"Rachel?'

"Finn Hudson?" "

Where have you…"

"How have you…"

"What have you…"

Their questions overlapped until Finn sharply cut Rachel off.

"Why?"

"What do you mean why?'

"You know exactly what I mean!"

"Finn, we are on a public subway and it was over 5 years ago, can we not discuss this now!"

"Really Rachel? You haven't changed a bit!" Finn was furious now.

"Where are you staying?"

"What, why?"

"Because if you are at a hotel, you're probably about to miss your stop." Rachel pointed out the window to illustrate

"Oh shit! Umm…"

"I'll get off here too, we can talk more, and I have no desire to return to my apartment now."

"Okay, there's a bar in the bottom of my hotel we can go there."

"Mariott or Holiday Inn?" Rachel asked as they exited the station.

"Holiday Inn, how'd you know?"

"Easy. I know New York and I know you."

"Oh. Let's go."

When they arrived at the bar, they discovered that despite the late hour it was wildly crowded. And, it was karaoke night. After they found a seat and got their drinks, Finn looked at the painfully off-key karaoke singers and then at Rachel.

"No criticisms?"

"No not at all." She replied sounding like she had expected the question. "They don't care if they sound good; they're just having fun so why should I criticize?"

"Wow." Finn didn't disguise his shock very well. "That's a new Rachel."

"A lots changed." She informed him almost sadly. "I think maybe because I'm more confident in my own ability, I have less of a need to find imperfections in others." Finn whistled softly. "well, I'm not a psychologist or anything but that's my theory."

"Yeah." Finn said softly, suddenly noticing how close they wer. If he just leaned towards her a little bit he could...

Suddenly, a bright light shined right in his eyes. Looking up, Finn noticed that the off-key singers had left the stage and an overweight middle aged man was gesturing at him from the microphone.

"Hey, you two lovebirds, why don't you take the next round in karaoke."

"oh, no I haven't.."

"we're not.."

Despite Finn and Rachel's mumbled protests, they were dragged onstage and handed microphones.

"Now, you are?"

"What?"

"Our Names, Finn" Rachel hissed.

"Oh. Finn Hudson"

"Rachel Berry."

"The Rachel Berry?" the host asked incredulously.

"I suppose so." Rachel replied nonchalantly. Finn felt a surge of pride, Rachel had achieved her dream of being so famous that people she had never met knew her name.

"Give Finn and Rachel here a Broadway duet then." The host said to the sound mixer.

Rachel smiled slightly as the familiar intro to "Without You" from RENT filled the room.

A singer in a smoky room

Smell of wine and cheap perfume

RACHEL:
Without you, the ground thaws, the rain falls, the grass grows.
Without you, the seeds root, the flowers bloom, the children play.
The stars gleam, the poets dream, the eagles fly, without you.
The earth turns, the sun burns, but I die, without you.

Without you, the breeze warms, the girl smiles, the cloud moves.
Without you, the tides change, the boys run, the oceans crash.
The crowds roar, the days soar, the babies cry, without you.
The moon glows, the river flows, but I die, without you.

FINN:
The world revives

RACHEL:
Colors renew

BOTH
But I know blue, only blue, lonely blue, within me blue.

RACHEL:
Without you.
Without you, the hand gropes, the ear hears, the pulse beats.

FINN:
Without you, the eyes gaze, the legs walk, the lungs breathe.

FINN:
The mind churns!

RACHEL:
The mind churns!

FINN:
The heart yearns!

RACHEL:
The heart yearns!

BOTH
The tears dry, without you.
Life goes on, but I'm gone.
Cause I die, without you.

RACHEL:
Without you.

FINN:
Without you.

BOTH
Without you.

As they sang, Finn smiled, despite the all too familiar pain on Rachel's face as they sang. Despite the fact that the song rang a bit too true. Despite the long painful talk he knew was coming later. Finn could feel that same spark as before. When he sang with Rachel, it was like he was whole and fully alive, and Finn never wanted that feeling to end.

Rachel sighed. It was still there, the chemistry. No matter how talented her Broadway partners were, and they were outstanding, she never felt that electricity as with Finn. And despite the pain she knew was coming, she never wanted the feeling to end.

A/N: They're "Finn and Rachel" again Yay! I think the big talk is next chapter but I have to work out some logistics so…we'll see.

The song is "Without You" from RENT, if you haven't heard it/ seen it….LOOK IT UP!

So? Thoughts? Suggestions? Rotten tomatoes? Let me know what you think.