Season 1, Episode 22: Journey to Regionals

Special Guest Stars:
Olivia Newton-John
Josh Groban
Idina Menzel as Shelby Corcoran

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." Violet 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." Violet 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.

= = =

Aural Intensity is currently singing onstage at Regionals. They're doing a mash-up of Olivia Newton-John and Josh Groban.

Puck sighs. "A mash up of Olivia Newton-John and Josh Groban. Are you kidding me?! Somebody tipped them off about the judges." He says.

Rachel sighs. "Guys, we can't get distracted by what the other teams are doing."

Finn nods. "We just got to keep our heads in the game and focus."

"Even though we know we can't win?" Santana asks.

Will pops in. "Yes. If this is only about winning for you guys, then I owe you all an apology, because I've failed you. And we should just all go home, because it means we've already lost. Besides, we have got something that the other groups don't." He says.

Artie looks curious. "What?"

Will smiles. "Finn's dancing." He says, eliciting giggles and laughs from the kids. "Right? Come on. Now let's get out there. We got two minutes. Aural Intensity's almost finished. Bring it in. Come on. Come on. Let's go, go, go, go, go and..."

New Directions gets into their show choir circle, putting their hands in. "Whoa!"

= = =

While waiting backstage, Violet looks at Kurt. "Hey. You look very handsome." She says.

Kurt smiles. "Thank you. And you look gorgeous. Just like a movie star." He praises.

Violet blushes with a smile. He goes to walk away, but she grabs his wrist. "There's something I want to say to you." She says.

Kurt nods. "Whatever it is, you can tell me." He encourages.

Violet smiles widely. "I love you."

Kurt's heart is beating fast as he gives her a smile.

"I love you too."

= = =

Rachel and Finn begin to perform 'Faithfully.' The curtain pulls back to reveal the New Directions providing backing vocals.

The song ends, and they begin to perform "Any Way You Want It /Loving ' Touching ' Squeezin'."

To top it all off, New Directions perform "Don't Stop Believing." The crowd goes wild.

[Journey Medley by New Directions]

= = =

After their performance, New Directions heads into the green room.

"That was awesome!" Finn says.

Brittany nods. "Oh, my God!"

Tina smiles. "We've got second place in the bag."

Rachel giggles. "Screw that. We are going to win this!"

Judy Fabray is standing by the doorway, looking for her daughter. "Quinnie?"

Quinn stops walking and looks towards her mom. "Mom. What are you doing here? Is Dad okay...?"

Judy sees Violet standing next to Quinn. "Can-Can we talk... privately?"

Quinn grabs Violet's hand. "Violet can stay."

Judy nods. "I came to hear you sing. You were wonderful. I'm-I'm so sorry I missed all the other times you performed. Were there a lot? I left your father. Well, I-I... kicked m out, actually. He was having an affair with some, uh... tattooed freak. Quinnie, I want you to come home with me. I can turn the guest room into a nursery." She says. Quinn is unresponsive. "Oh, sweetie, say something." Judy says.

Quinn looks at her mother. "My water just broke."

Violet detaches her hand from Quinn's and runs into the green room. "Puckerman! Get your ass up now!"

Puck looks over at her. "What's with the shouting Violet?" He asks.

"It's Quinn. Her water just broke; she's going into labor."

= = =

Vocal Adrenaline performs "Bohemian Rhapsody" at Regionals.

[Bohemian Rhapsody by Vocal Adrenaline]

New Directions, minus Rachel, are sitting in the hospital waiting room. Puck and Mercedes had gone with Quinn and Judy to help Quinn give birth.

All they could do was sit and wait.

= = =

After leaving Quinn, Beth and Judy at the hospital, the New Directions went back to Regionals for the announcing of the winners.

Sue took the microphone. "Thank you all for coming. As you all know, glee club is such an important... And I honestly can't even finish that sentence. So let's just get to it. The 2010 Midwest Regional Runners-up from Fort Wayne, Indiana, the not-at-all stupidly-named Aural Intensity!"

The crowd cheers. Violet squeezes Kurt's hand. That means they either placed first or last.

Sue nods. "Very good. And now, your 2010 Midwest Regional Show Choir Champions. Vocal Adrenaline!" She announces.

The crowd goes wild for Vocal Adrenaline. The New Directions look down, feeling hurt and sad.

"We didn't even place." Artie says softly.

Violet lets a few tears fall.

Glee Club is over.

= = =

Rachel and the New Directions father in the auditorium, sitting on stools. Will is in the audience. "So we have something we need to say to you." Rachel says.

"In the beginning of this year, I was just another football player." Matt says.

Tina goes next. "I had a stutter."

"I was a closeted diva." Mercedes says.

Quinn goes afterwards. "I used to be captain of the Cheerios."

"I was afraid to dance outside my room." Mike admits.

"I hated everyone in this club." Santana reveals.

Brittany nods. "So did I."

Kurt inhales shakily. "I wasn't honest about who I was."

Puck is next. "I was tossing kids into Dumpsters."

Violet goes after Puck. "I hadn't felt like I was loved or wanted."

"I had never kissed a girl before." Artie says.

Rachel is next. "And I was getting slusheed."

Finn is last. "I didn't - I didn't have a father. Someone I could look up to. Model myself after. Someone who could show me what it really meant to be a man."

Rachel smiles sadly. "We don't care what the judges say. We won. Because we had you as a teacher."

Mercedes nods. "And Glee Club will never end, Mr. Shue, because... you are Glee Club. And you're in all of us now."

New Directions performs 'To Sir With Love' for their teacher, each member looking either sad or crying.

[To Sir, With Love by New Directions]

= = =

Will gathers the New Directions in the choir room the next day for what they think is their final glee club meeting.

Will smiles. "We've got another year." He announces.

All of the kids look confused. "What?"

Will smiles more. "Come on, we got another year!"

Finn is shocked. "What?!"

Rachel smiles. "Oh, my God! Are you serious?!"

New Directions cheer. They got themselves another year together!

Kurt and Violet hug with Quinn before letting go of the blonde. Kurt dips Violet and brings her in for a kiss. She returns it.

Will smiles at their enthusiasm. "Whoa!"

Rachel stands at the center of the room. "Okay, you guys, I think this is the perfect opportunity for us to start rehearsing for next year's Sectionals immediately..."

Will smiles and pats her shoulder. "Guys, you've all worked really hard this year, and you deserve a break."

Rachel frowns. "But I have ideas."

Will smiles more. "Take the summer off. Have some fun. Oh, but before you go, I have something for you. You all sang for me the other day, so today I'd like to return the favor. Puck, if you're ready."

Puck and Will perform "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" in the choir room.

[Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Puck and Will]

After they leave the choir room, Kurt and Violet smile as they hold hands. "We've had quite a year." Kurt says.

Violet nods. "We have. But I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world."

Kurt looks confused. "Why?"

Violet smiles.

"The only thing that kept me going this year... was you."

= = =

1784 words

Songs Mentioned/Performed
1. Faithfully - Finn and Rachel
2. Any Way You Want It/Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' - New Directions
3. Don't Stop Believing - New Directions
4. Bohemian Rhapsody - Vocal Adrenaline
5. To Sir, With Love - New Directions
6. Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Puck and Will

WE MADE IT TO THE END OF SEASON 1! I'm so happy!

I'll be updating season 2 this week. I'll also introduce the season 2 cast, and a small bio for my second OC.