Part One: The Year Everything Changed

Chapter One- Winter

I turn the key and walk into the mud room. I disrobe all of the garments that kept me warm for the 3 block walk from the A train stop to our home in Greenwich Village. I can hear the coos of our babies in the kitchen as the landline rings out.

"Babe, could you get that? I am in the middle of feeding them."

I walk into the kitchen and greet my beautiful wife with a kiss full on the lips. I caught Quinnie of guard. I could tell because of the blush that was creeping across the apples of her alabaster cheeks. For just a moment, we were us again: Santana and Quinn, before we became mommies to Harper and Holden. They started laughing and broke our happy bubble. The phone went to the answering machine.

"Hey Q, are we still on for the play date tomorrow? Or is Harper still sniffling? Cause if not, I could make my rehearsal for Funny Girl."

I run the pick up the phone-

"Rach, hey. Sorry. It's feeding time at the zoo and the twins are wearing more of their food then eating it."

"No worries, San. Just got home?"

"Yup. Busy day at the hospital. 5 back-to-back deliveries. I think HR should be fine. How are you? Britts? The kids?"

"All good. Britt is at the studio with Mike, teaching an advanced hip-hop class. Barby is sitting in front of me working on her college applications. Noah is out with Brynn. I am trying to feed Tristan, but I think he, too, is wearing more food than eating it. And the last one keeps kicking me like no tomorrow."

Rachel was 33 weeks pregnant with the last of the Berry-Pierce brood. My goddaughter, Barbra Santana was 17 years old, Edwin Noah was 14, Quinn's godson, Tristan Quincy, was 16 months old. Rachel and Brittany were the godparents to our twins, Harper Rachel and Holden Britt were 10 months old yesterday. For Britt and Rachel, it was Britt who was pregnant with Rachel's egg and Rachel's first cousin, Ross' sperm. The results were Barby and Eddy. It was because when they wanted to start a family, Rachel's career on Broadway was just taking off. Britt had just finished Beyonce's final world tour and needed a break from dancing and touring. Rachel always wanted to carry their child, so when she ended the revival of RENT on Broadway last December, she took a year off to get pregnant. She got pregnant quickly and 10 months later, Tristan was born. They wanted them close in age, so I gave her the green light to commence when the baby was 3 months old. She got pregnant again when TQ was 6 months old.

"So, Noah and Brynn, huh?" I tease her.

I can hear her sigh. "I don't know, honestly, San. But they have been 'hanging out' more often. I guess if she is his first girlfriend, I am glad it is Kurt and Blaine's daughter."

"God, I can still remember the day I delivered him. Now, he is dating girls. Where does the time go, Rach?:

"You're telling me! Our Barby is getting ready to leave the nest."

"Speaking of her, can I talk to B, Rachel?"

I can hear Rachel ask her daughter if she talk to her godmother, then hand the phone over.

"Hey Mama S. What's up?"

"Just wanted to let you know that I talked to Auntie Tina over at Julliard. She along with the admissions committee watched your portfolio yesterday. She said it is obvious you are the spawn of Brittany. She also told me that your attendance of Julliard's Pre-College program since you were 8 years old only strengthens your application. I know you are still weighing your options. I can also talk to Uncle Arty, over at my alma mater, Columbia, if you want. Or you can take time off to go to auditions. You know that we will all support whatever decision you make, Barby."

"Thanks so much! I have decided which colleges to apply for: Julliard, NYADA, and USC for Dance; Columbia, NYU, and Stanford for Art History and Pre-med. I think Mom and I will be going to California to see SC and Stanford before Mama delivers the baby. You'll still take me on a tour of Columbia, right?"

"Of course, anak (Child in Filipino; my dad is 1/2 Filipino and 1/2 Puerto Rican). I can't believe my baby girl is applying for college."

"Oh jeez, please don't get all misty eyed, now, Mama."

"Well, my dear, you were the first infant, since your Auntie Beth, that we all saw. It was love at first sight for not only your Moms, but for your Auntie Quinn and I. We all love you so much, you know that. Me, I love you as if you were my mine; you are my goddaughter after all."

"I know, I get it, Ninang (godmother in Filipino. Just trying to lighten the move. Can you still proof my essays?"

"Sure, B, just e-mail them to me and I'll have them to you by the end of the week."

"Thanks so much Mama S. I think Ma still wants to talk. I love you."

"Love you to, honey. Bye."

I can here Rachel say, "NYADA!" as she gets the phone from her oldest.

"Rach, don't forget your ultrasound appointment on Monday. I'll see you at 1000."

"How could I ever forget? We all love looking at the baby, especially because you have one of those 3-D ultrasound machines."

"Baby, I could use a hand here..."

"Gotta go, Mom duty calls."

"I hear you. We will be over there at 10 am. Will you be home?"

"I am supposed to working on my research paper from home, but you know that I can paged at a moment's notice. You think these babies would have some consideration for their hard-working doctor, but no," I joke. "K, Rach. See you in the morning. I'll call Britts later tonight."

"Bye, Santana."

It is 2300 by the time my wife and I get ready for bed. After the mashed pea and carrot debacle, we bathed HB & HR to got them ready for bed. They were growing so fast. Holden was a master crawler and was beginning to take steps if you were holding his hands up. Harper wasn't quite where her brother was at, since she was almost a month younger than him.

For Harper and Holden, we did something unique. We were both pregnant at the same. So, they are siblings who happen to born within three weeks of each other. I carried Q's egg and she carried mine. Since we were both only children with no male cousins, we decided to ask Sam if he would be the donor. It could have been awkward, since we both dated him in high school. However, Sam is a stand-up guy and he understood that us dating him was our way to hide our sexuality; we never meant to hurt him. We asked him and Mercedes if he would consider it. They immediately both said, "YES!" by the end of dinner. In fact, it was the birth of the twins that made them move to the City. They wanted the triplets to be surrounded by their best friends' babies.

They were the last ones of New Directions to finally move to NYC from Los Angeles. Mercedes was offered the anchor position at Good Morning America. Sam, in the meantime, was loving his role as Mr. Mom, while trying to get seed money for his newest concept bar. He was a successful restauranteur in L.A. Puck moved out here last year, getting transferred by his job as a consultant for pools and hot tubs to high-profile clients in the Hamptons and the tri-state area. I guess being a pool boy during high school worked out for him.

Tina attended Juilliard for Piano after McKinley and was now the Associate Director of Admissions. Mike joined her after 2 years on the road with Alvin Ailey. He was now co-owner of The New Directions Dance Studio with Brittany. Arty attended Columbia and made researching spinal cord regeneration his life's work. He was among the top in his field and he was getting results. Arty was now able to stand and walk short distances with the help of a walker. Marley followed her dream to come to NYC and attended NYADA for Voice. She moved in with Arty, as a roommate, after Sugar moved out. For a long time, they were just friends. However, you cannot escape love's arrow and they were married 2 years later. Sugar was one of those people you could never really tie down. She inherited the family business, cleaned it up, and created Sugar's Candy Bar, which now had franchises all over America, England, and Japan. After her and Arty broke up, she dated on and off.

Jake and Kitty also moved to the City after graduating from McKinley. Turns out that Kitty really did idolize Quinn; she got pregnant in her Sophomore year too. Jake stepped up and they decided to keep the baby. Jacob, Jr. JJ was born in the summer before their Junior year. She was determined to continue with her plans for college. Her and Jake were both accepted at NYADA, along with Marley. They were able to secure family housing for all four years. When JJ graduated from kindergarten, his mom and dad graduated from college.

Rachel and Brittany were the first ones to have kids. Kurt and Blaine were next. There was a long lull untill the rest of us had kids. But then, came Mike and Tina's daughter, Kathyrn Emma, who was born a couple of months before Mercedes and Sam's triplets. Marley and Arty tried to have kids, but the accident left Arty infertile. Sam ended up being a sperm donor to them as well. Crazy to think that Sam was the father of 8 kids! Q and I told them how amazing Sam and Mercedes were to our twins. Sam would always just be Uncle Sam to them, just like Uncle Mike and Uncle Arty. He would be there for them if they ever needed a guy in their life but he was not looking to parent them, as he already had the triplets. So, Harper and Holden had a half-brother, Arty Evan, who just turned 2 and Marley was pregnant with a girl. Her and Rachel were due around the same time. They were all going to be over our home tomorrow for a play date for all the babies.

I was the first one in bed. I was beyond exhausted and I was falling asleep as soon as my head hit the hay. Felt the bed dip sometime later.

"Baby, are you sleeping?"

"Hmmm, almost hon. Why?"

Quinn puts her hand on my hip and pulls me into a deep, searing kiss. I opened my eyes and saw that she was wearing my favorite thing to bed, which was absolutely nothing at all.

"You can't kiss me like that, get me all hot and bothered, and leave me hanging, Doctor Lopez. I think you need to be taught a lesson," my wife says in her bedroom voice.

I kiss her back, with more passion and urgency. If there is any thing we have learned by having twins, we have to take advantage of every moment of alone time. I couldn't remember the last time we had made love; all I know is that it had been too long. She slips her tongue into my willing mouth and starts a dance with mine, as I shift to place my leg between hers, my hand on her left breast. She moans at the contact.

"Ummm, baby, yes. I want you so bad, San."