It was the second week of the new school year and Will sat in his classroom watching his students fill out a multiple choice test paper. They all groaned at first when he announced that a test was on today's agenda after only a week back at school but he was quick to enthusiastically reassure them that it was easy and wouldn't take too long.

"Come on guys! We need to get back into the habit of things and that includes taking tests. I tried to make it nice and easy for you since most of your minds are probably still on a beach in some place sunny but that aside... if you paid attention last year then I'm sure you should fly through this. OK?"

There was a rumble of groans still but a few nods scattered here and there. Some familiar voices called out "Sure Mr. Schu" and he looked up to the small group of kids he'd grown to love. Finn, Kurt, Quinn and Brittany sat at a huddle of desks near each other. They all smiled up at him accepting his ask of completing the paper. He thanked them with a nod.

Handing out a paper to each person's desk he weaved in and out of tables and began to silence them as he analysed the clock on the side wall. "You can start once you get a paper. Put your name on it first then you may begin. I'll give you fifteen minutes to complete it". Some kids sighed when a copy was placed in front of them and others said nothing. He reached the few kids from glee last and they each in turn thanked him for passing them a sheet. They were the only ones who did thank him.

He sat back down behind his desk and kept his eyes on his class before setting down to some marking. He smiled as his gaze lead him to the members of the glee club. Quinn was sitting at the front and she pushed her blonde hair behind her ears as she continued to focus on the test and scribble things down, she didn't seem to be having any trouble with the paper he'd set. A swoosh of a blonde ponytail lead his eyes to Brittany who was sitting to the side of Quinn. She was looking across her shoulder and peeking to her side obviously clueless to what she was supposed to do. She caught her teacher looking at her and she immediately diverted her eyes back to her own paper. Behind her was Kurt who was slumped on his desk giving Finn a wishful smile before sighing when Finn didn't notice him and went back to the test. Finn wasn't writing he just stared at the sheet confused. He scratched his head and frowned as he brought the sheet closer to his face as if he was trying to embed the foreign words in his brain. Will chuckled under his breath at the dopey look on Finn's face. He checked the clock to track the time and noted that they had ten minutes left.

"Two thirds of your time left guys", Will informed the class. Everyone looked up from their paper and some glanced at people around them puzzled. Wasn't this supposed to be a Spanish class not Math? Brittany turned to question Quinn but she just rolled her eyes and pointed her pen to the clock.

During the last ten minutes Will picked up his red marker pen and began flicking through some essays from his second period freshman class. His mind trailed off after reading some gibberish about a pet hamster called Carl. He let out a breath as his hands clenched into fists as he was reminded of that... man. Trying to keep his cool in front of his students Will turned to mark the next essay wiping his mind of the Lima dentist.

A few essays later someone had described their fascination with the Harry Potter books and had named their cat Emma after the actress who plays Hermione in the films because they thought the cat resembled her beauty? Will shook his head not believing the coincidence of the situation. Out of the five essays on pets he had marked, two of them showed some relation to his life. Not just any relation though, the specific two names of a hamster and a cat connected to his struggling love life. Will lifted his head and stared out the window opposite him.

Emma...

The summer had been lonely and hard not knowing where he stood with her. He constantly thought throughout the weeks when he sat by himself on the couch or when he made a PB&J sandwich or when he woke up in the morning or when he lay in bed at night wondering if she was with him then. He couldn't stop thinking about her as much as he tried. And whenever he thought about her... he thought about him.

It felt weird to say his name. It hurt too much knowing that she was associated with some other man. Emma and Carl. He gritted his teeth. It didn't sound right. But then, it wouldn't sound right not to him anyway. Whereas Emma and Will... that sure had a ring to it.

He shook his head ashamed of thinking that he even had a chance with her anymore. She didn't deserve someone like him. Emma deserved Carl and he had to accept that. He had to respect her decision... but he knew it wasn't over between them. He wouldn't–couldn't–give up on her now that he finally knew what and who he wanted. Especially after he'd admitted he loved her.

If he's honest it shocked him when he told her out loud. He hadn't planned on putting her in this position it had just came out, but he didn't regret it. When those three words exited his mouth it hit him... hard. He had not expected to feel that heavy swell in his chest as he admitted the words to himself. Her shocked expression told him everything he needed to know. He'd declared his love for her and she hadn't rejected him. There was still hope. He sealed his promise with a kiss.

He hadn't seen her over the summer as much as he tried to accidently bump into her it hadn't happened. He'd even hovered longer around the cleaning product aisles in the local supermarket every week just in case she happened to pass by...

There was no luck though.

As the summer ended and school started again life became hectic. Setting up his office, sorting his classroom out, fixing up the choir room, it was now his job thanks to Figgins, lesson planning, thinking of songs for glee, choreographing routines for glee, faculty meetings and many many more. Last week, the first week back, was crazy. He'd tried to find time to visit Emma in her office or sit with her in the faculty lounge but that time never came. Even when he went looking for her she wasn't there.

It was Friday before he even saw her for the first time in over three months and by saw he did only see her. He made a real effort to get to McKinley as early as he could so that he had a chance of at least 'bumping into her' before lessons started. He walked down the long hallways hoping that she was there as he searched every corner to see if her petit frame was heading towards her office. It wasn't until he found himself standing directly outside her glass office did he realise she was present in her pristine chair. He paused trying to get her to register his presence but she never looked up from her desk. He went to knock but was beaten to it by a junior kid who invited himself in and plonked his body on the vacant chair. He dragged his feet along the linoleum floor and headed for his classroom.

He hoped this week would be different.

Someone purposely coughed and he was drawn from his thoughts to face a class of teenagers staring at him some giggling while others whispered. He saw Kurt raise his hand and he looked at him waiting for him to speak.

"Mr. Schuester you said that this test was fifteen minutes long and by my timing it should have therefore ended seven minutes ago", he said looking concerned unlike the rest of the class.

Will hastily stood up and examined the clock on his wall. Sure enough the bell was due to ring in three minutes time indicating the end of the day. He was supposed to have left enough time to set an assignment but he couldn't explain that in less than three minutes. Will exhaled and cleared his throat about to speak. "Well I'm sorry about that um but at least you had some extra time to finish these off yes?" He scanned the room and more people began to mumble and giggle. No one answered him.

Will brought an arm up and ran his hand through his hair unsure of what to do. He paced round the front of his desk his eyes on the floor.

Quinn turned around and gave Finn and Kurt a worried look. Finn looked at Kurt and shook his head not understanding what exactly was going on. Kurt went to open his mouth but closed it as he glanced up at his favourite teacher something obviously bothering him. He shrugged his shoulders as he looked back at his fellow glee clubbers. Brittany meanwhile was oblivious to anything going on as she chewed happily on her gum staring at her teacher smiling.

"OK look kids um forget the assignment it will have to wait till Wednesday". There was chorus of yes's and Will put his hands up telling them to quieten down. "Alright alright. Everyone pass your papers forward so I can take them in". A noise broke out as people shuffled in their seats picking their sheets up and handing them to the person in front. As Will started to gather up the piles of test papers at the end of each row the bell went and there was a swarm of people rushing for the class door.

Will sat back down at his desk and riffled quickly through the sheets he had just collected in.

As Brittany went to leave Quinn tugged on the sleeve of her Cheerio's jacket, "Wait a minute Brit", she said quietly as she turned to face the boys. "Do you think we should ask him if he's alright? He would do the same for us".

"Yeh", Finn piped up. "I don't know what's up but he looked... distracted?" he questioned not sure if he had perceived it right.

Kurt nodded his head in agreement. "It's not like Mr. Schu to lose track of time and even if he did he would have shrugged it off but he looked annoyed with himself".

"He was staring at the cute squirrel outside the window", Brittany said sweetly. They all looked at her before meeting each other's odd expression.

"No wait she's right he was looking out the window the whole like twenty or so minutes we took the test", Finn said checking the window himself.

"Probably deep in thought over something", Quinn added.

They all nodded before taking the few steps to their Spanish teacher's desk and waited for him to welcome them. Brittany played with the miniature flag on his desk spinning it round so it waved its red and yellow stripes.

"Oh hey guys I'll be a bit late to glee rehearsal I've got to finish a few things here first", he said his eyes on his paperwork.

Quinn and Kurt shared a look before one of them spoke. "Were not here to ask you about glee Mr. Schu", Kurt began, "We just wondered if everything's alright with you?"

"Me?" he looked up meeting the four pairs of eyes that lay on him.

"Ye you were looking out that window for a heck of a long time", Finn almost laughed.

Almost until Quinn shot him a look that read at how inconsiderate he sounded. "What Finn's trying to say..." she dragged out her words emphasizing her irritation, "...is that we're concerned at how distracted you appeared. We just want to know that you're OK".

Will smiled up at them and put his red pen down. "I'm sorry about earlier I just had a lot on my mind. Nothing for you kids to worry about".

"Was he cute?" Brittany asked.

Will looked up at her confused. "Huh? What?"

"The squirrel, I like cute squirrels".

Will mouthed "what?" at the other three and Kurt shook his head in response.

"Just ignore her", he whispered and stared at Brittany a little worriedly.

Finn brought the attention back to subject on hand. "Are you sure you're coping alright Mr. Schu?"

"If you mean coping with the demands of being a teacher than yes they're always tough to keep up with the first few weeks starting back but you soon get back into a routine. There's just a lot to plan and mark and... well we get the longest break than any other profession so I can't really complain", he let out a laugh. He'd told the worried teens half the truth at least.

"Mr Schu we're all here to help you just like you would be for any of us". Finn and Quinn smiled sympathetically at their teacher and waited for Kurt to go on. "As weird as it may seem talking about your problems with your students... but if there is anything troubling you don't feel you have to bottle it up and put on a brave face for us. We do understand".

They weren't buying his excuse. Will propped his elbows on his desk and leaned into his hands. These three... well four teenagers were showing him that they cared. They knew him well and therefore knew when something was bothering him. They weren't like the rest of the class. They showed respect and compassion towards their teacher which Will treasured. But that didn't mean he was going to tell them he was in love with the guidance counselor. He let out a defeated sigh and brought his gaze from his desk up to the four pairs of prying eyes. "You guys know me too well", he laughed uneasily.

"I could say vice-versa", Kurt chipped in with a little smirk.

"Yes you could", Will laughed truthfully this time.

Finn suddenly spoke up seriously. "What's really up with you Mr. Schu?" Quinn jibed her elbow in his side and he flinched round before crying "Hey!" Quinn smiled at Will ignoring Finn's complaints as if nothing had happened.

"OK look, I really appreciate your consideration but honestly it's nothing serious. You really don't need to worry about an old guy like me I just have a lot on my mind and staying up till early hours trying to get everything sorted doesn't help", Will scoffed rolling his eyes.

"You know if you need a break we could always cancel glee tonight..." Kurt suggested.

"Yeh Kurt's right", Finn agreed. Kurt glanced at him thankfully and Finn fidgeted.

Quinn looked at Brittany who was playing with her nails. "You don't have to tell us what's going on Mr. Schu we were just curious because of the way you were acting. We can go tell the others that glee's off today if you want. Rachel may have something to say about it but we'll explain to her".

"Um yeh...what they said", Brittany whispered confused.

"No no glee's still on. We can't afford to cancel practises we need to be on top of our game since we have to start from the bottom again. Sectionals is coming up soon and we need to get back on the ball". Will told them as he stood from his desk. "Go on guys I'll meet you in the choir room in a few minutes". He said shooing them with his hand to the door.

They all smiled at him glad that glee was still actually on and headed for the door. Brittany turned around and waved at her teacher and chanted, "Goodbye Mr. Schuester", the others laughed and pushed her out the door.

"Oh and... thanks guys", Will called out the door to them hoping they heard.

He realised they did as Finn popped his head round the door smiled and nodded his head before leaving for the choir room.

He could always rely on the kids.

"Where have you been?" Rachel Berry whined as the four late comers entered the choir room door. On the way to the choir room Kurt had asked whether they should warn the others about their teacher's odd mood and try to come to a conclusion of why he may be acting that way. What they didn't expect was to discover why so easily.

Finn strode over to Rachel who looked frustrated at him for being late. "Where's Mr. Schuester?" She demanded looking back over to the empty doorway.

"He's coming in a minute Rachel chill!"

"Finn!" Rachel yelled at him. "Don't tell me to chill we need everyone here so we can practice. Unless you want glee to be dropped again", she added spitefully and tossed her brown hair over her shoulder in annoyance followed by folding her arms defensively.

"What? I..." Finn began but Kurt saved him from getting into further trouble with the determined monster that is Rachel Berry.

"Rachel we just had Spanish with Mr. Schu and he told us he just needs to finish up there before he gets to rehearsal", he explained.

She twisted her body away from Finn to face Kurt. "Oh... but that doesn't explain why you four were late! We could have begun practising some song ideas I had for sectionals if you'd have been here five minutes ago!"

Quinn's voice was heard coming from a seat in between Mercedes and Puck. "Will you stop moaning Rachel? We're here now!" Puck snorted to the side of her and Quinn glared at his stupidity.

Rachel turned her head to answer Quinn her voice quieter and she began stuttering, "I... I- I only wondered why you were late", she said arms still folded eyes on the floor.

There was an awkward silence with only Brittany and Santana mumbling stuff to each other and letting out the occasional giggle. Finn waited for someone to answer Rachel but they didn't. "We stayed behind to talk to Mr. Schu Rachel. We were, and still are, worried about him".

Rachel frowned and asked curiously, "Why?"

Puck leaned forward in his chair glanced at Quinn then Kurt and finally Finn, "What are you worrying about him for?" Mike and Matt shared a look with each other behind Puck.

"Ye what's up with Mr. Schuester?" Artie asked sharing a nervous glance with Tina.

"We don't know", Finn answered them.

Puck slouched back in his chair and sighed. "Brilliant".

"Well we don't know exactly", Finn spat back at him.

Tina raised her voice, "Tell us what you do know".

Kurt was leaning against the piano and took the fact that no one was answering as his queue to explain. He checked the door in case Will was there. Seeing it remain empty he began. "During Spanish class Mr. Schu set us a paper and gave us fifteen minutes to complete it. But he let it run over for seven minutes without realising".

"Big deal the guy lost track of time. Don't tell me you're worrying over that!" Puck laughed.

"Puck shut up and listen", Quinn said sternly.

He rolled his eyes, "Yes Mom".

Kurt took this as a signal to continue. "Despite the fact that he ran the test over but he just stopped whatever he was doing and started staring out the window for what seemed like ages. Then when people started laughing at him I took it upon me to bring him back to the real world by coughing and letting him know we'd all finished and that the bell was about to ring".

"The squirrels Kurt-"

"-Shut up Brit", Santana hissed.

"Then he began pacing around his desk like something was troubling him. When he was staring into space he looked as if he was deep in thought over something or someone", Quinn announced.

Artie readjusted his glasses before saying, "Maybe he's still finding it hard dealing with the fact he's divorced?"

"He did say he had a lot on his mind", Finn suggested.

Kurt moved away from the piano and sat next to Mercedes as he reminded the group, "But he also told us not to worry".

"Kurt honey when people say don't worry it often means; worry I'm hiding something!" Mercedes laughed and people nodded in agreement.

Rachel was the only one to continue laughing and they all looked at her.

"What's up with her?" Kurt scanned her face for clues.

Rachel looked at everyone's bulging eyes frowning at her and she laughed more. "Oh my god you guys! I totally know what he's got on his mind. Or should I say who he's got on his mind!" She teased.

"Spill it Berry", Puck ordered.

Mercedes joined in, "Talk sister!"

"Well..." she waited for everyone's attention to be on her. She imagined a spotlight focussing down on her. "I should have told you earlier I guess but I didn't want to be the one who started a chain of rumours-"

Santana interrupted her, "Who cares? Tell us what you know Israel". Brittany let out a snigger.

Rachel's mouth opened and closed again before she shook her head and ignored the name she'd been called. "Fine but you didn't hear it from me", she said turning to rest of her teammates. They were hanging onto her every word and she smiled enjoying being the centre of attention. "He kissed Miss Pillsbury", she blurted out. She counted five or six jaws dropping as she took in their reactions.

"Yeh well I knew that".

There was a rustle as everyone turned to face Santana. "You... you did?" Rachel asked feeling annoyed that she wasn't the only one who knew.

"Well yeh. Duh, isn't it obvious there's something going on between them two?"

Rachel's eyes narrowed. "So you actually saw them kiss? Have they done it before?"

"No I didn't see them kiss but anyone could have guessed they have before", she said scanning the shocked faces. "You lot must seriously be dumb if you hadn't noticed the lust between them two!"

"That's gross", Brittany whispered looking to the side.

"I even told them to get a room ages ago. You guys are s-l-o-w", she mocked dragging out the last word for effect.

Rachel stood there watching everyone take in the news. She looked at Finn who looked totally confused. She needed to bring the attention back to her. But how? Suddenly she had a thought and let out a massive grin.

"I just saw a light bulb go off above Berry's head", Puck muttered. "What are you plotting?"

She laughed again and began talking through wide smiles. "I heard him say something else while I was there... He said he loved her. Guys! Mr Schu loves Miss P!"

"Girl you better not be kidding because that is just too cute and sweet for words!" Mercedes cried sitting up drastically in her chair. She faced Kurt and he had the same mischievous wishful glint in his eyes. "Tell me you're thinking what I'm thinking", she said to him.

"That depends if you're thinking of playing matchmaker and getting them two love bunnies together then yes I am thinking what you're thinking Mercedes".

"Damn boy you must be psychic", she laughed and reached over to give him a secret handshake.

Brittany mumbled, "Teacher on teacher action... that could be hot".

"Hold on hold on", Quinn interrupted everyone's chatter. "We've forgot one thing. Mr Schu certainly wasn't happy last lesson. So if we've guessed right that the reason he doesn't seem himself is because of Miss Pillsbury then they must not be on good terms. Something deeper than them liking each other is going on".

They were all quiet for a minute until they heard footsteps approaching in the hallway. They looked at each other unsure of what to do until Finn spoke. "We'll just have to figure out what is going between them so that we can work on getting them together", he whispered to the group quickly before their teacher entered.

All eyes were on Mr. Schuester as he planted his bag on the piano and greeted them with an apologetic look. "Hey sorry I'm late I hope they told you I was going to be a little while", he asked as twelve faces met his with cheeky and flirtatious looks.

Puck nodded his head and raised an eyebrow. "They sure did Mr. Schu".

A/N - I do not own glee etc...

So I wanted to right a fic with the glee kids involved so I had more characters to play with and a lot more personalities! I really enjoyed writing this so much that I've decided to make it have chapters instead of intending to be a one-shot.

I hope I managed to make the characters IN character if not please tell me so and I will work on it. There's a lot of characters to focus on. Reading back now I only mentioned Matt and Mike once. Shame on me.

So as the summary says I am going to not make this fic like any other where the kids sing a song to Will with Emma there and hope it makes them get back together. Nah this may involve a few other things... Such as pranking the dentist maybe?

Please review they always put a smile on my face!