AN: So after much debate this is the last chapter of What Makes Us Remember. I want to thank everyone who has read, alerted, favorited etc this story and all the others in the series. This is my most reviewed story and I am so happy that so many of you came along with me on this ride. This was my first venture into fanfiction is years and I think this series made it worth while. But I think after this the series is over. I may, if inspiration strikes me, write a one shot with in this universe but I want to concentrate on my other stories right now. I know this is not the ending that this story deserved but it was time to say goodbye. So please Review and let me know what you thought about this chapter, the story, the series whatever it is.

Okay I'm done


Pulling into the convention center that would be the stage for Regionals, Rachel couldn't help but wish that all the dreams she had for the glee club, all the dreams she'd had since their first rehearsal her sophomore year, would come true tonight. They had truly become part of something special, and it didn't take long for Rachel to realize that it wasn't the success of the club that made the club special; it was each individual person that was in the club. And it was what Rachel loved the most about being part of this very special club; that they had all become a family.

In the recent weeks since Tina's incident, Marcus Alderson had been arrested for raping Tina. He cracked under the pressure when the police questioned him, and confessed and was immediately taken into custody and was currently sitting a cell waiting for his sentencing. Tina took a lot of time off school, and when her parent's allowed it, Rachel, Quinn and Mercedes went over to see her. The girls all told Tina how much they loved her and that the boys were planning to find a way to get at least one cheap shot in on Marcus. Tina just thanked them and let a couple of tears fall from her face. Rachel told Tina that she didn't have to come back to glee. With Kristine and Hank, they had more than the twelve required members. There was no need for Tina to hurry her recovery for the club. "I need to go back to glee, for my recovery," Tina had responded and Rachel just nodded.

And when Tina stepped off the bus right behind her Rachel couldn't help but smile. Her friend had been through something so traumatic and she pushed through and regained her life, so that it was one less thing that her attacker had stolen from her. She thought about Puck then. He had come back from a similar situation. Jimmy Crawford had tried to steal Puck's life and he'd come back from that, and Puck and Rachel had both realized that they needed to be with each other. Right before the team reached the door Rachel felt herself being tugged to the side by Puck's hand that she had been holding. Rachel suddenly found herself surrounded by Puck, Quinn and Mercedes while the rest of the group entered the convention center.

"What's wrong?" Mercedes asked.

"Nothing's wrong."

"You're lying." Quinn said.

"I am not. I promise."

"Rachel…" Puck added.

"Have we all become too used to bad things happening that we always assume the worst?"

"Yes," all three said in unison.

"Well let me assure you that that the thoughts running through my head right now are not of impending doom."

"Then what are they?" Puck asked.

"We're going to win," Rachel said with a smile before taking hold of Puck and Quinn's hand, Mercedes holding onto Quinn's hand and the four teens joined the rest of the team inside.

And New Directions did win. After failing to defeat Vocal Adrenaline the previous year, Rachel was sure that their song selections, amazing dance routines and all around sheer talent led to their victory. The team had chosen "Name of the Game" by ABBA for Rachel and Puck to do as a duet; "What About Now" by Daughtry that included solos from Puck, Rachel, Quinn, Finn, Artie and Tina; and their final selection was "Crazy Train" by Ozzy Osbourne that was completely Shuester's idea. Rachel wasn't sure how well the Prince of Darkness would translate into show choir, but as they ran through the number a few times she fell in love with it and knew it would be a unique piece at Regionals. And as their name was announced in victory Rachel felt as if a weight had been lifted from shoulders of the entire group. As she wrapped her arms around Quinn, then Mercedes, then Tina before finally being engulfed into the arms of her boyfriend, Rachel felt that finally all her wishes and prayers were being granted. She knew it was going to happen half way through her duet with Puck. She looked into Puck's eyes and something inside her clicked. Every note after that was sung with such gusto that it even surprised Rachel herself. And now that it was over, she felt that her heart might just explode from the joy. New Directions had finally overcome their greatest obstacle. But now there was another in their way. Not Nationals, but prom.


Though only a junior, Rachel was excited to go to prom. The gleeks were all going and they had each vowed to make the evening as magical as possible. Kurt, Hank, Santana and Brittany planned to shock and awe the entire McKinley student body, while Tina graciously accepted Artie's offer after fearing that Artie would be reluctant to go. Mercedes vowed that she and Matt would be the most fashionable couple and Kristine was going with Jason of course and Mike was going stag, though he didn't care because truly the fifteen members of New Directions were going together.

Finn and Quinn however ran into a bit of a problem. When Finn hadn't asked Quinn to go to prom with him just a few weeks before the dance, Quinn gave Finn the silent treatment. She locked herself in Rachel's bedroom after school one evening and refused to talk to anyone except Rachel.

"What if he doesn't want to go? What if he hasn't asked me because he wants to break up with me but doesn't want to spend all the money on the tux to break up with me afterwards?" Quinn rambled lying on Rachel's bed.

Rachel sat at her computer desk watching her blonde friend huff and puff.

"Why would Finn want to break with you Quinn? He loves you."

"I don't know Rachel but it doesn't make sense for a guy not to ask his girlfriend to prom!"

"Noah didn't ask me."

"You're not going?" Quinn shouted with such fervor that Rachel wasn't sure if she was more upset that Finn hadn't asked her or that she thought Rachel wasn't going to the prom.

"Of course I'm going."

"But you just said."

"He didn't have to ask me. He knew he was going because the whole club is going."

"And he didn't even say anything to you about it?"

"He asked me what color my dress was so his mom knew what color tie to get him."

"That's still kind of cute. I haven't even gotten anything yet."

"Maybe he just assumes your going together."

"But I want him to ask me a romantic way. We've had this planned since last year before best friends and babies and he knows what I wanted to happen."

"Have you talked to him?"

"No."

"Well why not?"

"Because then he's just going to ask me there and I want gestures. Rach, is it too much that I want gestures?"

"No Quinn. But what if Finn doesn't know you want gestures? Maybe he isn't sure about it after everything that's happened."

"Do you know something? Did he talk to you? Did he talk to Puck?"

"No, but hold on," Rachel said pulling her vibrating phone out of the pocket of her jeans. It was a text from Puck.

Finn's freaking out. Figure out what's wrong with Q.

Rachel laughed and after contemplating it for a second, she sent her boyfriend a text back.

Gestures. She needs gestures.

"Who is it?" Quinn asked frantically sitting up on Rachel's bed, "Is it Finn? Is he telling you that he wants to break up with me? Because I don't think I can handle losing him again."

"Quinn please calm down. I can almost guarantee that Finn isn't going to break up with you. You really are making a mountain out of a mole hill."

"I am not Rachel. Prom is a big deal for a girl right after the chastity ball and I will not miss out on both events Rachel! And what do you mean almost?"

Rachel laughed as Quinn threw herself back into the mattress of the bed before checking her newly received text message.

What does that mean?

Rachel quickly responded.

Sweet Caroline.

An hour later, Rachel and Quinn were watching A Walk to Remember since it was Quinn's choice and she felt like crying. They were lounging on the couch in the dark when there was a knock on the door.

"Are you expecting someone? Are you kicking me out?"

"No Quinn," Rachel said grabbing the remote and paused the movie, "Let's just see who it is."

Rachel got off the couch pulling Quinn with her. She walked over to the door and opened it revealing Puck and Finn standing on the lawn, Puck with a CD player in his hands.

"Finn," Quinn said pushing past Rachel exiting the house and moving onto the front porch, "what are you doing here?"

Finn just gave a look to Puck who pushed the play, the instrumental played before Finn began singing.

I wanna know, who ever told you I was letting go.

The only joy that I have ever known, girl they're lyin'

Just look around, at all the people that we used to know

Just give it up they wanna let it go, we're still trying

So you should know this love we share was never made to die

I'm glad we're on this one way street just you and I, just you and I.

I'm never going to say good bye, cause I never wanna see you cry

I swore you my love with remain, and I swear it all over again and I

I'm never going to treat you bad, cause I never wanna see you sad

I just wanna share your joy and your pain

And I swear it all over again

Rachel watched as her boyfriend pressed stop on the player while Quinn stood silent on the porch. Quinn watched for Finn's next move. She remembered the first time Finn had sung to her, at her parents' house, outing her pregnancy to them. She hated him then, for making her parents hate her, for making them kick her out. But now as this boy sang his heart to her once again on Rachel's front lawn, she loved him.

"Will you go to prom with me Quinn?" Finn said in a quick breath.

Quinn rushed down the porch and into Finn's waiting arms. Rachel shook her head as Finn and Quinn made up. Puck joined Rachel on the porch.

"Judging by Quinn it looks like Finn did okay." Puck said putting the CD player down on the porch ledge.

"I've seen better."

"Really? When?"

"One time some crazy boy sang Sweet Caroline in front of the entire glee club. Now nothing compares."

"Nothing?"

"Nope. Even Justin Timberlake has lost his appeal."

"Wow. That guy must be ridiculously talented."

"Oh he is." Rachel said wrapping her arm around Puck, pulling herself to his side as they watched Finn and Quinn who were still on the lawn.


The glee club walked into the gym of McKinley High School where the prom was being held and were surprised that their prom committee was able to turn their plain gym into an amazing setting with black and silver streamers, balloons, table clothes, and napkins. Tightening her grip on Puck's arm, she wondered how on earth Principal Figgins was able to pay for this.

The boys were not so much interested in the dancing as the girls were. The glee boys, along with most of the males in attendance, sat at the tables, or stood against the walls while the girls enjoyed themselves on the dance floor. There was one moment where Puck had to join them but only because it looks like Jacob Ben Israel was getting too close to Rachel and he really couldn't be dealing with his creepiness.

But when the music slowed down, girls went over to find their dates before dragging them to the dance floor. They'd done ladies choice, guys choice (even though they didn't really have one) but when the DJ announced that it was the last song for the night the boys immediately went over to find the ones they'd come with (before they came to find them).

Rachel smiled as Puck approached her and wrapped his arms around her tiny waist. Rachel tucked her hands around Puck's neck as they began to dance.

"You had a horrible time didn't you?"

"What? No."

"No need to lie to me Noah. All the girls know the only reason any of you guys are here is because we want you to be. We think it's kind of romantic."

"Did you have fun?"

"Yes I did."

"Then I had fun," Puck said leaning down to plant a gentle kiss on Rachel's lips, "I got us a hotel room," Puck said tightening his grip around Rachel's waist as they danced.

"A hotel room? For what?" Rachel said looking up at her boyfriend. Puck laughed at her innocence.

"For us."

Puck watched as Rachel processed what he had just said. Her eyes went big in realization and a simply, "Oh" escaped her lips.

"I don't expect anything Rachel. But I know you're suppose to spend the night at Quinn's but I know that Finn got them a room too and I was suppose to spend the night at Finn's. But we don't have to go I just thought we could have some privacy and-"

"Noah?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you nervous?"

"What? No."

"You're rambling."

"So. You ramble all the time."

"But you don't."

Puck hesitated for a moment looking down at his girlfriend who was still encircled in his arms, swaying to the music even while they were having this conversation. She looked absolutely stunning. Rachel Berry was indeed the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen and he was positive no one would be able to compare, ever.

"Okay, maybe I'm a little nervous."

Rachel tried not to laugh as her usually badass boyfriend let his vulnerable side show. She loved everything about him, yet when he let his guard down around her, her heart couldn't help but swell just a bit.

"I love you Noah."

"I love you too,"

"I'm ready Noah."

"Oh."


One hour later, all the goodbyes were said and Puck and Rachel were closing the door of their hotel room behind them. Rachel put her bag down next to the bed as Puck discarded his jacket before coming up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. His lips pressed at the flesh just underneath her left ear.

"We don't have to do this you know," Puck whispered into Rachel's ear sending chills down her spine. Rachel took a deep breath letting the sensation course through her body before answering, "I know."

Rachel turned herself in Puck's arms so that she was now looking into Puck's amazing green eyes. She loved this boy. He was the most unplanned thing that had ever happened in her life and she wouldn't go back and change that for the world. Last year, before friends and boyfriends she thought the only thing she needed was her career. And that if she stayed on this well planned path, which she admittedly once included Finn, she would succeed. But now, she saw the same path had a few unplanned turns. Some of them had been fun and easy to navigate through, and others had taken her to dark places, forced her to be a little tougher yet both turns still lead her on the same path.

"You're going to have to guide me a little," Rachel said as Puck began working the zipper on her pale pink dress.

"Don't worry baby," Puck said kissing her, "I've got you."

"You do know this is entirely cliché right Noah? " Rachel said kissing Puck and stepping out of the dress that Puck had loosened from its hold on her body, "Losing my virginity on prom night."

"Why break with tradition?" He said admiring the view of his half-naked girlfriend as she stood before him in just her bra and panties.

"What do you mean? How many girls have you deflowered on prom night?" Rachel shouted as Puck began working his tie lose from his neck.

"There will only be one. " Puck said as he began removing his shirt.

"Then what on earth are you talking about?"

"Oh come on babe you're going to tell me you don't see how cliché we are?"

"Excuse me?" Rachel practically shouted as Puck removed his shirt entirely from his body before sweeping Rachel up into his arms and placing her on the bed before laying beside her watching as her eyes were still looking for an explanation for his comment.

"It's not a bad thing so calm you're partially naked self down," Puck said and Rachel relaxed only a bit giving him the most suspicious look, "We're the good girl and the bad boy."

Rachel's hardened face softened just a bit, "I suppose that is true."

"Of course it is. But we're at the most badass cliché there is and ever will be."

Rachel giggled then put her hand around Puck's neck pulling him down for a kiss.

"Are you sure about this Rachel? Choosing to do this means you'll have to deal with my manly urges everyday."

"Everyday?"

"Pretty much."

"Bring it."

Rachel always thought the greatest high she would feel would come from performing on stage. But she would admit that the feelings she experienced while making love to Puck were more intense than she had experienced before. A cheering crowd of people loves you but they love you for your performance, not for you. But Puck, Puck knew Rachel and she loved and trusted him with every thing that she was, and would be, and he loved her back the same. He was gentle and passionate and Rachel thought though cliché, it was still one of the most amazing experiences of her life.

That year, New Directions went on to win their first National championship. All fifteen students were honored at an assembly that Principal Figgins insisted on having in their honor. They performed and the next year, nearly three times as many students tried out for the club. Winning championships had put glee club back on the map. But for the fifteen that had loved, lost, and had been heart broken and madly in love for the two years before that, winning titles just reminded them of everything they had gone through. It made them remember that as long as they had each other, they could make it through anything.


Thank you all again for reading! I hope this chapter didn't suck so bad. The song Finn sang was "I'm never gonna say goodbye" by Westlife.

OH if you want to keep with me and my other stories follow me on twitter thatgleekychick!