Six Word Story: "And then we never spoke again."
"Mom?"
Rachel smiled softly at the sound of her daughter's whispered call, it wouldn't matter how old she was, a thunderstorm always reverted her back into a little girl.
"Well don't just stand in the hall, come sit with me on the couch, Lexi."
The teen smiled sheepishly and made her way over to cuddle into her mother, "Sorry, I just hate storms."
Rachel kissed the girl's head as it was laid on her shoulder, "It's okay, I like the time we get to spend together."
"Me too, will you tell me the story again?" Lexi asked with a yawn as she pulled her legs up onto the couch and covered herself with the blanket Rachel was using.
"You really wanna hear it again? Don't you get sick of it?" Rachel asked with a laugh.
The teen shook her head, "No, it's basically my favorite story in the world. Better than you meeting Barbra."
"Nothing is better than me meeting Barbra." Rachel said dramatically.
"But okay, if you insist. I was nineteen when we met and I will never forget it as long as I live,"
Rachel groaned in frustration as she once again failed to make her dancing work in time with the music playing, she was going to be so dead if she didn't figure it out soon. Her teacher definitely wasn't the nurturing, fun loving teacher she expected to have at a school specializing in the arts.
"You know, if you just loosen your moves you'll get it. You're worrying about it too much instead of focusing on the dance moves."
Rachel stared at the girl through the mirror with narrowed eyes, she definitely didn't belong at NYADA, let alone anywhere near the dance class.
She was wearing a skin tight teal dress with a worn leather jacket over, six inch heels on her feet and about ten pounds of jewelry.
"Thanks for the advice, but you look like the opposite of someone who should be giving it." Rachel said with an eye roll.
"Whatever, I think I know more than you. Let me guess, you're a freshman?"
"Sophomore, and I'll have you know I've been taking dance classes since I was two. I don't need some girl who looks like she got lost on her way to the club to tell me how to dance." Rachel said as she restarted her music and got back into place.
The woman smirked, "You're snarky, Cassie was right about you, you do have the fire."
Rachel paused in the middle of her dancing, "You know Miss. July? You've talked about me, is that even legal? I doubt you're a TA."
"I graduated last year, I'm a choreographer thanks to Cassie, if it weren't for her kicking my ass every day and writing me a hell of a good recommendation letter I wouldn't be where I am."
"Santana Lopez, I'm positive you've heard about me."
Rachel's eyes widened, she had definitely heard of Santana Lopez. She hadn't thought the girl actually existed, she thought it was one of NYADA's famous tales, to see the girl in the flesh was amazing.
Rumor had said that Santana was one of the best choreographers anyone had ever seen, and it was even more outstanding due to her young age, she was only twenty two and already working for some of the best.
"I am so sorry, I'm—"
"Rachel Berry, I know. I've heard a lot about you." Santana said as she walked further into the dance classroom, sliding the door closed behind her.
"W-what are you doing?" Rachel asked nervously, Santana had also had a reputation for being quite cruel with her words and actions, and that was something Rachel definitely didn't want to experience today.
"This is totally between us but Cassie asked me to work with you one on one so you'd get the dance right for evaluation tomorrow." Santana shrugged, "She says you're talented and you've got what it takes, you just need help perfecting it."
"Why would you agree to help me when you could be choreographing for Lady Gaga?" Rachel asked.
Santana sat on the piano and crossed her legs, "Cassie says you're talented and worth the risk..plus I owe her a favor. So, what do you say? Can I help you?"
Rachel bit her lip, she really did need help getting it right if she wanted to pass the evaluation tomorrow and the class in general.
According to the gossip, Santana was the absolute best and she was willing to help..she couldn't pass up this opportunity.
"Okay, if you're sure you can help me then I would love your help." Rachel finally agreed nervously.
Santana smirked, "Good choice, Schwim—" She paused noticing the frown on Rachel's face, "Maybe I'll stick with Berry."
Lexi smiled, "I can't believe the two of you got together, you're so different."
Rachel hummed in agreement, "Sometimes different is better than finding someone exactly like you. It's more exciting."
"That's definitely the case with you and ma." The teen joked, her mothers were complete opposites in every sense.
"So, how long did it take for you to date?" She prodded.
Rachel rolled her eyes, "You've heard this story so many times, you probably know it better than I do."
The teen pouted, "Pretend I've never heard it."
Rachel laughed, "Okay okay. We really didn't date for a while, she helped me with my dancing the entire semester and I honestly can thank her for helping me pass with such an amazing grade and Cassandra July's approval."
"The first time I realized I liked her was terrifying for so many reasons, she was older than me, established in her career and not to mention absolutely stunning. I still get butterflies when I think about it,"
Rachel paced nervously in the apartment she shared with her best friend Kurt.
Santana was coming over for dinner and a movie, like she had done many times since they had met.
Except this time was different.
The minute Rachel had gotten her grades and passed dance was also the minute she realized she had feelings for Santana.
They had been working closely with one another for over four months, even hanging out when practicing dance moves wasn't involved.
Santana had weaseled her way into Rachel's guarded heart, and it was terrifying.
She was abrasive, snarky, short tempered and a mega bitch sometimes but she was also caring, goofy, extremely loving and loyal to those who mattered.
She loved crime shows and movies about the world ending while Rachel loved trashy reality shows and musicals but somehow they managed to watch everything together happily.
Rachel was finding herself enjoying Scandal while Santana was completely hooked on Real Housewives.
They were completely different but they just worked together.
Santana liked to sleep in when she had a free day, but worked her ass off when she didn't. Where as Rachel loved getting up early no matter what she had going on.
There were so many qualities and quirks and Rachel found herself falling for every single one.
She was shaken from her thoughts by the knocking on the door, more than likely Santana waiting on the other side.
She slid the door open sheepishly, "Sorry, I didn't hear the door right away."
Santana shrugged, "S'okay, did you have your earphones in again? I should really just have a key to this place, what if you're dancing around and hit your head?"
"Well even though that would happen to me, it's not going to, promise." Rachel said. "So, what movies did you bring tonight?"
Santana grinned and held up the wrapped box she was carrying, "I got you something much better."
Rachel ran her fingers over the sparkly wrapping paper, "San...you didn't have to get me anything."
Santana waved her off, "It's nothing, besides you passed dance so that's reason enough. And also..this is a gift for me too, seeing as how much time I spend here I thought it would be a good addition."
"Open it." Santana pushed.
Rachel smiled and shook her head as she tore the paper off, a confused look on her face as she studied the box, "I think this was definitely just a gift for you."
"We can watch Netflix on it, that makes it a gift for everyone." Santana grinned excitedly.
Rachel laughed at the girl's expression, "I can't believe you're this excited over an Xbox."
"You'll be excited too after I teach you how to use it." Santana pouted.
Rachel resisted the urge to kiss the woman's pout away, "Why don't you set it up while I go finish dinner?"
Santana bit her lip, "There's something else. I uh, I got you a game."
"A game? What one?" Rachel asked curiously.
Santana handed her the wrapped game with a shy smile, "I figured it was the perfect thing to get you."
Rachel unwrapped the game and laughed, "Thank you, San." She said as she pulled the woman in for a tight hug. "I really will use this."
Santana hugged Rachel back just as tightly, "Good that was the point. Now go finish dinner, I'm starving."
"Okay, baby." Rachel said as she tossed the Just Dance game on the couch and made her way into the kitchen, her eyes widening as she realized her slip up.
"Maybe she'll think I meant it like I was calling her a baby." Rachel whispered to herself assuringly as she checked on the noodles cooking on the stove.
Honestly she was having an internal battle with herself over her tiny slip up that wasn't even that big a deal.
Santana brought out things in her she thought she got over after she graduated high school.
She set the food on the table and gave it a once over, everything looked perfect. Thank god it wasn't a visual interpretation of her mind because then it would be a colossal disaster.
"San, dinner's ready!" Rachel called out as she pulled a bottle of wine out of the cupboard.
"Smells good, what'd you make?" Santana asked as she walked into the kitchen.
Rachel smiled as she sat down, "Just a stir fry, did you finish hooking up the game?"
"Yeah, your tv was super easy to set it up on. Blaine and Sam are going to love me when the find out you and Kurt have an Xbox now." Santana said.
Rachel rolled her eyes, "They already love you, silly. All my friends love you."
"Do you?" The Latina asked.
Rachel's bites slowed at the question, "Do I what?"
"Love me." Santana said with a playful smirk.
"Yes, of course." Rachel said, a blush creeping up her neck and onto her face.
"Sweet, ditto. I don't know how you did it, Berry, but you've totally captivated me. Go out with me sometime." Santana said, her smirk still in place.
"W-what? Like a date?" Rachel asked nervously.
Santana nodded, "Yeah, like a date."
"Okay." Rachel said simply, a small smile on her face.
"That was easier than I thought it would be, Berry. But I'm kind of glad you didn't put up a fight, it would have totally fucked with my confidence." Santana said as she began eating.
Rachel giggled, "That's impossible, you have more confidence than anyone I know."
"Not when it comes to you, I've totally restrained myself from asking you out the entire semester. You make me a nervous wreck." Santana shrugged.
Rachel bit her lip and leaned across the table to tilt Santana's head up, "You make me an emotional mess, and I'm okay with it."
Santana blushed and licked her lips, "I'm really excited for our date."
Rachel stared at the woman's lips, "Yeah..me too."
"Screw first date rules." Santana said as she connected their lips in a gentle kiss.
Rachel smiled as she thought about her first kiss with Santana, "It was one of the best moments of my life. I'll never forget how much passion there was in such an innocent kiss."
"I hope to find someone like that one day." Lexi said with a hopeful sigh.
"You're only fifteen, you have tons of time." Rachel stated.
"You sound like ma."
"That's what twenty years of being together does to a person." Rachel joked.
A loud clap of thunder boomed through the penthouse apartment, startling the young teen closer to her mother.
"Keep telling the story." She mumbled against Rachel's shoulder.
"Things were rocky the first year we dated, I was juggling school, work and I had gotten cast in a Broadway show. She had her own stuff going on too, we were busy and we barely saw each other but when we did it was either really great or we fought all the time. But we were in love,"
Rachel rushed down the street looking like a crazy person, her hair was a mess, she had a giant bag on her shoulder that had items almost falling out and her clothes were wrinkled and buttoned incorrectly.
Her and Santana had been dating for almost a year now and things definitely weren't easy.
Santana was helping Cassandra at NYADA while also choreographing for a music video by Mercedes Jones while Rachel was going to school, working at a diner and had recently been cast in Funny Girl.
Tonight was date night and she was running very late, Santana had even agreed to have the date at the diner because Rachel had to work the night shift.
She had gotten held up at rehearsals, the director had wanted them to keep running through it because some people just weren't getting it.
"I'm so so sorry I'm late, San, it wasn't my fault. The guy who plays Nick is a total—"
"Rach, it's okay. I don't want to fight tonight, okay?" Santana said as she stood to greet her girlfriend.
Rachel relaxed into the embrace and kissed Santana's jaw gently, "Thank you, you've been so patient with me and with everything going on. You're amazing, Santana Lopez, I don't know how you do it."
"I just love you a lot." Santana said as they sat in their usual booth by the window.
"You..I love you a lot too, San." Rachel said with a tiny smile.
Things had always been simple between them, there was never a need for dramatics or reason to make a big deal out of stuff that happened. They realized they worked better this way, their personalities clashed less when they just relaxed and made things simple.
"So, does your producer have an idea of when you're going to open?" Santana asked.
Rachel sighed, "Honestly? With the way Paolo is, we're never going to open. He also doesn't even know where we're going to be doing our practice run yet."
Santana frowned, "I'm sorry, I'm sure it'll come together soon. You're going to be the glue to that show."
"You're my number one supporter, you know that right?" Rachel blushed.
"Duh, I think we learned that last year when I offered to help you." Santana grinned.
"We moved in together shorty after our one year anniversary, we were tired of not seeing each other and we figured if we lived together we were bound to see each other more often." Rachel remembered with a smile.
"Did it work?"
Rachel nodded, "Mostly, but it also caused more fights. She was so messy and you know how I feel about things being in order. I hated coming home and seeing things everywhere."
"But it got better, easier even. Things were so good and perfect for a while, we were almost at our third year anniversary when things started getting bad again,"
"Rach, you home?" Santana called out as she walked into their tiny apartment.
"I'm in the bath!"
Santana grinned and quickly made her way into the bathroom, "Hello, gorgeous."
Rachel giggled, "You're adorable. What's up?"
"I got the best news every today, like...god it's amazing." Santana said as she sat on the counter that faced the bathtub.
"Tell me!"
"Beyoncé's people got in touch with me today...she wants me to choreograph for her world tour."
"Oh my god, Santana! That's amazing, baby!"
Santana grinned excitedly, "Yeah it doesn't kick off until next year but I would have to leave in about three months to go and start rehearsals and stuff."
Rachel paused, "Wait, what? What do you mean leave?"
"Well I have to go there to do choreo, Rach. She's not here, she's in Los Angeles." Santana explained.
"Oh..how long will you be gone for?" Rachel asked quietly.
Santana bit her lip, "Well it's figuring out choreography, then teaching it to her and her dancers and then rehearsing it pretty much every day until the tour kicks off."
"So, a year then?"
Santana shook her head, "Rach, I have to go on the tour too in case they need help or forget or we need to do something new."
"But...those tours last so long." Rachel said.
"I think hers is just under a year, but yeah it is long. Look, we don't have to decide right away or anything. I have a week to get back to her people." Santana assured with a smile.
Rachel frowned, "San..it's an amazing opportunity."
"So are you."
"Let's just talk about it, okay? We'll figure it out." Rachel assured. "Now come join me in the tub."
"I thought you'd never ask." Santana said as she stripped and got in the tub.
Santana tapped her fingers on the kitchen table while she waited for Rachel to get home, her girlfriend said she'd be home at six and it was now eight.
She glared at the cold dinner and burnt out candles in front of her, it was almost as if they were mocking her. Screaming at her that she should have known better.
She really should have known better.
Tonight was the night she was going to tell Rachel she wasn't going to do the tour because she could find work in the city, and it might not be as glamorous as working for Beyoncé but she didn't need the music diva.
She had her own diva right here, one that she hoped would become her wife.
Santana rolled her eyes as she played with the engagement ring, so much for that.
Rachel being late without so much of a text to say she would be really pissed Santana off, she was tired of living like this. She was tired of never seeing the other woman despite living together.
At least if she was in another state there would be a reason they never saw each other.
Her mind was made up, she couldn't do it anymore.
"God, San, I am so sorry. My phone died and I got stuck on the subway and—" Rachel gasped as she walked into the kitchen and saw the dinner Santana had made on the table, "You made dinner. Santana, I'm so sorry."
Santana shrugged, "It's whatever. Anyways, we gotta talk."
Rachel frowned as she sat down, "You're mad."
"I'm not mad, it doesn't matter. We really gotta talk, it's about the Beyoncé job—"
"Oh, can I go first?" Rachel asked.
"Uh, okay.." Santana said in confusion.
"I've been doing a lot of thinking, this is a really big opportunity for you and I can't let you say no. It's Beyoncé, San." Rachel grinned.
"I couldn't agree more." Santana said.
Rachel frowned at her girlfriend's short response, "Anyways, my contract is up next month and I've decided I want to take a break from it all. The show, the diner, New York."
"What are you saying?"
Rachel bit her lip, "I want to come with you to California while you do all the prep work for the tour. And then when you actually go on tour I'll come back to New York. But I want to be with you while I can."
Santana shook her head quickly, "No."
"What do you mean no?" Rachel asked.
"I mean no, I-no, Rachel. We don't work now, you think we're going to work when I have seventeen hour days and you have nothing going on?" Santana asked, anger rising inside of her.
"I would go on auditions for stuff, I've done Broadway and there's talk that I'm getting nominated for a Tony, I think it's time to work on the Emmy or Oscar!" Rachel exclaimed. "I would be doing stuff too, do you honestly think if we're not going to work like that we'll work being in two different states? With a time difference?"
"No, I don't think we'd work."
"Exact—Wait, what? What are you trying to say?" Rachel asked.
"What I'm trying to say is that I realized some shit tonight. I had it all planned out, and of course you were late like always. It opened my eyes." Santana said. "I was going to give it all up you know. I wasn't going to go, I was going to ask you to marry me tonight." She said, tossing the ring at Rachel's surprised face.
Rachel stared at the ring with watery eyes, "San..I don't know what to say."
Santana rolled her eyes, "There's nothing to say, I'm not asking you. I'm going to California and you're staying here."
Rachel shook her head, "No, Santana! No! I will not let you go, we've been through too much, I love you too much. I'm coming with you."
"I don't want you to come with me, Rachel! I love you, but I can't do it anymore. We've had more bad days than good ones, that's a problem. Let's just...see how things go after the tour, okay? I'll love you forever but I, we, need some space."
Rachel let the tears fall freely, "San, please don't do this okay? I'll come with you, things will be better. We can get engaged and I'll plan the wedding and we can get married when the tour is over. It'll work, we'll work."
Santana shook her head and knelt in front of Rachel, cupping her face tightly, "No, baby."
"Please, San."
Santana shook her head and connected their lips, "After the tour we'll see where we're at, okay?"
"Promise me."
Santana rested her forehead against Rachel's and nodded, "I promise."
Rachel wiped a stray tear from her eye as she remembered that day, "And then we never spoke again."
"I mean, there were words exchanged as she packed her things and when she left, but after that there was nothing. The last I heard she married one of the backup dancers, Brittany Pierce. They've been married a while."
"Do you regret not going after her?" Lexi asked quietly.
Rachel shook her head, "I wouldn't have you if I went after Santana. I wouldn't have your ma either."
"I'll always love Santana, she was the love of my life, but your ma saved me. I was miserable for two years and on my twenty fifth birthday Uncle Kurt forced me to go out, and that's when I met your ma."
"Kurt, I really don't wanna be here." Rachel whined.
"Diva, it's been two years. You really need to get over it, she's dating one of the dancers." Kurt said.
"I know, I just—" Rachel was cut off as she ran into someone and spilled their drink. "Oh my god, I am so sorry."
The girl smiled, "It's okay, I wasn't paying attention either. I'll let it go if you buy me a new drink."
"I will if you tell me your name." Rachel flirted.
"It's Quinn. Quinn Fabray."
"Nice to meet you, Quinn. I'm Rachel Berry, how about that drink?"
"That'd be nice." Quinn said with a grin.
"Kurt I'm going—"
"Go, diva!" Kurt urged quickly, pushing Rachel in the blonde's direction.
"After that drink we exchanged numbers and started hanging out more. It took me a while to open myself up again, but she was so patient with me. We were married four years later and then we had you a year after. I'll never regret staying with her, I love her and I love you." Rachel said, placing a kiss on Lexi's head.
"I want you to know that no matter how I talk about Santana, your ma will always be number one in my heart. Santana was my first real love, and I'll always feel something for her but I wouldn't change a thing."
"I'm glad you were able to find someone else after going through that, mom." Lexi said with a yawn.
Rachel smiled and rubbed the teen's back, "Me too, baby."
The girl's breathing evened out quickly, soft snoring following. Something she definitely got from Quinn.
"Hey, you."
Rachel smiled, "Hi, love."
Quinn smiled as she sat down next to her wife, "Why are you out here? I didn't even notice you left our bed."
"The rain started and I knew it was going to turn into a storm so I came out here, you know how she gets." Rachel said as she smiled down at her daughter.
"Did she make you tell her the story again?"
Rachel nodded, "Yeah, it's like a fairytale for her."
"Quinn?"
Quinn hummed, "Yeah, Rae?"
"I just want you to know I don't regret any of it. I wouldn't go back and change a thing because it all led me to you. I love our life and I couldn't think of anything better."
Quinn smiled and kissed Rachel's cheek gently, "I know, honey. I'll always be grateful to Santana for not realizing what she let go."
Rachel hummed softly, she wouldn't change her life for anything. She loved her wife and their daughter, her life may be different than she had thought it would be but it was a good different.
She'd always love Santana deep down, but the past was meant to stay in the past.
I'm upset with myself for writing this. Review!