AN: A new story. This one is a Rachel and Santana themed piece but I suppose it might have a bit of Puckleberry in it if I get enough support. The idea for this piece came while I was reading up on what to expect in Season 3. Someone reviewed one of my other stories about how all my stories so far include Rachel having a secret (and I guess this one is the same but there is a twist), I hadn't really thought about it but it's true!

Hope you enjoy.

Ellé xox

Rachel was downstairs in the living room doing her homework with her music playing in the background. Her daddies would be home from work soon so she was trying to get everything finished. She was sing away softly to the music from West Side Story when there was a knock at the door. It was so quiet that Rachel nearly didn't hear it over the music.

She opened the door and immediately spotted the Latina in the Cheerio's uniform. Rachel straightened herself up, "Whatever you have come to torment me about today, Santana, I am really not in the mood."

She went to slam the door in the cheerleaders face but a foot got in the way.

"Please don't shut the door," a desperate voice said.

Curiously, Rachel opened the door again and slowly looked up at Santana. It wasn't until then that she noticed the tears falling down the girls face.

"Are… Are you okay?" Rachel asked.

"I'm sorry… I just didn't know where else to go," Santana whispered.

Rachel could see the desperation and sadness on the cheerleaders face and against her better judgement, she held the door open wider, "come in," she told the girl. She led Santana through to the kitchen and indicated she should sit. Rachel poured her a glass of water and handed her a tissue box.

"Do you want to tell me what's wrong?" She sat down on the bar stool across from her team mate.

Santana took a deep breath and sniffled, "… My parent's kicked me out," she said bravely.

"Why? What happened?" Rachel was shocked that the girl was coming to her about this rather than one of her friends.

"I um… I came out," the Latina sobbed.

"Came out?" Rachel said slowly, "… you mean?"

Santana put her head in her hands and nodded, "I'm not ready to come out to the whole school or anything… but I didn't want to hide around my family anymore," she cried, "I shouldn't have said anything! I should have just kept my mouth shut and gone on pretending."

Rachel was silent for a few minutes, "You did the right thing," she assured the cheerleader with a pat to the arm, "You shouldn't have to hide around family and you would have been unhappy if you lied."

"But now I've lost everything and I'm unhappy anyway," the girl went on crying.

"Maybe for now. But things will get better," Rachel assured her. They sat in silence for a while, whilst the reality of everything sank in.

"Santana, not that I would mind helping you with this… but why did you come to me? Wouldn't you rather talk about this with one of your friends?" Rachel asked, "Brittany or Quinn maybe?"

"No!" Santana said stubbornly, "It has to be you."

"Why?"

"Because you are the only one who doesn't care about this shit! You are the only one who completely stood up for Kurt. I know you aren't gay or anything but your dad's are and so I know that you understand." The Latina girl started crying again.

"Okay," Rachel reassured her, "I'll help… but I think first you need to have a shower, have something to eat and get some rest."

Santana followed Rachel through the house to her room. Rachel opened the closet and Santana's eyes widened when she saw all of the clothes.

"Woah!" she gasped, "but…"

"I don't want any more of my good clothes getting ruined by slushies," Rachel explained why she never wore any of her 'normal' clothes to school. She rummaged around and pulled out a pair of slacks and a yoga shirt and handed them to the girl. Then she led her through to her bathroom where she pulled out a fresh towel and sat it on the counter, "Help yourself to anything," she said before she closed the door on the way out.

While the girl showered, Rachel fixed her a snack. She was icing some of the chocolate cupcakes she baked earlier when Santana walked shyly back into the room.

"Um, thanks for that… for everything," she said.

"No problem. Do you feel better?"

Santana shrugged her shoulders in reply.

"Okay well… I think we both need cake," Rachel declared, popping one of the cakes down in front of the girl. They ate in silence. "Why don't you go and lie down in my room for a while. My dad's will be home in an hour or so and we can talk to them then."

Santana nodded and mumbled her thanks, climbing back up the stairs and lying down on Rachel's bed.

Rachel tried to get on with her homework but was having difficulty concentrating. She was reading the same paragraph of her history book for the third time when her fathers walked in the door together.

"Hello Star," her dad kissed her forehead.

"Hello dad, daddy," Rachel smiled at them, "Can I talk to you about something?"

The couple nodded and sat down across from their daughter. She slowly and carefully explained the situation to them, giving as much detail as she could.

"She doesn't know what to do… I sent her to have a shower and now she is sleeping in my room," she finished the story.

Paul and David, looked at each other before David turned back to their daughter, "Why don't you go wake her up Star and we can all talk this through."

Rachel crept up the stairs and gently pushed open her bedroom door to see the Latina girl curled up in a ball asleep. She sat down on the bed and shook her awake.

"My dad's are home, they want to talk to us both," Rachel explained. Santana sat up and rubbed her eyes. She followed Rachel down the stairs and sat down across from the men.

"Dad, Daddy, this is Santana… Santana, this is my dad, Paul and my Daddy, David," Rachel introduced the group.

"Hello Santana, It's nice to meet you," Paul smiled warmly.

"Rachel has explained your situation to us," David added with an equally welcoming smile. They went on to explain that they understood how difficult it was for her to talk about it and commended her for having the bravery to face her family

"I don't know where to go now," Santana murmured quietly.

"Well, David and I were talking while you two were upstairs… and we would be more than happy to have you stay here with us," Paul explained.

While Rachel hadn't been surprised, Santana's eyes widened, "I can't let you do that… this is huge."

"It's no problem… I know when I was kicked out of my house, I would have preferred someone I knew offer me a place to stay rather than being placed in a group home," David admitted, "but you do understand that Social Services need to be informed?"

Santana nodded, "thank you… but I don't want to agree to this unless it's okay with Rachel."

"It's fine," Rachel smiled, "I need another girl in the house."

"Right, we'll make the necessary phonecalls while you guys set up a bed. You'll have to share a room with Rachel for a few days… we can clean out the spare room for you on the weekend."

"Thank you."

The two teens set about getting the pull out ready in Rachel's room, "umm… I didn't want to ask before but… did you bring anything with you from your parent's place?"

"I was too upset… I just took off… I walked here," Santana shook her head, "… They said that I was a… disgrace and that it wasn't normal."

"I am sorry you have had to go through all of that," Rachel gave her a sympathetic smile, "I'll ask dad and daddy to see if they can organise a time for you to go and get some of your things… if not, I'll help you break in."

Santana gave a little laugh, "why are you being so nice to me? I've been horrible to you."

"Maybe, but the fact you turned up on my doorstop asking for help shows me that you truly are sorry about what you did."

"I think… subconsciously, I've always known they would react like this and that's why I found the relationship you have with you dad's so difficult to comprehend. They are the 'happy ending' that I didn't really think possible."

"Sorry to interrupt girls," Paul and David stood in the doorway, "Social Services will send a representative after school tomorrow… They will have someone take you to your parents house to get some of your things."

"Thank you Misters Berry," Santana said, "I really appreciate everything you are doing for me."

"It's no problem and please, call us Dad and Daddy… you are part of this family now," Paul smiled.

What do you think? Could be interesting...

Please review

Ellé