Up In The Air ch. 14
As much as I love traveling and touring for my music and I honestly never thought that I would love anything more than the life that I'm living before I met Rachel and the ninos but I've been proven wrong. The entire time that I was gone, I could stop thinking about the next time that I would see and I couldn't wait to get back to them when I was done promoting as I couldn't wait to get away from my manager Artie. He's incredibly sweet guy and he definitely knows what he's doing but sometimes he can really drive me up a fuckin' wall with his micromanaging and nitpicking as I came close to slapping him a few times. I could feel Snixx coming out to play when the little nerd try to take my phone away from me when he was trying to explain something to me but I thought of my girl back at home and I knew that she wouldn't want me hitting a guy in a wheelchair.
I take a cab back to my place from the airport to drop my stuff at my place before stretching my arms over my head, cracking my back in a few places then grabbing my car keys, heading towards the one place that I truly wanted to be the last two weeks. Fifteen minutes later, I'm standing in front of the tiny diva's apartment and before I could knock on the door, it opens suddenly as I find myself looking up at the sky because I'm tackled to the ground by a bunch of ninos. They bombarded me with hugs and kisses with a bunch of questions that I didn't know which to answer first but I definitely feel loved in this moment as I pull the three of them into my arms, hugging them as tightly as possible because I missed them so much while I was gone. I look up when I hear footstep walking towards the front door to see the singer standing in the doorway with mouth agape as the ninos finally let me up as I walk over towards the older woman, pulling her into my arms and kiss her senselessly.
We only stopped when Bailey starts making gagging noises, making chuckle slightly as I reach over to ruffle his hair affectionately then the five of us move this reunion inside when a old woman from down the hall said that we were making a ruckus. Apparently Rachel was in the middle of making dinner when I show up as I instructed the ninos to wash up and straighten up the living room where they were occupying as I help with the cooking. It smells amazing and it's honestly fuckin' delicious as nothing beats a home cooked meal after being on the road, eating greasy fast food constantly as we sitting down at the table with Harmony talking a mile a minute about what I missed. Bailey and Marley added their two cents to what their sister had left out before the little artist tells me about this contest that he's thinking about enter but wasn't sure if he should do it or not but I tell that he should.
I mean that the kid is easily one of the most talented artist that I've ever seen and he's a shoe in to win as whoever else is entering should be deathly afraid of going up against him, earning a blushing the curly haired boy. Once the food was eaten, I start washing the dishes even though the singer said that I should be resting and that I was a guest in her home but I didn't mind washing dishes as she relents, drying the dishes that I place in the dish rack. We move to the living room to find the kids watching the first minutes of the Lion King as I flop down on the couch, pulling the diva down onto my lap then wrapping my arms around her waist, inhaling her scent. I could feel myself dozing off midway through the movie. I vaguely hear Rachel usher the ninos to bed which was met with some protest, saying that they wanted to stay up longer with me but I told them that they could over to my place on Saturday since they still have to go to school tomorrow.
I promise to see when it lets out which is earns cheers and high-fives as the three of them gives me a hug and kiss before scurrying off to their rooms as I look up at the singer smiles at me as much as I didn't want to leave right now, it's getting late. I know that she probably has work in the morning and if I don't leave now, I might end up falling asleep behind the wheel as coming here after an five and half flight from Los Angeles after a long day of promoting. I get up to head for the door when a tan hand wraps around my wrist, stopping me as I look over my shoulder at the tiny diva who's looking down at her shoes with a small blush painting her cheeks. I raise an eyebrow at her as she pulls me further into the apartment to her room before letting go of me to rummage through her drawers, handing me a t-shirt and flannel pants.
I'm surprised that Rachel letting me spent the night as it's something we never talked about and I didn't want to assume anything because I'm making process with her come over to the apartment. I snap out of my stupor when she pushes me towards the bathroom to change and a few minutes later, I find the tiny diva sitting in the middle of the bed in spaghetti string tank top and sleep shorts that make her run on for miles. I set my clothes on top of the dresser before climbing underneath the covers and I could tell that the singer was nervous from how tense her shoulders then it dawn on me that the last person that she shared a bed with her bastard of a husband. I'm honored that she's allowing me in here but the last thing that I wanna do if make her uncomfortable as I take her face in my hand, kissing her softly before telling her that she doesn't have to force herself and I'm more than okay with sleeping on the couch.
I get up to do just that when a hand grabs the front of my shirt as Rachel looking down that her eyes were hidden underneath her bangs before quietly whispering for me not to go then looking up at me pleadingly. I asked if she was sure about this and the singer nods the affirmative as I lay back down, unsure of what to do now and I knew that neither of us are going to get any sleep like this as I move towards my girlfriend, making her lay on her side facing away from me. I wrap my arms around her middle as she lace our fingers together, kissing the back of her shoulder and I could feel myself falling asleep when Rachel says something but I ask her to repeat it again.
"I'm sorry"
"Why are you sorry Estrella?" I asked curious.
"It's been so long since I shared a bed with someone and even longer since the last time that someone simply held me in their arms. I freaked out a little"
"It's okay to be scared, Rach and I get it but you have to know that I wouldn't do anything to hurt you or make you uncomfortable" I said lightly squeezing her side. "It's why I offered to sleep on the couch"
"I wouldn't have let you but thank you for thinking of me. It's been a long time that I've felt safe and treasured and I feel that way when I'm with you" Rachel said turning over to face me. "I feel myself falling for you, Santana and sometimes it's very scary because the last time that I fell for someone, they left me but I… I think that I can trust you to catch me"
"Always Estrella even if you think that this relationship isn't going anywhere. I'll always been there to catch you when you fall" I said pressing my kiss against hers.
She pulls back with a soft smile on her face before snuggling into my arms and everything just feels right with this woman as there's no where else that I would rather be than right here with her and her children. I wake up to the faint sounds of feet shuffling and things being moved around to look at the clock on the nightstand to see that it's a little after seven am to realize that I'm not in my bedroom then I remember what happened last night and where I'm at. I stretch out my body before throwing the blankets off my body to walk into the hallway to see Harmony looking for her shoes while Bailey was making sure that he and his sisters had everything that he need in their backpacks. I look around to see Marley in the her and her sister shared room, attempting to comb out her hair with a brush as I walk into the room, taking it from her then placing in my lap to brush all the knots that form during the night.
The little girl looks up at me with a bright smile that warms my heart before pick out an outfit to wear for the day then helping her sister finding her shoes follow by walking into the kitchen to find my girl in work uniform, making breakfast on the go the ninos. I silently walk up behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and kissing her cheek causing her to jump in surprise then slapping my arm when I laugh at her reaction before telling me to get dress because they were heading out soon. I walk into the bedroom to get my clothes then walk into the bathroom to take a quick shower and by the time that I had came out, everyone was ready to go as I offer them to take my car since the ninos' school is on the way home. I make sure that Marley and Harmony are strapped in and secure before getting in the car myself as Rachel takes the front seat, humming along with some songs that's playing on the radio as I drive off.
Once again Harmony's talking a mile a minute about all the things that happen at school and her friends as I look up at her through the rearview mirror to see Marley looking rather down when the subject of friends are brought up. I knew something was up as I pull up to the school, Bailey jumps out of the car before giving me and his mom hugs before heading towards the building with Harmony not too far behind him waving excitedly while Marley looks at building nervously.
"Hey Mariposa, what's going on?" I asked bending down to one knee.
"Can I stay with you and Mommy?" Marley asked pleadingly.
I had half a mind to take her in my arms and just take her to the studio with me but I knew that Rachel wouldn't prove of that when her daughter should be in school right now.
"I would love to spend day with you, mariposa but you need to go school so you can get an education but is there a reason why you don't wanna go to school?" I asked lifting her chin so she's looking at me.
"I don't have any friends and some of the older kids are mean. I don't wanna go to school" Marley said shaking her head.
"I know that making friends is hard, trust me I know. I had a hard time making friends when I was your age"
"You did?" Marley asked surprised.
"Yeah I did but then this girl named Brittany who became my best friend all the way until high school" I said smiling slightly. "Trust me, it's better and you'll make a friend when you least expect it"
"Okay, thank you Santana" Marley said wrapping her arms around my neck.
"You're welcome Marley, now go before you're late" I said kissing her forehead.
She runs off towards the building before turning around to wave at us before disappearing inside as Rachel and I get in the car towards the diner when she laces our fingers together over the console.
"You're amazing with Marley"
"Thank despite I may be now, I was a lot like Marley when I was her age"
"No kidding, it's a little hard to imagine" Rachel giggles.
"I know right but it's true but if it wasn't for Brittany and Quinn, who know how I might have turned out. She'll be fine though"
"How do you know?" Rachel asked raising an eyebrow.
"I just do besides if anyone messes my mariposa then they're gonna have to deal with me" I said grinning evilly
"Just remember that you can hit children, Santana" Rachel said rolling her eyes.
"Spoiled sport" I muttered.
~Nicole The Dragon Rider signing off
End of ch. 14