"Are you sure I can't come with you?" Brett's voice was gentle, filled with concern and support as he watched Santana move around the kitchen, making breakfast. The aroma of scrambled eggs and toast filled the air, creating a comforting atmosphere in their small apartment.
Santana looked up, a soft smile playing on her lips. She appreciated Brett's attentiveness, especially given their journey's strain on both of them. "I'll be fine, Brett," she reassured him, stirring the eggs in the pan. "It's just blood work and an ultrasound today."
Brett walked over and placed a hand on her back, rubbing it gently. "Okay," he said, leaning in to kiss the side of her head. "But you know I'll be there for the next one, right?"
She nodded, feeling a warmth spread through her at his words. "I know. The next appointment will probably be more important. But today, I've got this."
After breakfast, Santana headed out the door, her thoughts a mix of anticipation and anxiety. The clinic was a short drive away, and she used the time to prepare herself for the day ahead mentally. The fertility treatments had become a significant part of their lives, each step bringing them closer to the possibility of a baby.
At the clinic, the familiar scent of antiseptic and the quiet hum of medical equipment greeted her. Santana checked in and took a seat in the waiting area, her fingers tapping nervously on her phone. Moments later, she was called in by the nurse.
The blood work was routine, a quick draw that she had become accustomed to over the past months. The ultrasound, though slightly uncomfortable, was slowly becoming familiar territory. "Everything looks good," Dr. Greene said, as she reviewed the ultrasound images. "You can pick up your Follicle Stimulating Hormone treatment on Friday."
Santana nodded, taking mental notes. "Can you explain a bit more about the treatment?"
"Of course," Dr. Greene replied, her tone reassuring. "The Follicle Stimulating Hormone, or FSH, will help stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple eggs. This treatment will last for two weeks, during which you'll administer daily injections. When you come in on Friday, we'll teach you how to do it. It's important to follow the schedule closely for the best results."
Santana absorbed the information, feeling a mix of hope and trepidation. "Thank you, Dr. Greene. I'll be here on Friday."
On her way to work, Santana called Brett. He answered on the second ring, his voice immediately filling her with a sense of calm. "Hey, how did it go?"
"Everything went smoothly," she replied a hint of relief in her voice. "I'll be picking up the FSH treatment on Friday, and they'll teach me how to do the injections. I'll see you at home later?"
"Of course," Brett said warmly. "I'm glad it went well."
When Santana finally arrived home that evening, she found Brett in the kitchen, attempting to make dinner. The sight of him fumbling with ingredients brought a smile to her face. "What's this?" she asked playfully, dropping her bag on the counter.
Brett turned, grinning sheepishly. "I thought I'd try to make us a nice dinner. Figured you could use a break." Santana walked over and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his back. "Thank you, Brett. It means a lot."
They spent the evening enjoying their simple meal, talking about their day, and planning for the upcoming weeks. The weight of the fertility treatments loomed over them, but in moments like this, they found solace in each other's company.
Friday arrived quickly, the morning sun casting a warm glow over the city as Santana and Brett made their way to the clinic. Brett had insisted on accompanying her to this appointment, wanting to be there for every step of the process. As they sat in the waiting room, Brett gently rubbed Santana's thigh, a comforting gesture that helped ease her nerves.
The soft murmur of conversations and the quiet hum of medical equipment filled the room. When the nurse finally called, "Mrs. Pierce," a jolt of anxiety hit them both. "This is happening" Brett whispered, his voice filled with a mix of excitement and apprehension.
The nurse greeted them with a warm smile and led them into a small, well-lit room. She began by explaining the Follicle follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) treatment once more. "The treatment will last for two weeks," she said, her tone calm and professional. "During this time, we'll perform two ultrasounds and blood tests to monitor the maturation of the follicles. Once they are mature, we'll administer hCG to trigger ovulation, followed by the egg retrieval."
"It's all systems go then?" Brett said nervously, his hand tightening around Santana's.
"That it is," the nurse replied, her smile reassuring. She brought over the FSH injection pen and began explaining how to use it, showing them the injection site. Brett watched intently, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"Can I be the one to do the shots?" Brett asked, his voice tinged with a hint of desperation. "I feel a bit useless just standing by."
Santana turned to him, her eyes filled with love and gratitude. "Of course," she said softly. The nurse handed Brett the injection pen, showing him exactly where and how to administer it on her stomach.
"Ready?" Brett asked Santana, his hand trembling slightly. Santana nodded, her eyes locking with his. "Ready."
Brett took a deep breath and administered the first injection. Santana winced slightly, but the discomfort was minimal. The nurse nodded approvingly. "Well done, Brett. You'll do this every day for the next two weeks, and we'll monitor Santana's progress closely."
As they left the clinic, Santana felt a mixture of relief and anticipation. The first step of their IVF journey had begun, and there was no turning back now. Brett held her hand tightly, his support unwavering.
Over the next few days, they settled into a routine. Each morning, Brett would prepare the shot, his movements becoming more confident with each passing day. Santana found comfort in his dedication and care, knowing they were in this together.
One morning, as Brett administered the shot, he looked up at Santana, his eyes filled with emotion. "I love you," he said simply kissing where he had just injected her. Santana smiled, her heart swelling with affection. "I love you too."
Two weeks passed in a blur of injections and appointments, each day blending into the next as Santana and Brett navigated the complex and emotional process of IVF. Finally, the day of the egg retrieval arrived, a day that had loomed large in their minds for weeks. Brett took a deep breath as they entered the clinic, the weight of anticipation heavy on his shoulders. Up until this point, it had felt like a lot of waiting, but now, everything was happening at once.
Santana was being prepped for the procedure, her nerves evident despite her attempts to remain calm. Dr. Greene had informed them that Brett could be present during the retrieval, but he needed to change into scrubs. As they waited in a small, sterile room, Brett tried to lighten the mood by taking selfies of them in their hospital attire as they chatted about anything and everything, their conversation a welcome distraction from the anxiety bubbling beneath the surface.
After what felt like an eternity, a nurse appeared. "We're ready for you, Mrs. Pierce," she said, her voice gentle.
Santana took a deep breath and followed the nurse to the procedure room, Brett right beside her. She climbed onto the table, and they set up a screen to shield her view of what was happening beyond her stomach. Brett sat next to her head, holding her hand and stroking her hair in an attempt to soothe her.
Dr. Greene entered the room, her demeanor is professional yet reassuring. "We're going to administer pain medication and a local anesthetic, so you shouldn't feel a thing," she explained. "But if you do feel any discomfort, let me know immediately."
Santana nodded, squeezing Brett's hand. The procedure began, and though the medication dulled most of the sensation, there were moments when Santana winced in pain. Each time, Brett kissed the side of her head and whispered how much he loved her, his words a steady anchor in the sea of her anxiety.
The process took about twenty minutes, each moment stretching out in Santana's mind. When it was finally over, she felt a wave of relief wash over her. She was wheeled into a recovery room, where she promptly fell asleep, exhausted from the emotional and physical toll of the procedure. Brett sat beside her, holding her hand and watching her sleep, his heart swelling with love and pride for her.
An hour later, Santana began to stir. Brett squeezed her hand gently, his eyes meeting hers as she woke. "How are you feeling?" he asked softly.
"Groggy" she murmured, her voice thick with sleep.
Just then, Dr. Greene entered the room, a smile on her face. "I have good news," she said, her eyes sparkling. "We retrieved twenty-four eggs, and seventeen of them were mature."
Santana and Brett exchanged a look of relief and excitement. "That's amazing," Santana said, her voice barely a whisper.
"Brett dropped off his sample this morning, so we will begin the fertilization process immediately" Dr. Greene continued. "I'll call you in a couple of days to let you know how many embryos we have. We'll see you in six days for the transfer."
They thanked Dr. Greene, and after Santana had rested a bit more, they made their way home. Brett decided to stop by Taco Bell, hoping to lift Santana's spirits with some comfort food. "It won't be as good as your abuela's, but it's Mexican, kinda," he said with a laugh.
Santana smiled, appreciating his effort. "It's perfect,t," she said, taking a bite of her taco. "Thank you."
As they settled in at home, Santana pulled out her phone and started swiping through the photos Brett had taken at the clinic. She paused at a photo of herself on the hospital bed, wearing a hospital gown and smiling nervously, with Brett beside her, dressed head-to-toe in scrubs, including a silly scrub hat. Both were smiling, their eyes filled with a mix of excitement and anxiety. She airdropped the photo to her phone and looked at Brett, who was sitting across from her, devouring his Crunchwrap Supreme.
"I'm going to post this photo," she said. Brett turned to her, his mouth full of food. "Okay," he said, smiling and barely audible. "I'll tag you in it," she told him, and he nodded in agreement. Santana opened Instagram and uploaded the photo, captioning it, "Our IVF Journey starts today" with a white heart emoji. She tagged Brett and hit the post button, feeling a strange mix of vulnerability and pride.
Only five people knew about their IVF journey in detail—their parents and Sam. They had decided to keep it private, not wanting to broadcast their struggles to the world. But now, with this post, Santana felt a weight lift off her shoulders. Sharing their journey made it feel more real, and the support from their friends and family gave her strength.
Within minutes, comments and likes began to pour in. Friends and family send messages of support and encouragement. It was a small comfort, knowing they weren't alone in this journey. "Look at all the support we're getting," Santana said, showing Brett her phone. He smiled, his eyes softening as he read through the comments. "People care about us," he said.
Just as Santana was about to respond, her phone started buzzing in her hand, the screen lighting up with an incoming call. "It's Quinn," she told Brett, as she picked up the call, not entirely prepared for the wave of emotion that was about to hit her.
"Wait, what?" Quinn's voice practically shouted through the phone, catching Santana off guard. "Hello to you too" Santana said, rolling her eyes, but there was a smile in her voice.
Quinn sighed audibly on the other end of the line. "You're having IVF and you didn't tell me?" Her tone was a mix of shock and hurt, tinged with the confusion of being left out of something so significant. Santana hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words. "We didn't tell anyone, Quinn" she finally said, her voice softening. "It's been... stressful, to say the least."
"But I'm your best friend, San," Quinn replied, her voice dropping to a more understanding tone, but the hurt was still there. "I thought we shared everything."
"We do," Santana assured her. "It's just... this has been different. It's hard to explain. We wanted to keep it private, to process it ourselves before sharing it with the world."
Quinn was quiet for a moment, digesting Santana's words. "Are you pregnant?" she asked cautiously, her voice filled with both hope and trepidation. Santana shook her head, even though Quinn couldn't see her. "No, not yet," she replied. "Today was just the egg collection, but they should be transferring the embryos in a week."
"Oh my gosh," Quinn said, her voice filled with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. "I'm nervous for you, but also excited. I thought you said everything was fine, though."
Before Santana could answer, Brett, who had been sitting quietly beside her, interjected. "Santana is fine," he said, his voice steady but tinged with a vulnerability that Santana hadn't heard from him in a while. "It's me who isn't."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, as Quinn processed what Brett had just said. Santana could almost hear the wheels turning in Quinn's head as she tried to piece together what that meant.
"I'm shocked" Quinn finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I had no idea."
"It's not something we've talked about much," Brett admitted, his hand finding Santana's and squeezing it gently. "It's been... hard, dealing with everything."
Santana could hear the sympathy in Quinn's voice as she replied. "Brett. I can't even imagine how tough this must be for you both."
"It's okay," Brett said, though Santana knew it wasn't entirely true. "We're dealing with it. We're just trying to take it one step at a time."
Quinn let out a long breath. "Well, whatever you need, I'm here. Both of you. You know that, right?"
Santana smiled, grateful for Quinn's unwavering support. "We know, Quinn. And it means a lot. We just needed some time to process everything ourselves before we told anyone."
"I understand," Quinn said softly. "And I'm here for you, whenever you're ready to talk more about it."
"Thanks, Quinn," Santana replied, her heart feeling a little lighter now that Quinn knew the truth. "That means a lot."
After they hung up, Santana sat in silence for a moment, processing the conversation. She hadn't realized just how much she had been holding back It felt good to share.
Brett leaned back on the couch, staring at the ceiling. "That wasn't as bad as I thought it would be," he said with a slight chuckle as Santana settled beside him, her body folding into his as if itweres the most natural thing in the world. Brett didn't say anything as he wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close. She fit perfectly against him, her head resting just beneath his chin, her soft hair brushing against his face. For a while, neither of them spoke. There were no words needed in the silence they shared, just the steady comfort of their breathing, the quiet connection they found in simply being together.
Brett sighed, a deep, quiet sound that seemed to carry the weight of everything they had been through, everything they were still going through. His hand gently ran up and down Santana's arm, a soothing motion that spoke more than words could. Without a second thought, he pulled her closer, pressing a kiss to the top of her head, his lips lingering there for a moment longer than usual. "I love you" he whispered into her hair, his voice tender but thick with emotion.
After what felt like an eternity, Santana lifted her head slightly, her voice barely a whisper as she asked the question that had been on her mind all evening. "Do you think the transfer will work?" Her words hung in the air between them, heavy with hope but also fear.
Brett paused, his hand stilling on her arm as he thought about how to answer. He wanted to say something reassuring, something that would make her feel better, but he also knew that false hope was the last thing either of them needed right now. They had been through too much together, too many ups and downs, to sugarcoat the situation.
"Knowing our luck?" he said softly, his voice tinged with a wry humor that only they would understand. "Probably not."
Santana looked up at him, her dark eyes meeting his. There was no bitterness in his words, just an honest acknowledgment of the road they'd been on. IVF was never easy, and for them, it seemed like every step forward came with two steps back. But there was also something unspoken in Brett's answer, something that told her they would be okay, no matter what. "But that's okay, isn't it?" Brett added, his voice gentle but steady.
Santana studied his face for a moment, searching his eyes for any sign of doubt. But all she found was the quiet strength he always seemed to carry, the kind of strength that had kept her going through the hardest parts of this journey. "Yeah," she whispered, nodding slowly. "It's okay."
She leaned up and kissed him lightly, a brief brush of her lips against his, before resting her head back on his chest. Brett closed his eyes, holding her a little tighter, feeling the warmth of her body against his. They sat together like that for a long time, neither of them saying anything more. Santana listened to the steady rhythm of Brett's heartbeat beneath her ear, letting it calm the restless thoughts swirling in her mind.
Brett shifted slightly, pressing another kiss to the top of her head before murmuring, "We're going to be okay, you know that, right?" Santana nodded again, her arms tightening around him. "Yeah," she whispered. "I know."
Monday morning arrived and Santana's phone rang, breaking the silence and startling her from her thoughts. Her heart leaped into her throat as she saw the number on the screen. This was it. Santana took a deep breath before answering, her voice steady despite the rapid beating of her heart.
"Hello?" she said, her voice quieter than she intended.
"Hi Santana, this is Dr. Greene's office," came the calm, professional voice of the nurse. "I'm calling to give you an update on your embryos." She nodded instinctively, even though the nurse couldn't see her, and then remembered to speak. "Yes, I'm here."
"I'm happy to let you know that nine of your eggs were successfully fertilized," the nurse said, her tone warm and encouraging. "And seven are still growing. They look good. We're optimistic."
Santana let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, her chest loosening in a way that made her feel like she could finally breathe again. Seven. Seven embryos were still growing. The relief that washed over her was almost overwhelming. She blinked back the sudden prickling of tears that welled in her eyes, trying to keep her composure.
"That's… that's great," Santana said, her voice shaky with a mix of relief and disbelief. "Thank you. Thank you so much."
"We're still planning to go ahead with the transfer on Wednesday, as scheduled," the nurse continued. "We'll see you then."
"Okay," Santana replied, still a little dazed. "Wednesday. Thank you again."
After hanging up, Santana sat for a moment, the enormity of what she had just heard sinking in. It was happening. The transfer was still on. Seven embryos, seven chances. She closed her eyes for a moment, letting the news settle over her like a warm blanket, replacing the cold dread she had been carrying since the procedure.
Santana quickly dialed Brett's number, eager to hear his voice and tell him that everything was still moving forward. After a few rings, she heard his familiar voice on the other end of the line. "Hey, babe," Brett said, his tone casual but with an undercurrent of curiosity. He was waiting, just as anxious as she had been.
"Hey," Santana said, her voice bright with excitement she could no longer contain. "I just got off the phone with the clinic." She could hear him shift on the other end of the line, probably stepping away from his desk or wherever he was at work. There was a pause, just long enough for her to know he was holding his breath.
"They said nine eggs were fertilized, and seven are still growing," Santana continued, the words tumbling out now, unable to keep them in. "And Wednesday is still on for the transfer."
There was a beat of silence on the other end before she heard the unmistakable sound of Brett exhaling, a mix of relief and excitement spilling out in one breath. "Seven? Seven embryos?" he repeated, his voice rising just slightly. Santana could hear the excitement he was trying to contain, though he was doing his best to sound calm.
"Yeah," she replied, smiling even though he couldn't see her. "Seven. Can you believe it?"
"I can believe it," Brett said, but his voice cracked just a little, betraying the emotion behind his words. "I mean, I don't want to get too ahead of myself, but… that's really good news, right?"
"It is," Santana assured him, feeling her excitement bubbling up more and more now that she was sharing it with him. "It's really good news."
There was another pause, and Santana imagined Brett running a hand through his hair, trying to process everything. He had always been the more level-headed of the two, the one who kept his feet on the ground while Santana allowed herself to be swept up in her emotions. But today, she could hear the hope in his voice, the cautious optimism that had been growing between them ever since they started this journey.
"So Wednesday is still on," Brett repeated, more to himself than to her, "Yeah, Wednesday is still on," she confirmed.
"Okay, good," Brett said, his voice softening. "I was just… I don't know, I was trying not to get too excited, you know? Just in case."
"I know," Santana said quietly. "I've been doing the same thing. But it's okay to be excited, Brett. This is good news."
"I am excited," he admitted, his voice a little lighter now, as if allowing himself to feel that hope more fully. "I'm just trying to keep it together at work right now."
Santana laughed softly. She could picture him at his desk, probably pacing a little, trying to maintain his usual calm demeanor while inside he was bursting with anticipation. "Alright," Brett finally said, his voice steadying. "I should probably get back to work."
"Of course," Santana said, smiling. "I'll see you later."
"Yeah," Brett replied softly. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
As Santana hung up, she set her phone down on the table beside her and leaned back against the couch, exhaling slowly. The excitement, the relief, the hope—it all swirled inside her, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she allowed herself to fully embrace it.