A/N: This is a repost of last Friday (?) when I felt it was not nearly good enough to bother you with. Still not sure about that, but hopefully the next chapter will be able to make up for it.
Thank you all for (still) reading the story and showing your support; I really do appreciate it.
No one hates me as much for delaying this story as much as I do and I apologise for it. I'll try not to let it happen again.
A special thanks to my lovely Beta, I can't properly express my gratitude for your help.
Chapter 12: Slow (part 1)
You never were one of those Valentine's Day enthusiasts, but this year you think it's one of the greatest gifts Catholic myths have ever bestowed on mankind. You think Santana's badly hidden giddiness might have something to do with that. She thinks she's being sneaky but everytime you talk to her, it somehow manages to come up. So you've been warned: your girlfriend (girlfriend, you're still getting used to the wave of excitement and awe washing over you everytime you think about it) expects you to surprise her.
Because this is Santana you know it'll have to be something better than some chocolates and a romantic movie after dinner, but you're not sure what. It certainly doesn't help that in the back of your mind you're constantly reminded of the fact that you're not the first person to celebrate Valentine's Day with Santana. You just want to make sure that this Valentine's Day will set a new standard and all the ones preceding will pale in comparison.
You've been pacing the appartment all day while talking to yourself. You just want to make sure everything's in order for tonight so you keep going over your mental checklist while browsing the Internet for last-minute tips. That last part surprisingly helps you to calm down. Who would have thought you're actually more capable than most of those people to plan a romatic night for your girlfriend? You called Quinn earlier to ask for her help and she's on board so that's one thing you don't have to worry about. With one more glance at the clock you decide it's time to get dressed and start your Valentine's Day Surprise Spectacular!
You may need to think of a better name.
A little over an hour later you step inside an intimidating building, looking around for some sort of floor plan so you won't have to wander around too long. You called Santana earlier, pretending to be oblivious to what day it is and asked what she was doing. You weren't surprised when she told you she was in the library, studying. Such a little nerd, but a cute one. But that's how you know which section she is in so a few minutes later you make your way through rows and rows of books and the occasional reading table. You're glad you're not required to do as much studying as Santana but it doesn't seem that bad to spend so much time here. You like the quiet mystery of libraries, although this one is too big and busy to really be mysterious.
When you walk up to her, you're glad she's facing the other way so your surprise won't be spoiled. By the looks of it, she's listening to some music while making notes and flipping through several enormous books. You take another look around to make sure you won't disturb anyone close by before covering her eyes with your hands. It's supposed to be intimidating - you know she likes to think it is - but it's mostly funny and endearing how quick her posture changes and the way she snaps at whoever thought it's appropriate to jump on her like this because she's about to go all… You can't contain your laughter anymore and before she gets even more worked up, you drop your hands to her shoulders for a soft squeeze and press a kiss to her cheek. Happy Valentine's Day, baby.
She's blushing when she turns her head enough to return the gesture and you can cross the first thing off your list: surprise Santana.
You want to take a seat next to her, but you're hindered by your bag. You slide it off and before you forget all about it, open it up to take out the flowers you bought on your way over. You were planning to skip that cliché but the poor vendor looked so happy when you stopped to admire a gorgeous bouquet of amaryllis and roses you couldn't just walk out. That bouquet was too expensive though, so you settled for some tulips instead. They always make you happy because they remind you of spring and by the way Santana's eyes light up, you made the right choice. Two seconds later you can cross the second item off your list: kiss Santana (properly). You're also still getting used to that but you don't mind one bit.
You help Santana return the books and gather her things so you can start with the next step in your Valentine's Day Surprise Spectacular!, but just as you're about to leave she surprises you instead. You can see she's nervous as she's digging around in her bag and when she comes up with an envelope you can't help getting excited. The last time she wrote you a letter was unforgettable and you still read it when you can't see her for a few days. Not that you need to, but you like reading the words engraved in your heart.
She explains that she's been carrying it around all day because she wasn't sure if you had any plans and she wanted to give it in person. You roll your eyes at her (a habit you've picked up from a person who shall remain nameless) because she couldn't seriously think you wouldn't have anything planned with all the hints she's been dropping over the past few days. She just shrugs at that and gives you the envelope, telling you to save it for later. She wants you to read it on your own. Now you're really curious to see what's inside but respect her wish and put it in your own bag before standing up and taking her hand in yours, kissing each knuckle as you start walking towards the exit.
Once outside you notice a thin layer of snow covering the streets while small flakes are swirling down. The wind makes it even colder but before it can fully register, Santana has linked her arm in yours, shoving her hand in your pocket and clinging to your side. You still don't understand how she can be cold in her coat, scarf and hat but you have no objections to her using you as her personal heater. Even when you're in the train home she refuses to let you go which makes you smile even wider, ignoring some of the looks thrown your way. You almost start to think she fell asleep when she nudges your shoulder and asks where you're going; you just smile and tell her it's a surprise. She sends you a half-hearted glare but doesn't push it and just settles back on your shoulder, humming a song so softly you think you're not supposed to hear.
When you started planning today, you were panicking because all the restaurants you wanted to take her were already booked and you thought the world would end. But then you talked to some of your friends (Tina was helpful for a change) and figured it might have been a good thing. Apparently, most people just want to be together on Valentine's Day, not surrounded by other couples in a noisy restaurant. Isn't that revolutionary? But that meant you'd eat in tonight, leaving the question of cooking. You're getting better, but you would really hate it if one of you ends up in hospital tonight because somehow it went wrong. So that's were Quinn comes in. You gave her a key to your appartment so she could set everything up while you were on your way to Santana (Rachel's spending all week at her boyfriend's, so you didn't have to worry about her).
Santana seems slightly disappointed when she realises you're going to your place, but all is forgotten when you set foot inside.
You spent all day cleaning and rearranging the appartment but by the looks of it, Quinn has seen one too many chick flicks. The lights are turned down, there are rose petals everywhere and the table is set perfectly. When you take another look around, you can see a box of chocolates on the counter. For a girl who claims to hate Valentine's Day she sure knows how to make it memorable.
There's a slight quiver in her voice when Santana asks if you did all this but before you can answer her she's pulled you down for one of those kisses that surrounds you, makes you levitate, and wipes away all thought. The mental checklist you've been going over all day has served its purpose but you think you should let go now.
As requested, Quinn has left all the ingredients and careful instructions in the kitchen so all you have to do is see what the next step is. Santana refuses to be left out of the kitchen so you let her read it out loud, occasionally checking to make sure she's not doing anything else. When the food's almost done, you tell her she can take a shower and change clothes if she wants to. You asked Quinn to bring over some of her clothes for tonight but when she walks back into the room twenty minutes later, she's wearing some of your clothes. She's blushing again when you quirk an eyebrow at her, but just takes a seat without saying anything. God, you love this girl.
After dinner you're a bit at a loss. You could always go for watching a film and cuddling on the sofa but there's something you have yet to do with Santana and tonight's kind of perfect for it since you're alone in your appartment. With one deep breath you gather your courage and walk up to her while turning on the stereo. You already made a playlist, just in case, and soon the room is filled with soft music. She doesn't look surprised when you offer your hand, only deeply pleased and takes it without question. When you fall into a rhythm and Santana starts singing along with some of the songs, you're content to just close your eyes and smile, pulling her flush against you.
You dance for a long time; you don't know how long but you almost feel like you're dreaming. You're warm and comfortable, slowed down to simply swaying. If it weren't for that other thing you also wanted to do tonight you would have danced until either of you actually did fall asleep. As it is, you carefully loosen your hold and step back a bit. Santana seems as dazed as you were just before and her voice is slightly huskier than normal when she asks why you stopped. You give her a quick peck and tell her you still haven't given her your present, ignoring her protests when she tells you were more than enough of a gift. You didn't go through all this trouble to end up not giving this to her. You get the box from under your bed and check to see if the bow is still exactly in the middle before walking back to the living room.
You never told Santana you've been keeping a journal since you started high school. You had trouble focussing and when the guidance counselor advised you to try it for a month you didn't think it would work. But it did and whenever you start feeling overwhelmed again, you go out and buy a notebook to write away your thoughts. You don't ususally keep them, but since this notebook isn't filled with thoughts concerning yourself, you couldn't throw it away when you ran out of pages.
It's not just your story in here but hers as well. You even put in some of her photos, along with a copy of her portrait and Christmas letter. It's notes and pictures, depicting the first five months of your relationship with Santana. It seems only right to share it with her.
A/N: So I was looking up some flowers for the bouquet and decided on amaryllis because they're beautiful and extravagant. Anyway, I was looking for a translation (which doesn't exist because everyone's lazy and adapts the Latin name) and found out that it's commonly referred to as 'naked lady'. Take that as you will.