Hello everyone! This took longer than I planned. I had to do some research to get this chapter "right". Hopefully it was worth it and you all enjoy it.
Deep breath in. Deep breath out. Deep breath…
A familiar hand is placed on his arm as another rubs his back. He can faintly hear the rabbi and priest explaining the interfaith ceremony to their guest before the procession begins.
"It's okay, sweetie," his mother's calming voice piercing the fog of nerves in his brain.
The interfaith marriage was Rachel's idea. He would have been fine doing a traditional Jewish wedding like she had always dreamed of but she insisted on including his beliefs in the ceremony that was going to unite them forever.
"Rachel loves you too much to get cold feet, son," his dad's comment kicking up his nerves again.
"You would think that. But then again her high school guidance councilor got cold feet on her wedding and left Mr. Schuester at the altar on Valentine's Day of all days!" he moves to pass his hand through his hair but his mother intercepts it.
"She won't do that. But she will kill you if the pictures turn out bad because you messed up your hair," his mom tells him dead serious. "Look just think of this as a performance, the most important one in your life, and collect yourself sweetie. This is the day you've dreamed of, enjoy it, and cherish every moment."
He hugs her as tight as he can and releases all of his tension.
"Thank you mom," he says softly before straightening himself out as he hears the music begin.
Show time.
The groomsmen make their way down the aisle, which include some of his friends and some of Rachel's. His best man, his older brother Robert, walks in next. As is tradition, according to Rachel, his parents walk him in. When they get to the altar his dad gives him one more hug before walking to his seat in the left side of the temple. His mom gives him a kiss on the cheek and a tight hug before joining his dad. He turns to look towards the entrance and completely ignores the bridesmaids and Kurt, who was deemed the maid of honor. In straying with tradition, Shelby, who Rachel had made up with and formed a close relationship with, walks in next with Beth as the flower girl and his nephew as the ring bearer, walking next to her. He barely catches sight of the smile and wink Shelby gives him when the music changes and the love of his life enters.
She's absolutely gorgeous as she makes her way down aisle, a father on each side. He's pretty sure the smile on her face and the tears in her eyes match his own.
He still can't believe this is happening even as she arrives next to him under the chuppah. Her dads place her hands in his.
"Take good care of her, Jesse," her father LeRoy tells him. He gives him a nod and mouths "I will", the knot in his throat impeding him from actually voicing it.
After they leave them, Rachel begins her three circles around him. The rabbi had explained the significance of this portion of the ceremony of how it represented the home they were going to form and "protection" against temptation and other women. He even suggested that they both do three circles each and one together to show the equality in their relationship. So as soon as she's done he takes his turn circling around her.
It takes all of his willpower to pay attention to the ceremony and to what the officiates are saying, instead of staring at Rachel like a lovesick puppy. The proper blessings and readings are done by both the rabbi and priest, before they move on to the unity candle.
This is something Rachel firmly wanted to be included in their wedding and after some explanation so did he. It wasn't a Jewish tradition but the symbolism in this was something they both wanted to embrace. It was showing two families, two lights, becoming one. It was also a way to thank their families for all the love, sacrifices, and support that they had given each of them throughout their lives. His mom and Hiram are the ones to come up and light the candle.
Finally they get to the wedding vows and all control of their emotions is lost, both forgetting they're surrounded by people. They first sign their Ketuvah, their Jewish wedding vows that, with the rabbi's help, they wrote together, before saying the ones they wrote themselves for others to hear. He pours out all his heart in each and every word he says to her, surpassing his engagement speech. However he loses it as he listens to her vows.
"Jesse… my love," she starts and hearing the simple term of endearment has him crying. "The moment you came back to my life is always going to be one of the best. After believing that had no future, no love, you showed me that I did. You showed me that I could have it all and love someone as much as I love you now. And now I can't wait to have it all with you. I can't wait to one day be on a stage with you, to form a family and make a little dynasty like you always joke about. I can't wait to spend every moment of my life with you, the highs and lows. And I'm going to love knowing that no matter how much my day sucks, how horrible an audition may go, or how many teacher conferences we may have, that each and every night I'm going to come back home and be with the love of my life. Because that's what you are and always will be, the love of my life."
He feels like his heart is going to burst at any moment and tries looking through his tears at Rachel, fighting the overwhelming urge to kiss her as passionately as he can. He settles with caressing her cheek and using the pad of his thumbs to gently wipe away her tears.
Thankfully the rabbi gives them some time to collect themselves before they move on to the ring ceremony.
He runs through the pronunciation of what he considers the most important words of the ceremony in his head as his nephew makes his way forward with the rings. He takes Rachel's and takes a steading breath before reciting the words.
"Ani L'dodi v'dodi lee," he says in Hebrew before repeating in English, "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine." He places the ring on her finger and places a soft kiss upon it as if to seal the vow.
"Ani L'dodi v'dodi lee. I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine," Rachel says in much better Hebrew than his and also places the ring and a kiss upon his hand.
The final blessings and he is presented with the glass he's going to break to finalize the ceremony. However unknown to Rachel he had asked the rabbi special permission to have her break something as well.
"The breaking of the glass reminds us all of the fragility of a marriage and of life itself. The groom is to break the glass officially ending the ceremony and completing the marriage. However he has asked me to present his bride with her own symbol of fragility," the rabbi explains and Rachel quickly turns to look at him.
He makes sure to keep the item hidden from the view of the audience as he reveals it to her. He hears her gasp and the tears gathering in her eyes let him know she understands the significance. If there was ever something that showed him how fragile a relationship is, how easily you could lose somebody this would be it. This had ended their relationship at one point, had brought them together years later, and would now seal their marriage.
"Its up to you to decide how you want to break it," he says softly.
She laughs through her tears and thankfully takes it from his hand and places it on the ground, next to the glass. She looks into his eyes and the both count down.
"One, two, three!"
They both stomp down, breaking both objects.
"Mazel Tov!" he hears everyone shout out. But all his attention is on his beautiful wife.
His Wife.
As that fact sets in, he stops fighting his urges and gives in to all the emotions he's been feeling since she walked down the aisle.
The world fades out as he kisses his wife, knowing that they're letting each other the exact same thing.
I love you.