Somewhere, Ohio Chapter 4: This is Us, a glee fanfic

A/N As some of you may have already read, the last couple of weeks have been a real roller coaster ride for me. I am in negotiations with a composer and a lyricist to work on my Musical script, but my husband lost his job, so we've both been under a lot of stress. My son went back to school this week, too, which means I'm back at work, which will help out some, but I only work 1.25 hours a day, five days a week. Not enough to make up for Hubby's lost wages, but enough to keep us afloat until he can find a new job. He already has a couple of good prospects.

Anyway, the poll on this story ended with a tie between Broadway and Modern Movie Musicals. I think I can work with that...

P.S. Five points to the first person who can guess where the character Johnny gets his name from. There is a big clue in the very first paragraph of this chapter!

Reviews are always welcome!

…

This is Us

Sunday dinner with the Griers was pleasant. Both Kurt and Blaine were happy to catch up with Annie and John. Kurt had a lot of respect for Annie. She'd been nineteen when she got pregnant with Johnny, and had raised him all alone after her fiance, a volunteer firefighter, had died in an apartment fire. An only child herself, whose parents were much older, she worked three jobs in a small town in Indiana to make certain her son had the best of everything.

When John had expressed an interest in music and acting at the tender age of six, she had sold everything she had owned and moved them to New York so her son could attend a prestigious school for the performing arts. He'd had minor roles in a couple commercials, had been an extra in a revival of Newsies, and had done some community theater when he'd heard about an open casting call for an original Broadway musical.

He had auditioned for the role of Kris Henderson in Somewhere, Ohio, on his fourteenth birthday, and had literally blown both Kurt and Blaine away. His vocal range was nearly as wide as Kurt's, and his personality was just the perfect combination of shy nerd and sassy come backs that made people want to protect him and laugh with him at the same time.

Annie had been there throughout the entire time, and could have been a typical stage mom, making outrageous demands for her child, but instead she just offered her love and support, baked cookies for the crew, and seemed genuinely surprised when Kurt or Blaine asked her opinion on a scene or two. The two together were remarkable. When Annie caught a cold halfway through rehearsals, Johnnie dropped everything to take care of her for two days straight.

Of course, Kurt was completely aware that the boy had a bit of a crush on Blaine, but as usual, his husband was totally oblivious. Kurt didn't mind, he thought it was kind of cute, and who could blame him? Who wouldn't have a bit of a crush on his adorkable husband?

They said goodnight to their guests around nine o'clock and got the kids settled off to bed, before retiring for the night.

Kurt had to be up extra early the next morning, as he and Burt were going to be interviewed for Good Morning, America, and had to be at the local affiliate at six. He fixed lunches for the kids and Blaine, putting notes in each of their bags to remind them how much he loved them.

When he arrived at the studio, he was surprised to bump into George Mathers coming out one of the dressing rooms. They spoke politely for a few moments when another man came down the hallway. Kurt blinked in surprise.

"Oh, Sebastian," George greeted the new comer. "This is Kurt Hummel, my opponent. This is Sebastian Smythe, my campaign manager."

"We've met before," Kurt said, hoping the disdain wasn't apparent.

"Hello, Kurt. Long time no see. How is Blaine?"

"Happily married, and teaching at McKinley high school. If you'll excuse me, I have to get ready for my interview." Kurt slipped into the dressing room he'd been assigned, and was glad to see his dad there.

"Kurt? What's up, kiddo?"

Kurt sighed. "Just ran into someone I'd hoped I'd never see again. Don't worry about it. Are you ready for this?"

Burt laughed. "I'm fine, I'm used to this."

A gentle tapping on the door preceded a female voice calling out, "five minutes, Senator, Mr. Hummel."

…

Blaine walked into the music room Monday morning, smiling at the students already gathered there.

"Good morning everyone! For those who haven't already met me, I'm Mr. Anderson! I'm looking forward to getting to know each and everyone of you this year! So let's jump right into this week's assignment, shall we?"

He walked to the whiteboard and wrote in big letters; Musicals.

"I want each one of you to chose a song from a musical that represents who you are. It can be from Broadway, or from a modern movie musical. Everyone will have the chance to stand up here in front of the class and introduce yourself through song."

A girl in the front row raised her hand. "Mr. Anderson? I have a song ready already, if I may."

Blaine smiled at the pretty blonde girl with a somewhat familiar face. "Yes, and you are?"

She smiled. "I'm Beth Corcoran."

Ah, that was why she seemed familiar. This was Quinn and Puck's daughter, the one they had given up in high school, and was adopted by Shelby Corcoran.

"Okay, Beth, why don't you come up here and tell us a little bit about yourself."

She strode to the front of the room, exuding an air of confidence, much like one Rachel Berry. "Hi, I'm Beth, I'm seventeen, and my goal in life is to be a star! I'm going to sing a song from The Greatest Showman."

She set her iPod in the dock, and hit play. As the music began to play, Blaine smiled as he recognized it.

I am not a stranger to the dark
Hide away, they say
'Cause we don't want your broken parts
I've learned to be ashamed of all my scars
Run away, they say
No one'll love you as you are

But I won't let them break me down to dust
I know that there's a place for us
For we are glorious

The girl's voice was flawless, and Blaine couldn't help but wonder if she was channeling Rachel's spirit right then. Shelby hadn't been a part of her biological daughter's life as a child, but Rachel had definitely inherited her birth mother's talent. Beth wasn't biologically Shelby's child, but you could see her influence in this girl's skill vocally.

When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I'm meant to be, this is me
Look out 'cause here I come
And I'm marching on to the beat I drum
I'm not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me

Some of the other students joined in, singing along, and Blaine loved it. It reminded him of when he joined New Directions all those years ago. No matter their differences or what they were going through outside of this room, the music always brought them together.

Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh

Another round of bullets hits my skin
Well, fire away 'cause today, I won't let the shame sink in
We are bursting through the barricades and
Reaching for the sun (we are warriors)
Yeah, that's what we've become (yeah, that's what we've become)

I won't let them break me down to dust
I know that there's a place for us
For we are glorious

Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh
This is me

and I know that I deserve your love
(Oh-oh-oh-oh) 'cause there's nothing I'm not worthy of
(Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh)
When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out
This is brave, this is proof
This is who I'm meant to be, this is me

Look out 'cause here I come (look out 'cause here I come)
And I'm marching on to the beat I drum (marching on, marching, marching on)
I'm not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me

When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out
I'm gonna send a flood
Gonna drown them out
Oh
This is me

The group clapped enthusiastically when she finished, and Blaine joined them. "Wow, Beth, that was amazing! What a way to kick off the school year. Does anyone else want to come up and show us what you've got?"

A few students raised their hands, including Danny and Johnnie, but Blaine pointed to a boy in the back row, half hidden behind the sound equipment. "You, there, why don't you come up and introduce yourself."

The boy was about five feet, ten inches tall, with black hair and green eyes. He was a little on the stocky side, built like a linebacker. He also seemed familiar to Blaine. When he spoke, his voice was deep for someone his age. "My name is Alexander. People call me Xander. I'm fourteen, and a junior. I skipped a few years."

Blaine smiled. "Great! Let's hear you sing!"

Music once again filled the room, and Blaine drew in a breath of surprise. If the boy could pull this off, he knew that no one would be able to challenge New Directions this year.

I am not throwing away my shot
I am not throwing away my shot
Hey yo, I'm just like my country
I'm young, scrappy and hungry
And I'm not throwing away my shot
I'm 'a get a scholarship to King's College
I prob'ly shouldn't brag, but dag, I amaze and astonish
The problem is I got a lot of brains but no polish
I gotta holler just to be heard
With every word, I drop knowledge
I'm a diamond in the rough, a shiny piece of coal
Tryin' to reach my goal my power of speech, unimpeachable
Only nineteen but my mind is older
These New York City streets get colder, I shoulder
Every burden, every disadvantage
I have learned to manage, I don't have a gun to brandish
I walk these streets famished
The plan is to fan this spark into a flame
But damn, it's getting dark, so let me spell out the name
I am the A-L-E-X-A-N-D-E-R we are meant to be

Blaine couldn't believe what he was hearing from the fourteen year old, who seemed so mature for his age! With this amount of talent, there was no way New Directions wouldn't make it to Nationals this year. The problem would be trying to narrow down their song selections and deciding who would get the solos, which would be a lot harder than he'd originally thought it would be.

A colony that runs independently
Meanwhile, Britain keeps shittin' on us endlessly
Essentially, they tax us relentlessly
Then King George turns around, runs a spending spree
He ain't ever gonna set his descendants free
So there will be a revolution in this century
Enter me, he says in parentheses

Don't be shocked when your hist'ry book mentions me
I will lay down my life if it sets us free
Eventually, you'll see my ascendancy

And I am not throwing away my shot
I am not throwing away my shot
Hey yo, I'm just like my country
I'm young, scrappy and hungry
And I'm not throwing away my shot

I am not throwing away my shot
I am not throwing away my shot
Hey yo, I'm just like my country
I'm young, scrappy and hungry
And I'm not throwing away my shot
It's time to take a shot

I dream of life without a monarchy
The unrest in France will lead to onarchy?
Onarchy how you say, how you say, anarchy?
When I fight, I make the other side panicky
With my, shot

Yo, I'm a tailor's apprentice
And I got y'all knuckleheads in loco parentis
I'm joining the rebellion 'cause I know it's my chance
To socially advance, instead of sewin' some pants
I'm gonna take a shot

But we'll never be truly free
Until those in bondage have the same rights as you and me
You and I. Do or die. Wait till I sally in
On a stallion with the first black battalion
Have another shot

Geniuses, lower your voices
You keep out of trouble and you double your choices
I'm with you, but the situation is fraught
You've got to be carefully taught
If you talk, you're gonna get shot

Burr, check what we got
Mister Lafayette, hard rock like Lancelot
I think your pants look hot
Laurens, I like you a lot
Let's hatch a plot blacker than the kettle callin' the pot
What are the odds the gods would put us all in one spot
Poppin' a squat on conventional wisdom, like it or not
A bunch of revolutionary manumission abolitionists?
Give me a position, show me where the ammunition is

Oh, am I talkin' too loud?
Sometimes I get over excited, shoot off at the mouth
I never had a group of friends before
I promise that I'll make y'all proud

Let's get this guy in front of a crowd

I am not throwing away my shot
I am not throwing away my shot
Hey yo, I'm just like my country
I'm young, scrappy and hungry
And I'm not throwing away my shot

Everybody sing
Whoa, whoa, whoa
Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa
Ay, let 'em hear ya

As they had on Beth's song, the rest of the class didn't hesitate to jump in and join the song. Blaine was clapping along, laughing, plans racing through his mind to make certain each and everyone of his talented students had a chance to shine.

Let's go

Whoa, whoa, whoa I said shout it to the rooftops
Whoa, whoa, whoa said, to the rooftops
Whoa, whoa, whoa come on

Come on, let's go
Rise up
When you're living on your knees, you rise up
Tell your brother that he's gotta rise up
Tell your sister that she's gotta rise up

When are these colonies gonna rise up?
When are these colonies gonna rise up?
When are these colonies gonna rise up?
When are these colonies gonna rise up?

Rise up
I imagine death so much it feels more like a memory
When's it gonna get me?
In my sleep, seven feet ahead of me?
If I see it comin', do I run or do I let it be?
Is it like a beat without a melody?
See, I never thought I'd live past twenty
Where I come from some get half as many
Ask anybody why we livin' fast and we laugh, reach for a flask
We have to make this moment last, that's plenty

Scratch that this is not a moment, it's the movement
Where all the hungriest brothers with something to prove went?
Foes oppose us, we take an honest stand
We roll like Moses, claimin' our promised land
And? If we win our independence?
'Zat a guarantee of freedom for our descendants?
Or will the blood we shed begin an endless cycle of vengeance and death with no defendants?
I know the action in the street is excitin'
But Jesus, between all the bleedin' 'n fightin'
I've been readin' 'n writin'
We need to handle our financial situation
Are we a nation of states what's the state of our nation?
I'm past patiently waitin' I'm passionatelymashin' every expectation
Every action's an act of creation
I'm laughin' in the face of casualties and sorrow
For the first time, I'm thinkin' past tomorrow

And I am not throwing away my shot
I am not throwing away my shot
Hey yo, I'm just like my country
I'm young, scrappy and hungry
And I'm not throwing away my shot

We're gonna rise up (time to take a shot)
We're gonna rise up (time to take a shot)
We're gonna, rise up, rise up

It's time to take a shot
Rise up, rise up, it's time to take a shot
Rise up, it's time to take a shot
Rise up, take a shot, shot, shot
It's time to take a shot, time to take a shot
And I am not throwing away my shot
Not throwing away my shot

As the song ended and the kids settled into their seats, Blaine stood before them beaming.

"Well, now we have a huge problem. There are just way too many talented people in this group! How am I ever going to narrow down our set lists for competitions when each and every one of you deserve a solo? You guys are amazing! I can't wait to hear the rest of you sing!"

By the end of class, they had two more performances. Johnnie sang Shine From the Shadows, from Somewhere, Ohio, and Blaine teased him that it wasn't fair singing Blaine's character's theme song. Johnnie had laughed and replied that it did describe him, though, so Blaine let him get away with it. The other student, a girl named Sarah Michaels, sang Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now from Hairspray.

Blaine spent the rest of the day (between teaching classical guitar and music theory,) making sure New Directions and the other three choirs were registered with the state show choir board for all upcoming competitions. Besides Sectionals, there were three invitationals and a Battle of Choirs that they were qualified to attend. This would give them a chance to give more people opportunities for solos, but also give them a chance to size up potential competition.

At the end of the day, Blaine was making a mental grocery list in his head when he spotted a familiar figure waiting with the other parents picking up students.

"Dave?"

The large man turned and looked at him in surprise. "Blaine? What are you doing here? There is no way you have a kid in high school!"

Blaine laughed at the former football player. "No, I teach here! What are you doing here?"

"Dad!" A voice interrupted. Blaine turned to see Xander running towards them, and suddenly it clicked as to why the boy had seemed familiar. Blaine turned to the older man, who looked a little embarrassed.

"Yeah, he's mine. Long story."

Blaine smiled. "I'd like to hear it sometime. It's good to see you, Dave. I'm sure Kurt would like to see you again, too."

Dave Karofsky laughed. "I don't know about that. But tell him congratulations on his Tony win, and good luck on his Senate bid!"

Xander looked between his dad and his teacher. "You two know each other?"

"Uh, yeah," Blaine said, not knowing what to say about his ex boyfriend in front of said ex's son.

"We knew each other in school," Dave said, not looking Blaine in the eye.

After an awkward moment of silence, Blaine cleared his voice. "Well, Dave, it was great seeing you again, hope we can catch up sometime. Xander, it was great meeting you today, you have an amazing voice. I'll see you tomorrow."

He shook their hands and made his way to his SUV. He couldn't believe just how small a world it was.

…

Kurt picked the kids up later that afternoon, after Lizzie's first Baking club meeting, and Bee's second piano lesson with Marley. His daughter talked non stop on the way home about her day, and what she was most looking forward to making in Baking club.

They arrived at home as Blaine was just starting to unload the groceries, and helped him carry them in.

"You'll never guess who I bumped into today..." both Kurt and Blaine said at the same time. They laughed.

"You first," Blaine said, kissing his husband, and hugging him close.

"Sebastian Smythe was at the TV station today. Apparently he is George Mather's campaign manager."

"Sebastian? I thought he moved to LA and married that big shot lawyer, what's his name..."

"Yeah, well apparently he's back in Ohio. Your turn. Who did you bump into today?"

"Dave Karofsky."

"Dave? Where?"

"At the school. Get this, he has a fourteen year old son who is some kind of genius who skipped a few years and is not only a junior, but is in New Directions! And the kid, Xander, can sing!"

"Really? That's great!"

"Yeah! Oh, and Dave said to tell you congratulations on your Tony, and good luck on the Senate bid."

They continued to talk about their day as they put the groceries away and began fixing dinner together.

"Oh, I almost forgot, guess who else is in New Directions?"

"Who?"

"Beth Corcoran! I swear you'd think she was Rachel's daughter rather than Quinn's. She's got the same drive and personality, but fortunately it is balanced out with Quinn's poise and golden heart."

"Wow, that is amazing."

As they ate dinner, and he watched his family laughing and talking, or in the case of little Bee, sneaking bites of spaghetti to the large cat sitting at his feet, Kurt couldn't help but think just how much he was thankful for his life.