Disclaimer: I don't own Glee

A/N: I finished the Pezberry week sequel, I'll post it soon. Thank you for the reviews.

Chapter 16: Cosmic love

A few days later, Rachel was working in Abigail's back-store, sorting some old boxes and cleaning the place. She had spent most of her morning thinking about their journey in the past. It had been almost 2 months since they arrived in 1880 and a lot of things had happened. There were still al lot of gray areas about Michelle and Santiago's story and she knew she would never discover everything, especially if Santana and her were altering the events by their actions. The fire would happen no matter what but some things could still change, it was after all why they were sent there in the first place, to change the couple's fate.

Speaking of Santana, her relationship with the girl was starting to get more and more awkward. Since the dinner, it was like they were tip-toeing around each other, afraid to do or say something wrong. Something had shifted between them and she couldn't figure out what it was. She just had this weird fluttering feeling when she was around the girl, which didn't make any sense because the only times she had felt this way before were when she had first started getting close to Finn and after that close to Jesse. But this was Santana for Barbra's sake! She couldn't possibly have a crush on Santana, that would be absurd. The girl had basically tortured her for years; just because she had seen a different side of her here – a sweet and caring one - didn't mean she wouldn't return to being the old Santana the moment they got back to their own time. If they wanted to survive here in the old west, they had to cling on to each other and that was probably the only reason Santana was being so nice, even though the Latina had assured her they were really friends, a part of her was still afraid it would change. And if these were the same kind of feelings she had experienced with the boys, then it would raise a lot of questions about herself she'd never expected to have. No matter what it was, she was not quite ready to face it and more than anything, she could never let Santana know.

Rachel shook her head to focus; she didn't have time for introspection right now. She started cleaning again, moving an old wooden box to the side to sweep behind it. She stepped forward when she heard the floor squeak. She frowned and looked closer. It seemed like one of the wooden panels was loose. She tapped her foot and it sounded hollow. She kneeled down and removed the piece. The diva raised her eyebrow when she saw a scramble piece of paper, the same type of paper that was in Michelle's journal. She unfolded it and all she could read on it was a date and in the middle of the page 'I think I'm in love…'

It was dated from a week before they travelled back in time. The diva looked inside the hole to see if there was something but she couldn't find anything else. Suddenly, she remembered reading something about Michelle having the impression that things had been moved around in her room. Maybe the girl was scared someone would find her journal and that was why she had hidden it in the barn. Since there was still a risk Santiago would find it, she had torn out the page and put it somewhere else… The girl was smart.

After reading Dorothy's book and gathering information from Michelle's journal, she could assume Michelle was already in love and in a secret relationship with Santiago just before they arrived in the past. But there was still no explanation as to how the fire started and why Santana and her had been cast to play this couple…Although it might explain why she was suddenly feeling this way about Santana, maybe some sort of cosmic hangover?

Santana was taking care of the horses at the stable when Santiago's mother approached her.

"Santo, is everything okay?"

The youngest Latina turned around and frowned, wondering why the woman was there. "Mami, what are you doing here?"

"I just wanted to check on you." Mrs Cruz said as she petted on of the horses. "Your father left for town so I thought I would enjoy a moment with my son."

"Okay…" The tan girl raised her eyebrow suspiciously before focusing back on her task.

Anita watched her in silence for a while before asking. "Did you give the ring to Michelle during dinner?"

"What? No!" The former cheerleader knew the woman was there for a reason and now she was sure it was about Michelle.

Mrs Cruz looked disappointed. "I thought you would make the best of your dinner…" She sighed. "Well, I'm sure I can find another excuse to invite her if you got scared. You have such a sweet heart, mijo…"

"No, no, no." The raven-haired girl stopped brushing her horse to focus on Anita. "Por favour, don't do anything anymore. It could get her in trouble."

"I can see you really care about her, I'm just trying to help." Santiago's mother answered.

"I don't need help, we're not. I mean…" Santana didn't even know what to say. It was like Mrs Cruz was on a mission and wouldn't let go. "We…"

"Nana always says the ring is kind of magic." The older Latina cut her off. "It's supposed to protect your union with your soulmate, somehow keeping your love alive through time. It's good luck for a young couple, it carries the experience of your elders. That's why it's really important to only pass it to your child when they meet the one."

"Why are you so sure Michelle is the one? You don't even know her. Besides we're just friends."

Anita smiled knowingly. "Trust me, mothers know these things. Just give her the ring, you won't regret it…"

"Why is it so important for you?" The tan girl couldn't understand why the woman wanted to help her so bad.

"Porque eres mi hijo, deseo que sea feliz." Mrs Cruz simply said. "I was blessed enough to find true love, I want the same for you."

Santana nodded, it was better to just go with it. Unwanted support was still better than unwanted hate. She stayed silent as she watched Anita make her way out. Before the woman left, she said. "I did."

"Qué?" Santiago's mother turned around and looked at her son.

"I gave her the ring." Santana sighed. "So please, stop meddling."

Anita grinned and nodded before leaving the barn.

Rachel and Santana were in their secret spot, talking about the ring and how it could be linked to the quote they read and them travelling back in time.

The diva was sitting on a trunk and staring at the inscription on the ring. "Our love will travel through time." She stayed silent for a while, mentally going over everything they knew so far. "Maybe it's linked to the tale and the curse."

"I thought the same thing but we didn't have the ring when we travelled here. We just read the quote and bam, we were in 1880." Santana pointed out.

"I think it's safe to assume Mrs Harper is the one who wrote the quote on the wall." The brunette said confidently. "The thing is, the author is still alive in our time, so there is no direct link to the ring."

"What?" The tan girl frowned. "How do you know?"

"I saw Kurt google Sorin Cerin's name and read some things." The petite girl explained with a shrug.

"Of course you did." The raven-haired girl rolled her eyes. "So what? You said Mrs Harper was related to Dorothy, right? If Michelle's friend wrote a book about us, I mean Santiago and Michelle, it could explain how the woman knows about them."

"Yes, but why would she chose this quote specifically?"

"I don't know but my first question is why us?" The former cheerleader asked, finally sitting down with the diva.

"Well if we are honest, we have things in common with them. It could explain why." Rachel offered.

Santana scoffed. "They're a couple from the 19th century and we are members of a glee club who used to hate each other. I don't see why we'd be the best candidates for this trip and why we'd magically end up here."

"I tend to have a practical mind." The Jewish girl stated. "I don't really believe in magic, but here we are, in 1880, our spirits if I can call it that possessing other people's bodies so I'm going to give magical theories a chance…"

The Latina sighed, trying to come up with some explanation. "Maybe it's more mystical than magical. I mean, it could be some kind of reincarnation."

"It's a possibility." The diva conceded. "But shouldn't they possess us in our time to find a happy ending instead of the other way around?"

"Not especially." The taller girl shook her head. "I mean, everything is linked. Santiago and Michelle, their families, Glesswood, Cole, Mary… It wouldn't be possible to recreate all that in our time."

The brunette nodded. "Michelle and Santiago were together before the fire. Do you think Anita gave Santiago the ring?"

"Well she was really insisting on the fact that I should give you the ring because you are my soulmate so I guess yeah…" The tan girl shrugged, unfazed by her statement.

"I…" Rachel blinked, troubled by the girl's words. She knew Santana didn't mean it that way but she could swear her heart had raced at the words as if the girl was talking about them being soul mates.

As soon as the raven-haired girl saw Rachel's face, she realised what she had just said and quickly try to correct herself. "Whatever, you know what I mean by you, I'm talking about Michelle."

The petite girl cleared her throat, trying to compose herself. "Right, of course…" She pursed her lips. "Perhaps Michelle was wearing the ring when she died and since it's supposed to be magical like Anita said, it might have protected their love and somehow their spirits. Then, in some weird and unexplainable turn of events, they chose us to help them have their happy ending."

"But again, why?" The former cheerleader insisted. "We couldn't stand each other and we definitely weren't in love so except for being in the saloon at that specific moment and reading the quote, there is no reason for us to be here."

"I don't know, Santana, I'm at the same point as you are." Rachel sighed in frustration. "But like I said, maybe it has something to do with our personalities because we have things in common and they thought we could help them."

"Yeah, it's certainly not because we're soulmates." Santana started laughing.

The diva frowned as she watched her friend for a moment. But when the girl didn't stop laughing, she somehow started to feel offended. "Glad you find the idea hilarious, Santana." She declared drily.

"Oh come on, Rach, don't tell me you don't find it funny!" The Latina said between laughter. "I mean you're straight and we bicker all the time, that would never work."

"It worked for Michelle and Santiago. And I'll have you know that my dads always taught me that love goes beyond gender and I should keep an open mind and an open heart."

The tan girl snorted, slowly calming down. "It still doesn't mean you'd eat pussy."

"Must you always be so crude? And so presumptuous? I'm sure many people would assume the same about you." The brunette snapped. Santana could be so immature and tactless sometimes and right now it was getting on her nerves.

The raven-haired girl glared at her. "I thought I was clear about…"

The Jewish girl cut her off. "Santana, that's really not the point!"

"What's the point then?" The taller girl asked sternly as she crossed her arms. "Because right now you sound like you're getting mad that I'm not proposing or something."

Rachel scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous."

"Oh my god!" The Latina looked at her in disbelief. "You're offended I'm not considering you as a potential date, you can't be serious!"

"No! I just don't think it's so hilarious to think I could be someone's soulmate." The brunette didn't know what upset her the most, that someone like Santana could never date someone like her or the fact that she might never find true love. And why did she care so much about what Santana thought anyway? Right now, she just wanted to storm out of the place and not talk to the girl for a while.

"What?" The tan girl frowned. "That's not what I said. I…"

The diva stood up and tossed her hair behind her shoulder. "It's late, I'm going home."

"Rachel, come on…"

Without sparing a glance at the girl, the petite girl walked toward the door. "Goodnight Santana." She had too much on her mind to deal with another fight. Hopefully it would get better tomorrow.

Late in the afternoon the next day, Mary showed up at the shop with a gift in hand. The girl must have waited for the place to be empty before coming in because there weren't any customers.

Rachel smiled, it was nice to see a friendly face today. "Good morning, Mary, what are you doing here? Do you need something?"

"Hello, Michelle. I have something for you." Dr Quinn set the present on the counter after checking around her to make sure no one was watching. "Santiago asked me to deliver it for you."

The diva raised her eyebrow questioningly. "What is it?"

The blonde shrugged. "I don't know, he just said it was for you."

The brunette quickly unwrapped the gift and saw a small wooden star with her initials engraved on it.

"'RB?'" Mary questioned as she looked at the star in the diva's hand. "What does that mean?"

"It's hum, a special code between us…" The Jewish girl lied. She couldn't really say it was because her real name was Rachel Berry.

Dr Quinn smiled before whispering. "Secret words between secret lovers, I love it."

The petite girl blushed despite herself before looking at the note that was with the gift. 'I didn't mean to hurt your feelings or whatever but we're friends now, you need to chill a bit! Anyway, here's a little something for you. San.'

It was Santana's way to say sorry even though deep down, Rachel knew she hadn't got mad for the reasons she stated. 'Today is definitely better than yesterday.' She thought as she looked fondly at the star.