A/N: Okay, so I'd fully intended to make this a one-shot, but your reviews made me so happy that I thought, "Eh, what the hey?" and I made a second chapter. I might make this a four-shot, btw.

It took me long to write this because:

- I wrote the whole thing this afternoon, then when I was saving it, I got logged out. WTHEY?

- When I was re-writing it, I started watching How I Met Your Mother.

- Then I moved onto Sonny With A Chance (Don't you just love Chad?).

- Then Child's Play came on TV. Oh my gosh. Chucky is so...*screams*

SO...YEAH.

Also...FLYING DONKEY! *points behind you*

Anyway, enjoy.

- Dorky.

Sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me.

So much for that.

"I loved you."

She felt violated. And broken. More so than before. She didn't even think it was possible.

She wasn't sure how long she'd been standing in the parking lot, dripping yolk all over the ground, but the next thing she knew Mercedes was pulling her away, asking questions. When they were safely hidden in the bathroom, she let the tears fall.

"What happened?"

Rachel shook her head. For once in her life she was speechless. "It was Jesse," she whispered.

"Oh my God, Rachel, I am so sorry," Mercedes said, pulling her into a hug.

If she hadn't felt so betrayed, she would have been touched by the fact that Mercedes didn't mind getting egg all over her outfit.

When she pulled away, Mercedes gave her an encouraging smile.

"I'll be outside if you need me."

Rachel nodded, watching Mercedes leave the restroom.

Washing egg out of her hair had been tougher than washing off a slushie. It was stickier and the thought of all the egg-souls she had murdered kept haunting her. But she managed to do it anyway. She looked at herself in the mirror.

There were dark shadows under her eyes and her hair was matted. What happened to her? Had Jesse really meant that much to her? Deep down, she'd always known that the reason she started dating him was because Finn had broken her heart. He was the rebound. But she'd never counted on falling for him. Which is exactly what happened, she realized.

"I loved you."

With a pang in her chest, something dawned on her.

What if she was right the first time? What if she had found him? What if it was Jesse? And not Finn. What if she found him...and she'd already lost her chance?

Finn clenched his fists. The moment Rachel mentioned Jesse, he stopped listening. He didn't need to. Whatever it was, he knew it wasn't going to be good.

When Puck said his name, he didn't need to think. He got up automatically. "Right on. It's time for less talking and more punching."

He had already imagined how mauled and distorted Jesse's face was going to look, when Mr. Schue came in and stopped them.

Darn.

He had been looking forward to smashing Jesse's face in. Ahh, well. It would have to wait.

Okay, he was confused. Why was Rachel calling Jesse? Then why was she handing Mr. Schue the phone?

"Jesse St. James? Will Schuester, here..."

She was running. Running to him. He was waving at her. He was smiling.

And then...it happened again. It was worse this time because she should have been expecting it.

"I loved you."

She woke up panting. It was just a dream. Maybe it was all just a dream. It would certainly make more sense that way. It would be less scary...and painful.

She realized she'd been crying. There were tears streaming down her face. She needed someone to talk to. She couldn't talk to her dads. They were already so worried about her. Mercedes? No, not really. Their friendship, though solid was still quite fragile.

Maybe...

Acting on impulse, she grabbed her phone and dialed the familiar number.

He'd always be there, he said so himself. Praying that he meant it, she willed him to pick up.

Finn's phone was ringing. What the heck? Who would call him at this time of the night? Oh, scratch that. It was morning. Two in the morning, to be exact.

"What?" he barked, not bothering to check who it was.

"F-Finn?"

Oh, snap.

"Rachel?"

"H-hi. Sorry to call at a time like this. B-b-but...I-I..."

She broke off, crying. Finn's heart ached, hearing her sobs. That Jesse kid was dead.

When her sobs had reduced, he decided to say something.

"You want to talk about it?"

"I don't want to be alone."

Finn checked the time. 2:03 am. He made a decision.

"I'll be there in ten minutes."

Rachel bit her lip, waiting anxiously. It was funny that way. She was always waiting for him.

Waiting for him to break up with Quinn.

Waiting for him to realize that he had feelings for her.

Waiting for him to unleash his inner rock star.

Waiting for him to man up and forget about his reputation.

Waiting for him to figure out that she'd given him too many chances.

Waiting for him to realize that she didn't care. She still wanted him...needed him.

Waiting for him to throw rocks at her window.

Wait, what?

She crawled out of her bed and towards her window. There was a red pickup truck parked by the sidewalk.

Finn was throwing rocks...but not at her window.

"Finn," she hissed. "What are you doing? You could wake up my dads!"

"I-I thought this was your room."

She couldn't help but smile at his obliviousness. There he was: the boy who (possibly) held her heart so dearly (and excruciatingly). He drove to see her at two in the morning just to make her feel better.

"I'll let you in," she said. "Meet me at the front door."

When Rachel opened the door, Finn barely had any time to say anything when her arms came around his neck.

"Whoa," he laughed. Then he realized Rachel was crying.

Oh.

"Rach, hey, it's okay."

She sniffled, and sat down on the couch. Finn shuffled awkwardly on his feet before settling down next to her.

An awkward silence settled between them.

"He said he loved me."

Finn tried not to look shocked - or hurt. So do I.

"Well, he's an idiot, then." So am I.

"No, Finn. He's not the idiot. I am," Rachel sighed.

"What?"

"Don't you get it? He said he loved me."

"Yeah, so?"

"Past tense! Which means...I did something to make him stop. Wh-what if...it was the 'Run, Joey, Run,' thing? If I'd never done that...maybe he wouldn't have left. Maybe he'd still be in McKinley. Maybe he'd still be in Vocal Adrenaline. Maybe he'd still love me!"

She said it in a rush and she was breathless when she finished. Finn tried to hide the disappointment that he felt. She wasn't over him yet.

"Do you believe in fate, Rachel?"

"That's a random question."

"But do you?"

"Well, sure. I mean, I guess."

"Then maybe things were meant to be this way. Maybe, that's how you were supposed to know."

"Know what?"

"That he wouldn't forgive you. I did. That he doesn't really love you." I do.

"Oh."

Finn suddenly felt stupid. He was supposed to make her feel better. Now he only felt like he'd made things worse.

"I'm sorry."

Much to his surprise, Rachel kissed him on the cheek. "I know you are."

He sat in his pickup truck, thinking, which he doesn't do often. Rachel had fallen asleep in his arms. He'd carried her upstairs to her bedroom. He'd found his jacket hanging on the back of a chair and he draped it over her shoulders before tucking her in. He'd kissed her forehead before leaving.

Now he was the one waiting.

Waiting for Rachel to get over Jesse.

Waiting for the right time to be with her.

Waiting for all the pain to go away.

Waiting for the courage to forgive Puck and Quinn.

Waiting for Regionals.

Waiting for babygate/Drizzle/Beth.

Waiting for everything.

But heck, he'd wait forever if he had to. Because this time, he wasn't letting go.

A/N2: And...BAM! What did you think?

OHMYGOSH. THE FINALE IS THIS WEEK.

Can I get a, "WHAT, WHAT?"

(Pause to give you time to say, "What, what?")

Can I get a, "HEY, HO!"

(Pause to give you time to say, "Hey, ho!")

Can I get a review?

Seriously.

Please?

(Pause to give you time to review)

Oh, and if you looked behind you when I said, "FLYING DONKEY," please mention that in your review. The same goes for if you said, "What, what?" and "Hey, ho!"

- Dorky out!