I'll Defend You If You'll Defend Me?
31
Summary: Becky Jackson is trying to survive high school the best that she can. While Santana Lopez is struggling to accept herself and be proud of the person she has become. Can these two people become friends and help each other succeed?
Pairings: Santana Lopez and Becky Jackson. Other pairings: Rachel Berry and Santana Lopez. Brittany Pierce and Santana Lopez. Quinn Fabray and Brittany Pierce. Also other characters have small parts.
It's important to note, that I do not have Down syndrome, but I am "different". I know what it feels like to feel unworthy at time and like no matter what I try to do it's useless.
I hope you enjoy!
~ Maribel Lopez ~
The Monday after the kids came back from their weekend getaway, I came home to find Rachel and Santana up in her room. I dropped my stuff to the right of the door and jogged upstairs to say hello.
When I reached her room, I found the door slightly opened and I heard Rachel ask, "When are we going to tell her?"
"As soon as she gets home, baby," my daughter said contently.
I decided to knock the door.
"Come in," Santana said as I pushed opened the door.
"Hey, Mom," she greeted me.
"Hello, Maribel," Rachel said and smiled at me.
"Hello, girls, how was your weekend," I asked.
"Perfect," Rachel responded and then she stared at my daughter lovingly.
"It was fun…Quinn and Britt got married…"
"They got legally married," I asked surprised.
"Yeah, Quinn followed her heart for once. They are officially married…" Santana trailed off.
"Oh, that's sweet," I said. And then there was awkward silence.
Rachel and Santana looked at each other. I started to back away toward the door.
"Something else happened this weekend," Rachel said to stop me from leaving.
"Oh yea," I asked.
"Um, yeah Mom," Santana finally piped up, "I asked Rachel to marry me…"
I looked at Rachel and asked, "And what did you say?"
"I said the only logical thing that a person could say when the love of their life asks, I said, 'Yes!'" she exclaimed as she pulled her arm from behind her back and she raised the ring up in the air so I could see it.
"Um, when did you get this," I asked my daughter shocked as I grabbed Rachel's hand and gawked at the ring.
"I got it the morning after we said, 'I love you' to each other. Remember I brought each of you a flower?"
"Oh yeah I remember," I said.
"Yup. I've held onto it until this past weekend," Santana said.
"How did you propose?" I asked and looked at Santana.
Rachel answered the question. "She sang to me! The song was called, 'Marry Me' by Jason Derulo. Beautiful song….then she got down on her bended knee."
"That's how you do it," I encouraged and smiled at my daughter.
"Mom, are you really okay with this?" Santana asked hesitantly.
"Yea, I am. I knew this day was coming, but just thought I'd had more time to plan. Do your fathers know?"
Now it was Santana's turn to interject for Rachel. "Yes, that morning, I stopped at Rachel's house first to ask permission and then I went to get the ring, and then to the florist!"
"Wow, you made good time," I said and we all laughed.
"There's no stopping me when I know what I want," she said proudly as she walked over to Rachel and grabbed her hands to look at her.
Not satisfied with just holding hands, Rachel released Santana's hand and pulled in to hug her tightly. I could feel the love in the room. It was palpable!
"So…" I asked to bring some of their attention back to me.
They turned their heads in my direction, but stayed in their embrace.
"How long do we have to plan," I asked.
"Very good question," Rachel said happily.
"I thought so," I said sarcastically.
She froze and looked worried because she thought I was serious.
"Rachel, Rachel. Calm down. It's fine," I said and laughed.
Santana just stood there in amusement and watched our interaction.
"This is what I've wanted for a long time. My Mom and the love of my life getting along…My life is complete," she said and smiled brightly.
"Oh, I'm so glad," I said sarcastically again.
Rachel smiled at us and then said, "We've decided to get married a year from our eighteenth birthdays. They are coming up quickly and there'd be no time to plan anything. I'd marry her tomorrow if I could, but we need time…"
"Me too," Santana seconded and reached out for her hand because the hug broke.
"Aww!" I commented, "Well, I'll talk to your parents, Rachel, and see what we can come up with…"
"Oh, we were going to go to City Hall next year and have a small ceremony there," Rachel noted.
"Well, let's all talk," I suggested.
Just then Santana's phone chimed.
"Oh it's Becky," Santana said after she picked it up.
"I'll let you talk to her," I said and walked towards the door.
"Maribel," Rachel said to stop me.
"Yes," I said.
"Could we speak?"
"Of course, follow me," I said and motioned to her to follow me into the hallway.
~ Becky ~
"Hey, S!" I started and then asked, "Are you free to chat?"
"Anytime for you, Lil B. What's happening?"
"Well, I have good news!"
"Oh yeah, what's that?" she asked.
I took a deep breath. I thought for a few seconds that Santana might be upset that I didn't ask her for help. I must've been thinking too long.
"Hello? Becky, you still there," she asked.
"Yea, I'm sorry…just thinkin'!"
"What's happening?" Santana asked.
"Yesterday, I got a text from Mrs. Puckerman…"
"About what?" Santana asked.
"She wanted to meet with me without Noah," I started, but she interrupted.
"When? I'll drive you," she said happily.
"Thanks for the offer, but it's been taken care of…"
"Oh, when you say, 'it's been taken care of' it sounds Mafia sounding," she said and laughed.
"Yeah it does," I said and laughed too.
"Tell, me, Becky, I'm on the edge of my seat," Santana said eagerly.
"Don't fall off…I asked Quinn if she'd take me to the diner to meet his Mom after school today and she was happy to do it. I talked with Mrs. P. and it seems like we're cool…or cooler than before," I said happily.
"That's great! How'd you get home?"
"Noah offered to come get me, but when I turned my head and looked at the parking lot, Quinn was sitting on the hood of her car waiting for me," I said with a smile.
"That's great. I'll text her later," she said.
"Hey, San," I asked.
"Wussup?"
"You're not upset that I didn't ask you for help, right?"
"Absolutely not…I'm not upset. I get why you didn't ask me, Snixx!"
I let the air out of my lungs and then said, "Yea, I appreciate it, but I wanted and needed to do this by myself or as much as possible."
"Of course," she said, "I'm very proud of you. Are you relieved?"
"Relieved for what? You being okay with me going to Quinn for help or me and Mrs. P having a good conversation?"
"Both," she said and laughed.
"Yes, I am cuz you're not mad at me. Plus now Noah and I can move forward, whatever that means…" I said happily.
"You know that we're gonna always be friends, right? And there's nothing that's gonna change that, right?" she said.
"Yes, I know this and I love you for it," I said.
"And I love you, too, Lil B. I gots to go. See you tomorrow?"
"Yup! Good night," I said.
"Good night," she said and then hung up.
In the hallway, while Santana was on the phone…
~ Rachel ~
"What's going on?" Maribel asked me.
"Well, like we just told you we'd be fine going to City Hall and having the ceremony there…"
"But?"
"I want to give Santana everything that she wants. Your daughter has given me everything, her love, her devotion, her heart…and she hardly asks anything of me so I want to give her a big ole celebration not at City Hall," I said happily.
"Did she tell you that she wanted this," she asked.
"No, she didn't, but I know her. I know that it took a lot for her to tell me that she had a crush on me in the beginning. I think she'd want to go all out on our love so I want to make this wedding, our only wedding, one that we'll both remember forever. I'm willing to contribute!"
"Let me and your Dads worry about that. Start planning with her," Maribel said.
I ran toward her and engulfed her in a hug. We stood there, hugging for a few seconds, then I whispered, "Thank you for giving me the love of my entire life!"
"You're welcome," she whispered back, squeezed me once, and then let.
We started to walk away, but then she turned around and said, "Hey, Rachel?"
This made me turn around. I answered, "Yes?"
"Um, call me 'Mom'!" she said, turned around, and headed downstairs.
She left me standing there speechless which many have tried and have failed to do!