He got to his feet and licked at his dry cracked lips. The rest of the group held their breath, waiting for him to start. His eyes darted between the group. After a deep inhale he began, his eyes locked on Quinn and her camera. “Will I lose my dignity, will someone care?”

She froze and zoomed in on his face. At first glance, you can not tell how old he is, but he could not be much older than her, she guessed. His face was riddled with signs of stress and fatigue. Whatever this man had gone through was taking a toll on his body. Instantly, she thought back to her roommate who was sitting alone at their apartment trapped in his thoughts. Is this the road he was going to go down?

His eyes were full of tears and his whole body trembled but he continued. “Will I wake tomorrow from this nightmare?”

Santana looked over at Brittany with a great deal of sadness. She felt her eyes on her and turned her head towards her. They shared a look and then stood up together. They repeated him. “Will I lose my dignity, will someone care?” Brittany reached between them and grabbed Santana’s hand. She looked down at it and became overwhelmed in emotion. “Will I wake tomorrow from this nightmare?”

Quinn felt bad filming them, feeling as if she was prying into a private moment, but for the sake of her documentary she continued. She could not help but get emotional over the scene because these were not just people, these were her friends. Santana and her have been friends for years and knowing that she was silently struggling tore her apart because she never knew.

More and more people stood to repeat the words until everyone was on their feet. On the fourth time it was repeated, Quinn joined in. Everyone in the group held onto the hands of their neighbor and Quinn tried to compose herself in able to get a good shot.

She was so focused on the linked hands she did not even notice Blaine enter the room. He approached the group apprehensively, hearing the words that they were all repeating amongst themselves. Quinn moved the camera back to Santana and Brittany when she discovered him standing directly behind them. The sight of her roommate out of the apartment and at this moment, looking for help was too much for her and she began to cry behind her camera. Santana looked to her, confused by the onset of her emotions when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Blaine and instantly she wrapped her arms around him. Brittany followed suit and the three of them clung to each other.

Blaine looked between the two girls on his side and then let his eyes find his roommates. She lipped his name and he responded by lipping a thank you and smiled at her. He joined in with the group while clinging onto the women at his sides. Quinn put her camera down and wiped her tears with the back of her free hand. When they finished, Santana kissed Blaine’s cheek and then rested her forehead against his temple.

Quinn had never been more proud of Blaine.

-----

“I am really proud of you for coming.” Santana said with a pat on the back. Brittany hummed in agreement.

“Thanks for talking me into it.”

The four of them walked down the stairs of the Community Center and were met with two cops who were poking a homeless woman who was sleeping on a bus stop.

“Hey wake up! Hey, hey Ma’am you got ‘ta get up!”

“Did’ja hear us? Get up!”

Quinn hurried over to them and turned her camera on them. “Smile officers.” She said with a smile.

The woman began to stir and the cops stared hard at Quinn before turning away. Quinn turned her camera onto the woman who tried to gather up her belongings. She caught her filming her out of the corner of her eye and immediately stopped what she was doing. “Who do you think you are? I don’t need your help. My life is not meant for you to help you make a name for yourself.”

Brittany stepped up to her side. “She didn’t mean anything by it. Quinn here is just trying to help.”

“Help. Help? You are just trying to use me for your little movie. You know what would help, money. Do you have any money to spare little filmmaker?” She held her hand out to Quinn.

Quinn held her camera closer to her chest and cast her eyes downward. She answered in a small voice, “No.”

The homeless woman laughed, “Didn’t think so.”

Blaine and Santana pulled Quinn past the homeless woman as she began to pack up her belongings once more. They continued up the street in silence until they found an entrance to the subway.

The stood on the platform in silence and Brittany looked between them. “If you guys could do anything, and I mean anything, what would you do?”

Blaine laughed. “What makes you think that being unemployed and broke is not what I want to do with my life?”

Quinn nudged him in the ribs with her elbow. “Play nice Blainey.”

He held up his hands in defense hoping she would not attack him. “I was kidding.” Blaine turned his attention back to Brittany. Her eyes were wide as she awaited his answer. He took a deep breath. “I would be a musician. Someone who goes out there and performs their own music in front of a crowd of people.”

“Like a rockstar?” The subway car pulled up and Brittany walked in backwards to not lose eye contact with Blaine. She narrowly missed a businessman who was getting off. He sent a few unkind words in her direction which made Santana give him the iciest of glares in return.

He nodded. “Yes, like a rockstar.”

“I would be a documentary film maker. I want to make my own films and then have them shown on the big screen.” Quinn took one of the available seats next to where Brittany was standing.

Brittany held onto the railing as the subway car jerked to a start. “Is that why you always carry that camera?”

Quinn nodded.

Santana decided to stand next to Brittany and rubbed a hand along her arm. “I told you this before.”

“You told me what they did, not what they want to do. If given the chance I bet a lot of people would want to be something different then what they are.” She looked down at Quinn and Blaine. “I want to be a professional dancer. Someone who goes on tours and gets to dance for important people.”

Santana did not have a response but instead moved her hand down to meet with Brittany’s and interlocked their fingers.

Brittany hit her shoulder against Santana’s. “What about you? What would you do?”

She lifted up her head and stared at the ceiling of the subway car. A broken light flickered against the softness of her face, illuminating a smile and a look as if no one had ever asked her this question before. “I would want to have my own restaurant. I would want it somewhere far from here. Somewhere sunny and happy.” Santana looked back at her girlfriend. “Let’s open up a restaurant in Santa Fe.”

She screwed up her face as she thought about the possibility. “Don’t you teach now?”

“Yes, computer- age philosophy, but my students honestly don’t give a shit.”

“That is how it is now.”

“Right.” Santana grabbed her hands. “So let’s get out of here and move to Santa Fe and forget this cold bohemian hell.”

“Do you know the way to Santa Fe?” Brittany looked at the subway map on the wall. “Would the 1 take us there? What about the 3?”

Santana laughed and wrapped her arms around her waist, not having the heart to tell her how far away it really was.

-----

They got off the subway and parted ways because Quinn had to go to Finn’s soundcheck, and decided to bring Blaine along with her because she was afraid to leave him up to his own devices. This left Santana and Brittany alone with a few hours to kill before Finn’s big protest. As soon as her roommates were out of view, Santana took Brittany back into her arms.

“This is nice, what should we do?”

Brittany looked into her dark eyes and held onto Santana’s upper arms. “C’mon I think I have an idea.” She pried herself from between her arms and pulled Santana up the street by her hand. The blonde led them down a street with many street vendors who all had their merchandise out to sell. She looked back at Santana.

Santana smiled at the words that Brittany sang to her and it made her pause in the middle of the sidewalk. Brittany turned around and beamed at her and she just shook her head in full disbelief that she could be loved in this way. For years, Santana struggled to find someone to be with that truly loved her and made her happy. She dated men and woman and had finally accepted that fact that she may never find that special someone. That was when Brittany stumbled upon her in that alley. Never in a million years would she think she would be standing here and be this completely happy with someone else.

Santana began walking again and Brittany pulled her closer to her. They smiled at each other before Santana began to twirl her around. People who were shopping along the street stopped to watch the young couple.

Santana noticed that they were getting an audience and blushed. Brittany kissed her cheek and wrapped Santana’s arm around her. She took this as encouragement and tightened the hold around the dancer’s waist as they continued on down the street. Occasionally their eyes would wander to the set ups that each vendor has made, but they always seem to go back to each other.

Brittany stopped when they came to a vendor selling clothes. They were all vintage pieces that looked slightly worn. She pulled the different coats along the metal bar from which they hung until she found one that she liked. Santana’s eyes widened as she caught sight of a jean jacket with a large unicorn across the back.

Brittany helped her into it and Santana completely melted at the sight of how happy it made her. This was not something she would usually wear, but seeing the way Brittany smiled after she put it on was enough to sell her on it.

She squealed for joy as she passed the vendor the money to pay for it and then linked arms before the two of them continued down the street. Santana leaned over and kissed her cheek which in turn made Brittany blush.

They looked between each other and took each others hands. After sharing a smile they took off running down the street, laughing as they barely missed large strollers and elderly women who were walking along the sidewalk as well.

Santana slowed down and pulled Brittany into her arms. They took the form of a more classical ballroom style dance where Santana took lead.

Brittany laughed and pulled their arms out of the stance. She tried to put her arms around Santana’s neck but she intercepted them and held both of her hands.

Santana leaned forward and kissed her tenderly, still holding onto her hands.She twirled Brittany around and she tipped her head back and laughed.

Brittany wrapped her arms around Santana’s waist and they slow danced on the sidewalk, unaware of all of the people that passed them by.

Feeling the tightness of Brittany’s arms around her she put her arms around her neck and swayed back and forth.

Brittany leaned forward so their foreheads touched and their noses brushed against each other. Santana took this moment to steal a kiss from her.

Brittany slapped her ass and they broke away from each other to restart their walk down the street.

Before crossing the street Santana took Brittany’s hand again.

Brittany squeezed her hand tight as the walk signal turned on.

They squealed with laughter as the ran across the street. Santana pulled Brittany into her arms again once they safely made it to the other side.

Santana picked Brittany’s chin up with her two of her fingers and met her lips with her own. They clung to each other tightly and kissed as if they were not standing on a street corner in the middle of New York. They let all of the noise of the city drown out because in that moment, it was only them.

-----

Blaine stood outside of the Community Center where Finn’s protest was set to be. He could not stand the weird tension in the room between Quinn and Finn’s new girlfriend Rachel so he decided to go outside and get some fresh air. Night was quickly falling upon them and Blaine could see his breath suspended in the air with every exhale.

He kicked a small rock across the pavement, reliving the times he played sports in school. Chasing the rock after a particularly good kick, he ended up on the other side of the building. There was a large group of homeless people scattered in a small, confined space. Blaine suddenly lost interest in his rock sport and took a moment to look around. What he was not expecting to see was Kurt amongst the faces of the crowd. It only took a moment for him to register what was going on.

Kurt was participating in a deal. He must have run out of his stash from the night before and had come here to replenish. Blaine could practically feel his blood boiling underneath his skin. With his previous experience with drugs, seeing Kurt willingly partake made Blaine upset. He already lost one person he cared about, he was not ready for history to repeat itself. He marched over there, much to Kurt’s surprise. His flinchy dealer did not like him approaching in this way and being so close and covered his face with his arms.

One false move and Blaine was ready to punch him in the mouth. Kurt reached out a hand to him and instantly calmed him. He put his hand down at his side but the dealer still covered his head in defense. Blaine stared hard at Kurt, not knowing whether to apologize or get upset. Kurt apologized to the dealer and then stuck the small bag into his boot for concealment. He turned around and held onto Blaine tightly and pulled him out of the area. “What are you doing?”

Blaine looked down at his hand and then back up into his eyes. “I don’t know. I just.... I just don’t want something bad to happen to you.”

Kurt tilted his head to the side and looked at Blaine suspiciously.

“Look about last night..”

Kurt cut him off. “Forget it, it was nothing.”

“No, I was out of line. Can I make it up to you?”

Kurt licked his lips, drawing out his answer for a few seconds. “How?”

“A bunch of us are getting together at the Life Cafe after Finn’s show tonight. Would you like to go with me?” Blaine smiled, hoping that Kurt would take his offer.

“Sure.” Kurt returned the smile. “I would like that.”

“Can I walk you over? It should be starting in a few minutes?”

“I can walk myself.”

“Okay then, would you like company when you walk over?”
Kurt laughed. “Yes, I would really enjoy your company.” He slid his arm around Blaine’s and they walked back into the auditorium of the Community Center.

-----

The room was packed, but Blaine and Kurt were able to find everyone else fairly easily amongst the sea of people. Quinn had saved an area close to the stage for them to stand as a group. After a quick round of hugs, Rachel started the music and Finn entered the room on a motorcycle. The room erupted in applause.

Finn swung his leg over the motorcycle after he killed the engine. He hurried up the stairs, waving to a few people in the process. Removing his helmet in a dramatic fashion, he smiled at the crowd as they began to cheer him on. Rachel’s spotlight found him and he got into position with his head hung and his legs spread apart. The room slowly fell quiet.

With the snap of his fingers the stage lit up with multicolored lights. It was a last minute choice on Quinn’s part that Rachel was vocal about not liking. Finn raised his head and smirked. “Last night, I had a dream: I found myself in a desert called Cyberland. It was hot. My canteen had sprung a leak and I was thirsty.”

Sam, his father-in-law and his business partners entered through the crowd. Finn caught sight of them and he clenched his fists. “Out of the abyss walked a cow, Elsie. I asked if she had anything to drink, she said,” Finn shifted his weight awkwardly and held one fist to the air before singing, "I'm forbidden to produce milk, In Cyberland we only drink Diet Coke."

The word “Coke” echoed throughout the room and Finn dropped his hand to his side. He smiled sheepishly at the use of Rachel’s special effects.

“She said, ‘Only thing to do is jump over the moon.They've closed everything real down, like barns and troughs and Performing Spaces,” People in the crowd cheered loudly at this testament which only encouraged Finn further. “And replaced it all with lies, and rules, and Virtual Life…But there is a way out.”

Finn pointed up at Rachel who played a recording that he made earlier of him saying “Leap of faith, leap of faith, leap of faith, leap of faith…” He danced along to his own words. “Only thing to do is jump over the moon.” Rachel stopped the track and he stopped his movements. Instead he put his hands around his neck as if he was choking himself. “I gotta get outta here! It's like I'm being tied to the hood of a yellow rental truck, bein' packed in with fertilizer and fuel oil, pushed over a cliff by a suicidal Mickey Mouse!”

Finn took his hands off his neck and checked the crowd for their reactions. Everyone seemed engaged and hanging off his every word. “I gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta find a way…” He looked up at Rachel who gave him the thumbs up. “To jump over the moon. Only thing to do is jump over the moon."

“Then a little bulldog entered. His name, we have learned, was Sammy.” He pointed straight at Sam which made the whole crowd turn towards him. Instantly he crossed his arms over his chest and folded in on himself. Sam was not excited about getting this kind of attention at all. “And although he once had principles, he abandoned them to live as a lapdog to a wealthy daughter of the revolution.”

Sam looked over at his father-in-law who shook his head in disapproval. “ a-1, 2, 3, ‘That's bull’,” he said, “Ever since the cat took off with the fiddle that cow's been… jumpy. The dish and the spoon were evicted from the table and eloped, She's had trouble with the milk and the moon ever since - maybe it's a… female thing.” Finn laughed out loud which caused the audience to laugh at Sam’s expense as well. “Cause who'd wanna leave cyberland anyway - Walls ain't so bad.
The dish and the spoon, for instance, they're down on their luck, they come knockin' on my doghouse door, and I said ‘Not in my backyard utensils, go back to china!’"

"’The only way out is up,’ Elsie whispered to me, ‘A leap of faith.’ Still Thirsty?” Finn grabs at his throat again. “Parched. ‘Have some milk…’ And I lowered myself beneath her, and held my mouth to her swollen udder, and sucked the sweetest milk I've ever tasted…” He leans back as if he was actually going underneath a cow and makes slurping sounds.

Blaine and Quinn looked at each other before cheering in unison. Finn sprung up and waved his hand in the air as if he was motioning for people to come closer. "’Climb on board!’ She said. And as the harvest moon rose over Cyberland, we reared back,” Rachel made movements as if she was galloping and Finn copied her. “We sprang into a gallop, leaping, out of orbit; I awoke singing…”

Rachel started another track as Finn continued to go his gallop. “Leap of faith, leap of faith, leap of faith, leap of faith…” Kurt jumped up and down laughing and Blaine smiled at the fact that he was enjoying it. “Only thing to do… Only think to do is jump…” Finn attempted to jump and ended up stumbling on the descent. “Only thing to do is jump! Over the moon…Only thing to do is jump! Over the moon… Over the moon… Over the…”

Finn walked to the edge of the stage and took a deep breath. “MOOOOOOOO!” He smiled. “Moo with me!” Kurt is the first to replicate his call. Finn noticed this and encouraged him further. “Come on sir, moo with me! Moo! Mooo! MOOO! MOOOOOO!” Santana and Brittany nudge Blaine and Quinn and all four of them start making the sound. The rest of the audience joined in with their cries.

“Thank you!” Finn cried. He looked up at Rachel who smiled at him. The cries of the crowd were the only thing that broke them apart. As the crowd got louder with their cheers and collective moos, the police moved in to break them apart. He looked on in horror as the police carted people away. Calling out to Rachel she quickly climbed down her ladder and bounded over to the stage to be with him. She clung to his body as they watched the scene unfold. This was not how they had planned for the protest to go and now they had no idea how they could get out without risking injury.

Quinn got their attention and motioned for them to follow the group of them as they took the side entrance. Blaine wrapped an arm around Kurt and led him out the door followed closely by Santana and Brittany who were holding hands. “C’mon you two!” Quinn shouted to them, pointing towards the side door. Finn looked sideways at Rachel who grabbed his arm and pulled him offstage to follow the other girl outside.