Oh man, this chapter turned out long! What can I say, I'm in love with the idea of a Finchel wedding. I intended for it to be a brief flashback, but I just had to go into detail. Anyway, sorry I haven't updated this in a while, I wanted to finish "Where Do We Go From Here?" first. Please enjoy this chapter and review if you want me to continue!
Chapter 11: Wedding Bells
The morning of the wedding of Nick's dad and his fiancee, Rachel was up early to look at wedding pictures of their wedding. She'd ironed the family's good clothes for the wedding the previous night. Every time they went to a wedding, she remembered the day of her marriage to Finn.
"What are you doing, Mom?" Rachel turned to see that Emma was downstairs. She wasn't surprised. Emma had said last night she hoped she would catch the bouquet.
"It's just that going to a wedding reminds me of the day Dad and I got married," Rachel said. "One of the five best days of my life."
"What were the others?" Emma asked.
"The days you and your siblings were born," Rachel said, smiling. Meeting Finn really had been the best thing that had ever happened to her. He was an amazing husband. He loved her and supported her. He was a great father as well, and together, they'd made some great kids.
"Mom, could you tell me about the day you married Dad?" Emma asked.
Rachel still remembered that day like it was yesterday. Of course she would tell their daughter the story.
x
July 28, 2013. The day Rachel and Finn had selected for their wedding when he proposed to her on her 19th birthday. The past few months had been devoted to planning the perfect wedding. Over spring break, Rachel had selected her dress and gone with the bridesmaids to pick a bridesmaid dress. The bridesmaid dress was sky blue, to match the flowers around the church. She had spent the night before the wedding at a suite in the Sheraton with the bridesmaids. Finn spent that night at the Embassy Suites with the ushers.
When Rachel woke up that morning her heart was beating a million miles per hour. Or that was what it felt like. Ever since she'd met Finn she dreamed of marrying him. Now it was really happening. At the end of the day he'd be her husband.
She nervously got out of bed, trying not to wake the bridesmaids, and put on her white dress and shoes. She looked in the mirror and asked herself if Finn would like it. She hadn't shown Finn the dress, but he'd also refused to show her his tux.
She looked through the closet. All five bridesmaid dresses hung there, along with the two flower girl dresses for Ally and Beth, which were the same color as the bridesmaid dresses.
"Getting excited, are you?" Rachel turned to see that Quinn was also up.
"Quinn!" Rachel giggled. "Why are you up so early?"
"It's the maid of honor's job to look after the bride," Quinn said. "How are you feeling?"
"I can't wait, but at the same time I'm freaking out," Rachel admitted.
"Want me to help you into your dress?" Quinn asked.
"Yeah, that would be great," Rachel said.
The girls got their dresses on and soon noticed that Santana, Brittany, Mercedes and Tina were also up. They put their bridesmaid dresses on. The girls sat around the apartment when they heard a knock on the door.
Rachel answered the door to see Carole with Ally. "The flower girl's here!" Carole said. "Well, one of them."
"Where are my parents?" Rachel asked.
"Oh, they'll be coming soon," Carole said. "Ally couldn't wait to get here, but we wanted to check on the boys first."
"How's Finn?" Rachel asked.
"He's so excited," Carole said. "Is Ally's dress in the closet?"
"Yeah, go into the bedroom," Rachel said.
Carole and Ally went into the room before the doorbell rang again. This time it was Hiram, Leroy, Shelby and Beth.
"Our little girl," Leroy said as Rachel opened the door. "You're getting married."
"You look beautiful, Rachel," Hiram said.
"We're so proud of you," Shelby said.
"Thank you," Rachel said. She looked at Beth. "Are you ready to get your flower girl dress on?"
"Yeah!" Beth said.
"Can I help her with it?" Quinn asked Shelby.
Shelby smiled at Quinn. "Of course." Hand in hand, Quinn and Beth went into the bedroom, leaving Rachel with her parents.
"I'll always be your little girl," Rachel told them.
"We're so glad you found such an amazing man," Hiram said.
"Finn loves you, and I can tell you love him," Leroy added.
"I know he'll take good care of me," Rachel said. "He'll be the best husband, the best father."
Soon, the bridesmaids and flower girls came into the common room. "It's the first Glee wedding!" Mercedes said, hugging Rachel.
"I hope Finn doesn't change his mind at the last minute," Rachel blurted out. "I hope I don't mess up or anything."
"You'll do great," Tina said.
"The limo isn't due for another twenty minutes, how about some pictures?" Carole asked.
The girls got out their cameras. Pictures around the hotel were taken of Rachel with each of her bridesmaids, with all her bridesmaids, with the flower girls, with the bridesmaids and the flower girls, with her dads, with Shelby and Beth, with Shelby and Carole, with her dads, Shelby and Beth...
The limo pulled into the parking lot. Rachel's parents helped her into the limo and then joined her with the bridesmaids, the flower girls and Carole. Rachel felt a lot of nausea and anxiety as the limo drove to the Galleria, the party center they'd selected for their wedding.
She had to squeeze her mom's hand as they made their way into the room where they'd wait for the wedding to begin. When they were in the room, Kurt came running in. "Thank God all you girls managed without me! You all look amazing!"
"You were a great wedding planner, Kurt," Rachel said.
"Who else would do it?" Kurt asked. "The hall's decorated, the guests are starting to arrive, the photographer's here, the music's ready..."
Rachel felt her bellyache coming back as she listened to Kurt's rambles. Finally, Kurt said, "This is how the lineup will go. Ally and Beth will go in first with the flowers, and Shelby will walk with them just in case. Then Sam's brother with the rings. Then Santana, Brittany and Artie, then Tina and Mike, then Mercedes and Sam, then Blaine and me, then Quinn and Puck, and last, Rachel and her dads."
Rachel heard the music begin and some chattering in the next room after Kurt left. Then Kurt came back in, this time with Blaine, Puck, Sam, Mike and Artie, who were dressed in black suits with white shirts and sky blue ties to match the girls' dresses. "It's time!"
Rachel gulped. There was no more waiting. The wedding party began lining up. She was excited to see Finn, but nervous at the same time. She hugged each of her bridesmaids as they wished her luck. The wedding march began and she watched Shelby, Beth and Ally, enter the aisle. Sam's brother followed them, carrying the rings. Santana, Artie and Brittany followed, then Tina and Mike, then Sam and Mercedes, then Kurt and Blaine, then Puck and Quinn. Rachel linked arms with her dads as the audience stood. She finally looked at the end of the aisle and saw Finn. He looked so handsome in his tux. She noticed how happy he looked. He had an amazing smile. It made her want to smile.
Finally, Rachel and her dads reached the end of the aisle, and they gave her to Finn. Finn took Rachel's hands and whispered, "You look so beautiful."
"You look handsome," Rachel whispered.
Rachel was too focused on Finn to really pay attention to the religious aspect of the ceremony. When it came time for the vows, she listened carefully to the word she prepared. "Rachel, you are the best thing to ever happen to me. I dated other girls, but I didn't feel that special thing with them that I feel with you. From the first time we sang together I knew there was something special about you. I love everything about you. You're the one, you're it. You're the most gorgeous girl I know but it's more than that. We're more than that. You bring out the best in me. You always make me feel loved. You help give me confidence and ambition. I know you'll be the best wife. I know you'll be the best mother. I love you, Rachel, and I always will."
Rachel had tears in her eyes when Finn finished speaking. But she had to recite hers. "Oh, Finn, where do I begin? You are just - you're the one. Every moment I'm with you, it's like we're the only two people in the world. You make me feel good about everything about myself when I feel at my worst. I never feel lonely with you. You have helped me to be myself and realize that there's more to me than my voice. Finn, you are the best man ever. You are going to be an amazing father. I love you."
Finn smiled at Rachel and gave her a kiss. The vicar asked, "Finn, do you take Rachel to be your wife?"
Finn smiled. "I do."
"And Rachel, do you take Finn to be your husband?"
Rachel had to hold in her excitement. "Oh, yes I do!"
She and Finn slipped the rings on to each other's fingers as the vicar announced, "For the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Finn Hudson!"
Rachel hugged Finn as they smiled at the crowd. Their parents were in the front row and were all standing and crying. The ushers and bridesmaids stood on the altar with them. The ring bearer had joined his older brother, and Puck was holding Beth and Kurt was holding Ally. The recessional music began and Finn and Rachel led the wedding party down the aisle. Finn looked at Rachel and whispered, "I'm forever yours, faithfully."
"I'm forever yours, faithfully," Rachel whispered back.
They kissed at the entrance to the hall when the photographer approached them. "While everyone's getting seated for dinner, we need to take photos."
"Okay!" Rachel said. Photos were taken of Finn and Rachel together, then with Burt, Carole, Kurt, Blaine and Ally, with Hiram, Leroy, Shelby and Beth, with their best man and maid of honor, with the bridesmaids, with the ushers, with the whole wedding party.
Dinner was served - orderves for the first course, salad for the second course, steak with roasted potatoes and asparagus for the entre and wedding cake for dessert. Between courses, Finn and Rachel made their way around the room to greet their guests. Right before the entree were the speeches by the best man and maid of honor. After the speeches was the first dance for Finn and Rachel. They'd chosen to dance to a recording of them singing "Faithfully" at Regionals, since it was what they decided was the Finchel theme song. Rachel also shared a dance with both her dads, and there was general dancing on the floor with all the guests. Everyone who'd ever been in New Directions with Finn and Rachel was there. At the end of the party, Rachel fell asleep in the limo on the way to the airport. At the airport, a private jet had been waiting to take them on their honeymoon to St. Lucia, where they spent the week hanging out at the beach, swimming at the pool, scuba diving, exploring ruins, cuddling in their hotel and seeing the wild life.
x
"Mom, that sounds like the best wedding ever!" Emma said. She hoped her wedding would be like that one day, especially if it was to Nick. But she didn't want to end up with anyone but Nick.
"It was, honey, trust me!" Rachel said. "I could relive that day every day."
"I wonder what my wedding will be like?" Emma said.
"It probably won't be for a while," Rachel said. "You are still in high school. But I do think you've found your special someone."
"I like to think I did," Emma said. "I really love Nick."
"You'd better go get your dress on," Rachel said. "We're all excited for a great Gold Stars performance."
Emma put on her dress. She liked the dress Grace had picked for the Gold Stars girls to wear for their performance. She just hoped Nick would think she looked good in it.
The Hudson family got in their car and drove to the wedding. In the car, Rachel nudged Finn and groaned, "I feel huge."
"Then take the baby out," said Grant.
"She'll have to wait a little more, Grant," Finn said. "You still look stunning, baby."
The family arrived at the church early. Finn, Sarah and Grant went to get seats in the pew while Rachel, Emma and Ryan went to the room where the Gold Stars would be meeting. They'd do a performance to open the ceremony before the bride and groom walked down the aisle and then take turns performing at the reception.
Nick came into the room. "Sorry I'm late, I had to be with the other groomsmen."
"It's fine, Nick," Rachel said. "Our performance starts soon."
Nick smiled and looked at Emma. "Wow, Emma... you look so beautiful."
Emma gave her boyfriend a big hug. "I love you."
"Maybe the next wedding will be ours!" Nick said. "In five or ten years!"
Emma felt good that she wasn't the only one who'd thought about getting married.
"Places everyone!" Rachel said. "We have to do our opening number.
Nick: It's a beautiful night,
We're looking for something dumb to do.
Hey baby, I think I wanna marry you.
Emma: Is it the look in your eyes?
Or is it this dancing juice?
Who cares, baby?
I think I wanna marry you.
Ava: Well I know this little chapel on the boulevard
We can go-o-oh (go-o-oh), no one will know-o-oh (know-o-oh).
Ryan: Oh come on, girl.
Ava: Who cares if we're trashed?
Got a pocket full of cash
Ryan and Ava: We can blow-o-oh (blow-o-oh)
Shots of patro-o-on (patro-o-on)
Ryan: Ahh and it's on girl.
James and Courtney: Don't say no, no, no, no-no,
Just say yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah,
And we'll go, go, go, go-go.
James: If you're ready like I'm ready.
Charlotte: 'Cause it's a beautiful night,
Charlotte and Tyler: We're looking for something dumb to do.
Hey, baby!
I think I wanna marry you.
James and Courtney: Is it the look in your eyes?
Or is it this dancing juice?
Who cares, baby?
I think I wanna marry you.
Ava: Ohh!
Ryan: I'll go get a ring
Ava: Let the choir bells sing
Ryan and Ava: Like o-o-ooh (o-o-ooh),
So whatcha wanna do-o-oh (do-o-oh)?
Ryan: Let's just run girl.
Nick: If we wake up and we wanna break up,
Nick and Emma: That's co-o-ol (co-o-ol).
No, I won't blame you-o-oh (you-o-oh);
Nick: Ahh, it was fun girl
Gold Stars: Don't say no, no, no, no-no,
Just say yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah,
And we'll go, go, go, go-go,
If you're ready like I'm ready.
'Cause it's a beautiful night,
We're looking for something dumb to do.
Hey, baby, I think I wanna marry you.
Is it the look in your eyes?
Or is it this dancing juice?
Who cares, baby?
I think I wanna marry you.
Ryan: Just say I do-oh-o-oh,
Nick: Tell me right now baby,
James: Tell me right now baby.
Ryan: Just say I do-oh-o-oh,
Tyler: Tell me right now baby,
Nick: Tell me right now baby, baby, oh
Gold Stars: Cause it's a beautiful night,
We're looking for something dumb to do.
Hey baby, I think I wanna marry you.
Is it the look in your eyes?
Or is it this dancing juice?
Who cares baby?
I think I wanna marry you.
Everyone else went back to their seats as Nick went back to join his family. During the ceremony, Emma noticed a look Nick gave her when his dad and Grace's mom were exchanging their vows. She wondered if he, too, was imagining this being them someday.
Emma and Ryan both got to sit with Nick's family at the reception. During dinner, Nick's dad said to Emma and Ryan, "If it wasn't for you two, I don't know if Nick would have ended up being supportive of our marriage."
"We did what we could," Ryan said.
"You're a great friend, Ryan," Nick's dad said. "And Emma, you're a great girlfriend."
"You're the best girlfriend ever," Nick said as he hugged Emma.
After dinner the dances began. After the first dance and the special dances, some of the Gold Stars were performing, and Nick took Emma's hand. "May I have this dance?"
Emma smiled wide. "Yes you may."
She leaned into her boyfriend as they shared a dance on the floor. She loved him so much. The way her mom had described her feelings about her dad was how she thought about Nick. She felt so lucky to have him in her life, let alone as her boyfriend.
Chapter 12 preview: Valentine's Day, so special times for Nicma, Ryva and Finchel. Update on Ryan's academic issues. Ends with a Beth-related cliffhanger.
