LOVE WILL FIND A WAY…
So, I was planning on ending things with the last chapter, doing a massive time jump and then possibly doing a set up for a potential future verse that lives in my head but things change and I hope you like what you see.
x-x-x-x-x-
A month had passed since Valentine's Day and everyone seemed to be in a good place, living their lives…their dreams….
And yet there they all were on their Spring Breaks spending time not on some beach in Florida or Jet Setting to a foreign country but back in good old Lima, Ohio in the McKinley High choir room to be exact as they had receiver a message to convene there by Mr. Schuster himself.
This afternoon was a first for the group. It wasn't that they had become too busy to visit their Alma Matter, forgetting where they came from. In fact at one time or another everyone had given their old stomping grounds a visit…even Artie who gained a new perspective of the campus wandering the halls that past December for the first time sans wheelchair. This day however was the first time that the 13 members of the New Directions class of 2012 were in the choir room together with no additional guests to reminisce about the good old days.
As they gathered on the risers looking over toward the piano smiles crossed thirteen pairs of lips.
"It's like déjà vu," Rachel said with a smile, "I can just close my eyes and picture myself standing in the middle of the room belting out a solo, imagining myself on a stage somewhere."
"Hogging the spotlight," Mercedes mumbled under her breath.
"Hey, I resent that," Rachel said defensively as she reached out to playfully punch her friend however being stopped by Mike who rolled his eyes at the treatment of his wife.
"Say," Finn said, "remember when we first started this club it was only like six of us?"
"Well," Rachel said with a smirk, "technically there were five of us until I declared Artie an unsuitable male lead and begged Mr. Schue to find a replacement ASAP."
"Do you still think I'm an unsuitable male lead?" Artie asked.
Rachel shook her head before leaning over and whispering into his ear.
"To be honest I think you're the best male singer we've got…next to Kurt."
Artie smirked while Finn looked over to their former fearless leader wondering what she was saying. Thankfully Tina gently took his hand making him forget about his inquiry.
"Let's flash forward a bit," Mercedes said, "remember that mash up of Hair/Crazy in Love and those god awful wigs you guys had to wear."
Everyone but Kristina nodded causing Kurt to speak up.
"Can we please fast forward to something that happened after Kristina joined in?"
"Ok, ok…..later on Sophomore Year…. When she and Artie did their duet at their invitational," Santana said, "I know I'm not a romance novel reading romantic comedy watching sap but as they sung on stage I could tell that those two would be in it for the long haul."
"Really Santana, or were you just glad I didn't prefer blondes and go after your Brittney."
Santana just gave Artie a death glare as Brit spoke up.
"To be honest I used to think you were a robot back then," she said with a smile.
Ignoring the blonde's comment Tina smiled.
"Speaking of Brit, remember when we begged and pleaded with Mr. Schue to sing a Brittney Spears song Junior year."
"And he finally said yes," Rachel said, "but only if he sang with us."
"And he decided last minute to sing Toxic instead of Circus," Kurt said.
"And there was a sex riot," all thirteen said letting out a laugh as they visualized the mob scene their singing had led to wondering why at pep rallies and invitationals they were always getting standing O's but it wasn't until they came back from their first National competition that they were taken with any inkling of seriousness from the student body.
"Speaking of singing," Mike said with a smile, "remember senior year when I decided that I wanted a solo and sang 'Santa Fe' at Invitational?"
"That was beautiful," Rachel said, "to be honest you should have come out of your shell much sooner."
"Thanks," Mike said with a smile, "I just love that musical so much…granted it's no Singing In The Rain but it holds a special place in my heart and honestly if you don't mind Mercedes I was thinking we could name our first born son Jack you know after Jack Kelly?"
"Who says we're having kids any time soon," Mercedes said with a smile before a brief silence filled the room.
As the silence took over everyone's eyes seemed to meet one another's as it seemed they were in a giant mind meld thinking the same thought as Rachel began to sing:
Open the gates and seize the day
Don't be afraid and don't delay
A smile crossed her lips as she placed an arm around former High School boyfriend Puck who began to sing along.
Nothing can break us
No one can make us
Give our rights away
Arise and seize the day
Puck smirked as he sang the last line, standing up along with the other members.
Finn moved over toward the drum set and began to play a bit while Mike began to bust a move.
Now is the time to seize the day
Artie sang as he began to join Mike on the dance floor by twirling Kristina around while she sang
Send out the call and join the fray
Placing an arm around Matt, Kurt began to sing…
Wrongs will be righted
If we're united
Before Matt joined him with,
Let us seize the day
The group continued to rock out spontaneously to the song like back in the earlier part of Sophomore Year pre-Kristina when Sue had tried to split up the club causing them to have a covert jam session to the song Ride With Me. As they were finishing up this jam session however they were met with a round of applause from one Mr. Schuster.
"Looks like you kids still got it," their former teacher said with a smile.
The bakers dozen of former gleeks smiled back at the teacher who after almost three years looked the same right down to his bargain basement vests.
They all smiled saying their salutations to the older man while returning to their seats all the while looking as the teacher stared at Artie.
"I still can't get over…." He paused wondering if commenting about Artie would be offensive, "just how much you've all blossomed into fine young women and men."
They all smiled in thanks.
"Though talking about your accomplishments isn't the reason I called you here today for this mini-reunion though I do want to hear them later, no the reason I called you here is….well."
Will stepped out of the room for a moment before stepping back in with his wife the former Miss Pillsbury now Mrs. Schuster walking into the room wheeling in front of her a double stroller where two little babies sat one wrapped in a pink blanket and the other in blue.
"Guys," Will said with a smile, "you thirteen were the first group of kids I coached and in the years we were together we were like a family. Sure I've had other kids come and go but with you thirteen there is something special which is why I called you hear to personally introduce you to little Shay," he spoke pointing to the little girl before pointing to the boy, "and Skylar Schuster."
"Awwww," Rachel said being the first to get up to look closer at the babies, "they are adorable."
"Yea," Puck said, "but they grow up so fast….I mean can you believe my little Dani is about to go into Kindergarten in the fall."
"Really?" Will asked astonished.
"Well," Quinn said, "we did have her sophomore year."
Puck had no comment instead there was a bout of idle chatter before Emma walked out with the babies and Will took a seat asking the gang what adventures they'd been up to.
"Well," Rachel said naturally being the first to volunteer, "As you know in High School I was hell-bent on being on Broadway like my idols."
There was a round of nods as the petite brunette went on.
"However after educating myself with stage works beyond those of Webber and Sondheim I've accepted an offer to spend a Summer and possibly an entire Fall semester abroad in England studying the Bard with a highly prestigious company."
"Good for you Rachel," Will said, "I always knew you'd be a star."
"Despite you trying to snuff me out," she mumbled under her breath.
"Huh," Will said.
"Nothing," Rachel replied as Puck smiled.
"What's with the grin Puckerman," Santana asked.
"Well, if you must know…in a few months Shay and Skylar will be having a little playmate."
Kristina, Kurt, Artie, Matt and Quinn smiled as they knew this news while everyone else looked on in surprise.
"Sam's pregnant. I know what you're thinking…wasn't the reason she adopted Dani leading to our falling in love and subsequent marriage because she couldn't have a child. Well that was the reason however she's had some procedures done and some consultations via Skype with her old OBGYN back in Port Charles and well…miracles happen."
Rounds of congratulations filled the air as Tina spoke up.
"Any room for another playmate?" she asked causing Finn to glare at her in shock.
"You're…"
Tina nodded. Sure this wasn't the way she planned on telling her husband she was with child but it just felt right in the moment.
"I was late and I was feeling kind of woozy so I took a test….I mean I haven't gone to a doctor yet but I can tell with a certainty level of 99.9% that yea…we're having a baby Finn."
"We're having a baby," Finn said with a smile knowing that he indeed had sex with this woman and there was no way she'd been with another person. "Can we call it Drizzle?"
"We'll see," Tina said with a laugh.
"So," Kurt said, "Mercedes you and Mike are the only other married members of the pack…any mini dancing diva's on the way?"
"Hell to the no," Mercedes said, "no offence I do want kids just not right away."
"Maybe in a year," Mike said with a smile.
"Probably in a year," Mercedes said with a nod.
"Speaking of married gleeks," Quinn said holding out her hand, "you're looking at the future Mrs. Quinn Quartermaine."
"Quartermaine?" Finn said scratching his head, "I thought Michael's last name was Corinthos?"
"It was, he changed it."
There were no further questions on that matter as they all took a look at Quinn's ring.
"So," Artie said with a smile, "since you're marrying Michael and since I know one day I'll be married to Kristina does this make you my sister now?"
Quinn paused doing the math in her head.
"I guess so yea."
Artie smiled liking that thought as Quinn had always been a good friend of his and he was glad that he could find a loophole to make her permanently stuck in his life without having to dump Kristina and marry the blonde instead.
More chatter began to erupt in the room now as the others began to talk about where they were now in the world as well as take trips back into the past with bouts or reminiscing, there were even a few more moments were they broke out into song relishing in a moment when their past presents and futures collided.
TBC
Yea so I hope you liked this chapter. I am torn as to whether the next chapter should be the birth of Sam's kid, Tina's kid, Quinn/Michael's wedding, Artie/Kristina's wedding or a moment that predates all those events and if so what should that moment be? That said song used in this chapter 'Seize The Day' from the movie/soon to be Broadway Musical Newsies which I kind of hope is sung on cannon this year (pipe dream)