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Thinking Out Loud

Santana,

It's Valentine's Day again, our forty seventh celebrated together to be exact. Every year that passes we get older and slightly frailer, but that won't stop me from trying to sweep you off your feet once more.

No matter how many years have passed you still make me smile every single day. I'm as much in love with you now as I was when I first fell for you when we were twenty three.

It had been five years since we last saw each other. We had forged some form of friendship at the end of high school, but when I left for New York we lost all contact, well until that fateful day.

I always started my day with a coffee to go and that day was no different from any other. I got my coffee order and as I reached for a stirrer my hand accidentally collided with somebody else's. As I went to apologize I couldn't believe that I was seeing a face that I hadn't seen in such a long time.

You looked the same as you did in high school, just slightly older and even more beautiful if that was possible. You left me stranded for words, something you had no problem with as you greeted me by my last name.

You asked me to share a coffee with you, but I was heading to rehearsals and couldn't stay, that's when you asked to catch up over dinner instead. We met at a small restaurant that night and caught up on what had happened since we last saw each other.

You told me how you had had a change of heart and decided to study law at NYU. You had been in the city for three years, but this was the first time we had ever crossed paths. We had fun together, it wasn't a date, but a few weeks later you asked me out to dinner again and this time you did intend it to be a date.

We had a turbulent relationship during high school, but the Santana I met in the coffee shop seemed a different person. This was reaffirmed the more time we spent together and after each and every date my love for you grew.

It was our seconds Valentine's Day together and I had a surprise planned for you. We climbed the fire escape up to the roof and I guided you over to where I had set up a picnic blanket on the floor. We ate, we drank and then we laid together on the blanket. You wrapped your arms around me as I rested my head on your chest, I could hear your heart beating as we watched the stars above us.

We were silent for a while just watching the stars and enjoying being in each other arms, it was peaceful. I didn't want to be anywhere else other than in your arms. It was in that moment that I first realized that I was in love with you.

Even now I fall in love with you again every single day, after forty seven years you still find spontaneous ways to surprise me. It could be something as simple as breakfast in bed, but it still makes my heart melt.

All in all I would say that we have a strong relationship. It was hard at times when I was working on a show and you were constantly studying and we barely got to see each other, but we managed to work through it and stay together.

I missed those old days where I would grace the Broadway stage with a captivated audience. Those crowds are long gone now and they may longer know my name. I also might be older now, my hair maybe grey and my memories may be harder to remember, but that doesn't matter to you.

You still love me the same way you did back then. You loved me as Rachel Berry the aspiring star, Rachel Berry the Broadway legend and Rachel Berry-Lopez the wife and mother.

Even though physically we've grown older, your soul hasn't. Still to this day you have the essence of the headstrong cheerleader you were in high school. That's not a bad thing though, especially since you use it in a different way now.

You used it to protect our children, to fight for what was right and I couldn't be prouder of you for that. The children no longer need protecting, but that doesn't mean you stop caring for them any less, your weekly phone calls prove that.

You've always had so much love to give and even though in the past you have had trouble expressing it, you've never made me feel unloved. All you have to do is send me one of your smiles and I know how much you love me. I'm talking about one of your genuine smiles and not that mischievous smirk that used to grace your face when you had some scheme in your head.

Although some of your schemes that involved that smirk were rather enjoyable. I'll always treasure those memories forever not only in my mind but in my heart too.

When I think about our time together and how we came back into each other lives I wonder if it was a part of a plan. If someone higher up thought that we were meant to be and brought us back together again after years apart. Who knows, maybe there was another reason than just sure coincidence that we were both in that coffee shop at the same time on the same day.

If that is the case then I am thankful. I'm thankful anyway for having you in my life for all of these years. It's not been easy but is anything really easy? We've had our share of arguments and falling outs but no matter what, we always make up and move on afterwards.

There are lots of romantic stories out there, expressing how people fall in love in strange and mysterious ways. but our story started with a simple touch of a hand. That's where our story started and I hope that's where it finishes, with us together.

In honor of the moment I first realized that I was in love with you, on this Valentines Day I have a surprise for you. I'm outside waiting for you underneath the stars.

Your loving wife,

Rachel.

A/N Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Song: Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran.

Requested by Beebeeborez.