I do not own Glee or have any affiliation with it beyond worshipping it and Finn Hudson from afar.

Rachel smiled as she felt Finn's strong hand running up and down her back as she lay with her head on his chest. It wasn't the first time she'd laid like this with him – in the post-euphoria of their love. Most of the time she would just lay there on his chest, listening to the sound of his heartbeat, but she knew that she couldn't this time. There were more important things to do now – more important things to say.

As her eyes drifted closed, she reasoned that she could have this conversation some other time. Surely it could wait – the euphoric beauty of him and his love would surely tide her over until morning when she could wake up in his arms and have a fresh start on the day. The sound of his heartbeat was always enough to lull her into a peaceful sleep – safe in his arms.

But her own heartbeat was like a war chant, reminding her that there was a reason for everything that she'd done for him tonight – the dinner and the music and movie that was now repeating its title sequence every few minutes. The love hadn't been planned, but she could never resist his kisses. Even now, as she tried to sit up, the firm pressure of his hand on her back pulled her back down into his arms as he turned her face to him and kissed her again.

"Finn." She whispered, but he kissed her again, and she felt herself drowning in his embrace. "Finn." She managed to say again.

"Huh?" He whispered incoherently in between kisses. Rachel managed to detangle herself from his embrace enough to push herself up so she was looking down at him.

"Finn – we need to talk." His face fell as he looked up at her somber expression. She didn't know what he thought she was going to tell him, but she knew the truth would be just as hard. His first instinct would be to think that it would be like last time, but they were so much older now – practically adults and different people than they had been when they were sixteen.

She remembered that first year – how much they'd grown. She'd gone from the lonely girl who got Slushied everyday to the girlfriend of the quarterback of the football team, but that wasn't what had really changed. When they sat together while Mr. Shue sang "Over the Rainbow" and Rachel held Finn's hand, they had known in that moment that they would always be together.

"What is it, Rach?" His intense gaze bore into her – it was the same as the look he always had when he sang to her – like he could see into her soul.

"I love you."

"I love you." A ghost of his usual lopsided smirk cross his face as he said it and Rachel was suddenly reminded of the first time he had said it, standing outside the doors to the auditorium where they would begin singing "Faithfully". She hadn't had the time or the clarity of thought to say it back at the time, but she'd definitely made up for it since.

"I – I –" She found herself stuttering, chocking on her words like Tina used to. She was sure that Finn appreciated the irony of Rachel Berry being completely speechless. She felt his warm fingers run down her face encouraging her to say what she had to say.

"I'm pregnant." Finn's hand froze mid-caress and his face froze in a mixed expression that showed his awe, fear and excitement all at the same time. "It's not like the last time you were in a mix-up like this, Finn." She added quickly, unable to read his expression.

"What do you mean?" He asked, his face still not revealing his emotion.

"I – I've already told my dads. They were there when I took the pregnancy test. They've promised me – us – whatever help we need. And… we're eighteen now. We're grown-ups, and we're already going to the same college with the same scholarship, but I'm not going to even pretend to make decisions without you, Finn." She heard him exhale sharply, but she couldn't tell if it was one of relief or frustration. She closed her eyes, willing him to say something to her – to make it all better before she broke down in tears. She would never tell him, but she was scared.

The silence was palpable as she leaned her forehead on his chest. She swallowed hard, fighting the tears that threatened to escape. What had it been like when Quinn had told him? Had it been this hard for him to hear? The tears finally escaped from her eyes and traced a heated path down her cheeks to land on Finn's bare chest. She drew in shaky breaths as she sobbed. Finn's hand raised her face by the chin to look at him and she heard him swallow hard, like he too was trying to fight back tears.

"It's – It's mine?" He stuttered out, looking away from her as he asked.

"Yes, Finn. You're the only man I've ever been with." She replied, reminding herself not to be hurt by the question – she had to remember what happened to him the first time. When he looked back at her there were tears tracing paths down his cheeks. It took only a moment before Rachel found herself in his arms, smothered by his kisses.

"I love you." He whispered, pulling back again long enough to look into her eyes. "I'm happy. I really am."

"I am too." Rachel whispered, a smile finally crossing her features to match the boyish grin on his. Three years had passed since the day they had kissed on the stairs before Regionals and she had never grown tired of that smile and those eyes. While others around her had gotten together, grown tired of one another and broken up, she had never tired of his kisses or his face or his body or his love.

She felt his hand on her back again, flipping her gently so she was lying on her back. His kisses took her into eternity as though there was nothing in the whole world but the two of them. She was lost – lost in his touch and in his intensity when he pulled back and looked into her eyes again, his gaze penetrating her soul once again.

"Marry me, Rach."

"What?" Rachel replied, but he opened his hand to show a small diamond ring. It wasn't big or gaudy, but it was delicate and beautiful and simple.

"It's my mom's." He whispered, still smiling. "It's the ring my father gave her. She gave it to me last week – said it was just in case I should decide I ever needed it. She wanted me to have it 'cause she doesn't wear it anymore – since Burt asked her to marry him." Rachel could hardly do anything but stare for a moment. She had always imagined her engagement. She had always imaged a room filled with so many flowers that the air was heavy with the perfume of them. In her imagination she would be wearing an elegant dress and there would be a string quartet and a huge diamond ring poised in the bottom of an elegant champagne flute.

Somehow, unbelievably, this was better. She was lying in Finn's bed, under cotton sheets – not wearing a thing in a room that was usually shared with another boy (though not the nights that Rachel stayed).

"I had been planning something more –"

"Yes." Rachel said, without even thinking. "There would be nothing better in this world than spending the rest of my days with you, Finn Hudson." That boyish smirk returned again as Finn slid the finger onto Rachel's finger and leaned down to kiss her again. Like always, the power of their love consumed her until they were lost again in the throes of love, holding each other until dawn.

*Author's Note* This was just a short one-shot, but I do know where the story goes from here and if there is a strong interest, I may choose to post a continuation or a sequel. Thanks for all your support. This is my first published fanfic, so I hope you all enjoyed it!