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Chapter 22

"What is wrong with you?", Kurt next to Finn hissed to James. "Which sane person threatens his family with a gun?"

"You are right, things got out of hand", James just said, looking down his weapon in his hands. "But Elaine and I, we always had a plan. Burt and Carole take over the car shops, our grandchildren go to an Elite college, Finn takes over the firm. We needed a strategy – but suddenly, Elaine wanted to involve Mildred more in the firm even though I got rid of her years ago. It took me so long to talk her out of it."

Finn couldn't believe how he talked about grandmother or her family.

"So it was not mom's idea to exclude me", Mildred said slowly.

"Of course not. Your mother always had problems to act consequently. Other than her, I had a vision for Hummel-Hudson's, but you got into my way."

"And why did you need me?", Finn asked. If they posed a lot of questions, they could buy time. To be honest, he didn't want to find out what his crazy grandfather wanted to do with them after he was done.

And it seemed to work because in the next moment, James snorted. "Because you always did what I wanted you to do. Because you just needed a little bit of violence to go to the right direction. It would be for the best if you filled Elaine's gap, not someone who has his own will."

Ouch, that hurt a lot.

"You are a disgrace for this family, James", Mildred said in a dangerous quiet way. "You don't deserve Elaine's heritage. Or Joseph's. Did you get rid of my brother in law and his wife as well? By shooting them, like you plan it with us?"

James shook his head slowly. "Please, Milly, I'm no monster", he said, smirking.

"Don't dare calling me like that", Mildred hissed, but was ignored by James.

"Of course, I sent someone who makes the dirty work for me", he went on. "After their deaths, I can take over their car-business as well and sell everything. This way, I can expand Hummel-Hudson's."

Finn gasped for air. He couldn't be serious, right? He was responsible for their parents' disappearances? When did his life turn into a murder mystery?

"Don't you feel ashamed, grandfather?", Kurt asked, his voice was trembling.

"I just did what I thought was the right thing."

"If that's the case, your moral compass must be broken as hell", Finn answered dryly, eyeing the guns pointed at them.

"Grandmother would be ashamed of you if she were alive and saw you right now", Kurt hissed, eyes narrowed. "You are sick. Really sick."

Finn wondered how they could stay so strong when two deadly weapons were pointed at them. Maybe facing a deadly situation was good for the adrenaline inside their bodies.

James laughed. "No, Kurt, that's the wrong word. Let's call it ambitious." He checked his watch. "Now, turn around and slowly go down the stairs to the car Smith has prepared for you."

"Seriously? You are kidnapping us so that you can get away?", Mildred snorted. "How can you go so low?"

"Get moving", Blood just ordered sternly, pointing the gun at Mildred who quickly followed orders.

Finn gulped. That definitely wasn't the way they planned it.

But when they wanted to turn around, someone suddenly knocked down James from behind who fell to the floor immediately. Finn looked up – and was surprised to see his stepfather's face.

"Dad!", Kurt gasped, surprised.

Behind him, Finn's mom, Rachel, Mercedes and Andy appeared.

Mildred carefully picked up the gun he had dropped, pointing it at Maximus Blood. "It's over, Blood", she spat.

"Yes, the cops are on their way as well", Burt added. "They will be upstairs in no time."

"So?", Mr. Blood said, gripping his gun tighter. His hands were trembling. "I still have a weapon."

"But how will it help you?", Carole asked softly. "If you shoot one of us, it definitely won't make things easier."

"Yes, and besides, I have a weapon as well", Mildred pointed out calmly, still pointing the gun at Maximus. "I took shooting lessons during college; I know exactly how this Glock works. You shoot, I shoot."

"Please, man", Finn said, taking a few steps towards Maximus Blood. "Finn…", Rachel behind him whispered warningly, and Finn threw her a pleading glance. 'Please trust me', he wanted to say by that.

In the meanwhile, Kurt went to stand next to Finn. "Let it be, okay? You are only doing this because grandfather forced you, right?", he asked carefully.

Maximus Blood nodded slowly. It was dead silent inside the room. Finn shortly exchanged glances with Kurt. Right now, they didn't need words. "So there is nothing to be afraid of. Please, just give Kurt your weapon. Please."

Hesitantly, Kurt stepped closer to him, and looked at Maximus warmly. "Please."

It felt to Finn like everyone held his breath when Mr. Blood's moved his hand – and handed the weapon to Kurt. Finn dared to pat his shoulder. "Thanks, man."

"There are no bullets inside anyway", Mr. Blood admitted quietly. "Mr. Hudson, I would never do something like that to your family. After all those years I worked for you."

In the next moment, a bunch of cops stormed into the room, arresting Mr. Blood and an unconscious James. Only at this moment, Finn realized how much he had trembled with fear and how sweaty his hands were.

He let his mother and Rachel pull him into a tight hug, while Mercedes and Burt did the same with Kurt.
He let the policemen escort them out of the building where a couple of journalists and reporters were already waiting for them with their microphones and notebooks.
He let Andy help him get into the limousine.
He barely noticed how Andy handed a still trembling Mildred his jacket.

"What you have just done was brave and noble, just like your father would have acted. I'm so proud of you, Mr. Hudson", Andy murmured to him before he got into the driver's seat. Mildred sat down at the shotgun seat, the suit jacket of the chaffeur still wrapped around her shoulders. Andy murmured comforting words into her ear and she smiled faintly.

Even though Finn was still shocked to the core, he couldn't help but think that they had won.

…

The sun was blinding them, but Finn was enjoying the moment on the field. He was not thinking. He was just running. In the meanwhile, three weeks had passed since the incident. Grandfather was in prison now, and his parents decided to return to Lima permanently to be there for him and Kurt.

For a couple of seconds, Finn closed his eyes, concentrating on the steps of the others, the shoutings, the ball…

"Hudson!", Coach Beiste suddenly yelled. "Stop sleeping, goddammit!" So, he started concentrating on what was happening on the field again. When the referee whistled, Sam and Puck high-fived with him because they were in the lead. Finn put off his helmet, searching for Rachel with his eyes.

She was sitting in the first row with Kurt, Santana, Quinn, Brittany, Mercedes and the rest of the event management team. Mercedes was about to show Tina next to her how the camera worked. She would need that, after all, she had been voted to take over the leading position with Ryder after Rachel and Mercedes graduated. When Finn went over to his girlfriend, he couldn't help but grin.

"Hey", he mumbled, leaning down to her and kissing her softly. The kiss got more intense and they just couldn't stop.

Mercedes made a weird noise and Rachel pulled away, laughing.

"Well, if he plays like that, I forgive him that he skips our meetings once a week", Kitty who was leaning against Matt, commented.

"Yes", Rachel agreed. "He makes a good job, right?"

Finn's heart was beating faster.

"Hi", Sam said and joined them. "I also want praise."

"Fishing for compliments is uncool, Evans", Mercedes answered. Even though her tone was serious, her mouth was twitching. Finn looked to Sam, and realized how he looked at her: unburdened, open and full of affection. He wondered whether he looked at Rachel like that as well.

"Moments like these make me miss Blaine", Kurt sighed theatrically.

"You have seen him the last time one hour ago, white boy", Mercedes laughed.

The education authority members had voted concerning Kurt's case, whether he was allowed to stay at McKinley or not. Luckily, they had voted in his favor, so he returned to Lima. And thanks to the strict private lessons, he didn't need to do anything for school anymore because he already knew everything.

Finn kind of found it unfair, but he was happier about the fact that he could spend the last months of his senior year with his brother. And with his parents. And his girlfriend.

"Come on, captain", Puck who had just made out with Quinn, said. His lips were swollen, and Finn needed to grin. "The break is over. We will kick our opponents' asses."

Finn smiled at Rachel one last time before he jogged back to the field with his bros. While he did that, he thought about the beginning of this schoolyear. About the day were Kurt came to him and he promised to himself to keep an eye on Rachel.

Since that day, everything had changed. Instead of going to Harvard and being part of the head of his family's firm, he was courageous enough to decide against what his grandparents wanted and listened to his heart. His parents were fine with his plans and encouraged him to do what he found right.

Mildred already took over Hummel-Hudson's and already started to change it for the better. Kurt would join her after his freshman year at Harvard, working part time until he was done studying.

At the beginning of the schoolyear, Finn thought that senior year was a countdown until his unburdened life would be over, but now…it felt like a beginning. Even though he still needed to process a lot of things, his perspective of life changed fundamentally.

And he had never been so grateful for that.

-Four months later-

"How about here?", Finn asked.

Rachel turned to him. He was standing between the bed and a small closet, holding the photo against the wall. It showed her and Finn and it was one of the first they had taken after they went to Thailand. They were standing in front of a busy street market, beaming.

She needed to smile. Those weeks had been the best of her life – that's why she wanted to hang it in her dorm.

"Perfect", Rachel said, and Finn hung it up immediately.

"By the way, I have a surprise for you", he told her, and Rachel's eyes lit up when he retrieved a present.

"What…?"

"Open it", he said, smiling.

Slowly, Rachel followed orders, looking at another photo with a picture frame. "That's from our farewell party!"

"I thought you could put it on your desk or something. We could all watch you learn."

The photo had been taken at the beginning of this summer before Finn went to Thailand with Rachel. His parents (Who were really nice, by the way. Like, reaaallly nice) stood next to Andy and Mildred, who were holding hands, Sam had wrapped his arms around Mercedes' waist, Mike, Tina, Artie, Brittany and even Chandler were smiling widely, so did Kurt and Mr. An...Blaine next to them. Santana was grimacing, Puck tried to look badass but was failing miserably because Quinn next to him was laughing at him. Finn was smiling at the camera while Rachel was leaning her head against his shoulder, looking happy.

"I'm going to miss you", Rachel whispered. Because in three days, Finn would fly to Bali where he would be taking courses about journalistic writing and professional photographing. His blog already had a few fans, and Finn had so much fun creating it. Everytime he talked about his layouts and his new entries, his eyes were literally sparkling.

Rachel had never seen him like that. And even though it hurt to be separated from him for four weeks, she was happy how enthusiastic Finn was.

It felt like they both arrived – she at Harvard (Yes, she decided on Harvard instead of NYADA because Kurt and Mercedes convinced her. And the prospect of spending the next four years with her two best friends as well was great, even though they all didn't study the same. But as a compromise, Rachel could take a couple of courses during an exchanging program at NYADA because both universities were partner universities, but she needed to wait until her sophomore year) and Finn at – okay, he didn't have a fixed place.

But the point was that he found something that made him happy. Finn told her he would continue with his blog, even after he would start studying in one year at Harvard as well. Because instead of not accepting his acceptance, his parents convinced him to postpone his studies.
And instead of studying economics like his grandfather wanted him to, Finn would study engineering so that he can take over the car-business one day.

"But of course, we won't force you to do what you don't want to, sweetie", Carole had said to Finn during the farewell party. Rachel stood next to him, squeezing his hand.

"Yes, after all, that's your life, not ours", Burt had agreed. "And we are sorry we couldn't be there for you and Kurt after all those horrible things happened, but we needed to disappear after a fisher boat saved us, or else, James would have done horrible things to you if he knew that we survived."

"I understand", Finn had just answered. He had told Rachel that it would take some time until he could forgive them, but at least, he could understand why they acted like they did.

"I will bring you something", Finn just pulled Rachel out of her thoughts, and she looked up. "Or I will construct something this time."

Rachel needed to grin. "Something colorful, please. And detailed."

"I will see what I can do", he mumbled. When he leaned forwards and kissed her, fireworks where in front of Rachel's eyes. She wondered whether it would be like that forever.

When he pulled away, Rachel needed to grin. "My Finn", she whispered before she grabbed him by the neck and kissed him again. He sighed into her lips.

They had fought for so long to be where they were now. So many things happened in the past year: Crushed wishes, hopeful dreams, and more love than she hoped for.

They fought and saved each other. And that's what they would keep on doing in the future as well. Every hour, minute, second.

-Fin-

A/N: That's it...it's over...*crying my eyes out*

I also posted a trivia chapter, see you there ;)