Chapter 8

My lovelies, this chapter was absolutely delightful to write, and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do! I'd spoil it right now for you, but...where's the fun in that? ;) Happy reading!

Seven hours, four tapes, and one drunk Alex later, Finn had been let off the hook for the wedding. He would get paid when he was finished editing, and that would only take a couple of days. He loved what he did, had tons of fun doing it, and got paid quite a bit.

Just then, he saw Alex throw up on the trash can in the corner.

He definitely did not get paid enough for that.

"Come on, Lex, time to get you home," he said, taking his sister by the hand before slipping an arm around her waist and helping her to the door, and grabbing his bag.

"Don't tell…Mom and Dad," she slurred, stumbling.

"I won't. I'll take you to my place tonight, and then you can go home tomorrow." Finn sighed, shaking his head. How did Alex get herself in these messes all the time? He could have sworn she didn't have anything to drink. She should know better than to, anyway.

"I don't…I don't feel good, Finn…"

It was still really early, and all of the Hollywood hot shots were still partying. Finn was definitely going to return. He'd make sure Alex was comfortable and asleep before hurrying back. This was his chance to put himself out there. Carl was still around there, striking up conversations with everyone, but he hadn't told Finn anything yet.

And Finn really wanted to get his films noticed, not his camerawork. That was his dream his entire life. He wanted to be a movie maker, even if he had to do a hundred weddings before finally getting an offer.

Alex was wasted, and it was a little difficult getting to the elevator with her up to the fifth floor when she refused to be picked up. But by the time the elevator doors opened to his floor, he took her in his arms, and didn't allow her to say a word about it. She couldn't even walk. That's how wasted she was.

"Alexandra Hudson, what did you even drink?" he asked rhetorically, shaking his head as he blindly unlocked the door to his apartment.

"Spiked…punch. Lots and lots of spiked punch," she answered right back.

Of course the punch had been spiked. It was a wedding. Nobody wanted a nonalcoholic drink at a wedding. That's what the open bar was for, apparently.

Alex began mumbling to herself, and Finn finally unlocked the door, then closed it behind them with his foot. Now he remembered why he never went out to parties with Alex. She got drunk after a mere two glasses of wine, and then got really loud and obnoxious. And Finn was stuck being the one to take her home.

"Rachel was sooo fucking hot tonight, right Finny?"

He should have known that drunk Alex was going to talk about Rachel. "Sure, Alex." He set her down on his bed.

"And I saw how you kissed her, too. You are still crazily and fuckingly in love with her. You know I'm right."

Sighing, Finn brought her the trash can from the kitchen, and a glass of water. "This is for in case you need to throw up again. And you have water here, too."

"Finn…" she whined.

"What is it, Alex?"

"Tell me you still love her."

He moved to tuck her into his bed.

"Finn!"

"What, Alex?"

"Tell me!"

Oh, God, her voice was annoying when she was drunk. "Go to sleep, Alex. I'll be back later."

"Tell me first…or I'm coming with!" she cried out giving him a stubborn look.

"You are so going to hate yourself in the morning." She continued giving him that look, and he gave in. "Fine, all right. I still love her. But that kiss didn't mean anything."

"Keep telling yourself that. You'll never believe that." But at least she lay back down and tugged the blanket to her chin.

"Good night, Alex."

"'Night, Finn!"

About five seconds after he closed the door to his room, he heard the sounds of her heaving into the trash can.

At least life with Alex never got boring.

He drove quickly back to the reception, hoping that no one important left yet. There was still an hour left before midnight, and – Oh, shit, he'd left his other camera bag at the reception!

The first thing he did when he arrived was run back to the table where he'd left his other bag, and was relieved to see it was still there. After he checked to make sure everything was still in there, he let out a breath of relief, and zipped it up again. Taking the bag on his shoulder, he looked around for someone he could go talk to. He saw a couple of producers, but they seemed to be in deep conversations, and he didn't want to interrupt them.

Above all of the chatting and the laughing, a beautiful sound hit his ears, and he turned his eyes to the stage.

Rachel.

I wanna sing while the ocean sleeps.

I wanna feel what's like to be free.

I wanna see what you see in me.

I wanna know what it feels to believe.

He didn't know the song, but it was absolutely beautiful. She was amazing. It was all so perfect. So this was why she had attended the wedding. She was the entertainer. How had he not heard her until this moment?

Oh, right. He'd been far too busy with his camera and with keeping an eye on Alex. He'd filmed the bride and groom away from the reception as well. Made sense.

He quickly pulled out his camera and began recording her, moving closer to the stage.

I feel lost; somehow I'm drifting away.

Was almost gone, but you brought me to life again.

As she was singing that line, she happened to glance right at Finn, and they locked eyes for a moment. Her eyes moved back to the piano.

So let me be your lighthouse.

And I'll help you find a way out of here.

I see the tide is coming.

Don't let you away from me.

There's no way I'm jumping over,

I know it's your love that saved me.

He wanted her to look at him again, so badly. It was like she was singing this for him to hear. Of course, that was stupid, because it's not like she chose the songs. The bride and groom did. Right?

There was this sharp pain he was feeling in his chest. He missed her. He really missed her.

Cause I was lost, somehow I'm drifting away.
Was almost gone, you brought me to life again.

So let me be your lighthouse.
And I'll help you find a way out of here.
I can see the light out
From a far away out.
But its slowly drifting away from me…

She looked up again to look at him, and there was a tear halfway down her cheek when he looked back at her. She looked genuinely…sad. And that was breaking his heart, seeing her like this.

No, Finn. You're angry with her. No time to be sympathetic now. She dumped you. For stupid reasons.

Cause I was lost, somehow I'm drifting away.
Was almost gone, you brought me to life again
So let me be your lighthouse
And I'll help you find a way out of here.
Let me be your lighthouse
And I'll help you find a way out of here…

Those who were slow dancing began to applaud, and Finn nearly forgot to stop his recording. His eyes never left Rachel, however. She smiled slightly for whoever had been paying attention to her, but she didn't glance at him.

Instead, she began to play Jon Secada's "If I Never Knew You". And every single word was a dagger to Finn's heart. There was no way she hadn't chosen these songs. They were too perfect for the two of them. Too perfect, and too painful.

He was watching her intently, as if there was nobody else in the room but the two of them. He shouldn't have come back. He didn't want to reopen any wounds. He was supposed to be moving past this. She was eventually going to get tired of begging him to forgive her and to just accept her, and he would eventually find someone else. Or just go back to being on his own.

Before the song could end, Finn dodged the people, and went out the back of the high tent, deciding to go out on his own and think about it. He took a deep breath before going out to his car to put down his camera, and then began walking down the pathway to the garden.

It was too much at once. Too many emotions. And he couldn't deal with them all so late in the night. He hadn't had a single drop of alcohol and yet he felt like his head was spinning. A million thoughts were racing through his mind.

"Finn."

He stopped walking. He'd definitely heard his name being called. And by that voice, too. It rang loudly in his ears. He was almost afraid to turn.

He didn't have to. She was already standing in front of him, looking at him…almost expectantly. And he couldn't look away from her.

No words were said for a good thirty seconds. Laughter could be heard from the reception, but all Finn could see was her beautiful eyes. Her beautiful, searching eyes.

Almost immediately, she stood up on her tiptoes and met his lips in a passionate kiss. He didn't pull back. In fact, he kissed her right back, and even stepped closer to her, resting his hands on her hips.

It wasn't long before their tongues began to fight for dominance, and she elicited a soft moan. Her hands moved up his chest, and then her fingers grabbed the lapels of his jacket, tugging him even closer.

Their kiss became more and more heated and desperate, even more so than the one earlier that day. Then, Rachel pulled back for more air, and both her gasping for a few seconds. And Finn really let only a few pass before he leaned down and kissed her again, his hands moving up and down her sides before one stopped at her breast, and he teased a hardened nipple with his thumb through her dress for a bit, causing her to groan in his mouth.

They pulled back again, and Finn could see her hooded eyes, even in the darkness of the night. Finn's tell was a lot easier to see, however, and Rachel's hand brushed down to the bulge in his pants.

"I want you," she said huskily.

"I want you, too," he replied simply, his eyes never once leaving hers.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own "Lighthouse" by Hope, nor do I own "If I Never Knew You" by Jon Secada. They were just convenient songs for this chapter . .