Sorry this took so long, family visited and work has been killing. I think I'm going to have to downsize updates to once a week, but at least maybe I can make them longer.

Enjoy!

Santana sat on her bed with her head in her hands. It had been two days since their "month-iversary" and Stefan Michelson had been texting and calling her several times daily. Guilt was eating her alive. She felt much more conflicted than she ever had in her entire life. She got one of her carry-ons, dumped the content on the floor and then began to repack it. She knew what she had to do.

Rachel was surprised to say the least when she arrived at the house from school to find to find a small suitcase and a duffel by the door. She arched an eyebrow curiously and went in search of her girlfriend.

"Santana? What's going on? Are you leaving...?" She queried finding the taller brunette leaning against the kitchen island.

"No...I'm not, you are."

"I am?"

"Yes...I thought about it..."

"You thought about it...?" She frowned.

"Yeah...?" Santana answered like it was obvious.

Santana frowned restructuring her thoughts, she didn't want this to end up and argument and she could already tell that's where this was heading. "Rach, I adore you...I care about you and I care about your dreams. You've wanted to be on Broadway since before Glee. Stefan has been contacting me..."

"He had no right! It's my life!"

"Then you can kill him when you see him."

"What about you? Us? I'm not going." She replied with a stamp of her foot.

"Rach, you're being unreasonable. You're worried about me, but what about you? What about your career? I don't want to be someone you regret..."

"I won't..."

"Maybe not now, but maybe you will when you're still struggling and you begin to think, I missed my moment..."

"What about our moment?"

"What you think a couple of state lines are going to stop me? No way, your stuck with me now, Shorty." Santana smiled affectionately trying to ease Rachel's fears.

"But, what if..."

"Babe, we can what if ourselves to death and it still wouldn't change anything. I meant what I said, I love you Rachel and I refuse to be that girl. I won't let you give up this part for me. Ms. Jenkins loves this little alternative family. You made that happen, she never would have given me a chance if it hadn't been for you and now I'm going to help you even by force."

Rachel opened and closed her mouth. She wanted to argue, but maybe Santana was right. She wanted to do the right thing, but leaving felted so selfish. She was about to say so when Santana beat her to the punch.

"It's not selfish, Rach. You're just as important than anything going on here. Besides I can't wait to see you and tell everyone that my girlfriend is a Broadway starlet." Santana pecked her cheek lightly.

"When?" Rachel asked sounding completely defeated.

"In five hours. I already bought the ticket and your Daddy is watching Mateo."

Rachel's mouth gaped open surprised by the shortened time available to wrap her head around leaving. "Couldn't wait to get rid of me, huh?"

"Oh, yeah, you hog the covers...the sentence is exile." Santana grinned looping an arm around Rachel's slim waist and pulling her into her body.

"Can I appeal the courts decision?" Rachel mused snuggling into Santana's chest.

"No, don't think of it as punishment, think of it as being the advance scouting party. One of your jobs is to prep for us to follow you." Santana whispered into Rachel's hair leaning her head on her hair and rocking them gently. She missed her already.

I was going to go go all angst and argument in this chapter, but when I thought about it it didn't seem right, plus I wanted to show some maturation for Santana, she can calmly and rationally plead her case she doesn't have to go cold shoulder push you away...

Next is a little Santana/Mateo/Berry Men

This story has maybe 6 chapters left...

Ink