Disclaimer: I own neither Glee nor any part thereof. No money is being made off of this story and is intended only for entertainment purposes; therefore it falls within the parameters of "Fair Use"

A/N: Well, here's the Showcase and the aftermath, thereof. It's also the full last chapter of the story. The epilogue is already written and will be posted soon after this. This has been an epic journey for me. I hope it has been for you my loyal readers as well.

Chapter 37

Release

There was anticipation in the air as New Directions filed out onto the stage. The announcer came over the PA system and said, "Please welcome back to the stage, from William McKinley High in Lima, Ohio, New Directions." This was followed by some enthusiastic applause from the crowd. The stage was dark as Tina and Puck took center stage with the rest of the club in a semi circle behind them. Through the darkness, Tina could see Puck trying to shake off his nerves. Strangely, the fact that Puck was nervous made Tina somehow less nervous so that combined with Shelby's advice had Tina feeling oddly good. She bumped Puck's arm and as she raised her violin to her neck and readied her bow, she said, "Man up, Puckzilla. It's showtime." With that, Tina drew her bow across the strings of her violin and out came the fast-paced, up-tempo opening to "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" and they were off. The crowd recognized the tune immediately, of course, and immediately there was electricity in the air. It was wrought with anticipation. When the lights came up, Puck came in with the guitar and the lyrics followed soon after:

[Puck]The Devil went down to Georgia

He was lookin' for a soul to steal

He was in a bind 'cause he was way behind

And he was willin' to make a deal

When he came across this young man

Sawin' on a fiddle and playin' it hot

And the Devil jumped up on a hickory stump

And said, "Boy, let me tell you what"

I guess you didn't know it

But I'm a fiddle player too

And if you care to take a dare

I'll just make a bet with you"

"Now you play a pretty good fiddle, boy

But give the Devil his due

I'll bet a fiddle of gold against your soul

'Cos I think I'm better than you"

The boy said, "My name's Johnny

And it might be a sin

But I'll take your' bet, you're gonna regret

Cause I'm the best there's ever been"

[Group]Johnny your rosin up your bow and play your fiddle hard

'Cause hell's broke loose in Georgia and the Devil deals the cards

And if you win you get this shiny fiddle made of gold

But if you lose the Devil gets your soul

Tina's second solo was the same as the first and she was pretty sure she had nailed it, so she felt no pressure going into this one. She just let loose and let the music flow from her.

[Puck]The Devil opened up his case

And he said, "I'll start this show"

And fire flew from his fingertips

As he rosined up his bow

And then he pulled the bow across the strings

And it made an evil hiss

(Tina flattened the strings and dragged the bow across making a god awful sound)

And a band of demons joined in

And it sounded something like this

Puck and Tina stood close together, leaning into one another playing on their instruments, trying their best to make the The Devil's Music sound haunting and unnatural for about a minute straight. By now the audience was clapping along which they took as a good sign.

[Puck] When the Devil finished

Johnny said, "well you're pretty good old son

But just sit down in that chair right there

Let me show you how it's done

The next part was what Tina had been having the most problems with. Playing between verses was easy enough but playing in between lines… lines that couldn't miss their beat lest they make them all look amateurish, that was considerably more difficult.

[Group] Fire on the mountain, run boys, run (Tina nailed her timing)

The Devil's in the House of the Rising Sun (Just nailed it)

Chicken in the bread pan pickin' at dough (Tina breathed a sigh of relief as she nailed it the third time)

Granny does your dog bite? No child, no

Puck played the rhythm while Tina went wild on the violin. Johnny's Song was supposed to be impressive and bombastic and wild enough to blow The Devil out of competition, so it was generally where performers improvised a little. The crowd was loving it so Tina was feeding off of them and running with the solo, but quickly brought it back home.

[Puck] The Devil bowed his head

Because he knew that he'd been beat

And he laid that golden fiddle

On the ground at Johnny's feet

Johnny said, "Devil, just come on back

If you ever wanna try again

I done told you once you son of a gun

I'm the best there's ever been"

One last hurdle to clear before they were done was a repeat of the playing between lines. Though less concerned that the first time, Tina was determined not to get cocky and blow it at the last minute.

[Group] He played, 'Fire on the Mountain', run boys, run

The Devil's in the House of the Rising Sun

Chicken in the bread pan pickin' at dough

Granny does your dog bite? No child, no

Tina hit all of her marks perfectly once again and she played the outro which was more or less identical to the intro. She and Puck played them out, once again leaning into one another, and when they'd finished, the crowd exploded in applause. Puck bowed and Tina curtsied. Tina then handed violin and bow to Puck, who along with the other boys minus Kurt, exited the stage. The last number was girls (and honorary girls) only.

Rachel and Mercedes took wireless microphones off stands and pushed the stands aside. Kurt took a seat at the baby grand piano already on stage. Tina, Brittany, Quinn, and Santana all stood just in front of the piano sharing two microphones for the backing vocals. Kurt looked to Rachel and Mercedes and they both nodded and Kurt began playing. The choreography for the song wasn't much, just your basic raise your arms here, walk over here, walk back there-type arrangement, but they wanted to do something rather than just stand there. Mercedes led the song off.

[Mercedes] Looking out on the morning rain
[Rachel] I used to feeeeeeel uninspired
[Mercedes] And when I knew I had to face another day
[Rachel] Lord, it made me feeeeeeel so tired
[Mercedes] Before the day I met you, life was so unkind
[Rachel] But your love was the key to peace of mind

[Group] Cause you make me feel, you make meeeee feel,
You make me feel like a natural woman

[Rachel] When my soul was in the lost-and-found
[Mercedes] You came along to claim it
[Rachel] I didn't know just what was wrong with me
[Mercedes] Till your kiss helped me name it
[Rachel] Now I'm no longer doubtful of what I'm living for
[Mercedes] And if I make you happy I don't need to do more

[Group] Cause you make me feel, you make meeeee feel,
You make me feel like a natural woman

[Mercedes] Oh, baby, what you've done to me
[Rachel] You make me feel so good inside
[Mercedes] And I just want to be close to you
[Rachel] You make me feel so alive

[Group] Cause you make me feel, you make meeee feel,
You make me feel like a natural woman

[Group] Cause you make me feel, you make meeee feel,
You make me feel like a natural woman

As the music ended Rachel and Mercedes hugged each other, as did the other girls. The boys rejoined them on stage to take a final bow. The stage curtain closed and everyone in the group felt good about their chances. Once off stage, friends hugged, couples kissed, bros high fived, and one very proud mother crushed her daughter against her. "I am so insanely proud of you right now, Rachel. Words don't even describe."

"Thank you, Mom," Rachel replied. "I'm very glad you're here to share it with me… with us."

"There's nowhere I'd rather be, honey," Shelby smiled at her daughter who returned the almost identical smile. "Now go hug your girlfriend before she glares a hole in me."

"Thanks, Mom," Rachel said as she raced over to Santana.

When Rachel was gone, Mr. Schuester made her way to her. "Shelby?"

"Will, you did good. Really good."

"I had some help," he said, "not to mention a boatload of diverse talents."

"They are some pretty amazing kids."

"It's been one heck of a year. Nine months ago I was a bored Spanish teacher in an unhappy marriage and now I'm the coach of a rag tag Glee Club on the verge of potentially winning the first Show Choir National Championship my school has seen in seventeen years. What a transformation."

"I think I got you beat," Shelby said, "Nine months ago I was miserably unhappy as the head of a soulless trophy winning machine on pace to claim National Championship number nine. I scheme and connive my way back into Rachel's life only to run screaming the other direction. I get busted for cheating and bounced out of the school on my ass, and where do I end up? The mother of two beautiful daughters who mean more to me than all trophies in the world ever could. That's a transformation."

"You should come co-direct with me, next year," he said.

Shelby shook her head, "No. I need to stay away from competition for a while. It tends to bring out the worst in me. Besides, the way I run a Glee Club is not remotely a good fit with your kids. You're Mr. Rogers. I'm Sergeant Hartman from Full Metal Jacket. Severe styles clash. I'll be happy give the kids tips whenever they need and I'll run your booster club for you, but no coaching."

"Fair enough," Will said, "So what do you figure our odds are? Winning, I mean."

"Don't know. After I blew Regionals, I stopped doing my team scouting and I didn't have time to watch them. The competition is always stiff at Nationals though. The only thing you can do now is wait."

"And like the song said, the waiting is the hardest part."

X X X X X

Monday the kids were back at school. Everyone noticed the Gleeks were all perpetually smiling but no one really knew why and they were mostly unnerved by it. What was even more bizarre was that Brittany was wearing a football jersey. Everyone in the school knew that Brittany was with Tina so what was she doing wearing Noah Puckerman's football jersey, and for that matter why his football jersey? It was late May. Football season ended in January. Many people thought these questions; no one actually asked them any of them.

Come seventh period when Tina and Brittany made their way into the choir room Puck was waiting on them, "This is bullshit!"

"You can't have your jersey back, Puck," Brittany said. "I'll like totally pay to replace it or whatever but it's too special to us now. You can't have it back."

"Who gives a fuck about the jersey? This picture you sent is bullshit. You're not naked, hell you're not even kissing," Puck griped showing them the picture of Brittany dressed up in Puck's equipment wearing braided pigtails and Tina in one of Brittany's Cheerios uniforms with the standard high, tight ponytail standing side-by-side each with a hand on the others' hip holding a sign between them that simply said, "Hi Puck" on it.

"You totally didn't say we had to do any of that stuff," Brittany said.

"It was implied," Puck said shortly.

"In what way was it implied?" Tina asked.

"She said she wanted my gear for her football player fantasy. I said I wanted pictures. There's an implication in that," Puck said.

"And there she is, dressed like a football player. Fantasy fulfilled with a little bonus of me dressed like a Cheerio that was definitely not implied," Tina said, "I'm sorry if you thought Brittany meant that it was anything more than this, but neither one of us said it was." As Tina and Brittany walked away to their seats, Brittany was doing her absolute damnedest not to laugh and Tina was doing her best to walk normally despite being sore since the fantasy most certainly had gone further than just dressing up.

Mr. Schuester arrived shortly after them and said, "Alright everyone… or almost everyone, anyone seen Matt?"

There was a general murmur about people seeing him in this class or that, before finally Mike spoke up, "Uh, he was for sure at school today, Mr. Shue. I saw him in fifth period, but I don't know where he is now."

"Well, it's okay. That's what I was going to say anyway. I know you guys have finals to study for so I'm not going to make any assignments for the next two weeks. If you guys want to sing then you certainly can, but if you need to spend this time studying, I'll write you guys a note to go to the library," he said. No one moved a muscle. "Alright, since we're mostly all here, there are just a couple of things I wanted to do. First there's one more Mr. Shue Motivational Speech and it goes a little something like this: Nine months ago there were five of you in here and we sucked… like really sucked, because we weren't a team, just a collection of individuals. You all came to this choir room for different reasons, some came to spy, some were coerced, some came because of a boy or girl that you wanted, and some of you just felt like outcasts with nowhere else to go, but you all came here and you came together and now you're the third ranked show choir in the country and that's a hell of a thing. I love all of you and I swear I could not be more proud of you if tried. Second order of business, an idea Finn brought to me that I hope fosters a little bit of healthy competition between you guys, from now on after a competition we're going to vote for an MVP, and the voting for Nationals is in," Mr. Schuester reached into his briefcase for the small star trophy therein.

As he did, Tina spoke up, "Mr. Shue, I didn't get to vote."

He turned back to face the class, Tina specifically, and said, "Well, Tina, you can feel free to vote for whomever you like but everyone else voted for you, so either way, you win."

Tina sat stunned for a moment before saying, "Me?"

"Without doubt," said Mr. Schuester, "in fact, I haven't done voting on this, but I'd say you're pretty much the MVP of the whole year. Aside from you violin playing, you whipped us into shape for Regionals, you got Brittany to sing, you showed us and the whole school what theatricality is really all about… and you blossomed. Nine months ago you were a shy, stuttering little girl who blew the first solo I gave her. Now you're this bright, confident young woman who stares down bullies in the hallways and isn't the least bit afraid to yell at us when we're being stupid. Now come accept this trophy."

Tina stood up and walked to the center of the room. Mr. Schuester handed her the star trophy, she accepted it looking down at it. She huffed out a breath and laughed a little. As she turned back to face the group she wiped tears from her eyes. "I'm sorry. I love you guys all so much. You know how many Facebook friends I had at the beginning of the year? Three, my parents and Artie." She wrung the trophy in her hands nervously. "I'm sorry, you guys, but I shouldn't be getting this. It should be Brittany. I wouldn't have had the confidence in myself to do any of that stuff I did without you. I blew that first solo on purpose because I was afraid everyone was going to be watching me. That's who I am without you, Baby."

"T, I may have given you the confidence to do all that stuff, but you totally did it yourself. I didn't. I wouldn't have done it," Brittany explained, "The trophy is totally yours, Boo."

Tina smiled at her girlfriend. "I still feel like you deserve some recognition here. Can I sing you a song?"

"Only always," Brittany said excitedly.

Tina walked to the far side of the classroom and retrieved a stool and brought in over to set it in front of the piano. Tina patted the top of the stool as she said, "Come have a seat, Baby." As Brittany walked towards the stool, Tina stepped over to the piano to have a quick conference with Brad. The ever silent pianist nodded his head and Tina returned to where Brittany was now perched on the stool.

"Am I singing with you?" Brittany asked confusedly.

"No, Baby, it's just part of how I want to arrange the song," Tina clarified softly. Brittany was sitting facing the club with her hands in her lap, just as Tina wanted her. The Asian girl slipped her hands under the Brittany's arms and wrapped her arms around the blonde's waist and Brittany placed her hands over Tina's. Tina rested her chin on Brittany's shoulder. She spoke softly, "You remember our first dance, Baby?" Brittany nodded her head with a smile. "On our first date," Tina explained to the club, "Brittany and I went shopping and just as we got back to my house Alicia Keys' 'You Don't Know My Name' came on the radio. She practically yanked me out of the car. She sang along to the song and we danced in my driveway on a beautiful, clear, cold February night."

The girls, minus Santana, plus Kurt all said, "Awwww!"

"Yeah, I fell in love with her in that moment," Tina said. Brittany smiled at this. "And in honor of that beautiful memory that I will treasure always, I give you this. Hit it, Brad." He began tickling the ivories and pretty much everyone in the club recognized the tune immediately. Tina didn't try to belt the song out. She just sang it in her normal register, mostly because she was still snuggled up beside Brittany's ear, had every intention of staying there, and didn't want to deafen her girlfriend:

I just want you close

Where you can stay forever

You can be sure

That it will only get better

You and me together

Through the days and nights

I don't worry 'cause

Everything's going to be alright

People keep talking they can say what they like

But all I know is everything's going to be alright

No one, no one, no one

Can get in the way of what I'm feeling

No one, no one, no one

Can get in the way of what I feel for you, you, you

Can get in the way of what I feel for you

When the rain is pouring down

And my heart is hurting

You will always be around

This I know for certain

You and me together

Through the days and nights

I don't worry 'cause

Everything's going to be alright

People keep talking they can say what they like

But all I know is everything's going to be alright

No one, no one, no one

Can get in the way of what I'm feeling

No one, no one, no one

Can get in the way of what I feel for you, you, you

Can get in the way of what I feel

I know some people search the world

To find something like what we have

I know people will try, try to divide, something so real

So till the end of time I'm telling you there ain't no one

No one, no one

Can get in the way of what I'm feeling

No one, no one, no one

Can get in the way of what I feel for you

oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh

When the song was over the club was cheering and clapping. Brittany turned her head to whisper in Tina's ear, "I'm so crazy in love with you, Tina. I'm so super glad you wanted to get your Lady Vampire Kisses on."

Tina turned to whisper back, "Brittany, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me. Saying yes to you was the best decision I ever made. I can't imagine what my life would be like if I hadn't. I love you so much, Baby."

The girls kissed like they'd done a thousand times before in the last three months, but this one was different and both of them felt it and both somehow knew that the other had felt it too. It felt like commitment, like the lyrics and their whispered confessions just after were some sort of very offbeat ceremony and they were now married by the music and both girls felt rather elated at the notion.

A/N: An interesting note. Every song in this entire fic, I picked out way in advance of actually writing the chapters they were in, even the ones that I didn't post the lyrics to, all of them except for the Rachel/Mercedes duet here. I'd bounced from song to song, never fully satisfied with any one of them, and I got down to needing to write the set up for the lyrics and I was pouring through songs and I came across "Natural Woman" and it just seemed perfect. It was written and originally performed by Carole King, a tiny Jewish American singer-songwriter with a prominent nose, and made famous by Miss Aretha Franklin, a full figured African American R&B singer with an amazing voice. Fitting then that Rachel and Mercedes sing it? I think so. The other songs are of course "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by The Charlie Daniels Band and Tina's song is "No One" by Alicia Keys.