The Beat Goes On

Rachel's eyes fluttered open as a gentle hand smoothed her hair back.

"Rise and shine, Berry!" Quinn said. "It's the big day."

Rachel smiled a little and buried her face in the pillow. She wasn't quite awake yet, and she couldn't believe that after months of planning and drama and glorious secret rendezvous, she would finally, FINALLY, be marrying Santana.

"Hey, none of that," Quinn said, shaking her shoulder gently. "Come on. I went through all this trouble of ordering you a delicious vegan breakfast. You have to eat."

Rachel sat up and smiled at her best friend. "Thanks, Quinn."

"Don't mention it," the blonde said, passing her the tray of apple crepes and orange juice.

"Santana Diabla, did you sleep at all last night?" Brittany asked, exasperated.

"A little bit," Santana told her. "Really! I slept from four until now."

"Five hours of sleep? You're going to be dead at the reception…. Oh well, have your breakfast."

"I can't Britts. I'm too nervous."

"About what? You love being the center of attention and your dress is slammin'. You have nothing to worry about!"

"What if I can't do this?" she asked quietly, finally voicing a fear that had been nagging at her thoughts for months. "What if I screw everything up?"

Brittany's expression changed then. She smiled softly at her and sat cross-legged on the bed in front of her. "Remember eighth grade?"

"Um…yeah. Why?"

"That was the year they tested me. They wanted to put me in special ed, and not the 'Oh, she's really really gifted' kind. The 'You're going to a different school entirely because you're just that stupid' kind. But you threw an almighty shit fit with our parents and wouldn't let them send me. And you never let them. You helped me with my regular work, and made sure I could stay on the Cheerios with you. And you helped me get through life stuff that I didn't understand. And when I got into MIT, all you said was 'I knew it.' Well, this time it's my turn. I know it—I know that you're going to be fine. I know that you and Rach are going to have an awesome marriage, and eight adorable, badass kids—"

"EIGHT?"

"I know because Rachel is to you what you are to me. Not in this way," she said, tapping her head, "but in this way." She tapped her heart twice. "She helps you through life stuff that you don't understand or can't handle by yourself. Everyone needs someone like that; some of us just feel it or know it more than others. And you both found your person to be that for you. You won't mess it up, because she needs you as much as you need her. You'll be fine together. Great, in fact. I know what I'm talking about."

Santana smiled. "You're a genius, Britts."

"And now I've got two Phd.'s to prove it. Eat your omelet. It's real eggs and cheese, but I won't tell."

Quinn, Puck, Blaine and Brittany stood on one side; Kurt, Mercedes, Tina and Sam on the other. Cristobal Lopez walked Santana down the aisle first, then Leroy and Hiram walked Rachel down. Five minutes into the Father Carrico's speech, every parent in the building was weeping steadily. By the time Rabbi Zeichik got to his part of the ceremony, the entire wedding party (to include the brides) were crying as well.

With this ring

I thee wed….

"What god has joined together," Carrico said.

"Let no man tear asunder," Zeichik finished.

"You may kiss your bride."