Mercedes hit speed dial 3 as she sashayed down the hallway. The person picked up before the first ring ended. The curvy diva dove straight into the conversation, "I cannot believe it."
"I know I am freaking out." Tina replied as she coincidentally joined her friend's side, "Hold up. Artie is buzzing in. I am going party line."
"Dudes, if Finn finds out he is going to flip his shit." Artie's voice came over both of their phones.
"Kurt wants in." Tina said shortly.
The flamboyant boy snatched Tina's phone, "I vote we lock Rachel up until the Sectionals is over. I volunteer my basement."
"…I am not sure how that would help but we can't. We need her to sing at Sectionals." Mercedes reminded him.
"Damn her talent." Kurt cursed. Mercedes smirked. Of course, Kurt would want to get rid of Rachel for a week. It would certainly minimize the competition, and amount of talking.
"We just heard." Santana and presumably Brittany connected with the call though no one was entirely sure how. "Who knew Rachel had it in her?"
"Santana, you cannot tell Finn." Mercedes warned.
"And why would I do that?" The Latina sounded mildly offended.
"To get back at her. Aren't you and Puck dating?" Artie suggested.
"Sex is not dating." Santana snapped.
"Yeah, if it was Santana and I would be dating." Brittany's airy voice interrupted everyone. There was an awkward pause.
"Look, I don't want to rock the boat." Santana pushed forward, "You people are not the only ones who have been working their ass off to go to Sectionals."
"Hold up. She is passing." Mercedes muttered, then with much false enthusiasm addressed Rachel, "Hey hot mama!"
Rachel looked confused but waved as she passed. Mercedes breathed a sigh of relief, "She is gone. I know I really mess up by telling you guys about Puck and Rachel and I feel really bad about it but we cannot let Finn find out."
Mercedes thought back to last week when she had caught Puck staring at a stolen sonogram from Rachel's locker. He had confessed everything to her under the condition that she did not utter a word to anyone else. But she could not help but tell her homeboy. Then Kurt had to tell Tina. Tina had let it slip to Artie and well; the cat was out of the bag.
"Finn will quit like a giant, drooling infant and then we will really not have a chance at Sectionals." Kurt last words sat ominously with them as they snapped their cell phones shut.
/
"Alright guys, I have found my replacement." Mr. Schuester informed the Glee Club as he presented them with the redheaded guidance counselor, "So give it up for Ms. Pilsbury."
There was a half-hearted attempt at applause. Brittany looked worried; "She is the one they made me talk to when they found out I was keeping that baby bird in my locker."
Santana glared skeptically, "So do you even know anything about music?"
Emma tried to nod but Mr. Schue jumped in, "What is important is that she cares about you just as much as I do."
"Now I do not know what the future holds for us but I know on Saturday you guys will make me proud. You will be great. So, goodbye for now." A somber mood fell over the group as their former choir director turned his back to them.
"Wait, what about our set list?" Mercedes inquired.
"I cannot help you with that. You have to figure it out for yourselves." He told them sadly as he continued to make his was out of the door.
"Well, we have to do Proud Mary in wheelchairs. That's in." Artie said desperately trying to cover up the gloom by submerging into work.
"And Don't Stop Believing for sure." Finn tried to smile at his duet partner and girlfriend but she avoided his eye contact.
"What about the ballad?" Tina asked.
Rachel was quick to stand up, "I would be thrilled to contribute a ballad from my repertoire."
"Okay enough Miss Bossy Pants." Mercedes said sounding fed up, "I work just as hard as you and I am just as good as you. You know, you always end up stealing the spotlight."
"Mercedes, are you sure? Ballads are sort of my thing." Rachel proudly proclaimed to Ms. Pilsbury.
The ginger counselor was quick to mediate, "Rachel, why don't you let Mercedes give it a shot."
Rachel nodded and graciously bowed out as Mercedes dominated the club's attention. She turned to Brad, the piano player, "Do I even need to tell you what song?"
He shook his head and the other accompaniments stood up, "Horns, strings keep up."
"And I am telling you, I'm not going," Mercedes soulful voice drifted around the room, "You're the best man that I ever know, there is no way I could ever go."
The piano complimented her vocals, "No, no there's no way. No, no, no, no way that I am living without you. I don't want to be free."
"And you and you, you're going to love me." Mercedes performance began to pick up as she began more passionate, "Tear down the mountain, yell, scream, and shout. You can say what you want to but I am not walking out."
The club cheered for her unable to contain their excitement and applauded as the diva hit a practiced high note. Rachel smiled proudly at her sometimes friend. The petite girl loved being center stage and getting all of the solos. But it was moments like this, watching Mercedes bare her heart out in song, that it was moments like this that made it all worth the while. It was not always about her. It was about the team making it together. Rachel knew that she was a little spoiled and accustomed to receiving the solos but in reality it was because the others let her get away with it. And true, in the past to have Mercedes challenge her would have been insulting, and she would have stormed off in a fit. But she could not bring herself to be selfish anymore. Not with this little girl growing in her belly.
"Love me. Love me. Love me." Mercedes belted out the end of the song that had the whole club on their feet giving her a standing ovation. After the exhilaration calmed down, Mercedes turned to Rachel, sounding a bit winded, "Thoughts?"
"It is clear the room adores you." Rachel said humbly. Then she joked lightly, "Though it would not be my first choice, I cannot wait to see you perform it at Sectionals."
Rachel spoke softly so only Mercedes could hear, "You were amazing. And you deserve it. I am going to hug you now."
She laughed a bit, surprised and pleased, as Rachel brought her arms around her. For the first time, Rachel finally felt that they were really teammates.
/
Rachel left Glee Club feeling better than she had in a while. She never thought losing a solo could feel so great. Her mood diminished slightly when she Finn caught up to her, "That was pretty cool in there."
He said referring to Rachel's accomplishment to conceding the solo to Mercedes, opposed to Mercedes actually performance, "That must have been hard for you."
Rachel shrugged, "It was the right thing to do."
Finn continued to follow her until they stopped at her locker, "You know, I am looking forward to Sectionals."
Rachel smiled at him surprised that he was finally admitting to enjoying Glee. Normally she had to drag it out of him, like his talent was a burden and not a gift. Finn went on, "It has been a hard couple of months, with the baby and everything. I feel like winning could make everything… good for a while."
Rachel felt guilt stab her in the gut. She had no right to be doing this to the boy. She was not his problem and this was not his baby. She needed to tell him but they also needed to win Sectionals. Just until Saturday, Rachel told herself. So instead of telling him the truth, "Yeah, maybe. Excuse me Finn, I forgot something…"
And with that she hurried back into the choir room.
/
Finn watched as his girlfriend practically ran away from him. He had just done some major sharing of his feelings. He thought that girls ate that stuff up but Rachel had barely acknowledged it. He thought maybe he could at least make it back to first base with that, because since a few weeks ago he had been striking out. Rachel rarely even held his hand anymore. He tried to tell himself that it was her pregnancy hormones but now he was beginning to think that something was wrong.
"What's up bro?" Puck said adjusting his backpack as he joined the taller boy.
"Hey, I was just thinking. Have you noticed something is up with Rachel?" He asked the badass.
"What do you mean?" Puck played innocent.
"She just, does not seem that into me anymore? I thought that with the baby… I don't know." Finn looked hurt.
Puck sighed, "Dude, I am going to do you a favor."
"What do you mean?" Finn asked interested.
"You are my bro, and bros don't let bros suffer." Puck said vaguely.
"Suffer?" Finn was thoroughly confused as usually.
"It is not your baby." Puck blurted out.
"What are you talking about? Rachel told me-" Finn was cut off.
"Rachel told you that your sperm traveled through a hot tub. Did you really believe that?" Puck said incredulously.
Finn furrowed his brow, "Then how?"
"Before you and Rachel got together… We did it. I am the father." Puck confessed.
"No." Finn felt devastated.
"I did not mean to hurt you man." But Puck's words went unheard as Finn snapped, as his fist swung into his best friend's face.
/
Two bodies fell into the choir room. Before anyone knew it they had scuffled across the floor until someone gained the upper hand was punching the other repeatedly in the face. Quinn finally noticed that it was Finn pummeling Puck for all he was worth and she realized that the shit had hit the fan. The members could only watch in horror as their team fell apart. They did not even notice that Ms. Pilsbury had run to fetch Mr. Schuester who was now dragging the two football players apart with the help of Mike and Matt.
"Knock it off. Get off." Mr. Schue yelled. "What is going on here?"
"Ask him!" Finn shouted at Puck as he still tried to struggle from the other boys grasp. Puck just shrugged ashamed making the taller boy even angrier, "Don't play dumb! You are too dumb to play dumb!"
"Who told you Finn?" Quinn asked tersely as she tried to gain control of the situation for Rachel's sake, who was standing there mute, a delicate hand covering her mouth as her eyes welled with tears.
"It was Rachel." Kurt said like it was obvious. Quinn looked at Rachel shook her head indicating that she had done no such thing when the entire group. The head cheerleader knew she would not have jeopardized Sectionals.
"It was Puck. But I want to hear it from her." Finn faced Rachel still yelling.
"Just calm down." Mr. Schuester tried to place a comforting hand on his shoulder but the quarterback squirmed away.
"No, she is lying to me. They have been lying to me!" Finn was panting heavily as he asked his girlfriend again, "Is it true? Just tell me, is it true?"
Rachel walked passed everyone with tears running down her cheeks. She stopped right in front of the distraught boy. Quinn wanted to rush to her side and calm the brunette's fears. More importantly she wanted to make sure that Finn did not do anything stupid. But she knew that Rachel needed this moment to come clean with her boyfriend. The weight of all the lies was finally being lifted from her petite shoulders. Rachel could finally start making choices that made her happy. So all Quinn could do was stand there and watch with the rest of the Glee club.
"Yes." Rachel said so it almost sounded like she was letting out a breath of air she had been holding for a long time, "Noah is the father."
"All that stuff in the hot tub, you just made it up?" Finn was actually surprised as hurt dripped from his voice.
"You were stupid enough to buy it!" Puck barked from behind Rachel, trying to support her. Finn lunged at his friend again in attempt to attack him again but the Spanish teacher managed to stop him.
"I am so sorry." Rachel cried, "It was before we- I was afraid-"
"No. Forget this." Finn shook his head, not bothering to hear her out, "I am done with you. I am done with all of you!"
The hulking teen barreled out of the room, angrily kicking a chair over on his way out. Quinn wanted to roll her eyes at his childish antics but the sobbing brunette in the center of the room held all of her attention. Suddenly, Rachel fled the room as well with Puck hot on her heels. Quinn had to stop herself from going after Rachel but she knew that the parents had things to discuss.
/
Rachel sat on a bench, cradling her small baby bump. In five months, she would be holding a real baby in her arms instead. The thought was terrifying. She saw Puck cautiously approach her, "I am sorry I told. If you want to hit me, I understand."
Rachel shook her head at his apology, "I am not mad at you."
The badass took this as an invitation to sit down and he explained, "But I did it for selfish reasons. I wanted you two to break up."
"No," Rachel sighed, "You were brave enough to do what I could not do. Tell the truth."
"Rachel I know you are upset now but, I want to be with you." Noah proclaimed, "I will do anything to be the best father I can be to this baby."
"I am sure you will. But Noah, I don't want to be with you." Rachel could see the crushed look in his eyes. Rachel bite back more tears. Finn, Mr. Schuester, and now Puck, "I have hurt so many people."
"It is Quinn isn't it?" Rachel looked up surprised.
"How?" She asked as Puck shrugged.
"I see the way you look at each other and I wish that is the way you look at me." Puck shifted his gaze downward.
"Noah," Rachel gently placed her hand on his arm, "You will make some girl very happy one day. I am sorry that it is not me."
"Don't be sorry." Puck said, "I am not sorry for how I feel. You should not be sorry how you feel."
"Noah Puckerman, when did you become so smart?" Rachel tried to lighten the mood.
"I guess something about having a baby on the way changes you." Puck admitted with a rueful smile. Rachel nodded knowing the feeling. Her daughter growing in her stomach definitely rearranged her priorities.
"I still want you to have a place in the baby's life. In our lives." Rachel told him honestly, "The baby needs a father and I- I could really use a friend."
"I will be there." Noah promised. Rachel slipped her arms around his muscular shoulders and his came across her back as they both fell into a comforting hug.
/
Rachel did not see her coming. Quinn had anxiously waited for as long as she could, pacing around in the choir room even after everyone had left. She combed the empty hallways for Rachel and Puck and found them sitting on a bench in each other's arms. Her heart dropped as painful questions popped into her mind. Had she lost Rachel? Did she choose Puck?
The boy's Mohawk raised up as he finally noticed Quinn. He stared the blonde as he extracted himself away from Rachel, "I am going to go."
Rachel's head followed his line of slight and her eyes met with Quinn's. The brunette smiled softly at her, Quinn returned it with relief. As Puck passed by her he paused, "Don't hurt her."
Quinn just shook her head. She never wanted to hurt Rachel again. With Puck gone, Quinn hovered unsure in front of the diva, "Are you alright?"
"I will be." Rachel gestured for Quinn to sit down.
"I understand if you need some time." Quinn vowed, "I will wait for you."
"You know, I was imagining sitting here, holding my baby with Puck." Rachel ignored the blonde's statement, "And I was petrified at the thought. But I imagine sitting here, holding my baby with you, and it is not so scary."
Quinn's heart thumped happily in her chest. It felt as though her dreams were coming true. But Rachel had just experienced a violent break up with Finn and she had to be sure, "Rachel, I don't want to rush you."
"Quinn, honestly, I feel like we have done enough waiting." Rachel was leaning forward, her eyes locked on Quinn's lips. The blonde had to agree. Every fiber of her being was drawing her towards Rachel's luscious lips, until they finally brushed against each other. Even from the light contact, Quinn felt her world shake. The kiss deepened as the blonde flicked her tongue against Rachel's mouth. The brunette immediately opened up to Quinn as she explored the warm carven with gentle curiosity. The Cheerio took her time in learning made Rachel whimper or even quietly moan when she lightly sucked on her tongue. Finally they pulled apart, gasping for air. Quinn rested her forehead against Rachel's and memorized her face. Her eyes were still shut and her lips slightly part and swollen. Her sweet breath warmed Quinn's cheek. The brunette's eyes fluttered open, revealing deep, brown irises that hypnotized her. She was perfect.
"Rachel, will you go steady with me?" Quinn asked softly, the fear of rejection still in the back of her mind. But Rachel mouth stretched into a brilliant smile and the words 'Yes, of course' fell out of her pink lips. Quinn drove back in for another kiss.
/
It was Saturday. The big competition was a few short hours away but one could not tell by looking at the kids of New Directions. They all hung out the bus windows glumly while Mr. Schuester gave some last minute instructions to Ms. Pilsbury. Rachel sat next to Quinn with the blonde discreetly rubbing her thigh in a comforting manner. The petite diva was grateful for the gesture. She watched on as Jacob Israel jogged up to the teachers, "Reporting for duty."
"Thanks for filling in Jacob." Mr. Schue said. "We really appreciate it."
"Actually, I am only here because I want to get into Rachel's panties." He confessed. Rachel rolled her eyes but she could have swore that she heard Quinn growl under her breath while Jacob continued talking, "I actually have horrible public event anxiety."
"That is okay Jacob because we just need a twelfth member." Emma tried to reassure him. "Just stand in the back and sway. You don't even need to sing."
"Yeah, don't sing." Mr. Schuester quickly agreed.
"I am going to help Artie." Quinn slipped out of the seat to help their wheelchair bound friend find a place on the bus. Rachel nodded as she sank back down into the bus but still kept her eyes on their choir director that they were leaving behind. Rachel sighed. They could really use Mr. Schuester today, especially since no one had heard from Finn. Rachel had tried to call him to explain and apologize but he was ignoring her. She knew that he had every right to be angry with her. She had lied to him. But he did not see that he was letting the whole team down, his friends, by abandoning them when they needed him the most. When she was crying in Quinn's arms on Friday night after Finn had ignored her fifth phone call, she told her that she could hold herself responsible for Finn's selfishness. Rachel tried to believe the blonde but she knew that this all could have been avoided in the first place if she had just told the truth.
Rachel felt the fake leather of the bus seat shift behind her as someone sat down next to her. She cringed. She would recognize that raspy breathing pattern anywhere. Jacob's clammy hands massaged her shoulders, his skin sticking to her cardigan. She shrugged him off and was about to tell him to get lost but someone beat her to it.
"If you value your life, move mouth breather." Quinn ordered coolly. Jacob practically fell out of the seat and scrambled away from the head cheerleader. As Quinn sat back down in her seat, she muttered to herself clearly annoyed with Jacob's audacity. Rachel attempted to hide her giggle.
"What is so funny?" Quinn asked perplexed.
"Nothing." Rachel smirked, "It is just you seem…tense."
Rachel picked her words carefully but Quinn caught on and whispered to her, "Well, I just don't like the kinds of ideas Jacob has about my girlfriend."
The diva swooned. She was Quinn's girlfriend and Quinn was hers. The thought still made butterflies flap in her stomach. Her face tinged pink with pleasure, "Well then all you have to do is remember that I am yours Quinn Fabray."
Quinn blushed too and secretly picked up Rachel's hand, brushing her thumb over tanned knuckles. As they gazed dewy-eyed at one another, Rachel thought that maybe today would not be so bad.
/
Quinn nervously bit her lip as she surveyed the Glee Club. Things had only gotten worse since the bus ride, a lot worse. They had just finished watching the Jane Adam's girls perform and it had been disastrous. Not only had they performed Mercedes ballad but they also had sung Proud Mary in wheelchairs no less. New Directions was a mess. Artie was repeatedly ramming himself into a wall; Tina was trying to comfort Mercedes; and she thought that had Jacob had wet his pants. Even Rachel stood defeated with her cute nose pressed into a corner.
Ms. Pilsbury was frantically talking into her cell phone, probably seeking guidance from Mr. Schuester. Quinn knew that one of the deaf kids' songs would be Don't Stop Believing. She also knew that Sue Sylvester had leaked the set list to ruin the Glee Club once and for all. The red haired teacher timidly approached the brooding teens, "Alright everyone, what we just saw was unfortunate but we sill have one song under our belts. We have nothing to worry about. We will knock their socks off."
She did not sound very convincing. Everyone just stared at her blankly, having already excepted defeat. She sighed, "Well let's go watch the second school and give our friends some support."
Quinn got up and went over to Rachel. Wrapping her arm around slim shoulders, she pulled the diva out of the corner and filed in line with their teammates back to the auditorium. They sat down and the lights dimmed. Quinn suppressed a groan as the familiar notes of Don't Stop Believing opened up. Half way through the song most of the audience members were crying but Quinn could tell the Rachel was fed up. The shorter girl surprised Quinn when she jumped out of her chair, "Meeting in the green room in five minutes."
Rachel spoke over the droning on stage as she did a diva storm out. Quinn grimaced; her pregnancy hormones were in full swing.
Once everyone was congregated in the green room there was an uncomfortable silence, as no one knew what to say to make this better. Kurt's was the first to speak, "You leaked the set list. You do not want to be here. You are just Sue Sylvester's little moles."
He was quick to direct the blame onto the Cheerios who stood off to the side in their uniforms. Quinn glared at him, "Initially yes. Sue wanted us to spy but I have stopped doing that a long time ago."
The blonde dared him to question her. Santana spoke up, "We may still be Cheerios but we never gave Sue the set list."
"Well, I did." Brittany confessed quietly, "But I did not know what she was going to do with it."
Everyone's anger deflated slightly. No one could really be mad at the ditzy cheerleader. She had not meant to the harm the Glee Club. Sue had taken advantage of her wide-eyed naivety and trusting nature. Plus Santana was staring everyone down with such ferocity that they were afraid to speak. The Latina spoke to defend Brittany, "Look believe what you want, but no one is forcing me to be here. And if you ever tell anyone this, I will deny it, but I like being in Glee club. It is the best part of my day, okay? I was not going to go and mess it up."
The group was stunned silent, not sure if this was a trick or if the vicious girl was being honest. She took a seat next to where Rachel was leaning against the wall. The petite diva studied her for a moment, "I believe you."
Quinn watched with pride as Rachel tried to lead the wayward assembly back on track, "There is no point in arguing anymore. We have to go on in an hour."
"And we have no songs." Tina bemoaned.
"Perhaps I could improvise some of my Def poetry jams." Artie said somewhat unhelpfully.
"No," Rachel shot him down, "We are going to do this the right way. Let's start with the ballad. Mercedes do you have anything else you can sing."
"Yeah, but it is not going to be as good as anything you are going to sing." Mercedes admitted painfully.
"No, we agreed that you would sing the ballad." Rachel insisted.
"We agreed I would sing and I am telling you that it isn't happening." Mercedes stood up and walked over to Rachel, "Look Rachel, the truth is, you are the best singer we've got."
Kurt piped up, "As much as it hurts me to admit it, and it does, she is right. Rachel is our star. If anyone is going to go belt it on the fly, it should be her."
Rachel smiled shyly at his compliment. Mercedes looked at her expectantly. The brunette gushed out, "Well I do have something I have been working on since I was four."
That made the team chuckle. They were on their way. Quinn smiled fondly at her girlfriend, "Then we have our ballad. We can close with Somebody to Love. It is a real crowd pleaser."
"Yeah, that and a can of soup will guarantee us third place. We need another song we can all sing together." Puck said harshly. Quinn fixed him with a stare. They did not need the negativity right now. Quinn was going to suggest he shut up or say something useful but someone came shuffling in the room, "I have one."
All eyes turned to Finn who was holding a stack of sheet music in his hand. "I found the music online. I used the Cheerios copy machine to make copies. I think I trashed the thing. Quinn, Santana, Brittany, Mike, you are our best dancers. Figure something out and we will follow your lead."
Quinn wanted to punch Finn in the face, as he mimicked Rachel from when they did the mattress commercial. She knew that they needed his voice to help when this thing but having him swoop in last minute, acting like the savior really grated against her nerves.
"It is going to be choppy." Mike worried.
"That is okay. We are best when we are loose." Finn said. Everyone stared at him, waiting for something more reassuring to come out of his mouth. Quinn stepped in, "All we have going for us is that we believe in ourselves and what we are singing about. If we can show the judges that, then we still stand a chance."
The head cheerleader was accustomed to making winning pep talks. Confidence began to build again as the dancers began to roughly plan out the choreography. Now they had something to do. Now they did not have to sit idly by as first place was ripped from their grasp. There was hope once again. Jacob willingly forfeited his spot back to Finn and the team was back to normal, for the most part.
Puck extended his hand to Finn, "We cool dude?"
"No," Finn glowered as he brushed passed him. The paused in front of Rachel, hurt welling up in his eyes.
"Finn, I-" she tried to say something, anything, but Finn walked away to go work with Matt and Mike.
Quinn saw the exchange and went to Rachel's side, "Don't worry about him. This is your solo, your chance to be a star. Don't let him distract you from the goal."
Rachel nodded shakily and they joined the team in preparation.
/
Rachel breathed in deep. She knew the words. She knew the steps. She had practiced her facial expressions in the mirror since she was 12. All these facts did not stop the nerves from tightening in her chest. The diva hummed to relax her throat. She heard the announcer introducing New Direction. This was her moment. Dramatic notes filled the hear ears and it was her cue to go, she drew back the curtains, and stepped out, "Don't tell me not to live, just sit and putter. Life's candy and the sun's a ball of butter. Don't bring around a cloud to rain on my parade."
The walked down the few steps that entered into the back of the performance hall. She watched as the back of the audience's head turned away from her, people craning to see the petite singer, "Don't tell me not to fly, I've simply got to. If someone takes a spill, it's me and not you. Who told you, you're allowed to rain on my parade."
She made her way down the aisle, taking her time to get to the stage, "I'll marching my band out, I'll beating my drum. And if I'm fanned out, your turn at bat, sir."
She spun around and saw Ms. Pilsbury and Jacob sitting. Her heart still hammered against her chest but she was not nervous anymore. She sat primly on Ms. Pilsbury's armrest and serenaded her, "At least I didn't fake it. Hat, sir, I guess I didn't make it."
If the amount of drool Jacob was producing was any indication to the quality of her performance, then she was doing quite well, Rachel thought as she walked dramatically backwards, "But whether I'm the rose of sheer perfection, or freckle on the nose of life's complexion. The cinder or the shiny apple of its eye!"
The notes soared from Rachel's mouth with practiced ease, "I got to fly once, I got to try once, only can die once, right, sir?"
She ascended the stairs to the stage, "Oh, life is juicy, juicy and you see, I got to have my bite sir!"
Now she could survey the whole of her audience, their rapt attention on her as she moved about the stage, "Get ready for me, love, cause I'm a comer. I simply got to march, my heart's a drummer. Don't bring around a cloud to rain on my parade!"
The song began to build and Rachel kept right up with it, " I'm going to live and live now. Get what I want- I know how. One roll for the whole show bang, one throw that bell will go clang. Eye on the target and wham. One shot, one gun shot and bam!"
Rachel rushed to the front of the stage, "Hey, Mister Armstein, here I am! I'll march my band out."
The singer's arm gestured to the back entrances of the auditorium where her teammates where streaming down the aisles. The boys sharp in their black shirts and silky, red ties. The girls beautiful in black dresses with matching ribbons tied around the middle just like Rachel's. The crowed was impressed as they applauded and cheered, "I will beat my drum, and if I'm fanned out, your turn at bat, sir. At least I didn't fake it. Hat, sir, I guess I didn't make it."
The rest of Glee club joined her on stage as she finished the song, "Get ready for me, love, cause I'm a comer. I simply got to march, my heart's a drummer."
Rachel took a deep breath. Her small arms rising slowly as the song finished, "No, nobody, no, nobody is going to rain on my parade!"
The audience followed her arms as if they compelled them to rise from their seats. The perfect note ringing through the theater was met with thunderous applause. Rachel panted as she received her first standing ovation. She did not have to time dwell on it as she introduced her friends, "Ladies and gentlemen, New Directions."
She indicated to the group that had fallen into formation behind her. The audience took their seats once more and Rachel found her spot on stage. Quinn was right behind her as they exchanged smiles. The blonde mouthed to her 'so proud' and Rachel had to fight the urge to jump into her arms in front of everybody. Instead she turned to face the crowd as everyone was already singing, "You can't always get what you want. You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometime, you'll find, you get what you need."
Finn broke away from the group, started singing, "I saw her today at the reception, a glass of wine in her hand. Oh, I knew she was going to meet her connection, at her feet was a footloose man."
He ignored Rachel as he passed but the brunette just focused on remembering the choreography that they had just learned moments before stepping onto the stage. It was simple as they turned about the stage, much like a marching band, but it worked.
"You can't always get what you want. You can't always get what you want. You can't always get what you want." Everyone joined in the chorus, their hands shot up in a wave, "But if you try sometime, you just might find, you get what you need."
The dance broke down as they danced with each other and clapped to the beat. Mercedes supplemented the song with some expressive vocals. Rachel went to the front of the stage while the others sat behind her on the risers, "And I went down to the demonstration, to get my fair share of abuse."
The girls danced to the front. Quinn was the last as she grabbed Rachel's hand for a moment, spinning her around. Kurt danced with Rachel and the other boys partnered with the girls, "Singing, we are going to vent out frustration, if we don't we're going to blow a 50-amp fuse! Sing it to me now!"
Rachel saw the audience enjoying the performance as the swayed and clapped along with the old Rolling Stones song. While she sang with the Glee club as a single unit, Rachel had the overwhelming feeling that they could not lose, "You can't always get what you want. No, you can't always get what you want. But if you try sometime, you just might find, you'll get what you need!"
As the song ended with itself climatic finish, the spectators were on their feet once again, giving New Directions their much-deserved praise.
/
"It does not look good guys." Artie pulled the glass away from the door. He had been trying to listen to the judges' deliberation but could only hear muffled angry tones. The gang looked around nervously at each other.
"Hey," The Jane Adams girl's coach found them in the hallway, "I just wanted to say how great you all were. And I thought you were amazing."
"We have nothing to say to you." Rachel snapped. Quinn positioned herself behind the diva and rubbed her lower back, hoping to calm the angry pregnant girl. It was a soothing gesture that could not be seen from how tightly packed they were together.
"Because we cheat." The woman said ashamed, "I know and I feel terrible. But I am going to tell the judges right now that we do not deserve to win."
New Directions looked at her surprised but grateful that she was coming clean. She was about to enter the judges' room when it opened and the news anchor led the judges out as he was trying to get the bubbly blondes email address. She got excited when she saw the Glee Club, "You guys were so much fun to watch. You should be really proud."
"Get me the hell out of here." The older woman abruptly barged out of the room, dragging the beauty queen with her.
The other coach grabbed the male judge in attempt to speak with him, "There is something I need to tell you…"
"I am sorry. Our decision has been made." He said in his hokey voice. She turned to them and shrugged apologetically as she backed way.
"Well, let's go face the music." Artie rolled himself away and the others followed. Only Quinn and Rachel hovered behind for a moment alone.
"Are you alright?" Quinn gingerly stroked Rachel's soft arm.
"We did really good today." Rachel said sadly.
"Of course we did. You were phenomenal Rach. The crowd adored you. I adored you." Quinn said not understanding why the diva was so down.
She smiled at the compliment but shook her head, "That may be, but what does a washed up news anchor, runner-up Miss Ohio, and a state paid cynic know about show choir competitions?"
"I think she was actually sixth runner-up." Quinn deadpanned.
Rachel laughed, "Quinn, I am serious. They probably just drew a name out of a hat."
"I am sorry." The blonde hide her smile, "But even if they had never heard music before in their lives, they would know that no one could touch you. Baby, you move people. That will always trump gimmicks and flashy dance moves."
Hope flashed back in Rachel's eyes, "You think?"
"I know." Quinn took her hand and began to lead her down the hall.
"Baby, huh?" Rachel teased after a beat of silence.
Quinn blushed and stuttered, "I- ah…"
"I like it." Rachel reached up and placed a chaste kiss on her lips. Pleasure flooded Quinn's body.
/
"We have some things to show you Mr. Schue." Finn's tall frame loomed in front over everyone. With a bit of a dramatic pause, he stepped aside, revealing Artie holding the first place trophy. The newly reinstated choir director clapped his hands and crowed with joy. Rachel pushed Artie forward so he could present him with the large award. He admired the shiny trophy, then addressed his students, "I am so proud of you guys. You won fair and square. The vote was unanimous and the judges did not even know about all of the shenanigans going on. So, congratulations. You earned this."
They clapped, happy to be over their first adversity, and having exceeded all expectations. Mr. Schuester brought them down a little, "But know we have Regional's to worry about. And you can bet that Vocal Adrenaline will be hard at work so we should be too."
The curly-haired teacher tried to get them started but Puck stopped him, "Actually, Mr. Schue, there is one more thing."
"Since you were not able to watch us perform, we put together a special number just for you." Rachel playfully shook Artie's shoulders, "Take a seat."
Finn presented him with a chair and forced the teacher down into it. The students laughed at his bewildered expression as they began singing a melody. They shuffled around until they formed a line. Then Rachel took over, "Guess this means your sorry. You're standing at my door. Guess this means you take back, all you've said before."
Rachel produced a cowboy hat as they imitated an April Rhode's performance, "Like how much you wanted any one but me. Said you'd never come back, but here you are again."
Rachel tossed the hat to the grinning teacher who barely caught it. The students practically shouted the chorus, needing to release the pent up energy, "Cause we belong together now, yeah. Forever united here somehow, yeah."
Brittany, Kurt, and Tina started their Single Ladies dance, "Cause you got a piece of me. And honest, my life would suck without you."
The Unholy Trinity danced like when they had first auditioned for New Directions. Mr. Schuester's eyes misted over as he watched how far they had come since the original five members had struggled to be in the same room together, let alone laughing and dancing together.
"I know that I've got issues." Finn and the boys fist pumped in the background, "But you're pretty messed up too."
Quinn appropriately made a halo with her hands over Rachel's head, smiling down lovingly at her, "Either way I found out, I'm nothing without you."
"Cause we belong together now, yeah. Forever united here somehow, yeah. Cause you got a piece of me. And honestly, my life would suck without you." As they sang together again, dancing parts of Push it, Proud Mary, and other performances, they could forget about all of the turmoil that had been brewing between them. New Directions had a long road ahead of them but it would be met with determination and friends.
/
Much later, Quinn will pull out of a heated lip lock with Rachel, and honesty say, "My life would suck without you."
Rachel will respond with renewed fervor, her lips attacking Quinn's.
/
I went on vacation and have come back with a tan and a new chapter. Little bit of drama headed your way hopefully. Warning: I am so bad at angst. I just want everything to be sunshine and puppy dogs. But I really appreciate when you guys comment and let me know your thoughts. Thanks!
Oh, and sorry about all of the singing scenes. I am not really sure how to incorporate them into writing but I feel like they are important to the story… since that is what the show is about… Hope no one minds too much!
