A/N: So sorry for the delay in updating. I had a lot of things going on, and was to exhausted to write believe it or not. Plus there were days where I just didn't want to write. But I got there in the end. This chapter is just about Santana. There will be a Brittany focused chapter later on. But not just yet. So enjoy. I won't make promises of updating soon, because clearly I cannot keep them haha! But I will try update when I can :)
The next morning, Brittany had to go home and babysit her little sister while her mum was at work. Once she had seen Brittany off, Santana went back to bed, and watched TV for awhile. Santana still felt bad for what she had put Brittany through the previous day. 'I have to make it up to her somehow...' Santana thought. The doors downstairs closed with a clatter, causing Santana to lose her train of thought. Getting up, Santana pulled her hair back, and walked out of her room, and down the stairs. Spying her mama's handbag on the bench, Santana shook her head and chuckled. "My little princess!" Carlos said, emerging into the kitchen, having freshly showered. "Papi," Santana said, hugging him, "You're off out again?" Carlos nodded, "Work sweetheart, you were okay last night without me and your mama here?" "Papi!" Santana rolled her eyes, "I'm seventeen, not seven! And I was fine, Mrs Pierce let Brittany stay the night so I wouldn't be alone." "Good good," Carlos kissed Santana's cheek, "Now, I have to dash sweetheart, don't forget school." Santana laughed, "No school today papi, teachers have some kind of meeting!" she called out at her papi as he left for work.
Normally Santana would have headed to school by this time, but because of the district teachers meeting being held, all schools had the day off. But instead, she went back up to her room, digging out a pair of gym shorts and a crop top. Santana got changed, and re-did her hair, pulling it back into a messy bun almost on top of her head. "Ahh," she breathed as she spied her water bottle sticking out of her backpack. Santana picked it up, and headed out of her room, gathering a towel, her iPod and cell phone along the way. "Hi mama," Santana said as she entered the kitchen, and walked over to the sink, "How's the hangover?" Santana giggled as she turned the tap on to fill up her water bottle. "Ohh baby girl," Consuela shook her head, "Next time I won't turn a blind eye to you coming in at three am..." Santana turned on her heel, "Mama!" she said, "I don't know what you are talking about!" Consuela picked up a couple of advil and swallowed them, then looked to Santana, a stern look on her face and her arms crossed. Santana sighed in defeat, "Point taken mama," she said as she fixed the top of her drink bottle. "So what are you up to today?" "Going to do a bit of a workout, then I don't know," Santana shrugged, "Rest a bit, try do some homework, that kind of stuff I guess." "Sounds good," Consuela smiled, "I would have thought you would be Brittany, going to the mall or something." Santana shook her head, "Nah, Britt had to babysit Mollie today." Then Santana remembered, "Ohh mama, Britt's mum is going away on a business trip tomorrow, and won't be back at home until Friday. Mollie is going to stay at Britt's nanna's house, so could I stay at hers, to keep her company?" "Of course sweetheart," Consuela nodded, "Did you want anything from the shops while I'm there?" "Thanks mama! And nah I'm good thankyou." "Okay sweetheart, see you later." "Bye mama," Santana said as she left the kitchen.
Santana stuck her headphones in, and started up the treadmill. She couldn't help but laugh as she ran. Monster Mash came on. Brittany had made a playlist of songs, and that was one of them. Whenever Santana was upset, she would put just that playlist on, and all her troubles would just melt away. After running for what felt like a hundred miles, Santana moved to the rowing machine, and worked hard, putting it on the hardest resistance. As usual, Santana worked through all the equipment, then stepped outside to do some stretches. While she was doing so, her phone started buzzing. It was from Brittany, a picture Mollie had drawn for Santana. 'Tell little miss Mollie that's very beautiful and I can't wait to take it home xxxx' Santana smiled, Mollie always drew pictures for Santana, or her other big sister as she called her. And Santana kept them all, in a scrapbook, along with many other memories.
When Santana got inside, she had a quick shower, then got dressed, and sat on the couch reading a magazine. She had the TV on, but only as background noise. Her mum still wasn't back from the shops, and Santana's dad was still at work, so Santana had the whole house to herself for awhile longer. Her thoughts soon turned to Brittany, as she absentmindedly flicked through the magazine.
I'm going to make it up to you. I promise I will. I just got so nervous. I froze. I can't have them hate me. But I don't want you to hate me either. I swear that I will make it up to you. I don't know how. Or when yet. But I will. I love you with all my heart. And I don't do mushy. But that's what you make me sometimes. And it's funny, because I don't care that you do. You really are the exception. I love you my Alma Bella.
Santana was still deep in her thoughts, absentmindedly reading her magazine, when her mum returned from the shops. "Hmm sorry what?" Santana asked, putting down the magazine and turning off the TV. "I was just asking if you wanted anything to eat," Consuela asked, laughing as they both walked into the kitchen. "No mama, I'm good for now thank you." Consuela smiled, "Okay sweetheart. And are you okay? You seemed a little startled when I came in." "Ohh," Santana said, "Just a bit on my mind." 'Or a lot rather...' Santana thought. "Anything you want to talk about?" Santana took a deep breath, 'Yes... But I'm scared.. I want to tell you. Don't cry Lopez. Breathe. Maybe tell them after dinner. If you can get it out and hold back the tears. You really just didn't want Britt to see you cry before.. So it should be fine..' Santana looked at her mama, "Actually, yeah. But can it wait until papi is home?" Consuela nodded, and Santana smiled appreciatively as she helped her mami put away the shopping.
'Oh my god, am I actually really going to do this?' Santana thought as she sat in her room before dinner. Any plans to do homework had gone out the window, and her mind was filled with thoughts about what she was going to be doing later. 'I hope Britt understands that I had to do this alone. I don't know why, but I just did. I only realised that before.' Santana was snapped out of her thoughts by the sound of her mami calling her downstairs for dinner.
Dinner went as it usually did. Santana told her parents about hoe school was going, and cheerleading, and what plans she had for the week ahead and the weekend. Her mama spoke about her work, and the latest charity project she was helping out with. Her papi also spoke about work, and some new hospital reform that was going to be coming in. After dessert, Santana went and sat in the lounge. 'Maybe mama forgot what I said earlier...' And at that moment, both her mama and papi walked into the lounge, and sat on the couch by Santana. "Your mama said you wanted to talk to us about something. What is it my little angel?" Carlos said. Santana closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. 'Okay, here it goes..' She opened her eyes, not looking at her parents, and spoke.
"Ohh.. I umm.. I yeah..." Santana's heart was racing. 'Just please still love me.. Please.' She thought as she looked down into her lap, her hands clenched together. "I umm... I need to tell you something.. It's kind of big..." Santana bit her lip and closed her eyes, trying to stop the tears coming out. "What is it sweetheart? Don't be scared, we'll still love you, you're our angel," Consuela said. "But that's what I'm scared of, that you won't love me anymore.." Santana sobbed. "Santana, you can tell us, your mama is right. No matter what, we'll still love you. You're our one and only angel. Now, you're not sick are you? Or hurt?" Santana shook her head, "No papi." "If you're pregnant, that's okay, we'll work through it all together as a familia." "Papi!" Santana laughed slightly, "No, I'm not pregnant." "Than what's wrong sweetheart?" Consuela asked. 'You can do this...' Santana took yet another deep breath, and began.
"So yeah, I need to tell you something... About me... I've... I've kept it inside of me for ages, because... Because I really didn't know how to deal with it, and I kind of didn't want to. But I'm tired... Mama, papi, I'm tired of hiding it. It's a big part of me... And even though I'm scared, I... I want to share it with you. I have all these feelings. Of love. I'd always watched you both, and thought to myself that I wanted that. The love you have for each other. I want to experience real love. And.. And I think.. No, I know I have found that. I've found love. And it... It's amazing. The feeling. But I feel that way, about a girl. The feelings that I should have for a boy, I feel for a girl. When people talk about love, I finally understand what they mean when I'm with her. I'm in love mama, papi. I'm in love with the most amazing girl ever. She accepts me and love me for who I am. I still really don't know why. But I love her even more for it. We're in love, and when I'm with her, I feel so safe, so happy, and I feel like nothing else in this world matters. We're... We're not quite ready to tell the whole world just yet. The world can be such a horrible place. I just want to protect her. And myself. But mostly her. I hope... I hope that when we do tell the world, that you both, you umm... Be there..." Santana stopped talking, and started to cry softly. She was scared that her parents would disown her for telling them her biggest secret. Santana bent her legs up, and rested her head against her knees, waiting for her parents to speak. To say something, or anything.
Consuela and Carlos watched their daughter for a moment. She couldn't bring herself to look at them, keeping her face hidden from view. At the same time, both Carlos and Consuela wrapped their arms around Santana. "Baby girl, you don't need to be scared about what we think," Carlos said. "Your papi is right, you don't need to be scared. You could love anyone or anything, and we would still love you, no matter what, forever." Santana unfurled her body, and looked at her parents, eyes all read and blotchy, puffy from her crying, "R-really?" Consuela nodded, gently brushing hair from Santana's face. "Of course. You are who you are, and we love you because you are who you are Santana, and that makes us proud," Carlos smiled, "And we can't wait to meet the girl that makes you so happy." "Actually," Santana blushed a little, "You already have met her..." Consuela and Carlos sat there, thoughtful looks on their faces. Their daughter had a lot of friends. Santana couldn't help but chuckle at her parents. "Come on my angel, you have a lot of friends!" Carlos laughed. "True," and when Santana spoke her next sentence, she could help but smile, "It's Brittany, mama, papi." Knowing that the two girls had been best friends for so long, Consuela asked, "How long have you two been together?" Santana looked down shyly, still smiling, "A few months." "Well, next time Brittany is over, you don't have to hide a thing from us okay?" Carlos said, holding Santana's hand. "Thanks papi, mama. It means the world..." Santana got choked up, and couldn't finish what she was saying, but her parents knew what she meant.
Later that evening, Santana sat in bed, reading a novel she had to for English class. "Come in," Santana said, hearing a knock at her bedroom door. "It's just me," Consuela said, walking into the room, "Thought you might want this," she motioned to the mug of hot chocolate in her hand. "Thanks mama," smiled Santana said, putting her novel down, and taking the mug in both hands and sipping it. Consuela sat on the edge of the bed, "How are you feeling?" Santana looked down at the mug in her hands, and smiled, "Pretty good," she looked up at her mama, "It kind of feels like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders." "You don't have to keep anything from us, ever, you know that right?" Santana nodded, "I know mama. I just... I didn't know how to tell you both. It was a big deal for me. I was scared you'd disown me or something. I read stories about parents turning their backs on their kids for being gay, and I was scared I would be joining those kids." Consuela put an arm around her daughter, "I do not understand parents like that. I could never ever turn my back on you. And neither could your papi." Santana put the mug down, and cuddled her mama, "Thank you. You both, you're both the best." "Anytime my angel. And hey, we don't have to worry about you getting pregnant while you're still in high school now." Both Santana and Consuela laughed at the remark. "Mama!" "Sorry!" Consuela got up, kissing Santana on the cheek, "You better get some sleep, you have school tomorrow." "I know," Santana rolled her eyes. As her mama was leaving Santana's room, she called out, "Mama can Britt come over tomorrow for dinner? If her mama says it's okay?" "Of course," Consuela nodded, "She can come over anytime. She can stay too, isn't her mama going away on business for a couple of days?" That fact had slipped Santana's mind after a couple of emotion filled days. "Oh yeah, she is too." "Well she can stay here or you can go stay at her place with her. It's up to you girls." "Thanks mama." "Anytime. Goodnight Santana." "Night mama," replied Santana as her mama left the bedroom.
That night Santana went to sleep, a smile adorning her face. Her parents accepted her and Brittany's relationship. And embraced it too. And Santana couldn't wait to tell Brittany.