Author's note: well, I'm back with another story in my series as some of you thought I was mean for leaving off where I did, LOL. Hope you all enjoy this one too, any feedback is very welcome! Updates are going to be slower than previously, maybe once or twice a week as I don't have a lot of time to write at the moment. Anyway, that said, here goes...
Chapter One: Surprises
Quinn Fabray loved most things about living in New York City. She was fascinated by the architecture of the historic buildings, and she adored the culture of music, art and theater. She enjoyed her classes at Columbia University, even though her junior year workload was proving to be ever more demanding - she thrived on the intellectual stimulation of learning. She even loved the tiny, rundown studio apartment she shared with her girlfriend Santana, despite the crazy neighbors and the non too inspiring view of a brick wall outside their windows. But the one thing Quinn could not stand about New York, which forcibly came to mind as she climbed the steps from the subway, wrapping her scarf more tightly around her ears to stave off the howling wind and stepping absently into a slushy, icy puddle, was the early winter weather... Of course, she'd grown up in Ohio and she'd been no fan of the weather there either she reminded herself as it began to rain and she fumbled in her bag to find her umbrella.
As a rule, Quinn usually walked the fifteen blocks from the Columbia campus back to her apartment. She liked the exercise, and viewed the subway as an unnecessary expense, but she'd treated herself for once because the weather was particularly frightful, and because today was her twenty-first birthday.
In most respects, the day had been a particularly ordinary Wednesday. A few friends had taken her for cake and coffee at lunchtime, and some of her old high school friends had texted or emailed birthday wishes, but otherwise it had been a day of classes and mid-term preparation. The highlight of her day had been Santana making her breakfast in bed, and despite Quinn's apprehension regarding her culinary skills, only burning the bacon at the edges. After breakfast, Santana had tried her hardest to convince her girlfriend to blow off classes and spend the morning together in bed, and even though Quinn's body was screaming at her to agree, her academic diligence wouldn't allow her to say yes. So she'd headed off to class trying not to pout and sulk about the fact that she wouldn't get to see her girlfriend again until eleven o'clock that night. Santana hadn't been able to find anyone to switch shifts with her at the Spotlight Diner where she worked part time as a waitress, so Quinn would be heading home to an empty apartment. Her birthday celebrations would have to wait until the weekend, when Santana had arranged dinner and drinks with their friends.
The elevator was out of order as usual so Quinn traipsed wearily up the stairs, her shoes squelching with every step. She paused at the end of the corridor to scratch the ears of her neighbor's cat, who had once again escaped from his overbearing owner. Quinn didn't blame him in the slightest. Balancing her books precariously against her thigh, Quinn fumbled with the locks on the apartment door. She finally managed to get the door open and drop her books onto the kitchen counter where they landed with a dull thud. The apartment was dark, as Santana had listened to her for once and closed the curtains before leaving for school, something Quinn was always begging her to do in order to keep the heat in. Quinn left the door to the hallway ajar to let a sliver of light into the room as she shrugged out of her coat and scarf before turning around to flip the light switch.
"Surprise!" screamed about a half dozen voices in unison, causing Quinn's heart to skip and then begin pounding rapidly in her chest. Santana bounced over to her shocked girlfriend and planted a hot, wet, verging on inappropriate kiss on her shock-parted lips. When Quinn finally managed to extricate herself from Santana's excited embrace, feeling her cheeks flush but unable to stop the grin from spreading across her features, she looked around in amazement at her friends.
Kurt, Blaine, and Rachel beamed at her from the living area. Sam, who had moved to New York after graduation to try his luck as a model and had been moderately successful in his attempt, bounded across the room to give her a hug, and Artie, who was in his sophomore year of film school grinned at her and waved from his spot by the window. Although he and Quinn hadn't stayed closely in touch since high school, Quinn would always be grateful to Artie for the support he gave her during her spell in a wheelchair after her car accident. Quinn wondered briefly how they'd managed to get Artie up to the apartment in his wheelchair with the elevator broken down, but as her friends gathered around to wish her a happy birthday she forgot all about it.
Her friends showered her with balloons, flowers, and gifts before turning up the stereo and pushing the couch against the wall to create a small dance floor. Santana handed Quinn a glass of wine and bounced excitedly on her heels.
"Were you really surprised?" she asked, and Quinn felt a rush of love at her girlfriend's childish enthusiasm. She slid her free arm around Santana's waist and leant her head into the crook of her shoulder contentedly.
"I was," she confirmed with a low chuckle. "I spoke to Rachel and Kurt earlier and they didn't let anything slip... I wouldn't have thought they'd have it in them to keep a secret."
Then it was Santana's turn to laugh. "I may have intimated that I couldn't be held responsible for my actions if they let you find out," she admitted.
"Hmm," Quinn murmured, placing her glass on the kitchen counter so that she could loop both arms around her girlfriend and meet her gaze. "I'm not sure how much effect that would have these days, you're not as scary as you used to be. I think you're mellowing in your old age."
Santana smacked the grinning blonde in the arm and pouted. "One, I can still be a bad ass when I want to be," she said, as Quinn tried and failed to keep a straight face, "and two, I'm four months younger than you, so less of the old, thank you!"
Quinn raised an eyebrow and smirked.
"Still a bad ass, huh?" she teased. Then she leaned in to whisper in Santana's ear so that her friends couldn't overhear. "Maybe you can channel your inner bad ass later tonight when we're alone... I know I never admitted it but it really used to turn me on in high school when Snixxx made an appearance." As she pulled back to look into Santana's eyes, she felt a little thrill at the way the brunette's cheeks were flushed. She knew that Santana was fighting the urge to kick their friends out immediately. "Dance with me?" she commanded, putting extra sway into her walk as she led Santana to join the rest of their friends who were jumping around to the beat and singing loudly, reminiscent of the way they'd fooled around back in glee club. As she rocked her hips against Santana's, Quinn knew she was being a tease, but she figured she could get away with it as it was her birthday.
After about twenty minutes of frenetic dancing, Quinn heard a hammering on the apartment door, and she groaned as she hurried to turn down the music, wondering which of her neighbors was about to complain. Santana and their friends all suddenly seemed to find themselves engrossed in conversation or busy pouring drinks so it was left to Quinn to answer the door. Stomping across the apartment, Quinn frowned at the unfairness. She and Santana were always... well, mostly... quiet and considerate neighbors, and the one time they made a little bit of noise someone wanted to shut them down. She put on her best HBIC glare as she reached to open the door, but her expression changed in an instant when she saw who was on the other side of the door.
"Happy birthday, Quinn!" Beth yelled happily, as she clung to Shelby's hand. "Mommy said you were having a party with cake and presents, and I could have cake if I ate my dinner, and I did eat it."
"Happy birthday," Shelby said as she greeted Quinn with a one-armed hug. "Santana said we should stop by, I hope that's okay?"
Quinn stepped aside to usher them into the apartment eagerly.
"Of course it's okay," she replied, beaming at the suddenly shy little girl who had noticed all the unfamiliar adults and had lost her confidence. She knelt down to pick Beth up and hold her protectively against her hip. "Beth, these are my friends... You know Santana, and you've met Rachel before. And these guys are Sam, Blaine, Kurt, and Artie."
Beth smiled shyly and buried her head against Quinn's shoulder. Shelby reached out to stroke her daughter's back soothingly as she grinned apologetically at Quinn's friends.
"Give her a few minutes and she'll be fine," she suggested. Quinn saw Shelby's gaze pause on Rachel and it didn't escape her notice when Rachel looked away uncomfortably. Quinn couldn't help but feel bad for her friend. She knew that it was still awkward and difficult for Rachel to be around her birth mother, especially watching her being so devoted to Beth, and she was grateful to Rachel for putting her discomfort aside and allowing Quinn the opportunity to spend her birthday with everyone she loved.
"Is this a new dress?" Quinn asked the little girl in her arms, smoothing the red taffeta skirt gently. Beth nodded and Quinn smiled at her affectionately. "I thought so. It's very pretty. And red is Santana's favorite color. I bet she wishes she had a dress this pretty."
"I do," Santana agreed, sidling up to Quinn and slipping an arm around her girlfriend's waist. "Hey, B, you wanna see the cake I got for Quinn?" She'd said the magic words. Instantly, Beth's shyness dissipated and she held her arms out to Santana. "It's a surprise though so we can't let Quinn see until it's time to blow out the candles. And she's really old now so there's going to be a lot of candles. She might need you to help her blow them out."
Quinn watched as Santana balanced Beth on her hip and carried her into the bedroom area of the tiny apartment. For lack of anywhere more suitable, it appeared Santana had placed the cake box on her nightstand, and she lifted the lid for Beth to peek inside. Watching Santana with the four year old only made Quinn love her girlfriend even more. In the five months since she'd introduced them, Quinn had watched their relationship blossom. Beth adored Santana, and Quinn knew the feeling was mutual. She couldn't help but imagine how it would be if they had a little girl of their own in the future. That thought used to terrify her but lately Quinn found herself daydreaming about the future more and more regularly.
Aware that Shelby was still standing uncertainly in the kitchen, Quinn busied herself offering the older woman a drink, and unwrapping the gift Shelby offered her - a beautiful silk scarf with a pattern of tiny olive green hearts. Sam and Blaine came over to talk to them, and engaged Shelby in conversation whilst Kurt kept Rachel occupied, allowing Santana and Quinn to dance with Beth. Beth soon forgot her shyness and instead began to revel in the fact that she had a roomful of adults who were captivated by her charm. All in all, Quinn felt that her birthday was pretty much perfect.
Santana brought out the cake, which was a pale lemon color and covered in delicate sugar daisies, and as Santana had promised, Quinn let Beth help her blow out the candles. She didn't even blush when Santana kissed her passionately as all their friends cheered.
Eventually, the party drew to a close. Shelby gathered up Beth who'd fallen asleep on Quinn and Santana's bed when the sugar crash from her two slices of birthday cake had hit, and their friends left en masse, Blaine and Sam preparing to carry Artie down the stairs as Kurt and Rachel brought his wheelchair. Quinn hugged them all and thanked them for coming, her eyes shining with emotion, before she closed the door and looked around wearily but happily at the messy apartment and her beautiful girlfriend who was tossing paper plates into a trash bag.
"Hey you," she murmured, sidling up to Santana and wrapping her arms around her from behind. She planted a kiss against Santana's pulse point and her girlfriend hummed appreciatively. "Why don't you leave the cleaning up until tomorrow?" Quinn suggested, trying to pull Santana towards their bed, but the brunette chuckled as she wriggled out of the embrace.
"Q, you know I hate all the domestic stuff, but this place looks like a bomb's gone off and I know that's got to be driving you crazy," Santana teased. "Think of this as part of your birthday present."
"I can think of something I'd like more,"Quinn said hopefully and Santana smirked at her.
"All in good time," she said, putting down the trash bag and taking Quinn's hands in hers. "I have big plans for you tonight." She brushed a soft kiss across Quinn's lips but pulled back as Quinn tried to deepen their connection.
"Patience," she chastised gently. "Why don't you go take a bath while I clean up, and then I'm all yours."
"You promise?" Quinn murmured, as Santana's fingers ghosted across her cheek and over her jaw.
"Cross my heart,"agreed Santana.
Quinn allowed her girlfriend to lead her into the bathroom and turn on the faucet. She undressed as Santana lit the candles on the window sill before casting her eyes hungrily over Quinn's figure. Quinn giggled at Santana's audible groan as she backed out of the doorway reluctantly to finish her clean up operation.
Twenty minutes later, Santana returned, carrying two glasses of champagne, and wearing a grape colored camisole and panties set that left little to the imagination. Quinn cast her gaze appreciatively over Santana's shapely figure as the brunette knelt at the side of the tub.
"As promised," she whispered, her lips brushing against Quinn's ear. "The clean up's all done, so I'm all yours. Whatever you want to do with me..."
"I can think of a few things," Quinn said, turning her head to capture Santana's mouth in a passionate kiss. Santana's left hand threaded into her hair, holding her close, as her right hand stroked its way down Quinn's wet, soapy arm to clasp her hand tightly.
"Let's get you out of the water before it gets cold," murmured Santana between kisses.
Quinn allowed Santana to help her stand up and her girlfriend wrapped a warm towel around her body, rubbing her hands vigorously up and down Quinn's sides to dry her off. Quinn felt a flood of desire at the feeling of Santana's hands on her body, even through the fluffy fabric of the towel, and she tried to pull her closer. Santana shook her head and danced backwards, keeping Quinn at arms length. She seemed content to take her time, and that just made Quinn want her even more.
"Santana!" she whined, as Santana took her hands and led her out of the bathroom. "I want you."
Santana chuckled. "And you can have me," she promised, her dark eyes sparkling in amusement. "After I give you your gift."
"You're the only thing I want to unwrap," pleaded Quinn and Santana snickered.
"That's bad, Q," she said, shaking her head softly. "Now, close your eyes and hold out your hand." Quinn's eyes narrowed warily, as she adjusted the towel that was wrapped around her torso.
"Why?" she demanded.
"So I can give you your gift," Santana said rolling her eyes and groaning melodramatically. "It's a surprise."
"I don't like surprises," Quinn grumbled, as Santana pushed at her shoulders until she sat down on the bed, before kneeling down in front of her.
"Yes you do, " countered Santana. "You say you don't, but you're all talk, Fabray. You loved when I surprised you with our trip to San Antonio, and you had a good time at the party tonight. And, do I have to remind you how much you enjoyed the surprising way I woke you up last Saturday?"
Quinn couldn't help but shiver in pleasure as the memory of waking up tingling from head to toe, with Santana's silky hair tickling her legs as her tongue did amazing things between her thighs. She wanted nothing more than to relive those sensations once again so she obediently closed her eyes and held out her right palm.
"Keep your eyes closed," murmured Santana.
"Why?" Quinn asked again, her voice less demanding and more curious this time.
"Because I have something I want to say before you see what I got you," Santana explained, her voice trembling slightly. "I love you, so much, and every morning I wake up next to you I'm so... astounded... that I could get so lucky."
"I love you too," Quinn said softly. "And I'm the lucky one." Santana touched her right index finger to Quinn's lips to quieten her. Quinn moaned softly at the tingles the simple touch sent racing down her spine.
"Ssh, let me finish," Santana murmured, her voice barely more than a whisper. "I want to wake up next to you every day for the rest of my life..."
"You will," Quinn interjected and Santana chuckled.
"Seriously, Q, do I have to gag you until I finish talking?" she teased, stroking tiny circles on the inside of Quinn's knee with the fingertips of her left hand.
Quinn shook her head. "I'll be quiet, I promise," she said, planting a tiny kiss on the pad of Santana's finger that was still pressed against her lips.
"Six months ago you made me the happiest girl in the world," Santana said quietly. "I never thought you'd actually say yes to marrying me, but you did. And I know that we decided to keep it to ourselves because of the timing and the questions and pressure it would cause, and I'm okay with that, really. But that doesn't mean I didn't want to do this the right way. I just... I wanted to wait until the perfect moment to do this." Quinn heard her take a deep, shaky breath. Seconds later she felt a small velvet box being pressed into her hand. "Open your eyes, Q," Santana instructed.