Chapter 27

April – Age 18

Just One Year Ago?

"How did you swing taking me out on a Friday night?" Santana asked. They were walking toward a relatively upscale restaurant a few towns over. The anonymity was nice, no one would remember that he was the teenager with a baby.

"I actually agreed to cover for Kurt next weekend," Finn replied. "Dave's parents are going away for the weekend, and Kurt is going to 'keep Dave company'."

"I'm sure that's what he'll be doing," Santana said drolly. It got her thinking about going down that road with Finn. They couldn't really do much since Charlotte was always around. While she did use to have quite a promiscuous reputation, that didn't have any draw on her anymore. She was actually happy with her current relationship with Finn. "I'm certainly glad you're a good brother then."

"I'm glad he loves Charlotte," Finn wrapped an arm around Santana's shoulders as they approached the restaurant. They were greeted by the maitre'de. "Reservation for two. Under Hudson."

"Come this way." They were ushered into the restaurant and lead over to a two person table. Once they were seated and their drink orders taken, Santana asked a question that had been on her mind.

"So, I'm not complaining about you taking me out, but why?"

"Well, it's an anniversary of sorts," Finn began. "I took you on the date at the lake a year ago."

"Has it really been a year?" she marveled at the fact.

"It really has," Finn replied. "Quite a year for sure."

"You aren't kidding," she agreed. They had been through quite a bit. She thought back to the beginning of the school year, and the two month court situation. She felts closer to Finn because of everything that had transpired during the trial, got a real taste of what Finn had to go through while Quinn was pregnant. He trusted her to bring her in on his life.

Santana and Finn had a great date. They talked about more of their interests, ones that didn't involve Charlotte. Santana admitted she wanted to be a surgical nurse because she enjoyed the pressure of a high octane environment of the OR. She didn't think she would be able to go through medical school, so nursing was the next best thing. Finn had his eyes opened to the inner workings of the social work circles in Ohio State. He saw how things worked and how the system was flawed. He was desperate to give back and help the system that gave him so much. They really felt like they got to know each other better of dinner that night.

After their meal, they didn't feel like going home just yet. Kurt had agreed to put Charlotte to bed so he didn't have to go home right away. Finn suggested they go back to the lake that started it all and go for a walk. They took a stroll around the lake, holding hands, fingers interlaced. They could just be a normal couple. They ended up talking about parents. She was happy that Carol and Burt accepted her as Finn's girlfriend. At the same time, Santana was disappointed in her parents. They weren't outwardly against her relationship, but they did nothing to support their daughter or speak positively about Finn. Finn tried really hard to get them to accept them but they just wouldn't budge. They didn't think Santana should be dating someone with a child.

"You really should stop being so nice to them," Santana told Finn, regarding her parents. "They don't deserve it."

"Call me an optimist," Finn chuckled. "One day I'm determined to make them like me."

They made their way one more time around the lake before they realized it was nearing midnight. Finn suggested they head back to his house. It was at the house that Finn silently offered his hand to Santana. She took it almost immediately. They tip toed their way upstairs to his room, stopping briefly to check on Charlotte; she was fast asleep. They both sat on the end of the bed, not sure where to really begin. Santana broke the ice by leaning over to kiss him.

Feeling a surge of confidence, Finn pulled Santana on top of him, straddling his legs on the end of the bed. They fell into a familiar pattern of making out. They usually found a good time to make out away from prying eyes. Once the end of the bed became uncomfortable, Finn picked her up and moved up so they could potentially get under the covers. The slow removal of their clothes would be a new first among many for the couple tonight.

Once they removed their fancy clothes and got under the covers, they knew things would change now. Santana had been on birth control for a few years now and Finn was overly cautious, but without too much embarrassment, they had sex. Finn finally had a 'normal' relationship – based on mutual feelings and respect, not a socially dictated hierarchy. Santana finally felt like a person – treated like a lady and not like a whore.

Their activities tired them out so they curled up and fell asleep. Santana had had the foresight to have them at least put their underwear back on. That would make things better when their unexpected visitor came in.

Charlotte took it upon herself to climb out of her crib and wander into her Daddy's room. She hauled herself up and over the covers. Charlotte snuggled into Finn's left side and Santana was on Finn's right. Santana startled awake when Charlotte put her hand on Finn's stomach.

"Finn," she hissed. Finn turned his head and looked at his girlfriend.

"Hmm?"

"We have a little visitor," she whispered. Finn looked confused for a second, and then realized he had weight on both sides of his body. He turned his head and saw his daughter looking at him with sleepy eyes.

"What are you doing up sweetie?"

"Sleepy Daddy," Charlotte murmured.

"Go ahead, go to sleep baby," Finn whispered before turning back to Santana, who looked a bit worried. "Let's not make it a big deal, talk about it tomorrow."

"Alright," Santana said warily. She didn't want to ruin the good thing she had with Charlotte, so she snuggled back to Finn and drifted back to sleep.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Finn woke up to find no girls in his bed. The clock read 9:00 AM. With a flourish, he bound out of bed, put on some sweats and t-shirt before going down to find his daughter. Kurt, Carol, Burt, Dave, Santana, and Charlotte were already enjoying breakfast when Finn came in.

"Good morning sweetheart," Carol greeted. "You really must have stayed out late. You never sleep past six anymore."

"Yeah, we got in late," Finn agreed.

"Then we stayed up talking more," Santana chimed in. "I was too tired to drive home so we got Kurt to let me sleep on his couch."

"And clothe you," Kurt teased. Santana was indeed wearing a rare pair of fitted sweat pants and an off the shoulder t-shirt Kurt wore to do his moisturizing routine.

"Well, it wasn't like she was going to fit in my clothes," Finn quipped. Kurt must know what happened. Kurt gave him a wink and went to go get a breakfast plate for him.

"Notice my surprise when I try to surprise my boyfriend this morning and there's a girl in his room," Dave teased.

"You kids are too funny," Burt chuckled. "I'm off to work on some paperwork. You're on 12-8 right?"

"Yup, I'll be there," Finn agreed. "Thanks for last night off."

"No problem kid. You ask for like one day in 6 months," Burt joked. He got up and kissed Carol goodbye. Then Charlotte got a kiss. Then he leaned down and kissed Santana's cheek. "Didn't want you to feel left out."

Everyone giggled; Santana even blushed. With Burt gone, Carol cleaned away some dishes and went up to shower for the day. "Okay, cutest picture ever," Kurt commented. He showed Finn a picture on his phone of Finn and his girls curled up. "I went to check on Charlotte because I knew you two were out late, and I found her crib empty."

"Yeah, she must have gotten out and climbed in bed with us," Finn said. "I might need to get her a real bed soon."

"I'll say," Santana muttered.

"Which begs the question, how did you end up with two girls in your bed?" Dave asked.

"We told the truth, just fibbed about where I slept," Santana replied. Kurt rolled his eyes.

"Well, deal still stands for next weekend," Kurt reminded him. "I won't show this to anyone."

"Why don't you delete it?"

"Because it really is a cute picture," Kurt argued.

"Fine, but you don't get to use it as blackmail," Finn agreed.