This is going to be in first person POV and takes place about two years after season 3.

Noah

I hate suits.

I've had to wear a suit five times in my life, and every time I have a memory of discomfort and misery. Today was the sixth time I was wearing a suit, and I hated it as much as I hated it the last five times I wore one.

But I promised Kurt I would wear it, promised I show respect or some shit like that. He was being ridiculous about the dress code, but I suppose I could cut him some slack. His dad did just die, after all.

Heart attack in the middle of the night. Finn told me it was a big one and by the time they got him to the hospital, it was too late. He was gone.

I'd been living in Chicago for the past year, going to school in an attempt to make myself less of a fucking idiot. I'd finished my first year of school and felt slightly accomplished. I'd managed straight B's, which was a first.

Now it was June and I was back in the town I hated more than anything. Finn was back from his station in Georgia, staying with his mother in an attempt to comfort her. After all, this was the second husband she had lost. Poor Carole.

Finn and I spent the days before the funeral together, catching up. It's been almost a year since I'd seen him, after all. After he told me what happened to Burt, he started talking about Rachel.

Ah yes, Rachel Berry. Former lead of New Directions and ex-fiancée of Finn. Turns out, they got back together in December, but she'd dumped him the next September without so much as an explanation. She just told him it was over and not to call her.

He didn't understand it. They'd been doing well after getting back together, even though they'd hardly seen each other—her in New York and him in Georgia. He said she'd cut everyone out of her life around the same time. Kurt had told him she quit school and moved back in with her fathers, and no one knew why.

I didn't understand it—the Rachel Berry I remembered from high school would never leave New York. That was her whole dream. I'd only dated the girl for a few weeks and I even knew that. Broadway was her life, so I couldn't understand why she would give it up.

I also couldn't understand why this was bugging me. Rachel had always annoyed me. Sure, I stuck up for her because she was a hot Jew and she was kind of a friend, but that didn't make her any less annoying. But after Finn had mentioned her dropping off the face of the earth, I couldn't stop thinking about her.

Friday morning was the funeral. Finn, Kurt, and Carole stood in the front, receiving everyone. I gave Finn's mom a hug. Mrs. H had always liked me, despite the fact that I was a screw up and got her son's girlfriend pregnant sophomore year. She didn't deserve this—she'd been through a lot without Burt dying.

And Kurt…my boy didn't deserve this. His mother was dead, and now his father was too. I pulled him into a hug, feeling him shaking a little in my arms. I didn't say anything, I just gave him my non-verbal support during this time.

The service was in a small funeral home in town. The room was decorated with pictures and flowers, all of it showing off how much Burt had been loved.

Once everyone had arrived, the service started. The minister walked up to the podium, clearing his throat. "First, Miss Rachel Berry will be singing a song in memory of the deceased."

I looked up, my attention peaked. The elusive Rachel Berry was making an appearance, a funeral big enough to pull her out of hiding.

I stared with shock as a girl with dark brown hair stood up. She didn't look like the Rachel I remembered. The black dress she wore hung loosely around her body. She'd lost a lot of weight over the past few years, and it didn't look good on her.

Rachel struggled to climb the few stairs to the podium, her one father helping her up. He whispered something to her, but she shook her head and he took his seat.

There were whispers as everyone looked at her, barely recognizing the girl that was destined for something great.

The piano started and Rachel began singing Sarah McLachlan's Angel.

No, that wasn't Rachel. Her voice was weak, not the powerful voice everyone was used to. She could barely hit the high notes anymore.

I almost started crying, but not because of the song. It was because of Rachel. What had happened to her?

When the song ended, Rachel's one father helped her back to her seat and the service started. I hardly paid attention—all I could think about was Rachel and her new appearance. Maybe she had developed an eating disorder—but she didn't look like those skeleton-thin girls I'd seen in those videos they used to show us in health class.

Maybe she had some strange disease? Though I had no idea what just weight loss and weakness could be.

Maybe it was just my imagination and she was perfectly normal.

Once the service had ended, everyone headed to the cemetery for the burial. I stood beside Finn as he watched Burt's casket lowered into the ground. He didn't cry, but I knew it was killing him inside—Burt had been his father. He'd never treated him like a step-father, and Burt never treated him like a step-son.

I looked around, not spotting Rachel anywhere. Maybe she'd gone home to—no, there she was. She was standing towards the back, both her father's arms wrapped around her shoulders. She was crying, unable to look at the casket.

Flowers were placed on the grave and the final service ended. Kurt made an announcement about a reception at the only country club in town. Free food? I'd be there.

I drove myself over from the cemetery, giving Finn a ride. He wanted some space from his mom and Kurt, not that I blamed him. They were both an emotional wreck.

"Did you see Rachel?" I asked as we pulled out of the parking lot.

"How could I not? She was singing at my dad's funeral," he muttered. I gave Finn a sad smile as he called Burt his father, patting his shoulder. That was the best comfort I could give him—I wasn't very good with comforting people.

Now if he needed me to kick someone's ass that was a different story.

"Well?" I asked, wondering if he was internally freaking out about her like I was.

"Well what? Do you want to know if I'm still in love with her?" he snapped. "It sucked seeing her. I don't know why Kurt had to let her sing that damn song. She barely even knew him. And then she has to look amazing like usual while I try and figure out why she dumped me." He crossed his arms over his chest, sulking.

"Sorry for bringing her up," I muttered, dropping the subject entirely. It had been a little under a year since they'd broken up. I thought he was over her. Apparently not.

We arrived at the place and parked, walking in together silently. I saw the open bar and smiled. Kurt Hummel, you beautiful human being.

After I grabbed a drink, I turned and evaluated the scene. Kurt was standing with Blaine, wiping his eyes. Finn had told me they broke up a few months ago, though they didn't seem to show any of the awkward post-break up appearances. Maybe they were still friends, or at least acting that way for now.

Tina and Mike, newly engaged, had flown in from Chicago last night. I saw them every few weeks, the three of us meeting for coffee or dinner. It was nice to have someone I knew out there with me.

Santana was there without Brittany. They'd broken up last year when Brittany moved to Bermuda and Santana stayed in New York.

Artie was talking with Santana. He had spent the last year at film school in Los Angeles and was apparently directing the school's theater production for the fall.

And then there was Rachel. She was sitting alone at a table, a glass of water in front of her. Her dads hadn't come with her, and no one from New Directions seemed to be speaking to her.

"So are you planning on being social at all or are you going to stare at that glass for the whole time?" I asked, taking a seat at the table next to her.

Rachel looked at me, her dark curls framing her face. Up close, I could see the weight loss in her face. She really didn't look well. I just didn't get how I was the only one who saw it.

"I was attempting to telepathically tell it to jump up and sing, but I guess my mind powers need some work," she joked. I heard the weakness in her voice that I heard earlier when she sang. "It's nice to see you, Noah. I must have missed you at Mr. Hummel's funeral."

I chuckled, smiling at her. "I was sitting behind your former fiancée," Rachel seemed to fidget uncomfortably at the mention of Finn. "He almost bit my head off in the car when I brought you up."

"Yes, I heard he still wasn't taking things well," she murmured, giving me a look that said 'don't you dare ask'.

"And I heard your dumped him right around the same time you dropped out of school and moved back to Lima. Now we may not have been the best of friends, but that doesn't seem like a very Rachel Berry thing to do. I thought New York and Broadway were your dreams."

"They are. I'm just taking some time off and fulfilling other dreams I have."

"I didn't know you had other dreams." I really didn't. All she had ever talked about back in school was making it big on Broadway, playing the title role in god knows how many shows I'd never heard of. Rachel Berry didn't have other dreams.

"Of course I have other dreams. No one person just has one dream."

"Oh yeah? Tell me what some of your other dreams are," I challenged.

Rachel reached into her bag, producing a folded square of paper. I reached for it, but she pulled back. "You can't read it—it's private. Be a princess, go to Disneyworld, climb the Eiffel Tower in Paris, swim with dolphins, be on Broadway…those are just some of them."

"What's number one?" I asked, curious about what her biggest dream was.

Rachel's face turned a light shade of red as she shook her head. "I can't tell you that. It's a secret."

"Oh come on, I want to know," I protested, very curious at this point.

Rachel shook her head. "No, if I tell you I'd have to kill you and I don't think Finn wants to go to another funeral so soon," she teased. I smiled at her, shaking my head a bit.

"You know, those dreams of yours are a bit hard to accomplish. How do you plan on becoming a princess? Neither of your dads are kings—"

"So you think," she joked, interrupting me.

I ignored her. "And Paris, Disneyworld, swimming with dolphins—that all costs a lot of money. Plus you quit school so I doubt they'll let you on Broadway in the near future."

"Did anyone tell you you're a real negative Nancy?" she asked, disregarding everything I'd just said. "You don't have to think I can achieve my dreams. I'm going to spend as much time as I want making every dream on my list. And right now I'm regretting telling you any of this because I can tell you're judging me in your mind, so don't even try and deny it."

"I wasn't going to deny it," said. "I think it's stupid. You threw away an education for something stupid. Those dreams could have waited a few years. Why didn't you just finish school and do this after?"

"They might not be able to wait. What if I get hit by a bus in a week and die? I would hate to die and never have fulfilled any of my dreams."

"But most people won't get hit by a bus in a week and die. Most normal people don't dump everything in their lives to do some stupid bucket list because of a paranoid fear they're going to get hit by public transportation and die."

"Nice to see you're as much of an ass as you were in high school," she snapped, looking off to the side. "It's just something I'm choosing to do. You don't have to like it or care—it's my life, not yours." She stood up, looking down at me. "Real nice seeing you again, Noah," she said sarcastically, walking away from me.

I saw her whisper something to Kurt before giving him a hug. She placed a hand on Finn's shoulder but he ignored her.

She left after that.

I was staying with Finn and Kurt for a few days before I headed back to Chicago. Even though I was done with school, I had no desire to spend more time than necessary in this shitty town.

Lying in the guest bed, I stared at the ceiling. I had one more day left in Lima before I went back to my new home and new friends, forgetting my old friends as soon as I made it past the Lima border.

But that wasn't entirely true. I always thought about the people I left behind when I was alone.

Like Rachel.

Sure, I'd liked her in high school, but she was Finn's girl. And now since they were broken up, she was off-limits. Bros before hoes or some shit like that.

But I couldn't help thinking about her and her stupid plan to quit school and do whatever the hell she wanted. She never even said when she was planning on going back—or if she was planning on doing that.

It was like that movie I saw with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson where they both had cancer and ran away from the hospital so they could do things like sky dive and climb Mount Everest. But they were old men, not young girls in school. It just didn't make any sense.

I hadn't thought about Rachel since she left for New York, but now I couldn't stop thinking about her and how much fun she was going to have going to Disneyworld and swimming with dolphins.

Fuck it.

All it took was one phone call, one phone call and I didn't have plans for the year anymore. Sure, my mom would be pissed, but she'd get over it. I'd go back to school next year and she'd forget this ever even happened.

I found Kurt in the kitchen and convinced him I needed to borrow his car. I may have exaggerated things and threw in the phrase 'life or death', but I got his car regardless.

I drove the familiar route to the Berry's house. I'd been there a few times for stupid glee club stuff back in high school or the two times she left me make out with her.

I parked beside the mailbox, looking at the two cars on the driveway. The one was her dads, the other was hers. I sighed, climbing out of the car before shutting the door. I walked up to her front door, ringing the doorbell.

There was a pause, a click, and the door opened. Rachel was standing in her pajamas, a piece of gauze taped to her hand. She stared at me for a moment before crossing her arms over her chest. "What do you want?" she asked me, a trace of annoyance in her voice. "I thought you'd have left by now."

"I dropped out of school. Look, I'm sorry about the funeral. I shouldn't have insulted your plans. And, you know, it sounds pretty fun, doing all that stuff. I want in."

Rachel let out a scoff before stepping outside, closing the door behind her. I watched her hand, noticing as she trembled slightly.

"So, even though you were making fun of me and telling me how it was stupid, you want to help me achieve my dreams now?" she asked, staring up at me.

"Well, yeah," I said, scratching the back of my neck. "Why wouldn't I?"

"Because you're you and I'm me. We've never done anything together besides the few times we made out in my room. You think everything I do is stupid and annoying. You have no reason to ever want to help me."

I sighed. "Okay, so maybe that's all true and I think you're super annoying most of the time, but I still want to help you do this."

"Well, maybe I don't want you to help me," she spat back.

"Fine, but doing that all alone is going to get boring. I mean, spending a few days in Disneyworld by yourself? Sounds pretty lame," I teased.

Rachel let out another sigh. "You're going to be a pest, not a help," she murmured.

"I promise, I won't," I said. "Just…why are you doing this?" I asked, beyond curious. "You could do this at any time, why are you doing it now?"

Rachel bit her lip, shaking her head. "I can't tell you, not now at least. If I promise to let you help me, will you promise to let me tell you when I'm ready?" she asked.

I sighed, thinking it over before nodding. "Fine, but you will tell me eventually?"

Rachel nodded her head. "I promise I will."

"Well, then perfect. Now go pack your bags—we're leaving tomorrow."

"Leaving for where tomorrow?" she asked.

"It's a surprise, but you're going to cross a few things off your bucket list," I laughed, giving her a hug. "I'll be back tomorrow."

And with that, I walked away. I could feel her staring after me, but I just walked to the car. I couldn't wait to see her tomorrow and show her the surprise I had planned.