Rachel Berry looked into the mirror and took a deep breath.

"I'm ready," she repeated to herself for the twentieth time that early evening. "I've been practicing for this my entire life. I'm a star." She took another deep breath, and once again repeated a line she had been saying for the majority of her life. "I'm ready."

She then took a few moments to look around her dressing room. The lights from her makeup table were blinding, and she was forced to blink a couple of times before anything came into proper view. As she peered around, she took notice of the few precious items she had placed on her desk. A gold star statue from her first winning in a singing competition, which made her smile and think fondly of her dads while she ran a finger across the pointy edges. They had always supported her, no matter what, and she was overwhelmed at how lucky she was to have them as her fathers. Sitting directly beside the statue was a gold metal picture frame, holding a candid of all the people she once considered the most important aspect of her life.

High school had changed dramatically in the 4 years that she had attended, and on the first day of freshman year - as she was washing the slushy stain out of her galloping horses sweater - she never would have imagined herself to be named prom queen her senior year, taking the prize with her then-boyfriend, the quarterback. She smiled at the distant memories that flooded over her at the moment. It had only been six years since she had graduated, but it seemed like a lifetime ago. She wondered absently if she would see anyone from the picture tonight at the stage door, applauding her on her opening night in an off-Broadway revival. New York City was a long ways away from Lima, where the majority of her classmates had stayed after graduation. A corner of her mouth lifted in a half smile. She knew there was one man in particular that would be there tonight, and it was the only man that mattered to her (aside from her fathers, who she'd previously had lunch with that day and were sure to be in the audience). At that moment, her phone buzzed to the tune of For Good, and she was pulled back into reality to read the text from the man she had been picturing mere moments ago.

"Break a leg. I'll be waiting for you at the stage door. Try and wash the glitter out of your hair first – I don't even want to imagine how badly it will stick to my McQueen top I have chosen for your debut."

She stifled a giggle as she read the text from her best friend, her soulmate. She hadn't doubted for a second that Kurt Hummel would make it to her first performance on a New York stage. He had been there with her so many years ago, when they had snuck into the Gershwin Theatre to play pretend and sing a song from Wicked during their first trip to Nationals. That night, she had shared the stage and the spotlight with the only person who shared her dream, and tonight, he would be there in the audience to cheer her on. Their friendship after that fateful trip proved to be the only lasting relationship in her life. Truth be told, it was the relationship that got her through her breakup with Finn, and the friendship that she had clung to on those first lonely nights in NYC years ago.

"Drinks at the Skybar afterwards? Fly or fail, I'm going to need something to settle these nerves," she replied. It was sheer seconds before she received her response.

"You? I've already had three cocktails to settle mine, and I'll only be watching! Drinks are on Blaine tonight. Divas such as ourselves should never have to pay. Now stop texting and redo your makeup. I can tell from outside that it isn't enough. You can take the girl out of the country…"

She closed her phone as a single happy tear ran down her face. She was so lucky to have Kurt and Blaine in her life. They had moved up here together a couple of years ago, three years after Rachel had made the move herself. Blaine had been accepted into the Tisch School of Performing Arts after his undergraduate at OSU, and it had always been Kurt's dream to live in the city. They had all shared a studio apartment at the time (and still did, as rent in NYC isn't known for being cheap, and they were all struggling performers), with Kurt and Rachel working retail jobs and living on Ramen noodles as Blaine struggled with a part time job and a full course load. The evenings when they were the poorest – pulling all of their money together for ingredients for a cheap vegan pizza and a movie rental of a Broadway classic – were her favorites. They had become the siblings Rachel never knew she'd always wanted, and she was fortunate enough to witness firsthand as their relationship grew to an immense amount of love and admiration for one another.

As she went to wipe away the lonesome tear that had escaped her eye, she looked in the mirror once again. Kurt was right. She looked perfectly acceptable for a night on the town, but the stage lights would completely drown out her features. Just as she was about to apply a second and third coat of blush, there was a knock on the door.

The stage manager peeked in just as Rachel had turned around. In his hands was a large bouquet of daisies. She smiled inwardly. Daisies were her favorite. Roses were beautiful, and lilies were sweet, but daisies had always been her top choice of flowers.

"Knock knock," Gary said, as his smile filled the room. "You have a secret admirer that couldn't wait until the end of the show."

"Who are they from?" Rachel asked, her voice going up an octave as suspension and interest tugged at her heart.

"I was sworn to secrecy, but the accompanying card might give you a hint." Gary placed the bouquet on her makeup table as he began walking out of the room. He had barely shut the door before she had torn open the envelope to reveal her own personal mystery. On the card were scribbled two single sentences with no name to give a hint, but as she read the words, she didn't need one. She knew exactly who had sent the flowers. She held her breath as her heart rate increased, and she forced herself to read the card again.

"You singing on Broadway in front of a sold out crowd? I told you it was an inevitability."