My fingers trailed the length of her side, down the soft skin of the thigh propped up at an angle between us, and settled in the hand that twitched slightly as she splayed out.
"That tickles," she whispered through a sleepy smile.
"You're so beautiful. I couldn't resist."
"Mm, not complaining at all."
I scooted closer, lifting her thigh to rest against mine as I snuggled into her side. Her arm wrapped around my waist as she held me tightly.
"What do you wanna do today, fiancée?
Her dimples deepened as she thought.
"Everybody's getting together for lunch and a day of games. What do you say we see our friends?" Her ring glittered in the light as she caressed my fingers.
"Of course," I whispered, resting my ear against her heart as she rolled to her back and brought a hand to tangle in my hair.
"We should get dressed," she chuckled as I shook my head and buried it further against her warm chest. She patted my butt as she prodded me out of bed, "c'mon, B."
I marveled in the softness of her hair as I bobby-pinned her bangs to the side. I caught the shiver her body released as she enjoyed the feeling of my fingers against her scalp.
I brought my hands to rest against her cheeks, stealing a few kisses. I could feel her smile against my lips.
"Can I ask you a question?" She busied her hands in the lapels of my jacket.
"Always," I fixed the collar of her flowery blouse.
"What do you think of me performing at an open mic night?"
"Yeah? I'll be front row, throwing flowers to the stage. San, I'm so excited," I squeaked as I kissed her forehead.
"Tonight?" San barely let out the question.
I gasped as San ducked her head shyly.
I lifted her chin up to reassure her, "We'll all be right there with you."
We barely got through the door before Mercedes and Kurt were squealing over Santana's ring.
"How did it happen?" Kurt asked, holding both Santana's hands as he led her to the kitchen. Santana snorted at his eagerness.
Mercedes brought me in for a hug, wanting to know everything. A soft voice cut through the room and everyone turned to listen.
"We need to head out before we're late for our reservation," Quinn smiled as everyone filed for the door.
"Here's to Brittany and Santana on their engagement," Rachel raised her glass to clink.
I looked around the table to see our friends wiping tears, and I knew in that moment that this was the life I was destined to have and these were the people who were destined to be in it.
"Don't make me cry," I choked out as San rubbed my thigh under the table.
Santana cleared her throat as she spoke up, "So, I've never been one for the spotlight. I'm gonna shift it to Quinn and Rachel."
Quinn rolled her eyes good-naturedly.
"I'm one of Ohio's newest teachers. I got the elementary position I interviewed for." She said shyly as Rachel caressed and kissed her cheek.
Everyone cheered as Quinn nudged Rachel's shoulder.
"I, uh, got approved to start a singing and youth support program for needy kids."
We gasped as Rachel smiled brightly.
"This all deserves celebration, so I propose, after game night, that we go out and have fun." I grip San's hand for support.
"Movie/Musical Trivia. The clip plays once and you have ten seconds to answer. Let's split up evenly," Kurt said brightly as he popped the game in the DVD player.
The living room soon filled with excited yells and claps. And I'd be lying if I said Santana identifying every single sound clip correctly within five seconds didn't turn me the hell on.
"Okay, I have a serious question, San," Puck spoke up.
"Go for it," San smiled.
"Does blindness affect your hearing and memory? Because you're killing this game right now," Puck smiled and shook his head.
"It makes it easier for me to separate sound from the environment, and I do remember sounds through associating them with experience and emotions," she answered shyly.
"Well, it's amazing," Puck rubbed her shoulder.
"Aw, Puck does have a soft side," Artie jabbed.
I took a moment to whisper in San's ear, "Are you ready to head out? We need to go set up your music." She leaned into my lips as I laid a kiss to her ear.
"Mhmm."
"San and I are gonna run a quick errand before we go to the bar, so we'll see y'all there soon."
We arrived at the bar to set up the music and see the stage. Santana's hands trembled as she handed her CD to the manager.
"You okay?" I ran my hands up and down her arms to relax her shaking.
Her brow furrowed, but she nodded her head to reassure me that this is what she wanted.
"Will you walk me out on stage?"
"Of course."
"I can't believe I'm about to do this."
"You're an amazing singer. You're amazing, baby." I'll never be able to get enough of her voice. She was about to share the same voice that sang me to sleep multiple nights a week, the same voice that comforted me, the same, beautiful voice that never ceased to ground me.
She leaned her head against my chest so that my chin rested on top.
"They're all sitting at our table," I sighed and reached for her hand.
"Let's do this."
The manager stepped on stage to introduce open mic night.
"Hi, everybody! So, tonight is open mic night, and we have a special treat for. I'd like to welcome to the stage Ohio's very own Santana," the manager glanced back to us with a very bright smile.
Santana squeezed my hand as we made our way to her spot on the stage. I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pressed a kiss to her temple before handing her the microphone, and leaving the stage to join our friends.
"What's going on?" Quinn whispered with bright eyes. I just smiled.
I could see the tremble in her left hand holding the microphone, but she was smiling dimple-deep.
The music started as her voice broke through her nerves.
I swiped a tear from my cheek as goosebumps traveled down my arms. I looked back to see our friends looking back and forth from Santana to one another.
Her voice carried even without the help of the microphone, and everyone's jaws dropped. This was her moment.
She got her head in the clouds
And she's not backin' down
This girl is on fire
I could hear Rachel gasp as Santana carried the note. Our friends were sniffling and smiling as Santana wowed them.
I had never been more proud than in that moment that Santana found courage within herself to share her voice with our world. And, definitely not for the first time, my whole world gave me shivers.