Summary: AU. Ten years passed since Finn's last visit to the family house. Far from him to imagine what the next two days are going to bring…
Disclaimer: Glee doesn't belong to me at all. I'm just borrowing the characters for entertainment, and I'm not making any money out of it. So don't sue.
I'm back to writing after a hard time in my life, and I can't wait to get this out. So, here is a new Glee story. I usually don't have time to write in May, but since I'm on vacation...
It's AU, so a few things are going to seem odd at first. It is still our beloved universe, though. Anyway, I hope you enjoy!
August 16, 2025
Late afternoon
The rain was falling hard when Finn Hudson arrived in front of the family house. The garden was drenched already, and it was like the rain never wanted to stop. Sitting in his luxurious car, sheltered from the outside world, he took a few moments to reminder himself the very reason of his being here, in the middle of nowhere, instead of in town, partying. His comfortable seat gave him a very good view of the mansion, in which he had not set one foot in the last ten years.
Tomorrow was his little brother's wedding. It was also the sole reason for his coming, and the only occasion he had not passed over in the last decade.
Nonetheless, the day had taken a very good start. If no one had been there to remember him that he had an engagement, it would have been a night like every other: reckless and wild. It was a habit that never changed, no matter the time of year. It was his life. The life he had chosen, ten years ago. Parties, alcohol, and girls. By day he was photographing incredibly beautiful girls in very expensive outfits, and by night he was touring the parties he had been invited to, only to come back at dawn, alone, to his big apartment, after spending some quality time in very good company.
…
A few hours before…
Quinn had disturbed him when he had company. She usually knew better than to do that, she knew his having company was the only situation she could not disturbing him from. She had always respected that rule. But still… that afternoon, she had disturbed him.
The day had been very good. The spring was his favorite season, as the girls wore bikinis all day long. The summer magazines demanded even more perfect bodies than usual, even before any computer-made alterations. In the fashion world, having a perfect body was almost an obligation all year long, and it could make or break any girl's career. Today however, they had even gone further. He, however, had stayed the same. He didn't need to surpass himself. He was rich, and a star in his world. He had not had any trouble getting an affirmative answer from any girl in forever. This afternoon, it was a mixed-race beauty's turn. She was sexy as hell, and she wanted him. Things had been going very well.
Quinn had chosen this moment to remind him that he had other obligations, like breaking up with his two current girlfriends. Two weeks had passed: it was time to move on to other girls. Quinn had set up things as he always did them. His girlfriends were reunited on videoconference, so that he could break up with both off them at once. So that he didn't have to repeat himself. Yeah, it was quicker this way.
The real surprise to him came with the reminder of the wedding. He was now single, and being single at a wedding never brought anyone any harm. To the contrary, even. He had received the invitation three months before, and as he had been swamped with spring magazine issues, he had asked Quinn to make sure he didn't forget when the day came. Until then, he could do everything else but think about his little brother's wedding.
Twenty four hours. His little brother had only a day left in his life. It was an occasion he would not miss, for anything in the world. He was going to try to save him from this archaic institution that is marriage; it was his duty as a big brother. He had raised him, he had to protect him. It was the both of them against the world, like it had always been. And this time, the world was all caught up into the shape of a wedding band.
But there weren't only bad sides to a wedding. He could already see the evening… a bridesmaid or two, champagne, good cooking. Maybe it wasn't a complete waste of his time. He did have bridesmaids to meet or see again. There were no real obstacles. He too could have some fun.
…
Present
Finally deciding to face the outside world, Finn opened his door, got out if his car, and directed his footsteps towards the house. Just before reaching the doorway, he paused, turning around and looking at everything. Nothing had changed. Not the big outside stairs leading towards the terrace, nor the carefully cut trees, or the silence enveloping the place, save for the rain. On one side, the old swing was still standing a few yards away. Seeing it felt like time had stopped. The feeling went away as quickly as it had come by. Turning back to the right direction, Finn took another step, and went into the house. For the first time in ten years.
The mansion hadn't changed either. Always the same black and white marble on the lobby's floor, the same white titled kitchen floor, the same dark brown parquet upstairs and in almost every room in the house. The walls were covered with wallpaper, with warm colors and coordinated frieze. Some had even been made especially for this house. The dark brown wood furniture still gave this impression of wealth and comfort, nonetheless never going into the baroque style, nor crushing the cozy atmosphere. The family was old money. Everything always seemed carefully created to stay of human size, no matter how big, or how richly decorated. It wasn't one of those big house-museums, with its army of servants. People still lived in this house, and it was full of that family spirit it always had. The big floor-to-ceiling windows only gave more luminosity, and a better look at the party happening inside.
…
In a room almost like every other, adorned with peach walls and mahogany floors, was the ceremony rehearsal. It would be here, in a room leading to a big terrace directly overlooking the sea, that the actual ceremony would take place. Arthur 'Artie' Hudson was marrying Tina Cohen-Chang the next day at eleven o'clock.
All major guests were already here: the happy couple, the bride's father, the bridesmaids, and the best men. The ceremony would be celebrated by Howard 'the Captain' Cohen, the bride's father. He had been an officer in the Army, during the Gulf Wars and the Balkans crisis, then in the Middle East, doing logistics, before being hit by shrapnel on one of his field tours. He had been honorably discharged for medical reasons, some fifteen years prior, and had taken orders right after his complete recovery.
Every bridesmaid, like the best men, had a somewhat eclectic origin.
Alyssa was a friend from college. She and Rachel had met when they were very little, but years abroad on Alyssa's part had put an end to the deep friendship between the girls. She had been Tina's next room's neighbor during freshmen and sophomore years, and with Mercedes, they had rapidly become inseparable. The few years' difference had never mattered. They had had similar interests, and even if their majors were far apart, they had spent almost every evening together, either staying in and gossiping, or going out to party. Today, Alyssa had a companion in her life, and four-year-old twin girls. She loved her job, and was always there for everyone. They had helped her in the past, and she wasn't going to forget it.
Between Mercedes and Tina, it was a love story that had begun in high school. They had met in glee club, and were rapidly become, with Kurt, their own private band. Their geek and loser status had helped in that department. They had gone through humiliations, provocations and denial from the cheerleaders and the jocks. Only their national win in senior year had finally upped their status to the middle, not bothered, class. They had then followed each other to college, being roommates, both majoring in arts. Today, Mercedes was engaged, and wanted to get married in the fall. She was a theater and singing teacher, and coached her high school's glee club.
Rachel had been the Hudson family's best friend for more than twenty years. Artie loved her like a sister and had insisted for her to be there. She had helped him get good grades at school, leading to an Ivy League school. She was part of the reason he was doing what he loved with his life. He came to her for advice when he started to have girlfriends, and she had rarely been off-mark. He had been her only steady link to the family. Today, she was an Ivy League Arts department's head, and taught drama and music. She could be harsh and severe, but she was always fair. Her students loved her. From her past, she had kept contacts from show-business, and never hesitated to help students who really deserved it getting a chance at their dreams.
Brittany was like a hitch in the process. She had spent high school on high popularity spheres, and had never really gone down since. How she had gotten into college was still a mystery, but some said it was because of her family's money and local influence. She had always been a mediocre student, and college hadn't really changed anything. She had spent four years partying and cheerleading, still graduating in fashion at the end. Mercedes and Tina had saved her from a too-clingy guy the one night she hadn't stayed until dawn, and they had become friends. The conversation had never been easy, because of her habit of forgetting the subject in the middle of her sentence. What had Tina and Mercedes done for her though was one of the few things she never forgot. After college she sometimes worked with Kurt, being actually good when he took the time to write what she had to do. Her family's wealth and her job had helped her gain the high spheres of New York society, and the relationship she had started a few years after graduating with an heir had only done more in this direction. They had gotten married two years prior.
Sam and Artie had met in summer camp. One day, the latter move had settled him into Artie's town. It was at the beginning of college. They were very different. Sam was very athletic, when Artie loved the arts. Sam had a real string of girlfriends, when Artie's shortest relationship had lasted for six months. Today, Sam was a famous sports journalist, a football specialist. He was regularly invited on TV stations to comment on matches and teams, no matter how small or big, and spent a dozen weeks every year traveling. The rest of the year, he lived in New York, with his wife and kid. Sometimes, people wanted to know how he had stopped his old life to settle down. He only replied that it only took the right person.
Mike was the newest addition to this curious assembly of friends from every corner of the country. He worked with Artie, but was specialized in environmental law, whereas Artie was an artistic rights guy. They had met during law school, being roommates in their second year. Things hadn't been so easy in the beginning, but the interest each had for their domain, and the night spent studying had helped time do its trick. They had been recruited at the end of law school, their unwillingness to work in another field than what was their passion had, for once, helped. For Mike, it had been a big risk. He needed to work to live, and had a student loan to start paying. Today, they were a good team, always ready to help each other, and good friends.
Kurt was the man from the bride's side, as much as Rachel was the girl form the groom's. The friendship went back to high school, and then had followed to college. He was a designer for a big firm, and it was known to his friends that he also loved to organize weddings. Tina and Artie had to come and see him to ask he let this task fall over Rachel. He hadn't been happy but he'd said yes, his crazy schedule in fact leaving very little time for a life. He was dividing his year between the two US coasts, in between a few weeks in mostly European cities. This week end was one of transition, and he had had to make changes to his schedule to be there. It was also the reason why his partner couldn't be present.
…
Artie and Tina had met at the theater, during a show. Artie, missing the Premiere because of law school, had promised Rachel to come and see her as soon as possible. Tina was with Mercedes and Kurt. He was beginning to make a name for himself, had acquired front-row seats, and those were never easy to get by. Artie and Tina had been seated side by side during the entire show. Without even realizing it, their held each other's hands, carried away by the emotion displayed on scene. During the intermission, instead of looking awkwardly the other way, they had begun to talk, never releasing their hands. Artie had introduced them all to Rachel, and they had gone to dinner all together after. Tina and Artie had spent the rest of the week end together, discovering in the meantime that they were living on the same campus, without ever passing each other by. By the end of the week end, they were a couple. Nothing had changed since.
…
After spending a few moments watching the scene from the entrance, Finn made a few steps towards the little assembly, standing all around the happy couple. It was a difficult scene for him to watch. His brother was going to get chained to the same pair of boobs for the rest of his life, and he was rehearsing the scene? Once wasn't enough? Why did he have to repeat the torture? To him, even once was never going to happen. He'd never change his lifestyle. He had a sting of one night stands, and that's how he loved it. He was rich, he was sexy, and he was single. What more could he ever want?
Every eye in the room suddenly became focused on him, seeming more or less astonished. Artie was getting hitched, and he wasn't going to be there? Yeah, right. He had to be there. He had to save his brother. At least, the plus ones weren't there to watch the scene. They would come later. Plus, eleven pair of eyes turned towards him was more than enough for the moment.
Seeing him walk slowly, Artie took a few steps towards his brother, before taking him into his arms. Finn was almost moved, seeing Artie seemingly so happy to see him again.
"You're here!"
"Of course, I'm here. You didn't expect me to miss your wedding, right? It's always time to go back, you know."
"Go back?"
"Yeah. Before having all these obligations, being hitched to the one woman forever, having kids… my car's outside waiting for you. I can liberate you from this prison you managed to get into, bro. you know I'm always there for you. Everything you need, I can get it for you. You don't have to get monogamous forever. Don't ever hesitate. You know it, bro. it's me and you against the world."
"You're kidding, right?"
"Hell no."
Looking at his big brother, Artie continued. "You are serious. Listen to me, Finn. I want to get married. I'm in love with Tine since day one. I don't have any doubts, about anything. She's my future."
Before Finn could respond, they were interrupted by Rachel, who had decided to come closer, and say hello to Finn, after all this time. Artie went back to his fiancée, leaving the two friends together.
"Rachel Berry."
"Finn Hudson."
"The one and only."
"What were you two talking about?"
"Options."
"I see; if you think that I'm gonna let you ruin the two most important days of their life, you're sadly mistaken, Finn."
"I know how to behave, Rachel."
"So then why don't I believe it? Pay attention, Finn. If I find that you don't behave, it will be my pleasure to rip yours out and serve them to you on a plate."
"Rachel Berry, nasty as ever."
"Stop your nonsense here, Finn. It's not going to work. Plus there are people here you don' know. I'd hope that at least would restrain you a bit."
He kept his answer for himself, well aware that she would not have been pleased by it. Instead, he let her lead him to the other bridesmaids, and to the best men. He took the time to observe the one he'd never seen before, deciding he likes what he'd see in Alyssa. He did his best not to alienate the ones he'd just met, in an effort to be polite, but his trials were half-hearted and mostly failing. His ego and his remarks were part of who he was, and if that couldn't get him accepted in all circles, then so be it. It didn't prevent him from actually enjoying being there, with what was left of his family.
As a bonus, Alyssa was actually pretty, with her long auburn hair and her pale skin. He'd love to have met her at work, where he was irresistible. Plus, the dress she was wearing was hiding too much in his opinion. It wasn't a time to despair, though. She seemed to respond to his blinks and looks towards her, and there was an entire evening left. It had gone to a great start.
…
Shortly after that, other guests arrived at the house for the rehearsal dinner. Finn, focused on his plans for the evening, left the room, half curious to meet the other guests to tomorrow's ceremony. With some luck, he'd find someone else to help him wait until the fateful hour. But for tonight, Finn Hudson clearly wasn't worried at all. Every inconvenient to a wedding were reversed by the possibilities offered by an event like that. He was going to get good food in his stomach, he could drink as much as he wanted to, and he had already found his prey for the night. Maybe a wedding wasn't such a disaster when they were a whole sting of bridesmaids in flowy light sundresses.
Lost in his thoughts, he didn't see Rachel's sad look as he left the room. He didn't see Alyssa come near her to comfort her.
He didn't realize how much everything was different, how much everything had stayed the same.
