A/N I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING! I ONLY OWN THIS PLOT! I'm sorry guys but this is the last chapter. I don't have any future Glee stories in mind at the moment but maybe once the next season comes out I'll have more. But I'll keep you posted on that. Until then enjoy this last chapter.
The next two weeks flew by. Rachel practiced her solo day and night, night and day. All her friends helped her and supported her. It was like none of the bad stuff ever happen. Everything was going great.
Finally everyone was on the bus on their way to Nationals. Rachel and Finn had a seat to themselves and were cuddled together.
"Are you nervous." Finn asked kissing her hair. "And before you answer just remember this is me you're talking to. I'll know if you're lying."
Rachel chuckled and shrugged. "I'm a little nervous. But I know we will do great."
"That's my girl." Finn kissed her head again. "And what happens if we don't?"
He wanted to make sure that if they lost she wouldn't blame herself or lose her self-confidence again.
"Then I know that no matter what happen you and I will have our life together in New York and we will be happy."
"That's right." Finn kissed her again, only this time more heated.
"Hmmm," Rachel moaned softly. "Do I get a kiss like that every time I answer a question right?"
Finn chuckled. "Maybe, depends on the question."
"Ask me something else?"
"Who are you?"
"Rachel Berry?" Rachel answered confused.
Finn laughed. "Ok, I mean what are you?"
"Um…a human?"
Finn laughed harder. "Let's try this again. What are you going to be?"
"OH!" Rachel laughed when she finally understood what he was asking. "I'm Rachel Berry and I'm going to be a star!"
"Yes!"
He kissed her passionately, so passionately it made her dizzy.
"Next question, how do you feel about yourself?"
"I'm beautiful mind body and soul."
Finn smiled and kissed her even more passionately. Rachel moaned and kissed back.
"All right you two that's enough." Will laughed. "By the way it's this reason alone I'm making sure you two have different hotel rooms."
Rachel blushed and pulled away burring her tomato face into Finn's chest. Finn chuckled and kissed her head rubbing her back.
The rest of the car ride was quiet. They arrived and everyone was sorted into their rooms. They had three, girl's, boy's and adult's. Once all the room were sorted everyone just hung up and relaxed after the travel. The girls were talking about winning Nationals and all the great things that would come of up. They all made a note in saying that Rachel would win it for them, without meaning too or knowingly putting added pressure on Rachel. She stood up and left. She went across the hall to the boys room and knocked on the door. Puck answered. "What?"
"Um…is Finn here?"
"Sure, but he's busy making out with the hot blonde from the lobby." Puck joked.
"Oh…" Rachel's face dropped believing every word.
"Dude, Shut up!" Finn growled walking over. "You're not funny!"
He walked out in the hallway and closed the door. "What wrong, Baby Girl?"
"The girls were talking about Nationals and how I was going to win it for them and well…I just…I got a little more nervous and self-conscience." She said still looking at the floor.
Finn lifted her chin to look at him. "Hey, what did we talk about in the car? What happens if we lose?"
Rachel didn't answer him.
"We're going to get married and live a happy life together in New York right?"
Rachel nodded but Finn could see she was still scared. "Baby, listen to me, you're amazing, you know all the words and all the dance moves, you're prepared. You're going to do great out there. Just believe in yourself and if you get nervous just look at me. I'll be right there."
Rachel nodded. "I'm sorry, I don't know what's wrong with me."
"Nothing is wrong with you. Rachel, you're nervous, it happens to the best of us, including Barbara Streisand."
"Really?"
Finn smiled and nodded. "Even the best most successful singers get nervous before a big show, and they still do an amazing job."
Rachel smiled and nodded. "You're right. Thanks, Finn."
"You're welcome."
He kissed her softly on the lips and they pulled away. The rest of the evening was uneventful. They practiced a few more time before the show but they all made sure to go to bed early so they were well rested and ready for the show tomorrow. Everything was running smoothly and everyone was so excited. All that was about to change and it was all thanks to one Jesse St. James.
Rachel was on her way to the building where they'd be having it, when she heard a voice behind her. "Looking for what's left of your dignity?"
Rachel spun around to see Jesse standing there. "Nice to see you too, Jesse." Rachel said a light hint of annoyance.
"If I were you, I'd be spending more time focusing on how you're going to impress the NAYDA judge into giving you another chance."
"What are you talking about? What NAYDA judge?"
"You haven't heard? Carmen Tibideaux is one of the judges for this competition."
"Wha-What? N-no you're…you're lying." Rachel said her heart racing and her body shaking. "You're trying to scare me."
Jesse laughed. "No, I'm being honest, but clearly if I was it would be working. Look at you you're shaking like a leaf. Are you scared you'll choke again like you did last them? That would be bad, wouldn't it? You'd be letting your entire team down."
"How did you hear about my audition?" Rachel asked trying to keep her voice as strong as possible.
"It's my job to know everything there is to know about my competitors. You better not choke up there again, I heard Carmen will be looking for students to audition with. This could be your big chance…unless you choke again."
Rachel started to breath heavy. She was now shaking like a tree during a category 4 hurricane, she was hyperventilating and she couldn't speak. Finn came over in that moment.
"Rachel? Rachel what's the matter?" he asked in a panic.
She didn't answer him…she couldn't. Finn looked to Jesse and growled. "What did you do to her?"
"Me? Nothing, I just…I told her that Carmen Tibideaux was going to be one of the judges and she freaked out."
Finn sighed All the Glee kids were hoping she wouldn't find out till after the show was over. This might have just blown everything. Finn looked to Rachel. He cupped her face in his hands. "Rachel, if you can hear me, just try to take some deep breaths. I'm going to get help."
He lifted her up and ran back to the hotel.
He barged into the adult's room. "Mr. Schue help me!"
He set a still panicked Rachel on the couch. She let out a strangled cry when he let her go so he next to her and held her to his side. Will, Emma, and Sue, crouched down in front of her.
"What happen?" Will asked.
"Jesse told her about Carmen Tibideaux and this is the result." Finn answered.
Will looked to Emma, "What's happening to her?"
"It's a panic attack, right now it's not too serious but if it gets any worse we might have to bring her to hospital so we need to try and calm her down."
Finn instantly took over. "Baby, Hey, Baby, shhh, shhh, it's ok, it's ok, shhh, shhh. I'm right here, I'm right here, shhh, shhh. You're ready, you're ready for this, I promise. You'll do great. Please calm down shhh, shhh." Finn soothed.
It had no effect on her had all.
"You better snap out of this Berry. If I lose this competition because of you I'll never forgive you for it and I'll make your life miserable." Sue said.
Rachel only started to cry hard, making everything worse.
"That's not helping." Will sighed.
"Look, there is only one person who can help her right now, we just need to be quiet and let him do it." Emma said.
Everyone looked to Finn to see him trying to calm her down.
"Finn, just try talking to her about her, tell her all the good things about her and how wonderful she is."
Finn nodded. "Baby, hey, it's ok, it's ok. You're the best singer in the entire world. People would be lined up a mile long just to hear you sing. You're the most beautiful and inspiring woman I've ever met. You inspire me every single day and I'm so proud to call you my girlfriend. You're so beautiful and smart and funny. You have a good heart. Rachel, you're my entire world and you helped me become the man I am today."
Rachel slowly started to calm down.
"That's my Girl, shhh, just take some deep breaths. You're ok. You're going to be ok. I'm right here. You're going to fine. I'm going to be up there with you, you won't be alone. I'll be right there, next to you watching you, cheering you on, encouraging you, supporting you. You can do it, Angel I know you can. Just remember that girl from the DVD do you remember her? I know I do. You can be like her again, Baby, you just have to believe in yourself."
Rachel's breathing returned to normal and her shaking stopped. She sniffed softly but clung to Finn like a life line.
"You've gotten so much stronger and braver since you last saw Carmen Tibideaux. She doesn't know who she is dealing with. You're going to knock her off her socks."
Rachel giggled softly. Everyone let out a sign of relief she was going to be ok. Rachel finally calmed down but didn't let go of Finn. "Did you all know?" she asked softly.
"Yes." Will answered. "But I made them all promise not to tell you because I knew it would only make you more scared of signing."
"I understand why you didn't tell me. I just wish I had known sooner."
"Rachel, this doesn't change anything. You're still Rachel Berry and you're still going to be a star. You're also still human."
Rachel giggled and looked up at him as he mocked her earlier from the trip. "I know but…"
"No, there are no buts. This doesn't change anything. You're going to rock that solo and Carmen Tibideaux is going to be sorry she cut your audition short."
"What if I mess up again?" Rachel asked even softer as she buried her face into his chest, trying to hide.
Finn removed her face and made her look at him. "We've already discussed that too. We will get married move to New York, get jobs and live our lives together and happily."
Rachel just sighed and looked down. Finn sighed too. Her confidence was shot and it was all thanks to Jesse St. James. Now what were they going to do?
"Look, Rachel, we've been known to make some last minute adjustments to our set list and still do well, we can take out your solo and you and Finn can do a duet." Will told her.
"No, no, no!" Sue groaned. "You perform well but you never actually win. You can do something unprepared and win William. Rachel is going to perform out there, no matter how scared she is!"
"Sue, we can't force her into anything."
"Sure we can. It's easy."
Rachel started to shake and her breathing got heavier again. Finn sighed. Their fighting wasn't helping anyone.
Finn lifted Rachel and stood up. He walked out of the room and into the guys room. All the guys were out so they were alone.
Rachel calmed down once they were alone.
"What are you so scared of, tell me the truth." Finn asked gently stroking her hair. "Are you scared of Carmen Tibideaux or just that she is one of the judges?"
"The second one." Rachel answered.
"Why does that scare you?"
"She's going to be judging you guys based on how well I sing that solo."
"No she's going to be judging how we all sing our parts. Like I've said before, we're a team, we all have our own talents and when we are put together we're that much stronger. It's not all up to you to win this for us. It's up to us all to try our hardest to win. You may be singing alone, but Rachel you aren't alone in this. I promise I'll be behind you 100% and I'll be on the side watching and cheering you on and encouraging you. I promise you, Rachel, I promise you, you are not alone."
Rachel nodded and smiled with tears in her eyes. "I love you, Finn. You always know how to make me feel better."
They kissed on the lips and pulled away.
"So, are you ready."
Rachel stood up and smiled. "Let's do this!"
After that everything went by smoothly. The preparation was finished, now all that was left was to perform. The Trouble Tones went first.
Rachel stood on the sidelines watching the Trouble Tones perform. She looked into crowd and gulped when she saw Carmen Tibideaux. "Oh my gosh, there she is, she's right there and in a minute she'll be watching me perform…judging me…"
"Hey, stop it, look at me." Finn said.
Rachel spun around and looked to him. She had fear all over her face.
"This is your moment ok, three years in the making, just forget about everyone and anything else, Just go out there and sing your heart out, because it's what you love to do. Don't worry about anything or anyone else, all right? Just sing."
Rachel nodded and turned back to the stage this was her moment to truly shine and be a star, could she do it?
Rachel slowly walked onto the stage she held her head high and forced a smile no matter how scared she was and stood in front of the microphone. The spot light turned on as the others around her turned off sounding like bombs being dropped all around her. She looked out to the crowd and forced back a gulp. She opened her mouth to sing and nothing came out. She froze, the spot light beating down on her like the sun.
"Oh no, not again." Kurt said from the side.
"I've got her covered." Finn smiled. "Rachel, Rachel." He whispered.
Rachel heard and looked toward him. He held up a small round DVD and smiled. "Be that girl from the DVD you can do it." He gave her a thumbs up.
Rachel inhaled and exhaled a shaky breath but looked back to crowed and opened her mouth to sing, this time words actually came out. It was strong and confident and not a hint of fear or nervousness at all. It sounded like…well, like the old Rachel Berry.
There were nights when the wind was so cold
That my body froze in bed
If I just listened to it
Right outside the window
There were days when the sun was so cruel
That all the tears turned to dust
And I just knew my eyes were
Drying up forever
I finished crying in the instant that you left
And I can't remember where or when or how
And I banished every memory you and I had ever made
But when you touch me like this
And you hold me like that
I just have to admit
That it's all coming back to me
When I touch you like this
And I hold you like that
It's so hard to believe but
It's all coming back to me
(It's all coming back, it's all coming back to me now)
There were moments of gold
And there were flashes of light
There were things I'd never do again
But then they'd always seemed right
There were nights of endless pleasure
It was more than any laws allow
Baby Baby
If I kiss you like this
And if you whisper like that
It was lost long ago
But it's all coming back to me
If you want me like this
And if you need me like that
It was dead long ago
But it's all coming back to me
It's so hard to resist
And it's all coming back to me
I can barely recall
But it's all coming back to me now
But it's all coming back
There were those empty threats and hollow lies
And whenever you tried to hurt me
I just hurt you even worse
And so much deeper
There were hours that just went on for days
When alone at last we'd count up all the chances
That were lost to us forever
But you were history with the slamming of the door
And I made myself so strong again somehow
And I never wasted any of my time on you since then
But if I touch you like this
And if you kiss me like that
It was so long ago
But it's all coming back to me
If you touch me like this
And if I kiss you like that
It was gone with the wind
But it's all coming back to me
(It's all coming back, it's all coming back to me now)
There were moments of gold
And there were flashes of light
There were things we'd never do again
But then they'd always seemed right
There were nights of endless pleasure
It was more than all your laws allow
Baby, Baby, Baby
When you touch me like this
And when you hold me like that
It was gone with the wind
But it's all coming back to me
When you see me like this
And when I see you like that
Then we see what we want to see
All coming back to me
The flesh and the fantasies
All coming back to me
I can barely recall
But it's all coming back to me now
If you forgive me all this
If I forgive you all that
We forgive and forget
And it's all coming back to me
When you see me like this
And when I see you like that
We see just what we want to see
All coming back to me
The flesh and the fantasies
All coming back to me
I can barely recall but it's all coming back to me now
(It's all coming back to me now)
And when you kiss me like this
(It's all coming back to me now)
And when I touch you like that
(It's all coming back to me now)
If you do it like this
(It's all coming back to me now)
And if we, , ,
Everyone stood up and cheered, even Carmen Tibideaux was on her feet cheering for Rachel and her voice. Rachel smiled and ran into Finn's arms as he lifted her and spun her around. She giggled!
"That was wonderful, Rachel! Baby I'm so proud of you." Finn smiled.
Rachel giggled happily.
Finn set her down. Together they walked onto the stage to begin their next song. Rachel smiled as she sang. She knew that even if she didn't get into NAYDA she wouldn't let anything stop her from being the one thing she's wanted to be her entire life and that was A STAR!
A/N so what do you think? Thank you for everyone who reviewed and added me and my story to their alerts and favorites.
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