Finn opened his eyes to darkness. Was this where he went when he disappeared? Is this his purgatory? He remembered giving Rachel a kiss on her cheek as a thank you on the path in the park. He touched his lips and still felt her soft wet cheek against his lips. It was scorching. Rachel had grabbed ahold of his hand and he had appeared, and the sadness he had been feeling, seemed to evaporate with her touch, only to become apparent in her crying. He wasn't sure what had happened or why it had happened, but no matter how dense he was, he knew that he and Rachel had become connected since his death, and he needed to keep that connection, because it was the last bit of his life left.
As Finn's thoughts started to leave him, he realized he was sitting in this dark room, and he had no idea where the fuck he was. As he sat there, he heard a soft sound coming from the other side. Scrunching his brow in thought and focused on what he could detect, the sound was a very soft and lyrical snore, if that was possible. Why would there be snoring in purgatory? Could snoring be on pitch? Standing up from the chair he found himself in, he started to make his way slowly towards the sound, only to hit his thigh on something and go flying forward, falling on something hard and soft at the sometime. "Umf, what the hell?" He thought he could go through things, but obviously he couldn't if he had just hit something hard causing him to fall and let out a string of cusses which caused whatever he had landed on to move.
Finn stiffened as he felt something soft and warm under him, and then heard a soft mewl come from his landing spot. Did he land on a cat? It was little, but he didn't think he felt fur. As he shifted and tried to pull himself carefully off of whatever he fell on, he felt a hand clamp on his forearm and his body instantly became solid. There was only one person that he knew of that could do that to him, "Rachel? Rach please tell me it's you and not someone else?" Finn couldn't hide the nervousness in his voice, because if it wasn't Rachel, he was in a world of trouble.
"F-Finn. What are you doing in my room?" the grogginess in her voice was evident. "Oh my god! Finn what are you doing in my room at three in the morning? How did you get in here?" Finn was glad that Rachel had instinctually kept a hold of his arm, because he threw his now solid hand over her mouth to keep her quiet since her voice was rising quickly.
"Shhhhhh. Turn your light on so I can see you and we can talk. I don't have any answers for you, but we definitely need to talk without anyone hearing you talking to yourself." Finn felt Rachel move and heard the click of her bedside lamp. The room was bathed in a soft almost pink glow from the lamp.
Rachel must have read his mind because she answered his unasked question, "Pink party bulb, pink lighting makes my skin tone glow and I like to see which lighting makes me look my best so…" Finn just shook his head in understanding, no matter how crazy it seemed it made perfect sense when Rachel said it or did it. He watched her sit up against her headboard, and couldn't help but notice she was wearing a tiny pink nightgown with little straps holding it up and ruffles accentuating her chest. Finn couldn't help as his eyes were drawn to her chest, realizing that she wasn't wearing a bra, and felt a blush color his cheeks and his jean front become suddenly tight. It didn't help that Rachel had a firm hold on his arm, making him normal and his arousal clearly evident. He shifted so he was on his stomach and his happiness was hidden from Rachel. He was dead, but he wasn't "dead" and Rachel was a sneaky hot teenage girl sitting beside him in a little nightgown, and she would probably beat him to a second death if she saw what she did to him.
"Finn, why are you here? In my bedroom of all places? Is something wrong? Is something happening to me again or to one of my fathers? Finn do you know anything?" Finn felt Rachel's nails dig into his arm with each question, and even though he was thankful to felt her nails, they hurt like hell. He wondered if he would bleed like he did when he was alive.
Shaking his head at that thought, he refocused on Rachel and her rambling of questions that he didn't have answers to. He needed to stop her ramblings, and even though he kissed her last time to stop her, it earned him a slap and Rachel not wanting to talk to him, and she was his only friend. He didn't want to push her away or piss her off again. So instead of kissing her, he leaned over her and grabbed her cheeks, squishing her lips together and forcing her to stop talking and for her look at him with her large brown eyes. "Wh- what are you doing Finn? Why are you giving me fishy lips?" He couldn't help but smile at how adorable she looked and sounded. "Are you smirking at me Finn Hudson?" That just caused his smirk to grow more lopsided as he nodded sheepishly.
"Rach, I just need to you to be quiet okay? Can you do that? Then we'll talk about the reasons I might be here, but you have to promise me to be quiet. I don't need one of your dads to come in and find me in your bed, especially since you're touching me." Finn looked into her eyes and felt her nod her head against his hands. He couldn't help but smile as he let go of her face and watched her work her jaw from where he had gripped it. He suddenly felt light again, and as he looked to see that Rachel wasn't gripping his arm anymore, but had both hands on her comforter, pulling it up to cover chest discreetly.
Disappointed that he was no longer solid, Finn focused on Rachel and her questions she had thrown at him, "I don't know why I'm in your bedroom Rach. You know that. I just appear. I don't know if anything is wrong with you or your dads, and why would you think I was here for your dads anyway?"
"Well, you appeared in my house, and the only people here are my dads and me so we would be the only people that would need your "services" so it was a logical conclusion, right?" Finn knew her logic was right, but he wasn't her guardian angel or anything, or at least he didn't think he was. He didn't protect people. That wasn't why he was back, was it?
"Um first let's get the normal stuff out of the way, what day is it and how long has it been since the last time I was around?"
After Rachel looked at her clock, she turned to him and spoke very softly, "It's technically Thanksgiving morning. It's only been a week since I last saw you at the park. Your mom and Kurt and Burt are coming over here for Thanksgiving dinner. Your mom wanted to go out to a restaurant this year, but we talked her into coming over here. We thought it would be better if she was around friends and her family right now since this is the first holiday without you." Rachel looked shyly at him, and Finn felt uncomfortable. Rachel was doing everything she could to make his mom's life a little better and easier for his mom, and for him. She really was an awesome girl.
Finn didn't know why, but he leaned over and hugged Rachel the best he could without going through her. He felt her warmth and wished she would touch him so he could be solid again and really hug her, but this would have to do. As he squeezed, he felt her shiver at his touch, but he didn't care. He needed to let her know that he appreciated everything she was doing for him. As he leaned in to give her a kiss on her cheek, he didn't realize that she had hugged him back and made him solid, and had turned her head to say something to him but instead caused their lips to meet. For Finn, that was it. Once their lips met again, he didn't want anything else.
It was like she was meant for him, if he was still alive that is.
Finn always felt cool, but when her soft lips moved against his, a fire ignited deep within him, and that warmth enveloped him. This time, he couldn't stop the kiss, he needed this kiss, so he gently pushed Rachel back into her pillows, exploring her soft pink lips with his, urging them open as he cradled her head in his hands and he covered her with his body. Her lips were addictive, soft and warm, her breath minty and sweet, and when he felt her tongue peek out from between her lips to touch his, he couldn't stop but sweep his tongue into her mouth to explore, taste and take. Finn heard a moan and didn't know if it was Rachel or him that had made the sound but he didn't care it just made the experience that much more.
Finn felt Rachel's small hands glide up the back of his jersey and to the back of his neck as her fingers played with the hairs on his neck. He could feel Rachel pull back slightly, and as he looked down at her, he saw her smile and breathe in heavily, catching her breath, her eyes shining brightly at him. Finn stared down at her and realized one good thing about being dead; no worry about needing air, because all he wanted to do was to keep kissing Rachel. To pour his heart and soul into her.
He felt her fingers tracing his lips as he lightly nipped at them, wanting to dive back in and start kissing her again, but was stopped when she put her full finger over his lips. "Finn, as much as I really, really want to keep on kissing, I need to go back to sleep. I have a lot to do this morning for the dinner, and if I don't have enough sleep, then it won't be a good day, and I want it to be good for your mom. If I go to sleep, will you still be here in the morning?"
All Finn could do was shake his head, "I don't know Rach, I hope so, but I just don't know since it's up to someone else. I do know I would really like to lie down beside you, even if I don't sleep, is that okay?" Finn wasn't about to push, but lying next to such a sweet, awesome and hot girl would be getting to do something he never got to do when he was alive and make him feel human again.
He watched as she silently nodded and pulled the comforter back for him to slip under and clicked off the light. Not wanting to seem to forward, Finn slipped off his Nikes and pulled his jersey and t-shirt over his head while Rachel kept her hands on his waist as he unbuttoned his jeans and slipped under the bedding, as she intertwined their hands, she snuggled under his arm, dark brown hair fanned over his chest, her cheek, warm and sweet against his bare skin. Even though he would never sleep, Finn closed his eyes and reveled in the warmth and closeness of a girl he didn't even know when he was alive.
Cool lips were persistent on hers, coaxing them open and invading her mouth with his cool tongue causing a moan to escape from someone. Rachel woke suddenly to the sudden urge that coursed through her body, ending in the pit of her stomach and lower in a tingling sensation. Trying to sit upright, her body was stopped cold by a heavy, bare, cool arm draped over her, keeping her still against her mattress.
Finn.
She looked over and saw that he was still solid, her left hand intertwined with his hand, his bare chest neither rising nor falling, since he didn't breath. That small fact was rather disconcerting.
She had slept next to a dead man, literally, and wished he was alive.
She rolled and scooted closer to him, studying him as he was very relaxed and peaceful looking, something she had never seen before. Every time she had seen him he was agitated, tense or upset, never at ease or peace. She studied his messy brown hair, even messier since he was in bed, his smooth forehead that she had seen more often creased in confusion. His eyelashes were long, and she'd bet money that if he wore glasses they would hit the lenses. His nose was regal looking, nothing like her large ethnic nose. His lips were pale and angular in a very masculine way. He had slight scruff coloring his cheeks, chin and upper lip, that she took her fingernail to and lightly scratched at, causing his whiskey colored eyes to open and peer at her.
She felt his cool breath on her skin as he leaned in and whispered, "What do you think you're doing missy?" Rachel couldn't hold back the giggle that escaped at his playful tone and his quirked eyebrow. He was just too adorable. But how did he have breath if he didn't breathe since he was dead?
Banishing that thought from her mind, she just looked at him and let out another giggle, "This is the first time I've ever had a chance to really feel you. All the other times you've been your ghostly self and all I feel is cool breezes, right now I can feel you," and that single bold statement brought something out in her because Rachel pushed Finn back and straddled his waist, leaning down and capturing his lips in hers, biting down lightly on his bottom lip as a groan left him. Just as she was ready to lean in further and explore his mouth more, until a loud knock at her door froze both of them.
"Rachel honey, are you up? Are you okay? You never sleep this late. I'm coming in sweetheart." Rachel's eyes widened at the sound of her papa's voice, and as she pulled her hands away from Finn in shock, she felt herself drop to the mattress suddenly, because he had disappeared just as the door opened to reveal her papa dressed and ready for the day. Glancing down she saw that even Finn's clothes that had been on the floor had disappeared right along with him. "Rachel, we need to start on the food honey. Are you sure you're okay?" concern evident in his voice.
Rachel turned on her acting skills, "I'm sorry papa. I woke up in the middle of the night and had trouble going back to sleep. I think I'm just worried about today and making it happy for Carole, Kurt and Burt. That's all. Let me jump in the shower and I'll be ready to help you with the meal preparations. Just give me thirty minutes, okay?"
Rachel watched as her papa came over and kissed her forehead. "You are a very special girl sweetie. To do all of this for Carole, just makes your daddy and me so proud of you. We love you." Rachel smiled as her papa left and closed the door for privacy. As she pulled the comforter back and got out of bed, she wondered where Finn was and what he was seeing. Not wanting to take any chances, Rachel called out into the empty room, "Finn, if you're still here, I'm taking a shower now and I'd appreciate it if you just stayed in here and gave me some privacy while I bathed. I-I'm not comfortable enough for you to see me in that state of undress, okay? I know you're not going to answer, but just remember, I expect you to behave like a gentleman because your mother raised you as one, and you wouldn't want to disappoint her." Rachel knew Finn would hear her or at least hoped he heard her. She quickly showered though and got ready in record time, just in case. He was still a teenage ghost.
As she walked downstairs, she heard her fathers playfully arguing about something and the sounds of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on in the background. When she entered the kitchen, she saw Finn sitting in her chair at the table, looking rather forlorn. She wanted to ask him what was wrong, but obviously couldn't, so she grabbed some fruit and sat down next to Finn, causing a small uprising from her fathers since she wasn't sitting her "her" place.
"Rachel honey, are you sure you're feeling okay? You're not sitting in your chair like you have every day for the last sixteen years sweetie?" she heard her daddy ask, and hid her giggle when she saw Finn roll his eyes at her daddy's comment.
"Daddy, I don't think I was sitting in a chair when I was first born or until I was at least three, but I'm fine. Just thought I'd try a new seat today, since today a lot of firsts will be happening in this house. And from this vantage point, I can see that the wallpaper next to the door is starting to curl up." Rachel sipped her orange juice while both of her fathers rushed over to the doorway and started fussing about their wallpaper. Rachel looked over at Finn with a grin, but saw he was back to his rather sad façade again. Not thinking, she laid her hand on top of his and squeezed it reassuringly only to have him materialize instantly and her gasping and pulling her hand back as he disappeared from view again.
For the rest of the morning, Rachel and her fathers worked on the dinner of roasted turkey with pan sauce, sage dressing, cranberry sauce, country green beans, homemade rolls, an arugula and pear salad, and Mercedes' mother's sweet potato casserole. The kitchen was loud and warm as she and her dad's laughed and worked together side by side getting everything ready. All three wanted this to be a good experience for Carole, because they knew how hard this would be for her.
As she and her fathers worked around each other and sang and joked, Rachel would steal glances at the kitchen table and see Finn just sitting there, his mouth in a deep frown, his eyes downcast. Every time someone would pass where he was, they would make a comment about how cold it was right there and that there must be a draft from the bay window. Rachel just watched as Finn sat there silently, not looking at anyone but deep in thought, making her heart ache.
By one o'clock everything was almost finished and Rachel ran upstairs to change into something presentable for the dinner. She always wanted to look her best, but today, she wanted to put on something even more. As she ran her hands along her clothes in her closet, she felt the coolness behind her. "I'm sorry today is so hard on you today Finn," was all she said as she pulled out several dresses to consider.
As she turned to put them on the bed, she was met by Finn's ghost lips meeting hers in a sweet, sad kiss and then heard his tearful voice, "Thank you so much for doing this Rachel. Thank you for doing this for my mom and I know in some way for me too. Just thank you." This time Rachel reached out and touched Finn's shoulder and allowed him to materialize to place a soft kiss of her own on his lips.
"You are very welcome Finn. I really love your mom. She's a good woman and I hope to make her happy today. So now go downstairs, because I will not have you watching me get undressed. Now go." Rachel shooed at Finn with her hands and watched as he walked through the door. That was new for him, she thought as she grabbed a pretty brown and white print wrap dress and patent brown pumps. She pulled her hair back into a loose bun and applied minimal makeup and jewelry. Looking at her reflection, she smiled knowing Kurt would approve of her non-librarian look and she secretly hoped Finn liked it too.
When she stopped to think about it, she was having a relationship with a ghost, and that was really creepy but also really exciting. It was like pure romance and drama gold, but it was also totally impossible because they could never be truly together until she died, and she didn't plan on doing that anytime soon. Wow, why did her first true relationship have to be so complicated? How very Rachel Berry of herself. Shaking her head, the doorbell rang out through the house, announcing the arrival of the Hudson-Hummel family. Taking a deep, calming breath, Rachel reached for the doorknob and walked down the stairs to greet her guests, while her nerves were shaking and shocking a mile a minute.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Sorry for the huge delay but I've been in the middle of moving and downsizing and it sucks. The next chapter shouldn't be as long of a wait, and all I can say is it will be rather interesting.