Hey everyone! I am so sorry that I took so long to update. As I said when I updated my last story, I'm on vacation, so I don't have as much time to write or go online. I'm glad you guys like where I'm taking my Season 5 though. The New Directions will be featured a lot in this fic a lot, and there will also be a lot of Finchel's life in NY. Thanks again for all the support, and again, I'm so sorry for the slow updates. They'll get more regular when I get back from vacation, I promise! Please review if you want me to keep going! Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 24: Just For This Moment

"So, what do you think of the decisions we came up with?" Rachel asked Finn. Together, they stood in the choir room, looking over the cast list that they'd come up with.

"I'm pretty happy with it," Finn said. "Ryder and Marley did a great job in Grease, so I'm sure they'll do well in Wicked."

"I wish we could stay to help out a little more," Rachel said. "But we have school and our jobs and everything to get back to in New York."

"That's true," Finn said. "And of course we'll come to Lima to see it."

Rachel looked at the piano. "Want to sing a Wicked song together?" There was one song from Wicked that she'd always wanted to sing with Finn, and now would be a good chance.

"Is it the one I think it is?" Finn asked.

Rachel smiled. "Yup!"

"I'd love to," Finn said.

Rachel smiled as she and Finn began to sing at the piano.

Rachel: Kiss me too fiercely
Hold me too tight
I need help believing
You're with me tonight
My wildest dreamings
Could not foresee
Lying beside you
With you wanting me
And just for this moment
As long as you're mine
I've lost all resistance
And crossed some border line
And if it turns out
It's over too fast
I'll make every last moment last
As long as you're mine
Finn: Maybe I'm brainless
Maybe I'm wise
But you've got me seeing
Through different eyes
Somehow I've fallen
Under your spell
And somehow I'm feeling
It's up that I fell
Both: Every moment
As long as you're mine
I'll wake up my body
And make up for lost time
Finn: Say there's no future
For us as a pair
Both: And though I may know
I don't care
Just for this moment
As long as you're mine
Come be how you want to
And see how bright we shine
Borrow the moonlight
Until it is through
And know I'll be here
Holding you
As long as you're mine

At the end of the song, Finn and Rachel heard some applause. Rachel turned and saw Mr. Schue. "That was good, guys," Mr. Schue said. "Did you decide on the parts for the musical?"

"We did," Finn said. He handed the list to Mr. Schue.

Mr. Schue looked at the list. "This is going to be great, you guys. I can't thank you enough for all your help this week."

"Oh, it was our pleasure," Rachel said. "I told Finn, I now understand why he enjoyed it here so much last year."

"On your breaks, you two are always welcome here," Mr. Schue said. "Plus, you'll have to come back eventually to meet Baby Schuester."

"Oh, we will," Rachel said.

"Let's go put the list up," Finn said to Rachel.

Rachel followed Finn outside and posted the list on the glee club bulletin board. "Last year, Kitty's reaction to the cast list was... interesting," Finn whispered to Rachel.

"Well, I bet she'll be happy this year," Rachel whispered back.

Finn and Rachel stood off to the side as members of the glee club went to read the casting list.

Glinda: Kitty Wilde
Elphaba: Marley Rose
Fiyero: Ryder Lynn
Boq: Jake Puckerman
The Wizard: Joe Hart
Dr. Dillamond: Rory Flanagan
Madame Morrible: Harmony Taylor
Nessa: Kylie Nichols

Jake and Ryder approached the sheet first and smiled at Finn and Rachel. When Marley, Kitty, Kylie and Unique went up to the casting list, Marley ran over to Ryder and hugged him, and Kitty ran to Finn and Rachel to hug them. "Thanks for giving me a good part this year!"

"Well, you and Marley sounded great on that duet," Rachel said.

"Uh, the Nationals MVP should be more than just an ensemble," Unique demanded.

"And I'm sure NYADA would be more impressed with one of the two major roles," Harmony demanded, walking up to Finn and Rachel. She glared at Kitty and Marley.

"Hey, I was awesome last year in spite of my awful part," Kitty said.

"You can be understudy for both of us," Marley offered.

"I want one of the two main roles," Harmony said.

"And I want the other," Unique demanded.

"Guys," Mr. Schue said. "Finn and Rachel made the casting decisions."

"Hey, this new girl and I are seniors," Unique said. "Marley and Kitty are juniors, and Kylie's a sophomore."

"I'm a senior, too," Sugar added.

Now Rachel was remembering how unbearable she must have been when she demanded all the solos. "Guys, we just picked the people who we thought were best suited for the roles. Everyone here is very talented, and there will be plenty of opportunities this year for your talent to be showcased."

"Yeah, this is just the first thing for this year," Finn added.

"Well, I'm excited for the show," Marley said, clearly trying to be helpful.

"So am I," Ryder said.

"You two were a great leading couple in last year's show," Rachel said, thinking out loud. Then she realized that might not have been a good choice of words. "Guys, I'm sure you'll all be great, and I can't wait to come to the show."

"Yeah," Finn added. "And you guys will be amazing at all your competitions this year."

"Thanks so much for coming," Kylie said.

"Oh, it was our pleasure," Rachel said. "I'm sure we'll see you guys soon." Finn and Rachel said goodbye to Mr. Schue and the New Directions before heading to the parking lot to meet up with Rachel's dads, who were taking them to the Columbus airport.

"I can't say this enough, thank you so much for coming up with this idea of coming to visit for a few days," Finn said.

"Oh, it was my pleasure," Rachel said. "I really enjoyed helping out."

"So, you guys had fun?" Hiram asked.

"Yeah," Rachel said. "I do miss being in glee."

"So do I," Finn said. "But it's nice to get to help out."

x

After their flight from Columbus to New York, Finn and Rachel took a bus back to the loft, where they discovered that Sam, Tina and Artie were visiting, even though they'd moved into their dorms this week. "So, how was McKinley?" Tina asked as Finn and Rachel arrived.

"It was fun," Rachel said. "Kurt, guess who goes to McKinley now?"

"Who?" Kurt asked.

"The Gerber Baby," Rachel said. "She's in New Directions now."

"Oh, The Gerber Baby," Kurt said.

"Who's the Gerber Baby?" Santana asked.

"Kurt and I met her at a NYADA mixer when we were seniors in high school," Rachel explained. "She's like me our sophomore year, only she talks more and she's more talented."

Finn hated when Rachel talked herself down. "No one's more talented than you. Rory came back, too."

"I missed him last year," Sam said.

"Yeah, I'm glad he's back," Finn said.

"So you two had fun," Artie said. "Oh, and thanks so much for letting us stay here before our dorms were letting us move in. It helped us get used to New York early."

"Oh, we were so glad you were here," Finn said. "I was thinking, how about once a week, you guys come over so we can all have dinner together?"

Everyone seemed to like that idea. Already the school year was looking better than the summer.

x

It was the first day. Finn's first day at Columbia.

Sure, he'd done a semester at University of Lima, but Columbia was different. It was one of the best schools in the country. Even though Finn had been accepted, he knew that it had been a longshot, and that lots of the other students here were likely much better students in high school than he was.

Finn looked at Rachel, who was asleep next to him. NYADA was starting today, too. It would be Rachel's second year though, so things would likely be easier for her. And even though Blaine was just starting off at NYADA, he'd have Rachel and Kurt with him.

Rachel rolled over, opened her eyes and leaned up to kiss Finn. "How are you feeling?"

"Honestly, terrified," Finn admitted.

Rachel looked at Finn. "Are you nervous about starting a new school?"

"Yeah," Finn told his girlfriend. "I'm going to mess up."

"Mess up?" Rachel asked.

"Yeah," Finn rambled. "I'm not smart like most kids at Columbia. I know I was an honors student my junior and senior years, but I really messed up my first two years..."

Rachel took Finn's hand. "They wouldn't have accepted you if they didn't think you could do it."

"And what if I run into another Lucy there?" Finn groaned.

"Is that what this is really about?" Rachel asked.

"Rachel, ever since that happened, it's so hard to trust people," Finn admitted. "I worry that people are going to try to touch me and harass me again."

"Finn..." Rachel began.

"I have you guys with me at the apartment and at the diner, but I'll be by myself on campus," Finn blurted out. "I don't know anyone there, and I won't have anyone to defend me against someone like that."

"You're really strong," Rachel said. "Stronger than you think you are. You're going to be fine. You know she's not allowed anywhere near you. The police won't let her."

"Yeah, but she's only one person," Finn said. "There's hundreds of sexual predators out there."

"I'm not going to lie and say that I know what you're going through, because I don't," Rachel said. "And I really wish there was something I could do to undo everything that happened. What I can do is tell you the same thing I told you when you first walked to work alone: that you can text me if you feel uncomfortable at any time. And I can walk you to school if you want."

"Really?" Finn asked.

"Of course," Rachel said. "Finn, you've come pretty far in the past few weeks. One day, we're just going to look back on this and feel so accomplished."

Finn gave Rachel a big hug. She could always make him feel better. "Maybe I was just nervous about seeing her at the trial next week."

"Yeah, but she won't be allowed near you at the trial," Rachel reminded Finn. "And you'll have me, Kurt, your parents and our friends there for you."

Finn got out of bed. "Thanks so much for everything, Rach."

"I'm your girlfriend, it's what I'm here for," Rachel said.

Finn smiled to himself. His feelings for Rachel were growing stronger than ever, maybe, just maybe, in a few months, they'd be ready to get engaged again.

x

"Remember what I told you," Rachel said. She, Kurt and Blaine were arriving at Columbia with Finn before going to NYADA on their own. "Call me if you need me at any point throughout the day. I'll have rehearsals after classes, but then I do get breaks."

Finn gave Rachel a small smile. "Okay."

"Good luck, Finn," Kurt said. "You'll be great."

"Thanks, guys," Finn said. Rachel watched with Kurt and Blaine as Finn headed for his first class.

"I hope he'll be okay," Rachel sighed.

"I'm sure he will be," Blaine said.

"Blaine, I'm so sorry," Rachel admitted. "You and the others are about to start school for the first time and I've been so worried about Finn..."

"It's okay," Blaine said. "Finn had an upsetting experience, and you've got to be there for him."

"Are you excited to start at NYADA?" Rachel asked Blaine.

"Of course," Blaine said. "I still can't believe they took all three of us."

"They know that talent runs in the water at McKinley, what can I say?" Kurt said.

Rachel, Kurt and Blaine arrived on the NYADA campus when they heard a voice. "Hello, Blaine!"

Rachel, Kurt and Blaine turned and saw Jean Baptiste walking toward them.

"I knew I'd be seeing you here," Jean continued. "I read on a show choir blog that you got accepted here."

"Yeah, I haven't read very many show choir blogs lately," Blaine told Jean.

"Yeah, he's been in New York all summer, with me," Kurt said, putting his arms around Blaine. "I don't know if you know from show choir blogs, but I'm Kurt, Blaine's boyfriend. I graduated the year before you two."

"I know who you are," Jean said. "Rachel has photos of you at the theatre. Well, it was nice to meet you, Kurt. Blaine, we have some classes together, and Rachel, I'll see you at rehearsal." He walked away.

"Do you think he likes Blaine?" Kurt asked Rachel.

"He's straight," Rachel told Kurt. "He's totally into the girl playing the lead in Funny Girl."

"Does he have to be here?" Blaine complained. "When we planned a secret rehearsal at Nationals, he and Throat Explosion interrupted it..."

"Hey, he's not bad," Rachel said. They hadn't had much interaction at rehearsal, but considering the alternative for the understudy opposite her, she was just glad this was how it had turned out. "I'm sure it'll be fine."

x

"Well, look who it is."

Rachel turned around as she stopped at a coffee shop after rehersal and saw Lucy standing there. After how upset Finn had been this morning, Rachel had even less patience than usual. "I'll see you at court soon," she said to Lucy before starting to walk away.

"Court wasn't necessary," Lucy said.

"Oh, I think it was," Rachel said, glaring at Lucy. "After all the pain you caused Finn, you need to get what you deserve."

"You're an idiot," Lucy said, stepping toward Rachel with a threatening look.

The barista came up to Lucy and Rachel. "What's going on here?"

"Nothing, I've got to go," Lucy said. She left the coffee shop, and Rachel waited until Lucy was out of sight to leave and head home. When she got home, she saw Finn watching TV with Kurt and Blaine and that he looked happy, so she decided not to tell him about Lucy. "How was your first day?" Rachel asked as she arrived home.

"It was good," Finn said. "My classes don't seem bad, I could find my way around okay and I made a few friends."

"That's great," Rachel said as she sat down next to Finn.

"Kurt and Blaine were just telling me about the first day back at NYADA," Finn said.

"Yeah, I think it'll be a great year," Rachel said.

"I got texts from Tina, Sam and Artie as well," Blaine said. "They're enjoying their colleges."

"That's great," Rachel said as she snuggled up to Finn on the couch. Finn was already in a good mood, so she didn't want to tell him about what happened with Lucy. With the trial coming up, she just hoped that things would go back to normal. But she had no idea what would happen next week.

SONGS: As Long As You're Mine from Wicked

Chapter 25 preview: The trial takes place, and Finn receives support from many expected and unexpected sources. Will Lucy finally get what she deserves?

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