Thank you for the response on the last chapter. It is good to know that people are out there reading. I hope you enjoy what is in store. It isn't going to be an easy road that comes, but you will have to read and find out for yourself. I hope you enjoy and let me know what you think. I love to hear your thoughts.

Finn was dressed in the nice shirt and pants that Quinn laid out for him. He had never been this nervous. He wanted to open up his heart again, but there was a lock on it that he didn't think would ever be broken and someone else had the key to it. Rachel seemed to be a wonderful person and he could see himself falling in love with her, but he felt like he was cheating on Erin and forgetting about everything they had had.

Finn took a deep breath and knocked on Rachel's door. She opened it with a big smile on her face. She said, "Finn, you are right on time. It is so good to see you again. I am looking forward to our evening out."

Finn smiled. "I'm looking forward to it, too. Thank you for agreeing to go out with me again."

"It is my pleasure. You are so sweet and I can't wait to get to know you better."

Finn smiled and tried to push his thoughts of Erin out of his mind. Rachel could tell that something is off. She asked, "Is everything okay, Finn?"

He broke from his thoughts and said, "Oh… Uh… Yeah, everything is great."

"I may have just met you, but I know that is a lie. What is going on? Come in. Dinner can wait."

Finn followed her into the apartment. They sat down and Rachel asked, "What is the matter?"

Finn told her, "I only got two hours of sleep last night. Puck and Quinn are pregnant. I went over to talk to them after I left here and it hit me pretty hard."

"Oh? Why? Is there something wrong with babies?"

"No, of course not. I love kids. It is just that I had a hard time three years ago and last night it just reminded me of it."

"Oh. I'm sorry. I know we just met, but I have been told I am a good listener."

Finn sighed. He felt he owed it to her to tell her the truth. She seemed to be a nice person and someone he could open himself up to possibly loving in the future. He said, "Three years ago I was engaged to a wonderful girl. Her name was Erin. She was beautiful and perfect. She was my life."

"That's wonderful." Rachel's mood fell to know that he had someone else. She really thought there was something about the man that was special and she would want to spend time getting to know and possibly love.

"She really was."

"What happened?"

"She found out she was pregnant. We were so excited. I have always wanted to have a little girl that was mine. We were getting ready to meet Puck and Quinn for dinner to tell them our news. We got hit head on by a drunk driver. That man took my life away from me. He killed Erin and our baby automatically. I survived and I will never understand why."

Rachel wiped her eyes as a stray tear fell down her cheek. She said, "I am so sorry. That is terrible."

"I find it really hard to let anyone into my life for the fear that I may lose them. I don't think I could handle losing someone else that meant so much to me. That is why I have been the hermit that Puck and Quinn are trying to keep me from being."

"I'm sorry you went through that."

"No one knew that Erin was pregnant. I just told Puck and Quinn last night. It was just so hard. That could have been the little girl that I always wanted. That could have been my little angel that would want me to have tea parties with. It could have even been a little boy that I could have taught football and how to ride a bike. It just hurts so much."

"I'm so sorry. You probably don't want to go out tonight. I don't blame you. We could be friends, nothing more and nothing less. I just need to know someone in the city. I promise that I won't force you to do anything. Why don't we just cancel tonight? I can see that you aren't up to going out tonight."

"No. I didn't tell you all of that for you to feel sorry for me or for an excuse to cancel our plans. I just wanted to let you in my mind so that you would understand why I am so backward and hard to show feelings. I would really like to get to know you. Q thinks you are wonderful and I would love to get to know you better for myself."

Rachel smiled. "I would like that, friend."

Finn returned the smile. "Good. Then let's get to dinner. I made us reservations."

"Really? I was just expecting something small."

"Hey! Give me some credit. It is our first date. I can't promise that I will be able to put a label on the relationship, but I would love for the chance to get to know you and see where things take us."

"I can handle that, Mr. Hudson."

Finn chuckled. "Great. Let's get to the restaurant, Miss. Berry." Finn took her hand and they made their way to the restaurant.

The two of them were sitting there and waiting for their food. Finn said, "Tell me about yourself."

Rachel smiled and said, "I'm an only child. I was adopted by my dads at birth."

"Dads?"

"Yes. My fathers are gay. I met my birth mother once, but she didn't want me. She ended up adopting a little girl and replacing me."

"I'm so sorry, Rachel."

"Don't worry about it. The only repercussion from the situation is I find it hard to get attached. I don't want anyone to break my heart like she did."

"It seems that is something the two of us have in common."

"It seems so. Tell me about you."

"I was raised by my mother until I was a sophomore in high school. Then she met and married my stepfather. With the marriage, I gained a stepbrother. He and his boyfriend actually live in New York as well."

"Wow. It seems we do have some things in common."

"We do."

"I'm so glad that we came out this evening. I see a very good friendship in our future."

"I believe you are correct."

Their food was brought to them.

Finn and Rachel got back to the apartment. Rachel asked him in to hang out longer. She knew she didn't have much of a chance with him, but he could turn out to be one of the best friends she ever had. She had never met someone that was so easy to talk to about anything. He was going through a lot and she understood that, but it didn't stop her from feeling something for him she hadn't felt for anyone in such a long time.

They were sitting on the couch talking. Finn leaned over to kiss Rachel much to her surprise. From there, things led to a place neither of them had expected to go. Rachel found herself picking up her clothes after giving herself to someone that was emotionally unavailable. She had never felt cheap like this.

Finn got up and left without saying a word. After he was gone Rachel slid down the door after in closed behind him and lost it. She sobbed for the loss of her innocence and the loss of one person she thought would turn out to be her best friend.