A/N: Ridiculously long chapter ahead. I'm wrapping this bad boy up very soon. 80 chapters...here we come! :) Enjoy!

Too Good At Goodbyes (Sam Smith)

DECEMBER

"I'm never gonna let you close to me/Even though you mean the most to me/

'Cause every time I open up, it hurts..."

SANTANA'S POV

I wished like hell that I had never let her see me cry on Thanksgiving.

Those tears, that openness is only going to do one thing...

Give her hope and I don't want to do that.

Not right now, with the way that I hurt so deeply.

It's been a full week since I broke the news to Judy and a few days since my parents have returned back home.

For the first time in a long time...since we came home really, I'm alone with my kids.

But not as much as I'd like.

School is in full swing and so during the day, it's me and Sasha, who seems to hate me right now.

Even though I had to stop nursing so early, she still has always rested herself against my breasts, finding comfort in the closeness.

But now she can't, because there's nothing there.

And she's obviously confused by it.

Every day she seems to forget that they are gone and will go to rest her head and then when she doesn't find the comfort she's looking for...

She whimpers, gets angry and then looks at me like I've betrayed her.

And I feel like I have, from the first moment that the milk stopped coming, I've felt like I betrayed her.

But it wasn't my fault and she wasn't alone in longing for the comfort of them.

I won't lie, I miss them too.

And even though I know that they will never be completely the same with a reconstruction...I want them back.

More than I ever thought.

Only, I didn't have the luxury of time to recover from yet another surgery and so I needed to make sure that I went the least invasive route.

And that only the best surgeon touched me.

There was no way, that I would settle for less.

It's with a billion websites pulled up and a pen in hand, that I got a video call from none other...which is what I've taken to calling her in my mind.

Because all of her titles hurt too much...Luce, Quinn, love, babylove, sugar tits...wife...so none other works at the moment.

I had hesitated to open the call but I did anyway, in the spirit of being a mature adult.

She was immediately smiling at me but I couldn't find purchase to return the sentiment.

Not even a little.

Her face fell almost immediately.

"Did I interrupt something?" She asked, playfully, her eyebrow raising.

"Maybe I should have asked that more often." I snarked and I saw the pain on her face but she didn't bite back.

"I'll be quick, I know you've got things to do...I remembered that it's Sasha's nap time so I figured it was a good time to call. Was I wrong?"

I could see her effort...hear it in her voice.

She'd hurt me and I wanted to lash out but the time to punish her was not at this second.

I said I'd try...so why was it so fucking hard to put words to action?

"No. I was just doing some research." I said, sitting back and letting the pen drop onto the pad, deciding I needed a break.

But I had said her favorite word, 'research' and so of course she was intrigued.

"On what? Can I help? If it's medical, I can definitely help!"

"Easy tiger, it is medical, in fact...but I don't want to bother you with it." I said, trying to just shrug it off. I went to continue and her brow got all scrunched up.

"Are you okay?"

"Oh yes, I'm good. It's just...it's going to sound vain." I rolled my eyes but then she perked up that eyebrow again.

"Babylove, you have always been vain, there is nothing you can say that will surprise me."

It was eerie how much she sounded like herself...the her that I hadn't spent a second with in years.

And it was definitely throwing me a bit.

"I was researching reconstruction, I miss my tits way more than I thought I would."

"Oh yeah? That definitely doesn't surprise me."

"No harsh criticism...it's been your specialty over the years...nothing?" I asked...I just couldn't be normal.

Not even for a fucking second.

I've made her face drop at least three times now and each time it takes her longer to recover, but she always does.

"If you'll recall, it was me who suggested that you should immediately get a reconstruction just like the doctor had offered to do."

"I told you so, doesn't help."

"Look, I love you in all forms but the confidence you have has always been tied to them. You got a boob job at 16."

"I know."

"Do you remember why?"

"Because I wanted bigger boobs."

"So obviously, without them...it's got to be driving you crazy."

"That's true."

"I know."

"You just think that you know me so well...don't you?"

"That's because I do."

"If you say so."

And just like that we were at another easy moment.

But who knows how long that will last.

QUINN'S POV

If I was the ice queen, than my wife had to be liquid nitrogen empress.

Even when she tried to be light, the heaviness in her eyes told me that we were NOT in a good place.

But I wouldn't let her see my tears.

I knew her better than to assume that we were anywhere close to being better.

Any peacefulness or truces that we came to in the hospital had long faded.

We were at an impasse and truthfully, I was just waiting to be served divorce papers.

And it would even more so soon enough...I was sure of it.

But there was nothing less to lose, since I'd already pretty much lost her.

"So, I called with a purpose...if you wouldn't mind taking a moment...can we talk?" I had to say it before I lost my nerve.

"I'm not going to like it, am I?"

It's sad that her mind will now and forever more go to the negative but in this instance she might have reason.

But this was how I worked, always thinking five steps ahead.

It wasn't personal.

"Frankly, Santana, I don't know what set's you off anymore." I said honestly, hoping this wasn't one of those times but not being being naive enough to believe that.

"Okay, give it to me...what's wrong?"

"Three things...actually."

"Three?"

"Yes."

"Okay, shoot."

"First off, I think you should know that I don't want to be here anymore. I think they are hindering my progress...I'm never going to walk as long as I'm here."

"That's unfortunate but...I'm pretty sure that you are not there to regain the ability to walk...you're there to learn some impulse control so that you can stop popping every fucking pill you see." She didn't raise her voice but her tone froze me to my core.

"I get that and I'm not saying that I'm leaving, I just wanted to be honest with you. I'm having a bad few days and Doug stresses honesty. He says that I can't just show you when I'm having a good day."

She shrugged, not giving two shits about my good or bad days...not right now.

Or maybe not ever again.

She was annoyed.

Not a good sign.

"Right. That was a pointless non-sequitur then, moving on. What are the other two things?" She was on alert, maybe I shouldn't have led with that but I had to soldier on, if I was going to get what I wanted.

It sucked to basically have to ask permission for anything at my age but this is what I had signed up for.

So I had to keep humbling myself, even if it made things worse.

"Second, I was informed that you put a restriction on my visitor's list without consulting me."

"Only for one person, why is that problem?"

"He flew here to see me at my request, to talk to me in therapy...in a drug-free environment."

"At your request? Do you think I'm stupid? That I'm going to pay for a therapy session for you and your dealer slash fuckbuddy?"

"Santana, why didn't you just tell me?"

"Because I didn't feel like I needed to."

"Well you did, you want me to be honest with you but here you are doing that kind of thing behind my back!"

"That's rich coming from you! Don't you dare talk to me about doing shit behind someone's back...Six years, Quinn. SIX!"

We were arguing now...I could see that there was no way that we couldn't be, Santana looked murderous.

I should have known.

"What about closure?"

Her eyes went wide and she gasped for a second, I watched the fury and then she swallowed.

I could tell she wanted to tear me down but she only uttered two sentences.

"Closure is for relationships. I'll have him taken off, since it's so important to you."

"It wasn't a relationship."

She sighed as she brushed through her short curls...ones that I wished I could touch but I'd lost that privilege.

I was staring, waiting for her to argue back but she took two deep breaths before looking me in the eye.

"What's the third thing, Quinn. I have shit to do."

And just like that, any calm we had was gone...

Now there was the wall.

"I chose to stay an extra week, will you still be able to come for my last seven days?"

"When?"

"First week of January. 2nd to the 8th."

"I don't know, I'll think about it."

"Santana...how can you be so cold with me after everything?"

"I learned from the best."

The screen went dark as she ended the call without so much as a goodbye.

And my heart broke in two.

I wanted to be numb...so bad but instead I was sobbing.

Doug sat not two feet away from me and didn't budge.

Because he knew that I'd explode.

He had a scar from a paperweight on his desk to prove it...it's why we don't meet in his office anymore.

Just me and him in my bare room...although he still looked nervous when I broke down, as if I had something to hit him with.

But this time, there was nothing to throw but his phone and I needed that.

I gripped it tight, took a deep breath and tossed it gently to him before wiping the tears from my face and plastering on a smile.

"It's okay...don't look at me like that. I can handle this."

"You're shutting down."

"No, I'm not. I deserve everything she's throwing at me. I promise you, Doug. I'm okay."

"So you still want to make that phone call then...now that you've gotten her go ahead?"

"I do. Is that alright?"

"You say that it will help?"

"He's a neurologist, he can help me figure out what I'm missing on my scans. He's studied my case...he knows my spine the best."

"And time in therapy? Right?"

"Yes, two birds, Doug. Closure with him and help...he owes me the fucking help. I have ruined my marriage, my career, and my integrity because of him...the least he can do is help me walk again."

Doug looked hesitant but still, he put the phone back in my hand.

And helped me open up a can of worms that I was not sure that I could close on my own.

But I needed this...to walk and she'd just have to add it to her mounting list of things to hate me for.

I mean what was more thing, at this point?

JANUARY

"But every time you hurt me, the less that I cry

And every time you leave me, the quicker these tears dry."

QUINN'S POV

"So she knows?"

"Absolutely, I made sure of it."

"You told her he was here for two weeks?"

"I did."

"She's livid, isn't she?"

"From what I hear, she's reached her breaking point."

"I figured, knowing her, she'll show up in a rage and divorce me."

"Just keep me out of it. I really hated telling her something that was going to make her hurt, especially after everything she's been through."

"It's better for everyone involved if she knew about it before she got here because trust me, it would have been tremendously bad if it slipped out while she was here."

"Worse than her showing up enraged with divorce papers?"

"Yes, worse than that. You don't know her like I do, Gina...when she sets her mind to something and rage is fueling it, she becomes an all out terror. Do you know how much it would suck to be stuck in a house with that hanging over my head? At least now, she's had time to deal with it."

"I still think you played with fire and you're bound to be burned."

"Wouldn't be the worst thing that I've been through."

The clock chimed twice and I gave one last smile to one of my best friends in the counseling department, a fellow UPENN Psych alum and while she was leery about my plan to 'leak' information to Santana, she had still done as I had asked.

"Well, you should get back to your room and do the final check out before you move into the bungalows."

"Right, I'll see you around, I'm sure."

"Be smart, Q. I know you went and got all fancy in L.A. but remember that what we learned at Penn means that you've essentially got a degree in manipulation, which you obviously have used to your benefit but this whole process was for nothing if you can't just be real with her. No games or gimmicks. Be the person that showed up in that bar all those years ago...the one she fell in love with."

"You're right, I hate that."

"You don't."

"I know. Thanks for the reminder."

"Anytime."

It's weird the way my program has gone, the gap in between and the time spent in hospital but to end it like this...even if it's freezing out, is probably the best way.

The protocol is to spend 83 days in an intensive rehab program...with therapy and visitors and then for your last seven days, they take you out to this bungalow on Lake Erie.

Regardless of the time of year, it's beautiful.

And it only happens with the 90 day program, so Santana hadn't experienced the beauty of it in her time at the center.

Which was what made it feel special and new for us both.

Plus, with me extending my stay to cover the time I had missed, it was just me, closing out my treatment with a week at the bungalow.

It was supposed to mimic life on the outside, only our counselors and our closest family member was there for the ride.

Today, I would be leaving the center after 90 days, instead of 83.

I was going to share the house with Santana and Doug.

And I was terrified but I told myself that only good could come from it.

We needed this time.

And maybe that's why I made sure we'd be the only ones there.

It was a risky plan but it had to work.

How bad could a little manipulation be?

Dinner was set up, Doug was in his room, where he swore he'd be unless I needed him and so I sat waiting.

There was a harsh knock on the door and my heart began to race.

It'd been so long, I just wanted to be able to jump in her arms.

"It's open." I called from the kitchen, knowing that it had to be her.

The door creaked open and I heard the thump of her kicking off her snow boots as she closed the door.

"Q?" She called out and I sighed deep.

Here goes nothing.

I took a tentative step around the corner, leaning as little on my crutches as possible.

Her breath caught in her throat as I stood before her, smiling.

"Hey love." I said so sweetly, my eyes as big as hearts I'm sure but then my head snapped to the side as her palm collided with my face.

"You manipulative bitch." She said, tears in her eyes as she looked at me...with every bit of hurt that existed in the world.

I had no words as I worked my stinging jaw and neither did she as she stood there glaring at me.

I guess my plans were shit before they even started.

SANTANA'S POV

She turned from me and hobbled as quickly as she could back to where she came from...her breathing labored.

If this was her attempt to run from me...it was pathetic.

But luckily I wasn't chasing her.

I was standing there fuming at myself for touching her and at her for not calling me on it.

Where was her fucking counselor?

Why had he not been here to facilitate?

But I knew better than to blame this on anyone but myself.

Clearly, I needed a breather and so did she.

And it was my hope that when I came back inside, we could start again.

I could talk to her like an adult and not slap her like we were kids again.

She was still my wife...for now.

And I knew that after seeing Russell hit Judy for years on end...she would just think she deserved it.

NO ONE DESERVES THAT...

Not even her.

So despite the cold outside and the effort it took to put those boots back on...I turned and ran the opposite way.

The snow crunched under my feet as I paced from the water's edge to the steps.

Listening to Mami yell at me for putting my hands on Quinn.

I had needed the reality check from her.

And she had no problem dressing me down for it.

She said I should be happy that Quinn had worked so hard to walk again.

But it's not like it was uncommon in my life to see people get up and walk after being in a wheelchair...this was the third time.

It was starting to seem like an offense to actual paralyzed people.

And then there was the fact that I had actually paid for him to fix my wife.

The bill was probably be enough to get out of paying her alimony.

Mami made me laugh about it...so much that I was crying.

And then I took a breath...and another...and another.

I reminded myself that she was the mother of my children.

And told myself that she had done everything that I had asked of her.

Except get rid of him.

But Quinn isn't Britt...after all these years I still have to remind myself of that.

If she manipulates it isn't to hurt others intentionally...it's usually to help herself.

She never sets out to be hurtful...it's just a consequence of her selfishness.

And maybe...somehow...that's a completely different thing.

By the time I go back into the house, she's sitting at the table, with an ice pack on her face, talking to a man who must be Doug.

He stands up when I close the door behind me, looking like he was ready to defend her honor.

I kicked off my boots and then held my hands up, palms out.

"I come in peace, I promise."

Doug looked back at her and she nodded.

I half expected him to leave the room but that would have been irresponsible, so instead he went to the living room and sat down.

Before it seemed, that he had hoped he didn't have to monitor us but I had shattered that perception.

But maybe that was for the best.

We weren't perfect...never were.

She gestured to a seat across from her at the table.

And so I sat there, a lukewarm plate of food waited for me.

"It's the first time I've cooked in awhile. Enjoy." She said, her eyes like stone as she pulled the ice from her face and tossed it on the table.

Whatever happiness she'd had before I slapped her was gone.

"It looks great, thank you." I said.

"How's Brittany?" She asked...her old go to question, because in the past it was always Brittany that I called.

"It was Mami actually, she cursed me out for you. Said she raised me better."

"I bet."

"I'm sorry that I hit you."

"Again." She said, her voice strained as she looked me in the eye.

"What?"

"Again. You hit me when you found out about Ish and then when I tried to check on you to make sure you didn't pass out, you shoved me against that bookshelf...so yes...again."

"Oh."

"I know that I fucked up but let that be the last time you raise your hand to me and then feel empowered enough to go back and tell one of the kids not to. Once is a mistake, twice is a pattern and I will NOT be my mother." She said coolly and I saw the woman I missed so much.

This wasn't the druggie, cold detached wife.

She was someone different now and I needed to remember to respect her recovery.

I was in the wrong.

"Never again. You have my word."

FEBRUARY

"And every time you walk out, the less I love you

Baby, we don't stand a chance, it's sad but it's true."

QUINN'S POV

It's been four weeks since I've been out of rehab.

And five weeks since she has touched me in anyway.

Good or bad.

That week with her had been very formal.

We didn't talk about anything unless it had to do with my recovery.

Not how I was miraculously walking.

Not about Ish being the reason for that.

And definitely not about what came after we left.

The only thing she told me was that she'd rented out our house in the city.

She told me that we were living out in the suburbs now and that the kids were happy.

And that after nearly dying, she wanted to stop putting things off, like her degree.

So after Cleveland she'd be starting school.

She stuck to the facts as much as possible.

They were pretty much the only things she'd talk about the whole time.

And I should have expected that to continue at home.

But she had given me hope way back when and I was still holding to it.

Even if she was cold.

Valentine's Day fell on a Saturday this year and the kids were staying in the city with old school friends.

It was supposed to just be us and Sasha.

As long as we have been together, Santana has barely acknowledged the holiday with the exception of the first one, choosing to instead treat random days throughout the year as Valentine's.

But the days of random boxes of chocolate and flowers were long gone.

She was back in school now, finishing out her remaining credits to finally graduate, so from what I knew she had planned to spend the weekend in.

And while we slept in the same bed, broke bread at the same table...we were becoming fast strangers.

We moved around each other and really only discussed things that pertained to the kids.

I used to be able to read her but now I can't.

But I'm taking it on the chin.

Which is why early Saturday morning, I left Sasha with her and went out shopping.

It was the first time I was venturing out on my crutches all alone.

And the sheer effort of it was exhausting but I did it.

She was sitting at the table studying with Sasha by her side coloring on her iPad.

When she saw me struggling with bags, she was quick to help me...wordlessly.

And when each thing was finally put away, she left me in the kitchen...without a word.

Each marked silence, killed me inside but I would not let it get to me.

I had to fight for this.

Even if I was tired.

So I began to make her favorite meal in earnest.

For hours.

And when it was nearly finished the door to the kitchen swung open and my heart dropped.

She was dressed beautifully, every part of her looked amazing...except the scowl on her face.

"Why are you cooking so much?" She asked as she adjusted her earring.

"For us...I thought we could have a night in." I said, keeping a smile plastered on my face.

"Oh."

"Are you leaving?"

"I was...yeah but I can stay for awhile if you want."

"Awhile?"

"Well, yeah...I've got plans."

"What are we doing, Santana?" I sighed...feeling the tears tracking down my cheeks already.

After pills, my emotions were way harder to tamp down and that resulted in way more tears, even when I didn't want them.

Like now.

She pressed her hands on the counter and looked at the red velvet cake that was cooling...her favorite.

A small, sad smile was on her face when she looked back at me.

"Living our lives, Q. Making it work for the kids."

"I don't want to fight for this marriage if I'm doing it alone."

"What do you want me to say to that?"

"That you want this marriage."

She turned from me then, walked into her study...I heard the shuffling of papers and then she came back.

I felt my heart hammering in my chest as she handed me papers.

And even though I knew what they were, I couldn't help but ask.

"What are these?"

"You know what they are."

"NO...I need to hear you say it."

She looked pale as she mimicked a goldfish before finally saying it.

"Divorce papers...I was bringing them to you that week but then I hit you and I didn't feel like I had a leg to stand on." I visibly flinched and so did she...her choice of words was unfortunate but it wasn't intentional.

I think.

"Why are you giving them to me now?" I wasn't going down without a fight.

"Because...you should just go to him already. Time and time again, you find a reason to call him or need him. It was comfort after Russell died...even if I was doing my best, it was for pills to numb your pain...because a drug addict wasn't going to help you medicate, and now it was the ability to walk because I'm not a world class fucking surgeon who can give you that. NOTHING I do can measure up to him."

"So this is about your ego, then...did I hurt your pride?"

"NO. It's because I don't know if I even love you anymore, Quinn. I don't fucking know who you are. How can I be expected to try? For seven years, six of which you were fucking someone else, I tried every single day. I was home waiting for you. I paid the bills, I raised the kids, kept the house...all that things that YOU were raised to do for your husband...I did for YOU. If anyone is your mother in this whole scenario, it's me! You may have never physically abused me but mentally, emotionally...for six years...you did. I have nothing left to give you...no fight left."

I pushed to my feet and left my crutches behind...choosing instead to rest my weight on the counter because I was still taller than her and I hated her looking down at me.

And even though she was hurting me...trying to end things...she still looked concerned that I would fall.

So she stepped closer and for the first time in weeks, touched me.

Her hand came to my waist and for the first time, I was close enough to her to see her new cleavage.

Still beautiful.

We were eye to eye now.

"Then I will fight for the both of us. I'll carry the load from now on, just please don't divorce me, Santana. I will literally do anything."

SANTANA'S POV

"Anything?" I asked as I touched her waist, wanting to just fuck her against the counter to make her remember me.

Make her feel me again but after the way she looked at me back in Cleveland...and basically called me her father when in fact she was more like him...I'd started pulling away.

Separating myself from her so that when I handed over the papers, it'd be easier for us both.

But now, I'm standing in a kitchen that smells like every food that I love.

And it hurts.

"Yes." She said, looking scared that she was handing over the power of what came next, over to me.

"You're sure?"

"Yes." She squeaked out.

"Great...then you'll let me go my date...because I'm sure she's waiting and you never keep a lady waiting. You taught me that."

She gasped, her face turning red as more tears came.

I expected for her to say something, fight me on it but she gave a brief nod.

"Okay."

"Okay what?

"Go on your date...fuck her brains out if that's what need to do but if you're going to try and match what I've done...make sure that you keep your ring on." She tipped her chin up and I felt a chill go through me.

It was a low blow.

But no lower than me admitting where I had been heading.

"And then come home and lay next to you...smelling of her...you're right. I will. Have a good night, Quinn."

I turned from her then...leaving her standing there because I wasn't sure I could keep my composure another second.

"Goodnight." She said, the tears making her voice sound muffled.

I felt like an asshole.

But I needed this.

Fuck her.

"Right there, fuck!" I groaned as I looked down at the head of black hair in my fist.

I was pressed against a bathroom stall with my skirt hiked up on my hips, in ecstasy.

This was the first time in months that I was getting off from something other than my own hand.

She was sucking and licking like her life depended on it.

And I kept my head pressed against the wall as I forced my eyes closed...my wife on my mind despite myself.

The tears were there...still...slipping past my thankfully waterproof mascara.

I hadn't let another person touch me other than Quinn in years and now it felt...empty.

Fake.

But I still came.

She sat back on her knees and looked up at me with her face glistening.

"I've missed you." She said, as she took my hand and pulled herself up.

Her thumbs were brushing across my cheeks in the next second as she pressed herself against me.

"Sorry." I mumbled.

"Hey, it's okay...I knew what I was signing up for Santana. It's why you're doing this with me and not some rando. You wanted to feel safe and you're always safe with me...you know that!"

"You're right."

"Now, let's head back to my hotel room so that you can fuck me into my sheets as much as you need to...I think you need to get some of that cockiness back."

"Wanky." I said, a smile splitting across my face.

"That a girl!"

I followed her out of the hotel restaurant and towards the elevator bank, trying my best to forget about my wife.

And how broken her sobs sounded as I headed out of the door.

No.

I couldn't let her get to me.

Six years.

She'd fucked some idiot for nearly a decade.

I could have ONE night.

I gripped her hips as I plowed into her, all of my frustrations impacting the force of my thrusts.

"FUCK! SANTANA...my GOD yes!" She screeched as she went limp.

"Stay with me...I'm not finished." I growled and she whimpered but stuck her ass out again...waiting for me to continue.

And I did...never quite achieving the orgasm that I was chasing.

But she was a champ...letting me twist her into whatever positions that I wanted, until she literally passed out.

And even though I'm sure she would have wanted me to continue...any version of a non consenting woman was beyond my scope of interest.

I leaned forward and brushed the hair from her face as she cracked an eye open.

"Thank you." I whispered and she grunted in response. "I'm going home, that was just what I needed."

"Anytime."

"Let me know when you get back to New York."

"Mmmhmm...bye."

"Goodbye, Dani."

True to my word, I went back home smelling like sweat and sex.

Expecting to come home to her sitting there waiting.

But the darkness of the house and the food left sitting on the counters told a different story.

She wasn't here and hadn't been in quite awhile.

And then I remembered Sasha.

I really didn't like her going anywhere with the baby by herself.

She just wasn't strong enough to handle her out of the house.

I tore down the hall to the room and found Beth and Sasha sleeping.

"Kiddo?" I called to her and her head popped up.

"Yeah?"

"What are you doing here?"

"Mama called me, said she needed to go to meeting. So I came home."

"How long ago was that?"

She brought her phone to her eyes and then took a moment.

"Three or four hours ago."

"Do you know where she went?"

"Somewhere in the city...she took my car."

And I immediately thought the worst because her meetings were down the fucking street...

Unless she was talking about a different kind of meeting?

Had I pushed too far?

FUCK ME.

MARCH

"I know you're thinking I'm heartless/I know you're thinking I'm cold.

I'm just protecting my innocence/I'm just protecting my soul."

SANTANA'S POV

"Happy Birthday, baby girl!" I cooed at Sasha as she giggled.

"I'm 2!" She squealed.

"Yes you are!"

I swung her around and she shrieked so loud it scared me.

"Is she ready?" Quinn said, only leaning on one crutch these days.

She was definitely making progress...even if she was losing a tremendous amount of weight and her hair was looking dull.

I swore she was going to cut it and dye it pink any day now.

But she still smiled.

And today of all days, we both would.

The family was coming and it was the first time they'd see her walking and me cancer free...with newly constructed boobs.

We had to keep up a brave face.

A united front, even if she could barely look at me anymore.

She'd had sex for drugs.

I had sex for spite.

And even though she knew that I had in fact done it...she would NOT talk about it.

Not even a little bit.

As far as she was concerned we were even.

But then why did I feel guilty?

Did she feel guilty?

I don't know anymore.

After she called him...twisted my arm into allowing him to visit her.

Allowed him to be near her for TWO WEEKS...I don't care if he was helping her...how could she not feel guilty?

I felt myself going dark and so I made my smile bigger and finally responded.

"Yes! Are the kids ready?"

"Already in the car."

"Perfect! Party Palace, here we come!"

My parents hadn't been able to make it because of a conference in Mexico but Rachel had come...and she was always ready to be on my side.

Which I needed because other than my kids and her...I was out numbered by the presence of Judy, Fran and her kids.

It was like a blonde convention and I sat my ass down in the ball pit with Sasha...grateful that I had rented the place out and could do what I wanted.

And of course...I had invited one more person...someone I was pretty sure would take my post orgasm invite as a joke...or so I thought.

"Is that...are you kidding me Santana?" Rachel growled at me as she went to intercept Dani before Quinn saw her.

I looked over at the blondes and saw that they were all talking around Quinn...

She was staring past me, towards the door with fire in her eyes.

And then she looked at me with flared nostrils and mouthed 'seriously'.

I had crossed a line.

That much was clear.

Shit.

"Sasha go to Mama." I said lifting her and pointing her in the direction of Quinn.

She looked back at me and laughed before running towards Quinn.

I had to clean up my mess and fast.

When I got to the doorway, Rachel and Dani were catching up but I could tell they were running out of things to talk about.

And then Dani saw me and grinned.

"I'm not staying, I just wanted to drop off the baby's gift. I thought I could be in and out but apparently...not?" She was looking back at Quinn now.

Who was on her feet, leaning on that fucking crutch...with Sasha wrapped around her legs.

But I knew...if she could move faster, she'd be over here...probably beating Dani's face in...or mine.

"Yeah, it was a joke, you know that right?"

"Oh I knew, I just...usually these places are packed with so many kids that you don't notice a person walking in but apparently, I made a bad choice."

"It's a closed party, family and my kid's friends. I should have told you."

"No, you don't owe me anything. We aren't together."

"That's not what this looks like though."

"Look, you told me how much you wanted to get Sasha that toy from your childhood. I found it and I wanted to bring it by. Enjoy the party...I'm going to go before I ruin it completely."

Dani was embarrassed but I couldn't worry about that right now.

She should have known better but she gets jealous and nosy.

But I believed that she thought she could sneak in and out...I shouldn't have let things go this far.

"I cannot BELIEVE YOU!" Quinn yelled at me once we were back home, in the privacy of our bedroom.

The kids were still with the Fabrays and so now it was just us for a few hours.

"You need to calm down."

The party had gone well, aside from the blip of Dani showing up, we acted like a true family.

Laughing together and playing.

Nobody was the wiser that a war was brewing...except Rachel.

Who had suggested that the kids spend more time with Judy and Fran.

I knew she was right.

We didn't want to fight in front of the kids.

And this was only going to get bigger.

"Don't you fucking tell ME what to do!"

"Why not? You said anything, Quinn. I fuck her...whenever I need a fix...you know how that is."

She worked her jaw and swallowed her words as she cried.

"I hate you." She uttered.

"That makes two of us."

"No...you don't understand, right now I wish you had just died. Then I would be able to keep loving you and thinking the highest of you."

"Are you serious?" I was stunned by her words.

"Yes."

"Sign the papers and I can be out of your life today."

"No."

"But you hate me...you want me dead but now you're not divorcing me?"

"No. You don't love her just like I didn't love him and I know this is just spite but you'll get tired of her."

"Then I'll go onto the next."

"No you won't. I KNOW you. You wanted someone safe and you wouldn't cross that line with Brittany and you hate Puck, so Dani is the only other person you'd fuck other than me. I've done this. I've been you, Santana. So lets just skip all the heartbreak. Yes he fucked me...he hurt me...broke and then fixed my back. I hurt you and now I won't let you go. The difference...I didn't do it for pleasure or spite. I did it for drugs. What are you doing it for? Is it because I won't let you beat me up...because I let him do that to me too...so you should be able to right?"

I deflated and just sank to my knees...tired.

QUINN'S POV

I didn't know what to do when she knelt down and buried her face in her hands.

She hadn't looked sad for even a moment in all of this until I said I wished her dead.

Which was too low...even for me.

"San...get up."

But she just shook there...her sobs getting louder...

That was something I had wanted to do...break down but right now, with her feeling all the pain I'm feeling...it just felt good.

To see her there feeling how insignificant she'd made me feel by bringing that whore to my child's party.

Right then, I just wanted to feel power.

I craved it!

It'd been awhile since I had fed the need to be stronger than everyone around me but I was still leaning on a crutch...

But I could walk.

I moved to her...my hand falling on the top of her head and then the side of her face.

She looked up at me, her make-up ruined and her lips swollen.

"If you had just continued to love me we wouldn't be in this mess." She whispered.

"Let me."

"What?" She choked out.

"Take off your clothes...get on the bed." I growled and she looked at me with wide eyes.

"What?" She said...dropping her hands.

I cupped her chin and pushed past the slight pinch of pain as I leaned forward.

"Get on the fucking bed and let me love you."

She laid there panting beneath me as I pressed my fingers into her for the first time in a year.

Her eyes were squeezed shut as she squirmed but I needed her to acknowledge it was me.

"Look at me."

She shook her head.

"No."

I stilled my my hand and she glared at me...but at least she was looking.

"You're mine, love. You never stopped being mine and you need to remember that."

"Too late." She groaned as I pressed my thumb against her clit. She kept trying to move her hips but I had her pinned.

Just like old times.

"What do you need?"

"Too late." She said again, this time with more tears.

I leaned forward and kissed her, hard.

She moaned into the kiss as I bit down on her lip.

I finally moved my hand and she groaned again.

"FUCK!"

"I love you." I said.

"Too...late."

She was panting now as I built her up to an orgasm.

I thrust my hips...happy that no pain followed.

She was clinging to me as she kept chanting those two fucking words.

"Too late...too late...fuck...too late."

It was the saddest, angriest fucking we'd ever had but I couldn't stop fighting.

Not yet.

She clutched the headboard as she rode my face and my fingers...still chanting...still making me work.

Work for her...fight for her and I felt so overwhelmed with every emotion I had held at bay for years.

I had my arm wrapped around her thigh as I traced the word over and over again.

Mine.

She was mine.

At the end of the day...affairs, drugs...she was mine.

I could hear the strain in her voice as I brought her to yet another climax.

She was screaming my name now...followed by those two fucking words.

Which made it worse...but I couldn't stop.

Not until she did.

She rocked her hips still...even though I could tell she was beyond exhausted.

I could tell from her shaking, that she was spent.

She'd collapse if I let her but I wasn't ready.

Her hand came down and gripped my hair tightly, as she rocked hard just as I was convinced she'd quit.

"QUINN...too fucking...shit...late! OH GOD! Harder...please...please...fuck! Late...late...fuck."

She rested against the wall and I stilled my tongue and my fingers and waited for it.

Her surrender was imminent...had to be.

But then the bitch started rocking again.

She was not going give in as easy as I thought...she was wearing me down.

It was a battle for dominance, power.

And then in a gymnastic feat...she bent back and plunged her fingers into my soaked core and I came instantly.

My arm loosening enough for her to turn so that she was now hovering over me...and then she uttered the words.

"Too can play at this game, Fabray."

"Lopez." I said before diving back in.

And then just before she sucked my clit into my mouth she had the last words.

"For now."

APRIL

"But every time you hurt me, the less that I cry

And every time you leave me, the quicker these tears dry"

QUINN'S POV

SIX MONTHS.

I'd been sober for half a year and it was the best feeling in the world.

Only the feeling of getting rid of that crutch comes second to it.

"How's it feel?" She asks as she sips her coffee, her highlighter steadily moving across the lines of her text book.

"Amazing."

"I'm proud of you." She said, a small smile on her face.

"Thank you."

"What do you want to do to celebrate?"

"Max Brenner."

Her eyes went wide, it'd been a really long time since we'd been there.

The site of our first wedding but I felt the need to get her there.

Alone.

"Beth will love that."

"Actually, I was hoping just the two of us could go?"

"Like a date?" She actually had the nerve to seem shocked, as if we hadn't been having sex at every free moment for the last two weeks.

"Yes."

"We could just skip dinner and go straight to bed." She said with a wink but I stilled her highlighting hand with my own and shook my head.

"Please?"

"Should I bring the divorce papers?" She asked, suddenly serious.

"I'm not signing them." I insisted.

"I've told you, Q, it's too late to fix this. I've said it over and over again but you just won't listen."

"It's not over because you're still here...still fucking me...and me only."

"I wouldn't be so confident about that."

My heart stilled in my chest as I sat back, dropping my hand from hers.

"You said things with Dani are done."

"They are."

"Oh. There's someone else then?"

She shrugged and went back to highlighing.

"One or two."

"Wow. So I'm just another fuck to you?"

"Pretty much."

"I couldn't stay in there for another moment. Not with that smirk on her face after she admitted something so crude. Sharing is not something I like doing...she was supposed to be mine. Always. What...should I do?"

I was sitting in my car in the driveway...just staring through the front window at her.

She seemed so nonchalant, while I sat there crying.

"She needs her space, Quinn."

"I was gone for months, how was that not enough?"

"Truthfully, you've been gone for years and now you're showing up, every day...refusing her one wish."

"So I should just sign the papers?"

"No."

"Then what should I do?"

"Leave. Don't sign the papers...don't even tell her where you're going. Just go. Take some time for you. You can even come here, if want."

"No, I can't do that to my kids again. They need me."

"Then make her leave. It can't be good for your kids and I know you two think this is the best scenario for them but it isn't. You think they don't know what's going on? Because, I hate to break it to you but Beth keeps me updated on everything and Gabe does too."

"You talk to both of them?"

"Of course I do, girl we video chat twice a week. So, you're not fooling anyone."

"Way back when, if she showed any inkling of hurting you or the kids, you put her out. Right now, she's testing her limits, seeing how far she can push you. She's mad and being a petulant brat but you know what...both of you need to realize that those vows you took weren't just words. For better or for worse, that's what you committed to. Right now, it's time to shit or get off the pot."

"And what if she leaves and doesn't come back?"

"Then it will be for the best. Que para bien sea."

"Thank you for answering."

"Anytime."

I walked back into the house and right past her, with no acknowledgment.

She thinks she can freeze me out, make me feel like shit, she's got another thing coming.

Two can play this game.

Today was a big deal for me, whether she wanted to be a part of it or not.

So, I poured a hot bubble bath, turned on music and sunk into the water with Nina Simone playing in the background.

It had been way too long since I had pampered myself.

She needed to see the old me.

The one who knew her worth and would kowtow to nobody...not even her.

I heard the shuffle of feet outside the door and then a knock.

"Hmm?"

"Can I come in?" She asked, sounding annoyed.

"If you must."

She opened the door but I kept my eyes closed and continued to sing to myself.

I could feel her hovering but I didn't engage.

"Can you look at me please?" She sighed. I opened my eyes and raised an eyebrow...as my only acknowledgement.

Her face was flushed and she looked guilty.

"Is there something you needed?"

"I remembered how important the milestone days are and allowed my own feelings to hinder that. I'm sorry."

"Okay." I said and then closed my eyes again before slipping under the water to soak my hair.

When I came back up she was looking at me with a scrunched up face.

"That's it? You don't have anything else to say?"

"Nope."

"Well, if you still...uh...want to go out..." She trailed off as I sat up and began to pour shampoo into my palm like she was nothing more than a fly on the wall.

There was nothing more that she hated than to be blatantly ignored but she was trying to not snap...and it felt good to get under her skin.

Killing her with kindness might just be the THING to do.

"Nah, you study, I made other plans." I soaped up my hair and smiled up at her, "Was there anything else?"

"No."

"Okay." And then I dunked myself again, staying under just a little longer as I rinsed out my hair.

I came up to the sound of the door closing and felt a peace settle over me.

My method of fighting had been all wrong...I can see that now.

SANTANA'S POV

I don't know why I had said it.

There had been one other person...once...we'd kissed and nothing more.

But I made it sound like I was running around fucking everything that moved and that just wasn't true.

I'd only been with her since it started back up again.

Because she was always the only one I wanted to be sharing myself with.

Dani understood that and made herself a ghost once I told her that I was sleeping with Quinn again.

And she was so happy, so open to me.

Why can't I just get through this?

From the moment she'd left, I'd been watching her.

I could see her on the phone, crying but then she came back in with a smile.

So calm and cold.

Like when she'd taken drugs.

And I hated myself for thinking that she'd taken something.

Because she had been out there for 22 minutes...the amount of time it takes for a pill to take effect.

I would never forgive myself if I drove her back to drugs because when the tables were turned...she supported me.

She trusted me, for the most part, even around Beth.

But I hadn't cheated.

Hadn't fucked anyone else...except that guy in the alley for coke...but that was something I'd take to my grave.

Frankly, I almost convinced myself it never happened until she was fucking a guy for drugs too...and now I can't stop thinking about it.

How low a point I had reached in just three days...she'd functioned for six years...and it made me so angry.

And our kids...my God...what rotten luck that they had too junkies for parents.

Shelby and Merna must be turning in their graves...and if Vanessa only knew how much we've taken Gabe for granted...she'd probably fight for him back.

We didn't deserve the amazing kids we had been blessed with.

This had to end.

I needed to either make the divorce happen or stop bringing it up.

She would NOT go back to pills because of me.

My fears were unfounded.

Just from the look on her face, the way she tried not laugh at my uncertainty told me she wasn't on drugs.

That Quinn would never have tried to throw me off like that.

No, she was just giving as good as she had been getting and that made me feel way better.

She was tired of fighting alone.

Tired of me hanging divorce over her head.

And truthfully so was I.

It hurt me not to fight for her...I just loved her...way too much.

I'd almost died and here I was throwing away my marriage like it meant nothing

But I had put in WAY too much work to allow it to die.

I think I'd been trying to teach her a lesson but ended up teaching myself one.

So I left her to finish her bath and went in search of the only thing I could think of fix this.

It had taken some time but I came back into the room feeling better about myself.

About what I was doing.

She was still in the bathroom, still singing to herself and I took that opportunity to do something I hadn't done in an eternity.

I dropped to my knees, rosary in hand and began to pray.

My Abuela was up in heaven right then smiling at me, I just knew it.

This was what she'd taught me to do.

To stop doing God's job and just give the heavy stuff over and have faith.

I had married a woman of faith...or at least...she used to have it.

And so did I...right up until that fateful morning.

It was God that carried me through that tough few years when I was barely keeping it together.

And it was God who I talked to when I was losing my fight with cancer.

So now...I needed God again...only I wasn't praying a Catholic prayer.

It was the serenity prayer crossing my lips as the door the bathroom opened.

I could feel her eyes on me as I uttered those words and then she was padding over to the bed and I heard her breath catch.

She was walking towards me now and then I felt her groan as she knelt down beside me.

Her head rested on my shoulder and the sound of her whispered prayers met my ears.

"Thank you, father...thank you...thank you." That's all she said over and over again.

Her tears were dampening my shoulder but I stayed there with her.

I pulled her into my arms, her towel covered body was shaking as she cried against my neck.

"Are you sure?" She whispered to me.

"Yes."

"Thank you."

"And just so you know...it's only been you."

"Oh thank God."

I heard the door open and close in the living room.

The kids were home and finding us like this was probably not the best way.

So I stood up, picking her up with me and she yelped.

It'd been so long since I had held her in my arms like this but I thought it was fitting.

The divorce papers were ripped up and our marriage was starting over...or again.

"We have to just keep doing this until we get it right."

I laid her onto the bed and then shut our room door, knowing that the kids would not bother us if it was closed.

"Hopefully this is it...our last fall from grace."

"I hope so cuz a sista is tired."

I crawled over her and kissed her lips, for the first time on my own...without sex as a motive.

She nipped at my lip and before she could, I said it. "Mine."

"Para siempre." She whispered and I smiled at her.

MAY

"No way that you'll see me cry/No way that you'll see me cry

I'm way too good at goodbyes/I'm way too good at goodbyes"

SANTANA'S POV

She rested against my chest, her hair tickling my chin...and it was so daunting to know how far we'd come.

How far she'd come.

She sighed heavily as her damp fingers traced patterns on my stomach.

"Are you ready for today?" I asked her as we watched the sunlight begin to pour through the window.

"Not really but it has to be done."

"Have you seen him since rehab?"

Her body went stiff and I yanked on her hair, until she was looking up at me.

The beauty in her eyes sparking a heat in me...I wanted to fuck her again...even though the kids would be up soon.

"Once. Are you mad?"

"When was it?"

"That night you first fucked Dani...I went to see him. I knew he was in the city, closing out his residency." She seemed bitter that he had managed to get his job back and she'd been not only fired but blackballed.

"I'm glad you told me." I said, smiling at her and her eyes went wide.

"You knew?"

"Of course I knew, one I tracked your phone and two...where else would you go?"

"You tracked me?"

"Hell yeah, I did and then waited to see if you'd come back smelling like him."

"Which I didn't."

"No...you didn't."

"I just needed to talk to him about my recovery and for his notes and charts...I wanted a reference for a transfer of care. I didn't want him to have any more reason to come seek me out...and for me to go to him."

"So all this time, when you slowly stopped using the crutches...it wasn't him?"

"No. I have been seeing a specialist in Bryn Mawr."

I pulled her closer, hugged her tighter and began to pepper her face with a million kisses.

She was giving me the only thing I really wanted...honesty.

We sat in a conference room, instead of court room...which meant I was able to sit next to her and hold her hand.

She had her hair pulled back and was wearing one of my power suits.

Every part of her persona was a boss as bitch, instead of the squirming, submissive pillow princess that she'd been this morning.

It was like I was falling in love all over again.

And it still threw me.

Things still loomed...the affair for instance, but I could either harp on it or move on.

She was done with him, I believed her.

I could see the way she was back to being involved with the kids, clinging to me, and cooking.

So much so, that I had gained back the weight I had lost from all the chemo...

And now, we were preparing to settle out of court for an unnamed sum.

Megan walked into the room and smiled happily at us, despite the fact that everyone else looked somber.

Not two seconds later, I realized why.

In came Ishmael with his lawyer and sat across the table from us.

She looked at him and there was no love lost...she looked like she wanted to eviscerate him.

But he was here to testify...to talk about the events after the surgery...when he'd been the one to see her bloody hands.

Whatever he said could sink us and so I was not going to glare.

I squeezed her hand and she turned towards me.

"Yes, love?" She whispered.

"Stop glaring." I said with my hand blocking my face.

"I can't...if you hear things that I haven't said to you...just...don't assume they're true." She whispered back.

"I trust you." I said and she actually cracked a smile for the first time since we'd walked into the room.

I was sure he'd sink her, make her seem like she was completely incompetent but he lied.

Under oath and said he'd seen nothing out of the ordinary.

And when Quinn had a moment of panic after he spoke, he didn't even flinch...just kept talking.

Then there was Megan, she showed the video of Quinn taking off gloves and scrubbing out of the surgery.

Quinn looked confused, like all of this wasn't true.

I leaned in again.

"Fix your face."

She changed her expression quickly and for the rest of the time, seemed to check out.

Self-preservation had kicked in.

Between Ishmael and Megan, the whole day was re imagined.

And then Megan hit him with a breach of contract.

Things unraveled from there.

He was sputtering by the end and instead of having to pay anyone out, Quinn ended up with an apology from the head of the hospital.

They offered to reinstate her even but she stood unsteadily from her chair, ran her hands across her skirt and then said the only thing she'd say that morning.

"I'm done being a surgeon, I'm done with your hospital but I'll take a personal recommendation from you and the board so that I can start fresh elsewhere."

"Mrs. Lopez, you say that as if you've been blackballed."

She raised her eyebrow and he nodded, his arrogance evaporating.

"When can I expect the recommendation, Mr. Douglass?"

"I'll have it to you by the end of the day."

"Thank you."

QUINN'S POV

I should be happy to have my license back.

But I'm not.

I don't deserve it.

Maybe I didn't kill that kid but I could have.

It took a whole twenty minutes for Megan to convince me that was in fact the footage.

Because I distinctly remember blood on my hands that day.

However, it wouldn't have been the first time that I've hallucinated.

I'd operated on countless kids while under the influence of drugs.

It was a sin and I had deserved to be sued, arrested, blackballed but once everyone was so sure of my innocence...

I just rolled with it.

Even if I felt like not accepting some kind of punishment would send me straight to hell.

We were in the hall of the court house and the father was pacing on the phone, his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose.

He seemed like he wanted to cry and I knew why.

It was expensive to have all of those surgeries on your kid...and to bury them.

My hurt ached for him.

And Santana understood it.

"Give me your check book." I said to her and she looked from me to him.

She dug into her purse and produced her check book and a pen.

"We put aside 1 million for this...give him what feels right."

"Okay...thanks, love."

I began to walk but I felt her hand on my arm, so I turned to look at her.

She had smile on her face and watery eyes.

"I'm proud of you."

"Just want to do what's right."

"Why are you doing this?" He asked me as I handed him a check for half a million.

"Because I'm parent. I have three children and I can't begin to imagine the pain you are feeling. I just want to ease your burden."

"You know the court could see this as an admission of guilt." He said as I handed him the check.

"I know."

"But you're still giving me money?"

"Yes. Look, I remember Abby...she was the sweetest little girl. She reminded me of my daughter, Beth. I know that I can't bring her back but hopefully, this can help with whatever hardships you may have."

"Well, thank you."

"Take care of yourself and God bless you."

He looked down at the check and ran a hand over his face, he finally let down tears and then opened his arms up to me.

"Thank you so much!"

I allowed him to hug me for however he needed before he pulled away, gave me a watery smile, and then walked away.

And as I watched him, I took that moment to talk to God.

"Father, please hold that family in your warm embrace. Bless them twofold and help me to become a better person. A better doctor and more appreciative of my family."

"Amen." Santana said from beside me. I looked over at her and she held out her hand. "You did good, Fabray."

"Lopez...now and forever."

"And you better never forget it, babe."

She winked at me and then gave a gentle tug.

"Where are you going in such a hurry?"

"I've got a surprise for you." She said.

"You know I hate surprises, Santana."

"But you'll love this one."

I stopped and looked at her sideways.

"This isn't another surprise wedding, is it?"

She rolled her eyes.

"No. I think two weddings was enough for us. This is something way better."

When the cab pulled up outside our old brownstone, I felt so many emotions.

So much had happened there and right on this curb, we'd had a big family argument just before we left for Ohio.

Frankly, I wasn't sure I wanted to go back but Santana looked very excited as she helped me out of the cab.

"Why are we here?"

"You'll see."

When we got to the bottom of the steps, I pulled back and began to wring my hands.

She looked concerned as she moved back down to the sidewalk.

"There's just so many bad memories here, love...I don't know if I'm ready to face them."

"Luce," My breath caught when she called me that name. Her hands were on my face now as she stepped closer than close. "I know how much of a trigger this could be but I'm here with you and trust me...this is a good thing. I promise."

"Yeah?"

"Yes."

So despite my own fears, I allowed Santana to lead me up the stairs of the three story brownstone that we ABSOLUTELY had to have.

She pushed the door open and it was completely cleared out, stripped down to the hard wood and the white walls.

It felt so much bigger without the furniture and the carpet.

We walked hand-in-hand past the dining room and kitchen, until we reached her old study.

The place where I had admitted to her that I had been having an affair.

My breathing sped up and I felt like I was sweating but I just gripped her hand tighter as she pushed the door open.

The room was stark white, with a desk and a pale green couch.

It looked like more of an office than before.

"Why'd you bring me here?"

She turned to me and gestured towards the couch.

"Sit down."

Now I felt even more panic as she rested back against the desk...it was a mirror image of before.

I didn't like it one bit.

My mind was immediately thinking to the negative.

Was she divorcing me in style?

No.

We were beyond that.

"This." She held her arms out. "Is going to be your new office."

"Come again?"

"I'd like to but later." She winked and I rolled my eyes.

"Please?"

"I sold this house to my parents...they got a really good deal, in fact. They want to move here and Mami...even at her age, has decided that she wants to open up a Psychiatry practice out of the house. She wants you to get certified...so you can open it together."

"No way! Is she serious?"

"Yes. They are going to live in the apartment downstairs and leave the house part for offices...whether it be for doctors or lawyers...just kind of a one stop shopping kind of place."

"That sounds amazing."

"It is pretty awesome. I tried to get her to live up here and just have an office downstairs just for her but she INSISTED that it be a family business. Not only that...there's someone else that gong to work with you."

"Who?"

There was knock on the door and Santana moved over to it, pulling it over and smirking at the surprise on my face.

"Hey girl!"

"Lydia?"

"My niece has been begging me to move here and my and little Vinny are all set up in Society Hill."

"Wait...how is it possible that both you and my in laws are moving here at the same time?"

Lydia looked at Santana and she nodded.

"Tell her."

"You need a network, kid. I think that we've all been kind of supporting you two as a whole from a far for way too long. You know Vincent is always traveling but I really put a bug in his ear. Shelby and Merna are gone...what's left in Texas for us really? After that talk we had a few weeks ago, with you crying in that car...I just had to be here. So I talked to your wife last week and she told me her parents' plan and I offered my medical services and Vincent asked if a lawyer would be useful...the rest is history."

"Exactly, Mami and Papi tried New York and hated it...were NOT following us to LA but here...they love. It's perfect for them."

"So Vincent is moving here too?"

"Well duh...he is my husband!"

"Right...remarried again...got it. So it will be just a mixed practice?"

"Yup."

"That's amazing."

"Do you love it?" Santana said, arms wide.

"I do."

"Great! Now get over here and hug me."

"Oh, someone is definitely getting some tonight!" Lydia snarked.

And I rolled my eyes.