Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Glee or any of its characters.

A/N: Fair warning. This is going to be a rollercoaster of emotions, it's a love it or hate it chapter. I hope you enjoy it as I have enjoyed writing it. I write for me so if you don't like it I'm sorry.

Chapter 48

Sunday morning was a flurry of packing and getting ready for the competition. They ate, packed, changed and loaded up the bus. Rachel addresses them. "Today we are in the same locker room as yesterday. We will head there first do any last minute preparations then head to the stands. Since we are the reigning champions we will be performing last. The competition starts at 11:00 again and we will be performing at 2:30 so we will go to stretch and prepare for our long program at 1:30. We will take a late lunch after the competition during the hour that they take to decide that we are the winners."

Coach speaks up next. "Ok babies of the slop. Same rules as yesterday, groups of 4 or more and make sure we know where you are at all times. Just stay together unless you need to use the bathroom. Load it up and let's go bring home this win."

They all cheered and loaded the busses. Sue did her head count and they were off. The arrived, formed up and headed to the locker room. After last minute checks they followed Rachel to the stands and sat to watch the others.

By the 10th squad they are getting really excited. None of them have anything close to their routine. Rachel shares a look with Coach, both of them smirking.

At 1:30 they head off to stretch. Fran goes to follow but Judy stops her. "No, we are staying here."

Fran just sighs. "I just want to wish them luck mom."

Judy shakes her head. "No, from what I've seen and been told what they are about to do is very dangerous and your sister and the rest of the squad need to be 150% focused or someone will get seriously hurt. So no, we are staying here."

Fran just huffed. "We did dangerous stuff all the time but whatever."

Judy just sighed. "Not like this honey. Quinn explained it to me and never in all my years of cheerleading, or yours have I seen anything like it. All I know is that it happens on the 24 count of the last set grouping."

Fran huffed again and stared straight ahead. Judy just shook her head. She wished that something good would happen in her oldest daughter's life that would help her release all this anger that her father instilled in her like Quinn had.

Judy smiled as Shelby and Ms. Pillsbury came back then turned to watch. After the 14th squad left the floor the announcer came back out.

"Ok folks, now for our last squad of the day… our reigning Nationals Champions from Lima Ohio the Cheerios!" The crowd cheered and the squad came out and got set.

The music started and they all moved as one. Their music selection was a dance mix Santana had created of Ke$ha's Take it off. After a moment of dancing together part of the squad broke off and four sets of girls took the corners of the floor.

As the middle group continues the dance the bases set and the flyers were lifted into the air as one. When they were brought back down they were instantly shot back up in to a double twist and landed back into their bases. They were all flip tossed into a backwards dismount as one, flawless.

They all moved back around the group as the pyramid formed and two of the flyers were hoisted to the top. They dismounted off of the others and landed in their base sets at the bottom then flipped again to dismount this time forward.

The pyramid deconstructed row by row with each row having a different simultaneous dismount. As that ended the deconstruction flyers set again and were flung through the air to the opposite set of bases only missing each other by a foot as they flew.

The end was nearing and the middle group all set up into another type of pyramid as the flyers and bases set up for the major stunt.

Judy and Fran had been counting and they knew whatever what happening was happening now. Shelby just held her breath having witnessed it several times but never getting over the fear for the flyers.

As the flyers take off Rachel grabs Coaches hand and they both hold their breaths as well.

In perfect unison the flyers took off and went into the summersault. They flipped their bodies and landed perfectly into the first base set and the flow was dead on. They were tossed again and performed their triple twist landing right where they belonged and were flip dismounted as one.

The crowed was going crazy as the stunt ended. Shelby looked at the judges and they all had their jaws on the ground. The flyers and bases seamlessly move back into the group for the final dance moves. The flyers from the major stunt were once again tossed and flipped to the top of the pyramid in the last move of the routine. As it ended the girls just beamed and the crowd was insane cheering madly for them.

Shelby, Judy and Ms. Pillsbury finally took a breath and were on their feet cheering like crazy. Fran was in a state of shock, jaw in the ground. Judy looked to her and just smirked then turned back to continue cheering. Fran finally stood and started clapping for them still in shock and awe.

Rachel launched herself at Coach and they hugged tightly then moved to collect the squad. The other cheer squad just clapped in the same state Fran was in. They all knew they had been beat.

As the squad came off the floor Rachel was instantly in the arms of her lovers. As they released her she moved to Stacy and Amber the major stunt flyers and pulled them into a hug as well. They lifted her off the ground and spun her then released her to move forward.

Rachel turned and yelled over her shoulder. "FORM UP!" They all fell in line and exited the arena and went to the training area.

When they arrived all the adults were there and hugging them all, even Ms. Pillsbury. Fran just stood back and watched them. Rachel turned to them and they quieted down some to hear her. "Oh my god that was awesome guys. The best one yet."

Coach stepped up and they all quieted more. "I was going to say that was not atrocious, but that just won't do today ladies. That was absolutely outstanding, I am damned proud of all of you." The squad erupted in cheers at never before heard actual praise from their coach.

Shelby leaned into her. "That wasn't so hard was it?"

Sue let a comical shiver run over her body. "Oh honey it hurt so bad."

Shelby just laughed and moved back over to Judy as Rachel quieted them down. "Alright, let's get some food before we all pass out from hunger so we can get our trophy after." They all cheered again forming up and following her to the bus to get their lunch.

They went back to the bleachers after they ate, still high on the performance. The announcers came out and called the groups to the stage. Coach and the seven girls followed her out as the others wait on bated breath to be called up for the top 3.

Once the announcer called the all but the top three he sent all but them to the stands and called the three squads to join the others on the floor. They took off and seamlessly fell in behind Rachel and the others. He called the number three spot and they took their trophies and left the floor.

He looked at the remaining two squads then back to the crowd. "Ok ladies and gentlemen the moment we've all been waiting for. At no surprise, this year's Regionals Champions are… The McKinley High Cheeriooooos!"

The crowd went wild and Marsha and Sam hoisted Rachel on their shoulders. Coach handed her the trophy and she held it up as the crowd and her squad cheered madly. The second place squad congratulated them and left the floor.

Shelby and Judy rushed the floor and went straight to their girls as Rachel was put back on her feet laughing madly. Shelby scooped her up and spun her then accepted the group hug from Judy, Santana and Quinn.

Fran stood back not understanding Rachel's roll here at all. Judy stepped back to her to let the girls celebrate with each other and Fran turned to her. "I don't understand why that are all praising Berry."

Judy just shook her head. "Don't Fran." She warned.

Fran just threw her hands. "I'm not trying to start anything. I'm honestly confused."

Before Judy could say anything more Sue quieted them all. "Alright slightly less than sloppy babies. I have the score sheet here and we have scored overall 75 points higher than the old Cheerios record set 6 years ago."

The squad lost it cheering obnoxiously. Quinn hugged her girls again then walked over to Fran. "Well sister dearest, looks like you owe me." she said smirking.

Fran sighed and handed her a hundred dollar bill then said to her, "I don't understand this."

Quinn just smile. "Well when a squad performs as well as we did, they earn a score and ours just happened to beat the Cheerios record."

Judy snorted trying to contain her laughter. Fran just shook her head. "Not that stupid. The Berry thing, you are all acting like she single handedly won the whole thing for you. I don't get it."

Quinn smiled. "She's our trainer, she created all of the stunts we performed."

Fran just looked stunned. "Ok wow. Then why isn't she on the squad performing if she can create and train you all to do that?"

Quinn's smile fell and she hissed. "I don't want to talk about that with you."

Fran recoiled not understanding the malice in her sister's voice. "O-kay, can she not do them as well as she teaches or something?"

Quinn got in her face. "I said, I don't want to talk about that with you. Drop it now."

Judy pulled Quinn back and tried to calm her but Fran just kept going. "Why should I?"

The squad was now silent behind her and Shelby pulled Rachel into her. Judy moved to Fran. "Fran I told you DON'T."

Fran just pulled away from her. "Why not? It's a simple question."

Quinn pushed past their mother and right into her sister's face again. "I'm going to ask you one last time to drop this Fran. Now please just let us get on with celebrating our much deserved win." Her voice was quivering with rage.

Fran just threw her hands up. "Just tell me damnit."

Quinn looked back to Rachel who was burrowed into Shelby. She just nodded and Quinn turned back to her sister. "You really want to know. I'm telling you, you really don't."

Fran sighed in exasperation. "For god sakes, out with it already."

Quinn was trembling. "Ok, she's not on the squad because she is scared to wear the uniform. She's scared to wear the uniform because you painted a target the size of Ohio on her back and made her a social pariah. She's scared to wear the uniform because we made her an outcast. So much so that in December one of the damn asshole jocks thought that she was fair game and could have his way with her, cornering her in a bathroom at school. Now I have to live every day of my life knowing that our actions caused one of the most important people in my life, one of the people I love more than life itself to be brutalized because of us."

She paused as she felt San behind her touching her back and took a breath. "Now you and I both have to live with the fact that our actions caused the kindest, sweetest, most loyal, generous and loving person that I have ever met, to be afraid to walk around in a skirt or dress. All because her fathers were gay and ours was an asshole, with our constant need for power and petty jealousy of each other. We started the whole thing trying to impress a son of a bitch who never gave a damn about us. Now back off me and leave her the hell alone before I do something we will both regret." Fran stepped back with tears in her eyes as Quinn turned into San and started sobbing.

Rachel was instantly at her side pulling her into her. Fran stepped toward them and Judy stopped her with a hand on her arm and softly spoke to her. "Not now honey."

Fran looked over and locked eyes with Rachel. "Rachel. I'm…"

Quinn's head snapped to her and Rachel took her face and turned her back. "No more baby. It's over as of now." She gently pushed her into Santana's arms and walked over to Fran.

Fran's tears were coming full force. "Rachel. I'm so sorry."

Rachel touched her arm. "I know, I forgive you." Fran just looked at her shocked along with everyone there and Rachel took a breath. "I forgive you like I have Quinn and everyone else, but the question is can you forgive yourself? Can you learn from this and take all that hatred and self-loathing that I know you carry and turn it into something better. Quinn has, can you?"

Fran just sobbed. "I don't know, it eats at me."

Rachel pulled a paper off the clipboard in her hand, and wrote on it then handed it to her. "This is my phone number, my email and my Facebook address. Contact me and we will talk. You're so much better than this Fran. I know it because Quinn is."

Rachel moved in and hugged her tightly. Fran stood stiff for a moment then melted into her sobbing. "I'm so sorry Rachel."

Rachel pulled back and wiped the tears from Fran's face. "I know, and I forgive you. Let it go and forgive yourself." Fran just nodded and Rachel pulled her in for another hug.

Quinn stepped up beside her and Rachel pulled her into the hug. When she felt Judy behind her she stepped back and let her take her place.

Judy cupped her cheek. "Thank you Rachel." Rachel just nodded, kissed her cheek and went back melting into her mom and Santana.

Coach cleared her throat. "Ok girls let's change and load up. We need to get on the road." She kissed Shelby's head then Rachel and San's. She and Ms. Pillsbury took the girls, who all had tears in their eyes to the busses and left Shelby, Judy and the girls there.

Shelby lifted Rachel's face to look in her eyes. "You my baby never fail to amaze me."

Rachel just shrugged. "They need to heal their hearts. I just want to help."

Shelby kissed her forehead and Santana burrowed into her neck. Rachel turned and brought San into her arms fully. "Let it go angel. I need you to let it go. Please do this for me?"

San nodded and kissed her sweetly. "I love you Rachel."

Rachel just smile. "I know, I love you too."

San laughed a watery laugh and pulled her in for a hug, holding her close as they watched Judy quietly talk to her girls.

Shelby kissed them both on the head. "How about you go change. I have the Land Rover so we can ride back together following the bus to get your bags at the school and drop Judy to her car?"

Rachel sighed. "That would be most agreeable. I think we all need away from everyone for a bit." San nodded her agreement and Shelby went to talk to Judy. Quinn walked back to her girls and collapsed into them, her head on San's chest holding on to Rachel.

Rachel kissed her lightly then looked into her eyes. "Let it go baby. We talked about this."

Quinn sighed. "I know we did star. I promise I am trying. I give it conscious thought every day to let it go. It gets a little easier every day."

Rachel nodded and kissed her again. "Ok, thank you. We need to change. Then we are riding home with mom and Judy."

Quinn deflated in relief. "Oh thank god. I don't want to ride back with all of them right now."

Rachel pulled away and grab their hands. "Come on."

They went to the bus grabbed their clothes and changed in the locker room quickly then hung their uniforms in the bus before piling into the Land Rover.

Shelby talked to Sue then she got in and started it up turning back to the girls. "Judy is going to ride with Fran. She's coming home for a few days since she doesn't have class until Wednesday. You are staying with us while she's home Quinn. Your mom will come by after school to see you tomorrow."

Quinn just nodded and melted into the girls. The ride home was uneventful and the girls fell asleep quickly and didn't wake until they got back and Shelby turned off the car.

The piled out and went to grab their bags. Rachel stood on the bottom step one last time. "Listen up girls. I wanted to congratulate you again on an amazing performance today. You were all fantastic. Be ready to work when we get back tomorrow. We have a new routine I will be going over with you. No actual practice just talking it over so you don't need to change into training gear tomorrow. Actual training will not start until midweek or next Monday at the latest. I will let you know when to dress for training again."

Coach stepped up. "I want to think that I can trust that nothing that happened earlier will be talked about after this moment. If I find out it was, you will be off the squad. Show some respect and leave it in Cleveland." She pause as they all nodded. "Ok, be prepared. Tomorrow Figgins is going to want us to show the school our routine during last hour. Your everyday uniforms are fine, we will not be changing for one run through. Now let's get out of here and go home."

Everyone took the time to hug or pat Rachel on the back thanking her for the routine and all her help then headed off.

Judy walked up to them and hugged them all then looked to Quinn. "We were wanting to know if you will come home for dinner tomorrow after Glee practice. Fran and I think is time we all sat down and talked. You can go back to Rachel's after dinner."

Quinn just nodded, not liking it but her mom could be making her come home to stay right now so she didn't argue. Judy kissed her girls then grabbed her bag, went to her car and headed home.

After everyone was gone, Sue, Shelby and the girls loaded up in the Land Rover and headed to the house. The girls helped unloaded the car, unpacked then fell into bed after showering.

Once they were in bed Rachel shifted and rolled over Quinn pushing her into the middle. San pulled her into her and Rachel wrapped around her back just holding her.

San kissed her lightly. "Do you want to talk about it bear?"

Quinn just shook her head. "Not right now. Maybe tomorrow after dinner."

San just nodded and pulled her in tighter throwing her arm over and caressing Rachel's side. "How about you querida?"

Rachel sighed. "No, I'm ok if you two are ok. We can talk whenever Quinn is ready and I'm ok with that."

Quinn turned her head to kiss her softly then Rachel leaned over to kiss San as well then they all snuggles down and fell asleep fairly quickly.

This is how Shelby and Sue found them an hour later. Dead to the world with death grips on each other. Shelby closed the door and sighed into Sue's shoulder. "What am I going to do when Judy takes Quinn?"

Sue pulled her close and kissed her temple. "Just be there for them. That's all we can do."

Shelby burrowed in. "Will you stay tonight. I just need you to hold me, I just need you close."

Sue kissed her softly. "Of course. I have an extra change of clothes in my bag."

They headed down to grab her bags and lock up the house. Then headed off to bed. Hopefully tomorrow would be better for the girls.

A/N: Ke$ha's Take it off (Dance remix) used in the routine can be found on you tube. I hope this chapter was good. I have mixed feelings about it but this is where my muse went. It's done and now on to more Glee and Cheerios training. Shuster also may not be done griping and Rachel may finally blow (Not in the next chapter but shortly thereafter) It could happen.