A/N: TW for mentions of r*pe and sexual abuse. I don't know everything about court and I'm not a lawyer nor do I know ANYTHING professional about law, don't come at me. Song is by All Time LOw. I own no lyrics mentioned nor do I own the glee characters.
Chapter 19: Kids In The Dark
Santana shut off her alarm and looked to her side sadly. Brittany said she had to plan a perfect date for their anniversary and she needed to sleep in her own bed to dream it up. Asher licked Santana's face and she sputtered.
"Gross Ash!" she wiped her face off. She loved the dog but he was getting big and slobbery. He barked at her and she groaned, dragging herself down the stairs. It was pouring rain outside and she dreaded the mud he'd be tracking in. She let him out and grabbed an armful of towels from the linen closet. To her surprise, he moved at the speed of light before coming back in shivering.
"Your perro doesn't like the rain." Diego smirked, starting the coffee maker.
"No shit Sherlock. That café better be hot or I'll go all Lima Heights on your ass." Santana gently dried Asher off with a towel, paying special attention to his paws before letting him scamper to lay in front of the fireplace. She flicked the switch and it roared to life. God bless whoever invented the magical electric fireplace.
"What has you in such a bad mood Santanita? Where's your novia (girlfriend)?" her cousin asked watching the coffee steam.
"She needs to dream up our 6 month anniversary date without me cuddled into her side apparently." she sat at the counter, Diego setting her favorite mug (made by Brittany at Color Me Mine painted with ducklings) full of black coffee in front of her.
"Let her do her thing nina" Ali said emerging from office, glasses barely clinging to her nose.
"Did you sleep at all mami?" Diego asked, pouring her mug exactly how she liked it.
"No nino. I need to get this paperwork finished." she rubbed her eyes tiredly.
"It's my adoption isn't it?" Santana asked quietly.
"Si, but don't worry. Your parents sent it in the first place with your signatures. I just want to make sure everything is exactly as it should be. As of now, you won't need to go to court. I'm also filing the paperwork to clear Quinn. It's gone very well, just some community service." Ali explained.
"I should talk to her this week. She said that she hadn't been completely honest about the attack before." Santana mused.
"Bring her over since Brittany won't be here to keep you company." Diego suggested.
"I will. I gotta go. Adios, te amo" she hopped into Brittany's waiting car "Why didn't you come inside?" she looked at Brittany, she had red rings around her eyes.
"Will you be mad if I tell you I lied?" Brittany nervously asked.
"A little, but not until I hear can I be certain." Santana arched an eyebrow.
"They called me as a witness for the trial. They said the evidence was called into question. I was getting prepared by the ADA yesterday." the blonde sniffled.
"Oh mi amor, why didn't you tell me?" Santana asked.
"Because tomorrow is 6 months since your attack." the dancer admitted. Santana inhaled sharply.
"It is. I'm talking to Quinn today, she wanted to admit something I guess. She's coming over after school."
"Good, good, I uh don't want you to be alone but I have to uh go to court and stuff." Brittany ran a hand through her hair.
"Just call me if you need to talk okay?" the Latina reached out her pinky.
"I promise." Brittany said.
That day at school, Santana saw how difficult a time Brittany was having focusing. She made sure to take extra detailed notes and helped Brittnay through the reading in class. By the time Glee rolled around the blonde looked pale and sickly. "Honey, you look absolutely miserable." Santana said, helping the blonde sit.
"I'm really scared. Santana, I feel so weak." Brittany buried her face in the Latina's shoulder, crying softly. Santana looked to Quinn, Rachel, and Mercedes and they formed a sort of barrier around them. Brittany managed to keep herself quiet while praised them about Regionals, giving them free reign over whatever they'd like to do for the rest of the week. Santana sent a text to the Pierces letting them know that Brittany shouldn't drive and was relieved that they were willing to drop her and Quinn off first. When Ali took Santana's seat she realized her aunt must've been clued in.
"Why's your aunt going with them?" Quinn asked, placing her bag by the couch.
"She has to drop some paperwork off. Adoption finalization and clearing your name." Santana said "Speaking of, what did you want to tell me."
"Well, I wanted to say I wasn't there. I mean I was, I hit you and stuff but Puck said if I didn't he'd hit you and me. And I knew he'd deal a worse punch." Quinn sat down. "But once I hit you we were supposed to leave but he pushed me aside, seeing as I hadn't apparently done enough damage. He shooed me away and a couple football players dragged me off. I didn't know what he was gonna do to you. I couldn't have stopped it if I wanted, seeing as I was in a similar situation in the locker room."
"Wait really?" Santana sat down, putting an arm around the girl.
"Yeah. It doesn't matter, they got thrown out a bit ago for something else. I'm not gonna press my luck." Quinn shrugged.
"True. There is one thing I think we should do though. I want to sing a song. Something powerful. I was thinking Kids In the Dark." Santana said.
"Why do you want to sing something powerful? I mean, I know its 6 months for both of us, but I don't know if I'm really still fighting. I'm almost more in a, I guess, recovery mood?" Quinn questioned.
"It's actually not for us, though I think once you get into you'll find there's still a battle raging inside you on some front. It's for Britt." Santana got up and moved to the piano.
"We're not going to do it acoustic are we?" Quinn didn't feel the power would carry well.
"No, I want the deep bass and drums along with the electric guitar behind our voices. It'll be more of a power anthem that way." Santana explained "I just wanted to mess around a bit with our harmonies."
"I haven't agreed yet, and I'm still not sure why we're singing it. What's going on with Britt?"the blonde looked to the Latina concerned.
"She didn't tell you?" the brunette was surprised, she thought Britt and Quinn had been trying to rekindle their friendship.
"We're just not as close as we once were. Do you think she'd be okay if you told me?" the ex-cheerleader seemed genuinely concerned, but Santana held back.
"Let me text her. I think she would be but, you know Brittany. She seems like an open book but she's not." the piano player played a small scale absent-mindedly.
"Well, I suppose playing around with harmonies couldn't hurt. Rachel would be so proud." Quinn rolled her eyes, she love her girlfriend but she was a firecracker.
"I'm sure she would. Here, sit. I'm sure we can work this out." Santana patted the space beside her on the bench and Quinn sat down, looking at the instrument before her longingly.
"Have you ever played?" Santana asked, flipping through a handmade book of All Time Low grand staff.
"I did when I was much younger. Rich parents need star studded kids. When I joined gymnastics and shortly thereafter cheer, they pulled me off seeing that my talent was elsewhere." Quinn shrugged.
"Were they right? Or were you good?" Santana set up her sheet music.
"I was fantastic. My teacher raved about me, if I'd stayed on another year she'd said I would've been on track to lead the orchestra instead of the Cheerios." Quinn sighed sadly.
"Give it a whirl. Just a scale, or heck, play the sheet music." Santana stood up, urging Quinn to sit more center of the piano.
"It's been years. I'm completely out of practice." the blonde shook her head.
"I don't believe that for a second. Get on with it." the latina urged.
"Fine, fine." Quinn agreed and, albeit a bit shakily, played through the sheet music with minor error. "See, I've lost my touch." she said once she'd finished.
"Bullshit. That was great. A bit of practice here and there and you'll be back on track. Not the same as once before but I took a few years off as well. Could not play quite well with how I was doing at the time. Really cheers me up though." Santana grinned, returning to her seat. "So whadya say about a few harmonies?" the girl asked as her phone buzzed in her pocket "Just a sec."
"Hey Britt- Tia why are you on Brittany's phone?" Santana started to pace "No she doesn't know yet." Quinn only heard mumbles on the other line "I guess this is one way to find out." Santana ran a shaky hand though a hair "Right. Okay." she hung up.
"Santana what's wrong?" Quinn asked, looking at the rain outside as thunder boomed and lightning cracked "Brittany."
"What? Yeah. Get your shoes." Santana waved her off running to Diego's room.
"Vamanos!" she said as the boy stumbled into shoes.
"Santana, calmate." Diego said, looking to Quinn. "C'mon chica, she's not slowing down for no one." Santana was at the door already, leaving without a jacket. Quinn grabbed the one closest the door as she headed to the car. Diego jumped in and they sped off towards the courthouse.
Brittany couldn't breathe. She sucked in air in broken gasps as the thunder shook the old building. The rain echoed in the marble halls and the lightning filled the windows.
"Brittany, please calm down honey." her mom pleaded. Olivia sat beside her, holding her hand.
"It's gonna be okay Britty." The tall dancer had been holding her head between her knees for ten minutes when Santana burst into the hallway, soaked with rain. Despite that, she made her way to Brittany wrapping her in a sopping wet hug.
"AY DIOS MIO" Ali sighed.
"Brittany, I'm here, everything's gonna be okay." Santana whispered, gently stroking the girls back. The blonde drew in shaky breaths and Santana waited for them to slow and stabilize before pulling away.
"You got me all wet Sanny." Brittany pouted.
The Latina thought "wanky" but said "That's it love, back to normal yeah?" Thunder cracked and the blonde squeezed the caramel hands in hers.
"Better." Brittany admitted. She saw Quinn and the confused look on the girl's face.
"I'm sure this isn't the concern, but why are we at the court?" th blonde qustioned.
"I'm a witness." Brittany admitted "In a rape case."
"Not…"
"Yes, Quinn. That case." the dancer sighed "And I, well, I just, the echoing of the thunder along with everything else, it was too much."
"Well, um, I guess good luck?" Quinn wasn't sure what to say.
"You know, that's perfect Q. Let's do it." Brittany stood up and her parents led her into the courtroom where the judge had called a temporary recess.
"Should we go to support her?" Santana asked Ali, who shook her head adamantly.
"It's honorable of you to want to, but if Brittany wants to tell you the details, she will in due time. Why don't you three come with me?" she asked Diego, Quinn and Santana.
"Ego?" Olivia said, led out by her father.
"What's up little Livvy?" Diego got down on a knee.
"My daddy wants me to ask you to play out here while Britty is brave." Olivia murmured.
"Of course we can play. I've got a fun game on my phone." Diego looked up to with a wink, setting the girl in his lap and sitting on the bench just outside the doors to the courtroom."
"Thank you Diego. Santana, it'll be a bit. She'll want to see you after though." said.
"Of course. I'll be here." Santana nodded solemnly.
"But first, you two, come with me." Ali dragged Quinn and Santana to an office.
" ! You've brought guests?" the lawyer said.
"Actually, signatures." Ali smirked.
"Ah I see, Miss Lopez and Miss Fabray. You're making an agreement to community service?" he said, looking up at them past his glasses.
"Actually, sir, I'd like Quinn to be exempt from that as well." Santana said with a finality that left little room for argument.
"Right, well, I guess I'll fill the space with a zero...are you sure?" he held his pen an inch from the paper.
"As rain" Santana nodded.
"Alright, if you'll both sign and date this'll be cleared up." he said, signing his own name before Ali did as Santana's guardian. Quinn saw her mother had signed without concern.
"Miss Fabray, could you excuse us for a moment, I just have one more thing." the man nodded towards the door.
"Yes. I'll be down the hall." Quinn left abruptly.
"Will you both please take a seat?" the lawyer motioned to the stiff chairs sitting in front of his desk. "Santana's parents have signed away all rights. There are two options. Because Santana will be sixteen in less than a year, I can bury some paperwork and we can get you emancipated. However, I would much prefer to make Ali your primary guardian."
"Why is that?" Santana asked, not because she disagreed, but because she was genuinely interested.
"It will extend your restraining order to cover Ali's address even when you're not on the premises." he explained.
"Where do I sign?" Santana asked, fully supporting the idea.
"Well, you um, there's one other question." he said.
"What's that?" she arched an eyebrow.
"Well, usually an adoption involves a last name change, though this is a unique situation. That said, you could change your first or middle name. I know your middle name is your mother's name." he mentioned carefully.
"And my mother is a kind and caring woman who is too loyal for her own good. I am keeping my name." Santana announced.
"Very well, if you'll both sign I'll file this and your adoption will be official." he sent them off shortly thereafter.
"Let's get down the hall, it sounds like courts have been let out for the day." Ali hurried Santana who waited patiently outside the doors, greeting the Pierces looking past them for Brittany.
"San?" Brittany said as she pushed past the crowd.
"I'm here B" Santana opened her arms and engulfed Brittany in a hug.
"The ADA says it's a done deal. I never have to see him again." Brittany smiled and Santana kissed her softly.
"I am so happy. But I want you to spend the night with Livvy and your parents tonight okay? It seems right." the latina squeezed a pale hand encouragingly.
"You're right. I'll see you tomorrow." Brittany scooped Olivia up off Diego's lap, and Santana saw the pain seep away from her eyes just a bit.
"Quinn" Santana pulled the shorter blonde aside "We need to get this song done tonight."
"We'll be up all night Santana. Not that my mother will care, but shouldn't you get some rest? It's your 6 month anniversary with Brittany tomorrow." Quinn reminded.
"Of saying that I love her. We're celebrating on Friday, just like our first date." the singer said.
"Well, in that case, let's go! We've got work to do." Quinn said. They said their goodbyes to the Pierces, and after wrangling Diego and Ali, they headed back to the Lopez estate, Quinn getting her first glimpse of Santana's room. "Do I want to sit on the bed?"
"Shut your legs and sit down Fabray." Santana said unamused.
"Right sorry. How are we gonna pull this off?' Quinn asked.
"Here's the lyrics. Lets run through, pick what we want and highlight." Santana mused.
"Actually, I know you really want my help, and I will, but why don't I just do the echo? Like Zack?" Quinn offered.
"You think I should sing it, essentially, alone?" Santana asked.
"It's the surest I've been of anything in a long time." Quinn admitted.
"Okay...I'll do it." Santana steeled herself and they worked the song to the bone. There was nothing left to do but perform. And perform they did, the next day at Glee club.
What a shame
Beautiful scars
On critical veins
Come together
State of the art
We'll never surrender
The Kids in the dark
"For me San?" Brittany asked as Santana sat down after said some bullshit about getting over past grievances.
"For us Britty. Happy six months of I love you." Santana kissed a freckled cheek.
"Forever, mi amor." Brittany smiled.
Friday came, and Santana found herself walking through the park hand in hand with Brittany. Asher walked a leash length ahead of them, eager to see his friends the ducks. They found a bench and made sure it was dry before sitting and letting Asher wander nearby. He'd done well with his obedience training and only strayed a few feet from the bench. Santana leaned her head on Brittany's shoulder, taking a breath of the fresh winter air.
'What's going on in your head?" Brittany asked, calling Asher over when he strayed a bit too far.
"How happy I am. To have you, Asher, Diego, Tia and your family too." Santana smiled.
"I'm happy too San. I finally feel free of my past. Like it's actually behind me instead of hindering my way forwards." Brittany admitted.
"I think, I think I feel the same way. I've come to accept that it happened, and whatever that reason may be, I don't want to be held back by it any longer. I actually talked about this at therapy the other day." the Latina continued "I asked her if she thought what I'm about to ask is a good idea."
"Santana Maria Lopez if you get down on one knee I'm walking away forever." Brittany scolded "I have a plan for that in the future."
"So do I. But we can figure that out later my love. But it's along the same lines." Santana reached into her pocket and pulled out a ring box.
"I thought you weren't proposing." Brittany raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not. I'm promising, and asking you to promise me, that we'll be loyal, and if we ever feel the urge to stray, we're honest. That we will never sacrifice our own needs for the other, but instead bring our needs together. That we'll always communicate, and only keep secrets like presents, never anything of importance. I'm promising my past, my present and my future to you Brittany. Will you do the same?" Santan opened the box where two simple infinity silver rings were nestled.
"Did you doubt I would?" Brittany asked "Of course I will." she said, letting Santana slip the ring on. "Pinky promise too?"
"Because infinity will never be enough." Santana nodded, looping her finger with Brittany's. Asher whimpered at them from his spot at their feet.
"Yeah yeah, you can be the head we rest our hands on for the picture." Santana shook her head as the place they took another picture to fill their scrapbook.
"So, what's next on our date?" Santana asked as they walked back towards her house.
"You'll see." Brittany led her through the house to the backyard. Set beneath the fairy lights was a candlelit dinner, Lady and The Tramp style. "Bon appetit." Brittany winked.
"You're a dork." Santana said as they dug in happily. She even indulged Brittany in a spaghetti kiss.
"Alright, that was adorable." Santana blew out the candle and clicked the lights off "But look Britt." she pointed to the stars above them.
"They shine, just like our future together. By the way, I got you something too." Brittany said.
"Britt…"
"You got me a ring. Be quiet." she led Santana back inside and sat her down on the couch. "I'll be right back." she grabbed the gift and set it gently in Santana's arms. The Latina opened her eyes and gasped.
"Brittany...how'd you know?" Santana gently stroked the wood of the violin she'd known her entire childhood.
"Well, I tracked down your grandmother, and apparently she'd asked for this out of your room." Brittany said shyly.
"Do you want to hear something?" Santana asked. Brittany nodded enthusiastically and Santana took a breath and closed her eyes. She played through Elvis's "Can't Help Falling in Love."
"For I can't help falling in love with you." Brittany sang softly, as Santana let all her doubt slip away. She set the violin down and threw her arms around Brittany's neck.
"I'm ready." she whispered nervously.
"Yeah?' Brittany asked "You sure?"
"I've never been more sure of anything." Santana said, leading Brittany upstairs. It was more than just sex that night. It was love, love that they had always understood, but had never been able to express. Infinite love.
Infinity: the quality of being endless