Hi guys! Thanks for all your support on the last chapter. I appreciated it. I originally wasn't planning on incorporating Puck and Quinn into this chapter, but I figured I should since Finchel were in Connecticut. Plus I know lots of people wanted a scene with Quick and Finchel talking about the pregnancy. Enjoy this chapter and review if I should keep going!
Chapter 20: Regionals
Rachel sat in her bedroom when her phone started ringing. She looked at the Caller ID. It was Rupert.
What did he want? Rachel sighed and picked up the phone. "Hello?"
"Rachel, this is Rupert," Rachel said.
Rachel tried to hold in her annoyance. "Hi."
"Rachel, why did you quit the show without saying anything to me?" Rupert asked. "And your husband and your brother-in-law and your friend Santana showed up at the theatre and said something about you being fired..."
What? "What's going on?" Rachel asked.
"Okay, let's go through this one thing at a time," Rupert said. "Why did you quit?"
"I didn't quit, I was fired," Rachel said. "Sidney fired me because he didn't want a pregnant woman playing Fanny."
"So you are pregnant?" Rupert asked.
"Yes," Rachel admitted. "I am pregnant. I'm sorry. I should have said something."
"What are you doing with the baby?" Rupert asked.
"I don't know yet," Rachel said. "Finn and I are considering all the options." She didn't want to talk about such a sensitive subject with someone she wasn't sure if she could trust.
"Well, you shouldn't have lied," Rupert said.
"I know I shouldn't have, and I'm sorry," Rachel said. "But what's this about Finn and Kurt and Santana?"
"They showed up at the theatre and started talking about how wrong it was for you to get fired," Rupert said. "At first I didn't know what to think because Sidney told me you quit..."
"I was fired," Rachel said. "And why didn't he consult with you?"
"I'm sorry about that, Rachel," Rupert said. "But what happened was that you got fired? I need you to be honest with me because this is serious."
"Yes, I'm being honest," Rachel sighed. "I wouldn't lie about something like that."
"You quitting didn't seem like you," Rupert admitted.
"I didn't want to quit," Rachel said.
"Well, I'm going to need some time to think about everything," Rupert said. "I'll call you later, okay?"
"Okay," Rachel said. "One more thing: did Finn and my friends say anything?"
"They were upset that you got fired," Rupert said.
"Okay, thank you," Rachel said. She was grateful for what Finn, Kurt and Santana did, but she knew what they could be like, especially Santana. Rachel went to the living room, where Finn, Kurt, Blaine were watching TV. "Hey guys."
"Hi Rachel," Blaine said.
Rachel looked at Blaine. "Do you know about what they did the other day?"
Blaine looked at Kurt. "What did you do?"
Kurt looked embarrassed. "Well... we went to Funny Girl to confront the producer... I'm sorry, Rachel."
Rachel sat down. "I'm not mad at you guys, but you really should have talked to me before doing that."
"It didn't seem like you were willing to fight for your part, so we were going to fight for you," Finn said. "You've wanted this part forever and you were just letting it go like that."
Rachel took Finn's hand. "Well, Rupert just called."
"What did he say?" Kurt asked.
"Well, he didn't seem happy that Sidney lied about firing me," Rachel said. "But at the same time, he didn't say that I was getting the job back."
"You should get the job back," Kurt said.
"We'll see," Rachel said. "I'm just waiting to hear back from them. He didn't sound like he was too happy about Sidney firing me, but he didn't give me the job back." She hoped this meant that she might get the job back. But she wasn't holding her breath.
x
Days passed, and Rachel still didn't hear back from Funny Girl. Although she wasn't saying anything about it, Finn knew that it was hard on her. Instead, she'd been coming with him to glee rehearsals a lot to help the kids prepare for Regionals. The Regional competition was going to be held in Connecticut, so Quinn and Puck would be coming to see the glee club perform. Finn was also planning on talking to Rachel about using this trip to tell them about Rachel's pregnancy. After all, they'd been through this before.
Regionals were held the first weekend in March, two weeks before McKinley's Regionals. Finn had managed to get money from the school board to get hotel rooms for the night before and the night of the competition so the kids wouldn't be too tired from riding the bus the day of the competition. After the kids were in bed, Finn sat with Rachel on the bed of their room.
"So, you ready for tomorrow?" Rachel asked.
"I think I am," Finn said. "One line from her shouldn't hurt us too much."
Rachel giggled. "Yeah, I think one line will be fine."
"And I don't have to worry about HER showing up," Finn groaned.
"If she does, she'll just be proven right as to why you should be the one leading this club," Rachel said.
Finn gave Rachel a hug, then decided to tell her what he'd been thinking of. "Rach, have you considered maybe telling Puck and Quinn the news while we're here? Tomorrow the parent chaperones are taking the kids out to dinner after the competition..."
Rachel looked down. "Maybe we should."
"Yeah, I think we should," Finn said. "They've been here. They could give us good advice."
x
The day of the competition, Finn stood backstage with his glee club, while Rachel was in the audience to meet Puck and Quinn. Listening to a group from Boston perform, Finn felt himself getting nervous. He'd seen these kids perform in the videos from their Sectional competition, and they were good there, but here... they were incredible.
"She's almost as talented as I am," Caitlin said as she and Josh came to stand with Finn by the wings.
"She's good, but like you said, she isn't as talented as you are," Finn said.
"Well, we'd beat them if you let me sing all the songs and everyone else could just sway in the background," Ariana demanded.
Finn didn't know what to say. He knew that Ariana would most likely repeat anything he said to Collette. "I wanted everyone to get a chance to shine at this competition. Everyone has at least a few lines. Look at this group. They're all about their lead." This group reminded Finn of Vocal Adrenaline. They just took a strong singer and built their performance around that person. Finn liked to think he'd made his glee club more like New Directions, giving everyone a chance to shine.
Finn heard his group's name announced and circled up the club. "Okay," Finn said, trying to hide his nerves. "This is the first time any of you guys have gone to Regionals. I've been three times, and I hope you know, winning Regionals is so much better than winning Sectionals. You're already declared the best glee club in the New York area, which is the arts capital of the country, and now you're going to win Regionals. And then in May, we'll go to Seattle for Nationals, and we'll kick some butt."
The club cheered and took the stage as Finn looked into the audience. He saw Rachel sitting with Puck and Quinn in the audience. He waved at them, managing to smile as the music for the first song began.
Boys: Winter is here again oh lord,
Haven't been home in a year or more
I hope she holds on a little longer
Girls: Sent a letter on a long summer day
Made of silver, not of clay
I've been runnin' down this dusty road
Choral Inspiration: Wheel in the sky keeps on turnin'
I don't know where I'll be tomorrow
Wheel in the sky keeps on turnin'
Josh: I've been trying to make it home
Got to make it before too long
Caitlin: I can't take this very much longer
I'm stranded in the sleet and rain
Choral Inspiration: Don't think I'm ever gonna make it home again
The mornin' sun is risin'
It's kissin the day
Josh and Caitlin: Oh the wheel in the sky keeps on turnin'
I don't' know where I'll be tomorrow
Ooo the wheel in the sky keeps on turnin'
Finn had known he wanted to include a Journey song in the setlist, and he was definitely proud of how it had turned out. This was the group number he was nervous about coming up because he'd given Ariana a line in it, but he hoped the other kids would carry it through.
Josh: All our times have come
Here, but now they're gone
Seasons don't fear the reaper
Nor do the wind, the sun or the rain
(Scott: We can be like they are)
Mark: Come on baby
(Scott: Don't fear the reaper)
Mark: Baby take my hand
(Scott: Don't fear the reaper)
Mark: We'll be able to fly
(Scott: Don't fear the reaper)
Boys: Baby I'm your man
La, la la, la la
La, la la, la la
Girls: Valentine is done
Here but now they're gone
Miranda: Romeo and Juliet
Are together in eternity
(Bridget: Romeo and Juliet)
Rebecca: 40,000 men and women every day
(Bridget: Like Romeo and Juliet)
Rebecca: 40,000 men and women every day
(Bridget: Redefine happiness)
Heather: Another 40,000 coming every day
(Megan: We can be like they are)
Heather: Come on baby
(Megan: Don't fear the reaper)
Garrett: Baby take my hand
(Eva: Don't fear the reaper)
Garrett: We'll be able to fly
(Eva: Don't fear the reaper)
Josh: Baby I'm your man
Ariana: La, la la, la la
La, la la, la la
Josh and Caitlin: Love of two is one
Here but now they're gone
Came the last night of sadness
And it was clear she couldn't go on
Choral Inspiration: Then the door was open and the wind appeared
The candles blew and then disappeared
The curtains flew and then he appeared
(Paul: Saying, "Don't be afraid")
Hayley: Come on baby
(Paul: And she had no fear)
Hayley: And she ran to him
(Brandon: Then they started to fly)
Aubrey: They looked backward and said goodbye
(Brandon: She had become like they are)
Aubrey: She had taken his hand
(She had become like they are)
Choral Inspiration: Come on baby, don't fear the reaper
Actually, she hadn't sounded bad on her line. And the rest of the group had sounded amazing. There was just one number left. Finn knew that this would be close, but at least he knew his kids had given this their all.
Choral Inspiration: Sweet emotion, sweet emotion
Talk about things and nobody cares
Wearing other things that nobody wears
Josh: You're callin' my name, but I gotta make it clear
I can't say, baby, where I'll be in a year.
Caitlin: Some sweat hog mama with a face like a gent
Said my get up and go musta got up & went.
Andy: Well, I got good news: she's a real good liar
Carley: 'Cause a backstage boogie set your pants on fire.
Choral Inspiration: Sweet emotion, sweet emotion
I pulled into town in a police car
Andy: Your daddy said I took it just a little too far.
Carley: You're tellin' other things, but your girlfriend lied
Allison: You can't catch me 'cause the rabbit done died.
Yes it did.
Ethan: Standin' in front just shakin' your ass.
I take you backstage you can drink from my glass.
Choral Inspiration: I talk about something you can sure understand
'Cause a month on the road and I'll be eatin' from your hand.
The crowd was on its feet after the final performance, and Finn felt so proud of the kids - and of himself. He'd taken a glee club to Regionals. That was something to be proud of.
A little while later, Finn stood on stage with the kids. It wasn't a surprise that the final two glee clubs on the stage were his and the group from Boston, Boston Strong Singers. He knew this group was a force to be reckoned with, as their star was a freshman.
"And the winner is..."
Finn gulped and looked at Rachel in the stands. Rachel crossed her fingers as Finn gave her a look.
"It's a tie! Both teams on stage now will be going to Seattle for Nationals!"
They were going to Nationals. It was a shared win but they were still going. He was taking his club to Nationals. He'd done it.
x
"So, how's it feel to be taking your glee club to Nationals in your first year as director?" Puck asked Finn as the two couples had dinner together. The parents chaperones were taking the kids out, so Finn and Rachel would have this time with their friends.
"It feels great," Finn said.
"I'm so proud of him," Rachel said putting her arm around Finn.
"Thanks babe," Finn said.
"So, Rachel, did you get your dress yet?" Quinn asked.
Finn and Rachel exchanged a look. Maybe now Rachel should tell Quinn why she hadn't gotten the dress yet. "Well... we're waiting."
"You know how she gets," Puck said. "She's already trying to make our wedding perfect."
Rachel gulped. "I'm pregnant and I want to wait until closer to the wedding to get my dress."
"What?" Quinn asked.
"Yeah," Finn said, deciding to fill in since he knew it was hard for Rachel to tell people. "We weren't trying and we always use birth control, but we do have a baby on the way. We aren't sure what we're going to do yet, but hopefully everything will work out."
"I hope your parents didn't do what mine did," Quinn said.
Finn realized things could be worse for him and Rachel. "They were accepting."
"That's good," Puck said. "So what will you guys do once the baby gets here?"
"We don't know," Rachel admitted.
"Let me tell you something as someone who's been through this," Quinn said. "I think you should keep it. Every day I miss Beth. Puck and I talk about her every day as well. We have her in our lives, but it is hard seeing her consider Shelby her mother and not me."
"Do you think we could do it?" Rachel asked.
"Yeah, I think you could," Puck said. "Shelby's in New York and so are lots of our friends, and we're not too far away. Your parents are supportive. I think if you keep the baby, you'll give it a great life."
Chapter 21 preview: New Directions goes to Regionals and some of the alumni go home to see it. Collette reacts to Finn's regional win.
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