It doesn't take long for things to get back to normal, well, as normal as they can be. Although Finn is still angry at her for lying initially, he comes to understand why she did, and tells her as much. It's difficult for her not to feel a little silly about lying now, when they're together it's as if he doesn't even notice the scar, even as his eyesight steadily improves over time. She's still self conscious about her face, and she knows that he can tell, the first time he catches her trying to comb her hair down over it he pulls her hand away gently and kisses her fingers, giving her a warm smile that makes her weak in the knees, everything he needed to say to her in that smile. She hasn't tried to hide it since.
Today is not unlike any other they've spent together in the last two months, they watch tv on the couch, her tucked into his side as he holds her hand in his, and once they very quickly get sick of whatever is going on on the television she finds herself underneath him as they make out on the couch, the noise from the television drowned out by their own chaotic thoughts. They take advantage of Kurt not being home as Finn slips his hand beneath her shirt, making her tremble and start to plant kisses along her neck, making her giggle and thrash a little, only urging him on.
"Finn that tickles," she manages to choke out through her laughter.
"Yeah that's kind of the point," he says, taking a pause before reattaching his lips to hers.
"So, what did you want to do tonight?" she asks as he starts to run his mouth down her cleavage, making her breath speed up.
"This," he murmurs against her chest as she begins to unbutton his shirt. "this, all day."
"That does sound like a day well spent," she agrees, "But Kurt wants the apartment to himself tonight, Blaine's coming."
"Stupid Kurt," Finn says deflating against her. But then he looks up, knitting his brow in contemplation. "You know, my eyes are a lot better now, with glasses I can see almost as well as I used to."
"I know, I'm so happy for you Finn," she says sweetly, a smile on her lips.
"So I'm thinking maybe it's about time I start looking for work again, I mean I'm going to need my own place eventually."
At that her smile falls and his face becomes concerned.
"What, what's that look?" he says a bit frantically.
"You want to move out?" she says, her voice squeaking a little, "But don't you like it here?"
"Of course," he says, sitting up from her and allowing her to sit across from him. "I love being here with you, but we both knew this was only supposed to be a temporary thing, I just thought, you know, eventually..."
"I know that," she says, forcing a weak smile. "I'm just going to miss you always being here."
And he leans in then to kiss her sweetly, letting her cup his face and deepen the kiss.
"This will be a good thing, trust me," he says confidently, breaking their embrace. "Now every time Kurt kicks you out of the apartment you'll have somewhere to go, you can have a key and everything. And maybe, you know a little bit down the line we can, you know, both live there... Together."
Her face brightens at the suggestion, she can't believe that he's thinking this seriously about their relationship already. The truth is she has too, she just never knew how to bring it up. She closes the distance between them again, showing her love and appreciation for him in that simple gesture.
"You really love me don't you?" she says, her arms still around his neck, a smile in her voice.
"I'd be an idiot not to," he replies and he kisses her again, once again lowering her back on the couch.
They decide to meet up with Puck and Quinn that night for karaoke, it's corny but Rachel loves it, especially since she always sings the pants off of everyone else, even Finn, Quinn and Puck, who all have great voices themselves, usually for karaoke she wears the Veronica Lake hairstyle, but tonight she decides against it, for once feeling confident enough to give her entire self over to the audience, the look of pride on Finn's face when she leaves the bathroom all decked out for karaoke night warms her heart, and she truly loves him, more than she can possibly say.
"You look beautiful," he whispers softly in her ear before pressing a soft kiss to her cheek, making her blush.
They reach the club early, deciding to have a drink at the bar top before Puck and Quinn arrive, but the second they enter Rachel stops short at the double doors, holding Finn back by the hand, her eyes going wide at the sound of the voice emitting from the speakers, his voice. She'd know it anywhere.
Dining at the Ritz we'll meet at nine, precisely I will pay the bill you taste the wine Driving back in style in my saloon will do quite nicely Just take me back to yours that will be fine
"Oh no," Rachel squeaks at the sound of her ex boyfriend's annoyingly sublime rendition of the Queen classic. "Jesse," she continues in almost a whisper.
"Rachel, is everything alright?" Finn says, facing her.
"On the stage," Rachel explains. "It's Jesse. We have to get out of here, we can call Puck and Quinn, tell them to meet us somewhere else."
"Rachel you can't let that asshole ruin your night," Finn protests, glaring in the direction of the notorious ex. "If anything you should be rubbing your success in his face."
"My success, Finn he just played Raoul in Phantom there's early talk about a Tony nomination on all of the message boards, if anything he's the one who should be rubbing his success in my face."
"I don't care how successful he is, he'll still be the loser who let you go," Finn says encouragingly. "Besides, I've seen Phantom, I'd rather watch Imaginationville any day."
She manages a soft smile at his words and stands up on her tiptoes to kiss him, she may not have a career as respectable as Jesse's, but it's still amazing in it's own right, and she has a love that most people can only manage to dream of, maybe she can rub her success in his face after all. As the song finishes Rachel takes a deep breath and smooths the front of her dress, ready to face the one person she hoped to never see again.
"Alright he's coming this way, try to look extra handsome," Rachel says, grabbing Finn's hand in hers.
"I'll try my best," Finn jokes.
"Rachel Berry," Jesse says brightly as he bounces toward her, she has to admit he looks good, his hair thick and perfectly tousled, his clothes stylish, his eyes still as blue and piercing as ever, she thinks he may even have a hint of a tan, God damn him.
"Jesse," she says, trying not to sound too nervous. "It's been awhile, how are you?"
"I'm great, I've been great," she says.
"Well you look..." she can't believe that he has the nerve not to finish that sentence. "Who's your friend?" he continues, changing the subject.
"I'm Finn," he replies. "I'm Rachel's boyfriend," he continues, proudly.
"Wow, good for you, see, I always knew you would find someone," Jesse says, and Rachel can tell by the hard look in Finn's eyes that he badly wants to pummel him, she can't say that she blames him.
"So Jesse," she continues as gracefully as possible. "I heard all about the play, congratulations."
"Yeah, it's been crazy, I have a profile in New York magazine and next week I'm being featured on Ovation News, they're interviewing me about my possible nomination."
"Well Rachel's been doing great too," Finn cuts in.
"That's right, I've seen your show, it's cute," Jesse says, a bit of condescension in his voice. "Not really my thing but still, congrats. So Finn, what do you do?"
She can see it, he's ready to pounce.
"I used to be a stage actor in London," Finn explains. "But now I dedicate most of my time to giving Rachel pleasure. It's the best job in the world, but I guess you have to be good at it to really appreciate it."
She tries not to laugh out loud at the look on Jesse's face, but a little snort comes out regardless, he's getting super laid tonight.
"Come on Rach," Finn says, taking her hand and leading her to the bar.
They actually manage to have a great time all things considered. Rachel brings the house down with her cover of Special by Garbage, and she hopes that Finn doesn't realize that the song is directed at Jesse, but she has a sinking feeling he does, she'll make it up to him later with a love song sung just for him. As the night wears on Puck and Finn stop a few hearts themselves with their take on Under Pressure, with Finn taking on Bowie and Puck tackling Freddy, and Quinn goes next with No Doubt, pulling Puck onto the stage as she sings about how he's really lovely underneath it all. It's a good night, and even though Jesse sticks around throughout she stops noticing him before long.
It's nearing midnight, and as she and Quinn finish a mildly slurred version of Fernando by Abba they stumble a little as they leave the stage. Rachel isn't exactly fall on her face drunk, but she's definitely buzzed enough to be even hornier for Finn than usual.
"Where's Finn?" she asks Puck as she returns to their table.
"Bathroom," Puck says simply.
She takes his word and starts toward it, maybe if there's no one around she can sneak in a quick make out session, but she realizes that probably won't be happening, she already hears talking as she approaches.
"So, I suppose you think you're pretty funny huh Finn?" she stops when she realizes that it's Jesse's voice, not wanting to eavesdrop but not being able to help herself. She peers around the corner, spotting Finn and Jesse near the bathroom, both men look angry and hostile, but they're clearly trying to hide the fact that they already get to each other.
"I have my moments," Finn says with a confident smirk.
"I know you think you have me all figured out based on whatever Rachel told you, but you have no idea."
"So I guess I'm supposed to believe that you didn't dump Rachel after her accident?" Finn says coolly.
"I wasn't like that," Jesse argues. "I'll admit the way Rachel looked was jarring, but I could have learned to accept it eventually."
"You shouldn't have had to learn to accept that," Finn shoots back. "You should have loved her no matter what."
"I did," Jesse protests. "But she was so depressed after what happened, she didn't want to see the light of day, she wouldn't talk to anyone, what was I supposed to do?"
"Be there for her when she needed you," Finn says without missing a beat. "Admit it, you were just looking for a reason to leave weren't you?"
"Is that what you want to hear, huh?" Jesse snaps. "that you're so much more evolved than I am, that you're the bigger man and I'm just some shallow jerk? Fine, feel better about yourself now?"
"I just don't get it dude," Finn sighs. "how could it be so easy for you to turn your back on her like that, she's just so..."
"I know," Jesse says. "Don't you think I know? It wasn't easy for me to walk away Finn, it was just easier than staying, and I know that sounds awful but what's the point in lying about it now?"
As she listens to their conversation somehow her heart manages to swell even more for Finn, something she didn't think was possible. He's getting super duper laid tonight.
"Look, if it means anything, I'm glad she's found someone to make her happy," Jesse says.
"Yeah, and that could have been you," Finn says. "I guess I ought to thank you for that."
At that Finn once again starts back toward the club, and she ducks away stealthily before he can spot her. Once she feels it's safe she rejoins the table, sinking into Finn's lap instead of her own chair and linking her arms around his neck.
"Do you know how much I love you?" she says in sing song, making Finn smile.
"That depends on how drunk you are right now," he replies.
"Not so drunk that you'd be taking advantage of me if we were to have intercourse tonight."
"Awesome," he says before pressing his lips to hers and pulling her closer.
"You guys have no idea how gross you are," Quinn says with an odd sort of affection in her voice.
"What can I say," Finn replies with a shrug. "I'm in love."
"Me too," Rachel says affectionately. "And I'm totally going to sing a song for you."
She gets up then, prancing up to the DJ and grabbing a slip so excitedly she doesn't even notice that Jesse is there until he shyly calls her name.
"Oh, hi Jesse," she says a bit coldly.
"So, I just wanted you to know that I'm sorry, about the way things ended between us."
"I'm over it, believe me," she says a bit spitefully.
"Oh yeah, is that why you kept giving me the stink eye during that Shirley Manson song?"
"That's how I got over it," she replies sharply.
"Well in any case I am sorry, and I thought maybe we could sing a duet together, you know, for old times sake. We always did sound great together."
She looks at Finn then, he looks concerned, like he wants to come over but isn't sure if he should. She simply gives him a warm smile to put his mind at ease and faces Jesse again.
"I'm sorry Jesse," she says, her voice softening. "I wish you all the best I truly do...
And she looks at Finn again as she continues to speak,! a smile on her face that he returns with affection."
"... But I have a new duet partner now."
She hands the slip to the DJ then, and ascends the stage, ready to sing her heart out for Finn, and as she locks eyes with him, she knows that he'll always be listening.
Stay tuned for the epilogue folks!