A/N: This took me longer than I expected to upload, and I'm really sorry about that. I've just been busy with school related things and another pezberry story I'm doing for the Glee Big Bang.
Once they got to Rachel's house, they went straight to Rachel's room and sat on the bed. Both sighed, wondering where to begin.
"You really don't hate me?" Rachel blurted out, and Santana rolled her eyes playfully.
"This again? No, I don't, besides you have more reason to hate me then I do to hate you." Rachel looked down and shrugged.
"I hid something important from you." Santana scoffed.
"Like I would have believed you if you told me when you first moved here, I didn't even remember you or the orphanage," Santana shrugged. "I just would of thought you were more of a freak and-" She cut herself off and Rachel noticed.
"You would have slushied me and call me more names?" Rachel offered and Santana sighed. Santana inched closer to her so their knees touched and she held both of Rachel's hands.
"I'm really sorry about that, what I did to you when you moved here," Santana scowled, disgusted with herself. "Especially because it was you, and I'm so sorry for forgetting."
"Why did you forget?" Rachel asked softly.
"Because," Rachel watched as Santana bit her lip and struggled with her words. "Because it hurt so much to lose you and I…I was too weak to deal with all the pain, so when I got adopted I made myself forget everything."
"Even me," Rachel whispered and Santana nodded silently. "It hurt so much, Santana, I know it was you but you didn't recognize me at all."
"Rachel, I'm so sorry, believe me when I say it's my biggest regret. I remember everything now and it's all too precious to forget again," Santana smiled at Rachel and reached out with one hand to tuck a hair behind her ear. "You're too precious to forget."
Santana cupped Rachel's face and Rachel closed her eyes and leaned into the touch. They stayed like that, with Rachel loving the feel of Santana's hand cupping her face and Santana gazing lovingly at Rachel. Rachel opened her eyes and smiled at Santana. She tugged on their joined hands and shifted to a laying position, bringing Santana down with her.
"You really remember?" Santana laughed and nodded, making Rachel's face light up. "Tell me, tell me things you remember about us."
"Like stories?" Rachel nodded and Santana laughed, the situation they were in was familiar. "Well," Santana started, and Rachel looked at her expectantly, looking very much like the child she was when they first met. "I would to this, tell you stories. I'd tell you all kinds of stories, some made up and some not."
Santana and Rachel were sitting on Santana's bed, with Santana sitting up and Rachel laying down. They had become accustomed to this, sneaking away from all the other kids and hanging out, just the two of them. Santana hated all the other kids, while Rachel was more afraid of them. Rachel had yet to say a word, so the other kids would easily make fun of her.
It infuriated Santana, no one made fun of her Rachel. She definitely hated it when Rachel came to her crying, which happened a lot. She would have beaten all the kids up, but then she would get in trouble and she didn't want to be away from Rachel.
So, as it seemed, one of the things that calmed the both of them down was storytelling. It definitely made Rachel happy and allowed Santana to put her energy to something that didn't involve violence.
"And then the prince kissed the princess, and they lived happily ever after." Santana finished the story, and though it was too cheesy for her tastes, Rachel liked it and that was all that mattered to Santana. Rachel smiled brightly and clapped, making Santana grin. Rachel didn't say anything, but Santana could tell fairytale stories were Rachel's favorites.
Sometimes, which Santana always apologized for after, she would tell Rachel scary stories. Every time she did, Rachel couldn't sleep and would sneak into Santana's bed at night to sleep with her. Not that Santana complained, in fact, she loved it.
She loved being the one Rachel wanted and needed, and those nights she would put her arms around Rachel protectively. Santana loved holding Rachel, and she found those nights to be the ones where she slept better and without nightmares.
Rachel giggled. She remembered that, all the stories Santana told her of, and she loved every second of it. She loved wondering what Santana could come up with and laying in bed listening to her. Rachel suddenly thought of the scary stories and she slapped Santana on the arm lightly.
"What was that for?" Santana asked and Rachel pouted.
"That's for the scary stories." Santana grinned.
"Sorry about that." Santana said cheerfully and Rachel glared at her.
"You don't sound sorry." Santana laughed.
"Nope, cuz I'm not," Santana said, ignoring the glare Rachel was giving her. "Awe, c'mon, you were so cute to scare and then you snuck into my bed," An idea popped into Santana's head and she looked at Rachel mischievously. "Let's see if you're still scared. Once there was this guy and he-"
"No," Rachel shrieked and covered her ears. She could see Santana laughing, hell, Santana was laughing so hard she could still hear her. Rachel uncovered her ears and crossed her arms. "Shut up."
"Are you gonna sneak into my bed tonight?" Santana asked, still laughing.
"I'm not talking to you anymore." Santana's laughing finally died down and she smiled at Rachel.
"Sorry, I'll stop." Rachel smiled and scooted closer to Santana.
"Tell me more." Rachel said excitedly.
"I don't know what you want me to say." Rachel frowned and thought back to their childhood together.
"Well, you were always protecting me." Santana smiled.
"The kids there were dicks." Rachel smiled, Santana was always protective of the people she was close to. Santana sighed and turned so she was laying on her back, and frowned in confusion when she heard something crumpling. She reached into her back pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. She unfolded it and smiled when she saw it was the picture she had drawn for Rachel. She had completely forgotten she had kept it after storming off.
"Ya know," Santana said, looking at the picture with a smile. She turned the picture around so that she was looking at the letters of their first name written. "When you first wrote R, I was wondering what your name could be." Rachel chuckled and moved so she could see the letters, which meant putting her head on Santana's chest.
"I thought about putting my full name, but you didn't so I didn't either." Santana smiled and wrapped an arm around Rachel's waist. Rachel couldn't help but smile at the action.
"I can't believe I didn't know your name for a few months."
"Well, it was my fault. My fathers' death put me in so much shock I became mute for a while." Santana frowned.
"It wasn't your fault and besides," Santana smiled at her. "I didn't let that get in the way of anything." Rachel smiled back at her.
"Even when I didn't say anything, you always knew what I needed." Rachel took the picture from Santana and turned it so the star was facing them.
"Is gold still you're favorite color?" Santana asked.
"Yeah," Rachel sighed and snuggled close to Santana. "This is nice, talking about the past." Santana looked at the picture and frowned.
"I broke the promise." Rachel sighed and nodded.
"I know, but it's okay, really."
"How is it okay?" Rachel sighed and pushed herself up on her elbows so she was looking down at Santana.
"Because now you remember, so I don't have to go through all that suffering of knowing what you didn't. So can we please stop punishing ourselves?"
"You're right, I'll stop." Truth was, Santana wasn't sure if she was ever going to forgive herself. All she had been doing lately was beating herself up for everything she had done to hurt Rachel. What she did know, thought, was that Rachel didn't need to hear her voice her regret on breaking promises.
Rachel and Santana stared at each other in silence and Santana reached up and moved a piece of hair behind her ear. Rachel smiled and grabbed Santana's hand and ran her thumb along the back of her hand. Rachel suddenly realized how intimate they were, and she let go of Santana's hand. When she started to push herself farther away from Santana, the taller girl reached out and grabbed Rachel's arms.
"No, don't go." The desperation in Santana's voice made Rachel pause and she leaned down a little again to cup Santana's cheek.
"What's wrong?" Santana frowned and leaned into Rachel's touch.
"It's just, I…" Santana bit her lip and shrugged. "I miss your touch." Rachel sighed and took one of Santana's hands that were still on her arm.
"What are we, Santana?" Rachel asked. "We kissed but now I don't even know where we stand."
"What do you mean?" Santana looked at her hand in Rachel's. "We kissed and I love you," Santana looked up at Rachel. "Do you love me?"
"I do, Santana, I've loved you for so long, long before we kissed." Santana smiled.
"And I remember everything. I want you, Rachel, I want to be able to hold your hand and kiss you in the hallway. I want to call you mine, and I want to be yours," Santana smiled sheepishly at Rachel. "Will you be my girlfriend, like officially?"
Rachel stared at Santana, she had longed for the other girl for some time now, and after almost losing Santana again, she felt like this was a dream. But it wasn't. It was real, in the end she didn't lose Santana, now and Santana was asking her to be her girlfriend. For once in her life, she couldn't be happier.
"Rachel?" Santana asked, worried by Rachel's silence.
"Y-you want us to be girlfriends?" Santana nodded and Rachel smiled. "Yes, oh god yes. I will definitely be your girlfriend." Santana smiled in relief as she brought a hand up to Rachel's face. Rachel grinned and leaned down to kiss Santana on the lips. Santana eagerly kissed back and moved the hand on Rachel's arm to her dark locks of hair.
Santana felt Rachel's tongue run along her bottom lip, begging for entrance, and Santana eagerly granted it, moaning as she felt their tongue's clash with each other. Santana felt Rachel smirk against her lips at the sound, and when they needed oxygen again Rachel bit Santana's bottom lip before sitting up.
"Damn." Santana said, out of breath. She had to admit, she wasn't expecting Rachel to be so…dominate. Not that Santana was complaining. As she looked up at Rachel, she realized that some time in their make-out session, Rachel had shifted so that she was straddling Santana.
Santana looked up at Rachel and unconsciously licked her lips. Rachel noticed and gave Santana an amused grin. She leaned down again and kissed Santana. As they kissed, Rachel put a hand under Santana's shirt and her hand made its way up to cup Santana's breast. Santana moaned again at the touch and she moved a hand down to Rachel's ass, making Rachel moan at the touch. They were so lost in their kiss, that they didn't notice Rachel's bedroom door open, followed by a gasp.
"Rachel!" Rachel jumped in surprise and fell off Santana and the bed, onto the floor. Santana looked up to see Shelby staring at the two wide-eyed. Santana paled and jumped off the bed. Rachel quickly followed and stood up awkwardly next to Santana, and the two tried to fix their clothes as discreetly as possible.
"Hello, Miss Corcoren." Santana said and she held out her hand. As Shelby took it she looked over Santana, who was panicking inside. Her hair was a mess, her clothes still wrinkled, and her face was still flushed.
"Santana." Shelby said and Santana looked shocked.
"Y-you know my name?" Shelby nodded and looked at Rachel, who's state was the same as Santana's.
"Rachel told me," Shelby said and looked back at Santana. "About everything." Santana frowned and looked down shamefully.
"Mom, stop freaking her out, she's-" Rachel paused and looked at Santana. She took a deep breath and grabbed Santana's hand. "She's my girlfriend." Santana smiled at her and Shelby raised her eyebrows.
"Well that explains what I just saw," Shelby said, making both girls blush. "So then the problems you two had is fixed?" Santana internally groaned and she looked at Shelby.
"Miss Corcoren, I never meant to hurt you daughter, I swear," Santana said, looking straight at Shelby. "I know she didn't deserve all the pain I put her through, but I promise I would never hurt her again." Rachel gave Santana's hand a comforting squeeze and Santana smiled warmly at her.
"Well then," Shelby said, making both girls look back at her. "As long as you keep that promise then we have no problem, I'll go make something for you two to eat," Shelby said and she turned to walk out. "That isn't each other." She said quietly, but loud enough for Rachel and Santana to hear. Once she left the room Rachel and Santana stood in silence before Santana let out a heavy sigh and laughed.
"Oh god, that was the scariest moment of my life," Santana sat down on the edge of the bed and covered her face. "And the most awkward way to officially meet my girlfriend's mom." Rachel laughed and sat down next to Santana.
"That was incredibly awkward," Rachel thought back to when Shelby walked in and she groaned. "I can't believe she walked in when I was all over you, god, I was ready to take off your shirt." Santana thought back to that moment and grinned. She uncovered her face and grinned at Rachel.
"If it helps, I had my hand on your ass," Rachel rolled her eyes at Santana. "Plus, you were really fucking hot." Rachel looked at Santana and gave her a seductive grin that would put Puck's to shame.
"Oh really?" Santana nodded and Rachel leaned forward and kissed Santana on the lips again. As they kissed, Rachel put her hand on Santana's thigh, making Santana shudder at the touch. Suddenly, she was thankful that she decided to wear a skirt instead of pants.
"Really?" They broke from the kiss and looked up to see Shelby at the doorway. Rachel let out a small groan and moved her hand from Santana's thigh. "Food's ready." Once Shelby left again, Santana turned to Rachel.
"She has the worst timing ever." Santana said quietly and Rachel giggled. Rachel stood up and held out her hand for Santana to take, which she gladly did, and the two headed for the kitchen to eat.
It turned out Santana was going to stay over longer than she intended. After they had eaten, they went back to Rachel's room, with Shelby calling out to keep the door open, much to Rachel's embarrassment. Once they were in her room, Rachel made Santana sit down on the bed and she stood in front of her.
"Close you're eyes, I have a surprise." Santana laughed but did as she was told. Once her eyes were closed, Rachel ran over to the drawers and pulled out what she was looking for.
She turned to Santana and threw it at her, laughing when Santana jumped. Santana opened her eyes and looked at what had hit her. Her eyes widened when she saw it, and she slowly grabbed it.
"You…you still have it." Rachel smiled as she watched Santana stare at the yellow ball she had given to Rachel all those years ago.
"Of course I do, that was how we met," Rachel said softly. "Then you walked over to me," Rachel continued as she walked to the bed and sat down next to Santana. "And then you demanded to ball back and almost walked off." Santana nodded as she recalled the memory.
"Yeah, but then I didn't." Rachel nodded and silently watched Santana smile fondly as she looked at the ball, turning it in her hand to see all the stars she drew on it.
"Why didn't you?" Rachel asked and Santana stopped and looked at Rachel. "Why didn't you just leave? Why did you sit on that bed with me, when I didn't even talk?" Santana furrowed her eyebrows together, why didn't she just leave? Santana never really thought about it. During the time, when she looked at Rachel, sitting all alone and scared on that bed, it was like something pulled her to sit on that bed. Besides, she hated everyone in the orphanage and Rachel was new, and she didn't seem as bad as all the other kids.
"I…really don't know," Santana said, and grabbed one of Rachel's hands. "But I'm glad I did sit with you." Rachel smiled and squeezed her hand.
"Me too." The two smiled at each other and the rest of the day was spent with the two talking about anything their time together at the orphanage. When it was time for Santana to go home, Rachel walked her to the door.
"So," Santana started. "Can I come pick you up tomorrow for school?"
"I'd like that." Rachel said and Santana smiled.
"Great, I'll pick you up then." Rachel nodded and Santana leaned down to give Rachel a quick kiss on the lips. Once Santana left, Rachel closed the door and leaned against it.
"You look like you just came back from a date." Rachel jumped and looked at Shelby, who was staring at Rachel with an amused look on her face.
"I do not." Rachel huffed and pushed herself off the door.
"So you two are seriously in love?" Shelby asked seriously and Rachel sighed.
"Yes, and she won't hurt me, if that's what you're worried about."
"I know, but I still worry." Shelby said, the thought of Santana hurting Rachel again making her angry. If she couldn't help Rachel with her situation with Santana then, the least she could do now was protect Rachel and support her and Santana's new relationship.
"I know, well, I'm going to bed now. Night." Rachel gave Shelby a quick kiss on the cheek and quickly walked to her bedroom. As she climbed into bed, she smiled as she thought of the day and that now she could actually call Santana her girlfriend, which felt beyond amazing. When Rachel closed her eyes, everything from the day caught up with her and she fell asleep quickly from exhaustion.