Hey guys! I am so sorry for the wait. I have been dealing with the holiday, family problems, approaching finals, and the group project from Hell. But here is another chapter for you guys!
Also, I would like to congratulate my sister's best friend (who is basically my little sister) on becoming the 2013 Miss Illinois Teen USA. I am so proud of her! Only 16 and already having one in a lifetime achievements. I am beyond happy for her. I am so proud to know someone like her. :)
When the week of Nationals finally rolled around, every member of the Glee club was busy preparing the last minute details that needed taking care of before they could leave for Los Angeles. Since they were all flying out on Friday afternoon, Burt and Carole switched the family's Friday night dinner to Thursday night so they could all eat together before Nationals.
After watching them for several minutes, Burt sighed. "I don't think I've ever seen Willie not eat his food."
"Are you guys that nervous?" Rachel asked, surprised.
Willie and Liv nodded, putting their forks down. Carole looked at her grandkids. "But you guys have done this before. I thought you were over those nerves?"
Liv looked at the boys and leaned forward in her seat. "Well, yeah, we've done this before but this time we're seniors…this is our last competition."
"I know the best glee club is going to win, but I really want it to be us." Willie added and even Oliver nodded.
"I mean, I just joined so it isn't like I'm going to be crushed if we don't win." He paused and held Liv's hand. "But I want it for them. I know that they want it so badly and I want them to be able to win for their last one."
Kurt smiled at him. "Well that's very nice of you! I think you guys will win."
"And we will all be there to cheer you on." Blaine agreed and winked at his daughter.
"Yes, we are all flying out on Saturday morning. Then we will hang around L.A. and we will be there to see you guys perform Saturday night!" Rachel clapped her hands.
Oliver looked down. "Just so you know…my dad will be there, along with my grandmother and possibly my aunts. I don't want anything to be weird…or anything."
Finn sighed and looked at the boy. "It's been a long time since we have seen Jesse. We made peace and everything turned out the way it was supposed to."
"Don't worry…we told you before that we don't hate you just because we have a less-than-stellar past with your dad." Rachel reassured him quickly.
He smiled at her and nodded. "Thanks."
After dinner, the teenagers watched as Finn, Rachel, Kurt, and Blaine left the house. Since Burt and Carole had signed up to chaperone the trip, the three teenagers had decided to stay at their house so as not to bother their parents when they had to leave early the next day. When Willie went to change into his pajamas, Oliver kissed Liv.
"Are you sure you don't want to tell him?" He asked her quietly, keeping his eyes trained on the door to make sure he wasn't coming back as they spoke.
Liv shook her head. "We said we weren't going to tell anyone yet; not until after Nationals."
He sighed. "If that's what you want, then fine. But I think if you wanted to tell Willie, even if he's the only one we tell right now, that would probably be okay."
"Tell Willie what?" They both looked up as Willie walked into the room and stared at them. "Seriously, tell me what?"
Oliver looked at his fiancé and shrugged. "I think you should tell him. At least then we will have someone to talk to about it besides ourselves."
Liv bit her lip with an unsure look. Oliver raised his eyebrow, seeing right through her fake expression, and she quickly chuckled. "I've been dying to tell someone, anyway!"
Willie sat down again and continued to look between the two of them. "Guys…tell me what?"
Liv laughed and faced her cousin. "You have to promise not to freak. If you do, the grandparents will hear you and they can't know yet. Got it?"
He nodded immediately. "Got it. Now come on…tell me!"
Liv glanced at Oliver who rubbed her back. "Well, do you remember how after Prom I was acting really happy?"
Her cousin nodded. "Yes. Your eyes were practically sparkling for days. Why?"
She reached into her purse and hid her hands. "Well it has to do with this." She turned and showed him the ring on her finger.
The young couple watched as his eyes went wide and his jaw fell open. He opened and closed his mouth a few times trying to figure out what to say. Finally, he looked up at her. "You better have said yes."
She rolled her eyes and smiled. "What do you think?"
He grinned. "I can't believe you're getting married."
She nodded. "Me either." She turned to look back at Oliver. "But I think it is right."
Oliver squeezed her hand and brushed his thumb over her hand. "It's definitely right."
Willie stared at them, eyebrow raised in disgust. "Don't even think about making out right now…that will make me wake the grandparents. I don't think Grandpa Burt will appreciate that too much…especially when he finds out why."
Liv rolled her eyes again and smacked him with her pillow as Oliver went to change. "Willie…you can't tell anyone. I'm serious…not even Danny or Gabe. Not yet. We aren't ready for everyone to know."
He nodded. "I can do that. But are you planning on telling them soon? You know they won't judge you."
She sighed. "I'm afraid they will. I don't want to be made to feel like I am stupid for making this decision."
He watched her carefully. "Is this because of what Danny did?"
"Hell no." She shook her head before he even finished his question. "It has nothing to do with that at all. I just don't want anyone to think that Oliver and I can't do this. If people start to doubt me, then I will start to doubt me…you know?"
He nodded again. "You're stronger than you know, Liv."
She smiled and hugged him. "Thanks, Willie."
…
When the plane landed at LAX the next day, everyone was excited. After finding their luggage, as they waited for a bus to come pick them up, Will sat them down to give their rooming assignments.
"Okay guys, the rooms will only have two people in them expect for one of each. They go as followed: Cassie, Joanie, and Grace; Gen and Victoria; Nora and Mary; Liv and Lux; Willie and Oliver; Eric, Kevin, and Justin; Danny and Gabe; and finally Sonny and Doug. There will be chaperone rooms in between your rooms, just so you are aware."
They all nodded and agreed with this. Little did the adults know, most of the teenagers had a system worked out for weeks about switching rooms to be with their significant others. Once they got to the hotel they had to rehearse for part of the day. The other part of the day was set aside for exploring the city.
Once the teens were able to be out on their own, the group all went to find lunch. While some of the group sat at one table, Danny, Liv, Lux, Gabe, Oliver, Willie, Victoria, Gen, Sonny, and Doug sat at one a few tables away.
"Okay, how are we going to pull this off?" Victoria asked as she chewed on some of her fries.
Danny looked at Willie and sighed. "Well Liv, Willie, and I made up a chart of who would switch with whom so that everyone could be together. We will have to pull this off in the time after Uncle Will, Aunt Emma, the Hummels, and Beiste go to bed and between the time they go to get ice, or in Beiste's case, food from the vending machine."
"If we remember who is switching and when, we could probably pull this off." Willie said, agreeing with his friend. "Liv has the list, so she can tell everyone who is switching with who."
Liv pulled out a sheet of paper from her satchel and adjusted her sunglasses. "Okay, so first Victoria and Gabe will switch. That covers one room. When Gabe gets back to the room, Gen will go to Willie and Oliver's room. Then Oliver will come over to mine and Lux's room, which will let Lux know that she can go to Sonny and Doug's room. Then Doug will go to the room with Gabe. That should allow everyone to be together." She took a sip of her water. "Remember to check the hallways for any signs of Beiste, the grandparents, or Uncle Will and Aunt Emma. Before tonight, everyone better get room numbers from the people you are switching with to avoid tipping off the others." She gestured to the other table of their friends.
"Deal." Everyone agreed.
…
Liv looked out the door after her cousin, before shutting and locking the door. Smiling, she kissed her fiancé. "Alone at last."
He grinned. "I knew this plan would work."
She raised an eyebrow. "You did?"
He nodded and they fell onto the bed. "I've learned that when it comes to the four seniors of the family, you tend to have good plans."
"Except for New Year's Eve." She reminded him and he chuckled.
"Yes, I forgot about that one." He kissed her. "I love you." She smiled and leaned her head against his chest. "Liv, you okay?"
She nodded. "Just a headache."
He kissed her temples. "Are you sure you want-"
"Yes."
He nodded and kissed her, slowly unbuttoning her shirt as they moved on the bed.
