In the days and weeks that followed, Will and Emma finalized the plans for the wedding. They decided on what to serve at the reception dinner, picked out a cake design, made floral arrangements, booked a DJ and also decided on what to give their bridesmaids and groomsmen. The bridesmaid dresses Mercedes had designed were completed, and she had invited Rachel, Quinn, Santana and Melanie over to her house to try them on to see if they fit all right. Santana had also taken Emma jewelry shopping and found a gorgeous ensemble to go with her wedding gown. And Will along with Finn, Artie and Kurt as well as Will's college friend Dan, had picked up their tuxedos and accessories.
"Em, there's nobody I'd rather spend the remainder of my life with than you," Will said softly as he held her tight. "You're sweet, kind, caring – everything that I could ever ask for."
"I feel the same way about you," Emma replied. "You were the one who reached out to me and truly accepted me for the person I am. Just think, in a week and a half we're going to be together forever."
"We already are," said Will, and he gave her a sweet kiss.
"Oh Will," Emma sighed.
"Tomorrow is our last big glee rehearsal before we take off for Orlando," Will said, "I'm really excited. We have an amazing set list and the kids are pumped. I want you to be there with me, Em."
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," she said happily.
"All right guys, this is it – our last rehearsal before we travel to nationals," Will said to the glee kids who, along with Emma and Principal Figgins, had gathered in the auditorium the next day. The kids all cheered, they had been preparing for weeks and it all led up to this final rehearsal. They listened as Will gave more information about what was to come.
"The Ohio show choir board is covering all our expenses since we are the state representatives – airfare, accommodations, transportation, you name it," said Will. "I want all of you to be at the front entrance of the school by 8am tomorrow, that's when the bus will arrive to take us to Dayton where we'll board our flight to Orlando, which is scheduled to leave at 11:30am – I have all your tickets, please also remember to bring some kind of photo identification for security purposes. You are allowed two suitcases, a garment bag for your performance outfits, and one carry-on bag according to what I received from the airline. Your families are paying their own way to come see you."
"What about accommodations?" Artie asked.
"We've been booked at the Pop Century Resort within the Walt Disney World proper, along with 4 other glee clubs," Will said. "We have 7 rooms including one wheelchair-access room for Artie – 2 people to a room. As you are all minors, Miss Pillsbury and I will be conducting nightly curfew checks which will be set when we arrive. Room assignments will be drawn at random. After the competition wraps up, we move to rooms at the Grand Floridian Resort so you can attend the wedding. Any questions?"
"Nope," said Finn, "I am totally pumped up about nationals, and I know the rest of us are too." All the other glee kids nodded and cheered in agreement.
"I also have information on how nationals is being run," Will went on. "Due to all fifty states being represented, the competition is broken up into six days. The first five days are reserved for preliminary competition in which ten groups each day will perform, the groups for each day of preliminaries are chosen at random. On the final day of the preliminaries, the groups with the ten highest scores will compete one last time in the grand final the following day, which will take place at Disney World in the Magic Kingdom. From those ten, the national champions will be decided. Now, shall we get rehearsal under way?"
"Yeah, let's get this party started!" exclaimed Mike.
"Right on, Mike," Will said with a huge smile. "Let's do it!"
As the glee club ran through their set for nationals, the three adults watched with pride, Will and Emma holding hands. Figgins caught a glance at them and leaned over in his seat.
"Schu, Emma, let me just say that I'm happy for both of you," he said. "I'm looking forward to the wedding." The principal would be traveling to Orlando representing the McKinley faculty.
"Thank you sir, we appreciate it greatly," Emma replied softly.
"And look at the glow on those kids' faces," the principal added as he continued to watch the glee club perform, "I know they're going to make McKinley High proud. You've done a fantastic job with them, Will, I'm very proud."
"Like the song says, we've come so far but we've got so far to go," said Will. "We're actually doing that song for our big finale – I assigned Rachel, Finn, Puck and Quinn the leads." The glee kids were performing the number as he spoke, executing the choreography he developed with Brittany, Santana, Matt and Mike flawlessly. When the song finished and the group hit their final pose, Will, Emma and Figgins rose to their feet and applauded wildly.
"Guys, that was the best rehearsal we ever had," Will said as he and Emma joined the kids on stage. "You don't know how proud I am of all of you, and I know you're going to wow them at nationals."
"Well, we couldn't have done it without you, Mr. Schu," said Finn. "You believed in us, you took bullets for us, and you saw in us talent that nobody else did."
"Finn is right," added Artie, "just imagine what would have become of us if you hadn't taken over glee club. We wouldn't be the close-knit group of friends that we are now."
"Mr. Schu, you are the true heart and soul of glee," said Rachel, "and we wouldn't have it any other way." The other kids echoed the sentiments of her, Finn and Artie by applauding their teacher in appreciation of all he had done for them.
"Thanks guys," said Will, obviously touched. "Now go home, pack your bags and get a good night's sleep, because tomorrow starts the biggest week of our lives. I'll see you guys in front of the school tomorrow morning." The kids walked off the stage and out of the auditorium chatting together, leaving Will and Emma alone.
"I think the kids will be fine, don't you?" said Emma.
"I know it," replied Will, "and so will we."
