One week left in the entire school year. Artie said, "National champs, baby!" Will wrote "Goodbye." "Graduation is only a few days away."

Kurt's voiceover said, "When I first started at McKinley, I was in the closet. But McKinley has made me a stronger, more socially-conscious, fashion forward person. Now if I can just get through the next few days without turning into an emotional train wreck."

In the auditorium, he met Burt. "Dad, why did you want to meet me in here? Did my NYADA letter come?"

"Not yet. I wanted to give you your graduation present. You know, I read you to bed, put cartoons on your TV when you were bored."

"You did pretty good."

"I am proud of everything we have done together."

"Me too."

Tina and Brittany walked on stage.

"Oh, God, Dad. Please don't do this."

"Sit down and enjoy your present."

Then they were all dancing to "Single Ladies."

Kurt laughed and clapped. In a classroom, he walked in with Blaine. "It was the best graduation gift ever."

Blaine said, "Are we okay?"

"Yeah. I told you. I'm never saying goodbye to you."

Friendly reminder: not a really good idea to try long-distance.

In the library, Rachel gave Kurt his yearbook. "Sorry about my calligraphy. Some tears were shed. I know I said we'd wait two days, but…"

Kurt opened the book. "Dear Kurt, I love you so much. You have challenged and inspired me. You are the bravest, truest person I've ever met. And I will never apologize for who I am or how I look. Even with this nose." He looked at her fondly. "I love your nose." He then read on, "I hope we go to New York together because I don't know how I could survive without my best friend. That's what you are to me. I love you forever. See you on Broadway. Rachel Berry."

They smiled and hold hands. "You're my best friend."

"So a little birdie told me that you won Nationals." Rachel turned and saw… "Well deserved if ever I saw one."

"Hey!" Rachel hugged Shelby. "I was afraid you weren't gonna make it. What took you so long?"

"The plane to McKinley kinda got jet lagged. So, did you get your NYADA letter yet?"

"No, not yet, but they'll be here. What about you? What brings you back here besides graduation?"

"Well, as you know, Jack and I are dating."

"Yeah, I do know. I got the postcard you gave me at Christmas. Hey, since you guys have been going out, are you two talking about music and math all at once?"

"Sometimes. But most of the time, we just…" She whispered in her ear.

Rachel covered her mouth. "You are just too much for me."

Shelby laughed.

"Well, it's good to see you, Shelby."

"You too. Although I am a bit surprised to find out that you and Finn are engaged."

"Yeah, I mean to tell you about that."

"Rachel…"

"Look, I know what you're gonna tell me. Okay, I've heard it all before. But I love Finn. He completes me. And I always want him with me."

"Well, I have a big decision to make, too. I want to…tell Jack that I love him."

"Wow, that is big. Well, whenever you find the right time, I hope it'll be perfect."

"I have a big surprise for you. Happy graduation, Rachel."

Another familiar voice said, "Room for one more?" Rachel turned around and hugged Jack. "Hey! Oh, you smell so good."

In the choir room, Shelby said, "First of all, I just want to tell you all how proud of you I am. Not just for winning Nationals, but everything that came along with it. It doesn't matter if you're gay or straight. What matters is that you're friends. And you're in it for the long haul."

Will said, "Shelby, what have you been doing in New York?"

In a flashback, Shelby and Jack had made love in their living room, on their kitchen counter and in their bedroom. When they fell out of bed, Shelby said, "Aah!" passionately. Back to the present, she said, "Let's just say I had a lot of fun. I think it only fair you all should know that…Jack and I are boyfriend and girlfriend." They held hands. They all clapped and cheered. Finn said, "Yes! About time!"

Rachel smiled.

Will said, "We're all really happy for you, Shelby."

Shelby said, "Thanks. And in the spirit of graduation, we've arranged a special number."

Jack whispered, "Wait. Do we have to do this now?"

"I have to. It's my graduation present to Rachel."

"Okay, then. Hit it."

They were singing "I'll Cover You" from RENT. Mercedes put her hand over her heart. Will smiled. Kurt and Blaine were lip-syncing.

Rachel said, "Kiss him, Shelby."

Shelby kissed him. They clapped and cheered again.

Shelby's voiceover said, "Well, graduation is finally here. I am so happy for Rachel. She really stepped up this year. Somehow I really feel like I have, too. I told Rachel at the beginning of the year that I played Maria 18 times, but I never thought I would find the perfect Tony. I love him. I really do. I actually love him."

In the hallway, Santana said, "Seems to me like Ms. Corcoran and Mr. Masterson have been doing it for months. I ship it. I do."

Brittany said, "Corcoran and Masterson sitting in a tree. K-I-S…sing."

Santana shrugged and Claire said, "Well, she was close." Anne smiled.

Mercedes might get a record deal and Mike got a scholarship. Santana still had no idea what she was gonna do with her life after graduation.

In Breadstix, Brittany and Santana were having dinner with Santana's mother, Maribel. "When Santana came out to us, I said I should've known. For Halloween, she dressed up like Jesse from Full House."

Brittany said, "So you really didn't care?"

"I care that my baby's happy."

Santana said, "I wish Abuela felt the same."

"I know. It sucks, mija."

Shelby and Jack were having a very special dinner together.

Shelby said, "Jack, I have something I want to say. I didn't really invite you over to my apartment last year to do song selections. I wanted you to come over because I really wanted to see you."

"Heh. Well, uh, since we're confessing things, I only really wanted to sing to impress you."

"Jack, you always impress me. And you are the reason I know how to cook."

They laughed.

Jack asked her, "Why me?"

"What do you mean?"

"I always figured you'd be into more sophisticated men. You know, musical professionals, Broadway showstoppers, like Will."

Shelby smiled and said, "None of them were you." Jack smiled.

"Look, Shelby, we've been dating for a few months now, and…well, this is kind of hard for me to say."

Shelby looked worried. "Oh, God."

"I think it's about time for you to meet my parents."

"Oh! Oh, that? Wow. Your parents. Um… I don't know, Jack. What if they don't like me?"

"Come on, they have to. Because I like you."

"I like you, too."

The next day, Rachel said, "Oh, my God. You still haven't told Jack how you feel yet?!"

"The timing wasn't right. I still haven't given him the watch yet either, and if that weren't enough, I have to meet his parents."

"Wow. His parents. That's a big step."

"Heh, I thought that telling him I love him was gonna be the scariest thing. Meeting his parents is way scarier. I don't even know what to wear or bring."

"Look, being hated is often something you may or may not get used to. Take it from someone who knows. And watch or no watch, Jack is crazy about you. He'll definitely understand the effort. He knows you'd do anything for him."

"When did you get to be so wise?"

Finn's voiceover said, "I had no idea who I wanted to do, who I was. It wasn't the past I was scared of, it was the future. I'd call my high school career a success. I got a football title, a national champion ship, and I never hurt anyone. I'm marrying a great girl, and going with her and my stepbrother."

James Lipton appeared. "Finn Hudson. I was very moved by your letter and application, Finn. You would be an exceptional case, should we accept you."

Will said, "Hey. Just finishing up."

Finn said, "Dear Finn, great knowing you. Are you kidding? I'm like the best man at your wedding."

"It's not that bad. I tried, but I couldn't get two words out without falling apart."

"Well, I don't need a bunch of blah-blah in a book to remember you anyway."

They shook hands.

Will said, "I heard you singing in the shower in the locker room. I needed a male lead. I put the pot in your locker and blackmailed you into joining. I'm very sorry. I hated myself for doing it, but I wanted you to know the truth before you left."

Finn just stood there in silence and finally said, "You are so much cooler than I ever thought you were."

Will said, "Heh. Get out of here." He chuckled.

Carole pulled out Finn's graduation robe.

Quinn was walking down the hallway thinking about what she was going to do. She got into Yale, that was definitely an accomplishment. When she told everyone, she said she couldn't have one it without them. Brittany and Santana were, of course, the most happy for her. The look on Mercedes' face when she told them. She found Rachel. "This freshman just hugged me and told me to never change. If it wasn't for glee club, you and I might never have been friends."

"Still so weird, having you call me a friend."

Quinn gave her a letter.

"What's this?"

"I'm hoping that we stay in touch."

"Thank you. That is so sweet." They hugged.

"I'm happy that you and Finn are together. You guys are meant to be."

"Funny. That's what I always thought about you and Puck."

"Ancient history."

"Look, I'm just saying that whenever you two were together, you were always at your best."

Puck said, "My head is like a roach motel. Once the info checks in, it never checks out."

"The Puck I fell in love with had swagger."

"You still earn your Brownies badge for helping me."

"I'm not here for sympathy. I'm here because I love you."

"Guess I kind of ruined that experience, huh?"

"Will you let me kiss you?"

"Guess I'd be kind of rude if I refused." They kissed.

Roz said, "You and I are never gonna like each other, Sue Sylvester. But you and I know that this school has an idiot for a principal."

Quinn walked into Sue's office one last time. Sue gave Quinn her Cheerios uniform to keep. "I'm retiring this uniform," Sue said. "You know, when I first laid eyes on you, Q, you reminded me of a young Sue Sylvester. But I was wrong. You're nothing like me. You're better. You're gonna go far, kiddo, and I'll be happy watching you do it."

Quinn got emotional and hugged the bitch. "I'm gonna miss you."

"Well, I don't know how that would be possible, but thank you."

That night, Shelby walked to a house. "Oh, dear God." Her heart was pounding. "I can't do this." She took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

The door opened. Jack said, "You came."

"I did."

"Come in."

Shelby walked in. "Wow. This place is almost better than my apartment."

"You look all proper."

"Yeah, well, I couldn't decide what to wear. You seriously remember what I wore the very first day of McKinley?"

"I remember how beautiful you looked."

"Heh." She took off her coat and put it on the rack.

"Black and purple. Those are your colors."

Shelby smiled. She kissed him and moaned.

A woman cleared her throat. They looked at her. "Is this how you always greet your dinner guests, Jack?"

Jack said, "Mom. Um…"

Shelby said, "Oh. You must be, um…"

A man walked by. "What's going on here?"

Jack walked to his parents. "Um, Shelby, these are my parents, Dennis and Cathy. Mom, Dad, Shelby Corcoran, my girlfriend."

Shelby said, "Hi. Mr. and Mrs. Masterson." She took her shoes off and put them beside the carpet. "Uh, I hope it's okay that I brought some champagne. My sister is graduating high school and you know how crazy these celebrations are."

Dennis said, "Well, Shelby, Jack has told us a lot about you." They shake hands. "Great to finally meet you and put a face to the name."

Cathy glared at her. "You're not from around here, are you, Shelby?"

"Actually, I live in New York now…with your son." She felt her cheeks burn. "Uh, we, um…uh…well. It's plain to see where Jack gets his good looks from." She giggled nervously. "Uh, sir, did you want to take this?"

They were all seated for dinner.

Dennis said, "So, Shelby, I understand you were a high school teacher for a time."

"Yes. I used to coach the glee club at Carmel High."

"Oh, yes. I believe it was called Vocal Adrenaline."

Cathy said, "Vocal Adrenaline." She scoffed.

"Yeah, I don't coach that anymore. I got tired of it. I moved to McKinley to start fresh, to start a life with my sister."

"Tell me, Shelby, did you ever teach your Carmel kids any manners?"

"Excuse me?"

"Well, from what I heard, Vocal Adrenaline has a reputation of not being the most gracious team in all of Ohio."

Dennis said, "Catherine."

Jack said, "Mom, Shelby isn't like that."

Shelby said, "Honey."

Cathy said, "Your sister, Rachel Berry, is it? I bet it must've been worth it to reconnect with her after giving her up like that."

Dennis said, "Catherine…"

Shelby said, "My parents gave her up. I just went along with because I was a minor back then. There wasn't really anything I could do."

Jack said, "Mom, Shelby is really trying here."

Cathy said, "With a bottle of champagne and a make-out session. Great first impression."

Shelby said, "Mrs. Masterson, with all due respect, I left Vocal Adrenaline because I was bored with them. I wasn't expecting your son to come start at McKinley, but I'm glad that he did. I'd be lost without him." She held his hand. "And there's nothing I wouldn't do for him."

Jack smiled.

Shelby moved her hand on her bed. Jack said, "Yeah, I think I did a good job. I didn't overdo it, though, did I? You know, two years ago, I didn't have the guts to ask you out, but I don't know. Something about you and Rachel really helped me…bulk up. "

"You have no idea how into you I am. It doesn't matter to me if you're shy or not. I've always accepted you for who you are. You make me so damn happy."

"I guess you could say I'm like Wolverine, but without the claws. My dad really seems to like you."

"Well, it's clear your mom doesn't."

"Sorry. Maybe she'll come around. How happy and into me are you?"

"Does this answer your question?" And she kissed him. Then looked at the clock. "Oh, my God. Jack, look at what time it is! We're gonna be late." She stood up. Jack got out of bed.

Puck and the others were waiting for his test results. When Mrs. Doosenbury opened the door, Puck took the paper. "C-minus! That's a Puckerman A-plus! I'm graduating!" They cheered and Kurt hugged Doosenbury. They all walked to the auditorium singing "Glory Days."

Figgins started announcing the graduating class. "Michael Chang, Jr." Mike's parents were applauding.

"Quinn Fabray."

Quinn hugged Emma. Quinn's mom was clapping happily.

"Mercedes Jones. Noah Puckerman." Noah said, "Thank you."

"Santana Lopez." Santana told Emma, "Thanks."

"Kurt Hummel." Blaine gave Kurt a handkerchief.

Burt shouted, "That's my boy!" He and Mike's dad did a high-five.

"Finn Hudson." Carole clapped.

"Rachel Berry."

Shelby shouted, "Whoo! That's my girl!"

Emma said, "Congratulations."

Shelby and Jack clapped and hugged.

Rachel and Finn kissed. Anne Marie and Ian smiled at them.

Figgins announced, "The McKinley High graduating class of 2012!"

Applause and cheers were met at that. Will and Beiste did a high-five as well. Mercedes hugged Quinn and told her, "I love you so much."

Shelby and Jack were in the choir room with Rachel. "I'm too nervous."

Shelby said, "Honey, they would be crazy not to accept you."

Kurt and Finn were in a classroom with Burt and Carole.

Finn said, "I kinda want to wait."

Kurt asked, "For how long?"

"Forever. I mean, this is the moment before we know. I'll go first." He picked up his letter and opened it. "I didn't get in."

Carole said, "Ohh."

Kurt picked up his letter and opened it. "I didn't get in, either."

Burt looked angry. "I ought to give that Carmen Tibideaux a piece of my mind."

Carole said, "Burt…"

Jack said, "I wanted to show you before." He pulled out his teaching documents. He really was a creative consultant of a sort.

Rachel looked worried. Shelby said, "Well, uh…that explains a lot."

Rachel took a breath and opened her letter. "I got in."

Shelby said, "You got in!" She hugged her and spun her around.

Jack said, "I knew it!" He hugged her.

Rachel laughed. Her voice over said, "You know, some dreams are a lot more complicated than real life. I can't go to NYADA with Finn because it'll remind him of his rejection, and going there without Kurt would be like remaking the Beaches movie with Bette Midler's character. Maybe next year, we'll all go together. I used to think Broadway was my one and only love. I'm so glad something made me come to my senses. I only wish Kurt got into NYADA, too. And I'm really glad my sister found true love. Maybe the main reason why I was so happy was because of Finn. Well, if Shelby's happy, I'm happy."

Santana was cleaning out her locker. Her mother walked by and said, "Come on, you're gonna be late for your celebration."

"It's just dinner with you and Dad."

"You don't want to keep any of this?"

"Nope."

Mrs. Lopez pulled out a red envelope. "Your graduation present."

"Okay, hold up. Have you had this money the whole time? Why aren't you driving a Lexus?"

"Because for the last 18 years, I've been saving all my extra change, tax rebates and Christmas bonuses so I could help you pay for college."

"But I got a scholarship."

"If you had told me that sooner, I would've bought more shoes."

"You know what? Keep it, then. Go on a trip with Dad or something. I don't need it anyway. I'm not going to college."

"Then use it to go to New York. I trust your judgment."

Santana hugs her.

"I would love for you to go to college, but it's not my choice. This is your first moment of adulthood, mi amor."

Tina and Mike kissed. Then Mike's parents walked to them. Chang Sr said, "Your mother and I thought we'd surprise you wit ha celebratory dinner."

Mike's mother said, "I even convinced him to eat Italian."

Mike's father gave him a pamphlet. Visual Asian Arts. "I'm so proud to see the man my boy has become. Your love of dance has awakened me." They hug. Tina and Mrs Chang hug.

In the Lima Bean, Shelby was sitting across from Jack again.

"So," Jack asked, "why are we here at the Lima Bean?"

"Breadstix is way too fancy a place," Shelby sighed. "Jack, for the past couple of months, I have been… I was trying to find something for you that was impossible to find. I went to every store I could think of, I dialed every male jeweler I could find… But this was the best I could do." She pulled out a box. "I was going to give it to you for Christmas, but…there was a lot of paperwork."

Jack opened it and revealed a shiny new black watch with a bright silver circle. "You got me a watch?"

"I know, it's not anything like your grandfather would've wanted."

Jack put it on. "I think he would've really liked this. You went through all that trouble for me?"

Shelby shrugged, "I guess I just couldn't help myself."

"This is the best present I could ever ask for…for any occasion."

"Oh, dear God, is this the part where we play that game when we count to three and then say something at the exact same time?"

Jack chuckled.

"One…"

"Two…"

"Three."

They both inhaled and said at the same time, "I love you." They smiled and then kissed. Then, all of a sudden, the coffee maker exploded. The barista said, "Hey, free coffee for everyone!" The entire place cheered and clapped. Shelby and Jack kept on kissing.

Hiram and LeRoy met Shelby again. "Hiram, Leroy. It's been a while."

Hiram said, "Shelby. And who is this strapping gentleman?"

LeRoy said, "Ooh."

Shelby said, "This is Jack Masterson. My best friend, my boyfriend, and the man that I love."

Hiram said, "Oh, you are gorgeous."

LeRoy said, "Husky."

Jack chuckled.

Rachel said, "Well, I'm a high school graduate and you're in love. So, how was dinner with the parents?"

Shelby said, "Ah, about as well as you'd expect. His mom hates me."

"Oh. Sorry. Well, good news. His dad likes you, so that has to count for something, right?"

"And since you got into NYADA, I will be seeing you in New York as well."

"So this isn't goodbye."

"I never want to say goodbye, least of all to you. And about you and Finn…if you really want to marry him…then I guess you're old enough to make your own decisions, and I support you. I love you."

"I love you, too, Shelby." They hugged. "Jack." And they hugged.

Finn drove Rachel to the train station. "Why are we stopping here?"

"You're gonna get on that train and go to New York. Your dads will meet you there."

"Don't you want to get married?"

"The thought of you not going to NYADA for a year because of me makes me feel sick. You're going there in the fall. You're not deferring."

"But what are you gonna do?"

"I need to take the chance to redeem my dad."

"What, the army? Are you insane? I can't believe this is happening right now!"

"You're gonna get on that train and go to New York. That's how much I love you."

"I love you so much."

"I love you forever."

They kiss. Rachel walked to everyone and hugged them all goodbye.

Rachel, Shelby and Jack all got on the train to New York. They all saw them off. Claire waved, "Good luck, Rachel!" Anne Marie said, "So long!" Finn ran with the train. Rachel was back in New York.