A/N

I've been toying with this idea for some time now – since the Season Three finale – and am finally going through with the process. The story will stay partly in cannon with the show, with my own ingenuity tossed in for good measure. The story will mainly consist of letters between Finn and Rachel, with occasional 'story chapters' (like this one here) put in. I'm planning on auditioning betas for the story, so if you think you would be interested in helping with the story, please feel free to let me know. Right now I'm looking for someone who can help the story maintain a 'Glee' feel. The show isn't easy to write for (at least not for me). I love the show to pieces, but often find it intimidating because it is so diverse. I also find myself frustrated with the show – which is why I am rewriting certain story lines (ex. Finn's time with the Army – he will be there for a very long time lol). I've never done a Glee multi-chapter fic before, so this is going to be a new adventure for me.

Sorry if the Author's Note is so long – I promise it won't be this long for every chapter.

On one final note – I don't own Glee, Ryan Murphy does. If I owned Glee it would look different from the way it does now. lol

Rachel Berry held her hands in her lap, her body shivering within the confines of Finn's vehicle. After three long years of an on again-off again-on again romance the two were parting ways once more, this time going to opposite parts of the country, to go on different courses.
She was going to New York to become a star at one of the finest performing art schools in the nation – New York Academy of Dramatic Arts. He was going to Fort Benning, Georgia to join the Army and attempt to clear his father's name, while finding himself in the process. What started off as an unlikely friendship became an even more unlikely and historical romance at McKinley High School, where the average girl finally got the high school footballer.

Finn held Rachel's body against his for warmth. He didn't want to end things between them, but he loved her too much to let her sacrifice her dreams for him. He knew that keeping her from NYADA – even if it was only for a year – would lead to resentment down the road, a permanent erosion of their love, and Finn couldn't have that. Knowing that Rachel wouldn't end things, Finn stepped up and made the difficult call, asking Rachel to surrender with him. If they were truly meant to be then they would find a way to be together again, after their dreams were accomplished – when they were both ready to commit once more.

"Oh Finn," Rachel murmured touching the side of his face. She wanted to memorize every single part of him, not knowing when or if she would see him again. "I love you more than NYADA – more than anything."

"Then we'll have no trouble picking things up again – because I feel the same way about you," Finn promised her, kissing her hair.

Rachel pulled away slightly. "This doesn't have to be the end – we could call it a new beginning. And when we see each other again, we'll have wonderful stories to tell."

Finn nodded his head, wanting everything that she said to be true.

Rachel offered Finn a sad smile, a new idea popping into her head. "Let's write to one another whenever we get a chance."

"Real letters?" Finn asked.

Rachel nodded her head. "We can collect our correspondence and look at them when we find ourselves missing each other. This way we can keep in touch no matter what." Rachel folded her hands. "A phone call is gone after you finish it, you only have a small memory of the words spoken, but a letter – a letter is forever." Rachel reached for Finn's arm. "Just like us."

"Just like us," Finn agreed with a smile. Though the idea of writing wasn't as appealing to him as it was to Rachel, he didn't have the heart to deny her request, and it would be nice to have something to read whenever he thought of her.

"My dads will send my dorm address to Burt and Carol – and they can forward it to you, wherever it is that you're stationed."

Finn nodded his head. "We'll see each other before you know it."

"Thanksgiving seems like years away," Rachel said softly, her eyes beginning to well up again.

"Think of everything wonderful waiting for you at NYADA," Finn assured her, touching his fingers to face, wiping a stray tear.

Rachel still seemed slightly unconvinced. "What if my dreams of stardom aren't worth it? What if I don't make it or decide that I hate it? What if…"

Finn cut her off with a kiss. "No more 'what ifs'," he requested. "I don't want to spend our last moments together wondering about what the future might bring."

Rachel nodded her head, tears continuing to fall. "I promise to love you forever."

Finn took her hands in his. "I promise to love you forever," he echoed.

Finn opened the passenger side for Rachel, helping her with her pink suitcase. They walked hand in hand to the ticket station, where Rachel picked up the one-way train ticket to New York that was waiting for her. "Tell me again that I'm doing the right thing," she whispered to Finn as they walked out of the station. Rachel looked up to see the loud cheers from her fellow glee clubbers. Even Will and Emma were present to wish her well.

"You're doing the right thing," Finn whispered, a small smile forming on his mouth. He was helping Rachel's dreams come true, even if she wasn't ready to admit it yet.

Rachel ran over to hug her comrades that she had sung with for the past three years. Blowing a kiss to Kurt and Blaine, Rachel waved to Santana, Brittany, Sam, Joe, Rory, Mike and Sugar. Rachel smiled at Mercedes, her longtime rival at Glee Club. The two appointed divas often fought for solos and recognition, but today Mercedes was only happy for her fellow diva and friend.

"You're going to be amazing," Mercedes whispered, pulling Rachel into a hug.

"So are you," Rachel added, referring to Mercedes new career in California, where she was going to pursue a career as a singer.

Rachel greeted Quinn next, another enemy turned true friend. "You helped me to become a better person," Quinn said, hiding tears. "I don't know how to thank-you for that."

"Stay in touch," Rachel requested. "We just started being friends, we can't stop now."

Quinn agreed with a small wave.

Rachel turned to Tina next. Next to Finn and Kurt, Tina had been the one to make NYADA happen for Rachel, going so far as to track down Dean Carmen Tibideaux after a disastrous audition that kept Rachel from getting into the school. Tina showed Rachel that persistence prevailed for both of them – Rachel was going school, and Tina was poised to be Glee's newest lead diva.

"Take care of New Directions," Rachel whispered, knowing that Tina was the person best suited for the position of lead soloist. "You have earned this."

Tina tearfully nodded her head, promising to keep Rachel up to date on all Glee Club happenings.

Rachel looked at Will and Emma, the two teachers at McKinley High who devoted a majority of their free time to New Directions success. Through Glee Club Will and Emma found love, and the kids all found a voice. Rachel hugged her mentors, trying to keep her tears at bay.

Finn touched the small of Rachel's back. It was time for her to board the train. Rachel gave one last wave to the members of New Directions and walked with Finn to the train entrance. Finn pulled Rachel into an embrace, kissing her one last time; a kiss to be remembered, to keep them until their next meeting. A final 'I love you' was spoken as Rachel stepped onto the train, giving her ticket to the conductor and finding her seat.

Rachel looked at Finn out the window, unable to take her eyes off him. She wondered if he would look different after basic training; if he would still feel the same way about her. Rachel wiped a stream of tears from her eyes. If Finn loved her enough to let her go, he had to love her enough to wait for her.

As the train began to move, Finn raced along the tracks, his gaze never leaving Rachel's. This would be the last time he saw her for several months, and he wanted to cherish the memory for as long as he could.

For now Finn and Rachel would have their letters to bind them together, until the time came when they could pick up where they left off.

.