A/N: Once again, I am in italics, pupofstuff is in bold, each new paragraph is a new text, and the line breaks mean a sudden change in the general subject.

To Dani and Santana, it's like Rachel's shutting them out. Refusing to see them, and making it clear they're OVER. They're blindsided and hurt and left reeling.

They end up almost shutting down. They don't leave their apartment, canceling engagements. Nothing that involves fans though, because they love their fans too much. But otherwise, they practically drop out of the social realm.

Entertainment news sites are going crazy, rumors and theories flying around. Dantana is taking time to save their relationship, with Rachel shoved out because she was the cause of their rift. One or more of the girls have resorted to alcoholism or drug addiction, and Rachel's off in rehab, as it was the drugs that made her throw herself at Dantana. Things like that.

Vilifying Rachel is the brand new thing, and it just crushes Rachel more - because of her past, because of who she is, and because Dantana (seemingly) aren't denying it.

Rachel ends up angry. She tried so hard to make things easy for the three of them, to allow them to have a peaceful life even while in the public eye. But now Dantana isn't doing anything to stand up for her, and she's sick of it. So she starts stepping out into public, accepting dates from people that she doesn't really care about. There's even one point, where she agrees to do some nude work, if only to try and get a rise out of Santana and Dani.

It's her rebellion stage she never truly got in NYADA.

Mhm. This time, there isn't anyone to stop her, and she's angry at the world. So it's not even tasteful nudity, it's a movie deal that's downright sexualization, and it doesn't even hit her that she did it until much later.

Also, she goes out with the people, but she can never get physical with them. Doesn't even try. Her stomach rolls, disgust spreads through her body, and she just ends up thanking them for the date or evening, sends them off, and crawls into bed and crying herself to sleep. As for the movie, she pulls out of it at a very bad time because she can't stomach it in any way, but she knows she'd never respect herself afterward, even if it puts a black mark on her in Hollywood. She'll deal.

(I was thinking she'd have no problem posing for Playboy, though.)

When the Playboy issue comes out, Dantana doesn't have any idea it's happening. So when Dani is at a newsstand, trying to pick something out, she spots Rachel on the cover. And immediately feels bile in her throat. She buys the magazine, and runs home before taking another look at it.

Oh god, this hurts. What are these women doing? They're doing everything wrong. They really need to see Rachel on-on-one, and they know it, but it's not happening. When Santana sees the spread, she gets enraged. They're staring down at the magazine, and Santana (or Dani) has to rush to the bathroom to throw up. They're losing her. They're really losing her. It isn't until later, when Dani actually manages to read the interview, that she starts to see how flippant and detached and DEAD Rachel is. While she doesn't say anything bad about Dantana, she isn't particularly respectful, if that makes sense.

Somehow, news of Santana's rage and fury at Rachel gets leaked to the press.

Someone in the complex may have overheard Santana yelling about it.

So now the mags are pitting Rachel and Santana together. I'm trying to think - - oh! The red carpet event for Santana's new movie, they almost make it through without running into each other, but then, in front of flashing lights and cameras, Dantanchel come face to face. They all immediately start tearing up, and though Dani tries to drag Pezberry away from the media, Santana can't help snapping at Rachel for the Playboy spread. Rachel can't help snapping back that she's a grown woman and Santana has no control over her.

Does Rachel have a reason to be at the premiere? Cause otherwise I think she wouldn't go. Maybe she sung the single version of an original song, like Demi did for Let it Go? Anyway, this of course is all recorded and immediately hits all the newspapers.

YES. She sang the singles version. And even though she still didn't want to go, I think she HAD to. Like, she was expressly ordered to by her agent. Also, I was thinking a bit more would be said at the premiere, but not sure what.

I'm also thinking it's the time their agents start planning to have an intervention, or the old glee gang (if you truly believe in Glee's universe), but it's truly getting out hand, either way.

I think getting the glee club involved would be redundant. I think it should be the agents.

The agents who are highly aware of the women's relationship, and trying so hard not to say I-told-you-so, but actually liking their clients enough to rather see them work out for real and not just publicity.

Can you imagine the marriage counselor they send the three to? What they'd have to put up with?

Those poor agents. XD

By now, the Dantanchel triangle is big news. Everyone's salivating to figure out what's going on, and it's a whirl of stalking paparazzi and media news outlets. A flurry of activity everywhere… Except in the same room the three with a moderator are in. Stone cold silence, because at this point, Dani assumes there's nothing to say - they're done, and that's it; Santana can't open her mouth because she knows she'd blow up and she's trying NOT to say something she REALLY shouldn't and force Rachel to never-ever come back, but it's taking its toll and she's practically vibrating with roiling fury, holding on a thin string until Rachel opens her mouth to say something, and all hell will be unleashed; and Rachel's just dead - she has no emotions, because Dantana has betrayed her beyond everything she'd experienced before, and she doesn't want to say anything or react because she doesn't want to hear anything more from the two who ripped out her heart and doesn't want to hear how much they never loved her.

But at first, absolutely nothing would happen. They would sit in the room, glaring, or avoiding eye contact. They would waste their assigned hour.

I wonder what would break the tableau. Because for all intents and purposes, Dantana thinks Rachel's sleeping around, posing nude everywhere, and for everyone, and doing other reckless, STUPID stuff, and if they start talking, it would all come tumbling out. Oh. I got it. I think I just broke my heart again, but this time, it's Rachel that comes across something at the newsstand. Dani and Santana's engagement. (They didn't actually get engaged, but Rachel doesn't know that.)

When they are at their next appointment, Rachel throws the magazine down in front of them, tears in her eyes. Dantana looks at her in disbelief, and then the yelling starts. "How could you think we would do this to you?" "What do you mean THINK? You ALREADY HAVE!"

Not caring that statement didn't make any sense in her mind, Santana yells at Rachel that SHE'S the one "whoring herself out", and Dani's just staring at Rachel with hurt, betrayed eyes because, even though she'd been trying to keep an open mind, she still can't get the image of Rachel sleeping with all the others she'd gone out with out of her mind. And somehow, this just confirms it in her mind. How can Rachel get mad at them for "supposedly" taking the next level in their relationship when Rachel's sleeping with everyone else that's NOT them? Rachel's shaking, practically hyperventilating because her lungs have squeezed so tightly she can't breathe well. She's crying and screaming, but before she can whirl around to storm out, Santana's there, whirling her back around to slam their mouths together. "Does this really FEEL," she hisses, squeezing Rachel into her, "Like someone who would EVER be happy without you?"

Do you think Rachel would slap her? Because I'm thinking she would after that.

Oh yes, definitely. And Santana would stumble back, into Dani, who would snap something in tears, and the counselor would then find it the right time to stand up and corral everyone in, somehow making Rachel NOT leave and getting them back into their seats. The first thing they do is ask Santana if she wants to file an assault report.

Santana would have course say no. She may be feeling vindictive, but no one wants the court involved.

And Rachel would protest that it was Santana who had assaulted her first. Hurt and angered, Santana would snap back that she'd grabbed Rachel plenty of times before and it had never bothered her, and Rachel would reply that that was when they were in a loving relationship and it was consensual, and that's when Dani would slam her hands down onto the arms of her chair. "We've ALWAYS loved you, Rachel! YOU'RE the one who left us without telling us why! YOU abandoned us - and you abandoned me, and… And WHY?"

Rachel glares at Dani. "I may have left the apartment first yes, but you both abandoned me long before that, Dani."

"HOW?" Rachel looked at Santana and Dani, her voice deathly quiet. "Maybe by blaming me for ruining your relationship. In the media, at home, it didn't matter. I was a problem for you. Not someone you felt the need to defend or make people stop VILIFYING ME IN THE PAPERS!"

"YOU DID THAT TO YOURSELF!" Santana is yelling. "When you started…" Santana shudders, unable to finish the sentence.

"This is BEFORE THAT, Santana! And do you, do you really THINK…!" It was Rachel's turn to stop in mid-sentence. Dani's already been crying. The counselor softly speaks up, saying that seemed time for each of the women to take the next five minutes or so to write down everything they think or believe about each other, about ALL of each other, and if they really think they can, at this moment, work everything out, and why or why not.

The room is silent except the scratching of pens while everyone is writing. When they are done, everyone is clutching the paper tightly. Since Dani has decidedly been the least reactive to the three, the counselor encourages Dani to speak first. Dani is trembling, but she manages to start talking. She addresses Santana first, finding it easier.

"Sometimes," she admitted, "I have trouble separating myself from your anger, Santana. Sometimes I have trouble figuring out, exactly, what I am feeling until I'm not with you. I'm not saying you overpower me, and I still believe in what I believe, and I have no trouble telling you what I think, but I don't know how to leech off your anger without getting angry myself. It doesn't help when we're both angry and… Hurt." She glanced at Rachel, struggling to continue, "At the same thing."

Then she takes another breath, looking at Rachel now. "Rachel, when you left, we were devastated, because we didn't know what happened. I understand we may have messed up, but I can't understand why you left without saying something first."

Rachel shifts. "I DID tell you," but the counselor cuts her off. They tell her to wait for her turn, and asks if Dani has anything else to say. Dani pauses, but then nods. "One more thing. I love you, Rachel. I've never stopped loving you. But I can't help feeling like you acted like the most selfish person in the world, and… And you broke my heart."

The counselor then signals Santana to start. Santana is obviously a lot angrier with her words, though she tries to avoid attacking.

Oh, I figured Rachel should go next to stop the feeling that it's Dantana vs. Rachel.

I thought this would be the last time, with Rachel going last because she has the most to say, I feel.

Last time of what?

Dantana vs. Rachel

Ahh, I get it. Where, at the end of that session, the counselor can say that that was the last time they were going to treat this issue as Santana and Dani versus Rachel, and from now on, it would just be Rachel and Santana and Dani. What do you think Santana would say?

You know I can't figure out what Santana would say? I know it would be rather aggressive but I can't think of what she would do.

I know… I feel like she'd still be rebelling against the presence of the counselor, not exactly broken down completely yet.

That sounds about right for Santana.

Santana's crying, shaking with the effort of keeping the angry, frustrated tears back. She's always been bad with crying when it involves her feelings, but she'll be damned if she'll show weakness now. Her papers crumple in her hands. "Dani," she'll start, physically turning her body so Rachel isn't in her line of sight at all, completely shutting her out, "I feel like we're doing fine." She turns to Rachel, saying as equally flat, "Rachel - "

"I don't know what happened. But I don't know if we can go back to what we had. I wonder if we can even go to friends."

"There." She turns to the counselor, "Can I go now?" "OF COURSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO STAY WHEN IT'S MY TURN TO TALK!" Rachel erupts, body practically spasming with rage and hurt, voice croaking, "SEE? This! This is what you ALWAYS do to me!"

And at some point, Santana will shrug and say that she can't take this marriage counseling seriously (even if she adores her own therapist she stills sees once in a while), and it doesn't matter because it's not going to work. And Rachel will say that what she's saying is that she doesn't take her or their problems seriously, with Dani chiming in that it also means she doesn't think they can work, so no wonder she's spectacularly making it not do so. Which Santana will snap back that it's not like Dani has much faith in this, and she's practically just hanging on because of her love for Rachel, no matter they're not ever, EVER going to get back together again, and why not, she starts sobbing, raging, just leave her altogether and be with Rachel because it's not like she's (Santana's) doing anything good for her OR Rachel! Basically making clear that Santana's greatest fear is that she's not good enough for either girl anymore, and she feels like it's all her fault.

I'm trying to figure out Dani's motivations.

Maybe she's scared of the seriousness of it all? She's terrified that she'll break down and run away.

I like that. I like that a lot. Originally, she had the inclusion of Rachel to distract her, and then their careers took off, and tours and appearances, and suddenly years have passed, and then this happens, and she doesn't have anything to distract her, and starts panicking.

She's always struggled to deal with problems in her relationships, and this one is the only one where she truly cares about the outcome.

Yes, because remember we said she used to be a player? I can see this. Normally, she's okay, but there are periods where she just starts to get really stressed, and Pezberry, if not knowing exactly why, still knows how to calm her down. But now Rachel's not there, and (apparently) giving her affections to others, and she's struggling while trying not to show it to Santana.

The three are at an impasse again. Santana feels like she needs to leave before she explodes or has a stroke or something, Rachel's trying to catch her breath and start reading her statement, and Dani's hurt and getting upset that Santana doesn't believe in this enough to be truthful with her. What kind of statement is, "I think we're doing fine?" Shouldn't the counselor have butt in by now? Probably doesn't know what to do with a polyamorous relationship. Honestly, I think Dani should just disappear, completely, without telling anyone where she's going, for about a week or so, until Santana contacts Rachel out of panic. I can see her breaking and needing to get away. (And needing the feeling that the other two will look for her.)

I just want to get where Rachel and Dani meet up for awkward, yearning lunch dates, and where Santana and Rachel "run into each other" at the coffee shop to spend ten awkward minutes trying not to stare at each other, their hands curling around their drinks instead of reaching for each other, all exchanging stunted, light trivials. I want them to run into each other at the gym, working out together and barely able not to look at each other in the showers and sauna afterward. Yoga meet-ups, now on purpose, Daniberry spending a day at the museum because there's an exhibition Rachel wants to see, their hands gravitating towards each other, Rachel forgetting and leaning against Dani, who doesn't protest, sliding her arm around Rachel as they relax, studying the painting in the deserted corner, Pezberry attending an opera together, where they softly hold each other's hands during the show, Santana allowing Rachel to turn into her embrace when she starts crying at the heartbreaking romance. Dantana to appear, very publically, at Rachel's concert, each arriving with a giant bouquet of Rachel's favorite flowers, and stick around after leaving them in Rachel's dressing room with signed cards, smiling so brightly when Rachel approaches them after greeting her well wishers. "Thank you," she'd whisper, hugging both women and gently kissing their cheeks, both Santana and Dani shrugging and smiling back at her, pictures that adorn every gossip magazine and newspaper the next morning.

Why would you do this?

Which part?

All of it Sarah. All of it.

:P

I was rather proud of that, yes. But don't you? I want the flutter 'I love you and I miss you and I want you' heart palpitations!

I do, especially cause I think they didn't really have it before you know? They were all scared that if they didn't jump in before, it wouldn't work out. But now, they know they can work, at least somewhat.

Yes yes yes! Exactly. They threw themselves into being with each other and STAYING together, without REALLY confronting insecurities or problems, because the end goal was staying together, no matter what, right?

I also want Dantana having sweet date nights with each other, too. Rediscovering each other, too, without the expectation of them being the "It Out Couple". With the shy smiles and beaming at each other, hearts squeezing when their hands touch.

Too… many… feels...

I wonder why the Rachel leaning into Dani at the museum really made my heart swell. That and Rachel sliding her hand into Santana's in the dark of the opera… Santana and Dani smiling doe-eyed at each other over the rims of their wine glasses in the light of the sunset, leaning in for a gentle, loving kiss because the other looks so beautiful they can't stand it… All three splayed on their couch, cuddled up to each other and relaxing, Santana's head on Rachel's shoulder, Dani resting hers on Rachel's, arms loosely holding each other and just sinking, relaxing into the feeling of THEM...

Because the innocence of the actions touch a place that desires to experience that? The simplicity of real love?

Mmm… It's the quiet, slow knowledge of being with someone and those they love, that feeling of getting to be with them, and just experiencing it...