This was a part of Pezberry Week and since fanfiction was down that day, I uploaded it on my livejournal. I'm uploading it on here now to keep things all together. This is Pezberry week day 2: First kiss.

So here's a short but sweet little Pezberry one shot where Rachel and Santana have a chance meeting at the Jersey Shore years after graduation. If I made any mistakes, let me know so I don't make the same ones in later stories. So enjoy and leave your comments.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

"Santana? A picnic?" she said, taking in the sight presented in front of her. Finally after two whole months of flirting, several date proposals and using almost all of my moves in my arsenal, Rachel had agreed to go out with me. I really never thought that I would be asking her out but after a chance meeting in Seaside Heights at the Jersey Shore the summer before senior year in college, something changed. Maybe it was because I finally got to see her in normal clothes. And she looked so good. Now before I tell you a secret, I must inform you that if anyone finds out about this, I will end you. Painfully. Okay? Cool beans

So I've always sort of had a thing for her. Ever since the first time I heard her sing and I saw her in one of her little school girl skirts. Like I really liked her skirt. How someone so short could have legs so long, I will never know. But when she opened her mouth and all those goddamn words started flooding out a mile a minute, the cute went away. Sorta. Now when my parents decided to spend the summer at the Jersey Shore, I wasn't all that excited. I mean, seriously? Who spends the entire summer in guido and guidette territory without being paid for it?

But anyway, it wasn't until like, the second or third day that I walked right into a small brunette on the beach. Well more like she ran into my boobs while chasing after a Frisbee or ball or or some shit like that. She was just as surprised to see me as I was to see her; especially in a small black bikini that made my mouth water and all my game leave seep out through my ears. "Rachel Berry," I said, lowering my shades to stare her down (and check her out).

"Santana. Hi," she said, smiling that million watt Berry smile that only shone brighter under the noon day sun. "Fancy running into you here. Literally." Why the hell did I suddenly find her incredibly cute? It was like being away from her for some time actually made me miss her. A bit. Maybe.

"Family trip. You?"

"Same."

"Cool".

After that little exchange, we sort of started hanging out. It started out just because we were the only people we knew that wasn't family. After a while though, we starting hanging out because we actually wanted to spend time together. Spending time together turned into flirting and flirting turned into actually liking. At least for me. Older, maturer Berry was also a calmer, sexier, more interesting Berry. It took me all of two weeks to start to develop some real feelings for the hobbit princess. Two more weeks to build up the courage to ask her out. All of 30 seconds for her to turn me down flat. I think I punched some random guy after that but it got a little blurry after the fifth shot. Three days after that; I tried again. That time it took her an hour to think before she turned me down. Again. But since what Santana wants; Santana gets, I waited two more weeks and after three or four more tries, she eventually said yeah. Score.

So I got all dressed up in a nice blue summer dress and wedges and headed to the beach. There I set up a blanket in the sand under the night sky. I packed several Tupperware containers of Berry-friendly food, two plates, two plastic flutes and a bottle of Champagne (because I was 21 and could legally wine and dine my date).

"Yeah," I said, extremely proud of myself for putting that huge Berry grin on her face. "I know you're into all the romantic stuff so I figured since we're staying by the beach; why not a beach picnic for our first date?"

"So this is actually a date? Like you were serious about going on a date with me?" I wanted to point out to her that I had tried to ask her out on a goddamn DATE like all summer but I just settled for a simple, "Only if you want it to be." She looked at the spread in front of her, smiled then sat down on her side, crossing her feet at the ankles leaving me standing in the sand awkwardly.

"Come sit next to me," she said, patting the space on the blanket. Didn't have to tell me twice.

"Don't mind if I do." I sat down legs extended, adjusting my dress so my whole business wasn't on full display. Which was pretty hard considering how short it was. Also, I'd like to mention that Rachel picked like the shortest sundress in all of sundress history to wear that night. It was some cute little orange thing that had a white belt on it and she looked so freakin' adorable yet incredibly sexy at the same time. "Is this really a date" my ass. She sure enough was dressed for a date but considering my track record of playing with people's emotions, I can understand why she was dubious.

Once I was situated, I started opening the different containers. "You eat yet?" I asked.

"No. While my dads were off getting something to eat, I was out searching for a music store around here." The hell?

"Rachel, you went around by yourself? At night? In Jersey?" I knew she was a independent and a bit crazy but I didn't think she was suicidal.

"Calm down, San," I smiled at the nickname. "I went with some of my Dad's cousin's kids. I mean, we are all staying in their house so might as invite them along." I breathed a sigh of relief and returned to removing the contents of each container onto each plate. "If you were wondering, I was looking for some new vocal sheet music." I sort of assumed but hey, she wasn't a mind reader.

"Did you find some?" I asked, setting the empty containers to the side and handing her a plate with a fork.

"Thanks," she said, taking the plate from me. Always with the manners. "And no. We never actually found a music store before the sun went down and by then, I had gotten your call to meet you here. Which by the way, why here? Why not just watch the fireworks with everybody else?" I wanted to say that it was because it was a date and who the hell hangs around their family on a date? Like who cares if it was the Fourth of July? That first date was WAY more important than some damn fireworks. So instead, I used some of the 'ol Lopez charm. "Just wait. You'll understand soon enough," I said with a wink.

"Really Santana? You know how I am about secrets and surprises," she whined and I hated myself for finding it so damn cute.

"Just relax, Smurfette and have fun. I promise you it will be worth it to let go and let someone else take the wheel for just this once," I reassured her and instead of saying something like she always did, she just smiled, took my hand in hers, placed them both in her lap, sat back and looked out into the water.

For about an hour or so, we just talked. Like we always talked (sort of) but that time we really talked. And who knew that Rachel Berry could be so interesting to actually listen to? Like, she seriously had one good head on her shoulders. As soon as she got her diploma, she packed her bags, made her way to NYADA, and was prepared to take Broadway by storm. She told me about all the auditions she had been in. All the callbacks she got and didn't get. All the nights she celebrated with Kurt and Mercedes when she got a small role in some off Broadway musical. She even told me about the all the nights she cried herself to sleep after hearing yet another "No, you're just not what we're looking for". The whole time, she never let go of my hand. And I didn't pull away.

Honestly, I was having an amazing time. After all the years. After all the names, the insults, the slushies, the backstabs, the put downs. After all of that; under the stars and moonlight reflected off of the black ocean, I felt like I was seeing Rachel for the first time. Now sure she was still psychotic, neurotic, blunt and probably one of the biggest pains in my ass that ever existed but something about her on that day drew me in. Maybe it was the way that the moonlight was reflected in her bright eyes as she listened to the invisible waves in the distance. Or the way that she bobbed her head like she was dancing to the rhythm of splash and swallow. Whatever the reason, in that moment I made a crucial decision. I knew it was a going to be a risk considering how soon it was in our sorta non-platonic friendship but hey, since when did Santana Motherfucking Lopez back down from a challenge? So I went for it. "Rachel," I said softly, gripping her hand and using it to turn her body slightly so she was facing me.

"Yes?" she said innocently and right as the first fireworks lit up the night sky, I leaned in and kissed her. I kissed Rachel Berry and Ay Madre de Dios, did it feel so good. And so right. When she started to kiss me back, nothing else mattered. Not the sounds of the waves. Not the booms of the fireworks in the distance night sky. All I felt was my lips on hers. Our combined breaths and my pulse racing, filling my heart and threatening to make it burst right out of my chest.

Honestly if two months ago, you would've told me that I would be kissing the one Miss Rachel Berry on a blanket in the sand on the beach under the stars and the fireworks; I would've kicked you in the groin (male or female; I don't really give a damn) to make sure that stupid wasn't passed on to the next generation, smacked you across the face and sent you to the nearest mental institution. But that was before the summer started and Berry crept her little big nosed ass into my heart. After that; nothing else mattered.