Santana is released the next day and they have 3 more days until graduation and so decide to make the most of it.
She happily goes back to school and it seems that her being stabbed has taken everyone's mind off having a dick.
The only person who still has anything to say about it is Finn, but considering only 2 people are laughing with him, it isn't as fun for him.
It's been announced that Brittany has been taken to a mental institution, something that her parents didn't seem to fight back on, Whitney even sent an apology letter, to both Quinn and Santana.
The Latina wasn't really that bothered but Quinn took it more to heart as she has known the Pierce's near enough all her life.
Quinn turned 18 and as usual, the Lopez family made a big deal out of it. They had celebratory breakfast, opened presents and had their friends around for dinner.
Santana had gifted her a large bouquet of roses, a pillow with a photo of them on (mainly for Quinn to use at night when she's away), a spa voucher that she wanted to take Maribel to and a first edition of her favourite book, Little Women.
Quinn once again had tried to give it back and say it was too much but Santana didn't mind, it wasn't often she got to spoil her girl, so she would when she could.
Graduation flew by fast, Quinn was valedictorian and gave a speech Santana was extremely proud of.
The blonde had received her acceptance letters a week prior to graduation and had been accepted into every college she'd applied for, including Yale and Stanford.
After a long discussion with Santana, she'd still decided that she wanted to go to NYU, knowing that it was somewhere that the Latina would be able to call home when she wasn't on tour, Quinn made this decision for the both of them, they needed to start thinking about their future, together.
Mercedes had also decided that she was heading to New York as well, instead of LA, which everyone was thrilled about.
A deposit had been paid on a flat in Bushwick, including Brittany, but obviously now, this wouldn't be happening, however Mercedes was more than happy for the three of them to become room mates.
After the graduation ceremony and Maribel had taken endless photos of the 5 of them, they all returned to the Lopez's, including Mr and Mrs. Jones and Burt for a celebratory dinner.
After the adults had left, the night ended with Santana, Quinn, Blaine, Mari, Kurt and Mercedes watching a film together, cuddled up on their usual seats and once in bed, Santana and Quinn made sweet and tender love.
On a Tuesday morning a few weeks later, Quinn awoke abruptly, panic setting in in regards to the days events. Today was Blaine's birthday and the two siblings were going off to enlist.
She turned over in Santana's arms so that the were face to face, the movement causing the Latina to pull her girlfriend closer subconsciously.
In this moment, Quinn was beginning to realise that this was it. Santana was going to change their lives forever. She would no longer wake up and stare into the soft, angelic face of her girlfriend everyday, feeling a sense of warmth and protection from her strong arms, she is so used to been wrapped up in.
She wouldn't get to hear the same words spoken every morning without fail, in the raspy voice she adores.
Santana won't be there when the nightmares take over and she just needs the closeness of somebody she trusts with her life to make sure that everything will be okay and whisper calming words.
The three of them were still going to therapy, but Santana and Blaine have now been discharged, Quinn didn't want to stop yet as she still has issues to work through. She has decided that when she leaves for New York, she's going to keep the same therapist and will meet once a week over video call, as they have created a bond and environment where Quinn feels safe.
She's not sure how long she has been staring at Santana, until she feels her girlfriend start to shift and her eyes flutter open, revealing tired orbs.
"Good morning mi princesa." She mumbles out, stretching.
"Hey baby." Quinn replies, sliding her hand around tanned neck and pressing their lips together for a soft kiss. "How are you feeling?"
"My side is a little sore but apart from that, I'm okay. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." The blonde states with a small smile.
Santana knows Quinn well enough to see a fake smile a mile away, "You want to try that again? Talk to me baby love." She states, looking deep into her favourite enchanting eyes.
"I'm okay, honest. I was just thinking about how long I have left waking up like this, you know? I just don't want to take it for granted." She sighs.
Santana knows that there is nothing she can say to make this better, so she just pulls Quinn impossibly closer and kisses the crown of her head that is resting beneath her chin.
"I love you my darling. So so much, don't ever forget that, no matter where we are, you're always on my mind."
"You too Tana. I love you so much too." She says, pushing herself further into the Latina's embrace.
They eventually migrate from the bed and join everyone downstairs.
Blaine opens his presents and they have pancakes, waffles, bacon, eggs and muffins for breakfast before there's a knock at the door.
Quinn is closest and so she answers the door. The face on the other side, not so welcoming and present.
"Ah! The slut! So, which one of my children are you sleeping with?" He laughs loudly.
Before Quinn can do anything, Santana is standing in front of her.
"Don't ever EVER speak to her like that again! What gives you the right to speak to someone like that in their own home. What happened to you?" She seethes.
"Enough of the pleasantries Santana, where's my son?" He replies, not fazed at all by Santana's words.
"He won't want to see you, now leave! Before I call the cops and have you removed."
"Santana, stop with all hostility. I've come to see my son on his birthday and to take the two of you to enlist. What's so wrong with that?"
"What's wrong with it is that you've been AWOL for 2 years! You haven't tried to contact us at all over that time, so why now? Oh yeah, because you want to show off to your army buddies that you have two children wanting to be like their dad! Well guess what, that's not why neither of us are doing it and we don't want you there when we do! Now leave before I call the police!" She shouts, gaining the attention of Maribel and Blaine.
"Emilio, please go. He doesn't want you here right now, you've done enough." Maribel states calmly.
"NO! I WANT TO MAKE SURE NEITHER OF MY CHILDREN ARE PUSSIES AND DO AS THEY INTENDED." He screams.
"We're going to go. We're going after breakfast, now please, just leave." Blaine states, when he looks over, he can see Quinn clinging to the back of Santana's shirt and she's shaking.
Emilio stood staring at the four of them from the front step. He looks to his son and notices that his attention is on the girl behind his daughter.
"What's wrong with you blondie? You look as if I'm going to attack you." He laughs darkly and that's the last straw for all 3 Lopez's.
"Emilio, you have been told more than once now, LEAVE! Do not speak to any of my children like that again, move away from the house now or I will call the police, do not tempt me!" Mari shouts.
Santana turns around and pulls Quinn into her arms, whispering soothing words in her ear, she shuffles them away from the front door and into the kitchen, where Mercedes and Kurt look extremely confused.
She tries to pass Quinn into their arms, but she only clings tighter. "It's okay baby. You're okay, he's not going to hurt you, I promise. Just wait here with these two while I help Mami and Blaine get rid of him. It's okay." She whispers, feeling the hold loosen and Kurt takes her place, surrounding Quinn.
The Latina heads back to the front door, picking up her phone of the way. Everyone is standing around and staring at each other, "I've had enough now, you need to leave or I'm calling the police." She says, lifting the phone to punch in the numbers.
Emilio just sighs defeatedly and turns around, he begins to walk away from the house when he turns around one last time. "I really do love you all, I just aren't sure how to anymore."
None of them say anything as they watch him turn again and walk away, relieved no one was hurt.
They look at each other sombrely, none of them sure what happened to the loving family man that he used to be.
"If any of you come back from tour and treat your family like that, I will kick your asses." Maribel laughs gently.
"I hope you do Mami. I don't ever want to see Q like that again, she looked petrified. Can you talk to her please? She wasn't crying, just frozen really and I don't think this is something she'll want to tell me." Santana mumbles quietly, too make sure Quinn can't hear.
"I can tell you for a fact she has a little PTSD Mija, her therapist will have diagnosed it. The screaming and name calling, that will have triggered something that reminded her of Russell and she immediately felt threatened." Maribel says sadly. "I just hope she still feels safe here."
And with that, the three of them return to the kitchen, where Kurt is still surrounding Quinn with his arms and Cedes is trying to tidy a little.
Maribel approaches the two that are embracing and places a soft hand on Quinn's back, to which the blonde flinches.
"It's okay baby girl, he's gone now." She pauses as Quinn lifts her head slightly. "Do you want to come and talk with me please?" She asks.
Quinn doesn't respond, she moves from Kurt's embrace and her eyes automatically checks for Santana, she sees her in the kitchen and feels relief. She then takes Maribel's hand and the older Latina leads them into the living room and pulls the girl into a tight hug.
"You are always going to be safe here Mija, I promise. I assume your therapist has spoken with you about PTSD?" She feels Quinn nod against her chest.
"She said that I react and freeze when I'm around men who have a large presence, like my mind instantly thinks that they're going to attack me in some way." She finishes, tearily and Maribel pulls her closer.
"If Emilio is around here, just know that he might say horrible things now but he will never put his hands on you. You don't need to worry though because I don't think he'll be back around here for a long time." Mari finishes, placing a kiss to the top of the blonde head. "I love you Quinn, I won't let anything hurt you whilst you're under this roof."
"I love you too mama." Quinn replies, with one last squeeze before releasing her hold.
She wipes her eyes as Santana enters the room, the Latina approaches her and she throw her arms gently round her thin waist, still wary of the stitches, that are being removed tomorrow.
The Latina pulls her in tight, "You don't have to talk to me about this baby love, but just know that I'm here if you need to. I love you."
"I know, I love you too." The blonde replies as she pulls away slightly and leans in for a kiss. A long kiss that lingers, both trying to convey multiple feelings.
When they break apart for air, Santana places a quick kiss on Quinn's forehead before calling for her brother, "B! Hurry up and get ready so we can go and get back."
Santana feels Quinn's stiffen in her arms and cups both cheeks in her hands, "Don't worry, nothing is going to happen today, alright? I promise, we'll be home soon."
Quinn nods and Santana pecks her lips once more before heading upstairs with Blaine to get ready.
The blonde sits on the couch and Kurt and Mercedes join her from the kitchen. One sits either side of her and she leans her head on Mercedes shoulder, "I know it's hard but they're not going anywhere today. They're coming back." Cedes tries to soothe.
"I know, but the next time, they won't be." Quinn counters and the three of them sit in silence, the blonde still resting on Cedes and Kurt holding her hand.
Santana and Blaine return within a couple of hours with lunch for everyone. The five of them sit around the table and eat.
Mercedes and Kurt stuck around to help distract Quinn, it had worked for a while but then her mind started to concoct a whole load of bad ideas, to which affected her mood dramatically and she's been quiet ever since.
No one has asked about what the siblings had been to do, apart from Maribel checking that everything was okay.
When they'd finished eating, Cedes, Kurt and Blaine decided to go out for a while but Quinn said she wasn't feeling too great, Santana knew something was off and wanted to be there for her.
So the two of them went up to bed and Quinn just curled into her girlfriend's side, head on her chest and hand up her shirt, fingers running over the stitches there.
Santana wants to talk to Quinn about whatever is on her mind, but she knows well enough now not to push her. But then as if the blonde can read her mind, she offers up the information.
"Everything's so real now Tana. You're going to be gone, I'm going to be in New York and Mama is going to be here. Everyone that has embraced me the for nearly 3 years is going to be gone and it scares me."
"We are not gone Q. We all still love you, Mama is only a phone call away and I'll always communicate with you when I get the chance. You're going to be doing something that you love in New York! I have no doubt that you're going to accomplish amazing things mi amor." Santana states.
"Can you tell me what happened today?" The blonde asks softly after a brief moment of silence.
"Are you sure?"
"We're in this together. I know it seems like I don't want to know but I do, I'm just- worried, you know?" She stutters.
"I know. Not too much happened really, we fill out the paperwork, complete the drugs test and they just advised that as long as everything's okay, they'll be in contact in the next couple weeks to arrange our training dates."
"And that's three weeks?"
"Yeah. Three weeks in Pennsylvania."
"Okay. You'll hold me until then, right?" Quinn asks, rather insecurely.
"Whenever you want pretty girl."
Quinn nods and snuggles in further, "Can I come with you to get these out tomorrow?" She says, still stroking the stitches.
"Of course you can, if you want. Maybe we could go on a date afterwards? My appointment is at like 9AM so we'll have the day?" Santana says optimistically.
"That's perfect lovebug." Quinn sighs out, closing her eyes and letting sleep take over her.