The gang had had a good year all together in the city of lights, dreams and endless possibilities. A lot had changed since that last fateful summer when Sam, Artie and Blaine had moved to New York joining Kurt, Rachel and Santana after graduation. Just a few months later Mercedes had joined them in The Big Apple for a few months putting her debut album together. They had shared good times and bad times. It was a rollercoaster of a year, entering adulthood and leading independent lives, where not everyone knew all the answers. Life was now like one big Glee Club assignment, but not even singing could solve the problems they had faced.

Plans had been put into place for Mercedes. She knew exactly what was going to lie ahead of her for the next few months at least. She was going back to LA and putting the final touches to her album. Endless interviews lay ahead of her, including a TV interview and performance on the one and only The Ellen Show. Ellen DeGeneres was going to be interviewing her, the one and only. Mercedes could hardly believe it. It felt as if all her dreams that she had only imagined in her wildest dreams were finally coming true. Only one problem kept her from leaving at this very moment, her relationship with Sam.

Mercedes looked at the empty boxes scattered around her bedroom and sighed. She loved Sam so much, but she couldn't picture a long distance relationship between them. With her in Los Angeles and Sam in New York and each of them promising to visit the other every second weekend, it couldn't possibly be practical. They were both starting to make a name for themselves in their respective careers. She didn't want to stand in the way of that for Sam. Mercedes had no time for a clingy girlfriend that expected her boyfriend to Skype with her every night, she wasn't that type and she certainly wanted to avoid becoming one.

What other choice did she have through? The only other option was for them to break up. Mercedes didn't have the heart to really want to break up with him. It could change the dynamics of their entire friendship. It wouldn't be fair to throw away four years of such a good friendship. They had been through more than most friends would, in fact everyone in the Glee Club past and present had. She pushed that thought to the back of her mind; she really didn't want to dwell on that too much. Besides, the Glee Club didn't even exist in the school anymore for over a year now. It must be a tough blow for the kids left in the school that couldn't express themselves through music like they had all been lucky enough to experience.

While Mercedes was deep in thought, there was a knock on her bedroom door. Rachel appeared behind it with a mug of tea.

'Hi Mercedes. How's the packing going?' Rachel went to her bed and sat down.

'Oh Rachel I have no idea what to do.' Mercedes put her head in her hands. 'I could really use your help and advice again.'

Rachel patted the spot next to her. 'Well I'm always here to help and a cup of tea is a good start.' She handed the cup to Mercedes who cradled the cup in her hands while staring at the blank wall. 'So what's up?'

Mercedes sighed. 'Is a long distance relationship really a good idea, I mean can couples really make it work?'

Rachel grimaced in thought. 'Most couples can seem to make it work well for them. My relationships might not be the best example of that. It's a tough call and a lot to ask of another person. We had tried our best in an unusual situation and as much as we had tried, it wasn't fair to the other. I suppose at the time I had felt as if I had been pushed into a corner that neither of us could get out of. So the best solution was to let him go.'

Mercedes gave Rachel a sympathetic smile. 'I know it's still tough Rachel but I'm glad you told me. I wish things had worked out differently for you two, it's given me a whole new perspective on relationships and how fragile it can get.'

Rachel sniffed and blinked back her teary eyes. 'Thanks Mercedes. You're such a good friend, all of you guys are. The past year has taught me a lot, lessons I never expected to learn so young but ring true for your whole life. I wish things had worked out differently too, but I do feel stronger for the fact and from all of you being there for me, more times than I can count at this stage.' She chuckled quietly. 'So let's get back to you.'

Mercedes hadn't realised she was close to tears from what Rachel had said. It moved her so much. She cleared her throat. 'So what you're saying is that I should give this long-distance thing a chance?'

'Exactly Mercedes, you don't know what you'll miss if you don't try. Don't let something you could regret pass you by. Just think about it.' Rachel and Mercedes shared a quick hug. 'Let's get a start on these boxes, huh?'

'Thanks Rachel, we better get to it. Otherwise I may never get back on that plane to LA and you'll be stuck with me forever.' The girls laughed with glee and set to work packing up Mercedes's belongings, until the room was completely bare except for a trail of boxes of all sizes leading out into the hallway.

When they were finished, Rachel went downstairs to the living room to look for Sam and Blaine to give a hand carrying the boxes. The moving van would be here in only a few hours. Then Mercedes would be gone. Rachel hadn't even considered her next options. Changes were afoot for everyone including her. Funny Girl was having a good run, but the publicity surrounding her lately hadn't all been positive since her fiasco in Los Angeles. Everyone involved in the production was frosty with her since it happened. On stage was all happy and smiles but once the curtain closed on another performance, most people tended to ignore Rachel or avoid her at all costs.

It was very tough conditions for Rachel to work under, but for once Rachel took it in her stride. She kept her mouth shut and stuck it out. Being outspoken only gave a reason for everyone to brand her a diva and make her out to be above everyone, including the show. She hadn't overheard any whispered catty conversations, but she knew everyone was talking about her, and not in a good way. There was more for Rachel to deal with anyway, Funny Girl drama was the last thing on her mind.

Since the call with Lee Paulblatt, work had started on the script for her own show. It was still a work in progress without a title but early signs looked good for now. Rachel knew she was taking a big chance working on the project in the first place, but it was an opportunity she just couldn't say no to. It was worth the possibility of failure rather than not trying at all. All she could hope was that the writers would portray her life as accurately as possible. At the end of the day, she had the final say on the script.

While Rachel was focusing on the possibility of new found fame on a wider scale, she bumped into Blaine.

'Sorry there Rachel, are you ok?' Blaine had a panicked look on his face and looked to be in a hurry.

'Oh yeah I'm fine, where are you off to in a hurry?' Rachel had a questioning look on her face.

'I'm just looking for Kurt have you seen him? He isn't at the loft.'

'I haven't seen him in a while. I don't know if he's here Blaine. Would you mind calling Sam and asking him to come up and help Mercedes and I with the boxes? They're pretty awkward and heavy to manage on our own.'

'Yeah sure Rachel, if you hear from Kurt, tell him to call me please. I really need to talk to him.' Blaine rushed out of the door in a blind panic, without explanation. Rachel wondered what was going on with them. Blaine never looked in a panic with a hair out of place or his bowtie undone and he was just like that now. Something was very wrong and Rachel knew they had to find out what it was, before it was too late.