Sorry for the wait. I've had computer troubles!

But finally the next chapter. It was originally going to be one long one but I've split it into two halves of their weekend together :)

Thanks again for the reviews. They means so much to me and you have no idea how happy I am when the story gets so many.

And thank you to Gillian Deverone for beta-ing

Enjoy!


She stares at Finn, sitting opposite from her in the lavish and large chair of first class. They've only been in the air for about half an hour, but five minutes in the man had managed to doze off and shows no sign of joining the land of the living.

He snores lightly as he sleeps, his face looking unusually peaceful. And she's positive that he's drooling which, though the tiniest bit gross, is actually quite adorable now. He looks like a giant kid, and that makes her smile. She likes that – he can still cheer her up when she's feeling her worst.

The plane jolts a little, causing her to frown. She's always hated flying but it's part of her job. International tours and such mean that flying is a regular occurrence for Rachel. The jolt is enough to wake Finn from his sleep and his eyes flicker open, gaze focusing on an amused Rachel.

"Morning sleepyhead," she giggles.

He smiles dopily before realizing that he's drooling and he instantly wipes it away, sitting up straight. "How long have I been asleep?"

"Only about twenty minutes," she says, shifting in the chair herself. He's got marks on his face from where it had been pushed against the chair, but she doesn't tell him. "Maybe you shouldn't have stayed up until one last night."

"I was playing video games," he protests.

"Yes," Rachel says, "I heard you shouting at the TV. It's not the TV's fault that you suck, you know." She sends him a teasing smile, eyes bright with amusement at the way that his face scrunches up with determination.

His eyes lock onto hers. "Oh, yeah? And you'd be much better, I suppose?"

"I certainly would," she says confidently. In actual fact, she's never played a video game before, but he doesn't know that. How hard can it be anyway? If Finn can do it, then she most definitely can. She leans forward, grabbing ahold of her coffee before having a sip of the warm drink

Finn still looks like he's thinking. "You," he points to her, "think that you're better than me," he then gestures to himself, "at video games? Dollface, you are crazy."

She gasps, "Excuse me? Just because I'm a woman doesn't mean that I can't do a simple task. They're designed for children, Finn. As you can see, I'm a full grown woman, capable of playing a child's game."

He smirks, "Would you be willing to make a bet on it?"

"What?" her head snaps towards him. "Are you serious?"

"Damn straight."

"I-I…" she tries to think of a decent excuse.

"If you can't walk the walk," he begins, "then don't talk the talk." His eyes are watching her every movement, waiting for a slip up. "What'd you say?"

"This is ridiculo – "

"Chicken!"

She sets a glare on him. "No! I just… I don't see the point in mindless bets. Why do you feel the need to prove this?"

"Because you're probably worse than me and I want to see the look on your face when you realize that," he grins brightly while she pulls a face in return. "Oh, not very eager, are we?"

It seems to finally push her over the edge. Needless to say, she's always been a pretty sore loser. And, especially with people like Finn, who just push and push until she's driven to finally saying, "Fine."

He looks slightly shocked at how easily she gave it but smiles nonetheless. "Perfect. Now, where's the arena?"

Her eyebrows knit together in confusion. "What?"

"I'm just trying to add a little drama," he sighs when she doesn't understand. "I thought that maybe you'd appreciate that. Anyway, where are we going to do this?"

"Wherever," she replies confidently, "because I know that I'll still be able to beat you no matter where we play."

"I love it when you're cocky," he teases, loving the way the she blushes slightly.

They glare at each other playfully for the following few minutes before Finn yawns loudly, trying to get as comfortable as possible. "Do you think we'll be there soon?"

"Probably," she says quietly. She then remembers something, a previous conversation. "Are you still not happy about having to come here?"

Finn hesitates, his face conflicted. "It's not that I'm unhappy, per se. It's just…" He stops, unsure of how to explain it to her. He doesn't really know how he feels himself, always having pushed these thoughts to the back of his mind. But, with Rachel, he feels like he can open up and she'll understand, even if he's the one in the wrong. "She didn't tell me," he tries again.

She peers at him curiously, her eyes glued to him face. "She didn't tell you what?"

"About my dad," he says.

"Oh," Rachel frowns, "I see." Her brow furrows once more, "who's she?"

"My mom," Finn replies sadly.

"I-I just… I grew up thinking that he was some hero – that he was someone who I should look up to and try to be like, and then she had to go and rip that all away from me."

"Maybe," Rachel begins, "she wanted you to know that your dad wasn't all bad. I mean, he was in the army right?" When he looks to her questioningly, she says, "Kurt told me. Not everything, just about his problems with drugs."

Finn's shoulders slump. "He cared about them more than me, his own son."

"You don't know that that's true," she argues, "I imagine that he went through so much and I bet that he loved you more than anything in the world, but sometimes… it's all just too much for some people."

He shakes his head, clearly not taking in her words which, while a little understandable, is also quite annoying. "Maybe… if he was still alive," he hesitates, staring at the floor, "then I wouldn't have had my own problems with drugs."

Rachel frowns, "Finn, you don't know that. But the drugs – that was your choice. No one forced you to take them."

"But I –"

"No," she states firmly, "you're twenty five. You have to start taking responsibility for what you've done. I'm not saying that your dad's past isn't a factor, or your mom lying to you about it, but at the end of the day you took the drugs and you didn't stop."

At her words he's completely silent. She's right, he knows. She's always right, which, though helpful, is irritating. But it still hurts, you know? He hated having to think about his father and the relationship that could have been. Sometimes he truly believes that everything would have turned out okay if his father was still alive.

But maybe that's just an idealistic way of thinking about it. His dad would still be broken from the war. Not physically broken, but mentally. What if he'd grown up with a dad like that? How different would he be?

He wonders whether his mom would have been happy too. She's with Burt now and, although he's had his problems with the man, he knows that he keeps his mom happy and that's got to be enough, right?

There are so many what ifs surrounding the topic that he doesn't know where to begin. For one, what if Kurt had never been his brother? That sounds almost ridiculous to him, but it's the honest truth.

Kurt has helped him with so much over the years, especially with being his manager. And Kurt's saved his ass more times than he can remember.

He thinks more about his dad, about what his life would entail. Would he still have left home at the first chance that he got? That chance that led to him eventually getting a record deal, along with the guys that became his family away from home. His life would be so different.

Without that one chance, lots of other things would alter. He wouldn't be part of one of the most well-known bands in the music business, or he wouldn't live in his huge apartment.

He wouldn't even know Rachel. He'd know of her, of course, because in every reality she's destined to be a star, but he would never have even spoken to her.

Such a thought causes his stomach to tie together in a tight knot and he feels slightly sick. That's crazy, the idea of not knowing her. He feels like he's known her for years, not merely weeks. She's made such an influence in his life that he doesn't know what it's like without her there.

Finn looks up at said woman, staring back with concern and worry. "You're right. It just… it hurts, you know?"

She nods, "I imagine that it would."

"And I love my mom," he carries on, "but every time I see her, I just think about how she lied every day until I was a teenager and my chest feels really heavy and my heart hurts… it sucks."

Her hand reaches out to his over to table, grasping it firmly. "I'm no expert at this," she says, "but it's been years. Y-you need to forgive her Finn."

He frowns, face sad. "What if I can't?"

"I'll help you," she offers a smile, "and we'll do it together."

He stares down at their joined finger, unable to stop his mouth twisting into a large smile. Somehow, she manages to make him feel better, more optimistic. With her help, he thinks then maybe it's achievable. She seems to believe in him after all.

Finn idly rubs his thumb over her soft knuckles, though she doesn't seem to mind. She actually looks like she's enjoying it.

"Kurt'll be happy," he tells her.

Her ears perk up. "Why?"

With a sigh, he explains, "He's being trying to get us to reconcile for years. He thinks that the reason that we don't talk much is stupid. He doesn't get it though."

"His heart is in the right place," she smiles, "but sometimes people don't understand when they haven't been through it themselves."

"He lost his mom," Finn says thoughtfully, "it's just not the same though. Does it make me a bad person for thinking that?"

"Not at all."

He sighs deeply, his face looking aged and tired. "She's still this amazing woman to him. She can do no wrong. She never abandoned him and he's always going to have this perfect memory of her. Me… I don't have anything."

Rachel shakes her head, wondering why he's so intent on getting himself down. "If you're anything to go by, then your father must have been a wonderful man. I mean, you're half of him, right? And," she pauses, "you can't judge him by the last few months of his life."

Their surroundings are silent as Finn absorbs her words, letting them sink in slowly. It warms his heart to think that she believes him to be good, even after the way he treated her at the beginning. Somehow, her believe and encouragement seems special.

Their hands are still attached to each other, neither showing any sign of wanting to let go. On the contrary, Finn holds onto them tighter.

"Do you really mean that?" he asks.

A smile slides onto her bright face, "Finn, you may sometimes be arrogant and rude and completely deluded, but deep down you're caring, thoughtful… you're a really good person and I for one really like being friends with that person." She inches closer. "And, as your friend, I think that you should work on a relationship with your mom. I think that it'd be best for the both of you."

He nods – he'll do it. For her, and for himself.

"Thanks," he says simply.

She beams, clearly proud of herself. "You're welcome. Anything for a friend."

He deflates a little hearing that. "Yeah," he mumbles, "friend."


Rachel walks beside Finn, letting his arm rest comfortably on her shoulder as they make their way over to who she suspects are his parents. The woman is short with an aged face though her clear joy at seeing Finn overshadows that. And the man looks happy too, though not as elated as his wife.

"Finn!" Carole shouts, hurrying over to him.

He tenses next to Rachel, taking a deep breath. "You can do this," she encourages him.

He nods to himself, though he pulls Rachel a little closer for comfort. His mom reaches them, pulling the pair into a tight hug. "Oh, I've missed you Finn," she claims, tears in her eyes. He feels guilty, as usual, as he knows that it's been weeks and the only information she's had come from Kurt or the news, and neither say good things about him. Well, normally Kurt covers for Finn, but there's the occasional slip up.

"Hey, Mom," he mumbles, wrapping his free arm around her. He tries to forget about all the stuff that makes him upset with his mom, to focus on the positives, like Rachel had told him to.

Carole beams, "It's so good to have to back home… and with your girlfriend no doubt. I wish that you would have told me yourself though." It's clear that she's being careful around him, avoiding any painful subjects, but she's also happy to be spending the whole weekend with him after such a long time.

He rubs the back of his head. "Yeah… I just – you know. Anyway, this is Rachel."

"Oh, I know who she is," Carole says immediately. "Who doesn't?" She turns to Rachel. "And I'm more than honored to have you in my home. You have no idea how shocked I was to find out that you were dating my son. You're going to have to tell me all about it on the way home."

Rachel smiles, already warming to Carole. She seems friendly and eager to make her feel comfortable. "It's lovely to meet you," she replies, "and I won't spare any details." She turns to Finn, who is decisively glummer than before, and nudges him in the side.

He straightens up. "Let's go home then, shall we?" Burt is with them now, though Rachel notices that he and Finn barely even greet each other.

"They seem nice," she whispers to him as they walk behind the older couple.

"Hmm."

"You're not trying enough," she tells him.

He pulls a face. "I feel sick; is that bad?"

"Oh, don't start making up excuses," Rachel begins, "Finn, you're not even trying."

"I am!"

"No, you're not!" Her jaw locks together. "If you don't want to do this for yourself, which you should, then do it for me. I want you to be happy." He slows in his movement, turning to her in interest.

"Really?" he asks her. He's not exactly sure why, but he just needs to.

Rachel rolls her eyes like the question is ridiculous. "Yes, you big goof, now listen to me, because I'm right."

"God," he pretends to be annoyed, "pushy girlfriend alert."

She smacks his arm, ignoring the way that her heartbeat increases when he calls her his girlfriend. It's never happened before and she's confused as to why it occurred just then, but she doesn't have time to dwell on it as they finally get to the car.

There's a small exchange between Finn and Burt that she only catches the last few seconds of, though it worries her slightly. Still, Carole is smiling brightly at her and she instantly feels better.


The only sound at dinner is that of cutlery hitting the plates.

Thankfully Kurt had called ahead and a made sure that they knew about Rachel's veganism so that she didn't have to deal with any awkward situations.

Well… apart from this one.

After the partial success of greeting each other, the conversation had slowly died to pretty much nothing and Finn, despite what he told her, isn't making an effort at all to restart it.

"So," she clears her throat, "what do you two do… here in Lima?"

Finn frowns at her, as if she's just asked them a deeply personal question yet she's only trying to hold a conversation as she doesn't like the silence.

"Well," Carole begins slowly, "I work as a nurse in the local hospital. As I have been doing for a very long time. I can't imagine having any other job though." She smiles. "It's very satisfying."

Rachel nods along with her, "I bet. I used to want to be a foctor when I was about four, but I'm extremely squeamish so that idea kind of went down the drain. But it's for the best, I suppose, because then I could focus on performing."

"At four?" Burt asks in surprise.

"I was a very talented child," Rachel beams. "Did you know that I won when first dance competition when I was three months old?" Finn chuckles to himself when she says that and she tries to send him a glare without anyone seeing, which only makes him smile more.

"Really?" Carole breathes. "When Finn was about a year old, I entered him in a beautiful baby contest."

All heads turn to her, mouths open in shock. Finn feels his face growing red at the revelation, something which he's certainly never heard before and he's not exactly happy that this is the time when she decides to finally tell him, in front of the only woman he's ever liked.

He peers at Rachel, who is trying to hold back giggles, "Oh my God, are you serious?"

Carole grins, nodding quickly. "And he won!"

The two women fall into a fit of giggles - the very thought of Finn winning is apparently hilarious.

"It's not that funny…" he begins, frowning when it does nothing to cease the laughter. With his jaw locked, he shoots up from his chair, almost knocking it over in the process, and begins for the stairs. His reaction startles the three others, who stare at the spot where he was.

Rachel turns apologetically to Burt and Carole, "Excuse me."

And then she practically sprints after him, which isn't good in her heels. She eventually finds him in one of the bedrooms, which she supposes is his, and she moves over to where he's sitting on the bed, along with both of their suitcases.

"Everything is still the same as before I left," he says sadly, staring around at the room. She joins him in the action, noticing the décor of a teenager boy. Her eyes move to a drum kit in the corner of the room and she smiles at the thought of a younger Finn playing them.

"Why'd you run off?" she asks, sitting down beside him. He offers her a crooked smile which doesn't really his eyes at all. "Finn," she presses, "come on, you can tell me."

"Oh yeah," he questions. "Even after you were laughing at my expense?"

She hesitates, shuffling closer to him so that they're sides are flush against each other. While his feet touch the floor, hers dangle over the edge of the bed. "That was funny… you didn't think so?"

"She's acting like she hasn't done anything wrong," he frowns, his face thoughtful.

Rachel sighs, wondering how to phrase her words, "Maybe… maybe she doesn't think that she has. I mean, if I were in her situation, I probably wouldn't tell you either."

"What?" he goes to move away from her though her hand on his thigh stops him in his tracks

"Just listen," she insists. "I want you to do something, okay?" She waits for him to nod before taking a deep breath, "Imagine that you have a child, a little girl for example. And her mother… she isn't around anymore. Imagine that her mother died from a drug problem and then, years later, your little girl asks you what happened to her mommy and asks you what her mommy was like. What would you tell her?"

He knows that she's right 'cause she's smart and everything. But if she's right then that means that he doesn't really have a reason to be mad at his mother and the past few years he's been a terrible son, something which he doesn't know whether he's ready to admit to just yet.

"I-I'd tell her… I'd say that her mom was just as beautiful and wonderful as she is. And that she's an angel is heaven, watching down on us."

Satisfied with his answer, she smiles softly, "And now… do you understand?

Finn nods.

"Good," she says, "because that was my last idea."

He laughs along with her. "Yeah, but it was your best." He watches as she beams proudly, pulling herself up further on the bed. Only problem is that her hand is still very high on his thigh. Finn gulps, hoping that she doesn't notice the appearance of Finn Jr. Sometimes it's infuriating how she can gain such reactions from his body so easily and he can't even do the same to her. It's unfair!

Still, she has helped him. "Thank you," he tells her, his voice full of sincerity.

She stands up, starting in the direction of the door.

"I-I'd prefer to stay in here," he tells her, "for a while. Just to think and stuff, you know?"

Rachel smiles, returning to the bed. "I'll stay with you."

She's stopped in her tracks, staring at the floor with wide eyes and her mouth hanging open. Before he can ask why, she lets out a shrill scream and practically jumps onto him, her arms clutching his neck with the tightest grip known to man. "Get it out! Get it out!" She keeps repeating this, hiding her face in his shirt.

Finn's eyebrows furrow and he manages to move forward with Rachel clinging onto him helplessly to see the tiny spider on the floor, barely moving.

He tries to peer back at Rachel but, you know, he isn't an owl and his neck only goes so far. "Are you serious?" he asks her plainly. She wraps herself around him tighter, her legs grazing over his hip, "Ahh, watch the tattoo Rach."

"Get rid of that... that thing!" she screeches. "It's going to eat me!"

"Rach, you're like a hundred times bigger than it."

She frowns, "Are you calling me fat?"

"Compared to the damn spider, yes!"

Rachel huffs, though doesn't let go of him. "Please move it," she whimpers.

He cannot believe this – she's scared of a spider! How is it at all intimidating? They're actually kind of cute, with their eyes and stuff. When he tells this to Rachel, she makes a really weird sound and holds onto him tighter.

"How am I supposed to get rid of it with your clinging onto me like a monkey?"

"You're supposed to protect me," she claims, "and you're doing a pretty terrible job at the moment."

"Oh really?" he raises his eyebrow, "because I don't see any spiders attacking you right now."

She points to the floor. "What about that one?"

"Oh yes," he deadpans, "that one that's sitting there, completely still. Wow, look out Rach, I think it's savage!"

Rachel glares, "I don't appreciate your sarcasm."

He grips onto her legs, hoisting her further around him and standing up, Rachel shrieking in shock. "Come on! Let's get out of her before both of our lives are in danger."

"Finn!" she yelps. "Stop it! Stop moving near the spider."

He doesn't listen, taking steps closer to the "monster." Turning around so that Rachel's directly over it, he laughs at her girly screams. "You're an evil man!" she shouts, somehow managed to move onto his front like he's a climbing wall. It's easier carrying her this way, but he has no idea how she navigated herself around his tall frame to get there. Anyway, he ends up carrying her bridal style as she still has her arms around his neck, pushing her face into his chest.

Laughing into her ear, he holds onto her tighter. "You're such a baby."

She gives an indignant huff while he watches the spider hurry away.

"Oh, look," he says, "the spider spared us. Thank God, I thought that we were both goners."

Tired of being the subject of mockery, she slaps his chest, though gently. Finn breaks into loud laughter, Rachel shaking in his arms. She begins to struggle, trying to get out of his grasp while complaining that he only ever makes fun of her, which leads Finn to stumbling forwards.

He drops Rachel onto the bed, following after her with no control of his limbs.

That is how he ends up on top of her, his face inches apart from hers.

His eyes stare into her eyes, lost in the deep chocolate brown, noticing her gaze moving down toward his lips.

Half of his body is hanging off of the bed though he doesn't really notice as they look toward each other. "Finn," she whispers, her hot breath falling against his face. He shivers from the sensation, eyes closing.

"Yes?" he questions nervously, heart beating uncontrollably in his chest. Maybe she can feel it, since hers is probably flat against his, which means that her breasts are too. His hands, which are currently pinned on either side of her, itch to run down her side, to grope her body rapidly.

"Kiss me," she orders.

"What?"

He didn't just imagine that, did he? His mind could be playing sick jokes on him, making him think that Rachel wants him when she doesn't.

One of her hands moves up to cup his face before it runs down his chest. "Kiss me," Rachel repeats, her voice so sure and needy that he instantly does as she says, swooping down to catch her lips in a soft kiss. His mind is foggy with excitement as she kisses back, feverishly and desperately.

Does she want it as much as he does?

"Mhmm," she bites her lip, "Finn."

He waits for her to stop, to call it all a mistake and getting "swept up in the moment", but she doesn't. She only increases the frantic pace of her kisses, her body wriggling uncontrollably beneath him.

Finn pulls himself onto the bed properly, Rachel moving further up to allow his large body on. He's completely covering her, though neither seems to notice and instead are caught up in the feel of their lips locked together.

Now he's the one to think straight, to question the reasons behind it. They just… they can't keep kissing. One of them is bound to get hurt, right? And he doesn't want either to be heartbroken.

"Rach," he says, trying to pull away from her.

"More," she pulls him back by his collar, gluing their mouths together again. Her tongue runs along his bottom lip.

Unwillingly, he sits up, watching as worry passes across her face. "Did I do something wrong?" she asks. He turns, seeing the insecurities within the woman.

"No," he says, still dumbfound at what just happened. "You were… you were great."

She bites her lip shyly. "Then," she frowns, "why did you stop?"

Finn sits thoughtfully for a moment, then says: "We can't keep doing this."

"Doing what?"

"Just randomly kissing." Never in a million years did he think that he'd be the one to say this, especially when it came to Rachel. Normally he'd do anything to get a quick make-out. Now, the very thought of just using her like that makes him feel sick to his stomach.

She opens her mouth to deny it, but she knows that it's true as well. The evidence is the events that occurred not moments ago. "What if," she begins, "what if I want you to kiss me?"

His head snaps in her direction. "What?"

Rachel looks back at him nervously. "I don't know. I-I like it when we kiss, okay? No, I like it when we're together, even when we just talk and stuff." A smile slides onto her face. "You make me happy." She can't believe that she's admitting this to him – that she maybe likes him. But how can she not like him? After spending so much time with the man and finally seeing that the media just created a huge lie about the terrible person that Finn Hudson supposedly is.

She looks to him for an answer – any answer.

"I understand if you want to forget about this completely," she says when he's quiet for too long, "we can just go back to normal and just pretend that nothing happened. I mean, this'll all be over in a few months, right?"

"I don't want to."

Her brows furrow, her whole body wracked with nerves. "Please be more specific, Finn."

He shakes his head. "I can't act like I don't like you anymore."

"Y-you like me?" she asks quietly.

He stares at her incredulously. "You don't know? Rach, it's been so obvious."

"I just thought," her voice trembles, "that you thought I was attractive. You said that you liked me… physically."

"…That doesn't mean that I can't like you for you, too."

"Finn, please tell me that this isn't some sick joke."

His eyes bulge. "Of course not! Why can't you accept that maybe someone is attracted to you 'cause, you know, it's not exactly out of the bounds of imagination, is it? I mean, look at you. Geez, you're beautiful, and talented and, crap, I don't deserve you."

She frowns, closing the gap between them once more with a sweet kiss, almost a promise. "Finn, don't get yourself down. Any girl would be lucky to have you." Her smile increases. "Including me."

"What're you saying?"

Rachel smiles softly, finally accepting that maybe she has more than a few simple feelings for him. It's something that she can't quite explain, "That maybe we should… try this out."

"Try what out?"

Rachel giggles. "A relationship. I mean, we don't have to go fully into it. We could just – I don't know – experiment."

"Experiment?" he questions carefully.

With a bright smile, she nods. Finn finally smiles at her, for once not having to hide his feelings for the woman and it feels totally awesome to have them out in the open. The guys would totally mock him for acting like this, but Rachel makes him this person. And he likes it, okay?

He still can't believe that she's reciprocating those feelings, although she seems just as trepid and confused as him, but that's fine 'cause they're new to this and stuff. They'll work through it and learn new things about it, together.

Finn smiles, "I like the sound of that."

"Good," she smiles, "because I do too."

They seal the deal with another kiss, not as passionate as before but definitely in the running. Finn decides that he really likes kissing her, especially the raw excitement that comes with the job. When his hand moves under her shirt, she pulls it away.

"Finn," she warns, "I think that you're getting a little ahead of yourself."

Yeah, it was a long shot anyway.

"Do you wanna watch a movie?" he questions, hoping that it will change the topic. "I'm still not in the mood for going down there. I mean, I'll face them when I'm ready. Right now I kind of want to stay here, with you."

Her face softens and she nods, "Okay then. We can watch a movie. But no funny business," she warns, pointing her finger at him playfully.

Finn pouts, surprised when she quickly amends it with a kiss, as if she can't get enough of the taste of his lips. He's suffering from similar problems in all honesty. But it's okay because he can kiss her whenever he wants now.

This dating thing has perks.

As they settle down for the movie, he doesn't think about his mom and step-dad downstairs, probably waiting to talk to him, he thinks about the woman sitting next to him, curled into his chest.

She's totally his girlfriend. And you know, it only took four impromptu kisses, but they've finally acted. Only problem is, what's going to happen now? He doesn't dare bother her yet. No, they can talk in the morning, when both their heads are clear.


Thoughts?

Please review :)