After everyone is again seated, the jury, Russell, with the bailiffs and the the Judge all re-enter the room.
The jury speaker rises and the judge asks the question the whole family have been desperate to hear the answer to.
"Have the jury reached a collective decision?"
"Yes, your honour."
"How do you find the defendant in the case of child abuse, neglect and endangerment?" He asks sternly.
"We, the jury, find the defendant guilty your honour."
"How do you find the defendant in the case of assault of a minor?"
"Guilty, your honour."
The Lopez family cheer and Quinn turns to lock eyes with her girlfriend smiling.
Santana sees a movement throughout her peripheral vision to her left and jumps forward. She was only sitting in the row behind Quinn so she pushes the blonde behind her as she's tackled by a suit of orange.
"You spic, this is your fault! She never would have said anything if you didn't stick your nose where it wasn't wanted! You stupid dyke." Russell screams in her face from above her.
Santana had been doing a good job of dodging his punches but he managed to land one right on her nose veering to the left and then another one on her right cheek bone.
Before he was able to to anymore damage, Russell is lifted by two large men off of the Latina and restrained.
The judge is banging his gavel screaming, "Order! Order!" He awaits till things quiet down again. Santana has stood by this point and Quinn is clinging to her, asking if she's okay, to which the brunette brushes it off.
"I have never seen such a disgrace in my court room! Mr. Fabray, your actions just now have just changed my sentencing." He looks over to the scribe, "I want all of that recorded in this case."
"Mr. Fabray, I have just witnessed another case of attacking a minor. I therefore sentence you to 10 years in federal prison, with at least serving 6 before parole can be discussed. Case dismissed." He finishes before slamming his gavel back down.
"Are you okay, lovebug?" Quinn whimpers from her girlfriend's side, slowly caressing her face.
"I'm fine Q. He didn't do half as much damage as last time." She laughs trying to lighten the mood but Quinn still looks as sad.
"You won't see him for a long time now Lucy Q. You're safe. Be thankful that this went your way. One parent down, one to go ay?" She jokes, still trying to get the blonde to laugh, at which she receives a light giggle.
"Miss Lopez?" They hear from behind them and see the judge beckoning her over.
"Yes, your honour?"
"I would just like to say that that was incredible, what you just did for Miss. Fabray. There is no doubt in my mind that that man is guilty. If you don't mind me asking, where is the mother?" He asks quietly, as not to be overheard.
"She was around here somewhere. Judy is becoming an issue for Quinn. She's been gone since the night Russell was arrested and only popped up yesterday."
"Gone? What do you mean, where has Miss. Fabray been staying?"
"With us. My Mami happily took her in when everything went sour, she just wanted to make sure she was safe."
"Well if you have any more issues with Mrs. Fabray, I'd like to deal with that personally. I am more than certain that she will have known this was happening." To which Santana nods. He hands her a card before shaking her hand, "If you need me, contact that number. I believe you're going into the US Army?"
"That is correct your honour." She replies.
"You are going to be a wonderful solider. Now I have to go, but you keep that girl safe, she's been through enough."
"Of course, thank you." She finishes.
The judge nods and then leaves.
Santana reproaches the others, who have been watching the interaction. "Celebratory dinner at breaksticks, on me?"
Everyone cheers and Kurt and Mercedes agree to meet them there and everyone starts to make their way towards the car park.
Quinn interlaces their fingers and pulls Santana behind so they're standing face to face. "What was all that about?"
Santana moves closer and cups one of Quinn's cheeks. "Nothing for you to worry about darling. He just said it was brave to take a hit for you."
"I wish you would stop that, it breaks my heart to see you hurt." The blonde says, avoiding the other girls eyes.
Santana pulls her chin back up and smiles gently, "He's gone now, so I don't have to. But I would take on a punch from every person in this world if it meant you were safe." She replies, leaning in to place a soft kiss to Quinn's lips. "I will always protect you." She whispers against them before pulling her girlfriend into her side and beginning walking again.
"I love you so much Tana." Quinn says, tucking herself further into Santana's side.
"I love you more, Lucy Q."
Once they arrive home, after their dinner, Maribel says that Kurt and Mercedes can stay and that they'll all have breakfast together in the morning.
Santana shows Kurt to her room downstairs, since she said she's been sleeping with Quinn anyway and Blaine shows Mercedes to his room and he'll sleep on the couch.
The five of them go to get changed into pyjamas, Kurt and Mercedes are given some borrowed clothes and all head off into separate rooms.
Quinn is changing when she notices Santana leaving on her compression shorts. She wanders over and slips her thumbs into the band of them, "Baby, take these off. They're hurting you." She says, looking down at the indents left on tanned skin.
"Q, you know I can't do that, not while the others are here." She sighs.
"You can, if you wear boxers and some baggy pyjama bottoms, you won't be able to see anything. Plus, Kurt and Cedes are not going to be looking. We can snuggle under a blanket and they'll be none the wiser. Please?" She pleads.
Quinn knows that if Kurt and Mercedes found out that they wouldn't care and they also wouldn't tell anyone else but she's not sure Santana trusts them that much yet. She just wants her girlfriend to be comfortable in her own home.
The blonde pads over to the dresser and pulls out a clean pair of boxers and the largest pyjama bottoms she can find. "Just try, let me see and if I can see anything, even slightly, you can put them back on."
Santana huffs and removes the compression shorts, changing into the clothes handed to her. She turns to look in the mirror and sees that nothing is conspicuous.
Quinn stands behind her and wraps her arms around her waist, slipping her hands in the band of the pants and boxers of the Latina, softly slipping one hand around her dick. She kisses behind Santana's ear and whispers, "I told you you wouldn't be able to see anything." Squeezing the appendage teasingly.
Santana gently wraps her hands around the pale wrists and removes them from her boxers and turns in the blondes arms. "If you keep doing that, Lil S won't have any choice but to make an appearance." She says.
"Would that be such a bad thing? I mean we're still alone." The blonde husks, leaning in for a kiss.
Just then, they're interrupted, "San, Q are you ready? We're going to watch a film." Blaine calls.
Santana just laughs and pulls a hoodie from the still shared wardrobe, to which Quinn steals it with a big grin, "What? It's my favourite." She says innocently.
"It's my favourite too!" Santana jests.
"Well it's mine now, deal with it." The blonde laughs, slipping the hoodie on, giving Santana a wink and leaving the room.
The Latina grabs another one and walks down the stairs, mumbling to herself, "Can't even wear my own clothes now, what next?"
Quinn is already sitting on the loveseat, beneath a blanket. Kurt, Blaine and Mercedes are on the couch and Maribel is on the single recliner chair.
A movie was already on the start menu, but Santana took no notice, not bothered about what they are watching, she's just content to be here, with these people and for today to have gone the best it could for the love of her life.
She slumps down next to Quinn, who is holding the blanket open for her and lays on her back, allowing the blonde to snuggle into her side with her head on her chest.
Santana makes sure the blanket is covering her girlfriend before placing a kiss to the top of her head.
I couldn't be happier than this, right now.
Around half way through the film, Santana feels a small vibration on her chest and looks down to see Quinn snoring softly.
She decides that it'll be best to take her to bed before everyone starts shuffling around and wakes her up.
The Latina shuffles her way out from beneath the sleeping body and announces she's going to take Quinn to bed so that she can rest.
She lifts the girl up, bridal style, which instantly causes Quinn to wrap her arms subconsciously around Santana's neck, resting her head on her shoulder.
When she gets up the stairs and into the room, she gently places Quinn down and tucks her in, pulling up the covers to under her chin, with a kiss on the forehead, then makes her way back downstairs.
Approximately 20 minutes later, the remaining 4 awake hear screaming coming from somewhere upstairs.
Santana flies up the stairs towards Quinn's room and the cries become clearer, "TANA! TANA WHERE ARE YOU?"
She bursts through the room and kneels down infront of the frantic blonde, running her fingers through her messy hair.
"It's okay baby, I'm right here. I was just downstairs, you're alright. Take deep breaths darling."
"I-I thou-thought you'd l-left me." She sobs.
Santana gets up and sits against the headboard, pulling the blonde into her lap. She kisses the top of her head repeatedly as she burrows in further.
"I would never leave you Lucy Q. I'm right here, I've got you."
Just then, Mercedes pops her head around the door, "Everything okay?"
Santana nods and mouths 'nightmare' to which Mercedes nods and leaves again.
"Will you lie with me?" The blonde says timidly.
"Of course, let's get you back under the covers." Santana replies, shifting them both so that they can get comfortable.
They lie on their sides facing each other, tangling their legs and Quinn wrapping her arms around Santana's waist, pulling her close.
The Latina kisses the tip of Quinn's nose before whispering, "I love you so much baby love. Get some sleep, I'll be right here."
To which Quinn's nestles her face into Santana's neck, her scent instantly calming and they both drift off into a deep sleep.
Quinn wakes another few times in the night, but when she realises she's still in the Latina's arms, she feels much better and quickly falls back into her slumber.
When she finally awakes in the morning, her hazel eyes flutter open to see her favourite chocolate orbs looking straight back at her.
"Good morning mi princesa." Santana says, pecking the end of Quinn's nose lightly.
"Morning lovebug." She replies softly, lifting her hand to Santana's black eye, that has bruised drastically over night.
The brunette notices her girlfriend's intense stare over her bruising, which she can only imagine doesn't look great.
"Hey, it's okay. It doesn't hurt." She smiles, trying to wash away the guilt she knows Quinn feels.
The pale hand moves from caressing under her eye to cup her cheek. "How long have you been awake?"
Santana shrugs, "I'm not sure. Not long I don't think."
Quinn frowns, "But you slept okay, right? Every time I woke up you looked asleep."
"I slept fine baby. You on the other hand, what was last night all about?" She says, leaning their foreheads together.
"I don't remember too well. I remember waking up terrified from my nightmare and you weren't here. I just had this feeling that I wasn't here anymore, maybe I was back at home and that you'd left me."
Santana shakes her head gently and pulls the other girl impossibly closer, kissing her forehead. "I'm always going to be here mi amor. I'm hoping these nightmares are going to lay off now the trial is over. I just want you to be okay."
"I'll be fine Tana. I think that now I don't need to think about it, they'll die off again."
Santana huffs, thinking this might be the best time to approach Quinn about seeking advice.
"Q?"
"Hmmm"
"What would you say if I suggested you go to therapy?" Santana asks warily.
Quinn pulls out from her neck and raises an inquisitive eyebrow, her HBIC look dropping into place.
"Before you give me that look and get defensive, I don't think anything is wrong with you. But I do think that speaking to someone might help with your nightmares and memories."
"You're suggesting that I see a shrink? Do you think I'm crazy or something? The nightmares, are they a problem for yo-"
"Lucy, no!" Santana cuts her off sitting up so that they can look at each other. "You are not crazy, nothing is wrong with you, you've just been through something traumatic for years! You are not a problem for me, you are my number one priority, I am worried about you and I want you to rest peacefully, not waking up screaming, sweating and panicked. I want what's best for you."
"I'm worried about you too, you don't sleep properly either." Quinn whispers, slipping her hand into Santana's t-shirt to rest it on the other girls stomach.
"I've always been restless. It happened when Mami and Papi got divorced and after the attack. But either way, when we're deployed, a full night's sleep will be non-existent anyway but I've been sleeping much better lately anyway."
Quinn looks down, thinking that they are the last thoughts she needs right now, Santana not being here in a couple years is hard enough to ignore anyway without any reminders.
"I really do just want what's best for you Q. I genuinely just want you to be at peace. At least just tell me you'll think about it, no commitment right now?" She pleads.
"I'll think about it but I aren't promising anything."
"That's all I'm asking baby love." Santana replies, slowly leaning down for a kiss. "Come on, Mami said we'd have breakfast, I'll see if she needs help."
The Latina gets out of bed and pulls her hair up into a messy bun, making her way towards the door, "Tana?" She hears and turns around with a small smile and a 'hmmmm'.
"I love you, I love you so so much." Quinn speaks shyly.
Santana's smile grows and she pads back over to the bed side, pulling Quinn into her arms, "I love you so much more my darling. You're my everything." She replies, causing Quinn to smile brightly, brighter than she's smiled in weeks.
Santana pulls back, kissing Quinn, "Come on, let's go." She says when the kiss breaks, leading them downstairs.