A/N: Sorry for the delay. There have been electrical and interweb issues here for the WHOLE WEEK. Better late than never, right? :p

There appears to be some tension about how I'm portraying Santana. By no means am I victimising Brittany and making Santana out to be the big baddy. At the other end of the scale, there are some who think Brittany is acting unfairly and not supporting Santana. Please remember that there was a jump of seven weeks. I've only hinted at what happened in those seven weeks. The healing process will delve into that with great detail in the coming chapters, and what happened will explain why it appears that Santana and Brittany are acting the way they are.

Glad to finally be back in the fanfic world :)

-H

Disclaimer: I do not own Glee :(

CHAPTER 3

"Are you okay to go back?" Brittany asked quietly, not removing her arms from around Santana.

Her wife lifted her head from her shoulders and sighed. "I can't hide away with you forever, can I?" she murmured.

Brittany smiled and turned to kiss Santana softly. "I would love nothing more than to whisk you away from everything that you feel like you can't deal with. But we don't live in a fairytale, unfortunately, and there's a little girl that would miss us terribly if we left her behind."

Santana leaned back and looked the blonde in the eye. Brittany's heart started beating faster at the intensity of that stare. She tried to gauge what Santana was thinking through her eyes, something she'd been able to do flawlessly a few weeks before, but all she saw was a war of emotions.

"What?" she eventually murmured.

"I'm going to make sure you have the fairytale you've always wanted, B. I promise that I'm going to do whatever it takes."

"Oh, San. That really means so much to me. I can't even tell you how much it means." She pulled Santana closer to her again and breathed her in, letting her head spin with the familiar scent of Santana. Pure Santana. God, she'd missed it.

"When are we leaving?" Santana murmured, her fingers stroking Brittany's hair.

"Hopefully tomorrow. Quinn's going to call me with details."

She felt the nervous energy flowing through her wife again.

"What is it, San?"

"A-Are they…I mean, do they…" She took a frustrated breath and pressed her face into Brittany's neck again.

"You don't need to be embarrassed, baby," Brittany said quietly. "They're our friends so I've told them all that I've known. Which," she admitted, "hasn't been very much. But until we have worked through this a little more, I'm happy to keep it between us. Unless you want to tell them?"

Santana shook her head. "For now, I just need you."

The simple statement punched Brittany in the gut and almost made the last seven weeks disappear. Her vows came back to her and she squeezed her eyes closed, a single tear trickling down her cheek.

"You have me," she whispered. "You will always have me, Santana."

They sat on the level between the seventh and sixth floors of their building for a few more minutes until Brittany felt like she had herself under a little more control. Slowly, she coaxed Santana to stand up. In turn, her wife helped her up as well. For a few moments, they stared at each other, fingers intertwining.

"You're so beautiful," Santana barely whispered.

Brittany blushed. She couldn't describe how amazing and warm she felt to hear her wife say such things after not hearing them for what felt like years.

"I know that I am the luckiest woman in the world to still have you by my side, and I promise that I am going to do what is necessary to never make you doubt your decision to be with me again."

"No, San-"

Santana stepped closer and cut her off by nuzzling her nose softly against Brittany's cheek, rendering her completely speechless. How did she do that, after being absent for so long? How did she just seemingly flip a switch and Brittany turn into goo with the simplest of touches?

"B, I messed up," she whispered, her breath fluttering against Brittany's cheek. "I accept that. I need to show you, Bella and myself that this is where I should be. This is where I need to be. I need to be where you are." Her hand dropped to her wife's flat stomach. "I need to be where all of you are, not somewhere inside my head where it's just…crap."

"We'll get through it together, honey. That's what a family does. That's what I will always do to ensure that we have our future."

"Our fairytale," Santana affirmed.

Brittany nodded. "Our fairytale."

Santana found herself once again standing outside her mother's door, her body shaking slightly from nervousness. Her mother had been so sincere in assuring Santana that she didn't hate her, that she was going to always be there for her. Just like Brittany. She knew they were going to be there. She knew they weren't going to abandon her; they weren't going to leave her.

So why was she so petrified that they would? That at any moment, they would turn around, give her a disdainful look and disappear forever?

"San," Brittany murmured, squeezing her hand.

"I…I know…I just…"

"It's going to be okay."

That's what you think.

Santana squeezed her eyes closed so tightly that she saw white spots dancing in front of her.

Get out, get out, get out! she yelled mentally.

"We'll get him out, babe," Brittany whispered in her ear, her free arm wrapping around Santana's waist.

She opened her eyes and tried to take slow breaths. Evidently, she'd said that part out loud. Or maybe Brittany just knew her too well.

That's a good thing, her inner Brittany said in the heavenly soft voice that Santana could fall asleep to. She'd missed that.

And if she'd missed it in her fucked up state of mind, there was no telling just how much her beautiful wife had missed her.

"I've missed us," she said suddenly and boldly, turning in Brittany's arms. "And I know that you've missed us more." She swallowed, her heart hammering nervously. "I…I agree that we should wait…to be i-intimate again."

Brittany just smiled and nodded. "We'll know when it's time, San. Until then, you'll just have to make do with my sweet lady kisses."

Santana giggled softly. "I think that's probably the best birthday gift ever."

The blonde cocked her head. "What do you want for your birthday?"

"Um…" She was at a loss. Santana sighed. "I want to just be with you. I want to know what happened, what I did or didn't do in those seven weeks. I need you to tell me what I've got to make up for."

"San, you don't-"

"Britt, yes. I do have to make up for it. I don't know how I'm going to make up for being here but not being here. I…" She swallowed again, the large lump in her throat making it painful. Tears gathered in her eyes. "I missed the day you found out you were pregnant. That was something that was so incredibly important to both of us and I missed it."

Brittany was quiet and Santana knew it's because she had no idea what to say. She couldn't refute it because it was the truth. She looked deep into Brittany's eyes before leaning forward and kissing her hard.

"I will make this right," she said against her wife's lips.

"I know," Brittany breathed, turning her face so that she pressed her lips against Santana's cheek. "I know."

The brunette took a deep breath, turned around and knocked firmly on the door.

"Mija," Maribel breathed in relief. "I'm so sorry-"

"You have nothing to be sorry for," Santana cut her off gently. "You were just being your usual wonderful self. It was me who overreacted." She stepped inside the apartment, Brittany close behind her. Their hands were still linked. "Mami, it's going to take…I mean, I know I have a lot that I need to tell you, but before I do that, I need to understand it myself first. Britt seems to think that going back to Lima will help with that. And I think she may be right. That's where this started so I guess going back to the root cause is the best place to start."

Maribel nodded. "Bella gave me a very brief overview of the plan. Are you going to be all right by yourselves there?"

"We're never by ourselves, Mari," Brittany said with a smile. "At least not in Lima. We'll never be alone in Lima. Lio's there."

Santana's chest immediately constricted and she gasped at the sudden shortness of air in her body. She felt her legs tremble.

"Baby?" Brittany asked in concern, putting her arm around Santana's waist.

"I'm okay. I'm okay," she said quietly. "Sorry, it's just…I…I don't think I've fully processed that he…"

"Okay, we don't have to talk about that now," her wife whispered. "You've made a lot of progress today and I'm just glad that we're taking steps in the right direction."

Santana nodded, but part of her felt the urge to just lay it all out there. Of course, the mess that was going on in her head would make zero sense, she knew that.

Baby steps, her Brittany voice told her.

"Baby steps," she murmured.

"Not yet, babe," Brittany said sweetly with a kiss to the cheek.

Santana felt her heart lighten at the vision she'd painted for herself when they'd started talking about expanding their family. In her mind, she saw a very pregnant Brittany dancing around their apartment with no one by their baby, humming softly along with the music. Santana remembered her dream self just watching in pure awe at the most perfect memory.

Well, it wasn't a memory.

Not yet, at least.

"I'm ready!" Bella announced, walking into the living room.

Santana's throat went dry, remembering the last encounter with her daughter.

"H-Hi," she stammered.

Bella gave her a small smile. "Hi."

The Latina let out a huge sigh of relief. "Hi," she said again, with a much bigger smile.

The little girl giggled. "Hi, Mama."

God, I'm the biggest fucking idiot in the world. How could I have ever thought that some stupid self-wallowing was better than this?

Slowly disengaging her fingers from Brittany's, she knelt down. Bella stepped forward slowly, her eyebrows going up in curiosity and apprehension. Santana had seen the look often enough to know what it meant.

"Bella. My baby girl. I need you to know that I'm so very sorry about what's been happening the last few weeks. I know that you and Mommy have been hurting and I know that I'm the reason." She swallowed, feeling her body heat up in nervousness and shame. "I…I just want you to know that I hope we can fix us."

Bella just looked at her for a long few moments before her gaze darted upwards. It sent an ice cold knife through Santana's gut. The baby she'd spent virtually every moment over the last seven years with didn't know how to talk to her.

Just how much had she really fucked things up with Bella? Sure, Britt was a little more understanding and forgiving, but how was she supposed to explain to their seven-year-old what had happened without completely confusing her?

Hell, maybe once she understood it, she could simplify it for Bella.

"I just miss you, Mama," Bella said quietly.

"Oh, I know," Santana replied, nodding as tears trickled down her cheeks. Dammit, she was so tired of crying. "I miss you too, baby girl. I get that you're probably a little confused about what to do or say-" Bella nodded slightly, "but maybe after a few days or weeks in Lima, we'll be able to get a little bit back of what we used to have."

Bella nodded again, more confidently. "So you're okay with Mommy's plan?"

Santana stood up, relaxing when she felt Brittany's arm go around her waist again. "I think Mommy's a genius, and this plan is simply another example of that."

She was rewarded with a soft kiss on her cheek, which made her blush. She ducked her head and only lifted it when she heard her mother sigh audibly.

"This is good. This is right. This is how it's supposed to be," Maribel murmured, smiling.

"Agreed," Brittany said, pulling Santana closer to her.

"Mommy, are we going home now?" Bella asked.

"I think that we should," the blonde replied, keeping one arm firmly around her wife and held out her hand. Bella grabbed it enthusiastically, swinging it slightly.

"I-If you guys had plans, I don't want-"

"Our plans are with you," Brittany cut in firmly. "No arguments, birthday girl."

Santana clamped her mouth shut. Brittany's serious face broke out into a smile and she pecked her lips. "Come on! We've got lots to do."

The brunette just smiled, letting her wife pull her out of her mother's apartment. Seeing Brittany so happy made her feel like she could get through whatever the heck she was dealing with if it meant that smile would remain on that beautiful, flawless face.

"I saw this on TV once," Brittany said as she fried up thin slivers of chicken fillets.

"Are you gonna try and toss them?" Santana asked worriedly.

The blonde sent her an incredulous look. "Like I would risk burning down this amazing apartment. No, but I am gonna make us the cutest burgers ever in the world."

Santana giggled from where she'd been ordered to remain seated while Brittany cooked lunch.

"Burgers aren't cute, Mommy!" Bella protested from the sink where she carefully washed some lettuce.

"Psssh. You haven't seen my burgers."

Maybe not, but them buns are definitely something to write home about.

Santana clamped a hand over her mouth, even though the thought had happened in her head. Brittany arched an amused eyebrow at her, but didn't say anything.

I can't be thinking stuff like that! she thought in a panic.

Why not? She's your insanely hot wife! anothervoice chimed in.

Why did that voice sound like Rachel?

Yes, but we're…taking things slow.

Is this what being in the dog box is like? You can look but not touch?

I'm not in the dog box, Santana argued with herself. She suddenly realised what she was doing. Oh, God. I really am going crazy. Not only am I arguing with myself, but I'm agreeing with the other me. Or whatever that is. At least that asshole seems to be taking a break.

Who, me?

Santana groaned internally. She rubbed her temples with her index fingers and slowly opened her eyes. The sight in front of her immediately drove all the voices from her conscience. Brittany and Bella were dancing around the kitchen, singing Dance With Somebody.

She felt tears spring to her eyes, but she welcomed them. They were happy tears, not frustrated or embarrassed tears.

I am the luckiest woman in the world, she mused to herself. There is no way I can disappear from this. Never again.

She knew Brittany wouldn't leave her and would love her unconditionally. She knew Bella would always love her too. It was ingrained in her DNA to love Brittany, so that was never going to change. The challenge ahead was believing that they could have their fairytale, that she could make things better for them.

That she could make them a family again.

"You just gonna sit there?" Brittany asked with a smirk, shaking her hips subtly.

Santana stared at the movement, all manner of memories flying through her head. It settled on one very special night where her then-fiancée had given her a very, very special private dance.

"I…uh…um…"

Brittany laughed and Santana couldn't help but smile. It was as infectious as it had ever been. She held out a hand, which the brunette eventually mustered up the courage to take. She realised how nervous she was. Nervous to dance with Britt? Seriously? She'd never been apprehensive about that in her life.

"Hey."

Santana lifted her eyes and met crystal blue ones that immediately increased her heart rate and made her smile.

"I know we're in a process," Brittany murmured as Bella continued singing in the background. "And I know that we're taking things slow." She took a breath. "I've missed you so much and even though I have most of you back, it's enough for now. Just being able to do this-" she pulled Santana flush against her, "just to be able to feel you again, is such a wonderful experience."

Santana swallowed and nodded. "Can we…Can we have today?" she asked quietly.

Brittany pulled back slightly and cocked her head in confusion.

"I-I-I know that I don't deserve it because of my behaviour, but just for today, before we…before I start to actually deal, can we pretend that things are like they used to be?"

"San, I don't-"

"Britt, please," she begged. "Just until we go to bed tonight. Please?" she added in a whisper.

She felt her wife's steady heartbeat increase slightly against her own chest. "Okay."

"Really?"

Brittany nodded and smiled her sweet smile. "Happy birthday, San." She leaned down and captured Santana's lips in a kiss that the Latina felt down to her toes and right back up her entire body.

She gasped as Brittany disconnected their lips. "Wow," she breathed.

Brittany's giggle was heavenly and she dropped her hands to Santana's hips, coaxing them to sway with hers.

"Clock strikes upon the hour and the sun begins to fade," Brittany sang softly, starting from the beginning for her wife's benefit.

Santana giggled herself and linked her hands around the back of Brittany's neck, fully allowing the blonde to manipulate their bodies in a practised dance.

"I need a woman who'll take a chance on a love that burns hot enough to last," Brittany continued her soft singing, dipping Santana low, supporting her easily.

It was a dance they knew so well. They knew their bodies intimately, so intimately that they moved with one another with thought. But also, their bodies moved for them. They were hardwired to each other. It was Fate, out of their hands.

This is what I need to remember. This is what I need to remind me that there is nothing in this world that I love and treasure more than my beautiful wife and our beautiful daughter.

"Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody, with somebody who loves me," Brittany sang.

"Oh, I wanna dance with somebody. I wanna feel the heat with somebody," Santana joined in, biting the bullet and not caring how nervous she was. Her singing voice cracked a little from weeks of not being used, but she saw Bella stop her dancing and stare up at her with wide eyes and a disbelieving smile.

"Mama," she whispered.

"Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody, with somebody who loves me," Santana continued, reaching out a hand to Bella, hoping to whomever was out there that she would take it. If she did, Santana would be allowed a few precious hours to feel what things should be like with them as a family, instead of the awkward mess she'd created in her absence.

Even if it was pretend, it was better than living with her mind. Being with Britt and Bella, dancing, singing and just having a shit load of fun meant that the stupid voice in her head didn't have anything bad to comment on. Her two favourite people were overwhelming and kept her mind busy, which meant no time for that fucker.

She just needed to keep it like that.

Bella's small hand slipped inside her own and it made Santana's heart do somersaults – a different kind to what Britt made her heart do.

"Oh, crap! The chicken!" Brittany squealed, rushing to the stove.

"Dance with me, Mama!"

Santana smiled and obliged. If it were possible, Bella had gotten even better since the last time she'd seen her dance, which was at the wedding. God, that had been over two months ago. She'd completely missed out on the beginning of their life together.

So you're just gonna brush off your father's death like it was nothing?

Santana froze, swallowing her guilt. The words rang in her head, echoing around like they had been every day. He could feel the darkness started to ebb ever closer to the bright light that was her family.

No, no, no. Go away! Stay away! I don't want you anymore!

"Mama?" Bella asked quietly.

"I-I-I'm sorry," she stuttered, dropping her daughter's hand out of surprise.

The hurt look on Bella's face brought her crashing back to her current reality – the reality where she was spending a wonderful afternoon with her family. She wasn't about to let her problems rob her of the chance.

"Bella, baby girl, I'm sorry," she whispered, kneeling down. "I just…I didn't mean to drop your hand."

"But you did," Bella replied quietly, looking down. Her hands started wringing each other.

Santana gently covered them with her left hand and her eye caught the beautiful ring adorning her finger. Determination swelled in her chest. She picked Bella up, who squealed in surprise.

"I've been in love and lost my senses, spinning through the town. Sooner or later, the fever ends and I wind up feeling down," she sang strongly, loving the bright smile that quickly grew across Bella's face.

She started doing a little jig around the kitchen with Bella in her arms and shivered when she felt familiar hands wrap around her waist from behind. Brittany settled her hips right behind Santana's ass and the Latina had to stop herself from moaning at the feeling of them fitting together so perfectly.

Bella giggled as Santana held her in front of her, swinging her subtly as they all danced together. She knew what she wanted. She knew where she was meant to be, and it was always snuggled between the two most important people in the world to her.

She wasn't going to let them down again.

Santana giggled as Brittany and Bella let out simultaneous yawns, the latter being a lot more vocal with hers.

"Geez, is there something inside you trying to get out?" Brittany teased, reaching over to tickle Bella's stomach.

Their little girl's giggle made Santana sigh happily. They'd spent a wonderful lunch sitting around their table and talking about Lima.

"Tell me a story!" she begged.

Santana glanced at her wife, who was looking decidedly sleepy.

"Baby, do you want to go to bed?" she asked quietly.

Britt's eyes, which had been drooping slightly, shot open and her mouth curled into a bashful smile.

"What?" Santana asked with a matching smile.

"It's just…I didn't realise how much I've missed that until I heard it," Brittany whispered, biting her lip.

Santana didn't let the pang of guilt overwhelm her. She accepted that she had a lot to make up for, but Brittany wasn't trying to make her feel bad about calling her baby. She was happy about it, which meant that Santana was happy about it.

"Mommy, do you want a nap?" Bella asked.

"Actually, that sounds pretty spectacular, Little B."

"Okay. Mama and I will help, right?"

"Absolutely," Santana confirmed, standing up and holding a hand out to her wife.

Brittany looked at it for a few seconds before smiling and taking it, allowing Santana to pull her up.

"You'd better get used to doing that," she whispered in Santana's ear.

Butterflies flew around in her stomach. "I can't wait."

And she couldn't. Not only was she working on getting herself better for Brittany and Bella, but they had a new addition that would probably arrive sooner than expected. She'd found that with Bella. No matter how much preparation she'd done, it never felt like enough. She was determined to be the best person she could be for their whole family.

Brittany lanced their fingers together as they made their way towards their bedroom. Bella held the blonde's hand on the other side.

"Mommy, you're not sick, are you?" Bella asked in concern.

"No, Little B. I'm not sick. I'm just feeling like I could use an afternoon nap."

Santana's eyes widened slightly. Bella didn't know that Brittany was pregnant? Her frown eased when she locked onto a pair of crystal blue eyes.

"I wanted to tell you first," Brittany whispered in her ear.

Wow. Santana just nodded, biting her lip to keep the big grin off her face. Not that it helped.

They walked into the bedroom and Bella immediately went to the small window and pulled the curtain open, letting in some light. Santana realised that it was probably the first time in a long time that any natural light had entered the room.

Once again, she didn't allow the negativity of that thought to weigh her down. Her focus was on her beautiful and pregnant wife. God, that sounded so amazing.

"Bella, will you go and get Mommy a bottle of water?" Santana asked, seating a tired Brittany on the edge of their unmade bed.

"Okay!" And off she bounded.

Santana took a moment to reflect on just how similar their daughter was to her wife. Uncanny, really.

"You gonna have your wicked way with me?" Brittany teased in a tired voice.

Santana chuckled. "No good luck until we're in a good, comfortable space," she replied, hating that they had to wait.

"Boo, two thumbs down."

"You're cute," she replied, bopping the blonde's nose. "Come on, jeans off."

"You are trying to have your wicked way with me," Brittany mumbled, flopping back on the bed and lifting her legs up so that Santana could pull her shorts off.

It took a lot of willpower not to let her fingers trace along the smooth skin of her wife's toned legs. She bit her lip at the glimpse of Brittany's red panties. Her favourite colour.

Ugh, this is torture.

Santana climbed on the bed next to her and coaxed Brittany upwards so that she was resting on the pillows.

"Thanks, babe," she murmured, her eyes finally fluttering closed.

"Here you go!" Bella announced, re-entering the room. She clamped her mouth closed when she saw Brittany almost asleep.

"Thanks, baby girl," Santana whispered. "You can put that on the nightstand for Mommy when she wakes up.

"Sleep with me," Brittany mumbled, fumbling for Santana's hand.

The Latina smiled and positioned herself so that her head was resting on Brittany's stomach. Her wife's fingers threaded through her hair and Santana hummed in pleasure.

"Mama?"

Santana lifted her head slightly and saw Bella's questioning gaze.

"You wanna come up?"

She nodded.

"Okay, jump!"

Bella jumped onto the bed and Santana held her arm while she climbed up. Her little girl crawled over to them and took Brittany's other hand, resting on her knees as she watched her mother slumber soundly.

Is the pregnancy tiring her out already? Santana thought in a panic as her eyes followed where Bella was looking.

Maybe you're tiring her out. Maybe she's exhausted from looking after you. Maybe she's barely on her feet because she's had to look after Bella, care for her unborn child and worry about you.

Santana frowned at the voice. It was possible that her behaviour had contributed to Brittany being tired, but she wasn't going to just assume that and allow the guilt to consume her once more.

She had a family and that family needed her. She needed them a billion times more, but they were pretending, and the old Santana would do anything and everything to make sure that her girls had what they needed when they needed it.

The new Santana would do the same. She needed to get rid of her baggage, aka The Voice, and move forward with Bella, Brittany and their little jewel.

Sighing, Santana closed her eyes and rested her head on Brittany's stomach again. Her right hand lay next to her head and she delighted in how it softly rose with Brittany's every breath. She focused her hearing on the little being inside her wife's tummy, but couldn't hear anything but the resounding and familiar thud of Brittany's heartbeat.

"Mama?"

Santana lifted her head again. "Yes, baby girl?"

Bella looked down shyly.

"You can tell me," she encouraged.

"Can I…um…can I…lay with you?"

Santana smiled widely, her heart soaring at the request. "Of course you can, baby girl. I would love nothing more."

"Okay," Bella replied with a relieved smile, carefully climbing over her sound asleep mother.

Santana scooted backwards a little so that there was space for Bella to curl up in front of her. The littlest Lopez also rested her head on Brittany's tummy and sighed in contentment. It made Santana blissfully happy to hear that, especially when she considered how she'd made Bella cry that very morning.

And who knew how many times over the last seven weeks.

Santana was brought back to the present when she felt her daughter grab the hand that was resting next to her head and pull it around her little body, anchoring them together. Tears sprang to her eyes. How was her daughter so forgiving?

"I'm so lucky," she found herself whispering.

"Why?" Bella whispered back, not turning around. She was playing with Santana's fingers, something the elder Latina absolutely adored.

Santana shuffled forward so that Bella was pressed into her body. She kissed the top of her head and inhaled a little. The familiar scent of peppermint flooded her mind. She loved how her baby girl always smelled like peppermint.

"I'm so lucky that I have the world's most amazing daughter," Santana said quietly with the most sincerity she could muster. She needed Bella to believe her.

"I'm like that cos you made me that way, Mama," Bella replied, like they were discussing the weather.

"Oh, Bella," Santana choked out, making sure to keep her voice down so she didn't wake Brittany. "I'm so, so sorry about what's been happening over the last few weeks. I know you're mad at me and that's absolutely fine."

Bella turned quickly in her mother's arms and rubbed her face against Santana's chest. "I know you miss him, Mama. We miss Abuelo lots too."

Santana nodded, trying hard to keep the tears in. "I do. I miss him so much, baby girl."

Bella was quiet for a moment, just cuddling into Santana, who didn't mind at all.

"Mommy explained it to me a little. She said that it would be like someone taking you or Mommy away from me suddenly. That made me really sad and I thought that she could maybe tell the future because you did go away, which made me really sad, but now you're back and that makes me really happy." She lifted her big dark eyes to matching ones. "You are back, right?"

Santana took a shaky breath. "I'm here for as long as you want me." She leaned down and kissed Bella's forehead.

Her daughter grinned. "Forever," she said firmly.

"Forever," Santana agreed, pulling Bella tightly to her. "I just want to tell you, Bella, that these next few weeks could be really hard. For all of us. Even though I may get really sad or maybe even a little mad, I will never stop loving you or your mom. I need you to know that."

"I know," Bella replied simply, sighing deeply. "I think Mommy's plan is going to work, though. We're going to be a proper family again."

A/N: I am by no means a psychologist, nor have I dealt with severe depression. But I am a human being and I understand how my mind works. I have – and still do – suffered bouts of depression. If you feel that I am grossly off target with the portrayal of this, I can completely understand that. I am open to suggestions. I do believe that every person experiences it differently. But let us also remember that this is fanfiction.

All updates will happen on a Monday, for those who missed my Tumblr post about it :) Still working on the last part of my novel, but I did say that I will be back in March, so here I am, albeit a few days late ;p

Okay, enough talking. I did promise myself that my A/Ns would be shorter and sweeter this year :)

-H

Tumblr, Twitter, Ask – hlnwst