-Chapter-68-The final chapter-
-Shelby pov-
It has been about 5 years since coming back to Lima. I honestly have not looked back to New York. There has been no reason to. Everything and everyone we need is right here.
The girls got married the spring we came back. It was such a beautiful wedding. They have been getting on so well. They actually have a kid of their own now.
Her name is Daniella Diabla Lopez. She is technically Rachel and Santana's. The other technical duo is currently pregnant each. Lucy and Brittany have been a handful while pregnant.
Sugar, Fran, Jasmine, and Pamela have been married for only a year now. They are still waiting on having a kid. They just wanna take time to enjoy the married life. We are avoiding trying to push them on anything so they can.
Sam, Kate, and Grace all are engaged right now too! They had such a sweet proposal. It had fireworks and so many petals! I honestly loved the whole thing.
Our babies are doing great too. Amber is a brat, Jenny talks a lot, Beth is rocking elementary, Abby has some trouble learning, Jess has a lazy eye but is still adorable, Polly is intersex and we love her so much, and Winter is growing so well. I know it seems like we left one out.
Judy is currently doing amazing work as a school teacher. She has so many great Spanish speaking students now. I have a feeling a lot of them have crushes on her though. But hey what can ya do?
Madison has gotten back into being a principle. Dalton has been going up since they let in girls. They had a sister school that came and has improved it. There was push at first but it has gotten better.
I have been working at the school with Cass to make sure the music program is top notch. We have a drama club started up too! We love that so many kids wanna be apart of it.
Cassandra has been doing great honestly. We were worried at first about the switch. But since she has been here, it has been great. She has helped so many kids!
Emma has been doing great too. She has been a great guidance counselor to the kids here. She has helped so many feel safe and loved. She gives them a safe zone from the world.
Maribel has been still struggling. We do not blame her though. We all have slightly felt it in different ways. She has stayed home and doing a fine job babysitting.
There has only been one big downside. Debbie has passed away a short time ago. We are currently at her funeral. There was a car and she just had no time to react.
Signs show that she made sure Alice stayed alive. Dee has been very upset and silent. She did not even give a eulogy today. She passed it on to the club to sing a song.
All the moms have been affected. They all have felt like they have been left. They all will heal but this is a hole that will hurt. I know they will get better.
-Warblers singing-
Remember when
I was young and so were you
And time stood still and love was all we knew
You were the first, so was I
We made love and then you cried
Remember when
Remember when
We vowed the vows and walked the walk
Gave our hearts, made the start, and it was hard
We lived and learned life threw curves
There was joy, there was hurt
Remember when
Remember when
Old ones died and new were born
And life was changed, disassembled, rearranged
We came together, fell apart
And broke each other's hearts
Remember when
Remember when
The sound of little feet was the music
We danced to week to week
Brought back the love, we found trust
Vowed we'd never give it up
Remember when
Remember when
Thirty seemed so old now lookin' back
It's just a steppin' stone
To where we are, where we've been
Said we'd do it all again
Remember when
Remember when
We said when we turned gray
When the children grow up and move away
We won't be sad, we'll be glad
For all the life we've had
And we'll remember when
Remember when
Remember when
"Thank you" I look shocked as Dee makes her way up "I was not gonna say anything but...I found this letter that Debbie had given me..she said 'sing happy songs so you all can get along. Give happy thoughts so no one leaves sad. Do not forget the bad memories cause they got us to where we are today. I love you all so much...never let my sun fade away"
I wipe as tear as she walks to a mic. She takes a deep breath and nods. Music slowly starts and she gives a sad smile.
-Dee singing-
I can't light no more of your darkness
All my pictures seem to fade to black and white
I'm growing tired and time stands still before me
Frozen here on the ladder of my life
Too late to save myself from falling
I took a chance and changed your way of life
But you misread my meaning when I met you
Closed the door and left me blinded by the light
Don't let the sun go down on me
Although I search myself, it's always someone else I see
I'd just allow a fragment of your life to wander free
But losing everything is like the sun going down on me
I can't find the right romantic line
But see me once and see the way I feel
Don't discard me just because you think I mean you harm
But these cuts I have they need love to help them heal
Don't let the sun go down on me
(Don't let the sun)
Although I search myself, it's always someone else I see
I'd just allow a fragment of your life to wander free
(Don't let the sun)
But losing everything is like the sun going down on me
Don't let the sun go down on me
(Don't let the sun)
Although I search myself, it's always someone else I see
I'd just allow a fragment of your life to wander free
(Don't let the sun)
But losing everything is like the sun going down on me
"I ask the club to come back up please" She gives them a smile as she wipes her eyes "Please sing a more upbeat song ok? For my dear sister and loved one we have lost"
They nod and have a quick discussion. They talk to her and she nods with a smile. They go and talk to the Dalton band we have. Soon music starts and they start singing.
-Warblers singing-
Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Once in a lullaby
Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Dreams really do come true
Someday I'll wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney top
That's where you'll find me
Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
And the dream that you dare to,
Oh why, oh why can't I?
Well I see trees of green and red roses too,
I'll watch them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Well I see skies of blue
And I see clouds of white
And the brightness of day
I like the dark
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people passing by
I see friends shaking hands
Singing, "How do you do?"
They really sing, "I...I love you"
I hear babies cry and I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than we'll know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world world
Someday I'll wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney top
That's where you'll find me
Oh, somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
And the dream that you dare to
Why, oh why can't I? I?
"Thank you" Dee looks at to us with a watery smile "We came back to Lima as a family...she had some demons that followed but she overcame them! She overcame them for Mary, Rose, and Janine! She over came them for her daughters Shelby, Judy, Maribel, Cassandra, Madison, and Emma! She overcame them for her granddaughters Kate, Pamela, Jasmine, Sugar, Fran, Samantha, Grace, Brittany, Beth, Abby, Jess, Jenny, Polly, Amber, Rachel, Santana, Lucy, and Winter! She overcame it all adopted family like the warblers, Carole, Amanda, and Dani! She left knowing th...she left knowing that we are all loved and taken care of..she left knowing I had Alice thanks to her and that Cassandra was happy! She always put others before her..when our family started the little stuff I was not there but we saw all of the happiness! We saw the love that they had! When they added Cass and us into their lives..we felt the love so much! They did not have to help us! But they brought my sister and I back together..to them I owe so much gratitude for giving my sister a better life until she left us..the mic is open Shelby"
"Really?" She nods and I get pushed up by Cass "I guess I am speaking! You all know our family is a bit different from normal ones..Debbie..Debbie made it all better honestly. We started with Judy asking me to stay with them! Next came a incident where the girls became littles...from then everyone and everything in our lives have brought us here! Debbie was a breath of greasy air honestly..she made us laugh, she made us cry, and she made us mad sometimes...but in the end she made memories! Memories we will never forget because of who gave them to us...we will miss you ma Debbie! There will always be a seat open at the table for you"
I walk back to my seat as everyone stands. We are dismissed and the Paul bearers take her casket out to the hearse. We all get in our vehicles and drive to the cemetery. It is a quick and quiet ride over.
There a few words spoken as she is lowered and a few tears drop. We leave the cemetery for home before people come. The girls go in and I stand in the doorway. I look around and a smile forms.
"You are thinking about it huh?" I look at Judy and nod "We started here and we finish here"
"It is bitter sweet" Judy lays her head on my shoulder "But our family...our family has gotten back home Shelby! We have stuck to our promises for them to be them and we are home!"
"Yes we are" I turn to here and give here a quick kiss "We are back home baby"
We are home and even though we have lost someone everything is back. Debbie will be missed for sure. But her memories will live on forever. We will never forget her.
I feel a tug on my jeans and look down to see Santana. I smile and pick her up. I walk into the house fully and go to the family. It really is good to be back home.
The girls are fine, the moms will be fine, and we will be fine. That is all I could ask for. We have everything we need. Everything we need is right here.
Time for our rollercoaster to finally hit its high and stay there for good.
QAll I can say to all of you readers of this story and why? Is thank you! You have made 2020 and beginning of 2021 worth it for me. I love you all and I hope this ending was good enough for you.
I will see you all in another story.
Goodbye!