Santana stood at the front doors of the St. Lawrence Children's Home waiting on Martha to let her in. After Rachel left for work this morning, Santana set about making a long list of things that Puck, Quinn, Beth and Davis would need. In general Davis had everything he needed, minus a few odds and ends here and there. Time after time, Rachel had tried to plan a baby shower for Quinn, however the woman didn't want one. In Quinn's words she told Rachel specifically, "I don't like baby showers, I avoid every one I get invited to and just send a gift. I definitely don't want one for myself." So, Rachel had left it at that. She couldn't hold a baby shower for someone who didn't want to be there.
After making her list, Santana had set off towards Shuebury's and stocked up on things she would need to make freezable dinners that even Beth could reheat if need be. She was in for a world of cooking tonight when she got home. First things first, Santana wanted to see her girls. Finally, Martha hit the buzzer to unlock the door, she smiled when Santana walked up to the window to sign in.
"Chloe and Stephanie would like to see you in Stephanie's office before you head back." Martha told a confused looking Santana. What in the world would they want to see her for, unless...it was about the twins. "Come around and I will let you in." Santana nodded her head as she walked back towards the main office door.
Chloe and Stephanie were sitting at Chloe large cherry wood desk talking when Santana entered. They both smiled when they seen it was Santana who had entered. Too excited for pleasantries, Chloe seemed to burst with energy. "We have great news for you and Rachel." She clapped her hands together excitedly. "Please, have a seat." Chloe motioned to the chair next to Stephanie.
Santana sat down a little hesitantly. "What's the news then?" She asked.
Chloe looked back and forth between Santana and Stephanie. "Well..we know you're trying to adopt from our home. Mercedes' called us, along with Sierra and Samara's social worker." Chloe elaborated when Santana furrowed her brows, trying to think of when she or Rachel had mentioned specifically anything about the adoption. "We also know that you haven't had a chance to turn in your paper work since Mercedes' has been out of town. However, the twins social worker would like to meet with you and Rachel and we would like to offer early preparations for a case plan for the twins."
"What exactly do you mean by early preparations?" Santana asked as she scooted forward in her chair. Chloe had definitely caught her attention.
"More or less a list of things that will be expected of you and Rachel. The more of this stuff you have done, the quicker the adoption will go when you get your papers turned in." Stephanie explained as she crossed her leg over her knee.
"I mean, I am all for it, but what happens if we go out and buy all this stuff for the twins and then the adoption agency pulls the plug on it? Rachel and I will have all this stuff for the twins but no twins." Santana rubbed her palms up and down on her jeans. Was it getting hot in here or was that just her?
"I don't think that is going to happen. You have so many people pulling for you in this. I had just been telling Chloe that we should talk to you and Rachel about the twins and then their social worker calls. It's fate Santana. Those girls have been miserable without you. They already know who their mama's are." Stephanie reached out and touched the back of Santana's hand.
"I'd like to go see them." Santana's knee started bouncing. If the girls had been as miserable as she and Rachel then they probably weren't in the best of moods right now. Santana knew she could change that.
"Go ahead. We can get that case plan list started and ready by the time you leave." Chloe clasped her hands together before she rested her head on them. There was no doubt in her mind that those girls would be going home with Rachel and Santana. Those two women were everything the twins needed.
Santana made her way towards the nursery, stopping to exchange pleasantries with some of the kids coming out of the cafeteria. Most of them were headed back upstairs to the classrooms to finish up their studies for the day. It was always nice to see everyone, but Santana was the most excited to see her girls. She giggled to herself as she entered the nursery and saw Benton playing with the twins in the designated play area.
"No, like dis." Benton explained as he handed Sierra a very large red crayon and pointed to the piece of paper they were coloring on. Sierra was more interested in putting the crayon in her mouth. Samara sat to the left of them with her little face scrunched up as if she knew that what Sierra was doing was gross.
"Hi babies." Santana greeted as she walked closer to the play area. She could see Nicky struggling to diaper a wiggly Jasmine.
"Ms 'Tana! You came to see us?!" Benton jumped up and ran across the room, crayons long forgotten.
"Of course I did!" Santana wrapped the little boy in a hug as he barreled into her legs at full force. Sierra and Samara took notice that one of their favorite people was there and stood up as quickly as they could. The twins toddled over to Santana, their little sneakers squeaking as they walked. Oh..those are very annoying. Santana thought in her head. Santana sat Benton back down onto his feet and squatted down to Sierra and Samara's height. "My girls. I missed you so much." Santana whispered as she kissed each girl on the top of the head. Sierra and Samara clung on tightly as they buried their faces into Santana's shoulders.
"Mith." Samara murmured.
"Miss, did you miss me too?" Santana asked, elated that the girls were continuing to learn new words. "What were you guys working on?" Santana turned her head to address Benton who was standing there patiently with his hands behind his back. He looked very handsome in his little basketball jersey that someone...probably Stephanie...had gotten him.
"Jus' coloring." Benton rocked back and forth on his heels. "Come color too." He reached his hand up for Santana to take. Santana stood up careful not to knock the girls over and followed Benton back to the play area. Sierra and Samara followed right along, clapping happily when Santana sat down in the floor. They wasted no time in making themselves comfy in Santana's lap.
"Hey Santana." Nicky greeted with a smile as he brought a finally diapered and dressed Jasmine over to join everyone.
"Hey. Where's everyone else?" Santana asked curiously. Jasmine, Benton and the twins were the only babies in the nursery at the moment.
"They're scattered about. Some are outside and some are in the classroom. Jasmine was asleep and these guys just didn't want to go." Nicky shrugged his shoulders. Babies and toddlers were so confusing sometimes.
"Was you about to go do something else or can you join us?" Santana asked Nicky looking up. She would never be able to get over how often Nicky changed his hair color. One day it was blue the next it was pink or platinum blonde. At least he wore it well no matter what color his hair was.
"I can join you guys." Nicky grinned as he sat down next to Benton and grabbed some crayons and a piece of paper for himself. Nicky looked up a moment later. "Did you talk to Chloe and Stephanie when you came in?"
Santana looked up from where she was guiding Sierra and Samara's hands. She had to do something to keep them from making the crayons dinner. "How did you know about that?" She asked with furrowed brows.
Nicky scoffed. "Please, Santana. Any one can see that the girls are yours already. You know this, I know this, we all know this. Hence the reason they want to move ahead with a case plan so once your adoption goes through you're already one step closer to bringing the girls home. They deserve to be with people like you and Rachel. You two will take the best care of them and give them everything they could ever need and probably ever want."
"Need, yes. Want...they will have to earn some way. Rachel and I want to spoil them but they have to learn the value of a dollar. Everything that Rachel and I have, we have earned because we worked hard for it. These girls will too." Santana wrapped her arms around the twins and pulled them close. Both girls squealed with delight and wiggled around to get comfy in Santana's arms. Santana looked down at her girls, she loved how they were dressed today. Sierra had on a purple giraffe shirt and little jeans while Samara had on jeans and a white shirt with horses on it. Whoever had dressed them had obviously kept their favorite animals in mind.
"Either way..." Nicky continued. "There is no better place for them."
"Thank you." Santana smiled in appreciation.
That was how Santana spent the rest of her day, hanging out with all the babies as they filtered back into the room for lunch and a nap. Sierra and Samara of course wouldn't relinquish their hold on Santana until they were both rocking and sound asleep in the Latina's arms. It was sad that she wouldn't be there when they woke up, but Santana knew she couldn't hang around the home all day. There were things she still needed to get done..calling her parents was one of those things if she actually went through with it.
It was a hard decision to make as Santana sat looking at her phone going back and forth in her head about all the ways that this could go wrong. It was Wednesday and she needed to go ahead and bite the bullet. They may not even come, Santana thought to herself. She looked over to the passenger seat where the file for the home's case plan laid. It wasn't nearly as much stuff as the adoption paperwork, but it was still a lot. Seeing that made this all the more real and she needed the support.
Biting her lip, Santana dialed the familiar phone number and waited. She listened to it ring as she looked around the parking lot of the restaurant she was at waiting to pick up dinner for she and Rachel.
"Hello?"
"Hola, Mami."
"Santana...how are you?"
"I'm okay. I just uh...I wanted to call...see how you and Papi were."
"We're okay too. It's really nice to hear from you. How's Rachel?"
"She's good." There was a long pause. "Listen Mami...I was calling to tell you about some things that are going to be happening. I don't really want to do all this small talk stuff." Santana rubbed her thumb back and forth across her steering wheel.
"What's going on Santana?"
"Well..you see. Rachel and I are getting married Friday at the court house in St. Lawrence. You and Papi are welcome to come if you like."
"What...why the court house? That's so soon Santana..have you thought about this at all? Oh dear, I should go and get your father."
"Mami...calm down. Yes I have thought about this. You can go and get Papi if you want, but it's not going to change anything. Please don't come down here if you have any ill intentions."
"I have no ill intentions Santana, just explain this to me please. Why a court house marriage?"
"Rachel and I are planning on adopting a set of twins from a home that we volunteer at. Being married makes our chances of getting them greater. We're still having a big wedding in December, but we want to do this now."
"Oh Santana...my baby...getting her own babies." Maribel sniffled. "We will be there..no questions asked."
"Thank you Mami...and thank you Papi." Santana grinned when she heard her father's quiet you're welcome followed by a chuckle. Of course he was on the phone too. "I have to go now, but I will see you Friday."
"Okay...Oh Santana?"
"Yes, Mami?"
"I know this conversation was short and to the point, but please...call more. Things shouldn't be like this Santana..your father and I...we're deeply sorry and we want to be better." Maribel finished quietly.
"We'll figure it out." Santana responded before she hung up the phone and blew out a long breath. That had been...interesting to say the least. However, they were on to the right start.