Chapter 13: A New Beginning

"Other than your little incident, Ms. Hummel, your health is perfect."

Louisa smiled to the Asian doctor; but Kurt was unease in his chair:

"I'm sorry, Doctor Young, but how can she be considered healthy after what she did? With all due respect Lou; but you tried to take your life away!"

The psychiatrist shared a meaningful look with Louisa and then turned to Kurt:

"My point, Mr. Hummel, is that, besides the known psychological condition, Louisa has no other health problem. We had already talked that moving to New York might cause her to have to change her medication; but until recently it hadn't been necessary."

Louisa took her cousin's hand:

"Kurt, I know you worry about me; but I hadn't been irresponsible. I came to New York with a recommendation from my Brazilian doctor to look for Dr. Young and I've been keeping my appointments. There's nothing to be uneasy about."

Doctor Young cleared her throat:

"Actually, Louisa; even thou we don't consider you a severe case, there are some precautions that need to be taken. Because you haven't completed your suicide attempt and you called for help; I wouldn't consider a hospitalization for you. However, we can't treat it lightly: it was a suicide attempt and that are some standards measures that should be taken."

Louisa was taken by surprise:

"What? What precisely does that mean?"

The doctor took a deep breath and smiled:

"First of all, I highly recommend that you take a time off from work and college. Don't worry; I'll write to them explaining the situation and I'm sure you can compensate this time later. And now to the second and more complicated thing: you need constant vigilance from now on."

Louisa received the news the wrong way:

"What? Are you telling me that I need a baby-sitter from now on? I'm a grown-up woman!"

Kurt held her hand tight:

"Calm down, boo. I'm sure this is just for a while and it's with your best interest in mind."

The doctor turned to her wearing the same sympathetic smile as Kurt:

"Yes Louisa; we'll have closer appointments to reevaluate that. But I can't, as you psychiatrist, let you without supervision for now. I don't think you need a hospital, but you have a loving family that cares about you. Use this time to feel protected and loved by them. Let them help you. Mr. Hummel, can I write you down as the responsible for Mrs. Hummel?"

Kurt nodded.

xXxXx

Louisa was fuming. What did they think she was? She had gone through a lot in her life and she knew how to keep her head high and her nose clean. She felt a caring arm passing around her middle. She turned and saw Kurt's kind eyes focused on her:

"I know this must suck for you."

She rolled her eyes:

"You have no idea."

"You're right; I can't imagine what you are going through. But I love you and care for you more than you can figure. Put yourself in my shoes: I see you suffering but I have no idea what I can do to help. Can you do this for me? Can you let me take care of you for a while?"

She couldn't resist the grin forming in her lips. She captured him in a hug:

"Oh Kurtie! What would I do without you?"

He chuckled:

"One thing I know for sure: you'd be much less fabulous. Now; come on. Let's go meet with the other people that care about you and that are worried sick at Coffee'N'Stuff right now."

Kurt had practically to push her in the book-store/coffee-house. Seeing all those people reunited and waiting for her with eager eyes made her very anxious and self-aware. Maggie came down the stairs and took Lou's arms in hers, patting her hand in a reaffirming way. Once she got upstairs to Coffee'N'Stuff, Blaine, Finn and Eleanor had goofy smiles on and were sitting opposite to a plate with her favorite sandwich and a large glass of what she assumed to be fresh brewed Chai Latte. She knew she must be blushing a bright tone of scarlet:

"You guys! That's too much love for just one girl."

Blaine winked:

"You deserve it. What would we do without you to give us our daily reality check?"

She smiled and soon helped herself with the sandwich to avoid the ton of question she was sure were soon to come. Kurt seemed to have catch Blaine's inquisitive eyes, because he started telling the others about their appointment:

"Well, as you all know, Lou is a Hummel; which means that she'll be fine and that nothing will get her down that easily. However, we had a big scare and there are some precautions we should take. First, Lou is taking a time off from work and college. I hope that's alright with you Mrs. Smitty; the doctor wrote you a letter to excuse Lou from work."

The kind lady nodded in agreement:

"Even if it wasn't a doctor's recommendation; I'd offer Louisa some days off to clean her head. I'm glad she'll have some time off NYADA too."

Kurt smiled and went on:

"That's not all: Louisa will also have to be watched 24/7. I'm sorry for saying that out loud without consulting you first, Lou; but I know what you'd have said and now you must accept that you need help. All these people here love you very much and are willing to help."

Louisa nodded and looked down. Kurt took a deep breath and grabbed her hands to catch her attention:

"There's one other thing, boo: I know I agreed in being the one responsible for you, but I can't be with you the whole time. Even if we took shifts, we would be missing too much work and school to be with you. Not that we won't do it gladly; but I'd like you to consider spending some time with my dad in Ohio or some time with Grandma in New Hampshire."

Lou was a little exasperated when she replied:

"See? That's why I couldn't agree with this baby-sitting thing. I don't want to be a burden in anybody's life. I know how we all are too busy here and how I would mess up with everybody's life. I don't want to go stay with Grandma and risk getting stressed with her and end up screwing everything up again. And Uncle Burt; I'd love to spend time with him and Carole, but I know they'd have to change all their schedule. I can be okay by myself; I promise. I can call you every day, Kurt. And we can fix something up for the nights Maggie doesn't spend home."

Eleanor cleared her throat:

"If I may speak in this family business; I'd like to present you another option. As you know, I live alone and I have a guest room. I'll have to hire someone to be on Louisa's place for as long as she needs to be up on her feet again. I only have to be here some times a week, for what she can come with me. I'd love to have Louisa over. As long as she wants to and Kurt trusts me to be responsible for her. I'd love some company for a change..."

Louisa felt her eyes getting moist:

"You'd do that for me, Eleanor?"

The old lady gave the girl one of her irresistible smiles:

"Maggie, put that music I asked you on the jukebox, please."

Maggie went on to the sound system, for which Eleanor insisted on calling it an old-fashion name, and hit play on a song apparently previously selected. The familiar first chords of Next to Normal's Make Up Your Mind filled the room and Eleanor began to sing along with it making everybody (but Louisa) admired by she beautiful soprano voice.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=e8jL8sDuvss

Doctor Madden:

Walk with me...

Walk with me.

Go all the way down—

Down a long flight of stairs...

Go step by step into

The darkness down there.

Walk with me...

Down a hall,

A hall that you know—

At the end there's a door,

It's a door that you've never

Laid eyes on before...

Open the door...

Open the door.

[Spoken]

Can you hear me, Louisa?

Louisa could do nothing but smile at the kindness Eleanor saved for her. Her feelings were a mixture of gratefulness and a feeling she didn't deserve all this.

Diana: [Spoken]

Yes.

Doctor Madden: [Spoken]

Are you nervous?

Diana: [Spoken]

No.

Doctor Madden: [Spoken]

Good. Now.

[Sung]

Make up your mind

To explore yourself.

Make up your mind—

You have stories to tell.

We'll search in your past

For what sorrows may last,

Then make up your mind

To be well.

Doctor Madden:

Make up your mind

That you're strong enough.

Make up your mind—

Let the truth be revealed.

Admit what you've lost

And live with the cost...

At times it does hurt

To be healed.

Soon, she began singing with the lady as Catch Me I'm Falling was mashed-up with the first song. A stream of tears was rolling down her face but she didn't care.

Doctor Madden: [Spoken]

In our first session you told me...

... That talking through your history...

Diana:

Catch me I'm falling...

Doctor Madden: [Spoken]

... It feels like it's about someone else.

Diana:

Please hear me calling...

Doctor Madden: [Spoken]

Make it about you.

Diana:

Catch me I'm falling for good.

Doctor Madden:

Make up your mind,

You want clarity.

Take what you know,

And make it make sense.

Just face what you fear,

And soon it comes clear—

The visions are just your defense.

Make up your mind

You can live at last.

[Diana: Catch me]

Make up your mind

To be fully alive.

[Diana: I'm falling...]

Embrace what's inside

Replace what has died,

[Diana: Falling...]

Then make up your mind

You'll survive.

[Diana: Falling...]

Diana:

Catch me I'm falling...

Catch me I'm falling...

Flying headfirst into fate.

Catch me I'm falling...

Please hear me calling...

Catch me before it's too late.

Catch me before it's too late.

Catch me before it's too late.

Catch me I'm falling...

Catch me I'm falling...

Catch me I'm falling...

xXxXx

Moments like those were what made Finn realize how lucky and without problems he was. He had seen a whole side of Louisa, he couldn't even imagine existed just by the conviviality they had. The world was a nasty place but he only began to see it in his senior year in High-School.

He was so lost in thoughts that he bumped into a girl on his way out of the shop. He turned to her to apologize and had a huge surprise:

"Rachel?"

She was unusually shy and uneasy around him:

"I hope it's okay; but I heard the news about Louisa and I wanted to check on you guys."

Those rare moments of complete lack of selfishness from Rachel still caught him off-guard and remembered him all the reasons he first fell in love with her. He answered with a half-smile:

"That's very kind of you. Even more if we consider your history with her..."

Rachel smirked:

"I must confess I'm here more for you, Kurt and Blaine than for her."

He smiled and she rubbed his arm:

"How are you?"

He nodded:

"I'm fine. It's all too new for me. I'm beginning to realize how luck and privileged I am. Moments like this make us more aware of life and its finitude; don't them?"

She smiled that smile he knew she was proud of him:

"Yes, they do. How about Kurt and Blaine? How are they?"

"They'll be fine; so will Louisa. It was a big scare but apparently there won't be severe consequences. You should go up there and talk to them."

Rachel frowned:

"I was kind of trying to avoid upsetting Louisa. I'll stay around in case they leave alone."

"Okay; your call. See you, Rachel."

He had taken a few steps when she called him in a feeble voice. He just turned to her. Her eyes were very deep as she spoke:

"I want you to know you can count on me. As a friend. You'll always have me, no matter what."

He pursed his lips:

"Thank you. You too... I mean, I'm still sore; but I definitively care about you."

Without another word, he turned around and took his way.

xXxXx

Brody entered the room and two sets of eyes turned to him instead of just the ones he was waiting for. Finn turned to Louisa but she raised her hand stopping him from saying anything. Brody raised his own hands in a sign of peace:

"I just want to talk. I've heard a lot of stories and gossips about you around NYADA and I just wanted to hear your version of the story."

Louisa swallowed hard and turned to Finn:

"Finn, you've been a sweetheart; but, if it's not too much to ask, could you give us some privacy?"

Finn had a suspicious look on:

"Are you sure, Lou?"

She nodded:

"It's not like he's a stranger. Eleanor is in the next room anyway."

Finn left them alone not without first staring at Brody with a murder look. He didn't care; all he wanted was to see Louisa with his own eyes to make sure she was fine. She wasn't smiling, but he didn't expect a warm welcome anyway. He signed to sit on the bed where Finn had been and she nodded. He tried his best to put his thoughts in words:

"So... I'm guessing there's a reason why I never knew about that while we were together..."

She sighed but then stared deeply into his eyes:

"Yes, Brody. It's not something new; it's something I've been dealing with since I can remember. I've built my walls as a form of protection; sometimes they stay on for far too long. You see; I could never find it in myself to trust you completely. And I happened to be right, don't you agree?"

He budged uncomfortably and she interrupted him before he could say anything:

"Look, I'm not looking for a fight in here. We had lots of occasions and reasons for that, right? I'm just putting all the crap aside in my life and being sincere. We only live once and I'll prize my life."

In an impulse, he took her hand like he wanted since he heard about her suicide:

"Putting all the crap aside: I miss you. I know you have all the reasons to hate me and not to trust me; but I care about you."

"I don't hate you."

He was surprised:

"You don't?"

"Brody, we didn't work out. It's over between us and I found out we had few things holding us together. We had great moments; but now it's over."

He gasped while trying to fight his tears:

"I don't want us to be."

She looked at him with kind but strict eyes:

"But Brody; we hardly know each other."

"That's exactly my point! I only began to see you after we were apart and the more I saw the more I liked. I want to get to know you; I want to help you."

She was about to protest, but he stopped her. He took his phone out of his pocket and hit play on a song. She was pursing her lips in an annoyed face and he just kept asking her to wait. The song he chose was There's a World from Next to Normal and he sang his solo from the play.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=8ch9ILDHAus

There's a world...

There's a world I know.

A place we can go

Where the pain will go away

There's a world

Where the sun shines

Each day.

She listened attentively, but her face was unreadable. He couldn't put more soul into it than he was already. He could only hope for the best.

There's a world...

There's a world out there.

I'll show you just where,

And in time I know you'll see

There's a world where

We can be free

Come with me.

Come with me.

There's a world where

We can be free...

Come with me.

As it finished, she answered him still with a blank face:

"That was beautiful, Brody."

He smiled:

"We'll wait for you. I can't do this play without my lucky charm Natalie. And I hope that you can find it in yourself to give me a second chance."

She took a deep breath in what felt like the longest two seconds of Brody's life. She then turned to him with moist eyes:

"I'm sorry, Brody. But now I must give myself a second chance."

xXxXx

Kurt could barely believe his ears: Finn had called him to tell Brody had gone to talk to Louisa and she accepted it. He was already planning on visiting her after work; but now he'd be flying there on his rage's wings. Isabelle was aware of his recent family problems, so that meant he could just leave work and find Brody on Eleanor's lobby where they'd have a talk man to man. After all; no one messes with the Hummels.

As he hoped, he bumped into Brody at the lobby and the boy was in shock when he saw him. Kurt smirked:

"Surprised, Brody? I thought we could have a little chat..."

"S-Sure. Anytime, Kurt."

Kurt wouldn't be fooled by the boy's coy face:

"What about right now? Can we take a walk?"

Brody nodded and started following him outside the building. There was no reason for Kurt not to go straight to the point:

"Look Brody, you know how much Louisa means to me and you must have guessed by now that she's not at her best."

Brody turned to him looking offended:

"Kurt, I know I've made mistakes but I'm not mean. I'd never come here just to play with Louisa's feelings at a time like this."

Kurt was skeptical:

"I don't know, Brody. You deluded Rachel for a long time before the truth came out and you had to deal with the consequences. Give me one good reason I should trust you and let you even get near my cousin?"

"Because I love her!"

Kurt didn't want to believe what he had just heard. However, Brody's eyes weren't hiding anything and he looked defeated. The boy looked back at him with pleading eyes:

"I may have realized it too late; but that doesn't mean my feelings aren't true. I was confused for never having solved the whole thing with Rachel. But now I have! I've been hanging out with Rachel and I see how great of a friend she can be to me. I really missed her; but now I see that her heart belongs to Finn and that's never going to change. However, I miss Louisa. I think of her every minute of every day. Now I know I didn't know her at all; but she has mesmerized me and I don't want to give up on her. I'll give her a time; but I'm waiting for her to continue with the Next to Normal's rehearsals. I want to help, Kurt, I really do."

Kurt had pretty much the same trust issues as Louisa. He knew Brody could come up with pretty words; but how much of his little speech was true?

xXxXx

"Eleanor; can I have a word with you?"

The lady turned her eyes from the TV to look at her guest:

"Of course, my dear. Busy day today, huh? Is Kurt already gone?"

Louisa was caught off-guard by Eleanor's kindness and measured her next words with more care:

"I just walked him to the door. But it's not about it that I wanted to talk to you..."

The old lady continued to stare at her with that ever so adorable smile on. Louisa walked a little closer and risked taking her hand:

"Listen, first I want you to know how grateful I am for you having me over. I know I can be a burden; not to mention a constant reminder of your son..."

Eleanor cut her off:

"Darling, as my son did; you have a condition that's absolute not your fault. It may be a little selfish on my behalf; but helping you eases my pain for not being able to have taken care of Warren when he needed me."

Louisa took a deep breath: this was far more emotional than she had predicted.

"Anyway, I'm still pissed out that you let Brody come to see me without asking me first if it was okay."

"But he was your boyfriend..."

"He was! And you know pretty well why we have broken up. I don't trust him and I felt betrayed that you let him in."

Eleanor looked at her with a compliant face:

"You'll get over it. You two are young and great passions that leave us torn are part of that phase."

"I'm sorry; this is not a phase. This is my life and I know cheating when I see it. I think I can choose for myself whom to trust. You can't choose for me! As you couldn't choose for Warren his sexual preferences!"

Eleanor was silent from the shock. Louisa, however, had no pity this time:

"Just because we have something that makes our lives more difficult; doesn't mean that we have chosen to live that way or that we can't make the right decisions for our lives!"

"You don't know what you are talking about!"

"No! You don't know what burden we have to carry."

Louisa had reached that point when her blood had boiled and she lost control of herself. Before she was aware of it; she was singing You Don't Know from Next to Normal and dancing around the living-room with one of Warren's pictures.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=vd6V287TLQQ

Do you wake up in the morning

And need help to lift your head?

Do you read obituaries

And feel jealous of the dead?

It's like living on a cliffside

Not knowing when you'll dive...

Do you know?,

Do you know?

What it's like to die alive?

When a world that once had color

Fades to white and grey and black...

When tomorrow terrifies you

But you'll die if you look back.

You don't know,

I know you don't know.

You say that you're hurting—

It sure doesn't show.

You don't know...

It lays me so low

When you say let go

And I say

You don't know...

The sensation that you're screaming

But you never make a sound,

Or the feeling that you're falling

But you never hit the ground—

It just keeps on rushing at you

Day by day by day by day...

You don't know

You don't know

What it's like to live that way.

Like a refugee, a fugitive

Forever on the run...

If it gets me, it will kill me—

But I don't know what I've done.

xXxXx

Meanwhile, Brody was pacing around the rehearsal room and waiting that Kurt would show up. He didn't know what side would speak louder: his family loyalty or his professionalism. To his relief, the door opened and the pale boy walked in to join them.

Brody smiled trying to be sincere:

"I'm glad you came, Kurt. I needed to start rehearsals again or it won't be ready until my graduation time."

Kurt frowned:

"So much for caring about Louisa's health..."

Brody knew that reacting to that provocation wasn't the best he could do. He swallowed hard and answered with the least of irony he could manage:

"I want to get everything ready for when she comes back."

Kurt sarcastically snorted and Brody had it:

"Are you saying that I don't care about her?"

Kurt waved it off with a superior look:

"Understand it as you want..."

Those sarcastic diva ways of the Hummels were hot and exciting in Louisa; in Kurt they were plainly annoying. Having passed his limits far behind, Brody ran towards Kurt to deliver his answer face to face:

"I can help her in ways no one else can."

Kurt's rage was rising too:

"Are you saying we don't know how to help her?"

"I'm saying I want to give her a LIFE! Not a life despite her disease; a real one, a normal one!"

Kurt stared at him with wide eyes:

"You don't understand; she CAN'T!"

It was Brody's turn to snort:

"Has she ever tried?"

Kurt exhaled giving up:

"You don't know her; you've never seen it. It's part of her..."

Brody still felt like screaming:

"You are treating her like a freaking baby!"

Kurt looked back insulted:

"Who are you to tell how we should treat her?"

At this moment; Ned, the sound operator, had come in with his head-phones on and heard nothing of what they were discussing. He must have thought that, from the looks on their faces, they must be rehearsing I Am the One and he put it on to play.

Brody chuckled at the coincidence but he was soon surprised by Kurt beginning to sing it.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=vd6V287TLQQ

Dan:

Can you tell me

What it is you're afraid of?

And can you tell me

Why I'm afraid it's me?

Can I touch you?

We've been fine for so long now,

How can something go wrong

That I can't see?

'Cause I'm holding on,

And I won't let go.

I just thought you should know...

I am the one who knows you,

I am the one who cares,

I am the one who's always been there.

I am the one who's helped you,

And if you think that

I just don't give a damn,

Then you just don't know who I am.

Dan:

Could you leave me?

He wouldn't be left behind and took Gabe's part at the right times.

Gabe:

Hey dad, it's me.

Dan:

Could you let me go under?

Gabe:

Why can't you see?

Dan:

Will you watch as I drown,

Both:

And wonder why?

Dan:

Are you bleeding?

Gabe:

Are you waiting, are you wishing

Are you wanting all that she can't give?

Dan:

Are you bruised? Are you broken?

Gabe:

Are you hurting, are you healing

Are you hoping for a life to live?

Dan:

Does it help you to know

Both:

Well, so am I.

Dan:

Tell me what to do

Gabe:

Look at me.

Dan:

Tell me who to be

Gabe:

Look at me.

Dan:

So I can see

Both:

What you see.

Dan:

I am the one who'll hold you,

Gabe:

I am...

Dan:

I am the one who'll stay,

Gabe:

I am...

Dan:

I am the one

Both:

I won't walk away.

Dan:

Yeah, yeah, yeah

I am the one who'll heal you

Gabe:

I am...

Dan:

And now you tell me that

I won't give a damn

Gabe

You don't give a damn.

Dan:

But I know you know

Both:

Who I am.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Dan:

That's who

Both:

I am.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Dan:

That's who

Both:

I am.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Dan:

That's who I am.

'Cause I'm holding on...

It was the most intense performance they had ever or would ever do. It was like they could hear Louisa at the background yelling 'you don't know' at Eleanor.

Diana:

You say you hurt like me...

Gabe:

And I won't let go...

Diana:

You say that you know...

Dan and Gabe:

Yeah I thought you should know.

Diana:

Oh... You don't know

Dan and Gabe:

I am the one who knows you,

Diana:

I know you don't know.

Dan and Gabe:

I am the one who cares,

Diana

You say that you're hurting,

Dan and Gabe:

I am the one

Diana:

I know it ain't so.

Dan and Gabe:

Who's always been there.

Diana:

You don't know.

Dan and Gabe:

Yeah yeah yeah

I am the one who needs you,

Diana:

Why don't you just go?

Dan and Gabe:

And if you think that

Diana:

'Cause it lays me low

Dan and Gabe:

I just don't give a damn

Diana:

When you say

Dan:

Then you just don't know

Who I am...

Diana:

You don't know...

Dan:

Who I am...

Diana:

You don't know...

Dan:

Who I am...

Gabe:

You just don't know who I am.

xXxXx

Rachel didn't know what to expect of Finn upon her first visit to his new work. The karaoke hours of Callbacks used to be crowded and filled with NYADA students. She had joined a group of girls from her acting class and they were off to a happy hour.

As soon as she crossed the door to the bar, Finn's and her eyes met. She wasn't expecting it and him even less. Having drop the tray he was carrying; it was a good excuse for him to look at the floor and for her to join her girl friends searching for a table. A couple of extra minutes to rehearse what she'd say to him weren't bad either.

The moment of actually saying something almost didn't came. He was keeping himself busy at the bar and she would do anything not to be the one going to buy the drinks. However, she could feel his eyes on her and she was pretty sure he saw her looking too. The moment she was avoiding came almost as they were leaving. Sarah turned to her in a clumsy drunk way:

"Okay, Rachel! It's your turn to buy us drinks and flirt with the cute new bartender. We all have done it by now."

Rachel didn't want to tell the "new cute bartender" was actually her ex-boyfriend and currently discovered to be the love of her life. Nor she wanted them to know that she was feeling like killing all of them bitches for having hit on Finn. She resigned to giving them a polite smile and walking towards Finn.

He saw her coming but didn't have where to hide. She tried to break the ice with a sincere smile:

"Busy night, huh?"

"Yeah; but I like it. It helps keep your mind out of things..."

She could see he was embarrassed and she felt weird and distant. For the first time in months, she really felt threatened to lose him for good:

"Not only have the drinks been keeping you busy... I see the ladies are giving you a rough time too. Maybe not that rough at all..."

He measured her with his eyes, but then engaged in the conversation:

"I'm actually not thinking about dating now; I'm trying to focus on my studies. You, on the other hand..."

That was enough to make her burst:

"Meaning what, Finn?"

"That you are all out and about with your new friends. I bet you all came here to flirt and find a hook-up to show off to each other!"

She was about to protest when Sarah reached them after a drunk walk:

"Wow! Nice job, Rach! The cute guy and you seem to have a great chemistry. You two are on fire! I'm sure you'd certainly win the duet competition of the night."

Finn was trying to discourage the girl of the idea; but Sarah wouldn't listen to anything but the sound of her voice:

"Who wants to see Rachel and the cute guy perform a duet? Come on, guys! RACHEL! RACHEL! RACHEL!"

She had managed to get the whole bar chanting Rachel's name and a guy with a manager look threw a dirt look towards Finn. Rachel turned to him sympathetically:

"You better do it or you'll get into trouble..."

Finn snorted:

"Fine! But I get to choose the song."

He grabbed her hand and walked determined towards the stage. She was hurt by the way he wouldn't even look at her. He went to the microphone and announced them:

"Good evening Callbacks. My name is Finn Hudson and this is Rachel Berry. We are entering the duet competition singing George Michael's Freedom '90."

The first chords began to sound and Finn started to sing in a way that Rachel knew to be pointing fingers at her and their failed relationship.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=diYAc7gB-0A

I won't let you down

I will not give you up

Gotta have some faith in the sound

It's the one good thing that I've got

I won't let you down

So please don't give me up

Because I would really, really love to stick around

Heaven knows I was just a young boy

Didn't know what I wanted to be

I was every little hungry schoolgirls pride and joy

And I guess it was enough for me

To win the race? A prettier face!

Brand new clothes and a big fat place

On your rock and roll tv

But today the way I play the game is not the same

No way

Think I'm gonna get me some happy

Feeling outraged, she joined the duet pointing out that it takes two to tango and two to break a relationship.

I think there's something you should know

I think it's time I told you so

There's something deep inside of me

There's someone else I've got to be

Take back your picture in a frame

Take back your singing in the rain

I just hope you understand

Sometimes the clothes do not make the man

Soon enough, it wasn't about performing anymore but about discussing their relationship

Chorus

All we have to do now

Is take these lies and make them true somehow

All we have to see

Is that I don't belong to you

And you don't belong to me

Freedom

I won't let you down

Freedom

I will not give you up

Freedom

Gotta have some faith in the sound

You've gotta give for what you take

Heaven knows we sure had some fun boy

What a kick just a buddy and me

We had every big-shot goodtime band on the run boy

We were living in a fantasy

We won the race

Got out of the place

I went back home got a brand new face

For the boys on mtv

But today the way I play the game has got to change

Oh yeah

Now I'm gonna get myself happy

I think there's somethig you should know

I think it's time I stopped the show

There's something deep inside of me

There's someone I forgot to be

Take back your picture in a frame

Take back your singing in the rain

I just hope you understand

Sometimes the clothes do not make the man

Chorus

Well it looks like the road to heaven

But it feels like the road to hell

When I knew which side my bread was buttered

I took the knife as well

Posing for another picture

Everybody's got to sell

But when you shake your ass

They notice fast

And some mistakes were build to last

That's what you get

I say that's what you get

That's what you get for changing your mind

And after all this time

I just hope you understand

Sometimes the clothes do not make the man

I'll hold on to my freedom

May not be what you want from me

Just the way it's got to be

Lose the face now

I've got to live

.

They finish it under a loud round of applause. However, neither really felt like talking to the other. Finn was called to a room in the back by his manager and Rachel girl friends said they were living.

Rachel stood sitting at the bar and watching it get empty as she waited for Finn. It took several minutes before he came from the back with a furious look on his face. He walked closer to her and spoke looking straight into her eyes:

"I hope you are happy: I just got fired for our little performance. But here; you can take a trophy home as you like: we won the competition."

xXxXx

Apologizing is never a simple thing to do, but Louisa knew it was absolutely necessary. Gathering all her courage, she knocked on Eleanor's door for a talk. After a gentle 'you can come in'; she opened the door for the lady's bedroom.

Eleanor was sitting at a vanity table but grinned at the girl through the mirror. Her infinite kindness made Louisa feel even guiltier:

"Eleanor, I needed to talk to you. I mean... Okay, let's cut the chase: I'm here to apologize."

The old lady turned in the sit to be face to face with the girl. She smiling took both of Lou's hands in hers:

"I knew you would; you are a good girl. Your anger wasn't towards me; I understood that."

Louisa budged uncomfortably:

"I'm sick and tired of hurting the people I love the most and who have nothing to do with the way I am..."

Eleanor interrupted her:

"Darling, you have to keep in mind that the way you are is what makes people love you the most: your qualities and your flaws. Warren was just the same. The people who love you want to help you at your worst and rejoice with you at your best. That's why, my angel, I think you have more people to apologize too."

"Can I hug you?"

"You can always hug me, Louisa."

xXxXx

Spending the evening alone with Kurt just cuddling on the couch and watching TV was Blaine's favorite time of his week. That was why he grumbled when Kurt got out of his arms to go answer the door. Who on Earth would knock on their door at that time?

Kurt opened the door and began to laugh hysterically:

"Blee, honey, you've got to see this. Come here; I guess it's for you."

"What do you mean you guess?"

Blaine got out of the couch and when he saw who was outside their door, he understood all of Kurt's reactions. Their surprise visitor was Louisa; however, how she was dressed was the real surprise: she had gelled all her hair down to her head in a tight way, she was wearing an argyle cardigan with a matching bowtie and her pants were rolled up, showing sockless feet in navy shoes.

Blaine was also laughing out loud:

"Have I gotten a clone?"

She smiled in a way that reached her eyes:

"This is my crooked way of saying thank you to my savior. And now I'd like to do something else the Anderson style."

They all walked in and she sat the couple comfortably on the couch. She pulled a stool and sat in the middle of the living room, facing them. She took a deep breath and looked at them:

"You two have been an essential part of my life since I've got in New York. You have given me nothing but love and I know I've not been fair and I have thrown a lot of anger towards both of you."

Kurt began to say something but she signed him to wait and went on:

"Tonight all I wanted was to say thank you in the best way I can talk about my feelings and the best way you can understand: singing. I've made a little mash-up from two of our favorite musicals. So here it's: Something Good from the Sound of Music and For Good from Wicked; mashed-up together to show you two how much I'm grateful to have met you."

She began a simple a capella version of her mash-up with eyes moist from emotion. Blaine looked at his boyfriend to discover that a furtive tear was already dropping from Kurt's eyes. He smiled and kissed the boy's temple.

http://klainewhyitisyou.tumblr.com/post/51816493245/this-is-a-home-recorded-version-of-a-mash-up-that

Perhaps I had a wicked childhood

Perhaps I had a miserable youth

But somewhere in my wicked, miserable past

There must have been a moment of truth

For here you are, standing there, loving me

Whether or not you should

So somewhere in my youth or childhood

I must have done something good

And just to clear the air I ask forgiveness

For the things I've done you blame me for

But then, I guess we know

There's blame to share:

And none of it seems to matter anymore

Like a comet pulled from orbit

As it passes a sun

Like a stream that meets a boulder

Halfway through the wood

Who can say if I've been changed for the better?

But because I knew you

I must have done something ...

Something good

As soon as the last note was finished; Kurt was already all over Louisa hugging every inch of his cousin he could reach:

"I love you, boo. Promise never to hurt yourself again. I love moments like this."

Blaine smiled at the vision, pleased with himself to be joining that beautiful family. Lou found a gap between Kurt's arms to mouth a 'thank you' to Blaine. He just smiled; it was his way of saying: 'relax sis, I'll always get your back'.