This is the last chapter that was in the original. I added on to the end. Starting the next chapter will be all my orginal works. Enjoy

Honor the Tether! Remember the Drummer!

Chapter 7

Kurt had just left and Rachel was sitting on her bed, waiting for Finn to arrive. Her door opened and in walked Marnie, holding a dress bag.

"Marnie, I am already dressed for the reception. Why are you bringing me another dress?"

"This isn't for the reception," Marnie replied, starting to open the bag she was carrying.

"Then what…"

Rachel stopped speaking when she recognized the bag in her cousin's hand. It had been one she and Marnie had seen in their grandmother's closet growing up. One they had both opened and admired the contents for years.

"Why are you bringing that to me?"

Rachel's voice was full of emotion, almost to the point of trembling as she watched her cousin pull out a tea length strapless wedding dress. It had a sweetheart neckline and had tiny pearls embroidered on the bodice and skirt.

"Mom didn't wear this because it wouldn't fit her and I decided to buy mine instead of using this because something didn't feel right about me wearing it, " she turned to face Rachel, tears filling her eyes. "Somehow I have always known that this dress was meant for you, Rae, not me."

"Marnie…."

"Let's hang it up in your closet and then sometime this week, we can take it over to the Hummel's and you can try it on for me and Kurt. He has agreed to help me with my wedding while I am back at school so everything for my wedding is in his basement."

"Marnie, there is too many chances that Finn will see the dress if it is over there."

"Rae, he has a girlfriend and until Finn breaks up with her, getting your hopes up when it comes to Finn Hudson is only going to cause you more pain then you have already been through because of him," Marnie said softly, her heart breaking for her cousin.

Rachel doesn't say a word to Marnie about why Finn is really with Quinn because it isn't her secret to tell. Despite how much the former Cheerio has hurt others and taken great pleasure in doing it, Rachel doesn't want anything bad to happen to Quinn Fabray.

Marnie finished putting the bag into the closet and then walked over to sit down on Rachel's bed, glancing at her watch impatiently.

"I swear if Jesse is keeping me waiting because of the fact he is fixing his hair, I am going to tell him off!"

Rachel giggled at the thought of her no nonsense, feisty and sensible cousin being involved with a male diva like Jesse.

"I never understood how the two of you got together. He is only a freshman and you are a senior. How did that happen? Why are your parents letting you two get married without freaking out?"

"Mom and dad aren't happy that I am planning on getting married before I graduate from college but I am over eighteen and supporting myself with the money Grandma left me in her will. Jesse's parents let him do what he pleases and his uncle is in charge of the family and he likes me. He thinks I help Jesse control some of his more vain tendencies. I love him and we want to get married. Are you okay with that, Rachel? I know you had feelings for him."

"I am fine with it. Jesse and I are too ambitious to ever work as a couple and I used him to stop thinking about Finn. Although I hope you got him back for him egging me."

Marnie grinned at Rachel before smirking mischievously at her cousin. The latter of which knew that her cousin had indeed done something to Jesse and couldn't wait to hear this.

"Yes, I did. My roommate's boyfriend assists with both the football and basketball teams and one night, Jesse found himself hanging by his underwear on one of the goalposts in the football stadium. He knew that I was responsible but was so eager to get me to go out with him at that point, that he figured that he deserved it."

"Isn't that a bit hypocritical on their parts because I have heard that members of sports teams have a tendency to haze each other?"

"It is but according to my roommate, the ones that helped do that to him all believe stuff like that shouldn't be done to a female and that Jesse deserved to have his ass stomped into the middle of next week."

Before Rachel could respond, there is a knock on the door and James opened the door, wearing his uniform; the sight of which left Rachel and Marnie speechless and in tears. They could both see why their grandmother had fallen in love at first sight.

"Finn is downstairs waiting for you, Rachel."

"Thank you, Grandpa," Rachel said as she stood up from where she had been sitting on her bed. She grabbed her dress coat and purse and stopped to kiss her grandpa on the cheek before leaving the room.

"That boy called, Marnie. He will be here in five minutes."

Panic came over Marnie's face as she rushed to the bedroom door to go downstairs. James gently grabbed her arm and stopped his oldest granddaughter from leaving.

"Marnie, what are you up to," James inquired, sternly.

"Finn and Rachel need to leave because I don't want him to see Jesse yet."

"Why?"

"Finn knows that I am engaged but doesn't know that it is Jesse. I want him to be jealous at the sight of him being at the party tonight so he can get his head out of his ass and dump the prom queen wannabe."

James smiled because he already knew that Finn had broken up with Quinn that night but he also knew that Rachel wasn't ready to date Finn again. They both needed to heal a bit from the damage that they had done to each other because of the events that had caused their breakup.

James followed his granddaughter out of the room and both he and Marnie stopped short at the sight of Finn and Rachel standing close together and they were just about to share a kiss.

Marnie cleared her throat stealing the moment from Finn and Rachel. As much as she loved her cousin she was somewhat disappointed at the interruption but also relieved. When they were alone at school she chastised Finn for trying to kiss her and here she was leaning in to kiss her ex-boyfriend.

Without taking his eyes from Rachel Finn spoke "General, Marnie good to see you again." He then looked away from Rachel at Marnie "Where's this fiancé I've heard so much about except his name."

Marnie giggled looking at Rachel "He is going to be a bit late so you guys should get going and we will see you there. I Love You Granddad and you look extremely handsome."

"Thank you sweetie. Finn, Rachel, Leroy and Hiram are in the car waiting on us shall we" the general opened the door shooting a weary look at his eldest granddaughter. Rachel did the same as Finn placed his open palm on the small of her back leading her from the house.

About 10 minutes after her granddad, uncles, cousins and Finn left the doorbell rang. Marnie opened it to see her overly coiffed fiancé with a smile on his face. "Hello, my love" Jesse said.

"I knew you'd be late and it would be because of your hair." Marnie stated kissing him on the lips. "Come in, I have a favor to ask before we go to the banquet."

"Anything for you Mar, you know that." Jesse responded.

"Well, before you say that hear me out"

"Okay"

"When we get there I want you to go straight to Rachel and ask her to dance." Marnie smiled her Berry smile hoping he'd do what she wanted.

"Why? Marnie what are you up to? Who is Rachel's date?" Jesse spit rapid fire questions at his love and when he saw the look in her eyes he said "No, no freaking way. I am not doing it. Finn Hudson is bigger than me and he looks like he can kick my ass. Why are you asking me to do this?"

"J listen. Finn and Rachel broke up…she put her hand up to stop him from talking…, the reason is not important for tonight. Now Finn is back with the blonde bitch who used him last year, trying to convince him that Puckerman's baby was his. No one understands it and Granddad and Rachel say there is something more to it but won't elaborate. I just want him to see that he might have a little competition. If he goes for your throat, I'll step in and make sure he won't do any damage. He respects Granddad too much to really do anything that will cause embarrassment."

Jesse looked at her like she was speaking Hebrew. "Has Rachel ever told you about when she told him about the baby? He loves Mr. Shue like his dad, but that didn't stop him from rearranging Puckerman's face. I love you Marnie, I do but I don't know."

Marnie knew she'd have to go for the big guns. "J" She said seductively. "I'll do that thing with my tongue you love and let you do that thing you've been wanting to do."

"Ugh! Mar, that's not fair." He looked at her, looking at him and felt himself giving in. "Okay, but you stay close and have the General on alert."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you. You are doing a great service really. No one should be subjected to the stubbornness that is Rachel Berry and Finn Hudson. We have to help them by basically throwing them off the roof before they get their shit together."

Jesse and Marnie kissed then she pulled away grabbing her clutch and keys heading out the door. She smiled to herself almost giddy at her plan. Finn Hudson is going to learn just how much her beautiful cousin is wanted.

Just as Judy was gathering her things to head out to the Medal of Honor dinner, when her daughter came bounding down the stairs. "Mom, I want to accompany you." Quinn was dressed in a sleek yellow dress that fell to the floor. Her hair was pulled back into a low bun.

"I don't know Quinn. This is for General James Berry, to receive a Medal of Honor for Desert Storm and saving Christopher Hudson on a mission before he died. I know that you and Finn are seeing each other but we both know his mother does not like you or has forgiven you for last year. And it is Rachel Berry's grandfather."

"Finn broke up with me. We were just using each other as shields. Rachel wouldn't give him space and Puck and Sam were giving me a hard time. Apparently Finn doesn't want space anymore so we broke up."

Judy regarded her daughter. She knew Quinn, but since the birth of her daughter she's been doing some strange and not okay things. "Quinn, what the hell were you thinking? Both of you? Do you know how much you have hurt that girl? Or do you not care? I know you've been having a hard time but Quinn. No I don't think it's a good idea for you to come to the dinner. Goodnight Quinn don't wait up."

Quinn stomped her foot as her mother dismissed her walking out the door. "Mother!" She shouted but Judy didn't turn back.

Quinn slammed the door and went in search of her phone. Finding it on her vanity, she dialed and waited for an answer. "Hello. How would you like to accompany me to the Medal of Honor dinner? I know but, I really need you. Please Uncle Nate."

"Ok Quinine, I'll be there within the hour." Nate hung up and smirked. This was the opening he needed. He'd be close to the General's family, but he'd stay just out of sight of James and Carole. And if the moment presented itself, he could put his plan into motion a bit premature. He was ready. He started to get excited at the thought of exacting his revenge earlier than planned.

He finished putting his dress uniform on and head out to pick up his niece. James Berry may be getting more than an award tonight.