Well here it is; the concluding chapter of All the Wrong Things on Fire. On behalf of Jann and myself we would like to thank you all for sticking with us through this emotional journey. We truly hope you 'enjoyed' the ride. Again, thank you to all who read, reviewed, alerted and/or subscribed, your support means so much to us. We would love to hear your thoughts on this last update. There will be an epilogue posted in the near future. As always, a special thank you to our lovely betas.

Disclaimer: We do not own Glee.

Rated: T for language

"Hey, I…I didn't know you would be here," he said softly from behind her.

Rachel had known he was there even before he said a word. She suspected she would always know, and in a way she hated it. How was she supposed to move forward when she carried so many old habits forward or when she let him keep her tied to the past?

She looked down at the manicured green grass and let out a soft sigh. "I have been here every afternoon for the past however many months, but…but I can go if you would rather be alone with… him."

"Three and no!" He called, almost desperately, causing her to look up at him with a scowl. He had put his hands out like he was going to stop her from moving, but he dropped one uselessly to his side and pressed the other against his forehead. "No, I..I just meant it would be nice to have someone to sit with."

Rachel patted the grassy spot next to her. He sat down silently and just stared at the fairly new stone. It had taken forever; he'd been once or twice before, to the empty spot with the tiny marker in the ground, and had heard she'd sent the placard back at least twice before the one he saw now was placed.

"You, ummmm…you picked a beautiful one. I mean, not that there is ever a beautiful grave or whatever, but…" Rachel reached over without looking at him and fumbled to get her hand in his.

"I understand. You don't have to try and make small talk with me; it's okay."

He nodded and wiped away the slow trickle of tears that trailed down his cheeks. "I'm sorry I wasn't at the funeral. It…it was all too just…and…and you had Puck and I felt like there wasn't a place for me. But thank you for well…you know…just thanks."

Rachel smiled sadly. "I…we missed you there, but I understood. It was hard on all of us, but probably most of all on you."

He squeezed her hand. "I started seeing a therapist."

She looked over at him and smiled. Her words and voice were compassionate and calm. "That's great, Finn. I, I think we could all benefit from some."

He reached out and ran his fingers across the engraved name. Mixed in with all the stuff he felt like he owed her, he was so grateful his son's stone reflected his name. It made the compromise, the other name, seem like nothing at all and maybe even the least he could've agreed to.

Caleb Frederick Noah Hudson

"Well, I figured it was about time I started actually dealing with my issues, not just the ones related to our son's death. I…I've learned a lot about myself and…well, I'm trying to change a lot of things I don't like."

Rachel turned slightly and tightened her hold on his hand that rested in his lap.

"You're amazing; I hope you aren't trying change things just because of what happened. It was as much, maybe more so, my fault that everything fell apart."

He smiled appreciatively. "Thank you for saying that, but…but my issues go way deeper than what has happened over the past few months. Something you said in the hospital really hit me hard when I got back."

"What?" She asked and he felt suddenly felt like they were the only two people in the world. She could always make him feel like the most important person.

"You asked me, if we loved each other so much, how was it so easy for me to push you away."

"And have you figured that out yet?" She asked and he could see hope mixed with sadness in her glassy eyes.

"Well, the thing I've learned there is that I never really got away. I…held the divorce over your head because I…couldn't really let you go, but at the same time I didn't want to let you hurt me again, so…so I made it so you couldn't go either."

"Sounds really unhealthy."

He shrugged and turned back towards the marble stone. "It wasn't; which is why I finally filed for the divorce. It wasn't fair to either of us." Rachel smiled tightly and nodded. He took a deep breath, part for courage and part because his lungs were burning from almost holding his breath while he talked to her, then he reached out to trace his finger along her jaw and turn her face toward him. "Why haven't you signed them?"

Rachel let out a broken sigh and used her free hand to swipe at the tears on her face. She sniffled. "I…I don't know. I just couldn't. I know you want the divorce and…"

He looked at her with wide eyes. His voice had been low and strong until it broke on his disbelief.

"What are you talking about? It's your freedom, not mine. You and…" he swallowed hard and fought down the wave of nausea that came riding in on the tide of his words. "You and Puck can move forward and…" He just couldn't and he trailed off, letting the word dangle on his shrug while he looked around the serene cemetery. "Where is he, anyway?"

"I'm not exactly certain; most likely, he's getting settled into his new apartment in Los Angeles."

"Wait… what? I thought you two would…"

As soon as he choked out her name from the den she knew he had found it. It wasn't as if she was trying to hide it. In fact, she had almost forgotten it was buried deep beneath her piles of ungraded term papers. She sighed, she did say almost. It had arrived by courier three days after Caleb's funeral and she wasn't ready to deal with that on top of losing her son forever, so she put it aside. She would get to it tomorrow. At least that is what she told herself, but tomorrow turned into the next day, then the next week, and now finally, the next month.

It wasn't as if she didn't know it was coming. He had said at the hospital in no uncertain terms that there was no way they would come out of the situation together, but, it was the finality of the papers that made her truly rethink everything. Now, as she waited at the kitchen table for the man who had given her everything without any conditions, she had no idea how she was supposed to explain that she was nothing more than a selfish girl who couldn't, no wouldn't give up the one man who she had given everything to, to the man who wanted nothing more to do the same for her.

"Rachel?" he said in a woosh of a breath, his voice cracking under the emotional strain and she knew he already knew what she had come to terms with, "How long have you had this?" She looked down at her hands, playing with the metal bracelet that always adorned her wrist. He didn't even ask what it was. She figured they were past the point of feigning innocence.

"I…" she paused and let out a ragged breath. It all just hurt so much. "It came right after Caleb's funeral. I was going to deal with it, but the time never seemed right and…" She knew she was grasping at straws and from the hardened look in his eyes he knew it too.

"Like hell you did. This…"He growled then paused as he waived the torn manila envelope, "This is everything we have been fucking waiting for. This…this is the key to our future and what? You thought you could just hide it and pretend?" She knew he was hurting and lashing out, but it didn't make the harshness of his biting words any less painful. She shook her head, wiping the fresh tears with the back of her hand.

"No, I…I wasn't trying to pretend Noah. I needed time to come to terms with everything and…and I am so sorry, I never meant to hurt you. I hoped the feelings would go away and…" He walked around the tables and pulled her up to a standing position by her elbows.

"Tell me!" He barked angrily, but she could see the pain, hope and sadness in his eyes. When she didn't answer, couldn't answer, he gripped her shoulders a little tighter, still not hard enough to hurt her, just enough for her to feel his trembling fingers through the thin material of her dress. "Fucking tell me. You owe me the God Damned truth." When she looked away, unable to find the words that had been echoing through her head for a month, his voice dropped to a whisper as his hands fell from her body. "You still love him." His stated, not asked then stepped back, the envelope falling to the table.

"Please…please understand." She pled as she gripped the edge of the small wooden table, " I, I thought I could do this, I thought I was over him and then…then when we were together even given the horrible situation I…I knew I hadn't stopped. I tried Noah, I swear I did and he seemed to hate me at the beginning, which made it a little easier to bury my feelings, but…but when he…" She stopped mid-sentence and turned away. She couldn't tell him, about how intimate she and Finn had gotten, it would just kill him.

"When he what? You said you didn't…"

"I didn't. I mean he and I never…but, but we talked and reminisced and he…I know he loves me, deep down and…"

"And what? You think that he is going to take you back? You know he is a stubborn ass. He didn't even fucking show up to his son's funeral! He wants nothing to do with you!" When she winced Noah, closed the gap and cradled her face gently, all signs of hostility melted away, only adoration in his eyes, "but, I love you…I didn't plan on it, God, I never planned on it, but…but I fucking do okay and I suck at all the emotional shit, but we…you and I can have a fresh start. We can get the hell out of Philly, go to the west coast or something. I got an offer to manage a label, it is a shitty one, but a start and…" Rachel clasped her hands over his and rested her forehead against his. "But, you won't will you?" She shook her head slightly, blinking back the burning tears.

"I…I can't; even if he doesn't want anything to do with me. I…I don't feel the same way and you deserve to be loved by a woman who can give you her everything and…and my everything is already with him. I'm so sorry. I was so unfair to you and…and…" He stopped her mid-sentence as he pressed a light kiss to her forehead then stood up to full height.

"You didn't force me into anything. I…I am a big boy, so…it just fuckin hurts ya know?" She nodded. "So, ummm, I am gonna go grab some shit for tonight and will get the rest of my crap while you are at work." She let out a strangled sob and gripped his arm as he turned away from her.

"I…I love you…you know that right? You…you are my best friend. I can't lose you." He shook his head, but gave her hand a slight squeeze.

"You could never lose me."

Rachel covered his hand with hers and shook her head. He thought he was safe to breathe again. "He and I never were meant to be a couple. I…knew that from the beginning and well, he came to terms with it after we buried Caleb. I think he held out hope that I might be able to put the past behind me…put you behind me…but deep down he always knew. He's my best friend and will always be because of what he did for me and…and for our son, but…he decided it was time to move on with his life. There were no hard feelings and I really am happy for him. He deserves happiness after everything I put him through."

"Rachel, he…he wasn't like, a victim in all of this. He went along with it and he made choices, too. I, I mean, I am grateful to him…" When Rachel's eyes widened, he let out a breathy laugh and changed what he'd been planning to say. "Yeah, another thing I learned in therapy. I'm still angry and hurt that he was a father to our child when I wasn't even notified. I also know that I played a huge part in how the situation unfolded. However, at the same time, he took care of you and Caleb when I failed you. He made sure you were safe and protected and for that…for that I will be forever in his debt, but…well, I do need to ask what you're going to do now. I mean, I know you have the money I sent you at least but I..."

Rachel shook her head and pulled away. "I…I didn't keep the money Finn. I used part of it to pay for Caleb's funeral, but I donated the rest."

He stared at her in utter shock, paused for only a moment before he took her face in his hands.

"Why? Why would you do that? I needed you to have that money. I…I had to provide something for you, even if I did it far too late."

"I…I am going to move in with my dads for a while because I just need some time. I have my Master's, so I am sure I can get a teaching job somewhere eventually. You aren't obligated to take care of me anymore."

"You are my wife; of course I'm obligated to take care of you—of course I want to help and to do something for you."

Rachel let out a soft sob. "Not for much longer and I…I don't want your money. I…never did."

Her words cut through him like a knife. He knew he was the one who had finally broken down and actually filed for divorce; but hearing her hurt and hearing her say she didn't even want his financial support—the last thing he could offer—was the final straw before his last, worn thread of composure snapped.

"What do you want from me, Rachel?" He asked, begging her to just tell him anything. "I already lost my only son without even knowing him and now…now I'm trying to do the right things to ensure you are safe and happy and free to live whatever life you decide. Why can't you let me do that?"

She turned, pulled herself to her knees so she was in front of him and held his face in her hands for a change.

"Because I don't want it!" She whispered harshly. "Don't you get it? I…I never wanted it."

His eyes frantically searched hers. "What…what don't you want? Happiness? Security? What? Tell me what you do want and I will make sure you get it."

She shook her head and turned back to the grave site. "I never wanted my freedom; at least not freedom from you." He scooted closer to her and cautiously wrapped his arm around her shoulders, tightening his hold when she pressed herself against him. She rested her head on his shoulder and he let his fingertips brush over her hair. It was longer now, but still soft and beautiful and hers. So he loved it.

"You know, I never wanted it either."

She moved her hand up to grasp his fingers, and at first he thought he saw something from the tears he hadn't managed to keep very well-buried over the last three months. Then he realized it was actually a flash of metal and he dropped his head to see the bracelet she wore a little closer.

"Did you…when did you start wearing that again?" He asked.

"Well, one night, my husband brought me my very first swag bag," she said with a smile.

…and he couldn't believe what was sitting in front of him. He'd been miserable all night, from the second he'd taken the women's bag over the men's bag. He'd held tight to the silk bag all night, even if it was bright pink and woven plaid with gold and black—so totally not like something a guy would carry. When anyone asked why he had it, he'd told them Rachel would be home waiting for him; some made fun of him for being whipped, some told him he was sweet (most of them with their own pink bag in hand), and some just looked surprised.

He'd been miserable because he really, really missed her. More than once, he'd caught himself looking around for her and then he'd caught sight of the bag sitting on the bar and remembered she wasn't there. The last minute change in rehearsal plans had made it impossible for her to come to the one work event of his she'd actually had space in her busy calendar for; sue him. He'd been more than a little disappointed. He was almost ashamed he'd pressed harder and fought with her before he left. He hoped she knew he didn't really mean it and he was just disappointed and sick of feeling alone even though he had a wife he adored.

The sick feeling didn't get any better as he finished his scotch, so he set the glass back down on the bar and decided to just head home and hopefully she would wake him up when she rolled in from rehearsal. At least being in their bed, he'd be able to smell her—to have some proof she really existed somewhere besides a text message on the phone in his suitcoat.

And as he looked over the coffee table in their apartment, he knew she was real. And he loved her just a little more.

"What's all this?" He asked.

"Well…I know you were really disappointed I couldn't make it tonight," she began. He looked down at her black satin robe and the way it blended with the dark brown satin hair that flowed in curls down her back. She slid her hands up his chest, letting her fingertips rest on his jaw and tug his face toward her. Her robe fell open and he saw a flash of what was underneath. It made his mouth go a little dry; he thought he might know why the two glasses and the small bottle of wine were on the table. "So I thought we could at least have a nightcap."

He swallowed hard and held up the bag that was in his hand. "I brought you make-up sex—I mean… stuff. Make-up stuff."

She laughed a little and stepped away from him to take the bag he had. Of course, as soon as his hands were free, that meant they were free to wander over her. He slid the robe over her chest and away from her shoulder as she pulled the black drawstring ribbons apart, opening the bag so she could look inside.

"They just…this is the stuff they were giving away?" She asked in disbelief.

"Yeah," he said. "I heard something about jewelry and…" he let his fingers rub over the thin eternity band on her finger. "…well, it's been a while since I gave you jewelry so…"

Her smile was wide when she pulled out the long, thin velvet box. "I think I found the jewelry."

"Yeah?" He asked, letting his eyes look over her face. Maybe it was the gagging feeling of missing her, maybe it was the taunts from people echoing in his ears about how he should be living it up because he was about to be young, hot, and loaded; or maybe it was the everything right underneath him. "That's good, 'cause I think I hit the jackpot."

She pushed the now-open box toward his chest. "Will you help me put it on?"

He thought it was kinda cute how she couldn't actually take a compliment like that from him.

"Yeah…but I might have to work something out here. Like, for every one thing I put on you, I get to take off five things."

"I'm not even wearing five things including this," she said. He was fumbling with the clasp, but it didn't take him too long to connect it, even if working with the delicate, twisting chains of silver made him feel like his fingers were made of lead.

He took her hand and held it up so he could see the bracelet shining in the dull candlelight.

"I guess I win, then."

"I hope you're happy," she said. She went to her toes and pressed her mouth to his jaw, and yeah… yeah. He was happy. Happy to be home. Happy to just be hers.

Happy to be.

It was the last moment he'd been really, really happy and he knew that now. That was another thing he'd learned in counseling.

She sniffed back some more tears. "We were happy once, right? And I hope, wherever he is, that he's happy now. I…I mean I…know they say good people go to a better place and he was the best person in the world, so…"

He kissed the top of her head to comfort her. "I think he's in the most amazing place—your heart. He will always be loved and protected and remembered for the perfect little boy that he was."

Rachel's body began to tremble in his arms before she wrapped her arms around his waist tightly. "I miss him so, so much."

"I know. I do, too," he agreed quietly. For once, he didn't need her to explain because in a lot of ways, he knew exactly how she felt. She nodded and he buried his face in her hair, both seeking the solace only the other could provide.

El Fin!