Author's Note: I decided to start this prompt series after Finn died. I'm going to pretend season 5 and 6 never happened, at least until I get to season 6 couples, which will happen, I promise! Don't forget to leave a review and let me know what you think!


It should always rain at a funeral.

Rachel glanced at the sunny sky and narrowed her eyes. How could a day be this beautiful when the boy she loved lay cold and dead beneath her? She ignored the spasm of heartache and kept her legs crossed as she sat on the artificial turf of the Lima Cemetery.

Rachel insisted she would meet her fathers at the Hudson-Hummel's for the reception, but that was an hour ago. She hoped they weren't too worried about her. Then again, all they seemed to do was fight lately. Since she returned for Finn's funeral, she wondered if they even noticed she was there.

The Broadway-star-to-be stared at Finn's name carved into the tombstone. She knew she should cry, but she felt she had nothing left inside. Her pillows were soaked, as was her parents' car, the glee club stage, the airport floor, her shower . . .

"Rach."

She blinked. Noah Puckerman appeared behind her, hands shoved deep in his pants pocket. She stared up at her old friend and didn't know what to say. What do you do when you're sitting on your ex-boyfriend's grave with your ex-almost-boyfriend, who also was your ex's best friend, staring back at you?

Noah came beside her, his unruly mohawk hanging awkwardly on his head. She wished he would cut it, but suspected now was not the time to chastise his hair choices.

"Your dads asked me to come check on you," he said as he sat down beside her. "Guess they thought I could use some air."

From the way he tugged on his tie, she guessed her parents were right.

Rachel, still tongue tied, just nodded. She didn't feel like getting up and it didn't seem Noah did either. They sat together on Finn's grave, not saying a word as the wind tugged at their hair.

"It's not fair."

Her raw voice surprised her. Then again, she hadn't spoke, or sang much, in days.

"It's not fair that he's dead while there are bad people out there doing horrible things," she continued. She traced Finn's name with her eyes and took a shaky breath.

"Why didn't he tell me, Noah? Why didn't he say anything about the drugs?" She shook her head. "I don't understand."

Noah shrugged. "Maybe he didn't want you to think any less of him," he tried.

"He should have said something! If he loved me-" her voice cracked, and she swallowed thickly.

"He loved you, Rach," Noah said quietly, taking her hand in his. "He wouldn't shut up about you when we shared the dorm. He had a big heart."

She noticed how shaky Noah's voice was and squeezed his hand, hard.

And now that big heart is in the ground.

Rachel dug into her black dress pocket and pulled out Finn's last gift to her – a gold locket with a hole for the key. She wondered where that key was now. She clutched it in her sweaty fingers.

"I wish I could go back," she whispered. "I wish I could change it." She squeezed her eyes shut as she started to cry. She felt Noah's arms wrap around her, bringing her close to his chest. She remembered how alive she used to feel in Noah's embrace. The little thrill was squashed by her grief, and she clung to his suit jack, anchoring herself to the young man.

In the midst of her sadness, she felt teas fall on her face from above. For one brief, terrifying moment, she thought it was Finn, mourning from heaven. But then she felt Noah, very much alive, trembling as his tears mixed with hers.

Rachel was shocked at his own sadness, but she remembered his mother saying he hadn't cried at all, even when he heard the news. She held him tighter, running her fingers through his lack of hair, and felt a sense of understanding pass between them as they expelled their grief.

She wasn't sure how much time had passed before their tears stopped. Rachel laughed quietly when she saw the stains she left on his white shirt. Noah smirked, wiping his nose with the back of his hand. He took her handkerchief with confused gratitude and handed the snotty mess back to her soon after.

"You can keep it," she insisted.

Exhaustion crept up on Rachel. She leaned against Noah's shoulder for support.

"I don't want to go to the reception."

"Where do you wanna go?"

"Home. I have apple pie and four tubs of Ben and Jerry's."

"Do you have movies that aren't musicals or chick flicks?"

"My dads have quite the collection. I'm sure we could find something to pique your interest."

Noah got up first and took Rachel's hands in his, pulling her up off the ground. He offered her his arm which she took and the two left the graveyard, feeling Finn's gaze on their backside.