Author's Note: I don't think there will ever be a day where I can thank you all enough for your reviews! I love them, I really do! I hope you enjoy the next chapter :)
After practice Monday, Santana drove Brittany back to her house. The ride was silent until Santana pulled up in front. Brittany grabbed Santana's hand.
"You ready?"
"I think so."
" Are you sure you don't want me to come with you."
"I'm sure. I need to tell them this on my own."
"Promise to call afterward?"
"Of course."
"I love you."
"I love you too. And thank you."
"For what?"
"Just…for being you." Santana leaned over to kiss Brittany. Brittany pulled at Santana's perfect ponytail while Santana cupped Brittany's cheek. Brittany slid her body further over the center console and let her hand slip up Santana's Cheerio's top. She tried to maneuver her way over the console, wanting desperately to be on top of her girlfriend, but her legs were just too long and she hit the horn starting off a long stream of honking and cursing from Santana.
"I should go, Britt." She said, when Brittany finally stopped laughing.
"I know," she said, climbing off of Santana and opening her door. "Just promise you'll call?"
"You know it." Brittany smiled and grabbed her backpack and her Cheerios bag.
"Bye, San."
"Bye, B." Santana waited until Brittany had entered her house to drive back to her own.
Santana threw her stuff in her room and took her uniform down to the laundry room before going to help her mom set the table for dinner that night.
"Everything okay, mija?" Her mother asked placing a hand lightly on Santana's shoulder as she placed a plate on the table.
"Of course, mama," Santana replied, quietly.
"You seem quiet."
"No, I'm fine." Her mother looked concerned, but decided to take her daughter at her word.
Dinner was uneventful. Christian and Carlos told storied about their college lives, her little brother Daniel talked about the football team and how much it sucked this year. Her parents just sat there, looking pleased to have all of their children together. Internally, Santana's panic was growing exponentially by the second. Having all her brothers here, it turned out, made it much worse. She couldn't imagine the teasing she would have to deal with once they knew she was actually a lesbian, and it wasn't just the running joke of the house. Furthermore, she kept anticipating her parents' disappointment. She was the only girl. She was the only hope for a son-in-law and a white wedding where her father gave her away. She knew she could still have that, but what if her parents didn't see it the same way? She had stopped listening or paying attention to any part of the conversation, and was just sliding her mashed potatoes back and forth across her plate.
"Santana? Earth to Santana," she finally noticed her father waving his hand at her. "I've been asking you to please pass the mashed potatoes for five minutes. Where are you?"
She picked up the bowl of mashed potatoes and as she handed them off to her father blurted out, "I'm gay." A dead silence filled the table. Her father just sat there, holding the mashed potatoes over his plate. Christian and Carlos' eyes widened and Daniel's mouth dropped open. "I…I'm sorry, I just thought that I should tell you," she stuttered out. Her mouth had gone dry and tears were welling up in her eyes when her mother, finally, broke the silence.
"Thank god you finally told us, mija. That elephant in the room was killing everyone." Her mother resumed eating her food. She saw her father shoot a disapproving glance at her mother across the table. He reached out and grabbed Santana's hand.
"Thank you so much for telling us. You know that we love you no matter what, and we will love whomever you love. You will always be our little girl." He withdrew his hands and then started putting mashed potatoes on his plate.
"So, what did Brittany threaten you with to make you finally tell?" Christian asked, spooning a huge pile of chicken into his mouth.
Carlos laughed, snorting with his mouth full of food. "Did she withhold sex? I noticed it's been awfully quiet around here—"
"Carlos!" Their mother scolded.
"Sorry, mama."
"Wait," Santana finally broke her silence, "you all knew?"
"I've known since you were six and you cried to me because Noah Puckerman told you that you had to marry a boy when you grew up because that's what girls do. You came home and cried for hours because you wanted to marry Brittany when you grew up," her mother said. Her father nodded.
"I finally realized when I was driving you to dance class when you were 11. You said you didn't like your new teacher because she was mean, but the girls in the class were pretty so you still liked going," her father said.
"I pretty much realized every single time I was ever forced to spend anytime with you and Brittany together," Christian said. Carlos nodded along.
"Seriously, sis, you two may go down in history as the worst closeted lesbians ever," Carlos added.
"Wait, so you all knew and didn't say anything to me? You could have made it so much easier..." Santana said.
"I read a book," her mother said, between bites, "about raising a gay teen. It said I shouldn't push you out of the closet because you would just deny it and it might push you further in."
"Wait," Santana said, not believing her ears, "you bought a book? About me being gay? Before I told you?"
"I've also been going to PFLAG meetings, mija," her mother said. "Did you really think I'd joined a quilting group? Don't you think that at some point you would have seen…you know…a quilt?"
"You're really, really gay, San," Carlos said.
"So gay," added Christian.
"I think I'm owed $20," said Laura under her breath.
"I didn't even realize that you weren't out until this summer," Christian's girlfriend Sarah added. "I've known you since you were what? 12? I just always thought you were out and gay until Christian told me about your 'boyfriend' Puck. Needless to say, I was pretty confused." The family laughed while Santana sat there awe-struck. She figured everyone had expected. She didn't realize that everyone already just…knew. They moved on to another story about a class that Christian and Sarah were taking on media studies.
"I didn't know," Daniel suddenly interrupted, barely audible. "I was just teasing you, all the times I made of you and Brittany being lesbian for each other. I never thought that you actually could be one." He pushed his plate away from him. "I have to go on a walk. I'm sorry," Daniel said as he jumped up and ran out the door.
Santana could feel her eyes welling with tears for the second time that night.
"I think he just needs to think it over, Santana," her father said, placing his hand on hers again. "This has got to be a lot to take in, especially since he's not as perceptive as the rest of us," he said with a smirk. They all sat in silence for a few minutes.
"So, are you going to take Brittany to prom?" Christian asked.
"What makes you think I'm dating Brittany?" Santana shot back.
"Oh, c'mon San."
"I don't know. I hadn't thought that far ahead," she was now feeling uncomfortable for entirely different reasons. This night was too much for one person to take in.
"Mom, do Santana and Brittany have to follow the open door policy now?" Carlos asked. "Because Christian and Daniel and I all have, and I don't think she should get special rights just because she's a lesbian." Santana shot Carlos her most deathly stare.
"Carlos has a point Santana," her mother said, "I think now that we know, officially, it wouldn't be fair to let you have Brittany over behind closed doors."
"But we've been sleeping in the same bed for ages, mom, and we're only in high school a few more months! Why change now?"
"Frankly, Santana, you're right, it would be much easier not to change now. But, I am just too lazy to explain to your little brother why you can have your girlfriend sleepover and why he cannot."
"Ugh," Santana said, slouching in her chair, "I knew I should have just stayed in the closet."
Things were so normal after dinner that Santana felt a little bit of a letdown. She helped her mother clean dishes, her brothers' and her dad turned on the football game, and she texted Brittany.
Come over, B.
Be there in 5.
She stood in the kitchen with her mother for a moment.
"Have you heard from Daniel?" she asked.
"He's going to stay at his girlfriend's tonight," her mother said quietly. "But I don't want that to take you away from your big day. He's young, and it was a surprise to him. He'll come around, mija." She pulled her daughter into a tight hug. "We're so proud of you…what you did was very brave." She kissed her daughter on the forehead. "Is Brittany coming over tonight?" Santana just nodded. "I guess, since Daniel isn't here and this is a bit of a celebration, she can sleep in your room," she saw Santana's eyes light up. "This is the last time, understand mija?" Santana nodded. "Now go in the living room! The Bengal's are playing!"
Santana settled down on the end of the couch to watch the game. Her father was in the Lazy Boy, as usual, Christian was in the love seat with Sarah, and Carlos was on the other end of the couch, Laura curled into his side. The Bengals had just scored a touchdown and everyone was screaming when the door crept open and Brittany silently walked in. Christian noticed her first. He nodded over to Carlos. Santana was still engrossed in celebrating the touchdown, so she didn't notice Brittany walk in until Christian whistled and Carlos started clapping. She looked at her brothers confused and then saw an equally confused Brittany standing by the door. Santana covered her face with her hands.
"Brittany!" Carlos yelled, "come here and give me a high five." Brittany furrowed her brow, but walked over and gave Santana's brother a high five. She sat down next to Santana on the couch, keeping a comfortable space between them. When the game picked up and everyone stopped staring at them, Brittany whispered over to Santana.
"You didn't tell them, did you? I can't believe you, San." Santana looked back at her girlfriend in disbelief.
"I did tell them, B. Everyone knew already. My brothers' are just being jerks, and you know how my dad gets during football! He probably doesn't even know the rest of us are in the room."
"You told them!" Brittany literally screamed, causing every head in the room to turn to look at them. Then Brittany let out a high-pitched squeal and pounced on Santana giving her a kiss on the mouth.
"B, my family, all right here," Santana whispered to her, trying to avoid the looks she knew she was getting from her brothers. Brittany pulled away and then settled into Santana's shoulder with Santana's arm around her.
"I still think football is boring." Santana gave her a kiss on the forehead and returned her attention to the game. She couldn't conceal the huge smile on her face, though, at being able to sit in the living room with her family, watching the football game, with her arm around the girl she loved. She didn't even notice Christian and Sarah staring at them from the love seat where they were snuggled together. Sarah tilted her head up to whisper into Christian's ear.
"They're kind of adorable, right?"
"Definitely. Super adorable." He kissed the top of his girlfriend's head and returned his attention to the game.