Graduation Day

"She didn't come" Santana said, eyes traveling around the auditorium. Santana's searching eyes made Rachel curious and she let her eyes wander all around the auditorium too, even when she didn't have a clue what had Santana searching so eagerly.

"Who?"

"My abuela"

It was the tone Santana used more than her answer what made Rachel turned her head and look at her girlfriend's face with sadness.

"I don't know why I let my hopes get up. She made clear that I wasn't her granddaughter anymore" The bitter chuckle that followed Santana's words, was what make Rachel reach for her hand and lace their fingers together trying to provide some sort of comfort.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm perfectly fine" Santana said with a smile, leading the way to their seats. The way Santana avoided looking at her face let Rachel know that Santana was faking it. They reached Rachel's seat and Santana kissed her on the cheek before going to her own seat without saying another word.

Rachel couldn't take her eyes away from Santana the whole ceremony. Santana kept her eyes at the front all the time, and her smile when she received her certificate was the most faked smile Rachel had ever seen on her face. That really saddened Rachel because she knew Santana was so excited about the graduation. Now she knew why, and to have her hopes crushed it must be incredibly hard and even more when it was about her Abuela.

"Where are you going?" Hiram stopped her by the arm when she was ready to join Santana after the ceremony ended.

Leroy laughed. "Where else do you think, honey? She can't be away from Santana for a second"

"Dad" Rachel chuckled.

"Congratulations, baby girl" Leroy smiled, opening her arms for her. She stepped into her dad's arms and hugged him tightly, giggling when Hiram joined the hug, embracing her from behind.

"Now you can go with your girlfriend"

"You're so whipped" Leroy said giving her a sympathetic smile.

"I am not!"

Rachel hated so much when they teased her about it. It wasn't a lie that they spent too much time together, but she didn't care. She liked being with Santana and not even her daddies jokes were going to stop her from spending time with her.

"We'll wait for you in the car. If you two love birds have plans, send us a text, alright?"

Rachel shook her head, giving them a disapproving look as she turned around hearing their chuckles. As she approached Santana, she saw the discomfort on her face as her mom talked. She was with her arms crossed and wasn't even looking at her mother.

"Hello, Mrs. Lopez"

"Maribel, I already told you" Santana's mother said. "Congratulations, Rachel"

Rachel smiled at Maribel and received the hug she was offering.

"Do you have any plans?" Maribel asked.

"Yes, we do. Can we go now?" Santana spoke up.

Maribel dropped her shoulders. "Yes, you can" she said to her daughter before addressing Rachel. "Take care of her for me?"

Rachel studied Santana's face for a moment before smiling at Santana's mother. "Yes, of course"

Santana rolled her eyes and took Rachel's hand, dragging her away from her mother.

It was so clear to Rachel that Santana was really drunk. The night was going smoothly and they were having fun at the Glee club celebration party at Kurt's house. Everything was fine except for the way Santana was being reckless with the drinks.

"Another one, babe?" Puck shouted making himself hear over the music.

"Yeah, bring it!" Santana said taking the bottle Puck was extending her.

"San, I think you should stop—"

Rachel stopped abruptly when Santana kissed her soundly on the lips. Santana pulled away, leaving her lips a few inches away from her mouth. "You wanna dance, baby?"

Although the strong smell of alcohol made Rachel scrunch up her nose, she smiled when Santana pulled her into her body by the waist. She passed her arms around Santana's neck immediately, sighing when Santana rested her forehead over her own, closing her eyes.

"What don't you let me take you home?" Rachel told her, stroking the back of Santana's neck. Rachel shivered when Santana laced her own fingers behind her back, just as she usually did, the cold bottle of beer pressing at her lower back. Santana just hummed, starting to swing them at the music's rhythm.

"I'm happy, you know" Santana muttered. Rachel made a path with her fingers from Santana's neck to her cheek, stroking it softly.

"Really?"

Santana nodded her eyes still closed. "It's a good thing that we'll be out of this fucking hell hole soon. New York is gonna be so good. Just you and me. Me and you. Alone. Without dads. Without moms. Without abuelas. Without judgamental fucking people. Just you for me. I'm so happy you'll be there." Santana ended with a sigh, her voice was shaking and Rachel wasn't sure if it was because of the effort she was making for her to listen or she was crying. Her doubts were cleared when Santana opened her wet eyes, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Rachel smiled softly at her and nodded, kissing her gently on the lips while she wiped away her tears with her thumbs. "Yes, I'll be there. We'll be there together."

Santana gave her a lopsided smile closing her eyes again. Rachel reached behind her back for the bottle on Santana's hand and took it away from her.

Santana let out a whine. "Baby—"

"I think is enough, San, let's go home, please?" Rachel pouted putting the bottle over a table near them. She wanted to take Santana home but she didn't want to oblige her to do it. They we celebrating their graduation, sure, but Rachel was worried about her.

"You don't have a clue how cute you are when you pout, do you?" Santana asked.

Rachel giggled and let out a surprised gasp when Santana leaned brusquely forward, pulling her in by the waist and kissing her hard. She melted immediately into the kiss, kissing her back.

"C'mon! Get a room!" Rachel heard one of the guys shout after a moment, followed by some whistles letting her know their kiss wasn't as innocent as she thought.

"Have some respect for single people!" Mercedes said bitterly making Rachel pull away from the kiss. Santana moaned with displeasure leaning forwards once again. Rachel turned her head, Santana's lips landing on her cheek.

"It was hot" Santana mumbled letting her lips graze the skin on Rachel's jaw.

"You seriously need to go home and sleep" Rachel giggled.

"The last thing I want to do right now is sleep" Santana whispered, nipping on Rachel's jaw.

Rachel was about to reply when a person at the living's room entrance caught her eyes. Santana kept searching her lips while Rachel struggled to push her away, without being able to avert her gaze from cold eyes.

"Why you don't let me kiss you?" Santana whined. When Rachel's eyes flickered from her face to a spot over her shoulder, Santana turned around scoffing.

"The hell you're doing here?" Santana slurred, clumsily taking Rachel's hand and pulling her brusquely behind her.

Alma, Santana's abuela, let her eyes travel all around the living room, eyes traveling all over the faces of the alert glee members –even the music was turned off- before letting her gaze fell in their joined hands. Rachel tried to release Santana's hand only to find it trapped.

"You think they're going to judge me like you did. They won't. They're my family. Our family" Santana said with resentment.

Alma narrowed her eyes. "Santana, are you drunk?"

"What do you want?"

"I was hoping we could have a serious conversation"

Santana let out a loud ironic laugh. "If you'd stop looking so embarrassed I'll probably consider it"

Alma looked around once again and stepped forward lowering her voice. "I'll wait for you tomorrow. I want us to talk and you need to be sober"

"No, I don't have anything to talk to you" Santana snapped.

"Santana, I think you want too" Rachel said softly, even when she knew she didn't have the right to intervene. She had to because Santana was just being stubborn.

"No, Rachel. I'm done with her. I'm done."

"If you just let me talk with you, I'd-"

"You failed me!" Santana shouted with anger. Rachel had to pull her back to avoid her from leaping forward.

"Mija—"

"What are you going to tell me? You can't even look away from our joined hands. I know you're uncomfortable because you nearly caught us kissing with all my friends watching. This…" Santana said lifting their joined hands. "Is making you so uncomfortable and ashamed I know you're regretting coming"

Her abuela took a deep breath looking her directly in the eye. "I'm trying, Santana. We talked and you know I can't… accept it, but I am trying."

"That's not enough anymore. If you would have just been there. I wanted you to see me. That moment you threw me out I was the same person you ever knew, tu nieta."

"What do you want me to say?"

"Well, you could always start by saying you're sorry, but I know you won't—"

"Perdóname" Alma said sincerely without hesitation. Rachel looked at Santana's frown when Santana tightened her grip on her hand. Rachel knew she wasn't expecting her grandma to apologize. At least not in front all of them. "Do you want me to say it again? I'm sorry, mija, I miss having you around the house"

"Why didn't you come to my graduation?"

"I was being stubborn. You didn't get it from any other person."

Rachel saw Santana look around the living room and then at her abuela. "This is my girlfriend. Rachel"

Alma looked at Santana for several seconds, before she nodded and addressed Rachel. "Nice to meet you, Rachel"

"The pleasure is mine" Rachel smiled at her. Alma didn't smile or make any other expression, her face was blank and Rachel was sure she was just addressing her because she really wanted Santana to forgive her. Alma was once again looking uncomfortable but somehow managed to hide it.

"Do I wait for you then?"

Rachel didn't expect for Santana to look at her questioningly, as if she was silently asking her to tell her what to do, asking for help. Santana never had. Santana never talked to her about it, but the way Santana behaved all night let Rachel know how much it hurt her to not have her abuela in such an important moment. That only let Rachel know that this woman was really important to her girlfriend. She squeezed Santana's hand and gave her a brief nod.

Santana started to walk dragging Rachel along. "I'll be there by lunch. Night, guys"

Rachel heard the faint goodbyes from the guys and didn't say anything wanting to give Santana space. Santana didn't speak to her, except to ask her to spend the night at her house. They were lying on Santana's bed. Rachel curled up on her side and Santana curled on hers, facing away from each other and a huge space between them. She wanted to give her space but this was ridiculous. Rachel couldn't sleep and she was sure Santana couldn't either.

"Are you asleep?" Santana whispered suddenly.

"Yes"

She heard the faint chuckled and the bed moved under Santana's weight. An arm was passed around her waist and she felt herself being trapped by Santana's leg.

"Thank you"

"For what?"

"For watching over me during the ceremony. For taking care of me tonight" Santana said kissing her shoulder.

"You noticed"

"I did. You understand why this is so important for me, right?"

"She's your abuela" Rachel said nodding.

"It's not just that. We had a really strong connection. She is… was my role model. She can't be anymore. You don't reject a person for wanting to be who they are"

"She loves you"

"I'm sure she does."

"I assure you that she will come visit us in New York, because tomorrow things will start to get better." Rachel said with a smile.

Santana nodded. "Then I hope that when she come visit us she doesn't behave like a bitch. She completely ruined my graduation day. Let's hope she doesn't ruin our wedding day too"

Rachel frowned and looked at Santana, she had her eyes closed now and a teasing smile on her lips. It was the first time Santana talked about a so distant future and she was including her. Rachel beamed, turning around in her arms and cuddling closer. New York was definitely getting better and better.