Rachel busied herself around the room trying to get ready quickly but still at a moderate pace. She wanted to look her best for whatever Santana was planning. The dress was absolutely stunning and of course Santana had gotten it to fit perfectly, maybe she should plan her outfits sometimes instead of Kurt. Kurt, Rachel realized this was one of his designs that she had fell in love with but never had the chance to wear since he was all about dramatics on a larger scale when it came to special events.
Having already grabbed a quick shower, Rachel went about doing her hair before she sat down in the floor in front of the floor length mirror to do her makeup. While Rachel continued to get ready she tried to figure out if she had missed any signs of tonight. Recounting everything in her head since she had gotten home the only thing that seemed odd was the overly great mood that Santana was in this morning. However, these evening plans obviously stemmed that good mood this morning. But it was just dinner? Right? Sure it was a very nice surprise dinner none the less but what about tonight was sending Santana practically over the moon? Rachel shrugged her shoulders, she would just have to wait and find out.
Standing downstairs in the lobby, Leroy fired off a text to Santana to let her know that Rachel was getting ready. He grinned when Santana messaged him back that everything was perfect and waiting. Leroy took a moment to collect himself, this was really happening. His baby would become an engaged woman tonight and then the super fun would start. Planning the wedding! Leroy could feel himself start to buzz with anticipation. When you become a parent, you want to give everything in the world to your children. You want to protect them and help them grow into the amazing adult that you know they can be. You also want them to be able to find that one special person that makes their world that much brighter and he was so glad that Rachel had found that in Santana. Sure the way they met was unconventional, but they were definitely meant to be together. He was just glad that they had found each other sooner rather than later for one more reasons than one. He also couldn't help the tears that threatened to fall, thankful that Rachel had allowed him back in her life. It would shatter his heart if he had missed any moment of all of this.
Leroy checked the time on his phone, they weren't on a super tight schedule but hopefully Rachel would make it down the stairs soon. He knew Santana was probably bouncing around the cabin double checking everything once again even though she had already told him that everything was perfect. This night meant everything for her too, Leroy just wanted everything to be amazing for his girls. Yes, Santana was already his daughter also, she had been for a while now.
When Leroy heard the distinct sounds of heels coming down the stairs he looked up to see Rachel. She looked absolutely stunning in the dress. She was grinning from ear to ear, walking carefully and holding the railing so that she didn't fall. Leroy walked over to greet her and take her hand before leading her outside towards the car. "You look gorgeous sweet heart."
"Thank you." Rachel smiled and kissed his cheek. "Now where are we headed?" She asked as she climbed into the passenger seat as her father held the door open.
"I am not to reveal that information." Leroy gave Rachel a sneaky look as he climbed in the car behind the steering wheel. "I am just responsible for delivering you to Santana."
"Let's go see my lady then." Rachel motioned with her hands to get going. She really couldn't wait to see Santana.
Santana felt like she had been standing outside for hours now, when in reality it had only been a few minutes. She waited at the end of the lit path she had made as a last minute add on. The inside of the cabin was stunning so why not add some flair outside as well. Tea candles and white paper bags could make any path look elegant enough. Santana shifted the bouquet of flowers around in her arms, she didn't want to be too cliche' and get plain roses so she had settled on a select mix. Each flower had it's individual meaning, however when combined they said a whole lot more. Santana held her breath as she heard a car coming up the road, smiling when she saw that it was Leroy and Rachel.
Rachel was a bit confused she thought they were going to meet Santana at a restaurant some place. "Dad why are we going to the cabin?"
Leroy grinned as he glanced at Rachel to his right. "This is where your surprise is. There she is." Leroy pointed his finger at Santana who slowly came into view as they rounded the last curve before the cabin.
Rachel could feel her breath catch in her throat. Santana looked amazing dressed in black slacks and white blouse. Awh and she was holding flowers. There was no wiping the beaming smile off of Rachel's face as they came to a stop in font of Santana who stepped forward to open the door for Rachel.
"Hi baby." Santana greeted Rachel with a kiss as she reached her hand in the car to help Rachel out.
"Hi. What is all of this?" Rachel asked in awe as she looked around Santana's shoulder at the path.
"A special night for you. These are yours too." Santana carefully placed the bouquet into Rachel's arms before bending over to speak to Leroy. "Thank you for getting her here. We will call you tomorrow." Santana winked before she straitened back up and took Rachel's hand and wrapped it around her arm.
Santana walked casually towards the cabin. She wanted to get to the best part about tonight but she knew she had to be patient. She would never forgive herself if she decided to just forgo all of her plans and just pop the question now. "Do you like your dress?"
Rachel looked down at herself. "I love my dress. You're pulling out all the stops tonight. A new dress, flowers...what else do you have up your sleeve tonight?"
Santana tossed her head back in a light chuckle. "You have no idea love. You have no idea." She responded as she lightly patted her pocket with her left hand without Rachel noticing.
Rachel gasped as they entered the cabin and she took in everything under the soft candle light. "This is beautiful Santana. This is what you have been doing while I was out with my dad all day?" Rachel paused in front of the fire place and slowly spun looking at everything.
"It is. I did actually paint you something" Santana pointed to a canvas sitting on an easel covered by a drop cloth next to the stairs. "But that comes later. First how about some dinner?" Santana motioned to the kitchen where the table was already set with the plates and the wine was chilling in an ice bucket.
"I would love some dinner. Can we put these in water first?" Rachel held up the bouquet of flowers, she didn't want them to die from being left out.
Dinner was going wonderfully. The women had put the flowers into a lovely vase that Santana had found and placed them on the kitchen island. Rachel actually wanted to set them on the kitchen table, but she didn't want to ruin the already lovely set center piece of candles. Rachel was thoroughly enjoying her dinner that Santana had went to so much trouble to make. It never ceased to amaze her just how wonderful of a cook Santana really was, there was nothing that she couldn't cook.
Rachel took a sip of her wine before asking the same question she had already asked at least three times. "When are you going to show me my painting? I can't wait to see what it is." Rachel bounced a little in her seat, she always loved when Santana took time out of her normal painting time to do something for her.
Santana chuckled as she wiped her mouth on a napkin before answering. "I told you I would paint you something magnificent. But you have to be patient, I will show you after we finish eating. Don't rush through dinner though, there's no need to run the risk of one of us choking. The painting isn't going anywhere." Truth be told Santana was struggling to keep from just ripping off the drop cloth in a typical magician fashion and yelling ta da! Every time she told Rachel to be patient it felt like she was also telling herself.
The ring was still sitting quietly in her pants pocket ready to be brought at a moments notice. Everything was going great so far and there was no way that Santana was going to chuck all of her plans out of the window and ruin this evening. Which really would it be ruining it? She was excited to propose and a little nervous, maybe the sooner she asked the sooner she had an answer and she could start celebrating with Rachel, as long as Rachel said yes. What if she didn't say yes though? Santana couldn't imagine trying to pick her busted up heart off the floor tonight. Would Rachel saying no result in them breaking up? People could work through their significant other not being ready for marriage yet right? Why was she thinking so negatively, they had already started a baby discussion just a few days ago. What if a baby was all that Rachel really wanted? A marriage was just a piece of paper wasn't it? No a marriage was more than that. That piece of paper meant that instead of Rachel being her "wife" she was her wife in all terms of the word.
Rachel watched Santana have a bit of an internal struggle with herself. What was going on in that woman's mind? Whatever she was thinking about was apparently becoming painful to think about if the expression on Santana's face was any indication. Rachel slowly finished eating while keeping an eye on Santana. When her facial expression still hadn't changed much, Rachel slowly reached her hand out placing it on top of Santana's that was laying on the table.
"What's wrong honey?" Rachel asked when Santana finally looked up.
"Nothing, I got lost in my head for a minute. I was thinking if you are done eating I would like to show you the painting now." Santana smiled reassuringly at Rachel who was still watching her wearily.
"Okay, yeah. I am done eating." Rachel decided that just for the moment she would take Santana at her word and go along with Santana for now.
Santana cleared her throat and stood up, pulling a blind fold out of her pocket. "I need you to put this on first, there's a bit of a set up."
"Oo la la, are you going to leave me blind folded?" Rachel asked while she giggled as Santana slowly slid the blind fold over her eyes. She was trying really hard not to mess up Rachel's hair, it just looked so pretty tonight with partial curls that bounced across her shoulders.
"No, you can take it off in a minute. I want to talk to you first while I set this up." Santana moved around the kitchen table and walked towards the easel after turning Rachel's chair to face where she would be kneeling. "When I first met you, I felt a connection but I never knew it would lead to this. I got so nervous that first night you were here, every time I touched you it felt like little sparks shooting up my arm and it took my breath away. Then that first time I kissed you I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest. When I realized I was falling in love with you I thought it was too soon and then you returned my feelings and I worried you had some form of a hero complex for me. But then it all became real and here we are three years later, both with wonderful careers and an amazing life. I can't imagine my life without you now, you're my forever."
"Santana's what is happening?" Rachel felt like her heart was going to beat out of her chest now. This wasn't just any normal showing of a painting, there was definitely something more going on here.
Instead of answering Rachel's question, Santana pulled the ring out of her pocket and got down on one knee in front of Rachel. "I love you beyond anything in this world and I want to ask you something really important. So when you're ready you can take the blind fold off."
Rachel slowly lifted the blind fold off of her face, she gasped when she saw Santana down on one knee kneeling in front of her. Santana was smiling with tears in her eyes as she motioned to the painting that had been sitting there all evening. A beautiful painting of a galaxy with Rachel's name and the question will you marry me written in traditional calligraphy letters. "Will you marry me Rachel Berry?"
Caught between laughing and crying all Rachel could do was nod her head. She should have known as soon as Santana started her speech that this was going to happen, however hindsight was twenty twenty. "Yes?" Santana asked just to be sure.
"Yes. I will marry you." Rachel sniffled out as she held her hand out for Santana to slide her ring on. They were both shaking to the point that Santana was struggling a bit to get the ring on.
Santana jumped up and grabbed Rachel out her chair as soon as she decided the ring was on far enough. Both were laughing as tears ran down their faces. Rachel couldn't get over just how perfect and beautiful her ring was. She thought about the ring for Santana that was in her purse. Should she do her own proposal or just go ahead and give Santana her ring. She would have to decided later because right now, she had a fiance' to celebrate with.
As Santana lowered Rachel back down out of the hug to stand on her own feet, she pulled Santana into a searing kiss that left her weak in the knees. Santana ran her hands up and down Rachel's back pulling her as close to her as she could. The attempt to not mess up Rachel's hair was long gone as her hands seemed to have minds of their own and made their way towards Rachel's glorious brown locks. "I love you so much." Santana whispered as she pulled back and rested her forehead against Rachel's.
"I love you too." Rachel responded before connecting her lips with Santana's once more. In this moment it felt like she couldn't get enough of Santana and she was more than happy to spend all night trying to get her fill. The phone call she wanted to make to her father would just have to wait until morning.