Hey everyone. Thanks so much for all your reviews on the last chapter. It was one of my favorites, so I really enjoyed writing it. Finchel and Klaine will both be married before this story ends, I promise. I'm not the Glee writers. (Those S6 spoilers... no me gusta.) Enjoy this chapter and review if you want me to keep going!
Chapter 43: Turning Points
After a fun weekend in Lima, all the graduates returned to their new towns. The two engaged couples, in particular, could not be any happier. Kurt and Blaine's families were thrilled by the news of their engagement, and Rachel felt one step closer to the wedding of her dreams now that she had her dress and the bridesmaids had their dresses. Valentine's Day was coming up soon as well - which would be special for the two engaged couples.
Back in New York, Rachel couldn't help but be a little happier now that she had her dress and that her best friend was also engaged. Finn was at work right now, so Rachel felt safe to look at some pictures from the bridal shop in the password protected album on her computer.
"Rachel, your wedding dress is beautiful," Shelby said, coming into Rachel and Finn's room. "Kylie sent me a picture."
"I'm glad Kylie sent you one," Rachel said. "I love it, I think it's perfect."
"Well, you look beautiful in it," Shelby said. "I just wish I could have come with you."
"Shelby, you don't need to worry, you're sick," Rachel said. "I had lots of help from Carole, Kurt and my bridesmaids. I just hope you're well enough to be there on my wedding day."
"I will be there, no matter what it takes," Shelby said. "The bridesmaid dress is beautiful, too."
"Thank you," Rachel said. "I got one for myself too to wear for the rehearsal. And when we take Beth to get a flower girl dress, it'll be the same color as the older girls' dresses."
"Beth's so excited to be the flower girl in the wedding," Shelby said.
"Well, I'm excited for the wedding," Rachel said. "And for Kurt and Blaine's wedding too, of course."
"You'll be the most beautiful bride ever," Shelby said.
Finn came inside. "Hey babe," Rachel said. "How was work?"
"It was fine," Finn said. He held up an envelope that looked legal. "This came today."
"Oh, I bet I know what that is," Rachel said.
"Me too," Finn added. He opened the envelope and opened it. "The court hearing against Brody and Jesse is in three weeks."
"Good," Rachel said. "I hope they end up where they belong, just like Lucy."
"I still can't believe she's his cousin," Finn said.
"Well, they have lots of similarities," Rachel said. "They were both attracted to us and mistreated us."
"And they both thought that they were special, but in reality, they're losers," Finn said.
"I always thought Jesse was a good kid back in his Vocal Adrenaline days," Shelby commented. "I didn't think he was... like that."
"We keep saying that we knew we didn't like Jesse and Brody, but we didn't think that they were criminals," Rachel added.
"I did have a feeling Lucy was linked to it somehow," Finn said. "Since she and Brody are cousins, they probably were in this together."
"Well, those two are going to get what they deserve in court," Shelby said. "And I'm sure you guys will get some money out of it."
"Shelby, we've said this before, but thank you so much for letting us stay with you these past few months," Rachel said. "I really appreciate it."
"Oh, I've loved having you two with me," Shelby said.
"I've loved being here," Rachel said. "Even after we move into the new apartment, we'll still be able to help out whenever you need us."
"And you can come over for fun, too," Shelby said.
"Of course we will!" Finn said. "Rach, I'm just going to change out of my work clothes. I'll be right back."
"Okay," Rachel said. When Finn was gone, she turned to Shelby. "It's meant so much to me that you've let us stay here."
"I love you, Rachel," Shelby said. "I've loved you since the day you were born. I've always loved you. It's not because I didn't love you that I cut ties at first. It's because it hurt to see you and know that you were someone else's daughter more than mine."
"I've always loved you, too," Rachel said. "And I've always considered you my mother, even though I didn't know you for the first sixteen years of my life. I was always wondering about you and I'm so glad we're in each other's lives now. You, me, Beth and Kylie are a family. A different kind of family than what other people have, but still a family."
"That's right," Shelby said.
Finn came into the room. "Rachel, would you like to go make dinner now?"
"I'd love that," Rachel said.
x
Rachel sat in the hospital waiting room, reading one of the latest Broadway magazines. She'd taken Shelby to the hospital for chemo today, something that always made her nervous. Shelby seemed to be doing better at home, but then again, Finn and Rachel did most of the housework. Even though Rachel was looking forward to the new apartment, she was worried about leaving Shelby alone.
This magazine that Rachel was reading had an article about the Funny Girl preview. This preview featured Marissa and Paolo rather than the understudies, but Rachel was still happy to see that the magazine liked the show. "The Funny Girl cast was fantastic," the review read. "Funny Girl is known for Barbra Streisand, but this cast can put their own take on it. They're enough like the original cast to remind it, but enough unlike it to make the show their own. This cast has talent, and lots of it..."
Rachel's thoughts were interrupted when her phone went off with a text. The text was from the Funny Girl director. "Opening night has been officially set! It will be on April 24. Mark your calendars."
That was a little over two months away. It felt good to have a date set, but at the same time, it did make Rachel a little nervous. She probably wouldn't have to go on any time soon, since there was a second understudy. Even though Rachel had gotten a good review despite making a mistake at her preview, the other understudy didn't make any mistakes at hers, so she would probably get to go on if the star couldn't go on.
"Rachel Berry?" Rachel looked up at the nurse who came into the waiting room.
"Yes?" Rachel asked.
"Your mother's ready for you," the nurse said.
"Okay," Rachel said. She now knew when the opening date was going to be, and the critics had liked what they'd seen so far. That made things seem so much more real.
x
Finn looked at the bulletin board in the education building at Columbia. Every now and then, local schools posted internships for the education students. As he looked at the bulletin board, he saw that one of the local high schools would be needing a glee club coach in the fall. This school didn't require a teaching degree for the coach of the competitive choir, but it was a paid position that would be three evenings a week.
This job would be perfect for Finn - but would he get it? It looked like something he'd enjoy and be good at, but he lived in New York now. There were retired Broadway stars living here. People who had a much stronger background lived here. He wanted to be a glee club coach one day, why not start now? But this job wasn't going to be handed to him like the McKinley one had been.
Sure, he'd had jobs before, but Burt had gotten him the job at the tire shop, Rachel had gotten him the job at the diner and Mr. Schue had gotten him the job coaching New Directions. And the law firm - well, that was an experience he prefered to pretend never happened. Still, this was worth a try. He picked up the application and then went to Elliott's apartment, where Kurt and Blaine had invited him over for dinner.
"Hey Finn!" Blaine said as Finn came in.
"Hey guys," Finn said. "So, Elliott, what do you think of Kurt's ring?"
"Blaine did a good job," Elliott said.
"So, how's the wedding planning going?" Finn asked Kurt.
"We're thinking this summer, no definite date," Kurt said. "You'll be best man, right?"
"Seeing as you're my best man, I'd be hurt if someone else was," Finn laughed.
"Rachel's my maid of honor, of course," Kurt said. "And then Blaine's best man is Sam and his maid of honor is Tina. He wants Cooper in the wedding party too, and then we also want some of our other friends from glee, plus Elliott and Dani."
"That's exciting," Finn said. "So, what are you two doing for your first Valentine's Day as an engaged couple?"
"We haven't decided yet," Kurt said. "Blaine's planning a surprise."
"Oh, exciting," Finn said. His phone vibrated and he saw that it was Rachel. "Oh, Rachel's here."
"Great," Kurt said as he went to unlock the door.
"Are you going to miss having these two living with you?" Finn asked Elliott.
"They were fun to live with, but it actually works out because one of my friends from New Jersey is moving to New York soon and he can stay in their room," Elliott told Finn.
Rachel came in and took Kurt's hand before she even came to give Finn a kiss, looking at his ring. "How great is it to have that on your finger?"
"It's perfect," Kurt said.
"That's how I feel about this one, too," Rachel said. "I just hope we can find a good place to rent so we can get married sooner rather than later."
"We'll find one," Finn said as he came over to kiss Rachel. "Wow babe, I guess you are excited about Kurt and Blaine getting married since you had to look at Kurt's ring before you came to give your fiance a kiss."
Rachel giggled. "Of course I'm excited. This is a big deal."
"It is," Finn said. "So, how was your day?"
"It was good," Rachel said. "The opening night of Funny Girl has officially been set."
"Oh, when will it be?" Finn asked.
"April 24," Rachel said.
"Oh, that's not too far away," Finn said. Since Rachel was telling him her news, maybe he'd tell her about the ad he saw today. "Rachel, today on the bulletin board, there was an ad for a local high school looking for a coach for their glee club. It doesn't require a college degree and it starts this fall."
"Really?" Rachel asked. "Finn, that would be amazing!"
"I was thinking the same thing," Finn said. "I do miss coaching New Directions, and I think this would be fun."
"You should apply for it!" Rachel said.
"Do you think I'd get it?" Finn asked. This job had been posted at one of the top schools in the United States, and New York City glee clubs were probably a lot different from Ohio glee clubs...
"You were on a team that won Nationals and also won three Sectional titles and two Regional titles," Rachel pointed out. "And you also helped coach the New Directions to a Nationals runner-up placement. And you have talent - lots of it."
"Yeah, Finn, I'd go for it," Blaine said. "You were great with New Directions last year."
"We all knew you were a great leader," Kurt said. "And if you go in there and let them see Finn Hudson, they'll give you the job."
"All right," Finn said. "Then I'll take the risk and apply for this job."
Chapter 44 preview: Finchel, Klaine and Santana move into their new apartment. The various couples celebrate Valentine's Day and Quick visit New York to see their friends and Beth!
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