Kurt had to practically drag Ily up the stairs, his arm wound around her waist as she let her feet dangle—bump, bump, bump as they ascended to the Pierce-Lopezes' apartment. No sooner had they stepped through the door than Iliana left the ground completely as she was swept up into strong arms and squeezed so tightly she could barely breathe. That was okay, though, because her mama's shampoo filled her senses, lilac and mint and the scent of actual love, and Iliana was only a little surprised, as her thin arms wound around Mama's neck and she squeezed back just as tightly, that she was more happy to see her than she was uneasy about the hellfire that was surely about to rain down.

There were soothing whispers in her ear, comfort combined with scolding (oh my baby, don't you ever do anything like that again sweetheart we love you so much it's okay you're safe now Mama's got you) and suddenly Iliana was sobbing into her mama's soft hair.

From what seemed like a great distance Iliana heard Rachel start to speak, then her mami's voice cut her off and then the front door opened and closed and when Ily finally raised her face from the nook between Mama's shoulder and neck, the three of them were alone. Mama. Mami. Ily.

After more long moments Mama shifted Iliana to perch on her hip, and Iliana would have protested at being held like a baby but for two things: One, she didn't want to let go and didn't think she could be pried away from Mama for anything in the world. Two, now that she could see Mami, she saw that her eyes were dark and dangerous and locked on Iliana like the only thing stopping her from tearing into her right now was that she would have to physically remove her from her mama's arms before she did so.

Ily reburied her face in Mama's shoulder. Mama's right hand came up to rub her back.

"You're coddling her, Britt."

"I want to cuddle her."

"I said coddling, not cuddling. There's a difference—"

"I know that, Santana. God, I'm not stupid."

No. No!

Iliana jerked her head up and glared between them both. "You're still fighting!" she shouted accusingly, her heart feeling like it could only take one more crack before shattering completely.

"We're not fighting, Ily, we're just … we're so so so happy you're home, but it was scary. You scared us, baby, and when people are afraid for the ones they love, they get kind of snippy."

Iliana chanced another look at her mami, whose jaw was still set sternly, her full lips pressed together, but her hand reached out and brushed a strand of Ily's hair out of her eyes, so she was maybe not quite as scary, now.

"Are you okay?" Mami asked quietly. It was the question that had plagued her since Rachel had awakened her that morning with the most alarming words ever uttered.

Ily nodded. Mami nodded back, as if confirming to herself that her girl was actually here, unharmed, answering the only question that really mattered. If Ily didn't know better, she'd think that the shininess of her mami's eyes was a little weird, that maybe she'd been crying or was about to … but that was silly. Mami was tough. Strong. The strongest person she knew.

As if to prove it, Santana nodded again, firmly, sniffed, and jerked her head toward the stairs. "Go wait in your room. Mama and I will be up to talk to you shortly."

Iliana tightened her grip on Brittany's neck. "No," she said. "I want to stay with Mama."

"Brittany, put her down. Iliana Marie, you are going to do exactly as I say or you're going to be sorry; do you understand me? You've put us through hell today, and you're lucky your mama's here to talk me out of giving you the spanking you deserve right this second. But if you say one more word, I'm going to overrule her. Now, go to your room while we finish talking. It's what you wanted, right? Isn't that why we went through all of this?"

Mama gave her one final squeeze and then set Iliana on her feet. Ily had so many important things to say but managed to hold her tongue, not really trusting that a) her mami wouldn't just haul off and start whacking her butt right here, right now or b) she would be able to say what she wanted to say without falling apart completely. As she turned toward the stairs that led to the bedrooms, though, something snagged the collar of her tee-shirt and she was tugged backward a couple of steps. Before she knew it, she had been lifted into the air again and was being squished against Mami, tighter even than Mama had held her. She didn't say anything, and Mami didn't either. That was their way. But when Mami pressed an almost painful kiss against the side of her head and then set her back down, her meaning was plain enough.


Santana and Brittany watched their girl until she had rounded the corner at the top of the stairs, then listened for the sound of her bedroom door closing. Then they turned to each other, once more at a loss. It hadn't been easy, the hours since they'd received Kurt's call telling them that Iliana wouldn't come home until they had had some time alone together. Some wounds were still fresh, some slights, both perceived and real, had spent too many months festering, for them to douse everything with antiseptic and call it good enough.

Besides. They had always been better than good enough, and this was no time to start settling for less.

There had been yelling. There had been tears. There had been silent distance and even more silent closeness. Santana had masked her hurt with anger, and Brittany had sliced through it easily and uncovered what was underneath. She'd been doing that since they were kids, after all, and it came as naturally to her as ever.

There had been airing of grievances and clearing of the air.

And then, seemingly out of nowhere, they had been holding each other, arms wrapped around bodies, fingers tangled in hair, tears mingling on cheeks. I'm sorries and I love yous and I'll nevers. I didn't means and I wouldn'ts. And I'll always. Always. Always.

Right there on the couch they had reminded one another of all the things they'd thought had been forgotten. Right there, they'd begun the healing process.

(Some things, Iliana would never need to know.)


Now it was time to heal the rest of their family. Santana went first, because Brittany had hurt Iliana more deeply. She kissed Brittany, gathered her patience, and went to make amends with their daughter.


AN: One more chapter/epilogue. If you want it, please review. Thanks to all who have!