Wow, okay, sorry. It's been a while. I hit a writer's block and then lost all inspiration to write for Finchel but jsdfkjkfj here's chapter 29. Thanks to everyone who puts up with my late BS. Love you guys! Enjoy!
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Chapter 29
"Finn, put those down!"
"I really think they need to be put in your suitcase." She threw a pillow at him, which he easily sidestepped, and it knocked over a few bottles of lotion on her dresser. "You're a violent packer."
That made her giggle. "Just put them down, they're not coming with me."
"I seriously think that's a mistake." He didn't put them down.
"There's no reason why I would need a pair of black lace panties in New York, Finn." She shook her head.
"I can think of a few… in fact, I'm pretty sure I can demonstrate one or two of them right now…" She giggled as he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her into his chest. He leaned down and captured her lips, kissing her softly and insistently.
She placed her hands on his chest, lifting herself up on her toes to push her lips into his making him groan softly with need—and then of course she snatched the panties right out of his hands while he was distracted.
Rachel smiled against his lips as she pulled back slightly. "Victory."
He gave her a playful glare. "For now Miss Berry, for now."
He let her go, watching her twirl the panties between her fingers as she walked back over to a dresser drawer, pushing the thin fabric back into its rightful place. She may have had the black pair put away, but he was totally pushing a pink lacy pair between her shoes and underwear in her suitcase when she wasn't looking…just in case.
"I can't believe we leave tomorrow for the airport…" She muttered, turning around to look at her checklist next to her suitcase. It was bright pink and had the letters in bold at the top: RACHEL BERRY'S NEW YORK LIST (and of course, a sparkly gold star sticker was next to it).
Finn frowned. "Yeah, it's gross we have to wake up so early."
Rachel smiled at him as she checked something off on her list. "You can sleep on the plane; it'll all be worth it when we get there."
Finn watched her as she said that and sat down next to her suitcase. "You saying that to me or to yourself?"
She bit her lower lip, her list lowering in her hands as she looked at him. "A bit of both." She admitted softly, picking up a shirt and folding it. She set it atop her shoes. "I just…I don't feel ready to leave yet."
Finn nodded softly. "Because of your dad?"
She sighed. "What if he…and I'm not here?"
Finn pulled her to sit on his lap, kissing her shoulder when she leaned back against his chest. His one around wrapped around her waist while the other rested over her thighs.
"He knows that you love him…and he wouldn't want you to miss out on something you've worked hard for."
Rachel turned and rested her arm around his shoulders. "I just want to make it back in time."
Finn shifted gears. "He's a strong man," He kissed her shoulder. "His daughter definitely has that trait." He smiled when a blush spread over her cheeks. "He'll be able to hold on until you're there with him."
"I need you there too, I can't…I can't without you." She swallowed.
Finn ran a hand over her back, leaning up to plant a kiss on her forehead. "I'll be with you every step of the way." He reassured her. "I promise."
She kissed his cheek before getting up to finish packing her suitcase. She leaned on the lid to make sure the zipper could make its way around without getting stuck on any of her clothes. She put her hands on her hips and looked over the fabric like it held some secret meaning; like the suitcase was somehow representing New York and held the Statue of Liberty right beyond the zipper and Velcro, under her shoes and sundresses.
"New York." She breathed. "Nationals." She said it like she couldn't believe it.
Finn smiled softly and nodded. "If you're finished packing I have something I want to do before it gets too late and I'm put under house arrest for breaking curfew…again."
Rachel giggled, taking his outstretched hand when he offered it to her. "Alright, what did you have in mind?"
0o0o0o0o0o
Finn squeezed Rachel's shoulders, guiding her through the grass, the wet dew sliding onto their shoes.
"Finn, where are we going?"
He smiled, looking down at the blindfold around her eyes. "Trust me, we're almost there."
She slid against the grass as Finn tried to lead her downhill. She squealed, arms flailing out. Finn quickly stabilized her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "I got you."
She huffed. "Are we almost there?"
He laughed. "I just said that. Almost." He walked her down the hill and made her stop at the bottom. "Alright, just stand there for a moment."
"Are you leaving me here? Wherever we are…?"
He chuckled as he headed back up the hill. "Relax, Rach. I'm not dropping you off in the wilderness to fend for yourself."
He moved to his truck in the parking lot of the park in three long strides as he reached the top of the hill. He opened the back seat, grabbing the thermos of hot chocolate and a thick quilted blanket. He rested the thick blanket on the flattest part of the grass under a large tree and went to grab Rachel before she started yelling at him.
He gently grasped her arms and she tensed. "It's just me."
He smiled and shook his head as he removed the blindfold; he was lucky she hadn't gone all Charlie's Angels on his ass—she'd only done that once before and he really should have known better after that not to sneak up on a Berry. She had turned around and wailed a punch at his face; screaming about pepper spray in her bag. For a little person she packed a hell of a punch; he had had a black and blue mark under his eye for a week.
"I have pepper spray, you know."
He grinned, turning her around and wrapping his arms around her midsection. "At home maybe, but for now, I've got control over you."
She giggled. "Finn Hudson, how dominant of you." She looked up at him with sultry eyes, making him blush.
He shook his head and smiled, pulling back to twirl her once before focusing her attention towards the blanket under the tree. She smiled, going to sit down on the blue pattered quilt. "What's all this about?"
Finn sat down next to her, pulling out a small box from the inside of his jacket pocket. "This is…kinda like a good luck charm for Nationals tomorrow…and for a good flight to New York…because I've been watching that Final Destination movie even though you said I shouldn't and the way that flight went isn't exactly comforting—"
Rachel silenced him with one finger on his lips, smiling softly with a shake of her head.
He blushed when she pulled her finger away; after all this time, he still could get embarrassed in front of her, nervous…flustered.
"Right," He smiled and rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, for good luck in general I guess…and for everything you're going through." He took her hand in his and squeezed. "You're not alone."
Finn saw a glimmer of wetness pass over Rachel's eyes but she cleared her throat, throwing a smile at him that felt a bit too forced. He'd let her be strong for now; she needed to be strong…but he hoped she knew that there was a time to be strong…and a time to be weak. And whenever she was ready; he'd be there for her, as long as she needed him.
Her tiny hands took the box from his fingers, skin grazing delicately. She smiled at him and took the lid off the small brown box and gasped at the beautiful contents.
"Oh, Finn…"
She pulled out a silver clasp bracelet with a small circular pendent hanging like a charm on the chain. A small silver heart dangled next to the pendent, an engraving in italics on the circle: To love and be loved in a big city.
Finn smiled softly and took the bracelet for her, unclasping it and slipping it on her slender wrist. "It's my wish for you, for your future in New York."
"Well, the only way it could come true is if you're there with me." She leaned up and kissed him softly. "To be loved by you in a big city."
He ran his nose over hers, giving her an Eskimo kiss. "Who am I to deny an invitation like that?"
She giggled, her lips smiling against his as she leaned into kiss him. "Thank you for this, Finn." She said after a few moments, watching him open the thermos of hot chocolate. He handed it to her and she took a small sip. "I honestly don't think I would be able to…function right now without your support."
He squeezed her. "Well, luckily you'll never have to know what it feels like to have no support because I'm not going anywhere."
Rachel leaned her head against his chest, smiling into his plaid shirt. "Good to know."
He ran a hand through her hair and bit his lip, looking up at the sky as the rumbling sound of a plane crossed above them. "Did you actually know that I'm afraid of flying?" He asked offhandedly.
Rachel shook her head and smirked. "Then tomorrow should be interesting."
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Finn stood in line for McDonald's French fries. He really didn't care that is was eight in the morning and that most of the people in line in front of him were ordering coffee and breakfast sandwiches. He smelled French fries (most likely hash browns but whatever) and wanted French fries. For a flight to New York that would most likely kill him on route, was that too much to ask?
He nervously tugged at the ends of his shirt, glancing over at the group of tired Glee kids lounging on the bright red waiting chairs outside the terminal for their plane to NY. The flight wasn't supposed to leave until 8:30 but Mr. Schue had made sure to get everyone up at the crack of dawn to pick everyone up, haul them here, get them through security and bag check and made sure they had time to grab food before the flight. Which is what he was trying to do with these French fries, damnit.
He finally managed to get up to the counter and almost threw his carryon bag at the cashier for telling him that he couldn't get French fries, that it was eight in the freaking morning and why would anyone in their right mind want French fries… (alright, so the cashier didn't exactly tell him that but her eyes told all) and that they'd be serving lunch at ten. He grumbled about a few hash browns and ordered a sweet tea for Rachel and paid the evil cashier the money.
Finn waited patiently (sort of) for his hash browns at the corner of the counter, letting other people behind him reach the cashier so that she could smash their hopes and dreams of French fries too. He glanced over to his left to see that Rachel was on the phone, away from the group. Blaine and Kurt were standing next to her with concerned looks on their faces and Finn's heart suddenly slammed up into his throat. He rubbed the back of his neck…maybe nothing was wrong (he had and tried to be positive about things concerning Rachel lately). Blaine had woken up early to drive in with Kurt so that he could say goodbye and good luck at the terminal; which was pretty awesome when Finn thought about it. He knew that Emily had wished she could have done the same thing to say good luck and bon (was it voyage?) to Sam.
Maybe they were all just worried about the plane ride…that's what the concern was about. But when Finn gathered up the bag of hash browns and Rachel's tea…he had a sinking feeling in his stomach as he walked over to friendship trio. Rachel's face had tears on them as she hung up her phone and Blaine gently touched her hand with his, his thumb running over her knuckles. Kurt looked up at Finn and swallowed and before Finn could even ask, Kurt opened his mouth.
"Mr. Berry…the cancer moved to his heart." He whispered.
Rachel choked out a sob, turning into the closest person as her knees shook and nearly gave out. It just so happened to be Blaine and the force of her collapse nearly knocked him over. Blaine swallowed and glanced up at Finn as he wrapped his arms around the sobbing Rachel Berry against his chest, rubbing small circles into her upper back. Kurt came over on the other side of Rachel and hugged her back against his chest, his arms wrapping back around Blaine's waist. The couple squished Rachel between them, holding her close and rocking her just a little from side to side. Kurt murmured soft assurances in her ear as Blaine's hand came up and cupped the back of Rachel's head, clasping her to his shoulder.
Finn watched the scene with a heavy heart, tears unwillingly filling his eyes as Blaine placed a chaste kiss on Rachel's cheek.
Rachel was lucky to have Kurt and Blaine as such close friends and Finn was glad that he wasn't the only one who was going to be there for her through this.
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Finn kneeled in front of Rachel and stroked her knee, Mr. Schue pacing nervously near the group of four. Blaine had taken a seat next to Rachel on her right while Kurt took the seat to her left, touching her arm comfortingly.
"The plane is scheduled to leave in fifteen minutes…" Mr. Schue looked at the group of glee kids across the room. They were all huddled close to each other, talking about Rachel, Finn figured.
"My dad said that…daddy's cancer has metastasized…they found tumors in his h-heart." Rachel choked out; her voice frighteningly hollow.
Blaine put his arm around her, stroking her shoulder. "I can take you to him if you want…I drove here."
Finn nodded. "You don't have to go to Nationals if you don't want to, Rachel. Your father and…your time with him," Finn continued gently. "is more important."
She shook her head and more tears started to course down her face. "I can't just leave. I—we worked so hard, everyone is counting on me to be there too."
Kurt squeezed her arm. "Everyone will understand."
Finn reached up and cupped her cheek, wiping the tears away with his thumb. Mr. Schue rounded from the side and stood near where Finn was kneeling.
"Everyone's right, Rachel." Mr. Schue nodded, sympathy shining in his eyes. "We can go on without you."
"I can't just leave," Rachel wailed. Blaine and Kurt scooted closer on both her sides. Kurt moved to rub her back as Blaine muttered quiet 'shhs'. "I'm the female lead."
Finn rubbed her knee, moving his thumb across her cheek again, trying to pick up as many tears as he could. "Quinn can take over." I'm sure she'll be thrilled, Finn thought with an inner eye roll.
"I can't…I can't go without you." Rachel's eyes connected with his and Finn licked his lips. "And I can't…selfishly pull you away from the competition too. We'll definitely lose then."
Finn couldn't help a small smile from spreading over his lips because…what she was saying was just so Rachel Berry. She didn't want to be selfish, which in terms of what she wanted to pull him away from and why she needed him wasn't, but then again she didn't think the rest of the glee club could win without them. They were the leads and the strongest voices in her opinion.
Mr. Schue managed a small smile, shaking his head at the petite girl. "There are other singers in this group, Rachel." He tried to point out gently. "We can manage without you two."
Now Rachel looked annoyed and a tad bit angry…Finn knew to duck for cover when she usually gave him that face but instead he squeezed her knee, letting her know he wasn't going anywhere.
"No," Rachel shook her head again, her voice gaining a bit more strength and resolve. "I can't. My-my dad wouldn't want this; he would want me to be s-strong and do this." She sniffled; Blaine pulled a tissue from his pocket and handed it to her. She managed a weak and watery smile at him. "He would want me to go and shine on that stage like the star I am."
Finn sighed, glancing at Kurt and Blaine before meeting her eyes. "Rach…are you sure?"
She nodded, her hands shaking as she blew her nose. She sniffled when she pulled the tissue back. "I'm sure."
There was enough confidence in her voice that made Finn believe her and he stood, nodding at Mr. Schue for confirmation. Mr. Schue still looked unsure but didn't say anything else; he gave Rachel a brave smile and headed back to the group of glee kids waiting impatiently to board the plane.
"You know, I was thinking," Blaine said, gaining Rachel's attention. "My uncle is a doctor in Florida. Maybe I could call him, talk to him about your dad?" He frowned after a moment. "I don't mean to overstep boundaries or anything but…maybe he could help."
Kurt smiled lovingly at his boyfriend while Rachel pecked him on his cheekbone. "That's very sweet of you, Blaine but…" She sighed softly, looking down at her tissue. "I think it's too late for that."
Blaine shook his head. "It's never too late for a miracle."
Finn nearly rolled his eyes at the cheesy statement but Blaine was trying to help and anything at this point was better than nothing. Rachel bit her lip and Finn was suddenly nervous over the hope swirling in her eyes; he was nearly mad at Blaine for putting it there.
"Your uncle is a good doctor?" Finn spoke up.
Blaine looked at him and nodded, he shifted his body a little to face him as he spoke. "Best in his field."
"In tumors?" Finn asked, narrowing his eyes. "Because that's what we're dealing with here."
Blaine looked down as Rachel's mouth opened. "Finn." She scolded softly. "Blaine is just trying to help."
"I don't want him getting your hopes up Rachel. I want more than anything for his uncle to be able to help but…" His voice faltered as Rachel looked down; her fingers wringing the tissue Blaine had given her.
"My uncle is an oncologist." Blaine said quietly after a few minutes of silence between the group; the only sound coming from Rachel's sniffling. "He's developed this radiation therapy he works through with his patients…look; Finn's right, I don't want to get your hopes up Rachel."
He turned his body toward hers again, commenting on Finn's previous statement. "But I want to help and…I want you to feel like you've done everything you could."
Finn couldn't help the small pent up jealously that was starting to squeeze his stomach; he glanced at Kurt to see if he was having the same problem but…the boy looked hopeful, his eyes swarming with love and affection for the Warbler that had thought of this idea to help his best friend. Maybe Finn was being ridiculous…just jealous that he couldn't have thought of a better plan to help the girl he loved. Why weren't any of his relatives doctors, god damnit?
Then he shook his head and nearly smacked himself upside the face because seriously? Rachel's dad was dying and Finn was worried about Blaine getting credit for trying to help?
Rachel smiled at him. "Blaine…I—" She looked down at her lap. "We don't exactly have any money for this sort of thing. My job at Sheets n Things isn't exactly paying me with giant paychecks and I had to take all this time off—"
"Don't worry about the money." He shook his head. "I'll talk to my uncle, we can work something out."
Rachel looked to Finn for reassurance and he swallowed, not really sure what to tell her in all honestly. He heard a woman come over the loud speaker, alerting them that it was time to board their plane. Of course the only thing he needed was time to come up with an answer for her and that was the only thing he didn't have—they needed to get on the plane and Blaine couldn't come with them.
He glanced at Blaine who nodded at him in confidence and Finn sighed, taking one of Rachel's hands before nodding. Blaine was right—she needed to feel like she had done everything she could. She turned to Blaine and pulled out a small pink sheet of paper from her carryon bag, scribbling down her father's number in a rush, handing it to him as they all stood up. Mr. Schue was motioning to the trio insistently, telling them to say goodbye to Blaine and get on the plane.
Kurt hugged his boyfriend, giving him a soft kiss on the mouth before parting. Blaine smiled as Finn shook his head; hoping that was enough to convey how thankful he was for the idea—for the hope that sprung up in Rachel's eyes.
Rachel nearly knocked Blaine over from the force of her hug and he chuckled softly, hugging her tightly before letting her go.
"Thank you, Blaine…even if it doesn't work—" She trailed off and then regained her composure, smiling brightly at him. "You have no idea what this means to me."
Blaine smiled knowingly, placing a brotherly kiss on her forehead. "I think I do." He said softly, nodding.
Finn smiled softly before taking Rachel's hand, nodding again at Blaine before the three of them made their way to Mr. Schue at terminal leading the way to the plane. Rachel laced her fingers with his as they handed in their tickets and made their way inside the plane and to their seats.
They were towards the back, in coach, and the glee club's voices quieted down as they saw Rachel and Finn approaching. He glanced over some people in the group, catching Sam's worried face and Quinn's semi-concerned one. He sat down next to Rachel, letting her take the window seat and quickly secured his seat belt.
Rachel turned to him and rested her body over his, her arm finding its way around his waist as her head rested just below his chin. He turned and planted a loving kiss on her hairline, his one arm circling her back to pull her closer.
"Do you think—?"
"I hope so." Finn answered before she could finish her question. They had fallen into that habit and sometimes she rarely had to ask before he could give her a definite answer. He liked being so connected with her—he liked that she was the only thing that ever made sense. "It was nice of Blaine to offer." He said after a few moments, his stomach plummeting as the sound of the plane's engine starting up.
The smile on Rachel's face at the mention of Blaine's name didn't help his stomach either. But he couldn't really blame her for treating the bow-tie, striped, cardigan wearing, ass-clown (alright, maybe not so much of an ass-clown) like he walked on clouds.
"I'm afraid to hope for anything." She admitted. "But I feel awful if I don't hope just a little bit."
Finn nodded at the lose-lose dilemma, squeezing her tightly to his body. He wasn't sure what to tell her…but he had a feeling that she already knew what she was going to do: hope was infectious, kind of just like cancer, and he knew that all it took was an inkling of it from Blaine for it grow inside her, fill her up from head to toe.
He gently rocked her as much as the seatbelts would allow. "Try and get some sleep, okay?" He told her gently, his fingers winding through her long dark strands.
She managed a small nod before closing her eyes against him, placing a kiss on his cheek before she settled.
His fear for flying was completely taken over by his instinctual need to take care of Rachel. He didn't even notice when the plane's wheels left the ground, taking them higher and higher into the morning sky.
0o0o0o0o0
Finn was surprised that Mr. Schue could afford a bunch of rooms for the glee club in a pretty nice hotel in downtown New York. Rachel was basically bubbling with excitement regardless of the news she had received before they had left Ohio's ground. Kurt had managed to convince Mr. Schue to let him stay with Rachel in one of the rooms while Sam paired up with Finn and the rest of the glee kids paired off with their own sexes.
He was even more surprised when he heard a small knock on his door at one in the morning and opened up to see his tiny girlfriend in her pink, monkey printed pajamas. He shook his head and smiled fondly.
"Hey," He gently ruffled her hair. "You alright baby girl?"
She smiled brilliantly at him and nodded. "Just wanted to see you…" She glanced inside his room to see Sam on the bed, watching TV. "I didn't realize Sam was still awake…"
He smiled softly. "Why would that matter?"
She bit her lip, looking up at him. "Well, I was hoping…" She trailed off, touching the bottom of her shirt.
Finn watched her movements, raising his eyebrows, turning to Sam in the bedroom. "Hey man, can you do me a solid?"
Sam turned and saw Rachel standing outside, smiling shyly, her face nearly the color of her bright pink pajamas. He just sort of chuckled, turning off the TV before sliding up off the bed.
"What room are you and Kurt in?"
She bit her lip. "426, Kurt's asleep…I think mostly everyone is."
Sam nodded and glanced at the two before giving Finn a sly smirk that made Rachel's face alight in an even deeper shade of red. "Try not to get caught, alright? I'll try and wake up early enough to switch back before Mr. Schue catches the both of you."
Finn smiled at Sam and Rachel rolled her eyes as Sam fist bumped him. He closed the door quietly and watched her crawl onto the bed near the window; leaning against the pillow and headboard.
"I…"
Finn swallowed on her hesitation as he sat down across from her in bed. He took her hand in his; his thumb tenderly running over the veins in the palm of her hand.
"I don't want to just do what we've been doing…"
He looked up at her, his thumb pausing on her skin. "You mean…" He faltered. "Rachel, are you sure? It's just, it's been so stressful for you lately, and I don't want you to regret this."
"I've been thinking about this for some time now. I've made a flow chart and a pro and con list—" He chuckled softly; because of course she did. "And I've shown both to Kurt."
He choked on his own spit. "I'm—I'm sure he was very pleased about that." Sarcasm laced over his sentence.
She giggled and shook her head. "Wasn't my brightest idea." She took both of her hands in his and squeezed. "I…I want you to have all of me." Her voice was confident, brilliantly beautiful. Certain. "I'm ready, Finn."
0o0o0o0o0o
He thought this would be going in a different direction.
They were in New York.
Rachel's city. The city made of their intertwined dreams; of their lifelong future together. They were in a fancy hotel, in a room all by themselves, clothes strewn in haphazard places, naked skin sliding against each other's creating friction, heat and the constant electricity that seemed to draw them together from the very moment they sang their first duet.
And yet it was all so wrong.
He panted heavily against her, holding his body up over hers, moaning insistently against her administrations; she was writhing underneath him, her legs opening further and further as she was turned on from the noises he was making. She slid the condom on like a pro; and Finn had to shake his head once to try to get all her exes out of his head. She had practiced on a banana for Cheesus' sake; she had told him that once. Her easy organization had nothing to do with Puck or Jesse St. Jackass or Sam and…why the hell was Blaine in his goddamn head?
This was it.
She was waiting for him.
And he froze.
Like, literally, mid-breath.
"F-Finn?" Rachel asked worriedly, her voice meek—he could tell she was worried she had done something wrong.
No, this wasn't right. He was ready. He was hard. There were no worried thoughts about the mailman, he had control. So why wasn't he moving forward? Why was he frozen like a statue on top of his girlfriend?
"Do you think the people next door can hear us?" He choked out suddenly. "Like…what if the walls are paper thin?"
Rachel's hands covered her mouth before they rested on her entire face. "Oh God," She wailed, the waterworks turning on like a faucet. "You're ashamed of me!"
He nearly laughed because, honestly, this whole situation had to be hysterics because literally everything was perfect and there he was fucking it up. He had to turn his brain off because he was getting caught up in nervous thoughts about how he wouldn't be good enough for her; how this whole thing was just going to end up hurting her and not bring her a single ounce of pleasure. He was worried; he was nervous; he could hear Santana taunting him in his head about his first time and how awful he'd been at it. He couldn't screw this up for Rachel. It had to be perfect. Because she was perfect and deserved nothing less.
"What? No! No, Rach, baby, please don't cry." He panicked, gently resting his body in-between her legs. He cupped her face and kissed all over, his lips brushing over her collar bone, neck, chin, cheeks and lips.
Her crying slowed gradually, and he let out a breath of relief as she started kissing him again; her lips gaining speed with want and need. Her fingers tangled themselves in his hair and he groaned into her mouth as she felt her core grind into his cock, making him so hard that he felt his entire abdomen ache.
"I'm not ashamed." He muttered in-between kisses. "I'm not."
Her fingers moved to run down his back, her nails digging into his skin. "Then what are you?"
He looked into her eyes as he shifted, bringing himself up, aligning himself like before. He slid into her slowly and carefully, his eyes never leaving hers for a moment, making sure she was alright through it all.
"Yours." He whispered against her lips. "Yours." He repeated as their bodies started to rock, finding a perfect rhythm.
He was right.
Everything was perfect, especially them.
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Alright, so there's chapter 29 :) I hope you all enjoyed, thank you to everyone who has stuck with me. It's been rough! I will have the next chapter up as soon as humanly possible. Totally mean it. Thank you!
