I'll Stand By You (Finn Hudson x OC)

TWENTY TWO

Season 1, Episode 22:  Journey to Regionals

Ownership of Glee:  FOX, Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan, Brad Falchuk

/ / /

The New Directions are gathered at Will's apartment for the first Regionals set list nomination party. Everyone was quiet, especially now knowing that Sue was a judge for Regionals.

"All right, well, uh, let's get started. Thank you for coming to the first annual New Directions' Regionals' set list nominations party." Will says, trying to

Artie sighs. "What's the point, Mr. Shue? Coach Sylvester's one of the judges. She's gonna crush us."

Will shakes his head. "Artie, you don't know that."

Santana nods. "Yes, we do."

"She told us at Cheerios practice." Angie says sadly.

Brittany nods. "Yeah, she said, 'I'm going to crush Glee Club.'"

Puck sighs. "A whole freaking year. All that hard work for nothing."

Tina starts to cry. "I'm sorry. I just really love you guys. You know how many Facebook friends I had before I joined Glee Club? Two. My parents. Rachel was right. Being a part of something special – it made me special. I just can't believe it's going to be over in a week."

Finn looks confused. "Wait. Who says it's going to be over?"

Mercedes scoffs. "Please. You think Puck and Santana are going to even acknowledge my existence once we're not in Glee Club together anymore?"

Puck nods. "She has a point."

"Do you honestly think we'll see each other more once Glee Club ends, Finn? We won't. We'll all drift away from each other." Angie says sadly.

Rachel raises her hand. "Mr. Schuester? Do you think instead of nominating songs, we can just... all go around the room and talk about things that we loved about Glee Club this year?"

No one was looking forward to Regionals now.

/ / /

The next day, the glee club assembled together in the choir room.

"Mr. Schuester, Finn and I have something we want to say to you." Rachel says.

Will sighs. "Me first. Have a seat. Nine months ago, there were six of you in here. And we sucked. I mean, we really sucked. Bad. One day, all of you are going to be gone. And all of this, all of us will be nothing but a hazy memory. It will take you a second to remember everyone's name. Someone will have to remind you of the songs we sung, the solos you got or didn't get. Life only really has one beginning and one end, and the rest is just a whole lot of middle. And I love you guys too much to let you not make the most of it. Now, I was going to quit once, but you guys brought me back with "Don't Stop Believing." It was a nine, but we are going to make it a ten." He says.

Rachel looks hopeful. "We're doing "Don't Stop" at Regionals?"

Will smiles. "And then some. We are doing a Journey medley. Because who cares what happens when we get there when the getting there has been so much fun? Rachel? You had something you wanted to say?"

Rachel smiles. "Just that we're all really glad you didn't become an accountant."

Will chuckles. "Regionals, here we come!"

The New Directions cheer.

Maybe, just maybe, they had a shot.

/ / /