All My Love

Love Shack

Santana rang the doorbell and moved restlessly on the slanted stoop.

The door opened and Pembrooke was standing there. "Welcome, Miss."

Santana came inside as he moved. "Thanks. Is she here?"

He nodded and held his arms out for her coat.

She took it off and while he was putting it in the cloakroom, she took off her shoes.

He set them aside and led her to the front parlor. "Would you like refreshments?"

"Yeah." Santana was always down to eat. "Can I get grape juice?"

"Anything else?"

"Anything ya got." She beamed.

He smirked and bowed before leaving.

She sat down and looked around the tastefully decorated room.

He returned with a bottle of grape juice and a glass of ice. "Ma'am will be with you shortly."

"Thank you." Santana remembered her manners.

He smiled and left again.

Three minutes later, Mercedes walked in. "Hey, Tana! Why are you here so late?"

Santana accepted her hug. "I just needed to talk. In person."

"Is this about earlier?" Mercedes gave her a knowing look.

Santana sulked. "Yeah."

"Do you wanna tell me what's going on?"

"Yeah."

"Ma'am, miss." Pembrooke returned with food.

"Thank you, Pembrooke." Mercedes beamed at him.

He bowed and retired for the moment.

"Now." Mercedes patted Santana's hand. "Tell me what you feel you need to."

Santana drew on her courage and the whole saga came tumbling out. She sucked in a breath when she finished, certain her friend would turn from her.

Mercedes smiled warmly. "Are you bi?"

"I don't know."

"Marcy is."

Santana's eyes bulged. "She is?!"

"Yeah. I think I'm pan but I'm not sure." Mercedes tapped her bottom lip.

Santana blinked her wide eyes. "What?!"

"Yeah. I love people's insides. Not their out." Mercedes shrugged brightly.

"You sound like Britt."

"She might be pan."

Santana thought it over. "So it won't be bad if I was bi?"

"It wouldn't be bad if you were gay. We'll all love you just the same."

"Really? Cuz I just sat down with my Abuela and she wasn't as accepting."

"That woman is mean!" Mercedes shook her finger.

Santana grinned. "Stop talking about my grandmother."

"She still loves you, Tana. She just doesn't know how to love you properly."

Santana snuggled up to Mercedes. "I love you."

Mercedes swatted her. "I love you, too."

📄

Puck realized his mail was piling up. He suspected his wife was being passive aggressive about it because it was in a neat pile on his nightstand and tied with a bow.