Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Glee or any of its characters. I don't have a beta so all mistakes are mine.
Chapter 17
Santana/Rachel/Quinn/Brittany
After practice was finished and they were getting dressed San pulled out a garment bag from her locker and turned toward Rachel who was standing by Brittany's locker talking. "Querida, come here a sec?"
Rachel looked up at her, smiled and walked over, "Hey, what's up?"
San hands her the bag, "You need to change and get ready."
Rachel looked at her in confusion. "I don't understand. Get ready for what?"
San smiles cupping her cheek. "For your birthday dinner of course." At the look of utter shock and disbelief San lightly kissed her nose. "We are treating you to a fun night of birthday fun hermosa. So change and we will get going."
Rachel just stared at her. No one ever remembered her birthday or attempted to ever celebrate it with her. She had never had a birthday party that consisted of more than her fathers and Puck. Usually Puck would drop by with a present and watch movies with her before her daddy died but that was it. The year after there was so much going on, while he remembered her present she had just wanted to be alone. Last year she spent alone as well because he was in Cincinnati with family for Hanukah and his mother wouldn't allow her to go.
Today no one had even told her happy birthday except for Britt when they were alone in the kitchen this morning. She looks at San with tear in her eyes simply saying, "OK" then taking the bag into one of the stalls to change. San had packed one of her new pairs of black dress slacks and a shimmery ruby button down that really flattered her form. She also brought her new high heeled boots. A
fter she finished changing and touching up her makeup she came out to see the others had dressed up as well and were waiting for her. She just stared at them in awe. "Ok, I'm ready." They nodded grabbing their things and hers. San stepped up and grabbed her hand and they led her out to the car. "So," she asked. "Where are we headed?"
She looked at them all smiling at her with the mischief in their eyes, but Quinn was the one to speak. "Now Rach, it wouldn't be a surprise if we told you. But, it's somewhere you've never eaten before." They got into the car and Quinn leaned over the seat to San and Rach in the front. "Hey, I need to run by my house before we go."
San looked at her annoyed "Really, I'm starving Fabray. Are you trying to make us late?" She mock glares at the girl playing it up for a second but soften when Rachel puts a hand on her arm. She huffs "fine, but you need to hurry." Quinn nods and scoots back in her seat next to Britt. When they pull into the drive Quinn opens the door to get out but at San's voice she pauses. "You have five minutes or I'm coming in after you." She nods and heads to the house. They see a light come on and wait. After about six minutes Santana acts like she's getting further annoyed. "This is crap. What's taking so long?" She waits another minute, "Ok, that's it, I'm going to get her."
She gets out of the car and heads to the door. Britt opens her door looking at Rachel. "We better go too or they may kill each other." Rachel nods and they hurry to catch up to the Latina.
They catch her as she reaches the door and opens it. When they walk in Quinn is just standing there smiling. San smiles back looking to Rachel grabbing her hand and starting to lead her into the living room. "Ok, here's the deal. We wanted to surprise you so we planned a party."
As she finished the sentence they walk through the door of the living room and she sees all of the Gleeks and Samantha smiling at her. Once they know she sees them all they yell "Happy Birthday Rachel."
She stares at them dumb stuck in disbelief for a moment then she smiles and lights the whole room. "Oh my god!" She says. They all chuckle at her reaction, she turns to look at the girls behind her who are beaming at her looking proud. "How did you guys do this?" She asks walking up she slides her arm around Santana's waist, grabs Quinn's hand, and beams a thousand watt smile at all three of them.
San wraps her arm around her shoulder, "Well, we gave Puck money to buy the food and supplies," she nods toward him, "then Kurt brought the decorations and he, Puck and Tina decorated yesterday. Tina also made her awesome punch." She turns to look at Mike, "Chang's mom made the cake," she looks to Artie, "Wheels is on music, and Matt is manning the Grill."
Rachel jumps in her arms with tears in her eyes. "Thank you so much" she turns from San and hugs Quinn and Britt than turn to the other in the room. "Thank you all for coming and helping out." They all nod saying you're welcome.
San holds her around the waist from behind. "Happy Birthday Estrella." She whispers into her ear then kissed the back of her head. Then looks to the others. "Ok peeps, let's get the music going Artie. Matt, get the food on the grill. Let's party." They all cheer and head to do their assigned jobs.
Rachel just stands there for a moment leaning into San looking around. There are streamers and party favors strung around the room, a table full of presents, and all her friends. It couldn't be more perfect. Her tears finally roll down her face and she sniffles.
San turns her around to face her. "What's wrong carino? Did we do something wrong." She says while wiping her tear.
Rachel shakes her head, "No, these are happy tears. Everything is perfect. You have no idea what this means to me." She says as she burrows her face in San's neck breathing in the girl.
San sighs and tightens her hold. "Ok. No more tears good or bad," she says kissing her on the forehead, "We have food, cake, music, and karaoke, let's go get our party on." At that Rachel nods laughing and grabs San hand and they head off to mingle.
What they didn't notice was Mercedes watching them with a look of distain on her face. She watches them for a few more minutes as they talk to the other Cheerio, Artie, and Kurt. She didn't know what was going on with them but she didn't like it. At first she thought they were just messing with the girl. Setting her up for some elaborate plan to humiliate her, but as the week went by and she saw the genuine concern she started to doubt it.
She also hated that she was over playing this thing with Finn. Yes it was bad for him to do the things he had but she wasn't hurt or anything. Just get over it already and stop playing the wounded diva act. It was getting old. She never had much patience for the girl before and it was running thin. The only reason she even showed up tonight was because she didn't want to have to put up with San and Quinn if she didn't.
At this point she decided she would just have to wait and see what happened next. As she watched, Santana and Rachel walked away from the little group when Quinn came in with Puck and Britt. She headed over to Kurt and decided to make the most of this sham of a party and hang with her boy.
The party was in full swing. The food had been bought in and they had all filled themselves with what Matt had grilled to perfection. After all of dinner had been cleared away the girls announced that it was time for cake and presents. They led Rachel into the living room and sat her down in one of the comfy chairs. Britt and Puck stood beside her as San and Quinn went to get the cake.
When they returned they each had a cake in hand, each with eight candle on it. They placed the cakes on the coffee table as everyone sang. Rachel beamed at them all. There was something to be said for having a glee club sing happy birthday to you perfectly in tune and harmony with each other. It was fantastic and warmed her heart.
After they finished singing Mike got out the knife and plates. "Ok Rach. We have chocolate and lemon. Both vegan, so, what's your poison?"
Rachel beamed "I think I will have a small piece of each. Thank you Michael, and thank your mother for me as well, these look amazing."
Tina came up next carrying two large containers. "I also found some vegan soy ice cream when we were at that whole food store getting the veggie burgers. We have chocolate and vanilla. Which would you like?"
Rachel giggle in her happiness at all the wonderful things her friends had done for her. "I will have a little of both. Thank you Tina."
After serving Rachel they distributed the cake and ice cream all around and chatted about regionals and other things. When the cake was cleaned up they brought the presents over and put them on the coffee table. She received a twenty dollar ITunes card, top of the line earbuds and a jogger's arm band for her IPod from Matt, a fifty dollar gift card from her favorite music store in the mall from Mike and a booklet of voucher from his mother for free pastries. Tina had gotten her a bunch of new makeup and a gift basket of vegan chocolates and treats.
Kurt gave her a framed and autographed Wicked poster. Artie gave her Barbra Streisand doll he found a Vintage Stock with a new copy of all her movies and musicals saying they were backups for when she wore her others out causing them all to laugh. Mercedes gave her a ten dollar gift card to Walmart. Samantha gave her a new pair of dance shoes and dance outfit. Britt gave her a duck that had headphones on that were speakers for your IPod. Quinn gave her a necklace with a music note charm, and Santana gave her a set of gold birthstone earrings.
When it was Pucks turn he left the room coming back with a large package. He handed it to her, "I saw you admiring this the last several times we went to the music store."
They watched as she opened the most beautiful dark purple acoustic guitar they had ever seen. She looked up at him with tears welling in her eyes stood up and wrapped her arms around him. "Thank you Noah. I love it." She turns to the others. "Thank you all so much for your thoughtful gifts and being here tonight. I love them all."
San pulls her back to her seat. "Wait querida, you have one more present."
Rachel just looked confused. "But San I have opened presents from everyone."
San chuckles as she Quinn and Britt all kneel in front of her handing her four jewelry boxes. "It's a gift from all of us for all of us." She opens the first box and gasps. It's a beautiful ID charm bracelet. On the ID tag is just a simple script R. I has four charms on it. She goes to take it out but San stops her. "Open the others first Estrella."
She opens them all up one by one and sees almost identical bracelets in the other boxes. The only difference in them is the S, Q, B, and R that is on the ID tags.
She looks up at the girls and Britt speaks up first. "They are all the same accept for the ID Tag. They each have a star for you cause you're our star, a duck for me cause ducks are the best, a koala bear for Quinn cause she gives the best koala snuggles, and an angel for San cause she's our guardian angel." All three of the other girls look at her in awe. Britt had gone at lunch to pick out the bracelets. San and Quinn told her to pick a charm for each of them.
They hadn't known the meaning behind them until just now. "and, on the back side of the ID tag it say & B BFF's, see?" she says pulling out one of them and turning it over. Wiping tears from her eyes San takes Rachel's and puts it on her. Britt has San's in her hand so she puts it on her. Quinn takes Britt's out and puts it on her. Rachel takes the final bracelet and secures it to Quinn's wrist.
The girls all look at their wrists beaming then to each other and Rachel launches herself into their arms. They all have tears now. Rachel pulls back a little so she can see their faces. "Thank you so much. I will cherish it always, and thank you for my party." She leans back in and they hug again.
Everyone is kind of in shock and awe. They knew that the girls were being friendlier with the diva. They had no idea that they had become so close, but those bracelets were no joke and very expensive. They were confused as to how this happened but were happy for their friends. Mercedes on the other hand just rolled her eyes and once they were all done hugging she said her good byes stating she had to get home.
After that everyone else taking note of the time start heading out as well. Kurt, Tina, Puck and Samantha all stay behind to help finish cleaning up from the party. When they are through the girls say goodbye to their friend, load up the leftovers and presents into the car and head for Britt's house to drop her off. After dropping her off, they head to Rachel's and unload the car, put away the food and take her presents upstairs.
Once everything is put away and they have changed into their night clothes they sit on the bed talking. San looks over to Rachel. "So carino, do you want to tell us now what coach had to say today?"
Rachel looks down at her hands. "She wanted me to join the Cheerio's, but I said no. Then she offered for me to be the team's student manager and trainer. I have until tomorrow to decide."
San and Quinn look at each other then back to Rachel not sure how to read her at the moment. San lifts her head gently by the chin. "What do you want to do Estrella? I think you would do great at it."
Quinn nods her head in agreement, "yea Rach. You kind of already have been doing the job already just behind the scenes."
San agrees, "and think about it this way you will be able to ride with us to all our competitions and games and be with us all the time. We won't have to separate during those things."
Rachel looks back and forth between them and then looks off into space thinking for a moment. "I didn't think of that. Coach also said I would have a different uniform from yours and said it was protection. Also that it would look good on my transcripts. I think I want to do it. Are you sure you think I should?"
San nods happily, "absolutely, it will be great. You'll be great. Please say you'll do it. You have helped the squad so much just in the last week."
Quinn agrees, "yea, we need you Rach. Please, please do it."
Rachel smiles at their enthusiasm, "ok, I'll do it. I'll talk to coach in the morning. We have to go in an hour early coach said." Both girls nod and throw themselves at her in a group hug. "Now, it's time for sleep. I just want to thank you again for the most wonderful birthday ever. You will never know how much it means to me that you guys did that for me. So thank you."
San leans in and kisses her check. "You are most welcome querida. It was our pleasure." Quinn nods and hugs her again.
They all settle in to sleep in their normal positions and rest for the next day. It should be an interesting.
A/N: Ok this was a shorter one. Next Rachel tells coach her decision and the reaction from the Cheerios, Gleeks, and the school.