I've always been interested in the dynamic between Rachel and Santana and their conflict resolution. We canonically saw their poor communication skills, but I have always felt they could work so well together, if they learned how to understand each other. This story shows four pivotal points during their relationship, and how they work together as it progresses.

Eventually I am hoping will form part of a series which will fill in some of the gaps of this story

Canon up to S6

Enjoy, reviews welcome!

Rachel could get used to waking up like this. Laughing so hard that her stomach hurt with a gorgeous Latina in her arms. Surprisingly, Santana was a little spoon. But what was even more surprising to Rachel, was that she and Santana were even romantically involved. 2017 had been a weird year, that's for sure.

Final year of college had been the nail in the coffin for Brittany and Santana's relationship, and they had broken up just before Christmas of 2016. There was no bad blood between them, they'd simply just grown apart, Santana had insisted.

Still; that didn't make the break up any easier, and when Santana caught wind of Rachel going to an industry party that night, she had of course invited herself along. Later that night, they found themselves on the couch at Rachel's loft, both more than a little worse for wear.

"It's not like you to stay so late." Rachel giggled, as she tipped more wine into her mouth "shouldn't you be getting back to Brittany?"

Santana took another sip for courage. Courage of saying this out loud for the first time.

"Britt and I we…well, we broke up."

"What!? Santana no…" Rachel extended her arm in sympathy. Though she couldn't say she was completely surprised. She'd heard through the grapevine they'd been having their struggles recently. The grapevine being Kurt.

"It's okay. It's been a long time coming, really. I think we both were just prolonging the inevitable."

"When did it happen?" Rachel asked gently.

"Earlier today. I mean, there's been discussions for a while but…now we've finally called it quits. We're on good terms though. Britt left to go back to her parents to give us some space, she was going back for Christmas next week anyway. I have to stay because I have one last exam, but at least I have the place to myself. Not that I really want to be alone."

"Well you can always stay here, Santana."

"Thanks Rach." Santana smiled appreciatively.

Santana stayed that night and never returned back to the studio apartment she shared with Brittany. When the blonde returned from Lima in the new year, Santana insisted she stayed in the apartment, while she stayed on Rachel's couch. It wasn't the first time she had couch surfed with her, and besides, she felt better knowing Brittany was in a comfy bed. She still cared about her of course. She was still her best friend.

Brittany and Santana managed to keep their friendship intact, all the while keeping a safe distance from each other, so they could properly heal. For a while this meant hanging out with their shared friends in two separate groups, until the last couple of months before graduation, when they could be around each other without hurting anymore. After graduation in May, Brittany had moved to LA, hoping to pursue a career as a professional dancer.

Santana had stayed with Rachel throughout the duration of this, graduating from her couch to sharing a bed, as the cold January nights set in. Even when it started to warm up again, they still shared a bed for the most part, but it was pretty innocent at first.

Although their last experience of living together had resulted in them feuding, this time around they were getting on really well. Maybe it was the fact they were both turning twenty three this year, or maybe they had just learned how to communicate and understand each other better.

Rachel had really been there for Santana over her break up, as well as supporting her through the stress of finals, and Santana considered her a really good friend now.

It was at a party with her course friends in May to celebrate graduation where everything changed. Santana had brought Rachel along with her, because they were basically attached at the hip nowadays, but what she liked about bringing Rachel places was that Rachel could please herself and socialize with a bunch of people she didn't know. Santana didn't have to babysit her, like she did Brittany.

Still, she made sure to check on Rachel, to see she was having fun. In hindsight, you could say she was drawn to her, in a room full of people. She was standing there being hit on, trying to pretend like she was listening, whilst searching the room for Rachel. The girl was pretty hot, but Santana just wasn't interested. For some reason, she hadn't been interested in anyone since Brittany, even though their break up was 6 months ago.

Santana's eyes eventually found Rachel, and she noticed that Rachel was staring at her already. She was staring at her in a way that Santana had never seen before. It was the way you look at someone when you…like them. Rachel smiled shyly and then looked away, beginning an animated conversation with the guy next to her. As Santana processed the way Rachel looked at her she felt her stomach fill with butterflies, a feeling she hadn't felt in a long time.

Shit.

No wonder she hadn't been interested in anyone else. It was right there in front of her all this time. She was crushing on her friend.

She liked Rachel Berry.

It felt so wrong yet so right all at the same time, but the minute the lightbulb had gone off in both their heads, the force between them was unstoppable.

They found themselves outside together alone that night, but they didn't kiss, just talked with lots of flirting. Both of them could feel the new layer of tension surrounding them of all the unexplored feelings.

Their first kiss came a week later, sober in Central Park. Santana could no longer stand the obvious sexual tension as they sat recovering from their long walk, Rachel looking at her with that self-effacing smile again. She laughed nervously before cupping Rachel's face and pulling her in. It had been years since she had kissed lips that weren't Brittany's, but it felt amazing. Those damn butterflies again.

Their first time came shortly thereafter. Both of them were nervous, neither of them showed it. Santana hadn't been with anybody else apart from Brittany for years, and Rachel hadn't been with a girl before ever. For two people who were usually both abrasive, direct and passionate, the sex they had that night was quite the opposite. It was surprisingly soft, gentle and intentional. Santana led, but Rachel was a fast learner, definitely eager to please.

They didn't put a label on what they were. They didn't even go out on a proper date. They did go to Central Park a lot, but that was always their thing anyway, as just friends. The difference is that now as they lay on the grass, Santana would reach for Rachel's hand, causing Rachel's cheeks to crimson.

There was an unspoken rule to keep it just between themselves for now, and they would sneak off at parties to kiss behind closed doors of empty rooms. Sometimes they'd leave the door ajar slightly, for the thrill of being caught. Not that they had anything to hide. It was just fun having a secret.

What had started out very casual at first had fast developed into something more, without any conversation to what was unfolding. All Rachel knew is that she loved being like this with Santana, and she didn't want it to stop. She could only hope Santana felt the same, but she really had no idea.

They had spent the past month getting closer and closer, spending every day together, barely leaving the house. Barely leaving the bed, in fact.

Which led them to today, waking up together in a naked tangle of limbs, ready to start the morning routine they had subconsciously fallen into.

"Your turn to make breakfast, babe!" Santana smirked.

"But I was really craving your vegan pancakes this morning!" Rachel pouted.

"You had my vegan pancakes yesterday, and the day before! It's my turn for a treat."

"Oh well I was about to give you a special kind of morning treat, but if you'd rather have avo and toast instead, I guess I better move from this bed."

Santana frowned as soon as Rachel left the bed, feeling instantly cold. She was enjoying the view at least, until Rachel put her robe on, leaving the room with a teasing glint in her eye.

"Hey!" Santana pouted.

She put her own robe on and joined Rachel in the kitchen a couple of minutes later, wrapping her arms round the smaller girl's waist from behind. Rachel seemed to fit just perfectly in that spot.

"Coffee smells good, babe." she sighed, taking in the smell.

She went to check her phone as Rachel continued with breakfast, seeing a text from Brittany, asking her if they were still on for tonight. In the whirlwind of all this with Rachel, she had forgotten the blonde was back in town..

"Hey, did I actually mention that Britt's in town this weekend? She and I are going to catch up later. I think we're going to try that new place that Kurt told us about."

Rachel froze. She didn't know what she was feeling but she was feeling something. Her heart was doing flips. Jealousy maybe? Fear?

"Babe, did you hear me?" Santana looked up from her phone, when she realized Rachel hadn't acknowledged what she'd said.

"Yes. I heard you. I'm sure you guys are gonna have a lot of fun."

Santana studied Rachel. Something in her tone was short and snipey. It wasn't a tone she was used to anymore. Not these days.

"What? Is something wrong?"

"You're just going to go without asking if I had something going on? What if I had plans for us tonight."

Santana laughed at that.

"Rach, I can see you any night."

Clearly Rachel wasn't laughing back though.

"Do I have to run everything by you?" Santana questioned. She couldn't believe they were even having this conversation.

"No. Of course not." Rachel said quickly, but Santana could tell something was on her mind still.

"I mean, it would be nice if you could at least consider me when you're making plans." Rachel continued.

"Okay…" Santana began. She couldn't help the snarky remark coming out of her own mouth. Rachel's reaction had confused her and made her mad, and she always defaulted to being mean when she was mad. "Alright, sorry mom!"

"Okay, don't give me an attitude, I'm just saying…"

"I'm not giving you an attitude…"

"You are giving me an attitude, I'm just saying it would be nice if you asked me what my plans are and considered me. It's common courtesy."

"No, it's not common courtesy."

"Yes it is!" Rachel interrupted.

"No, you're just being insecure."

"Insecure?"

"Yeah, because it's Brittany, and we have a past."

"I didn't say that!"

"She's still my best friend Rachel, and she's going to be in my life whether you like it or not."

"Santana, I didn't say that!"

"Well…it certainly feels that way. I think you're jealous."

"Oh come on Santana! Jealous? Did you really expect me to believe I'm the only one anyway?"

Santana was shocked at that. She had spent every day for the past month with the girl, how could Rachel think anything different? Sure they hadn't labeled it yet, but it was pretty obvious the way things were going here.

"Wow." she said "you really think that? Because if you do, then we're not doing what I think we are here."

Rachel said nothing, she just looked down with those puppy dog eyes, subconsciously making Santana feel guilty for something she hadn't actually done. It angered Santana. Why did Rachel have to mess everything up when things were going so well? She was actually feeling happy again, and now this.

She shook her head in disbelief.

"You know what Rachel? You're a fucking asshole."

She turned to walk out.

"Wait!" Rachel shouted after her.

"Fucking asshole!" Santana repeated, heading out the door. Boy was she triggered. Rachel's reaction had taken her right back to 2013 again, when she had turned on her auditioning to be her understudy, expecting the worst from her as always.

"Santana, wait! Don't walk away!" Rachel yelled desperately.

But it was too late. The door slammed in her face, and Santana stormed off in a fury, leaving Rachel in the kitchen to reflect.

She hated that Santana had just walked away like that. When would she be back? Would she be back at all? Would they fix things?

Was this her fault? Had she overreacted on everything?

Santana was right. She was insecure in their newfound relationship. This was uncharted territory for her. And let's be real here, Brittany was a threat. It's not like they hadn't broken up and gotten back together before, with no regard for Santana's girlfriend at the time. Dani was off the scene as soon as Brittany came back into Santana's life.

Not that Rachel could even consider herself Santana's girlfriend at this point.

But maybe if they had a label, things would have been different.