Trusting You to Catch Me - Chapter Twenty One
Title: Trusting You to Catch Me
Author: Sio & Maura
Rating: NC-17
Length: 123,749
Spoilers: Everything up to On My Way and then deviating from there with minor Big Brother references.
Pairing: Santana/Quinn, Brittany/Santana/Quinn/Rachel friendship, mentions of Brittany/Santana, some Finn/Rachel (not positive)
Summary: Following her accident, Quinn experiences the gamut of emotion: denial to acceptance to healing and everything in between. But through it all are her friends patiently helping her with caring and friendship and maybe more.
Warnings (highlight to read): eating disorders, severe accident recovery, graphic sex, verbal abuse, minor violence, family issues, cheating, body image issues
Chapter 21
Quinn carried the pizza in her arms into the hotel room. It had been a long few days since they left Toronto and headed down through Vermont and explored upstate New York before heading through Connecticut to head to Santana's mom's house. This started to scare Santana as they got closer and closer to the border of Rhode Island.
Rachel suggested stopping for the night so that they could rest up, but mostly to let Santana calm down prior to going to Daniella's house in Providence. When Quinn backed up the suggestion, Santana had given in so easily, the girls could tell how relieved she was to not be at her mom's that night.
"Is she still in the bath?" Quinn asked as she closed the door and looked over at the closed bathroom door.
Rachel glanced towards the door, "It certainly seems that way. Do you want to go check on her? I doubt this motel is classy enough to actually provide locks on the bathroom doors after all."
"Yeah," Quinn said as she put down the two small pizzas and the bag of salad. "Wanna go grab some ice from the machine? I grabbed some sodas from the restaurant next door too." She pointed out as she headed into the bathroom, "Babe?"
Santana looked up to the door, her nose and head the only part of her body above the water that she laid in.
"You're going to turn into a prune if you stay in there much longer," she chided gently, closing the door behind her. "I brought some pizza and sodas for dinner. You want to eat?"
"Did you get salad too?" she asked as she popped her head up and looked at her girlfriend.
"Yeah, though it looks kinda bleh," she shrugged, sitting on the edge of the tub and trailing her fingers through the cooling water. "You can have some of Rach's pizza if you want though. It's a veggie with no cheese and a thin crust."
"I didn't have much breakfast or lunch... I can have some of yours," She said softly, "Unless you got bacon on it, then no dice."
"Hey, don't hate on the bacon," she smirked down at Santana, leaning down to kiss her. "How are you feeling? You've been hiding in here for a while."
Santana sighed into the kiss and blinked as she pulled away. "I feel like everything is muffled... like I'm in a glass room and everyone else is talking outside of it but I can't hear... does that make any sense?"
She thought about it for a moment. "Kind of. Feeling a little overwhelmed, baby?"
"When we get to Rhode Island..." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, her hand swishing through the water. "That means I have to deal with my mom, that I have to get ready to go to university, that..." She looked up. "I have to leave you."
"Can't leave me," she whispered, smiling down at her as she smoothed her fingers over Santana's cheek. "You're my girl, San. I'll be barely two hours drive away and I'm going to find a way to come see you every chance I get if you don't come to me. I'll even ride a freaking bus and walk if I have to. Got it?"
"I have a car... I'll come get you, okay?" Santana said. "I'm living with Daniella and saving money so I can come get you and see you... even if it's really late at night and you're having a bad day."
"Or if it's really late and you're having a bad day, okay?" Quinn leaned down to rest her forehead against hers. "We can do this. We've got our whole future ahead of us..."
"I know," she whispered. "I'm scared to spend time with Daniella, what if she realizes that there is something wrong with me?" she asked as she ran her fingers over her ribs and hip bones.
"You're getting better. You're getting better every day and if she does, so what? You know Berry might be annoying as hell sometimes, but her and I have both got your back no matter what." She smiled softly. "Like a family, right?">[?
"Yeah. I just don't want to disappoint her... She didn't have me for forever and now she gets a sick, broken kid."
"Do you think that could make her love you less? Don't be silly, San. She's your mom. Even mine got her head out of her ass when I really needed her."
Santana nodded. "Alright... I should get out." She sighed and stood up, grabbing the thin towel and wrapping it around herself. "Wanna brush my hair?"
"Sure." She smiled, pulling the drain plug out and standing to help Santana step out of the tub. "Want me to get you something to wear? Much as I might like you in nothing, I don't think Rachel will be so comfortable sharing the bed with us if you don't."
"I bought stuff in with me," Santana said as she motioned to the long sleeve shirt and boyshort underwear.
"Ever prepared," she whispered, leaning on the counter and letting her hands rest on Santana's hips. "Can I do anything to calm you down a bit before we head back out?"
Santana just slipped into Quinn's arms and rested her head against the girl's neck. "You make everything better, you know that right?"
"Not everything," she murmured, blushing as she held her girlfriend. "I'm just trying to make you feel better, baby."
"You do." Santana smiled and pressed a kiss to Quinn's collarbone before pulling away and drying herself. She pulled the panties on and the the shirt over her head and ran the towel through her hair.
Quinn picked the brush up, motioning for her to sit in front of her as she settled on the toilet seat. "You know," she murmured as she started brushing out her girlfriend's damp hair, "I think Rachel's going to really miss you."
"I'm gonna miss her too," she said. "She's a good friend..."
"You need to talk to her, okay?" she whispered, leaning down to kiss the top of her head. "Whenever you can't talk to me, go to Rachel, okay? Especially if we fight - because you know we will. Even if I'm mad, I want you safe and I know she'll take care of you. Can you do that for me?"
"I promise... will you do the same? Or you can find a friend like her at Yale?" she asked softly. "I don't want you to be alone and I want you to have lots of friends."
"I'll try if you promise to do the same at Brown."
"I have you, B, and Rachel... I don't know if I can handle any more friends," Santana teased as she looked over her shoulder and kissed Quinn softly.
Quinn laughed. "I doubt you could handle any more friends like us anyway," she teased. "Or find any. I think we're all pretty special, don't you?" She glanced at the door, "I'm still surprised sometimes that Berry's willing to be friends with us after all the things we used to do and say to her."
"Glutton for punishment," Santana said with a smile as she stood up. "We should go spend time with the president of munchkin land."
"Ready to spend the night being cuddled?" she asked with a smirk, accepting Santana's hand up. "We're both worried about you, after all."
"I know," she said as she came into the room. "Sorry, long bath..." Santana explained as she plopped down on the king sized bed.
"That's alright," Rachel smiled at her, setting her book aside. "Shall we have dinner then? Perhaps watch a film before bed?"
"Works for me," Santana said, as she grabbed the Diet Sprite out of the bag and the paper plates.
"I brought ice. Were there cups in the bathroom or should we just make do?" she asked uncertainly as she carried the bucket of ice to the bed.
Santana got up and grabbed three cups from the bathroom and loaded them up with ice. "Thanks, Rachel," she said as she sat back down on the bed.
"You're welcome."
"I've got a veggie with no cheese and a works," Quinn smirked as she set the boxes down. "Guess which one's mine. There's also salad if anyone wants it though I think it looks gross."
"You think all salad looks gross, Q," Santan pointed out as she opened the pizza boxes.
She pulled the clear clamshell of semi-wilted iceberg lettuce with a couple of raggedy tomato wedges and a handful of shredded cabbage out of the bag and held it out with a raised brow. Rachel glanced at it and blanched before turning back to her pizza.
"Good try, babe," Santana chuckled and closed it and put it off to the side. "But probably should have used better judgement on that. Hopefully the pizza is better?"
"Hopefully since that was the only salad they offered," she winced with a shrug. "I knew you'd want it, so I got it but it really is gross. You want a piece of mine or Rach's?"
"I'd prefer to stick to the other one, I'm kinda skeeved by the joint to begin with and I don't wanna puke all night." She sighed as she poured her soda into the cup.
Quinn shrugged. "More for me then," she smirked, picking up a slice and taking a bite as Rachel carefully slid a piece of her pizza onto a plate for Santana, trying not to knock off all the vegetables.
"I think we may have to fold it in half to eat rather like a flatbread," she mused, selecting a piece for herself.
Santana picked up the plate with her slice and nibbled on it keeping it on the plate. "Without the cheese to stick the stuff in place it's hard," she said as she chewed and moved to lean against Quinn.
"Sorry," Rachel murmured, knowing that it was her veganism messing up the pizza.
"Nah, it's good. I wouldn't eat it if it had cheese," she reminded her friend. "Actually, I wouldn't eat it at all if you weren't here."
She glanced up at Santana. "Really? Quinn's here. You'd eat for her..."
"I mean like in general... I wouldn't be attempting this if it wasn't for you pushing me." Santana said honestly.
Rachel smiled shyly. "Well, I'm certainly glad I could help."
"Okay, enough with the lovefest," Quinn teased. "Let's see if there's anything worth watching or if we need to disable the smoke detector and break out Santana's stash."
"You're joking." Rachel looked mildly horrified at the idea - though of violating the terms of their rental of the room or of indulging in the use of illegal drugs she couldn't quite say for sure.
"I gotta find a way to get some more in Providence." Santana pouted as she looked up to Quinn. "I have some left if you want it..."
"You're not really going to smoke in here are you?" Rachel eyes were wide as she looked between the two of them. "I mean, I understand you do on a... a theoretical level, Santana, but to actually... here?"
"Nah," Santana shrugged, "this place would probably burn down if we did."
Rachel sighed in such exaggerated relief that Quinn nearly fell off the bed laughing. "San," she chuckled, wiping at her eyes before reaching for another slice, "we so have to get Berry high at some point."
"What?!" she stared at them in shock. "No! That's... I... what?!"
"I'm surprised she hasn't gotten a contact high from hanging around me!" she smirked.
"You've been kissing on Berry, San?" Quinn smirked, taking a bite out of her slice.
"This, no... what? This isn't happening..." Rachel shook her head, determinedly eating her piece of pizza.
"No! I mean just being around me!" Santana exclaimed. "Only kissing on you," she said with a smile, "but I think stoned Berry might be hella fun."
"Why does everyone suddenly want me intoxicated with illegal substances?" Rachel cried with a little pout, making Quinn laugh.
"Don't worry, baby. I know those lips are mine only," she smirked, leaning in to kiss her. "But if everyone's high, I think I'd forgive you a few Berry kisses so long as it was just kisses."
"This isn't happening," Rachel moaned, burying her face in her hands.
Santana looked at her awkwardly and raised an eyebrow. "Kinky," she stated as she turned back to her food and nibbled on it slowly.
"Not really," Quinn shrugged. "No offense, Rachel, but I'm not worried about you trying anything with San. Plus, you like to kiss when you're high. I'd just rather you kiss her than some random I'd have to worry about if you're not kissing me."
"No offense taken," Rachel stated as she ate her pizza, "Though, I'd prefer if she didn't indulge and put everyone in that situation."
"Can't," Santana replied, "I like to be high... It's what I do." She mumbled and curled up in between Quinn's legs. "How about I just get high and go to bed when I'm at school? Not like I'm in a dorm or anything to get into trouble."
"If you have to," she murmured, running her fingers through her hair. "I wish you weren't high all the time though, baby. It's fun once in awhile, but I worry when you're high all the time."
"You won't be around to see it, so why is it a problem?" she asked. "If I'm getting good grades and not doing stupid shit..."
"Because I worry about you," she admitted softly. "Because I won't be around and I don't want anyone hurting you or you getting in trouble because I can't keep an eye out for you..."
"I know," she whispered. "I'm just going to be chilling in my room most of the time."
"I know." She leaned down to kiss her, ignoring that Rachel was sitting next to them awkwardly trying to look anywhere but at them. "Don't forget you've got a little sister to worry about too."
"I don't wanna talk about this anymore," she said firmly.
Quinn sighed. "Fine. Berry, see if there's anything on TV, will you?"
Santana sighed and rested her head on Quinn's thigh. "I don't wanna go to college."
"Why not?" Rachel frowned worriedly as Quinn stroked her hair. "You wanted to before..."
"It's... I don't want to be alone. I don't know what I want to do, and I don't want to live with Daniella."
"What do you want to do then?" Quinn asked softly as Rachel cleaned up the remains of their dinner.
"I don't know," she said softly. "I just don't want to go."
Rachel came back over to the bed and stretched out beside them. "You have to want to do something," she murmured. "Everyone wants to do something, even if it's ridiculous."
"I don't," she said. "My dad wanted me to be a doctor... That's what I was gonna do because he told me too," she said, not used to making her own decisions.
"Your dad doesn't have a say anymore," Quinn reminded her, moving to lay beside her. "You can do whatever you want."
"You can even take your time and just take general classes," Rachel pointed out, getting up and heading to the bathroom to change for bed. "You don't have to know what you're doing right away, Santana. I do, but I'm well, odd. Most people attending college aren't like me."
"what do you want to do?" she asked as she looked at Quinn.
Quinn blushed. "You'll think it's silly..."
"Never," Santana stated.
"What is it, Quinn?" Rachel asked as she came back to the bed.
"I just," she bit her lip, looking away, "I like math... and I kind of want to be a teacher. Yale got rid of their teaching program, but they've still got a great math and philosophy program that I've been looking at. I was thinking that maybe I could try for that."
"You'd be a great teacher, Q." Santana smiled. "You're really an amazing leader but also compassionate."
"Compassionate?" she snorted. "Where have you been the last few years and what'd you do with my girlfriend when you replaced her? I'm only compassionate to people I like."
"You'll be compassionate to your students." Santana smiled, pleased by the idea of Quinn being a teacher.
"Maybe," she smirked. "But I've got at least six years of school to get through before we'll see how compassionate I'll be or not. Or if I'll even be a teacher at all."
Rachel yawned. "I'm sure you'll both be great at whatever you set your minds to being," she mumbled, snuggling into Santana. "I'll get you both tickets to my first show when I finally get discovered, so you'd both better come. Okay?"
"Naturally, we gotta get you famous so we can come to the good parties." Santana winked. "Right, Q?"
"Of course," she smirked. "Who else would invite a math teacher like I want to be to the kind of parties Santana likes after all?"
"Plus, I'm just gonna be a freeloader with no life goals," she joked, but feeling nervous about her future.
"It's okay," Rachel agreed with another yawn. "You can stay on my couch whenever Quinn gets mad at you or in my guest room when I make it big."
Quinn laughed. "I think someone's falling asleep on us, baby."
"Get some sleep, Rach," Santana said as she let Rachel curl up with a pillow. Santana more or less laid on top of Quinn and rested her head on the girl's chest. "Still want me if I'm a loser?"
"Even if I have to work two jobs to keep you around," she murmured, running a hand up and down Santana's back. "But you're not a loser, San. You just don't know what you want to do yet."
"I don't like making my own decisions... Can you make them for me?" She pouted.
"Not this one." She smiled up at her, holding onto her. "But I can support you and keep you by my side until you figure it out. I want you to find something that makes you happy, baby."
"That sounds hard," she whispered, "I'm not good at anything..."
"You're good at being a friend," she smirked slightly, "when you want to be. You're good at cheer and singing. You play well and you're getting better all the time. You're really good at making me happy." She leaned up and kissed her. "You're good at lots of things, Santana. Don't put yourself down, please."
"Can I just be your girl? Everything else is too hard," she whispered. "I don't know why I'm even going to Brown."
"Because you're amazing." Quinn reached up to turn Santana's face to look at her. "You never let me give up, even when I wanted to the most. I'm not going to let you give up either, okay? So what if you don't know what you want to do right now? Just take some intro classes that sound interesting and figure out what you like doing. And, heck, I hear Brown's got a pretty good graduate teaching program... maybe I'll look at going there in a few years after I graduate from Yale. What do you think?"
"Or I'll get my shit together and come to Yale? Or we can go somewhere new?" she asked as she nuzzled her lover's neck. "I like talking about a future with you..."
"Not Yale." She smiled, shaking her head. "They dropped their education program, remember? But wherever you want to go when it's time, we'll do that." She reached up and brushed her fingers over Santana's cheek, "Maybe we can even get a place together wherever we go. Let Rachel crash on the couch when she comes to visit us."
"Sounds nice..." She smiled. "my sister will wanna visit... And Britt." Santana looked up and had a thoughtful smile. "Are you allergic to cats?"
She thought about it for a moment then shrugged. "I don't think so, but I've never really spent much time around any so I don't really know." She looked at Santana curiously. "Why?"
"When we live together... Can we get a kitten?" she asked with a smile.
Quinn laughed softly. "Maybe, but only if you're the one that has to get them down when they climb into unbelievable places. I'm not risking falling out of a tree or something for our cat with my back, baby."
"Okay, I can live with that."
She held her close. "Santana Lopez, you are impossible sometimes." She smirked at her, letting her fingers brush over her cheek again. "Will you stay with me if my back gets worse again and I stop being able to walk?" she asked softly, letting her biggest fear hang between them.
"It won't," Santana said, "but if it does I'll wheel you around."
"You make me sound like a cart!" Quinn laughed, feeling relieved. "You promise you won't leave though? Even if I can't walk or dance or do anything like a normal person again? You'll still want me?"
"Always," Santana whispered, "even when we are old and wrinkly."
"Can't even imagine you as wrinkly," she smiled softly, smoothing her thumb along the side of her face as she looked at her. "Guess I'll have to stick around to see it in person, hm?"
"I'll probably just get disgustingly fat," she whispered. "Part black, baby... we don't crack." She winked and kissed her lover's neck. "But, yeah, you should stick around."
"Can't picture you as fat either. But don't stress about your mom, okay?" She leaned up and kissed her softly. "Your sister adores you and no matter what you can count on Rach and me to be your family. Britt too. So stop worrying about stuff that hasn't even happened. You're loved, Santana Lopez. Really and truly. Promise."
She nodded and sighed, "Hold me? And we can go to sleep."
Quinn nodded, wrapping both arms around her as she rested on top of her. "I'll never let go," she whispered.
"Don't Titanic me, Q," she teased.
"How old are you?" She laughed. "I was trying to be romantic, but never mind."
Santana giggled and nuzzled Quinn's neck. "Just sayin"
"You're trouble."
"Duh, it's in my job description." She smiled, closing her eyes.
"Wonder if you can get a degree in that at Brown?" She laughed softly with a yawn before falling asleep a little later with her arms wrapped around the girl in her arms.
"Mami," Alejandra called from her perch leaning against the back of the sofa and staring fixedly out the window, "is Tana and her friends really coming today? She hasn't called me on the 'puter in like a whole week, Mami. She still loves me, right?"
"Of course, darling." Daniella smiled. "she's been driving here. She said she would come today."
"Really?" She bounced off the sofa and ran over to throw her arms around her mom's waist, grinning up at her and displaying a missing front tooth. "And she's really staying? Do I get to play were her and her friends?"
"If they want. You need to remember Santana's never had a sister before and she's a grown up, okay?" she warned. "You gotta give her space sometimes."
The little girl frowned. "But I've always been her sister."
"She just met you, little one." Daniella picked her up and hugged her. "She didn't know you, but she loves you okay."
"You sure?" she asked with a pout, wrapping her little arms around her mom's neck. "I only just mets her too and I wants to play with her always."
"I know, little one." She smiled. "I'm sure she'll try her best."
Hearing the sound of a car pulling into the driveway, Alejandra perked up. "She's here!" she cried happily, wiggling out of her mom's arms and running towards the door. "Tana!"
"Careful!" Daniella warned as she walked behind her.
Santana took a deep breath and turned off the car. She squeezed her girlfriend's hand before getting out.
"Tana! Tana!" Alejandra cried happily, running towards her sister and flinging herself bodily at her to hug her. "You're here! I missed you so much!"
Rachel got out and scurried over to open the passenger door and help Quinn out of the car knowing that she wanted to meet Santana's mom for the first time on her feet. "I've got your cane here if you want it," she murmured, holding still and letting Quinn lean on her until she was sure she had her balance.
"Hi, Santana." Daniella smiled at her eldest daughter, walking over. "How was your trip here, girls?"
"Hi, squirt," Santana said with a smile as she picked the little girl up and rested her on her hip. "Missed you too." She looked up at her mother and smiled. "Hey, thanks for having us."
"Anytime, Santana. Who are you friends?" she asked, glancing at the two other girls.
Quinn nodded at Rachel, taking a nervous breath and her cane before walking carefully over to Daniella and offering her hand. "I'm Quinn Fabray. I'm Santana's," she glanced at Santana for direction on how she should call herself before settling weakly on "friend" when she couldn't figure out how much the other girl wanted the woman to know.
"I'm Rachel." She grinned, hurrying over to offer her hand to the woman as soon as she was done shaking Quinn's. "Rachel Berry, future star of stage and screen, and may I just say that it is a pleasure to meet you, ma'am?"
"Hi, girls." Daniella smiled. "It's a pleasure. I'm Daniella, welcome to Providence."
"Quinn's my girlfriend," Santana added with a nervous nod.
"Yes," she smirked at her daughter in a way that made their relationship to each other very apparent. "I could tell that by the way she looked at you. I certainly hope you're taking care of my daughter the way she deserves, Quinn."
Quinn blushed and looked down at the ground. "I'm trying, ma'am."
Santana hugged her sister and worried her lip. "Uh... Can we stop the awkward reunion?" Santana asked. "Plus, I needs to go to the bathroom."
Daniella laughed. "Sure. Come on in, girls, and Allie and I can show you around before dinner. You mentioned that you're more vegetarian than not these days, Santana, so I whipped up a vegetarian enchilada recipe that I hope everyone enjoys. Come on."
"Thanks," Santana said, putting her sister down and looking at Quinn and Rachel. "You guys okay?" she whispered to Quinn and Rachel.
"Of course," Rachel smiled. "Why wouldn't we be?"
"A little tired from being in the car," Quinn admitted, but she was grinning happily. "You told your mom! About us!" She sounded pleased and excited as she dropped her came to hug Santana tightly.
Santana laughed. "Duh," she smiled, "you're my woman." She hugged her and pulled away to look down at her sister, "Alejandra? Did you meet Quinn and Rachel?"
She shook her head, looking up at the girls with wide eyes as she clung to Santana's leg. "Uh-uh," she whispered.
Rachel crouched down in front of her and held out a hand. "Hi. I'm Rachel. What's your name?"
"Alejandra," she whispered, she looked up at Santana with nervous eyes.
"it's okay," she said softly, "she's nice. A bit crazy. But nice."
Rachel nodded. "Unless someone tries to hurt my friends. You wouldn't do that though." She smiled reassuringly.
"Rach, you're scaring the kid," Quinn deadpanned before smiling at Alejandra while leaning heavily on her cane. "I'm Quinn. It's nice to meet you, Alejandra. Do you like being called that?"
"Mami calls me Allie... Tana calls me squirt or tiny, or shorty," she thought as she worked her way back into Santana's arms.
"Allie's pretty." Quinn smiled as Santana picked her back up. "Can I call you that?"
Alejandra nodded and rested her head against Santana's shoulder. "Tana's my sister, did you know that?" she asked softly as they headed into the house.
"Mmhmm." She nodded. "She's told me a lot about you."
"Cool," she smiled. "Are you both going to school with Tana?"
"Not anymore, but we did," Rachel piped up, wandering behind them. "And we'll still visit each other a lot while we're in school."
She nodded and hugged Santana. "Squirt? I gots to put you down," Santana said as she put the child down and quickly slipped into the bathroom. Quinn watched Alejandra with a smile as she moved to Daniella.
"Thank you so much for letting us come here, ma'am," Quinn stated as she looked up to Santana's mom.
"It's no problem," she smiled lopsidedly, tousling Alejandra's hair gently. "I would have agreed to just about anything to have her back in my life. Is...is she happy, Quinn?"
"I think so, but to be honest ma'am... Santana needs to be the one who answers your questions," Quinn said nervously, "She's private and it's not my place to say anything."
"That's understandable," she agreed with a little nod. "You don't have a problem with vegetarian food, do you? I admit it's my first attempt and I'm a bit nervous."
"I'm fine with it." Quinn shrugged. "Rachel might need to go through the ingredients though because she's vegan."
"Really?" she winced. "I wish Santana had told me that. There's butter and sour cream involved. I'll have to figure something out so she can eat too," she sighed, setting Alejandra down and telling her to go help Rachel with the girls' luggage before heading to the kitchen with Quinn. "So, tell me about yourself while I figure this out, Quinn. Santana says you're her girlfriend?" she smiled at her before opening the cupboard.
"Uh yeah?" Quinn said as she leaned against the counter and watched Santana go out with her sister and Rachel to help with the bags. "We've been together a about a two weeks I guess?" She thought about it. "Feels like longer."
"Only two weeks?" her brows rose in surprise. "Wow. Are you going to Brown with her?"
"Nope, I'm going to Yale," she said. "I've been friends with Santana forever but we got really close over the last five months with my recovery and all."
"Yes, she mentioned that." She nodded at the cane. "You seem to be doing better. What happened? If you don't mind me asking."
"Car accident," Quinn said. "It was dumb, but I'm working hard... Santana's been helping me get better."
Daniella nodded, pulling out the things for quick tossed salad. "Well, I'll pray for you. So, Yale huh?" she smirked at Quinn. "My girl likes them brainy, hmm?" she teased.
"I don't know how smart I am... Santana was the Salutatorian in our class though, she's freaking brilliant." Quinn smiled, "Plus with her athletic skills... She's really awesome."
"I saw her at Nationals," she beamed, proud of her child's accomplishments. "Saw all of you at the show choir Nationals too. It was such a shame you couldn't take first this year. Rachel is the girl who was involved in that kiss everyone was talking about last year, isn't she?"
"Yep, we don't hate her anymore since she broke up with that dude." Quinn shrugged, "But that's cool that you came to see us. We were never going to win with Glee, but Cheerios will always win."
"Well I think you should have won with both," she insisted. "Allie liked hearing everyone sing, but I'm afraid she's got Santana on a bit of a pedestal. She looks up to her."
"She's a good singer," Quinn said. "She's strong and very dedicated to anything she does." She moved to sit on a stool at the island. "Santana's quiet, so don't be offended if she doesn't open up."
"Reminds me of me," she smiled softly, tossing some tomatoes into the salad. "By the way, I know you're grown young women, so I won't try and impose any outdated rules, but please," she turned to look at Quinn, "if you're intimate, keep it from Allie? She's just a little girl still..."
Quinn blushed and looked down. "Don't... Don't worry, ma'am," she mumbled. "We won't disrespect your home..."
"It's not a matter of disrespect." She shook her head, carrying the salad to the table. "If you love each other, it's perfectly natural to want to be together sexually, Quinn. I just don't want Allie exposed to things far more mature than she's ready for is all."
Before Quinn could answer Santana came in with Rachel and Alejandra. "Momma, they have lots of stuff!" Alejandra beamed as she bounced over to her mom. "And a guitar!"
"Really?" Daniella asked, catching the girl. "Did you help?"
"Uh-huh," she nodded with a big smile.
"She was lots of help, ma'am. I don't think we could have done it without her," Rachel smiled. "Right, Santana?"
"Totally, kid's got some guns on her," Santana teased as she moved over to Quinn and ran her hand up her back, "You okay?" she asked as she looked to her girlfriend. "You need your medications?"
"No." She smiled up at her. "I'm doing okay for now. Thanks for asking though. Ready to eat?"
"Rachel, I'm so sorry but I didn't know you were vegan and the enchilada..."
"Don't worry, Ma'am," Rachel smiled. "I'm used to it happening at least the first time I eat somewhere new. Do you have salad at least? Or fruit?"
"Yes, I made a salad..." She motioned to the bowl and handed it to Alejandra to put on the table. "I have some juice or water for beverages? I didn't know what you guys liked... I'm not normally this disorganized," Daniella explained as she tried to put away the clutter on the counter.
"Momma's nervous," Alejandra said as she reached for her cup off the counter. "She cleaned all night!"
"Allie!" Danella said curtly as she looked at her youngest.
Quinn laughed, put at ease by the woman's fretting. "It's okay, don't worry. My mom is way more neurotic."
"Really?" she laughed. "And you, Rachel?"
"My mother is...not in the picture." She smiled, though it was slightly pained. "My fathers have their moments though. Alejandra, would you like to assist me in carrying things to the table?" she asked, grabbing a handful of glasses as the little girl nodded cheerfully.
Santana looked down at the floor, trying to not engage or get overwhelmed by her mother. "Thanks for dinner," she said softly as she held onto the bottom of Quinn's shirt.
"Baby?" Quinn asked softly. "Would you like salad or a piece of your mon's enchilada?"
She didn't want anything, but she knew that her mother made it for her. "Both, just a bit," she said softly as she went to the table and sat next to Rachel and across from her sister. She looked at her friend nervously and then down at the food.
Rachel reached over and squeezed her hand under the table with a reassuring smile as Quinn made her slow way over to squeeze onto the bench beside Santana so she was between the other two girls. Daniel sat down next to Alejandra and served her.
"Just have a little, baby," Quinn breathed in her ear before brushing her lips across the corner of her jaw. "It's okay."
She nodded and let Rachel put a little bit of food on her plate before she sipped her water. She closed her eyes and breathed slowly before opening them to Alejandra smiling at her.
"I'm happy my sister is here!" The little girl beamed, "Thank you for coming, Tana."
"My pleasure, shorty," she said, some of the tension releasing as she watched her sister dig into her food.
"Mmm! This is good, Mami!" Alejandra cheered, shoveling another bite in her mouth messily.
"Great, now please eat like a human being," the woman chided.
"But it's so good!"
Quinn laughed. "She's like you with Breadsticks," she teased, nudging Santana slightly.
Santana rolled her eyes and took a small bite of salad. "Shush you," she said to Quinn. Alejandra got her face wiped by her mother and continued to eat, only slower this time.
"This salad is very good," Rachel complemented as she ate. Santana tried to eat a few bites of the enchlada and then moved to pushing food around her plate.
"Not hungry, Tana?" Alejandra asked when she saw her sister not eating.
"It's very good." She smiled fakely. "But I'm not really that hungry."
"That's okay, Santana." Daniella smiled. "There is plenty of leftovers that you can have later if you get hungry. We also have random amounts of other healthy snacks in the fridge and the pantry."
Noticing Santana blanching, Rachel leaned forward. "We just had lunch not too long ago when we stopped to freshen up before arriving. Maybe we'll take you up on your offer of a snack later in the evening, but I for one am quite full."
Quinn kept eating silently until she had cleaned her plate. "It was very good," she said, looking down awkwardly.
"Mami? Can we show Tana and everyone her room?" she asked with a smile.
Glancing over and seeing that the girl had finished her food, she nodded. "Sure, sweetie, but you need to put your dishes away and wash up first."
Alejandra pouted. "But, Mami..."
"No but, Mami, young lady. You know the rules, now scoot."
Alejandra pouted and scampered off. "I can help with dishes," Santana offered, "it's the least I can do."
"Well, you are family and not a guest like your friends," Daniella trailed off with a smirk before nodding towards the kitchen. "Go on. I'm sure Allie would like it."
Santana nodded and slipped in the kitchen with hers and her friend's plates.
"It was very good, ma'am."
"Rachel, you barely ate anything and I didn't really offer a vegan option besides the salad-" Daniella began only to be cut off.
"No, truly. It was good and I just wasn't very hungry. Please don't worry about it."
"Rach, stop sucking up," Quinn rolled her eyes, sipping at her juice.
"I am not sucking up, Quinn!" Rachel gaped at her.
Daniella laughed, "Well, I have lots of fruit... Will Santana want some later?" she asked, not wanting to question her daughter's eating, but nervous about her child's physicality.
"It's possible," Rachel allowed.
Quinn sighed. "No offense, but I think she's nervous about being here. Just give her time."
"Yeah. I guess that makes sense."
Coming out of the bathroom rubbing the last bit of moisturizer into her face, Rachel looked at where Santana was sprawled out on Quinn's bed. "Are you sure you want both of us in here? I mean, if you want to sleep in your room upstairs with Quinn, I completely understand, Santana."
"Don't wanna," Santana mumbled. "You have your own space, it's not fair for her to think I wanna sleep in a dusty room that looks like a shrine to a dead kid." She pouted as she looked over at Rachel.
"I'm certain she'll allow you to redecorate now that you're here."
"Rachel, just shut up and get in bed," Quinn groused, finishing her nightly stretching. "San wants you here, so just be quiet for a little while."
Santana curled into Quinn and sighed. "My stomach hurts," she whispered as she looked up to her girlfriend.
"Anything I can do to make you feel better, baby?" she asked softly, running her fingers through Santana's hair.
"No... I didn't think about this before agreeing to live here." She sighed, she hid her face in Quinn's neck.
"Think about what?" Rachel asked softly, crawling on the bed behind Santana.
"My eating habits," she said softly. "It's hard enough... I don't need one more thing to make her regret keeping me here."
"It'll work out, Santana," Rachel murmured, hugging her.
Quinn nodded. "I agree with the hobbit on this one, San. You're getting better and your mom will adjust. Besides, you've been eating almost as much as Rachel the last few days. That's good, right?"
She shrugged. "Maybe." She sighed, not wanting to admit she had thrown up from forcing herself to eat.
"Baby, what do you need to be okay with this?" Quinn asked seriously. "Because I'll do anything I can to help."
"Me too," Rachel added, nodding behind her.
"My problem is I don't even know." She sighed, "I'm just confused about how I feel... I'm okay though."
"You know we'll both support you, right?" Rachel asked softly. "Just because we're not in your immediate presence doesn't mean we'll stop being your friend or offer whatever assistance you need from us, Santana."
"I know... And I support you too." She smiled as she looked at her friends.
"We can be like the three musketeers!" Rachel clapped.
Quinn rolled her eyes with a smirk. "More like the three mouseketeers if you're involved, Berry. But we can all help each other, right? San, you'll keep me focused on recovering and calm the hobbit down when she's freaking out over something and Rach will... probably sing at us over skype."
"Hey!"
"She's right, don't get all up in arms!" Santana laughed, closing her eyes. "Thanks for being here," she said tiredly.
"Where else would we be than here with you?" Quinn murmured, kissing her softly.
She shrugged and closed her eyes and drifted off.
"She's gonna be okay alone, right?" Quinn asked softly to Rachel.
"I don't know," she spoke softly, worried about the girl between them. "But at least she's not really alone alone. I think Daniella really does care about her. And Alejandra adores her... and you'll see her as often as you can, right?"
"Yes," she said softly, "I mean her food... She's not going to tell Daniella... You know that."
"I know." She sighed. "We'll have to... actually, I'll do it." She looked at Quinn over Santana's shoulder. "Better that she's mad at me than you for it... she needs you more."
"She's gonna be pissed..." Quinn sighed as she looked at her lover.
"I know," Rachel smiled sadly, "which is why it's better for her to direct that anger at me. At least I'll be further away and I believe we can all agree there will be less in person visits to New York than New Haven."
"It's close to me," she shrugged. "like an hour and a half from Yale on the train."
Rachel blinked. "There's a train between New Haven and here?"
"I mean New York, but yeah there's one to Providence too," she said. "But San and I'll come to New York all the time, okay?"
"It's okay," she smiled weakly, "you don't have to. It's enough knowing I'll have someone to talk to other than my dads and tutoring Brittany."
"We want to come, plus... It's New York!"
"At least let her calm down before coming." She chuckled. "I'd prefer not to have things thrown at me since I won't have my emergency slushie kit along."
"I'll try, I have ways now." She smirked. "Sex is better than suicides in Cheerios to tame her."
"Okay, while I don't wish to consider myself a prude in any fashion," she took a deep breath, "I would prefer not to be thinking about the sexual escapades of yourself and Santana. Particularly not before bed."
"You like it," Quinn teased. "We're hot."
Rachel raised a challenging brow. "Perhaps, but being in the same bed as the two of you does make it a little awkward. I have no doubt I'd enjoy it more given privacy to do so."
Quinn laughed. "Freak," she teased, "go to bed."
"But, Quinn, I thought I was supposed to stay here," she teased, snuggling in against Santana's back and reaching over her to awkwardly hug Quinn. "Good night, Quinn."
"Night," she said softly, cuddling into her girlfriend's body.