DISCLAIMER: I am not Ryan Murphy, well not until I change my name by deed poll…
Ch5…
3FINCHEL3
His bed was definitely not this cramped Finn thought stretching out his stiff neck. Blinking rapidly he took in the sight of six girls spread out across the room all sleeping, Brittany was curled in a ball and drooling while Quinn was spread out across Kurt's bed after the girls decided that the floor wasn't a good place for the pregnant teen to sleep, apparently Mercedes and Tina had stolen his bed and Kurt was lying across the arm chair.
"Rachel?" He nudged the petite brunette he was hugging to himself their legs tangled together, if she didn't move soon she was going to be greeted by a very active part of Finn. Instead of opening her eyes she just burrowed into his chest even more mewing softly like a cat. Oops, yep there he was, morning junior.
Kurt's alarm blasted out from the bedside table blaring the radio, which succeeded in waking everyone up. He guessed nobody had considered the logistics of six girls and one very image conscious guy sharing a bathroom before rushing to school.
"Turn it off!" Santana growled throwing her pillow in the general direction of the offending noise, she missed her target completely hitting Quinn who just used the pillow to try and shut the noise out.
Now awake Tina yawned and pulled her phone from her pocket, she'd forgotten to call Artie back last night. It was his fault for calling during Dirty Dancing.
"Guys, last night was fun but I'm going to run home to get dressed, see you at school." She announced grabbing her bag and not bothering to change from her pjs.
"Can you give me a ride?" Mercedes asked pulling on her shoes. "There's no way I'm sharing a bathroom with Kurt again no offense."
"None taken." He replied yelling from the bathroom the shower turning on a few moments later.
"Great, he'll be in there for at least half an hour." Finn groaned.
Santana and Brittany both looked at him in alarm, they couldn't get ready without at least an hour for preparation.
"Hey Tina, don't forget us too." Brittany yelled loudly running up the stairs. "Bye guys!"
Rachel watched in fascination as the room emptied out in rapid succession, she glanced over at Quinn who hadn't moved and didn't seem inclined to.
"Pfft, it's not like I'm a cheerio anymore I don't need to look perfect. Besides I have that pregnancy glow." She explained swinging her feet over the side of the bed. "Though I am starving."
"Burt makes hash browns every morning, he leaves them in the oven for us before we go to school." Finn told her, Quinn's eyes lit up and she too disappeared up the stairs moving with remarkable speed for a pregnant girl.
"Morning." Rachel mumbled into his side rolling back over and pulling the blanket with her. Normally she would be finished with her morning workout and making a breakfast smoothie by now but then again she wasn't usually kept awake until close to four in the morning.
"Did you sleep okay?" Finn asked praying to every god he could name that Rachel didn't move and really meet Jr.
"Well after putting a pillow over Santana's face to stop her snoring those three hours were really refreshing." She joked pulling the blanket down and tucking it under her chin.
"That was Santana?" Finn's jaw gaped in shock. "I thought it was Burt coming through the ceiling."
"Nope." Rachel laughed. "Just Santana, it's going to be hard to stay awake all day." She yawned. "And we have to perform that song for Glee."
"Don't worry I'll keep you stocked with coffee and red bull all day." He promised, his constant chant of mail man having subsided his problem. Rachel wrinkled her nose.
"I don't drink that stuff, it can be a real strain on the vocal chords. I'll just try to get in a nap during my free period." She decided reluctantly sliding out of the oddly comfortable fold out bed and walking over to her suitcase. "Which should I wear?" She asked holding up two different skirts, the denim one he recognised from when they did their Madonna mash up and the other a black one with ruffles he had never seen.
"The black." He chose easily subconsciously pulling a plain black shirt from his own closet. Armed with clothes both stared at the bathroom door where Kurt could be heard loudly singing Sexy Back.
"Do you think your mum would mind if I used her bathroom?" Rachel asked shyly her grip on her cosmetics bag tightening.
"Sure just head upstairs it's the second door on the right." He answered quickly, he had gym first period no use showering just to get all sweaty and shower again.
"Thanks." Smiling slightly she wandered up the stairs slowly her mind still not completely over the fact that she had woken up in Finn Hudson's arms with a very important part of him giving her attention.
3FINCHEL3
Mr. Schuester was steeling himself for an angry group when he entered the choir room that morning; it had become customary for the group to hang out there before class, catching up, running through songs and in the case of a few members copying homework. The first thing he noticed was that Rachel was sitting in the front, a little tired but no worse for wear. The second thing he noticed was that with the exception of Artie, Puck, Mike and Matt the entire group looked tired, Kurt was wearing his sunglasses inside something he was prone to when he thought he had bags under his eyes.
"How is everyone feeling this morning?" He greeted eying the yawning kids carefully.
"We're fine Mr. Schue." Mercedes called out speaking for the group. "We just had a little slumber party last night is all."
"Yeah we were up really late." Tina added struggling to keep her eyes open.
"And just what happened at this slumber party?" He asked crossing his arms, this should be interesting.
"Just girls stuff."
"Which is why Kurt and Finn were there." Puck grumbled. "Did you braid their hair too?"
"I don't braid hair it's too confusing." Brittany replied. "We did watch Dirty Dancing though."
"Wow, can't believe we missed that." Matt muttered sarcastically.
"Well that's not all we did." Quinn defended. "We had girl talk."
"I now know things about these guys I never wanted to." Finn said quietly, he'd been trying to forget that part of the evening. Knowing the guys fantasies, turn on's and other things was so not necessary.
"Seems like you boys missed quite a night." Mr. Schuester laughed. "Finn, Rachel I don't suppose you found time in between girl talk and She's Like The Wind to find a song for us."
"Of course we did." Rachel answered stepping to the middle of the room. "Given recent events Mr. Schuester has asked that Finn and I as co-captains find a song that spurs us on. A song that says we are here and you can't bring us down. An anthem."
"So after the girls finally fell asleep last night after watching that final scene like twelve times Rach and I looked through our stuff and found a song that we think pretty much says it all." Finn continued for her handing over the sheet music to Brad, he idly wondered how much money someone made as a high school piano player.
"All right let's see what you've got." Mr. Schuester clapped sitting down. Quinn and Kurt shared a conspiratorial smile; they had walked in on Finn and Rachel practicing that morning,
"Listen baby
Ain't no mountain high
Ain't no valley low
Ain't no river wide enough baby"
Finn sang out bending down on one knee holding his hand out to Rachel. Accepting with a small curtsy the petite brunette took a seat on his knee and began to sing.
"If you need me call me
No matter where you are
No matter how far"
Hopping off his knee she helped pull him up with him spinning her into his chest.
"Don't worry baby."
Spinning her away from him Rachel came to a stop at the piano.
"Just call my name
I'll be there in a hurry
you don't have to worry"
Walking around Brad she twirled back over to Finn so that they could sing together.
"Cause baby there
Ain't no mountain high enough
Ain't no valley low enough
Ain't no river wide enough
To keep me from getting to you"
Taking a seat at the drums Finn winked at Rachel singing his lines to her.
"Remember the day
I set you free
I told you
You could always count on me darling
From that day on I made a vow
I'll be there when you want me
Someway, somehow"
Climbing up the small bleachers the two started to pull their friends out of their chairs to join in.
"Cause baby there,
Ain't no mountain high enough
Ain't no valley low enough
Ain't no river wide enough
To keep me from getting to you babe"
"Oh no darling"
"No wind, no rain
Or winters cold can stop me baby"
Rachel and Finn were still in the centre of the group singing mainly to each other.
"No, no baby"
He sang to her his eyes not leaving hers.
"Cause you are my love"
She broke away to turn to Mercedes but was pulled back by Finn flush against his chest.
"If you're ever in trouble
I'll be there on the double
Just send for me oh baby"
Blushing she focused on the lyrics and not the piercing stare Finn was giving her.
"My love is alive
Way down in my heart
Although we are miles apart"
Remembering they weren't alone Finn let go of Rachel's hands and threw his arm around Tina.
"If you ever need a helping hand
I'll be there on the double
As fast as I can"
Dancing around each other everyone joined in on the chorus, smiling like idiots.
"Don't you know that there
Ain't no mountain high enough
Ain't no valley low enough
Ain't no river wide enough
To keep me from getting to you
Don't you know that
There ain't no mountain high enough
Ain't no valley low enough
Ain't no river wide enough!"
Rachel broke away from the group and turned to Mr. Schuester.
"So what do you think?"
"It's not exactly what I had in mind but it definitely worked." He complimented, leaning in closer he dropped his voice down lower. "You know that if you need anything you can come to me or Miss. Pillsbury."
"Thanks Mr. Schue but I think I'll be okay." She replied glancing back over at the laughing group of students. "I had some ideas for a number at Regionals, it's not quite what we're used to but I really think it could work and it would definitely set us apart from the competition."
"Sounds great, why don't you stop by my office during lunch?" He suggested. Rachel smiled and breathed deeply.
"Perfect."
New Directions would be declared the winner at Regionals, they would win and show everyone; Jesse, Sue, Karofsky that they were a force not to be reckoned with. Hell hath no fury like a diva scorned.
3FINCHEL3
Puck had snuck out his geometry class, that wasn't the part of his day that was unusual. It was the fact that instead of sleeping in his car he was looking for Rachel Berry. By process of elimination; the auditorium was empty as was the choir room he checked only other place he could think she would go. For some reason all the girls liked to hang out in the back room of the auditorium where the costumes were kept. Rachel was sitting on the desk writing on one of her notepads at an alarming rate. He'd seen Finn coax her into trying a Red Bull and she'd obviously been wired ever since.
"Hey Berry."
"Noah!" She yelped dropping her pen. Clearly Red Bull made her jumpy. "Did you need something?"
"Not really." He scratched the back of his head. "Just look, us Jews know more about guilt than anyone so I just wanted to say that what Jesse did sucked and Matt, Mike and I slashed his tires last night."
"Why?" She asked confused by this combination act of vandalism and revenge.
"For messing with you." He answered slowly as though it were obvious. "We protect our own and he had it coming. You're lucky Finn was with you, he told Matt he wanted to rip Jesse's legs off and use the bones as drumsticks."
Rachel wrinkled her nose at that somewhat vile image. "Ew. Although I don't condone illegal activities I guess what you guys did was sweet in a way. Thank you."
"Don't mention it." He shrugged it off. "We were going to do it soon anyway, that kid was annoying as hell."
She laughed, that was the great thing about breaking up with someone all their faults and quirks that you used to find charming were all of sudden the most annoying things on the planet. The two-hour Jesse Bashing discussion last night had definitely cured her of any illusions that she should waste any more tears over that guy. When Finn had left to get the ice cream the girls had put in the freezer Mercedes had seized the moment to declare that Jesse was obviously her rebound from Finn. Brittany had explained that according to Brooke on One Tree Hill which was like the bible to the blonde girl, that you will always fall for the rebound guy but its not real love.
That of course had led to an impromptu discussion about One Tree Hill and who was team Leyton and who was team Brucas. Rachel had actually watched the show since she had heard all about it and wanted to know what everyone was talking about and she was firmly Team Leyton as were Quinn, Mercedes, Tina and Brittany. Kurt and Santana were Team Brucas, which didn't surprise anyone. Finn had just sat and smiled helping himself to the ice cream, the only thing he could remember from watching the show with Quinn were the basketball scenes.
"You're not wrong." She agreed breaking away from her thoughts. "Can I ask you something?"
"Only if you never repeat what I say to anyone."
Rachel nodded her agreement and wondered how exactly to ask her question tactfully.
"Why haven't you asked Quinn to be your girlfriend yet?"
Puck looked surprised by her question but tried to shrug it off.
"You can't keep the Puckzilla tied down to one girl."
Obviously the sharing and caring portion of the conversation was over, fighting back a huff she grabbed her bag, she had to meet Mr. Schuester in ten minutes anyway.
"She likes you, I really think she'd keep the baby if she thought you'd be there for her as a family." She told him as she brushed past to get to the door.
He and Quinn were living together, in sin much to his mother's horror but his eye still wandered. He definitely felt something for the blonde, and it wasn't just a passing thing either. But to actually do the boyfriend-girlfriend thing? How was it possible that that scared him more than doing the father thing?
3FINCHEL3
Thanks to everybody for still wanting to check out this story. I'm trying to update once I'm two chapters ahead so there wont be a massive lag between chapters. Have no fear I have only two or so chapters left AND I've been working on a Psych X over based at Regionals. Please let me know if anyone would be interested in what my brain conjures in that scenario!