Hi all!
Just wanted to let those of you who are wondering about my other story "By You" (which I haven't updated in MONTHS), that I'm currently working on the next SEVERAL chapters for that story. It's now, OBVIOUSLY AU, but I think you will like what I do with it!
THIS story will probably be a long one, that is if people enjoy it and want me to continue, because there's so much Finchel history we have to cover! So, it will probably become SLIGHTLY AU after Tuesday's episode! I'll try to stick as close as I can, but we all know how that goes!
So, without further ado… FINCHEL LOVELINESS.
Rachel POV
"Good Morning, Ohio! To wake you up in the right frame of mind on this BEAUTIFUL Saturday, we bring you the lovely Idina Me-
With a yawn, I clicked off my alarm clock and with it my favorite AM show tunes station. Normally I would have sung along, dancing around my room to wake up, but my mind was too busy racing.
"Rachel Berry, will you marry me?"
Those words were still echoing in my heart and mind as I changed into shorts and a t-shirt for my morning workout. I wanted to melt at the sweet, innocent look on Finn's face, the glimmer of hope and love that shined in his eyes and the long hoped for words that proceeded his proposal… then why wasn't I able to bring myself to speak?
"Yes," I whispered into the Saturday morning stillness as I stepped lightly down the stairs, "Yes."
I tip-toed into the kitchen and gathered ingredients for my smoothie, still deep in thought. I wanted to yell that one, simple word again and again, to throw myself into Finn's arms, to feel safe and loved in his strong, warm embrace. But I couldn't. There's no doubt that I want to spend my life with him, but we're so young… babies, right? I flipped on the blender, remembering.
How much time had passed? A couple of seconds? A minute? Two? I knew he was waiting for me, but I just couldn't find the words to speak. My gaze kept dancing from his hopeful expression to the shiny ring in his hand. I heard him force a chuckle, sounding nervous.
"You're just being quiet for, um, dramatic effect or something, right Rachel?" He chuckled again, that sideways grin I love so much flashing across his face. My eyes left the ring and met his again.
Still, I couldn't speak.
"I mean, I know it's not as big as the one Mr. Schue bought Miss Pillsbury," his smile faltered slightly as he looked down at the ring, "and I know I'm not proposing at some fancy restaurant, or central park, or anything like that…" He looked back up at me, hidden tears in his eyes, "I really wanted to do this right by, but I just couldn't wait. I just-"
I shook my head then, cutting him off, my heart aching. Is that what he thought? That I didn't think that his proposal was the sweetest, the most beautiful, the most-
"It's perfect, Finn." I finally whispered, pressing my hand against his cheek, a small smile dancing across his lips.
"So…" he teased shrugging playfully, still holding up the ring. I bit my bottom lip and sighed when I saw his face fall at my hesitation. I placed my free hand against his other cheek so I was cradling his face between my palms.
"Finn Christopher Hudson," I said softly, "I love you so, so much. More than I think even YOU will ever understand. But-"
"But." Finn repeated, closing the small velvet box with a snap. He tried to pull away from me, but I held tight.
"Stop." I said, my voice suddenly sharp, ringing through the auditorium.
Finn froze, his chocolate eyes wide. I leaned forward to press my lips against his forehead, and lingered there, closing my eyes and breathing him in. I held that position for a long time, reveling in the mingled scent of musky sweet cologne, his sweet breath teased with Pepsi, and a slight hint of sweat that was altogether delicious and 100% Finn. 100% MY Finn. I felt him begin to relax beneath my tough, his hurried breath returning to normal. One hand slipped to rest against the nape of his neck, twining his thick hair through my fingers.
"I'm not saying no," I breathed against his skin, my lips brushing his forehead as I spoke. One of his large hands ran up my arm to rest against mine on his face, and I felt his shoulders heave in a sigh.
"I'll never say 'no,'" I assured him, pressing another kiss against his forehead. I slipped off my stool and knelt on the floor with him, never moving my hands. I traced my lips down the side of his face as I knelt, finally resting them against his strong jaw.
"I. Love. You." I said for a third time, slipping my other hand to the back of his head so my arms were around his neck, "And I'm not-I won't-say no."
He ducked his head to rest his forehead against mine, his hand against my arm falling to rest on my waist.
"You're not saying no," he repeated in a whisper, trying to convince himself.
"No." I agreed, and we laughed quietly at that for a moment.
"Just give me some time, okay?" I asked, leaning back slightly, forcing him to meet my eyes, "Give US time to think and… talk."
"Talk."
"Yes, talk," I answered, a genuine smile spreading across my face. The shock was wearing off and I felt a new emotion, one of joy tinged with excitement, anxiety, and honestly, yes, fear.
"But this isn't a no?" Finn asked one more time, slipping the ring back into his jeans pocket. I tightened my arms around his neck and warmed when I felt his strong arms loop around my waist.
"You must be a very silly boy," I whispered, pressing my body into his, "Because otherwise you would be able to see just how completely and DEEPLY I'm in love with you." I pressed a soft kiss into his neck, just below his jaw.
"You would see just how LONG I've been in love with you." Another kiss along the other side. "Through the first few months, you know, while I was hiding under your bed," another on his right earlobe as he blushed at that.
"I was-" I shook my head, silencing him, and continued.
"Through 'baby gate' with Quinn and Puck," another on his left ear, "through Jesse." I felt him stiffen in my arms, so I brushed my lips along his jaw, back and forth, until he relaxed.
"Regionals," I whispered after a long moment, "that first perfect summer." I smiled, remembering. I lifted my face and stretched to kiss the tip of his nose.
"I loved you through those long weeks you were back with Quinn," he ducked his head, tightening his arms around me, "those long months, Finn, that I came close, so close, to believing you had never really loved me at all."
"I'm sorry," he whispered, tears in his voice again, "I'm so sorry, Rachel."
"I know," I replied, running my hand through his hair, "I'm sorry, too. We were both at fault, but we both helped make it right, too." I paused, then added "plus, that's something I want us to talk about."
"Quinn?" Finn asked, frowning, clearly not fond of the idea of bringing up those painful months we were apart.
"Quinn, Puck, Santana, you, me. The good times, the bad times… the first times." I added lightly, with a small smile, remembering a cozy fire…
"Talk." Finn said, nodding.
"I really think it's important," I answered, tightening my arms around his neck again.
"And then?"
" Morning, Princess," Daddy yawned as he padded into the kitchen, breaking me out of my daydream.
"Good Morning, your Majesty," I teased, grabbing a glass from the cabinet. Daddy laughed and leaned forward so I could brush a kiss against his cheek, "Where's His Highness?"
"Sleeping Beauty," he answered, prepping the coffeemaker, "You know, snores, drool, the works." He shot me a wink as he passed me to sit at the kitchen table.
"Cute," I giggled, washing out the blender.
"Hush your mouth, Hiram Berry," My dad said, walking in from the living room, "Don't listen to a word your father says, beautiful. He lies." He pressed a kiss on the top of my head and grabbed an orange from a bowl on the center island. Daddy giggled at that, opening his newspaper.
"Anyway," he said, flipping to the crossword, "what are your plans for today?" I leaned against the island, sipping my smoothie.
"Well, the usual this morning. You know, workout, vocal conditioning, homework. Then I thought I would spend time with Finn before meeting New Directions for coffee and to talk about our set list for regionals." My fathers shared a knowing smile when I mentioned Finn which made me blush.
"Busy day, baby," Dad said, peeling his orange, "think you could fit in dinner with your daddy and me before your coffee date?"
"Of course," I danced forward to kiss the cheeks of the two men I loved first in my life, then finished my smoothie. I set my glass and the sink and turned to head back upstairs.
"Love you both!" I sang.
"Not as much as we love you!" Daddy sang back, my dad adding a "ooooh yeahhhh" in the background. I had to smile. My fathers really were the two sweetest men on the planet.
"It's a promise. A promise to keep loving you for the rest of my life."
Okay. Two out of the THREE sweetest men on the planet.
FINN POV
"I'm not saying no. I'll never say 'no…'"
"Gooooood morning, Sunshine!"
I groaned as I heard my brother burst through the bedroom door and open the curtains. I pressed a pillow over my eyes, trying to go back to my dream.
"Go away," I moaned, my mind and body rebelling against the morning.
"No can do," Kurt replied, "I'm operating under the orders of Queen Berry, who demands that we wake up at the crack of dawn so we can spend all day, every day preparing for regionals."
"What?" I tossed the pillow aside and sat up, my eyes blinking furiously against the light, "Rachel didn't say that."
"Oh, she didn't?" Kurt pretended to think about it, then grinned, "Oh yes, that was me. Now up, up, up!" He clapped his hands at me until I stood.
"Well, aren't those cute," he teased, nodding towards my superman sleep pants. I blushed.
"Rachel bought them for me," I muttered with a shrug. He turned to leave, then looked over his shoulder.
"Because you're her hero?" He guessed.
"Yeah…" Damn.
"Finchel." He shook his head, closing the door behind him. I grumbled as I reached for my clothes.
"I can hear you!" I rolled my eyes and opened the door.
"I meant for you, too," I lied as I slipped past him to cross the hall into our bathroom.
"Mmhmm." He stopped the bathroom door with his hand and said, "By the way, are you going to tell me why you and my best friend were locked up in the auditorium yesterday? Blaine and I wanted to try out a new song, and the choir room was still crowded."
"Alone time, Kurt," I teased, hoping to make him uncomfortable, "You know. Alone time."
"Finchel," he muttered again, this time with a smile as he turned to walk down the stairs. I was still laughing when I stepped into the shower, but sobered quickly as the hot water ran against my skin. I saw her face again, the scary way it looked as I hit one knee…
But she didn't say no.
I wasn't stupid. I knew we were young. I knew that she had big dreams. Huge dreams. I just wanted to share those dreams with her. Was that so bad?
I love her. I know I'm not the brightest crayon in the chandelier, or sharpest bulb in the box, or whatever, but I know that much. I know it hurts to be away from her, to imagine staying in Lima while she left for New York, taking my life's light with her. When she sang "Without You," I knew without a doubt, for the first time in my life, exactly what I wanted for my future.
I just wanted one with Rachel Berry.
So… proposing was the next logical step, right? Okay, so we're still in high school… I get why she didn't answer right away. Still. She didn't say no.
"And then?" I asked, holding her tight against me. I closed my eyes as I felt her kiss my neck.
"And then maybe I'll have my answer for you." Her breath was hot against my skin…
"I'll wait for you," I whispered, pressing my face into her hair, smelling her familiar strawberry shampoo.
"Right down the line it's been you and me," she sang softly into my neck. I smiled and pulled back to look at her face. Never, in my whole life, will I forget that look in her eyes. She looked excited, a little scared, but happy. How was I so lucky, in this screwed up, mean world to find a star like Rachel? In what universe was some goofball like me allowed to love someone so bright, so beautiful, so perfect?
"You can kiss me if you want to," she whispered, smiling up at me like I was the treasure.
"I want to." I pressed my lips against hers, sighing into our kiss as her soft lips parted.
This time, I wasn't running off.
"I'm heading out," Kurt said as soon as I opened the bathroom door, "Is that what you're wearing?" I glanced down at my black sweater and jeans, confused.
"I thought black was sophisticated or whatever," I said as I crossed back into my bedroom. Kurt leaned against the open door.
"It is, it is," he agreed, "I just don't know if Rachel will aprove of the color."
"She bought this."
"Does Mrs. Finchel by your undies, too?"
Yes. Well, once. Okay, twice now. But Kurt didn't have to know anything about that.
"Anything else?" I asked, ignoring the question.
"Oh, Touchy." Kurt smiled and turned to leave, "I'll text you about lunch with me and Blaine!" He blew me a kiss as he walked away.
Brothers.