Dancing, Dazzling

PG/PG-13

Finn/Rachel; Brittany/Santana; Puck/Rachel

Plus other minor pairings.

Written for the lovely Cherry

Do go and have a look at her writing here: .net/u/2206365/the_frozen_cherry

Rachel's eyes close involuntarily as her vision is invaded by a series of flashes and lights, something she guesses she'll have to get used to. She stays composed; face glowing with a trademark smile, hand on hip and heart fluttering with the faint strains of nerves that don't dare to show themselves outwardly.

Both of her dads return their cameras to the table, before pulling her into a careful hug, trying not to displace her dress or hair or makeup. The break apart as the doorbell rings, and Rachel lets out a small hum of excitement. She quickly steps around the corner as Finn is heard from the doorway of the house, greeting her parents far more formally than she'd ever heard him speak before, and she giggles softly for a moment before stepping out, to Finn's gasp.

He smiles, slightly awkward, his body tense, shifting where he stands framed against a starless night, and reaches out a hand to her. She takes it, their fingers fitting together, and he withdraws a box from behind his back to give to her.

"Here, I got you a corsage. Cream and blue, brown ribbon. I thought it would look nice. With your eyes." He seems to be stumbling over his words, his eyes flickering between the box, Rachel and her fathers, standing with their arms around each other behind her.

Rachel takes the box and opens it eagerly.

"It's beautiful," she smiles as she withdraws it from amongst the tissue paper and places it around her wrist. The blue doesn't match her dress exactly right, but it does match her eyes, and the ghost of words once spoken before Junior Prom resound in her head, helping Finn choose a corsage for Quinn. Pale green – to match her eyes, she'd told him.

"You ready?"

Finn turns to leave, but is stopped by a shout.

"Hey! Pictures! Both of you, come here."

Rachel's dads have their cameras in their hands, and Finn curls an arm around Rachel's waist as she leans into his chest, standing on the doorstep , the light from the house casting an softly ethereal glow over them as they hold each other in the night.

"Have a lovely night, Rach!"

"Look after, her, Finbo!"

Finn turns to Rachel, now out of her parents' earshot. "Finbo?" he asks, incredulously.

Rachel laughs in response as they walk together, hands clasped.

Noah Puckerman brushes his jacket down once last time as he stands on the doorstep, whispers of breath appearing in the night as he knocks the door and waits. When the door opens and a wave of warmth falls over him, he breathes a sigh of relief, rubbing his hands together and smiling, extending one to Mrs Pierce.

"Good evening, Mrs Pierce. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Welcome. Come inside. Do you prefer Noah, or Puck? And no need to sound so formal! It's Carolyn. Or Carrie."

"Puck. You look just like your daughter." Puck has amped the charm level up a notch.

"Why, thank you!" Carrie beams at him, a smile that makes her face reminisce strangely of the childish innocence that still remains.

Puck turns around to see Santana and Brittany standing together at the top of the stairs, little fingers linked, eyes fixed on each other.

"Well hello, ladies!" he declares, and both turn around to look at him simultaneously. Santana's eyes glint with shards of crystal, and Brittany exudes freshness beneath some kind of hardened vulnerability. They seem to be polar opposites, but together, there's certainly an undeniable odd beauty about them.

They walk downstairs, still joined, Santana holding her dress above the floor with her free hand, and Brittany's mother almost squeals in delight at the pair of them.

"Girls, you look so beautiful! Isn't Puck a lucky man?"

"Certainly am, Mrs P! Going to Homecoming with two lovely ladies!" Both Santana and Brittany exchange flattered smiles.

Puck offers his hands to each of them, and they stand either side as Mrs Pierce captures the moment in a series of frenzied photographs, all four of them beaming in a daze of sequins and trail of glitter.

"I think it's time we head off, guys! Thanks, Mrs P!"

"You're welcome, dear. You too, Santana."

"Yeah, thanks, Carrie!"

"See you later!"

Carrie pulls all of them into a jigsaw of an embrace before they leave.

"Mum, you'll mess up my dress!"

"Sorry!"

"See you all later! Have a nice night! Oh – Santana and Puck, good luck for Homecoming King and Queen!"

As the three of them leave, arms linked, Carrie waving in the doorway, Santana and Brittany reach behind Puck's back and link their fingers once again.

Author's Note:

So, this is most likely going to be a 3 or 4 shot, written while "revising" for my exams!

Enjoy!