A/N: Hi all! Sorry it has been so long! Classes will be over soon, then I'll be able to tackle this fic with full force again! I know I have MANY (it's a long one, so stay-tuned) chapters to come in "Together We'll Be," but I'm already planning a sequel as well as a collection of one-shots, etc that will be made up of missing moments from their relationship (all three years we saw at McKinley), scenes from different POV, etc. It's sort of a companion piece. ANYWAY, please enjoy Chapter Seven of TWB, and as always, please review! I appreciate the alerts and favorites so much, but reviews are like little Christmas presents!
Also, please follow me on Tumblr!: Ladeefinchel (dot) tumblr (dot) com. There you will find Finchel/Monchele images, thoughts on episodes, essays on the series, "best of lists," and perhaps even a Finchel drabble or too!
"Oh, San! Look at this one!" I pulled an adorable lavender dress off the rack and held it up against my body, "It's perfect!" Santana glanced over her shoulder from where she was looking through a rack of jeans. She glanced up at me, then back down at the dress.
"No."
What?
"But it's perfect for me!" I played with the pink sash around the waist, smiling at the white trim along the hem of the skirt.
"Exactly, little Hud," Santana said, taking the dress from me and pushing it back onto the rack, "I thought the whole point of this little adventure was to shake up your wardrobe a bit."
"Yeah," I sighed, remembering the insecurities I had felt the last couple of weeks. Kurt and I were loving NYADA, but I couldn't help but notice that I could easily be overlooked in the crowd. So many of the others were flashier styles, brighter colors, that I worried that I would fade into the background.
Then there was Karrie. And Finn.
It wasn't that I didn't trust Finn. I did, completely. He was my husband, and showed me just how much he loved me every single day. All day. It's true that I had secretly held on to the hurt and worry that I had experienced while we were broken up senior year… it still killed me to remember that he had gone back to Quinn, even though the girl and I had since become great friends.
No. I loved Finn, and he loved me. I could see his heart in his eyes when he looked at me.
I did not, however, trust Karrie. True, I had never met her, but Kurt and I had put our excellent facebook creeping skills to great use the other night while Finn and Santana were out.
"Is Finn friends with her?" Kurt asked, firing up his laptop as we stretched out across his bed. I nodded, pulling my long hair up into a ponytail.
"I mean, I'm sure," I said, resting my chin on Kurt's shoulder. I smiled at the picture of him with Blaine that graced his desktop. It had been taken just after our performance at Nationals. I squeezed Kurt's shoulders in a hug, kissing his cheek, "You two looked quite dapper, didn't you."
"I miss him," he sighed, pressing his cheek to mine as he hugged me back, "Now, let's see about this Karrie skank, shall we?" He clicked open his internet, winking at me.
"Where would I be without you?" I laughed, as he made his way to Finn's profile. He shrugged, and feigned a sigh.
"Hopelessly lost in love with that dopey brother of mine," he teased, "Not that I help much with that. But I do hold your hand so you don't run into everything as you two stare at each other."
"That's very helpful!"
"Wow." Kurt said suddenly, staring at the computer screen, "She sure does make her presence known, doesn't she?" I rolled my eyes as I saw what he was talking about. He scrolled down to the older posts, then scrolled up as we read.
Finn Hudson can't believe he got into Adelphi's Show Choir! Reppin' it Finny-D style!
Karrie Anne Clark, Rachel Hudson-Berry, and 6 other people like this.
Noah Puckerman: Guess you guys really ain't gonna move to L.A.?
Blaine Anderson: Fantastic! Maybe I can join you there in the fall! Leave NYADA for Kurt and Rach!
Rachel: I'm so proud of you! Now hurry home, "Finny-D!" ;)
Karrie: "Got in?" You're going to be the lead, silly! 3 As a FRESHMAN too!
"What in the name of Menzel is THAT?" I asked, leaning forward, my fingers gripping Kurt's arm, "Is that a heart? Is she flirting on MY husband's facebook?"
"I can't believe we haven't noticed this!" Kurt said, shaking his head, scrolling further up the page, "I guess we've just been too wrapped up in our own first few weeks at school that we haven't paid attention. I sighed, nodding, then rested my cheek on his shoulder again to read more.
Finn Hudson will forever be in love with his wife. Rachel Hudson-Berry, I love you so, so much. Thanks for marrying me, babe! ;)
Karrie Anne Clark, Santana Lopez, and 12 others like this.
Tina Cohen-Chang: I still have wedding candids to send you guys! Or should I just upload them on here?Sam Evans: Still so happy for you guys, man! Maybe I'll get to visit New York soon…ish.
Noah Puckerman likes this.
Finn Hudson: Yeah, Tina, you can just put them here! Our photo guy got the pictures to her dads a couple of weeks ago, but they haven't sent them to us yet. I bet Rach would love to see your pics! And alright, man! Anytime!
Karrie Anne Clark: Well, aren't you the SWEETEST thing, Finn Hudson! She sure is a lucky lady to have you. 3 3
Noah Puckerman: Who are you?
Sam Evans and Blaine Anderson like this.
Finn: No, Karrie, you got it backwards. I'm the lucky one. She's perfect.
Noah Puckerman likes this.
Finn: Oh, and she's in show choir with me.
"What are you two lady birds doing in here?" Santana asked, bursting into the room and plopping down on the bed. She peered over my shoulder at Kurt's laptop and laughed.
"Frankenteen? You do know we live with him right? Let's see how Trouty is doin'."
"Sorry I'm late!" Kurt said as he hurried into the store, breaking me out of my reverie "I got caught on the train." He hugged me before turning to the long rack of dresses.
"Check this one, y'all." 'Tana said, pulling a little red number from the rack, "It's perfect. Not too Berry, but not to-"
"Whore?" Kurt asked, glancing over his shoulder at the dress Santana held.
"Excuse me, Hums?" she replied, draping the dress over her arm as she continued to look, "Think you can do better for our little chickie?"
"Of course I can, San," Kurt laughed, rolling his eyes, "I've really known and loved her longer."
"Wanna make a wager?" Santana asked, placing her free hand on her hip, "Whoever finds an outfit that Rachel goes for buys the other dinner."
"You're on, woman," Kurt agreed, turning his back on 'Tana. I groaned, and stomped my foot.
"I know you did not just stamp your pretty little foot, Berry," Santana laughed, "this isn't a movie."
"But this is my life," I countered, crossing my arms, "We're shopping for me, remember?" "I thought we were shopping for the "new Rachel."
"Well, the more I think about it, the more I kind of hate the idea of a new me." I reached for the lavender dress, ignoring the grimace that passed between my two best friends, "I have always preached about being true to yourself, loving who you are, and never letting go of your true self, no matter what. I'm not going to change who I am just because I'm afraid of blending in at school or because I'm worried about a tall, leggy blonde who may or may not be plotting to steal away my husband."
Both Kurt and Santana froze, surprised. Although I had made it clear that Karrie's presence in Finn's life made me uncomfortable, I had managed to keep from voicing my deepest fear. I knew Finn wouldn't intentionally hurt me and I trusted him with every fiber of my being… but I was still me. A tiny woman with a big nose and bigger voice. I felt the tears slip down my cheeks as I absorbed their shocked expressions, and spun to run to the dressing rooms. I locked the stall door behind me and perched on the little bench, hugging the dress to me.
"Rach?" Kurt said softly, knocking on the door, "Can you let us in, Diva?"
"I just need a minute," I called back, brushing my long hair out of my face, "I'll try it on and show you guys if I like it." I let out a relieved sigh when I heard the two pairs of footsteps fade away and leaned back against the dressing room wall. All of a sudden, my phone buzzed in my purse, startling me. I unlocked the screen, and giggled when I accepted the message from Finn.
It was a picture of his face, pouting for the camera. Underneath the picture, he had typed, "Finny misses Rachie. Come home to me." I smiled, and ran my pinkie over his pouting lips in the picture. I thought I had grown out of worrying about my relationship with Finn. He was my husband now, and he never missed an opportunity to let me know how much he loved me. I quickly took a picture of my own pouting face and sent it back.
They would never be less than perfect.
"God, I am NOT looking forward to going to work tonight," Santana huffed as we made our way up the third flight of stairs to our fourth floor apartment.
"Oh, are you working the graveyard shift at the diner tonight, then?" Kurt asked, pausing to catch his breath. The climb was definitely something that was taking us all awhile to get used to.
"No, sweet cheeks, I'm going to take off my panties and make sex eyes at passersby on the street corner," she rolled her eyes, "Yes, I'm working the graveyard tonight."
"Hostile much?" Kurt muttered as he turned to continue up the stairs. I sighed and followed behind, lugging three shopping bags with me.
"You should have told me, San," I said as we walked down the hall of the fourth floor to our cozy 4E, "I would have made sure we got back sooner."
"It's no big, princess," she replied, playfully pushing Kurt out of the way so she could unlock the door.
"Hey guys!" Finn called, hurrying forward as we pushed through the door. I smiled at my husband, my doubts and fears from earlier seeming more ridiculous than ever as he took the bags from me after pressing a warm kiss to my lips.
"Jesus, Hudson, at least let us get through the damn door before you attack your wife," Santana teased with a grin, winking at me before hurrying back to her bedroom to change into her work uniform.
"What did ya get?" Finn asked, ignoring Santana and punching Kurt's shoulder softly, "Any food?"
"No I-" I blushed when Finn opened the smallest bag and grinned, obviously pleased with the tiny black lacies he found there. I glanced at Kurt who was laughing silently into his hand as he sat on the sofa.
"What do you mean no?" He asked, raising an eyebrow as he grinned, "These look super delicious.""Finn!" I laughed, pushing him as we made our way back to our bedroom. He chuckled and laid back on the bed as I started to hang up the two tops, skirt, and the lavender dress I had purchased that day in our closet. I turned around and blushed when I caught him staring at me.
"You're beautiful," he said, grinning and holding his hand out to me, " Have I told you that lately?"
"Hmm, once or twice," I teased, stretching out to lay beside him. He propped himself up on one elbow to smile down at me, trailing his fingers along my cheekbone.
"Well, Mrs. Hudson, get ready to hear it again," he said before brushing his lips against mine and whispering "You're beautiful."
I smiled into our kiss, all of my doubts from earlier slipping away as his hands ran tenderly down my sides, pulling me closer to him. He sighed against my skin as he trailed sweet kisses down the column of my throat, lingering at my collarbone. I could feel his long eyelashes fluttering against my neck as he traced his tongue along the neckline of my top, lacing his fingers through my long hair. I buried my own hands into the thick hair curling at the nape of his neck, pressing into him, reveling in his warmth.
"I love you, you know," he whispered against my chest as he slid his hand under my top to press gently against my stomach, "all of you."
"Even the crazy?" I teased, using Kurt and 'Tana's usual line. He lifted his head to grin at me and his dimples seemed almost permanent with his happiness.
"Especially the crazy," he said, his voice low, husky. He ducked his hand and slid down my body slightly to press a kiss against my stomach as he lifted my shirt up and over my head. I could feel the familiar blush on my skin as his hands traced over my breast, smoothing the pad of his thumb across the thin material. He slowly trailed his tongue back up my torso, pressing a sweet kiss to the soft skin between my breasts. I sighed and reached for the hem of his shirt, eager to feel his skin against mine.
"Hey, Rach!" Kurt said, bursting through the door, carrying his laptop, "Tina finally- Oh dear LORD." He lifted his computer to cover his face, muttering something about 'locked doors are our friends.'
"Jesus, Kurt!" Finn yelled, sitting up as I laughed uncontrollably on the bed, "You live with a married couple! Knock!" Kurt peeked out from behind his laptop, and seemed satisfied that his brother, at least, was fully clothed.
"I'm sorry," he replied, clearly in a huff, " I would think that your door would be locked if you were going to engage in Finchel love." I giggled again.
"Get out, please," Finn said, still panting slightly from our kisses. I blushed, because I could tell he was having a difficult time "settling down," despite the fact that his brother was in the room.
"You couldn't ask nicely?" Kurt scoffed, running his hands through his hair, only his blush revealing the fact that he was still embarrassed, "I was just letting Rachel know that Tina finally uploaded some pictures from the 'wedding of the century' or whatever it was that Rach wanted us to call it. She lost her SD card, but she found it so-"
"Well, thanks," Finn said, standing up, "Now, bye Kurt!"
"Fine, fine," Kurt said, turning to go. He paused and smiled at me, "Oh, is that the bra that we found on sale? You bought the purple one too, didn't-"
"Out, Kurt!" Finn finally yelled, blushing as his brother spoke about bra shopping with his wife. Kurt and I both roared with laughter as my frustrated husband slammed the door with a 'I'm locking in now, are you happy?'
"He means well, Finny," I giggled, still lying back on the bed, watching as climbed up to be beside me again.
"I know," he sighed, pressing his lips to mine in a quick kiss, "but… so do I." He winked, then brushed my mouth with a kiss again as he traced my lips with his tongue and we picked up right where we had left off.
A/N: Remember, Reviews are love! And I love all of you, so… love me too? ;)