Note: Back to Rachel now, although Puck and Quinn will be mentioned more from now on. I'm getting a little long-winded so more things will be happening and less time passing from here on out. I tried to set this chapter just days after last night's episode.
Rachel hurried into rehearsal. She hoped that it wouldn't be like it was the day she'd found out about the baby, constantly rehearsing "My Man"-she loved the song but like so many of the songs she had sung them in the past with Finn heavily on her mind. Every time she sang "My Man" she was back in the school auditorium with Jesse and Mr. Shue auditioning for the nationals solo telling them she wasn't singing it for anyone in particular even though she was singing it for Finn. Now even more than then.
"Rachel, there you are good! We're running 'Don't Rain on My Parade' everyone!" The director said as she came in.
Rachel took her spot. This was going to be another hard one and she hadn't even realized it. She closed her eyes and began:
Don't tell me not to live,
Just sit and putter,
Life's candy and the sun's A ball of butter.
Don't bring around a cloud To rain on my parade!
(in her head she could see Finn smiling)
Don't tell me not to fly-
I've simply got to.
If someone takes a spill,
It's me and not you.
Who told you you're allowed To rain on my parade!
I'll march my band out,
I'll beat my drum,
And if I'm fanned out,
Your turn at bat, sir.
At least I didn't fake it.
Hat, sir, I guess I didn't make it!
But whether I'm the rose Of sheer perfection,
Or freckle on the nose Of life's complexion,
The cinder or the shiny apple of its eye,
I gotta fly once,
I gotta try once,
Only can die once, right, sir?
Ooh, life is juicy, Juicy, and you see I gotta have my bite, sir!
Get ready for me, love, cause I'm a comer,
I simply gotta march,
My heart's a drummer.
Don't bring around a cloud To rain on my parade!
I'm gonna live and live now,
Get what I want-I know how,
One roll for the whole she bang,
One throw, that bell will go clang,
Eye on the target and wham
One shot, one gun shot, and BAM
Hey, Mister Arnstein, Here I am!
(just like during her audition with "Don't Stop Believing" she could actually see everyone from their very first regionals coming out to join her on the stage and her smile got bigger)
I'll march my band out,
I will beat my drum,
And if I'm fanned out,
Your turn at bat, sir,
At least I didn't fake it.
Hat, sir, I guess I didn't make it.
Get ready for me, love, 'cause I'm a comer,
I simply gotta march,
My heart's a drummer.
Nobody, no, nobody Is gonna rain on my parade!
As soon as she finished the last long note she heard hooting and whistling from the back of the theater, she knew those voices! She shielded her eyes against the lights and there they were, Puck and Quinn arm and arm!
"They didn't want to let us in but Puck sweet talked someone." Quinn smiled as they came closer
"Well that was after Quinn wouldn't flash her boobs-"Puck said
"Shut up Puck!" Quinn said "He's joking of course."
"Wh-What are you two doing here? Of course I'm happy to see you-but I've got rehersals for at least a few more hours, would you mind sight seeing or something? I can send you to the diner we all work at-Santana's there now working." Rachel said happily
"Relax, of course we can, but we wanted to see you first." Quinn said
As she said it she gently placed a hand on Rachel's belly and was met by a firm kick
"Seems Finn JR is happy you're here too." Rachel said quietly before engulfing Quinn in a big hug.
"Ok Rachel we're going to let you get back to rehearsal and get something to eat and we'll see you back at your place later tonight." Puck said and led Quinn out of the theater with an arm around her shoulders. Rachel wondered what that was all about but smiled as she watched them, it seemed like something was going on there or was that all the pregnancy hormones?
Rehearsal was grueling, after going over "Don't Rain On My Parade" what seemed like a thousand times the director wanted to hear her rendition of "I'm the Greatest Star" which thankfully brought back memories of Kurt's audition for "West Side Story" their senior year but the first thing she thought of was the night before that audition when Kurt had described his plans for his audition...
"And of course I have permission from Rachel to do it so it will be fantastic!" Kurt said breathlessly
"DUDE, are you sure that you shouldn't go with a more uh, masculine song if you're going for Tony?" Finn said with Rachel perched in his lap happily.
"Finn as usual you just don't know!" Kurt said
"Ok, I think it's great but then I'm your brother...I think everything you do is great." Finn said
Rachel nudged him in the ribs and pouted.
"Rach, you KNOW already that if you're singing it I love it. Well except for-"
"IF YOU SAY 'RUN JOEY RUN' I WILL MAKE SURE YOU WEAR THAT DINNER PLATE!" Rachel warned.
The smile played on her face as they ran through the songs.
"Rachel, we're good with you today, besides you are probably getting tired. Just so you know we're going to do costume fittings tomorrow, no run-throughs, I'd like to get your costumes squared away before you get too big but allow for some room." The director told her.
"Thanks, the doctor is still very pleased with the way things are progressing, I've been taking it easier during my dance classes at NYADA but the doctor says that so far all of the dance classes and being here doesn't seem to be doing any harm." Rachel smiled
"Do you know what you're having yet?" The producer asked her warmly
"A boy, his father would have been the proudest man on earth, he was very much a masculine person. He was our school's quarterback and he played the drums and had the most amazing singing voice. He wanted to go to PACE but didn't get in and decided to be a teacher. Sorry, sometimes when I get going I can't stop, it helps me to keep going on." Rachel said
"No worries Rachel, we're here for you no matter what." The director said patting her on the shoulder.
Rachel left the theater feeling good. It wasn't often that she got to talk to strangers about Finn, sometimes she sat on her bed or on the fire escape and talked to "baby Finn" as she had taken to calling the baby, telling him all of her stories, and of course she had many. She told him that he was destined to be an amazing singer with a wonderful voice (after all how could he not with her and Finn as parents) and that he was going to have Finn's eyes and amazing smile. He would be an amazing combination of the two of them. It was when she was imagining him that she felt the best. Whenever she let Finn into her thoughts she would quickly direct them to baby Finn hoping that wherever "big Finn" was now he would know and help her. She still talked to Finn too, but just like when he was alive it was mostly her talking.
On her way out of the theater her cell phone rang.
"Rachel, I'm glad I caught you, I need help with our nationals set list!" Mr. Shue's voice said over the phone.