Everyone sat silently in the clubhouse, Puck and Rayce wouldn't make eye contact with Santana, Quinn or Rachel, they knew the minute they did they would slip up. The glee club had spent the better half of the day searching for Finn, they were all upset when they heard the news that they weren't graduating but he was taking it particularly hard. He and Santana had been fighting non stop since that day and everyone was pretty sure they had broken up but neither would confirm it. Abruptly Santana started to bawl, not cry and eventually work her self up, no straight up, fall to the ground, head between her knees, bawl. No one knew what to do, Kerrianne rushed to her side but was pushed away.
"WHERE IS HE!? I'VE IGNORED THE OBVIOUS ALL DAY PUCKERMAN! WHERE IS FINN?"
Puck's mouth fell open but no words came out, before he had time to recover the clubhouse door swung open and a man in U.S. Navy Seal Service Khaki's with a freshly buzzed crew cut walked in. Everyone's jaws dropped and a bottle broke behind the bar.
"Nooo! No! You fucking promised!" Santana sobbed.
Finn just walked over and wrapped her in his arms whispering, "You and I both know this is for the best. We need a future."
"We have one!" She said pushing him away, waving her arms around her, "we have everything already, friends, family, you have a job! We can get an apartment my dad already said he would co-sign for us!"
"No Santana! I'm not going to be relying on our dads for the rest of our lives! I'm going to make one for us!"
"Quit being a martyr Finn! We won't have depend on our dads the rest of our lives! You have nothing to prove!"
"Santana this was always the plan!" Finn started to get his dander up.
"No! This was always your plan! Not OUR plan and it was your fall back not even your first choice! Because of your 'dad', but Christopher isn't even your father-"
"THAT'S ENOUGH SANTANA!"
Everyone's eyes widened at his tone, he never talked to her that way not even when she backed his truck up into his bike, and he was PISSED then. Santana bolted out of the room and Finn didn't even bother to follow her. Looking over at his father he saw a painful expression, turning his head he saw tears in his brothers eyes as Tiki got up and took off out the door, followed quickly by E.J. Well Fuck! Finn just grabbed his bag and headed upstairs, he needed to pack his plane left at ten tomorrow morning and he had a lot to get ready.
Puck looked to Rayce neither knowing what to do or say but that wasn't an option, before they could blink Rachel and Quinn were on their asses, "WHY DIDN'T YOU ASSHOLES SAY ANYTHING!? WE WASTED OUR WHOLE DAY ON A FUCKING WILD GOOSE CHASE! SANTANA COULD HAVE STOPPED HIM!"
"No Rachel she obviously couldn't! Did you miss that little quarrel?"
"That could have been avoided! All of this could!" Quinn shouted next.
"No, Quinn there was nothing we could do! We didn't eve-"
"Can it Rayce! Your in such deep shit you better just keep you mouth shut before you make it worse!"
The boys just bowed their heads, it was no use trying to explain anything to either of these girls, once they set their mind to something there was no changing it. Neither of them knew exactly what Finn was going to do, all they knew was that he had something 'important' to do. Shit! If they knew what their best friend was going to do they wouldn't have let him go through with it either. Rayce got up followed by Puck and walked out to find Finn. The girls were tempted to go find Santana but they knew it would be futile. She wouldn't let them comfort her, what ever she was going through she prefered to deal with on her own.
"Well," Bobby finally broke the silence, "I guess a going away party is in order."
All the girls were at Gemma's house bustling around the kitchen trying to prepare a family dinner large enough to feed the whole club in less than 2 hours. Even Santana was there with her best poker face on, everyone knew she was dying inside but there was no way she was going to say anything about it. She just sat quietly with E.J making a salad, they had become really close since their boyfriends had found out they were brothers. They were pretty similar too, both moody, sarcastic and full of attitude. The girls barely finished dinner in time to deliver it to the clubhouse and get ready for the 'party'.
Santana took longer than she would have liked in the shower, but the sound of the water covered the sound of her tears pretty well and she got a little carried away, in her opinion. Rushing around the bathroom she blow dried her hair, straightening it, bumping a large portion of it, then pulled it back into a fierce pony tail. She applied her make up quickly, darkening her eyes, with a natural lip, Finn's favorite. Sure she was upset with him but this party was for him and she wasn't going to ruin his last night home. Running to her closet she grabbed a navy and white spaghetti strapped maxi dress E.J had talked her into buying and now she was glad she did. She threw on a pair of red underwear and a matching bra, then flung the dress over her head and stopped briefly to check herself out in the mirror. When she did she was startled by the man who appeared behind her looking at her like she was God's gift to the world. She turned around slowly,
"...do you like it...?"
"I love it! You look beautiful!" Finn walked up behind her and placed a kiss on her neck and wrapping his arms around her waist. "You ready?"
Santana shook her head slowly, she definitely was not ready she wanted to sit in this moment forever, she didn't want him to leave. He smiled softly at her and turned to grab his watch and wallet, she watched him longingly, he looked so handsome. He had on a navy button up untucked, a pair of slightly dark washed jeans and a pair of white Nikes. Turning back to her he reached for her hand.
"Give me on moment," she said turning back to the closet and grabbing a cropped denim jacket and slinging it over her shoulders, and sliding into a pair of tan and navy wedges. "...ready". Grabbing his hand they headed out the door and down the clubhouse stairs. When they got to the bottom, everyone was standing around waiting for them. There was now a banner hung along the back wall that read 'Congratulations Finn'. Everyone smiled at the pair, as they walked in giving everyone hugs. Yea they had just come downstairs but that's just how they were, besides the shock had finally wore off so now everyone wanted to hug and congratulate Finn.
"Way to go SEAMAN Hudson!" Jax laughed wrapping Finn in a half hug.
"It's Munson, Seaman Munson." Finn smiled looking towards his father. Bobby couldn't hide the his pride, he was soo proud of his eldest son.
Jax smiled at him, "Congrats Munson! I'm proud of you, brother." Finn nodded at him and turned to Mike who wrapped him in a hug. Santana stayed by his side, with her arm wrapped around his and a faux grin displayed across her face. Gemma watched silently and when they got to her and Tig, Gemma gave her a nod to let her know she was proud. Santana was handling herself well, just as she was taught.
After the congratulating was over everyone sat down for dinner, and the chattering began. Santana kept quiet smiling the whole time and nodding when appropriate, but inside she was dying. Before she knew it Dawn and Jenelle were passing out desert and it took everything she had to keep from looking at the clock. Finn kept his hand on hers the whole night giving her a supportive squeeze when someone would ask about his departure. When dinner was over, the girls got up quickly refilling the men's drinks and clearing the table. They were all in the kitchen doing dishes when Santana had her first melt down of the night, Bella caught her before she hit the ground and sat her down on a bar stool Fawn ran and grabbed for her. Kerrianne and Bella rubbed her back as she struggled her catch her breath, without letting a tear fall Santana got up and took over for Rachel drying dishes. No one said a thing, just continued with their small talk, then joined the men back at the bar when they were finished. Santana held back for minute before stepping out with the rest of the girls. Knowing their sister well Bella and Kerrianne came back in with three shots of tequila. Santana smiled at them grabbing hers and holding it up.
"Here's to making it through boot camp! We got your back sista!" Bella sang as the three girls giggled and threw back their shots. Walking out the smile plastered back on her face Santana walked back up to Finn at the bar and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Hey you!" He smiled placing a kiss on her hand, "Jake! Tequila Sunrise for the Lady!"
Jake slid the drink down the bar as Santana took a seat next to him. Finn continued his conversation about the upcoming NFL draft with Jake, Matt and Sam, not taking his hand off hers. Santana sat there staring off into oblivion when the bile rose in her throat. She squeezed Finn's hand and excused herself, but the minute he looked into her eyes he knew something was wrong. She got up gracefully and made her way to the bathroom with Finn hot on her tail. Barely making it she dropped to her knees and Finn caught her ponytail,
"What's the matter sweetheart?"
"I don't know, just snuck up on me..."
Finn rubbed her back, he knew the answer. He knew this was killing her and that's what was upsetting her stomach, but it was too late, he can't back out now. When she was done, Finn walked back to their room with Santana and sat with her as she brushed her teeth and reapplied her make up. Turning on her heels she walked back to him, placing her hands on his shoulder and a kiss on his forehead. Finn rested his head on her stomach and placed his arms around her.
"It's going to be ok, San, I promise."
"No, its not...and quit making promises you don't keep." Finn looked at her like he had been slapped.
"Santana, don't say that! I want you to have the life I promised you and the only way I can do it without a diploma is in the military!"
"You'll get your diploma! It'll just take another year of hell to get it! If you want it, if you want this to work, it'll be worth it!"
"What do you mean 'if you want this to work'!? We do work! Better than any of those sappy dipshits downstairs! We are perfect for each other in every way and don't pretend like one decision to better ourselves is going to change that. We'll be apart for a year a the most then hopefully I'll be sent to San Diego. They may even send me sooner than that!"
" A YEAR! A WHOLE FUCKING YEAR!"
Shit! He forgot they hadn't discussed any of this yet, "...yes, a year...at the most! Don't worry!"
"Fuck you Finn! Fuck you! I can't believe you even considered this without consulting me much less go through with it!"
"Santana! I knew what your answer was going to be so I figured it would be easier to si-"
"Ignore it! Completely ignore my feelings all together and what hope that once everything was all said and done I'd have no choice but to go along with it! Well...you must not know me as well as you said you do then...you don't know me, and you don't even care..."
Without another word Santana straightened her jacket, grabbed Finn's hand and pulled him back downstairs with that damn smile back on her face. When they got back downstairs Rachel was finishing up a solo, compelety shit faced. Go figure! Seemed to be her favorite state these days. Letting go of Santana's hand Finn walked up to the stage, "My turn, Barbara. Go sit down before you fall!"
Rachel giggled at him and skipped sloppily off the stage, grabbing his dads guitar he motioned for Blaine to join him on stage. He whispered something in his ear that seemed to peak his interest and he went and sat at the piano. As they started to play Santana wandered over to the bar and started slamming shots of tequila. Fuck this night! She was on her 5th round when Finn started singing causing her to freeze. She turned to the stage mid shot, as the tears stung her eyes. He was looking right at her and she couldn't break his stare.
'In the light of the sun, is there anyone? Oh it has begun...
Oh dear you look so lost, eyes are red and tears are shed,
This world you must've crossed... she said...
You don't know me, you don't even care, oh yeah,
She said
You don't know me, and you don't wear my chains... oh yeah,'
Santana choked on her tequila as he basically threw her words back in her face.
'Essential yet appealed, carry all your thoughts across
An open field,
When flowers gaze at you... they're not the only ones who cry
When they see you
She said...
You don't know me, you don't even care, oh yeah,
She said
You don't know me, and you don't wear my chains... oh yeah,
She said I think I'll go to Boston...
I think I'll start a new life,
I think I'll start it over, where no one knows my name,
I'll get out of California, I'm tired of the weather,
I think I'll get a lover and fly him out to Spain...
Oh yeah and I think I'll go to Boston,
I think that I'm just tired
I think I need a new town, to leave this all behind...
I think I need a sunrise, I'm tired of the sunset,
I hear it's nice in the Summer, some snow would be nice... oh yeah,
You don't know me, you don't even care, oh yeah...
Boston... where no one knows my name... yeah
Where no one knows my name...
Where no one knows my name...
Boston...
No one knows my name.'
Finn got up and set the guitar down, walking towards Santana then both just held each other and cried a little. Everyone clapped and cheered but let them have their moment. Puck jumped on the stage next but Finn couldn't concentrate on anything but Santana. She said she loved him and he believed her but there was a look in her eyes that said they were over and he'd have to wait till the end of the night to hear what she had to say. The rest of the night went by pretty uneventfully, Tiki avoided him like the plague and his dad couldn't help but boast about him when ever the opportunity presented its self. By the time the party ended Finn had to carry Santana to bed, she kept rambling about how pissed she was, which Finn figured was coming, but what really took him by surprise was Santana crushing her lips into his.
"Itss your last night and I'm not gonna let you go without a little present."
Finn just laughed and got her ready for bed. Once she was tucked in he stripped down to his boxers and climbed in with her. Santana turned lightly and ran a hand down his cheek. Kissing him softly she wrapped herself around him and ran her hand up to tangle her finger in his hair. She froze when she realized it wasnt there anymore, she started sobbing instantly, "...I-I-I miss your hairrrrr!"
Finn started running his hand through her hair, "it'll grow back...go to sleep sweetie" he could feel her shake her head, and tried to control her breathing,
"I'm sorry...lets just enjoy our night..."
"Sweetie the only way your going to make it through work tomorrow, is if you try and get some sleep and drink lots of water tomorrow."
"I'm not really drunk Finn! I only pretended to be so I didn't have to waste anymore time downstairs."
"Huh...How did I not catch that..."
Santana giggled, "Because you were too busy arm wrestling Joe..."
They both laughed, then Santana started kissing Finn again, "Lets just end this tragic mess we started on a good note...so we can still be friends..."
Finn was too lost in Santana's kisses to understand what she whispered into his neck and he wasnt going to stop her to find out...
The next morning Finn woke up at 5:30 and jumped in the shower. He figured he be getting up much earlier now so he might as well get use to it. He noticed Santana wasn't in bed when he woke up and he honestly didn't expect her to be. He had no idea what to think or do about that whole situation, so he just got ready and continued with his plan. When he was done shaving and brushing his teeth he walked to the closet threw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and walked quietly down the hall to wake up his brother. When he walked in he was pleasantly surprised Tiki and E.J were clothed and they looked so cute snuggled together. His brother was an idiot but he sure lucked out snagging E.J. Quietly he walked up to Tiki's side of the bed and shook him lightly.
"Get up!" he whispered
"...UH-UH..."
"Shhh...Come on let's go have breakfast before I leave..."
"What the fuck is breakfast...if it's something that happens before noon I'm out."
"Know Trevor!"
"Hateful!" Tiki scowled as he rolled out of bed and grabbed his towel to get in the shower. Finn laughed, he looked like a little kid. He and Tiki may not get along very often but Finn was thrilled to have a little brother. He'd always wanted one, and really lucked out that Tiki acted like a five-year old instead of a sixteen year old. Now he can do all the big brother stuff he'd always wanted to, like give him advice and take him fishing. When Tiki finally got out of the bathroom, Finn pushed him down stairs and out to their bikes.
"There can't possibly be a restaurant open this early! It's still dark out!"
"I know we are going on a ride first."
"Hmmm...ok!"
"That's the spirit! There's nothing like a taking a ride through the mountains at sunrise..."
"Ugh...quit reminding me that we are up before the sun and I don't have a beer in my hand..."
Finn just laughed as they started up their bikes, unknown to them Bobby was watching them from his window, smiling at how great his boys were getting along, and how they cared enough about each other to spend time together before Finn left.
They cruised past the Charming sign out-of-town, Finn rode side by side with his brother and it felt awesome. They rarely had moments like this, as they cruised up to Finns favorite spot on the mountain side, he basked in the morning air and the light starting to peak out over the top of the hills. Once they approached their destination, Finn sat down on he ground and handed Tiki a beer.
"Now we're talking!"
"Haha, I knew you'd enjoy that, a little hangover ass kicker!"
"Yea, I got white girl wasted last night!"
"I know! I saw you dancing on the bar, T-Pain!"
"Yea it was painful..."
"Painful to watch...but no too painful to videotape!"
"Your kidding...?"
"Of course! Puck tried but I knocked his lights out for you..."
Tiki looked at him with a sad smile and tears brimming his eyes, "what am I going to do with out you..."
"Hey now! You've made it this far haven't you...come on man don't cry" Finn placed an arm around his brothers shoulder and held him tightly.
"I know...but it's been nice having someone else around besides dad...I'm gonna miss you..."
"I'm going to miss you too but we can face time and what not..."
"I don't have a phone remember..."
"You do now..." Finn said reaching into his pocket.
Tiki smiled and put his new phone in his pocket he'd mess with it later, now he was going to enjoy his brothers company, "Man..." he said looking out at the horizon where the sun was almost completely above the mountains, "this really is awesome..."
"I told you..."
"I guess mornings aren't so bad..." he said with a doofy smile that mirrored Finn's.
"Right and just wait till you get a load of breakfast!"
The boys laughed and jumped back on their bikes racing down the hill to the diner.
The boys were the first people in the diner and enjoyed the privacy. They made small talk and joked about the times they've had over the last few months, when the grouchy waitress came to take their order, Finn laughed as Tiki ordered just about everything on the menu and dared him to order coffee,
"Dude your on I drink coffee all the time!"
"No way dude this is real coffee not all that sugary shit you drink at Zayleighs!"
"Whatever, its all the same to me..."
"We'll see!"
The drinks came first and Tiki went to add creamer and sugar to his coffee,
"No way bro! You gotta drink it straight!"
Tiki looked worried for a minute"...but it's hot..." Finn took a chunk of ice out of his Dr Pepper and plopped it in his coffee.
"Go for it!" Tiki blew on it for a minute then took a gulp. The look on his face was priceless!
"That is fucking disgusting!"
"Told you!" Finn said with an amused look on his face. The waitress just watched them shaking her head. Tiki turned to her with a grimace still on his face and asked for chocolate milk. She brought it over and glared at the two boys. When she walked away the boys made faces at each other. Eventually their food came out and the dug in. While they were eating Finn's phone vibrated, it was a text from Santana: 'Whatcha doin? I noticed you left...'
'Took Tiki to breakfast'
'Does he even know what breakfast is?'
'He said no but I didn't believe him...but now I'm not sure...' Finn took a picture of Tiki stuffing his face with pancakes.
'Lol when are you coming back...or are you coming back...I'd like to talk...'
'Yea we're almost done I'll text you when we leave'
'K'
As Finn put his phone away, Tiki looked up at him with a mouthful, "who's that?"
"Santana..."
"How's she holding up? She looked pretty crushed yesterday..."
"Thanks for rubbing it in..."
"Oh, sorry."
"It's cool, hopefully everything will be fine..."
Tiki shook his head sympathetically at his brother. The boys sat around talking for a while before paying their tab and heading back to the clubhouse. When they got their they agreed to let Bobby sleep for a little while longer, and took off in different directions, Tiki headed back to bed and Finn headed up to talk to Santana.
"Hey, where were you this morning?" Finn asked with a smile, it quickly faded when he saw the look on Santana's face, "...alright let me have it..."
"I'm not gonna yell at you Finn," she answered softly, "but if you leave I'm done..."
"I have no choice now Santana!"
"Alright then..." she got up to walk out.
"Dont go! Santana!"
"Drop it Finn...you couldn't have really pictured this going well...seriously."
"I seriously didn't expect you to leave me!"
"What did you expect to happen?"
"For you to be mad, obviously, but then for you to understand -"
"I do understand, I completely understand that you dont have any regard to my feelings and that my opinions don't matter to you..."
"That's not true at all Santana!"
"Cut the crap Hudson! It's over if you leave and that's final! Either you choose a life together or choose the life of the military...you cant have both!" With that she walked out, and Finn hit his knees,
"SANTANNNA!
Finn sat there sobbing, as Tiki walked in quietly and placed an arm around his brother.
"W-what do I do!? I can't stand up the freakin' military..."
"There is nothing you can do now...you made the decision yesterday...and you knew when you did it that it would have one of two out comes and unfortunately it was the one you didn't want. I'm sorry..."
The boys just sat in silence until it was time to wake Bobby, they quietly creeped over to his room and stood outside the door.
"I really hope he doesn't sleep naked all the time..." Tiki cringed, "that would be ackward...again..."
"Yea..." Finn agreed.
"I'll give you twenty bucks if you do it!"
"Dude I already gave you a phone!'
"No take backs!"
"Fine we'll do it together...one the count of three...1...2...3!"
Before they could open the door Bobby opened it for them, "you too are idiots..."
"Morning to you to dad!" Tiki replied sarcastically with a frown.
"You boys ready?"
"Yea..." they replied looking at each other sadly they had such a good morning, secretly hoping this time wouldn't come. Finn wrapped his arm around his brother's shoulder as they all walked quietly to Finn's truck and jumped in. Santana watched secretly from their bedroom window and could swear Finn looked back up at her...the minute the truck was out of sight she threw on one of his shirts and crawled into bed completely devastated.