Three years later...
Santana and Quinn are still going strong. Yes, okay, they've had their issues and their differences but they were overcome relatively quickly and pain free over the past couple of years, as they have been together long enough now to be able to deal with each other long distance.
Santana is still serving and Quinn is in her last year of her teaching degree. She realised early on that teaching Middle School children was her dream and Santana supported that wholly.
The blonde has been accelerating through her classes, just like everyone knew she would and is still achieving a 4.0, whilst juggling her work and maintaining her relationship.
She hasn't seen her girlfriend for around 4 months as Santana has flew through the ranks due to her dedication and knowledge of her job, she is now Staff Sergeant Lopez. Quinn couldn't even express her pride when she attended the ceremony, as much as she still hates Santana's job, she couldn't be more supportive.
Blaine has also returned safely from his tours and has mostly recently been deployed for around 6 months now but is due back soon. Him and Kurt broke up 10 months after the siblings first deployment due to the strain it put on their relationship but have still remained friends. Both are still single and Santana and Quinn have high hopes that once Blaine stands down, they will reconcile as other relationships they have tried to pursue haven't lasted.
Mercedes had been killing it in her music scholarship, so much so that two years in, she was offered a recording deal, which she took with the conditions that she could finish school first. The record label had obviously seen her undeniable talent, because they snapped her up almost immediately and agreed to whatever she wanted.
Kurt had been a little out of himself after him and Blaine parted, but he soon threw himself into his work at NYADA and managed to get himself a role in an off-Broadway production of Peter Pan as one of the Lost Boys. Everyone had been to see it, even the soldiers as the dates fell in when they were on leave and they all had been impressed with his performance.
Finally, Maribel found herself a stylish 2 bedroom apartment that was close to the others and moved to New York soon after Blaine's departure. She works at Mount Sinai and also found herself a partner in a fellow doctor, Dr Garcia.
The siblings and Quinn had met Jesus Garcia and instantly approved of him for Maribel. He was tall, dark and handsome but he treated Maribel with respect and had a deep understanding of her dedication to her job, as he obviously had the same beliefs. They now live together in Maribel's apartment and he moved in after 18 months of dating. They decided that living in separate homes was a waste, as they both worked long hours so sharing a space effectively made more sense, plus Maribel's home was closer to the hospital.
The blonde is currently rushing around getting ready to leave the house and meet Santana at the airport for her arrival. She is cursing herself out as she's running late. Kurt was hogging the bathroom this morning and so she was late getting in the shower, pushing her schedule back, leaving her 30 minutes behind.
She is currently unable to locate the car keys, knowing that one of the other occupants of the loft had them last.
"Cedes! Have you seen the car keys? I'm already late and Tana is going to be waiting for me!" She screams into the space, frantically looking on the side unit, where the keys are usually located.
Mercedes soon comes strolling out of the kitchen, twirling the keys on her finger.
"Calm down Q. Your girl isn't going anywhere. The keys were on the work top in the kitchen.. next to this." Cedes explains, whilst handing the blonde her purse and keys simultaneously.
A relieved look flashes across Quinn's face as she takes the items and smiles at her best friend.
"Thank you. I'll see you soon, okay? I have to go now or I'm going to be late."
"That's okay girl. Bring her home." Mercedes smiles cheekily and offers a wink.
Quinn quickly turns and descends the stairs in the apartment in a flash. She's soon jumping into Mercedes car, (which they still all share) and making her way to the airport.
It's a gorgeous spring day in New York, the air smells fresh and the flowers are beginning to bloom beautifully, only raising Quinn's spirits. She flips the sun visor down, whilst sitting in some minor traffic, and checks her make up, wanting to look perfect. Once she's satisfied, she slips on her favourite aviators and cranks up the radio, the tune of Amy Winehouse vibrating through the speakers.
She taps her pale fingers against the steering wheel and smiles at the silver diamond ring thudding slightly heavier than her naked fingers. Looking at her left hand with adoration, she thinks back to the moment she committed her forever.
Quinn looks onto Mercedes and Kurt standing in the kitchen, talking hurriedly and hushed and can only wonder what is going on.
She's currently standing in the loft, awaiting the arrival of her love. Santana had asked her not to meet at the airport as she wasn't exactly sure of the arrival time and did not want Quinn standing around waiting.
The three of them have organised a small gathering of people to welcome the Latina home from her first 6 month tour. There were a few of each of their friends from school and of course, Maribel and Jesus. They didn't want to overwhelm her, so there was a maximum of 15 people in their loft right now.
Maribel approached Quinn and gently placed a hand on her shoulder, breaking her from her intense stare. "Hey Mija. What's with the long face?" She asked softly.
"It's not a long face, honestly. I'm so excited to see her Mama. It's just.. them two have been acting extremely suspicious for the past couple weeks and I really aren't sure what's wrong!" The blonde explained.
"Well baby girl, I can't say I've noticed anything out of the ordinary but whatever it is, I'm sure it's nothing important. Have you called them out on it?"
"Nooo.." Quinn huffed. "I'm not sure what I would say. Maybe tomorrow if it's still bothering me I'll ask, but to be honest, I think I'll have better things to think about." She finished, smiling brightly at her adoptive mother.
Maribel chuckled before replying, "I'm sure you will." She replied and dropped a quick kiss to Quinn's head.
Just then, they heard the door rattle and slowly slide open, gradually revealing a fatigue clad, tired looking Latina. Quinn bolted through the small crowd of people in her way to jump into the arms of her lover.
Almost on instinct Santana caught Quinn as the latter wrapped her limbs around Santana's strong body and crashed their lips together. The Latina quickly reciprocated and sighed at the homely feeling she gets when she holds Quinn.
Soon, their lips parted, as they were more than aware they had an audience, and Quinn pulled back so that she could scan Santana's face, as she always does when she returns home. She quickly noticed a new, relatively long, scar on the underside of her girlfriends jaw and soothingly ran her thumb along it. Hazel locked with coffee orbs and they had a silent conversation with the conclusion that they would discuss it later.
Quinn slid from around Santana's body and let the Latina fully enter the loft and greet the remaining guests. She walked around and thanked everyone for coming, shaking hands and giving out hugs.
She tightly embraced Cedes and Kurt and then Jesus, followed by kissing and cuddling from her Mami before making her back around to Quinn, who had been watching attentively from the doorway.
Santana took her hand and slowly led her to the middle of the room. The two still hadn't spoken yet, despite their embrace and kiss at the door, but the way Santana was looking at Quinn now was making her heart beat rapidly.
The brunette took a deep breath before opening her mouth, ready to bare her soul. "Lucy Quinn Fabray.. You are the most incredible woman I have ever met. From a young girl, to a scared and troubled teen, to the extraordinary woman you are today, you have proved time and time again, your strength and determination.
You stole my heart from the first time I looked into your enchanting hazel eyes, almost fifteen years ago now. You have loved me at my best and at my worst and stood by me through every obstacle we've encountered.
You are gorgeous, you are funny, as well as passionate and caring and I could honestly never find another human as perfect as you.
I love every inch of you, every flaw, every freckle, every snort of laughter and I plan to do so for the rest of my life and if I have to wait any longer to say this, I might just explode.
So right here, right now, in front of our closest family and friends, I'll ask you the most important question I will ever ask in my life.."
She pauses as Kurt approaches them and places a small black, velvet box into a tan hand and lowers herself to one knee.
"Will you please, do me the honour of becoming my wife?"
Quinn couldn't believe what she was witnessing and hearing, this was everything she could have dreamed of. Everything and more.
Her hands flew to cover her mouth as the shock registers on her face and the happy tears prick her eyes. She gazes down onto her favourite face in the world, only seeing hope and adoration.
She begins to rapidly nod her head before whispering her first "Yes."
A chorus of 'Yes's' repeatedly tumble from her mouth, only getting louder, the bigger Santana's smile grows. The Latina quickly stands from the floor and easily slips the ring onto her now Fiancée's finger. As they share their first kiss as an engaged couple, they are serenaded by a ensemble of hoots and claps.
When they eventually pull away, they both know they'll hold onto this feeling forever, they are for eternity now.
Quinn is brought back to reality when there is a car that peeps their horn at her from behind. She shifts the car into gear and continues to make her way towards the airport.
The memory of Santana proposing is one of her favourites and although others may not think it is, she believes it was extremely romantic. The way that the Latina just couldn't wait another second to ask, it still melts her heart to this day, a whole year later.
The wedding planning was hard, especially with Santana being away for a lot of the past twelve months but they managed it and in the next week, Quinn is going to become Mrs. Lucy Quinn Lopez and that thought alone has got her through the past four months.
Santana tried to get them to have double barrelled names but Quinn wasn't having any of it, she no longer wanted to be associated with the Fabray's and Lopez would be a name she can be proud of.
Plus, she wants her future family to have the same name as the mother and son that took her in when she had nowhere else to go, the Lopez's know unconditional love and that's definitely something she wants her future children to feel.
Speaking of future children, she cannot wait to share the news with Santana that she received yesterday...
As she pulls into the arrivals lane, she quickly throws the car into park and makes her way inside the terminal, she is near enough on time and as she finds a spot, travellers begin to make their way through the large double doors.
It doesn't take long before she spots a familiar head of raven hair, perfectly pulled back into a low bun bee-lining straight towards her.
The blonde is soon lifted into the air by familiar strong arms with her own tightly wrapped around the neck of her soon to be wife. Heads are tucked tightly into each others necks, both inhaling the smell of the other.
Santana eventually gently sets her down and pulls Quinn into a long kiss, it's not necessarily deep but it's meaningful and ends with a series of quick pecks.
Once they pull back, Quinn with her hands tightly around Santana's neck and Santana with hers perched on Quinn's waist, they exchange their first words.
"Hey lover." Quinn whispers, still enamoured with the Latina beauty in front of her.
"Hi, soon to be Mrs. Lopez." Santana returns with a cheeky grin.
"Hmm lovebug, I love it when you call me that, you are so getting lucky when we get home."
Before Santana gets to reply, they are interrupted by a third voice, "Can you both keep it in your pants until we actually leave the public space? The poor people of New York do not need to see that."
The couple laugh as Quinn turns to acknowledge the comment and giggles, "It's nice to see you too Alex."
"Yeah yeah, come on, let's get you love birds home." Alex quips and the other two obediently follow her out to the car.
As the trio were re-entering the apartment, Kurt and Mercedes were leaving.
They both pulled Santana into a tight hug and then Alex afterwards.
"Girls it is good to see you both. God how quiet it is here without you." Cedes exclaimed, beaming at the soldiers.
Alex had made it a habit to join Santana at home on their mid tour breaks after they had grown close and Santana had discovered that there wasn't anything really waiting for Alex at home.
"It's good to see you too Cedes. I hope that you'll show me some new tracks later?" Santana replied, Alex nodding in agreement behind her.
"Of course girl, you know I gotchu." She quipped with a wink. "We're just heading to the store to stock up for tonight..."
Before she could finish, Alex jumped in, "Oh my god, I'm coming too because the last time I stayed here with these two after we got here, I heard some disturbing noises." She finished with a giggle, making Quinn blush slightly, who was hanging onto Santana's arm with her head buried in her fiancées shoulder.
Kurt, Cedes and Alex headed out immediately, whilst Santana went to drop her things in hers and Quinn's room and she left Alex's bags in Mercedes room as Cedes had agreed to stay at Mari and Jesus apartment as they were both of night shifts for the next week.
Quinn had gone towards the kitchen to make them coffee, and soon after she felt a body pressed tightly against her back and arms snaking slowly around her waist.
She leaned back and sighed contently at the comforting feeling before she felt a familiar nibbling on her ear lobe.
"Is it time for me to get lucky yet Lucy Q? Because I've been thinking about being able to fuck you when I got home for weeks." She murmured and Quinn felt the heat appear between her legs, but she couldn't let Santana have all the fun.
The blonde slowly turned in the arms that were engulfing her and looked straight into blackened eyes.
"You want to fuck me Tana?" She breathed and watch as the Latina slowly licked her lips and nodded her head. "That's good. Because I am in desperate need for a good fucking." She added with a sultry grin and within milliseconds their lips were clashing and hands were roaming.
After the first time they had 'fucked' Santana had become much more comfortable with the idea, as she was sure now that Quinn knew she wasn't using her for her body. So they had agreed that they could both suggest it when they wanted as long as the other was okay with it and in the mood.
Santana lifted Quinn onto the counter behind her and the seated girl tightly encased the soldiers body with her legs. Kisses became desperate and sloppy and they hurriedly explored each others mouths.
As Quinn encircled her arms around the Latina's neck, she was lifted from the countertop and was being carried towards the hallway. She could feel Lil Q digging into her leg and reached down to give a gentle squeeze, making Santana's step falter slightly and accidentally crash Quinn's back into the wall.
Their erratic breathing was the only sound in the apartment as their kiss broke, Santana looked up into darkened hazel eyes, "I'm sorry, are you okay?" She asked breathlessly.
"I'm fine baby." Quinn replied, whilst also panting.
"Good. Because the bedroom is too far."
Quinn nodded her reply and unzipped Santana's fatigue pants and pushed them down as far as she could with her boxers, whilst Santana ripped the blondes underwear from beneath her dress.
They stared into one another's eyes as Santana hurriedly pushed herself inside her Fiancée, both of them howling once she'd bottomed out. She began thrusting her hips forward rapidly, quickly finding her rhythm.
"God Quinn, you're still so tight." Santana pants out as she exerts so much energy into pushing through the natural barriers her girlfriends body creates.
Quinn threw her head back against the wall and clasped her hands tightly around the tanned girls neck, who's head was buried in the crook of Quinn's shoulder, nipping and kissing the skin she found there.
"Harder baby. Fuck me harder." She groaned as Santana had found a particularly sensitive spot inside her. It didn't take long for them to both reach climax as it had been a long few months without each other.
Soon, they were both cumming and wailing each others names. When they had both come down, Santana slipped out of Quinn, whilst sharing quick pecks and gently placed her back on the ground.
Once she was sure she was steady on her feet, Quinn grabbed Santana's hand and sensually dragged her towards the bedroom. She pulled the dress she was wearing over her head and revealed a light blue lace bra she was wearing.
Santana's mouth watered as the bra was disposed of quickly and she was staring at the bare body of her girlfriend.
"You didn't think we were finished did you lovebug? My pussy has missed you, please, satisfy her?" She purred as she crawled towards the head of the bed and positioned herself doggy style.
Santana quickly stripped and joined her on the bed, a long afternoon ahead of her.
Welcome home Sergeant.