(a/n) Hey guys! Can you believe I got the second chapter up so fast?! Haha I really like where this is going so I decided to keep writing tonight! PLEASE REVIEW. I want to hear your input on this story!

-Lyndsay

Rachel's mind was in a billion directions as Kurt told her about Finn. It felt like she had been punched in the gut. Like her whole world was coming down on her. She brought her hand to her mouth. "Why hasn't anybody told me?" she finally managed to get out, stifling a sob.

Kurt moved closer to her, hugging her. "Shh…it's okay." He soothed. She had so many questions but she couldn't get anything out. After a few moments, Rachel pulled away from Kurt slowly, "I need to know everything, Kurt." She said, knowing that he would agree. Finn and Rachel had been engaged, after all.

"We've known for about 7 months." He stated, moving back to his original spot in his seat. "It started as him losing a lot of weight. And then he just looked awful. So he went to the doctor and they ran some tests and bam. They dropped the big C word." He sighed as Rachel watched him tear up a bit. "He's done so well throughout all this. He was in the hospital for 6 months. He came home about a month ago, but we never know how long that will last. It was really really bad Rachel. And we begged and begged to call you for him but he said that he didn't want you to see him like that. He finally said that he called you up and you said that you were busy." Kurt swallowed, "But I guess that was just a lie so that we would drop it."

Rachel had sat there during Kurt's explanation, speechless. She remembered about a month before when she had gone to the Hudson/Hummel house to deliver those cake pops. There was a welcome home party and Rachel had no idea who it was for. Now she knew. It was for Finn.

"He did chemo for a long time. They say he's in remission, but he still has to go to the doctor every 3 weeks to make sure everything is alright." Kurt went on. "Rachel, you have no idea how crazy it's been."

Rachel stayed silent for a moment before asking. "What kind of cancer is it, Kurt?"

Kurt shuffled in his seat, taking a small drink of his tea. "Lymphoblastic Leukemia. It's really scary. Very serious." He said. Rachel was about to crack again when she spoke up. "So is he doing alright now?" she asked curiously.

"Well that's kind of the thing…why I might not be able to go back to New York as soon as I thought." He said, in a sad tone. "Yesterday Finn had an appointment and they think the cancer is back." He said as Rachel felt her body go numb. "Are you serious?" she asked. Kurt nodded, sending a chill up her spine.

"Is he at home?" she asked, referring to Carole and Burt's house. Kurt nodded. "Yeah, he moved out of his apartment when he found out about the cancer. He was in the hospital so much that he didn't want to pay for a place that he never stayed at." Rachel nodded in agreement.

After battling with herself in her head as to whether or not she should ask, she did. "Do you think he'd want to see me?" She watched Kurt think about it for a second before nodding. "I think he would. He's been kind of spacey since yesterday."

Rachel nodded, pursing her lips. "Do you wanna get out of here?" she asked. She noticed that she sounded like she had been punched in the stomach again. It felt like she had been run over by a truck.

Kurt agreed, standing up and throwing away his cup, Rachel right behind him. They went outside to their own separate cars. "So you're coming over?" Kurt asked. Rachel smiled softly and said yes as they both got into their cars. Kurt immediately pulled out of the parking lot while Rachel sat in the driver's seat, frozen. All at once, tears poured out of her eyes. She felt like she was swimming in tears. Her one and only love had cancer. And not just any cancer, it was really bad.

She decided then and there that she was going to do anything and everything to make sure that she was strong for Finn. He was strong for her when he stuck her on that train and they were supposed to get married for God's sake. She was going to be strong come hell or high water so that he could get through this. So that he could beat the cancer and she could make sure that they lived happily ever after.

Rachel sat in the parking lot for a few minutes, composing herself. She wasn't about to go see her ex-fiancé whom she hadn't spoken to in 5 years and now had life threatening cancer, and look like a train wreck. No matter where he was in life or how he was doing, Rachel still wanted to impress him.

She threw on some more mascara and pulled out of the lot, driving towards the Hudson/Hummel house which she knew how to get to like a pro.

When she arrived, she parked behind Kurt's vehicle and walked up to the door, pressing the doorbell slowly. She wondered who would answer it and was surprised when Burt, Kurt's dad, answered the door. "Hi, Mr. Hummel." She said sweetly. "Do you mind if I come in?" she asked.

Burt welcomed her into the house, apologizing for the mess to which Rachel said was no big deal; her apartment wasn't very clean either.

They talked for a few minutes before Burt finally said something about Finn. "Did Kurt tell you?" he said sorrowfully. Rachel nodded. "He did…" she answered. "Kurt already told him that he was pissed at him for not calling you." He said, joking slightly. Rachel smiled lightly. "You can go up there and talk to him. I think he'd like the company." Burt suggested, pointing to the stairs.

Rachel took a deep breath and nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Hummel."

Walking up the stairs, Rachel felt like a teenager again. She remembered the times that Burt and Carole would be out for the night and Kurt would be with Blaine so that Finn and Rachel had the house to themselves. Sometimes they would watch movies together, sometimes they would have sex. Sometimes they would just lay on Finn's tiny bed and talk. About life, about everything. Rachel treasured the memories shared with Finn at that house.

Nearing Finn's room, Rachel's heart fluttered in her chest. She hadn't seen Finn in such a long time and even though it wasn't the best of circumstances, she was really anxious to see the face that she hadn't seen in such a long time.

When she got to his room, the door was closed so she knocked with her signature knock, hoping he would recognize it. After a few moments, the door opened slowly, revealing a pale and sickly looking Finn. His hair was messy, Rachel guessed he had been sleeping. He was wearing a pair of grey sweatpants and a plain white t-shirt. "Rachel?" he asked surprised.

Rachel smiled lightly. "Hi, Finn."

She watched his face brighten a bit, his smile still loose and weak. "Great timing, I know. I just wanted to come see you. I had coffee with Kurt today and uh-"she said, not going on.

Finn sighed. "So he told you about the Leukemia, didn't he?" he said, leaning against his door frame, his smile faded.

Rachel nodded, looking down. She moved her eyes back to his. "Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, trying not to break. She knew it was coming. The love of her life was fighting a life threatening illness. How could she not cry?

Finn sighed loudly, looking up, away from Rachel. "I tried a billion times, ya know? To call you." He swallowed. "But I kept picking up the phone and wondering where you were. I kept telling myself that you were happy and I wasn't going to ruin that." He looked back down at her. "And then I was tired of everyone nagging at me to call you. I mean of course I wanted to. God knows I would have done anything to hear your voice, but I couldn't ruin anything for you, y'know?"

Rachel felt tears brimming her eyes but she pushed them back. "You don't have an excuse to not call me anymore." She said sternly. She watched him give her a sympathetic look, a look that she didn't want. She wasn't the one who needed sympathy, he was.

"I just wanted to stop by to see how you were and all." She said awkwardly. She felt the tether in her heart but she didn't want to acknowledge it based on the fact that they hadn't spoken in five years. It was weird talking to him now but it was natural. It always would feel natural to talk to Finn.

Finn nodded. "Thanks, Rach. I appreciate it. I'm sorry that I didn't talk to you sooner…" he stated. They stood in the hallway for a few moments before Carole came up the stairs. "Finn, get ready for your doctor's appointment. We have to leave in ten minutes!" she said, sliding past them. "Rachel!" she said, noticing that she was there. Carole seemed to be a trainwreck to Rachel. She seemed frazzled and stressed and Rachel couldn't blame her. Her son was sick, again.

"How are you, dear?" she asked sweetly. Rachel smiled. "I'm doing pretty well, thanks for asking Mrs. Hummel." She said, moving towards the stairs again. Carole smiled and walked down the hall.

"I'll let you get ready for your appointment…I hope all goes well." She said truthfully. She hoped that the doctors would say something like, "Oh the cancer isn't really back, you just have the flu." or something.

Rachel made her way down the first two steps before Finn called after her. "Hey, Rach," she turned around. "Promise me you'll come see me more often? Or at least call me or something?" he asked, seeming hopeful.

Rachel nodded. "Promise."