Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait between updates and the incredible length of this chapter! I promise it will be faster from now on, I've just been busy with the holidays!
Santana was, yet again, in her car. She pulled out her day planner and checked what she had done after the gym. She'd gone to coffee with a client to talk about her book being adapted into a screenplay. She called the restaurant, but they hadn't found anything. It was nearly 5, and Santana knew she was rapidly running out of time; there was no point in her running to the café to look for the bracelet. She glanced down at her planner again, starting her car. 12:30 lunch with Quinn. She had been all over Quinn's house during lunch; it was definitely worth it to check there. She put her car in drive and attached her Bluetooth on her ear, heading onto Sunset.
"Call Quinn Fabray," Santana said into her phone as she sped down Sunset.
"Did you say, 'call Finn Hudson'?" The automated voice asked her.
"NO. Call QUINN FA-BRAY."
"Did you say, 'call Winchell's Donuts?"
"NO," Santana wondered why she even had the number for Winchell's Donuts programmed into her phone. It must have been Brittany's doing, the girl really did love her some donuts. Luckily she reached a light so she picked up the phone and then dialed Quinn's number herself, quickly checking around to make sure there were no cops to view her illegal activity and securing her Bluetooth in her ear.
"Hey, S, what's going on? Didn't get enough of me already today?"
"Funny, Fabray. I'm coming over."
"What? You're coming over?" Quinn glanced at the clock on the microwave. It was 5 o'clock, and she was cooking dinner, she really didn't have time for company.
"I'm sorry, Q, I know you probably have your hands full, or whatever, this time of day," Santana rolled her eyes. "I just can't find my charm bracelet anywhere so I'm retracting my steps of the day."
"Oh shit. Yeah, definitely come by."
"Thanks so much, Q. I owe you."
Santana pulled up at Quinn's house less than five minutes later.
"That was fast," Quinn said as she opened the door, wiping her hands on her apron.
"I was already on my way when I called—" Santana was interrupted with a squeal and the sound of feet running down the hall.
"Aunt Santana!" The miniature Quinn reached her and jumped into Santana's arms. She ruffled the little girl's hair.
"Hey, little Bean, how's it going?"
"Good," the little girl replied. "Hey, Lily! Guess what, Aunt Santana's here!" As she yelled the sound of a baby crying filled the house and Lily turned the corner, dragging behind her a sobbing Harper.
"I already saw Aunt Santana today," Lily bragged to Hannah as Santana put her down. Lily walked straight over to Quinn, "here you go mom, maybe you can make Harper stop crying. Good job waking the baby, Hannah," Lily said to her older sister, sticking her tongue out. Quinn picked the toddler up off the ground, and she immediately curled into her mother's side and the crying ceased.
"Do you mind coming into the kitchen, S?" Quinn asked. "I'm kind of in the middle of cooking dinner." Quinn turned towards the kitchen and Santana took a brief moment away from her stress to think about how funny it was to see Quinn with these three little girls who were literally spitting images of her. As they walked down the hall, Hannah grabbed Santana's hand.
"Where's Aunt B?" Hannah asked. So much for forgetting about her stress for a moment.
"She's still at rehearsal. How's 1st grade going, Hannah-bean?"
"It's good! I have homework now, which sucks—"
"Language, Hannah." Quinn called over to her.
"I didn't know 'suck' was a bad word," Santana whispered over to Hannah.
"It's not, my mom's just crazy," Hannah said, giggling.
"Trust me, I know," she nodded her head knowingly at the girl, who began giggling harder. Santana leaned on the island in Quinn's kitchen.
"I have an idea! Hannah, Lily, how do you feel about playing a game?" Quinn shot Santana a death glare. Santana chose to ignore it. "The game is called 'Find the Charm'! Have you ever seen the charm bracelet that I wear?'
Hannah nodded. "Yeah! It's so pretty! Aunt Brittany wears one too. It has a heart, and a cheerleading thing, and USC, and a bunch of other stuff on it!"
"Yup, that's the one. We're going to play a game where whomever can find Aunt Santana's charm bracelet gets extra ice cream tonight! 1…2…3…go!"
Santana looked up at Quinn.
"I'm actually going to punch you in the face, Santana. Hannah has homework, and neither of them were going to get ice cream. They'll be up all night!"
"Two nights of free babysitting, Q. Just please, I need help."
"I cannot wait until you have kids…payback's a bitch."
Santana couldn't help but smirk at the fact that Quinn covered her two-year-olds ears when she said bitch.
"We have to retrace my steps from the moment I walked in the door this afternoon. If I don't find that bracelet, B is going to kill me. Or leave me." Quinn smirked.
"She'll never leave you, especially over a bracelet, Santana. Are you crazy?"
"Maybe, but that's still not a risk I'm willing to take."
"Ok, let's try retracing your steps," Quinn said, chopping up some carrots, "you got here at 12:45 and rang the doorbell at least five times…"
"Thanks for finally letting me in, Q."
"Thanks for being 15 minutes late, S."
"I'm sorry, but some of us didn't have the luxury of marrying a professional NFL player and getting to stay at home all day."
"I'm sorry, but some of us have three kids, which is just as much work as having a full time job."
"One of whom, I believe, is in school all day?"
"Still," Quinn paused, "toddler and a four-year old. Handful."
"Where the hell are the little brats, anyways?" Santana asked. As if on cue, Lily came bounding around the corner and jumped into Santana's arms.
"AUNT SANTANA!" Santana winced at the screaming directly in her ear. She gently tousled the hair of the little girl now in her arms.
"Lily!" Quinn said, "You were supposed to be watching your sister."
"Oh, she's fine, she's just playing—" At that Quinn went running around the corner and Santana and Lily followed.
"Oooh," Santana said, "you're in trouble…" tickling the little girl. Lily jumped down from Santana, unable to take the torture.
"Oh, Harper is fine, she can take care of herself." Lily said, flashing Santana a huge grin. Of all of Quinn's children, Lily looked the most like Quinn and it always made Santana a little bit nostalgic. "Aunt Santana, do you want to see my new skateboard?"
Santana looked up at Quinn who had returned to the kitchen with Harper on her side.
"I have a little bit to finish for lunch, so why don't you show her now, Lily. I'll come out when lunch is done." Quinn said.
"See," Santana said, glancing back over her shoulder at her friend while the little girl grasped hold of her hand, "I was late intentionally, Q. I knew you could never have anything done on time." She winked as the little girl lead her out of the door.
Ten minutes later, after watching the mini-Quinn demonstrate her ability to do an ollie at least thirty times, Quinn came out to let them know that lunch was ready. They settled down at the kitchen table, Quinn with baby Harper on her lap and Santana across the table from them. Lily had requested to watch Finding Nemo while she ate and Quinn was more than happy to comply. She desperately needed some adult time.
"So, Q," Santana said, "you do realize you have a mini lesbian on your hands."
"You're crazy," Quinn laughed, "she's four."
"She just showed me her skateboard, talked about how when she grows up she is going to play football like her daddy, and…wait for it," Quinn looked up from her food, "she just met a girl in her preschool who is her best friend and she knows they're going to spend the rest of her lives together." Surprisingly, Quinn laughed.
"Well, I guess it's a good thing she has Aunties' B and S when she's being a pathetic little High School lesbian like you two were and she doesn't know what do with it, and doesn't think she can talk to boring old mom and dad."
"So, when is boring old dad coming back anyways?"
"Three weeks, he's been making time to come back here during the season more often ever since he came home last winter and Harper cried when he tried to hold her."
"God," Santana said, taking a bite of her sandwich, "I never would have thought that you would end up with that silly freshman football player you met our first day of college."
"I never would have thought you would actually end up with that silly cheerleader you met in elementary school," Quinn retorted. Santana just shook her head. She always thought that was going to happen. "Besides," Quinn said, "Brittany always knew that Justin and I would end up together.
"My name is Santana Lopez, I'm from Lima, Ohio, I'm 18, and I'm planning on double majoring in Film Critical Studies and Philosophy, Politics, and Law." Santana threw the ball in her lap over to lanky redhead across from her and returned to responding to Brittany's text message.
"I'm bored too," Santana typed, "If I have to play another ice-breaker game, I think I'm going to kill myself."
"Pleazzze don't kill yourself! I would be sad "
"I would never. I miss u B."
"Miss u too."
Santana continued to text during the rest of the latest session of mind-numbing "get to know your classmates" games, as they walked as a group towards the auditorium where they would, no doubt, hear another lecture on the dangers of underage drinking, venereal diseases, and the mental health services offered at USC.
"God," Quinn said, after finding Santana in the throng of freshman and taking a seat next to her, "by the amount that you text, you'd think that Brittany had decided to stay in Lima." Santana barely looked up from her phone to glare at Quinn. "You do realize that you will see her in less than two hours now."
"Jealous much?"
"Fuck you, San."
"I talked to some of the older cheerleaders today. They invited me to a party instead of going to that lame-ass end of orientation carnival."
"Cool." Santana said, not looking up from her phone.
"Do you want to go?" Quinn asked, exasperated.
"Let me check with Britt."
"Oh. My. God." Quinn rolled her eyes and proceeded to ignore Santana for the rest of the day.
As soon as their obligations at school were done, Santana hopped in her car and headed over to Brittany's apartment. It was a tiny studio with just one room and a kitchen in the sketchy part of Hollywood, but it was home and Brittany was proud of it. Her parents had agreed to pay for one year in Los Angeles to see if Brittany could make her dream of becoming a dancer a reality. If she couldn't make it work, she was back in Lima to start community college. The first thing Brittany had done after her parents tearful goodbye was make second set of keys for Santana. Well, if she were being honest, the first thing she did was call Santana so they could christen her new Queen size bed.
"Hey, B," Santana said as she walked in the door, throwing her backpack on the small table in the corner. She looked up to find a dejected looking Brittany sitting on her bed with her chin on her knees watching the traffic on the freeway whiz by. "Baby, what's wrong?" Santana rushed over and wrapped her arms and legs around her girlfriend's back, resting her head on her shoulder.
"I'm never going to get a job," Brittany said, completely deadpan, "I'm not as good as these LA dancers. Then my parents are going to make me move back to Lima, and you're going to fall in love with a hot USC cheerleader and leave me forever."
"Brittany. Turn around." Brittany scooched around so she was facing her girlfriend. "I will never, ever, leave you. Do you understand that? You've only been here for two weeks, I know that you're the best dancer in LA and any director who doesn't realize that doesn't deserve to have you." Brittany nodded, still looking a little sad. "What do you say we go and have a little fun tonight? I think Quinn mentioned that there was going to be a party or something with some of the cheerleaders. Do you want to do that?" Santana asked, kissing Brittany on the cheek. Brittany just nodded again. "Ok, how about you get in the shower and I cook us dinner and then we can go."
Four hours, two rounds of sex, dinner, and Santana's excruciatingly long getting ready routine later, and they had finally made it to the party. It definitely was not like any Lima party. The front yard, backyard, and the house was completely packed with unbelievably drunk students. Santana briefly considered turning around because she was so intimidated, but she was quickly met by some of the older cheerleaders.
"Sannntana," a tall brunette shouted, slurring her name as she grabbed her in a tight hug. "You're my favorite frosh. You know why?" She asked, as she took a sip of her beer. "You are like an unbelievable guitarist cheerleader."
"Ignore her," said the blond cheerleader who had followed the brunette's sprint towards Santana. "She's wasted. She has no idea what's going on." She smiled softly at Santana. "You two, however, seem far too sober for your first college party. C'mon." She grabbed Santana's hand and led her into the kitchen.
The way the blond parted the crowd reminded Santana of when Quinn ruled McKinley, on a much larger scale of course. In fact, the three joined at the hip cheerleaders reminded Santana of how she Quinn and Brittany used to be. Lauren, the blond, was the President of the cheerleading squad (they didn't call it "Captain" in college, apparently) and was majoring in Psychology. She had HBIC written all over her, and, to be honest, Santana was surprised she gave her the time of day. Susie was the drunk brunette; she was definitely the ditz of the trio and was majoring in Kinesiology. The third girl of the trio rarely talked. Her name was Sasha, and she reminded Santana of Naomi Campbell, both in her looks, and in her attitude. She was majoring in African-American Studies and Politics, Philosophy, and Law, like Santana. Ever though the older girls were just in their Sophomore year, in Santana's Freshman head they seemed incredibly intimidating.
Santana was growing more nervous the longer she hung out with them. She texted Quinn to try to get her to find their location, but she was still waiting to hear back from her. None of the girls had really said anything to Brittany, which made Santana even more uncomfortable. She was dreading the prospect of being forced back into the closet after all the work she had done in high school coming out just so she could fit in with this new group of girls.
"FABRAYYY," yelled Susie, beckoning Quinn over to the group who had been awkwardly talking next to the keg. Quinn came sauntering over, clearly a little drunk.
"Let me get you a drink," said Lauren, pulling a red Solo cup from the pile and beginning to fill it with cheap keg beer.
"Yo. Yo. Yo." Susie started to say over and over.
"Yo. Suze," Sasha said, rolling her eyes, "spit it out."
"Sorry," Susie apologize, turning a little bit pink, "it's just…I'm drunker than everyone else, and it's not fair! Drink some real alcohol! Put some hair on your chests!" At the last remark, Susie and Brittany broke down in a fit of giggles. Sasha walked away and returned not moments later with a stack of shot glasses and a bottle of vodka.
"Suze is right. We need to loosen up a bit. Show these frosh what college is really about."
"I shouldn't," Santana said, "I have to drive Brittany back to her apartment tonight." Quinn raised her eyebrow and Lauren noticed the gesture.
"No worries," Lauren said, "we live close to here, you guys can crash. We have plenty of space."
"Done. Little guitarist, blond girl, other blond girl, you are now officially being peer-pressured into vodka shots," said Sasha with a smirk.
After the two shots, Santana was definitely feeling a little bit of a buzz and was starting to loosen up a bit. Sasha cut them off at two saying that she didn't want to spend the night holding back the hair extensions of some frosh, she was trying to get her mack on. Santana could definitely be friends with this girl.
"So…" Lauren said, cutting off Sasha's rant, "speaking of getting your mack on, do you see any guys here you want us to introduce you to?"
Quinn immediately gestured over to an awkward looking boy playing beer pong.
"He was talking to me earlier. He's kind of cute."
"Ugh, Justin," said Susie, exasperated, "he's adorable. I had some Gen Ed classes with him last year, but he's picky. I can't believe he talked to you."
"Ok, Fabray," said Lauren, "we're going to make it happen. What about you, Santana? And you…"
"Brittany," Brittany said quietly, under her breath. Santana looked at her girlfriend's sad eyes. She knew that Brittany was preparing to be pushed under the rug again. Santana didn't know what to do; her brain was racing rapidly knowing that she had to come up with a response soon. She knew it wasn't fair, after all that she had put Brittany through to closet them again. They had spent their senior year being open about their relationship, hell, Brittany had come to LA so that she could be with Santana, but if she told these cheerleaders that she was gay, it might be the end of her college career.
"Actually, I'm in a relationship," Santana said, matter-of-fact. Brittany looked at her feet again. Quinn glared at Santana, clearly not wanting to go through another round of closeted gay drama.
"Oh," Lauren said, smirking over at Sasha. "Anyone we know?"
"Well, actually…" Santana hated this. She hated feeling powerless, and she hated when her scowl was wiped off her face with the demand, yet again, that she make herself vulnerable to the world because of her sexuality. "Brittany and I, well, you know, well, she's my girlfriend. I'm gay."
"Holla!" Yelled Sasha, a giant grin breaking out across her usually sullen face. "Bitch, you owe me $20!" She said, reaching her hand out to Lauren. Santana, Brittany, and Quinn all stood with their mouths gaping open.
"Fuck." Lauren said simply. "You and your unbelievable gaydar." She rolled her eyes. "You know she had you pegged the moment you walked on the field the first day of the season?" She said to Santana. Santana still had no words to respond. Lauren pulled a twenty out of her pocket and handed it to Sasha.
"So…so like, you're cool with it?" Santana asked, incredulously.
"Girl, this ain't high school anymore," Sasha said. "Most people here couldn't give a shit, unless they're trying to get in your pants."
"Besides, Sash is probably just happy not to be the resident lez on the cheerleading squad anymore."
"Fuck you, Lauren, you know you like to switch teams once in awhile." Sasha smirked.
"Once! Once in Rosarito! I can barely remember it!"
"Still…"
"Ok. As much as I love rehashing my Spring Break indiscretions, let's prowl. You're right, Sash, I want to get my mack on tonight. Quinn—go talk to your boy, he's been staring at you the entire time we've been over here." Quinn blushed at this admission. Sasha poured one more round of shots for the girls and then took her bottle of vodka (her baby, as she was now calling it) and they led Quinn over to Justin and then set off on their prowl.
"I can't believe you did that," Brittany said, looking wide-eyed into Santana's eyes.
"I couldn't go back to pretending, B, I love you too much."
"I love you too, San." Brittany leaned in and gave Santana the most passionate kiss she had ever given her.
"LESBIANS!" Shouted a boy walking past. Santana shot up a glare at him, ready to ream him out for his homophobia. "Why'd you stop?" He said, noticing Santana's death glare, "Get it gurrrl!" and walked away.
"I think I'm going to like college," Santana said pulling Brittany in for another kiss.
Brittany and Santana pretty much stayed like that all night, making out and then taking shots whenever a, now wasted, Sasha would walk by. Once the LAPD came and broke the party up, the five women walked back towards the house they'd be staying the night at. Sasha and Susie were both so drunk they immediately just dropped into bed, and Lauren pulled out the futon for Santana and Brittany and put some blankets on the couch for Quinn.
"I'm assuming you don't want to share with the lovebirds over there," she gestured to Santana and Brittany, already making out in the futon.
"Unfortunately, I'm used to it, although I do appreciate not having to share with them."
"Ok," Lauren said, "goodnight frosh. And no sex on my futon!"
Santana and Brittany kissed for a little bit longer before Brittany noticed that Quinn had been furiously texting since they had arrived at the house.
"Who you texting, Q?" Santana asked.
"Justin," Quinn said quietly.
Brittany pulled Santana in tightly so that their noses were touching.
"Shh, San, leave them alone. Did you seem them tonight? They're going to be together forever, just like us." She placed a chaste kiss to Santana's lips, and they both fell asleep.
"Ok, so what did we do after we finished eating lunch?" Santana asked Quinn after she searched around the kitchen nook where they had eaten.
"Let's see," Quinn said, "Brittany called you to confirm that you would absolutely, under no uncertain terms, be home for dinner at seven, and then she told you to find our alumni magazine to see an article about Sasha Johnson's career as a High School cheerleading coach and how her team was poised to beat McKinley for the second year running."
"That's right!" Santana exclaimed, "so we went out on the patio and read about Sasha's randomly phenomenal career."
Santana had done it. She had graduated college and had been accepted into the USC Gould School of Law. Brittany had gotten consistent work as a dancer both in music videos and TV shows and the two of them had moved into a loft downtown Santana's junior year of college. She looked around the rooftop pool as their close friends and family awkwardly mingled with each other. Quinn's mom was there, Santana's and Brittany's parents had flown in from Ohio as well. Puck showed up, since he had started acting in some small films and had relocated to Los Angeles. Justin and his family were there as well as Santana's friends from four years cheering on the Trojans.
"Hey, little sister." Sasha sidled up beside her.
"Hey, big sis." Santana nudged the girl who had gone on to become one of her best friends in college.
"I'm so proud of you, you know that? God, when I came to college I was nowhere near ready to do what you did, to admit to the world who I was."
"You know it was just Britt's puppy dog eyes that made me do it."
"Of course I know. I just thought you should know that I have always admired you for the balls you showed that day. Don't you ever forget it." Santana nodded. They sat in silence for a little while.
"I also wanted to let you know that I accepted that job with that High School in Kentucky. I'm going to go be a cheerleading coach. You know, cheering is what I do best."
"I know. I'm gonna miss you, Sash."
"You too, my little guitarist."
Three hours later, and the roof of their building had finally cleared out. Santana and Brittany had finished taking the last of the trash out and storing the leftovers from the barbeque.
"Hey, San," Brittany said, as they did one last scope of the public roof they had their party on, to make sure they didn't leave any trash for someone else to deal with later. "I didn't give you my graduation present." Santana walked over to Brittany who was leaning over the ledge, looking out at the light brightening the Los Angeles sky.
"This kind of reminds me of the view from that scary bell tower you brought me to when we were 15. Although this is prettier," Santana said, pulling Brittany in for a kiss. Brittany pulled away and took a small box out of her pocket and handed it to Santana. Inside was a small charm, just saying USC.
"I don't understand, Britt. I thought the charms were about experiences we went through together. Milestones in our relationship."
"This was a milestone in our relationship, San. When's the last time you called me your 'friend' to a stranger? When's the last time you were uncomfortable walking down the street holding my hand?" Santana looked at the ground, grasping both of Brittany's hands in her own. "Look at me, San," she said, lifting Santana's chin so that they were making eye contact. "You don't remember, because it hasn't happened in so long. You finally, fully came out and accepted us as a couple. This charm is so that you never forget that experience that allowed you to truly be yourself, and allowed us to truly be a couple, no matter what the judgment might be."
"Brittany, I'll never forget how good it feels to be complete out in the open about my relationship with you."
"Promise you'll wear it, just in case?"
"Of course, B. I'll wear it forever. I love you."
"I love you too, San."
Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think!
