[Disclaimer] Glee does not belong to me.

"Hiram!" Carole called, waving frantically at her best friend and his husband with one hand, while the other held tight hold of her five year old son, clad in a smart, black tuxedo.

Hiram Berry turned around and smiled widely when he spotted the Hudsons and rushed over to embrace Carole, his husband and daughter following closely behind.

"You look wonder-" Hiram attempted, but Carole was too distracted by the brunette beauty that was Hiram and Leroy's daughter. She positioned Finn next to Rachel and began to snap endless photographs of the two young children.

"They are so cute," Carole cooed. "I love her little dress. And her shoes. And, God, her hair."

Hiram laughed at his best friend, admiring his little girl and her best friend chatter with each other about whatever five year olds talk about. "You're right, she's precious. Must take after her daddy," he smirked.

Leroy joined the group then, casually dropping an arm around his husband's waist. "Richie, twirl for Auntie Carole! Twirl!" The adults were captivated as Rachel did as her father suggested and the ballerina skirt of her dress twisted and twirled like she was a princess. "Isn't she beautiful?"

"Perfect," Carole sighed wistfully, before rushing over to her son to fix his so-called 'fin' that he'd insisted on styling his hair into. "They make such cute friends, don't you think?"

"Oh - definitely," Hiram declared. "They'd make an even cute couple when they're older, but Leroy keeps telling me not to get my hopes up. The likelihood of their friendship surviving middle school is slim."

Carole laughed at Hiram's impression of his husband's voice as Leroy indignantly rolled his eyes and jutted his elbow into Hiram's side. "You never know," she said, snapping another picture, this time of them holding hands, "maybe we'll be gushing over them at their wedding in twenty years time."

Rachel tipped back her head, letting out a loud laugh and Finn, watching her lovingly, couldn't help but join in.

He loved her laugh.

It was unique and funny and beautiful and perfect, just like her.

But the one thing he loved more than her laugh?

Making her laugh.

They were at the wedding reception of his mom and Burt Hummel and dancing amongst all their friends and family. Well, Rachel was dancing, Finn was awkwardly moving his limbs to the music. For such a talented drummer, he really lacked rhythm and Rachel couldn't stop giggling as he bobbed up and down, his arms and legs moving completely out of sync with each other. He stepped back, unknowingly treading on the train of his mother's wide dress and slipping as, she too, danced away with her significant other.

He winced, expecting his face to hit the floor and was surprised when he opened his eyes to see his pint-sized girlfriend had caught him.

"You saved me," he grinned up at her, eyes sparkling.

"Did you ever doubt I would?" she laughed, quoting one of her favourite TV couples that she gushed to Finn about, like 24/7 as she helped him back to his feet. Finn's mouth lifted, forming his oh-so-dreamy smile and flashing those dimples that made Rachel weak. He leaned down and kissed her.

In the midst of their kiss, the song ended and the DJ switched it to something a little slower. The couple pulled apart, albeit for a couple of seconds, as they began to sway to the music, their arms firmly wrapped around each other.

It was a spur of the moment thing.

One minute, they were lounging around the apartment they shared with Kurt and Blaine, the next they were in a chapel waiting for their names to be called.

"Mr, uh, Hudson?" A woman called, sticking her head through the door. "Miss Berry? We're ready for you."

The couple, their hands intertwined, stood up from their seats. Rachel made to head for the door, but Finn gently pulled her back. "One minute?" He asked the woman. "Please?" She nodded, giving them some privacy.

Finn took a deep breath, taking both her hands in his, smiling a little at how tiny they looked compared to his, and asked, his voice quiet and anxious, "are you sure you want to marry me?"

"Yes, Finn, I'm sure," she promised him. "I've wanted to for a long time."

"But - like this?" he bit his lip nervously, "without our friends and family? Without a big, extravagant ceremony? Without a dress? Rach, you deserve a proper wedding if that's what you want..."

Rachel's dainty fingers squeezed his in assurance, her voice confident, "yes. I don't care about any of that stuff - I care about marrying you. While I imagine it would be wonderful to share this moment with our loved ones, as long as I'm with you, that's all that matters."

Finn smiled, saying, "that's all I care about, too. I can't wait for you to be Rachel Hudson," before they walked hand-in-hand through the large wooden doors.

And fifteen minutes later they were married.

As simple as that.

They'd said "I do", Finn had wiped the tears leaking from her eyes with the pad of his thumb, Rachel had stood on her tiptoes and in a very passionate Rachel Berry-like manner, pressed her lips to his, they'd been announced husband and wife and, finally, they'd signed the papers, making it official.

Neither of them had stopped smiling the entire time.

It was simple, but perfect.

They were married.

The next wedding they attended was Kurt and Blaine's, years later, and their parents took great enjoyment in reiterating that at least they'd done it properly. Finn and Rachel only rolled their eyes; they knew their parents were happy for them, even if they were initially shocked at the revelation, especially at the fact that their babies had gotten married without them.

Over the years, Rachel's relationship with Finn meant she'd also formed a close bond with Kurt, and today, she was his maid of honour. Although, he liked to remind her she was technically a matron, being a married woman and all, but she scrunched her face, saying "matron" made her feel old.

"I'm a genius," Kurt declared as he admired Rachel's figure-hugging dress in the mirror. Rachel, being seven months pregnant, had posed some challenges for the fashion designer-come-groom, but he'd done a spectacular job as it fit her to perfection. The dress was baby pink and Rachel smiled at her reflection as she smoothed her hands over her bump. "Are you ready to see my other masterpiece?" The mother nodded excitedly, turning around just as her daughter skipped in, adorned in a matching dress and adorable curls. Rachel's face lit up.

"Oh my goodness, where's my little Ava gone? Somebody must have stolen her and replaced her with a fairy princess!"

Ava giggled happily as her mother picked her up and rested her on her hip. "No, mommy, it's me! I'm still Ava!" She waved her hands in a little dance, and Rachel sighed in relief, "oh thank God, I thought Uncle Kurt would be missing the best flower girl in the world!"

Kurt smiled at the sweet moment, adjusting his bow tie in the mirror. "Ok," he took a deep breath. "I'm ready."

From her vantage point at the back of the room, Rachel watched as her three year old toddled down the aisle, scattering pink petals as she went. She laughed, along with the other guests, as she stopped halfway down the aisle, pointed to her daddy, dropped her basket of flowers and ran into his arms. Rachel couldn't help but smile as her husband lifted their daughter onto his hip and waited for Rachel and the two grooms, who would soon be joining him.

Walking down the aisle, Rachel was unable to take her eyes of her husband and vice versa. He looked ridiculously handsome in his best man's tux and bow tie (Rachel would have to thank her brother-in-law for that one). While Finn admired his wife's softly curled hair, the light make-up that highlighted her fluttery eyelashes and lips, the dress that had been especially designed to show off his baby inside her, he made a mental note to thank his brother later.

Soon, Kurt and were married and the guests "whooped" with applause and excitement as the newly married couple shared a romantic kiss. Hands locked together, they made their way back down the aisle, irreplaceable smiles on their faces. They were followed by Finn, Rachel and Ava, who were also hand-in-hand, looking like the perfect family.

Their life together was wonderful. They'd had three more beautiful children, an apartment of their dreams, successful careers; it was everything they could have ever imagined.

Until.

Hiram Berry had been ill for some time, and, finally, after months of pestering by his husband, daughter and son-in-law, he went to the hospital.

It was bad.

Really bad.

They diagnosed him with a malignant brain tumour, declaring him with only a few more months left to live. They would try treatment, of course, but the family had been warned that it was unlikely to help with a tumour as developed and aggressive as Hiram's.

The family were obviously devastated and spent every possible minute at his bedside.

"I wish I could have seen you get married, Rachie," Hiram had mused aloud, as he lay in his hospital bed after a particularly brutal session of chemo.

Her eyes flicked up from where she was reading to Lily (her father loved spending time with his grandchildren and sharing his passion for books with them. Though now he didn't have the energy, so settled for hearing Rachel read as they sat in her lap and she lovingly stroked their hair). "Daddy... Finn and I have been married, for what, ten, twelve years now."

"Eleven years, four months and two weeks, actually," he stated and she let out a half laugh, half sob. "I meant I wish I could have been present at your wedding. It's a father's dream to walk his little girl down the aisle, you know. Couldn't you ask Finn to renew your vows? It would be really romantic and," he widened his eyes and pouted his lip, trying his hardest to convince her to agree, "it's my dying wish."

Well, Rachel couldn't deny that, could she?

"Mmm, Finn, this food is delicious," Rachel complimented that evening as the family sat down together for their dinner. "Do you want to marry me?"

Finn nearly choked on his mouthful and the sudden change in conversation. "Um." He swallowed. "Rach, we are married."

"I know that," she rolled her eyes, lifting her left hand and wiggling her ring finger at him. (He'd bought it for their first anniversary, as he couldn't well let her go without the beautiful ring she deserved). "I was at the hospital with daddy today," she said, upturning her lips slightly as her husband dropped his hand to hers and squeezed it, "and he told me his dying wish was to see us get married. Because, you know, we like, crushed his dreams by eloping, or whatever." At Finn's questioning look, she joked, "where do you think I got my dramatic flair from?"

He smiled then paused to consider it for a moment. "It would be fun getting to renew our vows with the kids there. And our parents, obviously. And I would love to see you in a wedding dress..."

"So that settles it, we're getting married!" Rachel announced, clapping her hands together excitedly, as the kids cheered and Ava immediately began asking about what dress she'd get to wear.

"We're getting married," he breathed, watching his family with loving eyes.

It took a lot of planning but, due to Kurt's amazing skills, they planned their wedding in just over three weeks. They'd wanted to have the renewal ceremony on their anniversary, but the doctors couldn't confirm Hiram would live that long, so it was vital to do it as quickly as possible.

The day finally arrived and it was as perfect as the day they actually got married - though this time they got to share it with the people they loved and take pictures and stuff.

Finn, Chris, Sean and Noah, the newest addition to the Hudson clan, were waiting at the alter, shaking hands with guests and taking dorky pictures together. They were having a wedding video made - so Hiram could rewatch it during the long hours in the hospital - and the four Hudson boys gushed about Rachel and how, word for word, Sean couldn't wait to see "mommy looking like a princess in her dress."

In her room, Rachel was dressed in a lace mermaid gown that hugged her curves perfectly. She was with her two daughters, who were dancing around adorably in their bridesmaid dresses, Kurt, who was frantically making last minute adjustments, and her two fathers, who were tearing up already.

"Oh baby, you look stunning," Hiram weeped, "simply flawless. Finn's not going to know what hit him."

"Are you sure you want to marry him, Rachie?" Leroy smirked and Rachel glared at him in the mirror. "I'm not quite sure he's good enough for my daughter."

"Daddy!"

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding, you know I adore Finn," he chuckled, "you deprived me of this the first time, so I'm just getting into my role of overprotective father of the bride!"

Rachel rolled her eyes. "Ready, daddy?" She smiled at Hiram, who had been allowed out of the hospital for the day ("because it's a special occasion only," his doctor had repeated, "you still have to use a wheelchair and take it easy.")

"I've been ready ever since you were a child, sweetheart."

As Rachel walked down the aisle towards her husband, her children in front of her and her fathers by her side, she was glad Hiram had convinced her to do this.

The first time was perfect - it was just him and her, beginning their family together - but this time was better.

Maybe it was because of the way Finn couldn't take his eyes off her the entire day, or dancing crazily in a circle with her children (who'd clearly developed their father's dancing ability), or tearing up as her fathers gave the speech they had always wanted to.

But both Finn and Rachel were agreed, it was the best wedding they'd ever been to.

Sooooo... it's been a while. I've been crazy busy with college and exams and life and, to be honest, I stopped reading fan fiction and being part of the fandom for a while. But you know when you can't get a story idea out of your mind and you just have to write it? Well, that's how this story happened.

I really don't know how regularly I'll update and I don't want to make any promises I can't keep but I really enjoyed writing this and I have a couple of other ideas floating around in my head, so there may be some more chapters coming soon.

I hope you enjoyed this extra long chapter, thanks for reading.

Niamh :)