Still Always Me & You
Chapter Seven
Sixth Author's Note: Hi, all. I am so very sorry for my lack of updates over the past month or so. I've just…just felt so uninspired lately. I have been having friend issues, my Dad is home recuperating from a major surgery, and I've just been sad. Usually writing helps me, but it hasn't this time. I also don't quite know how to properly finish with this part of the story. I admit, I don't know a lot about Mr. Monteith. I never really understood his character, but he was a major part of GLEE and that's why I want to honor him in this way. Please bear with me as this chapter might be a little shorter than others.
I'm sorry for keeping you hanging. I hope you haven't lost interest.
Thank you.
The Day of the Memorial Episode and Memorial Service
Naya, Heather, Jeannie, and Liz made the trip to the studio in almost complete silence. Looking back on that experience, Naya and Heather are amazed that Liz was able to control herself, being that she was an infant at the time.
As Naya was pulling into their parking space in the lot, Jeannie was the first to ask, "Where do you want me and Liz to wait?"
"No where, you're coming with us," Heather looked in the rearview mirror at her Mom and smirked.
"We won't be in the way?"
"Not at all, Mom," Naya said after she parked and turned off the car.
They all got out and began to walk to Naya's trailer to put all their stuff down. Jeannie noticed Lea in the distance, so she yelled out, "Lea!"
Jeannie never thought that Lea would hear her. To her surprise, Lea turned and immediately ran to Jeannie who recognized what was happening. She opened her arms and Lea ran into them. Jeannie closed her arms around Lea and squeezed tightly.
Lea began to cry against Jeannie's chest.
"There, there, Lea…it's okay!" Jeannie said as she rubbed Lea's back tenderly.
"Thank you for coming," Lea said through her tears.
"He meant a lot to me. I felt like I needed to be here. For you, for my daughters, and mostly for Cory!" Jeannie said and got emotional.
Dianna had found them all and began to rub Lea's shoulders too. Pretty soon, Lea let Jeannie go and fell into her wife's arms.
"I love you, Lea," Dianna continued to chant. She even left little kisses on Lea's neck after each time she made her declaration.
A little while later, they all went to the studio for the very first scene. Everyone was there even though they weren't required to be there. Before the scene began they stood side-by-side and grasped each other's hands. Naya looked to her left and then she looked to her right and in that moment in time, she felt the solidarity that GLEE was supposed to be. In those precious moments there were no cat fights, no negotiations, no studio, well, crap. Just a group of friends who came together to bid farewell to a guy who was like a brother to most of them.
They all watched the episode play out and when it was over there was a deafening round of applause from both the entire cast and crew. They immediately hugged each other. They cried with each other. They were truly a family in those moments.
An hour later there was an announcement to meet in the auditorium. The cast instinctively hung around Heather's trailer so that they all could go there together as a sign of solidarity for Cory. They all held onto another person's hand as they marched towards the auditorium and to their new reality.
As the group got closer and closer they were met with a few reporters, camera people, and well-wishers who were associated with the production company. Some of them knew Cory and some didn't. It didn't matter if they knew him or not.
They walked into the large rom and expected it to be just them and the production. Surprisingly, they were surrounded by their families and friends.
The Rivera family waved at Naya and Heather. Jeannie sat with them and they all made sure Liz would sit through the occasion.
Even though Lea and Dianna's families weren't present they had spoken to them during the time after Cory had passed.
Ryan got up and approached the stage. Once there he began to speak, "Hello, thank you all for coming today to honor our friend and cast mate, Cory. He was a great man who is gone way too soon. He was loved by all of us here and his fans have been honoring him and mourning his passing. There hasn't been a day that has gone by that there wasn't a bouquet of flowers outside from a fan or a letter that we received telling us how much and how deeply Cory had touched their lives…"
He began to rub at his eyes. "This is what truly matters. What Cory was able to do and accomplish in his life was amazing and it should be set as an example to all to strive for what you want. Don't ever think that you're unworthy of it. Umm, so now, I would like to call up anyone who wants to share their favorite Cory moment or how he had impacted their life…"
He stepped away.
There was a few seconds awkward silence until Jeannie got up, flattened out her skirt and walked with her head held high up to the stage.
Once she got to the microphone, she began, "For those of you who may not know who I am, my name is Jeannie Morris and Heather and Naya's Mom. Since their marriage and wedding ceremony, Cory and I had kept in constant contact. We had a standing phone conversation every Friday. We talked about everything under the sun like his past, his future, love, marriage, being a good person, the afterlife, the idea of the existence of "God" or a higher power. There wasn't anything that was off limits to us. A little while before his passing I had asked him to call me, "Mom." I had grown to love and care very deeply for this amazing young man and I wanted him to know that he'd always have me. Being the good person he was he told me he'd have to ask my daughter for permission. When Heather found out they immediately called me and I was overjoyed. Heather had never had a brother being that she has two sisters. I could hear the excitement in her voice at the idea. That was the day I became Cory's 'Mom'. When I was told the horrifying news of his passing, I was obviously shocked since I had spoken to him that same day. When I hung up with Heather I grieved for my son. I grieved like any parent would if they had lost a child way too soon. I thought, 'Did I miss something? Was there something that he was trying to tell me that didn't pick up on?" Then I realized, Cory wouldn't want me to live the rest of my life always questioning if there was something I missed from our conversations that would have helped him. My friends, this is what we must hold on to. Hold on to the good times you had with Cory. Hold on to his laughter, his smile, and how he made you feel. Remember that he'd do anything to help someone else. So remember his generous spirit. By keeping Cory in your hearts you'll be honoring him and he'll look down at you from wherever he is. And he'll be smiling. Thank you."
As Jeannie stepped away from the podium the auditorium erupted with applause. Heather and Naya stood up and clapped for their Mom. Lea frantically wiped tears from her eyes. Dianna just sat there in silence as she let the magnitude of the message Jeannie shared sink in.
Ryan walked back over to the podium and was about to say something when Lea jumped out of her seat and bum rushed the stage.
Once on stage, she walked timidly over to the microphone and pulled it lower so that she could be heard.
"Um, I just want to say a few words if I may. Cory was the first love of my life. He was my shoulder to lean on and my hand to hold. For a very long time, I thought we'd get married. But then something happened. We kinda fell outta love. We still were there for each other both professionally and personally, but he somehow knew that he needed to let me go. He knew without me even having to tell him. When I first sound out about his passing, I hated the person who told me for a second…Sorry, Naya!' Lea said as she looked down at Naya with a small smile. Naya brushed it off.
"As the news sank deeper and deeper into my heart as a harsh reality I clung tightly to those who I loved. I told my wife, Dianna, not to ever leave me. Looking back on my comment to my amazing, loving, and beautiful wife, I realized it was childish to ask that of her. I also know that she'll always be with me because we love each other. That goes for me and Cory as well. We never lose the ones who love us and who we love because love creates a special bond. They are constantly looking down on us as they guide us through this life. So please remember this: Cory is looking down on all of us and he's waiting for us to do something amazing. We better not let him down," Lea concluded. Before she left the microphone she began to sing, "Good-bye my lover, good-bye my friend, you have been the one…you have been the one for me!"
As she descended the steps the room again erupted with applause for her. Dianna stood up and as Lea was walking to her she opened her arms wide for her wife to walk into. Then they hugged tightly.
"I love you," Lea whispered.
"I love you more," Dianna whispered back.
After a few more people spoke on how Cory had impacted their life.
Then Ryan walked back on stage carrying a large picture with a cloth over it.
"This is to memorialize Cory," he simply said as he pulled the cloth off of the frame. Staring at the crowd was a huge photo of Cory's smiling face. Under the photo was a caption which read, "Cory Monteith: May 11th, 1982 – July 13th, 2013 ~ Always in our heart!"
Ryan stepped up to the microphone and said, "This plaque will be placed in the entranceway of the studio for all who come in and out to remember what a great man we have lost. Thank you family and friends for coming to honor his memory."
Everyone clapped again and then they began to leave the auditorium.
Song: "Good-Bye my Lover" by James Blunt
