Santana growled lowly as she caught sight of some fugly theatre guy trying to hit on Rachel. Things were weird between them right now after Rachel's betrayal but they were looking up a bit. And even if they weren't there was no way she was going to let the tiny diva get taken advantage of.
Setting her drink on the cluttered counter she stalked through the party, carefully pushing aside drunken NYADA students as she neared them.
That careful approach went out the window though when the boy grabbed Rachel's wrist and motioned towards the stairs. All it took was one glimmer of obvious fear in Rachel's very glassy drunken eyes before Santana was pushing people out of her way left and right to get to them.
"Get your fucking paws off of her scum sucker," Santana bellowed pushing him away from the brunette and standing protectively in front of her.
"Hey calm down, we were just having a good time," the boy said laughing obnoxiously and holding his hands up in the air.
"Yeah cause scaring a girl is a real good time all around dumbass," Santana growled balling her fists up at her side. "Jesus Christ is every straight guy at NYADA a fucking idiot or something?"
"Hey calm the fuck down," he sputtered, his face turning red as the people around them started to watch the altercation.
"Fuck you," Santana snapped turning around and grabbing Rachel's hand. "Come on lets get you home."
Rachel looked up at her with very foggy yet appreciative eyes and nodded as Santana protectively slung an arm over her shoulder and started to move them away from the fuming guy. "Hey it's not like she wouldn't have done it. It's no secret that she's the slut of our entire class," the guy yelled after them.
Instantly Rachel froze at Santana's side, her big brown eyes tearing up immediately. Santana took a second to calm herself before turning around and slapping the boy with every ounce of strength he had, sending him flying backwards into the arms of a group of shocked onlookers. "You even come near her again you're dead," she growled before throwing an arm over the crying girl and leading her out of the party.
Thirty minutes later Santana pushed open their door and led a silent Rachel into their apartment. "Come on lets get you to bed," she murmured shaking her aching hand lightly at her side.
"Are you okay?" Rachel asked frowning and grabbing a hold of the girl's hand.
"Yeah I think I just sprained my hand against that idiot's face," Santana grumbled letting it fall to her side and awkwardly looking at the couch. "I'm gonna go to sleep," she said walking over and grabbing her pjs before heading into the bathroom.
A few minutes later she walked back into the living area to find Rachel sitting on the couch and sobbing into her hands. "Whoa hey it's alright," the Latina said dropping her clothing on ground and rushing to the girl's side to pull her into her arms.
"It's not all right," Rachel sobbed shaking her head. "I've made such a mess of my life so quickly and I just can't understand anything. I was so excited to come to New York and I just keep screwing up one thing after another."
"You're just adjusting," Santana offered wiping away the girl's tears. "Change is weird. When I got to Kentucky I glanced at a girl and freaked out enough to break up with Brittany."
"I'm sorry about that," Rachel said looking up at the Latina sympathetically.
"It's my own fault," Santana mumbled shaking her head.
"You seem to be doing okay here, despite my horrific actions towards you," Rachel murmured relaxing in Santana's arms and burying her face in her neck.
"Hey I told you I get it," Santana said letting her head fall back against the couch. "We fought non-stop for nearly three years. Of course you're not gonna believe a word I say to you right off the bat."
"But I should have," Rachel murmured. "I should have believed you because you are my friend and I don't think you've ever lied to me, at least not about anything big."
"It's whatever," Santana mumbled uncomfortably shaking her head and stopping herself from running her fingers through brown hair. It felt nice to be this close to someone.
"No," Rachel said back up so she could look into Santana's eyes. "It's not whatever. Your are the only person since I got here who has actually been completely real with me. Everyone else…everyone else has either lied or encouraged me to be someone that I'm not. I promise I'll never do that again to you."
Santana was silent a moment before nodding. "Okay," she said pulling Rachel back against her. "I told you I'm looking out for you. Just trust me."
"I do," Rachel murmured absentmindedly running her fingers over the Latina's collarbone and causing her to shiver lightly.
"Good," Santana said a little throatily and nodded. "No get off Hobbit I needs my beauty sleep."
Rachel giggled but dislodged herself from the woman none the less. She was halfway towards the sheet designating her bedroom before she stopped and looked back at the former Cheerio. "This is silly," she said crossing her arms as Santana arranged the pillows on the couch.
"What's silly?" Santana frowned as she searched around the floor for Kurt's pillow.
"This," Rachel said walking up to her and pointing down at the couch. "You sleeping on this tiny couch that Kurt and I got at Goodwill when I've got a gigantic bed in my room."
"You trying to get me into you bed Berry?" Santana teased her voice slightly hopeful at the notion of not having to sleep on the tiny couch and not having to sleep alone for the first time in months.
Rachel rolled her eyes at the woman before smiling. "Come on," she said grabbing the Latina's hand and dragging her behind her.
Santana smiled and looked down at her hand encased in Rachel's.
She had to admit those weren't manly at all.
And in the morning when she woke up with Rachel Berry pressed up against her body, her lips pressed just against her neck, she had to admit that maybe, just maybe, she had more than just "family love" for the girl.