A/N: So I have been lucky enough to form some real friendships while writing my fanfiction - something that I wouldn't have believed ten years ago. Thanks to 'anothergleekgirl' and 'SapplingOfAStar', for reviewig, previewing, and most of all, just listening.
"Rachel let's go!" Kurt tapped his foot in frustration over his roommate's 'fashionably late' habits. "The train is leaving the station."
"Coming," Rachel said quickly, ushering down another piece of pink luggage.
"Is that everything?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Says the man with the five piece luggage set," Rachel shot back. "I couldn't decide what to wear."
"For the wedding? Those outfits were decided months ago." The Glee Club members were going to wear their winning Nationals attire from 2012.
"No, for seeing Finn for the first time, after our Valentine's... whatever."
"Break up?" Kurt suggested.
"Do not throw that word out there. I needed time to clear my head, I think I still do."
"You haven't been spending much time alone lately."
Rachel kicked a piece of Kurt's luggage set. "If you're talking about Brody he's just a friend."
"A friend that you were out with very late a couple nights ago. What happened there, anyway?"
Rachel kept her eyes on the door. "Nothing worth repeating," she said stoically. If she was being perfectly honest, the night had turned into a jumbled mess for her, only remembering fragments here and there. She remembered the noise, the alcohol, the lights, and touching Brody. How far did we go she'd wondered the morning after, hung over from the previous evening. She was afraid to call Brody and ask, not wanting to appear as a novice lightweight, though she was pretty sure the answer was farther than she would have preferred. "We have a train to catch, right?"
"Right," Kurt echoed. "A summer in Lima, Ohio."
"A summer with the rest of the group. Before more of us go our separate ways."
"Blaine and Artie found a place that they really like, not too far from here actually."
Rachel nodded, moving her luggage into the cab. Will he look different when I see him? Will he think that I look different? Am I different? Rachel's mind flowed with thoughts as the cab driver started toward the train station.
Rachel was the first to step off at the train station, with Kurt trailing behind in a text chat with Blaine. She scanned the crowd for a familiar face, wondering if a certain quarterback would make a surprise appearance. Redeem himself after sending me off to New York alone, was a common mantra that Rachel had chanted during her first several months at NYADA. Seeing no trace of Finn, Rachel looked harder for a friendly face.
"Rachel!" Tina Cohen Chang jumped into the air.
"Tina," Rachel sighed in relief.
"I told your dads that I was picking you and Kurt up today." Tina reached for one of Rachel's luggage bags.
"Kurt is otherwise occupied at the moment," Rachel joked.
"They got back together."
"I think it was inevitable. Kurt and Blaine are…"
"You and Finn," Tina said encouragingly.
"So Blaine is going to abandon Kurt and follow his own path?" Rachel scoffed.
"That isn't funny or true."
Rachel nodded. "It's easier to be mad at him when we're apart, to blame him for our not being together. Even though I'm the one that suggested a break."
"Did it help?"
"I think I'll know when I see him."
"You still spending time with that other guy. Odie, Bodie…"
"Brody, and that name thing is getting old. He's my main friend at NYADA."
"You just need to wait for Blaine in the fall," Tina joked with a jab. "Let's pry Kurt away from his phone."
"I'm back!" Rachel called out to her family, dragging her bags into the entryway. The plan was for her and Kurt to make the three hour drive to Fairport Harbor with Blaine, Artie, and Tina the following day, giving Kurt and Rachel one night to spend with their families before the wedding weekend.
"Here's my star," Hiram called out, hugging Rachel close. "I still don't see why you and Kurt have to leave so soon tomorrow?"
"Would you rather have them go straight to the beach house?" Leroy scolded, coming in for a hug.
"You know you two could always get a hotel room close to the venue, then we could see each other more," Rachel suggested. "There's lots of places nearby."
"Your daddy and I have a different summer vacation in mind."
"A couple's cruise in the Caribbean!" Hiram added triumphantly.
"I'm happy for you both," Rachel said, breaking the hug. "There's no real point in unpacking since I'm leaving tomorrow, my bag for the wedding is already to go."
"Make sure someone is recording your solo for the happy couple," LeRoy reminded.
Rachel nodded. Her gift to Will and Emma was going to be a song, really an intended duet with Finn, but she wasn't sure if he would be singing.
"Before you go rest, we want to talk to you about Finn."
"Finn? Dad, I told you Finn and I are just taking a small break."
"For clarity," Hiram repeated. "How's that going?"
Rachel lowered her shoulders. "It's hard to get clarity in a noisy city."
"Do you think being at the same event with him will make it any easier?"
"Daddy, I already know what you think of Finn…"
"Don't be so hard on him," LeRoy whispered to his husband, then redirected to his daughter, "He's just concerned about you, we both are."
Rachel followed her parents into the living room. "I'm not exactly floundering in New York. I've got Kurt, my classes, tutoring…."
"Brody Weston," LeRoy cut in.
"Have you been talking to Kurt?"
"His name has been mentioned before," Hiram said. "Maybe we can meet him when we visit you in the fall."
Rachel nodded, knowing that fall was months away. "Did you know that Finn upped his time with Army?"
LeRoy nudged Hiram, leaning into his ear.
"What are you two whispering about? Is it about Finn? Is he okay? Do you know something that I don't?" Rachel stood up, running her fingers through her hair.
"We've been communicating with Finn over the break," LeRoy said, gesturing for Rachel to sit. "He's fine, everything's fine."
"We just wanted to get your thoughts on everything," Hiram added.
Rachel sat back down. "We've talked about Finn before. Maybe you were right along; we're both so young, and only a year out of high school."
Hiram struggled to hide a smirk, as LeRoy elbowed him to check his expression.
"I've been thinking about him a lot," Rachel admitted. "Neither one of us have ever done the long distance thing before."
"You're both doing great, making your own paths," Hiram reminded her. "And we've told Finn the same thing. Contrary to popular belief, I do not hate Finn Hudson," he chuckled. "I just thought you two were moving too fast with the wedding, staying engaged – you two could try dating you know, or just writing without the pressure."
Rachel nodded. "So we're clear, no one in this room hates Finn."
The three Berrys raised their hands in agreement.
"I'm going to go upstairs and lie down," Rachel said. "I'll be down for dinner." Rachel went up the stairs with her one overnight bag. Resting on top was a picture of her and Finn from their final competition senior year, right after winning everything. For better or for worse, there was anticipation in seeing him during the following days.