Traveling Solider, a glee fanfic

I didn't want to believe it. I was going to marry this man. And now he's dead. Stupid army and war. Gosh I just want my Finn back.

He died right before I preform at the Tony's. This isn't fair. And now all I can do is look a memories and not have him there to comfort me as I cry.

But as I stand in front of the mic, I start to sing a song from the Dixie Chick's. Not the Barbra song I was supposed.

Two days past eighteen
He was waitin' for the bus in his army greens
Sat down in a booth at a café there
Gave his order to the girl with a bow in her hair
He's a little shy so she gave him a smile
So he said would you mind sittin' down for a while
And talkin' to me I'm feelin' a little low
She said I'm off in an hour and I know where we can go

I was sitting on a bench. Back in Ohio. First time since the almost wedding. I couldn't make it to Mr. Schue's wedding. That killed me. But I did send them a nice gift.

I was playing with my black and white polka dotted bow in my hair when I heard "Is this seat taken?" in a familiar voice.

I turn around to see Finn. In his uniform's best. He took off his hat and held it in his hand.

"Rachel." He says. He smiles and I turn back around.

"Can we at least talk?" He exclaims.

"Not at all Finn! You left me to do this. And you expect me to talk to you?" I squeal.

He sits beside me. "But you are talking to me, Rach." I scrunch up my face at that pitiful nickname. "I have to ask you something."

So they went down and they sat on the pier
He said I bet you got a boyfriend but I don't care
I've got no one, to send a letter to
Would you mind if I sent one back here to you?

"And what exactly do you have to say, Finn?"

He sighs and moves his military hat around. "All my buddies in my squad have someone to send letters to. Kurt, my mom, hell even my step dad didn't want the letters. But I still have you. Rachel, can I send my letters to you?"

I felt my eyes widen. My stomach drop. My mouth swell. Letters? From wherever the hell he was going?

"Su-sure Finn." I whisper.

He beams and stands up. He puts his military hat back on. "Well, I have a flight to catch. The letters will come soon, Rachel."

I nod. But I stay seated. I was in awe. He was leaving right away to fight.

I cried
Never gonna hold the hand of another guy
Too young for him they told her
Waitin' for the love of a travelin' soldier
Our love will never end
Waitin' for the soldier to come back again
Never more to be alone
When the letter says a soldier's coming home

I wipe my tears as I sing. All these memories come flooding back into my mind as I sing this song.

So the letters came
From an army camp
In California then Vietnam
And he told her of his heart
It might be love
And all of the things he was so scared of
He said when it's gettin kinda rough over here
I think of that day sittin' down at the pier
And I close my eyes and see your pretty smile
Don't worry but I won't be able to write for a while

Finn kept his word. Letters upon letters appeared in my mailbox. All of which included the same ending.

I'm sorry I did this Rachel. I love you.

-Finn.

But when this letter came, my stomach dropped again.

Dear Rachel.

I'm not going to be able to write.

Don't panic or anything.

I promise I will write back Rachel.

I'm sorry I did this, Rachel. I love you.

-Finn.

I thought he was going to keep that promise. But when I heard the news of the helicopter crash in Afghanistan, I knew that promise was broken.

The news didn't give any names. No one and nothing gave me the names of those who died.

It was driving me insane. I had to know if he was still alive.

One Friday night at a football game
The Lord's Prayer said and the anthem sang
A man said folks would you bow your heads
For the list of local Vietnam dead...
Cryin' all alone under the stands
Was the piccolo player in the marching band
And one name read and no body really cared
But a pretty little girl with a bow in her hair

I went back to McKinley when I found out.

I ran into the choir room. Hoping for smiles and "Rachel!"'s. But instead I got tears.

Kurt was there and he gave me a hug. On the whiteboard, the word 'death' was written.

"What's going on?" I ask.

Artie broke down when I said that. Mr. Schue was shedding tears.

"Rachel, you don't know?" Kurt said.

I look around the room. Tissues on the floor. The sniffling of noses.

"No, I don't."

"Rachel, honey. Finn's-Finn's dead."

"That's for you, Finn." I whisper when I finish the song. Another standing ovation, I received. But it's not the same. Not without Finn.