A Life Well Lived

1.

Look…

Bottom line is we all are going to die. It's just the way that it is.

Some people pass away too fast. Some people think that God or their Higher Power forgot about them. But inevitably it happens.

Santana Lopez already knew how she was going to pass away. Even at the tender age of thirty-three she knew how she would die. She just doesn't know when. She chose not to wallow her foretold death. She lived her life, barely. She went through the motions, but not allowing anyone in. She was afraid to build connections with anyone because she would eventually have to leave. She had grown accustomed to being alone. Hell, she divorced Brittany because of the diagnosis. This, to her, was rock bottom.

The last time she saw her ex-wife she said, "I will always love you the most." She stood up and demanded herself to walk away from her. And she did.

She continued to work, and this was why she found herself in some bar called the Rabbit Hole. She was there on some business for her wealthy client. She had a successful meeting and to escape before her flight back to Lima, Ohio she went to that bar.

It wasn't a busy night in there. She found herself a seat.

"What cha have?"

"Oh, give me a vodka on the rocks, please," she muttered, showed her ID and then waited for her drink to arrive. While waiting, she looked around the establishment without real interest. She just thought it was customary to do so. Then her drink was dropped in front of her. She brought it to her lips, smelled it and then downed it in one sip. The bartender was shocked based on her tiny stature.

"Another one," he asked.

"Yes, keep 'em coming," she suggested. The bartender simply nodded his head in confirmation.

Behind Santana at the bar, the door swung open, and Emma Swan walked in. She looked around and decided to sit in a booth instead of in the front. Once she sat down, she gave the waitress her drink order of "Bud Light with a Kamikaze chaser." The waitress nodded her head and disappeared behind the bar. Then Emma looked harder at the scene playing out in front of her. She looked to the left, nodded at a few people she knew and then continued looking. She finally saw the back of a woman's body. Her long black hair intrigued her. It was about that time that Santana turned around on the bar stool and they made eye contact. Even though it was only a second or two, it lit a fire in Emma.

Santana noticed and quickly turned away. "She'll stop gawking," she said and down another vodka. As she saw the bartender begin to make the drink she called out, "Hold the rocks." He nodded, filled the shot glass, and brought it to her. Emma witnessed this and chuckled to herself. Then she saw Santana down the drink and was impressed.

"Next round is on me, Grump," Emma said as she gathered her drinks and walked up to the bar.

"You got it Emma," he said. He refilled the glass and placed it in front of Santana. She swallowed it rather quickly and slammed the glass onto the counter.

"Wow. I'm impressed. Emma Swan," she said and extended her hand out for a handshake.

"Santana Lopez," she replied.

Emma's eyesight never left Santana's smirk as she shook her hand.

"Can I buy you one," Santana asked and Emma nodded her head in confirmation. She flagged the bartender over and said, "Another of the same for me and for Emma, a…"

"Bud Light."

He nodded his head and left the twosome.

"So, where are you from?"

"Not here," Santana replied and chuckled.

Emma looked defeated so Santana quickly added, "Lima, Ohio. I'm here on business. I go home tomorrow morning."

Emma smiled a little. "I used to live in Massachusetts…"

"Why'd you move?"

"My son, who I gave up, found me," Emma said.

"Oh, so you're straight?"

Emma looked at Santana's expression and she thought she saw disappointment in it.

"No, not straight. I love the person and not their gender," Emma said honestly. Santana perked up a little.

"What about you?" Emma took a pull of her beer bottle as Santana slowly drank her drink.

"I'm divorce," Santana said meekly.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"She was the love of my life," Santana revealed.

"Why you'd get divorced," Emma asked.

"It's complicated," Santana replied.

"Bullshit," Emma whispered as she took another swig. Santana heard her.

Morphing into her alter ego, Snixx, Santana defensively stood up and stood nose-to-nose with Emma.

"What the fuck does that mean?"

Emma raised her hands up in surrender. "I just hate when people say that. I think it's a cop out."

Santana calmed down a little and sat down. "Leaving her was the hardest thing I have done…" There was an audible faltered in her voice for a moment.

"I get that. Wouldn't she take you back?"

"I don't want her to. It's better off this way," Santana replied with a monotone tone of voice. It almost sounded forced or at the least, rehearsed to Emma.

"Do you wanna keep talking about her?"

"Nope," Santana said as she shook her head back and forth.

Santana's hand was resting on the counter, so Emma placed hers on top. For a second there was a spark between them. Emma shyly looked at Santana as she looked at Emma.

"I'm drunk," Santana concluded. She flagged the bartender over and said, "Can I have the check?"

He walked away to ring up her tab. She fumbled in her purse for her credit card. When he returned Emma swooped in and handed him her card.

"Wait," Santana yelled, but he had walked away.

"Um, thank you," she said shyly.

"Welcome," Emma replied with a smile. "How are you getting back to your hotel room? You're not driving."

"I took a cab…"

"No," emma said simply.

"No?"

"I'll escort you to the hotel." Emma received her credit card and tipped the bartender handsomely. Then Emma and Santana exited the bar together.

Once they were outside the cool night air refreshed their tipsy hazes.

"Nice night," Emma said. "Are you cold?"

She immediately took off her red, leather jacket and draped it over Santana's shoulders.

"Thank you," she said with a small smile.

They continued to walk in silence. Until Santana asked, "What do you do here?"

"Um, good question. Do you really wanna know?"

"Why wouldn't i?"

"I'm actually the Sherriff."

"Oh shit, really?" Santana smiled sheepishly. "You're off duty, right?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Emma said and tipped her imaginary hat.

Santana laughed that sexy laugh of hers and it did things to Emma's body. She responded to it. It made the desire to hear her laugh again important to Emma.

"You have a great laugh!"

"Aww thanks." She giggled nervously.

The hotel came up on them quicker than Emma would have wanted. She opened the front door for Santana who walked in first. Her walked to her room with Emma in tow. She unlocked the door and pushed it opened.

"Um would you wanna a nightcap," she said nervously.

"No," Emma said flatly.

"Oh, well it was nice to meet you. Thanks for taking care of my tab." She walked into the room and closed the door on Emma. She waited a second or two then she knocked on the door.

"Yes," Santana asked.

"I'd like to continue talking though," she said as Santana motioned her to enter the room. She walked in and waited until Santana shut and locked the door. Once that was finished and she turned around, Emma kissed her fiercely. She pushed her against the wall with a thud.

"Oh, wow," Santana said in the kiss.

"Shit, did I hurt you?"

"No," she said as she dove into another kiss. She frantically kissed Emma. They fumbled around the room in each other's arms in search of the bed. Santana found it as her backside hit it. She sat down quickly.

There were moments of silence between the two women. Emma was ripping her shirt off as

Santana moved backward on the bed so she could join her.

Emma jumped onto the bed and immediately connected their lips in another want filled kiss. Santana's back hit the mattress with a light thud. Then Emma laid her body on top of her. She began to kiss and bite her neck.

Just then Santana's body froze as she yelled, "Wait!"

Emma immediately stopped her actions. "Are you okay?"

Santana pushed emma off her with, "I thought I could do this."

Emma sat on the mattress, hurt, but trying not to seem that way. "Was it me?"

Santana reached out and caressed Emma's cheek. "No, Emma, it's not you. It's totes me."

"Totes?"

"Totally…you don't want this with me," she said knowingly.

"What makes you say that?" Emma grabbed her hand and kissed it. This made Santana withdraw it.

"I'm fucked up, alright?" Santana was on the verge of tears. Emma pulled her into her body and hugged her tightly. Santana's arms wrapped around Emma tightly. They stayed like this for a while.

"Listen, ok. I don't care that you're divorced. We all have pasts."

"But you don't know why I'm divorced."

"So, tell me then I'll know…"

"No, I just can't."

Emma looked defeated for the second time that evening. "Ok, I get it. I'm a perfect stranger…but I am here for you, Santana."

Santana looked like a scared child. She wanted to ask her something, so she went for it. "Could we just cuddle?"

Emma was happy to do that. "Of course," she said as she took off her shoes and threw them aside. She then fully unmade her side of the bed. She settled into it expectantly waited for Santana to do the same.

Santana unzipped her dress and it fell to the floor. She stood in front of Emma in her bra and thong. "This is what I wear to bed. Is that ok?"

Emma silently nodded her head in confirmation. It was like her brain short circuited for a second. Then she loudly exclaimed, "You're gorgeous."

Santana chose to disregard the statement as she hopped into bed and pulled the covers over them. Emma was eager to feel Santana's body against hers, so she pulled her closer.

"Good night," Emma said with a tired sigh.

"Good night," Santana replied.

Within silent minutes both women were asleep.