A/N: Well guys, thanks for sticking it out till the end. So, with no further adieu…
Disclaimer: I don't own Glee or West Side Story
Chapter 18: Somewhere (There's A Place For Us)
Epilogue
SIX YEARS LATER…
Rachel was sitting in her dressing room when there was a knock on the door.
"Come in." Rachel called out from her position; sitting in a chair while flipping through a magazine.
A tall brunette woman came through the door, Ashley Ryan, was Rachel's publicist. Rachel greeted her with a smile before returning to her magazine. "First of all, congratulations. Your last dress rehearsal was spectacular and I'm looking forward to your opening night performance this evening."
"Thank you." Rachel put the magazine down, and looked at Ashley. "Were they able to get enough tickets for my guests?"
"Well, I admit that the amount you requested was rather unusual, we did manage to secure them for you." Ashley said with a small smile.
"I appreciate the effort so, again, thank you. Or whoever was responsible for it let me know, so I can thank them properly."
"I will." She fidgeted uncomfortably, looking anywhere but at Rachel.
"What was the second of all, Ash?" Rachel looked a mix between concerned and annoyed. Whatever Ashley had to say wasn't going to be good. "Is there an early review? What are people saying about me?"
"It's nothing like that, Rachel." She brought her eyes up to meet the diva's. "It's just, I've been talking to some people. And since you're so new, this being your first real show and all…well, I know you were hoping to come out with your relationship with Quinn soon, but it's looking like it'd be better for you if you waited a bit. Get a name for yourself first, then come out if you want to."
"Absolutely not." Rachel stated with finality. "I've worked hard to get where I am, and Quinn's been by my side the whole way. I am not about to hide who I am and I will not hide Quinn."
"It won't be forever. Just until you're more established."
"Look, you work for me. Okay. And I'm saying no. Whenever Quinn is ready to publicly come out, we will. Everyone in my life who matters to me already knows, I really don't care what anyone else thinks."
"You will if it translates to ticket sales."
"Broadway is full of openly gay performers. It's practically expected." Rachel huffed incredulously.
"But not for newcomers. You want people to be talking about your performance not your preference."
"You're a publicist; it's your job to spin it. If they deviate from talking about my performance then set them back on course."
Ashley sighed. She wasn't going to win this one. And if Rachel Berry wasn't so damn talented, she'd be worried that she was making a mistake in coming out so soon. But if anyone could win people over on talent alone, it was Rachel. Ashley nodded, accepting Rachel's decision and then quietly walked back out.
As soon as Rachel was alone in her dressing room, she shot Quinn a text.
From Rachel: Hey beautiful, have I told you
today how lucky I am to call you mine?
Quinn smiled when she received Rachel's text. They'd been together for nearly 7 years and Rachel kept her promise to compliment her every day. But today, she didn't want Rachel to be the one sending compliments. This was Rachel's day. She knew Rachel would get here someday, she believed in the singer since before they even got together.
Spending the four years of college apart had been tough for them, but they made it through. The distance, as short as it was, was painful; although they were able to make phone sex into an art form. They also made sure to see each other in person as much as possible. Quinn tried driving up to visit Rachel at least once a month (choosing to go there since there would be no parents around) and Rachel came back to Lima for every holiday and on summer breaks.
After their college graduation, Rachel began making trips to New York City to audition for musicals. She took lots of off Broadway roles to pad her resume, but it kept them apart for long stretches of time. She'd always come back home while on hiatus between shows. But it was never long enough. However, both understood that they were working toward a common goal. It had been Rachel's lifelong dream to be on Broadway, but it was Quinn's desire to guarantee that no matter what Rachel would get there.
While Rachel was busy in New York, (though Quinn always made it out to each show's opening performance with flowers in hand) Quinn worked on her own musical career. She had been playing in Nicole's piano recitals every fall for the last 6 years. She had also continued with her own composing and song writing. She is set to release her first CD next month. It's a compilation called, "Duets" featuring the talents of her former New Directions teammates singing original songs with her, and she's proud of how it turned out. She's especially excited that they included the bonus track of Rachel singing Quinn's first original song, "A Place For Me," as she harmonized with her girlfriend.
They were both becoming successful in their professional lives and their personal lives couldn't be going better (They both moved to New York three months ago, sharing an apartment in the village). Also on the home front, Quinn and her mother have a wonderful relationship, and she and her sister, Fran, have gotten to spend some more time together ever since Fran moved back home following her divorce last year. Quinn and Beth are doing quite well. At 8 years old, Beth is aware of what Quinn is to her and they have a strong relationship. She attends all of Beth's soccer games. (Apparently Beth is athletic, and would rather not sing or cheer-to the chagrin of both her mothers.)
Quinn is also happy with how Rachel and Shelby's relationship has been improving. They always had a lot further to go than Quinn did with Judy, but they are both determined to make a relationship of some kind work. Shelby is actually taking Beth to see Rachel's show tonight. Speaking of Rachel's show, she completely forgot to reply to her girlfriend…
From Quinn: I'm the lucky one, Rach. I'm so proud of you!
From Rachel: Are you still meeting everyone at the airport?
From Quinn: Ya, they're due in 30 minutes, I'm already here waiting.
From Rachel: I still can't believe how many were able to make it.
From Quinn: They'd all be here if they could :)
From Rachel: Thanks for saying that :)
From Quinn: No need to thank me,
it's the truth!
From Rachel: And dinner after, to celebrate?
From Quinn: And after that, home to celebrate ;)
From Rachel: Quinn! We'll have guests…
From Quinn: Damn, I knew we should have
soundproofed our new bedroom :(
From Rachel: They could always get a hotel room…
From Quinn: And that is what I'll tell them when I
pick them up!
From Rachel: As much as I would love to talk,
I have to go to hair and make up now :(
From Quinn: Well, I'll see you after.
Break a leg!
From Rachel: Thanks.
From Quinn: Love you.
From Rachel: I love you too, Quinn.
Quinn smiled at Rachel's last text. No matter how often the brunette said those words to her, Quinn always loved hearing them. Which is why she wanted to find time alone to talk to the Berry men when they arrived, she had something she wanted to ask them…
Rachel just finished performing in her first Broadway musical, and the fact that it was starring as Maria in West Side Story made the taste of success that much sweeter. The show went off without a hitch, not that Rachel ever believed it would go otherwise. She was once again in her dressing room, having just gotten out of hair and make up again. She was changing into something nice for her special dinner tonight.
She was excited to be sharing this night with her dads, Shelby and Beth, Judy, Puck and Kurt, and most importantly, Quinn. As much as she looked forward to seeing her friends and family, she sort of hoped to do her own celebrating with Quinn. They got here together; the blonde never gave up on her. She knows it wasn't easy on them the last 6 years, but she wouldn't change a day of it. She loved her girlfriend. Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the dressing room door.
"Just a second, I need to finish getting dressed!" She called out, before wincing at the over-share.
"If you didn't, it'd save us some time!" Quinn called flirtatiously from the other side of the door.
Rachel ran to the door and immediately unlocked and opened it.
"Damn." Quinn replied taking in a mostly dressed diva. "I was hoping you'd at least be topless." She replied with a smirk.
"That can be arranged, Ms. Fabray." Rachel purred as she pulled the blonde inside and locked the door behind them.
They began making out vigorously, as if they hadn't seen each other in months instead of mere hours. Quinn dropped her bouquet of lilies on the ground along with most of their clothes. "We can't be long though" Rachel managed to moan between kisses "they'll be waiting for us."
"Let them wait." Quinn demanded as she reclaimed her girlfriend's undivided attention with her lips. Then pulling away, she added. "I've got something I've waited long enough to ask you."
Rachel looked frustrated when Quinn permanently separated them in search of something in her discarded clothes. Rachel tapped her foot impatiently. "If you aren't going to ask me something, could you get back over here? I can think of plenty of things I'd rather be doing than talking."
Quinn smirked at Rachel's assertiveness, and sighed in relief when she found what she was looking for. From her place, already on her hands and knees on the floor, she rose so she was on bended knee looking up at her girlfriend. It only took a moment for Rachel to realize what was happening and tears began filling her eyes. "Oh, Quinn! I can't believe…"
She was cut off by Quinn clearing her throat and raising an eyebrow. "Are you going to let me do this, or start one of your ramblings?" Quinn smirked again when Rachel quickly shut her mouth and made a show with her hand of 'zipping' her lips closed. "Thank you."
Quinn suddenly became nervous. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, saying a silent prayer that she'd get through this without blubbering like a baby. As she slowly let the air out of her lungs, she opened her eyes. The sight of Rachel watching her silently, patience covering her features, was all the motivation she needed to continue.
"Rachel, baby, I have loved you since I was 18. We've been through a lot together, and I always get through it because I have you. Even when we weren't together, before we were really friends, you were always there for me. And I know without a doubt that I want you beside me for the rest of my life. If you'll have me." She hadn't stopped looking into Rachel's adoring brown orbs. "These last several years with you have been the happiest of my life, I didn't know what love was until I let myself know you. Rachel Barbara Berry, you are the most beautiful person I have ever known. Inside and out. Would you do the honor of marrying me?"
"Yes. Quinn, always yes!" Rachel attacked her girlfriend in an embrace, bringing them both crashing to the floor.
"And before you ask, I got your dads' blessing when I picked them up today."
Rachel grinned in response before she claimed her fiancée with her lips, placing open mouthed kisses across her jawline, on her neck and then sucked on her earlobe before whispering "I am so in love with you Quinn Fabray, forever." Quinn moaned as Rachel's kisses made their way back down Quinn's neck and further south until they reached their favorite destination.
They christened Rachel's dressing room that night. It wasn't the first time they lost themselves in one of Rachel's dressing rooms, and it certainly wouldn't be their last…
THE END :)
A/N: Well, this is it! I wasn't sure how to finish this, so I hope you approve. I knew I wanted Rachel on Broadway and for them to get engaged, the rest is what it is :)
Thanks for reading, I hope you review and just let me know what you've thought about the story. Take care.
Also, I was considering a sequel picking up where this ends and taking us until the wedding night. That is if anyone would be interested in that, otherwise I won't waste my time.
In the meantime, I am working on a request for a story that I hope to post within the next few days. I hope you'll all take the time to read it. Until then…
Somewhere (There's a Place for Us) from West Side Story