The Fifth Time's a Charm Chapter 1: I'll Follow You, a glee fanfic

A/N: Ok so this is my second attempt at Glee. Hopefully you guys like it. This is a Finn/Rachel fic. It is basically a redo of season 4 with some of my own thrown into it. Hope you all like it. Reviews welcomed and appreciated.

Disclaimer: I own nothing that is all

"You have got to be kidding me." Rachel exclaims in panic while looking at her now broken shoe. "Stupid potholes, I swear one would think with all the fancy buildings and tourists that come to this town they would have the decency to fix the stupid sidewalks." Rachel was already running late as it was so she just shoved the now broken heel and its friend in her bag and continued her walk barefoot. She was supposed to be meeting with Jake Lewis New York's hottest up and coming director she had heard that he was having a casting call for a new pilot, while her dream has always been Broadway this would have to do. We all have to get our start somewhere. Rachel started to wonder if she was going in the right direction. She pulled out a piece of paper from her bag and looked at it. Well….it was definitely the right place. She placed her hand on the door and took a deep breath.

"I'm Rachel Berry I am here to see Mr. Lewis." Rachel is nervously playing with the hem of her shirt.

"I'll let him know you are here….oh and sweetie if you keep messing with your shirt there is going to be nothing left." The receptionist tells her as Rachel gives a nervous smile and takes a seat. While waiting for Mr. Lewis she pulls out her phone and checks her messages.

"Miss. Berry, Mr. Lewis will see you now." Rachel quickly places her phone back in her bag and follows the receptionist to Mr. Lewis' office.

XXXX

She walked into the room and looked around there were so many pictures from different plays hanging on the wall.

"Rachel Berry it's so good to finally meet you." I hear a deep voice behind me. I turn around and there stands this very tall and very dark man in front of me.

"Mr. Lewis I have heard so much about you…" I take his hand in mine. AS I begin to ramble.

"Miss. Berry have a seat." he tells me motioning towards his desk. Rachel nervously takes a seat.

"You're from Lima, Ohio right?" Mr. Lewis says looking towards Rachel.

"Yes, that's right." Ok that was weird why is he so interested in Lima. Rachel thought to herself.

"I see you were last years National Champions as well." Ok this was really beginning to bug Rachel what did this have to do with acting.

"I'm sorry Mr. Lewis but what does this have to do with the part." Rachel asks taking a sip of her water.

"Oh…I'm sorry but we already filled that role, actually my brother is the one who wanted to talk to you." Rachel just sits there with a confused look.

"Brother?" Rachel tried to think in her mind who she knew with the last name of Lewis but nothing came to mind.

"Hello Rachel." The deep voice form behind her says. Rachel closes her eyes and slowly turns around hoping that the voice she heard was not who she thought it was.

"Jesse?" Both confusion and shock are written on her face. There stood in front of her flashing his cocky smile Jesse St. James. "I-I have to go." She didn't know nor did she care as to why Jesse was here all she knew was that she needed to get out of here and fast. When she got out of the building she immediately texted Kurt, realizing since she had no shoes on walking ten blocks barefoot in New York was not a good idea.

*Pick me up plz?*

She texted Kurt hoping that he could give her a ride. She started to down the street to this little coffee shop hoping that Jesse would not find her. She wasn't sure what he was doing here but she did not want to stick around to find out.

*What happened? R u ok?*

Rachel looked at her phone and replied to Kurt's text.

*I will explain when u get here plz hurry. Pick me up at the coffee shop on the corner.*

*On my way*

Rachel placed her phone back in her bag and continued to walk towards the coffee shop.

"Rachel wait up!" I hear someone yell at me. I had two choices continue walking or hear him out.

"What do you want Jesse?" I spat at him and continue walking.

"Rachel will you please just listen to me please?" Apparently he is a fast walker cause next thing I know his hand is around my arm.

"Let go of me." I tell him as he drops his arms to his side. "Fine you have tens minutes." Why didn't I just keep walking?

"So, how have you been?" What the hell is he seriously trying to make small talk?

"Really? You want to make small talk? After everything you did to me and to the New Directions all you can say is how have you been? You Jesse St. James are unbelievable." I could feel all the anger that I had pushed away begging to rise in me.

"Rachel, how many times do I have to tell you I am sorry." ok not sure it is because of the lack of male companionship that I have had since Finn disappeared or what but for some reason I believed him.

"Fine I get it you're sorry. You're forgiven, now if you'll excuse me." I tell him as I see Kurt's car around the block.

"Can I take you out for coffee sometime? Just as friends I truly want to know how you have been." God why did he have to look so cute and brooding. Damn lack of male companionship. I curse to myself.

"Fine, but I swear Jesse if this is just one of your stupid schemes I will kill you myself." I tell him as I motion to Kurt to hold on.

"Fair enough here." He tells me as he hands me his phone number. "It was nice to see you Rachel." He says as he walks down the street.

"Was that…." Kurt asks in shock.

"Yes it was and before you even start it was nothing like that I swear." I tell him as I get into the car and we drive off.

XXXX

"Thanks for the ride Kurt." I tell him as we enter the apartment.

"It's fine we are roommates after all. So, two questions here one what happened to your shoes and why the hell were you talking to Jesse St. James?" Kurt asks as he heads to the kitchen to find something to eat.

"To answer you first question I stepped in a stupid pothole and broke my heel so I had to walk three blocks barefoot. Answer to second question was well apparently he is Mr. Jake Lewis' little brother and the role that he wanted me for had already been cast. Anyway Jesse wants me to meet him for coffee sometime." Rachel begins to go on and on about Jesse while Kurt politely listens not paying attention he kind of stop listening after the shoe debacle.

"Hmmm…well that sounds nice." Kurt tells Rachel as he begins to make a sandwich. Rachel was going through the pile of mail that was on the table. She tossed it back on the table realizing that it was mostly bills. Not noticing the letter that had fallen out of the stack of bills.

"You want to do something tonight?" Rachel asks pouring herself a glass of wine and sits on the couch.

"Hey Rachel what's this?" Kurt asks picking up the letter off the floor.

"I don't know….probably another bill just set it back on the table." Rachel waves her hand she had seen the letter and knew what it was she just wasn't ready to open it yet.

"Ok." Kurt says placing the letter back on the table but not before seeing that it was from Finn. "Uh…Rachel I think you should read it it's from Finn." He hands her the letter and takes a seat next to her on the couch.

"I know who it's from I- I just can't bring myself to read it." She places the letter on the coffee table. "So I was thinking that we could go to Mooney's for some karaoke tonight." Rachel quickly changes the subject not wanting to talk about Finn or what was in that letter.

"Uh….sure I guess." Kurt let's the subject drop for now.

"Great I am going to go get ready." Rachel says as she gets up from the couch and heads to her room. Kurt peeks around the corner to make sure that she is gone. He picks up the letter and curiosity gets the best of him and he opens the letter and begins to read it. He knew this was wrong on so many levels but he had to know what his brother had to say.

Rachel,

I know that I am quite possibly the last person you want to hear from. Considering that we haven't spoken since the day I left you at the train station. Which by the way I am kicking myself in the ass for. There are so many things that I want to tell you. I am not even sure that if this letter will get to you but you have to know how sorry I am. You know for the longest time I always felt like I was nothing and that the only thing that I would ever become was just another Lima loser. Then I met you….and yes at first you freaked the hell out of me but, then I got to know you and realized that you are the most beautiful, kind hearted, loving woman that I had ever known. I never could understand how I got a girl like you. I mean look at me I was a no body yes…I was quarterback of the football team I dated the head cheerleader but there was always something missing. I now realized that I needed you to complete me. You were the one person that no matter how mean I was to you or how hard I tried to push you away was always there. You were the first person to believe in me I mean truly believe in me. It was like no matter how bad things got you were like this light at the end of the tunnel. Look I am not good at these things I can never find the right words when it comes to stuff like this. So I am going to say this I am in New York for a few days and I would really like it if we could talk. There are so many things I need to say to you that I can not say in a letter. So if you will let me I would really like it if you would give me a call and maybe we can have dinner or just go somewhere and talk. My number is 555-0138 so….ya call me.

Love Always,

Finn

"Oh my god Finn's in New York?" Kurt gasps as he covers his mouth making sure that Rachel couldn't hear him. He folds the letter and places in back on the coffee table. He thought about calling Finn and telling him to meet them at Mooney's but…he would have to explain to Rachel the letter and well he really did not want to do that. So he just decided to let nature take its course.

XXXX

"Ready?" Rachel asks as she grabs her purse.

"Finally!" Kurt raises his hands and get off the couch.

"Funny Kurt! Aren't you the one that has like a two hour facial every morning?" Rachel teases him.

"Hey I have to take care of my face it is the money maker." Kurt grabs his jacket and scarf and opens the door. Rachel and Kurt both gasp at the person on the other side of the door.

"Finn?'' Rachel asks in shock. Wanting to slam the door in his face. What the hell was he doing here?

"Hey Rach." Finn gives Rachel that crooked smile that melts her heart and makes her refrain from slamming the door in his is face. Why did he have to be so god damned sexy?

"What are you doing here Finn?" Kurt ask surprised to see his brother. Well nature sure didn't waste anytime he thought.

"We're you guys going out or something?" Finn asks noticing the two are dressed up.

"Ya, I have a date with Trevor." Rachel gives Kurt the death glare. What the hell he can't just leave me with Finn?'

"Kurt." Rachel says through gritted teeth. Kurt just smiles at Rachel which earned him an even bigger glare.

"Oh, would you look at the time. I best be going. Good to see you Finn." Kurt quickly escapes the awkwardness that is Finnchel.

"Am I missing something here?" Finn who is confused by Kurt's sudden dash for the door.

"No, no you're fine uhh…come in I guess." Rachel awkwardly shuts the door not sure of what to say. "Uh…you want something to drink?" Rachel asks heading towards the fridge to pour her another glass of wine.

"Sure…I guess." Finn tells her not sure of what to do he takes a seat on the couch and looks around the small apartment. "Nice place you've got here." he says trying to break the awkward silence that is hanging in the room.

"It's no Penthouse in Soho but its nice." she tells him while taking a seat next to him on the couch. "Here." she tells him handing him the beer.

"Thanks." He takes a sip of the beer letting the cold liquid slide down his throat calming his nerves.

"So…why are you here Finn?" Rachel asks pulling one leg up on the couch and turning to face him.

"Well…since you never called. I wanted to see you before I left." He tells her taking another swig of his beer.

"What do you mean you're leaving in a few days?" Finn was in New York how long? She wondered.

"Rachel I sent you a letter telling you that I was here in New York and that I wanted to talk to you." He knew this was a huge mistake by coming here but he couldn't just leave without seeing her one last time.

"I-I never read it." She tells him.

"Why?" He had a feeling this was going to happen he didn't blame her for not reading it. Hell he had been MIA for four months if the roles were reversed he would've done the same.

"I wanted to read it I did but you were gone for four months Finn….four months! Ever since I have been here I have been trying to hard to move on like you wanted me too. Everyday I get up and put on this happy façade even though I am dying inside." Rachel pauses for a moment trying to hold back the tears that are threatening to fall. "I didn't read it because I knew that if I did all the hurt and pain I felt would come back and I couldn't deal with it." She wanted to say more but she couldn't.

"Rachel I am so sorry for what I did." he reaches for her hand when she quickly pulls it away and gets up.

"You're sorry! For what Finn? For breaking my heart? For making me feel like I was nothing and that no one wanted me? You broke me Finn! I don't want to hear I'm sorry! All I ever wanted was to go to New York and live my dream with YOU Finn!" She could hold back anymore all the hurt and anger and pain that she had been keeping inside had finally came out.

Finn just stood there not knowing what to say he felt like such an ass if he could go back in time to that day at the train station he would've never left.

He could see the pain and hurt in her eyes. He wanted more than anything to take that pain away but, he knew he couldn't because he was the one that caused this pain.

"Rachel." He says picking up the letter and taking a moving closer towards her. "Read it." He hands her the letter.

"Finn…please I-I can't." She tells him looking up at him.

"Please?" He says in a whisper. She nods her head and takes the letter. "I think I am going to go up to my room. You can stay if you want." Rachel tells him tears forming in her eyes.

"Sure." He tells her as she walks up to her room. Finn walks over to the window and lets his thoughts wander away. He could hear the faint sound of music coming from Rachel's room which meant that she did want him to hear her. She always turned the music up when she was upset. He closed his eyes and let the lyrics of the song set in.

If I could find assurance to leave you behind
I know my better half would fade
And all my doubt is a staircase for you
Opened out of this space
The first step is the one you believe in
The second one might be profound.

XXXX

Rachel opens the door to her room and turns on the radio. She begins to read the letter that Finn had wrote to her.

Rachel,

Love Always,

Finn

I'll follow you down through the eye of the storm
don't worry I'll keep you warm.
I'll follow you down while we're passing through space
I don't care if we fall from grace
I'll follow you down

She let the letter fall to the ground. She couldn't believe what she had just read. Finn the man who was never really good at expressing how he felt had just poured his heart out in one of the most beautiful letters that she had ever read. She reached over and turned the radio up and let out all the tears that she had been holding back.

You can have the money and the world
The angels and the pearls
Even trademark the color blue
Just like the tower we never built
In the shadow of all the guilt
When the other hand was pointed at you
Yeah the first step is the one you believe in
The second one might be profound.

XXXX

Downstairs Finn is still looking out the window.

He had been standing at the window for what seemed like an eternity when he hear the door open. He turned around hoping that it was Rachel.

"You're still here?" Kurt asks hanging his jacket up on the coat rack.

"Kurt…Hey." startled by Kurt's entrance.

"So…where's Rachel?" Kurt asks grabbing water out of the fridge.

"In her room I think she told me I could stay if I wanted." Finn explains while Kurt gives him a look. "What?" Finn asks wonder what the look was for.

"So….Finn how long are you in New York for?" Kurt asks with questioning eyes.

"I don't know few days I guess." He tells him taking a seat on the couch.

"Hmm…" Kurt smiles.

"So….uh who's Trevor? I thought you were with Blaine?" Finn asks wonder why Kurt is acting so weird.

"Oh…Trevor is no one he's just a friend." He says trying to avoid the subject. Truth be told he doesn't even know a Trevor he just said he had a date so Finn and Rachel could have some time to talk.

"Cool." He gives Kurt a weird look and sits down.

"So…what's she doing up there?" Curiosity getting the best of him

"Reading." He says not wanting to get into it with Kurt.

"Really…hmmm." Kurt sits down on the couch and grabs the remote.

"Ok, what gives." finally having enough of the vague answers Kurt has been giving him.

"Nothing." Kurt says feigning innocents.

"Ok….look she's reading a letter that I sent to her." finally giving up.

"I know." Kurt tells him point blank.

"You do?" Finn asks confused.

"She found it today mixed up in the bills and I told her that she should read it but she just sat it on the table and I may have read it while she was in the bathroom. So….Finn when do you plan on telling her that you have been in New York this whole time?" Kurt asks tapping his foot. He wanted to bring up the Jesse deal but he figured he would stop there.

"How did you know that?" Oh, boy he knew he had been caught there was really no point in lying now.

"One I read the time stamp on the letter and it's postmarked last month. Secondly while I was out I ran into a one Jesse St. James. So you want to explain?" Kurt asks tapping his foot.

"Ok, so I joined the army which lasted like sixteen weeks that was when I shot myself in the leg while cleaning my gun luckily it didn't hit any bone. So after I was honorably discharged I went hiking across Georgia, while on my hike I ran into Jesse. We talked and I guess you could say we buried the hatched. Well….asked me what I was going to do since the Army was no longer an option. I told him I really didn't have any back up plan. So…he told me that his uncle was the dean of NYU and told me that they had an amazing dramatic arts program it wasn't no PACE but…it was a start. To make a long story short I called his uncle and set up an interview and well he told me that since I was in the Army I could get a free ride for school which was pretty cool since I really had no money for college. So here I am living in New York attending NYU and staying with Jesse." Kurt listened intently as Finn told him the story about how he got to New York.

"Finn that is great you got into NYU. Still not sure why you are rooming with Jesse why didn't you call me? You and I could've gotten an apartment." Ok so that explained why Jesse was talking to Rachel.

"Kurt I know I should've called but, I needed to get my life back together. Also, I knew that you and Rachel were sharing a place and I couldn't face her." There really was no excuse for his action he just thought it was better this way.

"I see well…what ever your reasons are that's fine I am glad that things are going so well for you." As much as Kurt wanted to know why, he knew it was best to just let the subject drop for now.

"Yeah, they are going good thanks man." he smiles that crooked smile of his. While he glances at Rachel's door.

"Go." Kurt tells him

"What?" Finn is obviously confused.

"You know you are only driving yourself crazy by sitting here. Go…go talk to her." Kurt usher's him towards Rachel's door.

"Ok…hey uhmm…thanks for you know not telling Rachel and all." he gets up and walks up the stairs.

"Sure." Kurt nods.

I'll follow you down, through the eye of the storm
don't worry I'll keep you warm.
I'll follow you down, while we're passing through space
I don't care if we fall from grace
I'll follow you down to wherever forever lies
Without a doubt am on your side
There's nowhere else that I would rather be
Am not about to comprise, give you up to say goodbye
I'll guide you through the deep I'll keep you close to me!

XXXX

Rachel is sitting on her bed trying to work up the nerve to go back out there and face him. She was still upset with him for leaving but…after reading the letter she understood why he did it. She couldn't take it anymore she had to talk to him she thought about humoring him and calling him but she knew that this was something that needed to be said face to face. Rachel got up and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, her hair was a mess in her opinion she looked like hell but she didn't care. When she opens her door she was not expecting him to be standing there.

"Hey…" was all that she could get out before his lips were on hers. The kiss was soft and sweet everything that she had remembered his tongue brushed against her bottom lip she opened her mouth deepening the kiss. Their tongues battled for dominance. She felt his hand on the sliver of skin that was peeking out of her tank top which sent her senses into overdrive she didn't know how much more she could take of this; she needed to feel more of him. She slowly moved her hands from his neck down the front of his chest feeling the definition of his abs under his shirt. He pulled her closer to him and she could feel his erection through is jeans which sent a familiar sensation right to her core. He slowly moved his hands down her waist while pushing the door closed with his foot. He gently laid her down on the bed and he continued to move his hand lower and lower till he reached the waist band of her yoga pants. "Finn." she whispered her voice thick with lust as he continued to remove my pants. I am just lying there in nothing but my tank top and boy shorts. He brushes his hand along my core feeling the wetness that has pooled underneath me. He toys with the lace on the edge of my panties and I feel his fingers slip inside me his thumb rubbing my sweet nub. I can no longer take it anymore I reach for his jeans and unbutton them. I push them down over his hips and I reach my hand in his boxers freeing is erection. I grab his erection taking my thumb and swirling the wetness that had formed at the tip. I begin to gently stroke him up and down "God that feels so good." his voice thick. I continue my pace until we are both at our breaking points. I push his boxers down with my other hand not taking it anymore I had to feel him inside me. I feel his hand grab mine.

"Rachel we…we can't." I am suddenly aware of how cold the room is as he gets off me and puts his boxers on.

"I need you Finn." I plead with him pulling him back down.

"Rachel we can't….I mean as much as I want to. It's not right hell we are not even a couple. I know that if we let this go any further it will be something that we are both going to regret." He tells me as he releases my hand and continues to get dressed.

"You're right. I mean we still have a lot to talk about and I don't even know what we are I mean are we friends, are we dating? Is this one of those things where it was just too old flames rekindling the old spark? I mean I…." Finn cuts her off with a kiss.

"Rachel we don't have to define anything right now but, I can tell you that was not two old flames rekindling the spark if anything that flame never went out in fact it red hot." Rachel lets out a small smile and grabs her pants.

"Stay the night." Rachel asks.

"Rachel I-I don't think that is a good idea." He knew as well as she did if he stayed they would end up doing something they both would regret and he really wanted to do this right.

"Finn you can sleep in here and I can sleep on the couch it's not a big deal. I just don't want to wake up and you're gone." Rachel offers with tears forming in her eyes.

"Rachel please don't cry. You don't have to give me your bed I can take the couch." I tell her brushing a strand of hair out of her face.

"Nonsense Finn we can share the same bed." she pats the bed.

"I guess you are right." Finn reluctantly pulls the covers down and gets into the bed with her. Moves closer to him and he places his arm around her.

"I love you." she whispers and she drifts off to sleep.

"I love you too." He says placing a small kiss on the top of her head. Tomorrow was going to suck but right now he was going enjoy having her in his arms.

A/N: Ok well there you have it. This was my first attempt at writing smut hopefully I did it justice. I will have chapter 2 up tomorrow. Please leave a review. Thanks for reading until tomorrow. Oh the song used in this fic was "I'll Follow you" by Shinedown