Vengeance

by crushed2

Santana Lopez grew up in a dangerous world. Brittany Pierce grew up facing a different set of dangers. When both Santana's first love and Brittany's childhood friend die their worlds are set on a collision course that could end in retribution, or something far more rewarding.

49. Chapter 49

It was in the early hours of the morning that Santana urged her grandfather to go to bed and she returned to her suite. She thought that she would find Brittany sound asleep in bed, and she would crawl in behind her just as she would do for the rest of her life. Instead she found her wide awake, laughing loudly with Danny as Lord Tubbington curled up at her side.

"Hey guys. Hi Danny, glad you all made it in okay. Did Blaine and Imani get here yet?" Santana asked, giving Danny a tight hug.

"Imani did, but Blaine had to catch a later flight, he covered a shift for a friend at the hospital. He will be here later today."

"Great. Well I'll let you two catch up. I'm going to get ready for bed."

"No, I think I'll be heading out too. Just came by to annoy Tink. It's been a long day, I better get some sleep. I want to pick up Blaine at the airport since I made it in before him."

"Awww what a gentleman," Santana smiled, remembering the time that Brittany picked her up from the airport looking all cute in her cap.

"It's the least I can do," Danny replied, unwilling to admit how excited he was that Blaine was flying in for the wedding. He really is hoping it's about him and not about another free trip. Danny still has his trust issues. Still, he has the feeling that it's more about him, though, and he's choosing to trust those feelings.

Santana smiled, but chose not to tease Danny. She understood that this was a big step for him, to take a chance and try and find a healthy relationship. Santana understands that as much as anyone, as she looks softly at Brittany who managed to give her all she's ever dreamed of and more. Danny's never had that before. Hopefully, he will have one now that he has a second chance at life.

"Well I'm glad you guys made it in. Can't wait to catch up with you all when the sun comes up. I'll make some calls, set up a breakfast for us all. What time is Blaine expected in? I'll make sure you're fed before you leave to get him."

"Don't worry Santana, this weekend is about you two, it's not work. We're going to party and have the time of our lives, and then we're going to watch you two cross that finish line and start a new chapter of your lives together."

Santana smiled and kissed the man on the cheek.

"Goodnight Danny. Still gonna order breakfast. 9:30 good for you?"

Danny laughed, "Yes Mrs. Pierce," Danny replied, shaking his head.

"Mrs. Lopez- Pierce," Santana replied with a huge grin before turning to go to the bedroom and grab her night clothes.

When Santana emerged from the bathroom Danny had already left, and Brittany came to join her in the bedroom.

"So, who knew that you would turn out to be the most adorable woman in the world after you pulled a gun in my face?"

"What are you talking about?"

Brittany showed Santana the picture on her phone that Juan had sent her.

"Oh my goodness," Santana blushed. "How did you get that?"

"Your father sent it to me."

"He's just murdering all of my street cred."

"Your secret is safe with me."

"Sorry I missed bath time." Santana kissed Brittany softly on the lips.

"Hey, if a founder of a crime family and his gun slinging granddaughter want to have a cuddle I fear for the person who objects."

"He's a shipping magnate" Santana said cheekily.

"Riiiggghhhtt," Brittany replied.

"Our friends are here Britt. It's really about to happen."

"Yes it is. You getting cold feet on me?"

"Never, mi amor."

"So I guess you liked your surprise?"

"I love you so much, Britt. I can't believe my abuelo is here and I have so much to tell you about our meeting."

"I just want to see you happy."

"I'm happier than I've ever been Brittany."

The two cuddled into bed together and called it a night, knowing that the day ahead held a lot of crazy surprises.

The next morning Santana woke up early to organize a breakfast for everyone as promised. Once she finished she text Luciana to see if she was awake. She was pretty sure that she and Quinn would be together and so she didn't just want to knock and bother her as she would normally do, and so she text her and waited until she replied.

Luciana replied quickly.

L- What's up Ana? Ready for tonight?

S- No

L- It won't be that bad.

S- Can you make some time for me today?

L- I'm your maid of honor. I'm basically your bitch for the next three days

S- LOL I will not monopolize your time.

L - What do you need?

S- Nothing urgent. Ordering breakfast now.

L- This is your weekend, let me handle things like that.

S- It's just a phone call. I got it.

L- So we'll talk after breakfast if you want.

S- Not if you and Quinn have plans.

L- Yeah, we're going to get married by an Elvis impersonator at noon.

S- Woah, I'm all shook up

L- LOL, that was horrible.

S- yeah it was.

L- My parents and my brothers aren't here yet and neither is Blaine. They will be here in the afternoon so don't order anything for them.

S- I know about Blaine. Don't worry, got it covered.

L- Okay see you soon.

S- Tell Quinn I said good morning

L- Who said Quinn was here?

S- She's probably underneath you right now.

L- I will neither confirm nor deny that statement

S- LOL

L- See you soon, Ana

S- See ya, Luc

Santana had them set up breakfast the way that they had become accustomed to, and she personally went down to her abuelo's suite and brought him and his bodyguard up for breakfast. She happily introduced him to everyone and he beamed at having his granddaughter show him off to everyone. He was amazed at how much Luciana had grown as well, remembering her from the times her family joined the Lopezes on their visits to Cuba. Ignacio considered the the Rodriguezes family, the family of his son's best friend, a family that would not exist had he not spared Pedro's life.

Every day he's glad that he spared that life. Pedro turned out to be an invaluable friend and partner who allowed his son the ability to exit their lifestyle, and his daughter turned out to be a loyal best friend to the grandchild he loves so much. Pedro turned out to be an even greater gift to his family than he had anticipated.

After breakfast everyone retired to their suites to prepare for the day. The rest of the guests would be there by the afternoon and then they would prepare for whatever shenanigans Robbie had prepared for the evening. He had assured Santana that it would just be fun and a few drinks and laughs with old and new friends. Santana hopes that's the case, but with both Nickolas and Robbie involved she's not so sure.

It was only an hour and a half later when Brittany got the call from Erik that her mormor had arrived. Brittany had grown to truly love the old woman and how she made it her business to speak to Brittany at least once a week. Brittany relished in the love and even if she doesn't say it Santana knows that it means the world to her that the older woman loves her so much. Brittany smiled brightly and Santana knew that she would want to go and greet her. Santana thought that this would be a good time to speak with Luciana once Brittany was with Susan.

Brittany kissed Santana and told her that she would be back soon, and Santana informed her that she was inviting Luciana over. Brittany would give them ample time to talk. Santana text Luciana and asked her to meet her at her suite in 30 minutes, and 30 minutes later Brittany left to spend time with Susan. It was only a few minutes later that Luciana knocked on Santana's door.

"Ana!" Luciana said, pulling Santana into a hug. "How are you?"

"I'm good Luc," Santana said, smiling and squeezing her old friend tightly.

"Are you in full panic mode again? Wardrobe malfunction? Your maid of honor is here," she smiled.

"No, everything is cool. Just wanted some time with my best friend."

"Oh shit, sentimental Santana esta aqui," Luciana laughed waving her hand at her friend.

"Callate, Luciana. You look tired, you okay?"

"A lot of travel and a little sleep," Luciana wiggled her eyebrows.

Santana laughed, "So you and Quinn are doing good, verdad?"

"Si, muy bueno."

"Happy to hear that. Come on, sit." Santana said, taking Luciana's hand and walking towards the couch where she sat beside her. They chatted casually for a few more minutes, flashbacks of a time when they would spend hours in her room dreaming of a future they could have never imagined would look like this.

Santana was happy to have this moment alone with Luciana. She had noticed that while she seemed upbeat she also seemed a bit melancholy at times. That's how it always seemed with Luciana since she returned to her life, and she was hoping that this conversation would change that, or begin to change that. She had a feeling that pain lingered in her the way it once lingered in Santana, and it was time to help her set it free for good.

She wanted to talk to her, give her someone to mourn with if she needed, give her closure. Everyone was worried about Santana, but nobody truly understood what Luciana was going through, that she had not simply lost her best friend. Only Robbie and Danny knew. Only they knew what Luciana and Valentina never even confirmed to one another with words. They said 'I love you' a million times, and hid it behind their friendship. They were in love with one another, and that love deserved to be honored. Santana was going to help her friend honor that love.

"So Ana, ready for tonight?"

"As ready as I'm going to get."

"Don't worry, I told Robbie not to plan any frat boy shit."

"Yeah, but did you tell that to Brittany's brothers? A Robbie and Nickolas cocktail sounds very dangerous."

"Yeah, that's true," Luciana laughed.

"Luc, I asked you to come here so that we could talk."

"What's the matter Santana?" Luciana asked, genuinely concerned.

"I had a conversation with Robbie yesterday, did he tell you?"

"He told me you spoke."

"Did he tell you why?"

"He said you were thinking about Valentina, and you needed to talk to someone about it."

"And did he tell you why, Luciana?"

"That's all he said on the matter."

Santana sighed. "Luc, let's talk about Valentina. Let's talk about everything." Santana said, taking Luciana's hands.

"What do you mean?"

"Remember in that letter you wrote to me you said that you hoped that we would both grow enough to be able to talk about anything with each other? I think we've grown enough, Luc. I think I'm ready to say some tough things to you, and to hear some tough things in return."

"Why would you want to do this now, Santana? You're about to get married."

"It's time, Luc."

"Why?"

"I spoke to Maria Ramirez. I won't force you Luciana, I can't, but I realized something. Since I came back into your life I've been overprotective of you. I've been wanting you to find happiness, to settle down. Something has been eating at me, nagging me. Something felt wrong. At first I thought that it was us, the things that we had to resolve. Now I know it's not us, it's the fact that we're sisters. It's the fact that I can feel your pain and I didn't understand what that pain was. I think I understand it now, and I think I can help ease it Luciana."

"What are you talking about Santana?"

"Valentina left me a letter."

"What?" Luciana asked, shocked.

Santana freed one hand and reached up and touched Luciana's shoulder.

"Valentina knew she was going to die. We all knew that. She left Maria a letter for me with instructions to give it to me when I fell in love again if anyone ever found me. I'm getting married, and so Maria gave me my letter."

"She left you a letter?" Luciana asked softly.

"I know you loved each other, more than you dared to share even with one another. I also know why, and I know that you don't know everything either. It has all been so confusing, these past few years, but it's not confusing for me at all anymore, and I feel the greatest peace because of that. I want to share that with you, and more, because I love you Luciana. Let me share the gifts I have with you, and you don't have to speak until you're ready, and you don't have to speak at all if you don't want to. If you're willing to talk, just let me know what you need. I will start or you can. Luc, you helped me so much with Brittany, with getting through losing Valentina, and some things didn't make sense, I didn't even think twice about it, until now."

"Like what?"

"Like the night Danny came home, when my mother told Brittany that she needed me and so I shouldn't stay with her that night. She told me to ask you to stay with me, not Robbie, just you and I. I saw Robbie holding you, and you looked wrecked inside. I didn't get it. I thought you had lost your best friend and that was what I was seeing. It wasn't. You had lost the woman you loved, and even I got to go to her funeral from afar. You didn't get to say goodbye and it tore you apart. You hid it well, but mostly because I wasn't ready to see it. Now that I think back, now that I've talked to Robbie and Danny and my parents and Maria, now that I've heard what Valentina had to say, now I can see it, Luc, and I'm sorry. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. Apparently everyone knew, even my parents, what you two had become. I wish I had known, that I had truly understood, so that we could have mourned properly together, so that I could have taken care of you the way that you took care of me. I'm so sorry, hermana."

Luciana was sobbing, and so Santana just held her close, let her rest her head on her chest, and let it all out.

"I have some things to tell you, now that I know everything I can possibly know. Now that the pieces of the puzzle have been put together, but the first thing I want to tell you is that Valentina was in love with you, as in love with you as she had ever been with me."

"Santana..."

"She told me, Luc. She told me she was in love with you, it may have been different because of the circumstances. She may have held a love for me that wouldn't die, but she was in love with you Luc, deeply and romantically in love, and she was looking forward to being with you for the rest of her life. She didn't want anyone else, Luc. She even said it was selfish of her but she needed you, she wanted you for herself."

"You're lying..."

"You know me better than that, Luc."

Luciana felt angry. She pulled her hand away from Santana's.

"Then why didn't I get a letter, Santana? Why didn't I get a goodbye? Why didn't she ever just say it and stand by it? Bullshit Ana, she loved you and only you. I was just a place holder. Everybody says it. Even I accept it."

Santana took Luciana's hand in hers again and rubbed it. "Luc, it was a lie, a lie she had to tell. This is the truth, and I'm here giving it to you now because it's the whole truth and I think you need it even more than I do now."

"Why did you get a goodbye and I didn't?" Luciana sobbed.

"Because I needed it, and you didn't hermana. Because she never wanted to say goodbye to you, because she planned to have you for the rest of her days and never let you go and in those days she planned to show you how she really felt about you. Every day you had together she made the most of, she cherished. She told you, showed you, she loved you in the best way she was allowed. Let me tell you what I've learned, what I know, and then you can ask any questions you may have left. Then we can cry together, for the woman we both loved, and we can cry for you, Luciana, because nobody ever has, and you deserve to be seen, to be acknowledged. We see you, my mami saw you, Robbie and Danny see you, but everyone had to play the game that Valentina set the rules for. Valentina is gone. Luis and the Martinezes are gone. Game over. Now the whole truth can be told. Everybody cared for me, and they kept you secret, in the shadows. This letter was written to me, but she wrote it to let you out of the shadows, hermana. No more lies. None, and before I tell you Valentina's story, before I get married, can I tell you mine?"

Luciana was still quiet, still gently weeping, but she shook her head and encouraged Santana to continue.

"When I left like I did, and didn't look back, it was because I loved you, Luc. Not as a friend. I was falling for you and I knew that you were falling for me but I couldn't stay. I couldn't do this weird thing of starting something new with you when I hadn't gotten over her, hadn't processed it. I thought I was confused, but I was even more afraid when I realized that I wasn't. When I saw you in Chicago and you said that you would have left with me, I knew that you would, and I wanted you to. I was afraid, afraid I would wake up one morning and discover it was just a rebound and then I'd really have to break your heart. Worse even, I was afraid that you would find someone better for you than I was and you would have let me go. It was easier to keep pretending we were just fucking until the end, but it didn't go unnoticed by me that while we were not committed to one another, neither of us had an appetite for other women. I was in love with you, Luc, and when I left I had to get over both of you. That's why I didn't call or write. I couldn't understand how I had gotten myself into such a mess, of mourning the loss of one woman and then by the time I left mourning you both. So I stayed away from everyone, even Robbie, because I needed to find myself again, Luc. I needed to make sense of my heart."

Luciana just looked into Santana's eyes, and she knew that her friend was telling her the truth, and like she said, the truth made it all feel so much better, especially when Santana didn't turn away and hide as she had done in the past. The first woman Luciana loved just told her that she loved her back, and not as a sister, and suddenly Luciana didn't feel like she was just a placeholder for everyone in her life.

"I know you loved me Luc, and I know how you wanted me when I first came out. I know it influenced you to come out as well, I guessed, so that we might have the chance to be together but it didn't work out that way. I want you to know that before there was Valentina, there was you. You were my awakening. You were the first girl I ever had a crush on. That girl who you stop having friendship feelings for and just have feelings. I was so fucking confused Luc, but you were my sister. Our whole lives our parents raised us as sisters, as family. Not only did I like girls, I liked the one girl I should never like that way. Dealing with being a lesbian was enough, how do I tell everyone not only do I love girls but that I'm also in love with the best friend that was raised along side me like we were blood? That was too much information to process, too many confessions to make, and so I banged every cute girl who came my way, because I couldn't have the one I wanted."

"Santana..."

"Yeah, brave Santana Lopez has always been a bit of a coward when it comes to love."

"Don't say that, Ana."

Santana smiled softly at Luciana. This was the side she had fallen for, the soft and vulnerable side she only shared with her back then. Santana looked into Luciana's eyes and continued.

"So when Valentina professed her love to me, well I was okay with that. Valentina was always such a wounded soul. I could convince myself that I was the strong one, the brave one. She was fucking gorgeous, and sweet, and smart, and one of my very best friends, and almost instantly it felt right, it felt okay. It was someone I could be with and have real feelings with, and in no time my crush was placed aside and I had Valentina and you and I made sense again. I was giving up one of my friendships for something more, but I still had my very best friend, my sister, because we were always meant to be sisters, that's what we were raised as. The world was right again. I had convinced myself that falling for you was all because I was discovering I was a lesbian but it wasn't. I found out that it wasn't about that on coming out night, it was about these feelings I had for you that I needed to explore, and that accepting I was a lesbian and being with other girls would not make them just go away. Even in my conflicted state, in my anger, in my pain, I felt something, and it was something I couldn't understand. You thought that I told you that I would never love you because of Valentina. I said that because of me, to try and keep my own emotions in check. I didn't choose you that night because it would hurt Val the most. Anybody I was with would have hurt her. I chose you because I wanted you, Luc, if even for just one night. Once I had you one night wasn't enough."

Luciana was shocked. This was not the Santana Lopez she knew. The Santana Lopez that would guard her feelings and thoughts so closely. Luciana knew that Santana was speaking about the past, that what they were discussing had no bearing on the present. Still, it all needed to be said. She was right, and when Santana finished she would have her say too, finally.

"So that's why I stayed away from you Luciana, and because I didn't call you I wouldn't call Robbie. He was the only safe person in Miami for me. I had my issues with my parents, and my feelings for you and Val, and the only person I didn't have an issue with was Robbie, except for the fact that contacting him would destroy my ability to make a clean break. I loved you all too much for my broken heart to take at the time."

Santana paused and allowed Luciana to digest it all. This was the easy part, the hard part would be talking to her about why Valentina felt she had to die, and why Santana discovered that maybe she was right.

"I spoke to Brittany, after reading Valentina's letter, after speaking to Maria and Robbie and even Danny, after finally putting the entire puzzle together. I spoke to her about you, about these feelings I'm confessing to you now. Valentina knew how I felt about you, you can ask Maria. Robbie knew everything, he knew us all too well not to know. Even Danny knew. She had a deep friendship with both Robbie and Danny, and they both said that Valentina knew that I had fallen in love with you. She finally confessed it to Robbie that she knew I had fallen for you. She saw it in my eyes, she saw me look at you how I looked at her, and according to Robbie that hurt more than what happened in that bedroom between us that night, but she came to accept it and understand it and even appreciate that we had one another when we needed each other by the time she died."

"Ana," Luciana started, so many emotions running through her body. "You have no idea how long I wanted to hear you say that. It means the world to me, because I don't think that I hid the fact that I loved you very well, and while it's true that those romantic feelings faded away I needed to know that my first love was real, so thank you for that."

"Thank you for knowing me well enough to not feel broken by my inability to say that to you back when I should have said it to you."

"I understand you Ana."

"You always have, Luc," Santana said, kissing Luciana softly on her forehead. "Brittany said that I should tell you, tell you everything, because she and I have had the chance to have these beautiful healing experiences, and we understand how they can change your life. I thought about you and Quinn, about you fighting what you were feeling, and I couldn't help but wonder what part Valentina and I played in that, in that fear. I want to fix what we broke, what we damaged in you, and I know that Val would want me to do that for the both of us, since she couldn't say it herself when she was alive. I've moved forward, and now you get to move forward, too."

"That day you came to see me in Chicago, the day I kissed you on the lips, I just needed to know for sure that those feelings had passed. I'm glad that they had, because I could see that something was happening between you and Brittany, and it would have been the same mess all over again, but I needed to know Ana."

"Yeah, and I'm glad you did that too, because I needed to be sure as well, and I didn't have the courage to test the waters. That's why I love you Luc, you did it respectfully and we learned all we needed to learn in a sweet kiss. It's like you knew that I needed that question answered as much as you did. I didn't need another confusing situation of falling for Brittany and still having feelings for anyone else. I also want to thank you for not allowing me to run from Brittany, for calling her over and forcing me to face her. She didn't deserve that and your letter helped me understand why you did it, because I once ran away from you, and you knew how much it would hurt Brittany, and you knew how much I could lose in the process. Only the best of friends would do that for someone who hurt them so much."

"We were kids Santana, just kids trying to figure everything out. I don't hold any of that against you."

"I know, hermana, and I appreciated your help. I realize now that I was already over Valentina as well, and I was already falling hard for Brittany. I was just holding on to the pain because I didn't know how to let it go. Her dying felt like such a brutal way to acknowledge that I had let her go. It was easier to fall in love with her all over again rather than to feel like I betrayed her by truly moving on. I understand now. I had a lot of growing up to do."

"And you did, Ana. You really did grow so much, and it's not all because of la rubia. She was simply your motivation. She was your healthy distraction, she was your glimpse of what a relationship could look like, and I'm glad you held on tight to her when you found her. You've always been a smart one."

Santana smiled. "I'm glad we had this talk Luciana. I never thought we would. I convinced myself that we never had to, but it was needed, and long overdue."

"Yes it was," Luciana smiled.

"And this conversation is long overdue as well. Luciana, Valentina loved you with all of her heart. She couldn't tell you because it would have had the same consequences as her falling in love with me. I spoke to Danny, and she admitted it to him as well, she talked about how she felt about you often he said. That's why when he set up a place for you two to run to if things got hectic and something happened to him you were included in those plans. It was never really meant for it to be a place where she ran away with you. It was always meant to be a place to keep only you safe. Val knew that if she told you that it was just for you that you would never leave her behind. She also knew that she could never run, never hide. She was the one keeping the Ramirez family in line, so that the cartel didn't kill them and everyone who worked with them and maybe their families, too. She could never run so that a war didn't start. So that the Lopez family did not have to retaliate, and pay a price for asking the cartel for permission to take out a boss, to eliminate not one but two families. The Martinezes and Ramirezes became one and would have to be dealt with as one, and that would have cost my father a lot. He would still be working for them to repay them to this day, and for the rest of his life, if he needed permission to eliminate them under less extreme circumstances than the ones that later came to light. So the safe house, it wasn't only a place to hide in case something happened to Danny, it was a place for you to lay low when something happened to Val. She wanted to know that whatever fallout came did not include you dying. She couldn't rest unless she knew that you would be safe. She did not want to tell you how truly convinced she was that her death would prevent a war. She was right though, Luc. She was absolutely right. I spoke to my papi about it, and everything they had planned would have caused a huge fallout, and most likely a war."

"So what if she would have let the Ramirezes die..."

"You don't see it, not yet, because you wanted everything to turn out okay. Let's say you and I left, that would have been ideal, if Luis Ramirez wasn't crazy. Things were calm for a short time, because I left and Valentina submitted to their will. Even if you hadn't come along, apparently, according to Danny, he was coming for the Lopezes somehow. Manuel still had a hit out on me to start a war and eliminate his competition and as you know you had an envelope with your things in it as well so you were not safe. Luis also wanted to sabotage shipments. He wanted to have me beaten and raped in front of Valentina. He wanted the Lopezes to suffer. He wanted my father, the Lopez family, eliminated. He'd never have Miami as long as my papi and yours had power. His hatred, along with Manuel's deceptions, would have one day provided that war, and men on both sides, even civilians, could have died. Do you think the cartel would have believed Valentina and Maria if they said he was losing his mind? No, they would have watched him, but as long as he and the Martinezes made them money, as long as Manuel would handle the expansion, it would take a lot to change things. You or I would have had to die, and still the cartel would have been reluctant. They would have eventually given in to my father, but that would have also come at a great cost to the Lopez family. They would have owned our fathers forever. Valentina kept things stable, and the events of her death, the messiness of it all, the stars aligning and my papi bringing Rojas in and making an alliance with the Viking... well no war, and no deaths, and no spotlight on cartel business. The Martinezes disappeared clean, Ramirez is the only suspect, and he killed himself. My papi is out and tio Pedro may be out one day as well. It was clean, and the Lopezes run Miami. None of that would have happened had Valentina not contained the situation. Valentina knew her father's heart. She was friends with Danny, and Danny knew what Miguel was up to, and also Manuel since he was Carlos' lover. Everything fell into place, and it was all because Valentina played her part. She may have survived, but the chances were always slim. It would have always come down to luck, and luck wasn't on her side."

"Santana, what do you mean Luis was going to have you raped and beaten?"

"It was to be my punishment for making his daughter an abomination. Can you imagine what the Lopez family would have done if such a threat came out about any of us, the number of bodies that would have followed? The tax they would have had to pay the cartel for the carnage? My papi just found out and he's probably sending someone to kill Ramirez's plants tonight."

"Oh Val," Luciana finally sobbed, the truth about Chicago sinking in. "Santana, she knew she would never make it to Chicago with me? She had Danny do that to protect me?"

"It was always just for you, Luciana. She loved you with all of her heart, and she was protecting us both, and she had to do it quietly lest our fathers would have found out and struck first, which would have had devastating results. She couldn't tell us, she couldn't risk it. We were Lopezes, always, and we expected her to be loyal to the Lopezes at all costs. She was, and in some way she was loyal to the Ramirezes too. She kept the peace for as long as she could, one brave girl with no power but enough power to hold her fucked up universe together long enough for it to right itself. What else could she do? Record her father and go to the cops? Bodies would have been everywhere. Record her father so the cartel would believe he was threatening us? The cartel may have warned him but it may not have stopped him and you know they would have killed Val and Maria just for taping him. They eliminate anyone they think would have the potential to gather evidence and snitch. She thought it out, Luc, and it really was the only chance she had when she married Manuel and contained the situation."

"Val..." Luciana said, tears streaming down her beautiful face.

"More importantly, that was the reason she could never promise herself to you, not even in part. It's why she could never admit to being in love with you. It's why she could only leave your heart wondering, because to tell you would be to create the exact same dangers that I faced when we were together. You had dangers of your own, because of Manuel, but at least Luis wasn't obsessed with you. At least he wasn't threatening to have you raped and beaten. The arrangement with Manuel was enough to make Luis feel okay about sticking his head in the sand about what you and Valentina were really doing."

Luciana was sobbing hard again. Soon, she composed herself enough to speak.

"And remind me again, why I didn't tell her that I loved her, not in the way she needed to hear? Why didn't I ask her to run away, be with me? Remind me Santana, where the fuck my head was."

"You knew, Luciana, that you can't take a man like Manuel Martinez's wife from him without repercussions. You knew that you could not embarrass Luis Ramirez that way. You knew the price would be our fathers defending you, and the results would mean war. You loved her like you could, you told her with your touch, just as she told you. You knew, didn't you hermana? You knew how she felt."

"I knew she loved you, it's all I knew for sure."

"She hid behind me. So did you. You both loved me once, but in the end you loved one another, and that makes me both happy and sad. I'm glad you loved one another, but I'm so sad that you had to do it so secretly that you couldn't even admit it to each other."

"I knew..." Luciana finally admitted softly. "Deep inside. Part of me thought that it was only a dream of mine, that it couldn't really be true."

"And you knew that she knew..."

"Yes, deep inside."

"That's why you didn't get a letter, Luc. You didn't need one, she knew if you looked inside your heart and listened to it you always knew how she felt about you. You knew, and you told each other every time you touched one another. You didn't need a letter because you had her in the end, and you both knew it."

Luciana was sobbing again. She couldn't stop. Finally she caught her breath.

"About a week before Val died, we said it, and then the next morning we hid behind the type of love we shared as friends. I knew it would be time for her to be with Manuel soon, I knew how guilty it made her feel and so sometimes she would avoid me for days after, but I knew that it didn't matter, I convinced myself that it was all clinical, all just a few minutes of her life, and that it was nothing intimate. That part of herself she reserved for me, only for me. Funny you should mention rape, because even though she said he wasn't abusive, that it was just a task, she would just bathe incessantly for days afterwards. She said she could never feel clean enough after he touched her. They didn't share a bed, they didn't share a life. She and I did."

Santana felt sad inside all over again. She didn't even notice the tears that were falling from her eyes.

"She would want me to seek out other women, for appearances sake she would say, but I think it was more so that she didn't feel like she was cheating on me. In the beginning I did, because I knew that I couldn't fall in love with her. She had a husband, and she had you, her one true love in her heart. So I fucked girls, hell sometimes two at a time, and I even convinced myself that I enjoyed it, that it was enough. Then after about a week she would arrange for us to be together. I always wanted to make her feel beautiful afterwards. She didn't need to punish herself, to keep trying to wash him away, she just needed to be present with me and I would make it all better."

Santana couldn't understand how they lived like that, why Luciana would choose to live like that, but she couldn't judge. Luciana was in love, and love can make you do things you never thought you would do. She could only be thankful that they found a way to love one another, since Valentina was stuck in her miserable existence. She felt gratitude towards Luciana for being there for her.

"And did you Luc? When you were together did you make it all better?"

Luciana smiled for the first time. "I know that I did, Santana. The smile I would see the moment our eyes met, and I know my smile was equally as wide. It was like water in a desert. We would greet each other with a hug, and the moment we were alone there would be that kiss, and this overwhelming bliss. My heart would pound so much when we reunited, and I could tell that the same thing was happening to her. She would wear something nice for me, and I would do the same for her. I would tell her how beautiful she was and I would care for her, I'd cook for her, be like a wife to her, for whatever time we had. We would talk a lot Santana, we would talk about the past, the present, we would talk about the guilt that sometimes crept in because of what we were doing behind your back, and I would lay in her lap and she would run her fingers through my hair. We would share the meal I prepared and then we would watch movies and dance around the hotel room. She would hold me close and sink into my arms and the rest of the world didn't exist. Manuel didn't exist, even you didn't exist. No guilt, no shame. We would dance close and slow and I never felt more full than in those moments. The next morning I'd make her breakfast, sometimes I'd serve her in bed, and then we would go for these long walks. Sometimes we talked, and sometimes we just held hands and walked silently together. Like she always called you her queen, she always called me 'mi sol' (my sun), because she said I brightened up her life and was the center of her universe. Sometimes we would take long trips, longer than a weekend. Once we were gone for almost three weeks, only to return in time for her to be a wife to Manuel for 15 minutes, and for her to avoid touching me, seeing me, for almost a week after that. When she did that it broke my heart, not because I couldn't see her or have her, not because he touched her, but because of how that touch made her feel about herself. I knew that my touched wiped that all away, if only she would let me touch her, Ana."

Both women were sobbing now, mourning for Valentina's short life and what she had to endure in it, what she gave for the safety and comfort of other people, many whom would never know what she did.

"The week before she died we had rented this house on the lake in Georgia. It was in the middle of nowhere, no eyes for miles around. We shopped and we cooked together, and we didn't leave that house for 3 days. I don't think we'd ever made love so many times when we were together. We shared a lot, we talked and laughed a lot, we even played strip poker. The night before we left to go home the sex was intense, and afterwards she held on to me so tight and she was actually trembling, and she told me I give her life meaning. She said to me that she'll never want for anybody but me. She told me she loved me, and I said it back, but the way she looked I know what she meant. I wasn't her fuck buddy who happened to be her best friend that she loved as a friend, I was the woman she loved. Then we fell asleep and woke up the next morning and pretended to just be friends, as if the night before could ever happen between just friends. Santana, after a while I would just go out with women to dinner, maybe dancing. I wouldn't fuck them, I couldn't even fake it any longer, touching them felt so wrong. I put up the ruse, because I knew that it would allow for us to be together again in the future without people questioning us. She was all I wanted too, and I didn't tell her. I let her say it and I didn't say it back." Luciana was sobbing.

"She knew Luc, she knew."

"I hope so."

"I know so, she told me in her letter. She told Danny, that's why Danny told Carlos that Valentina had fallen in love again. He knew it Luc, he saw it, and she confessed it to him, and she told him nobody could ever know, because everything that had been planned for me would be done to you instead. The deeper she fell in love with you, the more afraid she became of the idea, and that's how Chicago came to be. Danny promised her that he would get you away even though he never knew the things that Luis planned to have done to me. She protected you Luciana, just as she protected me. She loved you deeply, as deeply as she ever loved me, and you made her final days beautiful to her."

"I know Robbie knew, even if neither of us told him. Robbie wouldn't actually join us for much during those trips, often he would busy himself with the nightlife, with keeping Carlos busy when he was sent to join us, while we had some kind of normalcy. Thinking of that reminds me of what kind of friend Robbie truly is to us, and how hard this must have been for him to be a part of as well. Robbie kept our secret because he truly loves us, Carlos kept our secret quiet because of Danny. Nobody knew that Carlos was gay, and so we were safe even when he was there, otherwise we could not have trusted him. It was because of Danny that we had as many sweet moments as we had. I sometimes think that's the reason he told Valentina about them in the first place, to force Carlos' silence and allow us to have our time together without fear. Now that I know Danny it's so out of character for him to share such a deep secret."

"Maybe it's time you talk to him, Luciana. Maybe it's time that you asked. I spoke to him, I spoke to everyone who knew anything before I spoke to you. I spoke to Brittany, and told her first what I needed to confess to you so that I could know for sure that she would be alright with it. What was done for me, now everyone wants to do for you, because the secrets are out, and they love you just as much as they love me. Let us do for you what we should have done together years ago."

Luciana shook her head in agreement.

"I'm healing Ana, but I know that has more to do with time than any actual closure. Time, and maybe Quinn, I'm just starting to sort that part out. Sometimes I think about Quinn and I and I wonder if I'm ready. Then we agreed to see other people and I would date other women and it felt so sadly familiar. I don't want to date other women. I did so much of that when we were young, a different woman 2, 3 times a week, an endless rotation of sweaty bodies and hair falling into my face, sometimes wanting me to lay after and cuddle with them but mostly just wearing out their welcome once the orgasms passed. Who wants to go back to that Santana? What woman wants to do that at our age? It's fun when you're a kid, just discovering the taste of a woman, the kind of touch that makes your body shake in a way you don't yet understand. But I'm a woman now Ana, and I've never loved a woman openly and have them love me back in the same way. It was always "I loves yous" whispered in some code, cloaked in the guise of friendship, and maybe that shit did something to me Ana, maybe it made me feel like that's all I was good for, being loved in the dark that way."

Santana pulled Luciana impossibly closer, holding her tight.

"Luc, I'm sorry. Maybe Valentina had a solid reason for making you feel that way but I didn't. I should have told you. Letting someone figure it out is not enough, they should hear the words. I did it to you, and I did it to Maya, and I regret it deeply with both of you."

"Santana, you were as damaged as the rest of us, and you've punished yourself enough for this. I felt loved by you Ana, even if you couldn't say the words in the context that I needed to hear them. I did know, Santana, and I knew you wanted me before we ever hooked up. I'd catch a certain look sometimes, especially if you'd been drinking, and friends don't look at one another that way."

Santana laughed, "My mami said the same thing in her letter to me. I guess I wasn't very good at hiding my feelings from you."

"Maybe to the outside world, but to those of us who know you well, you didn't hide a thing. Still, there is that confusion that exists as long as the person refuses to confirm their feelings. Was it just sexual attraction, or did you have feelings that meant more than that? Now I know the truth, and yeah, closure feels good. I realize watching you go through this process with Brittany that I haven't had very much closure in my life."

"I know, and I think that's what's been going on for me too, with you, since I've returned. I felt you had feelings that you were trying to keep hidden from the world. I didn't know what it was, but I felt so protective of you. Sure, in the beginning I thought it was all of these different things, Val dying, you being exiled to Chicago, you not being able to say goodbye to your friend, me hurting you, and sure, it was all of that. Still, I felt there was something I just couldn't put my finger on, and I believed everyone, especially you and Robbie, because we don't lie to each other. But I wanted you happy, wanted you to settle down, wanted you to find someone and maybe that was me feeling the void that Val left in you, that I had left in you before that."

"You always did have that psychic third eye," Luciana smiled.

Santana laughed, "It's a Lopez thing," she replied, kissing Luciana once again on the top of her head before continuing. "Listen, I encourage you to talk openly to Robbie and Danny, maybe even reach out to Maria. Hear how she spoke about you to the people she could speak openly to. If you want to read the letter she left me, I'm offering that to you as well. I truly felt in my heart it was as much for you as it was for me. It was Val admitting your secret to me, and helping me to understand and accept it when I had someone else in my life and she knew that I wouldn't hold it against you. Val was wise, so wise. One of the things I'm most glad about is that the world can finally see it, at least those who meant the most to her. She has a voice now, a voice she had to whisper with all of her life that roars now. It makes me happy, because she's truly free now."

"Yes she is."

"If you want, I'd love for us to go to Val's grave together one day, the three of us. Brittany and Quinn can come along for the trip as well. We can support you in saying goodbye. Any of us that you want there will be by your side, or we will wait nearby and let you do it on your own. Whatever you need, Luc."

"I've never been to her grave." Luciana said sadly.

"No?"

"I can't do it, Ana."

"So don't, but if you're ever ready, when you're ready, you are never alone. Never again, Luciana, I promise."

"Okay."

"Te amo, Luciana."

"Te amo, Santana. Now let's get you married."

"There is nothing that I want more," Santana smiled.

Soon Brittany returned and Luciana chatted with her a while before leaving. Before they knew it the afternoon came and the rest of their guests arrived. Juan and Erik arranged a late lunch in one of the conference rooms so that everyone could gather together. Everyone was in high spirits including Luciana. Santana couldn't help but feel that even if they couldn't see it instantly that Luciana knew what she needed to know to move forward. She hopes that means that she and Quinn have a better chance at things now. She likes them as a couple.

They mingled with their guests and met the ladies that the Eriksen men had invited to accompany them to the festivities. Santana smiled as she saw their loved ones, and something in particular made her smile even more.

"Britt, look," Santana said, pointing towards the table where their parents were seated.

"Is your abuelo flirting with my mormor?" Brittany asked shocked.

"Is your mormor flirting with my abuelo?" Santana answered defensively.

"That old Cuban wants to show my mormor his cigar!"

"Ewww c'mon Britt, it probably doesn't even work anymore. Nobody wants to think about that. That just gross."

"Your abuelo is thinking about it, and he is acting like it works just fine and he wants to show my mormor. What's worse is she's acting like she wants to take him up on that challenge."

"That is frightening."

"Terrifying."

"You invited him here Brittany."

"I didn't know that he was some wrinkly old player. I didn't know my mormor was up for a geriatric 'whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas' moment. I could have never anticipated this. Why do I feel like I'm 10 years old and caught my parents having sex? What's happening here?"

Santana laughed, "Calm down Britt, I think it's sweet. Your mormor will have someone to dance with. Your brothers have dates for the weekend why not our grandparents? Wouldn't it be cute if they enjoyed each other's company and stayed in touch? Love is in the air, and all because we found each other."

"You are really good at making everything better, did you know that? I can maybe handle this as long as I don't catch my mormor doing a geriatric walk of shame," Brittany replied, kissing Santana softly on the lips.

"Save it for the wedding night," Robbie interrupted and Luciana couldn't help but laugh. She did feel light and happy, like a weight was lifting from her. Something felt different, and after this weekend she would have the time to process it.

After lunch everyone went about their day. Robbie and Nickolas put the finishing touches on the evening. Santana and Brittany relaxed a while and waited to be whisked away for the evening. They were going to have dinner at 6 in the same conference room and then have a moment to themselves before the fun started at 9.

Dinnertime came before they knew it, and again the atmosphere was a lot of fun. Once again Ignacio and Susan sat together, engaging in some flirty chatter. Santana knew that Brittany secretly liked the idea that her mormor had someone to flirt with other than Robbie. Everybody seemed to be having the time of their lives, and while the younger group decided to leave to prepare for the rest of the evening the elders decided to stay behind and enjoy each other's company a while longer. Robbie even invited Luciana's brothers to the early part of the festivities. Since they were under 21 they were too young to drink but old enough to be included in some of the fun, after all Santana was family to them as well. He knew she would want them to be included in the festivities as much as possible. They were like Santana's little brother's as well, even though they grew up having a massive crush on her. It made Santana smile seeing them grow into young men.

It was just before 9 when people started descending on Santana and Brittany's suite. The invaders decided to meet there and then leave as a group. The ladies had no idea what was in store for them, and so they had no idea if the little black dress that Santana chose for the night would work for whatever debauchery they had planned. Brittany went with a black button down and black slacks, staying true to herself and comfortable. She topped the look off with a black fedora, which made Santana smile when she saw her. With everyone meeting in their suite they were hoping that they kept the party there for the night, and when Robbie showed up with the guys carrying a ton of alcohol and sitting it on the bar in the room they thought that they might just get their wish. When Luciana and Quinn arrived carrying vagina balloons and setting them free to fly all over the room it looked hopeful that they may escape the night without leaving the suite, but both women knew better deep down in their hearts.

Still, since the party seemed to be starting off with a vagina theme the ladies had their own props they purchased to contribute. They had vulva spoons and flower plates they set on the table, because "everybody was eating pussy that night" according the Brittany. Danny and Blaine could respectfully get a pass and use a regular spoon. When the ladies disappeared as more of their guests arrived and started bombarding their room with all things vagina, in the chaos they initially weren't missed. It was only when they had been gone for too long and Luciana heard bumping around and hushed everyone did things get weird.

"Fuck Britt it's so big." Santana grunted.

"It's the one you said you wanted."

"I know just pull it out babe."

"I'm trying it's just in there so tight, San."

Then there was just more grunting and heavy panting.

"Look at the size of that clit," Brittany said.

"Just concentrate on getting it up. Focus Britt."

"I'm trying, it's just so fucking distracting!"

Soon they heard a vibrating noise as the women turned on an air pump.

"Come on Britt this is taking forever! You need to get it up. They're going to realize we're gone. Hurry up, you're almost there baby."

"Why are you making me do all of the work?"

"I didn't know it was that big when we bought it, but you can do this Britt."

"Well it was your idea to get the large one, Santana. This shit is heavier than it looks. Got me doing all the gosh darn work when you said you could handle it."

"I can! Now stop complaining. Just use this too. You act like this is the first time you've had your mouth on a pussy. Get it up and get it over with!" pointing out the air hole and prompting her to hurry things along by blowing on the tube.

"So fucking bossy!"

"You love it and you know it," Santana replied.

"I do Santana, I love it when you're bossy, it's so hot."

"Focus Britt!"

The others listened from the other side of the door confused.

"I want to stop listening, but I can't" Robbie said.

"I always told Tink that I would go blind if I ever caught her having sex. I never considered that I'd probably go deaf if I heard her," Danny replied.

"This is traumatic," Luciana said.

Finally the door popped open and everyone stared as the women began trying to fit a giant inflated vagina through the doorway.

"What the hell is that? Danny asked

"How gay are you?," Blaine responded and the others laughed.

"It's a giant pussy!" Brittany said happily.

"Why do you need a giant pussy?" Robbie asked.

"Look!" Brittany said excitedly, squeezing her head into the back of the inflatable vagina and just letting her face stick out. She was grinning from ear to ear and Santana was howling with laughter. She looked absolutely ridiculous.

"It's called 'Put your face in this pussy'. You put your head in the pussy and then take pictures. We're supposed to set it up on that stand and then cover the stand in that black cloth so that in the picture we only see your head in the pussy not your clothes." Brittany said happily.

"You look insane grinning like that with your head in an inflatable pussy, you know that don't you, Tink?" Danny said.

"Pussy makes me happy!" Brittany admitted.

"Ok, ok," Danny said shaking his head and making a face. "Never want that image in my head. Never."

Luciana turned to Robbie. "Do you really believe those two dorks need the night you have planned for them?"

"It won't be that bad," Robbie promised again. "Just want to see the old Santana, back when we were young and all together. Just want to see her one more time."

"I know Robbie, but that Santana doesn't exist anymore. I don't think any of us exist the old way anymore. Still, look at her Robbie, she looks happy, and that's not how she looked when she first walked away from us. Santana and I talked today, and something just hit me. Yeah, Santana and I were in love with Valentina, but you loved her too. You loved her like you love us. You've been amazing Robbie. You were all I had who understood us. Danny came along later, but you are my brother Roberto, you understood us best of all. Who cries with you for Valentina while you're trying to make it better for Santana and I?"

"I'm okay Luciana. I miss her and I will always love her, but I'm okay."

"And yet here you are, trying to have a time that no longer exists just once more. She's really happy Robbie. I think I am too, especially after tonight. It's time for us all to move forward now."

"What happened tonight?"

"Santana told me what I needed to hear."

"That she loved you once, and maybe you were even part of the reason that she left?"

"How did you know that?" Luciana asked, surprised.

"I think that you were the only one who didn't know, Luciana."

"Maybe I knew, but I needed to hear it. I've heard it now, from her, and apparently Valentina told Santana how she felt about me, so I heard it from both of them, and now I no longer have to wonder what was real and what was not. I didn't know that it all still mattered so much to me."

"I'm glad for you Luciana. You held both of them together when they were falling apart. You were stronger than you ever gave yourself credit for."

"And you have been stronger than anyone has given you credit for. You are the man in our lives who will hopefully be there even when our fathers are gone. You are always there, Robbie and you always were. We love you, you know that don't you? Even if none of us ever wanted to sleep with you."

Both Robbie and Luciana laughed as Robbie pulled her closer.

"I know, and I love you all too, always."

"So let's send these two geeks off into the next phase of their lives with some class and dignity..."

"Ummm, the class and dignity part can start after the strippers."

"You just had to do it..." Luciana rolled her eyes.

"It's not a proper sendoff without the strippers, Luciana," Robbie smiled that charming smile, and Luciana tilted her head and kissed the man on the cheeks.

"It's okay. We all knew you would never be able to resist," Luciana smiled before Robbie stepped forward to make an announcement.

"Ok everybody, if Brittany and Santana don't have any more surprises we should let the games begin. Everybody grab a glass and somebody get the brides a shot and let's start the evening with a toast to Brittany and Santana. We wish you a lifetime of laughter and love and success and amazing sex. Congratulations ladies."

Everyone raised their glasses in congratulations to the brides to be and the fun began.

Things started out simple, lots of drinks and food and bride games that Luciana helped them put together. Soon Luciana pulled Robbie to the side.

"Robbie, we better slow down on these drinking games. I don't know about Brittany but you know how Ana is when she drinks. So far they're kicking everybody's ass but they've had a couple apiece. Remember the chat we just had."

"She will be okay. Nickolas wants to see what Brittany is made of but Danny says nobody wants to see a drunk Brittany. Now Nickolas wants to see it even more but you're right, we'll bring it down a notch tonight."

They played and ate for about an hour before it was time to head out.

They didn't have to go far. Two doors down Erik had apparently kept the entire floor empty for the night's activities. Brittany was wondering how much it was costing the man to not rent out these rooms for the weekend. Yeah, she knows her father won't miss the money, but she grew up differently. She was always worried about making sure there was enough for the future. Erik had her mother to care for now, and Brittany would always worry about her future.

Santana instantly knew that Robbie was responsible for this particular mess. It looked like a damn strip club in there. There were three female strippers, a stripper pole and the door to the adjoining suite was unlocked.

"Yeah I know it's cliche but what kind of wingman would I be without bringing the strippers. Luciana had to lose this one. Ok, so to be fair, while there are a lot of people here who love women there are those who love men too, and your entertainment is right through that door. There's booze, appetizers, and I'm going to give this briefcase to Danny, which is filled with bills. Go make it rain."

Danny, Blaine, and the girls who came with the Eriksen men went to see the men dance. Imani went as well, but decided she would rejoin the others once her curiosity was satisfied.

Danny opened the briefcase filled with bills. Again, Brittany was not used to this life. She wanted to know where the money came from and how much was in there. She was conflicted and Santana knew her well.

"Don't worry Brittany. This is a casino. Your father owns four of them. Whatever is in those cases some high roller just lost 5 minutes ago at the blackjack table. Enjoy the night. This is once in a lifetime, because I'm never letting you go," Santana smiled and kissed her on the lips, and Brittany felt at ease.

Everyone enjoyed the show. Despite Santana's speech Brittany managed to shove quite a few bills in Santana's bra for safekeeping. She was the only woman she really wanted to see dance for her anyway.

"Babe, that's not very sanitary..."

"It's okay, If you weren't wearing a dress I'd be shoving them into your crotch, now that would be unsanitary."

Santana laughed, "Britt, these people work hard for their money, let's let them have a big night."

"Oh you're gonna work hard for this money too, Santana, trust me." Brittany said, pulling Santana in close and shoving a few more bills into Santana's bra.

Luciana tapped Robbie on the shoulder and pointed to the couple.

"See, I told you we could have skipped this part. Those two are in their own world."

"Listen, this is one of the perks of being a wingman. I get to have a little fun too," Robbie smiled. "So does everyone else. Look at your little brothers, they're loving this shit."

Luciana just shook her head before her eyes caught sight of her own blonde. She winked her way and Quinn smiled shyly back. She couldn't understand how the same woman who goes on missions for Juan Lopez can become so shy and demure at a moment's notice. She likes it. She likes it a lot.

The group enjoyed the time with the strippers. Finally the two parties were reunited and the strippers danced for Santana and Brittany as they sat in the center of the room. After their dance Santana and Brittany retreated to their love bubble, Santana sitting on Brittany's lap as they shared a drink from the same glass and watched their loved ones enjoying themselves. They spent a couple of hours in the suite with the strippers before they left. By that time everybody was a little tipsy except Luciana, who was determined to keep this shit show in check. She had already cut her brothers off after two shots apiece with the threat of banishing them from the festivities if she saw them drinking any hard liquor again. They were allowed two more beers for the duration of the night. She knows at their age she had partied far harder than that and likely they have too, but as a big sister she was doing her best to contain the damage. She knew that they would likely be shitfaced by the end of the night, and she was okay with that as long as they kept them safe and tucked them in when they had enough. Their first crush turned big sister was getting married and they deserved to be a part of this as much as they could tolerate. Luciana would do as she had promised Santana, she would not let the night get out of hand.

As things wound down and the strippers began to leave Luciana pulled Robbie aside.

"What's next on the agenda?"

"We were going to hit the casino for a while, Nickolas said he had set up a private area for our group. They have games and drinks and beautiful people to attend to us and Erik would be bankrolling the evening..."

"Quite a few of them are already drunk, if it's not a space that we can contain them and keep them all safe we may need to skip this part..."

"It's okay. Erik set it up like they do those charity gambling nights. If they lose they're losing his money. If they win they're winning his money. It will be contained."

"And then we call it a night?"

"If that's what they want."

"Okay, I can live with that. Tell Ana the plan, let her and Brittany decide. Meanwhile, tell Nickolas if there is a place they can set up some karaoke to have that done, that will keep Ana around for a while longer."

"Got it. I already have karaoke set up in one of the suites but if you want it down here as well..."

"No, it's okay. As long as you have something planned that we know for sure that they will enjoy..."

"Yes, we're doing this because Nickolas wanted to contribute something to the night, he looks up to Brittany and wanted to give her something special. We can stay here an hour or two and then I have the perfect plan to end the night. Santana loves to sing, Brittany loves to dance. I have karaoke and a dance area set up in an adjoining suite. Everything is perfect, including the lockouts being open in case people want to pass out or be alone or whatever. Nothing will get out of hand tonight. Loosen up, have a drink."

"Had one. When we get to the last destination for the night I can let my hair down a little more. For now I'm doing my maid of honor and best friend duties and making sure that the ladies have no regrets tonight..."

"None?" Robbie asked, smiling.

"Well no major ones, does that make you feel better?"

"A little," Robbie grinned. He wrapped an arm around Luciana's shoulder and pulled her in. "You're a good friend, Luc."

"The fucking best," Luciana laughed.

It was a short time later when the group found themselves at the gambling area. Everyone seemed to be having a great time. Santana and Brittany were as cute as ever, gambling together as Brittany showed her how to better her odds at winning blackjack. The way Santana jumped and giggled at every win was a side of her that Luciana and Roberto knows she didn't show often and certainly not publicly. Now here she was, giddy, less than two days before her wedding. It was an amazing sight.

Luciana and Robbie shared a laugh as Santana went to pull some money from where Brittany had placed it earlier and Brittany stilled her hands.

"Santana, you leave our tit fund alone. Get some cash out of Nickolas' briefcase. As a matter of fact here," Brittany said, stuffing some more bills into Santana's bra, "this is our new car fund."

Santana laughed. "You know our dads would gladly get us whatever we want. Not gonna lie but inviting abuelo alone will probably get us enough to get matching cars."

"But this way you get to earn it," Brittany winked. "I know you hate anybody giving you anything."

"Not gonna hate what you give me tonight," Santana smiled.

"Holey moley," Brittany replied.

"So you want me to role play for tit money?"

"No role play necessary, but that's a lot of tit money, I'm just sayin'..."

"Turn these things into double D's and I'll see what I can do."

Brittany smiled and stuffed a stack of bills into Santana's cleavage. "Go put that in your purse and we can start all over again."

Santana laughed, "You know that's not what this money was intended for, right?"

"This is our party, and it was intended to make sure we have a good time. So after this is all over I'm going to lay you naked on our bed, sprinkle that money all over your body, and then put my mouth where that money is. That's my idea of a good time. My party, my rules."

"Well when you put it that way..."

"Now go take care of our tit money, you're running out of room."

Santana laughed and began removing the bills from her bra.

Luciana smiled softly as Quinn made her way over, sitting on Luciana's lap.

"Having a good time?" Quinn asked, smiling.

"The time of my life," Luciana replied, placing a soft kiss on Quinn's lips.

"You look like it's all business, you plan on letting your hair down?"

"I'll save that for afterwards, when I'm alone with you," Luciana replied, giving Quinn a little squeeze on her ass.

"Everybody is ok, you're allowed a drink or two."

"I plan on it at our next destination. I made a promise to Santana that I would keep Robbie in line. I know that Nickolas is a wild card as well so I'm watching both of their asses. I want this night to be what they want, not what everyone wants for them."

"You're a sweetheart, you know that?" Quinn asked, kissing her once again on the lips.

"Yes, I know," Luciana replied and Quinn giggled.

"You are adorable," Luciana said. "I often have to remind myself that you can kill me with your bare hands," Luciana laughed.

"I would only use these hands to protect you. I'd give my life for you..."

Tears sprung into Luciana's eyes. She knew what was coming. Weddings always do this to people, but this has been coming for the two of them for a while now. It was just a matter of who would find the courage first.

"I love you, Luciana," Quinn said, looking shyly into Luciana's eyes, eyes that quickly filled with tears.

"What's wrong, Luciana?"

"This is the first time anyone has said those words to me without any obstacles attached to them. Nothing is wrong, honey. I love you too, Quinn, I really do."

The two kissed deeply, in a world of their own, believing that nobody else would notice or care. Everybody noticed. Everybody who knew their struggles. Robbie and Santana noticed. Luciana's brothers noticed. Danny noticed. They all were happy for Luciana, happy that her heart seemed to be mending as well. Even Imani noticed, noticed her old friend shedding her old skin. She loved the way she glowed in this new skin of hers.

Love was contagious, and love was in the air. Brittany couldn't help but look at Danny, hoping that he was next. Santana looked at Robbie, wishing the same wish.

After gambling for a while the party made it up to the suite where the night would end. There was food and drinks and karaoke and the space had been rearranged so they could dance a little if they wanted to.

It was there that they all let their hair down. There was karaoke and song challenge battles. Quinn, Santana and Blaine showing off their vocals. Brittany surprising everyone holding her own. Brittany danced like she hadn't danced in a long time, not even at her parents' wedding. The drinks were flowing, Luciana finally letting herself relax, finally letting herself focus on her and Quinn, not only at the party but in life. This night, it truly had been the best night of her life. She truly does feel as if she has been set free.

It wasn't until the wee hours of the morning that it became clear that it may just be time to start winding things down. Since Luciana had sort of gone off duty and focused the majority of her attention on Quinn, it was Danny who noticed that the night was on the verge of entering the absurd.

"Oh no," Danny said to the group he was talking to.

"What?" Blaine asked.

"Tink is drunk."

"Ok, we'll take care of her, don't worry," Robbie said.

"Oh no," Danny repeated.

"What?" Luciana asked.

"You don't understand..."

"What?" They all asked in unison.

"Drunk Tink can't refuse a challenge, and she is going to find someone, somewhere to compete against her in something, even if it's totally ridiculous."

As if on cue, Brittany was explaining what she thought was a genius plan to her equally drunk brothers, all of whom thought her plan was genius except for Malik, who barely drinks.

"Okay, it's called the Casino Olympics. We can break up into two teams. Men versus women. Or gays versus straights. Or team penis lovers vs team vagina lovers..."

"Ohhhh, we can give the teams cool names," Santana chimed in.

"Yeah!" Nickolas agreed happily.

"Okay, we can start out with a scavenger hunt.." Brittany said.

"What are we looking for?" Alec slurred.

"It's a lesbian bachelorette party, we're looking for pussy of course," Brittany said.

"Hey..." Santana started to protest.

"No, not women...I luh you Santana, not looking for women. We're going to the suites and we're going to find Lord Tubbington! He's missing the party of the century. He's really good at hiding, especially from drunk people, even though he once had a drinking problem of his own but that's a story for another day. Whatever team finds Lord Tubbington first and gets him to tell where he hid the pin number to my new debit card wins."

"You don't know your pin number Britt?" Santana asked

"I've been paying cash for 3 weeks now..."

"Just change it..." Santana said

"No, I will not be defeated!"

"But you kind of already..." Santana started.

"I'm gonna find that fat cat and he's gonna talk, Santana. So here's the plan. Scavenger hunt. Then we go to the casino. We play the slots 5 times or until someone from one of the teams wins, whichever happens first. If you hit before 5 tries you can leave. Otherwise, your team has to play 5 times..."

"I gotta pee.." Santana said.

"Ok, then we pee. Peeing is the third leg of the race."

"What if I don't have to pee?" Nickolas asked?

"You pee or you forfeit and we win!" Brittany demanded

"This sounds crazy Britt," Malik said.

"You're playing with the big dogs now, Malik!" Alec slurred.

"This is why I don't drink," Malik stated.

"No! It will be amazing, watch. So after we pee and wash our hands we..." Brittany started.

"I'm hungry," Nickolas interrupted.

"We eat! Buffet style, fill your plate with burgers and fries, and then after we eat..."

"I gotta fit into my wedding dress Brittany..."

"We'll work it off I promise Santana..."

"I'm going to pee now Britt..." Santana insisted.

"Ok, so pee is out, strike out the pee part..."

"And the eating part..." Santana said, running to the bathroom.

"But I'm hungry..." Nickolas said.

"Ok, only one person from the team has to eat..."

"It's you and me Britt," Nickolas challenged and the two high fived to seal the deal.

"Then we have a memory game. We have to remember every song sung tonight and in what order..." Brittany said.

"I give up," Malik said, going to talk to Danny.

"Listen, they're going crazy over there..." Malik started.

"Let me guess, Brittany is challenging everybody to everything she can think of..."

"It's ridiculous, what's worse is that they're all agreeing to it, they're just working out the terms, and team names apparently," Malik added. "There was almost a pee race until Santana bailed."

"Ok, I've got her but you have to play along with me. I need all of your help, and whatever you do don't win, please. We will be doing challenges for the rest of the night," Danny pleaded.

Danny and the group joined Brittany and the others who were planning the finale for the night. Santana exited the bathroom and slumped down next to Brittany.

"Danny boy! You're just in time. We came up with a few team names..."

"The Pussy Pleasers vs Penis de resistance," Alec said proudly.

Blaine chuckled. "Penis de resistance?"

"Yeah, like 'Piece de resistance', get it?" Brittany smiled. "It's French for...something amazing!"

"We get it, Tink, but we don't want it, those names are awful. Listen, a few of us had our own games in the works maybe you could just join ours."

"Whatcha got?" Brittany asked, slinging her arm across Danny's shoulder.

"Okay, so we're going to race to our rooms as couples, throw on shorts and a tee shirt, power nap for 45 minutes while Malik arranges the obstacle course..."

"Obstacle course?" Brittany smiled.

"Oh yeah, it's gonna be good, an actual obstacle course! Malik will be paroling the hall to make sure nobody cheats. No leaving the bed for 45 minutes until you hear the alarm clocks go off. 15 minutes later the signal will sound for the games to start. Once Malik sounds the air horn the games are on! Obstacle course starts right here in this room. You hear the horn you run for it, but not until the horn sounds."

"Got it," Brittany slurred and her brothers thought the idea was brilliant.

"So we're gonna line up right in here as couples, and when Malik blows the whistles we run for our suites, so you better have your keys ready. Malik, are you ready?"

"Yes I am,"

"Wait!" Brittany said. 'Tantana, take off your shoes. You gotta be fast."

"I peed!" Santana stated proudly, as if she felt faster already.

"Good. Just give me your shoes and your purse, I don't want anything slowing you down."

"And no pushing or tripping, like a real race on a track!" Danny added.

"You got it Danny boy!"

Malik gave the signal and Brittany and Santana fought their way out of the door, followed by Nickolas and Alec and their dates. Nobody else was drunk enough for this mess.

"How old are they again?" Luciana asked.

Robbie just laughed.

"I told you something stupid would happen if you kept handing out booze at every stop."

"It's okay Luciana, just harmless fun."

"They better go the hell to sleep. I have plans when I get in my bed after this."

"Oh yeah," Robbie asked, wiggling his eyebrow.

"Oh hell yeah," Luciana said, looking at Quinn.

Of course only 3 teams made it to their rooms, since only 3 teams were truly racing. Danny watched as the doors closed to make sure everyone was secured in their room. He and Blaine would stick around for a while to insure nobody stumbled back out before going to bed themselves. It would give them more time to talk after everyone else left. Once Santana and Brittany made it to their room Brittany dropped their things by the door and started stripping out of her clothes.

"Hurry up Santana, we gotta get into some obstacle course clothes."

"Ok," Santana said stripping out of her dress.

Brittany was instantly distracted.

"San, you look amazing. Are those new underwears?"

"Yes," Santana smiled.

"And you still got some tit money stuck to your chest. Holey moley Santana you look amazing."

"Thank you," Santana blushed.

"I love when you wear purple, it's so regal. Purple underwear and tit money, so sexy. San...you think we have time for strawberry ice cream?"

"We have 45 minutes."

"I just need 15..."

"Okay.."

Brittany rushed over and buried her face in Santana's breasts.

"Ok, maybe 20..."

"Ok Britt, let's go..."

"7249"

"What?"

"I think that's my pin number, try and remember it okay?"

"Focus Britt!"

"Ok, let's go San..."

Danny's plan worked perfectly. 8 minutes later both women were passed out in each other's arms, thankfully both too drunk to remember how embarrassingly fast they finished.

Before those who weren't drunk called it an evening Luciana arranged for Malik to delay their breakfast order. She told him not before 10am because she doubted anyone would be awake before then. Any other day she would have handled things herself, but Quinn had told her she loved her, and Luciana had every intention of showing Quinn her appreciation until the sun came up. She didn't want to bother Danny, he and Blaine looked really cozy after karaoke and she was hoping Danny and Blaine would decide to spend the rest of the night together. After all, love was in the air.

Thankfully the group had nothing to do until the rehearsal dinner later that evening. Clothing, fittings, everything was ready to go. Santana and Brittany had no plans to drink as much as they did but somewhere during karaoke they got lost in the excitement and people kept handing them drinks. Well, Brittany's brothers kept handing them drinks. Brittany would have never thought that Alec could party that hard but even with her slight hangover she had to laugh at how her brother could apparently let his hair down. She also had to laugh at how Santana was right by her side, willing to go to war with her to prove their awesomeness. It further proved that Santana was as competitive as she was. She had already known it since they went toe to toe when they first met, throwing snarky shots at one another along the way. Brittany was kind of loving her new family all over again, all of these people she never imagined she would have.

Santana normally wouldn't party this hard, but she felt lighter and lighter as the evening went on and seeing Luciana and Quinn was the moment her heart finally burst open that night. She had done the right thing, talking to Luciana. Everyone could see the difference in her. She had her abuelo back, and best of all she was about to marry Brittany. It was worth celebrating, even if they went a little off the rails. She had everybody back. She hated that Valentina was gone, but she knows the gifts that she left behind. All of this was in part due to her. As they all entered this new phase of their lives Santana knew that none of them would ever forget that.

The day was calm, with most of them emerging long enough to have breakfast and fall back into bed so that they didn't look like the walking dead at the rehearsal dinner. By 3 pm Brittany and Santana finally came out and faced the sunlight, making sure that everything was ready for the rehearsal dinner. Three hours later the group met for rehearsals and everything was in order. At the dinner they all had plenty of laughs and shared stories of the previous night with the elders who weren't there to witness the mess for themselves. At the dinner speeches were made and congratulations were offered and it was a joyous occasion. Ignacio Lopez gave a moving speech about being reunited with his granddaughter and looking forward to watching Brittany and Santana's love grow. After the meal everyone retired early. Santana and Brittany decided that there was no need for them to spend the night apart, Brittany would instead leave in the morning and go to another suite to prepare for their wedding. For some reason they couldn't bare to spend the night apart, their excitement running so high they didn't want one more thing in the way that would make it difficult to sleep. That night they got ready for bed, smiling softly at one another.

"You look beautiful, Santana."

"So do you, Britt."

"I can't believe it, tomorrow, all of my dreams come true." Brittany said smiling softly, a tear threatening her eyes.

"Awwww, come here you softy," Santana said, laying in bed and pulling back the covers for Brittany to join her.

"You know my story already Santana. When I was a kid, before I had anybody in my corner, all of the kids would dream of their knight in shining armor. I had no idea then that it was even possible for me to marry a woman, or that I even liked girls, but I couldn't imagine anyone ever wanting to marry me, boy or girl. Now I'm about to marry the most beautiful girl in the world."

Santana smiled, "No, I'm about to marry the most beautiful girl in the world."

"If it's all a dream don't wake me up Santana. Let me sleep forever."

"It's not a dream Britt, like you said it's a dream come true."

"Why?"

"Why what, honey?"

"I know I had it hard, but why do I get all of this? What did I do to deserve this? There are kids that had it worse than me, but somehow I get Danny back, I get a mom and dad, I get a mormor and three brothers that actually like me. I get new friends and in laws that love me. I get a good job and the money to provide for myself and my family. Most of all I get the girl. I get the girl of my dreams. I don't know why I get all of that, but I won't ever stop being grateful. I won't ever take any of it for granted."

"I know you won't mi amor, nor will I. And why? Because you are deserving Britt, and you always have been. Because you are strong and you fought until you won. Because you are amazing, that's why. I didn't have your life but I'm equally as blessed to have what I have."

"I love you so much Santana."

"I love you so much too, Brittany."

"And tomorrow we make new dreams come true."

"All of my dreams include you, mi amor."

Brittany snuggled into Santana's arms.

"Goodnight mi amor," Santana said, kissing Brittany on her forehead.

"Goodnight, my love" Brittany replied. "See you tomorrow."

"And every tomorrow I have for the rest of my days," Santana promised, and Brittany believed her with her whole heart.