I'm so sorry for delay, I know, I was supposed to upload new chapter like a week ago but the exams after my Granada trip took me longer than I expected so I only finished now. Granada is really beautiful place, so if you have a chance then go there, it took my breath away. But seriously, what is with the 'siesta' thing in Spain? Having a free time from 2 to 6 pm? Haha, I like that life style :)
Thanks to everyone who reacted to the last chapter, it's you who keep me writing ;) I hope, you'll get satisfaction in this chapter after everything you went through with me..enjoy:)
How long does it usually take to forgive someone? Weeks? Months? And what if years?
Santana wondered but wasn't any near to the right answer.
The only thing, she was sure of, was that she wasn't willing to accept the answer 'never'.
She let these thoughts run through her mind for like thousandth time while she was leaning against her locker.
She watched intently the only subject of her mind as she had been doing lately.
She had been doing it actually every day for last six weeks.
These last six weeks that changed her life upside down.
Six weeks ago
Brittany jumped out of her car and met crying Rachel who just left Santana's house.
She noticed her appearance and hugged the girl.
Rachel didn't respond and covered her face in her hands sobbing much harder.
Brittany understood and stroked Rachel's hair.
She kissed her on her watery cheek and smiled at the smaller girl.
"Thank you, Rachel."
Rachel managed to mumble something but the words were lost for Brittany.
"Rachel?"
"I said, why are you thanking me, Brittany?"
"Because you're taking such great care of Santana."
"I'm not, Brittany, I don't think I can..."
"Yes, you can. You have to actually. Not for the space or high power, not for Santana, but for yourself. I said that you are taking good care of San. Not that you took. And we both know that it is the truth. You probably don't want to hear it but trust me, Rachel. Now you can go home, run away, you have all rights to do it. But don't run too far away, you already went such long way with that...dumbass of ours."
And Brittany motioned to the house with her head.
Rachel let out a laugh through the sobs.
"For now, Rachel, if you need anything, anyone to listen to you or talk to, I'm always here. I know that you consider me being more Santana's friend but...I care for both of you so just come whenever you feel like it."
Rachel smiled slightly and let Brittany take her in another hug.
And with that she left.
When Brittany entered the house, she spotted her friend sitting on the couch with her face hidden in her hands.
She sat next to her and Santana put her head on her lap.
Brittany let Santana cry there as much as she needed and stroked her hair the same she did to Rachel few minutes ago until her friend drifted off to sleep.
Santana woke up on the couch few hours later and it was dark outside already.
She was warmly hid under the blanket but her friend wasn't any near to her.
That was when she realized why she probably woke up.
She heard some angry voices coming from the kitchen.
She knew in instant that they belonged to her parents. They sounded really angry.
But what surprised her even more was when she heard much angrier Brittany.
And the whole conversation sounded like the voices of her parents were trying to over-scream Brittany's and then Brittany came with much louder response.
Santana stood up and approached the doors to the kitchen and listened.
"You stupid bitches," Brittany yelled and Santana got frightened by such words used on her parents, "you think that you are better? That you are something more because Santana's gay? You are just poor creatures that can't get love anywhere so you don't want anybody to have it. Listen to me..."
"Oh my god!" shrieked Santana's mother.
"Brittany," Santana's father eventually jumped into it, "you shouldn't use such vocabulary."
"I should when I'm defending Santana. Listen to me, Santana is my best friend and that she's gay, god, it only makes her much better. You don't see it? How much someone has to undergo to admit it? I'm telling you, she is not a coward. You are because you can't do the same, you can't face the world and everything it has! You are just..."
And Brittany didn't finish the sentence.
Santana was so proud of her friend defending her in front of her parents.
But she was the one who should do this.
She was supposed to face them and their probable disgust by their daughter.
"Brittany, stop," she said.
All eyes in the room were on her in instant.
Santana saw her furious friend standing there and even her father mirrored Brittany's anger. Santana's mother stood the furthest from Santana and she was obviously crying.
"Brittany, thank you, you are...my best friend. Mum, dad," Santana took deep breath and looked both of them in the eyes, "I'm sorry, I didn't tell you earlier. And I'm sorry that you are so disgusted by me that Brittany has to defend me here."
And Santana wanted to continue but her throat was too tight to get some words out.
So she waited for whatever her parents had to say to her.
But instead of any words, she only heard the rush of steps and then she was taken in a hug by her mother.
"Honey, what are you talking about?" her mother asked while pressing her more and more into her body.
"I-I thought that you know about it and that you didn't, eh, take it very well."
"What? Tana? Nonsense!"
And her mother started to cry again.
"Sanny, you are silly, I was only telling your parents what I said to the bitches, sorry Ms. Lopez, these stupid girls today when we waited with Quinn to tell the Coach."
"But," it didn't make any sense to Santana, "I heard mum and dad screaming as well."
"That's because we came home like really, really angry. Your Coach called us to have a word and both me and your dad immediately left the work. Ms. Sylvester thought that the news would reach us in some bad way and she wanted to make it better, I mean, for us to get to know about it in better way."
"Yeah, San," continued Brittany, "and guess what, all five Cheerios are fired of the team. Sue already hired new girls. You heard about that girl that got the silver Olympics medal in gymnastics and how she wanted to get to the Cheerios for two years now? So Sue eventually gave her the chance and some other girls as well. She was a little mad because we have to start from the beginning with completely new team now but it's still the start of new school year so little more torturing by Sue will do it."
Santana's mum then continued.
"So we talked with your Coach and then we went to visit some parents of these girls."
BAM!
Santana's father punched his fists in the stool.
"Calm down, Michael," asked Santana's mum.
"How can I? How can I calm down, Maria, when I saw what their parents are? Such jerks! No wonder that their children are such bitches."
"Michael!" screamed Ms. Lopez.
"Good one, Mr. Lopez," smiled Brittany.
Santana nervously looked from her dad to her mum.
"So...so it means, you're okay with me being...being..."
"Gay?" finished her mother. "Honey, if I only knew what you had to come through while dealing with it as Brittany told me..."
"Sorry," said Brittany quickly when Santana shot her head in her direction frightened what her friend had told to her parents.
"Santana, you are my daughter. I know that we are not the family, I mean, like family doing the family stuff, watching films, going to the trips. We are not doing it as much as we should since both me and your father are always in work. But you are my daughter and I care about you the most in the world. And all I want for you is to be happy."
Santana's eyes watered and then she let first tears to come down her cheeks.
Too much crying for one day but all these tears were worth it.
Then Santana looked at her father who was watching out of the window.
"Daddy?"
"I'm going to visit the rest of the girl's parents. There is no way, I'm letting this to go away without talking senses to them."
But before he left the room, he eventually looked at his daughter.
"Get more sleep, Tana, you'll feel better."
And the doors closed behind him.
Santana was now looking from Brittany to her mum and wasn't sure what had happened.
Was her father okay with her being gay or not?
"Sweety, give him some time. It's just that he lost some expectations he had. I don't mean that he is disappointed, god, no! He only has to change his vision of his daughter's future. But the point is still the same, he wants your happiness. You'll see, that he will be talking with you about girls this weekend if not sooner."
"And about boobs!"
"Brittany!"
"Sorry again?"
And Santana eventually smiled.
And then she saw during the dinner what she had.
Her mum and her best friend were joking about Santana being tomboy as a child and how it is possible that no one noticed it back then.
And when Santana's father joined the dinner, he sometimes laughed to jokes as well.
The day wasn't that bad after all.
Santana had the best parents and the best best friend she could wish for.
But there was one thing missing.
One person that should sit by the table now and hold Santana's hand during the whole coming out time.
But who knew when Rachel was going to forgive her?
Next six weeks went on and the days at school became more and more sufferable.
First day after the slushy meeting with Cheerios in the bathroom was the worst.
Everyone was watching Santana.
Everyone was talking about her, she could feel it.
The next day the talks were still there but pointing with the fingers at her was gone at least.
And as the next days were passing, the talking was more and more subsiding.
Until Santana didn't notice it at all.
But what remained the same from the very next day of Santana being outed was her way how she tried to get to Rachel.
She knew that girl didn't want to see her or talk to her.
Thus Santana decided to give her some time.
But she had to make sure that Rachel knew how much she cared and wanted her.
She spent every day at school leaning against her locker watching the other girl.
She was sure that Rachel knew about her watching her although she didn't even give her any clear sign of noticing her.
But Santana knew that she was nervous.
Rachel always did this thing with her fists clutching them and letting them free when she was nervous because her hands were sweating.
And Santana knew the girl actually very well although she hadn't noticed it till now.
But watching Rachel in the school wasn't the only thing Santana had been doing these last weeks.
She also spent every afternoon driving to Rachel's house, ringing the bell, asking for Rachel and being rejected that the girl was unfortunately busy, in the gym or at her vocal training.
Santana knew that Rachel was home doing her workout routine.
She had Rachel's schedule after all.
And she was sure that Rachel's fathers knew what was going on between her and their daughter.
First few days when she came to their house, they were obviously angry with her but treated her in strict politeness.
And how weeks passed and they saw Santana's determination, she noticed that she got their compassion and it was obviously more difficult for them to answer her that Rachel was busy.
Today
Today was the very same day.
The afternoon was the same as it had been last weeks.
Except it didn't went exactly the same.
When Santana asked Rachel's father for his daughter, he rejected her first.
When Santana nodded understandingly and wanted to leave, he stopped her.
"Wait, Santana," he said.
"Sir?"
"Both my daughter and husband will kill me if they find out that I told you but I can't watch it anymore. Rachel told us everything, just so you know that you are not standing very high in my opinion..."
"Mr. Berry, I'm sorry, I'm such an idi..."
"Just let me finish. I know what you did to my daughter. But I also know why you did it and although it hurt my daughter so badly that she stopped singing..."
"She stopped singing? No!"
"Patience, Santana. So you hurt her but I understand what you had to deal with and Rachel explained us some features of you character, your history and the scare of being gay."
Santana looked down feeling terrible when her cowardice was spoken out loud.
But when he continued, she looked up.
"I was the same, Santana. I didn't want to stand out of the crowd. I made some mess as well. That's probably why I think that you should not turn your back to people who deal with these matters badly. You actually should embrace them with everything because that's the only thing that helps here, showing them that you love them, care about them and that they will be loved no matter what. And Rachel knows it as well. She knows that you had to go long way to accept everything about yourself."
"Thank you, Mr. Berry. I can't take it back. I wish I could but who knows if I would be able to do anything differently. But now I'll do anything to make things better, I mean, to make things right."
"I noticed that you are determined to get my daughter," Mr. Berry laughed and Santana eventually smiled as well, "So listen, Santana. You know that cafe next to Rachel's gym?"
Santana nodded.
"Then go get your girl. I think, it's about time," and Rachel's dad winked at Santana.
Santana's smile got much wider.
"I'm not that much touching person, Mr. Berry, but would it be inappropriate to hug you?"
"Come here."
And they hugged.
Then Santana ran away (the life without crutches was much better) but turned back to Mr. Berry for the last time when he called after her:
"When you make it up to my daughter and get her forgiveness, then remember, no funny business with her after that, I still have my shotgun full loaded."
Santana got white.
If only Mr. Berry knew what she had already done to his daughter.
God, she won't be able to look him in the eyes again.
After half an hour later Santana stood in front of the window to the cafe.
All her optimism after the talk with Mr. Berry was gone.
And she only stood there watching one person inside of the cafe.
Two persons, actually.
Calm down, calm down.
She repeated to herself.
It doesn't mean anything. He doesn't mean anything. Don't do anything stupid...again.
And with that Santana entered the cafe.
She sat at the bar making sure that only Rachel could see her.
But the girl was obviously too consumed in the conversation with Finn that she didn't notice her.
Santana tapped with fingers on the bar and waited. Patience was not her strongest feature but she tried.
Then Finn stood up and headed to the bathroom.
That was Santana's chance.
She ran across the cafe and took the chair on the other side of the table than Rachel
Only then the other girl noticed Santana's presence.
"Santana?" Rachel's eyes went wide with a surprise.
"Hey," Santana said softly.
"What are you doing here?"
"I want to talk to you. Rachel, listen..."
"But I don't want to talk to you! Are you stalking me now or what?"
"No, I'm not! You know that I have your schedule and I can wait for you every day after you vocal training or after gym but I only go to your house and ask if you eventually want to see me. I did it to prove to you that I respect you and understand your anger with me but I also wanted to show you that I...that I care about you."
Rachel's eyes watered and she looked anywhere but the other girl.
"Rachel, I want to do it right. You have to let me, please."
"I don't have to do anything."
"Yeah, right. But you want to let me, I'm sure of that."
And Rachel looked Santana in the eyes and it was there. Santana was right.
Santana didn't want to break the staring contest.
She was gaining some self-consciousness of this situation after all.
But when someone punched her in her shoulder for like the fifth time, she turned her head and snapped:
"What?"
"Santana," Finn said and jumped impatiently, "you're sitting on my chair."
"And?" Santana asked and looked back at Rachel whose eyes never left her.
"Maybe you should leave?" he suggested. "What are you doing here anyway?"
"Rachel," answered Santana and didn't miss the slight flinch of Rachel's mouth as the girl tried to suppress the smile.
"What? No. I'm here doing Rachel."
"Finn!" Rachel screamed.
"No, I don't mean it like, eh, I-I...never mind."
"But I mean it like that," Santana answered.
"What? Santana, can you just leave? You're spoiling our date."
Rachel raised her eyebrows but didn't say a word.
Santana felt like she was being tried again.
But this time she knew how to react.
Instead of running away with doubts and questions she only asked:
"Is it a date?"
"Yeah, it is and now you showed up and spoiled all my plans..."
"What plans, Finessa? Being the worst date ever?"
"Stop being such bitch, Santana!" Finn yelled too much frustrated by that time.
"Finn! Don't call that Santana! And I don't remember anything about this being date. As I remember, you asked me to consult your training routine because you feel a little overweight," Rachel eventually interrupted their dispute.
"But Rachel..."
"Leave it, Finn. Now if you excuse me, I think that the strap on my bra broke so I need to check it and need some help. Santana?"
Rachel stood up and motioned Santana to follow her but Finn stood in her way.
"Rachel, I can do it."
"But it would be highly inappropriate. I bet Santana will do the job just right."
"But I don't want her to touch you there."
Rachel only rolled her eyes and left to the bathroom.
Santana stood up and said with devilish grin on her face:
"It looks like she doesn't want you to touch her there."
And she left after the other girl.
When Santana entered the bathroom, Rachel was leaning against the sink and the situation was much like some of their previous encounters.
"Okay," Santana laughed, "we should stop meeting like this."
"Why?"asked Rachel and Santana moved towards her.
"Because it reminds me of some good times when you had me pressed against the sink teasing me?"
"I have no idea what you are talking about," Rachel said.
"Oh, so you don't? I bet you do because we only met like this twice and..."
And with that Santana remembered the second meeting in the bathroom when five Cheerios slushied her.
And Santana took the step back reminding herself where she belonged.
The silence fell on the room.
"I'm not that much into looking in the past," said Rachel almost inaudibly.
But Santana caught that.
"You're not?" she asked in a small voice.
Rachel bit her lip and stared in front of herself.
It was unspoken but clear, Rachel was slowly forgiving Santana.
Santana moved back to Rachel and felt much self-conscious now.
And what is better than make a joke in such situation?
Even if it's lame.
"So, you had some problems with your bra?"
"I'm not sure."
"Maybe I should check it out? Just to make sure. So you can move without a danger of losing your bra and walking braless around the town."
"Danger?"
"Yeah, I bet you being braless will cause too many car crashes." And Santana used that smile that never betrayed her when she tried being seductive.
But Rachel knew her guns.
"And some dehydrated people, I guess? I mean, if the drool on your mouth is really drool, Santana."
"No, Rachel, it's the vaginal juices," said Santana and hoped that her joked wasn't too much.
But it was a bad move...as always.
Rachel looked shocked at first but then moved closer to Santana and only few centimetres were separating their bodies now.
"I thought, that these were on very, very different place."
And she looked down Santana's body and to that spot and back into Santana's eyes.
Yeah, bad move.
Santana's knees became jelly and her mouth was suddenly all dry.
Then Rachel took some steps back and Santana let out sigh of relief.
She wasn't sure if she could control herself longer.
And this situation needed to be done right, not with her jumping on Rachel in the second when she was too much aroused just by little dirty talk.
Rachel deserved better.
"But you have to find out yourself, Santana," said Rachel and headed to the doors, "and then you have to tell me how it went...the examination of your...ehm, juices."
Santana quickly caught on that.
"I can tell you about it, we say like during tomorrow's ride to school?"
"You have a good night, Santana," Rachel replied and opened the doors.
"You never said no!"called Santana after her but Rachel was already gone.
And the next morning Santana really parked her car in front of Rachel's house and waited.
She came rather early to make sure that the girl wasn't able to sneak out somehow.
She waited in the car not that sure if she was supposed to ring.
And she was scared that she could meet Rachel's father that told her about no sex policy with her just yesterday.
And Santana knew that she had it written on her forehead now.
And when you're trying to get your girl, angry parents are not the best help.
And she was making slow steps to get to the whole Berry family, she was sure of that.
Then why to spoil it?
Then the front doors of the house opened and Rachel appeared.
But she wasn't alone.
Her fathers were with her and they all went to their cars.
Santana was hopeless.
She jumped out of her car, ran around it and opened the passenger's doors and waited.
One of Rachel's father stopped their daughter before jumping into their car and talked to her.
Santana was too far away to hear anything but she was sure that she was the subject as the man was looking at her now and then.
These seconds were also one of the longest in her life.
But then both fathers jumped into their cars and it was only when they both left when she realized that Rachel was waving after them in front of the garage.
Santana's heart jumped.
Rachel decided to go with her after all.
Rachel headed to Santana and without a word she sat on the passenger seat.
Santana closed the door after her and ran quickly to her seat.
When she started the engine and managed to get the car on the road, she looked at Rachel and said:
"Hi, Rach."
"Hello, Santana," Rachel answered and turned on the radio.
It was clear sign that the speaking was done for today.
But Santana didn't complain. It was something at least.
She had Rachel in her car, she said 'hello' to her and that was much better than what she had hoped for only few days ago.
When Santana parked the car in front of the school, Rachel spoke:
"Thank you for the ride."
"Thank you for letting me to drive you."
And Rachel jumped out of the car and Santana quickly followed her.
But in the parking lot there was also another person waiting for Rachel.
"Hey, Rach," said Finn.
Santana wanted to rip his smile off his face.
Rachel turned back to Santana.
"As I said, thank you for the ride, San."
Santana managed to smile a little.
But then she had to watch the boy walking Rachel to her class and her insides felt sick and she wanted to puke.
Again, don't do anything stupid.
The school was over and Rachel spent another hour in the auditorium going through some songs for another appointment for the Glee club.
When she left the building and wanted to go to the bus stop, she saw the red car being almost the last one in the parking lot.
And it was the same car that took her to school this morning.
And then Rachel also found the driver of the car.
Santana was marching from one spot to another and looked really focused in her own world.
Rachel couldn't help the smile and went to the car and the girl.
When Santana spotted her, she did the very same thing as she did in the morning.
She ran to the car and opened the doors for Rachel.
Rachel smiled at her and sat on the seat.
The ride was also the same.
Rachel turned on the radio and didn't speak at all.
When they stopped by her house she got out of the car only with 'thanks'.
Santana smiled, started the engine and sped home as fast as possible.
She had to find something to make this work.
And in an hour she was back in front of Rachel's house waiting in her car.
She held printed Rachel's schedule to know where the girl was supposed to be now.
And she knew that Rachel would have to go to the dance.
When Rachel appeared in front of the house again, Santana did the same thing as she had done twice that day.
She opened the passenger doors and waited.
Rachel was surprised to see the girl there.
After a while of some inner fight she jumped back to the car and waited for Santana to get to her seat.
"I think, it is appropriate to call it stalking now," Rachel said.
"Eh, yeah, you can call it that. When I found out that I'm only having you during the rides, I decided to make the most of it. So I went home for your schedule and now you won't have to go by bus or with your dads because I'll be driving you everywhere. If I only could, I would drive you from the living room to the kitchen just to be with you more. But I figured that your dads won't probably allow me riding my car in your living room."
Rachel laughed.
"You don't have to do that, San."
"I want to. I can sit home on the couch now and do nothing or I can be here. And I surely know what activity I prefer."
Rachel smiled and turned the radio on.
But another step was made.
And it was making them both feeling warm somewhere inside.
And Rachel felt it as well and much more than Santana could imagine.
Four days passed like this, Santana waiting for Rachel anywhere.
Everyday Rachel only thanked Santana for the ride and that was all.
The morning of the fifth day was a little different.
Santana was waiting in front of Rachel's house but instead of Rachel it was her father who knocked on the car window.
It was the father who gave Santana his blessing to make it right with Rachel.
Santana rolled the window down.
"She'll be here in a minute, don't worry," said Rachel's dad when he spotted Santana's worried face expression.
"I only stopped by to say hi."
"Hello, Mr. Berry," Santana smiled back. "I hope it's okay with you that I take Rachel to school?"
"And to the training? And another training?"
Santana blushed.
"Don't worry about it. We are actually glad that it's going this way. But wait, why I'm here..."
At the moment Rachel left the house and Rachel's dad had to speed up the conversation.
"Oh, right. She started singing again. She was singing all evening yesterday. We couldn't stop her. Thank god for soundproof walls."
Santana was smiling like crazy when she heard about it.
"Thanks," she said and Rachel's dad left with the wink.
Rachel was already by the car and Santana had to quickly ran around it to get her girl to the car as always.
Rachel didn't turn on the radio and looked at Santana suspiciously.
"What were you and my dad talking about?"
Santana looked at her and couldn't stop her smile.
"Just weather and stuff."
"Hmmm," Rachel frowned, "I see."
"Ahh, don't worry, Rach. It was just father talk with the partner of his daughter."
Santana laughed at the nervousness of the other girl.
"But you're not my partner," answered Rachel.
"Yet." Santana added.
She was not that easily taken back by the stung she felt when Rachel said those words.
Instead she heard the girl repeating her own words.
"Yet," whispered Rachel.
And after the rollercoaster of Santana's feelings she was back at the top.
She wanted to hug the girl and never let her go.
She looked at her with the hope in her eyes and Rachel understandingly smiled.
"Watch the road, Santana, or we're never getting there."
And the word 'there' didn't mean getting to school.
It meant something better. The partner thing,.
And Santana tried her best to focus back on the road.
But her mind was somewhere else.
And she liked 'somewhere else' much more.
It was Friday of another week and Rachel jumped into Santana's car for like thousandth time.
"Seriously, San, don't you have anything else to do?"
"There are other things besides driving hot girls in my car?"
Rachel blushed.
"I mean like you don't have Cheerios? You didn't have a single training last two weeks. How is it possible with Sue as Coach?"
"Nah, I can't go there. Sue would love to have me by her side while bitching about new squad but she doesn't let me there because of my leg. I told her that I was fine but she doesn't let me any near the gym until my rehabilitation ends."
"What rehabilitation?"
"I don't know, I've never been there."
"Santana!"
"What? I can stretch my leg just fine by myself."
Rachel seemed annoyed.
"Tomorrow, you're going to bring me the number and I'll call there and make an appointment for you. And then I'll make sure that you go there, Santana, am I clear?"
"But mum, I want to go to the Disney park," Santana whined.
"Shut up," Rachel laughed when she realized that Santana was making fun of her.
"But I really want to go to the park," Santana laughed even more, "ouch!"
Rachel playfully slapped her.
"What was that for?"
"I was serious, San. What if you can't use your leg like before without the exercise? Do you want to quit Cheerios when you won't be able to be as good as before and your leg won't work properly?"
"I wouldn't say, it is that alarming," Santana tried to defend herself.
"You never know, Santana. You have one life and you can spoil your chance now. You love Cheerios, right?"
Rachel was right.
Santana loved Cheerios.
But...
"...there are other things I want more and don't want to waste another chance," she said in a whisper.
Rachel didn't respond.
She didn't turn on the radio as always.
She only stared outside the window too consumed in her own thoughts.
In the evening Santana was waiting for Rachel who had ballet class.
Every time she brought the girl here, Santana felt so awkward because she knew what had happened there.
And Rachel knew it as well.
When the class was over and Santana already parked the car back in front of Rachel's house, the smaller girl didn't leave with 'thanks' as always.
Instead she stayed in the seat looking in her lap where she nervously played with her fingers.
Santana waited.
"You have your math homework done?" Rachel eventually asked.
"Ehh, no?" replied Santana more as a question wondering what this meant.
"So...you want to come over and we can do it together?"
"What? I mean, yes, definitely!" Santana couldn't believe it but she was too happy to pinch herself so if it was only a dream that Rachel invited her to her house, she didn't want to wake up.
Rachel smiled and they both went to the house.
"Dads? Santana is coming over and we're going to do homework together, okay?"
Both of her dads came from the kitchen and were smiling as crazy at the girls.
"Okay, but you will have the dinner with us, right?"
"And while you're doing the homework, don't forget to left the doors open."
"Yes, we will have a dinner with you, dad. And daddy! How can you..."
"I know, I know, it's not like that, you're not together and so on. But we know how it works. Plus what if the house was set on the fire and the lock on your doors will be blocked? We can't risk it, it's for your safety."
Santana was looking from one Berry to another.
She stopped listening to any of them because the rambling was obviously a family thing.
The situation would be funny for her but then she realized that she was the subject of conversation as well.
She saw Rachel's dad doing with his hands the move reminding of loading his shotgun and although Santana didn't listen to them, she was sure that the shotgun was meant for her.
She gulped heavily and let out a desperate laugh when she felt that the other girl pushed her to the stairs and to her room.
"The doors!" Rachel's daddy called after them when they both were in Rachel's room.
"Sure," replied Rachel and closed the doors.
Santana looked with raised eyebrows at Rachel but the girl only smirked.
"I can't believe, they assume that you are getting any," said Rachel strictly.
Santana looked anywhere but Rachel.
Did she assume the same?
Not that she had a reason for it.
But there was still little hope, right?
"You assumed?" said Rachel in alarming voice.
"No, I swear, I didn't!"
"You totally did!"
"No, Rachel, no! Believe me. I'm glad that you invited me to your house and that's all I would ask for. Nothing else. I'm so happy just being here."
And Rachel smiled back at her. "San, relax, I was just joking."
Relief.
"So, can you start without me? Just look at the homework what it is about and I'm going to have a shower. I didn't bring my shampoo to the ballet and my hair is a mess. Would it be okay with you?"
"Y-yeah, sure, take as much time as you need," replied Santana and watched the girl as she vanished in the bathroom.
Only then Santana realized that she was in Rachel's room for the first time.
And it was so not what she expected.
Okay, different colours on every wall was not that much surprise but it was still something else than having pink or gold walls as anybody else would expect from one Rachel Berry.
But the room looked much better.
The walls were covered with posters of old movies.
Santana's eyes stopped on one specific poster.
Rachel was really quick in the shower and was back in merely five minutes.
"I like this one," said Santana still watching the poster.
"The Children's Hour?"
"Yeah, both Audrey and Shirley were stunning there."
"They were," Rachel nodded.
"But I'm not sure how I should feel about the movie," Santana continued.
"Me neither," said Rachel, "so what do you say, can we start? Before the dinner is ready."
"Sure," answered Santana and turned around to the other girl.
Her jaw fell.
Rachel was wearing the white tank top and the shortest shorts ever.
What was even worse (or better? Santana couldn't decide) was Rachel's no bra policy.
And who came with the idea of not drying yourself properly after the shower?
Rachel's skin and hair were still wet and the drops of water were shining on her shoulders and cleavage.
They both sat on Rachel's bed and started with the homework.
Homework, math, Santana, focus!
But the sight of Rachel's cleavage, that was now and then covered with few drops of water, was too distracting.
And when it get to Rachel's hard nipples that were so visible through the white tank top...god, Santana was glad that she had controlled herself so far.
"Santana? Santana!" called Rachel after her.
"Yeah?" Santana eventually realized that the other girl was talking to her.
"What is the result of the first problem?"
"Boobs?"
"What?"
"No, eh, I-I mean, I don't know."
"Did you seriously say 'boobs'?" Rachel laughed.
"No?" Santana tried to cover her embarrassment. "Okay, maybe I did. I'm sorry, Rachel, don't stop talking to me again, don't throw me away from your house. I can't, I-I...just...seeing you like this, it's just...god...I want to do feelings this time, not this..."
Santana stopped her own rambling when Rachel covered her hand with hers.
"It's okay, San, we can stop worrying about feelings now."
"No, we don't. You don't deserve this, I mean, being treated like before. You deserve what you want, the feelings, taking you on a date and stuff. I'm sorry that I didn't do it before but this won't happen again, I promise and-"
And Rachel leant closer to her and softly pressed her lips against hers.
She only brushed their lips and sat back to her place.
When she looked at the other girl, Santana had her eyes closed and slowly licked her lips.
The taste of having Rachel's lips on hers again was amazing.
Rachel placed her hand against Santana's cheek and Santana moved into her caressing.
Then she took Rachel's hand in hers, opened her eyes and kissed Rachel's palm.
"Thank you," she whispered.
And Rachel smiled back at her.
Then Santana looked like she remembered something.
She stood up quickly and went to the doors.
"Wait here!" she called after Rachel and ran out of the house.
Rachel still sat on the same place when she heard the engine of Santana's car to be vanishing in the streets.
She came to the kitchen and her dads looked at her questioningly.
"Where's Santana, honey? We heard the front doors."
"I don't know, dad," answered Rachel.
"Does she have like another gay panic phase?" Rachel's dad asked.
"No, I don't think so."
"So what's-"
"I kissed her."
"Oh my god, did you hear it, babe?" Rachel's dad asked his husband.
"Yeah, I heard. Are you sure about it, darling?" Rachel's daddy turned back to their daughter.
"Yes, I am. And I told you so many times, Santana is-"
"No, darling, I didn't mean it like this. Santana tried so much to prove you that she changed and is ready for having you and I believe her now. That's not what I'm talking about. I mean, are you sure that you want to forgive her completely and take her back?"
Rachel thought about it for a second.
"Dads, I-I think, I've forgiven the very same moment every time she did something wrong. And you know why? Because she's never been mine..."
Rachel's dad placed his arm around Rachel and smiled.
"She will be, don't worry."
Rachel smiled back at him.
"Our baby is so adult, I can't believe it how fast they are growing," Rachel's dad continued.
Rachel rolled her eyes.
"I think, it's time for the family hug!"
"What? No, dad! Don't-"
But before Rachel could object, she was squeezed between both her fathers.
"Okay, enough or my super wardrobe will be spoiled," Rachel joked when both men let her go.
That was only when her fathers noticed their daughter's appearance.
"Eh, Rachel, you know that you are kind of naked?" Rachel's daddy asked.
Rachel's dad added immediately: "Oh, do you think that Santana could like...come too early?"
"Dad! Daddy!" Rachel screamed horrified.
"What? I wouldn't blame her..."
"No, it's not like that! First of all, why are we having this conversation? I mean, eww. And second, Santana is too good lover to let this happen to her."
Rachel covered her mouth with her hand when she let that information slip.
Both men looked at their daughter as examining her and when one of them wanted to speak, the breaks of the car came from outside.
They all went to the window and watched what was going on there.
Santana was running around the car opening the passenger doors and took something from there.
Then she ran to Berry's house and when all three inhabitants expected the bell to ring, Santana came back to their view and marched back from the house to her car.
And she did it again. She came to the house and went back to her car.
"What is she doing?" Rachel's dad couldn't hold his curiosity.
"I-I think, she's talking to herself," replied Rachel.
"Oh, darling, your girl is a little crazy, I'm sorry for you," Rachel's daddy teased.
"Daddy! She's not. And it's totally adorable," Rachel defended her friend.
That was when she reminded her fathers of the previous conversation.
"Oh, that reminds me, Rach, go to your room and wear some clothes actually, okay? And then we will have a talk about you knowing too much about Santana being – how did you say it? – too good lover."
Rachel went white.
"Okay, but can we talk about it without Santana? I don't want her to be scared that much when it is finally..."
"We'll decide for ourselves taking into consideration that it looks like our daughter is not telling us the complete truth after all."
And Rachel went to her room while mentally punching herself.
When she heard the bell ringing after like ten minutes of Santana's marching from the house to the car and back, she quickly ran to the stairs.
She saw both of her fathers opening the doors and Santana stood there looking so nervous and still so adorable.
"Mr. Berry and Mr. Berry," Santana started, "I came here to your invitation for having a dinner with your family. I'm Santana Lopez, I mean, that's my whole name, and I'm your daughter's classmate and I-I like your daughter and wanted to ask you if it is okay with you when I'll ask your daughter to go on a date with me. I mean, I don't assume that she'll say 'yes' but...what if I'm lucky enough and she takes time to think about it at least, that would be just awesome, and I want to make it right this time and-"
"Come in, Santana," Rachel's dad stopped the girl's rambling, "thank you for coming to the dinner. And thank you for asking the permission. But I guess that we don't decide who our daughter wants to see, right? She has all rights to decide that for herself."
"Right," nodded Rachel's daddy, "but as my husband said, thank you for asking."
Then Rachel's dad continued: "I'll call my daughter in instant but can I just ask you if we can have private conversation later? I mean, private between me, you and the shotgun."
Santana froze.
"Dad! Stop scaring her!" Rachel yelled and ran down the stairs.
"I'm asking a polite question."
"No, you're being rude. You don't ask that question when a guest comes in and has..."
Rachel saw what Santana was holding in her hands.
"...tulips."
Santana eventually came back to her senses and handed the flowers to Rachel.
"Y-yeah, these are for you."
And both Rachel's fathers vanished in the kitchen leaving the girls alone knowing very well that these moments were better not spoiled by parent's presence.
"For me?"
"Sure. I...I had a whole speech prepared but I didn't even go through half of it when speaking to your dads and I had prepared one for you as well but now I don't seem to remember..."
Rachel took the tulips and dip her nose in them.
"It's okay, San. The flowers say enough."
Santana let out a sigh of relief and her heart seemed like finding normal beat after all.
But when Rachel took her hand, her heart started beating furiously again.
Rachel's skin on hers was just...too much. She loved the softness of the other girl.
That was when Santana realized that Rachel's hand left hers and she was sitting on the couch in the living room alone.
Then Rachel came back to the room with small vase with the water and put the tulips there.
"They're really beautiful, San," Rachel said while arranging the flowers.
"It's not too much, just the tulips."
"Tulips are the best. They mean something."
And Rachel nervously bit her lip.
Santana noticed and stopped Rachel's ministrations with her hands.
She eventually gained the courage to touch the girl without the feeling that she is doing it wrong.
"You're right, they mean something. Rach, I'm sorry, I wasn't here month ago."
'What do you mean?"
"It's two months today. I mean, it's two months since I brought you the tulips for the first time."
And Rachel understood.
It was two months since Santana brought her the tulips to the gym.
And it was two months since Rachel gave herself completely to Santana.
"C'mon, San, it's not like I'm going to celebrate the anniversary," Rachel tried to joke.
"I know, you're not. But it's still or it was important to you. And I want you to know that I'm sorry for not being here."
"It's okay. You're here now," Rachel whispered.
And they both leant closer to each other and just when their lips were about to touch, Rachel's dad came in the room.
Both girls jumped from each other and Santana stood up and ran across the whole room.
"It's not what it looks like, sir, please, don't take out your shotgun," she pleaded.
Rachel's dad laughed.
"Calm down, I'm not that bad. I know that bringing the flowers actually deserve a kiss. Now girls, the dinner's ready. O rit was ready like twenty minutes ago but weh had to warm it again since someone toook some time marching from the car to our house tenten times before going inseide."
"Dad!" Rachel cired.
"What? Isn't it the truth?" he laughed.
Santana felt the complete embarassment.
"Okay, enough of it. Shall we eat? Come," he eventually expressed some compassion and left the girls.
Santana let out a deep breath and Rachel rolled her eyes, took the other girls hand and led them to the kitchen.
The dinner went really well.
Santana was charming in her own special way and when both Rachel's dads saw how she looked at their daughter with care and love and she forgot herself sometimes too consumed in her own world watching Rachel again and again, they had to agree that she really wanted their daughter in a good way and they decided to push all remaining doubts somewhere back in their heads.
Now Rachel closed the doors to her room after her father's yelling about leaving them still open and the girls were alone again.
Santana sat on Rachel's bed and watched the girl approaching her.
For the first time in her life, she had a feeling that for once she was the victim of a raptor, not otherwise as she was used to feel.
Rachel was watching her intently and Santana could recognize how black Rachel's eyes were becoming.
"You were really amazing today," Rachel said still approaching the girl.
She slowly took off her T-shirt and tossed it across the room.
Santana gulped at such ministrations.
Rachel still didn't have a bra.
But Santana managed to say something at least.
"No, you were amazing, Rach. I mean, you and your fathers are so-"
"Santana, I don't want to talk about my fathers now."
"You don't?"
And Rachel was just centimetres from the other girl.
She straddled her, took both Santana's wrists in her hands and slowly pushed the girl into the bed.
Santana didn't believe that the girl had her to her mercy like this.
And it wasn't for the first time.
"Rach, I don't think we should continue in this," she managed to say but her voice was shaking.
Rachel moved her head closer to Santana and breathed against Santana's neck.
The hot air against her skin was driving Santana crazy.
"Why not?" Rachel asked teasingly knowing what Santana meant.
"Your fathers are just down the stairs. I don't think, I should spoil their image of me while being found f-"
"Being found what?" demanded Rachel finishing the sentence.
"Nothing," Santana couldn't finish the sentence.
"Did you mean 'being found fucking me'?"
"Rach, don't do this," Santana whined.
She already felt the pool of wetness between her legs when Rachel talked like that.
"Why?" Rachel asked.
"Because if you do this then I won't be able to stop."
"And what if I don't want you to stop?" And Rachel eventually touched Santana's neck with her lips.
She started with soft kisses, then ran her tongue from the cleavage to her ear and bit softly.
"Rachel," Santana tried to protest again.
"San, it's been two months...not only from my first time, I mean, our first time when I gave you my virginity. It's been two months since we were together and I...I miss you."
Santana melted. And she also lost the small piece of self-control that was holding her back...till now.
She flipped them and now Rachel was on the bed and Santana pressed her body against hers.
She took the strand of Rachel's hair from her face and looked the other girl in the eyes.
"I missed you too, Rach."
And they kissed.
Their lips met and in few seconds it was heated with the teeth while biting softly on each other's lips and their tongues battled over the dominance.
When they stopped desperately trying to get the air in their lungs, their lips were swollen and full of blood.
Santana saw that Rachel's eyes were now completely dark and was sure that her eyes were the same.
But Santana tried the last attempt to get out of this.
"What if your fathers...?"
"They won't come upstairs for next hour, at least. The singing competition is on now and we all love it and can't miss the single episode."
"Don't you want to watch it?"
"I guess, I have something much better now," Rachel smiled.
Santana smiled back at her.
"Okay," she eventually said.
"Okay?" Rachel asked.
"Yeah, okay. Now...can you be really quiet?"
And Santana pressed her lips against Rachel's a let her hands roam all over the other girl's body.
The chapter eventually ends with something much better then crying, I'm so glad for our girls, ha! It was a little longer so I hope, you didn't fall asleep.
As always, thanks for reading and any kind of response :)