It was two days before the move to New York, and Santana was emotionally drained. She was excited, thrilled, really, for the opportunities it was going to bring them, for the step closer it to her, Sam, and the children being a real family together. She knew that she and Antonia would be able to have everything that she had previously only dreamed of being able to give her, that they would be safe and well cared for. Antonia would not lack for good schooling and clothes, any lessons she might want when she's older, and Santana was more grateful to Sam for this than she could say. More than that, Antonia would not lack for a father. Although they had only jokingly referred to marriage so far, Santana was sure, without ever having actually spoken it aloud, that Sam was the one.
He was the only man she had ever loved, the only man who ever loved her and her daughter. She knew, even in this relatively short time, that he was the man she wanted to be with forever, that she was the man she wanted to be her husband and who had already claimed himself to be Toni's father. She wanted to be a mother figure to Stevie and for Antonia to have him as a brother of sorts, even if the two would undoubtedly continue to drive her and Sam crazy for the rest of their childhoods and likely the rest of their lives. She wanted everything that came with this, and it made her so happy to think about it.
And yet it was scary too. Because moving meant leaving her mother's proximity, a town she was used to and a routine that had become comfortable, transferring her schooling and starting over yet again. It meant resettling Toni and herself too, and although she knew it would work out in the end, she couldn't help but be apprehensive.
That was why she found herself spending the evening with her mother, after most of her packing had been done. She had been somewhat perturbed when Sam took off with the children to get ice cream, so once she had done most of what she needed to, she headed to her mother's house for a visit. Maribel had as always greeted her with a warm embrace, exclamations that she was too skinny, and insistence that she sit and eat as she sat beside her, asking questions before Santana could get enough breath to answer. After she had eaten enough to satisfy her and answered the first onslaughter of prying, the two had sat on the couch, nursing half full glasses of wine as Maribel twined a finger through her daughter's hair, smiling at her.
"So how soon will I be hearing wedding bells, mija?"
"Mami!" Santana rolled her eyes, huffing, but she was smiling in spite of herself. "Can we settle in New York before we think up one more huge thing to add to our list of stuff to do?"
"Oh, you know it's coming, don't even deny it," Maribel smirked back at her, giving her hair a tug. "And why not? He is a good man, he is a good looking man. Those lips-"
"Mami, can you keep it in your pants and not drool over my man?" Santana rolled her eyes again, but even she couldn't resist adding, "He is pretty hot. Those lips are no joke."
"And he is good to you, the way he looks at you, his whole face lights up," Maribel continued, ignoring her. "As does yours, mija. I have never seen you look so at ease and happy around anymore. He is good for you, and for Toni. He will be a good father."
"She adores Toni, and he thinks that sun rises and sets on her," Santana murmured, smiling softly as she leaned her head towards her mother's stroking hand. "He already calls her princess. I was so afraid she would never have this."
"You've been a good mother to her," Maribel assured her softly, still lightly stroking her hair. "She would turn out well even if he were not here. But I am happy for her, for you both." She paused, still speaking softly, as she gave her daughter's hair another tug. "But I will miss you, Santanita. Oh, how I will miss you. Do not be surprised if you discover in a few months that I have rented out an apartment in your backyard."
Santana laughed slightly, because she knew her mother was dead serious. She let her head come to rest against her mother's shoulder, snuggling in against her with her own wordless way of showing her that she would miss her too. As her mother's hand gently rested on her head, she was reminded of how she often holds Antonia like this, how one day, Antonia might hold her own daughter in this way as well, and a strong sense of nostalgia swept over her. She wondered if her father had ever held her, before she and her mother split, and felt a strong sense of gratitude that Antonia would not escape her childhood without the memory of a father's arms.
She would miss her mother, and getting Toni accustomed to the move might be hell. But she was so happy for everything it would mean.
Everything was set for the move. They were spending one more night in Lima and then it was off to New York for them, where they would be living during the duration of his season with the Yankees. Sam has always intended to make things official between him and Santana before the big move. He wanted her to know that he was serious about their future together, but with everything going on, he hasn't had the chance to propose yet.
Tonight was the night though. Tonight, he was determined make her the future Mrs. Sam Evans. Before he could make that a possibility, he's recruited Stevie to help him pick out the ring. Although, he's oblivious, his little brother has been helpful in the process. Now that he had the ring, he's going to need Maribel and Toni's help too. He loves his little Princess and didn't want her to feel left out. Also, he figured that she would like to be involved in the process, so why not make her happy too?
With Tana in school, he brings the children over to Maribel's. Sam was wearing a huge smile on his face as he waits for the older version of Santana to open the door. "Hello, Maribel. Nice to see you again." He greeted her with Toni in his arms.
Stevie, although excited to help his brother with the proposal today, was more excited to see Maribel. He liked her. She was nice to him and she had cookies. What kid didn't like cookies? He too was smiling and was waving at Maribel enthusiastically. "Hi, Maribel! I've missed you."
Surprised but pleased to see the trio before her, Maribel smiled warmly, opening the door for them to come in. "Well hello! This is a lovely surprise. I'm so glad you did not leave without coming to see me again. Antonita knows that would make her abuela very sad, right, carina?"
"Oh, I missed you too, corazon, but I bet you missed my cookies almost as much," Maribel laughed, reaching down to hug Stevie warmly. She smiled at Sam and then reached to take Antonia, who gladly went into her arms and hugged her around the neck. Holding Toni as she backed her inside, she looked up at Sam. "Will Santana be coming by later as well?"
"We couldn't leave without saying goodbye." Sam said before giving Toni over to Maribel. He ruffled his brother's hair and laughed a little. Maribel definitely understood his little brother. "I think you're right about his motives."
Stevie, unashamed by his thoughts and motives, shrugged his shoulders. He hugged Maribel back and said, "I do like your cookies, but I like you too."
Sam ushered his brother inside and followed suit. He nodded at Maribel's question and said, "Yes, that's the plan, but I'm here because I need your help." He pulled out the grey velvet box containing the engagement ring and presented it to Maribel. "I planned on proposing to your daughter tonight and I was wondering if you would give me your consent and help me with it."
"Oh, well, I'm certainly glad I run a close second in your heart," Maribel laughed, ruffling Stevie's hair. She shifted Antonia to her other hip, pecking her cheek, and squeezed Sam's hand warmly before he spoke again.
As he presented her with the engagement ring, her eyes widened, and she let out a low gasp even before he could explaining, her entire face lighting up like a Christmas tree as she guessed what was going on. Antonia, clueless, looked at the ring and oohed in appreciation.
"Oooh that's pretty Daddy. That's for Mami? She will like it! Can I get one too?"
"Baby, that is a grown up ring," Maribel laughed, giving her another kiss before setting her down and moving to Sam's side, cupping his hand in both of hers. "Oh, I give you my consent, and any help you might need. I am proud to call you mijo from this day on."
Antonia doesn't get it and laughed again, happy because she thinks she caught her abuela in a mistake. "Daddy isn't your son, 'Buela!"
"Oh, he is now, carina, weren't you listening?" Maribel laughed, looking down at her. "He is going to marry your mami, and that makes him my son and your daddy forever."
Antonia's eyes grew wide at this too, and she blurted out the first thing that came to her mind. "It is a wedding like Shrek and Fiona!"
"I helped pick out the ring you know. I was a big help." Stevie said proudly.
"Yes, you were, buddy. You were a huge help to me." Sam ruffled his brother's hair again and smiled a Maribel and Toni's exchange. He already knew that he was going to love Maribel like a mother. She cared not only for him but for Stevie as well.
"Thank you. I'm glad that I'm getting your blessings. It means a lot to me." He said sincerely and looked at Toni. "I would be your daddy because you're your mommy's daughter, Toni. Maribel would be my mom and since Stevie is my brother, he would technically be your uncle."
"Ha! Told you I was your uncle. That makes me the boss of you." Stevie gloated.
"You are not the boss of anybody. That's not how big boys do things." Sam chided. He shook his head and looked back at Maribel. "Anyway, I thought that it would be nice if all of you were present when I propose to Santana, but I don't know if she'll like that. Do you think she will?"
"Oh, Stevie, you be sure to tell Santana that, she will be so happy to hear you helped," Maribel told Stevie fondly. Shifting her attention back to Sam, she smiled even more widely if possible, nodding emphatically. "Oh, I think she will love it. What she'll not like is if I get her on video crying, that, she would have objections to. But oh will it be hard to restrain myself."
Antonia was not interested in the details of how her mother would be proposed to. It was enough for her that it was going to happen, and Sam would be her daddy forever. She didn't like the part about Stevie being her uncle, especially when he said he was her boss. She scowled at him, shaking her head.
"Will not! I'm gonna be five whole years old next year so I'll catch up with you, so there!" She forgot that Stevie would be six when she was five.
Stevie didn't want to get into trouble, so he discreetly stuck out his tongue and made a face at Toni.
Sam on the other hand was busy talking to Maribel and had not caught on to what the kids were doing. "You should record it. I think she'll get past the embarrassment eventually." He laughed. "So is it okay if I set up dinner in your backyard? I was thinking about cooking and having a candlelit dinner for the both of us."
To Antonia, this is an outrage. She stuck her tongue out as far as she could make it go and waggled it all around, also sticking her thumbs in her ears and waggling her fingers and crossing her eyes at Stevie.
Maribel does see this but ignored it, since neither is screaming or crying yet. She nodded her assent to Sam, touching his arm. "Yes, definitely. And anything that you need me to do I will. If I need to keep the children or distract Santana, whatever you want."
Stevie didn't like being outdone, but it was hard to keep up when he saw Toni looking utterly ridiculous with her eyes crossed and tongue flailing around. He chuckled at this and said, "You win. You make the best faces."
"Well, I'm going to need you to keep the kids while I make dinner and do the set up. I'm sure Stevie will be good if you give him your delicious cookies." Sam laughed.
Stevie heard the word cookies and perked up, "Cookies?! Did you say cookies?"
Antonia forgot she was annoyed and grinned, immediately perking up at this "victory." "Yeah! I win! I win!" She pumped her fist in the air.
"No problem," Maribel nodded to Sam, reaching to give his arm a squeeze again. "We will have a good time, and certainly there will be some cookies if they can play nicely the whole time Sam is working."
Antonia did a little dance, pumping her fist again. "Cookies!"
Stevie had completely ignored Toni by now. His focus was on those delicious cookies. "Can we please have those cookies now? Please…"
"Thank you, Maribel. You are a lifesaver." Sam said before turning to the kids. "Stevie listen to Maribel and don't taunt Toni… Toni, you know what to do too, Princess. Daddy has some work to do." He kissed both kids on top of their heads and went back outside to get their items for dinner.
Two hours later, he had everything set. Dinner had been cooked and the setting was complete. He shot Tana a text, asking her where she was and she told him that she was on the way back to her mom's.
He was feeling a nervous and jittery, so he picked Toni up and asked, "Do you think mommy will say yes? I'm a little nervous here."
"Yes,carina, come here and help me.I do not have many left, perhaps you and mi nieta can make more?" Maribel held out a hand to the children to take and lead them into the living room."You may sit nicely at the coffee table and have what is left and perhaps later we will make more."
The children cooperated, eager for the cookies, and Maribel kept them amused with games and stories. As Sam returned to the living room, letting them know Santana was on her way, and he picked Antonia up, Antonia looked at him seriously and then smiled, snuggling up to him.
"Mami is gonna say yes. She loves you a whole lot, daddy, and me too. It's gonna be so cool."
"You think she will?" Sam asked Toni again, needing a little more encouragement and reassurance.
Stevie, sensing his brother's distress, got off the sofa and walked up to him. "You don't have to worry, Sammy, Santana loves you. She won't say no. When she sees the ring, she'll say yes."
"Yes, she will," Antonia nodded affirmatively. She hugged Sam again around the neck, squeezing. "My mami loves you. She will marry you 'cause that's how it works. You gotta get married when you're in love." She tilted her head, considering. "But even though that ring is super pretty it would be even better if it was pink. Or purple. Or RAINBOW!"
Sam smiled at Stevie and ruffled his hair. "Thank you, buddy. I needed to hear that." His attention went back to Toni, "You too, Princess, thank you." He hugged her back, laughing as he listened to her little rant about getting a rainbow ring. "Sorry, sweetheart. I'm sure a rainbow ring would be nice, but it's not appropriate for this occasion."
"But rainbows are super happy," Antonia argued. "And it's super happy you're gonna marry my mami. Don't you think so? I think it should be a super happy rainbow ring."
Sam was saved from having to argue when Santana opened the front door, having pulled up into her mother's driveway a few minutes ago. Maribel's eyes lit up, and Antonia too excitedly clapped her hands, anticipating the moment as she grinned and wiggled in Sam's arms to be put down. "Mami's here! Yay!"
Santana raised her eyes, giving a little laugh. "Didn't know I'd get such a welcome. What has everyone been up to?"
Sam didn't want to be rude and ignore Toni's rants, but what else could he say? Thankfully, Santana was here. Crisis averted, he thought with a chuckled, releasing the little girl into the arms of her mom.
"Tana!" Stevie hugged her soon to be sister in law's leg fiercely.
"Hey, babe. We're just chillin', talkin' and stuff…" He said, not wanting her to know of his plans. "I made dinner for us. Are you hungry?"
With Antonia on her hip, still wiggling around excitedly until Santana put her back down, Santana looked up at Sam, giving him a genuine smile. "Awesome, babe, I'm starving. Though I think it's kinda weird that Mami let you touch things in her kitchen…and she's being way quiet. What gives?" She turned towards her mother, who tried with little success to keep her face blank. Santana's next suspicious glance turned to Antonia, who beamed, dimples popping into her cheeks, and giggled.
"Okay, were you all talking about me just before I came in or something? 'Cause you know Mami makes up like 99% of all the stories she tells on me."
"Great!" Sam wrapped an arm around Santana's shoulder when she started asking questions. The smiles on Maribel, Stevie and Toni's faces didn't do much to help quell her suspicions. "Don't worry about them, Tana. We weren't talking about you. Now come on, let's go have dinner." He led her along, heading out to the backyard. The candles had been lit for the occasion, giving the back yard a romantic flow.
He pulled her chair back and helped her to her seat before going to the opposite end to sit down. "Would you like some Champagne?" He asked, picking up the bottle that had been chilling in the champagne bucket.
Santana was still regarding all four of them suspiciously, but she let Sam lead her into the backyard with the Antonia trailing behind. She sat as Sam lead her, eyebrows raising at his efforts. "You really went to a lot of trouble here. I didn't even have a huge exam or anything today. What's all this for, babe?"
She accepted the champagne, even more curious as she took a sip. "Is this because we're moving?"
"No, it's because-" Antonia started to blurt before Maribel, who had followed to retrieve her, gently clapped a hand over her mouth, then covered it by tickling her so Antonia burst out giggling. Antonia pulled away, doing an excited little dance, as Santana turned to stare at her.
"How many cookies did you give her tonight, Mami?"
"Far too many, I suppose. Toni, mi nieta, come with me, your mother is tired I am sure and could use a few moments to relax with Sam," Maribel said to her. She took Toni by the hand and lead her away, with Antonia straining to look over her shoulder until she was out of sight.
"Can't I just cook for my girlfriend? Why do I have to have an ulterior motive?" Sam poured the Champagne for the both of them and settled back in his seat. He felt a little jittery. An engagement was a huge deal and he didn't want to fuck it up. "Possibly…" He shrugged his shoulders.
When Toni almost spilled the beans, he knew that it couldn't be prolonged any longer. This had to be done and soon, so he stood up and walked over to Santana.
He had planned the dinner, bought the ring and even planned on the words to say, but the words got stuck in his throat now that he was here. He stood in front of her for a few seconds, breathing deeply while he sought the words that seemed to have gone missing.
Finally, he stopped thinking and got on his knees. He pulled out the ring, opening the box before presenting it to Santana. "Santana, I've loved you from the day I first set eyes on you. It's crazy because I don't believe in love at first sight and I hadn't planned to fall in love so quickly, but here I am a man in love with the most beautiful woman, not only on the outside, but also on the inside. I love your strength, your caring nature, even your stubbornness and I would be the happiest man on earth if you would consent to be my wife. So will you marry me, Santana Marisol Lopez."
His voice had cracked a little and tears had gathered behind his eyes. Sam didn't realize how emotional he would get until the moment happened. Oddly, he wasn't ashamed of how he was reacting. He loved her, that was all there is to it.
When Sam first got to his knees, Santana thought he was being playful or silly, that he would take her hands and kiss them or maybe even get kind of pervy, despite the fact that the children were just inside. When he pulled out the ring box, it still didn't compute what he was doing. She was wondering if this was still some playful game of his. But when she saw the beautiful, unique setting of the diamond ring, Santana's breath caught in her throat, and the realization flooded her mind so her entire body seemed to be heated through with vivid emotion more than any coherent thought. She stared, blinking rapidly, hearing every one of Sam's words and marveling at them.
She loved him too. She loved him and trusted him and needed him more than she ever would have thought possible, and now he was asking her to be his forever. To have Sam Evans as her husband.
Seeing the tears in his eyes did it. Her own eyes teared up, then overflowed, and she nodded, too choked up at first to speak.
"Yes. Yes, I will. God, I will."
Sam swallowed, reacting nervously to Tana's silence. Thoughts whirling in his mind, mostly thoughts of her rejecting him. But he didn't get the chance to stay in those negative thoughts. Santana was crying and she had agreed. There was no way that he was going to let her back out now, so he slipped the ring on her finger, got back on his feet to pulled her up into his arms and kissed her most passionately.
"I love you so much, Santana." He told her once their lips parted, "You have no idea how happy you've made me."
Stevie, who had been watching all this from the kitchen window, ran outside and clapped his hands. "Yay! Tana, you're going to be my big sister for real now!" He cheered, throwing himself at both his brother and his soon to be sister in law.
Santana let herself be pulled up, locking her arms tightly around Sam's neck and kissing him with as much fervor as she could convey to him. Pulling back, grinning hugely, even as tears still stood in her eyes, she told him in a slightly shaking voice, "I love you too. I love you so much. God, I'm gonna marry you. I'm going to MARRY YOU!"
She laughed, kissing him again, but was interrupted by Stevie running out cheering. Still laughing, trying to wipe at her eyes, she reached down to hug Stevie, but soon his flailing arms were joined by a shrieking, squealing Toni's and then her mother's. Santana surrendered to the group hug, grinning so much her cheeks hurt.
Sam laughed, he was glad that Santana was excited about their engagement. This felt like a dream come true. Soon, their family came out to congratulate them. He hugged Stevie, who seemed to be really happy at the moment. Sam was glad for this because he really didn't want Stevie to feel alone or that all he had was Sam. There was more to life, more happiness and love to be shared and he wanted his brother to experience all of it. "I love you too, Tana, so much…" He repeated the words, for the moment reveling in the warmth of his family's love.
Antonia was shrieking in the high pitched, excited tones that only children under five seemed able to manage, crying out in one breath, "Mami Daddy Mami Daddy princess wedding yay!" and jumping up and down. Santana scooped her up, spinning her around so she squealed with laughter, and kissed both her cheeks before setting her down. She hugged Stevie too, whispering in his ear, "I'm so glad I'm getting a little brother!" before releasing him. She didn't even have to turn to her mother, because Maribel was waiting for her chance to snatch her up as soon as Stevie was free from her. Maribel held Santana hard, her hand cradling the back of her head in the same way she must have when Santana was only a baby, and Santana could hear her mother sniffling as she whispered into her ear.
"Oh, my ninita hermosa, I have waited for this for you." Pulling back, she cupped Santana's face, smiling tenderly, and then turned to the others, raising her voice to be heard. "So I am now lucky enough to have a not only a lovely and strong daughter but a talented and generous son who is more attractive than all my friends' sons combined, yes? As well as my beautiful little spitfire granddaughter and my handsome and sweet Stevie." She wasn't sure what exactly Stevie was considered to be in relation. "One would think this would be more than enough, but oh, I know you two can make it that much better and get to work making me even more amazing grandchildren, yes?"
"Mami!" Santana swatted at her, but she was laughing. And she had to admit, she did wonder what a child with her and Sam's genes would look like.
Stevie was so happy for his brother. He had never seen Sammy this happy before. It was like he had a glow about him now and Stevie knew that it was because of Santana. "I love you, Tana." He said to his new sister sincerely and smiled up at Maribel. "Can you call you Abuela too now? I like Abuela. It sounds nice…"
Sam was filled with so much happiness. Almost everyone who he held in high regards was there. His princess was excited, Santana had tears of happiness in her eyes and Maribel who was being complimentary was already telling them to get started on having babies. "I'm happy to have three such beautiful women in my life. Both Stevie and I are lucky." He laughed a little before adding, "I'm ready to have a few of those babies you are talking about, but it all depends on Santana now. We got at her pace. Hopefully, she won't make me wait until I'm 40." He winked at his fiancee, knowing that he was probably going to get an eye roll.
"I love you too, Stevie," Santana told him, smiling down at him. She leaned down to kiss the top of his head, turning with a quick smile to look ath er mother when Stevie asked to call her abuela. She knew Maribel would love that.
Maribel looked teary still as she nodded at Stevie, smiling down at him, and she reached to pat his shoulder. "Oh yes, carina, you certainly can. I would love to be your Abuela."
"You're mine too," Antonia reminded her, tugging at Maribel's arm, and Maribel laughed, patting her head.
"Yes, Antonita, always yours too."
As Santana basked in the moment, soaking up the excitement, joy, and most of all love that was surrounding her, she walked back and let herself sink into Sam's arms, realizing that now, after today, she would belong there potentially forever. And that was truly amazing.