Author's Note: I just wanted to say thank you to all those of you who have supported this story. The original planned cycle of 'Fall To Grace' ends here in this chapter, so I'm taking a break from it for now to focus on other projects. Maybe if I have more ideas for where to take this story I will return to it, but for now, Fall to Grace is complete, with the story that I planned ending here. So once again, thank you everyone for the support and to those who sent me PMs I want to say a big thank you! Fingers crossed you are content with this chapter and the way the story ends. I've got a couple of things planned at the moment. 'Kaleidoscope' will be a new long piece (currently planned at around 17 chapters, so by far my longest piece), while Obsessions is a oneshot left over from the period between If I Don't Get Up and this. Hopefully I will get that up soon, but for now, here's the final chapter of Fall to Grace! Thank you once again!
"Rory, I need you to understand. People in this town can be so cruel. I don't want them to hurt you. Not for loving me. If I could sell my soul for your happiness I would". Sam looked into his boyfriend's eyes. He was searching for understanding, for confirmation that Rory felt the same, for anything. What he didn't expect to see was Rory lean in and kiss him again. "Rory stop. Don't you understand? Being with me, it will hurt you. I couldn't bear for that to happen. And why would you want me anyway? I'm disgusting". Rory's eyes widened to Sam's words. Had he really just said that? Had he just said he was disgusting?
"Sam, I understand. It's you that doesn't seem to get it. I wouldn't ever let you sell your soul for my happiness, because your soul is what creates my happiness. However much anybody hurts me, I don't care, because the feelings that you create in me are so much… more. They just are more. And don't let me ever hear you say you are disgusting again. Like I said, you're perfect. Believe me, please?" Sam shrugged at Rory's words, before nodding his head. The Irish boy could see that his partner hadn't really stopped thinking that he was trouble for Rory though. The problem was that he didn't know how to prove to Sam that he was so worth it. He reached his arm around Sam, and pulled him in close, nuzzling into his blond hair with his nose. He hated seeing Sam like this, but what could he do? It was like those films, where the hero can see what's wrong, but he just doesn't know how to change it. He felt like living dead. He couldn't help his boyfriend, so what was the point? No, that was defeatist thinking. He couldn't think like Sam was, he had to be the strong one. That's when the idea hit him. If Rory couldn't convince Sam that he was amazing, he would just have to get more people to show him how brilliant he is. He knew exactly where to find them. "Oh, Sam, I know it's early, but I want to make us open with the glee club. We can tell them about us right? They're our friends, I really want to share this with them". Sam smiled and nodded. If Rory was happy to share, he was too. He had seen the members and how they treated homosexuality as no biggy. They would be fine with it.
Rory looked around the circle of his friends. He had called a secret meeting of the glee club, and had invited everyone apart from Sam. The group looked a little confused as to why they were here, but with some support from Santana, he had managed to get them to gather into this orderly circle. "Guys, I want to talk to you all about something really important. It's about Sam". The confused faces became even more questioning, and they prompted Rory to continue. "Well, we are now officially a couple. I'm pretty sure that most of you had already figured out that I had feelings for him when I sang in glee the other day, but anyway, that's not important. What is however, is his self-image. I don't know how many of you have realised this, but Sam fainted in school the other day. This was due to low blood sugar levels, caused by him not eating in an attempt to get more in shape". There were clearly audible gasps from some of the group, and everyone was clearly concerned for Sam's well-being. "I believe that it's due to his self-loathing that he has these feelings. He says he is disgusting, and I just can't leave him thinking like that, which is why I want us to do something to tell him how much he means to us, and how we are always going to be behind him. He means so much to me, I will not let him think like that". Everyone was horrified by the news they had received, but also quietly in awe of Rory's speech. The passion, the kindness, the love. It was all there, and it made for an impressive leadership figure. Rory grabbed some sheets of paper from his bag and handed them around the group. "I did this last night. I know we are all familiar with the idea of a mash-up, and so I stayed up writing this to perform to him. I hope you will all get behind me". Slowly but surely all members of the glee club nodded in agreement, signing themselves up to help Rory out in his attempt to cheer Sam up.
Sam wandered into the choir room to find he was the first here. He hadn't seen any of the other members all day, which was a surprise. Normally they would hang out with him at lunch or something like that, but today they were just no shows. Maybe they had finally learned that he was the disgusting creature he had always known he was. Rachel came into the room and sat down next to Sam, with Santana going to his other side. They gave each other a smile, and Sam wondered what was going on. Neither of the pair ever sat near him, and more, they very rarely actually made contact. That's when the music started, and the two leaned into Sam as they started to sing.
Locomotive, keep going, keep going, keep going.
Locomotive, keep going, keep going, keep going.
Locomotive, keep going, keep going, keep going.
Locomotive, don't stop rolling, don't stop rolling.
He was confused. How hadn't he known about this performance, and why were the pair singing it to an empty room? Where was the music coming from? Suddenly, the rest of the group burst into the room. Well, everyone except for Rory. Sam was worried about his boyfriend, having not seen him all day, but at the same time, incredibly distracted by the song that was taking place around him, which he had to admit was really good. The layered vocals were working with amazing effect. While Rachel and Santana carried on with their backing verse, Puck and Tina came in over the top.
You feel like you're falling backwards,
Like you're slippin' through the cracks,
Like no one would even notice,
If you left this town and never came back,
You walk outside and all you see is rain,
You look inside and all you feel is pain,
And you can't see it now.
This was when they grabbed him by the hand and he realised for the first time that the song was aimed at him. He just wished he had realised it sooner. The lyrics were perfect. Whoever had thought of this had hit the nail on the head about how he felt. They deserved a medal. He could just imagine how perfect they were as he was led down the hall towards the auditorium with the club singing to him. The perfect person. Everything clicked into place with the addition of one more voice into the throng of noise. One with an Irish accent.
But down the road the sun is shining,
In every cloud there's a silver lining,
Just keep holding on,
And every heartache makes you stronger,
But it won't be much longer,
You'll find love, you'll find peace,
And the you you're meant to be,
I know right now that's not the way you feel,
But one day you will.
Sam could feel the tears running down from his face. Rory had done all of this for him? Just to prove the point that he wasn't disgusting. For the first time in a long time, Sam had hope. Maybe he wasn't as disgusting as he thought he was. Maybe Rory did love him, really, really loved him. Sam couldn't think of anything as amazing as what his boyfriend was doing for him right now. Building him back up. Taking all the pieces and gluing them back together.
Young man, don't hide,
You'll never change if you just run away,
Young man, just hold tight,
And soon you're gonna see your brighter day,
Now in a world where innocence is quickly claimed,
It's so hard to stand your ground when you're so afraid,
No one reaches out a hand for you to hold,
When you're lost outside look inside to your soul and,
Keep going, keep going, keep going.
He really did have the most amazing partner ever. Rachel ran up to Sam, taking a break from her backing vocals while Santana carried on. She grabbed him and whispered into his ear. "Rory planned this all himself. He wrote the mash-ups and everything. Works out pretty well don't you think? He must really think you're worth it. And let's face it Sam, you really are. After Quinn, Santana and Mercedes, you really deserve the best. I wish you the best of luck". And with that, she ran back to the stage, continuing to sing.
Find the strength to rise above
You will find just what you're made of,
Just keep going, keep going, keep going.
When there's no one else,
Look inside yourself,
Like your oldest friend,
Just trust the voice within,
Then you'll find the strength,
That will guide your way,
If you will learn to begin,
To trust the voice within,
One day you will,
I'll be right here when your world starts to fall.
The music cut out, and everybody stood there on stage, watching as Rory ran up to Sam, awarding him with a massive kiss on the cheek. "Sam, don't let anyone ever tell you that you are disgusting. We all love you, we all think you're amazing. Don't you dare think like that. Promise me?" Sam nodded, trying to speak, but the words just wouldn't come out. Rory smiled. "I'll take that as a yes. Now how about we get on with the rest of our lives?" He knew it wouldn't be as simple as that. Sam knew as well. But just planning a future together was such a boost to the blonde's morale, that he just couldn't help but smile. Yeah, there would be relapses and moments when his self-esteem returned to zero, but he would have Rory there for him. They could get through it together.
So once again, thank you so much. It's really been amazing. Please review and let me know what you thought, I'd really appreciate it. It's a cheesy ending I know, but I wanted to make it happier than the finale of If I Don't Get Up. The songs I mashed up were Locomotive by Alex Winston, The Voice Within by Christina Aguilera, and One Day You Will by Lady Antebellum (you might have picked up the little hint I left about the song earlier in the story!)