A/N: Thank you to all my new readers and reviewers. Here is another chapter for you.
When Finn shuffled down in search of breakfast the next morning Kurt was already at the table, the Style section of the New York Times open in front of him.
"Well look who decided to get up today," he said. Finn shrugged and looked at the clock, it was only 10:30.
"I don't have to be anywhere. Mercedes isn't finished with her church and family stuff until later," he said, dumping half a box of Fruit Loops into a mixing bowl and adding milk. He carefully ignored Kurt's disgusted expression. He was hungry, and cereal was healthy right?
"Where are you taking her this afternoon. Her text said something about outdoor clothes? Are you serious?" Kurt asked, his eyes an thumbs never leaving his phone.
"I was going to take her bowling, but then I remembered I did that with Rachel. Then there's not much open in Lima on a Sunday," he said.
"Or any other day," Kurt cut in.
"Yeah, so I googled stuff and we're going to go have a picnic and fly a kite at Robb Park. Actually, I was kind of hoping you could help me with the food. I want this to be really nice for her," Finn said.
"I'll help you. I'm not doing it for you, it won't mean anything if I do. But I will help you. It's sweet that you want to do all this stuff, but I think you are putting too much pressure on yourself. Mercedes is fabulous, but she's not that high maintenance, " Kurt said, finally looking up from his phone.
"Yeah, but that's why I want to do it. It's like since I know she's not going to yell at me if it's not perfect, I want to make sure we'll have a good time," Finn said. He'd actually thought about this. He'd run over to the toy store when he'd picked up their flowers for prom and bought a kite. He'd gotten the picnic basket and blanket from the attic. When he was younger and they didn't have a lot of money sometimes his mom would take him on picnics to get them out of the house. They'd just have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and milk from those little cartons like you get at school but he got to go on the swings and spend time with his mom and it was pretty awesome.
Kurt looked at him for a minute before coming around the table and wrapping an arm around his shoulders, "Finn, I think that's one of the smarter things I've ever heard you say."
"Thanks, I think?" Finn said, with a grin. It was nice to have a brother, even if it was kind of annoying when he was smarter than you.
His stepbrother just laughed, and shook his head. "Come on, let's go to the grocery store before all the little old ladies get out of church."
It was three o'clock when he pulled up outside of Mercedes' house. It was a beautiful day, and not a cloud in the sky. It was a good thing, he hadn't exactly thought out a back up plan in case it rained. Finn was relieved when she answered the door, he was still too embarrassed to talk to TJ.
"Hey, there. Ready to go?" He asked, before leaning down and giving her a quick kiss.
"Let's hit it. I want to know what kind of wilderness adventure you've got planned," she said, wiggling her foot off the ground and he could see she'd chosen practical sneakers that were already dirty.
"Perfect!" he said. It really was, the ground was probably still a little muddy and she had so many pairs of awesome sneakers he knew she wouldn't want to get dirty.
They drove to the park and he even sang along to the radio a little as he pulled in to the parking lot by the open field. After opening the door for Mercedes he went around to the trunk and got the things for their picnic.
"I made chicken salad sandwiches and I have some grapes and barbecue chips to go with them. Kurt said that was your favorite kind," he explained as he laid out the blanket on dry spot under a tree.
"They are. It's really nice out here. This is my kind of outdoors," she said sitting cross -legged on the blanket and pulling Finn down next to her.
They ate their sandwiches enjoying the long awaited spring sunshine and talking about their fourth grade class picnic that had been held at the shelter at the other end of the park. He had almost forgotten that they had been in the same classes in fourth and sixth grade. That was the year that Puck had snuck some water balloons into the picnic and the two of them and Matt had gotten caught and had to pick up all the trash from their group as punishment. She had been pretty quiet back then and he hadn't paid attention to many girls at all until they got to the middle school.
"So, in fourth grade what did you want to be when you grow up?" she asked. He knew she was trying to help after their conversation the other day. Finn tried to remember. In kindergarten he wanted to be a cowboy, that's where the wallpaper in his old room had come from. After that he'd wanted to be one of the guys that digs up dinosaur bones. Then he did remember, of course he did.
"I wanted to be a firefighter. Like my dad was going to be when he got out of the army. Actually, that sounds like kind of cool idea," Finn said. He hadn't thought much about it since he was a kid, but it made a lot of sense. He wanted to do something that mattered.
Mercedes smiled, "Well, you should think about it. You're good at doing active stuff, if you don't count dancing. You actually care about people and want to help them, plus you are already in good shape from sports. I bet Mr. H knows someone at the Lima Fire Department who could tell you what you'd have to do."
Finn nodded, it wouldn't hurt to ask some questions. "If I did that I wouldn't even have to stay in Lima. I mean, they need firefighters everywhere." He knew it was supposed to be a big deal to get out of Lima, and that people didn't really expect him to. It hadn't really mattered as much to him before, and even though the secret was still mostly a secret he felt like it would be hanging over his head as long as he lived here. That could all wait though, he had a date to finish.
"So, you think I'm in good shape?" he said, putting down his third sandwich and striking a body builder pose. He seemed to spend a lot of time trying to make her laugh, but she was just so pretty when she did he couldn't help himself.
She did laugh and shook her head,"Please do not start talking about your "guns". I got my fill of that in three days from Puck."
He laughed too. "Don't worry, we still have a kite to fly if you're up for it," he said as he pushed himself up and offered Mercedes a hand.
"I don't think I've ever actually done this," she said, "let's give it a try."
He'd put the kite together before he picked her up, with only a little help from his dad. He gave Mercedes the kite and kept the other end of the string. With the next gust of wind he had her let go of the kite and he started to run back letting out more string as he went. The wind was pretty good and it didn't take long before the kite was flying high. When he was sure he had it right he waved Mercedes over and had her take the handle.
He stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her showing her how to let out string and reel it in as the wind changed. After a while he just rested his hands around her waist and they watched the kite against the clouds, her head leaning back against his shoulder. He thought this might be fun, but he hadn't realized how peaceful it would be.
They stayed just like that for quite a while, just enjoying the sunshine and being close until the wind died down and the kite was dipping close to the ground. "I guess it's time to go," he said, packing up the kite.
"Yeah, I still have some homework to finish before tomorrow, but I had a really good time Finn," she said as they got into the car.
"So did I. Next weekend is Nationals, but maybe we can do something the next Friday?" He wanted to talk to her about Nationals. He had been thinking more and more about going to New York with his friends, with her. Still, it's not like he could just change his mind and jump back in with like four days to go, even if he was sure.
"Finn? I think I lost you for a minute there," she said. She put her hand on his arm, "Is everything okay? You can talk to me you know, I already know your darkest secrets."
Well, that was true. "I know, but sometimes I wish you didn't. I mean that so many people didn't know about it."
"Actually, I meant I know about you still having your Power Rangers action figures and that thing you do when you pretend you're in a spy movie, but we can talk about the heavy stuff if you want," she said.
He didn't quite smile, but a little huff that was not quite a laugh snuck out, "Remind me to tell Kurt what will happen the next time he goes snooping under my bed. Seriously, I was thinking about Nationals. I'm going to be here pretty much by myself, even Burt is going. Coach Bieste insisted there be at least one chaperone for the boys while she watches the girls and she refused to count Jesse."
"Can you blame her? He and Rachel are kind of nauseating when they are happy. Coach told him she could tolerate his input but if he wanted to go to New York and moon over Rachel he had to pay his own way," she explained. He knew some of the details from Kurt, but not everything.
"Coach is awesome," Finn replied.
"About that," Mercedes said, taking one his hands in both of hers, "I guess they didn't want to pressure you, but since you brought it up I guess I get to be the one to tell you."
"Tell me what?" His heart was pounding a little, but he thought it was probably only half because of whatever she had to say. The other half was from holding her hand and having their heads pressed so close together to talk.
"Finn, there has always been a ticket in your name to go to Nationals with us. It's up to you whether or not you're going to use it," she said gently.