Two Weeks Later…
Finn had decided to teach Rachel how to drive a wagon properly. He purchased her a gentle, older mare from a nearby farm. Finn had Rachel meet the mare named star, how appropriate Finn thought, before purchasing it. After Rachel being around Star and seeing that Star would be very gentle and easy to handle, Finn bought her and brought her home.
As a surprise Finn had taken the gig his parents had, out from the back of the barn and refurbished it so Rachel could take it into town. The gig was light enough for Rachel to maneuver and for Star to pull. Knowing that Rachel loved gold stars, he painted the gig gold and detailed it with stars near the seat.
After dinner one night, Finn had parked the gig in front and covered Rachel's eyes with one of his bandanas. Leading her out to the front, he pulled the cover off and Rachel's eyes lit up. No matter how many times Finn saw her eyes do it, it made his heart skip a beat. The joy that Rachel saw in everything always made him feel like everything was right in the world. Finn laughed as Rachel walked around exclaiming over all the details.
Rachel was in shock. Finn had given her a gig, and it was GOLD. She couldn't believe the generosity that Finn had and how she was lucky enough to be on the receiving end of it. As she walked around, she noticed in black enamel Finn had painted stars right under the seats on the side and on the drivers side he had painted her name, "Rachel Hudson," Hudson? Looking over at Finn, it dawned on her why he had done that, smiling she ran over and literally jumped on him, planting kisses on whatever she could reach.
Finn and Rachel were so engrossed in kissing, that they didn't hear the carriage come up the lane until they heard a horse snort. Putting Rachel back down, Finn and Rachel turned to see the Lopez carriage stopped and the driver opening the door. Doctor Lopez and his daughter Santana came out, and walked up to Finn and Rachel. Rachel's hand tightened her hold on Finn's as she saw Santana eye him up and down.
"Good evening Dr. Lopez. What brings you all the way out here this evening sir?" Finn kept his eyes trained on the doctor, ignoring Santana.
"Well Finn. I am in need of some new furniture, due to age and having rather rambunctious sons causing damage. I wanted to commission you for some pieces and I brought Santana to help with the design since her mother is in New York visiting family."
Finn visibly gulped when he heard that Santana would be helping with the design. He still avoided her at all costs. She truly scared him. "Well sir, I will be happy to sir, but am I to assume you want me creating tables and wooden chairs, since I don't do anything with upholstery?"
"Yes, we are having a furniture shop in Cincinnati design the divan and covered chairs, but we would like you to design six end tables, a coffee table, three bookcases, and a glassed display case. I'll give you a week to come up with preliminary sketches and then meet with Santana to make changes and decide on wood and stain."
Finn nodded, but added, "I'll meet Santana in town, at the post office. That way she doesn't have to travel all the way across town on her own and I'm in town much more often, so it won't be too much trouble." With that, the Lopez's entered their carriage and drove off, leaving Finn and Rachel standing there.
Rachel grabbed Finn's hand and pulled him into the parlor. "I don't like you working with Santana Lopez. He is a she-wolf and she clearly has her sights set on you. Just promise, promise me that you won't ever meet her alone. Please?"
Finn nodded his head, "Why do you think we are going to meet in the post office? First, Artie is always there, and Artie has to write up my invoices and correspondence for any changes so that they can be given to Dr. Lopez." Cupping her chin and lifting her to look him in the eye, "Trust me Rachel, Santana has nothing on you. You are absolutely beautiful, smart, independent, strong, and the best part, that I love you. YOU are going to be my wife, not her."
Rachel smiled at Finn and then remembered why she was kissing him before they were interrupted. "Finn Hudson, I saw my name on the gig. Aren't you being a little presumptuous?"
"No, you agreed to marry me, and I was not going to destroy my perfect refurbish with having to repaint your name when we are married. In my mind you are Rachel Hudson, NOT Rachel Berry, so I marked the carriage as such." Kissing her deeply, Finn pulled something out of his pocket and slipped it onto Rachel's finger.
Pulling away from Finn, Rachel looked down and saw the sparkling emerald ring that she had last seen in a sketch. "Oh Finn…" she wasn't able to talk. The emerald seemed to absorb and then release the firelight in a display of green fireworks. It made her breathless.
"You wanted to let people know that you were mine, so now you can. You can show everyone that you are Finn Hudson's future wife, and no man has a chance with you." Looking in her eyes, "Rachel, I love you. You brought me out of a life of nothing, and made me want to live, because I fell in love with you." That night, Finn spent a lot of the night showing Rachel how much she had brought him to life.
The next week Finn was waiting for Santana Lopez in the post office, impatient for the meeting to start. Even with Artie would never be able to stop Santana if she wanted to come full force at him. Santana arrived late and sauntered in the post office looking like she was ready for a meal. Her eyes looked Finn up and down hungrily, and Finn instinctly took a defensive posture behind Artie. Santana smiled when she saw Finn do this.
Sitting down at the table behind the counter, Finn pulled out his drawing and showed them to Santana. After several exchanges and some changes made to the agreed upon designs, Finn felt they were done, but before he could get up, he felt Santana's foot brush his inner thigh. Finn jumped involuntarily, knocking the sketches around on the table. Artie looked at his friend's terrified face and Santana's smirk and realized what was going on. "Santana, while Finn packs up, why don't you and I come over to the desk while I finish up the correspondence and invoices to give to your father. That way everything is nice and legal, okay?" Finn was thankful that Artie pulled her away. When Finn was finished he quickly left Artie and Santana behind.
Rachel was teaching class at the church, and Finn wanted to see how it was going. She was always talking about how great the kids were and such, and Finn were going to have a chance to see and hear for himself. Not wanting to interrupt or distract Rachel, Finn stayed outside and looked through a window. Rachel had her back to the window, but Finn saw how energetic she was running around the room, correct postures and helping children with words or sounds. Even without seeing her face, he knew she was giving the children that encouraging smile she often gave him.
While lost in thought of what Rachel was doing, Finn jumped, when he felt a hand come around and cup him intimately. Turning around Finn felt hands around his neck and pulling him down into a kiss. Pushing the person hard away, Finn looked down at a smirking Santana Lopez. "What the hell Santana! Leave me alone!"
Finn stormed away not looking back, but heard Santana say, "Now you know what your missing being with that little girl Hudson. I'll be waiting when you're ready for a real woman."
Finn just walked away as quickly as possible with tears in his eyes and his blood boiling.