Author's Note: Back to the beginning, folks! Well, not really. But we do have Artie and Sugar again, this time through the eyes of Sugar. And guess what, I finally know how I want to end this series! Get excited folks. It's gonna be fun. Leave a review!
Sugar flipped through Artie's movie collection, wondering which ones she could sneak into her suitcase without her boyfriend noticing.
"What are you doing?"
She looked up from her position on the ground, her baggy sweater falling off one of her shoulders. Her black leotard stretched over her knees and as Artie stared at her, she realized she forgot to change after work.
"Packing."
Artie rolled into the room, staring at the suitcase on the bed, then back at his girlfriend. "Are you, are you mad?"
Sugar chuckled. "No, of course not honey!" She grabbed the letter off the trunk and handed it to him. "Daddy wants to see me."
The film maker pulled out the parchment and gave it a quick scan. He looked over at her, frowning. "How long will you be gone?"
"A few days, maybe a week. He wasn't specific on what he wants to talk about, but I have a few ideas." She grabbed Breakfast at Tiffany's off the shelf and placed it on her pile. She heard his wheelchair roll over closer to her.
"Do you want me to come with you?"
"Artie," she sighed. "I really would, but we both know you can't. If I bring you, Daddy will think you're influencing me to disobey him. Plus you're busy with work. I don't want to distract you."
He smirked. "You kinda do that whether you're here or not. You are influential."
Sugar rolled her eyes. "See what I mean? How am I supposed to want to leave you when you're so damn sweet?"
"Sweeter than sugar?"
She lightly smacked his knee. "Behave you!"
Artie tugged on her hand and pulled her onto his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning her head against his. "As long as you come back, I'm cool with however long you have to stay away. It's your dad after all."
"I know, I just wish it wasn't so awkward between the two of us. Since I decided to stay here, we haven't spoken once. I think he hates me," she whispered.
Artie lifted his head and kissed her cheek. "Sug, he couldn't possibly hate you. You're his kid."
She kept quiet, curling her legs up closer as Artie held her tight. He didn't understand. No matter how many times she tried, telling Artie her relationship with her father wasn't the best never seemed to sink in. Her diary was filled with pages of the years of neglect. Okay, it wasn't exactly neglect. He did give her anything she wanted, and he tried to be there for her, but it never seemed to work out. He'd get called away on a business meeting, or something more important would come up, and she would be left at the restaurant, or the movies, or the father-daughter dance, alone. He never beat her, but sometimes, she wished he did. It would be easier for her to explain what was wrong.
I wish Mom was still around.
"When's your flight?"
"Daddy's chartered a private plane for seven tomorrow morning."
"That means we've still got time to watch a few movies. Maybe have some popcorn?"
Sugar smiled. "Just the two of us?"
"Duh, I'm not letting the others cramp our style." Sugar laughed. "Besides, Puck and Rachel are house hunting. They're too busy for movies right now."
When the pair first heard about the marriage, Artie was shocked into silence. His jaw hung open for so long, she was sure when she kissed him next she would swallow a fly. Sugar couldn't stop crying as she hugged Rachel. They never got along too well when they were apart of Glee, but since coming to New York, the diva had been so sweet and the fact that she had married the love of her life just . . . Sugar couldn't contain her happiness. And slight jealousy. Just a bit. That jealousy disappeared when she was given the chance to become a bridesmaid in the wedding though.
Sugar slid off his lap and put in the first Lord of the Rings. This was the one movie she didn't mind Artie criticising for its cinematic faults. Artie rolled over to the bed then lifted himself out of the chair and settled on the plain, brown sheets. She wished he would let her redecorate, but after he reminded her they would be moving a lot with both of their careers, spending such money seemed frivolous. Especially since Daddy hadn't be paying the bills since June.
Sugar went into the messy kitchen and started the popcorn as the beginning credits started rolling. Artie hummed along to the intro and Sugar chuckled as her ponytail came undone. One day, this would all be in the past. She wouldn't have to worry about her father anymore. Everything will be okay.
"Baby, you coming?"
"Just a second!"
Sugar saw the sign with her name printed in black sharpie. With her pink suitcase in hand she walked over to the limo driver. "You Ms. Motta?" She nodded. He took her suitcase. "Come with me. Your father's eager to see you."
Once inside the black limo, Sugar poured herself a glass of champagne and finished it just as the rolled up to McKinley High School.
"Pull over," she said.
The driver with a thick mustache glanced back at her. "He said no stops, Miss."
"Pull over," she demanded. "I won't be longer than a few minutes."
The man sighed and did as he was told. When she exited the back, her white leather jacket in hand, everyone stared. Not many people showed up to school in limos these days, or so it seemed. Sugar raised her head high, her straightened hair shaking in the breeze, and she headed inside. She walked past the principal's office and was surprised to see Ms. Sylvester was still there. The past coach glanced up and, upon spotting the girl, took off her glasses and stared. Sugar remembered being so scared of that woman. She remembered the slushies given on her command. Sugar gave a nod, then kept on as the woman's eyes stared at her back.
Mr. Schue had the same office he always had, and thankfully he wasn't busy with a stupid. She knocked on the already open door, and when he looked up to see her there, he smiled.
"Sugar, what a surprise!" The young dancer grinned as she stepped into his office. He stood up and gave her a hug as soon as she was close enough. "It's so good to see you. I thought you were living in New York now?"
"I was, I am, but Daddy called me back to speak with him."
Unlike Artie, Mr. Schuester knew the full picture. Or at least what Sugar chose to confess to him when he found her crying after glee club. He wasn't the best teacher, and sometimes he wasn't even good at getting glee club together, but he was a good man, and he reminded her of what a father should be. Will guided her to sit down across from him as he took his seat again. On his desk she saw a picture of Emma and his two children, both gingers. The boy, Alan, had William's curly hair and chin, while their daughter Chloe had her mother's big eyes and sweet smile. He must be so happy to finally have a family.
"Did Artie come with you?"
"I told him it was better if he stayed home. I . . . I know I have to do this on my own."
William nodded. "Sugar, if there's anything you need, all you have to do is ask."
She smiled. "Thanks Mr. Schue. I was supposed to go straight home, but I just wanted to come in and see you. See the old room and everyone. I miss it. Sometimes I even wish I could go back and start it all over again," she chuckled.
"Me too," he said with a smile. "Those were some of my best years with you kids." Since Sugar's group had graduated, New Directions have won nationals every year, but she knew what he meant. Without the old group, it would never be the same.
They talked a few minutes about Will's family, how Emma was doing, and for a while Sugar forgot to be so scared of her meeting with her father. After ten minutes, she got up and hugged Will again. "I'll see you at Rachel's wedding, right?"
Schuester nodded. "I convinced Puck to let us sing, so I will certainly be there."
Sugar said goodbye then left his office. As she walked the nearly deserted hallways, she wondered if she would still be living in New York if she could start over. I never would have broken up with Artie that first time. And she certainly never would have let her father sell her apartment in Paris.
The mansion was the same as always; marble pillars, perfectly trimmed hedges, cobblestone walkway. She saw a maid in the window giving the white carpet in the living room a vacuum. When the limo stopped again, Sugar got out and let the man carry her luggage. The door was opened by a new servant. He was older than the last, quieter too, but he took her where she needed to be. The marble stairs twisted up onto the second level where her father's office lay. The woman stood outside the door after the servant left. She raised her fist and gave a quick knock.
"Come in."
Sugar twisted the knob and entered into the brightly lit room. Her father's desk had been moved so his back was to the fireplace. She saw he had a new picture hanging over the mantle, one of Sugar. She squinted. It's my graduation photo! He hadn't even come to the ceremony.
Her father's hair had greyed since the last time they spoke. He wore his glasses, perched on the edge of his nose, and he was in a robe instead of one of his tailored suits. When he raised his head, she saw her own eyes staring back at her. She clasped her hands tightly in front of her, feeling the silver shirt tickle her fingers.
"Hi Daddy," she said quietly.
The older man leaned back in his chair, folding his hands over his protruding belly. "You're a little late."
"I stopped at the high school. For old time's sake."
He nodded. "I meant, you were supposed to be here in June."
"I know."
"At least you're here now. We can start training and-"
"Daddy, I'm not staying."
He paused. "What do you mean, you're not staying?"
"I'm a dancer, Daddy. I can't sing, and I can't act, not really, but I can dance and it's what I want to do, it's what I've always wanted to do. I don't want to run your business. I don't have the experience, or the skill, or the passion. I don't even think you do anymore." She glanced at the toes of her knee high boots. "I'm going to get a few more things from my room, then I—then I'm going home. Back to New York." She looked up at him. "I'm an assistant manager of a studio, Daddy! I've been accepted into Julliard for the fall. I've worked so hard. I want to do this my way."
His eyes narrowed. "Do you realize what you're doing? Abandoning the empire I have made for you? It's selfish, Sugar. I didn't raise you to be like that."
"You didn't raise me at all!" The room grew quiet. Sugar realized she had never yelled at her father before.
"I gave you all I could. If it wasn't enough, that's not my problem."
Sugar looked away from him. "It wasn't enough. If Mom hadn't died-"
"I'd have another child ready to take over." He stared at his papers. "But she is dead. And I only have you. Now I'm asking you to do something for me, for a change."
She shook her head. "You don't get to tell me what to do anymore, Daddy. I'm going back to New York and I'm not coming home again. You can bet on that."
When he didn't reply, she turned on her heel and headed for the door.
"You're being cut from the will. You'll have nothing once I'm gone."
She paused, her hand resting on the doorknob. "I didn't have anything when you were alive. What difference does it make?" She slammed the door on her way out. Once inside her room, she pulled out her laptop and looked for tickets back to New York leaving soon. It didn't take long before she was calling Artie
"I'll be at the airport in five hours. Come get me, please."
"Sure, Sugar. I'll be there. Are you okay?"
She got up and locked her door. "Yeah," she smiled. "I can actually breathe now." She hung up then set to work on packing up whatever was useful and would fit in Artie's apartment.
