Wow, thank you all very much for your warm reception. As a show of my gratitude, here's part two. Hope you all enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

"This is really cool, Rach"

She looks up at his face and sees that wide smile she has come to associate with blissful Finn. She's so, so happy he's happy. With his part of the profit, it was enough to cover Finn's college, allow both son and mother to only work one job and provide a nice cushion for their futures. Finn wasn't so sullen or shy anymore, she noticed he even had new clothes. Judging by how they fit him, she imagined his mother still bought clothes for him. Not that she was judging, she knows the boy is too hopeless to do it on his own. Sometimes, she wishes she could just leave him in a department store with the mission to get an outfit. She giggles at the crazy combinations her brain comes up with.

"What's so funny?" he asks puzzled.

"You in a cowboy hat, jean overalls and a puffy vest."

"Do I want to know?"

She giggles at him; she'd rather let him try to figure why in the hell her mind went there. It made sense, she wouldn't put it past Finn to think an outfit like that is comfy or something… still, she didn't want to explain he was imagining him in all kinds of costumes.

"Nah" she shrugged. "You're liking the party?"

"Yeah, last fourth of July was a total waste. My cousin Rory bought beers and before I was done with my second one he was doing Irish jigs. In his underwear."

She can't help but double over in laughter. "Oh Finn, I need to meet your cousin. Is he cute?"

Finn's stance freezes a bit "He's my cousin and a dude, so I don't know Rach. But, he's like… impossible to understand. Thick accent, you know?"

"While that can be sexy, maybe not." She pokes his stomach, "if I am to be a star one day, my husband needs to be able to speak clearly to the press if interviewed."

"Whoa, you're gonna marry my cousin now?" he says, his voice higher than usual.

"Finn, I was joking about whether your cousin is cute" she turns around, rolling her eyes "but, I only do relationships with people I see a future with, so obviously to see if there's a possibility of a future, certain factors must be accounted for."

"Like speaking to the press?"

"Of course"

Finn's eyebrow is comically raised, his face full of disbelief and skepticism. They're in the terrace of her penthouse, watching the sky sparking with fireworks while most guests are downstairs, observing with equal awe behind the grand glass windows. Her back is against the balcony.

He steps in front of her, effectively blocking her way and giving her no escape.

"But like… what if your list of requirements for a future doesn't work?" he asks, his entire presence invading her personal space but not enough to feel entirely cornered.

"Then he's not Mr. Right."

"But… what if you were to fall in love with someone who isn't? I mean, love is not like… a checklist or something. So you know who you are, and you know what kind of person you're destined to be with. But like… if someone completely different came along and just stole your heart… would you not be with them simply because they can't speak to the press or act or something?"

During his speech he lifted her chin, making her look straight into his eyes. She's so uncomfortable, not because of the position but she doesn't get it. The questions are plain obvious but she's positive he's somehow asking something else.

"Well, I didn't realize you were so fond of my possible relationship with your cousin." She tries to crack a joke, but his eyes are still searching hers "and in principle, I'd say yes. When true love comes knocking, you don't ignore it."

"…but?" he asked

"But my imaginary requirements have a purpose you know? Things to protect myself. One of them is the ability to hear me sing often without wanting to kill me."

"That's the stupidest thing ever, who could get tired of your voice?"

Finn is always so supportive. While she may be the top of her class, she knows that many people could do without her voice around all the time.

"Anyway, if the person somehow failed to meet one it doesn't mean he's out of the game. It just means he has to prove he's man enough to compensate for it, I guess. Honestly this is sort of speculation for me. I've only had one boyfriend and he's the one that inspired me to think of those requirements."

"Sucky relationship?"

"Not really, his ego was just too big and so was mine. Two megalomaniacs don't work together, I need someone to ground me, you know?"

"Makes sense I guess." He steps back, going next to her, leaning his hands on the balcony.

"If the fireworks were shooting stars, what would you wish for?"

Finn looked puzzled, then just really concentrated. She knows him enough to decipher that behavior, he's really thinking about his answer. She likes that, he might not be superbly fluent but he did put the thought into explaining himself. His though process finishes and, to her surprise, he grins widely and lifts his arms.

"I don't know!" he exclaims. "You know how awesome that is? Last year I was worrying about mom, having a home, work, school…whether I could even continue in school or keep my education going… now that's not it."

"I'm really glad you're this happy."

"It wouldn't have happened without you Rach, you're like an angel."

She bats her eyelashes and pretends to be humbled while he looks to the sky; fascinated with the turn his life has taken. Rachel feels her stomach sink though and her heart heavy. He's wrong; she hasn't done anything for him. It was a happy coincidence he met Sgt. Puckerman at the Gala… a coincidence in no way stemming from her. No, she really needed to repay him… it was like a thorn on her side and she couldn't get rid of it.

It was time to execute her master plan.

She can't contain herself; this is the best thing ever. She rushes to see Finn, envelope in her hand when someone knocks on her door.

She hopes it's just the mail or a delivery because she doesn't have time for visitors. None of her guesses are right but she's happy. She's happy because Finn is so awesome he read her mind and came to her, sparing her the trouble of going to Brooklyn.

"Hey Finn! I was just going to go your place; I was just going to call you actually. What are you doing here? Is everything all right? Did you send me a text and I didn't get it?"

"Whoa Rach, what's with the inquisition? My mom was coming to this side of town to see Burt, and I figured I'd tag along and visit you… if that's ok? I mean, I can go back or something."

She jumps him, hugging him with both arms and legs. She feels how she knocks the breath out of his lungs, notices his arms wrapping around her immediately to hold her. She jumps down.

"Sit down Finn, I've got something to tell you."

He hesitantly sits on the couch. He's used to her sometimes allegedly crazy schemes by now, so he probably thinks she's going to try to convince him to do a bad 80's style video clip or something.

"You know how in our vocal tutoring lessons, I record everything you sing just so I can take notes for next time?"

"Yeah" his lips quirk upwards "that's super cool, like… that you actually care about teaching that stuff to me. I really want to be good… like you."

She bites her lip to stop from squealing but she controls herself before speaking. "Well, this is the part where I say please don't get mad at me because everything I did was for you."

"Rach, please tell me you didn't put it on YouTube. That's so humiliating."

"No, but... hear me out okay? I was revising my school's Facebook page when I saw this post about the Van der Berg scholarship. Basically, two of them are given each year for my school… full rides. The only requirement is to be extremely talented, since it is a Preforming Arts school… the best one at that. So, I may or may have not send an application in your name with your recording."

He doesn't react, he keeps looking at her.

"Please don't be mad Finn. I would've told you but I didn't want to get your hopes up without knowing whether you'd even be considered. You are… there's four final candidates up for an interview and… you're one of them. If you want to, of course. If my school is not what you want you can still pull out… it's just that you said you wished you could spend more time on music and I figured-"

"Rach, stop talking" he says softly, gently. "I… I'm not mad. I… can't believe it. I mean, I can't believe I'm decent enough for your school to consider me, or worthy enough to be your friend… most of all I can't believe you."

"It's not like I'm a fairy, Finn. I'm real." She jokes, plopping down on the couch next to him.

"You're too perfect to be real."

His eyes are so close to her, his hand adoringly combing through her soft hair. His gaze is so deep she can't even understand the feelings revolving within it. She glances down and sees his parted, perfect red lips glistening. Her eyes flicker from his eyes to his mouth and back to his eyes until her own lids close down and she can feel a soft pressure on her lips. It's Finn's mouth, pressing a peck chastely before she reacts, opening just slightly so their lips can play. Time becomes irrelevant; space…life… everything just didn't matter because everything that mattered was the feeling Finn was giving her. It was like a deep breath after being inside the water for too long, a lifeline she never knew she needed until now.

But it's Finn, he's her friend and he's just caught in the moment. Surely.

"F-Finn, stop. I… it's wrong. We're friends and we went with the flow of the happy news… ok?"

"S-sure." He stuttered. See? He agrees with her.

"Let's never talk about this again then, we should um… go to my room and make a list of everything we need to do before your big audition." She tugs his hand but he's solid as a log.

"Finn? Are you ok? I told you, if you don't want to go to my school don't. Don't audition even, it's up to you."

"Rach you're insane, who wouldn't want to go to your school? It's like… a dream come true. I guess I'm just having trouble believing it, that's all."

She accepts his reasoning easily. It's unfortunate she's unable to read minds, because Finn Hudson's thoughts had been far away from education and closer to a brunette's mouth.

He's pacing up and down relentlessly. Turns out the decision of who gets the scholarship is given the very same day they auditioned.

"Do they have to take this long?" he asks frustrated.

"Finn, it's been five minutes since the last girl sung."

"Yeah but, decisions like that aren't easy? Like aren't you supposed to just know who sang better?"

"It's not about that, it's more about potential and whether or not they think you would be an asset to the school."

"But I won't be. I mean, the other three kids sang Broadway… I didn't."

"It makes you unique, it stands out! Besides… your rendition of Shinedown's 'I Dare You' was toe-curling."

He stops in his tracks, doing a double take. "Toe-curling? Whoa, I should sing like that more often then."

Just as they had lightened the mood, a blonde secretary came up to them.

"Mr. Hudson, please enter the auditorium. Miss Berry, you're welcome to sit in the back as long you don't make noise."

She's about to ask Finn whether she can join, she really wants to be there for him, but before she opens her mouth his hand is extended, waiting for her to enter the dreaded room. She likes how he didn't even think about wanting her there; it was a fact for him. She sits in the back, but it didn't matter where she was seeing as the room has perfect acoustics.

"Mr Hudson." The principal starts "While your transcript isn't excellent, I am aware you had pressing family circumstances that forced you to lose focus and even made you take two jobs?"

"Yes sir, my mom had an accident and I had to step up to provide for us. I don't regret it."

She's proud of him for what he is, even if that cost him his GPA he knows his priorities.

"I see. Let me be frank, can I call you Finn?"

Oh no, the 'let me be frank' line could go horribly wrong or wonderfully well. She is nervous enough as it is, she doesn't need the added suspense of a pause or her heart throwing itself against her ribcage.

"You're nothing like our common student. Male, tall, all-American, straight, with a rock-and-roll voice and raw emotion. We usually have lighter students, each with their own persona in a way, very dramatic and very Broadway."

"I see sir, thank you for your time."

"Finn, I'm not done. That being said, we're not a Broadway prep school… we're a preforming arts school. While you're not typical you're not weird either, you're rare. And the fact you worked so many hours while still keeping a B- average speaks lengths of your drive and determination. More so than a straight A student even. It shows you're well rounded and we care for that in this institution. I suppose I could keep flattering you… but let's keep it simple. You're great, you can only be better and we want to make that happen."

Gaping, Finn says "Does that mean-"

"Yes son, you're in."

x

She's surprised how Finn managed to thank the principal calmly and collectedly make his way out. He kept his cool until they where a block away from school, passing a random tiny park. Now he's been possessed by a demon or a clown even, because he's jumping and screaming and waving his arms around.

"Rach, I got in. I got in!"

"I'm so proud of you" she says, jumping to hug him and joining in the celebration.

"We must celebrate. We need to call Kurt, Burt, your mom and my dads. I'm sure they will all be really happy for you."

"That's awesome Rach, but I'd rather celebrate with you first. After all, if it weren't for your sneaky ways… I wouldn't be here."

She flashes him her trademark smile "I know! I'm so excited, and relieved too."

"About what?"

"I finally paid you back for saving me! Now we're even and I can't wait for school to start."

His smile fades immediately.

"Paid me back? But you never owed me anything. Is this what this is? Your idea of charity?"

"What? No, Finn. It's just that… I was really scared ok? Something horrible could've happened… he had a knife. And you saved me and I just felt like I needed to do something equally life-changing for you."

"So, basically all of it… our friendship" he said the word with bitterness "was based on you wanting to do me a solid?"

"Finn, you don't understand…."

"I think I do." His eyes are slanted and a solitary tear escapes his right eye. "Well, you paid your debt. Congratulations Rachel Berry, you're free of the burden that is me."

He turns on his heels and walks away, shoulders slumped and defeated. She doesn't understand what's going on, why did Finn take it that way? Why is he so sad? Maybe keeping track of things like that isn't conventional, but she had the purest of intentions.

Why can't he see that?

Turns out going to Brooklyn is really complicated. She tried the subway, got horribly lost, caved in and called a cab. Thank God she has Carole's phone number so she could ask for directions how to get there. Luckily, the older woman didn't ask why or if something had happened, she couldn't deal with it anymore. Eventually she finds the building in a very sketchy area but the place itself is actually really nice and simple, much like the Hudson family.

She's glad there isn't a buzzer, she can't pull off a ruse right now, and she can just go up four floors and stand in front of his door. All she has to do is knock. She wants to knock, she wants to talk to Finn but something is preventing her from doing what she wants. Come on Rachel you can do this.

The door opens to reveal a blotchy-faced Finn, looking confused and miserable.

"Rachel" he says coldly. "What is it? If you want another charity case I suggest you go a couple of blocks down this road, there's a rehab clinic."

"Finn, I just want to talk."

"I think you've said enough."

"I… I don't want to talk. I want to hear you. This is hurting you and I want to know why."

He looks down at his feet, then back to her eyes, then down to his feet again. He moves slowly but surely, allowing enough space to get inside. She sits on an old couch, while he retreats to a black armchair.

"What do you want me to say?" he asks.

"I just… I want to understand why you're so upset. Why you're hanging on to the idea of a debt. Finn, you know me. You know I wouldn't be close with someone if I didn't trust them or respect them, you must know my friendship is unconditional."

"That's just it Rachel. When I met you, I knew right off the bat you were a rich girl doing charity, but you were so nice. Then everything happened and we started to become friends and… I felt like it couldn't be. Because it couldn't. Why would a funny, super smart, insanely talented gorgeous girl want to spend time with a really poor, average guy? I wanted to believe it was because you may have seen something in me I hadn't…. but it was just because you felt like you owed me."

She purses her lips. "You know when I first decided I wanted to know you? When you asked me to give your food to Amy. I mean, an entire portion is hardly the caloric intake someone with your body and height should consume, much less someone who works and is so active. Half a portion is nothing for you and you know it, but you were so selfless. I couldn't help want to know someone like that. There's very few people like that in the planet and I love having one of them as a friend."

"That's the other thing, the friend thing. Rach, why did you ignore that kiss we shared? Did it mean anything to you?"

"It meant… impulse… and hormones and bad judgment…and…"

"Really? Because for me it was like… peace, home… like warm apple cider in front of the fireplace… but also intense…. Like an explosion or bungee jumping. It was scary but it was really awesome."

"Finn I-"

"No, don't bother. You already made it clear it wasn't good for you."

"I… I need to think, ok? Will you please give me that? It's just… I don't know, I feel like I need to reevaluate everything I know because life isn't making sense. Can… can we talk when I don't feel nauseous?"

At that he jumped, going towards her "you okay?"

"Yes… I need… fresh air. We'll talk later, please?"

"Sure."

Sorry, I know Part 2 is shorter, but it's an important transitional phase. See ya all next chapter.

And don't forget to believe in the tether!