Twice the Trouble

Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Glee or any of it characters.

Chapter 16

As she pulled into the drive Saturday morning she noticed that she was quite a bit early but she didn't think anyone would mind. She'd just see if there was anything she could help with. She had barely gotten the bike kickstand down and both feet on the ground before she had an arm load of little boy. "Hey little buddy," she said with a chuckle.

"Rachel you're early." He said excitedly.

"I know. I thought I'd see if your Mami needed any help getting the party ready."

"Thank you sweetie but I don't. We're pretty much ready but I'm sure Santana wouldn't mind the company. She should be out of the shower by now if you want to go up and see her." Maribel smiled then looked to the boy sternly. "Mateo if you ever run out of the house like that again without us knowing where you are going I will tan your tail. I don't care if it is your birthday. Now get in this house young man."

He looked down with a pout and started walking toward his mother. "I'm sorry Mami."

She just nodded and he moved past her then she gave Rachel a little wink and a hug. "Go on up, you know the way. Just knock hard if the door is closed, she tends to have her music loud while she gets showered and changed."

Rachel returned the hug and headed up the stairs. As she got to the top she could hear the music blaring from Santana's room and chuckled when she recognized the tune of No One Mourns the Wicked from the musical Wicked. Coming to the door she knocked loudly.

A moment later she heard the music turned down then the door started to open. "I'm almost ready mam…" Santana stopped in shock as she looked up not expecting it to be Rachel. "Hey what are you doing here? It's like super early."

Rachel just smiled shyly. "I thought I'd come and see if you guys needed any help. Your Mami said she was all ready and to just come up. If you're busy I can leave for a bit until the party starts."

Santana grabbed her hand and pulled her into her room. "Hey no, that's not what I meant. I was just shocked to see you. That's all. Of course I want you to stay. Come in and sit while I finish my hair."

Smiling she let herself be pulled into the room and sat in on the edge of Santana's bed looking around. "Your room is not what I expected and your music choice is rather surprising as well."

Blushing she rushed over and changed the song on her IPod then looked around her room. "What's wrong with my room?"

Rachel laughed and shook her head. "I don't know. I just figured I'd see more reds and blacks in your décor. The lilac purple is pretty though."

Santana smacked her arm and turned back to her vanity to fix her hair. "Please, the first time I saw your room I was shocked to not see a bright pink Holly Hobbit room with Broadway crap all around."

"I have and extensive collection of Broadway memorabilia. It's just in the media room where it belongs. Where is your den of evil, the basement?"

Santana looked back over her shoulder with a wink. "You better be careful Rae or I just might show you." They both laughed and Santana stood as she finished her make up. "Now, come on and let's go make sure Mami really is finished with everything. I also still need to set up the karaoke for the private concert you're giving my love sick brother."

Rachel chuckled and followed her downstairs. After Maribel confirmed that she didn't need any help, Rachel helped Santana set up for her to sing.

When it was done Santana collapsed on the couch pulling Rachel down with her. "I hope you know what you got yourself into. He is going to try and make you sing the whole time you are here."

Rachel just shrugged as she settled next to her. "That's why I'm here. Besides, I never pass up an opportunity to showcase my talent. I need applause to live."

Santana lost it laughing. "Oh I know, 'Tink'. Royal told Quinn all about how you used to play dead making them all clap for you to live and trying to fly. She was nice enough to share that story with me. I can just picture a little you trying to fly and laying there on the floor waiting for your applause"

Rachel blushed, smacking her playfully, "Shut up I was like 4 or something. I'm going to kill him. He's the one that used to run around bouncing all over the place singing the Tigger song." This just caused Santana to laugh harder and Rachel just shook her head. "It's not that funny San."

Recovering she leaned into Rachel. "Yes it is, but its ok. I won't tell anyone your secret. I may tease Royal now though."

Before Rachel could reply the doorbell rang and Santana got up to answer it. "Well, it looks like its show time."

With a nod she stood with her and they went to welcome the guests as they arrived. Mateo was distracted with the arrival of his friends for all of 30 minutes before he remembered Rachel's presence and ran up to her pulling her toward the karaoke machine in the corner.

Once he stopped he grabbed the microphone and got everyone's attention. "Hey guys listen!" He shouted into it and feedback caused them all to cringe or laugh. When they were all quiet and looking at him he smiled and pointed to Rachel. "This is my angel Rachel. She's going to sing for me."

He handed the microphone to her and she smiled kissing him on the forehead. "Any requests on what you want first?"

He thought for a moment then shook his head. "No, I just want to hear you sing."

With a nod she turned to the crowd. "Hello, Mateo has given me a list of songs he wanted to hear me sing so I am going to try and sing as many as I can during the party. Just think of me as the radio."

They all chuckled and Mateo pulled his friends down beside him to listen. Rachel gave him a wink and Santana started the music for her. When the opening strands of the song started all the other boys laughed and nudged Mateo making fun of his song choice but once Rachel opened her mouth and started singing silence descended and they were all mesmerized by her.

Tale as old as time
True as it can be
Barely even friends
Then somebody bends
unexpectedly

Santana moved to stand beside her Mami and Abuela behind the children so she could watch and her breath caught when Rachel looked up and locked eyes with her as she sang.

Just a little change
Small, to say the least
Both a little scared
Neither one prepared
Beauty and the Beast

As she watched Maribel noticed how Rachel's eyes kept straying toward her daughter and Santana's reaction to it. She just smiled softly recognizing the look in her baby's eyes as she watched the other girl entranced. It was the same look her husband used to give to her and she was happy to see the look reflected in Rachel's eyes. Maybe her baby could finally find some happiness. Santana may not have told her that she liked girls yet but she knew her baby. Wrapping her arm around Santana's waist she sighed happily as they listened.

Ever just the same
Ever a surprise
Ever as before
Ever just as sure
As the sun will rise

Tale as old as time
Tune as old as song
Bittersweet and strange
Finding you can change
Learning you were wrong

Rachel tried to look at Mateo and give him more attention but she just couldn't seem to take her eyes off his sister. The look on the other girl's face as she sang gave her hope and made her heart beat a mile a minute.

Certain as the sun
Rising in the East
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the Beast

Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the Beast

As she ended the song everyone erupted in applause and she finally broke eye contact with Santana and looked down as Mateo launched himself around her waist, "oh Rachel that was so awesome. Sing some more, please?"

All the parents laughed at the smitten little boy and Maribel step toward them before Rachel could answer. "Ok mijo, let her breath. She can do one more song for you for now and we will play some games. She can sing again before we eat cake and open presents if she wants."

He looked to Rachel expectantly and she roughed his hair. "Ok buddy. One more until later and I will sing again before cake."

Mateo clapped as sat back down and waited patiently for her to start. Rachel moved to the karaoke machine changing the song and smiled as all the kids cheered at the opening strands of the song. She started singing and all the kids got up and started dancing around as she sang 'I just can't wait to be king'.

Santana shook her head smiling at Rachel's antics as she danced around with the kids until Rachel pulled her into the middle of the little group and they both sang as the boys all sang along too. When the song was over and Mateo hugged her again, Maribel directed all the kids over to play games. The party was a success and Mateo was overjoyed with all his presents and the fact that Rachel sang three more songs for him.

Once the party was over and all the guests left Rachel insisted on staying to help clean up. When it was all done she grabbed the bag she had brought with her then took Mateo's hand and led him to the couch sitting with him. "Ok, I made you a little something for your birthday but I wanted to wait to give it to you last."

Maribel and Santana both looked to her shocked thinking that the singing had been his present from the sweet diva. Mateo tore the paper out of the bag and pulled out a case looking at it in confusion then looked up to Rachel. "What is it?"

Rachel smiled turning the case over. "It's a CD of all the songs on your list that you wanted me to sing and a few that you erased when you must have been narrowing it down to ten that I could still see. There are a few songs on there that the rest of the glee club helped me with and the songs that were duets my brother and Puck helped me with. I hope you like it."

Mateo squealed in delight and crawled into her lap hugging her excitedly. "Thank you, thank you, thank you Rachel. This is awesome." He hopped down and ran to the radio putting the CD in the player and whooped in excitement as he saw the song he wanted to listen to most.

Santana and Maribel listened as The Circle of Life came on the radio with Rachel singing lead and the rest of the group singing back up. What shocked Santana was that she could hear her own voice and had no idea how Rachel recorded this.

Walking over to Rachel she grabbed her hand softly. "When did you do this? I hear me singing too"

Rachel smiled. "I got the group to help me yesterday and I recorded you singing Thursday when I was having you help me with the breakdown of the song. He likes to hear me sing so much I thought this would be a good gift."

Before Santana could react Mateo jumped into Rachel's arms happily. "Thank you so much Rachel, you're my angel."

Rachel laughed hugging him close. "I'm so glad you like it. Now you can hear your songs even if I'm not around to sing them for you."

He leaned back and looked up to her warily. "You'll still sing sometime too right?"

"Of course I will buddy but now I really have to get going. My dads are expecting me home soon." She hugged him once more and turned to Maribel as he ran back toward the radio to look at what song he wanted next. "Thank you so much for having me Mrs. Lopez. I had a lot of fun."

Maribel shook her head. "No sweetie, thank you for coming. You made his party so much better for him and that CD is probably the thing he loved getting the most. I know that had to take a lot of work for you to do that so thank you. Also, enough of this Mrs. Lopez stuff. I told you it's Mami or Maribel."

Rachel smiled as Maribel pulled her into a hug. "Ok Maribel. It was my pleasure though. It's good to know that the first CD that I have recorded is a hit," She said looking over as Mateo danced around to 'The Bear Necessities'. They all laughed and after a few more hugs Santana walked Rachel out.

Once the door was closed behind them Santana pulled Rachel into a tight hug. "Thank you so much Rae. This meant the world to him. You have no idea."

Rachel hugged her back just as tightly. "It wasn't a problem. I kinda love the little guy. He just grabs your heart and doesn't let go. I was happy to do it. I know how much it took for you to ask me for him and how much he means to you. I'd do anything for either of you."

Santana just sighed and melted into her for a moment more before pulling back. "Thank you but just know that I feel the same. I'd do anything for you too." She leaned in and kissed her cheek lightly then pulled away leaning against the door to try and control herself.

Rachel stood stunned for a moment then smiled looking to where she was leaning. "What are you doing tomorrow?"

"I don't have any plans, just hanging around the house I guess. You want to come hang out?" Santana stood up straight and smiled.

Stepping toward her Rachel shrugged. "I could do that or I could pick you up and take you for that ride in the country I promised."

Santana squealed happily, "Oh let's do that. Mami is off tomorrow and she said I could do whatever I wanted to. What time?"

"I don't know, how about 10:00? That way we can go for a nice ride and I can take you to lunch and show you some of my favorite places. How's that sound?"

Giving her one last quick hug Santana moved back to her door. "That sounds perfect. You better get going though. I don't want you to get in trouble for getting home late and not be able to go tomorrow. I'll see you in the morning."

Smiling she nodded and moved off to her bike. "I'll see you in the morning." With a wink and a wave she fired it up and was off down the drive.

Santana watched until she was out of sight then turned and moved back into the house. She couldn't wait for tomorrow.

A/N: Life truly sucks. That is the only thing I can say about the ridiculous tardiness of this update. I wish I could say that updates will be more regular but I'm not sure. I'm doing my best and I do promise to finish all my stories. I'm still here and as long as my hands and eyes continue to serve me I'll continue to write. Thank you all of you that have stuck with me and any newbies joining the party.