"What a night," said Santana as she slipped her feet out of her black flats and stretched her legs. "It was so awesome, I hoped it would never end!"
The fundraiser had ended on a successful note, and the glee club was happy with the work they had done. The thousands of dollars they had raised would definitely help them rent a wheelchair-accessible coach bus and pay for new costumes, as well as cover all their regionals expenses such as hotel accommodations. Mr. Berry assured the group that his staff would take care of the cleanup, so the boys pushed a few tables out of the way and everyone formed a ring of chairs in the center of the room so they could talk about their night. Will and Emma had remained behind with them, Finn invited the couple to join them in the circle.
"All of you should be very proud of what you did tonight," said Will. "Thanks to the support of the community, we can cover all of our regionals expenses."
"Part of the night's success was due in part to you, Mr. Schu," said Rachel. "Your performance was amazing."
"And that song you sang for Miss P at the end was so sweet," added Mercedes. "Do you really love her?"
"With all my heart," Will replied. The girls sighed happily and began to chat with the guys. Will took the opportunity to talk with Emma.
"You know, Em, everything I said earlier was true," he said. "I never thought I'd find happiness since I broke up with Terri. But you, as well as the glee club, have made me more happy than I've ever been before. It's like I found something that was missing in my life – family, love, acceptance. I found it all in the past year."
"I never got to respond to you earlier," Emma said, her eyes sparkling. "I love you so much, Will. And if you're ready to take the next step in your life, then so am I. We'll face the world together."
"Which is why I have something very important to ask you," Will said. He felt around in his vest pocket and pulled out a small blue box. Then he got out of his chair, stood up to face Emma, and got down on one knee.
"Oh my God," Rachel said. "Guys, I think you need to see this!" The entire glee club leaned forward in their chairs to bear witness to what was happening.
"Emma," said Will, "a mere song can't tell you how much you have meant to me. You have been there for me so many times since I took over the glee club, you have guided me through all the tough moments and gave me advice when I needed it. I love you with everything I have, and if you are ready to take the next step on our journey together, I hope you will accept what I'm about to say." He held out the box to Emma and opened it, inside was a beautiful diamond ring.
"Emma Pillsbury, will you marry me?"
As the kids looked on with shocked look on their faces, their reactions did not match that of Emma, who was on the verge of tears. She looked at Will as he held the ring out to her, he had been so sincere and kind to her – a feeling Ken never had for her and that Terri never had for him. She loved Will so much!
"I – I don't know what to say," she said as the tears continued to fall.
"Say yes," Tina implored, tears welling up in her own eyes. "Mr. Schu loves you so much, and I know you love him too. And so do all of us. You have meant so much to us!" Tina was right, Will and glee were a part of her life now as much as she was a part of them.
"Yes, Will," Emma finally said. "I will marry you. I love you with everything I have!"
The kids cheered as Will slipped the ring on Emma's finger and twirled her around in a loving embrace. Then as he set her down, he felt her arms around him as he kissed his new fiancée. Nobody in the world aside from the glee club had ever made him this happy until she came into his life.
"There's something else I'd like to say," Will said, and he rushed over to the stage to get his guitar. He returned to the circle and put his chair in the middle, sitting down with the instrument in his lap.
"No matter what, I'll always be there for you, Emma," he told her. Then he began to play a few chords before singing in his strongest, most emotional voice.
You and I
Have followed the trace, laid by
People of faith and pride
With hungry eyes
You and I
Could conquer the stars, if we tried
Or simply live by simpler vows
And let the storm go by
"I know this song," Rachel whispered to the other glee kids. "There's a great chorus part, we can all sing it together. It goes 'I'll always be there'."
Will continued.
You and I
Have written the book, line by line
The few things it took to survive
Was your loving heart and mine
Should you go
Remember these words, as they show
Just how much I care, don't you know
I'll always be there
(I'll always be there)
There when the world and its promise is failing
(I'll always be there)
There when the frost of its winter is cursing
(I'll always be there)
There when the tears in your eyes keep on asking
(I'll always be there)
I'll always be there
The tears continued to stream down Emma's face as she listened to Will's heartfelt voice.
You and I
Have followed the trace, laid by
People of faith and pride
With angry eyes gone blind
You and I
Will show them the light, we live by
So never again will they try
To keep us apart
The glee kids sang the chorus part as Will sang the main part, united together for a person that they all loved.
(I'll always be there)
There when the world and its promise is failing
(I'll always be there)
There when the frost of its winter is cursing
(I'll always be there)
There when the tears in your eyes keep on asking me why
(asking me why)
(I'll always be there)
There when the world and its promise is failing
(I'll always be there)
(I'll always be there)
There when the tears in your eyes keep on asking me why
(asking me why)
(I'll always be there)
There when the frost of its winter is cursing
(I'll always be there)
(I'll always be there)
There when your loving is such you keep burning alive
I'll always be there
(I'll always be there)
I'll always be there
(I'll always be there)
I'll always be there
And deep in her heart, Emma knew that she would be there for him too, no matter what.