Thank You (Led Zeppelin)

JULY

SANTANA'S POV

"I know Quinn can't really lift anything, but I figured you'd want her here." Rachel said to me while she rearranged my suitcase that I had thrown all of my clothes into.

I'd waited until the last possible moment to clear out my dorm room. Carla had been nice enough to let me stay in it until my work/study was over on June 30th.

"You would think that I'd have emptied it over the last few weeks, but to be honest, it's been my respite from the chaos of the last few months."

"I bet it has. Tell me again why you can't finish your studies while Quinn goes to L.A.?"

I waggled my finger at her.

"I married her, which means that I took on the responsibility for the kids full-time. I'm not complaining about it either, so don't get that in your head. Things will just be easier this way."

"What about enrolling at UCLA?"

"I didn't get in." I muttered, annoyed that my attempt to not be a two-time dropout failed.

"Wait, you tried?"

"Yeah. I missed the deadline, and then when I called admissions to see if I could get that same fast track as Quinn, they told me that the best they could do was waitlist me."

"Harsh."

"It's fine. I'm going to build a studio in our house. My parents are going to float me until I get a steady income. I have a few producers that have already sent me projects to work on, and my old modeling agency might be willing to take me on now that I'll be in L.A."

Rachel looked at me for a long moment, and I swear I could see all of her opinions in her expression, but she didn't say a word.

Instead, she nodded at me and went back to organizing.

"And how is Gabriel?"

I wanted to push her on her opinions, but I knew that I wouldn't like what she had to say, so I took the boon of a subject change.

"He's great! All of his organs are right where they need to be, and he's pooping like a champ."

"Um, yay?" She asked, and I nodded.

"It's a very big deal. His organs were outside his body, Rachel. The fact that they put everything inside, and aside from some acid reflux, he's a poop machine is HUGE!"

"Wow, I guess that is a pretty big deal."

"Definitely. The babe is kicking down all of the concerns of his doctors. He's progressing right on schedule."

"That's amazing…is he officially yours?"

"I have to hand it to Quinn and Vanessa. They were prepared for this. The adoption went through seamlessly, and my parents are excited that he is a Lopez."

"Wait, no Fabray?"

"Nope. Quinn didn't want to raise a Fabray man, which is why Beth's last name isn't Fabray either."

"It isn't?"

"Nope. Beth asked me if she could get it changed so she could match Quinn and Gabe's."

"And what did Quinn say?"

"She's going to talk it through with Vince and Lydia first. I think the compromise was changing Beth's middle name to Shelby so that she still had that connection."

Rachel's face lit up, and I knew that having her approval would go a long way to sway Quinn.

"I think that's a wonderful idea. Do you think Quinn would be offended if I added my two cents to the discourse?"

"Nope. I think your agreeing will go a long way with Quinn and Vince."

"Then I'll give them a call later today."

"Rachel?" I asked once she closed the suitcase and sat on my bare mattress. "Am I making the right decision?"

"I don't think I can answer that question for you."

"But you do have an opinion on it?"

"Of course I do, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that you stay healthy, sober, and alive."

"I haven't touched drugs in almost a year, Rachel. I have no desire, no craving, and frankly, I don't have the money for that."

"Money was never an obstacle for you."

"Gross, don't remind me."

"Have you heard from Brittany?"

I froze and raised my eyebrow.

"Why? Have you?"

"I have. She asked about you and Quinn. At least once every few weeks, she calls me only to ask about you."

"I'm sorry about that."

"No. It's fine, I don't mind being the wall between you two. I'd much rather she contact me instead."

"Did you tell her about our move?"

"She already knew."

"Oh." She looked at my boxes and then back at me.

"Can I be candid?"

"As if I could stop you." I huffed."

"I don't agree with you dropping out. I think you'll regret it because you were so adamant about being a finisher. That being said, this is the second time you've been married and the second time you've dropped out. You are sober and taking on responsibilities that I can't even begin to fantasize about, and I have a firm belief that people should follow their hearts."

"Even though she won't say it, I think Quinn agrees with you." I said, twisting my wedding band around my finger.

"Because this was something that was just for you, Santana. Your first marriage ate you alive, and I'm afraid that you'll move to L.A., and I won't be there to get you off that corner."

"Fuck you, I'm sober, and I really don't want to use drugs ever again. It was stupid of me. I don't crave them, even though I go to meetings every day. It's more because I'm a sponsor. I care about the people who couldn't quit as soon as I did. I got lucky."

"Tell me one more time that you are sure about this, and I won't bring it up again."

"I hated this place. I was just going through the motions these last few months, which is why following Quinn is a no-brainer."

"If you're certain, then throw everything you have at being the best mom, producer, and all-around great person that you are."

"Thanks."

"And know that if you ever need me, I'm just a phone call away."

"Good, I'll take you up on that."

"Excellent. So, your parents are getting married in a few weeks. Tell me what to expect."

Rachel had said and done exactly what I needed, taking me through all of my feelings and then bringing me back to the joy.

She'd been through hell, too, and I was glad that she was happier than ever.

As nervous as I was about what was ahead for me and my little family, I could honestly admit to myself that I was happier than ever, too.

This felt like a new beginning for me and Q, our first home that we picked out together, in a new place neither of us had lived before.

What could be better than that?

"How do I look?" Beth asked as she twirled in her frilly white dress, her long hair pinned back, allowing her curls to flow down her back.

"You look beautiful, Kiddo. What about me?" I asked as I spun around in my dress, still feeling a little salty that my mother had asked that I not wear heels so that she wouldn't look so short next to me.

"Mas Linda." Beth said with a smirk.

"You've been practicing, I see."

"Titi has been talking to me in Spanish all summer so far."

"Then you've definitely been practicing."

The door creaked open, and in came Abuela. Her face lit up when she saw us.

"Look how beautiful you two are!"

"You look beautiful too, Abuela!" Beth said.

"Why thank you, I think you are going to make a great flower girl. Are you ready?"

Beth nodded, and Abuela held her hand out for her before looking over at me.

"Go see your mother, she's nervously waiting for you, and I'll go get the show started."

"I don't know why. She and Papi did this already." I huffed.

I grumbled but Abuela stuck her tongue out at me and then took Beth into the sanctuary.

"I can't believe that I ever went through life without dancing with a girl." Quinn whispered to me as we glided across the dance floor.

She was finally able to move without a crutch and wanted to spend most of our night on the dance floor, and I didn't mind one bit.

I'd dance with her to the end of time.

"Do you still love it?"

"I do, especially when it's with you, Princess." She pulled back, and I smiled at her. She was still as beautiful as she had always been.

"I love you."

"Oh love, you have no idea how much I am head over heels for you."

"Yeah?"

"Always."

"So...tomorrow...it's kind of a big day for me, and since Beth will be around for a few hours before her flight back to Texas...do you think we could celebrate by getting waffles and being silly...having fun?"

"It's your day, one year sober and we will celebrate however you want."

"Can we show her the house?"

"If you want, we haven't closed yet, but who cares about luck?"

"Not us, nothing we have has come the easy way, but you know what," I pulled back so that I could look into her eyes, which looked a little misty.

"What?"

"I'd rather do hard with you than easy with someone else."

"Wanky." She smirked, and I tried to glare, but instead, I leaned forward and up...damn her being taller than me and in heels...our lips connected, and I heard glasses clinking around us...which meant that my parents were kissing a few feet away.

I pulled away, and we looked over to the main table, and there they were, Mr. & Mrs. Lopez, making out.

Gross and slightly cute...I guess.

AUGUST

QUINN'S POV

For the first time in my life, I was happy to extend my stay in Lima.

The wedding had been fantastic, and sending off Maribel and Antonio had been even better.

Without them hovering for the first few weeks, San and I were able to have all the sex we wanted, wherever we wanted.

We even spent a full two days camped out in the den with Gabriel, watching movies and eating junk food.

"How's your back?" San asked me while I cradled my little boy to my chest, enjoying the way he would randomly sigh.

"A little achy today, but nothing major. I think it's been too long since I stretched."

"When we put him down tonight, I can stretch you out." She winked.

"Oh yeah?"

"All night, Q."

And she meant it.

We knew that reality would come sliding right back with a heavy week ahead, and we were taking advantage of this time together.

It was the anniversary of Anthony's death, and even though they were in wedded bliss, the honeymoon was scheduled to end just in time to go to the cemetery together.

San had arranged the flights so her parents would have a layover in Texas and then fly to Dayton with Beth.

Not only was this a memorial for Anthony, but it would also be a celebration of Santana reaching one full year of sobriety, and I was so excited that I got to celebrate all on my own before the world could interrupt.

It was our last night alone before we had to head to the airport in the morning, so San took me to bed the moment Gabriel had a full belly, had a bath, and was tucked in the nursery Maribel had set up for him.

We'd been playing it safe, but I could tell from the look in her eyes that she needed more, and I couldn't deny her that.

I had everything planned out.

Or so I thought.

SANTANA'S POV

Normally, I put the baby to bed, but Quinn insisted that she be the one to do it now that she was able to walk without assistance.

While she did that, I took a quick shower and rubbed lotion into my skin before lying on the bed.

I was on my stomach, scrolling through my playlist, when I heard her breath catch.

"How'd I get so lucky?" She said, I went to move but she stopped me. "Don't you dare move, Princess."

"Q, I want to see you."

"Too bad."

She slid into bed with her bare chest pressed against my side; when I turned to face her, she kissed me sweetly.

"You don't want me to ride your face?"

"No, tonight I want to try an old favorite." She grinned, and I shivered.

"How do you want me?"

"Spread your legs."

I did as she said, not bothering to ask about her back. It'd been eight months of hard work, and while she wasn't back to her old self, she knew her limitations.

She needed me to trust that she had things under control.

Control was the one thing she'd been craving for months, and I would give it to her without question.

When she draped her body over my back and slid her fingers into me, I fought the urge to jerk my body too much. Instead, I gave in to ministrations.

"Fuck!"

"Don't wake the baby." She scolded.

"Sorry."

She swatted my ass and then pressed another finger inside.

I moaned into the pillow, which only encouraged her to fuck me as hard as her body would allow.

"I missed fucking you, Princess. You're so wet for me."

How was she good at this?

God, I hoped it never ended.

"You know what tonight is, Princess?"

"Hmmm?" I had my eyes closed as I came down from a third orgasm.

"Tonight is when I get your full submission."

"Huh?" I opened my eyes and felt my mouth go dry. She'd been helping me clean out my bedroom and had read my old sex journal. Britt and I had a bucket list that we'd gone through multiple times, I'd caught Q reading it two days ago but she didn't say a word about what she'd read.

Until now.

"I don't want the last time you did certain things to be with someone else. I want to be all of your last."

I couldn't help myself.

"Then I guess I need to get you pregnant." I chuckled until I heard the growl.

"On your back."

"Q, you're just recovering fully, and the baby is in the other room. Don't you want me when we are alone so I can scream as much as you want me to?"

She raised her eyebrow and then reached for my old journal, which was now sporting colorful tags.

"It says right here that you were fond of the quiet game. Do these tick marks mean that you played this game…twenty-seven times?"

I nodded.

"Then that is where we start."

"But-" I began before she slammed the book closed and shook her head.

"This isn't just about full submission, Princess. It's a celebration of your sobriety."

I nodded. "I know."

"Let me celebrate you…worship you."

My legs were shaking as I bent over the bed with my wrists tied to the posts.

I had been watching the clock while I tried to focus on anything but the desire to make a sound.

Thirteen minutes had passed since she'd pressed a vibrator into me and walked away.

And then I heard her footsteps just before a silk was sliding over my eyes.

"You've done so well, Princess. Spread your legs for me."

I did as I was told and nearly groaned when the vibration was suddenly gone.

As far as I knew, she hadn't packed any toys other than the vibrator, but I had underestimated her.

Not since before her surgery had she strapped up, but when I felt something press into me as her hands gripped my waist, I had so many questions, like when the fuck did she find time to get that thing?

After a few seconds, I was gripping tight to the ropes and breathing heavily.

It was bigger than anything I'd ever had.

Oh God.

"Breathe." She said before kissing my back. "You're doing so well."

I tensed when she pushed more, and at long last, it happened.

My mind went back to a time when I wasn't given a choice in the bedroom, a time when sex became about manipulation, and I wanted to be numb.

Not good.

"Fuck!"

I expected a slap to my ass, but instead, she slid back out. "Is it too much? I saw you had a size chart in the back, and you didn't make it this far."

When I didn't speak, she pushed back inside before running her nails over my back and then massaging my shaking arms.

This was Quinn, I reminded myself. She loved me.

But then I thought of the journal and how big of a manipulator Quinn could be.

As much as I wanted to enjoy what she was doing, her execution was leaving me feeling things I thought I was long past feeling.

I was halfway between pleasure and pain, between calling out a safe word and falling into subspace, and then, like divine intervention, I heard voices.

Quinn froze behind me.

"Fuck, I think your parents are here."

I yanked at the ropes. "Untie me." I hissed, but she didn't; instead, she pulled that monster out of me and shuffled to the door, locking it before anyone came upstairs.

"It's after midnight, Princess. They'll think we are passed out."

"If you believe that, you don't know my mother as well as you think. Untie me."

Quinn was still wearing that beast as she made her way back to me. "I'll untie you, but I want you under those covers, keeping yourself warm while I greet your parents."

"You're going out there?"

"Hush." She growled as she freed me from the ropes. "Get in bed."

I nodded as I rubbed my wrists, feeling annoyed with this whole charade.

It no longer felt like a celebration, and I was over it.

So, instead of listening to her, I shakily pulled on my pajamas and went to the little nursery Mami had set up on the little sun porch.

I heard Q huff, but I needed to be with my son.

Quinn could deal with my parents, but I was not in the fucking mood.

QUINN'S POV

"Hello? Quinn, what's wrong?" Vanessa was on high alert immediately.

"I think I fucked up." I said as I sat in the car while San and her parents visited her brother's grave the next day.

"Is the baby okay?"

"Yes, Gabriel is the picture of health. Thank you for him."

"You don't have to thank me every time we talk."

"But I do. He's an angel."

I could just hear her eyes rolling.

"How did you fuck up? Aren't you supposed to be at a cemetery?"

"I am. San asked me to stay in the car."

"Why?"

"A few days ago, I found this stack of journals from high school in her room. One of them was this sex journal that she kept of all her hookups."

"Um…was she hooking up enough to need a journal?"

"That's what I thought, but it was like a bucket list, and so much of it happened with…you know who."

"Let me guess, you stupidly thought you'd try to overwrite her memories with her ex?"

"Well, when you say it like that, it sounds dumb."

"Because it is."

"I bought this big dildo, I mean, bigger than I've had."

"You've only been with like three dudes, Quinn."

"Exactly, I figured she must be able to handle more than I've had."

"You didn't discuss it first?"

"No. It was like trying to fuck a virgin."

"What would you even know about that?"

"I couldn't get it in, and she was supposed to be staying quiet and I had tied her up. Her back was to me."

"Well shit, that's…um…kind of hot. I didn't know you had it in you."

"Her parents caught an early flight home; they were loud, and we stopped. They didn't walk in or anything, but she begged me to untie her and then stormed off."

"Shit."

"She slept on the couch in the nursery rather than come back to bed with me."

"Yeah, Q, you fucked up."

"At which point did I cross the line?"

"I'd say at every point since you opened that journal and didn't talk to her."

"Crap."

"Are you doing that sabotage thing that you do again? Didn't she cut you off after you lied about the MCAT and UCLA?"

"For two weeks."

"You need to give up control for a bit, Q. Right now, Santana is dropping her entire life to follow you across the country. The least you can do is not throw any more change at her. Especially when she already broke her celibacy vow for you, adopted kids with you, and is standing by your side no matter what."

"You're right."

"I know I am."

"Where's the baby?"

"He's asleep in the backseat. Beth was supposed to be here, but she's getting over a cold and Lydia said putting her on a plane to Ohio and then another to L.A. would be too much for her. So they'll be flying with her to L.A. in a few days."

"Maybe that's why she wanted you to stay in the car. Don't wake a sleeping baby. Maybe she didn't want to leave him alone. Is that possible?"

"She's barely said two words to me unless it's to do with the baby, V. She even told me I could just stay at the house but I insisted on coming."

"Seems to me that she's feeling sensitive. It's a somber day for her."

I wanted to believe that, but Santana was smiling as she and her parents talked over Anthony's grave.

When Gabriel started babbling from the backseat, and I looked back to see his smile, I knew that I was the only one being somber.

"He's awake, I'm going to go over to them. They're all smiling and talking. She needs my support."

"Have you been cleared to carry him?"

"What? It's been months, I'm fine."

"I saw you a month ago. You still were using a crutch and Santana was holding him."

"My back is fine."

"If you say so."

"I do."

"Thanks for talking to me, I'm gonna go."

"Don't say I didn't warn you."

I hadn't been aware of how well my wife was watching me.

All it took was for me to climb out of the car and head towards the backseat for her to look at me.

I ignored her, just like she'd been doing to me, and began to unstrap Gabriel from his seat to his squealing delight, but before I could lift him, I felt her hand on my waist.

"Are you actively trying to piss me off, Q?" She hissed.

"He's awake and happy. I thought you'd want him."

San stepped in closer so that there was no space for me to go. "I like being your Princess, Q. I get what you were trying to do last night, but your timing sucks. I can't feel powerless, not today. For once, can you set aside your pride and listen to me."

"You banished me to the car."

"Because you were wielding a fucking monster last night, and unlike you, I care about your back. I saw you limping this morning."

"Oh."

"Nanita?" Her dad was coming over to us, and she took a step back. "Everything okay with you two?"

"I'm going to take you up on your offer, Papi. Can you take the Babe for a few hours?"

And just like that, Antonio was reaching between us and grabbing the car seat. He kissed my forehead and San's cheek before heading towards Maribel's car.

San looked at me, just inches from my face, and said the last thing I wanted to hear.

"Last night, you reminded me of Brittany. That was some shit she would have sprung on me. Please don't do that again."

I thought she'd step back, but instead, she was staring into my fucking soul, asking me to see her hurt.

"I'm sorry. I was trying to be spontaneous."

"Bullshit. You're competing with my teenage sex life, but I'm not that girl anymore, Luce. I like to fuck as much as anyone, but there needs to be a discussion about certain things. She used to force me to take her biggest cock as a punishment for every little fucking thing. In the end, it was every time I talked to you, thought about you, mentioned your name."

"Shit."

"So, my parents are taking the baby to see Abuela. They will be gone for hours, we are going back to the house, and this time, we are going to have sex like Santana and Quinn Lopez. Got it?"

"You still…want me?"

"Of course I do." She caressed my cheek before pressing a kiss to my lips. I shivered, and she chuckled.

"To celebrate my sobriety and being alive…I'm going to show you just how to play the quiet game, and you're going to let me do whatever I want to your body. Nod if you understand."

I nodded, and she grinned.

"Get in the car, Luce."

I've never moved faster.

For a solid three days, San showed me a side of herself that was more dominant than I had ever seen, and while I needed to control things more than anything, it felt good to see her take charge.

When I asked to be on top, all she would say is not until L.A.

So I was biding my time.

My body ached all over as I sat holding her hand on the plane, but I didn't complain because we were headed to a place where I got control back.

We'd have two days before we needed to pick Beth up from the airport, and I wanted to make it count, but Santana had other plans.

My in-laws had paid for all of our furniture to be delivered to our new house and put in the rooms we specified.

Everything else was up to us.

When we got to the airport, Mercedes was there waiting as planned, with her football player boyfriend.

It was as if every bit of heaviness that settled on my wife's shoulders before we left Lima faded away once she was in Mercedes's embrace.

They were whispering to each other while I waited for our baggage.

"Fix your face." Mercedes said to me after a moment.

"There's nothing wrong with my face."

"I know your face, girl, and there is something wrong with your face. Fix it."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm just cranky."

"Lucky for you, I was promised some baby time. So I'll take you to your new place which is only five minutes from me, so exciting, and then I'm taking this little man home with me."

"Says who?" I knew I was being a brat, and all San had to do was raise that fucking eyebrow for me to stand down.

"Thanks, Mercy."

"It will be good for you to get settled tonight. Don't worry, I'll bring him to you before bedtime."

I nodded and put on a smile for Santana's sake so she'd put down her eyebrow.

"What time is your orientation?" San asked me while we unpacked the kitchen.

"It's called base camp and it's every day this week from noon to five." I was being short with her, but she kept talking.

"How much do you want to set up before the kid gets home? You know she'll want to be a part of this stuff."

I shrugged.

"Do what you want."

She had been unpacking a box while I sorted the dishes, but a moment later, she was wrapping her arms around my waist and resting her chin on my shoulder.

"I've been wracking my brain, trying to pinpoint when you got a stick up your ass, but then it hit me...you're nervous."

"What if I'm disrupting our whole lives, and I hate med school?" I whispered.

"You're a Lopez now, and we don't quit...unless you're me, but I am a special case because I was just a make-up baby."

"You're not a quitter just because you didn't finish at Drexel."

"Or Louisville...or my first marriage."

"You haven't quit us, San. No matter what, you are here with me."

"And don't you fucking forget it...what did Mercedes say earlier?"

"My face is fixed!" I said, and she grinned.

"You're right, it looks very fuckable right now."

"I thought I was in control."

"Not when you're being bratty. There's not control right now. This is just about us finding our footing and loving up on each other while we don't have babies underfoot."

"You sounded like Rachel just now."

Santana glared. "You take that back!"

"I most certainly will not." I said in my most Rachel-like voice, and we broke into a fit of giggles.

"Take it back." She growled, with mischief in her eyes.

"Make me." I teased.

"Say less."

I'd somehow gotten back on the right track with her again, and I wasn't going to fuck it up.

Despite my attitude, San was fucking me achingly slow and gentle on the kitchen counter.

Our mothers would be horrified.

Forever aware of my back, she'd secured an arm around me while pumping her fingers into me while I whimpered against her shoulder.

"I love you." She sang against my ear. "Mi Reina, mi esposa, te quiero tanto!" She murmured, which made me shiver.

When I came a third time, I jerked my hips and felt the first twinge. I bit down hard on my lip as I softly pushed her hand away. "No more." I begged. "Tired."

"Then you should rest, let me take care of things, and clean this counter...then we can order in."

"Okay."

"Need me to help you down?"

I nodded, but not once had I met her eyes. She tilted my chin until I was looking back at her.

The pain was there, not as bad as it had been before my surgery, but more than it had been in months.

Before she could ask, I thought I'd give honesty a try. "I felt a pain in my back."

She kissed my cheek, and then, in a show of her super strength, she scooped me up.

"New plan. I'm getting you settled on this ridiculously comfortable couch, and you are going to stay off of your feet until it's time for base camp."

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes. I can carry you, or we could camp out down here. Either way, no more straining yourself. Got it?"

I nodded and swallowed my pride while she began fussing over me.

And you know what? I'm grateful because, by the next afternoon, I was able to walk into my orientation without needing my crutch.

San and Gabriel dropped me off the next afternoon, feeling happy and satisfied.

Even though she was trusting me when I said I didn't need the crutch, I saw her stash it in the backseat when she thought I wasn't looking.

I'd be with doctors all day…or future doctors. Rather, I didn't need to show any weakness.

At Yale and UPenn, all of our orientations were lumped together, but at UCLA, there was no giant lecture hall.

I walked into a room with just 14 other incoming students, and I was the last to arrive, even though I was a half hour early.

Before I could sit, the professor held up a hand.

"Quinn Lopez, undergrad at Yale in just three years, graduated summa cum laude, masters at UPenn, magna cum laude. Born in Columbus, Ohio, and raised in Lima, Ohio. Legacy student, father and sister are both Bruins. You nearly severed your spine in a car accident but managed to get back on your feet in just under six months without surgical intervention? The oldest of our incoming med students this year, since you deferred entrance to our program?"

All eyes were on me, the medical marvel.

Great.

"Yes, Ma'am."

"You're late."

I looked at my watch, seeing I clearly was not late but knowing better than to argue. "It won't happen again."

"Excellent. Don't bother sitting. Now that you're here, we can begin our walking tour. As future doctors invest in good footwear, you'll need it."

I felt unsteady after touring the facilities for close to an hour, but I couldn't let anyone see me sweat.

"Hey, you okay?" A guy saddled up next to me, with a tall girl by his side.

"I'm fine." I whispered, not wanting to piss off the professor.

"Was all of that true?" I looked at the girl, and she winked at me. "I'm Darlene, this is Ish. We got here just before you and were also called out."

"Oh great, the rebels." I muttered.

The two of them had gone to Stanford together and were from California. They chattered at my side for a good hour before I finally felt comfortable enough to jump in.

"Should I plan to show up an hour early to every assigned time?" I asked them, and they both stared at me in awe.

"Ish, I think she's accepting us." Darlene whispered.

"That's what it sounds like, and yes, Quinn, show up earlier, at least when you have Dr. Brooks. She is a tyrant, but she's the most connected."

"How do you know that?" I asked, just as our group came to a stop outside of a lab.

"You know that I have no problem getting you removed, Ishmael."

Darlene leaned in, "She's his grandmom."

"Shit." I muttered.

"No worries, I've been to her house for the holidays, she turns into a regular old nana when she's not in her white coat."

"What was that, Ms. Ricci?" Dr. Brooks said, and Darlene shook her head.

"Sorry, Dr. Brooks."

"If you're finished, we are going to take a tour of the cadaver lab before you're dismissed."

Getting in trouble together with two other people took me back to my Cheerio days, and it made me miss Sue. I shivered and reset my focus.

This wasn't going to be an easy road for me, but I was so excited to feel challenged again.

It's what I'd been craving for nearly two years.

I'd been vacillating between staying in Philly to wait for San to graduate and med school, and I felt enormously grateful that Antonio had encouraged me to go for my dreams.

The last hour of base camp was a mixer without the professors, just the 15 of us in a conference room with cheap wine and a cheese plate.

I spent the whole time with Ish and Darlene, learning everything I needed to know to succeed.

Ish was planning to be an orthopedic surgeon and had asked to see my scars.

I said no, of course.

Darlene was interested in hearts. Her words.

And at exactly 5, when they were talking about turning our mixer into a hangout at a bar, I got a text.

Hey love, me and the Babe are in the parking lot.-San

Ish and Darlene were hovering over my shoulder.

"Who is that?"

"My wife." I said, and their eyes got huge.

"Give me your number. Somehow, you just got more interesting." Darlene said, "I think you're my new best friend. Sorry, Ish."

"Hey, I'm just bummed that I missed that wedding band. I was planning to lock her down."

"You wish." I laughed before gathering my things. "See you next week!" I said, feeling slightly buzzed as I made my way to the car.

Sure enough, there San was, holding the passenger door open with a cup of coffee in her hand.

She kissed me, and I heard wolf whistles behind me. "I take it future doctors are still giant toddlers?" She joked.

"Definitely."

"Still feeling nervous?" She asked as she helped me into the car. I shook my head, and then turned to see the cheerful face of Gabriel.

"Hey there, gorgeous." I said to him, and when I went to turn back, the twinge was there, and this time, there was no hiding it.

"How long did you stand?" San said as she slid into the driver's seat.

"Four hours, lots of walking."

"How bad is it?"

"It's been worse."

"You're worrying me, Luce."

"I'm fine."

"You've said that before. Do I need to call Papi so he can force you to see someone, or will you make an appointment?"

"I'll make an appointment."

"Good. You smell like booze. How much did you drink?"

"One glass...maybe two."

"One or two?"

She seemed like she was trying really hard not to argue with me, and I was just sober enough not to piss her off. We were good again.

"Two."

"With everyone else?"

"Yeah, it was a mixer at the end."

"That makes sense. I'll get you some medicine and put some tiger balm on your back when we get home."

"Best wife ever." I grinned, and she smirked.

"Don't you forget it."

I pressed San back against the wall, as I nibbled her neck. I pushed my knee between her legs and she moaned.

"You've been so good for me, San. The perfect wife, the perfect Mami, and the perfect Princess. Haven't you?"

"Yes!"

"How should I reward you?"

She was bucking her hips against my thigh and panting. "Please, I need you to fuck me, baby please?"

I dropped to my knees and pushed up her dress, before pressing soft kisses to her thighs.

When she spread her legs, I pounced.

"Oh fuck!"

"Sweet Princess." I said before pressing three fingers into her.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck."

"Keep singing, Princess. Rock your hips. That's it, you're soaking my hand, greedy girl. Do you need something bigger?"

"Yes! Fuck! Yes! Don't hold back, I need to feel you tomorrow."

I pressed my hand into her, wrist deep and her head fell back against the wall as she hissed.

"Look at you taking all of me, Princess."

"Ayyy, Q, I'm so close."

"Not yet."

Her jaw was stuck open and her eyes were wide. "No…I need to…please?"

Her walls were clenching around my fist, and I knew it wouldn't be enough.

So I pulled from her, and reveled in her whimpers. "Over the bed, today you take the big one."

"Too much."

"You're so wet for me, Princess, don't you want to feel me tomorrow?"

"Yesss."

"Go get it."

I watched her walk on shaky legs to the tall dresser, pulled it from the drawer and brought it to me.

"Can you fuck my face?"

"You want to be my bitch today?"

"Please?"

This was the opposite of what she needed back in Lima but I was more than happy to deliver.

I slid on my shorts and then sat against the headboard, knowing she'd want me to protect my back.

"Show me what you want Princess, use me."

Her eyes sparkled, she wanted my dominance, but she wanted control of how I dominated her.

That was the thing she'd finally gotten through to me.

When she laid between my legs, I let her take the lead on how she wanted to play this.

Her eyes were bright as she pressed her fingers under the shorts, working me up while sliding her lips down the dildo. I wished, not for the first time, that I could feel it.

She found my hand and put it on her head.

I gripped her ponytail and guided her until she gagged, which made her moan.

We went on like that until I was seeing stars.

"Oh God, fuck Princess, yes, yes, yes!"

My body was tingling as she knelt in front of me, her hands trailing up and down my thighs.

"How's your back? Can I ride you?"

"Take what you need, Princess."

I watched as she slowly eased down onto my lap, hissing as she took every inch.

Once she was sitting fully on my lap, I gripped her hips before she could lift herself.

"Oh God! I need to move."

"Not yet."

"I was so good, Q. Please?"

"I love you." I said, as I slid my hands to her ass, kneading it as she moaned.

"Fuck, fuck, I love you too! Please, I need it, please?"

I moved her forward until her breath was on my face.

Once her lips were closer I pressed her hips down and kissed her hard.

She was panting, with a sheen of sweat on her forehead as she groaned.

With one last kiss, I relaxed my hands.

"Take it, Princess."

I slapped her ass, and watched her slowly bounce, gritting her teeth as I pressed my fingers to her clit, moving them torturously slow.

Her head was thrown back in ecstasy, as she came seconds later, but when she went to still her hips, I lifted her and then brought her down harder, over and over.

I was in awe of her. Then a thought of her fucking the people in her journal crossed my mind, I knew I was growling as I picked up the pace.

The sound of slapping flesh and her cries filled the room.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"

"Mine. Only mine." I growled.

"Yes! Yours!"

She came again, her body trembling as she soaked my lap.

"Come here." I held her there, buried deeply, as she whimpered against my neck.

"So full." She mumbled.

"Don't tempt me, I think you could be fuller."

"Next time…I…fuck, still need to function tomorrow."

I gave her ten whole minutes before I began to move her hips again, fucking her until the friction drove me to another orgasm.

We fell asleep that night, wrapped around each other, with hopes that this was the beginning of our forever.

New home.

New city.

Same love.

Beth had turned down our offer to show her pictures of the new house because she wanted to be surprised, and so now, here we were, pulling up to the new house, with a blindfold covering her eyes...straight from the airport.

Santana put the car in park, and we all climbed out of the car; while Santana got Gabriel, I knelt in front of Beth and made sure her blindfold hadn't moved.

"Are you ready, Sweets?"

"Yes! I like the way it smells already."

"Smells?" I asked, and she nodded.

"Yup, it smells like grass and home."

Santana's hand dangled beside me to help me up.

Despite my need to use a crutch again, she was keeping a brave face for Beth since my daughter took her cues from her favorite person instead of me.

Smart girl.

San's face was just as full of excitement as Beth's. It seemed that I was the only one who despised surprises, but I was going to play along. This was our first real home together, and it was something to be excited about.

"Do you have the list?" I asked Santana, and she pulled it out of Gabriel's shirt pocket and handed it to me. I couldn't get over just how happy the baby looked as he sat perched on her hip, with sunglasses on and the cutest drool on his chin, looking like Mr. Cool.

"Great. Okay, Sweets, are you ready?"

"YES!"

I looked over at Santana, and she multi-tasked like a pro as she held her phone, taking video to no doubt share with the family.

"Take off the blindfold."

The house was way more than I would have ever been able to afford on my own, more than I would ever be able to pay back, but we had found it. A house that ticked off each and every one of Beth's must-haves.

"Wow!" She sighed and then looked up at me with a grin. "This is...does it have four bedrooms?"

"Four and library." Her eyes went wide.

"So what will you do with the extra room?" She asked.

And I looked over at Santana.

"For now, kiddo, it will be my studio."

"Yeah? That's so awesome!"

"Want to go inside?" I asked her, and she jumped up and down.

"You bet I do! What are we waiting for?!"

Seeing my little girl get excited about our new home took away some of the guilt that lingered from moving her across the country.

We got to take everything in from her eyes, which made me love the house even more.

And I could tell that San felt the same way too.

Even as Santana took slow steps, still sore from the intense fucking from the night before, the smile never left her face.

I hoped beyond hope that it never would.