AN: Um...holy shit! (I can say that with a T rating right?) I don't even know how to describe my reaction to the response from the first chapter. It would pretty much look something like me forgetting how to breathe with my eyes coming out of my head (too descriptive? LOL). Anyway, long story short, I'm shocked. So I want to thank everyone who read this and every single one of you who reviewed and alerted and favorited this! You make me insanely happy but totally scared that I'm not going to live up to the first chapter. I guess it's a reason to try harder right?

Okay, okay, enough from me. R&R please? and if you want to follow me on twitter thatgleekychick. I usually tweet while I'm writing so that could be fun!

Enjoy!

Four days later Rachel was sitting on the couch in her parent's living room in a pair of yoga pants and one of her fathers' sweatshirts watching some crazy soap opera where the couples were all going through some sort of emotional relationship crisis. She sighed and then changed the channel to find something a little more mind numbing and something that doesn't pull at all the parts of her heart that were already hurting. She hasn't spoken to anyone except her fathers since she'd gotten back to Lima. Really there was no one to talk to. Finn and Artie were still in town but there was no way that she was going to call either of them up. And although she knew that Quinn and Sam were home from their honeymoon, she didn't call them. They were newlyweds returning back from their honeymoon and the last thing she wanted to do was burst their happy little bubble with her personal woes. Plus Rachel knew that Quinn would rush over here right away when she found out that Rachel was home. She would have questions and Rachel wasn't sure if she could give the right answers.

But once she had finally found some cooking show (which she had no interest in since most of her cooking included putting noodles into boiling water or preparing a salad) there was a loud knock at the door that caused her to nearly jump out of her skin. There was not a single person that she knew in this town that would be home at this hour and would come to her door basically knocking it down in the process. Rachel got up hesitantly and moved towards the door peaking through the curtain first to see that her obnoxious knocker was in fact Quinn, dressed in jeans and a white blouse, her hair pulled up as it was when she was a Cheerio. Rachel rolled her eyes but opened the door because despite the questions that were coming, Rachel really just needed her best friend.

"Quinn," Rachel said, "What are you doing here?"

Quinn walked in the Berry house past Rachel until she stood in the middle of the living room, the cooking show still playing in the background, "What am I doing here? What are you doing here and not in New York?"

"I took some vacation time and came home," Rachel said still standing by the open front door.

"Where's Puck? " Quinn asked and Rachel winced at her ex-boyfriend's name, "What the hell happened Rachel? Everything was fine when Sam and I left."

Quinn approached Rachel and wrapped her arms around the petite brunette. Rachel wrapped her arms around Quinn, relishing in the fact that she seemed to finally get what she needed. Rachel shrugged in response to Quinn's question and the blonde grabbed her by the hand and led her through the living room into the kitchen where she sat Rachel down in one of the wooden chairs and immediately went scrounging around the cabinets. She pulled out the tea pot and the box of tea that she knew was Rachel's favorite then filled the pot with water and put it on the stove, turning the flame on high. She then turned back to Rachel who was still sitting as she watched Quinn move around her kitchen like she lived in the house.

"Who told you I was here?" Rachel asked as Quinn leaned against the countertop.

"I may or may or not have gotten a phone call from your Dad. And Sam got a phone call from Puck who was wondering if we'd heard from you because you were supposed to text him or something and you didn't. Rachel what is going on?" Quinn said moving to take the chair next to Rachel turning her body so that she was face to face with her.

Rachel took a deep breath to control her emotions. She didn't want to cry, not right now at least, she'd done it enough over the last few days, "I want to marry him. He doesn't want to marry me."

"Oh Rachel," Quinn said reaching out and grabbing Rachel's hand, "Puck loves you."

"Sometimes that's not enough," Rachel said just above a whisper.

"No, it's not." Quinn said simply as she watched her friend stop fighting herself and let the tears fall from her eyes.

When the teapot whistled Quinn shot up and grabbed two mugs and put a teabag in each cup and filled them with water before carrying them back to the table.

"I know just what you need," Quinn said.

Rachel looked at her best friend teary eyed and confused. She was almost certain that there was no cure for heartbreak, "What would that be?"

"Glee club," Quinn answered effortlessly.

"The only glee club members in town are you, Sam, myself, Finn and Artie."

"No-no. Not our glee club, just New Directions is rehearsing in half an hour. They have sectionals coming up and I'm pretty sure Will would love it if you visited. You should grace the newest batch of angsty teenagers looking to fit in with the presence of an original. I'm sure Will will even let you critique the female lead when rehearsal is over."

Rachel smiled as she nursed the mug in her hand. After majoring in communications (because really a degree in theatre only gets you so far in life) Rachel was currently working for a PR agency that worked with many of the theatres on Broadway. She got to go to all the shows that she worked with while trying to make time for auditions and open mic nights here and there. Rachel Berry still wanted Broadway, she still wanted to be a star, but she absolutely loved doing what she was doing. While she had sometimes made mentions to Puck about this lead or that, it had been years since she actually criticized anyone's performance other than her own.

"I suppose that could be fun," Rachel said.

"Good. And then come over to have dinner with Sam and me."

"Quinn you just got back from your honeymoon. You don't need me moping around."

"Yes we do. Please?" Quinn smiled as she pleaded with her friend.

"Fine fine! But I'm not staying late. Don't you have to go back to work soon? Don't those tiny kids need something better than substitute teacher," Rachel said thinking of the third graders that Quinn had left behind.

"I go back on Monday," Quinn said as she stood up from the table and walked over to the sink to rinse her mug before placing it in the sink, "Now go see our beloved Mr. Shue and then hang out with Sam and I, I expect you at our place no later than seven."

"Okay," Rachel said standing up.

Quinn moved back towards Rachel and hugged her once again and whispered "It's all going to be okay," before parting and walking towards the door and letting herself out of the house.

Rachel parked her car in the parking lot of William McKinley High School for the first time in nearly six years and a million memories came to her at once. Countless glee rehearsals, football games, the slushies, break ups and makes ups, good times, and the bad. Still she turned off the engine and got out of the car and admired the building for just a moment before walking through the front doors for the first time not as a student. McKinley had obviously not gotten any better with their school security since once she was inside Rachel had full access to the school. She knew the route by heart: through the main hallway, a left through the science department and then a right. She stood in the hallway, peaking into the choir room she'd spent so much time in and saw that there were over twenty kids in there, and there was five minutes before rehearsal started so there was bound to be more students coming. When Rachel heard someone call her name from behind her she spun around to see the face of her old choir director. It had only been a few weeks since she'd last seen him but he looked different, more tired and worn.

"Will," Rachel said accepting the hug from the older man when he approached her.

"What are you doing in Lima? And what are you doing here?" Will said pulling away but leaving his hands on the small girl's shoulders.

"Uh, vacation," Rachel partially lied, "and I thought I'd stop by and see what New Directions looks like these days."

"Awesome! We've got sectionals in a couple of weeks so we're working on finalizing our set list. I'd really love your input if you've got the time."

"I would love to," Rachel said following Will as he moved into the choir room.

"Everyone," Will said as he put his bag down on top of the piano, "This is Rachel Berry. Rachel was part of the very first generation of New Directions back in 2009. She's going to sit in on rehearsal and help us put together our set list for sectionals. In our first year at sectionals Rachel did an amazing version of 'Don't Rain on My Parade' that took the house down."

"Mr. Shue," a blonde girl in the front row said, "Are you going to spend this entire time going over how awesome Rachel is or are we actually going to put together the set list. Because Mr. Shue we have two weeks until sectionals and we need to win."

Rachel smiled from the seat she'd taken on the piano bench next to Brad. The girl sitting front and center, more worried about winning than pretty much anything else, it was her. And now New Directions 2015 had its very own Rachel Berry.

"Alright Joey, that's enough. Now let's get to work. We have enough time to run through five numbers a few times and we will discuss them all of them next time. Rachel and I are going to take notes so I want all of you to act like this is a competition; that this is sectionals and you're performing for the judges."

They ran through five songs and Rachel was surprised that she had plenty of notes, and a good majority of them were positive. She didn't hold back anything but it seemed that either this group was actually really good or Rachel Berry had gone soft. As they walked out of the choir room leaving her with Will, she told them all how wonderful they were and then turned back to their director.

"They're really good," Rachel said smiling.

"I don't think they realize what it means for Rachel Berry to be calling them 'really good'," Will said laughing.

"I admit I was rather critical of everyone back in high school."

"I remember a time that you gave me a list of the students who weren't performing on par with Rachel Berry standards."

Rachel laughed for the first time in days, "But these kids, they really are good Will. You've done an amazing job."

"I just guide the way," Will said, "It's the talent of the kids that really lets the group reach their potential."

Rachel gave Will a smile but doesn't say what she's thinking. She doesn't tell Will that he was so much more than a guide, not to her, not to the other eleven members of New Direction that she grew up and learned with.

Rachel stood from her seat and handed Will the papers in her hand, "I have to get going but thank you for letting me help out today."

"You're welcome," Will said standing and hugging the brunette, "Is everything alright? You look…defeated."

"I could say the same thing about you. But yes everything is fine."

"I always get a little stressed and sleep deprived around competition time. Nothing to worry about. How's Puck is he in Lima too?"

"No," Rachel said, "Noah and I, we've separated."

"Oh Rachel, I'm sorry to hear that. I really thought you two were going to get married."

Rachel tried not to cry at the irony of Will's words, "Me too. But I really do have to get going."

"Sure, sure. Take care of yourself Rachel. And don't be a stranger."

"Of course," Rachel said, "I'll stop by again before I leave."

"How long are you staying?"

"Another week or so," Rachel said knowing full well that she would actually have to go back to New York; she had to face everything still.

"It was good to see you Rachel," Will said grabbing his bag, "I'll walk you to the car?"

Rachel nodded and the two left the choir room.

It was just before seven when Rachel pulled in front of Quinn and Sam's house. It was a tiny ranch, but it fits the two perfectly with its tiny front yard. It would be entirely cliché if it wasn't for the fact that there was currently no picket fence around the property. Rachel got out of her car and walked up the driveway to the front door and walked in. During the numerous phone calls Rachel had received from Quinn over she was given specific instructions to just walk through the door and meet her in the kitchen. Walking in the house smelled amazing; it was obvious that Quinn had been baking. That mixed with the smell of whatever she had concocted for dinner turned the house into a warm inviting space.

"Rachel," Sam called as he emerged from the kitchen walking towards her and greeting her with a hug, "It's good to see you."

"Hey Sam," Rachel said wrapping her arms around her best friends new husband, "It's good to see you too."

"You both better get in here before I come get you," Quinn shouted from the kitchen and both laughed and made their way towards the kitchen fearing the wrath of Quinn.

Ten minutes later the three of them are sitting around Quinn and Sam's small round kitchen table. It wasn't awkward since she was among friends but Rachel felt completely out of place, the third wheel. They talked a lot about Quinn and Sam's honeymoon, the different sites they saw in the different countries they went to. Rachel was completely fascinated by it all and thought it would be a good idea for her vacation over the summer. She rolled her eyes when Quinn turned the conversation back to her asking her about her trip to the high school.

"It was strange. But Will definitely has a great group of students, so many talented performers. There are over twenty of them!"

"That what I've heard. I thought about maybe going to see them at sectionals. "

"I'll probably be back in New York by then. I would have loved to go though."

"Speaking of New York," Quinn said and Rachel shot her a piercing glance.

"That is not dinner talk Quinn."

"But you've barely told me anything! I didn't want to pry but now I do."

"It's only been four hours since you came by Quinn."

"That's plenty of time."

"I'll leave the room if you girls want to talk," Sam said beginning to stand up.

"No, Sam. Sit please. I'm not talking about this right now."

"Fine," Quinn pouted, "But before I go back to work you're to tell me everything."

"Alright," Rachel said, "I should get going. I'm sure my dads are home by now."

"Are you sure you can't stay? I baked a lot."

"I'm sure," Rachel said, "I've imposed enough."

"Nonsense," Sam said and Rachel was surprised and happy to hear it coming from her best friend's husband.

Rachel said goodbye to her friends with the promise that she would meet with Quinn the next day and tell her everything about what was being referred to as simply 'New York'. She climbed into her car, put the key in the ignition and turned the car on. Just before she was to shift into drive her phone rang and she looked down to see that it was the man that she'd seen just a couple of hours earlier. She quickly picked up the phone and greeted Will.

"Rachel?" Will said on the other end of the phone.

"Yes."

"I was wondering if you could come in tomorrow afternoon and talk to me and Principal Figgins. We have an offer for you."

"Really? Regarding what?"

"I'd rather discuss the details with you in person."

"Oh, alright. What time?"

"Does one work for you? If not we can do it after glee."

"No, no. One works."

"Great," Will said, "We'll see you then."

"Alright, Goodbye." Rachel said hanging up her phone and pulling away from the curb.

"You want me to what?" Rachel said from her seat next to Will while the two sat across from Principal Figgins in an office Rachel had been to on many occasions in high school. She had absolutely no idea what both of them had wanted with her when she pulled into the parking lot that afternoon but this was definitely not on the list of things she'd imagined the night before.

"Run glee club," Will said.

"But you run glee club," Rachel said turning to Will.

"It's only for a week, if you can do it before you go back to New York. I have to go out of town and we're so close to sectionals and I don't want to just stop rehearsing until I get back."

"But me? I'm not even a teacher."

"But no one else understands glee like you do. You'll know what is working and what isn't and what the judges are going to like."

"I don't know," Rachel said hesitantly.

"We'll pay you," Figgins interjected, "Granted it won't be as much as a teacher would get paid but you will be nicely compensated Ms. Berry."

"It's not that" Rachel said, "I-I just don't know if I can do it."

"It's three days a week for about an hour to an hour and a half, depending on what needs to be done. The set list will be finalized by this afternoon so all you'll have to do is use the auditorium to work through choreography kinks. Everything else is set. Rachel you're the most qualified to do this. I don't want to leave them this close to sectionals but if I was going to leave them with anyone it would be you," Will said.

Rachel took a deep breath. It would be a good distraction and was much better than sitting in her dads' living room all day or listening to Quinn try to cheer her up. And Quinn was going to go back to work on Monday and Rachel wouldn't have Quinn as an option. She thought back to her sophomore year of high school when Will had accidentally gotten himself disqualified from sectionals because of a mattress and they had to have Emma as their advisor. They felt kind of lost without their leader (and it didn't help that their set list had been leaked and all the other groups were doing the numbers they'd chosen). Granted the situation wasn't he same but she knew that a week without rehearsal would be detrimental for their chances at sectionals.

"Okay," Rachel said.

Rachel stuck around McKinley and met once again with the glee club and Will announced that Rachel was going to be taking over next week and assured all twenty five of them that they were in good hands. Rachel wasn't surprised when a few of them voiced their concern about Rachel's abilities. Will just smiled and popped in a DVD. It was regionals 2010. It was her and Finn singing Faithfully; it was the electricity of the Mash-up. Rachel's heart stopped for a moment. This was the first time that she'd seen a picture or anything of Puck in the week she'd been home. She swallowed hard and pushed back the tears because this was not the time to break down. Not when you were trying to convince a group of teenagers that they should trust you for the next week. When 'Don't Stop' ended Rachel had a big smile on her face. She was so proud of that day even though they didn't win.

"Didn't New Directions lose that year?" someone called from the group.

"Yes, but did you see those performances?" Joey responded, "I heard the judges were shady. I think we will be in very capable hands with Ms. Berry."

Rachel was stunned that Joey would be as accepting as she was of the older woman's position as temporary replacement. Rachel herself would never have been so approving.

When she got home that night her fathers were waiting for her with dinner. Since Rachel didn't want to talk about anything about herself she made sure that she kept the conversation strictly to her dads and their work days.

"I was thinking about taking the next week off," Sheldon said.

"For what?" Rachel asked.

"To spend some time with you. You're rarely home and you're going back to New York soon and I thought it would be better than you being alone all the time."

"No need to do that Dad."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, very much so. I actually am going to be working at McKinley for a couple days next week, working with the glee club there while Will is out of town."

Sheldon and Benjamin looked at each other and then back and Rachel.

"That's great honey," Sheldon said, "It'll be good for you."

"I think so too," Rachel said.

That night Rachel dreamed about the regionals performance she'd relived earlier, just this time every moment with Finn had been replaced with the face of Puck, especially the behind the scenes 'I love you'.