a/n: I know I'm horrible, and I know everyone hates excuses. I've just been super busy, had awful writer's block, and every time I did sit down to write, I'd get interrupted pretty quickly and only be able to write a few sentences each time. Thanks so much for the reviews last chapter. I got some that were extremely helpful, and I really appreciate it.

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The day they got confirmation that their daughter would have Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus was one of the worst days of Sam and Santana's lives. They were scared, heartbroken, and shocked, and the news overshadowed the fact that they had found out it was going to be a girl. That was the worst day though, and things were starting to look up a little bit. They'd both been scouring the internet for information on the conditions and found many personal stories of parents that were given awful prognosis and were blessed with beautiful, special miracles that surprised them every day and exceeded all the doctors' expectations for them. Their child may have special needs, but she was going to be okay, and she was going to be loved.

They had told Brittany, who hadn't understood, and when they explained that she would have problems with her legs like Artie did and may not walk, it confused her even more. "But you weren't in a car accident, and your legs work just fine. Oh my God, is Artie the father?" she had said to her best friend. Eventually, Santana was able to explain it in terms that Brittany seemed to understand, and Sam was thoroughly impressed. Santana hadn't always been the most patient person, but she always had been with Brittany. She was also fiercely protective of her, and had always taken a bit of a maternal role with her, so he knew that she would be an excellent mother. They'd also told Quinn, who had bonded with Santana over the teen pregnancy thing, and the two were friends again. Quinn didn't say much other than "I'm so sorry," and the girls hugged and cried together. They figured that Quinn must have told the rest of the Glee Club because both Mercedes and Rachel had texted Santana telling her that she and the baby were in their prayers. That was fine, they were all going to find out eventually, and now they didn't have to be the ones to tell them. They hadn't seen anyone else though. Sam was working as much as he could at the pizza shop since it was summer, hoping to save as much money as possible. Santana spent her time helping with Stevie and Stacey and searching the internet for as much information as she could find on Spina Bifida. She preferred to stay home anyway. Ohio was experiencing one of the hottest summers ever, and being six months pregnant, being in the air-conditioned house was much more comfortable.

"Honey, can we talk?" Mary said as she poked her head through the door of the room Stacey and Santana shared. It was working for now because the house was only three bedrooms and they had no other choice, but they didn't know what they were going to do after the baby was born. It wasn't fair to make Stacey stay in the same room as a baby that would wake up several times a night, but the Evans' were definitely not keen on letting their teenage son share a room with his girlfriend, even if they knew he obviously wasn't a virgin. But it wasn't like Sam and Santana were going to get it on in the same room as a baby, even they weren't that sick.

"Sure," she said, closing the laptop and patting a place on the bed for the older woman to sit.

" I can't imagine what you and Sam are going through right now, especially you. We've really come to love you over these last few months, and we think of you as one of our own. You know we would do anything for you, but I think now you really need your family too. You need their love and support, and your baby also needs their insurance," she said, smoothing the girl's hair.

"That would be ideal, but I'm pretty sure they hate me. I ruined their reputation, remember?" Santana sighed.

"Honey, they don't hate you. It was wrong the way they treated you, but they were upset, they still love you, trust me."

"I don't know about that," Santana said rubbing her baby bump, not understanding how anyone could hate their daughter, but figuring her parents did anyways.

"I do. I know you probably won't like this, but I'm going to be honest, I've been in contact with your mother. Your parents know it's a girl, and they know she has Spina Bifida. Your mom misses you and she said she does feel bad about how they reacted. She wants to meet with you, tomorrow for lunch at Breadstix," Mary explained, practically in one single breath, figuring the hormonal teenager wouldn't take it well.

Instead of getting mad like Mary thought she would, Santana wrapped the older woman in a hug and sobbed.

"Thank you," she cried. "You did what I've been scared to do for months. I'm still hurt by how they treated me, but I know the baby needs them, and I need them. I miss them, even if I am a little nervous about seeing them. My dad's not going to be there, is he?"

"No, just your mom this time. He's away at a conference."

"That's probably for the best, my mom is slightly less scary."

"Your mom loves you, I promise. Would you like me to come with you?" Mary offered.

"No, I can go on my own, I think I need to. It'll be fine. Thank you though," she said wiping her eyes.

"You're welcome dear. I hate to cut this short, but it's late and I really need to get the kids to bed." Mary sighed, noticing the clock on the wall.

"I'll do it!" Santana said eagerly. "I need the practice, and I read that the baby can hear my voice now, and reading a children's book rather than medical literature would probably do me some good right now too."

"I think that's a good idea. Good night, sweetheart," Mary said, kissing Santana on the head and leaving the room.

Stacey and Stevie entered a few minutes later. They were excited, they loved Santana and loved when she read to them, but they also knew to be careful with her. They came running in, but as they got close to the bed they almost tiptoed, and then carefully climbed up to join her. She just laughed as she made room for them on either side of her.

The kids were asleep and the lights were out by nine o'clock. Santana laid in bed, but despite how exhausted she was, she could not sleep. She tried to stay still, as to not disturb Stacey with her tossing and turning, but it was difficult. Finally, she got the pillows positioned around her just right, and she was able to get some decent sleep.

When morning came, she was nauseous for the first time in weeks, and vomited before getting ready for lunch. It was nerves, she was sure of it, and she knew she just had to get this over with. So, she got to Breadstix twenty minutes early, and ordered breadsticks and a cherry slushy, hoping to settle her stomach, remembering that cherry slushies were the the only thing that helped during her "morning sickness" phase. She still didn't think "morning sickness" was accurate, since she had been nauseous all day at first, and so had Quinn when she was in her first trimester, but whatever. Her mom was early too, arriving just a few minutes after Santana got her slushy. For a second, she felt like she might vomit again, but her mother wrapped her in a hug, and they both sobbed.

"I am so sorry Mija. Your father and I are both so sorry." Cece cried.

Santana could have said something. The old Santana probably would have told her off majorly, but this Santana was just glad to be around her mom again.

"You look beautiful. You're glowing and your bump is adorable. Of course, I wish you would have waited about ten more years to have a baby bump, but you still look beautiful." Cece said, Santana just ignored the last part. She wished that too, but it was happening, and there wasn't really anything she was willing to do about it now.

They didn't say much after that, finally it became awkward and they both just looked at their menus, even though they both knew it by heart. Santana had gotten her love of Breadstix from her mother, and the Lopez family dined there regularly. They both got their fettucine with pesto , and after a few minutes, Mrs. Lopez spoke up.

"How have you been?" She asked.

"As good as can be expected, I guess," Santana replied. How the fuck did her mother think she had been? She was seventeen, pregnant, kicked out of her house by her parents, and her baby was going to have serious health problems.

"Mrs. Evans told me everything. She seems like such a nice lady."

"She is nice, I'm so glad she's been there for me," Santana said, putting emphasis on the word "she" as an obvious dig at her own mother. It didn't go unnoticed.

"Look, Mija, we are very sorry about everything. We're still disappointed, but you're our daughter and we love you. And you both need us right now. So, we want to be there for you, and the baby. Your father has set up some appointments with specialists, and you know we have excellent insurance, but you need to move back home."

"Oh," Santana said, she wasn't expecting that. "Can I get back to you on that? Sam's family has been wonderful to me, and our living situation is working out for now. I'd like to discuss it with them."

"Of course honey," Cece said, obviously hurt by the comments about how wonderful Sam's family was, and the fact that Santana didn't immediately get excited about the prospect of moving back home. But honestly, Cece couldn't really blame her. "Why don't we meet up in a few days, you could use some good maternity clothes."

Santana looked down at her belly and blushed. Today she was wearing one of her regular tops that was long enough to cover everything but was extremely tight, and the button on her jeans was being held together by a hair tie. She used what she could, because she only had a few maternity outfits from Quinn that were appropriate for hot weather since Quinn had given birth in the spring.

"Sounds good," she said. When they were finished, they hugged once more, both fought back the tears, and Cece gently rubbed Santana's bump before they parted ways.

a/n: I'd love to hear baby name suggestions!