A/N: This story is getting close to the end now. Please keep reviewing if you're enjoying anything so far or have any thoughts to share. I'm enjoying all of your reviews. Thanks to everyone who has commented so far.
For once, Santana decided she should swallow her pride and go to see her mother. She didn't think she was wrong for being offended by how her mother had acted toward her and Brittany but she missed having her mother in her life.
Maribel was shocked to find her adult daughter standing on her doorstep with a timid but mostly unreadable expression on her face.
"Mami, can I come in?"
Her mother nodded without saying anything. Santana sat on the couch on one side of the room while her mother went to the armchair facing her on the opposite side. Santana bit her lip, wondering how she should say it. She eventually decided to just be completely honest and upfront even if her mother was going to be cold-hearted.
"I wanted to tell you in person that I proposed to Brittany and she said yes."
Maribel was still silent, not looking Santana in the eye but her daughter could tell from her body language that she was taken aback.
"Mom, I just really want you to be there for our wedding, when we do eventually tie the knot next summer. I know you probably hate me now but you're still my mom. I just want my family to be there as well, especially you even if no one else from our side is coming."
Santana swallowed nervously and looked away, wondering if her mother was ever going to speak to her again. Maybe it was a mistake to go to her at all. Maribel finally sighed, some of the tension finally leaving her face and turned to face her.
"Santana, I'm sorry I've been so harsh on you all the time. You really do love this woman, don't you?"
"I really do, Mom. She's everything to me."
"I can see that now. I like seeing this side of you. You're being so mature now," Maribel chuckled. "Maybe Brittany is a good influence on you after all."
"Does this mean you accept this now?"
"Let's just say I've resigned myself to the fact that you're going to do things your own way and I'll never be able to control that. All that matters is that you're happy. Besides, you know I really don't want to miss out on my grandchildren either."
Santana grinned, accepting the hug her mom pulled her into.
"I've also got some more plans about what I want to do for a career, even though it might take me some time. I- I want to study law."
"That's great news, Santana. I just wanted you to take some responsibility and have some direction in your life. Now, I see that you're really growing up into the person you had the potential to be. I want you to know I'm really proud of you."
"Proud of me? I haven't heard those words from you in ages." Santana snorted, very surprised to hear that.
"Your father and I should have told you that more often when you were younger," Maribel admitted, biting her lip. "I want to be there to help you and Brittany more with everything you'll need, just like Brittany's parents are. I'm sure your father will be there to support you all as well."
"Thanks, Mom," Santana was hesitant to ask about the other member of the family who had been on her mind. "I'm really glad to have you back and hopefully Dad too. What about abuela?"
"I'm so sorry, Love. You know how your grandmother is. She's an old fool about a lot of things but there's no changing her when she's this old. I just want you to know that your father and I are here for you."
"Forgive me for being rude if I say this but I'm so glad you've come to your senses."
"I suppose I deserve that one."
Maribel smiled wryly then walked out to Santana's car that was parked in the Lopezes' driveway, much to her daughter's surprise as she followed behind her.
"Hi, Brittany. I know you're here." Maribel walked over to the car, seeing the blonde in the passenger seat patiently waiting for her fiancée.
Brittany climbed out of the car hesitantly, seeing Santana walk over with her mom and wondering how everything had gone down.
At least it was a good sign that Maribel didn't appear to be angry and Santana was smiling, instead of being as devastated as she was after her last meeting with her mother. Brittany hung her head, staring down at her feet as a nervous shiver ran through her but she told herself she had to be strong even though she wasn't a confrontational person. She felt so scared and self-conscious.
"Mrs. Lopez, I'm sorry you don't think I'm smart enough for your daughter or successful enough. I know you think I'm weird but I really do love Santana more than anything-"
She was shocked when Maribel pulled her into a tight hug, or at least as close of a hug as she could when Brittany was so pregnant and cut off her rambling.
"We can talk about all of that later but first of all, how have you been, my dear?"
"I'm just really massive, as you can see and exhausted all the time," Brittany laughed, shifting her weight on her feet. "How are you, Mrs. Lopez?"
"Truthfully, I've been lonely, without my daughter and you. Brittany, I want to apologize to you personally. To both you and Santana. I misjudged you. I was too snobbish to you and made assumptions. Now I've seen that you really do love my daughter. You're loyal to her. Santana's grandmother might never change because that's just how she is. She can be so ignorant and foolish. I don't want to become like her. Family means everything to me and your baby deserves to have both sets of grandparents in his life."
Brittany nodded quietly, taken aback and not knowing what to say.
"I really do love Santana. I know you probably hated me or thought I wasn't good enough for her."
"In the past, I just wanted the best for my daughter and I thought I knew better than her. I didn't understand your uniqueness but Santana was right before, when she told me I was being a snob. I'm mature enough to admit when I've made a huge mistake and I want to try to be better. I hope you and my daughter can forgive me one day."
Brittany smiled softly, grateful that there was no longer that tension between the three of them. She glanced at Santana, seeing a similar sense of relief settle into her fiancée's features.
"Darling, you must tell me all about your pregnancy. You look like you're about to pop! I'm looking forward to helping you plan your wedding - if you'd like me to, of course - and having you as my future daughter in law." Maribel smiled politely.
"Of course we want you involved!" Brittany piped up, beaming at the two of them.
"My goodness, you are really big. How many months along did you say you were?
"I'm getting close to the seventh month. I'm not sure if Santana already told you this but we're having triplets."
"Triplets?! Oh my goodness, congrats! I can't believe it. We've never had triplets before in the Lopez family."
"There are quite a lot of multiples on my side of the family, so I should have seen this coming." Brittany explained.
Maribel squealed, hugging Brittany again as best as she could and Santana joined into the group hug. Then she took Brittany's arm, guiding her toward the house. The blonde was a little overwhelmed, looking over at Santana for an explanation but her lover only shrugged, equally bewildered.
The happiness of Brittany and Maribel was contagious, so it was difficult to not be caught up in the excitement. Even Maribel couldn't avoid getting the baby and wedding fever.
Maribel was constantly gushing over Brittany's bump, telling her everything about what her pregnancy with Santana was like, and talking excitedly about having three grandchildren. She told Brittany all about how Santana kicked a lot, just like Brittany's triplets did, and shared the other symptoms they had in common.
"Do you know the genders of the babies?" Maribel inquired.
"We asked them to keep it a surprise. Though Brittany and her mom are convinced we're having all boys." Santana jumped in and explained with a laugh.
"I just have a gut feeling." Brittany shrugged.
Maribel's eyes widened.
"Three boys! Three Lopez boys at that! You've got your work cut out for you if that turns out to be true, especially if they're anything like my rebellious daughter."
"Maybe Brittany's influence will make them more peaceful." Santana joked.
Santana was really grateful that her mother was treating Brittany so normally now and making her feel so accepted into the family.
"Come inside, you two. I want to spend the rest of the day with you two. We have so much to talk about. We can go out to eat together or I can make you something."
"Alrighty then, I guess that's what we're doing!" Brittany laughed, amused as she was pulled along with Santana trailing behind them.
"I have to show you all of Santana's baby pictures and our home videos of her." Maribel added as Santana groaned, covering her face while Brittany was very amused.
They had already been through this same scenario many times with Whitney and Pierce showing her baby and toddler Brittany in her various stages, so now it was payback time for Santana.