I'm sorry about the one day extra delay. It's my fault, yesterday was too busy to finish this chapter, but I had a part of the next one written the day before. So it should be three days, as usual, until the next one. Thank you all so much for all the support you're showing to this story!

For Rachel, thing couldn't be better. Tina was complimenting her on the dinner, and everyone, about thirty people, was there. Finn had been relegated to the extremity of the table, where he could annoy no one with his chauvinistic remarks and egoistical behavior. He seemed to be fine with having Brittany as his neighbor, and he had been stopped before he could comment on the decision of letting him speak tomorrow.

She had been watching him from time to time from the corner of her eye, and had found him either discussing with his blond neighbor, or focused on his sheet of paper. Everything was under control. Brittany never got upset, and he was writing… something. He had been the biggest variable here, but for now, it was okay. She felt bad having to think about him on these terms, but she couldn't help but hope that the situation wasn't going to get worse. Even if it could potentially break her heart, she preferred to see him in good company rather than alone in the house. Brittany was one of a kind.

Courses went by, always as delicious as the last, and then the rehearsal dinner came to an end. Rachel still had the wedding cake to take care of, but thought it better to put the music in the living room on first. The room was big enough for everyone, sitting or dancing. Tina had insisted not to have an orchestra, preferring instead a good pair of loudspeakers and songs. She wanted a warm and festive ambiance, and Rachel had done an incredible job. She could see smiles on every face, and nothing else was needed to reassure her. Tina and Artie were just happy to be together, and just enjoyed the occasion to have all their friends around.

…

Rachel looked at the clock. In a few minutes, the pastry chef was going to arrive, and deliver the wedding cake. She had asked him to arrive at night, to preserve the cake, and not expose it to the high August temperatures. She first went into the kitchen, to prepare the table on which the cake would stand until tomorrow, being almost done when she heard the gate bell ring. She exited the room, passed directly through the lobby, seeing a pale and apparently frightened Finn appear suddenly from her right, and sprint to the bar. He really didn't look so well, and she was worried. Until she saw Jin, also sitting at the same bar. At this instant, she only hoped for two things. One, that he was responsible and adult enough to see that Jin was out of limits, and two, that he was going to drink enough to end the evening without causing any further damage. The mood swings he was provoking were beginning to seriously tire her.

She asked the pastry chef to bring the cake to the kitchen, after warmly welcoming him, giving him an extra tip for being there on a Saturday evening in the middle of August. She had in her hands the box containing the top figurines, which had been especially made to resemble Artie and Tina as much as possible. Going through the lobby again, she had accidentally caught a few words of the conversation between Jin and Finn. 'A different girl every night, that's life.' Her heart tightened, and made an effort not to look at him. He was preaching his lifestyle, and Jin wouldn't be one to contradict him. At least she knew he wasn't going to cross over the line. It definitely wasn't a subject he talked about with his one-night-stands. The girl sitting across or next to him probably was his one and only subject.

Hearing his words had made her almost dropped the box. It had taken everything she had not to react, and not let go of those beautiful little figurines. She looked around, hoping her slip had gone unnoticed. She wasn't that lucky, Alyssa had seen her.

Rachel knew what was going to happen next. Alyssa had always been one to put men back to their places, no matter the cost to her. It was also how she had met her boyfriend. She was also loyal, up to a fault. Nothing was too good for her friends. She was very good at sparring matches, and few resisted her dead on and frank remarks. It had proven to be dangerous in the past, but this time, it would have to do. Alyssa had never gotten over how Finn had treated Rachel, and she had sworn, a long time ago, to make him taste of his own game.

She knew it; her slip had been enough to decide Alyssa to act. Tonight. She didn't really know to be happy or sad about it. Finn wouldn't be the same after this. One way or another, she would be fixed on his character for good in a very short time. She wasn't sure she was ready to risk him being lost forever, but things regarding him had been out of her control for a very long time.

Finn was still Finn. She decided against doing anything. She just had to wait. And look after the wedding cake in the kitchen.

…

It was a beautiful cake. It stood almost a yard high, carved into five levels, made of a confectioner's custard hiding vanilla and raspberries. No exterior decorations other than a raspberry made, carmine red ribbon, going down all around the cake several times. She just had to set the figurines at the center of the higher level, and it would be perfect.

Reach that high was going to require a chair, and probably some acrobatic skills, but it was okay. She was very supple, agile, and the task wasn't one to scare her. It took a quarter of an hour, half of it spent looking at the cake up close, but she left no trace. She had been completely alone, sheltered from every sight, and had ever realized how much she had needed these few minutes until they were offered to her.

During that time, she had thought back to the wink Alyssa had given her just before. She thought about all they had already done for each other, and everything her friend was about to do. She had promised, some time ago. Another event she had been dreading for four long years had come. She remembered perfectly this day, when Alyssa had found her crying in her office.

May 20, 2021

Alyssa had arrived at the university's main entrance at 7:30pm. Every Thursday since she had met Rachel again by surprise five years ago, they had plans to dine together.

Finding herself still alone half an hour later, Alyssa began to worry. Her friend had never been late, no matter how much work she had. She wouldn't have left without calling first either. Something was definitely up, and Alyssa wanted to know what. She quickly arrived at her friend's office's door, which was open. Coming in, she saw Rachel slumped over her desk, her head in her arms. Stepping closer, she realized her friend was crying. It had been a long time since she had seen Rachel like that.

"Rachel." She called her calmly.

"He… sle…pt with Bri…ttan…y." It was Rachel's first sentence since hearing about it.

"How do you know?" There weren't a lot of suspects, Alyssa just hoped it hadn't been by the media. Brittany was one of their easy preys.

"Brittany told me… She didn't think. She never does. One… word… was en…ough." 'Like it always is', she thought. She had never been one of the blonde's big fans.

"You know how he is, though." That hadn't been really smart, but she couldn't help herself. It had taken years for her to understand how much her friend cared for that curious and based on what she'd heard screwed up man that was Finn Hudson.

"It's Brittany! I know her! I introduced them! It's worse." Rachel was almost yelling, which prevented her from crying even more.

"I know, I was there." That was even less smart. She knew she had to stop saying things like that, she just couldn't yet.

"You'd never do something that horrible." Rachel seemed to calm down, and her friend just wanted the calm to stay.

"I've done bad things too, you know. That was some time ago, before I had someone in my life. But never to you. You don't have to worry about that. To him, maybe I could…" Rachel lifted her head up for the first time since Alyssa had arrived. Her eyes were red and the tears still slowly fell. They had never really been any impairment to any speech of hers. Except once, but that was history neither women wanted to dig up.

"Ally! How can you say that?" There had been irony and sarcasm in Alyssa's voice, and her friend knew it was the sign of an idea forming in her head.

"I'm not saying he has to pay because that tab's never ending, I'm just saying he needs a lesson in life. Most males do."

A smile slowly crept on Rachel's features. "All men don't resemble your colleagues at work, you know." She didn't really like her friend's tendency to generalize everything. It was one of Alyssa worse traits of character.

"Give me proof, then." The irony in Alyssa's voice reassured her friend. Love had changed her, for the better.

"I think you could perfectly be his type, you know. He's kind of dangerous this way." Rachel's words surprised both women.

"Then it's on you to tell me everything you haven't yet about him. Then I'll be on my guard." Only certainty and assurance could be now heard in Alyssa's voice.

"You just can't go up and see him like that. He's heard about you. I don't think that would stop…" Rachel words were lost in her renewed tears.

Then I'll wait. Until you see him next, Rachel. You can't go on like this."

"I don't want you to do it."

"I know. But you need to know, one way or another. I'm just here to help you in that. You know I'm right, too." None of them said a word for a few minutes. Rachel then suddenly took her friend into an embrace. The gesture wasn't that common, but none were embarrassed. They both needed it.

"I love you, you know that?"

Alyssa smiled.

"I do, too."

They stayed in the office, as Rachel's tears were slowly drying. A long time saw the embrace being broken.

"So, you hungry?"

"Starved."

The incident had never been talked of again, by either woman, but Rachel knew none had forgotten. 'It's time', Alyssa had mouthed to her in the lobby. Rachel had then walked away.

Recovering had been hard. She didn't hurt anymore, and had forgiven to Brittany. She had always refused to intentionally hurt Finn, all the while paying and hoping for her feelings to change. In vain. But that hadn't been the scary part. Having the rest of her life depending on the next twenty four hours, that was scary. Terrifying even. but at least, there would be no more wondering, nor praying nor hoping. Either she would Finn again, or she had to definitely move on with her life. Ten years had been a long time to be held back by the past. It was time. There would be no turning back.

…

Reaching the reality back again, she then resolved to forbid everyone else a sight of it, deeming it the best way to keep the cake safe. No one was going to destroy this cake. They would have to pass over her dead body first.

Casting a last glance at the monument on the table, she shut the lights off, and closed the doors, passing directly to the living room.

…

The music had started, and guests were already dancing. Like Kurt. And Mercedes. And Brittany. And some people she had just met, too.

Seeing her arrive, Mercedes yelled in joy.

"You're finally there! You organize everything, and then you don't take the time to enjoy it all? It's going to change, darling. I brought someone you have to meet. He's a doctor. I'm sure you'll…"

"Mercedes! I don't want you to find me someone. Stop playing matchmaker! It's humiliating, and I don't need it."

"I'm gonna forget your last words. It's for your own good. You're not taking care of yourself, so someone had to do it for you. Come on, Rachel. It's a wedding, enjoy! I met my fiancé at one of those. It can only bring you luck! I'm sure you'll like him. He's cute, intelligent, athl…"

"Stop! You won." She had to shut Mercedes up as quickly as possible before she said something even more embarrassing.

"You won't regret it." Mercedes was smiling, happy and proud to have won over Rachel one more time. Maybe this occasion wasn't going to end like every other, in a resounding failure.

"But you might." Rachel murmured, unheard by anyone.

Mercedes left to search for the illustrious unknown. She came back, leading someone by the arm. Rachel felt herself blush in shame, not daring to look at him.

"Rachel Berry, may I introduce to you Noah Puckerman." She finally raised her head, letting her curiosity win.

"Pleased to meet you." He was smiling to the woman in front of him.

"Pleased to meet you, too. I'm sorry about Mercedes. She usually doesn't behave like a five-year-old."

"Hey, no harm done." He didn't seem embarrassed. On the contrary, his smile was only growing, soon reaching his eyes.

Rachel caught herself smiling back to him. Noah Puckerman. If she was really honest with herself, she couldn't help but finding him handsome with his hazelnut eyes, black hair and perfect smile. His perfectly well cut and expensive suit and irreproachable diction didn't hurt either. The professional in her had recognized it instantly.

He probably had won a few hearts over before. And Rachel was on the short way to become one of them.

"Mercedes told me you're a doctor?" Rachel began almost instantly, more and more curious to get to know this man.

"She's right. I'm a medical genetics specialist, but what I love above all is teaching my students about genetics and semiology, and trying to pass on my passion for my job." She was liking him more and more. Maybe it was her lucky day. Maybe Mercedes hadn't been so bad at matchmaking this time…

"Do you take care of your students? Answer me right, and I might accept your invitation to dance." She wasn't shy, never had been. She hoped he was going to invite her anyway, at this point she wasn't sure she cared. She just hoped he shared her visions on teaching, too. He was still smiling, so it couldn't be bad.

He didn't wait to answer her.

"I don't teach any formulas, just some pedagogy. I don't ask for them to learn by heart, I just want them to find the information again. I can't remember their names, always calling them John or Jane, but they all know that my door is opened wide and I do take interest in their lives. I'm just trying to make them appreciate my classes, because they passionate me."

"Noah Puckerman, I'm impressed." And she really was.

"Just call me Noah." He had always appreciated honest women, responding to his kind of bluntness, too. Rachel was tiny, but he likes what she had revealed about herself up to this point: she was cheerful, lively, and he didn't ask for more.

"Okay Noah. Just call me Rachel." She responded in kind.

A few seconds passed before he spoke again.

"Would you like to dance?" he said, holding out his hand to her. With a smile, she set hers in his.

"With pleasure, Noah." She had gotten what she wanted after all. At least one dance with this handsome man, and a way out for her mind.

He led her towards the dance floor just as a slow was beginning, and then embraced her in his arms. She let him lead everything, just enjoying her good dancer of a partner. She could feel her own muscles relax, and managed to let completely go for the first time in ages. Rachel Berry was under the charm of this relative stranger she had just met a few minutes ago. She liked his way of speaking, of dancing and of thinking. They had a lot in common, and she surprised herself wondering if she hadn't met someone to move on with.

…

She closed her eyes and her mind to everything happening all around.

She didn't see Mercedes, in a close embrace with her fiancé, smile for the scene happening in front of her and for the good match she had made for once.

She didn't see Tina and Artie, decided to only dance on the next day, still sitting, watching both couple with an amused, and if they were honest with themselves, relieved eye.

She didn't see Brittany being stopped by her husband before uttering a comment that could have ruined the moment they were in. all she had wanted to say was that they were good together.

She didn't see Alyssa leaning against the doorframe, watching her let go. She was happy, and even more focused on her plan, wanting to know if her friend had a future with Finn or if she had to let him go, and maybe beginning another future right now, with the man that held her in his arms. Her job had given her the occasion of seeing him once or twice, and she knew he was a good man. She had brought a patient to the hospital one day, and he had been the only one here, listening to her checkup, and giving her the necessary information before thanking her. It had been a good change from the overbearing ego she sometimes felt from the medical personnel, just because she was a paramedic and not one of them.

…

To her, Rachel had a choice to make. The past or the future.

At this moment, she knew the future would win.