconds and the shook his head no) Well, the umbilical cord is connected to the baby at one end and the mother at the other end. The baby gets blood from the mother through the umbilical cord. Do you understand?"
"Yeah, I remember now. You told me my belly button is where the cord was attached to me."
"That's right. Well when a baby is the born the umbilical cord is cut near where your belly button is and the rest of the cord comes out of mother. The blood that is left in the umbilical cord is full of good blood cells. Remember when you had a blood test done to see if your blood would match Charlie's blood? (Collin nodded his head) Everyone in the family and our friends and even some strangers had their blood tested but no one's blood matched Charlie's. So when Matthew was born the doctor tested the blood from his umbilical cord and the blood matched so that meant Matthew's blood had a good chance of making Charlie better. It took a few weeks but his blood helped Charlie get better. Does that answer your question?"
"Yeah", Collin said as tears ran done his face.
Santana and Brittany each took one of his hands to comfort him. Brittany used her free hand to wipe his tears away. "Why are crying?"
"My blood should have matched Charlie's to help her get better. It's my job I'm her big brother."
Santana pulled Collin into a hug, "You are her big brother and she loves you so much. Your main job as her big brother is to love her and I know you love very much. You shouldn't feel bad because your blood didn't match her blood. You are great big brother to Charlie as well as Maya, Riley, and Matthew. They all think you're awesome. We can't always help the ones we love no matter how much we wish we could." Santana and Brittany both hugged Collin and kissed his cheeks.
"I can't breathe!" Collin finally shouted.
Santana and Brittany let go. "Did we answer your question?"
"Yeah, I understand now. Goodnight." Collin kissed both his mothers and told them he loved them. They kissed him and told him they loved him too.
Santana and Brittany both had tears in their eyes remembering that night. "He's such a great kid and I he's going to be a great man someday." Brittany said as she wiped Santana's tears away.
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"I think Charlie really enjoyed her birthday party. She was so tired she fell asleep in the bath tub." Brittany said as Santana laid her head on Brittany's chest.
"Britt, do you think there will every come a day when we don't worry that the cancer has come back every time she says she doesn't feel well?"
"I don't see that happening at least not right now. Maybe twenty years from now. I was thinking today maybe it's time for us to buy a larger house. I know Matthew and Riley will still want to share a room but the day will come when they are both older and will want their own rooms." Brittany rubbed her fingers up and down Santana's arm as she spoke.
"I think now is a good time to start looking. Are we still going to donate $200,000 of the money to the hospital so parents who need money for motels, food, transportation, and other expenses don't have to worry where the money is coming from?" Santana asked.
"Yes, it broke my heart to see all of those parents struggling to just be able to see their child because they couldn't miss work or they'd lose their job. If we set the money up so it's invested there should always be money for families to use. I think I'd like to have a special event of some kind at the dance studio every year that benefits the fund."
"That's a great idea Britt. We are so lucky we were able to manage financially so one of us was always at the hospital with Charlie when she was sick. Our kids are growing and getting older. I love watching them change and become their own person."
"Me too. They all are individuals and are different in some ways but alike in others. One thing for sure there won't ever be a dull moment watching them grow up."
A/N – This is sort of the end of this story. I do plan writing a chapter about each kid at different points in their life as was well as a chapter on just Santana and Brittany in the future. Thanks for reading and reviewing.
