The first day in Chicago had gone well for everybody.
Coach Sylvester had only terrified two hotel employees, but that had been because they hadn't made it to Chicago in time for her to get to the rest of them. Mr. Martinez had leaned on the check-in counter and flirted with the two female employees to make it up to them for Sue's behavior.
Kurt, Rachel, and Quinn had taken a tour of the Chicago Theatre, just for the hell of it. Rachel and Kurt had been there before, but Quinn hadn't.
Sam and Puck had taken off for the Sears Tower as soon as they were let loose in the city. And then they were going to a game at Wrigley.
Blaine had a new found obsession with Mr. Martinez, which Puck didn't disapprove of, and he'd decided to go with Mike, Tina and Artie to a pizza restaurant with Mr. M.
Sugar and Rory were shopping, of course. And since Sugar was paying for it, Rory had no hesitation about going with her.
After terrorizing enough people, Sue decided a massage was in order, so she'd stayed busy for hours after that.
But now, tonight was Nationals.
And they'd find out how they stacked up without Rachel singing lead for any song. Mercedes and Santana had desensitized themselves to the point where they were actually able to sing their mash-up without bursting into tears.
Their group number was as good as they were going to get it. They'd practiced it with Rachel on lead before, but they'd modified it to suit Puck's voice. They'd modified the lyrics too to accommodate all the seniors.
"Are you ready for this?" Sam pulled Kurt up against him backstage and kissed him.
"Yes. I'm ready. No groping," Kurt smiled at him.
"No groping. Promise. Not even when I sing the on your knees line."
"How can you perv this song? This has a special message and you're perving it." Kurt put his hands on his hips and shook his head.
"I can perv anything, baby."
The Troubletones were already on stage, and Kurt and Sam were to go on next. Then the rest of the group would join them for the third number.
Kurt listened as the final notes of the Troubletones song died out, and he and Sam clapped along with the audience.
And then they made their way out to the middle of the stage. Sam mouthed "I love you," to Kurt and he repeated it back to him.
"Let's do this," Sam whispered.
And the music of their duet began. They swayed with their choreography, but they chose not to do anything that would be too distracting or anything that would leave the judges with questions about their relationship. Their song was message enough.
Kurt:
You feel like a candle in a hurricane
Just like a picture with a broken frame
Alone and helpless
Like you've lost your fight
But you'll be alright, you'll be alright
Kurt and Sam:
Cause when push comes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend, till you break
Cause it's all you can take
On your knees you look up
Decide you've had enough
You get mad you get strong
Wipe your hands shake it off
Then you Stand, Then you stand
Sam:
Life's like a novel
With the end ripped out
The edge of a canyon
With only one way down
Take what you're given before it's gone
Start holding on, keep holding on
Kurt:
Cause when push comes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend, till you break
Cause it's all you can take
Sam:
On your knees you look up
Decide you've had enough
You get mad you get strong
Wipe your hands shake it off
Then you Stand, Then you stand
Kurt:
Everytime you get up
And get back in the race
One more small piece of you
Starts to fall into place
Ohhhhhhhhhh
Kurt and Sam:
Cause when push comes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend, till you break
Cause it's all you can take
On your knees you look up
Decide you've had enough
You get mad you get strong
Wipe your hands shake it off
Then you Stand, Then you stand
Sam and Kurt took a bow and moved to their positions for the group number. The rest of New Directions came out and took their positions.
Puck:
Give me a second, I, I need to get my story straight
My friends are in the bathroom getting higher than the Empire State
My lover she's waiting for me just across the bar
My seat's been taken by some sunglasses asking bout a scar, and
Quinn:
I know I gave it to you months ago
I know you're trying to forget
But between the drinks and subtle things
The holes in my apologies, you know
I'm trying hard to take it back
Rachel:
So if by the time the bar closes
Rachel and Quinn
And you feel like falling down
I'll carry you home
New Directions:
Tonight
We are young
So let's set the world on fire
We can burn brighter than the sun
Santana, Mercedes, Brittany, Tina and Sugar:
Tonight
We are young
So let's set the world on fire
We can burn brighter than the sun
Puck:
Now I know that I'm not all that you got
I guess that I
I just thought maybe we could find new ways to fall apart
Quinn:
But our friends are back
So let's raise a cup
'Cause I found someone to carry me home
Rory, Mike, Artie, and Blaine:
Tonight
We are young
So let's set the world on fire
We can burn brighter than the sun
Mercedes:
Whoa
New Directions
Tonight
We are young
So let's set the world on fire
We can burn brighter than the sun
New Directions Girls:
Carry me home tonight (Nananananana)
Just carry me home tonight (Nananananana)
Carry me home tonight (Nananananana)
Just carry me home tonight (Nananananana)
New Directions Boys:
The world is on my side
I have no reason to run
So will someone come and carry me home tonight
Puck:
The angels never arrived
But I can hear the choir
So will someone come and carry me home
Quinn:
Tonight
We are young
So let's set the world on fire
We can burn brighter than the sun
Mercedes:
We are young, yeah
New Directions:
Tonight
We are young
So let's set the world on fire
We can burn brighter than the sun
Puck and Quinn:
So if by the time the bar closes
And you feel like falling down
I'll carry you home tonight
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
"And the winner of the 2012 National Show Choir Competition is…. From Lima, Ohio. The New Directions!" The announcer shouted into the mic.
And the group went crazy. Even Mr. M and Coach Sue were teary-eyed about it. Of course, she'd later blame in on her pregnancy hormones, but that was beside the point.
Santana was screaming in Spanish, and this time it wasn't at Finn and Rachel for kissing on stage. Brittany was clapping and jumping up and down.
Blaine and Puck were hugging and smiling. Rachel was shell-shocked, as if she refused to believe that they could win without her on lead. Kurt just shook his head at her and smiled.
Then Quinn gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek, and Rachel smiled at her.
Rory and Sugar were kissing offstage, and Artie, Mike and Tina were holding up their trophy. Mercedes was grinning like a mad woman.
And Sam. His Sam.
He was staring at Kurt and smiling. And then he walked slowly over to Kurt and pulled him in for a kiss.
"Hey Riz, you were magnificent."
"As were you, Kenickie. We made a good team."
"We did it, baby."
"I know. But you know what. I wouldn't have cared if we lost."
"Why?"
"Because I'm ready for the future. I'm ready for graduation, Kent State, living with you, designing clothes, working part-time in the drama department, moving to New York, and marrying you."
"I'm ready for all that too. I can't wait to see where we are in five years."
"I wonder what my husband will be like," Kurt smiled shyly.
"I don't know. But I heard that he sounds like a drag," Sam flashed his adorable grin, clearly proud of himself for his cleverness.
Kurt groaned and clapped a hand to his forehead. "That was awful.""
"I know," he smirked.
"Only you," Kurt kissed him.
"Only me."
Only his Sam.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
A/N: Yes, I know Sam's line was lame. But he's Sam. He's a dork. What else would he say? LOL
This is the final chapter of the high school years. There will be at least two epilogue type chapters though. And I've already committed to at least one more chapter of the back story, (the motel scene as requested by xxYaoiFreakxx)