I have no excuse. Except that i'm lazy and have commitment issues, up to and including writing this fic. I've had a couple of reviews asking me to update and this has been written for two months so here we are. I really want to wrap it up because I hate unfinished stories so if anyone is still reading/interested then let me know.

I can't guarantee when updates will happen as I'm super busy with study and work but the law of procrastination means i'll more than likely find extra free time now. Anyway, I also met Demi Lovato so there's that.

Dani POV

I've spoken to Kayla's social worker about her staying with me permanently and she says that I would more than likely be granted guardianship over Kayla. When I mentioned Santana and I moving in together, she agrees that this is a good decision given the nature of my work and offers greater stability. She did mention, however, that Santana and I should apply for guardianship together. Although we haven't been together for that long, when there are two people applying for guardianship, it strengthens the case and will also make everything easier for Santana to make decisions on Kayla's behalf if I'm not around.

We're currently at Santana's and she's putting Bailey to bed. We agreed we would speak to Kayla about everything when she gets back. I had just started to doze off on the couch when I hear her come back in to the room.

"Ready?" She says addressing me.

Kayla looks up as well.

"Ready for what?" She asks

"I.. We wanna talk to you about something" I say somewhat nervously

"Okay." She says, not giving anything away.

"Why don't we chat in the other room, I'll make us some hot chocolate?"

We all get up and head in to the kitchen. Kayla and I are sitting in awkward silence until Santana sits down with us.

"Okay.." She says in an attempt to start the conversation off.

"So, Santana and I have decided to apply for joint guardianship of you." I say

Kayla actually looks incredibly confused as if she had no idea that this is what the conversation was going to be about.

"W-Why?" She asks confusedly.

"We think it would be easier.. " Santana interjects before I can explain

"I don't want you to do it if you don't want to." Kayla responds defensively

"I want to, I'm just giving you the reasons why we think this is the best option."

"Okay, what are the other options?"

That kinda hurt. I didn't expect her to ask about other options.

"Uh.. well, I could do it alone but with work, I don't know whether the judge will think the environment is stable enough."

"What else?"

Santana must have been able to sense my feelings so she interrupts again.

"You could go to a group home.. Eventually you would be placed with a family but there are no guarantees"

"We'll support whatever you choose, but just know that we want you here with us."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yeah.. but you live apart, so how will that work?"

"Well we wanted to talk to you about that too" I answer.

"Yeah?"

"Santana asked me, and you, to move in with her here."

"Do you have enough room? What about Bailey?"

"We have a spare room. That would be yours. We would need to make it more Kayla friendly but I don't think it would be too hard." Santana answers.

"And Bailey would obviously be here too. We could live here or my apartment but I haven't really been there since I moved in and Bailey and Santana are settled here so it makes more sense. What do you think?"

"I guess that makes sense"

"So what do you say" I ask tentatively.

"I think I'd like that"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"And we want you to know, if you change your mind about staying with us, you just need to let us know. We're not trying to keep you against your will, we just want what's best for you." Santana adds.

"Okay" Kayla smiles at us.

I'm hopeful this all works out.

It takes a couple of weeks for all the paperwork to get sorted but Kayla & I moved in to Santana's almost straight away. We've slowly been getting her room sorted and have enrolled her in school. She seems to be settling in well but she doesn't share a lot.

I have to go to LA for a meeting so I'll be gone for a few days. This will be the first time I'm leaving Santana and Kayla alone. They get along most of the time but Santana has definitely taken on the 'mom' role with her. I guess it comes naturally to her. Hopefully they don't kill each other while I'm gone.

Santana has just gotten home and I'm about to head out the door. I had watched Bailey this morning and Kayla is still at school.

"Okay babe, I've gotta go"

"But I just got here.." She pouts

"I know but my flight got moved up" I kiss her cheek.

"Okay" She's still pouting so I kiss her lips.

"I'll be back before you know it. Please try not to kill each other in my absence" I say as I kiss Bailey's head.

"I make no promises." I kiss her again.

"Just make sure you clean up the blood then. I love you."

"I love you too. Call me when you land."

"I will. Bye baby. Bye Bailey"

We got through the first 24 hours with only one argument about homework. I'm in the middle of making dinner when Kayla walks in.

"Hey, how was your day?" I ask, turning to address her.

I get a shrug in response followed by a mumbled "okay" on her way to her bedroom.

"Do you want to set the table for dinner?" I ask before she gets there.

"I'm not hungry."

"Can you set the table anyway?"

She huffs before throwing her bag down and starts collecting plates and cutlery and setting the table. She's stomping around the entire time before walking back towards her room.

"Thank you"

"Whatever." She mutters and closes her door.

It's about 20 minutes later that dinner is done and I knock on her door.

"Dinner's ready"

"I'm not hungry" I hear her answer.

"Okay, fine."

I honestly don't know what I've done today but I figure leaving her be for now is the best option.

I decide to check in on her before I go to bed. I haven't heard from her all night so I knock before sticking my head in but she doesn't respond.

"Goodnight" I sigh and head to bed.

Its 12:30am and I feel like my head just hit the pillow but I'm woken up by what sounded like the front door. I'm not expecting Dani, and it takes me a minute to wake up and realise it's definitely not Dani because we spoke before I went to sleep. I listen longer but there's no more sound. I decide to get up and use the bathroom since I'm already awake and check on the kids. Bailey is snoring his little head off. I quietly open Kayla's door and nothing seems to have changed since I went to bed an hour earlier. I walk further in to the room and realise it's empty. I turn the light on and pull the covers back to see a pillow stuffed underneath.

The anger that has just rushed through my body is like nothing I've ever felt before.

I go back to my room and grab my phone and try calling her. It rings out. I double check her room to make sure it's not there before sending her a text.

To: Kayla

Where are you?

She doesn't respond but I can see that she's read it.

Kayla, get your ass back here now.

Read, 12:43am

I try calling again and it goes to voicemail.

I text Dani knowing that she'll more than likely still be awake. I let her know that I'm about to go out to find Kayla and that she shouldn't worry. Yet.

I wake Bailey up and head down to the car. I figure I can cover more ground with the car. I try to call her again before I start driving but again, straight to voicemail.

Dani calls me and I put her on speaker.

"What's going on?" She sounds as panicked as I feel.

"Baby, relax I'm on my way to get her now.."

"Where is she?"

"I don't know yet"

"Santana! What happened?"

"I don't know. She was moody when she came home but I'm still getting used to her moods." I say as I spot a lone figure sitting on a stoop not too far from our house.

"Wait, Dani, I found her, can I call you back?"