Chapter 11:

A/N: Sorry I didn't update last week! I had writer's block for this story and now I've got it for another one, but anyway, after this chapter, I've decided to flash forward a few months to their graduation, and then I'll write the epilogue. So two chapters left after this one!

Hope you enjoy the chapter and I'll really try to update on time next week!

Quinn sat between Santana, and Rachel's currently empty chair, in the gym as she watched her step-siblings give their speeches, Blaine going first and then Rachel, then they answered questions from the audience and a group of their teachers (which comprised of Coach Sylvester, Mr Schue, Ms Pillsbury, Coach Bieste and Principal Figgins) together, Coach Sylvester looking like she was asleep and Mr Schue glaring daggers at her.

Blaine, Kurt and Rachel's policies were about anti-bullying- which Kurt had helped them come up with as his boyfriend's campaign manager and then would be the treasurer if they won. When they'd finished their speeches he was clearly the loudest audience member as he flew out of his seat, applauding and shouting praise. Santana and Quinn stepped over after the Berry team and Quinn went first, Santana as her vice president going after her. Quinn, Santana and Brittany's policies were that they would set up a peer panel, make the cafeteria food edible, and arrange way more school dances, including Sadie Hawkins dances so that the girls wouldn't feel so left out. These ideas seemed widely appreciated by the student body and as the applause started to die down, in the audience, Brittany added on "And Santana and I pledge to go topless on Tuesdays!" The applause re-started and when Quinn glanced towards Rachel, expecting her to be disgusted, the brunette was giggling!

"I had no idea she was going to say that!" Quinn announced as the two cheerleaders sat down beside the twins.

Blaine chuckled. "It was pretty funny though."

Santana frowned, "I make no promises." Which set them off laughing again. Mr Schue shushed at them as Stoner Brett and some other hockey oaf made their speeches about robot teachers and seven day weekends.


The previous day had been their interview style senior class government part of their campaign, next week was the vote, but today was opening night of the musical, West Side Story. Rachel was Maria, Finn was Tony, Blaine was Bernardo (which was accurate as he was playing his sister's brother), Kurt was A-Rab, Quinn was Graziela, Santana was Anita, Sam was Chino, and Mike was Riff. Rachel stared at her reflection in the mirror, her hair loose and free, her lips pink and full, her dress (one of a few that she would have to change through quickly) bright and blue.

"You're gonna be amazing," Finn appeared behind her in her protection, his hands on her shoulders and his smile reassuring.

"I know I will," She said confidently, which made him laugh a little. "And so will you. Thanks for the flowers by the way," She added, gesturing to the gorgeous blue, yellow flowers (that she wasn't sure of the names of) as well as a few white roses flower basket on her dressing table. Her dads had gotten her some as well but they weren't half as nice as Finn's.

"Well, I did my research," He explained. Rachel felt a pang as his touch left her shoulders, but he came around, sat beside her and held her hand. "Yellow is a lucky colour, and the phrase 'out of the blue' often means luck, white roses symbolise undying love and devotion." Rachel felt tears coming to her eyes. "Did I get it wrong?" Her boyfriend asked anxiously.

"Absolutely not," She said and kissed him passionately. "It's the most romantic thing anyone's ever done for me, and you, Finn Hudson, are just about the smartest boy I've ever met."

"Only when it comes to you," Finn declared and leant in to kiss her but then Quinn, Santana and Brittany appeared.

"Come on, lovebirds." Quinn teased and Santana made a slightly less nice statement, Rachel just sticking her tongue out at the Latina in response and then linking her hand in Finn's and pulling him over to their show circle.

"We're really proud of all of you guys," Coach Bieste said.

"Yes," Ms Pillsbury continued. "But we all know there's one person we have to thank for this great production." Rachel thought about stepping out and curtseying, but she wasn't sure if everyone would understand the humour. Instead, she briefly let go of Finn's hand and took the flowers from a member of the AV club helping with lights, then she handed them to Artie, who looked shocked.

"Thank you so much Artie." Tina said

"Yeah, you're the best!"

"Lord Tubbington said he liked it when you petted him and wishes you good luck."

"There couldn't be a better director!"

Cast, crew, orchestra, they all engulfed Artie in a huge hug, he made a little speech, and in a flash the orchestra was playing the overture and the boys playing the Jets and Sharks were on stage.

"You're going to be amazing," Rachel jumped at the tap on her shoulder and the voice behind her. "Sorry I didn't mean to scare you." Rachel let out a slightly nervous whisper laugh, hearing the boys in the background.

"I was in a dream world, and thank you." The brunette said as she gestured for her stepsister to sit down next to her. "You're going to be great too. I'm really sorry you didn't get the part."

Quinn waved that off. "It was made for you. And I like playing Graziella." She fiddled with her puffy skirt for a moment and then smiled nervously. "Anyway, if I were playing Maria I'd be panicked about performing on a stage in front of our parents- I mean, my mom and your dad, Katy, Sam, San, Britt, Puck" (who had come down to watch his brother and sisters) "And you."

Rachel was about to say something sarcastic about Quinn easing her nerves when the blonde girl said "you". "Me?"

"Well, yeah." Quinn said. "You're a great actress and I'd want to make you proud."

"Aw," Rachel said. The two of them hugged and then they headed over to the entrances of the stage for their entrance.

Rachel squealed in excitement as she ran into Finn's arms once the curtain had gone down. Everyone that wasn't already on stage rushed on and soon they were all in a giant hug. Suddenly someone grabbed her hand and guided her out of the hug into a different one. It was Blaine and her whole family- himself, her dad, Puck, Katy, Judy and Quinn.

"We're so proud of all three of you!" Judy exclaimed. She pulled the two older girls into another hug and then took Blaine in her arms.

As Judy was hugging Blaine, Hiram kissed each of the girls' cheeks and then Puck ruffled their hair in a loving older brother manner and a giggling Katy squeezed Blaine, Rachel and Quinn in turn.


The musical was over after a week of performances and all the high school Fabray-Berry kids were exhausted, but it was Election Day. The candidates were allowed to vote- which Rachel found a little confusing but didn't complain about- and so they were waiting in the long line to go into the election booth.

"Nervous?" Kurt asked Blaine, Rachel knew what he was going to say- twinstinct.

"Yeah," Blaine replied honestly and ran a hand through his rock solid gelled hair. Rachel leant forwards- in her heels she hardly had to get on her tiptoes to be eye-to-eye with him- and messed up his hair a little. He gave her an irritated expression but at least he was distracted.

"Ready to drop out?" Asked Jacob Ben Israel as he shoved a microphone in Blaine's face. "My polls have the Cheer-Squad twenty points ahead of the Berry-Berry-Hummel team, and only two points ahead of the Brett-Brett-Brett team."

"How many Stoner Brett's are there at this school anyway?" Kurt whispered to Rachel and she thought for a moment then pushed him away.

Blaine seemed sort of out of it, so Rachel grabbed the microphone, pulling Jacob with her. "Listen and listen well, JBI, because I will only say this once, we won't give up if the school sets on fire and you're just wasting your time trying to psych us out because we go to the same temple, and I can tell your mom about the 'incident' in the girl's changing rooms." Jacob immediately grabbed his microphone and camera team and in moments they were gone.

"What incident?" Kurt asked and Rachel shuddered.

"Trust me, you do not want to know."

'The Cheer Squad' were suddenly pushing through the crowd, people parting as they came through.

"Was Jewfro bothering you?" Santana said. "Cause I know we're enemies but I'm perfectly willing to kick him where the Sun doth not shine for- well, any reason really."

"Violence is never the answer!" Brittany shouted and Quinn nodded, laying an arm on her friend's arm.

"True." She said. Then she held out her hand for Blaine to shake in the spirit of friendly competition but he was still seemingly frozen. Rachel rolled her eyes, shoved him and he jerked forwards, falling into Quinn and as they all giggled, the two shared a hug. "Good luck." Quinn said to Blaine as she and her friends wandered over to a group of jocks and cheerleaders.

Finally, Rachel, Blaine and Kurt got to the front of the queue. Seeing as there was three polling stations, they each went into one at the same time.

Rachel stared at the tiny sheets of paper she hadn't decided what to do with until that moment- but then it became very clear to her- there was only one option. She put a cross next to her group's name on one of the sheets of paper and pushed the others back into her bag before heading back out.


As they waited on the stage in their groups, Principal Figgins made his way to the stage, holding a microphone. "Silence, children." He ordered to the already silent, twenty or so people who actually cared about this, and the populars that Quinn had forced to come and watch. "Silence, please. And the winners are…" He opened the envelope and then finished, "The Fabray-Lopez-Pierce team. Well done!" Blaine's face fell and he let go of both Kurt's and Rachel's hand, but he clapped for his stepsister.

"I'm really proud of you," Rachel hugged Quinn.

"Not jealous?" She asked.

Rachel giggled. "Yes. But I'm working on it." They all hugged again and then Quinn shouted into the microphone, "Who run the World?"

"Girls!" Practically every girl- and even some of the boys- shouted in response.

"Look, I know you guys really wanted to get a place on the student government," Quinn said to the twins when the three of them were in Blaine's car driving home. "So I'm principal, Santana's vice, and Brittany decided she didn't want to do anything, so Rachel, would you like to be secretary? And Blaine you can be treasurer?" The twins thanked her, but Blaine was still thinking about what this would mean for his NYADA application.