Hi everyone! Thanks for the reviews on Chapter 9. They mean a lot to me. Quick will definitely get married sometime this season, though I don't know when yet. I'm sorry for not much Rachel in this chapter, but she'll be in the next few a lot! And so will the other gleeks! I also wanted to ask you guys something: someone left me a review saying there's been too much focus on Finchel in my stories - is that true? I do try to include others, I just feel most comfortable with Finchel. Enjoy this chapter and review if I should keep going!

Chapter 10: Opening Nights

Opening night was coming closer and closer for the musical with the glee club Finn was leading, and to say that he was nervous was an understatement. Yes, he'd been working hard with these kids, and they sounded good in rehearsals, but this was the real thing.

Finn sat in his room working on his homework when he got an alert for an incoming skype call. He looked and saw that it was Ryder, so he decided to answer the call. "Hey!"

"Hey," Ryder said. "So, are you ready for opening night?"

"I hope so," Finn said. "It's just a week away..."

"Ours is only a few days away," Ryder said. "I don't know if we're ready."

"From what you've told me, Marley and you have been doing a great job at leading the group," Finn said, trying to be reassuring.

"We're not real leaders though," Ryder said. "We're just members. April and Holly are cool... but they can just..."

Finn wished he could come for a little while to help out. But with the opening night coming up for his glee club, he couldn't take time off. "I'll give April and Holly a call, okay?"

"That sounds good," Ryder said. "Thanks, Finn."

After talking ith Ryder, Finn couldn't help but think about the group he'd begun his directing career with. It was hard to believe that the youngest kids from that group were seniors now. And opening night for them was this weekend...

Rachel came into the bedroom. "Hey honey."

"Hey babe," Finn said.

Rachel sat down. "What's up?"

Finn sighed. "I was just talking to Ryder. The glee club's pretty stressed about opening night coming up."

"Do you think maybe we could make a quick trip back to Ohio to go?" Rachel asked.

Finn had that thought in the back of his mind. He wanted to go. But could he leave his own glee club this close to their opening night? "I don't know..."

"Opening night is on a Saturday," Rachel pointed out. "And you don't have glee rehearsal then. If we drove in on Saturday, we could get back in time for your rehearsal on Monday."

Finn smiled at Rachel. "That sounds great."

"I think they'd appreciate you being there," Rachel said. "I know all of us kind of have a connection to them as former members ourselves, but you have a special bond with them. You're the one who was thier first leader."

Finn gave Rachel a kiss. "I love you, you know that?"

x

A few days later, Finn and Rachel walked through the halls of McKinley, on their way to opening night of Fiddler On The Roof. Rachel's dads had rented a car for them, and Shelby had picked it up for them, since they were too young to officially rent a car. Now they were taking a quick walk through the halls, looking around the place where they'd first really gotten to know each other.

"There's the choir room," Rachel said, pointing.

"I know," Finn said. He peered in, looking at the trophy case. "We had some great times in there."

"Yes we did," Rachel agreed.

"Finn! Rachel!" Finn and Rachel turned to see Mr. Schuester walking towards them, with Mrs. Schuester pushing a stroller close behind him.

"Hey!" Rachel said as she and Finn went to hug their former teacher and counselor.

"We weren't expecting to see you," Finn said.

"We weren't expecting to see you, either," Mr. Schue said.

"It was kind of a last minute thing," Finn said. "Ryder told me that they're really stressed about the show coming up, so we thought we'd come to support them."

"Yeah, my school has a four day weekend, so I thought we could come home and visit all our friends," Mr. Schue said. "We had lunch with Coach Beiste today, and yesterday we visited the glee club."

"How's the glee club doing?" Rachel asked. "We're in contact with the seniors and my sister, and they say that it's different now."

"Well, it does seem different," Mr. Schue admitted. "But I did talk to April and Holly about making a successful glee club."

"His glee club out in LA is fantastic," Mrs. Schuester said. "Not like you guys, of course, but they're really good."

"That's great," Finn said. "When's your Sectionals?"

"In two weeks. What about yours?" Mr. Schue asked.

"The weekend before Thanksgiving," Finn said. "We're competing against the School for the Performing Arts, but I think we might have a shot. They've been working really hard, and they're so talented."

"They are," Rachel added. "And they have a great man leading them."

"Awww," Finn said.

Daniel Schuester looked over at Finn and Rachel, as if he was wondering who they were. Mrs. Schuester picked her son up out of his stroller. "Honey, look, it's your godparents," she said.

"Hi, little guy," Rachel said softly. She smiled at Mr. and Mrs. Schuester. "He's such a cutie."

"My parents are very happy he eneded up having red hair," Mrs. Schuester said.

Finn and Rachel both laughed. "Let's get to the auditorium," Finn said. He led his wife to the auditorium, where they managed to get two seats next to their former teacher and counselor. Soon, the curtain went up for the opening number. As the lead, Ryder would be leading the number, but many of the new members of New Directions had parts in this number as well, so it would be nice for Finn and Rachel to get to hear them.

Ryder: A fiddler on the roof. Sounds crazy, no? But in our little village of Anatevka, you might say every one of us is a fiddler on the roof, trying to scratch out a pleasant, simple tune without breaking his neck. It isn't easy. You may ask, why do we stay up there if it's so dangerous? We stay because Anatevka is our home... And how do we keep our balance? That I can tell you in one word... Tradition.
Cast: Tradition, tradition... tradition
Tradition, tradition... tradition
Ryder: Because of our traditions, we've kept our balance for many, many years. Here in Anatevka we have traditions for everything... how to eat, how to sleep, even, how to wear clothes. For instance, we always keep our heads covered and always wear a little prayer shawl... This shows our constant devotion to God. You may ask, how did this tradition start? I'll tell you - I don't know. But it's a tradition... Because of our traditions, everyone knows who he is and what God expects him to do.
Boys: Who day and night
Must scramble for a living
Feed the wife and children
Say his daily prayers
And who has the right
As master of the house
To have the final word at home?
Cast: The papa, the papas... tradition
The papa, the papas... tradition
Girls: Who must know the way to make a proper home
A quiet home, a kosher home
Who must raise a family and run the home
So papa's free to read the holy book?
Cast: The mama, the mama... tradition
The mama, the mama... tradition
Boys: At three I started Hebrew school
At ten I learned a trade
I hear they picked a bride for me
I hope... she's pretty
Cast: The sons, the sons... tradition
The sons, the sons... tradition
Girls: And who does mama teach
To mend and tend and fix
Preparing me to marry
Whoever papa picks?
Cast: The daughters, the daughters... tradition
Ryder: I have five daughters!
Cast: The daughters, the daughters... tradition
Tradition
Tradition
Ryder: And in the circle of our little village, we have always had our special types. For instance, Yente, the matchmaker...
Sara: Avram, I have a perfect match for your son. A wonderful girl.
Spencer: Who is it?
Sara: Ruchel, the shoemaker's daughter.
Spencer: Ruchel? But she can hardly see. She's almost blind.
Sara: Tell the truth, Avram, is your son so much to look at? The way she sees and the way he looks, it's a perfect match.
Ryder: And Nahum, the beggar...
Roderick: Alms for the poor, alms for the poor...
Mason: Here, Reb Nahum, is one kopek.
Roderick: One kopek? Last week you geve me two kopeks.
Mason: I had a bad week.
Roderick: So, if you had a bad week, why should I suffer?
Ryder: And most important, our beloved Rabbi...
Jake: Rabbi, may I ask you a question?
Ben: Certainly, my son.
Jake: Is there a proper blessing for the Tsar?
Ben: A blessing for the tsar? Of course. May God bless and keep the Tsar... far away from us!
Ryder: And among ourselves, we get along perfectly well. Of course, there was the time when he sold him a horse, but delivered a mule, but that's all settled now. Now we live in simple peace and harmony and...
Oliver: It was a horse.
James: It was a mule.
Cast: Horse!
Mule!
Horse!
Mule!
Tradition, tradition... tradition
Tradition, tradition... tradition
Ryder: Tradition. Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as... as a fiddler on the roof!

At the end of the opening number, Finn felt his nerves go away. Even if April and Holly hadn't been the ideal directors, the glee club had still sounded amazing, and the new members had some promise. Clearly, the seniors were great leaders of the club.

At the end of the show, Finn and Rachel went to the choir room with Mr. and Mrs. Schuester. Almost right away, the glee club members saw them. "Well, look who's here," Kitty said. "I hope you reminded Artie to watch the livestreaming before you came."

"Of course we did," Finn said. "You guys were great."

"Why didn't you tell us you guys were coming?" Marley asked.

"We wanted to surprise you," Rachel said.

"Well, it's a nice surprise," Kylie said.

"You guys were great," Rachel said.

"I miss you all so much," Mr. Schue said.

"We miss you too," Jake said. "How's LA?"

"Well, it's much colder here than it is in LA," Mr. Schue said. "LA's good, but I really miss all of you."

"We miss you too, Mr. Schue," Ryder said.

April and Holly came in. "Hey, I got some tacos for everyone for a great show..." Holly began. "Well, look who's here!"

"Hi April. Hi Holly," Mrs. Schuester said.

"The kids did have a great show," Mr. Schue said. "Can I talk to you two?"

"Of course," April said as she and Holly left with Mr. Schuester.

"Guys, you were great," Finn said.

"I wonder what he has to say to them," Ryder said.

"Don't worry," Rachel said.

x

"So you guys enjoyed the show?" Artie asked Finn.

"Yeah, they were great," Finn said. He and Artie were proofreading the program for the musical in New York while they waited for the students to arrive for the dress rehearsal. "Did you guys like it livestream?"

"Yeah, we did," Artie said. "Kitty was amazing."

"They all were," Finn said. "I just hope these guys do well."

"They will," Artie told Finn. "You've been working so hard with them and they sound great."

Finn nodded. "Yeah, I hope."

A few moments later, some of the boys came in. Finn looked at the clock and realized that it was nearly time for the dress rehearsal to start. The boys were here, but there was no sign of the girls. "Where are the girls?" Finn asked.

The boys looked around the room. "I don't know," Mark said.

"Okay," Finn said. "Let's wait a little and see if they get here."

But the girls didn't come. It had been a little while, and the time that Finn had booked the auditorium for was going by. He looked at the boys. "Text the girls and ask them where they are."

The boys got out their phones, and eventually Josh looked at Finn. "You left them notes saying that rehearsal was going to be in the gym today because you couldn't get the auditorium."

Finn didn't know what Josh was talking about. "What? I didn't do that!"

"Caitlin said there was one in her locker, and that's what the other girls were saying, too..."

"That didn't happen..." Finn began. Then it came to him. Ariana must have left those notes. "Well, just tell the girls to come to the auditorium. We have to rehearse."

The girls arrived soon, and Finn got to rehearsing, but at the same time, he couldn't help but think about what Ariana had done. If she was going to do this right before a dress rehearsal, what would she do before the actual show?

Surprisingly, Ariana was cooperative during rehearsal, not complaining once about her chorus role or trying to take over the spotlight. Finn had a feeling this as because she was trying to make herself look innocent. At the end of rehearsal, Finn called Ariana over.

"I hope you were impressed by all my background work," Ariana said.

Finn wasn't going to put up with this. "So, I know about the notes you left in the other girls' lockers."

"What notes?" Ariana asked.

Finn rolled his eyes. "Don't play dumb. The notes about rehearsal being held in the gym instead of here?"

"Yeah, I got that note," Ariana said. "Why did you say rehearsal was going to be in the gym instead of here when it was here?"

Finn resisted the urge to yell. "I know you left those notes, and you know you did, too."

"You have no proof!" Ariana snapped.

"I don't," Finn said. "But I know you're not happy that I didn't cast you as Maria... and it does look suspicious."

"Hey, I'm completely happy to be a background dancer," Ariana said, faking a smile.

Clearly, this was getting Finn nowhere. "Fine. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. But this better not happen again." If something like this did happen again - he was going to talk to the school about seeing if he could ask her to leave the club. He couldn't have this kind of behavior.

"Thank you," Ariana said as she left. "See you tomorrow."

As Ariana left, Finn turned to Artie. "I just... I don't know what to do about her."

"Well, I think the best we can do is text everyone to tell them there's no changes of plans the day of the show."

Finn laughed. "Yeah, we should do that."

x

When Finn got home from rehearsal, Rachel, Kurt, Blaine and Sam were in the living room. "So, how was rehearsal?" Sam asked. "Josh was telling me that the girls got notes saying that rehearsal would be in the gym..."

"Yeah," Finn said, sitting down. "Ariana forged notes from me and put them in all the girls' lockers."

"What a psycho!" Kurt said.

"I know, right?" Finn asked.

"You shouldn't even let her be in the show!" Rachel said.

"I don't want her to," Finn sighed. "But the school will make me."

Rachel jumped up and ran to the bathroom. Finn ran after his wife and saw her throwing up in the toilet. "Are you okay?"

Rachel looked at Finn. "Don't worry. I must have just eaten something weird."

But Finn was worried. Rachel had been sick a lot lately, and her energy was low. He just hoped she was okay.

x

Opening night was here, and to Finn's relief, everyone had shown up on time and in the right place. Everyone except Ariana. He wondered what her absence meant, but since she was only in the chorus, it wouldn't effect the show very much.

Finn stood in the stands as he watched the show with Artie. Rachel, Kurt, Blaine, Sam, Santana, Tina and Mercedes were in the front row to watch. Even Harmony had come with them. Right now, it was time for the first big number of the show to start with Maria and the children. Caitlin was playing Maria, of course, and then the five oldest children were played by members of the choir, while they'd brought in a girl from the feeder elementary school named Kaylee to play the youngest child and a girl from the middle school named Ella to play the second youngest. The first few numbers had been very basic, so Finn was nervous for this one.

Caitlin: Let's start at the very beginning
A very good place to start
When you read you begin with
Kaylee: A B C
Caitlin: When you sing you begin with Do Re Me
Do Re Me
Von Trapp Children: Do Re Me
The first three notes just happen to be
Do Re Me,
Von Trapp Children: Do Re Me
Caitlin: Do Re Me Fa So La Ti
Let's see if I can make it easier

Doe, a deer, a female deer
Ray, a drop of golden sun
Me, a name I call myself
Far, a long long way to run
Sew, a needle pulling thread
La, a note to follow so
Tea, a drink with jam and bread
That will bring us back to Do, oh oh oh

Kaylee: Doe,
Caitlin: a deer, a female deer
Ella: Ray,
Caitlin: a drop of golden sun
Caitlin and Von Trapp children: Me, a name I call myself
Far, a long long way to run
Sew, a needle pulling thread
La, a note to follow so
Tea, a drink with jam and bread
That will bring us back to

Doe, a deer, a female deer
Ray, a drop of golden sun
Me, a name I call myself
Far, a long long way to run
Sew, a needle pulling thread
La, a note to follow so
Tea, a drink with jam and bread
That will bring us back to Do

Do Re Me Fa So La Ti Do, So Do

Caitlin: Now children, Do Re Me Fa So and so on
Are only the tools we use to build a song
Once you have these notes in your heads
You can sing a million different tunes by mixing them up
Like this

So Do La Fa Me Do Re
Can you do that?
Von Trapp Children: So Do La Fa Me Do Re
Caitlin: So Do La Ti Do Re Do
Von Trapp Children: So Do La Ti Do Re Do
Caitlin: Now, put it all together

Von Trapp Children: So Do La Fa Mi Do Re
So Do La Ti Do Re Do
Caitlin: Good
Rebecca: But it doesn't mean anything?'
Caitlin: So we put in words
One word for every note, like this

When you know the notes to sing
You can sing most anything
Together
Caitlin and Von Trapp children: When you know the notes to sing
You can sing most anything

Doe, a deer, a female deer
Ray, a drop of golden sun
Me, a name I call myself
Far, a long long way to run
Sew, a needle pulling thread
La, a note to follow so
Tea, a drink with jam and bread
That will bring us back to Do

At the end of the number, the crowd was cheering, and Finn could see the kids on the stage looking so happy. It was at this moment he knew he was doing something right with these kids. If they could perform at Sectionals like they were performing tonight, they'd be going to Seattle for Nationals for sure.

SONGS: Tradition from Fiddler On The Roof and Do Re Mi from The Sound of Music

Chapter 11 preview: Finn finally convinces Rachel to go to the doctor and see what's up. Meanwhile, Finn takes his glee club to Sectionals, and something big happens with Funny Girl.

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