I cover her eyes with my hands and she puts her hands on my forearms as I lead her into my (our) house
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"Surprise!"
She gasps as she looks around seeing all her friends and family smiling holding up champagne glasses
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"Lucy!" Her mom is the first up hug her Her mom always liked me best, take that Stacey
"Quinn you look absolutely beautiful, Happy 35th Birthday" Rachel says next hugging her
"Oh sweetie!" Kurt says while she moves on to Blaine followed by the rest of the group.
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After a few minutes of greeting her guests, She turns to me with a smile I haven't seen in years and tears in her eyes. "You guys did all this for me?" She asks as all three of us stand proudly in the kitchen
"We love you mom, happy birthday" Nat says first hugging her
"Let's party mom!" Izzy says next as they leave the kitchen, leaving her and I alone.
She pushes me against the counter, throwing her arms around my neck "I can't believe you did this for me san, how'd you know I'd come inside though?"
I smirk "please like you could say no to this" I say pointing up and down myself. She laughs shaking her head.
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"Well well well, isn't this fucking adorable" We immediately turn towards the front door.
"Oh hell no" I say pushing off the counter only to have her hand on my chest stopping me
"I'll handle this" she says as she leaves toward the front door.
"What the hell are you doing here Stacey? Let's go outside " Quinn grabs her arm as they head outside.
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"So you're just going to throw what we have away Quinn? To go back what? to her?"
"Stacey you're very drunk did you drive here?"
She laughs "Santana can do it why can't I? You seem to like your women going to extreme measures for you don't you?" She rolls her eyes "Did you ever really love me Quinn? Or was I just a placeholder until Santana got her head out of her ass"
She sighs "I did Stacey but Santana and I have something I can't explain"
Stacey rolls her eyes "Please. Kids, you have fucking kids together Quinn, it's not some secret formula"
"It's more than that Stacey, she's been the love of my life since I was 15, she's not someone I can just move on from" her eyes begin to water
"So I never stood a chance did I, I was just a pawn in your twisted games?"
Quinn steps up to her and puts her hand on her arm. "You mean a lot to me, you helped heal me when everything fell apart and I'll always love you but..." Stacey leans in and kisses Quinn, but she doesn't pull away, she almost seems to be frozen for a second.
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"Mom" she hears as she moves back. "Are you fucking kidding me right now?" She sees Nat standing there, arms crossed.
"Get your ass back inside Natalie" Stacey points in her perfected Russell Fabray voice
Which makes Quinn do a double take
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-Quinn's flashback-
Santana and I stood there kissing and laughing by her car before we were interrupted
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"Dad you're hurting me" i said as he grabbed my arm pulling me towards the house. Here we go I thought
"Lucy you get your ass back in the house, Santana go home"
Without a second thought Santana reaches to grab him but he immediately swings around with his left hand hitting the left side of her face, his ring catching her left eye as she flys back into the grass.
"Santana!" I yell while pushing off my dad running and kneeling towards her, checking her to make sure she's okay
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Russell grabs me by the waist and starts to take me inside, Santana stands up wiping the blood from her lip, rushing to the front door but not before he closes and locks it. She stands there pounding while she hears me cry as he starts to hit me again and again. (Guard your face Quinn, we don't want to explain this again, it will be over soon just go to your happy place, I tell myself over and over again, this isn't the first time it's happened but it's the first time I've remembered to guard my face)
Santana runs to her car then rushes to the side of the house throwing the kitchen door open. She swings the bat twice hitting him in the back, as he hunches over she hits him two more times then grabs my hand and we run out of the house. We drive as fast as they can, leaving the city.
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"Ma" she says on the phone "I grabbed Quinn and were leaving the city" she continues "Yeah he hit her again, I hit him with my bat a few times and now we're driving" she won't look at me "I'll deal with the consequences later, can you make sure to have everything ready for Quinn just in case please?" She shook her head "Right now all I need to do is make sure she's safe, I love you too, bye"
She hangs up and reaches for my hand and I kiss it, I look over at her seeing her sad small smile I know she's scared but she won't let me see that, her left eye is slowly turning black and still bleeding, she doesn't care though, she only cares about me and I love her for that. She's always been my protector, my hero in so many ways, ever since I was 15 I've loved her with every beat of my heart.
"I love you san, I'm so sorry this happened" I say straddling her as I ice her eye.
"You did nothing wrong Lucy, don't apologize okay?" She says as I kiss her forehead
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Early the next morning
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Knock knock
"Santana Lopez?"
"Yes?"
"You're under arrest turn around and put your hands behind your back please."
She turns around as they handcuff her
I begin to cry "You can't take her please she was just defending me, take me instead."
"I'm sorry Lucy, all my stuff is on the nightstand, do not go home. Call my mom she knows what to do, just go to my house, okay?"
She turns around once more "Luce, don't go home please"
I'll never forget her face right before they put her in the backseat, she mouthed I love you which made me sob more.
-end flashback-
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"Who the fuck do you think you're talking to?" I shouted from the front door causing everyone to freeze and Quinn to snap back to reality.
"Santana don't do anything" my mom says grabbing my arm "Santana, your kids are here" she says again grabbing me by the waist this time.
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"Aw Maribel let her go" Stacey laughs "Quinn loves a show on her birthday don't you Lucy"
Quinn's eyes go dark and I put my hands up in surrender. I know that face, shits about to get real and right now, she doesn't need me which is totally okay because that face terrifies me.
She slowly turns back to Stacey causing her to step back, Quinn steps up to her again. "I suggest you get the fuck out of here, pack your shit and leave. If I see you again I will end you myself, got it?"
"You two fucking deserve each other " Stacey says as she gets into her car and leaves.
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We all walk back inside
I'm in the kitchen pouring a drink, no one really knows what to do or say at this point so they all stand there awkwardly, waiting.
Quinn walks back inside, "I apologize everyone, can we please just try to enjoy the rest of the night?" Everyone smiles and nods, let's be honest what else can they do.
She walks over to me, grabbing the double shot of tequila I just poured for her and drinks it which makes me laugh
"Welcome back" I smirk "Haven't seen her in a while, almost forgot how hot you are in HBIC mode, I loved the I will end you part, I wonder who you got that from?" I say putting my index finger under my chin, she laughs and puts her arms around my neck "You're such a cocky little shit sometimes you know that Lopez?"
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She takes a minute then starts touching the scar under my left eye
"It doesn't hurt anymore and besides chicks dig scars right Luce?" I wink which makes her smile
We stand there for a minute neither of us breaking eye contact
"In all seriousness though, I'm really proud of you, you finally stood up for yourself" she looks at me and smiles as I pour her another drink
"You're not drinking?" She asks me and I shake my head "I don't need it" she puts her cup down taking my face in her hands
"I'm so proud of you San, you are such an amazing mom and woman, somewhere along there I lost sight of that, I'm so sorry we lost all those years, do you think we can try again?"
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I smile "I wanna show you something, come on" grabbing her hand leading her into my room, opening the door slowly she gasps again
"San" she says looking around
"You like it?" I smile closing the door
She shakes her head "No San, I love it."
I hung pictures from the ceiling, pictures of her and I, pictures of her, of the kids and a big welcome home banner in the window
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I walk up and hug her from behind
She exhales as she closes her eyes leaning her head to the right giving me access to her neck "I love you so much San" she turns in my arms "I never want to be without you again, promise me"
I smile as I put my forehead against hers and exhale "I promise, it's you and me forever."