Don't Own, Never Have, Never Will

Enjoy!

Santana opened the door and watched with a clenching heart as Mateo ran around the empty house searching for their parents. She sighed and set the keys down on the small table by the door. She still hadn't come up with a way to tell him and it looked like the inevitable was coming soon. She palmed her forehead warily and closed the front door.

Stepping further into the house she saw the light to the kitchen on and assumed her brother had found his way in there expecting their mother to be standing at the stove cooking. She took a deep breath mentally preparing herself to confront Mateo, but when she walked through the doorway she was surprised by the sight of Rachel standing in front of the stove in tight yoga pants and a tank covered by an apron. Sexy... Santana arched a penciled brow and trailed her eyes up Rachel's deliciously long legs. Stop staring like a perv, it's Berry for Godsake...snap out of it! Her mind yelled. She crossed her arms putting her old HBIC persona in place and loudly cleared her throat.

"Santana...?" Rachel turned in shock, one hand on her chest which only served to bring Santana's eyes to rest on the smaller woman's rising and falling breasts. "...you scared me...I was so into my little world I didn't even hear you come in."

"What are you doing here, mid-Rachel?" She tore her eyes from the tops of Rachel's tan breasts and reminded herself she was trying to be sort of humble and not insult her old classmate.

"Oh, um...you said to meet you back here later, but when I arrived you weren't here so I thought you and Mateo might enjoy a home cooked meal. I um, borrowed some keys this morning to lock up after myself and let myself in...I hung them on the hook by the door...sorry if I'm intruding again...maybe you want to sit down with Mateo in which case I can give you your privacy and we can speak at your earliest convenience..."

"Rae!" Mateo screamed interrupting Rachel's ramble and throwing himself at the the singer's midsection, hugging tightly.

"Hey Matty." The small brunette smiled kissing the boy's dark hair and hugging back. "What're you doin' here? Did Mami ask you to babysit?" He smiled recalling all the times their parents had gone out together and Santana had had plans with her friends and the little diva had babysat for them.

Rachel looked over his head and into her eyes clearly conveying that she didn't know how to answer her brother.

"Mateo...there's something I have to tell you..." She gulped twiddling with the hem of her lavender blouse. "Mami...and Papi...they were in an accident..."

Mateo turned light brown eyes towards her and his bottom lip quivered. He was clutching onto Rachel tightly, his little fingers digging harshly into her sides.

"Matty, remember the stories I use to tell you about the angels? About how they watched over people they loved? People they left behind?" She heard Rachel whisper after she'd erupted into quiet sobs of her own.

She saw her brother nod his head and then Rachel drop down to a knee in front of him. "Your mommy and daddy are angels now...but they loved you so very much, they didn't want to leave you, but they had to..." Rachel sniffled wrapping her arms around the crying child.

"Hey kiddo, we're gonna be okay...I'm always gonna protect you..." Santana closed the distance between them and gathered Mateo and inadvertently Rachel into her arms as she joined them in a crying heap on the tiled floor.

Two hours later Santana slouched against the back of the familiar leather couch with another weary sigh. They'd finally got Mateo to calm down and even eat a little, but he'd been uncharacteristically quiet for the rest of the night and it worried her. He finally politely excused himself and climbed the stairs to his bedroom. Santana wanted to follow him, but she figured that maybe he needed a little alone time, she knew she had when she first was told the news.

She peered across the living room spying Rachel through the kitchen bar tidying up. A thank you stuck in her throat as she gazed at the singer. She'd been a tremendous help with Mateo already and Q and B were right she did owe her at the very least an apology.

"Rach...?" She queried straightening as Rachel joined her sitting across from her in one of her father's matching faux suede recliners. She peered at Santana with the biggest brown eyes and waited for the Latina to speak.

"About this afternoon...I guess I was out of line. You're trying to help me and I should be more grateful...so you know thank you..." She said looking anywhere but Rachel's face.

She snapped her head up upon hearing a fit of giggles erupt from her companion. "Seriously Santana, one would think that you had just endured a teeth pulling."

Santana scowled briefly before smiling awkwardly and joining in the diva's laughter. She had already admitted today that apologizing was not her specialty and it wasn't like Rachel wasn't accepting her thanks she was just calling her out on her obvious discomfort.

"Stop laughing Berry, I'm trying to be like genuinely sincere here."

"Ok, rule one no more Berry, no one's going to believe we're in love if you're calling me Berry half the time..."

"Jeez take away half my fun will you," Santana mumbled, "ok, rule two simplify, I don't want to have to have a dictionary handy to converse with you."

"I'll have you know being in possession of a wide vocabulary is not detri-"

"You're already breaking the rule." Santana smirked.

"Fine. rule three no other guys or girls..."

" Oh give me a break, Ber-Rachel. I'm sex on legs, you're pushing things a bit...I can be discreet..."

"I'm sorry Santana, but I have to be resolute on this point. "

Santana crossed her arms and glared at the woman. She knew that Rachel again had a point, Lima was a small town there was no way of seeing someone else without everyone knowing and they had to look like a happy home. Besides maybe you can get another taste of Berry's berries...SHUT UP STUPID VOICE...! I do not want Berry.

Santana nodded curtly. "Whatever Rachel, you just make sure to keep your hands to yourself, this is a business arrangement nothing more."

"I wasn't the one ogling your breasts earlier." The smaller brunette smirked triumphantly making the Latina blush furiously.

"Shut-up." She glowered upset at being shown up.

"One more thing..."Rachel began not letting the other girl's anger remove her smile at besting her.

"What?" Santana practically growled still pouting.

So, that's two in one night cuz I'm on my way out of town...let me know what you think...