Week 11 - Finale Performance: Ballroom/Latin Round
"Ladies and gentlemen, the judges scores. Carrie Ann Inaba."
"9."
"Len Goodman."
"10!"
"Bruno Tonioli."
"10!"
"Alright that's a 29 out of 30, so far for Quinn and Sam..."
Rachel turned off the monitor in her dressing room. Quinn and Sam had just wrapped up their Tango, and we one point short of the perfect 30. The knots in her stomach got tighter as Blaine came up behind her and massaged her shoulders. "We got this. Our Rumba is flawless."
She sighed heavily. "Our Rumba was flawless in rehearsals. Now this is the real deal. I'm not sure we're gonna live up to it."
Blaine turned her around to face him. "We're gonna get that 30. I promise." Then he bent down and kissed her. She kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck, and felt the reassurance that they had this. If they could get a perfect 30 for their Rumba and their Freestyle later on tonight, this competition would be theirs.
Ten minutes later, they were out on the dance floor. Their video was playing and they stood in their first positions, waiting to begin. Rachel glanced around her. Her dads were both in the audience tonight, as well as Blaine's parents, and Jack, his manager. She even saw her birth mother, Shelby, in the audience, and saw the smile on her face. She saw the smile on her dads' faces and that gave her more confidence. Looking at Blaine, his expression gave her the rest of the confidence she needed.
They had this.
They were going to win this.
"Dancing the Rumba...Rachel Berry, and her partner, Blaine Anderson."
Rachel looked at Blaine and gave him that seductive look he loved so much on her face to set the mood. The lights dimmed and the music started. This was it...
Watching every motion in my foolish lover's game
On this endless ocean finally lovers know no shame
Turning and returning to some secret place inside
Watching in slow motion as you turn around and say
Take my breath away
Take my breath away
Watching I keep waiting still anticipating love
Never hesitating to become the fated ones
Turning and returning to some secret place to hide
Watching in slow motion as you turn to me and say
My love
Take my breath away
Through the hourglass I saw you, in time you slipped away
When the mirror crashed I called you, and turned to hear you say
If only for today I am unafraid
Take my breath away
My love, take my breath away...
Their final move was Rachel doing the splits in the middle of the ballroom floor as Blaine let her down slowly and keeping a hold of her as he bent over her. The audience stood to their feet, roaring with applause, and Blaine helped Rachel up, hugging her once she was standing. "You were fantastic, baby," he whispered in her ear.
"I love you," she said back to him, quiet enough that no one would hear.
The two of them walked over together to Tom to stand with the judges. "Rachel and Blaine, everybody! Very nice, guys," he said. "Well... this is it. Len?"
"It had passion... it had steam... it had sex factor... it was proper, precise... the best Rumba of the season.
That gave them so much hope. They both smiled and thanked Len as the audience roared with applause. "Bruno?"
"I agree with Len," Bruno said and the audience went wild. "You two have the ultimate sex factor."
Oh you have no idea, Bruno, Rachel thought, and knew Blaine was thinking something along the lines of the same thing.
"Carrie Ann?"
"This was a perfect Rumba. Absolutely perfect," Carrie Ann said and the audience was louder than ever. "You two, I wouldn't be surprised... I think you're going home with that Mirror Ball tomorrow."
Both Rachel and Blaine expressed looks of pure shock on their faces. For Carrie Ann to say that, knowing Quinn and Sam were in the dancer's lounge watching, was unreal. But all three of the judges had their backs, and they were favored to win.
Now that needed that perfect 30.
"Alright, why don't we send you back for your scores?" He put his hand on Rachel's shoulder and used his other hand to gesture towards the dancer's lounge. Rachel and Blaine hurried up there as Tom made the transition there, talking about the results show tomorrow night.
Up with Brooke, she said, "The two of you must be so proud. Now, we have yet to see a perfect 30 this season. Do you think this was the dance that got it?"
"Absolutely," Rachel said.
"Without a doubt," Blaine added.
"Well let's see if you're right."
They turned to the monitors, hearts racing, nearly shaking where they stood. "The judges have their scores. Carrie Ann Inaba."
"10!"
The audience cheered. They tensed up.
"Len Goodman."
"10!"
The cheers got louder and the knots in Rachel and Blaine's stomachs got tighter.
"Bruno Tonioli."
Bruno looked around for a moment, teasing the audience and letting the anticipation build up before revealing his score. "10!"
Rachel and Blaine jumped up and down, grabbing each other in a celebratory hug. Blaine spun her around the room in his arms as the audience went absolutely wild. The first perfect 30 of the season was theirs on the final week of competition. The two of them were nearly crying, knowing that it was their to take for bragging rights. Quinn and Sam were standing off to the side. Sam wore a small grin and clapped for them, while Quinn wore a fake one and clapped unenthusiastically.
"That's the first perfect 30 of the season!" Brooke said. "How does that feel?"
Through her tears, she said, "I'm so happy right now! Finally!" And Blaine laughed in agreement. Finally.
"Well we still have your Freestyle in the next round," Brooke said. "Your dances with now be worth 60 points, so you have the opportunity to get a perfect 60, which also hasn't been done this season."
"We're gonna do it," Rachel said. "We've got a secret weapon."
Blaine nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah we do."
Brooke laughed, "And we can't wait to see what that is."
And Blaine and Rachel couldn't wait to show them.