Hello! It's been so long! I don't really have any excuses, just life getting in the way. However, here's a brand new chapter for you all. As always, thanks to my beta, Pam, for turning my late night nonsense into readable stuff :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee, or the characters, just entertainment, etc. You can read now.

Chapter 18: Good news

Finn left the big office and walked through the school hallways quickly, unable to hide his grin. He had a busy day ahead, but this news had been all the motivation he had needed to face it with determination and enthusiasm. Going through the semester juggling not only college, but also Glee Club and working with Burt had been a challenge, but it had definitely been worth it. He loved what he did, and now he had finally found a way to make it all even better. And he couldn't wait for it to happen.

Rachel's phone had chosen the worst moment to die. She wanted to call him – she needed to – but she would have to wait until she got home for that. She rushed down the stairs to get the subway. On a normal day, she would have waited for emptier subways, but today, she just hopped on the first one she came across, and she was even lucky enough to find an empty seat. It was hard to sit still, though. Her leg kept bouncing up and down and her fingers kept tangling and untangling almost involuntarily. She was nervous, anxious, and excited all at once. She stepped out of the subway and ran up the stairs to the street. She ran up the stairs to her apartment too, because the elevator was taken and she really couldn't wait that long. She struggled to find her keys in her big handbag and then she fumbled trying to unlock the door. Yes, she was nervous – but the good kind of nervous.

She tried to listen beyond her rambling thoughts and her own heartbeat pulsing in her ears to see if anyone was home… but she regretted it immediately. Santana was definitely home – and she was not alone.

"Ugh! Santana, you know I come home early today!" She mumbled to herself grumpily as she found a charger for her dead phone. Then she turned around quickly and left, slamming the door behind her. It was such a dramatic exit she was slightly disappointed there was no one there to see it.

She didn't want to go out again, so she just found an outlet in the hall that led to their apartment and sat on the floor next to it. Santana's partner would have to leave some time, right? She plugged her phone in and turned it on again.

"Come on, hurry up." She talked to the device as she waited for it to restart.

When it did, she noticed she had gotten a couple of texts. The first one was from Santana.

Don't come home before 5 or you'll regret it.

"Great. A little too late for that, Tanna." She looked at the time...16:30. "Not too long before five." She said as she kept going through her unread texts.

The second one was from Kurt.

Do we have bread, Rach, or should I buy some?

She typed a quick reply.

I'm not sure, I can't go in. You're buying dinner, right?

She impatiently waited for Kurt's response, which fortunately didn't take that long.

Oh no, Santana took your keys again? And yes, I am, want anything special?

The text made Rachel laugh. It wouldn't be the first time Santana forgot her keys and took Rachel's instead, locking her outside the apartment.

I wish! My ears are damaged now. And would you mind buying some sparkling cider? I have good news :D

She smiled as she typed the message. She definitely was in a celebrating mood tonight.

Oh. Right. Santana took Lucy home today. I'm sorry, I should have warned you. Wait, what? I want to know! Tell me, tell me!

She couldn't help but laugh at her friend's curiosity, but he'd have to wait…

Not now, I want to tell you both when we have dinner okay? And It's okay, it can't ruin my day anyway :D

Of course, the drama queen has to build up the suspense, right? I'll be home soon.

You know me so well ;) And please, I'm hungry.

She closed the messaging app and went through her recently used contact list, chewing her lip. Suddenly her anxiety was back, and she had to stand up because she couldn't stay still. She hit the call button and waited to hear his voice… But she reached voicemail instead.

"Dammit. Seriously, Finn? Right now?"

She took a deep breath as she texted him.

Can I call you?

Twenty minutes later, Rachel checked her messaging app for the umpteenth time, pouting when she saw she hadn't gotten any new texts. She heard footsteps getting closer to her and looked up, finding Kurt at the end of the hallway.

"Rachel, you're still out here?" He asked as he walked to her.

"Yeah, Santana said not to come in before five, so I'd rather wait." She shrugged.

"Why the long face, though?" Kurt frowned as he sat down next to her. "I thought you had good news?"

"Yeah, I just…" She shook her head slightly, trying to take Finn out of it for a while. "Nothing. I'm hungry, and I want to go inside. But I'm still happy." She grinned.

"Okay, that's good." He smiled. "Can't wait to hear about it. It's almost five, do you think we should still stay out here?"

As if on cue, their front door opened and Lucy and Santana came out, the Latina kissing her girlfriend and saying goodbye. Lucy turned around, immediately blushing crimson red at the sight of Rachel and Kurt on the floor a few feet ahead.

"Um, hi guys! Uh, sorry for… yeah, bye!" She said as she hurried down the hall and to the elevator. Kurt and Rachel simply waved at her, amused.

Both got up, Rachel helping Kurt with the groceries, and headed into their apartment.

"Wow." Kurt said to Santana as he went in. "What is that girl doing with you? She's all sweet and shy, and you are so… Santana."

"I guess it's not you who came home early today, then. You should ask Berry if she thinks she's sweet and shy too." Santana laughed as she helped her roommates with the groceries.

"Yeah, thanks for that Santana. I actually like it better when Lucy is being sweet and shy, and, I don't know, quiet." Rachel complained, whilst setting the table.

"I did warn you, Berry, so it's your fault that you ran into us." Santana defended herself.

"My phone died…" Rachel mumbled.

"Is that my problem? Nope." The Latina replied nonchalantly.

"Girls." Kurt intervened. "Would you help me with this stuff please?" He asked, gesturing to the items he had bought. And to his surprise, both girls dropped the subject and helped him put the groceries away. It was so… rare. He was really thankful that they'd both had a good day.

Santana finished emptying a bag and noticed something was missing.

"Kurt, you didn't buy stuff for breakfast?" She asked.

"Um… no, I didn't." Kurt said, opening a cupboard. "I thought there was…" He stopped as he saw it was empty.

"Great, I love to go to work with an empty stomach." Santana grumbled.

"I could g…" Rachel started, but she felt her phone buzz mid-sentence. Finn, she thought.

"You could…?" Santana asked, her good mood forgotten.

"I could…" she hesitated, her thoughts somewhere else. "I could get dinner ready while you guys go and get something for breakfast?" She really wanted him to be the first one to hear about her news. An empty apartment could be useful right now.

Santana sighed. "Alright, c'mon, Porcelain, let's get us some breakfast. I'd like to be awake before I leave the house in the morning."

Rachel put a pot of water on the stove to boil for pasta and took the tomato sauce out of the fridge to heat later. After Santana and Kurt grabbed a few stuff and left, she took her phone out of her pocket and quickly opened the messaging app to read Finn's reply.

Sorry, I was at the tire shop with some old lady. I don't know how she still has a license... You can call now if you're free :)

Not bothering to type a reply, she opened her contact list and called him.

"Hi, Rach -"

"Finn! Finally!" She cut him off cheerfully, making him chuckle.

"Whoa, someone is excited! Something you wanna tell me, babe?"

"Yes!" She smiled brightly. "Finn, you wouldn't believe what happened at work today!"

"Um... you guys rehearsed a new scene or something?" Finn guessed, a little confused.

"No, Finn, bigger. Much bigger than a new scene!" She jumped in her place.

Finn couldn't help but laugh softly – her excitement was so cute.

"Okay baby, I'm lost. Mind helping me a bit?" He asked. Rachel could tell he was smiling.

"Lauren, the main actress, the one I understudy for… she's pregnant!"

"What?" Finn asked, surprise and excitement clear in his voice.

"What you heard! She's pregnant! She's only a few weeks along, but of course she had to talk to the director as soon as possible. So the director talked to me and told me that when she started showing or couldn't dance anymore or whatever, I'd step in! Finn, I'm playing Fanny! Maybe only for a few months but still!" She spoke quickly. Finn could hear the grin in her voice.

"Wow, Rach, that's amazing! Congratulations! God, you don't know how much I wish I could kiss you right now!" He exclaimed with pride.

"Me too, baby. I'm so, so happy!" She sighed in content. "I mean, I'll have to work my ass off to keep up with Lauren; she's good but… I'm so happy!"

"I know you are, I'm so happy for you too, Rach." He said softly. "What did Kurt and Santana say?"

"Huh? Oh, no, I haven't told them yet… I just… I really wanted you to be the first one to know." She said, her voice softening.

Finn was smiling widely at her words when Rachel heard voices in the hallway.

"Oh, crap, Kurt and Tanna are back and I was supposed to make dinner." She grumbled before hearing him chuckle at her tone on the other end.

"Talk to you later?" He said.

"Sure. Bye, Finn." She replied sweetly.

"Bye. Oh, and Rachel?"

"Yes?" She asked curiously.

"I'm sure you are just as good as Lauren, don't doubt yourself." Finn encouraged. "I'm so proud of you. And don't forget to get me a ticket, okay?"

"Most definitely." She smiled. "Thank you, Finn. Bye."

"Bye, baby." He said before hanging up.

"Rachel, the water is boiling." Kurt noticed as he left the bags on the table.

"Oh, yeah, yeah. I was just about to put the pasta in." Rachel said as she busied herself with the spaghetti box.

"Are you… blushing?" Kurt asked, honestly curious.

"Blushing? No, it must be the vapor from the water." She dismissed her friend as she stirred the spaghetti.

"Yeah, and the spoon must have told her some cute compliment, see how she's grinning at it." Santana added as she set the table.

"Just tell me you weren't having phone sex next to our food, please." Kurt asked with fake horror.

Rachel couldn't help but laugh at her friends' jokes. "I told you I had good news. That's it, okay?"

"Oh! That's it, Nancy. Your brother already knows, then. Problem solved." Santana stated.

Kurt gasped jokingly. "So you told your boyfriend before your friends!? I can't believe this."

"Shut up!" Rachel laughed, bumping her hip with his. "Okay, yes, I did just talk to him. Finn is my friend, too. Actually, he was my friend way before you and let alone Santana were, so just deal with it." She joked, sticking her tongue out at Kurt. "Tanna, pass me the colander please."

"You know what, I don't care." Santana said as she gave Rachel the item she had asked for. "I just wanna know about your good news."

"Okay, you guys ready?" Rachel asked excitedly as she served her friends and herself spaghetti.

Santana simply nodded, unable to talk after the bite of pasta she had taken. Kurt shot her a scolding look as if he were teaching a child to eat.

"What?" Santana asked, through her mouthful of food. "Not my fault if you can't eat without getting fat, dude."

Kurt simply sighed. "Okay, go ahead, Rachel."

"Okay," Rachel said, grinning and clapping her hands in excitement. "So Lauren, the main actress, is… pregnant!" She exclaimed happily. "So at least for a few months I'll be playing Fanny!"

"Oh my God, that's amazing!" Kurt exclaimed, getting up from his seat to hug Rachel and kiss her on the cheek affectionately. "God, I can't wait! You're going to be amazing!"

Santana got up and hugged her, too. "Congrats, Berry. You'll kick ass. Please don't become an insufferable diva once you set foot on a Broadway stage or we'll kick you out." She added, patting her head with affection.

"So when are you starting? Do you know?" Kurt asked excitedly.

"Not really," Rachel answered. "But as soon as she starts showing or can't perform anymore, I'll step in. She's only a few weeks pregnant now, so we'll have to wait. Meanwhile, my rehearsals will be a bit more intense."

"You'll kick ass, Berry." Santana smiled.

Finn had his textbook in front of him, but if you asked him, he barely knew what he was reading about. This had been a day filled with good news and that was the only thing he could think about. He kept picturing himself in a Broadway theater in New York, sitting in front row and watching Rachel sing her heart out in her dream role. His chest swelled with pride just thinking about it. Finn realized Rachel's dreams had become his, too – probably a long time ago, to be honest – and that he had been waiting for her to get this chance as much as herself. He knew, though, that in order to share this with her, he had to work hard on his own dreams. He looked down at the book in front of him and smiled. He sent Rachel a quick goodnight text before adjusting his position and getting ready to read again.

Rachel lay down that night and simply stared at the ceiling, an ear-to-ear smile plastered on her face. It wasn't ideal, it hadn't been easy and it would get harder every day, but after all of these years of preparing and dreaming, she was finally setting foot on a Broadway stage – playing nothing less than her most beloved character. Her friends were happy for her, her dads were happy for her, and Finn – her boyfriend – was happy for her too. Everything was slowly yet finally falling into place and it made her feel so overwhelmed with joy that she wasn't able to fall asleep. When she finally could, she dreamed of Broadway theaters and Barbra and love.

Soooo… what did you think? Show me some love? :)