Chapter 9

Graduation Day

One day, in the choir room, Will ran inside and told Finn to do a drum roll. He happily announced, "I am proposing to Miss Pillsbury."

Everyone clapped and cheered this time. Sugar screamed happily. Claire covered her ears.

Finn said, "We are so happy for you, Mr. Shue."

Will said, "It has to be perfect. So, the assignment for the week is to come up with a proposal number."

Artie said, "Well, you can count on us, Mr. Shue."

Claire was walking by the swimming pool with two others.

A woman with blond hair said, "Claire Thomas! My name is Roz Washington. You are one strange kid. I've never seen arms like that on a white child. I bet you had to overcome a lot. Well, I know a thing or two about overcoming. It was told that black people couldn't swim. But I had a dream that one day I would get to the promised land."

The guy said to Claire, "Coach Roz was an Olympian."

Roz said, "That's right. I won this damn bronze Olympic medal in Beijing, China, for individual synchronized swimming. Nod to me if I'm getting through to you. Nod to me." Claire nodded. "I'm only gonna say this once, Claire Thomas, and I want you to listen to me carefully. If you bleed in my pool, I will kill you."

Claire said, worried, "Duly noted."

Mercedes asked, "You sure you want to go through with this?"

Claire said, "Well, I'm here, aren't I? What?"

"I believe your mom's exact words were $350 are a lot a money for something you don't really need."

"350 bucks? For an Xbox 360, maybe, but a ring?"

Santana said, "They're quality rocks."

"I earned that money. Besides, my mom told me it was my decision to make."

Tina said, "Which means you're really not supposed to buy it."

Will and Finn were going ring shopping. Finn said, "Rachel says you have to spend three months' salary on a ring. I kinda zone out sometimes when girls talk about stuff like this."

Will said, "Finn, I'd like you to be my best man."

"Are you screwing with me?" Finn smiled.

"No. You taught me more about being a man that anyone. You stand up for your friend, you're not afraid to cry sometimes, and you hope for me not to do anything stupid on my bachelor party." He chuckled when Finn hugged him. "So, is that a yes?"

"Yeah."

"All right."

"I've been thinking about my future, too. I met with a recruiter."

"For football?"

"For the army. I wanted to do something special like my dad. Ooh, that one's nice. It's medium-sized, so it'll be easy to clean. Miss Pillsbury would really like that."

"Yeah, she would."

Rachel, Mercedes, Tina and Santana sat Will down.

Tina said, "In order for you to propose to Miss Pillsbury, we're going to need some information first."

Mercedes asked, "What did you think when you first met?"

Will said, "Welcome to McKinley, Miss Pillsbury."

Emma said, "Thank you," while putting her name up by the door.

Will said, "I'll never forget the first time I saw her." Even Santana was moved.

Rachel said, "We got this one covered."

Then in a classroom, Finn walked in and Will and Emma were sitting down with Burt and Carole. Burt told him to have a seat and Finn said okay.

Burt said, "Will told us about your plans for the future."

Will said, "Look, I know telling them would upset you, but this is a big decision."

Finn said, "Yeah. Well, I was gonna tell you guys about it sooner or later."

Burt said, "Look, Finn, I want what you want. I'd like someone to take over the shop when I'm in DC."

"Well, I'm not enlisting tomorrow."

"Okay, I'm glad."

"I just wanted to feel obligated of my dad, to make something of myself. Be a war hero and help like he did."

Carole nodded, "I knew this was about him."

Emma said, "You don't to prove to anyone."

Carole said, "He was a good man, brave and true. He had the same sense of humor you do. But he didn't die in Iraq. He served over there, but I never found out what happened to him. He broke."

Finn asked, "He died a hero's death, right?"

"He died in Cincinnati after being discharged. Honey, he had a drug problem that he tried to get over, but he would just…disappear. One day, he just didn't come back." She started sobbing. "It was an overdose."

Finn said, "Ohh, I feel sick."

Burt said, "I know it's a lot to hear. Just take it slow."

Finn asked his mom, "Why did you lie to me?"

"Because your dad was so much more than his last few months. I was gonna tell you when I thought you were ready."

"Well, I'm not ready. How could you think I would ever be ready for something like that?" He walked out of the room in a huff.

Will asked if Emma had a second and a girl, a boy, Sue, and Beiste all gave her white flowers. The others were swimming and singing "We Found Love" by Rhianna. Will was wearing white. He took off his top hat and coat, then jumped in the water. He swam to Emma.

"Emma, you are the one. You always have been. I felt like I had to stop myself from doing this the minute I first saw you. The first time I held this hand, it felt like I held it a million times before. Life is messy. It just is. But that's why you have me - to balance it out. I love you with everything I am and everything I hope to be. So, Emma Pillsbury, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

Emma smiled, "I love you so much. Yes. Yes. Yes."

They kissed and everyone cheered. Rachel and Kurt held each other's hands and jumped up and down in the pool.

In the auditorium, the next day, Finn was looking at a picture of his dad. Rachel told him he had his eyes.

Finn said, "I was gonna plan out a picnic, like the one we had for our first date, but I couldn't figure out where you got those airplane cups."

Rachel said, "Yeah, I never understood why you ran off so quickly."

"Yeah, I was just nervous. I have something to tell you. But you have to promise me that you won't say a word until I'm done, and I know that's really hard for you, so."

"Okay."

"I spent my whole life wondering what my father was like. What I was gonna be like. I have high-school hero written all over me. Except for one thing, you. You're like a beacon of light guiding through darkness. You're like some big gold star, and for some bizarre reason, you chose to let me love you. And if you let me keep doing that, it could be okay." He pulled out a small box. "Uh, I had to open my first credit card to get this. It's not very big, but it's a promise that I will love you." He got down on one knee. "All you have to do is say yes. Rachel Berry, will you marry me?"