SONG: I'll be there for you
BY: The Rembrandts
Rachel
Mercedes
Puck
Quinn
Finn
Everyone
I'll explain everything at the end, until then enjoy but make sure to read the end.
~``~``~``~ Quinn ~``~``~``~
I stared sadly out the window of Mr. Schue's kitchen. All I could think about was the rainy night almost ten months ago. In my old room, where all my stuff was, where I lived a terrible life covered up by lies. So many moons ago when Puck and I were lying on my bed, making out. It had felt so right as he passed me another wine cooler. I had mentioned Finn but he said something to make it all go away, then he kissed my neck and we had done it, made what could be described as anything but love. Now here I was, ten months later, standing in Mr. Schue's kitchen with a huge bulging stomach that seemed to only grow bigger with every passing day. I had begun to wonder lately how many kids I was actually having, I mean, how much was I able to stretch before the skin finally popped and a baby was suddenly in out lives. My due date had come and gone and I was getting so restless with waiting. I couldn't wait for this kid finally be gone form my life, to be able to walk proudly through the school again and turn away from anyone who had dared to make fun of me.
"Quinn?" I turned and looked at Mr. S. He looked seriously concerned. "You alright?"
"It's been a long year." I explained, feeling the sadness resting as a knot in my throat.
"Yeah." His lips pressed into a tight line. Mr. Schue had just dropped the bomb on us all the Coach Sylvester would be one of the judges at Regionals. In other words, our chances of winning were shot to hell with the rest of my life.
~``~``~``~ Rachel ~``~``~``~
Jesse squeezed my hand tightly and looked down at his feet as I pulled one of Mr. Schuster's couch pillows up to my chest. I felt so empty right now. How could we ever have a chance now that Mrs. Sylvester is one of the judges? Everyone in the room was silent, looking extremely glum. It had been a week of waiting to hear any news about Regionals and it was obvious that it had gotten to a few people's sleeping habits from the look of all the tired bags under some people's eyes. Quinn waddled into the room, carrying some plates for the food Mr. S had set out for us that no one was eating. We were all too upset.
"No one wants any pizza?" Mr. Schue asked, already knowing the answer. This was supposed to be our Pre-Regionals party, to celebrate the end of the year being so great but everyone was too depressed to care. "Alright well, uh, let's get started. Thank you for coming to the first annual New Directions Regionals set list nominations party." We all looked anywhere but at him.
"What's the point Mr. Schue?" Artie spoke up for us all. "Coach Sylvester's one of the judges. She's going to crush us." He looked and sounded so sad, like a hurt puppy.
"Artie, you don't know that." Mr. Schue tried to defend.
"Yes we do. She told us at cheerios practice." Santana said in depression, shifting through the boxes of pizza but changing her mind last second and sitting back down next to Brittany who backed up her statement.
"Yeah, she said 'I'm going to crush glee club.'"
"The whole freakin' year. All that hard work for nothing." Puck looked over at Quinn with disappointment. Suddenly Tina started to tear up, sniffling loudly next to me. Kurt was the first to put a comforting hand on her shoulder. I would have if I hadn't been too busy trying to fight back tears of my own.
"I'm sorry." She choked out. "I just really love you guys. You know how many facebook friends I had before I joined glee club? Two, my parents." She tried to laugh through the hurt but it only seemed to make her feel worse. "Rachel was right, being part of something special, it made me special. I just can't believe it's going to be over in a week!" Then she was fully crying and not even trying to stop it. I bit my lip and wiped my eyes.
"Wait, who says it's gonna be over?" Finn tried in a vain attempt.
"Please," Mercedes looked at him with annoyance and sadness. "You think Puck and Santana are going to even acknowledge my existence when we're not in glee club anymore?"
"She had a point." Puck's voice came out dry and husky, like he too was choking back tears.
"Mr. Schuster," I called to him, sniffling and trying to hold it all together. The second our eyes met I couldn't hold it anymore. I let go of Jesse's comforting hand and cried, actually cried, choking out words. "Do you think, instead of nominating songs we can just go around the room and share things that we loved about glee club this year?" I felt Finn's hand hit my back and rub small circles on it and I tried to bite back the feeling of electricity that shot through me and focus on what really mattered right now.
~``~``~``~ Kurt ~``~``~``~
Finn had driven us both to Mr. Schue's house so he had to take me home too. The car ride was silent on the way home and I knew we were both fighting back the distress of the evening. After what seemed like two seconds had gone by, Finn pulled into the driveway of my house. We both sat there, staring through his windshield to the garage door. I took my head off the cool glass of his passenger side window and sighed.
"So-"He started but stopped. My lip trembled slightly and I couldn't help but let the tears fall down my cheeks now. They fell in small streams and nothing could close the flood gates now. It wasn't a TV show kind of crying with just tears. Soon there was a snot build up and other bodily fluids dripping from my face that if ever brought up again I would deny a thousand times over. Then I was in Finn's arms. He'd lifted the divider cup holders and scooted over to wrap himself around me. I just leaned into the comfort and tried to avoid getting his clothes messed up. That plan was out the window when he pulled away, took one look at me, pulled his sleeve over his hand and wiped the offending liquids off my face. I smiled though the pain.
"Thanks." He just shrugged sadly.
"At least their not your clothes; you'd have a hissy fit if I let you do that." I chucked slightly.
"You wanna come in? My dad really is working late tonight and I could really use another person in the house right now." He nodded and we got out of his truck. I fumbled for my keys at the door and let us both into the house.
~``~``~``~ Finn ~``~``~``~
We'd never done this. It was so different that doing it with anyone else. Kurt and I were lying on his living room couch, some movie playing on the TV in the background that had been long forgotten. No, instead I was totally focused on Kurt and Kurt alone. It had started with me leaning over when I saw him getting worked up again and kissing him gently. Now we were lying on the couch, Kurt underneath me while we kissed passionately. Gently, nervously, I let my tongue move out from behind my lips for the first time in what felt like forever to gently prod his lips. He responded slowly, unsure if he was doing okay. I carefully let my tongue slid into his mouth and poke at his tongue.
He responded and poked back so soon the too muscles were dancing in a fight for dominance. Of course I won and I was pretty sure Kurt was happy with that as I slid my hands down his sides, making him shiver from the touch. Goosebumps rose on his arms as we explored each other's mouths. His arms snaked up to wrap around my neck, pulling me down closer. I experimentally let my hands go lower, when he made no effort to stop me I slid them slowly down beneath him and the fabric of the couch to slide against his ass. I was shocked when he didn't jerk away like Quinn used to but instead raised his hips slightly, probably without even knowing he had, and rolling them.
They seemed to search for a partner so I lowered down further and let them roll against my own. I was suddenly very…excited. I moved slowly back against him, grinding. He gasped against my lips, which I took as a good sign to do it again. I began to notice I wasn't the only one who had gotten very happy about this new step. We soon got into a rhythm but it didn't last very long, maybe about fifteen more seconds, as I suddenly felt the rush in my stomach that I had tried so hard to prevent from happening too early so many times. I quickly thought of the mailman and how I had run him over on my first driving experience. It had been terrible, especially with my mom shouting at me to do something about it. The visual of the cracked windshield and the noise it had made when the poor mailman crashed against it wasn't helping at all. I quickly sat up and unlocked myself from Kurt. My eyes shut tightly as my body locked and it happened. I slowly limped down and felt pathetic.
"I-I" I looked over at Kurt. He looked about in tears again. I looked past the blush on my face in confusion. "I'm sorry, i-it was my first time ever making out and I don't know what I did." He sat up and looked the other way, but not before I could catch it twist in embarrassment and sadness. Then it hit me what he was thinking. I quickly jumped to explain.
"Oh, god no, Kurt! It wasn't you at all." He turned back slightly. "Well, I mean, it was you, but not in the way you think!" It was his turn to look confused and I knew that there was only one way to solve this but it would probably lead down a road of shame, just like it had with everyone else that knew about my little problem. I shut my eyes and lifted my shirt so he could see the impact he'd had on me.
"Oh." He looked up at the ceiling, eyes clenched shut.
"I-I'm sorry. I can't control it, it just happens!" I tried to defend myself but he held up a hand and cut me off.
"It's fine, Finn. Quite flattering actually. Um, here" He stood up off the couch. "Let me go see if I have something you can change into." My eyebrows crinkled together in confusion as he practically bounced away and returned with some sweat pants. "Here. They are dad's but they'll have to do for now. You know where the bathroom is, right." I nodded numbly and got up, took the sweat pants and headed for the bathroom.
They were about two sizes two short but otherwise they fit okay. I stumbled out of the bathroom and found Kurt in the living room. He smiled and took my ruined jeans from me and went to go put them in the laundry room. When he returned I asked why he was okay with it and he just shrugged and said that it happens to everyone. I then began to tell him all about my problem and told him that it was okay if he was ashamed of me now. He kissed me then and assured me that it was alright and actually kinda cute. Then he noticed the time and I really had to go, mom was probably wondering where I was. He promised to give me back my jeans tomorrow.
I sat in my truck thinking about all that happened. Glee was going to be one crazy roller coaster of emotion but if it meant Kurt and I got more time to make out like that then I could ride that roller coaster over and over again. That was possibly the best make-out session ever, and the ending? Let's just say it was the best ending that had happened as well.
~``~``~``~ Will ~``~``~``~
Work. I had always looked forward to going. I loved my job and I loved what I got to teach. Now it seemed just a chore to get out of bed in the morning nonetheless get dressed and have to teach all day. Somehow I'd made it to my car and was on my way, listening blindly to some song I really didn't care for on the radio. I reached down to switch it just to get another crappy song. I tried again and my heart almost froze. It was Don't Stop Believing. I had to stop driving in the middle of the street. I smiled just thinking about the first time the club really fell together. I smiled and suddenly everything that had happened, all the emotions form this year, they were all let loose from just this one little song. I sat there, in my car, in the middle of the road, crying in a very unmanly way but I really didn't care about anything at that moment. Soon a car behind me honked and I knew I had to get moving again.
~``~``~``~ Finn ~``~``~``~
"Hey, Rach!" I called to her as she came down the stairs of school. "Wow, I'm impressed, I think this is the first time I've seen you without Jesse attached at your side in a long time." She nodded sadly.
"He said he had some things he needed to do." She came down to stand on the second to last step so she was slightly taller than me. She brushed a piece of hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear.
"We need to talk." I told her, staring right into her eyes. "We had a chance of keeping it together at Mr. Schue's until you decided to bail." She had been the one to cause Kurt to cry and I just couldn't have that. "You're our leader, Rachel. The way you're on everyone all the time is annoying but it's also keeps the club motivated. You and I are gonna fix this. We're going to win!" I should have seen it pass through her eyes, whatever idea she'd just had.
Then suddenly she was leaned forward, our lips connected together. She stayed like that for a few seconds and I stood awkwardly as millions of thoughts, mostly about Kurt, passed through my head. I heard a few cat-calls and I realized that this needed to stop immediately before something bad happened but I couldn't make my body move. I just stood there. Then she pulled away, leaving a confused look on my face as to what I had just done with Rachel Berry, girl I had been crushing on for a little while but now was completely over. This wasn't right. She smiled and leaned back in.
"Finn…" She whispered softly before once again closing the distance between us. Suddenly my body could work again and I pushed away rapidly.
"No, Rachel!" I shouted harshly. The bell for class rung and I was glad that everyone had gone to class.
"I don't know what I did wrong-" Her face was going to that 'pity me' look but I cut it off and let the words escape my mouth before I knew I had even spoke them.
"I'm in love with Kurt!" Then everything seemed to freeze in my mind.
When had that happened? I just said that I was in love with Kurt! I'd never even thought that before and yet it just came out so easily. I was in love with Kurt and I had just said it out loud, for the first time, to Rachel Berry. Crap. Weren't you supposed to tell the person you love that you love them before you tell anyone else. Oh, yeah, Finn, cause that's the real problem here. My mind scolded me. Then I thought about it. I'd told Rachel about me and Kurt. I'd said it and I couldn't take it back. It was out there forever. She knew! I was screwed.
~``~``~``~ Rachel ~``~``~``~
I slunk slowly away from Finn, ignoring the fact that we were now both late for our last period. Finn was in love with Kurt? That is what he just said, right? I wasn't having some weird nightmare? I blinked and looked at Finn. He seemed frozen from shock at what he just let slip. I sunk down until I was sitting on the stairs, my head in my hands. So I had just cheated on Jesse with a gay guy? Which so isn't the point right now but still. I looked up to find Finn looking down at me.
"How long?" I asked. It took a few moments before speech seemed to be able to come back to him.
"A few months now." He swallowed thickly.
"Does he know?"
"I should hope so; we're kind of…dating." I took in a sharp breath. That put totally new spin on things. So not only did Finn have this sudden thing for guys but he and Kurt were also dating. That's great, just great! I let out a sharp breath and stood.
"I have to tell someone!" I shouted to no one in particular, just voicing my feelings. This was something that couldn't be held to ourselves. Finn's eyes grew wide as I passed him.
"Rachel, no!" He charged after me. When he caught hold of me, his arm snaked around my waist and he actually picked me up. I needed to tell someone!
~``~``~``~ Kurt ~``~``~``~
I looked nervously at the door while Mr. Schue wrote on the board. Finn hadn't been there for last period and he didn't mention running off suddenly at lunch so I was getting pretty worried. Then Mr. Schue brought me back to class as the marker he was writing with squeaked on the board as he underlined the word Journey. I sighed when Finn and Rachel suddenly trampled through the door, Finn looking very reluctant to be here. I perked up at bit and sat up straight.
"Mr. Schuster, I have something I want to say." Rachel announced, Finn looking down.
"Me first, have a seat." Mr. S instructed.
"Yeah, Rachel, have a seat." Finn grabbed her hand and practically pulled her down into a seat, completely avoiding my gaze at him.
"Nine months ago there were five of you in here and we sucked. I mean we really sucked, bad." Everyone exchanged a smile with each other, the original five knowing fully well how bad it was. "One day, all of you are going to be gone and all of this; all of us, will be nothing but a hazy memory. It will take you a second to remember everyone's name. Someone will have to remind you of the songs we sung, the solos you got or didn't get. Life only really has one beginning and one end and the rest is just a whole lot of middle. And I love you guys too much to let you not make the most of it. Now, I was going to quit once, but you guys brought me back with Don't Stop Believing. It was a nine, but we're going to make it a ten."
"We're doing Don't Stop at Regionals?" Rachel spoke up, more excited than anyone.
"And then some," Mr. Schue smiled at her. "We're doing a Journey medley, because who cares what happens when we get there when the getting there was the best part." I caught Santana and Brittany link pinkies and Mercedes and I lead our heads together. Then he caught my full attention again. "Rachel, you had something you wanted to say?"
Rachel looked about ready to cry from what Mr. Schuster said but she was suddenly attentive again. She looked over at Finn and they shared a pained look, he seemed to be begging her not to say whatever she wanted to say. She sighed heavily and got up. Finn pinched the bridge of his nose and looked away. Rachel stood at the front and looked up at me with a bit of anger.
"I'm sorry, Finn, but if you haven't learned that people in glee are supposed to accept you for who you are then I'm going to have to show you again." She looked at everyone else and spoke clearly and slowly. "Guys, Finn and Kurt-"But Finn stood up and spoke instead.
"Kurt and I are dating. Okay, there, fine. I hope that you," He pointed at Rachel. "Are satisfied." Then he took about four long steps and was gone out of the choir room, leaving me there to deal with everyone's stares. It was silent for a few seconds before everyone broke and started practically screaming at me. I stared at the door, wishing Finn would come back through it and help me. Then I caught sight of Rachel between all the commotion that revolved around me. She had sunk down against a wall and curled in on herself, tucking her head on her knees, face turning red and tears streaming down her cheeks.
~``~``~``~ Finn ~``~``~``~
My hand was throbbing from when I punched one of the bathroom stalls. I breathed out heavy breaths. I couldn't believe Rachel did that. I know why she did it though. For the first time I was able to understand why she'd done it. She did it out of pure jealous rage. She wanted everyone to love her and now that Kurt and I were together that wasn't going to happen. Everyone would say that she and I were a couple in the long time coming, but they'd be wrong. I wasn't made for Rachel. She needed someone who could keep up with her, who could sing with her. I didn't want to do that for the rest of my life. I will always sing but I'm never going to be able to be Rachel's show husband. She needed to realize that not everything was about her. She'd just done it to cause pain, she was hurting right now so she wanted to make me and Kurt pay for that.
"Finn?" I turned from the sink I'd rested at to see Kurt.
"Kurt. H-how is everyone?" I was literally shaking. I wasn't ready for everyone to know; I didn't want them to know but apparently that was out of my hands now.
"I don't really know. I left before anyone actually started to attack me with questions. I'm not going to deal with that without you." I sighed and looked down. Was I really expecting Kurt to do that alone? "Finn, they know I'm gay and they know I like you. It's you that they're confused about." I nodded.
"Then let's go face them." He blinked and looked up at me. I walked over and grasped his hand tightly in mine, ready for the worst to come.
The choir room had been silenced by Mr. Schue but the second we walked in everyone practically shoved questions down our throats. Most questions were along the same lines and were easily answered by me holding up our linked hands to everyone. Eventually everyone seemed to calm down and go into their own thoughts. Tina had hugged Kurt and Artie had given me a fist bump after a while, they seemed to be the only supporters. Mr. Schue looked a bit shocked, but it was obvious he was trying not to care about it and be happy, I guess that's what I really wanted from everyone though, just a little effort to try and understand. Jesse was completely confused as to why Rachel was silently crying to herself near the corner of the room. Quinn just seemed to be staring off into the distance, also shocked to the core. Mercedes was squeezing Kurt's shoulder since she'd known all along and had always been supportive. Matt and Mike were silently looking anywhere but and Kurt and I, afraid of confrontation. Puck was the worse. He was silent for a little while, and then he'd swear, then become silent, then swear again. When Mr. Schue announced the end of glee everyone got up and hurried out. Artie, Tina and Mercedes gave us reassuring looks before heading out. We were met outside by a very confused Quinn.
"I-I don't understand." She clutched her books to her chest and looked down at her stomach. I looked the other way, getting kind of annoyed.
"Quinn," Kurt spoke to her, putting a hand on her shoulder. "We just want everyone to understand. You guys are our friends; you're supposed to accept us for better or worse." She held up a pale hand.
"I-I'm happy for you both." I looked at her in confusion. "So happy for you. Finn," She placed a hand on my shoulder. "You deserve some happiness too. You've been through so much. I'm so happy that you could finally find someone to treat you right." I was shocked when she pulled us close together, arms slinging around my shoulders and hugging me. I hugged her back, glad that she was supportive. She moved to Kurt next. "Take good care of him. He's kind of broken and messed up right now but I think you'll be good for him." She smiled and waved her goodbyes, heading off with Mercedes who was at the end of the hall.
~``~``~``~ Rachel ~``~``~``~
We all sat in the back room. We were all fully dressed and ready but no one spoke. I glared at Kurt and Finn as they sat next to each other. It was…disgusting. As everyone should know by now, I have two gay dads and I am not homophobic. It's just, Finn isn't gay or Bi. It's not right. It just doesn't fit! Jesse was sitting impatiently at the door, constantly glancing at the clock and he was making me even more uneasy. The intercom in the room announced the judges, everyone glaring when Mrs. Sylvester's name came on. Then it changed to singing as Oral Intensity began their performance.
"Are you kidding me? A mash up of Olivia Newton John and Josh Groban? Somebody tipped them off about the judges!" Puck shouted and everyone looked even more depressed.
"Guys we can't get distracted by what the other teams are doing." I said, straightening my head band.
"We just gotta keep our heads in the game and focus." Finn got up and started to pace nervously.
"You don't get a say in this." Puck spoke up. Finn glared at him. "You don't see us asking Kurt what he thinks. Fags keep to themselves." Finn had to be stopped by Mercedes, Artie's wheelchair, Tina and a pregnant Quinn to keep him from getting to Puck.
"Don't call them that!" Everyone looked over at me. "Look, I may not be happy at all with this situation but that doesn't mean we can turn on each other. We're all we have and we need everyone of us right now. So just shut up, Puckerman!" I reached up to try turning off the intercom but couldn't reach. Then a hand came up behind me and turned it off for me. Mr. Schue had just walked in.
"If this is only about winning for you guys, then I owe you all an apology 'cause I've failed you and we should all go home because it means we've already lost. Besides, we have got something that the other groups don't." We all looked at him curiously. "Finn's dancing." Most people in the room smiled and laugh, Puck just scoffed. "Now let's get out there, we've got two minuets, Oral Intensity is almost finished, let's go, bring it in." We all formed one of those huddled hand-over hand things and shouted 'Break!' at the end.
Just then a bunch of people rushed through the door, screeching loudly at us. They passed by Jesse and the people at the front began squirting us with water guns. They were all dressed in hot pink. Mr. Schue shouted at them all, which was kind of scary but they just kept going. Finally the rampage of water stopped and most of the people backed out of the room, leaving only a few left. Vocal Adrenaline was an evil team and they didn't deserve to win for what they've done. Then Jesse stood up and walked over to stand beside them. The female lead handed Jesse the water gun then turned and kissed him. Everyone let out their own gasps of horror. I froze. No, this wasn't happening.
"Hey, Berry." The girl called to me directly. "Think next time before you go after my man." Then she skipped out to go join the rest of the group.
"Jesse?" I stood and he moved forward. He put his hand on my shoulders and pushed me back down into a sitting position. "Y-you can't be."
"I do love you, Rachel, but it'll never work out. Maybe you should regroup about what you see in men."
"Jesse St. James!" My mother was the next one to walk through the doors. "Get out here, now!" He looked at her before scurrying off.
"Shelby what-"Mr. Schue started but she cut him off.
"Sorry, they always do something like this before the show but never this close to performing. They will be punished right now, sorry for the interruption." My mom headed to the door. "Oh, you all look really nice." She tossed a smile over her shoulder as she went out.
The team sat in shock the rest of the time, trying to dry off our watered down clothes. Mr. Schue kept apologizing for not stopping them in time. Eventually everyone was one slightly damp, make-up and hair all fixed, and the came to get us to get into places. I watched in slight anger as Finn and Kurt eyed each other before going separate ways. Finn and I went to stand by the doors while everyone else went to go take their places behind the stage curtain.
~``~``~``~ Finn ~``~``~``~
The air between Rachel and I was thick as we stood here. I straightened my tie and tried to calm the twisting knot in my stomach about performing. I glanced over at Rachel and caught her look over at me. Her hand was running through one of her curls and her face looked sad. She tried to fake a smile but it just wouldn't come. I had to tell her something to make it better; make us better and all the tension between us go away. I started walking over to her and she followed and met me in the middle.
"Break a leg." She said softly.
"I love you." She blinked and smiled in confusion. "Not like that but more like a sister or best friend I've had forever. I mean, I see Kurt and Mercedes together and they're always so happy. So I guess what I'm saying is, would you be my Mercedes?" She took a deep breath and smiled a real smile, nodding. I let the corner of my mouth twitch upward and I walked back to my place, ready to perform. I looked back at Rachel when applause filled the room we were about to enter. We smiled nodded and headed out into the room.
The spotlight was bright on me as I began to sing. Heads turned towards me and I couldn't help but feel happier than I had been all year. Finally, things were falling into place. The attention was all on me but it was different than the attention I'd been getting all year, this was good, it made me feel happy inside. Then Rachel came out and all heads turned to her and away from me. She looked beautiful, graceful and happy.
Then we were singing together and everything just sort of sky rocketed from there. We began to walk towards each other, singing out all the bad feelings that had passed. Rachel was upset still and you could see it in her eyes, but when she sang it all went away. Feelings about Jesse were shown through her eyes, along with major feelings of our past and about what a rocky ride we've been through. I sang back to her with just as much intensity. We headed up to the stage from there.
I smiled at Brad as I passed him, glad they let him play for us. He'd been though everything with us and deserved to be here just as much as any of us. Once we got settled I could feel the curtain behind us going up and heard the voices of the rest of the group start up as well. Rachel and I smiled at each other. I matched my voice with that of the rest of the group as Rachel sang her parts, which were amazing as they always were. Cheers erupted from the audience as we finished the first song. Rachel's smile was the brightest I'd seen it in a long time. It took everything I had not to break the mood and look back at everyone else. I reached out my hand and grasped hers, walking back to the rest of the group with her as we set up for our next performance.
It was fun t see everyone start standing up in the crowd as we started the next song. It was quicker and required a lot more choreography, but we'd run through it enough times that I was sure I wouldn't embarrass myself too badly. The girls separated to two sides and the guys went to the top of the stairs. I got to stand next to Kurt and I wanted so badly to tell him that Rachel was cool with us now but we were kind of performing so I couldn't just ruin that. Then the guys separated and the girls took the middle. We were doing a mash-up of Anyway you want it and lovin' touchin' squeezing. Both were songs I'd sung a lot so I at least didn't have to worry about forgetting the words. We all went back to our places on stage as Puck took center stage, singing his part. He was really good and everyone clapped louder for him as Rachel and I began our parts again. When she had to feel me up it didn't even feel awkward at all. She just did what she had to and moved on. Then we got to dance however we wanted as the instrumental break played on. The crowd went wild as we ended that song as well, getting ready for our finally. I wish we could see the judges face because I was sure they'd be shocked and impressed. Especially Mrs. Sylvester.
Then it was our song. The song that began our team back when there were only a few of us. Little did we know the journey that would lead from that song until it ended here, singing it again. It represented all that we've been through. It was us, New Directions, our team. This song held more emotion than any one person was capable of feeling. Now it was better than before. I got to sing my part and Rachel sung hers. The crowd started clapping along with it. We did our original dance moves to it. Puck was next up to sing his own solo part. Then everyone smiled widely when Santana rocked her part. Then Artie was singing with Rachel. I joined in with them so Artie and I had a male explosion to add to Rachel's booming voice. The crowd went wild as we ended our songs and our performance was over, the rush of Adrenaline coursed through each and every one of our bodies.
~``~``~``~ Quinn ~``~``~``~
We ran through the halls of back stage, heading to the dressing rooms again. Everyone was so excited and happy. Our performance was explosive and we rocked it. I placed a hand on my stomach and grasped the railing as I went down the stairs as best as quickly as I could. I started rushing after everyone else, trying to catch up with them.
"Quinnie!" I stopped dead in my tracks and turned to face…my mom? Kurt and Santana gave her looks as they passed by her as well. They looked at me, silently asking if I wanted them to stay. I waved them off and they scurried along.
"What are you doing here?" I asked in disbelief. She clasped a hand to her mouth and looked on almost in tears. "Is dad okay?"
"I came to hear you sing." She smiled brightly. "You were wonderful! I'm so sorry I missed all the other times you performed, were their a lot?" I looked around, trying to see if anyone else was hearing this. Then I tightened up, my face becoming hard. "I left your father." I tried to respond but all I could do was breath at this point. Oh no. "He was having an affair with some, uh…tattoo freak. I want you to come home with me. I can turn the guest room into a nursery." That sounded so good but I couldn't concentrate on anything but the sudden wet feeling I had. "Oh sweetie, say something."
"My water just broke." She looked at me in shock and I just looked down between us.
Everything moved quickly after that. I shouted for Puck and clutched my mom's shoulder as I doubled over in pain as the first contraction hit. I took in a sharp breath and heard my mom telling Puck what was going on. Everyone was suddenly around me, clutching onto me. Mercedes brought over a wheel chair as the overhead announced that Vocal Adrenaline would be going now. I clutched my stomach as everyone rushed through the halls with me, my mom and Puck by my side.
"Mom, it hurts so bad!" I said through grit teeth as we rush through some doors of the hospital. I wondered briefly how we'd gotten there since it had all been a giant blur of pain.
"Excuse me, my daughter's having a baby!" She rushed out to some nurse we passed. She directed us through the halls.
"Wait, wait!" I called out and they stopped. My hair was in my face and covering my eyes as I looked around frantically. Finally I spotted Mercedes next to me. "I want Mercedes with me too." She looked honored but right now no one cared as they rushed me into a room and set me up on a bed.
The rest of the club came into the room with me for a minuet while they were getting me set up. I yelled over and over for all of them to stay near my head since my legs were up really wide and open. Puck clutched my hand and I squeezed it tightly as contraction after contraction hit me. I looked over when I got a second to breathe. Everyone was looking at me worried but Finn was clutching his head and breathing heavily. I reached blindly for Kurt's hand.
"Oh no, I freaked out Finn." He placed his other hand over mine.
"It's okay." He let me go and Mercedes took his place. "Come on. Let's get you out of here." I heard him say to Finn as they left. Soon the nurse shooed everyone else out into the waiting room. I started crying when the pain came too hard and I called for my mom.
"Okay, Quinn you're going to have to push!" A nurse shouted at me.
"You push!" I shouted back through clenched teeth. I let out a giant scream after that and I didn't want it anymore. I wanted to wait, I wasn't ready and I wanted it to stay in. Puck's face about the whole thing would have been hilarious if I hadn't been giving birth.
"Come on, Quinn, a good push!" That same nurse shouted. I turned to her and gave her a glare worthy of a mass murder.
"Get out!" I screeched at her. "Out!" She blinked and the doctor shooed her away. She left reluctantly but I was glad when she was gone. Then the pain began again. "It's never coming out of here!" I shouted. Puck tried to stutter out something comforting but I didn't want that right now. "Shut up!" Then I remembered that this was all his fault. "You suck, you suck, you suck, you suck!" I chanted at him.
~``~``~``~ Kurt ~``~``~``~
I had tried to get Finn to calm down and it had worked for a minuet. He was sitting and just breathing. Then a loud scream ripped out from Quinn's room and Finn jumped up again. He started pacing and I figured that nothing could help him right now through this miracle of life. I picked up a magazine and began to work through the long wait. Finn was starting to get really annoying now though as he paced and breathed.
"What are they doing to her? Oh god, they must be torturing her!"
"Finn!" I snapped at him. "Just chill." He looked at me and nodded but kept pacing. Finally I couldn't take it anymore. I stood up and grabbed Finn's arm. "We're going to go get some coffee." I announced to everyone then dragged him away.
~``~``~``~ Rachel ~``~``~``~
I stood and watched Vocal Adrenaline perform from the back of the room. I had decided to miss out on Quinn's birth. Someone had to be here incase we won. I couldn't believe he just left me like that, chewed me up and spit me out. I wouldn't miss him. No, the emotion of sadness was beyond this point. Before I knew what I was doing I found myself in the room VA was residing in. I walked though the door to find my mom, as expected.
"Congratulations." She looked up from stirring her coffee.
"Thanks, Rachel."
"We beat you today." She looked at me in confusion. I walked forward towards her. "Jesse's a good singer but you and I both know he doesn't have much heart. Vocal Adrenaline's best days are behind it. So I have a proposition for you. Come teach at McKinley." She blinked and looked on at me in confusion.
"Excuse me?"
"You and Mr. Schuster could be co-directors. We'd be unstoppable. There's so much that you can teach me; so much only you can teach me." She shook her head.
"Oh, Rachel, I can't do this anymore. I'm tried of coaching glee club, I want a life. It took meeting you to realize all this stuff that I missed out on. I need some balance, you know? I need a house and a garden and a dog, a family. I missed out on my chance with you, and it kills me and I can't let that happen again." I nodded in understanding and walked away. "Where's the rest of your team?" I turned back to her.
"They're at the hospital. Quinn had her baby. It's a beautiful baby girl." I had to walk out then, not able to stay in there any longer. I smiled when I saw Finn and the rest of the club coming through the front doors again.
"Hey, did we miss it? Did we win?" Finn asked, strutting over to me, the rest of the club behind him. I ignored the fact that he had Kurt's hand clutched in his.
"No, uh, you're just in time. How's Quinn?" I asked, crossing my arms.
"I think the better question is 'how's Finn'." I glanced at Mercedes with my eyebrows crinkled. "Quinn is fine but Finn kind of had a freak out for her." She nudged him in the shoulder.
"It wasn't that bad." He tried to defend himself but Kurt scoffed next to him. I smiled and tried to bite back the laughter that bubbled on my lips, an image of Finn freaking out clouding my mind. Then an announcement that we all needed to take the stage came on the overhead and we all crossed fingers and held hands as we walked to the stage, together as a team.
~``~``~``~ Finn ~``~``~``~
The stage was crowded by all three teams. We were the only team holding hands though. We all swallowed nervously. Kurt was standing in front of me. I reached out to his free hand, his other holding Mercedes tightly, and let one finger curl around one of his. He let a smile slip over his shoulder. Then applause erupted through the entire room as Mrs. Sylvester walked on stage to announce the winner. Oral Intensity was named second place and they cheered and left the stage. Our glee club and Vocal Adrenaline moved over closer together to fill in the space. We all looked down, our eyes shut tightly. I looked around once to see Rachel actually shaking. I let go of Brittany's hand and reached over to grab her elbow. She glanced back and smiled at me, nodding once.
"And now, you're 2010 Midwest Regional show choir champions are," We all were silently praying as Sue Sylvester took out the small cardboard memo and sighed into the microphone. "Vocal Adrenaline!"
We all let out a breath of air as the reality of the situation set in. Vocal Adrenaline was go crazy next to us. All our hands slipped apart and a sadness washed through us all as we realized that Glee Club was over. For good. Never to return or rise from the grave. We all looked down in shame at the third place trophy Mr. Schue was handed. Everyone was going crazy in the audience and we all looked about ready to cry. Slowly we made our way off the stage and to our room where our normal clothes were. We didn't change back, just sat there depressed.
Tina was the first to break the silence with her tears. Everyone followed her lead and suddenly we were all having a giant weep-fest. Mercedes said she somehow managed to text Quinn and Puck. I tried to fight back the hurt as Kurt leaned over to me, searching for comfort. I rubbed small circles on his back with one hand and stroked his arm with the other as he snuggled into my chest, obviously trying to hide the fact that he was about to cry as well.
~``~``~``~ Kurt ~``~``~``~
We all took our places on the auditorium stools. It had been a long night. Finn had text me a few times to see if I'd gone to sleep but each time I replied with a no. Then I'd text Mercedes and she'd text Tina. Basically none of us fell asleep last night until about two AM. Quinn had told everyone the next day that she had decided to let Shelby, Rachel's mom, adopt little Beth. We were all shocked that she decided not to keep her after what she went through but that wasn't for us to decide.
Now here we were, sitting here waiting for Rachel to come back with Mr. Schue. Rachel finally returned and Mr. Schue took a seat while Rachel joined us on stage. Everyone looked terrible, so down and depressed. It's not a shock though considering what we were about to do.
"So, we have something we need to say to you." Rachel began our speech.
"In the beginning of this year, I was just another football player." Matt spoke first.
"I had a stutter." Tina continued.
"I was a closeted diva." Mercedes breathed out sadly.
"I used to be captain of the cheerios." Quinn said, looking much better than the last time I'd seen her.
"I use to dance inside my room." Mike said sadly.
"I hated everyone in this club." Santana stated.
"So did I." Brittany agreed, looking down. I bit my lip when it was my turn.
"I wasn't honest about who I was." I glanced over at Finn and he gave a small smile.
"I was tossing kids into dumpsters." Puck admitted with shame heavy in his voice.
"I had never kissed a girl before." Artie looked at Tina and she smiled back at him.
"I was getting slushied." Rachel said, clasping the end of her skirt.
"I didn't have a father." Finn began to choke out. "Someone I could look up to, model myself after; someone who could show me what it really meant to be a man." Mr. Schue let out a heavy breath and his eyes glossed over.
"We don't care what the judges say." Rachel spoke for all over us. "We won, because we had you as a teacher."
"Yeah," Mercedes back her up. "And glee club will never end Mr. Schue, because you are glee club." She began to tear up again. "I think you've heard all of us now." She nodded and the band started up on the song.
Rachel started us off. She had instantly begun to cry. She passed the song onto Mercedes, who had also begun to cry. Mr. Schue was giving us a look that said it was taking everything he had not to cry. Then I got to sing my part. Oh hell, if everyone else was going to cry, I was too! We all started on the chorus of To sir, with love. It was a scary fit to what was going on. Artie and Tina sung their part together. They were always meant to be together and no one could deny it. Mercedes and Finn took it then, busting through Mr. Schue's tough act as he really started to cry then. Mercedes grasped my hand and I looked next to me as Santana did her part. She was probably crying harder than any of us. I got to sing again and was shocked my voice had managed to hold out. The chorus rung out loud at strong then. Sadly, as the song ended, so did glee club.
~``~``~``~ Rachel ~``~``~``~
It had been about three days since glee club ended and everyone was surprisingly still together. Santana and Brittany had started to eat lunch at the glee club table and Puck and Quinn were happier than ever. We had all come to a deal with Finn and Kurt about not mentioning anything about them being together to the rest of the school. They trusted us and we all thought that was more important than some gossip right now. I pulled books out of my locker when I was suddenly met by a very excited Mr. Schuster.
"Rachel!" He gripped my shoulders excitedly. "We've got another year." It took a second for that to soak in. When it did I jumped up and down and screamed. "Quick tell everyone else to spread the word!" He quickly started to dart in the other direction to find other members when I got an idea.
"Wait! Mr. Schue!" He turned and looked back at me. "you haven't told Finn or Kurt yet, right?" He shook his head. "Don't tell them and make sure nobody else tells them either!" He looked confused but nodded in agreement.
~``~``~``~ Finn ~``~``~``~
"Okay, okay! I can walk for myself!" I snapped at Mercedes. She smiled and just continued to drag me with her through the halls. We ended up in the choir room. Everyone else was already there. I quickly took a place next to Kurt as Mr. Schue came in. Everyone was looking at Kurt and smiling. I looked to Kurt to see if he knew what was going on but he shrugged and faced front.
"Guys, Rachel and I have told just about each one of you that glee club gets another year." My eyes widened and I started to flip but everyone else seemed to already know this. Well everyone except Kurt and I. "Now, those of you that already knew that you can go ahead and take your places." Mr. Schue moved as everyone but Kurt and I stayed still. We exchanged a confused look.
"What's going on?" I asked everyone up front.
"Well, we never did get to tell you both how we all feel about you're relationship, so we thought we'd do it now." Rachel nodded towards the band that had just set up in their places and Kurt and I blinked in surprise. The members of glee club all began to dance around free-style, no set moves. Kurt laughed next to me, having recognized the song. He grabbed my hand and smiled up at me. I didn't know the song but I was happy if he was.
So no one told you life was gonna be this way
Your job's a joke, your broke. Love life's DOA
It's like your always stuck in second gear
And when it hasn't been your day
Your week
Your month
Or even your year
After the 'DOA' line, everyone clapped. I laughed and squeezed Kurt's hand tighter, wondering where they were all going with this.
I'll be there for you
When the rain starts to pour
I'll be there for you
Like I've been there before
I'll be there for you
Cause you're there for me too.
I laughed out loud now. Puck and Quinn moved over next to Kurt and I. She took his hand and he pushed me up by the shoulders.
You're still in bed at ten, work began at eight
You burned you breakfast so far things are going great
Your mother warned you there'd be days like these
But she didn't tell you when the world has brought you down to your knees
We stood with the rest of the club as they sang. Kurt sung along with them. Rachel came up behind me and wrapped her arms around me from behind. I felt her kick my legs and try to make me move some. I grabbed her hands from around my stomach and turned so we were dancing. I looked over to Find Kurt being smothered by Tina, Quinn and Mercedes.
I'll be there for you
When the rain starts to pour
I'll be there for you
Like I've been there before
I'll be there for you
Cause you're there for me too.
I now remembered the song because Kurt had showed it to me a while back. Funny enough this was the only part I could remember. I walked over to Mr. Schue and pushed him up as well so he could enjoy this with us.
No one could ever know me
No one could ever see me
Seems it's the only one who knows
What it's like to be me
I turned to Kurt and grabbed his hand in mine again.
Someone to face the day with
Make it through all the rest with
Someone I'll always laugh with
Even at my worst I'm best with you, yeah.
"You remember the song?" He asked, laughing as the instruments played through their parts. Everyone was dancing with us again. Puck offered his hand and we fist bumped, finally cool again with each other. I was surprised at first how well he'd taken the whole me and Kurt thing but he had done very well. Everyone had. Why hadn't we told them in the first place. I looked over at Kurt and saw how happy he looked now that everyone knew. I knew that I wanted to do whatever it took to make him always happy at that moment.
It's like you're always stuck in second gear
And when it hasn't been your week
Your month
Or even your year.
I'll be there for you
When the rain starts to pour
I'll be there for you
Like I've been there before
I'll be there for you
Cause you're there for me too.
Everyone laughed as the end of glee club came yet again. Everyone was laughing and smiling as they went to get their stuff to go home. Mr. Schue stopped us all from leaving. We all sat down, this time everyone looking confused. Mr. Schue brought out a small box and cut open the tape on the top with his car keys.
"You guys have worked so hard and you deserve a long break. I do have a summer assignment for you all though." Everyone groaned. "yeah, yeah, I know. You will each take a portable camera with you on your way out." Everyone's eyes lit up as he showed off the portable cameras in the box. "I want each of you to record one day of you summer vacation and we'll present them in class when we get back. The catch is, you have to watch the day back and pick a song that fits the day." Everyone looked around and began to get excited. We all looked at Mr. Schue. "Alright, have a good summer!" We all shouted in excitement and headed for the door. Before we got out to the parking lot I pulled Kurt close to me and brought him in for a kiss, letting my tongue meet his in a serious goodbye for the summer.
A/N:
Well, Glee is over and it's time for my break from this story for a little bit. I will be posting a notice that will tell you when I have the side story up about each of their summers.
Review and send lots of love! Did anyone else cry at the end of (or during) glee? I was blubbering like a baby. Did you like how I changed the whole Finchel thing in the show to Kurt/Finn?
Review!