A Tempo

Epilogue

Finn gulped nervously and straightened his tie. He didn't think that he had ever been so nervous in his life. He cast a quick glance at Jer, who just smiled confidently, and wondered how he could be so calm at a time like this.

Seriously, what if she changed her mind? What if the music started, everyone turned to look at her, and it turned out that she had run off. He'd be a laughingstock. He could only close his eyes and pray that everything would go as planned, that they could make it to the reception without a hitch, and he could just relax because then it would be all over.

He opened his eyes and met his mom's knowing gaze. She gave him a sympathetic smile from her seat between Michael and Burt. Michael looked at him as if he knew how nervous Finn was and he could see the little turkey bite back a smile. If he found out that either Michael or Andrew had coached her any differently, he was going to wring their necks!

The music started, causing him to jump slightly. Jer just placed a hand on his shoulder before turning back to the bridesmaids walking down the aisle. There was a pause as they took their spots opposite of the groomsmen, and then, from around the corner, she appeared.

She was more beautiful than he had imagined in her white dress, a blue sash at her waist, her head held high, and her carefully coiffed brunette curls bouncing around her face. She took her first careful steps and then smiled widely. Slowly, as if building the suspense, she reached into her basket and dramatically flung a handful flower petals before her.

Like her mother, his little Elaine Paige – Lainey to him and her brothers – knew how to put on a show. And she didn't disappoint. She tilted her little hands gracefully, causing the flowers to fall just so, and took her time up the aisle, making sure she had everyone's attention. Judging by the ooh's and ah's, she obviously did.

She had been born a little dancer; he swore she'd bounced around in Rachel's belly to the time of the show tunes Rachel listened to, and the first thing Finn noticed about her in the delivery room (other than her head full of dark hair) were those legs, long even for a newborn. Now she moved with a little spring in her step, toes pointed, back straight. Maybe it was just his fatherly pride getting the best of him, but he thought she was absolutely magnificent.

She made her way up to where he was standing next to Jer, who was chuckling in amusement at his soon-to-be niece before stopping suddenly, her smile drooping. Lainey looked from him to Rachel, who stood with the Kurt's other bridesmaids (or groomsmaids?), and her lip began to tremble precariously. He threw his wife a worried glance, but Rachel only bit her lip and shrugged. Some help she was!

So, before his daughter could throw a diva fit right there in the middle of Kurt's wedding ceremony, he kneeled down and stretched his arms out to her. "Come here, sweetie," he said. Immediately, her smile returned and she tossed the flower basket up over her head before hurrying into his arms.

"Hi, Daddy," she said in her soft voice, and planted a kiss on his cheek just as Kurt made his way up the aisle.

"See, this is why she almost didn't make the cut," he said snidely, taking Jer's arm.

"Baby," Jer laughed, "just shut up and marry me already."

The rest of the wedding went off without a hiccup.

Finn stood off to the side of the dance floor and watched the couples swaying to the music, his three-year-old now passed out in his arms after coming down from a wicked sugar rush. Rachel had warned him not to give her so much cake, and as usual, she had been right. Not that he would admit it.

Sugar-induced comas aside, Finn was a pretty top-notch dad, if he said so himself. Apparently his natural leadership skills came in handy when dealing with his sons and his overly dramatic daughter. And his overly dramatic wife for that matter. It was tough at first, going from bachelor straight to husband and father, but it was a dynamic he quickly became used to.

He smiled at Rachel, who was standing across the dance floor, talking to the producer of her show. When she first came back to New York, she was adamant about not becoming just another housewife again. Working with the New Directions performers individually gave her the idea to become a vocal coach – something she could do part-time and manage as she saw fit. And she didn't just work with students; she even got quite a few aspiring Broadway actors and actresses seeking her tutelage.

After a couple of years of balancing coaching and motherhood, she tentatively approached him about a producer Kurt had introduced her to. He was working on a new Off Broadway production that she thought had a lot of potential and was interested in trying out for the lead role. He had given her his whole-hearted blessing. Just like everything else, he knew it would be a struggle, but if anyone could do it, it would be him and Rachel. They were a team and always would be.

Of course she got the part. The show hadn't started its run yet, but there was a lot of buzz and he couldn't be more proud of her.

"How's Lainey doing?" his mom asked, coming up to his side.

He shimmied his shoulders, letting her limbs sway limply around him. "Out like a light."

Carole laughed and held out her hands. "Here, let me take her."

"Are you sure? She's getting pretty heavy."

"Need I remind you that I lugged you around for a good five years? And you were twice her size. Now hand over my granddaughter before I'm forced to do something drastic." He grinned, and handed Lainey down into Carole's waiting arms. "Go ask your wife to dance," she ordered as she walked back to the wedding party's table.

He paused and threw a glance back at Jer and Kurt, who were slow dancing with their foreheads together, and their four-month old daughter, Vivien, between them. It had taken Kurt just as long to plan a wedding as it had for them to find a surrogate mother and conceive a baby, but Finn had to admit the wedding was pretty swanky. He had never thought you could get married at a lighthouse before.

Shrugging off his musings, he walked around the dance floor, making his way to Rachel. He stopped abruptly as Andrew ran by, chasing Mercedes' little boy, cutting off several couples in the process. "Andrew," he called out in warning.

"Don't worry, Dad," Michael said, coming up behind his brother. "I've got him."

Finn nodded and clapped him on the shoulder as he followed after Andrew. Michael was growing up quickly; already he stood up to Rachel's shoulders, but the kid was all knobby knees and elbows. Andrew, on the other hand, showed no sign of hitting a growth spurt anytime soon. He was only six though, so he had plenty of time to catch up.

"Are they misbehaving?" Rachel asked. She walked up beside him and took his hand, watching as the boys hurried off in the opposite direction.

"Nah, just causing their usual mayhem. Mike's got it under control though."

"Why does that worry me?"

"Because he talked his brother into cramming himself into the dryer last week?" He smirked when she looked up at him and wrinkled her nose. "Fortunately for us, there aren't any household appliances around here that are large enough for them to fit themselves into. I know, because I checked."

She laughed that laugh he loved so much and he pulled her to his side. "Are you ever going to ask me to dance?" she asked.

"Maybe. Do you want to keep those toes?"

"Nonsense!" she insisted. "You shuffle around adequately enough for one quick slow dance. So how about it, Hudson? Are you up for some of this?" She took a few steps back and placed her hands on her hips, smiling saucily at him.

"Oh yeah," he said, letting her lead him onto the dance floor.

She fell easily into his arms as they found the rhythm. He caught Jer's eye and his friend winked at him proudly before turning back to his new husband and daughter. He chuckled softly as he planted a kiss on the top of Rachel's head.

"It was a gorgeous wedding," she commented. "I wish I had thought of renting out a lighthouse."

"It is pretty awesome, huh?"

"Mhmm. I'll have to keep this one in mind for my next wedding," she teased.

"Hey! Ours wasn't too shabby. A penthouse wedding on New Years, dancing by fireworks –"

"Aside from the pregnant bride and a dog that ate half the cake, it was wonderful."

"He only ate one tier, and I don't blame him. That was a good cake. And the groom was pretty smooth, if I do say so myself!"

Rachel giggled and snuggled more closely to him as a cool breeze blew off the water. "Oh yes, what was it? 'I'm not much of a dancer, but if my wife will indulge me in a first song…'"

"There wasn't in a dry eye in the house," he exclaimed, puffing his chest out with pride. "Plus, I came up with that idea all on my own."

"I always said you were smart, if not a little cheesebucket."

He laughed and crooked a finger under her chin, running his thumb over her bottom lip. "I love you, you know?"

She nodded. "I love you," she reciprocated, standing up on her tiptoes as he lowered his face down to hers.

"Get a room!" Puck called as he danced by with his date. They pulled away from each other, oblivious to their less-than-subtle friend, and continued to look smilingly into each other's eyes.

Finn didn't know what he had done in his life to be such a lucky guy, and he didn't want to jinx it by dwelling on it too much. Lord knew he didn't deserve half of what he got, but he wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth.

He still marveled at how Rachel and he were able to find each other again after so long, and then rebuild a life together. Sure, they had both taken massive detours in their lives, but somehow they were right back where they were supposed to be. One time, shortly after they were married, Rachel had used a really sophisticated word for it – something about music changing and then going back to how it was at the beginning – but he'd long since forgotten what the exact term was.

Regardless, Finn knew exactly what she meant.

Author's Note: And so ends A Tempo! I can't tell you all how much fun I had writing it, even if it was difficult at times. I want to take this quick moment to thank every single person who read, reviewed, and followed this story throughout; I truly appreciate all the love you've sent my way!

If you don't already, please follow me on Twitter at clearobscurity. There you'll find info on any future fics I may do, including A Tempo One-Shots, Glee talk, and general nonsense.

Once again, I thank you all for reading from the bottom of my heart!

Disclaimer: Glee is the property of Ryan Murphy and FOX. I'm just manipulating it for my own nefarious (and strictly nonprofit) purposes.