Evening of December 27th
Santana found herself back at the Berry front door at quarter to seven that evening, having enjoyed a pretty stellar afternoon with her blonde friend. Admittedly, she was pretty nervous to go inside, not really sure what to do or say when she saw Rachel. She'd been wondering how exactly one apologizes for missing a romantic social cue without de-romanticizing it, and had wound up without a solid plan of action. If it weren't so cold outside, Santana would have waited a little bit outside before going in, but the wind was pretty chilly so she turned the knob and stepped into a very dark home.
It was strange, normally the Berry household had at least one light on, especially this early on in the night, yet it was pitch black inside. "Rachel?" she called out uneasily, not a big fan of being alone in the dark. Not that Santana Lopez was scared of the dark; she was used to it that time of the year with how often she'd be alone at her home, but she always left one light on in the house to deter burglars or whatever. Having no lights on, at least from what she could tell from the foyer, was a bit unnerving and had her on edge. Rachel had said that no one would be home until six-thirty, so there was a chance that none of the Berrys were home at fifteen minutes after the fact, but at the same time, if they weren't home, who was?
As quietly as she could manage, Santana took off her boots and coat and crept through the kitchen and to the living room door-way. Oddly enough, there was a single candle lit, but it was clearly a piece of shit candle, because it barely cast any light. Frowning, she approached the coffee table it sat upon and noticed a small post-it note. What the fuck? She thought, as she picked it up and used the ridiculously dim light to read it.
Hello Santana! It seems as if the power line leading to our house has been damaged, and we've lost power. Unfortunate, I know, seeing as we'd planned for a movie night. Thankfully, we have plenty of candles and blankets, and while my fathers are out of town in hopes of finding a generator, I'll be in the upstairs bathroom arranging supplies and doing a candle-count. It's where we keep them all, so if you could meet me up there, that would be wonderful! Thank you! RB*
Santana couldn't help but smile in relief that the power was just out, and that she wasn't dealing with some weirdo psychopath. Feeling a little better about the situation, she left the living room and slowly made her way through the kitchen and up the stairs, being careful to not miss a step or anything, because that would be both embarrassing, and would probably hurt like crazy.
Eventually, she made it to the top and stopped in front of the closed bathroom door, light pooling out from the bottom of the door. Cautiously, she knocked twice, not earning an answer after a few moments of waiting. "Rachel? Are you in there?" she asked, a little confused that the girl would lead her to the room if she wasn't willing to answer the door. "I'm…uh…coming in, okay? Alright."
Slowly, she turned the knob and opened the door, quickly finding out that it completely lacked Rachel Berry. But, in her place, there were at least a dozen lit candles and a series of three post-it notes attached to the tiled wall underneath the showerhead. Feeling pretty curious, she stepped into the oddly damp and wet bathtub, grabbing one of the nearby candles so she could read the note a little better.
Hello Santana! Whoops, I suppose you just missed me. Sorry about that, I really am. Apparently we have a little over forty-eight candles in our home! I should tell my dad to stop buying more so that I don't have to label him an addict. Anyway, something stuck with me while I was in here. You told me the other night that sometimes you need to get out of a familiar place so that you can think a little clearer, and I really did need somewhere to really think things over, so I hope you don't mind that I borrowed your shower! I came out refreshed and rather clear-headed, so thank you. Also, I'm glad to see you've been using that shower gel and lotion I got you for Christmas. The moment I smelled it, I thought of you, and while you're under no obligation to wear it, it would be nice to know I gave you a signature scent, something that would help me know you're near whenever I smelled it. Anyway, it seems that this washroom has a penchant for getting its bathers to forget their clothes, so I went back to my room to change. I hope to see you there. RB*
Santana smirked at the girl's crazy need to write massive paragraphs, but it was kind of funny and cute. The sheer thought of Rachel having just recently used the shower was kind of alluring as well, and she couldn't help but graze her hand against the smooth, moist tile. However, instead of Rachel's usual vanilla, flowery scent in the air, all she could smell was the shower gel that the diva had gotten her. That's weird, I mean, even if she wanted a new place to think, she could still bring her own…wait… Santana bit hard into her lip as she braced herself against the shower curtain pole, all of a sudden overcome with arousal over the other girl's actions. She wanted to smell like me…fuck…she was naked and all she had on her was my…my scent…
She sat down on the edge of the bath for a moment to clear her head a bit, because one, she needed to cool off enough so that when she saw Rachel next, she wouldn't jump her and ravage her; two, she needed to know how Rachel got to be so sinfully sexy, yet accomplished it all through the most innocent of messages. It was all kinds of unfathomable, and Santana needed to sit down for a second and just take a breather.
Eventually, though, the thought of Rachel getting dressed and rocking that sexy damp hair managed to get her body moving again; before she left, though, she blew out all but the candles that had filled the sink, knowing Berry would probably be nervous about it all being a potential fire-hazard. Though lighting fourteen candles was a bit much, wasn't it? Did the room really need that many? It kind of seemed like a romantic…Santana's thoughts once again froze as her heart kind of did these weird little flips at just the prospect of Rachel having taken advantage of the situation to provide some intimacy. That maybe Rachel wasn't put off by her, or angry with her.
Much like the bathroom, Rachel's door was closed, and once again she knocked, not receiving a response. Sighing in wonder of why she even bothered, Santana opened the door to find the room awash in a warm glow from the candles lining the windowsill, computer desk and bedside tables. Her eyes scanned the room, taking in all the small details that showed just how meticulous Rachel was at organizing her personal spaces. The girl always seemed to have a plan for everything, and that seemed to extend to how she wanted her room layout to function.
However, eventually, her eyes returned to the bed, where a small pile of clothes rested. Santana walked over and sat on the edge, picking up the neatly folded pile of clothes, wondering why Rachel would have left them out. However, at the bottom of her vision, she spotted the familiar yellow of a post it note where the clothes had rested, and smiled. Okay, she totes planned this…as if no one was home until six-thirty. Clever girl…
Curious and pretty damn amused, Santana picked up the stacked post-it notes and began reading.
Hello again! I suppose you're wondering why I've left perfectly good clothes here in the middle of my bed, Santana. Simply put, I decided that since the power is out, there really isn't much use in getting dressed in these clothes if I'm just going to be relaxing around the house, or at least in the available warm, comfy places. You always did stress that I stay warm, and I'm doing my best to follow your advice, but I fear it's rather difficult to stay warm all by my lonesome. Before the power went out, I had just been finishing washing and drying much of the house's bedding. However, I had done mine earlier in the week, Christmas night if you recall, seeing as I endured a rather intense dream that morning as I'm sure you are aware of. So my bed wasn't all prepped and toasty warm like the one I'll be resting in. But I'm sure that the heat won't last forever, and it's far too early to sleep, Santana. Now, if you could be a lovely houseguest and keep me warm, I would greatly appreciate it. I think I just heard you come in, so if you would be so kind as to hurry…RB*
As soon as Santana saw the familiar 'RB*' signature, she shot up off the bed and made her way out of the diva's room. It wasn't a big house, so there were really only two other options available, and her heart only raced harder when she came to the only logical conclusion. Trying to keep as calm as possible, Santana walked down the upstairs hall to the room that she'd been staying in for almost the past two weeks. Quietly, she opened the door and peeked in, finding the room as black as night, with the shades drawn, keeping out any natural light from the nearly full moon. Her brow furrowed in confusion for a moment as she stepped into the room, her eyes needing a moment to adjust from the dim candle-lit hallway. It was hard to tell whether there was a lump in the bed or not, so she decided to be a little less subtle. "Rachel?" she called out softly, hoping to finally receive some response.
It came in a way she hadn't predicted, two hands gently covering her eyes as a body pressed into her back. "Shhh. Thank you for coming, Santana." Rachel whispered, tsking her when she went to turn around. "No, no peeking yet. I'm afraid it's you who has me at an advantage this time. Why, you're wearing far too much clothing, and I do believe I promised some skin on skin contact if you behaved. And you were ever the image of a lady, Santana."
Now, Santana rarely ever blushed, but she could be glad that the room was dark, because she was about as red-faced as she probably ever could be. Normally, when someone flirted with her, she took it as a challenge, and immediately sought to raise the bar, but right there in the guest room with Rachel's hands over her eyes, it was different. This isn't flirting…this is…seduction. A big, planned out, sensual as hell seduction… she mused to herself, her thoughts trailing off as she felt Rachel's hands drop from her eyes and skim achingly slowly down her sides to the hem of her sweater dress. "No peeking, San. I'm just going to take this off, okay?" Rachel whispered once more, the diva's adventurous hands rubbing tantalizingly against the front of her upper thighs. Santana just nodded, prompting one of the hands to leave its spot in favour of the zipper at the back. She waited a few long, torturous moments before she felt the zipper lower ever so slowly to the bottom of her shoulder blades. Rachel lightly tapped Santana's arms, getting the cheerleader to lift them enough for the diva to help pull them out and start sliding the dress down her body.
Santana had never in her life been teased like this, and kind of desperately just wanted to grab Rachel and let out all the pent up sexual energy she had on the diva, but at the same time, she also really wanted to keep feeling the girl's hands roaming around her body. One hand was very slowly pushing the dress down past her hips, while the other offered feather-light touches to her shoulders, abs, thighs, and calves. "Just checking to make sure that we'll have an even playing field, Santana. I'm sure you know that I would never take advantage of you in such a state." Berry remarked softly, her free hand grazing Santana's ass as she finished the sentence, giving it a little squeeze before pulling the dress down to the floor swiftly.
Now, Santana had been feeling pretty chilly before, because it was cold outside, and the house wasn't all that warm without the heat on, so she was pretty cold standing still in the guest room. But it didn't matter at all when she felt Rachel take her hand and guide her across the room, the sound of the comforter being pulled back a second or two before the diva was gently sitting Santana down. She took the hint and scooted her way further in, feeling the pleasant residual warmth of the sheets just before feeling Rachel's body once again make contact with her, this time skin on skin. Sure, they still had their bras and panties on, but it was more than enough for Santana to immediately warm up.
"Am I allowed to open my eyes, yet?" she asked, feeling a little impatient now that they were apparently at their destination, and all settled in, with Rachel's hands lightly resting on her shoulders, their legs already delightfully tangled.
"I just…I want to explain first, because I feel that the past few days, you've been doing much more talking than I've done, and I need you to know a few things first, even if it might ruin the mood." Rachel stated softly, but with a passion that set Santana at ease; it was wonderful hearing that in the diva's voice again, and just knowing the girl wasn't shy or nervous had her dipping into her emergency patience reserves. To her, Rachel couldn't ruin the mood; the girl had her worked up, and until she found some relief, that would persist. She nodded, and promptly felt herself being guided onto her back, with Rachel moving to lie on top of her. She could feel the girl's minty breath against her neck, damp strands of hair falling against her flesh, and it was kind of intoxicating. Yeah…no way she's gonna ruin the mood…not like this…
"Santana, yesterday was one of the scariest days I've ever lived. First, of course, in that you made me face something of my future and approach it as a reality. I know I come across as strong and unaffected most days, but you saw a big part of me yesterday. Frankly, the world scares me some days, and while I dream about my future as a Broadway starlet, I've never really accommodated for any thoughts of criticism, because it's painful. I'm a sensitive person, and reliving all of that…it's not something I generally willingly expose myself to. It hurt and scared me when you said all of those things to me, Santana…it hurt to face all of those insults and insecurities again, but it hurt even more that it was you who said them." Rachel explained slowly, her voice saturating with emotion to the point where Santana knew that even if she wasn't allowed to open her eyes, she could at least offer some affection, hugging the diva against her with one hand while stroking her hair with the other. It felt good to touch her, to hopefully ease some of that pain, because it really, really sucked that she'd hurt Rachel. She knew she had, but recalling that event in Rachel's room was still difficult to handle, emotionally. "I kept thinking that you used to be one of those people, and while I should have held strong to the reality that you aren't anymore, I was so scared that you'd believe in everything you were saying, and that you'd leave me again. That you'd hate me. I was terrified and furious at life for showing me these new sides of you, only to maybe take you away, and I hated that those insults affected me so much, and when I had the opportunity to, I lashed out. I know you said you earned it, but I have to apologize for the slap again. I've never endorsed violence, and it made me sick to my stomach that I not only hurt you in such a way… that I hurt you at all, really… but also that I lost faith in you, even for a brief moment."
Santana wasn't sure what to say to that, to reassure Rachel that she'd never go back to being that spiteful, angry girl. That because she had a supportive family and a wonderful bunch of friends, including Rachel, she'd never have to again. So she just clung to the diva tighter, planting a few fleeting kisses to the top of the girl's head in hopes that Rachel knew.
"The fact is, Santana, I think you're the only person who could hurt me and still maintain my complete trust, and that's scary. Because I know you don't mean to truly hurt me…you attack my insecurities, and that hurts…it really does, but I expect you to build me back up. I trust you to." Rachel continued, her voice soft as a whisper against Santana's collarbone.
"Always, Rachel…I'll always build you back up, I promise. You don't need to be scared of me." Santana noted, nuzzling her face against the top of Rachel's head; she really didn't want the diva to be scared of her. Scared of facing her insecurities? Sure, but she didn't like the idea of Rachel being scared of her.
"No, Santana…I can't help but be scared of you. I trust you, Santana…but lately I've barely been able to trust myself around you. I feel…well, I feel so much when I'm with you, and it's so overwhelming, and I'm scared of scaring you off. I really, really just wanted to not do any talking tonight, but I just…I had to, because I'm scared, and I need you to know where I stand." Rachel continued, her words more than a little confusing to Santana, who was desperately trying to make sense of how Rachel could scare her off, especially after being damn awesome and putting together such a sneaky little plan.
"Rach…why would you think you'd scare me away? I mean…hell, I'm still here, and I don't want to be anywhere else." She hoped her soothing delivery would help the tense girl in her arms relax, but it didn't seem to help, which was a little distressing. For the first time since she entered the home that evening, Santana was feeling a little worried.
"Santana, when you had me…when you had me tell you what life would be like in New York this autumn, I was legitimately thrilled. I imagined how wonderful and challenging NYADA would be, how the walk home would be… I imagined all my dreams coming true, and being able to share them with all my friends." Rachel began again, after a lengthy pause. The girl's voice was unsteady, and Santana was pretty sure she couldn't do anything about that but listen to her, and assuage her fears afterward. "As I said, I could see myself returning home after graduating, after getting my first big part, my first lead…but I wasn't going home to Kurt, or some random aesthetically pleasing boy. I was…I was coming home to you."
Santana let those words sink in for a moment, but really couldn't help but feel touched and content than anything else. Truth was, she was very likely going to be in New York for at least four years; because of that, she'd get to see Rachel all the time, and be there to celebrate all of her friend's accomplishments and accolades. Like hell if anyone could stop her from being at Rachel's place when the girl got home after getting her first lead role. She'd be there no matter what, anyway.
"Look, Rachel. I'm probably gonna be in the big apple with you for at least four years, so nothing's gonna keep me from being there to cheer you on and enjoy your wins and shit every step of the way. Let's get that straight, okay? I'm going to be there. No matter what." Santana started, giving Rachel a little squeeze for emphasis, because why not? Besides, she liked hugging Rachel, and since she couldn't see the girl yet, she'd do what she could. "So I'm not going to be scared of something like that. And if you're thinking of us being, like, together or something when the fall semester rolls around…as unromantic as it is for me to say it, why would I be freaked out about the idea of dating you? I hope you've realized it by now, but I'm pretty damn into you. I know my rep, but I stick with who and what I like, and I'm pretty big on monogamy…and if you, like, saw us living together or whatever, then I can tell you that Tisch and NYADA are cool with freshmen living off campus, so that's a thing. And you're crazy, but I totes…"
Santana generally wasn't a fan of being interrupted, and would usually react somewhat poorly at the best of times, but feeling Rachel's lips on hers was a very welcome exception to her rule, and like hell if she would raise a stink over a very passionate Rachel Berry devouring her face.
Now, she wasn't, like, desperate or anything, but Santana hadn't had any sweet lady kisses in a pretty long time. And really, Rachel's lips were freaking awesome, so her legs quickly wrapped themselves around the diva's hips and her hands moved into the girl's damp mane, hungrily pulling Berry closer. Santana wasn't at all sure how Rachel got to be such a fantastic kisser given the boys she'd dated, but it was seriously hard to care when her favourite diva tasted like raspberries and was practically emanating desire with every grab at her hair and head, every slight bit of friction against her body, every little mewl against her lips. She was used to topping her mack sessions, but Santana really didn't mind when Rachel's lips pillowed her upper lip; she only minded when Berry pulled away after a few intense, amazing seconds.
Blindly, she arched her head up, seeking out any contact she could get, yet Rachel kept herself just out of reach. Frustrated, Santana let out a groan and let her left hand travel from the back of the diva's head to her face, her palm resting on her cheek. "Come back." She mumbled yearningly, not too pleased about the unwanted intermission; Santana wanted to get the main event going on again, and every second of silence that wasn't spent kissing was a grievous waste of time, in her eyes. "If you're gonna interrupt me with a kiss, the least you can do is, like, keep going. You know?"
"I'm sorry, I just…I guess if this is just kissing for you, then I…" Rachel started, sounding a little miffed and upset, and that didn't seem right after such an awesome kiss. So maybe Santana broke the rule and opened her eyes early, and maybe she flipped them over while Rachel was too busy trying to say something that really already seemed very far off the mark.
"Okay, the fact that I wanted all up on your lips again should be, like, a clear sign that I'm into you, so I don't get why you think this is just some make-out session for me. Give me a bit more credit, cupcake, okay?" Santana asked, because it was pretty rude to just assume shit about her that clearly wasn't true. Or, at least, she thought it was pretty clear.
"It's just that I set this night up to be really romantic, because I really, really like you, and we don't seem to be on the same level." Rachel complained, and Santana could only gape at the girl's words; she wasn't sure what the hell that was supposed to mean, or what levels Berry thought each of them were on. Sadly, it was one of those situations where she knew she'd have to use words to explain herself instead of her body.
Santana wiped the damp strands of hair from Rachel's face to give her a clear view of how broken up Rachel looked, and that sort of just killed the annoyance that had built up inside of her, though the frustration remained; mostly, she was frustrated that the girl's insecurities were acting up again. "Rachel…I'm not, like, super romantic, okay? That's not really my wheelhouse, it's yours. That whole treasure hunt thing you pulled here tonight? That was really amazing and kind of made me feel really special and awesome, but I'm not great with words sometimes. Sometimes, I prefer to show my affection by kissing the hell out of you, okay? That's MY wheelhouse. I love what you did tonight, I'm really attracted to you, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally, okay? I was freaking out all afternoon because I thought I did something wrong yesterday, and the last thing I wanted was for you to be, like, upset. I want you to be happy, I want to make you happy." She rambled, not feeling too great about her mess of a confession, but the small, shy smile on Rachel's face had her thinking that maybe she was doing an alright job. "I'm good at flirting…but romance? I'm new to it. So if you wanted me to say something super mushy and play into the big dramatic romantic moment right after you broke away, that's not my first instinct, okay? My first instinct is to think that I felt something amazing in kissing you, in holding you, in feeling you, in hearing you…and I just wanted as much of you as I could handle, and I wanted to give you as much of me as you were willing to take. That's my comfort zone, okay? I want to kiss you. You prefer words. I prefer…well, to show you and make you feel how I feel."
"And…and how do you feel?" Rachel asked, her voice hardly above a whisper, her eyes having darted off to the side, away from Santana's intent gaze.
"I feel in my bones that Rachel Berry is the most meticulous planner I know, and if she were to finish off this night of romantic seduction with a certain question, one that I would eliminate the romance by detailing, that I might have an answer for her." Santana purred, stroking the diva's cheek tenderly, smiling brightly when the girl leaned into her touch and returned her gaze to make eye contact.
Rachel leaned forward slowly and Santana patiently let the girl close the distance and plant a chaste, lingering, electrifying closed-mouth kiss on her lips, one which she reciprocated wholeheartedly. "Santana…" Rachel started, her head still arched up off the mattress and lips almost brushing against the cheerleader's. "Will you go out with me?"
Santana paused for a moment to digest what Berry said, because she'd been expecting a bigger question. Still, she couldn't help the smile that spread across her lips, nor could she help taking hold of the diva's head and pulling her into another absolutely addictive kiss, her lips peppering against Rachel's over and over, unable to get enough. "Only if you let me take you on our first date."
She could see the flicker of confusion on Rachel's face before the familiar challenging inquisitive stare formed across the girl's features. "Well…only if you tell me where you plan on taking me. I don't like advance notice surprises, they make me antsy and nervous and I just fall apart into an anxious mess."The girl stated quietly but firmly, which wasn't at all surprising, given what she'd learned about the girl both in her recent time in the Berry household, and across the years.
"I was thinking…" She started, teasing out the process and making the diva antsy as she ran her hand through the girl's hair and planted a kiss to her nose. "…about how I was planning on having a New Year's party, and while having a wingwoman would be awesome, I'd much prefer going with a date. BUT…"
Santana let her words trail off teasingly, which seemed to get the diva underneath her adorably frustrated, Rachel crossing her arms across her chest. The girl wasn't upset, not with the hint of a smile on her face; Santana knew Rachel just needed her to continue, so when Berry spoke up, she knew what would be asked of her. "Santana, must you leave me with such a conversational cliffhanger? Please continue."
"Okay, okay. As I was saying, I'd prefer to go with you as my date instead of my wingwoman, but…" she stated with a soft smile, resting her forehead down against Rachel's. "It would make me pretty happy to both host a New Year's party to celebrate with all my friends, and to celebrate and show you off as my girlfriend. But, I mean, if we're not on the same level with that, then I…"
Santana wasn't all that surprised when her words were muffled by another kiss, knowing that using Rachel's own words against her would help prove her point a little, and let her show her affection a little easier and clearer. However, it was sadly a brief one, and Santana had to stifle a groan of how agonizing it was having what she wanted so close, but only being able to test-run it instead of getting a nice bit of traveling in on it. Sure, she knew words were still important and everything, but it didn't change that she really just wanted to kiss Rachel into oblivion over the next three or four hours.
"Santana Lopez, will you do me the honour of being my girlfriend?" Rachel asked, a giddy excitement in her voice that Santana couldn't deny was pretty exhilarating and awesome. And really, the question was pretty rhetorical at that point, but she figured that Rachel liked the formality of asking.
"It'd make me the happiest I've probably ever been, so yes. Right now, I'd like nothing more than to be your girlfriend." Santana answered, and it was pretty damn true; Rachel made her happy, and getting Berry exclusive and all to herself just seemed totes amazing. Her diva might not be the prettiest person she'd ever met, which was clearly Quinn Fabray, but Rachel was easily and by far the most beautiful whole person she'd ever had the fortune to meet, and even the thought of getting to be with that girl all the time had butterflies dancing around in her stomach. I'm dating Rachel now! Hells yes! Oh I can't wait to show her around my house…my room…
Instead of going in for another kiss, Rachel pulled Santana's head down and nuzzled her cheek, which was kind of nice, even if she really would have preferred some lip-action. Just getting affection from her girl was a really awesome feeling, anyway. "You're my girlfriend." Rachel whispered reverently, her eyes glistening in the darkness. Santana nodded simply and gave her girl a big affirming smile, one which the diva quickly returned. "And…and you're coming to New York after you graduate? You…you'll be open to maybe…you know…"
"Living together?" Santana asked quietly, earning a decisive nod from the diva. "Rachel, we could end up living together for sure, if that's what you'd like. So long as I have a roof over my head, a bed to sleep on, and my computer, I'll be good. If I can be with you, then even better, but even living apart couldn't keep me from seeing you, like, all the time. But right now? Right now, I'm thinking that we can iron out those details later, because we deserve some quality time together right here in the present."
Santana was pretty sure that if it weren't so dark and the girl's face wasn't pressed against hers, she would have seen Berry's blush; still, that small, shy smile out of the corner of her eye was pretty damn wonderful either way. And when Rachel nodded against her cheek and hugged her close, Santana couldn't help the happy sigh that escaped her.
"I would love to kiss you all night, Santana." Rachel stated softly, which was, like, a perfect symphony to her ears, and had her feeling like a kid on Christmas again. "However, if you wouldn't mind, I did some shopping today in preparation for what I planned out yesterday evening after dinner, and…well, I was wondering if you'd give it a try for me."
She pulled her head away and gave Rachel a curious look, wondering exactly what sort of shopping her girlfriend had done. "And what, may I ask, will be modifying our lip-locking session?" Santana figured it was a legitimate question, given that kissing Rachel was incredible enough as is; modifying it seemed like it could be pretty overwhelming.
"Well, I may have had a dream Christmas morning that involved you wearing a specific outfit…let's just say that it would make for a festive face-sucking event, I believe." Rachel noted nervously, her gaze darting away again, clearly shy about her request. "And…and while I obtained a fairly similar facsimile of it, I don't want to pressure you or anything into it, especially with our relationship being so young."
Santana could only giggle a little at how unsure Rachel was, because it sounded hot; hell, the fact that it was her who Rachel had dreamt of Christmas morning was immensely sexy, and if she could ignite that sort of passion in her girlfriend, and reap the benefits, then by all means. "Rachel, cupcake…I'd love to. It would suck to leave the bed right now, but for you? Just point me to where I need to go and I'll make it happen."
Rachel's appreciative smile nearly melted her heart, and the fresh lust in her brown orbs just finished the job with ease. "I have everything laid out in my room's ensuite. It's just…you're sure it's alright? Christmas is over. You don't have to."
"Babe, you make me feel like every day is a holiday, so whatever." Santana whispered softly, leaving a lingering kiss against Rachel's forehead before unwrapping herself from her girlfriend and slipping out of the bed. She didn't dare look back, knowing she'd get pulled back under those sheets by her own desires, so instead she looked straight ahead and made her way quickly through the cold house to Rachel's washroom. And when she found a particularly sexy outfit on hangers attached to the shower curtain bar, she couldn't help the devilish grin. Aaaaah, she wanted some Santana Claus action. Well, well, well…she HAS been a good girl this year… she thought as she stripped and began slipping into the outfit piece by piece.
In the end, she was warmer, more clothed, and feeling goddamn sexy with all that red velvet, faux sheep's wool and faux leather covering her. Santana sauntered her way down the hall back to her room and quickly spotted a Rachel-sized lump in the bed, humming a familiar Christmas song. She smiled as she quietly approached, apparently not having drawn the girl's attention yet, somehow. In time with the song her diva was humming, though, she couldn't help but sing along. "Merry Christmas, darling…we're apart, that's true. But I can dream, and in my dreams…I'm Christmasing with you." Santana sang, Rachel's head whipping over to catch her gaze at the side of the bed. Taking the diva's wide-eyed lustful stare as an invitation to commence with the night's plan. "Think of this as a little belated gift from me to you, cupcake. Now, why don't you unwrap me, so you can enjoy me for the rest of the night?" She asked, turning her back to the girl who had, for all intents and purposes, planned out a successful heist on her heart. That thing was Rachel's now, and there really wasn't anything she could do about it, not that Santana really wanted to. Really, she was happy as hell, and when Rachel's possessive hands gripped her hips and slowly slid up to her corseted waist, she knew there wasn't anywhere she'd rather be.
And when Rachel slipped the corseted bodice off of her, the diva's soft hands leaving loving, tender touches across her bare skin, she knew she was gonna be in trouble for a damn long time, but she'd enjoy it for as long as it lasted, turning around in her girlfriend's arms and lifting her up enough to lay her on the bed. Santana knew Rachel wasn't ready for anything but kissing, so she'd keep it at that, and that was more than enough for her. Really, all she could ask for would be to spend the night with her girlfriend somehow; that was her belated Christmas wish, to spend it with Rachel and really express to her how happy she was, and how much she cared.
And when Rachel pulled her down for a deep, passionate kiss, her tiny lithe body arching into Santana's, well, she had a feeling her wish would come true. And with any luck, there would be many more such fulfilled wishes in her future. Merry Christmas to all…and to all a good night!
Morning of December 28th
Rachel could hardly suppress a smile as her internal clock forced her body to awaken, the diva quickly sobering enough to take stock of being held comfortably in Santana's arms; her GIRLFRIEND's arms. It was possibly one of her most successful plans that she'd ever executed, and she couldn't be more pleased with the end result. After the dinner on Boxing Day, she'd balked at any immediate romantic actions, wanting to plan something perfect instead of stumbling through everything like she had since Christmas morning. And when she realized that her avoidance had Santana on edge, Rachel had a good idea that the girl was on the hook, and when the cheerleader had left for Quinn's, she'd taken advantage of that afternoon by giving her fathers tickets to a comedian in Columbus, giving her the rest of the day to put her plan in place. It had just manifested in her mind the previous night when she'd seen her stacks of unused post-it notes for the semester, and had initially got her wondering what to do with them. Her solution had been pretty simple and decidedly romantic. Rachel could hardly be more proud of herself.
After all, she was laying in bed with her now-girlfriend, enjoying how wildly warm Santana was, and how entangled she was in the taller girl's body. It was as if Santana needed to make as much contact with Rachel as possible, and that warmed her heart. Certainly enough to just enjoy resting in the girl's arms, happily breathing in the scent of the cheerleader's alluring shower gel, for a good fifteen minutes. However, it got to be a little past six in the morning, and it would be a shame to waste the day, and she did spend all last night making out with her girlfriend instead of practicing, so she had some catching up to do.
So as gracefully and gently as possible, Rachel weaseled herself out of Santana's grasp and slinked down the hall and into her room for much needed daytime prep. First, she got onto her elliptical for her usual forty-five minute workout, getting her body prepared for the potential rigors of the day ahead. Second, she grabbed some clothes for the day from her closet, because it was always important for her to look her best, in case of any opportunities. Thirdly, she strolled into the washroom to have a shower, because she and Santana, while keeping to strictly above the waist activity, did happen to work up a bit of a sweat. Once freshly showered, Rachel proceeded to her fourth step with her morning skincare regimen, exfoliating and moisturizing to her usual standard. Finally, she added some basic makeup and got changed, feeling pretty dang wonderful. And when she thought back to the previous night, she couldn't help but just squeal out in happiness, her body just so full of gleeful giddiness that she couldn't help but dance in celebration.
And yes, her dance wasn't particularly elegant or graceful; in fact, it was a lot more goofy and childish, with jazz hands and twirls and making the sound effects of a symphony to provide herself celebratory music. It was a tradition for every major celebration since she was five, and she wasn't about to stop that tradition. Traditions were important, and she would perform her two minute and fifty six second dance to perfection as usual.
Except, the bathroom door opened with a good fifty three seconds to go, a half-asleep Santana leaning against the door frame, blinking her sleep away as she looked confusedly at her. And she really couldn't stop her tradition, so she held her best smile and continued singing the sound effects, because the show had to go on.
When she finished, Rachel looked to Santana, biting her lip nervously in hopes her girlfriend wouldn't think she was insane. Santana, in turn, looked her over carefully and opened her mouth to speak, only for the words to seemingly stick in her throat. So the cheerleader took two steps into the bathroom and proceeded to run one hand down Rachel's arm to lightly hold her hand.
"You're so weird...like, the weirdest, cutest diva. Seriously...where in the hell did you make up that dance?" Santana asked, rubbing her eyes tiredly, letting out a lengthy yawn. As much as Rachel wanted to protest the girl's insinuation that her dance was weird, she couldn't find the will to be upset, not with how adorable Santana looked.
"I was celebrating." Rachel stated succinctly, smiling up at her girlfriend in hopes of it being a perfectly acceptable answer to her inquiry.
Santana seemed to think about it for a minute or two, tapping a finger against her chin, running a hand through her hair, letting out a thoughtful hum. Rachel was willing to wait around to see what was on her girl's mind, given how perfectly happy she was that morning, and how wonderful of a start she'd had to the day. "Okay, cupcake. That's totes legit, I guess." Santana mumbled, mussing up Rachel's hair, which was pretty unfortunate and frustrating, but she wasn't able to think too hard about it with Santana picking her up and carrying her to her bed, plopping them both down onto it.
"San...Santana, I would very much like to get up and have breakfast right now. A hearty, well-balanced breakfast is important to starting off every day properly, and..." Rachel started, wriggling around underneath Santana, who seemed to be entirely content in laying on top of her and cuddling her into the mattress.
"Shhh. So's snugglin' with my girl for a bit, kay?" Santana mumbled again, interrupting Rachel mid-sentence with her words, and soft familiar arms wrapping around her waist. And really, it was a pretty wonderful feeling, being held so intimately and with Santana sighing happily onto her collarbone. Still, she was pretty hungry, and kind of wanted to get her morning started, so she laid with Santana for about twenty more minutes before making an attempt to head downstairs.
First, she poked at Santana, her fingers prodding at the girl's side, Santana's tank top having ridden up during their time laying together. The cheerleader squirmed at her touch a little, mumbling random syllables into her neck, clearly half asleep once again. "Santana, we need to get up and get you fed, okay? I'm sure you're hungry by now. Why don't we got something to eat?" she asked politely, hoping that sleepy Santana would also be a hungry Santana.
"But it's early...and 'm comfy." Santana spoke against her skin, clearly not a big fan of leaving where she was, what with Rachel being given another gentle squeeze. It was a nice gesture, but she could smell the blueberry muffins downstairs just ready to be devoured.
However, Rachel wasn't entirely out of options; she knew of at least one weakness to take advantage of. "But Santana...there are only a dozen of my cookies left. And I know how much you like them." Rachel stated, earning a thoughtful hum from her girl, but not a single physical movement to provide her with any escape route. deciding to step it up a bit, she leaned her head forward and kissed Santana's head. "And without the energy breakfast gives me, how will I possibly have the stamina to engage in multiple make-out sessions with you today?"
That seemed to get Santana's attention, the girl tensing slightly on top of her, but then Rachel felt herself being squeezed again. "Hrm. Sounds good. But only if we can have that movie night tonight."
Rachel hummed thoughtfully, wondering why so many of her conversations with her girlfriend turned into negotiations; however, she did think it was a decidedly healthy process. "How about if we have that movie night, but at least no funny business for one of the movies."
When Santana rolled off of her, Rachel couldn't help but cheer and do a celebratory fist-pump, excited for breakfast. And when Santana peppered her face with kisses, well, giggles erupted out of her, just happy to have her girlfriend and be able to eat her breakfast too. The best morning ever...
Still, despite Santana slipping off of her, it still took a good ten minutes to get the girl over to the guest room and get her changed into something presentable. Rachel wondered if every morning would be like that when they were out in New York, but a slow morning start-up would hardly be the worst thing ever to deal with on a consistent basis. And if the trade-off was an exponential increase in affection and being able to wake up in Santana's arms, perhaps, it would likely be worth whatever trouble caused.
"Well, are you ready to go downstairs and get some food with my fathers?" Rachel asked as they reached the staircase. The taller girl slowed her stride and stopped at the top stair, a thoughtful expression spread across her face. "Santana?" she asked, wondering what had given the girl pause.
"I just have a feeling that this is gonna be a long, eventful breakfast is all." Santana spoke softly, looking down at the landing of the stairs. And it was true, it was very likely that her dads would end up interrogating Santana over her intentions. "But I'll be okay. You got my back, right?"
Rachel could see Santana's confidence, yes, but there was a flicker of nervousness there in those dark brown eyes. So she reached out and took Santana's hand into her own and gave it a squeeze. "I'll be there with you every step of the way, no matter what. I promise." Rachel noted confidently, smiling brightly up at Santana, who seemed to take comfort in her certainty. "You're my girlfriend, and that means we're a team. So thankfully, I know each and every hospitality policy my fathers will raise, and excellent counterpoints to their potential concerns and arguments. Also, I could hold my baking abilities above their heads for leverage, even though I doubt it will be needed...they adore you, Santana. And more importantly, I adore you."
She blushed as Santana cupped her cheeks and planted a chaste kiss on her lips, smiling into the delightful gesture, pretty content in knowing that Santana will likely show her affection more through actions than words. Sure, Rachel loved talking, and loved hearing Santana speak, but she really did like every other form of affection by her girlfriend. And in that kiss, she could feel just how thankful her girl was, and that kind of meant everything.
So hand in hand, they descended the stairs, Rachel feeling pretty confident that they would start off the final leg of Santana's stay on a positive note. Heck, she was pretty sure New Year's would be wonderful, and Rachel had a great feeling about how she and Santana would fare in the coming year. Because while Christmas was now over and done with, she still had some time left to enjoy with her new girlfriend until they had to part ways, and nothing was about to tear that smile from her face. Not with Santana's hand in her own.
Not with her future brighter than ever.
A/N: Welp, that's it. There will be an epilogue, though (and if you're wondering about LeRoy and Hiram's reactions, well, that will be shown in the epilogue), so hopefully before NYE I'll have it out :) However, I hope this finale is to your satisfaction.
Anywho, I hope you've had fun with this story. It was a blast to write back in September, and fun to finish over the past few days. Always nice to write some pezberry holiday fluff after all :) I hope your holiday seasons are going fabulously, and that the weather isn't keeping you down.
Thank you for your immense support (100 reviews whaaaaaaaaaaaat?! I totally didn't see that coming for this story), you're all rather awesome :D Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!