So, we're back : )

Don't Own Glee...

Enjoy!

Santana knocked gently on the Berry's door. She'd just left the airport after watching Rachel's plane take off. She prayed that she was doing the right thing, for everyone, especially Rachel. She knew that Rachel had wanted to say goodbye to Mateo, but she'd decided that it was better if she didn't. She might be charming, but Matt had Rachel completely wrapped around his fingers. If he'd asked her to stay or even just cried as she was leaving she would have never gotten on the flight. She couldn't have let that happen. Rachel was a star and she needed to shine, besides it was only a few months, Santana knew they'd be fine.

"She actually got on the plane?" Hiram smiled at her as he opened the door allowing her entrance to the house.

"I can be particularly convincing when I want to be." Santana smiled which was replaced by a frown as Leroy walked behind them an into the living room.

"So, my star is finally back where she belongs?"

"Lee, don't start." Hiram replied, frown matching Santana's.

"I think I'm just going to grab Matt and go." She replied trying to ignore the other man, she wasn't in the mood for verbally sparring with him.

"Leaving so soon?" Santana rolled her eyes at Leroy's false sincerity.

"Like you care. I'll just go get my brother an be on my way...Was he any trouble?"

"Of course not, he's always welcome here...you both are." Hiram placed a hand on Santana's arm and guided her into the den where Mateo lay sprawled across the couch fast asleep.

"Thanks, Mr. Berr-Hiram...Rachel would never had left if Mateo was there."

"I'm just glad she's away from you." Leroy said darkly and Santana whirled to face the taller Berry man full of rage.

"You are a complete ass! You have been nothing but rude to me since Rachel brought me here that first night. You've never given me even half a chance."

"You don't deserve one and you've been equally as combatant."

"So, you can talk shit about me, try to make me feel like I'm not good enough fro Rachel and I'm just suppose to allow it? I've never been that girl." Hiram took a step back from the two afraid that either would say something they didn't mean.

"You don't deserve her."He crossed his strong arms and glared down at the younger woman.

"Don't you think I'm well aware of that? The fact of the matter is that Rachel gets me, more that I thought anyone ever would. All I want is for her to be happy. And if you'd stop being such an arrogant, pigheaded douche then you'd see that she's been happy...we've been so happy. And you can't give me one good reason why that doesn't matter." Santana took menacing steps towards the other Berry man until she was inches from his face.

They stood toe to toe, both breathing hard and glaring at each other for a few tense moments until Santana finally broke the gaze. She hugged Hiram quickly and scooped up her brother. With one final glace back at Leroy she stalked from the house slamming the door behind her.

Rachel reclined her seat slightly and clicked on the overhead light. She was glad that luckily the flight wasn't completely booked. She was in a window seat on a two seat aisle, with no one siting next to her. She reached into her bag and pulled out the book she'd been reading, Santana had slipped it into her bag from it's place on the nightstand before they'd left for the airport.

As she opened the book and was surprised to see her bookmark had been replaced with two very different letters. One was obviously from Mateo; it was written in green crayon, which she knew was his favorite color. She grinned and traced her sprawling name on the outside fold. Opening it up her smile became bigger as she read:

Der Rae,

I miss u Santi say u r gonnna b a

* I like *s and the moon I wanna go 2 Santi say no I mad at she her but I luv her n u and I miss u

Luv,

MaTEo

She giggled, knowing that the pair had probably argued about who was going to write his letter and she was glad to see that Santana had let him do it himself. It was a sign of his growing independence and it made the letter more special and made her feel so proud of him.

Her smile faltered a bit when she removed the second letter. This one was written in Santana's flowing script and it wasn't that it made her sad, but that it reaffirmed that she was miles away from her now. She took in a deep breath in resolve and opened the letter.

Mi Estrellita,

Are you somewhere over the middle of no where, USA? Are you descending on our never sleeping city, it's light audacious enough to compete with the stars? Are you begrudgingly happy...still afraid that distance will cause this...us to disintegrate? Don't you see like I do? Nothing can destroy us, except us...cliche I know, but true and I'm not in the business of destroying one of the best things to happen to me. I hope you feel the same. Who else could reduce me to this? Scribbling platitudes of love like a sap, but I love you...so so much.

Te Amo

Santana

Upon finishing she wiped an errant tear from her cheek. The Santana she'd known in high school would never had been so sappy, she'd always hidden her feelings behind an exterior of bitchiness. Even the Santana she'd confronted a few months of ago had trouble admitting her deeper feelings. They'd changed a lot in a few months and she in no way took full credit for it, but felt good knowing she'd been a part of it. For her part she was sure that Santana kept her more manic side calm there wasn't anyone else she knew that could chill her out like the Latina.

Though she felt an overriding sense of calm now, she couldn't wait til she got to the city she was going to give one, Stefan Michelson a huge piece of her mind. The nerve of the man! She understood partially where he was coming from; he'd been trying to get her bigger roles for months now, but he didn't seem to understand that she also had a life, life. Where the theatre had been the most important thing in her life when she had been stranded in Lima with all the world against her, as she grew older she'd come to the realization that having a happy life was also important. And she was happy, this role was just icing on the cake. She couldn't say definitively that if she never became a starlet she wouldn't be regretful, but she was sure that in this family, with Santana and her brother she would definitely be happy. Stefan was going to come to the realization that she was serious about him meddling in her life and though he seemed to think not, and though it may pain her mildly to do so, he was completely replaceable. But, she was getting ahead of herself, she needed to calm down because she didn't really want to fire the man, just knock some sense into his thick skull.

Oh yeah! I personally 3 the Letters...but I'm subjective.

Ink