Finn opened his front door and held it for Rachel, who was still giggling uncontrollably over Finn's suggestion that they hold a "vest-ervention" for Mr. Schue. He was constantly making ridiculous jokes just to hear the sound of her laughter. He loved how she couldn't stop once she started, and how sometimes a snort would escape and she'd clap her hand over her mouth in embarrassment, only to burst into another fit of hysteria.

"It wasn't that funny, Rach," he laughed. He threw his arm around her and squeezed her shoulder as they walked into the front hallway.

"What is going on out there?" called Carole from the kitchen.

"Nothing, Mom," said Finn as they walked into the room, "Rachel's just nuts."

"Don't talk about my friend like that, Finn," said Carole, smiling at Rachel, "Are you still going to help me make those cookies for Burt's birthday?"

"Yes, Mum," said Rachel, resting her head on Carole's shoulder, "Saturday morning, while Finn's at practice?"

"Sounds good, sweetie," Carole replied.

"C'mon, Rach," said Finn, taking Rachel by the hand, "we're going to work on something for Glee, mom."

"Have fun," said Carole, "door open, please," she reminded her son.

Entering his room, Finn tossed their backpacks on the floor and flopped into his dad's old chair. He tugged the hem of Rachel's skirt and she fell into his lap. She kissed him on the cheek and nuzzled his neck briefly before sitting up and smoothing out her skirt.

"So, do you have any ideas about the song?" she asked excitedly.

"Well," he began, "I figured I'd play drums, at least in the beginning."

"Nope," she smiled slyly, "I don't think you should play the drums."

"Why not?" he asked, furrowing his brow.

"I think...you should play something else," she said, nodding over to a corner of the room. He followed her gaze to where his guitar case was leaning against the wall. He had really started playing it more over the summer, but he hadn't played it alone for a performance before.

"The guitar?" he asked, frowning, "I really don't know, Rach. I mean, I've gotten better, but I can't play it like I play drums. And I'm definitely not as good as Puck or Sam, that's for sure."

"You're great at it, Finn," Rachel said encouragingly, "and besides, it's important for the song. I think it'd have a much more authentic feel if you were frontman and played lead guitar. Bruce would approve."

"Well, when you put it that way," he grinned.

"More than that, though," she went on, "this song represents us, and finding a way to get out of this town and make our dreams come true. If we're going to do that, we're going to need to step outside our comfort zones. We're going to need to push ourselves beyond our fears and insecurities to get to where we want to be."

"Yeah," Finn mused as a smile slowly spread across his face, "I like that."

"And you won't be alone doing something new," she added, "I'm not going to be just standing up there and singing!"

"Wait, are you going to play the drums?" he asked, confused.

"No, silly," she laughed, getting up from his lap, "follow me."

She led him down the hall to the living room where Kurt's piano sat against the wall. She motioned for him to sit beside her on the bench.

He glanced at her, a surprised look on his face. She grinned back at him and turned to the piano, biting her lip in concentration. Slowly, she began to play the familiar opening notes of "Thunder Road." She stumbled a little at first, but then began playing smoothly and sweetly, gaining confidence as her fingers danced across the keys. She played through the first two verses of the song, then glanced shyly up at her boyfriend, who was staring at her with his mouth wide open.

"Rachel! I had no idea you played piano!" he exclaimed, "That was beautiful!"

"Thanks, Finn," she smiled, looking away, "I took lessons when I was younger, but then I gave it up to focus on voice. I missed it though, and if I'm going to be a music major next year, I'm going to have to learn some more instruments. I know I'm not that good, but pushing past my comfort level for a performance is a metaphor for the journey represented in the song. And you know I feel that metaphors are very important."

"Of course they are, Rach," Finn said, encircling her in his arms, "you're amazing, you know that?"

"So are you, babe," she replied, touching her finger to his nose, "and this performance is going to be our best one yet, I can feel it."