Hey guys! This is chapter sixteen, and all you finchel fans will love it! Also, am I the only one kind of hurt when Finn told Santana that she was his first, and that means something to him? I was like aw, harsh But anyways, ignore that finchelness, and enjoy this one!

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Chapter Sixteen:

Feels Like Home

Rachel's feet hit the sidewalk harshly as she ran across the pathway to her and Finn's apartment building. Her chest heaved with every step she took, knowing that the distance between her and Finn shortened with each passing second. She hopped to an immediate stop as she stood in front of the entrance doors, whipping it open roughly. She rushed quickly to the staircase doors, inpatient by the line up of the awaiting people at the elevator.

Running her short limbs along the staircases of the building, Rachel huffed anxiously as she climbed the last step, opening yet another door to Finn's apartment level. Sighing in relief, she stalked towards his front door at the end of the hallway, slightly breathless as she pounded her fist on the wood.

Her face fell when Puck answered.

"The fuck Berry?" he asked, completely shocked by her presence. A smile graced her features, as she craned her neck, searching for any sight of Finn. "What are you doing here? Where's Quinn?"

She barely registered his words as she struggled to look past him, anxiously waiting for some hint of Finn's figure. "Uhm," she turned back to Puck, meeting his eyes briefly, "what was the question again?"

He exhaled deeply in annoyance, rubbing his temples in frustration. "Quinn told me you were hanging out with her today so . . . why are you here?" he repeated lazily. Rachel puckered, rocking nervously on the balls of her feet. "I came to see if Finn was here," she answered, playing nervously with the tips of her fingers.

She watched in confusion as Puck's face instantly froze, his eyes widening roundly. She tilted her head to the side, appalled by his sudden confliction. "Uh, uhm," he mumbled, staring at her like a deer caught in headlights. His face fell into a deeply frown as he stared at her, shaking his head in sheer disbelief. "Damn Berry, you have to choose today to realize you're in love with him."

"I – " she cut her protest short, her heart beating frantically at his words. A sweet smile brightened her features, her eyes falling to the tiled floor at the truth of his sentence.

Holy shit, she loved him.

Finn Hudson, the boy that she refused to have any feelings for but the friendly kind. The man who caught her in his arms when she fell, who told her words of wisdom at her lowest doubts. The person who she hurt over and over again, but continued to befriend her any ways. The man who promised he would find someone for her.

And he did. It's him.

She is one hundred percent, completely in love with Finn Hudson, her best friend.

Her head snapped up once she realized the truth behind his daunting words, as she pushed past Puck, heading into the apartment. "Finn?" she called, her heart beating frantically inside her squeezing chest. "Finn, are you here?" she yelled again, poking her head through the surrounding interior. She looked around, confused by the semi-empty living room, pictures of Finn's old memories gone from their usual spots. "Where is he? And what the hell happened to your living room?"

She stared up at Puck, who standing star struck in the doorframe, his face plastered with the same expression of complication. His mouth gaped open, but no words formed on the rim of his lips. "Fuck Berry, you are not going to like this one bit," he mumbled, mostly to himself.

Rachel's eyes narrowed fearfully at his comment, resting her hands over her hips stubbornly. "Noah Puckerman, where is he exactly?"

Puck looked away from her burning glare, finding his shoes much more interesting as his eyes dropped to the floor. "Well," he began nervously, afraid to look up and see her anxious expression, "Finn isn't exactly here, like in the room, or the building . . . or the city . . ."

Rachel froze. "I beg your pardon?" she intended, her teeth gritting uncontrollably. Puck looked up at her, his expression already giving away the unsaid answer. "Sorry Rachel but he's at the port to Long Island, he's moving in with his parents."

"WHAT?" she screeched. Her hands flew to her mouth, cupping her lips in horror. "No, no, he can't – I, . . . when did he decide this?" she questioned, tears brimming at the edge of her eyes.

Puck sighed heavily, looking away from her as he spoke. "About two weeks ago, after you – "

"After we . . ."

They stared at each other, their eyes locking in a knowing gaze. Droplets of water fell hastily from her misty eyes, trailing along the skin of her cheeks. Encouragement and needing surged through her as she fluttered her eyes closed, an image of him growing in her mind. She opened them in determination, nodding her head in perseverance. "Alright," she murmured, "when does the boat leave?"

"You can't be serious Berry, it leaves in ten minutes, and you don't have a car – "

"I'll run. It's not that far away," she explained, easily getting caught up in her crazy idea. She walked towards the still open front door, ready to waste her air pack. She huffed anxiously as the image of Finn already on the boat, leaving without knowing her feelings for him scared her more than anything.

"Hey Berry?" Puck called. She whipped towards him, practically jumping out of her skin as she nervously waited to book it out the building. "Yeah?"

He smiled genuinely. "Go get 'em tiger." She beamed as he winked her, stepping on her tiptoes to press a sloppy kiss on his cheek. "Thank you Noah!" she called, as she set outside the apartment, already halfway towards the never-ending case of stairs. She swung the door open, jumping every second step as she desperately ran down the stairs, sighing in relief when she stepped outside, feeling the fresh air hit her sweating face.

Rachel rang along the sidewalk, in the direction of the port as one name echoed over and over again in her mind. God, how long has she pushed her feelings away from Finn? She didn't notice any hints he gave, didn't look for anything but friendship between them, and now, here she was, running to find him that she loves him.

The thought of Finn leaving her without knowing how much he means to her hurt more her than anything. She cared so much for him, and she's an idiot for not realizing that sooner. She was in love with him for God's sakes, totally in love with Finn Hudson.

The warning bell sounded in front of her, as the port came in view of her sight. Her gaze caught the boat filling with passengers, her eyes searching for any clue for Finn's presence near her. She stretched her neck higher, desperately looking for anything, anyone that would lead her to him.

"Finn?" she called out, her chest heaving dramatically. She ran along the pathway the wooden pier, her heart racing, her blood rushing and –

That's when she saw him.

"Finn!" she screamed, crying happily as she noticed his short, brown hair and lengthy body from behind. His frame locked in place, his feet planted on the wooden path to the awaiting boat. She stopped immediately, breathless, as Finn turned around in question, looking for the source of the voice that called his name.

Rachel felt her pulse pound behind her; tears brimming as she finally saw the man she's been craving to see for the past two weeks. Her eyes analyzed his features, frowning slightly when she noticed his edgy smile, and aching, painful eyes. His face fell slightly as he saw her gazing face, his expression sinking deeper than it already is.

Their eyes locked, and he glared indefinitely at her, his fists clenching at his side. This is definitely not the reunion she's been hoping for.

"What are you doing here?" he croaked, his voice dry with hurt. She blinked in bewilderment, gulping down the tears that threatened to escape. She took a single step forward, causing him to retort, stepping back.

Rachel stared at the distance between them, her body tingling at the need of his touch. "I, I needed to talk to you before it was too late," she explained, desperately trying to hold his gaze. Finn smirked, looking back at the boat behind him. "Well, looks like you are, I've got a boat to catch, not that you would – "

"I have to explain myself," she mumbled, interrupting his building rant. He glared at her, his eyes burning harshly into hers as his lips fell into a depressing frown. "You could have told me that two weeks ago." He turned sharply on his heel, stepping towards the crowd of filing passengers, making their way onto the boat. Rachel stalked, watching in horror as he slowly left her abandoned on the pier.

"I miss you," she yelled, her chest heaving with the passion in her words. His feet locked in place, his form growing rigid at her comment. Encouraged, Rachel stepped forward, gazing at the back of his body in need.

"I . . . Finn, I miss you. I know it's probably the lamest thing to say right now but I do, and I can't let you leave, giving up without knowing how I feel." She cautiously watched as Finn shifted on his feet, hesitantly turning towards her, his expression unreadable. Rachel breathed out heavily, preparing herself for the consequences or award at her expected apology.

"I'm sorry, for everything Finn. I probably won't ever be able to forgive myself for doing all those things to you, for making you feel all those unwanted emotions. The pain that I've caused you . . . it probably hurts me more than it hurts you. I tried so hard, trying to push away my feelings for you," she exhaled chokingly as the bottled up emotions bubbled on her lips. Her eyes misted with the water of her tears, slowly falling down her reddened cheeks.

"But Finn I was so scared, I was so afraid of taking the next level with you. This wasn't some movie, where a girl could make a mistake, and the boy would still love her, this is real life, and I could screw up at any moment. And the thought of loosing you, loosing what we have, it . . . it feared me more than anything, more than any obstacle I have ever faced."

Rachel watched as Finn's expression slightly softened at her words, steadily taking a step towards her. She smiled briefly at him, still in awe that he was actually her, actually listening to her pathetic and probably worthless words. She blinked severely at him as the sun slowly dropped in the sky, a sunset arising in the beautiful landscape.

"All these years, I've been a miserable and thoughtless hag, sucking out the life of any loving couple I saw. I would pray at night, you know, just wishing that God would send me someone, send me a man that I need and love. But I was too stupid to realize that the man that he sent down was standing right in front of me . . . " Her eyes flickered in front of her at Finn, who took another step towards her, their bodies almost touching at the action. Sighing heavily, Rachel looked up at him, catching his eyes in a passionate gaze.

"I need you Finn, and it's not in the way that a person needs a best friend . . . it's in the way that a person needs their boyfriend and I," she smiled slightly at him, reaching up to glide her fingers gently across the skin of his cheek. He inhaled deeply, catching her hand in his with his own large one. "I . . . God, Finn, I love you."

She laughed in joy at the sound of the words rolling on her tongue, tasting so good, so right. He stared contently at her, saying nothing as his lips slightly parted in surprise. "I am absolutely in love with you, Finn, and I'm such a stupid, stupid person for not seeing that sooner. You don't have to say anything, though, I get it if I caused you too much pain to even think about – "

She wasn't even able to continue before Finn grabbed her face fiercely between his hands, stretching her face towards his own. His lips pressed onto hers, kissing her with all the passion and love Rachel has shared with him. She froze underneath him in shock, before realizing that this was real, the love of her life was actually kissing her in the middle of a sunset.

She wrapped her arms around the course of his neck, pulling him closer towards her and drowning in every ounce of his body. She barely registered the thought of the few people on the pier with them, forgetting all about them as Finn slipped his tongue into her mouth, battling with her own.

Finn smiled widely against her lips as the bell of the leaving boat echoed, signaling its departure. He gripped her face tighter, peppering her lips with small and urgent kisses. Giggling softly, Rachel pulled away before things heated even more, her arms still locked around his neck. She leaned upwards, pressing their foreheads together.

"That felt really good to say," she laughed, playing with the hair at the back of his neck. Finn smiled widely, kissing her briefly. "Say it again," he whispered, his fingertips lingering on her flushed skin.

Rachel giggled, "I love you, I love you, I love you – "

Finn's lips cut her off once more, their mouths moving in synchronization, nothing but their soft sighs interrupting their enchantment. He sucked gently on her bottom lip, grazing it between his teeth. He moaned in displeasure as she pulled away from him, their lips separating with a smack. "What about your parents? I thought you were moving in with him," she mumbled in confusion. Finn caught a strand of her hair between his fingers, rounding it behind her hair. He sighed heavily, kissing her forehead gently. "Guess I'm going to have to tell Puck we're roommates again," he pulled back, their eyes locking in a loving gaze, "can't stay away from the girl I love."

Finn watched in amusement as a genuine, blissful smile widened across her face, freeing her from all sadness. "You do?"

He chuckled at her question. "Yes, God, I love you so much," he rasped, leaning forward and capturing her lips in another searing kiss. She melted into his molding body, smiling widely against his mouth, tangling her fingers through his hair. He wrapped his arms around her waist, squeezing her tightly as he picked her up, swinging her in a slow circle. Rachel squealed in surprise, peppering her lips against any exposed skin she could reach.

"Ahem."

They reluctantly pulled away from each other at the sound of a nearby citizen. Rachel blushed as Finn set her down, turning her head to face him. She frowned as she looked at the man interrupting them.

Sam.

He smirked as he noticed her horrific expression, waving his hands in curioustly. "So has the frog finally been kissed by the prince?" he asked in fake concern. Rachel's mouth hung open at his words, ready to speak her mind.

A sudden fist collided with the side of Sam's face, knocking him straight to the ground of the wooden pier. Her eyes widened in surprise, following the hand to the face of her love, Finn Hudson, standing proudly. He shook his fist slightly as he looked down at Sam, a smirk replacing his genuine grin.

"That's for making fun of the girl I love, bitch."

He didn't miss the way Rachel smiled from beside him.

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Yayyy happy finchel! Haha, I hope you guys loved Sam's brief scene in there lol! Anyways, this is sadly the last chapter of the fanfic, *sigh *, and next one is the epilogue! I'll just take the time to thank you all for keeping up and supporting this novel, and I absolutely love the amazing reviews I've gotten, seriously makes me so happy! Thanks so much everyone, can't wait to share more stories with you! Love you, and please review! xoxo