Hey everyone! Fanfic (finally) seems to be over its site malfunction, so here it is, the first added in summer episode. If you guys want, I can write a second summer chapter before starting the Finchel version of the Season 2 episodes, just let me know. I do always love writing summer Finchel and I'm sad we never saw it on the show! Anyway, hope you guys like this chapter and review if you want me to keep going!

Chapter 23: Summer 2010

The end of the school year went well. Even though they'd lost Regionals, the school wasn't treating them as poorly as they had earlier in the year, and of course Finn had Rachel. It felt like they were always together after school and on weekends, and he wouldn't want it any other way. He'd struggled in his classes earlier in the year and barely managed to get Cs, but she was helping him study and most of his grades were up to Bs by now.

The football team had only won one game, and he hadn't done too well during basketball season either. He'd hoped that baseball season would go better, but so far there was no such luck. This year he'd been promoted to shortstop as oppose to center field last year, but he didn't feel much better about it considering that they'd only won two games so far. To make things worse, Rachel hadn't gone to any of his games yet and he really wanted her there. After school, he went up to Rachel at her locker. "Hey Rach, why haven't you been to any of my games yet?"

Rachel looked embarrassed. "I'd like to go to your games but..."

"But what?" Finn asked. He would have loved to have her at one of his games.

"Remember what happened at your basketball game?" Rachel asked, looking even more embarrassed.

Finn thought back. Now he remembered. Rachel had worn that "Team Finn" shirt with the gold stars on it and jumped around cheering. "Yeah, I remember."

"I was worried I'd embarrass you," Rachel said. "People might recognized me."

That was why Rachel hadn't been going to his games? "Rach, the cheerleaders jump around cheering."

"But I'm not a cheerleader," Rachel said.

"Rach, I really want you there," Finn said. "It's the last home game unless we make the playoffs, and we all know that won't happen. I really want you there."

Rachel smiled softly. "Okay, I'll be there."

Finn smiled and kissed Rachel on the cheek. "Great!" He took her hand as they walked down the hall together. He already had a good feeling about today's game.

x

The baseball team lined up for the National anthem and Finn scanned the bleachers, hoping Rachel was there. Sure enough, he saw her about halfway back. Trying to still act professional, he gave her a smile and waved discretely. Rachel smiled and waved back. This time, she wasn't wearing her "Team Finn" shirt. She was just wearing a red t-shirt. Maybe because red was the school color?

Shortly after, Finn was called up to bat. As he went up to bat, he heard Rachel call out, "Go Finn!"

Before Finn had a chance to acknowledge Rachel, the ball came towards him. He hit it without much trouble, to his surprise, and made it to second base. He'd never managed to steal a base before. He saw Rachel in the stands giving him a thumbs up, and he gave her one back.

After the next few players hit the ball, Finn hit a home run, the first of four direct home runs. He'd scored a run. That hadn't happened all year.

When time came for the next inning, Finn got to play shortstop, and he hoped Rachel would be as impressed with his catching skills as she seemed to have been with his hitting and running skills. To Finn's delight, he caught a ball in the second inning, getting one of the players of the other team out. This had so far been his best game all year, and he wondered if that had something to do with the fact that Rachel was there. He did read somewhere that when you feel good, you play better.

The rest of the game went well, and McKinley ended up winning 15-3. Finn caught a few more balls and scored a run in the fifth inning. When the game was over, he didn't even wait to change out of his uniform before he went to the stands to see Rachel.

"You were great!" Rachel said, putting her arms around Finn.

"You thought so?" Finn asked.

"Yeah!" Rachel said. "Plus you look pretty sexy in the uniform."

"You think?" Finn asked.

"Yes, very sexy, #5," Rachel teased.

"So you'll come to all my games next year?" Finn asked. "And all my football games, and all my basketball games?"

"Of course I will," Rachel said.

x

A week after the game, school was out for the year. When you stopped and thought about it, Finn had a good year. He'd joined glee, which he enjoyed more than any other extracurriculars, won Sectionals, made it to Regionals and begun dating Rachel. He was glad that it was summer now. He'd studied hard for his finals with Rachel, and for the first time, he was confident that they'd gone pretty well. When he finished his last final, he met up with Rachel in the hall. "So, how do you think you did?" Rachel asked.

"I think I did pretty well," Finn said.

"I'm sure you did," Rachel said. "I wonder when they'll have our grades online."

Finn didn't want them online anytime soon. He hoped he'd done well, but at the same time he was nervous.

"I'm really going to miss you when you're on vacation," Rachel said as she took Finn's hand and walked out of the school.

"Yeah, I'm going to miss you, too," Finn said. For two weeks, he, his mom, Burt and Kurt were going to California. He was excited to go, but he definitely would miss Rachel. "And I'll miss you when you're at music camp, and when you and your dads go on vacation."

"We're both here now though," Rachel said. "Want to come to my house?"

"Yeah, I'd love to," Finn said. They drove to Rachel's house and both her dads were home.

"Hey baby girl!" Rachel's dad Hiram said. "Hey Finn!"

"We're so proud of you, Rachel," LeRoy said. "All As again!"

Finn gulped. Their grades were already online? How had he done?

"What do you say we go out to dinner to celebrate?" Hiram asked. "Finn, would you like to come with us?"

Finn smiled. "Sure." In the back of his mind, he was still wondering how he did.

"Come on, let's go to my room," Rachel said, taking Finn's hand.

"I can't believe our grades are up already," Finn said.

"Me neither," Rachel said. She looked at Finn. "Are you worried about how you did?"

"Yeah," Finn admitted. Rachel knew him too well.

"I'll look for you," Rachel said, giving Finn a kiss. She logged on to the McKinley website, and Finn noticed that she was smiling. "You can look," Rachel said.

Finn looked over Rachel's shoulder. Four As and two Bs. Definitely the best report card he'd gotten since middle school. He smiled as he threw his arms around Rachel. "I love you so much."

"I'm so proud of you," Rachel said.

"Really?" Finn asked.

"Always," Rachel said.

x

Vacation had been fun, but Rachel had missed Finn while he was on vacation and while she was on vacation and at music camp. Today, she thought she'd surprise him by waiting by his house when he got home. It had been nearly four weeks since they'd seen each other. He'd told her that their flight from California would be getting into Cleveland at about noon, and Cleveland was about a two hour drive from Lima, so Rachel went to Finn's house a little before 2 to wait for him. At around 2:30, Rachel saw Carole's car pulling into the driveway. Finn jumped out of the car and ran up to Rachel. "Rachel!"

"Finn!" Rachel said, jumping into her boyfriend's arms. "How was vacation?"

"It was great, but I missed you," Finn said, kissing the top of Rachel's head.

Kurt came up to the porch. "Hey Rachel."

Rachel was a little nervous. She and Kurt had never been best friends, and she sometimes got the impression he didn't like her very much. "Hey Kurt."

"How's your summer?" Kurt asked.

"It's going well, how's yours?" Rachel asked.

"It's been fun, too," Kurt said. "We saw Barbra Streisand's star and I thought of you."

"Really?" Rachel asked.

Finn got out his phone. "Yeah, we took a picture of it for you."

"And Finn threw up on one of the roller coasters at Disneyland!" Kurt said.

"KURT!" Finn pouted. "Well, you were screaming in my ear!"

Rachel laughed. "Wow, Finn."

"Well, nice to see you, Rachel," Kurt said before going inside.

"Yeah, you too," Rachel said. She turned to Finn. "Maybe he doesn't hate me after all."

"Who could possibly hate the amazing Rachel Berry?" Finn asked.

Rachel gave Finn a hug. She was so glad they were both now home for the summer.

x

"Hi Finn. Hi Rachel."

Finn and Rachel looked up from their towel they were lying on at the pool. Today Rachel finally had the courage to wear her new bikini, and Finn told her she looked sexy in it. Right now it was rest period, so they were just resting on the towels. Rachel was surprised by who was greeting them - Puck and Quinn.

"Hey guys," Rachel said. She noticed Finn wasn't saying anything. Despite the fact that she knew neither Puck nor Quinn liked her very much, seeing them was probably a lot more awkward for Finn than for her.

"So, how's the summer treating you two?" Puck asked as Finn put his towel on top of Rachel and Quinn gave Puck a look. What was going on?

"It's great, now that we're reunited," Rachel said. "How are things with you two?"

"They're great for us too," Puck said. "Quinn's been helping me with pool cleaning."

"He's a lot better at it than I am," Quinn added.

"I went to New York and to music camp," Rachel said. "I've got lots of ideas for glee club in the fall."

"Of course you have ideas," Puck said. "Well, good to see you guys."

Rachel noticed Finn hadn't said a word to Quinn or Puck. "Are you okay?"

"Of course, why wouldn't I be?" Finn asked.

"You didn't talk to them," Rachel pointed out.

"Well, for one thing, he was checking you out," Finn said.

"I have no interest in him," Rachel said. "You're the only guy for me."

"I guess it's still kind of awkward with them, after everything that happened last year," Finn said.

"I understand," Rachel said. She rested her head on Finn's chest as the whistle blew, hinting that rest period was over and they could get back in the pool. At the sound of the whistle, Finn perked up.

"Race you back to the pool," Finn said.

"We aren't allowed to run, remember?" Rachel teased.

Finn took Rachel's hand and speed walked to the pool, jumping in right before Rachel jumped in with him.

"So, you said you have ideas for glee club this fall?" Finn asked.

"I always have ideas," Rachel said.

"I hope you have lots of duets for us in mind," Finn said.

"Oh, I always do," Rachel said.

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