Rachel was the first to awaken, long before dawn the next day. She didn't really have to be up, and it was dark, so she settled in against Finn, and wondered how she ever made through the last seven years ("The Finnless Years", she would call them in her autobiography) without him. True, she had Tom for a portion of them, and did have an amazing start to her career, culminating with a Tony, but she hadn't been truly happy, until now. She wondered how much longer she could have gone without him. The answer, which she knew, deep inside of her, sent a chill to her soul. So Rachel Berry snuggled closer to her Finn, so close that, like the fabled stonework of the Incas, not even a knife could find a gap between them. The chill dissipated, and she fell back asleep.
He wasn't next to her when she awoke the second time, but the delicious smell of coffee and breakfast made it easier to bear. Emily was coming out of the bathroom, and both of them burst into giggling about how this was becoming a routine, but Emily pointed out that Tom was still asleep.
"Time to see how your man cooks," Emily joked.
"You're in for a treat," Rachel replied.
"They aren't vegan," Finn said, without turning around, as he carefully watched some pancakes. On the counter were bowls of cut up peaches, strawberries, and blueberries.
"Oh God," Emily said, sipping coffee, then picking out a piece of peach.
"They smell wonderful" Rachel said, grabbing a bowl and coffee, "Vegan or not."
Tom eventually wandered in, rubbing his eyes, and waited while Finn handed out more pancakes, then made more coffee.
"I don't trust myself making coffee anymore, now that we have an actual Jeeves here," he said, laughing.
When everyone was sitting and eating, they talked about their day. Rachel and Emily were heading over for a light rehearsal at one, and Tom was going to handle some small requests for music changes from Eric, the director, to better accommodate the voice of a temporary replacement for one of the actors who had an emergency appendectomy.
"What about you, Finn? What's on your agenda?" Tom asked.
"Well, I'm heading over to Queens College, and an interview with their Veterans Coordinator. Then I'm picking up tickets to a show for me and Rachel tonight."
Rachel looked up.
"What show?" She looked delighted.
"That's a secret. And so is our dinner date beforehand."
Tom and Emily ooohed and ahhed. Rachel told them to shut it, laughing.
"There's a note for you on the refrigerator, with further instructions."
And with that, Finn swallowed the rest of his coffee and got up to shower and get ready to go.
"I'll leave KP to you guys," he said with a wink.
When he was gone, Tom got up to do the dishes, but Emily stayed at the table and watched Rachel read the note.
"What does it say?" she asked, her impatience showing.
Rachel looked puzzled.
"It just says 'Wear the blue dress you wore to the party in Lima. I really liked that one.'"
"Does it have any special significance?" Emily asked, knowing how the two of them loved symbols.
"No," Rachel replied, "But it's very nice. So we must be going someplace nice." She smiled. "We both kind of looked at this past week or so as a kind of honeymoon before getting back into the world again. I think he wants to go somewhere nice before I have to perform again. I saw him talking with Kurt, so I guess this is what they had planned. Dinner and a show!"
"How New York," Emily said, dreamily. "Honey, can we do that soon?"
"Yes, dear," Tom replied, catching the piece of peach Emily threw at him in his mouth.
XXXxxxxxxx
"You look gorgeous, Rachel," Emily told her. Rachel smiled. Her hair was down around her shoulders, and the blue dress fit her perfectly, ending a few inches above the knee. She wore a white shawl and went out to meet Finn, who wore his black suit with a white short and tie.
"Whoah," he said, in his best Keanu Reeves expression.
A cab was waiting outside. Finn helped her in, and handed the driver a note with the destination. Rachel cuddled close.
"I was going to try and whine the destination out of you," she told Finn, giggling, "Or bribe you with cab sex."
Finn folded his arms resolutely.
"As if that would work," he sniffed.
She sat close to him resting her head on his shoulder, and closed her eyes happily. Let him have his surprise. He rolled down the window and they inhaled the New Yorkness of the moment together.
"Are you okay with the big city, Finn?" she asked.
"I have you. And we are where we always planned to be together, baby. I'm so more than okay."
"Good." She was silent the rest of the trip. At that moment she wouldn't have cared if they were just going to a diner. Rachel Berry was at peace. Real peace.
The diner turned out to be Sardi's (which she secretly hoped was the destination). There were a few papparazi and fans milling about, hoping to catch sight of a celebrity. As they got out of the cab, Finn was gratified to hear a few exclaim "It's Rachel Berry!", but was startled when one person yelled "It's Rachel Berry and that guy!" He just smiled as Rachel signed some autographs, and heard her introduce him to one young woman as the love of her life, and the woman almost fainted. Cameras flashed.
And then they were inside.
The hostess looked at her card and said, "We can get you a much better table." Rachel looked puzzled, but Finn just said,"No, we want that particular one."
And she knew. It was their table. And her heart nearly burst. Finn just grinned as they were seated, and for a moment they were their high school selves again, only this time they had already reunited.
"Thank you, Finn," Rachel said, "This is perfect." Then her eyes grew wide. "Oh my god! That's Matthew Broderick and Sara Jessica Parker! " Even
more panic. "They're coming over!"
Finn stood, and shook Broderick's hand as his wife congratulated Rachel on her award.
"I'm Finn Hudson," he said.
"Yes, I know," Broderick said. "I'm proud to meet a Silver Star winner."
"Thank you, sir." Finn replied, "I'm really proud to meet Ferris Buehler." Broderick laughed heartily. He then turned and told Rachel that he and Sarah had seen her play and were blown away, as his wife congratulated Finn, and they left for their table.
Rachel was adorable, he thought. She had the same starry eyed expression she wore after meeting Patti Lupone. She still didn't see herself in their league yet. But he did.
Soon after that, a man came up to their table and introduced himself as Max Klimavicius, the proprietor.
"We are honored to have you here, Ms Berry, and Mr Hudson! I hope you enjoy your dinner—Hans will be here soon to take your order, but I was wondering if I might bother you for one moment."
"It's no bother, Mr. Klimavicius," Rachel said, smiling shyly. "What can we do for you?"
"Well, I was wondering if I might get a picture from you. I will need to send it to Richard Baratz, our caricature artist. After your memorable awards speech, I think we need to have your caricature on the wall."
Rachel was suddenly speechless. She shot a glare at Finn, who feigned innocence. Suddenly, she spoke, a sly look on her face, and rummaged for her phone.
"How about this?" she asked the proprietor. It was the picture of her and Finn from the Chinese restaurant in Jackson Hole. Finn was about to protest when she held up her hand.
"Mr. Klimavicius," she said firmly, "I would not be where I am today if not for Mr. Hudson. And he is a Silver Star winner for valor, so I think it would be wonderfully appropriate to honor veterans as well as celebrities, don't you?"
Klimavicius smiled warmly.
"It would be our honor, Mr Hudson, Ms. Berry. Besides," he grinned, "It is a wonderful picture." He gave Rachel the email address, and said he'd let them see the caricature when it was ready, and they would arrange a ceremony to mount it on the wall.
When he left, and after she sent the picture, Rachel looked at Finn, tears in her eyes.
"You are my hero," she said. "People need to know that. Especially you." She came around the table, sat in his lap, and kissed the breath out of him. People clapped.
XXXxxxxxx
The show was an off-Broadway production of Cabaret. Rachel gave Finn a strange look. Why would he bring her to Jesse's play? She fleetingly wondered if it was to gloat, to use her to rub Jesse's comparative lack of success in his face. She quickly dismissed that. Finn didn't like Jesse, but he wasn't cruel.
As if reading her mind, Finn said, "You said you hadn't seen his play. You also seem to have forgiven him for what he did to you. I haven't yet, but he is somebody we knew from the beginning of us, trying to make it. That makes him sort of special, doesn't it? "
Rachel squeezed his arm. She suddenly felt the Finnless years, and how they must have changed him, because this Finn was different, wonderfully different. Once she thought she knew everything about him. Now she realized it would take a lifetime to do that. The fun had, truly, only just started.
"Yes, I guess it does." She kissed him on the sidewalk outside the little theatre, right before a couple of people going in noticed her. Finn remembered when nobody, not even him, knew who Rachel Berry was. Watching her graciously signing autographs hit home just how far she had come. She looked happy. He couldn't care less if nobody ever knew his name, as long as his Rachel was happy. They went inside.
Their seats were in the front row, and even though not many people were in this small theater, Finn noticed whisperings as they walked down the aisle. Rachel did too, and squeezed his arm, smiling from ear-to-ear. They sat next to an older couple, who asked Rachel for an autograph. The woman asked if they were here to see anybody in particular.
"Jesse St James," Rachel said, smiling, "We knew him in high school."
"How nice you came to see an old friend," the woman said, looking for his name. He was playing Max, the owner of the Kit Kat Club, a non-singing, cameo role.
The performance was not as bad as they had been led to believe. In fact, at intermission, Rachel mentioned how some critics had almost savaged it out of existence, but one influential critic said there was more to it than immediately met the eye, and was worth repeat viewings, which literally gave the play the chance to totter on. Both of them agreed that Jesse did what he could with Max, but the star was Pat Quinn, the actress playing Sally Bowles. Finn excused himself to the bathroom while Rachel signed even more autographs, then asked an usher if it would be possible to go backstage after the play. When he realized who Finn was with, the usher came back with an enthusiastic yes.
The cast gave its bows at the end, and Jesse, looking down as Finn and Rachel enthusiastically clapped, gave them a momentary, oddly embarrassed look, but switched immediately to his patented mysterious smile.
Backstage, the cast was delirious to see Rachel, but she begged them to wait until she and Finn spoke to Jesse, "an old acquaintance", alone. Pat said Jesse could use her dressing room, since he didn't get one, for which he thanked her gratefully. Inside, Rachel gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. He stood, looking at them with that almost amused look of his.
"Thanks for coming."
"You did great, Jesse," Rachel said, beaming.
He smiled, a little more genuinely then, and even laughed.
"Yeah, I really made that part actually noticeable, didn't I?"
She touched his arm, joking, "That's the best 'proprietary look' the character has ever delivered." They all laughed at that, and Finn realized, for the first time, he was seeing Jesse with his guard down. Far from the arrogant, flamboyant ass he remembered, Jesse was actually warm and self-deprecating.
Then Jesse hugged Rachel tightly, saying, "I'm so proud of you and what you've accomplished. I've seen your show, and it was wonderful. You deserve it all."
"Thank you," Rachel said, moved, because she had always admired his talent, and, to be honest, felt sad for him right now, because she knew he should have had the leading male role. But she understood the vagaries of the business.
"Listen, Rachel," said Finn, "Could I speak with Jesse for a few minutes? I think I saw the whole cast trying to peek through the keyhole at you."
Rachel smiled, saying, " Of course! Jesse, it was wonderful seeing your show. Good luck!"
"Bye Rachel," Jesse said, as she excused herself. The two men could hear her talking to the cast immediately outside.
"I heard you won the Silver Star," Jesse said first, and shook Finn's hand. Finn nodded, but beckoned Jesse to sit down, while he took a seat on a nearby stool.
"I hated you for a long time." Jesse didn't react, but sat impassively.
"I hated you because of how you betrayed her so brutally. I still haven't forgiven you for that, though she did, long ago. She's better than me in that regard." At this, Jesse just nodded.
"But I also know what you did for her that day at Nationals."
Jesse's guard came down abruptly.
"Does Rachel know this?"
"No. My stepbrother found out. Someone he knew overheard you talking to Carmen."
"Oh. Okay. Good. " He looked relieved.
Finn cleared his throat.
"I also hated you because you loved her. Maybe you still do."
Jesse smiled, shaking his head.
"There's something about that woman," he said, letting out a long sigh, "but we both know who she truly loves, and it ain't me."
Finn nodded, then said, "I just wanted you to know that I don't hate you anymore."
Jesse looked surprised.
"Why not?"
"Because you loved her enough to put a word in for her without any possible benefit to you. For that I'm grateful."
"I may love her, but I do know talent when I see it," Jesses quipped, and the two men laughed.
Finn then said what he really wanted to say.
"Listen, Jesse. Tom Foley is working with me on another musical, just starting, in fact. And, when the time is right, I'd like you to audition for the male lead."
Finn could see Jesse's guard go back up. Understandable, he thought. Invite your former romantic rival to audition, then watch with glee as you ream him a new one before telling him to get lost.
"I won't be at the audition. It might throw you off." He winked. Jesse laughed. They shook hands.
"Thanks, Finn. I appreciate this. And I'm glad you don't hate me. After all, you won her heart, forever. That's your karma. I have to live with it. That's my karma."
"She cares for you," Finn told him, "And respects your talent. So do I. Don't fuck it up."
Jesse looked grateful.
"I won't," he said softly, "I promise."
Outside, Rachel was having an animated conversation with the cast, telling them stories of memorable nights with her show. Finn noticed that Jesse had moved next to Pat, and that she slipped her hand into his. Jesse looked over at him, and Finn shot a discrete thumbs-up his way. There was a brief, honest look of happiness, then the inscrutable Jesse St James mask was back on.
"Thank you for tonight," Rachel told him in the cab, sleepily cuddling close. "Did I ever tell you how much I love your ass?"
"No. Tell me."