A/N: Thank you for reading my story and sending reviews! This chapter depicts flashbacks of the time Finn first met Mr. Schuester and of the next days since Finn met Rachel (from Finn's point of view), included smut.

Disclaimer: I do not own Glee and its characters.

Chapter 5 – December 2010/January 2011

He didn't know why he hadn't asked her number the day before. Maybe because he was being nervous? Cursing at himself under his breath, he crossed his arms in front of his chest and put his hands underneath the armpits not to let his fingers frozen stiff while waiting for her knocking-off time, leaning against the wall at outside of the Sylvester building, remembering she had said that she was going to work on holidays.

He perked his head up as he heard the sound of laughing, which he thought that he would never get tired of listening. "Hey, Rachel." He called.

That stopped Rachel from walking away. Her eyes lightened up as she found Finn standing along the wall of the company building. "Why hello, Finn!" She turned her head towards her African American of a colleague, who just glanced at him out of the corner of her eye with a raised eyebrow, to exchange 'see you on Monday's' with a waving hand, before approaching him. "You look like freezing. Why didn't you come up to the office?"

"I don't have my voucher yet." Finn shrugged, his hands moving down into his pockets.

"But you could've asked a security guard." Rachel started rummaging in her bag for her wool gloves as she asked. "Don't you have to go back home in Lima on Christmas?" She held her gloves out to him, seeing him breathe out into his clasped hands. "Would you need these?"

Finn chuckled. "Too small for my hands." He shook his head. "Um, I was thinking, uh, would you like to go grab a coffee or something? O-or do you have any plans for this evening?" He nervously asked.

"Actually, I was going to go to Dashwood Books." Rachel answered. "Wanna come?" Rachel asked, tilting her head to one side expectantly.

Finn scratched his head, shifting at the place. "Um, I don't read books that much."

"Dashwood is a photography book store, Finn. You're definitely going to love it!" Rachel clapped her hands in front of her chest. "Come on, Finn." She looped her arm with his and started walking in the street without waiting for him to answer. "You know, William Eggleston's 'Before Color' has been published this month. I want to get a copy and a few other books." She looked up at him with a big smile. "After that, we can grab a coffee. Or you can have the leftover Xmas cake that I baked at my apartment if you like? My apartment's very close to the book store."

Finn was too preoccupied with her arm on his and a feeling of something in his stomach—he didn't remember when the last time he had felt like this was—to manage to speak. He just nodded and let her lead away to the book store.

He ended up stopping by Rachel's apartment on the way back from Dashwood Books next day since she had said that she was not going to work but deal with her piled up laundry. He really wanted to spend time with her as much as possible. It was by no means possible for him to have people to really talk with about photography (his private works, more specifically), even though he had worked at a photo studio/DPE store back home, there were none to talk about it since all the coworkers had worked there because of only paying the bills.

Sure, his mother had always said she believed him, and his stepbrother had always been encouraging him to move to New York, Los Angeles or some bigger place than Columbus or Lima to be a photographer, saying he could shine on his own. But they were his family and family should be like that even if they didn't really think or believe. Long story short, he hadn't believed himself after all. He hadn't known how, either.

Even though he had reached a very crucial determination to move to New York about a month before, thanks to his family, he had still doubted himself.

Until he met William Schuester.

And Rachel Berry.

After he had moved to New York, he yet got nowhere to start. But fate crept up on him, one day, in the Central Park, when he wandered around holding his last grandfather's Hasselblad 1600F in his hands tightly.

"Wow, you're the first person who actually possesses that model I've ever met." Were the words Mr. Schue spoke to him for the first time. "Is that the initial model?"

Finn turned around to see the man who had talked to him from behind. "You mean, this?" He held his camera up. He saw the middle-aged man nod a few times. "No, it isn't."

"Still, I've never met people who actually have one. Do you know how rare that model is? There are less than 3,000 in the world!" The man's eyes sparkled. "I'm sorry, I'm William Schuester, a failed musician and a failed photographer, also, by the way." Grinning, he pulled his hand out of his glove and held it out to him to shake.

"Finn Hudson." Finn took his hand nervously, hesitating to declare his title.

Mr. Schuester raised his eyebrow before assuming. "Aren't you a photographer? You must be one."

"Um, actually," Finn still hesitated, "I used to work at a photo studio in Columbus, Ohio, and I've just moved to the City. To try to be one." He told Mr. Schuester the truth.

"Well, Finn, I would like to see your portfolio." Mr. Schuester put his hand into the inside pocket of his coat to take his business card before handing it out to Finn. "I'm working at The Musicraker. I'm gonna go on a business trip from tomorrow, but I'll be back before Xmas. Oh, you should come to the company's Xmas party. I want to introduce my best editor to you, too. I'm going to put your name on the visitor's list, so all you have to do is to ask at the reception." With that, he walked away from the place, leaving the last words 'please come to show me your portfolio!' with a waving hand over his shoulder.

Finn just stood there for a while, holding Mr. Schuester's business card in one hand, his heavy camera in one arm, stunning at what had just happened to him.

If the encounter with Mr. Schuester opened the door for him, meeting Rachel provided a spark for him to start believing himself. She was the first person other than his family to make him feel that he had not been doing wrong.

She had a great store of knowledge about film cameras and photographers rather than photographers themselves like him, although she made it clear to him that she just had enough knowledge for an editor, but was not skilled at taking pictures. And she invested her knowledge in his future, saying that every great photographer had trodden the beaten track, just like Robert Frank collected his works into 'The Americans' after the model of Walker Evans 'American Photographs.'

"Hey, Rachel." Finn greeted as she opened her door.

"Hi, Finn. What a surprise!" Rachel gave him a big smile that he thought he would never be tired of seeing as well. "Come on in!" She gestured for him to enter, stepping aside.

"I've got you something." Finn nervously held out a photography book neatly wrapped by a green and red colored paper as she led him to the living room. "Merry Christmas, one day late, though."

"Finn, you didn't have to give me a present." She hesitated to take it from him.

His lips curled into a lopsided form. "Just a token of my appreciation for having your cake." He waited for her to take the present before sitting on the sofa.

Rachel sat on the sofa next to him and deliberately peeled off the wrapping paper and gasped a little as she saw the book—Mingus, Monk and Mailer: W Eugene Smith's Jazz Loft photographs—which it had taken time for her to decide not to buy the day before since she already spent her money for another three books. "Finn." She cupped her mouth with her hand before looking at him. "You really didn't have to."

"I wanted to." Finn shrugged.

She put the book on the coffee table and gave him a hug. "Thank you."

"My pleasure." Finn hugged her back, praying that she wouldn't notice how fast his heart beat.

"Do you know where the best spot to enjoy the views of Times Square and Ball Drop is?" Rachel leaned closer to Finn, sipping her red wine from the glass. They were currently at the company annual New Year's Eve party at a restaurant.

"No, I don't." Finn shook his head. "Where?"

Rachel just smirked at him. "Wait here for a minute." With that, she walked over to the place where Sue's secretary was chatting with the colleagues.

Finn stared at her toned long mile legs, and her backside which curves were tightly hugged by the silky black fabric of her dress around her tiny little body.

He had seen her every day after her work since they first met. One day at her apartment or his apartment, one day at the bar where her cousin with a Mohawk worked, one day at Dashwood Books, or one day at a coffee shop. Neither of them labeled them what they were (besides, they never kissed… yet), but being with Rachel felt something right for him.

"Come on, Finn, let's go!" Rachel took his beer from his hand to hand it out to a waiter who happened to be passing by them and grabbed his hand before making their way over towards the cloakroom by the entrance to get their coats.

Rachel's excited voice and her hand in his snapped him out of his thoughts. "Where are we going?" Finn asked, confused.

"Sue's office." Rachel answered in a low voice.

Finn frowned. "Are you going to work on New Year's Eve? At this late?"

"No, Finn, silly." Rachel giggled. "Sue's office is the best spot to watch the Ball Drop." She kept her voice in a low as she led him out of the restaurant. "But, don't tell anyone. There are few people who know that. If we get caught, I'll get my fingers burnt."

"But how do you get in there?" Finn whispered unconsciously, looking around the crowded street to make sure no one was listening to their conversation.

Rachel stopped themselves from walking along the street and held a card key up to him, grinning triumphantly. "I bribed Becky with her favor."

"How?"

"She has a crush on Noah." She linked her arm with his before starting walking again. "I just made a promise that I would arrange three dates with him for her."

Finn arched his eyebrow. "But Puck wasn't at the party, right? Does he know?"

"I've got a lot on him, Finn." Rachel shrugged. "I'm sure he'll come to heel, because he knows I can always get what I want." She stuck her tongue out of her mouth with mischief.

"You're bad." Finn chuckled. "Should I be scared of you?" He poked her arm with his forefinger playfully.

Rachel squeezed his arm with her tiny hand. "I hope not."

"Wow, are those original prints of Joel Meyerowitz?" Finn stopped in front of the wall where a lot of paintings and photographs were hung.

"I think so. There were times Sue was obsessed with him. I don't know why. Oh," Rachel turned to face him, "Meyerowitz and you are from the same college, right?"

Finn nodded as he stepped closer to the photographs.

"And he studied photography by himself, just like you." Rachel walked over to him and stood beside him. "I think he started to work as a freelance photographer when he was around your age. Maybe you'll follow in the footsteps of him from now on too." She nudged his arm with her elbow gently. "Of course, on your own way."

"I don't know." Finn rubbed the back of his neck, looking down at her in an insecure manner.

"Yes, you will!" Rachel took his hand and dragged him to the windows where had a grandstand view of Times Square. "Look." The decorative illumination shined on her hair, her skin, and her eyes. "This is New York, Finn, the city where dreams come true." She looked up at him. "You've already taken a step forward. Your talent has made you take a step forward. You just have to believe yourself."

Finn drowned in her big brown eyes, which directed to his eyes. He knew that she had said from the bottom of her heart, which made him feel a lump in his throat. His large hands yanked her waist to get her closer to him and crush his lips on hers, not caring about missing the moment the giant ball dropped. He didn't even hear the loud jubilance through the windows. All he could hear was the sound of ripples back in his ears, and of his heart beat merging into hers.

He wanted to feel her. He needed to feel all of her. He put his hands on her hips and picked her up off of the floor. He knew she felt the same way by how she responded.

He reluctantly pulled himself a little away from her before whispering in her ear. "Let's get out of here."

They managed to thread their way through the crowd that was still everywhere in New York streets and get to his apartment. They hastily ripped their clothes off their bodies as soon as he closed his front door. He carried her over to his bedroom, leaving their clothes on the floor at his door.

He knew it was not just either lusts or a phase.

And he knew she knew that.

He cupped her right breast and gently massaged it as his tongue traced her nipple while her tiny warm hand gave a gentle ministration over the fabric of his boxers. The fingers of his other hand felt her wetness. His tongue trailed up from her cleavage, to her neck, then her jaw, and finally thrust into her mouth. Both breathed heavily. He managed to let out his words between his hot breathes into her ear.

"Shit, Rach. I want you so bad."

"Then take me."

He hurriedly took a package of condom out of the drawer and ripped it off as she pushed his boxers then her thong down. Soon as he rolled it on his hard dick, he slammed it into her.

"Oh, God, Finn."

The electricity rushed through from the tip of his head to the toe of his feet. He poured his inexplicable feelings into his thrusts. Her body responded to every move he made as if she knew what he wanted to tell. He suddenly pulled himself out of her and flipped her body around before he got her legs folded under herself and gently pushed her upper body down on the bed. He lightly traced her smooth skin of the back up and down with his hand, which caused her to shudder and escape out of her lips a beautiful sound that he'd never heard before.

Then he leaned down to lay his chest on her back as he took her from behind.

His left arm wrapped around her body as the fingers of his right hand threaded through her shiny hair. She whimpered as he bit her left shoulder softly. He turned her head slightly towards his face, and sucked and soothed her neck. "You feel so fucking good." He whispered in her ear before capturing her mouth with his, which triggered off the start of her walls' swelling and squeezing his shaft. He almost exploded, but he wanted her to come first. His right hand traveled down to the south and rubbed her clit.

Her body was shaken for a while as she reached her orgasm along with her calling his name, and after a few more thrusts, he spilled out into the condom. It was the most intense orgasm he had ever experienced. He buried his face in her neck and caught his breath. Then he dropped his lips on her shoulder and her cheeks. Their bodies still overlapped each other as if their sweats were glue.

And they stayed like that for a while, as if both of them didn't want to forget this moment.

The morning light admitted into the bedroom, Finn slowly opened his eyes. With the exhaustion of the pleasure from their previous activities, he managed to sit himself up on the bed and picked her boxers up off of the floor. He put them on as he smiled down at the brunette next to him, who still was in deep sleep, lying on her stomach.

A pile of her hair hanging on her rosy cheeks, his T-shirt she wore loose around her shoulders. She was so beautiful and peaceful. Wondering what she was dreaming about right now and if it was about him, he unconsciously grabbed his Hasselblad from the night table and looked at her through the viewfinder.

That was the moment he realized he fell in love with her.

He wanted so badly to memorize the very moment now and forever, and repeatedly released a shutter, forgetting himself. Until the sound of the shutter woke her up.

Rachel opened her one eye and searched the direction of the sound. As she noticed that it was the shutter of his camera, she buried her face into the pillow. "I'm not cut out for a model, Finn." She let out a muffled voice from the pillow as she groped around her head for another pillow before throwing it in the direction where she thought he was.

He caught the pillow before it could hit his face. He put it down on the original spot and then lay down on his side next to her. "Morning to you too, beautiful."

Rachel slowly turned her head to face him. His face was so close to hers. "Good morning, Finn."

Finn ran his fingers through her hair and stared at her for a while. "I want to take you out tonight, like on a real date, Rach." He finally delivered his words.

She reached out her hand to touch his cheek and rubbed it gently. "On New Year's Day?"

"Why not?" He leaned his face closer to hers. "Don't you think it's the best day to be picked up for a date?"

A soft laugh escaped from his lips. "Sounds reasonable." She shifted her body on her back. "Okay."

"Okay?" He tried to hide his excitement.

"Yes, Finn, take me out on a date tonight." She turned her head to see his face with a smile.

He got his own large frame on top of her small one and cradled her head with both his arms, leaning his forehead against hers. His eyes bored into her big chocolate eyes, which were looking straight back at his amber eyes, and he delicately brushed his lips on hers as he took her (his) T-shirt off of her head.

This time was so much different from their previous copulations. Slower and more gentle. They both never tore their eyes off from each other during something making, until crossing the finish line.

His heart soared.

This was where he wanted to be. Where he should be.

New day, New year, new life, in New York.

With her.

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