A/N- Oh boy. I'm not going to lie, I've been sitting on the idea of this story for a while. I've been scared of how people might react to some of the things that will be taking place, but decided (with an insane amount of encouragement) to go ahead anyway. This story is rated M for a reason, the first being the smut in this chapter. I haven't really written smut before, so please keep that in mind. Anyway, I hope you can enjoy this story. As always, thank you to Erica and RedAmbition for the support, which was a LOT for this one. A lot!

Disclaimer- Story and title are from Tim McGraw's "Red Rag Top." I do not own Glee, it's characters, or any of the music or lyrics used.

Fall-

Finn Hudson strolled along aisle seventeen, picking up his favorite cereal before going to the next aisle to grab some chips. He loved college. He was able to buy all his favorite foods and as long as he had his name written on it, nobody would touch it. He could stay out as long as he wanted and there was nobody to tell him not to. His life was his own and now that he was almost finished with his degree, he was on top of the collegiate food chain. Finn knew exactly how to navigate his school work, his extra-curricular activities and his job, while making sure he still had time to do the things he wanted to do.

He rounded the corner, entering the next aisle just as he was mentally finalizing his dinner for the evening and stopped dead in his tracks. There, in aisle fourteen, was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen reaching for something on the top shelf, her petite frame keeping it just out of her reach.

Her dark brown hair was pulled back into a low pony tail that cascaded down her spine, stopping just above the belt that was wrapped around her hips. Finn appreciated the way the grey Ohio State University shirt hugged her curves and the way her lips pursed as she reached again. She was beautiful.

Finn steadied his breath and moved to stand next to the petite girl. "Hey. You look like you could use a little help."

"Oh, yes. Thank you. I don't know why everything I want is always on the top…" Rachel turned to the helpful stranger so she could thank him properly, but her thoughts were wiped clean when she saw his beautiful face. He was tall, much taller than her, he had broad shoulders and deep brown eyes she could feel herself getting lost in. She finished the last word almost in a whisper as she let out a breath. "…shelf."

He knew she was gorgeous before, but now, looking in her sparkling brown eyes, he was taken by her beauty. He was thankful he saw her first so that he could prepare himself for talking to her. "That's how things go I guess." He reached up to where she had been reaching and wrapped his hand around the bottle of salad dressing. "This one?" He asked, looking down to see her watching him.

"Huh?" She heard him. She did. For some reason, the way his arms flexed as he reached out distracted her brain and although she heard him, she did not necessarily understand him. She looked to his hand and saw it holding onto the vinaigrette she had been reaching for and realized what he was asking. "Oh yeah. That one."

He brought the bottle down and handed it to her, her small, soft hands brushing against his softly as she took it from him. "So you go to OSU?"

"I do. How did you know?" He pointed at her shirt and she looked down and blushed. It was clearly marked with the logo of the school in big bold letters. "Oh." She giggled and hoisted the small basket onto her arm a little farther. "I'm a junior, majoring in theater. Someday my name will be written in the bright lights of Broadway."

Finn raised an eyebrow at her. It did not appear that the girl was kidding and he admired her determination. "Oh yeah? What is it? So I know what to look for."

"Broadway is a famous-"

Finn chuckled as the girl prepared into what he assumed was a well-used definition of Broadway. "I know what Broadway is. What's your name?"

"Oh. Sorry. You'd be surprised how many people don't know what that is." She laughed and held out her hand for him. "Rachel Berry, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Finn took her hand and shook it delicately, relishing the feeling of her hand in his. "Finn. Finn Hudson."

"Well Finn Hudson, besides helping vertically challenged women, what else do you do?" She released his hand, reluctantly, and they began to walk throughout the store.

"Uh, I'm a senior at OSU. I'm on the football team, I play the drums, and I make a mean grilled cheese sandwich."

She raised her eyebrows at him, unable to resist teasing him just a little. "Impressive."

"Hey, it is a handy skill to have in college." Finn walked beside her and noticed her arm reddening where she had the basket resting on it. He shifted his own basket to the other hand and reached out and took the handle of hers, unthreading it from her arm.

"I imagine it would be." She smiled at his act of kindness, the second in the in the ten minutes that she's know him. "Thank you. You're very chivalrous, it's refreshing to see."

It was Finn's turn to blush as they turned the corner and got into a relatively short checkout line. "That sounded like a compliment, so you're very welcome." She nodded and he placed both of their baskets on the belt, his lips curved into a handsome half smile. "It turns out, I'm having grilled cheese for dinner. Would you like to maybe come over and join me?"

"I only met you fifteen minutes ago." She noticed his smile falter slightly and quickly continued. "I'm going to throw caution to the wind. Grilled cheese sounds wonderful."

"Awesome."

~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~

Winter-

Rachel was beyond excited. Tonight she would be attending her first formal dance. Even better that she would be on the arm of Finn Hudson. She looked at herself in the mirror and gently smoothed out the soft curls framing her face and checked her makeup one last time. The doorbell rang, causing Rachel to jump slightly. It wasn't as if she wasn't expecting the doorbell to ring. She shook her head at her own foolishness and moved to answer the door. She squared her shoulders and pulled open the door to reveal a very handsome, tuxedo clad Finn.

"Wow, Rach. Just, Wow." He leaned in and softly pressed his lips to hers. "You look amazing." When Finn had first heard that the theater department was going to be hosting a winter formal, he was a bit apprehensive. He really hated wearing tuxedos and dancing. But when Rachel had said that she had never been to one before, he pushed aside his distaste of formal wear and asked her to go with him as his date. Standing in her doorway, he was glad he did. Her hair was swept back in a loose bun with a few curls framing her face. Her strapless pink dress sparkled at the top and flowed lightly to the floor, softening in color and sparkle as it did. It fit her perfectly and she looked beautiful in it.

"Thank you handsome."

Finn held out a small box, it's clear color showing off the pink lily resting inside. "I brought you this" He carefully pulled at the box, trying a couple different methods before it popped open so he could remove the flower and place it on her wrist.

"It's beautiful." She held it up and admired it before she kissed him once again. "Thank you."

He held out his elbow and she threaded her arm through his. "Shall we?" Rachel nodded and after she grabbed her purse and jacket they made their way to the main campus. Finn drove to the theater where the dance was being held and helper her out of the car. Instead of leading her towards the door where that dance was just getting started, he veered left and took her down a dark, empty hallway.

"Finn? Where are we? The dance is in the theater."

He looked at her, his lip quirking into a small smile. "I know." They walked a few minutes longer, making a few more turns before Finn stopped in front of a closed door and pulled out a key. "We are here now."

"Where?" She watched him unlock the door to the unknown room and walk inside.

"Come on." He held out his hand, which she took, and pulled her inside, revealing a table that was set for two. While she walked in further and took in her surroundings. Finn had taken a small office and transformed it into a private dining room. The desk chairs were pushed to the side, as was the desk, and a small table was placed In the middle of the open space. There were white lights strung up all over and a simple lily, like her corsage, was placed in the middle of the table.

She stood a few feet inside the room, fighting back the tears that were threatening to fall while Finn took the opportunity to close and lock the door behind them. "Finn. It's beautiful." Her voice was barely a whisper, but in the nearly silent room, Finn heard her clearly.

"Do you like it?" He gently took her hand and led her to the simply decorated table. He pulled a chair out for her, allowing her to take her seat, and he pressed play on an iPod dock on the nearby book shelf. The space was filled with the soft sounds of Finn's favorite classic rock playlist. "I wanted to do something special for you." She watched as he dished out some obviously pre-ordered take out containers from one of their favorite restaurants to the plates in front of them

"It is. Sometimes I wonder what I did to deserve you."

Finn took his seat across from her and gently took her hand, stretching himself so that he could kiss the back of her hand softly. "You're just you. That's all you'll ever have to do."

The settled in their seats and ate, engaging in small talk between bites. Finn had long since finished his and Rachel was down to her last couple bites.

"Do you want to dance?"

Rachel dropped her fork and looked around the relatively small office in disbelief. "Right here?"

A Journey song filled the space and Finn stood, holding his hand out to her. "What can I say; I want you all to myself."

"You have me, Finn." She stood and he tugged lightly on her hand, bringing her to where she was pressed against him, softly swaying as the song played on. He brought their entwined hands to his chest and wrapped the other around her waist while her free hand snaked around his neck. Her eyes closed as she pressed her cheek to his and they swayed in the middle of the room. The song faded out giving way to the next one and Rachel leaned her head back to look at Finn. "How did you even do this? I didn't think anybody was allowed in here."

Still holding onto Rachel, Finn shrugged. "Mr. Reynolds is pretty cool; I had him for a class last semester. He let me borrow the keys." He leaned in closer, pressing his forehead to hers. "He kinda likes me, I guess."

"Well, I'd say he has pretty good taste." She giggled and kissed him lightly. "I kinda like you too."

His grip tightened on both her hand and her waist as he pressed himself closer to her. "Yeah?"

"Yeah. Have you ever made out on a teacher's desk before?" She asked, raising an eyebrow as she glanced at the desk that had been pushed aside.

A wide smile formed and he looked at the desk. "I can't say that I have."

After a hefty make out session on Mr. Reynolds' desk, Rachel straightened her hair and did a quick touch up on her make up before they made it to the dance. They met up with some of Rachel's theater friends and some of Finn's football friends, keeping equal time with their friends and dancing often. Soon enough, the night had come to a close and Finn was standing at in the same doorway where he had picked up Rachel earlier in the night.

Their hands were joined as Rachel leaned against the door to her apartment. She leaned up, kissing his lips, lingering them there suggestively. "Thanks for everything tonight. It was all amazing; the dinner, the dancing, the kissing."

"I really liked that part."

"Me too." She kissed him again, lingering once again at his lips. "Thank you for making this night special for me. The effort you put into making it so memorable is something I'll never forget."

"Anything for you, Rach." He leaned down and kissed her cheek. He really wanted to stay, as he had many times before, he wanted this night to be special for Rachel. "Call you tomorrow?"

She raised her eyebrows in question and pulled at his hands. "Aren't you going to come in?"

"What?" He really wanted to stay, it's not like he never had. He wanted to leave this decision up to her. Sure, he was hoping she would invite him to stay but he wanted her first formal experience to be special, something she could look back on with nothing but happiness many years from now. She let go of his hand and carefully untucked his tie from his vest, toying with it in her delicate hand.

"Isn't this what typically happens after a formal dance?" She pulled on the tie bringing his face closer to hers, close enough to where they could feel the others breath on their lips. Her other hand took hold of his belt and pulled him closer.

It took all that Finn had to respond to her. "It isn't really a requirement, but I'm not gonna say no."

"I would hope not." Rachel kissed him again and turned her back to him, his tie was still in her grasp, stretching over her shoulder. His hands were instantly on her hips as he followed her into the apartment, prepared to make this her best night yet.

~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~

Spring-

"Looks like we just barely made it." Finn stopped his beat up Chevy truck alongside the lake and climbed out, pausing to assist Rachel out as well. He led her to the back of the truck and lowered the tailgate; Rachel rested her head on his shoulder while they held hands as the colors danced across the horizon.

They had just finished their finals for the spring semester, Finn was set to graduate next week and Rachel was about to start her senior year. Finn was offered a management position at the music store where he had worked the last year or so and Rachel was going to continue waitressing over the summer. Even though they technically had another week of classes, this was their unofficial summer kick off.

When the sun disappeared below the horizon completely, Finn removed the many blankets he had stowed and spread them all out in the bed of his truck. The couple climbed in and lay next to each other in the bed of Finn's truck, holding hands and staring up at the stars. After a few moments Rachel let out a contented sigh.

"I love coming out here. It's so peaceful."

Finn squeezed Rachel's hand and smiled up at the sky. "Me too. It's hard to see all the stars in the city."

"It's nice to get away. Finals week is awful." Rachel couldn't be more thrilled to get out of the city. The hour drive they took to get out here was already proving to be worth it. The area around the lake was largely unoccupied, leaving them alone under the night sky.

"It is. I'm so glad it's over."

"You're all done." Rachel mused.

Finn chuckled, "Yeah. Part of me is happy college is over, the other part of me is terrified of real life."

"I'm not worried; you're going to do great Finn."

Finn let go of her hand and turned on his side, propping his head on his hand so he could face Rachel. She turned as well and took his free hand in hers. Finn rubbed his thumb across her knuckles as he spoke, his own insecurities keeping him from making eye contact with her. "Easy for you to say. You know exactly what you want to do with your life after you graduate. I'm not even sure what I'm supposed to do with this degree yet. I mean, yeah, I'm now a manager, but what if they hate me? What if I suck at it? What if I wasted the last four years?"

Rachel tilted her head so that Finn would catch her eye. When he did, she smiled softly at him. "You know all the people you are going to be working with already. They loved you as a coworker and they will love you as their manager. You will most assuredly not suck at it and you definitely did not waste your time in college." He smiled and nodded at her and she scooted closer to him. "I believe in you."

He kissed her softly, parting his lips slightly. "Thanks babe. I needed to hear that." He said softly.

"Anytime."

She pressed her lips to his again, this time lingering a little longer. When she pulled back, Finn released her hand and rested it on her hip, squeezing it lightly. "You keep doing that and you are going to make me think I can fly."

"Oh yeah?" She scooted a little closer, pressing her center to his. "What if I do this?" Rachel slid her hand up the front of his shirt and kissed her way up his neck. She took his ear lobe between her lips and sucked lightly until she could feel him losing his own self-control.

"Rach."

She pulled back, nipping at his neck one more time before looking at him innocently. She batted her eyes at him as her fingers danced across the front of his jeans. "Yes Finn?"

"Do you have any idea what you're doing to me?"

She giggled, enjoying the husky tone of his voice. "I think I do."

He kissed her hungrily while he moved the arm he was resting on under her and rolled to his back, bringing her astride on top of him. He slid his hands down her back side, cupping her behind and pressing her core into his hardness as they continued to kiss. Rachel roamed her hands under his shirt, reveling in the feel of his bare chest. Finn's large hands traveled around her hips and began to travel up her sides, taking her shirt with it. When he reached her ribs, their mouths separated and Rachel's arms rose, allowing Finn to remove her shirt completely. Finn took the moment before she fused her mouth back to his to admire her position above him. She was beautiful.

She shifted, deliberately grinding her aching center over his hardness once again. She leaned down slightly, meeting him halfway as he sat up, allowing her to lift his shirt over his head before he reattached his lips to hers. Rachel's fingers played with the back of his hair while his hands sprawled across her back in an effort to pull her closer to him. After a few minutes, Finn turned, still holding onto Rachel tightly as he turned them so that Rachel was now on her back. Her knees stayed at his side while he hovered over her, his mouth now moving to her neck. She arched into him as he dragged his tongue across her collarbone then down the center of her chest. His hands held tightly to her sides as his mouth ghosted over the top of her lacy bra, something he knew from experience drove Rachel crazy. His lips continued their decent stopping next at her stomach. Finn kissed her just above her belly button and lowered his hands to the waistband of her shorts. He leaned back on his feet, while she lowered her knees and allowed him to remove her bottoms, leaving her in only her underwear.

She reached up and took hold of his belt loops, pulling him back to her. Her fingers remained locked in the belt loops as her mouth found its way back to his. Rachel could feel Finn's arousal at her center; she moved her right hand to cup him, causing him to growl slightly as he pressed himself further into her hand. Rachel smiled into their kiss, happy with the reaction she had received. Her hand then moved to the button of his jeans. With a specialized tug and twist, the button was undone and she lowered his zipper before immediately snaking her hand in the open jeans. Her middle finger lightly traced his hardened length over the material of his boxer briefs before she moved her hand back to the belt loop it held earlier. She nipped and sucked below his ear while her hands lowered his jeans as far as she could get them to go. Finn traced his tongue down Rachel's neck, pausing just above her collar bone to suck lightly.

"Finn. I think it's time you lose those pants."

Finn smiled into her neck and sucked once again, this time leaving a mark. Still holding his weight on his elbows, he shifted slightly so his hands could take hold of the strap of Rachel's bra. "Patience." He pulled the strap over her shoulder while his kisses followed its path. He did the same with the other side and Rachel raised her hips to meet Finn's. She pressed against him eagerly, his hardness only causing her to be more aroused. It was then that Finn leaned back and removed his jeans the rest of the way. He was pleased to see Rachel remove her panties and her bra while he took the time to get the condom from his pocket before he tossed the pants aside with the rest of their clothes.

Once Rachel had removed her remaining clothes and saw that Finn had done the same, she plucked the condom from his hands and wrapped her arm around his neck to bring him closer to her once again. She kissed him eagerly causing him to let out another growl as he pressed his bare chest to hers. While he held his weight over her with one hand, the other traveled to her core and his finger slipped between her folds, teasing her entrance as she ached to feel him inside her. Their mouths fused together with a renewed passion and Rachel brought her hands together behind his neck while he continued teasing her. She tore off the top of the wrapper and removed the rubber disk, dropping the package somewhere to the side of them. She held it between her fingers for a moment to before she rolled it over his length as he began to suckle her neck. She stroked him once before he drew back and lined up at her entrance. Rachel pulled her knees up as Finn pushed forward until he entered her completely. She whimpered slightly as he pulled back and pressed into her again.

Their bodies fused together in the moonlight, their moans filling the night sky while he pumped into her. Rachel's hands clutched at Finn's back as their rhythmic thrusting brought her closer and closer to the edge. Their well-rehearsed lovemaking soon brought them to their climax and they struggled to catch their breath. After a moment, he lifted himself into a hover over top of her while his eyes locked with hers and he kissed her lovingly. His hand moved to the side of her face and pushed away the damp hair that had stuck to her cheek. They were both panting and sweaty, but Finn could only see the way the moonlight illuminated her face. He rubbed his thumb along her cheek and kissed her again before rolling to the space beside her.

He disposed of the condom and put on his underwear while she pulled his t-shirt on. He settled back down next to her and she nestled herself in his side, draping her arm across his chest, as he looked back up to the stars. His fingers traced her upper arm lightly as he thought about the girl beside him. He took a deep breath and whispered into the night. "I love you, you know. I think I always have."

Rachel snuggled closer to him, her grip tightening on his torso. "I love you too." Rachel had known for a while that she loved Finn, she probably always would.

A/N- And we are off! I hope you enjoy it so far. This story will have controversial elements to it and I understand that not all of you will agree with some of the things that are going to happen. That is perfectly alright, I just ask that you please be kind in your reviews and trust me that we will have a happy ending. I truly appreciate all the support. Much Love!