"Daddy, I know it's a shock, but it's what I want. It's what we want. You like Noah, don't you?"
Hiram sighed from Lima, Ohio. "Honey, you know I love Noah like he's my own son. That's not the point though. You're married now! Are you sure you're ready for such a commitment? Both of you?"
From the background, Leroy chided his husband. "Hiram, don't you remember what young love was like?" Rachel heard the phone line crinkle then Leroy started talking to his far-away daughter.
"We're both very happy for you Rachel. I know you're ready. Your father does too, he's just nervous. You know how he gets."
"I do not get nervous!" Hiram said.
Rachel smiled and curled her legs up underneath her. The quilt she had tossed over her lap kept the cool evening chill out. "I know. If I had planned it, you know you would be here, don't you? I didn't do it to hurt you."
"Oh honey, we know! But I do expect to have a proper ceremony sometime soon."
"Don't worry, I've already told Noah's mother she can bring out the bridal books," Rachel chuckled.
"You told her before us?" She could hear his father's pout.
"Noah called her before I could get the phone! Well, actually she called us, Noah just blurted it out. Jake and Marley were over, and after making a proper breakfast and getting Jake to stop fainting, she called. But I know you three will find something I like."
"Classic Hollywood with a 1950s flare?"
She smiled. "You know me so well, Dad."
He chuckled. "I ought to. Alright, I'll give her a call and we'll get the synagogue ready. I'm sure we can get a date in September. Maybe August, if we donate a little extra the next time we head to service."
"Dad!" Rachel scolded.
"I'd best go, your father looks like he's going to scold me."
"Love you," she said as she twirled the phone cord around her finger.
"Love you too, Star."
Rachel hung up then leaned back against the headboard. She wondered how Noah was doing on his end. She made him call Mr. Schue and she was sure the glee director would want to perform at their wedding. Her room's lighting was dim, and it made it easier to sink deeper against the mattress. Her posters, ones of Barbra and so many other inspiring women, stared back at her with wide grins.
I did it, she thought. I'm Mrs. Puckerman. Rachel covered her face with a pillow as she tried to hold back her giggles. She had been like this all day. Well, since they got Jake back to normal. Although his surprise was evident, he seemed happy enough to have a half-sister in-law.
"You did good, Puck," he said while clapping Noah on the back.
The thin, white curtains billowed in the tiny breeze that sneaked past the cracks in the window. She had changed out of her wedding dress and her hair was pulled back in a braid, but she still had that bridal glow, or at least that's what Marley said. Despite having only met her a handful of times, Rachel really liked the girl. She asked all sorts of questions and giggled right along with Rachel. Perhaps someday Rachel would have a sister in-law of her own.
With eyes half-closed, she heard Noah say goodbye then hand up the cordless kitchen phone. She stared at the makeshift door and watched her husband pull back the curtain. Her face hurt so much from all the smiling, but she couldn't help it. Noah looked down bashfully at his feet then back at her, grinning like he used to when he was a little boy.
She remembered the days of their childhood. Play dates, adventures in the park, running around the synagogue after service, kindergarten . . . Rachel bit her lip as she smiled. Those were the days when she was sure Noah was her knight and he was never going to leave her, ever. By God, how time changed things.
She wanted to say she was angry with Noah for changing, but if she was honest, she had changed too. As they got older, into grades seven and eight, Rachel focused more on her singing and dancing while Noah became obsessed with football and Santana's lips. The young woman remembered the first time he slushied her. She could still taste the grape on her tongue. Back then, she hated him. She hated that she lost her best friend. As she watched him come closer, she realized she finally had him back, all to herself. No matter what, he was hers and she was his. Finally.
Noah walked over to the bed and settled in behind her, his arm coming over the quilt and resting on her waist. He was a firm man, sturdy; time made him hard, but he was warm underneath it all, full of life. She tilted her head up and kissed him, feeling his heat pass through his lips and settle in her core. He was her fire.
When they parted, he rested his head just above hers, his lips tickling her skull every time he spoke.
"Schue wants to sing at our wedding."
Rachel chuckled. "I knew it. What did you say?"
"I said I would consult with my wife, but I told him it was a yes for now, unless I called back later." Noah's chest, free of dress shirt and tie, pressed against her back. She felt his muscles twitch, his chest tighten as he took a deep breath. "I almost regret seeing yes. It seems like every time Glee sings at a wedding, something goes wrong."
She laughed. "You're such a pessimist, Noah! What about Burt and Carol's wedding? Nothing went wrong there."
"Besides Finn and Santana, you mean."
Rachel rolled her eyes. "That's in the past, Noah. Besides, we're already married. Their singing can't undo that."
"True. Speaking of Finn . . . are you comfortable inviting him to the ceremony?"
Rachel thought of her ex-fiancé. It had been a while since she last saw him, and they didn't part on horrid terms, not really. He called her once afterwards and thanked her for stopping by. He had invited her back with Noah, to go on a double date with him and his new girlfriend. Noah had been busy with work, as had Rachel, so they declined, but she still wondered what would have happened if they had gone back.
"I can't see it being a problem. He can bring his girlfriend." She rolled onto her back and stared up at Noah, running one of her hands against his stubble. "What do you think? I want you to be okay with it too." She knew it was different for Noah. He hadn't just been her friend. For years they were brothers, and that ended, but it still pained the young man. She never asked what he dreamt about when he woke up from a nightmare because she was sure it was Finn's face haunting Noah. She remembered when he showed up on her doorstep, suitcase and guitar in hand.
"You lookin' for a roommate?"
Santana was so angry with her for taking him into her life without a second thought. She claimed Rachel was making the mistake she had with all the other men. Rachel didn't bother explaining it to her, or Kurt. Well, Kurt already got it. It wasn't until Noah brought Santana a meat lover's pizza every Friday that the woman started to warm up to the idea of the relationship.
At the thought, she smiled and leaned her forehead against his chest. Noah wrapped his arms tighter around her waist.
"I miss him, a lot. Like, I don't regret leaving Lima that time, he knew it was going to happen. He knew what I had to do. But it still hurts. I think he should come. I want him to."
Rachel tilted her head back then kissed his chin. "We'll send an invite, then. Leave it up to him. Okay?"
Noah smiled as he gave a nod. They curled up in bed together, listening to the air enter and exit their significant other. Rachel tried to remember when Santana and Quinn were coming home. Jake promised to keep it a secret from the others, at least until Santana came back. The girls would never forgive her if she told them after anyone else.
Rachel was almost asleep when she heard the loft door slam shut. Quinn's laugh echoed in the common area. Rachel heard heels tossed on the floor and Santana swear in Spanish.
"I need to find new shoes. These things are killing me!"
Quinn chuckled. "Maybe if they didn't have seven inch heels-"
"Oh hush. Hey, where's dinner?"
"You realize it's like, nine, right? And we already ate!"
"Haven't you heard of two suppers?"
"Is this a Lord of the Rings reference?"
"Rachel! Where are you? Are you and Noah still doing the dirty in a motel?"
"S!"
"What? You know that's what took them so long to get home."
Noah groaned against Rachel's neck. "Do we have to tell them?" he whispered.
"Yes," she chuckled. "If it makes you feel better, I'll do the talking. You just have to stand there and smile. Think you can do that?"
"Fine," he huffed. "But only because you're my wife."
Rachel just smiled as she slid from the bed and grabbed a robe from the floor. Her pink, striped pajama pants pooled at her feet and she wondered if she should change. After getting out of her wedding dress, she and Noah had been incredibly lazy, wearing comfortable clothes and watching a few movies before dinner.
Santana turned on her heel and stared at the actress. Dressed in a short, emerald green dress, she looked ready to kill. "There you are! I told you, Q."
Quinn rolled her smoky eyes. She wore a short, black dress with gold slashes on the sleeves. Rachel guessed they had gone to the bar after Santana's shift. "You guys look comfy. What have you been up to?"
Rachel looked up at Noah who had appeared by her side, arm wrapped around her waist. Santana raised an eyebrow. "What's going on?"
"San, Noah and I-"
"Oh my Lanta, you're not pregnant again, are you?"
Noah's eyes widened. "Again?"
Rachel blushed. "I was never pregnant! It was a scare! Don't you remember I told you that? I-" she sighed, "never mind. Noah and I got married last night, that's what I wanted to tell you." She crossed her arms, staring at her favourite lamp in the living room.
Neither of the girls said a thing. Then Quinn rushed over, her black heels clacking against the floor, and embraced Rachel. The brunette stepped back, not expecting such force behind a hug. "Quinn?" she whispered.
Quinn pulled back after a minute with tears in her eyes. "Congratulations," she said as a giggle escaped her lips.
Santana walked up to Noah and glared at him. "I swear to every deity out there, if you hurt her, if you run around on her with some trashy chick, I will cut your penis off and feed it to my dad's pit bull. Are we clear?"
Noah, eyes wide, nodded. Rachel rolled her eyes and hugged the Latina. Santana sighed and squeezed the petite girl hard. "Good luck explaining this to Hummel, Berry."
"It's Puckerman now," Rachel reminded. "Rachel Barbra Puckerman," she said with a blush.
Santana rolled her eyes. "Whatever. You're still going to need a cement wall between you and Hummel when he gets back. He'll be so pissed he missed it."
"We're going to have a ceremony and reception in Lima. My dads and Noah's mother are already working on organizing it." She took Quinn and Santana's hands. "I want both of you to be my bridesmaids. Tina too, if she's feeling up to it. And Brittany. Hopefully our wedding days don't collide!"
Noah chuckled. "I'm pretty sure it won't. Sam said they're taking their time. Enjoying being engaged, or some shit."
"We need to celebrate," Quinn interrupted. She glanced at Santana. "And we'll have to plan your bachelorette party."
"Jake and Marley offered to make some appetizers and put on some music, once we told you guys. I'm pretty sure we could go up now," said Rachel.
"Marley's back?" Santana grinned. "I missed the kid. Is she staying?"
"You'll have to ask her. Noah, honey, could you call your brother while I put on suitable clothing?"
"Babe, you look fine!" She stared at him and, after a few seconds, he sighed and went to the phone. As she went into her room, she heard Santana mimic the sound of a whip cracking and Quinn telling her to stop it.
Rachel pulled out her phone and pulled up Kurt's contact. As she searched for her white turtleneck, she typed out a message.
Kurt! I miss you 3 I have exciting news! Noah and I got MARRIED. We're going to hold a ceremony and reception later. When you get home, I want you to be my man of honour! Text me later!
She tossed the sweater on, slipped on a pair of black tights, and gave her hair a flip. Her gold band stared up at her.
"Rach, you coming?" her husband called.
"Coming!"
