A/N: Going Multi-POV for this one...enjoy!

Chapter 33: Don't Wake Me Up (Chris Brown)

Celia's POV

The responsible one-Sandra.

The gay one-Me.

The know-it-all one-Damariz.

The hermit one-Brenda

The rebellious one-Santana

These were the words that Papi would have used to describe us but my Mami would probably use different words because she had no idea that I was gay. It was maybe understood that me and Amber had a special friendship but it was never discussed and she was still trying to find me a husband even though I was 28.

And I let her continue to think that because I didn't feel like it was worth it to disrupt whatever fantasy she had of me as her favorite daughter because on her list, that's exactly who I was and I had to play my part.

Even if it meant living two different lives and when I was with Amber for all those years, it was okay because Amber didn't like Mami and Mami didn't like her, what was the point of forcing them on each other?

But with Quinn, so young but so wise, I wanted to make more of an effort because I could see her becoming my wife one day, so when she told me that she refused to be with someone who wouldn't live in their truth...I suddenly decided that it was time.

So, I had flown to Texas a few times now, trying to get up the courage to tell my mother that, not only was I in love, but that I am a rainbow flag waving LESBIAN. Each time though, I'd chicken out and come back home with my tail between my legs.

Like now, as I hover over thousands of feet above New York City, where everything was made of steel and glass, a sight that was much different than the sight I left in Texas...I knew that me and Q were at a breaking point.

My heart ached just thinking of the look that crossed her face each time I told her that I next time I'd do it.

Whenever I was in New York or Chicago, the reflections of the city always got me excited but when I saw Texas...any of it...I felt oppressed. As I sat there looking out the window, I realized that it had nothing to do with the skyscrapers but what rested beneath them.

It was in Chicago that I made my life with Amber James, a six foot tall, brunette with legs that went on for days. She made me weak in the knees with her Jamaican accent and the way she would wake me up with kisses on my eyelids. She was the perfect woman for me when I was in my early twenties, just out of the closet and cocky after graduating from Texas AM, Summa Cum Laude. I was at the top of my class and as Mami put it, I was throwing it away by painting instead of going into finance.

Amber and I were both runners and dreamers. We ran a few marathons every year and even founded one for art students at the city colleges. We became known names in the gay and straight community in both the south and north sides of Chicago. We were successful and happy. She was my first love...my first EVERYTHING.

I thought after she cheated and broke my heart that I would never find love like hers again.

Little had I known just how right I was...

Instead I found something better!

Quinn was everything to me and I had been fucking around with her emotions thinking that she's young and will be able to roll with it, what I hadn't factored in to my dumb assertions was that she had to grow up way faster than her age.

She had no time for games.

Where Amber was ready to just roll with my bullshit and me with hers, Quinn was not down for anything more than concrete commitments.

And I wasn't going to let her down again.

Quinn's POV

I had gone to sleep on Friday night with Isaac curled against me in Celia's quiet ass brownstone.

She'd promised me that she would be home and then I got there to silence.

Only a note that said, headed to Texas, back Saturday afternoon.

I knew that San and B needed this night alone, so instead of going back home, I decided to just stay the night and spend it with my amazing godson.

He curled against me, gripping tight to my shirt, like he was afraid that I'd leave him.

And maybe he was, God knows that he's been tossed around like a beach ball without much stability but I wasn't going to say that to his parents or his aunts, instead, I was going to be his one person that was there always.

I had no intentions of letting him down.

Even though I was pissed that this was probably going to be yet another time that Ceily had set out go tell her mom the truth and coming back with no progress, I still missed her.

I was loyal to her even though right now we were technically on a break, even when Rachel showed up to the house and tried to get me alone. It was only the scent of liquor on her breath at barely 5 in the evening that stopped me.

To this day, vodka reminds me of Russell and there was no way in hell, I could make out with her smelling like that.

With Izzy curled up against me, I slept like the dead but was startled awake by my phone's constant buzzing.

Bleary eyed, I stared at my phone screen and saw that I had a missed call from a number that I didn't recognize.

I checked the voice mail that followed and immediately regretted not answering the call.

"Q, it's Noah and Beth. Say hi Beth...hi!" I swear my heart stopped when I heard my daughter. "I'm calling because...well...I'm sure you heard that I'm getting married...or rather...I was getting married." Even though I hadn't, I sat there nodding, "Shelby called off the engagement...she's been cheating on me with some director. She got cast for a movie in LA. I'm suing her for full custody of Beth. I just wanted you to know that I'm sorry for not telling you about any of this. Every time...I see Beth smile...I see you Quinn...I really think that if I get this custody thing going that you should think about developing a relationship with our daughter. Give me a call whenever. Say bye Beth...BYEEEEEEEE!"

It was insanely early but I was wide awake now. It was like someone asked me what my deepest dream was and then said...here it is...here is your chance!

Hearing Beth was like a dream come true.

I was floating on a cloud!

There was so much I wanted to ask Noah, especially about his engagement to Shelby but that wasn't even a priority, getting Beth was.

"Dama?" I looked over at Izzy and he reached for me.

Hopefully someday soon, Beth would do the same.

Santana's POV

One of the first things that I had been told when I was leaving the hospital was that I needed a neurological clearance before I could get my driver's license back and I had been so good about not driving, even when I left Sandra's it had been with a driver but now it was four in the morning and my body was aching for the baby.

I'd left Sandra with enough milk but it was like my mother instinct was summoning me.

So even though she had purple bruises under her eyes as she slept next to me from all the lack of sleep she'd been getting, I couldn't resist. Only, I needed to get over these hangups and this was the time to do it.

I leaned in and kissed her perfect lips, she threw her arm over me and snuggled deeper.

"B...please?" I whined, knowing what was coming even if she didn't.

She pressed against me and I could feel the wetness seeping from me.

Her eyes popped open and she looked down at my bare chest.

"You're leaking."

"I know."

"Do you want your pump?"

"I w-want the baby." I said.

"And what, leak all the way there? No way." And then she took me by surprise and licked my nipple. I scrunched up my nose but she smirked and sucked harder.

Then her fingers were between my legs and I came instantly, pressing my boobs into her face more.

"Fuck." I groaned and then moved her head to the other one.

And she did it again.

Who knew she had this kink? I sure didn't.

Her fingers kept playing and then she pushed inside of me and then sucked harder.

My body was overloaded with sensations but I didn't want her to stop.

I came hard and while I felt so powerless after remembering everything, right now, I felt like she was cherishing my still broken body.

"Turn onto your back and open your legs, baby." I did as she said and watched her make her way between my legs.

I felt so self conscious these days, which was new for me but she was making me feel like I had worth.

And that made all the difference.

The tears came unexpectedly and I just kept my hands on her head, encouraging her to continue her ministrations.

But then I came and I let out a huge sob, which pretty much ended her movements.

She came back to the top of the bed and pulled me against her body.

"Let it out, baby, I'm here. I'm so sorry that I hurt you. I will never do that again...you have the power baby, you have the control...for however long you need it. I'm yours. Lo siento, bebe." She whispered kissing my face, my tears, and my lips all while holding me tight.

"I l-love you." I said and then kissed her lips back.

"I know, you love me even when I don't deserve it. I am forever grateful for you, Lolli."

I snickered as I thought of that weekend and me ending things in this very house while still letting her fuck me all over the place.

She owned me then but right now I was working on owning myself.

Finding myself and being worthy of my children.

I had a lot of work to do but I wasn't going to give up trying.

When Britt finally got us up, dressed and out the house, I felt nothing but excitement.

Right now, Isaac was cared for but I knew I needed to do better by him, I had been short changing him since the womb and I had fears that as he grew there would be issues between us and I had a limited time to right my wrongs.

I was drawn to Daniela though because she was fresh and really only knew me...after last night, knowing that I was getting hit with constant memories of how bad I had been and how she was conceived, I just felt like I wanted to be attached to her always.

As much as possible.

I had to be a better mom and that started with at the very least, making sure that Daniela knew me as hers. Isaac hadn't gotten that chance but that didn't mean I couldn't give that to my baby girl.

When we got to Westchester, the baby was surprisingly still asleep and I sat in the nursery watching and waiting, my boobs were full to near bursting and I needed to give her what was hers.

Sure it was fun to play a little with Britt but this was different, my body was producing for our daughter and it felt terrible to waste it.

When she opened her eyes, I was there with her, waiting. I had left Britt with Sandra, to make breakfast and talk through their own stuff...whatever that meant...while I tended to my baby.

Once I had her changed, I lifted her up into my arms and sat down in the glider. Her eyes were wide open and she stared at me, taking me in fully.

"Hey, baby girl." I said and her lips tipped up into a smile.

I felt so blessed to have her there with me.

So many things could have gone wrong and almost did. My heart had stopped beating, I'd had strokes and we had both had seizures and somehow we were here right now. It felt like a blessing to be right there with my little girl. Right where I needed to be.

I was staring at her as she ate and running my fingers over the bridge of her nose and up across her forehead. She kept letting out little grunts and I smiled every single time.

I was excited to form this bond with my daughter. A bond that I hadn't had the opportunity to build with my son. I knew that it didn't really do anything to distance Isaac from me but after seeing Sandra and Tito, I had felt the pang of longing.

This was a blessing.

I sat there looking down at her eyes while she ate and it made my heart feel so warm.

Who would have thought that I would be the one to be excited to breastfeed my child?

That I would even be excited to be a mother of two before I turned twenty?

I sure didn't.

This though, was the happiest that I had ever been.

Daniela was healing me and so I knew that when I was finally home and had both of she and Isaac, that I would be able to become that person that I wanted to be. I would never leave my children, I would love them everyday.

I would teach them love and laughter.

Now that I knew that I would be able to redeem myself for my past mistakes while still being in their lives. I knew that I would do anything and everything possible to make my children proud to call me their mother.

My heart felt so full!

Brittany's POV

"What did you want to talk to me about?" It had been awhile since I had been alone with any of my inlaws but more than any of them, other than Brenda who really kept to herself in LA, the gap that was building between me and Sandra was only made worse by Ana choosing to stay here without me for weeks on end.

I had no idea what Sandra had been filling her head with but each time she came home, there was more space between us and I thought, surely Sandra, like Gladys was filling up Ana's head with a whole bunch of bullshit but then Sandra asked to speak to me alone.

So I helped Ana up the steps, knowing she was still slightly unsteady and then went back to the kitchen to sit with Sandra.

I had my walls up, ready for her to make me feel like shit but instead she sat across from me and folded her hands on the table top...and then smiled. She slid a stack of papers across the table and nodded towards the pen that was on top.

"We have things to discuss." She said.

"Clearly but...why now, without Ana in the room?"

"Because she will try to stop me and I know that while you love my sister, you don't necessarily care for when people treat you like you don't have a mind of your own."

"I don't. No."

"That is the prenuptial agreement that my sister drew up last week. I have made a few alterations...she has been holding back on giving it to you because she's afraid you'll fight her on it."

"Why?"

"First, Marco drew up those papers and well, as her ex-husband she knew you'd already be skeptical...just like I am. So I took them to Sal and sure enough, Marco found a way to write himself into it. Turn to page 3."

I flipped through it and found a clause that was circled in red pen.

"If fidelity is the cause of the split, Brittany S. Lopez (nee Pierce) forfeits custody of Daniela A.S. Lopez to Marco Vega." I looked at Sandra in shock. "Does she know about this?"

"No...I doubt she read it and I know he's been helping her through her sobriety...every day but I want you to know that while you and I have not always agreed, I somehow still trust you way more than I trust him...so, I had these drawn up." She pointed to a second stack, equal in size.

I looked through it for any claims on custody and there it was, the old custody arrangement that Ana and I had agreed on...50/50. Us moving back and forth to the primary residence.

This I could live with because I already had.

"Be straight with me, would you let Johnny sign this? Would you sign this?"

"I already have, only my pre-nup is triple the size of that one. I walk away from this marriage with what I walked in with, unless he cheats, then I get everything and he has cheated and created a whole child. So of course, he's doing everything in his power to make sure I don't divorce him and take all of this."

"Shit."

"What you need to know is that I haven't told her that the I made a new agreement...I leave that bit of truth up to you. She's in a fragile place right now and you know how weirdly attached she is to that psycho, just tread lightly."

"I want to talk to her about it but thank you for looking out for the both of us. I...don't have many people in this world that have my back...I'm glad you are one of them."

Just when I thought I was in the clear she reached across the table and rested her hands on top of mine.

"I always will be just make sure that these hands never harm anyone that I love again. Got it?"

"Got it." I felt cold again but then she tapped my hand until I looked at her.

"That means you too, Britt. Don't let these hands harm you either."

"Can I hug you?" I whispered, not able to get the words past the lump in my throat.

"I'd like that." She said back.

And that's how Ana found us a bit later, hugging, swaying, and crying like weirdos without explanation.

Celia's POV

My flight got into Laguardia at around noon and I hailed a cab immediately.

I had big plans for the day, the most important thing though was getting things sorted out and fixed between me and Quinn. We had lost so much time because of my hesitance and immaturity but that was going to change.

No longer would I waste her time or mine.

This most recent visit to Texas taught me that more than anything because it had been a big old waste of time and made me feel completely stupid for wasting so much time with Quinn. I had gotten down there and taken my mom and her husband out to dinner and before I we even ate appetizers, my mom put her hand up to silence me and told me flat out that she already knew why I was there.

She told me that she already knew that I was gay, that she had known for years and had been purposely trying to drag it out of me. Apparently, she set me up on dates with all these men because she wanted me to give in and just tell her. So this time she figured that she would just get it out of the way so that she could use her dinnertime more appropriately by spending her ex-husband's money buying lobster.

Knowing that I had Papi's money made her feel entitled to the money he always gave straight to us instead of her.

Only, I didn't have my inheritance, Brenda did but she didn't really care for my other baby sister...or Santana either come to think of it.

She looked so fucking smug as she feasted on her lobster...I had no idea how she felt about me being gay because she didn't say anything in agreement or disagreement, she simply said that I better find someone amazing and beautiful or just go get knocked up already because my eggs were nearly useless.

When I told her that I already had found love, twice now, her face lit up and so I spent the rest of dinner telling her all about Quinn. Then she insisted that I show her pictures and when she saw what Quinn looked like she insisted that I fly her to New York so that she could meet her in person and go check in on Sandra.

Luckily for me, Quinn and Sandra, I convinced her that we would set something up around Easter. Just so that Sandra could have time to be prepared for a tornado like my mother to come storming into New York and with my older sister going through something so hard and personal like the miscarriage that she hadn't talked to anyone but me about, I knew that the last person that she wanted around was our mother.

Feeling empowered by not having my mother hanging over me, I climbed in the cab, I asked him to take me straight to the city.

I hadn't talked to Quinn in a few days, I'd asked her to come over so we could talk but by the time she agreed to come, I was on a plane. It was cowardly to leave her hanging like that and I knew I needed to get my shit together pronto.

All I had was her last text from me, a picture of my nephew holding onto my pillow and drooling. The caption was ominous.

At least he doesn't leave me hanging, stayed tonight but heading home in the morning.-Lucy Q

When had I become so unsure of myself? I felt so nervous about the underlying anger in her text that I had the cabbie drop me off a few blocks away from the house so that I could walk and decide whether or not I should actually take the plunge and just show up.

She was already mad, did I really want to walk into her in a blind rage? I knew for a fact that she hated being blindsided.

It all depended on how she responded.

I'm back in the city...can I see you?-Ceily

Now I was just waiting to see if she would answer.

I was putting my heart on the line for once.

For her, I was willing to do it until I fixed us.

She was the one for me.

I just hoped that I wasn't too late.

Quinn's POV

Izzy was extra clingy that morning and I knew that if I didn't get him in the arms of Britt or San, he'd be in a pissy mood. When he was happy, his light was the brightest like Britt's but when he was in a mood, he was darker and stormier than San and from the look on his face, I knew where he was headed.

Are you guys home?-Q

Hey, headed home from Sandra's just picked up baby girl-San

Awesome, bringing Mr. Grumpy Pants home soon-Q

A mood?-San

Big one!-Q

Oh boy :(-San

While I got Izzy together, a bath and a few episodes of Elmo on his tablet in the cab, I listened to the voicemail from Puck and Beth for the 17th time. I was about to listen to it again as we pulled up in front of the house, when I got a text from Celia.

I'm in the city...can I see you?-Ceily

My heart began to race and my palms were sweaty. I was torn on how I should respond because I wasn't sure that I wanted to put my heart on the line again.

I mean, I didn't want to get back with Rachel either but at least she was upfront with her intentions, Celia hadn't been and that was why I was at my wit's end with her.

This was it for me, if she went all the way to Texas and still didn't tell her mom like she had admittedly done a few times...I wasn't sure I could stand by any longer. I couldn't deal with cowards...that had stuck with me from Russell, he'd taught me to not respect a weak disposition and as of yet Celia seemed to be the weakest of the Lopez sisters but I still loved her despite myself.

Would this be more of the same?

This relationship had been breaking my heart over and over again for the last three months and I wasn't sure that I wanted to continue going through so much stress. She was always nervous and uncertain of us and I couldn't deal with it anymore.

Yes...me...the same person who dated Finn Hudson and Noah Puckerman, I just didn't want to deal with stupidity, I had grown up. After being with someone so self assured as Rachel Berry and being best friends with someone like Santana, I just couldn't tolerate being fucked with.

I wanted real love, head over heels love.

By the time we got home, Izzy was curled up next to me ready to have his morning nap. So I carried him upstairs and tucked him in his crib, taking the baby monitor upstairs to my room with me.

His moms weren't home yet but I knew that him waking up to them would make his mood way better.

I stared down at Celia's message and typed out a response. I stared down at it for a long time and then saved it and decided to torture myself further by looking through all the pictures of us on my phone.

Anyone could see the love that existed between us. What we had was real, I didn't doubt it for a second, but I needed more. I couldn't just be an option for her when she was one of my top priorities.

My heart had been through way too much.

Hearing Beth's little voice over the phone had definitely proved to me that my heart was still open and wasn't completely closed off.

There was so much hope in me today and Ceily would reap the benefits of that.

Lucky for her.

I deleted the rejection text that I had typed up and then pulled up a fresh screen.

Only come here, if you are ready to take what we have seriously. I will be here all day studying.-Lucy Q.

I reread the message a few times just to make sure that it was clear.

I was satisfied.

Hopefully she would show up.

My heart was open for her to take, I hoped that the faith I was exhibiting was met with good news.

I could really use it.

There was banging on the front door and then my name was being screamed from the street.

It was loud and obnoxious and my heart sank.

No.

Not now.

Santana's POV

Seeing Britt and my sister hugging like that after a weeks of me in this house bitching about everything I forgot, said a lot of to me. The sister who I trusted more than most people was embracing the woman who hurt me, which meant that Britt had really turned her life around...or was at least trying to.

And if Sandra good hold her and treat her like a sister, well I could get the fuck over myself.

Daniela was asleep in the carrier that I had strapped to my chest and I was leaning on my cane, feeling like I was ready to just sit anywhere.

"Are you ready, baby?" Britt asked once she and Sandra broke apart.

"Yes...I m-miss my bed." I admitted and they both laughed.

"Okay, let's go home. Thanks for everything, Sandra."

"Anytime. Let me know if you need anything, this week me and Tito are going to Miami with Johnny but we will be around after the Superbowl...if you two need to get away from the city...the house is yours."

"Th-thanks." I said and she pulled me into a hug, careful of the baby and then something swam in the forefront of my mind. How had I missed it? "Sis...you were pr-pregnant." I said and she brushed her hand over my face.

"I know."

"Oh. Wh-when?"

"Around Thanksgiving."

"I'm s-so sorry." I said, wiping at the tears that came. "I h-have been here so much...I h-hate that it is j-just coming back to me."

"No, don't blame yourself. It's okay. It happened and while it aches more than anything I could have imagined, you know how it is...I threw myself into taking care of this family and Tito."

"Is th-that why Mami st-stayed here once I was aw-wake?"

"Yes, she wanted to make sure I was okay...she overstayed but I am grateful, because of her I was able to channel my sadness into being a great mom to the kid I have. She has had so many losses...so many miscarriages that she was the best person to be with in that time."

"N-now I feel bad for being m-mad at her."

"She's not perfect but she is deliberate in what she does, it's what makes her a good lawyer."

"Yeah."

I looked at Britt, who was holding a folder under her arm as she texted...doing her best to be here but not butt in. Her face was twisted up and then she rolled her eyes.

"Of course." She muttered.

"All g-good, B?"

She looked up at me and shrugged. "Frank wants to move Ari's audition to this afternoon, he apparently needs to be in Ibiza on Monday. I hate when he NEEDS to get his way. He didn't sit in on any auditions for the males leads but he insists on being there for this."

"C-call Ari then." I said and she looked apologetic.

"I'm so sorry, I know you wanted to go back home and enjoy our Saturday...unless you want to come? Ari could probably use the support."

"Sure. C-call her." Then I turned to my sister, "Mind h-helping me to the car?"

"Of course I don't mind." She tucked her arm in mine and helped me walk while Britt made the call.

Ari of course, would clear her day, this was her dream and she would move heaven and Earth for it.

Britt just needed to relax and I'd do what I could to help her.

In any way that I could.

Brittany's POV

My head was so full.

So much had already happened and it wasn't even ten.

After my heart to heart with Sandra, then Ana's with Sandra, then having to call Ari to move up her audition, my head hurt. All I wanted was cuddles with my wife and kids, a fun Saturday at the park or the zoo but instead, I had to work.

"Hey get out of y-your head. It's one audition and th-then we can just enjoy th-the being home."

"And if Frank loves her, I get the week off while he's in Ibiza."

"See! So g-good vibes, D-Daddy."

I glanced over to her and she was grinning.

"We have the kids today."

"Th-they n-nap and I kn-know how to be quiet."

"But I don't."

"T-Touche." She looked disappointed and I couldn't do that, not when she was trying boost my mood.

"But I can learn."

Things were starting to look up, Quinn already had Izzy and she'd be home all day so I knew she wouldn't mind watching him a little longer, but if he was in a mood we might have to bring him to the theater.

I was feeling anxious but as I pulled into the driveway and parked, I glanced at my wife and knew that she would handle the kids. She would do anything to make this go smoothly, not just for me but for Ari.

"Talk to me." She said.

"Do you still love her?"

"Al-Always but sh-she was never you." She puckered her lips and I kissed her softly but she nipped my lip and kissed me harder. "I'm y-yours always."

"Thanks, baby. I think I needed that. I love Ari, if it wasn't me, she would be the only person I'd want with you."

"N-Noted."

"I'm serious."

"I know."

"As long as I have you and the kids, I know I'll be okay."

"G-Good."

"Thanks for having my back, baby."

"Say less, B."

As we walked into the house, our peace was immediately shattered.

With the sleeping baby strapped to her chest, Ana looked at me desperately.

A crying baby meant leaking boobs and we had to be at the theater in like a half hour.

But what could I do, about the screaming match that I was once again walking in on...but this time it was just between Rachel and Quinn without Kurt. On top of that Celia was just standing right there without saying a word, looking like she was about to break.

It so was not the way that we had planned to come home. This was the second time this week Rachel was at our house drunk, screaming and it was not how I wanted things to be, especially since, Izzy was screaming his head off through the monitor that Quinn was clutching in her hand.

Ana got red really fast and held the baby out to me.

Luckily for me, I she was giving me an out. I was under enough pressure, so I took the baby and then took the baby monitor from Quinn. When she saw us, her face dropped but then Rachel was yelling at her again and Quinn was yelling back.

I could see the anger written all over Ana's face, like she was itching to explode and I was relieved to not be on the receiving end of that look. I was glad to walk up the steps and away from what was about to go down.

Focusing on my kids would calm me and I knew Q wouldn't let Ana overwork herself...let her deal with Rachel. I was so over it all.

Now I understood why she stayed in that cabin all alone, peace was underrated, especially in this family.

Once Izzy saw me he relaxed back in his crib, playing with his toys with his face red and tears streaking down his face.

"Hey buddy. Did the yelling scare you?" He looked at me with his lip pouted and nodded. Smart boy. "Don't worry, Mami will make it stop."

"Ma Ma." He said, his voice hoarse.

"Yes, she will fix it all. She's magic like that." He smiled at me, shaking his Elmo at me. "You play while I put sissy in bed." I said to him and he laid back down, stuck his thumb in his mouth and watched me work with his whimpering sister.

My head was pounding but I couldn't let myself get upset. The baby though sensed the shift in my mood and began to cry.

"Please don't cry baby girl. I'm sorry for all the noise. It's not normally like this."

Dani looked up at me with watery eyes for a moment and then started wailing. I quickly finished with her diaper and began to put her clothes back on. I felt a presence behind me and was surprised to see Celia standing there. I held Dani against my chest and tried to soothe her but she kept crying. I had fifteen minutes to get to the theater, which meant I needed to leave right now.

I was so stressed, my job was on the line and I didn't want to jeopardize it over drama that wasn't my own.

"Why don't you go ahead with her and Ana. I'm going to hang around here for a bit, I'll watch Izzy okay?" I looked at her excitedly and just nodded.

"Thank you so much!" I leaned in the crib and kissed Izzy's head and promised to see him later before I dashed out of the room and down the stairs with a screaming newborn.

I hesitated on the last step when I saw Quinn sitting on the couch like she was on time out, knowing my wife when she was angry, she probably was. I looked around and Ana was gone.

"What happened?" I said to Quinn over the crying.

"San escorted Rachel outside. She suggested that Celia and I spend some time talking while we were alone, so I'm waiting for you guys to leave. I'm sorry about the yelling. It won't happen again."

I could tell that Ana had definitely said something to her about all the screaming while Izzy was in the house. I nodded and made my way outside, thankful that I had left the baby's coat and hat on.

When I got outside, Ana was standing on the bottom step with her hands on Rachel's shoulders talking calmly to her. Rachel had tears streaming down her face and kept nodding.

What the hell was going on?

I caught the tail end of the conversation.

"I'm s-serious R-Rachel, from what I can t-tell, you are d-drinking way too much. It's just after ten and you are just so-sobering up. Th-this is not a game. We are h-here for you. Okay? We l-love you."

"Even though I'm a f-failure!" she whined.

"Stop that! I just told you...your dr-dreams aren't over! The R-Rachel B-Berry that I know w-would not let this kind of th-thing st-stop her. If you're a fa-fa-failure it's your own damn fault. Don't let it happen. I re-really want to see you succeed!"

Rachel looked at Ana and nodded one final time before turning and walking off down the sidewalk.

I had been so focused on the fighting that I hadn't realized that the baby had stopped crying. I looked at my wife with so much pride. She had come such a long way.

It was like a dream come true.

She looked at me and then laughed to herself.

"I kn-know, B. I've lost my fu-fucking mind! Let's go...shall we?"

The day still had the potential to go back to being amazing and with the look of light and happiness in Ana's eyes. I knew that we were definitely on the path to a good day.

My job was on the line and was Tony's.

Hopefully Ari wouldn't disappoint.

My chest was still a little tight and I was breathing erratically.

I was just insanely nervous.

Ana leaned against me and smiled.

"I love you, B. Th-They love you and tr-trust me...they will love Ari."

I nodded, feeling hopeful for the first time all morning.

Now all I had to do was get through this audition and I could breathe again.