A/N: Well the end of this story is near. And some maybe happy with the ending, and some may not. I think many of us can relate to Rachel in this story in some sense. I have often found myself trying to decide to stay & fight or to wake up and realize no matter.how much I love the person, is it worth keep getting my heartbroken. I love Blainchel, Samchel and Smytheberry in this story, hard to choose. Anyways, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Glee, characters or song lyrics.

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A week passes and it is time for opening night of West Side Story. Rachel was in her dressing room, and there is a knock on the door.

Rachel: Come in.

Sam: Hi Rachel..

Rachel: Sam, hi, what are you doing here?

Sam: Well, I've come to give you these flowers *hands her roses* and wish you luck tonight. You look beautiful.

Sam: You look amazing.

Rachel: Thank you so much. I am so nervous.

Sam: I can imagine. Listen, now may not be the bed time for this but I need to be honest.

Rachel: I don't know if I like where this is going.

Sam: I like you, alot, but I know your heart isn't 100 percent with me because you're still into Blaine. He's my best friend, but he doesn't deserve you. You have a big heart and I cant stand that he is still stringing you along expecting you to be there. I want to give us a try, but I don't want to be hurt lil I had been with Quinn, stuck in between she & Finn. You know exactly what I mean.

Rachel: *sighed* I do know how you feel, and don't think I haven't thought of that too.

Sam: Plus you will be off to New York soon. Who knows maybe we wind up together, or maybe we don't. Perhaps Blaine is you soul mate or you haven't yet met him. I want you to be happy and be with someone who can be 100 percent yours and you can give ALL of your heart too.

Rachel: I do care for you, Sam.

Sam: But, can you honestly give me 100 percent?

Rachel: I understand.

Sam: Hey, you still have me in your life regardless. Don't rule us out. We're just not right now.

Rachel: Sam, you are amazing.

Sam: So are you Rachel Berry..

Rachel stands on tiptoes and kisses him.

Rachel: Thank you Sam.

Sam: I'd better go to take my seat. Good luck, leading lady.

Rachel smiled, and didn't start crying until Sam left. It hurt, by in the end it was something she had been thinking about since the day she walked out of Blaine's house, just tired of waiting. She loves Blaine so much, but he's never been completely hers. His heart was divided, and she needs a man who completely and fully wants her for JUST HER. Sometimes Friends with Benefits or star crossed lovers just doesn't work. He can't give her exactly what she needs. She has to learn to be strong and do what's right for Her, Rachel Barbra Berry. Let's be honest, if they were meant to be, then he would already be there. Rachel knows what she needs to do. She just hopes he won't hate her.

Artie stopped by her dressing room. The rest of the cast was already onstage performing. She was waiting for her cue. "5 minutes, Rachel."

Rachel: On my way...

Blaine knocked on the door. "Hey Maria, are you ready?"

Rachel: I'm ready, Tony.

Rachel and Blaine walked to side stage to watch the play..she looked out to the crowd and spotted Sam sitting with some of the Glee members, and Sebastian was there with the Warblers. The play moved along and the audience really seemed into it. Soon it was time for the duet "One Hand, One Heart."

 "One Hand, One Heart"

(Blaine/Tony)
Make of our hands, one hand
 Make of our hearts, one heart
 Make of our vows, one last vow
 Only death will part us now

(Blaine/Tony)

 Make of our lives, one life
 Day after day, one life
 Now it begins, now we start
 One hand, one heart
 Even death won't part us now

 Make of our hands, one hand
 Make of our hearts, one heart

(Blaine/Rachel)
 Make of our vows, one last vow
 Only death will part us now

(Blaine)

 Now it begins, now we start

(Both)
 One hand, one heart
 Even death won't part us now

Blaine was lost in Rachel's eyes, and Rachel felt sparks too when hands touched. Which only made what she needed to do harder.

The play continued, and soon they were bowing to the crowd.

Blaine grabbed Rachel's hand and takes her to the dressing room, and locks the door.

Blaine kisses Rachel, but she pulls away.

Blaine: What's wrong? I am planning to tell Kurt about us.

Rachel: Maybe you don't need to.

Blaine: I need to, plus so we can be together.

Rachel: Blaine, you know how much I love you but, if you TRULY wanted me and loved me you would've been mine long ago. You would've already left Kurt, but you're still with him. I need someone who is fully committed to me.

Blaine: I'm willing to try.

Rachel: I've been patient and I've tried to wait, but is it fair to me? Or Kurt to only have half of your heart? Sam actually said exactly that to me tonight. I wasn't fully committed because YOU had my heart.

Blaine: I love you, Rachel.

Rachel: I love you too, but right now is not our time. Perhaps later, but right now I need to be true to myself and put Rachel first. And then once in ready perhaps if you're still wanting me, we can try. Because when I love someone, I love fully and I need a man who will do the same for me. Please don't hate me?I have no regrets excel right now I can't be with you.

Blaine: I could never hate you. And maybe you're right. And I respect it, but I'll never stop fighting until we are together.

Rachel: You need to sort out your heart and decide what it is Blaine Devon Anderson wants and needs, and Not what I want or what Kurt tells you what you want or need or how to feel because only you know the answer to that.

"Roots Before Branches"

 [Rachel:]
 So many things
 To do and say
 But I can't seem
 To find my way
 But I wanna know how
 I know
 I'm meant
 For something else
 But first
 I gotta find myself
 But I don't know how

[Rachel with Blaine harmonizing:]
 Oh, why do
 I reach for the stars
 When I don't have wings
 To carry me that far?

[Rachel with Blaine:]
 I gotta have
 Roots before branches
 To know who I am
 Before I know
 Who I wanna be
 And faith
 To take chances
 To live like I see
 A place in this world
 For me

[Rachel (Blaine):]
 Sometimes
 I don't wanna feel
 (Sometimes
 I don't wanna feel)

 And forget the pain
 Is real
 (And forget the pain
 Is real)

 Put my head
 In the clouds

 Oh, start to run
 And then I fall
 (start to run
 And then I fall)

 Thinkin'
 I can't get it all
 Without my feet
 On the ground
 (Seein'
 I can't get it all
 Without my feet
 On the ground)

[Rachel:]
 There's always a seed
 Before there's a rose
 The more that it rains
 The more I will grow

[Rachel with Blaine:]
 I gotta have
 Roots before branches
 To know who I am
 Before I know
 Who I wanna be
 And faith
 To take chances
 To live like I see
 A place in this world
 For me

[Rachel:]
 Whatever comes
 I know how to take it
 Learn to be strong
 I won't have to fake it
 Oh, you're understandin'
 The wind can come
 And do its best
 Blow me north, and south,
 East and west
 But I'll still
 Be standing
 I'll be standing

[Rachel & Blaine with New Directions:]
 If I have
 Roots before branches
 To know who I am (To know who I am)
 Before I know
 Who I'm gonna be
 And faith
 To take chances
 To live like I see
 A place in this world

 I gotta have
 Roots before branches
 To know who I am
 Before I know
 Who I wanna be
 And faith

[New Directions:]
 To take chances
 And live like I see
 A place in this world
 For me

[Rachel:]
 I gotta have
 Roots before branches  

Blaine: Damn, Rachel, why hadn't I met you first?

Rachel: Well, if it hadn't been for Kurt there wouldn't be an us or have met period.

Blaine: Friends?

Rachel: My best friend in the world. MY TONY.

Blaine: MY MARIA. May I have one last Berry kiss?

Rachel: I thought you would never ask. *leans in to fully kiss him, even though both hearts breaking, but both knew this was right choice, for now.

Blaine: Well, I guess I'll go find Kurt. Maybe see you at the cast party?

Rachel: Save me a dance?

Blaine: Always.

Soon, Blaine left, wiping tears away. Rachel cried as well. Her heart hurt but is confident she made right choice. She needs someone deserving of her heart.

Soon after she got dressed, another knock on the door.

Rachel: Come in.

?? Well Broadway, if that was what I have to look forward to in New York to a Rachel Berry performance, then I better start saving up to watch you take Broadway by storm.

Rachel smiled. "Hello Sebastian."

Sebastian: So what's the Verdict? Team Samchel or Team Blainchel?

Rachel: Team Rachel. And I am okay with that.

Sebastian: Are you sure? Not even team Smytheberry?

Rachel: Who knows? Right now I need to concentrate on me and love myself before I can fully let someone into my life.

Sebastian: Keep me in mind?

Rachel: I think I can do that. Or perhaps for now, we learn to be friends first.

Sebastian: Friends? Wow a new concept. Well, Miss Berry, will you be my first real friend? And let me escort you to the cast party?

Rachel kissed his cheek. " I'd love to."

Rachel and Sebastian headed to the party, and for the first time in months, Rachel felt happy. Team Rachel all the way.

A/N: I hope you don't hate me for the ending. I'm including a short epilogue after this chapter. I wanted to end on a positive note. Even thought Blainchel didn't end up together, both were happy that they still had their friendship. Rachel was committed to finding and loving herself again. Leaving her heart open to all possibilities. It could be Samchel, could be Blainchel or even Smytheberry who knows.Rachel needs a man who will put her first and deserving of her. Please don't hate Blaine either. I love Blaine very much. He needs also to figure out what he wants and not what someone tells him to feel. Hope that makes sense.