12. School
"I can't believe that Mia is starting high school this year" Santana says as she enters the living room.
"I know what you mean. It only feels like yesterday that we were changing her diaper."
"I thought we could take her up to Carmel one day this week so she can have a look around."
"Why would we do that? I assumed she would be going to McKinley" Rachel replies.
"There is no way in hell that I would let my daughter attend McKinley High."
"You mean our daughter."
"You know I didn't mean it like that. I just don't want Mia to go through all the things that we went through. I think we both can agree that we'd rather forget our experience of high school" Santana says.
"Actually I don't. I enjoyed my high school experience, well most of it."
"So you enjoyed the name calling and the slushying?"
"Ignoring the fact that you were a big contributor to the bad memories I have of high school. I still have some good memories. I joined the glee club, gained some dear friends who I won Nationals with and not to mention the fact that I met you" Rachel explains.
"I just think that McKinley has a bad atmosphere and Carmel would have so much more to offer Mia."
"How about we take Mia to both Carmel and McKinley and then she can decide for herself" Rachel suggests.
"Okay, fine."
"And you can't influence her decision." Rachel adds.
A week later and the Berry-Lopez family were walking round McKinley High School. They were scheduled to look around Carmel the next day and even though Rachel had asked her not to, Santana continuously tried to influence Mia's decision.
"It's a smaller school than Carmel. You know your Grandma Shelby used to be a successful show choir director there."
"Really?" Mia asks.
"Yes she was but she was also a director of a glee club here at McKinley too. Your Mami was a member until she lost against the New Directions that is."
"Yes, thank you Rachel. You weren't even part of that competition because you got yourself suspended."
"I was helping out a friend" Rachel retorts.
"By fixing an election, that's not very sportsman like Rachel. Hey look there's my old locker."
"Do you remember when I gave you that photo to put in your locker?" Rachel asks.
"Of course I do, I kept it in there until we graduated."
"Mom, Mami what's this room?" Mia calls standing outside of a room further down the hallway.
"This is the choir room. It's where your Mami and I used to sing in glee club" Rachel replies as she walks into the room.
"It still looks the same" Santana says.
"Did you ever sing together?"
"A few times. I Kissed A Girl was a favorite of mine" Santana replies.
"I always favored So Emotional since it was just the two of us."
"What about We Found Love In A Hopeless Place?"
"Although you'd never admit it you just loved seeing me in a bathing suit" Rachel replies.
"I have no problem admitting it now and just so you know I still love seeing you in a bathing suit." Santana smirks, pulling Rachel over to help and connect their lips.
"Mami!"
"What? You should be happy that your parents are still in love" Santana says slightly pulling away from her wife.
"I am. I just don't want to see it" Mia replies.
"Then you better close your eyes for a minute" Santana smirks before pulling Rachel in for another kiss.
"Okay, I think that's enough torture for our child for one day."
"So Mia, where do you want to go next? What about the cafeteria?" Santana asks.
"We can tell you about the time we did a tribute to The Go-Go's and danced on the tables which unfortunately ended in a mass food fight" Rachel says.
They had spent the day touring Carmel High School so after dinner Rachel and Santana had decided to talk to Mia about her high school future.
"So Mia do you have any idea which school you might choose?" Rachel asks.
"I've already chosen. I want to go to McKinley" Mia replies.
"Are you sure? Carmel is a better school" Santana says.
"Santana we said that we would let Mia make her own decision" Rachel reminds her wife.
"So what made you choose McKinley?"
"You did. You two met there and you have all of these amazing memories."
"We also have some bad ones too." Santana points out.
"I liked it there and I'm bound to have some bad experience anywhere I go, that's just the nature of high school right?"
"She has a point."
"Okay fine, if you want to go to McKinley then that's okay with me" Santana says.
"Thanks Mami" Mia beams giving Santana a hug before moving on to Rachel.
"Thanks Mom."
Santana waits until Mia leaves the room before she turns towards her wife.
"She'll be okay at McKinley won't she?"
"Of course she will and if anything happens she has a Mami that will be there to protect her." Rachel replies.