DISCLAIMER: Glee is the property of Ryan Murphy and FOX. This is purely for fun. Enjoy!

The Winter Masquerade

Part Three

The cold Manhattan streets were lonely as Finn paced up and down the endless sidewalks, his misery bringing him further and further away from the school that had seemingly ruined his life. NYADA had brought him nothing but confusion and loss and he wallowed in it, too depressed by his high expectations to care. What right did he have to assume that this Rachel girl was going to change anything in his life? His behavior over the past few weeks had been nothing but shameful; obsessing over a girl he was never going to see again, going so far as to track her down at her school.

What would this mystery girl say if she could see him now?

She would probably call him a stalker and a freak.

The frigid, January wind was whipping against his face when he finally decided to return to Brooklyn and end his miserable sojurn around town. Kurt was having his friend over at the loft and despite the lure of his brother's cooking, Finn didn't want to interrupt them while they spent time with one another. But the wind was picking up and he was starting to lose feeling in his fingers, so he headed towards the nearest subway and endured the long, rickety train ride back to Brooklyn.

The loft was warm and cozy when he entered, and the tv was still on while it bathed the living room in a light glow. For some reason the couch was made up as a bed, and he saw a pair of heels by the entrance when he came in. Was Kurt's friend still here? Why?

He entered his room, ready to crash for the night, but a figure by his desk made him pause from shock. A girl was in his room, a girl in a pretty yet modest dress, holding the same silk mask that he had worn the night he had met his mystery girl.

A girl who seemed strangely familiar to him.

"Excuse me, but what are you doing in my room?" He asked as politely as possible, trying not to sound too annyed at the intrusion. When she turned around to face him, he was sure that he had somehow walked into a dream as her eyes met his and seemed to stare right through him.

It was her.

Holy Shit, it's actually her!

"Found you," she said, her voice as light as a whisper as she held up his mask. It dangled off her dainty fingers as a grin pulled up her lips. They were the same lips he had kissed so passionately, the same lips he had drowned in mere weeks ago. Her eyes were bright with mischeif, and for a moment he couldn't believe his eyes.

"W-what," he stuttered, too overwhelmed to believe it. "How?"

"My name is Rachel," she said, stepping forward and immediately invading his senses. She smelled just as sweet as he remembered as his heart began to race in his chest. When she opened her mouth once more, however, a veritable tidal wave of information burst from her and he had to force himself to keep up with it all. "I didn't mean to intrude, I really didn't. Kurt told me to look for a spare t-shirt to sleep in and when I saw the mask, I just knew it was you." She took a deep breath and continued. "It is you, right?" She asked, her eyes wide. "We met at the Winter Masquerade."

"Yeah," he said, his mouth inexplicably dry. "We met," he said in his Australian accent, to prove that he was, in fact, the man she had met. Giggling, he noticed that her eyes were practically sparkling with joy. "My name is Finn."

"I can't believe it's you," she said, looking him over like an artist appraising a painting. God, he hoped he wasn't blushing. "I thought I would never see you again."

He shrugged, still too overwhelmed to think properly in front of his secret obsession. "Yeah, same here." A blanket of silence fell over them, leaving Finn feeling more awkward than he'd ever felt in his life. Sure, this girl had been the only thing on his mind for weeks, but never in his wildest dreams did he expect to find her in his room, waiting for him with knowing eyes and an innocent smile.

"Well, I'm sorry to intrude," she said, tucking some hair behind her ear nervously. "It's late so I should get to bed. I guess we can talk in the morning, if you want." She went to back out of the room, feeling as awkward as he did about their sudden, impromptu meeting. "I'll just sleep in my dress."

"Wait, please," he said at the last minute, reaching out to grab her wrist. She looked up at him in shock as his fingers grazed her smooth skin and held her in place. "I know this is awkward and stuff, but please, don't go yet." She seemed to relax a bit, but still looked hesitant. "It's not everyday that I run into the one that got away in my own bedroom."

"The one that got away?" She repeated, moving closer to him as the air around them seemed to thicken. He still hadn't let go of her wrist, and he didn't want to, afriad that she would run out of his life again.

"Yeah," he answered. "That night, after you ran off, I called after you, but you just kept running. It felt like I was going crazy trying to find you. I had no idea that you were the friend that Kurt's been talking about; it would have saved me a lot of trouble if I'd known."

She grinned, her smile just as pretty as he remembered. "You were looking for me?" She asked sweetly.

"Yeah." She caught him off guard when she suddenly wrenched her wrist free of his grasp, only to reach up and pull his face down for a solid kiss at her level. The sudden rush of emotion bursting within him left Finn feeling lightheaded and more than a bit surprised as Rachel looked up and grinned wickedly.

"I've been looking for you, too."

Rachel couldn't believe her eyes as she stared up at the face of the dashingly handsome man of her dreams; the mystery man she had been searching for relentlessly and pining over for weeks.

Finn. His name was Finn.

And he just happened to be the brother of her only friend in New York.

He towered over her just as she remembered, and his eyes held the same warmth that had hypnotized her during that one moment of pure spontenaiety and adventure. Time seemed to stand still for her as she lost herself in his gaze once more, noticing the growing fire there that almost scalded her.

But what were they supposed to do now? All those weeks of searching and here he was, in the flesh and standing right before her just waiting for something to happen. To be honest, she really didn't know what to do next. While she had been looking for proof that Finn did, in fact, exist, she didn't know what to do now that she had found him. They were already in his apartment, which was strange enough, and Kurt was sleeping in the room across from them. Not the best situation to be in when she already felt like she was intruding.

"So," she said, shifting from foot to foot and trying not to be awkward. Her lips were still tingling after her impromptu kiss and she wasn't sure how to proceed from there.

"So," he answered, looking just as nervous as he felt. Maybe he wasn't exactly the suave, debonair gentleman she had imagined from that night, but then again, she wasn't the sexy vixen she'd been posing as either. "Why did you run away that night?" His voice sounded sad when he asked his question, making her heart clench painfully in her chest. She had been asking herself the same question over and over again and still didn't know the real answer.

"I," she sighed deeply, trying to think of something that didn't make her sound lamer than she already felt. "I was scared I guess."

"Scared of what?"

She shrugged her shoulders, ducking her eyes away from him. "Look, I know we don't know each other. Like, at all. But I'm not the kind of girl that goes running off with every guy she meets, and being with you that night was intimidating. Sharing that one kiss with you was unlike anything I had ever felt before, and I didn't know how to process those feelings at the time. They were scary."

"Yeah, it took me by surprise too," he reached out for her hand and she let him take it. "But afterwards, all I could think of was how much I wanted more. How strange it was that we were so instantly attracted to one another. How stupid I felt for letting you go."

"You didn't let me go, I ran off."

"Yeah," he said with a smile, holding her hand firmly in his. "And I won't let you run off again." His words washed over her, leaving a trail of goosebumps in it's wake as her body instantly reacted to his presence. It was obvious that he felt just as strongly as she did, and while they were still no more than strangers, the pull of his body was just too strong for her to ignore.

"What are we doing?" Rachel asked as Finn leaned closer to her, enveloping her in the same heavenly scent that drew her into his room mere minutes ago. She didn't resist her emotions this time, and reveled in the blissful feeling of being in his arms once more.

"We're getting to know one another, Rachel." He placed his hands on her shoulders, stilling her, keeping her in place. The feeling of his hands on her skin ignited a fire in her, a fire that was building steadily until a slow burn sizzled through her body. She felt her mouth go dry, and licked her lips while she inched closer to him. "I want to know everything about you." When his lips covered hers in a slow, torturous kiss, she couldn't stop the wanton moan that slipped out of her, the only sound that could be heard in Finn's small but tidy room. He kissed her with such unbridled passion she felt her knees shaking, and was glad that Finn was still holding her steady so she didn't fall over like a swooning damsel.

She secured herself even further by wrapping her arms around him, feeling the solid proof that this man was real and not just a figment of her imagination. His body felt broad and toned through the fabric of his shirt as he pulled her closer, recprocating her actions and wrapping his arms around her as well. Before she knew it she was falling; falling onto the bed while Finn guided her there, still holding her while the soft mattress broke their landing. Her lips never left his, not even for a moment, and she climbed on top of him, straddling his chest while she kissed him without abandon.

"Are we really doing this?" She asked in a rushed whisper while she broke apart the kiss to gather as much air as possible into her lungs. He attacked the skin on her neck without wasting a second, nipping and licking every inch of flesh his mouth could reach. It made her head spin and heart pound as she gasped for air.

"Say no and I'll stop," was his only response and another low groan filled the room. She could feel his erection pressing up against her bottom while she continued to straddle him. It was as if she'd lost the ability to speak at all, and could only express herself in wanton moans and sighs of pleasure.

Besides, she wouldn't have said no even if she could.

Rachel allowed Finn to continue his attack, and her dress seemed too constricting for her while she reached for the hem of the skirt and pulled it up and over her head, leaving her in her panties and bra while Finn stared up at her in awe. The look of desire in his eyes fueled her confidence as a surge of feminine power flowed through her, and Rachel felt bold while she reached for his shirt as well, helping him to remove it. The garment was ripped off in a flurry of fabric and her lips immediately assaulted the bare nd welcoming skin of his chest. He hissed as she kissed her way down the planes of his broad chest, feeling the muscles tense and jump underneath her feather-light caresses.

But it wasn't enough. She needed more.

"Touch me," she ordered, feeling her skin blaze under his touch as he reached up to grab her hips. His large palms cupped her ass and squeezed lightly, making her body arch against his, building the friction between them. She rubbed against him more, making him moan and squirm beneath her. A powerful, heady rush came over her, leaving her panting for air.

When Finn started thrusting up against her, making her body blaze in delight, she knew she could hold back no longer. Her body was calling to him and the pull of it was too strong to ignore. She unclasped her bra while his hands moved towards her breasts, cupping them the moment they were free from the binding fabric. When his fingers flicked her pebbled nipples she gasped at the sensations and rocked against him once more, drawing a long, labored groan from him.

"I want you," he whispered, his voice low and serious as he sat up and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. "I know this is a bit strange since we only just met, but it feels like I've been waiting for this forever."

Rachel had to nod in response, since a flood of emotion silenced her voice, and reached down to loop her fingers into the belt loops of his pants, tugging them lightly. He got the message as she shimmied off of him, and he removed his pants in a flurry of movement while she waited patiently for the obstacles to go away.

When he was left naked in his bedroom, with nothing but the dim light of his desk lamp to illuminate them both, he joined her on the bed and towered over her while she layed back and enjoyed the view above her.

Finn was naked and gloriously erect, his beautiful body kneeling over hers like a statue. The look in his eyes was almost predatory as he stared at her, and it made it feel like she was about to burst from the expectations that lingered in his gaze.

It was the same look that had scared her away the first time.

This time, however, she wasn't going to run.

Finn stared down at the talented brunette bombshell in his bed, still too shocked to truly believe that he had found his mystery girl, let alone entertain the idea that they were about to sleep together. Rachel stared up at him with eyes filled with trust, her creamy olive skin practically glowing in the dim lighting of the room. She was spread out on his bed like a meal to be devoured, with only a thin pair of panties seperating him and her gorgeous body. His hands had roamed over her skin already, but he wanted to touch more.

He wanted to touch all of her.

When he reached for her panties his hands were shaking, but she didn't seem to notice as she hitched a sharp breath in anticipation. The fabric came off and his heart started to pound as she opened her legs for him. He glanced up at her for permission and they made eye contact, and a short nod of her head was all he needed before he cupped her mound in his hand and slipped a long, nimble digit inside of her. Her body tensed under his, but her face bore no signs of pain. In fact, the only thing he saw was her eyes closed tight with bliss, while her mouth puckered into a small "o".

It was probably the most erotic sight he had ever seen in his life.

He added another finger, moving slowly and causing a steady build to intensitfy inside of her. Rachel's breathing became stilted, and Finn had to stop himself from grinding against her in his desperate need to relieve the growing ache that was killing him in the most delicious ways. When her body arched on his bed, a keening cry falling from her lips, a burst of masculine pride exploded throughout his body, making him want her even more than he already did. Her face looked angelic as she basked in the serenity of the moment.

He waited for her breathing to even out before slipping his hands from her, and she looked up at him with hooded eyes while her breasts bounced with every gasp she made. The look of bliss in her eyes made him harder than ever as he climbed between her legs, and when she reached out to touch him it too a monumental effort to hold her wrist still.

"What's wrong?" She asked with worry in her tone.

"If you touch me I won't last very long," he said honestly, his voice trembling a bit. "And I've been waiting for this for a long time." She nodded once, dropping her hand while he spread her knees wider. He reached over for a condom from his nightstand and put it on before propping her left leg up, bending it at the knee. When he finally slipped inside of her, feeling her tight velvety heat surround him, a groan of pure bliss filled the room as he lost himself inside of her.

The calm that settled over him was peaceful, and their bodies shifted and came together in the most intimate ways as he thrust into her over and over again. Before long, nothing but sighs and moans filled the air as his pleasure overpowered him, and when he felt her body clench around him, it milked his release as he panted and pounded into her without abandon. His hand found hers in the surge of delight and he squeezed it, feeling more connected to her in that moment than he ever had with another girl. It was a feeling of pure acceptance and pleasure and the beginnings of something very special.

A few moments of silence passed. Heavy breathing was all that could be heard as they gasped for air to fill their lungs, feeling tired and over-exerted from their lovemaking. But when they made eye contact once more, seeing the wonder and happiness lingering in their gazes, they knew that they were exactly where they were supposed to be.

Love at first sight, indeed.

"Good morning!" Kurt said with a flourish as he stepped out of his bedroom with a grin. The dim morning sunlight was bleeding into the loft through the high windows and Kurt expected to see his new bestie sleeping peacefully on the couch, waiting to make stuffed french toast and drink mimosas together.

What he didn't expect was to see her laughing in the kitchen with his brother, already in the midsts of cooking while Kurt stood to the side in confusion.

"Oh, Kurt, good morning!" Rachel cried while stirring a bowl filled with pancake batter. "We didn't want to wake you up, so we decided to make you breakfast."

"How nice of you," Kurt said, sending a glare toward his brother. There was a look of mischeif in Finn's eyes that Kurt didnt trust, but the scene in front of him looked innocent enough for him to shrug off the nagging voice in his head that told him something was off. "I see you've met Rachel, Finn."

"Yeah," was his breathy response, and he stared at the girl next to him like her hair was spun out of pure gold. "We finally met." Rachel beamed at him, a look of fondness in her eyes that did not go unnoticed. He glared at the two of them, crossing his arms while his entire body prickled with annoyance.

"Am I missing something here?" He asked while they continued their task in amicable silence, completely feigning ignorance while shaking their heads. "Do you two know each other from somewhere?"

"Kurt," Rachel said, an angelic look in her eyes as she spoke softly. "Believe me when I say that we just met last night." She turned to Finn with a glowing look of adoration in her eyes that did not go unnoticed by Kurt. With the way Finn was staring down at his new friend, Kurt could only asume that they had made an instant connection when they had met.

Whenever that was.

"Alright, you can have your little secrets," Kurt mused after observing their odd behavior. "Just make sure you don't burn breakfast." He poured himself a cup of coffee and retreated into the living room, leaving Finn and Rachel in the kitchen to cook for him. Rachel grinned when Finn slipped his hand in hers, hiding them under the counter so Kurt couldn't see.

"Do you think we should tell him?" Finn asked quietly, smiling conspiratorially as he shared a grin with his new girlfrend.

"Yeah, we'll tell him soon," Rachel said, grinning to himself. "But with classes starting next week, I don't want to cause any problems. Especially since he's your brother."

"Hey, don't worry about that," Finn said, nudging her with his elbow. "Kurt loves you, I love you; everything is going to be fine."

Rachel startled at his words, looking up at Finn with complete shock in her gaze. "What did you just say?"

Finn rolled his eyes with a smile. "You heard me," to her surprise, he was actually blushing. "I don't normally scour the city for every girl I happen to meet at a Masquerade Ball. You're special, Rachel. I can't help but think we were supposed to be with one another."

"Yeah," Rachel agreed, squeezing his hand even tighter while a burst of affection shot straight to her heart. "I know exactly what you mean."

THE END