A/N: just a little drabble based on the belief Rachel will be going on a cruise with her dads for Christmas. Lyrics are from "Have You Seen the Stars Tonight?", by Paul Kantner. I own neither Glee nor its characters.
All that remained of the sun was a faint, reddish smudge on the endless horizon; the Caribbean was gorgeous gunmetal blue, the soft dark sky already peppered with stars. Venus hung above the departed sun like a soft yellow lamp, reminding her of the Star of Bethlehem. Appropriate, she thought, given that it was Christmas Eve.
Standing at the taffrail of the cruise ship, Rachel used an astronomy app on her phone to find a different star. His star. She felt that familiar shiver when she found him, suspended in the heavens, above her head.
Her dads texted her about getting dressed for dinner, and she replied she'd be there soon. She slid into a chaise lounge and let his light fall into her heart. Yes, she knew they were broken up, and yes, they agreed, after speaking in Lima, not to exchange gifts this year, but Christmas meant so much to him, Rachel couldn't let it go by unacknowledged. Had she not stayed away from Lima for the holidays, for both their sakes? She had agreed to this cruise to show him that she was serious about giving each of them a chance to heal, regardless of any chance of a reunion.
So there was no way she was going to let a Christmas go by without letting Finn know that she was thinking about him. So she pulled up his number, and pushed the button. It came as no surprise to her when it rolled to his voicemail.
"Hi Finn," she said softly into the phone, staring upward, "It's Christmas Eve and I'm looking at your star from the cruise ship. I know we aren't together anymore, but you told me I could look at your star whenever I felt lonely. And I feel lonely, Finn, because I know Christmas is your favorite holiday, and I just never imagined having to spend another one apart from you, after that awful one two years ago. So I hope you aren't angry if I give you a little present anyway. It's not a Christmas song, but seeing you among the stars made me think of it."
She started singing in a soft, wondrous voice:
Have You Seen The Stars Tonight?
Would you like to go up on A-deck and look at them with me?
Have You Seen The Stars Tonight?
Would you like to go up for a stroll and keep me company?
She never felt his absence more than at that moment, and she almost couldn't finish.
Do you know
We could go?
We are free
Anyplace you can think of
We could be
And she knew, deep in her heart, where she wished they could be right now. She finished the tiny jewel of a song with:
Have you seen the stars tonight?
Have you looked at all the family of stars?
"Merry Christmas, Finn," she said, disconnecting.. And as she walked back to the cabin, she murmured, "I love you."
Hours later, as she slept upon the gentle sea, her phone softly buzzed with an incoming text:
*Merry Christmas, Rachel. I love you, too*