Hey people! So I'm back with an update and I'm introducing a new twist. I hope you like it and please comment and review! Suggestion are welcome :)! Thanks for reading enjoy!

Also, there's a lot of Spanish dialogue in this chapter. I don't speak Spanish so I used google translate, please don't hate :)

The next day Santana headed to the hospital quite early since she got a text from her mom saying that she needs to run some errands and asked Santana if she could stay by her father's side while the older woman was gone. Santana was hesitant to take up the offer but of course she knew didn't have a choice. No one else will do it and she felt obliged to stand in for her mother. Whatever it was that the older woman had to do was probably important, otherwise she wouldn't leave her father's side.

She didn't want to wake Brittany up because she knew how exhausted her girlfriend was from their journey yesterday so she had to sneak out of the bedroom quietly and leave her a note on the kitchen island. She got ready as quickly as possible and headed straight out to the hospital.

When she got there, her mother was sitting down on the couch looking all freshened up, as if she was going to meet someone important. It made Santana curious because the older woman has been very vague about her "errands" for the day.

"Hola mami, sorry if you've been waiting long. I got here as quickly as I can." She greeted, giving her mom a kiss on each side of her cheek.

"Don't worry mija. You're just in time. I'm sorry I had to text you in such short notice but I'll be back as soon as I can." She smiled at Santana gratefully. She seemed to be in hurry but didn't want to show it.

"Where are you going? You seem very dressed up." She asked curiously, trying not to sound like she was intruding.

Her mother looked at her intently but she couldn't figure out what the older woman was trying to say, "I'm just meeting with some friends, mija. I hope that's alright." Rosita knew it was a lame excuse to get out of the hospital and let Santana watch over her father.

Santana bit her lip as guilt washed over her. What the hell was she thinking asking about where her mother was going? Now the older Lopez is hesitant to leave. "Oh mami, of course, that's alright! I'm sorry if I sounded nosey. I'm glad you're going to see your friends, you need to get out of here once in a while." She explained apologetically.

"Gracias mija, I won't take too long." Rosita replied, giving Santana a hug.

"Take your time mami." Santana whispers to her while they hug.

When her mother left, she tried to busy herself by going on her laptop and catching up on some college work. Usually they don't allow laptops or cell phones inside the patient's room but this floor seemed to be above the general rules and that didn't bother Santana, in fact it worked on her favour because finals were coming up and even though she had quickly emailed her Director of Studies and told her about the situation, she still wanted to do some work towards her dissertation. Plus, it made her forget that she was in a hospital room all alone with her father.

Doctors and nurses have been in and out to check up on him and they have also informed Santana of his current condition. Apparently, he gained consciousness last night but just briefly. For now he's stable but they explained to her that it would take a long recovery process and that he would probably be out of practice indefinitely. Santana frowned at this because as much as she hated her father being away because of his job a lot, she knew how much the man loved being able to help people. He was passionate about medicine, probably more than his own family. She knew her parents had enough money to last them a long time so that didn't bother her, she was just dreading to tell her father the news. It wasn't going to be easy.

"Ros…" a mumble from the bed caused Santana to look up; her heart was thudding against her chest. This is going to be the first time she'll see her father conscious and she wasn't sure what to do. "Rossss" he slurred, trying to catch someone's attention. Santana sat up and slowly walked to the bed.

"Hey dad, it's Santana." She spoke hesitantly, "Mom just went out for a bit to see some friends, do you need anything?" she was trying to be as calm as possible.

He looked at her with a bit of embarrassment in his eyes. Santana knew it wasn't easy for him to be this way especially around her since he's always been a man of power and control. Seeing him like this makes her worry about him and so it makes sense that he would feel so out of place in this position.

"Waatrr" he managed to slur, without looking her straight to her eyes.

Santana took the bottle of water with a straw and edged closer to him and placed it near his mouth. He could move his right side so he took the straw in between his fingers and placed it between his lips. This was all done with quite a difficulty but Santana didn't want to help him and make him feel incapable. She knew he would hate something like that so she stood there holding the bottle. When he was done, he tapped her hand gently to let her know.

"Gracc..iaass" he uttered.

"De nada, Papi." You're welcome, Papi. She replied sitting the bottle down on the table again.

She was about to head back to the couch when she felt s gentle grip on her wrist. Her pulse quickened and she stayed frozen on her current spot before she slowly turned around to face him. His eyes were soft and gentle; Santana has never seen them like this before. He always looked stern and serious and now, he seems like a completely different man.

"What else do you need, Papi?" she figured he needed something else that's why he grabbed her attention, literally.

He looked at her sincerely as if her was trying to say something but couldn't spell it out.

"Do you need a pen and some paper?" Santana guessed as she tried not to look at him with pity and concern. He nodded once and she ran to the couch where she had a pen and paper and gave it to him.

For a moment she watched as he tried so hard to scribble the words he needed to say. She quickly averted her gaze so he wouldn't feel pressured to write faster, it was quite difficult to watch him struggle. "M-mija"… he stuttered handing over the piece of paper to Santana.

She took the paper and read his message. A tear escaped from her eyes without her realizing as she stared at the sentence on the page. His handwriting was a lot harder to read because of his current condition but Santana has never been happier in her life. She read out the words on the piece of paper, "Lo siento, mija. Por favor, perdóname." I'm sorry, honey. Please forgive me.

She glanced at her father to see the look on his face. He looked very apologetic, almost close to tears as Santana clutched the piece of paper to her chest. It was as if a wave of relief washed over her. She'd been waiting for this day for a very long time, to hear some acknowledgement from her father, and it touched every bit of her heart. "Por supuesto, te perdono papi." Of course, I forgive you, Papi.

They both smiled at each other before Santana gave him a gentle hug. It was sad that he had to be in this condition to say something like that to her but at the same time, if this didn't happen, he probably wouldn't realize his short comings as a father.

"Why are you back?" Rosita asked a middle aged woman sitting across the table from her. Her tone was rather cold and judgemental.

"How is she?" The woman replied, ignoring her question. She shifted on her chair as she nervously held her cup of coffee.

"Why do you want to know?" the older woman asked in an accusing tone.

"Please, Rosita just tell me. Lo que necesito saber." I just want to know, she begs her face showing the pain that she's been holding on to for a long, long time.

"Santana is a great girl, woman. I am proud to be her mother." Rosita replies, the venom in her voice was evident. "Why are you here? Isn't it enough for you that you've ruined my family once? All of a sudden you're back again? What do you want this time?" her voice was stern, almost protective.

"I heard what happened to Antonio. I want her to know the truth."

"What for? You're going to ruin her life. She's happy now and you have no right to barge in and turn her life upside down!" Rosita snapped, her voice raising in volume unintentionally. "Manténgase alejado de ella." Stay away from her.

"Que me la robaron. Ella es mía." You stole her from me. She's mine. The other woman argued, her tone was filled with hurt and regret.

"Elena, usted robó mi marido." Elena, You stole my husband, Santana doesn't deserve to know you. Que no tienen derecho a saber sy verdadera madre es una puta." She doesn't deserve to know that her real mother is a whore. The words left Rosita's tongue with a bitter taste as she recalls the day she found out her husband was cheating on her with an escort. A tear escaped her eye as she let the harsh memories flood her mind.

"I have never stopped thinking about her. Please, I just want to meet her, just this once." Elena pleaded through her sobs. It was difficult for her to come back to Ohio but twenty one years is a long time to carry something like this on her shoulders. She wants to meet her, just once.

Rosita looked at her with apologizing eyes. Even after twenty one years, the betrayal she felt was still fresh. She wanted to put everything behind her and she thought she has but the past seemed to have caught up. She's always been a forgiving person, but this woman was an exception. "Te lo ruego, déjala en paz." I beg you, leave her alone. She utters her last sentence before standing up and leaving the other woman sob in the corner of the coffee shop.

Santana received a call from her mother shortly after her father went back to sleep. Rosita said she could leave the hospital if she wanted to because the older woman was on her way back. The phone call sounded distant and abrupt so the brunette told her mother she would stay but the older woman insisted that she should go back home to Brittany as it's been a long day. Not one for starting an argument, Santana agreed even though something didn't sit right in her gut.

On the drive home, she kept recalling what happened with her father. She had so many questions; why now; why was he so distant in the first place; she wanted to ask him all those things but his current condition wouldn't allow him to. She was thankful either way for what happened. It felt like such a massive relief, after twenty one years of carrying an emotional baggage like that. All she wanted to do now was tell Brittany about it.

"Britt? I'm back!" she yelled happily as soon as she got into the door.

"I'm in the living room, San!" the blonde replied, sounding pre-occupied.

Santana strutted towards the living room, bouncing on her heels. Today was a good day.

"Britt, baby, I just had the best— oh hi." She paused, her eyes catching the other woman who was sitting on the couch beside Brittany.

The woman had dark brown wavy hair which cascaded down just past her shoulders. Her eyes were mocha brown, so beautiful but lifeless. She was definitely younger than Rosita, possibly a distant cousin of her mother? Santana smiled at the stranger before her eyes. The woman smiled back, hesitantly.

"San, this is Elena Rodriguez. She said she's your mother's friend." Brittany introduced the older woman with excitement.

"Hi, I'm Santana. It's nice to meet you." She extended her hand as a polite gesture, only to be met by a full blown hug from a woman she has never met before.

"I'm so glad to finally meet you, Santana." Elena sensed how uncomfortable the younger brunette was from her hug so she let Santana go, gently. "I do apologize; I've been waiting for a long time to meet you."

Santana slightly scrunched her eyebrows together. Weird. None of her relatives or her parents' friends has been this happy to meet her. "Thank you. I wish I could say the same, except, I've never known about you." She replied in all honesty as she took the seat next to Brittany and gave her girlfriend a peck on the lips.

The older woman was slightly shocked but she wasn't sure if it was due to finding out Santana is gay or that she was just to blunt. "Of course, you wouldn't know about me. I was friends with your parents a long time ago, I've been away for a while." She smiled, trying to hide the nervousness in her voice.

"Oh okay, well, it's nice to meet you. I'm sure my mother would love to know you stopped by. She's at the hospital with Papi at the moment." Santana wasn't trying to be rude, but something did not feel right about this woman. She held Brittany's hand tighter, signalling for the blonde to do something.

"Oh San, I totally forgot, we need to go visit my mom! I told her we'd head over as soon as you get back." Brittany obliged, creating a completely believable excuse.

Santana smiled at Brittany with appreciation. "Elena, I'm so sorry. We have to go and see my girlfriend's mother. I'll let my mother know you stopped by and maybe you could come back? I'm sure she'd be glad to know you stopped by." Santana smiled as best as she could. Who the hell is this woman? She knew pretty much all her parents' friends and never did once they mentioned Elena nor has she seen her in any photographs, old or new.

"It's okay, sweetheart. It was rude of me to drop by without a warning. I'm sure you're mother would love to hear I was around. See you two soon." She replied, abruptly standing up and showing herself the way out.

When the coast was clear Santana let a breath she didn't even know she was holding out. "She's weird, Britt."

"I don't know babe, she kind of looks like you. Maybe she's an aunt or something." Brittany replies, totally oblivious to the weird vibe her girlfriend got. "Let's go visit my mom!"

"Wait, that was true?" Santana asked smirking.

"You don't want to?" the blonde pouted.

"Of course, I do honey. I just thought we'd, you know, get… some… alone… time…" The brunette uttered kissing the blonde's lips in between words as her hand circle her girlfriend's waist.

"You make it hard to say no." Brittany smiled into another kiss, letting her arms circle the shorter woman's neck as she leans in for another kiss.

Damn, do you guys know what's happening? Does it make sense that Santana's father was always so distant? Please let me know! Thanks :)