Disclaimer – I do not own Glee
Hello dear readers, thanks for reading/reviewing
So I wrote this chapter, didn't like it, re-wrote it, still didn't like it and now this is like the fifth version and I think I'm happy with it now so… here it is
Chapter 35 - Regionals
The time for Regionals had arrived and the New Directions were in their changing rooms while Aural Intensity performed.
"Their song choices really suck," Finn remarked.
"I certainly don't disagree, however they do sound pretty good vocally," Rachel admitted fairly. "There's an almost angelic choral quality to their sound. They're a strong team. They really know how to fit their voices together."
"They can't dance or perform though," Tina commented as she returned from spying on their performance. "They're just standing still, no choreography or anything."
"That isn't necessarily a bad thing," Rachel argued. "Sometimes simplicity is the most beautiful and effective thing of all."
"I saw what they were doing out there, Rachel, it wasn't beautiful, it was boring," Tina stated. "We're definitely better than they are and Kurt, sweetie, do yourself a favour, do NOT go and look at their outfits, it will give you nightmares for a week."
"We're already having a fashion nightmare in here," Kurt sighed. "Finn, your tie is a mess and your shirts on inside out."
"Oh, oops," Finn mumbled awkwardly as Brittany stepped forward to help him dress himself properly.
"How long until we perform?" Mercedes asked.
"After Aural Intensity finish their performance there will be a fifteen minute interval and then we're next," Rachel answered.
"In that case I'm gonna go find some coffee and something smothered in chocolate," Mercedes declared.
"Me too," Santana added. "The sight of Finn's man-boobs are making me oddly hungry."
The pair left together, making their way through the building in search of the cafeteria. As they were approaching the room designated to Vocal Adrenaline, Santana tiptoed forwards and peered through the window in the door to take a look. The team seemed to be working through an intense warm-up and Santana couldn't deny that she felt a little intimidated. Even Coach Sylvester never worked the Cheerio's as hard and relentlessly as Vocal Adrenaline were currently working.
"Holy crap," Santana remarked seeing one boy who looked considerably older than the rest perfect a triple back-flip.
"Damn," Mercedes sighed watching the team members of Vocal Adrenaline move together as one formidable force. "They're really good," she admitted as they continued on towards the cafeteria.
"That was insane," Santana complained. "They're like a group of super-humans. Maybe something went down in their Choir Room and the entire team got given these special dance powers."
"That's ridiculous," Mercedes dismissed.
"Says the girl who can control the weather," Santana muttered under her breath. "Ok, we need to do something drastic."
"About what?" Mercedes asked quickening her pace as she turned the corner and found the cafeteria.
"You saw Vocal Adrenaline back there," Santana said. "That was amazing and that was just their warm-up rehearsal not their actual performance."
"So?" Mercedes shrugged as she eyed up the different candy treats trying to make a decision.
"So, we're never going to win, we don't stand a chance, not against them," Santana huffed. "And I cannot stand the idea of losing."
"Hey, look, I wanna win but if we're not ready to take the trophy then we're not ready," Mercedes replied. "We'll just have fun and do our best. It doesn't matter if we're not the winners."
"Spoken like a true loser, congratulations," Santana remarked sarcastically as she rolled her eyes. "Look, I've overheard Coach Sylvester yelling at Schuester and yelling at Figgins and just yelling at people in general. If we lose today then Glee Club's over and Coach Sylvester gets her full budget for the Cheerio's restored."
"Wait, Glee Club would really be over?" Mercedes asked.
"Apparently that was the deal Mr. Schue agreed to when he decided to take over Glee," Santana replied before demanding the cafeteria worker get her the biggest jelly doughnut on display. "If we lose today then this is all over."
"But… Vocal Adrenaline are too good, what can we do?" Mercedes asked.
"Well, they're performing last," Santana pointed out. "All we need to do is sabotage their performance."
"That's not fair," Mercedes claimed.
"Who cares?" Santana rolled her eyes as she paid for her jelly doughnut and Mercedes purchased three different candy bars. "Do you enjoy being in Glee or not?"
"Yeah, of course I do," Mercedes answered.
"Well so do I," Santana said. "It's the best part of my day. Tell anybody I said that and I'll deny it," she added at the amused look on Mercedes' face. "But we have to make sure we win by any means necessary. And I know a certain somebody could make that stage floor slippery so somebody falls over thereby messing up the entire choreography."
"I guess I could," Mercedes mulled it over. "But it wouldn't be right."
"Oh trust me," a voice drawled and the girls looked up to see a member of Vocal Adrenaline emerging from the changing room. "You don't want to eat all those candy bars. You're way too fat already," he laughed before stalking off in preparation to watch the New Directions perform. A trio of stick-thin girls followed after him cackling at Mercedes.
"Do you really want to be beaten by an asshole like that?" Santana asked once they were out of earshot.
"Ok, I'm in," Mercedes agreed crushing the candy bars in her hand and dropping them on the floor. "Vocal Adrenaline are going down."
"That's my girl," Santana approved as they rejoined their team-mates. "By the way we're going to destroy Vocal Adrenaline and Mercedes is one of the ways to do it."
"One of the ways?" Puck asked not entirely sure what was going on.
"I figured your little twink boyfriend could use his special talents to help us take down the competition," Santana commented.
"You mean Kurt's going to sing for Vocal Adrenaline?" Mike asked in confusion.
"No," Rachel answered having heard Santana and Mercedes' thoughts. "Mercedes is going to use her powers to make the stage slippery so some of the dancers fall over and Santana wants Kurt to use his invisibility to sabotage them in other ways on the stage."
"I vote you yank one of the guy's trousers down and just push three bitchy girls off the stage," Santana said.
"Seriously, you want us to cheat?" Kurt asked. "Isn't that just really low and pathetic?"
"Kurt's right, we don't need to do it this way," Puck said.
"Actually we do," Santana responded. "If we lose out there tonight then Glee Club is over. And no offence but I don't think we're good enough to beat Vocal Adrenaline."
"But we worked really hard on our routines," Brittany spoke up. "We're like a totally good team now."
"The New Directions have definitely come a long way," Mercedes acknowledged. "Back when we started we sucked. I mean, we really sucked."
"We more than sucked," Artie commented.
"Our first Glee rehearsal was so hideously awful I stormed out, had an emergency session with my therapist that evening and pretty much cried myself to sleep," Rachel admitted.
"You guys couldn't have been that bad," Quinn said.
"We were that bad," the original five replied together.
"But then you guys joined the club and it really did get better," Tina said. "Not just our performances. Everything."
"You guys made our lives better," Kurt smiled and Puck wrapped his arms around Kurt from behind and kissed the side of his neck.
"I can't imagine what our lives would be like now if this Glee Club hadn't worked out," Mercedes stated.
"Rachel would still be really annoying and wouldn't have any friends," Tina declared. "Kurt would be lonely and I don't even want to consider how badly Karofsky would be bullying him."
"Or how we'd be bullying him," Finn mumbled guiltily referring to himself and Puck.
"I'd still be faking a stutter," Tina pointed out.
"I'd be in the wheelchair," Artie said.
"Ok, stop getting so emotional," Santana complained. "The point is that Glee is really special for all of us. We need it. And if we don't win then Glee is all over."
"We have to win," Quinn nodded.
"By cheating?" Mike asked.
"If that's what it takes," Mercedes replied.
"Let's put it to a vote," Puck called out. "All those in favour of kicking Vocal Adrenaline's ass raise your hand," he said putting his fist in the air.
Santana, Mercedes and Quinn were the first to put their hands in the air. Finn and Artie followed and Mike copied Tina when she raised her hand. Brittany shrugged before putting her hand up and after several seconds of silence Kurt, Matt and Rachel raised their hands also.
"So we're agreed," Puck said. "Kurt, Mercedes, you know what to do."
"We've got this," Mercedes nodded just as an overly-excited Mr. Schuester entered the room.
"I'm so proud of you guys," Mr. Schue gushed. "I can't wait to see you all shine on that stage tonight. This time is yours. Enjoy the moment, own it and make it count."
"We're gonna win this one for you, Mr. Schue," Finn said.
"Come on everybody, hands in," Mr. Schue encouraged and they all formed a show-circle.
XXX
The New Directions' performance went to plan. In the wings, Mr. Schue watched on proudly. His face did drop when the Disco number he had prepared never happened but there wasn't anything he could do about it. As the group completed their set-list, the audience rewarded them with a standing ovation and a roar of cheers.
"They love us," Rachel said breathlessly hearing the positive feedback in the thoughts of the audience members. "They really love us," she said weakly as the faces of the crowd blurred and the room began to spin.
"I got you," Artie told her, lifting her into his arms before she fell and carrying her back to their changing room.
"Is she ok?" Quinn asked in concern.
"She'll be fine," Artie answered. "It just got too loud for her in there; too overwhelming. Mike could you open the window so she can get some fresh air? Matt, can you get her some water? Stand back, yo, just give her some space. Rachel, sweetie, can you hear me?"
"Mmm," she replied, throwing one arm over her eyes to block out the light and seeking Artie's hand with her other.
"It's ok, I'm here," Artie assured her dropping a kiss to her knuckles. "Thanks, man," he said to Matt as he handed over a cup of water. "Here, sit up," he instructed his girlfriend. "Drink this, slowly."
"Good job, Berry," Santana declared encouragingly and uncharacteristically nice. "I just wanna say, girl to girl, you killed it out there. For real. We all did."
"Vocal Adrenaline are set to perform in a few minutes," Tina reminded them all.
"Don't worry, they're going down," Mercedes promised. "Me and my boy Kurt are going to take care of it."
"Guys, come on, we just gave an incredible performance," Kurt said. "Do we really want to follow that up with us sabotaging another team?"
"Oh come on, Lady Hummel, we already voted," Santana groaned. "Don't let the team down now."
"Back off Lopez," Puck warned. "Kurt, babe, you don't have to do anything you don't want to."
"We're not just doing this to win, Kurt," Mercedes pointed out. "We're doing this to save Glee Club."
"Don't you want to save Glee Club?" Brittany asked with a pout.
"Uh-oh," Rachel said getting to her feet and they all looked to her in confusion to find her looking at Quinn.
"Um, what's going on?" Finn asked.
"My water just broke," Quinn revealed just as Mr. Schue entered.
"Ok, everybody stay calm," Mr. Schue called out. "Quinn, I'm going to get you to the hospital."
"I'm coming too," Matt spoke up and Mr. Schue nodded.
"And, um, er," Mr. Schue babbled looking around the room in slight panic.
There was a knock at the door before Burt entered the room.
"Great job, kids," Burt congratulated. "Kurt, you were amazing and holy crap her water's have broke," he realised as he spotted Quinn. "What the hell are you doing, Schuester? Get the girl to the hospital. Go on, go, I'll take care of things here."
"Right, yes, let's go," Mr. Schue agreed putting an arm around Quinn to lead her out, Matt following.
"Wait, I want Rachel with me too," Quinn said and Rachel nodded before rushing to her side and taking her hand.
"So… yeah," Burt said awkwardly once Mr. Schue had left with Quinn, Matt and Rachel. "Good show."
"Vocal Adrenaline start in a couple of minutes," Tina stated.
"We should head into the auditorium and get some seats," Puck suggested.
"Right, let's go," Burt said. "Come on, kiddo, you can sit by me," he told Kurt draping his arm across his son's shoulders and praising him further for his performance.
"I guess its all up to you 'Cedes," Santana whispered as Kurt was led away. "Unless Artie and Queen T help."
"I'm not electrocuting anybody just so we can win," Artie told her.
"Maybe you could just use your powers to mess up stage lights," Santana shrugged.
"Whoa, come on, way too dangerous," Mike said reasonably.
"Fine," Santana rolled her eyes. "Tina?"
"I guess it would be easy enough to break an ankle or two," she mused. "Nobody's good enough to dance Vocal Adrenaline choreography on a broken ankle, right?"
"Absolutely not," Artie said disapprovingly.
"Forget it," Mercedes led the way out of the changing room. "I'll make the stage icy and there will be a few slips and falls. That's it. And I can do that from a seat in the audience so let's go."
They were walking through the corridor heading towards the auditorium when Mercedes came to a standstill.
"'Cedes?" Tina asked.
"It's him," Mercedes replied. "The guy from the mall."
Tina looked over and instantly recognised the good-looking blonde with the large lips.
"Hey, don't get distracted," Santana hissed at her. "You've got a job to do."
"He's coming over here," Mercedes panicked.
"Relax," Tina told her.
"Um, hey," the blonde boy greeted. "My name's Sam," he introduced himself.
"Dude, your mouth is huge," Puck claimed. "How many balls can you fit in there?"
"Stop flirting, you already have a boyfriend," Brittany told him. "He's not for you," she told Sam before dragging Puck to the auditorium to find Kurt and Mr. Hummel.
"So, I saw you perform," Sam continued. "You were really good. You looked amazing up there."
"Yeah, thanks," Finn said shifting uncomfortably. "Look I'm flattered and everything but I'm not gay."
"Oh get over yourself Finnessa, he so wasn't talking to you," Tina drawled before shoving him in the small of the back to move him along. "Come on, puppy," she called to Mike who obediently followed after her.
"I really hope you win, you deserve it," Sam smiled. "I, um, I didn't get your name."
"Her name's Mercedes," Artie said when she herself failed to respond. "I guess we'll leave you two to talk."
"Wait, what?" Santana scowled. "But we need Mercedes to do that thing," she said pointedly.
"Forget it," Artie replied grabbing Santana's upper arm and forcing her to walk with him.
"You hurt her and even Sherlock Holmes won't be able to find your body," Santana threatened. "Damn it, how are we supposed to sabotage Vocal Adrenaline now?"
"Ok, you seem like a really nice guy," Mercedes told Sam. "But really nice good-looking guy's like you never talk to girls like me so I don't really know what to do or say. Besides, I need to get inside and see the competition."
"Can I sit with you?" Sam asked hopefully.
"You really want to?" Mercedes asked uncertainly.
"Sure I do," Sam answered.
"But why?" Mercedes asked.
"I saw you smiling when you were on stage," Sam said. "Now I wanna find a way to make you smile like that again. Because when you're smiling like that you look really beautiful. Yeah," he grinned as a smile formed on Mercedes' features. "Just like that."
"Ok, white boy, you're smooth, I'll give you that," Mercedes acknowledged. "Now hurry up and find us some seats."
Sam opened the door to the auditorium for her and led her to two seats in the far back of the room.
"By the way, I really like your dress," Sam told her.
"Thanks," Mercedes smiled before forcing her eyes away from the blonde and looking to the stage.
Vocal Adrenaline began to perform, their movements flawless and fierce until one of the girls stumbled in her heels. Then one of the male dancers dropped one of the girls and another pair tripped over her. Like true performers, they got to their feet again and continued but as their performance came to an end the mistakes were all anybody remembered.
"That's a shame," Sam said. "They started out so good."
"Yeah," Mercedes replied. "Shame," she was confused. She hadn't used her powers to make the stage icy. It seemed sabotage was unnecessary. Vocal Adrenaline had messed up naturally.
XXX
At the hospital, Quinn had been rushed into a room and was crushing Rachel's hand and yelling abuse at Matt as the nurses encouraged her to breathe and to push.
"Oh you suck, you suck, you suck!" Quinn snarled at Matt as she threw her head back and whined at the pain.
"You're almost there, Quinn, you're doing so well," Rachel encouraged. "Come on, push."
"Aaaa!" Quinn screamed shrilly going red in the face.
"Breathe," a nurse said soothingly. "Just breathe."
"I'm breathing!" Quinn snapped at her.
With one final push, the baby was born and her tiny cries filled the room.
"Oh Quinn," Rachel sighed tearfully as the baby was wrapped up and handed over to the blonde. "She's beautiful," she gushed looking down at the tiny human.
"She looks like you," Matt said gazing down at their baby girl in wonder.
"Hey, I'll give you some time alone," Rachel said. "I'm going to call the others and let them know the good news."
She phoned Artie and he answered on the first ring.
"Is everything ok?" he asked.
"Yes, Quinn's had the baby," Rachel revealed. "A beautiful baby girl."
"That's great," Artie said. "Hey, I gotta go. They're just about to announce the winners. Either way, we'll all be up there as soon as we can. Love you," he said before quickly hanging up.
XXX
The majority of the New Directions stood on stage alongside Mr. Schue who had driven back after taking Quinn to the hospital. Puck had his arms wrapped around Kurt, Santana and Brittany had their pinkie fingers linked and Mercedes had her hands held together in prayer. Finn and Mike stood either side of Mr. Schue, both looking at the ground as they waited to hear the results. As Coach Sylvester lifted the microphone to her mouth, Artie slipped his hand into Tina's and squeezed.
"In third place," Coach Sylvester called out. "Aural Intensity." Appropriate applause followed. "In second place… Vocal Adrenaline. So in first place we have the New Directions!"
The audience cheered and applauded, Mr. Schue broke out in a huge smile, Kurt jumped into Puck's arms and locked his legs around his waist as they kissed. Artie found himself with an arm full of Tina and even Brittany and Santana were forcing kisses to his cheeks.
"We won, we actually won," Mercedes beamed.
XXX
They all made their way to the hospital, Santana having nominated herself to carry their first place trophy.
"Hey Berry," she called out spying the girl in her Regionals outfit. "Check it out," she held the trophy up triumphantly.
"Oh my god, no way," Rachel cried in surprise before rushing over and snatching the trophy out of Santana's hands to admire it. "This is amazing."
"That's right, next stop, Nationals," Artie told her and Rachel just laughed as she leaned in to kiss him, Santana snatching the trophy back.
"Come on, we all need to go and see Matt and Quinn," Rachel said leading the way.
As Mr. Schue, Burt Hummel and the New Directions filed inside, Quinn sat up a little straighter and tucked her hair behind her ears, feeling a little embarrassed about the hospital gown. Matt was sat the chair by the bed holding the baby girl.
"Oh Quinn, she looks just like you," Mercedes said.
"Are we sure it's a girl?" Brittany asked. "She doesn't even have hair."
"She's beautiful," Puck complimented.
"Have you thought of a name?" Kurt asked.
"No," Quinn answered.
"It's Beth," Matt stated.
The group of teenagers fussed over Quinn and the baby before a Doctor came along and kicked them all out.
"Is it just me or did Quinn's jugs look bigger?" Finn asked. "Like a lot bigger?"
"I can't believe it," Santana sighed. "The baby is totally normal. I seriously thought it was going to be some ugly mutant lizard baby but the thing was kind of cute."
"Do you think Quinn will let me babysit?" Brittany asked excitedly.
"She's not keeping the baby, remember," Tina pointed out.
"Maybe she'll change her mind," Mike suggested.
"Hey," Rachel turned to Matt. "Are you ok?"
"I'm a father," Matt replied. "Beth's my baby girl. But I'm never going to be able to be a real father to her. I won't get to teach her to read, ride a bike, hear her sing, watch her dance. None of it. I only get tonight."
"Quinn could change her mind," Rachel said.
"You know as well as I do that she won't," Matt responded looking down the corridor to the room Quinn and baby Beth were still in. "I've been hoping that she'd change her mind when she saw the baby for the first time. But she hasn't."
"I'm sorry," Rachel offered. "I think the two of you would have been great parents."
"I guess we'll never know," Matt shrugged. "And I guess I'm just another football player."
"You are co much more than just another football player," Rachel told him.
XXX
"Wow, what a night," Puck said to Kurt as the pair stepped outside the hospital for some air.
"Yeah, it was pretty crazy," Kurt agreed. "But of course the night isn't over. I told you I wanted us to sleep together after Regionals. I meant it then and I mean it more than ever now."
"But your dad's up there with Mr. Schue and everyone else," Puck pointed out. "How are we gonna make this work?"
"I'm going to go home with my dad like a good little boy," Kurt said. "Then I will use my special abilities to sneak out of the house and meet you at yours. Then you're going to drive me to a motel Santana recommended. How does that sound?" he asked whispering the words into his boyfriend's ear.
"Sounds perfect," Puck replied kissing him deeply.
To Be Continued…
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