One last round of hugs, of tears, of promises to call soon and the two lovebirds were gone. That was it. Their days, their lives in Lima just ended. The page was turned and it was too late to go back now. His eyes focussed on the road, Finn could still hear the occasionnal sniffles comming from his girlfriend and noticed, from the corner of his eyes, the tears glistenning on her cheeks. It was time to put his "Get Rachel's mind busy thinking of other things" plan to work.

"Rachel, baby, could you take that CD over there and put it in, please?" Silently, she fumbled tu find the CD. It was blank, she had no idea what it was. But she was in no way to argue, or talk for that matter, right now so she just did as she was told. The car's CD player was kind of old and slow, so waiting for the CD to start, the young woman drew her legs against her chest and laid her head on the top of her knees. She turned her head so she could be watching her handsome boyfriend drive. She wondered how he could grin like he was doing right now, how could he not be sad after they juste left all of their friends et family. The answered came to her at the same time the first notes of the CD started to play. She knew this song oh too well and couldn't hide a little smile when he started singing with the group.

Highway run into the midnight sun
Wheels go round and round
You're on my mind
Restless hearts sleep alone tonight
Sending all my love along the wire

Suddenly all of Rachel's worry seemed to fade away. Finn's voice, of all, always seemed to calm her down. She used to think the only thnig to make her feel better was to sing and post it on myspace. Yet again, in her years with the glee club and Mr. Schue, she learned more about herself and opened more to the other. The proof was sitting just behind the wheel. Never, in a milion years, would she have considered Finn as her type before... not that she really had a type. At least if you take for acount that in the smae year, she dated Fin Puck and Jesse, it was clear she had no type ar all. Before she knew it, she caught herself singing with him, just like that fateful day of the Regionnals. The whole "break a leg/I love you" was public knowledge now, for all their friends. What they didn't know was the other half of the story.

FLASHBACK

For once, Rachel was glad her dads weren't home when she got back. This day had been too much for her. It was supposed to only be a conteste, a show. They were supposed to win and then come back next year. Of course, it had to become a rejection-love declaration-deception-birthing day. And as much as she hated to hide things from Hiram and Leroy, the teenager couldn't and didn't want to tell them about Shelby. They didn't even know she found who her mother was, to learn she had rejected their daughter would just enraged them more. Then, there was the "I love you" factor with Finn. Since he rushed with the other to the hospital to be there when Quinn's baby girl would be there, he and Rachel never had time to talk. Oh, and lets not forget her little encounter with Jesse St-James, which upset her less than she thought it would though...

The air was hot and dry, just like she loved it and, since the sky was covered in thousands of sparkly stars, she opted for the stairs of her porch as her "moping spot". She laid her head against the railing and hugged her frail figure, more out of comfort than cold... Only then did she notice a figure walking. She didn't know anyone else than him to be that tall. She felt the corner of her mouth turn slightly upward in a pathetic attempt at a sad smile...

"Hey Rachel! Are you okay?" he asked, genuinly concerned, while sitting next to her. She slowly turned her face and looked at him. The difference between the bubbly, lively, bossy Rachel he was used to see (HIS rachel he'd say sometimes) and the pale shadow of the usual singer was almost shocking.

"I don't know... Should I be? I mean, Glee is over, Quinn and Puck are going to be mean again, Jesse's an ass, my mother doesn't want me..." Anyone who knew Rachel could see she just wanted to cry right now but wouldn't alow herself to do so infront of someone else. To speak frankly, it hurt the quarterback to see the young woman so sad, broken even. "I'm also confused." she added, he brows furrowed. He knew what she was confused about, he knew her to well to think his declaration wouldn't stay on her mind all that time.

"I guess I'm to blame for that one..." he whispered, gently taking her small hands in his. He was surprised when she didn't back away from his touch. She didn't even flinch. Instead, she just bore her eyes in his.

"Did you really mean it, Finn. Because I just started to heal from what HE did and -" She lost the train of her thought when the tip of his fingers traced the line of her cheek bone. It was so gentle. No on ever touched her like that. not even Jesse. It was enough to convince her. She saw the way Finn was with Quinn and she knew that this proved he cared more about her than he did about the cheerleader. Neither of them knew she would be the one to close the space between them so eagerly. She practically launched herself to him, pressing her body to his. Their lips were moving in perfect synch together, the kiss releasing all the feelings and the passion they had bottled up inside of them. The two first time he kissed Rachel were electric, magical, but this was way better. They lowered themselves and Rachel was now lying on top of him. Her hands found easily their way through his oh so soft hair while his slid under her shirt. He never really did that much with a girl that really counted for him (so no, he never included his night with Santana in this. He barely remembers it anyways) and he must admit it feels so good. It feels even better when Rachel decides to leave his lips alone and to start tracing kissing her way to his neck. Before thing got too heathed, they broke appart as they heard the sound of someone clrearing his throat. Just behind them, Rachel's Dad was standing, hands on his hips. The young woman rolled away from the boy and smiled at her father.

"Dad! Daddy! You're home early!"

"Or too late, depends on how you put it..." her dad scolded a little under his beard. Finn quickly got up, dying of embarassement.

"Well, I'll see you at school tomorow, Rach." he mumbled before practically running to his house.

END OF THE FLASHBACK

Apparently, Finn made a CD of all of Journey's greatest hit and it seemed to fit so much with their ride, like the soundtrack to a movie. Suddenly, she was not sad anymore. She was, in fact, going to see everyone soon and now she was slowly but surely approaching the big apple with the sweetest, most perfect, guy in the world. That was waht was important and she felt bad for forgetting it.

"That's an awesome CD Finn, thank you." she smiled ruffling his hair a little.

"Well, I'm glad it gave you back your smile. It was either that or I was pulling over and kissing the pout off you lips..."

"You'll have all the time you want to do that... later." She grinned as she continued singing along the CD.