A/N: And now, just cuz, a little fluff relief.
Finn called his mother later that morning. At first he was anxious, wondering if she would even be willing to talk to him. Rachel put him straight on that score.
"Finn, your mother loves you. She also has to know that finding out about your father the way you did affected you deeply. And it's not like you cut communication off completely. Call her."
She sat next to him at the table as he dialed.
"Hello?" Carole wouldn't have recognized the number.
"Hi, Mom, it's me." He hoped, he prayed she would talk to him.
"Finn? Oh my God! " It sounded like she dropped the phone, and then he heard her say "It's Finn!" to someone, probably Burt. "Finn! Honey, are you all right?"
"Yes, Mom, I'm fine." There was silence on the phone—possibly crying, he wasn't sure.
"Baby, where are you? "
"I'm in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Rachel is here with me."
"Rachel? Oh my God! She found you!"
"Yeah, she arrived yesterday." He paused, emotion filling his voice, "Mom? I think I'm ready to come home. I-I'm sorry I stayed away for so long. I wanted to make sure I was whole before I did. I didn't want my homecoming to be like dad's for you. Please forgive me." Rachel squeezed his hand. There was a long silence. Then Carole spoke.
"Finn, I'm sorry too, for keeping all of that information from you for so long. To be honest, your being away has been torture for me, but at least I knew you were safe. Now I just want to see my son again."
"I need to see you, too," Finn said, and Rachel threw her fist in the air and mouthed "YES!"
He told her they would be staying in Jackson Hole for a few more days, then heading to Lima, but that they would ultimately be traveling to New York together.
"Just like you always planned," Carole said, wistfully.
"Yeah Mom. I think everything is finally right for us." He leaned over and kissed her.
She asked him if it was okay to plan a party, and he said she could do anything she liked, he had been in control of the situation far too long.
"I love you, son. And I'm so proud of you."
"I love you too, Mom." Before he hung up, Carole asked if he could put Rachel on the line.
"Oh Carole, it is so wonderful to hear your voice after all these years," Rachel said, truthfully. Carole had truly become a mother-figure to her.
"I just wanted to say congratulations on your award, honey," Carole said, "And tell you that I cried over your speech. Thank you for finding him. I'm sure you played a part in convincing him to come home."
"Only a small part, honestly. We can't wait to see you all again."
She hung up, then hugged him.
"We need to celebrate!" Rachel hooted.
"Sure,", said Finn, "But I need to do something first. Uh, alone."
Rachel smiled curiously.
"What?"
"That's a secret," Finn said. "Now, can you go wander about in the meadow while I take care of this? "
She laughed like a little girl, and bounded out of the cabin. He shook his head; she had always loved surprises.
First things first. Finn checked the closet to see what clothes she had brought. Bingo. A little black dress and some heels. He grinned, remembering when she had told him every modern girl came prepared. Then he checked his own clothes, and made sure his simple but stylish black suit and white shirt were clean; Jane had picked it out for an RCMP formal function they attended.
Next, he called the finest hair salon in Jackson Hole. Being a ski resort, the town was used to having celebrities around. Finn smiled as he made a reservation for Rachel Berry, "You know, the recent Tony Award winner", and was inwardly delighted to hear the immediate deference he received. He was also counting on the grapevine to start to come alive. He also made an appointment at a barber shop for a trim (but just a trim—his baby had said she liked his new look).
Finally, he made reservations for two for Rachel Berry ("You know, the recent Tony Award winner") at the swankiest restaurant in town, The Blue Lion.
When he was done, Finn went out on the porch, looking for her. She was deep in the meadow, in the bright mid-morning sunshine, skipping through the grass with her arms stretched out like a little girl. He wished he had known her then.
He ran out and tackled her, rolling so that she landed on top of him, giggling, and he kissed her in the bright sunshine, in the sweet grass, under the watchful eye of the Tetons. God, how he loved this woman.
She lay on top of him, and kissed his eyes.
"Finn, can we go camping before we leave?"
"Sure," Finn said, delighted. "We can camp in Yellowstone on the way out. I'll see if I can get reservations. If not, there are lots of other places nearby."
"Cool," she said, kissing him. "Now, about my surprise."
"We're going out to dinner at the nicest restaurant in Jackson Hole" he said, and, before she could protest, continued, "But I'm taking you to get your hair done before we go. Everything's set."
She sat up, straddling him, and gave him an amusedly suspicious look.
"So why all the secrecy?"
He couldn't answer her right away; just at that moment her head blocked out the sun, its light enveloping the rest of her like a golden cloak, and she was smiling, carefree and open, her hair free and shiny, flying in the breeze, against a flawless azure sky, and he was speechless because he had never been happier in his entire life.
He just lay back, smiling, eyes half closed. Then he heard her gasp. Alarmed, Finn tried to sit up, but Rachel leaned forward, pinning his shoulders in the grass with her hands, and brought her face close to his with a look of wonder.
"Is everything okay?" he asked.
She just nodded and continued to gaze at him.
"Remember when I asked you in the nurse's office, when you had mono, what you saw when you kissed me?"
"Vaguely," he answered truthfully, "That whole thing is hazy at best. Why?"
"You just had the exact same look on your face."
Finn gazed back at her.
"Wow. I was just now thinking I was happier than I'd ever been in my life."
Rachel lowered herself beside him.
"I wish I had let you explain back then," she said sadly, "But instead I let my damned insecurities get in the way."
He pulled her close.
"It's too beautiful a day to be sad," he declared.
They spent the rest of the morning walking by the lake, had lunch, then took a nap together. Eventually, it was time to get ready. Finn showed Rachel how the quirky shower worked, and reminded her it had a small hot water heater. Then he had a beer on the porch while she did her thing. She called him into the bathroom when she was applying makeup, and he got into the shower himself.
They dressed casually and he drove her to the hair salon. Walking hand-in-hand through the door, he told them "Ms. Rachel Berry" was here for her appointment. Rachel looked at him suspiciously, then with delight as several women appeared, leading her into the elegant salon, not fawning over her, yet still treating her as a VIP. One asked her if she'd like a glass of champagne (she would love one, thank you!), maybe some caviar (No, thank you). Another congratulated her on her Tony award. She looked back over her shoulder at him, beaming, and he winked, then, whistling "Faithfully", headed off to get his trim. This was going to be her night.
She texted him when she was done. He drove over and parked in the rear of the building, and entered through the back—one of the staff at the salon, as previously agreed, had texted him about two paparazzi hanging around the front. He didn't want her seen until she was ready, even though she looked stunning as is, in her white tank top and jeans, hair done almost exactly as it had been at the Prom, makeup with some final, striking touches, nails perfect.
"Nice trim, Mr. Hudson," she said, as she took his arm. They got in the car and drove back to the cabin. A town car was waiting there as they arrived.
Rachel just looked at him, agape.
"You deserve to arrive in style, Ms. Berry," he said gallantly, "You earned this." Then he sternly warned her not to cry and ruin the makeup and she laughed, kissing him lightly. In the bedroom she slipped on her dress.
"You look amazing," Finn murmured in her ear as he zipped her up. She slipped on her heels as he put on his suit, leaving the white shirt open at the neck. She was about to take his arm when he looked down and froze. The engagement ring was on her left hand.
"When I said I am yours, I meant it," Rachel said, taking his arm
as they walked to the waiting car. He opened the door for her. Inside, he kissed her.
"I am yours, too," he said.
They huddled without speaking on the drive to the restaurant, an elegant converted house in the town of Jackson Hole itself. As the car pulled up, a small group of photographers and others stood outside. Rachel looked at Finn.
"You planned all of this?"
He gave her a shrug.
"I missed your ceremony. I should have been there. Let me at least try and make sure you are recognized for the star that you are."
"Are you sure you are ready for the spotlight?"
"How much worse than the Taliban can it be?" he asked, and both of them laughed.
"Okay then," Rachel said, and turned on her huge smile. "It's show time."
Finn got out and took her hand as she emerged to a flashing of lights. She took his arm as they started to walk in.
"Ms. Berry! Ms. Berry!" Someone was asking. Rachel stopped.
"Yes?"
"Congratulations on your Tony Award!" It was a small man with a notebook.
"Thank you, you're very kind," Rachel replied graciously.
"Is this man the one you mentioned in your acceptance speech?"
She stopped and held Finn's hand. He just stood and smiled shyly.
"This is Finn Hudson, the love of my life."
The man grinned and thanked her.
"Mr. Hudson! " It was someone else. He turned.
"How long have you known Ms. Berry?"
Finn glanced at Rachel, then replied, "We've loved each other since we were fifteen."
That started a flurry of questions, but Finn raised his hand.
"We're really, really, hungry right now, and Rachel knows what happens when I'm hungry, so can she just sign autographs for her fans now so they don't have to wait, and maybe we can answer press questions afterwards?"
The reporters nodded, smiling, and the five or six fans cheered.
Rachel signed the autographs, and they headed into the restaurant.
"Not bad, Hudson," Rachel whispered, winking, "You may be a natural."
Before the hostess ushered them to their table, Rachel asked to see the owner. He appeared, a tall man in his late 30's.
"What can I do for you, Ms. Berry?"
"There may be two or three reporters outside, waiting for us..."
"I can get rid of them, if you like," he interjected.
"Oh no," Rachel said, "I just wondered if you could send out some appetizers and maybe coffee to them, and put it on our bill?"
He looked surprised. Finn wondered if any other celebrities had done that. He squeezed Rachel's waist in admiration.
Suddenly the man shook his head.
"I'll do one better," he said, "It'll be on the house. That was a very gracious thing to offer, and I'd like to honor that."
"Thank you, so much," Rachel said, giving him her patented beaming smile.
"That was a very cool thing to do, Rachel," Finn said after they were seated.
She turned pensive.
"I had enough being a diva when I was in high school," she said. "I want my karma to be positive. Besides, it won't be possible to do this in New York, where the crowds are so much bigger."
They both ordered the Risotto Florentine; Rachel had the vegan version. He chose a bottle of California Pinot Blanc after consulting with the waiter.
"Cheers, baby," Finn said, raising his glass. Rachel clinked hers with his.
"I love you, Finn," she said simply.
The waiter quietly asked them if other diners could ask for autographs, and when Rachel said yes, also asked if they could come over, say, when they were waiting for dessert? That was fine.
Finn could see Rachel was in her element: gracious, smiling, almost bigger than life. It helped ease the pain of those seven years apart, seeing her becoming what he knew she was meant to be. He ached to see her perform on stage.
They stood for a couple of pictures and questions outside. Incredibly, no one noticed the engagement ring.
Just as they were leaving, one reporter asked, "Mr Hudson! Is it true you were awarded the Silver Star for your service in Afghanistan?"
"Yes," Finn replied, feeling uncomfortably exposed.
"Are you considering another tour of duty?"
He thought for a moment, and felt Rachel squeezing his hand. She wasn't worried about his answer, but the silence was getting uncomfortable. Then he remembered the words of Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce tribe:
"I will fight no more forever," he said, and helped Rachel into the car.