It was dark in the Berry household when the phone rang. All the lights were out and the only sound was Hiram's soft snoring and the quiet hum of the refrigerator. Leroy was the first to wake, the landline ringing near his ear on the bedside table. He blindly reached out for the handset, successfully knocking it to the floor with a dull thud. He groaned, rolling over and grabbing at the glowing object before bringing it to his ear.
"Hello?" he croaked, wondering who would be calling at such an ungodly hour.
"This is a collect call from 'New York, New York', please press any button to accept the charges," a female automated voice spoke on the other end. His eyes widened, confusion clouding his already tired mind. He turned to see his husband sleeping soundly next to him, wondering if he should wake him.
He pushed a number on the keypad, becoming more confused and worried by the second. His gut told him something was wrong, call it father's intuition or just a trait he'd picked up in law school; or the fact that someone had just sung Frank Sinatra to him on collect call at 2am. He waited for the call to connect, hearing an intake of breath before the familiar voice greeted him.
"Hi Leroy."
"Santana?"
He snapped the bedside lamp on and sat up straighter, his mind racing. He'd known Santana since she was a little girl when she would come to the law firm with her mother. Even back then she would always find ways to get herself into trouble. Whether it was sneaking into the courtrooms or barrelling herself down a hallway on an office chair. He'd also heard his fair share of her escapades since Maria had past, so to hear her voice at two in the morning while she was with his only daughter in New York wasn't exactly reassuring.
"So, remember that time my Dad told me to call you if anything unfortunate was to happen?" her voice edged, bracing herself for the reaction.
Leroy tried to stay calm, telling himself not to fear the worst and that hearing her voice in the first place was a good sign. He took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose between his forefinger and thumb, exhaling slowly. Hiram stirred next to his husband. He sat up and gave him a questioning look through hooded eyes. Leroy shrugged in response, staying silent and waiting for Santana to continue.
"Yeah, we're going to need your help."
"What do you mean by we?"
-38 hours earlier-
"Start spreading the news."
"Blaine."
"I'm leaving today."
"Blaine."
"I want to be a part of it."
"Don't."
"New York, New York."
Santana grabbed him by his suspenders and pulled him backwards, everyone laughing when they snapped against his back. The boisterous teen was dancing in the lobby of the Intercontinental Hotel, doing circles around their group of friends. Rachel knew Santana wasn't actually annoyed by the boy, she could see it in the way the corner of her mouth quirked up with every line he would sing. But she let her have her fun, content to just sit on the leather couch next to her and soak in the atmosphere.
She'd waited her whole life to be in this magical city and now that she was she couldn't stop pinching herself, thinking she'd wake up at any moment. It was everything she'd imagined it would be; the sights, the smells, the sounds. She didn't want to leave.
"Hey guys," Mr Schuester called, motioning for them to fall in around him. "We're all checked in. We're on the sixth floor, so if you just give your bags to the bellboys, they'll take them up to your rooms."
He started handing out the key cards, looking down at his clipboard so he didn't mix them up. The uniformed staff began collecting everyone's luggage, each person telling them they're room numbers. A lanky blonde came up beside the girls with an impish grin on his face and asked them for their number.
"606," Santana told the bellboy, Brittany piling her duffle bag on the trolley as well.
"608."
"That's not too far," Santana said, wiggling her eyebrows with a smirk. "I could still shimmy across the balcony."
"I'm pretty sure this place wouldn't have balconies, Romeo," Rachel told her, wrapping her arms loosely around her neck. "I think you're going to have to settle for the hallway."
"Where's the fun in that?"
"Look at the bright side Lopez," Rory said, dumping her bag on top of Brittany's. "If you fall I won't have to sleep with you."
"You-"
"No." Rachel placed a finger over Santana's lips, effectively stopping her remark. "Save it for later."
It didn't however stop her for grazing the pad of her index finger with her teeth when she didn't remove it straight away. Santana pressed her lips to the sensitive skin and stared at her suggestively. The look in her eyes sent a shiver down Rachel's spine as she moved her hand back to its place around Santana's neck.
"Oh, god," Rory moaned in disgust, turning away to join Quinn near the elevators.
"Better hurry up Olsen, I hear it's contagious," Santana bit back, keeping her eyes on Rachel. The snarky brunette scoffed and slipped into the elevator with the blonde Cheerio, flipping Santana off before the doors closed. "She totally wants me."
"Okay guys, you can explore but keep it within the hotel," Will announced before anyone could move too far. There was a collective groan amongst the club, everyone claustrophobic already. "You'll get your free day after we win Nationals."
The scrawny bellboy moved off toward the service elevators once Sugar had placed her suitcase on the trolley. Santana pushed the button to the ones in the lobby and turned her eyes onto Rachel, the glint in them never fading. Rachel knew that look; it was the one she got whenever she had a bright idea that involved them and an enclosed space. She did her best to ignore it though; crossing her arms over her chest and watching the glowing red number slowly descend. Santana didn't seem to mind that they were in a public place or that they were under the watchful eyes of their friends; running her fingertips up the back of Rachel's arm and watching eyes flutter closed.
"It's only has to go up six floors," Rachel whispered, keeping her eyes forward.
"There's this thing called the 'stop' button."
"You are unbelievable," Rachel retorted, rolling her eyes.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
The elevator lit up in front of them with a ding, both girls entering when the doors slid open. As soon as she was inside, Santana began manically pressing the close button. Rachel giggled, swatting her hand away from the control panel and gripping both of them in her own.
"Hold it."
A pale arm wedged through the closing doors before they could shut, Santana groaning playfully. The girls parted as Kurt leant against the back wall, Rachel pressing the six and resting against the glass opposite Santana. The shorter girl could see the boy shift his gaze between the two of them, before rolling his eyes.
"Would you two stop looking at each other like that?" he scolded. "You're fogging up the mirrors."
The pair burst into a fit of giggles earning another eye roll from their friend. The metal doors opened moments later, the boy fleeing the first chance he got. He turned to the right and headed down to the first of the rooms, the girls parting left. Rachel took out her key card, walking past 605 and continuing down the hall before Santana grabbed her hand, pulling her up short.
"Nope, you're coming to my room," she purred, steering her toward 606.
She slipped the card into the slot and crashed Rachel into the door before she could open it. Santana's lips melded onto hers, their weight swinging the door wide. Rachel giggled against her mouth, stumbling backwards into a table and knocking a vase of flowers to the ground. It landed with crack, the heavy glass splitting up the side and yellow petals spraying across the white carpet. Two sets of eyes trained on the girls, watching them from the king size beds. Rory looked disgusted while Brittany just looked amused.
"Seriously Santana," Rory screeched. "Don't pretend like you forgot you weren't going to be alone."
"Don't pretend you don't enjoy it."
"Later, huh?" Rachel berated, claiming her attention before she could get into it with the girl. She pulled away from her and joined Brittany on the bed, the cheerleader giving her a sweet smile.
"Couldn't resist."
x
"Can't you stay?" Santana whined adorably. "Brittany wouldn't mind, would you Britt?"
The blonde shrugged and went back to putting the finishing touches on her nails. The credits were rolling on the girls' flat screen, their second movie of the night just ending. Rachel made a move to get up for the bed, Quinn and Tina already by the door motioning for her to follow. Santana had her by the hand, the look on her face making it hard to say no at this point.
"I do not want to listen to the two of you making monkey all night."
"As much as it would turn you on-"
"Look, I'm not in love with you okay, don't flatter yourself," Rory exclaimed in exasperation. "You were just the safer option. It was either one of my captains or Berry, and what would you have done if I said her, huh?
"Punched you in the ovary."
"Exactly."
"Doesn't explain why you were constantly making my life hell for the better part of the semester," Rachel said, settling back down on the bed. Quinn shrugged and closed the door behind her and Tina, the rest of the Glee girls already in their own rooms. Rory got up and pulled the sheets back on her side of the bed she was sharing with Sugar before sitting back down.
"Finn wouldn't stop talking about you when we were together, okay," she replied in a tired voice. "It would drive anyone to hate you."
"Really?"
Rachel knew that a part of Finn had never got over the two of them, and she suspected that Santana's involvement in their breakup might have added to the sting. But she thought he would be too proud to sulk about it, especially to someone like Rory. But after the year they've had she shouldn't be surprised; he never really did get the closure he wanted from their relationship.
She felt Santana's arm tighten around her, pulling her into her side. Brittany settled down on the other side of the king size bed, snapping the bedside lamp off. Even in the dark with Santana's body flush against hers, Rachel's mind wouldn't shut off. She felt guilty for thinking about her ex in her girlfriend's arms, no matter how innocent her thoughts.
"Stop thinking so loud," Santana whispered in her ear. "I'm trying to sleep."
Rachel smiled despite herself and forced her mind into silence.
x
The applause in the auditorium was muffled by the curtain as it fell on the empty stage. The members of Vocal Adrenaline rushed backstage, their bright blue costumes a stark contrast in comparison to the black of the New Directions as they pushed through them on their way to the dressing rooms. Backstage was abuzz with pre-stage jitters and hopes of making Showcase tomorrow. Teens ran past in every direction in a flurry of heels and hairspray. There were vocal preparations in the bathrooms and pep talks in the make-up areas.
And it was safe to say that Rachel was in her element.
She couldn't deny that she was at her best when she was under pressure. She'd saved this club countless times when things had gone wrong and the stakes were high. It was always her and Finn swooping in and saving them before things went nuclear.
A lot had changed in a year.
And speaking of Finn, whether it was what Rory had told her the night before or a renewed sense of paranoia, she couldn't help notice the way he would look at her. And she couldn't keep her gaze from flicking to the boy every few minutes. Every time their eyes met she'd turn away, scolding herself for being so pathetic. A part of her would always feel bad for what she did to him. But looking back at all she'd gained from this year, she'd do it all again in a heartbeat.
"Good luck."
Rachel turned around at the sound of the familiar gruff voice, the tall brunette boy towered over her in his vest and white tie. She smiled politely at him, trying to remember the last time they had actually said more than two words to each other.
"You'll be amazing," Finn told her honestly. "You always are."
A dull ache latched itself onto her heart and refused to let up. She forced a smile and nodded, praying for anyone, even Rory to come up behind them and stop him from looking at her the way he was. The look that said this was the moment he'd waited for all semester to finally say how he felt; that or she truly was going crazy.
"It's going to be weird it not being us two up there though," he said, turning to look out onto the stage that was being set up for their performance in a few minutes. "Do you remember last year's Nationals?"
He looked to her with hopefully eyes and that wistful smile that she used to love so much; now it just made her feel empty. But of course Rachel remembered last year's performance. It was the first time he ever told her he loved her. It was the night they got together. And of course Finn knew that, it was probably the reason he looked so hopeful.
But that was last year and she was done taking trips down memory lane with him. They'd been tiptoeing around each other for a better part of it and she was just done. Whenever she was on the verge of moving on he would come back and be the guy she fell for; opening night, the prom and now at Nationals.
She was done.
"Look Finn, I'm not going to pretend that we didn't happen or that we didn't have amazing vocal chemistry, but I'm with Santana now," Rachel told him meeting his gaze for the first time. "I love her and nothing is going to change that."
He took a breath and hung his shoulders a little lower than before. Rachel stole herself as she stood before him, telling herself not to feel guilty; he was bringing this on himself by constantly re-hatching what they had.
"I know nothing's going to change that," Finn mumbled.
"So I'll ask that you respect it."
"Like she respected us?" he spat.
"Walk away Finn before you say something you'll regret," Kurt said from behind him, his soprano voice breaking the tension between them. Finn set his jaw and nodded before shuffling off to where Puck was sitting talking to Blaine. Kurt came up beside Rachel and placed a comforting hand on her bare shoulder. "You okay?"
"Yeah," she breathed. "Just trying to say goodbye to my past."
"Hello future," he quipped, nudging her with his hip. "But this is, right?"
"What, New York?" Rachel asked with raised eyebrows. "Of course, me and you remember, since freshman year."
It had always been the plan since they met in homeroom three years ago. Juilliard, New York, Broadway. No matter what changed around them, no matter the drama that pushed its way into their lives; that never changed. They would apply together, they would live together and if the city allowed it, they'd perform together.
She gave his hand a gentle squeeze before a stagehand called places. The house lights went out and the stage spots dimmed, a soft stream illuminating the single grand piano centre stage. The crowd was quiet as the eerie music drifted out of the theatres sound system.
Rachel felt the brush of fingertips briefly on the palm of her hand before Santana walked past her and onto the dark stage. She took a seat on the stool behind the piano and brought her hands up to the keys. She saw her take a calming breath before playing the first note of the song. Rachel looked to Kurt standing just beyond the curtain, seeing the glassy glint in his eyes in the limited light. He gave her a reassuring smile and a small nod of his head before taking the stage.
Six on the second hand,
Two new year's resolutions,
And there's just no question,
What this man should do.
His voice was angelic and beautiful. It gave her chills and brought an uncontrollable smile to her face. She knew in that moment that singing with him while Santana played along on the piano was the right decision. It was perfect and it took what breath she had away with every haunting note the darker girl played. A lone tear streaked down her cheek, Rachel brushing it away before it could fall. She took a moment to compose herself before she walked out from behind the curtain and joined them centre stage.
Take all the time lost,
All the days that I cost,
Take what I took and,
Give it back to you.
Rachel past Kurt in front of the piano, grabbing hold of his hand and looking at him before she changed direction to the other side of the stage. The pre-buzz from the crowd sent excited butterflies to her stomach, her confidence growing with each step. She turned at the edge of the stage and strode back to her friend, singing with him in unison.
All this time,
We were waiting for each other,
All this time,
I was waiting for you,
We got all these words,
Can't waste them on another,
So I'm straight in a straight line,
Running back to you .
Rachel looked to Santana, her eyes trained on the keys, lost in the notes. She let a small smile flint across her lips as she paced back to the piano, close to where she was sitting. Their eyes met briefly across the shiny surface and she was brought back to the choir room a week ago. Being alone with her and singing for no one but them was a feeling that no crowd of thousands could ever replace or top. They were incomparable feelings with different rushes of emotion.
One day she'd know what a sold out crowd, all on their feet cheering for only her would sound like. But for right now that was enough. The look in her eyes and the sound of her fingers dancing across the keys in an empty room was enough.
Oh, every time is so far,
It's just so far,
To get back to where you are.
The rest of the Glee club emerged from behind the curtain to join the three of them on stage. They spaced themselves along the graded steps behind Santana, all joining in on the chorus in perfect harmony. Rachel settled to left of the piano in front of the twelve girls while Kurt did the same on the right in front of the boys.
All this time,
We were waiting for each other,
All this time,
I was waiting for you,
We got all this love,
Can't waste it on another,
So I'm straight in a straight line,
Running back to you,
I'm straight in a straight line,
Running back to you.
Rachel pulled out from the line of her peers and stood before the audience who were on their feet. She took one last look to Santana before belting out the last lines of the song.
Yeah...
Straight in a straight line,
Running back to you.
Those in the audience who weren't already on their feet before took to the floor, ear splitting cheers and whistling ringing out in the packed theatre. She only had a moment to let the sound wash over her before the piano was wheeled off stage and the first notes of their second song drowned out the crowd. Finn, Puck, Sam and Blaine merged to the front of the rest of the group and took the leads while Rachel drifted to the back. She discretely grabbed hold of Santana's hand as they began to sway in the background, squeezing her hand gently.
Don't ask me what you know is true,
Don't have to tell you I love your precious heart,
I, I was standing, you were there,
Two worlds collided and they could never tear us apart.
x
"Wake up."
She felt the soft touch of fingertips brush along her hair line, sending a shiver down her back. She kept her eyes shut, relishing the feeling for just a few more seconds. The fingers trailed down to her jaw, her neck, her collarbone, her chest, her-
"I'm awake," she giggled, opening her eyes to warm brown ones, effectively stopping the wandering hand. Santana was hovering over her, one hand to the right of her head, while her other left goose bumps along tanned skin.
"Good, because I have something I want to show you," she smiled, placing her left hand on the other side of Rachel's head to support her.
"What is it?"
"It's a surprise," she said mysteriously, bending down to capture her lips before trailing kisses up to her ear. Rachel let out a happy sigh, running her hands down Santana sides until she reached her hips, putting her hands underneath the darker girl's hoodie and trailing them back up. The girl moaned under the touch right in Rachel's ear, a grin stretching across her lips.
"This surprise better not involve this bed, because Rachel isn't the only one sleeping in it."
Rachel's cheeks flushed red at the sound of Quinn's voice. It wasn't that she had forgotten her friend was sleeping next to her. It was just that Santana had certain effects on her concentration and memory and okay, she forgot.
"Don't pretend you're not curious, Fabray," Santana quipped, flicking her tongue against her teeth playfully. Quinn remained completely unaffected and continued to death glare her for her side of the king size bed.
"I'll be two seconds," Rachel told Santana, pecking her on the cheek as she refused to break her little staring contest. "Do I need to dress up?"
"It's one in the morning, Rach," Santana said as she slipped underneath her arms and padded over to the wardrobe. "Jeans and a sweatshirt."
x
"Josie Robertson Plaza."
The yellow cab took off down 10th Avenue, street lights and skyscrapers flicking past the windows. Rachel could see glimpses of Central Park every intersection they crossed, its dark trees and glowing street lamps eerie in the moonlight.
"This isn't going to take long is it?" Rachel asked, tearing her eyes away from the street. "We have to be up for Showcase in a few hours."
"Don't worry, I'll have you safely back in your bed soon enough," Santana assured her. "It's just a few more blocks."
The taxi pulled up outside a large paved square, the street lamps reflecting off the surrounding buildings. There was a circular fountain in the centre with a giant disc surrounding the water's edge. On the other sides of the plaza were three towering stone buildings, each with columns and steps leading up to their entrances.
Rachel stood on the footpath waiting as Santana paid the driver and stepped out next to her. She took her by the hand and walked towards the still square, the only movement was the odd person walking past and a security guard wandering the perimeter.
"It's a lovely fountain, but don't you think it would've been better to see it during the day?" Rachel suggested, turning to look at Santana who was smirking. "When it was like...on."
"You really think I dragged you out of bed to see a fountain?"
Santana didn't wait for her to respond, leading her toward a wide pathway between the buildings. It was lit every few feet and led to a street at the opposite end. They had walked a hundred yards when they hit the other side, Santana pulling on their intertwined fingers to get Rachel to stop.
"That is what I wanted to show you."
Rachel's eyes widened and a grin graced her lips as she looked upon the building in front of her. With its pale stone and glass, the modern lines of the architecture stretched as far as Rachel could see either side of the path. She couldn't help but jump excitedly on the spot and launch into Santana's arms.
"Juilliard," she breathed once she let go of her, turning back to the school. "But why did you bring me here?"
"Because this is where you'll study whatever it is that will make you the star you were born to be," Santana said simply, looping her arms around her waist from behind. "The star I know you are and I don't mean the gold kind."
Rachel bumped her playfully at the remark, but snuggled further into her embrace. They stood silent for a measureless moment, both looking over not just the building in front of them but what it symbolised. Her future seemed so big when faced with this first stepping stone and Santana was the one to show it to her. A warm feeling spread across her chest that had nothing to do with the arms wrapped around her.
"And," Santana continued, breaking the silence. "I'll study musical composition."
"You mean it?" Rachel exclaimed, turning around to face the other girl. "Don't play with me Santana."
She nodded in response, Rachel not wasting another moment jumped into her arms once more. She held her tightly on the quiet street, nothing surrounding them not even the distant sound of sirens or the screech of tires on wet ground took away from this perfect moment; the moment when her dream, her future collide with her present.
"Come on."
Santana pulled out of the embrace and lead Rachel across the deserted street. She took a nearby flight of stairs two at a time, opening up onto a set of glass double doors. She approached them and rattled the handles before deciding they were definitely locked.
"Are we allowed up here?" Rachel whispered as they skirted along the side of the building, trying to find another entrance.
"I just want to show you the dramatic arts theatre," Santana explained. "Plus you can be my cell bitch if we get busted."
"What makes you think you wouldn't be mine?" Rachel scoffed, letting the Latina lead her around the low lit school.
"Don't even try to pretend you're a top."
They came to a second door after a few minutes, Santana trying the handle, it popping open at the touch. But before the girls could enter, a blinding light had them shielding their eyes and the sound of distant footsteps had Rachel heart slamming against her rib cage. Her blood ran cold as panic started to set in. Of all the shit Santana had pulled her through and all the rules that she had broken for her, with her, nothing compared to the fear that was now locking her feet into position. Every motion seemed to slow. Every flick of the blinding torch, every movement of Santana's mouth; it all slowed.
This wasn't happening.
She could hear the yelling of the security guard and the screeching of a far away alarm. After a moment everything came back to the present and she found her feet.
"Santana, I can't get done for this," Rachel stammered, her whole body panic stricken. "My future career depends on it."
"Rachel."
"You're such an asshole, why did you talk me into this?"
"Rachel."
"And now we're going to miss Showcase and we're never going to be allowed to apply here and-"
"Rachel!"
Soft, perfect lips pressed against hers, ridding her mind of all thought and panic. All sound and light and feeling were gone in that moment. Because when those lips were on hers nothing else mattered, all faded and there was only Santana. There was only those perfect eyes and that perfect smile and that perfect mouth that was telling her, yelling at her to run.
And so she did.
And fade out...
At least until the epilogue...which I feel is the true end to this story.
Thanks for reading everyone. I hope you loved reading this as much as I loved writing it. I will sorely miss these two, especially because I don't think I'll ever write a Santana like this one again.
I may even write a one-shot or two about their college experience or future shenanigans but for now I will say goodbye to them.
A small epilogue will be up shortly titled A Brief History of Love.
Now I know I'll probably get flooded with 'What happened to them?' and 'Did they get caught?' (well yeah, they did...remember the phone call.) But just wait till the epilogue to find out.