A.N. Enjoy!

XX

Santana and Quinn entered the kitchen a few minutes later and found everyone standing around discussing the drama.

"I don't know why I thought Regionals would have less drama than sectionals," Kurt was saying.

"Forgive me for screwing with the peace," Santana mumbled as she slid up onto the counter.

"I didn't mean…" Kurt mumbled, his eyes wide.

"We should talk about this," Finn interrupted. "We need to be together if we have a shot at winning tomorrow."

"We don't have a prayer if Rachel doesn't sing," Mercedes agreed.

"Who said she won't sing?" Santana asked, a frown creasing her forehead.

Everyone exchanged a glance. "Well," Mercedes started. "She basically implied that if you sing, she won't."

Santana rolled her eyes. "If one of us is out, we don't have 12 and can't compete anyways. She's bluffing."

"She's pissed," Kurt pointed out. "You didn't see her."

"Do you think you guys can work it out before tomorrow night?" Artie asked. "Don't get me wrong, we want you both to be happy and work it out anyways, but if it can be done before we perform it would be really nice."

"I'll give her some time to cool off," Santana told them, shooting a look to Quinn who smiled with a nod. She turned her attention to the other original members of the glee club and sighed. "Do you think you guys could run some interference in the meantime? Maybe remind her why she loves me?"

Mercedes, Kurt and Artie all nodded. "We got you covered, girl," Mercedes assured her.

"Thank you," Santana replied with a smile.

"Do you want me to talk to her?" Finn asked hesitantly.

"I think you've said enough," Santana replied with a sigh. She shook her head. "I don't think that's the best idea. She's pissed at you too."

"Well maybe I can patch things up with her then," he suggested.

She shot him a look. "Sorry, buddy, I'm calling first dibs on her forgiveness."

He nodded, realizing she was right. Even after Jesse he wasn't used to someone else having dibs on Rachel's heart and it would take some getting used to.

"Part two here tonight if you guys want," Puck told them all as they gathered their things to head home. "Go home and rest up. Gotta finish the keg."

Quinn rolled her eyes but shot Santana a wink. "You guys work it out and we'll celebrate tonight."

Santana nodded and smiled when Quinn and Brittany both pulled her into a hug. "Thanks, guys."

XX

A few hours later Santana knocked gently on Rachel's front door. A minute later Mercedes pulled the door open and gave the cheerleader a smile.

"Hey, girl," she greeted softly.

"How is she?" Santana asked immediately. She shook her head. "I'm sorry. Hi. How are you? How is she?"

Mercedes smirked and nodded. "Better."

Santana swallowed hard, her anxiety eating her alive. "Good."

"We'll get out of here and give you some privacy," Mercedes said.

Santana nodded. "Hopefully we'll see you guys later tonight."

Mercedes nodded. "I hope so too."

The two headed for the kitchen where Kurt, Tina and Artie were crowded around Rachel sitting at the table.

Santana's eyes locked onto Rachel the moment she saw her and she barely registered everyone leaving, wishing her luck quietly as they did.

"There's no excuse for what I did," Santana told her quietly as soon as she heard the door shut.

Rachel shook her head, but remained silent.

"It scares me to death because I have someone that I love more than I ever thought possible and I did the one thing I always swore I'd never do." She sighed heavily and moved to sit at the table next to Rachel. "I lied and cheated and hurt you." She bit back her tears. "I swore I'd never be like him and I did everything he did."

"You didn't cheat," Rachel whispered, not fully trusting her voice.

"I did," Santana argued back. "Technically we were broken up but it was cheating because my heart so clearly belonged to you when I did what I did. It's not even a question of cheating."

"I don't want to be mad at you for this," Rachel told her. "The part with Finn I can forgive because we were fighting and technically broken up. But the lying is hard for me to get."

"I was terrified that you would leave me," Santana explained. "I've done some really terrible things, most of them to you, but that was the worst and I thought you would finally see me for the screw up that I am, so I lied."

"You're not a screw up, San," Rachel told her quietly. "You made a mistake." She reached for her girlfriend's hands. "But if you lie like this to me again I'm not sure we'll survive it."

"I can promise you that will never happen again," Santana assured her.

"Good," Rachel replied, a smile appearing on her lips. "Then I can forgive you for the lying too."

A relieved sigh fell from the cheerleader's lips and tears welled in her eyes as she leaned forward to pull Rachel into her arms. "I'm so sorry."

"I know," Rachel whispered. She pulled back and cupped her girlfriend's face gently and looked her in the eye. "Now you listen to me, Santana Lopez, you are not your father. You made a mistake but you are nothing like him."

"You have to admit I have a knack for cruelty," Santana pointed out, her eyes falling to the floor.

"Sweetie, look at me," Rachel ordered gently. She waited until dark eyes met hers and she smiled. "Sometimes you say cruel things, but usually they're to me and we both know it's a show."

"That doesn't make me feel better," Santana mumbled with pleading eyes.

"Then let me finish," Rachel urged her gently. Santana nodded wordlessly. "You and I both know that you would never raise a hand to anyone the way he did to you and your mom. And despite the front you put up at school, you're one of the sweetest, gentlest, kindest people I've ever known."

Santana dropped her gaze again and several tears slid down her cheeks and she swiped at them quickly. "That's not entirely true." She met Rachel's eyes. "I would have killed that football goon that hurt you if you'd let me."

"I don't believe that for a second," Rachel told her. "Besides, protecting me is something entirely different."

Santana nodded, a heavy sigh escaping her lips. "I don't really want to talk about my father anymore."

Rachel nodded. She was shocked the conversation had gone on as long as it had. Usually Santana clamped down the moment her father even came up. "Okay."

"So we're okay?" Santana asked after a moment.

Rachel nodded and stood up, pulling the cheerleader with her and into her arms. "We're fine."

"Good," Santana breathed against her neck. "I hate when you're mad at me."

"I hate when we fight too,' Rachel agreed.

Neither of them spoke for a while as they simply enjoyed being in each other's arms.

"So, Puck wants to have round two tonight to drain the keg," Santana told her quietly. "I guess you glee kids can't hold your beer like the football team can."

Rachel smiled with a shake of her head. "I wouldn't mind spending time with everyone for a while, but I want to come back here after. I'd like some alone time."

"All night can be alone time if you want," Santana told her seriously. "We don't have to go over at all if you don't want to."

"I think we should," Rachel told her with a shrug. "It'll give us a chance to go over the number one more time and we need to be sure we've got team solidarity and all that."

"Okay," Santana answered simply, pressing her lips to her girlfriend's forehead.

"I love you," Rachel told her.

"Love you too, baby girl," Santana replied tenderly.

Rachel's smile suddenly turned devious and she pulled Santana towards the stairs. "So, what do you say to a shower and a nap?"

Santana grinned, a shiver passing down her spine. "I'd say I doubt the shower will lead to a nap."

Rachel shrugged, a wicked glint in her eyes. "Trust me, you'll need a nap after what I'm about to do to you in the shower."

XX

A.N. I know, I know, the angst was short-lived. I hate seeing them fight. That doesn't mean there will be a shortage of angst in the upcoming chapters. Next time you can look forward to round two of Puck's party. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed it! Let me know what you thought!