a/n: here we go! Thanks to everyone who alerted/favorited/reviewed the last chapter, and special thanks to Starsareametaphor for beta-ing this. Sorry it took so long, but I hope it'll be worth it. I'm pretty happy with this chapter.

"Oh crap," Santana muttered. When she heard what Quinn was suggesting, she realized that her friend was correct; she was in labor, and probably had been for hours.

"That's what I thought," the blonde said gently. Quinn quietly helped her to a chair with Tina's help. "You stay here, I'm gonna go get Sam."

Santana just rolled her eyes. Everyone in Glee knew that getting into a standing position had become difficult the last few weeks anyway, and that was before these pains started. Quinn, of all people, should have known that. She certainly wasn't going anywhere, but she knew the blonde was just trying to be helpful. One thing she was definitely feeling was scared, borderline panicked if she was heing completely honest. Yeah, it was only a few days ahead of schedule, but still it was ahead of schedule. She wasn't supposed to go into labor, that's why they had scheduled a c-section. She was supposed to enjoy one last weekend, and her mom was supposed to be there when it was time.

"It's time!" Quinn whispered into Sam's ear when she pulled him away from the group. She was trying to be as discreet as possible since she knew Santana didn't want to attract any attention.

"Time for what?" he asked, "I thought the after-party wasn't until….oh shit," he replied. His face becoming pale when the realization of what was going on suddenly hit him. He rushed over to where Santana was, almost tripping over his own feet, with the rest of the Glee club following close behind.

If hearing one of the sweetest, most polite guys in the entire school saying a four letter word didn't catch everyone else's attention, seeing him sprint to his extremely pregnant girlfriend's aid certainly did. So much for being discreet about it, but Santana didn't really care. She was scared, in pain, and was only thinking about her baby at that moment. At least Finn, Rachel, Kurt, and Blaine were nowhere to be found. She really didn't need to deal with Rachel and Kurts' dramatics, or Finn's stupidity, and she definitely didn't need to deal with Blaine's completely moronic facial expressions,his ridiculous hair, or his hideous bowties.

"Are you sure?" he asked, gently stroking her back.

Santana didn't reply but just let out a strange squeak as she nodded. Another intense pain hit her, this time it was radiating to the front of her abdomen, so agonizing that she found herself unable to say anything. She grabbed Sam's hand to squeeze it tightly for the duration of the contraction, then released it when it subsided as she panted in an attempt to keep herself from hyperventilating. Sam's face went ashen in a flash at the same time his girlfriend's frightened actions answered his question.

"Okay, I don't want to alarm you, but we really need to get going," Quinn interrupted, "It's only been about three minutes since your last contraction. I'm going to pull my car around to the back entrance since it's the closest, do you think you can walk that far?" she asked cautiously.

"Jesus, Q! I'm pregnant, I'm not a fucking cripple," Santana spat. She immediately felt Sam tense up at her words, and the room go completely silent. "Oh God, Sam! I didn't mean that, I'm in a lot of pain, and I'm scared and…." she cried at the realization of her slip.

It was something incredibly insensitive that she would have said before she found out about her daughter's potential issues without batting an eyelash, but now she felt horrible about it. As much as Sam had tried to convince her otherwise, she still wasn't completely sure that this whole experience wasn't a wicked instance of karma. She had a recent epiphany that she had been a pretty horrible person at times, before she got pregnant, but now she was trying to change to make herself better for her daughter. It was hard after seventeen years of being such a bitch, but Sam and his family had shown her more love and kindness than she'd ever been shown in her entire life; and that changed her too. It's not that her family didn't love her, they definitely did and she knew that now. The lesson learned was, simply, the Lopezes weren't as warm and affectionate as Sam's family was, but mostly they weren't around as much. She thought she had matured more than that, but apparently she hadn't, and she was mentally kicking herself for not being more sensitive, given their situation.

"I know you didn't, babe," he reassured her, wiping away her tears. "It's okay," he promised her. She took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself and glanced over at Artie who gave her an understanding nod. "Are you ready?" Sam asked, bracing himself around her lower back and helping her to her feet.

Puck got on her other side for support, and the rest of the group followed as they slowly made their way to the parking lot, pausing several times for contractions. The ride to the hospital was miserable. It was normally only about fifteen minutes but, but due to road construction, took more than twice as long and Santana could feel every bump and pothole they went over in agonizing detail. Her contractions were getting stronger and seemed to be coming even closer together, and then her water broke, all over the back seat of Quinn's car. It smelled horrible, and Puck was gagging and sticking his head out the window. Sam was trying his best not to, while Quinn was trying to act like it didn't bother her at all. Clearly it did, even though she had leather seats and it wouldn't be all that difficult to clean. Santana would have thought the whole thing was hilarious if she wasn't so scared.

By the time they arrived at the hospital the pain had gone from an annoying cramp in her back, to an almost perpetual searing, twisting, pulling, stabbing, nauseating ache. She was trembling and her teeth were chattering, even though it felt like it was about one hundred degrees in the car. She'd never felt less in control, and it seriously sucked.

The receptionist in the emergency room was unnervingly cheerful, and just a complete fucking moron, in Santana's humble opinion.

"Hello, and welcome to Lima Memorial, how can I help you?" She beamed, and Santana wanted to smack that stupid smile off her face. Seriously, what was with receptionists?

Instead, she just sighed dramatically as she grimaced and gestured to her large belly.

"Right, of course! What's your name dear?" the receptionist inquired.

No sooner had she given her name than two nurses that she hadn't even noticed, rushed over with a wheelchair, both whispering to the receptionist that the young woman in front of them was Dr. Lopez's daughter and that she shouldn't be kept waiting. She was immediately brought up to labor and delivery and given a gown. It was all embarrassing and made her feel like a complete invalid, but the contractions were right on top of each other by then so she had to ask Sam to help her change. Everything was blurring together and things were happening so fast, but she vaguely remembers strong arms helping her onto the bed and, and few more pairs of arms flying around her to attach multiple wires and monitors, and suddenly, before she even got the chance to say "ow', there was an I.V. in her hand. She was kind of glad about that part, she really hated needles.

Dr. Wu came in when she was experiencing yet another series of contractions, the worst ones yet. He was between her legs performing a cervical exam while she was grunting, panting and making all kinds of noises that scared the crap out of Sam as she attempted not to writhe around on the bed too much when Mary walked in, getting an eye-full of what Santana used to think of as her private parts.

"I'm so sorry," Mary whispered. She felt badly for walking in during such a very personal moment.

Santana just bawled. She was so relieved to see the older woman, and reached her hands toward her, indicating that she needed a hug. She really didn't care how she looked or felt at that moment. She realized months ago, after she and Sam and watched some truly disgusting birthing videos, that she'd have to let go of what little modesty she had left, and considering she walked into the hospital with the back of her dress completely soaked, and then had to have someone help her undress, having the woman she has come to think of as her second mother see that didn't bother her all that much. She was just really glad she was there, and she hugged her and cried on her shoulder and didn't want to let go.

"How are you doing?" Mary asked, breaking the embrace when she realized they both needed air.

"She's nine centimeters, almost ten," Dr. Wu said matter-of-factly, "I can feel the head. I'm going to page the neurosurgeon and the neonatologist then get a team of nurses, and then she can start pushing."

"Oh no, no, no! Hell no! I'm having a c-section," Santana insisted. "I've accepted that, and gotten used to the idea, and I even bought a tube of Mederma to fade the scar. I thought you….." she paused and groaned through another wave of contractions. "I thought you and Dr. McClain said a c-section would be best for the baby," she panted loudly.

"The reason for the c-section is mostly so that we can schedule the birth and get her out before the hydrocephalus causes too much damage. It also ensures that the team of specialists is on hand. Most studies do show that a vaginal birth can be just as safe though," he assured her. "This baby is coming on her own, and very soon".

"Fuck this shit," she groaned, "Well I'm gonna need drugs then."

"I'm sorry Santana, but you've missed the window," he said sympathetically.

"What?" She cried. "What window?"

"The window for the epidural. You've progressed too far, it's too late, and the window is closed."

"Well then open it!" She demanded, as another searing pain ripped through her body.

"I can't, it's closed. Locked. The key has been thrown away. I'm sorry. The good news is that this is the worst the pain gets, and you've made it through the hardest part already. Many women find pushing to be a relief, actually," he explained.

"Why don't you try pushing a watermelon out of your dick and see how relieved you feel?" she hissed. Another wave of pain hit her causing her eyes to fill with tears. Santana clenched her jaw as she tried to focus all her power on the task she needed to complete.

The usually calm boy beside her ran his fingers through his disheveled hair and exhaled loudly along with her. He tried to smile but as hard as she was squeezing his other hand, it only turned into a grimace.

"I'm sorry, Sam! I can't do this, this really fucking blows," she whimpered. She let go of him, and covered her face with her hands as she collapsed back into her pillow in a fit of tears.

"Yes you can," Sam encouraged as he placed a kiss on each of her fingers. "You're almost there, and I'm so proud of you. Look at me," he said, taking her face in his hands. "God, you're so beautiful," he said as he pushed a sweaty piece of hair out of her face, and she shot him a look that said she was not in the mood for any of his crap.

"It's true," he promised her, his eyes not straying from hers. "And more importantly, you are the strongest, most amazing person I know. You've been incredible through this whole thing and now we're at the finish line. Just hang in there for a little while longer and we'll get to meet our daughter. Can you do that for her?"

"I can," Santana squeaked. How could she not when he put it that way? She hadn't even met her daughter yet, and she knew she'd do absolutely anything for her.

"I'm gonna go suit up and call the team, and then we'll get to show on the road," Dr. Wu smiled. Santana felt like she was going to throw up.

"Where's my mom?" Santana asked. When she had been able to focus on the inhabitants of the room around her, she suddenly realized that her own parents hadn't made an appearance yet.

"I called your parents as soon as Sam told me you were in labor. They're on their way, should be about another hour," Mary explained to Santana. She immediately noticed the disappointed expression on the girl's face. "They'll be here," she said, squeezing the girl's hand, and hoping with everything she had that they would do as they promised. Mary loved Santana dearly and she knew Santana loved her, but Santana really needed her own mother at an emotional time like this.

It seemed like an eternity before Dr. Wu returned with the specialized team ready to do their duty. With Mary along with a nurse holding her legs back, and a shell-shocked Sam by her side applying a damp washcloth to her forehead, she finally began pushing with all her might. She was more exhausted than she had ever been, still incredibly nauseous, and she couldn't focus on anything but the searing pain. In between the contractions and panic, her mom was suddenly by her side clutching her other hand as Dr. Wu said the head was almost out.

Two earnest pushes later, the baby was out. The room went silent as she was handed to a nurse, rushed to an incubator and a collective breath was held. Sam and the two new grandmothers craned their necks trying to see anything while Santana closed her eyes and silently prayed. It wasn't a very eloquent prayer, she knew that. It was certainly an honest one since the only thing going through her head was please, please, please, but it was the single thought she was focused on at the moment. She hoped it was enough to help her innocent child. Finally there was a shrill cry from the incubator and a profoundly relieved one from the new family. Sam kissed her cheek, and she could feel his tears falling on her face too. She tried to keep some composure as she heard relieved sobs from the hallway, and knew immediately that they were her father's. He was such an emotionally strong man, and she'd never heard him become moved like that, but she knew without a doubt that it was him. It was really hard to hear.

It was several scary and uncomfortably long minutes before they finally got a glimpse of their daughter. She was brought over, and placed on Santana's chest, much to their surprise. The baby, who seemed to know exactly who her mother was, calmed down as soon as she was in her arms. Her back was wrapped in plastic, and underneath, they could see the bundle of nerves spilling out from the opening, and she was more incredible than they had imagined. She was tiny, and warm, and she had the most gorgeous lips and a full head of dark hair. She looked at Santana with eyes that were so bright, so trusting, and so unmistakably Sam's, and that is when the new mother completely lost it.

All those times when she thought her situation had sunk in hadn't meant a thing. She was now holding undeniable proof that her life would never be the same, that she would be linked to Sam forever and that they would be a family for better or worse. Not that it was a bad thing, necessarily. Sam was sweet, attentive, understanding, conscientious, and pretty damn good as far as high school boyfriends went, and she was sure she loved him, especially now. But she also knew she was just seventeen, and he was eighteen, and who knew what the future held? Santana certainly didn't. She'd face it all with Sam, now that they were permanently connected, the good and the bad. She'd make all her decisions with him, and while she was relieved that she'd always have someone with her, she was most assuredly completely terrified. She had other people to consider now. This emotional connection shit was real.

It took what seemed like forever, but the new mother finally regained her composure. "I-is she okay?" Santana stuttered.

"She's stable, we have to prep her for surgery soon, but for now she can be held, and kissed, and cuddled," the nurse explained gently.

"We're not going to hurt her?" Sam murmured.

"No, just hold her like you're doing and she'll be fine," she added.

"Hi Gabi," Santana whispered through her tears as she kissed the baby's forehead. "I'm so glad you're here."

"What's her name?" the nurse asked.

"Gabriella," Santana said, and Sam nodded in approval. "Gabriella Hope." They loved that it meant 'God is my strength', they both agreed that they liked the way it sounded, it was the one name Santana kept going back to, and she just looked like a Gabi. It felt right.

The nurse smiled widely, "I think that's a beautiful name."

"Beautiful name for a beautiful girl," Sam replied, stroking Gabi's tiny arm, and then allowing her hand to wrap around his finger. "I love you both so much. Thank you for doing this, Santana, she's just…perfect," he wept. He kissed his daughter and then his girlfriend.

Santana had to agree, everything about her daughter was perfect. Despite the fact that she always thought it was a cheesy load of crap that naïve, dorky losers talked about, she now believed in love at first sight. She loved all of her daughter's features from the top of her head to the tip of her toes, a perfect combination of the best of both parents.

Suddenly it was as if all the noises, all the people, all the annoying machines had faded away and it was just Santana, Sam and their daughter. Their daughter! She still couldn't believe it, but here the tiny little miracle was. This amazing little person that she had just met, who fit perfectly in her arms and seemed like she'd always been there, whose lips were the perfect blend of 'pouty' and 'trouty', who she loved so much it made her heart hurt. Gabriella and Sam had enriched her life more than she could have ever imagined.

Someday she'd have to thank Rachel for throwing that stupid train-wreck of a party. Someday.

The end.

a/n: The end of part one anyway! There WILL be a sequel. This was my first story, and while I'm pretty proud of it as a whole, and the fact that I've completed one, it was still my first story, so some of the earlier chapters are embarrassing. The OCD in me also likes the idea of it having a nice, even 20 chapters, and I think it's good to end this on a positive note. There will be drama in the sequel, of course, but it won't ALL be drama. Thank you for sticking with me through this journey, and especially to those of you who alerted/favorited/and reviewed. It's what kept me going when I had writer's block or when some of the chapters were particularly hard to write. An extra special thank you to Starsareametaphor for beta-ing the last few chapters for me. She is amazing, and I only wish I had found her sooner. I hope you all let me know what you think, as this is the last chapter and I'd love to hear from you, and then go to profile and vote on what you'd like the sequel to be called. When I get it up, I will make a post about it so you'll all be able to find it. xoxo