Everyone sat gathered around a large table at Gino's, a fancy Italian restaurant located in the heart of St. Lawrence. Santana absolutely adored this place for it's rich cherry wood tables and various shades of red decor. Various pasta's had been served along with a probably too much money bottle of wine. It was a special occasion, so it was okay. Santana was just glad to be somewhere in private with her closest friends and family.
Leaving the court house had been hectic. Someone had tipped off the paparazzi that Santana and Rachel were at the court house for whatever reason and they had been swarmed as soon as they left. It had taken Sue and several other police and security guards to get everyone back into the county clerks office so that they could turn in their paper work. Marcus, Leroy, Puck and Bayani had fought the crowd in order to get the cars drove around to the back of the building so that everyone could leave. Santana really regretted giving Duncan the night off and not bringing him with her. She had no idea that they would be that swarmed in St. Lawrence of all places. It was normally a quiet place where she and Rachel never really had to worry, but tonight had been a totally different story. It wouldn't have been as bad if the group of photographer's hadn't of gotten a little pushy and aggressive. They couldn't run the risk of anyone getting hurt, especially Beth and Davis.
At least now it was over and they had made it inside Gino's without being seen. Hopefully it would stay that way for the rest of evening. Santana stuck another forkful of pasta into her mouth. This was really good, it was something new that she had decided to try and she was definitely going to have to find a recipe to make it at home. Salmon in a butter cream sauce was quickly becoming a new favorite dish.
"Maribel, are you and Marcus staying here in St. Lawrence or McKinley?" Rachel asked in between bites of her food.
"We were going to stay in McKinley at the lodge. We understand that Bayani runs it?" Maribel looked down the table to where Bayani was seated next to Leroy.
"Yes Ma'm. I've been running it for years now and slowly taking over. The actual owner is finally looking to sale and I officially made an offer yesterday." Bayani smiled before he took a sip of his wine. Leroy rubbed his back lovingly. He was so proud of the man that Bayani was, he always put one hundred ten percent into everything that he done. That lodge has been his life for so long, starting as a skiing instructor and slowly moving up the ranks.
"Congrats!" Everyone held up their drinks in a toast to Bayani.
"While we have our glasses raised, I would like to propose a toast to Santana and Rachel also." Puck cleared his throat and stood up. "I know you wanted to save all of this mushy crap for your actual wedding, but as your unofficial brother, I think I should be allowed to say something now."
Santana rolled her eyes playfully. "Just get on with it Puck."
"I am if you wouldn't interrupt me." Puck playfully scowled. "Rachel, first things first, welcome to the family. You're an amazing woman and I commend you for putting up with Santana as long as you have and intend to. Santana and I like to worry and for many years we went back and forth worrying about whether or not the other one would find happiness. We made a pact when we were ten that if neither of us were married by fifty, we would marry each other just so we wouldn't be lonely." Everyone chuckled at this. "Then one day I went to Santana's as I was on my way to the city to get Quinn and that was the first time I met Rachel Berry. I knew from the start that there was something between Santana and Rachel, something special that Santana could hold on to for life. So, with that said, thank you Rachel for bringing a spark back to Santana that I hadn't seen in a long time. You truly are her better half and I wish you the best of luck in raising a family together and if Santana ever gets out of line, just send her to me. Congratulations on your marriage." Puck clinked his glass with Quinn's and sat back down as everyone cheered and clinked their glasses together also.
"I just want to say a few things too." Maribel took her turn standing up, she smoothed down her black dress before she addressed everyone at the table. Santana and Rachel specifically. "When you were born Santana..your father and I knew you were going to be a spit fire, a force to be reckoned with. We wondered if you would find someone that could match your independence or if you would settle for less than you deserved. I'm more than happy to say that Rachel, you darling girl, you are truly the perfect match for Santana. I'm so happy she has found someone like you to share her life with. We're so happy that you Santana, invited us today and I can say on behalf of your father and I that we are here to be better. There may be no way to make up for every short coming, but we sure would like to try, if you will give us that chance." Rachel looked over at Santana who was trying to hide the blush running up her neck and face. Never did her parents ever dote on her like this, especially in front of her, but it was nice. "I will say it again, congratulations and here's to many years of a happy marriage and raising beautiful babies. I really want to see pictures of and meet those little girls."
"Is it my turn yet?" Leroy waited until Maribel was seated before he stood up. He looked pointedly at Rachel before he spoke. "My tiny ballerina, how far you have come. Hiram and I were beyond blessed when Shelby agreed to be our surrogate. We truly had no idea how much joy you would bring into our lives. That first night we brought you home, Hiram sat up all night watching you even though he had just finished a twenty four hour shift. You blossomed right before our eyes and you never let anything stand in your way of accomplishing your dreams. I know we had a rough spot and things changed, someone tried to take your dreams away from you, but thanks to Santana you're here today. So, what I really want to say is thank you Santana for being the rock that Rachel needed, thank you for loving her and thank you for letting Rachel love you. To Rachel and Santana!" Leroy raised his glass to the table.
Santana and Rachel were both blushing hard now as everyone took their turns saying something. Quinn, Marcus, Bayani, Cassie and even Beth shared a few words. Davis tried but the most he got out was a few spit bubbles. They were highly appreciated. The last person to finally stand up was Shelby.
"How do I follow all of that? I've been sitting here trying to think of something wonderful and great to say, reflect on some memories or something and I keep coming up short because I don't even deserve to be here today. But that is what makes you so wonderful Rachel. I don't deserve to be here, but yet here I am because you gave me another chance. Another chance to see the wonderful woman you have grown to be and a chance to see the wonderful mother that I know you can be. I'm so very thankful for that." Shelby wiped away a few tears that had began to fall. "I'm also thankful for all the trouble that Cassie and Santana went to in order to help Rachel and I reconnect. You two thought you were being sneaky, but let's just say you suck at it. You're an amazing person Santana and I just want to thank you for helping Rachel and I start on a new path together. You two make an amazing couple and I happy I get to witness the love that flows between you two and the love that is flowing around this table today. This is truly one amazing family that I am beyond blessed to be a part of."
Santana looked around the table, these people were the best of the best. Of course some of their friends would be a little upset that they hadn't been invited to this little impromptu wedding, but the actual wedding in December would be the bigger party that everyone could partake in. Rachel and Shelby still had a lot of ground to cover as did Santana and her parents, however, tonight was a great start.
It still felt a little foreign to Santana to officially be a married woman. Rachel was her wife, that was fact and no one was going to be able to take that away from her. Santana looked over at Rachel who was now engrossed in some kind of conversation with Maribel. She couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face. Her parents were here and they were getting along with everyone.
"I want to say something too, since everyone else got their chance." Santana announced randomly. She cleared her throat when everyone turned to look at her. Oh, that's a lot of attention at once. "Uhm...thank you all for coming today and thank you for celebrating with us." Santana turned to her right to look directly at Rachel, it was easier to block out everyone staring at her. "When I first met you, I knew something about you was different. I had to stop myself from kissing you that very first night you were at my cabin. I've never been a sucker for the whole love at first sight crap, but you...you had me from the moment we met. I love you so much and I love that you're my wife now. You push me to be better every single day. I want to always make you proud and I want to raise babies with you and travel some more, there's a whole list of stuff!" Santana chuckled as she waved her hands in the air. "Like Puck said, you are my better half and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you and our girls." Santana kissed the back of Rachel's hand before she leaned over and gave her a long deep kiss on the lips.
"We're about to make a scene." Rachel whispered against Santana's lips.
"I don't care." Santana laughed. "I love you so much."
"I love you to the moon and back a thousand times. Thank you for agreeing to be my wife even though you had already asked." Rachel rested her forehead against Santana's. "You know that first night I knew too that something was going to happen. I didn't understand it, but I knew deep down that something was happening. After the car wreck, I was so scared that you wouldn't want anything to do with me anymore and that I would be kicked out once you were better. You have stayed with me through everything and I can't thank you enough for that. I only hope one day that every one in the world can find a love as great as mine or anyone's here at the table tonight. Because, to feel what you make me feel everyday, is something that everyone should get to experience." Rachel connected her lips with Santana's. There wasn't a day that went by where she wasn't thankful for all that she had, because she knew like her father's and everything that had happened to her, in an instant, it could all be taken away without a second thought.
After dinner, everyone was stood outside of the restaurant saying their goodbyes for the evening. Luckily no more paparazzi had showed up so for now they were in the clear. Rachel stood next to Santana holding her hand with their fingers laced. "Thank you all for coming tonight, we had a great time."
"What happens now with your adoption? I mean the whole reason you done this today was for the girls." Puck asked out of the blue.
"We're going to call Mercedes' in the morning and see if she is back in her office yet. If she isn't there she should definitely be back by Monday and that's when we are going to turn in our adoption papers. Tomorrow we have to go to the home and pick up the paintings. The art show is really soon. You're welcome to join us." Rachel posed the statement to Santana's parents which was meant to be more of a question.
"We would love too. Will we get to meet the girls?" Marcus asked as he rested his hand on Maribel's back.
"I don't know. They're supposed to have most of the paintings packed, so it may just be a pick up. But, it may be possible, we can get try and get day clearance for you two." Santana answered. The disappointment on her parent's faces was really sad so she knew she would have to figure out something other than showing hundreds of pictures.
Leroy released a jaw cracking yawn. "Sorry, it's just been a long day. Old man and all that jazz."
"It has been a long day. Mami, Papi, are you two okay to get back to McKinley? It's been forever since you have been out there." Santana looked at her parents with concern. It really was getting late and she didn't want them to get lost on any of the new roads.
"We will follow you to town, we can find the lodge once we get there." Marcus waved off Santana's concern.
"Once we get to town, I can take you to the lodge. I have to swing by and drop off a new set of keys. Our new doors were finally installed today." Bayani didn't want to bring up the shooting, but it was kind of inevitable.
"Okay then. It's settled. We will see everyone tomorrow." Santana and Rachel began to exchange goodbyes with everyone as they slowly dispersed from the parking lot. In no time everyone was headed in the direction of McKinley or in Shelby and Cassie's case, back to the other side of St. Lawrence.
"I have so many plans for you once we get home." Rachel slid as close as she could without ending up in Santana's lap as she drove. Santana felt a shiver run down her spine as Rachel rested her hand on Santana's thigh and began rubbing up and down. She couldn't help that her foot maybe pressed down just a little harder on the gas peddle. There was no stopping Santana on getting home as fast as she could so that she could make love to her wife. Yeah, her wife. Man she loved that word.