It was soon time for New Direction's invitationals. Kurt was helping Tina with her hair while Santana and Brittany helped each other. Finn pulled Santana aside. He kissed her, unable to resist her.
"I know that we don't both have the solos for this performance, but I'm rooting for you," Finn said once they had pulled apart. Santana smiled and kissed him again. Rachel walked in on them and automatically turned around. Finn led Santana back into the room.
"Another year, another shot at Regionals," Mr. Schue was saying. Finn pulled Santana closer to him, so that her back collided softly (Santana was surprised that was even possible) with his chest. She sighed in content.
During the whole song, even though the solos went to Finn and Rachel, Finn was staring at Santana. Her hair was out and she was in a dress and she was smiling. She looked so striking, so staggeringly and devastatingly beautiful that he physically couldn't take his gaze off of her.
Rachel confronted him.
"If we lose Sectionals because you are singing with me but staring at her, than I will…," Rachel stopped.
"You'll what? Sing at her? Rachel…it's not my fault… I-I love her," Finn said the last part so much under his breath that she didn't hear.
"I'll get her kicked out of Glee. Maybe even Cheerios," Rachel said. She'd hit Finn's weak spot. Cheerios and Glee were two things that made Santana happy and when Santana was happy, Finn was happy.
"Rachel, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!" Finn roared.
"Finn, what happened to us? We were in love," Rachel whispered and lifted her hand to his face. He pulled away.
"I grew up," Finn said.
"Grow back down, I miss loving you and I know that you miss loving me," she said. Finn hated to admit it, but part of him did miss loving her.
"Rache…" he paused. Rachel stepped closer to him and stood on her tip-toes. Finn looked torn. There was a gasp and an irritated cough. Finn whirled around. Quinn, Kurt, Brittany, Mercedes, Artie and Tina were all there, fuming and glowering.
"What the hell?" Brittany asked, even she got the situation and that it would hurt her best friend. Santana came in.
"Guys?" she asked and then stopped short, seeing everyone glare at Rachel, who was standing near Finn…too close to Finn.
"Finn?" she asked steely. Her glare was the sharpest; it could've torn through flesh. There was sadness in her eyes but also anger, fury, no, rage.
"San," he said before getting interrupted by her storming over. She threw Rachel to the floor with a thud. Finn looked at Rachel worriedly, but Santana didn't save him from her rage. She pushed him back. The others left, leaving them alone.
"What the hell Finn!" she said. Tears filled her eyes.
"It wasn't him," Rachel said. Santana turned to her.
"What?" she snapped.
"Finn resisted me," Rachel said, annoyed at Finn.
"Why can't you just freaking back off?" Santana said, trembling with rage and hurt. Finn came over to her and put his arms around her. She leaned into him, smelling his familiar sent and loving his warmth. She relaxed.
"I'm sorry I lost it," Santana started but couldn't finish her sentence; Finn placed his finger on her lips and then replaced it with his own lips.
"I'm sorry. I truly am," he said. Santana sighed into the kiss. She pulled away and let him lead her to the car, ready to forgive Finn and ready to hold Julianna and Hayden in her arms.
Santana was on Finn's bed, which had become hers during her stay at his house. She was gazing at Julianna and Hayden. She got up to put them in their cribs and then went back onto the bed. Moments later a tall figure joined her, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her.
"Hey, Finn," she smirked.
"Being with you…has taught me a lot. Taught me to be strong, and not let others tear me apart," Finn said.
"You taught me how not to lash out at everyone. Taught me to have a soul, to love. To balance my harshness and my softness," Santana said softly. Finn placed his hand on her cool stomach skin, sending shudders through her.
"Can I sleep here tonight, with you?" Finn asked. Santana smiled and rolled over to look at him. He pulled her close.
"Whatever you want," she said sleepily. She sat up to brush her hair before bed. She was wearing her tight crimson nightgown and her hair was loose. She smiled and Finn stared. He realized that she knew he stared, but she didn't care. It was funny; when she was single she loved when every guy looked at her like that. Now, it was a privilege that she reserved for Finn. And it made him feel like he was…special to her. She set the brush down and turned off the light. Finn welcomed her under the covers. Both of them couldn't help feeling like a real couple, not a high school couple. Finn wrapped one arm around her. She held it there with one hand. They laced their other hands together.
"San?" he asked.
"Hmm?" she asked.
"What was your first word?" he ventured. Santana realized he was thinking of Julianna and Hayden and that triggered thoughts of their childhood.
"My first word was No," she chuckled.
"Mine was Dad," Finn said. Santana remembered Finn telling her about his father. She squeezed his hand.
"My first sentence was Go Away Daddy," Santana added. Finn smiled into her hair.
"Mine was Turn On Music," Finn laughed. Santana laughed with him. Ant they fell asleep holding each other.
Finn and Santana were outside of the school. There was a little corner there. It was their free period. Finn wove a hand through Santana's silky ponytail and pulled her hair out of its up-do. She smirked alluringly at him.
"Stop, teasing me," Finn whines were silenced as Santana brought his mouth down to hers. After a few moments Finn pushed her away tenderly
"San, we're at school," he said. Santana sighed but agreed and they walked into the school, with Finn's arm around her.
