A/N: I know I haven't been around for a while and I apologize! I hope this isn't too horrible! Enjoy and review please!
I hear the wind call your name
it calls me back home again
It sparks up a fire
a flame that still burns
Oh its to you I will always return
~ Bryan Adams
Will peered over his shoulder at the thirteen kids behind him and smiled. Rachel was curled up next to Finn as the tall, awkward boy smiled down at his sleeping bus mate. Brittany and Santana also were cuddled up to each other just a seat over, both sleeping peacefully. Mercedes and Quinn were seated together and whispering quietly, Sam and Puck were sniggering quietly about something that Will wasn't quite sure he wanted to know about, Tina and Mike were also cuddled together staring out the window at the darkening sky, Artie sat asleep with his head bowed into his chest, Kurt was fiddling with his outfit of the day and Lauren was sprawled across a seat of her own deep in sleep. The teenagers were all exhausted from their plane ride and their excursions in New York.
They had lost Nationals, but so had Vocal Adrenaline and that made them feel better. When the winners were announced and Will got his kids alone he had planned a big speech for them, wanting to make it known to them that they were all winners in his eyes and there was always next year.
However, before he got two words out, Rachel stopped him and gave a speech of her own saying how they made it this far and they rocked the stage but next year they'd have to be even bigger and better. Her teammates agreed with her and cheered their non-victory, acting all as a family for once instead of a group of teenagers who most times, acted like they all hated each other.
It was in that moment, as he watched the kids hug and laugh that he knew he would be returning to Lima with them. He had the opportunity to live his dream in the greatest city on the East Coast. He knew he had the talent for it and he knew he'd love it, and thats why he had to leave it all behind.
He formulated a plan in his mind that he'd do April's show and then return to Lima, live his dream and then come home. But somewhere deep down he knew that he'd kept swept away by all the glamour of broadway and he would never want to leave. And although it was his dream to be a big broadway star it was not where he belonged.
He belonged at McKinley High, teaching and guiding talented kids so that one day they might be the ones living their dreams in New York. He saw the way Rachel's face lit up once she first step foot in Times Square. She knew where she belonged, she knew she was meant for that stage and Will knew he wanted to be the one to help her get there.
And then there was Emma.
He gazed down at the empty seat right beside him and suddenly wished he had the beautiful red head there.
The kids were one thing and a big part of the reason why he didn't want to leave McKinley. Another, even bigger reason was Emma.
It seemed like just yesterday that she was the one planning to leave McKinley and he ran after her as fast as he could to stop her. It seemed like just yesterday that he first kissed those soft, sweet, pink lips and at the same time it felt like forever since the last time he felt her lips against his. The side of face still tingled from where she kissed him over a week ago and ever since then the burning desire to kiss her was overwhelming. She came to see him and the kids off as they left for the airport before Nationals and he was this close to kissing her but he couldn't do that in front of the kids. So he settled for a hug and Emma's sweet whisper of good luck in his ear. As the bus drove out of the parking lot and he watched as she waved goodbye he wondered if that was the last time he was ever going to see his Emma.
Over the course of the trip he realized that he couldn't just leave her. He had just gotten her back. Well, sort of. Carl was gone, she was single, and so was he. There was the possibility that maybe they'd be able to start all over without the mess of previous relationships and rushing into things.
No matter how much he really did want to be in New York and be up on that stage, the kids, and more importantly Emma, were a huge part of his life and he couldn't imagine his life without them. There would be a hole in his heart where the kids and Emma have been for the last couple years. He'd be able to perform for hundreds of people but what good was that if he was there all by himself?
So he called April and told her that he wouldn't be able to do her show. His place was in Lima, Ohio and thankfully she understood.
And that led him here, just forty five minutes away from Lima, aching to get home and see Emma.
The rest of the trip he spent with his head against the cool glass, a tired smile on his face, his mind racing with thoughts of Emma.
Before he knew it they were fifteen minutes away from the school and Will woke up the kids to inform them to call their parents to pick them up. Soon the bus came alive with phone calls to parents and they all started to chatter happily as they entered their home town. As much as they loved their trip to New York, Will knew the kids were glad to be home.
Soon enough the bus pulled into the McKinley High parking lot and the kids smiled and waved at their parents waiting eagerly in the parking lot. The bus came to a stop and everyone leapt out of their seats ready to run off the bus.
"Hold it, hold it!" Will blocked the way out of the bus and the teenagers groaned in protest. "I just wanted to repeat how proud I am of you guys. That performance you did was the best I have ever seen you and I know that next year we will win that first prize trophy!"
The kids nodded, grinned and cheered in agreement and Will chuckled at their eagerness. He stepped aside and they nearly trampled him on the way out and he collapsed into the front seat, shaking his head.
He waited until the last car disappeared out of the lot, thanked and tipped the bus driver, and then made his way to his own car. He ran his fingers over the old scrap of blue junk and smiled.
Yes, he was definitely home.
He slid into the car and pulled out of the parking lot and without hesitation headed straight towards Emma's condo. His heart thudded rapidly in his chest at the thought of seeing her and picturing his reaction to seeing him at her doorstep.
A grin split across his face and he stepped on the gas.
Emma fought back tears for what seemed like the hundredth time that week. She was right back where she started, four years ago when she first started working at McKinley: in love with a man who was just out of reach. The same man no less.
She knew the kids were returning home today and she knew that Will wouldn't be. He'd still be in New York, living his dream, without her. He said he'd miss her and she believed that he would. At least for a little while. He'd soon spend hours and hours every day rehearsing and then performing and meeting beautiful, talented broadway stars and dancing, singing and possibly even kissing them. His former life in Lima would just be a distant memory and as part of that life so would she.
She still had to be happy for him though. He deserved so much more than being a spanish teacher in Ohio. He deserved all the fame and recognition for that astounding talent his former wife had suppressed.
She had never been to New York and truthfully she never planned on going but she expected, in a year or two, to see Will's name lit up outside one of the many broadway theatres.
She expected that somehow April Rhodes' show would be a hit and he'd play the leading role beside her for its entire run.
She expected maybe that one day Rachel Berry would star along side her former glee coach and the two would blow away New York City with the combination of their raw talent.
She expected that if he did ever come back to Ohio for a visit, Figgins would invite him as a guest speaker for the glee club with the new glee coach. The glee kids, especially the girls, would fawn over the broadway star just as they did when he was a spanish teacher and she'd watch from the distance as he signed autographs and took pictures. He'd eventually make his way to her office and greet her with a warm kiss to the cheek and a smile that melted her heart. He'd look even better than he did now, all that dancing doing wonders for his body. They'd talk for a couple of hours, he'd ask her how her life was and she'd ask about New York and then he'd be off again.
She expected to be alone for the rest of her life because she knew she'd never love anyone the way she loved Will. She tried to love Ken and she did love Carl, but Will held her heart for all eternity no matter if another charming dentist tried to sweep her off her feet.
What she did not expect, as she fought back tears staring at Will's vest hanging in her closet, was for her doorbell to ring and for Will Schuester to be standing on the opposite side of the door.
"W-Will?" She stuttered, staring at him in shock. "Why aren't you in New York?"
"Emma," He spoke quickly and Emma was taken aback by how urgently he spoke. He entered her apartment without permission, though she wasn't about to protest and she eyed him curiously. "When I was in New York, I got to thinking. Ever since I was younger and I first saw Singing In The Rain I knew I loved musicals. When I was ten my parents took me New York and I saw my first broadway show and I was so captivated by the performance and I knew thats what I had to do one day. When I first entered High School and I heard about the glee club I joined right away and it was like home. Sometimes, yeah, it was a bit rough with April Rhodes and Bryan Ryan stealing the spotlight but I knew, performing was everything. When we won that Nationals competition, it wasn't so much the winning, although that feeling was great, it was the rush of hearing hundreds of people cheering for me."
Emma swallowed thickly and nodded quietly, not sure how this story was relevant to the reason why he was in Ohio and not New York living that dream.
He ran a hand through his curls and let out a breath. "Terri discouraged me from going after that dream, said it was no way to live my life or to raise a family. She wanted me to become an accountant but math was never my thing. I took an interest in teaching and with some reluctance she agreed to my choice of futures. But all through college I joined every single musical and the choir and my dream of some day making it big in New York was still there in the back of my mind. And then when Sandy was fired and glee club needed a new couch I saw my opportunity to get back into the performing arts. I wouldn't be able to perform myself but music would still be a part of my life and that was good enough for me."
He stopped pacing and looked directly into her eyes and her breath caught in her chest.
"And then you told me something. You told me that the only life worth living was one I was really passionate about. At the time I applied that to my current situation and decided to continue teaching instead of leaving to become an accountant because teaching is what I was really passionate about. When April told me she wanted me to be the lead male in her show I thought, this is it, this is my chance. My dream is right there in front of me, I can just reach out and grasp it. But the truth of the matter is, you were right. The only life worth living is the one you're really passionate about and I'm passionate about performing but there is one thing that that life lacks. One thing that I can't live without."
"And what's that?" Her voice shook as she asked the question she already knew the answer to.
His face softened and he slowly approached her, reaching out to take her shaking hands. He gently pulled her towards him and her breath hitched as their chests came together. His hands travelled upwards to brush her hair behind her ear and very gently his forehead came to rest on hers.
"You." His words were a gentle whisper against her lips and a chill ran down her spine. "Beautiful, sweet, wonderful Emma. Always you."
"Will," her voice was light and airy and her hand found its way to his chest, resting just over his heart. She closed her eyes, reveling in the feeling of being so close to him, of feeling his heart beat and his warmth against her fingertips. "You can't give up your dream for me."
She let out a breath as his hands cupped her cheeks and his thumbs very softly caressed her skin.
"I think its up to me how I decide to live my life, hm?" His tone was light and joking and she shook her head.
"Will, I-I can't let you do that...New York is-"
"New York is New York. Big and beautiful and calling my name. But Emma, I'm not going to answer because there's something better that already has claimed me and I'd be so, so stupid to give it up especially when it's right here in front of me."
"And what-" Her words and a gasp were swallowed by his lips suddenly covering hers. She froze, simply out of shock, for a few long seconds and then she melted into the kiss. Then feeling a little desperate and daring she grabbed onto his shirt tightly and pressed her mouth harder against his. She felt his surprise and smiled against his mouth, parting her lips to allow the kiss to deepen. His tongue slid into her mouth and warmth spilled into her abdomen and slowly her arms wrapped around his neck as his slid around her waist, pulling her even closer.
They kissed until they could no longer breathe and once they parted their bodies still remained close.
"Wow." She muttered.
"I love you." He answered and her head snapped up. She wasn't expecting those words to leave his lips especially at that moment. It had been over a year since he last said them to her and this time she didn't have a boyfriend to hinder her real feelings.
He was eyeing her nervously and her heart fluttered. She lifted her hand to his cheek and very gently stroked his skin, giggling quietly as her finger tips ran over his scruff. "Oh Will..." She sighed. "I love you too."
Shock was the first emotion to pass over his face soon followed by a heart warming grin. His arms tightened around her waist and she squeaked as his lips found hers again. This kiss was shorter but somehow more meaningful.
"Emma," He whispered into her hair minutes later as her head rested contentedly against his chest, "My dream means nothing without you."
She smiled and cuddled into his chest, inhaling his scent, happy to have it coming from him and not the sweater hanging in her closet. He kissed the top of her head and brought her even closer.
Part of Emma still wanted Will to go after his dreams. She wanted to tell him to go anyway, that whenever he returned she'd be there waiting for him, loving him until the end. But as she stood there, wrapped in Will Schuester's loving embrace she knew she didn't have the strength to ever let him go.