AN: As an apology for the very late chapter, I decided to get you guys another chapter tonight. I can't promise I'll have another chapter up this week. Or even next week. I got a promotion at work, so I'll be working full time. And until next week, I'm still riding my bicycle back and forth to work. So that's eight miles of biking a day with 8-9 hour shifts. I come home and just want to die. But I'm going to try! So...here you go!

Again, no beta. All the mistakes are my own.

Disclaimer: The characters still aren't mine, folks.

SANTANA

Early the next morning…

Santana woke up early to the smell of coffee. It took her a moment to remember why she was staring at the ceiling of her childhood bedroom. But then the memories of the previous day came flooding back. She smiled as she thought of her time with her abuela.

Rolling out of bed, she grabbed the robe on the back of her door and wandered downstairs to the kitchen.

"Good morning, Santana," her mother said, handing her a coffee cup.

"Morning, mami," Santana kissed her mother.

"What's on your schedule today," her father asked.

"Well, I can only stay until tomorrow. I promised my boss I'd be in early Thursday morning. I kind of just called him and told him I was using some of my vacation days. But today I think I'll go visit the school. I know a few people who are still lingering there. I'd like to go and say hi," Santana said.

"That sounds like a wonderful plan. How would you like to go out for dinner tonight?" Maribel asked. "We could go to Breadsticks!"

Santana smiled. "That sounds great, mami."

McKinley High School

Santana stood at the front doors of her old stomping grounds. This school had shaped who she was today and it held a special place in her heart. Swinging the door open, Santana walked inside while another flood of memories hit her.

She walked next to Quinn, Brittany at the blonds other side. They had donned their new uniforms, new members of the Cheerios. Quinn held her head high. She was in charge of this school and she knew it.

Students moved out of there way, already knowing the three would be a force to be reckoned with in the coming years.

Santana had loved that feeling. People were afraid of them. Of the Unholy Trinity. They were terrified. It was so empowering.

And now, here she was. Walking through those halls once again. The students didn't move out of the way. They went about their business. Texting their besties; grabbing books out of their lockers.

Santana found herself outside the choir room. She looked in on the empty chairs. She remembered sitting there. At first, begrudgingly. She had hated that coach Sylvester had forced them to join. No one wanted to be in there with those losers. And then they became her family. They were everything to her. She found herself in this room.

"I guess we both needed a trip down memory lane," a soft voice said behind her.

Santana turned, smiling. There she stood; her best friend in the entire world.

"Brittany!" she screeched. She pulled the tall blond into a hug and just laughed.

"Sanny, I missed you," Brittany said.

"I missed you too, B. So damn much!"

The Lima Bean

The two friends left the school, wanting to sit down and catch up. They opted for the Lima Bean, where they could enjoy a coffee and just chat with no interference. They settled down at a table after ordering their drinks.

"So, what's been going on in your life, B?" Santana asked.

Brittany smiled. "I finally got into Juilliard."

"We all knew that was going to happen, B. That's old news," Santana said.

Brittany laughed. "You always did know I'd end up dancing. I did meet someone," she said as she fiddled with her coffee. "Her name is Lily. She's a dancer too. We've been dating for almost two years now."

"I've missed so much, B. Why did we lose contact?" Santana asked.

"You got busy with work, Sanny. I didn't want to bother you. And you seemed to be stressing. Like you had a lot going on in your head," Brittany answered.

"Yeah. You've got no idea, B," Santana said.

"You should just tell her, Santana."

Santana was shocked. "Tell who what, B?"

"You should tell Rachel that you love her. I know you're with Dani, but I know you're not happy."

"How...how did you know, Brittany?"

"It was pretty obvious, S. All through high school, I knew. I saw the way you looked at her. I watched how mean you were to her. You were mean to me like that sometimes. Whenever I wanted to talk about feelings. Sanny, you have to tell her," Brittany said.

Santana sighed. "You are a genius, aren't you, B? But I can't talk to her. You think that telling her why I treated her so badly in high school will make her see? No, she'll hate me. She'll push me away. I can't risk that."

"Santana. Rachel doesn't hate you. She never could. She's too nice a person," Brittany explained. "And I don't think you should worry so much. I've seen her look at you too. I think she just needs a nudge. If you don't tell her, Sanny, it's just going to eat you alive. And then you'll both be sad."

Santana smiled at her friend's words. Brittany always looked at the bright side. Santana couldn't help but picture the life she could have had with her best friend. But that was behind them now. She'd always love the girl. But in an entirely different way. And that made her happier than she could imagine.

"Brit. Do you want to come to dinner tonight with me and my parents?"

"Oh! Of course! I haven't seen your mom in so long!" Santana smiled at how excited Brittany got at the idea.

Later that night…

Santana packed away the last of her things, closing her luggage and setting it beside the door before heading downstairs to join her parents. Dinner had been wonderful. Her abuela had joined them and the five of them just talked. Her parents asked Brittany about her life. Alma kept asking questions about Santana's life, using the time she had to get caught up. Santana invited them all out to New York to visit.

Brittany and Alma had left the trio as the finished dinner, giving Santana more time with her parents. They made their way back to the house so Santana could get her bag ready for the flight back in the morning.

Now she sat with her parents, laughing and telling them stories of her adventures in New York. After a big fit of laughter, her mother sobered up and looked at her.

"What's been bothering you, Santana?" she asked. "I know you. I've known since the moment you walked in that you came home for reason. Won't you share with your mother?"

Santana sighed. She was terrified about this. But it had been the entire reason she had come home.

"I came back to talk to you, mami. But the subject is...well, it's tough."

"Santana. You once came to us and told us you were gay. I don't imagine this could be much harder than that was. You're so brave. You can tell us anything," her father said.

Santana remained quiet for a moment. Looking at her parents, she saw their faith in her; their pride in their daughter.

"I have feelings for someone. Someone who isn't Dani. And I'm so afraid I'm going to hurt everyone that matters to me," Santana said, crying again already.

It was her mother's turn to sigh.

"Hija, you're already hurting the people involved. Including yourself. You're lying to Dani about your feelings. You're keeping yourself from the one you love. And you're depriving some poor girl of your love."

"Mami, I can't tell her. She's from here. I went to school with her. And I was a terrible person then. I was cruel to her. I hurt her so badly and I would expect nothing but hate from her," Santana said.

"And does she hate you?" her father asked.

"No. She doesn't. Rachel's heart is so damn big. She's become one of my closest friends since I moved to New York. But how will she ever except the fact that I was so horrid to her because I have feelings for her? She'll hate me, papi."

"Rachel Berry?" her mother asked. Santana nodded. "That girl doesn't have a mean bone in her body, Santana. Give her a chance. At least think about it. And I think, when you get back to New York, you should let Dani know that you don't look at her the same way anymore. She doesn't deserve to be caught in this. She deserves happiness too, Santana. And if you can't give her that, it's time to let her go."

Santana lay in bed later that night, thinking on all the conversations she's had involving Rachel on her trip back home. She rolled over and sighed. She still didn't feel that she could tell Rachel. But her mother was right. She was going to have to tell Dani. Not the whole truth, just that she'd fallen out of love with her. She wouldn't tell the poor girl that she was never really in love with her. That would break her heart.

Santana had to make some changes. And they were going to hurt.

AN: Alright. I know, it's not the best. I wouldn't blame me if you guys hated me. But it's been stuck in my head and I just have to get it out before it drives me crazy. I'm going to kick myself and try to get another update out for you in the next couple of weeks. I'll leave a note here on my desk to remind me, since I'm so damn forgetful. Let me know what you think, folks.