Well I don't know about you guys but it's been a heck of a ride for me. This was my first ever fan fic and it's the first multi-chapter one that I'm finishing. I'd like to thank each and every one of my readers/reviewers, you made writing this all the more enjoyable. And I'd also like to thank Sara (sapphos-ghost) my excellent beta and EverShadow for all the much needed pestering and nagging they sent my way to get this finished.

So this is the end for now, I've had crazy amounts of fun with the Calm fic-verse so that sequel I mentioned is still a good possibility. :)

Anyway, read and enjoy! 3

Their first week back at school was fairly uneventful. Quinn and Brittany exchanged awkward apologies on the school bus while Santana surreptitiously texted Kurt, who turned round in his seat at the front of the bus to smirk at a joke Santana had made about Noah Puckerman's new hair style.

"So are you two all made up then?" she asked as she sat back in her seat to look out the window. Brittany who was sitting on her lap to get round the issue of the bus only holding two seaters, swiveled round to look at Santana and nodded.

"Yeah, we're good," Quinn said with a smile.

"Finally," Santana said with a contented sigh. "Ugh, why is Puckerman looking at us?" she asked in a disgusted tone.

"I think he liiiiiiiikes you San," Quinn teased, poking her on the shoulder.

"Uh, gross!" Santana replied looking absolutely mortified. Brittany said nothing and stared out the window for the rest of the journey.

Santana usually enjoyed school ever since her and Brittany had been friends with Quinn, no one bothered them and she could focus in class without having to worry so much about Brittany.

Today, however, she couldn't concentrate on anything other than ignoring Noah Puckerman. All through class he threw notes, spitballs and paper airplanes at her in an attempt to get her attention. She stoically ignored him, but found her temper wavering as the day went on.

At recess she found herself cornered by him while Brittany and Quinn were at the water fountain.

"What do you want, Puckerman?" she growled with a scowl on her face. He smirked and took a step towards her but she stood her ground.

"Just to talk," he replied.

"Well I don't talk to silly little boys so buzz off," she said clenching her fists and putting on her most menacing expression. Noah simply laughed however and kicked his shoe along the ground.

"I didn't see you around much over the summer," he said lamely.

"I was away," Santana replied curtly, silently begging that Quinn and Brittany would come back and rescue her. Noah feigned interest and tried his best to put on an interested expression.

"Oh yeah? Where?"

"None of your business, buzz off," Santana repeated, looking away and spotting Quinn and Brittany walking towards her. She smiled and pushed past Noah but he grabbed her arm causing her to squeal and shriek.

"Get off me!"

"Dude what are you doing?" It was Finn Hudson. Noah let go of Santana immediately and she lost no time in stomping on his foot as hard as she could. He yelped and hopped on the spot as tears formed at the corner of his eyes. Santana mouthed a quick 'thank you' at Finn and he smiled goofily after her as she ran over to Quinn and Brittany.

"What was that all about?" Quinn asked with a perfectly arched eyebrow as Santana reached her friends. Brittany remained silent and fidgeted with the hem of her skirt.

"Nothing, just Puckerman being an ass," Santana replied tossing her hair and glaring at the boy over her shoulder. Finn looked over at them and waved enthusiastically. Quinn blushed and looked down at her feet but not before Santana noticed the expression on her face.

"Oh my God. You like Finn Hudson!" she exclaimed, pointing her finger and laughing. Quinn looked mortified and tried to shush Santana.

"Shut up, they'll hear you!"

"So you admit you like him?" Brittany asked with mild interest.

"No! You guys are stupid," she hissed. Brittany and Santana smirked at each other and Santana nodded her head slightly towards the arguing boys. Brittany took Santana's pinky in her own and tugged her towards them, leaving Quinn standing on her own looking very confused.

"Hey Finn," Brittany and Santana said in unison, Finn grinned and Puck scowled, still rubbing his foot.

"Hi! What's up with uh… Qu-qu…" he faltered, trying to remember Quinn's name as he observed her hitting her head with her palm.

"Quinn," Santana said, flashing him her sweetest smile. "She's uh, she's a little shy," she said casting a glance behind her and winking at Quinn.

"She totally likes you," Brittany blurted out, Santana nudged her in the ribs and Brittany looked at her feet, blushing. Santana gave a little sigh and turned away from Puck who was glaring at her.

"Whatever, it's like my birthday next week and you're coming to my party," Santana said in a sugary sweet voice.

Finn frowned and looked at Puck then back to Santana and paused before asking a little nervously, "Only if Puck can come too."

Santana rolled her eyes but Brittany pinched her arm and she decided not to argue.

"Fine, Puck can come too, but only if he promises not to touch me again," she said flatly, purposely avoiding any eye contact with him. Finn gave them another dopey smile then waved goodbye as he run to catch up with Puck who had stormed off with crimson cheeks.

"Later!" Santana yelled after him. Brittany grabbed her hand and pointed at Quinn who was walking away from them towards the jungle gym, Santana sighed and ran over to her with Brittany close behind.

"Hey! Quinn, what's up?" Quinn turned round and scowled but kept walking, Santana stopped and stamped her foot, crying out in frustration and making a rather impolite gesture behind Quinn's back.

"What's her problem?"

"Maybe she really doesn't like Finn?" Brittany suggested with a small shrug. Santana shook her head and tightened her grip on Brittany's hand, pulling them both across the playground to find Quinn.

They found her sitting atop the jungle gym, swinging her legs from side to side and muttering to herself. Santana waved at her but Quinn scowled and swung her legs round so she was facing away from them. Santana sighed again and walked round so that she could look Quinn in the eyes.

"What's the big deal? You like him, he'll probably like you," Santana said, trying to grab hold of one of Quinn's feet, she frowned and crossed her arms.

"I never said I liked him, he's just a stupid boy," she replied icily. Santana raised one of her eyebrows and yanked one of Quinn's shoes off, looking around her she located the nearest muddy puddle and ran over to it, dangling Quinn's pristine white sneaker precariously above the murky water. Quinn gave a shrieked and jumped down from the jungle gym immediately, hopping over to Santana and grabbing wildly at her shoe. However Santana was a good few inches taller than Quinn and held it far out of her reach.

"Admit it," Santana said with a giggle. Quinn looked furious and after one last attempt to grab the shoe she opted instead to push Santana over.

"Give it back!" she yelled, pinning Santana down by her arms and trying to wrestle the shoe from her grip. Santana threw the shoe to Brittany who only caught it by her fingertips, she looked down at the shoe and then to Quinn, panic settling in her features, unsure what she was supposed to do next. But then Quinn stood up looking livid and Brittany made a run for it, bounding and leaping over all and any obstacles in her way.

She made it to the other end of the playground before hitting a dead end and turning round with a gulp to see Quinn advancing on her menacingly while Santana struggled to keep up with her. She caught her eye and nodded, Santana backed up, understanding immediately. The moment Quinn reached Brittany she threw the shoe over her head to Santana who caught it easily and sprinted off back toward the jungle gym.

Quinn was livid by that point and chased Santana half-way across the playground before catching up with her and tackling her to the ground. They rolled around while Quinn pulled at Santana's hair and shirt.

"Okay, okay! I give," Santana squealed and handed the shoe over to Quinn who snatched it from her unceremoniously and jammed her foot in to it. Brittany giggled and helped Santana to her feet as Quinn crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.

"Jeez, Quinn, it was just a joke," Santana said, dusting herself down and frowning.

"Whatever," she replied. Brittany nudged Santana said quietly, "she's mad about Finn coming to your birthday party," Quinn whipped around angrily.

"No Dutch! Not fair!" Santana laughed and pulled Brittany's hair back to whisper in her ear.

"She really likes him huh?" Quinn sighed and placed her hands on her hips.

"Very clever, no Spanish either," she said grumpily, Santana and Brittany looked at each other; shrugged and started walking back to the school building.

"Come on, we're gonna be late for class," Santana yelled behind her. Quinn gave her one last scowl before running to catch up with her friends.

Leon Lopez rarely missed Santana's birthday but the day she turned eleven it was one of those rare occasions. It fell on a Saturday that year and so Santana and Brittany had stayed awake till midnight watching movies and talking. When the clock on Brittany's bedside table glowed with the numbers 11:59 Brittany paused Finding Nemo and told Santana to make a wish. Santana went to open her mouth but Brittany pressed a hand over it and shushed her.

"If you say it out loud it won't come true silly," Brittany said with a giggle. Santana nodded and pulled her hand away, but held it tightly in her lap. She squeezed her eyes shut and spoke silent to herself, Brittany looked away but not before she saw Santana's lips form the words "Papa" and "home" she tightened her grip on Santana's hand and looked again at her clock. It was midnight.

"Happy birthday San," she said softly, Santana opened her eyes again and smiled. She then leant over and placed a chaste kiss on Brittany's cheek.

"Thanks B."

They were woken early by Katya jumping on the bed and burrowing under the sheets to give Santana a tight squeeze round the middle.

"Happy birthday!" she squealed delightedly.

"Thanks Kat," Santana said sleepily while Brittany groaned and rolled over, attempting to go back to sleep.

"Momma says you two have to get up," Katya said, pulling the covers back and standing up on the bed, jumping a couple of times for good measure.

"Okay, okay I'm up," Brittany said grumpily, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and scowling at her sister. Katya gave a smirk remarkably similar to Santana's then dashed out the room and thundered down the stairs.

"How can she be so energetic at this time in the morning?" Brittany wondered aloud, Santana shrugged and drew back the drapes, letting the winter sunlight stream through the blinds. Brittany shielded her eyes and swatted at Santana's hands.

"C'mon I'm hungry," Santana whined, suddenly feeling much more awake as her stomach growled at her. Brittany stood up and pulled on her robe, yawning and rubbing her eyes again.

"Alright birthday girl I'm awake," Santana grinned and skipped out into the hall with Brittany dawdling behind her mumbling about annoying little sisters and the like.

After breakfast Santana sat on the stairs, waiting for the mailman to arrive. There were already a dozen brightly-coloured, wrapped parcels sitting on the dining room table with Santana's name on them but she had insisted on opening the card from her father first. By 2pm there was still nothing from Leon and Santana dragged herself through to the kitchen where Brittany and Katya were chattering as Lena prepared a late lunch.

"Nothing?" Lena asked with a concerned frown on her face. Santana shook her head dejectedly and took a seat at the breakfast bar. Brittany eyed her hands as they fidgeted with the hem of her skirt, twisting the blue material round and round.

"He'll probably call," she offered, taking a seat next to Santana and placing a hand on her shoulder. Santana shrugged and looked away. After lunch Santana cheered up considerably as Quinn arrived early for the party.

"So who's actually coming?" she asked as she kicked her shoes off and threw them underneath Brittany's bed. Santana thought for a moment, chewing her lip and looking at the ceiling then began reeling off names.

"…Finn, Puck."

"Puck?" Quinn interrupted.

"Noah Puckerman," Santana said slowly, as if she were stupid. Quinn made a disgusted expression and Brittany rolled her eyes.

"He's gross," Quinn said, Brittany nodded silently in agreement. Santana sighed and shook her head.

"Whatever, he's Finn's best friend and Finn's coming, remember?"

Just then the doorbell rang and Brittany glanced at her clock.

"It's half past three, people'll be arriving now," she said with a smile. Santana returned the smile nervously and gave the green ribbons in her hair a final check before following Brittany and Santana downstairs to answer the door.

By 4pm everyone had arrived and Santana was having too much fun to dwell on the absence of her father. She'd been worried that her classmates would ask questions as to the reason her party was being held at Brittany's house rather than her own, but it seemed they'd been a "package deal" for so long it didn't even cross anyone's mind. That along with the mere presence of Quinn Fabray in their midst made it easy enough for Santana to avoid any awkward questions regarding the absence of her own parents.

Half-way through the celebrations however Santana discreetly slipped away upstairs to call her father. As she sat on Lena and Jack's bed listening to the busy tone for the fifth time Noah Puckerman sauntered in wearing a thoroughly bored expression on his face, when Santana heard the footsteps she slammed the phone down back in to its cradle and jumped to her feet, balling her fists.

"What are you doing in here, Puckerman?" she demanded. Puck seemed unperturbed by her aggressive demeanour and leant against the door frame, staring at her.

"What are YOU doing in here? It's your birthday after all," he replied with a smirk not unlike her own. Santana unclenched her fists but maintained a scowl.

"None of your business," she said curtly. Puck rolled his eyes and ran a hand across his waxed hair, he stood up and motioned towards the bed. Santana hesitated for a moment then perched on the edge while Puck took a seat a foot away.

"I was trying to call me father," Santana confessed after a moment's silence. Puck steepled his fingers and stared at his feet.

"Where is he?"

"Out of town, where he works." Puck nodded, slowly processing the information.

"What about your mom?"

Santana visibly flinched at the question but bowed her head and answered clearly.

"She left, she ran out on me and my Papa." Her voice quavered and a single tear ran from her eye to her chin where it clung on, glinting in the light from the hallway. Puck fidgeted slightly, feeling embarrassed, he didn't really know what he was supposed to do when girls cried but he felt it would be wrong to leave her in a dim room sobbing. So he shuffled closer to her and tentatively placed a hand on her shoulder, letting it rest there gently. Santana didn't shrug it off but looked at him suspiciously.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" she asked. Puck shrugged and tightened his grip a fraction.

"I know what it's like, my dad isn't around," Santana wiped her eyes and stared at him.

"Sorry," she said eventually, he shrugged again and removed his hand from her shoulder. Santana frowned, noticing how sad he looked all of a sudden and Noah Puckerman was never sad. Then she remembered.

"Hey, wanna know a trick that'll make you feel better?" Puck narrowed his eyes, taking his own turn to be suspicious, but then he reminded himself he was the Puckasaurus and he was up for anything.

"Okay."

"Close your eyes," Santana commanded, and he did.

Meanwhile downstairs Brittany was looking for Puck and Santana to inform them Puck had to leave along with the other guests because there was special surprise waiting downstairs for Santana. She hurried up the stairs bursting with excitement, that was until she peered round the corner of the hall in to her parents' room. Completely unprepared for the image of Santana locking lips with a boy (and Noah Puckerman at that), Brittany shrieked causing Santana and Puck to jump, petrified expressions forming on their faces.

She wasn't entirely sure why, but Brittany suddenly felt nauseous, that same clenching and unclenching feeling she remembered feeling that day on the beach as she observed Quinn and Santana in the surf had returned.

"You have to go home," she said looking pointedly at Puck, who didn't need telling twice and dashed out the room and down the stairs faster than you could say Mohawk. Santana's face was crimson and she fidgeted with the hem of her skirt till it frayed. A minute of complete silence passed between them before Brittany sighed and delivered her message.

"Someone wants to see you downstairs," she said sharply, before turning on her heel and heading to her bedroom, slamming the door behind her. Deciding that meeting the stranger downstairs instead of facing an angry Brittany was a wise choice Santana took the stairs three at a time and burst in to the living room. There sitting on the couch with a steaming mug of coffee in his hands was Leon.

"Papa!" Santana cried out delightedly and launched herself towards him, almost spilling his coffee in the process.

"Happy birthday Princess," he said, closing his eyes and embracing her tightly. After a moment Santana pulled away and glared at him.

"I called you, like a lot," she said, sniffing disapprovingly. He scratched the back of his head looking guilty as he observed the fresh tears running down Santana's cheeks.

"I wanted to surprise you," he explained, Santana remained scowling. "And I have something I need to tell you face to face," Santana's scowl disappeared instantly and a hopeful glint flashed across her eyes.

"Are you home for good?" she asked, clasping her hands together and grinning.

"No sweetie, just for the weekend," he said gently. Santana's face fell and she crossed her arms.

"You promised you'd come home soon," she accused.

"I know and I'm sorry but I have to do what my boss tells me, you know that," he explained, placing a hand on her cheek. Santana nodded reluctantly but tears welled up in her eyes again all the same.

"Right, so that means I can't get a job in Lima for another few months-"

"Months!" Santana spluttered, her face aghast.

"I'm sorry baby but that's the best I can do," he said, his voice heavy with guilt, but Santana had stopped listening and broken out in to loud, guttural sobs. Leon held her and stroked her hair until her cries subsided.

"Mama's not coming back, is she?" she croaked out after a few minutes.

"No, I don't think so." Leon had always been honest with his daughter and he wasn't about to change that to give her false hope which would only leave her disappointed.

"So what's going to happen to me?"

Leon took a deep breath and smiled but Lena, who had been standing by the mantelpiece with wet eyes answered first. "You'll be staying with us, properly."

Santana's eyes bulged and her mouth formed a silent 'o' shape. "Like… Live here all the time until you come home?" she asked, staring at her father in disbelief.

"Yes, all the time. Jack and Lena have been discussing the idea with me for some time now," he said, ruffling her hair and causing her to giggle nervously and swat his hand away. Lena looked as though she were about to add something but closed her mouth again and grinned as Brittany shot out of the living room and up the stairs.

When she pushed Brittany's bedroom door open cautiously she noticed only the lamp by the bed was illuminated, Brittany was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed and tear-stained cheeks. Santana felt a pang in her chest as she shut the door quietly behind her and walked over to the bed. Brittany didn't look up when she sat down next to her but allowed Santana to take her hand.

"Guess what?" Santana asked timidly, Brittany looked at her then and gave her a weak smile.

"I already knew, but momma told me not to tell," she sighed. Santana felt hurt but pushed it to the back of her mind and instead concentrated on the girl next to her.

"Look B… about Puck," she began, but Brittany held a hand up to shush her. She lay back on the bed and gazed at the glow-in-the-dark stars on her ceiling, murmuring to herself.

"I just thought it was special when it was me, it doesn't feel special now," she said clearly when Santana lay down next to her, still gripping Brittany's hand tightly in her own.

"I just wanted to make him feel better, I really am so-" but Brittany cut her off again and shifted on her side to face Santana.

"It's fine, I can't tell you what to do," she said, drawing circles on Santana's arm. Santana felt new tears forming at the corners of her eyes and her breath hitched in her throat.

"But it wasn't special with him, I'm still yours," she said as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Yeah?" Brittany looked up, a small smile forming. Santana grinned and placed a quick kiss on Brittany's chapped lips.

"Yeah, and you're mine, and we're going to be okay."