Chapter Nine

"Finn!" Rachel squealed, "Isn't this stealing?"

Finn gave her a sideways look and laughed, "Yeah, doll. It is."

Rachel stomped her foot, "This isn't fair to whoever we're stealing from."

Finn sucked in a breath and turned to Rachel, putting his fingers through her hair, "Rachel, doll, we need to go. We have about 30 minutes until the sun comes completely up which means we have about 15 to get out of the Chicago area." Finn whispers, "I will do my best to get this car back here but the most important thing right now is getting us, and more specifically, you out of here."

Rachel frowned and him but agreed as he broke into the car, luckily the keys were sitting in the ignition like so many people on this side of town did, "Some people are too trust worthy." Finn told Rachel, "Hop in." Rachel ran around the other side of the car and did just that, they sped out of town, taking every back road Finn knew of.

"I wish we knew where anyone was." Rachel said sadly as she looked out of the window and Finn nodded sadly at her, "I feel so terrible for being awful to Santana, I miss her so much." She sniffled, wiping her eye to avoid any stray tears to making their way over her lids.

Finn turned to his girl and grabbed her hand, "It's okay, doll. We'll make this work." He murmured softly, "I promise."

Rachel nodded sincerely, knowing that he was being honest.

By nightfall the next evening Finn found himself on a familiar doorstep, Rachel's hand in his. When his Mom opened the door her weary smiled turned bright, "Finny?" She squaked, opening the screen door, "It's you." She laughed out, throwing herself into her arms and she cried tears of joy, rocking him back and forth.

Rachel looked at the two with a grin on her face, this woman who loved Finn so much and he loved her back enough to support her through everything. Rachel's heart swelled at the sight of the reunion.

"I know, Mama." Finn mumbled into her hair, "I love ya too." He chuckled softly as she cried inaudible words.

When they made their way inside, Carole put herself together and introduced herself,
"Rachel. You are just, wow." Carole breathed, "You are more beautiful than Finn described."

"He told you about me?" Rachel asked.

Carole nodded sweetly, "He did, he wrote me last week. I ju-just, I can't even believe you two are here." Carole smirked before looking at the clock. "Oh my, I actually, uh, son." She spoke to Finn awkwardly, "I have to freshen up, I have a date… but I can cancel if-"

Finn shook his head furiously, "Not at all, Mom. We can fend for our self. We had a long drive anyway."

Carole smiled at her boy and hugged him again, "I'll make breakfast tomorrow. Your favorite." She promised before rushing to her room before she cried again.

Finn and Rachel sat on the couch in the living room listening to the radio as Rachel hummed along to every song, when the doorbell rang Finn opened the door to see a very bald man with a grin a bouquet, "Oh, uh, is Carole here?" The man asked looking behind Finn.

Finn nodded, opening the screen door for him, "She'll be down in a minute." He promised, "I'm Finn."

"Finn Hudson?" The man laughed, "Well I'll be a monkey's uncle…" He looked him up and down, "You're much taller than I thought."

Finn laughed, "You shoulda seen my pop." He mentioned, "And you are?"

"Burt." The man smiled at the man, "Burt Hummel. I'm a widower like your Mom there and, well, we've become real close."

Finn nodded hesitantly, "I see."

"You know I've asked your Mama to marry me, she just hasn't been interested without your blessing. I'd take real good care of her." Burt nodded proudly, "I don't work in the mines, I build cars, you know?" He said with a nod and a smirk, "A growing profession these days."

Finn bit his lip and felt Rachel slip her hand into his, he looked back and her and she smiled sweetly, knowingly, and Finn looked back and Burt, "Well, maybe you'll ask her again." Finn encouraged, "You never know, maybe now with me here…" Finn trailed off hearing Carole clear her throat behind him. He turned to his mom and grinned.

"Now you two wouldn't be spreading gossip about a lady, would you?" She said with a wink before walking towards them, kissing Finn's cheek and taking Burt's hand. "I won't be gone long. I got a roast in the slow cooker." She told him.

"Always cooking." Burt laughed and led her out the front door, while Rachel and Finn watched the couple leave.

Rachel kissed Finn's cheek and snuggled into his side, "I like her a lot." She told Finn.

Finn nodded before kissing Rachel's forehead, "She's the best." Finn promised and closed the door.

Finn and Rachel ate and drank the good liquor in Carole's cabinet before filing up to the guest room and piling on blankets and dressing in extra shirts Finn found in storage.

Rachel crawled into bed and curled up to Finn, kissing his neck and cheek as he hummed her a lullaby, "I love you Finny." She breathed onto him as they drifted off to sleep.

Finn didn't know how, but everything was going to work out for them. He knew it.

The End.


Stay Tuned for the Epilogue.