They come home right before New Years and two days later Santana starts at Columbia.
"Morning San," Brittany says giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Are you excited to start law school today?"
"Yes, I can't wait to become a lawyer." Santana says pulling her into a deep kiss.
"I hope you have a good day." Brittany says.
"You too," Santana says.
She smiles, watching as her wife gets their daughter ready to go to work with her. They have decided not to put her in daycare until she's a little older so Brittany is taking her to work.
"Love you," Brittany says kissing her.
"Love you too, I'll text if I'm going to be late." Santana says walking them to the door.
She watches them leave Brittany has to be at school earlier than her, since she's a teacher. Santana enjoys getting a little extra time before she has to leave.
"Okay, do I have everything?" she asks herself, checking her bag again.
Nodding to herself, she heads out. Wanting to get there with plenty of time, she takes a cab to Columbia. She meets Kelsey outside their first class.
"Hey girl," Kelsey says waving.
"Hey," Santana says. "Ready for our first day?"
"No, I have a feeling we're in for a hard few weeks." Kelsey says.
"I'm not looking forward to all the work." Santana grumbles. "I've enjoyed not having homework."
"Do you want to work together? I've heard it's helpful to have a study buddy to split some of the reading with." Kelsey says.
"Yes, thank you. I was nervous about trying to find someone to study with." Santana says, relieved.
The two women head into the classroom. They're some of the first students there and get their pick of where to sit. Both want to be close, but not too close. They choose to sit in the middle, dead center.
"I'm excited and nervous." Kelsey says as they settle down.
"I know what you mean." Santana says.
Slowly the classroom starts to fill up. The last one to enter is the professor. Santana is a little shocked that she recognizes the professor as someone Brittany has worked with.
"Welcome to your first day of law school. This is Constitutional Law. I'm professor McDaniel and I'm also a practicing lawyer." McDaniel says looking around the classroom at all the new faces.
He pauses when he sees someone he recognizes. He gives her a smile before continuing.
"This will be the hardest year of schooling. If you survive then you will be well on your way to becoming a lawyer. Throughout your career, you will always remember the classes from this year." McDaniel says looking over all his students.
With that he starts diving directly into teaching.
By the end of class, all the students have taken tons of notes and now have to read some four hundred pages before next class.
"Mrs. Lopez, can I talk to you?" McDaniel says as the class starts emptying.
"Sure," Santana says walking to his desk.
Kelsey waits by the door for her friend. They have the same schedule.
"I'm not sure if you remember me, but I worked with your wife a few years ago when she was doing some work here." McDaniel says.
"I do, I wasn't sure if you remembered me." Santana says smiling at him.
"I just wanted to say hi and I'm glad you are in my class." McDaniel says.
"Thank you, I look forward to learning." Santana says starting to head out.
"Say hi to Brittany for me." McDaniel says waving.
"I will,"
Santana meets Kelsey at the door and they head out.
"You know the professor?" Kelsey says once they are out.
"My wife worked with him a few years ago." Santana says.
"Will you know any others?" Kelsey hopefully asks.
"I don't think so, she only knew professor McDaniel as he helped with something legal in regards to some math thing my wife was working on." Santana says.
"Too bad, I was hoping maybe we could get some special treatment." Kelsey says.
The rest of the day, they go to three other classes and get a ton more work.
"This is a lot of work." Kelsey says as they leave their last class.
"Split the reading and take notes? Meet up tomorrow to go over it?" Santana asks.
"Yes," Kelsey says. "Thank god, I'm friends with you."
"I feel the same."
Back at the apartment, Brittany is getting dinner ready. She wants to do something special for her wife after her first day. Ariel is in her highchair babbling to her mom, pounding her fists.
"Yes, I know you want attention." Brittany says. "Just let me finish."
Ariel babbles some more, staring at her mom with what look like a glare. Brittany finishes up and picks her up which causes her to smile.
"You like attention just like your mami." Brittany says cooing at her daughter.
"Hey," Santana says having just come in.
"Honey," Brittany says giving her a kiss. "How was your first day?"
"Exhausting, exciting and tons of work." Santana says smiling.
"So, you enjoyed yourself." Brittany says.
"Yes," Santana says taking Ariel. "Were you good for mommy today?"
"Of course, she was. All my classes loved her and slept most of the time." Brittany says leading her wife to the table before getting food for both of them.
"Thanks honey," Santana says.
"I figured that to help out, I'd get dinner for us." Brittany says blushing.
"You're amazing." Santana sighs.
"I just want to help out since I know it will be a few years of hard work for you. Any way I can help, I will." Brittany says.
"You are, just taking April with you, making dinner and understanding that I will be busy for the next few months only getting time off when not in school." Santana says as they eat, once finished she says. "I have work I need to do."
"Go," Brittany says giving her a kiss.
Santana heads to the study and starts reading. Several hours later and she's finished about half of it. She's taken tons of notes.
"San," Brittany says lightly knocking on the door. "It's nearly midnight."
"Thanks, I have a few more pages to read then I'll come to bed." Santana says feeling bad that she missed putting Ariel to bed.
Brittany comes in and gives her a kiss before heading to bed. She knows they're going to have a period of adjustment to get a good schedule down. Santana ends up staying up for another hour before heading to bed. Not twenty minutes later, Ariel is crying, waking her up.
"I'm coming," Santana mumbles.
"Don't worry San, I'll get her. You sleep." Brittany tells her, giving her a peck on the lips.
"Thanks," Santana mumbles, turning over and going back to sleep.
Brittany gets up, heading into the nursey and picking Ariel up.
"Hey baby," Brittany softly says. "What you crying about?"
She rocks her to calm her. Checking her diaper to make sure she's not wet. Which she isn't. She continues to rock her until she falls back asleep. Brittany puts Ariel back in the crib and heads back to bed.
The next morning, Santana is up way before her wife as she has to be at school extra early. She gives Brittany a kiss on the lips just as the blonde is waking up.
"See you tonight," Santana whispers.
"Have a good day." Brittany mumbles.
Santana meets up with Kelsey in the library to go over the reading and exchange notes.
"I was up to nearly one in the morning, reading." Santana says as she sits down.
"I know it was killer. I can't imagine how the rest of the year is going to be." Kelsey says.
"I knew it would be hard, but this is more than I expected." Santana says.
"Me too, but at least we have each other." Kelsey says.
"So true,"
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The first week, Santana is swamped by all the work. Even with splitting the reading with Kelsey, it's still a lot. She's found herself missing her wife and daughter, only really seeing them briefly in the morning and when she gets home before she starts studying.
"Honey, you seemed stressed." Brittany says on Saturday, looking up from her grading.
"I didn't realize how much work this would be. I know it would be hard just not this hard." Santana softly says.
"I'll help you anyway I can." Brittany says massaging her shoulders.
"You being able to take Ariel to work is enough. I don't want you to lose your job so let me know if you end up not being able to." Santana says looking back at her wife.
"They wouldn't fire me. I'm too popular plus I'm a genius." Brittany says kissing her.
Brittany pulls Santana into her body and just holds her for a few minutes. They both need this. Santana has been so busy that they haven't had a quiet moment alone that wasn't sleeping.
"We'll get through this and find a routine that works for us." Brittany says kissing the top of her wife's head.
"I hope so," Santana says.
It isn't for another few weeks before they finally have balance and a good routine.
"I can study until five then I have to head home for dinner." Santana says.
"Can't you miss one night?" Kelsey asks.
"No, but I can study after." Santana says. "You can come over for dinner."
"Okay, Todd is visiting his family this week so I'm home alone. It will be nice to have a meal with someone." Kelsey says.
They study in the library until five when they make their way to Santana's apartment.
"Smells great Britt. I brought Kelsey with me." Santana says coming in.
"Hey babe, hey Kelsey." Brittany says coming to them with Ariel in her arms.
"Thanks for having me over for dinner." Kelsey says.
"No problem, I'm sorry it's cutting into your study time." Brittany says.
"Well, we do all have to eat." Kelsey says.
"It's sometimes the only time we get together during the week." Santana says.
"I get it, I've hardly seen Todd since classes started." Kelsey says.
The three of them enjoy their dinner. Talking about school and Ariel. Ariel is babbling to them in her highchair.
"We have to give Ariel a bath and put her to bed before I can finish studying." Santana tells Kelsey.
"Go, I'll get a head start on my reading." Kelsey says.
She enjoys being around people since she'd be home alone.
"Do you mind if Kelsey comes over sometimes? Not all the time but maybe twice a week." Santana asks Brittany as they prepare the bath for Ariel.
"Of course, she can't come over." Brittany says giving her wife a kiss. "I don't mind you two studying here."
"Thanks babe,"
The pair gives Ariel a bath before putting her bed. They lean into each other looking down at their daughter, sleeping.
"I have some papers to grade." Brittany whispers.
"I need to go finish up studying. We have a test coming up." Santana whispers.
They stay a few more minutes before finally moving.