A/N: A Wedding part 3

This should be the last wedding chapter. A character popped up demanding to be heard so now this chapter exists.

There will be an epilogue after this. Pretty sure that'll be the end of this installment of my canon-ish/canon-adjacent Brittana "Dream" world ;)

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Chapter 18 – Shipshewana, IN (February 20)

February 20

Raphael Lopez POV

Raphael Lopez was a proud man. Some would say stubborn. Maribel would say pig-headed. For all his faults, he did love his wife and daughter. He truly did. He sighed as he watched people entering the barn … a BARN! … for his daughter's wedding. He waited until everyone else was inside before exiting his car. He put an envelope into the box on the gift table then slipped unobtrusively into the barn and made his way to a shadowy corner.

He was a handsome man; not very tall but rather imposing none-the-less. He was dressed in a black suit with a charcoal gray shirt and a soft gray tie. His shoes were polished to a bright shine (although, he's not sure how long the shine will last with all the dirt). His dark hair was slightly more salt than pepper and his dark eyes, the ones he shared with Santana, were weary. He had made mistakes. So many when it came to Santana. He sighed. Maybe he could make things right. Maybe … she would forgive him.

Flashback

Raphael was sitting in the kitchen, drinking a cup of coffee, when Maribel walked into the house.

"Hola, mi amor," he said, "Where have you been?"

Maribel had sighed. She poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down at the table with him.

"I went to dinner with Santana. She's getting married."

Raphael had felt a jolt of vindication. "So, she's come to her senses? Who is this boy?"

Maribel shook her head sadly.

"Raffe, there is no boy. Santana has asked Brittany to marry her and Brittany said yes."

Raphael felt all the air leave his lungs. Santana proposed … to that … that …

"Whatever you're thinking, stop. Brittany is a wonderfully sweet, bright, friendly, talented, amazing young woman who absolutely adores Santana and Santana is happy. Happy, Raphael. Santana. Do you remember Santana laughing and smiling as a child? I do not. Because she didn't. I didn't even realize that she was capable of being happy until I saw her with Brittany. I will be going to that wedding Raphael. Without you if you do not apologize to Brittany. Fully and sincerely. Santana will not accept you treating … and I am quoting Santana here … her EVERYTHING poorly."

Raphael looked at his wife and noted the determined look in her eye. She was not bluffing. He would not be going to that wedding if he did not apologize. He felt himself puff up with pride.

"Then I guess you will be going alone." He stated, challenging her.

She sighed and looked at him sadly before standing up and dumping her cup into the sink. "I guess I will be. Good night, Raphael."

She left him sitting there in the dark; she did not kiss him or tell him she loved him. Simply … walked away from him. And his pride.

He sat there long into the night thinking about his choices and wondering if he was, perhaps, wrong.

End flashback

He stood quietly in his shadowy corner and watched as the pretty blonde woman who had stolen his Santana's heart was escorted down the aisle by Burt Hummel's kid. She took her place on the stage and faced toward the back, the joy in her face unmistakable. He was confused when the boy stepped to the side of the stage but dismissed it as unimportant.

He craned his neck and finally saw her; his beautiful girl. She was a vision; he spared a glance at the blonde and saw her watching Santana with eyes shining brightly.

A boy with too much pomade in his hair was escorting his daughter down the aisle. A job that was always meant to be his. Although, maybe he wouldn't have anyway … the blonde hadn't been escorted down the aisle by her father; perhaps they felt it was too old-fashioned to be "given away" as though they were property.

His vantage point gave him a full view of his daughter and her … bride. Her bride. He sighed and wondered, not for the first time, how he hadn't realized his daughter was gay. He was a doctor, for God's sake! He was trained to notice things. Yet, there was so much about his own daughter he had missed.

He realized that Burt Hummel was officiating and that, apparently, Kurt and the pomaded boy were also getting married. Maribel had not mentioned that. In the many veiled, and outright, references to Santana's wedding she had never mentioned that it was a double wedding. A double gay wedding. Who had ever heard of such a thing?

He watched as Santana and the blonde … Brittany … he had to remember to use her name … exchanged vows. He heard the happiness in their voices, saw the joy in their faces and felt a sharp pang at the thought that, because of his pride, he had almost missed this.

The kiss was brief. He wondered about that as the two girls hugged each other tightly. Why was the kiss not the kiss of two people who were passionate about one another? Yet, they looked … ecstatic. His Santana, his moody, sullen, angry, volatile firecracker … was smiling so brightly he could see her dimples. Dimples he hadn't even realized existed. His Santana was in love. Completely. How had he not seen it?

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

As the dancing and dining and drinking started, he snatched one of the black OTP hats; one true pairing, his daughter had said it meant. Her one true love was the … Brittany. He put the hat on to somewhat hide himself and kept to the shadows as he watched the reception. Not many people here would know him. Except his sister, Seraphina, and her family. Seraphina and her family were the only ones who refused to align themselves with his mother. Maybe Seraphina was right. He sighed.

He saw the surprise and delight in their faces as Quinn hugged them. Wondered why they were surprised.

He watched as the boys sang for the two women; he listened to the lyrics and stopped to really think about them. Watched as Santana song softly to her new wife … wife! His Santana was married. Watched as they exchanged a soft kiss and pressed their foreheads together; obviously caught in their own bubble world. He had chuckled lightly to himself when he saw their shy smiles as they realized they'd forgotten where they were.

He watched as his wife and mother joined the festivities. Smiled as his wife sang with his daughter and their friends. Wondered about his mother's change of heart; she hadn't said anything to him about going to the wedding.

He stayed out of sight as much as possible; enjoying his daughter's wedding as a ghost instead of as her father. He realized, as he watched the day unfold, that he never really paid attention to Santana. To her hopes, her dreams, her fears. He never heard her cry. Had treated the skinned knees of a stoic toddler, the sprained wrist of an indifferent teen. Rarely heard her laugh. He realized that he had been a poor father; a good provider, he supposed, she had everything she ever wanted or needed. Except a father. He felt shame; his pride crumbling under the realization that he didn't know his daughter at all … and she didn't know him.

It was then that the first tear tracked down his face. He wanted to know his daughter and for her to know him. He wanted to be in her life. Wanted to know her wife … and, eventually, their children. He used a dark handkerchief to wipe away the tears. He needed to make this right.

Xoxoxoxoxoxo

He watched as his mother said goodbye to Santana and then to Brittany. Watched as a dark girl talked with Santana, the two of them smiling and laughing. How was it that the only friends of his daughter that he knew were Quinn (and he only knew her because he knew Russell from church) and Brittany. He laughed mirthlessly. The girl who stole his Santana's heart was the only one of her friends he actually knew. And he'd been unnecessarily cruel to the girl. Again, shame crept up; he'd had no right talking to a seventeen-year-old girl the way he had. No right to break her heart as he surely must have done. As he watched Brittany laugh and dance … and the way she smiled every time she was near Santana or Santana caught her eye … he realized that he had never taken the time to get to know her. Never came close to understanding how important Santana was to her … or how important she was to Santana.

He would make this right. He had to.

Xoxoxoxoxoxo

The night was winding to a close. The guests were slowly trickling away and Raphael needed to do … something … soon.

The opportunity presented itself as Brittany exited the barn and seemed to be headed in the direction of the cars parked haphazardly around the barn. He slipped out of the barn and stood in the shadows near the corner. As Brittany came back, he stepped forward into the light.

Brittany froze, a sweatshirt clutched tightly in her hands. "Wha … what are you doing here?" She asked in a tone he was sure was meant to be demanding.

Xoxoxoxoxoxo

Brittany POV

Brittany froze, clutching the hoodie tightly. "Wha … what are you doing here?" She asked, her voice much more confident than she felt.

Raphael Lopez stopped a few feet away. She noticed he looked tired … and he was wearing one of the OTP hats. She frowned.

"Santana didn't invite you. I didn't either. So, what are you doing here?" Her voice gained strength and confidence as she realized that, once the surprise of seeing him had worn off, she wasn't afraid of Dr. Raphael Lopez. She wasn't the same scared seventeen-year-old girl who sat in his living room three years ago.

He smiled sadly. "I just wish to talk. Not like before," he hurriedly explained as he saw her face harden, "I wish to apologize. I was not only wrong but I was completely out of line talking to you the way I did." He shook his head. "I realized today that I do not know the first thing about my daughter. Don't misunderstand me, I love her, I always have. But I do not know her. I have not been much of a father and that point was brought home to me today. I watched my daughter get married. I saw something I don't remember ever seeing; her dimples." He got a faraway look in his eyes. "Do you know, until today, I didn't know she had dimples? I have never seen her smile or laugh as she has done today. I saw her shed a few tears; another thing I have never witnessed." He shook his head. "I have misjudged so much about my daughter and I am sorry that I allowed my stubborn pride to prevent me from getting to know not only the amazing woman she has become but also the amazing woman who has captured her heart."

He took a step closer and she could see the tears in his eyes. "Brittany, I am so very sorry for the way I spoke to you three years ago. I hope you can forgive me. It was cruel and I apologize for the way I must have hurt you then."

Brittany nodded.

"What are you doing here?" Santana's voice was harsh as it rang through the still night. She was at Brittany's side in a moment. "Britt? Are you okay?" She looked at Brittany worriedly.

Brittany smiled softly at her wife and handed her the hoodie. "Here. You looked like you were getting cold."

Santana took the hoodie and slipped it over her head, no longer caring about her hair or how ridiculous it would look over her dress.

"I'm fine, honey. You father was just apologizing to me."

Santana eyed him suspiciously.

He nodded. "I wanted to apologize to Brittany alone. I was afraid you would think it was a ploy or insincere if I did it with you present." He shook his head. "I made a mistake and I wish to correct it. I … am so sorry, mija. I have no excuse. I love you and I wish to make things right. I want to be a part of your life. A real part; not just the person who puts money in the bank. I realized today that I don't really know who you are; your hopes, your dreams, your fears. I never asked. I am asking for another chance to be the father you always deserved."

Brittany felt a tear slip free at his admission. Santana looked at her and she nodded, almost imperceptibly, letting Santana know she believed him.

Xoxoxoxoxoxo

Raphael POV

Raphael watched in fascination at the interactions between Santana and Brittany. Few words were exchanged yet they seemed to understand each other perfectly. Brittany had known Santana was getting cold without Santana saying anything. He saw his daughter look to her bride for confirmation that what he said was true and noted the almost imperceptible nod of her head. For the first time in his life, Raphael Lopez believed in soulmates.

In the next moment, Santana was standing in front of him, taking his hand. "Nice hat," she said, a smiled ghosting over her lips, "if you mean it, then I'd really like to get to know my father."

He nodded. "I mean it with all of my heart, mija. I love you. I know I have had a poor way of showing it but I wish to be better."

Santana nodded and pulled him into a hug; one he returned, at first hesitantly then fully, hugging her tightly.

"Raphael? Why are you here?" He heard another familiar voice questioning his presence. "Santana? What's going on? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, mami." She pulled away and smiled at her mother. "Papi came to my wedding to apologize to my wife. Found himself a new hat in the process." She grinned then moved back to Brittany.

"Come on, Britt, let's say goodbye to our guests and get one last slow dance in, okay?" She offered Brittany her hand.

Brittany's smile lit up the night with its brightness as she nodded and took Santana's hand, letting his daughter lead her back into the barn.

He looked at his wife, who was looking at him with one eyebrow arched.

He shrugged. "I am trying to correct my mistake." He shook his head. "I never knew my daughter. I would like to change that."

Maribel walked over to him and kissed his cheek. "There's the man I married. Come on, I'd like to get a picture with our daughter and her bride … and at least one dance with you."

Raphael took her hand and they walked into the barn.

His daughter was happy to take off the sweatshirt to get family pictures taken.

She happily danced a slow dance with him.

Raphael found out something completely unexpected that night; his daughter had a giant, loving, forgiving heart.

He never even suspected it.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

A/N: So that's it for the wedding. I hadn't planned on this chapter but Raphael was a little pissed at not having a chance to make things right. So, this chapter happened. ;) And it was so much longer than I had thought it would be.

Next up: Epilogue