"Its gonna be okay Rach." Santana said as they pulled into Breadstix. After Glee rehearsal, they'd gone to Rachel's hour and a half long voice lesson before heading straight to the restaraunt. Santana sort of wished she'd been able to change out of her Cheerios uniform, but it wasn't like her parents had never seen her in the outfit before. Rachel grabbed her hand.
"I know. They're trying, Tana. That's all that matters right now." Rachel replied. Santana smiled and they walked into the restaraunt. Seeing her parents, she led them over to her table and softly cleared her throat.
"Hi." she said shyly. Her parents looked up from their menus and smiled.
"Santi, Rachel... Hi." Maria said. Rachel smiled.
"Hi Mr. and Mrs. Lopez. Its nice to see you both again." she said politely, trying to subtely drop Santana's hand. The cheerleader would have none of that and immediately grabbed it again. "Santana, its okay." she said, sitting down. Santana frowned and looked at her parents.
"Talk to her." her mother whispered as she awkwardly hugged her. Santana nodded.
"Rach, why don't you wanna hold my hand?" Santana asked softly. Rachel smiled softly.
"I know how weird this dinner is for you. I don't want to add anymore awkwardness." she replied. Santana looked to her mother.
"Rachel, we're okay with it. We're accepting our daughter for who she is and who she loves. We're... we're trying mija." Maria said. Robert nodded. Santana smiled and grabbed Rachel's hand. "How long have you two been together?"
"A little bit after school started." Santana answered, smiling at Rachel.
"How'd you two start dating?" Robert asked. Rachel laughed as Santana looked away guiltily.
"Let's not talk about Rachel and I. Let's talk about almost anything else." she said. Maria raised an eyebrow.
"Santana Alejandra..." she said.
"Yes?"
"Why do you look guilty?" she asked.
"Because I stole Rachel from her boyfriend." Santana mumbled. Maria gasped.
"Santana, what did I tell you after you broke up Quinn's relationship to be with Sam?" she asked. Rachel bit back laughter.
"To leave happy people alone." Santana recited. Rachel couldn't help it. She had to laugh. "But she wasn't happy Mom! Technically, I didn't break any rules... Okay the first time we kissed she was happy, but then after that she wasn't." Santana said, trying to defend herself.
"Is this true?" Maria asked the diva. Santana looked at her.
"Tell her Rach. Tell how you weren't happy." Rachel smiled slightly.
"Well... the first time she kissed me I believed I was happy, but after that... well I guess I realized that I actually wasn't happy being stuck in an on again off again relationship." she explained. Maria nodded.
"See?" Santana said obnoxiously.
"Santana be quiet." Rachel said. Santana kissed her cheek.
"Sorry." she said. Rachel smiled and Robert smirked. "What?"
"You're whipped, mija." he said.
"Am not." she said. Maria nodded.
"Yes you are." she said, laughing. Santana turned to Rachel.
"Am I whipped?" she asked. Rachel bit her lip.
"No comment." she said, turning her head. Maria cleared her throat.
"Rachel, where's your father? Santana mentioned inviting him." she said. Rachel nodded.
"He had a meeting he had to attend, so he couldn't make it. He said to tell you both he said hello." she explained. Robert and Maria nodded. "He also said, and I quote, 'tell the Lopezes not to even think about offering anymore money to repay us for taking care of Santana.'"
"I don't necessarily agree with that, but I'll start by paying for your dinners. Don't pull out any money." Robert said. Santana nodded and Rachel sighed, remembering her father's other instruction.
"Just let him pay, Rach. It'll make him feel like he's helping somehow." Santana whispered. Rachel sighed and nodded.
"How was dinner?" Leroy asked as he walked into the living room where Rachel and Santana were cuddling while watching American Idol.
"It was pretty good. We're going again next week." Santana said, smiling up at the man. Standing up, she yawned. "I'm gonna go to bed. Cheerios practice is early tomorrow. Night Leroy." she said, hugging the man.
"Good night Santana." he said. She turned to Rachel.
"I'll see you up there?" she asked. Rachel nodded. "K. Night." Leroy frowned as she left the room.
"Is she moving back in with her parents?" he asked. Rachel met his eyes and saw sadness, which could be coming from the thought of the Latina leaving, and shook her head.
"No. She told her parents she won't move back in with them, but she'll let them back in her life. Its a start. They're trying, that's the important thing." she said. He nodded. "I'm gonna go to bed as well. Good night Daddy."
"Night honey." he said, going to his own room.
"Hey." Rachel whispered as she entered her room to find Santana laying on her bed. The Latina smiled. "I thought we'd be sleeping in your room."
"No... You've had this room longer than I've had that one. I figured you'd rather sleep in here, so I'm just gonna basically leave my clothes and stuff in my room but keep some stuff in here. Is that okay?" Rachel nodded.
"We're going to be sharing living space when we're in New York, so we may as well get used to it now." she said, smiling. Santana nodded and Rachel slid up next to her.
"I love you Rach." Santana whispered, kissing the diva.
"I love you too. Good night sweetheart."
"Night babe." she said, falling asleep.