The girls all went upstairs to make breakfast. Santana brought out all the ingredients to make pancakes from scratch. She grabbed three packs of bacon knowing Quinn would eat basically half of that for herself. She tossed the packs at Quinn and grabbed orange juice and some plastic cups for Brit. Quinn started making the bacon as Brit poured juice and set the table.
Tina sat in Lena's lap and Rachel sat in the stool next to them watching the three girls in their routine. Rachel watched Santana hum as she started cooking the pancakes and smiled. She couldn't help but think how adorable she looked standing there with a messy bun and pancake batter on the cheek. She giggled and walked up to Santana smiling. She used her thumb to softly take the batter off Santana's cheek.
Santana smiled softly at Rachel. "Thank you." Santana said blushing as she stood to the side to look at Rachel.
"You're welcome." Rachel said shyly ducking her head down as her hair falls. Santana smiled softly looking at Rachel as she tucked her hair back behind her ear. They spent so much time looking at each other that Santana didn't realize that she was burning the pancake she left in the pan.
"San!" Tina yelled as she got up and took the pan off the fire. Santana jumped and moved in front of Rachel protectively.
"Shit! Sorry guys, I wasnt paying attention." Santana said blushing as she tossed the pancake and cleaned up to start on a new one.
"Yeah, we know." Quinn said smirking at Santana as Lena smirked at Rachel.
"Shut up!" They both whispered looking at their best friends. They blushed peaking at each other before they both went back to what they were doing before.
Santana finished up the pancakes as Quinn put all the bacon on a plate and set it in the middle of the table. Quinn grabbed the syrup and placed it in the middle and Santana placed the pancaked down making sure she sat as close to Rachel as she could. They passed the food around and all dug in.
"Oh my God, Santana these taste amazing." Rachel said taking another bite.
"Sanny makes the best pancakes." Brit said grabbing some extra bacon before Quinn finished it all.
"Thanks, maybe one day I'll teach you the recipe." Rachel smiled and nodded happily taking another bite.
After the girls finished up eating and went to take a shower and get ready to leave except for Rachel.
"San do you mind if I stay a little longer? I didn't drive myself a-and Lex i-is running a little late…" Santana smiled at Rachel softly and pulled her into the bed in her room.
"It's cool Ray, why are you so nervous around me? You don't have to be." Santana said concerned. Rachel sighed and sat up pushing her hair out of her face shaking her head to clear her mind from the flashback threatening to come back to her.
"I… I can't yet I'm sorry. It's really not you… I just… I have a hard time trusting people." Rachel said avoiding Santana's eye.
"It's okay. I would never want to force you or rush you into anything you're not comfortable telling me Ray. How about we chill here and watch something until you have to go. Okay?" Rachel nodded and Santana pulled Rachel into her and put on the tv.
Rachel looked at Santana in surprise. She had never been treated so kindly by someone like that besides her new family and she still didn't know how to act around the kindness. There's always that voice in the back of her head that was screaming "DON'T TRUST ANYONE THEY WILL ALWAYS HURT YOU." But she knew one thing, she liked Santana no matter how much she felt that she didn't deserve her.
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Rachel gave Santana one last wave before running out to Lexi's car. She climbed in tossing her bag in the back with a huge smile on her face. She hadn't felt happy or at home with a family or surrounded by love in so long she had almost forgotten what it felt like to smile. She was happy but she still had her guard up.
"Someone looks like they had a good time." Lexi said giggling at the cute grin Rachel sported as she came into the car.
"It was fun… I learned a lot about Santana and the other girls as well." Rachel said. "Thanks for picking me up."
Lexi smiled over at Rachel and ruffled her hair. She was happy to see Rachel have a smile on her face. Especially after all the nights she spent holding the girl as she cried or waking her up from the night terrors that held such a tight grip on her that sometimes she felt like she could breathe. It was hard to watch.
Rachel leaned on the window and sang along to the songs on the radio as she looked at the busy streets pass by as Lexi drove home. Rachel looked to the side aimlessly and had to do a double take. She couldn't believe her eyes. Her chest started to tighten as tears came to her eyes. Lexi pulled over as she heard Rachel start to wheeze.
"Ducky? Rachel what's wrong?" Lexi asked concern written all over her face. She went straight into doctor mode checking Rachel out.
"He's… h-here… h-he's…" was all she could get out. Lexi took off her seatbelt and rushed over to Rachel's side of the car as fast as she could. She put Rachel's hand on her chest and tried to guide Rachel back to breathing regularly.
"Rachel, I need to relax okay? I am here with you and I will not let anything happen to you. He is not here anymore okay? Your father is in jail okay sweetie? I need you to breathe with me." Rachel nodded her head letting Lexi's voice slowly bring her back to reality. Rachel slowly calmed down and took a few deep breaths.
"Better?" Lexi asked concerned as she wiped the stray tears from Rachel's face. Rachel nodded and put her head down hiding behind her hair.
"Come on lets pick up something to eat and head home, yeah?" Lexi said gently lifting Rachel's head with her fingers so that she knew that this was normal and there was nothing to be ashamed about or embarrassed about. Rachel nodded and got situated once again in the car.
Through out the rest of the drive Lexi watched Rachel worried until they got home. Rachel didn't say anything the whole ride. She was embarrassed and she felt like she let her guard down. As soon as the front door was open Rachel ran up to her room and closed her door. She needed to just relax herself and be alone. She changed into something comfortable and laid down on her bed. It didn't take long before she broke down into tears. She hated what he did to her. She didn't even really see him and she was freaking out. He had a grip on her and she didn't know how to get out of it.
About an hour later Lexi came upstairs with a bowl of soup for Rachel. She knocked on the door and slowly walked in. "Ducky? I umm I brought you some soup…" Lexi said putting the tray on the table by the bed. Rachel sat up and wiped her face. Lexi gave her a sympathetic smile and sat down next to her pulling Rachel into her arms. Rachel couldn't help it she started crying once again.
"Things do get better Ducky." Lexi said before handing Rachel the tray of food and making her eat at least half of it. "I'll be up later to lay with you, okay?" Rachel nodded laying down.