AN: so I changed my mind; there will be flashbacks, don't blame me for lying, it's jupiter01's fault for coming up with a brilliant idea. So thanks Jupiter01 this chapter is dedicated to you :) unfortunately though I'm not completely happy with this chapter, the vows were hell to write and I hate them, they're shite and make me cringe :) oh and you can thank Karmen Sandiego who demanded I update :)
AN2: the flashbacks in this chapter (all in italics) aren't in order with any others mentioned in the story!
AN3: like I said; I know nothing about wedding's so I've pretty much avoided writing it… feel free to criticise :D
Posted:28/10/11
A Rae of Truth
"Santana I can't do this!" Quinn stressed as she paced back and forth in her dressing area. Alyssa and Brittany were taking a last second bathroom break
"You can't back out Quinn, you love her don't you?"
"Yes! It's not that, I want to marry, I want to marry her today I really do 'm just scared, there's all those people out there and I'm worried I'm going to trip or say the wrong words or pass out or throw up or something" she held a hand over the bottom of her rib cage as she breathed heavily
"Okay, okay, calm down Q" She settled a hand on her friends back in comfort "If any one should be worried about anything; it's me, worrying about how bad I look in this dress" Quinn calmed a little and rolled her eyes at her friend through the full length mirror she was facing "I mean come on Q, pale blue, that's just so not me, you did this just to spite me"
Quinn's breathing was steady again "Really san, you think that's the biggest thing to worry about today"
"No…" the Latinas lips turned up in a smirk "But me saying that distracted you, right?"
"I guess" Quinn smiled lightly. She then picked up the cards with her vows noted on them, "Oh god San, these vows aren't right"
"Please Quinn, we spent a full month, I swear, writing these; they're fine, perfect in fact… she won't care what it says anyway, she'll just be happy you've done your best to use a metaphor" the Latina offered with a soft smile
Quinn went to smile but it faltered "…But what about all the people-"
"Ugh, why does that bother you; you've got married before"
"That wasn't a wedding, there were two witnesses and they were both his friends… yet my mother still thought he was wonderful" Now Quinn was feeling pissed off, as those memories were present in her mind
"Back to the present" Santana snapped her fingers in front of this bride's face "You're marrying the woman of your dreams"
"Yeah, I am" Quinn smiled automatically… before it dropped yet again to worry "…but the people-"
"Grr, ignore them! It's just you and Rachel… enjoy this"
Quinn nodded, then there was a knock on the door, her daughter and other best friend were back; it was time
They'd thought about letting Logan and Alyssa give their mother away, but after much debating, they decided that Quinn would just walk down the isle by herself, behind her daughter and two best friends. Of course Judy had been an obvious choice, but even the woman herself thought it best to not get involved that way considering her thoughts on their relationship in the beginning.
She waited with her bridesmaids by the entrance to the room waiting for their cue. She'd managed to calm her breathing but she couldn't calm her heart from hammering in her chest, she gripped her bouquet so tightly almost destroying the white flowers tied by the green ribbon, in the process.
The music started…
Rachel looked to the back of the room, the same direction everyone else was looking. She saw the guests follow a short figure up the isle and then she saw an unimpressed Santana and a brightly smiling Brittany walk together. The music changed and the guests stood, partially blocking Rachel's view. They all saw Quinn before she could.
The moment she saw her bride her breath hitched; there stood her soon to be wife, in a stunning wedding dress, the top piece in a delicate corset style, the skirt had a little bit of volume without being over the top. It sparkled ever so slightly when the light hit it just right. Quinn's hair had grown out again (despite having it cut regularly; she'd allowed it to grow for the wedding) she wore it down, with a slight wave to it, knowing that was how Rachel liked her hair the most.
As Rachel watched her approach, each step bringing them closer to their future (AN ;D to Jupiter01), her memories started to flood back to her, back to the day's of high school
"Rrr, damn Locker" Rachel heard a girl to her left grumble as her fist connected with her locker
"Are you okay there?" she offered the stranger
Her eyes shot to the brunette, and immediately Rachel didn't think she'd seen such mesmerising eyes on such a beautiful face "Er, I just can't get this damn thing open" she tucked a strand of long blonde hair behind her ear shyly
"Here" she approached the girl, the first person she had spoken to on the first day at McKinley "Let me help"
"Sure" the blonde stepped back as Rachel saw the written down combination and after a couple of attempt she managed to open the girls locker just as she had her won moments before "Thanks"
"No problem. My names Rachel Berry, what's yours?" she asked simply and politely
"Oh, I'm Quinn… Fabray, nice to meet you Rachel" she smiled
"What lesson have you got first?" Rachel asked, trying not to sound to over enthusiastic. She only just met Quinn and she wanted to get to know her better. Her own dark brown eyes tried to hold Quinn's so intensely (unintentionally of course, she was trying to be subtle)
"Err" she fumbled as she shuffled the stack of books in her arms to find her schedule "Spanish with… Mr Schuester, what about you?" she asked, actually contributing to the one sided conversation
"I have the same class, so I guess I'll know someone there" she smiled brightly
"You wanna get lost trying to find the class room with me?" Quinn found Rachel's smile mad her happy, she wasn't sure why, it just made her feel like everything else didn't matter
"I'd like that"
Why was it; that at important moment's like these that Rachel had no idea what was going on; she felt hypnotised by the woman steadily approaching. The whole room was looking at the woman in the white dress, but she was only focused on one person; her own beautiful bride in her individual attire standing, waiting to start their lives together at the front of the room.
"Hey, Quinn… Why are you dressed like that?" she looked the blonde up and down quickly and discretely.
"I'm a cheerio now Rachel" she answered abruptly, slamming her locker door shut
"I can see that, I'm just wondering why you became one when you told me you were interested in Music. I didn't think you liked gymnastics and sports… and, well cheerleading"
"You don't know me Rachel" she clutched her books to her chest as she walked away
"I thought we were becoming good friends" Rachel already knew who she was, and she already knew she was attracted to Quinn.
"No Rachel, we're not friends. We're two very different types of people"
"What does that mean?"
"It means, I'm going to be a cheerio and I'm going to make head cheerleader, I'm going to do this high school experience right Rachel and you don't fit in with that plan" she said as the brunette walked down the corridor with her, she stopped by two other cheerio's and turned to the short brunette "So leave me alone now, okay?" she said as nicely as she could
Rachel furrowed her brow and glanced at the two Cheerios behind her 'friends' back. One was Latina, the other taller than Quinn, also with long blonde hair.
"Fine" she turned on her heel and stormed off in true Rachel Berry fashion
That memory hurt but the more Rachel thought about it the more she wondered if Quinn had been feeling the same as her, if they both had, had feelings for one another mere weeks into freshman year.
Quinn took a few more steps; she was almost at the front of the room, by her side. They would finally be in the place they'd been planning, for months.
A year later and that sweet blonde girl Rachel once knew had become her worst nightmare. But Rachel was always strong willed, so was her heart and despite everything Quinn and(once she made captain) her minions did to her, she couldn't help but still feel whatever it was she was feeling for Quinn.
When Quinn started dating captain of the football team and quarter back Finn Hudson, and said Football captain joined glee club Rachel took this as an opportunity to get close to Quinn once again. She would help Finn with his singing and become his best friend.
Now this was it, Quinn was standing by her side; she just wanted to kiss her then and there. She really hated the fact that they'd spent the night apart; she'd just wanted to spend it in her fiancée's arms for the last time.
The woman performing the ceremony bought Rachel's attention away from the other bride but it wasn't long until Rachel was distracted again…
It was time for them to share their vows, Quinn went first. She took a breath and looked straight into Rachel's eyes
"My Rachel, my Rae" she smiled at the woman across from her "You are my Rae of sunshine, like the sun is the star that keeps us all living and holds the earth so delicately; you are the star that supports me; you hold my heart in your hands and I know you'll never let it come to any harm" Rachel's eyes were shining "when I wake up next to you every morning, it lights up my day and you are what keeps me feeling warm, supported and alive; things I haven't felt in many years"
She took one of the gold wedding bands and held Rachel's left hand with her right, her own left hand hovered the wedding band near the end of Rachel's ring finger; where an engagement ring was already present.
"You've made me a better person, you make me love every moment of everyday; and I'm so overjoyed that you want to spend every moment with me. You were what this family was missing from the start, you, and Remi, complete us, and we're all better for having you with us. And it fills my heart with joy to know that soon, I get to call you my wife and I get to be yours too. I promise to love you forever Rachel" she slipped the ring onto the accepting woman's finger.
Some words were spoken briefly by the woman on Rachel's right, but she wasn't really paying close attention
She was on automatic, she couldn't help but look at Quinn the entire time, she only heard Quinn's words and she only saw the beautiful blonde with the hazel eyes in the stunning white dress opposite her. She didn't even know how she'd managed it, she wasn't sure she'd even remember it but when the time came she knew it was her turn to speak and she knew what to say.
"Quinn; the moment I found out you'd be my boss, I panicked, I think I hid it well, but I was really scared. I then talked it through with my best friend: Kurt and I began to remember everything I felt for you in high school; I knew back then that it was more than a little crush, so I became best friends with your boyfriend at the time, and found out how great of an idea that was because he turned out to be a pretty good friend. Unfortunately it also backfired because I thought it made you hate me; you thought I was trying to steal your boyfriend" Quinn smiled but she was worried; where was this going? "So ten years later I find out you're in my life again and I panic, I wanted to get away, but Kurt told me to keep going… to seduce you as revenge for what happened in high school" her face dropped but Rachel still had more to say "… and I was going to go for it, because I wanted you. But when I found out you had children and a husband I backed out again, because I didn't want to hurt them, or hurt you in that way… I'd only got to know you again for a few minutes and I already cared about you too much again to let you get hurt" Rachel's vows were a little risky but she'd got that smile back; she just wanted to be honest so she said the truth.
She took the other ring, and took Quinn's hand. But not before giving her a meaningful look to make sure she hadn't just ruined everything with her words. Quinn nodded for her to continue, much to the brunette's relief.
"I never thought I'd be standing here opposite you, knowing that the intense feeling of love that swells in my chest is not going to leave me; because this is going to last. We've come so far, I just know that this is going to last"
Quinn's eyes were now shining with feeling
"And so, for my vows; I thought I'd give you a Rachel Berry ramble, because when I'm with you Quinn, I'm back in high school, with no real worries, no responsibilities, just pure emotions. And back here in the real world; I Promise to protect you, love you and treat you the way you deserve every day, because you, and your family, are everything I'll ever need"
They'd promised themselves they wouldn't cry but it was getting harder by the minute. The brunette slid the ring onto her nearly wife's ring finger.
With a few last words it was announced that they were now married, and truly wife and wife. A simple Kiss sealed the deal. They were reintroduced to their guests as Mrs and Mrs Fabray. This was a surprise to Quinn, they hadn't even discussed it; she assumed they'd just join their surnames to make a double barrelled one. But it was Rachel's last surprise; that she planned on taking Quinn's name.
Rachel offered Quinn her arm, she looped her own round her wife's and they made their attention grabbing exit arm in arm down the isle. The bride's men and maids following close behind. Kurt made sure he was right behind Rachel (but took Logan's hand so he didn't get lost in the groups of tall people, Santana and Brittany kept an eye on Alyssa, who was one step in front of them)
What happened to the original vows" Kurt muttered over Rachel's shoulder as she smiled at the guests
"I decided to go with something less mushy" she muttered through teeth clenched in a grin "I went with the truth"
"I worked so hard with you to write those" he muttered again, before smiling and nodding at the guests also, Blaine following them out
"I know, but she must have put in so much effort for me, I wanted mine to be my own" she said hoping Kurt could hear her and Quinn couldn't, she didn't want he wife to know she'd said those vows off the top of her head and that her first version had been created with the help of Kurt
Little did she know Quinn had needed help from Santana for the exact same thing.
Let me know what you think…
It's 3.30a.m. technically tomorrow, I haven't proof read
Sorry I'm in a really weird mood, if you can't tell by my authors notes… kinda pissed off but I'm using sarcasm a lot and… who cares :D