Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Glee or any of its characters.
A/N: I want to take a moment to thank my readers. I have now reached over 300 followers to Avenging Angel, over 160 favorites and over 200 reviews. From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate every last one of you. Thank you so much for joining me on this journey. It means more to me then you will ever know. The outpouring of support and suggestions is awesome, again thank you so much.
Chapter 45
Tuesday was surreal for all the Gleeks. Where ever they went the students congratulated them on their win. They finally got the recognition they deserved for all their hard work.
For Rachel, Santana, and Quinn Cheerios practice went well. They still had a protection detail just to make sure Rachel was ok without having to ask for it. There were no fewer than four Cheerios or Gleeks with them all day. Puck stayed close as well as Britt, Sam, Marsha, and Stacy. Rachel didn't see anything amiss with it and didn't question them being around.
At the end of the day they all went their separate ways to do homework and rest up for the competition the next weekend.
Wednesday was much the same and uneventful. They all dressed for Glee at the end of the day and headed to the choir room. Once they were all there Shelby stood and addressed the group. "Ok guys I have the rules and theme for Nationals."
They all cheered and once they calmed she continued. "This year Nationals is in Washington D.C. The rules are pretty much the same as with Regionals except for the amount of songs we need."
She paused looking at the papers in her hand. "We will need six numbers. Two group, two duets and two solos. We are also required to use two numbers from our Regionals competition. There will be three stages of judging. The first stage will be a group and a duet. The second stage is the top 30, with those two songs and a solo. The third stage is the top 10 with the three other songs. There is no set theme."
Rachel raised a hand and Shelby motioned for her to speak. "That gives us four new numbers to choreograph and learn. Which two songs will be keeping?"
Shelby smiled. "We will be keeping the duet and solo. After listening to the crowd reaction to all three I think those are the ones we will keep. Also keeping with the competition spirit just like Mr. Shue did after sectionals, I want to have another competition for the second duet."
The group all cheered and Mr. Shue spoke up. "Have you assigned the partners yet?"
Shelby shook her head. "No, this time they will choose their own partners unless you would prefer that I choose." She said looking at the group.
The all just shrugged and Kurt spoke up. "Would it be random or would you choose partners based on ability and singing style?"
Shelby just looked confused. "Um, I would chose on ability and singing style. Otherwise you and your partner might not be able to do as well together."
They all turned into each other and discussed it quietly for a moment. Everyone failing to see Mr. Shue looking mad. When they turned back Rachel speaks for group. "We would like you to choose."
Shelby smiled. "Ok, Mr. Shuster, Coach and I will discuss it and let you know tomorrow who is partnered. All of you can meet us during your free period for a few minutes and we will tell you then."
They all nodded and she continued. "The two group numbers and the other solo I will also discuss with Shue and coach. We will let you know after the duet completion which will be next Friday. We will have the same guest judges along with the three of us."
She turned to Rachel. "Rachel, I will let you know Monday what was decided so we can get together for choreography. I will also be talking with Santana Brittany and Quinn for music arrangement and help with the routines."
Rachel and the girls nodded and Mr. Shue stood up. "I thought I was going to be in on this."
Shelby sighed. "You are, we have three other songs to choose. We will let you in on the process. I didn't think I needed to say your name through everything, Sue will be there too. Rachel, the girls and I will be working on some of this at home after the beginning planning is done. We work until it is done and you can't always be with us."
He just huffed. "I think I should be there for all of it."
Sue stood and went to Shelby's side sensing her getting ready to blow. "Did you have a hand in the whole planning process when Santana and Britt were in charge of the musical arrangements and choreography?"
Will just crossed his arms. "No, but that's beside the point."
Sue just shook her head. "No, that is the point. Rachel and the girls did this all with no help before and were able to give us a winning routine. We will give them guidance with the songs then the rest is on them. Shelby is a professional choreographer and Rachel is too in her own right. We will give them leeway to work their magic then the girls will train them."
Will just huffed again and sat back in his seat shaking his head mumbling about talking to Figgins.
Shelby stepped up to him and spoke into his ear. "I was given the job as head coach in here, the decisions are mine. You are here to assist and I will let you do so with song choice and let you in on some of the process of choreography. If you don't like it go ahead and talk to Figgins and he can tell you the same or you can resign as assistant coach and leave us be, the choice is yours."
As she stepped back he stood. "You can't talk to me that way."
Sue stepped between them and Shelby just shook her head. "All I did was state facts without letting the children hear what I was saying. I can say it out loud if you would prefer so they can hear that I wasn't saying anything that wasn't true."
He just sat and crossed his arms again. Shelby turned back to the others. "Ok guys, does anyone have anything they would like to sing today?"
They all just shook their heads so she continued. "If you would like to just talk amongst your selves and maybe come up with some song ideas that would be a good pairing with the two we already have, Shue, coach and I will go into the office and decide the duet pairings now so you can have an extra night to plan."
They all nodded and turned into each other again and started talking song choices. Shelby headed to the office with Sue and a begrudging Will following.
They sat and Shelby took out some paper and a pen writing all their names down then cutting them into strips and laying them out on the desk. "Ok, who do we want together?"
The all leaned forward and looked at the names. Sue took Marsha and Samantha and put them together in the middle. "These two are were amazing in the last duet they did. I think they would go well together again."
Will and Shelby nodded and she picked up Josh and Jake. "I heard these two singing the other day together and they complement each other well."
Will picked up Mercedes and Kurt. "These two always sound good together."
Shelby and Sue agreed and they continued pairing them off.
Back in the choir room the kids were coming up with songs. Mercedes raised a hand and they all looked at her. "I think we should keep with the inspirational theme and pick four new songs from different decades. Like since we have two songs in the 2000's we pick two from the 90's and two from the 80's."
They all nodded and Rachel spoke. "That's a really good idea. I love the idea of keeping to the inspirational but we still have the new duet to consider. I don't know if I like limiting anyone to a specific decade. What do you think?" she asked Mercedes.
Mercedes thought or a moment. "I think your right, I didn't think about the competition. Well, just the inspirational theme then?"
They all nodded and Rachel wrote down songs as they called them out. Some of them had out their laptops and were looking up songs. When the adults came back they had a list of about 20 songs.
Will and Sue sat as Shelby stood in front of the group again. "Well, what did you come up with?"
Rachel stood and handed her the list. "We came up with a list of more inspirational songs to choose from. Mercedes thought it might be a good idea to keep to that theme and we agreed."
Shelby smile looking at the list. "Ok, we will look at this and take your ideas into consideration. Now for the duet partners."
She pause and looked to her list. "Samantha and Marsha, Josh and Jake, Kurt and Mercedes, Quinn and David, Matt and Mike, Brittany and Marcus, Noah and Tina, and Stacy and Artie."
She looked up and they were shifting themselves next to their partners and she just smiled. "So, these are the duet teams. If no one has any arguments about your partners we have about 30 minutes left of practice so you need to start brain storming with your partner. If you need help with a song choice let one of us know, we will be in the office going over these songs and talking about the set list. You can also ask Rachel and Santana for help. Be back in here in 30 and we will let you go for the day."
They split off to work with their partners. Most of them went to the auditorium and scattered around to give each other room to work.
Mercedes and Kurt were sitting on stage to the left side. Marcus and Britt took the piano, Quinn and David sat in the front row of seats in the middle. The rest of them all around. Santana and Rachel sat together to the side in the front row talking quietly.
Kurt looked over to them and called Rachel over. Josh and Jake called over Santana a few minutes later.
San walked over and sat in front of them. "What's up?"
Josh looked down shyly. "We picked a song that we mashed up a while back. Do you think a mash up will be ok?"
San thought for a moment. "I don't see why not. Are they still in the inspirational theme?"
Jake nodded. "Yep."
San just smile. "Then I say go for it."
Josh looked up. "We were wondering if you would help us with the musical arrangement. I play the electric guitar with it but we wanted to add more to it than that. If you don't mind and have the time."
San thought for a moment. "Well, since I'm not in the competition I should have the time. What are the songs and do you have a recording of you singing them?"
Josh shook his head. "We don't have any way to record anything. Here are the songs though." He handed her a paper with them written on it.
She smiled. "I have to hear this, I love these songs. Are you two free after practice? You can come to the house and you can sing it for me and we can work on it."
Josh looked down shyly again. "We really didn't want anyone else hearing it before the competition but you. Don't Rachel and Quinn live with you?"
San just chuckled. "Yes but we have a recording studio that is sound proof. They will stay out if you want."
The boys looked up at her shocked. Jake recovered first. "Like an actual recording studio?"
Santana laughed at the look on their faces. "Yes, an actual recording studio. This is Rachel's house we are talking about. Her daddy had it built for her when she was younger and started really singing. He really liked to spoil her and gave her all the tools she needed to succeed in her music and dance."
They just smiled and Josh pulled out his phone. "Cool, let me text mom and ask. We will need to run to the house and grab my guitar though."
Santana excused herself for a moment and went to talk to Rachel. The whispered to her and Rachel nodded. San went back to the boys. Jake looked up happily. "She said it was cool but we have to be home by 9:00."
San sat and nodded. "That will give us a good bit of time. Rachel said that if you want you can use one of her guitars so you don't have to go home first."
Josh just smiled. "That's nice of her but mine is a really nice one. I'm not sure I would like the sound of one with less controls."
Santana just laughed. "Ok, again, this is Rachel we are talking about. I guarantee that she has something comparable to what you have if not better. The girls has 17 guitars, half of which are electric. Trust me, no one has better equipment then nuestra estrella."
The boys laughed and Josh spoke again. "Does she have any other instrument, does she play the guitar? I've never seen her play anything."
San smile leaning back. "She has the guitars, a piano, several violins, a drum set, and a few other odds and ends. She plays them all, quite well I might add. Her main instrument is her voice though so she uses it the most."
They just look over to Rachel in awe. Josh shakes out of it. "Ok, cool. We will follow you there after practice. You don't think we will offend her by not wanting her to listen do you?"
She just shakes her head. "No, she understands the creative process and you wanting privacy. She's cool."
They nodded and San looks to her watch. "Ok boys, it's time to go back." She stands and calls to the others and they head off to the choir room.
Shelby and the other adults come in as they sit. "Ok guys, does anyone have questions about anything we discussed today?"
Rachel held up a hand and Shelby motioned her to speak. "It might be a good idea to have them write down for you their song choices for the duet so you don't overlap with the rest of the set list."
Shelby smiled and walked back to her office. She grabbed a pad of paper and came back. "Good idea. We don't want to duplicate. So, come up to me one pair at a time and I will write them down."
San raised her hand. "Is it ok to do mashups?"
Shelby thought for a moment. "Sure, I don't see a problem with that." San just nodded looking to the boys, they just smiled. Shelby continued. "Ok, if there are no other questions start coming up. If you haven't picked a song yet, tell me tomorrow. After you give it to me you are free to go." The started coming up to tell her.
Rachel turned to San. "Mercedes and Kurt are coming over tonight for some help too. I will take the portable piano up to our room and work with them there. It's soundproof too so we will not bother mom and you and the boys will have the studio free."
San sat back putting an arm around her. "That's fine querida."
Quinn leaned into San. "Dave is coming over as well. I can see if we can use Shelby's piano in the living room unless you think we will bother her."
Rachel rubbed her arm. "Just ask baby. If she wants quiet she can always watch TV in her room, I'm sure she won't mind."
Quinn just shrugged and she went with Dave to give their song. After they told her she asked. "Um, San is helping Josh and Jake with their song tonight and Rachel is helping Mercedes and Kurt. They are using the studio and our room. Is it ok if Dave and I use your piano and the living room? Will the music bother you?"
Shelby just smiled and rubbed her arm. "That's fine sweetheart. The music will not bother me. It will give me something to listen to while I cook dinner for what is turning out to be an army."
They all laughed, Quinn thanked her and they went back to their seats. After they were all done the girls headed home with the others following. Sue and Shelby headed to the store for some groceries for dinner for the meat eaters.
When they all came in Rachel showed them all to the studio because they wanted to see it. The girls sat on the couch as the others just turned in circles in awe.
Mercedes spoke first. "Seriously, this is awesome Rach. This is so cool."
Rachel just chuckled. "Yep, this is my second favorite room in the house."
They went in to the sound booth to look around and Quinn leaned into her. "What is your favorite room? I figured this would be it."
Rachel just smiled slyly. "Our room is my favorite." She wiggled her eyebrows and they all laughed.
The others came out and Mercedes walked up to them. "Can we record our song next week or something?"
Rachel nodded. "Sure, we can record all of your songs and give you recordings of them without your own voices to practice by and still have your partner's voice."
They all looked shocked, Dave recovered first. "That is too cool."
They all nodded their agreement then split off to get to work.
San had Josh pick out a guitar and they sang the mashup for her. "That is awesome. Can you sing it again? I want to hook up your guitar and have you sing into the mics and record you so I can work on the music to go with it."
Josh just smile shyly. "Do you really think it is good and we shouldn't pick something else?"
San shook her head. "No, don't pick something else. This is an amazing mashup. Let me set up the sound room and we will get started." They nodded and she got them set up.
Upstairs Rachel showed Kurt and Mercedes to her room. They looked around for a moment as Rachel set up the piano. Mercedes walked over to their dresser. "Rach, these boxes are beautiful."
Rachel smiled and walked over to hers. "I know, Quinn had them made for us for Valentine's Day. She did the pictures herself and designed the letters." She opened the box. "They're jewelry boxes."
Kurt stepped up and looked at them. "Wow, those are nice."
Rachel ran a hand over San's then Quinn's. "This is San's and this is Quinn's. Mine has the star on it."
Mercedes smiled. "They are gorgeous."
Rachel nodded closing her box then they turned back to the piano and got started. They ran through the song with the breakdown she had helped them with a few times. "This is going to sound great guys, a real contender for the second solo. Monday after school we can record it."
Mercedes and Kurt just beamed and they ran through it some more changing things here and there.
Quinn and Dave were in the living room working on their song. Quinn pushed the computer so he could see it better. "I think this break down will work best."
He looked it over. "Looks good to me. You three are all so good at this stuff. I just like to sing."
Quinn chuckled. "Well, we have all had lessons at one time or another, Rachel has had the most though."
They settled in after finding the sheet music online and Quinn printed it off. They started with the piano and decided to work with the instrumental version later.
They all worked a little over an hour then Shelby went to tell them all dinner was ready. Shelby and Sue had made hamburgers, portabella burgers and sweet potato fries. After they ate they got back to work until about 8:30 when Shelby told the girls they needed to get to their homework before it got too late.
They bid their friends goodbye then sat at the kitchen table to do their homework and headed to bed around 10:00 as usual. Shelby and Sue sat together in the living room after hugging the girls good night.
Sue turned to her after the girls were upstairs. "They don't even question you. Technically they don't have to listen to you if they didn't want to. You are so good with them."
Shelby just smiled and settle into her. "I don't know, they have always just done as I asked. I don't really ask much of them. I think they all were in need of a parental figure to care enough to give them a bed time and a few instructions here and there."
Sue kissed her head. "You're a good mother honey. Don't diminish it."
Shelby looked up at her and kissed her softly. "Thank you. I've waited 16 years to be able to be in her life and I really hope I am doing right by her and the girls."
Sue smiled and kissed her nose. "You are. They are thriving with you. None of them were doing as good before you came into their lives. That includes me too. You have made all of our lives better. Thank you."
Tears came to Shelby's eyes and she kissed her passionately. When they broke apart she rested their foreheads together. "You have all made my life better as well. So I guess it's an even trade."
Sue just chuckle. "Well it was a good trade if I do say so myself."
They smile and settled together just holding each other for a while talking. Sue left an hour later and Shelby locked up for the night. She snuck a peek at the girls and found them sound asleep wrapped in each other as usual. She went to her own room and dressed for bed. She settled in and thanked god for the blessings in her life.
A/N: Up next Cheerios regionals and a surprise person from the past shows up to see the competition.