Chapter 14

He slumped back into the chair, the excitement far gone now. "I didn't even think about that."

Jake looked over at Finn patting his shoulder, "Do you give them your answer?"

He shook his head, "Yea. But how could I forget about my fiance, my new family? What am I gonna do, her life is here!"

The three of them sat in silence.

...

When the boys got back to the apartment, the girls were already home. Jake had offered to take Alyssa and Chris to a movie so Finn and Rachel could talk. Brooke looked over at Jake curiously? His eyes grew large, as he mouthed the words, "I'll tell you later." to her.

Rachel, having no idea what was going on took it as a very sweet gesture. "Alright no hangover's okay?" She kissed them all goodbye before making her way to the kitchen where Finn was.

"What do you wanna do tonight Fiance?" She smiled making her way over to him and taking a seat on his lap.

"Whatever you want." He smiled as he pushed her hair away from her face.

She noticed the concern in his voice, "Finn what's wrong?"

"Nothing actually, everything is great. I have news to tell you."

Rachel's face lit up, "What is it?"

"I was offered a teaching position.." He inhaled deeply, "At a university."

Rachel jumped up pulling Finn up with her. She grabbed him and hugged him tightly, "Finn that's amazing. I'm so proud of you. You deserve this."

He forced a smile, "It's only for a year, but.."

"That's still good, it's like a trial run, they wanna see how well you do, I'm sure after that they will gladly give you a longer contract, Finn this is.."

"Rachel it's at Penn State."

"Oh."

Silence filled the room for a second as Rachel thought about what he'd just said. "Penn State, wow. What did you say?" Rachel took a seat in the empty chair, Penn State, that was a completely different state.

"Well I was kinda in the moment and I said Yes." He whispered out the last word hoping she wouldn't hear. They'd never really had an argument that lasted more than five minutes before. He was just hoping that this would be just like that.

"You said Yes?" She nearly jumped out of her chair, "Why would you say yes, before discussing this with me Finn?"

"I didn't even think about you, when they called... shit that didn't come out right?"

"I see, so me and my life don't play a factor into yours?" Tears welled up in her eyes as the words came out.

"That's not what I meant and you know it. Listen I don't want to argue with you over this. I can call back and change my answer."

"Finn it's not that. I'm proud of you and I wish I could tell you to just say yes. It's the fact that we're getting married in less than a month and you completely forget about me when making a very important decision for your future."

"I just want your support Rach! Is that too much to ask?"

"I'm trying to be supportive, but we need to talk about this. Did you consider our children. My work, my life?"

"I'm telling you now aren't I what's the big deal?" Finn was never good with confrontation and the minute the words left his lips, he regretted it.

"Maybe you should go for a walk Finn. Think about what you're gonna say next." She was trying to be calm, trying not to let her tears come streaming down. Rachel was very emotional she cried for everything, too excited, she cried, too sad, she cried. And she was trying really hard not to let Finn make her cry.

In a rather loud tone he lashed out "And where the hell do you expect me to go Rachel? This is big for me, I've worked hard for it. But I guess you wouldn't understand. You're the star, you sing and dance around and people throw you opportunities." Again, he instantly regretted his words. "Rachel I didn't mean that..."

Before he could finish speaking her face was covered in tears and her voice broken, "I'm sorry that you feel that way, I think you should leave."

"Rach, come on, I'm." He reached out for her arm as she pulled away.

"Please leave Finn."

"Rach, I-" She'd made her way to her bedroom slamming the door shut mid sentence.

"Damn it." Finn grabbed his coat and stormed out. This was not how it was supposed to go.

...

Rachel sat in her room for a while, thinking, crying. She never wanted to make Finn feel that way. That she didn't believe in him. That he wasn't good enough. She'd ever imagine that this would even be an issue in their relationship. Brooke had called and said the four of them were gonna stay at Jake's place for a sleepover.

Finn slept on the couch that night. When he woke, there was a note from Rachel:

I'll be at the theater until 530. I think we should talk.

...

He sat in the apartment and waited for her. The clock struck six and like clock work there she was.

"Hi."

"Hi. Where are the kids?"

"Brooke called they're gonna bring them by in a bit."

"That's good." She placed her things down and made her way to the kitchen.

He followed trying to give her some space, but anxious to hear what she had to say, "Rachel I.."

"Finn have a seat."

He nodded and took a seat. She grabbed a water bottle from the fridge and took the seat next to him, "I'm sorry about last night."

"Me too!"

"I think you should take the job."

"What?" He looked up at her confused, was she joking?

"I am so proud of you, you are an incredible man. And you and your son deserve to be the happiest. This new job will make sure of that."

Finn looked at Rachel with a confused look, "What are you saying?"

"I've been thinking about it all day. It wasn't fair for me to jump down your throat like that. You have every right to say yes. And..."

"But I don't have to Rachel." He tried to interject placing a hand on hers grazing the ring on her finger.

"But you do Finn for yourself, for Chris. You'll regret it if you don't."

Something wasn't right, she looked like she was about to cry. "Rach what are you saying?"

"It's a year right? And then who knows?"

"NO!" He jumped out of his seat, he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"I'm not saying we have to break up Finn, but we can wait a year right? Long distance isn't so hard, and it's only about four hours away..."

"That's your idea of apologizing, cancelling the wedding."

"I'm not cancelling anything. I just think that this is a good opportunity for you."

"I can't believe this."

"Finn, I."

"No. Stop it Rachel, god why are you doing this?"

"I'm trying to be the adult here Finn, I'm giving us options."

"Options. This isn't an option Rachel. I love you. I don't want to wait another year. Just come with me." He grabbed her hand pulling it towards his chest.

"I can't do that, my work, me and Alyssa, our lives are here." She looked away trying not cry again and slipping her hand out from his grip.

"I wont go, not without you."

"Finn you will go, for Chris, you're gonna go and you're gonna be an amazing professor."

"Rachel." He stood by the counter wondering what was going on. Was this really how it was gonna happen, was this it?

"Finn please say you'll go."

"I'm going... to stay at Jake's for a bit. Until you figure out if you want to be with me or not. I can't believe you would do this Rachel." He made his way towards the bedroom grabbing his things, as well as a few of Christopher's.

Rachel chased after him, "Finn stop. You don't have to go, like I said we're not breaking up..."

"You sure? Cause I pretty much feel like we just did."