Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot to this story and my OCs. The rest all belongs to Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan, Brad Falchuk, the various songwriters, and to the writers of any joke that may not be mine.

0000000000

Song Keys:
Italics: Jack
Italics Underline: Rachel
Bold Italics: Both

0000000000

Rachel scurried into the green room, the sounds of piano leading her to the room. She watched for a bit, reminded of the symmetry of how she and Jack had met their sophomore year. His back was to the door, his fingers running across the 88 keys of a black Steinway, a song of greetings on his lips. This time, he was singing a song of goodbyes.

'You always loved when things come full circle,' she thought as she listened to him finish what he was singing, "…somehow each "hello" makes it worth "goodbye" for now! Goodbye…hmm…goodbye…"

Rachel gave him a respectful applause.

"Lovely choice as always, Herr Harmon," she said.

Jack turned in the stool, the dim lights of the room seemingly amplifying his handsome features.

"And, as always, Fraulein Berry, you have impeccable timing," he said, stretching his back as he stood up. "So, what brings you here? Don't you have to be at the airport in 20 minutes?"

"30 to be more precise," Rachel corrected. "But, I saw you duck out from the party," she explained. "I had figured you would come here. To your inner sanctum."

"Weepy, Michael Landon-like marathons aren't my thing, you know that," Jack commented, gathering his sheet music and placing it in his ever loyal satchel.

"I just wanted to say "goodbye" personally," Rachel blurted out.

"I appreciate that," Jack replied, still not looking at his friend, his only friend.

"What I mean by that is "goodbye for now"," Rachel quickly amended. "We are going to school in the same state, after all. And then we'll see each other on the stage…"

Jack turned and covered her mouth.

"You're rambling," he said, slowly pulling his hand away from her mouth. "Better?"

"Yes, thank you."

"If that is the case," Jack began, "you wouldn't mind joining me in one last song?"

Rachel took a breath. "I would be honored."

Jack popped open his CD case and pulled out a decidedly green and black disk. She knew what was coming.

'Don't cry,' she told herself.

'Man down or there's gonna be a man down,' Jack's always vocal mind told him.

Jack turned on the CD player, the sweet, melodic tune filling the room. He hopped onto the piano and began to sing:

"I'm limited…Just look at me."

Rachel opened her mouth to protest, but Jack cut her off.

"I'm limited! And just look at you, you can do all I couldn't do, Rachel."

Jack smiled proudly.

"So now it's up to you…"

Jack paused.

"For both of us…Now it's up to you…"

Rachel's face firmed up as she started to sing as well:

"I've heard it said, that people come into our lives for a reason, bringing something we must learn."

Jack nodded to Rachel.

"And we are led to those who help us most to grow, if we let them and we help them in return."

Jack shrugged at that old adage.

"Well, I don't know if I believe that's true, but I know I'm who I am today because I knew you."

Both of their voices seemed to lack the confidence and bravado that they had shown over the last 18 years of their life.

Jack stepped down from the piano, pushing the top up to reveal something Rachel had forgotten about. Inside of the piano were their names, carved into shooting star. Rachel almost rested her head on his shoulder, but she quickly pulled away.

"Like a comet pulled from orbit as it passes a sun. Like a stream that meets a boulder halfway through the wood."

She turned away from Jack.

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

Rachel turned back to Jack, his face was twitching, the memories were getting to him too.

"Because I knew you, I have been changed for good."

Rachel kept Jack at arms' length, the tall balladeer sensing her refusal to let them even touch each other.

"It well may be that we will never meet again in this lifetime, so let me say before we part, so much of me is made of what I learned from you…"

Jack reached out to her, grabbing her hand and leading it to his chest.

"You'll be with me like a handprint on my heart."

Releasing his grip on her, Jack moved around the room, biting his lower lip.

"And now, whatever way our stories end, I know you have re-written mine by being my friend."

Rachel moved in closer, he needed her this time. Such an odd shift, but one she had anticipated.

"Like a ship blown from its mooring by a wind off the sea. Like a seed dropped by a sky-bird in a distant wood. Who can say if I've been changed for the better? But because I knew you-"

"Because I knew you-"

Jack turned back to her, pulling her close. She wrapped her arms around him, as they sang together:

"I have been changed for good!

Jack pulled back, wiping his eyes, he took her hand again.

"And just to clear the air, I ask forgiveness for the thing I've done you blame me for."

Rachel chuckled, holding onto Jack's hand.

"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…"

Rachel sang in counterpoint

"Like a ship blown from its mooring…"

"As it passes a sun."

"By a wind off the sea."

"Like a stream that meets a boulder…"

"Like a seed dropped…"

"Halfway through the wood!"

"By a bird in the wood!"

"Who can say if I've been changed for the better? I do believe I have been changed for the better."

"And because I knew you…"

"Because I knew you…"

"Because I knew you-"

Jack kissing her hand before releasing his grip.

"I have been changed for good."

Rachel moved toward the door of the green room, taking one last look at Jack. She only had a few minutes to get to the airport, but there was still time for one last thing.

"I love you," she mouthed.

Jack seemed to read her lips. "I know," he mouthed back. "See you on Broadway."

00000000

A/N: I hope you all enjoyed. I got a little weepy writing it as I listened to "For Good" while doing it.

As always, throw out your thoughts, critiques, reviews, anything you can think of. I'm like a crack addict when it comes to feedback…except for the bad heart and the destroyed nose muscles. So, feed this junkie's addiction.