Hi guys! Thanks so much for all your reviews on the last chapter. This chapter is one of my favorites and I was very excited to post it. A big event happens that I think you guys will like! Enjoy and review if you want me to keep going!
Chapter 38: Christmas in New York
"Hey birthday girl."
Rachel rolled over as she looked up at Finn smirking at her. "Twenty!" Finn added.
"Yeah, twenty," Rachel repeated. "Gosh Finn, I'm old."
"No you're not!" Finn teased. "Since today's your birthday, I decided to let you sleep in and attempted to make breakfast this morning."
"What did you make?" Rachel asked.
"Pancakes," Finn said.
"Yum," Rachel said.
Finn took Rachel's hand and began leading her downstairs. "I know everyone else is back in Lima for Christmas, but Kurt and Blaine will come over later today."
"I know," Rachel said. "And my dads will be in from Lima in a few days, so I can celebrate with them then."
"Yeah," Finn said.
When Rachel and Finn got to the kitchen, Finn handed Rachel a wrapped gift. "Happy Birthday!"
Rachel smiled as she unwrapped the gift. Finn had gotten her a necklace with a "Finchel" charm, similar to her "Finn" charm and her "Rachel" charm. "This is so sweet!" Rachel said as she gave Finn a kiss.
"I thought you'd like it," Finn said. "I had it designed for you at one of the nearby jewelry stores."
"This is amazing," Rachel said, putting on the necklace.
Finn handed Rachel a pancake on a plate. "Hungry?"
"Yup," Rachel said as she began to eat.
Shelby and Beth came downstairs. "Happy Birthday Rachel!" Beth exclaimed.
"Thank you Beth!" Rachel said, giving Beth a hug.
"This is from both of us," Shelby told Rachel.
Rachel unwrapped the present and saw an iPod covered with gold stars. "Thanks, you guys!"
"Mommy likes gold stars, too," Beth said.
"I know she does," Rachel said. "Thank you." Then she heard the doorbell ring, wondering who it was. It was too early for her dads or Finn's parents to have arrived in New York, and she knew Kurt and Blaine weren't planning to come over until later either. When she went to answer the door, she was surprised when she saw Kylie there. "Hey!" Rachel said, giving her sister a hug.
"Hey," Kylie said, returning the hug. "Is Shelby home?"
"Yeah, she's inside," Rachel said. She looked behind Kylie and saw Mr. and Mrs. Nichols, Kylie's adoptive parents.
"May we come in?" Mrs. Nichols asked.
Rachel looked at Kylie, wondering why Kylie's parents wanted to come in. She knew they weren't Shelby's biggest fans. Kylie nodded, so Rachel looked at them. "Yeah."
Rachel and Kylie led Kylie's parents inside, where Finn was lying out some presents by the Christmas tree. "So, what are you guys doing in New York?" Rachel asked.
"Well, I told you we were visiting my dad's parents in Vermont for Christmas," Kylie said. "So we stopped in New York on the way there."
"Well, I'm glad," Rachel told Kylie. She turned to Kylie's adoptive parents. "I don't know if you guys remember my boyfriend, Finn Hudson..."
"Nice to meet you," Kylie's dad said. "We're Kylie's parents."
"I know," Finn said. "I met you when you were in New York this summer."
Beth came into the living room. "Kylie!" she exclaimed, giving Kylie a hug.
"Hi Beth!" Kylie said.
Then Shelby came downstairs and looked shocked when she saw Mr. and Mrs. Nichols. "Uh... hello."
"Hi Shelby," Kylie said. "We're driving through New York on our way to visit my grandparents and I wanted to see you."
"Well, I'm always glad to see you," Shelby said. She looked at Kylie's parents, and Rachel could tell that Shelby was unsure as to why two people who had made their feelings about her clear were here.
"Ms. Corcoran, I don't know if you remember us," Kylie's dad said. "We're Derek and Meredith Nichols, Kylie's adoptive parents. We're visiting my parents in Vermont for Christmas and Kylie really wanted to stop here and see you on the way. Which is fine with me, because we wanted to talk to you as well."
"First, let me say we're really sorry about your illness," Mrs. Nichols said. "I know things got complicated this summer, but it's because of you that we have our daughter, so we definitely want good things for you."
"We do," Mr. Nichols said. "And on that note, after talking with Kylie, we realize that we were irrational this summer. Meeting your daughter who you haven't seen in fifteen years has got to be a time when you don't know how to react."
"We were upset, but it's not a situation that we can relate to," Mrs. Nichols added. "And telling Kylie she couldn't see you was wrong of us. Kylie deserves to have her birth mother in her life."
"We were upset when we first found out that she was sneaking out to New York to see you," Mr. Nichols admitted. "But after listening to her talk about her bond with you, we are glad that she's developed that bond. So we wanted to say that we're sorry about what we did and tell you that you can talk to or see Kylie any time you want."
Rachel breathed a sigh of relief. She knew this had been stressful for both Kylie and Shelby. "Thank you," Shelby said.
"And I wanted to give you this too," Kylie said, reaching into her bag and handing Rachel a wrapped box. "Happy Birthday."
Rachel smiled. "You didn't have to."
"Of course I had to get something for my big sister!" Kylie said. "No longer a teenager!"
Rachel opened the box and saw a pair of gold star earrings. "Thank you!" Rachel said, giving Kylie a hug.
"You're welcome," Kylie said.
"While you're here, Kylie, I might as well give you your Christmas present," Shelby said.
"I should too," Rachel said. She went upstairs and got Kylie's Christmas present. When she got downstairs, Kylie had already opened Shelby's. "Shelby gave you a new camera?"
"Yes!" Kylie exclaimed.
"Well, I don't think mine can top that," Rachel said, handing her present to Kylie. Kylie opened the gift, revealing the photo album Rachel had gotten her. "You can put some of your best photography in it."
"Thanks," Kylie said. "I'll give you your Christmas present on the way back from Vermont."
Shortly after Kylie and her parents left, the doorbell rang again. Rachel went to the door and saw her dads. She knew that they were coming to New York for Christmas, but she hadn't been sure if they'd want to see Shelby...
"Happy Birthday, Rachel!" Hiram said, handing Rachel a present.
"Thank you!" Rachel said.
Shelby came to the door. "Hi."
"Hello, Shelby," LeRoy said. "How are you?"
"Well, I'm doing as well as I can," Shelby said. "Rachel and Finn have been a big help."
"I'm glad," Hiram said. "We were sorry to hear that you were sick. And we're sorry we told you not to contact Rachel. You've been there a lot for her these past few weeks, and it means a lot to us."
"Of course I'm there for her," Shelby said. "And I was really glad you guys could come to New York. I told Rachel, Finn, Kurt and Blaine that any of their families can come here for Christmas dinner."
"It probably would have gotten crowded at Elliott's," Rachel said. "Since he's visiting his family, he told Kurt and Blaine that we could have people there..."
"There's more room here," Shelby said.
"Well, thank you, Shelby," LeRoy said.
x
The rest of Rachel's birthday had been great. Her dads had arrived from Ohio and given her some new bedding for her and Finn's double bed, and Kurt and Blaine had also come over and given her CDs from some of the new Broadway shows. Rachel had also gotten birthday texts from Santana, Tina, Sam, Artie, Mercedes, Quinn, Puck and Mike, as well as Facebook birthday messages from some of the current New Directions members.
Now Christmas was only a few days away, and Kurt and Blaine were taking Rachel and Finn to do something they'd done last year - ice skating at Central Park. Between school, the diner, and Rachel's rehearsals, Finn and Rachel hadn't gotten a chance to go yet, so Finn was definitely glad to get to go.
"I don't know if I'm good at skating," Finn admitted as the four of them laced up their skates.
"I wasn't very good at it last year," Kurt admitted.
"You weren't bad," Blaine said.
"I had to hold on to you and I was stumbling a lot," Kurt pouted.
"Well, if you had trouble, I'm sure I will," Finn said.
"It'll be fine for all of us," Rachel told the boys.
Finn finished lacing up his skates. "Let's go!" Rachel said, taking Finn's hand.
Finn looked around the rink. The snow was falling, and numerous couples were skating as Christmas music played. Surprisingly, ice skating wasn't so hard as Finn stepped on to the ice. "This is actually fun."
"And Kurt has improved from last year!" Blaine teased.
"Hey!" Kurt teased his boyfriend.
After some more skating, Blaine turned to Kurt. "Should we do our Christmas duet here?"
"Christmas duet?" Finn asked.
"Every year Blaine and I do a duet for Christmas," Kurt said.
"Yeah, and this song the music's starting for would go with our other ones," Blaine said.
"Well, all right," Kurt said as the music to the song began.
Blaine: Sleigh bells ringing
Are you listening
In the lane
Snow is glistening
Kurt: A beautiful sight,
We're happy tonight
Blaine: Walking in a winter wonderland
Gone away, is the bluebird
Here to stay, is a new bird
Kurt: He sings a love song,
While we stroll along
Walking in a winter wonderland
Blaine: In the meadow we can build a snowman
And pretend that he is Parson Brown
Kurt: He'll say Are you married
We'll say No Man
But you can do the job
When you're in town
Both: Later on
We'll conspire
As we dream by the fire
Kurt: To face unafraid
Blaine: The plans that we've made
Walking in a winter wonderland
Blaine: When it snows
Ain't it thrilling
Though your nose gets a chilling
Kurt: We'll frolic and play the Eskimo way
Both: Walking in a winter wonderland
Walking in a winter wonderland
Walking in a winter wonderland
"Well, the only one I heard before was Let It Snow, but that one was pretty good, too," Rachel told Kurt and Blaine.
"It is our Christmas tradition," Kurt said.
"All of them have had to do with Christmas weather," Blaine said.
"How about you two do one?" Kurt asked.
"Us?" Rachel asked.
"Yeah," Blaine said.
The music to the next song began, and Finn turned to Rachel. "If you know the words to this song, I'm up for it."
"Let's do it!" Rachel said.
Finn: Children sleeping, snow is softly falling
Dreams are calling like bells in the distance
Rachel: We were dreamers not so long ago
But one by one we all had to grow up
Both: When it seems the magic's slipped away
We find it all again on Christmas day
Finn: Believe in what your heart is saying
Hear the melody that's playing
There's no time to waste
There's so much to celebrate
Rachel: Believe in what you feel inside
And give your dreams the wings to fly
Both: You have everything you need
If you just believe
Finn: Trains move quickly to their journey's end
Destinations are where we begin again
Rachel: Ships go sailing far across the sea
Trusting starlight to get where they need to be
Both: When it seems that we have lost our way
We find ourselves again on Christmas day
Finn: Believe in what your heart is saying
Hear the melody that's playing
There's no time to waste
There's so much to celebrate
Rachel: Believe in what you feel inside
And give your dreams the wings to fly
You have everything you need
If you just believe
Finn: If you just believe
Rachel: If you just believe
Both: If you just believe
"We're going to need to make a Christmas duet an annual tradition, too," Finn told Rachel at the end of the song.
"I like that idea," Rachel said.
After some more skating, Finn, Rachel, Kurt and Blaine went to go have some hot cocoa by the fire pit next to the rink, with a big Christmas tree by it. So far, this had been one of the best Christmas seasons so far.
x
"Wake up, Finn! It's Christmas!"
Finn rolled over as he saw Rachel standing next to him in their room. Finn had always loved Christmas, but this year he was a little nervous for it. He wanted to give Rachel her ring as a Christmas present. The question was - would he manage to get the guts to give it to her?
Beth ran into Finn and Rachel's room. "Finn! Rachel! Get up! It's Christmas!"
"We're up," Rachel said, smiling at Beth. "Do you want to go get your mommy?"
"Yeah!" Beth said.
As Beth went to get Shelby, Finn and Rachel went downstairs. Beth then ran downstairs and began ripping the paper off her presents. As Beth unwrapped her presents, Rachel handed a wrapped gift to Finn. "Merry Christmas."
Finn smiled to himself. He had gotten something for Rachel for earlier today, even though he'd hopefully be giving her the big gift tonight. But now, he wanted to open the gift Rachel had gotten him. He could tell by the look on her face how excited she was to give it to him.
Finn took the paper off the package and saw two tickets to the Superbowl. He practically dropped the box in shock. "Oh my God."
"You told me you always wanted to go to the Superbowl," Rachel said. "Since it's in New York this year..."
Finn gave Rachel a kiss. "Wow. Thank you so much, baby!"
"You're welcome," Rachel said.
Finn handed Rachel a wrapped gift. "Now open mine." Well, this was one of his, anyway.
Rachel opened the gift to reveal tickets to the revival of West Side Story that was starting this January. "Since you were in West Side Story, I had to get these," Finn said.
"Thank you!" Rachel said, giving Finn a hug. Then she turned to Beth. "Beth, remember our friends Puck and Quinn who came with us to play with you a few weeks ago?"
"Yeah, they're nice," Beth said.
Rachel handed Beth a giftwrapped present. "They got this for you for Christmas and told me to give it to you."
"Yay!" Beth exclaimed. She opened the gift to see the stuffed animals Puck and Quinn had gotten her. "Tell them I said thank you!"
Later that day, Rachel's dads, Burt, Carole, Kurt, Blaine and Blaine's parents and brother arrived. When Blaine arrived, he pulled Finn aside. "Are you still thinking you'll go through with it tonight?"
"Yeah," Finn said. "What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking Valentine's Day," Blaine admitted.
"Yeah," Finn told Blaine. "I bet Kurt would like that. I just... I don't want to do it in front of everyone... just in case."
"I understand," Blaine said.
Kurt came up to Finn and Blaine. "Finn, I'm surprised that you aren't waiting impatiently for me, Rachel, Carole and Mrs. Anderson to finish making Christmas dinner."
Finn laughed. "Is it almost ready?"
"Yeah, it's almost ready," Kurt said.
After Christmas dinner, the families retreated to the living room. "I think we need some Christmas music in here," Blaine's mom said.
"What do you mean?" Kurt asked.
"I know what she means," Burt said. "All four of you sing, how about you sing a Christmas song for us?"
"Well, the four of us haven't sang many songs together," Finn said.
"Yeah, let's do it!" Blaine said.
Kurt and Blaine sat at the piano and Finn and Rachel stood behind them as they selected a song to sing for their families.
Rachel: Do you remember me?
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you
With childhood fantasies
Well, I'm all grown up now
And still need help somehow
I'm not a child
But my heart still can dream
Finn: So here's my lifelong wish
My grown up christmas list
Not for myself
But for a world in need
Finn, Rachel, Kurt and Blaine: No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown up christmas list
Kurt: As children we believed
The grandest sight to see
Was something lovely
Wrapped beneath our tree
Blaine: But heaven only knows
That packages and bows
Can never heal
A hurting human soul
Finn, Rachel, Kurt and Blaine: No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown up christmas list
Kurt and Rachel: What is this illusion called the innocence of youth
Blaine and Finn: Maybe only in our blind belief can we ever find the truth
Finn, Rachel, Kurt and Blaine: No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end, oh
This is my grown up christmas list
This is my only life long wish
This is my grown up christmas list
At the end of the song, their families applauded. "You guys sound so good together," Blaine's dad said.
"Well, I definitely love singing with the three of them," Finn said.
"Well, maybe now would be a good time to give the four of you a present for all of you," Hiram said. "And for Santana, when she gets back."
"What is it?" Rachel asked.
"Well, we'll need you guys to pick one out first," Carole said. "But we all were talking about how well you handled what happened at the old apartment, and we all put our money together so a month would be covered once you pick out a new one."
Finn couldn't believe it. And he could tell that Rachel, Kurt and Blaine couldn't either. "Seriously?" Kurt asked.
"Yes," Burt said.
Finn, Rachel, Kurt and Blaine all gave each other hugs before hugging their parents.
x
Later that evening, Shelby and Beth had gone to bed, Kurt and Blaine had gone back to Elliott's, and the out of town family members had gone to their hotels. Finn saw Rachel sitting by the tree in the living room and went to sit next to her. Maybe now would be a good time, since it was just the two of them.
"Did you have a good Christmas?" Rachel asked.
"I did," Finn said. "This was one of the best."
"If not the best," Rachel said. "I've never gotten to be with my mom at Christmas before, and having my dads here made it special. And of course it was nice to have you, Kurt and Blaine and your families here, too."
"It was," Finn agreed. He snuggled up to Rachel. "Even though the fire's going, it's not too hot for snuggling."
"It's never too hot for snuggling," Rachel said. "So, who do you think you'll take to the superbowl with you?"
"I'm not sure yet," Finn said. "Maybe I'll ask Burt if he wants to go."
"I bet Burt would love that," Rachel said.
"Hey Rach, can we talk about something?" Finn asked. Maybe if he started off slow, it would be less nerve wracking. The ring was in the pocket of his bathrobe, and he would be ready to give it to her at any moment.
"Of course," Rachel said.
"I really liked spending Christmas with you," Finn said. "I know we were together at Christmas our senior year, but we spent Christmas day with our respective families. This year we really spent it together."
"Yeah," Rachel agreed. "Though I always look at the star you gave me."
"Really?" Finn asked.
"Yeah," Rachel said. "Last year when I was sad or lonely or I missed you, I'd talk to the star and it was my way of talking to you."
"You always could have called me," Finn said. "My point is, I really want to spend many more Christmases together."
"So would I," Rachel agreed.
"I'm not afraid to admit that I pictured finding the perfect woman when I was little," Finn said. "I knew I wanted to marry the most amazing woman possible and spend our lives together and have a family. The thing was though, before I met you, I had no idea if that person existed. Then I met you. I knew I'd found that person. You are everything I want and everything I need."
Rachel took Finn's hand. "That's how I feel about you, too. I always dreamed of finding the perfect man as well. At first I thought that it was going to be a Broadway co-star, but now I know that it's you. You've helped me grow and you've brought out the best in me and made me a better person, and I hope I do that for you, too."
"You do," Finn said. "You do all of that. This year has been a year I don't think either of us could have seen coming, but all the things that have happened to us that weren't good aren't what I'm going to remember. What I will remember is living in New York with the most amazing girl in the world."
"That's what I'll remember, too," Rachel said. "I hope we can spend many more years here, but wherever we are, what will matter most is that we're together."
Rachel was starting to sound like she wanted to get married again. Maybe this wouldn't be too hard. "You really think that?"
"Yes," Rachel said. "It's not shows or music or Broadway that matters. It's you. It's us. I never want to be with anyone but you and I love you so much."
Finn reached into his pocket and handed Rachel the box with the ring. "I love you too. And I have something for you."
Rachel took the box and began unwrapping it. When she finished unwrapping it, she opened the box and gasped, then looked at Finn.
Finn took the open box and knelt down in front of Rachel. "Rachel, will you marry me?"
Rachel smiled wide and threw her arms around Finn. "Oh my God. Yes! Yes!"
Finn slipped the ring on to Rachel's finger and gave her a kiss. "I love you so much."
"I love you too," Rachel said. "I'm so happy right now."
"So am I," Finn said. "I was worried that you would say no because of what happened last time."
"This time feels like the real deal," Rachel said. "I always knew I wanted to marry you, and now that we've begun our adult lives together... I know we can do it this time."
"Yeah, me too," Finn said. He got out his phone. "I'll need to text the guys to tell them you said yes."
"They knew?" Rachel asked.
"Yeah," Finn said. "Blaine and Sam went with me to ask your dads' permission, and Kurt helped me pick out the ring."
"Kurt managed not to tell me?" Rachel asked.
"Yeah, I guess he didn't!" Finn said. He had to admit, he was surprised Kurt hadn't managed to drop any hints.
Rachel looked at the ring. "Wow, it's so beautiful."
"Well, you're a beautiful woman," Finn said.
"We have to start planning our wedding soon!" Rachel said.
"We do," Finn said.
"Well, it's official now: best Christmas ever," Rachel told Finn before giving him a big hug.
Chapter 39 preview: Finchel tell their family and friends about their engagement and the group celebrates New Year's in Times Square. A new arrival might also be coming in the glee family.
SONGS: "Winter Wonderland" by Michael Buble (performed by Blaine Anderson and Kurt Hummel), "Believe" by Josh Groban (performed by Finn Hudson and Rachel Berry) and "Grown Up Christmas List" by Kelly Clarkson (performed by Finn Hudson, Rachel Berry, Kurt Hummel and Blaine Anderson)
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