A/N: soo thank you for all the positive reviews! it's absolutely incredible. i don't think i've gotten so many reviews with so little chapters. this story is kicking ass with the story alerts &it just makes me feel so great, so thank you everyone! i just wanted to get that out there!
ON WITH THE STORY!
Chapter Four
Rachel's eyes fluttered open as the morning sun streamed down on her from the window above her head. It took her a couple moments to remember where she was as she glanced around at her childhood room. She sat up and let out a heavy breath, looking towards her alarm clock that read '10:03AM'.
The house was still extremely quiet, not like she was used to. When she used to live here, her fathers' always woke up at 7:30AM, claiming they had much to do in the short day. After moving in with Puck, he always waited in bed for her to wake up so they could start their day together, eating breakfast, laughing and kissing at the table in the kitchen or on the couch in the living room. And at her apartment back in New York, Jesse usually spent the night and he already had breakfast waiting for her in the kitchen as she woke up- alone.
That's one thing she constantly compared Jesse to Puck; one is very modern with showing his affection, while the other one knows exactly- without being asked- what she wants.
But as she sat in her bed, listening intently to the surrounding sounds, or lack there of, she was missing her apartment back home. Even when Jesse wasn't there, the walls were thin and she could hear her neighbor's waking up and starting their days.
Her stomach growled and she finally decided to wake up and go downstairs, hoping there was food in the kitchen. Grabbing her cell phone and slipping on a pair of running shorts, she made her way out of the bedroom and down the stairs, her feet thumping against the black and white marble tiles.
Rachel walked into the large, black and silver kitchen and placing her cell phone on the dark marble island before making her way to the refrigerator. She pulled the stainless-steel fridge open and peered inside, seeing eggs and a couple different vegetables. She opened the freezer part of it, seeing sausages, bread, chicken fingers, and a couple bottles of wine.
Deciding she would make an omelet, she pulled the eggs and vegetables out and placing them on the counter. She started chopping up a green pepper when the doorbell rang.
She looked down at herself and made her way over to the door, pulling it open a couple inches.
"What are you doing?" Finn's voice asked amusedly.
Rachel raised an eyebrow, "I could ask you the same thing."
"Well," Finn smiled and held up a take home bag from Dunkin' Donuts, "I got some breakfast, thought I'd come over and we can catch up?"
Rachel bit her lip and flashed her eyes between Finn and the bag, "Uh, sure. Come in, excuse my appearance though."
"Don't even," Finn smiled, slipping in through the small crack and raising an eyebrow as Rachel shut the door, "You always look great, even though you just got out of bed."
"I didn't think anybody was coming over," Rachel revealed, "But thank you."
"Hungry?" Finn grinned to her.
"Starved," Rachel exclaimed dramatically.
He laughed and made his way to the kitchen with Rachel following him, "I got you a lemon tea with honey and a whole-wheat and honey bagel with nothing on it," Finn grinned as he took a seat in at the island, "I remembered that's what you always had before school so hopefully you still like it."
"It's wonderful," Rachel smiled, taking a small sip of the tea before putting the eggs and vegetables away, "Thank you, Finn."
"Not a problem," Finn smiled as she took a seat opposite of him, "So how's Rachel Be- Puckerman?" His face turned into confusion, "Rachel Puckerman still, right?"
"Unfortunately," Rachel sighed, taking a piece of the bagel and popping it into her mouth, "Yum."
"Glad you like it," The tall man smiled, "So what was that all about yesterday? I didn't know you two were still married."
"Noah won't sigh the papers," Rachel stated, taking a sip of tea.
"Oh," Finn nodded, trailing off, "I didn't know- Puck told me that you sent him divorce papers a year after you left, but he didn't tell me he didn't sign."
Rachel shrugged, "He sent them back every time."
Finn bit his lip, looking awkward as he engaged in a conversation with his best friend's wife- his childhood best friend that he hasn't seen for more than 5 years, "I thought he signed them."
"Everyone did," Rachel nodded, "But he didn't. And now I've come so he doesn't have an excuse not to sign them."
Finn was silent for a moment as he sipped at his coffee. Finally he looked up to her and sighed, "You didn't come to my wedding."
"I know," Rachel whispered out and frowned, "It was nothing personal Finn, I promise- not with you at least."
Finn sighed, "I wanted you there- I need you there, Rach."
"I know," She whispered again, "I'm so sorry."
Finn was silent again for a moment, not knowing what to say. He couldn't possibly lie to his friend and say that it was okay and all was forgiven, but he felt as if he didn't say it- she would leave again.
"You don't have to say anything," Rachel broke into his thoughts, "I understand."
"I don't think you do," Finn frowned but then changed his tone and gave her a tight smile, "So New York, huh? That's some big stuff right there."
"I don't want to talk about New York," Rachel shook her head.
"Well, uh…" Finn trailed off, looking awkwardly around the kitchen to see if anything would spark his interest, "The weather is-"
"Really?" Rachel scoffed with amusement, "We're going to talk about the weather?"
"I don't know what to say…" Finn trailed off again, his body tensing with the awkwardness he felt.
"Tell me…" Rachel thought for a moment, trying to save Finn from his self- some things never change, "You can tell me about you're wife; I hear congratulations are in order."
Finn grinned again and Rachel matched it, "Who'd you hear that from?"
"I have my ways," Rachel smiled, "But congratulations soon-to-be dad- twins?!"
Finn nodded slowly, "Crazy, huh?"
"Too crazy," Rachel smiled and listened to Finn continue speaking about his wife, Quinn and her random cravings in the middle of the night. She listened to his proud voice as he tried to reenact the first time he heard their heartbeats and how he was still nervous and scared to be a father.
"I mean, what if I drop them on their heads?!" Finn expressed with fearful eyes.
"You're going to be fine, Finn," Rachel nodded, "Want to know how I know?"
"How exactly would you know?" Finn scoffed, taking a sip of his coffee.
"Because you are the most caring person I know," Rachel smiled, "Who was it that helped me with the stupid hockey players after they slushied me in our senior year?"
"Me," He mumbled, "But that's different."
"How?" Rachel raised an eyebrow, "You knew exactly what to say and you made me feel better; they never touched me again."
"That was because Puck and I beat the living crap out of them when you were having a nap after school," Finn mumbled again.
"I know," Rachel smirked, "Trust me, Finn- you're going to be a great dad."
It was silent again and Finn kept flashing his eyes from the table to Rachel's eyes. In the small moments where she could see his eyes, they looked worrisome and uneasy again like how they did when they weren't talking about the prospect of him being a father.
"What's going on, Finn?" Rachel finally asked, her eyebrow rising.
Finn shrugged his shoulders, "Nothing."
"I know when something's bothering you," Rachel admitted, "So tell me."
Finn sighed and looked around before his eyes finally landed on Rachel's, "Puck was pretty broken up when you sent him those divorce papers, Rach."
Rachel sighed, she knew this was coming. It was basically a written rule where best friends would protect and stand up for best friends- but Finn was Rachel's friend first, so why is he defending Puck?
"Well, I was pretty broken up when he consistently told me, I was better off without him," Rachel rolled her eyes.
"He was upset that you didn't tell him-"
"And that's his excuse for not coming to New York with his wife?" Rachel cut Finn off, her eyes burning into his as her anger and annoyance started to show, "It was his idea for me to even apply to that stupid school! And then he gets upset because I chose it?"
"Rachel-"
"No, Finn!" Rachel shook her head, "It wasn't fair, okay? I can't believe you're taking his side over this? Wasn't it you that told me, 'no matter what, I'll always be there for you'?"
"Rachel!"
"Finn, you were my friend first!"
"Listen to me!" Finn stared back, waiting a moment before continuing just to see if Rachel would interrupt him, "Okay, I'm not choosing sides. I'm Switzerland, okay?" Rachel just stared at him, "I understand that it was his idea and he shouldn't be angry that you chose it; I understand that, okay?" Rachel said nothing, "But you have to see it from his side-"
"But-"
"I said listen," Finn interrupted, "You have to see it from Puck's side. Imagine that the place you grew up in, the places all your guys' memories were, where you got married and had a house and your families, friends, work was here, okay?" Rachel sighed and raised an eyebrow, waiting for Finn to continue, "Imagine that your wife wanted to leave this all behind and go to New York."
"He made me go!" Rachel stated quickly, afraid Finn would cut her off.
"He didn't want to hold you back anymore," Finn stated lowly.
"He wasn't holding me back!" Rachel shook her head.
"That's why you filed for divorce?" Finn raised an eyebrow.
Rachel let her mouth drop slowly, her eyebrows scrunching down in a scowl, "That's a low blow."
"I'm just trying to understand, Rach?" Finn shrugged, "You guys went from completely in love to Puck freaking out at work a year after you leave, saying that you wanted to divorce him."
"Finn, it wasn't fair to me," Rachel shook her head, "He hardly talked to me, he wouldn't come see me and I didn't have time to come back here. We spent Christmas apart for the first time in 3 years; he didn't even call me on my birthday," Her throat grew tight as she remembered crying so many nights over her shattering marriage and not being able to help it, "Do you know what it's like not being able to see someone you love so much, for an entire year? I didn't know what to do, Finn! It was either being stuck in this marriage and not being able to move forward with my life or being able to put it behind me and move on."
Rachel shrugged and adverted her eyes, staring more intently on the paper cup that held her more than likely cold tea. She blinked away the memories of her freshman year of college and shook her heard slightly; she was in a better place now. She had support in Jesse and had success on Broadway.
"You did the only logical thing you could do?" Finn stated as more a question than a response.
"If I wanted my life back," Rachel shrugged.
"You know…" Finn trailed off, licking his dry lips before continuing, "Even though you left, you're still one of my best friends."
This comment made Rachel lift her eyes, staring into Finn's saddened eyes, "Am I?"
"No matter what, I'll always be there for you," Finn whispered, shrugging his shoulders.
"Thanks," Rachel stated again, looking over his features, "Hey, you have scruff on your face."
Finn laughed, happy that the tension was lifting from the room, "And you have boobs."
"Hey!" Rachel laughed.
"Kidding," Finn blushed, "Listen, remember the bon fire at the fair grounds Lima has every August?" Rachel nodded, "It's happening tonight."
"Really?" Rachel smiled; she used to love going there.
Finn nodded, "Want to go?"
"With you?" Rachel smirked, obviously teasing him. Finn's smile turned into a grin, "Well, Finn Hudson- hitting on a married girl, while you're married too- what has this world come to?"
"It's how I make a living," Finn smirked, shrugging his shoulders, "No but seriously, want to? It'll be great to catch up more; you can finally meet Quinn."
"Uh, I guess," Rachel shrugged, "I'll meet you there; how does that sounds?"
"It sounds great," Finn revealed, standing up.
"You're leaving?" Rachel asked, her eyes glancing to the stainless-steel stove and seeing it was already 12:30.
"I'm meeting up with…" Finn stopped talking but Rachel knew who he was about to say.
"It's okay, you can talk about Noah, Finn," Rachel smiled, but not letting it reach her eyes.
Finn didn't notice, "Well, yeah. I'm meeting up with him; we're buying some wood."
"Okay," Rachel nodded, standing up as Finn did and started walking him to the door.
"It was nice catching up," Finn revealed, grinning to her.
Rachel nodded again, "Yeah it was. Hey, Finn?"
"Hm?" He made an inquiring noise as he pulled on his running shoes.
"I'm really happy you're happy," Rachel smiled, "I missed you a lot."
Finn stood up again and smiled at her warmly, "I missed you too." Rachel leaned forward and enveloped Finn in a tight hug; he picked her up and made a groaning noise, "Oh, I don't think I can do that anymore."
Rachel laughed as he put her back down, "You're not that old."
"Old enough," Finn smirked.
"You can't be old because that means I am."
"Well…" Finn trailed off, smiling with amusement.
"Hey!" Rachel mock gasped, smacking his shoulder, "Get out of here you big goof."
"Alright, alright!" Finn smiled, leaning against the screen door to open it before turning back to look at her, "Hey, Rach?"
"Yeah, Finn?" Rachel asked, laughing.
"When you left here, Puck wasn't the only person you left behind."
Rachel frowned at his remark and leaned up to kiss his cheek, "I know… I'm sorry about that."
Finn nodded and stepped out of the house, walking to his truck. He looked over his shoulder and smiled at her, "I'll see you around 7. Bye Rachel."
Rachel smiled and waved as she leaned on the door before closing it.
This small town was making her head hurt, as well as her heart.
A/N: heey! so that was kind of a filler chapter, i know! but finn/rachel friendship woo! lol, &someone gave me the idea of having Quinn the "always-pregnant-lady" from SHA lol.
to be honest, i didn't know if i wanted to write quinn in, but i'm kinda happy i did- thoughts?
so from here, where do you think puck/rachel relationship is going to go?
what do you want to happen?
anything specific that you'd like me to put in? quotes, maybe?
tell me &if i realllly like it, you'll get a special surprise..
perhaps a one-shot dedicated to you or a specific chapter from this story. (tell me what one in the reevieww *shameless plug :P )
alright, thank you for reading! let me know what you guys think!
reviews are GREATLY appreciated! :D