AN: Hi guys! Hope everyone had a great Christmas and a happy new year! I managed to get one more trip in to Brussels to bring in 2023 so I've been delayed but hopefully more regular updates can start coming out!
It's three days before Quinn hears anything from Santana. She's been moping around, she eats when forced to and barely speaks.
Mercedes and Kurt have been around a lot and trying to keep her company.
By the third morning, Cedes literally dragged her out of the bed and forced her towards the shower and as she got out, she could hear Mercedes on the phone.
"How's it going?" She heard Cedes say.
"I'm glad girl. Q's just in the shower.."
"Yeah, I am, don't worry.."
Just then Quinn opens the bedroom door and Cedes face lights up.
"San.. she's here. I'll put her on now." She finishes, gesturing for Quinn to take the phone.
Quinn takes it with a shaking hand and raises it to her ear, "Tana?" She whispers softly.
"Morning mi princesa."
And as soon as she hears her voice, she begins crying.
"Are you okay?" The blonde stutters.
"I'm fine baby love. How are you?"
"I miss you. Sleeping without you isn't the same."
"I know how you feel but you've nearly done a week. It won't be long now, you're doing great." Santana says encouragingly.
"How's Blaine?"
"I think he's good. We're in different places but I did get to speak to him. Tell me anyway, what have you been doing?"
Quinn sighs before replying, "I haven't done much yet, I've kind of being moping." She trails off quietly.
"It's okay pretty girl. You're still getting used to it, I am too but make sure you look after yourself, okay? Maybe start packing up." Santana says sincerely.
"Yeah, I could do that I suppose.." Quinn pauses as she hears rustling in the background before Santana speaks again.
"I'm sorry baby, I've got to go. Mercedes has a present from me for you, ask her, okay? I love you Lucy Q, so much."
"I love you too lovebug, come home soon."
"I promise mi amor. Goodbye."
Quinn feels a breath relief when the phone call ends, she knows now that Santana is okay, she's genuinely just missed her voice.
She continues getting ready and then heads down to meet the other two.
She smiles for the rest of the day, the three of them head to the mall and when they return she remembers what Santana said.
"Cedes? Tana said you had a present for me?"
"I was wondering when you were going to ask about that!" She laughs in response.
She walks into Santana's old bedroom and comes back with a small box. Mercedes hands it over to Quinn who is sitting in the love seat, wrapped in the blanket she and Santana always share.
When Quinn opens it, there is a jar but before she gets to that, there is an envelope on the top.
She picks it up delicately and reads the front 'Lucy Q".
Gently pulling the flap open, she slides out the piece of paper revealing the familiar penmanship.
Hey Pretty Girl,
I hope Cedes did as I asked and kept this for a few days before giving it to you.
I just wanted to let you know that I'm thinking about you and that everything's going to be okay.
I wanted to leave something with you that would remind you of me, but I can already be certain that you're either dressed in my clothes, lying in our bed or wrapped up in our shared blanket right now. Don't worry, I'd be doing the same if this situation was reversed.
So instead of any of them things, I leave you something that you can use any time you need a 'pick me up'.
I hope you're doing okay, I was worried before I left but I know that you'll adapt, you're the strongest person I know, it's one of the million things I love about you.
I'm sure you'll find out the rest soon.
Anyway, look after yourself please. I'll need you more than ever when I'm back.
Know that I love you more than anything, baby love.
Forever and always,
Your Tana x
Tears fall from Quinn's eyes as she reads and re-reads the letter.
She finally places it down and reaches into the box, pulling out a large jar, with a sticker on the front and her girlfriend's handwriting scrawled across it,
'A million reasons why I love you.'
Around the lid is a thin piece of string with a label dangling, it reads, 'Pick one out when you need reminding. I love you.'
Tears continue to fall as she intakes the fact that Santana has spent all this time arranging something that is going to help her when she's struggling.
How did I get so lucky?
Mercedes and Kurt are smiling like idiots, obviously already knowing what the gift contains.
"She needs to start educating some boys so that I can find me one of those." Mercedes laughs as Kurt just blushes.
"Come on then! Tell us what the first one says, but after that, you need to savour them!" Kurt squeals excitedly.
Quinn dips her hand into the jar and pulls out a piece of folded paper, she unravels it to find the words, 'I love the way your eyes twinkle when you're passionate about something'. She reads aloud, to which the others coo.
"Oh my god she might just be the most perfect thing to exist. I would turn straight for her." Kurt laughs and then realises what he's said.
Mercedes and Quinn giggle along with him, as Quinn carefully puts the jar down, putting the read note into the container box, somewhere that she'll be keeping all of them.
She manoeuvres to go and sit between the two, they each grab a hand and she leans her head on Cedes shoulder.
"I miss them, it's so quiet here without them both." She murmurs.
"I know what you mean, this place is usually a mad house." Mercedes laughs as Kurt stays quiet.
Quinn notices and turn to him, "Kurt, are you okay?"
He looks up with tear filled eyes, "Can I tell you both something?"
They both look towards him before nodding. He sits up straight and takes a deep breath.
"I've been dating Blaine. For about four months now." He says, stunning the two girls.
But they soon recover and tackle him in a hug.
"Oh my god that's great! How? When? Who?"
"Well I've always had a crush on him but then he dated, you know.. her and I thought that he was straight.
We got to talking one night and he told me that he was actually bi, but only Maribel and Santana knew. I'm assuming it's something he knew before coming here and just didn't feel the need to announce it.
Well anyway, he started telling me how great I was, what a great smile I have and asked if he could take me on a date, it went from there really." Kurt blushes.
"Oh honey's, is there any more Lopez children out there because I need to find me one because both of these are perfect?" Mercedes laughs, causing the other two to giggle and blush.
Meanwhile, while the three back in Lima are cooing over the Lopez's, Santana and Blaine are running drills in the mud, in the rain, with rucksacks baring their body weight in them.
The two are in the top 5 in the class in every exercise, proving their worthiness.
By the end of the days, they are exhausted and are passing out on small camping beds, but it is definitely preparing them for the career they've signed up for.
Every night, Santana takes the photo of her and Quinn from her pocket, tells her about her day and that she loves her, before kissing it and tucking it back safely into her breast pocket, above her heart.
Two weeks later and with 3 days to go, Santana is feeling drained but knows that she is still doing well.
She's spoken to Quinn a few times and is due to speak to her again today, she's discovered over the past couple of calls that the blonde is sounding much better, which reassures her a lot. However, she is slightly worried about how that'll change when she's on tour and they won't get to speak as often.
Blaine has recently told Santana, (when bases were switched up, so that everyone got to compete against each other), about him and Kurt, to which Santana was ecstatic.
This was also great because Kurt and Quinn could relate to each other whilst living together.
It's now 7:55AM and her call with Quinn is due in five minutes, so she makes her way towards the phone, when she bumps into someone.
"Hey, sorry about tha-" She starts to say before she looks up at a man who is almost nearly double her height and build.
"Not a problem sweet thing, I didn't see you down there." He laughs to himself, which definitely doesn't impress Santana.
She decides to ignore him and starts to walk around the body when he grabs her arm, "You don't get to walk away.."
Santana grabs his arm and twists it effortlessly into an arm bar, she leans in closely to his ear whilst he whimpers in pain, "I do get to walk away you dick and I'm definitely not your 'sweet thing'. Try this with me or any of the other girls again and I'll fucking destroy you, okay?"
He nods rapidly as she releases him and he runs away.
She continues her way to the phone and as she reaches it, it turns 8AM so she instantly dials the number.
There is two rings before her favourite raspy voice echos through the receiver, "Tana?"
"Morning mi princesa, how are you?"
"I'm okay, looking forward to you coming home. I'm glad to hear your voice, how are you? You sound tired?" She asks concerned.
"I am a little but I'm good. I'm glad to hear you're alright, I've been missing you." She says quietly at the end.
"I miss you too lovebug. You'll be back soon though, right?"
"Right. I can't wait to hold you."
Quinn blushes on the other end of the phone before re-composing herself.
"I just can't wait to share a bed again, it's like I need you here to rest."
"I know how you feel, it's so lonely in these camp beds." Santana laughs.
"I'm sorry about that baby." As she finishes, she realises that she had news over the past couple days.
"Tana! I didn't get to tell you my news." She says excitedly, making Santana smile brighter than she has the past few days.
"What is it baby love?"
"We got our move in date. We can start moving in a week on Monday, you'll be here then, right?"
"I will definitely be there to help you Q. Have you made any arrangements?"
"I know Mama has booked a couple days off work so she can help and Mr. and Mrs. Jones and Burt are also helping. So you and Blaine can help to?"
"Q, don't worry you're pretty little head, okay? We're both going to be home in a few days, we will definitely be there to help you move."
Just then Santana can hear a Sargeant shouting from behind her, "Lopez!"
"Listen baby, the Sargeant is after me so I need to go. I love you so much and I'll see you soon!" She rushes out.
"I love you Tana, so much. Be safe, bye."
"Bye Q." Santana finishes before putting the phone down and rushes in the direction of the shouting.
She stops as she sees the Sargeant and straightens up, "Here, sir."
"Ah, there you are. Phone call?" He questions, to which Santana nods.
"Very well, follow me." He states and starts to walk away, Santana following him quickly.
They enter his office, where Sargeant Hull sits and Santana stands in front of his desk in formation.
"I just wanted to congratulate you. You have some of the best scores I've ever seen Lopez, it's really quite impressive. You stay like this and you'll be flying through the ranks."
"Thank you sir. That's very nice of you to say."
"Just know that you'll be graduating top of your class, it's something to be extremely proud of. I hope that everyone at home feels the same. Your brother was also in the top 5, the pair of you are going be great additions to the US army."
"Thank you Sargeant. We're both happy to serve."
"Glad to hear it. Now get back to the last of your training."
"Yes Sir." Santana salutes before leaving the office and making her way back to her bunk, where she slumps down on her cot.
It's finally the day for the siblings to go home, they've packed up their bags and are currently sitting in the transport on the way to the airport.
The final day consists of a small graduation ceremony where the new soldiers are awarded their ranks.
So, still on their high, the two make their way through the airport to find their flight back to Ohio.
They haven't advised anyone of what time they're coming in, they actually told them they have a late flight, so that this will be a surprise.
Soon, they're settled in and both fall asleep within seconds of resting their heads, exhausted from the past few weeks.
The flight attendant wakes them just before landing and they prepare themselves for their normality to kick back in.
They leave the plane, grab their bags and Santana hails a cab, they jump in and sit through their 45 minute journey home chatting about their experiences.
When they pull up outside the house, they see Maribel's and Mercedes cars in the driveway, letting them know that all four people, that they are desperate to see, are inside the house.
They pay the driver, grab their bags and ring the doorbell.
It is answered by Mercedes, who wordlessly pulls them into a simultaneous hug, knowing that the two will want to make this a surprise.
After a few seconds, Maribel speaks up, "Mercedes, who was at the door?" She says coming in to view.
Santana and Blaine both making a hushing motion and Maribel nods before again hugging them both and kissing their heads.
They make it quick and move into the foyer, Santana and Blaine setting their bags down quietly before following Cedes and Maribel into the living room, standing behind their significant others.
Maribel casually walks back around the couch with Mercedes until Quinn asks, "Who was it Mama?"
Mari grins, "Special delivery." She says, nodding behind Quinn and Kurt, who are still clueless.
Quinn whips her head around and smiles so brightly, it looks as though her cheeks will break.
She runs the short distance and jumps into Santana's waiting arms, tightly wrapping her arms and legs around the strong body of her girlfriend.
The blonde buries her head in a tanned neck, inhaling her smell deeply, cherishing being back in the arms of her love.
Santana feels wetness on her neck and kisses the top of Quinn's head repeatedly.
She looks over and sees Blaine and Kurt hugging tightly and it makes her smile.
She squeezes Quinn tighter, which causes the pale girl to look up.
The hazel orbs she's missed so much, analysing every part of her face, probably for injuries.
Quinn cups tanned cheeks and strokes them delicately.
"Why didn't you tell me you were coming back now?" She speaks quietly.
"I wanted to surprise you baby love. Do you want me to go back?" She asks with a cheeky grin and a raise of her eyebrow.
Quinn crashes their lips together for a lingering kiss before pulling back slightly so their lips are brushing.
"Don't you dare." She whispers before pecking her plump lips again.
When they've finished, Santana places her back on the floor and Quinn drags them over to the love seat, where she gently pushes Santana down and sits on her knee, resting a head on her girlfriends shoulder, curling into her.
Santana just pulls her in tighter as they all spend the rest of the day catching up.
Quinn never letting Santana out of her sight.
Around 8 o'clock, Santana decides that she's going to take a bath considering she's been in communal showers for the past few weeks and Quinn goes with her.
The Latina starts the bath and then wanders into the now bare bedroom, where her girlfriend is sitting on the bed.
"You want to join me baby love?"
"Are you sure? Don't you want to just relax?"
"I will relax more with you in my arms." She grins cheekily, which makes Quinn blush.
They both strip and Santana lowers herself in the bath first and holds out a supportive hand to help Quinn.
The blonde settles between her legs and leans back, resting her head on a tanned shoulder.
Quinn sighs in contentment, feeling completely relaxed for the first time since Santana left.
Santana can feel Quinn relax in her arms and wraps them tightly around her midsection.
Quinn takes a tanned hand in her own and mindlessly places with her fingers. Santana realising just now how much she's missed her girlfriend.
She places a soft kiss on Quinn's shoulder and asks, "What's wrong pretty girl?"
Quinn turns her neck slightly to place a peck on Santana's lips, "Nothings wrong lovebug. I'm just so happy you're home."
"I'm happy to be home too."
They sit in the bath for a while in silence until the water starts to cool. They lovingly wash each other, Quinn noticing a couple of new bruises and scars on her girlfriend, before they get out of the bath, dry themselves and curl up in bed.
They both lie on their sides and Santana spoons Quinn from behind, both as close as they can possibly be.
"Goodnight mi amor, I love you." Santana whispers, leaving a soft kiss on Quinn's neck, who sighs contently.
"Goodnight baby. I love you too, so much." She replies, pulling tanned arms even tighter around her.