Chapter 11

Present Day

"…so after missing most of the Batman and Superman movie, we watched Big and I mentioned that playing the giant piano at FAO Schwarz is on my bucket list," Rachel finishes and turns to look at her best friend. "Corny, right?"

"Corny," he agrees with a short laugh. "And wonderful. She's rather amazing, this girl of yours."

"I think so too," Rachel smiles and leans over to rest her head on Kurt's shoulder. He slides his hand on top of hers and laces their fingers together, squeezing gently.

"You really didn't need to share the details of the sex on Judy's couch though," he says, grimacing.

"I just like grossing you out," Rachel laughs loudly.

The toy store looms into view and Rachel bolts upright, staring out from her window. Suddenly a feeling of nervousness jumps through her system, the good kind of nervous. The kind of nervous she feels most nights before she goes out onto a stage, the kind of nervous she feels when she makes speeches at Gala dinners or rallys. It's the same sort of feeling she had just before her first kiss with Quinn, her first everything with Quinn.

It's the kind of nervous feeling that she turns into positive energy and when the cab pulls up, she jumps out, ready for this challenge, a grin plastered onto her face. Kurt pays the driver and takes Rachel's arm, leading her into the store.

A familiar face is waiting for them when they finally make their way to the piano. Kurt's face lights up as he wraps his arms around Blaine's waist and places a chaste kiss to his lips. Rachel watches as they murmur excitedly between themselves before walking over to interrupt them.

"Hey!" Blaine says, giving Rachel a peck on the cheek. "Guess what I have!"

He holds up the sixth envelope with a grin and Rachel reaches for it. Blaine holds it up high above his head, causing Rachel to pout and mutter about people taking advantage of her height.

"I can't," he says. "Not until I show Quinn the proof that you've gone through with this." He gestures to the piano. There are two teenaged boys hopping around on the keys to something that vaguely resembles the Star Wars theme tune.

"So, everyone was in on this?" Rachel asks, putting a hand on her hip. "You and the dress and Sardi's," she addresses Kurt. "And you! Are you going to see Quinn after this?" The taller man shakes his head.

"I just have to send her the video," he says, showing the brunette his phone. "She was very mysterious about the whole thing. But it's Quinn. Do you really expect anything other than mysterious?"

"I guess not," Rachel huffs. "Are you ready to make a fool of yourself?"

"Of course!" Kurt replies, leaving his bag and Rachel's dress with Blaine. "What are we playing?"

Rachel's response is drowned out by a shout and a rush of people making their way to the piano. Rachel hears her name being called and autographs being asked for and is blinded by camera flashes.

"Great."

Her humiliation will be on various social networking sites within the next fifteen minutes.

"Lighten up Rachel," Kurt says, giving her a smile and pulling her to the newly vacated piano. He tests out a few notes before playing the opening bar of Rachel's favourite nursery rhyme. She rolls her eyes and takes a step forward, planting her feet on the keys to finish off the song with Kurt. There's rapturous applause from the ever-growing crowd and Blaine who's capturing the whole thing for Quinn.

Not that he needs to.

At the back of the crowd, hidden underneath a ridiculously large sunhat, Quinn is watching her girlfriend, the love of her life, prance around on the piano with her best friend. They play the songs made infamous by Tom Hanks and Quinn can't contain her grin. Rachel's face is completely lit up, her laugh resounding around the store as Kurt hits a bum note.

Jokingly Rachel asks the crowd if they have any requests and picks out a young girl from the crowd wearing a Wicked hoody to join her and Kurt on the piano.

"Do you know Do-Re-Mi from the Sound of Music?" Rachel asks, taking the girls hand and directing her to the starting note.

They work out the notes together with Kurt and Quinn watches, catching sight of the key-shaped pendant swinging around the brunette's neck. Quinn feels her heart swell slightly more at how perfect it looks on her.

Not only do the trio perform the song note-perfect, but the entire crowd join in to sing the words, drawing even more attention to what's happening on the upper floor of FAO Schwarz.

They finish to rapturous applause and while Rachel is signing a few autographs, Quinn slips away, hurrying down the stairs. She's stuffing her sunhat into a bag when her phone buzzes.

Blaine's video is accompanied with a text.

Nice hat! I won't tell her x

Quinn blushes and downloads the video, watching half of it before remembering that she has one more stop to make.

xxxxx

"Quinn approves," Blaine says, handing the envelope over to the bouncing brunette, still buzzing after their performance. He snakes an arm around Kurt's waist and holds him close. "You were awesome."

"Of course," Kurt rolls his eyes before gesturing to the envelope in Rachel's hands. "Open it!"

"Can we go somewhere a little less…" Rachel turns to see a pack of fans still lingering behind them.

Blaine nods and picks up the bags, steering them down the stairs and out of the store onto Fifth Avenue where Rachel eagerly rips into the envelope. Like the others, there are three more pieces of the jigsaw waiting for her. And the note.

It's thirsty work being as talented as you.

Maybe a stroll to Bethesda will cool you down?

Look for the balloons to find the missing pieces.

Love you x

PS. Be prepared for another performance

"Another performance?" Rachel quirks her eyebrow, running her fingertip over Quinn's writing before passing it to Kurt.

"Any other bucket list items springing to mind?" he asks.

"Nope," Rachel gives a half-shrug. "But a stroll through Central Park sounds divine. Maybe it'll jog my memory."

"I think we should chaperone you," Blaine insists. "Who knows what could happen between here and that fountain!"

"You guys are just nosy," Rachel says with a grin. "Let's go."

She drops the jigsaw pieces into her bag along with the rest and grabs her sunglasses, sliding them on as they make their way towards the sun-drenched park.