Hey guys! Thanks so much for the reviews on the last chapter. They mean a lot to me! This chapter was kind of tricky, since I don't know what happened after the cliffhanger during the show. I went through several versions of the ending, but the cliffhanger will carry over to the next chapter. Enjoy and review if you want me to keep going!

Chapter 61: On My Way

Rachel had picked up a wedding dress magazine and snuck it in her bag to the Lima Bean. She knew Kurt was still on the fence about the wedding, and she figured that now might be a good time to ask him what she'd been dreading. When Kurt arrived, Rachel flat out asked the question. "Kurt, do you think I shouldn't be with Finn?"

Kurt looked shocked. "What? That's crazy! You know how much I love you, and Finn, and the two of you together."

"Then why are you so opposed to me marrying him?" Rachel asked.

"It's not that it's him, it's the timing and your age," Kurt said.

Rachel had to admit, she did feel a little better hearing that. "So if Finn and I were getting married ten years down the line, you wouldn't be acting like this?"

"I'd be the wedding planner," Kurt said.

"Well, at least you're not acting like Quinn," Rachel said. "She's acting like Finn's holding me back."

"What do you mean?" Kurt asked.

"She's acting like Finn will get in the way," Rachel told Kurt. "I have news for her: I'd pick Finn over Broadway any day." She got out the magazine. "Let's look at dresses." She began flipping through the magazine. "Oh, look at this one. Oh, it's so timeless. It's perfect."

"Yeah, timeless, meaning you can wait two or five years to wear it," Kurt said.

"Don't be jealous," Rachel said.

A familiar voice interrputed their conversation. "Well, well, well. If it isn't a young Barbra Streisand and an old Betty White. Where is Gay Cyclops? Still trying to stumble his way in?"

Kurt and Rachel looked up and saw Sebastian. Kurt turned to Rachel. "We can't come here anymore."

Sebastian held out an envelope. "Rachel, I brought an engagement gift for you."

At least SOMEONE was being supportive, even if that someone was the guy from the other team who'd abused one of Rachel's friends. Rachel opened the envelope and screamed in horror as she and Kurt both saw what was in that envelope. It was a manipulative picture of Finn naked, with nothing on but heels. "Oh, my God!" Rachel shrieked. "Oh, no, that is... that is photoshopped. His thing is not that small or brown."

"And he could never fit into those pumps," Kurt added.

"Just think, from now until eternity, every time someone googles Finn Hudson, they'll be treated to that and dozens just like it," Sebastian rambled. "That's the beauty of the Internet. It stays with us forever."

Rachel couldn't let Sebastian do this. "What do you want, Sebastian?"

"I want a guaranteed Regionals win, so I want you to drop out," Sebastian demanded. "McKinley gets home-court advantage this year. You're going to come down with Asian bird flu or whatever Tina Blowing-Wang just had."

"But that is show choir terrorism," Rachel said.

"You give a bad name to the entire gay community," Kurt told Sebastian.

"And you give the gay community cutting-edge fashion that's usually only seen on Puerto Rican pride floats," Sebastian shot back.

"I'm sorry," Kurt said. "I didn't hear you. I was distracted by your giant horse teeth."

"You have 24 hours to drop out, Rachel, or I press the upload button," Sebastian declared. Then he walked away, leaving Kurt and Rachel wondering what to do. Rachel knew that if she didn't perform at Regionals, it could be detrimental to her NYADA application, especially since she couldn't perform at Sectionals. But she couldn't let Sebastian do this to Finn.

"What are you going to do?" Kurt asked.

"I don't know," Rachel admitted. She had to admit, she felt a bit selfish. She knew that she shouldn't let Sebastian post the photo. But her future was hanging in balance... "We could probably still win Regionals without me. We won Sectionals."

"Yeah, but the Warblers are amazing," Kurt said. "The truth is, the only reason New Directions beat them last year was because of you and Finn."

"Who was leading them last year? You and Blaine," Rachel pointed out.

"Well, Rachel, I wouldn't necessarily trust Sebastian," Kurt said. "He might post the photo anyway..."

"Are you saying I should show it to Finn?" Rachel asked. She didn't want to show it to Finn. She knew it would upset him.

"Yeah, you should, just in case," Kurt said.

x

Nervously, Rachel carried the envelope with her to school the next day. She found Finn at his locker. "Hey, can we talk alone?"

Finn looked at Rachel. He knew this wasn't good news. "Sure."

Rachel led Finn into an empty classroom. "So, Kurt and I ran into Sebastian at the Lima Bean yesterday."

"Him again?" Finn groaned.

"Yeah," Rachel said. "He told me not to perform at Regionals."

"We need you!" Finn protested.

"Well, there was a catch," Rachel said. "If I did perform, he was threatening to post a manip picture of you online."

"A manip?" Finn asked.

"Yeah," Rachel said. "Do you want me to show it to you?"

"No," Finn said. "I don't want to see it. Just let me think about this, okay?"

"Okay," Rachel said. "He gave me 24 hours..."

Finn looked nervous. "We don't have much time."

"I think he should be the one kicked out of Regionals," Rachel admitted. "I already told Mr. Schue."

"Yeah, but the Warblers don't have a Mr. Schue, they run themselves," Finn pointed out. "You want to perform at Regionals, don't you?"

"Well... I'm torn," Rachel admitted.

"You're willing to let him do that?" Finn asked.

"It's just a manip," Rachel said. "And our future is hanging in balance. I couldn't perform at Sectionals..."

"There's no guarantee you'll get into NYADA," Finn snapped.

"Finn..." Rachel began. Finn left the room, and Rachel had a feeling she was making a big mistake.

x

Finn couldn't stop thinking about what Rachel had told him. Sebastian wanted to try to humiliate him on the internet? He didn't want to be mad at Rachel, but at the same time...

Finn's thoughts were interrupted when he went into the choir room. "But it hasn't even been 24 hours!" Finn heard Kurt exclaim.

Sebastian had posted the photo, hadn't he? Finn went up to Kurt. "Let me see that."

Kurt handed Finn the picture. A naked photo of him? Even if it had been photoshopped, Finn felt humiliated just holding it. A photoshopped picture of him naked, just wearing some weird red shoes. And Finn was tired of being nice. "That's it. I'm done. I'm leaving this classroom, and I'm going to beat that Sebastian kid's ass!"

"Finn, chill," Mr. Schue said.

"No, I'm not going to chill, I'm done chilling!" Finn protested. He couldn't believe how calm Mr. Schue was.

Artie was holding the show choir rulebook. "The official show choir rule book states that 'any real or perceived threat of violence, vandalism or humiliation will be met with a swift and unquestioned disqualification of the threatening party's team with extreme prejudice.' It's right here. Page 72, by-law 15, section six, article 44."

"Guys, I contacted the headmaster of Dalton," Mr. Schue began.

"Like you did when Sebastian almost blinded me?" Blaine snapped. "What did they do then? Same thing as they're going to do now... nothing."

"Look, none of this matters now anyways, okay?" Rachel began. "We're not going to let him beat us like this. I'm going to perform at Regionals."

Finn couldn't believe how Rachel was acting. "Even if he's going to post a photo like this of me if you do?"

"Finn, I'm not going to negotiate with terrorists," Rachel said.

"If someone posted a picture like that of me online, I'd probably kill myself," Sugar said.

"Twice to be sure I was dead," Rory added.

"Look, you guys are just going to have to deal with things like this," Mr. Schue told the group. "The more successful you get, the more garbage people are going to make up about you. They're going to love to tear you down."

That didn't matter to Finn. Instead, he was so shocked Rachel was being so calm. "I can't believe you would do that to me."

"I'm going to be married to you," Rachel said. "Don't you think I'm going to suffer the consequences as well? I mean, I just... I don't care about stuff like that. I love you, and we'll manage this together. Okay, the important thing right now is that we win."

Was winning all that mattered? "So you wouldn't care if I Photo shopped a photo of you like this and put it on the Internet?"

"Look, our future depends on us winning Regionals," Rachel said. "It'll help me towards my NYADA application."

Finn couldn't take this anymore. "Hope you get in," he snapped as he left the room.

"Finn..." Mr. Schue called ater Finn as he left. But Finn figured he could miss practice today.

"Finn!" Finn turned and saw Rachel running after him.

Finn turned around. "Why didn't you just drop out of Regionals right there and then?"

"He gave me 24 hours," Rachel protested. "I didn't know he wouldn't wait."

"He probably thought you were performing since you weren't saying anything," Finn pointed out.

Rachel sighed. "Do you want me to call him and tell him I'm not performing?"

"What's the point?" Finn sighed. "The photos are already out there."

"I'm so sorry," Rachel said.

"Rachel, let's just not talk about this right now," Finn said. "I just need time to think." He headed home, hoping his parents wouldn't see the photos online.

x

Rachel had called Finn several times yesterday after school. Finn hadn't answered those calls. He'd wanted to, but he didn't want to argue with Rachel. He was just hoping that no one would google his name. When he arrived at school the next morning, there was a note on his first period class door that all members of the senior class were to meet in the auditorium. When Finn arrived, he saw Rachel sitting with Kurt and Mercedes. This wasn't the type of thing he wanted to talk about in front of others, so he just took a seat by Mike and Puck.

Miss Pillsbury took a stand at the podium. "Good morning," Miss Pillsbury said. "Thank you all for being here. I'm afraid I have some bad news."

What was going on? They wouldn't be able to graduate? Prom was cancelled? Finn tried to think of something that would warrant bringing the entire senior class in the auditorium. Then Miss Pillsbury continued speaking. "Some of you may remember David Karofsky. As you know, he attended elementary and middle schools in this district, and also spent his first three years of high school here before his family moved out of the district over the summer."

Yes, Finn remembered David Karofsky. The boy who'd thrown slushies on him. The boy who made fun of him at football practice. The boy who'd abused Kurt physically, verbally and emotionally and driven Kurt away for six months, then ent Kurt things for Valentine's day even though he knew Kurt was with someone who was actually a good person...

"We received word this morning that he attempted to take his own life yesterday," Miss Pillsbury said. "We don't know the details, only that he was unsuccessful. He's alive and in the hospital. I hope you all know that no matter how bad things seem, you should never..."

Finn already knew that suicide was never the answer. He thought about what Miss Pillsbury had just said. One of his former classmates had attempted to take his own life? But why? He looked over at Rachel, but Rachel wasn't making eye contact with him. Instead, she had her arms around Kurt.

Miss Pillsbury continued telling the students about how they should never attempt suicide and that her office was always open, the students left the auditorium, talking quietly amongst each other. When Finn saw Rachel leave Kurt and go to her locker, Finn went up to Rachel. "I'm so sorry," he said, giving her a hug.

Rachel tightened the hug. "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."

"Look, I've been thinking about what Dave did, and I just want you to know that there's nothing that anybody could do and there's nothing that anybody could say about me that would make me want to do that," Finn told Rachel. Even though he and Karofsky didn't have a nice past, he couldn't help but worry about what might happen to someone he was close to.

Rachel looked relieved. "Good, because I don't ever want to be without you. So, I'm not gonna perform at Regionals."

Finn had forgotten about the photos. Now they seemed so superficial. "You have to. Look, I don't care about these pictures. I don't care about what anybody says about me, except for you."

"Life's too short," Rachel said.

"What?" Finn asked.

"Look, I don't want to wait for some arbitrary date to start living it, I want to get married," Rachel said. "Now."

But they were at school. "I have gym," Finn pointed out.

"No, this Saturday," Rachel said. "After we win Regionals."

Finn knew he wanted to marry Rachel, but he didn't know it would be this soon. "Seriously?"

"Yeah!" Rachel exclaimed.

"Awesome! But wait, what if we lose?" Finn asked.

Rachel smiled. "Well, I thought we agreed that I was singing."

That was true. With Rachel leading the group, there was no way that they'd lose. Finn had heard her solo and he was sure that alone would give them the trophy. He watched Rachel walk to class, so happy that she was his.

x

Rachel had scheduled an appointment at the bridal shop this week anyway. She just didn't know that she'd be getting married this weekend. She'd told the other glee girls that if they wanted, they could be bridesmaids and come get fitted for dresses, but she didn't expect them to. That didn't matter to her though. All that mattered was that she was marrying Finn.

To Rachel's surprise, all the girls had shown up at the shop. "Thanks for coming," Rachel told the girls.

"Rachel picked out this dress," the sales clerk said, showing the girls a picture of the bridesmaid dress Rachel had liked. "Why don't you all check to see if we have it in your size?"

"Yeah, and I'll be looking for mine while you try on yours," Rachel said. "Just let her know if you have any questions." She began looking through the wedding dress rack. Her dads had given her a $200 limit, so that did limit her options.

"You're really doing this," Quinn said to Rachel after she tried her dress on.

"Yes," Rachel said. "The people who work here seem fine with it."

"They're just glad to have your money," Quinn snapped.

Rachel ignored Quinn and took a few dresses to the fitting room. "Thanks so much for coming with me today, you guys, to help me pick out a dress and try on all of yours," Rachel called from the dressing room.

"Me and the color pink have been in an argument for seventeen years. I can't believe I have to make nice with it now," Santana complained.

"It feels balanced. Like I'm wearing the same color on the outside as inside," Brittany commented.

After trying on a few dresses, Rachel finally had the one she liked best. "I think I found it. I think I found the one!"

"It better be the one because I'm not doing this twice," Santana said.

Rachel came out of the dressing room to show the girls the dress. "I think this one is it!"

"Oh my god Rachel, you look so beautiful I could cry!" Mercedes exclaimed.

"You really like it?" Rachel asked.

"Yes, you look like the bride on top of a wedding cake," Tina said.

"It's amazing! I can't believe you're getting married!" Sugar added.

"I hate to be the buzzkill, but Rachel, are you sure that you're really ready for this?" Quinn asked.

Rachel nodded. "I've never been more certain about anything in my entire life. Besides, you can't spell 'infinity' without 'Finn.'"

Quinn jumped up. "Okay. I've tried to reason with you, I've even tried to be nice about it, but I'm not gonna watch you ruin your life by trying to marry Finn Hudson."

Rachel was tired of this. "Look, I'm not going to, I'm gonna START my life with him."

Quinn turned to the other girls. "Is anybody else with me on this?" To Rachel's relief, none of the other girls said anything. Maybe they'd finally come around. "Looks like I'm the only one with balls enough to say it. Rachel, the thing that I admire most about you is you're a girl that has never apologized for your ambition. You're the shiniest star of all of us..." She turned to the other girls. "Like it or not, it's true. And as we get closer and closer to graduation, you keep hiding your light behind this stupid Finn wedding thing. I never pegged Rachel Berry as the girl who'd be too scared to take on the world."

Rachel was tired of Quinn acting like Finn wasn't good enough for Rachel and like Broadway was the only thing that defined her. Did she maybe want Finn back fro herself? Whatever this was, she'd had enough. "Okay, well, if that's how you feel, then I'd prefer it if you didn't attend our wedding."

"It's okay. I won't," Quinn said before leaving.

Rachel turned to the other girls after Quinn was gone. "Thank you for being supportive, but I don't want someone who's going to ruin the mood as part of it."

x

Finn was working on his homework when the phone rang. He smiled when he saw that it was Rachel, then picked it up to answer it. "Hello?"

"Hey," Rachel told Finn. "I just wanted to let you know, Quinn's not invited to the wedding anymore."

"Why not?" Finn asked.

"Today I went with the girls to the bridal shop to try on my dress and have them try on theirs," Rachel explained. "She began lecturing me about how I shouldn't get married and I'd just had enough."

"Well, I don't want anyone to ruin our special day," Finn told Rachel.

"Me either," Rachel said.

"Were the other girls supportive?" Finn asked.

"Yeah, they were," Rachel said. "It's like I told you, we aren't guaranteed tomorrow. The thing I want most out of life is to be your wife."

"That's how I feel about you," Finn said. "So, you found the right dress?"

"My dads gave me a $200 limit, so it wasn't easy," Rachel admitted. "But I found one."

"I guess I'm lucky, I just had to get a tux," Finn said.

"Yeah," Rachel said. "Finn, I'm so lucky."

"No, I'm the lucky one," Finn said. "I can't believe this is really happening."

"Me either," Rachel said. "But I'm so glad it is."

x

The day before Regionals, Mr. Schue gathered the glee club in the auditorium. He stood in the center of the circle they were in with a jar of peanut butter and a spoon, and Rachel had no idea what was going on. "Mr. Schue, why do you have a jar of peanut butter with one spoon?" Mercedes asked.

"Yeah, there are 15 of us here, and I'm only comfortable sharing a spoon with about half of you," Sugar added.

"Well, it's come to my attention that our good friend Rory Flanagan has never tasted peanut butter," Mr. Schue said. He motioned for Rory to come join him. "Rory, if you don't mind."

Rory came to the front of the room and took the spoon to taste the peanut butter. "Oh, my God... That's the best thing I've ever had."

"Mr. Schuester, while that's incredibly moving, it's been an emotional week," Kurt said.

"Yeah, Mr. Schue, what's the point of all this?" Finn asked.

"The point is Rory just had a brand-new experience, something as simple as peanut butter," Mr. Schue told the group. "You guys are young. I want you to promise me that, no matter how depressed you get, no matter how hopeless or alone you feel, you'll try your best to imagine all of the amazing experiences you have ahead of you."

Rachel had just been talking to Finn about that a few days ago. Even when she got slushied all the time, she never considered suicide. "Mr. Schue, look, I know we're a little dramatic sometimes, but I don't think anyone will ever consider taking their own life," Mercedes said.

"I did," Mr. Schue admitted. "Junior year. That was a tough year. I cheated on my math midterm, peeked at the answers of the guy next to me and the teacher saw me do it."

Mr. Schue? Attempting suicide? Rachel couldn't believe it. He was always so happy and full of life. "Just 'cause you got caught cheating? I get caught cheating all the time," Puck said.

"They called my dad at his office, and he was coming to pick me up," Mr. Schue continued. "How was I supposed to look him in the eye? I just kept picturing my dad so disappointed in me. So I walked up to the roof. I went right to the edge. One step and all the pain and humiliation would be over."

"Is that true?" Kurt asked.

"That day, I promise you, it felt like it was the end of the world," Mr. Schue said. "But you know what? It wasn't. You know, for some of you, getting caught cheating isn't a big deal. But there's something... everyone has something that might take them up to that edge. And look at all the things I would've missed out on. I would've never met you guys or Emma. I would've missed out on everything. So, right now, I want you all to think of something that you're looking forward to. Big things."

"Someday, I want to earn enough money to buy my folks a new place, so they don't ever have to go through losing their home again," Sam said.

"I'm most looking forward to meeting Rachel Berry's children," Mercedes said. Rachel smiled at Mercedes. She was looking forward to her kids, too.

"I want to be there to see my kid's first steps," Artie said.

"I want to be there to see Sex and the City Part III," Sugar said.

"I'm sort of embarrassed to admit it, but I really do want to graduate high school," Puck admitted.

"I'm gonna petition the Army to change my dad's dishonorable discharge status to an honorable one," Finn said. And Rachel knew she'd help Finn with that.

"I'm looking forward to graduating from Yale at the top of my class," Quinn said.

"I'm looking forward to the day when my grandmother loves me again," Santana said.

"I want Lord Tubbington to kick his Ecstasy addiction," Brittany mumbled.

"I am looking forward to marriage equality in all 50 states," Blaine said.

"I'm looking forward to the first time I dance at Carnegie Hall," Mike said.

"I just want a song," Tina said.

"I'm looking forward to watching my dad make a difference in Congress," Kurt said.

What should Rachel say? Her wedding? Moving to New York? Graduation? Her first Tony? She decided to say something she thought the others would appreciate. "I'm looking forward to being friends with all of you for the rest of my life."

"I know this sounds silly, and the peanut butter really is amazing, Mr. Schue, but do you know what I'm looking forward to? Winning at Regionals," Rory said.

The group cheered. That was something they were all looking forward to.

x

The Warblers had been good at Regionals, Finn had to admit it, but he was most excited for their performance. Rachel's solo was one of the best she'd had so far, and he was sure that alone would give them a victory. And of course, he was excited for the wedding afterwards. "All right, guys, listen up. Don't let them get into your heads, okay? Stay focused on what we do best," Mr. Schue told the group as they circled up. "Oh, Finn, you wanted to start us off?"

"Yeah," Finn said. "I know it's kind of short notice, but after the competition, Rachel and I are going to get married. At the Justice of the Peace, at the Lima Municipal Center."

"There will be some light refreshments afterwards," Rachel told the group. "My dads and I were rolling finger sandwiches all night long."

"With everything that's happened lately, we thought a lot about what Mr. Schue said," Finn explained. "We didn't want to wait anymore. We just want to live every day like it's our last. So we wanted to thank a lot of you guys that were supportive of our decision to get married."

"And for those of you who maybe weren't the biggest fans of our impending nuptials, we thank you also," Rachel said. "So after we win, we would really love it if all of you would come to our wedding."

"Come on, bring it in!" Mr. Schue said. The whole group cheered as they took the stage for their first number.

Rachel: I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
To fly
To fly (Santana: Uh, yo, yo)
Artie: I used to think that I could not go on
Santana: I wish today it would rain all day
Maybe that will kinda make the pain go away
Artie: And life was nothing but an awful song
Santana: They got their guns out aiming at me
But I become Neo when they aiming at me
Blaine: (New Directions: If I can see it) Me, me, me against them
Me against enemies, me against friends
(New Directions: Then I can do it) Somehow they both seem to become one
A sea full of sharks and they all smell blood
(New Directions: If I just believe it) They start coming and I start rising
Must be surprising, I'm just surmising
(New Directions: There's nothing to it)
Blaine and Santana: I win, thrive, soar
Higher, higher, higher
More fire
New Directions: I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
Finn: I believe I can fly
I believe I can touch the sky
I believe I can fly
I believe I can touch the sky
Rachel: I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
Finn: I believe I can fly
I believe I can touch the sky
I believe I can fly
I believe I can touch the sky
I believe I can fly (Fly)
New Directions: (Artie: Get ready for it, get ready for it) Then I can be it
(Artie: Get ready for it, I came to win) If I just believe it
(Artie: Get ready for it, get ready for it) There's nothing to it
Get ready for it
Finn: I believe I can fly
I believe I can touch the sky
I think about it every night and day
Spread my wings and fly away
(New Directions: I can fly!) I believe I can soar (Mercedes: Get ready for it)
(New Directions: I can fly!) I see me runnin' through that open door (Mercedes: Get ready for it, fly)
(New Directions: I can fly!) I believe I can fly
(New Directions: I can fly!) I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly

After the first number, it was time for the Troubletones led number. The reception to the first number had been good, and Finn noticed his parents sitting with Rachel's in the audience.

New Directions: Ah, ah, ah, ah,
Ah, ah, ah, ah,
Ah, ah, ah, ah,
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Santana: You know the bed feels warmer
Sleepin' here alone
You know I dream in color
And do the things I want
Brittany: You think you got the best of me
Think you've had the last laugh
Bet you think that everything good is gone
Think you left me broken down
Think that I'd come running back
Baby, you don't know me, 'cause you're dead wrong
New Directions: What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm over cause you're gone
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me, myself and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
Santana: Thanks to you I've got a new thing started!
Mercedes: Thanks to you I'm not the broken-hearted!
Santana: Thanks to you I'm finally thinking about me!
Mercedes and Santana: You know in the end,
The day you left was just my beginning
Santana: In the end
New Directions: What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm over cause you're gone
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger!
Just me, myself and I (Mercedes: Yeah!)
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller!
Doesn't mean I'm lonely (Brittany: What doesn't kill you) when I'm alone
Stronger, stronger
Just me, myself and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
Ah, ah, ah, ah,
Ah, ah, ah, ah,
Ah, ah, ah, ah,
Ah, ah, ah, ah

Finally, it was time for Rachel's solo. The solo began with Rachel on stage by herself, then with the girls joining her on the stage for backup, and finally ended with the boys appearing in the balconies harmonizing.

Rachel: We could just go home right now
Or maybe we could stick around
For just one more drink, oh yeah
Get another bottle out
Let's shoot the breeze
Sit back down
For just one more drink, oh yeah
Here's to us
Here's to love
All the times
That we messed up
Here's to you
Fill the glass
Cause the last few days
Have gone too fast
So lets give em hell
Wish everybody well
Here's to us
Here's to us
We stuck it out this far together
Put our dreams through the shredder
Let's toast cause things got better
And everything could change like that
And all these years go by so fast
But nothing lasts forever
Rachel with New Directions Girls: Here's to us
Here's to love
All the times
That we messed up
Here's to you
Fill the glass
Rachel: Cause the last few nights
Have gone too fast
Rachel with New Directions Girls: If they give you hell
Tell em to forget themselves
Here's to us
Here's to us
Rachel with New Directions Boys harmonizing: Here's to all that we kissed
And to all that we missed
To the biggest mistakes
That we just wouldn't trade
To us breaking up
Without us breaking down
To whatever's comin' our way
Rachel: Here's to us
Here's to us!
Rachel with New Directions Girls: Here's to us
Here's to love
All the times
That we messed up
Rachel: Here's to you
Fill the glass
Cause the last few days
Have gone too fast
Rachel with New Directions Girls: So let's give em hell
Wish everybody well
Here's to us
Here's to love
All the times
That we messed up
Rachel: Here's to you
Fill the glass
Cause the last few nights
Have gone too fast
If they give you hell
Tell em forget themselves
Here's to us
Oh here's to us
Rachel with New Directions Girls: Here's to us
Here's to love
(New Directions: Here's to us)
Rachel: Wish everybody well
Rachel with New Directions Girls: Here's to us
Here's to love
Here's to us
Rachel: Here's to us

When the boys came on to the balconies, Finn noticed Rachel looking directly at him. Singing directly to him. This song wasn't just a competition song. It was a song for the two of them. Here was to them.

After the final New Directions performance, all three groups got on stage to hear the winners. The vampire judge came on stage and stepped out of his coffin. "I've crossed oceans of time to bring the results of this show choir competition. In third place, from Our Lady of Perpetual Sorrow, the Golden Goblets!"

Well, now it was even more likely that they'd be going to Nationals again. "And now... the moment you've all been waiting for. The 2012 Midwest Regional Champion from McKinley High... the New Directions!" the vampire said.

The group cheered as Mr. Schue was handed the trophy. Finn and Rachel would be getting married as Regional champions, on their way to Nationals for the second time.

x

As Rachel began to head to her car for the wedding, she heard a voice. "Hey. How do I look?" She turned and saw Quinn in a cheerios uniform. "Coach Sylvester gave it to me earlier, and I couldn't resist."

"I'm glad you're happy. Everyone deserves to be happy," Rachel told Quinn.

"When you were singing that song, you were singing it to Finn and only Finn, right?" Quinn asked. "He really does make you so happy. I want to support you, Rachel, and Finn, and come to the wedding, if it's not too late."

Rachel felt so much better. She didn't like the way Quinn had been acting earlier, but was glad she'd come around. She smiled and gave Quinn a hug, letting her know it was okay.

x

Rachel drove to the justice of the peace and changed into her dress. As she began to walk back to the room where the girls were waiting, she ran into Finn. "Wow, Rachel, you... You just... You look..." Finn stuttered.

Rachel knew what Finn meant. She'd never seen him looking so handsome. "You do, too. Ready to go in there?

"Just hold on just a second," Finn said. "I just want to take a second just to remember this. Us."

Rachel smiled and held Finn's hand. Today was such a special day for them. But her thoughts were interrupted when her phone vibrated. She looked at it. "Oh, it's Quinn. Sorry. 'Ran home to get my bridesmaids dress. Be there soon.' Great." She turned back to Finn.

Finn took Rachel's arm. "Well, Miss Hudson-Berry, everybody's waiting."

"I wish I could stay with you," Rachel said. "But we know that the bride and groom shouldn't be together before the wedding."

"Yeah, we'll just pretend I'm surprised when I see you," Finn said. He gave Rachel a kiss as they went to the rooms to hang out with the respective members of the wedding party. Time ticked on, but Quinn still wasn't there. Rachel wanted to get married, but it didn't feel right when she'd just told Quinn she could be there.

But the time kept passing, and Quinn still hadn't arrived. A few minutes after their time slot, Finn came in with the boys, their parents, Mr. Schue and Coach Sylvester. "Rachel, we've got to go or else we'll miss our spot!"

"Can we wait for Quinn, please? I don't want to start without her!" Rachel protested.

"It's now or never," Finn said.

Before Rachel had a chance to say anything, a policeman came in. "This is the Berry-Hudson wedding?"

"Yes," Rachel said. What was going on?

"We've received word that someone named Quinn Fabray, who was on her way to your wedding, was in a serious car crash," the police officer told the group. "She's been taken to the hospital in serious condition..."

Rachel's heart stopped. Serious condition? What had happened?

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