CHAPTER 16 :: FUN LOVIN' SUMMER!

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL.

It's 3:15 pm and the last day of junior year is finally OVER… let the Hudson-Berry FUN LOVIN' SUMMER commence!

We already cleared our lockers out earlier and I was waiting for Rachel outside the choir room so we could finally get outta here for the next few months as Puck approached me.

"Yo HUDDY!" He greeted me with a high five and a fist bump. "So you guys are coming out to the lake tonight, right? It's gonna be sa-weet! I scored a couple quarter kegs and even got my hands on some of those pink wine coolers Berry likes, just for the occasion."

"I dunno yet, bro, depends on Rach. You remember what happened at her basement party, and she swore she'd never drink again after that… So if she's up for it, then yeah."

"Seriously dude? You're so whipped I think you've got vag hanging outta those cargo shorts you're wearing."

Leave it to Puck to find new creative ways to sound all misogynistical and such (Rachel is SO PROUD that I learned how to use this word!). I just rolled my eyes at him though. "Whatever dude. At least I'm getting it on the regular now – and it's all the better because we're so in love." I didn't even care how big my sappy shit-eating grin was. Whipped or not, I'm a lucky guy and I know it!

He just stood there blankly staring at me with his arms folded. After a beat he sniped in monotone, "Correction. Beaver shot with tampon string showing."

Sometimes I wonder why we're still friends.

"Dude, gross! Just, UGH shut it man, not cool! Anyway. Is everyone else from Glee coming?"

He rolled his eyes – typical. "Hell yeah, they are! And hey, Berry doesn't need to get wasted. Just remind her she can be the DD if it makes her feel better – even though her sober driving is just about as dangerous as anyone else drunk. Plus I'm pretty sure everyone plans to bring a tent or something and stay the night."

"First, fuck you. My girl is an awesome driver, I taught her myself."

"Says the guy who mowed down his mailman in broad daylight at like, fifteen miles an hour?"

"I repeat, fuck you. And also, that's a breach of the bro code bringing that up!" I said through gritted teeth. He winced as I nailed his shoulder with two swift punches. "But yeah, I guess we'll prob'ly make an appearance at least... she'll most likely give a big NO on spending the night, though. She's more into like, uh, pillows and real mattresses, Besides, I'm pretty sure with so many people around Rach won't wanna let me get any so—"

"I won't let you get any what, baby?" Shit.. shitshitshit. Sneaky sexy little Ninja arms snaked around my waist from outta nowhere. Damn those new moccasins she's wearing!

"Rach! Heeey babe," I leaned down and greeted my girl with a soft sweet kiss on the lips – hoping to buy myself some time to find a way outta being cut off for discussing our sex life with Puck, or at least to distract her and change the subject. "I was just uh... Puck was um, just asking if w-we wanted to head to the lake tonight 'cuz, uh–"

"Yeah 'cuz we're having a big last day of school bonfire and kegger. But Finnertia over there figured you wouldn't want him to have any of those campfire weenies roasted on the open flames, since he got sick off them last time." Oh, right – that's why we're still friends.

"Well, you're completely accurate in that assumption! Hot dogs are so unhealthy to begin with, Noah – They're chock full of nitrates, saturated fats and high fructose corn syrup. Not to mention the animal cruelty involved in the treatment of those poor defenseless animals... Also I'm positive your mother is unhappy that you still refuse to pay any mind to Kosher etiquette. I've got to ensure my man is well cared for, body, mind and soul. Right honey?" She stood on her tiptoes and kissed me on the cheek.

"Ri-right, YES. You do take such good care of me, babe." I smiled and gave Rach another soft deep kiss then I looked back at Puck to continue the ruse he created. "Like I said, I have to watch my diet, dude. Rach doesn't want me gorging on too much junk. You should know that by now, man!" I hope he could see the thank you in my eyes.

"Uh-huh. So that's no wiener for Finnessa then. Check. Ooo-kay then, well, guess we'll see you two lovebirds later!"

As Puck started to walk away toward the exit, Rach called after him, "Bye Noah, see you at the lake! Oh! I'll be sure to bring some tofurkey dogs – already prepared properly at home, of course – in case you want any! You really should eat healthier yourself, you know."

Puck spun around on his heels and threw her two thumbs up, wearing the most sarcastic smirk I've ever seen before spinning back around and continuing out the door.

Good thing Rach doesn't always catch on to those kinds of social queues.

. . . . .

The lake party was…well, a bonfire. Y'know, same as usual. Sure, it was fun to hang out with everyone knowing we were free for the summer – our LAST summer before high school ends! – but after like, four semi-warm semi-flat beers, three bites of a tofurkey dog (which I discreetly spat out in a bush when Rach wasn't looking), two shots of whatever evil witch's brew Santana brought in a thermos (which totally washed away that rancid tofurkey taste BTW), and a sack slap to Puck for trying to feel up Rach's boobs in his drunken state, I was totally ready book it out of there and get home with my sexy girl and feel her up myself. (The Daddy Berries were away for some weekend golf thing and we had her place alllll to ourselves – which meant a completely KURT-FREE ZONE for two whole nights, so we needed to take full advantage of that!)

Since I was staying at her house that night, we left my truck at her place and took her little gold Prius to the lake – which I'm still amazed I can fit into almost comfortably – and she drove us back from the party since she really was the DD. Rach has driven my truck but prefers her little midget sized car 'cause she says it fits her better, so I can't argue that logic.

And um... I know I defended her to Puck (as a good boyfriend should), but Rach really is a kinda scary driver though. First, she almost ran us off the road and stopped just short of hitting a tree when an opossum family decided it was a good time to take their kids out into the middle of the street for a late night roadkill snack. Then she closed her eyes, getting lost in the music a little too much while we were singing along to that Lifehouse song I sang to her at Sadie Hawkins and nearly side-swiped a parked car during the tempo change. And THEN, she actually ran a red light while watching me instead of the road!

Okay that last one was maybe a little bit my fault... I was overheated since it was a really warm muggy night for early June – add beer + San's witch's brew shots = striptease, apparently. So I took my shirt off, which I s'pose distracted Rach too much and she didn't notice the light was changing to red... guess my baby was as horny as I was ;) But that by no means excuses a total disregard for traffic signals and she's lucky there wasn't a cop around to see it or that no other cars were on the road at the time!

Anyway. We finally got to her place and settled into her room but she wanted a shower first – even though she'd had one before we left for the lake but she said outdoors made her feel all sweaty and icky. I tried to convince her that she was just gonna get all sweatied up again in another few minutes anyway (if you catch my drift), but then she reminded me that she just bought some more of that totally awesome strawberry shampoo that I like so much along with a body wash that smells exactly like it. She said I could wash her hair for her and we could do, y'know, OTHER things in the shower too...so uhhh... SOLD! (Did I mention I have the best girlfriend EVER?)

Sidenote: I could tell you that shower sex is totally hot and awesome – which it is, or well, it would be, if her shower head was a little higher up on the wall. But since her dads installed it special for HER, and her very midget-sized height (and not for, say, her very tall boyfriend who might someday be joining her in there), it actually is a little challenging for me.

At least three times I either got a shower head in the eye, or once I sorta slipped while holding her against the tile wall for um, totally awesome reasons, and smacked the side of my head on it. And no, it didn't help that I was still kinda drunk and we had OOODLES of strawberry soap bubbles like, everywhere, so it was kinda extra slippery but... Yeah I almost dropped Rach and nearly knocked myself out, so we agreed to stick to SOBER shower sex in the future.

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY.

Four days into summer break I had a very very important date night planned. Rach probably doesn't think I remembered this day, but how can I not? I mean, it's not every day you tell the girl of your dreams you love her for the first time – or that she says it back.

And yeah, I know we ran into some issues a few months after that day (okay yeah, I know; I totally created the issues), but the date still stands as an important memory in our history; the Finchel FOREVER timeline officially began on this day one year ago, so it's gotta be a day worth celebrating, right? Hell yeah it is!

If I live to be a hundred, I'll probably never forget that day, or everything that led up to it.

I can't believe that fiasco of a club meeting at Mr Schue's apartment. I mean, so what if Coach Sylvester was gonna be a judge at Regionals? Hers is just ONE vote, we could still win over the other two judges… and if we don't at least try, then for sure there's no hope of saving Glee club for next year. But you can't win if you never even try, right? Isn't that what Rachel is always telling me?

So when she decided the situation was too hopeless and that we'd already lost the battle, then walked out of Mr Schue's without even putting up a fight, nothing in the world seemed right anymore. I mean, Rach just giving up like that? That is NOT the Rachel Berry I came to know and fall for. She's supposed to be the one who never backs down, never shies away from a fight, gives us all a big pep talk and a swift kick in the ass and who believes in herself and the team at all costs, no matter the odds.

I really thought that trip to Sean's house helped put things in perspective for her, so what the hell happened to her? That crap with St Jackass using her, breaking her heart then breaking EGGS on her face musta really screwed with her confidence. (And he better hope I never catch him alone after pulling that little stunt, either.) Maybe if he'd never come into her life, I woulda been there the whole time and maybe she wouldn't be feeling the way she is right now.

But he's gone now, and I AM still here, just like I have been all along. She's always telling me how special I am and that I'm a leader… well, I knew I had to say something to get her inspired again, be the leader she's always telling me that I am.

It took a while to track her down, but I finally saw her heading down the stairs after her English Lit class on the way to glee and had to double time to catch up with her.

"Hey! We need to talk. We had a chance of keeping it together at Mr. Shue's until you decided to bail." I'd managed to run down a couple steps in front of her, so when I turned to face her we were at eye level.

She looked so sad, so defeated right then. But also, she looked so fucking beautiful. It's only been a little more than a week since I took her to Sean's, since I got my Rach back, and we've been hanging out together every day since outside of school. AT school was a different thing though, she was still being really cautious about us in public and I couldn't understand why exactly, 'cept maybe because of all the times I was a total TOOL and screwed her over. Still, I knew she was worried about regionals after hearing about Coach Sue and the way she was looking right then, I just wanted to pull her into my arms and hold her and tell her everything was gonna be okay but I figured she wasn't ready to be so public about us yet.

But really, she just needed to like, snap out of it! The club needs her leadership too, more than mine!

She never said a word, but she also didn't try to walk away either. She just stared deep into my eyes with her huge weepy looking sad ones, so I decided to keep talking. "You're our leader, Rachel. The way you're on everyone all the time is annoying, but it's also what keeps the club motivated. You and I are going to fix this. We're going to Regionals, and we're going to win this thing."

And then before I knew what was happening, she leaned in and kissed me. It was a short, sweet, soft kiss but I can't even explain what it did to my insides. Then she smiled her perfect Rachel Berry smile, the one I've only seen when she looks at me, and suddenly all the pieces were falling into place.

All the things I wasn't sure about, these weird really strong feelings I'd wrestled with for months... I knew what they were now. Honestly, I prob'ly knew all along, but for some reason I wasn't able to really put a name on it until right about that moment.

I know I already told you the part about Regionals and actually SAYING the words, me telling her before we performed Faithfully and her telling me on stage afterwards... but then there was after after.

I drove her home that night and we spent like an hour on her front porch, holding hands, star gazing, and kissing. Lots of kissing. We didn't talk that much. She was nervous, I could tell... and to be honest, I kinda was too. I'd never told a girl I loved her before – not even psycho Quinn (well, besides my mom, but that's not the same thing – and NO I'm trying to get that Octopus complex again). Something about Rachel always makes me feel this weird mix of invincible and intimidated all at the same time. In the beginning it used to freak me out, but now I'm sort of addicted to the feeling.

You would think Rachel being, well, Rachel, there would've been a big long conversation about the whole I love you thing, analyzing it from every angle, but there really wasn't. All she said was "you really love me?" as a question, like she couldn't believe it. So of course I said I really do, and I had to repeat it again and again in between kisses just to drive the point home.

But then she asked why. Oh wait, you thought there'd be NO conversation about it at all? Pfft. Have I not explained who Rachel Berry is well enough to you yet? :)

Anyway. The WHY sorta threw me for a loop for a minute and I had to think of how to explain it to her. I think she got scared that I really didn't have a reason, til I caught her cheeks in my hands and looked her in the eye to tell her "because you're YOU, and nobody else makes me feel the way you do." I kissed her so softly on each cheek and I could feel the heat from her blush.

As expected, her follow-up question came (say it with me if you know the answer): "How do I make you feel?"

Okay. We all know Rachel Berry is basically like a walking dictionary and Finn Hudson is...not. If there was ever an official comparison done of how many words she speaks to each one of mine, my money would be on something like 35 to 1. But if you measured who was able to render who speechless more often, I think I win (and I'm not even counting all the times I have to kiss some shut up into her) – and I think the first time it happened for real was when I answered her second question there.

"Rachel you... you're so smart and beautiful and funny and your heart is so huge. I've never known anyone like you before. The way you just dream things up and it's like you just KNOW how to make those dreams become a reality. Lately I've been wondering if you dreamed me up, because since I met you everything has changed. The way I see things, the way I think. I never thought a girl like you would see anything in me past my ability to score touchdowns, if you even paid attention to that much. You tell me I'm good at something, and for some reason I believe you. You tell me I have potential and suddenly I'm looking for a way to prove you right.

"I don't know exactly what I'm trying to say, except, since I met you, all I wanna do is make you smile that smile that takes my breath away. So if that means wearing glittery suspenders with matching bow ties, or doing dance moves that look like sex in front of the whole student body, well, I'm in. Because your smile, I swear, it powers my soul. And your voice – especially when you sing but even just when you talk and especially when you laugh – it keeps my heart beating to this unique Rachel rhythm that I can't feel with anyone else. I feel like I can do damn near anything if you think I can."

Then that same smile from the stairwell came back and she said "same," and then we kissed until I was seeing stars even with my eyes open.

Anyway. Rachel's crazy relationship calendar for us seemed to have forgotten this very important date – which was really shocking to me, since she's SO over the top about random weird notable dates and reminders. Maybe she didn't think it would matter as much to me, or thought I would think it's weird?

Well... to prove to her that it does matter, I took her out for pizza and bowling (you're having those flashbacks now too right? And you're welcome), then to the movies where we shared some Sour Patch kids (of course) then to the lake for a mega-hot makeout sesh in the bed of my truck (that's MEGA HOTTT with three T's). I also gave her a new charm for the bracelet I got her at Christmas – a gold heart with a diamond chip, and ILY with the date engraved on it.

She was totally surprised that I wanted to celebrate this anniversary or that I even remembered it in the first place and she adored the gift. Of course there were a few happy tears and a lot more happy kisses after that... among other happy things... ;) But then she was kinda spazzing out for not thinking of celebrating this date herself and then she was feeling guilty for not preparing for it and not getting me a gift or anything and well, that all just led to me strategically applying some more of those shut-up-kisses. I told her she was the only gift I'd ever need and that seemed to do the trick. (Then she strategically demonstrated some more of her lack of a gag reflex and umm... YEAH. I swear I'm the luckiest dude on the damn PLANET!)

H2 FAMILY VACATION (plus Rachel).

Mom and Burt surprised us with our first real official family vacation this summer. The Hudson-Hummels went off to the BEACH at Conneaut on Lake Erie for seven whole days and six whole nights!

Burt rented us a three bedroom beach house so we had a kitchen and all the comforts of home. The best part was that Rachel was allowed to come with us... except that she had to share Kurt's room – at least, that's where Burt thinks she slept... shhh don't tell! ;)

B-T-W – Can I just tell you how super damn awesome the beach is? Okay yeah, sand, sun, water – whatever. That's not what's so awesome... it's Rachel. In a freakin' teeny weeny bikini. Oh. My. GOD... I must owe Kurt like mega HUGE for the rest of eternity because I'm pretty sure he took her shopping and helped pick out that little two piece number. It's like the sexiest thing I've ever seen...

She stepped outta the house wearing her new flip flops, a giant floppy beach hat and this coverup thingy with big tropical flowers all over it that looked like an old lady's mumu dress or something that great-grandma Hudson would've loved – and y'know, Rach is just cute as hell in anything so she still looked hot (I mean, she even managed to rock that LIME GREEN dress at her party last year so, y'know, I can deal with the Bubbe look too).

But then we got to the beach. And she took off the mumu. And DAAAYUM. All I can say is what a difference ONE YEAR made – and also, it was a really good thing I was already in the water when she did that. (I mean, my MOM was there and like, seriously, she did NOT need to see just how GROWN UP her son really is, okay?)

Last year just getting her out of her terrycloth coverup thingy was like a forever long waiting game. Then it took like another few weeks til the one piece ruffly swimsuit became a two piece. And that super sexy hot pink deal she wore to the lake at home last year? Yeah, IT now looks like an old lady cover up compared to this, like, strings and scraps of fabric sparkly deal she's got on now. Pretty sure I only counted like 2 mini-triangles and a... like a banana peel? All I know is how much FUN I'm gonna have untying all those strings later... :-D

. . . . .

Rach is still learning to swim, even though I tried (sort of) to teach her while we snuck off to the pool at our hotel in New York at Nationals (um.. except, I got kinda distracted with other way hotter and more INTERESTING activities there that, well, teaching her to swim was like, SO not important).

So she's taken a few classes at the Lima YWCA on Sundays before we came on this trip – which was kinda hilarious to see her wearing those little inflatable water wing thingies in a 4' deep kiddie pool with a bunch of five year olds – and so far she's only mastered the doggy paddle. At least now I know she can stay afloat in an emergency.

Even still, being in Lake Erie really scared her, and she really didn't wanna let go of me at all (NOT that I'm complaining one bit). She kept insisting it was like being in the ocean, which, okay, I guess when you look out on the horizon and only see WATER it sorta feels like that, but I mean seriously, there's no sharks or whales or anything, so it's really not ocean-like AT ALL... There ARE some cool sand crabs and loads of sea-shells on the beach though. We had a lot of fun collecting those and even building sand castles.

While we were building her 'dream castle' made of sand, I actually gave in to her sweet kissing persuasion and let her bury me up to my neck in sand... Except uh, I ended up falling asleep – which turns out was a MAJOR MISTAKE, because my dear sweet 'innocent' girlfriend and soon-to-be-DEAD stepbrother decided that was the perfect opportunity to prank me. Yeah. They put all kinds of frilly pink bows and crap in my hair and put makeup on my face (yeah, blue eyeshadow, eyeliner, big red clown lips and all) and TOOK PICTURES – including a couple selfies! Pictures which Kurt - that fucker - posted on HIS Facebook wall captioned 'I feel pretty' and then tagged me in!

Thankfully, Burt finally woke me up and helped dig me out – yeah Burt was my only savior, since even my own MOTHER was too busy laughing at my expense! Don't you worry, little hot sexy girlfriend of mine and devil-in-disguise known as Kurt Hummel... Revenge is one of my favorite pastimes! B-}

{{cue Mission Impossible theme music in the background}}

Revenge Mission #1
Target: Sneaky-ass stepbrother, aka Kurt the Jerk
Goal: Total humiliation and annihilation

I considered putting poison ivy in his swim trunks but decided there could be a LIFETIME of prank wars started over that (plus, I am REALLY super allergic to the stuff, so although it woulda been a great prank, I woulda prob'ly suffered worse than him just to pull it off).

Instead, I setup a hidden video camera in front of the little desk he used as a vanity and got his night time ritual on film... and then someone (by the username of Revng-iz-Sweet_Anon5) may have uploaded a video to YouTube of Kurt with his hair wrapped in a towel wearing green goopy facial junk while moisturizing his arms and singing 'In The Merry Old Land Of Oz' under the title 'Wicked in Training' then shared it on the Glee club Facebook group wall...

We may never know who pulled off that BRILLIANT bit of pranking GOLD, but it scored a squealing fit louder than a pig farm in the springtime!

Target 1 Takedown: Mission Accomplished.

. . . . .

Revenge Mission #2
Target: Super sexy girlfriend, aka Devious Diva
Goal: Get even (but still get laid again later)

This mission was gonna be MUCH more difficult. Kurt's an easy target, and honestly, I don't need to worry about the long term consequences with Kurt (like a sex freeze-out). But Rach? She's already seen the video of Kurt on Facebook (and posted a comment about how 'nighttime skin care rituals are important so it's rude it is to poke fun' – of course that was after her super long giggling fit and then a fight with Kurt for laughing at him). Anyway, she's already on high alert waiting for me to strike, so I gotta be super extra crafty about this.

So my mission, should I choose to accept it (and I DO) will have to be a two prong delayed attack. I had some ideas in mind already and I was thinking I might have to wait til we got back to Lima when she was least expecting it. But then, as if luck was on my side, it rained the next day and all the pieces for my genius plan suddenly fell into place.

Mom wanted to make her rainy day chicken casserole, but she needed a few more ingredients from the store. Rach and Kurt were deeply engrossed in a Fred & Ginger musical marathon so I happily volunteered to make a solo run to the Save A Lot.

My happiness for leaving the house came on two levels: one, because it meant not suffering through another minute of hearing Cheek to Cheek, and two, the chance to gather the needed elements for my surprise revenge attack on one hot sexy little brunette.

See, on our drive to the beach house, I noticed there was one of those, um, like, sexy adult toys kinda stores not far from where we were staying... and thanks to the rain, a golden opportunity for a secret shopping trip just landed in my lap. :-D

I walked into the sexy toy store and WHOA... First of all, this place was GINORMOUS with everything and anything you could ever imagine (and I can imagine A LOT but I couldn't even have thought up most of the stuff inside this place). It wasn't easy but I was on a mission and really needed to focus – but it was HARD. Um... okay, that sounds pretty dirty and that's not what I meant (although I can't lie, that was a little bit of a problem too – especially when I went through the naughty nighties section).

Anyway. I already knew what I was looking for and luckily they had EXACTLY the item in question: remote control vibrating bikini swimsuits (thank you super-cool Gerard Butler and hot blonde chick from Grey's Anatomy for giving me this idea). See, Rach loves presents and I knew she really wouldn't see this prank coming from like a million miles away – plus I would get to have a little extra secret fun in the process :-D

So after dinner when the rain had cleared up I took her out for a romantic dessert picnic on the beach, just the two of us. I gave her the gift bag which also included a little stuffed starfish that said 'Conneaut' on it, a seashell bracelet, and some salt water taffy.

At first she was a little panicked thinking she'd forgotten an anniversary or something, so I calmed her with some lazy slow kisses telling her it was a just because I love you gift and something I saw that I thought she'd look totally hot in. Hook. Line. Sinker. Too easy really. And she LOVED the fact that I did something so sweet and spontaneous so much that I got all kinds of sexy rewards as a thank you that night (twice! – Sex on a Beach ain't just the name of a drink y'know?).

I almost felt guilty for what I was planning... almost. Then I got another text from Puck asking advice on the best shades of lipstick to go bowling in and I steeled my resolve.

The next day was another beautiful sunny day. Rach of course was proudly wearing that super sexy gift of mine without suspecting a thing (heh heh). We headed out to the beach kinda early 'cause she wanted to work on her tan to even it out. She said she got too much sun on her front but not enough on her back and asked me to put her tanning lotion on. Being the incredibly awesome boyfriend I am, of course I was willing to help her out. ;)

She got situated lying face down on the blanket and I reached in her bag for the lotion when I saw the SPF 100 sunblock and got another idea... (commence PRONG1)

Mom & Burt were out in the water and Kurt was somewhere down the beach collecting more seashells, so I made a real effort to love up my girl for a little while. I was kissing her arms and neck and the back of her shoulders in between applying the tanning oil. Rach was so relaxed and enjoying my sexy kissing/massage/oil application process so much that she didn't even notice when I swapped the tan oil for the sunblock. She layed with eyes closed trying not to moan too loud while I traced random patterns and letters on her back with my fingers (well okay, they weren't actually random at all – but she didn't know that... yet).

A few hours later it was lunchtime and mom called us all back to the house where Burt was grilling. Rach got up and was collecting her things when I told her how sexy she looked from behind. I said I wanted a picture and told her to pose for me, so she looked over her shoulder and made this sexy kissy face and did a HOTTT little butt wiggle as I snapped a quick pic. She had no idea I was really capturing my artistic reverse suntan handiwork – which turned out even better than I thought it would, too!

Rach put her floppy hat back on and tied a beach towel around her waist and by the time we got to the house, Kurt was coming up behind her. He grabbed her by the shoulders from behind to still her so he could get a good look at her and then let go of her and started complaining.

"Really Diva? Like we don't all already know how sickeningly in love you two are? Was it seriously necessary to brandish it all over yourself like that?"

She looked at Kurt, totally confused, and mom happened to be the next to see Rach's back. She held back a laugh then looked at me all accusingly saying "Finn Hudson, what on earth did you do to her?!"

By that time, Rach was like, turning in circles trying to see behind herself to figure out what they were both talking about. I just bit my lip trying to hide my smile and look all innocent. I knew by the time she got inside to a mirror and screamed when she saw 'Property of Finn Hudson' inscribed across her back (complete with an arrow pointing down to her sexy ass) that I was gonna be in trouble later, but in the moment it was totally worth it – especially since I now have photo blackmail that could easily be uploaded by Revng-iz-Sweet_Anon5 at any time to prevent her from further retaliation!

Target 2, Prong 1 Mission: SUCCESS

While we sat eating lunch, part two was about to unfold...

Thankfully the remote that came with that sexy bikini was small enough to fit in my pocket. It had two buttons to control it, one for the swimsuit top and one for the bottoms. Let the games begin!

I started with the bottoms button. On the first really short buzz she jumped up and squealed. Kurt asked if she was okay, and she played it off as a bug bite, then looked around all nervous at everyone but continued eating.

The second buzz lasted about three seconds and she stood up to look at the chair. I was innocently munchin' on potato salad and I asked "you okay babe?" She insisted she was fine but she was eyeing me funny then Burt asked if there was something wrong with the chair and got up to inspect it for her.

I did my best not to look at her as I held the button for the bikini TOP for about ten seconds and she suddenly dropped her fork full of fruit salad and clamped her arms around her chest. She was staring me down with narrowed eyes and sort of scowling from across the table now, so I knew this wasn't gonna last much longer.

On the next buzz my cover was surely gonna be blown so I went in for the kill: twelve continuous seconds on the bottoms. She started sliding around in her seat, gripping the arms of the chair turning beet red and trying hard not to make that sexy noise she makes when she's getting really turned on. I smirked at her and sent a little wink about half way through. She slammed a hand down on the table so hard that some of her juice splashed up out of the cup and mom asked her what was wrong. She managed to squeak out a breathless 'leg cramp' then got up and excused herself to run inside, asking me to come with her.

I barely got to close the sliding glass patio door behind me when she snatched me up by the waistband of my swim trunks and dragged me to my room whisper shouting "what did you do? How are you making this happen? Did you put something in my swimsuit?"

"Baby I don't know what you mean, I thought you needed help for your leg cramp."

"NO NO NO Finn Hudson! You know full and well there's no leg cramp! You're controlling this somehow... so tell me how!"

"Rach, babe, what is it exactly that you think I'm doing?"

She practically growled at me through clenched teeth, "You... y-you, you somehow are making me v-v-VIBRATE Finn! How are you controlling it?!" So I smiled sweetly and said "Vibrate where baby?" as I held down both buttons for the bikini top AND bottom at the same time. She started stuttering "I-I ooo OH MY GOD fff- I'm g-gonna..." then she shoved me back on the bed and started kissing me and rubbing on me and begging for me to touch her... well, who was I to deny her? I abandoned the remote 'cause, y'know, she needed both my hands for other reasons, and she used hers on me too, and well, it. Was. AWESOME.

Afterward, she reached down to pick up my trunks from the floor and musta checked my pockets 'cause she found the remote. She looked at me with narrowed eyes and her face all twisted up. Then I really couldn't stop laughing at that point even while she was slapping me in the arms and chest cussin' at me – which is SO hilarious hearing her sayin' all those words... hilarious and somehow super fucking HOTTT.

"Finn! I am mortified! You almost made me do... that... in front of your parents and Kurt!"

"I'm sorry babe, but maybe next time you and Kurt will think twice before posting embarrassing pictures of me online. And hey, for what it's worth, nobody knew what was happening but me... your excuses were pretty good. Don't be mad, Rach."

She got up and went into her and Kurt's room and changed out of the swimsuit into shorty shorts and a teeny tiny spaghetti strap tank shirt. She came back and pressed the remote control forcefully against my chest and whispered in my ear "Keep this. You might need it next time we're in my pool while my daddies are gone."

Holy. Shit. I am the luckiest guy in the UNIVERSE!

Target 2 Takedown: Mission Accomplished (and NO sex freeze-outs!)

METEOR SHOWER.

This summer there was a really cool meteor shower event. It's kinda rare for it to happen where we can see it from Ohio, plus the fact it's in summer when we can stay out all night is extra awesome.

So me and Rach went on a drive to the darkest most secluded back road I know of and pulled into a field to watch. Kurt bought me a telescope for my birthday last year so we brought that, plus Rach brought the binoculars she uses with mom when they're bird watching.

It was a really great night and the meteor show was pretty cool, but mostly I just enjoyed the quiet time with Rach. We talked a little about New York and how excited we are to be living together so soon. I think it'll be the easiest thing, living with Rach, since we already spend so much time together... but she's a little nervous about it for right now. Mostly because we'll have to figure out how to stay focused on school and jobs if we have them and not just spend all our time in bed or making out. She might have a point there, I mean I know she's gonna need to focus most of her time on her studies and that's cool, and even if I don't go to college too I'll just be able to help her study and stuff.

I'd move in with her tomorrow if we could make it happen. I just wanna go to bed with her in my arms every night and wake up to her beautiful face every day, eye boogers and morning breath and all. And then we can totally have naked make-outs wherever and whenever we want without interruptions from Kurt squealing about his corneas burning and PTSD and stuff. UGH! I kinda quit worrying about his meltdowns at the start of summer though, because I figure if he wants to keep walking into my room without knocking, he deserves what he gets – I'm not stopping on his account anymore. But Rach always ends up laughing so hard that it kinda breaks the mood. I love my brother but he's SUCH a pain in the ass sometimes!

Anyway. We also talked some more about what I wanna do after graduation when we get to NYC. I've been thinking about it alot and I kinda feel like it has to be something connected to music, I'm just not sure what yet.

When Rach was taking those swimming lessons at the YWCA I got talking to one of the directors there and they mentioned needing camp counselors with music experience. So me and Rach both ended up volunteering for a week and helped the kids put on a musical – and I even helped teach a few of them how to drum. I really had a great time and loved watching when they picked up on something new. So Rach mentioned maybe I should think about teaching, she said I could be the next Mr Schue only better. I mean, that could be kinda cool I guess, and I'll definitely keep it in mind.

I just really love Rachel so much. Laying on the blanket in the bed of my truck, with shooting stars falling around us (ok I KNOW they're meteors, not stars, but it sounds cooler my way) I just can't imagine how I could be any happier. She's the honest to god best thing that ever came crashing into my world, just like those meteors, all fire and bright and spectacular. I was such a dipshit for not realizing it on that very first day of Glee, and for all the months it took me to catch up to her feelings. Coulda saved us both a lot of heartaches, y'know?

"What are you thinkin'?" She asked me and pressed sweet kisses on my jaw.

"Nothin' much. Just how I love you."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. And how I wish we could like, just lay here like this forever, in the dark, under a blanket of stars, you in my arms. I couldn't ask for anything more perfect than this."

"I love you too, so much Finny. Make love to me."

She never has to ask me that twice.

As summer went on, we did a lot of the same stuff we did last summer, only it was even better. We went to the library a couple times and revisited those dusty old stacks (and found out exactly how loud Rach's moans and squeals have to get before they catch the librarian's attention).

We went on a couple dinner and movie double dates, one with Kurt and Blaine, one with Mike and Tina.

We took a road trip to Pittsburgh to see the U2 360° concert (which was AWESOME, BTW) with Puck, Cedes, Sam and Santana.

And something kinda weird happened on that road trip – Rach and Santana started becoming like, FRIENDS. Or well, almost friends? Friendlier... like, not fighting, and like, agreeing on stuff, and like, they even went shopping a couple times ALONE together when we got back which was TOTALLY bizarre. But I mean, I'm glad... for one thing, it's nice to see Rach making new friends. And for a bigger thing, I think it's helped a lot with her doubts and insecurities. She doesn't get that FACE anymore when I mention Santana for any reason, and it's been a really long time since she put herself down and compared herself to those Cheerio girls.

Anyway. When I wasn't working at Burt's shop, we also spent a lot of time at the lake, or at the park, or just in our secret spot on the log in the woods by her house. Sometimes she'd bring books from our required summer reading list for school (yeah, don't think for a second Rachel Berry has forgotten how to be all academically responsible and stuff). Sometimes we packed a picnic and just laze around and enjoyed the day together.

Those were some of my favorite days of summer, the lazy ones with my beautiful girl. And her promise ring would catch in the sunlight and I'd think, dammit, why can't that just be a diamond already? I know I want this for the rest of my life. I'm getting really impatient waiting for it to happen too... I want it all. Marriage, kids, LIFE. Together. She IS my life and I just wanna start living it with her, now. The sooner the better.

The Finchel's Get a Pet.

I love Rachel. So so so much. Swear to god I do, with every fiber of my being. But goddammit she pisses me off sometimes! Or maybe it's more like, I piss myself off, me and my weak will where that woman is concerned. She makes it so damn hard to say NO to her sometimes!

Case in point, there was this conversation at the beginning of August:

"Finny?"

"Yeah baby?"

"How would you feel about getting a cat?"

"Um. No."

"Wh-what do you mean, no?"

"No."

"Just NO, with no explanation given? Like, we can't even discuss it?"

"Fine. No, I hate cats."

"But Finn, how can you say that? They're just so soft and snuggly and they purr and—"

"And they have claws and scratch up everything – like my skin. And they shed and they jump on kitchen counters and steal babies' breath in their sleep... plus I'm allergic, so. No."

"Okay well, that part about stealing babies' breath is FALSE, but... what about dogs?"

"Rachel..."

"That wasn't a no!"

"Babe, why do we need a pet right now at all? I mean, we've got a year of high school left, then we're gonna be moving to NYC, and then what?"

"Well, we'd take him or her with us, naturally! Finn, you don't leave your baby behind!"

"BABY?! Who said anything about–"

"FUR baby, Finn."

"Oh. Well, still.. It just wouldn't make sense to get a pet right now, babe. I mean, we'll be out doing stuff and the fur ball will be left home alone a lot, then we'd end up, like, cleaning up #1's and #2's off the floor and stuff – which is GROSS by the way, and.., and and you know full and well YOU'RE not gonna wanna clean it up, so you'll make me do it all the time. And plus we'd have to like, walk it and feed it and, I dunno, wash it or something. Then what if it gets rabies, or fleas or like, bubonic plague? And they need shots and stuff, so like they have to go to the vet and... it's just a lot of work and expense."

"So are actual human babies, Finn. Does this mean you won't want any of them either?"

"C'mon, that's not what I'm saying at all and you know it. Of course I want us to have babies, someday. Far off in the future. Just not right now. We're not ready. Definitely not for actual babies, and prob'ly not for the four legged ones either." . . .

"Rachel, don't glare at me like that... It's not going to work." . . .

"You can tap your foot all you want... I'm not looking at your pouty face and your stupid Bambi doe eyes." . . .

"Aw Rach, baby don't cry, your eyes are gorgeous, of course I love your eyes. I love you. I'm sorry, babe. Look, if it means that much to you then, I'll... {{sigh}} I'll think about it okay?". . .

"Mmmm... baby girl, that f-feels soo go—ood... but y'know I only ssssaid.. oohhhh god, Rach.. um, I just, ahh.. damn you're getting super good at that... mhmm.. I uh, only.. said that.. ffffahh.. I'd think about it babe, that w-wasn't a ye— HOLY SHIT! YES! YESS BABY!"

Three days later...

"RACHEL! RACH?! Where are you, are you here?"

"Upstairs in your room, Finny!"

What the... in my room? HIDING no doubt! Or plotting... "Hey baby..." But I'll greet her with a sweet kiss anyway because, yeah, hot and sexy girlfriend on my bed – wearing my shirt. Yeah. Chick trap, I haven't forgotten. "Rach, sweetie, love of my life..."

"I love you too, Finny. How was practice?"

She's killing me with that bright innocent smile. "Long and hot."

"Mmm... sounds just like my super sexy boyfriend."

Ooof. Definitely a chick trap. Using sex as a distraction... DAMMIT can't let it work! I cleared my throat and wasn't sure why my voice was suddenly like an octave higher... Maybe it had something to do with her bare thighs and the fact that I could see no underwear lines under that shirt. But no.. gotta stick to my guns.

"Uh... Baby. What exactly was that thing in the living room when I came in just now?"

She made a face like I just said Barbra wasn't Jewish.

"Finn! Do NOT be so cruel! He's not a thing. That's Leonardo."

"Um, who?"

"Leonardo, you know, like DiCaprio."

"No. No no. First, let's rewind. Does mom know there is a DOG in her house?" At least I assumed it was a dog... jury's still out right now.

"Certainly she does Finn, of course she does!"

Weird. I was never allowed to get a dog when I was a kid. Maybe this 'can't say no to Rachel' thing doesn't only apply to me? "Okay. So... where did it come from, and why is it here, and how long til it goes back from wherever you borrowed it from? And also, who the hell names their dog Leonardo DiCaprio?"

"For heaven's sake, Finn. He's not a library book; you do not BORROW animals... we adopted him, of course, from the kill shelter."

"You did – wait WE? did what now? What's a kill shelter? That sure does NOT sound like a place you shoulda been going to by yourself, babe!"

"Well you had football camp and I was bored. And then that Sarah McLaughlin commercial came on, you know?" Oh fuck. Yes, I know. Many a boner has been lost mid-makeout to that goddamn commercial. "And it was a kill shelter, Finn... you know, a place where, if the animals don't get adopted before they run out of room, they are euthanized. Leonardo was next on the list. I HAD to save him, Finn! He was on DOGGIE DEATH ROW!"

Well. Shit. Only because of the tears welling in her eyes did I bite my tongue before mentioning how Rose let her Leo turn into a Jack-cicle in Titanic – which BTW is possibly the longest movie in the history of the universe with a one song soundtrack that once it gets in your head you can't get it out again (see, you're hearing right now aren't you? Near, faaar... wherever you aaaare... UGH).

"But.." Fuck. Her bottom lip is wobbling and she's still half naked in my bed in my shirt and she is SO NOT PLAYING FAIR! "Baby... I just... I know you have such a big heart, and I know you wanna save allll the animals, but, I thought we were waiting a while and would talk about this some more."

"Finny. Do you love me?"

"Rachel, that is NOT fair and NOT the point. You KNOW I love you but–"

"And you know how much I love you, right?"

"Of course I do baby, but–"

"And you know how I feel about harming animals, right?"

"Yes babe. I saw all those horrible puppy mill shows and PETA documentaries and stuff about industrialized farms that you made me watch but–"

"Then you know how important it is for me to SAVE even one beautiful lonely neglected animal who just needs our love and a good home."

"Yeah babe, I know how important it is to you, but–"

"And could you really go look Leonardo in the eyes right now and KILL him?"

"WHAT?! No! Of course I could never KILL an animal like that, what are y–"

"Well you might as well go run him over with your truck or, or, blow him up in the backyard, because he will DIE if we send him away now, Finn!"

Fuckfuckfuck.

I guess 'we' own a dog now. . . .

"What is it? I mean I know it's a dog, and apparently it's a BOY — congrats by the way — but like, what brand of dog is it?"

"Breed Finn, not brand. Um, he's a puggle, but I think he has a little Chinese Crested mixed in as well? OOO, we should order one of those doggy DNA kits so we can—"

"NO. No, no doggie damn DNA kits. And what the hell is a puggle? Or a China breasted what now?"

"Baby no, Chinese Crested. It's a breed of hairless dog, although they really do have little tufts of hair on their heads or tails usually. A puggle is a mix between a pug and a beagle."

"So he's a mutt. Can't you just say he's a mutt? And maybe that explains why he has like, bald spots."

"FINN! Don't say the 'M' word, that's hurtful and rude and discriminatory! He'll hear you! Anyway, the bald spots are temporary... I believe they treated him for mange, so they had to shave his fur away in a few places. He was severely neglected Finny, he just needs someone to love him and nurture him back to health."

"Rach, A, I do not think he speaks my language, as evidenced when I came in and said QUIET but he kept barking anyway. B, MANGE? Rachel really? You went out and got us a defective mutt with mange and then you went and named him Leonardo DiCaprio and we didn't even talk about this and–"

"Actually the shelter named him Leonardo. I thought it was adorable though–"

"NOT THE POINT BABE!"

"Fine, Finn, FINE. I'll send him back. He'll be DEAD tomorrow, and I will have to attend his funeral since NO ONE ELSE CARES ABOUT HIM!"

This is gonna be a long ass night. I feel it in my bones. "Ok babe. Look, assuming we are keeping it.. err, him... I am NOT calling him Leonardo DiCaprio."

Yeah, that perked her right up. "Well what sort of name would you prefer?"

"Well... at least it's a boy, and he kinda looks scrappy and tough, so maybe like, Spike, or Rocket or–"

"I don't think so Finn."

"W-wait I don't even get a say? You went and got this dog and I'm.. well I guess I'm agreeing to keep him now, and I don't get to help pick his name? You gonna do that with our actual babies too?"

"Stop it, you know I wouldn't do that... unless you didn't mind if I chose the name."

"Rachel..."

"But obviously you want to choose a name, so okay. Just not some silly generic boy's idea of a dog name. It has to be something meaningful, to both of us."

She really isn't making this easy for me. "So I guess Spot or Patches is out the window too huh?"

"His fur will grow back, Finn! You'll give him a complex... Be nice."

{{SIGH}} "Something meaningful to both of us, huh... how about... Little Finn?". . .

"OUCH! Y'know you're deceptively strong for such a tiny little thing. Okay not Little Finn... it was a joke anyway, Rach. You can quit giving me that look now... I love you baby. And you're so beautiful and talented and we're going to New York and one day you'll be on Broadway and win a Tony and..." I sat up from the shower of kisses I was raining down on her neck. Tony. Like Tony Soprano – now that's a cool dude with a cool name. Tony Award, Tony the cool mob boss dude, okay. Maybe. "Hey, what about Tony? For a name?"

"Really? You'd want to name him something Broadway related for me?"

"Of course I would. Anything to make my beautiful girl happy." Nicely done, score one for the Finnster! Or well, make that TWO considering a half naked girl was suddenly getting whole naked and... why the hell am I still talking to you right now?

. . . . .

After a round of fucking INCREDIBLE thank you for letting us become pet parents sex, I went downstairs for a snack and Rach jumped in the shower. We still had a few hours before dinner time, and football training and Rach kinda wore me out. Gotta fuel the engine every so often.

So I just pulled my head outta the fridge with cold cuts and mustard in one hand and a leftover chicken leg hanging outta my mouth when I heard mom say "leave some for the rest of us, please" and scared the bejeezus outta me.

"Geez ma, you startled me! Didn't know you were home yet. How's your day?"

She chuckled at me. "Sorry baby. My day was good. I just got back a little bit ago... had to go buy some supplies for our new guest..."

I was about to ask who was coming to visit then I saw the bag she was unloading. Treats, chew toys, a leash, doggie shampoo (made from oatmeal? Yuck)... "Oh.. 'guest'... so uh, mom... About that. How–"

"Your girlfriend is VERY convincing, Finn. And very sweet. We were watching a lovely movie and it went to commercial break and– Do you have any idea how badly she sobbed when that 'Arms of the Angels' song came on TV with all the images of those poor babies in cages? Oh Finn, those commercials are just heartbreaking! And poor Rachel, she just wanted to save them all. It took almost half an hour to calm her down, and even then I think it only worked because I offered to take her to the shelter."

Well I guess this explains just about everything. M'not entirely sure if she played mom or if they've teamed up now and mom's playing me.

"Yeah Ma, believe me, I know about the commercials." Me and all those sad semi-boners that never got to reach their full potential... snuffed out in their prime.

"She said you two discussed it already, and I thought it was maybe the sweetest most caring, unselfish thing you could ever do for her. Then we got there and I saw that little guy and the way Rachel's eyes lit up – oh Finn, he came right over to her like he just knew, and... well. There was absolutely no chance we were leaving without him." She stopped putting the doggie stuff away in the cabinet (which appeared to have just been cleared out for that purpose), and she smiled and looked at me accusingly and said "You're in trouble, son."

I snorted a laugh in response because NO KIDDING. "I know. Maybe we can train that dog, but Rach? Forget it. I swear she's taken a master class in domination. I'm pretty sure that's not even an exaggeration because of her acting classes and stuff. Then she turns those big ol' brown eyes on me and all I can do is like, roll over and submit." I almost added 'while she scratches my belly' but decided against it.

"Mmm. She's clearly trained you well enough. But honey, you can't always give into her every whim like that, either. I know you want her to be happy – and before you argue, I know that her being happy makes you happy, but you need to get what you want in order to be happy, too."

I certainly wasn't gonna tell her that I already did get what I wanted, for like 45 minutes before I came down here for this snack. Then walked over to the doorway to the living room and looked over at the half-bald bag of fleas that was sitting quietly on the couch, staring sideways at me (well, with ONE eye, because the other one seems to be looking the opposite direction) and his fugly bottom snaggletooth was sticking out with a little drool coming out and I wondered what the hell radioactive dump this poor dude crawled out of. Only Rachel could fall in love with that face.

"Yeah I know, Ma. So... you're totally okay with a dog in the family now, huh?"

"Absolutely! I always wished we could've gotten one when you were younger, but I had to work so much and we really couldn't afford a pet back then."

"Seriously? That's why?"

"Of course it is. It broke my heart when you brought that dingy old stray tom cat home when you were about five or six and I had to say no."

"Wait, I don't remember that. And anyway I'm allergic to cats, why would you have let me keep him?"

"Sweetheart... I'm sorry to say, I had to tell you a little white lie there. You were too young to understand adult things so I just–"

"Wait up. You mean I'm NOT allergic to cats?" I just stood there picking my jaw off the floor.

"Oh heavens no! Sorry for that, but perhaps you'll understand the necessity of the little white lie when you're a father someday." She winked at me and went into the room to play with Tony.

What the hell? My own mother LIED to me?

"Hello Leonardo!" Mom exclaimed as she sat down on the couch with him.

"Oh yeah, forget to mention, me and Rach had a discussion and changed his name. He's Tony now."

"Tony? Okay... where did that name come from?"

"Well truthfully mom, anything woulda been better than Leonardo DiCaprio. Besides, he kinda looks like a Tony, doncha boy?" I petted his scruffy head and he wagged his tail and licked my hand. Then I heard Rach come into the room.

"Awww look Finny, he already loves you! See, I knew you boys would get along just fine! Isn't that right, Tony baby? You love your new daddy just as much as I do, don't you?" Rach hugged Tony and then smiled at me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you Finn. It means so much to me that you agreed to let us keep him."

I saw mom get up grinning and giving me that voodoo mom eyebrow. "I'll just leave you three to get better acquainted. And Finn, I hope you know Tony needs to be walked a couple times a day. Maybe I can get Burt to install a doggie door for the backyard too."

Wow, Tony sure seems to be wooing all the women in this household pretty quick. I had to wonder if Burt was gonna be wrapped around his ratty little paw just as easily (then I checked to be sure he actually still had all four of them, along with all his toes – thankfully yes, he does).

Then I couldn't stop myself from laughing out loud when I thought about how Kurt was gonna shit frisbees when he got home from Blaine's later.

A couple hours later, it was nearly dinner time. Me and Rach were back in my room watching a movie when I heard Burt come in, followed by barking and then a lot of laughter and baby talk. When me and Rach got downstairs we saw Burt actually rolling on the floor with Tony.

Safe to say Tony's not going anywhere (and is probably gonna get that doggie door).

We were all just sitting down at the dinner table when the front door opened. I heard Tony's nails clamoring down the hallway toward the front door, followed by a loud shrill screech and the laughter just bubbled outta me again.

"EEEEK! What the hell is it! And what planet did it come from?!" YAY Kurt's home! :-P

Rachel went to collect Tony to put him in the crate that mom had just bought and setup in the living room, but she stopped to introduce him to his new uncle first.

"Kurt, be nice! This is Tony, he's our new baby boy!"

"Excuse me but exactly who is the owner of this filthy scruffy bag of fleas? And precisely when will he be returning to said home?"

I just sat sniggering and figured Rach could dig herself outta this one. Look, I know I might not have been exactly thrilled to be getting a pet right now, but anything that bugs the crap outta Kurt is totally worth it for the entertainment value alone.

"Tony is technically mine and Finn's, which makes him your new nephew, Kurt. He'll mostly be living here, but he hasn't met his pop-pop and g-pa Berry yet. You'd better be nice to him too, or Finn and I will be very upset with you. So will his grandma Carole and grandpa Burt, won't they Tony-kins? Yes they will because grama and grandpa both woves dis wittle baby boy, too!" She bounced Tony in her arms kissing his nose, cooing and gushing over him then turned back to Kurt, who stood there looking at Rach like she had three heads and purple hair. "Now please greet your new fur-family member properly, Uncle Kurt, or you'll hurt his feelings."

Kurt's eyes darted to the dinner table and flipped between me, mom and Burt. "And everyone in this household is okay with this new arrangement?"

"Hey, Tony's awesome, he's grrrrreat!" Burt said, doing his best Tony Tiger impression.

"Kurt, he's an adorable little fella. Once you get to know him I'm sure you'll fall in love with him too," Mom encouraged.

"Don't look at me, I just do whatever Rach says," I mumbled with a mouthful of mashed potatoes.

"Finn! I saw you bonding with him, you know you love him already!" Rach stomped her foot and looked at me expectantly.

"Yeah babe, he's pretty cool... and yeah Kurt, you need to say HI to your nephew. Be nice."

Kurt's sour face looked back between Rachel and Tony. "Where's his hair? Why does he have so many bald spots, I'm not going to catch anything am I?"

Rach covered Tony's ears and leaned closer to Kurt, whispering. "He had a little case of M-A-N-G-E that has since been cleared up but they had to shave him, now stop making him feel bad about it!"

"MANGE?! Are you insane? Rachel Barbra Berry what the heck were you thinking? He's diseased! I swear on Judy Garland's grave the first time he sets one paw over the threshold to my room I will end you and Finn both!"

"Hey Kurt, chill dude. He's been treated for his um, 'problem', and doesn't have anything contagious or whatever. His hair'll grow back, at least Rach said so. And if you don't want him in your room then you'd better keep your door closed. Now stop upsetting Rach." There. Score two points for me - one for good boyfriend behavior for sticking up for my girl and one for annoying the hell outta my brother. By the look on Rach's face I KNEW I was getting extra lucky later!

After dinner we took Tony out for his first 'big boy walk' around the neighborhood with his new leash and collar that mom bought. Rachel was just as proud as ever, but like, people and their kids kept looking at him funny then looking at us funny and it started making me a little uncomfortable.

"Rach, make him do his business or whatever, it's getting late and you wanted him to meet your dads tonight."

"Finn I can't just MAKE him go; nature needs to run its course!"

"Oh hey look Tony, fire hydrant! Go for it dude!"

"That won't work Finn. You watch entirely too many cartoons."

"Well it always works on tv. Maybe there's a reason for that."

Tony finally found a tree that I guess passed his sniff test and lifted a leg and I wasn't entirely sure he wasn't gonna fall over. Fortunately he stayed upright, but then he started walking in circles and hunched up and kinda squatted and OH MY GOD whatever he's been eating he is NOT allowed to have ever again! JESUS the smell!

Then Rach elbowed me in the ribs and handed me a little blue bag. I took it and looked at her in a way that she shoulda seen the giant question mark emoji hovering over my head. "Um, thanks but what am I doin' with this babe?"

"You have to clean it up when he's done. There's a doggie trash stash a couple blocks back down the sidewalk."

Wait, what now? "Uh, babe, you're not serious."

"As a heart attack baby. You have to clean up after your dog in public spaces according to town ordinances – I checked the local rules of dog ownership when we stopped to get his license registered on the way home from the shelter."

"But why do I HAVE to do it? You're the one who–"

"Finn! We agreed to co-parent. He's staying with you right now, so he's your responsibility! When he stays with me, then I'll worry about it."

Fuck. I guess that's fair but still, it's just like I KNEW would happen! And he just left like the motherload of crap down there! ANd hang on a minute..."Fine, but babe.. You said that doggie trash thingy is BLOCKS away? So what, I have to CARRY it too?"

"Naturally. How else do you suppose it's going to get properly disposed of, Finn."

A, Tony is going on a diet. B, Tony is not walking anywhere beyond the doggie trash stash like EVER. C, Tony will be spending a LOT of time with g-pa and pop-pop Berry... I guarantee it. GAHHH she's lucky I love her so much!

Speaking of the Daddy Berries. Yeah, they love Tony. Just freaking LOVE him. Well, Hiram does anyway – he took to him the same way Burt did. Leroy however, looked at his daughter as if she were a two year old trying to bring a LION home from the zoo with her.

"And where is Tony going to live, Star?"

"Well Daddy, Finn and I have joint custody, so obviously he will share his time between our homes, fifty-fifty."

"No, he will not."

"Daddy? What are you talking about? Of course he will! He's my dog too!"

"Princess have you SEEN the immaculate white wall to wall carpet in this home? I'm sure you must have, you grew up here and still live here."

"What's your point? Tony is very clean. Stop insulting him!"

"Clean? Based on how many hours of observation?"

"Five," I quickly responded, earning a slap in the arm from Rachel.

"Tony will be sleeping here three nights one week and four nights the following, as per our current arrangements. Daddy, you cannot turn him away and he WILL be clean as a whistle once I get his night time ritual sorted out and teach it to Finn, too."

"'Scuse me, his what now? You think I'm doing a doggie spa night thing with him when he's at my house? Babe, I love you but–"

"Yes you do, and if you wish for me to continue to love you, you will NOT argue with me on this point."

"Doggie spa it is. Hey, maybe we can teach Kurt? It's more his area of expertise anyway isn't it? Plus it'll give them a chance to bond." Damn I'm smart!

"I like how you think Mr Hudson!" she kissed my cheek "But you're participating too, because it's what all loving, responsible pet fathers must do."

Fuck.

FISHING.

As summer was winding down, we did some kayaking at the lake and got to talking about how Rach has never been fishing before. Honestly that didn't surprise me at all, so I told her I'd take her and teach her how.

Apparently her and Kurt went shopping before we went to the lake, since she showed up in the cutest fisherman's (err, fisherwoman's?) outfit I've ever seen – along with color coordinated gear – pink pole, pink tackle box and pink polka-dotted fishing hat and all. As super cute as Rach was, it wasn't really fishing appropriate gear – especially since she didn't wanna get ANY of it dirty. (Also, there might be something to that expression 'you'll scare the fish' but I didn't wanna be 'sleeping' with them either, so I kept that thought to myself.)

Fishing with Rachel was a first and last ever experiment gone wrong.

First she refused to touch the worms, not to mention we had like a fifteen minute debate over the circle of life and that it was totally okay for fish to eat worms.

Then I had to get her to stop crying when I explained how fish are scaled and cleaned. That took another thirty minutes AND I had to promise to catch & release anything we hooked today.

But I was convinced that wouldn't be a worry anyway, considering she couldn't sit still AND quiet for longer than like five minute intervals. The odds of actually catching a fish today were about as good as Tony's chances of sleeping in Uncle Kurt's room. I tried to tell her fishing was about calm and quiet and patience. We'll have to keep working on that I s'pose, if I'm ever dumb enough to try this again.

After like four hours I finally got a pull on my line, but it turned out to be a turtle... and that's how Tony ended up with a brother named Tommy. (And if she think I'm going to do night time rituals with a fucking turtle, we'll be having turtle soup for lunch.)

SHOPPING WITH RACH & KURT (YAY).

Since we were getting real close to the beginning of our LAST first day of school, Kurt took it upon himself to take Rachel shopping to 'revamp' her wardrobe. I have no idea what vampires have to do with anything (unless he means those sexy ones from that show True Blood, in which case, SHOP ALL YOU WANT little Fairy Gayfather!) but I was looking forward to seeing what new clothes she would come back with.

Not that I don't like her old clothes – I love 'em on her (and on her floor... and on the floor of my truck... and hanging on the chair in my room) but it also meant that I would get a private fashion show later from Rach where I could test out how quick and easy I could take her new clothes off. (She promised me button and zipper veto power.) :-D

Correction – I WAS looking forward to Rachel going shopping; that is until dammit Kurt got it in his mind that I ALSO needed some new back to school clothes, which I was very much against, because 1, as you know, I HATE clothes shopping (see also freshman year 'shopping with mom' as a reminder), and B, shopping with the King of Vogue is like a damn waking nightmare and the LAST thing I wanna do on a beautiful sunny summer day.

Let's see, things I'd rather do than clothes shopping with Kurt:

. . * Stub my toes. ALL of them.
. . * Do Tony's night time ritual 7 nights a week.
. . * Watch a 24 hour marathon of Titanic.
. . * Sit through another sex ed lecture from my mom.
. . * Take a bath in a tub full of razor blades.
. . * Tell the Berry Daddies I'm having sex with their daughter.

(Okay, maybe not that last one.)

But seriously, it'd be so much better for the Hudson-Hummel household's sanity if I just leave that exercise in patience for Rachel to deal with (sorry babe). Like, what's so wrong with my flannel shirts anyway? They're casual, they're comfy, they're easy to wash and wear (and also they look SUPER HOTTT on Rach).

But then Kurt got Rachel on board with shopping for me too, and she can be very convincing if you know what I mean *wink wink*. So, yeah, it wasn't long before I found myself driving Rachel and Kurt to the mall to face my impending doom.

Honestly, it wasn't too bad at first. Kurt pulled Rachel into some store and I swear he turned into an octopus with magical super-stretch reaching powers like Venom. He started pulling things off the rack left and right from one end of the store to the other for her to try on while I tried to find a comfortable place to sit. See, I knew from experience this was going to take a while – experience gained when taking just Rachel by herself. Guess I shoulda brought a pillow and blanket today though.

I eventually found somewhere to sit – a 'chair' that was about as comfortable as a church pew – and started playing Zombieville USA on my phone in hopes that it acted as an invisibility shield so I wouldn't be dragged into Mr Project Runway's madness. (Although just between you and me, it's kinda fascinating to see Kurt operating in his natural habitat.)

Once he'd found clothes that he deemed suitable for Rachel to try on (and they both ran out of arm room and upper body strength to tote the pile around with) she went into the dressing room and the fashion show began.

{{insert extremely long fashion montage here}}

Five minutes into said fashion montage, the bickering started. Rach wanted this really cute green and yellow polka dot dress with little birds on them but he accused her of smuggling contraband into the dressing room without his permission and over his dead body was she even trying it on let alone buying it.

Then another like HUNDRED outfits later they'd blown up over everything from plaid vs horizontal stripes vs heels vs flats vs pleats vs sleeve length and I honestly thought my head would explode. She kept turning to me for help, and I DID side with her on all her demands (well, except for that orange crochet doily looking cape thingy – but I used my veto powers for that one by observation of the bra-clasp looking button thingies alone) but my opinions didn't matter to Kurt in the least – not sure why Rach even thought they would.

Eventually he gave in on a couple items she'd stomped her foot down about (which is super cute watching her do that to other people), especially after she threatened to banish him from any future Gene Kelly movie nights at her house – and yes, that's really a thing.

He may have caved, but told her they could only be worn with his pre-approval. Then with a squeal of triumph, Rachel returned to the dressing room. So began round two (hundred).

{{more fashion montage while my ass was going numb}}

Finally, finally, FINALLY! Rach finished trying on everything Kurt picked for her and they took the approved items to go pay for the horde (and you shoulda seen the look on the cashier's face – at the purchase pile, yeah, but also at the reject pile).

Now, I've been tricked before into thinking that after one store we're done, but I knew better these days. So I took the bags like a dutiful boyfriend and told them I was headed to the food court and would meet up with them later.

Later…

After scarfing down a light snack of two slices of meat lovers at Sbarro's, I was still slurping down a grape Big Gulp and wandering around a bit, trying to regain feeling in my ass while also avoiding Kurt – figuring he was still in some frenzied mall madness mode – when I came upon this pet shop. I figured, hey, I have a pet (he may not be the ideal dog, but still) who I left at home to go shopping, and he deserves something too.

Which is how Tony ended up with a cute little Buckeyes jersey so we can match for the next game.

Later Later…

I had finally decided I was probably safe from Hurricane Kurt and his craziness so I figured I'd rejoin them in their shopping, which was my first mistake.

I found them at Macy's, and as soon as Kurt saw I'd returned, he shoved a pile of bags into my hands and then, like an eagle catching its prey, he dug his talons – I mean fingers into my arm and swept me away to the men's section.

He made me try on a few new pairs of jeans and some sweaters. Okay, they weren't awful and I actually liked them, so I made my second mistake of letting my guard down.

He then made me try on a white button-down shirt with some black pants. Once again, nothing he selected seemed too out of the ordinary; he probably figured I needed a couple more formal clothes for senior year events or something. Fine, whatever. When I walked out of the dressing room to ask for help with the tie he picked out, Rachel was quick to assist (while also giving me a steamy kiss and telling me how HOT I looked, which I didn't mind in the least).

So I'm standing there in my semi-formal fancy clothes in front of a tri-fold mirror and I can feel his intense scrutinizing stare slicing through me like a laser beam. After a few beats, he tapped his finger on his turned up chin and announced that it "needed something." Then he breezed away like the Flash to some fashion void and returned with a matching jacket and hat.

Umm. A hat? I don't think so. And I told him as much.

"No way dude, I'll try on the jacket just to humor you, but there is NO WAY I am putting on that hat." I had to draw the line somewhere... because with Kurt it starts with a hat and ends in hippopotamus lapel pins and matching socks and dress shoes with tassels. No thanks.

"It ties the whole outfit together though! It would be incomplete without it." Kurt pleaded with me, and I knew it was just him living out his dream of turning me into his living Ken doll. I just shook my head at him and he huffed, "Okay... I will not comment on your outfits for a week if you do this."

Bargaining with me isn't usually one of his strong suits.

"Nice try. But I know you have like a Mean Girls Burn Book - Fashion Edition - where you paste in photos and write all the things you would change about our outfits but would never say to our faces. And after your little stunt at the beach with Facebook? Nuh-uh." I knew better than to deal with the devil (and please don't ask how I know about the Burn Book – let's keep that nugget between us. Anyway Rachel McAdms is HOT).

"Fine… I'll…" he paused for a moment, attempting to think of something good enough to sway me "I'll delete the beach picture off of Facebook."

Saying "That's a start" was my third mistake – attempting to get something good out of this.

"And… I'll let you and Rachel have the house to yourselves the whole afternoon!" Now he's got me, I can never turn down alone time with Rach.

"Fine, but no pictures."

Another huff from Kurt and he became this blur of a Kurt-nado whirling me around into the jacket and topping my head with that stupid hat.

Let me just say, I'm still not a hundred percent sure that deal was worth it. I mean okay, the jacket was fine I guess, it was dark gray and really loose, and didn't seem like it would actually keep you warm... but that hat... ACK! I'll leave that to your imagination, but let's just say I have never looked more like Kurt in my life. Or Elton John maybe.

As a reward for 'being a good brother' as Rachel put it, she said we could go to a very special store, and by that I mean Victoria's Secret (cue harps playing gently as my face lights up with a magical smile). Lemme just say that place is totally like, HEAVEN for a guy like me, who has the sexiest, most gorgeous girlfriend in the world and who is always in the mood for some lovin', if you know what I mean. ;)

Kurt did not want to venture into this specific store with me and Rach, claiming he left his eye sanitizer at home and had already walked in on us having sex too many times (also, let me just clarify something before you think we're some kind of weird sex addicts – Kurt's definition of SEX extends to pretty much any form of me and Rach touching or kissing, so... maybe it was PRE sex sometimes?). Whatever.

Anyway. He said he didn't want to add more fuel to the fire by helping Rachel pick out underwear. Which – to my good fortune – meant a private shopping trip in MY favorite store (I mean, if we're talking girls clothes – otherwise Gamestop is just a few doors down) with MY favorite angel, all alone. Best of all, it's a store known for its super HOTTTTT sexy lounger-ies? Linguray? Lawnjuray?, whatever you get what I mean.

Also, Kurt's kind of a dumbass; he just left the rooster in charge of the henhouse here, when he coulda maybe semi-COCKBLOCKED with his choices vs mine. Wonder if he'll realize that the next time he walks in on us in a compromising position. Like maybe later today, if I'm extra lucky. :-D

Still. Rach and Victoria's Secret and no Kurt. Sixteen year old me woulda needed a trip over to Sheets N Things to stock up (because doing laundry every day bites). But soon-to-be eighteen year old me doesn't really have that same problem anymore (because my baby is a bonafide GODDESS in bed, and like a super smart sexual Einstein who learned that repetition and practice helps 'improve stamina and endurance'... and okay I don't necessarily know all those words but it all just means that my little problem went away. I fucking LOVE Rachel Berry!).

Rach said I could pick out two Items, but then I had to clarify whether matching bra and thong was one thing or two, 'cause details matter okay? And hey, I wanna get the most bang for my buck here. (That was a pun, wasn't it?)

After about fifteen minutes and a somewhat awkward conversation with a sales lady, I finally found what I wanted Rach to try on – a short flowy looking nightgown thingy which Rach called a babydoll – totally appropriate since she's my sexy little babydoll – and one that looks like a one piece bathing suit which she told me was a bodysuit.

And lemme just tell you right now – I could care less what they were called because I couldn't speak anyway since they made Rach look so totally smokin' (not that she isn't hot 24/7, these just like upped the amperage even more).

Rach blushed a little when she first opened the curtain and when she saw the pop-up tent that I seemed to have smuggled into the dressing room in my pants she sorta pulled me back into the changing space with her, where those hot – no seriously fucking HOT – items may have even seen some action (I had to test how accessible it was. Plus, Rach said I'd already suffered enough for one day and deserved a treat). :-D

We were checking out when Kurt musta decided it was safe for him to return, but I guess he figured out that we did something (Rach does have a post 'O' glow, in my humble opinion) because he started lecturing us about the sanctity of the dressing room... But as he went on he got more and more hysterical. His voice got so high at one point that I think only bats and dogs could hear him.

I watched the sales lady motion for security with her elbows (because she was too busy plugging her ears to use her hands) and eventually they escorted him out of the store, thus ending the shopping trip from hell (well, except for that next to last bit – that was a slice of heaven and even KURT wasn't gonna Rain on My Parade!).

Did I mention that clothes shopping can be all kinds of awesome? ;)

FINN'S 18TH BIRTHDAY!

It's sorta cool that my birthday falls like a week before school starts. Mom's always let me have parties and the parties have gotten considerably cooler each year.

This year is no exception, and it's probably the biggest one yet since I, Finn Hudson, am finally turning the big ONE-EIGHT and becoming an official legal ADULT. To quote my favorite movie, Freeeeeedoooooom!

Y'know, I used to dream of this day when I was a kid. Like when I was twelve and wanted an American Pie themed party and mom refused (to be fair it was Puck's suggestion, not mine, but I thought it was cool). Or like when I was fourteen and got super-grounded after me and Puck tried to sneak into a rated R movie without parental supervision (okay maybe that was more about the sneaking in and not so much paying part than the being underage part). Still. I can go to any movie I want now.

Hell, I can vote for the next president if I want to. Okay, I don't really care about voting, but it's cool to say that I CAN. I can also be an organ donor – not that I WANT to have to, but if the situation ever arose...

But there's other cool things I can do now too. Like buy spray paint and lighters (of course, that woulda come in more handy back in the day for me and Puck too... but I don't smoke, and um, the whole need for spray paint thing probably would send Rach into an Exorcist-like head spin).

It's kinda scary though, feeling like a switch was just flipped that says 'you're an adult now' when just yesterday I HAD to rely on mom for everything. It's scary, yeah, but it's kinda like, good scary. Exciting.

. . . . .

So the party was in full swing. Rach had stayed the night and she baked my SUPER damn delicious two-tiered QUADRUPLE chocolate birthday cake – and I know how damn good it is because I spent a lot of time taste testing all the batter and frosting that was stuck to Rach's fingers (and all the other places on Rach where that chocolatey goodness managed to drip accidentally on purpose – OOPS... :-P Hey, mom's always telling me to clean up after myself – just doin' as I'm told!).

So we had a cool backyard BBQ thing going on, and tons of pizza and ice cream. I told everyone from Glee they didn't have to bring presents, but of course being the coolest friends ever, they didn't listen. (Okay can't lie, presents are all kinds of awesome, I don't care how old I am.)

Well, at least I THOUGHT my friends were cool. Then I started opening their gifts.

From Mercedes, Britt, and Tina: fruity smelling shampoo and bubble bath. Okay... I mean they'll smell good on Rach so THAT is a gift to me.

From Blaine and Kurt: Assorted moisturizers and facial creams and something called like, caterpillar cream or something, which I don't think I wanna know what the hell that's for.

From Artie, Mike, and Sam: triple XL fishnet stockings complete with garter belt. What. The. Actual. Hell.

Before I got to the final gift I'd already noticed Kurt laughing like a hyena uncontrollably from the moment I picked up the first package... oh yeah, he is a TOTAL dead man. I already know what's going on and I wasn't gonna even bother with the last package because of who it was from...

From Puck and Santana: triple XL Victoria's Secret pink shorty shorts and matching skimpy tank top thingy, both that said KISS ME across the boobs and ass, along with size 13 pink stilettos and a long curly brown wig.

They both fell off their chairs laughing. Kurt bolted outta sight before I could reach his dead man walking neck. This is about the damn beach pictures. Ha fucking HA.

Rach just fought back a few giggles and whispered in my ear that she'd give me my gift later, in a more INTIMATE setting. As soon as my brain registered her words, coupled with the look on her face and the way she was biting her bottom lip, I stood up and announced "PARTY'S OVER LOSERS! Time to vacate the property!"

. . . . .

Later, in a more INTIMATE setting...

The party at my place pretty much wrapped up around midnight, so I left Kurt to deal with the stragglers since the Daddy Berries were out of town again. House to ourselves again. God I love that family!

So I'm laying on Rach's bed, in just my boxers – per her instructions – while she's in the bathroom 'getting ready'... and I'm doing all the breathing techniques she taught me to slow my heart that was thumping like a jackrabbit in anticipation... and then a memory of her emerging from the bathroom in that Grease catsuit flashed.

Okay as much as that look wasn't really for Rachel, it also wasn't NOT hot. I mean, yeah she was totally SMOKIN' in that super tight black shiny spandex thingy. But she didn't need all that makeup and the hair was like WAY over the top.

This time though, when the door finally opened... WHOA. Can I just say purple and black is my favorite new color combination, and LACE is awesome but LEATHER is even better.

Also, she handed me a small gift wrapped package with a cute pink bow.

"This isn't like make-up right? No eyeliner or lipstick? The whole beach picture joke is over, isn't it?"

"No baby, it's not makeup. Not even close." She was sorta biting on the tip of her index finger and swishing her shoulders back and forth all sexy like and GAHHH I was about to lose control!

"Well that's awesome, but baby you didn't need to get me anything.. 'Sides, the only gift I wanna unwrap right now is you..." I started nibbling on her neck and she giggled and DAMN that girl just knows how to make me pitch a tent from 0 to Circus in like no time flat!

"I'm glad you like my new outfit honey... but you need to open the package first."

Grrr... okay fine. She went to the trouble, so...

"Um, babe? ... Batteries?"

"Yes baby." Then she reaches under the bed with like the hugest grin EVER and pulls out this bag and hands it to me. "They go with this."

I peeked in the bag and well... hold on, rewind... The bag? Yeah, I totally recognize this bag. It's from that super sexy ADULT TOY STORE near the beach.

I'm not telling you what was in it. All I can say is I hope I make it to birthday 19, but if I don't, what a fucking HOT way to go... And also, number 18 was officially the greatest night of my life to date.

BEST. BIRTHDAY. EVER.

. . . . .

So. After like five hours of private birthday celebrations with my super gorgeous girlfriend... she was totally passed out cold draped across my chest. (Yeah, I did that... awesome.) I could feel her little warm breaths exhaling and tickling my chest hairs and her eyelashes fluttered every so often kinda tickling my chest too and my god I love this girl.

I don't know what I did to deserve her, seriously. I don't know what magical wizard looked down on this planet and created her from stardust and made her my perfect match in every possible way and said 'Here Finn Hudson, this is for YOU' but I'm gonna do everything in my power for the rest of my life proving to her just what she means to me, and trying to deserve her.

It was hard to sleep. My brain wouldn't turn off and I was just enjoying the feeling of her skin against my skin and the feel of her moving with each breath. I was picturing the future again. I really need to nail a plan for NYC. And I really gotta pull some awesome grades this year. I'm applying to every college I can think of that's within a reasonable distance from NYADA. There's no way we're gonna be split up. I can't survive a DAY without her, how the hell would I get through four years?

Then I got to thinking... There's other cooler things I can do now that I'm 18. I can sign my name as an adult, so I can get a credit card. I can sign a lease to rent an apartment and legally I can work a full time job.

Tell ya what else I can do at 18... I can get married without parental consent needed...

Just sayin'. Food for thought. ;)

First day of school is coming up in two more days. So is another very important anniversary, one I think she'll remember easier than the ILY one. I already made up my mind about a few very key parts of my future, and I already know what I'm gonna do to make those things happen.

Heading into this school year is gonna be so much better than last year. I mean yeah, it was all kinds of awesome the first time I got to walk through those doors with Rachel's fingers laced with mine and knowing we were a team and part of something special together, no matter what all those slushie-tossing asshats had to say. But she was so full of nerves and fear and insecurities last time.

She might not be completely 100% over all of that because really, does anyone ever feel 100% confident about that stuff? But she's not letting it get in the way of things anymore, and I can't begin to tell you how sexy her newfound confidence is on her. She's always been confident about her talent, but now she's like this complete package and it radiates off her like the sun.

When she finally makes it on Broadway someday I know I'll have to share her with the world. I'm sure it won't always be easy for me, I s'pose, but I'll deal. Others can bask in her glow but I'm the only one who gets to feel her warmth, and I intend to keep it that way... 'til death do we part. ;)

: ) : o : P : X : D

A/N - Hellooooo Readers! IT'S BAAAACK! ! ! Thank you for your patience, hope it was worth the wait! =)

I would love to take all the credit here, but this chapter HAS to receive a CO-AUTHOR credit: So please give a round of applause to SapplinOfAStar and tell her how freaking AWESOME she is! The entire Shopping with Rach & Kurt bit was like ALLL her idea and she wrote a big chunk of it. Along with many MANY other pieces of her brilliance woven through this chapter - not the least of which includes her amazing beta reading and typo catching skills... and I know she's just as excited as I am to be delivering this finished chapter to you, so... Take a Bow KIDDO you deserve it! And readers PLEASE GO READ HER NEW STORY! SANDS OF TIME - time jumping Finn! It is gonna be BRILLIANT and I can't wait for it to come to life!

Also a big thanks to my Broadway Belle who also pitched in with numerous brainstorming sessions and beta work, love you sis! :X

The first chapter of Senior Year is in the works and has been for a while but it's got a ways to go. However, my high school Finn brain is activated right now and hopefully it hangs on for a while! We have a complete outline for the ENTIRE season 3 now, and there will be MANY changes from canon for Season 3 which took a hella lot of creative energy from like all 3 of us just to put the outline in place - but we have a plan now, I just need to bring it life!

Glee fun fact/trivia: Journey to Regionals (and the first time Finn says I LOVE YOU to Rachel) happened in ep 1x22 which aired on June 8, 2010. So the one year anniversary scene was a date derived mostly from canon, even if I fudged it just a little so it happened after the school year ended (but we really don't KNOW if 2010 regionals happened before sophomore year ended – it's assumed that it did, then again it was a season finale episode with no follow up to confirm or deny, and all other seasons ended with NATIONALS at the end of the school year. so. Just go with it)

The movie referenced in the prank scene is 'The Ugly Truth' starring Gerard Butler & Katherine Heigl. My playlist includes the vibrating underwear scene, for your viewing enjoyment! :-D

SONG CREDIT (in reference): 'Angel' by Sarah McLaughlin was frequently used in ASPCA commercials. Personally I'd rather support the Humane Society of the US because more of the donated funds actually goes to the front lines helping protect or save animals (I'm not a vegan but I am a massive dog lover so I support Rachel's decision to adopt Tony 100%!) – and to see my vision of Tony flip over to this chapter on AO3. ;) Also referenced = 'The Merry Old Land of Oz' is from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and the musical, and per YE OLE WIKIPEDIA, was written by lyricist E.Y. Harburg and composer Harold Arlen.

Venom is not mine, he belongs in the Spiderverse to Marvel Comics. Or DC, i dunno i get those confused sometimes...

About the concert - U2 is one of MY all-time fave bands ever, and they actually DID play Pittsburgh on July 26, 2011 (it was too perfect not to add it to this story)

Little fun fact/tidbit about the meteor shower sene: On August 8 - 2011, at 1:22 EDT, all sky cameras belonging to the Southern Ontario Meteor Network detected a fireball entering the atmosphere 54 miles above Lake Erie moving SSE at 25 km/s (55,900 mph). So yes, there was an actual meteor show during finchel's summer 2011 that was visible from Lima, Ohio (pretty sure it only occurred in the daytime though, I just tweaked it for the story. It's fanFICTION after all!)

Visit anothergleekgirl YOUTUBE channel and find this chapter COMPANION PLAYLIST= SIMP: Summer Lovin Soundtrack