Epilogue
After the baby was born Brittany felt like life couldn't get any better. She didn't know who to stare at more throughout the night, Santana or Daniela. She had never seen anything more beautiful, and when the two curled up together she thought her heart would explode. Even Lord Tubbington had a soft spot for the baby. He was getting softer in his old age. Sometimes Brittany believes he lived so long because he didn't want to leave her until he knew that she would be okay. Maybe he felt the same way about Danny and Brooke. He seems calmer now, slower, but there is still a lot of fight behind his eyes. She's hoping he hangs on for a while. Life is just getting good.
Family was constantly visiting, so they had a lot of help. Needless to say everybody is crazy about Daniela. The most surprising visit they had was Maria Ramirez. When she found out what Santana and Brittany had named the girl she just had to meet her. She held her close and cried tears of joy. Valentina does live on. Valentina was more than a memory. She knows that her spirit will watch over the girl, always.
Danny will never get over them naming the girl in part after him. Little Dani. Needless to say that baby owns him. His Tink has a baby, a baby she named after him. Out of all of the people in their lives they chose him. He can't believe that he made such an impact on anyone. There is also no one he would rather share that honor with than Valentina. He knew the woman well, and she deserved that honor. She was his partner in helping this child's mothers have this beautiful life. Daniela alone was worth every sacrifice. This baby, this miracle, is all he needs. He doesn't know if he will ever get married, but he knows he won't have kids of his own. He's already raised a beautiful little girl, and he got it right. He raised his Tink, and nothing will ever top that. He doesn't need to do it again, because he and his Tink knocked that shit out of the park the first time. He plans on quitting while he's ahead. He will just get to enjoy being Uncle Danny to Brittany and Luciana's kids, and to Sugar, who he knows will be around for as long as she wants. Danny knows that will be a long time, because Brittany and Santana have continued to be a support system for Jenny and Sugar just as they have promised to be.
Even with all of the constant visitors they have, someone is always flying in to see the babies, it's so nice to have Danny and Robbie so close by. Of course Uncle Danny gave them both names that only he calls them. Dani is his Ladybug and Anthony is his Doodlebug. He loves this, helping with the babies. His niece and his nephew, the family he has all because he saw a beautiful little girl through his window and decided to help her.
Luciana and Quinn spend as much time with the Lopez-Pierces as they can manage. Anthony and Daniela would lie side by side in the playpen as the mothers visited one another, sharing stories of new motherhood. Santana loves how Luciana looks happier than she has ever seen the woman look and she's known her for her entire life. Quinn must be doing something right. The looks they steal and the way they work together with Anthony is a beautiful thing to see. Things are going great for them.
Jenny is no longer threatened by Santana and Brittany, as a matter of fact she considers them to be her family. They help her with Sugar, who started high school this year. Sugar has always been outgoing, but with a mother who is trying hard to be present and two new aunts in Santana and Brittany and all of the people they bring along with them, her world has grown so much. She is learning so much from Santana and Brittany. She learned how to swim and she is learning self defense. She wants to learn Spanish and she wants Brittany to teach her how to dance. She wants Santana to teach her how to sing but Santana understandably would rather teach her piano. She's learning how to cook from them as well. She's just like a child, just wanting to soak up every bit of knowledge to be like the women she looks up to. Her heroes, or sheroes as Brittany likes to say. Her mother is now her shero as well. Life is good. Sugar has friends in school now. When her mother is working and can't make an event at school she can count on Brittany and Santana. One or both of them will be there. She went from being lonely to never feeling alone and she's happier than she's ever been.
With everything going so right in their lives, Santana and Brittany were ready to start to look for a new home. Santana didn't want to move too far away from the city and so they began looking around Long Island and Westchester County. They decided on Westchester County, and with Quinn's help found a lovely four bedroom home. Brittany was making a really good salary and as Valentina's Place expanded Santana was able to draw a more fair salary for her efforts. The board had offered to give her more than she asked for, based on the work that she did. She ended up with a really fair package. She also made a lot of money by being a consultant for other facilities that wanted to follow the model that Valentina's Place used. In just a few short years Santana managed to implement many of the ideas she wanted for the center. She was also awesome at fundraising. Valentina's Place was on the map, and it was doing the kind of good work that made Santana and everyone who loved her very proud.
So as the ladies upgraded their living situation in anticipation of further expanding their family in the future Luciana was finally ready to face the past. She was ready to take Santana up on her offer. With the anniversary of Valentina's death approaching Luciana wanted to visit Valentina's grave. She was hoping they all could go, not to mourn, but to celebrate. To go and have all that bloomed from her life present with her. Santana and Brittany were fine with the idea. Everyone was going to meet there. Danny and Robbie and Blaine and Imani. Santana and Luciana and their wives and children. This all happened, this big awesome rag tag family who loved one another like crazy, it all happened in large part because of her. So for the first time ever, the only two women who Valentina ever loved were coming together to not mourn but celebrate her life and to thank her for the gifts she left behind.
Brittany and Santana closed on the house and invited their friends over for a housewarming celebration. The place was filled with family and love, and it was also an opportunity to plan their trip to Miami. Santana went about preparing the house for everyone's arrival as Brittany caught a little more rest.
"Hey sleeping beauty," Santana said to Brittany as she opened her eyes.
"Hey gorgeous, what are you doing up?"
"Daniela was hungry, and since we have a long day I decided to make us something to eat."
"Marrying you was the smartest thing I ever did," Brittany smiled.
"Grab your robe and join me," Santana said.
Brittany grabbed her robe and went to the restroom before joining Santana for something to eat.
"Wow, everything looks delicious. I'm starving."
The two sat and enjoyed their food. Just as they were finishing there was loud banging on the door and the sound of some very familiar voices. Santana and Brittany smiled at one another as Brittany quickly threw on some shorts and a hoodie. Then both women went to answer the door.
"What the hell took so long, Tink? Sampling the goods?" Danny asked.
"I wish," Brittany pouted while stepping aside and letting everyone in. "Why the hell are you all here so early?"
"Lord Tubbington was missing his mommies," Danny said. Lord Tubbington had spent the week at Danny's place. With all of the commotion and moving they didn't want to upset the big guy. He was getting old, and he didn't care for all of the disturbances. Once they had everything situated the would bring him home. They had set up a nice room for him to hide in. They didn't anticipate many guests. Sugar would maybe stay sometimes, but this room would belong mainly to Tubbs for now.
"Or more like his mommies were missing him. Santana told us to bring him first thing in the morning. Santana, what the hell are you people feeding this damn cat?" Robbie asked as Lord Tubbington glared at him as he let him out of his carrier and went to look for a place to ignore them.
"I should come up with a Cuban pet food line," Luciana added, grabbing Santana into a hug.
"Lord Tubbington is a Viking, stop trying to turn everyone into a Cuban." Santana admonished Luciana.
"He may not be Cuban, but he eats a shit ton of Cuban food when we watch him for you and he loves it." Luciana retorted.
Everyone greeted everyone and then went to fuss over Daniela. Luciana handed Anthony to Santana as she grabbed Daniela before anyone else had a chance.
"Even trade, the rest of you suckers have to wait your turn," Luciana said, kissing Daniela on the cheeks. "Ugh, I don't know how you can stand being around those things without kissing them every moment of the day." Luciana fawned as Daniela smiled at the familiar face of her aunt.
"Hey handsome," Santana cooed at Anthony as he smiled at the familiar face. "How did your mother possibly make something so cute?"
"Don't start with me," Luciana said, grabbing a piece of bacon off the tray and biting it before feeding Quinn the other half.
"Everybody eat before Quinn finishes all of the bacon," Santana said. "Go wash your grubby paws and don't waste any time," Santana said. "I don't want the food getting cold."
"I should have known you didn't cook all of this for me. Even I can't eat this much food," Brittany said smiling. "You should have woke me up, totally forgot they were coming early with Lord T. My brain is totally foggy."
"Oh please, You did the night shift with Daniela, you needed your sleep. They won't even miss you while you get dressed with Anthony and Daniela here."
"You're right," Brittany laughed. "Dani gets up in the middle of the night and wants to sing and dance. I can't help but give her what she wants. Hey Anthony, how are you doing kiddo," Brittany asked, taking the boy from Santana's arms as he flashed her a bright smile. "Ugh, you're gonna be a little heartbreaker, but so is our Daniela."
Santana laughed, "Are you warning the kid already?"
"They're never too young to learn, Santana." Brittany kissed her wife softly on the lips and then returned to the baby to Santana. "I'm going to grab Lord Tubbington and show him his space. Then I'm going to shower and change. I'll be out in a few minutes."
"Okay linda," Santana said and took the baby back to the living room. Immediately Danny took the boy.
"There you go! Of course Quinn stole my little Lady Bug so Uncle Danny was left babyless. You guys are going to have to make sure there is a baby in my arm at all times. Come on Doodle bug," Danny said, kissing Anthony on the cheek.
Robbie stood and walked over to greet Santana. "Acere, que bola?" Robbie asked, kissing Santana on the cheek and grabbing her into a big hug.
"Life is good," Santana said, kissing Robbie back.
"Very," Robbie replied.
"So you and Imani are doing well I guess?" Santana smiled.
"Quite well," Robbie smiled, sneaking a glance at the woman who was now holding Daniela.
"In the end it was all worth it I guess."
"I love her Santana, and I've never meant it as much with any other woman before. I get it now. I know what this love thing is really all about."
"Wow! Have you told her?"
"Every day."
"And has she told you?"
"Every day."
"Well good for you, Robbie. Good for both of you," Santana smiled. She looked at her family filling her house with love and joy. She wished this for Robbie, wished this at Valentina's grave, wished this for so long. "Men move so fucking slow." Santana laughed, playfully bumping into Robbie.
Robbie laughed. "Santana, for the first time it wasn't me. I was afraid of some things, but watching you with Brittany helped me with that. I know that Imani is as attracted to women as she is to men, and maybe I didn't believe in real love enough to believe that a person wouldn't really make a choice if they didn't have to. Watching you and Brittany, though, I know it's not a cliche. I know that bisexual people get a bad rap sometimes as if they can't settle down with one person and truly love them. You ladies have always taught me so much, and now being around you and Brittany, seeing all she went through to support you and love you, well whatever stereotypes I may have held she shattered them for me. Still, I would have taken the chance on Imani long ago, but she had her own stereotypes to shatter. Me being a man doesn't make me any more predisposed to hurting her, and her being in love with a woman wouldn't automatically make her heart any safer than it is with me because women can cheat too. Her seeing me with someone else maybe gave her the encouragement she needed to give us a real try. All that time I was out here waiting for her to come around, and it turns out she just needed to see me do it, even if it hurt like hell and she thought she might have lost out on her chance. Luckily, things fell into place," Robbie smiled.
"Luckily they did," Santana smiled, bumping him with her hips.
All of a sudden Anthony started crying.
"Awwwww, Tony, what's the matter?" Santana asked, walking towards the boy. "You just realize that both of your mommies are named Lucy?"
"Shut up Santana," Luciana smiled as Quinn shook her head. Ever since Santana learned Quinn's full name at the wedding she will sometimes call them Lucy Q and Luci 2. "He's hungry again. This kid eats more than your wife."
"In that case you get him, because he totally likes to grab for my boobs and Brittany is convinced it's not as innocent as he looks," Santana said and Luciana laughed.
"It's probably not. He spends a lot of time with Robbie," Luciana said and Robbie wiggled his eyebrows.
Luciana went into the bedroom to feed Anthony in private. Both she and Santana were breastfeeding and so Santana had added a comfortable recliner in one of the bedrooms so that Luciana could nurse Anthony if they came to visit or stay over. It was a rocker and glider, she wanted to make sure her nephew had the best of the best. It was part of the reason she purchased a 4 bedroom home. They had so much family now, and when they expanded their own family they wanted to make sure that there was still room for those who were close to them that they wanted to keep close. So as the kids got older, that would be a place where Anthony could come and stay with his aunts and grow side by side with Daniela.
By the time Brittany returned from the bathroom Danny was bouncing Daniela on his knee. Brittany smiled at the sight. A part of her still couldn't believe this scene, a scene she never could have imagined when the man first sat her down in a dirty stairwell and changed her life.
"Hey Danny," she smiled, feeling the need to go and hug the man. Both Danny and Daniela looked up with huge smiles on their faces. Brittany laughed.
"You're gonna have to call them Girl Dani and Boy Danny, Britt, or she's going to get to that age where she pretends she thought you were calling Danny and never responds to you," Santana smiled.
Brittany laughed, "Not my little princess, she wouldn't do that to her mama."
"Oh she will, trust me," Santana said. "I guess we know who's gonna have to play bad cop around here."
"You were born for the role," Luciana quipped, returning from feeding Anthony and handing him to a waiting Quinn. Quinn liked to snuggle with him after a feeding when she could. She felt like it strengthened their bond.
"Always right on time for a snarky comment," Santana rolled her eyes with a slight smile playing at her lips. "Ok, if you degenerates are finished eating let's get down to business. We're planning this trip, and Daddy Warbucks decided he wanted to arrange for a private plane for us because apparently Daniela and Anthony will not be having their first flight on a commercial airline. Both of their abuelos rebuke the notion."
Everyone laughed. The moms thought it was a great idea since they didn't know how well the kids would do with flying. The added bonus was not having to deal with babies and the airport, even though with a group that size they would have all of the help they needed.
"The anniversary of Valentina's death is only a few weeks away, so hopefully everyone can get time off. Blaine, I know your schedule can get crazy at the hospital but should something come up we will arrange for you to get there in time, no problem," Santana said, knowing that he and Brittany were the only ones in the room who didn't work for themselves, and Brittany was head of her department and so she would have no issues. They would all have to make arrangements, but it could be done with planning.
"Are we going to do anything special or just show up?" Robbie asked.
"I'm thinking we let Maria know about it, just out of respect since I'm sure she will be at the cemetery that day. I let our parents know just in case they wanted to go, I mean she impacted us all. Most of all we want to be there to support one another," Santana said, looking over at Luciana. "We're just going to pay our respects, show her all she brought together. This is what she wanted for us, for the ones she loved. She wanted a beautiful life, and look at this, each of us couldn't be happier right now. Who would have thought that this was possible?"
Everyone shook their heads and smiled.
"So my father is arranging the plane, and tio Pedro is arranging the hotel accommodations. I told them that I thought that would be best, so that we all can stay together. Maybe we have a nice dinner, because the grandparents insisted on having some time with their grandbabies alone which is fine, because it's not like anybody else is going to get a chance to hold them with their grandparents around."
Everyone laughed.
"Maybe we invite Maria and her boyfriend, she may like being included. We share some drinks, some stories, she really gets to see firsthand what her daughter's sacrifice brought about."
Everyone shook their heads in agreement.
"Okay then, sounds like everything is all worked out. If anyone comes up with any ideas to make the visit more special feel free to add them along the way. This is a celebration of life, let's make it a beautiful one." Santana said, and Brittany leaned over and kissed her wife with a smile.
The time passed quickly, and before they knew it they were off to Miami. Pedro and Juan had arranged for a Sprinter to transport them all to the airport they would be flying from and another to transport them to the hotel once they reached Miami. Anthony and Daniela did really well on their first flight. The sweet thing is that they always seemed to do well with new things when the other was around. They already had a bond, and that always made Santana and Luciana happy to witness. Their favorite thing to do these days was to imitate one another's sounds. They are at that age where they reach out for each other and they have to watch and try to teach them to be gentle so they don't slap the hell out of each others like Santana and Luciana sometimes dream of doing to one another. They recognize each other and smile when they see each other, which is nice. Anthony is just getting the hang of walking more than a few steps without faceplanting which is also nice. Daniela likes to pull herself up on the furniture, having shocked her mommas by standing up and smiling proudly at them for the first time not that long ago, but she's not quite walking yet. She may move around a little while holding on to the couch or someone's hand, but she still hasn't gained her confidence yet, and she doesn't seem to be a fan of push toys the way that Anthony is. Still, they know it will be soon, because she watches Anthony carefully as he walks and seems tempted to try, until he faceplants and she thinks better of it. It always makes Santana laugh, because she says just like a Lopez whatever she does will be thought out at every angle before they do it. She already strategizes like a mini Juan and Santana it seems. She'd rather learn from Anthony's failures before she tries and fails on her own.
Once at the hotel they were surprised to find that The Lopezes and the Rodriguezes had also both booked rooms. They wanted to be close to everyone, and apparently a 15 minute drive was too far away from those grandbabies. It truly was turning out to be one of their Vegas style reunions. They had even booked a room for tio Elian so that he could be around everyone. He had never been a part of one of their large reunions, and so he came in order to be a part of his family. That was the first of many surprises.
That night Brooke and Erik checked in, as did Ignacio and Susan, who did not share a room but who weren't fooling anyone. There seemed to be more than just a friendship brewing there. Brittany and Santana still choose not to think about what that means. Juan said this was more like a thanksgiving, gratitude for all that has come of these bonds in these few short years. Luciana's brothers would even be joining them at the grave the next day, along with Maria, who was emotional over the gesture and the dinner invitation. Both Santana and Luciana had gotten on the phone to invite her, reminding her that they are bonded to her as well, and that she is still family, maybe now more than ever before. They wanted to let her know that they share these joys, these grandbabies, with her, who are here in part because she gave birth to a beautiful soul. Maria wouldn't miss it for the world.
That night they arrived they laughed and celebrated over dinner when story after story was told by the people in the room. Tio Elian told more stories of where he had been, and of the handsome man who always comes to sit with him as he paints at the lake. He claims he will eventually allow the man to take him on a proper date, but he won't be eager, it's not the Lopez way. Besides, he said, he has options, and he's in no hurry to choose. Everyone laughed. Apparently he's moving around much better these days because he's been dancing at the weekend mixers they have at the community center in his retirement community. The man seems like he couldn't be happier, nor could Ignacio, who smiles widely each time his brother speaks. Elian snapped lots of photos that night. He wants to paint a portrait of everyone, his familia. He was inspired by Ignacio cherishing those paintings for so long, and so he wanted to paint one for everyone. He's already finished quite a few, unbeknownst to everyone. He feels reborn. His memory will no longer die when his brother dies. He lives on. This celebration of life weekend is proof of that. The end is only a new beginning. As hard as it is to say goodbye to someone, they never really leave us. If we're lucky, they leave so many beautiful things behind. Elian didn't know Valentina and yet he knows who she was, and what is more beautiful than that? So in anticipation of this moment Elian got a few beautiful photos of Valentina from Isabella and he painted her portrait for Santana to hang in the center that preserves her memory. He also painted one for Maria, to honor the special life she brought into the world. He would present the gifts to the women the next morning at the memorial.
That evening the babies spent most of the night with their grandparents while almost everyone just rested up for the next morning. Luciana was the most tied up in knots, but so thankful to have everyone there, especially Quinn. Quinn and Anthony had been her saving grace. As Santana had dug into her Catholic upbringing just a bit when she chose Daniela's middle name, Luciana had been the same. While St. Anthony is considered the patron saint of lost things, he is also the one some pray to in a quest for true love. Luciana had lost hope in many things, including love, and in that hopelessness true love found her when she wasn't even looking. Quinn's love has been gentle and quiet... soothing. It has been peaceful and comforting, like nothing else has ever been in her life. She never could have imagined a woman like this. Now she can never imagine a life without her.
When morning came everyone was ready early. It seems everyone was in a different contemplative state. Santana and Luciana were up early to nurse the babies and nobody in particular seemed to be hungry, and so after calling around everyone decided that they would go out for breakfast after visiting Valentina's grave. Some people hadn't been there since the day they lowered her into the ground. Some hadn't been there ever. Those who had still couldn't get over the sight of her name on a headstone. No one knew what to expect when they got there. They all just knew that whatever it was would be made better by the presence of others.
The three Sprinter vans that transported the mourners as well as the security detail that Pedro, Juan and Ignacio still required at times rolled into the cemetery only 30 minutes after it opened. Still, they were met by Maria, who was already present.
Maria gasped at the number of people who had come to pay tribute to her daughter. How she wishes in that moment she had invited her companion along. She wanted to keep her new life separate from her old, but she wishes he could see all that Valentina meant, all that she had done, all that she had brought together. She was almost instantly in tears.
The world sees who Valentina was, the best of her, through Santana, through Luciana, through Robbie and Danny, through the people who come to honor her. Through the lives that will be saved and then speak her name every time they find salvation through Val's Place. The world sees, they know how special she will always be.
"Hola Maria," the group greeted the woman, who seemed so small and broken at first as the group approached her but who swelled so large when she saw the group gathered in her daughter's memory. She felt so many emotions, but sadness wasn't the greatest one in that moment, it was a sense of pride and even joy that overtook her. They were here for her baby, these people, who had given her so many joyous moments in her extraordinarily painful life.
Maria couldn't speak, all she could do was smile and move forward, opening her arms for both Santana and Luciana to melt into. In that moment both women remembered where Valentina got her kindness from, and her beauty.
She cried, tears of joy and pain. These were the loves of her daughter's life, and what a beautiful legacy they were. Such good women, both of them.
It was Luciana who broke apart, and she hadn't even looked at the grave stone yet. Closure. This was it. This was the one thing she never did. She never came face to face with Valentina's loss. Once Maria let them go and Maria went to greet the mothers of the women her daughter loved Luciana reached for Santana's hand and Santana took it and squeezed it tightly. Nobody expected anything different. Nobody thought anything of it, as Santana let her lead. These three girls, together again. Only two of them breathe air now, while one watches from above, surely smiling down on them.
"Ana..."
"I know Luc," Santana replied, squeezing her hand.
"Te amo..." Luciana whispered, and Santana knew she was speaking to Valentina, telling her now, in person where her physical remains lay beneath the green grass, telling her what she wished she could tell her in life.
"She knows Luc, she always knew. When we get back, if you want, you can read my letter..."
"I don't have to Ana. She was right. I knew, and I didn't need a letter. I get it. She needed to say goodbye to you, to explain things to you. She and I...we were the present and when I was with her I never felt like I had to share her. She was mine, Santana, and nobody in this world knows how that feels except you."
"It was a wonderful feeling."
"Yes it was, Ana."
Luciana looked down at the headstone, and before she knew it she was sitting on top of the green grass, legs folded. Santana sat beside her, the same way, and they reached for each other's hands again. It was like nobody else was there, soft chatter in the distance, as they gave the two women who gave Valentina all they had their moment alone with her.
Luciana leaned her head on Santana's shoulder as she stared at the stone, almost in disbelief. After a few moments she placed her hand to her lips and she touched the stone, and as if on cue both Brittany and Quinn knew what their wives needed. They came over and handed the girls their babies who each reached out their arms for their mami.
"Did we make her happy Ana? Truly?"
"Si, Luciana, so very happy. I know it. Do you remember the look on her face, the joy in her heart? Nothing could steal it from her. We gave her that Luciana, and in return she gave us all of this."
Santana and Luciana held their babies tight, and as their wives went to step away both instinctively stopped them.
"Stay," they both said, almost in unison, and then they both smiled.
"Sit with us," Luciana said. "I want her to meet my truest love. You Quinn, are my everything, you and this little guy here. You two brought me back to life, and I know that Valentina sent you and Brittany to us, because you both are perfect for us, even more perfect than Val was for us. She knew what we needed, who we needed to love us and she saw to it that we found it when we needed it most. Loving her, the mistakes we made and the growing we did, prepared us to love you. I hope we're doing a good job, because you two breathed life back into us. I love you Quinn."
"I love you Brittany," Santana followed. "There's really nothing more to say after that."
"Thank you," Quinn said, looking at Valentina's grave. "Thank you for loving my Luciana and keeping her safe until I could find her and love her myself," Quinn said, and Luciana looked at her with so much love she thought that she would burst. "I promise you, you left her in the best hands possible," Quinn finished, looking back at Luciana as Anthony pulled gently at her long dark hair.
Luciana turned slightly towards the others.
"Robbie!" she called out. "Ven aqui! Danny, you too por favor."
Robbie took Imani's hand and brought her along with him. She was his now. His support, his comfort, his joy. He didn't always have to be the rock for Luciana and Santana anymore, they had someone for that now, and now so does he.
Danny came alone. It was no slight to Blaine, but he needed to do this alone. Danny turned to Blaine who knew the man well now. They had spoken about the possibility of Danny visiting Valentina's grave before, and he always said that this was his past, his world, and when the time came he had to face it alone. The people at that grave, this was their world once upon a time, and they needed to make their peace with it. Blaine squeezed his hand.
"Go, I'm going to stay here and chat with Elian," making the decision for Danny so that he would not have to ask.
"Thank you," Danny said, appreciating the gesture. Blaine understood him, and that is why he cared so deeply for the man.
Danny joined the group shortly after Robbie, everyone staying behind and giving those who needed it most the time to be in this space in peace. The parents were having some quality catch up time, and Elian asked Blaine to help him as the others who were more familiar with one another chatted. Elian and Blaine went back to the Sprinter where all of the flowers, balloons and trinkets they had brought to decorate the grave were stored and picked up the covered portraits.
When Robbie reached the grave the others began to stand.
"No, stay as you are," Robbie said softly. He was solemn, not the life of the party as usual. He was thinking back to the day that he buried one of his best friends, the only one there who had seen her in her casket, makeup and hair unable to truly hide the bullet wound in her head, still so undeniably beautiful that he tried to avoid the sight and just pretend that she was sleeping. Tears filled his eyes as he sunk down to the ground next to his friends. Instantly Imani was at his side, her arm around him as tears began to fill Santana and Luciana's eyes again. Santana and Luciana both reached over to touch his hand as he kept his eyes down, not wanting them to see the armor come down, the bravado melt away. With no need to protect his sisters now, all he had left to do was cry.
"It's okay Robbie. It's time now. You don't have to do this alone anymore. You have your sisters, and you have your gift that she left you. Santana told me she sat right here at this grave and wished this for you as well, and now in all of this you found your someone as well," Luciana said.
Robbie choked out a gut wrenching sob, unable to contain it anymore. Danny looked at his friend and his heart broke. Robbie was the one who always cheered everyone up. What happens when Robbie cries? Danny had to learn, he's still learning, that when people wrap their arms around you it's just as powerful as when you do it for them, even if they have always depended on you. He had to accept that, after a bullet first threatened his life and then changed it forever. He took his strong hand and pat the man on the back and Robbie chuckled through the tears. For Danny that was like giving him a massive hug. It takes a lot for him to be openly affectionate, unless you're one of his Bugs...Lady Bug or Doodle Bug. Unless you're his Tink, and even with her he has his special way of showing it that only belongs to them.
Robbie smiled and looked up at Imani, who smiled softly back at him. That made Quinn melt inside. Imani holds her feelings close, guards them, and in that smile she saw all the love she held for this man, this man who she wouldn't allow to love her for so long.
"My gift," Robbie said, looking into Imani's eyes with a love that matched her own and as he did she smiled and shook her head slightly, giving him her silent approval. "My gifts..."
Santana, Luciana and Quinn's heads snapped up in shock, wondering if he could be saying what they thought he was saying. All eyes were on Robbie.
"Imani is pregnant."
An eruption of joy came from the group, especially Santana, Luciana and Quinn. In no time Brittany and Danny had the babies and Quinn wrapped her arms around Imani's back as Santana and Luciana attacked Robbie, hugging him and falling back onto the grass with him. The rest of the group waiting their turn to come over looked up in confusion. After a few seconds when everything settled down Robbie stood and turned to the others who were waiting. He raised both hands triumphantly in the air and said loudly "I'm having a baby!" Another eruption began from the small crowd, "Well not me, my future wife is," he said, pulling Imani in and raising her hand he was holding in the air along with his. Imani looked at him stunned. He hadn't proposed, not really. They had talked about it, even before the pregnancy, like some far away thing that would happen in the future. Then Imani got pregnant, and when she told Robbie he brought it up again, but she said she didn't want to get married just because they had decided to keep the baby. Robbie assured her that the baby was just another blessing, not the reason he wanted to marry her. Still, he understood Imani. She was cautious, so cautious. She had been through a lot, and so he didn't push, but her hearing him announce it so proudly, so confidently, she knew he wanted this, he wanted the entire package...the woman, the child, the dream.
"Go back over there before they lose their minds," Santana laughed, and Robbie took Imani by the hand and started to walk back. He stopped in his tracks for a second and went and back to Valentina's grave.
"Gracias Valentina. Te amo por toda mi vida. Descansa en paz, mi angel hermosa,"(I'll love you all my life. Rest in peace my beautiful angel) he said, before kissing his fingertips and running them across the name on her headstone. Then the couple went to be congratulated by the others.
Everyone was still rejoicing until they turned their attention to Danny. They all understood the man. Luciana and Santana knew him well now, but his Tink knew him best of all.
"Would you like us to give you a minute, Danny?" Santana asked. "Quinn, want to help me take the babies to the others?"
"Sure..." Quinn began.
"No, stay, please, especially the babies," Danny said, but he didn't move. He just stood there for a long, silent moment before he began.
"She was such a good girl, just beautiful, I mean just stunning. But she was so wise, so wise. So many people couldn't see it, not until she was gone, but I always saw it. I will cherish the talks that we had, always. She could have been anything, done anything. We talked a lot, but there came a time where we both knew we were risking our lives. We both knew we could die, but she seemed to know it for sure. For her it was only when, not if. She loved you both so damn much. Santana, you were her first love and it was strong, but she told me how hard she had fallen for Luciana, and whatever I did I needed to get her far, far away if something happened to her. She said it wasn't only to protect her from harm, but to protect Luciana from seeing her that way, because she said your heart was so sweet, so tender, even though you try and hide it away. Santana, she would say the same about you, and she made me promise to keep you both safe. She was willing to pay me, willing to take a life insurance policy out on herself and make me the beneficiary if she couldn't meet my price, anything to insure that I protect you two. I would never take anything. She was my friend, and in return I gave her a secret to help protect her. I told her about Carlos, so that Carlos would keep his mouth shut, and so that Luciana and Valentina could have their love. That cemented our bond, and she in return gave me one of the most beautiful friendships I've ever had." Danny paused. "I've been wanting to come here, come here and cleanse my soul, because I feel so damn guilty that she's gone, and I carry that every day. I carry the fact that I took a life, a life I wanted to take when I saw my friend in a way that I can't shake from my mind. It's the only memory I wish that bullet had taken away. I saw her, like that, in my dreams sometimes, for such a long time. I killed Marisa because it was my job to kill her and save Manuel, but deep inside I wanted to kill her. I hated her. Valentina was gone and I was too late to stop it, and I know Manuel set that up, because Valentina let him touch her just once a month and the only way that Marisa knew was if Manuel summoned her there. I really believe that he wanted Marisa to die that night, to be killed by Carlos, but Marisa ruined his plans as always and came prepared to kill, to maybe even kill herself, and so that helped me to move on from what I had done. I had to look at it all realistically, and remove the vengeance from my heart, because vengeance doesn't heal you, it just adds to your nightmares. For a long time I saw both of them in my dreams, taking turns it seemed, as I lay in that bed with a bullet wound in my head, Valentina pushing me back here to the land of the living and Marisa trying to drag me into the darkness. I don't know if Marisa would forgive me, if she really expected to die, I will never know, but I know that Valentina forgives me, and I know that I forgive myself now. I no longer struggle with the momentary pleasure I felt from pulling that trigger. Valentina..."' Danny paused and swallowed hard before continuing. "she wanted me to live, I know she did, because something in my soul feels like I died and she sent me back here. Just like all of you she felt like I deserved the dream, and now maybe I have it. These babies, I get to see these babies. I get to see my Tink again, young and in love. I get to see Brooke happy. I get a new life and a nice guy that I happened to meet as I wondered if I would even have a life worth living, if I could even fully recover. It's okay now. It's okay," Danny said, and a single tear streamed down his face. "I can live with myself today, and I deserve to live even if I was wrong to feel the temporary joy I felt from taking a mother from her children. I'm human, I'm only human, and feeling that didn't mean it took my humanity away, it meant that it solidified it. Thinking back to my time with Valentina helped me remember that. I miss her, I really do, and she gave me many gifts as well, including allowing myself to feel joy and embrace it whenever and wherever I can in this crazy world. Oh, she would be so happy to know that you two found love, that you have these beautiful babies. She would be so happy to share the honor with me of having Daniela named after us. She would be so happy, because she always found a way to find joy in life, to embrace the smallest bits of sunshine until her whole body beamed with joy. I never met a person in her position with so much joy in them. I feel like that's her legacy to me, the gift of feeling joy no matter what your pain may be. Rest well, honey. You were amazing."
Santana, Brittany and Luciana were in tears. They all knew Danny well, and knew that what he said was a lot to him. Danny didn't do feelings and tears and emotions, but today was different, today was going to be special, they could tell. They could all feel her there, as they gathered together there for the first time.
"I'm so sorry Danny, for that night in the hospital. I shouldn't have exploded like that when you were talking about taking a life. You had every right to feel that way. For all of that talk I did to Brittany about not seeking vengeance, in my heart I sought it as well. I wanted that woman to die a painful and miserable death, even though I heard what she had been through and that she wasn't in her right mind. I'm sorry that I wanted you to feel the same way because I hated her so deeply..."
"Santana stop. You apologized for that so many times, and so many times I told you that you didn't owe me an apology. Now you know why. I felt what you felt. I understood what she stole from the world by killing Valentina. If anyone understood, I did, so speaking like that in front of you when you were so raw was just rubbing the feelings you still felt in your face. What I just admitted here was so hard to admit, that I'm human, that I'm not above it all, that I wanted her dead. I didn't admit that to make you feel worse about how you felt, I admitted it to let you all know that I felt the things that you felt back then too, even if I wasn't there to let you know it when it was happening."
"You weren't there because you were still protecting everyone with your silence. You weren't there because you were fighting for your life," Brittany said.
"And that's another thing I feel so guilty for. For months I let you think I was dead, I let you and Brooke mourn and go through things alone. I'm so sorry Tink. I put you though a pain that I could have ended at any time..."
"You had to, Danny boy, it was for a purpose." Brittany said.
"You and Brooke saved my life..."
"Danny..."
"You made me feel like something, like someone. I was still a kid and I had been thrown away by everyone in my life. My stepfather beat me because he hated me, because he hated himself. I let him, because I hated myself."
"What are you saying, Danny"
"By the time I left I was a big kid, a strong kid. I could have fought back but I knew better. I knew I had nowhere to go, nowhere to live. I knew he hated that I was not shy about liking boys. I thought he would understand, and if he did my mother would."
"Why did you think that, Danny?" Brittany asked softly.
"Because he began touching me only months after he and my mother got married. Then one day something happened and he said it happened because I liked it. I felt ashamed. I wished my real father was around and maybe he could make it stop. He would taunt me, call me a little faggot, said he would keep doing it to see if I still liked it." His voice trailed. He seemed small, like a boy.
"Danny...," Brittany started, tears in his eyes. He never told her this before, never told anyone...not even Brooke, she could tell. He looked so ashamed. She didn't like him looking like that. He reached for Daniela and held her close to him.
"How could anyone touch a kid?" He said softly, before reaching for Anthony, asking someone to place him in his other arm. "I won't ever let anyone hurt them."
"We know Danny, just like you didn't let anyone harm me," Brittany said.
"I couldn't sit by and let that happen. I couldn't."
"Thank you."
"You thank me every day, Tink. Every day I get to spend with you has been the best day of my life."
"Danny," Santana started. "You didn't like it. I work with survivors every day at the center and what happened to you was just a biological response. An orgasm doesn't mean enjoyment or consent..."
"Santana..." she could tell that the man was embarrassed but he had admitted this in front of them all and she would try and take his shame away in front of all of them.
"Danny, let me finish, Santana said assertively, and Danny remembered one of the reasons he loved Santana. She doesn't back down from anything. "When someone tickles us we laugh, but sometimes being tickled can become painful and we certainly don't enjoy it, yet our laughter would make it seem like we enjoy it. It's a physiological response. Just because someone laughs doesn't mean they like being tickled, and just because someone orgasms it doesn't mean they enjoy being raped. It's just how our bodies are made."
Danny's eyes snapped up from where he was looking at the babies as they tried to reach out for one another. He never thought of it like that and that simple sentence took so much shame and guilt away from him.
"Thank you, Santana." Danny smiled softly as tears threatened his eyes. "Really, thank you for that, Santana."
"Anytime Danny, and listen, maybe you can come by the center sometimes when I work with my trauma group. They deal with all sorts of traumas. You don't have to speak, there is power in just listening as well, and nobody will ask why you're there. You would be surprised at the number of men in my group. Men need healing too, Danny."
"I know Santana."
"And it's your turn. Finally maybe you will let someone help you on the last part of this journey."
"Maybe I will."
"Great. Now the others have been quite patient with us, we better let them come on over." Santana said and everyone laughed. They began to stand and Santana and Luciana took the babies while Brittany pulled Danny into a tight hug.
"I love you, Danny boy" Brittany said, knowing that it can be really hard for the man to say it back.
"I love you too Tink, so much." he replied, holding her tighter than maybe he ever had. A weight had been lifted from him as well, and he knows that he wouldn't be in this place right now had he not been exposed to so many people addressing their traumas and healing. He's seen how that has set them free, and he wants that for himself.
The others made their way over and everyone said kind words or shared memories about Valentina. Elian offered a prayer. He could relate to the woman, who had struggled in life in part because of her sexuality. He prayed that her soul has found the peace and the unconditional love she sought in this world. He thanked her for the gifts that she left behind and prayed that her spirit continues to watch over and protect those she loved. After that Maria stepped forward, thanking everyone. With tears in her eyes she spoke of the dreams and the hopes she gets to see come to fruition for Santana and Luciana. For Robbie and Danny. For herself. Happy dreams that Valentina wished for all of those around her.
After that Elian stepped forward and had Blaine hand him the paintings. He said that even though he didn't know Valentina he had come to know her spirit and he hoped that he had captured it fully. The first painting he presented to Santana to hang in the center, a beautiful portrait of a hopeful looking Valentina smiling softly to welcome all who came to be healed. Everyone had tears in their eyes as they looked at the portrait of the woman.
Next, Elian presented a portrait of a joyous Valentina smiling brightly and looking towards the sky. Hope and joy, that's what he wanted people to feel when they looked at that painting. Uncontainable joy, a joy that couldn't be extinguished, no matter how hard anyone might try. He knew that joy well himself. You live in that joy, no matter who tries to steal it from you and the more they try the more you let it cover you, consume you, until they drown in their inability to destroy you. It's what he had done, what Valentina had done, what so many others fight every day to do.
As things were wrapping up and they milled around Santana just felt it in her heart to sing for Valentina one last time. Valentina always loved when Santana would sing for her, in private, something she gave only to her. All of a sudden the most beautiful sound broke through the silence, and everyone turned to see Santana standing and looking down at Valentina's headstone.
There's a hero
If you look inside your heart
You don't have to be afraid
Of what you are
There's an answer
If you reach into your soul
And the sorrow that you know
Will melt away
And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you
Santana turned and faced her family, all family, none of them simply friends. She looked at Danny and sang, another hero in their story. She caught his eyes in thanks and gratitude for all he had done. She looked at Brooke who nodded back in acknowledgment, understanding what she was saying to her in that moment. She looked at her own parents and took a moment to bring her fingers to her lips and send a kiss their way. She looked at the Rodriguezes and bowed her head in silent thanks, at her abuelo and winked. She made sure her eyes caught her tio Elian's, letting him know that she understood that he was a warrior. She looked at Quinn, who dared to love her best friend the way that she needed to be loved. She caught every eye in the small crowd before she found Luciana's.
It's a long road
When you face the world alone
No one reaches out a hand
For you to hold
You can find love
If you search within yourself
And that emptiness you felt
Will disappear
Then she looked at her own wife, who stood there with tears in her beautiful blue eyes, and she sang to the most important hero in her story now.
And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you, oh, oh
She looked down at the two beautiful new lives sitting on a blanket in the grass in a place that should be so sad but they played together peacefully, smiles on their faces, babbling happily together, just as their mothers had started this life together. She sang to those babies, so innocent and pure, untouched by the troubles of the world.
Lord knows
Dreams are hard to follow
But don't let anyone
Tear them away, hey yeah
Hold on
There will be tomorrow
In time you'll find the way
This was her family, all of them, and she took the time to look at each and every one of them, Luciana's brothers and parents, Erik and Mormor Susan. Blaine, who helped to heal Danny first physically and now emotionally. Robbie and Imani, who searched so long for one another, even long after they had found each other. She acknowledged them all, and they all seemingly understood her quiet gratitude.
And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you
That a hero lies in you
Mmm, that a hero lies in you
As the song ended something powerful seemed to hold everyone in their place as a butterfly floated near the small crowd and over to the children who delighted in its presence. Anthony stood on his wobbly feet and took a few tentative steps to follow it. It's what happened next that filled everyone with so much joy.
Daniela stood to her feet and smiled. She was able to do so comfortably now but she never felt confident enough to take her first steps, not until now.
Daniela took three steps without even realizing she had done it, making her way to where the butterfly fluttered just out of reach of Anthony. She took two more before she looked around and realized she had done it. She had let go. She had taken her first steps without assistance, alone but not alone, because everyone who loved her was around her.
Maybe it was the audible gasps of her mothers that snapped her out of it, or her grandmother's slight squeals, but she looked around at everyone and smiled the biggest smile, before she fell on her butt to the soft grass.
Everyone went crazy once she did and her mommys couldn't get to her fast enough. Brittany grabbed Daniela and Santana grabbed Anthony and they just joined in on one big group hug. There was so much love, as everyone came by and kissed the babies. It was such a special thing to witness, just a group of people who now call themselves a family, and one beautiful butterfly, that when Santana tells this story in the future she will refer to as Valentina.
They would all head to breakfast, and then later that night they would have their dinner, all of them together, in memory of Valentina, a woman who taught them that rejoicing in what you've found is always more powerful than mourning the things that you've lost. In her death, she had been found. Everyone there knew that she was a hero, not a victim, and that's all that would have ever mattered to her.
Thank you all for reading this story. I hope you truly enjoyed it. It was never meant to be this long but I fell in love with some of these characters and took the time to give them more life. I really want to thank all of those who took the time to review it. I love reading each and every review no matter what. I won't name people individually because I certainly don't want to forget anyone but for those who reviewed or messaged me about the story it always made me smile that you guys were really enjoying it and it always made me happy to see familiar names. Some of you were so very kind in your praise for someone who isn't a writer and who I'm sure made some grammatical errors that will annoy any writers who may read this, but I'm so happy that you just enjoyed the crazy tale that was brewing in my mind and read it anyway. Thank you to those who read and didn't review, I appreciate your time as well and hope I entertained you all. Hopefully I'll see you all in the next story! Thanks!