A/N: Well I am sorry for taking so long in between updates. It's been a long 10 months but I didn't want to become one of those authors who kept everyone waiting for a year without an update. I can't guarantee that I'll be updating extremely frequently, but it will probably be weekly, hopefully. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own glee.
Quinn looked through her closet to find the perfect thing for her to wear on the date. Fuck. It's not a date it's only me hanging out with my ex and our daughter. Not a date. Remember that Quinn. No excessive touching or thinking about kissing her. Damn it. Now I'm thinking about kissing her. Deep breaths. Okay. What to wear. Dress? No. Skirt? No. Skinny Jeans? Yes. They make me look good. Now for a shirt. Polo? Too Preppy. T-shirt? Too laid back. Plaid? Perfect. Shoes? Santana won't be looking at my feet so it doesn't matter. Beanie? Yes. I'll be irresistible to her. Damn it. Not trying to be irresistible. Just trying to be me. For my daughter. Not my ex. Not tonight anyway.
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On the other side of town Santana was facing the same problem except she had a three year old to help her with her outfit selection. Maybe not really help. All Charlie really did was sit on the bed and played with her dolls, but she did say she looked beautiful in everything. Perfect Santana. We're taking fashion advice from someone who doesn't even pick out her own clothes. Santana looked over at Charlie, "Sweetie… where did you say you wanted to go for dinner?"
Charlie looked up from her dolls and smiled. She was happy that she got to pick where they were going to eat even though it was supposed to be time for her Mami and Quinn to talk. Charlie bit her lip, "Breadstix" she said with a giggle.
Santana walked over to her and kissed her forehead, "I know how much you like Breadstix, but it's a little far to go to Ohio tonight." Santana looked down at Charlie and bit her lip when she saw her daughter pouting, "There's a really good Italian place not far from here though okay? And it's a lot like Breadstix if you want to go there." Charlie nodded and smiled brightly as she leaned over to hug Santana. Santana smiled as she hugged her daughter, "Time to help Mami get dressed okay?"
Charlie carefully climbed off the bed, "Will Quinn be mad if I bring a doll?" she asked softly as they walked over to Santana's closet and began looking through clothes. Charlie stood on her tip toes so she could see better, "That one Mami," she said as she pointed to a navy blue dress with small flowers on it. Santana nodded as she took the dress out and held it up in front of her with a small smile. She quickly put it on then spun around for Charlie. The little girl clapped and smiled, "Pretty Mami."
Santana bit her lip and smiled softly as she began brushing Charlie's hair gently, "Now it's time to get you dressed." Charlie pouted and held up her arms so Santana would carry her. "One day you will be too big for me to do this to you," she said with a chuckle. Charlie shook her head in disbelief and tried to get down when they got to her room. Santana smiled as she put the little girl down.
Charlie walked over to her dresser and struggled to get one of the drawers open. She stumbled backwards, but Santana caught her before her head hit her bed. She knelt down and helped her daughter open the drawer, "What do you want to wear?" Charlie looked through her clothes and found a pink polo shirt that she picked out the last time her and Santana went shopping and pointed to a pair of jeans in her closet that matched. Santana smiled and got the jeans down, "You're really good at picking out outfits huh?" she asked with a chuckle as she helped Charlie get dressed. Charlie nodded and smiled, "I like feeling like a big girl Mami." Santana shook her head and sighed, "No more growing up princess." Charlie nodded as she pulled on her shirt, "Will Quinn like me?" she asked softly. Santana knelt in front of her and cupped her cheek, "I think she will Charlie and if she doesn't or you don't like her we don't have to see he anymore okay?" Charlie nodded and kissed Santana's cheek as she heard a knock on the door. Charlie jumped down and ran to the door with Santana chasing after her, "Sweetie no answering the door alone," she said when she got to the door and saw Charlie struggling to open the door. Santana helped her and smiled softly when she saw Quinn on the other side of the door, "Hi Quinn."
Quinn smiled brightly as she saw Santana open the door, "You look beautiful Santana," she said softly as she handed a flower to Santana before crouching down by Charlie, "You look beautiful too Charlie," she said as she handed the little girl a flower as well. Charlie smiled and looked up at Quinn, "Can we keep her mami?" she asked.
Santana bit her lip and tried not to chuckle, "That's up to Quinn, Charlie." She smiled weakly at Quinn who blushed and ducked her head. "So dinner?" Santana asked to end the silence.
Quinn nodded and held her hand out to Charlie, "Would you like to drive since you have a uh… car seat?" she asked quietly. She felt embarrassed that she didn't have anything to help take care of her daughter. Charlie tugged on Quinn's hand and led her to Santana's car and looked at the door waiting for Quinn to open it. Quinn bit her lip and opened the door after getting a nod from Santana saying that it was okay. She held Charlie get into the car seat with a smile as she buckled the girl in, "All set?" she asked.
Charlie nodded and leaned over to attempt to pat the seat next to her, "Sit here Quinn?" she asked softly. Quinn nodded and sat down. Charlie handed Quinn her doll, "Buckle her in please?" Quinn nodded and carefully buckled the doll in next to her, "There you go. She's all safe," she said with a smile up at Santana.
Santana shook her head as she slowly backed out of the driveway and began driving to the restaurant. Quinn looked at Charlie with a small as she listened to the little girl talk about whatever she could find the words to form. Quinn chuckled softly at the girl's enthusiasm. She was currently explaining to Quinn that her mami was lonely and that she wanted to get back together with her daddy. Quinn nodded as she tried not to look at Santana.
Santana sighed softly as she parked her car and got out to let Quinn and Charlie out of the back, "I hope this place is okay with you Quinn," she said as she helped Charlie out of her car seat.
Quinn nodded and blushed softly, "Yeah I uh… actually got reservations for here. I know I should have asked before I did it, but I know it's kinda similar to Breadstixs and I know how much you liked that back home…" she said softly as she gave her name at the hostess stand. Santana chuckled as they got led to their table. Quinn pulled out Santana's chair and pushed it in after she sat down.
Santana blushed softly at Quinn's actions as she began looking through the menu, "Mhmm do you mind if I get wine Quinn?" she asked softly. Quinn nodded and smiled over her menu letting Santana know it was okay with her. Charlie looked up from her coloring, "Can I have wine and mac and cheese?" she asked as she looked at Santana. Santana chuckled at her daughter, "You can have mac and cheese but no wine. That's for big kids." Charlie nodded and smiled softly, "Can I have chocolate milk then?" she asked Santana. Santana nodded, "Of course."
Quinn smiled as she flipped through the menu, "I think I'm gonna have the chicken parm. I used to love when you made that," she said as she closed the menu and put it down on the table.
Santana smiled and nodded, "I'm actually getting the same… and I remember how much you loved my chicken parm," she said with a wink. Quinn blushed and looked down at the table. Their waitress came over and took their order. Quinn quickly ordered for the three of them and smiled as she began coloring with Charlie. Santana smiled as she watched the two of them interact with each other. She remained silent though as she thought about what this relationship could mean. What if Charlie gets her mom back? What if I get Quinn back? What happens if Quinn decides to leave again? I can't put Charlie through that. I don't even think I could get through that again. Enough negative thoughts Santana. Quinn is here now. And she's eating dinner with you and your daughter. She's back in the picture now. She's here for Charlie right now not you. Don't make this about you. Make this about your daughter. Santana looked up when she heard Quinn saying her name, "The food is here," Quinn said with a genuine smile as she helped Charlie spread her mac and cheese out so it could cool quicker. Santana smiled brightly. She knew this would work out.
Quinn insisted that she paid for dinner which Santana finally agreed to after Charlie told her to let Quinn pay. Quinn chuckled at that as she put the cash down and stood up, "I had a wonderful night Santana," she said as she carried a very tired Charlie out to the car. Santana smiled, "I did too… I think we should do this more often. If you would want to do this again sometime?" she asked. Quinn nodded and bit her lip, "Yeah. We can do this again."
Santana drove back to her house slowly knowing that once they got home Quinn would go and to be honest she wasn't ready to see the blonde leave. Quinn was sitting in the front seat and was staring out the window without saying anything as they drove.
When they got to Santana's house Quinn got Charlie out of the back seat, "Can I help you put her to bed?" she asked softly as they walked to the front door. Santana nodded as she unlocked the door and led them upstairs.
Quinn laid Charlie down on the bed and changed her into pajamas as Santana watched and offered her guidance. Quinn chuckled as she tucked Charlie in. She knelt next to the bed and kissed the young girl's forehead, "Sleep tight princess. Mami and momma love you," she said softly before standing up.
Santana wiped a tear off of her cheek before Quinn could turn around and they walked down stairs. Quinn nervously put her hands in her pockets, "Well I guess I should be getting out of here. I had a great time San. Thanks for letting me do this." Santana bit her lip and nodded. She walked Quinn to the door and took her hands gently and pressed a quick kiss to her lips, "Don't be a stranger." Quinn nodded and hugged her before walking to her car trying to hide her grin as she got in and drove away.
Santana walked back inside and slowly changed out of her dress into her sleep clothes and laid down. She thought about Quinn and how much she had missed the blonde. She thought about how well Quinn and Charlie had bonded and how she hoped that nothing would break them apart this time even if no romance was involved. She slowly drifted off to sleep with a smile on her face for the first time in what seemed like years.
When Quinn finally got home she slowly walked to her bed room and laid down without bothering to change. She flipped through an old scrapbook filled with pictures of her and Santana. As he eyes started to close she shut the book and put it on the floor before turning off the light and falling asleep.