Co-written with Nephewsnixx.
Dani and Santana spent the rest of their day talking to Kurt, and showing him the new shirts Dani picked out. Any chance that Santana had, while Kurt and Dani were distracted, she would leave to check up on Rachel, on occasions staying longer than a few minutes just to be sure that she is in fact okay. The question kept replaying in her head; did Rachel ever seek therapy for what she went through with her first and only pregnancy? If not, is she okay to function now? Santana obviously knew that Rachel was strong, but it would normally take someone of Superman strength to be able to deal with this and not get help from a licensed professional.
The next day hit and Dani felt like complete garbage, she could barely lift her body up from the bed; her nose was all stuffed up, and she was sweating like a marathon runner. She slowly stumbled over to the couch to see Rachel at work on studying new things for her class, it made the young girl smile to see Rachel so awake, if she wasn't feeling so crappy she would hold on to Rachel right there. "M-Mom." She called out, uncontrollably, making a 'buh' sound at the end of her M's.
"Hey, hon.." Rachel gasped at the sight before her, "My baby, you're sick." She pointed out as she tries to get up. "Oh god, ow, ow, ow." Rachel clenches her eyes as she limps to Dani, quietly muttering curse words in pain. "Dani, I want you to go lay down in bed and try to get some rest, I will go get Santana and see if she can help. Okay?" She asks. Dani nods and leaves to go back to her room. Rachel as quickly as she possibly could, left the apartment, limping down the hall, but then fell against the wall by Kurt's door. "Fuck, my ankle!" She held onto it and frowned, Rachel looked at the door and knocked on it a couple times.
Santana rubs her eyes and curses whoever on the other side of the door; she finally fell asleep, only for someone to wake her up. Santana gets up and goes to open the door, "Rachel?!" She quickly grabs on the woman, "What happened?!" She sees the pain in her eyes and worry fills her body.
"I was trying to get to you, so I would have some help with Dani. She got sick." Rachel frowned and kept rubbing her ankle. "But I think when I was walking I landed on it weird, and I fell." She looked up at Santana, sad eyes and all. "I know I should have texted you, but I wanted to make sure I got you.. I'm sorry."
"What am I going to do with you?" Santana shakes her head. "Sit down, I'll bring Dani and gets a coat and will drive to the hospital." Her voice still laced with sleep.
"I'm already sitting, Santana." Rachel gave Santana a slight smirk. "Don't take too long also, maybe we should get Kurt, or Blaine.. Blaine would be more of a benefit actually." she pointed out, then scooted over to the door. "Hey, Blaine! I need you to come with the ladies to the hospital!"
Santana rolls her eyes and goes to her apartment. She helps Dani put on some warm clothes and tells her to grab a tissue box and wait for her. Santana gets in her room and grabs the first coat she sees. Her tiredness is no long gone, now she's worried for her girls. She helps Dani and they walk to Kurt's and Blaine's. When Blaine is ready, the four slowly make their way to Santana's rented car and drive to the hospital. She tries not to cry when she sees in how much pain Rachel is, even though she tries to hide it, and how miserable Dani looks with her eyes puffy and red and sneezing every couple of minutes. They park and make their way in.
The visit was lengthy, thank god they had Blaine there to examine Rachel's ankle, as much as Santana hated the idea of anyone touching Rachel that wasn't her or Dani, she dealt with it. Blaine explained to the group that Rachel's ankle wasn't a pulled muscle, instead it was an actual severe sprain and how amazing it was that Rachel was able to walk on it as much as she did, and stressed how important it was that she rests with little to no movement on that ankle. Then the fitting of Rachel's ankle brace was a fun experience; Santana trying her best not to murder any doctors, reason she wanted to was because the multiple braces and how tight they put them on was indeed hurting Rachel, almost as if they were doing worse than what she's done. But eventually they got the right brace for her on, and they were able to send the group on their merry way back home. Unfortunately for Blaine he had to stay back since his shift started while they were getting braces for Rachel's ankle.
Santana helps Rachel up while wishing everyone who was involved in not placing an elevator eternity in hell. They reach their apartment and when they go in Santana instructors Dani to go to her room, telling her she'd come take care of her in a minute. She helps Rachel to her own room and, carefully, pulls her up on the bed. "How are feeling right now? Does the pills helping yet?" She sits next to Rachel and tries to hide how much she still worries.
"Yeah.. But I think I am loopy.." Rachel said as her eyes traveled around the room, "We have a lot of movies.. Like.. We look like we have Netflix, but with physical movies." She said while pointing towards the DVD rack.
Santana chuckles and cups Rachel's, "You'll be alright." She gets up and starts walking out, "I'm going to take care of Dani. Yell if you need anything."
Rachel was watching Santana leave, keeping her eyes towards the Latina's rear. "Santana.. Why is your ass so.. Like.. Pow!" She did an explosion hand gesture. "Like a Michael Bay film."
Santana turns her head to Rachel with a smirk on her face; oh, she loves high-Rachel. 'That's for the time you refused to try pot with me.' She thinks to herself and laughs. "I've been working really hard on it. Is it the only part you love about my body?" She's raising her eyebrow. She just wants to enjoy a bit more, then she'd go.
Rachel gave Santana a wide-eyed serious look, "I. Love. Everything. About. Your. Body." She said, leaving quite a bit of space between each word. "But your ass.. I am a vegetarian and I would love to manhandle that piece of meat." Rachel leaned towards Santana, but ended up falling to her side on the bed. "There is a lot I would do to you, if given a chance, and if I wasn't drugged." She raised her index finger up for a few seconds, then let her hand drop as she fell asleep.
The Latina stands there quite shocked. She looks at Rachel with hungry eyes for a long moment and thinks how she missed that body. She huffs and goes to wash her face. She makes Dani tea and toast and brings it to her with a new box of tissues and a pill to help with the cold. "Hey, baby. I brought you tea with honey and something to eat, because you need to take a pill." She explains quietly as makes her way in, "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine.." Dani was not able to speak coherently due to her being sick, she reached for the tea. "Does this tea have lemon?" She asked while trying to sniffle.
"No. You want some?"
"No.." Dani slowly shook her head and gave a slight smile, "I don't want to... T-To.." she quickly placed her teacup on the nightstand, then grabbed a tissue to sneeze in it. "To bother you." she leaned against the bed rest
"I'm your mom and I'm going to take care of you." Santana can't believe the sentence left her mouth, but it feels right. She referred to Dani as her daughter before and the child even calls her mama, but saying it in this moment makes her feel like a real one. Now she knows how it was supposed to feel all along. Santana checks Dani's forehead and feels how hot the kid is, "Eat the toast, D. You need to take something that'll help with the fever." She hands her the toast and goes to close the curtains a little, "The pill will make you sleepy, so I want you to have a good rest. Later you'll take a lukewarm bath." She wishes Rachel was there, she'd probably know how to help Dani better, but Santana does the best she can.
As much as she hated doing so, Dani had to eat the toast with her mouth open in order to breathe, she did her best to not have it too open in hopes Santana wouldn't be upset. When she finishes her first bite she looked at Santana with a slight gaze of curiosity. "Kn-Knowing what you know now, would you go back in time and make Rachel yours?" She asked.
"W-What?!" Santana's startled by the question.
"L-Like if you were able to relive and rewrite your past, knowing Rachel's feelings for you, would you make her yours?" Dani sniffed once then reached for her tea.
"No." She answers honestly, "We've been through so much pain that you'd think I'll say yes, but without it we wouldn't have you and we would be our stupid high school selves." Santana explains her answer, "Doesn't mean I'm not gonna make her mine now." She smiles at Dani and winks.
"If I could rewrite my past, I'd run all the way here the second my dad first hit me." Dani took a sip of her tea then placed it back on the night stand. "Then I would try to be a more serious musician, I still have that guitar that Elliot bought me, and I have yet to play it."
"It's not too late, Dani." Santana sits next to the girl, "You survived hell, but it's over. All your options are open and you can do whatever with your life whatever you desire." She caresses Dani's face, not giving a damn if she'd get sick too.
"I still feel like I am in my own personal hell, every time I try to sleep it's his fist, and when I just nap, it's my mom on some guy.. I can't escape that, and Rachel tells me to think of her, but it's hard to do so when I am trying to make the pain stop.." Dani sniffled as much as she could, but she was getting more and more irritated with her being sick. "Damn my cold, I want to be able to cry without screwing up a sob." she frowned as some tears fell down her cheek.
"Don't push it in. You need to let the snot out or else your sinuses will hurt too." Santana tells Dani, "I can't imagine your pain, but you don't have to keep suffering. You can't allow them to keep hunting you, Dani, and there are people who can help you with that." She moves her hand up and down Dani's leg, over the blanket, "If we can make it go away, we want to get you the help you need."
"I know I don't have to.. But it's so hard to not suffer.." Dani tells Santana with all the pain in her voice. "Imagine, every time you go to sleep, some fist comes out of nowhere and strikes your jaw.." She explained before reaching out for a tissue, then she blew her nose. "I need a waste basket of some sort.."
Santana clenches her jaw, she swear that if she'd ever see those people, she'd kill them. "I can't baby, that's why I'm pressing on the therapist issues; I really believe it can make your life easier, better." The Latina gets up and goes grab the small trash can Rachel has at the other side of the room, then puts it next to the bed.
"Yeah.." she sniffed. "I know, but what if it doesn't help?" Dani looked at Santana. "What if I'm never going to be normal again?" Her lips quivering slightly, Dani was in fear for sure. Not just for herself, but for Santana, Rachel, and Marley.
Santana sits close to Dani and pull her against her body, "You are normal, the fact that someone hurt you doesn't take it away from you." She can feel how hot Dani's body is and, surely, the current mental state doesn't help making her feel better, "With everything you do, you need to do your best and try your hardest. If it won't work, we'll try other things until we'll find that something that can. What do you say?"
Dani gave a slow nod. "O-Okay mama.." She said while resting her head against Santana's shoulder, slowly closing her eyes.
'I guess I'm staying here for a while.' Santana relaxes into the pillow and brushes Dani's hair. She's so angry that Dani had to go through this, and when she finally escaped, it still haunts her. She told Dani, the first time they talked, that she'd always keep her promises and that's what she's going to do; Santana will find a way to help Dani get better, no matter what it takes. She lies with Dani for some time, holding her close and protecting her. At some point, Santana must go to the bathroom, so she, gently, rolls Dani off her. After she's finished, Santana stretch and goes to see what's going on with Rachel; she knocks once and slowly opens the door.
Rachel was sleeping in bed, gripping the pillow as tight as she could, the pillow was also partially covered in the blanket, as if Rachel felt like that could simulate holding Santana.
'Did she always been so cute?' Santana leans on the wall next to her door with her arms folded and her bottom lip between her teeth. She wants to get into the bed so much; it is her bed and the woman sleeping in it is her best friend and, potentially, more than that and it's not like it'd be the first time they sleep together on the same bed. But she can't, not when things are still unclear and Rachel is injured and sleep. She settles for being a creep from afar, just for a little longer.
Slowly, Rachel's eyes open, frowning at the fact that once more she was hugging a pillow and not someone else. She sits up and sees Santana over at the end of the room, she gives a slight smile towards the other woman. "H-Hi.." She yawns into her hand while waving with her other hand. "How long have you been here?" She asks sleepily.
'Great job, Lopez..' She mentally slaps herself. "Dani fell asleep, so I just came to check if everything's alright here. I'm sorry, go back to sleep, I'll go." She scratches her arm and the back of her head, embarrassed of getting caught.
"What? No.." Rachel pleaded as she shifts her body to try to get out of bed. "Don't leave." she was more than awake at this point, and terrified of Santana leaving once more. "I'll make us some tea or breakfast, or something." Rachel tries to stand up but her leg can't handle pain. "Ow.." She sits down.
"What are you doing?! I told you, not standing without my help and you only get up for the bathroom." Santana runs to Rachel and sit her back on the best. "Don't do it again, ok?" She cups Rachel's face, worried written all over her own.
Rachel looked up at Santana, sad eyes and all. "Don't leave.." She requested.
'Those two will kill me some day.' Santana pecks the side of Rachel's lips and nods, "But you don't want anything to drink or eat? You don't need to go to the bathroom?" She helps pulling Rachel's legs back on the bed and sits next to her.
"No, I just.." She scratched the side of her arm gently. "I was just tired of sleeping in this bed alone.. I get nightmares every time I sleep on here." Rachel confessed, as much as she didn't want to do so.
"Nightmares about.." Santana couldn't say it, it hurts her so much to think of what Rachel been through and what she lost. She places her hand on Rachel's stomach at looks at her.
"Yeah.." Rachel nods, placing her hand on Santana's. "I keep thinking about what would have happened had my body been able to handle the pregnancy." She let out a sigh. "I just.. I don't know how I went on this long without losing it."
"I talked to Dani yesterday, about her going to treatment and she asked something I should've asked a long time ago," Santana doesn't move her hand from Rachel, "Did you ever went to see someone, to talk about it?"
"I should have.. Shouldn't I?" Rachel looked at Santana with worried eyes. "I only went to Kurt about this, no one else."
"It doesn't matter now, Rach. But you're still struggling, maybe you should go now." She places her other hand on Rachel's, "I don't want you to keep all this pain inside. You have so much to be happy about, so much you can achieve." She gives her a small smile, "You need to come to peace with it so you could fully enjoy your life, you deserve it."
Rachel returned the smile, keeping her gaze into Santana eyes. "You really are the best, you know that?" she asked while nuzzling Santana's neck gently. "Don't say you're not, otherwise I will force myself to stomp on the floor using my bad leg."
Santana chuckles, "Don't you dare!" She pulls Rachel to her, realizing just how much she missed them being like this, "When the two of you will get better, we'll start looking for a good therapist." She kisses her on the head.
"Alright." Rachel nods then grazes Santana's stomach, remembering the way her body feels with her hand. "You know, uhm.. I was thinking of.. Moving, to a house." She admitted while looking back at Santana. "I want you to come with, but I understand if you don't feel ready."
Santana releases her hold on Rachel, "You're taking her away from me?" Now it's her lips turn to quiver. "How can you even afford it with the renovations you want to do in the studio?"
"Santana, I'm asking you to move in with me, into a bigger home. Where it can be me, you, and Dani." Rachel held Santana's hand as tight as she could. "I decided against adding to the studio.. I wanted to give Dani her own room.. Make her life better.." Rachel looked down. "I wouldn't want to take her away from you.. Forget I said anything.."
The Latina sighs and closes her eyes; she doesn't want another fight with Rachel and she doesn't want to let her feelings and fear cause them to drift apart. She takes a deep breath and opens her eyes again, "I'm sorry." She says quietly, "I don't know, Rachel. Can we move in together? We kinda doing everything backwards; living together, having a kid, dating.. I'm.." She stops, her heart racing and she's nervous to speak her thoughts, but she knows she has to if she doesn't want to lose Rachel, "I don't want to live apart from you, but it's fast and.. I'm scared."
"Santana, we are talking.. Months down the road.. At least 6-10 months from now." Rachel assures Santana. "I wasn't meaning now.." She says while keeping close to the Latina.
"Oh, yeah, make sense.." Santana frowns at herself, "It's your fault.." She hugs Rachel back and clears her throat, "It's probably a good idea for the future. Our financial situation only gets better and she does need room and some stuff."
Rachel couldn't help but smile at Santana, "Exactly.. " She said as she adjusted herself a bit better. "Think about it though.. Me, you, and Dani.. A big backyard to do whatever we want.." Rachel held Santana a bit tighter. "We'd have 3 bedrooms, 2 and a half bathrooms, a fireplace, just.. The perfect house."
"Hey, hey, slow down, Rach. I like the idea, but you don't me to have a panic attack." She kisses Rachel's temple, "But it is one hell of a dream house." She smiles, "But what do you want to do for now? I need to go make us lunch soon.."
"I don't know, I think my laptop is in the living room and I need to send out a message to the teachers that I won't be making it to work for a few days." Rachel explained. "Also if I am gonna be rehabbing my leg I would like entertainment." She shrugged.
"So basically you want me to get you your laptop and get lost?" Santana smirks and raise her eyebrow.
"No.." Rachel frowned, "Do you have better things to do today? Do you not want to spend time with little ol' me?" She asked before sticking her bottom lip out. "Am I too geeky for you Miss Lopez?"
"I can think of one thing and you calling me that and your freaking lips only makes it harder to keep my hands on your waist." Santana bite her lip, then licks them, "But we've only been on one date and the idiot doctor told you to rest."
"Wanky?" She asked with her lower lip slightly bitten. "We both know if we did that, you'd be calling out my name as well." Rachel spoke with confidence in her abilities to satisfy Santana. "But yes, one date.. One.. Freaking.. Date.."
"Stop doing that." Santana put her index finger on Rachel's lips, "And our next date, if you want one, depends on you getting better." She brushes their noses against each other, "But for now, I need to get out of this bed." That's the last thing Santana wants to do, but there isn't much left of her self-control at this point, "I'll get you your laptop and make all of us lunch, after that it's bath time." She tells Rachel and starts to move slowly, so she could get out of the best without hurting Rachel.
"B-Bath time?" she asked with a huge blush across her face.
Approximately two hours later, the three women are close to finishing their lunch. Santana made her and Dani chicken breast, for Rachel she made rice and for all of them, she made some vegetables to go with the dishes. They all drank orange juice as well, to get some vitamin C. The Latina already planned to make a pumpkin soup for later, since she saw they have all the ingredients.
"Dani, you need to take the shower; get rid of the fever, change your clothes and it'd help you feel better." Santana tells Dani.
"Would you help me pick out some clothes, mama?" Dani asks, still suffering from a stuffed nose, but she feels less like garbage this time around. Which is good.
"Sure, but then you go straight back to bed and take another pill." She answers with a smile, "I'll get you my laptop if you don't want to sleep, but you need to rest." She finishes her food and looks back at Dani, "Do you need help in there, too?" Santana doesn't want to invade Dani's privacy, but she's more concerned that's something would happen to her.
"No. I can handle myself." Dani nodded as she stands up, and then starts to walk to her room. Rachel frowned a bit "Poor thing.. She sounds horrible." she pointed out.
"No I am good." Rachel smiled at Santana then went back to typing away on her laptop. "I got to go over the figures of the studio, then I need to make a few calls.. So I am gonna be a tiny bit busy." she explained before taking another bite of her rice.
"You can be busy until Dani is set in bed, then you take a shower and rest." Santana says.
"Yes, mom." Rachel rolled her eyes and gave Santana a playful smile.
"First, I'm sister, now your mom.. Are you trying to imply something, dear?" Santana asks with a cocky tone. She steps close to Rachel and rest her hand on her own waist. She looks a bit down on Rachel and bites her lip.
"That I like being playful with you?" Rachel answers as she bites her own lip. "Why do you ask?" She asks.
"Maybe you have unresolved issues." Santana chuckles and puts to hand on the other side of Rachel's chair, "Will you get everything done until I'll finish with D or I'll have to drag you from your computer?" She gets really close to Rachel's face.
"I-I'll get everything done.." Rachel's face lit up due to the closeness of the two women's faces. "Uh.." She looked at Santana's lips for a few seconds then looked back into her eyes. "Like I said, it'll get done."
At this moment, Santana kind of enjoying teasing Rachel a little, but she doesn't want it to go too far. "Good. I'll see you in a bit." She smiles and leaves to help Dani.
Dani was waiting for Santana; at various points in time she would nod off or yawn. "M-Mama?" she called out while yawning.
"I'm here, D." Santana enters the room and close the door. She stands in front of Dani and put her hand on the girl's forehead, "You're still warm.." She's saying more to herself, than to Dani, "You want to go in while I'll pick up something warm for you to wear?"
"O-Okay." She nodded then got off the bed, slowly walked to the door of the bathroom; she tossed her shirt to the bed then walked the rest of the way in, shutting the door behind her. "The hot water is gonna clear my sinuses, correct?" She asks.
"Yes, but not too hot or else you fever will raise more." Santana tells Dani and picks up for her a warm pajamas, "Do you want me to bring you the clothes inside or leave them here?"
The shower turns on, Dani steps in and lets the water hit her back, arching her body as it goes down her back. "Uh.. Yeah bring 'em in." She makes sure the shower door is closed before she starts washing her hair.
Santana picks up the clothes from the bed and gets in the bathroom with her hand on her eyes. She places them on the counter and turns to leave, "Be careful, Dani, I'll be right outside if you need anything." She tells the girl and walks out to sit on the bed.
"Yes mam!" Dani continued to wash herself, already feeling better compared to how she was feeling earlier that morning. "Mama! Why do showers feel greater when you're sick?" She asked.
Santana starts to laugh, "I don't know honey, it's more a question for Blaine. I guess it just makes us feel good when we're clean and the water relaxes us." Santana walks around the room and smiles at a picture of her, Rachel and Kurt.
Once Dani was good and clean, she turned off the shower, got out of it then started to dry herself off, she took notice to her reflection in the mirror. Dani leaned towards the mirror and smiled some "I am.. Freaking.. Beautiful." She winked at her reflection then looked at the clothes Santana laid out for her, she put on each piece of clothing rather quickly, then walked out of the bathroom. "All clean, mama." She announced.
"Hop the bed, sweetie." Santana smiles at Dani, "My laptop is on the nightstand so you could entertain yourself after your nap." She takes one pill from the pillbox, puts it back on the nightstand and grabs the water bottle.
Dani crawled on the bed and scooted over towards Santana. "Thanks Mama." She smiled a bit.
"Don't worry about it, you'd have to take care of us when we'll be old." Santana winks at the girl and hands her the medicine. She kisses her head a couple of times, "You're so beautiful, I love you so much." This day is making Santana feel like she's really a part of this family and she's getting comfortable with expressing her love for Dani. It's still weird for her to be someone's mother, but she's getting used to it and it actually amazing to her.
Dani took her medicine and blushed due to Santana's compliment. "Well, you are like a goddess of beauty." She looked up at Santana with a smile on her face. "I think I figured out who I will draw for my empowering figure project.."
"Who's the lucky woman?" Santana gets in the bed and pulls Dani close to her, then covers them with the blankets.
"My mama, Santana Lopez." Dani held on to Santana as tight as she could.
"Oh my.. Dani!" She leans on the headboard and looks at the pink haired girl with tears in her eyes, "Wh.. A-Are you sure? Me?"
"Yes." Dani simply states. "You are a pretty big influence to me, despite not being around so long.. I can be open with you, almost easily."
"Wow, Dani.." Her mouth opens and closes a few times. Some tears fall from her eyes as she pulls Dani for a tight hug. Santana really doesn't know how to react; she was never a role model, she was the example of how you shouldn't act, mainly in high school, when she treated almost everyone like crap. And now she has someone who looks up to her, relying on her and trust her. She wasn't ready to be a mom nor did she think she'd be good at it, but Dani became someone she can't and wouldn't want to live without. Maybe it started in a different way from most families, but they're one. "I'm so.. I'm.. Thank you, Dani. It means more to me than you can ever imagine."
"You're welcome Mama.. You're welcome." Dani nuzzled into Santana's embrace, placing a kiss on her shoulder. "You.. You mean more to me than you can imagine." She looks at the Latina, smiles and all.
"I never thought I can love someone like I love you, D." She wipes the tears from her face and wraps her hands around Dani's body again, "I'm proud and so happy you consider me as your mom. I'm always here for you, no matter what." The admissions come easily; Dani helps Santana more than the kid would ever know.
Dani's body warmed up in the best way possible, butterflies were swarming as if her heart was a luxury garden. Her eyes were unfortunately getting heavier, because she would be just set on seeing one of her moms and not be bored. After a small while, snoring was heard from the sleeping Dani.
"Little angel.." Santana murmurs. She naps for about ten minutes, then gets up. She looks at the sleeping girl, knowing very well that she's in possession of pieces of her heart. She's still scared and have no clue how to be a mother and raise a teenager, but Dani is happy and safe, that's all that matter to Santana. She leaves the room to let the girl sleep, she has another person to take care. She walks to the kitchen with her lips between her teeth and leans on the table, next to Rachel, with a huge grin on her face.
"Hey San." Rachel smiles as she closes her laptop, she looks over at Santana, seeing her smile made Rachel feel happier. "Why the huge grin there, Mr. J?" She asks in the best New Jersey like accent she could.
"Might have something to do with Dani picking me for a project on empowering figures and how much I love this kid." She says and her eyes lights up, "I could cuddle her forever if I could, she's absolutely amazing." She sighs in content.
"I love it when my girls get along." Rachel kept her smile. "Seriously, I'm happy she picked you as her empowering figure. You definitely are an empowering woman." she admits while reaching out towards Santana's hand.
Santana blushes, too many compliments and feelings for one day; she's not used to it. "She has two powerful women raising her. I've heard her other mom is crazy good looking, runs a successful business and has a huge heart." She says without taking her eyes off of Rachel. "Are you done with everything you had to do?" She asks, looking at the computer and back to Rachel.
"Yeah, just finished my work." Rachel said. "Help me to the bath?" she asked and blushed at the thought of Santana doing that.
"Yeah, let's do it." Santana helps Rachel get up and they walk together to the bathroom. Santana sits Rachel on the chair she brought there earlier and stands straight. She knew it'd have to happen at some point, but now that the time arrived, Santana gets really nervous; there isn't anything sexual about it, but she's still going to see Rachel's body and it's not going to be so easy. "Ok, so I brought some nylon bags to put on the brace.." She says as she opens the faucet and let the hot water fill the tub, "Now, let's get you undressed." She steps towards Rachel.
"I.. I think I can do this myself." Rachel, nervous about letting Santana undress her, and rightfully so. She slowly takes her shirt off, her cheeks were a shade of pink, mostly due to Santana being there.
Santana wasn't sure what to do; turn around? She has already seen Rachel naked.. Keep looking? That'd be weird and creepy. She settles on slightly turning around and keep thinking of things she need to do in the club and bills to pay and reasons to annoy Kurt some more; everything, just not thinking about being in a small room with a naked Rachel Berry. Of course it doesn't help, her heart is beating like crazy and her mouth dry.
Rachel pushed part of her pants down, but due to her brace, the leg gets caught. "S-Shit.." she mutters trying to push the pant leg down. "Okay.. I can't do this by myself.." Rachel admitted defeat, frowning slightly. 'Just what I need..'
"Let's do it quickly," Santana turns around and gulps, "T-The water is getting cold and we don't want you getting sick like Dani." She bends over and pulls down Rachel's pants together with her underwear. It's obviously awkward for both of them, so it needs to end fast.
Rachel was not ready for this, not at all. She carefully got up, walked to the bath, being even more careful about getting into the tub. When she's in she rests her bad leg on the lip of the bathtub. "Thanks.." She tried to give a smile but was still embarrassed.
"God, you're gorgeous.." Santana can't control herself and mumbles when she sees Rachel standing and getting in the tub. "I'm sorry.." Santana shakes her head, "Try to relax, the water will make you feel better."
Rachel closed her eyes, took a few deep breaths, and then looked up at Santana. "S-So.. Uh.. I'm sorry for this morning.."
"Sorry for what?" Santana steps to the mirror and check her appearance, trying to give Rachel some privacy.
"I didn't mean to scare you, I only wanted to get some help for Dani.." Rachel explained while gently dipping head in the water. "Didn't expect it to turn into a visit the hospital." she chuckled lightly.
Santana smiles and turns around, leaning backwards on the counter, "You don't need to apologize, Rach. I wouldn't trust anyone else to look out for you, anyway." She averts her eyes for a moment, then looks back at Rachel, "Just next time, don't risk your own health; it's hard enough to worry about one of you.."
"I wouldn't risk it normally, just for people I care deeply about.." The brunette scooted towards the edge of the tub, resting her head on her arm, keeping her eyes focused on Santana. "I'd do it if you were sick as well, as long as you both are safe I will walk miles upon miles on my fucked up ankle to help.."
"It's very touching, Rach, but it won't do anyone any good if you'd get hurt." Santana says, "You need to keep yourself safe and not only for your own good anymore." She moves her hair to her right shoulder and folds her arms, "She just got a family and we're only getting started, not that I mind taking care of you." Santana bites her lip and chuckles.
"Yeah.." was all Rachel said as she readjusted herself, looking at the ceiling. "You know.. Sometimes, I do wonder if my baby had lived, if I would still adopt Dani.." She mentions.
"You shouldn't think about it too much; there is nothing you can do and it only makes you feel bad." Santana moves uncomfortably, she's not good at these sorts of things and never know what to say, "But if you're asking me, I think you would've. You and Dani had a special connection from the start and with your huge heart, you'd never leave her there."
"Yeah, I probably would have.." She lets out a sigh then she takes her glasses off. "San, could you hold on to my glasses please?" Rachel asks.
Santana nods and steps forward, taking Rachel's glasses from her.
Rachel dips her body under water, then lifts back up, blowing the water that hits her lips. "Okay.. Could uhm.. Could you help wash my hair? I'd do it myself but.. Kinda can't tell what is what.."
Again, Santana nods and crouch behind Rachel. She takes the shampoo and slowly massages Rachel's head. She only saw glimpses of Rachel's pain and it hurts her to know a woman she cares about so much had to go through this. Santana's frustrated and angry that two of the closest people to her suffer on a daily basis and she can't do anything to help them. She finds an area on Rachel's forehead that isn't cover with soap and kisses it, then stands back up and goes to wash her hands.
"This brace sucks, Santana." Rachel gives a pout while stating the obvious. "I hate not being able to function, or be active, I kinda need something to keep me on my toes and I can only stand on one leg." She crosses her arms and stares off towards the ankle brace, despite not being able to see it.
'No, she can't pout.. I can find the strength to handle her being naked, but this pout would kill me..' Santana takes a deep breath and looks at Rachel's brace, instead of her eyes. "We'll find something to do once you're done here, but you must rest or else you'd be stuck in bed for a long, long time." She's raising her eyebrow, "Are you planning on staying there for much longer? You might turn into a duck or something." Santana says and giggles.
"Well I guess it explains why my nose is big, huh?" Rachel returns the giggle then nods. "Yes, I'm done." she looks around the room. "I kinda need my glasses back, unless you want to be my eyes from here to the bed."
"You'll get them wet and you won't see anything with all the steam, let me help you." Santana grabs the towel and stands in front of the bath, "Drain the tub and I'll help you get up and to my room." She opens the towel in a way she won't be able to see Rachel's body and waits.
"Fine.." Rachel slowly stands up. "Am I facing you?" She asks while trying to look around.
Santana giggles, "Cute.. Come here." She leans towards Rachel and wraps the towel around her body and pulls her against her, "Don't step on the injured foot." Santana tells Rachel as they start walking to her room.
"Thanks again San, you really are the best." Rachel proudly admits while doing her best to keep off her injured ankle, if she could see she would look at Santana and smile at her. Sadly she deals with blindness until she gets her glasses back. "Where's the bed?" She asks as she reaches her hand out.
"Right here." Santana helps Rachel on the bed, "Your clothes are right next to you. You get dressed and I'll get you something to drink and bring you back your glasses." She looks around and leaves the room.
There was a bit of time till diner needed to be made, Santana took this time to relax and do some reading since she's been up and at it all day, she deserves a little break before having to make dinner for her, Rachel, and Dani. Rachel on the other hand was killing time by playing Flappy Bird; she figured that because it's been years since she played it that it would be a good time killer, and it would if she didn't die on the 7th jump. But unlike how she acted with Mario, Rachel was calm and collected after dying so much in that little game. Rachel set her phone down and took notice of how Santana looked when she reads, how her eyes gaze upon the book before her, seeing her lips barely mouth the words on the page, it was something that Rachel could watch for days on end.
Suddenly, her body shifted closer to Santana's, her heart was racing at what she was going to do. "S-Santana.." Rachel quietly whispers.
"Hm..?" Santana asks, not moving her eyes from her book.
"I need.. I need to kiss you.." Rachel gulped as she tries to calm herself but isn't completely able to.
Santana turns her head to the side, her mouth slightly open, "W-What?" She glance at Rachel's lips, biting her own.
Rachel placed her hand on Santana's cheek, pushing her lips against the other woman's. Her tongue trying to slide against Santana's.
Santana feels her body is on fire, she throws her book to the side and turns her body to the side. She place a hand on Rachel's shoulder an pulls away, "A-Are you sure?" She asks and lick her lips.
"Yes.." Rachel nodded while biting her lip slightly. "Please.." she takes a few breaths as her face tints a shade of pink.
"Come here!" Santana cups Rachel's face and press her lips against hers. She takes Rachel's plump lips in hers, sucking on them a bit, then push her tongue in Rachel's mouth. Santana's hands hold Rachel's waist and she closes some of the distance between their bodies.
Rachel kisses back, almost as if she never kissed Santana before, hell that was pretty much every kiss that she and Santana shared. It had that spark that Rachel loved to feel, the passion that made the kiss even better than before. She places one hand on Santana's hip as she slides her tongue against the Latina's.
Santana doesn't want to hurt Rachel's ankle, so she only presses her top half on Rachel's body. She can't help the moan that escapes her mouth and she deepens the kiss. She missed it so much; the touch, the intimacy, the smell and how alive she feels with Rachel.
Rachel moved Santana's leg over her waist, she then moves her hand towards her upper body. Rachel pressed her palm against the side of Santana's breast, she sucks on Santana's bottom lip and gently nibbles on it.
"Fuck, Rach!" Santana throws her head back and moans. She's a very sexual person with a high sex drive, she used to have sex on a daily basis and she didn't for about a week. Now she has Rachel kissing her with so much passion and her body on top of Rachel's and the woman touch her like that.. Santana close to losing herself. She looks down at Rachel with lust in her eyes and she doesn't know what to do. She bites Rachel's swollen lips a few times, then looks in her eyes, "I can't get enough of you." She says against Rachel's lips.
"I-I can't get enough of you either.." Rachel admits as she regretfully breaks the kiss, her breath shaky from the sensation Santana gives her. "Y-Your kisses.. Every time we kiss, it feels like the first time our lips connect.." She confesses as she gently strokes Santana's cheek.
Santana pecks Rachel's lips a few times, "When you get better, we need to have a talk. I want so much, but I can't with our fight hovering above us." She says honestly, "But I don't want to move away just yet."
"Santana, I'm not sick, I just have a bad leg right now." Rachel points out with a chuckle in her voice. "I'm fully capable of having an important conversation." she bites her lower lip while running one hand against Santana's stomach. "What do you want to talk about?"
"I wished we wouldn't have to talk.." Santana leans on her side, close to Rachel and one of her legs rests on Rachel leg. "I feel highly uncomfortable doing this and I'm kinda nervous we'll fight again.. I don't I can handle going through it again." She's having trouble being open and look Rachel in the eyes.
Rachel slowly nods and smiles at Santana for at least trying to be honest. "I understand, and I'm sorry for making it seem like I was rushing us.." She says while her hand grazes Santana's arm. "Things are different, the good kind. I mean, despite my ankle being messed up.. This was the best week for me."
"Our date was amazing and I think, maybe, I can do this because it's you and it feels so good." She plays with the hem of Rachel's shirt, "But I'm scared of how strong my feelings and what would happen if it won't work.." She stops for a second, "Yeah, we had our perfect date and I had some time with Dani, but then I went back and slept alone on Kurt's couch.. Well, there wasn't much sleep involved because I couldn't sleep well, even when I was in the apartment across the hall." She admits and feels her heartbeats racing, "I'm scared of getting into it again and.. And n-not be good enough or hurting you."
"You're more than good enough for me." Rachel rubs her nose against Santana's. "I am actually scared myself, in fact more than you would think.." She admits. "I had to tell myself that I was worth something, and that I mattered just to be able to talk to you.. Even now, as easier as it is for me to talk to you, I fight that battle when our eyes lock, and when we touch each other.." She blushed at the many ways her words could be taken, mostly she hopes that Santana gets what Rachel is saying. "There is never a time that I don't fight the battle of not being good enough, but when you smile because of me.. I know I am.."
"Rach, I've wrong you in so many ways and for so many years.. Then I grew up and I saw how good of a person you are and you made me better." Santana tells Rachel, "I fight myself as well; to allow myself to feel, not to run away, to speak honestly and not hide behind sarcasm or mean comments." Her body sweat, but she doesn't let go of the hand that hold tightly on Rachel's shirt, "Y-You give me that perfect life I secretly dreamt of in high school.. But that's what scares me; you and Dani are e-everything and you c-can e-easily b-break it., break me." Her lips quiver a bit, "I keep replaying our fight in her head and it's like someone punch me in the stomach every damn time."
"Santana.." Rachel rested her forehead against the other woman's. "You know me.. I wouldn't do that to you, no matter how mad I get.. Not when it affects so many people I lo.. I care for.." She tries to assure Santana the best she can. "That fight, I-I'm sorry, I want to take it all back, I really do.. I've been crying on that pillow almost every night since we got home. Dani always asks me every morning if I am okay, and it scares me that she listens in on my crying.." Rachel holding back as much tears as she could. "I hate that you aren't here, Santana. I hate myself for driving you away, and I wish I was a better person so I could be enough for you.. You don't know how much I want to be enough.."
"You are, babe, you're so much more than that." The Latina tells Rachel sincerely as she can, "And there were two people there.. I'm sorry, I was selfish; it was easier to act like it's all about sex and have you so close, than to face how I feel and act like an adult." Santana shakes her head and feels some tears rolling on her face, "I have things to work on, but I never had someone who worth the trouble.. Not until you, until I felt how it is without you." She bites her lip, then gulps, "I'm going to make many mistakes.. But you gotta promise me you won't take her and you won't give up on me. Because I'm telling you, Rachel, I won't recover." That's it, it's out there. Santana has never been so vulnerable, but she can't be away anymore so she'd risk it.
"I'd never leave you, hon.." She sniffles once. "Y-You're my girl after all.. If I gave up on you, I might as well give up on myself as well.." Rachel's eyes watered up a bit. "I-I know damn well you wouldn't allow me to give up on myself, so I can guarantee that I won't give up on you.. Ever."
Santana gives Rachel a passionate kiss and keeps her lips on Rachel for a long moment. "Can we just agree to never involve Dani in our arguments?" Santana keeps her face close to Rachel's.
"O-Of course.." Rachel smiles at Santana then gives her one more kiss. "I just realized you're on top of me, and really close.." She blushes some but holds on tighter. "I'm really comfortable.."
"You won't make it easy on me, huh?" Santana brushes her nose on Rachel's and giggles, "You know, I started doing this because I wanted to kiss you so freaking badly, but forced myself to follow the rules." Santana admits and blush.
"You mean you didn't actually want to take care of me?" She asks in a playful tone then bites her lower lip. "W-Will you come back?" Rachel asks in a slight worried tone. "Please?"
"Only if you'd sleep here with me." Santana smiles, "But I'm warning you, I might trade your cuddles with Dani's from time to time." Santana sticks her tongue out and giggles.
"So like.. We'd share a room, meaning I get to move my clothes in here as well?" Rachel asks with some hope in her eyes.
"No, I only want you hugs." Santana shakes her head and gives Rachel a kiss on the cheek, "I'll make you some space in the closet and drawers." She says while kissing Rachel's face, "Again, I need to warn you, you might stumble on some things that would make you blush." Santana smirks.
"Those things won't make me blush like you do." Rachel carefully strokes Santana's back. "Strange.. I am now legitimately hungry, and I do love your cooking quite a bit." she points out then places one kiss on Santana's nose. "What's for dinner?"
"Pumpkin soup. It's pretty cold and it'd help Dani feel better." Santana says proudly, "You want anything else, ma'am?" Her fingers caress the exposed skin that revealed due Rachel's shirt rising up.
"Salad, with Cesar dressing and croutons.." Rachel's eyes traveled down the Latina's back, then her hand gently grips Santana's rear. "Maybe with some of your prime ass as a side?" She jokingly asked.
"You yet to take me on a date and already want the goods?" Santana smirks and let her hands travel up and graze under Rachel's breasts.
"W-What are you doing tomorrow?" She whispered before kissing Santana's neck. "Because I'd love to take you a night on the town." Rachel smirked a bit. "My treat?"
"Babe, you can barely leave the bed." Santana's tempted to cup Rachel's breasts, but she doesn't; she only moves her hands a bit higher. "When you'd feel better, no rush." She smiles, "How hungry are you? I wanted to take a shower, but I can do it later.."
Rachel's face lit up a bit. "San.. Are we official now?" She asked as she bit her lower lip.
"Not what I asked." Santana giggles, "We went on a date, and we plan to go on another.. That means we're dating, no?" She grins and press her body closer to Rachel.
"You know what I mean.. Like.. Never mind, I don't wanna ruin the good moment." Rachel shook her head and held Santana even tighter. "I'm not extremely hungry, I can wait while you shower."
"Rach, you can talk to me.. You need to.. I'll get better with how I react to things, I promise." She pecks Rachel's lips and gets up from the bed. She walks to her closet and grabs new clothes to wear, Can we switch rooms with D? I'd save me some time getting undressed and walking all the way to the bathroom.."
"We'd have to talk to Dani about that before we make any decisions, I did give that room. It'd be rude to make her leave a room she's used to." Rachel explains while keeping a close eye on Santana.
"Yeah, you're right.." Santana takes the clothes out and takes her shirt off, "Lea is coming over for Christmas, is going to stay in a hotel and you know what that means.." Santana grins and takes her pants off, "Heated pool, massages, room service.." Her smile gets bigger as she grabs her robe.
"You had me at heated pool." Rachel joked as she tries to get comfortable once again. "I almost forgot about Leo coming over this Christmas, I also need to plan some stuff out for when that time comes.. Even if we have a few weeks, it still wouldn't hurt."
"Right now, focus on getting better, then we'll figure it all out." Santana tells Rachel as she put the robe on and kiss her cheek, "Ok, I'll take a quick shower and make us dinner." She smiles and walk to the door.
"Yes ma'am." Rachel smiles over at Santana as she leaves.'I love how things are now..' She bit her lip then yawned once. 'I feel tired, maybe I can nap real quick..'
Santana took a quick shower, but it helped with getting some energy back and loose tension. This day was crazy, hell these two weeks were like a roller coaster. But she and Rachel had a good talk and Santana thinks that if she'd try hard and work on herself, it can work and they can happy. After she dried her hair, Santana made dinner and by the smell, she did a very nice job. She called Dani to the table and brought Rachel. The young girl seemed to start getting better, but she needed the food to get her strength back and more rest. The three ate their dinner and talked about random topics, just like a real, stable, loving family. During the meal, Santana and Rachel exchanged smiles and the three of them laughed at a story Dani told. When they were done, Santana helped Rachel back to bed and washed the dishes while Dani got ready for bed. Santana went into Dani's room to make sure she took her medicine and have water. She kissed the girl good night and told her she'd be in her room if she need anything, she made Dani promise to wake her up if anything happens. Then, Santana took her laptop and closed Dani's door.
Santana stands in the middle of the apartment and take a deep breath in and exhale. It was a long day, but it's over and her girls are fine and their home is clean. After brushing her teeth, she makes her way to her room and take one shirt off, staying with a tank top because it's too hot there. She crawls into the bed and nuzzles Rachel's neck. "I need to do some work, but all I really don't want to." Santana tells Rachel and pecks her neck.
"Mm.." Rachel looked at Santana, her hand gently stroking the hip of the other woman. "Well," She lifts Santana's chin gently "What do you want to do?" asked the brunette.
"You." Santana smirks and chuckles, "No, really, I just want to get a full night's sleep; I'm exhausted and you're comfy." She bites her lip.
"Well darn." Rachel let's go of Santana's waist. "I was hoping you'd want to touch me." She frowned as she slightly unbuttoned her pajama shirt, rubbing her chest. "My breasts have been a pain today, I think because they miss your hands being on them." Rachel bit her lip and gives a smirk back towards the Latina.
Santana's jaw drops and she's fifty percent sure she's drooling, "You're an evil woman.." Santana eyes fixed on Rachel's chest and her hands get under the woman's shirt, "It wouldn't be nice of me to let them miss me, right? I get to have you, after missing you.. And I am here to help you feel better." It's been a rough day and after not doing anything for about two weeks, Santana's self-control is barely there. Her eyes almost come out of their holes watching Rachel like this.
"I bet if they got to feel how much you missed them, I would feel all sorts of better." Rachel winked as she lets her chest rise up a bit, she looked at Santana while biting her lip some more.
"Rach, you're not being fair.." Santana pouts and scratch Rachel gently under her shirt, "I won't be able to only give them attention if we start.." Her body feels warmer, "You're mean.."
"Okay, I'm sorry." Rachel stops her teasing then places a gentle kiss on Santana's lips. "I'll be nice." She places her hands down and keeps her gaze on Santana.
Santana keeps her eyes on Rachel's breasts, "What if I can't behave?" She looks up, into Rachel's eye, her own dark and full of lust, "You need to tell me we can't or I won't stop." Her hand travel higher and her chest rise and falls fast.
"Okay, we can't do this right now. But I wouldn't mind sometime in the very near future.. Like later in the week? When we are alone?" She suggests as she carefully moves Santana's hand out of her shirt. "I am sorry for teasing you that was inappropriate of me to do."
"You don't need to apologize, ever!" Santana says after taking a couple of breaths to calm her body, "You're so cute and sexy.. God.." She cups Rachel's face and kiss her a few times, "I want to suggest something, but it's kinda stupid because we already slept together and we really want it and.. Yeah, kinda stupid, I don't know.." Santana leans on her side and looks at Rachel.
"What do you want to suggest?" Rachel moves closer to Santana, gently pressing her forehead against the Latina's. "I highly doubt it's stupid, I won't judge."
"I want to wait." Santana says and glance down for a second, "We were all about sex the last time and I love sleeping with you, I do, but I don't want our relationship to be about that and.. Our real first time making love should be special." Santana feels so nervous saying those things, she feels like a teenager again who wants her first time to be a special. "Like, maybe after one or two more dates, have a nice night to ourselves.." This is the side only one other person saw and now Santana lets Rachel in and more importantly, letting a part of her that was locked come out.
"Now how was that stupid?" Rachel asked as she stroked Santana's cheek, she gently nuzzles Santana's nose, followed with a quick peck. "That was the opposite of stupid, and I too want to wait.. I am glad you took the initiative to say something, that shows you've definitely improved as a person, not that you needed that validation, but it should also be something that proves this to you as well."
Santana smiles shyly, "Thank you, it means a lot when you say it." She licks her lips because they always get dry when she's nervous.
"So tomorrow, I was wondering if.. I don't know.. If you wanted uhm... Shit why is this so hard." Rachel threw her arms up.
"It doesn't have to be, babe." Santana puts her hands on Rachel's waist and scoots closer, "Before everything we were best friends and now we're working on upgrading it, so you can tell me anything. I want the real Rachel, don't hold back on me." She smiles and brush their noses together.
"Tomorrow night.. Is the premiere of Master Chef, and I was curious if you maybe wanted to watch it with me? If you have work that's totally understandable, but Dani is gonna be working on her art project and any homework she missed tomorrow since she's still sick.."
"I'm planning to work from home until both of you are well, that's one." Santana looks up at Rachel with a smile, "And I'd love to watch it with you. I'll finish everything until it starts and we can order in."
"Sounds like a plan." Rachel pulled a blanket up over her. "If you're not gonna do the work you need to do tonight, then you can hold me while I sleep." She playfully demanded, although really wanting Santana to hold her.
"I can, if that's what you want.." Santana rolls her eyes, then giggles, "I'm going to cuddle you until forever. Now, because my girls woke me up so early, I'm done." She moves closer to Rachel and wraps her arms around her, "I missed this and I need my beauty sleep and finally I'm going to get one." Santana closes her eyes and kiss Rachel's neck, "Turn the light off, babe, and let's sleep."
Rachel reached the lamp, tapping it twice to turn it off. She then placed her glasses on the night stand beside her, then placed her hand on Santana's arm. "Good night, San." She softly said as she closes her eyes to go to sleep.
Thoughts?
'till next time.