Santana isn't sure how she got an invitation to Rachel's bachelorette party, but she didn't think about it much. Assuming it was an accident because who would invite their ex to their wedding, knowing said ex is still love with her. They'd been broken up for a year and no matter what Santana said or did, Rachel didn't want her back unless she proved to her that she wanted this commitment. Santana was afraid of marriage when they were together and if she's being honest, she still is. Rachel knew that Santana was the one but didn't feel like Santana felt the same. When the topic of marriage would pop up, Santana would shut down, ignoring it at all costs.
Now Rachel is getting married to Jesse St. James. Who even names someone that? Santana thinks to herself as she sits in the bar of her hotel. Santana knows this is a stupid idea and she knows she shouldn't have thought anything about the invitation. Of course it got sent to her, she and Rachel still share the same circle of friends. Santana knows she just should've stayed home but she can't let Rachel just...walk away. Maybe she's too little, too late but she doesn't care. Santana can't care because if she does, she'll just back out of it.
Santana didn't get an invitation to the wedding but she'd seen Quinn's. It was in May. That's when Rachel always wanted to get married because the weather is nice enough for it to be hosted outside. The wedding is at a vineyard in California which is why the bachelorette party is in Vegas. They're close enough that the wedding party doesn't have to travel too far for the wedding...which is in 3 days. In 3 days, Santana's chance will be gone.
When Santana found out Rachel was dating Jesse again, she almost exploded from rage. He doesn't deserve her in Santana's eyes. To Santana, he's done more damage to Rachel than she and Quinn ever have so why would she want to marry him? Since Santana and Rachel have only been broken up a year so they couldn't have been together very long before the engagement, which only enraged Santana more. Did Rachel ever love her if she's getting married so quickly? Santana wonders as she swallows some of the brown liquid from her glass. Enjoying the warmth and burn of the alcohol, she slowly swallows and grabs her phone, calling Quinn.
"Hello?" She answers. The background is loud, almost so loud that Santana can't hear Quinn answer.
"Tell me to go home." She says softly into the phone.
"Hold on San." Quinn says and as Santana holds the phone, she hears the music in the background getting further and further away.
"Okay, what did you say?" Quinn questions. Santana sighs and drains the rest of her glass.
"Tell me to go home Q." She sadly slurs.
"Where are you? Are you drunk?" Quinn asks concerned for her friend. Quinn knows how hard Santana has been taking their breakup and was there when Santana broke down after finding out about the upcoming wedding.
"I'm not drunk. Not sober, but not drunk. Yet." Quinn sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose, knowing her friend is lying.
"Where are you Santana?" She asks again.
"Um...a bar." She says to Quinn then beckons the bartender and orders another drink.
"You don't need another drink San. I know this is hard but you can't drown yourself in booze!" Santana mocks Quinn silently then groans.
"How could she do this to me?" Santana, mostly to herself.
"San, Rachel didn't do anything to you. You guys broke up." She says gently.
"She dumped me for that douche bag!" Santana shouts, becoming angry.
"What does he have that I don't?!" She continues.
"San, calm down. Do you need me to get you a ride back to your apartment?" Quinn asks.
"Fuck that! We spent years together and they didn't mean shit to her! She-" Santana's voice cracks as mascara streaked tears stream down her cheeks.
"She never fucking loved me..." Santana say as she furiously wipes at her eyes, mad at herself for crying over someone who couldn't care less about her.
"You know that's not true. Just tell me where you are so I can get you home." Quinn says sympathetically, feeling for her friend. Santana's breathing is becoming ragged and her knuckles are turning white from clutching her phone and the glass in her hands so tightly. Santana wants to stop the pain but she can't...and she can't stop the sobs that take over her body.
"Shit..." Quinn mutters to herself.
After putting Santana on speakerphone, Quinn logs into Santana's find my Iphone app, having made Santana give it to her the last time something like this happened. Finding Santana's location, Quinn sighs to herself as she walks to the hotel across the street. Quinn quickly finds her sobbing friend sitting in a stool at the bar. As she makes her way to Santana, the bartender smiles at Quinn relieved she was there.
"San." Quinn puts her hand on Santana's shoulder as she watches her friends body shake with despair. When Santana doesn't respond, she rubs soothing circles on her back.
"Let's go to your room. What floor are you on?" Quinn asks once Santana calms slightly.
"7-7-7-16." Santana stammers while trying to catch her breath. Quinn gently grabs her arm and pulls Santana to her feet, wrapping an arm around her waist and tossing Santana's over her shoulders. Quinn takes Santana's phone and puts it in her back pocket before guiding Santana out of the bar and slowly making their way to the elevators.
"Quinn?!" Quinn looks over her shoulder to see Rachel quickly approaching her and Santana. Cursing under her breath again, she answers Rachel.
"How did you find me?" She asks as Rachel looks at Santana curiously. A barely conscious Santana tries to smile at her before closing her eyes but it comes off as something between a scowl and grimace. Santana's head drops and Quinn feels Santana's legs give out as well. Santana dips slightly before Quinn catches her.
"What is she doing here? What is going on?" Rachel asks. Quinn sighs exhausted as she tries to keep Santana upright.
"Can you give me a hand?" She asks. Rachel quickly grabs Santana's waist and her other arm so that they can carry her to the elevator.
"Oh god, she smells likes a distillery. I'm sure she's flammable at this point." Rachel says as they reach the elevator doors. Quinn presses the call button and the doors open quickly to her relief. Once inside, Quinn hits 7 before speaking.
"Did you follow me?" Quinn asks, looking over Santana's bobbing head to see Rachel.
"Not intentionally at first. When you were leaving the bar, I tried to get your attention but you didn't hear me. I followed but then lost you outside..." Quinn sighs and shakes her head as the elevator doors open. Reading the sign, Quinn turns left and soon they're standing outside of Santana's room door.
"San?!" Quinn shouts while slapping Santana's face. Santana groans and moans but doesn't say anything coherent.
"I don't know where her room key is. She was just coherent less than 5 minutes ago!" Quinn says in an annoyed tone.
"Just hold her and I'll look." Rachel says gently. Quinn positions herself in front of Santana and pushes her up against the wall, holding her up by her waist.
"Hurry up. San is heavier than she looks." Quinn says as Santana's head comes to rest on her shoulder. Rachel searches Santana's front pockets, not finding a key but a loose ring. Pulling it out, Rachel realizes it's an engagement ring. Gasping and ceasing her previous movements, she examines the beautiful rose gold ring in her hand.
"What? Did you find it?" Rachel holds the ring out to Quinn to see and she shakes her head.
"Stay on task. Room key." Rachel swallows hard, nodding her head and continues to search Santana's pockets, placing the ring back where she found it and ignoring the pounding in her chest.
"It's not there. Where's her phone?" Rachel asks.
"My back pocket." Quinn says as a bead of sweat slides down her face. Rachel quickly grabs the phone, pulling off the case and revealing the key card, knowing Santana stashes small things like money and cards back there. Rachel quickly opens the door and helps Quinn guide Santana to the bed. Once she's lying down. Quinn stands and wipes the sweat from her forehead.
"Fuck...Sorry I dragged you into this. You can go back, I've got it from here." Quinn says as she sits next to Santana, taking the woman's shoes off.
"It's fine. Why don't you go back? I'm sure I'm the cause of all of this." Rachel gestures to Santana with her hand.
"She's just...hurting." Quinn says softly.
"Do you know why she's here?" Rachel asks as Santana mumbles something no one can understand.
"You accidentally sent her an invite. It was a whole thing but I thought she was okay..." Rachel slowly nods then sits at the foot of the bed, on the other side of Santana's feet.
"I'll stay. Go enjoy yourself. I made you come all the way here for me. It's the least I could do." Quinn sighs softly.
"I don't think it's a good idea. If she sees you..." Rachel holds up a hand and smiles politely.
"I know, but maybe we need to have a conversation." Quinn thinks it over before nodding.
"If you're sure."
"I am. Go have fun! Have a drink for me and Santana." Rachel jokes.
"Okay. Call me if you need anything." Quinn says as she stands and walks towards the door.
"Of course. Good bye Quinn." Rachel says with a wave. Quinn tosses a wave over her shoulder as she leaves the room and Rachel looks at her passed out ex on the bed and sighs.
Rachel kicks her shoes off and climbs into the bed so she can undress Santana. Rachel unbuttons her jeans and tugs them off from the ankle then takes the ring from the pocket she found it in and sits it on the nightstand. Grabbing the bottom of Santana's shirt, Rachel tries to pull it over her head but Santana's arms are too limp. After some maneuvering she gets the shirt off and tosses it on a chair.
"Mmm..." Santana hums as she turns on her side with her head near the edge of the bed. Rachel searches the room for a waste basket and puts in near Santana's head once she gets one. Sighing to herself, Rachel sits down next to Santana's head, glancing at the ring on the nightstand.
"You decided that now is when you'd want to marry me? When I'm already supposed to be in love with someone else..." Rachel shakes her head at herself.
When Jesse came back into her life, Rachel just assumed it was the universe telling her they belonged together. Rachel knew she was moving on quickly and while she wasn't over Santana, she did accept that it may never work out between them. Rachel just wanted to marry the woman so that they could build a life together but Santana couldn't do it. Santana was afraid of that kind of commitment and Rachel didn't want to leave...but she wasn't left with much of a choice. Jesse came along and proposed after they'd been together 5 months and Rachel didn't think to say no. Jesse is a good guy with her best interest at heart. No, Rachel isn't in love with him the way she was with Santana but she's sure that will come with time.
"Ugh..." Santana groans, cracking open an eye. Rachel smiles softly as she sits next to her and touches her shoulder.
"Get some sleep. You're going to need it." She says. Santana groans again and closes her eyes.
"Why...why doesn't she love me? Q...I just want -I just want her back." Santana hiccups. Rachel shakes her head. Santana has no idea she's even here.
"Santana -"
"No! no..." Santana widely sweeps her arm in the air, almost hitting Rachel in the face.
"I don't...wanna hear it." She says slowly.
"No one loves me...I thought that was okay as long as she did...but now." Santana sighs and tries to move to her back but fails miserably. Santana's hair falls over her face and she weakly blows a few strands out of her way.
"San, you're drunk. Just sleep it off." Rachel slides her hand down to Santana's back and rubs small circles over her smooth skin after moving the rest of Santana's hair from her face.
"What's that douche got that I don't? Ima fuckin' catch..." Santana slurs, glancing at Rachel through bleary red eyes.
"An- an- and y'know what? I bet...I bet she'll come crawling back when she..." Rachel isn't able make out the last part of Santana's sentence as she begins to mumble.
"Santana, you do know I am Rachel right?" Rachel says but Santana doesn't respond.
"Make the world stop spinning." Santana whines as she puts a hand on her head.
"Would you like a glass of water?" Rachel asks.
"No...I want Rachel." Santana's arm drops across her head as she begins to cry.
"San...honey I'm right here. You don't have to cry." Rachel says as she scoots closer to Santana. Santana slowly shakes her head and is finally able to move to lie on her back, sprawling her legs and arms across the bed.
"I just wanna marry her... an have loud Berry babies. I wanna be a fruit too! fuck being a Lopez!" Santana shouts through her cries. Rachel can't help but chuckle at that one.
"Okay San. You don't have to cry. We can talk about it." She says as she gently cups her face in both hands, wiping away Santana's tears with her thumbs.
"Quinn...Ima needs you to stop touching me like this. I'm...I don't wanna sex you." Rachel furrows her eyebrows confused at how wiping away tears could be taken as a sexual advance, but then again it is Santana.
"I'm not Quinn...but okay. I won't touch you." Rachel puts her hands in her laps and stares at the intoxicated woman before her, thinking how beautiful she still is even in this state.
"I was gonna pro...propoo? Umm...ask her to marry me. I know it's too late but fuck that guy!"
"Why would you come all the way here to do that?" Rachel asks curiously, knowing she'll get an honest answer if she can comprehend it.
"Because I say I'm okay, but I'm not okay! I had...this perfect little person and I fucked it up because I was scared of a paper! Fuck that paper!" Santana shouts again, trying to sit up on her elbows but failing once again to position herself.
"I think I'm -" Rachel was able to read Santana's body language in time to realize she was going to vomit so she quickly helped Santana to her side, holding the waste basket to her face. As Santana emptied the contents of her stomach, Rachel tries to hold her hair back and not vomit herself.
"I really want to be mad at you for being so irresponsible but I guess we all do dumb things when we're hurting." Rachel says as Santana lies back on the bed and she sets down the trash can.
"You sound like Rachel." Santana says softly. Rachel shakes her head, giving up her attempts to tell her she is indeed Rachel.
"I'll get you some water." Rachel says as she gets off the bed. Scanning the room, she spots a bottle of water sitting on the desk in the corner and silently thanks every higher being that she doesn't have to leave Santana alone to get her something to drink. Sitting next to Santana again, Rachel helps her sit up and presses the water bottle against her lips.
"I can do it!" Santana says aggressively then roughly grabs the bottle from Rachel, causing the water pour out onto her face. Rachel tries not to laugh but she can't help the giggle that escapes her lips after seeing Santana's shocked expression.
"Sometimes you should just take the help." She says and Santana rolls her eyes as Rachel takes the bottle from her. Santana tries to wipe her face but isn't successful then lies back down on her side.
"I'm gonna sleep now." Santana says as her eyes close. Rachel continues to watch her for a few minutes then stands to empty the trash can once Santana begins to snore.
Rachel sits the water bottle on the nightstand and brings the clean trash can back to Santana's side of the bed. After, she begins to search Santana's bag for pain medication knowing the woman doesn't travel without any because she's prone to migraines. Rachel finds what she's looking for then sits the bottle down next to the water on the nightstand. Rachel wraps Santana in the bedding then goes to lie in the bed parallel to Santana's, knowing tomorrow is going to be a lot more work.
Head pounding, Santana groans as the sunlight creeps in from the window shining on her eyes. Mumbling curse words in Spanish to herself, Santana pulls the duvet she's wrapped in all the way up until it's over her head.
"There's medicine on the nightstand." Rachel says and Santana almost jumps from the bed, pushing herself to one side of it. Untangling herself from the bedding, Santana looks at Rachel wide eyed as her hand clutches her heart.
"Jesus, fuck!" She says as she tries to control her breathing. Santana squints her eyes at Rachel, sure she's hallucinating and she isn't really in her hotel room.
"What the fuck?" She says quietly as she sits up and crosses her legs.
"How's your head?" Rachel asks calmly as she watches Santana from the other bed.
"Am I – am I high? No fucking way you're actually here." She says, trying to convince herself.
"I assure you I'm not a figment of your imagination or a drug induced hallucination." Rachel is lying on her side facing Santana with her hair draping to one side. Seeing Rachel like this isn't helping Santana's heartbeat return to normal.
"What are you doing here?" She asks.
"I could ask you the same thing. I think it would be best if you went first." Rachel responds. Santana is embarrassed and she doesn't get embarrassed, she just owns it. Did she call Rachel last night? What happened? She's unsure and can't believe she let herself get blackout drunk.
"Care to elaborate?" Rachel says once Santana doesn't respond.
"No. No this isn't real." Santana tries to get out of bed but winces at the pain in her head. Slowly she grabs the water bottle and pain pills from the nightstand and quickly ingests them, drinking the remainder of the water to try to combat the cotton growing in her mouth.
"Dios mio! Is that smell, me?" Santana says after smelling the remnants of her night on her skin.
"Santana-"
"Wait, I can only handle one problem at a time. I'm going to shower and you can fill me in on why you're here after." Santana says as she drags herself from the bed.
Rachel doesn't respond as Santana goes into the bathroom. 15 minutes later Santana comes back in the room, wearing only a towel, she walks over to her suitcase and grabs something quick to wear then disappears back into the bathroom, ignoring Rachel all the while. Santana comes out a second time in sweatpants and a tank top. Hovering by the bathroom door, Santana crosses her arms and bites the inside of her cheek, not really knowing what to say.
"Why are you here San?" Rachel asks and Santana suddenly finds her feet very interesting.
"It's Vegas and I'm me..." She says with a weak shrug of her shoulders. Rachel sighs and sits up on the bed.
"Do you think maybe you could tell me the truth?" She asks and Santana sighs and scans the room, unable to meet Rachel's eyes. That's when she notices the ring on the nightstand and feels her blood run cold. Rachel follows her gaze but decides to ignore it.
"Santana." She calls out. Santana sighs and clenches her jaw.
"What do you want me to say Rachel?" Santana asks defensively, crossing her arms.
"I want you to tell me what you came to tell me. I didn't mean to send you an invitation..." Rachel says softly.
"Whatever, it's just a coincidence we're both here." Santana says with a shrug. Rachel sighs and shakes her head.
"A coincidence? Really, Santana?" Santana only shrugs again.
"You know what? Fine. If you're going to be that way, be that way." Rachel says frustrated as she stands from the bed.
"I hope that you feel better as your hangover clears." Rachel walks over to her shoes and bends over to put them on.
"Wait." Santana says softly before chewing her bottom lip nervously. Rachel stops, stands upright and looks at her.
"What happened last night?" She asks.
"You were drunk and called Quinn. We brought you to your room and I stayed the night to make sure you were okay." Rachel says and Santana nods, relieved she didn't actually call Rachel.
"Well...thanks. You didn't have to do that." Rachel nods her head.
"I didn't want anything to happen to you." Santana looks into Rachel's eyes for the first time since this conversation started, feeling tears begin to sting her eyes.
"Santana, can we just talk? Please?" Rachel pleads, taking hesitant steps towards the other woman.
"There's nothing I can say...I just...fuck!" Santana tilts her head backwards to stop her tears from falling. Soon she feels two soft hands on her forearms, gently pulling them from her chest. Looking down at Rachel, her tears fall and the smaller woman cups her right cheek, wiping them with her thumb.
"Why did you come here Santana?" Rachel asks again. Santana looks down, trying to talk as more tears flood her eyes.
"Rachel...I love you so much. I-I -I don't know how to do this without you..." Santana says softly, stammering over her words as her emotions take over. Rachel feels her heart break seeing Santana this way. Santana lets out a shaky breath before speaking again.
"I just...I don't know what I was thinking." Rachel slides her hand into Santana's and presses her body against hers, resting her head on the slightly taller woman's chest then placing her other hand on the back of Santana's neck, gently caressing her skin.
"Just tell me." Rachel says softly.
"I want...I want you to marry me, not him. I was scared that if we got married, it would ruin us but...I'm ruined without you. I need you." Santana says through her tears. Rachel continues to hold to her until she's calm.
"Ask me." Rachel says, stepping back slightly from Santana. Santana wipes her eyes, slightly confused.
"Huh?" She responds.
"Ask me what you came here to ask me." Rachel says with a small smile on her lips and tears building in her eyes. Santana takes both of her hands as she gets down on one knee, sniffling before speaking.
"What about your douche? Don't you love him?" Santana questions spitefully.
"San...I know all of this happened very quickly but it never changed how I feel about you." Rachel says softly, looking into the other woman's eyes.
Deciding to leave her negative comments to herself and wanting to seize the opportunity, Santana takes both of Rachel's hands as she gets down on one knee and sniffling before speaking.
"Rachel Barbra Berry, will you marry me?" Rachel's tear spill over as she looks down at the woman she loves, finally asking for her hand in marriage. Smiling brightly, Rachel pulls Santana to her feet.
"I honestly thought you'd never ask. I would love to be your wife Santana." Santana leans in to kiss Rachel when she feels a hand on her chest stopping her. Santana feels her heart drop in the silence around them.
"I just have to end my previous engagement." Rachel says, happy she decided to do the marriage application after the ceremony. Santana lets out a sigh of relief, having thought Rachel quickly changed her mind.
"I thought you were going to say no." Rachel shakes her head.
"I've waited years to hear those words, there's no way I'd ever turn it down." Rachel says, placing a kiss on her cheek.
"I'm going to deliver some bad news, cancel some things and I'll be back." Rachel turns to leave when Santana grabs her wrist, drawing her attention.
"Maybe you don't have to cancel everything. There can still be a wedding." Rachel smiles at Santana and squeezes her hand before leaving the room.
"I had no idea this crazy plot twist was gonna happen but I'm glad I got ordained for it. I know pronounce you, partners for life. You may kiss the bride." Artie says as he watches two of his high school friends finally take the next step in their relationship.
Santana smiles as Rachel presses her lips against hers, wondering why she was ever afraid to marry this woman. Santana didn't know Rachel could look anymore beautiful but this moment proved her wrong. Rachel looks out to into the crowd to see her friends and family, happy to share this day with her even if it didn't go the way they expected.
"Now, you can be a fruit too." Rachel says to Santana as they walk down the aisle.
"What are you talking about?" Santana asks while gazing at her curiously. Rachel giggles and shakes her head.
"Nothing. I love you Mrs. Berry." Santana smiles softly and kisses Rachel's cheek.
"I love you too, Mrs. Berry. I can't wait to get you alone." Rachel rolls her eyes.
"What? It doesn't even count if you don't consummate it." Rachel giggles as they continue to walk.
Santana and Rachel know they're going to have a long road ahead of them but they'll take on whatever life throws at them, together.