A/N-This story got the most responses for my stories to continue. I will try to work on some of the others that got smaller reviews if I am able. I will be focusing on this one and my other Quinntana fic, Soccer Mom. Pas de Deux and Softer Side should also see updates sometime soon. Thanks everyone for the feedback!
3 days later
Due to Judy's deteriorating condition, they decided to push the wedding up a bit. The only people they really wanted in attendance were their parents anyways. They were going to have it in the hospital's chapel, and the chaplain had been agreeable to do a same-sex ceremony.
The two had decided to keep it simple and elegant, with the focus being on each other and their families. They also wanted to avoid the stress that weddings bring.
So, an hour before the ceremony, Quinn was sitting doing her makeup in her Mom's room, but kept having to pause due to her Mom making her laugh so hard, at funny childhood stories. Quinn had brought over picture albums and there were some funny ones. Quinn had forgotten that she and Santana had been pretty close as toddlers, and there were some adorable pictures.
"Oh Quinn, look at this one." Judy pointed to a set of picture where the girls were about 3. The first was them examining a flower, the second was of Santana presenting the flower to Quinn, and the third was of the two girls hugging and smiling widely at each other.
Quinn felt tears brimming in her eyes, and took a few deep breaths so she wouldn't have to re-do her make up.
"She could always make you smile." Judy said. "You seem so alive when you are around her."
"I feel so alive, but it is this strange rush of emotions right now. I feel guilty for feeling so happy, when you are so sick." Quinn admitted.
"Oh Quinn, I consider it a gift, to see your happiness and joy. I don't have to die worrying about you being sad and lonely. I know your life will be filled with love and happiness. That is the most peace a Mother could hope for." Judy said and Quinn kissed her gently on the forehead before going back to finish her make-up and start on her hair.
S*S*S*S*S
Meanwhile, things were a bit more chaotic at the Lopez house, since Santana had overslept. She had just gotten out of the shower, and was blow drying her hair in a t-shirt and shorts. She glanced over to the mirror, and it hit her that she was getting married today. There had been chunks of time when she thought this day would never come. And she was getting married to Quinn, who had been a frenemy for most of high school.
"Santana, someone is here to see you!" her Mother called up. Santana was puzzled as to who it might be, but she yelled for them to come on up. She turned to rustle through her bathroom cabinet to find her round brush, and when she turned back around she was shocked to find Brittany in the doorway.
"Hey." Brittany said softly.
"Ummm…hi?" Santana asked.
"I heard you are getting married today."
"Yeah—we are just having our parents be there, keeping it small."
"I understand that it would be painful to have me there." Brittany said biting her lip.
"It's more that I didn't want my mistakes and regrets lurking around…" Santana trailed off.
"San, I know you have been holding a lot of the blame on yourself. It wasn't just you—don't forget that, and let it interfere with your relationship with Quinn."
"Britt—I truly am sorry for everything."
"No need to apologize….Maybe, it was just the way it had to go, so you could end up with who you are supposed to be with." Brittany said.
"And so you could be with Artie." Santana said.
"I don't want to keep you from getting ready, but I felt like I should clear the air before you get married."
"Thank you Britt, I really appreciate it. And I wish you and Artie the best as well."
"Happy Wedding Day, San." Brittany said and turned to go. Santana caught her wrist, and pulled her into a gentle hug.
"Thank you, Britt." Santana said.
After Brittany left, Santana stood thinking for a moment about what just happened. Then she looked at the clock and frantically began to get ready.
About 30 minutes later, she was satisfied. She pulled half of her long dark hair to the side in a simple clip, and had the rest in soft curls. Her dress was black and clung to her curves and her heels were white (her play on a tuxedo).
"Santana, we are going to be late-" her Mother said, trailing off as she entered the bathroom and caught sight of her daughter.
"Wow."
"Is it ok? Am I underdressed? Weirdly dressed?" Santana rattled off and her Mother gently touched her shoulder.
"You are perfect. Now let's go get you hitched!"
Q*Q*Q*Q*Q
Quinn looked at her final appearance in the mirror. She was wearing a simple, pearl colored tea-length dress, and matching heels. Her cross necklace completed the simple outfit, and her hair was in soft curls.
She turned around to face her Mother, who clasped her hands together and smiled widely in approval.
"You look like a classic elegant bride; it makes your natural beauty shine even more."
"It's time, Mom." Quinn said, not feeling the least bit nervous.
SQ*SQ*SQ*SQ
As the wedding music began, the east and west doors of the chapel opened simultaneously. The girls had both wanted to see each other walk down the aisle, so they agreed this would be the best.
As they both paused in the doorways, Quinn was captivated by the elegance that Santana conveyed, while looking as sexy as ever. Santana's thoughts had been going a hundred miles an hour, but froze on the beauty that she was getting ready to marry, and a soft smile appeared.
Their fathers proudly walked them down the aisles, and then joined the mothers on the first pew.
As Quinn and Santana took hands, Quinn noticed that Santana had tears in her eyes. She thought she heard Santana's Mom whisper to Judy something about "You owe me ten dollars."
"We are gathered today to celebrate the love and joy between these two young women, and to unite their families. " the chaplain began. Santana tried to listen, but she found herself lost in Quinn's eyes. She was finally able to re-focus to hear the end of the spiel. "So, today we focus on the love that has blossomed between these two young women. To highlight this, as a surprise from their parents, we have a special slideshow. "
Quinn and Santana exchanged glances, and turned to smile at their parents. As the lights dimmed, pictures of their childhood came to the screen. There were pictures of their mother's, holding the babies together, and pictures of the two of them crawling and then walking.
Everyone laughed at a picture with Santana covered head to toe in mud, and Quinn giving her a disgusted look. The pictures morphed to junior high, and Quinn was surprised to see a picture she had forgotten about—it was in her "Lucy" stage, the year she turned 12. She had sent out party invites, but no one but Santana had come. Her Dad had taken the picture, and her mom and Santana were singing to her. Quinn started shaking with tears. She had forgotten that in those lonely days, there was still Santana.
Santana whispered in her ear, "I love you Lucy Q."
The next pictures were of Cheerios performances, and Glee club performances. Than it morphed to a few recent ones, mainly at the hospital. Quinn's favorite was one when Santana was on her lap, telling what must have been quite a story, as Santana's head was tilted back, and she was laughing.
The last picture faded in on the set of the pictures with the girls when they were younger with the flower. Santana hadn't seen the set earlier, and she gasped as she took it in.
"You always could make me smile." Quinn whispered to her.
The slideshow came to an end, and the chaplain prompted them to do their vows, that they had written themselves.
"I, Santana Marie Lopez, take you, Lucy Quinn Fabray to be my wife. You have always been in my life, and I can't imagine a day without you. You are like my Vitamin D, you bring out the happy side of me. I promise to protect you, and to go all Lima Heights on anyone who even looks at you wrong. I promise to be faithful to you, emotionally and physically. I promise that I will be by your side, no matter what happens. I am yours, until the sands of time wash this world away." Santana finished, and was surprised that there was not a dry eye left—she wasn't one for touching people with her words in a positive way. Quinn regained her composure and began her vows.
"I, Lucy Quinn Fabray, take you Santana Marie Lopez to be my wife. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me." Quinn has to pause as her tears won't stop coming. Santana steps forward and gently embraces her, kissing her temple softly. "You always know just how to be there for me—whether it is holding me, making me laugh, or yelling at someone for me. You are everything I ever dreamt of, and so much more. I promise that I will be there for you, every step of every day, through the dark days and the joyous days. I promise that you are the only one for me, that I will be faithful and true. I promise to never go to bed mad, and to wake you up with kisses every morning. I will be yours for eternity." Quinn finished, and met Santana's eyes which were filled with tears, as she smiled adoringly at Quinn.
The two exchanged their rings, and gave a simple kiss, suitable enough for their parent's eyes, that they agreed upon. Santana thought "screw it" to herself and dipped Quinn and deepened the kiss. As the kiss ended, she heard the parents laugh and applaud, and Quinn looked absolutely giddy.
They also knew their parents were on the edge of their seats, as the couple had kept it a secret from them, as to what they were going to do about their last name.
"May I present to you for the first time, Mrs. Quinn and Santana Fabray-Lopez." The chaplain announced, and their parents applauded again. Quinn and Santana had went back and forth about names, and they finally decided hyphenated was the way to go, to honor both families.
They both went to greet their parents, and their wife's parents.
"Wife." Santana murmured and everyone turned to look at her. "Oh my gosh. I have a WIFE!" she squealed.
"Did you just squeal?" Judy asked.
"No. No, that was not a squeal." Santana said, frantically trying to think of a cover up. "I think a popcorn kernel was stuck in my tooth and it made a weird noise as it finally came loose.
Everyone looked at her like she was crazy and then started laughing.
Quinn came over to embrace her, and whispered in her ear. "You are so whipped."
Santana almost rolled her eyes, but then she took in the scene around her. It was happiness, and laughter and love.
"If you tell anyone, I will revoke all bedroom privileges for a week." She whispered back.
"Wouldn't that be more torture for you than me?" Quinn asked smirking.
"You are just lucky our parents are here right now."
"Just say it."
"Say what?"
"That you are whipped."
"If I say it, will you drop it?' Santana asked through gritted teeth and Quinn nodded. "Fine, I'm whipped." She said and was rewarded with a kiss from Quinn.
Santana hoped that this signified that they lived 'happily ever after' but she knew that life was an inevitable roller coaster ride.