A/N: Seeing as the writers of Glee like to screw around with the time line and throw continuity out of the window, I've made every member of New Directions students in the same year. This is probably my ideal ending for the show.

Epilogue

The Nationals win brought upon a great change for New Directions. Principal Figgins rewarded Mister Schuester with a pay raise and a budge three times as big for the group. They were able to afford top of the line costumes and a renovations for a bigger choir room. Local news crews showed up at the school the week after they returned to interview the championship winners. The attention brought to the school made the show choir's popularity status rise up to the standards of the jocks and cheerleaders. There was only one thing different about their equal status. The members of New Directions swore to not let the popularity go to their head and they treated every student from every layer of the social pyramid equally.

It seemed as though each of them had influenced others in the school for the better. During the following school year, more and more gay students came out of the closet inspired by Kurt and Blaine. More and more disabled students signed up for clubs and activities that they would normally not feel like they had a chance to join. The football team showed up at the choir room with slushies for them to drink. Sue Sylvester wasn't happy about sharing the budget, but she helped organize Cheerios/New Directions Invitational's that sold out crowds every month. The biggest change however, was the line that wrapped around the hallway in front of the New Directions sign-up sheet every year. Dozens of students from all of the social classes at the school lined up excitedly to sign up for an audition slot.

Rachel passed by a red headed freshman girl who was at the front of the line. She had a bright pink baby doll dress on with a white beret on her head. Strung around her neck was a necklace with a diamond star. The sign up pen that she was trying to write with had run out.

"Here." said Rachel as she handed her a fuzzy pink pen.

"Thank you… oh my goodness, you're Rachel Berry!" she squeaked. "You're the reason I'm joining!"

Rachel blushed, but held her head high.

"I'm incredibly flattered." she replied with a smile. "What song are you auditioning with?"

"On My Own." she said as she signed her name and followed her down the hall.

"I can't wait to hear you sing, then. That was my audition song." she said before walking off.

New Directions grew so big after auditions, that it was as big as Vocal Adrenaline. Shelby missed coaching so much that Mister Schuester recommended she apply for the position of Co-Director of the group. They were able to effortlessly win Sectionals and Regionals again, leaving Vocal Adrenaline off in the dust.

Jesse transferred to NYU and flew over from New York for every one of Rachel's performances. Every night they debated over set lists and costume choices for the performances. Whenever he had an audition to prepare for, he'd call her to listen to him sing his piece. She'd of course give a constructively critical opinion that would push him to work harder.

The week before graduation, New Directions was able to snag another Nationals Championship win, landing them on the cover of the Entertainment section of the New York Times. They flew back just in time to walk down the aisle and accept their diplomas in the ceremony set up in the school's football field the next night.

Rachel's fathers sat up front of the family and friends section with Shelby and Jesse proudly. They all held roses for their favorite graduate. Rachel waved to them from her seat in the front row of the audience. She, along with the rest of the girls wore white caps and gowns that made them look absolutely radiant. The guys wore red caps and gowns so that they all together matched the school's colors.

Principal Figgins took the microphone in the center of the elevated stage. He strolled through the boring parts as slowly as he possibly could. Everyone was about to fall asleep, when Mister Schuester walked up on stage and took the microphone.

"Good evening." he started. "I graduated from this very school in the 90s and now I've had the pleasure to be working as a Spanish teacher at William McKinley High School for years now. Throughout all these years here, I've never enjoyed it half as much as I have with this graduating class right here."

He paused as he took a deep breath to prevent getting emotional, but it was useless. His tears were coming whether he liked it or not.

"Especially with the members of New Directions. You guys were the biggest group of misfits Ohio has ever seen. I got to see you all grow out of your shells and become confident young adults who are now ready to take on the world. I feel so blessed to have coached you through the losses and of course, the wins. As Rachel Berry said before our first Nationals win: 'You are all stars.'"

He wiped a few tears from his eyes. Rachel looked down at the rest of the group as they tried to fight away tears. Even Finn and Puck sniffled every now and then.

"No matter where life takes you, I hope you never forget your years here. You are the first group to have so many students actually make it out of this town. I'd like to read out a few scholarships and college acceptances so that you may all be as proud as I am." he continued.

"Artie Abrams, accepted to UCLA for Film and Music."

Quinn kissed Artie's cheek in congratulations.

"Quinn Fabray, accepted to UCLA for an intended major in Communications."

"Go Quinn!" shouted Mercedes.

"Mercedes Jones, Ohio State University for Music Education; Brittany Pierce and Mike Chang accepted to Ohio State University for Dance. Santana Lopez accepted to Florida State University for Music."

"Party school!" Santana said with a whoop.

The crowd cheered.

"Lauren Zizes, accepted to the Art Institute for the Culinary field. Tina Cohen-Chang accepted to the Art Institute for Fashion Design."

After more cheers, he continued.

"Sam Evans and Noah Puckerman: Ohio State University with a football scholarship."

Coach Bieste applauded proudly from her seat with the faculty.

"Finn Hudson with a scholarship to Penn State for his activity in the McKinley High Glee Club."

Finn looked up proudly. Rachel knew how important it was to Finn to be able to go to college outside of Ohio. He was finally getting to live that dream of his. His mom, Carol, could be heard screaming his name from the parents and family section. His cheeks reddened slightly from embarrassment.

"Blaine Anderson and Kurt Hummel, our Prom Kings, have both snagged prestigious music scholarships at Columbia University."

The crowd cheered extra loud for them. Over the past year, Kurt and Blaine had become McKinley High's power couple. They had actually managed to kill the homophobia in the halls.

"And last but most certainly not least, Rachel Berry. Her hard work and dedication has earned her a full ride to New York University for Musical Theatre."

Rachel could hear her dads, Shelby, and Jesse cheering as loudly as they possibly could. She turned to face them and blew kisses.

"I understand you have something prepared for your fellow classmates, Rachel?" asked Mister Schuester.

She nodded and rose from her seat to walk up the ramp to the microphone.

"Congratulations, Rachel." Mister Schuester whispered.

"Thank you." she replied tearfully as she threw her arms around him. "For everything."

"No Rachel, thank you. New Directions would never have gotten to where it is today without you." he said before leaving her alone on the stage.

She held the microphone and smiled out at her friends, family, and boyfriend.

"I came to McKinley as an outcast who dreamed of making it out of this town to be a star. I thought to myself that stardom was a lonely profession and that you just had to take the heartache that came with the loneliness. But thankfully, I didn't have to be alone. I was able to find a group of fellow outcasts who shared a love for music. We formed a group that welcomed people from all walks of the social ladder. Now that we are leaving, don't think that your footprint will disappear."

She smiled and took a deep breath before continuing.

"Because of all the hard work you all did to demand equality in this school, not one student who comes after us will know what it's like to have a slushy facial." she said, bringing the students to laugher.

"Because of all the hard work you did, students won't have to fear being who they are. It's okay to be gay, disabled, a goth, and even a jock or cheerleader who enjoys singing and dancing."

"Because of all the hard work you did, students don't have to fear to joining clubs that they are passionate about, like the Glee Club, without losing their social status."

She wiped away a few tears carefully so as not to mess up her makeup.

"If you can change an entire school in such little time, imagine what you can do to the world during the rest of your lives? It has been a pleasure knowing you all, and I'm incredibly thankful that you have put up with my dramatic diva tendencies. You're the best friends I could have ever asked for."

Kurt stared up at her with tears streaming down his face and his hand on his heart. When their eyes met, he mouthed out "I love you."

"And so I of course have a song planned for all of you. But I ask that the members of New Directions join me as a final goodbye. If any of you know the words, feel free to sing along or come forward." she announced, as the rest of New Directions made their way up the ramp to the stage.

"I think this song really describes us and the struggle we went through to get to this day. I hope you all like it."

I said remember this moment
In the back of my mind
The time we stood with our shaking hands
The crowds in stands went wild
We were the kings and the queens
And they read off our names
The night you danced like you knew our lives would never be the same
You held your head like a hero on a history book page
It was the end of a decade
But the start of an age

Long live the walls we crashed through
How the kingdom lights shined just for me and you
I was screaming long live all the magic we made
And bring on all the pretenders
One day we will be remembered

I said remember this feeling
I pass the pictures around
Of all the years that we stood there on the sidelines
Wishing for right now
We are the kings and the queens
You traded your baseball cap for a crown
When they gave us our trophies
And we held them up for our town
And the cynics were outraged
Screaming this is absurd
Cause for a moment a band of thieves in ripped up jeans got to rule the world!

Long live the walls we crashed through
How the kingdom lights shined just for me and you
I was screaming long live all the magic we made
And bring on all the pretenders
I'm not afraid
Long live all the mountains we moved
I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you
I was screaming long live that look on your face
And bring on all the pretenders
One day we will be remembered

Mister Schuester pulled Ms. Pillsbury to join the chorus. Sue walked to the side of the stage and set off a celebratory confetti canon. As she walked back, she pulled Quinn aside and handed her an MVC (Most Valuable Cheerio) trophy with as much of a smile as she could manage. Quinn returned to the singing group in shock. As confetti rained down on them, Sam danced to the front to pull up Coach Bieste and Mister Schuester went back and pulled up April Rhodes on the stage. They were soon joined by Burt and Carol as they stood next to Finn and Kurt with proud smiles on their faces. The rest of the members invited their families to join them too.

Rachel skipped to the end of the stage and pulled Jesse up with her so they could dance together as they all sang. Her fathers stood at the base of the stage recording the whole thing, while Shelby cheered her on.

Hold on to spinning around
Confetti falls to the ground
May these memories break our fall

Rachel motioned for everyone to crowd around her in a line holding hands. This part of the song would make them all emotional. With Jesse holding one hand, and Kurt squeezing the other, Rachel looked up and sang.

Will you take a moment, promise me this
That you'll stand by me forever
But if God forbid fate should step in
And force us into a goodbye
If you have children someday
When they point to the pictures
Please tell them my name?

Tell them how the crowds went wild
Tell them how I hope they shine

Long live the walls we crashed through
I had the time of my life with you

They all broke out into a spirited celebratory dance as they ripped off their gowns and sang in their own graduation outfits. Everyone was so into it, they forgot the fact that they would all be going their separate ways soon. Just as long as they had this moment, everything would be okay.

Long long live the walls we crashed through
How the kingdom lights shined just for me and you
And I was screaming long live
All the magic we made
And bring on all the pretenders, I'm not afraid
Singing long live all the mountains we moved
I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you
And long long live the look on your face
And bring on all the pretenders

One day

Jesse lifted Rachel in the air and spun her around with pride.

"You're on your way, baby." he said to her before kissing her cheek.

She smiled back at him before facing the audience and singing the last line of the song.

We will be remembered.

The End.

A/N: This concludes my first ever fanfiction, and I'm so happy and sad to have finished it. I had this story planned out from the beginning, (Seriously, I had chapters listed with what songs would be used), and it's a dream come true to actually reach that Epilogue I dreamt of so long ago . I left it open for a possible sequel in New York (without the Taylor Swift music), but if anything I'll keep writing St. Berry stories because they are the closest to my heart in the Glee realm.

I'd like to thank all of you for reading this, especially those who comment after I post a chapter. I'd also like to thank those following me on tumblr and giving me support to continue these stories because it keeps me going, it really does.

Final thanks go to Taylor Swift for inspiring this story, because this all started with me trying to imagine a Taylor centric episode. She'll always inspire me, and that's one of the reasons why I love her so.