Santana searched for her girlfriend as she sat down on the bleachers. Sue always gave them afternoons off from Cheerios practice in exchange for early morning practices (they suspected it wasn't for them, but rather for Sue), but Rachel's car was in the shop and Santana had agreed to pick the smaller girl up from track practice. She'd had to leave so she could pick up her thirteen year old sister, ten year old brother, and seven year old brother from school and take them home, but after changing out of her Cheerios uniform, she'd gone back to the school to wait for her girlfriend.
Rachel happened to turn in her direction after a few moments and smiled brightly, waving at the Latina. Waving back, Santana smiled at the thought of the track star that owned her heart. They were the It couple of McKinley, a title that had once belonged to Quinn and Finn. However, Rachel and the track team were actually successful, whereas the football team (and Finn) sucked, and Quinn's whole cheating/pregnancy scandal had ruined her reputation. Ever since their demise, Pezberry had risen to the top of the hierarchy. The track star and the head cheerleader were easily the most popular girls in school.
"Hi!" The familiar, addicting voice pulled Santana out of her thoughts and she smiled as she saw her girlfriend in front of her.
"Hey you. It's only 4:30. Practice isn't over, is it?" she asked, offering the bottle of water she had brought for the runner. Rachel shook her head as she took the bottle, thanking the Latina with a kiss on the cheek.
"No, I just took a break so I could see your gorgeous face." Santana rolled her eyes with a grin.
"You already have me, Berry. Stop trying to convince me you're cool." Rachel gave Santana a fake gasp, causing the Latina to laugh.
"I would never attempt to do that, Santana. You and I both know that I'm nowhere near cool. However, I'm very honest." Santana smiled and grabbed the brunette's hand.
"You wanna get dinner after practice?"
"I'm sweaty, San." Rachel said, looking down at her gray t-shirt that had WMHS Track & Field printed on it in red and her black athletic shorts.
"So?" Santana asked, not seeing the problem. She always thought Rachel was beautiful, but something about the runner right after she got out of practice was especially attractive to the Latina. Rachel scoffed and looked at the cheerleader's outfit (Santana had changed into a pair of short shorts and a form fitting black shirt with her favorite pair of flip flops and her hair down).
"Yea, no." Santana pouted.
"Please babe?" Rachel bit her lip for a minute before she broke into a smile and nodded. "Awesome. I'll text my parents and your dads and tell them."
"Berry!" Rachel and Santana turned to see the track coach watching them. "Back to practice." Rachel nodded and turned to the Latina.
"I gotta go, but I'll see you in a few." Santana smiled and nodded, taking the water bottle back from Rachel.
Rachel chuckled as she saw the Latina at the end of practice. She had retreated to the top row of the bleachers and was laying down with her headphones in her ears. Rolling her eyes affectionately, Rachel walked up the steps and sat down on the cheerleader's stomach before slipping her sunglasses off of her girlfriend's face and putting them on her own.
"Um, those are mine." Santana said, pulling her earbuds out. Rachel smiled innocently. "Babe, you gotta get off. I can't breathe when you sit right there."
"Sorry." Rachel said, standing up before helping the other girl up. "Ready to go?"
"I'm just the driver, babe. You tell me when to go." Rachel smiled softly and grabbed the Latina's hand.
"I'm ready. Where are we going to eat?" Santana grinned.
"Breadstix." Rachel rolled her eyes just as Santana's phone rang. "Hold on. It's my dad."
"No problem." Rachel said as Santana answered her phone.
"Hola Papi."
"Hola mija. I know you were planning to go to dinner with Rachel, but something came up." Santana frowned.
"What?"
"Well your mom was already scheduled to work, but I was on call and a doctor called in sick so I have to go to the hospital." Santana sighed. "I'm sorry mija."
"It's okay, Papi."
"Rachel is welcome to come over." Santana nodded.
"Thanks Papi. I'll be home soon." she said, hanging up.
"What's wrong?" Rachel asked.
"My dad got called in to the hospital. I have to watch my brothers and sister. He doesn't know when he'll be home." Rachel smiled sadly. "He said you can come over. Wanna pick up some pizza?"
"You know what? That sounds perfect." Rachel said, smiling at her girlfriend. Santana smiled softly. "You know I love your siblings."
"You're amazing." Santana said, kissing the runner softly.
"Hey, kiddos, calm down!" Santana said to her brothers as she and Rachel did the dishes.
"Sorry San!" ten year old Leon said as he stopped chasing his little brother. Santana sighed and turned to Rachel.
"Is this your idea of a perfect date?" Rachel smiled.
"Any date with you is perfect, San." Santana pulled her girlfriend into a hug. Suddenly, they heard a crash, followed by a cry of pain. Looking at each other with wide eyes, the teenagers ran into the living room to see a now broken coffee table and Leon standing over a crying and bleeding Mateo in shock.
"What happened?" Santana asked, rushing to the eight year old's side.
"We were wrestling and I accidentally pushed him into the coffee table. I didn't mean to, San, I swear!" Leon said, tears falling. Santana sighed in frustration.
"I told you to calm down, Leon! This is why! Why couldn't you listen to me for once?" she yelled, gently picking up Mateo. "You okay, buddy?"
"Hurts, San."
"I know, little man. Let's get you some ice." she said, picking him up and carrying him into the kitchen. Rachel bit her lip and turned to Leon.
"Are you okay, Leon?" she asked. Leon wiped his eyes and nodded. "Good."
"I didn't mean to hurt him, Rachel."
"I know you didn't, Leon." Rachel whispered, hugging the boy.
"San doesn't. She hates me."
"No she doesn't, Leon. She knows it was an accident. She's just worried about your brother." Leon shrugged. "Stay here. I'm going to go check on Mateo." Rachel said, moving into the kitchen. "How's he doing?"
"I don't know. Should I take him to the hospital?" Santana asked. Rachel nodded.
"Take him. I'll stay here with Emily and Leon. But San..." Santana ran a hand through her hair and turned to her girlfriend.
"What babe?" she asked, trying not to snap at the brunette.
"You need to talk to Leon. He thinks you hate him, baby." Santana frowned. "I'll watch Mateo. Go talk to Leon."
"Okay." Santana said, walking into the living room to see her brother on the couch. "Leonardo, what's going on? Why did you tell Rachel I hate you?"
"You're mad at me." Santana suppressed a sigh.
"No. I'm just worried about Mateo. I could never hate you, Leon." Leon nodded. "Look, I'm gonna take Mateo to the hospital, but Rae is gonna stay with you and Emily, okay?"
"Okay." Santana kissed her brother's head.
"I'll be back."
Rachel looked up as she heard the front door to the Lopez house open. Soon, Santana walked in carrying a sleeping Mateo. "How is he?"
"He has a broken arm, a sprained ankle, and he had to get stitches in his forehead, cheek, the back of his head, and his other arm. Oh, and his entire ear had to be stitched up. Papi also said we wouldn't be getting a coffee table with glass again."
"Probably a good choice." Santana chuckled.
"You wanna spend the night?" Rachel smiled and nodded. "Cool. Some actual alone time. Let me put him to bed. How are Leon and Emily?"
"They're fine. Leon is sleeping and Emily was watching a movie in her room." Santana nodded as the couple walked upstairs.
"Thanks for watching my brother and sister." Santana whispered as they laid in bed.
"Of course, San." Rachel said, smiling at the cheerleader.
"I love you so much."
"I love you too, baby." Santana smiled. "I have a track meet tomorrow."
"I'll be there with my Team Rachel shirt." Rachel rolled her eyes. "I'm joking. But I will be there, babe. Promise."
"I know. That's why you're amazing." Santana smiled softly and kissed the runner.
"Good night, sweetheart." she whispered.