Looks like it's been a while. I've been going through some big changes including planning out my entire future because I'm such a control freak and getting ready for high school so it's been hard.

But don't worry because I'm not forgetting about this. Especially not after reaching 10,000 views. I did not expect that so thank you so much! I'll get around to updating more often when school starts in a couple of days since I used to always wake up in the middle of the night at that time to write.

If you like this story, I suggest you read Tainted Star by xcrimsonphoenix since it served as an inspiration to this. It's actually one of the first Pezberry fanfictions I've ever read. It hasn't been completed but I guarantee you'll love it regardless of that.

This chapter includes the moment you've all been waiting for… Well, one of them at least. Hope it makes up for the long wait. Here's chapter 13!

Santana was woken up in the middle of the night by a startling scream. She cracked her eyes open, and even in her sleep like state, it took her a minute to register the shriek came from the guest room. Completely forgetting how tired she was, Santana practically jumped out of the bed and ran down the hallway until she reached said room. What she saw then tugged at her heartstrings.

Rachel was on the bed with her knees brought up against her chest as she slowly rocked back and forth, her arms tightly wrapped up around her legs, a weak whimper escaping her lips from time to time. Santana's fist clenched at her side, instantly knowing who the cause of this was. If she could get her hands on Hiram Berry, he wouldn't live to see the next day.

But getting angry wouldn't help. Especially not now. So, Santana cautiously approached Rachel, not wanting to frighten her in this state. She sat on the edge of the bed and gently placed her hand on the smaller girl's shoulder. Rachel slightly flinched but eventually looked up to meet worried dark eyes. Santana noticed how puffy and bloodshot Rachel's eyes looked and it pained her to see that. No one should have to suffer like this.

"Hey." Rachel sniffled in response to Santana's voice. "What's wrong?"

"I'm not okay." Rachel's voice cracked and more tears spilled out of her eyes as she lowered her head.

"Don't worry. It's going to be okay." Santana soothed as she rubbed Rachel's back.

"No, it's not." Rachel replied in a low yet somehow steady voice.

"How do you know it's not?"

"How do you know it is?"

Truth is; Santana actually didn't know. She didn't expect Rachel to ask her that kind of question after abruptly waking up in tears. There was nothing she could say at the moment that could give Rachel a sense of reassurance that everything was going to be okay. No one can predict the future. Life's a bitch and you're expected to keep going no matter what it throws at you. While Santana couldn't prove that it was going to be okay, Rachel couldn't prove that it wasn't.

"I don't. I may not know what's going to happen in the future but I can make sure that everything's okay now." Santana finally said.

"Sure." Rachel muttered under her breath. Santana got up to head out of the room since she was still pretty out of it.

"Goodnight."

"Wait!" Santana turned around at the sound of Rachel's voice and raised an eyebrow at her. "Could you… just… stay here until I fall asleep? And maybe… if you don't mind… hold me?" Santana was taken off guard by Rachel's question. "But it's fine if you don't -" Santana had recovered from initial shock before Rachel got the chance to finish her sentence.

"No, it's fine!" Santana said a bit too loud. She immediately realized it and lowered her voice. "I don't mind."

"Oh, okay."

The smile that formed on Rachel's face after Santana agreed to her request caused the Latina to return it with no hesitation. Rachel moved over and lied down on her side as Santana got in the bed and spooned the brunette from behind. Rachel's breaths evened out soon enough to signal she had finally fallen asleep. Santana had been told to stay until the diva was able to rest but the Latina wasn't interested in moving any time soon. She was satisfied with her position and she would take whatever she could get.

"I love you."

And just like that, Santana was out like a light. What she hadn't noticed before falling asleep was her mother standing at the doorway with a smile on her face. Soon enough everyone would know of Santana's feelings for Rachel unless she actually made an effort to hide it. Either way, it was impossible to hide and impossible to not notice. Well, unless you're Santana Lopez and Rachel Berry.

When the sun came out, Santana was the first awake out of the two. She sat up and looked down at Rachel who had her eyebrows furrowed and who also seemed to be slightly shaking. Santana didn't want to wake her up considering it was early for someone who fell asleep as late as Rachel but she had to do something to let her know she was there.

So, she bent down and placed a kiss on the smaller girl's forehead. That seemed to have brought Rachel comfort since the shaking stopped and her eyebrows went back to how they were. Santana smiled and got out of bed to make some healthy breakfast so that Rachel had something to look forward to when she wakes up after the night she's had. Thank god it was the weekend.

Rachel stirred awake a few hours later and slowly cracked her eyes open, relieved to have finally been able to rest in a comfortable bed. She looked to her side to find it empty. She sighed since she selfishly wanted to see Santana's face when she woke up. As soon as she got out of bed, her face contorted as pain shot through her side.

She lifted her shirt up to find her stitched up stab wound. Rachel knew it would take time to heal but she didn't want to be reminded of it every movement she made. After splashing water in her face to make sure she didn't look half dead, Rachel made her way downstairs to find Santana standing in the kitchen as she looked to be preparing something.

"Hey." Rachel quietly greeted before yawning. Santana looked up and smiled as soon as she spotted the sleepy brunette.

"Good morning, sleepy head. I was about to go wake you up myself."

"I couldn't have slept that long. What time is it?"

"It's noon."

"Oh, wow. I had no idea. I apologize for keeping the bed occupied while you -" Rachel started speaking as she took a seat. Santana simply chuckled and shook your head at her before interrupting.

"It's fine, Rachel. You deserve it after what you've been through."

"So, what's this?" Rachel quickly changed the subject. Santana noticed but let it slide just this once.

"It's some berries and granola mixed in with vegan yogurt."

"Vegan yogurt? How come I didn't know you were a vegan?"

"That's probably because I'm not. I made that for you."

"Oh. How come you have vegan yogurt then?"

"Well, Quinn's sister is a vegan so she knew just what to get for you."

"I really appreciate it. I do. But…"

"But?"

"My father made me abandon the vegan lifestyle a while ago. He said that whenever I ate, which was rare, it had to be "real" food."

"Well, I wish you told me that before Quinn made me spend my entire freaking wallet on every vegan product available at the grocery story."

"Sorry. I thought you would've known if you were with Quinn." Santana raised her eyebrow, clearly asking her to explain. "When the entire Glee Club went out for dinner at Breadstix once, I was sitting next to Quinn and she heard me order spaghetti with regular meatballs. I have no idea why she didn't tell you."

"Well, I do. It's because she loves messing with me. I am so going to get her next time. And you can bet it's going to involve her precious bacon."

"Watch out then. She could use your obsession with breadsticks to level out the playing field."

"If she -" Santana paused. "Wait a second. How do you know I love breadsticks so much?"

"You make it very clear when you love something."

Oh, you have no idea.

"Fair enough." Santana sighed before continuing. "Do you want me to make you something else then?"

"No, it's fine. I don't mind vegan products. I might've gotten used to regular food by now but I'm still okay with anything vegan related."

"Whatever you say. Glad to hear I won't have to put two different products in the basket then."

"What are you talking about?"

"I thought it would be a good idea to go on a picnic in a park close to my house when you woke up. I'm pretty sure you'll still be hungry after that and getting out of the house as much as possible could be good for you." Santana noticed how Rachel seemed hesitant and instantly knew why. "If you don't want to go because your visible injuries might attract some unwanted attention, then don't worry. I've been going there for years and the place is usually empty at this time on a Saturday."

"Oh, good. Did you ask your parents?" Rachel asked, earning herself a confused look from Santana.

"I don't really need to get permission from them to leave the house. Besides, they're out working all day and my brother isn't coming back until Sunday night so it doesn't really matter."

"Right. Sorry. It's just habits."

"I get it. You don't have to apologize every time."

"Well, sorry -" Rachel stopped herself immediately. "I mean, alright." Santana shot her a small smile.

"Dig in while I get stuff sorted out for the picnic." Santana called out as she left the kitchen to go find the basket they'd need for the food.

It didn't take Rachel much time to finish her late breakfast. She hadn't been too keen on eating what she was offered before whether it was by her father or the hospital so it was new. By the time she was done, she went up to her room to get ready since she at least wanted to look presentable for this. Once she was satisfied with her appearance, she went back downstairs to find Santana waiting for her with the basket all ready. It was a short walk to the park and it didn't take long to set up and get settled in.

They didn't really talk much while eating. Santana wasn't all that hungry in the morning so she simply drank a cup of coffee and she was starving at this point. Rachel just thought it felt nice to be eating food she was actually interested in for once and she wanted the taste to be the only thing on her mind. But we all knew that wouldn't last, right?

"So, what was last night about?" Santana asked after finishing her turkey and cheese sandwich.

"Huh?"

"Why'd you wake up crying?"

"Oh. That." Rachel sighed, not really knowing if she wanted to explain.

"If you don't want to say why, it's okay with me. I don't want to pressure you into telling me or anything but I think it could really help if you talked about it. As a way of coping or whatever."

"Yeah, I think so too but it's just…"

"It's just what?"

"I don't want you to get mad at me or leave or -"

"I am not going anywhere, Rachel. You should know that by now. I meant it when I said I'm going to make sure everything's -"

"It still seems weird to me when you call me that."

"What are you -"

"You never used to call me Rachel. It was always either Rupaul or manhands or hobbit or -"

"Okay, first of all, Rupaul is actually a compliment." When Rachel tilted her head to the side in confusion, Santana elaborated. "Haven't you ever watched Rupaul's Drag Race? I swear, that show's like crack and that man's a genius. Getting to meet him or guest starring on that show would be a dream come true." Rachel smiled and shook her head in amusement.

"Then where did manhands come from?" Rachel noticed Santana's face fall. "What's wrong?"

"I used to be a tomboy as a kid and I didn't really take care of my appearance much at the time." Santana took a deep breath. "Manhands used to be my nickname and I figured calling someone else that would soften the blow."

"Give me your hands." Santana didn't ask why. She trusted Rachel and so she let her grasp her hands.

"What is it?" Santana asked once she noticed Rachel was smiling.

"Those kids must've been insane because your hands aren't the least bit manly."

"Well, I must've been insane too because the same goes to you."

Both Rachel and Santana couldn't hold back a chuckle. They stopped as their eyes connected, not even realizing Rachel still had Santana's hands in hers. They stared into each other's eyes for a good couple of seconds before Rachel cleared her throat and dropped Santana's hands, snapping the Latina out of her state like trance in the process.

"So, how about hobbit?"

"If you tell anyone this, I'll deny it… but I'm a huge Lord of the Rings nerd." It was clear Rachel was trying to hold back a laugh. "Oh, yeah. One of the school's biggest mean girls is secretly a nerd. Hilarious, isn't it?" Santana sarcastically added in a playful manner.

"No, it's not that. It's just that you couldn't find something other than hobbit to insult me."

"Well, you sure do have height in common with a hobbit."

"You do realize you're practically as tall as I am, right?"

"No. I'm practically as tall as Quinn."

"But you still -"

"That's not the point." When Rachel didn't answer, Santana took it as a sign to continue. "The point is, I don't think calling you my precious would've made me seem as threatening." Santana added, shockingly well imitating Gollum's voice while saying the nickname.

"I actually like that." Rachel smiled and Santana felt her face turn red but quickly answered to not make a total fool out of herself.

"Well, look at who's the Lord of the Rings nerd now who understood that reference. Who would've thought that the Broadway geek -"

"Okay, I get it. I do like it."

"Thought so, my precious."

Great job, Santana. Now you're turning into Sam freaking Evans with your stupid impressions.

Oh, shut up. She liked it.

Yeah and she definitely doesn't know you want her now.

Okay. I'm not talking to you anymore.

Good luck with that.

"You left me." That definitely caught Santana's attention.

"Wait, what?"

"In my nightmare. He found us at school and you let him take me. You left me and you laughed with everyone, including the entire Glee Club, while he dragged me away. That's why I screamed when I woke up and why I was crying afterwards."

"Rachel, I -"

"I know it's ridiculous to be this upset about something that was in all in my imagination and didn't even happen… but it could." Rachel sighed. "I'm always on my feet to make sure he isn't anywhere close. I'm always worrying you could be pulling a prank on me. I'm always too scared to go to sleep because I feel like this is all just a dream and if I do sleep, I'll just wake up on my living room floor and I -"

That was when their lips connected. Rachel was rambling so much that she didn't even notice how Santana kept more and more inching to closing the gap between them. The kiss was different than any both had ever witnessed. It was passionate yet not too passionate. It was slow yet not too slow. It was… just perfect. It also confirmed things for Santana as the two pulled away and speechlessly gazed into each other's eyes.

It's now or never.

I knew you would talk to me again.

Shut up.

"That was -"

"I love you, Rachel Berry."

I promise that Rachel actually heard it this time buuut you're going to have to wait to see what happens next. Please leave a review if you enjoyed or want to kill me for the long wait! Here's to hoping chapter 14 is posted sooner since this story should be pretty long. Until next time!