I'm sorry for the delay in updating, I've just got back from holiday and I'm currently ill (I wrote this on my phone so managed to quickly put it online so any mistakes I apologise for) anyway please R&R!

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"You should come next Friday night Hudson" Puck offered. Finn knew it was an honour to get an invite to one of the famous Friday night parties that Puck often spoke about. It contained everything teenagers shouldn't be doing but yet it seemed legal in a strange sort of way. He knew going would mean he would truly fit in more but he knew he needed a plan to try convincing his aunt and uncle. They were both like his mom had been and were strict about partying. Especially after they heard stories of his previous parties before he moved to Lima to be with them.

Then it came to him. Like lightening when heard her heels crashing against the pavement. Her long brunette curls gently swaying in the wind as she made her way towards his car. "Rachel" he spoke out loud.

The car journey was quiet until Finn broke the silence. "How was Glee today?" she nodded and smiled. "Well I got another solo to perform next week so yeah. I mean that Santana girl really doesn't like me, she said something about my shoes and my skirt" her head tilted down slowly. He could tell it upset her no matter how much she pretended it didn't.

"You know your dad spoke to my uncle about me being one of your only friends?" Rachel's eyes pierced Finn's as he looked at her for a second before focusing on the road ahead of him. even though she was angry she couldn't help but think she really did consider Finn a friend. If he classed himself as hers maybe he felt the same way?

"He wouldn't…" Rachel knew deep down her dad would though. He was concerned. She only had a few friends and yet even they seemed like they wouldn't last.

"You know I have a way to stop your dad's getting on your back about it…" he raised his voice and allowed her to wait for him to finish his proposition.

"So here's how it's going to work Berry" Finn began. "You want your dads to stop lecturing you on making friends and making you come over here right?"

Rachel nodded surely to him. It was true they had constantly been on her case. She knew they meant well but being the only child meant focus was constantly on her and her lack of friends.

"Well my aunt and uncle don't trust me to go out with my friends so if you come to the parties with me on Friday nights, your dads will think you have friends and my aunt and uncle will let me go because you're there" Finn felt almost genius for coming up with this plan all by himself. It was sure to work. He knew it would. His aunt hasn't stopped saying how much they trusted Rachel and how respectable and nice she was. And who would be dumb enough to let their nephew go to a few parties with the nicest girl in the neighbourhood.

"I don't know Finn" Rachel bit her lip. She didn't like the people Finn was friends with and they really didn't like her in return.

"Come on Rach" Finn begged. She couldn't help but smile at her new nickname. Only her fathers called her Rach every now and then so hearing someone else say it felt better.

"If...if" she empathised the word carefully. "If I agree to your plan, would to you make sure they leave me alone?" Rachel knew she was asking a lot of Finn. He was new and simply just wanted to fit in yet here comes his neighbour asking him to change the way high school was.

Finn grinned and put his hand out, gripping onto Rachel's. "You have yourself a deal Berry" Rachel's smile dropped instantly with the return of her surname. Maybe she was too hopeful thinking Finn would carry on calling her Rach. Either way they needed each other and friends did that right?

/

Finn got out of his car and headed into his home. It still felt weird calling it that but it was what it was now. Putting his bag down near the door he saw his aunt and uncle laughing to themselves as they began to prepare dinner for that evening. He couldn't help but smile at how happy they were together. He'd never admit it to anyone but he wanted that one day. He wanted romance and simple things like cooking dinner with the person he loved and hearing a song come on the radio and giving them an excuse to slow dance around the kitchen table. He left his fantasies where they remained and coughed to get their attention.

"Oh hello Finn I didn't see you standing there. How was school?" She asked sweetly. Finn grunted and shrugged his shoulders. It could have been worse yet he still didn't enjoy having math class twice in one day like today. He didn't understand why any of it mattered. He was going to play professional football why should he bother about her timing squares?

"I actually wanted to ask you both something"

"Oh boy I think we better sit down for this" his Uncle joked. Finn however thought maybe they should be sitting down when he pleads his case.

"There's a party Friday night..." He was instantly cut off with a loud no and several jumbled up sentences.

"You didn't even let me finish" he couldn't believe them. He knew it. He just knew it.

"Finn you are not going to a party, before you even begin to try convince me it's safe or it's with good people I will let you know that me and your uncle were once in high school so we know how these parties went"

"So if you did why can't I?" he was catching at straws now.

"Because we both learnt the hard way and I am responsible for you and I will not let you do that while you're in my care are we clear?" She held firm and shoot him down with her eyes. Finn threw his hands in the arm and backed away. Now he would have to tell Puck on Monday he wasn't allowed. How much of loser would that make him look?

The next morning Finn went out of the house as early as possible. He had been avoiding his aunt and uncle since their disagreement last night and even managed to hide away from dinner and sneaking down when he knew they were in bed to make a grilled cheese sandwich. He had already told Puck he'd meet him this morning and forgot til he got a text late last night reminding him they were meeting at the sports fields behind McKinley. He walked out to see Rachel with her dad as they rushed to the car. Leroy noticed the boy and ushered Rachel to go speak to him while he got the car warmed up. She handed her dad her dance bag and smiled as she walked across the grass that disconnected the houses.

"Your up early?" She asked intrigued. She highly doubted Finn was an early morning riser.

Finn ruffled his hand through his hair as he noticed Rachel staring at his obvious bed hair. "I'm going to practise with Puck this morning something about our first game is soon so we need more practise in" he knew she was just being polite asking and wasn't really interested. Girls never were when football is concerned.

"I hope it goes okay. It's in two weeks time right?" she smiled at him and he knew instantly that she had been listening.

"Oh Rach, you know our deal it's off?" Rachel raised her eyebrow. "My aunt and uncle won't let me go, I didn't even get to mention you'd be there they were adamant I wasn't allowed but thanks anyway"

Rachel frowned. "I'm sorry Finn"

Finn laughed softly before climbing into his car seeing he was already 5 minutes late. "It's not your fault Rach I mean what can you do, get your dad to ask them?" He laughed at his own stupidly. "I better go. Have fun at dance okay?" she nodded before running off to her car and got in the passenger seat.

/

Rachel's dance sessions lasted 3 hours, an hour longer than they were meant too. They had a showcase and set of exams upcoming meaning extending rehearsals was vital. She didn't mind as she knew when she was on the stage she'd be used to doing long hours. When her dad however turned up at the door she was more than ready to leave and spend the remainder of the day back at home. She hugged her dad before they walked to the car and set off for the 45-minute drive home. This was the perfect opportunity for her new plan. Finn would owe her big time.

"Dad..." Rachel's voice played holding the d longer than normal. He raised his eyebrow knowing this would either cost him or mean hiding something from his husband.

"What do you want Rach?" He laughed when she went to protest but sunk further back into the chair.

"Finn invited me to hang out with his friends Friday night..." She made it seem casual yet she knew her dad knew her better than that.

"But?"

"But it's more of a party. I mean they've promised there's no alcohol and Finn would drive so obviously we wouldn't drink..."

"I still feel like there's a but and much more to this Rach"

Rachel bite into the bottom of her lip. "Finn said earlier before we left that his aunt and uncle wouldn't let him go and"

Leroy laughed to himself. "So you would like me to speak to them and convince them that my daughter will take good care of their son right?" Rachel nodded and smiled.

"No problem princess I'll do it this afternoon" he held into her hand before he moved it back to the steering wheel to carry on focus on driving home.

Rachel smiled proudly to herself. 1-0 to Rachel.

They arrived shortly home, Rachel picked up her bag from the floor and kissed her dad's cheek as she watched him scoot her over to their home while he went and knocked on their neighbour's door.

Rachel got out her mobile as she watched her dad enter the home and sent Finn a text. "I think you'll find you owe me big time" she grinned and entered her home. The smiling wasn't going to fade any time soon…