Really sorry about this. I had this chapter done, but forgot about it until this past week. Here's the new chapter. It's wrapping up within the next two to three chapters.


In the moonlit garden next to the glass-walled gazebo, Quinn sits on one end of a stone bench. Elbows on her knees, she knits her fingers together and stares downward.

"Hello."

Rachel approaches and stands by a tree. Quinn stands up, startled.

"I, I thought I just might find you here."

"Was - was there something you wanted?"

"Mm? No, no, no, no. Sit down, please."

Quinn is still standing.

"Please."

She sits as Rachel scans the grounds. Rachel asks permission sit down.

"Uh, may I?"

Quinn nods and Rachel sits on the opposite end of the bench, giving Quinn a friendly smile. Quinn looks self-consciously at her lap.

"You know, I was thinking and I was wondering ... two things. Why did you run away? And what was it that made you come back?"

"Well, I had an obligation to fulfill and I - I came back to fulfill it."

"Mm. Is that all?"

"And I missed the children."

"Yes. Uh, uh, only the children?"

"No. Yes! Isn't it right I should have missed them?"

"Oh, yes, yes, of course! I was, uh, only hoping that perhaps you ... perhaps you might, uh ..."

"Yes?"

"Well, uh, nothing was the same when you were away and it'll be wrong again after you leave. And I just thought perhaps you might, uh ... change your mind?"

She studies her face, then rises and walks away.

"Well, I'm sure Mr. St. James will be able to make things fine for you."

"Quinn ..."

She stops.

"There isn't going to be Mr. St. James."

"There isn't?"

She walks past her into the gazebo and she follows.

"No."

"I don't understand."

"Well, we've, um ... called off our engagement, you see, and, um..."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"Yes. You are?"

"Mm hmm. You did?"

"Yes. Well, you can't marry someone when you're in love with someone else, can you?"

Quinn shakes her head. Rachel cups her chin in her hand and pulls Quinn gently toward her. Then she kisses Quinn tenderly. She puts her head to her shoulder.

"Is that why you came back?"

Quinn nods. Quinn pulls away to look at Rachel.

"And have you found it, Quinn?"

"I think I have. I know I have."

"I love you." She kisses Quinn's forehead.

"Oh, can this be happening to me?"

Perhaps I had a wicked childhood
Perhaps I had a miserable youth

Rachel raises her eyebrows.

But somewhere in my wicked, miserable past
There must have been a moment of truth

For here you are, standing there, loving me
Whether or not you should

So somewhere in my youth or childhood
I must have done something good
Nothing comes from nothing
Nothing ever could

So somewhere in my youth or childhood
I must have done something good

"Do you know when I first started loving you? That night at the dinner table when you sat on that tact."

Rachel laughs.

"What? (laughs) I knew the first time you answered the door."

"Oh, my love."

They stand in the gazebo doorway, silhouetted in moonlight.

For here you are, standing there, loving me
Whether or not you should

So somewhere in my youth or childhood
I must have done something good

Nothing comes from nothing
Nothing ever could

So somewhere in my youth

Or childhood

I must have done something ...

Quinn wrappers her arms around Rachel's waist while Rachel wraps hers around Quinn's neck.

Something good

They kiss.

"Quinn? Is there anyone I should go to to ask permission to marry you?"

"Well, why don't we ask ..."

"... the children?" They both said.


Weeks later after Rachel and Quinn got married, Canada has invaded the US and not many people are happy. Noah is with the children rehearsing them for the festival that night when Sam Evans walks up to them.

"Mr. Puckerman."

"Oh, good afternoon, Mr. Evans."

"I have just come from the house of Rachel Hudson-Fabray. Incidentally, the only one in the neighborhood not flying the flag of the Canadian Nation since the invasion. But we have dealt with that situation. The housekeeper told me that I would find you here. It was the only information the woman would give me."

"What kind of information are you looking for?"

"We want to know when Rachel will be returning."

"Well, she's on her honeymoon trip. Uh, she's not been in touch with us."

"Are you asking me to believe that she has not communicated with her children in over a month?"

"Mr. Evans, how many women do you know who communicate with their children while on their honeymoon?"

"When she does return, she will be expected to fill her proper position in the new order."

"Naturally, naturally, and may I congratulate you, that is, your people, on deciding to allow the festival to go on tonight as planned?"

"Why should it not go on? Nothing in America has changed. Singing and music will show this to the world. America is the same."

Mr. Evans walks away.

"Come on, children, let's go home." Noah said to the children.

"Why was he so cross?" Kim asked

"Everybody's cross these days, darling." Noah answered

"Is mother going to be in trouble?" Lea asked.

"Well, she doesn't have to be. The thing to do these days is to get along with everybody. I want you all to remember that tonight at the concert."

"Are we really going to sing before a whole lot of people tonight?"

"Of course, look. (off the festival program) The Hudson-Fabray Family Singers. Here are your names - Lea, Caleb, Sarah, James, Janelle, Kayla and Kim."

"Why am I always last?"

"Because you are the most important."

"Ohhh!"

"There we go."

Outside the amphitheater, the children follow Noah to a large open car and start to climb in.

"Uncle Noah, are you sure mother will approve of our singing in public?" Janelle asked.

"Oh, she'll be pleased and proud."

"Lea, do you think so?"

"Don't you trust me?"

"No!"

"You're a very intelligent girl."

Cory appears, in an Canadian uniform.

"Lea! Lea!"

"Cory! Cory, I'm so glad to see you. It's been such -"

"Good afternoon. You will take this please and deliver it to your mother as soon as she comes home."

"She's on her honeymoon."

"I know that."

"You do?"

"We make it our business to know everything about everyone."

"Who's we?"

"See that she gets it."

"What is it?"

"It's a message from Toronto."

"Don't you want to come over tonight and deliver it yourself?"

"I'm now occupied with more important matters. And your mother better be too if she knows what's good for her."

"But, Cory -"

Cory turns and walks away from Lea without so much as a backward glance. Lea sadly watches him go.

Rachel yanks down a Canadian flag from above her front door. She rips the flag in half. Noah and the children pull into the driveway. Rachel rolls up the flag and hides it behind her back.

"Mother! You came so soon."

"Hello. Hello. Hello."

"We didn't expect you so soon."

"We wanted to meet your train. Did you bring us anything?"

The children swarm around Rachel and Quinn.

"Hello. How are you?"

"Oh, why didn't you telephone us?"

"Well, we tried to, but we couldn't get through. We tried -"

Rachel shows the flag to Noah.

"I had nothing to do with that, Rach."

"We came back as fast as we could." Rachel said quietly to Noah, placing the rolled up flag into the car.

Rachel joins Quinn and the children, snatching up Kayla and giving her a big hug.

"Well, well, well, well, well! We missed you!"

"We missed kissing you good night."

"We missed all the noise you make in the morning telling each other to be quiet."

The children laugh.

"Mostly, we missed hearing you sing."

"Oh, you came back just in time."

Janelle takes a program from Noah's hand and shows it to Quinn.

"Look, Ms. Fabray, I mean mama..." Janelle said.

The children laugh. Rachel winks at Quinn.

"We're going to sing in the festival tonight."

"What?"

As the children all chatter at once, Rachel takes the program and shoots Noah a dirty look. Noah tries to laugh it off.

"Surprise! Surprise!"

Rachel manages a grin and a chuckle.

"All right! Surprises for you on the terrace."

"Presents! Oh, good!"

Quinn, Lea, Noah, and Rachel walk inside.

"Rach, I would have told you but you were away. I had to make a last-minute decision. I was fortunate to enter them all."

"Noah ..."

"They'll be the talk of the festival. Imagine seven children in one family."

"Noah! Somehow I recall having made it quite clear to you how I feel about my family singing in public."

"But the committee heard them. They were enchanted."

"Oh, Noah, what did they say?" Quinn asked.

"I have never heard such enthusiasm."

"Oh, darling, don't you think just this once ... ?" Quinn asked her wife.

"Absolutely out of the question."

"Rach, this is for America."

"For America? (laughs darkly) There is no America!"

"But the invasion happened peacefully. Let's at least be grateful for that."

"Grateful! You know, Noah, sometimes I don't believe I know you."

Lea pulls out Cory's message.

"Mother, I forgot. This is for you."

Lea walks over and hands Rachel the message. She takes it and walks off. Quinn and Lea watch worriedly. Noah presses his thumb to his lips.

"Quinn, she's got to at least to pretend to work with these people. You must convince her."

"Noah, I can't ask her to be less than she is."

"Then I'll talk to her. If the children don't sing at the festival, well, it'll be a reflection on America. I know, it wouldn't do me any good, either."

As he leaves, Quinn and Lea walk arm in arm to the drawing room.

"Mama?"

"Hm?"

"That sounds so nice. I like calling you Mama."

"I like hearing it."

"You love Mother very much. I can tell you do."

"Very much."

"Mama, what do you do when you think you love someone, I mean, when you stop loving someone or when he stops loving you?"

They sit on a small sofa.

"Well, you cry a little and then you wait for the sun to come out. It always does."

"There's so many things I think I should know. But I don't. I really don't."

"How can you?"

"Sometimes I feel the world is coming to an end."

"And then you feel it's just beginning?"

"Yes."

"It was that way with me, Lea. And for you it will be just as wonderful I promise."

"Do you really think so?" Quinn nods.

When you're sixteen going on seventeen
Waiting for life to start
Somebody kind who touches your mind
Will suddenly touch your heart

When that happens, after it happens
Nothing is quite the same
Somehow I know I'll jump up and go
If ever he calls my name

Gone are your old ideas of life
The old ideas grow dim
Lo and behold you're someone's wife
And you belong to him

You may think this kind of adventure
Never may come to you
Darling, sixteen going on seventeen
Wait a year ..

I'll wait a year ...

... or two ...
Just ...

... wait a year or two

They grin and touch foreheads. Suddenly, Rachel appears with the opened message in her hand. Her expression is grave.

"Lea!" Rachel calls out.

Rachel beckons to Lea, then nods for her to leave. She rises, her grin fading. Rachel gives her hand a reassuring squeeze and pats her cheek with the backs of her fingers. Smiling, she hurries out.

"What it is?" Rachel holds out the message.

"Toronto. They've offered me a commission in their Army."

"Army? But you're a police officer."

"They know that and I've been requested to accept immediately and report to their army base in Quebec tomorrow."

"I knew something like this would happen. I didn't think it would be so soon."

"To refuse them would be fatal for all of us. And joining them would be - unthinkable."

She kisses Quinn on the forehead, slips an arm around her shoulders, and they walk into the front hall.

"Get the children all together. Don't say anything that's going to make them worry. Just get them ready. We've got to get out of America and this house ... (scans the front hall) ... tonight."

Quinn looks at her nervously, then Rachel pulls her into a comforting hug.


For all those who are Canadians and who read this story, I'm sorry. I know that the US and Canada are allies, but I just needed this to work in the story.