As the audience filed from the hall an awkward tension began to fill it. Mr Schue had the Glee club crowded round him and they were all listening intently. Carole and Burt wondered over to their sons to congratulate them. Blaine clapped Quinn on the shoulder and wondered over there too. The rest of the Warblers had left the hall. Mickey, Dan and Laura were the only people from Living Chorus that had stayed with her. The rest had gone. Quinn had nothing to say. She bit her lip and glanced over at the New Directions. How to approach them?
Burt and Carole came over to her.
"Hello Quinn." said Carole with a smile.
"Hello." she said awkwardly. God this had to be worse than talking to them.
"How are you?"
"I'm good, thank you. How about you two?"
"We're both well.
""Can't say the same for our sons though." Burt muttered. He hadn't meant for Quinn to hear but she had
"What? What's wrong with them?"
"You" he said
"Burt" Carole said complacently
"It's true." he said "When she left they start rowing."
"Yes but then they got better, now they talk."
"What about Friday that argument was their worst argument ever."
"Yes but she fixed it."
"How?" he said disbelievingly.
"Before Finn went to Kurt I saw him looking right at Quinn." Burt was stumped, then he looked at her
"I don't want to be mean." Dan snorted. Burt gave him a look that silenced him "But it was hard around our place when you left. You may have left for all the right reasons for yourself but you didn't think how it would effect everyone else and it hurt them all." He walked away and Quinn looked back at her friends, more worried than before.
"Come on." Mickey jumped up onto the stage and the others followed him. They flopped down, Laura 'accidentally' falling against Mickey. Quinn would have rolled her eyes had she not been so worried.
"Quinn." said Laura after a short pause "They're all staring you, don't you think you should go over there."
"And say what? Hi it's good to see you all after I ran away just over a year ago and severed all contact from you. I mean what if they all react like Burt."
"Oh Quinn." said Dan. "Surely you of all people see where he's coming from. How would you feel if it were Beth in the place of Finn and Kurt. Wouldn't you be pissed that their close friend and boyfriend had just run off, with just a letter saying goodbye. No clue of where they're were going. No contact since then except for pictures they send to their baby daddy that are carefully selected to have no image of them. Wouldn't you be angry that they just tried to wipe themselves from your daughters life after being such an integral part of it?" Quinn nodded slowly, hating herself now that Dan put it that way.
"I know but I still can't just wonder over there I don't know what to say?"
"Just say hi and see where the conversation leads you." Quinn looked critically at Laura who had 'fallen' into Mickey's lap.
"You should take your own advice."
"What's that supposed to me?" Quinn just winked mysteriously and look back over at the New Directions.
As people began to file out of the hall the Glee club crowded around Mr Schue.
"I am so proud of you guys." he said. "Even if you don't win I think you've learnt a very important lesson."
"Did you know we would do that?" asked Mercedes.
"I thought you might. I had seen you and Rachel do it before in 'Take Me or Leave Me' I took a gamble and it paid off well. By the way Finn loved the alternate ending to the Finale. Good one." Finn put an arm round his brother.
"Thanks Mr Schue."
"Finn, Kurt, you were amazing!" Burt and Carole had come over to congratulate them, they were the only parents who came to the events and they only came to Nationals. "And the rest of you, too, it was brilliant."
"Yeah it was." said Burt, though the music hadn't quite been to his taste. "Say, is that really, Quinn?"
"Yes." It was Blaine. He'd appeared at Carole's shoulder. Kurt flew over and gave him a hug.
"I never knew you could rap!"
"Yeah seriously Blaine what was with that?" asked Finn
"Well we decided; Wes, David and I, that we should do something really different and we thought never have we done a rap song so there we go."
"It was good." said Puck "But not as good as Artie." the boy in the wheelchair grinned.
"What should we do about Quinn?"
"Just go talk to her." said Blaine.
"We'll go." said Burt and off he and Carole went.
They couldn't hear what they said but Quinn looked even worse then before.
"I shouldn't of let that happen." said Finn
"Yeah he probably unleashed one of his rants." added Kurt, as they watched Quinn and three other people climb onto the stage. They recognised them as the leads and Finn glared at the red haired boy as the sat down and started talking, again.
"Blaine you met Quinn didn't you?"
"What?"
"Before the show, didn't you, I saw the way you two interacted during the performances. You weren't that friendly before." everyone looked away from Quinn and her friends and at Blaine when Sam posed his question. Blaine shifted on his feet.
"Yeah, I walked in when they were singing Hakuna Matata."
"They didn't perform that." said Mr Schue.
"Yeah it was for fun, we sang her and the rest of Living Chorus Girl."
"But you didn't perform that." said Mr Schue
"I know that was the point but Mr Schue you're missing the point they're making."
"Oh."
"How come you didn't tell!" Kurt said in a quiet hiss.
"Because I knew from talking to her that she nervous about Nationals and meeting you, I mean she didn't say anything but it was sort of obvious. I didn't want to give her an extra burden. So unless one of you walked into her she wouldn't have to talk to you until after her performance, then that wait would be lifted. I was just being kind." Everyone looked a good deal less angry at Blaine and Kurt gave him another hug. They glanced back at Quinn and for a moment their eyes met. They all looked away.
"Oh that's it." said Dan. Quinn looked up.
They all looked over at him, he was glaring between them and Quinn and at the other boy and girl.
"Dan?" asked Quinn, really confused and slightly embarrassed. "What are you doing?"
"Killing two birds with one stone."
The boy Dan looked over at them and said "Can I borrow a guitar?" They all glanced at each other.
"Sure." said Mr Schue "Can we ask what we're doing?"
"I said."
"Yeah but we didn't understand."
"Well the only one concerns you and that is breaking the tension." All of the glee club looked at each other, completely confused.
Quinn buried her head in her hands when he slung the guitar over his head and onto his shoulders, Laura and Mickey were looking curiously up at him, wondering what part they were going to play.
Dan: Oh, oh, ohOh, oh, oh
You were in college, working part-time, waiting tables
Left a small town and never looked back
Quinn rolled her eyes and stood up, realising that he wanted her to sing.
Quinn: I was a flight risk, afraid of fallin'
Wondering why we bother with love, if it never lasts
Laura and Mickey got to their feet and joined the other two in the middle of the stage.
Mickey: I say, "Can you believe it?"
As we're lyin' on the couch
Laura: The moment, I can see it
Yes, yes, I can see it now
All: Do you remember, we were sittin' there, by the water?
You put your arm around me for the fist time
You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter
You are the best thing that's ever been mine
Mickey: Flash forward, and we're takin' on the world together
Mickey, Quinn&Dan: And there's a drawer of my things at your place
They pointed to Laura when they sang that line
Quinn: You learn my secrets and figure out why I'm guarded
Quinn shot the New Directions a half glance when she sung that.
Dan: You say we'll never make my parents' mistakes
Quinn: But we got bills to pay
Quinn put her hand up there.
Laura: We got nothin' figured out
When it was hard to take
Yes, yes
All: This is what I thought about:
Do you remember, we were sittin' there, by the water?
You put your arm around me for the fist time
You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter
You are the best thing that's ever been mine
Do you remember all the city lights on the water?
You saw me start to believe for the first time
You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter
You are the best thing that's ever been mine
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Quinn and Dan moved to the side of the stage, Quinn understanding the second 'bird'.
Laura: And I remember that fight, two-thirty AM
She took one step towards him
Mickey: You said everything was slipping right out of our hands
He stepped forward gazing at her.
Laura: I ran out, crying, and you followed me out into the street
She looked sad and apprehensive as she remembered their real argument
Mickey: Braced myself for the goodbye, cause that's all I've ever known
Mickey took the final step to be right in front of her.
Laura: Then, you took me by surprise
She was barely breathing, hardly believing what she thought was coming next.
Mickey: I said, "I'll never leave you alone."
He took her hand, smiling as he changed the lyrics.
Laura: I said, "I remember how we felt, sitting by the every time I look at you, it's like the first time.
Laura followed his suite of changing the lyrics, intertwining her fingers with his
Mickey: I fell in love with a careless man's careful daughter.
His voice hitched slightly on the word love and she rested her hand on his cheek
She is the best thing that's ever been mine."
On the long 'mine' he rested his forehead on hers. Quinn high-fived Dan's head as he was busy strumming the guitar both grinning.
Laura&Mickey: You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter
You are the best thing that's ever been mine
Quinn and Dan came back to join them for the end.
All: Do you believe it?
We're gonna make it now
And I can see it
I can see it now
When they finished they burst out laughing. The New Directions gave them a large round of applause as Mickey and Laura shared their first kiss. Dan went and returned the guitar to it's old spot and when he returned he was greeted with a whack on the head from Mickey. He looked to see Laura chasing Quinn round he stage. The New Directions and Blaine were looking highly amused by this.
"Dan, save me!" she shouted as she came back round. Dan considered it for a moment then caught her round the waist for Laura to hit her. "Traitor!" she yelled and tickled him. He collapsed into Mickey and Laura and the four teenagers fell to the floor in a heap.
After a couple of moments they had gained control of themselves, they disentangled themselves and got their feet breathless and red. They straightened their performance outfits and quickly checked for any rips.
"Well that was interesting." said Kurt after a pause.
"I think we'll take that as a compliment." Quinn said with a smile. They were all standing there smiling at each other. Puck opened his mouth when Ellen came running in from the side of the stage.
"Ellen, you ok?" asked Dan.
"Quinn your phone."
"Oh." she reached out for it casually.
"It's your home number." Quinn turned pale and grabbed it.
"Hello. Leah?"
"Quinn." There was relief in her voice.
"What's happened? Is everything ok? Have you hurt yourself? Do you-"
"No Quinn I'm fine, so is Beth." Quinn breathed a sigh of relief.
"Then what is it?"
"I was worried about you."
"Why?"
"Because you didn't call when you said you would."
"Oh, oh." Quinn was smiling now. "It's fine, I forgot, got really distracted with everything."
"Oh good, good. Well I'll see you later."
"Bye, bye Leah." she hung up and took a deep breath.
"Is everything all right?" All her friends were looking concerned.
"Yeah."
"Cool, I'll tell the others. When we saw it was we all sort of had heart attacks."
"Yeah, thanks."
When Ellen left Quinn sunk down onto the stage, breathing hard. She put her head in one of her hands and tried to control herself."Quinn what is going on, you said you were okay?" Laura was looking more worried then when she received the call. All the New Directions shared looks, trying to work out what was going on.
"I am, everything is fine. Turns out she was worried about me 'cause I didn't ring when I said I would, it's just. So scary, for that second, when I thought." she trailed off looking up. "It doesn't matter though."
"You're talking about Beth." she looked up at Puck.
"Yeah." Puck nodded.
"And how is she?"
"At the moment... not great." Puck's face contorted. "It's just chicken pox." Puck visibly relaxed at that.
"Who's Leah?"
"Mickey's older sister."
"And does she often watch Beth?"
"No."
"No!"
"She's normally watched by Mrs Turner, who is my land lord, but Mrs Turner is very old so I didn't think it was a good idea to let her near Beth or Mrs Bremmer who is Laura's mum, who has never chicken pox, and seeing as chicken pox is much worse for adults to get it I thought it would be prudent to keep her away too. But Leah's best friend Nadia, they're three years older than us, has a daughter Beth's age named Lola and from what I've heard Leah is practically a second mum to Lola so she has plenty of experience."
Puck backed down but he had a sour look on his face that matched what he was feeling inside. These people knew his daughter better than he did, he'd heard what that girl had said 'we all sort of had heart attacks' and he'd seen the looks of panic. It wasn't fair. They knew her better than he did, they had known instantly known and he'd been left out of the loop. Quinn had become one of them, he saw it instantly.
He glanced at the rest of New Directions and knew that they had seen it too. They all knew she wasn't really one of them anymore. Finn felt a little sick. He'd always fantasised about meeting Quinn again, this wasn't really how he'd pictured it. She was ready to jump to the defence of her new friends. Also he was pretty sure Quinn and Dan were going out, they had to be. Not to mention the fact that Rachel had decided to forgive him now that they had met Quinn again, she was now holding one of his hands in both of his.
Quinn noticed Rachel and Finn holding hands and tried not to feel a swooping disappointment. What had she been expecting? This is why she had left. She tore her eyes from Finn and Rachel and onto Mr Schue who was speaking
"So who runs your glee club because I saw your last years invitationals tape and whoever it is deserves a medal." Quinn blushed and smiled
"I do."
"Oh." Mr Schue looked surprised but impressed. A great deal of muttering ensued from New Directions but they all looked impressed "You did an amazing job."
"I had the best teacher." Quinn said sincerely. Mr Schue went red and looked at his feet but the New Directions nodded in agreement.
"Thank you, Quinn.""I mean it."
Before their conversation could go any further the doors opened and the audience returned. Vocal Adrenaline, the Warblers and the rest of Living Chorus appeared on stage. They stood in their groups waiting for everyone to take their seats before the judges arrived to announce their verdict. A fat man in a suit and tie who was announced as the most successful business man from Mitchell. They applauded and he opened the last place envelope quickly
"Vocal Adrenaline." The group looked each other and then walked off. They shuffled up to fill the gap, she looked at Blaine and Mr Schue they all wished each other luck silently. The man opened the envelope.
"Draw. New Directions and Living Chorus"
"What?" It was Rachel "Again!" Kurt shot her a look as they applauded the Warblers who took their second place trophy. "It says here that you must now perform a solo number and group number each for the judges." Quinn nodded, she had read the rule book. She stepped forward
"I'll be doing the solo for Living Chorus."
"Right, someone fetch Vocal Adrenaline's band. New Directions have you chosen?"
"Give us a minute."
"I'll do it." said Rachel, immediately "This is what I'm good for, I've got loads of songs that I could sing."
"Yeah but are they up to the right kind of level?" asked Mercedes "I personally have an excellent song that I have been working on for several months."
"No I think I have a better one." said Kurt instantly
"Guys keep it down we need to make the right choice here."
"Mr Schue I think I have the perfect song." It was Finn. He'd been very quiet since they'd found Quinn again. "Seeing as we're going against Quinn, I think it would be good. Your songs are all going to be brilliant but I can guarantee they won't have the emotion of mine." They looked at each other.
"Alright Finn." said Mr Schue. "I'll take you up on this." he nodded and walked over to where Quinn was standing next to the judge. She seemed to pale slightly seeing that she was going against Finn but then gave him a small smile he barely returned.
"This is in alphabetical order so you Finn are first." Finn nodded and walked over to the band and told them the song he wanted. They nodded and as they started to play he looked straight at Quinn.
As the music of an all too familiar song started Finn looked her right in the eye and she knew this song was for her.
Finn: An empty room can be so deafening,
The silence makes you wanna scream,
It drives you crazy.
Quinn felt the music drawing her in, she got up and took over the tune
Quinn: I chased away the shadows of your name,
Finn looked up shocked. The two Glee clubs shared a surprised look and one of the judges leafed through the rule book to find that it was allowed
And burned the picture in the frame,
But it couldn't save me
And how could we quit something we never even tried,
Finn: Well you still can't tell me why.
They began to walk towards each other.
Both: We built it up,
To watch it we meant nothing at all.
I gave and gave the best of me,
But couldn't give you what you walked away,
You stole my life,
Just to find what your looking no matter how I try,
I can't hate you anymore
...I can't hate you anymore.
They were right in front of each other oblivious to the audience.
Finn: Your not the person who you used to be,
The one I want who wanted me,
And that's a shame but,
Finn shrugged as if to say he didn't mind the difference he saw in her
Quinn: There's only so many tears that you can cry.
Before it drains the light right from your eyes,
And I can't go on that way.
Quinn stressed these lines, they meant a lot, she had to make him see there was a good reason.
Finn: And so I'm letting go of everything we were,
Quinn: It doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.
Both: We built it up,
To watch it we meant nothing at all.
I gave and gave the best of me,
But couldn't give you what you walked away,
They walked away from each other arms outstretched
You stole my life,
Just to find what your looking no matter how I try,
I can't hate you anymore.
They ran back towards each other and spun on the spot, reminiscing Don't Stop Belivein, laughing.
Quinn: Sometimes you hold so tight,
It slips right through your hands.
Finn: Will I ever understand?
Finn shrugged and half smiled
Both: We built it up,
To watch it we meant nothing at all.
I gave and gave the best of me,
But couldn't give you what you walked away,
You stole my life,
Just to find what your looking no matter how I try,
I can't hate you anymore
I can't hate you anymore
At the end the audience gave them the biggest round of applause that night. They grinned at each other. They had only done one duet and that hadn't exactly been friendly, it was nice to sing with each other.
"Alright, now I think it would only be fair to ask you to go first,miss, for the chorus number."
Quinn nodded, thought for a moment then wondered over to the band. She spoke for a second then came back with a smile.
Quinn: You can't stop an avalanche as it races down the hill
You can try to stop the seasons, girl, but you know you never will
And you can try to stop my dancin' feet, but I just cannot stand still!
Quinn started doing the routine she had seen Mickey doing and hoped she could pull it off
'Cause the world keeps spinnin' round and rounds
And my heart's keepin' time to the speed of sound
I was lost 'til I heard the drums, and I found my way
'Cause you can't stop the beat
Finn leapt back up from his chair to join in
Quinn and Finn: Ever since this whole world began
A woman found out if she shook it, she could shake up a man
And so I'm gonna shake and shimmy it the best that I can today
'Cause you can't stop the motion of the ocean or the sun in the sky
You can wonder if you wanna, but I'll never ask why
And if you try to hold me down, I'm gonna spit in your eye and say
That You Can't Stop the Beat!
In the musical bit she tried to help Finn with his dancing but it was a disaster in the end they shared a laugh and a hug. Annoyed Rachel jumped up to sing the next part grabbing the boy they thought was Quinn's boyfriend on the way
Rachel: You can't stop the river as it rushes to the sea
Dan: You can try to stop the hands of time, but you know it just can't be!
Rachel: And if they try to stop us, Seaweed, Both: I'll call the N double A C P
Rachel: Cause the world keeps spinnin round and round
Dan: (round and round)
Rachel: And my heart's keepin time to the speed of sound
Dan: (speed of sound, yeah)
Rachel: I was lost 'til I heard the drums, then I found my way
Both: Cause you can't stop the beat!
Dan began to lead Rachel in the dance routine.
Ever since we first saw the ligh
tA man and woman like to shake it on a Saturday night
So I'm gonna shake and shimmy it with all of my might today
Cause you can't stop the motion of the ocean, or the rain from above
You can try to stop the paradise were dreamin' of
But you cannot stop the rhythm of two hearts in love to stay
'Cause you can't stop the beat!
In the next musical gap Quinn and Finn ran forward to join Rachel and Dan and they had a mini dance competition. Then Laura leapt on stage
Laura: You can't stop my happiness, cause I like the way I am
Everyone laughed at the voice she was putting on.
And you just can't stop my knife and fork when I see a Christmas Ham! And if you don't like the way I look, well, I just don't give a damn!
The rest of their clubs joined them on the stage copying the five in front
Laura&Chorus: Cause the world keeps spinnin' round and round
And my hearts keepin time to the speed of sound
I was lost 'til I heard the drums, then I found my way
Cause you can't stop the beat...
Ever since this whole world began
A woman found out if she shook it she could shake up a man
So I'm gonna shake and shimmy it the best that I can today!
Cause you can't stop the motion of the ocean or the sun in the sky
You can wonder if you wanna but I'll never ask why
And if you try to hold me down, I'm gonna spit in your eye and say
That you can't stop the beat!
Mike and Mickey danced together like they had for their whole life, their moves getting more and more impressive. Then Mercedes strutted forward
Mercedes [Chorus]: Oh, Oh, Oh
You can't stop today [No!
]As it comes speeding 'round the track [oooh, child yes! ]
Yesterday is hist'ry [be gone! ]
And it's never comin' back! [Look ahead, cause...]
Tomorrow is a brand new day, and it don't know white from black [Yeah! ]
At that point they interspersed themselves Living Chorus, New Directions
Mercedes&Chorus: 'Cause the world keeps spinnin' round and round
And my heart's keepin time to the speed of sound
I was lost 'til I heard the drums, then I found my way
'Cause you can't stop the beat!
Ever since we first saw the light,
A man and woman like to shake it on a Saturday night
So I'm gonna shake and shimmy it with all of my might today!
Cause you can't stop the motion of the ocean, or the rain from above
And you can try to stop the paradise we're dreamin' of
But you cannot stop the rhythm of two hearts in love to stay
'Cause you can't stop the beat!
All: Aah, aah, aah,
The Warblers came on to the stage to join the fun
Ahh, ahh, ahh
Vocal Adrenaline ran on to the stage, too
Ahh, ahh, ahh ahh
Finn, Quinn, Blaine and Sunshine ran to the front
Ever since we first saw the light
A man and woman like to shake it on a saturday night
But now we're gonna shake and shimmy it and have some fun today!
Cause you can't stop the Motion of the ocean or the rain from above
You can try to stop the paradise were dreamin of
But you cannot stop the rhythm of two hearts in love to stay!
Cause you can't stop the beat!
You can't stop the beat
You can't stop the beat
You can't stop the beat!
They danced together till the last beat when their heads dropped down.
The audience went wild, it was by far the best performance of the evening. They all hugged each other and laughed. Mr Schue looked very happy but Dustin looked a little surly. An interviewer came on stage and up to the four in front. Rachel made to go forward but Kurt caught her and shook his head.
"So that's definitely the first time all four choirs went and performed a number together on stage and you obviously enjoyed that. Now I hear that, despite being their closest rivals, the Warblers and the New Directions are good friends because you.." he pointed his mike at Blaine.
"Blaine"
"Because you Blaine date one of their members and he was briefly in your choir."
"True."
"And that person is your sibling…."
"Finn, yeah."
"So you can sing together but I heard there was some hard feelings between New Directions and Vocal Adrenaline."
"There was but Jesse isn't with them anymore and it's entirely one person in our clubs fault that Sunshine left. Oh and I don't even know the name of the new soloist."
"So you're turning over a new leaf."
"You could say that."
"Okay so what about you two. 'cause that duet between you Finn and"
"Quinn."
"Quinn, that was something different."
"Well I was at McKinley till two weeks before Nationals last year, I was in glee club with them."
"So Long Live was for you."
"Yeah."
"I see." The interviewer couldn't talk anymore however because the judges had reached their decision.
"Living Chorus." said the business man in a monotone. Quinn stared at him. There was silence in the hall then Finn pushed her forwards. Suddenly the crowd seemed to have got that that bored name was actually the winner because they got to their feet to applaud. Blaine and the Warblers were jumping up and down cheering and the New Directions were screaming for her, even Rachel had forgotten, for a moment that they were enemies, and was cheering her on. She took the trophy with awe and lifted it up, grinning at her friends. They'd won Nationals!