Author's Note: If you are finding this interesting, please tell your friends. I can't advertise every chapter where I usually do. Thanks for reading.

A Life Well Lived

3.

Santana walked into the station and up to the counter and said, "I'd like to report a crime."

"And what is that?" Emma was looking at a form that she was having difficulties with trying to fill out. She was paying no attention to her questioning citizen.

"Well, my hot and sexy girlfriend hasn't called me yet today, so I want to have her arrested…"

"Ma'am, that's not a -"

"SANTANA! You're here!"

Santana cackled and smiled brightly. "You gonna get your ass up and kiss me or what?"

Emma jolted up from the chair and rounded the corner of the counter. Santana saw her running. When she was close enough, she jumped into Emma's arms and wrapped her legs around Emma's waist. Her hands immediately traveled to under Santana's butt for support.

"I've missed you," Santana said in the embrace. And then she closed the gap and kissed her girlfriend passionately.

They kissed back and forth for a long time. Their tongues met like they were the best of friends who hadn't seen each other in years.

"Santana," Emma moaned in the kiss. She somehow began to walk backwards to the closest chair she knew was around.

"Emma, we're moving…"

Emma chuckled in the kiss but kept it going.

All of a sudden she felt a strong hand, other than Santana's, guide her to the chair. She was kind of surprised, but once Emma felt the cushion behind her, she carefully sat down.

Santana yelped a little. Then emma broke the kiss. She turned her head to the side and was happily surprised to see Regina standing there with her arms crossed, but a smirk on her face.

"Sheriff," she said authoritatively. "Who's this?"

Santana became shy all of the sudden as she wiggled out of Emma's embrace to stand up. "Mayor Mills, nice to meet you." She extended her hand out.

"This is my girlfriend…"

"Oh, this the infamous Santana Lopez," she said happily as she pumped Santana's hand. "It's all I hear…Santana this or Santana that…"

Emma dipped her head down but looked shyly up at her girlfriend and said, "It's true…"

Santana laughed out loud as she tossed her head back.

"When did you arrive," Regina inquired.

"A few minutes ago," Santana said, "I came right here to see her. I missed her so much."

Emma stood up and flung her arm over Santana's shoulders. "This is my girl."

She looked sideways at Santana as she looked sideways at Emma. "This is my Emma."

"Precious," Regina said with a small smirk.

"Well, in light of the current circumstance, I assume that our daily meeting is cancelled?"

"I don't want to be in the way," Santana said.

"No, you're not. Yeah, Regina, do you mind?"

"Nope," she replied. "In fact, as Mayor of Storybrooke, I grant thee the rest of the day off. There's nothing really happening anyway."

Emma smiled at her boss and friend. "Thanks. I know it's your night with Henry, but you mind if I took him even if it's just to introduce him to Santana?"

"Of course not. I totally thought that you would say that."

Emma grabbed her red leather coat and put it on. She then turned off her computer and desk lamp. She escorted both women out of the office and locked it. She then grabbed Santana's free hand and led her and her suitcase out of the station.

"It was nice to finally meet you," Regina called out.

"You too," she replied.

Once outside Emma stopped and twirled Santana to face her. "I can't believe you're here and that it looks like you're staying for a while. This is totes okay with me."

Santana smiled and then kissed her.

"Where will I be staying? At Granny's hotel?"

"Well, I thought that maybe you'd be more comfortable at my apartment."

Santana gestured with her hand and said, "Lead the way."

Emma smiled and did that.

Along their way Santana was surprised at the waves she received from the citizens of the town. She tried to wave back.

Then they arrived at Emma's apartment building. She opened the door and Santana walked in with her suitcase.

"Bottom floor," Santana asked.

"Second floor," Emma pointed up as she grabbed the luggage from Santana. She looked up and sighed. Emma didn't see the reaction as she was already on the staircase.

Santana took a deep breathe, let it out and began the climb up the stairs. When she finally reached the landing, she inhaled a big gulp of air.

"You okay," Emma asked as she noticed.

Santana quickly brushed it off and entered the apartment.

'It's great," she said as she looked around. "Wish mine was bigger."

"It's the perfect size, San," Emma argued and received a shrug of her shoulders.

"Anyway, the bedroom's over there… Bathroom's there…kitchen…"

Emma placed Santana's luggage on the bed. "I'll make room for your stuff."

"Em, I don't want to impose."

Emma smiled and said, "You're not."

Emma pulled stuff out of one drawer and placed it into another one. She went over to her closet next and simply pushed her clothes to the side for Santana. "Done," she said satisfied.

"Thank you," Santana said happily.

"So, Henry gets out of school pretty soon. I never asked, and I'm sorry, but you do want to meet him?"

"Emma Swan, that's why I came here. I want to meet all of the important people in your life."

"Even my parents?" Emma had to ask because she knew what the magnitude of that would mean.

Santana dropped her clothes and walked over to her. She pulled Emma into a hug and said, "Yes, even your patents. I hope they like me."

"They're gonna love you cuz I do," Emma said with a smile.

Santana looked up into her green eyes. She took a moment for what Emma had said to be taken back, but that didn't happen.

"You know what you said," she questioned.

"That they're going to love you?"

"Um, the part after…"

"Oh, that I love you. Is that too crazy? Too soon?"

"Is it true?" Santana held her breath as she waited to hear the answer.

"Yes, Santana, I do love you," Emma said, "I know it's super-fast, but when you know, you know."

She kissed her forehead and then looked over to her alarm clock.

"I gotta go. I'll come back and then we'll go to Granny's for an early dinner. Ok?"

"Perfect," Santana said with a quick peck on the cheek. Then she watched as Emma left the apartment leaving her alone.

When the door slammed closed, Santana plopped down onto the bed and began to cry.

You gotta tell, Lopez. It must be tonight. And it has to be the absolute truth. No being scared.

After Santana made that promise to herself she quickly changed her clothes into jeans and nice shirt. She didn't know what to wear when meeting someone's son for the first time. She hoped she looked okay.

She waited patiently for Emma and Henry to return. In the few minutes she could hear mumbled conversation in the hallway.

"Ok, before we go inside, Kid, I want to tell you that my girlfriend, Santana surprised me with a visit."

"Cool, she's here now…" Henry pushed open the door and nearly ran Santana over.

"Miss Lopez!"

He ran quickly and enveloped her in a tight hug.

Santana yelped a little, but threw her arms around him and replied, "Mr. Mills! You can call me 'Santana'!" She squeezed him once more then he let go of her.

Emma looked at the situation with hopefulness and happiness. Then she asked, "You guys ready?"

Santana said, "Lead the way…"

They walked out of the apartment, out of the building and into Emma's yellow bug. They drove to Granny's, which took less than five minutes. When they got out of the car, Henry ran ahead while Emma and Santana leisurely walked into the building. As they entered it seemed, to Santana, that the action stopped. They all looked at her, but she didn't feel judged. She just felt the new person in town, which she was. Emma didn't seem to be bothered by it as they walked over to an empty booth near the back. The waitress approached and took their drink order. After she walked away, they looked at the menus. They decided and told the waitress.

"So, Henry, you're ten, right?"

He nodded his head.

"So you're in…?"

"Fifth grade," Henry finished her sentence.

"Cool…do you have a part time job or kids? A wife?"

He chuckled as he knew it was only a joke.

"What do you do for fun?"

"I play video games…"

"He's kicked my butt on several occasions…it's actually annoying…"

"I can't help that I have skills," he replied to his Mom with a wide grin.

Santana smiled and just took in the conversation. She watched as mother and son just chatted and laughed.

"I wanna be a part of this family." Santana thought to herself.

"Santana," Henry asked as he snapped his fingers in front of her face.

"Oh sorry."

"Where were you?"

"Um…" Santana was actually going to reveal what she was thinking when their food arrived.

"Saved by the food," she thought as she began to eat her meal.

The table was quiet as they ate their meal.

All of the sudden, Emma coughed and then nervously said, "So, Kid, um, I told her that I love her…"

Henry smiled from ear-to-ear, while Santana's expression was one of sheer nervousness. Emma picked up on it and grabbed her hand that was resting on the table.

"It's okay, San," she said with a smile.

"Yeah, Santana, it's great, but I won't ask if you told my Mom."

Henry smiled reassured her.

"Good man," Santana said with a smile.

She knew she had to figure this all out before she met Emma's parents, which she wanted to do.

After that little conversation they finished the meal, paid and left the restaurant. They drove Henry home. When they arrived he said, "I had fun. Thanks. Emma. I hope to see you again, Santana." He looked at her and smiled brightly.

"Yes, definitely," she said and raised her hand for a high five. Henry returned the gesture and then got out of the car. They watched him enter his house and then they drove off. The ride back to Emma's was made in silence. They quietly exited the car and entered the apartment building. They climbed the stairs, which was easier this time for Santana.

They silently changed their clothes and got into bed. They snuggled closed to each other and there still wasn't any noise. Then Santana sighed and said, "Sorry I got weird before you went to get Henry."

"Santana, it's alright," Emma said quietly.

"No, Emma, it's not. I gotta figure this out before I get to meet your parents, which I so want to do."

"Figure what out?"

"How I feel. If I can love you the way you deserve to be despite…"

"Despite what?"

"Well," she said and mustered up the courageous that it was going to take. She went to begin the conversation when Emma said, "I don't care about your past. Well, that's not totes true. I care because your past brought you to me." She kissed Santana's forehead since they were on their sides in the embrace.

No, that's not it," Santana whispered and looked down.

"What is it"

"I'm dying Emma," Santana blurted out.

"You're what?"

"I'm dying."

"Like dying, dying? For real?"

Santana nodded her head. Emma wiggled out of the embrace and stood up from the bed. "Santana, if you don't wanna be with me it's alright. You don't have to lie like this. I'm a big girl, I can take it."

Santana looked like she on the verge of sobbing. "This is why I haven't told anyone in my life. I knew they wouldn't believe me." She then started to ball. The tears fell freely and quickly. She used the palms of her hands to wipe them away, but more followed. It was at that moment the realness, trueness and heaviness of the situation hit Emma. She jumped into bed and pulled Santana into her body. She desperately attempted to have Santana stop crying. "San, I'm sorry."

"I don't blame you, Em," she said as she gasped for air.

"Ok, you need to calm down," Emma said as she rubbed Santana's back tenderly.

"I know," she said as she took one final deep breath.

Emma looked at her face as she asked, "Okay? I want to know, but only if you feel comfortable with telling me."

'I need to. More for myself than for anyone else."

Emma hugged her tightly and then waited patiently.

"So if happened almost year ago. I was unable to catch my breath or breathe at all. I was like, 'What the fuck is this'. I was so nervous and anxious. But then it went away. I thought I must've hurt myself or something. So the next day I noticed that I had skin irritation like redness on my right arm. I tried soothing lotions, but it never went away…."

Emma looked petrified but didn't say anything.

"Britt and I were in the beginning stages of in vitro fertilization. So, I thought that was why. Well, I was wrong. I started to get abnormally weak, tired and fatigued. The worst was the exhaustion. I stayed in bed most days, all day."

Emma timidly frowned.

"So I was thinking that I should go see a oncologist because I had a deep down feeling, in the pit of my stomach, ya know? I found one right outside of Lima. I told Britt that I had business and I'd be back in a few days. God, I hated lying to her. I don't know why I did the first time. I guess it was because I thought that I wanted to know what this could be first and then spring it on my family and friends. I went to the doctor's appointment and he said, 'Stage four cancer.' It has a more medical term for it, but it boils down to the same thing." Santana took a breath as she looked at Emma. "You following this?"

"Yes, I am kinda. I'll hold all questions and comments until the end."

"Oh thanks," Santana said with a light chuckle. "Anyway, have you ever had an out of body experience where you're watching yourself from another person's perspective and saying, 'No, this can't be right?' Well that's what happened to me. After that I withdrew from anyone who tried to reach out and help me. They didn't know and in a sick way, that was comforting to me. I was still Santana Lopez…"

"You're still Santana Lopez," Emma interrupted.

Santana reaches out her hand to caress Emma's cheek. "I know…I know. I just don't want to be looked at as sick."

Emma timidly raised her hand in the air. "Isn't there chemotherapy and radiation?"

"There are…"

Emma looked hopefully.

"But the doctor said that the cancer won't be cured. It's too late. So, I opted not to try any trials or go on medicine that's going to drain my energy and take me away from the things I like to do."

"Oh, not for nothing, but it sounds like you're quitting."

Santana stared at Emma, really stared at her. She knew that Emma was just concerned. She's having the same reaction that Santana had when she found the diagnosis out.

"Emma, I can see how you can say that. I do, but I see it as choosing to live my life to the fullest, for as long as I have a life."

"How long is that?"

"My doctor, who is my second opinion doctor, gave me six months. But knowing isn't haunting me everyday."

"Well…" She leaned forward to kiss Santana and then continued, "You're not going to go through this alone. Not if you don't want to."

Santana smiled that winning smile. "Who's gonna be there?"

"I am…"

"Emma," Santana started, but Emma stopped her. "No, Santana, no. You've chosen to go it alone so far. Not telling anyone is a little brave and really dumb at the same time."

Santana smirked because deep down inside she knew Emma was right. "I know. I am going tell them, I promise you. I need help…"

"Good. I'm glad," Emma said, "Okay, I love you. It's so simple to me. I love you for who you are. All of you. The good and the bad.".

"I don't want you feel like you have to cuz you certainly don't."

"Have to do what? Love you? Yes, I do."

Santana kissed her hard on her lips.

"I don't agree with some of the things you've decided not to do , but it isn't my place."

"Okay, that's fair," Santana said. "I just need a partner in my life. Will you be her?"

Emma wiped falling tears from her eye. She looked deeply into Santana's eyes.

"Sure," she said.

Santana lunged at her and kissed her roughly. "Thank you, Em," Santana said.

Emma then asked the question that neither of them really knew the answer to. "Um, how?"

Santana sat back against the headboard of the bed while she pondered that question.

"Well, I guess first treat me the way you'd treat me even if weren't sick. I don't want to be pitied for looked at like I'm broken. Okay? Then I get just love me through my good and bad days. Love me through my shit and someone will tell you I have plenty of that. Don't think you'll hurt me. I'm not going to break from your touch."

"Okay, I think I can do that." Emma leaned forward and kissed Santana passionately.

"Now I gots tell my mother and Brit and Quinn. But how?"

Emma scratched her head in confusion and thought. "Do you want them to know like tonight?"

Santana thought for a mere second and then said, "I don't want to hold off from telling them. I've been doing that, and I've hated the feeling. So…" Santana stood up from the bed and retrieved he phone. She dialed Brittany's number and put the call on speaker.

In seconds, she heard, "Hey, Sanny…"

Santana tried to say something, but she burst into tears instead. She pushed the phone in Emma's direction.

"Santana, what's wrong?"

Emma brought the phone up to her lips as she said, "Hey, Brittany, this is Emma…"

"Oh, yeah, is Santana alright?"

"She has something to tell you, but she's very emotional right now. She just needs a minute or two…"

"Tell her to calm her tits and tell us!"

"Hey, Quinn. It's good that you're there with Brittany…for, uh, support…"

Santana motioned for the phone and Emma handed it over. She then reached for and grabbed Emma's free hand and massaged it.

"Okay, I gots something t tell you. It is very hard for me to say so please just let me get through it, ok?"

"Yes, Santana," Brittany encouraged.

"I'm dying…"

At that point the phone dropped on the other side of the conversation.

"Fuck!" Quinn picked it up quickly. "Sorry, Britt dropped the phone. Say that again?"

"I'm dying. I have stage four cancer, which gives me six months. It's been going on for a less than a month and a half. Britt, during our in vitro experience…"

"It's my fault!"

"Brittany Susan Pierce, this is not your fault. Do you hear me?"

"She nodded her head, San."

"Do you understand now why we got divorced?"

"No, I'll never know why we did that…"

Santana took a deep breath and said, "I didn't want to be a burden to you."

Brittany sobbed at that point. "In sickness and health…"

Santana teared up and squeezed Emma's hand tightly. "I am right here," she mouthed to her.

"I'm so sorry…Can you ever forgive me?"

"You were my best friend before anything else happened, Santana, of course I forgive you. All this time I just thought that you didn't love me anymore."

"Britt, I've loved you from the very first time I saw you. It was never you. It was always me. Quinn?"

"Yeah?" She had a tone of worry in her voice.

"Take care of her?"

"Always…When you get home we'll all go out to dinner so you can explain more. We both love you, Santana."

"I love you both."

Then Santana hung up the phone. She pulled Emma into a tight hug and cried on her shoulder. Emma rubbed her back soothingly.

"It's ok, San. That went better than I thought it would," she said. "Okay, you ready for the next one?"

"No, no I'm not, but I know I have to," Santana said with a very heavy sigh. She dialed the number and put the call on speaker mode.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Mami," Santana said quietly. "I need to tell you something."

"What wrong, mija? Did you and Emma have a fight. It's the first one—"

"No, she's right here actually," Santana said with a small chuckle. "Okay I need to say something and it's gonna sound like I'm lying to you, but I'm not. Ok?"

"Mija, you're scaring me. it can't be that bad."

"Okay, here it goes Mami, I'm sick. Like terminally sick…"

Maribel took a sigh and said, "Santana, I know."

Santana's head shot up. "How?"

"I, uh, called the doctor…"

"When?"

"I found the business card on your kitchen table and the motherly instinct pushed me to call. Don't worry, I didn't get much from the doctor. Only that you were a patient and a small amount of info."

"Why didn't you tell me? I was petrified to tell you."

"I knew not to push you and that when you were ready you'd tell me. I felt like a horrible mother for not being able to protect you from this. What is it?"

"Thank you for letting me figure this out first then letting me come to you. It's stage four cancer. It's fatal and I'm opting not to do chemotherapy or radiation."

"Is one of the symptoms dizziness?"

Santana sighed as she remembered the experience.

"Makes sense. There's been times when you're in my presence that you seemed off with your walking. I didn't know what to make of it. But you tried to not make it visible. What are you planning to do? I think I know the answer, but I need to hear you say it."

"I plan on living out the rest of my life to the fullest. I'm sure Emma will help me do that. I hope you understand that medicine is something that isn't going to fix it. Just prolong stuff. I don't want to prolong stuff. I just want to live my life and be happy. I love you, Mami."

"That's what I thought you were going to say. I have to honor your decision. You're a grown ass woman and if this is how you want to live, then who am I? I love you so much…" Maribel had a second's quiver in her voice, but she forced it away.

"Thank you. We gotta go! Gots to get our cuddles on," Santana said as she sighed happily. "Tomorrow I'm meeting her parents, right?"

"Yup," Emma said.

"Hey Emma, thanks for taking care of my girl. You're a good influence on her. San, does Britt and Quinn know?"

"We just called them. It went as well as could be expected. I love you too," Santana said as she hung up the phone.

"See! You're out!" Emma jumped up and down. Then she up to Santana, grabbed her head and kissed her lips as passionately as she could. Santana somehow rose from the chair and wrapped her arms tightly around Emma's body. She pulled Emma's body into hers.

"Emma," she moaned when the kiss broke for air.

"Santana," Emma replied as she scooped Santana up in her arms. She walked them to the bedroom where she gently laid Santana on the mattress. She then disappeared to close and lock the front door. She closed her door and then reappeared in front of Santana.

"I want to make love to you," Emma said.

Santana sat up and grabbed Emma's shirt in her hands and yanked her onto the mattress next to her.

Emma looked at her and sincerely asked, "But are you sure you want me to?"

Santana nodded her head. "Remember what I said…'no holding back'."

Emma flung herself on top of Santana's body as Santana fell backwards onto the mattress. She hovered over her for a few seconds.

"Santana, place your hand on your heart for me?"

"Em," Santana said as she raised her right arm and moved it across her body to the left side of her upper chest.

Emma dipped her head down and kissed the spot of tanned skin where Santana's hand was. She witnessed Emma doing his and thought it was the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for her.

"Emma, look up at me?"

Emma immediately looked up at Santana. She took a deep breath and said, "I love you."

Emma's face held the widest smile it could. She was so happy to hear those words come from Santana's lips. Then Emma leaned forward and kissed Santana passionately. As the kiss went on, Santana's hands gravitated to Emma's backside and she squeezed both cheeks.

"I want to go farther with you than our other times. They were great, but I need you in me."

Emma hesitated, but said, "Ok, at any time you wanna stop tell me and we stop."

She leaned down and sucked on Santana's collarbones.

"Ahh," she moaned.

Emma shimmied down Santana's body to pull off Santana's shirt and her bra. She immediately was in a trance with Santana's breasts. She captured one in her mouth and began to suck on it.

"Emma," she moaned out. "Suck my nipple."

Emma obeyed her demand. She leisurely sucked and softly bit the nipple. Her attention then went to the other nipple as she did the same actions to it.

"Lower," Santana urged removed herself out of her thong. She tossed it to the floor and then she pushed Emma's shoulders down.

Emma moved to the valley between Santana's breasts.

"I wanna kiss your heart," she said as she passionately kissed in between Santana's breasts. Her hand cupped Emma's head of blonde hair as she played with strands of it. Emma then moved lower and massaged Santana's pussy with her palm. She moved her hand up and down quickly and created some friction there.

"In," Santana urged, and Emma obliged as her finger gently and quickly entered Santana.

"Ah…Ah…Ahhh!"

"You okay," Emma asked. She had pulled her finger out a few brief seconds to remove her shirt, pants, and boxer shorts. She threw them onto the floor and then resumed her position.

"Yes, Em. Keep going," she urged.

Emma entered with another finger.

"Emma, yes!" Santana squirmed around on the mattress. Then she raised her legs up into the air.

"Wow, you're gorgeous," Emma screamed out as she gazed at what Santana was allowing her to see. She took a deep breath and then devoured Santana's pussy. Emma ate her out like she hadn't eaten in years. It wasn't long until Santana heard slurping noises coming from down there. Emma ate her out and swallowed all the juices she could.

"Emma!" Santana began to sweat. Her legs were getting weak. She lowered them and bent her knees. Her legs were spread as widely apart as possible so that Emma could fit.

"Put your legs on my shoulders for support," Emma instructed before she dived back into Santana's pussy. She kept eating her out until there wasn't anything left. Then she kept on eating her out just to make sure.

"Pick your legs up. I want you to taste yourself on my lips."

Once Santana's legs clumsily fell off Emma's shoulders, she moved upward to her. She flipped onto her side and waited for Emma. Once she was facing her Emma pulled Santana into her body as their lips collided. As they kissed, Santana held onto Emma's shoulders and pushed her so that Emma's back was on the mattress.

"Whoa," she exclaimed with a smirk.

"I gots to return the favor," Santana said with a smile.

Emma picked up her head from the anticipation. Her lips smashed themselves against Santana's.

They moved together as the two women hugged each other tightly.

"I need…" Emma moaned after she broke the kiss. Santana knew just what she needed.

She broke the kiss again. Santana traveled straight down to Emma's pussy. She licked the outside from the top to the bottom. Emma's hairs rubbed against Santana's bottom jaw. Emma squirmed and then flung her legs up into the air.

Santana couldn't wait as she dipped down and licked Emma's pussy. She first paid attention to Emma's clit with long, slow licks. Each lick elicited a sexual moan or sound from Emma.

"More," she panted out. Santana's tongue then plunged itself as deep as she could get it. She licked it a few times and Emma came hard. During her orgasm, Emma grabbed at the bed sheets and pulled them roughly.

"San," Emma cried out in ecstasy. She licked one more time and luckily Emma came again.

Sensing that Emma had given her all she had, Santana climbed up Emma's body into her opened arms. They snuggled against one another, and they both sighed at the same time.

"I wanna ask you a question, if I may," Emma asked shyly.

"Are you being shy now?"

"No, I just don't want to bring down our mood…Anyway are you afraid of dying?"

Santana reached out to brush a strand of blonde hair away from Emma's vision. "Nah, well, a little. It's not the idea of dying. It's more of being afraid of everything I'm gonna miss, ya know? Like my friends' triumphs and their failures…their happiness and their sadness. I am afraid of being forgotten."

"Santana Lopez I can never and will never forget you. And neither will your friends. Trust me?"

"With my heart," Santana said, leaned forwarded and kissed Emma's forehead.

Soon after they settled down in each other's arms.

"I truly love you, Emma Swan…with all my heart. I'm sorry I took so long to say it."

"San, I love you more than words can express. I totes understand. I would have waited as long as it was necessary to hear you say it. I get that you've had a love before. And she's an awesome person. I just hope that you're gonna allow me to be your second, different love. Will you?"

"Of course, Sweetheart. I'd be stupid not to," Santana said with sincerity in her tone of voice. They couple fell asleep soon after their conversation and slept until the late morning.