-Chapter 7-

The next Monday at therapy, after stretching, Brittany thrust her crutches at Robin and proclaimed, "I don't want these anymore."

"You heard her," Santana said. "She doesn't want them."

"Let's get to work, then."

Thanks to Santana's office being inundated with new customers due to one of Lima's other banks shutting down, her time with Brittany at therapy was extremely limited up until Christmas. She mostly only got away just as Brittany was leaving with John or Anna but never in time to see any progress. Brittany kept using her crutches at home and Santana's heart broke when, by Christmas, she had appeared not to have made any progress at all. It was infuriating, to say the least, when Robin had assured them that Brittany would only continue to make progress.

Three days before Christmas, Santana took off work early and stormed into the physical therapy center and right up to Robin to demand answers. She wasn't going to be nice anymore, she was done with nice. She had a wedding to plan and a girl she wanted to see walk down the aisle, damn it, and she wasn't waiting any longer.

"What the hell do you think you're doing telling her she'll get better?"

"Good afternoon to you, too, Santana."

"She trusts you, you idiot! You can't lie to her. I want her to get better as much as anyone else, probably more, but if she isn't then you need to tell us."

"Santana…"

"And another thing-"

"Santana!"

"What?"

"Turn around." Robin nodded and pointed to the parallel bars.

Santana spun around and surveyed the large room. Her eyes landed on a blonde standing between the bars, a woman behind her and Brittany's hands barely touching the bars, and staring right back at her. Brittany took a tentative step forward and the woman behind her encouraged her to take another.

"Once we convinced her she could do it, there was no stopping her. I don't know what it was...but she just wouldn't stop."

Not taking her eyes off of Brittany, Santana eyed the woman behind her woman. "Who the hell-"

"Lauren. I threw my back out, I can't catch Brit if she falls so Lauren helps out."

"I wanted to surprise you," Brittany said quietly. "I was waiting for Christmas so you'd think Santa did it."

"Holy shit." Disbelief wasn't a strong enough word. Brittany was standing, her fingertips gracing the bars ever-so gently, just for reassurance.

"Take a step," Lauren said. "Show her."

Santana watched anxiously as Brittany took a step forward. Her knees were still a little shaky, her steps not completely coordinated. But she was taking them. One by one, Brittany moved forward. It was something Santana hadn't felt since before the accident. It was like a weight was lifted off and there was nothing to be worried about anymore. She could practically see the pieces of their lives falling back together. Her feet carried her swiftly to her girl and she pulled Brittany into her arms and cried on her shoulder. There was one last piece, though, that Santana needed for it to be whole.

"Britt?" she choked.

"Yeah, San?"

Santana reached up, lips grazing Brittany's ear. She knew it was the right time. No other time could be more perfect.

"Will you marry me?"

Brittany pulled back, blue eyes wide. For a moment, Santana feared rejection. Until Brittany smiled.

"Really?"

"Really. We've been through hell and I know since we got through this we can get through anything. And I don't want to go through anything with anyone else. Just you. I love you, Britt."

"I love you, too."

Santana didn't care who the hell saw, she kissed her fiancee with everything she had until Brittany's knees went weak.

Brittany didn't skip out of the hospital, they knew she wouldn't. But she did walk through the front door of the house, holding on to Santana's arm. The Latina held on tight to her fiancee as they stepped over the threshold into the living room.

"Mom?" Brittany called out. "Dad?"

"In the kitchen, honey," Anna called out.

Santana grinned leading the way to the kitchen with Brittany taking steps behind her. They stood together just inside the kitchen before either of Brittany's parents looked up. It was what she had assumed her own face looked like when she first saw Brittany standing between the parallel bars, unsupported. To prove the point, she let go of Brittany's arms and watched Anna and John's faces light up as Brittany took a few steps forward.

"Santa did it," Brittany said with a grin.

In a flash, Santana was engulfed with Brittany in the Pierces' arms and nearly unable to breathe. If this was their reaction to Brittany walking, she really didn't want to know what would happen when-

"Santana asked me to marry her," Brittany managed to choke out. "I said yes."

After screaming in Santana's ear, Anna began sobbing on her shoulder and Santana was almost forgetting what it felt like to have oxygen to her brain. It was worth it, though.

XXXXXXXXXX

"When's the wedding date?" Rachel shrieked, practically tackling Santana when she and Brittany entered the Berry house for their New Year's Eve dinner. "I know a wonderful wedding planner, he-"

"Relax, Berry. We've got some time."

It was amazing to see Brittany lifting Susan when the little girl reached up for her. Santana watched, Jonah snuggled in her arms as Brittany tumbled on the floor with Ethaniel and Adrian, lifting them with her legs like it was nothing. Her endurance ran out quickly but it didn't stop her from wrestling with the boys as much as she could, wearing them out until they snuggled up to her on the floor and focused on the TV.

"You'll be great parents, you know?" Rachel said, dropping down on the couch, Harmony clinging to her until she spotted Jonah in Santana's arms.

"Maybe." Santana made room for Harmony, the girl practically shoving Jonah away to snuggle up to her.

"Santana."

"I know, Berry," Santana mumbled.

"Listen," Rachel said, grinning and running her fingers through Harmony's curly locks, "I know you don't like me. But I've told you before and I will tell you again, you're family to Quinn and me, Santana. You can talk to me, you know?"

"I like you," Santana mumbled.

"Pardon?"

"I like you," she growled, eliciting a smile from Rachel. "I don't hate you...it's just really fun to make fun of you, okay? It's like, showing affection or whatever. God, wipe that stupid grin off your face."

Rachel chuckled, putting her hand on Santana's shoulder. "What are you so afraid of?"

"All this sh-stuff that happened with Britt...what if that had been my kid? I love Britt but I'd be even more fu-freaking terrified if that happened to my kid. Heck, I'd be terrified if that happened to one of your kids."

"You've handled the situation beautifully, Santana. And as a mother, you would do the same. You'll do anything for your children. Your godchildren are so very lucky to have you and Brittany in their lives; your own children will be just as lucky to have two amazing mothers. And two very talented and awesome godmothers who will be there for you whenever possible."

Santana could only nod and kiss the tops of Harmony's and Jonah's heads, both fast asleep in her arms. Brittany was softly snoring, Ethaniel on top of her and Adrian snuggled up next to her, also both asleep. It was another one of those perfect moments until Gabriela and Susan came running through the living room with Quinn on their heels, a tray full of snacks and drinks in hand. Apparently, Santana found out, food summoned children from any state of unconsciousness because Ethaniel and Adrian were immediately up and cramming whatever they could into their mouths and then reaching for Brittany again with sticky fingers.

"Berry," Santana said, grabbing Rachel's arm before she stood. She lowered her voice and her eyes darted to Quinn, occupied with wiping down sticky fingers and Brittany's face. "Don't you dare tell anyone I like you, got it?"

Rachel smiled. "It'll be our little secret."

"Thanks. You know...for everything."

"You're welcome, Santana."

When the ball dropped at midnight there were kisses all around and, unlike the year before, Santana pulled her fiancee in close and let her nose barely graze Brittany's.

"I love you, Britt."

"I love you too, San. So much."

Santana rang in the New Year as she had wanted to, with a kiss from her girl. It elicited several "ews" from their godchildren – they responded by pulling each of them in and planting sloppy-wet kisses on their cheeks and wrestling until Rachel and Quinn declared that it was bedtime for anyone under the age of 21. Brittany wasn't keen on tackling the stairs just yet, she settled for cleaning up the living room while Santana helped herd the kids upstairs and get them into bed. She helped Quinn change Harmony and Jonah into their pajamas and tucked Susan in.

"Aunt Tana?"

"Yeah, Suzie Q?"

"I wuv you," the little blonde mumbled around the thumb stuck in her mouth. It melted Santana's heart. She could so get used to that.

"I love you too, sweetie."

When Santana and Brittany fell in to bed together that night, Santana definitely had the intent on ringing in the new year with a a little sweet lady love time as she roamed her hands up Brittany's stomach but the blonde stopped her with a grin.

"When are we moving back to New York?"

"Whenever you're ready, Britt. We've got a place to live, I can transfer back. If you keep doing therapy and stuff, your dance company will take you back."

"What if I don't want to go back? What if I want to teach or something?"

Santana furrowed her eyebrows. "Why-"

"I want us to have kids, you know that."

"I know, but you can still perform."

Brittany shrugged. "It'll be easier to teach and have babies. And I kinda already have a job."

This was news to Santana. Granted, Brittany had plenty of time during the day to plan things without her between teaching classes and various therapies but Brittany hadn't said anything about going back to work. She had talked to her co-stars and her company directors, of course, keeping them updated on her condition but Santana wasn't aware of anything beyond that.

"You have..."

"A girl from the company started a studio and said if I wanted to come back and teach that she'd leave a spot open."

"When did this happen?"

"I wanted to surprise you." Brittany smiled, her blue eyes sparkling.

"You're just full of surprises, babe." Santana mumbled, stretching up to kiss her fiancee and finally getting her way of ringing in the New Year.

XXXXXXXXXX

A U-Haul was packed and ready to go by mid-March, winter storms having delayed the move twice. They celebrated the move by donating Brittany's wheelchair and all of the other accessories the Pierces' had in their home to the hospital. The blonde was walking as if she'd done it for years and Robin officially released her from therapy but had given her plenty of exercises to keep up once they got back to New York.

Rachel and Quinn had cleared out the apartment the week before, having found a more spacious one...just a floor below the old one. They did leave behind the treadmill, Brittany having mentioned needing one so she could begin jogging in the mornings.

"We're gonna be neighbors!" Gabriela had squealed over the phone.

"Of course we may ask you to check in on our place from time to time," Rachel said.

"No problem, Berry. You're giving us a hell of a deal on this, seriously. Thank you."

Getting settled in was easy enough, Santana transitioning back to work was a little more difficult. She had her old office back but the hours were going to take some getting used to. And the view of the hospital outside her window made her stomach churn. It took two weeks before her boss casually mentioned a branch manager position opening across the city and near Brittany's studio. Santana took it immediately. She had a future family to consider, damn it, and she wanted to make sure she'd be able to spend as much time with them as possible.

Santana was there when Brittany did her very first pirouette in April. Two weeks later the Pierces, Lopezes, and Fabray-Berrys were in New York and Rachel was helping Santana fix her makeup as she stood outside the door of the courtroom where, inside, her parents, Brittany's parents, her godchildren, and a judge were waiting.

"Nervous?" Rachel asked, brushing a stray eyelash from Santana's cheek.

"What the hell? No. We've been together for...forever."

"I was a nervous wreck."

"Trust me, I remember."

Rachel smiled, adjusting the straps of Santana's white, sleeveless shirt and motioning for the Latina to put her navy blue jacket on. "I still don't understand why you refused to wear a dress."

"Because I look damn fine in a power suit."

"You do look very lovely."

"Powerful, Berry. The word is powerful."

"Of course, Santana. Time to go!"

Santana followed Rachel to the courtroom entrance and accepted a kiss on the cheek and a smile from her friend before Rachel opened the double doors and made her entrance, Santana right behind her. It wasn't anything exciting, they didn't have any desire for it to be. But one thing they both had demanded: Brittany walk down the aisle. Santana turned just in time to see Quinn walking down the aisle with a grin on her face and her eyes locked with Rachel's.

Then, behind her, Brittany stepped into the doorway with her floor-length pale blue gown and Santana could think of nothing else. Her soon-to-be wife practically floated down the aisle toward her and smiled in the way that could melt Santana's heart as she stopped in front of her.

"Hey," Brittany whispered.

"You look amazing."

"You're hot."

Santana could only chuckle. That night, as she and Brittany lay in bed, she snuggled up to her wife and drifted off to sleep.

XXXXXXXXXX

Flashes went through Santana's dreams, screams and cries and nursing. Diapers, toys, and baths. But always back to the crying. She woke up groggily, Brittany nudging her in the ribs and mumbling.

"S' Sugar," Brittany grumbled.

"I'm up."

Dreams are peculiar things. Santana's more often than not revolved around her family, all of them. Rachel, Quinn, her godchildren, her parents, Brittany's parents...and of course their second daughter daughter currently residing in Brittany.

Five years before, Santana would never have guessed that when she held her daughter close and Brittany walked in to hold the both of them that every single one of her dreams had come true.

The End