A/N – Woah, so much feedback on the first chapter, thanks guys! It was pretty interesting how many people don't want the glee club to get off lightly, and don't worry I'm right there with you. I have a whole bunch of issues with how the club treat Santana that I want to hash out in this fic, as well as giving her my own backstory regarding her family life and of course, pezberry.

Thelastpen mentioned that Rachel's birthday is supposed to be in December…so I'm going to have to ask for a tiny bit of poetic license there. Pretty please?

It took Rachel a little under twenty minutes to make her way into town and even though she searched every diner and café that was open she still hadn't found the cheerleader. She hated how good the other girl was at hiding and she was just about to give up and head over to the park when something clicked in her memory. Switching directions she turned off the main high street and headed to a smaller road that lay behind it, she could feel her optimism building as she spotted the small coffee shop in the distance. The one time she and Santana had been paired on an assignment for glee the Latina had insisted they meet here, sprouting something about it being the best coffee in Lima which Rachel had to admit was true.

As she pushed her way through the door Rachel smiled at the warmth, it might have been summer but the night was not a particularly warm one and the diva was glad to be inside. Letting her eyes adjust to the new lighting she gazed around the mostly deserted shop, the seats a mixture of sofas and comfy chairs that begged to be sat on. It took a minute for her eyes to pick out the Latina but there she was, huddled on one of the comfy chairs in the far corner with a mug of something hot clasped on her lap. The way the other girl had her legs drawn up to her chest as she stared down at the table in front of her made Rachel's chest ache, she had never seen the other girl look so upset before.

Letting her feet guide her over to the other side of the shop she hovered hesitantly, her mind whirling into action. She had only really thought about the part where she found Santana, rather than what she would actually say. How was she supposed to apologise for everyone? For her Dads? As the questions shot about her brain Rachel found herself stood next to Santana, the girl only looking up when the smaller girls shadow fell across her table.

"Hey." Rachel mumbled softly as she took in the other girl's tear stained face.

Santana blinked as she let go of her cup with one hand to quickly swipe away the tears which were still falling, with a quiet sniff she cleared her throat as she tried to rebuild her defences, and she choked out a hoarse, "What are you doing here?"

There was none of her normal malice in the question and Rachel took that as a good sign, so slipping off her jacket she slid into the chair opposite, "I was looking for you."

Santana shook her head, then with a bitter laugh she said, "Of course you were, well…go ahead…"

"What?"

"You're here because you're upset you didn't get a chance to tear me down right?" Santana spat, her eyes vacant as she stared dully at the girl opposite her, "So go ahead, get it out of your system I'm sure it'll make you feel better to call me a bitch or a whore or whatever…"

Rachel winced as she leant forward in her seat, her eyes glued to Santana who refused to meet her gaze, "What? No. I'm here because I was worried."

"Whatever. I'm fine." Santana grumbled, hating the way her voice broke as she lied, she shot the other girl a sneer as she added, "So, look if you're not going to yell at me or whatever – you can go now."

Rachel bit her lip as she watched the normally guarded girl try desperately to hold it together, "I know you're angry with me-"

"I'm not angry at you." Santana replied quickly, snapping her head up to stare at the girl incredulously, "You're the only person who hasn't actually insulted me tonight I just don't want you to-"

"You don't want me to see you cry." Rachel concluded, a sad look on her face as Santana looked away ashamed.

"I don't want you to pity me." The taller girl muttered, her hands shaking as she took a sip of her drink, "We're not friends, I don't know why you're here or why you even invited me tonight."

The smaller girl sat back in her chair as she replied honestly, "I wanted you there. You're a part of the glee club and-"

"So it was a pity-invite then." Santana snapped, her usual anger considerably lacking.

Shaking her head the diva sighed, "No, listen I know we aren't exactly friends but I still consider you to be a big part of my life, glee is a family and whether you like it or not you are a part of it."

"Maybe to you." Santana said reluctantly as she placed her mug on the table and raked a hand through her hair, "But, come on let's be honest here...you guys talk about that club being a family but I'm not a part of it. Instead, I get to sit there knowing everyone hates me and watch you guys bond or whatever and it sucks."

"That's not-"

Santana shook her head as she carried on, ignoring the smaller girl as she admitted, "I'm not a total idiot, I know that a lot of that is my fault. I'm not good with people, I don't like them and they don't like me, whatever I get it, everyone hates me."

"Why did you stay with us this year then?" Rachel queried.

Santana bit her lip, her jaw clenched angrily as she growled, "If that's your way of telling me to fuck off then I'd prefer it if you just said it."

"No, no, no." Rachel exclaimed as she waved her hands about, "I didn't mean that, I just meant that you didn't have to stay with the club but you did…"

"I stayed because I love it." Santana shrugged, a bitter smile crossing her features as she replied, "But that counts for shit apparently, because I'm still seen as the same bitchy cheerleader I've always been."

"You don't exactly help with that." The smaller girl tried tactfully, her hands twisting together as she half-expected the other girl to bolt out the door.

Santana swallowed hard as she stared at Rachel, she knew that normally she would never be telling the other girl any of this but after tonight she couldn't take it anymore, her anger rose as she began her rant, "Yeah except it's not exactly hard is it? I'm pretty sure I could be holding a razor blade to my wrist and all I would have to do to get you guys to ignore me would be a poorly-timed vest joke at Mr Shue's expense. No-one in that club gives a damn about me; no-one wants to know that my life's a mess. They want me to sit in the back and be the same stoic bitch I always am and it's bullshit. You guys are willing to look past everyone else labels, except for mine."

Rachel felt the oxygen being sucked from her lungs as she was left speechless.

"I know I say a lot of shit about you guys, I know that, but of course it doesn't matter when you guys do it about me because oh yeah, that's right it's totally acceptable for people to pick on me because I'm a heartless bitch. You and the rest of those assholes get to label me and make me an outcast, you get to call me out for being a bitch and tell me the only future I have is as a stripper because - hey, it's only me right? The poisonous slutty bitch that deserves everything that's coming to her."

Santana seemed to be on a roll now as she vented her frustrations to Rachel, "You know Quinn has been just as horrible to all of you as I have but she still managed to have you all as friends. She drew pornographic pictures of you and trashed your myspace videos, her and Puck were like the slushy king and queen before glee. Even Finn was a complete douche bag, but I'm guessing your Dads never wanted to throw them out of the house? No, just me. Finn stomps all over you, Quinn is total bitch but of course I'm the one who is poison because clearly there is something wrong with me."

"I know those guys did some horrible stuff but…well, so did you and-" Rachel said, her voice flustered as the former cheerleaders words rang in her ears. The stark revelation that Santana thought something was wrong with her cut straight through the singer's heart.

"I'm not saying I didn't." Santana replied hotly, not even bothering to wipe away her tears, "But I am the only one who has never gotten an ounce of fucking friendship from anyone in that club, and you know what, fine. I thought maybe, maybe someone in that club would care enough to try even just a little bit to get to know me but I guess not, I guess they're just like everyone else and realise I'm not worth the hassle. Fuck it, I don't need anyone which works out pretty well seeing as I don't have anyone."

"You have me." Rachel tried, her voice quiet as she gaze up sadly.

"Please, we're not friends." Santana mumbled, her shoulder sagging as she added, "Besides, haven't you heard – I'm not a nice person, I don't even know why you're here you should just go. Go back to the rest of your family, and forget I said anything."

Rachel frowned, she didn't know what to say to the other girl. She knew that they had a bad history; she knew that Santana could be mean and had a tendency to push people away but it was also true that none of the club had ever really tried to befriend her. She had watched from afar as the girl in front of her had pretty much lost everything in one year but had been too afraid to do anything to help her. It wasn't the easiest of things, to approach Santana Lopez, but the Latina was sat in front of her now and Rachel was not about to let the opportunity pass.

Reaching into her jacket she pulled out the present Santana had given her earlier and placed it on the table, it was still wrapped in its bright green paper and Rachel fiddled with the ribbon as she asked, "If we're not friends, why did you get me a birthday present?"

Santana actually laughed as she looked up at the other girl, it wasn't a happy laugh though and her eyes watered as she shook her head, "You want to know the stupidest thing about tonight? I got you that as a peace offering. I was actually sick of all the bitching and I wanted this year to be different. I was gonna try and act like a decent human being but apparently everyone seems to think I'm incapable of that so…"

"A peace offering?"

"Yeah, well I figured you've pretty much taken the brunt of my bitching and you seemed like the best person to start with." Santana explained, her eyes focused on the present she sighed dejectedly, "Look, it's fine if you don't want it I can take it back."

Rachel shook her head as she snatched it up from the table, "I do want it."

"Then…open it." Santana said slowly, her face flushing red as she fiddled with her hands.

Rachel smiled as she nodded and began carefully ripping into the present, she only got halfway into it before she realised what it was. Santana allowed herself to smile as the diva quickly removed the rest of the paper and stared at the small box with confused eyes.

Santana rolled her eyes, "Freaking open it already."

"I…you…this…how?..." the diva spluttered as she flicked the lid open her eyes glued in amazement at the necklace that was nestled inside, "This…this is…"

Santana shrugged as she shifted awkwardly in her seat, "My abuela took me to shopping one day and I saw this and I thought of you."

"You thought of me?" Rachel asked, one eyebrow raised in disbelief.

"Well, yeah…you've still got that obsession with stars and junk right?" the other girl replied as she leant over to point at the gold pendant.

Rachel gave the other girl a small nod her eyes wide and she stared at Santana in amazement as she continued, "I knew that if I was gonna try for a peace offering then it needed to be good. And I know this doesn't make everything okay, and I know I can't like – buy my way back or whatever but-"

Santana found herself cut off as Rachel sprung out of her chair bounced around the table and quickly threw her arms around the dumbstruck girl in a hug. It was only after a few minutes passed that Rachel realised what she was doing and drew back, horribly aware of the way Santana merely tensed awkwardly at the display of affection, "Sorry, I know we don't usually do that but…this is incredible."

The sound of a woman's voice broke their moment and both girls sighed as they turned to the barista hovering over them, "I'm sorry to interrupt girls but we're closing now."

Santana and Rachel nodded, looking around they realised they were the only two left and hurriedly they grabbed their things and got up. As they exited the shop into the increasingly chilly night Rachel held her present to her chest with a grin, "This is the best gift ever."

"I'm glad you like it." Santana replied awkwardly, her earlier momentary happiness disintegrating as she pulled her jacket tightly around her body. The temporary distraction of giving Rachel her present was gone and knowing it was getting late the Latina mumbled, "I better get going."

Rachel stopped, her smile falling as she stared at her friend. She felt her stomach jerk as she remembered Brittany's words from earlier; the thought of Santana wandering around on the street before sleeping in her car made the diva feel physically sick and she had to refrain from shouting her objections. Instead she gave a calm shrug, "It's not that late, maybe we could go back to mine and watch a film or something?"

Santana scoffed as she looked at the smaller girl in disbelief, "Seriously? I think your Dads made it pretty clear I'm not welcome."

"Oh, right." Rachel replied awkwardly, guilt swamping her as she recalled her father's words. "Well, we could go to the multiplex; they're having a late night showing of monster films?"

The Latina frowned at the singer's efforts to get her to stay, "What's going on Berry? Why are you so keen for me not to go?"

"It's nothing." Rachel squeaked unconvincingly, her resolve sinking as she tacked on, "I mean, Brittany may have said something earlier…"

"Oh?" Santana said, taking a deep breath as she steeled herself.

"…about you sleeping in your car sometimes."

The Latina flinched at the words, her jaw clenching as she shook her head in disbelief. She didn't say anything though; instead Santana turned and quickly made her way across the street leaving Rachel staring at her retreating form.

It only took a moment for the singer to catch on to what was happening and with a quick hop she headed off after her friend, "Wait…Santana…"

"She had no right to tell you that." Santana snapped as she focused on the road ahead and continued to walk; she knew there was little use in denying anything, after all everyone knew the blonde knew her better than anyone and that Brittany wouldn't lie about something so serious.

"She didn't do it to hurt you." Rachel tried as she caught up with her friend.

Santana scoffed, "Whatever."

Rachel groaned in annoyance as Santana huffed and crossed her arms over her chest, she wished she hadn't brought the whole car-thing up in the first place. Picking up her pace the smaller girl cut in front of Santana and brought them both to a halt, "I just want to know your safe, and I won't be able to go home and sleep knowing you aren't."

"You've managed plenty of times before and besides, I can take care of myself."

"I didn't know you were sleeping in your car then." Rachel snapped, her eyes pleading as she tried to make Santana understand, "I'm not going to stand here and ask you to give me your life story, I'm just asking that you stay with me tonight."

Santana opened her mouth to speak but promptly shut it again, she didn't really know how to respond to that at first but eventually choked out, "I'm not going to your house."

Rachel nodded; she could understand that, "How about we…stay in a hotel or something then?"

"A hotel?" Santana asked sceptically, her heart sinking a little bit at the idea. In her world staying the night in a hotel with a 'friend' only meant one thing. She let go of the tiny flicker of hope that she had allowed to ignite at the thought of gaining someone's friendship as she wondered if this had been the plan all along.

Unaware of the other girls thoughts Rachel nodded and brought out her credit card, "On me."

Santana managed a tight smile as she looked at the diva, the presence of the credit card only seeming to confirm her suspicions. The Latina sighed quietly as she figured her choices were pretty limited anyway, it was either a cold night in her car or in a warm hotel room, at least with Rachel she wouldn't be alone even if she did know she'd feel cheap. Part of her brain was arguing that Rachel wasn't the kind of girl to make the sort of propositions Santana normally got but the other part of her brain was filled with every time she had been asked to stay the night with someone.

Taking the Latina's sigh as a bad sigh, Rachel tried to help, "We can raid the mini-bar."

"Okay." Santana whispered reluctantly a fake smile on her face as she saw Rachel beam.