OH MY GOD. I am just loving Finchel this season. You're the best girlfriend ever. The kiss. Rachel believing in Finn. Rachel sitting on Finn's lap.
Even though next week's episode looks sad for Rachel, at least Finn supports her.
And here's Chapter 9! Hope you enjoy and review! This is my favorite chapter.
Chapter 9: Sapphire Ring
Finn was already three days into winter break and had spent almost every moment he could with Rachel. Poor Rachel was still recovering from her injuries and trauma, but told Finn over and over again that since she now had him with her all the time, she felt safe again. It was nearly midnight and Rachel and Finn were hanging out at the Hudson-Hummel house, watching a movie together. About twenty minutes before the movie ended, Rachel had fallen asleep in Finn's arms. Finn looked at Rachel sleeping in his arms. She looked so beautiful. Her bruises and scrapes were slowly fading and her back brace was covered by her sweatshirt.
Kurt came into the room where Finn and Rachel were sitting. Finn put his finger to his lips, telling Kurt not to wake Rachel.
Kurt smiled and sat next to Finn. "You really love her, don't you?"
Finn nodded. "I really do." He took a strand of Rachel's hair and began twirling it around his finger. In high school she had a lot more for him to twirl, but he preferred her bob.
"She's come a long way," Kurt said. "Just look at her. Remember those horrible reindeer sweaters? Ugh." He shuttered at the thought. "I burned all of them. And those sequined leg warmers? Ew. And what to say about that green dress she wore to that party? Ugh. Just ugh. And then she had bangs junior year... she looked awful. And who thought she'd get piercings?"
Finn laughed. Kurt ALWAYS was the fashionista. Good thing Rachel was asleep and hadn't heard the things Kurt had said. "She's grown emotionally. Remember when she used to scare people away with her egotism? Now she never talks about herself like that."
"Of course I do," Kurt said. "She and I used to fight each other for solos, now we're besties."
"And we used to keep her and Quinn as far away from each other as possible, now we have to drag them away from each other," Finn said. "She's come a long way." He kissed the top of Rachel's head. "I'm so proud of her."
"Finn, I know we're young, but have you considered proposing?" Kurt asked.
"What?" Finn asked. Had Sam (or Quinn) told Kurt? Finn had told Sam he wanted to propose but hadn't told anyone else. Well, except Quinn because Sam blurted it out to her. What he wanted more than anything was to propose, but what he feared more than anything was that Rachel would reject him. They hadn't really talked about what she'd do after she recovered from her injuries, but she could easily go back to Princeton and find someone she loved more, who was more talented.
"You heard me," Kurt said.
"Well, I'd be lying if I said no," Finn said. He sighed. "Alright. Yes. I want to propose."
"OH MY GOD!" Kurt shrieked. "I'm planning the wedding."
"I don't even have a ring yet," Finn said. "Actually, on Black Friday, could you come with me to pick one?"
"I'd love to," Kurt said.
"I'm planning to ask her parents tomorrow," Finn said. Burt and Carole had invited Rachel and Blaine's families to spend Thanksgiving with them.
"Awww!" Kurt exclaimed as he hugged Finn. "My brother's getting married."
"We don't even know if she'll say yes," Finn said. He knew there was a possibility Rachel would say no.
"Are you stupid, of course she will!" Kurt said.
Finn looked at the clock, realizing he should take Rachel home. Despite the fact that Kurt had been so encouraging, Finn was still hesitant about proposing. Sam, Kurt and Quinn had all been encouraging but they all may also be hesitant if this was them. It would be the same with any of his other friends. He'd never really felt comfortable going to his mom about relationship issues. It was at times like this when he really needed his dad. He needed some father-son advice.
As he drove Rachel home, Finn thought about his dilemma. He needed his dad. True, he'd found father figures in Mr. Schuester and Burt, but they weren't his dad. Still, talking to his stepfather was worth a shot. After dropping Rachel off at home, Finn went upstairs and heard a cry from Ally's room. He looked in and saw Burt holding Ally.
"Finn, would you like to hold Ally?" Burt asked. "I'm sure she'd like that."
Finn smiled and took his sister out of his stepfather's arms. "Can I talk to you for a little bit?" Finn asked Burt.
"Sure, what's up?" Burt asked.
"I know I don't really have one, but you're the closest thing I have to one, and I need a dad right now," Finn said.
"Trouble with Rachel?" Burt asked.
"No, the opposite," Finn said. "My love for her is only growing. In fact, I'm considering proposing, but we've had our ups and downs. I'm confident that's behind us but I'm worried about what Rachel might think. What if she worries that things will end again? What if she feels like I'm pulling her down?"
"Finn, I don't know why you're talking like this but it's totally not true," Burt said. "I overheard Rachel talking to you in the tire shop that one day, and she believes in you. More than you believe in yourself. Rachel loves you. She knows you'll go the distance together. Propose to her."
"You think I should? We're only 18," Finn said.
"Love knows no age, Finn," Burt said. "I've said this before, I hope Ally finds someone half as wonderful as you and Kurt have found. Rachel's sweet, she helps you out, she knows you better than you know yourself and she believes in you more than you believe in yourself. I want you to propose."
"And if she says no?" Finn asked.
"She won't say no," Burt said, watching Finn rocking Ally. "Besides, Ally needs a sister. Rachel's her only shot at that."
Finn looked at Ally. "I can't think of a better sister for her. Oh, she fell asleep. Thanks for talking with me, Burt."
Burt took Ally and put her back in bed, then turned to Finn. "Finn, I may not be your birth father, but I am willing to be your dad, if you'll let me."
Finn smiled. All his life he'd wanted a dad.
x
At Thanksgiving dinner the next afternoon, Finn asked Kurt to distract Rachel so he could talk to her parents alone. As soon as he knew Kurt and Rachel were in the basement, he looked her mom and dads square in the eyes and said, "I'd like to ask for your daughter's hand." He held his breath, worried of what they might say. They may think they were too young or want a better son-in-law.
Shelby spoke first. "Finn, I would be honored to call you my son-in-law."
"You love Rachel, and she loves you," Hiram said. "I'm surprised you didn't consider this sooner."
Finn smiled wide. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" He hugged all three of Rachel's parents before going downstairs to join Rachel, Kurt, Blaine, Beth and Ally.
"Where were you, Finn?" Rachel asked.
"Oh, I was just talking to my mom," Finn said. He tried to hold his excitement. His parents approved, her parents approved, his brother approved - all he needed was to ask her now.
"Hey Kurt," Finn asked. "Tomorrow, can we do that shopping I was talking to you about the other day?"
Kurt began jumping up and down. "YES!"
"Whoa, Finn asking to go shopping?" Blaine said.
"What is it?" Rachel asked.
Finn put his arm around his girlfriend, who he hoped would soon be his fiancee. "You'll see."
x
Kurt, always up for a shopping trip, woke Finn up at 5 a.m. the next morning. Finn was barely awake, but forced himself into some nice clothes for their trip to Zale's for a ring. Kurt insisted on driving two hours to Cleveland, so Finn at least got to sleep in the car on the way there. In return, he'd have to drive home.
Finn and Kurt went into Zales and there were so many rings it was overwhelming. "I don't know if I can pick one," Finn thought out loud.
"She wants a ring, Finnley," Kurt groaned. "Look at all the ones they have!"
"All of these are so nice," Finn said. "But I don't know if they're right for Rachel."
"You are such a boy!" Kurt said. "She'll love ANY of them."
"Do you need help?" Finn turned around to see a store representative standing there.
"He's here to pick out a ring for his girlfriend," Kurt said.
"This is big!" the employee said. "One of the biggest purchases you'll ever make!"
"I know," Finn said. "That's why I need the right one."
"Tell me about her," the employee said.
"She's smart and she's funny and she's beautiful and she's talented," Finn said. "She loves singing and acting and performing arts and Broadway. I want to get her one that's special. The regular gold diamond ring isn't for her."
The sales clerk got out a box. "Here's some rings with other jewels."
Finn's eye fell on a white gold ring with a carrot-cut sapphire in the center, with two small diamonds on either side. Right away, he knew that was the one. "I like this one," Finn told Kurt and the clerk.
"So do I," Kurt said. "I can just see Rachel wearing it."
"I think this is the one," Finn said. "Yes. This is definitely the one."
"Good choice!" the employee said.
With that, Finn paid for it, had it packaged and left the store. "I think she'll like it," he told Kurt.
"I think she'll love it," Kurt said. "When are you going to give it to her?"
"When I have the guts," Finn said. "And when the time feels right." The ring had cost three hundred dollars, but it was worth it. Rachel was worth it. Now what he had to do was plan the perfect proposal. He wanted to give it to her at a special time. He didn't know if he could wait until Christmas, but her birthday was in a few weeks. He took it upon himself to plan a surprise birthday party for her, at which he'd give her the ring as a birthday present. But he needed the perfect proposal speech.
"Finn, get your head out of the clouds," Kurt said. "You have to drive me home.
"Sorry," Finn said. "Thanks for doing this. I love you."
"I love you too," Kurt said. "Not like that anymore though."
Finn laughed, remembering the days his brother had a huge crush on him. At the time it had been extremely uncomfortable, but now they laughed about it.
x
Once he was back at home, Finn ordered Christmas presents for his parents, siblings and friends online before starting to compose a speech for his proposal to Rachel. It needed to be emotional, but not too emotional. Tell her how much he loved her. How he always had. What made her realize that she was the one he wanted. That he couldn't see himself with anyone else.
As he typed his speech, Finn sent out a mass text to the Glee club telling them of his plans. He even got Puck, Sam, Mike, Artie and Blaine to agree to serenade them.
In a few weeks, Rachel may well be Finn's fiancee.