It was hard for her to wake up the next morning.

Rachel lied in the bed awake, but refused to open her eyes.

When she finally worked up the nerve, she opened one eye at a time and peaked around the room.

She didn't recognize where she was. This place definitely wasn't her Victorian designed bedroom in Downtown New York. Instead, it was her suburban master bedroom in her home she had lived in with her husband for 2 years. She sighed and dropped her head back to her pillow, closing her eyes.

Even the sheets smelt like him. She remembered when they first bought this house, how excited they were.

She swore she'd put up with his athlete posters, his 'guys nights' and his old, wholly, arm chair that was placed directly in front of the TV. In return he had to put up with her 'The Way We Were' soundtrack playing every time she cooked, that gigantic painting of herself that hung on the wall, and her dibs for Singer every time they played Rockband.

How simple it had all been.

She smiled at the thought, but quickly shook it off as she slowly sat up and decided that she needed to get out of this place as quick as possible.

She struggled getting out of bed. Screw hangovers, the last time she had been so under the influence was their After Show Party.

Rachel climbed out of bed, realizing she was only wearing one of Finn's old WMHS football shirts. She silently cursed as she tripped over a pile of dirty clothes that had probably been sitting there since last April. She walked over to the door and creaked it open, tip toeing down the hall and into the kitchen.

Her mouth was dry and all she wanted was some water. She thanked God that Finn wasn't in the kitchen. She walked to the cupboard and grabbed a glass.

"Good morning Sunshine" His voice came from behind her, and she cursed herself again before spinning around to give him a tight smile.

He was wearing jeans and a white t-shirt. It looked like he had been up for awhile. He laughed at her. "Didn't you accuse me of waking up at 3 pm yesterday..."

Rachel turned around and looked at the clock on the stove, it was 3:09 pm.

"Oh my God" She sighed.

Turning around to him she caught him off guard as she noticed where his eyes had been. He had been admiring her legs in the shirt she was wearing, and she couldn't help but lose her train of thought. Startled, he looked up at her hoping she hadn't noticed.

"So uh- what's happening today?" She asked awkwardly. He composed himself quickly.

"Well I was going to go with Puck to the hardware store today but that could always wait. I have to uh- go somewhere though... tonight."

"Hot date?" Rachel couldn't help it. It slipped from her tongue before she realized what she was saying.

His smile faded.

She expected him to yell at some more but instead he tried to give her a mischievous look. "Someone's obviously jealous."

"Oh yeah!" She rolled her eyes, getting defensive. "I'm so jealous, it's not like I could compete with any girl in this Godforsaken town."

He stopped with the joking and she knew she had taken it a bit too far.

He gave her a disgusted look. "When did you become so rude?"

She didn't expect him to say it so upfront. "Does it really matter." Before he could answer, she spoke in a harsher tone. "Truth is I need to get out of here as soon as possible Finn. I just need you to sign the papers, and I will leave you and your "date" alone."

He wasn't impressed with this either.

She knew he wouldn't sign them, she knew he would refuse to sign them but instead, to her surprise he took a pen out the pencil holder on the kitchen counter.

"Where are they?"


Her flight was scheduled for tomorrow night. She would leave from Lima and arrive in New York by midnight. It felt like 100 pounds had been lifted off her chest. She could leave this town in peace, return to her home.

To her surprise Finn had let her borrow his truck so she could go into the local Wal Mart to get some personal necessities she could not survive another day without.

Finn had done a lot to surprise her today, considering how she's been acting. Watching him sign those papers had been a blur. She watched in a daze as he slowly scribbled Finn Hudson on the dotted line, before looking up at her and saying "I don't have a date tonight by the way."

It was weird. She had expected a sense of accomplishment, or some kind of conclusion. All she wanted was finality, but she didn't feel it.

Now she was in Wal Mart browsing through the mini shampoo bottles and mini deodorants. She was stunned that nobody had approached her yet, asking for autographs or pictures considering that she was the most well known Broadway Star of this generation!

"Rachel Berry?" Someone had called behind her, she turned with a brilliant smile expecting a fan but to her disappointment, it was an older man who stood there smiling at her.

"Hello" She smiled, he stood there in a daze, simply looking at her with the biggest smile on his face. He had to be fifty or so, he had a prominent square chin and curly-perm like hair and...

"Mr Schue?" She realized. Her eyes went wide as he nodded.

"Rachel Berry, my God, how have you been?"

She couldn't help it. She ran to him and enveloped him in a big hug.

"It's been forever!" She laughed, pulling away from him. "I've been great."

He smiled at her and held her by her elbows. "From what I've heard, you've been more then great." He joked. "Always knew you were going to be a star Rachel, ever since that first day I met you."

She smiled at him, tears nearly filling her eyes. "How have you been? How is everything?"

"Everything is going well. My daughter Bridget is now in the 7th grade and my son Adam is in University now. Me and Emma are doing very well, thank you for asking."

Rachel gasped, "Wow they're so old now. I remember when Adam was just little."

Mr. Schue smiled, remembering the old days. "Come with me Rachel, lets have lunch. I would love to catch up with you."


"So how is it?" Mr. Schue asked, taking a sip from his ice water. They were at the local Applebee's eating lunch together. "The whole career, the spotlight. Is it everything you've ever dreamed?"

Rachel smiled and thought about everything she had gained over the years and everything she had accomplished. "Yes, it's everything I've ever wished for."

Mr. Schuester smiled. "I'm glad Rachel, I really am." After another sip of his water he chimed in. "Well Finn must be happy to see you, am I correct?"

Rachel's smile wavered and Mr Schue furrowed his brows. "Finn's not too happy to have me back." She glanced at her hands in her lap.

"That's that biggest lie I have ever heard." He said boldly. She looked up at him, he was completely serious. "I've known Finn for many years, and whenever I see him all he talks about is how wonderful you are Rachel."

She gasped unexpectedly. A weird shiver stopped her cold still. It wasn't something he had expected to hear.

"I don't want to lie to you Mr. Schuester. The truth is I'm returning to New York tomorrow evening and I don't think I will be returning to Lima anytime soon. Finn could do much better without me. We are not the kids we used to be."

Mr. Schue's lips were pursed and he gave her that same look he used to give her.

"I've watched the both of you grow up. I've watched the both of you graduate, fall in love, get married and buy your first house. I watched you fall in love with Broadway and leave for New York while he stayed behind. And ever since that day I've watched him fight to get you back."

Rachel sat there, stunned. "What do you mean?"

Mr. Schue gave her a timid smile. "Did you know he went up there, to New York I mean?"

She furrowed her brows. "Who? Finn?"

He nodded. "I was the only one who knew. About a year after you left. He told me he'd never seen anything like it." Mr. Schue smiled at her, lost in thought. "He knew that it would take more than an apology to get you back. He'd have to conquer the world first... He's been trying ever since."

She didn't move. Couldn't move, couldn't speak. She was shocked. All this time. All these 6 years and she never considered it. Never knew he had followed her, never knew he still cared.

"That's why he kept sending the papers back."

Mr. Schue sat there, and a single tear escaped from the corner of her eye but she quickly wiped it. She tried to smile. "I guess I have missed alot, more then I expected."

Mr. Schue gave a short laugh. "It's been rough here Rachel, with everything that's happened...and with Kurt.." He went off.

"Wait- what happened with Kurt. I haven't seen him yet!" She smiled. Her smile immediately vanished when she saw the look on Mr. Schue's face.

"Rachel-" He warned in a low, solum voice. His eyes were blank, all expression gone from his face. It was too late for a change of subject, to late for her to cover her ears from what she didn't want to hear. She didn't want to know anymore. She didn't want to know what she had missed or didn't miss. She didn't want to know but the words left Mr. Schuesters lips anyway.

"Kurt died."



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