The first few days in bed had gone by without much incident. Rachel had more or less been completely drugged up thanks to the regular dosage of the pain pills from the doctor so aside from a few trips to the bathroom and trying to keep something on her stomach she had just wanted to sleep the entire time. Each time she woke up, Sam or Ricky were there to help her if she needed it. Each time she woke up, there were more flowers, balloons, or teddy bears telling her to get well from her cast mates.

As Rachel's eyes flickered open on the fourth day of bed rest, she was not greeted with Sam or Ricky. She was not greeted by anyone. She sat up slowly, not wanting to hurt herself, and glanced around the apartment. She had been staying on the fold out sofa bed so she could watch t.v., be close to the kitchen, and have some sunlight through their windows.

"Sam?" Rachel's voice cracked a bit as she called out to her friend "Ricky?"

When no response came she turned and put her feet on the ground. She looked around again and when no one came to help her, she slowly pushed herself to her feet, wincing just a bit as a dull ache shot through her back.

"Whoa hey there!" Santana came around the corner from the kitchen just then. She spotted Rachel trying to get up and hurried over to her "Careful, you heard what the doctor said." Her arm slid around Rachel to her back, offering support as the other took one of her hands.

"What are you doing here?" Rachel asked softly, her face painted in shock. Santana was the last person she had expected to see.

"Your friends had to go back to do the show so I offered my services." She nodded a bit, still holding onto Rachel as she took a few ginger steps forward.

"Well I don't need you here. I can go pee by myself."

"Rachel come on, I thought we reached a peace treaty or something." Santana frowned a bit but never once thought about letting her go.

Rachel looked at her feet, watching them slide across the hard wood floors toward the bathroom. She sighed and lifted her eyes to look at the taller girl "I'm sorry."

"I get it. It's my fault you're in this predicament so you naturally lash out at me." Santana rubbed her back as they moved around the edge of the couch toward the bathroom. "I still feel really bad."

"It was a freak accident." Rachel mumbled, shaking her head as she reached the bathroom door.

Santana guided her in and let her ease herself over to the toilet before closing the door behind her without her even having to ask. She folded her arms and leaned against the door outside the bathroom. "Are you feeling any better, at least?"

"Yeah" Rachel said from inside the bathroom. "Breathing is a lot easier but sometimes if I cough or sneeze or something like that it feels like my body is going to rip in half."

Santana frowned at that. Damn she had never wanted to hurt Rachel and now the girls was looking like a cripple. "Are the pain pills helping?"

"Yeah." There was a ruffle inside the bathroom, then the sound of the toilet flushing. It was quiet for a long time, the only sound being heard was little grunts from Rachel.

"Hey, you alright?" Santana asked after a moment, putting her ear against the door now "You didn't fall or anything did you?"

"Noooo" Rachel groaned out, sighing heavily before she paused her movements. It went silent again and after a few moments, she looked at the door and whined out a pathetic sounding "Santana?"

"I'm still right here." She said with a nod, even though Rachel couldn't see it.

"Will you help me?"

"Yeah, what do you need?" She kept the door closed until Rachel said it was alright.

"I really want to take a bath but I can't bend over to turn on the water. Or get my shirt off. And I probably won't be able to get in without falling."

Santana nodded but kept the door closed still "Alright. I can help. You want me to come in?"

Rachel sighed and rolled her eyes "Yes, come in."

Santana pushed the door open and gave Rachel a smile as she walked into the bathroom. She went right over to the faucet in the tub and turned it on. She played with them a moment then tested the water to make sure it wasn't too hot or too cold "Try that?"

Rachel reached out and tested the water as well. When it was to her liking, she nodded and pointed behind Santana to a shelf in the corner that held towels "Will you get me one? When you pull off my shirt, keep your eyes closed, and then I will wrap this around myself."

Santana didn't argue. She turned and reached to grab a towel, unfolding it and handing it over to Rachel "You realize you've seen my naked, right?"

"I don't even remember it" Rachel mumbled with a roll of her eyes as she held her towel out and stood gently "Now close your eyes."

Santana smirked and did as she was told "If I claim not to remember, can I see you naked?"

"Santana not now! I am trusting you!" Rachel bit back with a hiss in her tone.

Santana laughed softly, nodding her head "Alright, alright I was kidding. Come on, you can't expect me not to kid about that."

"Keep it in your pants for five seconds, please. Now…" She reached out and took Santana's hand, guiding it slowly to the bottom of the shirt she wore. "Keep your eyes closed and gently, and I strongly emphasize the word gently, slide my shirt off."

Santana couldn't help the smirk that lifted onto her lips, but she did as she was told. She used her hand already gripping the shirt to guide her other hand down as well. Taking the material into both hands, she very, very gently started to move it up Rachel's body.

Rachel winced as she pulled her arm on her sore side down and through the sleeve. She gritted her teeth but made no noise so Santana would not open her eyes. She shifted the towel to that hand, then slid her other arm out quickly before pulling the towel now around her chest. "Alright."

Santana peeked one eye open, saw that Rachel was covered, and opened the other one. She gave her a smile then leaned over to turn off the water for the bath. "Wait, aren't you wearing panties?"

Rachel laughed a little and rolled her eyes "Yes, but that doesn't require my arms to move." She used the hand on her not sore side and pushed the material down on each hip before wiggling until the panties fell. Once they hit her feet, she kicked them away and gave Santana a smile.

Santana felt her heart leap and her stomach knot. Damn that was sexy. She couldn't say that though. She kept a straight face and just nodded "Alright…" She licked her lips, trying to get the image of Rachel half naked in front of her and dropping her panties out of her head "So how are we going to make sure you don't fall while getting in?"

Rachel eyed the tub for a moment, chewing her lip as she thought it all over. She looked down at herself, then up at Santana, then back to the tub.

"Here" Santana said softly, putting a hand on her back "How about I lift you like I did when I carried you out to the car to go to the hospital? I can lower you down into the tub. Your towel will get wet, but we can just get you a dry one. That way I don't see anything and you won't fall."

Rachel thought it over for a moment and decided that was the best plan if she didn't want Santana to get a peek of her body. She looked up at the taller woman and nodded, lifting one arm out now to slide behind Santana's neck as the other one held fast to her chest, clinging to the towel for dear life.

The trust that Rachel showed warmed Santana's heart. So just as she had done in order to take her to the car, Santana slid one arm around her lower back and the other under her knees, scooping her into her arms and moving to the side of the tub. Slowly she lowered herself at the side of the tub, lowering Rachel into the water as she did so.

Santana didn't let go until her arms were firmly trapped between Rachel and the bottom of the tub, that indicating to her that if she let go Rachel would not fall any amount of space and not get hurt.

"Alright, now lean to the side so I can slide my arms out."

Rachel did so very carefully, lifting just enough that Santana was able to get her arms free before she rolled back and let herself rest against the tub. She sighed as the warm water over took her body. It felt so good, so relaxing, and for the first time in four days she felt normal.

Santana stood up now, grabbed a hand towel and wiped her arms dry before setting it back on the rack "Alright I am going to be in the living room if you need me." She pointed behind her and stepped backwards toward the door.

"Thank you" Rachel whispered, her eyes closed, her entire body looking peaceful.

Santana took a moment to look at her in the bath. Even with the towel still clutched to her chest, she looked beautiful. It brought a smile to her lips and she turned, leaving the room and pulling the door shut behind her.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

While Rachel had bathed, Santana had made some food for the two of them. Nothing too heavy, knowing that Rachel still didn't have much of an appetite. She made some toast, oatmeal, and sliced some fruit she had found in their fridge before she had to help Rachel out of the tub again. It was a reverse process and once Rachel was on her feet and in a dry towel, Santana helped her to her room to get dressed before returning to finish the breakfast she had made.

After the two girls settled back into the living room and they devoured their meal together, Rachel settled into the bed and took a pain pill. Santana had settled in the chair next to the couch, her legs kicked up, her eyes reading the daily paper. The two of them didn't talk. Santana had thought Rachel had drifted off to sleep. Rachel had just laid there with her eyes open.

It had been at least a half an hour of silence before Rachel shifted and looked over to where Santana sat "Can I ask you something?"

Santana jumped, having not known she was awake. She laughed and set down the paper, putting a hand on her heart. "Jesus I thought you were asleep." She shook her head in amusement, pushed the paper aside, and slid to the edge of the chair to bring herself a bit closer to Rachel "You can ask me anything."

"And you'll answer it honestly?" Rachel perked an eyebrow, knowing that Santana could very well have lied to her had she not made it perfectly clear she wanted a truthful answer.

Santana looked at Rachel, their eyes locking, and in that moment she had a silent promise that she would be honest. She gave the girl a nod "I think I owe you that much, at least."

It made Rachel's heart beat to have their eyes lock like that. It had been a fleeting moment but it had been intense. She licked her lips, her throat suddenly dry and she reached for her water "Okay, good." She whispered before taking a drink. Setting down her glass, she cleared her throat and looked at Santana again. She hesitated for a moment, opening her mouth to speak before closing it. She shook her head and found her strength, pushing on and getting the words out. "Did you do that on purpose?"

Santana's eyes shifted around the room, her eyebrows knitting together in a bit of confusion. When she didn't find a clue as to what Rachel meant, she shook her head and lifted her hands in a shrugging motion "You're going to have to be more specific. Did I do what on purpose?"

"The girl" Rachel spat out with a sigh "You know, the one you were being intimate with when I walked in on you?"

Santana's eyes dropped to her hands as they folded in front of her. She chewed the inside of her lip for a moment before letting out a sigh. No one had ever called Santana out on any of her shit before, not really. "Uh…" Santana shrugged and lifted her head, nodding a little as she looked at Rachel "Yeah I did."

"I knew it!" Rachel rolled her eyes, dropping her head back to the pillow and folding her arms. "Why? What possessed you to do that? What was your thought process?"

Santana sighed too, sliding the chair now closer to the couch so she could lean against the side of the bed "I don't know, Rachel, shit. You have me going all crazy over here. I am sitting here running through my mind wondering what it's going to take to get your attention and I can't think of anything. Everything that usually works on girls doesn't work on you. I am all out of tricks."

"I don't want to be tricked, Santana! I wanted to be wooed. I want to be romanced." The pitch of her voice gave away her annoyance and she had to calm herself before she started screaming and wreaked havoc on her ribs.

Santana frowned and her head dropped again. She didn't really know what to say or do. She stayed quiet for a long time, staring at her hands.

Rachel sighed after a while and looked back over at Santana "Don't do that. Don't sit there and pout like a scolded child. You know what you do and you know it's bad, Santana. Don't act like this is the first time you've heard this."

"It is, Rachel" Santana lifted her head with a glare on her features "You might not believe it, but it is. You want honest? Well here's a shit load for you. I like you, Rachel. I like you in a way that I've never liked another girl, even one's I've dated. You challenge me. You don't put up with my shit. You don't fall for my tricks. You make me feel bad about things. You make me feel good, too, though. Like when Sam called me today and asked me to help I was filled with a feeling of happiness because I knew I'd get to see you. I have never felt that about anyone."

Rachel rolled her eyes. She didn't believe a word she said. "Mhm" She pursed her lips to the side "I'm so sure."

"Rachel" Santana reached out now, taking her hand and giving a soft squeeze "I have no reason to lie to you! Don't you get that? I realized now that lying to you is not going to get me anywhere. Being that person who you hate, who you think is disgusting, doing that is not going to get you. So why would I lie to you to try and impress you when it's not working?"

Rachel bit the inside of her cheek and glanced over to Santana. She could see the look on her face and she almost believed her. She didn't want to, but part of her heart told her that maybe she should. As much as Rachel didn't want to give in, she also had a huge heart that wanted to give everyone a chance. She honestly had no idea what to feel or think for the first time in her life.

Santana sighed as her fingers gave Rachel's a tiny little squeeze.

Rachel closed her eyes and let her tiny fingers return the squeeze. She held tight for a long moment before letting her grip loose but letting her fingers stay in Santana's grip.

"Rachel" Santana whispered softly, her eyes locked on the girl, pleading her to look at her or say something.

Rachel took a deep breath and finally opened her eyes to look at the girl next to her bed. She found her eyes and in that instant she found the pleading. She felt bad. She never wanted to make someone look at her that way, ever. Rachel blinked slowly, keeping her eyes closed for a long time before opening them again and finding Santana still looking at her.

"Why?" She finally whispered in a voice that was a bit shakier than she had wanted it to be. Santana's gaze was cutting her to the core.

"Why what?" Santana whispered back "There are so many whys in this situation, which one do you want to know?"

"Why do you want me? Is it because I'm the only girl that won't sleep with you?"

"Kind of" Santana mumbled, but before Rachel could give her that disgusted look like she knew that was why, she quickly continued "But not because you're a prize. Because you are different than any other girl I've ever met. Yes, you won't put out. You barely even like me, and yet you still give me the time of day. For some reason you put up with me and it's not because you like me. You are a mystery to me but every time we hang out I feel like I put a little piece of the puzzle into place and the more I get to know you, the more I like you."

"And what happens if you ever solve this puzzle?" Rachel asked dryly.

"Then I have a picture of one of the most amazing women I have ever known. And I am a better person for it. Whether you choose to still be in my life after that point or not is up to you but I would really like to have that entire picture."

Rachel shook her head and closed her eyes again. Her fingers trembled where Santana held her hand and they slowly curled to hold onto Santana's fingers.

Santana returned the squeeze, giving her a little smile even though her eyes were closed.

Again a thick silence fell between the girls as they sat together. Santana kept her eyes on the girl in bed, watching as she ran it all over in her head. She could see it on her face, every worry that was surely consuming her. She didn't know what she was thinking, exactly, but she could tell she was thinking a lot.

Rachel finally opened her eyes and her gaze fell back to the woman next to her. "I want to believe you. I want to think that there is this part of you that I've seen here today, and when you took care of me that first night, this part that is genuine. I want to believe you are really taking a look at how you act and the way you affect people with how you treat them. I want to believe in fairy tales and overcoming odds and finding love in the most unexpected place. But there's this part of me that just can't with you, Santana. I can't let myself believe because I can't sink the feeling in the pit of my stomach that if I let you in, you'd get what you wanted and be done with me."

Santana had started to smile. The first part of that had sounded really promising. Then she reached the but and her face fell. She dropped her gaze between her knees to the floor below her. The words felt like a dagger in her heart. Was she really such a terrible person that genuinely caring for someone, standing vigil at their bedside through the night, and helping them when you hardly know them really not out weight the bad things she had done in her past?

"Rachel" Santana whispered, her eyes lifting now after what felt like an eternity of staring at the floor "Listen I don't blame you. I have been a pretty bad person. I've treated women like objects, used money to get what I want, and never once thought about what I might be leaving in my wake. But that was because I had never found a reason not to act like that. No one cared to tell me to stop because it was shitty. People just let me do it."

"No one has told me not to act that way and, look, I have never acted that way." Rachel shrugged a shoulder, her tone a bit harsh and she immediately regretted it "I'm sorry. I just don't understand how one human being can treat another human being that way."

"I get it" Santana whispered softly "I'm not an angel. I've made mistakes and acted pretty fucked up in my life. But, I mean, I am coming to you and telling you that you are the person that has been the eye opener in my life. Doesn't that mean anything to me?"

"How do I know you aren't just saying that, though! You're good at games, Santana, it's how you've built your entire reputation."

"But how do you know that for one in my life I'm not just saying that?" Santana scooted closer again, now wrapping her second hand around where her first already held onto Rachel's "Look at it this way. What if you worked as a rehab counselor and you saw people come in and out of your door, say they would change, and then they walk out and go right back to that life. Then one day a person walks in, sits down, says they are ready to change, and just like every other time you believe them because it's your job. Then that person walks out, stays away from drugs, and for once in your life you were proved wrong. Wouldn't that feel awesome?"

Rachel perked an eyebrow and looked at Santana with a mix of amusement and confusion on her face "That is a horrible analogy."

"I know" Santana gritted her teeth, laughing very softly "I should just stick with the stuffed unicorn one."

Rachel nodded, letting out a soft giggle "That one was a lot more effective. And very adorable."

"You liked that huh?" Santana said with a smirk.

"Don't let it go to your head." Rachel rolled her eyes.

Santana smiled, letting both her hands squeeze against the one of Rachel's that she held. "But do you get what I was going for?"

"I think so." Rachel said with a shrug "But can you see where I am coming from?"

Santana nodded softly "Of course I can. I've lived my life staying as far away from feeling anything that I could so I would never have to get hurt. You've spent your life with standards and expectations so you would never have to get hurt. Am I wrong?"

Rachel opened her mouth to deny it but stopped. Santana was being honest, so it was only fair she return the courtesy. She glanced over and nodded a bit "But I don't think that's horrible."

"It's a lot more honorable than my method." Santana agreed, giving her a smile "But we've both done what it takes to keep ourselves safe, right?"

Rachel nodded again. When she put it that way, it made sense. Didn't make her actions alright, but it did make sense. Everyone coped differently.

"But when was the last time you took a chance?"

Rachel bit her lip and looked down at where her hand was entangled with Santana's. She honestly never had. The biggest chance she had ever taken was moving to New York to start her career. But that hadn't seemed like a chance, to her. It was her destiny as far as she was concerned.

Santana nodded her head a little bit "Me neither." She whispered softly, her hands gripping tighter to the smaller one. "So why not now? Why not just leap, take a chance, and live a little bit?"

"I don't trust you not to hurt me if things got serious" Rachel whispered honestly although a bit wary of the reaction Santana would have.

Santana nodded her head softly. She didn't pull her eyes away from Rachel, no matter how badly she wanted to. She kept strong and licked her lips before taking in a deep breath. "I'm going to earn your trust."

Rachel looked over, honestly a bit surprised by that. She had thought Santana would have given up then and there. She eyed the woman, searching for any sort of deception on her face or in her eyes. All she saw was determination. It made her heart twist and she gave her hand a squeeze "What if you never get it?"

"If I give my all and try to earn it from you and it never happens, well, then I will know for sure that you and I were never meant to be anything more than friends. But you have to know I won't give up. I told you, I like you Rachel."

"And if you do get it?"

Santana smiled her most genuine smile, nodding her head as her hands gave another tight squeeze "Then I think we might just have a fighting chance."

Rachel laughed softly, her smile staying on her lips as she shook her head at the woman "You're crazy, Santana Lopez."

Santana let out a soft laugh, shrugging a bit "Crazy about you."

"Oh god" Rachel rolled her eyes with a loud laugh.

"Alright, so that was a line! I couldn't help it." Santana grinned ear to ear, her hands giving another squeeze. "But I'm serious, Rachel. All I'm asking for is a fighting chance."

"I know" Rachel whispered softly, her eyes feeling heavy from the pain medication but she didn't want to go to sleep. She sighed and lifted a shoulder in a shrug "Hypothetically, if I were to give you that chance, to earn my trust, with promise that once it was earned we would be together, like you want, then what happens until then?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean.." Rachel took in a deep breath, fluttering her eyes before focusing them on Santana again "I mean do you stop sleeping with other women and really focus on earning that trust or do you only try and earn it when it's convenient for you and when I will see your efforts in the flesh?"

"You want me to stop sleeping with other girls?" Santana asked softly.

"Hypothetically. If I were giving you that chance, would that be something you were capable of? Would I be worth it?"

Santana blinked a few times but her gaze never left Rachel. She was quiet for a long moment before finally she nodded her head "If I knew I had a chance in Hell of earning a shot with you, I'd give it up."

Rachel nodded her head and rolled back to her back so her eyes could focus on the ceiling. She was quiet for a long time as she thought it over. After a minute she glanced back to Santana and whispered softly "One more thing?"

Santana perked an eyebrow. She wasn't sure what else Rachel could ask for right now. She had basically just told her she would change her ways, but she gave her a smile and nodded "Anything."

Rachel smiled now, letting her hand slide out of Santana's before pushing herself away from Santana. She patted the spot in bed that she had just opened up "Will you watch a movie with me?"

Santana laughed a bit, giving her head a nod as she stood, kicked off her shoes, and climbed onto the fold out bed beside Rachel "I thought you'd never ask."

"Oh really? I thought you didn't do movies."

"I don't." Santana said with a smirk as she settled onto her back, lifting her arm to allow Rachel to scoot closer to her "But I'm thinking about changing a few lifestyle choices."

Rachel laughed and gave Santana's stomach a playful swat before she slid next to her and let her head come to rest in the crook of her shoulder and arm "Well consider me impressed."

Santana laughed a bit, grabbing the remote control and handing it to Rachel "I'm ready." She said with a sigh and a sure nod. "Just….be gentle…"

Rachel looked up at her like she was nuts, shaking her head "Gentle?"

"You're taking my movie virginity. Make it special." A cocky little smirk slipped over Santana's features at her little joke.

Rachel just rolled her eyes and flipped the t.v. on with the remote "You're incorrigible."

"And sexy. Don't forget sexy." Santana said with a laugh.

Rachel shrugged before settling her head on Santana again as the movie she had chose started to play "Maybe."

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

The rest Rachel's bed rest period was spent much the same. Santana would come over when Sam and Ricky left and they would spend the day watching movies, playing scrabble, or just talking and getting to know one another, as friends. Rachel had made sure that Santana knew they were still just friends, even after their talk the other day.

After a week of bed rest, Rachel was more than ready to leave the house, even if it meant going to the doctor for her check up. She just wanted fresh air, sunlight on her skin, and to feel like part of society. Santana had been waiting for her with a car to take her to her check up. Rachel would have demanded they walked, had it not been over 90 blocks away.

After the check up, and the good news that Rachel was right on track, she begged Santana not to take her home.

"Just because he said you don't have to stay in bed any more doesn't mean you can run around the city. You have to take it easy, you heard him!"

"I know San, but please! I just want to go to the park. I want to sit on a bench or walk around the river and just take it all in for a little while. Please?" Rachel grabbed Santana's hand in both of hers, giving a tight squeeze "Pleeassseee?"

Santana laughed a little bit at the girl tugging on her hand "You look like you're about to start bouncing."

"I will bounce until all my ribs break if you don't take me." Rachel warned, lifting her eyebrows as if challenging her.

Santana returned the challenging eyebrow as she stared her down. There was no doubt that Rachel would do that. "Alright, fine."

"Yes!" Rachel squeaked, trying not to bounce. She knew that it would only cause her pain.

"But only for a little while. You heard him, you still need to rest and you can't over work yourself."

"We are going for a walk. It's not like I'm doing a spinning class or karate." Rachel rolled her eyes.

"Still." Santana put her hands on her hips and gave a serious look.

Rachel's face turned into a huge pouting frown and she huffed "When did you turn into no fun?"

Santana laughed softly, rolling her eyes "When I met a girl who hated me."

"I don't hate you" Rachel poked Santana in the stomach then turned and climbed into the car. She slid across the seat then buckled up. She waited until Santana joined her then she spoke to the driver "Central Park, please?"

Santana gave a nod to the driver when he looked at her for confirmation and he dipped his head and started into traffic.

Santana looked over at Rachel with a smile, laughing softly to herself.

"What?" Rachel asked with a roll of her eyes "What is going on in your head?"

"Nothing" Santana shrugged, pushing some hair off her eyes "I'm just glad you're doing alright. You have such a love for life that I'm glad you didn't break that."

"Oh trust me it would take more than a broken rib to break that down."

"Good" Santana smiled, patting Rachel's leg gently "I would hate to think the girl I can't stop thinking about is a bore."

Rachel rolled her eyes and gave Santana a little nudge with her elbow.

As the park rolled into view, Rachel's smile grew and she was like a kid seeing Disneyland for the first time. She couldn't wait to get out there and feel the grass and smell the trees and feel the wind in her hair.

The car came to a stop and Rachel was out and on the sidewalk before Santana could even unbuckle herself. Santana stepped out and joined her, laughing a bit as her hand came to rest on Rachel's back "You could never tell you were injured."

"It's because I feel amazing, come on" Rachel looped her arm through Santana's and started to drag her along the sidewalk and into the park. It was a beautiful day and there were plenty of people all around. There were children playing and giggling, dogs barking, even a couple on a bench snuggling together. The smells of hotdog carts and popcorn filled her nose. She watched people gather to buy ice cream treats and frozen drinks from various vendors.

A deep breath was taken and her eyes closed as she walked along with Santana, her arm still linked with hers "Isn't it wonderful?" Rachel whispered as her eyes came open and she looked up to Santana with a gleaming smile on her lips. "It's nothing like where I'm from. This city is so alive, so beautiful. I love it here."

Santana looked up and around, shrugging a little bit. "I've lived here my entire life, I guess I am just used to it."

"Used to it!" Rachel stopped and looked up at Santana with a shocked look on her face "How? There is so much to see? So many people to watch!"

Santana shrugged again "I guess. I don't know. I grew up with all these sights to see and all these people to watch. I guess I just got so used to it being there that I've tuned it out."

Rachel shook her head and started to walk again. She was quiet for a moment as they found their stride together, her eyes moving from scene to scene as they unfolded before her in the park. After a moment, she smiled and nudged Santana.

"Look" She whispered, pointing to a man near a tree "What does it look like he's doing?"

Santana found the man she was pointing at, looking at him, and shrugged her shoulders "Sitting under a tree talking to himself?"

Rachel laughed a little bit, shaking her head "It looks like he is telling a story to me. Like he is taking his life and what is happening around him and telling the world. Maybe no one is listening, but he doesn't care."

Santana perked an eyebrow but shrugged. She had to admire the way Rachel looked at things. It was one of the best things about the girl.

"Look over there" Rachel pointed to two children huddled around a fallen tree branch.

Santana followed her gaze and found the kids. She studied them a moment then shook her head a little bit "Uh, two kids discovering nature can be beautiful even in death?"

Rachel looked up at her and let out a soft laugh "Deep, but no. Good try." She looked back to the kids and shrugged "They are standing over their enemy. They fought an epic battle against the tree monster and now they are relishing in their victory, having saved their entire family from the beast."

Santana glanced down with an unamused look on her face "How do you know that?"

Rachel shook her head, leading Santana to a bench and sighing as she sat down "I don't. But it could be, right?" She smiled as the girl sat next to her and Rachel finally let go of her arm "And it's the possibility that any of that is real that makes this place magical. You never know what to expect. This city really is a living, breathing entity and I am completely in love with it."

Santana nodded her head and looked back over the park. She let her eyes linger on people for a moment. She took her time to take in a potential story for each and every one of the people she saw before finally she looked back to Rachel "I think I get it." She said with a smile.

Rachel nodded, sighing as she laid her head against Santana's shoulder. "It's amazing."

Santana smiled down at Rachel and couldn't help when she slipped her arm around her waist gently. She pulled her close and was glad when Rachel didn't tell her no or pull away. The two of them sat together like that for a long moment, Rachel taking in their surroundings and Santana taking in the girl under her arm.

"It's like you" Santana finally spoke after ten minutes or so.

Rachel blinked and looked up at Santana curiously "Hmm?"

Santana smiled, nodding toward the park but kept her eyes on the girl "The city. The possibilities are endless and you never know what can happen. That's how I see you."

Rachel bit her lip, trying to fight the smile coming to her lips. She dropped her face so Santana couldn't see it, turning her face against her side to hide. Her heart was thundering in her chest and she felt herself melting a little bit. When she wanted to, Santana could really make someone feel special.

Santana lifted her hand and ran her fingers through Rachel's hair gently, nodding and looking back out over the park. It was nice to just sit and relax. Rachel was right, it was needed. Not only for her but for Santana as well.

After a half hour or so, Rachel sat up from where she had been leaning into Santana and brushed messy hair from her face "Hey San?"

"Yeah?" Santana looked down, giving her a grin.

"Thanks." She whispered softly.

"For what?" Santana shrugged a bit.

Rachel shrugged, shaking her head a little bit "Just thanks." She leaned up and placed a kiss on Santana's cheek before settling back down against the bench.

Santana nodded, closing her eyes and sighing happily. They spent the rest of the afternoon on the bench in peaceful bliss. For a moment, they both got a peek of what it could be like and Santana liked it more than she ever thought she would.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.