#evansberry

Tossing more rice at the ducks, Sam grinned, accepting the cup of ice cream Santana handed to him. "Nice! It's a little hot out here."

"It sure is." Smirking, Santana took a bite of her own ice cream, turning to watch where Rachel was bending to sniff a flower across the way.

Glancing where Santana was watching, Sam coughed, flushing. "I... Uh..." he cleared his throat, "Thank you for letting me come along. I miss the park."

"A'course." Santana waved her hand. "My girl loves the park for dates."

Samchelpez as romantic between Rachel and Sam and Rachel and Santana, with Santana and Sam being close and affectionate. Or at least that's the ideal, as you know the shifting and moving around to make the relationship work could have some trials and tribulations to get there!

But yes. A romance with all three.

If you're asking about the bedroom, sometimes it's just Rachel and Sam, or just Rachel and Santana, but if both Santana and Sam are with Rachel at the same time, I see them as working together but not touching each other.

...Like my fic. God, I have to get back to that and figure out how to write myself out of my block...

But never you mind that. Why not instead, let's just say that the thought of Sam and Santana cuddling and commiserating when Rachel's away makes me all happy, too.

See, because it's really about how the ship/characters makes me feel, that makes me adore it. Could it be Santana and Sam competing for Rachel? Definitely. Could it be Santana and Sam working together to woo Rachel? That's fun too. Could it be Rachel being selfish and cheating on both Sam and Santana with the other? Yes, that could be it, too. And maybe it's not even Rachel as the middle or "focus" of the ship, even if them being all happy together is how it could be, too. Maybe it's Santana who's the focus! Maybe it's Sam! Maybe it's just an appreciation for all three!

...

Well now, anon, thank you. It's been awhile for me to feel so free and 'shippy', so thank you. It's nice to remember reasons why I love Samchelpez! :D

Everyone fully expected Sam and Rachel to get together by the time high school ended. Rachel and Sam expected it too. But it never was the right time, and it never happened.

And now, a year later, Sam is knocking on Rachel’s apartment door, finally ready to take that step he wished he had years ago.

“I’ve liked you awhile,” Rachel admits, smilingshyly.

Sam smiles, laughs, and knocks their foreheadstogether. “Good. I have, too.” He leans in. When Rachel kisses him, he sighs, laughsagain, and pushes her back. Hovering over her, his shirt and hers are soon gone.

Rachel feels him out, moving slowly down todivest him of his jeans and briefs. When he hesitates at her bra and underwear,halfway pushed down, Rachel shimmies out herself. “I’m ready,” she promises, andmeans it.

Sam inhales, exhales, and kisses her. He lowers,pausing at her waist. “For this?”

Santana and Sam arered from the cold, rubbing their hands together and on each other’s faces,laughing.

Spinning from his girlfriend’s reach, Sam isthe first one to see her. “Whoah,” he utters, stopping short.

Santana bumps hershoulder into his. “What? Oh!”

Standing down the hall,striped blue and earnest and proud, Rachel’s half-naked, presenting herself tothem. “Want to help clean me off?” she smiles, playing with her braid.

Two pairs of eyesdrink her in.

“…Well,” Santanamanages, stepping forward, pulling her mouth in.

Sam pokedhis head into the bathroom. “What?”

“Well,” Rachel responded in front of what looked to be hisunpacked toiletries on the counter, “There wasn’t any in your things from thehotel. Unless.” She raised her eyebrows, teasing, “You want to smell like me?”

“That wouldn’t beweird,” Sam muttered to himself, then cleared his throat. “It’s, uh, one thatlightens.”

“Your hair?”

Sam shrugged. “Yeah. Lemon juice doesn’t work like it did.”

“I see.” Walking to him, Rachel’s fingers skimmed along hisbangs, cupping his cheek. She smiled. “I’m sure Daddy can pick it up.”

“…make sure the – these aren’tthe right ones!” Holding up the cups Sam had set out, Rachel glared at herhusband. “These are the glass ones.Not the crystal ones!”

“Okay, okay, sheesh!” Holdinghis hands up, Sam shook his head. “I’m sorry. I was wrong. So the right onesare in…?”

“Are in the cupboard under the cutlery drawer.” Swiping past Sam, Rachel harshly yet gently pushedthe rejected glasses into their spot above the dishwasher. “Got them?”

Sam held up the correctglasses. “These?”