Hey everyone. Thank you all for your reviews on the last chapter. I appreciated them! This chapter does have some non Finchel segments because I wanted to show the other couples celebrating Valentine's Day as well, but don't worry, this is still a Finchel story! Enjoy and review if you want me to continue!
Chapter 44: City Of Love
Rachel woke up and noticed Finn wasn't at her side. That was strange since Finn was almost always still asleep when she woke up. She didn't need to look at her calendar to see what day it was today though. She knew that today was Valentine's Day. She'd had surprises planned for him. Since Valentine's Day was a Saturday this year, the whole day was Finn and Rachel's to spend together, and Rachel couldn't ask for a better way to spend her first Valentine's Day in New York.
Rachel heard footsteps outside her door. Maybe Finn was up. She began going through her drawer, looking for the big box of chocolates she'd gotten for Finn. Luckily, she found the box underneath her summer clothes, right where she'd hidden it. She breathed a sigh of relief that Finn hadn't found and eaten the chocolates.
The door opened, and Finn came in with a tray. "Rach, you're out of bed!"
Rachel giggled. "I didn't know you were up!"
"I made breakfast in bed for you," Finn said, tilting his head toward the tray. "Happy Valentine's Day."
Rachel gave Finn a kiss. "Wow, thank you babe. I'll be happy to get back to bed so we can eat breakfast there."
"Yeah, I made enough so I could have some, too," Finn said, sitting on the bed. He handed Rachel a bouquet of flowers. "These are for you."
Rachel looked at the bouquet. "Wow Finn, they're beautiful."
"I went with Kurt," Finn said. "Kurt got some for Blaine, and I got some for you. Then I went again with Blaine and Sam so Blaine could get some for Kurt and Sam could get some for Tina. So you get double the amount."
"You're so sweet," Rachel said. She looked at the breakfast that Finn had prepared.
"Pancakes, toast and fruit salad," Finn said. "Sound good to you?"
"Sounds perfect," Rachel said. She poured tea into a cup for herself and for Finn and clinked them against each other. "Cheers."
x
"So, are you two going out for Valentine's Day tonight?" Shelby asked Finn and Rachel as they finished lunch.
"Yeah," Rachel said. "Somehow, we had managed to score today off at the diner."
"Well, someone is coming over today who you guys might like to see," Shelby said.
"We don't have dinner reservations until later, so you don't need to worry," Finn said.
"Who's coming?" Rachel asked.
"You'll have to wait and see," Shelby said.
The doorbell ring, and Rachel went to answer it. When she saw who was on the other side, she immediately called out for Finn. "Quinn! Puck!" Rachel exclaimed, hugging her friends.
"Hey!" Quinn said. "Happy Valentine's Day."
"You too," Rachel said. "Did you two do anything special?"
"We went out to breakfast," Puck said. "But what's most special is what we're doing tonight."
"What are you guys doing?" Finn asked as he came and hugged his friends.
"Since I'm going out tonight, I asked Puck if he and Quinn wanted to come watch Beth while I'm out," Shelby said.
"And of course we'd love to," Puck said. "We always love being with Beth."
"Going out?" Rachel asked her mother.
"Well, I might as well tell you," Shelby said. "You know I've been getting lots of help since I got sick. One of my friends from the theatre business brought her brother with her one time to help me out. He asked me for my number and he was wondering if I wanted to go to dinner and to a movie today."
"Shelby, that's great!" Rachel said. She knew that Shelby hadn't dated very much in her life because she threw herself into work so much.
"I am looking forward to it," Shelby said. "I thought the two of them might like to spend some time with Beth, so I called Puck to see if they wanted to."
"Of course we want to," Quinn said.
"Where is she, anyway?" Puck asked.
As if she knew people were looking for her, Beth came downstairs. "Beth, you remember Rachel's and my friends Noah and Quinn, right?"
"Yeah I do! Hi!" Beth said.
"Hi," Quinn said. "It's nice to see you again."
"Nice to see you too!" Beth said. "I'm going to be five soon!"
"That's exciting," Puck said. "So you're in your last year of preschool?"
"I am," Beth said. "I'll be in kindergarten next year, right Mommy?"
"That's right, sweetheart," Shelby said.
"So, are you guys going to Ohio for Regionals in a few weeks?" Puck asked Finn and Rachel.
"I don't know," Rachel admitted. "I'd like to go, but we were just there to meet the Schuesters' son."
"Yeah, that's how we feel, too," Quinn said. "Sectionals was easy because it was Thanksgiving, but we'd have to rush there and rush back, and since it's in Columbus, we couldn't just stay with our parents."
"I wish we could go," Finn said.
"At least Nationals are in Boston this year, so that's not too far from here," Rachel said.
"Yeah, so we can all go to that," Puck said. "Jake's hoping to do a duet with Marley at Regionals."
"Still not over her?" Finn asked.
"I keep telling him he'll find his Quinn," Puck said.
"I knew that Ryder and Marley were going to be together from the beginning," Finn said.
"Kylie said that Marley's really happy with Ryder," Rachel pointed out. "So, I'm sure the others would love to see you guys while you're here."
"We'd love to see them," Quinn said. "I'm sure everyone has plans."
"Yeah, pretty much," Finn admitted. "All of us with a boyfriend or girlfriend in town are going out, since by some miracle we all got off work, and Artie's having an extra long skype date with Kitty and he sent her flowers."
"She wanted to come to New York for Valentine's Day, but it's like you were talking about with Regionals," Rachel added.
Beth looked up at Puck and Quinn. "I've gotten some new toys since you came over before. Want to see them?"
"Sure," Quinn said as she and Puck followed Beth upstairs.
x
"So, where are we going for dinner?" Rachel asked Finn as they began walking to dinner. Finn had changed into a suit and tie, and Rachel was wearing a pink dress with a white cardigan. Finn hadn't told Rachel where he'd made reservations, but he did tell Rachel to dress up.
"Where do you think?" Finn asked.
Rachel thought. "Sardi's?"
"Yup," Finn said. "It was the first place we ever went to dinner in New York, so I wanted to go there tonight."
"I love that idea," Rachel said. "They do say New York is one of the cities of love."
"Yeah," Finn said. "When I wanted to ask you out at Nationals our junior year, Puck told me that."
"Puck knew that?" Rachel asked.
"Puck was really encouraging me to ask you out," Finn said, remembering how he'd been nervous to do it, but the other boys had encouraged him to do so. "So did Sam, Artie and Mike."
"I guess they knew what we couldn't admit to ourselves," Rachel said.
Finn smirked at Rachel. "And what is that?"
Rachel leaned in to kiss Finn. "That we're mean to be."
"We are meant to be!" Finn said. "Thanks so much for the chocolates. They were delicious."
"I read that the company I got them from is the best chocolate company in New York," Rachel said. "Kurt got some for Blaine, too. And the flowers and breakfast in bed were just perfect."
"I wanted to give you the best Valentine's Day ever," Finn said.
"So far, you're doing that," Rachel said as they arrived at Sardi's.
x
"I love how we both ended up getting each other flowers from the same place," Blaine told Kurt as they walked through the streets of New York together. Blaine had made dinner reservations for Kurt and himself at Sardi's.
"I know," Kurt said. "I guess I should have guessed that you and Finn would consult together."
"Yeah, but the ones you gave me were beautiful," Kurt said. "How did you like the chocolates I got you? Rachel got some for Finn from the same place?"
"They were delicious," Blaine said. "Hey Kurt, remember last year, I told you it was no accident that we were together on Valentine's Day and Christmas and that we'd be together for many more?"
"Of course I remember," Kurt said.
"Well, I was right," Blaine said. "On Valentine's Day next year, we'll be married."
"We will," Kurt said. The truth was, last year he'd known that Blaine was right about them being destined to spend future holidays together. He was just afraid to admit it.
Kurt and Blaine arrived at Sardi's. "Well, here's where we're having dinner," Blaine said.
"Sardi's?" Kurt asked.
"Yup," Blaine said.
"But Sardi's is so expensive!" Kurt exclaimed.
"Not too expensive for you," Blaine said as they went in.
As they walked in, Kurt nudged Blaine. "Look who else is here!"
Kurt and Blaine waved at Finn and Rachel before taking a seat at their table. "So, does a summer wedding still sound good to you?" Blaine asked as they sat down. "We can get married legally here in New York."
"Yes," Kurt said. "I've actually been looking at venues. I know Finn and Rachel want a Central Park wedding, and I'd really like that, too."
"We'll have to look into that, then," Blaine said.
x
Tina and Sam had plans for Valentine's Day, but they weren't until later, so that gave both of them some time to study. When Tina arrived back in her dorm room after studying in the library, she saw that it was full of Valentine's Day themed decorations. Hearts were taped to the walls, and red and pink streamers hung from the ceiling. "Oh my God!" Tina said.
"Your roommate let me in," Sam said.
"Thank you," Tina said, giving Sam a big hug. "Thank you so much!"
"And these are for you," Sam said, handing Tina the flowers he'd gotten when he'd gone shopping for flowers for their respective girlfriends with Finn and Blaine.
"They're beautiful," Tina said. "I'm so glad we decided to try this out after coming to New York."
"Yeah, me too," Sam agreed. "So, I made us some dinner reservations. Would you like to go?"
"Of course I would," Tina said.
x
Santana and Dani sat in their apartment as Dani played some romantic music on her guitar. "That was lovely," Santana said.
"Thank you," Dani said. "This is the first Valentine's Day I've had a real girlfriend."
"What about that girl your parents caught you making out with in the basement?" Santana asked.
"She was just a girl I knew who wanted to experiment," Dani said. "You know, I'm really going to miss living with you when you move into the new apartment."
"I'm going to miss living with you, too," Santana said. "It's kind of weird how you're talking about that girl you were experimenting with, because last year, I spent Valentine's Day with one of my straight friends who was experimenting."
"Who was it?" Dani asked.
"Quinn," Santana said.
"Quinn?" Dani asked. "Wow, I wouldn't have guessed."
"She said it was fun, but it was a one-time thing," Santana remembered. "I'm glad that I'm with you this year though."
"Yeah, me too," Dani said. "Ready for dinner?"
"I'm ready," Santana said as they began to leave.
x
Artie was doing homework in his dorm room, waiting for his skype time with Kitty, when he heard a knock on the door. He wheeled up to the door and was surprised to see who was on the other side when he opened it. "Kitty!"
"Surprised to see me?" Kitty asked as she gave her boyfriend a hug.
"What are you doing here?" Artie asked.
"I thought I'd come surprise you so we could spend Valentine's Day together in New York," Kitty said.
"Best surprise ever!" Artie said.
"Plus, I love coming to New York," Kitty said. "Sugar's having the Sugar Shack party again this year, and I didn't think it would be much fun to go alone."
"I had to go alone the first year!" Artie said.
"Well, neither of us have to spend Valentine's Day alone now," Kitty said as she hopped on Artie's lap and the two shared a kiss.
x
"I'm glad Mommy had you two come over," Beth said as she played with Quinn and Puck.
"We're glad too," Puck said.
"You guys are really nice," Beth said. Then she looked at Quinn. "Quinn, you look like me!"
What were Puck and Quinn supposed to say to that? "I guess I kind of do," Quinn said.
"How do you know Mommy?" Beth asked.
Another tough question. "She used to be a teacher at our school," Puck said.
"Oh," Beth said. "I go to preschool."
"Is it fun?" Quinn asked.
"Yeah!" Beth said. "They have lots of cool toys there!"
"That's nice," Puck said. Even though Shelby hadn't told them that they could tell Beth who they really were yet, they were so glad to spend Valentine's Day with each other and with their daughter.
x
"So, did you enjoy your Valentine's Day dinner?" Finn asked Rachel as they left Sardi's.
"I did," Rachel said. "Though maybe you should be the one asking me that."
Finn laughed. "Yeah, because you slipped your credit card to the waiter when I wasn't looking!"
"I had to do something for you," Rachel said.
"You've given me the best Valentine's Day ever," Finn said as he kissed Rachel.
"Finn! Rachel!" Finn and Rachel turned and saw Kurt, Blaine, Sam, Tina, Santana, Dani, Artie and Kitty standing around talking.
"Hey guys!" Rachel said as she ran over to join her friends. "How's your Valentine's Day going?"
"Great!" Santana said.
"Kitty, what are you doing here?" Finn asked.
"I couldn't let Artie and me spend our first Valentine's Day apart," Kitty said.
"This is so amazing," Rachel said. "All of us together. In the past we've been longing for someone on Valentine's Day, but this year, we're all with the person we love."
x
"You guys have everything?" Shelby asked the next morning. The new apartment would be ready for Finn, Rachel, Kurt, Blaine and Santana on the 15th, so they had packed up their bags to move in today. Sam and Tina would be helping (and so would Artie, as much as he could in his wheelchair). Since Puck, Quinn and Kitty were still in town, they'd be helping as well.
"Yeah, we do," Rachel said. "Thanks so much for letting us stay with you, Mom." Then she realized that might have been a mistake.
"Mom?" Shelby asked.
"I'm sorry, Shelby," Rachel said. "I didn't want to make you uncomfortable..."
"No, I'm glad you feel comfortable calling me Mom," Shelby told Rachel. "I just wanted to wait until you felt like you could."
Rachel smiled. "Whenever you need me, you know where to reach me." She and Shelby shared a hug before she went to join her friends in the U-Haul.
"Ready to move into your apartment?" Tina asked Rachel when she got in.
"Yeah," Rachel said. The group drove to the new apartment building and began unloading things. When they got to the apartment, Rachel couldn't help but smiled to herself. As much as she had enjoyed living with Shelby and Beth, she had missed living with Kurt, Blaine and Santana. Now they were all living together again.
"I'm so glad we're all living together again," Rachel said to Kurt as they unpacked.
"Yeah, me too," Kurt said.
"I bet you guys are also glad you had lots of help with the luggage," Kitty teased.
"That too," Blaine said.
"Before Puck, Quinn and Kitty leave town, we should all have dinner here together," Finn said. "It'll be our thank you for helping us move."
"Yeah, and a housewarming dinner for you guys," Sam said.
"Would you guys like to stay for dinner?" Blaine asked.
"We'd love to," Quinn said.
Chapter 45 preview: Finchel, Klaine and Santana adjust to the new apartment. The trial for the old apartment robbery takes place and the gang receives some surprising news about New Directions.
10 reviews unlock Chapter 45!