I wanted love, I needed love
Most of all, most of all . . .
Someone said "True Love" was dead
But I'm bound to fall
Bound to fall for you
Oh what can I do?
{The Black Keys – Tighten Up}
EPILOGUE
Rachel stares at the glass in her hand, the bubbles calming in such a situation like this. Tina and Quinn and Luanna are all around her, talking and whispering. They're all slightly buzzed, once again.
"Oh Rach, I'm so sorry your life had to come to this!" Quinn slurs.
Tina smacks the blond over the arm. "She doesn't mean that, Rachel."
"I know," Rachel sighs. She puts on her best, bravest face, the actresses face, and stands up slowly. "If you'll excuse me, I think I need to shower. It's about time I cleaned up."
The three girls around her watch her go, whispering behind their hands.
Rachel stares at the ceiling for a while as she showers, imagining the outlines of her little stickers. She thinks she can see them now; that they're here for her again. And she's glad, because she's screwed up once and doesn't want to make the mistake again. Call it superstition, but this time she just knows . . . She can feel it.
Rachel emerges from the bathroom with her makeup and hair done, courtesy of Duncan, and she slips past the giggling girls to get dressed. Today will be a long day, and things will never be the same and gosh, she just doesn't know if she can keep going like this.
(She can, she can, she can.)
Her fathers come to have a chat with her, kissing her on the cheek and telling her she'll be fine. They sit and talk for a little while, discussing plans with the other three and sipping on champagne. They head out after a while, making her feel that little bit more terrified and lonely, but she looks up at the ceiling and breathes in slowly.
"What're you doing, Rachel?" Luanna says softly in her fading Texan accent.
"Waiting," Rachel whispers. "For the stars to come back."
Luanna scrunches up her nose slightly, pats Rachel on the back and says, "I sure don't know what you mean, but you'll be fine, beautiful. Smile for me, won't you?"
Rachel smiles, placing her glass on the table and standing up. "It's time, ladies. Let's go."
Quinn grins at Rachel as they head out the door. It's a cold, windy, Autumn day, and as the four of them step into the car, they all coo memories to her. She stares out the window, watches New York pass (oh, how far she has come . . .) and tries to pick out the people she will meet or the places she hasn't gone to yet.
The three girls each kiss her cheek as they head inside one by one, until only Rachel is left, staring at the large wooden doors, waiting to walk in.
Right, left, right, left . . . All eyes are on her.
She spots her fathers at the front, and on the other side are Rina and Sarah Puckerman. She sees Claire in a purple dress that makes her look fat (silent victory) and Rick the mechanic, finally cleaned up and shaven for the first time since she met him. Artie and Finn are up ahead, looking awfully smart. The rest of the Glee club isn't too far away, giggling and whispering together, breathing in and out in synchronization because that's what harmony does. And then . . . Well then there is him, and he's the only one she sees after that. Noah Puckerman.
"I do."
Rachel wraps her arms around him as he brushes his lips against hers.
"I love you."
Fingertips brushing over the new rings, flowers being thrown, kisses on cheeks, dirty whispers into her ear when no one is looking.
"Be with me forever."
Late night partying, sweet goodbyes, plane tickets, long rides, hairpin headaches, public kissing on aeroplanes, Thailand beaches.
"I love you too."
And fairytale endings are really so very rare. Luck isn't even a factor, though, when the right person is the right person, and Glee club is the thing that still glues you back together, even when you've just gotten married.
Living just to keep going
Going just to be sane.
All the while I know
It's such a shame
I don't need to get steady
I know just what to feel.
Telling me to be ready, my dear
{The Black Keys – Tighten Up}
A/N: I didn't expect this to be the last chapter, but it was . . . I guess that just happened : ) I'm happy with the ending, at least.