A New Year - Chapter 10

(I do not own Glee or any of the characters or songs mentioned in this chapter.)

It was New Years Eve, the last night of 2011. New Directions had been invited to perform in Columbus, Ohio at the city's First Night event. Winning Nationals the spring before had given them the notoriety that they deserved. First Night in Columbus was a big deal. It was a non alcoholic celebration in the blocked off streets of downtown Columbus. They would be one of 150 performers at 15 performance sites in downtown Columbus. Just getting the invitation had galled Sue Sylvester.

The parents had chartered buses to take New Directions to Columbus instead of the usual school buses. The dead of winter in Ohio was rather cold on a school bus. The two buses left Lima at three in the afternoon to make their two hour trip to Columbus. New Directions and the McKinley Jazz Band were riding in the lead bus followed by their proud parents in the second bus.

Finn had secured the back seat for he and Rachel and they were snuggled up together. They told the on lookers that it was just for warmth, but really they just wanted to be close.

"Did you have a chance to talk to your mom about the Jesse dinner that was bothering you?" Finn asked.

"Yes, Shelby claims that she was just playing match maker between Jesse and I. I told her that I had no intentions of ever being with Jesse and that you were the guy that I wanted to be with," Rachel said snuggling a little closer.

"Thanks, Rachel. That means a lot to me because you're the one that I want to be with," Finn said kissing her on the top of her head.

"I also told her how uncomfortable Jesse made me feel, but she still made excuses for him. I swear, if he were out here killing puppies and kittens, she would still find a way to defend him," Rachel fumed blowing her bangs up in the air.

"He can do no wrong where Shelby is concerned. You know that Rachel. Let's forget about the two of them and concentrate on our performance tonight and the New Year. You know a lot is going to happen to us in 2012," Finn mused.

Rachel wrapped both arms around Finn's waist and rested her head on his shoulder while Finn began to think to himself about what was ahead for the two of them in 2012.

He'd looked forward to graduation for years, but now he almost dreaded it. He would have one blissful spring and summer with Rachel and then she'd be gone to New York and Juilliard in August. He knew that she would be meeting so many new and interesting people living in the city of her dreams. The distance to New York may as well have been the distance to the moon. He knew that she'd be home on holidays, but would Rachel out grow him and Ohio? Anyway you looked at it, once Rachel left her small town and her small town boyfriend; things would never be the same.

Rachel had gone to sleep on the bus ride and Finn let her enjoy her nap. She was snuggled up against him and he could feel her rhythmic breathing against his side. Looking out the bus window at the wintry Ohio afternoon he began to think to himself again. Right now he was the big man on campus, football hero, co-captain of New Directions, but this time next year would be so different. Rachel was already making plans for him to come to New York for the next New Year's Eve. They would be one of thousands crowned into Times Square to watch the ball drop.

Finn still hadn't heard from Ohio State, The University of Ohio, or Kent State. A football scholarship to Ohio State was realistically his only hope. The recruiters from Ohio State had been to Lima to see he and Sam play three times which gave him hope. Other friends had already received acceptance letters. Artie and Mike were going to Carnegie-Melon in Pittsburg. Even Quinn had been offered a cheerleading scholarship to Ohio State. Rachel would be in New York at Juilliard. Finn was getting depressed about his options. He had applied to a couple of community and junior colleges in the area even though he hadn't told Rachel about it. He knew that he could get a first class education locally, but being left behind in August bothered him. Even Kurt would be moving to New York and he would be stuck at home with his mom and Burt.

The tour buses pulled into Columbus at five o'clock. Mr. Schue got off the lead bus and found out exactly where and when they would be performing. After the buses were parked, Mr. Schue dismissed his students into the care of their parents. Rachel, Finn, Carole, Burt, Kurt, Blaine, Hiram and Leroy left the buses together in search of a great dinner on the town. Everyone was given maps and instructions for their performance. New Directions was scheduled to perform at eight so everyone had some time to enjoy First Night in Columbus and see some of the other performances. They would be finished and off the stage in time to see the fireworks at 10:30.

Dinner was great even though Carole had embarrassed Finn. She made him use his napkin as a bib so he wouldn't get any of his wings sauce on his performance shirt and tie.

They played it safe on stage with their tried and true performances, of Don't Stop Believing, Somebody to Love, and You Can't Always Get What You Want.

At 10:30 everyone had found a spot to watch the fireworks. Finn was like a little kid at Christmas waiting for them to begin. With his arms wrapped around Rachel he noticed that she was not as excited about the impending explosions as he was.

"Rachel, what's wrong babe? I thought that you liked fireworks almost as much as I do," Finn asked.

"I used too. They just haven't been the same since you said that you saw fireworks when you kissed Quinn."

"Rachel, I want you to look at these fireworks. They light up the night sky, but they don't last. When they are gone it's just smoke. Your smile lights up my world everyday all day. When I kiss you it feels like home. I feel like I'm where I belong," Finn said leaning in for a kiss.

"Me too, when I'm in your arms I feel like I'm in the safest place on Earth," Rachel smiled.

When the kiss broke, Finn reached slowly into his pocket and held out his McKinley High School class ring to her.

" I wanted to give this to you at midnight, but now seems like a better time. I know that it's not an engagement ring or one of those cheesy promise rings, but I want you to have this to remember me by when you're in New York," Finn smiled shyly.

"I thought that you weren't going to get a high school class ring," Rachel said in stunned awe of the heavy gold ring. "You said that they were too expensive. Everyone else got theirs last fall, when did you get yours?"

"I had to make payments so I just paid it off yesterday. I was able to get some extra money working extra shifts at Sheets and Things over Christmas. But I want you to look at the sides of the ring."

Rachel turned the heavy gold ring in her hands to see a football on one side and a treble clef on the other.

"Rachel, you once said that we were opposite sides of the same coin. Well this ring is you and me. I want the whole school to know that you're my girl. I know that it's too big to wear on your finger, but you could put it on a chain and wear it around your neck if you want too."

Rachel squeezed the gold ring in her hand and immediately jumped into Finn's embrace.

"I want too," she said before kissing him again.

The fireworks had already started, but neither Finn nor Rachel had really noticed. They were too busy making their own fireworks.

Not too far away Will was watching the fireworks with Emma. Her annulment had been final since November, but she and Will were taking things slow. As the last of the fireworks faded Will leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.

"Emma, I know that you want to take things slow, but I would like to ask you something before the New Year begins. I'm not in any rush, but I would like to start off the New Year engaged to you. Emma, would you do me the honor of marrying me?" Will asked offering her a diamond ring in a black velvet box.

Emma was stunned almost speechless. "Will, my annulment is just over a month old. I can't jump into something like this so soon."

"I'm not asking you to marry me tomorrow. We don't even have to make this public. I just feel like we've wasted enough time. You don't even have to wear it on your finger for now. You can wear on a chain around your neck if you like. I just want you to be mine when you're ready. Think of it as stating my intentions before I loose you again."

"Will, it's more than the timing. I thought that I could over come my OCD by just jumping into marriage with Carl. I told you that we never consummated our marriage and that is what ended it. I can't do that to another man, especially not you. Sex is important to a marriage, it's the emotional bond. I can't put you through a sexless marriage the way I did Carl."

"Emma, the last time that we talked about your OCD, I handed you the card of a counselor and told you where to go to get help. I left you dangling to figure this out on your own. I'm not going to do that this time. If you will let me, I want to be there for you and we can work through this together. And in the end if you still can't be with me than I will try to understand. That's all that I'm asking."

"Will, I'm not going anywhere with anyone. If I did, it would be with you. How about it if you hang onto that ring for now and ask me again later. I will take you up on that offer to help me work through my OCD issues. It takes a support system and you're all that I have in Lima. I'm not going to say yes, but I'm not going to say no either. I want to be free of my demons before I consider getting married again. It's only fair to you. If you feel like you need to state your intentions, you have. I'm yours, but until I can be yours completely, hang onto the ring, okay," Emma asked.

"That's all that I'm asking," Will said putting the ring back into his pocket. "As long as I know that there's a possibility that you will accept this ring someday, then I'm willing to wait and do everything that I can make you better.

The bus ride back to Lima was a quiet one. They arrived just a little before three in the morning. Twelve hours since they had left. Finn and Rachel were cuddled up asleep in the back seat of the bus with Finn's ring on Rachel's thumb. Will and Emma sat on the front seat holding hands in the dark. Will rolled the ring box around in his pocket with the other hand. No she hadn't accepted his ring, but they had made promises to each other. Emma was going to get better, and Will was going to help her.

-/-

Thank you for continuing to follow my story. Count down to graduation begins. Until next time, Whistler Nights.