A/N: A while ago I asked my IG followers to give me a line to start my next one shot with. This one stands alone, but also fits perfectly in my "Perfect Day" universe.
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"Oh my God, I can't believe this is happening!" Rachel exclaimed, twirling in front of the mirror in her golden NYADA gown.
"All of our hard work has finally reached the end goal!" Kurt grinned, wearing an identical graduation gown.
"Calm down Hummelberry," Santana rolled her eyes playfully. "While I'm somewhat jealous that I don't get an overpriced degree, I'm happy to say I didn't have to bust my ass writing dissertations like you two did. Just don't rub your degrees in my face aight?"
Rachel grinned widely and ran over to envelope Santana in a huge hug. "We couldn't have done this without you. Thank you so much for covering our shifts these past months."
Kurt happily joined them and sandwiched Santana in the middle of the group hug. "Ditto, we love and appreciate you Satan."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Get off me before one of my razor blades falls out and cuts you," Santana grumbled with a small smile.
"We've lived together for three years now and the only razors you have are the ones you hide in your boots," Rachel quipped.
"Your Lima Heights badassery doesn't work with us anymore," Kurt added.
Santana chuckled and patted them both on the back. God these theatre losers really softened me up. Some three years.
Their heart-warming roommate bonding moment was broken by a sudden flash accompanied by a giggle.
"Aww look at you guys, I almost didn't recognize Snix in the middle of that friendship bubble!" Quinn teased, sauntering over to them in her own Yale blue gown.
Santana looked over to where the curtain pulled open and immediately her breath caught in her throat. Rachel gasped and Kurt clapped excitedly in the background but their sounds were drowned out as Santana dragged her eyes up and down her gorgeous girlfriend. The soon to be Ivy League graduate wore a white shona dress under the nearly black graduation gown and she nearly rivalled all the angels in heaven, or so Santana thought.
By the time she finished appreciating all the favors the dress was doing and made eye contact with striking hazel eyes, Quinn wore a playful smirk, almost like she knew exactly what Santana was thinking. Jesus Christ, that's my future wife.
"Oh my, Grace Kelly has nothing on you, Miss Fabray. I knew white was the color to go," Kurt smiled proudly.
"Quinn, you look amazing," Rachel gushed.
Quinn let out a small laugh. "You guys look great too. And yes, good call Kurt."
Rachel squealed and bounced on her feet. "I can't believe we're finally graduating, it seems like we left Lima ages ago!"
Santana seemed to have regained her breath as Kurt looked over at her expectantly when she kept quiet. Her eyes hadn't left Quinn's the whole time. Finally she cleared her throat as her cheeks began warming up. "Y-yeah."
Kurt smirked knowingly, not only did he know of Santana's plan for the evening, but he had also styled Quinn accordingly. It felt great to be in the know of such a monumental occasion. "We should go now. It'll take us at least 45 minutes to get to Central Park, perfectly in time for golden hour."
Rachel was the first out the door, needless to say she was excited to post to Facebook some graduation selfies she'd already taken. Kurt followed her tracks and laughed when the brunette almost danced excitedly into a elderly man down the hall. Quinn and Santana trailed behind them and locked up the loft.
Santana's heartbeat quickened as their fingers interlaced and they exited the apartment, enroute to their destination. Her other hand rubbed over the small object in her jumpsuit pocket ever so often.
"Cat's got your tongue?" Quinn asked.
Santana looked up and squeezed her hand. "Just thinking about how proud I am of you."
Quinn bit her lip trying to contain a growing smile. "Thank you. I'm proud of you too, you know that right?"
"I know," Santana shrugged.
"I am," Quinn said firmly. "Just because you didn't finish school doesn't mean you're any less successful than us. You've sung backup for Mercedes and Ariana Grande and I'm so proud to be on your arm when you take me to those Hollywood parties."
Santana grinned at those words. "I am pretty awesome, aren't I?"
Quinn rolled her eyes good naturedly. When in doubt, her girlfriend was always open to receiving praise. "You are, baby."
"Copy. Not to mention my girlfriend is an Ivy grad, hot and smart. Those guys at the studio are gonna be even more jealous of me now," Santana winked. "By the way, you're killing it in that dress."
Quinn's shoulder length golden hair tossed back as her cheeks grew a light pink and Santana's never been more certain she wanted to be the reason behind that laughter forever. The nerves she'd felt all week faded away. This was exactly where she wanted to be for the rest of her life; by Quinn's side throughout their accomplishments and their hurdles. Throughout the good and the bad. God knew in the three years they'd been together, they experienced plenty of both.
With the long distance, Quinn's grueling schoolwork, and Santana's constant traveling, many weeks were spent apart rather than in each other's company. Somehow they found a way to make it work. Of all the things they'd messed up on in their lives, they both knew what they had was something worth fighting for. (Even if that meant sometimes fighting with each other.)
Frenemies turned hook-up turned lovers… who would've thought?
Some three years, Santana chuckled to herself as they entered Central Park through 81st St.
Quinn looked over at her curiously and Santana just smiled, lifting their conjoined hands and placing a kiss on the back of Quinn's. They continued walking and laughing at Kurt's poses as Rachel snapped photos.
They stopped and spent some time on the Great Lawn and Turtle Pond to take pictures for the three graduates. As the minutes went by, Santana's palms grew slightly clammy. She couldn't help but look back on their journey together.
Between their high school graduation to now Quinn's nearing university graduation, their relationship made world's of strides. Just four short years ago, Santana was without direction getting ready to "shake pom poms in Kentucky", as Quinn had so eloquently put it. Now, she had everything she could've possibly ever imagined. Supportive friends, a rising career, and a steadfast partner who challenged her and made every day purposeful.
It wasn't long before the sky was coloured with beautiful orange and pink rays from the west side and Kurt demanded to get some individual shots of 'Quinntana'. So, they made their way over to Bethesda Terrace, afterall, Santana's girlfriend always had a penchant for classic architecture.
Surprisingly it was fairly empty and Santana let out a sigh of relief for it. The mischievous glint in Kurt's eye and the grin on Rachel's face hadn't left them all day. In fact, they seemed to grow in size as Santana and Quinn stood together, arms around each other smiling for the camera. Kurt managed to capture a few candid shots of them gazing at each other adoringly and Santana fixing Quinn's cap until Rachel came forward to take the graduation accessories from them.
Santana glanced down at her phone one last time, skimming through good luck texts from former New Directioners and her parents as she balled up her courage. What the fuck, why did no one ever tell me this was gonna be this scary?
By the time Quinn turned back from shedding her cap and gown, she looked more beautiful than ever and Santana had to swallow back a ragged breath.
The woman who stood before her was everything she wanted for better or for worse.
It didn't matter that Quinn gave up a baby at 16 or was paralyzed at 18. It didn't matter that sometimes she still hurt over that baby or still got back pains from that god awful accident. Santana loved those stretch marks and scars as those experiences were what molded Quinn. They made Quinn, Quinn. For those crappy cards that life dealt to her, Santana wished she were able to go back in time and be there for her. But alas, Brittany's time machine didn't work and so Santana was going with the next best thing. She made a silent promise a long time ago that she would never miss out on any more of Quinn's life. For better or for worse.
Today, she was going to solidify that promise.
"Tana?" Quinn called, her voice full of concern as she sensed Santana's anxiousness.
Santana took a deep breath before slowly pulling out a small box. She carefully knelt down on one knee and presented the ring.
Quinn froze with shock.
Rachel's eyes widened in anticipation.
Kurt watched the scene unfold through the Canon camera.
"Quinn…" Santana breathed. "Three years ago, I told you I loved you for the first time. Today, I'm telling you I'll love you forever. You are the strongest and most independent person I know, you don't need anyone or anything… but I want to be a safe space for when you're worn out and need a home to come back to. You love me for all that I am and you've been my home for a long time now..." she swallowed as her eyes welled up. Damn it, get a grip Santana.
Quinn covered her mouth and her hazel eyes sparkled with tears.
"You are my best friend, my lover, and sometimes my worst enemy…" Santana chuckled tearfully. "What I want to say is, you're it for me, Quinn. Will you marry me?"
A few beats of silence passed. Santana's knee was going numb.
She swallowed nervously as Quinn's tears began to spill.
"Yes…" Quinn whispered, barely audible. "Oh my god, yes!" She sobbed.
Santana choked back a cry of relief as her face broke out into a massive smile. She stood up and before she could slide the ring onto Quinn's finger, her fiancée pulled her in and connected their lips in a fierce kiss.
Kurt and Rachel erupted in cheers as did a few other bystanders.
"I love you so much," Quinn breathed out when they finally broke apart.
Santana leaned their foreheads together as she wiped away Quinn's tears. "I love you, baby," she grinned. "I'm gonna marry the hell outta you."
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Thoughts?
PS. Google Bethesda Terrace proposal if you'd like to see what I envisioned for Santana's proposal :)