Chapter 4: Beauty N' the Struggle

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee, I am just having fun with the characters for awhile.

When everyone got into the auditorium, Santana, Rachel, and Arlene sat in the audience as Kurt stood on the stage with the group per Mercedes' request.

"Alright, alright. Now I know that Kurt is going through a lot this week," Mercedes said, rubbing Kurt's back. "But in spite of that, we are all very happy to be here. As you remember, we saw you guy at sectionals and there is reason that you guys lost. Fear. For instance, Marley. You have got killer vocals, Homegirl, so why is it that I have never heard you do a Mercedes Jones-style vocal run?"

Marley looked down and up uncomfortably before she answered, "I don't know. I guess I've just been too scared to try."

"Exactly. You are scared to belt it out. And you're probably afraid that when you do, I am going to test your breath control by hitting you in the solar plexus with this maraca," Mercedes told her as she grabbed said instrument.

"That should not be how she tests breath control," Rachel whispered to Santana.

Santana rolled her eyes good-naturedly, "Just let Mercedes do her thing and stop worrying."

"But it is not really an accurate way to test such things," Rachel argued.

"Rachel, just relax. Maybe Mercedes is just trying to have a little fun with her," Santana told the girl sitting next to her.

"But..." all argument she had stopped when Marley did her run and Mercedes hit her in the stomach with the maraca.

"She's good," Arlene whispered to her older sister to which Santana nodded her agreement.

The teens onstage laughed and Mercedes smiled at Marley, "See, if you had better breath control, you could probably hold that note every time. Floppy headed bass player, why don't you give us a little bit of the spooky Stevie Wonder bass line to get us moving. And all of you need to shake out your nerves and stop being so scared. That includes you, Kurt. I know what you're going through and this one is for you, baby. And Marley, I want to hear those high notes and don't be stingy with your runs. You three girls get up here too."

The girls looked at each other before the three went to join them up on the stage as Superstition started to go.

They all sang and danced on the stage, laughing and having fun. Rachel had to admit that she was impressed with Marley's vocals. She looked over to Santana to see Arlene in the Latina's arms, spinning and dancing as the young girl laughed. Rachel watched on with a smile, seeing how well the ex-Cheerio handled watching the child. Rachel had no doubt that Santana would help her with the little one coming, or that she would make a great mother someday.

When the song was done, everyone laughed and congratulated each other. Blaine looked over at Santana and Arlene who were talking off to the side and laughing, "Hey Santana, you never told us who the little one was. She seemed to have skittered in here unnoticed."

"This is my baby sis Arlene, not that it is any of your business Hair Gel," Santana scowled at him.

"Santana," Rachel said in a reprimanding tone. "Don't be rude to Blaine, he was only curious."

"Yeah Sanny, I will tell Mami that you were being a meanie head," Arlene told her older sister, arms crossed.

"You will not tell Mommy anything because she has to believe that I am a perfect angel," Santana said. Everyone gave her a look, telling her that none of them believed that her mother believed that. She sighed and rolled her eyes, "Fine, I will buy you ice cream if don't tell Mami."

Arlene grinned and said, "Deal," at the same time that Rachel said, "Santana Marie."

Everyone laughed and Santana just shrugged her shoulders. Rachel shook her head and walked over to Santana, "You should not bribe your sister."

"If it gets me what I want, why can't I?" Santana asked as she set Arlene down so she could go meet new people.

"Because it is wrong and immoral," Rachel told her, hands on her hips.

Santana rolled her eyes placing her hands on her shoulders, "Rachel, it is not that big of a deal. Just relax and have fun while we are here."

Rachel looked into her eyes for a second before sighing, "Fine, I will have fun, but I would just like it to be known that I find bribing children with sweets deplorable."

"Yeah yeah, I will remember not to do it around you," Santana waved her hand dismissively. She walked over to where her sister was talking to Blaine, Sam, Kurt, Brittany, and Ryder.

"...Then she covered my head and told me she would always keep me safe," Arlene finished whatever story she was telling the group.

The group awed and Brittany smiled wide, "Santana always did that for me too."

"What did I do for you two?" Santana asked as she came over, followed by Rachel.

Blaine looked up at her, "Arlene was telling us about how you save her from the monsters in the scary movies you like to watch."

Santana blushed and looked away. Rachel smiled and put a hand on her shoulder, "She does that. I had her protect me from my own real monster."

Everyone but Santana and Kurt looked confused. It was Sam who spoke up, "What do you mean Rachel? What happened?"

Rachel looked over at Santana, to see if her newest friend thought she should tell them. Santana shrugged and sighed, "It's up to you Rach, it's your story to tell."

Rachel nodded, "If you all could sit, I have something else to share with all of you." Everyone, including Mr. Schue, sat in a semi-circle in front of the girls. Rachel took a deep breath and began, "When I told Brody that I was pregnant, he didn't take it so well. He was yelling and he-he called me a slut. I was trying to reason with him and he punched the wall. I tried to calm him down and he ended up pushing me. And it wasn't the first time that this happened." She whispered the last part.

This was news to Santana. She turned to Rachel with clenched fists, "What do you mean it wasn't the first time?"

Rachel turned to Santana then looked down, "Remember when we had to patch the wall? I told you that I was rocking out with the mic stand and I accidently ran it into the wall? Well that's not what really happened. I had found out that Brody had slept with Ms. July again and I was upset because I don't like her. Well he was angry that I was upset because we agreed that we would be open, but I had already told him to never sleep with Cassandra again. He ended up pushing me into the wall as he was trying to leave. I tried to stop him by standing in the way. He was storming out and I stepped in the way, he didn't have time to stop. It was my fault, I-"

"It was not your fault Rachel," Santana forcefully cut her off. "I never want to hear you say that what that asshole did was your fault, do you hear me?"

Rachel meekly nodded as she looked down, "But that is not how the hole got into the wall."

"What happened Rachel?" Sam asked softly, putting a hand on her knee.

Rachel took a deep breath, "He stormed out after he pushed me."

Brody walked in after a few hours. Rachel was sitting at the table with a cup of tea cradled between her hands. She stared into the cup, tilting it slightly so she could see the bottom a bit. When she spoke, her voice was emotionless, "Where were you?"

"Out," was the simple reply he gave back as he hung his jacket over the back of the couch and walked towards what was considered Rachel's room.

"Were you out with Cassandra again?" Rachel bit back as she went to rinse her cup out in the sink.

Brody came out with his jaw clenched, "I wasn't, but even if I was, you have no right to get mad."

"I have no right to get mad?" Rachel scoffed. "I let you sleep around with any girl that you want, I just ask that you don't sleep with one person and that is the one person that you decide you want. How would you feel if I decided to go sleep with Finn?"

"I would be pissed and I would beat his ass," Brody stepped closer.

"You would have no right to be mad because we are in an open relationship and I can sleep with anyone I want," Rachel crossed her arms.

Brody stepped closer to her, glaring, "I told you not to fucking sleep with him. He is your ex and I don't like it."

"Cassandra has made my school life hell and I don't like you sleeping with her," Rachel shot back. When she got no answer from him, she huffed, "Maybe I will hop on a train right now and go see Finn."

She went to get her jacket, not meaning her empty threat. She was suddenly slammed against the wall, Brody's hand wrapped tightly around her throat, pinning her to the wall. She felt the sting on her back and the thrumming of her head as it connected with the wall. Her air supply was cut off so when she tried to gasp in shock it was a raspy wheeze.

Brody leaned in and told her with a deadly whisper, "I swear to God if you spread your legs for that idiot, I will murder you, you slut. I already told you that I didn't want you to sleep with him."

Rachel looked at him with fear in her eyes. She clawed at his wrists and tried to suck in a breath, but nothing was coming in. She began to panic as she felt the burning in her lungs. She kept clawing and pushing at him as her face started to turn red and a little purple.

"Now have I made myself clear?" Brody asked her in a freakishly calm voice.

Rachel could barely hear the question over the ringing in her ears, but she managed to nod the slightest bit. He held onto her for a bit longer before he let go, allowing her to fall to the floor and gasp in a deep breath. Rachel coughed violently and tried to catch her breath.

"If you tell anyone about this I will go after Hummel," Brody threatened before he grabbed his jacket and left again.

Rachel managed to catch her breath enough to sit up and lean against the wall. She pulled her knees to her chest and cried into them, making it hard for her to breathe again. She let herself cry until she felt light headed then she took a deep breath and curbed the tears. She stood and went to put cover up on her neck as she tried to think of what to tell her roommates about the hole in the wall.

When Santana and Kurt got home, she told them that she had been practicing some songs and she got a little too into "What a Girl Wants," and the mic stand went through the wall. Her friends bought it and she counted her blessings.

Later that night when Brody came home, he apologized to her and said that he would never sleep with Cassandra again and that he would never lay another finger on her. Which he kept good on until she told him about the pregnancy.

Rachel had tears streaming down her face at the end of her story, as did most of the people in the room. Arlene ran over to her and jumped into her lap and hugged her tight, "I'm sorry Rachie."

"It's okay Sweetheart," Rachel hugged her close and kissed her head. "It is not your fault baby girl and you don't need to apologize for it."

Santana looked on with a clenched jaw and balled up fists. Anger was radiating off of her in waves. She felt as though she could murder Brody with her bare hands. She stood abruptly and ground out in a low voice, "I am going to kill him."

Rachel looked up and gently guided Arlene into Kurt's arms. She stood and walked over to the fiery Latina, putting her hands on her shoulders, "Santana, don't. He's out of my life now thanks to you and that's all I need. I also don't need you getting hurt or going to jail, so please promise me that you will not touch Brody."

Santana looked at her for a second before scowling, "Fine, whatever."

"Thank you," Rachel gave her shoulders a last squeeze before letting her go.

Santana gave her a curt nod before she went to grab Arlene and sit with her in her lap, kissing her head. Rachel went to sit next to her. Everyone was still in shock over what they had heard.

Sam spoke up first, "I'm sorry that that was happening to you Rachel. That shouldn't happen to anyone."

Rachel gave him a soft smile, "Thank you, but it wasn't your fault. Nothing that happened is anyone's fault. I should have gotten out of that relationship a long time ago, but I didn't."

"But that doesn't make it okay that none of us saw it," Kurt said. "I should have questioned harder and not taken everything at face value."

"Kurt, I have never given you any reason not to believe me," Rachel took his hand in hers. "I was trying to hide it because I thought it was a one-time thing until I told him about the pregnancy."

Santana was still fuming in her spot in the stage, "It doesn't matter if it is a one-time thing, you should have told someone to make sure it didn't turn into a multiple time thing."

"I know Santana, but-"

"There is no 'but' Rachel," Santana interrupted her loudly as she turned to her sharply. "No man should ever lay a finger on a woman for any reason, especially not you."

Rachel put her hand on her knee, trying to calm her, "I know that Santana, but there is nothing we can do to change the past and we are just going to have to move on."

Arlene looked up at Santana, "We are just going to have to help her now, Sanny."

Santana looked down at Arlene and gave her a small smile, feeling herself calm just a bit, "How did you get to be so smart?"

"I learned from you," Arlene gave her sister a wide grin.

Santana kissed her nose, "That's right. And don't you forget it."

Everyone felt the tension lift a bit, everyone giving a small chuckle. Santana was still furious about the whole Brody thing, but knew there was nothing she could do about it. She focused on the little girl in her arms as Arlene proceeded to engage with the teenagers in the room.

"One time, there was this guy who was being really mean to me at school and Sanny came to pick me up. She gave him this mean look and told him that if he ever even looked at me again, she would go Lima Heights on him. He was so scared," Arlene giggled as she revealed her big sisters heroic deed to everyone.

"So, Satan is actually a big old softy?" Mercedes joked.

Santana glared at them, "I am no softy. I can still kick all of you from here to California so don't test me."

Ryder was the next one to speak up, "Guys I wouldn't. I have heard stories about how crazy scary she is."

"See, new guy gets it," Santana gestured to him.

"Please Santana, we all stopped being scared of you when you bashed up Azimio's car for pushing Artie's wheelchair down the stairs with him in it," Sam informed her.

Santana looked at them with raised brows, "I never said I did it and Figgins could never prove who it was. And if I did do it, who says it was because of what he did to Artie. He did slushy me that one time, it could have been because of that."

"That happened junior year, Artie happened senior year," Rachel pointed out.

Santana turned her glare on the diva, "Maybe I was just biding my time so he didn't think it was me."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night," Kurt waved his hand. "Doesn't change the fact that you don't scare us anymore."

Marley raised her hand timidly, "Well, those of us who only know her as Santana Lopez, school demon, are a little scared."

All the new kids, with the exception of Kitty all murmured their agreement. The older members just laughed at the new singers. Santana smirked victoriously at her friends. She was glad that she was able to still instill fear at this school, even with the students who have never met her.

Rachel rolled her eyes at the Latina, "You are the only person I know of that would be proud to be the modern-day Hitler of McKinley High."

"Hey I take offense to that," Santana said in mock hurt. "I am so much worse than Hitler," she ended with a smirk.

Arlene looked up at her, innocence shining in her eyes, "But Sanny, you aren't bad or scary, you are my bestest friend."

Santana smiled at the little girl, "That's right Weeny, and you are mine."

It was Jake that spoke up next, "I guess I can see why everyone else is no longer afraid of her."

Santana looked up with a scowl, "I will make you pay for that Puckerman. Don't believe me? Ask your brother. He knows that hell hath no fury like a pissed of Snixx."

"Snixx?" Marley asked.

Blaine rolled his eyes, "It's an alter ego she made up to try to get out of trouble."

"She is not made up," Santana defended.

"Sure she isn't," Rachel teased.

Santana stood up with Arlene, "Now you guys are just being rude. I am going to take this little monster home before she continues to make me look unbadass."

"Sanny said a bad word," Arlene called out, making everyone in the room laugh.

Santana rolled her eyes while Rachel stood up with her, "Well seeing as you are my ride, I guess I have to come with you."

"You think you are still coming back with me? Oh no no no, you are being shunned for ganging up on me and siding with these heathens," Santana said in an over-dramatic, almost Rachel Berry way.

Rachel pouted, "But I don't have a car and I left my stuff at your house."

Santana watched the pout for a second, an emotion coming over her that she couldn't place. She felt almost guilty that she had made the singer upset. She quickly shook it off and sighed, "Fine, I guess you can come, but you get to sit in the trunk. I mean it."

With that Santana turned on her heel and walked off the stage with Arlene on her hip. She heard Rachel gasp behind her and she had to contain her laugh as she heard Rachel shout after her, "Santana Lopez, I know you are not going to be so rude to your friend."

Santana laughed at this as she looked over her shoulder, "I may, I may not. Follow me to find out. See ya later losers."

"Bye," Arlene waved over the older Latina's shoulder at the group laughing on stage at the interaction between the two girls.

Rachel huffed and said a quick goodbye to them, following after the ex-cheerleader. When Rachel went outside and saw Santana standing by the open trunk of her car, she stopped in front of her and crossed her arms, "You had better close that right now."

Santana smirked at her, "And what if I don't?"

"I will tell your mother all about everything that went on today, including the bribing," Rachel smiled in triumph when the Latina deflated and closed the trunk.

Santana pouted as she got in the driver's seat, "Why do you always have to ruin my fun Berry?"

Rachel grinned her mega-watt smile as she got into the passenger seat, "I have no idea what you are talking about. I will be much more fun up here in this seat then I would be if I were in the trunk."

"Debatable," Santana muttered under her breath.

Rachel huffed in annoyance and crossed her arms, pout forming on her face. Arlene piped up from her car seat in the back, "Don't be mean to Rachie. She's so nice and pretty."

Rachel blushed as she looked back at the little girl, "Thank you. You are courteous and gorgeous yourself."

Arlene looked at her confused, "What does that mean?"

Santana butted in before Rachel said anything, "She said you are nice and pretty too. She is 4-years-old Rachel, you need to use smaller words."

"Just because she is young it does not mean that she can't widen her vocabulary," Rachel argued, turning front again.

Santana shook her head as she drove, "I already feel bad for the little one. Their mommy is going to bore them with long vocab lists as soon as they can talk."

"I resent that accusation," Rachel looked at her, affronted. "I will not require them to go through vocab lists, but I will also not dumb down my vocabulary because I don't think they will be able to understand. You are never too young to start learning."

"Whoa, jeez. Calm down Berry, I was just joking," Santana chuckled.

Rachel hummed her disapproval, but otherwise kept quiet. Santana glanced over at her and saw her looking out the window. Santana frowned, but didn't say anything as she kept driving.

She parked outside of a little shop called "Mazzetti's Frozen Shoppe" and got out, helping Arlene out of the car.

"What is this place Sanny?" Arlene asked as she looked up at the unfamiliar building.

"I told you we were getting ice cream," Santana told her.

Arlene cheered and ran to go inside, stopping outside the door to wait for her sister. Santana smiled and followed her sister, Rachel following silently behind.

Santana looked over at Rachel, noticing her sulking and turned to Arlene. She bent down to Arlene's level and smiled at her, "Hey Princessa, why don't you go inside and pick out what flavor you want. I need to talk to Rachel really quick and then we will come join you and get our sweets on."

"Okay Sanny," Arlene grinned and gave her sister an excited hug and a thank you before running inside. Santana smiled, watching her through the glass door for a second before walking over to Rachel, positioning herself in front of Rachel so that she could still see Arlene through the window. She sighed as she noticed Rachel looking down at the ground.

"Rachel, what's wrong?" Santana asked. When she got no answer she stepped closer slightly, "I'm sorry if what I said offended you, it was not my intention. It was honestly just a joke."

Rachel sighed as she looked up, "I know that, but it just made me think about the baby. What if I'm not a good mother? I know I'm not a great people person and that I tend to annoy others. What if he or she ends up hating me because I bore them or annoy them?"

"Rachel you are going to be a great mother. You are kind-hearted, compassionate, ambitious, talented, and fun to be around, as long as someone else isn't singing," Santana joked at the end, gaining a small giggle from the diva. "You are going to love this child with everything you have in you and you are going to raise them to be a wonderful person, just like their mother is. You can't keep getting yourself get worked up about the possibility of failure, because then you will make yourself start believing it. You will do your best for this child and they will love you because of it. Beside Rachel Berry never fails."

Rachel gave a small smile before looking at Santana seriously, "Do you really mean that?"

"I do," Santana gave her a small smile.

"Thank you," Rachel hugged her.

Santana was shocked for a second, but quickly wrapped her arms around the pregnant girl and held her close, enjoying holding Rachel into her embrace. She wasn't sure why she enjoyed holding her so much, but chalked it up to her nurturing side. But that didn't explain why she was getting butterflies and the sense of contentment she felt.

All too soon Rachel pulled back and looked at Santana, "We better get in there before Arlene wants to buy the whole shop."

Santana nodded and led the diva inside, "So what are you going to get?"

"I'm not getting ice cream, I'm-" Rachel started, but Santana cut her off.

"You're vegan, yes I know," Santana said. "That is why this is a shop that sells Italian ice, which is vegan friendly."

"You remembered that I'm vegan?" Rachel asked her.

"Of course, you never let us forget," Santana laughed as she scooped up Arlene.

Rachel stood looking at Santana for a moment. It was one thing to know that she was a vegan, it was another to go out of her way to make sure that everyone could get something. She always knew there was a kind, soft interior to Santana's hard exterior, but she never thought she'd get to experience so much of it.

Santana was really going out of her way to help out Rachel, and Rachel wasn't sure what to do with it. A part of her wants to think she's only doing it because she pities her and is remembering her lost child. Another part of her thinks that Santana is just messing with her. Rachel didn't want to listen to either of those parts of herself. She wants to believe that she is finally getting to see the real Santana Lopez. Not the self-assured, highly volatile bitch that Rachel was used to, but the insecure, caring, and sweet Santana that Brittany always talked about in high school.

Rachel was really enjoying the Santana she has been able to see since she told her about the baby. It was like she turned into a completely new person. She knew that Santana might not always be this way around her, but it was a nice feeling. To be friends with the Latina rather than enemies. But something about the way that the word friend rattled around inside of Rachel's mind made her confused. Why did she not like that word when using it to reference the fiery singer she is currently standing next to. This is what she had wanted all throughout high school.

She shook her head to clear her thoughts as she looked up at the board of all the flavors that the shops holds to coat the ice in. Arlene orders an orange one, while her older sister chose grape.

"May I please get one strawberry flavored?" Rachel politely asked the man behind the counter, who gave her a smile and went about getting it made.

Santana snorts next to her, "of course you would order something berry flavored."

Rachel gave her an exasperated sigh, putting her hands on her hips, "I will have you know Santana that my choice in artificial flavoring has nothing to do with my surname. If I avoided everything containing the name berry in my diet, then I wouldn't have much left to consume. Would I?"

Santana raised her hands in defense, "Calm down Fun Size, I know that. Doesn't make it any less funny though."

Rachel rolled her eyes and took the shaved ice from that shop owner with a 'thank you' and one of her famous Rachel Berry smiles. Santana gave a soft laugh as she handed the owner a $20 bill, telling him to keep the change before leading the other two girls out of the shop.

The three girls got into the Latina's car, bound for the Lopez residence. The rest of their day was spent playing games and watching movies. Rachel could honestly say that this has been one of the best days of her life. She loved getting to hang out with Santana and her sister. She had never seen Santana act so happy and carefree.

Usually Santana acts as though the weight of the world is on her shoulders. She doesn't let herself get complacent because she is always on guard in case anyone says or does something that the Latina doesn't like. She is always protecting those around her. That is one of Santana's best qualities, her devotion to her friends and family.

Rachel watched as Arlene slept soundly in Santana's arms on the couch. The end of Lion King was playing on the TV and the older Lopez was watching it while distractedly running her fingers through her sister's hair. It took the diva a second to realize that Santana was not watching the movie, but she was thinking.

Rachel grabbed the remote and paused the movie before turning to her friend to quietly ask, "What are you thinking about, San? Anything I can help you sort through?"

Santana first instinct was to snap, so that's exactly what she did, "Why don't you mind your own business Berry?"

Rachel flinched and looked away, choosing instead to look at her hands, which she was now wringing together in her lap. She spoke quietly, "I-I'm sorry Santana. I shouldn't have asked."

Santana sighed and ran a hand through her hair, she saw the look of hurt in Rachel's eyes before she turned away. She gently laid Arlene on the couch and moved closer to Rachel, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. It's just this whole, us being friends or whatever is still kinda new to me. I'm not used to, you know, actually talking to you about stuff or whatever. You've been sharing a lot to me and I should at least try to do the same."

Rachel looked up at her, "You don't have to do that just because I've shared with you."

"I want to," Santana gave her a small smile. "But how about we put Arlene to bed and we can talk in my room?"

Rachel smiled and nodded, "Yeah, that sounds good to me."

Just as the two girls stood and Santana gently picked up the smallest Lopez, Maribel Lopez walked in through the front door. She watched her eldest daughter carry the youngest Lopez into the hall, followed by Rachel.

"Hey San, Rachel, is she all tired out from her adventure to the Glee club today?" Maribel whispered to the girls.

Santana nodded and Rachel answered her quietly, "yes, then we played tag, then once it became too dark for us to continue our festivities outside, we came in here to play a couple of rounds of tumblin' monkeys, after we ate dinner and settled in the living room to watch a movie which she fell asleep about half way through."

Maribel laughed quietly, "That does sound like a lot of fun. Did you go see your fathers today Rachel?"

Rachel gasped, "No, I completely forgot. There was a lot going on this morning when we woke up that I did not go."

"It's okay Rachel, you can go tomorrow in the morning when we get up and I will make sure to remind you so that you do not forget," Santana told the other girl.

"I can't stay here with you guys again tonight. You guys need some family time," Rachel protested.

"And we can have family time with you here also," Maribel told the young adult. "Rachel, if we didn't want you here, we would have told you as much. You are a delight to have around and obviously both of my daughters feel the same."

Santana shifted Arlene in her arms slightly, "Now that my mom has assured you once again that you are not a bother to us, come help me put the munchkin to bed because she is starting to become heavy."

Rachel blushed a bit and nodded, "Thank you Mrs. Lopez."

"It is no problem and please, call me Maribel," the older woman smiled at her. "I'm going to make breakfast tomorrow."

Santana had started to walk up the stairs so she turned and looked at her mother, "Rachel is vegan by the way Mami."

"Okay, I am sure I can whip something up," Maribel smiled. "Goodnight girls."

"Thank you, Maribel," Rachel smiled softly and followed Santana. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight Mami," Santana walked into Arlene's room. She gently placed her on the bed and covered her with the comforter. She kissed her head, turned on the night light, then walked out of the room with Rachel.

The two girls went into Santana's room and changed into some pajamas. They settled into the bed, each on the edge of the bed, staring up at the roof. Rachel was the first one to break the silence, "I had a great time with you and your family today. Thank you for allowing me to impede on your visit with your family."

"Rachel, you are my friend and my roommate," Santana started, turning on her side to look at Rachel. Once the diva had done the same, she continued, "I showed up at your door a couple of months ago, with nowhere to go. I had come to New York on an impulse. I wasn't prepared, I just knew that I didn't want to stay here and I didn't want to stay in Louisville. Coach Sue was going to give me the Cheerios when she retired or died. At first, it seemed like a perfect life for me. I realized, I wanted to do what you, Mercedes, and pretty much, everyone but me was doing. You were all chasing your dreams while I was settling. I was honestly scared shitless when I showed up at the loft. You and Kurt very well could have told me to get the fuck out of your place and left me to fend for myself. I was a total bitch to you guys for years before I showed up."

Rachel interrupted her, "We never would have left you on the streets Santana."

"That is my point Rachel," Santana said. "Just like how you helped me, I am helping you."

Rachel hugged Santana with tears in her eyes. Santana hugged her, rubbing her back gently, "Shh, there is no need to cry Rach."

Rachel hugged her tighter, "I know, it's just my hormones. Can you hold me for just a bit longer?"

"Of course," Santana whispered, holding her close to her. They fell asleep in each other's arms, snuggled against each other.

A/N: I am sorry that it has taken me so long to write this chapter. I have had a lot of stuff going and I just lost my drive for writing. However, I know that I hate it when I get into a book and then it is not finished, so I will be finishing this. I hope that I can update both my books faster. The song I used for the title is Beauty N' the Struggle, original soundtrack from the YouTube series Step Up: High Water.