Hey guys, if you've gotten this far into the fic without getting bored then congratulations! You've just reached the chapter focusing on a ship that not that many people care about anymore - Finchel! I wrote it because I find it really hard to ship Rachel with anyone who isn't Finn, but mostly because the fic involves Finchel because I made it that way. I think I make it work though by including this song in it. It's definitely one of my favourite Disney songs so I just had to write it in somehow :) As always, let me know what you think by leaving a review.
A/N: "Disney Week" takes place after the events of the Season 3 finale, so technically it's a Season 4 "episode". I call it an episode because even though I write it like a story, I try to describe everything how I imagine it'll look on screen if Glee ever did a Disney theme. Therefore, they'll be quite a few different storylines going on at once, like a real episode. I also try my absolute best to write as close to canon as I can, so when people read it, they can imagine it's actually happening.
-Sami
Finn had asked the Glee band to help him. He had the guitarist, the bassist, the string quartet and the drummer. He would have played the drums himself but he thought it would ruin his concentration on expressing the lyrics. He sat on the edge of the stage next to the mic stand, swinging his legs back and forth, waiting and wondering. Waiting for her to meet him there. Wondering how the hell he was going to tell her everything. Afraid she wouldn't understand or reciprocate.
Maybe I should just go, she obviously isn't coming. If she was interested at all, she'd be here by now, he thought. He looked at his watch - 12:50. There was only ten minutes left of lunch period.
The silence in the auditorium was broken by the click of a doorknob. He turned his head instantly and saw her figure in the doorway.
"Sorry I'm late," said Rachel, her voice cracking before she cleared her throat to get rid of it. He gazed at her. New York really had matured her. She had gotten rid of her reindeer sweater and was wearing darker, much more sophisticated, classier clothes. As she walked nearer to him and sat on the front row seat directly opposite him, he looked at her face. She had slightly dark stains under her eyes, where it looked like she had tried to get rid of them but just made them worse. It looked like mascara... had she been crying?
"It's OK," he replied, brushing it off.
"You're gonna sing a song?" she asked, looking on the stage at the set up equipment and band members ready with their instruments.
"Yeah I am. But first I have to say something."
Rachel sat up in her seat. "About what?"
"A bit of everything, really. Listen Rachel, it was a mistake to let you go at that train station. The worst mistake I ever made. I should have at least considered giving long-distance a try before ending it all with you. And I'm so glad that this reunion happened, because I think if it hadn't had, it would have been years until we next saw each other, if not then, we might not have met ever again, and that would have absolutely killed me. Because I still love you, Rachel. I want to get back together with you, and I want to marry you."
Rachel just stared at him, unable to express any emotion because she was feeling so many at once. He still loved her. He wanted to marry her again. But she couldn't help thinking about it all so practically.
"Finn, it's not that easy. You know it's not that easy. Yes, I feel the exact same way about you, but aren't you afraid of the distance pulling us apart?"
"No. I'm not afraid at all," he said, taking a deep breath, "even if the distance is going to get bigger."
He left her confused. "What do you mean?" she asked, thinking the worst.
"When I go back to my base in Atlanta, I've got 5 minutes to pack, and then I'm being deployed to Afghanistan."
"You're - you're - you're what?" Her throat was closing up and her tears were fighting her eyes to fall. She wasn't hearing this. "No, that can't be true, you're not - you can't go to -"
"But I am, Rachel."
"No, you can't. Because if you go out there you're going to put your life at risk and you're going to die." She gave up fighting her tears back and let the buckets fall. Finn hopped off the edge of the stage and kneeled right in front of her. "All it takes is one stupid Afghan soldier to shoot you in the back."
"I'll be OK, I've been training hardcore since the end of July. Rachel listen to me. While I'm out there there's something you have to do for me. No, Rach, look at me," he said, gently taking hold of her by the shoulders. She looked into his eyes. His kind, wholesome, brown eyes. One look in his eyes and she suddenly stopped crying.
"What is it? Tell me what to do and I'll do it,"
"Don't forget me. Even if you start dating someone else in New York, please don't forget me. I'll write you letters regularly, I want you to write me back. And if I get a chance to call you from the base, I want you to answer it. Promise me, Rachel, please."
"I promise," she replied quickly," I won't ever forget you, Finn."
"I love you so much," he whispered."
"I love you too."
They moved towards each other and pressed their lips together. It was wet and had a salty taste from Rachel's tears, but neither cared.
Finn backed away and climbed back onto the stage. He stood in front of the mic stand, and the band began to play the song. Just from the introduction, Rachel knew what song it was. It was one of her all-time Disney favourites. Despite what the first line was, she couldn't help but start breaking down again.
"Come stop your crying, it will be all right
Just take my hand, hold it tight
I will protect you from all around you
I will be here, don't you cry
For one so small, you seem so strong
My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm
This bond between us can't be broken
I will be here, don't you cry
'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on, now and forever more
You'll be in my heart, no matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart, always
This was the perfect song to choose for their situation. He hoped it would have an even more special place in her heart after he sang it to her. It was true, not even a war in Afghanistan could tear them apart, and he was prepared to love her wherever in the world they would be.
"Why can't they understand the way we feel?
They just don't trust what they can't explain
I know we're different but, deep inside us
We're not that different at all
And you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on, now and forever more
Don't listen to them 'Cause what do they know
We need each other, to have, to hold
They'll see in time, I know
When destiny calls you, you must be strong
I may not be with you, but you've got to hold on
They'll see in time, I know
We'll show them together"
He could feel his eyes burning from his own tears building up. Finn. Loved. Rachel. It was that simple. He loved her regardless of what people thought of them. He sang with all his heart and soul, holding his arms out to her as he sang directly to her.
"'Cause you'll be in my heart
Believe me, you'll be in my heart
I'll be there from this day on, now and forever more
Ooh, you'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart, always
Always
I'll be with you
I'll be there for you always, always and always
Just look over your shoulder
Just look over your shoulder
Just look over your shoulder
I'll be there always"
Rachel, her entire body trembling from how emotional she had gotten, slowly got up and walked up the steps to the left of the stage. She wrapped her arms around Finn, and he put one hand on her waist and his other arm around her neck, his hand in her hair. He didn't know how long he would be gone for, so he simply stood there with her and took in all the things he loved about her in this moment. How short she was compared to him, her smaller-than-average hands as they pulled him into her by his back, her long dark wavy hair and how it always smelt like coconut. How smooth her skin was
This was how it was. They didn't know how long they'd been holding each other, or when they'd let go. All they knew was that they didn't want to. They didn't want it to end. But it had to sometime. And that was what they were both dreading.