Hello everyone,

I hope you are all well.

Warnings for this chapter: Descriptions of Noah's bruises. Read with caution.

As always - thanks to to NayaFan, UnholyUnderBoob, & Beaner008 for their inspiration and encouragement. Also, many thanks to my followers, reviewers, and the people who send me lovely PM's and reminded me how much they like this story and why I continue to write it.

Be well friends

Almost two hours later Quinn woke up in bed. Specifically she was in Santana's bed and she was completely naked. She tiredly opened her eyes and saw her bra hanging on the door, at least she thought it was her bra. She looked over toward the closet and saw another bra over there. She groaned inwardly and rolled over to find a still sleeping Santana next to her. Her neckline was the only thing visible and Quinn sighed. She lifted the covers to double check.

"Yeah I'm naked too," Santana said sleepily and Quinn gasped and jumped, slapping at Santana's stomach.

"You scared the shit out of me! Warn a person before you comment!" Quinn scolded.

"That makes no sense, at all," Santana said and she rolled onto her side. "Do you feel any better?"

"We just had depression sex didn't we?" Quinn asked.

"Were you depressed before?"

"Yeah."

"Do you feel better now?"

"A little"

"Do you think it was because of the sex?"

"Maybe," Quinn said blushing.

"Then I guess it worked, and then I guess we did. I mean, that's one of the perks of sex right, after you get it, you feel better?" Santana surmised.

"I don't know if I like that," Quinn said and she immediately regretted it. Santana looked hurt. "No, no, no," she said and she pulled Santana close and kissed her strongly, with meaning and passion and it caught Santana slightly off guard. "I don't mean you, I mean I don't know if I like that we had depression sex. The sex part is fine. The depression part is not," she said.

"I think you're making stuff up," Santana laughed and then nuzzled Quinn gently. "I already checked on the kids, both are still asleep, they haven't figured out about us yet, although Rachel has," she said.

"Does she care?" Quinn asked.

"No, she seemed encouraging," Santana said. "So tell me then, what was the depression part for you today?" changing topics so she didn't have to think about what she and Quinn actually were.

"Noah wanted to use the aloe cream to help himself get better," she said.

"That's wonderful though," Santana said not quite following.

"It's beyond wonderful. It's brave, and trusting and means he's on his way to healing and all of that. The depressing part is, he can't feel me touching him."

"He holds onto you like a lifeline. I've seen it. We've all seen it," Santana said.

"No. I mean touching him. Do you know his penis is blue and purple and swollen to twice the size it probably should be?" Quinn asked and her voice held nothing but sadness and a bit of anger. Santana waited for her to continue. "He told me that he was ready for the cream, so I went slow. I put some on his hand and then rubbed it in, I put some on his cheek, with him guiding my hand, rubbed that in, and then he wanted his penis, but he was afraid he would get hard and he was so embarrassed, and so concerned that he was going to make me mad. I assured him that I would not be mad and if he did get hard, then I'd give him privacy in the bathroom and he could take care of it anyway he wanted. So he laid down on his back, took off his clothes by himself and I saw, in full view, no obstructions, a blue and purple member with two very large purple grapes behind it. I'm sorry but the only reason it should ever look that color is because it requires batteries!" Quinn said.

"But you knew that going into this. You knew about the bruises and welts and all the pain he had suffered," Santana pointed out kindly. She chose her words very carefully, because when Quinn was angry, everyone should stay out of her way.

"Yeah I did, but bruises and wounds like that, they heal. He can't even feel me touching him. That's nerves. She did severe and permanent damage to him and he's only seventeen," she said tears burning her eyes.

"You can't tell anyone this, but I cry for Marley too," Santana said.

"You don't cry ever. Only when you're drunk," she said with a smirk.

"Well I now have another reason to cry and she's out there, sleeping peacefully, at least for now," Santana told her.

"I do like being with you," Quinn said after some silence.

"That's good, and I like being with you too, but the kids come first, deal?" Santana asked.

"Always," Quinn smiled.

Surprisingly, Noah and Marley slept well into the day, and it was now approaching dinner time. It was Rachel's night to cook and she decided on a simple chicken dish, with cajun rice, and brussels sprouts for sides. Most people complained about sprouts, but Rachel did a really good job with them. She did so well that they were known to disappear as she was cooking and other people were in the kitchen with her.

She was finishing the rice when she heard a bedroom door open and looked over to see Quinn emerging from the bedroom and she looked off. "You okay Quinn?" Rachel asked kindly.

"Yeah, although I think I could really go for some whiskey," she said.

"Still?" Rachel asked with concern.

"Yeah, but I won't. It's not going to help anything, it's just going to make me forget for a moment and probably make me angry, so no I won't be drinking it," she said and Rachel nodded and went back to cooking. "What are you making?" Quinn asked.

"Dinner," Rachel said and Quinn gave a genuine laugh and nodded.

"Anything more specific than that?" Quinn asked causing Rachel to smile.

"Grilled chicken with spices, cajun rice, and brussels sprouts," she said.

"I was good till the sprouts," she said.

"Seriously, you have to try them. I don't know what she does to them, but their amazing," Santana said coming out of the bedroom as well and then she went to steal one.

"Hey!" Rachel scolded slapping at Santana's hand and missing. "No more for you, and also, tell me you two had fun," Rachel said hopefully.

"Why is this so important to you?" Santana asked with a huff.

"Be nice to her," Quinn scolded.

"Because I've seen both of you struggle throughout school. I've seen you want something special and I think you've both found it. You both have a very unique situation and I think it would just make everything easier if you two became a thing," she reasoned.

"I don't do labels," Santana said seriously. Quinn had to agree. She didn't do labels either.

"It doesn't have to be labeled. I won't do that to you. I just think you two should be a thing," Rachel said simply. "Meanwhile, someone taste this, I want to make sure it's not too spicy," she said, holding up a small spoonful of rice. Santana moved in and took a taste before nodding. Their quiet time was interrupted shortly there after when Marley started to whimper in her sleep.

Santana walked over to her, knelt down, and pet her thigh gently to help rouse her from sleep. "Shhh, you're okay baby girl. Mommy's here," she said softly and Quinn felt her heart melt into a puddle. It was wonderful to see this side of Santana and she was almost sad that she'd missed all the months before, but she was also sad it had to happen like this.

"Mommy," Marley whimpered, her eyes opening slowly, and all of a sudden, she focused in on Santana and broke down into sobs.

"Oh my goodness," Santana said kindly, gathering Marley tight in her arms. She held her close and then carefully sat down and pulled her into even tighter, keeping her close and Marley seemed to shrink into her. She was calm and quiet and snuggled up close.

"I hate that someone had to be injured, but I love seeing her like that," Quinn said softly to Rachel, wrapping her in a hug as well.

"Kurt and I like it too, but I have to tell you, that watching you with Noah. Pretty damn special," she said.

"I've had a more nurturing side than Santana from the first day you met me," Quinn smirked.

"Oh yes, I'm sorry, you only threw warm slushies in my face," Rachel laughed and Quinn frowned, not saying anything. Rachel rolled her eyes and turned. "Hey, stop, it was a joke," she told her and she kissed her cheek. "We are all very different people now. You two are moms and I'm some strange aunt figure and Kurt's an uncle or a Papa. Things change," she said simply.

"You're pretty damn special Treasure Trail," Quinn teased as she wrapped Rachel in a tighter hug and Rachel just giggled, the two of them watching Santana and Marley.

"Mommy, day, pee day," Marley begged.

"Shhh, yes, look at Mommy sweetheart," she told her and she carefully guided her chin, so they were eye to eye. "Look at Mommy baby. I'm not going anywhere. I am right here and will always be with you," she told her and covered her little girl in soft sweet kisses. Marley was still half asleep, so she fixed herself into a better position and straddled Santana's lap and curled up against her as best she could.

"Mommy, I sorry," she whimpered.

"Why are you sorry baby?" she asked her. Marley didn't answer, she just cried. "Okay baby girl, okay," Santana said kindly. "You know what baby? You have done nothing wrong, and Mommy isn't leaving you. I love you very much," she told her and then cuddled her close, reaching for her pacifier and putting it in Marley's hand. Marley didn't shove it into her mouth right away. She stopped and pushed back away from Santana and studied her face for a moment, before she put the pacifier in her mouth and went back to resting against her. "A little rest baby girl, it's almost dinner time," Santana said kindly.

"And how about you? How are you?" Rachel asked Quinn seriously. She knew how Santana was. Santana was a mess. Her little girl was a mess and Rachel knew it was killing Santana that she couldn't just magically fix her.

"Honestly, I am very concerned about him," she said.

"Why?"

"He has no feeling. There is absolutely no feeling in his genitals and no feeling means nerve damage. His infections all look better, and I'm going to try to get him to put aloe on his stomach, but I don't know that he will," she sighed.

"You're making progress Quinn. It's okay to break down and be scared," Rachel told her kindly.

"And you know this because?"

"Because Santana does it all the time, she just thinks we don't know. We know. We hear her. It's a small house. Just because you're having trouble, and you're technically the one in charge, doesn't mean you can't take a break for yourself every now and again. It's why I keep offering to let you two go on a date without the kids. Go out, have fun, and know that I'm okay taking care of them," Rachel said.

"I'll run it by Santana again, but know that she thinks, because there are two of them now, we are out numbered. I'm not sure how she's come to that conclusion, but she has and you know her. When she's dead set on something, there is no changing her mind," Quinn said and Rachel nodded.

"Just know the offer still stands."

Dinner was a quiet affair with general chit chat and the kids answered questions and participated in general conversation, but they both looked pretty tired and depressed. "Okay guys, why don't we go play in the other room," Rachel said to Marley and Noah. "Mama found a new game that we can all play," she smiled.

"What it Mama?" Noah asked curiously.

"Do either of you remember light brights?" she asked.

"Oooh, I do," Noah smiled and Marley smiled nodding her agreement.

"Mama?" she asked softly. "Can Noah sees da holes?" she asked.

"Well that's what we're going to find out and if he can't, then you and I can help him and all together we will make a beautiful picture to show your mommies okay?" she asked them.

"Okay. Mommy, you no peak," Marley told her seriously.

"I promise," Santana smiled and she gave her a kiss to her cheek and then let her go off to play. She was just glad that a simple game seemed to lift their spirits a little bit. Marley deserved it. Marley and Noah scooted away, crawling together, him following her, until the two of them were over by the tv and Quinn tapped Santana's hip.

"What happened at therapy?" she whispered.

"She has a traumatic condition," Santana said softly and Quinn raised an eyebrow. "When she gets super worked up and afraid, she goes deaf, and I only found out today," Santana said.

"Deaf? Are you sure?"

"The therapist asked her if cats barked and she shook her head yes," Santana said.

"Okay, well how do you fix it?"

"I have no idea, because apparently we are supposed to find out what caused it first," Santana sighed. "We're back to the damn onions. I hate onions and layers and going slow. I just want her fixed, and not so scared all the time," Santana sighed.

Quinn frowned and wrapped Santana in a hug from behind and rested her chin on Santana's shoulder. "Yeah, but right now. That little girl, your little girl, she seems pretty happy," Quinn offered.

"And I'm glad for that, I just wish that could stay all the time. When is Noah's surgery?" she asked quickly changing the subject.

"First of all, you should deal with it. Marley learns from her Mommy. Secondly his pre-op is tomorrow. They're going to check on his infection too. He's looking a little pale to me," Quinn said. "The actual surgery is Monday though.

"Is he going to be in recovery long? Her birthday is Wednesday, and I thought we could all do something together," Santana said.

"What were you thinking?"

"Something simple to start. I was thinking maybe we go to central park and the little zoo inside, stop and get italian ice while we're there. Just something so she knows she's not been forgotten," Santana said. "I think she would like that. I have to go pick up her gift though. Not sure when I'm going to do that though," she said.

"You know what it is?"

"Figured it out a few days ago. I'm hoping she'll love it as much as I love the idea of giving it to her."

"Well what is it?"

"I don't want to tell you," Santana said.

"Brat," Quinn grinned and she nibbled lightly at Santana's neck, causing her to moan softly.

"Noah," Marley said softly. "Here, you can do it. Push it here, can you see? Do you need help?" Marley asked, her hands on his the entire time.

"I can," he said and she nodded and backed off a bit, letting him put it in, but the silly piece of plastic wouldn't go through the paper or the hole and he got frustrated. "He'p," he pouted.

"Is okay, dey don't goes fer me somety's," she babbled at him and she carefully took his hand and guided it, having a difficult time herself. "Mama," she whimpered, needing help with it.

"Okay, but if it doesn't go for Mama, then we're choosing a different peg, this is getting very silly," Rachel smiled, trying to keep the tone light. She could see they were both frustrated and probably tired. They'd done a great deal of sleeping, but therapy and memories always seemed to take a toll on everyone. It didn't go in for Rachel either and she smiled. "Nope, not this one. Who can find me another red peg?" she asked and they both handed her one rather quickly. "Thank you very much my love," she said taking it from each of them and put each of the pegs in a designated R spot, as the directions stated.

Noah was sifting through the pegs on the floor and smiling. "You has a nice smile Noah," Marley told him kindly and he blushed a little bit.

"Fank you," he smiled. "Here," he said kindly and reached for her hand. She gave it to him and he put her hand in his and then ran it through the pegs. It was a cool sensation and they were both happy to let the pegs flow through their fingers rather than put the pegs into the board and Rachel let them be. It had been about three whole minutes, before Santana let out a moan and Noah looked up and over. They were in his line of vision and he saw the two women, at least blobs that looked like them, and they appeared to be kissing or cuddling or something and he got curious. "Mama?" he asked softly.

"Yeah baby?"

"Um, Mommy an Auntie Tana, um, mar-reed?" he asked slowly, trying to get all the sounds to come out correctly.

Rachel gave a kind smile. She didn't have the answer to that question. "Would that be okay if they were?" she asked him.

"Um, dat make Mar-ree my itta?" he asked.

"Oooh, you be my bru-va?" Marley asked happily. She liked the sound of that. She'd been an only child her whole life, and to have a brother might be nice.

"Yeah, dat okay," he said thoughtfully.

"Well to answer your question buddy, no, Mommy and Auntie Tana are not married, but they do make each other very happy," Rachel smiled.

"Mama, I wan' dem marry," Marley said and she crawled over to Rachel's lap, and laid down, putting her head on Rachel's thigh, and sighed happily.

"And why is that baby girl?" Rachel asked kindly, combing her fingers gently through her hair as she rested.

''Makes Mommy happy. She should be happy. I don't make her happy, I tubba," she said.

"You not tubba!" Noah scolded her.

"Calm please," Rachel said seriously but gently, so she didn't snap at them and frighten them.

"Mar-ree, you not tubba," Noah insisted.

"Yeah I am. I no walk, I talk funny, I don't wanna grow up," she said.

"Not make you tubba. Make you know what you want," he told her.

"Terri said it made me a freak and a slut."

"Terri mean!" Noah snapped. He was getting frustrated with Marley. To him she was the gorgeous girl who knew what she wanted and went after it and she did nothing but talk badly about herself.

"Yeah and?" Marley asked him with tears stinging her eyes.

"And her mean. Her terriba. You not tubba. You, you," he stammered. He couldn't say the word, because there were too many sounds to put together that his mouth wasn't quite ready for yet. He was practicing and getting better, but it wasn't all back yet. "Mar-ree, I vuh-v you, kay?" he asked her.

"You gotta say that," she said softly and Rachel shook her head and tapped Marley on her forehead, getting her to look up at her.

"Hi," she smiled down at her and Marley let out a small laugh. "He doesn't have to say he loves you. No one has to say that. People choose to. People choose a lot of things," she told her. "Noah chooses to love you, just like Mommy, Papa, and I choose to love you too. Now I don't know about Auntie Quinn and how she feels about you, but I am fairly certain, she does love you," Rachel said.

"It's not right Mama, I'm not right," Marley said.

"Wrong!" Noah snapped at her. He truly loved her and she couldn't see it, which did two things. It saddened him greatly that she wouldn't feel how much he loved her, because he truly did love her, and it pissed him off that Terri was the cause of her pain. The physical would heal, had mostly healed by this point, but he was concerned about the emotional and mental pain and he wasn't so sure he could fix that, no matter how badly he wanted to.

"Noah, calm down my love," Quinn called from the kitchen.

"Mommy, he'p!" he called out and she went over to them, being sure to try and not see whatever light bright display they were working on. Rachel smiled helpfully and pulled the light box behind her back to keep it hidden

"What's up buddy?" Quinn asked him.

"Mar-ree fink you no vuh-v her," he said seriously.

"Well that's not good," Quinn said kindly. "What's up lady bug?" she asked her gently moving a bit closer to pet her face and play with her hair. Marley liked all those things and found them soothing, most people in general did, and the little ones at the club seemed to thrive on it.

"You love Mommy?" Marley asked and Rachel smiled as Quinn blushed a bit.

"You can teh her Mommy. We know," Noah supplied helpfully.

"And what is it that you think you know?" she asked pulling Noah closer to her and cuddling him.

"Dat you vuh-v Auntie Tana," he said. "I heard you in da bed," he told her. He didn't understand why this was a secret. Love was love, it made people happy. He thought it should be celebrated.

"Okay, we have to get Auntie Tana in on this conversation then," Quinn said kindly and Marley started to whimper. "Santana, come join us please," Quinn called.

"Is it safe, I don't want to ruin the surprise."

"I'm sitting in front of it, you're fine," Rachel called and Santana walked over, took a seat near Rachel and Marley changed laps, needing to be with her Mommy. After a moment of affection Quinn spoke up. "Noah buddy, tell Auntie Tana what you told me please," she said.

"You vuh-v Mommy," he said softly. He was starting to think he was in trouble for something, but he didn't know what. He didn't do anything wrong as far as he could tell.

"Well I like Mommy a great deal, yes," Santana said.

"Buh you in bed wit' her," Noah said with confusion. He was seventeen and he knew that people had sex, just to have sex, but the way these girls were around each other, they had to be a couple. They were too attentive and concerned about each other to have it be anything less than just some casual fling.

"I told you, you were a screamer," Quinn teased and Santana rolled her eyes.

"You saw that did you? I thought you and Marley were napping," Santana said kindly and she cuddled Marley close. "Does it bother you that Mommy and Auntie Quinn might end up together?" she asked her softly, giving her little kisses to her temple.

Marley gave a soft smile. "Do I call her Daddy?" she asked.

"Cheeky little girl," Santana laughed and covered her in kisses, tickling her lightly. "No, you don't, but I think maybe you and Auntie Quinn can talk and come up with a name that you both like. It can be Godzilla for all I care."

"Would you stop, I am not Godzilla," Quinn scolded.

"No Mommy, you not," Noah smiled and he cuddled further into her lap.

"No, maybe," Marley said after a moment.

"Explain that a little better. Mommy was teasing, if you're being serious then we need to have a very serious conversation," Santana explained kindly.

"Zilla roars," Marley said and then she demonstrated a little bit of how she thought Godzilla sounded. "Auntie Quinn does dat for Noah. Yell and growl and make him safe, eat the bad people," Marley said.

"It's good enough logic for me Lady Bug," Quinn said and she cuddled Noah on her lap.

"Maybe Mama can take a picture of everyone?" Rachel suggested. This moment of her friends with their little ones. She didn't want to ever forget this opportunity. "We'll take a nice picture and text it to Papa okay?" she asked and both little ones nodded. She took the shot, texted it off, and it rang back a few minutes later. "I have fabulous news, try and put the kids in bed. The grown ups need to discuss it before we get them involved," Rachel read on her screen. "Papa says you all look beautiful and Noah looks handsome," Rachel said smoothly. "Now everyone go get ready for dinner please. I'll serve it all up for us," she said.