Disclaimer: See Prologue.


Rachel walked into the Starbucks that she had asked Finn to meet her at and breathed a sigh of relief as she examined the crowd and realized she didn't know anyone in the cafe. It had seemed like a safer locale for the conversation she needed to have with him then the more popular (at least amongst her peers) Lima Bean across town and she was very pleased to be proven correct.

The last thing Rachel wanted or needed was the potential scene (knowing Finn) being spread around McKinley.

She quickly ordered a coffee and took a seat in the corner to wait for her ex-boyfriend and organize her thoughts on how to approach said conversation. When it was ten minutes past the time they had agreed upon, and Rachel had finally chosen words that were less then five syllables, she heard the bell over the door and watched as the tall quarterback walked in. Waving quickly to get his attention she groaned as he didn't even bother putting in a drink order and instead just crossed the room and sat down in front of her.

"Good afternoon Finn," Rachel began politely, after waiting a moment for any form of greeting.

"Hey Rach," he replied, shooting her a small smile that still sent butterflies rolling in her stomach. "So, what'd you wanna talk about?"

"You don't want a coffee or anything?"

"Nope, I'm good. Just wanna get this over with."

"Right, okay," she stalled slightly, frowning in concentration as the carefully worded speech about commitment and personal growth flew out of her head. She took the time to study his expression and recognized it for what it was - vacant and disinterested in whatever she might be about to say. Finally, allowing her exasperation for the familiar look on his face to wash over her, she just asked, "Did you ever actually like me? I mean, at all?"

"Course I did. I loved you. Till you cheated on me and broke my heart," he responded in a matter of fact tone as an actual pout crossed his face.

"Oh, well, since you brought that up, that reminds me, I've been very rude. How's Quinn?" she shot back in annoyance, even as she reminded herself to be civil.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Rachel blinked at the question and studied him again, almost laughing at the honest confusion on his face. She exhaled slowly and curbed the growing mix of aggravation and amusement, shaking her head slightly and answered, "It means that Quinn slept with Noah and cheated on you and then lied about it. Or am I the only one who remembers last year at all?"

"She's different now," was Finn's immediate, almost Pavlovian, response.

"Yea...you might wanna ask Sam about that one," she responded, allowing the slightest hint of sarcasm to enter her voice all the while maintaining an innocent expression. The wide eyed look she received from her ex once again had her near laughter as she finally realized that he honestly did not understand what was wrong with his actions. Apparently, everyone else was always wrong...unless Finn Hudson decided they weren't.

"Sam's wrong for Quinn," Finn finally replied slowly, as though convincing himself.

"Oh you're certainly right about that," Rachel agreed quickly, siding with the blonde male in the newest whatever geometric patterned love affair that was occurring. She was certain the Glee club had to have at least reached a hexagon by this point.

"Yup."

"Wow," Rachel whispered softly under her breath. She waited a beat and then continued in a normal tone, "Quinn's right. I live in a school girl fantasy. I was so caught up in who I thought I should be and how my life was supposed to go that I didn't ever let myself be me. I built you up in my head as this perfect boyfriend when the truth of it is, you aren't even a very good friend."

"Hey, you cheated on me," he replied, once again much to Rachel's amusement (and annoyance) focusing on someone else's wrongs rather then his own.

"Yes, I did...and then I told you the truth. But you lied to me," Rachel held up her hand to stall Finn's protest. "And I don't just mean about Santana; 'cause no matter what you want to believe, I don't care that you slept with her. I care that you outright lied about it. You also strung me along for months while you were still with Quinn. You basically played both of us; and, yes, she cheated on you, the baby was Puck's, etcetera, etcetera. But you didn't know that at the time."

"You went along with it!"

Rachel rolled her eyes at the indignant response and carefully formulated her reply, "I'm not saying I was right, but I am saying you were wrong. Something you seem unable to comprehend. Either way, I hope you're better to each other this time around...though I highly doubt that'll be the case."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Rachel chuckled at the obvious cluelessness of the boy in front of her as she replied, "Well, Quinn obviously felt a reason to cheat on you in the first place didn't she? You should probably avoid making eyes at any naive underclassmen for the foreseeable future."

She waited for any reaction and only received that once again confused expression.

"Or don't avoid it," she added with a shrug. "Maybe that situation works for the two of you; after all, you both seem to have your own little case of...how did Quinn put it? Ah yes, groundhog day. You two deserve each other and everything that goes along with it."

Finn furrowed his brow and Rachel waited as it seemed for the first time she might have gotten through to him. After he had opened his mouth and shut it a few times she drummed her fingernails on the tabletop and smirked when he jumped slightly.

"You," he started and then frowned deeper, shaking his head. "I mean, I guess...I love her you know?"

"Sure Finn," Rachel agreed quickly ignoring the stab of pain at his words. "I know. I'm sure she loves you too. After all, you're the quarterback. But then again, so was Sam. And I bet you'll look great with a shiny new crown on your head at the end of the year."

"I don't care about any of that Rachel," Finn insisted. "Quinn and I were together for a long time until Puck fucked it all up."

"Yes," Rachel agreed again. "It was all Noah of course," she added sarcastically. "Quinn wasn't there at all. She's her own personal immaculate conception, though considering the story she fed you about the hot tub I guess I shouldn't be surprised."

"She made a mistake," Finn insisted as he flushed in embarrassment over his own gullibility.

"Well, so did I. Does that mean that next year I should pencil you in to date me again?"

"Really?" Finn asked with a look in his eyes that on anyone else would be contemplative. "You think that'd work out? 'Cause ya know, I really did like you til you kissed Puck."

"No Finn. Not really."

"But you love me."

"Yes, I do. Unfortunately the heart wants what the heart wants. The good thing is that given enough time and apparent exposure to you without any rose colored glasses I'll be able to convince my heart to take a proverbial antacid."

"Huh?"

"Nevermind," she muttered. "So, you were saying how much you love Quinn but don't care about any of the shiny happy power-couple popularity garnering bonus' that dating her come along with?"

"Uhhhh," Finn began to reply and tilted his head slightly. "No?" Rachel had to immediately squash the urge to pat him on the head like a puppy and took a long sip of her coffee to hide her smirk. "I mean, no I don't. I love her. Like, a whole lot."

"Well then I'm really truly happy for you Finn. Like I said, you deserve each other."

"Why do you keep saying that in that tone that I think means you're being mean about it?"

"Cause I am," she responded bluntly. "I'm pissed off. What did you expect? Did you think I'd be throwing you a party for getting back together with the girl who loved you just oh so much that she got herself knocked up after a few wine coolers? Did you think I'd be happy that you could forgive her for that but you couldn't forgive me for kissing someone once? Did you think I'd be thrilled that you could be such a hypocrite as to do to someone, who has never been anything but nice to you no less, the exact same thing that you're willing to condemn me for? Sorry Finn, but I'm a little more realistic then you are apparently."

"But...you love me!"

"Doesn't mean I'm not fucking livid!" she snapped back loudly, wincing at her own word choice. "You know what, this is getting ridiculous," she continued, lowering her voice again. "I do love you Finn. I'll probably always love you just a little bit, but I'm starting to very quickly not like you at all. I hope you're both very happy and if she breaks your heart...again...please do not come crying to me."

"I wouldn't do that."

"Yes you would Finn. Sadly, history tends to repeat itself with you, with all of us actually, and the second Quinn does something that you don't like you'll be whining after me about it and trying to sweep everything that's happened under the rug. Also, if you could refrain from being pissed off if and when I start dating someone again I'd be greatly appreciative."

"Ummm..."

"That means I'd be very happy."

"Right, knew that," he whispered looking a little ill. "Wait, are you dating anyone?"

"Not currently. I'm trying to move on from being a serial monogamist. I'm going to have a bit of Rachel-time. I told you that weeks ago."

"Good. I mean, sorry? Ya know what, I don't know what I mean."

Rachel chuckled dryly at the statement and smiled sadly as he once again looked lost. She continued to study him and almost prayed that she'd get over him completely quicker then it seemed to be happening because she refused to allow the rest of her junior year to play out the way the entirety of her sophomore year had gone.

"Don't worry about it Finn. I'm sure things with Quinn will work out wonderfully. After all, you both have the same goals and aspirations."

"We do?" he questioned, once again sending Rachel's eyes rolling as she realized that as fast as Quinn was to lay out Finn's future for Rachel, she hadn't been quite as quick to explain it to the boy in question.

"Sure you do. I think I'm finally starting to realize that. Actually, I wanted to ask you one more thing and I need you to answer it completely honestly."

"Okay?"

"If we had stayed together...where did you see us in, say, five or six years?"

"If we had stayed together?"

"Yes, a hypothetical if you will."

Finn sighed and seemed to study his hands for a moment before looking up at her almost bashfully, "I really did have plans for us Rachel."

"Okay, then what were they?" she prodded him as she honestly wasn't entirely certain what his answer would be anymore. A few months ago she was almost positive she knew what he'd say and now she was starting to realize she didn't know him quite as well as she thought.

"Okay, I figured we'd be married, or at least engaged," he began and Rachel started to let herself relax, because that certainly matched what she expected. It wasn't until he continued that she realized how wrong she was. "We'd get a house in Lima. You'd probably be teaching music at the high school since I figured you'd be great to help direct Glee club and I'd either be working with Burt or maybe coaching or something like that. Guess that'll depend on if I go to college or not," he answered, a soft smile lighting up his face as he missed the nausea crossing Rachel's.

"Here...in Lima?"

"Course, where else?"

"What about New York? Broadway? My...my dreams?" she questioned in shock.

"Oh come on Rach," Finn responded, laughing heartily. "Do you really think that's gonna happen? I mean, what are the odds really?"

She blinked as his amusement didn't seem to fade, rather changed into a fondly exasperated expression and prodded her own growing fury at his dismissal. She thought about telling him how she had expected they'd go to New York together. She thought about pointing out that she never expected him to go onto Broadway with her or even do anything related to music. She thought about shrieking how some vague semblance of support would be nice, even just as a friend. Then she decided not to waste her breath and instead laid out her own (apparently solo) plans as clearly as possible.

"The odds are very high Finn, despite my own touting of my abilities I do recognize this. I also recognize my talent and my ambition. It may take longer then I'd readily like to admit, but it will happen. I will go to college for musical theatre, if not in New York then at least at a school with a prestigious program where I will graduate with honors, I will then move to New York if I am not already there. I will go about getting a job to pay my bills before getting an agent. I will attend any castings available and yes, most probably start my way up from chorus parts. But I will make it on Broadway." When all Finn did was stare at her in surprise, as though he didn't expect her to have a backbone anywhere in her body, Rachel added with a snap as she stood up to leave, "Have fun enjoying mediocrity."

She quickly executed a picture perfect, stereotypical, Rachel Berry storm out and walked as fast as possible towards her car. It wasn't until she was sitting behind the wheel that she allowed herself to relax back into the seat and breathe normally, whispering quietly to the empty vehicle, "Well, that was interesting. Not quite what I expected, or planned, but interesting."

Turning the key in the ignition she started her car and began the drive home towards her empty house, quite grateful that both her fathers were once again on business trips, forcing herself to begin what she knew would be a long and mentally exhausting process of fully purging the idea of "Finn Hudson" from her life.

It was time to face the facts, based on that conversation not only was Finn not her prince, but she was pretty certain there wasn't going to be a "prince" in her life ever. Mainly because she was finally starting to accept the fact that she wasn't actually a princess. She was just Rachel and as she pulled into her driveway and looked up at her house she realized she was actually okay with that.

Now she just had to let everyone else see Rachel as well.


A/N: So, there you have it...now the story can really get cooking. Rachel needed to have reality laid out bare for her by Quinn, so that she could finally see through Finn's shiny-happy veneer to the ridiculous teenage boy whose reasoning for being obsessed with his high school popularity is that he doesn't expect much else in life once he graduates. Now she can grow and mature. The Gleeks will begin to arrive in the next chapter once the weekend's over and we're back at school. Also, expect the beginnings of a new Rachel and the start of a surprising new friendship.
And remember, please feed your friendly neighborhood writer.