One Week Later

The doorbell rang and I stood up from the couch to go answer it. Mom was in the kitchen trying to wash enough plates for everyone that might come by. I took a deep breath and opened the door. The whole Glee club was at my doorstep dressed in shades of grey in black. Finn was at the front of the pack. He wrapped me in a tight hug and whispered a word of encouragement in my ear. I nodded at his words and pulled out of the hug.

"Will you guys come in?" I asked. They all nodded and followed me into the living room. Everyone took seats around the room and sat there in awkward silence. No one spoke for a long time before Shelby came in carrying some plates with appetizer style foods on them. Sam and Puck started digging right in but no one else ate. Mercedes and Quinn kept shooting Puck and Sam disapproving looks. Finn sat close to me but still at enough of a distance that I wouldn't feel uncomfortable. I didn't want to be coddled right now, everyone hugging all on me and sending their "condolences" was starting to make me claustrophobic. My dads' funerals were yesterday and today we were supposed to be letting visitors into the home to offer even more condolences. It was something my dads had said they wanted in their will; apparently they wanted people to bring me food because they thought it would be awhile before I would feel like cooking. They were right; because cooking was something we had always done as a family. I had Shelby now to cook and I really didn't want everyone coming over and giving me even more sympathy and hugs. I appreciated the gesture though. We sat in awkward silence for quite a while, during this time mom continued to great everyone else who came in. Eventually after we all stared at our hands for a while, Mercedes spoke up.

"Well we came to say we're sorry about your dad's and I thought we could sing a song for you and it might help a little." She began a little timidly. I nodded.

"Sure, you can try." I said quietly. Finn nodded and the Glee club started to get into a formation to sing. Artie started out humming the tune to Seasons of Love. Finn even got in formation to sing. Brittany came into the room dragging Shelby with her. Shelby smiled at the small gesture and sat down next to me on the couch to listen. She wrapped her arms around me in an open hug. I decided to accept the comfort and I scooted in closer to her to listen to the song. The Glee Club started the song in unison.

"Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes. Five hundred twenty five thousand moments, so dear. Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes. How do you measure, measure a year?" Everyone sang together. Mercedes stepped out a little from the formation.

"In daylights, in sunsets. In Midnights and cups of coffee." She sang soulfully. Finn stepped out a bit to stand next to her.

"In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife." Finn sang. Then he turned to Mercedes and she turned back to him.

"In five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes. How do you measure, a year in the life?" Mercedes and Finn sang back to each other.

"How about, Love?" The girls in the club sang.

"How about, Love?" The boys sang.

"How about, Love? Measure in Love." Everyone sang in four part harmony. "Seasons of, Love. Seasons of, Love." They finished the chorus in amazing harmony. Artie and Santana moved forward a little to stand next to Finn and Mercedes.

"Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes. Five hundred twenty five thousand journeys to plan. Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes. How do you measure the life of a woman or a man?" Santana and Artie's voice combined almost perfectly to push out that pre verse beautifully.

"In truth that she learned, or in time that he cried." Santana's voice warbled. Sam stepped up from behind to stand next to Santana.

"In bridges he burned, or the way that she died." He belted. Everyone stepped up to stand together again.

"It's time now, to sing out. Though the story never ends. Let's celebrate. Remember a year in the life of friends. Remember the Love." They chorused.

"Oh you got to remember the love." Mercedes warbled.

"Remember the love." The Glee club echoed.

"You know that love is a gift from above." Finn ad-libbed.

"Remember the love."

"Share love, give love, spread love!" Mercedes added.

"Measure in Love."

"Measure, measure your life in love." Quinn added.

"Seasons of Love. Seasons of Love." The club finished out.I smiled and wiped some stray tears from my eyes.

"Thank you guys so much." I told them honestly. They all smiled mischievously at each other and next thing I knew they were tackling me in a massive group hug.

"We love you Rachel." Mercedes told me honestly. I smiled.

"I love you guys too." I answered. Once everyone had left mom and I were left alone in the house with mountains of food. I had changed out of my black dress and into some pajamas and was now laying on the couch watch The Sound of Music. Mom was in the arm chair in her pajamas as well watching with me.

"Rach, can I talk to you about something?" Mom asked. I nodded and paused the movie to give her my full attention.

"Sure, what's up?" I asked. Mom smiled.

"Well, I was thinking about living arrangements, and I really don't want to move you to New York your Senior year so I'm planning on renting out my apartment until you graduate so we can move after you finish. However, I really can't afford this big house if I'm going to take a job at McKinley to help Mr. Schue with the club instead of working on Broadway. Would you be okay with selling this house and movie into a smaller house?" Shelby asked cautiously. I thought hard for several minutes about what she was asking before I spoke up.

"I grew up here and it's where all of my memories with my dads are." I began. Shelby nodded slowly, I knew she wasn't quite sure where I was going with this yet. "But I know that my dads wouldn't want me to linger on the past, they would want me to move on and have a great life and relationship with you. So I think I can let the house go and just keep my memories in my heart." I decided. Shelby smiled and nodded. "I will definitely live with you in New York after I graduate too." I added. Shelby smiled wider.

"Awesome." She replied. I smiled and turned The Sound of Music back on.

Music in the chapter:

Seasons of Love by the cast of Rent.