Hello everyone! I have for you lovely people a complete brand new chapter. I paid a bit of a homage to a classic Hugh Grant/Drew Barrymore movie, that also surprisingly also featured a young looking Matt Morrison. Anyone a fan of those two should easily see the homage. Once again all the legal stuff belongs to Ryan Murphy & FOX except my characters. So please read, review, rewind, then read and review again…enjoy!
The town car that carried Ellie and Finn pulled up outside a large warehouse looking building. Finn looked out of the window wondering for the hundredth time why they were there. But all he could get out of Ellie was that they were there to see a potential client who valued their privacy. Whatever, it's not like it mattered to Finn; at least it got him out of the studio for a while. The latest song he was working on was really kicking his ass, for the life of him he just couldn't get the chorus to work.
"Earth to Finn!" the calling of Ellie brought Finn back from his internal ramblings and he noticed he was still sitting in the car while Ellie was standing outside waiting.
Feeling a bit sheepish at having been caught daydreaming, he quickly unbuckled his seatbelt and joined Ellie as they started walking into the warehouse. Upon entering the warehouse building and having his eyes adjust to the darkness, Finn noticed the place was set up with lights and cameras and a whole heap of people scurrying around the place.
"Are they shooting a movie?" Finn questioned to his work partner. Who just simply shook her head.
"No! They're shooting a music video for the artist where here to see. Apparently she heard you wrote a song for Sadie Hamilton and wants you to write her one. Apparently these two are like this generation Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Both pop princess's, both hate each other and both want to be taken seriously as performers…." Eleanor explained to Finn, before pointing over his shoulder. "Oh! Look here she comes now."
Finn turned to where Ellie was indicating and noticed a throng of people walking over towards them. The group of people was encircled around a young woman, who couldn't be anymore than twenty years old, wearing a robe while texting on her phone. Just before they got near each other an older looking lady leaned over and whispered something to the young woman; who just looked up and stared at Finn and Ellie with the brightest green eyes Finn had ever seen. Then flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder and tucked her phone into the pocket of her robe.
"So you must be the songwriter that wrote that song for Sadie!" she said to Finn in such a way, that he couldn't figure out if it was a question or a statement so he just nodded.
"Well you need to write me a song that's like ten thousand times better than the one you wrote for that bitch! Because Taylor Vaughn does not lose…you hear me songman?" Taylor pointed her finger in his face to which Finn just dumbly nodded once again. "She needs to learn that I'm younger, hotter, richer and more talented than her! Your pretty hot for a songwriting nerd!" Taylor said admiring Finn seductively from head to toe.
"Anyway to cap off the start of our relationship let's take a selfie!" and with that Taylor whipped out her phone and quick as a flash (no pun intended) took a picture of her kissing Finn's cheek.
She took a brief look at the picture before showing Finn and exclaiming, "Wow! Your hot and photogenic, this is going straight to my Instagram. Hashtag look who's here, hashtag start of a beautiful friendship…maybe I should add hashtag suck it Sadie! Or is that too much?" Finn just stared at her not knowing what to say to this young woman who just considered his silence and answer in itself.
"Yeah your right! We want her to be surprised when our hot single knocks her out of the charts!" Taylor said as she deleted the last hashtag before pressing submit to add the picture to her Instagram account.
"Well before you go, your welcome to watch us film my music video." And with that she shrugged off her robe, revealing one the skimpiest outfits Finn had ever seen before throwing her robe to the older woman from before, who just let out a huff. "Ease up on that attitude mother otherwise I cut your and Daddies weekly allowance!" to which the woman just silently nodded at her daughter before slinking into the background.
"Watch and learn, songman!" she called over her shoulder as she made her way to the stage area, making sure to add an extra wiggle of her barely covered bottom.
She was joined by a group of backing dancers as they pumped fog across the stage, just as the music started playing….
La, la, la
La, la, la
I'm starting to believe, boy, that this is meant to be, boy
'Cause I believe in Karma, boy do you believe in Karma?
So forget about your past life 'cause this could be our last life
We're gonna reach Nirvana, boy, we're gonna reach Nirvana
Each time you put your lips to mine, it's like a taste of Buddha's delight
I see the gates of paradise, you're a taste of Buddha's delight
Tell me all your fantasies tonight and I will make them happen
'Cause I'm not satisfied if I don't get my Buddha's delight
Om Shanti, Shanti
Om Shanti, Shanti
Like sutta meditation, you give me elevation
Can you take me higher? Wonder can you take me higher?
I want a revelation and sweet salvation
And the eternal fire, show me the eternal fire
Each time you put your lips to mine, it's like a taste of Buddha's delight
I see the gates of paradise, you're a taste of Buddha's delight
Tell me all your fantasies tonight and I will make them happen
'Cause I'm not satisfied if I don't get my Buddha's delight
Finn leaned over to Ellie as they both watched this young woman gyrate around the stage to the song. "She seems like a very spiritual kid!"
Ellie just nodded keeping the same shocked expression that Finn had, "Yeah it's nice to see a young woman exploring religion!"
Om Shanti, Shanti
Om Shanti, Shanti
I've got to have my Buddha's delight
Om Shanti, Shanti
I've got to have my Buddha's delight
Om Shanti, Shanti
Each time you put your lips to mine, it's like a taste of Buddha's delight
I see the gates of paradise, you're a taste of Buddha's delight
Tell me all your fantasies tonight and I will make them happen
'Cause I'm not satisfied if I don't get my Buddha's delight
La, la, la
The music finished and Finn and Ellie bid their goodbyes before going back outside and hopping into the town car and driving back to the studio.
Rachel sat anxiously inside the crowded coffee shop awaiting the arrival of her pseudo boyfriend. She looked around and started people watching to pass the time and also to think about something else for a minute. Rachel was glad the place was crowded, as it was one of the reasons why she chose this particular location for their much-needed discussion. Having a deep and meaningful conversation surrounded by a bunch of people lowered the chances of anything happening if things went south so to speak. Not that she thought Brody would physically hurt her or anything, but you never know how someone's going to react when presented with bad news.
The sit down with Brody was long overdue in Rachel's opinion. In fact if she was being completely honest this whole relationship without being a relationship garbage never should have gotten as far as it did. The only reason she kept pushing this thing between them was because she was still angry and hurt in some respect by Finn. She wanted him to be able to see that she didn't need the all-American, boy next door, singing quarterback to be her hero. It was supposed to show that she Rachel Berry could achieve her dreams without him by her side and she could be happy. But what Rachel didn't realize that in the process of teaching Finn a lesson she was also teaching her one too.
So yes while she did prove that she could be happy and successful without Finn and that he wasn't a compulsory prerequisite to her having a contented future. But what she also proved was that what was the point of being a star and successful if your just going through the motions. Even though being "happy" whatever that actually was, was good, she selfishly wanted more. Why settle for someone's version of happy when she could have floating on cloud euphoria grouped with I feel like an absolute princess everyday nirvana with Finn.
She had let her anger cloud her judgment and in that mist of confusion she had lost the very essence of who she once was. Never before had she understood the old idiom, 'To cut off your nose to spite your face', better than she did now. Rachel laughed to herself because isn't that always the way with revenge you end up hurting yourself more than the person your actually angry at. This very reason was why she couldn't agree to get back with Finn just yet and why she had to end things with Brody. She needed to regain the spark…essence…whatever you want to call it that made her unique…that made her, Rachel Berry. She had a brilliant understanding of Lima Rachel and even Rachel with Finn or Finchel. But what she hadn't yet discovered and what excited and terrified her at the same time was what New York Rachel was like.
The door to the coffee shop opened up and in strolled the man of the hour Brody. Rachel hated being the bearer of bad news but it needed to be done. Brody maneuvered his way through the crowd and came over to the table where Rachel was located. He leaned in to kiss her but Rachel turned her face away, which meant Brody could only kiss her cheek.
"I guess I deserved that." Brody said as he called a waitress over and ordered his own coffee.
Rachel set her mug of coffee down and was just about to start talking when Brody put his hand up to stop her. "Look! Before you start can I just say that I'm really sorry for the way I acted the other night. You know how I get when I've had too much to drink, and if we're being honest it didn't help that you were fawning over Finn all night!"
Rachel just gave him an incredulous look and let out a humorless chuckle. "You know that's one of the problems Brody! It's never your fault…someone else is always to blame. You need to start taking responsibility for your actions."
"What like you did?" Brody stared back at her accusingly.
"Yes! That's exactly what I'm trying to do right now. That's why I needed to talk to you. I can sit here and try and humor you but I think we both know what the situation is." Rachel said looking directly at Brody.
"Your breaking up with me, aren't you?" Brody admitted in response.
Rachel reached across and put her hand on top of Brody's, "Brody can you honestly say you love me? Because if you asked me that question I would have to say no."
"This is about him isn't it?" Brody sneered as he snatched his hand away from Rachel's.
Rachel just looked at Brody calmly before answering, "In some ways it has everything to do with Finn…so yes. But in other ways it has absolutely nothing to do with him at all."
Now it was Brody's turn to reach across the table and put his hand on top of Rachel's. "Don't do this Rachel we were so good together! Don't bail on me now just when I was so close to being a star…"
Rachel snatched her hand back as she couldn't believe what she was hearing, "What did you just say?"
Brody realized his slip of the tongue to late but tried to save face anyway. "No! What I meant was US, you and me, where about to become stars…" Brody just looked as Rachel was still giving him an incredulous look of 'really, you expect me to believe that'. "Would you believe I meant you becoming a star?"
"So that's all this was? You just using me and my connections so you could be a celebrity!" Rachel asked raising her voice causing a few people in the crowded coffee shop to look over.
"Well when you say it like that it sounds terrible! But we had fun didn't we?" Brody replied trying to add his own spin to it.
"At first maybe…but then you would insult my friends, insult my roommates, insult my hometown and even insult Finn. So No! What you did was terrible! But I guess that makes me terrible as well because I was just using you to make Finn jealous. While we've been talking Santana and Kurt have packed up all your stuff, so all you need to do is pick it up and when you do leave the key. I need to get going… so you know what have a nice life Brody." Rachel said while she put down some money for her coffee and a tip before standing up and putting on her coat as she started walking away from the table.
But she stopped when Brody called out to her, "You know now that he's a big shot, Hudson's going to dump you just like he did in Lima for the first naïve pretty little starlet that walks by."
"Finn Hudson is nothing like you, Brody!" Rachel called back.
"Are you sure about that? Because all men are like me!"
Rachel returned back to the table and leaned down into Brody's face and said, "Believe me Brody when I say I can list off a whole heap of names of guys I know that are nothing like you. So keep telling yourself whatever helps you sleep better at night okay…" Rachel said while patting Brody's cheek condescendingly, before stepping away and raising her voice so people in the near vicinity could clearly hear her. "Oh! And as for Finn being like you…" she said snidely as she looked down at Brody's crotch before continuing. "That's an absolute joke, Finn is…" Rachel extended her arms dramatically as if she was measuring something huge. "Finn is way…way BIGGER man than you!" which caused scattered laughter throughout the crowd.
"Yeah well you weren't complaining when I was fucking you!" Brody juvenilely quipped back.
"You mean this, OH! BRODY, GOD YOUR SOOOO GOOD! MAKE ME CUM! OH MY GOD YES…YES…YES…OH JESUS YES!" Rachel yelled out with actions reminiscent of the iconic When harry Met Sally scene, which caused nearly every head in the establishment to be watching them. "You mean that little performance? Sorry to break it to Brody but that was faker than your tan…seriously did you ask for oompa loompa orange?"
"They told me it was Hawaiian Sunset! You didn't have one orgasm?" Brody whispered.
"When then you were shafted my friend…" Rachel then started walking off into the crowd, while yelling over her shoulder. "NOT A SINGLE BLOODY ONE! But I should thank you. You did give me valuable moments to hone my acting craft. You should probably work on that for the next unfortunate girl you date…later Brody!" and with that Rachel marched out of the coffee shop with confidence and her head held high as well as numerous supportive high fives from a number of impressed women.
Rachel stepped out into the brisk New York chill and looked around at the city and people bustling by. Today is a new day…today is the start of New York Rachel's new and exciting life. So what have you in store for me city of my dreams she all but shouted to herself as she literally started almost skipping down the busy street. Disappearing into the crowd eager to start her new life as soon as possible.
Finn hauled his tired body into his buildings elevator and almost fell asleep as he slowly watched the floor numbers tick higher. Once the elevator reached the top floor Finn picked up his tired body and slowly trudged towards his penthouse. All he wanted to do was sit his ass down on the couch and catch the sport highlights on ESPN before eating some artery clogging takeout and falling asleep. His day at the studio had been long and arduous. Today was the first day of studio work with pop sensation, Taylor Vaughn. Who was desperate to be seen as more of a mainstream artist then a bubblegum pop princess; and if she could get one over her rival Sadie Hamilton then that was an added bonus.
Finn just wished she put as much energy into her work as she did trying to one-up Sadie Hamilton. It wasn't that she wasn't talented, it was that she thought she was better than she was; and kept on asking Finn for songs to be sung in a higher register, which she had no hope of reaching.
As he reached his door, Finn was thankful it was Friday night. Which meant he had all weekend of no Sadie or Taylor. Also he didn't have to hear anything about their petty high school, cool kid squabble. Finn inserted his key into the lock and opened the door and walked in.
Upon entering his home Finn was not met with the silence he craved but with loud laughter and the TV blaring through the house. Great Puck's brought some random girl back here again. He was going to kill Puck because now his plans of hibernating in his fortress of solitude were dashed. Why Puck had to bring his conquests over to his place he'll never know. Sam, Blaine and Ryder's place was two doors down on the same floor…yet he comes to mine.
Sighing in defeat Finn kicked off his shoes and tucked them beside the door and did the same with his jacket hanging it in the closet. Finn walked down the hall towards the source of all the noise. He peered around the corner because he seriously wasn't in the mood to see Puck and some random girl fornicating. But much to Finn's surprise was that Puck wasn't with some random girl, he was with Santana.
Right there on his expensive leather couch was Santana Lopez and Noah Puckerman surrounded by empty food wrappers and drink bottles. They were both luxuriously lounged back with their feet propped up amongst the garbage on the coffee table. As they both stared at Finn's huge flat screen, laughing there heads off while watching, The Powerpuff Girls on Cartoon Network. He moved a bit closer so he could hear what they were saying.
"HA HA! Buttercup just totally smashed that goon in the face!" Santana guffawed in a very unladylike fashion. Until Puck suddenly sat up straight and turned towards Santana with a stunned look on his face.
"What's wrong with you, Puckerman? Did you poop your pants again?" Santana said laughing to herself while she continued watching the program and popping another chip in her mouth.
"No! And that only happened once and I was like seven! Are you seriously not going to let me live that down…I had food poisoning for Christ's sake!" Puck replied back to Santana.
To which Santana just started chuckling even more before adding, "Sure you did Puck…sure you did."
Puck just shrugged it off and went back to what he was originally going to say. "Have you ever noticed that every character in The Powerpuff Girls could be one of our friends?"
Santana put down her bag of chips and just stared at her former boyfriend. "What are you talking about? Are all those head knocks you got in football finally catching up with you?" Santana held up three fingers and waved them in Puck's face. "How many fingers am I holding up Puck?"
Puck just slapped her hand out of his face, "Three you idiot! Its true every character could be someone we know…for example look at Buttercup, she remind you of anyone?"
Santana looked at the screen where Buttercup was beating into one of the bad guys. "Like who?" she was still puzzled at what Puck was actually getting at.
"Umm! Like you! Look, you both have the same scowl and your always threatening to beat people up…just like Buttercup!"
Santana looked at Puck then back at the screen and was surprised when she saw a lot of similarities between her and the fictional cartoon character. "OH MY GOD! You just maybe on to something! Tell me more!" Santana yelled excitedly as she punched Puck in the arm.
"Okay well let's have a look at the main characters first. There's Blossom who always acts like she's in charge and always wants to do things by the book…ringing any bells?"
Santana's face lit up and then shouted, "Holy Shit! Blossom's Berry!" to which Puck started smiling and nodding.
"This should be an easy one. Bubbles think's imaginary things are real and loves to color and draw, and wants to be everyone's friend."
"You gotta be fucking kidding me! Bubbles is Britt!" Santana said clapping excitedly. "Okay…Okay! Let me do one! Who would be the Professor?"
Puck just looked at her as if really, "Come on San! That's easy, the Professor would obviously be Mr. Schue."
"Which would mean that Ms. Pillsbury would be Ms. Keane." Santana excitedly added.
"Absolutely! The Mayor would be Figgins and we all know who Mojo JoJo would be…" to which a laughing Santana just nodded and said in unison with Puck. "SUE!" to which they both started laughing.
"Oh! Fuzzy Lumpkins would be Coach Beiste while Princess Morbucks would be Sugar and Harry Pitt who has cooties would obviously be Jacob Ben Israel." Added Puck.
"Which would leave you, Hudson and Trouty as the Rowdyruff Boys!" Santana said excitedly as Finn came into the lounge room.
"Really Santana I'm one of the Rowdyruff Boys?" Finn interrupted
"What's shaking, Finnegan?" Santana said with a smirk while peering over the top of the couch at Finn.
Finn just flopped his tired body down in one of the other chairs, "Tough day at the office, Hudson" asked Santana.
"You have no idea. I'm producing and writing for Taylor Vaughn, you know the…"
"Hold the phone…hold the fucking phone! You had that hot piece of ass, Taylor Vaughn in your studio all day and you didn't call your best friend to come down so he could meet her!" bemoaned Puck to his best friend.
"You're a pig, Puckerman! But I concur why didn't we get an invite to ogle Taylor Vaughn? She's hot as hell!" Santana added.
"Please she's nothing special! It's like talking to a brick wall with her; it's seriously like I'm back in high school! Anyway what are you doing here, Santana?" Finn asked his friend.
Santana stood up and paced around the room before turning back towards where Finn and Puck were sitting. "Well first of all I'd just like to point out how deeply insulted I am that we your most precious friends in the whole wide world have yet to be invited to this sweet pad of yours! Second we have to rectify the first point immediately that is why myself and Puck are going to organize a kickass home warming party to officially welcome you idiots to New York and to this palace!"
Now it was Finn's turn to stand up, "No! I just wanted a quiet weekend before dealing with Taylor and her cronies again! I already probably have to duck into the studio for a few hours tomorrow as it is!"
"Don't worry Finn it's not going to be outrageous or anything just a small gathering of friends."
"And by the way Hudson we've already invited Berry and you wouldn't want to disappoint Berry would you Finn!" Santana added knowing full well they had Finn right where they wanted him.
Finn just trudged off defeated to his bedroom while calling over his shoulder, "Fine! But it better be small and only our friends…no extras, Puckerman!"
"DEAL!" Finn watched as Puck and Santana both yelled their agreement in unison while giving each other a high five. To which Finn just chuckled before disappearing into his bedroom to have a well-deserved sleep.
Rachel wrapped her coat around her tighter to protect herself from the chill New York air as she exited the taxi. She stood in front of the large expensive and impressive looking building that housed the offices and studios of HUD-KNIGHT Records. Rachel had got the address from Puck and hoped it was all right that she'd showed up here, out of the blue. She just wanted to reassure herself that it was okay that she attends the house warming party that Santana and Puck had set up at Finn's place.
Taking one last look at the building, Rachel couldn't help but feel proud and happy that this structure was a permanent effigy constructed as a result of Finn Hudson's hard work and dedication. She always told him that if he only applied his natural attributes such as leadership, creativity and resourcefulness he could take over the world; and by the looks of things he was well on his way to doing just that.
Rachel entered the building into a large open air, marbled lobby and proceeded towards a bank of elevators. She selected the floor number that Puck had told her and stood back as the elevator ascended the floors. As she exited the elevator she proceeded down the hallway that opened up to a large room with a large oak desk in the middle that housed a young receptionist. Rachel walked up to the mousey auburn haired receptionist and waited as she finished her phone call.
"Good morning, welcome to HUD-KNIGHT Records! How may I assist you today?" the receptionist said eagerly as she pushed her black-framed glasses further up the bridge of her nose.
"Yes, Hi! My name is Rachel Berry and I was wondering if it was possible to see Finn Hudson at all?" explained Rachel as she shifted nervously.
"Do you have an appointment?"
"No! I'm just an old…friend of Finn's and I was hoping he wasn't to busy to have a quick chat." Rachel explained to the receptionist.
The receptionist just stared at Rachel before checking her computer quickly, "I'm sorry Mr. Hudson is in one of the studios and he explicitly asked not to be disturbed; and I know how much Finn…" the receptionist got a far away, dreamy look as she mentioned Finn's name complete with a big dreamy smile. "I mean Mr. Hudson hates to be interrupted when he's in creative mode." The receptionist continued snapping back to her professional persona.
At which Rachel let out a wry smile at this mousey receptionist obviously now one of the converted in the 'Everybody Loves Finn Hudson' fan club. Not that Rachel could talk, as she had been a card-carrying member for years.
"Thanks anyway." Rachel said as she turned to leave but was stopped by her name being called out.
"Rachel?" to which Rachel turned around and saw the same stunning blonde woman from the stage at the label party. What was her name again? Rachel thought she remembered her saying it was Ally…no Sally… crap she couldn't remember this woman's name.
"Hi Rachel! What are you doing here?"
"Umm! I came to see Finn, but your lovely receptionist said he was unavailable." To which both woman turned to look at the clearly eavesdropping receptionist.
"Claire, where's Mr. Hudson?" the stunning blonde asked the receptionist.
"He's in recording studio 8B, Ms. Knight and he asked not to be disturbed." The receptionist said timidly.
"Well he'll want to see this person. Do you know who this is? This is Rachel Berry future…" and then Ellie turned to Rachel and smiled. "Or current Broadway superstar…if you listen to Finn."
"Finn talks about me?" a surprised Rachel enquired of Ellie.
"Oh! Absolutely all of us here think we already know you due to the fact Finn talks about you nonstop. Don't tell him I told you this, but he's been keeping a scrapbook of everything Rachel Berry. From newspaper clippings to pictures from your preview screenings." Ellie told the brunette excitedly.
"Wow!" was all that Rachel managed to splutter out.
All of a sudden Ellie palmed herself on the forehead and held out her hand to Rachel. "Stupid me! Speaking of knowing people, you probably don't have a clue who I am. I'm Eleanor Knight, but my friends call me Ellie. I'm the business side of things while Finn is my main man who looks after the creative stuff." Rachel shook Ellie's hand while her jealousy meter spiked at the mention of this stunning blonde calling Finn her main man, even though Rachel knew that her jealousy was absolutely irrational.
"Follow me and I'll take you to Finn" Ellie walked off as Rachel followed along much to the disdain of Claire the receptionist.
Rachel followed Ellie along a series of hallways and the to another bank of elevators. They took the elevator down to the floor the studios were on and walked out. As they walked along the hallway passing each individual studio they finally came to one that had two doors marked studio 8B; which had a bright glowing red sign that said recording in progress.
Ellie motioned for Rachel to follow her through one of the doors, which she did. Rachel found herself in a large room that had a large couch along one side of the room; and the other was completely taken up by a large sound mixing board that had a youngish guy sitting behind the board. Ellie introduced Rachel to Trevor Reese who was the young man sitting behind the soundboard. But what interested Rachel was the large window that looked into the studio on the other side. Where she saw Finn sitting alone on a stool strumming on a guitar and writing notes on a large pad of paper.
Ellie leaned over and pushed a button on the console and started speaking. "Finn! It's Ellie, I've got someone here to see you can we come in?"
Finn looked up and took off his headphones and looked towards the large window and called out. "Yeah sure come on in."
Rachel once again followed Ellie out of the room and followed her through the door that led to the studio on the other side. Finn looked up and saw Ellie enter the studio and then surprise set in when Rachel followed behind.
"Rachel?"
"Hi Finn!" Rachel nervously responded back while giving Finn a timid wave.
Ellie looked back and forth between the two before smirking and announcing. "Well I'll leave you two to catch up. It was nice finally getting to meet the famous Rachel Berry." Ellie shook Rachel's hand and turned to exit the studio.
"Ellie! Before you go are you coming to the party tomorrow night?" Finn called out.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world." Ellie once again bid her goodbyes before exiting the studio leaving Finn and Rachel standing alone.
The silence was broken by the studio intercom, "Finn! If you don't need me, I'm going to go grab some lunch…is that cool?"
"Yeah sure go ahead Trevor." Finn replied back into the intercom.
Now that they were truly alone in the studio together, Finn motioned Rachel to take a seat on one of the stools in the studio. They sat in silence but it wasn't awkward it was just the contented silence of two people in tune with each other.
Rachel suddenly blurted out, "I broke up with Brody" to which Finn just looked at her and gave her a wry smile. "Are you going to say anything? I just told you I broke up with Brody!"
"I don't know what you want me to say Rachel. Because the words I want to say will mean nothing unless the next words out of your mouth are, I'm home." Finn said calmly.
Rachel looked at Finn confused, "Finn I'm already home…New York is my home and now it's your home."
"No Rachel! New York is a place. You once said to me that you were wrong, that your home isn't someplace, it's someone…it was me. So unless the next thing you say is your home, I don't know what I can say. Because I'm trying really, really hard to give you space and not pressure you while you find yourself. But while you telling me you dumped that tool Brody makes me extremely happy. It's also killing me I can't reach across right now and kiss you senseless." Finn told Rachel with all the sincerity in the world, which made Rachel blush bright red.
"Sorry, I just thought you should know."
"Don't be sorry. Just do your best to come home as fast as possible." Finn said while squeezing Rachel's leg in recognition.
"Will do. Now I came here just to make sure it was okay with you if I attend your party tonight?"
"Rachel don't ever hide because you feel you owe me something. You owe me nothing. In fact it is I who owe you everything, without you I wouldn't have been able to dream big and realize my potential."
Rachel stood up to leave, "Thanks Finn! I can see you're busy, so I'll see you tomorrow night."
"Hey! If your not needed anywhere do you think you could help me with this song?"
Rachel sat back down on the stool and faced Finn, "Sure I'm all yours!" she said excitedly which brought a huge smile to Finn's face.
"Excellent! Now I wrote this song and I can't decide whether it's better as a duet or solo. Now I'll play it solo for you first and then I'll get you to help me with the duet and then you can tell me which one is better, deal!" Finn told her as she just nodded her agreement.
Finn picked up the guitar once again and started strumming before singing the song straight to Rachel. She sat on the stool letting each and everyone of the words filter through her very being. Listening to Finn singing was one of the hidden pleasures of Rachel's life and listening to the personal concert he was putting on set her heart soaring. Now as Finn finished she was dabbing at the tears in her eyes. "That was beautiful Finn!"
"Thanks now it's our turn. Think you can withstand our musical chemistry?" Finn said smirking at the thought of when he last said those exact words to Rachel. Just like a reenactment of that moment Rachel just silently nodded while nervously biting her lip while staring at Finn.
Finn handed Rachel a pair of headphones and showed her how to put them on and positioned her in front of one of the mikes. After showing Rachel, her parts of the song, Finn went over to his mike and put on his headphones. With his own personal console Finn turned the music on and let the strumming of the guitar waft throughout the studio…
FINN:
(Verse)
I could've chose anybody but I chose you
Ooh ooh
Help me get better, you pull me right out of the blue
Oh oh
And daddy don't like you but daddy and I never speak
Ee ee
Every night when I wake up I need you to get back to sleep
Ee ee
(Chorus)
Smells like roses to me
Two young lovers at sea
Tastes so bitter and so sweet
You're my bang, together we go bang bang bang
Bang bang bang
Bang bang bang
Oh oh, oh oh
RACHEL:
(Verse)
You could've chose anybody but you chose me
Ee ee
Hiding in bed since cause no one around us agrees
Ee ees
And I feel romantic cause since morning I've been acting wild
I, I
Shall we eat all the poison and leave all the questions behind
I, I
FINN/RACHEL:
(Chorus)
Smells like roses to me
Two young lovers at sea
Tastes so bitter and so sweet
You're my bang, together we go bang bang bang
Bang bang bang
Bang bang bang
FINN:
(Bridge)
And all the chemicals and alcohol make for a volatile love
But stay with me
Just stay with me
And I never wanna lose you but I feel that this closures will tear us apart
But stay with me
Stay with me
Bang, bang, bang (x4)
FINN/RACHEL:
(Chorus)
Smells like roses to me
Two young lovers at sea
Tastes so bitter and so sweet
You're my bang, together we go bang bang bang
The music faded out and without realizing it somehow Rachel and Finn had moved from their stations. Ending up pressed against each other in the middle clutching each other's hands. The atmosphere was crackling with sexual and romantic charges as they each stared longingly at each other. Like a pair of magnets Rachel and Finn inched closer and closer until their lips were almost touching. Just as Finn reached up and ran his hand through Rachel's soft brunette locks gently pulling her face even closer in preparation to kiss her petal soft lips.
The studio intercom buzzed to life, "Hey Finn! I'm back from lunch you ready to get going again?" Trevor the studio tech called through to Finn.
Still with his hand entangled in Rachel's hair Finn dropped his head onto her shoulder mumbling every curse word under the sun. Finn's despair at the missed opportunity brought uncontrollable giggles to Rachel. Which in turn started Finn laughing.
"Saved by the bell…huh! I've got to go anyway, so I'll see you at your place tomorrow night for the party!" Rachel said disengaging herself from Finn that brought a loud audible groan from Finn at the separation.
"Fucking bell!" Finn mumbled in response, making Rachel laugh.
After grabbing her coat Rachel walked over to Finn and whispered in his ear, "Don't worry Finny! Pretty soon not even a bell is going to stop me from doing some very unladylike things to you and your beautiful body. So let this be a small taste test for what's to come and I promise you I always's finish what I start." And with that she walked out of the studio with an extra sway in those sexy hips causing Finn once again to let out a loud groan.
As he watched her disappear through the door, Finn pressed the intercom button. "I fucking hate you so much right now, Trevor!"
"What the hell did I do?" Trevor asked through the intercom.
"Nothing buddy! Let's get this show on the road." Chuckled Finn as the music once again started playing throughout the studio.
The music blared throughout the expansive penthouse apartment as the house warming party was well underway. The entire New York group had gathered at Finn's house to officially welcome the guy's to the city. Blaine, Kurt and Rachel were busy looking through all the music. While Santana and Puck were doing shots off the kitchen bench while Dani watched, while Finn, Sam and Ryder were playing each other on Call of Duty.
Rachel needing some air walked out onto the huge stone balcony overlooking Central Park. She breathed in the air and took in the sights and sounds of the city, which always seemed to relax her. Rachel turned around at the sound of the balcony door sliding open.
"I can leave if you wanted to be alone." Ellie asked as she stepped out onto the patio.
Rachel held up her hand and motioned for Ellie to come on out, "Your right. I just needed a little time to myself. I love those guys don't get me wrong but I just needed to step away for a bit." Explained Rachel to Ellie.
"I get it! They all seem like lovely people and I feel like I know most of you guys because Finn and the guys talk about you, Kurt and Santana as well as your other friends back in Lima all the time. But the fact is I don't know you guys. You all have your own little cliques and things and I was just starting to feel like a bit of a third wheel. Hence why I'm out here unloading my social problems on you, especially when it looks like you've got a lot on your mind." Ellie said as she leaned up against the railing and set down her drink.
Rachel just sighed and stared through the glass door to the inside of the apartment. Ellie followed Rachel's line of sight and noticed she was staring at Finn who was laughing his head off at something Sam and Ryder were talking about.
"Is it about Finn?" Ellie innocently asked.
Rachel turned and looked at her new friend, "Thank you!"
"Thank you, for what?" Ellie was puzzled as to why Rachel was thanking her.
"Because you were there for Finn when I wasn't, and you believed in Finn enough to give him the chance of a lifetime. Also you've done nothing but support him whereas I just washed my hands of everything and selfishly ran off to become a star." Rachel explained while putting air quotes around the word star.
"You don't have to thank me Rachel, Finn's beyond talented. If it weren't me who gave him an opportunity it would've been someone else. I just fast tracked things a little but I have no doubt he would have got there in the end."
"No I do! I really do! Because of you I've been given a second chance at my other dream that rivals Broadway; and that dream is Finn. I don't know how much Finn or Puck or anyone has told you, but Finn and I we're…well we're complicated. Finn wants to get back together but I told him before I do that I need to find myself first…is that stupid? Because there are times when I want to slap myself in the face for not just running to him and never letting him go. But then there's that voice that says if you want it to be permanent this time, I need to take a step back." Rachel sighed obviously getting frustrated with herself.
Ellie moved over closer to the brunette, "Look Rachel I'm not going to pretend I know what you're going through or what you should do. But what I will tell you is that you're definitely not stupid, okay…" Ellie said putting a hand on Rachel's shoulder in a show of support. "But if you're looking for perfection you're always going to be looking. That's what relationships and life are in general there imperfect; they're imperfect because we're all imperfect. So it's ignorant of us to expect or to search for perfection when we ourselves fall so short of the mark."
"So your saying I should take Finn back now?" asked Rachel.
"No! What I'm saying is that you have to be willing to fight through the bad days in order to earn the best days. That's how you know you have something to hold onto and never let go; when your willing to scrap and fight as well as forgive and forget in order to share your life with another human being." Explained Ellie
"So I should just forget that Finn put me on a train instead of marrying me?" scoffed Rachel.
"That's entirely up to you. But you also have to see it for what it was. It was badly planned and executed…yes! But it was good intentioned. There's a saying that the road to hell is paved with good intentions, which is true; but you still have a choice to walk that road. So do you walk over those good intentions straight towards the demise of your relationship or do you build your own path towards something better."
"I've forgiven Finn along time ago because I know he sacrificed a great deal to send me here. But I can't help every now and then still feeling resentful towards him putting me on that train. I need to learn how to fully let that go as well as find what I truly want." Rachel told her friend while brushing her long brunette locks back.
"I understand completely. But don't take to long because life wait's for no one, I know from experience. I'm going to tell you a story…did Finn ever tell you I was once engaged to be married?" explained Ellie to which Rachel just silently shook her head. "Well I was. His name was Paul Atwood we went to school together, he had the darkest green eyes I had ever seen. To say I was smitten would have been an understatement. The plan was we were supposed to both move to New York together after graduation and start the label together. I thought everything in my life was perfect when he asked me to marry him our senior year. But then my whole world fell apart on the eleventh of September 2001. The terrorist attack in New York City killed my brother, Owen…"
Rachel just gasped and held her hand up covering her mouth as a few tears dripped from her eyes. "Oh! Ellie I'm so sorry!"
"It is what it is. You and life move on, but you never forget and whoever said that the pain lessen's over time, obviously never lost anybody; because it doesn't lessen or disappear you just learn to cope with it. But anyway after the loss of my brother my father started pressuring me more and more to take more interest in the family company, while my mother just gradually withdrew more and more. All that time my one constant was Paul, we were inseparable, and he was my rock before I even knew I needed one.
But I started to notice Paul taking more interest in the ongoing news about the war on terror; and one day I found a pamphlet he left out from an army recruitment centre. I asked him about it and he said that he was thinking of joining. I went ballistic and started screaming about how he was throwing not only his life away, but ours as well. He told me that he couldn't live with himself if America was attacked again and something happened to me this time and he hadn't done anything to stop it. Then he told me if I married him right there and then and ran away with him, he would forget all about the army.
I told him I needed time to which he agreed and said I had two weeks before he was legally obligated to attend basic training. Not knowing what I should do I went and asked my father for advice and he told me that if Paul was going away to fight he didn't need me being a distraction. So my father offered me the chance to run the Australian branch of the company, and in my youthful naivety I agreed.
So on the day he shipped off to basic training I met him at the bus stop and I think he knew as soon as he saw me how things were going to go. I told him I couldn't marry him and he needed to go be a soldier without me. So I handed back the ring and kissed him one last time and walked away with tears flowing like waterfalls from my eyes. I then got the driver to drive me straight to the airport where I boarded a plane straight to Sydney, Australia. All I have left of the greatest most important relationship of my life is my memories and a few letters he sent me from the war; and I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy."
"Wow! So you never saw Paul again?" Rachel asked afraid she might be stepping over some boundaries.
"Apart from a few bits and pieces...no. But from what I hear he's pretty high up in the army now."
The two women on the patio both turned their heads as the patio door flew open and a tipsy Kurt stumbled out and exclaimed loudly. "Wow! What a view! What are you sad sacks doing out here? Come on were about to play karaoke twister." And then he went running back inside.
Ellie just looked at Rachel while chuckling, "Karaoke Twister?"
Rachel joined in the laughter before explaining, "Karaoke Twister is a game our Glee Club invented where you spin the twister board. But instead of saying right hand yellow it says duet or solo performance and then names get picked from a hat and they have to perform either a solo or duet." Ellie just looked at Rachel with a really expression to which Rachel just laughed. "Hey were from Lima, Ohio it was playing that or cow tipping." Rachel said as he ushered Ellie back inside the apartment.
Once everyone was back in attendance Santana grabbed the board as Mercedes filled up everyone's names into an old hat of Finn's.
"Okay everyone knows the rules! You get what you get no put backs or bitching…" Santana said before pointing directly at Puck. "I'm looking at you Puckerman!"
"Geez! You cause one little Karaoke Twister riot and you never live it down!" Puck said pouting in his chair.
"You still owe me a new karaoke machine, Noah! Plus do you know how hard it was to try and explain why there was a microphone sticking out of the portrait of my Grandmother." Rachel reminded Puck.
"Well if Kurt didn't duck I would of hit him square in the forehead instead of the portrait. So why don't you get angry at him as well!" Puck quipped back.
"Kurt's already apologised for using the karaoke machine cord to try and strangle you…so stop trying to shift the focus." Reprimanded Rachel causing everyone to laugh at a still pouting Puck.
"Okay first up we have…" everyone watched as Santana spun the board that landed on solo. Then Mercedes handed Santana a piece of paper. "First up is…surprise, surprise, Puckerman."
Puck walked up and leafed through the different songs before he found one and started smirking and pressing play…
Ladies and gentlemen
This is Mambo No. 5!
One, two, three, four, five
Everybody in the car, so come on let's ride
To the liquor store around the corner
The boys say they want some gin and juice
But I really don't wanna
Beer bust, like I had last week
I must stay deep, 'cause talk is cheap
I like Angela, Pamela, Sandra and Rita
And as I continue you know they're getting sweeter
So what can I do? I really beg you, my Lord
To me flirting is just like a sport
Anything fly, it's all good let me dump it
Please set in the trumpet
A little bit of Santana in my life
A little bit of Dani by my side
A little bit of Rachel is all I need
A little bit of Tina is what I see
A little bit of Mercedes in the sun
A little bit of Ellie all night long
A little bit of Quinn here I am
A little bit of you makes me your man
Mambo No. 5!
Everybody was dancing around in their seats and singing along to the Mambo No. 5 line of the song complete with the actions.
Jump up and down and move it all around
Shake your head to the sound
Put your hands on the ground
Take one step left and one step right
One to the front and one to the side
Clap your hands once and clap your hands twice
And if it looks like this then you're doing it right
A little bit of Santana in my life
A little bit of Dani by my side
A little bit of Rachel is all I need
A little bit of Tina is what I see
A little bit of Mercedes in the sun
A little bit of Ellie all night long
A little bit of Quinn here I am
A little bit of you makes me your man
Puck started doing a dance right in the face of the girls as he suggestively pointed as he sang each name in the song.
Trumpet!
The trumpet!
Mambo No. 5!
(ha ha ha)
A little bit of Santana in my life
A little bit of Dani by my side
A little bit of Rachel is all I need
A little bit of Tina is what I see
A little bit of Mercedes in the sun
A little bit of Ellie all night long
A little bit of Quinn here I am
A little bit of you makes me your man
I do all I do
To fall in love with a girl like you
You can't run and you can't hide
You and me gonna touch the sky
Mambo No. 5!
Everybody started clapping as Puck started dramatically bowing over and over again. Santana yanked him back down into his seat before once again reaching for the board.
"Okay! Let's see who has to follow Puckerman." She spun the spinner and watched it spin around the board before finally coming to rest on duet. Just like before Mercedes handed Santana two pieces of folded up paper. "So doing a duet is…Blaine and Trouty!"
Blaine and Sam walked up to the front and selected their song and also picked up two guitars…
BLAINE:
When I wake up, well I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who wakes up next to you
When I go out, yeah I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who goes along with you
BLAINE/SAM:
If I get drunk, well I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who gets drunk next to you
And if I haver, hey I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who's havering to you
But I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the man who walks a thousand miles
To fall down at your door
When I'm working, yes I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who's working hard for you
And when the money comes in for the work I do
I'll pass almost every penny on to you
When I come home, oh I know I'm gonna be
(When I come home)
I'm gonna be the man who comes back home to you
And if I grow old, well I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who's growing old with you
But I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the man who walks a thousand miles
To fall down at your door
They started doing a little dance along with the song, where one of them would walk forward, while the other walked back and then alternated.
Da d-da da, da d-da da, da d-da da, da d-da da
Da-da-da dun-diddle un-diddle un-diddle a da da
Da d-da da, da d-da da, da d-da da, da d-da da
Da-da-da dun-diddle un-diddle un-diddle a da da
When I'm lonely, well I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who's lonely without you
And when I'm dreaming, well I know I'm gonna dream
I'm gonna dream about the time when I'm with you
When I go out, well I know I'm gonna be
(When I go out)
I'm gonna be the man who goes along with you
And when I come home, yes I know I'm gonna be
(When I come home)
I'm gonna be the man who comes back home with you
I'm gonna be the man who's coming home with you
But I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the man who walks a thousand miles
To fall down at your door
Da d-da da, da d-da da, da d-da da, da d-da da
Da-da-da dun-diddle un-diddle un-diddle a da da
Da d-da da, da d-da da, da d-da da, da d-da da
Da-da-da dun-diddle un-diddle un-diddle a da da
Da d-da da, da d-da da, da d-da da, da d-da da
Da-da-da dun-diddle un-diddle un-diddle a da da
Da d-da da, da d-da da, da d-da da, da d-da da
Da-da-da dun-diddle un-diddle un-diddle a da da
And I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the man who walked a thousand miles
To fall down at your door
As Blaine and Sam finished to the applause of the entire group, Rachel looked around and couldn't help but smile. For this is what life was and she felt truly blessed being able to sit in this expensive apartment with her closest friends, just being silly for the sake of being silly. No matter how famous she got or didn't get this would always be a pinnacle for her. Being able to bask in the friendship of her friends.
She turned and saw Finn watching her from across the room and sent him a smile, which he returned with his trademark lopsided smile. To which Rachel thought was the icing on the cake. Having her career, her friends and a wonderful, beautiful life with the undeniable love of her life Finn Hudson. Rachel got herself a bit more comfortable as the music love fest in the form of the made up game of karaoke twister lasted well into the night.
Hope everyone enjoyed the latest chapter. The songs used in this chapter were 'Buddha's Delight' from the movie Music & Lyrics, 'Roses' by James Arthur and Emeli Sande, 'Mambo No. 5' by Lou Bega (slightly edited to include the names of the girls in my story) and "500 Miles" by The Proclaimers. It's almost time for Rachel Berry's big Broadway debut…will she shine or will she choke. To find out tune in next week for the next chapter. Like always see you next time and have a good one and don't do anything I wouldn't do.