The Arrangement

Disclaimers: I do not own any part of Glee or its characters. This is purely for pleasure I get nothing else for this. I also do not have a beta so all mistakes are my own.

Chapter 4

The ride to Santana's parents was uneventful as Rachel drove quietly through the streets of Lima. After parking and going inside, Santana took Rachel up to the guest room to drop off her things. "Why don't you change into your sleep clothes while I go do the same? My room is right across the hall then we will go down and I'll introduce you to my sisters and baby brother."

Rachel nodded and pulled out her sweats and tee-shirt, changed quickly and went to the adjoining bathroom to wash off her makeup. Once that was done she sat on the bed to wait for Santana to come back for her. She didn't know why she was so anxious. It wasn't like it was their wedding night and she had to share a bed with the goddess her papa had chosen for her. She was only meeting a couple kids but Rachel wanted them to like her. She didn't want to give her Latina any other reasons to not like her than she already had.

A soft knock on the door jarred her from her thoughts and she jumped up to open it. Santana was on the other side dressed similarly to Rachel. "You ready?"

Rachel nods and follows as Santana leads her back down the stairs and to the living room. When they enter Maribel stands and hugs them both. "We've talked to them but I'm not sure Isabell really understands that you are leaving for more than a night like when you go with Quinn or Brittany."

Isabell was five and Gabriella was seven and they were Santana's world. With a sigh she moved to sit with the girls pulling Rachel with her, "Hola mi hermanas. Are you ready for bed?"

Isabell bounces. "Yes but we need our kisses and our song."

Gabriella didn't answer just nodded looking down. Santana pulled her face up to look at her. "What's wrong Gabby?"

Gabby's little lip quivered and a single tear ran down her face. "Mami said you are leaving tomorrow to get married and I don't get to have you anymore."

Maribel gasped. "I didn't say you didn't get to have her anymore baby just that she wouldn't be here every night like she is now."

Santana pulled her into her lap. "Listen to me. Yes I'm getting married and I'll be living somewhere else but I will still be here to see you as often as I can. I'm only moving across town and you can call me whenever Mami or Papi let you use the phone."

Rachel knelt on the floor in front of them. "I promise I will bring her to see you as much as I can and you can come see her at my house too when your Mami and Papi say it's ok."

Gabby looked to her and Rachel almost laughed at how similar being sized up by any Lopez woman was. "Are you marrying my Santi and taking her away?"

Rachel nods solemnly. "I am but I promise I will help her get to see you as much as she can."

Gabby's pout was out in full force and Rachel felt that she would buckle under it and give this child anything she ever wanted. Gabby then she reached out and ran her hand through Rachel's hair. "You have to be good to her and love her and make her happy. And you have to sing to her and to me and Izzy because you are the singing Rachel from Santi's singing club and you sing so pretty."

Rachel's heart melted at the mini Santana before her. "I promise that I will take very good care of her and I will try so hard to make sure that she is happy and feels so loved with me. All I want is to make her smile and of course I will sing for you and Izzy."

She looked at Rachel with the sweetest doe eyes she had ever seen. "And you'll sing for Santi too?"

Cupping her face Rachel looked her in the eye. "Anytime she wants me to," she promised

Gabby smiled and leaned over to hug her tight. Santana just sat speechless, partly at what Rachel had just said and partly because she had never seen Gabby take to someone so quickly. It usually took weeks before she would open up and hug someone new. Aside from that she didn't know how to take all of Rachel's answers to Gabby's questions. Shaking it off she smiled as Gabby pushed back on Rachel until she sat on the floor then crawled into her lap snuggling in against her chest.

"Well I'll be damned." Miguel came into the room and stopped cold seeing Gabby in Rachel's lap.

Santana chuckled. "Yea I know. She just kind of cuddle attacked her."

Rachel just shrugged and smirked up at Santana. "It's that Berry charm."

Santana looked at her confused for a moment then just lost it laughing loudly. "Whatever Berry, you keep telling yourself that."

Rachel cringed at Santana calling her that now that things were out in the open with her. "How much do I have to pay you to call me Rachel, Rach, Rae or almost anything other than Berry?"

With a chuckle she sat back on the couch and pulled Izzy into her lap. "I don't know. I'll think about a suitable form of payment."

Before Rachel could reply Gabby sat up quickly and looked to her sister. "Do we get to be flower girls at your wedding Santi? When is it?"

Santana looked to Rachel who just nods and smiled, "Of course you can. I can't get married without my girls and it's going to be around Christmas I think. I'll let you know as soon as I do."

Both girls cheered happily and Maribel stood. "Ok it's time for all good little flower girls to go to bed."

This time both girls groaned and Gabby looked up at her Mami with her killer doe eyes. "Can Santi and Rachel tuck us in and sing?"

Santana stood as her mother nods and looks down at Rachel "Do you mind?"

She just shook her head and stood still holding the girl in her arms. "Of course not, I did promise to sing for them and I never pass up a performance."

With a laugh Santana led the way out of the room. "There's the Rachel Berry we all know and tolerate."

Rachel shook her head and scowled after her. "Hey that was uncalled for. I was just fulfilling a request."

"Whatever you just need applause to live."

Izzy gasped from Santana's arms and looked at her in awe. "Are you a singing Tinkerbell?" She squealed "I'm going to tell Michelle I know Tinkerbell for real."

She bounced excitedly as Santana laughed and Rachel looked at her unamused. "It's not that funny Santana."

Santana just lost it again. "Oh yes it is Tink." She laughed some more as Izzy settle back against her closing her eyes. "Oh there will be no convincing her that you are not really Tinkerbell."

Rachel groaned knowing that she wasn't going to live this down anytime soon. They finally made it to the girls' room and lay them down. Once they were settled Rachel sat on Gabby's bed. "What would you like me to sing?"

Gabby thought for a moment then smiled. "Santi's song."

Rachel looked to Santana for clarification. "She wants to hear Somewhere Over The Rainbow. I sing it to them almost every night."

Rachel nodded and looked to Gabby again. "Oh I love that song too. How about Santana starts singing then I'll back her up and sing it with her."

Gabby claps excitedly then looks to Santana to start.

Santana kissed both girls then started singing.

Santana/Rachel/Both

Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
And the Dreams that you dare to dream,
Really do come true.

As Santana sang Rachel harmonized underneath her and watch as the two smaller girls drifted to sleep. When it was time for the next verse they sang it together fully.

Somewhere I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops,
High above the chimney tops,
That's where you'll find me.

When the next verse came Santana motioned for Rachel to take it and she seamlessly fell into harmonizing under her.

Somewhere over the rainbow, Blue birds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?

Finishing softly they tucked the covers around each girl and moved to the door turning off their light. Once they were in the hall Santana looked to Rachel. "Thank you for helping with them. I still can't believe Gabby let you hold her so soon after meeting you."

Rachel just shrugged. "It was my pleasure. They're sweethearts."

Hearing a cry down the hall Santana smiles, "come on. You need to meet my baby brother."

As they approached the room they heard the conversation going on inside. "I don't know what we are going to do. We just need to talk to them. Maybe Santana can still do it. I mean it's only for a week."

Santana frowned at the worry in her Papi's voice and entered the room. "Talk to us about what Papi? What's wrong?"

Miguel sighed. "Tomorrow is Monday and we still need a baby sitter for the little ones for the week and you are supposed to be moving tomorrow."

Santana took her brother Antonio from her father and looked to Rachel. "I totally forgot all about that."

Rachel smiles softly at her and the sweet little boy that was now quiet with his head on Santana's chest looking at her. "It's not a problem. I'll call the guys and have them bring the truck and help me load up all of your things. I'm assuming you can keep their car seats or whatever they need in your car. We'll just take them with us until one of your parents can pick them up. I meant what I said, they are welcome anytime. They can come over the rest of the week too."

Santana gave her a grateful smile and turned back to her parents. "Will that work for you guys?"

Maribel sighed in relief. "Yes, thank you so much." She looks to Rachel. "Our normal babysitter is on vacation this week and Santana agreed to watch them so they weren't with strangers. We didn't know this was going to happen when we made those plans."

"It's not a problem." Rachel said glancing up for a moment then back down to the precious baby Santana was holding running her finger lightly along his little cheek.

Santana smiled at her look of awe. "This is Antonio but we call him Toni." She chuckled as Toni yawned and burrowed in. "I think someone's tired."

As if to prove her point he put his thumb in his mouth as his eyes started to droop. "I think you're right." She said with a yawn. "Sorry, I guess I am too, it's been a long day."

Maribel smiled taking the baby from a now yawning Santana. "You've nothing to apologize for, you two head to bed. Tomorrow will be a long day too especially watching the kids while packing and moving."

They said their goodnights and Rachel walked Santana to her door. "Well, goodnight Santana. I'll see you in the morning."

Santana smiled as she moved into her room. "Goodnight Tinkerbell." She laughed as she quickly closed the door and Rachel just stood outside her door shaking her head with a chuckle as she retired to her own room. Once she was inside she striped off her pants and the compression shorts that were killing her and groaned in relief. She normally didn't keep them on as long as she had today and they had really been cutting in for the last few hours.

She inspecting the marks on her stomach and sides then applied some of the ointment she kept for that very reason. After putting her sweats back on she crawled into bed. Tomorrow would be a long day and she was exhausted. Her head barely hit the pillow before she was out.

The next morning she awoke to a strange pressure on her stomach and chest. Opening her eyes she looked up into two sets of chocolate orb full of mischief. Gabby was sitting on her abs and Izzy was leaning over her with her hands pushing into Rachel's chest.

Wiping her eyes she smiled. "Good morning ladies, what can I do for you this morning?"

They both giggled and Gabby bounced slightly. "We were helping Santi cook breakfast then she sent us up to play until she was done because we were making too big of a mess and we got flour all over Toni."

Rachel chuckled running a hand through their hair. "Well, did you help get it all cleaned up?"

Izzy pouted and looked down. "We was 'posed to but we was throwing it again and Santi got mad and sent us upstairs to change but we came and say'd hi to you."

Finally fulling awake Rachel noticed the flour all over the girls as well as her and her bed. "So I see, I think we better get you and this mess you guys made all cleaned up before you get in any more trouble today."

About that time they heard Santana calling for the girls down the hall. Both girls squeaked but before they could move to hide Santana was in the doorway. "Aye dios mio, what are you two doing? I swear you are testing my patience today. I told you to come up and change into clean clothes not to bother Rachel."

Gabby looked down shamefully. "We just wanted to see Rachel again."

Santana shook her head, "and I told you that you could see her at breakfast and to let her sleep until then. Now go to your room and change right now before you are spending the rest of the day that we are here in there in time out."

Both girls kissed Rachel's cheek before crawling off of her and onto the floor. They walked out of the room like they were walking the green mile causing Rachel to chuckle under her breath. Once they were in the hall Santana looked to Rachel and the bed with a sigh and a shake of her head. "I'm so sorry for them." She chuckled and waved her had at the mess her sisters had made. "You look like a coke addict that spilled a bag of her shit."

Rachel looked up at her scandalized. "I'll have you know that I only use the good stuff and would never spill it."

Santana stopped laughing and looked at Rachel to gauge her seriousness causing Rachel to lose it. "Oh god you should see the look on your face." She only laughed harder when Santana threw the dishrag in her hands at her face. "I promise you, I don't do drugs. I don't even like to drink much."

"Whatever just let me know when you are dressed and I will clean this up and take it down to the laundry room. Breakfast is almost ready." With that she turned and sauntered out of the room and down the hall."

Still chuckling Rachel got up and closed the door. She showered quickly and changed into pair of baggy black jeans and a red wife beater with a pair of red chucks. Deciding to forgo make-up for the day she threw her hair in a ponytail. While repacking her bag she made a few phone calls and stripped the bed then headed down stairs with it all.

She found Santana and the kids in the kitchen setting the table. "Hey, where do you want this?"

Santana looked up and sighed. "I told you I'd get that."

Rachel just shrugged. "Well I got it so where do you want it."

She motioned for the door to her left. "Just throw it on top of the washer in there. I need to do a few loads anyway."

Rachel nodded and put the stuff in the laundry room then set her bag by the front door. When she came back Santana motioned her to sit. "I don't have very many vegan choices in the house but I made the tortillas vegan and there's some veggies on the side for your breakfast tacos."

Rachel beamed at her and sat. "Thank you. I can't believe you remembered that. I really appreciate the thought and I will gladly eat it but I am not vegan anymore."

Santana scoffed. "Is that one of those 'Rachel Berry' things?"

"No, I really was vegan for most of sophomore year but it made me sick and your dad made me go back on a regular diet. I even tried vegetarianism but it all just broke down my muscles and stuff and was starting to break down my immune system. I started eating meat again and within 6 months I was back to normal."

Santana looked off into space for a moment. "That was when we were in gym playing dodge ball and you collapsed wasn't it? I remember you looked very pale and were out of school for a few days. After that you didn't really look health for a long time."

Rachel started at her in awe. "Yes, that's when it happened. It took most of the end of the school year and summer to get totally better. How did you remember that?"

She refocused on her food and shrugged. "By then we were in Glee together. It was after Regionals and baby-gate. It all kind of ran together and we were already becoming quasi friends. Especially after Sectionals when you were the only one that believed me that I wasn't trying to sabotage the club. Why did you believe me that day? I never asked."

"You had so many chances to sabotage us. Hell you could have chosen to not show up that day and it would have made us ineligible. Besides, I could tell how much you enjoyed yourself after you joined. Anyone with eyes and a brain could see you loved it. You may have joined for Quinn or because Coach Sue tried to make you her mole but you stayed because it meant something to you."

Santana had thought that she hid that part of herself well until she admitted it to the club but Rachel had seen through her. Seeing the look of shock on her face Rachel chuckled. "Don't look at me that way I'm an observant person. I'm not really an egotistical, narcissistic and self-centered diva. I just play one on TV."

She winked at her and Santana threw her head back laughing. "Oh I think I may like this side of you. You might be a little bit funny."

Rachel laughed and sat back in her seat. "Baby, this is me and I'm hilarious."

They both laughed some more then settled down to eat talking about their plans for the day. The girls finished eating and were sent upstairs to play. Toni had fallen asleep after Santana had given him a bottle and was nuzzled into Santana's chest.

Rachel smiled as she got up. "That was a wonderful meal, thank you. Now, why don't you go put the baby up and start packing? You cooked so I'll clean this up and then join you upstairs to help when I'm done. Puck and Mike should be here in about an hour with the truck to start loading you up."

Santana shook her head. "Just let me put him down and check on the girls then I'll help."

"No, we have a lot to do and you need to pack. I can load a dishwasher its fine. Go on." She reluctantly agreed and headed up leaving her to it.

Once Rachel finished she went upstairs sticking her head in to check on the baby and the girls then went to Santana's room. She stopped in the doorway and just leaned against it to watch for a moment. Santana was standing in the doorway of her closet mumbling to herself holding two different shirts in each hand.

She looked up and caught sight of Rachel. "I don't know how much of my clothes to take and I can't choose."

Rachel pushed away from the doorway and moved to the closet looking into it. It was a decent size walk-it with several hanging bars and a large shoe rack. "You can bring it all if you want. There's plenty of room."

Santana didn't look convinced. "Is it at least as big as mine? Does it have enough room for my shoes? I have to have room for my shoes."

Rachel could hear the panic in her voice figuring it was more the move itself than the shoes and she turned her to face her. "I promise you there is plenty of room for all of your things, especially your shoes." She pulled her out of the closet and into her room. "Your new closet is about the size of this room. It's a dressing room. You have three full walls of racks to hang clothes. Under those racks is a double tiered shoe rack that wraps around all three walls. The fourth wall is drawers and a full length mirror. There is also a plush round seat for you to sit on while you dress. Trust me you have more than enough room for your things so take all of it you want."

Santana took a breath looking around her room trying to picture it and smiled. "That will be so cool." She moved back to the closet and started taking clothes out.

Rachel put a hand on her shoulder to stop her. "Wait on the hanging clothes until the guys get here. We have some rolling racks that you can load them on so they don't get all wrinkled."

She just shrugged and move to her drawers to pack the rest of her clothes into suit cases or boxes. They worked together quickly and efficiently and had almost finished getting all of the things in Santana's room that she wanted packed and ready to go when the doorbell rang.

They both looked up a little apprehensive about being around the guys knowing what they do now. Rachel stood and moved to the door. "Looks like its show time. Are you ready for Puck?"

Santana sighed and stood. "As ready as I'll ever be."

They shared one more look and headed down stairs.

A/N: Keep the reviews coming. I appreciate all of the positive feedback.