Hello! The songs I used for this chapter are Slipped Away by Avril Lavigne (Yeah, I love Avril :P) and 9 Crimes by Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan. Enjoy!

Elizabeth hung up the phone and returned to the dining table to keep doing her homework.

"Who was it?" Blaine asked, without taking his eyes from the song he was writing.

"Adam" the girl answered "He said he's coming in a couple weeks"

"That's great! Blaine said "We have to tell Kurt"

"What do you have to tell me?" Kurt asked, coming from the kitchen with a cup of tea in his hand.

"Adam is coming to visit us in a couple weeks" Elizabeth said.

"Oh, that's great!" Kurt said.

"And the best part is" the girl said, smiling "He's going to bring Crystal"

"That's totally awesome!" Blaine exclaimed, and Kurt nodded.

"Lizzie, can you help me?" Barbra asked, entering the dining room "I can't solve this stupid equations!"

While Elizabeth helped Barbra with her homework, Blaine and Kurt exchanged a look.

"So, you're going to compete against Vocal Adrenaline?" Kurt asked.

"Yeah" Barbra said.

"Are you nervous?" Blaine asked.

"As hell" Elizabeth answered "And we're going to compete against the Warblers too"

Kurt and Blaine looked surprised.

"That will be a tough competition" Kurt observed.

Elizabeth and Barbra nodded, seemingly nervous.

"Don't worry, you'll kick their asses for sure" Blaine said, and he winked at them.

The girls smiled and nodded.

"See you in science class" Sam said.

"See you" Elizabeth said, and kissed Sam in the cheek.

Elizabeth was really concentrated in watching her girlfriend walk away, so she jumped with surprise when someone touched her shoulder. She looked behind her.

"Sorry, did I scare you?" Natasha asked.

"No, it's okay" Elizabeth smiled.

After a moment of hesitation, Natasha finally said:

"Can we talk for a second?"

"Sure. Let's go to the choir room, we'll have more privacy there"

"Why?"

"No one comes close to the choir room, excepting for the Glee Clubbers" Elizabeth said matter-of-factly.

"Oh, okay"

Natasha followed Elizabeth until they were inside the room. Elizabeth sat in a chair, and told Natasha to sit down too. Once they were seated, Elizabeth said:

"What do you want to talk about?"

"Well" Natasha sighed "I don't know why I'm telling this to you. It's just that… talking with you is so easy"

Elizabeth smiled, and this seemed to reassure Natasha.

"Tomorrow's my birthday" she said "And… it's the first one I'll spend without my brother. We always spent our birthdays together, you know" Natasha smiled a little "We went to the movies, and then we bought a present for both of us. It was kind of like a ritual"

Elizabeth nodded, and Natasha's smile disappeared from her face.

"Now, I don't know what I will do without him" she said softly, almost whispering "God, I miss him so badly…"

She covered her face with her hands, trying to hold back the tears. Elizabeth caressed her back, comforting her, but she didn't say anything.

"What do you do when you're sad?" Natasha asked, looking at her with tear-filled eyes.

"Well…"

Elizabeth thought about it for a minute. When she was sad, she usually talked with her parents, but she was sure that Natasha didn't want to talk to them about her brother. She also talked with Sam, but as far as Elizabeth knew, Natasha didn't have anyone like Sam. Then, she found the right answer and smiled.

"I sing" she said.

"Sing?"

"Yeah" Elizabeth smiled even broadly "My dad always told me that music has a healing power. It helps you to deal with strong feelings, like sadness. And there's always a song that describes what you're feeling"

Natasha looked at her, and a little smile formed in her lips. It was a great advice.

"That's a great idea" she said.

"Isn't it?"

"Thank you" Natasha said sincerely.

"No problem" Elizabeth said.

How could Natasha treat her so bad before? If she had only knew what a wonderful person Elizabeth was… She didn't think about it twice before she hugged her. Elizabeth was surprised at first, but then she returned the hug.

"You're a wonderful person" Natasha said "Thank you for helping me"

Elizabeth smiled and patted her back.

"Anytime"

Barbra watched as Jonathan played with Judy, laughing like a little kid.

"I told you she would look cute with the new collar!" he said.

"I know" Barbra said, petting Judy's head.

Jonathan kept playing with the puppy.

"Are you still not talking to your dad?" Barbra asked.

"Nope" the boy said.

"You can't be mad at him forever"

"I know, but I won't talk to him until I show him that you don't mess with New Directions"

"And when are you going to show him that?" Barbra asked, smiling.

"At Regionals" Jonathan said "We're going to win, and then he won't be able to say anything else about us anymore!"

"You seem very positive that we'll win"

"We are going to win for sure" Jonathan smiled at her "And even if we don't, we're going to be so amazing, that my father will have to accept that we're awesome!"

Barbra laughed and kissed him.

"You're adorable, did you know that?" she said.

Judy barked, and Barbra stroked her belly.

"Yes, Judy, you're adorable too!" she said, and Jonathan laughed.

Brad sat next to Alma, who was drinking coffee in the teacher's lounge.

"Hey" he said.

"Oh, hi, Brad. How are you doing?"

"I'm okay" Brad said "So, Regionals are next week"

"Yes"

"Are your kids ready?"

"We've been practicing a lot, I think they're ready" Alma said.

"What are you going to do?"

"Well, Lizzie is going to sing a solo, and then everyone is doing a group number" Alma explained "My father helped me picking the songs"

They didn't say anything else. Brad looked at Alma and then both of them tried to speak at the same time.

"You speak first" Alma said.

"I just wanted to tell you that…" Brad started.

"Hey, Anna" Sue said, sitting next to Alma.

Alma sighed, annoyed.

"For the umpteenth time, my name is ALMA!"

"I'm sorry, what did you say? I was distracted by your horrible ginger hair" Sue said.

"What do you want, Sue?" Alma asked.

"I came here to tell you that my Cheerios won the National Championship again" Sue said proudly.

"I bet it was thanks to Lizzie"

"She was really helpful. But even if she is your main singer, you and your pathetic Glee Club won't be able to win this year"

"Oh, come on, Sue, New Directions is a really talented group" Brad chimed in.

"I'm sorry, Ken, but complimenting them won't make Alice want to marry you" Sue said.

Brad blushed, and Alma scowled. Sue stood up and smirked.

"I have to tell my Cheerios where to put my trophy" she said "See you, pals!"

When she was gone, Alma sighed loudly.

"Ugh, I despise that woman!" she said.

"Don't listen to her"

"What were you going to say before?" Alma asked.

"Forget it, it was nothing" Brad said.

She smiled at him and kept drinking her coffee. Brad looked at her, asking himself if it was a good idea to tell her what he was thinking.

"I wish I could have seen that!" Sam said.

"Oh, it was amazing!" Elizabeth said with a big smile "The rest of the girls were doing their amazing routine, and I was standing in front of them singing. And when I finished, two of them took me and threw me in the air!"

"Cool!"

"The crowd was cheering like crazy! It was glorious!"

Sam laughed. Elizabeth kept telling her about the National Cheerleading Championship, excited and happy.

"Coach Sylvester was so proud of us!" she said.

"Are you going to try out next year?" Sam asked "You know, for the Cheerios"

"Nah, I don't think so"

"Why not?"

"Well, it's awesome being in the Cheerios, but it's kinda exhausting" Elizabeth explained "I prefer to dedicate all my energy to the Glee Club."

"I can't wait for Regionals" Sam said.

"Don't talk about it, I'm really nervous!"

"You'll do great"

"I know, it's not about that" Elizabeth said "I mean, I want to win so badly"

"Me too. All of us do" Sam said "But I think that the most important thing is that we enjoy it"

"You sound like a kindergarten teacher" Elizabeth said, laughing.

"Oh, shut up!"

They both laughed and walked to their next class.

Natasha sat in the grass in front of the gravestone. She looked at the name written in it:

"NICHOLAS STEINER"

The girl left a single daisy in front of it. It had a blue lace tied around it. Natasha sighed.

"Hi, Nick" she said "Happy Birthday"

A soft breeze stirred her hair and clothes. Natasha wondered why she was talking to a gravestone. She had never done it before, but it felt right.

"I miss you so much" the girl sighed and looked around. She was alone "Why did you leave me? I need you by my side right now. There are so many things that I want to tell you, so many questions I need to ask you."

She felt the tears starting to form in her eyes, but she kept talking.

"I should have stayed with you that day. I suspected that you would try to…" the first tears fell "That you would try to kill yourself. But I didn't do anything. I should have talked to you, I should have stayed with you every moment of every day. But I didn't." she used her sleeve to clean the tears from her face "You should have stayed with me. We could have work it out somehow"

Natasha bit her lip, and more tears fell from her eyes.

"You know what the worst part is? I became exactly that kind of girl I hated so much. That kind of girl that harassed you at school, remember? Just because I was too afraid too… end up like you. God, I was terrified. I am terrified. I wonder if you felt this way…"

She took the daisy and looked at it.

"I brought you a daisy. It was your favorite flower…"

Suddenly, Natasha started to cry uncontrollably. She covered her face with her hands, and her shoulders shook every time she sobbed. The tears fell from her eyes and landed on the floor.

"I miss you so much" she whispered.

Natasha remembered her conversation with Elizabeth the day before.

"What do you do when you're sad?"

"I sing"

Natasha wiped away her tears and looked at the name of her brother written in the stone. Softly, she started to sing.

Na na na na na na na

I miss you, miss you so bad.

I don't forget you, oh, it's so sad.

I hope you can hear me,

I remember it clearly.

She looked at the flower in her hand.

The day you slipped away

Was the day I found it won't be the same

Oh…

The breeze blew again, and Natasha kept singing.

Na na na na na na na

I didn't get around to kiss you

Goodbye on the hand

I wish that I could see you again

I know that I can't, oh

She touched the cold gravestone and slid her fingers on top of the name, feeling each letter against her skin.

I hope you can hear me,

Cause I remember it clearly.

Natasha closed her eyes, and felt the tears falling down her cheeks.

The day you slipped away

Was the day I found it won't be the same

Oh…

It was so unfair. Why wasn't Nick here with her?

I had my wake up, won't you wake up?

I keep asking why

And I can't take it, it wasn't faked

It happened, you passed by.

Natasha wished he was there to hold her, to wipe away her tears and tell her that everything would be okay.

Now you're gone, now you're gone

There you go, there you go

Somewhere I can't bring you back

Now you're gone, now you're gone

There you go, there you go

Somewhere you're not coming back

But he was gone, and that wasn't going to change. Natasha kept singing, with her eyes closed.

The day you slipped away

Was the day I found it won't be the same, no.

The breeze blew even harder this time, and she opened her eyes.

The day you slipped away

Was the day I found it won't be the same, oh.

As Natasha sang the last lines, everything around her seemed to fall silent, like the world was listening to her song. And she was certain that somewhere, her brother was listening to her.

Na na na na na na na

I miss you…

Natasha sighed. Then, she smiled softly.

"Happy birthday, Nick"

The girl stood up, and with a last look at the flower resting in front of the gravestone, she walked away.

"Guys, focus!" Alma said "There's only two days until Regionals. Lizzie, you don't have any problems with your solo, right?"

"Actually, Miss Schue" Elizabeth said "I want to give my solo to Jonathan"

"WHAT?" Jonathan exclaimed "Why?"

"You deserve it" the girl said.

"Lizzie, I can't sing in front of all those people!"

"Yes, you can" Elizabeth said "And you will"

"Don't you want to teach your dad a lesson?" Barbra asked.

"Yes but…" Jonathan sighed "I'm not sure if I can do it…"

"We trust you, Jonathan" Lucy said "You can do it"

He looked at his friends. They all smiled at him. Then, he looked at Alma.

"You'll do great, don't worry" she said.

Jonathan sighed and nodded.

"Okay" he said.

Everyone smiled at him, and some of them patted his back. Jonathan smiled. He was going to do this.

Barbra opened the door and stepped inside. She sat in the bed next to Elizabeth who was reading a book.

"I need to talk with you" Barbra said.

"What happened?" Elizabeth asked, closing her book.

"I can't forget him, Lizzie. No matter how hard I try, I can't!"

"Who?"

"Adam!"

"But I thought that you did when you started dating Jonathan."

"I thought so too" Barbra sighed "I love Jonathan, I really do. And I don't want to break his heart, but I feel like I'm lying to him"

Elizabeth took Barbra's hands, and she looked at her.

"Then you have to chose" Elizabeth said "Are you willing to leave Jonathan for Adam?"

"Adam has a girlfriend now and…"

"That's not what I asked you"

Barbra looked at her cousin.

"I don't know" Barbra said "Jonathan is so sweet and nice and… I don't want to hurt him. But I still love Adam"

"Would you be with Adam? Would you forget the fact that you're cousins just to be with him?"

"I don't care anymore"

"Look, Barbra" Elizabeth said "Jonathan is a wonderful person, and he does everything he can to make you happy. I can see that he really loves you, and that you care about him too"

Barbra looked down, but Elizabeth kept talking.

"But I think that if you care about him, you should tell him the truth"

"I can't do that, I'll break his heart!"

"You'll hurt him more by being with him when you have feelings for someone else"

Barbra thought about it. Elizabeth was right. It wasn't okay to do that to Jonathan, especially when he was such a good person. But on the other side, if she told him that she was in love with someone else, she would break his heart.

"Maybe you should talk with Adam" Elizabeth said.

"No. I'll figure out what to do by myself"

"Okay. If you need my help…"

"Thanks"

Barbra left and got inside her own room. She flopped on the bed and sighed loudly.

"I'm an idiot" she thought.

After all this time refusing to be with Adam, now she wanted to be with him. But they were both dating someone else, and they didn't deserve this. Because, as far as Barbra know, Crystal was really nice, and Jonathan was one of the best persons she knew. He loved her, and he always did everything he could to make Barbra happy. So why couldn't she love him as much as he did? She tried, but it was impossible to get rid of her feelings for Adam.

"Damn" Barbra whispered, burying her face in her pillow.

"Goodnight, Adam"

"Goodnight"

Crystal kissed him and got inside her house. Adam climbed inside his car. While he drove to his home, he started to think about her. Crystal was wonderful, and he liked her a lot. But there was a problem. As much as he liked Crystal, Adam still loved Barbra. He felt bad, dating Crystal while he also loved someone else, it was almost as he was cheating. But what else could he do? Barbra didn't want to be with him, and she was dating someone else. Jonathan was a good kid, and everyone could see that he loved her, so why would Adam try to break them up? Instead, he tried dating someone else. But it didn't work. The boy couldn't stop wondering if he would ever be able to love someone else but Barbra.

Barbra looked at the ceiling, as if it was going to give the answer to her problem. Instead, she found herself even more confused that before. The girl covered her eyes with her arms and sighed. Without uncovering her face, she began to sing softly.

Leave me out with the waste
This is not what I do
It's the wrong kind of place
To be thinking of you
It's the wrong time
For somebody new
It's a small crime
And I've got no excuse

She frowned and sat straight, still singing.

Is that alright? Yeah
Give my gun away when it's loaded
Is that alright? Yeah
If you don't shoot it how am I supposed to hold it?
Is that alright? Yeah
Give my gun away when it's loaded
Is that alright, yeah
With you?

Adam sang softly, with his eyes fixed on the road, but his mind wandering somewhere else.

Leave me out with the waste
This is not what I do
It's the wrong kind of place
To be cheating on you
It's the wrong time
She's pulling me through
It's a small crime
And I've got no excuse

His grip around the steering wheel tightened, and he kept singing.

Is that alright? Yeah
I give my gun away when it's loaded
Is that alright? Yeah
If you don't shoot it, how am I supposed to hold it?
Is that alright? Yeah
I give my gun away when it's loaded
Is that alright
Is that alright with you?

Adam and Barbra sang together, without knowing that, even if they were apart, they were singing the same song, and thinking about each other.

Is that alright?
I give my gun away when it's loaded
Is that alright?
If you don't shoot it, how am I supposed to hold it
Is that alright?
If I give my gun away when it's loaded
Is that alright
Is that alright with you?

Barbra covered her eyes again, and Adam frowned, both of them singing.

Is that alright? Yeah

I give my gun away when it's loaded
Is that alright? Yeah

If you don't shoot it, how am I supposed to hold it?
Is that alright? Yeah

I give my gun away when it's loaded
Is that alright?
Is that alright?
Is that alright with you?

No...

Barbra flopped on her bed again and curled up on her side, at the same time that Adam stopped in the driveway. They both sighed and closed their eyes.

Natasha saw Elizabeth in the cafeteria line and walked towards her.

"Hey" she said.

"Oh, hi!" Elizabeth said "Happy birthday! I know it was yesterday, but you didn't come to school, so…"

"I was visiting my brother's grave" Natasha said.

"Oh, I see"

"I followed your advice. I sang a song for him."

"Which one?"

"Slipped Away. He loved that song"

"That's so sweet"

Natasha smiled.

"It felt kinda good" she said "And… I know it's ridiculous, but it think he heard me"

"It's not ridiculous" Elizabeth said "Actually, I think he did hear you"

"I hope so"

"Hey, do you want to eat with Sam and me?" Elizabeth asked.

"Sure" Natasha said, smiling.

Elizabeth smiled back, and they both sat with Sam. The three of them talked and ate together like old friends, and for the first time since her brother died, Natasha felt like she fitted in somewhere.

I cried so much while I was writing the scene with Natasha in the graveyard :'( Anyway, Regionals are in the next chapter! I already started that chapter, it's going to be ultra-long! Please leave a review :)