Disclaimer: I don't own Friends.

A/N: Well, here it is. Ross and Rachel's wedding. This is what the whole story has been culminating to. I hope you all enjoy it. I know I enjoyed writing it.

The reviews have really helped me along these fourteen chapters. I can't thank you guys enough for caring enough to tell me what you think.

XXX

"Thanks for coming," Rachel said politely to the guest that entered the large room they were using for the rehearsal dinner. Ross stood by her side, nodding and shaking hands with those who passed by them.

On the outside she looked calm and collected, but on the inside Rachel couldn't feel more nervous if she tried. She was getting married tomorrow. She and Ross were getting married tomorrow. They were getting married tomorrow. She'd been repeating those words in her head all day.

Ross glanced at Rachel and gave her a small smile meant especially for her, and she couldn't help but smile back as they shared a small moment that no one else was allowed to be in on.

"Rachel!" the woman who had just come in said excitedly, and Rachel looked over at her. "It's so great to see you again! It's been so long!"

"Oh, Sue!" Rachel said, giving her a quick hug. "So great that you could come!"

"Hey, I'm Ross," he introduced as he shook Sue's hand. "So, you're Rachel's cousin?"

Sue nodded and her blonde curls bounced. "Oh, yeah! We were really close! Well, I'm gonna go say 'hi' to everyone!"

"God, she's so annoying," Rachel said as Sue walked away. She rubbed her forehead.

"What?" Ross asked, confused.

"Well, she was always following me around! She is two years younger." Of course, Rachel couldn't blame her cousin for wanting to follow her around.

"She doesn't seem to be such a follower anymore, judging by the way she's all over Joey," Ross said, nodding over towards the open bar.

Rachel glanced at her. "Slut," she mumbled, hoping the younger woman didn't pick that certain talent up from her.

Phoebe approached them, and Rachel smiled at her friend. "Hey Pheebs! You really are looking good, I can't say it enough."

"I know, right? You can hardly tell I had a baby two months ago."

"So are you staying until after the toast?" Ross asked.

"Of course!" Phoebe replied, then waited a beat before sighing, "Oh, but I miss Chris so much right now! And it's not that I don't trust Mike, but…"

"Believe me, I understand. It's the first time you've left him," Rachel nodded, remembering the first time she left Emma home with Ross. Except for giving her number to that guy at the bar, the night had been fine.

"Well, I couldn't miss this. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it!" Phoebe said good-naturedly.

Rachel and Ross finished greeting the arriving guests, and the two began towards their parents. Monica and Chandler passed by them.

"Aw, look at you two. You already look like an old married couple!" Monica said, playfully pushing her big brother's shoulder.

"Uh… old?" Rachel asked.

Monica held up her hands. "Hey, it's a figure of speech, okay?"

"So, who's that girl all over Joey at the bar?" Chandler pointed in the bar's direction, and all Rachel could do was roll her eyes.

After milling around with guests for awhile, everyone sat down for the dinner. After drinks were served, Chandler stood at the table the six friends were sharing and hit his fork against his wine glass. Everyone gave him their attention.

"Well, this is my third time doing the best man thing for Ross," he began, "and since this will be his fourth marriage, I'm sort of hurt that I didn't even get to see his first marriage to Rachel. But that's a whole different story." He cleared his throat when Ross and Rachel both glared at him. "So, uh, a lot of you here already know me, but for those who don't, I've known Ross since college. He was my best man, and he did an excellent job then. It's just too bad I'm not having two more weddings to make it even."

This got a chuckle out of some people, but Monica didn't look too amused, so Chandler kept going, "But, uh, what makes this even better, is that I've known Rachel for just as long. And over the years, I've seen the ups and downs these two have gone through, and I'd just like to say on behalf of all of us, I'm glad you two are finally getting married. Of course, you've heard that a lot since you got engaged, huh? So, congratulations Ross and Rachel, two of my oldest and greatest friends."

Everyone lifted their glasses and repeated, 'To Ross and Rachel' as Chandler sat down. Rachel wiped away a stray tear that was falling down her cheek.

"Well, even with allthe marriage jokes, that was still good," Ross said from Rachel's side, placing his hand over hers.

"It was great Chandler, thank you," Rachel agreed.

Chandler became bashful. "Yeah, well-"

"You stole my line!" Joey said loudly from next to Phoebe.

The other five looked at him. "Huh?!" Chandler asked.

Joey looked incredulous. "The thing about them 'finally getting married'. You stole that from my notes for the ceremony!"

"I didn't steal it from you!" Chandler defended, "Everyone's been saying it."

"Yeah, yeah," Joey said. "Hey Rach, do you know who that girl is who was flirting with me at the bar? She was cute."

Rachel threw up her hands and groaned. "No."

XXX

"Thanks, Paula!" Monica called after the babysitter as she closed the door to her home.

Rachel was setting down her bag of clothes and makeup that she had packed. The group had kept up the tradition of the girls and guys being separated from after the rehearsal dinner until the wedding the next day. She and Monica had called Monica and Chandler's home, and that left the three guys with Ross and Rachel's apartment. Rachel felt her hands shaking slightly as she opened her small travel bag.

"I'm surprised you left the babies with a babysitter for longer than two hours," she commented to her friend. "It's so not… you."

"Yeah, well, it's not every day it's the rehearsal dinner of my best friend's wedding," Monica replied, giving Rachel an affectionate pat on the head after locking the front door. "And Paula said they went right to sleep with no fuss."

"Good. I just hope Emma doesn't give Ross any trouble." Ross had told Rachel that he'd keep Emma with he and the guys overnight so the little girl didn't have to leave her home.

"It'll be fine," Monica said with a wave. She began removing her shoes, but glanced at her friend. "Wow, this feels just like before my wedding. Except you and I are in a different town, and Ross, Joey and Chandler are in your apartment. Aw, and Pheebs isn't here."

"I know, it's too bad she couldn't come with us tonight, but she had left Mike with the baby tonight, so I understand." Rachel understood that the new mother wanted to be with her family as much as possible. She sat down on the couch to take off her own shoes. Neither she nor Monica were tired yet.

"So," Monica said, standing in front of Rachel, "you're getting married tomorrow."

"I know," Rachel replied quietly, but she couldn't keep the giddiness out of her voice. She was now so nervous that she knew she wouldn't sleep at all.

"And to my brother, no less," Monica said. She gave Rachel a half-smile and rubbed her shoulder.

"Rach," she began again, and Rachel looked up at her name. "I just want to say that… that I'm so happy you're marrying Ross tomorrow, because you two belong together, and I know he won't screw up this marriage. You're finally going to be my sister. And I love you both."

Rachel let out a small, watery laugh. "Mon, that means so much to me. Ah, look at me crying!"

"When aren't you?"

The two women burst into giggles and hugged tightly.

XXX

Ross sat on the couch in his apartment, Chandler and Joey on each side of him. He hadn't slept well the night before; he'd been planning a future, and balancing money, but mostly dreaming of the women he would be marrying.

The three men laughed simultaneously at the TV screen, and then Ross turned it off. "Ah, that was a good one," he commented.

"Yeah. Too bad you have to get married on the day they have the 'Tom and Jerry' marathon," Chandler said cheekily.

"Maybe it'll still be on after the wedding," Joey said. He slapped Ross on the back. "How 'bout we check it out after, Ross?"

Ross blinked. "Uh, Joe, I'm gonna be kinda busy after the wedding."

"Oh, right." Joey went back to his cereal.

"So what time are we gonna head over to The Plaza?" Chandler asked, lifting his feet off the coffee table.

"We'll go pretty soon. Let's double-check and make sure we have everything," Ross said, now feeling the butterflies in his stomach again.

The three men stood from their comfortable positions, and before Ross could even take a step the doorbell rang. He opened the door to find his parents on the other side.

"We're here for our beautiful granddaughter!" Jack announced as he and his wife stepped into the apartment.

"Yes, we're going to bring her over with us when I go to help Rachel," Judy said.

Ross nodded. "Alright, she's playing in her room, let me just get her and her dress."

He left Joey and Chandler to stand awkwardly with the elder Gellars. Chandler, being the son-in-law, tried to break the ice. "So, it's a pretty big day, huh? And it's nice out, not raining or anything. Yup, just blue skies." He smiled a bit, then began singing, "Blue skies, shinin' at me-"

"Chandler, you don't have to sing," Judy said as Ross returned holding Emma's dress, the little girl following behind her father.

"Here she is," he said with a smile.

Judy lifted her granddaughter into her arms and turned to her son. "Well, Ross, this is the last time I'm going to see you until the wedding." She leaned in and kissed his cheek. "Good luck, dear."

"Thanks mom," Ross replied. "And dad, just tell the desk to give you a key to the room reserved for 'Gellar'."

"Will do, son," Jack said.

Judy nodded to them. "Goodbye."

Emma stretched out her arms to her father, and Ross kissed the top of her head. As he stepped back, he was hit once again by how much she looked like Rachel, especially her eyes. "Bye, sweetie."

"Bye daddy," Emma said as they left.

Ross, Chandler and Joey all stood in silence. Chandler was now holding the tuxes. He held one out. "So, silver's a good color," he commented.

XXX

"Wow, Rach, you look amazing," Phoebe complimented as she sat down beside her friend.

Rachel shot an appreciative smile at Phoebe, then glanced back at the vanity mirror. She and Monica had arrived at the hotel a few hours ago, and only moments after they had found the room, Judy, Sandra, and Phoebe had shown up. The five women had spent most of their time getting dressed, putting on makeup, complimenting each other, or giggling for no reason.

"Really?" Rachel asked after a moment, needing to be assured. She unconsciously smoothed out her V-neck, off-the-shoulder wedding dress. The back dipped down so that the white material met at the small of her back, and the skirt part flared out just slightly. She'd chosen out the dress months prior, but was now doubting all her wedding-related decisions.

"Stunning, darling," her mother affirmed as she approached her daughter and stood behind her. She fixed Rachel's hair in a few places.

"I agree, dear," Judy said, walking over with Emma, "The dress is beautiful."

At her daughter's insistence, Rachel lifted Emma and sat her so they both could look at themselves in the large mirror. "What do you think, sweetie?"

"Mommy looks pretty," Emma decided, using her extensive vocabulary. Rachel was proud that her daughter was so smart at two-and-a-half years old.

"Thank you, Emma," Rachel said, kissing her blonde hair and then smoothing it a bit. She hadn't noticed before how quickly it was growing. "I love you," she told her daughter in the mirror.

Phoebe snapped a photo of the moment, and after the momentary flash affects wore off, Emma wriggled off her mother's lap and back over to the few toys that had been brought for her amusement. Monica appeared behind her best friend with Sandra's white veil from her wedding, placing it carefully on Rachel's head. It was her something borrowed.

"Alright," Monica said after the women had ooh-ed and ahh-ed over the bride once more, "I'm gonna go check on Chandler and then the twins. I'll be back before it starts."

"You better!" Rachel called as she exited. "You have to walk down the aisle! And make sure Jill and Amy aren't hitting on any of the married guys yet!" She didn't want to find out what kind of damage her sisters could do.

"I'll go make sure everything's ready. See you in a minute, Rach," Phoebe promised, and left right after Monica.

Rachel turned to face the mirror again. She looked back at herself, not even realizing how right this felt. At her almost-wedding with Barry, she definitely hadn't felt like this.

Sandra placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Are you ready, honey?"

Taking a deep breath, Rachel replied, "Yes."

Judy went to her other side. "Ross is going to think you're gorgeous. He won't know what hit him."

"Thanks, Judy," Rachel said, and looked back at the mirror with another deep breath, except this time, she couldn't contain her smile.

XXX

Chandler fixed Ross's bow-tie in the room they had gotten to get ready in. "Well, I feel sort of cheated," he started, "since I don't even get to give you the 'don't be nervous' speech. I mean, you didn't even need help with the tux."

"I've practiced a lot," Ross said with an eyeroll.

He, Chandler and Joey had left the apartment for the hotel only two hours prior, but had spent the first half hour at the hotel arguing with the concierge about their reserved room. The disgruntled man had said they weren't part of the 'Gellar' party, and had refused to give them their card to get into the room. Jack had shown up at a good moment, and had fixed things.

"You look good, man," Chandler said as he stepped back, once done with Ross's bow-tie.

"Thanks. Hey, where'd Joey go?" Ross had just realized their third friend had disappeared.

"I think he went to practice outside. He's more nervous than you are."

"Good to know he's taking this seriously," Ross said as he and Chandler scrutinized themselves in the full-length mirror. "And he's been so great. I mean, after his and Rachel's…thing, I didn't think he'd take all this so well."

"Well, I think he understands that you guys are just… destined to be together. He loves you both too much to get in the way. Plus, he and Rachel would've never worked." Chandler sounded so sure, but Ross knew that if it were a different time and place, they may have worked very well.

The door opened and Jack and Dr. Green entered the room, both wearing their tuxes and seeming eager.

"They're getting ready. It's time, son." Jack looked to his son and son-in-law.

"All-alright," Ross stuttered, not even meaning to. He took a deep breath as Jack and Chandler exited.

Dr. Green waited, though. "Gellar?" Ross glanced at him, and Rachel's father sighed. "Ross," he corrected.

"Yes, Dr. Green?" Ross asked nervously.

"Thank you for making my daughter happy," he said, with no hint of sarcasm or anything.

Ross was touched. "Wow, uh, that's…"

"Oh, don't get mushy on me now," the older man said as he left the room.

XXX

Ross peeked out from the doorway that led into the off-white colored room he was about to be married in. The place looked amazing; Rachel had insisted that there were lilies somehow involved in the wedding, and Ross had readily agreed to anything she wanted, and so lilies were strewn about the room. Around the altar, assortments of different types of flowers stood out for all to see.

Joey was taking his place at the front while the guests seated themselves on the white chairs Monica had picked out. Ross had to hand it to his sister, who had helped with much of the planning: the scene was beautiful.

Ross saw Carol and Susan sit down by a few of his cousins. In the front row reserved for family, Mike sat with baby Chris, who was sleeping soundly in his father's arms. Jack and Erica were both in identical baby seats next to where Ross's parents were going to be sitting. He and Rachel had both agreed early on that their friend's kids should attend, since children were a large part of all their lives. A small group of strings-players sat off to one side. Rachel had wanted them ever since Monica and Chandler's wedding.

"See you up there," Chandler whispered to Ross as he took his place in the procession line.

Ben was following Chandler, but glanced at his dad. "Dad, I'm gonna be extra careful," he promised, already carrying the rings cautiously on a small blue pillow.

Ross didn't reply to either; he was too wrapped up in the moment. Jack and Judy appeared on either side of him as a soft melody began.

This is it, he thought as he extended both arms to his parents and they started the slow walk to the altar.

Judy subtley snuck a peak around. "This is a wonderful room," she whispered.

"Yeah, expensive too," Jack whispered back. "Good thing the father of the bride is paying."

Ross rolled his eyes. They reached the front, and he kissed his mother's cheek, then shook his father's hand. They took their seats beside Mike and the babies. Ross stood to Joey's left.

Chandler came next, escorting Monica and Phoebe on either arm. The women were wearing elegant dark red dresses. "You know, this reminds me of our wedding. Ross did the same thing with Rachel and Phoebe," he whispered to Monica, who ignored him.

Phoebe smiled at the crowd. "Yeah, well, we need more friends," she said through her teeth.

The three reached the front and went to their respective posts. Monica noticed Joey mumbling to himself.

"Joey, what are you doing?" she asked out of the corner of her mouth.

He turned slightly so she could hear him. "I'm going over my lines in my head. I'm not going to forget anything this time," he said seriously.

Jill and Amy Green were finishing their treks down the aisle now, and both took their spots by Phoebe and Monica.

"Very tasteful," Jill commented, looking around at the room.

Amy nodded. "Yeah, and we didn't even help decorate."

Ben walked carefully down the aisle, making sure to keep the rings on the pillow. When he reached the altar, Chandler took one ring to hold for Ross, and Phoebe took the other to hold for Rachel.

Ben stood next to Chandler. "This is so cool. I like standing up here," he whispered.

Chandler smiled. "That's what your dad said before his first wedding."

Emma started down the aisle now, with Sandra in tow to keep her going in a semi-straight line. The little girl threw flowers at the crowd, hitting some people with them. Ross smiled when he caught sight of his daughter.

"Daddy!" she called once she had completed her short journey, but Sandra placed her hands on Emma's back and directed her to the seats.

"Come, lets sit down, dear," Sandra suggested, and Emma agreed, keeping her gaze fixed on her father and aunts and uncles.

The small group of musicians began playing the traditional 'Here Comes the Bride'. Everyone turned their attention to the back of the room, even Emma, who had been throwing around the excess flowers.

Ross lost his breath when he saw Rachel. He was struck by how incredibly gorgeous she looked, though she'd always been beautiful to him, no matter what.

Rachel smiled when she saw him through her veil, her arm securely tucked into her father's as they made their way down the aisle. It seemed to take forever, and yet at the same time, it was over all too quickly.

"This is it," Monica whispered, the biggest grin on her face.

"I know," Phoebe agreed beside her, watching her best friend walk down the aisle. "How long have we waited for this?"

Chandler, overhearing them but keeping his eyes on the bride, replied simply, "Years."

Rachel and her father reached the altar. Dr. Green disentangled his arm from hers, and kissed her cheek. "I love you, Rachel," he said.

"I love you too, daddy," she replied tearily, swept up in the moment.

Dr. Green gave one last parting look at his daughter before sitting beside his ex-wife and granddaughter. The next time his eldest daughter laid eyes upon him, she'd be a married woman.

Ross was smiling like an idiot as Rachel stepped up to take her place on Joey's right side.

"You're…," Ross began stupidly. "The dress, and, you're so…"

Rachel smiled. "You're not too bad yourself."

Joey looked between them. "Can I start now?" At their nod, he gazed out at the crowd, clearing his throat.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Ross," he glanced at him, "and Rachel," he glanced at her, "in holy matrimony." Excited, Joey gave Chandler a small thumbs up. "All that practicing paid off, huh?"

Ross blinked and looked at his friend. Joey snapped back and moved his eyes back to the crowd. "Uh, anyways… This is actually my third time serving as minister for two of my friends, and both times before I felt that the two were perfect for each other. This time isn't any different."

Rachel wanted to wipe away the tears that were coming down her cheeks, but she felt like if she moved, everything would disappear. Ross was still grinning like a fool, watching her.

"I've known both Ross and Rachel for over a decade, and what a decade it's been, I'm tellin' ya," Joey told the crowd with a small chuckle. He smiled at the two in front of him. "These two seemed right for each other from the very beginning, but I guess everyone except them saw it. They've gone through so much together: dating, not dating, being there for each other, for their friends, having a baby…, it'd take hours to list everything, so I won't, but I would like to say that I'm so happy you guys got your acts together to make it official, and that I love you both. You've been two of the best friends a guy could ask for."

Joey sniffled a bit, as did most of the other guests. Monica smiled across the altar at her husband as Phoebe shot a grin to Mike in the crowd. Ben watched his father and almost-step-mother with interest.

"So, uh, with that," Joey said, composing himself, "let's proceed to the vows. Rachel?"

Rachel accepted the ring Phoebe held out for her, and kept it in one hand, while she held Ross's hand with the other. "Ross…," she began, openly crying and not caring who saw. It was her wedding.

"I've been waiting for this moment for longer than I can even remember," she said honestly, peering into his face. "Sometimes I can hardly believe how lucky I am to be with you, because you're such a caring, sweet, amazing man, a wonderful father, and a loyal friend. I've always been able to count on you, and I've always loved you, even if I had convinced myself I didn't. You've been in my mind since we were little kids, and you've been in my heart since the first night I spent in the city after running away from my spoiled life."

The last part got a few choked-out laughs from her friends standing up at the altar with them.

"You've helped give me everything I'd strived for since then: an independent life, a good career, an incredible friendship, and a beautiful daughter. I've always been able to turn to you for help or advice on anything, and I've done my best to try and reciprocate. I've always been scared to make decisions that would change things for me, but when I got off the plane, I knew I was making the most important decision in my life, and for the first time, I wasn't scared. I love you, and I know that I could never live without you."

Rachel did all she could to resist the urge to kiss Ross right then. She placed the gold band on his left ring finger and kissed his hand.

Joey was looking between them, choking up. "Ross?"

Ross nodded to his friend and turned to get the ring from Chandler. He took Rachel's hand in his. "Rachel…," he started, just loving to say her name. "I'd spent so long dreaming of this moment that now that it's here, I just…can't believe it. You'd always been this perfect woman who I spent most of my time since the ninth grade pining over, and I guess in the end it worked." Everyone chuckled.

"I admire you for everything you've done in the past ten years, and I'm indescribably thrilled that finally I'm going to be able to be there for you and everything that life has in store for you, or us, actually. I've been through three marriages, and none of them turned out how I wanted, but I just know that this one is going to have a happy ending. Because we deserve that: a happy ending. We've been through so much that sometimes I wonder if all of it actually happened; the good, and the bad. But when I look at you…" He caressed her cheek lightly. "When I look at you I know that everything we've gone through was worth it for this moment. I know I couldn't be happier than when I'm with you, and I'd never trade that feeling for anything in the world. Like I said all those years ago: It's always been you, Rach. I've always loved you."

He gently placed the sparkling ring on her left ring finger, and then kissed her hand, as she had done.

Joey was trying to use a tissue without being noticed, but the crowd turned their attention back to him before he could put it back into his pocket. He shrugged and went on, "So, uh, I think we all know the answer to this, but: Rachel, do you take this man to be your husband?"

Rachel beamed at Ross. "I do."

"Ross, do you take this woman to be your wife?" Joey asked.

"I do," Ross stated firmly.

"Then by the powers vested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you," Joey took a deep breath, "husband and wife." He glanced at Ross with a smirk. "You know what to do."

Ross nodded and leaned forward as Rachel did, and their lips met for the first time as a married couple. The crowd cheered, and when they broke apart, Ross could've sworn they were at a Knicks game, the applause was so loud.

Rachel couldn't stop smiling. "We did it," she said as he rested his forehead against hers.

"We did it," Ross repeated, taking a breath.

He extended his arm and she accepted, and the two walked back down the aisle, past their family, past their friends, and into their future.

XXX

So, did you enjoy the wedding? I hope it was up to snuff. Let me know if you hated it, liked it, loved it, or have no opinion at all.

The end is near. So near, in fact, that it's the next chapter. I'm getting a little misty just thinking about finishing this.

Fear not, however: another Friends fic is coming soon! (And it will be a chaptered one, too!)