Author's Note: Max'verse! I never realized how popular this particular arc would be, it has actually really surprised me. This is the last of this 'verse that I'll be posting in here, I'm going to create a separate story for it and if I ever feel like adding to it, it'll be in there so look out for it!


Six Word Story: "Hopefully I don't mess this up."

Santana tapped her foot nervously, Rachel had promised she'd come over in the morning to fix things with Max and it was nearing early afternoon with no sign of her.

She honestly should have known, the woman wasn't one for confrontation unless it was forced and she didn't seem like the most logical thinking person either.

In fact she seemed downright insane and a little irrational.

But those qualities were kind of endearing when they weren't directly affecting her son.

She grumbled as she made her way to the door, if Rachel wanted to be a coward then fine, but she wanted to hear it herself now instead of going another two weeks without any word from her.

Santana jumped in surprise as she opened her door and came face to face with a frazzled Rachel.

"I am so sorry, I forgot I had business meetings this morning, I was going to knock and let you know but it was five in the morning and so I was going to text you but I realized I don't even have your number." She rambled quickly, a sincere look of regret in her eyes.

All of the anger Santana had been feeling immediately vanished at the woman's sorrowful expression, "You look insane right now, tiny."

"You have no idea, I'm exhausted. I've been all over the city, from the theater to an office and then back to the theater and to my agent's office." Rachel sighed tiredly. "I didn't forget about my promise though, I've felt so awful all day because I felt like I let you down."

Santana rubbed the woman's arm, "You're here now, go make it right."

"Thanks, San. I was going to leave a post-it but I couldn't find any in my rush this morning which is weird cause I always have them laying around." Rachel frowned.

Santana laughed, "I think Max had something to do with it, he has a bunch of pink sticky notes all over his room."

"That boy, he should know better." Rachel giggled, "Where is he? I'd like to speak with him."

"He's playing video games in his room with Puck," Santana said. "Also, give me your phone so I can put my number in it."

"Oh, you have company? I can come back later.." Rachel trailed off as she handed her phone over, not wanting to impose on Santana's day.

Santana rolled her eyes, "Max, you have a visitor!"

Santana watched Rachel curiously, she looked beyond scared and it was kind of adorable. She had never seen someone look so terrified of an apology.

"Mooom, I'm beating Puck!"

Santana rolled her eyes at the boy's attitude as she quickly typed her number into Rachel's phone, "You can beat Puck later, do you really wanna keep Rachel waiting?"

She grinned as she heard the gasp and thud followed by socked feet scampering down the hall. She had made it a rule to never be with someone her son didn't approve of, and his excitement over Rachel was all the approval she needed. It relaxed her to know that she finally had someone in her life she didn't have to let go because of Max. Not many women wanted to date a woman with a son, and those who stuck around didn't care much for him.

"Rachel! You never come over here, are we hanging out today? I have to tell Puck I can't play anymore." He said all in one breath, the excitement in his eyes growing.

Rachel smiled softly, "I actually came over to apologize to you. I've been a really...crummy friend to you lately and I feel really bad about it."

Max shrugged, "You were busy, mom said you're like The Lion King musical but different."

Rachel tilted her head, "I mean, I'm nothing like–" She paused at Santana's head shake, "Anyways, I haven't been that busy, I just, um, your mom and I had a little spat so I've been avoiding her."

Santana raised an eyebrow, "A spat? Really?"

"What? I didn't know how to say it!" Rachel said.

Santana rolled her eyes, "Hey, kid, you know how I used to date Brittany?" She paused, waiting for Max's nod, "Well Rachel told me she liked me, and then didn't talk to me for a while because she was scared. Kinda like you and Amy, right?"

"We don't talk about Amy, mom." Max glared, "If you like my mom, why'd you ignore her, Rachel?"

Rachel frowned, "I guess I was scared, you know I'm not very good at watching you and it's because I've never really taken care of a child before so liking your mom who has you kind of scared me a little bit."

"But why couldn't we hang out?" Max asked.

"I was just being silly, Maxwell, and I'm really sorry if I hurt your feelings but I'd really like to make it up to you somehow." Rachel offered, hopefully.

Santana covered her face, she already knew exactly how this would play out. There was only one thing she knew Max wanted, and she knew it was the one thing Rachel wouldn't agree to.

Max discreetly smirked at Rachel, a smirk that almost identically matched his mother's, before replacing it with a convincing pout, "Well you did make me kinda sad when we didn't hang out."

"I'll do whatever you want to make it up to you, I feel really bad about it and I'd like it if we could be friends again." Rachel said, biting her lip in anticipation.

Santana watched on with an amused expression, she'd stop her child eventually...after the priceless look on Rachel's face disappeared.

"Anything I want?" Max asked, mischief in his eye.

Rachel nodded, "Anything you can think of that'll make us friends again."

"I want you to hold Batman...and kiss his nose."

Rachel's eyes widened in horror, "W-what? No, Max, anything besides touching the vermin."

"It's the only way, Rachel." Max grinned.

Rachel frowned, "Are you sure there isn't anything else you want? I have money I can—"

"I want you to hold Batman."

Rachel studied the boy looking for the familiar glint he got in his eye whenever he was trying to pull a prank, not finding it she sighed, "Okay, I'll do it."

"I'll go get him! Make sure she doesn't leave, mom." He said as he ran back toward his room.

"You know you don't have to do this, I'll tell him to suck it up and accept your apology." Santana whispered.

Rachel straightened in her seat, "That's not going to do anything, I am teaching him a life lesson by doing this."

"And what is the life lesson he's learning, tiny?" Santana asked in amusement.

"That sometimes people make mistakes and hurt others accidentally, but you can always apologize and hope for the best." Rachel said, her eyes shut tightly as she took deep breaths.

Santana watched her closely, "And how does you holding a rat fit into this?"

"I'm showing him you can always make it up to someone if you hurt their feelings."

"By doing something you don't want to do? Shouldn't you be teaching him you shouldn't do stuff you don't want to just to make someone else feel better?" Santana asked.

Rachel pouted, "I didn't think of it that way, I'm really bad at all this parenting stuff I guess."

Before Santana could reply Max came out of his bedroom with a proud smirk, Batman nestled comfortably on his shoulder. "Ready, Rachel?"

Rachel nodded tensely, "Mhm, yeah, let's get this over with."

"Sometimes he likes to chew on hair, so be careful, he chomped a big piece of Dani's hair off." Max said as he walked closer.

Rachel cringed, "Hurry before I pass out."

Max placed the rodent on Rachel with a cheeky grin, ignoring her stiff posture and terrified look.

Santana watched on with an apologetic stare, wishing she hadn't listened to Rachel and stopped him. She knew the woman wanted to make things right but this definitely wasn't the way to do it, there was no reason for her to be doing something she was terrified of.

"Pet him." Max urged.

"I..don't think I can move." Rachel frowned, frozen in fear.

Max rolled his eyes and guided Rachel's hand to lay on top of the rat, "Now pet him! He likes behind his ears scratched."

Rachel grimaced as she slowly moved her hand down the rat's body, "Okay, there. I did it, get it off."

Max shook his head, "I said you had to kiss his nose."

"I–are you sure? I don't remember that part." Rachel lied as she shuddered in disgust at the thought of putting her lips anywhere near the rat.

"Come on, Rachel! Don't you wanna be friends?"

"If this is how you make friends then I bet you don't have any." Rachel grumbled, trying to figure out a way to get the rat close to her face without touching it again.

"You have to lift him." Max instructed.

"Oh I really didn't want to do that." Rachel whined.

"Just grab him from underneath and then put your other hand on top of him, don't squeeze him though!"

Santana laughed at Rachel's wary stare, "Max, I think Rachel proved she's sorry."

Max sighed, "Just a little peck, I'll hold him if it makes it easier!"

"Okay, fine! Let's get this over with." Rachel groaned.

Max piled the rat up quickly and held him in front of Rachel's face, "Sometimes he likes to lick, so be careful."

Santana stared shocked as Rachel quickly gave the rat a quick kiss on the nose, "I can't believe you did that."

Rachel stood, her eyes still shut tightly, "I have to go disinfect my mouth and make sure I don't have rabies. I also have to sanitize my hands and burn these jeans."

Santana laughed as she guided Rachel to the door, sliding her phone into the back pocket of her jeans, "Do you need me to unlock your door, drama queen?

Rachel blushed as Santana's hand rested on her back, "I'll be okay, um thanks for letting me come over and apologize."

Santana shrugged, "No biggie, you don't have to leave you know. I'm pretty much free unless something happens."

"Well you have company and—"

"Puck isn't at my house, they're playing online. Though I do want you to meet my friends without yelling at them at some point." Santana teased.

Rachel blushed again, "I'm really sorry about that."

"I mean it was kinda funny, we laughed about it for like a week." Santana smirked.

Rachel playfully shoved her, "Don't be rude. I'm going to—"

"Stay." Santana said, biting her lip. "I mean, you don't have to I just—"

"I want to, I just really need to shower." Rachel admitted sheepishly.

"Are–because of Batman?" Santana asked in amusement.

"Yes, Santana, because of the disgusting little rodent." Rachel said in disgust. "You know, I really don't understand how you allow that thing in your home, they're so dirty and gross and carry diseases. Furth—"

Santana rolled her eyes and pushed the woman into the hall, "Go shower the crazy off yourself, I'll make us some lunch."

"I'm—"

"Vegan, I know. This isn't the first time we've ever talked, jeez. Cut me some slack, I remember things." Santana frowned.

Rachel smiled and shook her head, "I was going to say that I'd be really quick, but I'm glad you remember things."

"You totally did that on purpose." Santana said, eyes narrowed in accusation as Rachel walked into her own apartment.

"I guess you'll never know." She said before disappearing behind the closed door.


Santana sighed in content as she moved effortlessly around the kitchen, no one had made her feel like this in a really long time and the fact that it was her crazy, yet completely hot neighbor made it even better. She had never in a million years thought she'd live across the hall from Rachel Berry, the woman really was amazing in the shows she had done, she knew how to captivate an audience with just one look.

There was just something about Rachel that made her heart race yet still at the same time and it was weird because girls like Rachel had never been her type, she liked tall blondes, not short brunettes that were way too loud and probably insane. But she did have great legs, and a mesmerizing smile that had Santana entranced for hours.

Santana tried to think about the exact moment she realized her feelings for Rachel as she began making lunch.

It had to have been the way she had cared for Max without even knowing anything about him, letting him into her home and watching him without question that first time that made her realize Rachel was a decent person–even if she lectured her about it afterwards.

Every day that she had watched Max after that was just another day of Santana seeing Rachel as something other than uptight, she was seeing her as caring and gentle, even a little funny some days.

She really was adorable, there were so many little things she did that had Santana smiling like an idiot for most of the day. Like the baked goods she'd send home with Max or the food she'd have out for Santana to eat whenever she got home.

The more Santana thought about it, the more she realized the exact day her feelings had been made clear.

It was the day they went to the zoo, knowing Rachel was fully prepared to take him there herself had she not showed up. It was being there together, watching her goof around with Max and join in on their silly games they always played. No one had ever done that besides Puck and Dani, but Rachel had. She joined them in trying to making the monkeys angry and she joined in when they tried to catch a pigeon, she even played along when they pretended not to speak English.

That was the day Santana had realized maybe Rachel wasn't the uptight neighbor she had made herself out to be, she was compassionate and thankful toward everything Santana had done.

She knew Rachel had a crush on her before the kiss, the woman definitely wasn't the most discreet about it. The longing stares and slight blushes every time they were around each other were proof enough, not to mention the way Rachel had always stared at her as if she were picturing her naked–especially after finding out about Santana's stripper days.

The kiss had taken her by surprise, she hadn't expected Rachel to be so forward though the ignoring was exactly what she had expected after the woman had fled into her own apartment.

Santana had come to realize that Rachel was impulsive, never thinking things through fully before actually doing them. She had spent so many years studying people and she could tell that Rachel was the type to fall into the pressure of her own mind, her brain was her biggest enemy along with her overzealous imagination.

But despite all of those things she really was an amazing woman, the super hadn't been lying when he said she was the neighbor to befriend, she was a good person to have on your side. She cared about everyone, which was rare in this city of way too many people.

New York was a cold place, Santana had learned that the hard way when she had moved out all those years ago but somehow since knowing Rachel it had felt more like home than it ever had before.

She knew the actress was wary about having a family and Santana knew there was no way they'd ever buy a house in the outskirts together, but maybe if things worked out they could get a bigger apartment in the city, one with a view and two floors. She knew children weren't in Rachel's future, but that was okay because she had Max, she had raised him and went through the trials and tribulations of being a new mother, she didn't need to start all over again with another kid, especially because she knew the boy was only going to be even more of a handful than he already was as he got older.

The more Santana thought about it the more she realized that she and Rachel were actually really good for each other, they wanted the same things and both had established careers they were already proud of. There was no more work to be done, they had settled their lives separately and now was the time to start cohabiting–assuming Rachel was also against the idea of marriage.

She didn't want to get carried away, she barely knew Rachel and there could be things about her that just changed everything. But from what she did know it seemed almost as though the universe had finally done something right by leading them to each other.

Santana wasn't a firm believer in god, but something told her that someone up there was looking out for her.


Santana grinned behind her menu as she listened to Rachel argue with Max over french fries not being a vegetable and how they weren't suitable for dinner.

Lunch had gone well and they had spent the day just hanging out in the apartment, Rachel insisting they go out for dinner together–Max included.

Santana wasn't exactly sure if it was a date, she had never been on a first date that she brought her kid to but it was going so well and she really did want to consider it a date she just wasn't sure where Rachel was at with all of this.

"But fries come from a potato, that's a vegetable."

"Maxwell, I swear you are so difficult. French fries are not a vegetable, they're a greasy food you definitely shouldn't eat...ever."

Santana rolled her eyes, "Are you seriously trying to tell me you've never had fries?"

"I can honestly say I've never had even one french fry in my whole life." Rachel said proudly.

Max stared at his mother in shock, his jaw dropped wide open.

Santana shook her head, "I don't believe it."

"You can call my fathers, I have never had one." Rachel said.

"I mean..how? Not even in your drunk college days?" Santana asked, horrified.

Rachel shrugged, "I never had drunk college days, I went to class, did my work, auditioned for shows, waitressed and kept a perfect GPA."

"What's a drunk college day, mom?" Max asked.

"Something you'll never do because I'll kick your butt if you do it, got it?" Santana asked, her eyebrow raised daring him to argue. "I can't believe this, you haven't lived, tiny."

"My best friend Kurt and I have gone to clubs, it's not like I've never been drunk!" Rachel said.

Max looked up from his coloring with a thoughtful expression, "Is Kurt the one that came over?"

Rachel frowned, "Kurt never came over."

"Max, you finish coloring that picture, kid." Santana said quickly, trying to distract him away from the conversation. The last thing she needed was Rachel storming out because Kurt had visited her.

Max ignored her as her shook his head, "He came over yesterday to talk to mom, he looked like he was going to a special dinner."

Rachel turned her attention to Santana, "Kurt came to see you?"

Santana sighed, "Don't be mad at him, he really cares about you and he was just trying to help. Actually I'm surprised he didn't tell you himself, I kind of handcuffed him."

"You...handcuffed him? Why?" Rachel asked slowly.

"I thought he was with a gossip magazine or something, I don't know." Santana frowned.

"How did you think he got into the building, let alone to our floor? You need a key for both those things." Rachel said in amusement.

"I wasn't thinking about it, I just..he–shut up." Santana mumbled.

Rachel giggled and nudged Santana's foot, "You're cute, I wish all my dates were as cute as you."

"Dates huh?" Santana asked, doing her best to conceal the hopefulness in her voice.

"Mhm, if you want it to be." Rachel said, biting her lip nervously.

Santana grinned, "I definitely want this to be a date."

Rachel leaned back in her seat, "Good cause I was going to consider this a date whether you agreed or not."

"Oh yeah?" Santana asked, "Tell me, Rachel Berry, do you kiss on the first date?"

"Guess you'll have to find out." Rachel smirked.

"Ew, you guys are gross." Max whined.

Santana laughed and ruffled the boy's hair, "Haircut soon, kid. You're starting to look homeless."

Max backed away from her quickly, "Aw, mom! I like it like this."

"I'm sure a trim wouldn't hurt, maybe even in a way you could style it and make it look neat." Rachel offered.

Max shook his head, "No, I like it this way."

"You're impossible, kid." Santana sighed.

"I'm your impossible kid." Max grinned.

"I know and I regret rescuing you from the dog pound every day." Santana teased, winking at Rachel in the process.

"I knew he resembled a puppy more than a child." Rachel played along.

Santana watched on in amusement as Max and Rachel playfully fought with each other, she had never seen her son so incredibly happy as he was with Rachel. He was so carefree and captivated with her, much like Santana was as well.

She watched Rachel tickle Max with a soft expression, for someone that hated kids all of two months ago she sure seemed completely comfortable with them now.

She knew Rachel cared about Max, it showed every time she looked at him with that adorable, caring gaze.

Or how she held his hand tighter than necessary when they walked down the street, always making sure to keep him on the side furthest from the road.

Or the fact that she cared about the things he ate and drank, even going as far as taking the knife out of his napkin despite him learning to use one at the age of five.

She was protective, maybe even almost as protective as Santana, and that was something the cop really liked about her.

She caught Rachel's eye across the table and gave her a warm smile, maybe right now was too soon to tell, but she could see herself really loving Rachel Berry one day.


"I had a really good time tonight, Santana. I know it wasn't a conventional date cause your son was there but it was important to me to include him." Rachel said quietly, leaning up against the wall beside her door.

"I had a good time too, I'm glad you wanted to include Max, it really showed me that you're serious about being apart of my life–all aspects of my life." Santana said, watching Max disappear into their apartment.

"I am, and I'd really like to do this again sometime..just us." Rachel said with a hopeful smile.

Santana grinned, "Definitely I just, hm." She paused, "Hopefully I don't mess this up."

Rachel shook her head and squeezed Santana's hand, "You couldn't if you tried, I think we both know if anyone is going to mess up, it'll be me."

Santana squeezed back gently, "How about neither of us mess this up and we just keep it together? I feel something for you, tiny and I can see whatever I'm feeling for you turn into something else in the future if we let it."

Rachel smiled and nodded, "Me too."

Santana softly pecked the actress's lips, "Goodnight, Rachel."

Rachel grinned and connected their lips again, "Goodnight, Commissioner Lopez."

Santana watched as Rachel disappeared into her apartment, she definitely wouldn't mind seeing where things with Rachel went, the woman was addicting in every sense.

She just hoped things lasted and lead to greater, more intimate things. She wanted to know everything about Rachel, all of her likes and dislikes, the things that made her who she was. She'd spend the rest of her life trying to figure it out if she was able to.

Hopefully neither one of them messed it up.


Thank you to everyone for being so supportive and loving this story, your support is what pushed me to make this its own story now that I've ended it in a good spot. Any new updates for this 'verse will be there instead of here. Also...review!