It is with great pleasure that I return to Fanfiction after a full year on hiatus.
It's great to be home. Enjoy. :)
"Babe, do you think I should wear the black suit or the blue one?"
"Dani, they both look great on you."
"Santana, that's ridiculously unhelpful."
I fall face forward on the Egyptian cotton that covers our California king bed and moan loudly into the assortment of decorative pillows.
We've been having the same discussion all day.
When Dani first told me she'd been invited to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards, I'd been ecstatic. All I could think about was the beautiful dresses, the wonderful company, and the fan-fucking-tastic booze.
Yet somehow, my girlfriend of three years has managed to suck all of the air out of my fun-balloon.
I had, naively, thought the entire clothing process would be simple. Last month, Versace sent over four of Dani's signature tailored suits in their standard colors. We had quickly eliminated the white and the brown ones, which left the navy pinstripe and the classic black. Dani told me she wanted to mull it over for a few days… I honestly thought she'd chosen weeks ago.
I found out this afternoon while her hair stylist Kurt was straightening her raven locks streaked with indigo that she hadn't even looked at the suits since. I don't know why I was surprised. Most of Dani's wardrobe is thrown together last-minute anyway. Everyone thinks she's a master of the 'hard femme/soft butch' look, when really, she's just lazy.
Obviously, I say that with all the love in the world.
She's sitting as still as she can while Sugar, her make-up artist since her first single dropped, works on her smoky eye. Sugar giggles at our exchange and picks up her eyeliner.
"Dani, c'mon," Sugar chides good-naturedly. "Just wear the black one. Sheila from Vogue said everyone loves you in the classic penguin suit."
Dani sighs for what I believe is the millionth time in the past hour. "I know what everyone else loves, Sugar. I just want to know which suit my beautiful girlfriend loves."
"I love your birthday suit," I replied cheekily after rolling onto my back.
Sugar begins to pack up her trunk while choking down a laugh. Dani pushes herself out of Sugar's chair and stands at the foot of the bed, her arms crossed over an old Cheerios t-shirt and a smirk on her face.
"I think we can work that out after the show, babe," she says with a teasing lilt in her voice. "For now though, I really need your input."
I honestly don't even want to go to the fucking VMAs if she keeps bugging me about this outfit.
"Fine," I grunt before pushing myself to a sitting position. "Wear the black suit, black and white Ferragamo wingtips, Tiffany cufflinks, silver Rolex."
She smiles at Sugar, who calls out her goodbye from the doorway, and crawls across the bed to peck me on the lips.
"See? Was that so hard, Santana?"
I just groan and fall to the bed again, causing her to chuckle at my display of petulance.
This fucking show better kick some serious ass.
When Dani steps out of our limo and onto the red carpet, the paparazzi just about piss themselves.
Ever the gentleman, she takes my hand and helps me out of the car, pulling me into the camera lens' line of sight. The metallic black fabric of my strapless Alexander McQueen gown shimmers under the glow of the photo lamps as we make our trek down the red carpet. The Swarovski studded Louboutins on my feet are already starting to hurt, but I smile through the pain as Dani and I pose for the photographers. The reporters scream at us for statements, but Dani shoots them a grin and passes them by. Almost halfway to the entrance of Radio City Music Hall, Guiliana Rancic from E! spots us and pulls Dani over.
"Hey there, handsome," the reporter jokes as she gestures to Dani's dapper look.
Dani smiles politely and nods. "Great to see you, Guiliana."
"Tell me," Guiliana grins, "What can we expect from you tonight? A little 'Her Love Is My Religion'? Maybe some 'Risky Business'?"
Dani laughs kindly before reaching back to squeeze my hand. "Actually, I'm performing something new tonight."
Now this is a surprise. My brows knit together in confusion as I watch her make small talk with the reporter about her new album.
I'd overheard Dani's agent telling her that her VMA performance was to be 'Her Love Is My Religion' due to its recent inclusion on the new Mortal Instruments movie soundtrack. I didn't know that she made any changes, much less what those changes might be.
"Judging by her face, I'd say your better half didn't know that either," Guiliana remarks, causing me to blush profusely. "Keeping secrets, doll?"
"Not at all," Dani recovers for me smoothly. "Just making surprises. Now, if you'll excuse us, we'd better get inside."
We bid our goodbyes and head into the theatre before any other shows can snag Dani for an interview. As we make our way to our seats, my curiosity finally gets the better of me.
"Babe," I nudge her side gently. "Which song are you doing?"
Dani turns to smirk at me and presses a kiss to the back of my hand. "Patience, sweetheart. Patience."
I frown and cross my arms in a show of frustration.
Sneaky bitch.
If I'm being completely candid, I don't give a rat's ass about half of the acts performing tonight.
We're two hours through the show and Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber, and some ginger guy with a British accent have already come and gone. It's during the presentation of the Best Director Award that Dani's hand leaves mine to tap my knee. I turn my attention to her rich brown eyes and tune out the ridiculous sounding voice of Andy Dick (whoever the fuck keeps inviting this guy to things needs to be fired).
"I have to go get ready," she whispers. I nod and give her a thumbs up.
She stands and straightens her suit jacket before leaning down to peck me on the cheek. We don't normally do PDA, but I can tell by the shaky way her lips meet my skin that she needs a little courage. I lace her fingers with my own and return the kiss on her palm.
"You're going to blow the roof off this motherfucker, babe. Go kick some ass."
Dani wiggles her nose in amusement before she pulls away to go backstage.
I pull out my phone and scroll through my Twitter account to pass the time until my girlfriend goes on, taking time to reply to a few tweets about Dani and I.
My favorite, by far, is the one from Afterellen's Heather Hogan. It reads:
SantanaLopez is looking so SMOKIN' in the McQueen. She and DaniHarper are the lesbian Cinderella and Prince Charming. #VMAGays
I can't help smiling at that. I'll have to file that one away to tell Dani at the after party. I tweet her back immediately.
hhoagie Thank you so much! You'll be the first to know if we decide to make it official! :)
By the time I tuck my phone back into my bra, Rachel Berry is making her way to the stage to introduce Dani. Rachel's peach v-neck Versace dress is simply stunning, her hair in flowing curls. Her eyes meet mine and she winks at me. I flash her a grin and watch as she is bathed in the bright spotlight.
"The next performer is a personal friend of mine. I met her waiting tables at the Starlight Diner on 23rd Street four years ago, and even now, she is the most wonderful artist and person I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. Now, her album Whisper War has gone triple platinum, and her single 'Her Love Is My Religion' has spent ten weeks atop the Billboard 100. The sky is the limit for this young woman, and I can't wait to see the great things life has in store for her. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Dani Harper!"
The lights dim and a beautiful piano riff skips along the air backed by a steady drumbeat. Butterflies kick-box in my stomach as my eyes drift to the main stage. A white beam outlines Dani's silhouette and I can see her take a deep breath before her voice pierces the speakers.
"There's a shop down the street
where they sell plastic rings
for a quarter a piece, I swear it.
Yeah, I know that it's cheap;
not like gold in your dreams.
But I hope that
you'll still wear it."
I don't recognize the melody or the words, which means this must be something Dani was working on in the studio for the past couple of weeks. The entire stage is illuminated to reveal her band and my beautiful girlfriend… And damn it if she isn't wearing that blue fucking suit.
I swear, after all the bullshit we had to go through and she was just going to wear the damn thing anyway, I could go up on that stage and strangle her right now.
Her eyes lock on to mine and I forget that I was even angry in the first place. She smiles and sings to me like we're the only two people in the entire world.
"Yeah, the ink may stain my skin.
And my jeans may all be ripped.
I'm not perfect, but I swear,
I'm perfect for you."
The crowd stands on their feet and claps along with the music. Looks like Dani's agent can go suck it, because this is ten times better than 'Her Love Is My Religion'. When she performed that song, Dani always said she thought of me to portray the emotion needed to make it effective. But there was always a reminder that she didn't write that song for me; she was commissioned for a movie to do it. I've never said anything of that nature to her, but of course, my psychic girlfriend figured it out on her own.
And there's no doubt about it: this song is for me.
"And there's no guarantee
that this'll be easy.
It's not a miracle you need,
believe me.
Yeah, I'm no angel.
I'm just me.
But I will love you endlessly.
Wings aren't what you need.
You need me."
I'm up and clapping and dancing and laughing and I'm sure I look an absolute fucking mess. I can't find it in myself to care, though. Dani's working the crowd like a pro, but she never takes her eyes off me once. I can hear the love in her voice as she belts out the notes, and I'm so proud of her that I could just melt into a fucking puddle.
"There's a house on the hill
with a view of the town,
and I know how you adore it.
So I'll work every day,
through the sun and the rain,
until I can afford it."
Behind her, there's a break in the graphic art on the projector screen to reveal a picture of our villa in Los Angeles. Tears spring into my eyes for two reasons:
1. Dani promised me that house when I picked it out of a magazine four years ago. Before she was even signed to Columbia Records; before she was anything more than a waitress singing at a twenty-four hour diner, she was willing to do anything to make me happy.
2. I know, deep down, that Dani only bought the property for me. She always says that she just loves the pool and the movie room, but I suspect she'd have been content even if we'd decided to stay in Bushwick with Rachel and Kurt.
"And there's no guarantee
that this'll be easy. (This'll be easy.)
It's not a miracle you need,
believe me. (Don't you believe me?)
Yeah, I'm no angel.
I'm just me.
But I will love you endlessly.
Wings aren't what you need.
You need me. (You know you need me.)"
All of the other instruments are suddenly quiet, and the piano continues the riff that it held in the beginning of the song. Dani, however, begins moving toward the edge of the stage and down the short staircase toward me. My heart is threatening to beat its way out of my chest as the spotlight follows her. She makes her way up the aisle to my seat and, in front of everyone in the theatre, drops down on one knee.
"There's a shop down the street
where they sell plastic rings
for a quarter a piece, I swear it.
Yeah, I know that it's cheap;
not like gold in your dreams.
But I hope that
you'll still wear it."
Just when I think it can't get any better, Dani reaches into her suit pocket and tugs out a ring box. My mascara stings my eyes like a motherfucker, but I don't let myself blink. If this is a dream, I don't want to wake up.
The projector screen onstage now reads:
WILL YOU MARRY ME?
Holy shit.
I look down at the love of my life, her brown eyes brimming with tears just like my own. I can't even begin to describe what I'm feeling when she pries open the lid to reveal an absolutely stunning Neil Lane princess cut engagement ring. Words are caught in my throat as I sniffle and sob with elation, but I finally manage to get it out.
"Yes! Yes, baby, yes!"
Dani jumps up and throws her arms around my waist, spinning me around as the crowd goes bat-shit wild around us. She buries her face in my hair and whispers so softly I almost miss it.
"I can't wait to have 'we just got engaged' sex."
Fuck yeah.
As always, I own nothing.
And in the spirit of my return, the first reviewer to tell me who sings Dani's song will receive the next chapter before I post it. :)
Stay tuned!
