Hey everyone! Hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving. I know I did :) Thanks for all your support of the last chapter. I appreciate it. Hope you enjoy this chapter and review if I should keep going!
Chapter 3: Tour or No Tour?
"Rachel?"
Rachel looked up and saw Rupert. "Have you given the tour any more thought?" Rupert asked.
Rachel sighed. She wanted to do the tour, but at the same time, she didn't want to. "I'm thinking about it."
"Well, let me kno by the end of next week," Rupert said. "Because if you don't want to do it, I'm going to need to open auditions."
"Okay," Rachel said. She sat down with the other understudies to watch the main cast perform.
"So, that was about tour?" Jean Baptiste asked Rachel.
"Yeah," Rachel said.
"He asked me about playing Nick," Jean said. "I don't think I can right now. I'm in school and I just want to mostly focus on that."
"Yeah, that's what my thing is," Rachel said. "I like the idea of tour, but I want to finish up my degree, and I just got married, so I do want some time to be with Finn."
"I get that," Taylor said. "Rupert asked me if I'd be interested, too, but I wouldn't want to go on tour. My family's here in New York and I just started going out with someone."
Both understudies Rachel was closest to were having similar thoughts and ultimately decided against it. Maybe that should have told Rachel something. "I'll give it some more thought."
"There will be other opportunities," Taylor reminded Rachel. "If you want to finish up your degree and be with Finn, I'm sure you'll get another opportunity to be on a tour in the future."
x
Rachel got home from rehearsal and saw Kurt, Santana, Mercedes and Tina watching Dancing With The Stars. She greeted her friends before going into her and Finn's bedroom, where Finn was doing homework. "Hey," she greeted Finn, giving him a kiss.
Finn looked up from his homework. "Hey. What's up?"
Rachel decided that now would be a good time to talk to Finn about the call from Rupert. "My director called."
Finn nodded. "What's up?"
"Funny Girl's going on tour," Rachel said.
Finn looked up. "Wow... that's amazing."
Rachel gulped. She might as well give Finn more details. "It would mean me going away for a while."
Finn looked confused now. "For how long?"
Rachel sighed. "Two years."
Finn put his face in his hands. "Oh, Rachel... I don't want you to be gone that long... but this could be a big opportunity for you."
"What do you mean?" Rachel asked.
"You should probably do it," Finn said, looking a bit sad.
"But Finn... I'd probably only see you every few months if I did it," Rachel told her husband.
"I know," Finn said. "But Fanny's your dream role, right?"
"Right," Rachel said.
"You've always wanted to be the star of a Broadway show," Finn said. "This is going to be off tour but it's still a Broadway show."
Rachel could see Finn looked sad. "Finn, if you don't want me to go, I won't go."
"I'd miss you," Finn said. "But we can talk on the phone every day and Skype and whatnot."
"Well..." Rachel began. She still wasn't sure. She was newly married and she wanted to be with her husband. She wanted to get her degree.
Finn's phone went off. "That's my reminder. I have to get to the diner. I'll see you when I get home, okay?" He gave Rachel a kiss on the cheek and then left.
Rachel sighed as she watched Finn leave, then went into the living room to join Kurt and the girls. "Finally, you're here!" Kurt said.
"Mike's going to be a pro dancer on this show one day," Tina said. "I know it."
Rachel smiled to herself.
"What's eating at you, Berry?" Santana asked.
"I was asked to go on tour," Rachel said. "As Fanny Brice, with Funny Girl."
"For someone who's gotten a big offer, you don't look very happy," Mercedes commented.
"I don't know if I am," Rachel said. "It would be for two years."
"Two years?" Kurt asked.
"Yeah," Rachel said. "I just... I don't know. I want to finish up my degree. NYADA's REALLY hard to get into. I almost didn't get in once. If I left after how hard I worked to get in, I doubt they'd take me back."
"They didn't take me the first time, and I got a second chance," Kurt said.
"Yeah," Rachel said. "But you didn't mess up your first audition like I did."
"What does Finn say about the situation?" Mercedes asked.
"He thinks I should do it because it's a good opportunity," Rachel said. "But I really don't know. There's a difference between dating and being married. I don't want to be away from my husband for two years."
"Finn thinks you should do it though, right?" Santana asked.
"He does," Rachel said.
"Well... if he thinks you can handle being away from each other for two years, maybe you should give the tour a shot," Mercedes suggested.
Rachel didn't know if that was a good idea. She turned to Kurt, the only other person with a husband rather than a boyfriend or girlfriend. "What if Vogue wanted you to leave Blaine for two years?"
"Well... I'd see if he could come with me," Kurt said.
"Maybe Finn could go on tour with you," Tina said.
"No," Rachel thought out loud. "I'm not making Finn change his whole life for me. He just got a job directing a glee club. He's at an Ivy League school and those are really hard to get into once, let alone twice. He's really happy here, too."
"Have you talked to anyone else at the show?" Kurt asked.
"Yeah," Rachel said. "I talked to Jean and Taylor. Neither of them want to go on tour for similar reasons."
"Well, maybe now isn't the time," Santana said.
Rachel nodded. She knew that she eventually wanted to play Fanny Brice, but if she had this many hesitations now, then maybe now she shouldn't.
Rachel's phone went off with a text from Shelby. "Can you maybe come over a little earlier tomorrow?" the text read. Since Shelby was having chemo tomorrow, Rachel would be going over to help out with Beth.
Rachel replied to the text. "Sure." Maybe Shelby would be a good person to talk to. After all, she'd been in similar situations with Broadway and her career.
x
Finn arrived home after a longer day at the school. He'd had the glee club do a few songs in practice, and so far he was happy with how things looked, but he'd gotten word from the school principal: the school wanted the glee club to perform at the assembly next week.
After hearing that, Finn felt his nerves building up. Sure, he'd thought the glee club sounded good when they practiced in the choir room, but he wasn't sure if he was ready for them to perform yet. It was clear from their practices that their old director hadn't been much of a director and that competition setlists had been thrown together. However, they'd told Finn that this year, they wanted to win and they were going to work hard to win. That was something, right?
Finn thought back to the first time he performed with the New Directions. He remembered how nervous he was. He also remembered the inappropriate song that Rachel had selected for them to perform. He knew he didn't want his kids performing a song like that. He got out his phone and dialed Mr. Schuester's number. Who better than to give him advice than the person who'd inspired him to become a teacher and glee club director in the first place?
Mr. Schue picked up his phone right away. "Finn!"
"Hey, Will," Finn said, still getting used to calling his teacher by his first name. "How's LA?"
"LA's very warm," Mr. Schuester said. "It's beautiful out here."
"Well, I'm glad you guys are doing well," Finn said. "How are Emma and Daniel?"
"Daniel's great, he's crawling," Mr. Schue said. "Emma and I are looking forward to the birth of child number two."
"I bet," Finn said. "Though I doubt this kid can have godparents as awesome as Daniel's."
Mr. Schue laughed. "So, how are you?"
"I'm great," Finn said. "I was actually calling you because the school wants me to have the glee club perform at an assembly next week and I'm trying to figure out what song for them to sing."
"Finn, do you remember what song you originally were going to do at the assembly before Rachel went behind my back?" Mr. Schue asked.
Finn laughed to himself at Rachel's rebellion. "Yeah. You wanted us to do that disco song you sung at Nationals when you were in high school."
"Yeah," Mr. Schue said. "I know that disco's gone out, but I wanted you guys to do that song because it was special to me. It was a song that I had special connections with."
Finn began thinking. "So you think I should have them do a song that I have a special connection to?"
"Yeah," Mr. Schue said. "That would be a perfect way for you to begin your teaching career."
"I'll think about that," Finn said. "Thanks, Mr. Schue."
"How's it going?" Mr. Schue asked.
"It's going well," Finn said. "Sometimes it can be tough though. This is the first time I've been the leader of a glee club where I didn't already know the kids and I'm not much older than they are..."
"Finn, you're perfect for this job," Mr. Schue said. "I saw how good you were with the kids at McKinley. These kids are so lucky to have you."
"Thanks," Finn said softly. "So, how's your new glee club?"
"It's been an adjustment," Mr. Schue said. "This group isn't New Directions."
"What do you mean?" Finn asked.
"They don't have the special bond that New Directions have," Mr. Schue admitted. "It's about winning here at this school, not just with the choir, but with everything. I do miss New Directions."
"I bet," Finn said. "Kylie told Rachel that April and Holly are the new directors."
"They told me," Mr. Schue said. "I'm sure they'll be good at it. April was on Broadway with Crossrhodes, and Holly's really good with the kids."
"That's true," Finn said.
"Finn, I hear Daniel's up from his nap, and Emma's out shopping now, so I've got to get to him," Mr. Schue said. "We'll need to talk again soon, okay?"
"Yeah, definitely," Finn said. He hung up the phone and thought for a few minutes. Then the perfect song came to mind.
x
"Thanks for coming over," Shelby said to Rachel as Rachel finished cooking dinner. "So, how've you been?"
"I've been fine," Rachel said. "Now that school's back in session I'm busier than ever."
"I bet," Shelby said. "How's it feel to be an upperclassman?"
"It feels so weird," Rachel admitted.
"I'm sure it does," Shelby said. "At this time next year, you'll be a senior in college, Kylie's going to be a senior in high school and Beth will be in kindergarten."
"That is true," Rachel said. "I remember when Quinn was pregnant with Beth."
"Yeah, me too," Shelby said. "I remember I was worried it was too late for us and you told me that Quinn had a baby... and then I went to the hospital and talked to them about adopting Beth."
"I'm glad this is where Beth ended up," Rachel told Shelby. "I remember at first she was going to go to Mr. Schue and his crazy ex-wife. Mr. Schue's a great dad, but his ex wife... she was just... nuts."
"I never met her, but I've heard about her," Shelby said. "I actually talked to him on the phone the other day."
"Oh, how is he?" Rachel asked.
"He's doing great," Shelby said. "Little Daniel is adorable, isn't he?"
"He is," Rachel agreed. "And they have another little one on the way."
"I'm so happy for them," Shelby said.
"Me too," Rachel said. She decided she'd tell Shelby about the tour offer. "So, Funny Girl's going on tour."
"Tour?" Shelby asked.
"Yeah," Rachel said. "They want me to play Fanny on the tour."
"What do you want to do?" Shelby asked.
"I'm not really sure," Rachel admitted. "It's just... I'm still in school, and I just got married..."
"What does Finn think you should do?" Shelby asked.
"He said that it's a big opportunity for me," Rachel said. "It is, but the timing feels wrong..."
"Well, Rachel, let me tell you something," Shelby said. "I chose my career over family for the longest time and I was unhappy for the longest time. I ended up being able to adopt Beth and reconnect with you and Kylie, but that might not have happened."
"Finn says to go on tour, but I can tell he doesn't want me to be gone for two years," Rachel admitted.
"Remember, you live in New York," Shelby said. "There's going to be lots of Broadway productions for you to be in."
"Yeah," Rachel said. "I'll give it some more thought, but I am leaning toward not going."
x
Finn had done some thinking and he had come up with the perfect song for the glee club to perform. When he arrived, he couldn't wait to tell them. "So, Finn, have you picked out a song for the assembly yet?" Josh asked as Finn arrived.
"I have," Finn said. "It's a song that's very special to me."
"Tell us about it then," Caitlin said.
"This was the first song I ever organized the glee club I was in during high school in performing," Finn said. "This song really helped us find our confidence and grow into our own. It was also the first song my wife and I sang together that we actually got to finish."
"Awwww," Caitlin said. "So what's the song?"
Finn smiled at the kids. "Don't Stop Believing by Journey."
x
A few days later, it was time for the big debut of Finn's glee club. The group had voted to call themselves Choral Inspiration last week, and as Finn listened to them perform, he was pretty confident in the pairs he'd chosen to sing together and the group he'd gotten lined up. This year was probably going to be a great year.
Josh: Just a small town girl
Livin' in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin' anywhere
Caitlin: Just a city boy
Born and raised in south Detroit
He took the midnight train goin' anywhere
Josh: A singer in a smoky room
Caitlin: A smell of wine and cheap perfume
Josh and Caitlin: For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on and on and on
Mark and Bridget: Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Scott and Miranda: Streetlights people
Living just to find emotion
Hiding somewhere in the night
Caitlin: Working hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill
Caitlin and Josh: Payin' anything to roll the dice just one more time
Rebecca: Some will win, some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Andy: Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on
Paul and Eva: Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Garrett and Heather: Their shadows searching in the night
Choral Inspiration: Streetlight people
Living just to find emotion
Hiding somewhere in the night
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlights people
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlights people
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlights people
Don't stop!
"Great job, you guys!" Finn said as the group came backstage. "I think you're going to do a great job this season."
"Yes you are!" a familiar voice said. Finn turned and saw Rachel coming in.
"Rachel!" Finn exclaimed. "You're here!"
"I couldn't miss your glee club's first performance," Rachel said.
Finn smiled. "Thanks so much for coming."
"So how were we?" Caitlin asked.
"Finn said you were good, didn't he?" Rachel asked.
"Yeah, but you're on Broadway," Caitlin said.
"I thought you guys were fantastic," Rachel said.
"See?" Josh said to Caitlin. "Now do you believe we were good?"
"Oh, I know we were good!" Caitlin said.
x
"It means a lot to me that you came tonight," Finn said to Rachel as they walked home.
"Of course I came," Rachel said. "The kids sounded really good."
"Thanks," Finn said. "I'm really going to miss you if you go on tour." He figured he might as well say it.
"Finn, I didn't say that I'm going on tour," Rachel said.
"But you should," Finn said. "It's such a big opportunity for you." He didn't want her to go, but he was worried she'd resent him if she told him that. He thought back to his conversation about the situation with Blaine, Sam and Artie earlier.
x
"Rachel's been invited to go on tour with Funny Girl," Finn told the guys as they played xbox.
"For someone whose wife was just given a big career opportunity, you don't sound very happy," Artie said.
"It's not that..." Finn said. These were his friends. He could tell them how he felt. "Is it bad that I don't want her to be gone for two years?"
"Two years is a long time," Sam said.
"Yeah, exactly," Finn said. "I'm proud of her, but I wish she'd instead just stay here. I'm sure she'll eventually be promoted to the main role on Broadway." He sighed and looked at his friends. "I know I sound selfish."
"Hey, it's nothing to be ashamed of," Blaine said. "If Kurt was leaving for two years, I probably wouldn't like the idea of that, either."
"Yeah, since you're married too, you know what it's like," Finn said. "Don't you just want to be around him all the time?"
"Yeah," Blaine admitted.
"Long distance isn't easy," Artie said. "Kitty and I are managing, but I miss her so much. I just keep telling myself she'll be here in a year and we call and skype each other every day."
"Do you wish she were here?" Finn asked.
"Of course," Artie said. "I take every opportunity to see her."
"Finn, you should really talk to Rachel about how you feel," Sam said. "Mercedes told me Rachel's hesitant about going on tour because she'd miss you and she wants to finish her degree."
x
"Are you okay?" Rachel asked Finn.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Finn said. "Are you excited for all of us to have dinner together today?"
"Yeah," Rachel said. "I always love it when we do that."
"Me too," Finn said as they arrived at the apartment. They went inside, where the other New Yorkers were already waiting. "Finn's glee club sounded amazing today!" Rachel declared.
"That's great," Kurt said.
"I have a video if you guys want to see," Rachel said.
"A video?" Finn asked, feeling himself starting to blush. Rachel would do something like that.
"Yes, a video!" Rachel said, getting out her camera and connecting it to the TV. As the group sat in front of the TV, they heard a knock on the door and Rachel went to answer it. Finn turned and saw Harmony on the other end. "Hey," Rachel said. "What are you doing here?"
Harmony came into the apartment. Rachel noticed that she had a suitcase. "I got your address from Unique," Harmony said. "I'm moving in."
Chapter 4 preview: What will Finchel, Klaine and Santana think of Harmony inviting herself into the apartment? Rachel decides what to do about tour - but will there be tension between her and Finn about it?
SONG: Don't Stop Believing by Journey
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