Epilogue

Life is funny isn't it? You think you have it all figured out and then reality steps in a punches you square in the face. Life is messy and confusing and it hurts a large percent of the time but we live it anyway. We live it because we're told to. We don't have a say in much and mostly it's just the blind leading the blind, but we evolve. That much is fact.

Today is the day I am being discharged from a room where I've experienced pain, anguish, love, forgiveness, and above all fear.

I am itching to get out of my own personal hell but the idea of what life has in store for me outside of these walls terrifies the fuck out of me.

My only saving grace is-

"Should we get pancakes after this?"

Brittany.

"Do you want to get pancakes after this?" I chuckled.

"I mean we could get waffles if you prefer." She shrugged; continuing to pack up the few remaining items that have accumulated in the hospital room over the past month. "But only if you feel up to it of course."

Before I could respond the door swung open and my usual morning nurse shuffled into the room, an older Russian lady who refuses to show emotion.

"Ms. Lopez." She nodded in my direction, approaching with a stack of papers in hand.

"Esther." I quipped.

This is how we usually greet each other before she begins pricking and prodding my body, touching me places that I'm sure Brittany hasn't even discovered. But not today, no, today will be much different. Today Esther will be removing all of my plugs and bandages. Today is the day I say goodbye to Esther, hopefully for the last time. Though I've become quite fond her sarcasm and old Russian humor.

"You're excited to leave." She exhales with her thick accent, delicately pulling back my hospital gown to remove my heart monitor patch.

"You're excited to be rid of me." I quirked a brow, allowing myself to smirk a little.

I could hear Brittany's quiet chuckle from the other end of the room.

Esther snapped her head in Brittany's direction, causing Brittany to immediately cup her hands over her own mouth.

After a few moments of silence Brittany spoke up.

"I'm just gonna uh-"She swung her thumb back over her shoulder. "I'm gonna go get some coffee."

With that a flash of blonde was seen heading out the door in record time.

Esther turned back with a smirk.

"Your girlfriend is intimidated by me." The older nurse's shoulder shook a little. One could almost mistake the gesture as a laugh.

"That's just because she doesn't know what a softie you really are." I flashed Esther my best toothy grin, causing her face to flush.

"I am no such thing." She huffed; turning to the stack of papers she had waiting on the bedside table. "Now here, finish this up." She lifted the heavy stack and dropped it carelessly on my lap.

"Damn Esther!" I groaned; adjusting myself upright in the bed.

I looked up and saw Esther rummaging in the front pocket of her scrubs.

"Here's a writing utensil, now finish." She ordered; flashing a grin of her own. I'm positive I'm one of very few to actually have witnessed such expression.

I had just finished up with my discharge papers when my hospital room door swung open; I figured it was Brittany returning with her coffee.

I heard the heels clicking first before the person in question came rounding the corner. A face quite familiar to my own came into view.

"Ah, there's my daughter." Claudia said in an over enthusiastic tone; clasping her two hands in front of her.

"Mama?" My brow furrowed. "I thought you went home last night?"

Esther tided up the space around me, collecting the paperwork from my lap.

"Wait, is this the last time I'm going to see you?" I looked up frantically to my nurse.

Esther just smiled and placed her hand on my shoulder; squeezing it tightly. Moments later she was out of the room.

"I think that's the first time I've ever seen that woman smile." My mother cut though my thoughts.

"It's definitely a rare sight." I sighed.

"Well anyway, your father and I decided that I would stay behind and wait until you were fully discharged."My mother started making her way toward my hospital bed and sat at the end by my feet.

"Why?" I peeled the blanket off my body and swung my legs to the side of my bed. "You've got to get back to your job mama. Stop worrying about me."

"Santana, my job is to worry about you." She sighed. "Besides, I'm going to take some more time off. This way you can come back to Ohio and I can look after you personally." She stated, rather sure of herself.

"Uh, excuse me?" I knew I was glaring at her, but I couldn't stop myself.

"Well someone needs to look after you once you leave the hospital, who better than your mother?" She sounded almost defensive.

"Brittany." I rolled my eyes. I pushed myself off the bed and winced, grabbing my tender side. "Brittany will be with me the whole time."

My mother scoffed, and I'm sure I saw a little eye roll of her own. "I'm a doctor Santana, are you going to tell me that Brittany can offer you better care then myself?"

"I'm not having this conversation with you." I gingerly made my way over to my bags in the corner of the room. "You're being absurd."

Claudia pushed herself off the bed and started toward me.

"Oh I'm being absurd? Santana you-"

"Mom!" I shouted, interrupting her mid sentence. "That's enough." I turned to face her before continuing. "You're still pissed at Brittany, I get it. You don't trust her. But I am a grown ass woman who has a career to get back to. So no, I'm not going back to Ohio with you. And yes, I am grateful that you would consider taking time from your schedule to look after me, but I'll be fine. You may not trust Brittany, but you should trust me."

My mother flinched; just enough to show her vulnerability.

"Mama," I sighed, walking toward her, reaching out to take her hand in mine. She visibly relaxed at the touch. "Not everything is how it seems, please try to understand that. Brittany is still the girl you know and love. You just need time to see that again.

My mother's eyes fluttered shut and she took in a steady breath before nodding her head.

"She hurt my baby." Her voice came out weak and broken.

My heart wrenched at the words and I felt myself pout. I gripped my mother's hands a little tighter before pulling her into a gentle hug, weary of my sore body.

Burying my face in her shoulder I whispered, "Not everything is how it seems." Before pulling back from the hug and looking into her eyes. Wanting her to feel the words I repeated.

She subtly nodded before wiping the stray tear, threatening to escape the corner of her eye.

"Go home to papa." I rasped. "Everything will be alright here."

She smiled at me before stepping forward and kissing me on the forehead.

"The offer still stands Santana." She said while pulling away. "You can always come home."

I just simply grinned at her, because she knew that I was aware that home was always an option. What she failed to understand now was that my home wasn't in Ohio anymore, my home was with Brittany.

We settled into the black leather seats of the familiar SUV; Brittany wrapping her arms protectively around my shoulders.

"Are you ready?" She whispered in my ear.

I bit my lip and pondered that question. Will I ever be ready? Ready to face the media, both kind and understanding yet harsh and assumptive? Ready to face my fans who had so many questions? Ready to face the reality that my career has been halted for the foreseeable future? Executives at LA Records will most definitely be displeased with that last piece of information, but regardless the show must go on. So ready or not I have to face the noise.

I simply nodded my response to Brittany who in return nodded to Taylor. Seconds later we were zipping out of the parking garage of the hospital, a few seconds after that we were swarmed by crowds of paparazzi feigning to get the first shots of the beloved singer, fresh out of the hospital. The SUV came to a harsh stop outside of the garage while the crowd got closer; they were now banging on the windows and vocally pleading to know if I was alright. Every news outlet was starving to be the first one to break the story about the pop star who walked away from death.

I slid my dark shades from the top of my head to the bridge of my nose, stiffening my stature and holding my chin high.

If it's a success story they want, it's a success story they're going to get. After all…

I am Santana Lopez.

So this is it... Honey, No Regrets is officially over. And you guys have been absolutely incredible. A few weeks ago I reached out to my readers asking if anyone wanted a prequel or a sequel, and the responses came pouring in! With an overwhelming majority weighing toward having a sequel, the decision has been made..

The Honey, No Regrets universe will continue with a part 2!

Titled: American Honey

POV: Santana Lopez

There is still so much that needs to happen between these two love bugs, but I need some help. Before I continue with part 2, I desperately need to find a Beta. I'm so often writing chapters at work or in the middle of the night, causing my writing to get a bit sloppy. So if there are any of you out there who feel up to the task, let me know. The sooner I find one, the sooner American Honey can get going.

I also want to say a quick thank you to everyone who has taken time out of their day to let me know they're still with me. It's your support that keeps me motivated to write and I love y'all for that :)

Soooo, what do you guys think? Are we ready for American Honey?