Thanks so much for reading, everyone! I've gotten such positive feedback and enjoyed writing this so much that I've decided that I'm going to make this a thirteen-chapter story instead of my traditional twelve-chapter format! Hopefully that'll be okay with you guys
Now, I present to you, Chapter 11, where Finn and Rachel say "I do." A little hint: in chapter 12, there just might be another Glee wedding, and there also just might a Finchel baby...
Chapter 11: Faithfully
"I can't believe it's actually happening," Rachel said. She was sitting in the girls dressing room, in her white dress with the veil running down her back. She had never felt so beautiful in her entire life. Her dress was beautiful and the hair stylist had done a great job. Her bridesmaids surrounded her in aqua-blue dresses that matched the flowers in her bouquet. "I'm actually getting married!"
"You look so beautiful," Quinn said.
"Thank you," Rachel said to her Maid of Honor. "So do you. All of you do."
"You eventually picked a dress we could all agree on!" Santana said.
"Don't even remind me of that!" Rachel laughed. That spring, the girls had spent hours on websites looking for bridesmaids dresses. One girl found something she loved and at least one other hated it. Eventually, Rachel had found this dress - aqua blue, sleeveless, thin belt, sequins on the top half - and everyone loved it!
Rachel ended up having her own wedding dress custom made. It had cost a fortune, but her parents were too thankful she was alive, walking and for the most part, scar free, to care about expenses. She wasn't fully recovered, but had made lots of progress and was now walking on her own, all the time.
She hoped she would make it across the aisle today - she was in three inch heels. She'd practiced walking in heels with her mother and her girlfriends.
"I'm a little nervous," Rachel admitted.
"Don't be," Mercedes said. "You've been waiting for this day since the day Finn joined Glee."
"So true," Rachel said. "Sorry, Quinn. I know I stole him."
"It's okay," Quinn said, laughing. "I'm happier with Sam."
x
Three doors down, the boys sat in their dressing room, dressed in tuxes with vests and ties to match the girls' dresses.
"This is it," Finn told the boys. "I'm really getting married to Rachel."
"Well, Finn, you look dashing," Kurt said. "For once in your life, I convinced you to comb the knots out of your hair and use moisturizer."
"Yeah, because I'm getting married," Finn said.
"Ready to spend the rest of your life with the hot little Jewish American princess?" Puck asked.
"I've never been more ready for anything," Finn said. "I'm a little nervous, but it's worth it."
"Want me to add that into my Best Man speech?" Sam asked. "That you're nervous and that Kurt convinced you to use moisturizer?"
"If you do so, you will be removed fromt the Best Man position on the spot," Finn laughed.
"Relax, dude, I'm joking," Sam said. All the boys started laughing when there was a knock at the door.
"Gentlemen, are you ready?" It was one of the staff members.
"I think so," Finn said.
"Good luck, bro," Mike said.
"Thanks, guys," Finn said, heading to the front of the aisle.
The ushers went to meet up with the bridesmaid they would escort down the aisle - and the wedding march began.
x
The wedding march began and those in attendance turned as the flower girls, Beth and Ally, and ring bearer, Sam's younger brother Steve, walked down the aisle.
Next Artie and Brittany entered the aisle, followed by Mike and Tina, then Blaine and Santana, then Puck and Lauren, then Kurt and Mercedes. Sam and Quinn, the Best Man and Maid of Honor, entered penultimately - right before Rachel, being led down the aisle by her dads.
When Finn looked down the aisle and saw Rachel coming down, the first thing he noticed was how beautiful she looked. The second thing that came to mind was how lucky he was to have her with him today after the close call last fall. Rachel had banned talk about the attack today, so he wasn't going to say anything. One thing he knew: Rachel was now forever his. The beautiful, kind, strong girl walking down the aisle today would now be part of his life and wasn't going away.
Finally, Rachel reached the front of the aisle. Rachel's fathers shook Finn's hand and passed Rachel over. Finn took Rachel's hand and led her up to the altar.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in the unity of marriage," the Reverend began...
The readings were perfect (Rachel had insisted on a Christian wedding because Finn had been through so much for her) and the Glee club performed an amazing song. Finally, it was time to exchange the wedding rings.
"Finn Christopher Hudson, do you take Rachel Barbara Berry to be your lawful beloved wife, to love and to honor, to hold and to keep, forsaking all others, till death do you part?"
"I do."
"Rachel Barbara Berry, do you take Finn Christopher Hudson to be your lawful beloved husband, to love and to honor, to hold and to keep, forsaking all others, till death do you part?"
"I do."
Finn and Rachel slipped rings on each other's fingers.
"I present to you for the first time Mr. and Mrs. Finn Hudson."
The first kiss. The processing down the aisle.
It was time for the first dance. Finn and Rachel weren't going to dance to a song though: as they danced the first dance, they'd sing the song they sang together the first time he professed his love to her: "Faithfully."
Finn and Rachel took the center of the dance floor and the music began. And then Finn sang his part of the song: "Highway run into the midnight sun
Wheels go round and round, you're on my mind"
It was Rachel's turn: "Restless hearts sleep alone tonight
Sending all my love along the wire"
They sang together: "And they say that the road ain't no place to start a family
Right down the line it's been you and me
And loving a music man ain't always what it's supposed to be"
Rachel sang: "Oh boy, you stand by me"
And they sang together: "I'm forever yours...faithfully."
"Circus life under the big top world," Rachel sang.
"We all need the clowns to make us smile," they sang.
"Through space and time," Rachel sang, as Finn echoed "Through space and time,"
They sang together again, "Always another show
Wondering where I am, lost without you
And being a part ain't easy on this love affair
Two strangers learn to fall in love again
I get the joy of rediscovering you"
"Oh girl, you stand by me!" Finn sang to Rachel.
"I'm forever yours...faithfully," they sang together.
As they had at Regionals sophomore year, their Best Man, Maid of Honor, ushers and bridesmaids sang the background vocals as Finn and Rachel sang the end of the song.
When the music ended, Finn and Rachel shared a long kiss on the dance floor as their guests applauded.
"Thank you," Finn said. "Now, I'd like to introduce our Best Man, Sam Evans."
Sam shook hands with and hugged Finn and Rachel before beginning the speech.
"Good evening. My name is Sam Evans. I'd like to extend my most sincere congratulations to Finn and Rachel Hudson on their marriage and wish them much happiness together. They are both wonderful people with wonderful hearts and deserve nothing less."
The congregation began applauding again.
"I would also like to congratulate Burt Hummel and Carole Hudson-Hummel, the groom's mother and stepfather, and Shelby Corcoran and Hiram and Leroy Berry, the bride's mother and fathers, as well as their siblings, Kurt Hummel, Ally Hudson-Hummel and Beth Corcoran.
"I met Finn and Rachel for the first time our junior year of high school. I met Finn first because he recruited me for the Glee club. He approached me in the hall with another usher today, Artie Abrams, and said, 'Hey Sam. My name's Finn. This is Artie.' I told him I knew who he was because he was quarterback. He told me that made him super, super cool, (the crowd laughed) and he wanted to talk to me about Glee club. I was reluctant to join, but I met the love of my life there and made so many great friends.
"Finn and Rachel are both amazing people. Finn and I began our relationship as rivals for the quarterback position; today, we are best friends. We bonded particularly our junior year, when we were roommates at Nationals for Glee club. That week we had such a great time and stayed up well past sane hours laughing and playing on the xbox and just being ourselves. He's one of my role models: he knows who he is. He is a jock and a Glee boy, and he doesn't let that bother him. He's great at everything he does and recognizes that he can't please everyone, but he can make himself happy and he does that. And he's such a kind person. He has that way of always making you feel good about yourself, even when everyone else is making you feel bad about yourself.
"Now we come to Rachel. When I first met her I was a little intimidated by her big personality and desire to be in the spotlight. Once you get to know her though, there's so much more to Rachel than that. She's a sweet girl and Finn is very lucky to have her at his side. Doesn't she look beautiful tonight? And so do her bridesmaids, especially her Maid of Honor, the love of my life, Quinn Fabray.
"I would like to ask everyone to raise your glasses and join me in a toast to Finn Christopher Hudson and Rachel Barbara Berry Hudson."
The glasses clinked and dinner was served. The catering was amazing and Rachel had never tasted better food. Shrimp for the appetizer, then salad, then steak with potatoes and vegetables, and of course, the wedding cake!
The cake had five layers, with F+R written on the bottom layer.
As the guests ate, Finn and Rachel made their way around the party room to greet their guests. Not just their former teammates were there, but their advisor, Mr. Schuester, was there as well, with his wife, their former guidance counselor, Ms. Pillsbury, who was now Mrs. Schuester.
"I always knew you two were going to be the first Glee couple to walk down the aisle!" Mr. Schuester said as he hugged Finn and Rachel. "You both look wonderful."
"Thanks, Mr. Schue," Finn said.
"I remember the time you came into my office saying you loved Finn so much you wanted to lock yourself in your room and cry," Mrs. Schuester said. "Now you're married!"
"You said that?" Finn asked.
"Yeah, I said that," Rachel said. "But hey, now we're married!"
They moved on to the next table and when they had finished circulating tables. They took pictures with their families, the maid of honor and best man, the bridesmaids and ushers. They danced on the floor to music the Glee club had used over the years and then it was time for the throwing of the bouquet.
Rachel threw the bouquet and turned around, to see that Quinn had caught it!
"Looks like there's going to be another Glee wedding soon!" Kurt declared.
"We'll see!" Sam said to Kurt.
It was time for the newlyweds to be led away to their honeymoon in St. Lucia. Arm in arm, they left the reception hall, with confetti being thrown on them. They said goodbye to their parents and got in the limousine, now being driven away to the airport.
"Rachel Hudson, you look so beautiful tonight," Finn said, kissing his wife.
"I love hearing that," Rachel said. "Rachel Hudson. Sounds good in my opinion."
"I love the way that sounds," Finn said. "I don't know about you, but I'm very happy."
"I'm so happy," Rachel said. "So, so happy. I can't believe I found you!"
"I can't believe I found you!" Finn said. "Would you like some champagne?"
"I would love some," Rachel said.
Finn poured some champagne into two cups and held his up. "Here's to us!"
"To us," Rachel said, clicking her glass against Finn's. "I love you."
"I love you."
The limo pulled into the airport and they were greeted by an airport staff member. "Finn and Rachel Hudson?" he asked.
Finn and Rachel nodded, smiling at hearing their names together.
"See that jet? It's all yours!"
"A private jet?" Finn said.
"A private jet," the staff member said. "They're ready for you."
"Our parents are going to be broke after this," Rachel said as they boarded the jet. A basket of flowers sat on the jet, next to an envelope with their names on it. "Want to open it?" Rachel asked.
"You open it," Finn said.
Rachel opened the envelope and read the card in it out loud: "To Finn and Rachel: Enjoy your private flight to St. Lucia and your honeymoon! We love you! Love, your families and friends."
She turned to Finn. "That's so sweet!"
They sat down on the flight and fell asleep before long, Rachel's head in Finn's lap and Finn's head on Rachel's shoulder.
Tonight, Finn and Rachel both realized that everything they'd gone through was worth it. All the hurt, all the heartbreak, every moment they'd gone through had led up to this. They were made for each other and now, they were married, preparing to spend their lives together and have a family together.