author's note: This idea is pretty dumb, I think. Regardless, I wrote it. Try to enjoy, despite my awful grammar and mediocre writing skills! I have no beta, so please point out any mistakes you see and I'll edit.

disclaimer: I don't own Glee. Is this even necessary?

important note: This is NOT scientifically accurate, nor does it reflect my spiritual beliefs. Please no comments about how I've misused terms about stars or… constellations or… something. I KNOW. Really. I'm failing science.

Supernova

Rachel Berry was a star. Like, literally, she was a star, a little ball of energy and fire hanging on the strings of the gods. Her dads had taken their hydrogen, put it in a turkey baster and shoved it up the Orion Nebula. She'd burst out, supernova style, several million years later and here she was. Little Rachel Berry, the brightest star in the galaxy… well, the galaxy as she knew it. That was a very small section, right on the edge of visibility from Earth, where her dads perpetuated the idea that she was, in fact, the brightest star.

She'd been spoiled from birth. As soon as she'd been flung into her home, she was given only the best. Other stars couldn't even dream of the way she'd honed her shine, the way she could twinkle on command and melt the heart of anyone watching. Anyone who wasn't a star, that is. As she aged, other stars seemed to loathe her. It wasn't her fault that she had this uncontrollable urge to show off what she was born with, no matter what it took. She was constantly messing up constellations, trying to worm her way into one. The only formation she was part of was the lonely little triad of her family and she wanted to be a part of something big.

She thought the constellations should have been happy to have her, a drop of soup into the big dipper or a bird on top of Leo. They would dull and scream at her, telling her to keep to herself: they were fine as is. It didn't stop her, but a star could only take so much. After every long, long one thousand years of round trips, she'd come home to hopeful dads. There was never good news to report.

"Everyone hates me," She was nestled between the two of them; it was always comforting to do this, feel their warmth and notice how she shined just a tad brighter.

"That's not true, Rach," The star on her left, a larger, slightly reddish star, soothed, "They just see how perfect you are. They're jealous."

"Daddy, that doesn't help… I want to be me, a star… the brightest star, but…" She was hesitant. She tried to keep her worries away from her already fading fathers, "Sometimes I just want to fit in."

The other star attempted to stretch, wrap her in his fading warmth, "You do fit in, sweetie. You fit in here, with us."

She leaned on him. They must have been a sight to see down on Earth, like one huge star with varying brightness and color. Maybe they'd make the news… the thought was usually comforting, but it just made her sick now. That wouldn't gain her any favor with anyone. The desperate little star depending on her fathers to get attention… She could hear Ursa Major now, the insults starting from Alkaid all the way up to the head. It just made her want to turn her light off completely, spiral upwards into the heavens and ask for an early death.

Her voice was small, "…Papa, I just want a friend. I love you and Daddy, but…" She was no longer twinkling. The two older stars caught on and seemed to press closer, "I want a real friend. Someone to shine with me… maybe someone who I can sit next to forever."

There was no reply, just an exchanged understanding between her fathers. It made Rachel uncomfortable, the feeling that hung in the air. Like they already knew… like they'd prepared for this. She shifted; trying to squeeze away, go to her designated spot. They didn't allow her to move.

"Just stay here for tonight, baby," Her daddy began, reaching for his partner, "Don't you worry. We'll take care of everything."

When Rachel awoke after an indiscernible amount of time, she was alone. After she'd shaken the initial sleep away, it hit her. Her dads were never gone, not at the same time and definitely not when she woke up. They were always there to kiss her good morning, encourage her, and shine her up. Her glimmer began to blink, panicked, desperate. Where were they? She couldn't leave to search; it'd take too long to cover the area. If they came back, she wouldn't be there.

Was this what they meant by take care of it? Spend one last night with her in their arms and then run because they had no solution? Rachel knew she let her mind wander, create awful and dramatic scenarios… but this was reaching crisis level. She wasn't a steady radiation, just a mess of blinking light. Where would she stay? Nobody would let her in, not even if she delivered her sob story. They wouldn't believe her. They'd think it was a wild attempt to gain popularity. She was crying by now, light dull and still blinking. She couldn't survive like this…

"Baby! Rachel… calm down!"

Her attention whipped around, still in a panic, "Papa, where have you been? I was so scared…I thought you'd left me alone. I thought I'd lost all chance of friends and family…"

"Rach… starshine…" They were immediately as her side again, imitating their positions from last night, "We're sorry. We had to make a trip."

She hiccupped through her words, pulling them closer, "Where? Where did you go so early? What was so important… more important than me?"

"We had to travel up."

She knew what that meant. Up. As in up into the heavens, up to speak with someone. Barely whispering, she spoke up, "…Up? You… what did you have to travel up for? What's going on?"

Her fathers could barely take it: how small she sounded, like the day she'd tumbled into their life. She was still their baby underneath all her shine and confidence. Still their tiny little twinkle. Her papa sighed, his voice coming out weak, "We had to handle something… for you."

"…For me? Did you find me a constellation? Are they forming new ones so early?"

He started to continue, but his partner stopped him. He… they couldn't do this to their baby. They couldn't tell her the truth, what the real reason was. She'd lit up at the idea of being a part of a new constellation. It was her dream, after all. She wouldn't understand the truth. It'd hurt her to tell her now.

"Yes, actually!"

She was practically bouncing , "Oh my gods- sorry guys, I guess you're the ones doing this for me… but oh my gods! I'm… you guys, you've found me somewhere to belong. Just like you said."

That hurt the most of all, because they'd tried. They'd twirled up that morning to try to find a loophole, some way to start a new formation early. The answer was a resounding no, of course. The gods had trouble seeing how perfect their little girl was too. They'd begged, they'd pleaded, but there was absolutely no way to make her happy, it seemed. Defeated, they'd set out, only to be stopped before the exit by a low-ranking servant.

"There's another way, you know."

His information had no price. The consequences themselves were enough payment.

"You can send her to Earth."

It seemed like a dream come true. Once stars hit earth, they were no longer stars. That was common knowledge. It'd be a new start for her, one they could watch from the sky. The way to do it was always a mystery, though. Only the gods could orchestrate something like that.

"I've heard them talk about it. Are you willing to do anything for your daughter?"

Yes. Yes, of course they were. They would sacrifice everything they had for Rachel.

"All you have to do is cause shock waves strong enough to send her spiraling down."

And that's when it started to hurt. There was only one thing with that much force: a double supernova. One supernova would send her hovering around the moon, not a place you wanted to be. Two supernovas would crash her through the atmosphere and hopefully onto land. The discussion the two shared was short: there was no question that they'd do it. Anything for Rachel. They were on in their years anyway… it was bound to happen. Rachel needed to break away, be the brightest wherever she resided. The idea of exploding into oblivion didn't hurt, but never seeing Rachel again did. Not being able to see her story unfold. A dead star was nothing more than fumes and dull shine.

But at least she'd have a story. Something they knew she could never achieve up here.

"You guys have to PROMISE that you'll come visit my new friends and I," Her voice pulled them back into reality, "I can't wait till everyone discovers us. I hope we're something really discernible… and cute!"

They were forcing their illumination, "Of course, Rachel. You're going to be the headlining star, though."

"Oh, I know. I won't talk down to them, though. An important part of a constellation is that everyone feels equal- even if they're not. You taught me that!"

"Absolutely right, baby. You'll… you'll have to go up tomorrow. It's going to be a big day."

"Oh, papa, I'm so excited!"

She was cushioned close in between them once more, despite being a ball of excitement, "We know. Be our baby for one more night, though, okay?"

The twinkle in between them was brighter than ever, "…Daddy… Papa… I'll always be your baby. I love you both with every fiber in my being."

Wavering light was held back, voices contained. Only an attempt to somehow morph into one star, be together forever, was given. Rachel giggled and her fathers laughed with her. They had to enjoy their last moments together, because as soon as she was asleep… They'd be gone and she'd be alive elsewhere, starting her own story. Her own chapters on earth, hopefully shining just as bright.