Chapter Thirteen: Closest to Heaven I'll Ever Be

Author's Note: So, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, and this chapter are my three favorites that I've written thus far. I hope you all liked the Finchel engagement. As always, I don't own Glee or any of its characters. The chapter title comes from Iris by The Goo Goo Dolls (which is one of my all time favorite songs).

"How many more days am I going to be stuck here in the hospital because, honestly, I feel fine." Rachel said after being stuck in the hospital for three days.

"Berry, you know standard procedure. You get out tomorrow. No ifs, ands, or buts about it." Sylvester said, writing something down in her chart. "Hudson, it's your job to make sure this girl doesn't end up on my operating table for a long time."

"I'll try, Dr. Sylvester, but it's Rachel. I think she's slightly danger prone."

"Finn!" Rachel said, reaching behind her to take one of the hospital pillows to hit him. "You can't tell our boss that I'm danger prone."

"Sorry, Dr. Sylvester. She just loves watching you perform surgeries on other people that she gets jealous and feels the need to have you perform surgeries on you."

Rachel rolled her eyes. "Yes, that's the real reason I had my appendix burst and that's the reason I had the car come up onto the lawn and hit me." Rachel shook her head. "Do the police have any leads about who did it?"

Finn shook his head. "But they have more concerns. That's why when we get married we should move to a small town and—"

"Finn, I can't do small town life. I'd get bored way too easily. And New York City is where all our family and friends live."

"Well, I'll let you two love birds fight about where you're going to live. Hudson, I'd like you back on my rotation tomorrow because I can't handle Puckerman without your help."

"Will do, Sylvester. I'll see what I can do."

"I guess that's the best I can ask for." Sylvester said. "Berry, I'll be back in a little bit to check on you. And before you ask, no, if everything looks fine, you are not allowed to leave the hospital."

Rachel groaned and fell back against her pillows as Sylvester left the room. "I just want to go home and see Penelope. Does our baby miss me?"

"Of course she misses you. I went by your room last night and she was scratching on your door trying to find you."

"My poor baby." Rachel said, frowning. "I wish I could go home tonight and hold her so she knows I love her. Or I wish she could come to the hospital but that isn't allowed."

Finn nodded his head in agreement and felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. "Shoot, I have to take this call. I'll be back, okay?"

"Well, it's obvious that I'm not going anywhere. Take your time, I'll keep myself entertained somehow." Rachel said, looking at her engagement ring.

Finn smiled to himself as he stepped out of the room and answered his phone. "Finn Hudson."

"Finn Hudson, this is Harrison Brooks, the head of the estate of Julia Haines. Are you free to talk right now?"

"Yes, absolutely. Is Zoey okay?"

"That's why I'm calling today, Mr. Hudson. It seems like your ex girlfriend has recently perished in a tragic house fire. And as Zoey's father, you have a claim to Zoey before anyone else. Would you like her, or shall her grandparents take her?"

Finn looked in the hospital room at Rachel. On one hand, it would be great for Finn to have custody of Zoey. He couldn't remember the last time they'd spent a lot of time together. But on the other hand, Rachel could barely take care of herself at the moment. So how would he expect her to handle a five year old?

"Mr. Hudson, are you still there?"

"Yes, I'm here. I need to give you a call back. I just have some things I need to talk over with someone. I will give you a call back as soon as possible."

"Splendid. When you have your answer, tell Leslie that she can patch you straight through to my office." There was a click and the line went dead.

Finn took a deep breath and walked back into Rachel's hospital room and took his seat by the bed.

"Is everything okay? You look incredibly serious." Rachel said.

"Well, Rach, there's something we need to talk about." Finn took a deep breath. "The person who just called was a lawyer for Julia's estate."

"Her estate? Did Julia die?"

"That's what the lawyer said. And the lawyer said that I can either have sole custody of Zoey, or she can live with her grandparents. I know Julia's parents, and if I do that, I won't ever get to see my daughter ever again."

"So get her out here. We can handle it. Plus we have five other people living with us that can help us out."

"Really? You're sure about this?"

"Yeah. Finn, I love Zoey. She is absolutely adorable."

"Okay. I'll give the lawyer a call back. It looks like we'll have a new little roommate with us in the next few days."

Rachel smiled at Finn as walked back out of the Rachel's room to call the lawyer back.

"Harrison Brooks."

"Hello, it's Finn Hudson calling you back. I've talked it over and my fiancé and I would love to have Zoey come live us."

"Fiancé? Mr. Hudson, it was the wishes of the deceased that you be married before Zoey can be in your care. When is the wedding?"

"Did I say fiancé? I meant my wife. We just got married a few nights ago and I'm trying to get used to saying she's my wife." Finn said, lying through his teeth. He just hoped the lawyer couldn't tell.

"Oh, well then, congratulations, Mr. Hudson. Someone will be in touch to set up the arrangements for Zoey's arrival in New York City."

Finn let out a quick sigh and rubbed the back of his neck. He needed to find a way to marry Rachel. And he needed to do it now.

He took a deep breath and went back in to Rachel's room.

"So, when's Zoey getting here? Because there's some things that we're going to have to do at the house before she comes."

"We have to get married. Right now." Finn said. "I may have told the lawyer that we were already married."

Rachel raised an eyebrow. "Why would you do that?"

"Because he said in order for me to have custody of Zoey, I had to be married. And it's not that much of a stretch. We are engaged, after all."

Rachel smiled and looked down at her ring. When she looked back up at Finn, she had a mischievous look on her face. "We can get married here! At the chapel. It's right down the hall from my room. You call your mom and tell her to get here as soon as possible, and I'll call my dads and we'll get married in the hospital."

"You want to get married here? In a hospital?"

"Well, it's not the ideal location, but considering the circumstances, it can work. Marriage license. We need one of those. Run to the courthouse and get one. Tell them it's an emergency. If that doesn't work, mention my dads. They donated a bunch of money to the building of the new building a few years back and they'll do anything for the Berry family."

Finn kissed Rachel. "I'm surprised you're willing to do this."

"Finn, it's for your daughter. You love her, and I want her to have a happy life. Now hurry so we can get this done."

"Right." Finn nodded and ran out of the room before peeking his head back into the room. "Have I mentioned I love you?"

Rachel smiled. "Not in a awhile. So it's nice to hear it. And I love you, too."

"I just don't understand why we can't give you a real wedding. That's all you've talked about since you were eight years old." Leroy said, waiting in one of the chairs in the hospital chapel.

"Daddy, I will get my dream wedding. But this is just to help Finn with something." Rachel looked down at the wheelchair she was in and the hospital gown she was wearing. "Plus, when I get married, I want to be in a real wedding dress and walk down the aisle."

"Why did the two of you decide to do this anyway? Hiram asked, pacing at the door to the chapel. "You just got engaged a few days ago."

"It's a long story that I promise I will tell you when the time is right."

"Why did we get paged to come to the chapel? Is there a patient that's going to die before they get their last prayer in?" Puck said. Quinn rolled her eyes and elbowed him in the side.

"Rachel, the Berry's? What is this about?" Schuester asked when he entered the chapel.

"I'm not saying anything until everyone gets here. And Finn, too." Rachel said, twisting her engagement ring on her finger.

"Okay, I got the license, and my mother is parking her car right now. Where's the guy performing the ceremony at?" Finn asked, coming through the doors.

"Ceremony?" Kurt asked.

Finn walked over and stood beside Rachel's wheelchair. "We're getting married."

"Why?" Puck asked. His eyes widened. "Oh, you guys are having a baby, aren't you?"

"Noah." Rachel hissed, eyeing her dads. "That's not the reason."

"Oh, Rachel, did you think to invite your mother?" Hiram asked.

"I did, but she said that she's in Europe for work with Amy. So I told her not to worry and she better be here for the real one." Rachel looked around at everyone who was in the chapel. "Thanks to all of you for coming. It means a lot to Finn and me."

Carole came into the chapel. "Rachel, thank goodness you're okay." She walked over to where Rachel was and gave her a hug. "When Finn called me a few days ago and told me you were hurt, I was a total mess. So now the two of you are getting married, and Zoey is coming home in a few days, and everything is working out perfectly between the two of you."

Rachel smiled. Ever since she met Carole at Thanksgiving, she had taken a liking to her. And now she was happy she was gaining her as a family member.

Finn looked down at Rachel and smiled. "Well, now that everyone is here, I think it's time to get married."

He walked over to the pastor's office and knocked on the door. "We're ready."

He stepped back and the pastor opened the door to his office. "Wonderful. Do you have the marriage license?"

"Wait, I need to sign it." Rachel said, pushing herself towards Finn. She grabbed a pen and signed it. "There. After the ceremony, my name will be Rachel Barbra Hudson." She smiled up at Finn. "Okay. We can get married now."

"Do you have rings or anything to exchange?"

"Damn it." Finn muttered. "Sorry, Rach, I don't have a ring for you."

"Yes you do." Carole said, coming forward to hand Finn two wedding bands. "These were the rings that your father and I used." She smiled at the two of them. "I figured that the two of you didn't have rings, so I brought these in case."

"Okay. Finn, take this ring and place it on Rachel's finger."

Finn took the ring and slid the ring on Rachel's finger.

"Finn Hudson, do you take Rachel Berry to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do."

Rachel smiled and reached up to wipe the tears from her eyes.

"Now, Rachel, take this ring and place it on Finn's finger."

Rachel did the same thing with the ring that Finn did to her.

"Rachel Berry, do you take Finn Hudson to be your lawfully husband?"

"I do."

Now it was Finn's turn to smile.

"Ladies and gentlemen, by the powers vested in me and the state of New York, I would like to present to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Finn Hudson. You may kiss the bride."

Finn got down on his knees so he was eye level with Rachel. "I love you, Rach."

"I love you, too, Finn." She smiled as his lips met hers and the small crowd around them started cheering and clapping.

"Now, I don't mean to be a buzz kill, but we have patients we have to check up on, and Rachel needs to get back to her room." Sylvester said.

Finn and Rachel chuckled. "Wheel me back to my room, Mr. Hudson?"

"Anything for you, Mrs. Hudson." Finn said, glaring at Puck as he started to making vomiting noises.