Title: The Most Happy
Genre: Fluff
Warning: None
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: Not my sandbox, I just play in it.
Word Count: 550 ish
Author Notes: My first Finchel fic. Unashamed schmoop. Inspired by the motto that Anne Boleyn had at her wedding: "The Most Happy."
She gazed out at the audience, adoration in their eyes. Even the most hard-hearted of critics couldn't fail to be moved by her astounding rendition of Defying Gravity. The power, the raw energy, the feeling behind the words as she'd flown to the ceiling, cape streaming behind her, the glowing look in her eyes as she'd gazed upwards, at a future only she could see – it had blown them away.
But now Rachel Berry's eyes raked the audience as she sought out the one face she truly cared about. There he was, slightly stunned expression on his face, with so much love in his eyes – as though he could hardly believe that someone so wonderful could want to be with him. That look was the one thing she wanted, the one thing she craved above all else. Finn Hudson's love was what made it all worthwhile. It was his love that inspired her now – it was through him that she'd finally managed to put heartfelt emotion into her performance. If it hadn't been for him, she'd have been just another Broadway wannabe.
Her therapist had been right. She'd found something more important than the world's adulation – the love of a good man was the greatest thing she could have.
She looked up, and allowed herself to soak up the applause from the rest of the auditorium. The sound came rolling towards her in waves, the audience on their feet as some even whooped and screamed. It wasn't like she didn't care about that, of course – she was still Rachel Berry, after all.
To be loved by a theatre full of people, to be the greatest star the world had ever known, to be loved by a wonderful man – she had everything she'd ever wanted. And she revelled in it. This was her dream, and she grasped it with two hands and never wanted to let it go.
But end it must, and months later, when the curtain fell for the final time, she couldn't help but shed a tear. She didn't know where she was going to go – but she'd known that she'd done her time as the green witch; it was time to let go. There were bigger and greater things for the world to offer her.
She left the theatre, smiling and signing autographs until her hand ached. She reached the final person in line, a tall man, but who was kneeling with one knee on the ground. She looked at her boyfriend in puzzlement, then realisation spread across her face as he held out a small velveteen box with a diamond ring sparkling up at her.
He didn't have to ask, she didn't have to answer. The smile that spread across her face was truly beautiful to behold as she held out her hand for him to slide the ring onto. Those fans who remained watched in awe as he stood and swept her up into his arms.
As the pair walked away, Rachel's armed tucked through Finn's, her head against his arm, Rachel realised that, in the person of the man beside her, she had all she would ever need. Audiences would come and go, critics would tear her down and build her up, fame would be fast and fleeting – but true love would last a lifetime.