Title: Ambitions Deleted Scene Six: An Adorable Couple
Author: slacker_d
Pairing/Characters: Rachel/Santana, OCs
Rating: PG
Summary: Rachel and Santana have dinner with an influential producer.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Word Count: ~1,500
Spoilers: Ambitions One and Two
A/N: For IDF 2012. Requested by kiarcheo
May 2028
"Congrats on your first Tony nomination," Mary says.
"Thank you," Rachel replies. "I'm quite excited."
Rachel and Santana are having dinner with Lawrence Amerson, better known as LJ and his wife, Mary. LJ is a producer who mainly works in LA, though he seems to know most of the producers of allthe productions Rachel's participated in. When he called her up out of the blue, asking her to dinner, she couldn't say no. Gretchen would have reamed her out for hours if she had. Not that Rachel would have, she knows the influence LJ Amerson has. She's just thankful that Santana was able to join her.
"It's fucking incredible," Santana adds.
"San," Rachel chastises.
LJ chuckles. "It's fine, Rachel. She's proud. It's a good thing."
"Yes, well, she knows how I feel about cursing."
"I love you babe," Santana says. "But you're thirty-three years old and ten years curse more than you do."
"Everyone has their quirks, tiger," Rachel replies.
"You two are rather adorable," Mary comments.
Santana smirks and grabs Rachel's hand, who is blushing.
They're currently sitting in Arabelle, the restaurant in the Hotel Plaza Athénée. Santana, having come directly from work, actually feels underdressed. It doesn't help that her wife is dressed to the nines in a stunning burgundy number that has Santana thinking veryinappropriate thoughts.
"Lawrence and I were like that when we first married," Mary continues. "How long have you two been together?"
"Well, we've been married for seven years now," Rachel answers. "But we've been together off and on since we were seventeen."
"High school sweethearts?" Mary exclaims. "How sweet. And you're still together and happy? That's something you don't hear nowadays."
"Well, we've always been overachievers," Santana says.
Rachel lightly elbows Santana.
"Plus, once you've found the best, why look elsewhere?"
"I assume you mean me," Rachel says.
"No, I was talking about me," Santana smirks.
This earns her a harsher elbowing.
"See?" Mary says. "Adorable."
"You shouldn't be so hard on Santana, Rachel," LJ says. "Confidence like that is what's helping her rise in the DA's office, I assume."
"It is," Santana nods.
"That and her insanely high conviction record," Rachel adds. "She can break the most seasoned criminal on the stand. She's a force to be reckoned with in full bitch mode."
"I do like being right," Santana says.
"The arrogance of youth," LJ chuckles. "I do miss it sometimes."
"You have plenty of arrogance still," Mary tells him. "It didn't disappear with age."
"Was that a compliment, darling?"
"More like an observation," Mary replies.
Dinner continues like that, with little talk of work. Rachel finds herself relaxing and having a good time. She'd been quite nervous, knowing the influence LJ could have on her career. However, he and his wife are so easy going, it's almost impossible to be nervous.
Instead, it's a causal dinner with friends. Mary asks a lot of questions about their relationship, specifically in high school. She seems very enamored with the idea of Santana and Rachel as a couple. Santana in turn finds this amusing.
"She was a bit of a bore until she started dating me," Santana teases.
"It was hardly your influence that made me-it was more Noah than you," Rachel retorts.
"Don't give him so much credit, Rach," Santana replies. "He might have given you the idea, but you took it and ran with it."
"Well, don't keep me in suspense," Mary tells her.
"Rachel was quite the trouble maker," Santana explains. "She started small with things like gluing all the hockey pucks together into a log, but eventually she was doing crazy things like setting off fireworks during an assembly."
"San," Rachel hisses. "You're going to make them think I was some sort of delinquent."
"Well kids will be kids," LJ chuckles.
"Besides," Santana adds. "No one ever got hurt. You took so many safety precautions, I got a headache just listening to you."
"Thank you?"
"She's just embarrassed," Santana says. "She'd rather be remembered for taking our glee club to Nationals our senior year."
"It was a momentous occasion," Rachel adds.
"Well both are things to be proud of in my book," LJ tells her.
When they finally part company many hours later, Rachel is full of food as well as tired from laughing and being embarrassed by all the things Santana has chosen to brag about.
Rachel and Santana walk the couple to the elevator. However, before stepping inside, LJ pulls Rachel aside.
"I know you have a busy schedule, but I was hoping you could play a small part in my latest project."
"Well, I'd be delighted to, but it does depend on the role," Rachel replies.
"You're not automatically saying yes?"
"Um… What if I don't feel I'm properly suited for it?"
"I suppose that's something to consider," LJ agrees. "Well, I'll have my people call your agent tomorrow and get you a script, so you can decide."
"It's not that I'm not honored, LJ," Rachel replies. "Because I am. And very appreciative. It's just nothing bothers me more than miscasting. Personally, it pulls me right out of the movie."
"Intriguing."
"I'm sorry if I've offended you," Rachel says.
"It's not that," LJ assures her. "I just find it interesting that after all I've learned about you tonight, you're still surprising me. I like that."
"I'm glad," Rachel replies. "Because I won't compromise my beliefs for anyone."
"Not even your wife?"
"I would hope she'd never ask."
"But what if she did?"
"I'd maybe consider it for San," Rachel tells him. "And possibly my sisters."
LJ smirks. "Well, thank you for a very pleasant evening, Rachel."
"Well, thank you for inviting us."
"We'll talk soon, okay?"
"That sounds lovely."
Rachel grabs Santana's hand as the elevator door closes and they walk out quietly. A cab is waiting for them and they silently ride back to the apartment, Rachel's head lying on Santana's shoulder.
"I think it went well," Santana says in the elevator.
"Well, he did offer me a part," Rachel agrees. "So hopefully it's one that fits me."
"You didn't just automatically accept, did you?"
"Of course not," Rachel replies. "You know my feelings about miscasting."
"You're amazing in everything you do," Santana assures her.
"Oh I know-"
"Modest much?"
"But there are plenty of parts, I'm not right to play."
"Yeah, I know. It's all about making smart choices."
"We'll see what Gretchen has to say about it tomorrow."
…
Twenty-four hours later Rachel has the role of Jennifer in the upcoming David Henrie directed film, Rapid Slow Motion. It's not a large part. It only requires her to film for a mouth, but it's enough for her name to appear in the opening credits. Gretchen seems particularly excited about what it might do for her career.
Santana is ecstatic until they realize it means Rachel will be spending a month in LA. They haven't really spent that long apart since Rachel played Margaret in The General Store seven years ago. She remembers it being a miserable experience and isn't looking forward to a repeat. Still, she knows how important this is for Rachel's career.
Rachel too has mixed feelings about it. Sometimes she wishes Santana had a career that would allow her to come with, but also can't imagine Santana doing anything else. It would be easier if they weren't so damn codependent.
"Then we wouldn't be us," Santana says as they lay in bed discussing it.
"Who would we be then?"
"No idea, babe."
"Well since I fly out just before Thanksgiving, you're coming with me," Rachel tells her.
"What?"
"As if I'd spend Thanksgiving alone in LA without you."
"You wouldn't be alone," Santana replies. "You do know people. Britt for one. Or Kurt."
"I'm not calling up Kurt," Rachel retorts. "And yes, I remember that Brittany lives in LA. I just figured she'd visit her folks."
"Christmas, maybe," Santana says. "But not Thanksgiving."
"Oh. Well, then you're coming with and we'll spend it with her."
"I like that plan," Santana says.
"Good. I'll call Britt tomorrow and figure out the details."
"Okay. Email me the dates and I'll make sure I have them off."
"I'm not worried," Rachel replies. "Eric will make sure you have them off."
"Because that's not favoritism."
"It is," Rachel agrees. "And if I have to call him, to make sure. I will."
"I kinda love that you're willing to completely exploit my boss's crush on you."
"I will use everything at my disposal to ensure we spend Thanksgiving together," Rachel replies.
"I know," Santana says. "And I love you even more for that."
"Well, I am very loveable."
"And humble."
"Pot? Kettle."
"Why do you always have to get the last word in?" Santana teases.
"Why do you?" Rachel counters.
"I'm a lawyer. It's what we do."
"Well, I'm an actress. It's what we do too."
"Just shut up and kiss me."