The Way To Each Other - Chapter Sixteen
Title: The Way To Each Other
Author: Sio & Maura
Rating: Hard NC-17
Length: Epic (230,271)
Spoilers: This is AU. Some mentions of Seasons 1 & 2 events though handled differently than in canon.
Pairing: Santana/Quinn
Summary: Santana's life is far harder than it appears to the average viewer. Her dad's in jail and her mom turns tricks in their old family home. Worst yet, Santana herself has to do the same to keep her mom alive and food in her belly. Can Quinn save her? Or will Quinn's domineering father ruin everything? For the Glee Bang
Warnings (highlight to read): talks of suicide, angst, language, graphic het and femslash sex, non-con, dub-con, oral, vaginal, anal, pedophilia, sex work, underage prostitution, abuse, violence sexual and non, minor character death, self-harm, drug use, disease - HIV
Chapter 16
Once, finally getting the go ahead to go home from her doctors, Cindy headed over to the hospital to take the girl home. Santana got dressed and armed with her medications for her pneumonia and an appointment in the outpatient clinic for management of her HIV. After a silent drive back to the farm Santana came into the house and smelled apple cider and bread. She smiled softly and looked up the stairs.
“Becca? Quinn?” Cindy called as she took of her coat and helped Santana take off her own. “We’re home!”
Quinn was the first one down the stairs, smiling broadly and throwing her arms around Santana as soon as she reached her, picking her up and spinning her around. “I missed you!” She kissed her cheek soundly, “I’m sorry I couldn’t come with Cindy to pick you up but Beauty needed brushing and I knew you'd want me to take care of her. Forgive me?”
Rebecca came down with more reservation than her niece. “Welcome home, Santana,” she murmured, her eyes guarded but it was the first time she’d spoken to Santana in nearly two weeks. “Will you be needing any changes to your diet to accommodate for your illness?” She was still worried where the young girl was concerned, but she was trying as the careworn smile on her face showed.
Santana wrapped her arms around Quinn’s neck and locked her legs around the girl hips and clung onto her. She breathed Quinn in until she heard Rebecca start talking, she rested her head on Quinn’s shoulder and looked at the older blonde. “Um... I don’t know. I have my appointment on Wednesday to hear more.” She said softly, still not trusting Rebecca.
“Very well,” Rebecca nodded, finishing coming down the stairs and briefly kissing her wife. “Do you feel up to joining us for dinner? We have fresh bread and I’ve a pot of stew in the oven.”
Quinn just shifted her hands to rest under Santana’s thighs, carefully supporting her. “We can go see Beauty and the kittens and show them all you’re okay first if you want.”
“Sounds good.” She whispered and tried to crawl off Quinn but found she wasn’t being allowed to. “You just like carrying me.” Santana joked as she held onto the other girl.
“You’ve been gone too long,” Quinn responded, kissing her cheek and moving to head out the door, Cindy laughing and throwing Santana’s coat back around her before opening the door. “I need you close for a bit.”
“I like it.” Santana whispered and held onto her. When they got out to the stables, Santana got down and she leaned into Quinn and held her for a few moments before kissing Quinn’s nose. “I missed you.” She whispered as she turned to pick up one of the other barn kittens. “They got big.”
Quinn reached over and scratched behind its ears, “Mmhmm, I think we might have to stop calling them kittens soon. We should go see Beauty though. She’s been looking for you.” She tangled her fingers with Santana’s, heading down the aisle. “Cindy says she should foal soon.” She smiled back over her shoulder, “I think she’s been waiting for you.”
“Pony!” She smiled before slipping in to the stall. “Hi, pretty girl.” She smiled as she moved to run her fingers over the horses head. “I missed you.” She said with a sigh as she kissed the velvet of the mare’s nose. “Did Quinn take good care of you?”
Quinn leaned on the door, watching Santana interact with the mare. “I did my best, but I’m not you, San.” She smiled at the little grey kitten that jumped up on her shoulder, reaching up to scratch its chin, “I’m just not as good with the animals as you.”
“She's just sick and not comfortable right now... she’ll be better when the baby comes.” Santana smiled, “She just wants to meet her baby,” she turned and rubbed her swollen stomach. “Isn’t that right? You wanna meet Pony?”
Beauty nickered softly, nuzzling at Santana’s hair. Quinn didn’t have the heart to tell Santana that Cindy didn’t think she’d survive the foaling. “Do you want to help me with Brody and the others after dinner? I mean, you’re going to want to get familiar with them so you can learn to ride when the snow melts, right?”
“Yeah, I guess,” she sighed and kissed the horse again. “I’m nervous about that but you’ll make sure I’m okay, right?”
“Of course. You can even ride with me a couple of times on Brody to get used to it before you try on your own.” Quinn smiled at her, the little grey kitten sitting on her shoulder and watching Santana and Beauty with bright yellow eyes, “You don’t think I’d ever let anything happen to you if I could stop it, do you?”
“I know.” Santana smiled over the horse. “Is Rebecca gonna hate me forever?” She whispered as she looked at her friend, “She... she doesn’t want me here. I don’t want to make things hard for anyone.”
“San,” Quinn rolled her eyes, pushing off the stall door and coming in to hug Santana, “She doesn’t hate you. Really. You should see how she acts around my dad and its way worse than what she does around you.”
“Great... I love being in the same sentence as your dad.” she sighed and walked over to the girl. “Can we watch Aladdin tonight? I don’t want to deal with anything.”
“Of course we can. And San, my dad’s the only person I know my aunt hates. You’re not like him. Not at all.” She wrapped her arms around Santana’s shoulders and kissed her forehead, “She’s just worried I’ll get hurt but I’m a big girl. I can handle anything you throw at me as long as you’re still here. She loves you. And it’s scary to love someone who’s dealing with something scary.”
"It's scary watching the rest of you guys being scared... I'm not even sure what this means to have and everyone looking at me with such regret and pity. The nurses at the hospital would bring me like ice cream and shit for just having HIV and I'm like 'bitch step off none of this makes this fucking shit better'." Santana vented, "Megan fucking treated me like an infant at first, I just.. don't fucking know what to do!"
"I'm trying not to be scared," Quinn admitted softly, "but you're my best friend and no one means more to me than you do, so it's hard to not be scared when I don't understand what you're going through." She took a breath, hugging her friend, "I don't know what it all means yet, but I'm going to learn everything I can so I can help. Because the first thing I thought when I heard him say you're sick is that I would lose you and I couldn't feel anything I was so scared I would..."
"Yeah. That was my first thought too," she sighed and rested in Quinn's arms. I just don't know what to do, or how to feel like this. I wish I knew who I got it from... I kinda wanna castrate them and go back and kill my mom myself for letting this happen." Santana exclaimed sadly as she raised up on her tip toes to kiss the kitten's nose. "Can we go see our babies?"
"Sure, but no more negative thoughts, okay? It doesn't matter where it came from, it's here and we're going to kick it's ass, right?" Quinn smirked, stepping back and holding out a hand for Santana to take, "I mean, we ruled McKinley. You really think some stupid illness is going to stand a chance? So we've got to be careful. So what? We've got each other, right?"
"Yeah... totally." Santana smiled softly and took Quinn's hand. They walked up the path slowly and back into the warm house, Santana kicked off her boots and coat and hung them up before she looked at Rebecca and Cindy talking in hushed tones in the kitchen. Santana sighed and headed straight up into Quinn's bedroom. She carefully opened the door and a bright smile as she saw black and orange balls of fur on the bed spread. She walked over to them and lay down so she could watch them sleep. "Hi, babies."
Toast raised his head with a sleepy meow, blinking at Santana for a moment before offering another tiny meow and getting up to pad over to his person. Purring and tail lightly flicking back and forth, he rubbed along her, taking special care to rub his head under her chin and against her cheeks. Blackie looked up as Toast moved away but just grumbled softly and tucked her nose back under her tail.
"I think someone missed you," Quinn grinned, leaning against the doorframe with folded arms as she watched.
"Come lay with us." She called out as she rubbed the kitten's head. "The babies want to see you too and he wants to cuddle before dinner."
"He's been cuddling me every night. I woke up to find him on my chest this morning practically in my face!" Quinn teased, but came over and crawled into the bed, curling up behind Santana. "And I'd rather cuddle with my best friend instead."
"I'd rather that too," Santana said softly as she turned to nuzzle Quinn's neck. "I'm scared, Q," she said, her voice cracking with emotion. "I don't wanna be sick."
"I don't want you to be sick either, San," Quinn whispered, her voice steady but soft with emotion as she hugged Santana. "But I'm going to be right here, ok? You can't get rid of me so easily. I'm going to be right beside you and take care of you because you'd do the same for me if I was sick, right?"
Santana just nodded and sighed knowing that she still was trying to understand her own feelings about her status. "Okay."
Quinn sighed softly and hugged Santana close. "It's going to be okay. Even if you get mad and yell at me, I'm not going to leave you, though I might yell back. You're my best friend, Santana. No one can take that away and nothing can change it. Whatever happens, I'm always going to be nearby with a hug and a smile just for you." She smirked, her tone taking on a teasing edge, "Or a slap in the face and a good fight if that's what you need instead, right?"
"I kinda like when we fight. You get really hot." she smirked and hugged Quinn. "but thanks."
Quinn laughed, "You would! But anytime, San. Whenever you need me, whatever you need, just ask and I'm yours."
"I know you will." she whispered and she smiled when the kittens crawled in between them. "Stay with me even If I get really gross and sick? If I start to die?"
Quinn didn't even want to think about anything like that happening to her best friend, but she nodded and fought back the emotional response. "Of course," she whispered, her arms tightening around Santana as she pressed her lips to her hair, "I'll be beside you to the very end no matter when or how."
Santana nodded and sighed. "We got like 80 years then right?" she smiled sadly.
"Why limit ourselves?" Quinn smiled, giving Santana a squeeze and trying to cheer her up, "I want to see you on your hundred and sixteenth birthday. If I've got to get all old and grey and wrinkly, you're the only one I want with me."
"I'm still gonna be hot as hell then, you best watch yourself," she smirked and started ticking Quinn's ribs.
"Hey!" Quinn yelped with a laugh, trying to get away from the tickling, "No fair!"
Santana laughed as she continued tickling her friend. She wanted to just hear her laugh and leave all the shit they were going through behind. "Not until you tell me I'm the best." She tickled under the girl's breasts and around her sides.
Quinn rolled onto her back, laughing so hard tears were leaking from her eyes as she weakly tried to push Santana off of her. "N-never!"
The girl giggled and continued her attack on Quinn's body. "Say it!"
"N-no!" Quinn laughed, squirming around under her friend, "Toast! Blackie! S-save me!"
The cats just looked up for a moment then moved to curl up on the girls' pillows.
"They love me more!" she giggled as she tickled her and leaned forward and tickled Quinn's neck. "Say it! You'll be free!"
"A-and what if?" She gasped for breath, grinning up at Santana as she finally got her hands wrapped around her friend's wrists, "What if I don't want to be free?"
"Then you won't be," Santana smirked from where she rested hovering over Quinn slightly on the side of her body. "You can just stay like that forever and let me tickle you whenever I want."
"And if I want to tickle you?" Quinn asked, hooking her legs around Santana's hips and flipping them over so she was on top, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "What then?"
"Don't. You. Dare." Santana hissed as she looked up at the blonde. "Don't push your luck, Blondie."
"Don't I dare what?" Quinn teased with a smirk as she did her best to pin Santana's wrists to the bed, her free hand lightly teasing at the girl's skin just over her hips. "I happen to like pushing my luck, you know."
Santana's breath hitched and she looked up at Quinn. "Tickle me," she smiled and bit her lip.
"If you insist," Quinn's smirk turned into a wicked grin as she actively started tickling her friend, fingers racing over her ribs and abdomen.
Santana thrashed around the bed under Quinn. "Nooooo," she giggled, squirming under her friend as she got tickled, "Don't! Quinn!! Stop!"
"Not until you admit I'm the best!" Quinn laughed, continuing to tickle her friend, her knees on either side of Santana's hips to keep her from escaping.
Santana giggled until she started coughing, her illness not totally gone yet. Her hands clutched onto Quinn's hips. "You're... Quinn!"
"So Quinn is synonymous with the best now is it," Quinn smirked, lightening up only slightly more interested in Santana cheering up than worrying about her lingering illness in that moment, "At least admit I'm your best friend." She stuck her tongue out at her friend, trying to ignore the little thrill she got at the feeling of Santana's slim hands on her hips.
Santana smiled and nodded, "You're my only friend." She said as her thumbs traced the girl's hipbones. "You're my everything, Quinn."
Quinn stopped tickling Santana, reaching up to brush some loose hair off of Santana's face as she smiled down at her friend. "And you're everything to me. I love seeing you smile, Santana," she whispered, leaning down to brush her lips against the corner of Santana's mouth, not yet brave enough to offer a real kiss.
Santana smiled and wrapped her arms around Quinn more and kept her close. She shivered when she felt Quinn's breath tickle her neck and she whimpered.
Quinn's arms snaked under Santana and she all but lay on top of the smaller girl, shifting her weight at the last moment so most of it rested on her knees and arms instead of directly on Santana. "You're my best friend," she whispered, her breath hot against Santana's neck, "I love when you're happy and laughing and I'll do anything to keep you smiling for the rest of our lives if you let me..."
"Until I die." She smiled and she pressed a kiss to Quinn's shoulder. "I'll do the same to you." she nuzzled the girl's neck as she spoke.
Quinn just hugged Santana, burying her face against her neck. She didn't even want to imagine a world without her best friend. Her lips parted and she drew in a breath to whisper "I love you" against tanned skin, but before she could, she heard the sound of the familiar tread of Cindy's boots in the hall outside and the door creaking open.
"Hey, girls," Cindy smiled to see them holding each other, not assuming - as her wife would have - that anything more than two friends comforting each other was going on despite the intimacy of the position they were in, "dinner's ready. Want to come eat?"
Santana pulled her hands off of Quinn's warm body and spoke, "Yeah." She pressed a final kiss to the blondes shoulder and rolled her off. "We’ll be right down."
Quinn was blushing all but scarlet and refusing to look up at her aunt's wife. Cindy just laughed, "Alright, I'll let Becca know to put out a couple extra bowls." Closing the door, they could hear her boots walking down the hall and fading as they moved down the stairs.
"Can I just die now?" Quinn asked in a tiny voice, throwing herself back on the bed and hiding her red face with a pillow. "Doesn't anyone understand the concept of knocking??"
"At least it wasn't Becca? Could be like 90% worse." Santana sighed as she changed into yoga pants and a sweatshirt. "I don't wanna deal with her anymore, I don't wanna deal with her crap." She pulled on her shirt and looked at Quinn. "I know she's your aunt but it sucks that she doesn't like us."
Quinn dragged the pillow off her face to look at Santana curiously. "Why do you think she hates you anyway? I know she hasn't said anything mean to you..."
"I can tell when people don't like me." She shrugged and walked over to fix Quinn's hair. "Come on, we should go down."
"I'm not so sure she doesn't like you so much as not being thrilled with us, but she doesn't have any say in that so she can suck it up and be polite." She stood and held out her hand for Santana to take with a smile. "Come on, I want you to sit by me, okay?"
The darker girl nodded and took Quinn's hand as they headed downstairs.
It was some time after dinner. The power had gone out due to snow and wind so Cindy had set up a fire in the living room stove and the members of the household had taken refuge in the room. Santana was lying down with her head in Quinn's lap as she read over some papers the doctors had given her.
Cindy was reading a book while Becca worked on learning some past charts as they all sat in a silent living room with nothing but the cracking of the fire in the stove.
Quinn sat, quietly running her fingers through Santana's hair as she read over her shoulder. As the room got darker, Cindy got up and retrieved some lanterns and candles to provide light for everyone. As she set the candle lantern beside the girls, she smiled down at them.
"Beauty's getting close, Santana. I think we're going to need to watch her with how bad this storm is. Do you want to help me with that?" When Quinn looked up from the paper she'd been reading with a sharp look, Cindy laughed, "You too of course, Quinn."
"Yeah. I wanna make sure her and Pony are okay." Santana said with a smile, "She'll be okay. She just needs to have her baby then she'll feel better and get strong again." Santana had assured herself of this even though some part of her knew it wasn't true.
"Cindy, don't let those girls get sick out in this weather." Becca scolded her wife as she listened to them talk.
"Becca, the barn has better insulation than the house. Especially the isolation area. And if it does get cold, the clinic still has working heat thanks to the generator backup." Cindy rolled her eyes at her wife's scolding, "You know all of this."
Rebecca frowned, shuffling her charts, "I just don't want them getting sick. Santana only just got healthy again. I don't like her being sick."
"You worry too much, old woman," Cindy murmured, coming over to kiss her wife, "It'll be fine. Now, girls? I'm going to take the first shift so you two can come out and get me in four hours, okay? And I'll be back in four hours to let you come in for a bit, alright?"
"Yes, Ma'am." Santana said softly as she turned to snuggle into Quinn's stomach. Cindy left to go to the barn and Santana looked up at Quinn. "Do you want to sleep for a bit? I'll wake you up when it's time to go outside?"
"I'm not sleeping unless you do," Quinn murmured, stealing one of Santana's papers to read more. "I'm not the one coming off of pneumonia after all."
Rebecca glanced over at them with a raised brow. "Actually, you should both go lie down. I'll come and wake you in four hours if you don't set your alarm and," she got up, dusting off her clothes from sitting on the hearth, "I'll go find the kettle and thermoses and brew up some coffee and hot chocolate for all three of you."
"Why don't you help watch, Aunt Becca?" Quinn asked curiously.
Rebecca smiled wryly, "Because this old woman isn't as young as she used to be and I'm not a vet like Cindy to make up for my lack of spryness."
"You're only what.. like 38?" Santana asked as she looked up to the older woman. She laid down and pulled Quinn to lay with her. "We're not vets ether so we're just as good as you are."
"Yes, but there are two of you and one of you could run for Cindy and actually get her in time to do some good if you need to. I, on the other hand, have had enough foolish encounters in my youth that it aches a bit getting around in the snow." Rebecca smiled at Santana, trying to get past her anxiety where the young girl was concerned, "Besides, I'm far better running home base than managing operations. I'm going to make some warm snacks for all three of you. Just get some rest."
Quinn snuggled with Santana, yawning. "See? Told you she didn't hate you," she murmured, nuzzling Santana's neck as they cuddled on the sofa.
Santana nodded and she pressed a series of tiny kisses to the nape of Quinn's neck after wriggling around to get behind the taller girl and spooned her from behind. She wrapped her arms around Quinn and pulled her lips away. "I think that I really..." Santana was near to telling Quinn that she loved her and she stopped. "am excited for the pony. " She said softly at the end so she didn't seem too dependent.
"Me too," Quinn whispered sleepily, hugging San's arms and drifting off.
Chapter Seventeen
Author: Sio & Maura
Rating: Hard NC-17
Length: Epic (230,271)
Spoilers: This is AU. Some mentions of Seasons 1 & 2 events though handled differently than in canon.
Pairing: Santana/Quinn
Summary: Santana's life is far harder than it appears to the average viewer. Her dad's in jail and her mom turns tricks in their old family home. Worst yet, Santana herself has to do the same to keep her mom alive and food in her belly. Can Quinn save her? Or will Quinn's domineering father ruin everything? For the Glee Bang
Warnings (highlight to read): talks of suicide, angst, language, graphic het and femslash sex, non-con, dub-con, oral, vaginal, anal, pedophilia, sex work, underage prostitution, abuse, violence sexual and non, minor character death, self-harm, drug use, disease - HIV
Chapter 16
Once, finally getting the go ahead to go home from her doctors, Cindy headed over to the hospital to take the girl home. Santana got dressed and armed with her medications for her pneumonia and an appointment in the outpatient clinic for management of her HIV. After a silent drive back to the farm Santana came into the house and smelled apple cider and bread. She smiled softly and looked up the stairs.
“Becca? Quinn?” Cindy called as she took of her coat and helped Santana take off her own. “We’re home!”
Quinn was the first one down the stairs, smiling broadly and throwing her arms around Santana as soon as she reached her, picking her up and spinning her around. “I missed you!” She kissed her cheek soundly, “I’m sorry I couldn’t come with Cindy to pick you up but Beauty needed brushing and I knew you'd want me to take care of her. Forgive me?”
Rebecca came down with more reservation than her niece. “Welcome home, Santana,” she murmured, her eyes guarded but it was the first time she’d spoken to Santana in nearly two weeks. “Will you be needing any changes to your diet to accommodate for your illness?” She was still worried where the young girl was concerned, but she was trying as the careworn smile on her face showed.
Santana wrapped her arms around Quinn’s neck and locked her legs around the girl hips and clung onto her. She breathed Quinn in until she heard Rebecca start talking, she rested her head on Quinn’s shoulder and looked at the older blonde. “Um... I don’t know. I have my appointment on Wednesday to hear more.” She said softly, still not trusting Rebecca.
“Very well,” Rebecca nodded, finishing coming down the stairs and briefly kissing her wife. “Do you feel up to joining us for dinner? We have fresh bread and I’ve a pot of stew in the oven.”
Quinn just shifted her hands to rest under Santana’s thighs, carefully supporting her. “We can go see Beauty and the kittens and show them all you’re okay first if you want.”
“Sounds good.” She whispered and tried to crawl off Quinn but found she wasn’t being allowed to. “You just like carrying me.” Santana joked as she held onto the other girl.
“You’ve been gone too long,” Quinn responded, kissing her cheek and moving to head out the door, Cindy laughing and throwing Santana’s coat back around her before opening the door. “I need you close for a bit.”
“I like it.” Santana whispered and held onto her. When they got out to the stables, Santana got down and she leaned into Quinn and held her for a few moments before kissing Quinn’s nose. “I missed you.” She whispered as she turned to pick up one of the other barn kittens. “They got big.”
Quinn reached over and scratched behind its ears, “Mmhmm, I think we might have to stop calling them kittens soon. We should go see Beauty though. She’s been looking for you.” She tangled her fingers with Santana’s, heading down the aisle. “Cindy says she should foal soon.” She smiled back over her shoulder, “I think she’s been waiting for you.”
“Pony!” She smiled before slipping in to the stall. “Hi, pretty girl.” She smiled as she moved to run her fingers over the horses head. “I missed you.” She said with a sigh as she kissed the velvet of the mare’s nose. “Did Quinn take good care of you?”
Quinn leaned on the door, watching Santana interact with the mare. “I did my best, but I’m not you, San.” She smiled at the little grey kitten that jumped up on her shoulder, reaching up to scratch its chin, “I’m just not as good with the animals as you.”
“She's just sick and not comfortable right now... she’ll be better when the baby comes.” Santana smiled, “She just wants to meet her baby,” she turned and rubbed her swollen stomach. “Isn’t that right? You wanna meet Pony?”
Beauty nickered softly, nuzzling at Santana’s hair. Quinn didn’t have the heart to tell Santana that Cindy didn’t think she’d survive the foaling. “Do you want to help me with Brody and the others after dinner? I mean, you’re going to want to get familiar with them so you can learn to ride when the snow melts, right?”
“Yeah, I guess,” she sighed and kissed the horse again. “I’m nervous about that but you’ll make sure I’m okay, right?”
“Of course. You can even ride with me a couple of times on Brody to get used to it before you try on your own.” Quinn smiled at her, the little grey kitten sitting on her shoulder and watching Santana and Beauty with bright yellow eyes, “You don’t think I’d ever let anything happen to you if I could stop it, do you?”
“I know.” Santana smiled over the horse. “Is Rebecca gonna hate me forever?” She whispered as she looked at her friend, “She... she doesn’t want me here. I don’t want to make things hard for anyone.”
“San,” Quinn rolled her eyes, pushing off the stall door and coming in to hug Santana, “She doesn’t hate you. Really. You should see how she acts around my dad and its way worse than what she does around you.”
“Great... I love being in the same sentence as your dad.” she sighed and walked over to the girl. “Can we watch Aladdin tonight? I don’t want to deal with anything.”
“Of course we can. And San, my dad’s the only person I know my aunt hates. You’re not like him. Not at all.” She wrapped her arms around Santana’s shoulders and kissed her forehead, “She’s just worried I’ll get hurt but I’m a big girl. I can handle anything you throw at me as long as you’re still here. She loves you. And it’s scary to love someone who’s dealing with something scary.”
"It's scary watching the rest of you guys being scared... I'm not even sure what this means to have and everyone looking at me with such regret and pity. The nurses at the hospital would bring me like ice cream and shit for just having HIV and I'm like 'bitch step off none of this makes this fucking shit better'." Santana vented, "Megan fucking treated me like an infant at first, I just.. don't fucking know what to do!"
"I'm trying not to be scared," Quinn admitted softly, "but you're my best friend and no one means more to me than you do, so it's hard to not be scared when I don't understand what you're going through." She took a breath, hugging her friend, "I don't know what it all means yet, but I'm going to learn everything I can so I can help. Because the first thing I thought when I heard him say you're sick is that I would lose you and I couldn't feel anything I was so scared I would..."
"Yeah. That was my first thought too," she sighed and rested in Quinn's arms. I just don't know what to do, or how to feel like this. I wish I knew who I got it from... I kinda wanna castrate them and go back and kill my mom myself for letting this happen." Santana exclaimed sadly as she raised up on her tip toes to kiss the kitten's nose. "Can we go see our babies?"
"Sure, but no more negative thoughts, okay? It doesn't matter where it came from, it's here and we're going to kick it's ass, right?" Quinn smirked, stepping back and holding out a hand for Santana to take, "I mean, we ruled McKinley. You really think some stupid illness is going to stand a chance? So we've got to be careful. So what? We've got each other, right?"
"Yeah... totally." Santana smiled softly and took Quinn's hand. They walked up the path slowly and back into the warm house, Santana kicked off her boots and coat and hung them up before she looked at Rebecca and Cindy talking in hushed tones in the kitchen. Santana sighed and headed straight up into Quinn's bedroom. She carefully opened the door and a bright smile as she saw black and orange balls of fur on the bed spread. She walked over to them and lay down so she could watch them sleep. "Hi, babies."
Toast raised his head with a sleepy meow, blinking at Santana for a moment before offering another tiny meow and getting up to pad over to his person. Purring and tail lightly flicking back and forth, he rubbed along her, taking special care to rub his head under her chin and against her cheeks. Blackie looked up as Toast moved away but just grumbled softly and tucked her nose back under her tail.
"I think someone missed you," Quinn grinned, leaning against the doorframe with folded arms as she watched.
"Come lay with us." She called out as she rubbed the kitten's head. "The babies want to see you too and he wants to cuddle before dinner."
"He's been cuddling me every night. I woke up to find him on my chest this morning practically in my face!" Quinn teased, but came over and crawled into the bed, curling up behind Santana. "And I'd rather cuddle with my best friend instead."
"I'd rather that too," Santana said softly as she turned to nuzzle Quinn's neck. "I'm scared, Q," she said, her voice cracking with emotion. "I don't wanna be sick."
"I don't want you to be sick either, San," Quinn whispered, her voice steady but soft with emotion as she hugged Santana. "But I'm going to be right here, ok? You can't get rid of me so easily. I'm going to be right beside you and take care of you because you'd do the same for me if I was sick, right?"
Santana just nodded and sighed knowing that she still was trying to understand her own feelings about her status. "Okay."
Quinn sighed softly and hugged Santana close. "It's going to be okay. Even if you get mad and yell at me, I'm not going to leave you, though I might yell back. You're my best friend, Santana. No one can take that away and nothing can change it. Whatever happens, I'm always going to be nearby with a hug and a smile just for you." She smirked, her tone taking on a teasing edge, "Or a slap in the face and a good fight if that's what you need instead, right?"
"I kinda like when we fight. You get really hot." she smirked and hugged Quinn. "but thanks."
Quinn laughed, "You would! But anytime, San. Whenever you need me, whatever you need, just ask and I'm yours."
"I know you will." she whispered and she smiled when the kittens crawled in between them. "Stay with me even If I get really gross and sick? If I start to die?"
Quinn didn't even want to think about anything like that happening to her best friend, but she nodded and fought back the emotional response. "Of course," she whispered, her arms tightening around Santana as she pressed her lips to her hair, "I'll be beside you to the very end no matter when or how."
Santana nodded and sighed. "We got like 80 years then right?" she smiled sadly.
"Why limit ourselves?" Quinn smiled, giving Santana a squeeze and trying to cheer her up, "I want to see you on your hundred and sixteenth birthday. If I've got to get all old and grey and wrinkly, you're the only one I want with me."
"I'm still gonna be hot as hell then, you best watch yourself," she smirked and started ticking Quinn's ribs.
"Hey!" Quinn yelped with a laugh, trying to get away from the tickling, "No fair!"
Santana laughed as she continued tickling her friend. She wanted to just hear her laugh and leave all the shit they were going through behind. "Not until you tell me I'm the best." She tickled under the girl's breasts and around her sides.
Quinn rolled onto her back, laughing so hard tears were leaking from her eyes as she weakly tried to push Santana off of her. "N-never!"
The girl giggled and continued her attack on Quinn's body. "Say it!"
"N-no!" Quinn laughed, squirming around under her friend, "Toast! Blackie! S-save me!"
The cats just looked up for a moment then moved to curl up on the girls' pillows.
"They love me more!" she giggled as she tickled her and leaned forward and tickled Quinn's neck. "Say it! You'll be free!"
"A-and what if?" She gasped for breath, grinning up at Santana as she finally got her hands wrapped around her friend's wrists, "What if I don't want to be free?"
"Then you won't be," Santana smirked from where she rested hovering over Quinn slightly on the side of her body. "You can just stay like that forever and let me tickle you whenever I want."
"And if I want to tickle you?" Quinn asked, hooking her legs around Santana's hips and flipping them over so she was on top, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "What then?"
"Don't. You. Dare." Santana hissed as she looked up at the blonde. "Don't push your luck, Blondie."
"Don't I dare what?" Quinn teased with a smirk as she did her best to pin Santana's wrists to the bed, her free hand lightly teasing at the girl's skin just over her hips. "I happen to like pushing my luck, you know."
Santana's breath hitched and she looked up at Quinn. "Tickle me," she smiled and bit her lip.
"If you insist," Quinn's smirk turned into a wicked grin as she actively started tickling her friend, fingers racing over her ribs and abdomen.
Santana thrashed around the bed under Quinn. "Nooooo," she giggled, squirming under her friend as she got tickled, "Don't! Quinn!! Stop!"
"Not until you admit I'm the best!" Quinn laughed, continuing to tickle her friend, her knees on either side of Santana's hips to keep her from escaping.
Santana giggled until she started coughing, her illness not totally gone yet. Her hands clutched onto Quinn's hips. "You're... Quinn!"
"So Quinn is synonymous with the best now is it," Quinn smirked, lightening up only slightly more interested in Santana cheering up than worrying about her lingering illness in that moment, "At least admit I'm your best friend." She stuck her tongue out at her friend, trying to ignore the little thrill she got at the feeling of Santana's slim hands on her hips.
Santana smiled and nodded, "You're my only friend." She said as her thumbs traced the girl's hipbones. "You're my everything, Quinn."
Quinn stopped tickling Santana, reaching up to brush some loose hair off of Santana's face as she smiled down at her friend. "And you're everything to me. I love seeing you smile, Santana," she whispered, leaning down to brush her lips against the corner of Santana's mouth, not yet brave enough to offer a real kiss.
Santana smiled and wrapped her arms around Quinn more and kept her close. She shivered when she felt Quinn's breath tickle her neck and she whimpered.
Quinn's arms snaked under Santana and she all but lay on top of the smaller girl, shifting her weight at the last moment so most of it rested on her knees and arms instead of directly on Santana. "You're my best friend," she whispered, her breath hot against Santana's neck, "I love when you're happy and laughing and I'll do anything to keep you smiling for the rest of our lives if you let me..."
"Until I die." She smiled and she pressed a kiss to Quinn's shoulder. "I'll do the same to you." she nuzzled the girl's neck as she spoke.
Quinn just hugged Santana, burying her face against her neck. She didn't even want to imagine a world without her best friend. Her lips parted and she drew in a breath to whisper "I love you" against tanned skin, but before she could, she heard the sound of the familiar tread of Cindy's boots in the hall outside and the door creaking open.
"Hey, girls," Cindy smiled to see them holding each other, not assuming - as her wife would have - that anything more than two friends comforting each other was going on despite the intimacy of the position they were in, "dinner's ready. Want to come eat?"
Santana pulled her hands off of Quinn's warm body and spoke, "Yeah." She pressed a final kiss to the blondes shoulder and rolled her off. "We’ll be right down."
Quinn was blushing all but scarlet and refusing to look up at her aunt's wife. Cindy just laughed, "Alright, I'll let Becca know to put out a couple extra bowls." Closing the door, they could hear her boots walking down the hall and fading as they moved down the stairs.
"Can I just die now?" Quinn asked in a tiny voice, throwing herself back on the bed and hiding her red face with a pillow. "Doesn't anyone understand the concept of knocking??"
"At least it wasn't Becca? Could be like 90% worse." Santana sighed as she changed into yoga pants and a sweatshirt. "I don't wanna deal with her anymore, I don't wanna deal with her crap." She pulled on her shirt and looked at Quinn. "I know she's your aunt but it sucks that she doesn't like us."
Quinn dragged the pillow off her face to look at Santana curiously. "Why do you think she hates you anyway? I know she hasn't said anything mean to you..."
"I can tell when people don't like me." She shrugged and walked over to fix Quinn's hair. "Come on, we should go down."
"I'm not so sure she doesn't like you so much as not being thrilled with us, but she doesn't have any say in that so she can suck it up and be polite." She stood and held out her hand for Santana to take with a smile. "Come on, I want you to sit by me, okay?"
The darker girl nodded and took Quinn's hand as they headed downstairs.
It was some time after dinner. The power had gone out due to snow and wind so Cindy had set up a fire in the living room stove and the members of the household had taken refuge in the room. Santana was lying down with her head in Quinn's lap as she read over some papers the doctors had given her.
Cindy was reading a book while Becca worked on learning some past charts as they all sat in a silent living room with nothing but the cracking of the fire in the stove.
Quinn sat, quietly running her fingers through Santana's hair as she read over her shoulder. As the room got darker, Cindy got up and retrieved some lanterns and candles to provide light for everyone. As she set the candle lantern beside the girls, she smiled down at them.
"Beauty's getting close, Santana. I think we're going to need to watch her with how bad this storm is. Do you want to help me with that?" When Quinn looked up from the paper she'd been reading with a sharp look, Cindy laughed, "You too of course, Quinn."
"Yeah. I wanna make sure her and Pony are okay." Santana said with a smile, "She'll be okay. She just needs to have her baby then she'll feel better and get strong again." Santana had assured herself of this even though some part of her knew it wasn't true.
"Cindy, don't let those girls get sick out in this weather." Becca scolded her wife as she listened to them talk.
"Becca, the barn has better insulation than the house. Especially the isolation area. And if it does get cold, the clinic still has working heat thanks to the generator backup." Cindy rolled her eyes at her wife's scolding, "You know all of this."
Rebecca frowned, shuffling her charts, "I just don't want them getting sick. Santana only just got healthy again. I don't like her being sick."
"You worry too much, old woman," Cindy murmured, coming over to kiss her wife, "It'll be fine. Now, girls? I'm going to take the first shift so you two can come out and get me in four hours, okay? And I'll be back in four hours to let you come in for a bit, alright?"
"Yes, Ma'am." Santana said softly as she turned to snuggle into Quinn's stomach. Cindy left to go to the barn and Santana looked up at Quinn. "Do you want to sleep for a bit? I'll wake you up when it's time to go outside?"
"I'm not sleeping unless you do," Quinn murmured, stealing one of Santana's papers to read more. "I'm not the one coming off of pneumonia after all."
Rebecca glanced over at them with a raised brow. "Actually, you should both go lie down. I'll come and wake you in four hours if you don't set your alarm and," she got up, dusting off her clothes from sitting on the hearth, "I'll go find the kettle and thermoses and brew up some coffee and hot chocolate for all three of you."
"Why don't you help watch, Aunt Becca?" Quinn asked curiously.
Rebecca smiled wryly, "Because this old woman isn't as young as she used to be and I'm not a vet like Cindy to make up for my lack of spryness."
"You're only what.. like 38?" Santana asked as she looked up to the older woman. She laid down and pulled Quinn to lay with her. "We're not vets ether so we're just as good as you are."
"Yes, but there are two of you and one of you could run for Cindy and actually get her in time to do some good if you need to. I, on the other hand, have had enough foolish encounters in my youth that it aches a bit getting around in the snow." Rebecca smiled at Santana, trying to get past her anxiety where the young girl was concerned, "Besides, I'm far better running home base than managing operations. I'm going to make some warm snacks for all three of you. Just get some rest."
Quinn snuggled with Santana, yawning. "See? Told you she didn't hate you," she murmured, nuzzling Santana's neck as they cuddled on the sofa.
Santana nodded and she pressed a series of tiny kisses to the nape of Quinn's neck after wriggling around to get behind the taller girl and spooned her from behind. She wrapped her arms around Quinn and pulled her lips away. "I think that I really..." Santana was near to telling Quinn that she loved her and she stopped. "am excited for the pony. " She said softly at the end so she didn't seem too dependent.
"Me too," Quinn whispered sleepily, hugging San's arms and drifting off.
Chapter Seventeen