Ratings and disclaimers from Chapter One apply. Sorry about the delay and this will be very short. I'm almost finished with the next chapter but wanted to get something out to you. A song-fic-y chapter, which you know I'm not such a fan of. It's part one of two Regionals' chapters and it picks up exactly where the last left off.
The songs I'm including here? For best effect? If you don't know them, listen to them before or as you're reading, very especially Quinn's. This will be what's happening at Regionals.
As always, pretend there's something called you…tube:
Quinn: Norah Jones, You Humble Me: com/watch?v=scbn4mXADaQ
Tina and Mercedes: Chaka Khan, Through the Fire: com/watch?v=ymuWb8xtCsc
Everyone: Earth, Wind and Fire, Sing a Song: com/watch?v=HBpsOu8jyU8
After this chapter, we'll have a movie night and a real Regionals chapter. The next chapter after will include a major jump in Faberry and yes, I mean that major jump. And so we'll be close to the end. That said, we have epilogues, as I've noted.
This is a filler chapter in a sense but I'm not putting songs in the 'real' Regionals chapter because I want that chapter to have some narrative zing. Sorry. This is exposition.
Everyone graciously tried the cake but with a little anxiety because it was both vegan and Finn had made it. They were a bit ashamed to find that it was delicious.
Puck spoke through an enormous mouthful, "Damn Finn, didn't know you had such mad gay-baking skillz."
Before Finn could reply, Kurt tilted his head. "Excuse you, Puck?"
Puck swigged some punch, swallowed his cake and shrugged, "Sorry, but c'mon. It's a pink vegan cake. I knew you'd have mad gay-icing skillz but Finn surprised me." Even as he said this, he looked so very puckish that Kurt just rolled his eyes.
"Thass right. You know you love me, Kurt."
"You're not my type, Puck."
"I'm everybody's type."
"Not mine," Quinn offered.
"Said the mother of his child," Puck responded.
To everyone's surprise, Quinn merely half-snorted a laugh and said, "Right? Snap!"
As Puck smiled at Quinn, Rachel frowned and stamped her foot, "Alright. I demand to know what's going on."
Santana was feeding her last bite of cake to Brittany, "Whatcha mean, hobbs."
"You all seem strangely cohesive—my sixth sense is pinging. This cake is delicious, Finn, as is the punch but don't think you won't tell me what's gone on in my absence!"
When they'd finished and cleared away the refreshments, Mercedes intercepted Mr. Schue before he took his place in front of the class. "Excuse me, Mr. Schue, but Rachel was right. We have been sort of meeting up after Glee and we have some stuff to show you."
Rachel glowered at Mercedes and the girl said, "Death-glare all you want. When you got hurt so bad, it made me think a little about how we've been acting, but especially how I've been acting. We know you did the best you could with that set list for Regionals and chose the best of what we brought to the table but we were lame as hell. That wasn't on you—it was on us. We got together and I made a few decisions everyone agreed on."
Rachel's mouth dropped open, "You staged a coup in my absence! Oh my God!" She stood up and backed away from Quinn, Santana and Brittany. "And you were all in on it!"
She was poised to march out and before Quinn could say a word, Santana said, "Ay Dios mio. Britts, grab her."
Brittany leapt up and gently lifted Rachel off the ground. The girl struggled a tiny bit because she was mad and to save her pride but she couldn't be feisty with Brittany.
Brittany sat down, placing and holding Rachel firmly sideways in her lap. "Shhh…you need to listen, not talk, Rach. Remember what me and San's mami always says, "You have two ears and one mouth for a reason."
Mr. Schuester had no idea what was going on and realizing he was completely at sea, kept his mouth shut.
Rachel slightly relaxed in Brittany's arms.
"Thanks, Baby B. So, Rachel, I decided we needed to get our swag on."
"And that means you're the soloist."
Mercedes waved her finger. "Not even. I cut Tina and she's banging out a duet with me. I changed up our ensemble number so everybody, but especially the guys, can get in on it. My only request was that we all act like we're just as good as you are—give it some of your 'don't rain on my parade' 'tude. We need to act like we own it to show you how proud we are of you and of ourselves."
"So who's the soloist?"
"Quinn."
"Quinn?"
"Quinn."
Rachel shook her head at the girl in the next seat, "Why didn't you tell me?"
Quinn shrugged, "It was a surprise, Rach. For everyone. Especially for you."
Mercedes stepped in, "I chose her because she's not a big show singer and that's what you said you wanted. I only asked her to choose a song that she thought she could sell and that would surprise the judges. None of us know what it is but we all decided to trust Quinn because," and she laughed, "she would break our damn heads if we didn't."
She winced as she realized what she'd just said, "Sorry. Not the best wording, I guess. Considering."
Rachel frowned but Santana was amused to see she'd already begun to gently swing her legs even as she tossed her arm over Brittany's shoulder, "So you've been practicing on the sly, I take it."
"Yep. We've done our duet and practiced the hell out of our ensemble."
Rachel looked around the room, "I did think it was strange that we had all of our brass band members here."
"Just let us entertain you, if we can. Can we, Quinn?"
Quinn stood with Puck. "I don't know how entertaining it'll be but I'll sing." She pulled lyric sheets out for everyone and they passed them out.
Puck sat next to Quinn and took up his guitar. She smiled very fondly at him as she took her hair out of her ponytail and tousled it. He began to play and she sang.
Went out on a limb
Gone too far
Broke down at the side of the road
Stranded at the outskirts and sun's creepin' up
Baby's in the backseat
Still fast asleep
Dreamin' of better days
I don't want to call you but you're all I have to turn to
Puck stared at the floor as he played and his jaw was twitching with the tension he needed to remain as cool as his partner.
What do you say
When it's all gone away?
Baby I didn't mean to hurt you
Truth spoke in whispers will tear you apart
No matter how hard you resist it
It never rains when you want it to
You humble me Lord
You humble me Lord
I'm on my knees empty
You humble me Lord
You humble me Lord
Please, please, please forgive me
As soon as Quinn started singing, tears began to course down Santana's cheeks because it was one of her favorite songs. Quinn gazed at her hands, the floor and vaguely above her audience, looking and sounding as desolate and defeated as it was possible to be, seeming oddly so much older than sixteen.
Santana wiped her streaming eyes during the bridge but when Rachel reached to comfort her, Brittany held her in place and shook her head no as Quinn continued.
Baby Teresa, she's got your eyes
I see you all the time
When she asks about her daddy
I never know what to say
Heard you kicked the bottle
And you helped build a church
You carry an honest wage
Is it true you have somebody keeping you company?
What do you say
When it's all gone away?
Baby I didn't meant to hurt you
Truth spoke in whispers will tear you apart
No matter how hard you resist it
It never rains when you want it to
You humble me Lord
You humble me Lord
I'm on my knees empty
You humble me Lord
You humble me Lord
So please, please forgive me
You humble me
After he'd finished the last bars, Quinn kissed Puck on the cheek and he hugged her as Mercedes wiped tears from her face. She said to Rachel, who was wiping her own eyes and staring at her girlfriend, "I think we have a solo."
Rachel nodded, "Me too."
Brittany's admonishment about acknowledging Santana's emotion kept her from saying anything more to Quinn in front of the rest of the club. "Mr. Schue?"
Will wiped his eyes, "Yes. Absolutely. Amazing, Quinn."
It had been about the most low-key performance Rachel had ever seen but one of the most moving. She felt slightly shocked that someone who was not a superior vocalist could be so effective. As she looked around the room, everyone seemed slightly awed as Quinn took her seat and Rachel had a flash of understanding. Quinn hadn't been singing show tune or theatrical emotion—it had been crushing adult emotion truthfully expressed. Suddenly, Ms. Sokoll's insistence on the girl's taking theater classes made complete sense to her.
Quinn winked at Santana as she sat and then turned, "Rach, no sideways lap-dancing. You need to sit face forward on B for the next part."
"Thank you, Quinn. I will."
When Mercedes and Tina took the stage, Mercedes said, "Remember, Rachel, we're doing it full-on Berry style. We gonna own it. And nobody owns it like Chaka."
The band began the song and Tina started. There was no choreography; they both just swayed to the music:
I look in your eyes and I can see
We've loved so dangerously
You're not trusting your heart to anyone
You tell me you're gonna play it smart
We're through before we start
But I believe that we've only just begun
When it's this good, there's no saying no
I want you so, I'm ready to go
Mercedes joined her for the double and harmonic lines but allowed Tina the high spots.
Through the fire
To the limit, to the wall
For a chance to be with you
I'd gladly risk it all
Through the fire
Through whatever, come what may
For a chance at loving you
I'd take it all the way
Right down to the wire
Even through the fire
Mercedes took the next verse but, again, Tina sang along with her on the double and harmonic lines. Mercedes took the high notes through the rest of the song.
I know you're afraid of what you feel
You still need time to heal
And I can help if you'll only let me try
You touch me and something in me knew
What I could have with you
Well I'm not ready to kiss that dream goodbye
When it's this sweet, there's no saying no
I need you so, I'm ready to go
And as they smiled at each other, pointed at each other, they were obviously feeling as flawless as they sounded. It was a joyous exhibition of their talent and Rachel was thrilled watching it.
Through the fire
To the limit, to the wall
For a chance to be with you
I'd gladly risk it all
Through the fire
Through whatever, come what may
For a chance at loving you
I'd take it all the way
Right down to the wire
Even through the fire
They laughed and bumped each other's shoulders at the end of the short bridge. And then, as Mercedes hit the big notes, they both just looked so amused by how good they were that it was completely exhilarating because it looked so effortless.
Through the test of time
Through the fire
To the limit, to the wall
For the chance to be with you
I'd gladly risk it all
Through the fire
Through whatever, come what may
For a chance at loving you
I'd take it all the way
Right down to the wire
Even through the fire
Through the fire, to the limit
Through the fire, through whatever
Through the fire, to the limit
Through the fire, through whatever
Rachel leapt up as she clapped enthusiastically, "That was fantastic!" And forgot herself so entirely she said, "Everyone agree with me now!" That was not a request although the girl tried to defer to, "Mr. Schue?"
He stifled a laugh. Only Rachel. Everyone agree with me now? "Definitely. Perfect."
Santana and Quinn grinned at each other as Rachel clapped her hands again. "Wonderful! I can't wait to see the ensemble piece. Mercedes, you have done an exemplary job and I commend you wholeheartedly!"
Mercedes beamed at her and at Mr. Schue. "Thanks, girl. I really tried. Now, this next piece is badass. We have some Earth Wind and Fire and we've been practicing to beat hell. Britts and Mike have killed on the choreography for us and what they're doing's just sick. As you know, there are only two real verses but you get something in our guys' real range, then a falsetto range, then Kurt's range. First verse, Finn real range, Sam falsetto, Kurt up—and chorus. Second Artie real, Finn falsetto and Kurt up and chorus."
"Chorus? It's already perfect to split into high and low for all our voices. Oh, and the third verse we're giving to Santana because she talks out her ghetto-ass all the time and can scat like on the real song because nobody knows for real what the hell that man was singing."
Santana scowled at her, "Whatever. Sunlight's burning. Let's go people."
They took their places and, for once, the band looked as excited as the singers, which they should have. They sounded terrific as they started the iconic music.
When you feel down and out
Sing a song, it'll make your day
Here's a time to shout
Sing a song, it'll make a way
Sometimes it's hard to care
Sing a song, it'll make your day
A smile so hard to bear
Sing a song, it'll make a way
Bring your heart to believing
Sing a song, it'll make your day
Life ain't about no retrieving
Sing a song, it'll make a way
Give yourself what you need
Sing a song, it'll make your day
Smile, smile smile and believe
Sing a song, it'll make a way
Singasong
Singasong
Singasong
Singasong
The choreography was insane and did include during the bridge Brittany flipping over Mercedes and Mike flipping over Artie.
Santana topped the third verse with massive dance swagger and nobody could understand a damned thing she said, except for something like "Ain't no shame to call your name"…and it went on into the last chorus.
Singasong
Singasong
Singasong
Singasong
They played it out four extra bars for choreography. Everyone looked so relaxed and happy that it seemed, to Rachel and Mr. Schue, like an entirely different club, one united just to enjoy each other.
When the last note died, Rachel stood and clapped with wild enthusiasm. "That was stupendous! Deryk, Brad—you and the band were phenomenal. Thank you so much but our New Directions with those performances? The Regionals are completely ours! Nationals here we come! As my co-captain, Mercedes, I look forward to hearing your ideas!"
Mercedes' eyes popped wide, "I ain't no—wait a sec. Co-captain? Wha wha?"
Rachel beamed at her in delight, "Yes, obviously!"
Santana put an arm around Mercedes and whispered in her ear, "Evs it's juss like that for you, sistah. When you wish upon a star, you get the biggest one in Lima."
Quinn twirled around, her cheer skirt lifting perfectly, kissed her finger and tapped it on Mercedes' cheek with a smirk even as Brittany shrugged and looked sheepish.
Everyone else in the room had the grace not to laugh as Mercedes faced a huge show smile from Rachel and replied only slightly under her breath, "Just damn."
Quinn reached into her backpack and grabbed a bunch of pink invitations with gold stars. "Surprise time, people. In honor of Rachel, Vinnie's Drive-In is closing down for us on Friday night. Mr. Schue, you and everybody in the club and the band is invited because he's going all out—free movie popcorn and soda for all of us and Vinnie does have a shotgun if you try to sneak liquor in, Puck. And yes, Artie, you'll be able to be there with us if you want—no problem."
She handed out the invitations as she said, "This is just for us but Rachel gets to invite whomever she wants. Rach?"
"What's the movie?"
"The Princess Bride. Is that okay?"
"Hell, yeah!" Puck said, and then as everyone looked at him, amended, "What? It's got romance and all that crap but it's still a badass guy's movie. Whatever. I don't care."
Quinn ignored him, "Rach?"
"That's wonderful. I want to invite everyone who took care of me or cared for me. I'd like for Dad and Daddy and your mom to come, Quinn. And Dr. Mac and and your dad, Kurt, and your mom, Finn. Ms. Sokoll and David."
Quinn shook her head. "Irena Sokoll? And Karofsky? Seriously?"
"She may have saved my life, Quinn. And David will behave himself."
Kurt spoke up, to nearly everyone's surprise, "David will be fine."
As Quinn shook her head in disbelief, Mercedes kissed her finger, tapped it on Quinn's cheek, winked at the girl and whispered, "See? Instant karma's gonna get you."
Quinn sighed and replied only slightly under her breath, "Just damn."
A/N: There you go. Actually, although there IS a third verse for Sing a Song, there's no written third verse. I called my New York/Atlanta-based sound engineer/musician friend I've known since we were puppies and she laughed her ass off because she loves the song, too. She took a few minutes, called me back and had slowed it down for me and played it back on her speakers of audio doom over the phone. She said it was basically scat and the only intelligible part was what I wrote. I defer to my lezbro. Just sayin' I go to experts for you guys.
