Chapter 3 Regionals
Well, the last four months had been complete disaster for the New Directions since their win at Sectionals. Quinn and Puck found out they were going to have a girl, and Will's ex-wife Terri revealed to him that she had faked her pregnancy and had planned to steal Quinn and Puck's baby. That of course, landed Terri in jail for attempted kidnapping after Will revealed Terri's intentions to the police. When he had told the New Directions, Quinn and Puck were hysterical. Will had revealed that he had no idea she had planned to steal the baby and told Quinn and Puck that Terri was going to be locked away for a long time. And then Will divorced Terri and now he was dating Miss Pillsbury.
And then there was Jesse St. James. He had used to be a part of Vocal Adrenaline when he transferred to McKinley and Rachel found out that her birth mother was the coach of Vocal Adrenaline. Shelby Cochran had sent Jesse to not only be a spy, but to get information about her daughter. Rachel was livid when Jesse returned to Vocal Adrenaline, calling him out for being a spy. As for Shelby, Rachel knew she would have to face her mother at Regionals. As for Rachel and Finn, they had temporarily broken up because of the whole Jesse fiasco and Finn had caught Jesse kissing Rachel. Jesse had initiated the kiss to attempt to woo Rachel, and Finn had walked in. Rachel, however, managed to tell Finn what had really happened and he had forgiven her.
Regionals was only a week away. Quinn was due close to the day of Regionals, but she insisted that she perform. She wanted to be there to help the New Directions place so the glee club would stay active. And once again, Sue Sylvester was up to her old tricks, determined to bring down the Glee Club.
Quinn stood in the Hudson-Hummel kitchen, staring out the window as she reminisced about the night she and Puck conceived their soon-to-be born daughter.
"Quinn? You okay?" asked Will as he came into the kitchen. Quinn turned to face him, her large belly protruding.
"I'm fine," said Quinn, grabbing a stack of paper plates and napkins. "It's been a long year."
"Yes it has," said Will. "Do you need help carrying those?"
"I'm not due for a month," said Quinn. "I think I can handle it."
"Right," said Will. "So are you and Puck staying here permanently then?"
"My parents are still finalizing their divorce, and Puck's mom is still upset at us," said Quinn. "Carole and Burt have been more of parents to either of us than our own have been, but my mom is slowly coming around. Plus, my mom works crazy hours and wouldn't be able to watch the baby when I have her, where as Carole and Burt would be able to take turns and help. Since it will be summer in a few months, Puck and I don't really have to worry about that right away. I can stay here while Puck works at the tire shop with Finn this summer."
"What about when you go back to school after the baby is born?" asked Will. "What will you do then?"
"Find either a suitable daycare for days that Carole and Burt can't watch her, or take her to school," said Quinn. "I've seen other girls who've kept their babies do it."
"Well, Miss Pillsbury and I are here for you, and you can use our offices for when you need to feed the baby," said Will.
"Thanks, but that's what a pump is for," laughed Quinn, causing Will to blush a bit.
"Alright, you got me there," laughed Will as they walked back into the living room. The rest of the glee club sat on the sofas, somber looks on their faces and several pizzas untouched.
"No one except Quinn and Noelle want pizza?" asked Will as Quinn handed Noelle a plate with a piece of veggie pizza on it. "Well, then let me welcome you to the First Annual New Directions Regionals Setlist Nominations party."
"We're doomed, Mr, Schue," said Artie. "Coach Sylvester is a judge! She's gonna crush us."
"Artie, you don't know that," said Will.
"Yeah we do," said Santana. "She wouldn't stop blabbing about it at Cheerios practice."
"She said 'I'm going to crush Glee Club'," added Brittney.
"A whole frickin year," said Puck. "All that hard work for nothing."
"Rachel was right," said Tina as the girls started to cry. "Being a part of something makes you special. I just can't believe it's going to be over in a week."
"Wait, who says it's going to be over?" replied Finn as he untangled himself from Rachel.
"Please, you think Puck and Santana are going to knowledge my existance after Glee Club ends?" replied Mercedes.
"She has a point," added Puck.
"Mr. Schuester?" asked Rachel, in between sobs. "Do you think, instead of nominating songs, we could just all go around the room and talk about things that we loved about Glee Club this year?"
"It took me everything in my power not to cry," Will said to Emma Pillsbury the next morning as he stood inside his girlfriend's office. "It's like they all walked a thousand miles just to get punched in the stomach."
"What exactly are you looking for from me here?" asked Emma as she wrote on a legal pad. Will sighed.
"Some guidance," replied Will.
"Do you remember when you were going to quit teaching and become an accountant?" asked Emma. "And I showed you that video of yourself singing at Nationals, and you said that was the happiest moment of your life? Do you remember why?" Will nodded.
"Because I loved what I was doing," replied Will.
"And isn't that what you've been drilling into their heads all year?" asked Emma. "That that feeling is way more important than winning or losing?"
"You're right," laughed Will. He leaned over pecked her on the cheek. "You're the best, Em."
Later that afternoon at Glee Club, Will entered the room and wrote the word "Journey" on the dry erase board.
"Mr. Schuester?" asked Rachel as she and Finn entered the room. "Finn and I have something to say to you."
"Me first," said Will. "Have a seat."
Rachel and Finn joined the rest of the New Directions as Will spoke.
"Nine months ago, there were five of you in here," said Will. "And we sucked. I mean, really sucked. Bad." Everyone laughed. Will looked down at the ground before he spoke again. "One day, all of you are going to be gone. And all of this, all of us, will be nothing but a hazy memory. It will take you a second to remember everyone's names. Someone will have to remind you of the songs we sung, the solos you got or didn't get. Life really only has one beginning and one end, and the rest is just a whole lot of middle. And I love you guys too much not to let you make the most of it. Now, I was going to quit once, but you guys brought me back with 'Don't Stop Believing'." The original members smiled. "It was a nine, but we are going to make it a ten."
"We're doing 'Don't Stop Believing' at Regionals?" asked Rachel.
"And then some," said Will. "We are going to do an entire Journey medley." Everyone grinned. "Because who cares what happens when we get there, when the getting there has been so much fun?" Everyone nodded in agreement, tears streaming down the girls and Kurt's faces. "Rachel? You had something you wanted to say?"
Rachel sighed with a tearful smile. "Just that we're all glad you didn't become an accountant." Everyone laughed.
"Regionals, here we come!" grinned Will.
A week later, Finn nervously stood in front of the doors leading into the auditorium as he and Rachel prepared to open their set list. He fidgeted with his tie and looked at Rachel, who came up to him.
"Break a leg," said Rachel as Finn met her halfway.
"I love you," said Finn, kissing her. Rachel smiled.
"I love you too," said Rachel as they retook their places. They had finally professed their love to each other.
"Ladies and gentlemen, our second competitors of the evening, winners of the Central Ohio Sectional, McKinley High's New Directions!" said the announcer as the opening chords to Journey's "Faithfully" started. Rachel and Finn smiled at each other and Finn opened his door, entering the auditorium to sing.
Finn:
Highway run
Into the midnight sun
Wheels go round and round
You're on my mind
Rachel entered through her door and began to sing her verse.
Rachel:
Restless hearts
Sleep alone tonight
Sending all my love
Along the wire
Finn and Rachel:
And they say that the road
Ain't no place to start a family
But, right down the line it's been you and me
And loving a music man
Ain't always what it's supposed to be
Rachel:
Oh boy, you stand by me
Finn and Rachel:
I'm forever yours
Faithfully
During the musical interlude, Finn and Rachel ran up to the stage and stood front and center. The crowd cheered as the curtain rose to reveal the rest of the New Directions.
Rachel and Finn with New Directions:
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh...! (Finn: Faithfully...)
Oh oh oh oh (Rachel: Faithfully)
Oh oh oh oh oh (Rachel: I'm still yours)
oh oh oh oh oh oh
Finn with New Directions:
Oh oh oh oh oh
Finn and Rachel with New Directions:
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Rachel:
I'm still yours!
New Directions:
Oh oh oh oh,
Oh oh oh oh oh
Finn and Rachel with New Directions:
Oh oh oh oh oh oh!
New Directions:
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Finn and Rachel:
I'm still yours!
Faithfully...
Finn and Rachel ended the song smiling at each other and Finn held his hand out to her, which Rachel took. They walked up to the other New Directions as the final round of applause died down and the group broke out into their next Journey number, a mash up.
Rachel with New Directions:
Any way you want it
That's the way you need it
Anyway you want it
Finn:
She loves to laugh
She loves to sing
Finn and Kurt:
She loves everything
Finn:
She loves to move
She loves to groove
Finn and Kurt:
She loves the lovin' things
Rachel (Mercedes):
It won't be long, yeah
'Til you're alone
When your love (with Mercedes: Love) (Love)
Oh he hasn't come home (Oo Woah)
'Cause he's lovin' (Mercedes with New Directions Girls: Lovin')
He's touchin' (Mercedes with New Directions Girls: Touchin')
Rachel and Mercedes:
He's squeezin'
Rachel and Finn:
Another (Mercedes: Another!)
Rachel, Artie and Finn with New Directions:
Any way you want it
That's the way you need it
Any way you want it (New Directions: Any way you want it)
He said any way you want it
That's the way you need it
Any way you want it (New Directions: Oh)
Finn with New Directions:
Na, na, na-na, na-na
Na-na, na-na, na
Na, na, na-na, na
Na-na, na-na, na-na
Puck:
I was alone
I never knew
What good love could do
Finn and Rachel:
Oooh then we touched
Then we sang
About the lovin' things
Rachel:
'Cause she's lovin' (Mercedes with New Directions Girls: Lovin')
He's touchin' (Mercedes with New Direction Girls: Touchin')
Rachel and Mercedes:
He's squeezin'
Rachel and Finn:
Another (Rachel: Yeah!) (Mercedes: Another!)
Rachel, Finn and Artie with New Directions:
Anyway you want it
That's the way you need it
Anyway you want it (New Directions: Anyway you want it)
He said any way you want it
That's the way you need it
Anyway you want it (New Directions: Oh)
Finn with New Directions:
Na, na, na-na, na-na
Na-na, na-na, na
Na, na, na-na, na
Na-na, na-na, na-na
Rachel, Mercedes and Artie with New Directions:
Any way you want it
That's the way you need it
Any way you want it
Mercedes and Artie with New Directions:
(Rachel: He said!) Any way you want it
(Rachel: Ooh!) That's the way you need it
(Rachel: Yeah yeah!)
Rachel, Mercedes and Artie with New Directions:
Any way you want it
That's the way you need it
Any way you want it
Ooh (Mercedes: Yeah ooh)
Finn with New Directions:
Na, na, na-na, na-na (Mercedes: Na na na na!)
Na-na, na-na, na
Na, na, na-na, na (Mercedes: Yeah yeah)
Na-na, na-na, na-na (Mercedes: Na na na na!)
Rachel with New Directions:
Anyway you want it (Finn: Na, na, na-na, na-na)
That's the way you need it (Finn: Na-na, na-na, na)
Anyway you want it (Finn: Na, na, na-na, na; Na-na, na-na, na-na) (Mercedes: Ooh)
Rachel with New Directions:
Any way you want it
That's the way you need it
The group ended the number in a straight horizontal line to cheers and applause with everyone on their feet as they broke into their final song.
Finn:
Just a small town girl
Living in a lonely world
She took the midnight train going anywhere
Rachel:
Just a city boy
Born and raised in South Detroit
He took the midnight train going anywhere
Josh:
A singer in a smoky room
Noelle:
A smell of wine and cheap perfume
Puck and Santana:
For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on and on and on
Brittney and Artie:
Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows
Searching in the night
Rachel and Finn: Streetlight
People
Living just to find emotion
Hiding somewhere in the night
Puck and Quinn: Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows
Searching in the night
Finn and Rachel: Streetlight
People
Living just to find emotion
Hiding somewhere in the night
Mercedes:
Don't stop!
Rachel and Finn with New Directions:
Don't stop believin'
Rachel and Finn:
Hold on to that feelin'
Rachel and Finn with New Directions:
Streetlights
People (Mercedes: Yeah!)
Don't stop believin'
Rachel and Finn:
Hold on to that feeling (Mercedes: Yeah!)
Rachel and Finn with New Directions:
Streetlights
People
Rachel, Mercedes, and Finn with New Directions:
Don't stop!
The crowd went nuts as the group ended their set. Everyone cheered and Rachel took Finn into a hug. As they headed backstage, the members of the New Directions were pumped. They had it in the bag. They were going to win and go to Nationals.
"We've got second place in the bag!" said Tina as she and Rachel walked down the stairs.
"Screw that, we are going to win this thing!" cried Rachel excitedly. Quinn was dragging herself slowly down the steps, Puck helping her.
"Are you okay, babe?" Puck asked. "Maybe you shouldn't have performed."
"I'm fine," said Quinn as Puck led her to the dressing room. Puck and Quinn both stopped as a pop and sploosh were heard and the New Directions gasped. "Oh god, my water just broke."
"Shit," said Puck. "You guys! Someone go get Judy and Mr. Schue! Quinn's having the baby!"
It was chaos for fifteen minutes while Quinn started breathing through contractions. Turns out she had been in labor all day and not realized it. The director of the show choir board had been there and had offered his limo to the New Directions when word got to him. Rachel, Noelle and Josh had stayed behind to represent the group while the others headed to the hospital with Puck and Quinn. After a boring performance from Vocal Adrenaline, the director of the show board made an announcement that Aural Intesity, the first group that had been on, was disqualified because they had performed songs by two of the celebrity judges, calling it "A Conflict of Interest." This meant that the New Directions would place either first or second, regardless of the results. Noelle, Josh and Rachel cheered at this and Noelle texted Finn the good news. Glee Club was still on!
At the hospital, Quinn was breathing through a strong contraction, Mercedes on one side of her, and Puck on the other. Judy had gone to get Quinn some ice chips.
"Oh god, Puck, you are so dead for doing this to me!" moaned Quinn as Puck placed a cool washcloth on her head. "We aren't doing this for ten more years!"
"Just breathe, babe, you're doing great," said Puck. The doctor on call came in and announced that it was time for Quinn to deliver the baby.
"Okay, with your next contraction, bear down as hard as you can, Quinn," said the doctor. Quinn pushed with all of her might, holding strongly on to Puck's hand.
"10, 9, 8, good girl, that's it," said the doctor. "4, 3, 2, and breathe in, and push again, Quinn!" Quinn screamed as the baby started to crown. Puck took a peek at the head and with a horrified groan, returned to Quinn's side, vowing to never be nosy again.
"That's it Quinnie, you're doing it," said Judy. "I can see her."
"OH SHUT UP!" screamed Quinn. "And YOU!" Quinn grabbed Puck by the shirt as she pushed. "You suck, you suck, you suck! You are never touching me again!"
Puck looked at the doctor in horror and she laughed.
"Don't worry, she'll be herself as soon as your baby is here," said the doctor. "Okay, we have a head! Let me suction out her cute little mouth and nose!" Puck took another peek and stared in awe.
"Oh my god, she's got your nose babe," said Puck. Quinn was taking deep, slow breaths as the doctor suctioned the baby.
"Quinn, do you want to catch her?" asked the doctor. Quinn nodded and put her hands down, reaching for her baby.
"You can catch too, Dad," said the doctor. She helped Puck and Quinn deliver the shoulders and Quinn pulled their daughter up to her chest. The baby let out her first cries and Quinn sobbed with joy as Mercedes rushed off to tell the others that the baby was here.
"Hi baby girl," cooed Quinn. "Puck, we did it. Look at her. She's perfect."
"Dad, you want to cut the cord?" the doctor asked. Puck nodded and the doctor instructed him to cut between the clamps. A nurse wrapped a blanket around the baby and Judy kissed her daughter's head.
"She's so beautiful, Quinnie," said Judy. "I'll leave you two be for a while." As Judy left, the doctor began to clean up Quinn and deliver the placenta while Puck and Quinn marveled at their daughter.
"What should we name her? She doesn't look like a Caroline to me," said Quinn.
"How about Elizabeth?" asked Puck. Quinn smiled.
"Yeah, I like that," said Quinn. " But we call her Beth for short."
"I love you," whispered Puck.
"I love you too," replied Quinn, kissing him while trying not to squish Beth.
A knock came at the door and Finn poked his head in.
"Can we come in?" asked Finn.
"Sure," said Quinn and Finn and the others entered the room.
"Noelle texted me and told me that Aural Intesity got disqualified so we have to hurry back," said Finn. "We probably won."
"Sweet," said Puck, high-fiving Finn. "Everyone, say hello to Beth."
"Her full name is Elizabeth Caroline Puckerman," said Quinn with a smile. The girls cooed at the baby while Puck got high-fives and guy hugs from the guys.
"Finn, we want you and Rachel to be her godparents," said Quinn. Finn cracked a smile.
"Rachel will be thrilled," said Finn with a grin on his face. He took a picture of his goddaughter to show Rachel, Noelle and Josh when they got back to the auditorium.
"We gotta go guys," said Will as he received a text from Rachel, stating that the judges had a half-hour left to determine the winner.
"We'll call you and let you know how we placed," continued Will, clapping Puck on the back and placing a hand on Quinn's head. "She's beautiful, congrats again. See you in a couple days."
Back at the auditorium, Rachel, Noelle and Josh stood nervously backstage as they waited for the rest of the New Directions sans Puck and Quinn to return. Rachel had gone to see her mother in Vocal Adrenaline's dressing room. Rachel had called out her mother for the whole Jesse fiasco and told her that New Directions were the real winners and that Vocal Adrenaline should be disqualified for trying to sabotage the New Directions, but she wasn't that mean of a person. Rachel had also told her mother to stay away from her and never try to contact her again. The rest of the group arrived back just in the knick of time as the judges came out with their decision. The New Directions and Vocal Adrenaline stood on the stage with baited breath as the master of ceremonies opened the envelope.
"Your 2010 regional champions are...THE NEW DIRECTIONS!" cried the master of ceremonies. The crowd roared with cheers as the New Directions celebrated their victory. They couldn't believe it. They were headed to their first national championship in a couple months.
"We did it!" cried Noelle, hugging Josh. Josh grinned and hugged her back and Will handed Finn the trophy as he hoisted it high above his head.
"Nationals, here we come!" cried Finn.