Quinn's POV:

"Hey, wait." I pulled Santana away from the door she was about to head out of to join the party.

She stood facing me and linked our hands.

"You're standing between me and me getting my drink and dance on, Q." She smiled at me.

"I just…"

She leaned in and rested her forehead against mine.

"What's wrong, baby?"

"Nothing's wrong. I just want a moment with you before we walk out there and get pulled in different directions."

"I can do that." She kissed my forehead. "Come with me."

She pulled me by the hand back through the house away from the party that had gathered for our reception on the beach and we ended up walking down a few houses still in our wedding dresses. She wouldn't tell me where we were going. Just that we were going. We ended up walking to a little stretch of uninhabited beach and we walked toward the edge of the water where she sat down.

"San, your dress is going to get messed up."

"I don't care. Sit me with, Quinn." She raised her hand for me to take it, but I chose to sit behind her and hold her instead.

"This is nice."

"Is this what you wanted?"

I kissed her neck.

"It's just that it's our day, but so much of it has been and will be spent with everyone we know."

"Just admit it, Q. You've always wanted to have beach sex with me."

I laughed into her ear and pulled back a little to rest my hands in the sand behind me. She turned a little to face me.

"That's what the honeymoon is for, Santana."

"Yeah, it is." She winked and turned to sit sideways still between my legs. "I still can't believe we're actually here."

"I know. It's weird to think about everything that had to happen to get us here."

"You know I don't really do this romantic stuff well, but-"

"Baby, you do the romantic stuff very well. It's you that doesn't seem to know that."

"Yeah, yeah anyway..." She moved her hand to my knee. "I just wanted to say that I can't decide what the best day of my life is anymore."

"What?"

"Well, there's today obviously, but there's the day you agreed to marry me and there's Valentine's Day about 10 years ago where you let me… where we shared… well, you know. The good days keep stacking up and they all involve you." I smiled at her. "After you were just gone and I was broken, I never thought this would happen. I never really thought it would happen when were dancing around things either, but I had at least some hope that some day you'd realize I was the one for you, but when you just left, I thought you hated me and that you were really gone."

"I never hated you."

"I know that now, dumb ass." I laughed at her. "Even you aren't that big of a masochist to marry someone you hate."

"Do you think that if we would have told each other how we felt back then, we'd still be here? I mean, maybe not the same wedding, but that we'd still be married?"

"Please, we probably would have gotten married, been divorced, and then gotten remarried because we're both incapable of living without the other one, but our mid-twenties selves would be too dumb to realize that and we'd argue about stupid things like we used to in high school."

I laughed.

"You're not allowed to divorce me."

"Don't give me a reason too, blondie." She smiled and leaned in to kiss me and then she stood up and pulled me with her. I reached around her to wipe the sand off her dress and she did the same for me.

"I guess we have to head back." I turned my attention to a little ways down the beach where I could hear the music and see our friends and family getting the party started without us. "Let's walk along the beach this time." I took her hand and we started to walk along the edge of the water.

"Quinn?"

"Yeah?"

"I honestly don't know what would have happened back then and I don't want you to take this the wrong way, baby, but I'm kind of glad you left."

I stopped walking and she got pulled back to me when I did.

"Explain that one, wife."

"You needed to go. Not just because you needed to get away from me, but you needed to get away from everything else too. I hated being without you and it still hurts thinking about it, but you needed time and I did too. I had to grow up so I could get here with you."

"I understand. You were glad I left and didn't miss me at all. You felt no pain whatsoever and kind of regret that I went to that reunion." I explained sarcastically and smiled.

"That's it exactly," she replied with an equal amount of sarcasm.

"It was like that for me too." That response was a little sarcasm, but also held some seriousness because I knew what she meant. We smiled because we both understood each other.

Santana's POV:

We approached our reception from the beach instead of from inside the house and we went almost unnoticed until I heard Berry yell.

"There they are! Where have you two been? This is your party."

"They were probably having sex on the beach!" Brittany sort of yelled over the music and almost every head turned in our direction.

"We were not having sex on the beach, but I am about to have a sex on the beach." I took Quinn with me over to the bar so we could get our celebration started.

We spent the next hour eating dinner and socializing. I hadn't eaten anything all day due to the nerves that finally showed up in the morning. I was starving and when it came time to cut the cake, I was happy to be getting some sugar into my system that didn't come from alcohol.

I didn't get Oli to make our cake because it didn't seem right. I also thought she might put a bomb in it or something, but that thought only lasted for a second because she really did seem okay the last time I talked with her and I was happy. She and Morgan were still together and she loved her job. Morgan was even featured in some magazine about people helping people. The non-profit she ran helped abused woman get on their feet. Oli really did trade up with that one.

We sat at the main table and I wrapped my arm around Quinn's chair as Brittany stood to give her maid of honor speech.

"I never thought Santana would get married. She never seemed the type. Even when she was in a relationship, I never saw her actually committing to a lifetime with someone let alone actually put it on paper. Then, I saw how she was with Quinn when we were in college." Quinn moved her head to my shoulder at the mention of her name. "We didn't spend a lot of time together back then because I was off teaching geniuses math at MIT, but when I saw them together, something clicked and I thought back to all the times San had yelled at Quinn for making dumb choices." She looked at Quinn. "Sorry, Quinn." Quinn just laughed at her. "And Quinn would always tell Santana she could be better. The three of us have been best friends forever and we've gone our separate ways and I got married and I've had two kids and I've given Lord Tubbington to the government so they could study his brain. Santana's become super successful and is about to put out an album we've all been waiting for and Quinn was off becoming British and now they're here and they're finally doing what they're supposed to be doing. I love both of you and I'm so happy you finally woke up and realized this is how it's supposed to be."

Everyone applauded and I used my finger to lift Q's chin so I could kiss her. It was then that I noticed Rachel stand up on Quinn's side of the table and I braced myself for whatever Celine Dion song lyrics she would use in her speech.

"If you would have told 16 year old Rachel Berry that I would be Quinn Fabray's maid of honor at her wedding to Santana Lopez, I would have told you that was the craziest thing I could ever imagine and I work on Broadway." People laughed, but I reserved my laughter wanting to see where she was going with this. "I envied both of them in high school because they seemed to have everything. Quinn and I fought and Santana and I fought and they fought with each other and everyone else and we were all just teenagers in a small town with these big dreams. We didn't see that then though. We didn't understand that we could all support each other through that stuff instead of tearing each other down. After graduation, some things changed. Santana was still pretty bitchy." I did laugh at that. "But she was also there for me through some pretty big life moments and she encouraged me to reach for the things I wanted and I tried to do the same for her. Quinn was off at Yale following her dreams and I'd see them together when she'd visit and I could tell something had changed between them. I didn't know they were both obsessed with each other." Another laugh. "I just knew that they were supposed to be in each other's lives and it seemed like they had gotten past all their issues. We had all moved on. I missed Quinn when she left, but she was off becoming this Quinn and this Quinn is one of my closest friends and I'm so happy they did this and that they did it today of all days because I actually remember a lot from that Valentine's Day they say this whole thing started. I remember singing with Finn and looking down at everyone dancing and I remember seeing the two of them dancing rather closely for two friends that night." More laughs. Berry's a comedian. "I'm so happy for them and for those of us who have watched this thing unfold from the beginning."

Everyone applauded again and I liked Rachel a little more after that speech.

Quinn's POV:

It was getting late and I was exhausted, but I was having a great time and I wasn't ready for this day to be over yet. Santana and I were sitting at a large round table with Rachel, Finn, Brittany, Kurt, Blaine, Mike, Tina, Mercedes, Puck, and Sam who had reappeared in our lives with Mercedes. They had started dating again a few months before the wedding. Looking around this table, it's a little weird to think that most of us ended up with someone from McKinley. Most of us ended up with someone from New Directions. We all spent so much time trying to get away, but we married people from the place we were trying to run away from.

"Now that you're an old married couple, what's next?" Blaine jokingly asked.

"Our fabulous honeymoon." Santana squeezed my hand under the table.

"Then, Santana's album comes out so she'll be promoting that."

"Q's going to help with the marketing since she's the only person I really trust with my music."

"What about you guys? Mercedes, Sam? Wedding bells in your near future?" I prodded.

"I just got the girl to finally date me again after years of trying. Give me a minute, Quinn," Sam explained and put his arm around his girl.

"I'm too busy to be getting married anyway," Mercedes agreed.

"Finn and I are thinking of renewing our vows," Rachel expressed.

"Of course you are," I told her and everyone laughed.

"I'm actually going to be making a career change." That was the first time I'd heard Finn talk all day. "I finally got my teaching certificate."

"Wow! Finn, that's great!" Everyone congratulated.

Finn had been going to school part-time for years and subbing when he could while also running a couple of tire shops. He and Rachel had money because of her career, but acting and music aren't exactly stable careers so he always had a job just in case. Plus, he needed something to do with his time.

"I've got an interview next week with a school who needs a new history teacher and someone to run their choir."

"That's great, Finn." Quinn looked over at him and they shared a smile. Oh how far they've come.

"No one's talking about my awesome pool cleaning business, I see." Puck set his beer on the table.

"Oh please, regale us," I teased.

"Hey, I've got like 10 employees in Lima now and an office. I'd say I'm doing alright."

I saw a blonde pre-teen tug on Quinn's arm and Quinn looked up at her daughter.

"Hey Beth," she greeted.

"Hey, I just wanted to let you know mom and I are leaving."

Quinn let go of my hand so she could stand.

"Thank you for coming."

"Yeah, congrats on your wedding. I like Santana."

I smiled at that.

"I like her a little bit too. Tell Shelby I said thank you too."

"I will. Um… I was wondering if maybe when you get back from your honeymoon… do you think we could have dinner together?" Anyone could see Quinn's smile from a mile away. "Puck can come too if he wants."

Puck smiled too.

"Of course. As long as it's okay with your mom."

"I already asked her. She said it's fine."

"Then, why don't I call you when I get back and we can get Puck on the phone and make sure he can come to town?"

"Okay. Um… my mom's waiting. So I should go."

"Okay. I'm really glad you came, Beth."

"Me too." She paused. "Quinn, I missed you when you were away."

"I missed you too."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. More than you know."

"Are you and Santana gonna have kids?"

Quinn looked over at me for a moment and smiled before looking back.

"Some day."

"Well, maybe I can babysit sometimes since I'll be old enough and they'd be like my brother or sister kind of."

Quinn's smile expanded even further. I looked over at Puck who was staring at his daughter with the same expression.

"I think San and I would really like that."

"Okay. Well, I gotta go." She leaned in and wrapped her arms around Quinn's waist. Quinn hesitated for a moment and sighed before returning the gesture. God, Beth looked just like her. "Bye Puck," she said quickly before waving at him and walking off.

Quinn sat back down next to me and my arm instinctively went around her shoulder.

"You okay?"

"I'm great."

She looked over at Puck and they exchanged a glance that said "we did the right thing" without actually sharing the words. I think it was in this moment that I really finally understood how hard that was for her back then and how strong she's been this entire time especially when she was in London. Somehow, I love her even more.

Santana's POV:

Summer About 9 Years Ago:

"Hit send already, Q." I was holding the phone in front of Quinn's face. I had just dialed the number and was waiting for Quinn to work up enough courage to actually make the call.

"What if she doesn't want to talk to me?"

"Quinn, she's like 4. She talks to imaginary people. I think she'll talk to you."

Quinn hesitated for another moment before hitting the button and we listened to it ring on speaker.

"Hello?"

"Hi Shelby, it's Quinn."

"Oh hey Quinn, hold on. She's in her room. I'll get her."

"It's okay. If she's busy, I can call back."

Shelby laughed.

"She's always busy. She's in there dancing around. She sings too. It's pretty funny."

Quinn smiled at the thought. "She knows you're calling though." I heard Shelby yell Beth's name.

"Hello." Her voice was shaky from being out of breath.

"Beth?" Quinn asked more than greeted.

"Hi Quinn!"

Quinn laughed a little at Beth saying her name.

"Hi. How are you?"

"I'm good. I was just dancing. My mommy said you dance too. Do you dance?"

"Sometimes."

"Do you like dancing? I think it's fun."

"Yeah, it is fun."

"Do you want to come dance with me? I have this game that you dance too and the people move with you."

"If your mom says it's okay…"

"Mom! Can Quinn come dance with me now?"

Quinn didn't realize that she's four and cannot comprehend a request taking place in the future.

"Honey, Quinn's busy now, but she can come over any time she wants to dance with you."

"Really? Do you want to come over tomorrow, Quinn?"

"Shelby?"

"That's fine, Quinn. I usually come home around 4. Do you want to come for dinner?"

"Yeah, that would be great. Um… Shelby, I'm staying with Santana. Would it be okay if she comes along?"

"Quinn, I don't need too-" I tried to interject, but Quinn hit the mute button on the phone quickly.

"I need you too." She looked me straight in the eye with a kind of desperation I'd never seen before.

"Okay."

She took us off mute and I put my arm on her back to try to calm her nerves.

"It's fine with me if Santana comes," Shelby confirmed.

"Cool. Does Santana dance too? Beth asked.

"Yes, Santana is a great dancer. You should ask her to sing for you though. She's a great singer too."

"Maybe you and I can sing to her, Quinn." I rubbed her back.

She looked at me.

"I'd like that."

"Me too," Beth announced and I forgot for a moment she was even on the phone as I looked into Quinn's eyes.

"Okay. We'll see you tomorrow night then."

"Cool. I'm going now. Bye Quinn."

"Bye Beth."

"She's excited to see you, Quinn." Shelby said and the two of them shared their goodbyes and Quinn hung up the phone.

"You doing alright?"

"Yeah, she's pretty great, huh?" She smiled.

"She's your kid, Q. Of course she's great"

She set her phone on the table and returned her attention to the TV and the smile stayed on her face the rest of the night. I would know too because I pretty much couldn't take my eyes off her.