A/N: Hello. Thank you for clicking this story. It has been a year since we lost Cory. I hate that word, lost. He was a sock that got lost in the laundry. -sigh- It has been a year since Cory passed away. I don't know about you guys but I haven't forgotten about him.

I started this fic because of Luke Bryan's Drink a Beer. Something about it sparked something in me and I tried to deny it but I found myself gathering more songs.

This fic is not intended to hurt anyone but to hopefully help us all heal just a little bit more. I hope I help with that.

I will be posting this prologue and chapter 1 today and one chapter each day for the rest of the week.

Thank you for you time.

And as always, REVIEWS = LOVE!

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Glee, any characters, places or anything else you can find in the real world.

THIS FANFICTION IS UNBETA'D BUT PROOFREAD. ALL REMAINING MISTAKES ARE UNINTENTIONAL. APOLOGIES FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE.

They pulled their coats tighter as they approached the April Rhodes Civic Pavilion. It had been a few years since the New Directions had been all together in one place. They liked it that way. When they were all together it forced them to remember. To feel the pain and grief all over again. They gathered in small groups; no more than five or six. It was easier; but easier was pushed out the window when they all got an email from Principal Sylvester.

FROM THE DESK OF ONE, PRINCIPAL SUE SYLVESTER

New Directions and Will,

It has been a few years since we lost the great person we knew as Finn Hudson. I don't feel like we as a school did enough to honor him or his memory.

So with the combined (mostly mine) genius of myself and Coach Roz Washington, we decided to invite all of you back to the April Rhodes Civic Pavilion to honor Finn.

Although, we are sure that he would have loved for each and every one of you to get up on that stage and screech some sappy song about your feelings, we're going to have to ask that you refrain from that. Finn was the only one who would and could appreciate the ear bleeding sounds that spew from your mouths.

Instead, we are having a kind of memorial for Finn. His parents and other members of the Lima community that he touched will speak about him.

Roz and I decided that the New Directions and Will, should have a chance to reflect without gawkers.

We ask that you be at the pavilion two hours before the memorial is set to begin.

Thank you.

Sue Sylvester

Principal and Champion Cheer Coach

Rachel Berry pulled Mercedes Jones and Kurt Hummel closer to her as they approached the building. Sam Evans and Blaine Anderson followed close behind. They didn't know what to expect but the group of friends had been preparing themselves for a few weeks. Sam held the door open and they all entered into the warm building. The auditorium was exactly as they remembered it.

"Home sweet home." Kurt said as they stepped down the steep stairs toward the front. Memories of all the dances and songs they shared flashed before their eyes as they took seats in the front row.

"Hey losers." the voice of Noah Puckerman said from behind them. They turned to see him and Quinn Fabray approaching them. When the pair reached the front, the group of friends hugged.

"Oh you guys." Tina Cohen-Chang said suddenly wrapping her arms around Blaine and Mercedes. Mike Chang silently joined the hug. Brittany S. Pierce and Santana Lopez joined in relative silence as well.

"Let me in there." Artie Abrams said as he wheeled himself in between Tina and Mercedes. The New Directions stood in a silent group hug. They all smiled at each other with wet eyes.

"You guys are all so grown up." A voice said on the stage. They looked up and saw their former teacher, Will Schuester. He jumped off the edge of the stage and joined his former students.

"You don't look to bad yourself old man." Puck said, causing the group to chuckle.

"Thank you. I think fatherhood had done me good." Will said smiling.

"Me too." Puck said. Sam patted Puck on the back. Everyone was delighted to learn that over the past year and a half, Quinn and Puck have been heavily involved in Beth's life. Shelby agreed that she should know all of her parents.

"I'm so happy for you guys." Rachel said sincerely.

"We all are." Will said. "Alright guys, have a seat." he said breaking their group hug. "We've only got a short time to do whatever it is we're gonna do."

"Well that email said no singing." Quinn said.

"I know what it said so Emma and I decided that we should all just share whatever comes to mind." he said jumping up to sit on the edge of the stage. "If you want to sing, sing. If you don't, that's ok too."

"I think we should all sing." Brittany said.

"I agree." Blaine said.

"That's fine. Singing it is." Will smiled.

"How are we doing this?" Rachel asked. "Who's gonna play?"

"Sue contacted the jazz ensemble from the last year they were together." Will answered. Just then, the band began to bring their instruments on the stage. The New Directions took a collective deep breath. "Who wants to go first?" Will asked. The group sat silent. No one wanted to be the first to share. Hell, they barely shared with themselves.

Will didn't push them. They had all been hit hard when Finn passed away and he knew that they had all had the same void in their heart that he had had for this long year. He had asked who wanted to go first because he knew that it couldn't be him. He wasn't going to be the one to talk about Finn. He had no idea what'd he say or sing for that matter, anyway. It was best if one of them got the ball rolling.

The New Directions looked around at each other. Making brief eye contact before looking away. This group was bigger than five or six and the larger than life presence that, at one point, had filled them and this drafty old auditorium with such warmth and happiness wasn't there. That fact was looming over them like a relentless anvil of cold unyielding sadness.

"Can we just sit here for a few more minutes, Mr. Schue?" Mercedes asked, tears threatening to choke her.

"Yeah, I think we all just need a few minutes." Sam said holding her hand tightly. Will nodded and the silence continued. He watched as his former students wiped tears from their eyes and they began to mourn all over again. He wanted to help them but he knew there was nothing he could say or do to help them. He would just sit patiently and wait for someone braver than he, to take center stage.