The first person Santana sees when she gets over the initial shock of a whole room full of people shouting and cheering at her is Abuela. Their eyes meet from across the room and Santana actually loses her breath, because there is her abuelita, standing a head shorter than Brittany's Grandma Fanny but smiling just as wide, her eyes sparkling with tears. Brittany squeezes their clasped hands and begins to pull Santana into the room, but Santana can't look away. Her abuela looks so proud.
"Te amo, mi corazon," her abuela mouths, pressing her hand over her heart as if she were trying to keep it from bursting from her chest. Santana swipes quickly at her own tears before finally looking around the remainder of the room. The event space is chock full of their friends and family, all of them on their feet and clapping and whooping raucously as their parents meet them at the entryway and lead them to a table at the front of the room. Before either Santana or Brittany have time to process much of anything, Maribel is thrusting champagne flutes into their open hands and Julio is clanking his own glass with a fork to get the attention of the room.
"First of all," he calls out when the ruckus finally settles, "thank you all for coming tonight to celebrate the engagement of our beautiful daughters. Although I actually think Santana may be more excited about the breadsticks than the ring on her own finger, but at least she's trying to put on a brave face. Right, niña?" he jokes, smiling even broader as Santana ducks her head in embarrassment and Brittany kisses her cheek. "Jokes aside, though, I want to thank Susan and Marshall for raising such a wonderful girl. Brittany, we love you so much. Maribel and I couldn't be happier to have such an intelligent, kind, and caring young woman joining our family. The love you have for our daughter, and have had for many years now, is undeniable and we know Santana has truly found her soulmate. If everyone could raise their glasses, I'd like to propose a toast." Nearly fifty champagne flutes raise into the air and Santana feels a chill run down her spine. "To Brittany and Santana. Congratulations to you both, we're so proud of you, girls."
"Here, here!" Puck shouts, following it up with a loud wolf whistle as a chorus of "cheers!" echo around the room and glasses clang together.
Santana mouths a 'thank you' to her father before tapping her glass with Brittany's, kissing her lips and knocking back the entire glass in a few quick gulps.
"I love you," Brittany mumbles, tucking her spare hand into Santana's back pocket and leaning her head onto Santana's shoulder. "And don't worry, I know you love that bling on your finger more than the breadsticks."
"And I love you more than both combined times a billion," Santana adds, pressing a kiss to Brittany's forehead and smiling so widely she fears her face might freeze that way.
"Alright, alright you two, you've got a room full of people here for you. Save the making out for the bedroom. Preferably mine." Puck smirks, and gets met with a thwack on the head from Mercedes.
"Her grandmother is here." Mercedes hisses, and Santana shoots her a grateful look. She definitely knows who the person is that she'll ask to stand up beside her when she marries Brittany, that singular hardcore friend who is done more for the two of them than either can even express her gratitude for.
"Thanks, 'Cedes." Santana nods, playing with her fiancée's fingers as Brittany stops a waitress passing champagne glasses to pass a fresh one to Santana, and take another for herself.
"While you're all here." Brittany's voice cuts through the tittering of their guests, and everyone turns their attention back to the happy couple. "I'd also like to say a few things on behalf of both of us, if it's okay with you, honey."
"Of course." Santana feels those butterflies fluttering inside of her belly, making her laugh, because of Brittany speaking for both of them, as the Pierces, or the Pierce-Lopezes, or whatever name it is that they decide upon (Santana would take Brittany's name in an instant, but she's pretty sure Britt will want to hyphenate).
"We'd just like to thank you all for this, especially our parents, for throwing a party like this on such short notice. Santana and I, we spent a year overseas, on dozens of beaches in Hawaii, and then another six months traveling the country and making our professional dreams happen, but Lima, and all of you, you're home to us, and there's no one in the world we'd rather share the beginning of our future together with." Brittany stops her speech, unable to help herself from pressing another kiss to Santana's cheek. "Santana got to propose to me, so now it's kind of my turn to tell you all how I feel-"
"Britt-"
"Nope, babe, I get to tell everyone we know how awesome you are, okay?"
"Fine." Santana rolls her eyes, her cheeks heating up, since she still has a hard time with anyone saying nice things about her.
"Good. Now that we've settled that." Brittany grins, and there's a tittering of laughter among their guests. "I think I knew that I was going to marry Santana from the first time I met her. There was just something in her eyes that called out to me, that told me she was the one. I know people say that, and it always sounds super cheesy, but I'm telling you, it's true. I fell in love with this good hearted, beautiful girl, before I even knew what love is, and now I'm pretty sure I'm the luckiest person in the world, that I'll get to call the woman she has become my wife. It wasn't easy to get to where we are today, but I am so, so hopelessly in love with this gorgeous lady here-"
"Brittany-"
"Just telling the truth, San." Brittany beams, and they both can see that Abuela has started to cry, and their moms aren't that far behind her. "Anyway, before my fiancée bursts into flames-"
"We've seen her overalls, it's already happened." Puck interrupts again, and earns another smack.
"The overalls are hot, don't you dare tease her for them." Brittany glares. "So as I was saying, thank you all for your love and support, we couldn't be more grateful for it. So this toast is for all of you, but mostly for Santana, because I love you, Santana Lopez, and you have made me the happiest woman in the world."
"That's right, bitches!" A familiar voice cuts through the room, and both Brittany and Santana turn around, shocked that of all people, Sugar Motta has managed to show up. "I get back to Lima just in time to hear that you two are getting hitched? It's about time!"
"Sugar?!" Brittany blurts, her jaw dropping in surprise at the sight of their old classmate strolling into the place like she owned it, tossing her coat into the arms of Mr. Schue as she struts by and pulling both of them into a tight hug.
"I am so happy I want to cry," she shrieks, her voice so high-pitched and strained Santana can barely make out the words. "Ugh, you two I swear. It's like a fairy tale! When is the wedding? Where? Can I be the flower girl? I need to know everything."
"Erm," Santana mumbles, her eyes flitting awkwardly to Brittany as Sugar plants a wet kiss to both of their cheeks one after the other. They hadn't talked at all about wedding plans.
"We really haven't thought about it yet," starts Brittany, extricating herself and holding Sugar at arm's length. "Where have you been? Tina said something about camels?"
"First of all, wanky-"
"Not cameltoe, Santana, actual camels," Sugar corrects, rolling her eyes dramatically. "And yes, I was in Timbuktu with my father. The Sahara is lovely this time of year, you should really make the visit some day."
"Well, anyways," Brittany calls, clearing her throat and getting the attention back from the crowd of guests but lacing together the fingers of one hand with Santana's and the other with Sugar. "Thank you all for coming, it means the world to us both."
"Here, here!" The chorus of voices and clinking raised glasses crescendos around the room and Santana can't help but kiss Brittany long and deep, even with everyone watching. There's a loud wolf-whistle she knows can only be Puck and her smile cracks so wide the kiss breaks, giddy laughter bubbling deep from her throat. When she opens her eyes, Brittany's face is only an inch away and the entire room falls away. Brittany brings a hand to Santana's face, her thumb brushing tears Santana didn't realize she was crying and they just stare at each other. She's beautiful, she's innocent, she's everything that's good in this miserable stinking world.
"I can't wait to marry you," Santana urges, her voice low and deep. "I don't care if we do it in the middle of Central Park in my damn overalls, I just can't wait to be yours. Forever."
"Proudly so," Brittany beams, bouncing up in place with elation before wrapping Santana tight and lifting her clear off the ground.
"Santana, don't you dare even joke about wearing those God-forsaken overalls to a wedding,dios mío," her mother chides, clucking her tongue at them both. "I have a thousand ideas for the entire day, but let's save it for later. Tonight we want you to relax and enjoy your last night in Lima with your friends. Congratulations, mijas." And with one last kiss pressed to each of their cheeks, Brittany pulls Santana out onto the dance floor for their first dance as fiances.
"You two are just going to dance without me?" Sugar asks, hip checking Santana, who simply rolls her eyes. "Troubletones for life, bitches. So what's the deal, am I in the wedding, or what?"
"Uh, Sugar, we really haven't talked about any of that yet." Brittany senses Santana getting a little squirmy, as Sugar worms her way in between them, and they have to widen the space there.
"Is this a matter of money? Because I'm happy to finance the wedding, and the honeymoon, if need be."
"You're not coming on our honeymoon, Richie Bitch." The moniker is far more affectionate, coming from Santana, than it sounds. "And our parents will probably never forgive me for saying this, but we don't want you to pay for our wedding. I promise, you'll get a nice shiny invite in the mail, just text me your address."
"But what about-"
"Hey, Sugar!" Mercedes grabs her by the arm, and both Brittany and Santana shoot grateful looks in her direction. "Wanna sing backup for me? I'm about to dedicate a song to these two."
"Sugar Valentina Motta does not sing backup." Sugar rolls her eyes, much in the same way Santana does, Brittany thinks, and she's just about to tell Mercedes that Sugar can sing lead, for all she cares, when Mercedes interjects again.
"If you come up with me, I'll let you come on stage at the concert of your choosing when I go back on tour."
"Me? On a real stage? Okay, fine. But don't hog the mic."
"She's the maid of honor." Santana blurts, as soon as their two former Troubletones group mates are out of ear shot.
"Sugar?" Brittany gasps, eyes widening.
"Oh, God no, she'll probably show up in a white dress and try to sing our vows for us. I maybe, kind of have a soft spot for her, but I haven't gone insane." Santana laughs, stealing another kiss from Brittany. "I mean Mercedes. She's been a really good friend to us."
"Yeah, she has. I also, kind of maybe already asked Mike to be my best man."
"I think that's kind of perfect then. I'd like a small wedding, you know, not every member of the Glee club dancing down the aisle and stuff. Mike and Mercedes would be nice."
"Hi everyone, I'm Mercedes Jones-"
"And I'm Sugar Motta."
"Sugar, backup." Brittany and Santana look to the stage just in time to see Mercedes pushing Sugar back. "I've been lucky enough to spend a lot of time with these girls on tour. A few years ago, I got to sing up on stage to them when they'd just begun dating, and now, I feel the same way I did back then. I've never seen two people more in love than Brittany and Santana."
"Holla!" Sugar shouts, bouncing on her toes and clapping.
"This one's for you guys."
"Puck, if you please," Mercedes nods, grabbing the microphone as Puck picks up his guitar and joins her at the front of the room. As he begins to pluck the opening riff to the song, Brittany smiles wide and presses her nose into Santana's redding face before wrapping one arm around Santana's waist and pulling her hand into perfect ballroom dance position. They kiss softly as Mercedes speaks. "I got to know Brittany and Santana pretty well while we were touring the country this past summer. Santana, you may think I couldn't hear you singing this song to Brittany every few nights when you thought I was asleep in the next bed, but you're not as sly as you'd like to think. Congratulations, y'all."
Santana's eyes fill with tears as Mercedes begins to sing and Brittany leads her in curlicues around the makeshift dance floor. "You look so wonderful in your dress, I love your hair like that. The way it falls on the side of your neck, down your shoulders and back. We are surrounded by all of these lies and people that talk too much. You've got the kind of look in your eyes as if no one knows anything but us."
Santana feels giddily drunk, a mixture of the champagne, the circles Brittany is leading them in and the beaming stars that shine from Brittany's gaze. Suddenly they're the only two in the room and Brittany presses their foreheads together as they move as one. She nearly melts into the floor when Brittany starts to sing softly in her just-for-Santana voice. "Should this be the last thing that I see, I want you to know its enough for me. 'Cause all that you are is all that I'll ever need."
"So in love," they sing together to each other, not once breaking eye contact and existing solely in their own world, the world they built together, the world at one time Santana was so scared to exist in but now never wants to leave. When Brittany senses Santana begin to get dizzy, she slows their movements and wraps both arms around Santana's back, her hands rubbing soothing circles as she leans forward to kiss Santana's nose and then her lips.
This time Santana picks up the second chorus as she links her hands up around Brittany's neck. "You look so beautiful in this light, your silhouette over me. The way it brings out the blue in your eyes, it's the Tenerife Sea. And all of the voices surrounding us here, they just fade out when you take a breath."
"I love you," Brittany mumbles, taking Santana's top lip between her own and running her tongue along its length.
Mercedes' soulful voice is liquid as the words twist and turn around them. "I'm so in love, so in love. So in love, love, love, love."
All through the song, Brittany and Santana are just wrapped up entirely in each other, trading soft kisses, brushing noses, whispering more I love you'd. To everyone that watches, it's apparent just how in love they are, just how much they're meant to spend the rest of their lives together. It's a tap on Brittany's shoulder, sometime after Puck has begun singing All That I'm Asking For that breaks them from their reverie, and when they snap back the reality, there are abuela and Grandma Fanny, waiting for them to acknowledge their presence.
"Alma didn't want to interrupt you, but I told her if we were waiting for you two to notice someone else in the room but us, we'd kick the bucket before it happened."
"Grandma!" Brittany laughs, when Santana's mouth drops open, though why she hasn't yet come to expect these types of remarks from Brittany's grandmother, she's unsure. "Stop talking about dying. And we would have noticed you…eventually."
"Sure, six hours later maybe, like the time you two locked yourself in my attic and I could-"
"Anyway." Santana quickly cuts her off, cheeks burning, especially because her abuelita is right there. "What is it we can do for you?"
"Well, nieta, I know it's not traditional…but since maybe we're creating new kinds of traditions here, I was hoping I could borrow Brittany from you for a bit. I've heard she's the best dancer around."
"And I'm getting stuck with you, kiddo." Fanny elbows Santana under the ribs, taking Santana's hand between both of hers.
"Grandma Fanny, I thought I was your favorite. Didn't you tell me that you liked me better than Brittany?"
"Shh, quiet, you, come dance with me."
Fanny pulls Sanana away from Brittany, and Brittany blows a kiss to her fiancee, laughing as she does, before turning to Alma. Santana's grandmother is nervous, it's fairly obvious, but like only she is capable of, Brittany gives her a disarming smile.
"Did my grandma trick you into coming over here to dance with us?" Brittany asks quietly, feeling butterflies in her stomach, even though everything between them had been put to rest.
"No, no. I was actually the one who asked her to come with me, distract my granddaughter a bit. I know you're leaving in the morning, so I figured a dance was as much private time as we'd get before then." Abuela slowly moves closer to Brittany, taking both of her hands as Rachel joins Puck in singing Thank You For Being a Friend (because apparently they couldn't think of anything better than The Golden Girls theme song for a grandmother/granddaughter dance). "Brittany, I just really wanted to thank you."