Hi everyone. Thank you SO much for all your support. I appreciate it more than I can say. When I started this story all those months ago, I wasn't sure if it would work out because I was doing something so different from original Glee and I'd never done a crossover before. But here we are! Thanks so much for all your support again. I am going to miss these characters and this world so much. I'm not done yet though - we still need the Finchel wedding and then two flashforwards, then I really will be done :( But for now, enjoy this chapter and review if I should keep going! :)
Chapter 36: The Inaugural
Finn was having trouble sleeping. This time though, it wasn't because he was worried about something, or because the babies were up a lot. (Well, the babies were up a lot, but even if they hadn't been, Finn probably still would have had trouble sleeping.) It was because he was so excited. Today was the day. Today, Matt Santos would be inaugurated as President of the United States.
This was it, this was what all the hard work of the past year had led up to. At noon today, Vinick would be leaving the White House - and it was unlikely he'd ever set foot in there again. In fact, a trial was scheduled next week for the tampering with the election, and Vinick would likely face at least twenty years in prison.
The fact that the election had been tampered with had shocked and horrified the country. All the other politicians involved with the tampering had resigned their positions, but they weren't getting off scot free and would each be spending five years in prison. They all claimed they didn't want to do it and were afraid of what Vinick would do to them if they didn't agree to it, but they were still getting punished.
But after today, Vinick was just going to be a has-been. Even though the Santos administration hadn't officially taken office yet, they might as well have. The cabinet officials had been named, some bills were already prepared to go to congress to improve education and health care, and the president-elect and Secretary of State appointment had begun communicating with officials in foreign countries.
The future was looking good for Finn and Rachel as well. They'd both gotten jobs as part-time aides to the president, where they could continue some of their responsibilities from the campaign, such as scheduling events and operating the blog and social media accounts. But they also wanted to finish their degrees, so they'd both enrolled at University of Washington DC. Finn would take classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and Rachel would take classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and they would both be at the White House working on days that they weren't in class. Their offices at the White House had enough room so that they could bring Ryan and Emma to work with them, though Carole said she would also be happy to watch them sometimes and there would be childcare available there.
Burt may have been elected to the Senate, but that wasn't his only job offer. Now that Governor Casey had to resign, a special election would be held for governor of Ohio, and many Ohio Democrats wanted Burt to run. Burt wouldn't be running though - Matt had appointed Burt to the cabinet as Secretary of Education.
Ryan and Emma were about ten weeks old now and Finn and Rachel both couldn't believe how big they'd gotten in such a short time. Finn couldn't prove anything, but he was pretty sure that both babies already knew who both he and Rachel were. When one of them came into a room, the babies would reach out for their parent and snuggle close when in their parents' arms. They had adjusted just fine to DC, but with Finn and Rachel moving into a new place with them today, Finn hoped everything would go well.
The family had come into DC right after Thanksgiving, which Burt, Carole, Kurt, Blaine, Kylie and Beth had spent in Texas with Finn, Rachel, Emma and Ryan. Finn and Rachel also got to spend Christmas with their families in DC. They still hadn't gotten to introduce their babies to their glee friends yet, but they hoped soon things would calm down enough so they could.
x
"Hey guys," Rachel said softly as she changed Ryan and Emma into the red, white and blue onesies she and Kurt had picked out for today. "You guys are getting so big." She kissed them each as Ryan grabbed her finger and Emma squealed. "No Ryan, not that finger, that's got my engagement ring!" It had been over two months, but she was so happy to have an engagement ring on her finger again. Right now, she and Finn were leaning toward summer of 2018 for the wedding, since the babies would almost be two by then and could be part of it.
"Don't they look cute?" Finn asked, coming up behind Rachel.
"Yeah, they do," Rachel said. "And so do you."
"I promise not to step on your feet too much at the inaugural balls," Finn said.
"Finn, you don't need to keep making comments about your dancing," Rachel said. "Though I'm REALLY looking forward to the ball tonight."
"Me too," Finn said. "Especially our duet." Matt and Helen had asked Finn and Rachel to sing for the POTUS/FLOTUS dance. Right away, both Finn and Rachel knew what song they wanted to sing and hoped the people at the ball (and the people who watched the ball) would love it as much as they did.
"I missed our duets so much," Rachel said.
"Me too," Finn said. "But how about that place we're going to live in?"
"Yeah, it's a pretty cool place," Rachel said, remembering the day she found out where she was going to live.
x
It was one of the last nights in Texas. Finn had already gone to sleep, but both babies were up and needed to be fed. Sitting in the living room, Rachel hoped that she wouldn't wake anyone up. The flight from Houston to DC would be tomorrow. Rachel and Finn would be staying at Burt and Carole's DC apartment with the babies while they looked for an apartment of their own, hopefully in the same building as Burt and Carole's, or at least close to both the White House and University of Washington DC.
Rachel looked up as she saw Matt coming into the living room. "Are your little ones keeping you up, too?"
"Yeah," Rachel said. "My dads always talked about how I couldn't sleep through the night... so I guess it doesn't surprise me that my kids and my siblings can't sleep." She felt sadness coming to her that her dads wouldn't meet Ryan and Emma. "Were Peter and Miranda up in the middle of the night a lot, too?"
"Yeah," Matt said. "I'm actually glad you're up though, because I wanted to talk to you. Helen and I have been talking, and we also asked Peter and Miranda what they'd think of this idea. You and Finn are going to be busy once we get to DC, being in school and working, and of course having two babies..."
"Well, with the way we have our schedules worked out, one of us will always be with the little ones, and you said that we can bring them to our offices with us," Rachel said.
"Yeah, but you still will need help," Matt said. "I was wondering if you'd like to move in with me."
Rachel had a feeling she knew what that meant. "The White House?"
"Yes," Matt said. "If you and Finn would like that, we'd love to have you move into the White House with us. There's going to be lots of help on hand whenever you need it..."
Rachel couldn't believe what she was hearing. "The White House? Oh my God, I'd love to! And I'm sure Finn would, too!"
"We'd love to have you," Matt said. "I missed so much of your life... but it's not too late."
Rachel knew it would likely be too much for her and Finn to be in an apartment by themselves. She just didn't think she'd be invited to live in the White House. "Yes! I'd love to! Thank you so much... Matt." It was then she realized she had to stop herself from saying Dad. She didn't know if Matt would be okay with her calling him Dad. She also didn't know what her dads would think. But she could think about that later. She was going to live in the White House!
x
"We're really going to live in the White House," Rachel said. She dreaded that when the public found out that she was The Santos Baby, she and her biological father would be mocked at best and have all sorts of accusations thrown at them at worst. Instead, the response had been generally positive - many people thought it was sweet that as it turned out, the president-elect and his biological daughter had been together all along. Granted, the fact that there was so much scandal in the political world right now may have had something to do with it, but Rachel would take this.
"I'm checking the forecast," Finn said. "It's supposed to be in the 40s today, which isn't too bad for January... we should still bundle these guys up."
"Yeah," Rachel said. "We'll be outside a lot, between the ceremony and the parade. Have you talked to your parents?"
"They're going to be at the church," Finn said. "We'll see them then."
"Great," Rachel said. It probably wouldn't really sink in what all was happening until it all actually happened.
x
Neither Finn nor Rachel had ever been particularly religious, but the service at the church had been nice enough. The next place to go was the White House for breakfast before the inaugural ceremonies began. The Vinick and Santos staffs would be having breakfast together and Finn had to admit, he was nervous. He knew what Vinick was like on normal days - today, he'd probably be extra nasty. Never had there been this big a scandal in the government. In fact, right now, as Finn and Rachel were preparing to leave Blair House, they saw footage on TV of John Ellis, the governor of Florida, being escorted out of a courthouse.
"You ready to go to the White House?" Peter asked Finn.
"Yeah, I am," Finn said. "Are you ready?"
"Yeah," Peter said. "I'm glad you and Rachel and the babies are coming with us."
"Me too," Rachel said. "We're going to have lots of fun there."
"We'll see if Rachel can still bowl strikes in the bowling alley," Finn declared.
"Oh, I will," Rachel said to her fiancee.
"We're going to hold you to it," Peter said. "And I bet Finn will make the biggest cannonballs in the pool."
"Oh, we'll go to the pool a lot, trust me," Finn said. "It'll be awesome to see Rachel in her bikini."
"The pool has a water slide," Miranda said. "And a lazy river and a waterfall and other cool stuff."
"We'll have fun in it," Rachel said.
"You guys almost ready to go?" Helen asked as she and Matt came in with Brayden and Lily.
"We've been ready since the day we joined the campaign," Rachel said. The soon-to-be first family (it was hard to believe that Finn would be part of the first family by marriage) got in the limo to the White House, where Vinick and some staff members were waiting outside. Finn couldn't help but notice how nasty Vinick was trying to look.
The family began heading up to the White House. "Welcome to your new house," one of the staffers said half heartedly.
"Thank you," Matt said. "Mr. President, thank you for your service."
"It's because of you that I'm going to prison," Vinick snapped.
"No, Mr. President, it's because of yourself that you're going to prison," Matt said. "But do we really need to act this way today?"
"We don't need to be a sore loser," another staffer said. "Mr. President-elect, Mrs. Santos, come on in with your kids and grandkids. The staff prepared a great breakfast."
Vinick sulked throughout breakfast, not talking much to his successor or his successor's staff. Some of the outgoing staff tried talking to the incoming staff, but both Finn and Rachel could still feel the tension. Finn had to admit, the food was amazing, and he was glad to be getting food from here for another four - eight, he corrected himself - years. He felt his phone vibrating and looked at it to see a text from Kurt. "We're at the Capitol. Looking into the general public area, hundreds of thousands of people seem to already be here!"
Finn showed the text message to Rachel. "Wow, this is amazing," Rachel said.
A secret service agent came in. "It's time to go to the capitol."
Rachel squealed. Finn had to smile at Rachel's reaction as he took her hand. They put the babies in their stroller and walked to the limo. On the way to the Capitol, Finn looked out the window and saw Americans lined up around the streets, waving Santos campaign signs, homemade signs, American flags, balloons... all sorts of people... male, female, young, old, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, cheap looking clothes, expensive looking clothes... all cheering and looking so happy.
"We did this," Rachel said to Finn.
"Yeah, we did," Finn said. "Being part of something special makes you special." He remembered what Rachel had said all those years ago.
The limo pulled up at the capitol and Finn and Rachel got out. The Marine Corps Band was playing patriotic hymns as various politicians arrived. Finn turned to Rachel. "I guess this is where I leave you." Rachel would have a special entrance as one of the president-elect's children.
"Yeah," Rachel said, giving Finn a hug and then kissing the babies. "I'll see you at our seats."
x
Waiting inside for her entrance was exciting for Rachel. Finn had texted her to say he was at his seat and that he'd seen his parents. Even from inside, Rachel could hear the cheers. "Our daddy's going to be president!" Rachel said as she tickled Brayden and Lily.
"Yeah he is," Peter added.
"Being your father is more important to me," Matt said.
"Well, I'm glad, but I spent over a year working to getting you elected," Rachel said.
"I'm glad you're coming to the White House with us, Rachel," Miranda said.
"Me too," Rachel said.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the children of the president-elect, Rachel Berry, Peter Santos, Miranda Santos, Brayden Santos and Lily Santos!" the MC announced.
"We'll see you out there," Helen said.
Rachel picked up Brayden and Lily and walked outside with her siblings, hearing cheers and applause. She spotted Finn in his seat and smiled over at him, and he smiled back. When Rachel took her seat, she felt goosebumps. It was hard to really pay attention to the invocation, the interludes and the remarks by other politicians. Then Sam Seaborn was sworn in as vice president, and Rachel knew what that meant was next. She felt goosebumps as she stepped on to the podium with Finn, Ryan, Emma, Matt, Helen and her siblings. She'd said she didn't need to be on the podium, but the family had insisted that she, Finn, and the babies be there.
"I, Matthew Vincente Santos, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States." Rachel listened to her father, the candidate she'd spent the past year working for... the president. The 21-gun salute and Hail To The Chief began. It was official.
Matt Santos was President of the United States.
Rachel had to squeal as she formed into a group hug with Finn and their babies. She kissed Finn passionately and then kissed both of their babies. It still felt unreal, like it was just a dream. But it was real. They'd actually done it.
She then hugged the new President and First Lady and her siblings, then waved to the crowd. These were by far the loudest cheers she'd ever heard.
After a few moments of taking it in, Finn and Rachel returned to their seats to listen to the inaugural address. "Today, we have chosen hope over fear," Matt began. "We live in difficult times. I know that. The challenges we face are real. Our relations with other countries have been fallen apart. The economy is in peril. Too many people are without health care. Too many schools are failing. Homes and jobs and loved ones have been lost. I'm not going to pretend what lies ahead is going to be easy. It's going to be difficult. But I'm not afraid.
"If there's one thing I've learned in this campaign, it's that anything is possible. I always believed that America was a land of opportunity and never have I seen that more evident than over the past two years. I saw so many people come together for a common cause. They wanted better. They knew that their country could do better and was capable of better. They knew that things could be fixed. Today, we look to the next horizon and begin our next dream. It's a new chapter in American history, and I hope that working together, we can make this the best one yet..."
Rachel felt Finn's hand in hers, and she looked over and smiled at him.
x
At the end of the inaugural address, there was another musical interlude and the National Anthem, and then came a part of the day that Finn was dreading - the First Family was to escort Vinick out of the Capitol. Finn had been too enthralled by today's events to pay much attention to Vinick, but he had a feeling that Vinick would do something obnoxious at some point.
As Finn and Rachel began walking toward Vinick with the Santoses, Vinick tripped on some of the stairs. Finn had to hold in a laugh, and looking over at Rachel, he saw that she was doing the same thing.
But the new president walked over to his successor, the man who'd made his life a living hell for over a year, and extended a hand, only to earn a glare that could kill from Vinick. "Come on, it's only a hand," Matt said.
Vinick looked even more disgusted, but accepted the help up. He then stormed away, kicking over a stand on the way. The First Family followed behind, but Vinick didn't even say goodbye before boarding the plane.
"I guess some people never change," Rachel said to Finn.
"Yup, pretty much," Finn said.
Luckily, Vinick's tantrum didn't ruin the rest of the day. The luncheon immediately followed, and it was one of the best meals Finn had ever had. It was a three course meal - seafood orderves for an appetizer, then salad for a second course, filet mignon with roasted potatoes, squash and vegetables as the main course and pies as dessert.
Finn was sure he'd taken in a lot of calories, but luckily, the parade followed. The family was walking the entire parade route. Finn and Rachel had bundled up Ryan and Emma, knowing they wanted their children to be part of this as well. True, they wouldn't remember this, but they could show them the videos in a few years and show them that they were part of this.
As Finn and Rachel walked along the streets of DC with their children and with the Santos family, Finn looked at the crowd that had lined the streets. They were all cheering, waving, taking photos, wearing Santos shirts and buttons... and they all looked so happy.
As the parade came to a halt, he pulled Rachel in to re-enact their kiss in the confetti after they won Nationals their senior year. As they pulled apart, Rachel pulled Finn in for a big hug. "What was that for?"
"I just love you so much, and I'm so proud of you," Finn said.
"I'm so proud of you," Rachel said. "And I love you." She looked at the crowd. "Look how happy everyone is."
But Finn doubted very few people were as happy as he was. He would never, ever forget today.
x
Finn and Rachel did get a few hours to take a break before the inaugural ball. By the time they got back to the White House, most of their things had been moved into their new bedroom. The nursery was next door. Finn looked around the room, realizing that now, he and Rachel had a bedroom to themselves. Sure, they'd shared all those hotel rooms on the campaign trail together, and they shared a bedroom at the Santos house while they stayed there, but this room was theirs. It was going to be theirs for the next four, no, eight years. There was a queen sized bed for them to share. Posters of both their interests covered the walls. There were dressers and closets filled with both their clothes. There was a couch for feeding the babies, a TV, desks for them to do their schoolwork and administration work. There was even a bathroom that was way nicer than any bathroom Finn had ever seen. And the window had a great view of DC.
Finn and Rachel finally had a bedroom of their own.
"This is so nice," Rachel said, seeming to be thinking the same thing Finn was thinking.
"I know," Finn said. "And it's ours." He smiled over at Ryan and Emma who were in their portacribs. "Your room is pretty nice, too."
"Yeah, it is," Rachel said. "And since there are eleven bedrooms here, there's enough for them to each have their own when they're old enough. Maybe we should get them down for a nap before the inaugural ball."
"Yeah, that sounds good," Finn said. "And while they're napping, how about we try out our new bed?"
"I love that idea," Rachel said.
x
The new bed was very comfortable and sturdy. Finn and Rachel knew they didn't have to worry about breaking it.
Of course, now it was time to head down to the inaugural ball. Finn had put Ryan and Emma in their stroller and had changed into his tux for the ball, and now all he had to do was wait for Rachel. He'd gotten a text from Kurt that he and Blaine were on their way over with Burt and Carole.
Rachel came out of the bathroom. Her dress was pale purple and floor length, with blue sparkles on the skirt. The dress was strapless and had a dark purple ribbon around her waist with a bow in the back. "Wow," Finn said. "You look beautiful."
"Thank you," Rachel said, leaning in to kiss Finn. "Ready to get down there?"
"I've been ready," Finn said. He took Rachel's hand as they walked downstairs with the babies, seeing Burt, Carole, Kurt and Blaine in the ballroom.
"Oh, doesn't your fiancee have a beautiful dress?" Kurt asked Finn.
"She does, doesn't she?" Finn asked.
"You guys should see our room in the White House!" Rachel said. "It's unbelievable. And so is the kids' room. There's so many toys... they're going to be so spoiled."
"Well, we'll need to come over soon," Blaine said.
"We'd love that," Finn said.
Finn and Rachel alternated between spending the evening sitting with their kids and dancing on the dance floor. After about an hour, the President and First Lady would be making their entrance, and Finn and Rachel would be performing. Finn and Rachel took their spots at the podium, ready to introduce the First Couple. "Hey, everyone!" Rachel called out. "Is everyone having fun tonight?"
The crowd cheered. "Good, so am I," Rachel said. "And I'd like to introduce the President and First Lady, Matt and Helen Santos!"
The crowd cheered so loud, the roof could have been blown off, as Matt and Helen entered the ballroom. "Rachel and I have a few things to say before the POTUS/FLOTUS dance," Finn said. He and Rachel had decided to publicly thank the new president for what he'd done for them. "At this time two years ago, I was lost. I was broken up with Rachel. The glee club I'd been leading had been disbanded. I was at a college I didn't care for and working at a tire shop, just going through the motions. I was living, but at the same time, I wasn't living. But then I joined the Santos campaign, and went from being a scared, confused, lost person to the strong, confident man you see here today. I'm finishing my degree, I have a great job in the administration, and Rachel and I have two amazing babies and are engaged to be married. So, Mr. President, I wanted to say thank you for taking a chance on me."
Rachel took the microphone. "Like Finn said, I was completely lost two years ago. We all know the story of what happened with my short-lived Broadway and TV career, and I couldn't even get a job as a cleaning lady. When I joined the campaign, everything changed. I don't know where I'd be today if I hadn't joined the campaign and I don't want to know. I wanted to thank you for everything you've done for me. Mr. President, you've always been my father, but in the past year, even before I found out, you've become my dad as well. And Helen - thank you so much for becoming the mom I never had. I know the Santos administration will do great things, and Finn and I are so proud to be part of it, to watch our children grow in the White House and to get married in this very room next summer. Thank you."
The music began as Finn and Rachel began their duet. This song would always be special to both of them. It was when they first sang this song publicly that Finn had first told Rachel he loved her. It only made sense that now, when they loved each other more than ever, that they share it with the country for the most watched dance of the year.
Finn: Highway run
Into the midnight sun
Wheels go round and round
You're on my mind
Rachel: Restless hearts
Sleep alone tonight
Sending all my love
Along the wire
Finn and Rachel: And they say that the road
Ain't no place to start a family
But, right down the line it's been you and me
And loving a music man
Ain't always what it's supposed to be
Rachel: Oh boy, you stand by me
Finn and Rachel: I'm forever yours
Faithfully
Rachel: Circus life
Under the big top world
Finn and Rachel: We all need the clowns
To make us smile
Rachel: Oh!
Through space and time
Finn: Through space and time
Finn and Rachel: Always another show
Wondering where I am
Lost without you
And being a part ain't easy on this love affair
Two strangers learn to fall in love again
I get the joy of rediscovering you
Finn: Oh girl, you stand by me
Finn and Rachel: I'm forever yours
Faithfully
This was the point in the song in high school that Finn and Rachel's glee teammates had come in to join them for backup. If there was one thing Finn would change today, he'd want their friends to be here. They'd been so supportive of him and Rachel over the past year, always sending them encouraging texts, congratulating them during the campaign's highs, asking if they were okay during the lows... then Finn saw the group coming down the aisle, led by Kurt and Blaine, harmonizing. Finn looked at Rachel in shock. She had a wide smile, but she looked completely surprised.
Finn and Rachel: Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh...!
Finn: Faithfully...
New Directions alumni: Oh oh oh oh (Rachel: Faithfully)
Oh oh oh oh oh (Rachel: I'm still yours)
oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Rachel: I'm still yours!
New Directions alumni: Oh oh oh oh,
Oh oh oh oh oh
Finn and Rachel: Oh oh oh oh oh oh!
New Directions: Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Finn and Rachel: I'm still yours!
Faithfully...
As the dance finished, Finn and Rachel ran up to hug their friends. "What are you guys doing here?"
"Your friends from the campaign thought you guys might like it if they flew us out," Mercedes said.
"I can't believe it!" Rachel said as she and the girls formed a big group hug. "You guys are here, you're really here."
"We're so proud of you guys," Artie said.
"Thank you so much for coming," Rachel said.
"So, where are the babies?" Santana asked.
"Oh, we'll go get them," Finn said. He led the group to where Burt and Carole were with the babies. "This is Ryan, and this is Emma."
"Oh my God!" Marley said. "They're so cute!"
"We're all going to spoil the heck out of them," Tina said.
"I don't know if that's such a good idea, Finn and I are already spoiling them, and they do live in the White House," Rachel said.
"Too bad!" Kurt said.
"So, did you two like your surprise?" Finn turned and saw Matt and Helen with the kids.
"Yes, thank you!" Rachel said.
"Aren't you going to introduce us?" Mike asked.
"Yes!" Finn said. "Sir, you may remember Kurt Hummel, Blaine Anderson, Sam Evans, Mercedes Jones, Santana Lopez, Brittany Pierce, Artie Abrams, Kitty Wilde, Noah Puckerman, Marley Rose and Tina Cohen-Chang from our stops in New York. And this is Mike Chang, Quinn Fabray, Ryder Lynn, Unique Adams and Jake Puckerman."
"It's nice to meet all of you, and I hope you all know how lucky you are to have Finn and Rachel as your friends," Matt said. "They're pretty special."
Finn and Rachel looked at how starstruck their friends looked to be talking to the president. And he'd called them special!
"We put together a number for today, if you two want to join us," Sam said to Finn and Rachel.
"Are you kidding?" Rachel asked. "I haven't even done a number before with most of you who joined after I graduated."
"Yeah, of course we do," Finn said.
"Just follow our lead," Blaine said, leading Finn and Rachel back to the stage as the music began. Finally, the regular members of New Directions were all performing together again.
Finn: Hope when you take that jump
You don't feel the fall
Finn and Sam: Hope when the water rises
You built a wall
Artie: Hope when the crowd screams out
They're screaming your name
Artie and Sam: Hope if everybody runs
You choose to stay
Rachel: I hope that you fall in love
Rachel and Mercedes: And it hurts so bad
The (only way you can know)
You give it (all you had)
Blaine: And I hope that you don't suffer
But take the pain
Blaine and Kurt: Hope when the moment comes
You'll say
New Directions alumni: I, I did it all
I, I did it all
I owned every second that this world could give
I saw so many places, the things that I did
Yeah With every broken bone
I swear I lived
Sam: Hope that you spend your days
But they all add up
Mercedes and Sam: Ooh
And when that sun goes down
Hope you raise your cup
Ooh
Blaine and Kurt: I wish that I could witness
All your joy and all your pain
But until my moment comes
I'll say
New Directions alumni: I, I did it all
I, I did it all
I owned every second that this world could give
I saw so many places, the things that I did
Yeah With every broken bone
I swear I lived
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-o-oh-o-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
Finn and Rachel: With every broken bone
Rachel: I lived
New Directions alumni: I, I did it all (Artie: I did it all, yeah)
I, I did it all (Artie: I did it all, yeah)
I owned every second that this world could give (Artie: This world could give)
I saw so many places, the things that I did
Yeah, with every broken bone, I swear I lived
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh (Blaine: Oh, yeah)
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-o-oh-o-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh (Blaine and Finn: I swear I lived)
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh Mmhh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh Mmhh
Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh Mmhh
Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh Mmhh
x
Rachel couldn't stop thinking about how amazing today had been. She and Finn hadn't expected to reunite with their friends. She'd had a feeling today would be amazing, but she didn't know just how great it would be.
"Step outside with me for a moment?" Finn asked Rachel.
"I'd love to," Rachel said. As much as she enjoyed being with everyone, she still needed time with Finn.
Finn took Rachel's hand as they left the dance floor and stepped outside on to the dock of the White House. Rachel listened to the lyrics of the song that was playing. "Everything is gonna be all right. Be strong. Believe."
Everything was going to be all right. America was free from Vinick. Finn and Rachel's lives were finally in order. As the president (Rachel loved thinking that and seeing who was now associated with that title when she thought it) had said in his inaugural address, the climb would be steep, but they could do it.
"Can you believe it?" Finn asked, putting his arm around Rachel.
"It's hard to believe," Rachel said. "We did it."
"Yeah, we did it," Finn said. "When you're tired, we can go upstairs. After all, we are home."
"I never thought the White House would be home," Rachel laughed.
"Yeah, it's crazy," Finn agreed.
Rachel began rubbing Finn's hand. "It's not too cold for January..." She leaned up against Finn. "Are you happy?"
"So happy," Finn said. "Are you happy?"
"Yeah," Rachel said. "I've never been so happy in my life. Our campaign succeeded and it's President Santos now, not President Vinick. We're close with our friends again. I have my dad in my life, and not just my dad, but I have a mom for the first time, and brothers and sisters. I'm a mom to two amazing kids." She smiled up at Finn. "And I have you."
"I love you," Finn said as he hugged Rachel. "I know this was a tough journey, but things couldn't be better right now. The Santos presidency isn't just a new start for the country... it's a new start for us. We've got great jobs, our kids, we'll finish our college degrees, we're getting married soon... and we've got a pretty cool place to live, if you ask me. Life is good."
"Yeah, it's good," Rachel said, kissing Finn. "I love you too."
As Finn and Rachel pulled apart from their kiss, they watched the fireworks fly up into the sky. One seemed magical, as it wrote out, "Santos."
"Did you see that one?" Finn asked Rachel. "That was amazing, it was magical... it was perfect."
"Yeah, it was perfect for tonight," Rachel said. "And tonight... everything is finally perfect."