A/N: Pretty sure this is the last chapter (But I am doing an epilogue for sure….so it's not over yet!) And this chapter I made extra fluffy because did you all watch the season finale last night? My god I was a depressed mess over it! (Even though I believe finchel will be fine.) So…because of that, I went extra fluff haha. But isn't this whole story like that? Any grammatical errors belong to me, and of course this story is in no way associated with Glee or Ryan, Ian & Brad, blah blah I think you know that.
I'm going to write a longer thank you come the epilogue, but holy crap I can't thank any of you enough. I never expected i'd have over 200 reviews on a story, and I didn't think people would like it so much! You guys are all freaking amazing.
Rachel woke up the next morning to the sound of her alarm. As her eyes dragged themselves open slowly, she hit the snooze on it. She sighed loudly. She didn't want to go to work. As she lifted her head and torso to sit up, she smiled at the sight of Finn's naked body next to her, his eyes finding their way to hers as he grinned as well.
"I'm sorry." She whispered. "I didn't mean to have that wake you."
Finn smiled and grabbed her, pulling her back down to him, their naked bodies colliding. "Don't go."
"Finn, I have too." She said quietly.
"No you don't." he said, peppering her head with kisses.
"I do." She said, as she leaned back up, releasing herself from his grasp. "It would be wrong of me not too."
Finn pouted his bottom lip and Rachel laughed, leaning down to kiss it right off of him. "Just go back to sleep and when you wake up, I'll be back." She said gently.
Finn returned his lips to hers, kissing her passionately. "But I want to sleep next to you." He whined.
"You're making this so hard right now." Rachel said with a sigh.
"Yeah, you are." Finn said.
"Finn!" Rachel cried out before laughing. "Stop trying to distract me. I really have to get going."
Finn looked at her. "Sometimes I wish I had a lazy girlfriend who had a little less determination and drive."
Rachel smiled. "I'll take that as a compliment, babe." She said as she planted one last kiss on his lips before standing, retrieving her clothing off of the ground.
000
"We would like for you to sing this. Naturally it doesn't have to be perfect since this is the first time you are seeing the sheet music for this song." Will Shuester, a producer slash writer and also Emma's husband had said to her. She was at her audition at NBC, and Rachel had no idea that this was Emma's husband until she arrived. She guessed this was for another pilot show that would be airing that fall, and Emma had told her that in a way Will had written this role just for her. I guess it really did pay to know certain people after all.
Rachel nodded, retrieving the papers as she quickly skimmed over it. The song was titled "Let Me Be Your Star." She smiled, her hand reaching for her necklace as she twirled it lightly before releasing it once more. She took a deep breath and nodded at Will and the others signaling that she was ready.
The music began to play and she began to pour her heart out into the song. It was a beautiful song.
Fade in on a girl, with a hunger for fame.
And a face and a name to remember,
The past fades away, because as of this day, Norma Jean's gone, she's moving on,
Her smile and your fantasies play a duet, that will make you forget where you are,
The music starts playing, it's the beat of her heart saying, let me be your star….
Flash back to a girl, with a song in her heart,
As she's waiting to start the adventure,
The fire and drive that make dreams come alive, they fill her soul, she's in control,
The drama, the laughter, the tears just like pearls,
Well they're all in this girls' repertoire,
It's all for the taking, and it's magic will be making, let me be your star.
Rachel couldn't help but smile, because in a way she felt like this song was meant to be sung by her. It almost fit her life and her desire to be a star perfectly. She continued to sing.
I'll just have to forget the hurt that came before,
Forget what used to be,
The past is on the cutting room floor,
The future is here with me, choose me,
Fade in on a star, with it all in her sights,
All the love and the lights that surround her,
Someday she'll think twice, of the dues and the price, she'll have to pay,
But not today,
She'll do all she can, for the love of one man,
And for millions who look from above,
I'm what you've been needing, it's all here and my heart's pleading,
Let me be your star…..!
When she finished, she opened her eyes, looking at the table before her. She couldn't tell whether their looks were of approval or shock. They looked overall, happy. She smiled politely.
"Thank you." She said as she walked up to the table, setting the sheet music down.
"Wait." Will said, picking up the papers. "Take these with you."
Rachel turned, shocked. "Oh. Okay." 'Stay cool, Rachel.' She said mentally.
"You're exactly what we're looking for." The lady at the end of the table said. "Exactly."
Rachel politely smiled. "Why thank you. That means a lot."
"We're still casting for other parts, but I think you'll be hearing from us again, Miss Berry." Will said.
"Thank you." She said once more. It seemed like all she could get out of her mouth.
"We'll be in touch." They said as they all said their goodbyes.
When she exited the room, she rushed straight for the lobby where Finn was.
"OH MY GOSH!" She squealed, as he stood. She ran and jumped right up into his arms, her arms wrapping around his large neck, the papers held tight in her hand.
"That went well I assume?" Finn said through excited laughs.
"Yes!" She squealed once more. "Look!" She said as he set her down.
He handed the sheet music to him as he looked at it, his free arm wrapping around her as they headed out of NBC. "This is actually sort of perfect fitting for you." He said, as he pulled her closer, kissing the top of her head as they walked. "What is this though? Something about Marilyn Monroe?"
Rachel shrugged. "I think it is. But I don't know that much about it. They said they were still casting, but mentioned this is sung by the role of a girl named Karen who is originally from the Midwest."
"Just like you." He said with a lopsided grin.
"Yeah." She said happily. "The show's plot line has something to do with a Broadway show."
Finn smiled as he held her closely to his side, her hand resting on his stomach as they walked. "So, this really is perfect for you then."
Rachel nodded as she looked at the ground. "Guess so."
He kissed the top of her head once more as they headed to the car. Tonight, they would celebrate. Rachel's head was filled with such happy emotions, she almost couldn't bare it. Finn was right, everyone else was right. Sometimes patience did pay off, and more times than not, everything happened for a reason. Finn, her family, her friends, they were all there to make an impact on her life somehow. She couldn't be any happier.
000
That night Finn threw her a lovely party in combination with their end of the tour party and everyone Rachel knew there with her, along with the unfamiliar yet becoming familiar faces.
She had on a sundress and heels and though she laughed and had fun with everyone else, she couldn't take her eyes off of Finn. It was like she wanted to try to make up the time she missed with him in a single day, which was an absurd thought.
Finn approached her, a glass in his hand for her and she smiled brightly up at him. "Ladies." He said politely. "Can I steal this one for a moment?" he then asked handing her the glass.
Rachel smiled and said she would be back, following Finn. "Where are you taking me?" She asked. "It's cold out here."
"But it's nice." He said as they walked out the back door, to where hardly anyone was. It was a nice sunny evening, but the temperature didn't exactly pan out well with her.
"Please sit." He said.
Rachel, looking confused, did as she was told as he pulled up a chair next to her. "Alright. Remember how I told you I'd get you something from everywhere I went?" He asked.
Rachel smiled. "That was a joke, Finn."
Finn shook his head. "Only sort of. I didn't get you something from everywhere but I definitely got you something I think you'll like. It's from New York."
Rachel grinned at the sound of New York. She definitely missed it there.
He pulled something out of his pocket and Rachel looked at it absentmindedly. Her mind went blank, her vision foggy. "S-stop." She choked out.
Finn looked at her and smiled. "Okay, relax. It's not what you think it is."
"I-it's not?" she said, the tears already built up.
Finn shrugged. "I mean, maybe. Look wait, just let me get out what I want to say." He said, stumbling over his own words.
Rachel fell silent as he opened it. It was a ring, but it wasn't what she expected.
"Finn, you didn't have to do this, I already have the necklace and that's more than enough, and I've hardly got you anything ever so this makes me feel really really…."
"Rach, stop talking." He said firmly.
"It's not an engagement ring or anything like that. I mean, that'd be cool if it was and all but I don't really want to rush things like that I mean it hasn't even been a year, so I sort of met up with your friend Blaine when I was in New York and…"
"You met Blaine?" she asked incredulously.
"Well yeah. I was there and I knew he was a good friend of yours from NYADA. I sort of just got on your skype account one day and did it from there."
Rachel frowned as he continued.
"So anyway, I asked him to help me with this. We figured this one would be perfect." He said, pushing the little box towards her.
It was a plain gold band and from the exterior, it looked like nothing special.
"Pick it up." He instructed. "I promised him I wouldn't give it to you until you finally got that audition you've been dying for, and well, the one earlier looks pretty promising."
Rachel took it out of the box and studied it. "Oh hey." She said curiously, looking at the interior of the ring. "It says believe."
He nodded. "I know how much that word means to you so we engraved it."
Rachel smiled. "It's perfect." She said quietly. She still didn't feel right about accepting this alongside the necklace when she never bought him anything special since they began dating. "But I feel so bad."
Finn shook his head. "No, don't. I had you in mind when I did this, and I don't want you to regret taking it. Just accept the gift." He said.
Rachel shook her head. "I never get you anything…"
He reached over and took her hand. "Yes you do, you just don't see it. Before you, I was a mess. I didn't admit that to anybody, but I am to you right now. I was with the band, yes but I had no real direction. I partied when I wanted too, slept with whomever, and…" he shrugged. "You actually make me want to be better. You believe in me just as much as I believe in you and that's why we work so well. That and you're the most incredible girl I've ever laid eyes on. Never in my entire life did I think I'd ever find that one in a lifetime love that only a lucky few people get to experience, let alone with the most amazing girl."
Rachel had tears in her eyes. "Stop being so cheesy."
Finn laughed as she got off her chair to embrace him. "You're perfect." She whispered before kissing his cheek.
Finn pulled her down to his lap as she took the ring into her hands once more. "No more gifts, okay?" she asked as she put it on her finger.
Finn smiled. "I'm not making any promises."
"Well….no more." She repeated. "I appreciate them, but I feel so overly spoiled."
"Shouldn't you be spoiled?"
"No." she said shaking her head, looking at him. "This perfect little fairy tale seems too good to be true, and I feel like if it continues like this something bad will happen."
He nodded in agreement to the first part. "Nothing bad is going to happen, babe. There's no way in hell I'm going to let you go. Ever. You'd have to go willingly."
Rachel smiled. "Not happening. Looks like you're stuck with me."
He let out a playful sigh "What a bummer." He muttered before she giggled.
"Thank you, so much." Rachel then said as she rested her head on his shoulder. "If it weren't for you believing in me, I don't know where I'd be right now."
"You'd be exactly where you're supposed to be." Finn replied, his hand resting on her thigh.
"Yeah." She said contently as she held her hand out in front of her, studying the ring. "Which is here, with you." She said lifting her head to look at him.
His heart skipped a beat as he looked at her, their faces inches apart from each other now. Even after all this time, she had the ability to make it feel like they were meeting for the first time.
She smiled as her hand made it's way to the side of his face, caressing him gently before moving her hand down to the side of his neck. She pulled him in for the sweetest kiss she could muster, her everything going into the kiss. "I am so…utterly, completely, in love with you." She whispered, not caring about how cliché it sounded.
Finn smiled. "And I'm in love with you." He said back, pecking her lips a few more times, his lips teasing hers every time he pulled away.
"Oh please, can't you guys do this upstairs?" Puck said as he came outside. "It's cute and all, but I'd rather not see this. I imagine Finn looks pretty awkward in compromising positions." He said, sitting down on the chair next to them.
Rachel laughed as her fingers grazed the back of Finn's neck. "Guess you'll never know, huh Puck?"
"That's not a bad thing." He said. "I just wanted fresh air."
"A lot of people in there?" Finn asked.
Puck nodded. "Yeah, and I just wanted some bro out time with my best dude, but you look busy."
"Oh. I think I'm going to go find your lady." Rachel said as she stood. "I actually have something I want to show her." She said shooting Finn a smile. Finn watched her go back inside before turning to Puck.
"So what's up?" Finn asked him.
0000
Rachel and Finn lay outside that evening, looking up at the stars from his backyard. "It's kind of weird that you can see them when you're up here." She said, cuddling close to him with a heavy blanket over both of them.
Finn nodded. "Yeah, but I like it."
Rachel smiled. "Well I do too. Reminds me of home. I wish I could see them from my house."
Finn held her closely. "I guess you have to move up on a hill then, right?"
"Guess so." She said with a chuckle. It was cold out, but with him next to her, it wasn't so bad.
"You know what's weird?" he said.
"What?" she asked curiously.
"There are probably some people up there right now. Like, in a plane or something flying right over us and we wouldn't even know. Or there could be other people in the world looking up at the same stars….crazy."
Rachel laughed.
"Don't make fun of me! It really is bizarre." He said defensively.
"I'm not making fun of you." She said through giggles. "It's just…random. But you're right. The world is a crazy place."
"When I was a child, I wanted to be an astronaut you know." He said to Rachel.
Rachel laughed. "How's that working out for you?"
He shrugged. "Apparently it's not, but hey there's still plenty of time left before I die…at least I hope."
"Please don't go to space." She said.
He kissed the top of her head. "Probably not going to happen, babe." He said. "Everything I need is right here on Earth."
"You are so cliché tonight." Rachel said with a smile, nuzzling her face into the side of him.
"I'm just...happy." he said. "Really happy."
"Me too, babe." She said as they held each other close, Rachel lost in her own thoughts as she slowly drifted off to sleep. Her life started out unexpectedly in Los Angeles, and she was unsure of what was to come but through the disappointments and the excitement, she knew that the best part of being out there was finding him. Her Finn. She wouldn't have it any other way.
A/N: Bad ending? Good ending? Remember there is an epilogue though.
Also, do you guys remember in one of the early chapters where she was singing Marilyn Monroe by Nicki Minaj? Haha, little did I know at the time that it'd sort of be like foreshadowing. I'm not really sure why I decided to mix Glee with Smash here at the end, but I thought it was actually sort of a neat idea since at the beginning she didn't actually land a role on this A/U Glee…Interesting twist I think.
If you guys don't know much about Smash, well it's on NBC and it's a show about two girls named Ivy and Karen. Ivy is from Broadway and Karen is from Iowa, trying to make it on Broadway. The two girls are competing for the role of Marilyn Monroe in a Broadway production called Bombshell.