A/N: I had to look it up but the Ring Doorbell was available in 2013.

This is not quite a filler chapter but I'm not sure it's a necessary chapter either. I like it. A lot. A lot a lot. Hopefully, you will find it interesting. It is obnoxiously long because I didn't want to split it up.

This was also a completely unexpected chapter. It was not in my initial "sweet, simple College AU" plan.

The plan that was obliterated approximately 60? chapters ago.

I just looked back. Yup. Chapter 5, page 21 is where I lost control of this thing.

(for those of you wondering; Santana's nightmare after Brittany heard her sing for the first time was completely unplanned; the chapter should have ended after this sentence: Santana turned off the bedside lamp and snuggled under her covers. She smiled to herself; thinking about Brittany cuddling her made her feel safe and didn't send her into a panic.)

It snowballed from there – going in so many directions that I hadn't planned for and now it's here; yet another unplanned for direction.

Hopefully, you're still with me and as interested in seeing where it goes as I am. :)

The only thing I know for SURE … is how it ends.

Fun Fact: I saw a movie that I cannot remember ANYTHING about. Except the fact that an assassin shot someone through the peephole. It has caused this irrational fear of peepholes that I have shifted to Santana.

The bold italics are purposeful; the words from her Abuelo are in Spanish.

The Spanish names I use throughout this story (and, pretty much any time I need a Spanish name) come from various family members. (Not that anyone asked.)

Except the Lopezes; those I usually just make up because I really don't want to insult my dead ancestors by making them jerks. ;)

Santana having a large vocabulary but speaking too fast to be understood is something I was told I did and is something that my nephew also did.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Chapter 66

Xoxoxoxoxoxo

3 Weeks Later

Santana's POV

Santana was alone in the apartment for the first time since the attack; Quinn, Brittany, and Daniel had been relentless in "protecting" her. She appreciated their concern but she had started to feel suffocated; she hadn't actually been alone in three weeks.

She had been enjoying the quiet, the solitude, until a knock at the door caused her to tense up. The landlord had put in a solid door with a peephole but Santana refused to use the peephole; she knew it was irrational but she'd seen a movie once where an assassin shot someone through the peephole. Brittany and Quinn had rolled their eyes but had agreed that a Ring doorbell would not be a bad idea. When she checked the feed, a mail carrier was standing on the landing with a thick envelope in her hand.

Santana opened the door.

"Santana Lopez?"

"I'm Santana."

"Sign here, please."

Once she'd locked the door back up, she went into the living room and stared at the envelope. It was from the law office of Miguel Gallego, a lawyer in Dayton, OH.

Santana's mother had given her the number of the trust lawyer, Santana had called him, and he'd given her Miguel's number. Miguel had seemed impressed that Santana had figured things out so soon. Her abuelo had made it a bit of challenge to find him before her twenty-fifth birthday, before she married, or before she had a child. If any of those events occurred, Chester Partacz, the trust attorney, would contact Miguel. Chester, apparently, had been keeping tabs on Santana; especially in light of the misuse of her trust fund.

Miguel had asked a few questions, then told her he was sending a woman by the name of Calleigh Quinton to speak with her. Calleigh was a private investigator and would verify Santana's identity and set up a passcode for Santana to use when speaking with Miguel.

It was all very cloak and daggery in Santana's mind but she simply followed the lawyer's instructions and then waited for this envelope. It would answer her questions and give her the information she needed to claim the rest of her inheritance.

The rest of her inheritance.

Quinn had been right; there was more money. Julio and Carmela hadn't known where to find it or where it had gone but they had known that Carlos hadn't left them everything and that Santana's trust fund wasn't all he'd left her.

She opened the top flap and pulled out the sheaf of papers from inside. The top sheet was a handwritten note … in her abuelo's handwriting.

August 18, 2009

My dearest Santana,

If you are reading this, I have passed on and you are either twenty-five, married, or have had a child.

Or, my wife and son have been incredibly stupid and have done something that led you – my exceedingly clever granddaughter – (quite probably with the help of your equally clever best friend) to find out about this "secret" trust.

You can trust Miguel and Chester; they are old friends.

I hope you are happy, safe, and loved. I have done all that I could to secure your future. The following pages … I do not know why I started writing to you when you were born, and I had not planned on you seeing them, but I leave these musings to you.

I leave them because I want you to know that, no matter what else has happened or may happen – I love you. I am proud of you.

Always mi corazon,

Abuelo

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

July 23, 1995

You were born today; a beautiful child with dark inquisitive eyes and a feisty temperament. I am enchanted by you.

I do not trust your father or grandmother. I do not like the way they look at you. I will do my best to protect you always, mi corazon.

You are perfect.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

July 23, 1996

You turned one today and are as bright as a new penny. Your dark eyes see so much and your mind thirsts for information.

Your first word was – dat? – as you pointed to various items; you wish to know what everything is. If our answer does not satisfy your curiosity, you demand dat? again, until we give you a satisfactory answer.

Your father and grandmother … they do not see you for the amazing child you are. He is my son and she is my wife but … I do not like either of them very much.

Your intelligence comes from my mother – your great-grandmother. Emosinda Vasquez was one of the smartest women – people – I have ever known and you remind me so much of her. There is a look that comes to your eyes as you are figuring out something in the world around you that reminds me of how she would look when she was working on a particularly difficult puzzle. Your temper, my darling girl, is all your abuela, I am sorry to say. I am hoping that you will not also inherit her venom.

You did not do what most children do as you were presented with your small cupcake and lit candle. You did not reach for the candle but looked at it as though it was a new life form. You pointed at it and asked – dat? – and your mother told you it was a candle and it was hot.

Your nose scrunched in the most adorable fashion; I think you were trying to scowl. Your mother showed you how to blow and you made a most valiant attempt before yelling at it when it failed to go out.

You poked at the frosting and put the tip of your finger into your mouth; upon discovering how sweet it was, you made a face and ate the cake but not much of the frosting.

Your mother and I have grown close in our love and protection for you.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

July 23, 1997

You are two today.

You continue to amaze me. So very smart. You shy away from your father and grandmother; as though you already know they do not like you. I am completely baffled by their … annoyance? … toward you. No, you are not a boy, but you are an amazing child. Still so inquisitive. You had been speaking a lot of nonsense words and Teresa was concerned that perhaps your hearing was impaired, so she took you to a doctor. It turns out, your vocabulary is well above where it should be – in both Spanish and English – you simply talk too fast for anyone to understand what you are saying; it comes out garbled. Which explains your exasperation with those of us who are not as smart as you as you try to explain the toy you are holding, the bird you have seen, or the flower you are smelling.

I spend as much time as I can with you and you seem to like spending time with me as well. I hope that never changes, mi corazon.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

July 23, 1998

You are three today.

Time moves so quickly. You are growing up so fast and every day you learn something new but you also teach me something new.

You are brave and fierce. You have not learned not to test your father – or maybe you know you should not test him, but do it anyway – and are always scowling at his arbitrary "rules". I tell you this now, on paper, never in front of him … his rules are meant to break you – to bend you to his will.

Your mother and I do our best to undo all his injustices toward you. I believe we must be doing something right – because you still have not learned.

I love you so very much, my wonderful girl. Please never forget that your abuelo loves you.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

July 23, 1999

You are four today.

You are small for your age but fiercely independent. "I will do it." has become your favorite phrase. In Spanish. You speak both languages incredibly well and you make me laugh so much when you insist on mixing them because you like the Spanish word for something better than the "ugly" English word. Your word, not mine, when I ask you why you used a certain Spanish word in the middle of an English sentence. You simply reply "uggy".

Your smile could light up the darkest room and your eyes are mesmerizing when you choose to stare. Your mother insisted on putting you into a Pre-K program this year because you were too smart for her to teach at home anymore – her words, not mine.

You are so loved, my darling girl. I hope you always know that.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

July 23, 2000

You are five today.

In two months you will start kindergarten and you are already ahead of where most children your age are. You are bilingual; you can count to one hundred in both languages and know the ABCs of both languages. You recognize the letters and numbers when written, though you cannot write them yourself. You know the colors in both languages.

The administrator of the school suggested putting you directly into first grade but your mother was adamant that you would start as "normal" – if you became bored by year one or two – she would revisit the idea. She is worried because you are still so small for your age and she doesn't want to hamper your social growth.

We shall see where the road takes us.

A new millennia dawns and you are at the beginning of it – there are so many exciting things and you wish to learn them all. NOW!

You still make me laugh. You have few friends. More … acquaintances. You have told me, in a very no-nonsense way, that most girls are silly and boys are stupid and smell funny. If you ever find someone who isn't silly or stupid, you will have a friend.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

July 23, 2001

You are six today.

You will enter first grade this year, so far ahead of your classmates but you have never wielded that as a weapon; you have never lorded it over them.

Your Kindergarten teacher told your mother that, despite not having "friends", you often help anyone who is struggling.

You helped Bobby with his letters and Kelly when she got frustrated with the computer.

You are truly special.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

September 15, 2001

You came home today with a scowl and a note from your teacher. You had tackled a boy to the ground and yelled at him in Spanish. When your mother asked, you said he was a bully and had knocked your friend over and you did not like that.

Your mother and I were puzzled because we knew of no friends. When she asked you who this friend was and why did we not know her you huffed and, in the most exasperated tone you could muster, told us "because she wasn't my friend yet. Her name is Quinn and she is my best friend."

And that was that. You had a best friend named Quinn who wasn't your friend when you defended her against a boy that was almost twice your size.

I knew, from that moment forward, you were nothing like your abuela. You become more and more like your bis-abuela every year.

I am so proud of the bright, fierce, independent, amazing person you are proving to be.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

July 23, 2002

You are seven today.

Quinn has become a permanent fixture in your life. You talk about her all the time and scowl at your father and abuela when they ask about boys. "Boys are stupid and smell funny" is your standard response. "Quinn is smart and smells like cookies." It is that simple for you.

As I watch you at the park, on the playground, when we are at the mall – I wonder. I worry. Not because you may like girls but because of what that will mean for you.

Perhaps I am seeing more than there is, perhaps not.

I love you. I am proud of you.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

July 23, 2003

You are eight today.

You asked me to take you and Quinn to the zoo. "Mami can come, too, if she wants." You seem to have grown wary of your mother. I think it is because you cannot see what it is she does. You see her silently acquiescing to your father. You do not see her whisper in my ear.

Know that you are loved and protected. I will do so for as long as I am able as will your mother.

We are not unaware of your father and abuela's disdain for you.

The four of us had a wonderful time at the zoo. You and Quinn are, most likely, going to be life-long friends.

I am happy about this. I have a feeling you are going to need her. I also have a feeling that she will be there for you when you do.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

July 23, 2004

You are nine today.

Quinn is still the only person you call "friend" but there are a few boys and girls that you tolerate and they all came for your party today.

You are a flame and the moths flock to you. They all want to be your friend. They want you to be theirs. But you hold yourself away from them. Only Quinn is allowed to hug you. Only Quinn knows your secrets; though many others tell you theirs. They tell you because they trust you to keep them; and you do.

The boys are starting to notice you. Notice how pretty you are, how beautiful your eyes are. You are still not interested.

You show no interest in girls, either, however. Even Quinn, your best friend, does not elicit any interest in the manner your abuela and father are pushing you to be interested in a "nice boy".

I hope you do not marry young. I hope I am around to thwart any attempts to force you into an early marriage. I hope you take that big brain and giant heart out into the world and blaze a trail so bright it can be seen from space.

You are so much more than a brood mare, my girl. I hope you never do not know that.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

July 23, 2005

You are ten today.

It seems you will always be small for your age. You never let that deter you from doing what you want. You have become an avid and accomplished gymnast. You love to sing and your voice – oh, that voice!

Your mother has put you into singing lessons much to the annoyance of your father and the anger of your abuela. I am still here, though. Still able to silence them. Which I will do for as long as I am able.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

July 23, 2006

You are eleven today.

Smarter than anyone even knows. I know, though. I see. You have retreated behind a wall. You have, however, left a door open for me. And Quinn is allowed behind it.

You have become aloof. Secretive is not quite right. You are not hiding, exactly. You are simply not allowing anyone to know who you are.

I am beginning to believe my earlier thought was right. I am sorry, mi corazon. Sorry because I know the difficult road you will tread. You need only survive until you are eighteen; after that, you will be free of the two people who are supposed to love you but who would harm you because of who you are attracted you; who you love.

It is not a choice. It is who you are. If I am wrong, I apologize. If I am right; I love you and I am proud of you. You are bright, fierce, loyal. You are independent and smart. Even after eleven years, I am still completely enchanted by you.

Your abuela and father mutter about me being wrapped around your finger. Perhaps I am. Perhaps, however, that is exactly how I wish to be.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

July 23, 2007

You are twelve today.

A girl named Tanya has begun to make an appearance in some of your stories.

"She's really pretty, abuelo. She has the softest blonde curls and the most beautiful blue eyes."

When I ask if she is your friend, "Oh, no, abuelo. She can't be. I don't think she's very nice even though she is very pretty. She was mean to a smaller girl yesterday. I don't like that."

You do, however, mention her often.

When I met her at the park, I could see that she would not make a good friend. She is the type of girl who uses her looks as a weapon.

I think, my sweet girl, that you are very wise. I think you know more about people than any of us know and that is why you hold your father and abuela at bay and your mother at arm's length. You can trust your mother – but you haven't seen the proof of that so you are wary.

So smart. So wise beyond your years.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

July 23, 2008

You are thirteen today.

You have begun to develop and the boys are definitely noticing, much to your father and abuela's delight.

I have told them both that you are too smart to settle early for some useless boy with no future. You should go to college.

Your father took that to mean that I thought you would find a "better class of boy" to be your husband.

What I actually meant, my darling girl, was that you should go to college and never look back.

That is why I made sure to create a trust fund when you were born and have continued to put money into it. Your abuelito, Diego, never liked your father. A smart man, Diego. He also set up a trust fund that your father and abuela cannot touch. Between the two funds, your future is secure and you can get as far away from Lima as you wish.

I may be naive but I am not stupid. You do not get as far in this life as I have by being stupid. Your father and abuela will raid that fund as soon as I am no longer around to monitor them. You will be okay, though. I have a secret fund set up for you; one they do not know about and will not be able to find. Even if they can find it, they will not be able to touch it.

I have done as much as I can to keep you safe, mi corazon. Your mother will continue to make sure you stay as safe as possible … sadly, she is not in the position of power that I am.

I am not sure I will make it to your next birthday. The tumor is inoperable; I could last five years, I could go tomorrow.

I already miss you.

Do not let them beat you. You are smart and beautiful. Your smile could light up the world. Your eyes are incredibly mysterious – if only someone would take the time to find out what lives behind them.

Do not ever settle for less than everything you are worth. And you, my wonderful girl, are priceless.

I love you, I am proud of you.

Ever your abuelo.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

July 23, 2009

You are fourteen today.

You and Quinn made the cheerleading squad as freshmen! This is unheard of from Sue Sylvester. I am so very proud of you both.

I heard Quinn talking about how this will guarantee you will not be bullied.

I laughed at that because, honestly, I can not imagine anyone brave enough to tempt fate and your temper.

You seem … if not happy … more than content.

Quinn is still your only friend. You trust her completely and she has never given you reason not to. You hold everyone else at a safe distance.

You are wary of your mother but you seem to not know what, exactly, to make of her. You believe her to be weak but she is one of the strongest women I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. All she does – she does for you.

You do not hold me away from you, but you do not trust me with your biggest secret. It has become more obvious as you've gotten older. "I don't have time for a boyfriend" is an excellent way to keep your father and abuela at bay. I have managed to convince your father that you should go to college and get an education. It truly is the only thing he stands up to his mother about.

I failed him. Or, perhaps, I failed her and that is why she brought him up to be as self-centered as she is.

I will never know in this life; perhaps in the next.

You are strong and brave, my wonderful girl. You are smart and witty with a cutting sense of humor and a firm grasp of sarcasm. I am as much in awe of you today as I was the day I first held you. You still enchant me.

You are perfect in every way. I love you. I am so very proud of the young woman I can see you becoming.

I hope that the woman that captures your heart is worthy of it.

I suspect she will be. I do not think you will be taken in by a pretty face with an ugly heart. I also know that, if by some chance you are, Quinn will make quick work of her.

Be happy, mi corazon. Do not let those two malcontents dictate your happiness. They are nothing but faded threads in the brilliant tapestry of your life.

I will not see your next birthday. Know that, if it is at all possible, I will be watching over you and, in those times when everything seems impossible, my voice will find your heart and encourage you to keep fighting.

All my love

Always

Abuelo