Author's Not: Well, we've reached the end. I'm torn on whether I want an epilogue or not, but I don't think it will happen. It seems unnecessary. I have had so much fun writing this story. The writing took longer than I would have liked, but I think I am pleased with how it turned out. I hope you enjoy it! Thanks so much for all the kind reviews, follows and favorites!

Disclaimer: I do not own Glee.

Speaking to her again, just hearing her voice even, left him wanting more. Every word, every breath between sentences, gave him glimpses into what could be. And that was just on Earth, when he was alive.

Now, being in Heaven, and actually having a conversation that isn't a memory, makes him want to change his mind.

"How, am I talking to you right now?"

"Look, Finn, I know you have a lot of questions and I promise to answer them, but we don't have much time, so please just listen."

He's hesitant, because as always, he wants answers. But the pleading look in her eyes, tells him to shut up, let her talk.

"It was Kurt that told me. And in person, thank God. Bad news over the phone is so much worse. I refused to believe him at first, because you weren't gone and it was all just some cruel joke. But I reminded myself that Kurt wouldn't lie, not about this. I flew back to Lima alone, fully intent on being strong and even had a heartfelt speech prepared. But the minute I stepped foot in the town where we fell in love, I couldn't. So I locked myself in my room, and then the bathroom. I'm so sorry I missed your funeral."

"It's okay, you don't really remember your own funeral anyway."

"Still, I should have been there. Anyway, I spent a lot of time sleeping in my bathtub. Begging God, any higher power, to bring you back to me. When I pulled myself out, I vowed to put my entire self into my work. You sent me to New York to be a star, I needed to make you proud. Of course it didn't help when I would sing and suddenly a phrase or note would remind me of you. And then rehearsals started for Funny Girl. I found that it didn't matter how many times I got to sing on that stage, none of it mattered. None of it did. You weren't there. My heart felt nothing. It only longed, desperately, for you."

He wanted to reach out to her then, hold her. Tell her the world wasn't out to get her and all of it mattered. But she was back on Earth, nothing but an image.

"Things got better, for a while. That's when the dreams started. Every night, I saw you. Somewhere in some other world away from me, fighting. I woke up every morning, sweating, sometimes crying. Moments later though, I would forget. So I started keeping a notebook by my bed, writing down the dreams of what had to be my overactive imagination. And that's what I believed it to be, until your father showed up."

"Wait, what do you mean my dad showed up? How is that possible? Hold on..the necklace."

"Yes, I gave it to him personally. He needed my most treasured possession, my star necklace fit the bill. And as to how he appeared to me, that's for him to answer."

"I still don't understand how or why I'm talking to you. None of it makes sense. Did he tell you what I've been doing up here?"

"He did, which is exactly why I'm here. You have to reconsider. I know what you're thinking, and please, just think about it."

"But Rach, it's not that easy. I convinced a kid that Heaven was the best place, ever. Wouldn't it be a complete contradiction if I went back to Earth? And you'll be okay, I know it. You've always been strong, and I promise you'll find someone to love. Because you're so easy to love. Believe me, I've been doing it for years."

"Finn, look, I could give you a speech about how much I need you. Beg you to come back to me. But the truth is, I have to forgo any selfish reasons and convince you to do this for you."

"For me? But wouldn't that be selfish? Especially when not everyone gets a choice."

"Not at all. You had enough courage to ask the question so many want to ask when they get there. And you did it. You succeeded. Come back and change the world like you planned to."

"Is it that easy? Just say the word and I'm there? It almost seems too simple now."

"Maybe it is. You just have to make that decision for yourself."

"But, how-Rachel!? Dad where is she? Rachel!"

Rachel's face was gone. The screen had returned to its blaring white.

"I didn't get to tell her how much I love her."

"She knows son. And, hey, if you do choose to go back to Earth, you won't even have to worry about it."

"That's the problem though. I'm still not sure. Everything Rachel said made sense. There's still this whole life I could live. It's just deciding whether or not I want to do that on Earth or here."

"I never did tell you why I didn't make it back did I?"

"No, just that you didn't complete the third task."

"I did though. Complete it."

"Then how?"

Christopher sat on the piano bench next to Finn, subconsciously rubbing where a wedding band should be.

"It was your mother."

"How was it mom's fault? That doesn't make any sense? She slept by your urn, talking to it every night. For years."

"I discovered a missing task. The scroll never mentioned it, nor did God, or Cupid. And it wasn't a task really, more certainty than anything."

"Certainty of what?"

"That someone on Earth wanted you, needed you alive. Not just for themselves but because you had so much more to give. After completing the last task, I was ready to go home. But, for some reason or another, I decided to watch your mother one last time from Heaven."

"What did you see?"

"I saw her moving on. She had you, her beacon of light in her grief. I had never been that for her. And it's true she did talk to me every night. Telling me how much she missed me, but never begged or pleaded for me to come back. That's when I knew. I'd put her through enough. Too many years as a supporting army wife, only to see me send myself down in flames. Going back to Earth, would only open wounds that she was doing her best to heal."

"So you chose to stay? Leave me without a father?"

"I knew you would be okay. That was the hardest part though. Losing you. Giving you up. But it was what was best for you. Even if you don't believe it now."

Finn had never considered what his father's thoughts were after death. He'd spent so much time being sad and angry and jealous of the other kids with dads, to really think about it.

"I forgive you. For dying and leaving me and mom. It will always hurt, but that doesn't mean it wasn't the right choice for me."

"Thank you son."

"I think I want to go back to Earth. Live again."

"You're sure?"

"Positive."

"Okay, let's go."

His father stood up, heading for the choir room doors.

"Wait, where are we going?"

"We're going to see God. He's your ride out of Heaven."

As Finn left the choir room, he chanced what he now knew would be his last glance. This was really goodbye.

Climbing the stairs up to the Kingdom of Heaven, he could feel the anticipation in his bones. The necklace was still secure in his palm, and he felt stronger with it there.

The doors opened and for the first time Finn could hear his footsteps echoing down the long hallway. And then they were in front of God, his power more noticeable then before.

"Hello Mr. Hudson, I believe you have made a decision."

Finn nodded.

"And you are sure of this?"

"Yes sir. I've thought about it and this is right choice, it's what I want."

"You Finn Hudson continue to surprise me. Now, you must say your goodbyes to your father."

Turning to his father he tried to decide how to go about this. How do you say goodbye to someone in Heaven?

"I'm really going to miss you."

"We'll see each other again son, but not for a very long time I hope. You did good you know, I'm very proud."

"I wouldn't have done anyone of without you. But I think you know that."

"It was your heart and your courage that brought you here. Me, I was just a friendly companion."

"No, you're my dad. Thank you for everything."

He hugged his father then, noticing for the first time that they were the same height. His mom always did say he hugged like him. They released each other facing God once more.

"Okay, how do I get home?"

"Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and in three…two…one-"

He was flat on his back again. And everything was dark. For a moment he thought he might still be in the choir room. Until he heard the yelling.

"Are you okay!? I am so sorry, sometimes I get the break confused with the gas and this thing just goes. No one really understands the danger of these mail trucks, you've got to be extra careful."

Wait. Mail truck?

Opening his eyes he sees the mailman looking down at him. His eyes are laced with concern and possibly a bit of impatience.

"No I think I'm okay..wait. I'm alive!? I did it Mr. Gerty! I'm alive!"

"I'm not sure what you're talking about, but good to see you're okay. Are you okay to walk to the front-"

"Finn, honey! What happened? Is anything broken? Are we going to need to get a lawyer?"

His mother was frantically running across the lawn, barefoot with worry.

"Mom!"

Throwing his arms around his mother he squeezed, forcing her against him.

"Honey, I can't breathe. Thank you. Now what has gotten into you, are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm perfect."

It was then that he remembered, his reason for coming back to Earth.

"Mom do you know if Rachel is in town?"

"Her and Kurt should be here any moment. It was spur of the moment. Something about needing to fumigate the loft, I think your brother just misses home."

There was a noise in the distance. Sure enough Kurt's car was coming down the road. As the car pulled into the driveway, Finn ran up to the window, knocking.

"Good Heaven's Finn! Stop tapping on my windows, you know how I feel about knuckle prints!"

"Sorry Kurt, I'm just really happy to see you. Now come on out and give your brother a hug."

Kurt reluctantly got out of the car, only to be picked up by Finn in a bear hug.

"Finn Hudson put me down this instant! I just bought these pants!"

Setting Kurt back down he noticed something was missing.

"Where's Rachel? Mom said something about her coming home with you?"

"I dropped her off at her Dads. She's coming to dinner tonight though."

"But she's home? Like, there right now?"

"I would assume so. Why the sudden need to see Rachel? You've barely spoken in the last few months."

"Don't worry about it. Gotta go!"

He was aware that his sneakers were covered in grass stains and he probably had greenery in his hair, but there was no time for a shower. This was Rachel.

Her house was about ten blocks away and he wasn't out of breath until he reached her front door.

As he raised his hand to knock he couldn't help but wonder, would she remember any of what transpired? Or would she know nothing of it, just like his mom and Kurt? Deciding he couldn't handle thinking about it anymore, he knocked. There was silence behind the door, before he heard the click of the lock.

The door opened, and there she was.

"Finn?"

"Hey, Rach."

"You came back? Is this real?"

"Yeah, it is. So you remember?"

"Yes, all of it. I think I'm the only one who's supposed too."

"So it all happened? It wasn't just in my head?"

"Reach into your right pocket."

He slipped his hand in, before it clasped around something slightly cold. Pulling it out, he saw it. The star necklace.

"How did you know to look there?"

"It's just like the Sleigh Bell."

"Huh?"

"In that Christmas film, The Polar Express. When the boy finds the Sleigh Bell under the tree, it proves that everything was real and it happened. That star in your pocket is your Sleigh Bell."

"I love you."

"I love you too. How would you like to come inside?"

"Would be okay if we stayed out here for a while? I just want a little more time with just me and you."

"Sure. But we've got forever, remember?"

"Not even death can stop true love."

"Really Finn? Quoting the Princess Bride?"

"I happen to think it suits this part of our story."

"And how does our story end?"

Finn was quiet then. He wanted to say forever, because he knows they are, but they're more than that.

"It ends with the stars."

And as he sat there, on the front porch steps, he swore he felt a hand on his shoulder.

AN/2: I find reasons to quote The Princess Bride when given the chance. Hope you liked it! I didn't want it to all be a dream, because that's not interesting ,so I threw in the Polar Express reference. Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more!

AN/3: Side note: The preview for "The Quarterback" was so gut wrenching. Make You Feel My Love is one of my favorite songs and I think it's the perfect song for Rachel to sing, no matter how much it's going to break all of our hearts.