Author's Note: Okay, so this is a (very long!) one-shot from the TV series Glee. If you've watched it, great for you. If you haven't- and yes, I'm talking to you Twin- GO WATCH IT! No, if you don't want to, you don't have to.

Also, for those of you who are reading my other story, "The War of the Elves", I am so sorry that it's taking me so long. First my computer was being stupid and not letting me update, and then my charger died. So, until I get a new laptop charger, you guys are going to have to hold on, just a little bit longer.


For those who knew Rachel Berry, they knew that she was not, under any circumstances, someone whom you could call quiet. She was loud, and abrasive, and, at times, annoying. Or, as a certain Noah Puckerman put it, "She makes me want to light myself on fire." But she was never quiet.

Rachel walked into the choir room after school, and sat down in the very back. She pulled her iPod out, and plugged the ear buds in. She turned the volume all the way up, and sat there for the next few minutes, oblivious to the world. She pulled her ear buds out when she saw Mercedes walking in.

"Hey girl, what are you doing sitting all the way back here?"

Rachel shrugged. "I just felt like sitting back here today."

Mercedes searched Rachel's face and left it at that. Something was bothering her friend, and Mercedes knew better than to push. The others slowly began trickling into the room. Finally, Mr. Schue came walking in- late as usual.

"Alright, guys. Who's ready to sing?"

Sam raised his hand.

"Okay, Sam, you're up. What song have you prepared for us?"

Sam looked confused. "No, Mr. Schue, everyone of us has sung but Rachel. We can't start a new assignment until she's sung."

Will looked around. "Well, where is Rachel?"

Mercedes scoffed. "Yo, Mr. Schue, she's sitting right beside me."

Mr. Schue was surprised. It wasn't like Rachel to sit in the back.

"Right, well, Rachel, why don't you sing for us, and we can move on to the next thing."

Rachel nodded slowly. "Alright, Mr. Schuester."

She dug the sheet music out of her bag and slowly stood up and walked down from her seat to the front of the room. She handed the music to the band on the side of the room. Rachel took her spot in front of the piano and opened her mouth.

Feels like I have always known you

And I swear I dreamt about you

All those endless nights I was alone

It's like I've spent forever searching

Now I know that it was worth it

With you it feels like I am finally home

Falling head over heels

Thought I knew how it feels

But with you it's like the first day of my life

Cuz you leave me speechless

When you talk to me

You leave me breathless

The way you look at me

You manage to disarm me

My soul is shining through

Can't help but surrender

My everything to you

I thought I could resist you

I thought that I was strong

Somehow you were different from what I've known

I didn't see you coming

You took me by surprise and

You stole my heart before I could say no

Falling head over heels

Thought I knew how it feels

But with you it's like the first day of my life

You leave me speechless

When you talk to me

You leave me breathless

The way you look at me

You manage to disarm me

My soul is shining through

I can't help but surrender

Oh no

My everything to you

You leave me speechless

(The way you smile, the way you touch my face)

You leave me breathless

(It's something that you do I can't explain)

I run a million miles just to hear you say my name

Baby

You leave me speechless

You leave me breathless

The way you look at me

You manage to disarm me

My soul is shining through

I can't help but surrender

My everything to you

The entire club was silent for a moment then started clapping, and cheering. Puck whistled. Mercedes got to her feet and stomped. Oh, she was going to have to send this to Kurt, and, indirectly through Kurt- Nick.

"Wow, Rachel. Just…just wow." Mr. Schue stammered. "It's nice to see you going so far out of our comfort range, and just killing the song. Now, for our next assignment…"

As Mr. Schue started to get into his speech, a masculine voice interrupted him.

"You make me speechless, too, Berry", Nick drawled lazily from where he leaned up against the doorframe.

Rachel looked up sharply. The first look that crossed her face was happiness that soon turned to anger. She stood up and furiously crossed over to Nick.

"Boy's about to get a whippin'." Mercedes laughed gleefully.

"What?" the rest of the club looked over at Mercedes.

"He hasn't called her in-"

"You haven't called me in over a week and you suddenly show up at my school, in my practice room, and say that I 'make you speechless, too'? No, you don't get to do that, Nick. You can't show up and pretend that everything's all fine and dandy and that things can just go back to the way they were, because things can never go back to the way they were. I needed you! I needed you and you weren't there! You weren't there! Why weren't you there, Nick? Why?" Rachel sobbed, finally falling against him.

"Because I was scared", Nick whispered in the deathly quiet room. "I wasn't sure if you had forgiven me, and I thought that maybe you wouldn't want to see me, or that you would hate me, and I just… didn't show up."

"I could never hate you, Nick. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't find it in me to hate you."

"I love you, Rae, and I'm so sorry. I'm sorry that I wasn't there. I'm sorry that I wasn't there for you when Shelby died, I'm sorry that I walked out, I'm sorry that I left. I'm sorry."

"Hey", Rachel took his face in her hands, "I forgive you. You hear me? I forgive you." She brushed her mouth over his gently. "I love you and I forgive you."

~Finis~