A/N: Hi all! Just a short note today to send a shout out to ImForeverYoursFaithfully for suggesting Finn sings "Everything," sung by Michael B.! I love him, and wish I had thought of it myself! May I suggest listening to it while you read Finn's POV for this chapter? Thank you, thank you! As always, thank you for the alerts, faves, and reviews! Reviews are my inspiration, and are always greatly appreciated! Also, remember, I own neither Glee nor Michael B… or Xbox and Hello Kitty while we're at it, but I digress. Without further ado…
Finchel love.
FINN POV
"We've beaten the Warblers before," Puck shrugged, leaning back in his armchair, "I don't see what the big deal is, 'cept for them being rich little bitches. No offense, Blaine." He said quickly. Blaine just waved him off.
"The big deal," Kurt answered, sipping his coffee, "is that we know from experience that regionals is never a shoo-in. Plus, believe it or not, the Warblers are a very strong team."
We were all sitting in a group of chairs and sofas in the middle of the coffee shop, trying to figure out songs for regionals. I smiled when Rachel curled up next to me on the sofa, wedged between my side and Kurt's. I played with the ends of her long hair, listening to the others talk. She sighed and leaned into my chest, resting her hand on my leg.
"You're being awfully quiet, Rachel," Blaine said, leaning forward to look at us from where he sat on the other side of Kurt, "any ideas?"
"And so help me, Berry," Santana said from across the circle, "If you even think about saying 'Run Joey Run' not even Frankenteen's imposing size will keep me from ripping your pretty hair out." We all laughed, used to Santana's joking threats. Rachel giggled and pretended to pout. Or at least I hoped she was pretending.
"I've got nothing," she said, squeezing my knee, "I'm really up for anything."
"Hold us," Artie said, raising his hand, "Do my ears deceive me?"
"Yeah, Rachel's been replaced by a robot," Puck agreed, downing the rest of his coffee, "a friggin' cyborg."
"No," Rachel laughed, "I just mean I'm growing. I know all of you guys have amazing ideas, too."
"Like a mash-up of 'Row Your Boat' and 'I just had Sex,'" Brittany piped in, "It came to me in a dream last night." We all just stared at her for a minute, before looking away.
Yep. Rain man with boobs.
"Anyway," Tina said from where she sat between Mike and Mercedes, "What are some other ideas? Finn?" I just shrugged, smiling down at Rachel.
"I've been working on something, but it's not really regionals material," I admitted, blushing.
"Well, halleluiah ," Santana said, "The jolly Finn giant has something."
"What is it?" Sam asked. I glanced down at Rachel with a smile.
I smiled as I stood next to Quinn, watching as Kurt danced Rachel down the escalators. Her laughter carried down to us, crystal clear despite the music. She was beautiful as she smiled at the guy behind her, whose hands were resting on her shoulders. I bit back my jealousy. This was for her, after all. Puck danced by us, bobbing his head. I laughed, shaking my head as I turned to look at Quinn and say
"Barbra Streisand."
We both laughed again, then split up, blending in with the rest of the flash mob. My eyes caught Kurt's as he and Rachel reached the floor. He winked before grabbing her hand and dancing her into the center of the crowd. I tried to ignore the guilt again, guilt for so many different things.
Like this should have been my idea.
"What is it again?" I had asked Kurt as we washed the dishes. He sighed, taking a newly rinsed plate from my hand and setting it in the dishwasher.
"Puck and I are staging a 'Barbravention,'" He said slowly, "to show Rachel just how beautiful she is now with the nose she was born with. I felt a guilty pain in the pit of my stomach. Shouldn't I have been involved in this?
Oh, right. I was with Quinn.
Yeah.
"Anyway," Kurt continued, shutting the dishwasher and switching it on, "We're organizing a flash mob at the mall. We're going to have all the glee kids come, too. I just wanted to let you know, first."
So, here we were, dancing around the beautiful Rachel Berry as she laughed, tears in her eyes. I hoped around, just one of the crowd, as Kurt and Puck kept the focus on her, the center of attention. Could she even see me over here, bobbing with strangers? It wasn't fair, really. I couldn't help but feel a little sad as I pointed at Rachel, just one of many.
"Barbra Streisand."
It didn't matter, truthfully. This was for her. I had moved on (ha, okay, a lie) but I still wanted her to be happy (with me, but no one could know that.) I blended back in with the crowd, but I never took my eyes off her. She was beautiful, especially as she let herself go and began to move with the crowd, shimmying with Kurt and Puck.
"Barbra Streisand."
That was the only time I had ever 'performed' in public for her, just for her, and it didn't seem to even count since I was just a face in the crowd while Kurt and Puck got her to laugh again. The distance then was my fault, of course.
But I could perform for her now. True, Brad wasn't here. We didn't have any music. But did it really matter? I smiled and squeezed my arm around Rachel's waist and sat forward a little, turning her face up to as I answered Sam.
"You're a falling star, you're the get away car, you're the line in the sand when I go to far."
"Oh Lord, here we go," I heard Santana mutter as I sang, I ignored her, lost in Rachel's eyes.
"You're the swimming pool on an August Day, and you're the perfect thing to say."
I stood up as Sam, Puck, and Artie started humming a harmony behind me. I kept Rachel's hands in mine, smiling down at her as everyone in The Lima Bean turned to look.
"And you play it coy, but it's kind of cute," I let go of her hands with a wink, twirling an elderly woman into a dance as she and her husband passed us, "Oh when you smile at me you know exactly what you do." The lady laughed as I let her go, kissing the back of her hand before turning back to the group.
"Baby don't pretend that you don't know it's true," I stopped and smiled at Rachel from across the group of chairs, " 'Cause you can see it when I look at you." Puck, who had pulled out his guitar, played a couple of cords, and the rest of the club got up, dancing around the little coffee shop. I twirled Quinn as Mike passed me, dancing with one of the laughing waitresses.
"And in this crazy life, and through the crazy times," I passed Brittany into Blaine's arms, smiling as another random couple, customers actually, danced by them, "It's you, it's you, you make me sing. You're every line, you're every word-" I smiled at Rachel where she still sat, grinning, on the sofa, and pointed to her as the Glee kids sang with me,
"You're my everything." I laughed and hurried forward to take Rachel's hand, pulling her up to dance. I twirled her away then brought her close to my chest, singing only for her.
"You're a carousel, you're a wishing well, and you light me up when you ring my bell," I winked at her, grinning when she blushed.
"You're a mystery, you're from outer space, you're every minute of my every day." I kissed her cheek before spinning us back into the group, who had been joined by almost every customer in the shop. Rachel laughed as Puck danced her away from me before Kurt took her hand, bringing her in to dance with him. My eyes never left her smiling face as I danced through the group, too.
"And I can't believe that I'm your man, and I get to kiss you baby just because I can." I pressed a quick kiss to her giggling lips as I took her hands back from Kurt, "Whatever comes our way, oh we'll see it through, and you know that's what our love can do." I kissed her again before holding her at arm's length for the chorus.
"And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times," I sang, looking into her eyes as everyone danced around us, "It's you, it's you, you make me sing, you're every line, you're every word, you're my everything." I pulled her close to dance through the bridge, swaying together as I brushed a tear from her cheek.
"So la, la, la, la, la, la, la," I sang as everyone joined in, my eyes never leaving hers, "So la, la, la, la, la, la, la." I spun her around suddenly, my heart jumping at the sound of her surprised laughter. When Blaine danced her away again, I stood in the middle, singing for her.
"And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times, it's you, it's you, you make me sing. You're every line, you're every word, you're my everything." She smiled as I held that note, holding hands and swaying with Kurt and Blaine. I walked slowly towards her as I sang, squeezing her hand as I took it in my own.
"You're every song, and I sing along," I pulled her close again, brushing her long hair from her face, " 'Cause you're my everything." We danced slowly together as everyone watched us.
"Oh yeah, yeah," I sang softly into her hair, hugging her close as we danced. I heard everyone's voices join mine one more time.
"So la, la, la, la, la, la, la," we sang, "So la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la." I took her face in my hands as I held the last 'la,' slowly brushing my lips against hers as the whole shop broke into applause. I felt her smile into our kiss, pressing her hands against my chest.
"Thank you, Finny," she whispered, using my rarely heard nickname. I smiled as I dropped my hands, only to wrap my arm around her thin shoulders and lead her back to the sofa.
"Okay," Santana laughed, plopping back into her chair, pulling Brittany down beside her, "That was pretty rockin'. Finn didn't even break any noses."
"I agree," Kurt added, running his hand over his hair with a grin, "But I think we're all just one song away from being banned from The Lima Bean for good."
RACHEL POV
"Sleepover with Kurt?" Finn suggested as his lips brushed across my ear, his hands tangled in my hair. We were parked in front of his house, cuddled together in the cab of his truck. I sighed as his lips moved down my jaw, lingering on my skin. I ran my hands across his shoulders, leaning into him.
"I don't know how much longer my Dads will buy that one," I giggled, "but I think it could work tonight." He laughed, his breath hot against my skin. He sighed and pulled away to jump from the truck, running around to help me down. I lifted his arm to rest across my shoulders as we walked slowly up to the front door.
"Want anything to drink?" Finn asked when we walked into the empty house. I just shook my head and pulled him into the dark living room, giggling. He eased us down onto the sofa, his hands firm on my hips. He pressed his lips to mine, coaxing them a part. Our breaths mingled as we kissed, falling into each other. I felt my body flush as I tangled my fingers in his hair as I laid back, pulling him on top of me. I broke our kiss, catching my breath as he pressed his ear to my chest.
"I can hear your heart," he said softly, his fingers running up my arm. I smiled, pressing my face into his hair.
"Can you hear my heart?" Finn asked, looking down at me where I sat, curled up against his chest. We were in his old room, curled up on his tiny bed, watching a move. It was only two days after regionals, only two days after he had told me he loved me…
"Mhmm," I hummed, laying my hand on his stomach. I kept my face hidden from him, afraid he would see the fear in my eyes.
"What's wrong?" He asked, tilting my chin up to look at him. I forgot… He just knew me too well.
"Figgins is going to cancel Glee," I whispered, feeling the tears I had been trying to hide rush forth, "This is it, Finn. The New Directions are finished."
"I know, Rach, it sucks," he said, trying to wipe away my tears, "but we'll still see everyone." He leaned his forehead against mine as I continued to cry.
"But what about us?" I finally asked, choking back a sob, "You and me? How are you going to keep loving me if we're not in glee together anymore?"
"Are you kidding me right now, Rachel?" Finn asked, pulling back so he could look into my eyes, "You think I'm going to just stop loving you?"
"You're the quarterback, Finn," I reasoned quietly, "And I'm just the school freak. Yeah, I'm going to make them all love me when I'm a star, but right now, I'm just known as 'dwarf,' 'manhands,'-"
"Beautiful." Finn interrupted, pulling me close again, "Rachel, when I told you I loved you, I meant it. 'Right down the line it's been you and me,' remember? With or without the New Directions, okay?" I just nodded, trying to fight back new tears.
"I love you," he said again, kissing my forehead, "believe me."
"I believe you," I whispered, closing my eyes as he brushed his lips against mine in a kiss. I parted my lips in a sigh, running my hands up his neck, burying them in his thick hair. I felt him smile as he eased me back, his body hovering over mine as our kiss deepened. I giggled as his lips left mine to graze down my neck and back up, his breath teasing my skin.
That was a first for us. We had kissed, sure, plenty in the past two days. But they were all quick, sweet. It was like we were trying to get to know each other, tip toeing some invisible line. Kissing Finn so passionately was a completely new experience. Grinning, I rolled us over so I was straddling his waist, his hands smoothing down my back. He smiled up at me, his eyes blazing, as I leaned in to kiss him again.
"It's my favorite sound," Finn whispered in the darkness, running his hand down my side. I smiled, new tears threatening to spill down my cheeks.
"I'm sorry, Finn," I whispered, lifting his face back up to kiss him, "I'm so sorry."
"For what, Rach?" He asked, his voice shocked at the tears that were so evident in mine. His frantic fingers brushed at my eyes, feeling my tears.
"For making you wait for an answer," I whispered, "I just need time."
"We're taking time, babe," he whispered back, kissing my wet cheek, "How long are we talking here?" He teased, obviously trying to cheer me up.
"Three days?" I offered, catching my breath, "three's the charm, right?" I tried to sound nonchalant, but to be honest, setting a deadline scared me. I still had no idea what I was supposed to say.
"Three days." he agreed, kissing my eyelids, chasing away the tears. He brushed his kiss down my cheek to my lips.
"I love you, you know," he whispered into our kiss, inspiring new tears.
"I love you too," I replied softly, running my hands down his neck, over his shoulders. I could feel him smile against my lips.
"Do you want to go upstairs?" He asked, toying with the ends of my hair. As an answer, I made to sit up. He jumped up, taking my hand. We walked slowly up the stairs, pausing every few steps for a kiss. When we reached his room, Finn shut the door with a soft snap before wrapping his arms around me, drawing me to him. His hands ran up and down my neck, and I sighed as the newly familiar heat charged between us.
"Finn," I whispered as his lips traced the rim of my ear and his hands slowly started to unzip my dress. I closed my eyes for a moment, talking myself into stopping him, my defenses weak, "Finn."
He paused this time, then pulled back a little to look at me, worry in his eyes. I quickly reached up to press a hand to his cheek, assuring him that he had done nothing wrong. Finn had never been anything but gentle with me. Tender, slow… I shook my head, clearing my mind before I started the kiss again.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Could we just… just lie together tonight?" I blushed, hoping he wouldn't take it the wrong way. I needed him close tonight, but in so many ways other than just physically.
"Oh yeah, of course," he assured quickly, kissing me softly. I smiled, touched by how quickly he agreed to that. There was no pleading, no pressure for more.
He knew how to make me feel special, so taken care of. I stood on tip-toe, bringing his face down to mine so I could brush my lips against his cheek. He smiled, then switched on a lamp on his desk, illumining the room in a soft, yellow glow. He opened one of the drawers and dug through it before pulling out a red "McKinley Titans Football" t-shirt.
"PJs." He explained with a wink. I smiled then reached to unzip my dress, but I paused.
"Oh, do you want me to wait outside?" Finn asked when I stopped. I shook my head, smiling. I knew I was being silly. We had slept together, loved together. He had seen my body before. It was just that the idea of Finn watching me undress without the promise of sex seemed so much more intimate somehow. Like, I could just strip off my "day" identity and just be the relaxed Rachel Berry, trusting him to love me unconditionally and without judging. I unzipped my dress, letting it fall to my ankles, before folding it neatly and setting it on his dresser. Keeping his gaze, I unhooked my bra and slipped it off, laying it on top of my dress.
Finn was such a gentleman.
"Here," he said softly, gathering his shirt up and slipping it over my head, helping me push my arms through the sleeves. He let the big shirt fall around me, engulfing my shape. He pressed a sweet kiss to my lips, his hand brushing hair from my face.
"Do you know just how beautiful you are?" he asked, kissing me again. I blushed and pulled away to climb into his bed.
"Are you going to make me sleep alone?" I asked with a smile, hugging my knees to my chest. He smiled and kicked of his jeans and pulled off his sweater and undershirt. I smiled when I saw his Xbox boxers. Too cute.
"Xbox and Hello Kitty," I giggled gesturing to my panties, "We're a match made in heaven." Finn chuckled before switching off the lamp. He pulled back the comforter and sheet, slipping into his bed beside me. I stretched out in from of him as we laid on our sides, smiling when I felt his lips against my shoulder. It wasn't pressuring, or even suggestive, but sweet and protective. He tightened one arm around my waist, and I culd feel his breath lacing through my hair. I hugged his arm around me.
"Thank you, Finn," I whispered into the darkness.
"For what, Rach?"
"For being as amazing as you are. For respecting me. For making me feel so loved, so protected…" I felt his lips against my hair. When did the stumbling teenage boy I had fallen in love with turn into such a tender man? Fifteen year old me would have called me a liar if I told her it was possible to love Finn Hudson more.
"For just holding me." I finished, smiling when he hugged me even tighter back into his bare chest.
This.
This was my everything.
A/N: Thank you for reading, lovely readers! Please take time to read and review! Reviews really do mean a lot to me!