A Tempo

a tem·po (ä tĕmˈpō)

adverb & adj.
Music

In the tempo originally designated; resuming the initial tempo of a section or movement after a specified deviation from it. Used chiefly as a direction.

Origin: Italian : a, in + tempo, time.

Prologue

June 2020

Taking a sip of her wine, Rachel pushed rewind and stared at her television in dull shock. Earlier it had been an herbal tea that she had spewed out into her living room when she first saw the clip, now she had since moved on to an aged Merlot from David's off-limits wine cabinet. Surely he'd understand that it was the first bottle she had grabbed in her surprise upon seeing Finn Hudson, Finn Hudson of all people!, smiling that crooked smile of his back at her from the screen.

Rachel was not one to sit around at home and watch TV during the day; usually she was out managing charity events or following the strict social schedule laid out for her by her overbearing mother-in-law, but today was a special occasion. She had read a short article in the entertainment section of the Times that her former high school glee club had won the National Show Choir Championship for the third time in eight years and would be featured on that day's episode of Sam in the City.

Sam in the City was New York's newest daytime talk show; its host, Samantha Sullivan, was earning great reviews and had a positive reputation for supporting the arts in schools, often inviting various clubs and troupes to perform on her show. When Rachel learned that the New Directions, still under the direction of her former teacher, William Schuester, would be featured, she immediately set the show on record and cleared her schedule for the day.

At the time in question, she sent the boys out with their nanny (it wasn't her choice to employ the earnest Swedish woman, but David and his mother had insisted) and waited impatiently through the opening segments and an interview. Finally, after a commercial break, the camera zoomed to Samantha Sullivan's smiling face.

"Now, as you all know, I recently had the privilege to be one of the celebrity judges at this year's National Show Choir Championship," she began. "I can't tell you how exciting the experience was for me. The kids I saw performing were absolutely amazing, they just are epitome of fun and talent."

She paused as the studio audience clapped. "Now today, through a very fortunate coincidence, we are lucky enough to have this year's champions perform for us!" She stood and the camera zoomed out to reveal a group of students already in their places. "Ladies and gentleman, hailing from Lima, Ohio, McKinley High School's NEW DIRECTIONS!"

Rachel smiled as the music started and they began their set. As she expected, the costumes and dancing were much more polished, but the heart that was the New Directions was still there, still beating strong and proud as it had been when she had stood on stage all those years ago. They did a short set, starting with "Pocket Full of Sunshine", a mash-up of a couple of current pop songs, and finally, the token song of the New Directions since day one, Journey's "Don't Stop Believing".

Try as she might, she couldn't stop the tears that flowed down her face as a rush of emotions assaulted her. Bittersweet nostalgia that stung slightly and made her yearn for those carefree days of high school, made her think of people not-so-long forgotten.

When the club was done performing, they took seats arranged next to Samantha's desk, Mr. Schuester himself seated with them. For the most part, he remained unchanged, maybe a few more laugh lines around the eyes and a little gray at the temples, but that was it.

"What a great group you've got here, Will!" Samantha gushed.

Mr. Schue smiled over at his students. "Every year, I'm surprised by how lucky I am to work with such awesome kids."

The interview continued on for a few minutes, Samantha asking Mr. Schuester and various members of the New Directions questions and exchanging generalities. Towards the end of the interview, Samantha smiled and leaned over her desk. "Now, it's not just luck that got the New Directions here to join us today."

"I can honestly say I was extremely surprised when I got the call," Mr. Schue laughed.

Samantha joined in and shook her head, her brown curls bouncing around her face. "As it turns out, we have a McKinley High School alumnus working right here in my staff! Hey Stu, do we have the clip?" She looked off-camera and smiled. "We do? Great! Will, do you want to tell us what we're going to be seeing here?"

Mr. Schuester smiled broadly. "If it is what I think it is, it's my original team performing at Nationals in 2012."

"And this was your first Nationals win, correct?"

"That's right."

"Alright, let's roll it!"

Rachel watched in fascination as a short clip of their Nationals performance lit up the screen. There she was, center stage, singing her heart out, when from out of the ranks of the team harmonizing behind her, a tall boy stepped up and joined her. She listened as Finn's voice melded with hers and together they stole the show. She had known the moment they had begun their duet that they had won.

The clip ended and Samantha was back on the screen. "Folks, I want you to know that the boy you just saw singing is Sam in the City's very own associate producer, Finn Hudson!"

Suddenly the camera cut backstage and to her surprise (and his, for that matter) there he was with a headset on and a clipboard in hand. Cue spewed herbal tea.

"Whoa!" he gasped to the audience's hilarity, and attempted to cover his face with his clipboard in embarrassment. "What are you doing, Sam?"

"How does it feel seeing this legacy you've created, Finn?" Samantha asked, ignoring his question.

He smiled his crooked smile and looked awkwardly away from the camera for a moment. Rachel could feel her heart pounding, he hadn't changed at all. Except for the slight stubble on his face, he was exact same old Finn. How was that even possible?

"It, uh, it feels good. Real good."

"And you were the captain, right?"

"Co-captain," he amended, much to Rachel's delight.

"Do you still sing?"

Finn shrugged. "For my dog sometimes," he answered.

Samantha giggled. "Finn Hudson, a man of few words.

This time Finn smiled in earnest. "Only when caught off guard. Next time I'll have a speech prepared."

The camera cut back to a laughing Samantha Sullivan and Mr. Schuester, who concluded their interview and left Rachel in the stupor that she had been in all day. She had barely been able to snap out of it when the boys got home, ready to eat dinner and get ready for bed. She was lucky she had even been able to prepare herself for dinner with David that night; it took her four tries to get her hair into a simple French twist and she had to call Agnetha in to help her button up the back of her little black dress. He was meeting with clients at a new restaurant downtown and had insisted that she look her best.

It was while she waited that she opened the bottle of wine and had rewound and watched that particular segment three more times. She looked down at her watch impatiently, it was almost a quarter past nine; David was supposed to pick her up at eight thirty! She picked up her phone and dialed his number again, but it went straight to voicemail.

With a sigh, she poured herself another glass of wine and nursed it bitterly, staring at Finn's paused face. How long had he been in New York? And why hadn't he looked her up? True, they had broken up nearly ten years ago, but there was no reason why they couldn't be friends now.

It was so strange that he was in New York, though. She had seen Kurt and his partner at an event at the Met a couple of years ago, and he had told her that Finn was living in Chicago with a girlfriend. She had been pregnant with Andrew then. How strange how time flew…

She lifted an eyebrow upon hearing a noise from the hallway. The noise was soon followed by giggles and she rolled her eyes. She snuck over to the door of her sons' bedroom and peeked in. Michael was clambering back into his bed and Andrew was in his, laughing under his blanket at his older brother's antics.

"What are you two up to?" she asked, crossing her arms. They both stilled immediately. Rachel waited, not moving, until Michael turned slowly around and smiled innocently up at her.

"Hi, Mama."

"You're supposed to be asleep," she reminded him, walking over to his bed and straightening his pillow. She stole a glance at her two and half year old in the other bed, who was peering back at her from under his blanket.

"Hi, Andy." He sputtered with laughter and burrowed himself under the covers.

"You look pretty, Mama," Michael said, ever the little charmer.

"Pretty Mommy," Andrew echoed.

"Thank you, baby," she replied graciously. "But it's still time for bed."

"But it's summertime!" he protested.

Rachel gave him a stern look. "And you still have a bedtime, Michael Kutner."

"Moo-ooom."

"Michael," she imitated. She looked over at Andrew. "You want Mommy to sing you a song?"

"Yes!" Andrew chirped, laying back down and smiling up at her.

"I'm too old for lullabies," Michael mumbled, turning his back to her. She smiled; he would be six in a couple of months and she couldn't help wondering where had her baby gone.

"Okay then, I'll sing for Andy." She moved to the end of his bed and softly began.

"Now it's time to say good night
Good night, sleep tight
Now the sun turns out his light
Good night, sleep tight
Dream sweet dreams for me
Dream sweet dreams for you.

"Close your eyes and I'll close mine
Good night, sleep tight
Now the moon begins to shine
Good night, sleep tight
Dream sweet dreams for me
Dream sweet dreams for you…"

She trailed off, stopping after the second verse. They were fast asleep. She took a moment to straighten their blankets and kiss them goodnight before creeping quietly out of the room. She knocked on Agnetha's door and reminded her that she was going out on her way back to the living room where Finn's frozen face was still smiling at her. She sighed and turned off the television, glancing anxiously at her phone. It wasn't like David to be so late.

She was working on her third glass of wine when the shrill trill of the phone snapped her out of her reverie. She frowned when she didn't recognize the number and with a strange sense of foreboding, she pressed the talk button. "Hello?"

"Mrs. David Kutner?" a voice crackled through the line.

"Yes?" she answered warily.

"I'm sorry to disturb you so late, but I'm calling from Lenox Hill Hospital." Rachel felt her heart drop. "Your husband's been in an accident."

"Good Night" originally appeared on the Beatles' 1968 release, The Beatles (The White Album). Song written by and copyrighted to John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

Disclaimer: Glee is the property of Ryan Murphy and FOX. I'm just manipulating it for my own nefarious (and strictly nonprofit) purposes.