A/N: Finn & Rachel and New Year's Eve. I'll just let you read it.

"It's 10pm, alright, you're up Berry."

Rachel lets out a breath, fixing her hair carefully with her fingers. "Okay," she tells herself, "you can do this." She walks up the stairs slowly, cautious not to trip and fall. Pulling her dress down, and stepping into the middle of the stage, she's suddenly aware of the fact that more than a million people are watching her right now. Not to mention all of the people watching from home.

She steps closer to the microphone. "Hi," she says nervously, "I'm Rachel Berry, I'm a student at the New York Academy of Dramatic Arts, and I'm here to sing for you tonight."

She hears the band start the music behind her and she looks across at Carmen Tibideaux, silently asking if there's a way she can get out of this now. There isn't. Carmen smiles at her, the kind of smile she saves for someone she believes in. Rachel can do this. She nods slowly back, her own smile spreading on her face.

Rachel turns back to the audience, closes her eyes and sings the first line of the song, her adrenaline taking the place of her nervousness. She almost bursts into tears at the reaction of the people in the crowd, the ones she can see are jumping up and down, screaming and singing along. This is the feeling she's been looking for.

Finn kicks a rock down the street while he walks towards the bar he's supposed to be meeting Puck and Quinn in tonight. Nothing like being a third wheel on New Year's Eve. He's totally going to regret coming out with them tonight. They go to the same bar basically every week, so Finn doesn't really understand why they're going to the same place tonight. Isn't it the night to do something different, something you don't necessarily think you'd ever do?

He's walking past the concert in Times Square, something Finn's never been too fond of. Too many people, and he's alone, which means he's definitely not going to get his midnight kiss and all he gets to watch is hundreds of people kissing around him. No thanks. He's lost all hope of ever experiencing that magical moment.

But as soon as he hears her start to sing, he stops dead to listen to her and he thinks that maybe all hope isn't lost just yet.

As she keeps singing, she keeps looking around, a few familiar faces in the sea of people. She can see her best friend, Tina, on the side of the stage off to the right and her dads, squished somewhat awkwardly in the middle, one of them yelling, "she's my daughter!"

She focuses herself back on the song, singing the last few lines with as much passion as she can. As soon as she finishes, the crowd erupts into cheer for her, only for her. This is the moment she's waited her whole life for.

She beams and the crowd keeps clapping. "Thank you very much New York!" She looks towards Tina, who is hysterically crying on her right. Everyone is jumping up and down, still screaming and clapping. Everyone, she notices, except one person. He's a tall guy, perhaps around the same age as her, and he's standing right behind Tina. He's looking up at Rachel like he's completely enthralled with her, a mysterious smirk on his face.

She's suddenly very much aware of where she is, and looks back in the audience. Luckily, not many of them notice she's been standing there for longer than she should have. "Happy New Year!" She says loudly into the microphone, turning away and walking down the stairs and off the stage.

Tina's at her side in a second, still crying as she pulls Rachel into a tight hug. "You were so, so amazing Rachel, they're so lucky to have you."

"Thanks Tina," she says, smiling at her best friend.

"I just can't believe it. My best friend sang on stage in Times Square on New Year's Eve." She bursts into tears again, her words all mumbling into one.

"I'll just go grab my things, Tina." Rachel says, pushing her best friend off her shoulder, "I'll be right back."

She rolls her eyes as she walks towards the makeshift tent set up for the performers and their personal belongings. Tina can be a bit of a handful sometimes. The security guard lets her into the tent, and she quickly grabs her bag and her jacket. She's free for the rest of the night and promised Tina they'd go out or something.

But when she gets back to Tina, she sees that she's having her own fun without Rachel. She's making out frantically with a guy, Rachel doesn't even know who he is.

"Tina!" She practically screams, "come on, let's go."

Tina ignores her as she keeps kissing this stranger. Rachel taps her on the shoulder. "Tina, come on!"

"Rachel," Tina says between kisses, "You go ahead. I'm gonna stay with Mike." She returns to kissing him and Rachel rolls her eyes again.

"Whatever." She mumbles, turning away. She's glad they didn't have any real plans tonight, so she's free to go back home and watch the ball drop on television.

"I hate it when that happens." She jumps in surprise, looking over to see the same guy who was watching her on stage, the smirk still on his lips.

"What?"

He points to Tina. "I hate it when my friends do that. And then act like I don't matter anymore."

"Yeah, it's the worst." She replies, swaying awkwardly on her heels.

"I have friends like that. But I uh, ditched them tonight." He says, laughing. "I hope they know I'm not going to be joining them tonight."

She laughs and looks back at Tina, who is still attached to Mike.

"So, what are you doing for New Year's?" He asks, moving a step closer.

"Well I was going to perform and then go out with Tina, but since she's occupied, I think I'm just going to head home." She tells him.

"Oh, you were really great up there, by the way." He points to the stage. "But you're not going to stay here and watch the ball drop?"

She shakes her head. "No… I don't like watching all the happy couples kiss."

He opens his mouth before he can control what he's saying. "I'll be your New Year's kiss, I mean, if you want me to be."

She pauses. "I don't even know your name."

"Finn Hudson." He answers simply. 'What's yours?"

"Rachel Berry."

"Well Rachel Berry, I will be your New Year's kiss."

She contemplates it for a minute, biting down on her lip. New Year is the time to start fresh, to do unexpected things. "Okay."

"Well, come on then," he says, holding out his arm for her to take. "We have just over an hour to get to know each other a little better."

She smiles before taking his arm.

They sit down on the sidewalk, not too far from everyone in Times Square. They're both wearing those silly hats as they drink the cheap beer they got from the Seven Eleven down the street. She takes a drink, wipes her mouth on the back of her hand and giggles. So perhaps she's a little tipsy right now, but most of the people around are.

She moves closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder as she breathes out. "Thank you Finn." She says, placing her hand on his arm. "For making me feel better. I would have had a terrible night at home."

"It's fine, really. I would have had a terrible night too."

She stands, swaying slightly with the music. "Dance with me?" He sighs, but agrees, standing too, joining her in the middle of the mostly deserted street. She wraps her arms around his waist and he places his arms around her too. She starts humming something, swaying back and forth with the melody of the music.

She looks up when she hears the countdown start. "59, 58, 57…"

She tries to pull him towards Times Square. "Come on Finn."

"Go where, why can't we do it here?"

"51, 50, 49…"

"Finn Hudson, we're going to do it right." She pulls him by the hand towards the crowds in Times Square. She stops, sinking back into his embrace to watch the ball drop.

"38, 37, 36…"

He feels around for her hand, threading their fingers together when he finds it. This simple gesture makes her insides flutter and her heart beat faster. He hugs her from behind, the front of his body pressing right up against her back.

"18, 17, 16…"

When there's fifteen seconds left she's struck with the idea that what she's about to do is totally crazy and so unlike her. But nothing's going to stop her from doing it.

"6, 5, 4…"

She spins around in his arms, breathing in as she looks up at him. He's already looking down at her with the sweetest look in his eyes. She nods once, to let him know she still wants this to happen, and before she knows it, he's pressing his lips against hers as the final second of 2012 passes.

His mouth moves carefully over hers and she opens her mouth wider, encouraging him to kiss her deeper. She stands up on her toes as he pushes his tongue into her mouth, and she holds back a moan when she threads her fingers through his hair, tugging to pull him closer.

The fireworks continue in the background, but neither of them really care. In fact, it's almost as if the entire world has disappeared. She breaks away, sinking back down to her proper height, blushing and looking down. He wraps his arm around her shoulders and pulls her into his side.

She thought that the feeling of applause was the feeling that she'd been searching for. But it's not, it's the feeling of being wanted, and now, she understands what that feels like too.

"You know," she begins, still looking down, "the kiss you share with someone on New Year's Eve is supposed to set the tone for the entire year. It's all about strengthening the relationship you wish to keep in the future."

He smiles. "Well Rachel Berry," he says, playing with the ends of her hair, "the year has only just begun. Care to celebrate with me?"

She nods and he bends down to kiss her once more, just 'cause he can.