A/N: I'm back with a new story! This idea came to me while I saw a trailer for the movie The Vow a while ago. I haven't seen the movie but this story is based off that idea. This is set in present time Glee but the italic flashback is set around The Proposal.
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee. That belongs to Ryan Murphy and Fox.
It had happened so fast. The car screeching across the snow covered road. The impact of the car as it rolled off the ditch and flipped on its side and the high pitched screaming coming from next to Will Schuester.
The day had started off as any normal school day for Will Schuester and Rachel Berry, well as normal as anyone could call their relationship. It had been four months since Will had decided to admit to himself that he had feelings for his star pupil, Rachel Berry.
It had all started when Rachel had burst into the choir room with tear stained cheeks and red blotch marks that covered her face. Finn had just proposed to her and it felt like her future was crashing down. It's not that she didn't love Finn because she did, it was just the thought of him trapping her. Finn had no real dreams of the future and although Rachel never said it, it bothered her. She didn't know if she could be with someone who had such little self confidence in themselves that they would want to spend the rest of their life working at a tire shop. So when he proposed, it made her dreams of New York come crashing down, and while Finn waited for an answer, she just couldn't give him one.
So she ran to the choir room where she thought she could be alone but instead found Will at the piano, lightly tracing his fingers over the keys. He stopped instantly when she walked in.
"Rachel," Will said in a confused manner. "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to be alone and came here, but I guess this was the wrong place to go to," she said as she walked closer to him.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be in your way," Will said getting up off the bench.
"It's not your fault. It's your room anyways," Rachel said leaning her arms on the black surface of the piano.
"What's wrong?" Will asked.
"Nothing, it's just Finn trouble," Rachel said not making eye contact.
"Finn trouble?" Will asked confused. "What do you mean?"
"I don't know. I just can't marry him okay!" Rachel shouted.
"Woah, Rachel, calm down. What about marrying?" Will asked with shock on his face.
"Finn! He proposed to me just now," Rachel said breaking down in tears.
Will moved closer and put a hand on her shoulder.
"It's going to be okay, Rachel. Did you give him an answer?" Will asked even though he had a suspicion that she didn't give him one.
"No, I can't give him one. My answer will break his heart," she said.
"You need to tell him though because leading him on is just as bad," Will said.
"Is that what you did with Ms. Pillsbury?" Rachel asked. To say Will was surprised to hear that was an understatement. That is what he did when he decided he couldn't marry Emma but to hear a student ask him that threw him off.
"Sorry if that was too personal," Rachel asked noticing his surprise.
"No, it's alright, but that is what I did. I realized that not telling her I couldn't marry her was just as bad as not telling her anything. She needed the truth and so does Finn," Will said compassionately as he pulled her into a hug.
Rachel was surprised at the contact but wrapped her arms around his waist. She suddenly felt calmer, and relaxed. She felt protected. She pushed the thoughts out of her head though remembering why she was here in his arms in the first place.
"Thanks, Mr. Schuester. I think I'm going to go talk to Finn now," Rachel said as she walked away.
"I'm really sorry about you and Ms. Pillsbury," Rachel added as she poked her head back into the door.
"Thanks Rachel, you know where to find me if you need me," Will said as Rachel nodded and walked away.
The next couple of days had been a struggle for Rachel but she finally had the courage to talk to Finn face to face. She decided that it would be better for the both of them to do it quick and easy so that is what she did. The look on Finn's face said it all but for some reason she didn't feel sad or hurt, she actually felt relieved and calm.
Deciding that she needed to thank someone for the support and courage, she once again went to the choir room. This time though, Ms. Pillsbury was in the room and a screaming match was happening.
"I'm sorry Emma, but your parents really opened my eyes and I just can't be with you anymore," Will said.
"My parents? You would rather support them when I'm the one you love?" Emma asked with tears streaming down her face.
"It's not that I don't love you Emma, it's just I don't know if we would be happy together. I want a family someday but I don't think you do," Will said honestly regretting that last part though.
"Fine, then I'm leaving you and just don't talk to me, Will," Emma said as she stormed by Rachel not even noticing her.
Will slammed his fist down on the piano making sheet music fall everywhere. Rachel bent down and picked one up, handing it to him.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Schuester," Rachel said moving next to him.
"Thank you, Rachel, but this isn't your problem. I'm sorry you had to see that," Will said.
"Is there anything I can do for you?" Rachel asked.
"I don't think so. I think I screwed this one up to the point of no return," Will said looking into her eyes.
"How did it go with Finn?" Will asked breaking the silence in the room.
"That's why I came here actually. I wanted to thank you for the other day because it gave me the strength to end it. I feel so much better," Rachel explained.
"Well I'm glad one of us is happy," Will said as he nudged Rachel's shoulder.
"Mr. Schuester, you don't need Emma to make you happy," Rachel said dropping the formal title of her guidance counselor. Will looked at her not sure if he should stop or continue this conversation with her but he was feeling better about the situation so he continued.
"I don't?" he asked.
"No, you have plenty of options," Rachel said.
"What if I told you my only option was you?" Will asked even shocking himself with that question. He was looking directly into Rachel's chocolate brown eyes while she stood there nervously unable to say anything.
"Me?" she finally asked.
"Yes, Rachel. I think I have had feelings for you for the longest time. I just never showed them because well you're my student and I loved Emma, but it's over with Emma," Will said.
"But I'm still your student," Rachel reminded him.
"I know but this past week has made it feel like we are more than that. I felt a connection when you came in here a couple days ago and I think with my drama with Emma it made my feelings resurface," Will said.
"I don't know what to say," Rachel honestly said because she truly didn't know what to say. This was happening so fast.
"You don't have to say anything, just let me kiss you," Will said as he moved closer to her. He stopped when he was just inches away from her lips, looking at Rachel to make sure this was okay. When she gave a slight nod of the head, Will closed the gap between them, kissing her with all the passion he had.
From that moment on, Will and Rachel were inseparable. They spent all their free time together including before and after glee practice. Glee practice was where they saw each other the most and Will would always drive her home after practice.
This particular afternoon though was different. A light snow had begun to fall over Lima, which was odd for April, but it fell at a steady pace covering the streets and buildings.
Will thought nothing of it as he and Rachel quickly made their way to his car. They sighed when they climbed in as the heater was turned up to full blast.
"Great job at practice today, Rach," Will said looking over at her fastening her seat belt. "Nationals is going to be no challenge," he added.
"Thank you. I'm glad you decided to give me that solo. I told you anything from Wicked was mine," Rachel laughed.
"I know. I should have remembered when you fought me for giving the Defying Gravity solo to Kurt that one time," Will said pulling out of the school lot as Rachel laughed remembering how angry she was with him that day.
"Do you have to be home right now?" Will asked.
"No, my dad's went out for dinner," Rachel said.
"Great, how about we go back to my place for some coffee?" he asked.
"Sounds perfect," Rachel said as she turned up the dial on the radio. Her favorite song came on and she just had to belt out the lyrics. Will tried to keep his eyes on the road in front of him but he couldn't. Rachel's voice filled his car and warmed his heart. He looked over to her with admiration in his eyes. He was getting lost in her song. So lost that he flew through a stop sign.
A car honk from the distance woke Will up as he swerved the car back into the right lane. However he over corrected and went down into a ditch. The car bounced and jolted back and forth as he tried to make it stop but that only made it worse. He heard Rachel screaming in fear. He wanted to reach out to her and tell her everything would be okay but if he couldn't stop the car he didn't know if it would be. He felt the car start to tip on its side as they went over another large bump in the ditch.
It finally tilted all the way over and Will feared for Rachel's life since it was on her side. When the car fully stopped, Will panicked because of not hearing Rachel's voice.
He was bleeding as he felt warm liquid trickle down his face, but he couldn't think about him, he had to help Rachel.
Although his side of the door was slightly bent, he managed to get it open. After he opened the door, he looked over to Rachel's unconscious form.
"Rachel, please wake up," Will pleaded as he tried to get the seat belt undone. It was wrapped tight around her waist but he managed. He grabbed her by the arms, careful not to cause anymore injury, and maneuvered them to his side of the car.
He got them both out the door and onto the ground and carried them a few feet away from his car. He looked at Rachel carefully, noticing cuts and bruises and a slight trail of blood coming from her forehead. She was stirring lightly and a small smile appeared on his face.
"What happened?" Rachel groggily asked.
"We got in an accident. It's going to be okay, though Rachel," Will said as calmly as possible.
"My head hurts," Rachel said quietly before drifting off to an unconscious state.
"Rachel, Rachel honey, please try and stay awake," Will pleaded but it was no use.
He searched for his phone but of course lost it when the car went off the road. He needed help so Will decided to scream at the top of his lungs till he made a car stop.
"Please, help us!" Will shouted at a man who had thankfully pulled over.
"It's okay sir, I already called 911. Just stay with me," the man said while looking at Rachel.
"Can you tell me what day it is?" the man asked trying to get Will to focus on something else as the man tried C.P.R on Rachel.
"What? I don't know, Friday?" Will asked, confused why this man wanted to know the day of the week rather than help them.
"What's your name?" was the next question.
"Will Schuester," Will said.
"Look the ambulance is here," the man said pointing at the flashing vehicle coming towards them. It wasn't long till the paramedics loaded both Will and Rachel onto the stretcher and speeded off towards the hospital.
"Rachel," Will called out with tears streaming down his face. "Please don't leave me," he said as he grabbed the hand next to his and held on for life.
A/N: So let me know what you all think by leaving me a review. I would really like to know what you thought of this first chapter. Bye for now!