Disclaimer: No ownership of characters or the songs, You Raise Me Up and We Are The Champions.

A/N: There are a few vague similarities in this piece, not very many though. Hope you like it.

New Directions looked up at the myriad of flashing lights in their hotel, all totally mesmerised. Las Vegas was surely an amazing place to a group of 17 and 18 year olds.

"Guys! Hey, Guys, focus here" Mr Schue shouted at them all. "We have to get our rooms sorted and then get to rehearsals. Quinn, Puck, you two have got a separate room, your moms booked it for you, I was told that you knew about it, it's an extra present from them or something," he said, puzzled. They nodded that they did. "We are not having a repeat of last year." Mr Schue looked slowly round at the group, not expecting any arguments, he wasn't disappointed, most eyes looked toward the floor rather than at Mr Schue. Noah and Quinn looked at each other, Noah opened his eyes wide and blew out a breath, hoping no one would ask why they were getting presents.

Finn made a big show of pretending to wipe sweat from his brow. "Phew! Thank God for that, you've no idea how much I love your moms right now, I've been worried that I'd get stuck sharing with you again and seriously dude, it's not an experience I want to repeat. I've had nightmares since sharing with him last year in New York" Finn joked. Puck threw a disgusted look Finn's way.

"What? You think cuddling up to you would've been better than sneaking Quinn into the boys room that first night? I told you in New York Hudson, manboobs don't do it for me, real deal only. Come on Q, let's go get our key then we can get settled in" Puck said, smiling at Quinn. They went to reception to register and were glad that Mr Schue was still busy with the rest of the group as the receptionist began listing all extras that had been booked with the room by Esther and Judy and it was fairly obvious that they wanted Noah and Quinn's day to be special even though they weren't going to be with them in person. Before she handed over the key card the receptionist added "your clothes have been delivered and have been unpacked for you, they're hanging in the closet. On behalf of the hotel I'd like to congratulate you and wish you good luck for the future." She gave them a beaming smile then moved on to the next guest. Noah and Quinn rejoined their team mates.

Mr Schuester got everyone else registered in the right rooms then handed out the key cards. "Ok, lunch first then rehearsals. Tonight you're free to do what you want….except go into the casinos" he said over the cheers and whoops causing groans to spread just as rapidly round the group.

Noah and Quinn shared a secret look with each other, they already had plans for tonight that didn't include anyone else.

As soon as everyone was unpacked they met in the room that had been set aside for their use as a rehearsal room. Two runs through of each number including the dance routines and Mr Schue was satisfied that everyone was at the peak of their game. He dismissed them to enjoy the rest of the day. Before they left the room he gave the reminder about staying out of the casinos and encouraged all of them to get an early night. In the right rooms.

"Hey Hot Mamma, you coming to dinner with us?" Mercedes asked Quinn, indicating a few other club members who were getting together.

"No, not tonight, we have plans already, but we'll see you in the morning bright and early. Later." she called and waved before she and Noah left the room hand in hand.

"D'you think anyone's guessed what we're going to do tonight?" Noah asked Quinn quietly once they were out of the rehearsal room. He sounded really nervous.

"No, I don't think they could have. We're still not going to say anything till graduation, right?" she asked, looking up at him. "Are you nervous?"

"A bit. Are you?" Noah dropped a kiss on her shining lips when she nodded. "Not till graduation." He agreed then threw his arm round her shoulders and hugged her to him. Once they got to their room they showered, together as usual, although that was all they did, they had to be mindful of the time, they'd already booked their appointment from home. They got ready in the clothes that Judy'd had shipped out. Quinn's dress was beautiful. 1950's in style, wide at the neck, almost off the shoulder, nipped in at the waist and a full skirt. It was a ballerina length white embroidered taffeta and it looked as though Audrey Hepburn had hung it there personally. Noah had his black suit and white shirt and the tie he wore for Prom. The flowers that were in the small refrigerator for Quinn to carry and to wear in her hair were lilac to match Noah's tie.

They left the hotel hand in hand, looking round, keeping watch for any of their friends spotting them, they didn't want anyone to know yet. Tonight was just for them, their moms and sisters and Beth. The chapel they had picked was set up for video link via internet. They were having a Skype wedding. After the very brief ceremony Noah and Quinn went to dinner, another present from Quinn's mom. She'd booked them into a restaurant she had been to years ago and was still receiving fabulous reviews about the food.

Once they returned to their room, Noah opened the door, he pulled Quinn back from stepping in to the room. He looked around checking the corridor was empty then picked her up and carried her across the threshold. "That was so sweet Noah." Quinn said, stretching up for a kiss once he had put her down. "I told you once that you were special and romantic. I was right" she whispered.

Noah lifted her left hand to his lips and kissed the rings on her finger, "Only with you Mrs Puckerman, only ever with you." He took the posy of flowers from Quinn's hand and laid them on the night table. He carefully removed the flower from her hair. He crouched down to raise each foot and remove her shoes, she leant on his shoulders to keep her balance. He stood up and put his hands on her waist. Quinn raised her hands to his tie and slowly unfastened it, pulling it from his neck, she dropped it at her feet. She pushed the jacket from his shoulders allowing it to fall to the floor then started unbuttoning his shirt. Their mouths met as his fingers found the zip at the back of her dress. Once her dress hit the floor Noah got his first look at her underwear. Now he knew why she'd insisted on dressing in the bathroom. If he'd seen what she had on under her dress before they went out, they wouldn't have made it to the chapel. They wouldn't have made it to the restaurant either, they'd still be locked together on the huge bed that was at the moment covered in red rose petals courtesy of the hotel staff following Judy and Esther's instructions.

"Quinn Fabray, you never fail to surprise me." He breathed, stroking his hands down the front of the white lace basque, loving that her one indulgence happened to be amazing underwear.

"Quinn Puckerman" she replied then sucked in her breath as his hand reached the miniscule g-string that was the only other item that she was wearing.

"At this moment I'm surprised there's still enough blood in my brain to remember my own name" he mumbled, his lips on hers.

He stroked the front of her g-string then burrowed under to feel how ready she was for him. Quinn widened her stance allowing him more room. She pulled his shirt down his arms, he slipped his fingers free to let the shirt drop on top of her dress. His hands went to the top of the basque, pulling the cups down to free her breasts to his gaze and his mouth. Quinn grasped his belt and managed to unfasten it along with his pants without looking, just by feel. She pushed them down over his hips, his boxers went with them. She dropped to the floor, lifting his feet one at a time to remove his shoes and socks, he stepped out of his pants too. He was stood in front of her, naked, she looked up and smiled taking his length in her hand and stroking it. "Well, it would be rude not to" she teased opening her lips and taking him in her mouth. Noah sucked in a breath and gritted his teeth. He looked down at her, loving seeing, feeling his dick between those perfect lips, he'd never get tired of that. He tangled a hand in her hair and drew her away. He helped her stand up and bent to kiss her.

"I want to be inside you, the first time." he whispered against her lips. He picked her up and laid her on the bed of petals. He drew the tiny g-string down her legs and dropped it on the pile of clothes at his feet. He pushed her legs further apart and bent to inhale her fragrance, his tongue flicked at her clit before sliding lower. He stroked and tasted her till she tugged his hair.

"No, I want you inside me" she whispered back to him, "the first time, I want you inside me."

He placed one knee on the bed and leant over her, she slid her legs further apart giving him room. Noah guided his rock hard erection to her entrance, he looked into her eyes as he pushed inside, one long slow stroke. He brought both hands to her head, holding her, their mouths met in a hot electric kiss as he started moving, thrusting inside her. Quinn raised her knees, her arms round his shoulders pulling his face tight to hers, their breaths mingled. Noah leant to one side, one arm sliding under her hip, he bent to take a nipple, his thrusts getting faster and faster, harder, Quinn's breaths getting shorter and shorter. She tugged his head up, staring into his eyes, "Now" she moaned joining their mouths again as her body tightened in release, at the same time Noah grunted his own, feeling the spasms hit. He lay on her, breathing heavily.

"I think," he swallowed, still trying to get his breath back, "we can safely say this marriage has been consummated," he grinned. "There's no going back now."

"I wouldn't want to. Ever." she replied. "It's always been you and it will only ever be you. You are the one for me, forever." she whispered, as their mouths met again. Noah helped Quinn out of the basque and eventually they slept.

Nerves set in for all of them the next day. Noah wasn't too worried about his lead in the second song and the choreography was minimal, making sure that he and Finn didn't come unstuck ruining the whole set. He was more worried about Quinn, she seemed to be nearly fizzing with nerves. She hadn't been able to eat breakfast at all this morning and that was a meal she never missed. He took her in his arms and asked how she was, she claimed to be fine, hugging him back, she whispered that she was waiting for someone to tell them they'd been spotted leaving the hotel or coming back. She was expecting their cover to be blown any second. Noah lifted her left hand and kissed the back of her fingers, his thumb stroking the place her wedding band should be, they'd both taken off their matching gold bands this morning before leaving their room. Noah told her that she looked amazing in her red dress and whispered all sorts of things he'd like to be doing rather than waiting to perform. Quinn appreciated the distraction and she seemed to settle down, and she had to agree about the dresses too. All the girls suited the red and black halter dresses. Finally New Directions were called to the stage.

Rachel took centre stage. Her solo, Celine Dion's It's All Coming Back To Me Now was both dramatic and amazing. She totally nailed it and left the stage to rapturous applause. Next came Finn and Noah singing the leads in Flying Without Wings as they had at prom. The number had been expanded to make use of the full range of vocals for the harmonies. Also the girls in the mix added extra to the dance routine without making Finn and Noah work too much harder. Then the big group number with Mercedes taking female lead and Sam taking male lead in Meatloaf's Paradise By The Dashboard Light backed up by everyone else in the club and following Mike and Brittany's amazing and energetic choreography. The audience were on their feet, they absolutely loved it. After the first day of competition out of the twenty competing teams, New Directions placed first.

Quinn and Noah joined their friends for dinner that night. Their hands remained joined on the table almost all night, Noah's thumb stroking her ring finger, privately reminding Quinn that her engagement ring was feeling lonely. They had a really good night singing karaoke along with a few other teams. One of the songs the New Directions guys sang was Bruno Mars Marry You, while dancing with the girls. Noah and Quinn thought it was hilarious, especially when he sang to Quinn the lines 'I know a little chapel on the boulevard' and 'no one will know', of course they didn't tell anyone why it was so funny.

On their second day in front of the second set of judges they placed first again, the competitors now down to five teams. One more day to go. The buzz round the assembled choir groups was that traditionally the choir placed first in the preliminary competitions won the final. They didn't dare get their hopes up. That night New Directions invited Mr Schue to have pizza with them in the girls' room. They'd decided that if anything was going to cause Mr Schue untold stress, it was that particular night, considering what had happened last year. Mr Schue gratefully accepted. They had a brilliant night singing lots of the songs they had sung over the last three years in Glee, all the ones they hadn't managed to fit onto the Prom playlist. At 11pm Mr Schue encouraged everyone to think about going to sleep. The boys left the girls' room to go to their own, Quinn and Noah left hand in hand at the same time as Mr Schue. As they walked down the corridor Mr Schue looked at them and said. "I'd like to tell you both congratulations" with a smile on his face. Quinn and Noah stopped walking and looked at him suspiciously.

"Errrm, congratulations for what exactly Mr Schue?" asked Noah, playing for time. "We haven't won anything yet."

"I saw you leaving here yesterday. Quinn, your dress was beautiful, Puck, you looked very handsome in your suit, even with the mohawk" he smiled at the young couple. Mr Schue looked at their hands, bare of any outward symbol of their marriage. "I take it you haven't told the others?" he asked, puzzled.

"We didn't want any crap or a million reasons from Rachel why teen weddings are wrong, we didn't want to be a distraction from the competition." Noah explained. "This is right for us, we didn't want anything getting in the way of that. I mean, it won't change the way we live will it, we've lived together for a year and a half now and also…" he looked at Quinn "should we tell him everything?" Quinn nodded, "we've both been accepted to Yale. Only our moms and Miss Pilsbury know about that. Miss Pilsbury knows about this too by the way but she was sworn to secrecy so don't blame her."

"Oh my God, Yale. That's fantastic, congratulations again" Mr Schue said, amazement evident in his voice. "I know, out of everyone, that you two will make it. You've lived through and survived more than most couples do in twenty years of marriage. I have faith in you. And I won't say a word, they're your secrets to tell." he hugged the pair then left. "Goodnight" he said over his shoulder.

On the final day New Directions were scheduled to sing last. Their performance was flawless. Once all the finalists had performed the waiting began. They waited and waited for the judges to reveal the results. Puck fell asleep stretched out on a sofa in the rehearsal room, his head in Quinn's lap, one arm round her waist. Quinn fiddled distractedly with the longer hair at the front of his mohawk. Everyone was just a bag of nerves. They had to win this. For some of them this was their last ever Nationals, graduation being just a few days away.

"Will all choirs please assemble on stage." came the disjointed voice over the PA system.

"Are you ready for this guys?" Mr Schue asked. "This is it, the last time for us as a group, our last chance. I know you all did your very best and you were all absolutely amazing. I couldn't have asked any more of you. I'm so proud of you all. One last time, hands in" they all put their hands in the centre then raised them cheering and whooping.

On the stage the other four finalist groups were equally as nervous, Quinn and Mercedes hugged together shaking, Noah stood behind, his hands on Quinn's shoulders, his lips buried in her hair. Rachel was hanging on to Finn's hand in a death grip, almost hyperventilating. Feet were shuffling, murmurs of "just get on with it already" came from all areas of the stage.

The announcer finally came on stage with a microphone and an envelope in his hand. He opened the envelope slowly, drawing out the tension then in a short space of time had read out the two minor placings. New Directions were still in it, they still had a chance.

"In third place…VOCAL ADRENALINNNNNE" he called loudly. All the New Directions looked on in shock, whatever happened now they had beaten their nemesis, finally.

"In second place…The Dalton Warblerrrrrrrrrs. And your winners this year…New D" he didn't even get to finish saying the name, New Directions erupted into cheers, jumping up and down, hugging and screaming as realisation sunk in. They'd done it! They'd won, finally, it had taken them three whole years but they'd done it, in their senior year. Noah lifted Quinn off of her feet, hugging her tightly, spinning her round. Confetti canons ejected millions of gold foil pieces all over them and the stage. The trophy was enormous, it had to be handed to two people, it was way too big for one. Mr Schue was crying as he and Finn accepted the award on behalf of the team. The audience were cheering and clapping, whistling and hooting. New Directions were popular winners apparently.

Two days later New Directions made their first entrance into McKinley High as champions, the hallways were lined with students who stared at them in silence. New Directions stopped, they stood in the hallway looking at each other nervously, waiting for the slushies and insults to fly their way. The whole of the football team blocked their path. They had huge slushie cups at the ready. They came towards them, the cups held just so, and threw…..red and white confetti all over the Glee club, everyone in the hallways joined in, cheering and congratulation the team - finally, acceptance from the whole school.

The final assembly of the year, Principle Figgins' favourite one, was the day before graduation. Principle Figgins asked New Directions to sing. The assembly was to honour the teachers of McKinley. New Directions knew who had been voted Teacher of the Year. None of the teachers knew.

Wearing their competition costume of black pants, shirt and vest with a red tie Puck stood alone, centre stage, his head down. The music started, on cue Puck raised his head and looked straight at Mr Schue:

Puck:
When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

The rest of the team, girls in their red dresses, guys in their black pants and shirts came on to the stage from each side.

All:
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

Puck:
There is no life - no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

All:
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

Puck:
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

All of the teachers, staff members and students of McKinley High got to their feet to applaud. Mr Schuester acknowledged his team. He was so proud of them, of the young adults they had become.

"Principle Figgins asked all of us to say a few words about this year's Teacher of the Year. And I think we just did." Puck looked round at his team mates, they were all nodding in agreement. "Mr Schuester, three years ago when we joined your club, for some of us singing wasn't the reason why, most of us thought it was pretty lame." Again his teams mates nodded and murmured their agreement. "But in three years you have taken us from a group of misfits to National Champions. We want to thank you for that. You made it possible for us to dream"

New Directions lined up across the stage, hand in hand as the music started. As it got to their solo line each person stepped forward:

Finn:
I've paid my dues
Time after time

Puck:
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime

Quinn:
And bad mistakes
I've made a few

Rachel
I've had my share of sand kicked in my face
But I've come through

ALL:
(And we mean to go on and on and on and on)

Puck and Finn:
We are the champions my friends
And we'll keep on fightin' till the end

All:
We are the champions,
We are the champions
No time for losers
'cause we are the champions

Finn:
Of the world

Kurt:
I've taken my bows
And my curtain calls
You brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it
I thank you all

Santana:
But it's been no bed of roses
No pleasure cruise

Mercedes:
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race
And I ain't gonna lose

All:
We are the champions my friends
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers'cause we are the champions

Puck:
Of the world

All:
We are the champions my friends
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers'cause we are the champions
Of the world

Just before the last chorus Puck and Quinn left the stage to collect Mr Schuester from the audience and bring him up to receive his long deserved award, McKinley High Teacher of the Year, 2012. He hugged each and every one of his Glee club students, tears on his cheeks. The genuine affection he held in his heart for them was as if they were his own children. The audience applauded them all.