A.N. ...Sorry for the slight delay, Life kicked me in the teeth and writting took a back seat for a little while.

A.N2: Thanks to all of you who read and commented. You guys rock hardcore!

Wednesday December 2, 2009

2:10 P.M.

Kurt and Quinn had been prepared for the fact that Jane Adams and Haverbrook were going to steal all of their numbers but the wave of anger that washed over them had been surprising.

Kurt snapped at Santana, "You leaked the set list. You never wanted to be here, your just Sue Sylvester's moles."

Quinn's crossed her arms, "I know for a fact that is true. Sue told us to spy on you."

Santana spat defensively, "That may be true but neither of us gave Sue the set list."

Brittany looked down and muttered, "Well… I did but… but I didn't know what she was going to do with it."

Santana winced at the ugly looks that the club was directing at her and Brittany and scrambled, "Look no one is forcing me to stay in Glee, and I'll deny it if you all tell anyone but I like being in Glee, it's the best part of my day ok? I wasn't going to do anything to mess that up." She leaned against the wall and folded her arms protectively around herself.

Rachel quietly spoke, "I believe you." Quinn and Kurt both relaxed as they had done the first time. It was almost unconscious but the faith of their star, their captain, was more powerful than anyone would ever admit.

Rachel shook her head, "This is irrelevant, regardless of who leaked the list we need new numbers, Mercedes do you have anything else in your repertoire?"

Mercedes sighed, "Yeah but it won't be as good as anything you're going to come up with."

Rachel shook her head, "No we agreed you-"

Mercedes interrupted, "We agreed I would sing 'And I'm Telling You' and I'm saying that ain't gonna happen."

Rachel ran a hand through her hair and then turned, "I…"

Quinn stepped forward before Finn had a chance and grabbed Rachel's hands, "Rachel you can do this, you've been singing since before you could walk."

Rachel smiled, "I know Quinn… Normally I would suggest…" She turned to Kurt and her face cleared, "The ballad can be a solo or a duet right?"

Mercedes answered her, "Yeah… why?"

Rachel grinned and motioned Kurt over, "I have an idea."

Kurt hurried over and Rachel whispered something in his ear and Kurt's face lit up like it was Christmas.

He leaned back to look at Rachel, "Really?"

Rachel's eyes shined and she nodded, "Yes. I think it would be amazing."

Kurt nodded, "How would we arrange it?"

Rachel smiled, "You and Mercedes are the best at arranging music besides me, break up the song and then we'll go from there."

Kurt nodded, grabbed Mercedes hand and dragged her into the corner.

Quinn grinned, "I guess we have our ballad, and we can close with 'Somebody to Love', it's a real crowd pleaser."

Puck growled, "Great, that and a can soup will guarantee us third place, we still need another song we can all sing together."

Quinn grabbed Kurt's laptop and waved them off, "I have an idea."

3:30 P.M.

Kurt and Rachel smiled at each other and waited for their cue.

The music swelled and Rachel threw open the curtain, "Something has changed within me, something is not the same. I'm through with playing by the rules of someone else's game…"

Kurt went through the opposite curtain and belted, "Too late for second-guessing, too late to go back to sleep. It's time to trust my instincts, close my eyes and leap!"

Their voices blended beautifully, "It's time to try defying gravity. I think I'll try defying gravity. Kiss me goodbye I'm defying gravity and you won't bring me down!"

Kurt caught his father's eye in the crowd and smiled at him. His dad's eyes were wide and misty as he proudly puffed out his chest as if to say, 'That's my boy.' As Kurt took over after Rachel's next part his eyes tracked the crowd and found Rachel's dads. The two men looked just as proud as his father and for the hundredth time Kurt was glad he had been brave.

The two divas met in the middle of the stage as their voice melded again and they joined hands. They smiled at each other and continued the song.

During a short pause right before a crescendo Rachel and Kurt held out their free hands and said together, "McKinley High's New Directions!" The rest of the glee club filed out with grins in place.

The crowd stood to applaud as Rachel and Kurt continued in true Diva fashion. Their eyes were bright and alive and Kurt for one would have voted for them.

Kurt gave Rachel's hand a squeeze as they hit the high note together and he caught her proud smile. He got what Quinn meant. When Rachel smiled at him like that he felt like he was a million feet tall.

Rachel ended the song with a flourish and the two divas smiled and parted to take their places.

6:05 P.M.

The bus ride back was loud and exciting. Santana had taken custody of the trophy they had received and refused to part with it.

The bus driver smiled from the front as he listened to the show choir sing.

Mercedes crowed after they finished their rendition of a Black Eyed Peas song, "I'm saying my man Kurt and Miss Diva were off the hook!"

Mike held up his hands, "No argument here."

Kurt smiled as Puck slapped him happily on the back. The smaller boy slipped past Finn and slid into the seat next to Rachel.

He was quiet for a moment before, "Why'd you suggest 'Defying Gravity'?"

Rachel looked at him in surprise, "Well our voices blend well and it is an excellent ballad…"

Kurt shook his head, "Why'd you suggest it as a duet?"

Rachel looked down, "It was unexpected…? I just thought…"

Kurt held up and hand and gently replied, "I not saying I'm not grateful… I am, I've always dreamed of singing it on stage but… I blew the note. Why would you risk me doing it at Sectionals?"

Rachel arched an eyebrow and then looked down, "I know you threw the song Kurt."

Kurt's eyes nearly popped out of his head, "How…?"

Rachel looked ashamed, "I watched you practicing. I saw you hit the note beautifully, so I knew I was going to lose and then you blew the note and I couldn't figure it out but… I was glad. I wouldn't have won otherwise."

Kurt voice was pitchy, "You knew?"

Rachel flinched, "I'm sorry. I know I should have said something…"

Kurt fought the instinctual urge to snap at Rachel, "I… It was because of my dad." He went with honesty one more time.

Rachel looked up, "Your dad wanted you to throw the solo?"

Kurt chuckled, "No." He looked down and whispered, "He got a call from someone, calling me a fag… and he freaked out a little. He's been so great that I… I didn't want him to have to deal with his son singing a girls' song in public."

Rachel's eyes narrowed, "Who called?" Her voice was little more than an angry hiss.

Kurt shrugged, "No idea, probably one of the jocks from the football team."

Rachel's face was red, "That is absolutely abhorrent! What kind of coward calls someone like that! At least Noah had the courage to call me fag spawn to my face."

Kurt blanched, "He called you what?"

Rachel waved him off, "Freshmen year, he has since apologized."

Kurt's voice got quiet again, "How… how do you deal with it? How do you deal with the small minded idiots?"

Rachel gave a shaky sigh, "Love is love, at least that's what I've always thought. You have to love more than they hate. I love my dads… I couldn't ask for better parents so for me it is natural to defend them."

Kurt hung his head, "My dad… he didn't defend me. He got mad at me."

Rachel took his hand, "When I was younger… I used to get angry. I used to storm out, and yell, and cry, not because I hated my dads or because I was mad at them but rather because I was scared, for them and for me."

Kurt scoffed, "You're saying my dad was scared?"

Rachel nodded, "Is that so surprising? My daddy, Eli, he remembered your father, from high school."

Kurt's head snapped to look at Rachel, "My dad knew one of your dads?"

Rachel nodded and let out a sighed, "Yes." She hesitated, "Kurt, I'm not sure you want to hear this. Your dad, from what you've told us, is amazing."

Kurt was curious now, "He is… what does that have to do with anything?"

Rachel asked point blank, "My daddy was out in high school, and he and your dad… they were not friends."

Kurt sucked in a breath, "I… I think I need to."

Rachel gripped his hand, "When I told my dad you and I were friends he was… reluctant to say the least. He sat me down and told me that when he was in high school the boys had tortured him. One boy in particular had made it his mission to make my dad's life hell. He was cruel."

Kurt wanted desperately to pull his hand from Rachel's but he had wanted to hear her story.

She continued, "Burt Hummel. He stole my dad's clothes in gym, spray painted fag on his locker, tied him to the flag pole with 'Queer' written on his forehead… he was awful. My dad hated your father and your father knew it. Your father was one of the boys that you now have to deal with, is it any wonder he's afraid? Can you imagine knowing that his son might be subjected to the torture he once took part in? It would terrify me."

Kurt's hands were shaking and Rachel squeezed his hand tighter.

Kurt swallowed, "He… did all that?" He closed his eyes and recalled what his father had said to Finn, about believing that Finn was a different kind of boy, a boy who just knew that treating Kurt badly was wrong. He let out choked sob at the idea that his dad, the man who had been so understanding, had once taken part in the bashing that sometimes kept Kurt up night.

Rachel scooted closer, "He also apologized. He came to our house and apologized. He even cried. He said he was sorry for all that he had done, that he hoped that his son could be as strong as my daddy. My daddy forgave him."

Kurt's head snapped up, "He did?"

Rachel nodded, "He forgave your father because Burt didn't know any better. He loves you so much Kurt and my daddy saw that. He saw that the boy who had tortured him grew up to be a man who loved his gay son more than anything in the world."

Kurt choked, "I… I can't imagine forgiving every asshole who has ever hurt me."

Rachel breathed, "Do you hate Noah? Or Finn?"

Kurt shook his head, "No, of course not. They've changed, well mostly." He remembered that in a couple months Finn would still be fully capable of going off on him and call him a fag.

Rachel smiled, "Your dad changed too. That's why I forgave Quinn."

Kurt asked, "I always wondered why you forgave Quinn so easily."

Rachel looked at the blonde with an unreadable look, "I can't imagine growing up in a family that hates so much. Quinn comes from a very Christian family that isn't very Christian at all. They tell people, 'God loves everyone, except you'. I can't imagine having a father who would kick me out for one mistake."

Kurt shivered, "Me either."

Rachel's gaze pierced Quinn, "You have to love Kurt. You have to love them more than they hate you. I'm bossy, and a diva, and very self involved, but I know how to love."

Kurt looked skeptical, "I have to love… people who treat me like crap?"

Rachel nodded, "Your dad will grow into his courage Kurt. It will take time but he'll protect you, like I protect my dads. He'll do it because he loves you."

Kurt murmured, "Thank you Rachel."

Rachel smiled brightly at him, "You're welcome Kurt."

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