Up In The Air ch. 10
For about a week I made arrangements for my date with Rachel, wanting everything to be perfect because she deserves nothing less than the best but I'm nervous as fuck since it's been awhile since my last one. I had to ask Mercedes what the waitress' favorite foods were and looking up some of this stuff on the internet before finding places that serve it was a bit tricky but I manage to pull some strings. The ninos were a big help, giving me the inside scoop on what their mami likes to do for fun, mostly Bailey while Marley and Harmony gave me ideas on they liked to do but it did give me ideas for later to incorporate them in the future even I make it past this one. I know that I was probably driving Wheezy crazy all week but I want to prove to the tiny singer that I'm taking this relationship seriously, showing her that I care about her and that I'm worthy of her affections.
The night has finally come and I'm nervous as fuck but I have a good feeling about as I slip on the red dress that hugs my body like a glove, lightly curling my hair, putting on some perfume before making sure that I have everything as I head out. I step into my black Sedan in the direction of Rachel's apartment, listening to Amy Winehouse to calm my nerves because I want everything to be perfect for her as I'm normally not like this but there's something that draws to the mother of three. It's not like all the women that I'm around, she doesn't expect anything or want anything from me like the others although she didn't know who the hell I was when we met but thank god that hasn't changed when she found out. It's cute that her son's one of my biggest fan tho but Bailey's always cute.
The waitress was more than a bit hesitant about going out with me and I can't say that I fucking blame her after what her good-for-nuthin bastard of a husband did to her as I want to find him so I can beat the shit outta him. I know that looking for this fucker isn't gonna me or Rachel or the nino but every time I think about him, it just pisses me all the way off as I take a deep breath to calm myself because tonight isn't what this is about. I'm finally getting my date with the tiny singer and I'm not about to let anything or anyone get in the way of that as I pull in front of a familiar apartment complex, reaching behind the passenger's seat for the bouquet of sunflowers. I walk to three flights of stairs before knocking on the front door as it wasn't even five seconds before I'm nearly knocked over by the twins as Harmony starts talking a mile a minute.
I don't think she took a breath in the two minutes that she spent talking to me as I hug the both of them before sitting down on the couch when Bailey walks in, sketchbook in hand as the girls went to go check on their mother.
"Hey Bailey, what's up?" I asked smiling.
"Hi Santana, can we um talk?" Bailey asked serious.
"Of course, always" I said patting the next to me. "What do you wanna talk about?"
"It's about my mom. I like you a lot, Santana and I think that you could be good for her but my mom comes first. I don't want her to get hurt after what happened with my dad so if you can't promise that you won't leave or hurt her then you need to stop whatever you're doing"
"I understand Bailey, I really do and I want to do everything that I can to make her happy regardless if we end up together or not. Your mother's happiness means a lot to me but so you and your sisters. I can promise you that I'm not going anywhere because not even wild elephants could tore me away" I said placing my hand on his shoulder.
"I believe you because if you hurt my mom then you'll have to answer me" Bailey said puffing out his chest.
"Gotcha, you're a good kid and your mom's lucky to have you" I said kissing the top of his head.
"Thanks but I hope that your date well because I think that you could make her happy and I like having you around" Bailey said smiling.
"Thanks and regardless if me and your mother end up end together or not, I'm always gonna be here for you and your sisters. I care about you guys a lot"
"You promise? Promise that you won't up and leave?" Bailey asked appearing smaller than what he was.
I know that this kid is afraid of someone that cares about up and leaving him like his rat bastard of a father did and there's no telling who else walked on him growing up but I refuse to be one of those people. I care about his mother a lot but I also care about Bailey and his sister a great deal as they already worm their way into my heart and I'm going to be there for them no matter what regardless if me and his mother are dating or not.
"Listen Bails, I swear to you right now that I will always be there for you. No matter how far away I am, I will always come running when you call me" I said taking his face in my hands. "You can count on me so whenever you need me, I will be there rain or shine. I'm there so just say the word"
Bailey stares me in the eyes for a minute, wanting to be sure that I would be there before slowly smiling, wrapping his arms around my neck and after a minute or two, he pulls away as he clears his throat. I quietly laugh at how cute he's being, ruffling his short hair when I hear footsteps heading in our direction as I look up to see a vision of beauty, my breath getting caught in my throat. Honestly I don't know how I got so lucky and I know that everyone who's gonna see us is gonna be envious of me for having this gorgeous woman on my arm as she looks at me shyly. Rachel's wearing a champagne dress that looks like it was painted on, the right amount of makeup that brings out her natural beauty as her hair falls in waves and I know that I should be saying something but I'm complete awe. I yelp when I feel a sharp pain in my side to see Marley standing next to me before turning to the tiny singer, offering up the bouquet of flowers.
"Thank you Santana, they're beautiful but why sunflowers?" Rachel asked curious.
"I chose sunflowers because they remind me of you because like the sun, they're warm and bright. Like sunflowers, you brighten up my day and I cant help smiling when I think of you" I said laughing nervous. "Pretty cheesy I know but it's true"
"It isn't cheesy at all. It's quite sweet actually and thank you again" Rachel said kissing my cheek. "Let me put them in water then we can go"
"Smooth Lopez, real smooth" Bailey nods in acknowledgment.
Rachel returns, reminding the kids to be good for the babysitter before giving each of them a kiss on the cheek as they give me a discreet thumbs-up when their mother's back was turned. I offer my arm to the tiny singer, leading her to my car before opening the passenger's door, heading towards our first destination as the waitress tries to get me to tell her where we were going even resorting to pouting her lips. I somewhat manage to keep quiet despite how cute she was being, pulling up to the top of a cliff overlooking the city where a picnic blanket is laid out with a picnic basket and a bottle of champagne on ice. I get out first, opening the door for my date leading her to sit down on the blanket before opening the basket to pull out some vegan stir fry, chocolate covered strawberries and other things.
"I'm not sure if this is any good but I promise that it's eatable and I tried my best to cook something vegan. If it turns out bad, I'm apologizing ahead of time" I said rubbing the back of my neck nervously.
"You make this?" Rachel asked surprised.
"Y-Yeah, I wanted to do something unexpected and this is what I came up with. I wanted to-"
Thankfully she cut off me because I don't think I can handle me continuing to word vomit like but if she kisses me like that every time I do it then it's well worth it as I kiss her back. Rachel pulls back to look me in the eyes, smiling brightly before taking a bite out of the stir fry, letting out a small moan as I have to thank Puck for giving me the idea. Sometimes he does have a good idea every once in a while. I pop open the bottle of champagne, pouring it into two glasses before handing one to the waitress as we clink the glasses together. I look up at the sky to see that it's a clear night with the stars shining brightly and I'm glad that I checked the weather report, making sure that it wasn't going to rain or be cloudy. The moon's out too as the tiny singer's hair catches the moonlight at the right angle, making her even more beautiful than she already is as I don't know how long I've been staring but it must've been long enough for her to look up before ducking her eyes down shyly.
"Don't be embarrass, mi Reina. Not with me, I can't help staring at you because I trying to figure something out" I said smiling slightly.
"What would that be?"
"How I managed to get so lucky to have the most beautiful woman go out with me tonight? Even if it's only for one night, I'll treasure having you like this"
Rachel stares at me for a moment, trying to blink away some tears and I was starting to think that I had said too much too soon until she sets her plate down, wrapping her arms around my neck.
"I think that I'm the lucky one, no one has ever made me feel the way that you do and no one has gone this far for me"
"You know that I care about you, mi amor and I'll always be here for you in any way you'll allow me to be" I said kissing her temple.
"I know and thank you for being so being understanding. It's easy dating especially when you have three kids and I don't have the best track record when it comes to dating" Rachel said pulling back slightly.
"I'm not like all those idiots that let someone as amazing as you slip through their fingers and even if I don't get another chance to go out with you, I would love to have a place in your heart" I said pushing a lock of hair behind her ear.
"I would love to go out on another date with you if that's alright with you?" Rachel asked shyly.
"There's nothing that I would love more but lets finish this one first" I said grinning from ear to ear.
"Of course" Rachel said with a nod.
~Nicole The Dragon Rider signing off
End of ch. 10