I'm so glad so many people enjoyed the first chapter. I really enjoyed reading your reviews. I know this is slightly different from the Chapter 2 spoilers I gave earlier, but I decided this would be a better way to write this chapter. I'm happy with how it turned out and I hope you are too. Hope everyone had a great Easter yesterday and has a great Glee day tomorrow! It's finally back! Oh, and don't forget to review!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything except Emma, Ryan, Sarah, Grant, Zoe, Ally, Nick, Ava, Grace, Kyle, Lizzie, Lexie, Laura, Izzy, Meg, Evan, Ben, Jeremy, Connor, Ricky, Morgan, Jon, Jessica, Kailey, Kailey's mom and Klaine's sons. And my ideas and my computer.

Chapter 2: Leaving On a Jet Plane

The summer had flown by. Yesterday, Emma, Ryan and Sarah had gotten back from their two weeks of sleepaway camp, and their plane to New York would be leaving tomorrow. Ryan had managed to keep his mind off moving for most of the summer, but now that it was so soon, he could think about little else. He was packing up his bags in Nick's room silently, with Nick sitting silently on the bed. They had been inseparable since sixth grade, and the thought of spending a year apart upset both boys greatly.

"I know I have other friends, but what we have is special," Nick finally spoke. Ryan was relieved that Nick had spoken first. He was so afraid of saying the wrong thing.

"It just isn't going to be the same with you in New York," Nick continued.

"Hey, it'll be okay, I'll be back before you know it," Ryan said. He knew this was one of those times where he had to act strong. Nick had always been fragile and emotional. "We'll text every day, and skype, and Facebook and all that. I'll miss you and Ava and our other friends so much."

"The Gold Stars won't be the same without you, Emma and your mom," Nick said. "Grace says she wants to join, but I'm worried how many new people we'll be able to keep around. No one can make it as much fun as your parents made it."

"I know my mom wants to come back for all the competitions," Ryan said. "Well, if she can get out of her shows. But knowing her, she'll find a way to get on a plane and back in less than 24 hours."

"When are you going to her show?" Nick asked.

"Three days after we arrive," Ryan said. "Our parents want to give us a little time to get adjusted. Grant's adjusting okay, but he's four."

"I wish you weren't going," Nick pouted.

"You're my best friend," Ryan said. "You'll always be my best friend. No friend I find in New York could ever replace you."

The boys pulled each other into a tight hug. They'd be sensitive about doing this in public, but they were in Nick's room, not public.

"Take care of your sister, okay?" Nick asked. "Don't let any of the New York guys steal her from me."

Ryan looked at his friend. "She'd never want any guy but you. And you take care of Ava and keep all the guys away from her."

The boys laughed and continued packing. What was happening tomorrow still seemed unreal.

x

Rachel looked at her phone after a long day of rehearsals. She loved the feeling she got of being on the stage each night, but rehearsals had been less than perfect. Several other cast members were VERY difficult to work with. Wicked was one of Rachel's favorite musicals, but sometimes the other cast members made her not want to come to rehearsal every day. It wasn't like in childhood when people were directly mean, but she saw them whispering and eyeing her in between practices. Today, when Rachel had messed up a note in "Defying Gravity," Morgan, the actress who played Nessarose, snapped at the director, asking him why Rachel, who had no previous Broadway experience, was playing Elphaba when dozens of actresses who had years of experience and packed resumes with on and off Broadway credits had been denied the role. Most of the chorus members also seemed to resent Rachel. She got along fine with Jessica, who played Glinda, and Jon, who played Fiyero, but wasn't really close.

As she left work that day, Rachel made a quick run past the theatre next door, which housed Spring Awakening. Currently, Jesse and his wife Harmony were playing the lead roles. She'd been lucky enough not to run into Jesse since arriving in New York, but knew it was only a matter of time before she did. She also knew that when she did, Jesse would undoubtedly insult Finn and her children, and gloat about his three Tony Awards.

Rachel loved New York, but she definitely did miss Ohio. Her dads, her mom and her sister had flown in from Ohio to see her first show and then spent a week visiting her, Finn, Grant and Zoe in New York. It was hard to believe that in just a few weeks, Beth would be going to college. Rachel still remembered the days when Quinn was pregnant with Beth. Soon, Beth would be off to OSU.

Burt, Carole and Ally had come to see Rachel perform about a month ago. Ally would be starting her senior year of high school soon, which was also hard to believe. Rachel remembered the day during the summer before their senior year when Finn called her at five in the morning to say that his mom was on her way to the hospital to have her baby. Getting to see people from back home made the experience even more special. She really missed her three oldest children, but they'd be arriving tomorrow, and she couldn't wait to see them. She knew they probably weren't as eager to arrive as she was for them to arrive. In two weeks, they'd be starting school, at a huge New York City public school. The high school Ryan and Emma were going to was almost twice as big as Heights. Sarah's middle school was also about twice as large as the middle schools back home.

The train was crowded, but it wasn't too long a ride home. Rachel just hoped Finn would have dinner ready or have ordered take-out. She was exhausted. She walked into the apartment building and took the elevator to their floor, then unlocked the door.

"Hey baby, how was rehearsal?" Finn called from the kitchen.

Rachel went into the kitchen and gave Finn a kiss. "It was fine, three more hours and I have to be back for the show…"

"Tired?" Finn asked.

Rachel nodded. "VERY."

"I'm sorry, baby," Finn said. "I just put Zoe down for a nap, and Grant's playing with the kids next door."

"You're a great dad, Finn," Rachel said.

Finn smiled at Rachel. "Well, you're a great mom."

"I just wish I could see the kids more, I have such a crazy schedule!" Rachel said.

Finn put his arms around Rachel. "Hey, it's okay."

Rachel and Finn leaned in and kissed each other. "I feel so guilty about having you basically run the house by yourself. But hey, tomorrow you'll have three helpers!"

Finn laughed. "I've missed them so much!"

"So have I," Rachel said. "I can't wait to see them. It's been way too long. But they'll be without their friends for a year, so we can handle eight weeks apart from them."

"They're resilient, Rach," Finn said. "They'll be fine once they get here."

"I hope so," Rachel sighed.

"I'm taking them to see you perform this weekend," Finn said with a smile.

"I couldn't forget!" Rachel said.

Finn and Rachel relaxed for a few hours before Rachel had to go back for tonight's show.

x

The car was loaded and the boarding tickets were printed. In a few hours, Sarah's friend's mother would be taking Emma, Ryan and Sarah to the airport. She'd stopped by earlier to pick up their bags because Finn and Rachel had warned her that it might be too difficult for the kids to load up the car when it was actually time to go to the airport. Emma and Ava were just sitting in the living room right now, listening to music.

"This is it," Emma said to Ava.

"I know," Ava sighed. "I'm getting on a plane to come visit you as soon as I can."

"I'm going to miss you like crazy," Emma said. "I WILL be calling every day, just to warn you."

"If you weren't calling me every day, I'd be calling you every day!" Ava said.

"You can have my solos in the Gold Stars," Emma said.

"I can't do them as well as you!" Ava said.

"Hey Ava, can we go over to see the boys? I just really want to see Nick before I leave," Emma said. She and Nick HAD gone out to lunch yesterday, and in the evening she'd gone out to dinner with Ava, Lizzie, Lexie, Laura, Izzy and Meg, but she wanted to see Nick again before she left.

"Of course," Ava said. "I wanted to see Ryan, too." The girls began to walk over to Nick's house. Usually they biked, but Emma's bike was packed up for New York.

When they got to Nick's house, Emma felt close to tears and started shaking as Ava rang the bell. Ava put her arm around Emma. Grace answered the door and called out for Nick and Ryan.

"Is it okay if Ryan and I have some time alone?" Ava whispered.

Emma nodded. "Yeah, I wanted time alone with Nick anyway." This was the last time she'd be seeing her boyfriend for she didn't know how long.

Ryan came downstairs and took Ava to the back porch. Nick came downstairs and looked at Emma. "Hey."

Emma forced a smile. "Hey."

"Want to go up to my room?" Nick asked.

"Yeah," Emma said. She followed her boyfriend upstairs and noticed a bunch of pictures of the two of them on his bulletin board. In fact, there were only four pictures now that did NOT have the two of them together – one of him and Ryan, one of him, Ryan, Ben, Evan, Connor, Jeremy and Ricky at Nationals, one with his dad, his stepmother, Grace and Kyle at the wedding, and one with Kyle and his parents from when he was little.

Nick noticed Emma was looking at his bulletin board. "We'll have more to add soon."

Emma smiled. "I had to come over – to say goodbye."

Nick looked shocked. "You're not breaking up with me, are you?"

Emma shook her head. "I'll never break up with you."

Nick put his arms around Emma. "Neither will I."

"I just wanted us to have some time together before I leave, you know?" Emma said."I wanted time with you, too," Nick said.

"Nick, could you promise me something?" Emma asked.

"Anything!" Nick said.

"I know there's going to be girls who might look tempting while I'm gone, but please save yourself for me," Emma said, looking down. She was worried that her absence might make Nick develop interest in another girl.

Nick took Emma's hand. "I never want to give myself to anyone but you."

x

"Let me tell you, there's nobody in New York who I'd choose over you," Ryan told Ava. "I know it's the biggest city on Earth, but you're going to be on my mind the whole time I'm there."

"And there's no one who I'm going to choose over you," Ava said.

"It's only one year, I'll be back in no time," Ryan said. The more he talked this way, the more assured he felt that he and his girlfriend would overcome the separation.

"And I'm going to visit, and you'll visit," Ava added.

Ryan smiled. "That's right." He heard a honk in the driveway and recognized Sarah's friend's mom's car. Emma and Ava had originally only planned to stay a while, but it had been a couple hours.

"I'll text Emma," Ryan told Ava as he sent Emma a text. It was really time to go. He hugged Ava as tight as he could, not wanting to let her go.

"I love you," Ava said.

"I love you too," Ryan said.

Nick and Emma came out, hand in hand. Ryan turned to Nick. "I know your parents are out now, but please, thank them for everything they did for me this summer."

"I will," Nick said, giving Ryan a hug. Ryan hugged his best friend and thanked him for being such a great friend.

"Yeah, you do the same to your parents," Emma told Ava as the girls hugged.

"They love you like a daughter," Ava said, smiling.

"It's time?" Ryan heard a voice say. He turned to see Ben, Evan, Connor, Jeremy, Ricky, Lizzie, Lexie, Laura, Izzy and Meg.

"We wanted to make sure you got to see everyone," Nick said.

"Thanks," Emma said.

"You can thank us for making so many calls," Kyle said, stepping on to the porch with Grace.

"Well, thank you," Ryan said, as he and Emma both hugged Grace and Kyle. With Ryan and Nick being best friends and Emma and Nick dating, Grace and Kyle were like siblings to them.

x

Emma spent a few minutes talking with the girls as her brother talked with the boys. She made them promise not to find a replacement for her in their group of friends. Lizzie, Lexie, Laura, Izzy and Meg had all been best friends since kindergarten at Covenant Elementary, and they'd been nice enough to let Emma into their group when she transferred to Roxbury in the middle of eighth grade, then to let Ava in when they started high school. Emma knew that these six girls would be her friends forever, no matter what.

After a few minutes, Sarah's friend's mom called out that it was time to go. Emma gave Nick one last kiss before getting in the car. She looked out the back window and waved at Nick, Ava, Lizzie, Lexie, Laura, Izzy, Meg, Grace, Kyle, Ben, Evan, Jeremy, Ricky and Connor, who were all standing on Nick's lawn waving, until the car turned the corner.

The ride to the Cleveland Hopkins airport was about forty five minutes from University Heights. It seemed weird driving past all the sights in the greater Cleveland area Emma had been taking for granted for so many years, knowing for a year that they'd be gone. She didn't talk, and neither did Ryan or Sarah. This was an emotional moment for all of them.

Sarah's friend's mom pulled the car into the airport and handed the three of them their boarding passes. "I talked to your parents last night. One of your uncles is picking you up at the airport and then taking you to the apartment."

"They told us that last night on the phone," Ryan said. "Thanks for the ride, Mrs. Zukowski."

"We're all going to miss you guys," Mrs. Zukowski said.

"Tell Kailey I love her!" Sarah said.

"I know she loves you too, and she'll be coming to visit," Mrs. Zukowski said.

Emma, Ryan and Sarah quickly went through plane check in and tried to keep themselves entertained as they waited. Emma still couldn't believe they were really leaving. She missed Nick and her friends already. But she couldn't be away from her family for a year, and she HAD missed her parents, Grant and Zoe this summer. At least this wasn't permanent. They hadn't even sold their house, they were just renting it so it would still be there in a year.

Getting on the plane, Emma realized that her parents had bought her and her siblings first class tickets. The seats were comfortable and there was room to stretch out, unlike the cramped seats they usually got. It was probably Finn and Rachel's attempt to make it a more pleasant ride.

The ride from Cleveland to New York was about ninety minutes. Usually it seemed longer because of the uncomfortable seats, but right now, it was okay. When the plane landed, Emma took her duffel bag, found Ryan and Sarah, and walked off the plane with them. They each had two other suitcases, but they'd be getting those at the baggage claim.

As they got off the plane, Emma began looking around for Kurt or Blaine. Her parents hadn't even been sure last night which one would be picking them up. Then she heard a voice she'd recognize anywhere call out, "Ryan! Sarah! Emma!"

She turned and saw Grant running toward them, with Blaine following close behind. It immediately brought a smile to her face to see her little brother. Nine weeks was a long time to be without him.

Grant jumped into Ryan's arms and squeezed him, saying he wasn't going to let go.

"Don't you love your sisters, too?" Sarah asked.

"Yeah, but I just have one brother!" Grant said.

"He really wanted to come with me," Blaine said, looking at them.

"It's great to see you," Emma said.

"You guys, too," Blaine said. "We all missed you this summer, but it was great to have your parents around."

"I missed you," Grant said, still latching on to Ryan.

"We were gone, too!" Emma laughed.

"I missed you guys too, but especially Ryan," Grant said.

"It'll pass," Blaine whispered. "His worshipping of Ryan is probably just a phase."

"Our bags are at the baggage claim," Ryan said.

Blaine nodded. "Let's go get them." They walked to JFK's baggage claim and found their suitcases right away, but Grant wouldn't let go of Ryan. So Blaine carried Ryan's additional bags, while Emma and Sarah each carried their own. Blaine hailed for a taxi and told the kids as they got in, "You are going to love the apartment."

Emma's mood got better as she looked out the taxi window on the way to the apartment building. She'd loved New York her whole life, so living here probably wouldn't be too hard. She sent a quick text to her boyfriend and her friends back home, telling them she was in New York and safe, and then turned off her phone. Talking to them right now would probably just make her sad and homesick.

The cab finally got to the building. As they got out with their luggage, Sarah breathed, "This is it?"

"This is it," Blaine said. "Your apartment is on the 21st floor."

"Holy shit," Ryan said.

"Ryan, don't talk that way in front of Grant," Blaine said. "Your parents gave me a key. Let's go in."

Emma followed Blaine into the building as they got on the elevator. It moved slowly up until it was finally on the 21st floor. She followed Blaine down the hall until they were in front of an apartment. Blaine got out a key and unlocked the door. When he unlocked the door, Rachel ran into the living room and let out an excited scream. "My children!"

"Mom, I missed you," Emma said, hugging her mother tightly.
"I missed you too, sweetie," Rachel said. "All of you." She hugged Ryan and Sarah, then looked at Blaine. "Thanks for getting them. I couldn't get to the airport in time after rehearsal..."

"It was our idea to get them, you know I love my nieces and nephews," Blaine said. "Kurt and the boys should be here later."

Finn came out of Zoe's room, carrying Zoe. He quickly handed Zoe to Rachel and ran over to the kids. "We missed you all!"

"I missed you too," Emma said, hugging her dad.

"I'm glad we're here," Sarah said.

"So are we, believe me," Rachel said.

Emma went over to Rachel, who was holding Zoe. "Hey, Zoe!" She gave her littlest sister a kiss. Zoe looked up at her.

"I think she missed you guys, too!" Rachel said.

"Do you guys want to see your rooms?" Finn asked.

"Yeah, that would be awesome," Ryan said.

Finn led the kids down the hall, showing them each their room. Emma was surprised how much her room here looked just like her room back home. "We made sure we made your rooms look just like they do at home," Finn said.

Emma smiled at him. "Thank you." She didn't know what this year would hold, but for now, she was just glad to be back with her family.

Chapter 3 preview: Finn takes Ryan, Emma and Sarah to see Rachel on Broadway. More of Rachel with the cast and crew. The kids talk to people from back home.