Chapter 23 The Greatest Gift of All
Noelle was sitting at the kitchen table, reading the latest issue of Variety magazine as she ate a bowl of cereal a few weeks later. Christmas break had just started, and the brownstone was decorated for the holiday, along with Rachel's menorah sitting in the window for Hannukah.
"Hey Noe, morning," said Rachel, coming downstairs with Reagan in her arms.
"Hey sis, hi Reagan!" said Noelle, giving her niece a kiss and a hug as Rachel set her in her bouncer on the table. "Where's Finn and my nephew?"
"Finn's upstairs changing William," said Rachel.
"Ah," said Noelle. Rachel started to make the twins' bottles, using the milk she had pumped the night before and put into the fridge and freezer.
"Anything exciting in Variety this week?" Rachel asked.
"Haven't seen anything else," Noelle said as she flipped a page. "Hold up, I take that back. Rach, Wicked's looking for a new Elphaba and Nessarose!"
"Are you serious?" Rachel asked excitedly, coming over and reading the ad. "Wait, auditions are tomorrow afternoon!"
"Oh my god, we should audition!" Noelle replied.
"Noe, Nessarose regains the use of her legs, remember?" Rachel replied.
"Yeah I know," said Noelle. "Don't tell Finn or anyone else yet, but..." Rachel gasped as she watched Noelle grabbed the table and slowly stood up.
"Oh my god, Noelle!" cried Rachel. "How? When?"
"I regained feeling last week," said Noelle. "I'm going back into remission. Don't know how long for this time. I made an appointment with a specialist for tomorrow morning. This is going to be part of Josh and Finn and everyone else's Christmas present. Don't tell them, okay? If everything goes well, I should be back on my feet in no time permanently. Hopefully for a long time this time."
Noelle heard someone coming downstairs and she panicked and sat back in her wheelchair. It was Mercedes.
"Morning Wheezy," replied Rachel.
"Morning Momma, morning Gimpy," Mercedes replied. "Hi Reagan! Come see Aunt Cedes."
Mercedes bounced Reagan in her bouncer and Reagan smiled and laughed.
"Here Wheezy, give this to her please?" Rachel asked, handing Mercedes a bottle.
"Sure thing Momma," said Mercedes, taking the bottle and taking Reagan in her arms. Just then, Finn walked into the kitchen with William. Noelle and Rachel shared a look as Kurt, Josh, and Santana followed.
"Come and get it," said Rachel, putting the cereal and milk on the table for the non-health food people before making a bowl of granola and fruit for herself.
"Hey Finn, Noelle and I are going out for a bit," said Rachel the next day. "We'll be back, okay?"
"Okay honey," said Finn, reading the newspaper.
"Make sure the twins get their bottles," said Rachel.
"Okay honey," said Finn, his eyes still on the newspaper. Rachel helped Noelle out the door and as soon as the door closed, Noelle stood out of her wheelchair and the two walked down the steps. Rachel hailed a taxi and they shoved the wheelchair in the trunk before taking off.
They arrived at Noelle's specialist about twenty minutes later and Noelle got back in the wheelchair and wheeled into the office.
Rachel sat in one of the waiting room chairs as Noelle wheeled up to the receptionist.
"Hi, I have a 9:00 appointment with Dr. Bauer?" Noelle said to the receptionist.
"Name?" the nurse behind the receptionist asked.
"Noelle Hudson?" Noelle replied.
"Ah yes, Noelle, here we are," said the nurse, bringing up her file. "If you will follow me."
"Hey Rach, come on!" said Noelle, waving her over. Rachel got up and followed Noelle.
"Hi I'm Rachel Berry-Hudson, Noelle's sister-in-law," said Rachel to the nurse that was showing them to the examination room.
"Hi Rachel, it's nice to meet you," said the nurse. "I'm Penny. Here we go, Dr. Bauer will be in in a moment."
Noelle parked her chair by the table and Rachel helped her up slowly and helped her up onto the table. A knock came at the door and Dr. Bauer walked in.
"Hi Noelle," she said.
"Hi Dr. Bauer," said Noelle. "This is my sister-in-law, Rachel."
"Hi Rachel, it's nice to meet you," said Dr. Bauer as they shook hands. "Noelle's told me a lot about you and Finn and the twins. Congratulations."
"Thanks," said Rachel. "They'll be a month old next week, just in time for Christmas."
"My goodness," said Dr. Bauer. "Okay Noelle, so let's see how we're doing today." She started poking Noelle's toes and feet and Noelle was trying to stifle from laughing as she was ticklish there.
"Well, that's a good sign that you're ticklish there," said Dr. Bauer laughing. "And you said you were able to walk again?"
"Yeah, here and there," said Noelle. "How long do you think I'll be in remission this time?"
"Hopefully for ten or fifteen years," said Dr. Bauer. "This is going to be a long term remission, Noelle. If there was ever a time to start living your life to the fullest, it's now. I'll have to run a couple more tests to be sure though."
"Oh my god, Noelle! This is great!" Rachel exclaimed, hugging her. "This is the best Christmas present ever!"
"I know, right!" exclaimed Noelle. "So what do you want to do, Doc?"
"Well, we'll schedule an MRI and a cat scan of your brain and neurological system for in about a month after the holidays," said Dr. Bauer. "But I'm clearing you to go ahead and stop using your chair and walk."
"Whoohoo!" said Noelle, doing an impression of Homer Simpson.
"Next, we have Rachel Berry-Hudson and Noelle Hudson," said the Wicked producer later that afternoon.
"Hi," said Rachel as she and Noelle walked out onto the stage.
"Hi Rachel, hi Noelle, according to this you are sisters?" asked the producer.
"Sisters-in-law," Noelle corrected. "Rachel's married to my brother, Finn."
"Ah," said the producer. "I understand you two are auditioning for Elphaba and Nessarose?"
"Yes," said Rachel.
"And what will you two be singing for us?" asked the producer.
"A classic," said Noelle. She smiled at Rachel and nodded to the piano player, who started playing as the two sang. They reminisced about McKinley and thought of their friends as they sang.
Noelle (Rachel):
Forget your troubles. (Happy days)
Come on get happy. (Are here again)
You better chase all your cares away. (The skies above are clear again)
Shout hallelujah. (So let's sing a song)
Come on get happy. (Of cheer again)
Get ready for the judgement day. (Happy days are here again)
The sun is shining. Come on get happy. (Shout it now)
The lord is waiting to take your hand. (There is no one who can doubt it now)
Shout hallelujah. (So lets tell the world)
And just get happy. (About it now)
We are going to the promise land. (Happy days are here again)
We're heading across the river, soon your cares will all be gone. (There'll be no more from now on)
Noelle and Rachel:
From now on!
Noelle (Rachel):
Forget your troubles. (Oh, happy days)
And just get happy. (Are here again)
You better chase all your blues away. (The skies above are clear again)
Shout Hallelujah. (So lets sing a song)
And just get happy. (Of cheer again)
Rachel (Noelle):
Happy times! (Happy times!)
Happy nights! (Happy nights!)
Noelle and Rachel:
Happy days! Are. Here. Again!
The producers applauded and Rachel smiled.
"Thank you ladies, that was wonderful!" said the producer. "We'll be calling you if we want you for callbacks."
"So when are you going to tell everyone you got to ditch the wheelchair?" Rachel asked Noelle as they walked up to the brownstone. Noelle donated her wheelchair to Goodwill as soon as they had left the doctor's office.
"As soon as we walk in the door," grinned Noelle. "Let's have some fun though, shall we?"
Rachel laughed and entered the door.
"YOU GUYS! HELLO! WE'RE BACK!" Rachel yelled. "GET DOWN HERE QUICK! HURRY!" Noelle and Rachel grinned as they heard a stampede of feet and Finn, Josh, Kurt, Mercedes and Santana came running down the stairs.
"Baby, what is it-holy shit, Noelle!" cried Finn.
"Holy crap!" said Santana as everyone stared at a standing Noelle.
"Surprise you guys!" said Noelle.
"You can walk again?" Kurt cried.
"Yeah, I got feeling back last week so I went to my neurologist today," said Noelle. "She said I'm in long-term remission. No more wheelchair!"
"Yaye!" everyone cried as Josh picked Noelle up and swung her around.
"This is the best Christmas present, ever!" said Josh gleefully.
"Speaking of good news, Rachel and I auditioned for Wicked today!' said Noelle.
"What?" Finn asked excitedly to Rachel.
"Yeah, the phone calls for callbacks are in a few weeks," said Rachel.
"Oh my god! This is great!" said Santana. "What about NYU?"
"We'll still go to our classes," said Noelle. "Rehearsals and shows are in the afternoons and evenings anyways."
"Have you told Mom and Dad yet about you walking?" Finn asked Noelle.
"No, I'm going to surprise them when they get here tomorrow," Noelle grinned.
"Speaking of which, we should get the brownstone ready for them," said Rachel. "Are the twins asleep?"
"Yeah, just put them down," said Finn as they walked upstairs to the nursery.
"Good, hopefully they stay asleep for the night," said Rachel as she leaned over the cribs and kissed the twins goodnight.
Downstairs, Josh and Noelle were laying in bed, cuddling.
"Are you mad I kept this from you?" Noelle asked Josh.
"A little bit," said Josh. "But I understand you wanted to make sure it was long-term."
"Yeah, I just needed to see Dr. Bauer," said Noelle. "Come here, I'm all yours, Koontz."
"They're here! They're here!" Santana said excitedly, looking out the window as everyone was putting presents under the tree.
"Quick! Places everyone!" said Noelle, who immediately headed into the kitchen to hide. The others scurried into the foyer with the twins while Noelle hid. The doorbell rang and Finn opened it to reveal the Koontzs, Carole, Burt, Frank, and Alice.
"Hi, Merry Christmas!' everyone said.
"Hi guys!" said Carole as hugs and kisses were exchanged. "Where's Noelle?"
"She had something she had to go take care of, but she'll be back in a bit," said Josh. "Come on, let's get you settled in." They led the group into the living room, Burt place the sack of presents they had brought under the tree.
"Mercedes, Santana, your families asked us to bring you your presents," Burt said, holding up a few boxes. "There's presents from the Lima New Directions too."
"Awesome, thanks Mr. Hummel," said Santana. "Oh, we have a present for all of you guys too, but it was too big to fit under the tree." She said the last part a bit loud and the Hummels, Frank, Alice and the Koontzs gasped when Noelle walked into the living room from the kitchen.
"Surprise!" said Noelle with a smile.
"Oh my lord!" cried Carole. "Honey! You're walking?!"
"I'm in long-term remission!" grinned Noelle. "My doctor said I'm going to be normal for years! No more chair!'
Everyone cheered as Burt and Carole hugged Noelle.
"Looks like you'll be able to walk me down the aisle instead of pushing me after all, Dad," Noelle grinned.
"This is the best present I could ever ask for," said Burt.
The group continued putting presents under the tree as Noelle sat at the piano that they had bought and played Christmas carols. Everyone stopped and listened as Josh started singing to the melody Noelle was playing.
Josh: Dawn is slowly breaking
Our friends have all gone home
You and I are waiting
For Santa Claus to come
There´s a present by the tree
Stockings on the wall
(And knowing you´re in love with me)
And knowing Christ is born to me
Is the greatest gift of all.
Noelle: The fire is slowly fading
Chill is in the air
All the gifts are waiting
For children everywhere
Through the window I can see
Snow begin to fall
(Knowing you`re in love with me)
Knowing Christ is born to me
Is the greatest gift of all.
Josh and Noelle (with Rachel, Finn, Santana, Kurt and Mercedes):
Just before I go to sleep
I hear a church bell ring
Merry Christmas everyone
Is the song it sings
So I say a silent prayer
For creatures great and small
Peace on Earth, good will to men
Is the greatest gift of all.
Peace on Earth, good will to men
Josh and Noelle: Is the greatest gift of all.
A few weeks later, after the new year, the group sans Josh (who was over at Pace) was sitting at NYU for another semester. Dean Winters was astondished at Noelle's long-term remission and immediately congratulated her. The twins were at daycare while everyone went to their classes.
"Okay, here we go," said Noelle, "so you take the diminished fifth, and raise it four steps..." At that moment, Noelle's phone rang, blaring the Superman theme in the student union.
"Hello?" Noelle asked as she answered the phone. "Yes it is." A pause. "Yes, she's here too." Another pause. "Oh my gosh, really? Great! Yes, we'll be there! Okay, 4:00 tomorrow? Okay sure! Thank you so much! Goodbye!" As Noelle hung up the phone, her brothers and friends looked weirdly at her.
"What was that?" Rachel asked. "Was that-"
"That was the producer from Wicked!" Noelle said excitedly. "We both got callbacks!"
"Oh my god!" Rachel cried. "Oh my god, yes!"
"Wait, it gets better!" said Noelle. "Instead of considering me for Nessarose, they want to consider me as Glinda's replacement! The girl playing her is leaving! Rachel, our dream roles are coming true!"
They screamed in excitement, along with the others, who hugged them and jumped up and down excitedly as the other students in the student union looked at them in awe. A few others had cheered and applauded at the news.
"Oh my gosh! We need to go practice our callback numbers!" said Rachel.
"We'll see you guys at home then," said Finn. "I'll go pick up the twins from daycare."
"Okay," said Rachel, giving him a kiss. "I love you."
"I love you too," said Finn. Rachel and Noelle gathered their things and hurried to secure a practice room.
Rachel and Noelle both took a deep breath as they approached the room for the Wicked callbacks the next afternoon. They signed their names on the sign-in sheet and sat in the chairs waiting to be called.
"Rachel Berry-Hudson?" the casting director called.
"Break a leg, Sis," said Noelle, squeezing Rachel's hands. Rachel smiled at her and entered the audition room.
"Hi Rachel," said the producer.
"Hello," said Rachel.
"Before you sing, tell us why you want to be Elphaba," he said.
"Well, growing up I always had this dream about making something of myself, whether being a star or making a difference in peoples' lives. Being married and the mother of twins changed that a bit, but I've learned to juggle married life and motherhood with my education and career. I've always felt like I could relate to Elphaba. I was the oddball out at my high school. I felt alone. Like no one cared. Then I met my husband, and my best friends, and I was suddenly popular. Now I'm here in a new city with my husband, and his siblings, my children, and our friends, and I've held the ground that my friends and family are the most important thing in my life."
"Great, what will you be singing?" he asked.
"Well, this was the song that started it all in my life," said Rachel. "It's a classic that my friends and I sang in school."
"Okay, fire away," said the producer smiling. The piano player started to play as Rachel nodded to him.
Rachel:
Oooh
Just a small town girl
Livin' in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin' anywhere
Just a city boy
Born and raised in South Detroit
He took the midnight train goin' anywhere
Rachel:
A singer in a smokey room
A smell of wine and cheap perfume
For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on and on and on
(Strangers waiting)
Up and down the boulevard
Their (shadows searching) in the night
(Streetlights, people)
Livin' just to find emotion
(Hiding somewhere) in the night!
Oooh!
Workin' hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill
Payin' anything to roll the dice
Just one more time
Some will win
Some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on
(Strangers waiting)
Up and down the boulevard
Their (shadows searching) in the night
Ooh (Streetlights, people)
Livin' just to find emotion
(Hiding somewhere) in the night!
Rachel:
(Woah, ooh!)
Don't stop believin'
(Hold on to that feelin')
Streetlights, people, ooh! (The Group: Whoa, oh)
Don't stop believin'
(Hold on!)
Street lights people, ooh! (The Group: Whoa, oh)
Don't stop!
"That was great Rachel!" said the producer, standing up and clapping. "I noticed you changed something in the middle of the song. What was it?"
"I was thinking about my friends, and how if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be where I am," said Rachel.
"Well, thank you, that was a lovely performance." Rachel nodded and exited the room and grinned at Noelle.
"I heard you sing," Noelle grinned. "That was amazing." She hugged Rachel.
"Noelle Hudson?" the casting director called.
"Break a leg," said Rachel and Noelle smiled and entered the room.
"Hi Noelle," said the producer.
"Hi," said Noelle.
"What will you be singing for us?" he asked.
"A Celine Dion classic," said Noelle.
"Okay," said the producer.
Noelle:
Don't know much about your life
Don't know much about your world but
Don't want to be alone tonight
On this planet they call earth
You don't know about my past
And I don't have a future figured out
And maybe this is going too fast
And maybe it's not meant to last
But what do you say to taking chances?
What do you say to jumping off the edge?
Never knowing if there's solid ground below
Or a hand to hold, or hell to pay
What do you say?
What do you say?
I just want to start again
Maybe you could show me how to try
Maybe you could take me in
Somewhere underneath your skin
What do you say to taking chances?
What do you say to jumping off the edge?
Never knowing if there's solid ground below
Or a hand to hold, or hell to pay
What do you say?
What do you say?
And I had my heart beaten down
But I always come back for more, yeah
There's nothing like love to pull you up
When you're lying down on the floor there
So talk to me, talk to me
Like lovers do
Yeah walk with me, walk with me
Like lovers do
Like lovers do
What do you say to taking chances?
What do you say to jumping off the edge?
Never knowing if there's solid ground below
Or a hand to hold, or hell to pay
What do you say?
What do you say?
Don't know much about your life
Don't know much about your world
"That was incredible!" said the producer. "And what were you thinking about while singing that?"
"My fiancé," Noelle replied with a smile. "How he and I have been through so many obstacles in life, and that our future is uncertain and that we're just living life to the fullest now. Um, I didn't say this before, but I wanted to tell you that I have multiple sclerosis. I've been in and out of a wheelchair since I was twelve. I'm in long-term remission now, so I'm following my doctor's orders and living life and following my dreams and living every day like it's my last."
"Wow," said the producer. "Well, thank you very much Noelle, you were wonderful. We will let you and Rachel know soon if you got the parts."
"Okay, thank you for this opportunity Sir," said Noelle with a smile.
"Of course," he replied.
"Well, hopefully we get the parts," said Noelle as they entered the brownstone later that day. They saw Finn and the others gathered around the table, looking grim.
"What's wrong guys?" Noelle asked in a panic.
"There was a shooting at McKinley today," said Finn.
"Oh my god," said Noelle, raising a hand to her mouth. "Is everyone okay?"
"Yeah, everyone's fine," said Santana. "But Coach Sylvester's been fired. She claimed the gun as hers and it accidentally went off when she was doing her daily safety check."
"Wow," said Rachel.
"How did callbacks go?" Finn asked.
"They said they would call us soon and let us know if we got the parts," said Noelle.
"I'm gonna go check on the twins," said Rachel.
"Okay," said Mercedes as Noelle sat down and Rachel headed upstairs.
"This is crazy, imagine if it had been an actual shooting," murmured Noelle.
"Well, the teachers acted like it was," said Santana. "They locked down all the rooms. Brittney and a few others were hiding in the bathroom and Mr. Schue found them when Sam started freaking out about Brittney's whereabouts."
"I'm just glad everyone's okay," said Mercedes. "Mike called me, freaking out about Tina. He saw it on the news and was trying to get ahold of her but couldn't. Turns out she'd left her phone at home."
"Wow," murmured Josh as Rachel came back downstairs with the twins in hand. She handed Reagan to Finn and handed William to Mercedes. Just then, Noelle's cell phone rang.
"Hello?" Noelle asked. "Uh huh? Yes. Okay, thank you very much. Of course I'll tell her. Bye." As Noelle hung up, Rachel looked at Noelle in confusion.
"Who was that?' Rachel asked.
"That was the producer," said Noelle. "Rach, we're the new Elphaba and Glinda! We got the parts."
"What?" Rachel asked breathlessly.
"We got the parts!" Noelle screamed excitedly.
"Oh my god!" cried Rachel, hugging Noelle. "We're actually doing it! We're going to be Broadway stars!"
The group cheered and hugged the two and Noelle looked at her friends and her brothers.
"If it wasn't for you guys, we wouldn't be standing here now," Noelle said.
"Yeah, we owe it all to you guys!" said Rachel as she kissed Finn. "Oh my gosh! We need to call Puck and Quinn and everyone and tell them!"
"Tell us what?" came a familiar voice.
"Oh my god, Quinn! Puck!" said Rachel as the group turned to see Puck, Quinn and Beth standing in the foyer, bags in hand. "What are you guys doing here?"
"Do you want to tell them?" Puck asked Quinn. Quinn nodded.
"I dropped out of Yale," said Quinn.
"What?" Noelle asked in shock.
"Going to Yale was the biggest mistake of my life," said Quinn. "We weren't happy there, Puck, Beth and I. We were away from the ones we truly love the most. So we bought the brownstone next door and here we are!"
"Oh my god!" cried Rachel excitedly as she hugged Quinn. "But what about school? Or work? What are you guys going to do?"
"Oh, that's the other thing," said Puck. "I enlisted in the Air Force. It'll help pay for college and we get great benefits."
"What?" screeched the group.
"He leaves for boot camp in a month," said Quinn. "Which means that Puck and I are moving up our wedding to next month, on our anniversary."
There was a gasp among the group.
"And that's not all," said Quinn. "Show them your shirt, Bethie."
Beth smiled and unzipped her coat to reveal a shirt that read, "I'm the Big Sister!"
"Oh my god, Puckerman, you did it again!" said Santana as Rachel, Mercedes, and Noelle squealed in excitement and hugged Quinn. "Another Puckerman oopsie baby."
"Nah, not really," Quinn said as she hugged Santana. "To be honest, we were trying."
"Seriously?" Kurt asked, looking disgusted. Quinn scoffed.
"No, are you kidding me?" asked Quinn. "Apparently we're the most unluckiest couple out there. Even my birth control and the condom failed with this one. Baby number two is due in August." Everyone laughed.
"This is so great, we're almost all here!" said Finn, hugging Puck with a guy slap on the back.
"Now we REALLY need Mike!" added Mercedes. "And Brittney, Sam, Artie, Tina, Harmony, Mel, Heather, and Blaine when they graduate."
"Agreed!" said Noelle. "The New Directions are taking over New York!"
"So what was the news you wanted to tell us, Rach?" Quinn asked as Rachel passed William to her, and Finn handed Reagan to Puck.
"Noelle and I are the new Glinda and Elphaba in Wicked!" said Rachel excitedly.
"Naw, get out, for real?" Quinn asked. The two nodded and Quinn squealed.
"That's fantastic!" said Quinn excitedly. "When do you start?"
"June," replied Noelle. "It will coincide with classes ending."
"Awesome," said Quinn. "OH crap, not again." She quickly handed William to Finn and made a mad dash for the downstairs bathroom, and the group winced as they heard her throw up.
"Well that's something I haven't heard in awhile," murmured Josh and everyone laughed at the disgusted look on his face.