Do you have a minute to help me with something? It's for Kurt -Blaine

Rachel started at her screen, puzzled. She glanced up at Kurt and Mercedes, discussing a top that Mercedes wanted to buy. Kurt had invited the New Directions girls on a Saturday shopping trip, then shocked them all by saying he was coming back to McKinley. On Monday. She'd known about Kurt and Blaine for weeks now, but this was unexpected. What could Blaine possible want with her?

What is it?

Meet me for coffee at 4, Lima Bean?

Rachel pursed her lips. Her head lifted to the sound of Kurt's laughter, and she smiled. It reminded her of how much happier her friend was, how much stronger. He hadn't seemed this carefree ever this past fall, and it had been a rare occurrence before that. If that was (and she had to admit, it probably was) due in large part to Blaine's influence, then she could at least see what he had to say.

Sure.

"You're the leader of your glee club, right?" Blaine asked once they were seated with their drinks.

"Yes." Rachel took a sip of her coffee. "Where are you going with this?"

Blaine sighed heavily. "I…I didn't say goodbye to Kurt. Properly, anyway. I was just so…I don't know…scared, that he was leaving. I was kind of a jerk."

"And you need my help to make it up to him?"

"I just thought…maybe the New Directions could help the Warblers give him a real send-off. In song." Blaine was half-expecting rejection. It didn't seem like a very Rachel thing to help out another glee club. On the other hand, dramatic gestures in song were entirely her thing.

"Seeing as you're no longer our competition, and Kurt is one of my best friends and absolutely deserves it, I would be honored. Did you have a song in mind?"

Blaine shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "I think so. I should warn you that I'm awful at this. Ask Kurt."

Rachel grinned. "Oh, believe me, I have. Well, that is to say, Kurt's told me. Also I was sort of a part of it. In a way."

"Don't remind me. Please." Blaine groaned.

Rachel smiled and reached for another sip of coffee. "So the song…"

" Keane's 'Somewhere Only We Know' "

Rachel ran through the lyrics and melody in her head and gave him an appraising look. "I think you're better at this than you think. And I respect your group's talent in arranging and choreographing numbers, though I think you spend a little too much time on Top-40 music. You'll do fine setting that up on your end, and my group will just join in."

Blaine smirked at how similar her comment was to Kurt's and sighed in relief. "Do you think we could perform in that commons space outside?"

Rachel nodded, pulled a black pen out of her purse, and began scribbling in a notepad.

"What are you doing?" Blaine asked.

"I'm drawing you a map of the commons so you can write choreography."

Blaine turned his head to study the sketch.

Rachel saw the question in his eyes. "You never know when song-writing inspiration will hit. I carry this everywhere."

Of course she would he thought.

Rachel ripped out the paper and offered it to him.

"So you'll get everyone in New Directions on board?"

"Not a problem," she agreed.

"Thank you, Rachel."

"He'll be safe with us, you know. I promise. It's the right place for him."

Blaine stood and gathered his bag and coffee cup. "Yeah, I know."

"I'll let you know when everyone knows, and we'll go from there."

Blaine nodded and turned to leave.

"Blaine?" Rachel called after him.

He was almost at the door, but twisted his head back towards her. "Yeah?"

"You're good for him," she said. He smiled gratefully before disappearing in the crowd.

Rachel immediately reached for her phone and dialed Mercedes.

"Are you with Kurt?" she asked the minute her friend answered.

"No, why?"

"We have a performance to plan."

It took the New Directions about twenty minutes to organize. Mercedes texted Tina-Helping Blaine serenade Kurt on Monday. You in? Tina sent back-How could I not be- and told Mike. Artie and Brittany were with them, and soon agreed to help, though Brittany asked Artie what serenade meant. Rachel called Finn, and five minutes later Quinn and the rest of the guys were on board. "I've actually missed that dude," was Puck's remark. "And not because New Directions could use his voice." After Finn told Sam, Santana texted Mercedes-Good for Kurt. About time that idiot boyfriend of his got it together, which, Mercedes recognized, was her way of being supportive. Lauren found out from Puck that night.

Rachel received a text from Kurt on Sunday that almost caused her to spoil the surprise. Rachel, is there a reason for the closed group "Operation Gap Attack 2" on FB. More specifically, why is everyone from the Warblers and the New Directions in it except me?

Rachel decided to go with mysterious and change the subject. You'll know in 24 hours. Excited for you to be back tomorrow!

Kurt gave up.

Rachel texted Blaine that night. I'll deal with Figgins. ND will be waiting for you guys in the commons at 8:00AM. Kurt will descend the stairs at 8:10, and the serenading will commence.

A/N: So I watched the "Somewhere Only We Know" scene about, I don't know, twenty times? It's beautiful. I'll add that scene soon, but I want to wait for it to air so that I know the full context and see the rest of the scene (if there is more). This is sort of the lead-in to that moment, because I thought it would be fun to see how the two groups decided to do this.

Thank you everyone who reviewed the last chapter.

Please review! These characters are actually hard to write accurately. Am I close? Emily.