Thank you so much for everyone who has read this, and a special thanks to those of you who took time to write reviews! You guys have all been very sweet and I appreciate your feedback immensely.

Again, this is slightly shorter than the first chapter but it's 11:20pm and I'm tired.

I hope this lives up to the expectations you guys had for Rachel and Santana's talk!

Enjoy.


Rachel walked into her living room and found Santana sitting on the couch, gazing out the window with a distant look playing on her delicate features. Unsure of what to do or say, she simply took a seat on the armchair that sat across from the couch and waited anxiously for Santana to address her.

While she waited, Rachel let her thoughts drift to the conversation she had just had with Quinn. Finally, finally, they were friends. Real friends. It was something Rachel had craved for years. Even back when Quinn had been a relentless bully, making Rachel's life miserable, Rachel had still always desperately wanted a friendship with the elusive blonde.

Now, finally, she had it. As that fact wrapped itself around Rachel's brain, she smiled.

Finally, Santana turned away from the window and Rachel was shocked by the deep amount of sadness she saw in the cheerleader's eyes. She immediately wanted to reach out and comfort her but she held back because this was Santana she was dealing with, and being with Santana was not unlike being with a snake; you never knew what would set her off and cause her to strike.

"I met Quinn when I was five years old," Santana said quietly, and Rachel could tell that she was faraway and reliving a memory. "I was so scared that the other kids were going to be mean to me that I figured if I scared them all away, they wouldn't bother me. So I glared them away and they all kept their distance – except for Quinn. She walked right up to me, in all her blonde beauty, and told me that she would kick me if I glared at her one more time."

Rachel snorted because she could picture it perfectly and Santana smiled wryly, "Typical we would bond over that, right? But that's how it happened. The second I stopped shooting daggers at her, she smiled at me and took my hand and never let go. A couple days later, we chased away a couple kids that were teasing Brittany and took her with us. It's been the three of us ever since."

"That's very sweet," Rachel murmured.

"Yeah, yeah. Anyways, I knew from the very beginning that Q was different than anyone I'd ever met. She never invited us to her house. She rarely talked about her family. And even though she was an angel to me and Brittany, she was mean to every other person we met. I'm serious. It didn't just start when she met you, Rachel – it's been every single person and for as long as I've known her."

Rachel sat quietly as Santana continued, "It took me awhile to figure out why she was like that. It wasn't until I met her dad that things finally clicked and that didn't happen until we were 10 years old and in fifth grade. Literally. It took five years for me to meet Q's dad and the second I did, so many things finally made sense. Seeing the way her dad treated her, talking to her like she was an adult instead of just a kid, looking down at her with harsh, disapproving eyes. It was like seeing Quinn in a whole new light. The Quinn that I knew, my Q, was confident and smart, sassy and sweet. But with her dad, she was silent, unsmiling, and obedient."

Tears filled Santana's eyes as she angrily shook her head, "I hated him from the second I met him. No matter what Quinn did, no matter how fucking hard she tried to please him; those disapproving eyes were always there, cold and full of contempt. But she never stopped trying. And that's when I realized why Quinn acted out so much with everyone else. It wasn't because being mean was something she enjoyed; it was out of anger. Pent-up anger that she couldn't let out at home for fear her dad would do something, so she took it out on everyone else."

Rachel felt her heart breaking but refused herself the right to cry.

"Hurting people has never made Q feel better about herself" Santana said, "but it's the only defense mechanism she has. By the time her mom came to her senses and kicked that bastard out of their lives, it was too late – Quinn's dad had caused some serious and permanent damage to her self-esteem. You don't know how fucking hard Britts and I have tried to change that but nothing we've ever done has worked. Q kind of hates herself and you have no idea how much it kills me that I can't fix that."

"It's not your job to fix her, Santana," Rachel said gently. "I know you're her best friend but deep down, I think you know that Quinn is the only person who can help herself. You shouldn't feel like you've failed her in any way whatsoever."

"I know that, Rachel. I do. And I know that she's been better since having Beth. But knowing doesn't make it any easier. It breaks my heart every day. Every single day seeing Quinn lash out at people and knowing that she hates herself for doing it but not being able to stop. I've tried to make up for it by protecting her but apparently I can't even do that."

The self-loathing in Santana's voice wrenched Rachel's heart. "Santana, stop," she said firmly, shaking her head. Abandoning all caution, she reached out and took Santana's hand, "I have to admit that in the past, at times, I've felt like you and Quinn were constantly at each other's throats and trying to tear each other down. But that's only because I didn't understand your friendship and dynamic. I'm not saying that I do now – at least, not entirely – but you'd have to be blind not to see the pain that's in your eyes right now. You care so much about Quinn, and her and Brittany couldn't have a better person protecting them from the world."

Santana gazed into Rachel's brown eyes and, seeing nothing but honesty and sincerity, she started to cry. Rachel didn't put her arms around her – they weren't there yet. But she held Santana's hand and didn't let go and Santana felt safe enough to lean her head on Rachel's shoulder.

"If it's any consolation and makes you feel any better," Rachel said softly, "you're not completely alone in your fight to make sure that they're okay. I know I'm tiny and can't do much when it comes to a physical fight. But I adore Brittany and if this weekend has proved anything, it's how deeply I care for Quinn. As not only their teammate but their friend, I'll always do whatever I can to shield them from hurt."

Santana lifted her head and looked at Rachel. The girl's face was determined and she had the same kind of ferocity searing in her eyes that was always there right before she sang.

"You know, Berry, I think you're a lot tougher than you let on."

Rachel smiled and shrugged as she said, "I've never been anything but myself."

"No, you haven't. And if you tell anyone I said this, I will go all Lima Heights on your ass but…honestly, Rachel, I hope that never changes."

Rachel was stunned and if she hadn't seen the complete sincerity in Santana's dark eyes, she wouldn't have believed it. But Santana gave her a real smile, and Rachel couldn't stop herself from smiling back. Not a show smile, not an I just got slushied and have to pretend I'm okay smile. Not even a red carpet smile.

A genuine, 100% Rachel Berry smile.

Santana, who had been making fun of Rachel's over-the-top smiles since sixth grade, immediately saw the difference. Rachel caught the way Santana was studying her and titled her head.

"What?" she asked.

"You should smile like that more often."

"Like what?"

"Like yourself."


Meanwhile, in the kitchen…

Quinn dropped five mini-marshmallows into a steaming mug of hot chocolate and placed it down in front of Brittany.

"Be careful, B, it's hot."

"Yummy! Thanks, bestie."

Quinn flopped down onto the chair across from Brittany and smiled as she watched the tall blonde blow into the mug, making the marshmallows float in circles. She strained her ears, trying to catch part of Santana and Rachel's conversation and frowned in frustration when she couldn't hear anything.

Brittany saw this and grinned, "It's no use, Q. San's smart. There's no way she'll talk loud enough for us to hear; not when she totally knows that you'll be trying to listen."

"I know. Damn her and her psychic Mexican third eye for knowing me so well." Brittany laughed and Quinn sighed, "What do you think she's saying to Rachel?"

"Honestly? You have to ask?"

Quinn shrugged, "You never know."

"Please. Q, you always know when it comes to Santana. That's why you're the firefighter," Brittany said, and Quinn smiled.

The firefighter. It was something shared only between the two of them. Even when they were five years old, Brittany had known that her best friends were two very similar yet different people. Santana was feisty, loud, and outspoken; Quinn was cool, calm, and serene. They had two different ways of dealing with the world: Santana took it head-on and threw fire at every challenge and obstacle in her way, whereas Quinn glared at everyone and everything, her hazel eyes as cold as ice. They clashed terrifically, just as fire and ice should, but they also balanced each other out.

Brittany had started to call Quinn the firefighter soon after she realized that there were certain things about Santana that only Quinn could handle. Quinn, icy as she was, knew how to tame Santana's fire, calm her down, and she understood her in a way that Brittany knew she never would.

Santana, for her part, was completely unaware that the nickname even existed.

"Okay. Point taken. I know ultimately that she's thanking Rachel for taking care of me last night but that can't be all she's saying. If it was, she wouldn't have demanded a private audience with Rachel; she would've just said it in front of us, too. But she's not, which makes me nervous because now I know she's saying things to Rachel that she obviously can't say in front of me."

"Dial down your anxiety level a couple notches, Q. Straight-up? I think San is probably just telling Rachel how much you mean to her and how important it is that Rachel knows that. And, you know, now that you and Rachel are going to be friends, San probably also feels like she has to give Rachel the hurt my best friend and I'll kill you talk."

"That's so unnecessary, though."

Brittany shrugged, "Maybe to you and me and Rachel. But's it's not to San, so please don't tease her about it later. You know how crazy she is about making sure that you and I are okay. Plus, no offense, but it'd be kind of super hypocritical of you to make fun of her for it when you do the exact same thing with protecting her. I promise things are going to be fine and if I'm wrong…well, actually, I'm never wrong. Not about this kind of thing."

Quinn grinned, "Every time I think I can't love you any more than I already do, you always prove me wrong. I've always known you were the smartest person I know, Britts, despite the ridiculous discrimination against our hair color."

"Right? Seriously. Blondes for the win!"


"So anyways, thanks for listening to all that sappy shit. I have just one more thing to say before ending this conversation that has been way to emotional for a Sunday morning."

Rachel almost sighed in relief as Santana's tone returned to normal. "Oh?" she said. "And what's that? If you're going to give me the Quinn is my best friend and I will end you if you hurt her now that you two are friends talk, save it – you've kind of been giving our entire school that talk since sixth grade."

"Snap!" Santana laughed. "I hope you know what you're signing up for, Berry, because you're basically locking yourself into a buy-one, get-two-free contract."

"If you're implying that the three of you come as a package deal, I am well aware of the fact. You're Cheerios but you're also Snap, Crackle, and Pop."

"That is so…incredibly…true. Damn! Speaking of Cheerios, did you know that they have flavors? Britts is obviously Honey Nut, Q is Frosted, and I'm Cinnamon. You're not a Cheerio but if you were, you'd so be Berry Burst." Rachel snorted and Santana grinned, "See? I can be punny, too."

"I can't believe you just used a Berry-related joke on me. Can you say lame?"

"I can't believe Quinn is actually considering adopting you from the pound. Can you say she's going to regret it?"

"You're just jealous that Quinn likes me better."

"Keep telling yourself that, Berry Burst."


"But Q, The Lion King has so many animals!"

"I know, B, but princesses are prettier to look at."

"Nala's kind of a princess."

"She's a lion! Doesn't count."

"Does, too!"

Santana and Rachel walked into the kitchen and Santana put her hand up, "Pause. Are you two seriously arguing about this?"

"S, please tell your girlfriend that the princess movies are far superior to any animal movie."

"But San, the animals are so cuddly! And please tell Q that Nala totally counts as a princess."

"She's a lion."

"I concur," Rachel piped up from behind Santana. "Lions count. Do you like The Lion King, Brittany?"

"It's my favorite movie!"

"It's one of my favorites, too! I own it! Do you want to watch it?"

"Lion King! Yes! Sorry San, we're not going home yet," Brittany squealed as she and Rachel took off, thundering down the stairs to where Rachel kept her massive DVD collection.

Santana groaned, "God, we'll never leave. Seriously? Of all the things you could've talked about it, you chose Disney movies?"

"She started it!" Quinn protested, and Santana shook her head, laughing silently. "Anyways, now that you're back, what'd you talk to Rachel about?"

"Nuh uh," Santana said, miming zipping her lips shut. "Classified information."

"I hate you."

"You love me."

"Debatable."

Half an hour later, the four girls were settled down in Rachel's living room, watching The Lion King. Rachel, as it turned out, could quote the movie almost as well as Brittany could, and the two of them had a wonderful time claiming roles and saying the lines back and forth to each other. Rachel, of course, sang along to every song but she was so good that all the other three could really do was smile.

During Can You Feel The Love Tonight, Brittany wrapped her arms around Santana's waist and pulled her into her lap. Santana kissed her gently, completely content to gaze up at Brittany's sweet blue eyes and watch her sing along softly instead of look at the screen.

Both Quinn and Rachel smiled at the sight from across the room, where they sat together on the couch, and Rachel sighed, resting her head against Quinn's shoulder.

"You okay?" Quinn murmured.

"Completely. I just still can't believe this – the fact that you're all here."

Quinn smiled at the screen.

"Honestly, Rach? Right now, there's nowhere else I'd rather be."


After the movie ended, Rachel and Quinn walked Santana and Brittany to the door.

"School tomorrow, Q. Think you'll be okay? Personally, I kind of hope someone comments on your face. It's been awhile since I've given a good ass-kicking."

Quinn laughed, "As much as I'd love to let you off your leash and watch the destruction that would be sure to ensue – and trust me, I really would enjoy watching – I think I'll be okay. But thanks, S."

"Thought so, but I'll be crossing my fingers anyways."

"Between you and me, I will be, too."

As this exchange went on, Brittany turned to Rachel and grinned, "Thanks again for taking such good care of Q this weekend, and also for letting us coming over, and also for listening to San talk, and also for inviting us to stay for the movie." She frowned, "That was probably totally a run-on sentence but I had a lot to say."

"Of course, Brittany. There's really no need to thank me."

"There kind of is, though. None of it may seem like a big deal to you, but all of it totally matters to me." She tugged the shorter girl into a hug and whispered, "I have a feeling we'll be hanging out a lot more starting now and I just want you to know that that makes me really happy."

"It makes me happy, too," Rachel murmured, squeezing Brittany tightly.

"Alright, Britts, break it up. Let me at the midget."

Brittany released Rachel and Santana took her place, gently hugging Rachel. "Don't forget what I said," she whispered. "Any of it. Got that, Berry Burst?"

"Message received, Cinnamon."

Santana pulled back and they both smiled; they understood each other.

"Are you staying here again tonight, Q?" Brittany asked as she hugged Quinn goodbye.

"No, I'm going home. Mom needs me. But I'll be back here soon and you know that means you will, too."

"Totally. I hope Rachel has princess movies, because I kind of owe you for making you watch Lion King all afternoon."

Quinn hugged Brittany tightly, "I'll watch whatever you want forever, Britts."

"I know you will. And San will watch whatever both of us want forever."

"Because she's whipped."

"I heard that, bitch."

"You were supposed to."

"You'll get used to the fighting, Rach," Brittany grinned. "It's honestly like comforting background noise at this point."

A red car pulled up in front of Rachel's house and honked twice. Santana waved to the person driving and turned back to the others.

"That's us. Q, text me when you get home."

"Will do. Thanks for coming, S."

"De nada." She pulled Quinn into a quick hug before taking Brittany's hand and walking outside. "See you bitches tomorrow."

"Bye, Q! Bye, Rach!"

After they were gone, Rachel closed her front door and turned to face Quinn. "What time does your mom want you home?"

"Probably now. I'll call her."

"I'll be in the kitchen."

A few minutes later, Quinn walked into the kitchen and found Rachel washing the mugs from earlier.

"Sorry for leaving those out, I probably should have cleaned them."

"Nonsense. You're a guest, Quinn. When is your mom coming?"

"She's on her way now. I grabbed my clothes from the dryer." Quinn had stayed in the clothes that she had slept in, not wanting to put on her alcohol-scented clothes from the previous night. "I'll wash the sweats and the shirt tonight and bring them to you tomorrow."

"No rush."

They slipped into easy, mundane conversation about school and glee club until Quinn's mother honked from outside. Rachel stood up and walked Quinn to the door. She reached out to open it but Quinn's hand on her wrist stopped her from doing so. She turned to look into the blonde's hazel eyes.

Her hazel whirlpools.

"Thank you for this weekend, Rachel," Quinn said quietly. "I honestly don't know what I would have done if I hadn't come here."

Rachel swallowed down the lump that had suddenly formed in her throat. "Of course, Quinn. I'm so glad that you felt safe enough to come to me."

"I always feel safe with you," Quinn whispered as she wrapped her arms around Rachel and pulled her into a tight hug. Rachel felt her heart racing as she hugged Quinn back, standing on her tip toes to do so.

When Quinn finally released Rachel, she smiled. "I'll text you," she promised as she walked out the door, and Rachel grinned, waving at the blonde.

Once Quinn's mother had pulled away from the curb, Rachel called her dads and they informed her that they'd be home from their weekend trip the next morning. She straightened up the living room, showered, made herself dinner, and was in the middle of reading a book in bed when her phone dinged with a text.

Thank you for being my safe haven this weekend.

When Quinn's phone vibrated several minutes later, she opened Rachel's text and saw seven words that played themselves like a song, over and over in her mind, until she fell asleep.

Whenever you need me, I'll be here.


And so ends Chapter 3! I hope you liked it. Thank you so much for reading and as always, reviews are much appreciated.

Chapter 4 coming soon!