Rachel hummed softly to herself as she walked down the empty halls of McKinley, the students long since having left. Save for her Glee club, whom she was rushing to meet in the auditorium for practice. Regionals was coming up and while the choir teacher and New Directions coach had all the faith in her students, there was much work to be done. NYADA, especially Cassandra July, had beaten into her that to be the greatest, you had to work harder than anyone else. Granted, she had that view for the majority of her 22 years of life but NYADA had sent it home.
Her hands were full with sheet music, her notebooks for notes she took for each of her students, both critiques and praises, and her other notebook for song ideas, with each of her student's names whom she believed would be best for the song. Since moving back to Lima, she had noticed a few things had changed over the years. For one, Sue had somehow managed to become Principal, with Figgins nowhere to be seen. Mr. Schue was still technically the coach of New Directions but with his new responsibilities as a father and now teaching both Spanish and History, he was a bit overwhelmed. Enter Rachel and Kurt, though Kurt was more of their costume designer and occasional vocal coach. Along with Sue becoming principal, she had also removed the slushy machine. Bullying was still a problem at the school, though from what Rachel could see, it wasn't nearly as bad as it had been when she attended. Not to mention the Glee Club had become much more popular over the years, the stigma around it having dropped off for whatever reason.
The biggest change in her life however, besides leaving New York, was living with Quinn. Actually owning a home together, right down the street from Rachel's own childhood home. The brunette smiled softly to herself as she turned the corner to the auditorium, passing the alcove where she and Quinn had their first real civil conversation, after Rachel outted Quinn lying about her pregnancy and Babygate was formally named. After that, their relationship had slowly evolved. Finn kicked Quinn out, Puck was useless to say the least, and Rachel had opened her home to the homeless girl. Their friendship had been tentative, feeling each other out. It rapidly changed however, as they grew closer their feelings changed. Both girls noted it, deciding to take it slow and work their way through it. That had been seven years ago and they were still happily together.
"Ms. B?" Rachel jerked, blinking herself out of her reverie to find one of her students, Jackson, looking at her curiously.
"Jackson? Why aren't you in the auditorium with the rest of your teammates? You know it's very important to warm up your vocal chords so not to injure them whilst singing." She scolded lightly, cocking an eyebrow at the boy.
He ducked his head, jamming his hands into the pockets of his jeans and shrugged.
"Stop pickin' on the kid Berry, just cuz you're top dog don't mean ya gotta be like Sylvester." A voice called out, making the woman whirl back around.
Standing at the end of the hall where she had just come from was Santana Lopez in all her glory, arms crossed and hip cocked in perfect Cheerios form.
"Santana? Oh my god what're you doing here?" Rachel shrieked, bolting back to her former roommate and close friend.
The Latina hugged her, laughing slightly at her friend's enthusiasm. "I had to come in for an event. Thought I'd drop by and see you and Lady Hummel." Something mischievous twinkled in her eyes, along with the sly quirking of her lips.
"San, did you find her and Kurt?" Another voice called, Brittany appearing around the corner.
Rachel's eyes widened and soon she was engulfed in Brittany's arms, the other woman lifting her off the floor. She was quick to hug Brittany back, Santana leaning against the wall watching them.
"I've missed you Rachie! It's not the same in the loft without all five of us there," Brittany pouted, Rachel smiling as she pulled away.
"I've missed you too Brittany, so has Quinn and Kurt. Santana, we're still debating about you." Rachel sent the raven-haired woman a wink, which was returned by an eye-roll.
"Looks like we scared off the brat." Rachel looked at her curiously before turning back and finding Jackson had disappeared.
The teacher huffed, stomping her foot the slightest bit, much to the amusement of the other two women in the hall with her. "I swear, I need to put leashes on these kids." She muttered, heading back to the auditorium doors.
"Are you guys coming? We're training for Regionals and I could use a couple of amazing dancers."
"Stop trying to compliment us into helping you Hobbs, this is our vacay." The Latina paused after an elbow from Brittany and an odd look was shared between the two, "We'll be there in a few." She amended.
Rachel shrugged, gathering her discarded papers that littered the floor then shoved open the doors and stepped into the large open air area. The Glee Club was up on stage, what looked to be Lydia leading the warm-ups, and Jackson stood in the back with Dylan and Tyler. The small brunette smiled as she saw the smiles planted on her kids faces.
Kurt and Mr. Schuester had yet to show, not that that was much of a surprise to the Diva at this point, and she set her paperwork down on the directors table in the seats before walking up to the stage. She didn't climb the steps, merely leaned against the front, and watched for a small bit. Once they were finished, Lydia turned and grinned down at their teacher.
"Ms. B! I didn't see you come in. Since you weren't here I decided to get everyone doing warm-ups." The red-haired girl smiled brilliantly and Rachel nodded.
"Thank you, Lydia, that was very thoughtful. Now-."
"Ms. B?" She stopped, looking over to Dylan.
"Yes Dylan?"
"Rachel, sit your ass down and can it." Kurt called out, throwing open the auditorium doors with added dramatics and strutted in.
"Kurt!" She yelped, narrowing her eyes. "Watch your language, we are teachers, not their friends."
He waved a hand as he approached, "I've heard them say much worse and I've heard you say much, much worse." She flushed, knowing exactly what her best friend was referring to, "Now do as I say woman."
Her mouth opened and closed like a fish and he sighed, shoving her back into the first-row seats. She stumbled, glowering at him but took a seat nonetheless, several of her students snickering. Once they got her death glare, they shut up real quick and Kurt hopped up on stage with them. He murmured to them, quietly enough where she couldn't hear and her annoyance peeked. The chocolate eyed girl huffed and crossed her legs and arms, narrowing her orbs at Kurt.
The kids scurried off and he turned back around and pointed directly at her. "No talking, comprende?"
"I loathe you." She stated and he shrugged.
"I love you too." He flashed a smile then disappeared also and then the lights cut.
"Hey! Kurt goddammit!" She shouted, standing from her position and waving her hands around.
Just as she was getting ready to hop up on stage and chase down the idiot she called a best friend, the lights came back up and she stopped and blinked. The curtains had been pulled open, revealing what she dubbed, the original Gleeks. Well, minus her and Quinn anyways. They all grinned at her and she cocked her head.
"What."
"Shut it Berry." Santana said, raising an eyebrow in case the girl fought her.
Instead Rachel sat back down, her mind racing a mile a minute. The band started to play and her confusion grew further, as she immediately recognized the tune.
(Brittany, Santana, and Mercedes)
Can't count the years on one hand
That we've been together
I need the other one to hold you
Make you feel, make you feel better
Rachel sat dumbfounded as they sat Quinn and Hers song, well what the blonde had dubbed their song on their one year anniversary. She had sang it to her every year, making it a tradition and a production. Santana, Brittany, and Kurt all found that out during their time living together but how would the others know?
(Kurt, Blaine, and Puck)
It's not a walk in the park
To love each other
But when our fingers interlock,
Can't deny, can't deny you're worth it
'Cause after all this time I'm still into you
Rachel and Kurt's Glee kids came out then and helped with the chorus, Rachel's eyes widening at the perfect choreography between the old members and new. She smiled, mouthing along to the lyrics, pushing her confusion to the side to enjoy the performance.
(The original Gleeks)
I should be over all the butterflies
But I'm into you (I'm into you)
And baby even on our worst nights
I'm into you (I'm into you)
Let 'em wonder how we got this far
'Cause I don't really need to wonder at all
Yeah, after all this time I'm still into you
This time, the voice that entered the fray was not lost on Rachel, even if the woman joined in at the back end of the chorus. The brunette covered her mouth, her eyes misting a bit as Quinn came into view, smiling and gazing right at her, an identical look of mischief in her eyes to Santana's.
Recount the night that
I first met your mother
And on the drive back to my house
I told you that, I told you that I loved ya
Quinn winked, blowing her a kiss and the others fell into the background, dancing and harmonizing when needed. Rachel watched as Quinn moved easily across the stage, long blonde hair glowing under the lights, the black skirt dancing around her elegant legs, and came into a small white crop top leaving just a sliver of skin showing between.
You felt the weight of the world
Fall off your shoulder
And to your favorite song
We sang along to the start of forever
And after all this time I'm still into you
Quinn pointed at her and smiled as she slid onto the edge of the stage, swinging her feet back and forth, Santana and Brittany joining her on either side and followed suit, their shoulders bumping as they swayed back and forth in time with the beat.
I should be over all the butterflies
But I'm into you (I'm into you)
And baby even on our worst nights
I'm into you (I'm into you)
Let 'em wonder how we got this far
'Cause I don't really need to wonder at all
Yeah, after all this time I'm still into you
The blonde woman slid off the stage then and twirled to Rachel, biting her lip as the woman she loved cupped her hands over her mouth, not bothering to wipe the tears pooling in her eyes. They were happy tears, hell, they were joyous tears and she giggled watching Quinn.
Some things just, some things just make sense
And one of those is you and I (Hey)
Some things just, some things just make sense
And even after all this time (Hey)
Quinn picked her Rachel's hand up and kissed it and leaned in, their noses practically brushing.
I'm into you, baby, not a day goes by
That I'm not into you
Quinn pulled away then, much to the confusion of Rachel. She watched as the blonde slid down to one knee and if the brunette's eyes could widen any further they did. As Quinn sang, she pulled out a small velvet box, looking up at Rachel with adoration. As the next verse started, the Gleeks picked it up.
I should be over all the butterflies
But I'm into you (I'm into you)
"Rachel Barbra Berry, I have a question for you." Quinn smiled up at her, her own eyes beginning to mist.
"Yes?" Rachel choked out, blinking away the tears and dropping her hands from her lips.
And baby even on our worst nights
I'm into you (I'm into you)
Let 'em wonder how we got this far
"Will you do me the honor of marrying me?"
Rachel's heart clenched and she nearly tackled Quinn as she wrapped her arms around her.
'Cause I don't really need to wonder at all
Yeah, after all this time
"Yes, yes, a thousand times yes." Rachel practically sang, Quinn's eyes glimmering with the unshed tears and the most radiant smile spread across her lips.
She took the engagement ring out carefully and took Rachel's hand, easily slipping it onto her left ring finger. The brunette flung her arms around her neck after and their lips crashed together as multi-colored balloons fell from the rafters, courtesy of Sue and Will, who grinned down at the two. The original Gleeks all cheered, the new generation finishing off the song.
I'm still into you
I'm still into you
I'm still into you