Chapter Twenty
Rachel looked in the mirror of the empty bathroom feeling awful. Feeling awful and old and gross. She finished her morning run and did yoga in the empty hotel room that had lost Finn's scent three days ago and she hated it. She was on week three without seeing him and she still had three more days left.
Not to mention today was the worst day ever. It was her 24th birthday. She was officially 24 years old and nothing to show for it, besides a pending divorce.
Rachel sighed and texted Santana telling her she would be late for brunch because she wasn't feeling great but it really was because she was putting off going. She didn't want to celebrate her birthday without Finn. She didn't want to celebrate at all.
However she knew that it was her own fault that Finn wasn't there.
She didn't tell him her birthday was today. He had no idea, she had spoken to him when she woke up, cuddling against the body pillow she was forced to by because after day three without him she missed him so bad she needed something. He was blissfully oblivious, saying things like 'It's December 18th, do you know what that means? Three more days until I see that amazing smile.'
Which was perfect, but made her want to cry right then and there. Rachel sighed and got dressed, opting out of doing her hair and shooting Finn an "I miss you and Good Luck" text.
"Okay, explain to me again why you didn't tell him today was your birthday?" Santana asked between bites of her oversized omelet.
Rachel sighed, "Listen guys," She said to the table, which included Tina, Mercedes, Brittany and Santana. "He's been filming all week for this pilot and if it goes well that could be a good amount of stable income. He's been wanting to get more into acting for a year now and this is his shot. If he knew it was my birthday…"
"He'd go all Finn-eo and show up here, committing career suicide." Santana finished for her. "We know, that guy is a hopeless romantic in the worst way."
"Finn-eo?" Brittany asked, obviously confused.
"Yeah Brits, like Romeo. Both stupid asses who would give up awesome shit for average looking girls." Santana scoffed. "I mean, Claire Danes? Really Leo?"
Rachel couldn't help but laugh, "San, I love you, but you're an idiot."
"Your boyfriend is the idiot in this scenario." Santana said pointedly, "I'm just pointing out facts."
"You missed the entire point of Romeo and Juilette, is what I was saying. And Finn isn't dumb, he's sweet." Rachel added.
Mercedes nodded, "Yeah, Rachel's right. I would kill for Shane to do half the shit for me that Finn does for Rachel."
Tina grinned, "Artie is like that."
"Besides the being tall, hot, and being able to walk thing." Santana notes, "You're right. Artie's an okay guy."
"Artie is kinda hot." Brittany smiles at Tina and both Tina and Santana glare daggers back at her, "What? Just something I noticed." Brittany shrugged and returned her attention to her meal.
"I think I need a drink." Santana blurted out and Rachel flagged down the waiter.
"Yeah, we need five of your strongest morning cocktails." Rachel told the waiter. "And whatever it is, make mine a double."
Santana seconded that with raising her hand.
The rest of the day went well, the brunch ended with Rachel giggling and drunk before they headed to the spa. The girls got their toes done and nails and then went to the movies. Once they were in the theatre Santana pulled out a clear bottle, "Something my Grams always taught me." She opened up the lid to Rachel's soda, "Just keep drinking."
Rachel remembered this phrase from another night, a night with Lauren or Zizes or whatever Puck's fuck buddies name was. Rachel nodded, Puck's women sure did have a lot in common.
When Rachel got back to her hotel Santana helped her up the room where they found a package, "Someone sent me something!" Rachel gleamed.
She opened the large envelope and let the contents fall out. Her eyes weren't focusing, "What is all this? Papers?"
"Rach…" Santana whispered, looking through the paperwork, "these are your divorce papers."
Rachel scoffed, "Awesome, what do they have written on them this time? Wish you were never born?" Rachel whined and threw herself on the bed.
"No!" Santana exclaimed softly, "He signed them."
Rachel shot up, "What?"
"There is a sticky note here that says, 'Happy Birthday, this is the last gift I'll be giving you. I love you forever. Jesse'" Santana whispered in complete awe. She was shocked, she couldn't believe what she was seeing. Then she heard a smack.
"Rachel! Did you just slap yourself?" She ran over to Rachel.
"I must be dreaming!" She shouted, "But, I'm not?"
Santana laughed and hugged Rachel, "You're not. You're drunk, but you're not dreaming."
Rachel grinned and then felt a twinge in her belly, "Shit!"
"What? Are you sick?" Santana looked around the room for a bowl or anything.
"No," Rachel whispered sitting back on the bed, "I feel terrible for feeling happy."
"Jesse still has some sort of hold on you." Santana told her.
Rachel shook her head furiously, "He has zero hold on me, what he has over me is guilt. I constantly feel guilt about him."
Santana caressed Rachel's face sweetly, "Rach, your heart is really big and Finn loves that about you, but at some point you're going to have to move on. Look at me, I cheat on a regular basis. Do you see me feeling bad?"
Rachel looked up with tears in her eyes, "We're just different, San. I can't be like you."
"Thank God for that. Lima couldn't handle two Santana's. This place would probably explode." Santana hugged her again, "Now stop crying! I hate being understanding and sweet. It doesn't look good on me."
Rachel nodded and walked over to the papers putting them together and setting them on the counter, "I should call Finn and tell him the news."
Santana nodded and let herself out, secretly thinking that she needed to make a choice just like Rachel had.
"Hey baby," Finn answered with a grin in his voice, "We just wrapped shooting. We'll know if the show got picked up in three weeks. How was your girls day?"
"It was good. I can't lie though, I'm a little drunk." Rachel admitted with a grin.
"Does that mean I can talk you into phone sex?" Finn asked in an innocent tone and Rachel couldn't help but laugh.
"Yeah, you're for sure going to be able to." Rachel promised, "But first I have news. I got something in the mail today."
"And what's that?"
"Some paperwork… signed paperwork." Rachel said in a teasing manner.
"Jesse signed?" Finn shouted.
"Yep!" Rachel was so happy and she knew Finn would be too, this meant their moving plans could stay in place.
"Rachel! That is amazing? What made him change his mind?" Finn asked.
"He said it was a-" Rachel stopped herself.
"A What?" Finn was laughing but when Rachel didn't answer his voice began to have hints of panic, "Rach? You there? A what?"
"Um, nothing." Rachel lied, "I don't know I think he just got tir-"
"Rachel Barbara Berry!" Finn scolded her instantly, "We promised we'd be honest with each other. What happened? What did he do?"
"Nothing." Rachel closed her eyes and massaged her temple, "He didn't do anything, it's something I did."
"Okay…" Finn's voice was cautious. "I won't lie, Rach. You are really freaking me out right now."
"Don't be mad, Finn." Rachel pleaded.
"Okay, Rachel. You need to tell me what the hell you're talking about…" Finn breathed out, his voice barely audible.
"Today is my birthday. Jesse said it was a birthday present."
Finn heard the sigh of relief followed instantly by confusion, "Baby, why didn't you tell me?" His voice was sad and low.
"I didn't want you to drop everything and come see me, just because it was my birthday. I was going to tell you after we moved and we could celebrate it later." Rachel admitted.
Finn didn't speak for a moment, "I'm a romantic, but I'm not an idiot. I wouldn't have left filming, but I could have come out there after. Or maybe a day early." Finn told her.
"I know, but you have shows and interviews and I just wanted you to take care of that, not me." Rachel told him softly, climbing into bed and hugging the body pillow close to her, "I miss you."
"I miss you more. I wish I could see my baby on her birthday." Finn pouted. "You're supposed to tell me everything."
"I was trying to-"
"What?" Finn laughed, "Protect me from myself? You thought I would be too crazy to think straight if I knew it was my birthday."
"And I didn't want you to know I was old."
"24 isn't old." Finn protested.
"It sure as hell isn't young." Rachel spouted back.
Finn chuckled, "Rachel, baby, I love you. But, you're going all crazy on me."
"Being away from you makes me clinically ill, I think." Rachel noted.
After a couple hours of talking and missing on each other, Rachel and Finn finally hung up the phone and Rachel let herself drift off to sleep thinking that everything seemed like it was going her way for once. Jesse had signed the papers, Finn was working his ass off and soon he would be here with her, it just seemed to be working out really well. Rachel missed LA and Finn's apartment and couldn't wait to call it her own and now she knew that she would be able to in a couple short weeks.
Finn groaned as he woke up the next morning, rolling his neck and stretching. He looked to the side of the bed, wishing Rachel was laying next to him. Instead there was a pile of blankets that he piled there so the bed wouldn't feel so lonely. He hoped in the shower and took a long cold shower. Rocking out to his favorite Journey and REO Speedwagon songs on the air drums.
Rachel had promised him phone sex but he didn't end up asking about it again, he just wanted to hear her voice. He wanted more than that actually, but it didn't seem right. When he got out he wrapped the towel around himself and checked his phone. He smiled seeing a "Good Morning, Love." Text message he was so accustomed too.
Finn made his way to the studio to meet Sam, Puck and Blaine to practice some new songs.
"How was shooting yesterday, man?" Puck asked as Finn walked in.
"You guys are early." Finn yawned and set his sticks down on the drums and stretched his arms more.
"Nope, you're a half hour late." Blaine told him as he tuned his guitar.
"Shit!" Finn muttered under his breath, "Sorry guys, I'm all screwed up."
"We know, Rachel this, Rachel that. Something about Rachel." Puck groaned and Sam threw a rag at his head.
"Shut your trap, Puck!" Sam spits. "You're the one who runs out every five minutes. 'Oh, hey Quinnie… Oh yes Quinnie. Whatever you want.'"
Puck threw the rag back, "I do not say 'Quinnie'!" Puck shouts back.
"You do too." Blaine laughed.
"Okay," Puck admitted, "I said it once."
"How is that going, by the way?" Blaine raised an eyebrow.
Finn looked at Sam to notice a twinge of pain but he was trying his best to hide it, Poor Sam. "It's… I don't know. It's been good. Something is different. She seems like she gets what I'm doing. But she thinks ultimatums are for girls."
Finn laughs, "Of course she would say that."
"Listen guys, this was your stupid ass idea." Puck shouts, "I'm just going along with it. Plus, stop talking like I'm whiped. Finny boy here is the whiped out."
"Yeah, I am." Finn shoved Puck a little, "But, Rachel brings out the best in me. You all said it. I've been playing better than I have in months."
Sam nodded, "Which is more than I can say for you, Puckerman. Quinn is more of a distraction then an asset."
"I know, dude. But, I can't just quit her." Puck shouts, "God, why does she do this to me?"
"The important thing to remember is to not let her KNOW what she is doing to you." Blaine tells him as if he's reading an instruction manual, "This is war. We're going to get her to make a decision."
"I swear if she moves out here on a whim like Rachel, I'll shoot myself." Sam says under his breath.
"Whoa, whoa." Finn puts his hands up, "Is there a problem with Rachel moving out here."
Sam shakes his head, "No, but I wasn't sleeping with Rachel."
Puck growls and Blaine puts his hand on Puck's chest to calm him, "Don't." He mutters under his breath and Finn licks his lips in frustration.
"Guys, we've come really far. We just need to-" Finn thinks for a moment, "We need to get Sam a woman!"
Puck scoffs, "Oh yeah, like we can pick one up at the sev?" Puck laughs.
"Shut up, man!" Finn barks back, "We can set him up with someone."
"Like who?" Puck raises his eyebrow in wonderment.
Blaine and Finn are both thinking hard, "What about-" Finn starts and immediately grumbles, "This would be easier if Puck hadn't already slept with everyone in Lima and LA."
Blaine laughs, "I was thinking the same thing."
"What about that young chick that you were in that terrible chick flick with?" Puck shouts with excitement.
"She's like 19, Puckerman." Finn chuckles back, "Not to mention she is dating Justin Beiber."
Suddenly everyone hears Sam chuckling, "Dude, you guys are ridiculous. You realize I know everyone you know?"
Blaine nods, "Sam is right. This is hopeless."
Puck shakes his head, "We can take a page from the Finn Hudson book of magic tricks. What about a groupie."
"Uh," Finn interjects awkwardly, "Rachel is not a groupie."
"I hate to say it, Finn." Sam laughs, "But she fits the protocol. Met at a show, slept with her. That's, like, the definition, isn't it?"
Blaine and Puck are laughing now too, "Yeah, she totally is."
"Was!" Finn corrects, "If she was a groupie, she isn't still. It's not like it was a one night stand." Finn argues.
"Oh!" Puck acts as if he has a brilliant plan, sticking his hand in the air as if it's saying 'Eureka' "Sam needs one of those."
"A one night stand?" Sam asks in confusion.
"Hell yeah." Puck snaps.
"You're Ridiculous, Puck." Sam rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, no…" Blaine mumbled, "I agree. Weirdly enough."
"See!" Puck clapped his hands together in sheer excitement, "If the celibacy Queen here can agree, so can you!"
"What is that supposed to mean?" Blaine spits at Puck.
Puck looks back and Blaine in confusion, "All I mean is you never get laid and you're kind of a girl. Believing in true love and all that shit."
"As if you don't." Finn shoots back.
"Hey!" Puck puts his hands up in surrender, "I'm still a bad ass, no matter what I believe in."
Sam couldn't help but laugh, "Fuck it!" He resigns, "I'll do whatever it is you want me to do."
"Fuck yes!" Puck held up his hand to high five Blaine, followed by Finn and then to Sam and Finn grinned. Puck and Sam were mending. This felt good.
"Rachel?"
"Hey Finn."
"You sound happy."
"I AM happy."
"And why is that?"
"Because I get to see my man in two days."
"I can't even wait."
"Finn?"
"Yes Rach?"
"What are you doing, right now?"
"Getting ready to take Sam out. We're getting him laid."
"Shouldn't we get YOU laid first?"
"What are you talking about, crazy?"
"What are you wearing?"
"Uh, a red shirt and jeans."
"Take it off."
"Rachel" He moaned, "I really want to, but…"
"I'll be quick. Take it off."
"God, I love you."
"You're about to love me even more. Check your email."
Finn ran over to his computer and signed onto his Gmail account and opened up the only unread message from BerryPie
"Shit, Rach! Those are… new." He panted as he saw the red lace lingerie.
"Well you deserved a surprise, after talking me out of my dark crazy Rachel Berry hole of insanity last night."
"Is this what are you wearing?"
"No, I took that off a minute ago. I'm naked."
"Can you confirm such things?"
"One step ahead of you."
Finn watched as his screen indicated a new email.
"Oh… wow. Oh." Finn almost came on the spot. "I swear, Rach. Wow."
Finn could hear the smile in his voice, "I thought you'd like that. Now touch yourself for me."
Finn pulled off his jeans and let himself out of his boxers and began to touch himself, "I'm one step ahead of you." He moaned, "What are you doing?"
"Check your email, one more time." Finn could hear the lust and grin in her voice as he refreshed and saw exactly what she was doing.
"You look wet, are you so wet?" Finn groaned into the phone.
"I am." Rachel moaned out the promise.
"Shit. I'm not going to last. This is…"
"I'm going to go too." Rachel moaned.
Finn heard Rachel moan his name as he released into his own hand. "Fuck! I miss you."
"Two more days, love."
"I love you."
"I love you more."
"I'll miss you tonight."
"See you soon, baby! Have fun, okay? Get Sam some." Rachel giggled into the phone.
Finn laughed, "I will baby. Sleep well."
"After that? Hell yeah I will."
A/N: A little bit of a lighter chapter after the dark. :)
First of all, you're all amazing! I have the best readers and reviewers ever! I was so happy with the response to the last chapter that I decided to lengthen the story a bit. So the amount of chapters left it TBD, but it will be more then 3. You guys are so amazing!
Read and Review. :D