Chapter 15:
A week later, Finn had secured the apartment and had put in numerous applications to the nearby schools. He was putting the last couple of things in his box of school supplies when two arms wrapped around his waist. He smiled as he turned around and wrapped his arms around Rachel, placing a gentle kiss to her head. "Are you ready to go back?"
"Yes and no." Rachel replied, looking up at him. He frowned and rubbed her back gently.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm ready to be back in the city especially with you...but I can't help but think things will change when we get there. I don't want us to grow apart." Rachel explained.
Finn gently tipped her chin back up so her eyes met his. "That's not going to happen, Rach. I'm going to be focusing on my studies to be a teacher and your going to be taking Broadway by storm. We will be okay. We'll take it one day at a time, okay?"
Rachel let out a breath and nodded. "Okay."
They boarded a plane to New York the next morning, both Rachel and Finn carrying their suitcases. Burt and Carole would be sending the rest of Finn's stuff later. Finn kept hold of her hand as they took their seats, stowing their suitcases in the bin above them.
"You ready to see our new place?" Finn asked her gently, squeezing her hand.
Rachel smiled at him and rested her head against his shoulder. "I can't wait."
The captain came on to signal take off and they fastened their seat belts before entwining their fingers together. Finn leaned over and kissed her temple softly causing Rachel to blush as she looked at him. He brushed a piece of hair out her eyes, tenderly placing it behind her ear.
"I love you." Rachel said giving him a small smile.
"I love you too." Finn replied, placing a kiss to her forehead as the plane started to move.
"I can't believe you wouldn't let me see the place before you rented it." Rachel said when they were in the air for about half an hour.
"I wanted it to be a surprise, baby. I know your going to love it though." Finn replied, giving her an adorable smile.
"It's the place we're going to live, I at least wanted say in it." Rachel pouted.
Finn kissed her lips and gave her his puppy dog eyes. "I'm sorry, Rach."
She giggled and gave his own lips a peck. "I forgive you. Have you heard back from any of the schools yet?"
"Not yet. I didn't send them in that long ago though so we'll see." Finn replied. "Are you ready to start rehearsals?"
"I'm excited but I'm also really nervous." Rachel admitted, looking into his eyes.
"What are you nervous about? You're going to be amazing." Finn responded, wrapping his arm around her.
"What if they think I'm not experienced enough or that I don't look the part? What if I embarrass Barbara?" Rachel rambled, her panic escalating.
"Rachel, calm down. You have been preparing for this role since you were two years old. You know this musical forwards and backwards. I honestly believe you could perform it in your sleep. You are going to be amazing and I'm going to be sitting in the front row on your opening night. I promise." Finn said staring into her eyes so she knew he wasn't lying to her.
Rachel sniffled and stroked his cheek. "You always know exactly what to say."
"Well I haven't studied you for the last four years for no reason. I love everything about you, even the things you don't like about yourself very much. You're it for me, Rach. I knew it from the moment I laid eyes on you. You shine brighter than any star." Finn replied.
A tear slipped down Rachel's cheek and Finn gently wiped it away. "You have no idea how much I love you, Finn. Thank you. You saved my life, you know that?"
"No, you saved mine." Finn said, closing the space between them and pulling her in for a kiss filled with all the love and passion he felt for her. He felt her tongue beg for entrance and he allowed it momentarily. When the kiss started to get a little too heated, Finn pulled back. "We can't do this."
"What?" Rachel replied, hurt.
Finn smiled shyly when he saw her expression. "I mean that we can't do this here, babe. We're on an airplane. We can wait until we get home."
Rachel turned red and looked down. "You think of New York as home already?"
Finn tipped her chin back up so their eyes met. "Home is wherever you are and I can't wait to show you how much you mean to me."
They landed a hour later and were hailing a taxi to their new apartment. Finn gave the address to the driver and they were on their way. He held Rachel's hand and leaned over to kiss her shoulder. "I can't wait until you see the place."
"Neither can I." Rachel replied, waggling her eyebrows at him. He grinned like a school boy and squeezed her hand.
Her expression changed suddenly and Finn squeezed her hand in concern. "What's wrong?"
"Did you change your address?" Rachel asked him.
"No, not yet. Why?" Finn replied.
"Where are the colleges going to send your letters of admittance, Finn?" Rachel replied, her voice raising slightly.
"Relax, Rach. I will change my address tomorrow and in the meantime, my mom will tell me if anything comes in my name." Finn responded, caressing the bare skin on her shoulder. "Let's enjoy our first day together in the big city."
Rachel smiled at him and nodded as the cab came to a stop and Finn opened the door. "Are we here?"
"We are. Right this way, my lady." Finn replied stepping out and offering her his hand.
Rachel grinned and took his hand in hers as she stepped out. He squeezed it gently and led the way to the door of a huge brick building. Rachel noticed that this place was in a slightly better neighborhood than her last apartment with Kurt. Speaking of which, she would need to get her things from them.
He led her to the elevator and smiled at her as he pressed the button for their floor. She gave him a gentle smile back as they started to ascend. They got off on the third floor and he led her a short ways down the hall to a door marked three-twenty. He reached for the key the realtor had given him and Rachel stopped him.
"Can I?" She asked. "You already got to see the place online and I haven't even gotten one look yet."
"Sure, baby." Finn replied with a smirk and handed her the key to their new apartment.
She unlocked the door and pushed it open, gasping in shock at what she saw.
There was a large balcony off of the large living room to her left. She noticed that their were three doors to her right, leading to other rooms. She moved into the room and noticed the large kitchen centered in the apartment with a black granite counter tops lining all the counters including the massive island.
Finn had the apartment already furnished and Rachel was in awe. The was an elegant 1950's love seat in the living room opposite a seventy inch flat screen mounted to the wall. She had to suppress a giggle when she saw his Xbox set up on a small stand under the TV. There was also a light blue blanket covering the back of the couch.
"Finn? How can we afford this?" Rachel asked, turning to him in awe and wonder.
"Don't worry about anything of that. Do you want to see your bedroom?" Finn replied, moving toward her and closing the front door.
"Don't you mean our bedroom?" Rachel said.
"Well, I didn't want to assume anything." Finn replied, looking down, trying to hide his uncomfortable expression.
"We've been sleeping together for weeks, Finn." Rachel replied.
"I know but we aren't in Lima anymore..."
"So you don't want to sleep with me?" Rachel asked, her voice cracking. "You want to share an apartment but not a bed?'"
Finn shook his head quickly in horror and grabbed her hands. "No, baby. It's not like that. I know we've been sleeping together for weeks now but I wasn't sure what you would want now that we're in New York. This is our future Rach and I want to make sure I'm not forcing you to do anything too soon."
"I made a mistake." Rachel said tearfully.
"What? What do you mean?" Finn asked in panic, gently leading her to the couch.
"I never should have broken up with you. You are everything I want and need. I knew I made a mistake the moment I boarded the plane back to New York. I just wasn't sure how to fix it or if you would even want to. I was miserable, Finn. All I wanted was you. I couldn't stop thinking about you and the hurt in your eyes when I walked away that day." Rachel explained, the tears spilling loose. "I should have told you so much sooner."
Finn let out a breath and pulled her into his arms. "I wish we hadn't broken up either, you wouldn't have ended up with that jerk. I needed you too, Rach. I was just too afraid to admit it to you. You light up my world. You make me want to be a better person, babe. If we hadn't broken up though, I don't think I would have figured what I wanted to do with my life outside of us. Now, I know that we are where we are meant to be."
"You are already an amazing person, babe. You don't need to change anything. I love you just the way you are." Rachel replied and Finn rewarded her with a kiss. "So will you sleep with me?"
"Of course, baby. I just wanted to make sure it was what you wanted." Finn answered, stroking her cheek softly.
"It's all I've wanted since I boarded that plane. I want you, Finn." Rachel said.