A/N: Thank you for reading my story and the responses! Now the story is coming to an end. But you'll have an epilogue next chapter. I hope you'll enjoy it. Wish a very Merry Xmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

Disclaimer: I do not own Glee and its characters.

Chapter 19 – November 2013

Life in London was completely different from the one in New York. Not only did she have her close friends and Finn around her, but also 9-17:30 regular working hours and enough me time because of it were not welcome changes to her liking.

Since The Holiday Corporation officially announced about a year ago that it had entered into a definitive agreement to purchase the paper publication assets of Sylvester Publishing (and was expected to be completed on December 31, 2012), her catching up regularly on the phone with her friends had been completely ruined until the magazine took firm root.

Rachel couldn't complain about it though.

More than half the people who had been working for The Musicraker and Survêtement were rehired by The Holiday Corporation. Although, the two magazines had to be integrated into a new men's magazine focused on fashion, lifestyle and culture that could shed some light on new and more mature readers, since the purchaser already published the famous girl's fashion magazine, Minijupe, the women's one Concepción, and the music mag, Voix.

Which meant that a huge reorganization was required, and it forced Mercedes, Tina and Kitty to be up to their neck in work.

As for Sue Sylvester, well, there was always a bad apple in the bunch somewhere.

Rachel, sitting on a bench in the Regent's Park with her dog on one warm Saturday afternoon, let out a deep sigh.

Her dog, which had been unclaimed for a while since he was born with a necrotic ear and a limp, was the Shiba/Bulldog mix Rachel immediately had fallen in love with when she had passed by an animal house shelter in New York at Thanksgiving break last year. She'd, however, had to give up being his caretaker and bringing him (her London) home with her, because she hadn't had enough time for travel procedure to fly with a pet.

Being the sweetest boyfriend as he was, Finn had a different idea. He'd got her him as her 29th birthday gift after secretly having made an arrangement for her to adopt the dog and fly back to London with him.

A smile crept into her lips, recalling the day he, standing at her childhood house's door with a lopsided grin when he had been invited at Berry's family dinner for Hanukkah, had held the puppy with a pink ribbon around the collar in his arms.

"Wow, such a coincidence meeting you here! What's up?"

Rachel snapped out at a male voice. "Huh?" She turned to her right, only to find her coworker in a light yellow shirt and a brown jacket with his glasses already sitting next to her. "Oh, hello, Max." Her gaze shifted to the ground, where a long white-brown haired Weimaraner was quietly lying down beside the owner's leg.

"Didn't know you lived in this area."

Like Rachel, Max Goldwin, forty something years old man, had moved to London from New York to work for T&H a couple of years before. There was one thing, however, that was very distinct from Rachel's situation. The thick black curly haired man had moved to London. With his wife.

"Oh, no, no, my flat is close to City University, but I, uh, often to come here, so that Delka can play off-leash."

"Delka?" He arched his eyebrow.

"Yep, that's his name." Rachel gestured to her dog on the ground.

"Delka is a boy's name?"

"I believe it's a unisex name." Rachel replied firmly. "But it's actually short for Koudelka."

"Oh, I see." Max let out a small laugh, all too well knowing her obsession with Josef Koudelka.

"And yours?" Rachel leaned down a little to pet his dog.

"Gracie." He looked down at his dog staring playing with Rachel's.

"Did she move from New York with you guys?" Rachel asked, smiling her dog approaching Gracie and trying to tuck the skinner dog into underneath his own body.

"No, my wife got her from a breeder who Celine knew a year ago." Max informed along with another coworker's name. "We don't have a kid, Lane easily gets bored, so, you know." He shrugged.

As far as Rachel knew, Max's wife, Lane Goldwin, used to work as an accountant at some firm in New York. She, however, quit her job when Max had to move to London.

Rachel just nodded at Max's explanation, biting her bottom lip.

Why couldn't women have it all?

Her mind once again drifted to her relationship with Finn.

"Are you excited?" Max casually asked, interrupting her reverie. "Your boyfriend's photography book is coming out in two weeks."

Rachel widened her eyes at his statement. It was not like she purposely hid her relationship with Finn, but she had decided that it would be not necessary for them to know it, in case that they could take it that she would mix business with pleasure.

"Don't be surprised." Max said nonchalantly. "I don't think people always need to keep personal life private at work. I believe that sometimes it brings the best results at work. You know, it's kind of the company's philosophy, too." He patted her on the shoulder. "Besides, his photographs are really good. 'Tipsies' is gonna catch a great deal of attention, like his exhibits already did."

Rachel gave her coworker a smile forcibly.

"Thank you," were all she could say.

"Ms. Berry."

Rachel lifted her head from the colored proof sheets on her desk when a voice calling her name came from the doorway. She turned around to find the woman in a Turban standing there. "Madam Tibideaux."

"Go home, Ms. Berry." Madam Tibideaux suggested. "Enjoying your own time brings you the best results at work." She recited her company motto.

Rachel glanced at the time on the wall, which indicated past 7 pm. The other workers had already gone home (or to a pub).

"I lost track of time." Rachel said with embarrassment as she began putting the proof sheets away from her desk.

"I love your perfectionism though. You're the one of the most strived people I've ever met." Carmen stated before adding. "Just as Mr. St. James mentioned."

"W-what?" Widening her eyes, Rachel stammered. "You mean, Jesse St. James?"

Carmen nodded firmly. "It's a shame that he ruined his own life and talent by his drinking habit." She got the door for Rachel, waiting for her to leave the office.

"It is." Rachel picked her bag from the desk and made her way towards the doorway. "Um, may I ask how you knew about it?" She looked up at the publisher when she was about to exit the office.

"George St. James used to work here, so I've been acquainted with his nephew since he was a kid." Carmen informed. "I've read his articles here and there too." She adjusted her glasses. "His passion and writing structure were admirable, although he showed a tendency for his articles to run into noises with his ego." She encouraged Rachel to step out into the corridor. "He still has an eye on high competence anyhow."

To say that this new information dumbfounded Rachel was an understatement. So, Jesse had put in a good word to expiate his guilt so that she could get a new job.

But, she was not only one who had gotten pushed around by Sue's plot, even if it might have been inevitable without Jesse's having a part in. And it resulted in her being apart from Finn again, though she didn't (or didn't want to) believe that Jesse had done that intentionally.

Having said that, she couldn't just quit T&H easily only because her position at T&H might have been secured by Jesse's recommendation. Especially now, that Finn's first photography book was just about to be launched. No. Especially right after his book release. Besides, she already had three books to be supposedly published next year.

Oh, God, how was she supposed to do?

After exchanging see-you-on-Mondays with Madam Tibideaux, mentally draining, Rachel took a deep breath before she started walking towards the nearest tube station, Holborn.

"Finn!"

Rachel jumped up and down in the arrival lounge at Heathrow airport when she saw the large frame towering over the others.

Once Finn spotted his girlfriend's tiny figure in the crowd, he hightailed it pushing his trolley towards her before he scooped her off of the floor. "Hi, baby."

"I've missed you, Finn." She buried her face in his neck before breathing in her favorite smell.

"I've missed you, too, Rach." He pulled his upper body from her and pressed his lips firmly on hers repeatedly, ignoring the looks that they gained from the crowd passing by them.

Because, aside from the fact that Finn had visited T&H a few times last few months for participating in the meetings for his first photography book to be published (and of course they called, texted, or skyped almost every day), it had been almost three months since they actually spent longer time alone than a few hours.

"Let me take you home." Rachel whispered in his ear and slipped herself down onto the floor.

As luck would have it, Finn had gotten super busy since his exhibit—presented by T&H and The Holiday Corporation, with the association of Harman Technology Limited, which made/sold ILFORD brand of black and white photographic products—in New York in last May got good publicity.

Even though T&H had approved her proposal of which a photography book by Finn should be published, the company suggested that some exhibits be staged first, in the United States and (after in the US) in some cities in Europe—thanks to his work for AL Intensity and The Musicraker, the name of Finn Hudson came to attention in the United States, but he had a low profile in Europe yet.

So, since the exhibits in New York happened, he had not only traveled back and forth between New York and Berlin, Paris and London, but got more job offers from various magazines and ad agencies constantly.

"Santana texted me about Ryder being like a rooster for the next month book launch party in New York." Rachel said before she climbed into a taxi.

Finn chuckled as he helped the driver to place his luggage into the boot. "Yeah, he's got more stoked than I am as if it happened to him." He perched himself on the back seat beside her and pulled her into him.

Rachel rested her head on his shoulder. "So, haven't you read any reviews about your exhibit yet?" She tilted her head to look up at him, already knowing his answer.

"Nope, I've not and I won't."

"Why?" Rachel asked. "They all were favorably reviewed. Especially Sara Hogan, you know, the Guardian columnist, wrote a really good one about your exhibit in London. I framed the article and hung it on the wall." She proudly announced.

Finn threw his head back with a light laughter. "So that I could accidentally read it?" He looked down at her.

"That's not my intention, but that's not the point, either." Rachel gently nudged him.

"I don't care what people say about my work. Your opinion matters." Finn placed his lips on her temple. "You're my number one critic, right?"

"Hmm, I would say that I'm your number one fan." Rachel stroked his thigh.

"Nah, more like my number one critic." Finn shook his head. "You practically dogged out my landscape photographs a few weeks ago."

"I did not!" Rachel gasped, scandalized.

"You did too."

"Fine, yes, you should stay away from taking scenic pictures." Rachel mumbled before punctuating. "But you should know, you're a very talented portrait photographer."

"And you're a psychic." Finn nudged her playfully. "But seriously," his face got in all seriousness, "you are the one to make my dreams come true, Rach."

Rachel frowned. "No, Finn," she turned her head to face him, "don't be so humble. You and your talent did, not me."

Finn stared at her for a moment. "You have no idea how much I love you." He leaned his head down to place his lips on hers, his hands cupping her cheeks, gently caressing them.

Over the course of their long distance relationship, she got addicted to staring at her boyfriend in sleep whenever they could share the same bed.

And thinking; how long would it continue? The one between Mercedes and Sam had crumbled in six months. Finn and she had kept theirs over a year. But when would it come to an end? She really was sick as hell of being apart from him. She would be 30 next month. She wanted a kid, her own family, someday, hopefully with Finn. Did this mean that she should quit her job and move back to New York? Then what? What would she do in New York?

And what did Finn make of this situation and their future?

The more her brain got occupied with the thoughts, the more she got awake. She quietly slipped herself out of the bed, and walked over towards the kitchen on her tiptoes.

The sound of her footsteps towards the kitchen woke her dog up. When she planted the kettle on the stove, Delka approached her and started licking her bare foot.

"Oh, I'm sorry, baby." Rachel cooed in a hushed tone, scooping him up in her arms. "I didn't mean to wake you up." She whispered against between his eyebrows.

She shifted him to her shoulder, holding him in one arm, as if he was her (real) baby, while she poured hot water into the mug.

"I envision this at times."

Startled, Rachel whirled around to find Finn standing the doorway, leaning against the door frame, his arms crossing, a lopsided smile on his face.

Too startled to figure it out what he had just said, Rachel blinked a few times. "W-what'd you just say?"

Finn stepped closer to her (them) and took her mug away from her to place it on the kitchen counter, before he put his hands on her waist, looking down at her, his soft smile never betrayed his face. "You, me, and our kid or kids, someday."

"Ar, um," Rachel choked, "are you proposing me?" She managed to let out her words, but her voice almost inaudible, wondering whether the astonishment by his sudden appearance or his implication of their future caused the loud beat around her chest.

"No, yes, I mean," Finn took a pause, looking up at the ceiling, before his eyes returned to boring into hers. "We need to talk." He carefully picked Delka up away from her body and deposited him down on the floor. Then he led her toward the bedroom.

Having entered the room, they sat side by side on the edge of the bed in silence for a while.

"I was–"

"If I–"

They looked at each other and laughed nervously.

"Can I speak first?" Rachel asked. "I have something to tell you."

Finn just nodded with a quizzical look, so Rachel continued after having taken a breath. "Um, if I were your ex, and–"

"You won't be my ex, Rach," Finn interrupted, frowning.

"No, no, Finn, I didn't mean that." Rachel put her hand on his knee. "I just wanted to ask you as to how to deal with some situation."

"Okay."

"Okay." Rachel nodded. "If I were your ex, and forced you out of work, but," she cast down her eyes, her fingers splaying out on her laps, "you happened to find out that I had put in a good word for you to find another job, what would you do?"

"Uh," Finn rubbed the back of his neck, "what does–" He abruptly closed hi mouth as he realized what his girlfriend had implied. He slowly turned his head to see her face. "You mean, Jesse did that?"

"It looks like he did," Rachel sighed, "unfortunately."

Finn ran a hand through his hair, not knowing what to say. He stood up from the bed and started pacing around, trying his best to suppress his urges of punching or kicking something. "When did you find it out?" He stopped himself and asked.

"Yesterday." Rachel murmured, her eyes casting down.

"Why didn't you call me right away?" He raised his voice. Fuck. The douche. Did he do it on purpose? If so, he deserved a fist or two.

"Don't yell at me, Finn." Rachel pleaded in a low voice. "I couldn't get my thoughts straight."

Finn pinched the bridge of his nose before perching himself on the bed next to her again. He sighed. "Do you think, uh, he did it on purpose?"

She shook her head. "I don't know." She leaned her head on his shoulder. "I'm sure he knew something was going on between us, but I'd not been interested in working at T&H until they offered me a job," she sighed, "and been undecided until you showed me your photographs, so…"

Finn nodded. He draped his arm around her shoulder before pressing his lips on her hair. "Do you love your job at T&H?"

"Yes," Rachel held her tongue.

"But?"

"But, I," Rachel hesitated, "I miss New York, I miss my friends, my father," Rachel let out a sigh, "I miss you."

"I miss you too, Rach." Finn squeezed her shoulder.

After an eternal silence, Finn opened his mouth again. "What if I said I wanted to move in with you?"

"What?" Rachel widened her eyes and lifted her head up to face him.

"I was thinking, uh," Finn scratched his head, "Max introduced an agency based in London the last time I was at your office for the meeting."

"But, what about Trenteetun?" Rachel pointed out. Finn shouldn't do this for her. Trenteetun, The Holiday Corporation's new magazine, was important for his career. "It's so sweet of you, but I can't let you do that for me."

"Of course, I'll work for Trenteetun. But London could be my hub of photographing." Finn insisted.

"Did you talk to your mother about this?" Rachel cautiously asked. "You and your mother are very close."

"Lima is my hometown, but you are my home, Rach." Finn gently caressed her cheek. "She'll understand."

"I love you, Finn," Rachel closed her eyes, tilting her head against his large hand, "but we need time for further discussing." She opened her eyes.

"You don't want me to move in with you?" Finn frowned.

"Of course, I do." Rachel cupped his face. "You are my home, too, Finn. But I don't want you to regret anything."

"I won't regret anything!" Finn protested. "I love you, Rachel. I just want to be with you, you know, literally."

"What about," Rachel paused, "I move back to New York?"

"What?" Taken aback a little, Finn stared at her for a second in disbelief. "Is that what you really want? What about T&H?" Finn ran a hand through his hair. "Rachel, I'm a freelancer. I can work whenever I want."

Rachel bit her bottom lip before wrapping her arms around his torso. "What should I do to deserve you?" She whispered against his chest.

"You don't need to do anything, babe." Finn placed his lips on her hair. "Just be you. Be my number one critic."

Rachel let out a small laugh. "I love you, Finn." She closed her eyes. "More than anything."

"I love you too, Rachel, so so much."

The book launch party at The Langham in London was on a high note. Rachel felt some leads; a bright future would wait for Finn Hudson as a photographer.

Rachel looked across at the photographer, who was chatting with some columnists and her coworkers, as she sipped her red wine. And she gave him a small wave of her hand when he turned his head in the direction where she was standing. He gave, in return, her his signature lopsided grin, which made her heart easily melt.

"Ms. Berry." Carmen called her name from behind. "Sorry to keep you waiting. What did you want to talk about?"

"On a frankly personal basis," Rachel started, "I'm not comfortable with the fact that I got hired at T&H because of Mr. St. James."

Carmen arched her eyebrow. "Ms. Berry, you have the nerve to say that I deem my workers' values by some green's opinion?"

Rachel gasped. "N-no! I didn't mean that, Madam Tibideaux."

"I know well of what he did to you, Ms. Berry. And I understand that you feel uncomfortable with his good offices." Carmen said with a stony face. "You are talented, you have drive. So, use your ability at T&H," she took a pause, "in New York."

Rachel, who had drooped her head expecting the publisher to scold, shot up in disbelief at her statement, only to see the woman in a Turban sporting a hint of a smile (or smirk?) around her lips.

"You might have not noticed, but I've selected a highly capable human resource from Paris and New York for years to establish overseas branches next year." Carmen placed her hand on Rachel's shoulder. "So, I hired you for New York branch to begin with. Why do you think I went to New York all the way from London?" She let out a small laugh.

"May I ask when it would happen?" Rachel cautiously asked.

"Three months to six." Carmen informed. "But be prepared for yourself, you'll be pressed by starting it up." With that, she walked away from Rachel.

Rachel, still her jaw dropping open, stared at the back of Madam Tibideaux, overwhelming by the new information, not aware that Finn approached her.

"Close your mouth or you'll catch flies." Finn chuckled, putting his hand on her small back. "What?" Still chuckling, he shifted his hands on her shoulders as he saw her mouth merely quivering. "Rachel?"

"I'm going home." Rachel slowly looked up at Finn. "I'm going home, Finn!"

"What do you mean?" Finn tilted his head to one side.

"I'm going to work at New York office, Finn!" Rachel jumped into his large frame, her arms clinging to his neck. "It'll be in three to six months, but I'm going home!" She pressed her lips all over his face. She didn't care getting attention of many people at the party. Because she didn't care.

Finn laughed at her excitement, scooping her up and holding tighter.

"Oh!" Rachel tore her face away from his neck. "Have you already talked to the agency that you mentioned?"

"Yes and no, I mean, I've talked to them with Max a few minutes ago, but no details." Finn informed. "You said we needed time for further discussion, didn't you?"

"Are you not mad at me? I mean, are you okay that London wouldn't be your hub?" Rachel untied her arms from his neck and landed herself on the floor. "Or, I don't think it's a bad idea you have another hub in London, because I'm sure that you'll get a lot of offers from British magazines and ad agencies, too." She bit her bottom lips with uneasiness.

"Rachel, look at me." Finn lifted her chin with his forefinger. "You are my home, remember? That ain't no lie, babe." He gave her a chaste kiss on her lips.

"Oh Finn." Rachel pressed herself up against him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I can't wait to wake up every morning in your arms."

"Me, either." Finn repeatedly kissed her hair.

"I'm going to call Noah!" Rachel abruptly pulled herself from Finn and dragged him into the hallway before she fished her cell phone out of her purse.

"Who the fuck do you think I am? You've not called me–"

"Noah!" Rachel cut him off, ignoring his petulant manner, "I'm going home!"

"Huh?"

"I'm going home!" Rachel repeated.

"I know you'll come home next month."

"No, I'm moving back to New York next year, Noah!" Rachel yelled. "Are you with Mer? Put her on." She demanded.

"Rachel? Aren't you at the launch party tonight? How was it?"

"Good, great, he's going to be one of the best photographers of the century!" Rachel glanced up at her boyfriend, who looked at her with a warm smile and circled around to wrap his arm around her from behind. "And I'm moving back to New York next year, Mer."

"What? You're gonna quit?"

"No! Mer. T&H is going to have its overseas branches next year." Rachel panted.

"Oh my goodness! Tina! Kitty!"

"Give it back, Aretha!"

"No, Puck, don't touch me!"

"Fuck! What was that for?"

Rachel giggled. "Mer, I'll call you tomorrow, okay? Say hello to Tina and Kitty."

After having hung up the phone, Rachel turned around in Finn's arms before looking up at him, beaming.

"Ready to go home?" Finn thread his fingers through her hair.

"Yes, I'm ready." Rachel nodded.

Linking their arms, they emerged from the hotel into the chilly street.

"So, what do you think?" Finn casually asked.

"Of what?"

"You, me, and our kid, someday."

"I like the idea."

"Yeah?"

"Hmm-hmm." Rachel looked up at him. "And Delka too."

"Of course."

"And I want an official proposal from you."

"Of course. I haven't gotten a ring for you yet." Finn let out a hearty laugh. Rachel joined his laughter.

Rachel couldn't wait for someday turning to be the day, their days.

In New York, with Finn.

With a new little life.

A/N: I know, Finn Hudson's first photography book title 'Tipsies' which, as you already noticed (and maybe have gotten vaguely aware of over the course of the story), is parodied Koudelka's 'Gypsies,' is kind of lame! But it was fixed a long time ago. So I stuck to it.

Concepción is the female character from the comic opera 'L'heure Espagnole.' The opera ends with the following phrase; Among all lovers, only the efficient succeed, The moment arrives, in the pursuit of love! LOL.

Please review :)