Chapter 14

Disclaimer: I don't own glee, I am just borrowing them for a bit. And if I did own glee than the mistletoe kiss in the christmas episode would not be a Finchel kiss but a Brittana kiss. Or even a Faberry kiss. Just not a Finchel one. Yuck. And I certainly wouldn't have cut Santa Baby. That was just criminal.

A/N: This chapter is for my baby girl, who keeps me motivated to write, even when it seems like ages between chapters. Thanks babe. Merry Christmas! : )

Santana took one look at Brittany, letting her eyes rake over the beautiful girl next to her. She leaned forward and placed a soft kiss to Brittany's lips before taking a deep breath and opening the bedroom door. She wasn't sure what to expect as the two women walked down the hallway to the living room. She stepped into the living room with Brittany close on her heels, the tension in the room palpable. Quinn and Rachel were sitting as far away from each other as possible. One look at Quinn showed that the blonde had been clearly been crying, her eyes mostly on the empty coffee table, but every few seconds glancing to her still fuming girlfriend. Rachel for her part sat with her arms crossed tightly over her chest, looking at anything in the room other than Quinn. She looked up as the two other women stepped fully into the room and rose to her feet, not sparing a look at Quinn. She cleared her throat and spoke in a clear calm tone.

"Ah Santana, Brittany. I see that you are both ready to go to lunch. I suggest we make haste as Quinn and I have to pick up Beth from school later and we are already running considerably behind schedule." From the cadence of the small brunette's voice if Santana hadn't been aware of the fight she would never had been aware of the anger that had just been seething through the girl. At the utterance of Beth's name Santana saw a small smile flash across Quinn's features, although it faded as quickly as it hade come as she looked at Rachel. Santana glanced to Brittany with a slightly raised eyebrow. Brittany smiled softly and shrugged as she turned back to the hallway. Santana followed closely behind, falling into step and interlocking her fingers with the taller blonde. Rachel walked out behind the two women, finally letting her eyes fall on her girlfriend, her glare softening slightly. Quinn sighed and rose to her feet, folowing behind the other three, knowing from the quick look from Rachel that the worst of the fight was over.

The short walk to the cafe was made in silence as all four women were lost in their own thoughts. Santana's mind was wandering between memories of the morning shower and the awkwardness of the impending meal. Rachel was deciding how much longer to make Quinn suffer for the mornings inappropriate outburst, knowing that all would be forgiven by the time they picked up Quinn's daughter. Quinn was thanking her lucky stars that the anger Rachel had been harboring all morning was finally fading away, and going over the plans for the weekend with Beth. For her part Brittany was thinking about ducks.

After being seated by the waitress who welcomed them all by name the women all began to look over the menu. As the same freindly waitress returned quickly with their apparently usual drinks, ready to take their order, Santana was struck with a sudden wave of panic. As she looked over the menu she realized that she had no idea what to order. She wasn't even sure if she had any food allergies. She glanced quickly around the table, feeling odd about having to voice her dismay. Her chocolate eyes caught Quinn's hazel ones, and the blonde offered a smile and came to the latina's rescue, taking the lead and ordering for all four women.

"Hey Sarah," she said with a sweet although slightly fake sounding tone of voice, "we will all have the usual this week. Sound good guys?" Both Rachel and Britany nodded their agreement as Quinn caught Santana's eye again who offered a quickly mouthed 'thank you'. The waitress walked off to place their order as Quinn flashed a quick smile and mouthed back, "you're welcome". Santana felt as though this was probably not something that would normally transpire between the two women. From the things that Brittany had told her so far Santana got the distinct impression that she and Quinn were kind of like sisters. They loved each other but they didn't always like each other. But regardless Santana knew that she was thankful the blonde was her friend. In fact as she looked around the table at all three women, Rachel then Quinn and finally her wife she smiled to herself, thankful for all of them being in her life. Adjusting to not having any memory would have been much harder without the support of these women. Before she was able to get too emotional aout the situation, which she also felt was not smoething that was at all normal for her, Brittany broke the mostly comfortable silence.

"So Quinn, Rachel what do you guys have planned with Beth for the weekend?" Santana noticed the way both women's bodies relaxed at the mention of Beth. She was still a bit confused by situation involving the young girl. She sat up a little higher in her seat to take in as many details as possible, and started formulating what to ask, and how best to ask tactfully. She watched with interest as both women's demeanor changed, matching looks of loving pride shared between them. For the first time all day Santana saw the women exchange eye contact and soft smiles, all the anger of their fight gone. Rachel nodded gently at Quinn, allowing her to answer the question.

"Well after luch we are going to go meet her and Shelby at school and drive Shelby to the airport. Then we are going to head back to the apartment for some rather late dinner and I am guessing that Beth will be so tired that she will fall asleep before the pizza even arrives. Then tomorrow we are taking her to the central park zoo. We have been promoising to take her to the zoo to see the monkeys for ages." Quinn turned her attention from Brittany to Santana with a slightly mischevious grin on her face as she continued, "In fact she has been beging to go ever since her Auntie Tana gave her a stuffed monkey for her birthday."

Santana felt her face flush at the words Auntie Tana. She suddenly found herself extremly interested in the spots on the fork resting on her napkin. She was visably fidgeting in her seat as Brittany reached across and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. Santana looked up, offering the women at the table a shy smile. Rachel took this oppurtunity to add to the conversation.

"Actuallt Santana, and of course you Brittany, Beth really wants to see you both. Quinn and I thought that perhaps you would like to spend the morning with the three of us and then accompany us to the zoo?" Santana had a worried look on her face, but Brittany started bouncing in her seat with excitement.

"Oh my gosh San can we can we can we? I miss Beth so much, we haven't seen her in months. And if we go to the zoo can we go see the ducks? Please please please?" Despite her reservations about seeing the small child in her current amnesiac state Santana couldn't resist a hearty laugh at her wife's reaction to the idea of going to the zoo, spending time with their 'neice' and her seemingly boundless love of ducks. After getting her laughing under control she leaned over and kissed Brittany's temple gentely before returning her focus to the other two women at the table. She took a deep breath, contemplating the best way to phrase her next sentence.

"Well clearly Britt thinks this is the best idea ever, and as nice as it sounds, do you think it's a good idea for Beth to see me if I can't remember her? Won't that be like extra confusing for her?" She saw out of the corner of her eye Brittany sink slightly in her chair. Quinn and Rachel exchanged a quick look before Rachel answered with a look of concern.

"We have told her that you were hurt, but not the actual extent of your brain injuries obviously. She is only 5, and her favorite aunt not remembering her would be strange." Rachel turned her focus from Santana to Quinn, her voice level dropping slightly. "It could be hard on her Quinn, perhaps we should wait until Santana is better, I mean assuming that she gets better that is. It is still possible that she won't regain any more of her memories."

"Gee thanks midgit, way to make me feel better about my situation. You really do know how to bring a girl down." Santana spat with a dramatic roll of her eyes. Rachel turned back to Santana with a soft appologetic smile, while Quinn thought about the situation. Before any of the three women could continue Brittany chimed in with a still excited tone to her voice.

"What if we make it a game?" Santana looked to the tall blonde with a puzzled look on her face, which she was sure was mirrored by the other women at the table. Santana softened her previous tone as she spoke.

"What if we make what a game Britt?"

"Well what if we make you not remembering Beth a game? We can all act like we are strangers or something, and tell her that we are going to learn all about each other. That way it won't seem so weird for her." Brittany beamed at her own idea, and Santana Quinn and Rachel soon followed with similar smiles. Quinn was the first to answer.

"I think that is a brilliant idea Brittany. Assuming that it sounds good to you Santana." Santana thought for a few seconds before shrugging her shoulders.

"Works for me, as long as you think it will work." Quinn nodded her head in approval and Santana felt herself being pulled into a strong hug by Brittany. Brittany wasn't sure if she was more excited about spending time with Beth, or with seeing the ducks but either way she was glad to make everybody happy.

The women settled into easy conversation about the new weekend plans for the zoo as their food arrived. Santana was pleased with her 'usual' lunch order of a bacon cheeseburger with a massive side of curly fries. Britt had a cobb salad with ranch dressing that she ate happily, still pleased with herself and her idea. Quinn and Rachel both got some sort of vegan pasta dish that Santana had a hard time not rolling her eyes at. The were all very hungry and ate in realtive silence, the meal having been delayed by more than an hour by the mornings events.

Once they had finished eating the waitress brought the check, which Rachel insisted on paying. As Santana and Rachel finished up making the plans for the next day Quinn's phone rang and she excused herself, not checking the caller I.D. as she answered.

"Quinn Fabray." She drawled into the phone as she walked towards the front of the resturant as the other women gathered their belongings to leave. A deep gruff voice answered from the other end of her cell phone.

"Ah, Miss Fabray, this is Captain Whitestone, I was told you were dealing with Detective Lopez's affairs currently. How is she?" Quinn felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise, she had forotten that they had forwarded Santana's calls from the police department to her phone, figuring that she was more responsible than Brittany at taking messeges. And she certainly hadn't expected to hear from Santana's comanding officer for any reason. She took a breath as her eyes scanned the room, locking eyes with the latina who gave her a questioning look.

"Um, she is doing fine sir. As well as can be expected." Santana was certain that who ever Quinn was taliking to had something to do with her so she motioned to Rachel and Brittany that she was going to join the blonde and quickly crossed the room. As she arrived at the blonde's side she was able to hear Quinn talking to the mystery caller. "Yes sir. Actually she is standing right next to me, would you like to speak to her?" Santana could hear the apprehenshion in Quinn's voice and a wave of panic ran through the latina. Quinn handed her the phone, with a sympathetic look.

"Hello?" Santana wanted to kick herself for the quiver of fear she could hear in her own voice.

"Detective Lopez? This is Captain Whitestone, from the NYPD. We need to talk. Can you come to the station on monday morning, it is very important." Santana took a shaky breath, not sure of why the department would need to see her, but assumed the worst.

"Yes sir, um monday morning is fine." She vaugly heard him give her some instructions, and say a gruff goodbye before hanging up. She wasn't sure what to think, but she had a bad feeling she wasn't going to like it.