604: The Hurt Locker Part 1: November 2014

Previously on Glee: Mercedes returned to Lima under the guise of helping the reinstated Glee club, but really she wants to get back together with Sam, because 3rd time's the charm, right? Glee club's back at McKinley, but so far they only have six members and if they get enough, Emma, Shannon and Sam's kids are going up against Vocal Adrenaline, which is coached by Mr. Schue – awkward. Quinn wants to be a lawyer and switched her major to pre-law, but it's proving much harder than she thought and she barely ever gets to see her Air force boyfriend anymore. Tina's got a new man in her life at Brown who's not gay so she counts that as a win. And that's what you missed on Glee.

Lima, The Lima Bean

Mercedes smiles at Sam when he returns with another round of coffee for the two of them. It's their third date after they kissed and so far things are going pretty well, if you ask her. Behind Sam, an employee is clearing a corner and setting up a microphone. 

“What's that about?” she asks her date.

“They're doing open mic afternoon twice a month. It's become pretty popular and most people who sign up are really good.”

“Maybe I could give one of the songs I'm writing a trial run here,” Mercedes muses, before Sam's hand on top of hers distracts her.

“Will you let me listen to them before you do?” Sam asks and Mercedes knows that it's killing him that she won't let him listen to the songs she's working on when she isn't helping out with the McKinley glee club.

“Well if you keep begging like that, I'll have to give in eventually,” she replies, flirtier than planed. Apparently, Sam brings out that side of her.

Sam looks like he's going to reply, but then his eyes widen in recognition as a teenager steps on the make shift stage, a guitar slung over his shoulders.

“He's on the football team. Why didn't I know he performed,” Sam mutters.

“Because you're not a creep who follows his students into the showers,” Mercedes replies.

“True. Let's hope he's any good. If we want to compete we need six more people and hopefully once we get one football player, the others will follow.”

On stage, Spencer tunes his guitar and spies his assistant coach and that girl, who's a singer in L.A now according to school gossip, looking his way and groans internally. He's chosen to do open mic here, because since a Starbucks opened a few blocks from school, the McKinley kids don't really come to the Lima Bean anymore. Trying to ignore their stares, he plays the first notes of the song he's picked for today's performance.

I know what I want

I know what I want

I want a long life, all kidding aside

The rules are the same

As they always were

Presents a thought

And a piece of ming

And I want my girls in my arms

When I sleep

Breathing in her dreams

Near the air I breathe

And I wanna dream

Right down to the minute

Right down to the second

I can feel my every breath unfold

Right down to the minute

Right down to the second

I'm down to the seond

Steady little boat

Steady little boat

Take me to the shore

Take me to the shore

Take me back home all the way to where I'm from

To the banks of the Illinois

Show me the house I was raised in

And the woods where I used to play

Steady little boat

Take me home cause I'm far away

Right down to the minute

Right down to the second

I can feel my every breath unfold

Right down to the minute

Right down to the second

Akron, Carmel High School Auditorium

“Are you sure we should do this?” Roderick asks as Kitty pulls into the Carmel High parking lot with the members of the New New New Directions. Kitty nods.

“It's a time honored tradition to spy on Vocal Adrenaline before competitions.”

“It's true,” Unique adds. “When I was in Vocal Adrenaline, a lot of local glee clubs snuck into the auditorium to see us perform.”

“You were in Vocal Adrenaline? Why the hell did you leave?” Jane asks incredulously.

“I thought the New Directions would be more inclusive and more open. Let's say I was proven wrong as often as I was proven right. When I was in VA I was the lead soloist and even if they didn't like what I represented, they respected my voice. At McKinley, not so much, but now that my girl Mercedes is sort of in charge, I'm hoping I'll be front and center again.”

Before either of the newbies can reply, Kitty sushes them before the six of them slip into the Carmel High Auditorium. On stage, Mr. Schuester is trying to give his students a pep talk.

“You're dancing's really good already, but I think we need to work more on your emotions. What do you feel when you sing this song?”

“With all due respect, Mr. Schuester, half the team was out of sync, so before we think about feelings, I think we should take it from the top again. Come on, guys.”

Leaving Mr. Schuester behind, the group gets back in formation and on cue from the boy who talked to Mr. Schuester, the music starts again.

Vocal Adrenaline performs an energetic version of Dance the Night Away that leaves Jane, Mason, Madison and Roderick staring at them in shock, while Kitty and Unique share a look saying, ‘damn, they're still really good.'

Suddenly the leader on stage yells “spies” and Kitty curses under her breath when Mr. Schuester comes up to them.

“Kitty, Wade, um sorry, Unique, what are you doing here?”

“Glee club's back at McKinley and we wanted to show the newbies what the competition is like,” Kitty explains. “Granted at the moment we have nearly as many coaches as we have members, but I'm hoping to rectify that before competition season starts.”

“Last I heard, principal Sue banned it for good. How is it back?”

Kitty wonders briefly why his wife didn't tell him, but it's really none of her business.

“Coach Beiste, Mrs. Pillsbury and Sam Evans convinced the school board to let them reinstate Glee club, convincing them that it wouldn't cost them a cent. Coach Beiste and Mrs. Pillsbury are the faculty advisors and Sam and Mercedes are leading most of the rehearsals,” she explains.

“Emma's involved,” Mr. Schue mumbles, before he leaves abruptly, shouting over his shoulder, “don't sneak in here again – next time I'll have to call the police.”

“Let's head back,” Unique sighs. “We need to find more members and start to practice for real.”

Ohio, The Lima Bean

Once Spencer finishes his second song, Sam approaches him, Mercedes in tow.

“That was great, Spencer. We could really use you in Glee club. Rehearsals are never at the same time as football practice, so you could easily do both.”

Unfortunately, the boy in front of them scowls at them.

“No offense, but glee club isn't cool. And I'm not that kind of gay, so if you're looking for someone to prance around on stage in glitter, ask somebody else. I mean, how do you expect me to become quarterback if the team knows I'm doing show choir,” Spencer shoots them down immediately.

Mercedes and Sam share a look before they both burst out laughing, confusing the hell out of Spencer.

“What's so funny? If you're making fun of me for being gay, I'll report you to the school board,” Spencer hisses and when Mercedes looks around, she sees that they've accumulated quite the audience.

“Woah, no, I'd never. I have tons of gay friends,” Sam quickly assures his student before adding, “Look I promise we're not making fun of you, so can we just talk to you for a moment – outside – and if you're still against joining Glee afterward, we'll never mention it again.”

Spencer follows coach Sam and his friend reluctantly outside into the parking lot.

“I'm sorry we laughed,” Mercedes starts. “I'm guessing you're only a sophomore, because when Sam and I were in Glee, nearly half of the club was also on the football team. Glee club saw two quarterbacks, five head cheerleaders and the club was quite popular for a while after we won Nationals in 2012.”

“And if anyone gave you grief about being in Glee, I could make them work out a lot harder than the rest of the team or tell coach Beiste and she could bench them,” Sam adds.

“So, please think about it. If you don't want to join because you really don't like the idea of glee club, that's okay, but don't stay away because of what others may say.”

They've fought hard and taken many slushies to the face trying to show people that Glee club wasn't just for losers, and it saddens her to see what only one year without the club has done to the students' perception of show choir.

“Fine,” Spencer concedes, because he did enjoy the half time show the glee club did during Homecoming. “But I'm not promising anything.”

Seeing his mom's car entering the parking lot, he takes that as his cue to leave, thankfully before they've talked him into something he isn't sure he really wants to do. Performing on his own – with just his guitar and his voice – is fun, but he can't really see himself as part of a show choir.

“I hope he joins,” Mercedes tells Sam after Spencer gets into his mother's car. “You know how much Kitty and Unique want to win competitions this year and I really want to give that to them for their senior year.”

“I hope so too, because we all know that the school board will only give us funding if we win a few trophies,” Sam agrees, before he kisses Mercedes goodbye.

“Call me later?” Mercedes nods and watches Sam walk to his own car, a smile on her face.

Lima, Pillsbury – Schuester House

“Where were you?” Will asks Emma when his wife comes through the door. 

Daniel is asleep in his arms and Will carefully transfers him into his crib.

“I told you I was getting dinner with Shannon so I could meet her new boyfriend. You didn't want to come along because you didn't want to get a baby sitter.”

“He spends enough time with people who aren't us as it is,” Will reminds his wife.

He had hoped Emma would stay home for good now that they had a baby and he didn't really see the point in her going back to work when they should start working on baby number 2 soon.

“I work half days three days a week and only attend the morning Glee club meetings. On those days he spends two hours with your mother, so it's not like I make you dump him with strangers,” Emma retorts, already fed up with having this argument again. “Also, you know I love my job and we can use the extra money,” she adds, even though she knows Will doesn't like to hear that he doesn't earn enough for her to stay home.

“Is that why you're suddenly coaching a rival Glee club?” Will hisses, careful to keep his voice down. Emma rolls her eyes.

“Will, you know as well as I do that McKinley doesn't pay you for coaching Glee club. The only time you ever actually made money off the Glee club was when you guys won Nationals and Figgins had to pay you that winning bonus he keeps on hand for all McKinley teams.”

“Then why do it? You've never been interested in Glee club before,” Will accuses her and Emma barely refrains from reminding him of all the times she was a guest judge for the glee club, because Will only remembers what he wants to remember.

“Why coach a club that will compete against my team when you know my kids will hate me if they lose.”

Emma regards her husband with sad eyes.

“Wasn't it you who kept telling me that Glee meant opening yourself up to joy? The Glee club at McKinley was a safe haven for a lot of kids and that's why I'm involved in it. I don't care if we win competitions, I only care about giving kids a space where they can express themselves and be true to themselves.”

“Fine,” Will concedes, “but don't expect me to go easy on you just because you're involved in the club.”

“I would never ask you to do that. It wouldn't be a true victory for the kids if they knew the other team went easy on them. So may the best team win if it comes to it.”

They shake on it before Emma leaves the room to work on new pamphlets.

Yale University – Quinn's Dorm Room / Classroom

Quinn's about to fall asleep when her phone vibrates on her nightstand, illuminating the room. Stacey's spending the night with her current girlfriend, so at least she doesn't have to worry about disturbing her room mate.

Can you get on Skype, it's important. – Puck

After confirming that it's indeed well after midnight and she should try to get some sleep instead of Skyping with Puck because of an early class the next morning, she unlocks her iPad with a sigh and hopes that whatever's going on really is important and not just Puck being horny.

When her boyfriend's face appears on face, Quinn gasps though, because Puck is sporting a black eye.

“You should see the other guy,” Puck winks before he winces.

“What the hell happened?” Quinn demands to know.

“There's this guy in our unit who was showing us pictures of his boyfriend, and then douche bag Andrew called him a cocksucking fag and I punched him,” Puck recounts proudly and Quinn is proud that he's defending a fellow soldier, but violence is never the solution.

“Unfortunately, our supervisor walked in as I was teaching the dick a lesson and now I'm not allowed to leave base for the rest of the month because of the incident.”

“Noah,” Quinn hisses. “You know I already bought the tickets to come see you.”

After all the stress at school, she'd been looking forward to visiting him during her Thanksgiving break.

“I'll pay for your cancellation fee and I'm sure your mom would like it if you came to Lima instead,” Puck replies, clearly not getting the reason why Quinn's angry with him.

“It's not about the money, Noah. Seriously, you keep telling me you're nothing like your high school self anymore, but yet you still think the only way to resolve conflict is to beat someone up. You're not at McKinley anymore; do you want to get charged with assault one day? I'm happy you don't let homophobic bullying slide anymore, but you're a grown up. Act accordingly!”

“So I guess that's a no to a little Skype action of the naked variety?”

Quinn's answer is to end the call.

I'll call you tomorrow when I don't want to rip your head off anymore.

She texts him thought, before turning off the light and trying to fall asleep. Unfortunately, her brain won't shut up however, overanalyzing Puck's impulse control issues and what they could mean for their future together.

The next morning she only makes it to class on time, because Stacey comes to their room to get her books and kicks Quinn out of bed who didn't wake up when her alarm clock went off.

In a classroom full of mostly pre-law students, Quinn tries to hide her pajama under her coat and keeps combing her hair with her fingers in an attempt to fix the mess. Because she doesn't really pay attention to the professor she only catches the tail end of what he's saying.

“… expect our students to get in any law school of their choice and to make sure you're prepared for that, you're going to take a practice LSAT test today.”

Her brain's still half asleep and Quinn stares at her professor in horror when he gives the student the password for the website he's using. She isn't prepared for this, and it's something she's not very good at. Give her time to study, prepare and obsess and she will succeed. Spring something unexpected on her and her brain is likely to shut down.

“You already got into Yale,” Stacey reminds. “This shouldn't be too hard.”

Yes, Quinn thinks. She got into Yale. For Drama.

Lima, McKinley Choir Room

“We are still only six people,” Unique complains as she and Kitty walk into the choir room where the newbies are being regaled by stories from Mercedes' mall tour.

“We found a potential seventh member on the football team, but he hasn't decided yet whether he'll join or not,” Sam replies, as the two girls take a seat in the front row.

“But that's still not enough if we want to beat Vocal Adrenaline at Sectionals,” Kitty sighs. “So here's what we're going to do. We all have lab partners and people we have to do projects with. By the end of the week, each of us will have talked to those people and I expect you all to bring at least one person to rehearsal.”

The incest twins as Kitty has dubbed them, whisper to each other before Madison raises her hand.

“I know Kitty and Unique are totally obsessed with winning, but why do we even have to compete. My brother and I are here because we love to perform and we can do that as a group even if we don't compete, right?”

“Well, I for one, want to win as well, but I don't care if it's against other high schools or on a community level,” Jane puts in her own two cents.

“I agree,” Roderick nods. “This is my senior year and I just want to get through it without adding additional stress. We could sign up for local competitions instead of doing the whole trying to get to High School Show Choir Nationals thing. There's a choir competition in Columbus in two weeks and groups only need a minimum of six members.”

“That's a great idea, Roderick,” Mercedes tells the senior. “It would be a good trial run for us as a team and maybe if we do well, we can convince more kids here at school to join us.”

“And as for not caring about winning or Nationals, you wouldn't say that if you had performed there already,” Unique butts it. “Kitty and I, we lost the last time we competed and it's not gonna happen a second time.”

After a sharing a look with Kitty, Unique turns to the band as she and Kitty strut into the middle of the room and tells them to ‘hit it.

(UNIQUE)

Were coming up like killing machines
Our big guns gonna shatter your scene
Its pandemonium on the floor
Cause everybody wants a little more

(KITTY)
They wanna ride on the rocket ship
Ride around the moon for a velvet kiss
Cause all the girls and the boys wanna know
How far this bad wild childs gonna go

(UNIQUE & KITTY)
We are the sure fire winners
Uh-oh yeah big time hitters
We are the sure fire winners
Uh-oh yeah big time hitters
Bringing the heat and the word is out
Giving you something to shout about
We are, yeah, we are, we are the sure fire winners
Sure fire winners, sure fire winners, sure fire winners

(KITTY)
Flick the switch and the missile will fire
Im a heat seeker when Im full of desire
Were all drawn to the heat of the flame
Cause you wanna be a star in the hall of fame

(UNIQUE)
I was born with glitter on my face
My baby clothes made of leather and lace
And all the girls in the club wanna know
Where did all their pretty boys go?

(UNIQUE & KITTY)
We are the sure fire winners
Uh-oh yeah big time hitters
We are the sure fire winners
Uh-oh yeah big time hitters
Bringing the heat and the word is out
Giving you something to shout about
We are, yeah, we are, we are the sure fire winners
Winners winners

(UNIQUE)
Ooh yeah, take a walk on the wild with me
Gonna take you to the top to the brink of what you believe

(KITTY)
Never gonna stop til we reach the top
Never gonna stop til we reach the top

(UNIQUE)
Youd better get out of the game its never gonna be the same
Move over cause a new boys calling it time

(UNIQUE & KITTY)
We are the sure fire winners
Uh-oh yeah big time hitters
We are the sure fire winners
Uh-oh yeah big time hitters
Bringing the heat and the word is out
Giving you something to shout about
We are, yeah, we are, we are the sure fire winners

(UNIQUE)
Ooh yeah yeah-oh yeah yeah yeah

(UNIQUE & KITTY)
We are the sure fire winners
Uh-oh yeah big time hitters
We are the sure fire winners
Uh-oh yeah big time hitters
Bringing the heat and the word is out
Giving you something to shout about
Yeah we are, yeah, we are, we are the sure fire winners
(KITTY)
Gonna take you to the top to the brink of what you believe

(UNIQUE)
Gonna take you to the top to the brink of what you believe

(KITTY)
Gonna take you to the top to the brink of what you believe

While she and Unique sing, the rest of the Glee club slowly joins in, dancing around the piano and dragging Mercedes and Sam onto the makeshift dance floor as well. When the song ends, they all collapse back into their seats with big smiles on their faces. 

“So recruiting for Nationals?” Mercedes asks tentatively.

Unique and Kitty turn in their seats with hopeful smiles on their faces. After a moment of silence, the newbies finally nod.

“We're in!”

Lima, Hummel – Hudson House

Mercedes and Sam are kissing on the Hudmel living room sofa, the house nearly always empty during the week ever since Carole took a job in Washington and Burt found someone to manage the shop for him so he could focus on his political career. 

Surprisingly, it's Sam who pulls away first, when in the past it was usually her who put on the breaks before things could get too intense.

“What's wrong?” Mercedes asks, worried that maybe Sam just isn't attracted to her anymore.

“I think we need to talk before we go any further and really get back together,” Sam sighs and Mercedes exhales in relief, because that doesn't sound like he's changed his mind about them being together. So she nods.

“Alright, I know I told you that I was totally cool with your decision not to have sex before marriage, but I kinda need to know what your plans are. Do you want to get married soon? Nearly all the kids in my old school who wore purity rings, got married within a year after graduating high school, so is that what you're planning as well? Do you want us to get married any time soon?”

To say she's surprised that Sam's bringing up the sex issue again would be lying. But she's surprised by the questions, because she doesn't really know the answers to them either.

“When I was younger, I always thought I'd do it like my mom and my grandma. Go to college to meet a nice boy, get married, start a family, raise that family and sing in church every Sunday because I loved music. But my plans have changed obviously. I want to have a career in music, and I know that once I get married, I'll be expected to start a family because I was raised to believe that that's what marriage is for. You get married to create a family. And I'm not ready to settle down and have kids and neither are you. So, I don't know. Maybe when I'm thirty and have achieved all my goals.”

She's only twenty now and with the business she's in, she can't even tell you with confidence what realistically her life will be like in five years.

“I don't want to get married until I know we can financially support our family,” Sam replies, holding her hand and insisting on eye contact. “And I want us to get married for the right reasons and not because it's the only way we can have sex. But Mercedes, I gotta be honest with you. I don't think I can wait ten years to have sex again. And I don't know where that leaves us, because I don't think we should rush into a marriage and I also I don't think I can be celibate for like a decade.”

The thing is, she isn't sure she wants to wait ten years to have sex either.  She's already gotten Rachel's advice, had consulted her pastor and spoken to the youth group leader at church, trying to find a way to honor her faith and what she wants. But maybe instead, she should have talked to the woman, whose opinion she values the most.

“I don't know Sam. But I agree that we need to figure out if we can have a future together before we give this another shot. I don't think our friendship could survive another, potentially nasty, break up.”

It feels like they are right back to where they were before Mercedes went on tour and set Sam free because insurmountable differences seemed to be road blocking their shared future. The thing now though is, that she doesn't want to give up, not as long as Sam's still fighting for her as well.

“Give me some time to figure things out.”

Sam brushes her hair back over her shoulder and kisses her cheek.

“Of course. And, Mercedes, I'm not trying to pressure you or give you an ultimatum here. I just needed to be honest with you.”

Sam walks her outside to her car and because he looks like he needs the assurance, promises to call him the next day.

New York City – Lopez – Pierce Apartment

“Your call back's in an hour, why aren't you dressed yet?” Brittany stops her yoga routine and turns to Santana who enters the living room in shorts and a tank top, her hair pulled together into a messy ponytail.

“Maybe I should stay home and focus on getting into college instead,” Santana replies and absentmindedly runs her hand over Lady's fur.

“Where's that coming from? I thought we agreed that this is an amazing opportunity?” Brittany transitions into ‘downward facing dog', feeling Santana's eyes on her.

“Yeah, but what if it doesn't work out and they fire me after one episode? Gunther told me that if I quit on him again he won't take me back and then what would we do? You don't have a real job and we don't have any savings. So shouldn't at least one of us get a normal job so we won't end up on the street?”

Once Santana has finished her rant, Brittany gracefully gets to her feet and kneels down in front of her girlfriend.

“I want you to listen to me, okay? Whatever happens, we're going to be okay.”

(Brittany)

They say were young and we dont know
Wont find out untill we grow
Well I dont know babe if thats true
Cause you got me and baby I got you

Babe, I got you babe, I got you, Babe.

They say our love wont pay the rent
Before its earnd our moneys always spent
I guess thats so, we dont have a lot
But at least Im sure of all the things we got

Babe, I got you babe, I got you, Babe.

“Come on, sing with me.”

(Santana)
I got flowers in the spring
I got you, to wear my ring
And when Im sad, youre a clown
And when I get scared youre always around so let them say your hairs too long
But I dont care, with you I cant go wrong
Then put your little hand in mine
There aint no hill or mountain we cant climb

(Santana & Brittany)
Babe, I got you babe, I got you, Babe.

(Santana and Brittany alternately)
I got you to hold my hand
I got you to understand
I got you to walk with me
I got you to talk with me
I got you to kiss goodnight
I got you to hold me tight
I got you and I wont let go

(Santana and Brittany)
I got you who loves me so
I got you, babe

“Thanks,” Santana whispers after they finish the song.

Maybe she'll get the role and everything will work out or maybe it won't, but as long as she has Brittany by her side, she'll be okay.

Brown University, Tina's Dorm Room

“So, my mom wants to meet you when my parents come up for Thanksgiving,” Jason tells her after ending his call. Tina looks up from her book in surprise.

Sure, they've been dating a few months already, but neither had mentioned meeting the parents before. At some point, she even suspected that Jason didn't want her to meet his parents, because she was Asian and not black like him.

“Really?” Jason wraps his arms around her from behind.

“Of course she wants to meet the woman I'm going to marry.”

Tina freezes in his arms for a moment, before she repeats as lightly as possible.

“The woman you're going to marry, huh?”

When she turns in his arms and comes face to face with her boyfriend of seven months, Jason looks completely serious.

“We talked about this when we started going out. I told you I only wanted to start something with you if you were just as serious about it as I am, and you said you were. That you weren't just looking for a fling either.”

Tina nods. After some ill-advised hook ups her first semester to get high school out of her system, she'd concluded that she was a relationship girl because one night stands just made her feel cheap. Jason had been her TA in her Contemporary Woman Studies 102 and though they were both obviously attracted to one another, had waited to make a move until the class was over.

“So when would this hypothetical wedding take place?” she asks, dreading the answer, because it sounds like Jason spent a lot of time planning out their future without her knowing about it.

“Obviously, I need to finish my degree first, but by the time you graduate, I'll have been working for two years and should have saved enough money for a house. I'll be twenty-seven when we have our first kid, which is really old in my family, but I think you should finish college before we get married and start a family.”

Tina stares at Jason in disbelief.

“But what about me going to grad school? I told you I was thinking about teaching on a college level and I'll need a Ph.D. for that eventually,” she argues, because Jason knows this about her.

“Yeah, but you can still do that when our kids are in pre-school. There aren't any rules that say you have to be under thirty to become a professor,” Jason laughs, but Tina feels like crying.

Fortunately, time is on her side.

“I need to get to class,” she forces out, her throat dry and her hands shaking.

“I'll walk you,” Jason replies, either not noticing her distress or ignoring it.

Tina doesn't know what's worse.

Lima, Jones House

Mercedes' pushing her dinner around on her plate as she tries to figure out how to start the conversation with her mom. Luckily though, her mom notices her lack of appetite and in true mom fashion, immediately demands to know what's wrong with her. 

“It's Sam,” Mercedes admits. “We're thinking about getting back together.”

To her surprise, her mom rolls her eyes.

“Of course you are. Why else would you still hang around in Lima when you have this new exciting life in California. And don't try to tell me that you write better songs in Ohio.”

Mercedes is incredibly grateful for her mom's support of her career, especially because both her grandmothers keep telling her to go back to college and find a nice, preferably African American, man to settle down with.

“You know your father and I like Sam, so I'm guessing this isn't about you getting our blessing.” Mercedes shakes her head.

“I, I want to talk about sex.” Her mom nods. “Sam and I, we're not sleeping together, mostly because I was raised to believe that sex before marriage was a sin and because I wasn't ready for it either. But Sam doesn't believe that and he's already had sex. When we were together in New York, he said he was okay with me wanting to wait for marriage, but we never discussed what that really meant for our relationship and I broke up with him so he could be girls who felt like him.”

“It's okay if you changed your mind, honey. I'll love you just the same,” her mom interrupts, and Mercedes realizes in that moment that she wasn't afraid of losing God's love is she decided not to wait for marriage, but her mother's.

“I'm not saying that I have or that I will, but you wouldn't hate me if I had that kind of a relationship with a man I'm not married to?” Her mom sighs.

“I need to tell you something about your father and I. You're not going to like it, but you're old enough now.”

“Did you and Dad have sex before you got married?” her mom shakes her head.

“But I wish we had. We weren't allowed to live together before we got married and even most of our dates were supervised and after we got married it didn't take us long to realize that we were both incompatible in the bedroom and pretty much every other aspect of our lives. Divorce isn't an option for us as long as your grandparents are still around, but your father and I, we've both been seeing other people for years.”

Mercedes looks at her mom in shock. Her dad she can believe, because he always works late or has to take surprise business trips, but her mom, she can't see her married mom have affairs with men who aren't her dad.

“But how to you reconcile that with your faith? You know what the church thinks about adultery.”

“And I also know what it thinks about divorce. When it comes to the church, I can't win, but after years of being in an unhappy marriage, I have finally realized that I should follow my heart and do what makes me happy.”

Now that she thinks about it, her mom has been happier these past few years even though her dad had been home less and less.

“And I think you should do the same. If you want to wait for marriage that's okay if it's something you really want. But if you want to be intimate with the man you love and trust, then that should be your decision as well. It's your body, honey. No religion and no person should make that decision for you.”

Her mom pulls her into her arms and a single tear trickles down her face.

“I didn't know you were such a feminist, Mom,” she laugh-cries into her mom's shoulder, which starts shaking as well when her mom barks out a laugh.

“Can you imagine what your grandmother would say if she knew,” her mom giggles. “But seriously, only you can make this decision for yourself. Not your friends, not your parents, not TV and also not our pastor. Regardless of your decision, I will love you just the same and that goes for everything in your life.”

Her mom lets her go with a final squeeze and wipes the tear from Mercedes' cheek.

“Thanks Mom, I love you too.”

Yale University – Classroom / Quinn's Dorm Room

“Ugh, my roots are showing again,” Quinn complains as their professor hands out the results of their practice LSAT. “Since I switched majors, I barely have time to get hair cuts anymore. Maybe I should just dye it brown.” 

“Or maybe, Ms. Fabray, you should focus more on your studies than on your appearance. You scored an abysmal 123 on your test, which makes me question why you're pre-law and in my classroom. Maybe you should consider another career if you think the LSATs are hard. Ms. Krueger, a respectable 159. Not enough yet for the top schools, but I'm not worried about you.”

Quinn stares in shock at her professor, completely humiliated when she hears her classmates snigger.

“What did you expect from a dumb blonde?” one asks non too subtly, and Quinn grabs her results, pushes them into her bag and flees the room, ending up running all the way back to her dorm room.

As she enters her room, she starts to sing.

Take back the books and pack up the clothes
Clear out the room and drop off the key
Leave whats left of my dignity
Get in the car and just go

Chalk it all up to experience
They say Id fail but I disagree
Who could say when
Where my path would lead

But now I know, back to the sun
Back to the shore, back to what I was before
Back where Im known
Back in my own, very small pond

Laugh with my friends when I arrive
Well drop the top and just drive
Thats fine with me, just let me be
Legally blonde

Back to the sun, back to the shore
Back to what I was before

Back on the beach, dream within reach
Dont stray beyond

Some girls fight hard, some face the trial
Some girls were just meant to smile

Its not up to me, just let me be
Legally blonde

Its not up to me, just let me be
Legally blonde

“Are you seriously singing ‘Legally Blonde'? That's a bit melodramatic even for a former choir kid,” Stacey remarks after Quinn finishes her lament, scaring the crap out of her.

“Well, what if Professor Cornwell is right? What if I'm deluding myself about being law school material?”

“You're being ridiculous. You got into Yale Drama - you are perfect for law. And forget what that sexist jerk said, you have a lot of time left to practice for the test before we actually have to take it.”

Quinn wipes a stray tear from her face.

“You're right. No one tells Quinn Fabray what she can or can't do. If I want to be a lawyer, then I'm gonna be a fucking lawyer.”

“God you're hot when you're angry,” Stacey teases and Quinn barks out a laugh.

“Sorry, been there, done that.”

Brown University, Tina's Dorm Room

“Hey Tay-Tay. Sorry I couldn't pick up earlier, I was grocery shopping for dinner tonight. What's up?” Blaine asks her, when he finally calls her back.

“I need relationship advice,” Tina doesn't beat around the bush, because she has little time before her next class.

“Um, I'm not sure I'm the right person for this right now,” Blaine replies as Tina pulls her books out of her bag and swaps them with her laptop.

“I thought things with Kurt are better?”

“They are, as long as neither of us talks about the W – word,” Blaine admits.

It's strange to hear him talk about this relationship like this, because apart from half of their senior year, Kurt and Blaine had always seemed to be such a great couple.

“But you didn't call me to hear about me and Kurt, so tell me what's wrong with Jason.”

Tina looks at the picture of her and Jason on her nightstand, taking at the end of summer when they had taken a trip to New York together.

“He just told me he expects us to get married and start a family as soon as I graduate, totally disregarding what I want to do with my future. So do you think I should stick with it and hope we can work something out, or should I better end it now before either of us wastes more time on a relationship that won't go anywhere?”

Her heart tells her to stay with Jason, because she does love him, but her brain – that's the different matter.

“I honestly don't know. Will it hurt you more to break up in a year if he isn't willing to compromise? And are you sure you won't change your mind and decide that marriage and a family is something you want as well?”

“Definitely. I don't mind the married part. I can easily see myself marrying him after I graduate, but I want to have a career before I start a family. And I want a career while I have a family and Jason made it pretty clear that he expects me to stay home with the kids until they are in school.”

“Well, don't you have your answer then?” Blaine asks. “I think you should tell him how you feel about all this first, however, before you make any decisions. Maybe you can work something out that will make both of you happy. All I know is that sometimes you have to fight for the people you love, but you have to decide whether he's worth fighting for.”

Tina wishes Blaine was telling her something new, but she knew all that already and had hoped that he would be able to provide her with a miraculous solution.

“Thanks Blaine, I'll let you know how it goes. Have fun at dinner and let everyone know I said hi.”

“I will,” Blaine promises.

After ending the call, Tina pulls up Jason's contact, but drops her phone into her bag instead of calling him.

Ohio, Hummel House

When the door bell rings later that evening, Sam's surprised to find Mercedes outside, because they'd seen each other at Glee practice and Mercedes had told him she still needed more time.

“Mercedes, what are you doing here?”

“Can I come in? I need to talk to you.” Sam nods and steps aside to let her through, before following her into the Hudmel living room.

Sam takes a seat on the sofa, but Mercedes remains standing, fidgeting in her spot.

“I've thought a lot about what you said and I've come to the decision that I can't have sex with you before we get married. At least not the kind that could get me pregnant. I don't want to get pregnant before I'm married and ready for it and I know it could still happen even if we are careful. What I want is intimacy with you, not right now, probably not any time soon, but eventually and I don't need a ring on my finger for that, but sex sex I do.”

“I'm okay with that. And I'm not in any hurry either. I want us to do it right this time. I want us to be partners and - not gonna lie - if that includes a few more bases in the future, I'm totally happy with that.”

“So we're okay?”

Sam cups her cheek and kisses her softly.

“If you tell me you're my girlfriend again, then I think we're very okay.”

New York City – The Loft

When Dani and her new girlfriend Hannah arrive, the rest of the group is busy setting the table and transferring the food.

“Hey, Dani, Hannah, good to have you back,” Kurt greets them, grateful that Santana and Dani found away to still be friends, because his former bandmate and her girlfriend had been fixtures at Monday night dinner while the rest of his and Blaine's friends weren't in New York.

“Where's Artie?” Dani asks, after greeting the rest of the returned New York gang.

“He said he can't make it because he's busy working on his movie with some girl named Jess,” Blaine explains as he pulls out a chair for Kurt.

Once the whole group is seated around the table, they take turns letting the others know what's been happening since they last saw each other.

“We started rehearsal a few days ago and so far it's really great,” Kurt beams and Blaine squeezes his hand under the table, because while he wanted the role for himself, he's so proud of Kurt for finally convincing everyone of his talent.

“June wants me to perform a Christmas concert, so I'm working on a potential set list and trying to convince her that Kurt and I absolutely have to reprise our ‘Baby, It's Cold Outside' duet,” Blaine goes next, while Santana fills their glasses with the wine Kurt bought.

After Dani tells them about the new band she's playing in, Santana clears her throat.

“So, I've got an announcement. I've recently auditioned for ‘Mujeres Desesperadas' and I've gotten the call this morning that they liked my audition so much they're creating a role for me based on my experiences as a gay Latina.”

A chorus of ‘that's amazing, Santana' and ‘wow, that's great', erupts in the loft and Santana can barely believe how lucky she is, because not only does she have the best friends but also a chance to show her community (and maybe even her abuela) that there's nothing wrong with being gay.

“So, is that like Spanish ‘Desperate Housewives?” Kurt wonders and Santana shakes her head.

“Well, some things are similar, but it's basically about these four women who came to the US and settled in New York because their husbands promised them better lives, which was a lie in their cases and the guys they married just wanted to have hot trophy wives,” Santana explains. “Most episodes center around the women plotting revenge on their douche bag husbands and ex-husbands.”

“Why am I not watching that yet?” Kurt asks fascinated by the premise of more trashy TV.

“Because you hate having to read the subtitles,” Blaine teases him, before the group turns to Rachel.

“That's great, Santana. I'm really happy for you,” Rachel says ignoring the voice within that wants to scream that it's not fair that TV is apparently working out for Santana when for her it ruined her career and her reputation. “I have some news of my own.”

“Did you hear back from the play?” Kurt asks, but Rachel shakes her head.

“Not, yet. But that's not my news. I went on a date on Saturday and it went really well.”

FLASHBACK

Rachel and Ben are having dinner at a popular restaurant in Soho.

“I think musical theater is great from time to time when one really craves mindless entertainment, but it's not real acting. Trust me, there are very few musical theater ‘actors' who could convincingly play a role in a straight play. Seriously, the funniest audition I've ever witnessed was a guy who played the Phantom of the Opera thinking he'd make a convincing Hamlet. It was hilarious.”

While Ben prattles on about why musical theater is only a career option for talentless actors with decent singing voices, Rachel hides a yawn behind her hand before trying to steer the conversation away from their jobs because Ben is really hot and has so far been the perfect gentleman.

“Why don't we continue this conversation another time,” she suggests. “Right now I wanna know more about your daughter.”

Ben beams at her. “It's a date.”

End of Flashback

“I'm happy for you, Rachel,” Kurt tells her while the boys clear the plates and Dani and Hannah fetch dessert from the fridge. “You deserve to be happy.”

“We should all sing together for old times sake,” Rachel suggests when the group is back and everyone apart from Hannah nods enthusiastically. Raising her glass in a toast, she adds, “to changes.”

(Rachel)

I still dont know what I was waiting for
And my time was running wild
A million dead-end streets
and every time I thought Id got it made
It seemed the taste was not so sweet

(Santana)
So I turned myself to face me
But Ive never caught a glimpse
Of how the others must see the faker
Im much too fast to take that test

(Kurt & Blaine)
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Dont want to be a richer man

New York City – Brooklyn Film School

Artie and Jess work on a storyboard for his film.

(Artie and Jess)
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Just gonna have to be a different man
Time may change me
But I cant trace time

Brown University – Tina's Dorm Room

Tina looks through photos of Mike Chang on her phone as she sings.

(Tina)
I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence and
So the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same

She dials his number.

Yale University – Quinn's Dorm Room

Quinn's nose is buried in a book as she sings.

(Quinn at Yale)
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
Theyre quite aware of what theyre going through

New York City – The Loft

(Santana and Rachel)
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)

(Brittany & Dani)
Ch-ch-Changes
Dont tell them to grow up and out of it

Lima – The Hummel House

Sam and Mercedes are cuddling on the living room sofa

(Sam and Mercedes)
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)

(Mercedes)
Ch-ch-Changes
Wheres your shame
Youve left us up to our necks in it
Time may change me
But you cant trace time

New York City – The Loft

(Kurt and Blaine)
Strange fascination, fascinating me
Changes are taking the pace
Im going through

Lima – McKinley, Choir Room

It's dark outside and only the new Glee kids are in the room. They are having the time of their life.

(Jane and Kitty)
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)

(Unique and Roderick)
Ch-ch-Changes
Oh, look out you rock n rollers

(Mason and Madison)
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)

(New Directions 3.0)
Ch-ch-Changes
Pretty soon now youre gonna get older
Time may change me
But I cant trace time
I said that time may change me
But I cant trace time

New York City – The Loft

Rachel's phone indicates a new voice mail when she checks it during the song and she sneaks into her old bedroom when she sees that the message is from the director of the play.

“Rachel, this is Karen from Kid's Central. I've wanted to let you know that we've made a decision and unfortunately, you didn't make the cut. If you'd like some feedback, give me a call anytime. Have good evening.”

Rachel schools her face into a neutral expression as she walks back into the living room.

“Who was that?” Kurt asks.

“Oh, the play.” She doesn't plan to say it, but it just comes out in the face of all her friends' successes. “I got the part.”