It's... the last one. I know, it has been quite some time compared to the others and I apologize, but well...
a) As you can see, I spit this chapter in 2 parts because basically everything in this part was kinda last minute and unplanned.
b) My school work has officially started again.
c) Something in the 2nd part was really hard to write.
Now, I want to say one more thing: I used "most-likely-to-be-canon" ships when it comes to the glee ships aka, I don't ship all of them.
"I can't believe this is happening," Marley confesses, "A part of me is not ready."
"But you are," Shannon assures her and takes another bite of her chicken, "You and the kids have worked really hard for it."
"What if we're not good enough? Vocal Adrenaline is our competition, can you believe it? From all clubs, Vocal Adrenaline."
"No, Marley Rose, you're not giving up now!" Shannon bangs her first on the table, "I might be old, but I'm not dumb. You are amazing, Marley."
"Oh yes, she is," they hear and Shannon looks behind Marley. Her eyes widen and she hurries to get up.
Marley turns around and she's surprised to see a familiar face there.
Well, she doesn't have much time to really see it, because Shannon embraces her. She lifts her up. "Mercedes, Mercedes, Mercedes Jones!" she says happily.
"Coach Beiste, it's good to see you," Mercedes makes one of her familiar diva faces, "But I was talking to you, girl."
Marley suddenly feels small.
"What did I hear?" Mercedes approaches Marley, "Not good enough my ass. What did I tell you fifteen years ago at Nationals?"
Marley smiles at the memory.
"That's right, girl. 'Don't give up on your dreams, Marley Rose. You're too good' That's what I said."
"I remember," Marley smiles, "But what are you doing here? How is Sam?"
"Oh, Sam is fine," Mercedes smiles proudly, "He just destroyed House of Bichette. Kurt, on behalf of Vogue, is extremely proud of him." Bichette? Marley mouths.
"But I am here for you. Nationals is in New York, uh?" Marley nods excitedly. "Well, I am here to accompany you during your last week in Lima before you're going to the Big Apple with the kids. And-"
She retrieves something out of her newest 'K. HUMMEL' bag. She hands her a stack of papers.
"What is this?" Marley asks when she accepts it and Shannon also moves closer to get a better look.
Marley quickly scans the first page.
"Oh, no, 'Cedes you shouldn't have-" "Oh please," Mercedes waves it away, "It wasn't a big deal." "It is!" Marley exclaims and Shannon tries to read.
"You got us VIP tickets to Rachel and Blaine's Wicked performance?"
Mercedes nods proudly. "They're perfect and it's beautiful. It's really awkward to see them kiss, though. But Rachel's Defying Gravity is almost as good as mine and Blaine doing Dancing Through Life is so catchy."
"And this is," she switches to the next page, "Oh god."
"Yes, I hope you don't mind I called your hotel to cancel your reservation, but this hotel is so much better." "This one has five stars," Marley gapes. "I know," Mercedes smiles.
"And… god Mercedes. This is too much!" Marley looks up and faces Mercedes, "First class plane tickets for sixteen?"
Mercedes points to herself. "Yeah, I'm number fifteen."
"Who is number sixteen, then?" Marley wonders and Mercedes puts her arm around Shannon. "Wanna go to New York, coach?" she asks her.
"That is an amazing set list, guys, but…"
"But?" Marley asks fearfully.
"It misses something," Mercedes nods to herself, "Something big."
"Is it Don't Stop Believin'?" Kate is the first to notice. Mercedes bites her lip and nods. "What's wrong with Don't Stop Believin'?" Tyler asks, totally blown away because he is the one who suggested doing Don't Stop Believin'.
"The other two songs are great. I love the solo-duet-group number thing, but I'd change the group number."
"But… to what?" Miles asks, "Don't Stop Believin' is important to the glee club." "I know," Mercedes says softly, "But it feels like some fate thing starts pushing it in our faces. We did it and again and again and then Rachel did a solo version and then we did another one. You've already done one too, right? And the one we did in Mr. Schue week?"
"So, what should we do?" Karina asks Mercedes and Mercedes's brow furrows.
She looks from Marley, to the floor and back to Marley.
"Marley, what happened to your songwriting dream?"
Marley understands what Mercedes is trying to suggest and Marley backs away. "No, 'Cedes, no. I gave up on that one."
"Mrs. Rose, you used to write songs?" Jace beams. Marley has never seen him looking so excited.
"Oh, that's true!" Kate says, "New Directions used an original song for Regionals when Mrs. Rose was on the team. Mrs. Rose, was that your song?"
"Well, I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind-" Mercedes laughs. "- but yes."
"Wicked," Phoebe whispers in awe and everyone starts laughing.
Marley wants something new, but also something old. She needs to write something that fits A New Direction. She needs to write about A New Direction.
She tries to write another part, but she has no inspiration.
We're the direction, we're- no.
Okay, round two.
You say you know the directions we- no.
She takes a sip from her almost cold tea.
We know- no.
Marley sighs. It used to be so easy, but now, she doesn't feel it at all. She feels like she's drowning in thoughts, in the wrong ones.
She closes her eyes and a song starts playing in her head. It's not hers, oh no, it's too beautiful for that. She opens her mouth and starts singing.
My face above the water
My feet can't touch the ground,
Touch the ground, and it feels like
I can see the sands on the horizon
Everytime you are not around
I'm slowly drifting away (drifting away)
Wave after wave, wave after wave
I'm slowly drifting (drifting away)
And it feels like I'm drowning
Pulling against the stream
Pulling against the stream
I wish I could make it easy
Easy to love me, love me
But still I reach, to find a way
I'm stuck here in between
I'm looking for the right words to say
I'm slowly drifting, drifting away
Wave after wave, wave after wave
I'm slowly drifting (drifting away)
And it feels like I'm drowning
Pulling against the stream
Pulling against the stream
The song finishes and Marley groans in agony.
She is this close to calling Mercedes, but her words echo in her mind. "Don't bother calling me for help," Mercedes said, "You won't get it. This is yours."
But, she didn't say anything about –
"Hello?" the line is a little bit crappy.
"Unique, I need your help!" Marley sound desperate, "They expect me to write a group song for Nationals, but I can't. I don't know how-"
"Down, girl!" Unique cuts her off, "Relax."
"I just don't know what to write about," Marley whines, "I don't want them to expect something great, because I'll disappoint them and-"
"Shh," Unique shushes her, "Remember Outcast? That was awesome. It was about us, the 'New' New Directions. We were a part two of something greater."
"I kno-"
"And what is A New Direction then? They're not the 'New' New New Directions. They're a beginning of something better and-"
"Unique!" Marley shoots up, "That is it!"
"What?"
"Thank you, thank you, thaaaaank you. I love you-" "I-" "I have to go now, but thank you."
She hangs up and starts writing like crazy.
An hour later, she's done and Marley is satisfied enough. But still, there is something missing.
She has written about a new beginning, but she can't forget the old things and the past.
She sits down again. She hums softly.
She hums.
And thinks.
And hums.
And thinks.
And remembers the song she is humming. She remembers her looking for flowers for her mother. She remembers Santana boasting about Brittany giving her a shit ton lilies in the choir room. She remembers going to the choir room and hearing her friends sing an acoustic version of Loser Like Me.
And suddenly, she has an idea.
"Everyone ready?"
"INCHECKING FLIGHT KB51421 TO NEW YORK" the intercom is loud.
"Wait, where's Lulu?" Carla looks around and she's right. Lulu is nowhere to be seen.
"Maybe she went to the toilet?" Mea shrugs.
"Well, then she should hurry," Mercedes says, "We're with sixteen men here. We need to get go-"
"I am here!" someone yells.
Lulu is sprinting towards the group. When she's finally there, she quickly apologizes. "Sorry, troubles with Mya. But let's go! New York!"
Carla eyes Kate, who nods sadly.
"I can't believe we're really here," Kate whispers. "Hm?" Mea mumbles, "Why, because I can." "Seeing Wicked live has been one of my dreams for years and now I'm finally here. And not just Wicked, no. Broadway Wicked with Rachel Barbra Berry as Elphaba and Blaine Devon Anderson as Fiyero. I am here, I'm really here."
"I am glad for you, I guess," Mea shrugs. She still has problems with showing affection and emotions. Kevin has always been an expectation. He knows her like no one else, but it is still stupid that everyone thought they were dating.
Ha, ha, the coldhearted bitch and the nigga.
Ha, ha.
"Well, look who's here too?" Mercedes exclaims and she pulls Mea out of her thoughts. "Oh my god!" Marley jumps like crazy and Shannon runs to a group of people.
"The New Directions!" she says.
Marley and A New Direction quickly joins her. "Well, all except Rachel and Blaine, of course," Puck says, "I bet they're practicing their making out skills." "Well, I can assure you Blaine's are great," Kurt says absently and Sam hits him.
"This feels so unreal," Jake says, "I've never been to Broadway and now I'm here for miss Rachel Berry herself." "Dude, don't forget Blaine," Ryder reminds him. He isn't Rachel's biggest fan after he found out she still doesn't know his name.
"We're lucky enough that the tour ended here a week ago," Brittany nods, "But I think I'm done with touring." "Yes," Santana adds, "Because well, we've been thinking about kids." A sudden round of applause shocks all the visitors.
Santana beams. Brittany takes a bow.
"Yeah, how are the little ones around here?" Kitty asks, "Artie and I… we-" "TMI," Artie cuts her short. "Oh, yeah, sure."
"Well, Rachel is at Elliot and Seb's," Kurt says.
"I still can't believe you names your daughter after Rachel," Sugar shakes her head, "Why not Sugar?" "Well, Rachel told us she would personally castrate both of us," Kurt points out, "She looked like Rachel... a lot. So we thought, why not? We escape from Rachel Berry's wrath." "Yeah, Quinn failed her job," Puck jokes and Quinn hits him with her playbill. "Why did I marry you?"
"Yeah, ours are okay," Puck shrugs, "Lucy is old enough to stay at home alone. Finn is at his friend's house."
"Our little one is at his granny's," Mike grins. "Oh god, that's my gran too!" Lulu hits her head against the wall, "How weird."
"We're still waiting for the right time," Sam gestures to Mercedes and himself, "Damn, now it sounds like I'm still a virgin."
"Maybe you are," Kitty sneers, but smiles.
"Hey everyone!"
"Emma!" around twenty voices shout at the same time. "Emma, Emma, Emma!" Shannon is the first to run. "You're here."
Emma smiles sadly. "Yes, I am."
The A New Direction members remain silent most of the time. It's weird seeing them like this. When they think about the New Directions they think about the former glee club. Nothing more.
Now, seeing them interact like this, it makes their hearts melt.
And Goodness knows
The Wicked lives are lonely
Goodness knows
The Wicked die alone
It just shows when you're Wicked
You're left only
On your own
Mea hates feeling this way.
She hates feeling vulnerable.
But she knows it's true, because to this day, the underdogs are still hated.
When grey and sere our hair hath turned
We shall still revere the lessons learned
As if it's planned, most New Direction members look up like they can see the sky. Will Schuester will forever be in their hearts.
Even though he was a horrible teacher.
Unlimited
My future is unlimited
And I've just had a vision
Almost like a prophecy
I know - it sounds truly crazy
And true, the vision's hazy
But I swear, someday there'll be
A celebration throughout Oz
That's all to do with me!
Mercedes smiles to herself. She remembers feeling this and it doesn't matter that Rachel is singing it now – sometimes, they're still enemies – because she made it too.
What is this feeling
So sudden and new?
I felt the moment I laid eyes on you
My pulse is rushing
My head is reeling
Oh, what is this feeling?
Does it have a name?
Yes
Ahhh
Karina eyes Phoebe.
Yeah… she wonders the same. Sure, she's not 'loathing' Phoebe, but she is definitely feeling something.
Under the surface
Behind the scenes
Something baaaaaaad.
Carla has a bad feeling about being in New York. She has talked with Kate about the New Directions losing Nationals in New York.
That is such a bad idea.
She wishes it could be easier, so much easier.
But Carla knows better and only Lulu is aware of her anxiety.
She folds her hands and waits for the song to be over.
See that tragic'ly beautiful girl
The one in the chair
It seems so unfair
We should go on a spree
And not she
gee-
I know someone would be my hero
If that someone were
To go invite her...
Artie knows this song by heart, because he attended a lot of rehearsals for his Broadway documentary. And this part still hits him.
La la la la
You'll be popular -
Just not quite as popular
As me!
Sugar smiles proudly to herself. This will be stuck in her head for days and she doesn't mind at all.
Only one thing.
She is so much better than Galinda.
Hands touch, eyes meet
Sudden silence, sudden heat
Hearts leap in a giddy whirl
He could be that boy
But I'm not that girl
Tyler takes a deep breath. She could be that girl, but he's not that boy. He smiles to himself until he realizes he isn't thinking about Kate.
I think we've found the place where we belong!
I wanna be
In this hoi polloi
Gloria never felt home at the Cheerios. She never really knew home, not even her house. That never felt like home.
But glee club feels different.
I am a sentimental man,
Who always longed to be a father.
Emma's heart sinks. She left Danny alone at their apartment. She should call him, but now, she wants to cry.
And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free
To those who'd ground me
Take a message back from me
Tell them how I am
Defying gravity
I'm flying high
Defying gravity
And soon I'll match them in renown!
Kurt nods proudly to Rachel. She looks wonderful, flying high like that.
He remembers her getting the part. She cried from happiness, but also apologized to him and Mercedes. "I am sorry that I get to sing our song alone," she said all those months ago.
Kurt is happy with his life. He is settled and honestly, he doesn't want more changes. It took him such a long time and overcoming a billion of struggles, but here he is, cheering one of his best friends and his husband. They're amazing.
He remembers the producer asking him for Boq, then Fiyero and even as a random extra. He really wanted Kurt in it, but he still declined it. Rachel wondered why ("Jesus, Kurt, it is Broadway. B-R-O-A-D-W-A-Y! How could you?")
He can't do them. He is Glinda and he is not ashamed of it.
He side-eyes Meredith, though. He is a so much better Glinda.
No One Mourns The Wicked
So we got to bring her -
-DOWN!
Alice has a weird feeling about this. It reminds her of the Cheerios.
Now with Gloria being gone, she is the 'head bitch' Cheerio. She knew other girl hated Gloria and they tried to knock her off the pyramid, literally.
Are they thinking about her now?
'Cause getting your dreams
It's strange, but it seems
A little - well - complicated
There's a kind of a sort of : cost
There's a couple of things get: lost
There are bridges you cross
You didn't know you crossed
Until you've crossed
And if that joy, that thrill
Doesn't thrill you like you think it will
Still -
With this perfect finale
The cheers and ballyhoo
Who
Wouldn't be happier?
So I couldn't be happier
Because happy is what happens
When all your dreams come true
Well, isn't it?
Happy is what happens
When your dreams come true!
Damian feels like he's the happiest guy on the earth. Does that mean he has succeeded?
Like, he has the most perfect girlfriend, has amazing new friends and feels great.
Seeing the girl who plays Glinda and Blaine perform, it moves Damian. He never really had a dream, but seeing them… he guesses he has one now.
I've done what long ago I should
And finally from these powers something good
Finally, something good
Phoebe still thinks that quitting the Cheerios was the best decision she ever made.
A Man's Called A Traitor
Or Liberator. A Rich Man's A Thief
Or Philanthropist. Is One A Crusader
or ruthless invader? It's all in which label
is able to persist.
This reaches Kevin deeply. Sure, it has been better and it's almost perfect, but still… they're not equal.
Don't wish, don't start
Wishing only wounds the heart
Woops, Jace thinks sarcastically. He looks around and sees how everyone is so focused on the show. He knows he has to be grateful for the VIP tickets (the seats are amazing, yes), but a part of him just can't.
So far, Jace has been eyerolling like crazy. He loves music and plays, but he has never been a musical fan. He watched Billy Elliott a long time ago and it bored him to death.
At least Tim is enjoying it. The others can suck it.
Say there's no future
For us as a pair
And though I know I may know
I don't care
Being in New York feels so free. Timothy knows that this is one of the first states to legalize gay marriage and it makes his stomach flip. At this moment, they're at forty-nine (stupid North Carolina) and he is waiting for fifty.
No act of charity goes unresented
No good deed goes unpunished
That's my new creed
My road of good intentions
Led where such roads always lead
No good deed
Goes unpunished!
Miles looks down. He feels ashamed and guilty for not telling it.
No, he has never told Mrs. Rose about his football players giving him a hard time. Timothy is lucky. Now he's with Jace most of the time, Miles is on his own. But imagine them knowing about Timothy and Jace. Miles sits back, closes his eyes and gulps.
Yes, he feels guilty for not telling Mrs. Rose.
But he feels more guilty for not telling coach Beiste, who is dancing in the seat next to him.
Because Wickedness must be punished
Lulu wonders why society wants everything to be perfect. She hates seeing her sister hurt. The fight they had before she left was awful.
She knows this is about a green witch with powers and all… but Mya's on her mind.
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
I do believe I have been changed for the better?
And because I knew you
Because I knew you:
Because I knew you
I have been changed for good.
Kate reaches for Tyler's hand and squeezes it. Maybe she's not in love with him, but she still loves him.
No one mourns the wicked...
Because I knew you...
I have been changed...
No one mourns the wicked...
Wicked...
Wicked!
Marley dries her tears. She looks to her kids. She has been changed, she knows that, for good.
"It is so good to see you all here," Rachel accepts the flowers the glee guys bought for her earlier this day, "God, I love roses." "Thanks for the orchids, guys," Blaine says kindly, "I really appreciate it." "Oh, come here you lovebirds," Rachel hands the flowers to Kurt and runs to the boys.
"You two killed it out there," Mike says, hugging Blaine, "I wouldn't miss it for the world."
"We all have to thank Mercedes for this, remember?" Sam reminds them and Jake rolls his eyes. "We know, Sam."
"It was really cool to see this," Brittany is half speaking to herself, "And since when can Rachel fly? I want to fly too! I bet it's so much better than dancing." "Dancing through life," Blaine sings and Brittany starts dancing around him.
Jake and Mike start swinging too and Karina looks to Phoebe. Their eyes meet and Phoebe shrugs. Karina shrugs back and together they jump on Jake and Mike's backs.
They all laugh and catch up. Kurt gets everyone something to drink and Blaine and Rachel have to do a meet and greet with the fans.
They are back in an hour and they invite everyone to the dressing rooms. The Gershwin Theater is beautiful.
Suddenly, the door opens. "Hey, sorry to interrupt this reunion," a producer says, "But you've been here for quite some time. We're about to close down. Miss Berry, Mr. Anderson, you-" "Yes, we agreed to take a day off, we're still sure. Harmony and Gyermo are on tomorrow. Wish them good luck," Rachel says in rapid fire, "And no worries, Jim, we'll be gone in a few minutes."
"We're going to the Hummel-Anderson penthouse," Quinn says to Marley and Puck mouths something like hell yeah, "Are you coming with us?"
"Oh, I'd love to, we'd love too," she gestures to the A New Direction members, "But it's kinda a big day for us tomorrow." "Oh, yeah," Quinn sounds disappointed, "Well, we'll see you tomorrow then."
"Wait, what?"
"Mercedes didn't mention it?" Joe asks in disbelief, "We're all here for your Nationals competition." "Yes," Tina adds, "Wicked was just an extra."
Yes, all the Wicked songs in order. Why? Well when I wrote this I was all WICKED WICKED WICKED. I hate it that FF deleted the little starts I put between the songs, but okay. I didn't want to use too many lines.
Once again, long loooong afterword after part 2