Chapter Eleven: Succumbing to Gravity

Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or any of these characters they all belong to Fox and the very lucky Ryan Murphy.

Author's Note: Wow! This has been the best experience. I would like to thank everyone who has reviewed and ask if you could please just review this final chapter it would be amazing if I could get to 100! I would also like to thank my best friend, Ally whose unwavering support and amazing paragraphs of inspiration has made want to write more and more. Thank you everyone for reading and loving this story just as much as I do!

I.

They lay in bed hours after their night together their breaths having evened out, Rachel runs her fingertips over Finn's chest and he lays his chin on her head and inhales her Raspberry scented shampoo. Kurt soon returns though and when they emerge from Rachel's room; him wearing the same clothes from the night before and her in a big jumper and underwear he rolls his eyes but gives them a knowing smile. He understands about the effects of time and love and all the things it can heal; cuts you didn't even know were there and be sewn up and kissed better. Finn and Rachel kiss goodbye at the front door and they both smile as their lips match each other, tracing over the memories of the night before.

II.

They don't talk much at all for weeks after that night, the occasional phone call and flirtatious text that will leave them both grinning and blushing at the thought of the other and the lives they are living parallel from one another. They're both so happy they don't feel need to spend every moment together, sure there are times when Finn wants run to Kurt's house and bang on the door and lift her up and kiss her. And whenever he walks past the restaurant Rachel works in with Santana he walks a little bit more slowly just to catch a glimpse of her face. He never does, but sometimes it's just nice to know she is there. She needs space and not in the bad – I don't want to be with you so I'm saying I need space – kind of space. It's just she doesn't want to rush things and he understand but really, all he wants is Rachel. Kurt gets a job. It's a job for a magazine as the fashion editor, he's so excited that he screams down the phone to Finn and he can practically hear is step – brother jumping up and down in joy. The job is in New York. Kurt sits Rachel down and begs for her to go with him, he knows she won't be able to resist, he knows that she hates her job and her only dream in Lima is Finn. Rachel starts to feel scared and panicked because she's not sure going back New York would be healthy, not after all the progress she's made, they've made. She doesn't think she can leave Finn and the life she had started to create for herself, her home and job and friends and Finn and everything he is and everything they could be. On the flip side she craves New York, after four years of flying everywhere but never really seeing anywhere she thinks that maybe going back there might soothe her even more. She wants to face all the places she left behind and all the memories she deserted. She wants to return to her and Finn's building and remember all that happened there, all of the wonderful times they had. Like the water fight that happened on a scorching hot summers day and Finn had been teasing Rachel about her obsession with staying hydrated she became so wound up that she threw the glass of water over Finn which caused him to run over to the sink and fill a bowl of water up and chase her around their tiny apartment with it. Or the time when her Dad's came to visit and Finn ran around cleaning, wanting to make a good impression and the look on his face when they never commented on it. She's not sure he ever forgave them for that and she felt guilty laughing at him but they all added up to be the best time of her life. She knows the only person she has to thank for that is Finn and that is why leaving him would break her heart all over again.

III.

She doesn't tell Finn at first; in fact she avoids him at all costs; even going to the extreme lengths of ducking behind a car when she sees him coming out of a DIY store in town. It's only when he shows up on her doorstep with the same look he gave her the first time he saw her in the club after four years does she invite him and confess all.

"I don't understand the problem Rach?" He asks confused as to what she is saying and why she is denying herself the opportunity to go back to the place she belongs; wiser and stronger than she was when she left it.

"I – I love New York but it won't be the same without you." She admits her fingertips tracing unknown patterns on his palm.

"Rach, you've travelled around the world with a broken heart, you came home to Lima and you have dealt with how badly I treated you. You don't need me, you can handle life just fine by yourself and I'll still be here. I'm not going anywhere."

"I'll always need you." She whispers against him lips.

"Go to New York Rachel; fall in love over and over again. It's where you belong; it's where you've always belonged." Rachel kisses him slow and beautifully as she pours every last emotion she has into him. They go to Rachel's room that night and she falls fast asleep to the sound of Finn's heart beating, a steady promise that he will always be there for her and the feel of his fingers in her hair.

VI.

They pack up their things and Kurt heads off to New York first, they find a small apartment with two bedrooms and a small room which Kurt hijacks as his sewing room before Rachel even gets a look. Kurt is meant to get the place vaguely ready to live in while Rachel sorts out their apartment in Lima and says goodbye to Finn and her job. On her last day she hugs everyone and cries, even Santana kisses her on cheek and makes her promise to stay in touch.

"Don't think you're getting out of that threesome Berry!" She shouts across the restaurant, ignoring customer's glares and a tutting from the Manager.

Rachel turns round and smiles a true wide mouthed Rachel Berry smile; "Never!" She replies before walking out of that restaurant for good.

V.

It's midnight and Rachel is fast asleep when there is a loud bang on the front door, she checks her phone thinking it must be Finn when she sees she had four missed calls from Ben. She's been avoiding him. How do you say to someone that instead having sex with them you had sex with your ex-boyfriend, who was also his friend? No, instead she had just not been replying to the flirtatious text messages and not going out in the evening so she couldn't see him. She figured he'd get over it; he was a player, a different girl every night, the typical guy she would date. That is why she is so shocked when the opens the door blurry eyed, expecting to see a lopsided smile and open arms. Instead she sees blonde hair and staggering and a finger pointing at her accusingly.

"Rachelllll! Hey baby!"

"Ben?" She asks confused as why he is standing on her doorstep so clearly drunk.

"Yeah! Can I come in?"

"I really don't think that's good idea."

"Why? It's not like I haven't been in before, it's not like we don't know each other. In fact; we know each other very, very very well. If you can remember?" He says trying to push into the apartment.

"I can remember thanks Ben." She replies pushing him back away from it, he's so drunk he just lets her; his actions are slow and vague like truly he doesn't know why he is there, just the only place he knew where to come to show his hurt. Rachel doubts it even is hurt; maybe he's just embarrassment he probably isn't used to be dumped.

"Why did you choose Finn?"

"It's complicated." She mumbled, pushing her hands through her hair and wishing she could go back to bed.

"I like complicated, I'm complicated you know. I thought we would have been alright, me and you. We're both complicated." He lets his head fall against the wall and his eyes shut briefly.

"I'll get you some Coffee." Rachel retreats into the apartment and makes him some quickly, she leaves the door open but he doesn't come in and when she returns he is on the floor his knees up and his head in his hands. Rachel sits next to him and passes him the mug.

"I'm not the same kind of complicated anymore. I'm better now, Finn helped me get better."

"I'm going to find a nice girl who does that for me one day you know? Someone who can make all the mess go away with a touch."

Rachel smiles; "It's something only love can do."

Ben nods slowly and understandingly, he then turns and with a wicked grin and a twinkle in his eyes replies; "Not yet though, there are still some hot girls out there that need some Ben loving."

Rachel laughs and rolls her eyes, she slowly leans down and rests her head on his shoulder; "You are very good at that."

"I know babe and you know, sorry for just showing up. I don't really know what I'm doing here." He mumbles, slowly getting up and reaching his arms out to help Rachel off the floor, he bends down and places his lips gently to her cheek. "You really are something Rachel Berry."

"As are you Ben Thomas."

VI.

Rachel leaves Lima for New York in the September, the night before she goes she stays at Finn's apartment and they have a picnic on the floor; with Virgin Cosmos in aeroplane cups and she laughs as she tells him all the times she thought of him while flying.

"I used to see them and think about our first kiss and how you laid me down on the blanket." He leans into her body and smiles at the memory. It all seemed so long ago and as he stares into those big brown orbs he wonders how he could ever run away from this girl. No matter what age, how he could ever leave her; sixteen or twenty or now. Could he really just let her go to New York? Slowly Finn's hands caress her back and he lifts her up and lays her down on the blanket that was set up in his sitting room. His lips run over hers and he can taste the faintest touch of Virgin Cosmos, she looks at him with a tiny smile and in a small voice she asks the inevitable question.

"You can kiss me if you want."

"I want to." Finn replies and swoops down and claiming her lips as his own, running his hands under her top and slowly lifting it off of her body, his fingertips skim over her olive skin. He traces every part of that night, whispering how much I needs her just before he presses himself into her. Her hands dance all along his back and she feels his muscles contract at every touch she makes and every move they complete as one. His hand reaches between their bodies and before she moans his name in breathy gasps he looks into her eyes and again whispers her favourite five words to hear. "You will always be beautiful."

She leaves early that morning and at the airport he kisses her hard on the lips and hold until the last call for her to board is read out. Both their eyes fill up with tears as they promise to see each other soon, no commitments have been made by wither of them except the promise that they won't give up this time round. He lifts her up and she wraps her legs around his waist, he wants to feel all of her tiny being before she leaves do start up the life she deserves. They wave at each other until Rachel turns a corner and her view of him is gone, on the plane journey she sits and cries for the whole flight and the man next to her offers a tissue and some chocolate she accepts both muttering thank you before blowing her nose loudly.

VII.

Rachel has been in New York for two weeks and so far she and Kurt haven't argued ones and she had a job interview lined up to teach young children drama after school. She's surprisingly excited, Kurt tells she needs to start auditioning again and she thinks maybe she will. Perhaps for smaller roles though, she understands now that slowly building up a distinguished career is just as good as becoming a star overnight, not as fun, but just as good. She talks to Finn every other night on the phone and so far they have managed to keep it light; telling each other their daily duties and what they have been up to and repeatedly admitting to each other how much they miss one another. It's on a Sunday afternoon; Kurt is out at lunch with a model he met at a party and so Rachel is padding around the apartment doing pointless things like painting her nails or changing her bed linen, her phone rings unexpectedly and a huge grin appears on her face when she sees who it is from.

"Hey stranger, what are you doing calling today? We spoke yesterday." She smiles affectionately into the speaker; even though he knows she can't see it she hopes he can hear it.

"I miss you." Comes Finn's reply.

"I miss you too. What are you up to?"

"Just wandering around, what about you?"

"Just having a cosy day in."

"So you're not going out today?" He asks.

"Nope, why?" Before she can answer the buzzer on the door goes off. "One moment Finn." With the phone held to her shoulder she heads toward the door.

"Hello?" She speaks into the microphone, guessing its Kurt having forgotten his keys, again.

"Would like to go out with me?" The voice comes from both devices she is standing near and she stares down in shock.

"What?" She asks into the phone and the speaker, confused as to what to talk into.

"Would like to go out with me? You said you weren't busy today and I wanted to go out with you, one a date."

"Finn?" She asks.

"Rachel." He replies, humouring her shock.

"Like a date in New York?" She asks again, she's really not getting it at all and she can hear Finn laughing at her but she can't help it, it's not possible he wouldn't just fly out here. Would he?

"I checked to see if that little Vegan Restaurant you liked is still open and it is, I made reservations for kind of now so do you want to go out or not?"

"I – yes, yes but really? You're here?" She gushes jumping up and down with excitement.

"Really Rach; now hang up the damn phone and let me in." And so Rachel does just that.

They arrange the date and get ready in separate bedroom's preparing for the afternoon where their relationship will either sink or fly. And it seems to fly, soar even over rooftops and hills and mountains and into the blue sky that stretches so wide, like the lifetime they have ahead of them, together. They know they are going to be alright because when Rachel kisses Finn she feels sixteen all over again and like all that of that awful stuff never happened. Through space and time, it feels magnificent to Finn, how Rachel can trust and want to love him still after the way he acted and shouted and hated Rachel for making mistakes and really for doing nothing at all except loving him far too much. To Rachel it is like the two strangers they have become over the four years falling in love all over again and she gets the joy of rediscovering Finn and all of the wonderful qualities he gained while being away from her, she thinks some of those traits are the things she likes the most.

VIII.

Finn comes home to their apartment two years after that very day and Rachel is already home, he has band practice tonight and he only came to pick up his drum sticks. Rachel is sitting on the floor surrounded by packets and lots of tiny white sticks, she's holding one in her hand when he walks into their bedroom and Rachel looks up with the biggest smile he has ever seen plastered in her face.

"Rach; what are those things?" He asks curiously, already knowing but not wanting to presume.

"I know it's expensive but I wanted to be sure."

"Sure of what Rach?"

She looks at him in pure delight and tears in her eyes, the happy tears not the kind of tears that happened the first time round. "I'm pregnant Finn!" She says throwing her arms around his neck and kissing every space on her face. He laughs ecstatically and stares down at all eighteen pregnancy tests and ignores the voice in his head adding up the cost and then panicking that he can't.

"Well done baby! Well done!" He whispers pushing her back and kissing her mouth carefully. "I am so proud of you Mrs Hudson."

Rachel still giggles at the name, even though it's been six months she can't get used to it especially when they changed the name on the playbill for her show. "Thank you hubby!" She laughs pressing her lips to his jaw. "But we did this together." Finn gives her a wicked smile and gently pushes himself down to her, pressing his lips to her flat stomach finding it hard to believe their baby is in there. "Remind me again how that went?" He whispers, before Rachel rolls them over, whispering "I love yous" against his lips.

IX.

Funny Girl closes a week before she turns three months pregnant and Rachel cries incessantly when she sings "My Man" at the end, she stares dead on at Finn and sings the lyrics so passionately and with so much love and truth she gets a ten minute standing ovation. She weeps with her cast mates and hugs her understudy Suzanne with so much force it takes the breath out of her ; she thanks her for all the times she stood in for her when Rachel was throwing up and yet still insisting she could sing. She sits in her dressing room in only her underwear before Finn comes in and whispers all her wishes to her baby, it's just them and she can tell her baby anything she wants. All her promises and the things she's proud of, the person she hopes her baby will become but telling her stomach that no matter what she will love them.

"I want you to shine baby." She whispers. "I want you to shine whichever light you want, be proud of exactly who you are because you are going to be on this beautiful world for a reason. So you shine upon and love as many things as possible baby, because it's really the only thing that matters."

The name their baby girl Alyssa Sophie Hudson and she has Rachel's dark brown eyes and her hair and Finn's button nose. She has their best traits and sometimes in the middle of the night when Finn is fast asleep and Alyssa is lying in her bed with her thumb in her mouth Rachel looks down at her daughter and wonders at what point did she do so well? How did those two awkward teenagers manage to create such a blessed and lucky life? Most of the time it feels like all of the life they had before never happened and this is the life they have led all along. But they both know the truth and really, they wouldn't change it for the world.

X.

Sometimes Rachel feels like everything is downhill. When she comes home from teaching and Finn is covered in sweat as he starts panicking about what he has cooked for dinner and Alyssa runs at her with open arms and a thousand watt smile that matches Rachel's perfectly. Of course it's downhill in the sense it is easy like water falling off a cliff and into a beautiful, crystal clear crash of love. Sometimes Rachel can still here her heart beating a thousand miles an hour and her breath being held as she succumbs to the inevitable gravity, falling further and faster. Until eventually she can't hear anything, except the drift of all their heartbeats which is eventually lost in the current of the way they are.

She sits with her legs across Finn her hands splayed out onto his bare chest; slowly he lifts her arms up and removes the purple blouse she is wearing. He rolls them over and removes her underwear and then his. He kisses her lips gently and before he descends down her body he whispers; "You will always be beautiful Rachel Hudson."

Fin.