Author: EtherealPhoenix
Title: Not Quite Living
Rating: M [For future language]
Summary: Santana Lopez and Rachel Berry were always an unlikely duo. One day tears them apart - more drastically than either of them could imagine. Can ten years of friendship be rebuilt, or will it fade away? Pezberry AU/semi-canon.
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee.

Author's Note: Hey guys, it's me again. ^-^ I'm finally trying my hand at a multichapter fic. Note that this story is an AU, but there are also two alternate realities - one of which will be based off of canon [mostly the character histories and behavior; not the actual events]. No matter what kind of fanfiction I write, I try to keep the characterization as canon as possible, so feel free to critique it. It's late, and I'm not entirely happy with the title or summary [which is why it took me so long to publish], so they're subject to change. Every two chapters or so, there will be flashbacks. Enjoy!

Not Quite Living

Prologue, Part I - Ten Years Ago

A seven year-old girl with tanned skin, dark eyes, and dark hair sat in a chair in the pediatric wing of Lima Memorial Hospital. Her arms were crossed defiantly, and she was glaring in the direction of the opposite wall. Someone tapped her on the shoulder, and Santana Lopez immediately shifted her irritated gaze on the person who had disturbed her. There stood a short girl with brown hair and a beaming smile, completely unfazed by the other girl's standoffishness. "Hello, I'm Rachel Berry! I was wondering if you might want to play with me? My dad is off with his patients, and being lonely is so unproductive."

"I can't play," was the muttered response. How could one girl talk that much?

Santana gave Rachel a thorough once-over. Really, what was this girl wearing? She had on a black sweater vest layered over a white button-up, a red plaid skirt, black knee-high socks, and black flats. A red headband held her hair in place. Come on, it's August. It's not even cold enough for that many layers. But even though the outfit probably would have made anyone else look like a loser…it fit her, for some reason.

"Why not? Everyone can play; it's not that difficult. You just find something you like doing, and do it!"

"I mean I'm not allowed to play," the Hispanic girl clarified. "I got in trouble. My father said I have to sit here until he comes to get me."

"What for? And why are you here? You're not sick, are you? If I get sick, I'll have to miss ballet class! All of that coughing will ruin my voice, and then I'll never make it to Broadway!" Rachel was already backing up, a slightly terrified look on her face.

Santana rolled her eyes at the shorter girl's dramatic behavior. "Calm down, Motormouth. I'm not sick. My dad's a doctor here, too, and it's time for my shots. I hate needles, so I kicked the nurse in the leg." She finished her sentence with a nonchalant shrug. "I don't really see the problem, but he said it wasn't nice and got mad at me. And I still got the shots."

"While I don't completely agree with what you did, I don't like shots either," Rachel admitted, giggling. "May I sit with you?"

Santana shrugged once again, but patted the seat next to her in assent. "Why are you here?"

"My daddy usually works at night, but he was called in early, so he couldn't stay at home to watch me today. He's a police officer, so I wouldn't be very safe going with him. At least in the hospital, there's a place for kids like us! My fathers are big on family time, so they don't like babysitters. I told them that I'm not a baby, anyway, but they still wouldn't let me stay home. I would much rather be picking out my outfit for the first day of school tomorrow!"

Almost immediately, Santana's gaze met Rachel's, and a smile spread onto her face despite her confusion over the other girl's two fathers. "It's my first day tomorrow, too. I guess we're going to school together."

"You know, we've been talking for over fifteen minutes, and you still haven't told me your name."

Actually, you've been doing most of the talking, Santana thought, but she replied with, "Santana Lopez."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Santana. I know you're not allowed to play with me, but your father didn't say anything about singing, did he? Would you like to sing together?"

If it was possible, Santana's smile got even brighter.

Author's Note: Hope you liked it! I'm posting the entire prologue in one go, so keep reading! I hope I wrote Rachel decently. Review, please?
-EtherealPhoenix.