Shooting the Rapids - Chapter Twelve
Title: Shooting the Rapids
Author: Sio & Maura
Rating: NC-17
Length: 51,015 / 105,220
Spoilers: Possible mentions of up to Season 2 finale
Pairing: Rachel/Santana
Summary: The sequel to Standing on a Precipice. Rachel and Santana have managed to survive the turbulent waters of the loss of Jesse and the shocking truth hidden in Santana’s marriage. Now two years later, new troubles arise with Shelby taking a stand in defense of her daughter against Santana’s "corruption" and the involvement of the tabloids as the couple becomes more and more drawn into the public eye. Kayla’s success in gymnastics brings interest from an unexpected direction and Santana has decided she wants to try again for a child of her own. Can they survive as a couple and help their children thrive amidst the chaos?
Warnings (highlight to read): Pregnancy, angst, children, non-con and drugging and talks thereof in later chapters
Chapter Twelve
"Noah, listen to me. You've got to tighten this area. It can't be sloppy."
Puck rolled his eyes, setting his guitar down. "Rach, we've been at this for hours, don't you think it's time to take a break?"
Rachel scowled, tossing her clipboard to the table with a clatter. "Noah Puckerman, I am doing you a favor. I am taking time not only from Avalon Records to help you with your music, but also my family for this, Noah. I am trying to help you produce a usable demo that will actually get you signed because I happen to believe you have the talent to do so. However, if you want to take a break and create another half-assed demo like the one you handed me, then go right ahead!"
"Whoa!" He held up his hands with a shocked expression, "Rachel, I get that you're helping me when you'd rather be with San and your kids. I appreciate it, I really do. But we've been here since seven and it's almost five in the afternoon and a man's gotta eat some time! My fingers are killing me and I'm starving here. All I'm asking is for a little break to get some food, let you call home and check on your baby momma, and rest for a little before going back at it."
Rachel rubbed her forehead, suddenly aware that she'd taken out her stress on her friend and that he hadn't deserved it. "You're right," she muttered, slumping down into her chair, "I'm sorry. I'm just worried about Santana and the baby and... I'm sorry."
He came over and crouched beside the chair, pulling her into a hug. "Hey, Princess, don't worry about it none. I understand." He rubbed her back as she relaxed into his embrace, "I felt the same when Quinn was carrying little Beth. You're stuck on the outside looking in and you can't do nothing to make things easier for her and it just drives you nuts. I know, okay?"
She sighed, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in the crook of his neck. "I just want things to go right. She's been so scared after what happened with Alejandra and this pregnancy is just taking such a toll on her. I know what she's going through, but I don't know how to help..."
"I know," he pulled her out of the chair into his lap, settling on the floor. "Well, now you know how Jesse felt with your kids," he teased, ruffling her hair, "I swear that man looked like he was gonna chew his fingers off he was so worried about you half the time." His voice softened and he kissed the top of her head, "He loved you and those kids so much, Rach. I'm sorry you lost him. You don't even know how much. But San's good for you and you're good for her. She'll take care of you and the kids and the two of you are gonna be awesome moms."
Rachel laughed softly, sitting up and kissing his cheek. "When did you get so smart, Noah?"
"Always have been, babe." He grinned at her, giving her a hug and letting her up only to accept her hand as he scrambled to his own feet. "Now, how about we get some grub?" He slung an arm over her shoulder as they headed out of his motel room into the bright sunlight, "I'm so hungry I'll even eat that rabbit food you call a meal!"
"It's not rabbit food, Noah. It's perfectly healthy, organic vegetarian fare." Rachel huffed, sticking her tongue out at him and grinning. "It's good for you!"
He reached over and tapped her nose. "It's rabbit food. But you're my Jewish American princess, so I'll eat it anyway."
In the grey sedan across the street from the motel, a young man lowered his camera and frowned. He hated cases where women stepped out on their partners. Tossing the digital camera to the passenger seat, he watched the pair wait on the street for a cab.
As the cab finally arrived and they climbed in and rode off, he debated following for a moment before deciding he had enough evidence for one day and started the car, pulling away from the curb to head back to his office. He'd get the photos printed up for his client and she could decide how she wanted to handle things from there. It was a damn shame, he thought, glancing at the photo of the woman and her clearly pregnant partner laughing together in their backyard.
He just hated finding out a client's suspicions seemed right. He wanted some way of excusing what he'd just saw, but a lady coming out of a - rather dingy - motel with a guy like that? All disheveled and looking worn out? And how close they were when he'd snuck over to shoot a couple pictures through the crack in the blinds? There was no way it wasn't cheating.
The young man was wearing a business suit and had shaved when he arrived at his client's address to deliver the results of his investigation. He handed over the manila envelope of photos, accepting the thick envelope with his pay in return. "It's a real shame about your daughter, ma'am. I would never have thought her to be stepping out on her partner like that."
Shelby smiled sadly, "I know. I couldn't believe it myself when I heard. But now I have proof, there really isn't any denying it, is there?" She shook her head, the very picture of a distraught mother, "I love Santana like she was my own. I can't believe Rachel is doing this to her. Thank you, Peter. I'll be sure to recommend your services in my social circles."
"I appreciate it, ma'am." He smiled and nodded, turning to head back down the stairs of the small brownstone. He didn't much like working with the older woman. She gave him a bad vibe. But after seeing what her daughter got up to, he supposed the apple really didn't fall far from the tree.
"It's shocking. Simply shocking!" Shelby looked like she was sharing the world's biggest secret with the woman sitting beside her. "My own daughter! Cheating on her pregnant girlfriend?" She shook her head in disbelief, "I can hardly believe it. Perhaps you've heard of her girlfriend? Santana Lopez? Of Avalon Records?"
The woman could barely hide her smile at the scoop she was getting from the distraught mother. She adjusted her satchel with her recorder to get a clearer feed. "Oh, I think I know who you're talking about. Wasn't she involved in that scandal with her husband?"
"Ex-husband, my dear. She was with my Rachel at the time. And," Shelby brushed at the tear trickling down her cheek, "I just can't believe Rachel did something like this, but I can't... I just can't deny the evidence of my own eyes."
"Evidence? You caught her cheating?"
"No... nothing like that. These - oh god, it hurts just thinking about them - these horrible photos I was sent." She rifled through her bag, pulling out the manila envelope and opening it. "You see? Oh god, it's awful."
Shelby sniffled as she handed the photos of Rachel and Puck hanging out, holding hands and displaying casual affection for each other. The woman had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from jumping up and cheering. This was the sort of scoop Star had been looking for. "This... oh wow. This is pretty damning."
Shelby glanced slyly at her for just a moment as the woman flipped through the photos before bringing the grieving parent back to the fore, "I can't even bear to look at them. You seem nice... do you think you could get rid of them for me?"
"Oh, definitely. I could do that, no problem." The woman was cheering internally as she slid the photos back into the envelope. "I'm so sorry you had to go through all this."
"It's not me who's hurt though. It's Santana and the children. I feel just awful." Shelby wiped away a tear.
"I understand. Oh. My bus is here. I'll get rid of these for you, don't worry." The woman smiled reassuringly, giving Shelby's shoulder a pat as she stood and gathered her things to get on the bus.
Shelby watched with a tiny smile. "Oh, I'm not worried at all," she whispered, waiting until the bus left to get up and walk down to her car.
The email that dinged up in Santana's inbox a couple weeks later was concise and to the point, as were all emails to the fiery woman. Just a note from Jake in PR saying "I think you want to take a look at this" and a link to the Star Magazine website. Following the link led to a page with a headline in big black letters "Avalon Records owner and producer Santana Lopez's Girlfriend Caught Cheating!" and a series of photos of Rachel and Puck laughing and holding hands as they walked through downtown New York.
Santana looked at the screen, her iPad resting against her stomach. She let her eyes roam over the photos of her girlfriend and Puck walking down the road together. Her rational brain knew that it was a trumped up story, that Rachel wasn't cheating... but she also didn't remember Rachel and Puck ever being that close and she hadn't heard anything about her going to see him recently.
Sliding her fingers across the screen she got to her email and quickly typed out a response to Jake simply saying, handle it. Once replied to him she pulled up her email and sent one to Rachel.
We need to talk
Rachel pushed away from the computer analyzing the latest artist she was working with, rolling across the floor to her regular terminal to pull up her mail client when she heard the familiar chirp. Seeing an email from her girlfriend, she smiled, pulling it up, expecting something cheerful and friendly. When she read the contents though, she frowned in confusion.
Of course, love. Is something wrong? Do you need me to come home?
No. I don't want you here until you tell me what's really going on with Puck.
Santana was trying to not cry at the thought of her girlfriend, the woman she loved, possibly leaving her for a guy. For Puck.
Rachel stared at the screen in confused shock. After a moment, the keys rattled under her fingers as she typed out a reply.
You don't want me there?? What do you mean what's going on with Noah? I've been helping him with his demo, you know that.
Santana, what's going on?
Hitting send, she pushed back from the computer, staring at the screen with her hand over her mouth. Something happening with Noah? Santana not wanting her to come home? She didn't know what was going on, but it was starting to scare her.
Why are there photos of you prancing around town with him holding hands? Coming out of a motel? Is that where you were when Cale got hurt? Were you with him?
When Rachel read the last email, she felt like her heart dropped into the pit of her stomach.
Santana, what are you talking about? What photos? Noah's staying at a motel while he's in town. I told you I've been helping him with his demo.
What are you suggesting is going on, Santana? He's my friend. I don't understand. Please just tell me what's going on!
She hit send then picked up the phone, speed dialing her girlfriend. She needed to talk to Santana. Needed her to explain to her what was going on so her heart could start beating again.
Santana hesitated before answering. "I'm mad. I don't know at who, but once a-fucking-gain our names are in the tabloids. I don't know if he's trying to make a quick buck, you... you decided to sleep with him or something else is happening..." Santana was holding back tears by sounding as business like as she could.
"Sleep with... Santana! You," Rachel couldn't hide the hurt and shock in her voice, "you don't think I'm... I'm cheating on you, do you? With Noah??"
Her eyes burned with tears she was struggling to hold back, both hands clutching at her phone as she tried to speak past the thickness in her throat. "Santana, doesn't... Doesn't everything we've been through mean anything? How could even think I would cheat on you? And with Noah?"
"I know! But I'm looking at pictures Rachel! You've been with him.. And he likes you... I don't know. I'm so confused. This story knows too much about us. It's like someone knows us wrote it." she sniffled.
"Of course he likes me, Santana." Rachel wiped at her tears, trying to keep her voice even, "He's my friend. He's the children's uncle. Santana, he stood up for me at my wedding as my best man. He's the closest thing I have to a brother. I swear to you I am not cheating on you. Especially not with Noah. I love you and I would no more cheat on you than I would have on Jesse."
"W-why..." She sniffled, her facade cracked as she spoke. "Why are there pictures Rachel?" She pleaded, her body was shaking with tears that she couldn't hide anymore. "On the cover of magazines. Kayla could see them, Rachel. She could see them on her way home from school! I... I can't... She can't see them. I don't care about my feelings, if you're doing anything with him I don't care I just don't wanna hurt the kids." She had rolled to her side and curled around her protruding stomach. "Please... just don't... I don't know what's going on, everything is out of control."
"Let me come home," Rachel's voice cracked, afraid she wasn't welcome anymore because of photos she hadn't even seen. Afraid Santana believed whatever story she was reading over her, "please, love. I don't even know what photos or magazines you're talking about. I don't know anything about these photos. Please, Santana..."
"Please come home." She whispered, her voice barely audible over her sniffles. "Just.. come." She hung up the phone and curled around Rachel's pillow.
As soon as the dial tone hit her ear, Rachel dropped the phone and shot out of her chair. Grabbing her jacket and purse, she called to Tandy to let her know she'd be out of the office for the rest of the day and hit the elevator call button. As soon as the doors open, she was inside, slapping the button for the ground floor and waiting impatiently for the car to carry her down to the street to catch a cab and hurry home.
As soon as she got home, she tossed her keys into the bowl on the hall table and her jacket and purse beside it. "Santana? Where are you?"
Santana was curled up on the bed, her iPad next to her open to the webpage where the photos were displayed. She was shaking slightly, her body was feeling so many things; Anger, betrayal, annoyance, guilt and pain. She couldn't tell the origin of the dull ache running through her lower body, but it seemed to be coming and going over the last few hours. She heard Rachel come in and she called out softly.
"Bedroom," she said weakly.
Rachel made her way into the bedroom chewing her lip anxiously, afraid of being rejected by the one person who'd made her feel whole again after losing Jesse. "Is it okay for me to come in?" She sounded as scared and hurt as she felt.
"It's your room too." Santana said, hugging the pillow tighter. "I'm not mad at you." Santana said quickly. "I'm not mad, I just don't understand... I don't understand what's going on."
Rachel came in as soon as she had permission, moving to sit on the bed behind her girlfriend, tentatively reaching out to brush a hand over her hip. "I don't even know what's going on. Why do you think I'm cheating? What pictures? I just don't understand where all this is coming from. Have I done something to make you think I'd cheat on you? Have I not been attentive enough...?"
With a soft laboured groan, Santana moved a bit so she could slide the iPad over to the woman. "Look." She said simply, knowing the picture of Puck kissing Rachel's cheek and holding her hands was bad enough but the story... the story was what did it. Only Puck would know some of the details in the text. Like how Santana used to torture Rachel in high school, the tabloids using a picture of Cale's cast and a bruise Rachel sustained chasing after Alex as monikers of abuse. The story hit way to close too home to not be from Puck.
Rachel read the article - if it could even be called that - with growing upset and anger. "W-what is this? This is nothing but a pack of outright fabrication, Santana. Look at these pictures. This has to be from two weekends ago. You remember when I went to work with Noah on his demo for the day at his motel so you could sleep while the children were out with Beth and Mina?"
She shook her head looking at the picture of her in Puck's lap, him kissing her head. "This... I can't believe someone took a picture of us." She twisted the iPad so San could see the picture she was referring to. "Noah was reminding me of how stressed Jesse was during my pregnancies because I was worried about you. We went to get dinner after and then I came home to you. Cheating? Abuse?" She looked disgusted, "I wish I could get my hands on whoever spouted this blatant pack of libel."
"I don't know." Santana mumbled, her face still hidden in the pillow. "I... What happened? Why are you in his lap? Why is... why is he touching you like that?" She could hear how desperate her voice sounded as she spoke, but she just didn't know what to do. "What's going on?" She turned her head and looked at the love of her life.
Rachel sighed softly. "I was worried about you," she whispered, "about how scared you've been about the baby and how tired you've been. He was calming me down. Telling me stories about how Jesse would come to him panicking about me when I was carrying Kayla and Cale." She traced little patterns on the curve of her lover's hip, watching her fingers move. "He was reassuring me that you and I were good together and that we're going to be good mothers."
She raised her eyes to look sadly at Santana. "I only have my fathers and Jesse's parents, Santana. Noah... he's the big brother I never got to have. He's looked out for me for years. I love him dearly, but I'm in love with you and I'd never cheat on you, Santana. Never."
Santana nodded, "Who gave the paper the story?" She whispered, "It's bad enough that we had to deal with this once... but not again. I can't do it again, Rachel." She sounded weak and broken, her eyes never looking up from the place on the wall that they were fixed too. "I can't."
"I don't know." Rachel's lips tightened as she glared down at the webpage displayed on the iPad, "But I assure you that one way or another I will find out. And I will guarantee that they will not be happy when I do. No one gets to attempt to destroy our family, Santana. Absolutely no one."
"Okay." She replied simply, her eyes closing as another soft pain spread through her body and settled in the lower back. She just buried her face more into the pillow when the wave of pain hit her. "I just want everyone to leave us alone. Just everyone to go away and stop caring about what we do."
Rachel nodded, "I want that too, beautiful." She brushed her fingers through Santana's hair, frowning at the wincing her lover was doing. "Is this all that's bothering you? This... this load of hooey?"
""My back hurts." She mumbled, her voice slightly above a whisper. She hated feeling useless, her body was beyond tired all the time now and on top of it in actual pain.
She rubbed her girlfriend's back, worried about something beside the photos. "Is that all? Dr Winters did tell us to be careful around now..."
The pregnant women nodded. She knew she was close to four weeks from her due date, but she assumed labor would be more painful then the dull ache and slight sharp pains that were coming a few times an hour. "I'm fine." Santana replied, "Just really sore."
"Are you certain?" Rachel asked worriedly, continuing to rub Santana's back. "I understand you're in pain, but how do you feel?"
Santana looked over her shoulder. Her face was pale and clammy. "Tired." She said softly, "My back really hurts and I can't fall asleep with the throbbing every time I drift off."
"Throbbing?" Rachel was trying very hard to stay calm - and suddenly understood why Jesse had always looked so harried when she was close with Kayla and Cale - as she reached up to gently stroke Santana's cheek. "Santana, what do you mean by throbbing? Is it a constant ache or is there space in between?"
"Space in between."She replied, "But its just my back. It's just like a sharp pain throbbing on top of the throbbing." She explained, her body going through great effort to roll onto her back and try to sit up. "It's not a big deal."
Rachel bit her lip as she helped Santana sit up. She recognized the description as how she'd felt when her children decided it was time to arrive. "Don't be alarmed, sweetheart, but I think it might be a big deal. I believe we should call Dr Winters and go see her, ok?"
Santana just shook her head no. "I don't wanna go anywhere. I don't want camera's following us around. I don't wanna get photographed. I just wanna sleep, okay? Just let me sleep."
"Santana," she did her best to keep her voice calm and even but she couldn't help the tremor of worry under it, "I think... it sounds like you might be going into labor. It's early and I'd feel very much better if Dr. Winters could examine you, love..."
"No. It's too early," Santana remarked, her teeth worrying her bottom lip through another bout of pain, that was only a few minutes after the previous one. She looked up at Rachel. She was scared. "Rae..."
"Remember that Alex was anxious to join us too, beautiful," Rachel smiled as reassuringly as she could, stroking Santana's hair back with a hand barely restrained from trembling in her anxiety about her girlfriend and their child. "Let's get you to Dr. Winters. Just in case. And if I'm just being an overly anxious second parent to be, we can all have a laugh over it later, okay?"
"Okay." She replied, knowing that Rachel was right and that the baby might be coming. "The kids are at school still... we need to get a sitter for them..." Santana said as she allowed Rachel to help her off the bed. "We need to... Rachel, I'm not ready. I don't want to have the baby today. I'm not ready."
"We're never really ready, love," Rachel murmured, helping her up and fumbling with her phone to send a text to Ajay to come pick them up and bring Mina to watch the children when they get out of school. "It's part of the surprise of being a parent. Our little ones like to catch us off guard," she kissed Santana's cheek, "but we love them all the more for it. Ajay's on his way and Mina's coming to watch the children. I'll take care of things, Santana. You don't have to worry about anything but you and our little one."
After a grueling 30 minute wait in the waiting room, Santana had finally been escorted into a room. She had changed into the flimsy paper gown and hoisted herself up onto the bed. Rachel had been given a stack of forms to fill out so they could treat Santana while they were working on getting her admitted.
Nearly two hours later, a resident finally showed up and flipped through her chart. "Alright Ms. Lopez," The young doctor exclaimed, "seems like you're in labor."
"No shit," Santana spat, her hands bunching up in the thin blanket covering her body. "Because, I thought I was here for a fucking dental appointment."
"Santana," Rachel chided softly, reaching up to grip her hand reassuringly, "he's only doing his job. Calm down."
"Right." The resident looked a little nervous from being snapped at, but continued on, "I see you haven't quite reached your estimated due date, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem. I don't see anything here about whether or not you wanted to attempt a natural birth or a Cesarean or if you wanted to be administered anything to help with the pain though..."
"I don't want painkillers." She said quickly. Ever since she found out about the drugs Tobias used on her for years she hesitated to the point of refusing to take anything that might knock her out. "I can do it with out painkillers." She was trying to convince herself even though she was scared. "I don't want the baby to be drugged when it comes out." She looked over to Rachel to make sure what she was doing was correct.
Rachel nodded that it was okay, but rubbed the back of Santana's hand with her thumb. "It can be exceedingly painful, love. If you need something, I promise you, I will be right beside you. No one will hurt you or our baby. They know how to administer painkillers in a manner that won't greatly affect our child or cause you to become unconscious."
The nervous mother to be just shook her head. "No." She looked down at her stomach, "I don't want it to come out with medications. I just wanna do it, okay?" She looked at Rachel for permission to do so. "I'll be okay. I just... No medications."
Rachel smiled softly, giving Santana's hand a reassuring squeeze. "No medications. Our baby will come out perfect and I will be right beside you the entire time, Santana."
The resident looked like he doubted the decision but shrugged, noting it down in the notes. "Alright then. No painkillers it is. I understand your obstetrician, Dr Winters, has been notified and is en route. She should be here soon."
Santana was trying to breathe through an intense contraction as the doctor spoke. Her eyes shut tightly as she struggled to not cry out at the feeling. She blindly reached around for Rachel's hand and grasped it with a slight sob.
The contractions were coming ever five minutes now. Her body wracking with pain. "It hurts, Rachel," she sobbed softly, "It hurts really bad."
"I know," Rachel whispered, standing so she could brush the hair back from her lover's face, hating seeing her in pain, "but it'll be worth it when you hold our little one for the first time. Breathe through it, sweetheart. In and out. This is nothing compared to one of Sue's workouts in high school, right?" She teased, trying to distract Santana.
Santana let out a strangled laugh as the pain subsided for the moment. "Yeah..." She puffed out. She rested her head in Rachel's palm when she felt her cheek get stroked by her lover's fingers. "Can't believe you did this three times." She remarked as she felt the nurse putting an IV into her arm.
"That's because you never realized how secretly badass I am," Rachel grinned, leaning over to kiss the side of Santana's head. "But then, I did somehow manage to win you, so maybe you did realize it. High school helped me to develop an exceedingly high tolerance to sudden, shocking pain. Compared to receiving slushies to the face on a near regular basis - and before you start, I am fully aware you were only involved in that by being part of the Cheerios so don't even think of apologizing - birth seemed almost mild." She kept her tone light and teasing, the bright smile and eyes untinged by anything but worry for Santana and their child reassuring the other woman that she didn't retain any hard feelings for things that happened in high school.
"You though, have always been badass," she stroked Santana's slightly damp hair back, smoothing it with her fingers and lightly scratching her lover's scalp, "and you've survived things far more painful than this. And just think. When it's all over, you're going to be holding a beautiful baby who will be warm and squirmy and just perfect."
Santana smiled when she thought about the baby they would be meeting soon. "I hope so." She whispered her hand running over her stomach in time with the wave of contraction that hit. "F-fuck!" she called out under her breath. She whimpered into Rachel's arm as Dr. Winters came in and smiled at Rachel.
"Today's the big day?" She smiled, reading through Santana's chart before she carefully aided the woman's legs up. "Let me just take a look and see how far along we are." She snapped on a pair of gloves and moved about checking Santana's cervix and dilation. "Santana?" She looked with with a raised eyebrow. "How long were you feeling pain today? Because you're ten centimeters dilated already... Did your water break this morning?"
"She's been in pain for at least three hours," Rachel supplied, "we arrived here nearly two and a half hours ago." She squeezed Santana's hand, smiling at her without even looking at Dr Winters.
""It started hurting at midnight." Santana admitted, "But it wasn't bad! So I just took a bath hoping it would go away..." She looked down at her hands thinking that she did something wrong.
Dr Winters smiled up at her and patted her knee, "Don't worry, mom. That's perfectly fine. I'm glad you didn't stress out or panic. It's much better to stay calm and just let these things happen."
Rachel chewed her lip and listened, grateful she'd insisted on them coming in to the hospital. "Everything's okay, right?"
"Everything's fine." Dr Winter smiled. "I'm going to go make sure everything is ready for your baby to come out and greet the world, but I'll be back soon."
Santana looked over to her girlfriend and looked guilty. "I'm sorry. I didn't think anything was wrong. Everything has hurt for days... I didn't want to wake you." She blinked her eyes and grasped onto Rachel's hand. "I'm sorry we fought. I know you wouldn't cheat. I know you wouldn't. I'm sorry..."
"It's okay," Rachel smiled softly, leaning down and brushing her lips against Santana's, "I'm just happy everything is working out. I love you so much, Santana. You don't have to be sorry. You were worried and... that horrible story," she shook her head, "I'm certain I would have felt much the same as you did if our situations were reversed. Don't worry about it. Just focus on our little one and how happy we're going to be to get to hold them for the first time."
Santana nodded and watched as Dr. Winters came back in with a couple of orderlies. "Alright, Santana. We're gonna get you prepped for the delivery room." She patted the woman's leg and motioned for them to roll the bed down the hall.
"And for you, Rachel. You need to come with me and we'll get you changed and washed up to help your lovely partner bring your child into the world." She watched Rachel nodding wide-eyed and laughed slightly before escorting her down the hall.
Santana screamed, her entire body arching in pain as she attempted to push. "I can't fucking do it!" She hollered, her hands white from the force of her grip on the rails.
Rachel pried one of her hands from the railing and wrapped it with her own, helping Santana sit up with her free hand, "You can, Santana." Her voice was firm, confident, "I did this three times, beautiful. And anything I can do, you can do. Just breathe. Listen to my voice and breathe. You can do this. I believe in you and I know you can bring our baby into this world."
Santana focused and without too much more screaming managed to nearly break Rachel's hand with the force she was clenching it with and pushed three more times.
"You're doing so good, Santana. Just one more push okay? Just one more." Dr. Winters exclaimed, her head peeking over the sheet that draped Santana's lower body. Santana nodded and when the next contraction hit she pushed, she pushed hard until she felt the intense pressure give and the shrill cry of an infant ring through the room. The new mother fell back with an heaving breath, her body limp with exhaustion.
Rachel ignored the pain in her hand to squeeze Santana's, smiling down towards the end of the bed. "You did it, love. You did it. That's our baby, Santana. Our baby..."
Dr Winters laughed, "It looks like you have a beautiful baby girl, mom. Rachel, come see."
She let go of her girlfriend's hand long enough to come down and look at the wriggling baby in the doctor's arms. "Oh my gosh. Santana, she's beautiful..."
"A girl?" Santana whispered, her eyes struggling to open as she felt the doctors still working on her to make some excess bleeding stop. "We have another daughter." she said, a smile creeping across. "Is... is she okay?"
Rachel reached out with trembling fingers to brush across their little girl's face. "She... she's perfect."
"Ten fingers and ten toes, two eyes, one nose and one mouth," Dr Winters held the little girl still attached to her mother via the umbilical cord up so Santana could see her. "She seems exceedingly healthy for four weeks early. You made a beautiful baby, Santana." A nurse came over to wipe the baby clean and remove the drape so that the doctor could bring the baby up to be held by her mother while the cord continued pumping blood into the child. "Here's your little girl, Santana."
Santana ran her fingers over the girl's face. "Hi, baby," she pressed a gentle kiss to the mess of wet black hair. "You're so beautiful." The baby continued to make content noises. "Rachel," Santana looked up, tears streaming down her face.
Rachel came up to lean against her exhausted lover, smiling down at the baby and gently brushing her fingers through her soft hair. "She's so tiny," she whispered, almost as if she couldn't believe it, "our little girl, Santana..." She leaned down and kissed her mother softly, "So beautiful. Just like her mother."
Santana smiled into the kiss. "Thank you," she pulled and looked back down to the baby. "We need a name for her." She ran her fingers over the baby's feet and hands.
"Ani ohevet otakh," Rachel whispered as she pulled away from the kiss, wrapping an arm around Santana's shoulders and hugging her. She didn't often use Hebrew to tell the other woman she loved her, but it felt right in that moment. "You're right. You should give her the first name, but," she smiled shyly, playing with the little girl's hair as she pawed at her mother's chest, "what about Lior for a middle name? It means 'my light' in Hebrew."
"It's perfect," Santana smiled, her eyes closing as she breathed in her daughter before the nurses took her.
"Alright, mama, want to cut the cord?" Dr. Winters asked with a smile. "I think she needs to let mommy get cleaned up and baby here needs to get weighed and measured."
Rachel nodded, biting her lip as she watched the doctor carefully clamp the cord. Taking the scissors in a hand almost visibly trembling, she took a deep breath carefully closed the scissors where Dr Winters indicated. The cord fell away and the doctor handed their little girl to the nurse for her primary checkup and measuring as she moved to deliver the placenta and stitch up the slight tearing that had occurred during the birth. Feeling a little squeamish about seeing the things she had, Rachel moved back up to lean against the bed beside Santana's head and brush her fingers through sweaty black hair.
"You did so good, love," she whispered, "You gave us a beautiful little girl. Just think how excited Kayla and the boys will be to meet their baby sister."
Santana winced a bit as the doctor worked, her eyes glued to the baby leaving with the nurse. "Kayla wanted a sister." she smiled happy that she would make the older child happy. "We have another daughter."
"We do. And it's all because of you, Santana." Rachel smiled at her, carefully stroking her hair, "I love you so much. So much. Once the doctor's finished, I'll help you get cleaned up, okay? And then we'll call Mina and Ajay so they can bring the children to meet their new little sister in the morning."
The tired mother nodded and closed her eyes as they finished and wheeled her into the maternity ward. She had her own room and the nurse helped Santana into her fresh bed once finally clean. Santana rested against Rachel in the bed as they rested.
"We need to give her a first name..." Santana whispered, "Do.. You wanna do your Jewish thing and name her after someone who passed away?"
Rachel ran her hands lightly over her girlfriend's much flatter stomach, holding her in bed despite the nurse's disapproving glare, "We can if you want. Do you have someone in mind?"
Santana looked down. "My mom," she linked their fingers together. "Her given name was Arianna... She went by Maria when she became catholic but I want to name our child Arianna."
Rachel smiled softly and leaned in to kiss the corner of Santana's jaw. "I think that sounds perfect. Arianna Lior Lopez? A beautiful name for a beautiful girl."
Santana smiled and rested her head on Rachel's shoulder. "Thank you so much. Thank you for having a baby with me," she whispered smiling when her daughter was brought back in and rested in her arms. "Arianna Lior St James-Lopez." she corrected, as the nurse handed her the bundle of baby.
"You make it sound like we're married," Rachel chuckled softly, reaching around to brush her fingers over the little one's cheek. "Hi, Arianna. I'm Rachel, sweetie, and I'm going to do my best to make sure you're as happy as the rest of our children."
"She's your daughter too." Santana explained, "She should have the same last name as you and the children." she watched as the little carmel colored bundle wrapped in a pink blanket with a hat, her black hair poking out of it. "You got yourself a hat, mija." she smiled, "Can you say hi mommy? Thank you for singing to me all the time?" Arianna peaked open her eyes, "Her eyes are hazel."
Rachel rested her chin on Santana's shoulder, smiling at the baby, "So they are. I dare say they'll be the gorgeous brown of her mother's by the time the final color comes in. Such a pretty little baby, aren't you." She tickled the baby's chin. "I should move so you can feed her. I'm sure she's hungry and there really is nothing like it to feed your child for the first time, love."
"Stay," she whispered, "show me how." she looked at her girlfriend pleadingly. "Don't want the nurse. Want you to show me."
She felt a surge of affection for her girlfriend as she settled back into place. "Okay. She's early like Alex was so she may have a little trouble, but we'll help her." Rachel helped Santana unfasten her gown. "Lean back against me, okay? It'll be easier." Helping Santana get their daughter situated, she encouraged her to help the little girl realize the breast was there and assist her in latching on.
Santana watched as the baby rested against her breast, she reached down and tickled under Arianna's chin and she opened her mouth. Santana carefully brought her nipple to get her to latch on. Once she did she sucked tentatively, her eyes closing and her little fist scrunching up against her mom's skin.
"Wow," Santana exhaled, "That's so weird feeling, Rachel..."
"Definitely," Rachel chuckled softly, kissing Santana's shoulder as she held her girlfriend and watched her feed their child, "But in the best way. I loved being able to feed my three. I never felt closer to them than when I was breastfeeding."
Santana leaned against Rachel tiredly, her fingers stroking the infant's head as she ate. "So beautiful," she whispered, "You should call home. The kids will be worried..."
"They'll be okay waiting a couple minutes longer," Rachel murmured, reaching up to brush Santana's hair back from her head, just wanting to spend a few more moments alone with the newest member of their family and her mother. "Unless you want me to go and call now?"
She shook her head no. "Stay with us," she said tiredly. When the baby pulled away, Santana patted her back and rocked her. She pulled Rachel's arms around them and melted back into her lover.
"Always," Rachel murmured against Santana's hair, gently rocking her lover and their child. "Forever, love."
Chapter Thirteen