Review Response:
Hii Ms. Calzona OrthoPeds, whew that user is a mouthful. So it's undecided who I'm shipping Santana with. Currently in between the ideas of Rachel, Quinn, and Brittany. Also, Callie already knows Puck from when Santana was a kid and they were friends y'know. Quinn's kid thing did happen and Shelby's thing did happen. That's probably my only issue as to why this may not be a Quinntana fic. That's messy bro. Anyway you'll find out in about four chapters from here. Thank you for reading, I live for your reviews ️
Santana Lopez's Perspective:
"Tias, do I have to go? We all know they can't win. And like they'll probably give up anyway," I whine, shifting my cousin on my hip who was fast asleep.
I had just got to the hospital with Soph after picking her up from pre-k when Arizona told me that I'd have to come with them to the custody hearing at family court tomorrow to testify. Which I don't even understand why we are having one. My father kicked me out, but now he wants me back? It doesn't add up at all. To be honest, I was supposed to be staying at some group home while my parents and aunts fought over me, but the lawyer that Zona got to represent us, Julia Braxton, pulled some strings.
"Yes, we need you to testify on what happened or else we'll lose and you'll have to go back." Arizona explains to me with a sad smile.
As much as I don't want to go, I know it's better than the alternative so I ask, "Well, what do I say?"
Before the blonde can respond, the elder latina replies, "They'll probably just ask you what happened, who kicked you out and how. Basic stuff, but Julia will be in there with you to help and she'll coach you a bit beforehand."
"Do I have to talk about...y'know what. Cause I don't know if I can."
"Let's just hope not, okay? We'll find out what's what tomorrow," Callie says effectively ending the conversation.
As if the child can sense my distress, Sophia wraps an arm around my neck in her sleep and nuzzles closer. In turn I tighten my hold on her and give her a kiss.
I just don't understand why Callie's so mean now. I mean I do, but it's me...Santa Lopez, Callie's best little friend. Or, at least, I used to be. Now she doesn't look me straight in the eye. Now she doesn't hug me unless I hug her first. Now when we're alone in a room we just ignore one another. And now, not for the first time since I've arrived, I'm feeling a tension in my chest that makes me want to break down in a corner and cry.
As soon as we get home I race into my room and lock my door. After we picked up my car from the hospital a week ago I hadn't unpacked my things. Which, considering the circumstances I still won't, but I miss my music. It was my only outlet back home. At the time there was Glee Club, so I didn't use my personal equipment as much. Now, though, I need to sing or do something. Which is why I'm currently shuffling around looking for my keyboard. Once I found it I immediately plugged it up and began my cover of When We Were Young by Adele.
However, as soon as I begin to play the opening notes I hear a small knock on my door. The sound is too shallow for it to be one of my aunts so I know it's Sophia. I quietly move to the door and crack it open just enough for her to walk in. I see Arizona's foot so I know she's there, but I don't want to talk to her so when Soph's in I close the door and relock it.
"What's up, So-So?" I ask and help her onto my bed.
She just shrugs and cuddles up next to me so I continue to play my keyboard. Once the first few melodies are pressed, I open my mouth to sing,
"Everybody loves the things you do
From the way you talk
To the way you move
Everybody here is watching you
'Cause you feel like home
You're like a dream come true"
As I continue to softly sing the lyrics, I can feel hot tears burn their way down my face. I'd wipe them, but I know they'd just keep coming so I continue to cry as I sing the melancholy lyrics of the breakup queen's song. My cousin seems to like the music as she cuddles in closer, laying her head on my thigh.
"I was so scared to face my fears
Nobody told me that you'd be here
And I swear you moved overseas
That's what you said, when you left me
You still look like a movie
You still sound like a song
My God, this reminds me
Of when we were young"
I draw out the bridge as my voice rises for the chorus.
"Let me photograph you in this light
In case it is the last time
That we might be exactly like we were
Before we realized
We were sad of getting old"
At this point in the song my eyes are shut and the tears are flooding down my face. I still don't care, though, maybe I need this.
"It's hard to admit that
Everything just takes me back
To when you were there
To when you were there
And a part of me keeps holding on
Just in case it hasn't gone
'Cause I still care
Do you still care?"
My voice cracks at that last lyric because that's exactly what I want to know. It's only been three years since I last heard from Callie, so why does it feel like so much more? Why doesn't she love me anymore? It can't be because I'm gay. She has a fucking wife. I just don't understand.
"It was just like a movie
It was just like a song
When we were young"
I belt out the last lines before pushing the instrument away and hug Sophia to my chest. She's better than a teddy bear as she hugs me back just as fiercely before asking, "Are you okay, Tan-Tan?"
"I'm okay, just a little sad." I respond with a sniffle and a light nod.
"Mama always says that when things get really bad it's okay, because it's always bad before it gets really good."
I chuckle and comment, "Yeah, that sounds like something Arizona would say."
"No, Mama said it, not Mommy."
"Oh, okay," I know my tears are about to start back up so I turn to the younger girl who's still snuggled into my chest, "I'm a little tired, how about you, up for a nap?"
"I thought you'd never ask!" So-So has clearly been hanging out with Zona too much, but I laugh and lay down.
Calliope Torres's Perspective:
"Wait, so she just closed the door in your face and stole our daughter?" I was angry, no, livid! What right does Santana think she has to slam doors in my wife's face. Not only that, but she let's in Sophia and not Arizona? This girl is going to be the death of me.
"Callie, don't be so mad. She's a teenager, she's all emotional and stuff," Arizona says, putting a hand on my shoulder. I shrug her off and make my way out of the kitchen towards Santana's room.
I'm about to bust in when I hear her singing.
"I was so scared to face my fears
Nobody told me that you'd be here
And I swear you moved overseas
That's what you said, when you left me
You still look like a movie
You still sound like a song
My God, this reminds me
Of when we were young"
I turn back to my wife with a look of shock on my face, "That girl's got some pipes "
In turn she nods before responding, "Callie listen," she stands closer to the door and puts a hand over her mouth, "She's crying."
"What, no…" I move in closer as well and I can hear her voice as it cracks in the song.
"It's hard to admit that
Everything just takes me back
To when you were there
To when you were there
And a part of me keeps holding on
Just in case it hasn't gone
'Cause I still care
Do you still care?"
"Well, shit, who do you think she's singing about?" I ask and fold my arms.
Zona gives me an are-you-fucking-kidding-me look and shakes her head.
"What?"
"She's obviously singing about you, Callie!"
"No way, I haven't done anything to her." I unfold my arms and land them on my hips.
"Calliope Iphegenia Torres, go talk to your niece!" Arizona stated in her army voice. Army voice means no playtime.
I huff before saying, "Fine, but I'm doing this because I want to, not because you told me to."
"You're wasting time talking to me."
I huff again and put my hand on the younger girl's bedroom door. I take a deep breath, turn the knob, and then let go and turn back towards Arizona, "I don't know how."
I guess this takes her by surprise because she responds, "What do you mean you don't know how?"
"I don't know how to talk to her anymore…It was so easy when she was a kid. She was so sweet and she had always looked up to me. And I know it hasn't been that long, but it feels like it's been a million years. Now she has all this sass and all these opinions. And she looks like a woman too! She's taller, smarter, prettier and I just- I don't know how to talk to her anymore. She's not my Santa Bear anymore. Now she's Santana friggin Lopez." I finish my ramble and run my fingers through my long hair.
"Callie, she may be Santana friggin Lopez, but she's also your Santa Bear. She might look different and be more outspoken, but that doesn't mean she isn't just as sweet and it doesn't mean she doesn't look up to you as much either. Since she's been here all she's wanted was your approval of her. Just have a conversation. Maybe she'll take you by surprise." Arizona responds, pulling me into a quick hug before walking away to the living room.
I'd like to say that her saying all that made me feel better, but it didn't. I know we need to talk, but it's just been so long. I don't know why we can't connect anymore. She knows that I love her, but does she still love me? I guess it's time to find out.
I open the door and get ready to speak, but I am treated to the sight of my niece and my daughter cuddled up together asleep. I suppose our conversation will have to wait for later today. However, before I leave the room I swiftly take out my phone and snap a picture. This is going in the album.
About an hour later Santana and Sophia exited the room for dinner. The younger of the two refused to sit anywhere except the elder's lap. I guess it's Sophi's way of comforting Santa. It seems to work, too, because the 16 year old started talking and laughing. That's the beauty of children, they're always there to lift your spirit.
"So, Santana, I heard you singing today and playing the keyboard, you're really good," Arizona comments once the room begins to go silent.
In return Santa ducks her head, blushing, and mumbles a thank you.
"Is-Is Santana Lopez blushing?! Oh my-," I start in mock shock then laugh when my niece chucks a carrot at my head.
"Shuddup, Callie," she grumbles.
"You play the piano good, Tan-Tan. Can I do that?" The five year old asks with curious eyes directed at Santana.
"Of course you can. You can do whatever you want, So-So. I'll teach ya." The older brunette responds.
"Yay!" Soph then smiles largely, showing off her dimples.
Those two have known one another all of a week and they're already thick as thieves. At this point, we better win the custody battle otherwise 'So-So' and 'Tan-Tan' will be crushed. There's no way that Santiago and Alma will let her visit us after this. God, and their relationship is so damn adorable, too!
"Sophia, hurry up and finish your food so we have time for a bedtime story, sound good?" Arizona asks, sensing my need to talk to Santana.
"Okay, Mommy!"
Soon as expected, Sophia finishes her dinner and Arizona goes back to tuck her in. I see Santana getting up to move her plate into the kitchen sink, so I move with her. I can already see her tensing up with my close proximity and it breaks my heart into pieces. My Santan Bear in so much heartache, she's only sixteen. This is not fair in the least. However, I know I need to get this conversation out the way now.
I reach out to touch her shoulder and see her flinch, however neither of us mention the reaction. I just put my hand down and start talking instead, "Santana, we should talk, okay? Come sit," I walk to sit on the couch in the living room.
"What about? Did I do something wrong? I'm sorry about slamming the door earlier, I was just mad. It won't happen again, please don't kick me out! Tia, I have nowhere else to go. I-" Santana's expression immediately becomes frantic as she sits down next to me on the couch, I swiftly cut her off.
"No, no, Santa, you didn't do anything wrong. I- I did," her facial expression changed from anxious to relieved to confused. She opens her mouth to speak, but I hold up my hand to silence her as I continue, "Please, just let me say this. I know I haven't been the nicest or the best aunt. I just feel like so much has changed in such little time. I feel like you don't know me anymore just as I don't know you. And you've been trying to reconnect, but I haven't been doing my part. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I don't intend to come off as cold, okay? I'm just processing everything and sometimes I get stuck on the past which makes me lose what's in the present.
I just- I love you, okay? No matter how mean or closed off I get, I need you to know that I love you. You'll always be my Santa Bear and my best little friend. And I'm not saying that I'm about to be super sweet or anything, I still need time to warm up. So, let's re-get-to-know each other. Sounds good, mi Angelita?"
In response, Santana just looks at me with teary eyes. For a moment I think I made the situation, but that's only for a moment as Santa flings herself on me into a tight hug. I can hear her crying and feel her tears soak my thin blouse. It takes me a bit to get my bearings back, but as soon as I do, I hug her back just as fiercely and make shushing sounds to calm her.
Dios mio, Santiago is not ever going to touch my baby girl ever again.
AN: UGH! I HATE IT HERE!! So in case you all have been wondering why my format is always shitty, it's because I'm working off of app. I type it on my school computer on google docs, but the school blocks this website so I have to use my phone to post. For some unknown reason, this app hates me and fucks my formatting everytime.
Anyway 4 reviews and I'll double post next time. (two chapters in one day)
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