Hey guys! Thanks as always for your support on the last chapter. I really appreciate all the feedback this story has gotten. As I've said before, this story has a Tumblr, so if you ever have a question for me or for any of the characters, you can go to finchelseason5*dot*tumblr*dot*com. Enjoy this chapter and review if I should keep going!
Chapter 48: Spring Break
Rachel looked in the mirror as the bridal shop clerk did alterations on her wedding dress. She was sure she loved her dress even more than she had when she went to the bridal shop back in Lima and she couldn't believe that her wedding was two months away. This time, she was accompanied to the bridal shop by Shelby, Kurt, Santana, Kylie and Beth. Kylie was spending her spring break in New York, and when she told Rachel that's what she wanted to do, Rachel and Shelby decided to wait until later in the week to tell her about Shelby's advancing condition.
"Wow, sweetheart, you look beautiful," Shelby said.
"Thank you," Rachel said. She smiled at her mom, sisters and friends. "Thank you for coming with me."
"I think you're all ready," the clerk said. She turned to the other bridesmaids who had come today. "Do you two need anything done with your dresses?"
"Kurt's going to alter mine if I need it," Santana said.
"Yeah, and mine's back in Ohio," Kylie added.
"I'm getting my dress today though!" Beth announced.
"We know you are," the clerk said. "After Rachel changes out of her dress, we'll go look for one."
Rachel changed out of her dress and then went with the rest of the group to look for a flower girl dress for Beth. Rachel knew she wanted one pretty similar to the color of the bridesmaid dresses, since that would also be the color of the sash on her dress and the groomsmens' vests and ties (and Finn's tie).
"I like this one!" Beth said, pointing at a white dress with a ruffled skirt and a sash the same color as the bridesmaids' dresses.
Rachel looked at the dress. It was pretty, and it had a sash the color of the bridesmaids' dresses. "Yeah, this one's really pretty!" Shelby agreed.
"Can I try it on?" Beth asked.
"Of course," the clerk said. Shelby and Beth went into a dressing room, and then Beth ran out in her dress. "Look how pretty I am!"
"I'm glad you're my flower girl!" Rachel said.
"Me too!" Beth agreed.
x
The day was long for Finn.
He knew that Rachel was getting her final wedding dress fitting today and he wished he could go to the bridal shop with her. But every time he brought up the dress, Rachel told him that he couldn't see it until their wedding day. She wouldn't even show him the photo of it in the catalog.
Finn was originally hoping he could sneak to the shop today but Blaine told Finn that he'd been given specific instructions by Kurt to stay at the apartment today and make sure that Finn didn't get out. Sam had also come over to play video games with Finn and Blaine, so Finn had two people making sure he stayed inside rather than just one.
After a few hours, the apartment door opened, and Rachel came in with Kurt, Santana and Kylie. "So, how was the final dress fitting?" Finn asked.
"It went well, my dress is still perfect!" Rachel said.
Kurt turned to Blaine and Sam. "Thanks for keeping him occupied. I was worried he might show up at the store."
"Oh, he tried to sneak out, more than once," Sam said.
"Finn!" Rachel said. "You know it's bad luck to see the bride in her dress before the wedding."
"Remember what happened when you saw Rachel in a dress before it last time?" Santana asked. "Quinn got t-boned."
"I know," Finn pouted.
Kylie looked around the apartment. "Your new apartment is nice."
"Thanks," Rachel said. "I guess you're probably sleeping in our old bedroom at Shelby's."
"I am," Kylie said.
"So, how did Rachel look in her dress?" Finn asked Kurt, hoping for hints.
"Finn!" Kurt said. "Well, I think she looked beautiful."
"And sorry, we don't have any photos for you," Santana said.
Finn made another pout. "So, Kylie, how are things going with glee club?"
"Yeah, what's Mr. Schue said about LA?" Blaine asked.
"Every time one of us brings it up, he changes the subject," Kylie said. "I have no idea what he's going to do. I just want glee club to still be around for my junior and senior years."
"It will, we'll make sure it is," Finn said.
"Well, Mercedes visited the high school that wants him out in LA last week," Rachel said. "It's like a school from some teen fantasy movie. They send a bunch of kids to Ivy League schools, they have a bunch of AP classes, they get more perfect ACT and SAT scores than any school in California, their sports teams always win California titles, their orchestra's won international competitions, their dance team won a national competition and their drama program gets people from all over California to come to their shows."
"Wow," Kylie said.
"Yeah, wow," Rachel said.
"We think that we have a good shot at Nationals this year," Kylie said. "We might just be able to get the title back."
"Do you think a National title could convince Mr. Schue to stay?" Sam asked.
"I don't know," Finn admitted. "We made a video for him and we haven't heard back yet..."
"Why don't you call him, Frankenteen?" Santana asked. "Out of all of us, he's most likely to answer a call from you."
"She does have a point," Kurt said.
Finn got out his phone. "Okay." He dialed Mr. Schuester's number and put the phone on speaker.
After a few rings, Mr. Schue picked up the phone. "Hey Finn."
"Hey," Finn said. "How are you?"
"I'm doing fine, how are you?" Mr. Schue asked.
"I'm good, Rachel had her final dress fitting today," Finn said. "We're excited for the wedding, are New Directions still going to perform?"
"Of course," Mr. Schue said. "Speaking of Glee, I got the video that the alumni made..."
"You did?" Finn asked, trying not to give away that the reason he'd called was the video.
"That was a really nice video," Mr. Schue said. "You guys have come a long way since that first rehearsal."
"Well, I do think the first performance was my favorite because of the Finchel factor," Finn said.
Mr. Schue laughed. "So, how's your spring break going?"
"It's going well," Finn said. "Kylie probably mentioned she came to New York for spring break."
"She did," Mr. Schue said.
"We're really enjoying having her here," Finn said. "So, what are you doing for spring break?"
"I'm going to LA," Mr. Schue said.
LA. That could only mean one thing. Finn looked at his roommates, who had the same worried looks. "What are you doing in LA?"
"You and I both know what I'm doing in LA, Finn," Mr. Schue said. "I'm visiting that high school that gave me a job offer."
Finn tried to think fast. "I've heard that school... isn't the best." He knew that couldn't be further from the truth. It was like Rachel had said, that school sounded like the school in some fantasy movie for teenagers.
"It's a fantastic school," Mr. Schue said. "It's like the Harvard of high schools in California."
That was what this school was known as? The New Directions really were in trouble. "Yeah, but the New Directions won't be there," Finn said.
"Finn, I need to get on the plane," Mr. Schue said. "I'll talk to you later."
Finn sighed. "Okay, bye." He hung up the phone and turned to everyone. "With him visiting that school... we might be doomed."
"It might be too late for what we did," Kylie said.
"What did you guys do?" Rachel asked.
"Artie sent Kitty the video of the three versions of you guys singing Don't Stop Believing," Kylie explained. "She showed it to us and Ryder and Marley thought that it would be a good idea for us to sing the same song and show it to Mr. Schue. We got the AV club to tape it but..."
"You should still show it to him," Rachel said.
"I actually have the video on my computer," Kylie said. "Would you guys like to see it?"
"Of course we do!" Sam said.
Kylie turned on her laptop and opened the video. As the alumni watched the video of the current New Directions members singing what they considered their theme song, they couldn't help but be happy.
Ryder: Just a small town girl
Livin' in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin' anywhere
Marley: Just a city boy
Born and raised in south Detroit
He took the midnight train goin' anywhere
Rory: A singer in a smoky room
Harmony: A smell of wine and cheap perfume
Rory and Harmony: For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on and on and on
New Directions: Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlights people
Living just to find emotion
Hiding somewhere in the night
Kitty: Working hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill
Jake: Payin' anything to roll the dice just one more time
Kylie: Some will win, some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Unique: Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on
New Directions: Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlight people
Living just to find emotion
Hiding somewhere in the night
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlights people
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlights people
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlights people
Don't stop!
"Wow, you guys were great," Rachel said at the end of the video.
"You think?" Kylie asked.
"Yeah," Finn said. "It reminded me of when we performed it our sophomore year."
"You should show that to Mr. Schue when he gets back," Blaine said.
"Oh, we will," Kylie said. "I just hope he doesn't come back having taken the job in LA."
x
Tonight, everyone had off of work, and the New Yorkers had decided it would be fun for them all to go out to dinner with Kylie while she was in town, so the whole group went to Chinatown for dinner. As they sat down and were looking over the menus, Finn heard a familiar voice. "Hola, classe!"
The group looked and saw Holly Holliday standing by the side of their table - with April Rhodes.
"Hi!" Finn said. "I didn't know you two knew each other."
"Oh, we met in that Facebook group for guests of the McKinley glee club," April said. "We've talked, so since she's in New York, we thought we'd catch dinner."
"And she was also showing me the behind the scenes of her new Broadway show," Holly added.
"Rachel's a Broadway understudy now," Finn said, not resisting the urge to brag.
"We know," April said. "Her mom told us in the group for glee club visitors. She'll be the second biggest Broadway star McKinley ever produced."
"So, has the big news been shared in the Facebook group?" Kurt asked.
"What big news?" Holly asked.
"Mr. Schuester might be leaving McKinley," Santana said. "Some preppy school out in LA wants him to direct their show choir and he seems to seriously be considering it."
"What?" Holly asked. "I thought he'd never leave."
"Neither did we," Sam said.
"I'm in New Directions now, and he won't talk about it with us," Kylie explained.
"He didn't want to leave when I asked him to be in my show," April said.
"This school in LA has a lot going for it, and McKinley is pretty much a mess," Finn admitted.
"But we don't want him to leave," Kylie said. "Like I said, I'm in New Directions, and I really don't want the club to end. If Mr. Schue goes to LA, I don't think anyone will take over."
"Is there anything we can do to help?" April asked.
"You want to help?" Kurt asked.
"I thought you'd never ask," Holly said.
"We made a video, and the current New Directions made one, too," Finn said. "We're hoping that might help. There's also Nationals coming up in Boston, and if they win, we hope that convinces him to stay."
"Keep us updated," April said. "If there's anything we can do, just tell us."
x
"Sweetheart, before you go back to Ohio, we did want to tell you something," Shelby said.
"Okay," Kylie said.
"Honey, I really wish I didn't have to tell you this, but they found another tumor," Shelby told Kylie.
Rachel looked at Kylie. Kylie looked like she was going to throw up. "I didn't think we should tell you because I didn't want it to spoil your time in New York," Rachel said.
Kylie looked from Shelby to Rachel. "I feel sick."
"So did I when she first told me," Rachel said. "I still do."
"Well..." Kylie sounded like she didn't know what to say. "What are they going to do about this one?"
"We're looking into options," Shelby said. "I just wanted to tell you. I'm glad you could come up for your spring break because I got to spend more time with you. I'm glad the two of you came back into my life this year because in case I don't make it, I'll have had time with you two."
Rachel had to speak up now. "Don't say that, Mom!"
"Big things are coming up for you and Kylie, and I will be there, I promise," Shelby said. "I'm going to be at Nationals and I'm going to be at your wedding."
"Yeah, but what about my wedding?" Kylie asked. "Or the birth of Rachel's children? Or Beth going to school?"
"No matter what happens, I'm going to make sure that the three of you are taken care of," Shelby said.
"Your daughters aren't the type of things that can just be 'taken care of,'" Rachel said, feeling ready to cry. "Just don't act like this is the be all and end all."
"Girls, it was never in my plans to get sick," Shelby said.
"We know," Kylie said. "It wasn't in ours either. We finally have our birth mother in our life..."
"I am so glad that I have you two in my life," Shelby said.
"Well, what have you told Beth?" Kylie asked.
"The most that you can tell a little girl," Shelby admitted.
"We should probably tell Puck and Quinn as well," Rachel said. "They've been spending some time with Beth..."
"Girls, again, I am so sorry I had to tell you this," Shelby said.
"May I get some water?" Rachel asked.
"Of course," Shelby said. "I remember the first time I met you, you told me that story about your dads bringing you water when you got sad when you were little."
Rachel managed to smile. "Yeah." She went to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water.
"I'd kind of like one too," Kylie said.
"Girls, I am so sorry I have to tell you this," Shelby said.
"Well, we're sorry, too," Rachel said.
"It's just hard, knowing this about you and being so far away," Kylie admitted. "I just worry that after I go home..."
"Girls, don't think that way," Shelby said. "I need to go upstairs, I'll be right back."
Shelby went upstairs, leaving Rachel and Kylie alone. When Shelby was gone, Rachel turned to Kylie. "I know what you're feeling. I often feel the same way after I go home from visiting her."
"Yeah," Kylie said. "I really don't want to go back to Ohio after hearing that."
x
Finn heard his phone ring. He looked at the caller ID and saw that it was Puck. He picked up the phone. "Hello?"
"Hey man," Puck said. "Shelby called me and Quinn..."
"Yeah," Finn said. He knew that Shelby wanted to wait until after she told Kylie to tell other people.
"How's Rachel?" Puck asked.
"She's doing as well as she can be," Finn said. "Just doing her best to have a normal spring break. She's at the diner now."
"Quinn and I are going to try to come to New York during Yale's spring break for a little while," Puck said.
"I'd like that," Finn said. "Too bad you guys didn't have the same one as Columbia, NYADA, Pace and McKinley."
"Yeah," Puck said. "Well, I told Shelby we're going to be there for Beth in any way we can."
"I'm sure she appreciates that," Finn said.
"Do you have any idea what will happen to Beth if - " Puck began.
Finn couldn't help but be a little annoyed at Puck for asking that question. He knew that was something that really worried Rachel. "I don't know. I know Shelby has a boyfriend and lots of friends in New York, so she does have options..."
"I'm worried about Beth," Puck said.
"So am I," Finn said. "About the whole family."
"Just tell me if anything else happens, okay?" Puck asked.
"I will," Finn said. The door opened, and he saw Rachel coming in from her shift at the diner. He knew that it had been an emotional day for her earlier, with her and Shelby telling Kylie the news, so he thought he should be with her. "Puck, Rachel's home."
"Tell her I say hi," Puck said, before hanging up the phone.
"I will," Finn said. He hung up the phone before turning to Rachel. "Hey baby."
"Hey," Rachel said, giving Finn a hug.
"How are you?" Finn asked, knowing that today had been not the best day.
"I'm glad to be home," Rachel said.
"I'm glad you're home," Finn said.
"You know what I'm in the mood for?" Rachel asked.
"Tell me," Finn said.
Rachel smirked and took Finn's hand, leading him to their bedroom. He now knew what she meant - and that sounded like a pretty great idea to him.
Chapter 49 preview: The New Yorkers celebrate Easter and Puck and Quinn come to New York as well. Back in Lima, the current New Directions show Mr. Schue their video and find out how the trip to LA went.
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