A shrill scream broke through the silence, followed only moments later by manic laughter and then two more screams. The pounding of feet could be heard throughout the whole house and it shook the averaged sized home.
"I'm going to get you." A male voice growled and more screams erupted, followed again by pounding footsteps.
A five year old boy with sandy coloured curly hair stumbled down the steps followed quickly be a slightly taller red-headed girl. A mock roar drifted from the hallway upstairs and the girl screamed again, catching up to her brother.
Forty six year old Will jumped onto the top step from the hallway, a navy blue towel tied around his neck like a cloak. He grinned mischievously and took the stairs two by two, jumping the rest of the way down to land on the floor with a thud.
His children screamed again from the hallway and Kate's red hair swished into the living room. He smirked and pushed himself into a crouch, slowly walking down the hallway. "Come out, come out where ever you are." He lowered his voice to a raspy call and heard the giggling from the hallway.
"You'll never escape from the Schuemonster." He warned as he approached the living room. He purposefully turned away from the living room to look in the hall closet. He pulled the door open with a growl and then groaned at the empty space. More giggles erupted from the living room and he whirled around quickly, earning a gasp.
He grinned and crept towards the entrance to the living room and was about to turn in when he was met with a blockade. A bright pink blockade. He lifted his head slowly and we met with Emma's half bemused expression, his two youngest hiding behind their mother. Will gasped and then straightened up, "My fair maiden!" He exclaimed in his normal voice. "You have turned this beast into a prince again! I am eternally gratefully," He bowed to her and then rose up again. "Your reward shall be a kiss."
Before she could say a word, Will grabbed her from around the waist, bringing her to him and pressing his lips to hers. Behind them he could hear the giggles from Kate and Ben.
After a rather brief kiss, Will pulled away, holding Emma to him with one arm and pumping his other fist in the air. "The beast has been defeated! Let us rejoice!"
Kate and Ben squealed, clapped and started to jump and down, laughing. Will grinned and kissed the top of Emma's head and she rested her hand on his chest with a grin, her body shaking in quiet laughter.
"You guys are so lame." The voice of their eldest daughter caught Will and Emma's attention and they tuned to see Jen standing in the doorway, one hand on her hips. At eleven years old she still remained as innocent and sweet as a rose but she was also starting to grow more mature. They knew that out of all their children, Jen would probably be the least trouble. She smiled at them with an amused expression.
"Too old for make believe fairy tales, Jen?" Will asked with a chuckle as she walked into the room.
"Too old to be chased by my Dad in a towel, yeah." She laughed, tugging slightly at the towel.
"You're never too old for fairy tales, Jen." Emma remarked, smiling at her daughter and then glanced lovingly up at Will. "I was in my thirties when I met my prince charming."
Jen didn't make a comment about that, instead she only smiled brightly. She loved the way her parents acted, like they were so in love. They didn't need to act though. She knew that her parents loved each other like no one could possibly imagine. They were a real life fairy tale, meeting the one you were destined to be with but not after going through hardships, facing beasts, and fire-breathing dragons, some witches, and of course, never forgetting, the singing animals, they finally got their happily ever after. She was only eleven but she knew about love, she enjoyed watching romantic comedies with her mother, and she hoped to find a boy that would love her as much as her father loved her mother.
With an eskimo kiss, Will and Emma smiled at each other. Jen had to clear her throat to bring her parents out of their moment and the pair snapped out of it, looking at their children.
"I didn't mean to cut your fun short but Will, we spent all morning cleaning, I'd appreciate it if you didn't mess it all up." Emma scolded lightly.
Will smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, dear."
Emma rolled her eyes playfully and gave him a shove. She took a few steps towards her children and leaned down to meet Kate and Ben's level.
"Do you know why were cleaning the house this morning?" Emma asked.
"Cuz you like things to be clean." Kate replied almost instantaneously and Ben nodded in agreement with his sister.
Emma smiled and chuckled softly, "Well yes, that's true but that's not why we were cleaning."
"It wasn't?" Kate questioned, an adorable look of confusion crossing her pretty features
"Nope." Emma shook her head. "We were cleaning because we're going to have some special guests for dinner tonight."
"Really?" Kate's face lit up.
"We are?" Jen's interested voice piped up and Emma nodded towards her eldest.
"Who?" Jen continued, a smile beginning to form on her face.
"Gamma and Gampa?" Ben offered.
Emma shook her head. "No, its not grandma and grandpa."
"Who is it Mommy?" Kate pressed.
"Rachel Berry," She glanced at Jen who's eyes lit up and a small gasp passed her lips, "and Finn Hudson. You remember them, don't you?" She glanced between her daughters.
"Yes!" Jen exclaimed. "Of course!"
"Frankenstein!" Kate cried, bouncing up and down, clapping her hands together and laughing.
Emma shot Kate a stern look but Will countered her disciplinary action by sniggering in the background. Kate giggled along with her father until Emma finally gave in and let out a small laugh.
Ben's eyes flitted around the room to each person in the room with a clueless, innocent look on his face. "I remember too Mommy!"
"No you don't." Kate told him, giving him a look.
"I do too!" Ben huffed with a scowl.
Emma gave her daughter a warning look and then reached out to place her hand on top of Ben's curly head comfortingly, "You were just a baby last time they were here Benji, you're too young to remember them."
"Oh." Ben said simply and Emma smiled, kissing his forehead and then rose to her feet.
"What time are they coming Mom?" Jen asked excitedly.
"They'll be here at five thirty." Emma answered and Jen quickly turned to glance at the living room clock. Her face dropped and she sighed, "That's five and a half hours away."
"Well there is still work to be done. I'm sure due to your little game your rooms aren't totally cleaned, am I right?" Emma cocked an eyebrow.
The three Schuester children glanced at each other and shrugged sheepishly. Emma smiled softly and started to wave them out of the room.
"Go on, go clean your rooms. I'll be up in an hour to check on you alright?"
They all mumbled a response as they trudged out of the room and up the stairs. Even with Emma as a mother, the kids still did not like to clean their rooms.
Will chuckled and moved towards his wife but she tutted and pressed a hand to his chest. "You too mister. Go clean up the mess you made with the towels."
"How do you know I made a mess?" Will countered.
"Because..." She walked her fingers up his chest with a smirk, fingering the towel tied around his neck. "This towel is navy blue. The dark towels are on the bottom of the light towels and since you were in such a rush to play 'Schuemonster' with our children you grabbed this one from the bottom, leaving the other ones to fall on the floor in a mess."
He stared at her blankly for a moment or two while she continued to smirk at him. His shoulders slumped and he backed out of the room, grumbling under his breath. Emma giggled to herself, amazed at how even though her husband was nearing fifty years old he still acted as childish as their five year old. She loved him even more for it though. From the moment she met Will Schuester, the way he acted with his students, she knew he'd be a wonderful father. The last thing she ever expected all those years ago on her first day at McKinley was to be the mother to his children.
Emma grinned to herself and then moved to clean up what all of her children had made out of order.
Five thirty on the dot, the door bell rang and there were squeals throughout the house. "They're here!" Jen cried, flying down the stairs with Kate and Ben closely behind her.
Will was already halfway to the door when his children came running down the stairs. Emma quickly stopped them before they hurt themselves and let Will answer the door.
As soon as the door opened, before Will could get a word out, a ball of energy came crashing into him throwing her arms around his neck and crying out, "Mr. Schuester!"
Will stumbled back from the force and laughed as he wrapped his arms around his former student. "Well hello to you too Rachel."
Rachel let go of his neck and grinned brightly at him. Even at thirty three years of age she possessed all the spunk she was known for at fifteen.
"Rach, you look great!" Will admired her and she beamed proudly.
"Thank you," she laughed, "You don't look so shabby yourself Mr. Schue."
He smirked and shook his head. "Rach, its been fifteen years since you've graduated. You can call me Will."
"Nah, you'll always be Mr. Schue." Another familiar voice piped in before Rachel could respond. The tall and as handsome and dorky as ever Finn Hudson appeared in the doorway with his trademark grin on his face.
Will smiled at seeing Finn. Out of all the students he had ever taught, Finn was the one he had connected with the most. He had told Finn a million times how much he saw himself in the younger boy. To this day he still held true to that statement. Will didn't like to pick favorites, but without a doubt, (and he'd never tell anyone this) Rachel and Finn were his favorite students.
Finn's face brightened and he stepped in, by passing Rachel and the two men hugged, slapping each other on the back and laughing. "Good to see you Finn." Will said after pulling out of the hug.
"You too Mr. Schue."
Will chuckled. "You two are never going to call me by my first name are you?"
Rachel shook her head, still grinning. "It's too weird." It was then that her eyes drifted past Will and to the rest of the Schuester family.
They were all grinning at them, even little Ben who had no idea who they were. Rachel gasped and moved past Will, rushing towards Emma who welcomed her with open arms.
"Wow, Mrs. Schue, you look amazing!" Rachel cried as she examined the older woman. "You look like you haven't aged a day since we left high school."
"Oh," Emma blushed, "Well thank you Rachel, that means alot. You look very well yourself."
"Well beauty isn't easy to achieve but it is something you must keep up with in show business." Rachel replied and behind her Finn rolled his eyes.
He walked over to them, placing a hand on Rachel's shoulder and slipping in between Rachel and Emma. Finn took Emma into a hug and she couldn't help but feel tiny next to the six foot three male.
"Rachel is right Mrs. Schue, you look amazing." Finn agreed and Emma blushed again.
"Thank you Finn."
Finn smiled in response and his face became perplexed when Rachel gasped. He followed her line of sight to the three Schuester children standing around their mother.
"Oh my god." Rachel covered her mouth slightly, staring directly at Jen. "This can't be little Jena Schuester."
Jen grinned and nodded. "It's me, Rachel."
"You've gotten so big!" She cried and pulled her into a hug, combing her red hair with her fingers.
"I'm eleven now." Jen said into Rachel's shoulder. Rachel gasped and pulled away, holding her by the shoulders.
"You are not."
Jen giggled and nodded. "I am."
"That makes me really old." Rachel frowned and Jen laughed again, launching herself back into Rachel's arms. "I missed you Rachel!"
Rachel smiled again and tightened her hold around her. "I missed you too, Jen."
"Frankenstein!" Kate cried out suddenly and Finn looked down at her. Emma gasped softly and sent a stern look down to her daughter. "Kate!" She hissed.
"No it's alright Mrs. Schue." Finn laughed and knelt down, opening his arms, allowing Kate to run into them. Kate squealed as Finn lifted her into the air, Finn's large body easily carrying the weight of the tiny eight year old.
Will joined the group, smiling at the scene before him.
The group of seven were seated around the dining room table, laughing and telling stories, and reliving memories from "the good old days in glee club".
"How is glee club?" Rachel asked. "Are you still the director?"
"Yes." Will nodded. "I actually have a co-director now, a younger teacher, gifted in music. She's a real help especially now that I'm older and can't bust a move like I used to."
Both Rachel and Finn grinned at his comment and he laughed at his own joke. "It is a lot bigger now. You guys helped pave the way for glee club and even thought its not as popular as it was when I was in high school, the glee kids no longer get slushied. No one gets slushied anymore. That ritual seemed to have died out."
"Good," Rachel nodded, "That was not the highlight of my high school career."
"Try being hit with twelve of them at the same time." Will remarked with a smirk.
"Hey!" Rachel raised her left hand to point at him. "You asked for it Mr. Schue!"
Will laughed and held up his hands. "I did, I did."
"Rachel..." Emma mused, her eyes focused on Rachel's left hand. "Is that what I think it is?" She motioned towards a diamond ring on Rachel's left ring finger.
Rachel looked down at her hand, grinned, looked up at Finn and then nodded. "If you think it is an engagement ring then yes."
The girls all gasped and Will's eyes widened. Finn smiled brightly and slipped his arm around Rachel, giving his former teachers a nod to confirm it.
A matching grin spread across Will and Emma's faces and surprisingly, Emma was the first one out of her chair and she ran over to Rachel, embracing her tightly.
Rachel laughed in Emma's arms and once Emma smiled down at her. "This is wonderful! Oh Rachel!" She gushed and then moved past her to kiss Finn on the cheek. He laughed and tightened one arm around her middle in a quick hug. "Thanks Mrs. Schue."
Each Schuester took their turn hugging the newly engaged couple, even Ben who had no idea why the rest of his family was so excited.
"I do have a question," Will spoke up after everyone settled down, "Why did you two wait until now to get engaged?"
Rachel and Finn shared a glance and Rachel sighed. "It's along story, Mr. Schue."
Will shrugged, "I'm all ears."
Rachel licked her lips, took a breath and then began her story. "Well, Finn and I dated for five years after we graduated. As you know, after college we both headed to New York so I could pursue my career on broadway. It has been very successful, my career but in my third show, I was cast as the lead..." She paused and Finn gave her a squeeze around the shoulders. She smiled softly and continued, "...beside Jesse."
Will racked his brain, wondering why that name sounded so familiar to him. He thought back to his first year of glee club and remembered Jesse St. James, the male lead of Vocal Adrenaline and how he and Rachel dated for a few months.
"Jesse St. James?" Will questioned and Rachel nodded.
"Jesse St. James." She rolled her eyes. "I decided to be the grown up and put our fling of the past behind us. He had grown up too, somewhat. He was still an egotistical jerk but he wasn't as bad of an egotistical jerk. Anyway, our director thought it would be a good idea if his two leads got to know each other off stage to build chemistry on stage. I reluctantly agreed but it came with a price. Finn didn't approve of my outings with Jesse and we got into a huge fight one day and we didn't talk to each other for five years. Neither of us saw anybody else during the five years without each other," She looked to Finn for confirmation and he nodded, "and when we ran into each other, we realized how much we missed each other and after a long talk we finally rekindled our relationship. For the last five years we've been closer than ever and then two weeks ago Finn proposed." She grinned brightly, her eyes drifting upwards in a memory.
Rachel sighed dreamily and recalled the event, "Finn rented out a small theater for the day and brought me in. It was pitch black and I had no idea what I was doing there, I thought maybe there was a director who was interested in me. Then Finn turned the lights on and the whole stage was decorated in bright, different colored lights. It was the most beautiful thing that I had ever seen. He led me to the audience and sat me down in the front row. Then he got up on the stage and sang for me," She rested back against Finn's shoulder, "and then he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Of course I said nothing but yes."
Finn laughed, "I think all of Manhattan knew you said yes."
Rachel grinned proud of her excitement. "I couldn't help it. Quite honestly Finn, I've been waiting for the day you would ask me to marry you since your first day in glee club."
Finn raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"
Rachel shrugged, unashamed. "I was a little insane back then."
"A little?" Will remarked with a smirk.
"Back then?" Finn added.
Rachel shot the men in the room dirty looks. "And you two are supposed to be my biggest fans."
Will and Finn laughed, Finn squeezing her shoulder reassuringly.
"We're just kidding, Rach." Will smiled and Rachel huffed.
"Well, if you're truly sorry I suppose I can forgive you." She said in mock seriousness and then smiled to show she was kidding.
Will chuckled and Emma changed the subject with, "Did you two set a date for the wedding?"
Rachel smiled brightly and looked across the table to lock eyes with Will. "August 16th of next year."
Will stared at her, puzzled until the date clicked in his brain. "August 16th? Wasn't that the date we won our first National championship?"
"Bingo." Finn nodded with a smile.
"We figured that it was a special day for us," Rachel went onto explain, "because glee is what brought us together in the first place. We're also planning to have the wedding here in Lima. It's not very glamorous I know but we love it here and it'd be a perfect spot for our wedding."
"That is so sweet." Emma commented with a warm smile.
Rachel giggled and pressed a kiss to Finn's cheek, causing him to break out in a bright smile.
"While we're on the subject," Finn started, looking towards Will, "I wanted to ask you something Mr. Schue."
Will raised his eyebrows. "Shoot."
"I was just wondering if you'd like to be my best man."
Will's eyes widened as did Emma's as she turned to look at Will to gauge his reaction. Finn went on, "I could ask Kurt because he's been my brother for almost fifteen years now or I could ask Burt since he technically is my father now but I'm not because even with Burt you're still the only father I've really had. Out of anyone in my life, you're the one person I turned to when I had a problem which in my high school days was quite often. You're the person who I looked up to, my role model who I told myself I had to grow up to be like. So, Will, I'd love for you to be my best man."
Emma's hand had moved to cover her mouth as she stared at her husband who had gone misty eyed. Will smiled and swallowed the lump in his throat, "Finn, I'd be honored."
Finn grinned and reached over the table to shake hands with Will. Will placed his hand in Finn's hand gripped it with both hands in a fatherly handshake.
"Mrs. Schuester," Rachel called catching Emma's attention, "Unfortunately, I have already chosen my maid of honor, she has been my best friend since I started college but I would love for you to be in my bridal party."
A gasp passed Emma's lips and her hand flew to her heart, a warm smile appearing on her face. "Oh Rachel, that's so sweet. Thank you."
"What about me?" Jen's voice piped up. "I'd like to be in your wedding, too."
"Me too!" Kate exclaimed.
Rachel smiled at them, "You two, since you are my two favorite children in the world, are both going to be my flower girls."
Jen and Kate grinned, looked at each other and then back to Rachel. "Thank you Rachel!" They cried in unison.
"Rachel, you don't have to do that." Emma's quiet voice offered.
Rachel smiled at the elder woman. "Nonsense, Mrs. Schuester. Neither Finn or I have younger brothers or sisters. All my cousins are teenagers by now and your family is practically our family. You all deserve to be a part of our special day and I wouldn't have it any other way."
The two eldest Schuesters smiled at her tearfully while their daughters continued to smile happily.
The soon-to-be Hudsons stayed for much longer than they intended to. At around nine thirty, Ben had fallen asleep on Emma's lap while they were seated around the living room and Kate kept yawning, rubbing her eyes sleepily.
Emma excused herself to put her two youngest to bed and once they were asleep, she returned the group downstairs. Jen was seated in between Finn and Rachel, linked arms with the two.
"Mom?" Jen looked up towards her mother when she walked into the room.
"Yes?" Emma settled back into Will's side and he slung an arm around her shoulders.
"Rachel said that I could spend next weekend with them if it was alright with you. Can I go please?" Her face lit up in hopeful excitement.
Emma cocked an eyebrow and glanced at Rachel. Rachel smiled, "We're staying until next monday. During the week we're going to visit our parents but the weekend is free so I figured I could spend a little girl time with Jen. We could drive down to Columbus and spend the day shopping, seeing the sights and then she'll sleep over at my dads' house where Finn and I will be staying."
Emma bit her lip and turned to look at Will. He shrugged, "I said it was okay, as long as it was alright with you."
"Your fathers are alright with this?" Emma asked turning back to Rachel.
Rachel grinned and nodded. "We have a guest bedroom that she can sleep in. She's a little angel, she won't be a bother to them."
"Please Mom!" Jen pleaded, her lips pouting out in a pout that closely resembled her father's.
Emma sighed, not completely comfortable with the idea of her daughter going off into the city without her or Will but she did trust Rachel. "Alright Jen, you can go."
Jen grinned and leaped off the couch to hug her mother. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Emma laughed and patted her back. "You're welcome sweetie."
Jen squealed and skipped back over to take her spot between Rachel and Finn. Rachel and Jen embraced quickly in a happy hug while Finn and Will watched the girls' with happy smiles.
They stayed for another half an hour after that until Rachel and Finn noticed that Will and Emma were starting to grow weary. Emma's head had drifted onto Will's shoulder, her eyes fluttering opening and closing lazily while Will nodded along lazily to Rachel's incessant talking.
After Finn had nudged Rachel, urging her to look at the older couple, Rachel finally noticed that they weren't as alert as before. It was then that they decided to go.
Will and Emma were more awake as they stood up and accompanied the younger couple to the door. With hugs and kisses and an agreement that Rachel would be back on Friday morning to pick Jen up for their weekend of adventures.
They both continued to wave out the door until Finn's car drove out of view. Will closed and locked the front door and Emma melted into his chest.
"I forgot how verbose she could be." She murmured into his chest.
His chest vibrated in laughter and he slipped his arms around her, kissing her head softly. "Classic Rachel. Though Finn has seemed to calm her down somewhat."
"It made me tired just listening to her." She sighed.
"It was great to see them again though." Will added and Emma lifted her head to catch his eyes.
"It was." Emma agreed with a smile. "I am so glad to hear that it worked out for them. Not many high school relationships make it past high school."
"And if they do...sometimes they're complete failures." Will remarked wistfully.
"That seemed like such a lifetime ago.." Emma whispered. "Did you ever think that we'd be where we are today?"
"Honestly? Yes." He smiled, kissing the tip of her nose. "I thought about it. At the time I thought it wasn't even a possibility but that didn't mean I didn't think about it."
Emma smiled sheepishly as she added, "I thought about it too. More often than I should have. Whenever I saw that gold band on your finger I imagined that the other one belonged to me. I imagined what it'd be like to come home to you every day."
"And did the real thing live up to your imagination?" He asked with a smirk.
Emma grinned, sliding her arms around his neck. "It was better than I ever could have imagined it to be."
Will chuckled and captured her lips in a gentle kiss. "I love you." He whispered against her lips.
Emma smiled into his lips, lifting herself onto her toes to push herself further closer to him.
Both of them failed to notice their eldest daughter, leaning against the door frame, watching them with a happy smile.