AN: Last installment, guys. Thank you so, so, so, so very much to everybody who read, reviewed, faved, alerted and whatnot. You guys rule. Happy Finchel-ing. =]

Reviews will be adored!

One person singing.

Two or more people singing

-Another person coming into the song

Disclaimer: Nothing is mine except the desire for Finchel. That makes me pretty sad because Thunder is one of the most epic love songs ever written.

Epilogue: On With The Show

Despite her knowledge that she was a really great performer, Rachel still got nervous. And, seeing as it was only about an hour before opening night, the nerves were attacking her in waves. Finally she couldn't take it any more and she began to pace, muttering her lines under her breath as she went.

"You're gonna wear a hole in the floor."

Finn grinned at her from the doorway, his easy smile chasing away some of her fear. She stopped pacing but instead began twisting her hands anxiously. Her and Finn had talked seriously over a few days and they'd decided to start things out slow. There had been a point, when they were talking about the infidelity, that Rachel had worried Finn would leave her again. But they'd worked through it and promised to continue doing so with the help of their friends and school guidance councillor.

(Although Rachel had her misgivings about what Emma could do for them. The woman was obviously as in love with Will as he was with her, but she'd still married her dentist. In Vegas. Finn agreed, but both decided to give her the benefit of the doubt.)

"Hey," she answered him softly, her voice wavering slightly.

His face turned concerned, and he moved toward her. "Hey. You'll do great. Come on- it's everything you're good at all in one swoop."

She smiled at him, causing his lips to quirk upright too. They sat in only slightly uncomfortable silence for a while before Rachel noticed him shifting. She knew him well enough to realize he'd come to her dressing room with a purpose.

"What's wrong?" she asked softly.

He looked at her and seemed to chicken out of his decision. "It's… nothing. I just…."

"Finn. Complete honesty, remember?"

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I don't want you kissing him," he blurted out. His gaze turned slightly ashamed. "I mean, I know it's just acting and everything but… I really don't want you kissing him."

She touched his arm softly, a small smile on her lips. "Then I'll try not to kiss him," she said simply.

His gaze turned hopeful and relieved. "Really?"

"Really. We agreed this relationship will only work if we take each other into greater account. If it makes you feel uncomfortable, I will try and avoid it. It isn't an unreasonable offer given… well, you know."

Hesitantly he reached out and brushed some hair from her face. They hadn't banned touching, but they'd been so careful with each other so far that they'd barely had any physical contact at all. Her skin tingled at his touch.

"You're gonna be beautiful," he promised her. Then, with a smile, "You already are."

She blushed, dipping her head down to hide it. Then, because she wanted him to be utterly assured, she looked back up. "I might not be able to stop it. Kissing Jesse, I mean. But if I do have to kiss him, I swear I'll be picturing you the whole time. I got good at that when you were still dating Quinn."

"That's… reassuring, flattering and… pretty creepy."

She laughed lightly with him, her heart thrilling. There was a knock on the door and the rest of New Directions piled in. Tina had a bouquet of flowers, which Rachel accepted with a delighted gasp. Everybody wished her good luck, telling her that it was going to be great and thanking her for the free front-row seats. Sam suddenly held up his guitar, raising an eyebrow at Finn who nodded.

"I, uh… I found this song. And it pretty much sums everything up. Music is awesome," he grinned, causing Rachel to laugh. "Anyway, Sam's gonna help me out."

The blond seated himself beside Finn, beginning to strum his guitar. Finn smiled and then looked straight at Rachel, his eyes warm and brimming with emotion that nearly turned her legs to jelly. And then he began singing to her, making her realize how much she'd actually missed his voice.

"Today is a winding road

That's taking me

To places that I didn't want to go

Whoah

Today in the blink of an eye

I'm holding onto something

And I do not know why

I tried."

Sam, still strumming his guitar, looked straight at Quinn with his own warm smile as he helped Finn out with the vocals.

"I tried to read between the lines

-I tried to look in your eyes

-I want a simple explanation

-What I'm feeling inside

-Gotta find a way out.

Maybe there's a way out."

Both boys put all their emotion into the lyrics, giving their girls their all. And suddenly, as Finn sang to her, Rachel knew she could do anything.

"Your voice

Was the soundtrack of my summer

Do you know

You're unlike any other?

You'll always be my thunder

And I said

Your eyes

Are the brightest of all the colours

I don't wanna ever love another

You'll always be my thunder

So bring on the rain

Bring on the thunder."

Finn finished the chorus and Sam began the next verse, not even bothering to look at the chords as he played. Tina was cuddling up to Mike while Brittany sat in Artie's lap. Mercedes had linked her arm with Rachel and was waving her mobile in the air, a soft smile on her face.

"Today is a winding road

Tell me where to start

And tell me something I don't know

Whoah

Today I'm on my own

I can't move a muscle

And I can't pick up the phone

I dunno

-And now I'm reaching for the tall branch

-I'm longing for the breeze

-I need to step outside

-Just to see if I can breathe

-Gotta find a way out

Maybe there's a way out

Your voice

Was the soundtrack of my summer

Do you know

You're unlike any other?

You'll always be my thunder

And I said

Your eyes

Are the brightest of all the colours

I don't wanna ever love another

You'll always be my thunder

So bring on the rain…"

Finn's grin was almost as wide as his face by now, and he couldn't seem to look anywhere but Rachel. And Quinn, staring into Sam's eyes, knew that everything had worked out for the best. Especially when she saw Puck almost-smiling.

"Yeah I'm walking on a tightrope

-I'm wrapped up in vines

-I think we'll make it out

-But you just gotta give me time

-Strike it out with lightning

-Let me feel you in my veins

I wanna let you know

How much I feel your pain."

Finn sang alone again, and Rachel could honestly say that she'd much rather hear him than even herself.

"Today is a winding road

That's taking me to places

That I didn't want to go

Whoah…

Your voice

Was the soundtrack of my summer

Do you know

You're unlike any other?

You'll always be my thunder

And I said

Your eyes

Are the brightest of all the colours

I don't wanna ever love another

You'll always be my thunder

And I said

Your voice

Was the soundtrack of my summer

Do you know

You're unlike any other?

You'll always be my thunder

So bring on the rain

Oh, baby, bring on the pain

And listen to the thunder."

There were cheers and claps from everybody watching, and Rachel couldn't stop a single tear from escaping her eye. The glee kids got up to leave Rachel to change, but just before they left Finn leant over her.

"Can I kiss you?" he asked her quietly.

She hesitated for a short moment before nodding. Gently Finn leant down and pressed his lips softly to hers. The kiss was chaste and sweet and it left her blushing and honestly wanting more.

"Break a leg," he smiled at her, the private joke of Regionals hanging between them like a sunrise.

Leaving her in the room, Finn left with Sam, congratulating and thanking him. The group of New Directions (minus one) headed back to their seats, bickering good-naturedly about who was sitting where. Finn waved his family over, explaining that Rachel had gotten them good seats as well. Kurt was highly pleased about this and promptly seated himself next to Mercedes. The two began to gossip almost instantly. Finn was about to sit down when Puck suddenly stood in front of him.

"We cool, man?"

He'd asked the same question almost two years ago. Then the tension between them as they stood a little distance apart had been thicker. Finn stared at Puck's outstretched hand, being hit forcefully with memories of the hurt and pain of Quinn and then Rachel and then the fight they'd gotten into. Those memories were replaced with older ones of them growing up together, of Puck telling him the truth when he needed to hear it, of him standing up for him with Jesse.

Finn hadn't fully forgiven Noah Puckerman for all he'd done. But, he realized, Puck had probably not completely forgiven him for a few things as well. And that was the funny thing about brothers. The forgiveness would somehow, inexplicably happen.

Finn smiled at him and clasped his hand. "Yeah. We're cool."

The added "Just don't think of taking my girlfriend again" was left unsaid.

Finn settled in his seat, his mind only half on the show as the curtain rose a little under an hour later. Jesse was good, he had to admit, and that knowledge brought with it doubt and jealousy. To combat it he thought over all the things he'd sworn to Rachel and himself. They would work on their communication. He promised to be more honest. She promised to consider others- not just him but the whole group. He swore that this time he'd be better. This time, he'd really be hers faithfully.

And, as he watched the first scene unfold on the stage, he felt very smug at the notion that in real life he was Rachel's Christian. She'd sing to him, for him, and they'd make it work. Somehow. Slowly. Day-by-day.

When Rachel came out wearing a scantly outfit of feathers and a number of boys hollered it was only Kurt's warning glares that kept him from leaping up and telling them to shut it.

And when Rachel, obviously ignoring all the director's wishes, sang Sparkling Diamonds and her lines of the Elephant Love Melody right to him, he knew he was the luckiest man in all of Lima. Nah, screw that: he was the luckiest man in the world.

.