HEY GUYS SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE, LET'S JUST SAY I AM WORKING A LOT AND I AM NOT EVEN OUT OF HIGHSCHOOL, AND I DON'T EVEN HAVE A JOB! HAHA I HAVE NO CLUE HOW I ENDED UP DOING SO MUCH, I GUESS THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE 3 FINAL EXAM PROJECTS, 1 POWERPOINT PRESENTATION SPEECH, 1 MODEL OF A MARS HABITAT TO BUILD FOR NASA, A CHORUS SOLO TO WORK ON, A SCIENCE FAIR THINGY TO MEMORIZE, AND OTHER STUFF MIXED IN. LET'S GET ON WITH THE STORY, SHALL WE?

Chapter 9: The… um… talk?

Santana was going to kill whoever decided to take a thousand hammers and repeatedly smash them against her head. Namely, one Finn Hudson for getting her drunk. She was, however, not angry at the small, bra clad frame she was holding. Speaking of which, how the hell did she and Rachel end up in the same bed and both in their bras and jeans? Santana groaned as she remembered the night's events, but soon started to laugh, then cry. She was so afraid of what Rachel would think when she woke up. Santana didn't even know if Rachel was on something when they kissed. What if all they felt was the alcohol talking? That changed when Rachel let out the cutest sigh and opened her big almond eyes and looked up at Santana. The way the Latina's breath caught told Santana that what she felt for Rachel wasn't the cause of being intoxicated and the blush of the shorter brunette also said the same thing.

"I'm sorry Santana," Rachel said as she lay her head back down on the other girl's chest.

"For what?" Santana asked.

"I was moving too quickly, and I'm not even sure if you like me that way," Rachel said, tears brimming in her eyes.

Santana lifted Rachel's chin and slowly kissed her. The way their lips moved in unison was magical. It felt as though someone had created them to be able to mold themselves into each other with little effort. Santana opened her mouth, granting Rachel access. There wasn't a fight for dominance, just a need for assurance. They explored one another's mouth, trying to remember every taste, every touch, the way the opposite person's body would respond when they would press their tongue here or there. They wanted to feel everything, but of course, humans have lungs and a need for oxygen to survive, so they broke apart.

"Does anything about that kiss say that I don't feel the same way?" Santana asked a little breathless from the intensity of the moment.

Rachel smiled, it was a sincere one, it was the type of smile that didn't reach your eyes, but expressed how content you are, and "I guess it doesn't, but we do need to talk about this," Rachel gestured to their bodies, "whatever this is."

"I want us to be something, I just… I don't want- I want you but-," Santana didn't know how to express what she wanted to say.

"We should wait. Start out slow so we both know that we want this," Rachel finished, a slight smile on her face.

"When did you know?" Santana asked. When Rachel blinked, she elaborated, "that you wanted this?"

"The second day I found you and gave you a ride home," Rachel replied, reliving the memory.

Santana was sitting in the auditorium, alone as usual. She was thinking about what Rachel did the day before. It was a small act of kindness, but it made her feel cared for that at least someone was trying. She knew that she shouldn't feel this hopeful; she wasn't sure if that was a one-time deal or if it was a mistake that would never happen again. Maybe the diva was just being nice? Santana was tired, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Rachel was looking all over for Santana, she knew the girl must have still been in the school, but she wasn't in any of the bathrooms or the glee room. Rachel ran into the auditorium and saw a lone figure in one of the seats. She ran down the aisle and stopped when she saw Santana sleeping.

The Latina looked so peaceful, yet still so guarded. Rachel wondered if the taller girl ever was vulnerable. She brushed a stray hair from Santana's face, causing the girl's eyes to flutter open. The way Santana's eyes ore into Rachel made the girl shiver. It was like someone had sent her out into the cold for hours and then Santana's eyes blanketed her in warmth; in hope. Santana let her walls down for Rachel, but only for a second before they quickly became guarded and silent.

"Do you know how special you made me feel? It was as if you believed it was okay to let me actually see you for a second, but then you got scared. I always knew you were beautiful, I just never realized that you are truly breathtaking till then," Rachel said holding onto the Latina even tighter. She smiled when Santana returned it.

"When did you know?" Rachel asked.

"The night you kissed my scars when I cut, you thought I was asleep, but I wasn't. I have never had someone do something like that. It felt like you were trying to kiss away my wounds, not only on the outside, but on the inside as well. I felt so protected and no one has ever made me feel that way. That night was one of the first nights I forgot about Brittany, and just relished in your touch, your warmth, and the way you and me started to fit," Santana said, a content sigh rolling out of her mouth.

"Go on a date with me?" Rachel asked. "I know we said we are going to take it slow, but I just want to take this step. I understand if it is too fast for you. I can wait, as long as I have to, but I really want to show you what it is like to be… romanced," Rachel continued, blushing when she realized she went into a mini ramble.

"I would love to. Oh, and we can work on your little 'talking too much' problem, but later because I find it adorable," Santana said, smirking at Rachel as the said girl blushed.

Santana now had a new mission, to make Rachel blush as much as she could, too kiss Rachel as much as possible, and to lavish the girl in praise and maybe, just maybe, try to love again.

AN1: SO WHAT DID YOU GUYS THINK? TOO LITTLE? TOO MUCH? UPDATES ARE SLOW, AND I'M NOT GOING TO LIE, THEY ARE PROBABLY GOING TO CONTINUE BEING SLOW, BUT HOPEFULLY NOT AS MUCH.

AN2: I HAVEN'T BEEN UPDATING MY OTHER STORY AS MUCH AND I AM SOOOO SORRY AND I WILL BE UPDATING RIGHT AFTER THIS STORY, SO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE WAITING FOR AN UPDATE ON IT, GO CHECK IT OUT NOW!

AQ1: SO WHAT WOULD YOU GUYS LIKE TO HAPPEN? MORE HURT/COMFORT MOMENTS? MORE FINN AND BRITTANY? OR MAYBE TEAR THEM UP?

AQ2: BESIDES SANTANA AND RACHEL I WANT TO KNOW WHAT PAIRINGS YOU GUYS WANT TO SEE, AND IF YOU WANT TO HAVE SOME OF THE PARENTS IN IT MORE. I'M NOT GOING TO LIST ANY PAIRINGS, BUT THE PAIRINGS I GET THE MOST OF I WILL EITHER a) GIVE THEM THEIR OWN SIDE STORY; b) FEATURE THEM WITH PEZBERRY; c) DO BOTH, BUT I HAVEN'T FIGURED WHAT I WANT TO DO JUST YET.

DISCLAIMER! I TRULY WISH THAT I OWNED GLEE BECAUSE IT WOULD BE SOO AWESOME, BUT SADLY I DON'T... SORRY IF THAT UPSETS ANYONE... ;)