A/N - For Tonya, who needed some cutesy pointless fluff right now. Maybe someone else needs it too. =)
"Eek! Finn, watch where you walk, you'll squish him!"
"Huh?"
She points down to the sidewalk at a large fluffy white caterpillar. "You almost stepped on him!"
He looked at the ground and then his girlfriend and shrugged. "It's just a caterpillar, Rach. I mean, they're kinda gross aren't they?"
"Finn Hudson! ALL of nature's creatures are sacred and beautiful!"
"You sure about that? Maybe you've never seen an angler fish," he chuckled.
"A what?"
"Nevermind, forget I brought it up. You'll be calling me with nightmares at two in the morning. Anyway, caterpillars are just bugs, babe. They're sorta creepy with all those legs." And would probably make a cool meal for that angler fish...
"Just bugs? Finn, do you realize how special and amazing caterpillars are? They.. why, they're one of the most MAGICAL creatures on earth!"
"Magical? Rach, he's like, squirming along the sidewalk super slow and then he's probably just gonna, like, chomp on some leaves. Doesn't seem very magical to me."
"Yes well, that's what he's doing NOW... but someday, oh Finn someday, he will build himself a chrysalis and incubate in it until he transforms."
His face crumbles a little and he mutters, "That sounds err.. kinda kinky Rach. How do you know what they're doin' in there anyway? I mean, that sorta thing is s'posed to be private. Dudes don't like people knowing what they do when they're alone in bed like that..."
Her puzzled expression quickly straightens. "For god's sake Finn, I said INCUBATE, not masturbate!"
"Oh."
"They change."
"What do you mean they change? What's wrong with the way they were? I mean he's slow and creepy and all, but he looks happy enough."
"Well there's certainly merits to being a caterpillar. Gravity keeps them grounded and they get to explore the earth that way... but after they IN-CU-bate, they transform into the most magnificent butterflies! Then they can defy gravity and explore the sky as well!"
"Really? Huh. I didn't know that's where butterflies came from. Butterflies are pretty cool though. I always liked the blue ones and the ones that look like stained glass."
"I think you're referring to Monarch butterflies, and YES, those are my absolute favorite! They've become an endangered species you know? Studies have been following the Monarch's migration patterns for years now and it seems their colonies have been dying off by the BILLIONS. There's a real chance they could become extinct in our lifetimes. That's why many states have created the Butterfly Highway."
"That's crazy Rach. Butterflies can't drive."
She giggles. "Of course they can't, silly... what I mean is, there are states that have created special strips of land alongside the highways to grow the kinds of wildflowers that attract butterflies and other pollinators. They are an essential part of our ecosystem, Finn. You really need to raise your environmental awareness, sweetie. I think we'll take a trip to the Audubon Society and start there. Then we can visit an aviary and–"
"The audubon is that highway in Europe you can drive really fast on, isn't it? Is that why they call it the butterfly highway? And what's a pollinator?"
"Maybe let's begin with a trip to the library."
. . . . .
Three hours later and a National Geographic's video on caterpillars and butterflies, Finn looked like he just learned the secrets of the universe. "That's the coolest thing I've ever seen Rach. You know, i think caterpillars and butterflies are like, a metaphor for us."
"What do you mean Finn?"
"Well, like, I was just this big dumb jock and didn't care much about anything but winning football games. And you were just the girl who could sing like crazy but didn't really have any friends. We were like two caterpillars. But then we got together and we changed... we became something special and magnificent, like a butterfly."
She looked up at him, dazzled by this boy and his earnestness. "I love you so much Finn," and pressed a sweet kiss to his lips.
"I love you too, Rach. And for the record, you're more magnificent than any butterfly could ever be."
. . . . .
That night at 2 AM Finn was awakened by his cell phone and a panic stricken Rachel calling on the other end.
"Rach, babe, it's the middle of the night, what's wrong? Are you okay?"
"No Finn I'm not! I decided to research angler fishes before I went to bed and OH MY GOD Finn! They're terrifying! I had a terrible dream that they were trying to eat me... will you come over and hold me so I can fall back to sleep?"
"Leave your window open. I'll be there in ten minutes."
I knew I shouldn't have mentioned angler fish... you'd think she'd have remembered Finding Nemo. Whatever... at least I get to cuddle with my girl tonight.