After the very informal meeting with Mercedes at the children's home, everything seemed to turn into a whirlwind. Santana and Rachel promptly met with Mercedes at her office the next day and turned in their paper work. Mercedes truly did work fast, because before they left, she had almost half of all of their information put into the adoption agency's computer system. It was within a few days that they received the first call from Sierra and Samara's social worker. The were definitely interested in setting up an appointment for the initial home study. Santana had actually squealed and dropped her phone when the lady had called, Rachel had to take over and finish the call.
Everything had went as smoothly as possibly. The social worker by the name of Alison Hall had came out this morning and had brunch with Santana and Rachel. They talked about the girls, Santana and Rachel's history, their finances, and what room was intended to be set up for the girls. Alison had left with the promise to call and let them know something soon.
Now that is was Monday again, tonight Santana was taking her pieces that she had done down to the gallery. They had to make sure all the art work was set up for photographs to go into the programs. The printing company promised that they would have everything done tomorrow (Tuesday morning) so that they could be sent out. This wasn't Santana's first show and from experience she knew they were desperately pushing it with the show coming up this Saturday. However, they had to get this all done today. It would be crunch time soon for the new children's home since it was due to open in about six weeks. The whole crew had to really push it to get all of the rooms done, but with the construction crew almost done entirely, everything should work out perfectly. Agetha and Chloe had really been working the past week recalculating the costs and starting to order everything that they would need for the new home in terms of food and basic necessities.
Santana had been thinking about what else she could do to help out the home. Obviously she wanted to make sure that the home was always well taken care of. That's when the idea struck her that she could do some paintings and advertise them on her website. Instead of directly selling them, it would work like an auction, the paintings going to the highest bidders and all the proceeds going to directly to the home. Rachel had also added in her input that she would like to do a single each year for all the children's homes. Maybe a Christmas song or something and divide up all the proceeds between the homes. She had already talked it over with Joe and Brock who were more than happy to help. Even Puck had gotten involved, throwing around some ideas about putting together a band or two at the home and just seeing what came of it. It was truly amazing just how talented some of them were. Santana was so proud of all the children and how well they were doing. It didn't matter the situation that they currently found themselves in, they got up each morning and made the best of it. That was more than anyone could ask for.
Rachel sighed as she tossed her leather bag over her shoulder. It had been a long day. After having brunch with Alison and Santana, Rachel had to rush to the studio in order to get some more work done. Now she was finally free after doing background vocals for two more songs. By the time this album was done it would have a total of fifteen songs on it, that was a lot considering most albums have twelve on average. It just seemed like they kept writing and recording, nonetheless, Rachel loved every moment of it. That didn't make it any less tiring though.
Walking out of the studio, Rachel made her way to her car. She had promised Santana that as soon as she got off of work she would meet her in St. Lawrence at the art gallery. Rachel couldn't contain her excitement, all of the pieces that the kids had done were amazing. Hopefully they all sold so that the home would surpass their initial money goal. Starting her car, Rachel pulled out of her space at the studio and headed towards St. Lawrence. She hoped Santana was hungry because she was starving and intended to stop and get some dinner on the way.
Santana smiled as she saw Rachel's car pull into the parking lot of the art gallery. She had already unloaded and set up her paintings so the photographers could do their work. Rachel put her car into park and gathered the food bags that she had brought out of the passenger seat.
"I'm sorry, I'm late. But...I got one of your favoritessss." Rachel shook the bag at Santana who looked like she might start drooling.
"Ohhh, what did you bring me?" Santana asked giddily as she took one of the bags from Rachel's hand and looked inside. "Chicken curry! Yes! This is one of the many reasons I married you." Santana tilted her head forward giving Rachel an affectionate kiss. A little too affectionate for public eyes, if she was honest.
"Did you hear anything from Alison yet?" Rachel asked once the kiss broke.
"No, have you?" Santana responded as she pulled Rachel with her to the tailgate of her jeep. She was starving and that curry smelled amazing. From past experiences, she knew there were spoons and napkins in the bottom of the bag.
Rachel shook her head in the negative. "We only met with her what five hours ago? How much would she have found out already?"
"Please." Santana snorted. "That woman knew when she walked out of our cabin whether she was going to call us or not. I just hope she knows that no is not an option. We will fight tooth and nail to get those girls." Santana took a bite of her chicken curry, moaning at the deliciousness of it. "I mean, they already call us Mama, which I want to be Mami, but it's a start."
"I know, I hope we here something soon. In the morning would be great." Rachel leaned into Santana's shoulder for a moment before she sat back up and got her own curry out to eat.
After eating their dinner, Santana and Rachel walked hand in hand into the back of the art gallery. Rachel gasped in awe as she looked around at all the paintings that were on display. "This is magnificent."
"Denise and her crew set it all up. She's the best there is." Santana walked along slowly looking at every piece, it was like she was seeing them all for the first time all over again.
"Well, thank you. I like to think I am pretty amazing at my job." Denise spoke as she smiled and walked around Santana in order to hug Rachel. "I feel like I haven't seen you both in forever, Santana hasn't done a show in months now."
"You know how life can get." Santana shrugged her shoulders.
"Oh, honey. Don't I know it." Denise nodded her head. "So, the photographer is almost done and then he is going straight to the printers after we go through the images. I've seen a few already that are definite."
"Sounds good to us." Santana looked over at Rachel waiting her approval. However, before Rachel could actually respond, her cell phone started ringing. Frowning, Rachel dug through her leather bag, trying not to miss the call. Why was it that when you needed your phone, it was practically nowhere to be found?
"Aha!" Rachel cheered as she finally retrieved the now blaring cell phone. "Oh shit..it's Alison." Rachel looked to Santana who now wore the same frantic expression with her mouth hanging open and her eyes as big as saucers.
"Answer it!" Santana yelled, obviously too excited to speak in her insider voice. Denise stepped away to give the two women some privacy.
"Hello?" Rachel answered, her voice slightly shaking. "Yes." Rachel reached out and grabbed Santana's arm. "Are you serious?" She pulled her in closer so that she could try and hear Alison, even if they weren't on speaker phone. "Okay. Thank you, thank you. We will be looking for it. Thank you so much."
"Well?!" Santana prodded. "What did she say?!" It felt like time was slowing down, Santana could feel herself starting to sweat in anticipation.
"We've been approved." Rachel looked around flabbergasted. "We've been approved Santana!" Before Santana could react, Rachel was jumping into her arms and kissing her soundly on the mouth. "She's going to email us an itinerary for the adoption meetings and an appointment for our first drug test and..and..we've been approved! We thought we wouldn't hear anything today and suddenly she calls out of the blue?!"
"Did she say anything else?" Santana asked as she and Rachel stopped bouncing and kissing each other, laughing breathlessly.
"No, just that we had been approved and that she was sending us an email with the meetings and appointments and a list of everything we need to eventually bring them home. I don't know why we need that, we know what they need." Rachel rolled her eyes a little at this. "Whatever we don't know, Stephanie can tell us or it's already on the case plan sheet and we just missed it."
"It's just normal protocol, I am sure all parents who adopt are given these big long lists. I just can't believe we've been approved so soon. I mean, we had already given up on hearing anything this evening and then boom!" Santana spun in a circle with her arms out by her side. She was in pure bliss right now and feeling every feeling that she could possibly feel. Yes, she was excited and so so happy, but she was also a little anxious.
"We're one step closer. Now we definitely need to pick out bed sets and figure out where we are going to put the stuff that's in the guest bedroom right now." Rachel had her thinking face on already, she was more than prepared to move everything out of the room tonight.
"There's space in the barn loft, we just need to box up all the clothes that's in the closet and move them to the other guest bedroom or put them in storage." Santana shrugged her shoulders, it was the most logical place to put all the stuff.
"Santana? Rachel? Are you ready to see some pictures now?" Denise called out making her presence known before she walked within eye sight of Rachel and Santana.
"Denise! We got approved!" Santana cheered as she watched Denise come closer.
"I heard, well the whole gallery heard. Congratulations." Denise hugged both Santana and Rachel.
"We need to call everyone!" Santana spun on her heels, causing Rachel to almost crash into her. "Puck, Quinn, our parents, they'll be so excited."
Rachel huffed and adjusted her clothing like they had been messed up when Santana turned around. "I know and we will, but right now we need to get back to this. Time is running out and the programs won't be ready to go out if we don't get everything to the printer tonight." Rachel lightly pushed Santana on the shoulder to get her to focus on what was going on in front of her. They had plenty of time to celebrate later. Denise laughed to herself, these two were perfect for each other and those twins that everyone knew about now, were the missing piece to their little family.