Okay I lied! I was going to do an epilogue, but I didn't. I think this chapter was warranted and necessary to finish up, as well as tie everything that people want together, like cute Quinntana moments. I don't know if I will do an epilogue at all, let me know if you still want one. If you are content with this being the ending, then let me know as well. I'll "tally" up the "votes" and it'll determine that. Also didn't read through it for any mistakes, so I do apologize for that; however, I just couldn't wait anymore to give you guys something to read. Thank you all so much for the overwhelming support, it means the absolute world to me. So with that said, enjoy for the possible last time for this fic.

Chapter XV.

Nervously drying her hands of the sweat that collected upon them on her fatigue pants, Santana sits in her seat in the aircraft that is taking her back to the States. This was it. This was her official last tour in the US Army and to say it was a bit of a bittersweet feeling would be an understatement. Everything she's done up to this point has led to the inevitable. To say two years prior, she'd be in this position she would have not believed it. She honestly didn't expect to be where she is now. The military was her life and being a solider was her escape from the reality of her past, but now she doesn't have to run away anymore. Now she has something to run towards—someone to run towards and that feels pretty amazing.

Santana recalled her last communication with Quinn, which was last night before she boarded her plane. They made arrangements for her to take a cab back where Quinn would be home while getting ready for a big get together with family and friends. Quinn even said she got her brother Edwardo to come from California, which Santana was grateful for. She hasn't seen him since before she was shipped out on her previous tour and insisted he didn't come to see her during her injuries, and he knew his sister, when she said something like that you abide by her request—so he gave her space.

She's been on the plane for close to thirteen hours and was exhausted. She was much too anxious to see Quinn and Beth again, that she just couldn't sleep. She was ready to have them both in her arms again.

She didn't know what her plan was after the military though. She needed to have a career as Quinn worked on getting her degree, which from what she could tell she was almost completed with. For her though, the military was all she knew and the training was beneficial for jobs like being a police officer. She knew she wanted to continue helping people in some way, but now she just wanted to do it closer to her family—family? Man that feels amazing to think about.

She doesn't know how long she continued to stare out the window in thought for till she realized that the landing gears hit the pavement below, grounding her and the passengers in Columbus. Her leg twitched in anticipation to get out of her seat to rush out of the aircraft. It's been three months, but it felt like an eternity.

She grabbed her duffle finally and hoisted on her back before rushing down the aisle to the door. She tipped her hat at the flight attendants as they smile at her and thank her for her service, quickly pushing her boots into the floor to propel her into a fast pace.

As she made her way down the escalator, it's then she stops short and sees a blonde holding a sign up in front of her that reads "0 days and counting. WE DID IT!" Santana's eyes well up as the last step of the escalator disappears and she maneuvers between people to reach Quinn. She drops her duffle down and scoops her into her arms, holding her tightly. They stay there with no signs of letting go of one another while people crowd around them, trying to reach their next destination.

"I missed you so much," Santana whispers into her neck as she feels Quinn smile into her own.

"I missed you too, but we did it," she pulls away finally taking in all of Santana, half expecting her to be bruised or injured in some way, but she was fine and all there; and it felt so good seeing her look exactly how she did three months ago.

Santana grabs Quinn's hand and pulls her duffle off the floor to toss it over her back once more as they walk to the parking garage. "I thought I was taking a cab," Santana finally said, letting her voice echo through it among other sounds.

Quinn merely shrugs with a contagious grin. "I wanted to surprise you," she presses as they reach the car, leaving Quinn to pop the trunk so Santana can put her stuff inside. Once closed Santana pins Quinn there with her body, grabbing both of her hands in hers, leaning forward to kiss her sweetly. It's slow and they savor every moment of it as they wish they could have more; both intoxicated by the other's mere presence.

Quinn nips at Santana's bottom lip encouragingly as Santana laces their fingers together, opening her mouth for access. She pushes her body deeper into Quinn's, enticing a gasp from the blonde. They pull away only as a car could be heard getting closer.

"I missed that," Quinn breaths out, licking her lips as well as stroking Santana's ego a bit, who pecks her lips as a final reminder of what they just did.

"There will be much more later," she promises and Quinn will make sure to hold her to that as they get in opposite sides of the car to drive back home for the get together.

x.

The ride back to the house wasn't very long but Santana could tell by all the cars parked outside that there was quite a bit of people there; and they were there for her—to welcome her home and that still boggles her mind. She sits in the car in the driveway with Quinn who turns off the engine then gives her the time she needs to recollect herself.

"I can't believe how much has changed," she speaks her thoughts as Quinn just hums her reply. "Like a year and a half ago, I was pulling up in a cab with Puck to a welcome home party for him and now—," she motions to the house with her hand to show what she means.

"Now they're here for you," Quinn finishes the sentence as Santana nods. "You may not know this, but you're loved by many people," she adds turning in her seat to face the woman beside her. Santana turns her head and stares at Quinn as if trying to channel the question she's been dying to have answered, but Quinn either doesn't feel it or she just doesn't answer it—maybe it's just not the right time.

Santana takes a deep breath, nodding firmly and unfastening her seat belt. "I'm ready," she concludes as they both pop their doors open to get out, allowing Santana to quickly grab her duffle leaving Quinn to unlock the door.

They walk into the house and immediately hear the mindless chatter out back as the air is filled with the smell of barbecue. Quinn shuts the door and follows Santana into her room to throw her duffle bag inside to deal with later.

When Santana goes to turn around, Quinn wraps her arms around her neck pulling her into a deep kiss planting her on the bed to straddle her hips. Santana moans into her mouth as Quinn pulls her hat off in order to run her hands over her hair, feeling her ears and the top of her neck; anything that wasn't covered. Santana placed her hands upon Quinn's thighs, sliding them behind and under her shirt to feel the bare skin of her back with her fingertips. They missed these moments and the moments of just laying with one another; it didn't always have to be sex.

They pull away breathing heavily and Santana pecks the tip of Quinn's nose, loving having her this close after being so far away for so long. "Quinn I—," the sliding glass door can be heard opening in the living room and footsteps, leaving Quinn to push herself off of Santana's lap.

"Hold that thought," she whispers, pecking her lips once more. "We should get out there anyway," she adds as Santana just nods her agreement, knowing she's been gone long enough and she really wanted to see another certain blonde.

She gets up and unbuttons her fatigue shirt, leaving her clad in a sand colored shirt and fatigue pants and boots. She folds it up and leaves it on the bed, then stares at her last name engraved into it. Arms wrap around her waist and she bites her bottom lip. "I can't believe that's the last time I'll be wearing that uniform," she comments and Quinn kisses her neck in comfort.

"Any regrets?" She asks and Santana turns around to face her, immediately shaking her head.

"You're my future now and I'm not going to put my life on the line like that anymore. Beth already lost one parent and I know I'm not her parent, but—," she shrugs and Quinn cuts her off.

"But you are," Santana stares at her in awe. "You love her, you take care of her, you protect her, you are there for her whenever she needs you. You're exactly like a parent to her and maybe one day she'll call you her parent," she shrugs with a hopeful undertone because really that's what she wants for the three of them—to truly feel like a family one day and maybe, just maybe have another child.

"I'd like that," Santana nods with a small smile as Quinn returns it, lacing their fingers together and placing Santana's hand to her lips before dropping it down. "Now I think I got a party to address," she adds as she's pulled down the hall with the woman she loves to greet the people she's grown quite fond of.

They open the sliding door, drawing attention to the two of them. A bunch of the crew yell a unison "hey", holding their beers and wine up, greeting her with some handshakes and hugs.

"Welcome home little mierda ," Edwardo walks over holding the neck of his beer in his hand with a wide, typical Lopez grin plastered upon his face. She rolls her eyes as he wraps his arms around her, pulling away to clasp a hand on her neck. "You got quite the family here hermana ," she nods in agreement. "And that girl," he points with his beer as Quinn has now started conversing with Rachel about something a distance away from her. "She's something, though I don't know what she sees in you," he jests.

"Yeah well hey, I'm quite the catch," she chuckles as a beer is placed in her vision and a hand wraps around her waist. She turns her head and sees Jordan standing beside her.

"That she is, trust me I should know. I had her once," she winks in Santana's direction and Edwardo's eyes widen in shock at his sister's immaculate game. Santana shrugs nonchalantly, taking the first sip of her beer.

"Well god damn," he grumbles into his beer, before taking a swig.

Santana turns to Jordan and smiles widely. "It's good to see you," she comments and Jordan nods slowly, sipping her wine.

"You too solider, especially in one piece," she pokes her finger into her shoulder, prompting a chuckle from the brunette. "You doing okay? I know that it can't be easy saying goodbye to something that was such a huge part of your life for so long," she asks genuinely concerned which Santana always loved about her. No matter what happens, no matter how much flirtation she threw at her, Jordan truly was the closest person she had to a best friend, besides Puck and she loved having her in her life.

She nodded. "Yeah it's going to be hard, but I know I'm doing the right thing," she says and Jordan nods her head in understanding.

"Yeah, Finn talks about how difficult it's been but he got this good IT job here in Columbus recently, so we're talking about moving in together," Santana's eyes widen at this news. With an eye roll, Jordan pushes her before she could make jokes. "Yeah I know, I'm settling down with someone, but I'm happy and Sophia loves him," she shrugs as her eyes focus on the background which is in fact Finn at the grill with Jake. Looking at the scene, brought Santana back to the memory of Puck trying to tell Jake how to grill a good burger.

Santana shakes her head as the front door closes inside the house which Quinn also noticed, excusing herself into the house to greet her parents who have just brought Beth with them. The door slides open once more and Jordan takes the beer from Santana's hand, knowing she'll need both of them to greet the little girl.

Quinn points to her direction and immediately Beth's eyes light up, prompting her to run over as Santana leans down to swoop her up in her arms, cuddling her close to her heart. She buries her face into her long blonde locks as her little arms encase around her neck. She immediately starts to tear up as she takes in everything Beth is. She pulls her face away from where it was once nestled and spots Quinn's eyes red as she too started crying.

She pulls away to take in her face and her little form. Beth places her hands on her cheeks and wipes away the tears that are streaming down her face, forcing a chuckle out of her. "Thank you Smarty," she whispers and Beth smiles widely.

"I missed you Santa," she says and Santana nods furiously.

"Me too honey,"

"You not leaving no more, right?" She asks and Santana smiles enough to show off that perfect dimple, then leans forward as if she's having a secret conversation with her.

"I can promise you that I'm never leaving you or your mommy ever again," she says and Beth buries herself back into Santana's arms after that revelation and she barely leaves her side the rest of the barbecue.

x.

That night after everyone had left and everything was cleaned up, Beth was worn out and barely had the energy in her to take a bath, but she pulled through before passing out in her little bed ten minutes later. Santana and Quinn; however, they had a lot of making up to do and they made sure to take every opportunity of their alone time that they could with Beth's exhaustion being in their favor.

After several rounds of getting reacquainted with every part of the other's body, they laid in bed with the lights out, wrapped in one another, taking in the moment of bliss for what it was. Quinn traced lightly against Santana's sweat slicked skin as her head rested on her shoulder, Santana's arm snugly wrapped around her.

"I love you," Santana murmurs into the darkness, knowing Quinn was awake and would hear it. It prompts the action of her finger to slow to a stop and her head to lift from her shoulder to look at the woman next to her. She turns Santana's face to her and kisses her deeply and passionately, conveying her feelings into it before pulling away.

"Say it again," she asks in a mere whisper and this time with Santana's eyes focused on her; as best as they can be in the dark, she says it again.

"I love you Quinn,"

"I love you too," she replies back, her eyes gloss over and Santana breaths out a disbelieving laugh, before flipping Quinn on her back and kissing her once more, allowing her lips and tongue to speak the words over and over again upon those perfect lips, that perfect skin, that unbelievably stunning body. She couldn't wait for this life with Quinn and Beth because if the beginning was this fantastic, she couldn't imagine what forever would be like.