This is a short one! It's really just a transitional chapter. Hope you enjoy
Rachel sat tucked comfortably into the booth of their favorite diner in the Village. It was early morning and the sun was just beginning to take it's hold on the sky. The only other people in the small homey diner were older couples and the tired looking staff. This time of morning was not one that Rachel and Finn were accustomed to but Rachel was so hungry she thought she could literally eat a horse. And this coming from a vegan. The night before had been a blur of longing embraces and passionate kisses. Before Finn was able to even catch his breath after their first heated romp Rachel was back on him. He wasn't sure what had gotten into her but he was pretty sure he had pressed her tiny frame against every flat surface in the small room, more than once. When the sky had finally began to lighten with the first traces of morning they lay physically exhausted, famished and happier than either had felt before. So they strolled arm and arm to their favorite place to get breakfast while most of the city was still in a peaceful slumber. And now Finn watched her slowly stirring her coffee with a large spoon and smiled. Her brown locks were a mess, her eyes looked tired but happy and she had a smile on her perfect lips.
"You never told me about Alabama" she said looking up at him.
He knew they had things to discuss but he didn't want to ruin the amazing calm that had come over them.
"We can talk later" he said sipping his coffee
"I don't plan on doing much talking once I get you back to the dorm and get those clothes off you" she smiled sexily at him and he felt himself grow a little hard at the thought.
"1022 miles, 16 hours and 39 minutes" he said.
"What?"
"That's how far Tuscaloosa is from New York City"
"We could have worked it out" she said softly
"Rachel, the last place in the world I wanted to be was a world away from you. It was never an option for me. I wanted to come to NY, I wanted to experience all of this with you. To see this city through your eyes."
"That was a lot to give up Finn" she said
"It wasn't even a second thought. New York was where you were so New York was where I was"
"But it almost ruined us" her voice was a whisper. He could hear the faint presence of the pain he had caused and his heart ached. He would never be able to take the last month away but he swore to himself he would never again hurt her.
"Never my intention Rachel, I thought this was genuinely what I wanted" he honestly told her.
"But I should had looked out for you as you have always looked out for me"
"Rachel I have never doubted your dedication to me. I just grew up a little and realized that what I thought I wanted and what I do want are a little different. The only part of the equation that never changed, even in our darkest hours, was you. I left you because I was a coward"
"No" she smiled "you were just confused"
"Yeah that too" he smiled.
"And now" she looked up to him.
He took a deep breath, sipped his coffee and felt his stomach rumble. But he knew he had to be honest with her, from this moment on he always would be.
"I got into Penn State"
She looked at him, she saw the fear in his eyes. He was afraid of her reaction, she was shocked. She smiled at him
"Closer than Alabama"
"4 hours, 250 miles" he smiled, he had checked.
"I'm sorry about all this" she said softly "for trying to control you."
"Well you are a controllist" he said with a chuckle
"I'm serious Finn. I was so worried about achieving my own dreams I forgot about yours. I took you for granted, I assumed you would always be there" her voice was almost a whisper and she could feel tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
He reached across the table and grabbed her hands. She looked down at the wood grain of the table and not up at him.
"Look at me" he said softly "Rachel look at me."
She looked up, the stupid tears streaming down her face. He leaned forward and wiped a tear away from her cheek.
"I would not take back the last year for anything in the world. It's the hard times in life that build our character. The last month was horrible and I feel like awful for everything that happened but I would not give up a minute of the last year because it has brought us here. We are together and stronger than ever."
She smiled at him
"I just know what I want out of my life too" he finished.
"I love you Finn Hudson"
"And I love you Rachel Berry, it's always been you"
"So Penn State" she said gently
"You know they have a Sports Journalism program?" he said excitedly.
And she was happy for him, he had really put time and thought into this. Finn Hudson, Sports Journalist, her Sports Journalist.
It had taken days for Rachel to convince her Dad's to back out of summer session. They thought she was only doing it so she could spend the summer with Finn but she just wanted some time out of the City. They gave her the usual lectures about being an adult and taking her commitments seriously. Finally she had been able to convince them that she needed time home in Ohio to decompress from the craziness of the City. Well that and she wanted to spend her summer with Finn, she didn't tell them that though. Being home in Ohio felt great, especially now that they were back together so strongly. Last time they had been home things had been on the downslide but now things were even better than before. The summer flew by for the couple and before they knew it, it was late August and only a week remained before they had to head back to college. This time however they were heading to different colleges in different cities. 4 hours she reminded herself, it was nothing they couldn't handle together. Finn had spent the summer working with Puck and was able to save up enough money for a car of his very own. The light blue Pontiac Grand Am was nothing special but it could make the 4 hour drive, and that was enough for him. Rachel had to laugh a little at the smile on his face when he drove that Grand Am off the lot that Monday afternoon
"You're like a kid in a candy shop" she told him.
He was playing with all the dials on the dash, pushing buttons. She sat in the passenger seat and watched as the wipers swiped across the windshield. He hit a button and the hair blew her hair around at full force, he hit it again and it went off. He clicked the turn signal on first the left and then the right. He had the biggest goofy grin on his face as hit the hazard lights on then off again.
"This is awesome"
She laughed at him "Finn Hudson, you would think you've never been in a car before"
"This is my car though, all mine, and I paid for it all myself" he said proudly
"I know baby" she laughed playfully at him.
He leaned over the shifter and placed a soft kiss on her lips. She looked up at him and his eyes sparkled
"What" she asked
"Let's christen her" he smirked
"What?" she asked with eyebrows raised "Here?"
"No silly, I know the place though" he smiled.
"Okay" she smiled back feeling the familiar flutter in her abdomen.
Honestly their sex life had been out of control lately. Finn was like a drug to her and she could not get enough of him. All their friends joked about how they were in their honeymoon phase when they continuously blew them off all summer. But Finn and Rachel didn't care, they wanted to get as much of each other as they could while they could.
Finn was slumped against the backdoor of his Grand Am. His naked girlfriend was sprawled across his tall frame. He had a hand around her waist and was just watching her, taking her in. Her eyes were closed, a smile on her face, her hair was damp and clung to her neck and arms. She looked beautiful in the light of the sinking sun. He wanted to remember every inch of her body so he closed his eyes and committed it into his memory bank. He knew they should get dressed and head back into town but he could lay here in the back of his car with her like this forever.
"Are you okay?" her voice interrupted his thoughts
"Yeah baby fine" he said but his voice didn't sound fine
"Finn I know you better than that" she turned to look at him, her breasts brushing against his bare chest.
"I don't want to leave you, leave this" he said quietly
"I know, I'm going to miss you like crazy"
"I don't know if I can do it" he said honestly. He felt like he was about to have a breakdown.
"We can do this Finn. I'm going back to New York to tackle Broadway and you are going to Penn State to become a Sports Broadcaster and we are going to take over the world baby. Someday everyone will know Finn Husdon and Rachel Berry, we will be household names".
Her enthusiasm made him feel better instantly and he smiled down at her giving her a little kiss.
"Besides" she started again "just think how much fun it will be when we get to see each other"
Finn chuckled at his beautiful, smart, talented, horny girlfriend. He was a lucky bastard to have this women in his life. He knew the next couple months without her would be hard but he felt deep down he was doing the right thing, for them, for their future.