Santana Lopez and Rachel Berry were half sisters. About two years before Leroy Berry met Rachel's other father, Hiram, he and Santana's mother dated. Shortly after Santana was born, Leroy realized that he was gay and then Santana's mother married Mr. Lopez, Santana's step-father, and Leroy met Hiram. After awhile, the pair realized they wanted a child and used a surrogate. Nine months later, Rachel was born and Santana had a sister. The two pairs of parents had decided to live next door to each other so that two sisters could spend time with each other. Although Santana was very protective of Rachel, not many knew the two were related. Santana was now a senior in high school and Rachel was about to begin her freshman year. All summer, Santana was wondering how she was going to keep their family connection secret. One day, about a week before the school year began, Santana was sitting in her room when Rachel walked in.
"Hey San." Rachel sat down on her sister's bed.
"What's up Rach?" Santana looked at her younger sister.
"So are you going to drive me to school on the first day?" Rachel asked.
Santana hesitated. "Rachel…" she began. Her heart broke as she saw her sister's face fall.
"You don't want to take me do you?" Rachel asked.
"Rach its not that. Its just…we have….early morning practice for Cheerios." Santana tried to cover.
Rachel mumbled something Santana couldn't understand. "What was that?" she asked.
"I said no you don't." Rachel repeated.
"And how exactly would you know?"
"Your mom mentioned to me that you didn't start early morning practices until a week after school started. Why don't you want to take me to school?" Rachel definitely noticed as Santana's eyes quickly went down to Rachel's sweater and went back up. As Santana attempted to cover again, Rachel stopped her.
"Whatever San. It doesn't matter. I'll get Dad to take me." As Rachel began to walk away, she turned around. "And don't worry. Since you are clearly embarrassed by having me as a sister, I won't come around and talk to you at school." With that Rachel left her sister's room and went back to her own house, despite Santana's protests.
Santana's mother walked in soon after.
"What was Rachel so upset about?"
"She's mad because I don't want to drive her to school on the first day." Santana tried to brush it off as if it was nothing, but her mother saw right through that.
"Santana, she is your sister. Why don't you want to take her?"
"Because…ok look Mom. I love Rachel. More than anything. But at school, although I'm still going to be her sister and I'm still going to love her, things are different. She's going to be Rachel Berry, the freshman who wears animal sweaters, plaid skirts, knee socks, and oddly colored shoes. I'm going to be Santana Lopez, the senior head cheerleader."
"Santana, I don't think I have ever been this disappointed in you. Rachel is your sister. Your family. You never be ashamed of your family. If we were talking about Melody would you feel the same way?" Right around the time Rachel was born, Mr. and Mrs. Lopez adopted a baby girl, named Valerie Melodia, or Melody for short. Although Santana and Mr. and Mrs. Lopez were Hispanic, Melody was white. To the Lopez's, Melody was exactly the same. Every one knew that Melody, who was going to be starting high school at McKinley, was Santana's sister. Santana was ashamed to admit but the answered was-
"No." Santana looked down.
"That's what I thought. Santana, you need to go apologize to Rachel."
"But Mom I –" Santana started.
"No, Santana. Go apologize to your sister. Now." Santana knew from her mother's tone that it was not a suggestion.