Dare to be Aware - Epilogue
Title: Dare to be Aware
Author: Sio & Maura
Rating: Hard NC-17
Length: 173,633
Spoilers: AU
Pairing: Santana/Quinn, past Brittany/Santana, Brittany/Artie mentions, Blaine/Sam, past Quinn/Finn, Quinn/Sam bearding, past Blaine/Kurt
Summary: What does it take to find your own identity? How much pain can you endure in the process?
Warnings (highlight to read): Gender Dysphoria, Violence against Trans, Trans Character, Explicit Sexual Content, Domestic Violence, Graphic Severe Violence, Hospitals, Transitioning, Rough Sex, Potentially dub-con/non-con situations, Abandonment
Epilogue
Seven Years Later
"Keep your eye on the ball, Shane!" Quinn called, one hand shadowing his eyes past the end of his yellow ballcap. "You can do this, buddy!"
The little boy poked his tongue out of the corner of his mouth and wiggled slightly as he watched the pitcher. Dark eyes followed the movement of the other boy's arm as it brought the ball around and whipped it towards the plate. As it came hurtling towards him, he yanked the bat around connecting with the ball with a solid crack! of sound, sending it flying away. Letting out an excited whoop, he dropped the bat and scrambled for first.
Santana stood up where she'd been sitting in the stands with her parents and in-laws to cheer the boy on. "Come on, Shane! Slide!"
The boy dropped down on his belly reaching for the bag as a cloud of brown dust rose up around him and the first baseman. When it cleared, he was clutching the bag, his eyes screwed shut and his helmet knocked askew on the braids covering his head. The umpire looked down at te scene and threw his hands out just as the winning run crossed the plate. "SAFE!"
Santana let out a happy whoop and hugged her mother-in-law. "He did it!"
Judy laughed, hugging her back. "Just like Quinn taught him."
Shane scrambled up off the ground not even bothering to brush his chest off once the game was called and threw himself at Quinn. "Quinn! Quinn, I did it! We won!"
Quinn lifted him up and swung him around, "Freaking amazing slide, man!" he said as he hugged his little brother. "You'll be playing for the Orioles soon if you keep hitting like that!"
"Yay!" he cheered, hugging Quinn tightly. "You'll be my coach, right? Daddy says a good coach is best."
Santana laughed as she came up behind them to hug Quinn. "Maybe, buddy. But we gotta get over to my mom and dad's for the barbeque. You ready for that?"
His eyes lit up as he leaned back with a big smile. "Barbeque! Can I have two hotdogs? And a burger?"
"I like being your coach!" Quinn smiled. "And are you sure you can handle all that food? I know your a growing boy but that's more than Santana can eat!" he said teasingly as he walked with them back over to the bleachers.
"Hey!" Santana growled, not really liking the dig at her slightly expanding waistline. "Are you trying to get yourself condemned to sleep on the couch tonight?" she asked with a raised brow.
John laughed as he came over to take his son as the other three parents gathered things up. "Careful there, Quinn. Your lady's got some teeth on her."
"I'm not complaining! I like when I get to make you tasty, tasty food," Quinn replied quickly. "Don't make me sleep on the couch... that would be sad." He picked up the bag with the bats in it and slung it over her shoulder. "I like that you eat."
"You better," she murmured, picking up the bag of cups and walking towards their station wagon with Quinn, "seeing as you knocked me up twice this try."
He beamed at her. "Making up for my lack of sperm," he stated as he loaded the trunk of the car. "You ready to tell the family? I think that today's a good day because you're gonna start to show soon."
"Maybe when we're back at Mami and Papi's," she smiled, leaning up to kiss him. "I'm glad it worked. Can't wait to see you getting all wrapped around our babies' little fingers," she teased.
"Just like yours?" He smiled and opened the car door for her.
"Hey, that's where you belong!" She laughed, letting him help her into the car as the parents piled into their own vehicles.
Santana was nervously sipping at her iced tea and watching everyone from her seat by the grill where Quinn was busy cooking. "Are you sure we should tell them?" she asked uncertainly. "I mean, what if I miscarry again?" A hand smoothed absentmindedly over her stomach. "Maybe we should wait until they're born and just say surprise!?"
"Baby, you're having twins... and you're four months pregnant." He rolled his eyes and pressed a kiss against the woman's temple. "You've got two babies growing in you... they're gonna know."
She blushed and stirred her tea with her straw. "I know, I just... how the heck do you tell your parents that they're gonna be grandparents without everyone freaking out in this family?"
"I don't know, we could always pull what my mom did and get knocked up and have a baby before telling anyone." He shrugged and squeezed her hand. "Just think about it this way, you get more presents starting now if we tell them."
"Hey, I'm not that materialistic!" She laughed, leaning back to smile up at him. "Maybe... maybe you could give the announcement?" she asked softly. "Be all proud papa-to-be?"
"I can do that," He smiled, "I like that I got you knocked up."
"Twice," she pointed out with a smirk. "I cannot believe you managed to get me pregnant with twins without even having the bullets to fire."
"I'm gifted, baby." He smirked. "Plus this way we might have one of you and one of me inside you," Quinn pointed out as he flipped the burgers and sausages on the grill.
"Oh God, if that's true I'll never get you back," Santana teased. "You'll be too tied up over a little me to look at the me getting older in your bed."
He pouted for a moment. "Like I'll have time with a little you having me wrapped around their finger," he reminded her. "Hopefully they can occupy themselves a bit or we can dump them with the in-laws sometimes."
"Mmm, but you'd better not be thinking you're gonna get out of quality us time before they're here, mister." She cocked a brow at him, smirking. "I have needs and you're the reason I'm like this so..."
"Have I ever had an issue taking care of your needs?" He raised his eyebrow at her and went about seasoning the meat on the grill.
"Not yet. Might need to get you on some vitamins though," she mused, sipping her tea as she watched him slyly. "Feed you some steak and stuff. Keep your strength up."
"Yummy," he said and took a swing of his beer. "Maybe you should go help your mom get the table ready and gauge her mood... I know she's not really great with my mom yet..."
Santana rolled her eyes, getting up out of her chair and handing him her tea. "Chicken. You just don't want her mad when you announce your big news. Like they won't all be nuts about being grandparents. Speaking of," she paused and glanced at him, "how is John gonna fit in? I know he married your mom and all, but I know you don't think of him as your dad..."
"He's Shane's dad... and our baby needs grandparents." He shrugged and flipped a burger on the grill. "He can be a grandparent if he wants to be."
She walked over and hugged him. "Tell me what you want, Cap. Because you're their dad and they'll have your mom and Mami and Papi no matter what."
Quinn hugged her back and kissed the junction of her neck, "He can be their grandfather..."
"But you'll always be their dad," she whispered, enjoying the moment. "Now... you want to let everyone know before we eat or after?"
"Before," He stated, "I just want to get this over with so we can stop being nervous."
"Want me to go get everyone together?"
"Yes, please." He smiled and turned back to the BBQ.
"Back soon, lover." She smirked, heading off.
Getting everyone gathered together in one place looking at the two of them expectantly just made Santana's nerves flair up again. She licked her lips and squeezed Quinn's hand nervously as she smiled at him. "You ready?"
"What's going on?" Judy asked, looking between the two of them worriedly. "Is everything alright?"
Quinn squeezed Santana's hand and smiled, "Yeah, we just have some big news to tell you guys." He had a soft smile playing across his face, "As you well know San and I have been married for three years now, and we love each other very much..."
"Yuck!" Shane protested, making a face that had Santana covering her mouth to try not to laugh at him.
"Shane," John chided gently, "hush. You'll change your mind when you get older."
"Well, now, don't keep us waiting, son!" Emilio called out from where he was standing with his arms around his wife. "What's the big news?"
"Santana's pregnant," he stated with a smile. "We're gonna have babies."
The adults all gasped in surprise while Shane just looked confused. Maria was the first one to come over. "You're pregnant?" she asked with a smile, looking over her daughter. "I get to be a grandmother?"
Judy's reaction was a bit more stunned. "Babies? Plural?"
Santana nodded, leaning into Quinn with a hand on the slight bump beginning to show in her fourth month and a smile on her lips. "Twins. I blame your son."
Quinn just beamed proudly. "Yup, two," he said as he hugged Maria. "Two little Collins-Lopezes."
Suddenly Judy was beside him, pulling him into a tight hug with a happy laugh. "Oh, congratulations, sweetie! I'm so happy for you!"
Maria blinked at the sudden happiness, still not used to interacting with the other woman, but she stepped back to let Emilio scoop his daughter up into his arms. "Congratulations, baby."
"Thank you, Papi," she whispered, hiding her smile and happy tears in the crook of his neck.
"We've been trying for a while... So we waited as long as we could to tell you."
"You take care of my girl, Quinn," Emilio insisted over Santana's shoulder as John came up to the group with Shane perched on his shoulders.
"Congratulations, you two." He smiled, holding out a hand to shake Quinn's. "I can't think of two people more suited to be parents."
"Until I die," he said with promise. "I can't live without her."
John sighed, stepping back. He knew Quinn still hadn't really accepted him as part of their odd little family, but it still stung when it was pointed out. Pulling Shane down from his shoulders, he gave him a little shove towards Quinn and Santana. "Go give your brother and sister a hug. You're gonna be an uncle when their babies are born, little man."
Quinn hugged Shane and smiled at John as he hugged the boy. "You excited, Shay?"
Shane frowned up at his big brother. "Is San having puppies like Molly?"
Quinn laughed loudly and ruffled the boy's hair. "Not really, she's gonna have babies. We love each other and wanted to be parents like your mommy and daddy."
His eyes narrowed in a pout. "Puppies are better."
"Sorry, dude, no puppies," he said. "We should get eating before it gets cold."
"Hot dogs!" Shane cheered. "Can I have extra relish, Quinn?"
Santana laughed, watching her husband interact with his little brother. Maria hugged her. "You're going to be good parents. You picked well, sweetheart."
"Thank you, Mami." She smiled at her mom. "And don't worry, we still plan on taking over the restaurant in a few years after these little guys are old enough to stay with you and Papi while we're at work."
"I have no doubt, but take your time." she smiled, her hand reaching up to cup Santana's face, "sooner than you know they will grow up and have their own families."
Quinn worked in setting Shane up with a hot dog - with extra relish - and making a plate for Santana.
"But they'll never grow up enough to stop being my babies, right?" she asked, smiling at her mom as she put a hand over hers.
"Never, they just bring us more people to love," she smiled and kissed her daughter's head.
Santana smiled, looking at Quinn. "I think we finally done good, Mami." She glanced at her mom, her smile growing. "I'm happy. My Cap's happy. Mama Collins is home, happy, and safe. Russell's dead and can't hurt us anymore. And we've got babies on the way." She rubbed her belly happily. "We done good."
"Yeah you did, mija," she smiled as she placed her hand over her daughter's. "So good."
Quinn came back over and wrapped his arms around his wife, kissing the top of her head. "We did best, Mami."
"Damn straight," Santana added with a laugh, leaning back into him.
The End