Quinn and Santana have been meeting every day for lunch for a few weeks now. They're getting to know each other better, on an emotional level. Something that none of them have been exposed to before.
Santana and Blaine are at home playing COD on the PlayStation, when Blaine speaks up.
"So how's lunch going with Quinn?"
Santana decides to pause the game so that she can have an honest conversation with her brother. She feels bad as she's sort of neglected him recently but she knows he's found some friends.
"So good man, honestly. She's so funny and caring and sweet. You know how I drew up in my mind over the years, all the different versions of her?"
Blaine nods along, he's listened to Santana for years, dreaming of the blonde she admired from 7 years old.
"Well she's exceeded every single one. She's perfect bro, honestly. I've never met anyone that cares so much about the little things."
He sees the spark in her eyes every time she speaks about Quinn. He was worried for a while, Santana was quite dark around the time when their parents were fighting and getting divorced. He didn't think he'd ever see that light again, it turns out she just needed a certain blonde back in her life.
"I'm happy for you sis. So are you going to ask her out any time soon? Does she know about your little friend?"
You see, Santana was born differently to little girls. On the gender scan, her parents were advised they were having a little boy. The birth happened and everyone was ecstatic with the birth of the youngest Lopez! However, after running a few standard tests, the doctors were stumped as it was discovered it was actually a little girl, but born with a penis.
It was discussed whether her appendage could be surgically removed or hormones provided to turn her into a little boy but Emilio and Maribel decided that their baby was a miracle and that they were going to leave her as she was.
"Blaine, you know I can't ask her out. She's straight. You remember that I had a fight with her ex-boyfriend recently right? I've only just got rid of the bruises. And no, she doesn't know. I'm scared that if I tell her, it'll scare her away. Plus, nobody really needs to know right? I keep wearing the compression shorts, baggy jeans around the crotch area, no one will ever find out." She shrugs.
Blaine thinks that Quinn would jump at the chance to date Santana. He's seen how they interact, the subtle touches, the longing glances when the other isn't looking and the smiles when they get caught. He knows Quinn likes his sister, but he's going to let them figure it out for themselves.
"For the record, I'm pretty sure she wouldn't think anything different of you, it's not like it's your fault, it's natural. But if you want to keep it a secret, that's cool with me."
She can only smile in response, "So anyway, how are Kurt and Mercedes?"
Blaine has recently befriended a boy named Kurt and his friend Mercedes. He met them in his English class. Kurt is quite flamboyant and sure of himself, which Blaine finds refreshing. And as for Mercedes, that girl is a powerhouse, he's heard her sing and he's pretty sure that's her calling card.
"Yeah, they're good. Mami wants to invite them around for dinner sometime next week when she isn't on the night shift. Maybe you should bring Quinn too. I'm sure she'd love to meet the little blonde who stole her daughters heart at the age of 7." He banters to which she smacks him with a pillow and laughs.
"I'll ask her and see what she says."
The next day, Santana meets Quinn as usual in their spot, which they've dubbed their 'Sanctuary'.
"I have a question for you, but before I ask you, you can say no, okay?" Santana offers.
Quinn looks dubious but nods anyway.
"Sometime next week Blaine is having Kurt and Mercedes over for dinner so that they can meet our Mami, would you like to come too? I know you don't usually interact with Kurt and Mercedes but they're actually pretty cool when you ge-"
Santana's rambling is cut off by Quinn pressing a finger to her lips. She has the widest grin on her face and is slowly nodding. She retracts her finger slowly.
"Sorry, you were rambling. I would love to come for dinner. I actually know Mercedes really well, we've been friends for a long time and I know that Kurt is good to her. I would love to meet your Mami."
Santana grins as wide as the Cheshire Cat, which Quinn thinks is adorable as she gets to see the cute little dimple she loves so much.
"Yeah? Okay then, I'm not sure which day yet but as soon as she sets one, I'll let you know."
The girls settle into their usual cuddling position and a comfortable silence washes over them for a while. It's Quinn that eventually breaks it.
"So, how's training with Finn been going?"
"I don't see what you ever saw in that boy, he is not reasonable at all. All he does is get me sacked and complain."
"Why are you even playing football?"
"Because the team is short on players this year, our commander thought that it would be good physical training for us, so here we are."
Silence washes over them again, however, this time, they're unaware that they're being watched.
A few days later, the day of the dinner, Santana and Blaine arrive at training after school, the same as any other day, but there's something in the air today that's different as they approach the other boys. Soon enough, Finn comes charging from the pack, making a beeline for Santana.
"So that's why you've been getting between me and Quinn then! You've been stalking her because you wanted her for yourself!" He screams.
Santana raises her eyebrows in confusion and looks towards Blaine, who also shrugs.
"Don't act like you don't know what I'm on about! Brittany saw you! She saw the two of you cuddling on the couch beneath the bleachers! That's why she's never at lunch with the Cheerios anymore isn't it? She's too busy being a dyke with you!"
That's when Santana's defensive mechanisms spring into action.
"Don't fucking use that word. Not for me, not for Quinn, not for anyone, you homophobic bastard! What's it to you if she's been with me? Newsflash, she's not your girlfriend any more Finn! Leave her alone."
He inches forward and leans down so that that they're nose to nose. The rest of the team standing around them in awe of what's happening, nobody sure whether to stop it or let them fight it out till the death.
"So what? She's yours then is she?" He seethes.
"No Finn! She's a fucking human being, she isn't anybody's property, she makes her own decisions and she spends her time with whoever she wants!"
Finn swings his shoulder forward and it connects right on the bridge of Santana's nose. Blaine pulls her back before she has time to retaliate and surprisingly Finn is removed by Puck.
"That wasn't cool dude. She's right, Quinn isn't yours anymore, you can't control over who she spends time with."
"What the fuck? You're on her side now? You're supposed to be my best friend!" He screams.
"I'm not taking sides but you're out of line! You can't keep going around attacking her! Hitting girls is out of line, I don't care who they are or what you think they've done!"
Coach Beiste arrives at this point to find that Puck and Finn are head to head while Santana is sporting a popped nose that Blaine is trying to help with.
"What the hell is going on here?! Lopez, get your sister to the nurse!" She shouts in Blaine's direction. She then turns her attention to the boys who are still in a face off.
"You two better pull yourselves together and tell me what the hell is going on here before I make you all run suicides until every last one of you is sick!"
With that Santana and Blaine leave the field and rush inside in the direction of the nurses office.
"Come on, we need to get you sorted before Mami's dinner."
Santana is helping her Mami prepare the remainder of dinner when they hear the doorbell.
"I'll get it." Blaine shouts.
A few minutes later, he wanders into the kitchen with Kurt and Mercedes trailing him.
"Mami, this is Kurt and Mercedes, guys this is our Mami, Maribel Lopez." Blaine says as he introduces them.
"It's nice to meet you Mrs. Lopez." Mercedes leads as Maribel shakes both of their hands.
"Oh please, call me Mari or Maribel."
They both smile politely as Kurt decides to keep the conversation going, "This is a lovely home you've got Mari, you've done so much to it in such a short time."
"Thank you Kurt, it's nice to hear some appreciation around here." She says as she glares at Blaine and Santana as they begin to laugh. Her facade breaks and she laughs along.
"You know we love you Mami." Santana says as they both approach her to kiss either cheek.
"Come sit down, dinner will be ready soon." Mari says while still laughing at the silliness of her children. As they enter the dining room, the doorbell sounds again.
"I'll get it." Santana says as she saunters off in the direction of the front door. She opens it and is in awe of the beauty that stands before her.
Quinn is standing there in a gorgeous white dress with pale blue trimmings, her shoulder length hair curled loosely, paired with a baby blue cardigan and small white heels.
"Wow Q, you look amazing." Santana compliments. Quinn blushes and there's a shy smile on her face.
When she looks up from the floor, her smile is wiped and replaced with worry when she notices Santana's swollen nose and blackening eyes. She steps forward, cupping Santana's cheek and stroking it lightly with her thumb.
"Oh my god your face! What happened to you?"
"Finn." She mumbles and steps back to gesture for Quinn's cardigan. She slips it off gracefully and hands it to Santana, who hangs it up with the other jackets.
"Just drop it for tonight though, please? I promise I'll tell you everything but Mami really wants this to go well."
Quinn reluctantly nods as Santana begins to lead her towards the dining room.
As they step into the doorway, it's Maribel that notices them first.
"Wow, Santana. Who is this beautiful young lady?"
"Mami, this is Quinn. Quinn, this is my Mami, Maribel Lopez."
"Thank you for having me Mrs. Lopez."
Maribel steps to forward to take Quinn's offered hand.
"Please Quinn, call me Mari or Maribel. And it's my pleasure to meet the young blonde my daughter hasn't shut up about for the past eight years."
Santana blushes as Kurt and Mercedes give each other a confused look. It's Mercedes who takes it upon herself to ask the question.
"I'm sorry, eight years? You moved here a couple of months ago didn't you?"
Maribel chuckles and explains that they had lived in Lima before but had to move to Dallas.
This is when Quinn decides to shed some light on the situation. "Cedes, you remember my friend Tana that moved away?"
Recognition flashes across Mercedes's face, "Oh my god, you're Tana? The Tana?!"
Santana giggles at Mercedes tone, "Yeah, I suppose I am." And she looks across to Quinn to give her a small smile.
Shortly after, Maribel serves dinner and there are compliments all around. They sit through dessert and then retire to the living room.
Maribel sits in one person recliner in the corner of the room, while Kurt, Blaine and Mercedes take the large couch and Santana and Quinn sit in the small love seat.
After 45 minutes or so of chatting and mindless conversation, Blaine decides that they should play monopoly. Maribel takes this as her cue to go to bed, she kisses her children on the head, tells the others that it was nice to meet them all and wishes them all a goodnight.
Santana and Quinn opt out of Monopoly in favour of going into Santana's room to listen to music.
On their way up the stairs, Santana pops her head into her mothers room to let her know what they're doing and wishes her a good night.
As Quinn enters Santana's room, she's surprised by the contents. There is obviously a bed, centre of the room, a small desk to the left below the window, the TV is on the wall infront of the bed, with a small unit beneath that holds the PlayStation. But the item that grabs her attention the most is the record player in the corner of the room with a cabinet off to the side, full of records and books.
"That's my prized possession, well that and this." She says as she approaches Quinn, rolling up her sleeves slightly to reveal her friendship bracelet.
Tears spring to Quinn's eyes as she realises she isn't the only one still wearing the bracelet that meant so much to her over these past few years and brings her arm up to Santana's.
Santana is shocked that she's never noticed Quinn still wears it, she gently runs her fingers over the old band.
"I can't believe you still wear it." She exclaims.
"Of course I do, I never take it off. Just like I promised. This too." She says as she slowly pulls out the familiar silver necklace Santana gifted her before she left.
Santana feels overwhelmed and pulls Quinn into a tight hug. Quinn happily reciprocates as she realises that all this time, her Tana never forgot about her, as she'd feared.
As they pull out of the hug, Santana gestures towards the records and tells Quinn to play whatever she feels.
She's extremely surprised when she hears the familiar raspy voice of Amy Winehouse through the speakers.
"So you're an Amy lover, my kind of girl." She grins.
They both lie down on the bed and let time pass. They can hear the occasional laugh from downstairs but are both content in their own world, the two of them and Amy.
Before long, Blaine enters the room to let Santana know that Kurt and Mercedes are leaving. They both follow him downstairs to say goodbye to them and watch as they both hop into Kurt's dads truck and wave them off.
Quinn turns to them both and says "I better get going to if I'm going to make it home before curfew."
"You're walking?" Blaine exclaims and Quinn nods.
"No way, Santana will drive you home."
As Santana turned sixteen the previous month, she got her license and now is able to drive her Mami's car when she doesn't need it.
"Of course, have you got everything?" Santana says as she takes Quinn's cardigan and holds it out for her so that she can put her arms through immediately. Blaine smiles at his sisters chivalrous gesture and winks at her when they make eye contact.
"Alright, are you ready?" Quinn nods in response and hugs Blaine goodbye. "Will you let Mami know? I shouldn't be too long." Santana asks as she steps out towards the car.
"Yeah, drive safe." He replies.
Santana smiles and walks in the direction of the passenger seat so that she can open the door for Quinn, she waits until she's seated comfortably, gently closes the door and runs around to the other side.
Once she's inside, she starts the car up and advises Quinn that she'll have to give her directions. They drive in silence, listening to the radio and occasionally humming along until Quinn points out her house and Santana pulls to a stop.
"Thank you for coming tonight, it means the world to me." Santana explains.
Quinn smiles bashfully in response before she finds the words to reply, "I really enjoyed myself Tana. I'm glad you asked me to come. I've missed spending time with Mercedes, your Mami is great and I love getting to know Blaine and Kurt. But most of all, I love spending as much time as I can with you."
"You know I feel the same Lucy Q."
They can both feel the energy between them shifting so Santana takes this as a sign to get out of the car and open Quinn's door. Quinn exits the car gracefully and Santana walks her to the doorstep.
"Goodnight Q." She says as Quinn's leans in and presses a kiss to her cheek.
"Goodnight my Tana."
Quinn's enters the house and as Santana drives home, she can't wipe the massive smile from her face.