a/n: and obv i couldn't end this fic without an epilogue of tina & mike living happily ever after. i had the intention of having one really long epilogue but i underestimated just how long it was going to be so i decided to split it up into two chapters — idk it makes sense to me… but anyways no more angst! just good vibes and good things for my parents bc i love them and i only ever wanted good things for them and that's why this is long as hell
"your heart is glowing and i'm crashing into you" — xo, beyonce
March 2022. Lima, Ohio.
The chapel foyer echoes with the sound of everyone's phone pinging with the notification. "Spotted: Mike Chang arriving at the Tartie wedding – does this mean trouble for the happy couple?" Blaine reads the latest headline from Jacob Ben Israel's blog aloud. "God, that guy works fast."
"If only he could see this little display now," Santana quips as she, Mercedes, Brittany, Sam, Blaine and Kurt draw their attention from their phones back to the newly reunited couple who are still making out in the middle of the hallway.
They are muttering sweet nothings to each other in between kisses while Mike's hands are wrapped tightly around her waist, pulling her impossibly closer to him, and her fingers are tangled in his hair. Their friends stand awkwardly in their spots as the couple remains lost in each other, clearly having forgotten about everyone else's presence.
It was sweet at first and they all are truly ecstatic about their reunion – but just how long exactly are they expected to stand here watching them make out? And if they're anything like they were in high school, this could probably turn X-rated pretty soon.
Tina finally separates from Mike when she feels someone lightly tapping her shoulder accompanied by the sound of them loudly clearing their throat. She pulls away slightly enough to scowl at the offender but her arms remain around his neck, her thumb absentmindedly caressing his cheek, while his eyes flit back and forth to her lips, not having had enough yet (and if he's being honest, he'll probably never have enough).
They both stare at Sam who cowers at the heat of Tina's glare but he smiles sheepishly at her and rubs the back of his neck. "Hey, I don't mean to interrupt, you know, I'm really happy for you two and everything… but do you think we can go back to the whole me and Mercedes getting married thing?"
His words sober Tina and she immediately softens in Mike's embrace while everyone stares at the blond in wide-eyed shock. Tina catches Mercedes' glance and looks at her meaningfully, quirking an eyebrow at her and silently questioning if this is what she wants as well. Mercedes slowly turns to look at Sam and all her features positively glow as she beams at him. After a few seconds, she nods her head at Tina, not a single trace of doubt on her face.
Tina grins with excitement for her two best friends and extracts herself from Mike's embrace (much to his dismay). She goes up to Sam and sternly stares him in the eye. "Okay, I'm pretty sure that Artie is inside about to tell everyone that the wedding is off but if you go in there and explain everything to him, this can turn into your big day – but you need to go right now."
Sam nods in understanding before rushing back inside the chapel to find Artie and informing him about the change of plans. When he's gone, Tina approaches Mercedes and smirks at her. "We need to make some outfit changes," she declares before quickly turning around to give Mike another peck on his lips. "We'll be right back!"
And before Mike could even ask for clarification on what exactly was happening, Tina grabs Mercedes by the wrist and drags her back up the stairs to the dressing room with Brittany, Santana and Kurt following closely behind them. Mike turns to Blaine questioningly and the former Warbler just tilts his head towards the chapel entrance, signalling for Mike to follow him as he tries to fill him in on everything.
"Mercedes, take off your dress!" Tina demands once they enter the dressing room, ushering the new bride behind the changing screen while she reaches behind her to unzip her own wedding dress.
"You know, you're not the bride anymore so you should tone down the bossiness a little," Mercedes jokes when she emerges from the changing screen wearing a white robe.
Tina rolls her eyes at her and takes the discarded bridesmaid's dress in her arms before going to find her emergency sewing kit. Brittany and Santana guide Mercedes to sit at the vanity to re-do her hair and touch up her makeup. Tina lays the dresses down on the floor before looking up at Kurt, "You think you can help me with these?"
Kurt pulls out his own emergency sewing kit and winks at her. "Let's get to work."
Thanks to their high skill in last-minute clothing alterations, it doesn't take long for Kurt and Tina to finish modifying the two dresses. Tina proudly holds up the wedding dress in front of Mercedes and the pop star marvels at the sight of it. "Holy shit, I actually think you're a fashion wizard."
"Well, come on, put it on," Tina laughs in response and ushers Mercedes back behind the changing screen. "Your groom is downstairs waiting for you."
Shortly after, Tina has changed into the altered bridesmaid's dress and waits with the girls and Kurt for Mercedes to re-emerge before them in her wedding dress. They collectively gasp at the sight of her.
With tears welling in her eyes, Tina approaches Mercedes and gently places the veil on her head. "You look beautiful, 'Cedes."
Mercedes smiles gratefully at her in return and feels her own tears forming in her eyes. She takes a deep breath, running her hands along her dress. "This is really happening."
Tina nods at her in confirmation, beaming with pure joy for her best friend. "Let's get you married."
They dash back downstairs to find a familiar face entering the chapel.
"Hey, Matt!" Tina cheerfully greets him despite her confusion at his presence.
"I drove Mike here," he explains simply with a shrug, sensing her confusion. "I've been waiting in the car for a while so I'm assuming everything worked out alright?"
Tina nods and tries to bite back her wide smile. "More than alright. Thank you for driving him here, by the way. I almost made Santana drive me to him."
"You mean Speedy Gonzales?" Matt quips, pointing to Santana as she rolls her eyes at him. "Well, I'm glad I could prevent you from risking your life."
Santana opens her mouth, ready to spit her snarky retort, but is interrupted when Blaine steps outside and joins them at the front entrance. He grins at the sight of Mercedes and holds his arms out. "Are we ready?"
Mercedes nods her head enthusiastically in response. "Let's do this thing."
May 2022. New York City.
It has been two months since the New Directions alumni broke the internet with their wedding switch-around. Tina and Mike are enjoying every second of being back together but with Mike busy choreographing a Broadway show in NYC and Tina working on her projects in LA, they have been spending most of it long-distance.
However, this weekend, Tina is promoting her upcoming film in the city and has been staying at his apartment, allowing them to spend her spare time together. On Sunday morning, before she has to leave for Los Angeles again, they lay tangled in his bed together, lazily kissing each other.
"Okay, babe, I really have to start getting ready, my flight back to LA leaves in a few hours," Tina mutters in between kisses before mustering the willpower to push him slightly away.
She can't help but laugh at the way he groans into her neck and tightens his hold around her waist. He's been doing that a lot – holding her tight. Every time they have been together since their reunion, he holds her so tightly like he is afraid she'll somehow slip away from him. She doesn't think he's even aware that he does it but she notices. And while she finds it sweet, she wishes that he understood that she has no intention of ever letting him go again.
"Do you have to go back to LA?" Mike grumbles and even with his face buried in her neck, she knows that he is pouting.
Tina smiles endearingly and she pats his back as she reminds him, "My entire life is in LA, Mike."
"Your entire life could be here with me in New York," he suggests, his voice soft as a whisper. "It's what we always wanted."
For a moment, they lay there in silence, Mike breathing her in and Tina in deep thought, considering his proposition.
"Okay," she finally says.
Mike's head immediately shoots up as he lifts himself up to look her in the eyes. His eyes are wide and glimmering with excitement. "Okay?"
She bites back a laugh at his excitement and nods her head. "Yeah, okay," she responds, sweeping his hair aside and caressing his cheek. "I'll move in with you."
Mike grins widely at her before grasping the back of her neck and capturing her lips once more.
One week later, Tina finishes her press tour and they fly to Los Angeles together for the film's premiere, their first official event together as a couple. While in LA, they decide that Tina should still keep her apartment there for when she has to fly back and forth but together they pack up the things she wants to keep at their home in New York. And after a week, with some help from their friends, she is finally settled into his apartment.
Tina and Mike are ending their long day by sharing a warm, relaxing bubble bath with some wine. Tina takes a sip of her wine before gently placing the glass on the floor by the tub to join his. With a content smile, she scoots closer to Mike, further tangling her legs with his, "You know, now that I'm finally settled in, most of our nights can end like this now."
Mike leans in to give her a steamy kiss in response. He traces his tongue along her bottom lip and draws her closer to him until she is perched on his lap. He is running his hands along her wet curves and ultimately lands to squeeze her ass when his bathroom door suddenly bursts open.
"Hey, so Britt and I are in the mood for pizza tonight – is that okay with you two or did you want us to order something else for dinner?" Santana asks with her wife trailing closely behind her. She's not even bothering to look at them and acknowledge the couple's current position, her focus remaining on her phone as she chooses her pizza order, while Brittany peers over her shoulder to wave at Tina and Mike.
Mike and Tina jump slightly in surprise and they scramble to shift their bath bubbles around, trying to maintain some modesty. "Santana, we're clearly busy," Mike scolds while rolling his eyes.
Santana finally looks up at them and raises an eyebrow. "So, you don't want to order pizza?"
Tina looks back at Mike and shrugs. "Actually, babe, pizza sounds really good right now."
Mike blows out a puff of air from his cheeks. "Okay, we can have pizza for dinner."
"Great," Santana responds and places the order on her phone before she and Brittany start to walk out of the bathroom. "We'll come back when it gets here… Hopefully that should leave you two enough time to finish whatever wanky business you two were just up to?"
"Thanks, Santana," Mike retorts sarcastically as the married couple leaves with a wink and Tina bursts out into laughter when they are finally alone again. "You're laughing but this is your life now, babe."
Tina just kisses him in response. "It doesn't seem too bad."
He narrows his eyes at her in disbelief. "It doesn't?"
She shakes her head at him. "Life with you could never seem bad."
August 2022. Asian Camp.
That summer, Tina finds herself back in Asian camp upon Evelyn's request. Her and Mike's presentation last year was a huge success and their camp numbers have skyrocketed since then. So as long as they are available and willing to do appearances, they are welcomed at camp with open arms. Mike, however, is occupied with the opening of his new Broadway musical, leaving Tina to go to Asian camp alone.
Tina steps inside the infamous art cabin where she and Mike shared their first big kiss. She looks around in curiosity at the dark room. Why was it pitch black? Evelyn instructed her to meet here at this time – shouldn't she be here?
Through the darkness, she manages to find the light switch but instead of turning on the overhead lights as she expected, the room becomes lit up by multiple strings of twinkle lights that have been hung around. She looks around the room and marvels at the beautiful lighting despite her confusion. And then she sees him standing in the center of the room.
"Hi," Mike greets her with a cheeky grin on his face that Tina can't read.
"Hi," she replies with a grin to match his before slowly making her way to meet him in the center of the room. "I thought you couldn't get out here because of work?"
"I found a way out of it," he explains with a nonchalant shrug. He takes a step close forward so that they are standing right in front of each other before holding his hand out in front of her and quirking an eyebrow. "Wanna dance?"
"Always," she responds as she accepts his hand, despite her confusion, and giggles when he pulls her closer to him, eliminating all space between their bodies.
The music suddenly starts playing through the speakers in the back of the room and she's not sure who pressed play. She glances inquiringly around the room to see if there is someone else there with them but Mike just places his fingers on her chin and gently pulls her focus back to him.
She wraps her arms around his neck as they sway together to the music. He's smiling down at her and his eyes are twinkling with something that she doesn't know what. All she knows is that she feels overwhelmed with just how much she loves the man in front of her.
Dancing with Mike is always special but there is something different at this moment. It feels more special and she doesn't know why. She rests her head against his chest and closes her eyes, trying to even out her breathing.
Mike rests his cheeks on top of her head and breathes her in. He slightly worries that in their position, she can hear how fast his heart is currently racing with excitement because of what he is planning to do in the next few seconds. This is the moment he has waited so long for.
He takes a deep calming breath and clears his throat. "This is where I fell in love with you," Mike finally says and she lifts her head to look up at him. "And I don't mean 12 years ago when we first started dating… I'm talking about 20 years ago when we were just little kids."
Tina smiles fondly at the memory and continues to sway with Mike. "Me too," she manages to respond despite the sudden lump in her throat.
"And I knew since then that you are the girl that I want to marry," he reveals, stopping suddenly. She watches with wide eyes when he steps away and digs into his back pocket, pulling out a velvet box. He bends down on one knee in front of her and she gasps at the sight of the engagement ring that she knows belonged to his mother. "Tina Cohen-Chang, will you m—"
"Yes!" Tina responds excitedly as tears well up in her eyes.
Mike chuckles at her enthusiasm. "I didn't even finish—"
"Yes," she interrupts him again.
He laughs even harder before quickly asking, "Will you marry me?"
"Yes! Yes, yes, yes! A million times yes," Tina exclaims as she helps him stand up and he slips the ring on her finger before cupping her face and kissing her soundly.
The news of their engagement spreads almost instantly. Despite it being a ruse to get Tina out to Asian camp, Tina and Mike decide to still make an appearance for all the tech-savvy children right after the proposal. Honestly, it was naïve of them to not expect one of the kids to go live on Instagram, allowing the general public to catch the large rock that currently adorns Tina's ring finger.
They don't check their phones and live in ignorance until they drive back to Mike's childhood home in the evening and walk inside to find both of their parents standing in the foyer, beaming with joy. Tina barely has time to take her shoes off before Mike's mother is wrapping her arms around her, enveloping her in a warm hug. Unable to suppress her laughter, Tina returns the hug, squeezing her mother-in-law-to-be tightly.
"I'm guessing I don't need to tell you all that she said 'yes'," Mike comments with a smirk as his father proudly pats him on the back.
"Well, the news is everywhere," Brad reveals as he pulls his future son-in-law for a hug as well.
"Everywhere?" Tina echoes in surprise as Julia finally pulls away.
"Please, you think you can make an appearance with that huge thing on your finger and people wouldn't talk?" Judi scoffs.
Tina blushes sheepishly in response as Julia and Judi grab her left hand and admire her engagement ring. "I knew it would look beautiful on you! Doesn't it just look beautiful on her?" Julia fawns.
"Yes, it does, mom," Mike remarks, wrapping an arm around Tina's shoulders and pressing a kiss on her hair.
"Thank you for letting me have it," Tina says gratefully. "It really is stunning."
Julia waves her hand in dismissal. "This ring was always destined to be yours."
"Tina, we are truly overjoyed that you are officially joining our family," Mike Sr. shares.
"We must throw a party in celebration!" Julia insists, unable to contain her excitement.
"Mom, that's really not necessary," Mike tries to reason.
"Nonsense! My only son is getting married to the girl of his dreams," she retorts and her words bring bashful grins to the couple's faces as Tina sweetly leans in to rest her head on Mike's shoulder. "If that is not a cause for celebration, I don't know what it is! Now, come on, I need all of you to help me notify everyone in the community."
And notify everyone in the community they did. Because the very next day, the newly engaged couple enters the local Asian community center to find that it is fully packed.
"Woah," is all Mike can say.
"I didn't know there were even this many Asian people in Ohio," Tina marvels under her breath.
"Michael! Tina! You're finally here!" Julia exclaims as she runs up to them and grabs them both by the wrist to lead them further inside before announcing, "Everyone, the guests of honour have arrived!"
Tina and Mike awkwardly wave at everyone as they clap and cheer for them before they are swarmed by all their congratulatory well-wishes. It isn't long before Tina and Mike are separated from each other, both of them getting dragged away by enthusiastic elders who are hounding them for wedding details that they have yet to even discuss with one another.
It feels like hours of searching for the other from across the room when they finally catch each other's glances. Mike subtly tips his head towards the restroom, signalling for her to meet him there. They both politely excuse themselves from the conversations about wedding venues or floral arrangements or whatever else and sneak off toward the washroom.
Mike is quicker to get there than Tina is as the aunties are practically latched to her hand, staring at her engagement ring in admiration. But she eventually manages to get away, cautiously looking over her shoulder to ensure she isn't being followed, when a familiar pair of hands are pulling her by the waist. She turns around and finally feels like she can breathe at the sight of her fiancé's face.
They share a laugh as Tina wraps her arms around Mike's waist and rests her head against his chest. "We've been engaged for practically two seconds and I'm already exhausted," she groans.
Mike smiles and wraps his arms around her, pulling her closer to him, revelling in the feeling of her against him. "Of being engaged?"
"No. Of wedding planning," Tina elaborates. "This whole thing kind of feels like the beginning of Mulan II."
"Well, you did say that you wanted to marry Li Shang," Mike reminds her.
The memory causes Tina to laugh uproariously before sighing. "This would be so much easier if we were already married."
"Hey, babe, I would marry you right now if I could," Mike breathes before placing a soft kiss on her head.
Tina pulls away slightly and lifts her head to look up at him with a smirk and a mischievous glimmer in her eye. "Let's do it."
"What?"
"Let's get married," Tina affirms.
"I know I just said that I'd do it right now, but I can list at least five different people who will murder us when they find out we got married without them," Mike reasons.
"Okay, so maybe not right now, but what about in a couple of days? We could invite everyone over so that we don't get murdered and have a little ceremony. Just me, you and all the people that matter," Tina proposes with a wag of her eyebrows, giving him her best puppy-dog eyes. "I just don't want to spend another second not being Mrs. Chang."
Mike raises his eyebrows in pleasant surprise. "You're taking my last name?"
"Well, professionally, I'll stick with Cohen-Chang but, legally, I don't know, Tina Cohen-Chang-Chang just seems like a mouthful to me," she explains with a shrug. Then, she looks up at him through her eyelashes, biting her lip. "So, what do you say?"
It really doesn't take much to convince him. He bends down to kiss the pout off her lips before declaring, "Okay, let's do it. Let's get married."
August 22, 2022. William McKinley High School for the Performing Arts.
"Okay, what the hell is going on?" Santana asks at the sight of notable New Directions alumni as she steps out of her car with her wife at the McKinley High parking lot.
"I have no idea," Mercedes responds with a shrug. "All I know is that Sam and I both got a text from Tina that says 'Come to Lima' with a calendar invite called 'Asian Fusion'."
Santana, Brittany, Mercedes, Sam, Blaine, Kurt, Quinn, and Matt all gather in a crowd outside of McKinley's fronts doors as they chatter amongst themselves in confusion. "Okay, let's just head inside so that they can explain this whole thing," Blaine declares.
As they walk inside the halls of their old high school, they catch Mike stepping outside of the astronomy classroom, dressed in a sharp tux. "Hey, guys! I'm so glad you all could make it on short notice!"
"Yeah, we're all here," Sam retorts. "Now will you tell us what's going on?"
Mike beams at them as he adjusts his tie. "Tina and I are getting married."
"Yeah, we know. It's all over the news," Quinn notes. "Congratulations on the engagement."
"Thank you. But we're getting married," Mike repeats slowly. "Right now."
Everyone exchanges shocked looks. "What the hell are you talking about?" Santana questions, holding her hand out in front of Brittany in excitement.
"We didn't want to wait anymore," Mike explains with a shrug and bashful smile. "Now, come. Tina is in the choir room with our moms and her sister getting ready and they won't let me see her yet."
"Well, at least you're keeping some tradition," Mercedes comments as they all make their way down the hallway.
"I really don't think you're one to talk," Quinn retorts under her breath playfully and Mercedes lightly elbows her.
"You don't think you're rushing into this a little?" Kurt asks with his eyebrows furrowed earning a slap from Santana on his arm for being so negative.
Mike doesn't let the question faze him. "I have waited 20 years for this day," Mike simply responds, a dreamy hopeless romantic look in his eye. "No, I don't think we're rushing into this at all."
"I've been waiting too," Brittany exclaims, squealing excitedly and gives him a huge hug, jumping into his arms while Mike chuckles at her enthusiasm.
The girls make their way inside their former choir room to find Tina wearing a simple white dress but still looking radiant. "You all made it!"
"You two are crazy," Mercedes tells her but pulls her best friend in for a warm hug anyways.
"We've already tried to tell them that," Julia says with a roll of her eyes. "I was already planning their wedding ceremony."
"Which we will still have one day because we apparently don't want to ostracize the Asian community," Tina elaborates. "But this one is just for us… We've waited too long."
The girls rush to crowd the blushing bride, enthusiastically sharing their congratulations when Tina's father knocks on the door. "Hey, honey, whenever you're ready."
"I'm more than ready," she responds as her sister makes final adjustments to her short veil.
They all rush inside the dance studio where the fathers and Mike have set up a beautiful display of twinkling lights. But before they enter the room, Tina stops Brittany by the arm and hands her a basket of flower petals. Brittany grins at her before accepting the basket and tossing the petals on the ground as she enters the room with Tina walking closely behind her.
Mr. Schuester stands at the front of the room with Mike while everyone is separated into two lines, watching the bride make her entrance. Tina gives Mike a playful wink and he can barely stop the tears that slip from his eyes as he watches her walk down the aisle toward him.
When Tina joins Mike at the front of the room, Mr. Schue begins his speech. "Thank you all for joining us on this very special occasion – the union of Mike Chang and Tina Cohen-Chang – no relation, as they would both say. I must admit, one of the greatest pleasures in my life is having the opportunity to teach both of you and watch you grow into two incredible people. And it has been such a wonderful joy to watch these two people fall deeply in love with each other. I mean, it wasn't so much fun when I had to pull them off of each other in the middle of my classes – but nonetheless, they were a couple that I was always rooting for. So, I am deeply honoured to stand here before you today to commemorate their love. Now, I understand that you both have prepared some things that you wanted to say to each other?"
Mike nods his head and takes Tina's hands into his, squeezing them fondly and looks around the room. "I'm sure a lot of you are wondering why I was so insistent on getting married here – in my high school's dance studio – and while yes, part of it is because of how much time Tina and I would spend in here – mostly dancing, sometimes making out – but this is also where everything I have ever wanted in life became so clear to me.
"You see, back in my senior year, when my dad still didn't approve of my being a dancer and I was doing terribly in chemistry by his standards, instead of meeting my chemistry tutor, I came across this room and I danced. But then, I started envisioning my dad and he told me that my dreams were unrealistic and would only lead to heartbreak.
"Then, I started envisioning you, Tina. And you looked as beautiful as you always do, practically glowing like a ray of light that brightens up my life. And you told me how you feel connected with me when I dance and it's why you fell in love with me. It was at that moment, in this very spot, that I realized all of my dreams – dance… and you.
"Those are the only two dreams I've ever had in my life. And for a period of time, I thought that I was only allowed to have one. So, I pursued dance especially since you worked so hard to get me there and I didn't want all your efforts to go to waste. But I know now that I can have both. Everyone here knows how much I love to dance but what I love most about it is that it makes me feel more connected to you. Every step and every move I make, I feel your presence like there's some sort of tether tying us together. You are forever a part of me and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life dancing with you."
His words have brought everyone in the room to tears – the bride especially. Mike wipes away Tina's tears and she holds his hand against her face. After allowing them a few moments of silence, Mr. Schue looks at Tina and nods his head at her, signalling that it is her turn to speak.
"I was a shy kid growing up – painfully shy – to the point where it pushed everyone else away. People thought I was weird and I had a really tough time making friends. And it made me feel unwanted and just so angry with the world all the time. Except for whenever I was around you.
"You always managed to worm your way into my life with your warmth and kindness even when I was pushing you away. I never felt like the weird kid around you. When I'm with you, I'm just Tina. You always saw me for who I was and I never had to try to be anyone else. You make me feel safe. And wanted. And special. And so incredibly loved.
"With you, I have everything I could ever need. Mike, you are my best friend and you are my home. And there is nowhere in the world that I feel safer or happier than with you. I have loved you for my entire life and I only love you more and more every day."
Mr. Schue smiles fondly between the two of them before he turns to Matt, who stands directly behind the groom. "Can we have the rings, please?"
Everyone besides Mike and Tina watch with piqued curiosity when Matt unwraps two Ring Pops and hands them to the bride and groom. "We didn't have enough time to get real ones yet," Tina explains with a sheepish grin.
Mr. Schue just shakes his head in response and shrugs. "Okay, then, let's carry on… Mike, do you take Tina to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
Mike beams at Tina, pure contentment written on his face. "I do."
"Tina, do you take Mike to be your husband?"
"You bet I do," she responds, biting her bottom lip to try and contain her smile.
"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife," Mr. Schue declares before proudly patting Mike on the back, "Mike, you may kiss your bride – I promise, I won't pull you away this time."
The newlyweds chuckle and lean into each other but before their lips could meet, Mike grabs Tina by the waist and dips her. "I've wanted to do this since we rehearsed Dream a Little Dream in here," he whispers just loud enough for only her to hear before crashing his lips onto hers.