Chapter 21: Grown Woman

Brody couldn't feel his left arm but it was worth it. He wasn't completely awake and yet he smiled seeing the sleeping girl in his arm. Although he would love nothing more than to stay exactly where he was, still his arm was beginning to hurt. He tried to move without waking Louisa but she stirred anyway. She nuzzled against his chest still sleepy:

"You are so cozy. Why are you trying to go away?"

"I need to move my arm."

She adjusted herself in bed to help him free:

"I'm sorry. I guess I'm getting used to you sleeping here every night."

He smiled and stole a peck from her lips. She smiled back to him and he felt his heart melting.

"You can get used to my embrace; it's just these little mundane things..."

"The little mundane things, Brody, are what keep us together. You've seen my dark side and embraced it. I've seen your worst and I'm still here. We're both humans and building something healthy together."

He begun to smell the top of her head:

"And suddenly things got so heavy so early in the morning."

She laughed her musical laugh:

"You're right. Let's go back to where you're cozy and I'm comfortable."

She snuggled closer in his embrace and started to play with his fingers. They stood silent for a while until she caught his attention:

"Do you have a busy day today as well?"

He sighed:

"Very busy. Again."

"Are you coming to sleep in tonight?"

"Can I? I'd love to."

She smiled:

"Of course you can. Seems like the only time of the day I can see you. Not that I'm complaining, I know how hard it is on you not even knowing if you'll graduate or not."

He kissed her head:

"It will all be worth it. You're healthy and that's all that matters."

"I'm feeling good. Like I hadn't felt in a long time. I feel happy. It's as if my troubles have disappeared for a while."

"That's so good to hear, Lou!"

And he rewarded their happiness with a passionate kiss that he'd still remember a couple of minutes later as he left her apartment. He was still smiling on the subway as he put his phones on and listened to the first few chords of Maroon 5's She Will Be Loved.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/nIjVuRTm-dc

Beauty queen of only eighteen she

Had some trouble with herself

He was always there to help her, she

Always belonged to someone else

I drove for miles and miles and wound up

At your door

I've had you so many times but somehow I want more

I don't mind spendin' everyday

Out on your corner in the pourin' rain

Look for the girl with the broken smile

Ask her if she wants to stay a while

And she will be loved, and she will be loved

Tap on my window, knock on my door, I

Want to make you feel beautiful

I know I tend to get so insecure

It doesn't matter anymore

It's not always rainbows and butterflies

It's compromise that moves us along yeah

My heart is full, and my door's always open

You can come anytime you want yeah

I don't mind spendin' everyday

Out on your corner in the pourin' rain

Look for the girl with the broken smile

Ask her if she wants to stay a while

And she will be loved, and she will be loved

And she will be loved, and she will be loved

I know where you hide alone in your car

Know all of the things that make you who you are

I know that goodbye means nothing at all

Comes back and makes me catch her every time she

Falls

Yeah, tap on my window, knock on my door, I

Want to make you feel beautiful

I don't mind spendin' everyday

Out on your corner in the pourin' rain oh

Look for the girl with the broken smile

Ask her if she wants to stay a while

And she will be loved, and she will be loved

And she will be loved, and she will be loved

Please don't try so hard to say good-bye

I don't mind spendin' everyday, out on your corner in the pourin' rain

Please don't try so hard to say good-bye

Their relationship has had its ups and downs but he was sure they were now headed in the right way. He loved Louisa and he wanted to scream it to the world. However, he was cautious not to pressure her and her newfound peace by dropping the l-bomb too soon. Not to mention that she hadn't got over Finn yet. But he'd wait and love her like she deserved.

xXxXx

Blaine broke their tenth kiss that day and Kurt whined:

"Do you really have to go?"

Blaine chuckled and stole yet another kiss from his lips:

"You know I have to visit my family."

"But why are you going to Ohio on the week I'll have to stay in New York?"

"You know why..."

Kurt sighed:

"Yeah, yeah; I know why. I just don't want to let you go. I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too, gorgeous. But you know how my father is and for how long I've postponed this meeting."

"Well, it's about time you tell him about the engagement."

Blaine paused, took a deep breath:

"You know I'm not embarrassed about the engagement, about you or anything, right?"

Kurt smiled and rubbed his arm reassuringly:

"I know, Blee. I've met your father and I saw how he is when you act on being gay. We've discussed this and we agreed that it's better for you to do it alone."

Blaine looked up and when he stared back down, his eyes were gleaming:

"I've passed the age of being scared of my father."

"Honey, you are the brave one here. One day he'll be happy about it."

"One day is not today..."

"One day we'll give him grandchildren and he'll be a proud Grandpapa."

Blaine snorted a smile and took Kurt's hand:

"I don't want him proud of his grandchildren; I want him proud of me! And the man I chose to be by my side."

"Eventually he'll see past it. He'll see we're a match made in heaven."

"Do you seriously believe it?"

"Of course I do! He's slowly changing. He'll see how happy you are, how happy I can make you and he'll give us his blessing."

"Are you sure you can't come with me? I could use the pep-talk."

Kurt pecked Blaine:

"You don't need the pep-talk. Just keep being the brave out man you are and your father will learn to respect you."

"I love you so much."

Kurt passed his arms around Blaine's neck walking closer to him:

"Soon enough you'll be back, right?"

"Like I could leave you and Satine alone for too long."

They kissed yet another time before Blaine gathered his courage and left for the airport.

xXxXx

"Kurt! In here!"

Rachel was waiving at him from one of the tables in the cafeteria. He walked closer and hugged her hello:

"It's like I haven't seen you in ages, Rach. How's everything?"

She sighed rolling her eyes:

"Do you want the long story or the short? How much time do you have?"

He sat down and placed his bag in an empty chair:

"I have all the time in the world. Tell me everything."

"It's just rehearsals at Spring Awakening that aren't going so well. There's a Queen Bee that hates me and all of the other girls seems to follow her around. At first, it was like not having any friends but now they are beginning to be mean to me. To top things of, Finn is in his finals week and we hardly see each other. Let's just say I was in desperate need of a friendly face."

Kurt smiled sympathetic and took her hand:

"I'm always here for you, Rach. Blaine is in Ohio this week so you got me all to yourself. I mean, for you and Louisa. My week with the girls."

"We should get together and have some fun. I really need it right now."

"Are you using 'fun' and 'Louisa' in the same sentence?"

She laughed:

"We found our peace."

Kurt smiled:

"That's very good to know."

xXxXx

After Brody went, Louisa entered in the shower. She was still absently minded drying her hair when she found Maggie dumbstruck in the kitchen.

"Maggie? What's wrong?"

Maggie flashed her phone at Lou and spoke in a grievous tone:

"It was my grandmother. My grandfather just passed away."

"Oh, Mags!"

Louisa run to hug her friend who begins to sob in her arms. She rubbed Maggie's back trying to sooth her:

"At least his pain is over. He had been ill for a while, hasn't he?"

Maggie nodded and Louisa passed her some napkins to serve as handkerchiefs. After blowing her nose, Maggie looked at her friend:

"I'm not just sad for my grandpa. I'll have to go to Texas and face a whole side of my family who not approve me for the way I am. Being a lesbian artist is not far up on my family's book."

"It's really their lost, Mags. You're awesome and it's a privilege to have you as a friend."

Maggie huffed:

"You say that because we're in our New York haven. My relatives are hard to deal with in the best of days; I can imagine what it will be like on Papa Philip's funeral."

"Is there anything I can do for you now?"

"You could cover my shift at Coffee'N'Stuff."

xXxXx

Kurt walked in the coffee shop to see his cousin in an apron and handing lattes. She smiled at him and signaled him to wait. He sat on a corner with his mocha and people-watched for a while. Finally, Louisa sat on his table with a relief sigh:

"I was covering up for Maggie and her replacement never got here. Working at the coffee shop is so much more work than the bookstore. Anyway, here I am. What did you want with me?"

"First of all, to see you. It's like you're hardly available anymore."

Her cheeks grew a bit redder as she smiled coyly:

"I've been spending a little too much time with Brody..."

Kurt examined her better:

"You are different... There's something about you."

She smiled with her whole face this time:

"I'm confident. I'm taking things in my hands and doing things my way."

"Brody taught you that?"

She chuckled lightly:

"No; Brody is a consequence. I'm living my full potential and found it in me to have someone by my side."

"That sounds deep and grown up, honey."

"Maybe I'm finally learning from my struggles. My point is, I learned to embrace my dark side and I can be in a relationship for real this time."

He took her hand over the table:

"I'm really happy for you."

"Me too, pumpkin. But tell me; what else brings you here?"

He but his business face on:

"Rachel gave me an excellent idea."

"Do tell!"

"She needs a pick-me-up and I'm putting out an aerobics class for all the powerful women in my life."

"And that includes me?"

He winked:

"After what you just told me? Hell yes it includes you! And Maggie. And a couple of other friends from NYADA. We'll have an awesome day in Central Park."

"I heard my name."

They turned and saw Maggie standing next to them. However, she did not look good. Louisa made room for her to sit with them and started to sympathetic rub her friend's arm:

"You didn't came to work, did you?"

Maggie shook her head:

"No; I just needed to see a friendly face. My mother just called. Apparently, being an artist in New York is no longer an option for me."

Kurt looked shocked:

"Is your family talking to Blaine's? He's out there in Ohio trying to reason things with his father. One of those occasions I better not to be around because the straighter Blaine looks the happier is his father."

The ghost of a smile appeared in Maggie's face:

"Does Blaine also have to take on the family business? A supermarket in Texas?"

Kurt snorted:

"Something as medieval as that."

Louisa kept looking from one to the other, not believing her ears:

"And you're just going to sit here and do nothing?"

"What can I do?"

"But you're Maggie! The Maggie. Maggie never takes no for an answer. It's like... urgh... I'll have to sing it for you to understand!"

She got up and attached her phone to the stereo, hitting play on Matilda's Naughty.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/dExxFRTwBsw

Jack and Jill, went up the hill

To fetch a pail of water, so they say

Their subsequent fall was inevitable

They never stood a chance, they were written that way

Innocent victims of their story

Like Romeo and Juliet

T'was written in the stars before they even met

That love and fate, and a touch of stupidity

Would rob them of their hope of living happily

The endings are often a little bit gory

I wonder why they didn't just change their story?

We're told we have to do what we're told but surely

Sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty.

Just because you find that life's not fair it

Doesn't mean that you just have to grin and bear it

If you always take it on the chin and wear it

Nothing will change.

Even if you're little, you can do a lot, you

Mustn't let a little thing like, 'little' stop you

If you sit around and let them get on top,

you might as well be saying

You think that it's okay

And that's not right!

Cinderella, in the cellar,

Didn't have to do much as far as I could tell.

Her Godmother was two-thirds fairy,

Suddenly her lot, was a lot less scary,

But what if you haven't got a fairy to fix it?

Sometimes you have to make a little bit of mischief.

Just because you find that life's not fair it

Doesn't mean that you just have to grin and bear it

If you always take it on the chin and wear it

Nothing will change.

Even if you're little, you can do a lot, you

Mustn't let a little thing like, 'little' stop you

If you sit around and let them get on top,

you might as well be saying

You think that it's okay

And that's not right!

And if it's not right!

You have to put it right!

In the slip of a bolt, there's a tiny revolt.

The seeds of a war in the creak of a floorboard.

A storm can begin, with the flap of a wing.

The tiniest mite packs the mightiest sting!

Every day starts with the tick of a clock.

All escapes start with the click of a lock!

If you're stuck in your story and want to get out

You don't have to cry, you don't have to shout!

'Cause if you're little you can do a lot, you

Mustn't let a little thing like, 'little' stop you

If you sit around and let them get on top, you

Won't change a thing!

Just because you find that life's not fair it

Doesn't mean that you just have to grin and bear it!

If you always take it on the chin and wear it

You might as well be saying

You think that it's okay

And that's not right!

And if it's not right!

You have to put it right!

But nobody else is gonna put it right for me

nobody but me is gonna change my story

sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty.

Maggie chuckled as her friend finished her impromptu performance:

"That's all very nice to take my head out of things. But tell me, how does naughty pays tuition without a scholarship?"

xXxXx

Finn took his eyes off his books to see Rachel arriving home.

"... Yeah, I understand. "

The look on her face as she talked on the phone showed him that something was wrong.

"Okay, I'll show up to rehearsal on Monday. Good bye."

She hanged up the phone and lowered her head in defeat. It was his cue to come close and wrap her in his embrace. Almost instantly, she began to sob against his chest.

"What's the matter, Rach? Who was it?"

She took a deep breath before answering:

"It was my producer. Apparently someone is not glad with my work and I'm no longer on the main cast for Spring Awakening."

"Can they even do that?"

"They've found a loophole. I'm an understudy now. I think the Queen Bee who really hates me has found some allies."

"That's absurd, Rach! How can they even do that to you? After all you invested in this play?"

She snorted:

"That's the business, honey. At least I'm not unemployed."

"But... You are a star, Rachel. You deserve so much more than that."

"Thanks for the ego boost. However, I must start from somewhere and, apparently, this somewhere is the bottom."

Finn had an uneasy feature:

"That's not the Rachel I know and love. My Rachel would go after her spot in the limelight."

Her sobbing intensified again:

"Oh Finn, if you only knew how tired I am. They all hate me. They hate me."

"And you're going to simply let them win?"

"No! I'm going to show up and do my work in the best way I can. I won't let them throw me out of the production. My day will come."

Finn scratched his neck:

"That doesn't sound right."

She looked at him in disbelief:

"Should I just quit?"

"Not quit; aim higher."

"How?"

"You were on the ensemble of a off-off-Broadway production. You deserve to have your name on the marquee!"

"It doesn't just happen, Finn. I have to start small."

He pacced around waiving his arms like a maniac:

"Don't stop, Rachel! Find another production, be the star. Show them just how bright you can shine!"

"No Finn, I'm going to fight for it. Rachel Berry is nothing if not a professional. I'm gonna show up and do my work."

"I can't believe you."

He stood up and went for the stereo. He found the song he wanted and went to pick her up from the couch:

"Sing this to me. I'm sure you know the lyrics."

http://www.youtube.com/embed/t99KH0TR-J4

Empty spaces, what are we living for

Abandoned places, I guess we know the score

On and on, does anybody know what we are looking for

Another hero, another mindless crime

Behind the curtain, in the pantomime

Hold the line, does anybody want to take it anymore

The show must go on

The show must go on, yeah

Inside my heart is breaking

My make-up may be flaking

But my smile still stays on

As she sang Queen's The Show Must Go On, Finn could see his Rachel coming back. She was strong and firm. In the end, things would turn the Rachel way; even if for now he couldn't see how.

Whatever happens, I'll leave it all to chance

Another heartache, another failed romance

On and on, does anybody know what we are living for?

I guess I'm learning

I must be warmer now

I'll soon be turning

Round the corner now

Outside the dawn is breaking

But inside in the dark I'm aching to be free

The show must go on

The show must go on

Inside my heart is breaking

My make-up may be flaking

But my smile still stays on

My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies

Fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die

I can fly, my friends

The show must go on

The show must go on

I'll face it with a grin

I'm never giving in

On, with the show

I'll top the bill

I'll overkill

I have to find the way to carry it on

On with the show

She finished the song and went back to his arms.

"Finn, I'm going to show them that I am the best thing that ever happened to that production. They won't know what hit them."

He sighed:

"That was not the show I was talking about. You must go on with the Rachel Berry show."

"Thank you for believing me, Finn. But now just trust me that everything is going to be for the best."

xXxXx

It was a beautiful day in Central Park and the Hummels were ready in their work out outfits. Some of their girl friends from NYADA were also already there and stretching up. However, Kurt wouldn't start his class without his main star and the reason they were there: Rachel.

Louisa approached Kurt:

"Rachel is running late, Kurt; are you sure you don't want to start out? Some of the girls are saying they'll have to leave soon."

"I won't start it without her. I'm doing it for her. She said she had news. And where's Maggie, by the way?"

"She texted me that she's almost here."

"Has she solved anything out with her mother? Is she leaving New York?"

Louisa sighed:

"I don't know. She doesn't know. She's going to Texas anyway to set some things up and there are daily angry calls with her mother. Other than that, it's all in the open."

They were interrupted by Rachel's arrival.

"Sorry, I'm late."

Kurt hugged his friend:

"We were just waiting for you."

"Sorry, it's been an awful week: I'm no longer on the Spring Awakening cast. But I still work for them and I'll be the best dammed employee they ever had."

"That's the spirit, Rach. Let's paint this town."

Kurt gathered all the girls around him and his stereo. He announced the beginning of the class:

"Welcome to Kurt Hummel's aerobics and self-esteem class. I'm surrounded by wonderful women who, for one reason or another, had their strength or their value challenged this week. Let's show the world that we are still standing and how. To help me out, I'll have none other than the Queen Bey."

He hit play on the stereo and the first notes of Beyoncé's Grown Woman started to play. Kurt sang along as he pushed the girls on to some hard work aerobics and choreography. They were all sweat and smiles as they were reminded of their true value.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/y3MjxWn5W9M

I remember being young and so brave

I knew what I needed

I was spending all my nights and days laid back day dreaming

Look at me I'm a big girl now, said I'm gon do something

Told the world I would paint this town

Now betcha I run news

'Cause I put it (down like that, down like that)

And I'm making (all these racks, all these racks)

And I'm moving (round like that, round like that)

When I do it (I don't look back, don't look back)

I'm a grown woman

I can do whatever I want

I'm a grown woman

I can do whatever I want

They love the way I walk

'Cause I walk with a vengeance

And they listen to me when I talk

'Cause I ain't pretending

It took a while, now I understand

Just where I'm going

I know the world and I know who I am

It's 'bout time I show it

I'm a grown woman

I can do whatever I want

I'm a grown woman

I can do whatever I want

I can be bad if I want

I can say what I want

I can live fast if I want

I can go slow all night long

I'm a grown woman

I can do whatever I want (whatever it is)

I'm a grown woman

And I know that I got it (got it got it)

I'm a grown woman

Ain't got no room in her pockets

I'm a grown woman

Look down, got you so excited

I really want to know if you got it like that

Cause you got a cute face

And that booty so fat

Go girl (go girl)

She got that bomb (that bomb)

That girl can get whatever she wants.

Go girl (hey girl),

She got that tight (that tight).

Them boys,

They do whatever she like.

I'm a grown woman

I'm a grown woman

I'm a grown woman

I can do whatever I want (I can do what ever I want)

I'm a grown woman

I can do whatever I want.

I'm a grown...

I'm a grown woman

I can do whatever I want.

The class moved on with more and more powerhouse songs that leaves all the girls exhilarated and exhausted. Kurt was prepared to leave with his favorite girls when an unpleasant familiar voice from the past called:

"Lady Hummel!"

However, this time the one to turn was Louisa, not her cousin. Leaving Azimio appalled.

"But... but... Hummel! Are you kidding me? Did you marry that babe? I thought..."

Louisa's tongue was not yet known by the bully:

"I'm his cousin, dumbass. And..."

She looked at him from head to toe.

"... not in a million years."

It causes a fit of laughter to erupt from Kurt and his group of girls. His former bully had nothing to do but to turn around and walk away from them. Kurt approached his cousin:

"Do you have any idea who that was?"

"Someone who didn't treat you right, for all I care."

Kurt passed his arm around Louisa's shoulders, bringing her close:

"And you just completely kicked the ass of my former bully. I think my class was somehow useful."

xXxXx

"Here Maggie, this drink is on the house."

"Thank you, Blaine."

Louisa approached the two of them and hug Maggie around the waist.

"It's so sad to see you go."

"But I won't go without a bang. Come on, let's party!"

Maggie and Louisa toasted their drinks and went to join the others. Callbacks was practically empty but for their little group. Blaine was well instructed to put 'music that rocks' for the party. Brody held Louisa from behind by the waist and she happily adjusted herself in his arms. Maggie saw the cute scene and approached them:

"You two better enjoy the empty apartment while you can. I want it peaceful and quiet when I get back."

"You are coming back, Maggie! That's new!"

Maggie smirked at Lou:

"I don't know how yet, but I'll come back and I'll graduate. My mother certainly won't be happy about it, but I can't live the life she wants for me. I'll apply for a scholarship, I'll get an extra job, I'll figure something out."

"That's wonderful news, Mags. I'd miss you too much."

Maggie winked:

"A certain someone persuaded me not to play by the rules. So I decided to be a little bit naughty."

The two girls joined in a hug. Blaine approached them with his glass raised:

"So this is a not-going-away party? Yupee!"

Kurt looked disapprovingly at him:

"You sound like a toddler, honey."

"It's just that I hate goodbyes. And also we get to have Maggie back to us."

She gulped what was left of her drink and pointed to the microphone:

"Blainers, stop being a toddler and help me out. Let's announce to the whole world that Maggie Cooper is making New York her bitch!"

"You're on, Mags."

She climbed to the stage and took the mike:

"Good evening Callbacks. This is Maggie Cooper announcing that no one can hold her back."

The karaoke system was turned on and she started singing Cabaret theme's song. If life was a stage, she'd go down as a prima donna.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/moOamKxW844

What good is sitting alone in your room?

Come hear the music play.

Life is a Cabaret, old chum,

Come to the Cabaret.

Put down the knitting,

The book and the broom.

Time for a holiday.

Life is a Cabaret, old chum,

Come to the Cabaret.

Come taste the wine,

Come hear the band.

Come blow your horn,

Start celebrating;

Right this way,

Your table's waiting

What good's permitting

some prophet of doom

To wipe every smile away?

Life is a Cabaret, old chum,

Come to the Cabaret!

I used to have a girlfriend

known as Elsie

With whom I shared

Four sordid rooms in Chelsea

She wasn't what you'd call

A blushing flower...

As a matter of fact

She rented by the hour.

The day she died the neighbors

came to snicker:

"Well, thats what comes

from to much pills and liquor."

But when I saw her laid out like a queen

She was the happiest...corpse...

I'd ever seen.

I think of Elsie to this very day.

I'd remember how'd she turn to me and say:

"What good is sitting all alone in your room?

Come hear the music play.

Life is a Cabaret, old chum,

Come to the Cabaret."

And as for me, ha!

And as for me,

I made my mind up back in Chelsea,

When I go, I'm going like Elsie.

Start by admitting

From cradle to tomb

It isn't that long a stay.

Life is a Cabaret, old chum,

It's only a Cabaret, old chum,

And I love a Cabaret!

xXxXx

Rachel and Finn were leaving Callbacks hand-in-hand. She rested her head in his arm and exclaimed:

"You know what, with the whole Kurt's self-esteem class and Maggie taking her destiny in her hands; I'm not feeling that well about being an understudy."

"You deserve more, Rach. You really do."

"I was thinking, maybe I should quit Spring Awakening."

"And do what?"

She shrugged:

"Wait for my big break. Concentrate on my studies for a while."

Unlike what she was expecting, he smiled:

"I think it's a very Rachel Berry thing you're doing. You deserve to shine brighter than any other. If they can't see it... well, their lost."

"I almost forgot how it feels like to see myself through your eyes. You make me feel so loved, so unique."

"I'll always be here to remind you just how special you are."

She kissed him fondly and with a new determination.

xXxXx

Louisa fished her keys out of her bag to open her front door. Brody and Maggie were there with her. Maggie said goodnight to the couple and went to her room. Lou turned to her boyfriend:

"It will be so strange in here without Maggie."

He smirked:

"You heard her; it will be temporary. A little vacation just for the two of us."

She smiled as he walked closer and took her hands.

"It will be good. You just need to figure out how to graduate and I'll have you all for myself."

It was his turn to smile as she put her hands on both his shoulders.

"I like how you sound right now, Miss Hummel. Kurt's class is showing results."

"It's not just Kurt. It's Maggie. As crazy as it sounds, it's Rachel too. But most of all, it's me. I'm learning to face my ghosts and fight my battles."

He giggled:

"As I remember, you've never had a problem with fighting your battles."

She playfully spanked him on the arm:

"Not that kind of thing. I'm being serious here. I'm learning how to face my internal struggles."

"I'm also being serious; you had that power all along. You were always a strong, fierce woman; you just needed to be reminded of it."

"New York has taught me so much. You all here have showed me how I'm capable of things I'd never try for myself."

He wrapped his arms around her waist:

"I always bet on you. Everybody gave me hell for casting a freshman in my play, but I always knew you to be my lucky charm."

"Oh, Brody, in the end they were right. The production was a disaster and much of it was because of me."

His face turned serious, weighting in what she said.

"I wouldn't call all of it a disaster. We were amazing during rehearsals! You were in a dark place, sure; but give it a couple more weeks for you to recover and we'd enter NYADA's history."

She laughed:

"I love your optimism. In a way you are right, I was in a dark place that I'm not anymore. Lots of it is due to having fainted on that stage. Next to Normal brought me that. I'm being true to myself now and my shrink says it's a crucial part of the process."

"All joking aside, I'd love to see you on that stage nowadays. You'd kill it! However, not hiding behind Nathalie. You should play Diana and show all of your true colors."

"I bet I could at least go on that stage now. It would be nice to have some concrete result to show for this long on therapy."

A smile begun to light up his face:

"Let's do it then! An impromptu performance of Next to Normal."

She pecked his lips:

"And then you'd be able to graduate and I wouldn't feel so bad about it."

He held her by the shoulders and gazed deeply into her eyes:

"I'm not kidding. We could totally do it. The school year hasn't finished yet and I could rent one of the auditoriums. We could rehearse it in a week."

"Brody, calm down. One week?"

"It's ready! We just need to remember a thing or two. I bet Mrs. Tibideaux would let me graduate if I had it to show."

Her mouth hanged agape:

"It would be wonderful, but Maggie and Ted would be out of town."

"That's where Rachel and Finn enter. They are pros; they can get it in one week."

"Sure Brody, but..."

"No, no; no buts. Just dive right in. Say yes."

"From me? Yes, of course. But..."

"Then there's no but. It would be a perfect way to make amends with Rachel and Finn. If they agree to help me it would mean we've put it all aside."

She pursed her lips:

"By 'all' you mean?"

He smirked and took her hands in his again:

"I mean the four of us."

"Oh."

She looked down and he lifted her chin up to meet her gaze:

"Lou, it's okay. I made my decision a while ago. I saw the true you and I chose you over Rachel. But our agreement has always been about having feelings for other persons, so..."

"I love you."

"You've never said that before."

Louisa smirked and lightly touched his face:

"I know; it doesn't make it any less true."

"If I say it now it will seem like I'm only responding."

She giggled while cupping his other cheek:

"I beat you to it?"

He smiled:

"I doesn't feel bad having you win that one."

He leaned into the kiss she was happy to give him. His hand went instinctively to her hair while she grabbed the back of his neck. After a couple of minutes, he broke in smiling. She smiled back:

"Don't you have anything to say to me?"

"Let's go to bed."

"Brody!"

"I mean it. I have a long day tomorrow, I have to see Mrs. Tibideaux, I have to call..."

"Fine; let me just go take my medicine."

Brody watched her body as she dancingly made her way to the kitchen. He shouted to her midway:

"And by the way, I love you too, Louisa."