It wasn't as different as she'd expected her life to be, starting back at school again. These days it was Santana who offered her a kiss on the forehead and an 'I love you, Q.' instead of her mother. Waking up wrapped in tan arms in Santana's room instead of the one she'd grown up in was odd for the first few weeks, until it became her new normal, her new routine.
Quinn had always been independent in her own way, preferring time alone with a book to abundant company, but she couldn't help but feel a certain type of loneliness, being without her inquisitive and supportive mother. She missed those often annoying questions about how her school, life, and relationships were. Missed having to explain where she was going and what she was doing. Missed having Judy smile at her like she was proud. But she was okay.
The strangest thing was the change in Santana. Quinn had known people would stare when she went back for their last year. She knew there would be whispered words, glances, pointing. She had expected Santana to react in a way she was familiar with. Glares, growls, gratuitous bloodshed. Instead, when they were walking down the hall and kids said things about how maybe Quinn deserved it given how horrible a bitch she'd been, Santana just squeezed the hand in her own tighter while they walked to the nearest bathroom. Once inside, she'd hold Quinn close.
"They're wrong. Point blank. I think it's obvious that I'd like to be doling out momentous amounts of inexorable violence right? But Rachel and Britt essentially forced me into promising I'd abstain from such behavior. Speaking of, those two should be back from their camp tomorrow. They wanted to drop out of it to come be with you in the hospital but they're the stars of the fucking thing and I wouldn't let them. Only reason you've not been skyping with them like I have is because they both worry so fucking much they'd bother you to death in the sweetest way possible. Rachel would would just cry, then Britt would cry then you then me. So, no."
"I know. And I'm... okay. You don't have to ask. Thanks, though, San. Glad they'll be back. I love how you put yourself at the back-end of that sequence as if that's at all how it'd go." Quinn cracked a sincere smile for the girl who seemed to hold her attention hostage, squeezing her hand in the process as they left the bathroom and proceeded down the halls.
"I'll have you know I'd totally be the last crier of the four of us. I can hold my tears unless I'm intoxicated or any of you are hurt, you know that. Let's head to class. We'll need to remember to grab the dancing twins homework or they'll both freak out. Britt's majorly fucking no-nonsense about graduating with us this year. Which she should be."
Both slipped into AP history and sat down, pulling their books out. Santana had rigged it so that She and Quinn had all the same classes. And had talked to both of the missing girls' teachers about leaving the homework in the front office to pick up. The girls would be back the next night at around six at night so Santana and Quinn would go and gather their homework and then take it where they'd all have dinner at Britt's house.
"I missed them. I feel like it's been so quiet without them you know. We're always such introverts and they're the opposite and it lights up the room around us, right S?"
"Utterly. I swear we'll get like zero peace at home as soon as they're back." Quinn smiled.
"Yea... Home."
"It is your home, Quinn." Santana's tan hands found themselves buried in blonde hair, that dopey look of adoration taking over her features.
"You're my home." She responded with lightning quickness.
The Latina wanted desperately to kiss her on those beautiful lips. She really did. But the idiots that roamed the hallways like drunk undead were already pestering them. Instead she pulled Quinn's hand up and pressed a kiss against the back of her hand and then against her palm.
"I love you more than anything and anyone, Quinn Fabray."