AN: Thanks for all your lovely reviews from the last chapter, and thanks to the new people who have alerted and favourited! By the way, I broke one of my shift keys and my caps key, which is pretty crap :( I can still write though, I just have to retrain my fingers :(
Chapter 29 – Visits
"Ain't no sunshine when she's gone. It's not warm when she's away. Ain't no sunshine when she's gone, and she's always gone too long anytime she goes away," Finn sang as he walked out of the doors at McKinley, glee being finished for the Thursday afternoon.
"I wonder this time where she's gone. Wonder if she's gonna stay. Ain't no sunshine when she's gone, and this house just ain't no home, anytime she goes away," Finn continued as he headed back to the Hummel-Hudson house to change before he headed into the tyre shop.
"And I know, I know, I know, I know, I know. I know, I know, I know, I know, I know. I know, I know, I know, I know, I know. I know, I know, I know, I know, I know-I know. They ought to leave the young thing alone, but ain't no sunshine when she's gone. Only darkness every day. Ain't no sunshine when she's gone, and this house just ain't no home, anytime she goes away," Finn continued as he walked out into the bleak, snowy day that fitted his mood exactly.
Finn was in a doleful mood. Kurt had rung for a quick catch up that afternoon, and had mentioned that Rachel was staring in the NYADA musical and opening night was the next day. Finn knew that what he had with Rachel was over, that time was gone and they were both in new places. Seeing as he'd finally realised they were over, Finn was busy mourning losing Rachel, especially because she was in New York, making it her own, and he was still in Lima.
Sure, he was starting to be more comfortable with the idea that he could find a place in Lima, where he was wanted and was useful, but part of him still wanted to do something that would make a difference.
"Ain't no sunshine when she's gone. It's not warm when she's gone away. Ain't no sunshine when she's gone. And she's always gone too long, anytime she goes away," Finn finished sadly, his mind drifting to New York where he imagined Rachel standing centre stage, captivating the audience.
In that vein of thought, Rachel was standing centre stage in the auditorium at NYADA. The cast of Evita were assembled, in full costume, for a complete dress rehearsal. Rachel was in the middle of delivering an appropriately emotional performance of Don't Cry for me Argentina.
Towards the end of the dress rehearsal, Rachel noticed a familiar figure enter the auditorium and take a seat in the back.
When the musical came to a close, and Mr Thacker had spoken his final words of teaching to the cast, Rachel, still in her costume, raced down to the back of the auditorium.
"Mr Schue!" Rachel exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
"Rachel!" Will replied with his signature laugh. "I heard your opening night was tomorrow night, and that you're playing Eva, so I came down from Washington. Ms Pillsbury is here too, we're spending the weekend here, so we're kicking things off with your opening night."
"That's so lovely Mr Schue. My dads are coming too," Rachel replied. "They get in to LaGuardia in about an hour, then we're going to dinner. If you and Ms Pillsbury aren't doing anything, then you should join us. My boyfriend Brody will be there as well. He's the one playing Peron."
"That sounds great Rachel. I'd love to see your dads and meet your boyfriend. He's a great performer," Will replied. He already knew Rachel had a new boyfriend, Finn had told him when he'd returned to Lima, and he was curious to meet the guy who Rachel had left Finn for.
"Wonderful. We have a reservation at Pomaire on 371 W 46th Street at 7.30," Rachel told him. "I'll ring and change the reservation for eight."
"Eight?" Will asked with a puzzled expression. Two dads, one Rachel, one Brody, himself and Emma, it didn't quite add up.
"Well, seeing as you're here I'm sure Santana and Kurt will want to come as well," Rachel explained.
"Oh, of course. That'd be great!" Will said exuberantly.
Rachel smiled at his never ending exuberance. It was sort of puzzling, the way he was constantly over-enthusiastic, but it was what made him a great teacher, and what had helped them to become a glee club who won Nationals.
"Well, I have to run and change now. But I'll see you at dinner," Rachel promised, before turning and heading back towards the stage, presumably headed for her dressing room.
"Who was that?" Brody asked curiously.
"My old glee club teacher, Mr Schue. You probably would have met him when we were in Lima, but he's been in Washington for a Blue Ribbon Commission on the arts in schools, but he's here to watch us tomorrow night," Rachel explained.
"That's some teacher," Brody replied.
"He was a great teacher, he invested so much in us. Coming here to see the musical tomorrow is just the sort of thing he does, because he believes in us," Rachel said fondly.
"He sounds like a great guy," Brody said sincerely.
"Well, you'll get a chance to get to know him over dinner tonight. I invited him and his fiancée, who was our guidance counsellor, Ms Pillsbury," Rachel informed him.
"So their joining us for dinner with your dads?" Brody asked. "Are we singing before dinner?"
"Idiot!" Rachel exclaimed good-naturedly. "If you're really desperate for some more singing I'm sure we can all sing in the park, which would actually make Kurt ridiculously happy. He loves nothing more than to wear high fashion while singing in Central Park."
"Kurt's coming too?" Brody asked.
"Yes, and Santana. Actually, I haven't asked them, but I'm sure they'll want to, now that Mr Schue is in town," Rachel replied.
"Well, that takes the pressure off me for the evening," Brody said with a grin.
"Don't be stupid, my dads really like you. Dinner would've been fine," Rachel told him honestly, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. "Now, I have to change or I'll never get to the airport and dinner."
"You're right. I'll see you at dinner, beautiful," Brody said, kissing her tenderly, before they parted ways.
Rachel dressed quickly, in pretty, black dress she was wearing to dinner, and headed straight to LaGuardia to meet her dads.
"I'm so glad you're both here," Rachel told her dads as they sat in a cab, headed to their hotel before they went to the restaurant.
"It's lovely to see you, my little star," Hiram replied.
"Yes, it's convenient your musical starts before Hanukkah finishes, that way we still get to see you for some of it," LeRoy added.
"It's wonderful," Rachel said with a happy sigh. She was getting the best of everything, seeing her dads in New York during Hanukkah, they would see her star in the NYADA production of Evita, and she still got to spend Christmas break with her friends in New York.
They delivered her dads' luggage to the hotel, then headed for the restaurant.
"I have a surprise," Rachel told them.
"Oh please, not a new boyfriend," LeRoy said in feigned horror.
"Don't be silly, Daddy," Rachel said, giving him a playful swat. "Brody will be at dinner, though of course. No, Mr Schue and Ms Pillsbury have come to New York, they're coming to the musical tomorrow, and I invited them to dinner tonight. So, Kurt and Santana are coming too."
"That sounds lovely, Rachy," Hiram said pleasantly.
"We will get you to ourselves at some point, won't we though?" LeRoy asked.
"Of course, Dad," Rachel replied. "We'll have a lot of the day on Saturday and Sunday before you have to go. Of course I have to spend some of the afternoon and all evening getting ready for the evening performance of Evita."
"Can we come Saturday night as well?" Hiram asked.
"Oh, well I didn't arrange and tickets for you. I thought you'd both want to go out and spend the evening together in the city," Rachel replied.
"Well, that's what we'll do then. We would've loved to watch you twice, but once will be fine," LeRoy returned.
The cab pulled up outside the restaurant and Rachel and her dads alighted.
"We have a reservation under Berry," Rachel told the seating hostess.
"Sure, right this way," the seating hostess told Rachel.
"The rest of our group should be here shortly," Rachel said, as they sat down at the table.
"Of course, I'll bring them over when they arrive," the hostess promised.
"Are you nervous about tomorrow?" LeRoy asked.
"No, not really. I mean, the stage is where I belong. I know everything inside and out. I can't wait to perform in front of a full audience," Rachel replied.
"Of course you can't," Santana chimed in snarkily, as she and Kurt arrived together.
"Hi Santana," Rachel said with an amused smile.
"Hi Mr and Mr Berry," Kurt and Santana chorused.
"Oh please, call us LeRoy and Hiram," Hiram said in a friendly tone.
"Oh please do, and tell us what you've both been up to," LeRoy instructed.
"Well, I'm still loving my job an Vouge. My boss is incredible, it's almost not like working, except for all the coffee I fetch," Kurt gushed.
"And I've just been accepted to AMDA, starting next semester," Santana announced proudly.
"Oh my God, Santana, that's amazing!" Rachel exclaimed. "When did you find out?"
"Santana how could you not have told me on the way over!" Kurt demanded.
"I only found the letter when I got back after work today, and I wanted to tell you and Rachel together," Santana answered.
"Congratulations, Santana," Hiram said warmly.
"Yes, well done!" LeRoy added. "I think this calls for celebratory drinks, at least for us. You may of course all have soft drink."
Kurt, Rachel and Santana were all looking a little put out at that when Brody arrived.
"Sorry I'm late," Brody apologised, kissing Rachel briefly. "What are we celebrating?"
"I got into AMDA," Santana supplied.
"That's amazing," Brody replied, and then extended his hand to Hiram, then LeRoy in greeting.
"Good to see you, Brody," Hiram said pleasantly.
"Shall we order now? We're famished," LeRoy said once Brody was settled.
"Wait, Mr Schue and Ms Pillsbury aren't here yet," Rachel interjected.
"Yes we are," Mr Schuester said, after which there was a around of introductions.
Soon enough they were able to order, then as they sat around, waiting for their food, Santana said, "So has Rachel told you about her bitch of a dance teacher?"
Rachel looked horrified and kicked Santana under the table.
"What? Bitch isn't a bad word," Santana insisted.
Kurt then elbowed her, understanding that it was extremely awkward to bring up Cassandra with Brody and Rachel's dads present, in light of the more recent developments.
Santana, subtle as a sledgehammer, suddenly realised her blunder and started to stare with deep concentration at her napkin.
Hiram and LeRoy exchanged confused looks, Will and Emma waited expectantly for something explosive to happen, they were use to the drama that followed Rachel and her friends. Meanwhile Kurt set about picking up the pieces.
"So, how about a walk in the park after dinner?" Kurt suggested.
Rachel and Brody looked at one another, then started to laugh, a little hysterically.
"What? I know it's cold, but we've all got coats, and it's lovely with all the lights and the crisp, cold air, the skaters," Kurt insisted, confused at the laughter coming from Rachel and Brody.
Rachel and Brody had of course been set off by the memory of their talk a few hours before, relating to Kurt and his love of Central Park.
"No, no, it's a great idea," Rachel said, composing herself.
Brody shot a sly look at Rachel then said innocently, "Yeah, we could even sing something."
"Oh my God, I was going to suggest that, except for what the cold, night air might do to your voices," Kurt said seriously.
This causes Rachel to have another fit of giggles, while her dads and Santana watched her, completely bemused. Emma started to look concerned and whispered in Will's ear, "Do you think this is pre-anxiety about her performance tomorrow night?"
"Not if I know Rachel," Will replied quietly. "I'm sure it's just some heightened tension with having her dads and boyfriend at the one table."
Both Emma and Will would've been surprised to know that the usually dense Schue was closer to the truth.
Kurt astutely realised he must've missed something before, judging from the mischievous look on Brody's face.
"A walk and a song sound lovely," LeRoy said, with a curious look at his daughter. "So Kurt, are you planning on reauditioning for NYADA?"
"No, not currently, I'm going to pursue fashion," Kurt replied.
"Really, Kurt?" Will asked in astonishment. "Wow, I'm sure you'll be great. I guess I'm just surprised, seeing as I knew how much you wanted to get into NYADA."
"I know, but Vogue is just such a great fit for me. I feel like I really belong there," Kurt replied.
"That's wonderful, Kurt," Emma said sincerely.
"So, how are the wedding plans coming, Ms P?" Santana asked politely, wildly desiring to call her something that Sue would've, like Elmo for instance.
"Well, we've got nothing concrete at the moment, what with Will being in Washington for more than a month yet," Emma replied. "But we're hoping soon."
"Well, let us know when, and we'll all be there," Rachel promised.
"Oh look! The food is here," LeRoy announced, somewhat in relief, the conversation, mixed with his hunger, was making the evening a little too much for him.
The food was distributed and Rachel looked around the table happily. It was wonderful, after many years, to finally be so happy with her life, and know that her dreams were well on the way to being accomplished.
AN: Thanks for reading. I know this chapter was a little fluffy again, but there were a few important details, and I can't just skip from one big event to the next! The in between stuff is important too :)
Please review :)
