Like I Always Wanted

Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Glee or any of it characters. This is purely for pleasure I get nothing else for this. Want to give a special thanks to Niekie for helping proof read this story for me too. She's all kinds of awesome.

Chapter 21

Saturday Mercedes came over first thing in the morning to eat breakfast with them and re-plan for the next week. They had planned to spend most of it together but with the girls now going to Cheerios camp that wouldn't be possible.

Mercedes sat back drinking her juice. "All I'm saying is it sucks because we were supposed to hang by the pool all week."

Brittany sent her a pout and sighed. "But Cheerio's camp is so much fun; don't be mad."

Santana and Quinn gave Brittany an incredulous look and Rachel shrugged. "We'll just have to hang out in the late afternoon and evenings."

Mercedes sighed. "I know but you guys will be so tired. I was a Cheerio I know how tough those workouts are."

Brittany giggled. "Oh you have no idea about hard workouts until you've been to one my baby is in charge of."

Rachel shook her head, "I am not that bad."

Santana scoffed, "Oh whatever Rae, they call me Satan but I have nothing on you. You in leader mode is like el diablo on crack."

Rachel just huffed while Quinn and Brittany nodded in agreement. Mercedes laughed at the look on Rachel's face. "Oh I can believe it girl. If you were allowed free rein over glee I think you would go overboard there too."

Santana instantly stopped laughing and rounded on her. "Hey, I never said she went overboard just that she was tough but with that lot she had to be."

Mercedes held up a hand as now Brittany and Quinn were scowling at her as well with Rachel just shaking her head rubbing Brittany and Santana's backs. "Hey, I meant no disrespect. I just meant that I can see her being a hard ass that's all. I should have chosen my words better. I'm sorry Rach."

Rachel shrugged. "It's fine."

The girls all just looked at her and shook their heads. Quinn sat back and sighed. "You are entirely to forgiving Rae but I guess we are all thankful for that so whatever," she turned to Mercedes and pointed a finger at her. "You need to watch what you say because she may be forgiving but you know San and I are not so watch yourself 'Cedes."

She just nodded and they all dropped it and continued the conversation about what they were doing the next week. Brittany sat back and draped an arm around Rachel. "I don't care what we do all week but Friday we are going on a date and you guys can hang on your own."

"Well I hope you girls can find time to hang out with a couple of old men that have missed you both so much," came a voice behind them.

Rachel and Brittany turned sharply and were up and in her dads' arms in a heartbeat. "Daddy you were supposed to call me when your plane landed."

Hiram Berry smiled releasing Rachel and trading with Leroy for Brittany. "I know baby girl but we wanted to surprise you."

Brittany melted into him and smiled. "Well it was a great surprised papa H."

Rachel leaned up kissing Leroy on the cheek and he just smiled. "What is this we are hearing about a date young lady?"

Rachel blushed sharing a look with Brittany who nodded once and she looks back to her dad. "Brittany and I admitted our feelings for each other during camp and are dating now."

Hiram smiled and put a hand to his chest. "Oh it's about time you two."

Leroy kissed her temple and pulled Brittany into his embrace as well. "I don't know about this Hiram…"

Rachel looked up at him and slapped him playfully. "Hey, at least we waited until after middle school like you wanted."

They all laughed and Leroy looked to the other girls at the table. "Well, you must me Santana," He held out a hand to her shaking it lightly and bringing it to his lips to kiss the back of it then turned, "and you must be Quinn." He repeated the actions and turned to give Mercedes a one armed hug. "Hello sweetie."

She just smiled. "Hey Mr. L, what'd ya bring me from Europe?"

Leroy laughed and Hiram smirked, "You're lucky we brought you anything young lady. We brought you all a t-shirt from the Eiffel tower."

She shook her head while hugging Hiram. "I was only joking."

Hiram scoffed. "Like we would come back empty handed."

He turned to the other girls and shook hand as well. "Ok girls what are your plans for the day?"

Rachel smiled as they sat at the table and she moved to heat them a plate of breakfast. "We're just planning on hanging by the pool just chillin out. Tomorrow Mami Lopez is coming by for dinner like you wanted and Monday we start Cheerios camp."

Leroy gave her a confused look. "Um… I thought you said they wouldn't let you on their team."

Rachel sighed and told them everything that happened at camp minus the big fall and up to now where coach asked her to be captain.

Hiram and Leroy shared a glance looking uncertain. "I'm not sure about this Rae…"

Santana sat forward with such fire and determination in her eyes it caused them to sit back a bit. "The three of us are on the squad with her and I know we've let her down in the past but I swear to you that we have her back. We will keep her safe. I promise."

Quinn and Brittany both nod along with her and say "we promise too." looking back at them just as serious.

They study the determined girls and smile slightly. "Ok then." Both men smiled as Rachel handed them their food and sat beside Brittany, spending the rest of breakfast just catching up with their Rachel and Brittany and getting to know the others a little better.

When Rachel and Brittany started high school they were so happy thinking that Rachel would finally have a friend around and maybe she would make others. They didn't understand when she came home upset and said that she didn't make the squad because she wasn't even allowed to tryout. They knew how good she was so it baffled them and when Brittany came to them in tears because Rachel wouldn't let them be friends in public it shocked them to their core.

All Rachel had been able to talk about for months was finally going to school with Brittany and how much fun they were going to have. They tried so hard to get her to talk to them and to let Brittany be her friend but in the end she wouldn't be budged. They were not naive in the least little bit. They knew that it was their fault, that their relationship is what caused her so much turmoil.

When Rachel was in middle school and things got really bad for her they almost moved to New York or Chicago thinking a bigger city would be more tolerant but Rachel had a meltdown and lost it crying for 3 days curled in a ball and would only respond to Brittany. She was then a zombie for the next week after. She didn't want to leave her and when all was said and done they couldn't find it in themselves to make her go.

They had talked to Rachel a few times during camp this summer and after she got home. She seemed so much happier stating that she and Brittany had grown closer and she had some really good new/old friends. When she called and asked about Santana moving in they were very apprehensive but she had stated that Santana was her family and she had to do this. Santana needed help, her help, so they agreed with the intention of watching the girl closely when they got home.

Once they did arrive home they hung back for a few just listening to all of the girls interacting and what they heard from the little Latina made them very happy and pretty sure they could trust that she wasn't taking advantage of their baby. Then they heard Brittany talking about a date and decided it was time to let themselves be known and to finally meet these girls.

After breakfast the girls all went outside to lounge by the pool stating that they were just going to hang for a while. Hiram and Leroy just smiled after them and headed up to unpack and get settled in happy to be home. A while later Hiram was walking down the hall upstairs and happened to look into the guest room where Santana was staying and frowned at the mess.

One of their house rules was to keep your own space clean and help keep the common areas clean as well. Hiram's OCD was having real problems with this room. "Lee!"

He called down the hall and Leroy stuck his head out of their room. "What's up babe?"

Hiram shook his head and pointed into the room. "We need to talk to Santana about the house rules."

Leroy came over and sighed. "It's not that bad babe. Let me talk to her because you tend to get a little over zealous about things like this and we don't want to scare the girl."

Hiram nodded his consent knowing he was right and went back to their bedroom as Leroy went to the window in the guest room that looked out over the backyard opening and hanging out of it. "Hey Santana?" He called down and they all looked up. "Sweetie, can you come up here a moment? I need to talk to you a sec."

She shielded her eyes from the sun looking up at him. "Yes sir, I'll be right there." She looked at Rachel concerned. "What did I do?"

Rachel frowned looking back up at the now closed window then her eyes widened. "Did you happen to straighten up your room yesterday after we threw all of our shopping bags and Cheerio's stuff in there?"

Santana shook her head. "Um no, we were going to sort it all today and put it up before tomorrow when the kids came over."

Rachel looked at her sheepishly and stood pulling her up with her leading her into the house. "I'm so sorry; I thought we had time before they got home. Daddy is like really OCD and we have to keep our rooms clean. That's my fault I didn't tell you."

Santana looked up the stairs as they climbed worried. "Um… Am I in trouble or something?"

Rachel shook her head and smiled. "No, I'm sure he just wants to make sure you know that it's one of the house rules to keep your space clean. In this case it's my fault too and you didn't know."

Leroy smiled as they came into the room. "Rachel, I can talk to her alone, I promise not to bite."

Rachel chuckled, "I know daddy but part of this is my mess too. We just kind of threw it all in here and I planned on us getting it all cleaned up before you got home. I honestly forgot about it after you got here early and I didn't explain the rules to San."

Leroy nodded with a smirk then looked to Santana. "Well, Hiram has a thing about clean spaces. It's not as bad as that lady at your school but he does have a touch of OCD and things like this freak him out. All we ask is that you keep your space clean and contribute to make sure the shared spaces stay that way too. Otherwise we are pretty laid back so if you two could please take care of this and the mess I'm sure is in Rachel's room as well Hiram can breathe again."

He laughed and Rachel just blushed knowing he was right about her room as well. "Sorry dad, we'll get it done really quick." He nodded kissing them both on the forehead and went back to his room.

Rachel ran to the window and yelled down to the girls that they needed to clean their rooms before they could come back down but that they'd be fast about it. A few minutes later they were all upstairs helping. Brittany and Quinn knew part of that mess was theirs and Mercedes mostly just talked to them while they worked.

Less than hour later both rooms and their bathrooms were clean and Rachel was yelling down the hall as they went back outside. "Sorry daddy, we fixed it."

"Yeah Mr. H, won't happen again." Santana added for good measure.

Hiram stuck his head out of the room and gave Rachel a stern look. "You know better Rae." She just smiled sheepishly again and he looked to Santana. "Thank you for getting it done so fast. We'll go over the rest of the house rules later tonight. For now you girls have fun at the pool and we'll order pizza in a little while."

They all nodded and headed back down. Santana came up beside Rachel as they went back out. "Is there anything I need to know about right now?"

Rachel shook her head. "No, mostly it's just the keeping the house clean thing. We do have to make sure they know our schedules and if we are going to be late we have to call. Don't leave without letting them know you are and where you'll be. Other than that I really can't think of anything else accept for no boys in the house while they aren't home."

Santana laughed at the last one. "I really don't think that will be a problem as I am a lesbian and that's why I'm living here."

Rachel just shrugged. "I am too and they know it but it's still always been a rule."

Santana looked at her shocked. "Are you telling me that the whole time you dated Finnocence, St. Jackass and Puck that they knew they were what, your beards?"

"Yeah pretty much. They knew that I didn't let anyone at that school really know me. They understood so they just let me be."

Santana looked at her sadly before pulling her into a bone crushing hug. "I'm sorry, I know you asked to stop apologizing but I just… I'm just so sorry for my part in all that bullshit."

Rachel hugged her close and kissed her cheek. "I know you feel bad and I won't say that it what you did was ok but it is forgiven. I just want to move on San."

Santana pulled back on a sigh and nodded to her. "Ok, I'll try to make that my last one."

Rachel squeezed her hand reassuringly and they moved to the pool with the others. Brittany gave her a questioning look and she just shook her head and kissed her chastely to let her know everything was ok.

They spent the rest of the day just hanging out and after pizza Hiram and Leroy came out too and they played pool volleyball then Rachel and Brittany worked forever trying to dunk them. Eventually they looked to the girls for help who just shrugged and moved to help resulting in five drowned girls and two laughing fathers.

Later that night after dinner they took Santana aside and sat her down to explain the rules. The only rule that Rachel hadn't mentioned were rotating meal chores and she was cool with that. After that they all hunkered down in the living room with movies and popcorn. When they went to bed the four all curled up in Rachel's room on her king size bed while Mercedes opted for the couch in her room stating that she moved too much in her sleep and they would all end up on the floor.

Rachel vouched for this as she and Kurt had found that out the hard way the first sleep over they had. Quinn had laughed and said that she thought they weren't allowed to have boys in their rooms and Santana lost it saying he wasn't exactly a boy causing them all to lose it laughing so hard. They settled after that and all fell asleep quickly. When Hiram and Leroy stuck their heads in to check on them they smiled at the dog pile of limbs and backed out heading to bed themselves.

A/N: Up next Mami Lopez and Cheerios camp.