Hey guys! Sorry it took me longer to update this time, with starting my new job, things have been kind of busy. But this is one of my favorite chapters! It was inspired by one of my favorite scenes of all time of Glee, so it was fun to write. I always love Finchel romance!
On another note, I'm running the Glee fanfic awards on Tumblr, and would really appreciate nominations for Best Finchel fanfic writer, best Finn writer, best Rachel writer and nominations of my fics in some of the story categories. The tumblr for the awards is gleefanficawards2013.
Thanks for all the support of my writing. Hope you enjoy this chapter and review if you want me to continue.
Chapter 28: Back to Sardi's and Central Park
Rachel was watching TV in the living room when she felt her phone vibrate. She had this whole week off of performing, so she was taking all the time she could to relax. She looked at her phone and saw that it was Finn. "I have to stay a little later after school today, but meet me at Bow Bridge in Central Park at 5:30. Dress up."
Rachel sent a text back. "What about Allie?"
"I talked to your mom, she'll watch her tonight," Finn texted back.
Rachel wondered what the special occasion was. She looked and the calendar and saw that it was May 24. She remembered the day she and Finn first met, the day they had their first date, the days they reunited after all their (unnecessary) breakups... it wasn't any of those. Still, getting to go out with Finn was always a good thing.
"Allie!" Rachel called to her daughter.
Allie came in. "What is it, Mommy?"
"Daddy wants to go on a date with me tonight," Rachel said.
"You like dates with Daddy!" Allie giggled.
"I do!" Rachel said. "I need your help with something."
"I'll help!" Allie said happily.
"Can you help me pick out something to wear?" Rachel asked.
"Duh!" Allie said. Rachel and Allie went to Finn and Rachel's room, and Rachel opened her closet. Allie was just getting to the age where mother and daughter could do girl things together.
"You should wear a dress," Allie said.
Rachel smiled at her daughter. "I was thinking I'd do that."
Allie and Rachel began to look through Rachel's dresses when Allie pointed to a sleeveless sky blue sundress. "This one's pretty, Mommy."
Rachel took the dress off its hanger. "I like the way you think, Allie."
"Daddy will like it," Allie said.
"I hope he will!" Rachel said. She went into the bathroom and put it on, then came out to show Allie.
"You look so pretty!" Allie said.
"Thank you," Rachel said, hugging her daughter.
x
A few hours later, Rachel had dropped Allie off at Shelby's and was walking into Central Park, heading for Bow Bridge to see Finn. Finn was wearing a black suit, white dress shirt and blue tie and was holding a bouquet of flowers.
"Hey beautiful," Finn said.
"Hey handsome," Rachel said.
"Wow," Finn said, looking at Rachel.
"What is it?" Rachel asked.
"You just look so amazing," Finn said. He handed Rachel the flowers. "These are for you."
"Thanks so much," Rachel said, still wondering what the special event today was.
"Do you remember what today is?" Finn asked Rachel.
"Well, today's the 24th," Rachel said.
"Yes," Finn said. "There's something special about the 24th."
Rachel tried to think, but she had no idea what the significance of May 24th was. "Tell me!"
"This was the day we first were in New York together," Finn said proudly.
Rachel smiled to herself. That had been one of the best weeks of her life. Finn had taken her on one of the best dates ever, and it had been their first National competition. She and Finn had shown the entire audience how much they loved each other. (Some blamed them for kissing for the loss, but Rachel thought they really lost because their group number was bad.)
"Finn, you're so sweet!" Rachel said.
"Now do you get why I had you meet me at Bow Bridge?" Finn asked.
"I sure do!" Rachel giggled, smelling the flowers. "You look really handsome."
"I love your dress," Finn said.
"Thanks," Rachel said. She thought a little. "I just realized, this is the same color as the dress I wore that night!"
"I'd forgotten that!" Finn said.
"I should have done my hair like I had it that night, but it might be too short to put up now," Rachel said.
"How do you remember these details?" Finn asked.
Rachel smiled to herself. "I have a Finchel scrapbook."
"You're showing that to me!" Finn said. "Anyway, we have dinner reservations, so walk with me?"
Rachel linked her arms in Finn's. "I'd love to." They walked through Central Park together quietly as Rachel did some thinking. She was so glad that Finn was her husband and that they were living in New York together. Their first date in New York, in a way, had been a preview for the rest of their lives.
Finn and Rachel arrived at Sardi's, the same restaurant that they'd had dinner at that first night. "Finn, are you recreating our first New York date?" Rachel asked.
"I am," Finn said. "But this time, please don't run away when I kiss you."
"I'm sorry about that," Rachel said, thinking back to that night. "I was just so overwhelmed. I'd wanted to get back with you for so long, and you were doing it in a big way, and I was still with Jesse at the time..."
"Don't worry about it," Finn said. "We got back together, and we're together now, and that's all that matters."
Rachel smiled at her husband as they sat down at the table. "Thanks for bringing me here, Finn. I know this place is not cheap!"
"Today's a special day on the Finchel calendar!" Finn said. "I want it to be as amazing as possible for you."
"Thanks, baby," Rachel said. She began looking over the menu. "What do you think you'll get tonight?"
"Want to split a pizza?" Finn asked.
"I'd love that," Rachel said.
The waiter took the order, and as Finn and Rachel clinked their champaigne glasses together, Finn looked up. "Rach, look across the room."
Rachel's eyes practically popped out of her head. She couldn't believe who was there. "Finn, it's Barbra!"
"I know it is," Finn said. "Go say hi to her!"
Rachel gulped nervously. "Will you come with me?"
"Of course," Finn said, taking Rachel's hand as they walked over to Barbra. Rachel managed to speak when Finn squeezed her hand. "Ms. Streisand, I have to tell you that you're my idol. I've seen all your movies and have all your CDs... my dads even gave me a middle name after you."
"Thank you, sweetheart," Barbra said. "That's so nice of you. What's your name?"
"Rachel Barbra Berry Hudson," Rachel said.
Finn put his arm around Rachel. "She's currently an ensemble member in Annie on Broadway."
"You are?" Barbra asked. "I saw that a few weeks ago. It was amazing."
Rachel smiled again. She couldn't believe it. "Thanks. I've always wanted to be on Broadway."
"You've made it because you're the cream of the cream of the cream," Barbra said. "I come to Broadway shows all the time, so maybe I'll see you again."
"I'd love that," Rachel said. She almost told Barbra about her audition for Phantom of the Opera, but decided not to. She didn't know if she'd be cast.
"Is this your boyfriend?" Barbra asked.
"My husband, actually," Rachel said proudly. "This is Finn."
"You two are a lovely couple," Barbra said. "Good luck with your career."
"Thank you," Rachel said. She smiled at Finn, not believing what had just happened.
The food was amazing, just as food at Sardi's always was. Rachel again thought back to the first date at Sardi's and Central Park. Back in high school, she didn't think it was possible to love Finn more than she did then, but she was loving him more every day. After they paid the bill, they began to walk home. Rachel remembered being serenaded by the boys of New Directions on their first New York date, but admitted to herself that probably wouldn't be happening this time. Then, she heard a guitar playing, and turned around to see all the New Directions alumni who were now living in New York.
Blaine: Wise men say only fools rush in.
But I can't help falling in love with you.
Kurt: Shall I say it would be a sin.
If I can't help falling in love with you
Kurt and Blaine: like a river flows to the sea.
So it goes some things are meant to be.
Santana and Brittany: Some things are meant to be.
Santana: Take my hand. Take my whole life too.
Brittany: For I can't help falling in love with you.
Santana and Brittany: Wise men say only fools rush in.
But I, I can't, can't help falling in love with you.
Ryder: Take my hand, take my whole life too.
For I can't help falling in love with you.
Marley: Take my hand, take my whole life too.
For I can't help falling in love with you.
Ryder and Marley: Like a river flows to the sea.
So it goes some things are meant to be.
Jake and Harmony: Some things are meant to be.
Jake: Like a river flows...that's the way it goes.
I just can't help falling in love with you.
Harmony: Like a river flows. That's the way it goes
I just can't help falling in love with you.
Kurt, Blaine, Santana, Brittany, Ryder, Marley, Jake and Harmony: Like a river flows that's the way it goes.
I can't help falling in love with you.
I can't help falling in love with you. Falling in love with you.
Finn leaned in to kiss Rachel, and this time, she didn't hesitate to lean in and return the kiss. This had to have been the best date ever.
x
A few days after Finn and Rachel's dream date, it was visitation day at Allie's elementary school. Finn had taken the day off from teaching so that he could be with Allie and Rachel. It was still hard to believe that Allie would be starting kindergarten in the fall. It felt like it was yesterday that they'd found out that Rachel was pregnant.
On the way to the school, Allie seemed to be happy, but Finn was worried. He remembered how scared Allie had been on the first day of preschool, and the phone call he and Rachel had gotten about her leaving the room. Mia would be going to this school though, and so would some of Allie's other preschool classmates, so maybe that would help. And of course, Finn taught kindergarten there.
"You know what I want?" Allie asked.
"What?" Finn asked his daughter.
"I want you as my teacher!" Allie said proudly.
Finn smiled to himself. He was hoping he'd be Allie's teacher as well, but he wasn't sure if the school would let him.
Finn, Rachel and Allie arrived at the school, where Allie immediately saw Mia. "Hi Mia!"
"Hi Allie!" Mia said.
"Can you believe the girls will be in kindergarten next year?" Mia's dad asked Finn and Rachel.
"It's crazy," Finn said.
"Mia's decided she wants you for her kindergarten teacher," Mia's mom told Finn.
"So does Allie, but we aren't so sure if that's a good idea," Rachel said. The parents signed their daughters in and watched them look around the classroom.
The teacher came up to them. "Finn, are you excited for your daughter to start kindergarten?"
"Yes I am," Finn said. "I'm sorry I'm not helping out with the visitation day, but I wanted to help her out."
"We're excited for her to start next year," the teacher said.
Allie came up to Finn and Rachel. "Mommy, Daddy, they have such cool books here!"
"Yes they do," Finn said.
Allie looked out the window. "And the playground looks really fun too!"
"It is fun," Finn said. "The kids in my class love it."
"I like this school," Allie said.
"So do I," Finn said. "You're going to have fun here."
Rachel leaned over to Finn. "I need to step out for a minute."
"Okay," Finn whispered back.
Allie was showing Finn some of the artwork the kids in the kindergarten class had done when Rachel came back in. She leaned over and whispered to Finn. "I got in!"
Finn looked at his wife. "Really?"
"Yes," Rachel said. "I'm going to be playing Meg in Phantom of the Opera!"
Finn gave Rachel a big hug. "What's going on?" Allie asked.
"Mommy got a bigger part in another musical!" Finn said.
"Yay Mommy!" Allie said.
SONG: "Can't Help Falling In Love" by Elvis Presley (performed by New Directions alumni)
Chapter 29 preview: It's Allie's fifth birthday and the arrival date is approaching for Klaine and Brittana's son. Another Glee couple gets engaged as well! I won't say who but will say that it's one of these three: Ryley, Tike or Artie/ Betty.