Hi everyone! Thanks so much for all your support on the last chapter. I forgot to mention, but Choral Inspiration's songs for Regionals were Wheel In The Sky by Journey, Don't Fear The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult and Sweet Emotion by Aerosmith. New Directions' songs are I Lived by One Republic, Wouldn't It Be Nice by the Beach Boys and All Out of Love by Air Supply. It's hard to believe that the glee cast is really done filming. It's a bit sad that it's all over. Anyway, enjoy this chapter and review if I should keep going.
Chapter 21: Back to Lima
Finn looked at the trophy in the trophy case. It had been nearly two weeks and it still was hard to believe that he'd managed to lead the glee club to a Regional victory and that they'd be going to Seattle for Nationals. He'd already started looking at hotels and restaurants in Seattle, trying to decide how the best way to spend their week would be. But the kids had just left for spring break, and Finn had to get home soon.
"Well, well, what have we here?" a voice said.
Finn turned and saw Collette coming in. "Hello," Finn said.
"So, a trophy?" Collette asked.
"Yeah, a trophy," Finn said.
"I see," Collette said. "You know, I heard that it was a tie."
What was she going to do with that information? "Yes, it was a tie," Finn said. He hadn't really thought about that. He was just glad the glee club had won.
"That's not very impressive, Mr. Hudson," Collette said. "A New York area high school can only manage a tie at Regionals? A tie with a team from Boston, no less? Last year the New York team that went to Regionals won."
"Yeah, but that team wasn't us," Finn said. "I'd say it's pretty special for a team that didn't even make Regionals last year to tie for first this year."
"They would have won first to themselves if I was the leader," Collette said.
What was it going to take for Finn to win Collette's respect? "Well, that didn't happen, and you were the leader for a few years."
Collette paused. "At least you gave that poor girl some solo lines."
Finn rolled his eyes. Now that Ariana and Collette had teamed up, that made things more complicated. "Well, I wanted to be fair to everyone."
"No you didn't," Collette said. "You only did that because the school told you everyone needed to take part."
Of course that was true. But what was Finn supposed to say? He didn't want to look bad. "Everyone is special," Finn said. "I gave every single kid a few lines."
"I hope you do the same for Nationals," Collette said as she left.
Finn didn't know about that. At Nationals, it was extra important to keep the glee club as competitive as possible. They'd be competing against New Directions, the Boston Strong Singers, Throat Explosion, Mr. Schue's LA glee club and lots of other groups Finn was sure would be good.
But with Collette around, Finn was always feeling his position threatened...
x
Regionals had always been special to Finn and Rachel. After all, it had been at Regionals their first year in the glee club where they'd become a couple. Their second year had been when they really discovered that they still loved each other despite being broken up, and their last Regionals was when they almost got married.
Since their schools and the high school Finn ran the glee club at were both on spring break the weekend of New Directions' Regionals, Finn and Rachel were planning to go to Ohio to visit their families and also watch the Regional competition. Normally Rachel got excited to be going home, but this time she was nervous. It was becoming more and more obvious that Rachel was pregnant, and even clothes that ere too big couldn't hide it as ell. She hadn't said anything at NYADA, but it wasn't too hard to figure out. When she posted photos of herself online, she would always make sure they were shoulders up. She knew that Kylie hadn't told the other members of New Directions, but they were probably going to figure out for themselves when they saw her.
Rachel stood in front of the mirror, trying to suck in her bump before she and Finn left for the train station. The clothes she was wearing were two sizes bigger than her regular size, but her bump was still there. There was no hiding it anymore.
Finn came into the room. "Hey babe."
"Hi Finn," Rachel said. "Ready to go?"
"I'm ready if you're ready," Finn said. He looked at Rachel. "You okay?"
"I guess they'll know when we get there," Rachel sighed. "I don't know why it bothers me so much... the only person I know really well there is my sister and I already told her... but in case we give the baby up, I don't want too many people knowing because people will be asking and it would be so hard to talk about..."
"They won't judge you," Finn said. "Even though they don't know you very well, you're still part of the glee club family."
"I guess," Rachel said.
"Yeah, you are," Finn said. "If you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to though. Their main focus right now is Regionals, and we can focus on that when we're with them."
"Yeah," Rachel said. "It'll be cool if they go to Nationals too."
"I'm sure they will," Finn said. "Now who will you be cheering for: me or them?"
Rachel thought for a minute. "I'll want a tie. I want my husband's team to win, but I also want the team we were on and my sister's on to win."
"That sounds good," Finn said. "How is the baby doing today?"
"Good," Rachel said, moving Finn's hand to her stomach so he could feel the movement. "I just want to know what he or she looks like."
"Probably brown hair and brown eyes," Finn said.
"I think that's a pretty fair guess," Rachel said. "Finn, I really want to keep him or her..."
"You do?" Finn asked.
Rachel worried that she'd spoken too soon. "Yeah, I do. I'm sorry... I shouldn't have said that..."
"Hey, it's fine," Finn said. "Because I do too. I love this baby too much to not keep it."
"Me too," Rachel said, giving Finn a big hug. "I love you and I love our child and I want us to be a family. Our family members and friends have been talking to us and... I don't know, I think we can do it. We have lots of support."
"I think we can too," Finn said.
"We still have time to decide, but I do want to keep the baby," Rachel said.
"Me too," Finn said. "Ready to go to the train station now?"
"Yeah, let's go," Rachel said as she and Finn headed for the train station.
x
Finn watched as Rachel slept across his lap on the train. He held out his hand and put it on her bump, feeling a few small kicks. He and Rachel had both admitted earlier that they wanted to keep the baby. They hadn't decided for sure that they were going to keep it, but at least they'd both said what they wanted.
The train driver announced that they were arriving in Toledo, and Finn nudged Rachel. "Rachel, wake up."
Rachel opened her eyes and looked up at Finn. "Are we here?"
"Yeah, we're here," Finn said.
"Okay, good," Rachel said. She sat up and followed Finn off the bus, where her dads and Finn's parents were waiting. "Hi," Rachel said, hugging her dads.
"Hey you guys," Burt said. "We thought we'd pick you up and take you out to dinner."
"Yeah, that would be great," Finn said, taking Rachel's hand.
"Did she travel okay?" Carole asked Finn. "I remember traveling was hard when I was pregnant with you..."
"Yeah, she did great," Finn said, smiling at Rachel.
"Speaking of which," LeRoy said as the group got into Burt and Carole's minivan, "the four of us have been looking at adoption organizations that could help you find a good home for your baby."
Rachel looked at Finn. They'd just been talking earlier about keeping the baby. Luckily, Finn spoke first. "Rachel and I want to keep it."
"Finn, are you sure that's a good idea?" Carole asked.
Did their parents not think that they couldn't do it? "We love this baby, and we're going to do everything we can to give it a good life," Rachel managed to say.
"I know you love this baby," Burt said. "But you need to think about what's best for everyone."
So their parents thought that living with them wasn't what was best for the baby? "What do you mean?" Rachel asked.
"I remember when you first told us that you were pregnant," Hiram said. "You were worried that you couldn't give the baby what it would need because you're both so young and still in school and your jobs don't pay well."
"If the baby goes to a family with two working parents with solid incomes who already have their lives together, you'll be doing your child well," LeRoy said. "I know you two love this baby, but this isn't just about the baby. It's about you guys as well. You have your whole lives ahead of you, and raising a child would just put so many things to a halt."
Finn and Rachel didn't know what to say. They were thinking they'd keep their child, but if the people who raised them didn't think that they could...
Carole interrupted their thoughts. "You two will always have a connection with this child, even if you give them up. You two gave this child life. For nine months, you were the ones taking care of them, making sure they were in the best shape possible when they came into the world. No one can take that away from you."
"Yeah, but we were hoping to raise this child and experience the milestones," Finn said.
"We know you were," Burt said. "But sometimes what's best isn't what's easy for you."
Finn and Rachel didn't say anything. Their parents' opposition set back everything. Dinner was relatively awkward as they tried to avoid what was on everyone's mind.
x
The day after arriving in Lima, Finn and Rachel went to McKinley to help out with the glee club for Regionals. It was always nice to be back, but this time things weren't quite going to be the same. If they were still planning to keep their baby, they might have told people. But Finn knew Rachel was going to try to hide it, even though that was getting harder and harder.
As Finn and Rachel arrived at McKinley, Finn noticed Rachel trying to stick in her stomach. "Are you okay?" Finn whispered.
"Yeah, I'm okay," Rachel said.
"Hey guys!" Finn and Rachel turned and saw Ryder and Marley walking toward them.
"Hey," Finn said as he gave them each a hug. "Ready for Regionals?"
"Yeah," Ryder said. "It's hard to believe this might be the last competition..."
"It won't be," Rachel said. "You're going to Seattle for Nationals."
"We can hope," Marley said.
"How's your setlist looking?" Rachel asked.
"I think it's good," Ryder said. "The two of us thought Jack and Kylie should get the duet, since they'll be the leads next year. Then of course we have the big group numbers."
"So, I'm really hoping you guys will be in New York with us next year," Finn said.
"Well, I'm still waiting to hear back from NYADA," Marley said. "I am a finalist, but I still have my final audition."
"Well, I'll be vouching for you," Rachel said.
"And I got into CUNY," Ryder said. "Kitty got into NYU, too, so she's definitely going there."
"I'm sure Artie will be happy to hear that," Rachel said.
"He already knows," Kitty said, coming over. "Are you guys excited to have me in New York next year?"
"Of course!" Rachel said. "The three of you should get an apartment in our building."
"I'll have to try to get out of the dorms at NYU," Kitty groaned.
"Luckily, I never had to deal with dorms," Finn said.
"You are lucky," Rachel told her husband.
x
Finn and Rachel had spent the past few days working with the glee club to prepare for Regionals, and it was a nice distraction from all the issues with the baby. After their conversation with their parents, things were definitely awkward at the family homes, more awkward than they hoped it would be during a visit home. They would chat with their parents, but tension was still there. Right now, they were backstage with the glee club, waiting for the New Directions to be called on stage. Rachel went up to her sister. "Ready for the duet?"
"As ready as I can be," Kylie said. "I'm following in your footsteps, a duet at Regionals."
"Yeah you are," Rachel said. "You and Jack sound great together." She got quiet. "Thanks for not saying anything to anyone about... you know."
"Of course I didn't," Kylie said. "What are you and Finn going to do?"
Rachel groaned. "We don't know, still. We were hoping to keep it, but then our parents basically told us not to..."
"Told you not to what?" Kitty asked.
Rachel didn't know what to say. Had Artie told Kitty? She wasn't ready for too many people to know... "Just having some school issues," Rachel said.
"Yeah, that's the one thing I'm NOT looking forward to about college," Kitty said. "Anyway, guys, we have show circle soon!"
Rachel and Kylie followed Kitty to the show circle before New Directions were called on stage and Jack and Kylie stepped on stage to begin their duet.
Jack: Hope when you take that jump
You dont feel the fall
Hope when the water rises
You built a wall
Hope when the crowd screams
They're screaming your name
Hope if everybody runs
You choose to stay
Kylie: Hope that you fall in love
And it hurts so bad
The only way you can know
You gave it all you had
And I hope that you don't suffer
But take the pain
Hope when the moment comes,
You'll say
Jack and Kylie: I, I, I
I did it all
I, I, I
I did it all
I owned every second that this world could give
I saw so many places, the things that I did
Yeah with every broken bone
I swear I lived
Jack: Hope that you spend your days
And they all add up
And when that sun goes down
Kylie: Hope you raise your cup
Oh, oh oh
I wish that I could witness
All your joy
And all your pain
But until my moment comes
I'll say
Jack: I, I, I
I did it all
Kylie: I, I, I
I did it all
Jack and Kylie: I owned every second that this world could give
I saw so many places, the things that I did
Yeah with every broken bone
I swear I lived
Jack: Oh whoa oh oh oh oh oh
Oh whoa oh oh oh oh oh
Kylie: Oh whoa oh oh oh oh oh
Oh whoa oh oh oh oh oh
Jack and Kylie: With every broken bone
I swear I lived
With every broken bone
I swear I
Jack: I, I, I
I did it all
Kylie: I, I, I
I did it all
I owned every second that this world could give
I saw so many places, the things that I did
Jack and Kylie: Yeah with every broken bone
I swear I lived
Oh whoa oh oh oh oh oh
Oh whoa oh oh oh oh oh
I swear I lived
Oh whoa oh oh oh oh oh
Oh whoa oh oh oh oh oh
As the rest of the New Directions members came on stage for the second number, Rachel felt so proud of her sister and knew that next year, the glee club would have strong leads. The first group number would mostly feature the seniors, but it would also feature some of the new members, including Puck's sister.
Ryder: Wouldn't it be nice if we were older?
Then we wouldn't have to wait so long
And wouldn't it be nice to live together
In the kind of world where we belong
Marley: You know it's gonna make it that much better
When we can say goodnight and stay together
New Directions: Wouldn't it be nice if we could wake up
In the morning when the day is new?
And after having spent the day together
Hold each other close the whole night through
Kitty: Happy times together we've been spending
I wish that every kiss was never ending
Wouldn't it be nice?
Jake: Maybe if we think, and wish, and hope, and pray, it might come true
Sara: Baby, then there wouldn't be a single thing we couldn't do
Roderick: We could be married
And then we'd be happy
Jane: Sleep tight oh baby goodnight
Ooh baby sleep tight oh baby
New Directions: Wouldn't it be nice?
You know it seems the more we talk about it
It only makes it worse to live without it
But let's talk about it
Wouldn't it be nice?
Rachel could see Finn smiling at the end of this number, which didn't surprise her since she knew how much he loved classic rock. The final group number, featuring several old and new members, was about to begin. Rachel was sure that they would win as long as they did well in this number.
Mason: I'm lying alone with my head on the phone
Thinking of you til it hurts
I know you hurt, too, but what else can we do
Tormented and torn apart
Madison: I wish I could carry your smile in my heart
For times when my life seems so low
It would make me believe what tomorrow could bring
When today doesn't really know
Madison and Mason: Doesn't really know
New Directions: I'm all out of love, I'm so lost without you
I know you were right believing for so long
I'm all out of love, what am I without you?
I can't be too late to say that I was so wrong
Jane: I want you to come back and carry me home
Away from these long, lonely nights
Roderick: I'm reaching for you, are you feeling it too?
Does the feeling seem oh-so right?
Jane and Roderick: And what would you say if I called on you now
And said that I can't hold on?
Jake: There's no easy way
Jane and Mason: It gets harder each day
Please love me or I'll be gone, I'll be gone
New Directions: I'm all out of love, I'm so lost without you
I know you were right, believing for so long
I'm all out of love, what am I without you?
I can't be too late to say that I was so wrong
Kitty: What, what are you thinking of?
Marley: What are you thinking of?
Ryder: What are you thinking of?
Ryder and Marley: What are you thinking
I'm all out of love, I'm so lost without you
Ryder: I know you were right
Believing for so long
I'm all out of love
Spencer: What am I without you?
I can't be too late
I know I was so wrong
New Directions: I'm all out of love (Kitty: All out of love)
I'm so lost without you
I know you were right
Believing for so long
I'm all out of love (Kitty: All out of love)
What am I without you?
I can't be too late
I know I was so wrong
I'm all out of love (Spencer: All out of love)
I'm so lost without you (Kitty: I'm so lost)
I know you were right
Believing for so long (Jane: So lost, so lost)
I'm all out of love
What am I without you?
I can't be too late to say that I was so wrong
The final number finished, and the members of New Directions came backstage as Rachel and Finn congratulated them. After watching the other glee clubs performed, the New Directions were on stage waiting for the results of the competition as Finn and Rachel watched from the wings. New Directions were announced as the winner, and Finn and Rachel were so happy to see them win.
Chapter 22 preview: Finchel has a life changing experience, causing more conflicts with them and their parents.
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