So I've really come to love the character of Unique, and thought the direction the writers were going to take her and Ryder was interesting, except they stopped short and then ignored everything. So I wrote my own little blip on what I would have liked to have seen at the end of season four.

Disclaimer: I'm only playing with the characters. I own nothing.

What a night it had been. Winning regionals, then Mr. Shue's surprise wedding. Everyone was scattered around the choir room, giddy and happy, riding a high that even had Ryder laughing, hugging and high-fiving, momentarily forgetting about the drama of the past week. That was until he turned his head and saw her.

Unique.

She was talking with Marley, her eyes shining and her face glowing. Her smile so big it lit the room. Suddenly it all came rushing back: he had quit Glee. The one place he had felt accepted and normal was now a reminder of betrayal and a love lost. He had spent half the year online, getting to know "Katie" and had fallen for her hard, but there never was a "Katie." She wasn't real, except she was: she was Unique.

His head hurt trying to wrap itself around everything. The girl he loved wasn't who he thought she was. She was someone else, someone who he thought was a friend, but had been lying to him this whole time. Someone who was a girl, but who wasn't a girl. Someone who he could never be attracted to, but who looked so damn beautiful right now his heart constricted and he found he couldn't tear his eyes away from her. Even when she glanced over and their eyes locked.

Her bright smile dimmed, slowly falling from her face, replaced with a look of sadness. Lord help him, but even when she was frowning, Ryder couldn't help but think she was stunning. That sudden, traitorous thought jarred him. He shouldn't be thinking this way about her because, underneath all her stylish, feminine clothes, she still had guy parts, and he wasn't gay. Ever since they cleared the air after their feud mash-up, he found it easier to look at her and think "girl." And if he were being completely honest, he'd, on more than one occasion, thought she was beautiful, but he had never examined those thoughts too closely because it became too complicated for him. He tore his eyes away and shook his head, trying to clear it. He had to get out of there. He made his exit quietly, not wanting to draw attention. He wasn't in the mood to answer questions or make excuses.

Halfway down the corridor he slipped into a darkened classroom. The moon shone in through the wall of windows at the rear, and he stood leaning into the back counter just staring out, trying to make sense of his feelings. He didn't hear the soft foot falls of someone else enter the room, but he felt the unmistakable presence of another person somewhere behind him, and knew instinctively who it was.

"Go away Unique, I don't want to talk to you."

He heard her soft sigh and the rustle of her dress as she stepped further into the room.

"Ryder..."

He turned to look at her, his anger rising. "I said go away!"

She stared at him, and he could see the hurt in her eyes at his outburst. He felt his anger dissolve and an overwhelming sadness settle in. "Please, just leave me alone."

Her face softened, and she looked down at the floor. He turned back to the window, focusing on her reflection illuminated by the light spilling in from the open doorway. He saw her look back up at him and open her mouth to say something, but closed it again as if she changed her mind. She turned towards the door slightly, but just stood there. He studied her profile reflected in the window and once again couldn't help the confusing thoughts that entered his mind about just how beautiful she looked tonight.

"Don't quit."

She said the words so softly that Ryder wasn't even sure she had spoken. He turned back to her. Despite his earlier plea to be left alone, he spoke. "What?"

She came closer to him and leaned against the counter, facing him. "Stay in Glee Club."

He stared at her for a long time, or maybe a few seconds, he wasn't sure. Time seemed so unimportant right now as he let his gaze wander over her. Her hair was in soft waves, one side drawn back. Her face was open and expecting and her lips were soft and inviting. His eyes slid down smooth skin and rested at the juncture where neck and shoulder met. Her dark, mocha flesh was alluring and he wet his lips before tearing his gaze shamefully away.

"I can't."

He wasn't sure if he was responding to her plea or the call of her lips and skin. He was just so damn confused.

"I'll quit instead. This whole thing is my fault, and I'm so sorry Ryder. I'm so, so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you, you're one of the few good friends I have and I don't want to lose you."

He could hear the sob in her voice as she spoke, and he looked over at her again as her tears slipped out. Without thinking he reached out his hand and cupped her cheek, using his thumb to brush away a newly formed tear. Her breath hitched at this intimate touch and their eyes locked. The air around them seemed to spark and ignite.

"I..." His voice cracked with emotion. "I won't quit."

"Okay."

Her tears had slowed, and she was looking at him with those big brown eyes, and he could feel his heart speed up.

"I don't want you to quit either."

"Okay."

"I..." He wasn't sure what he wanted to say, but her skin was so soft, and his heart was racing. "I...God, this is so complicated!"

He dropped his hand from her cheek and ran it through his hair as he took a step back from her.

"I know. I'm sorry." She wiped the wetness from her face then dropped her eyes to the floor and fingered the material of her dress.

"No, you don't understand." His voice was slightly hysterical. He took another step away, standing near her was doing things to him that he didn't know how to deal with.

Now she was confused. "What don't I understand?"

"I keep feeling things, and I shouldn't feel these things, and I know you're a girl, but parts of you aren't, and I'm not gay, but I look at you and i just..." He trailed off.

She tilted her head and raised her eyes up to look at him, not daring to get her hopes up at what she thought he might be implying. "You just what?"

"I just...I want...I..." Angry that he couldn't find the right words, he let out a small growl of frustration before he turned and in two steps bridged the distance between them. He barely registered the shock on her face as he cupped both her cheeks with his hands and crashed his mouth against hers, taking full advantage when her lips parted in surprise.

The kiss was frantic with clashing teeth and tongues and she was right there with him, responding, and it felt so good and so right, like a long awaited answer to a question that had been burning deep inside him.

He could hear her whisper-soft moans and felt her hands come to rest on his chest. He slid one of his own hands down to her neck and wrapped the other around her back, pressing her closer. When air became a problem, he tore his mouth from hers and trailed it down her neck, kissing and tasting the flesh that had been calling to him earlier. It was just as soft and smooth as it looked, and he let out a low growl of lust.

"God, Ryder..." Her voice was breathy and he brought his lips back to hers.

This time the kiss was slower, but wasn't any less passionate. He wanted to explore her, taste her, feel her against him and hear the sounds she made. This was everything right now. Here, with her, like this, there was no confusion. She was the girl he knew like no other, who knew him and all his secrets. Who he had talked to into the late hours of the night. The way she looked, the way she felt, the taste of her lips and skin, the sounds she made, she was all woman.

When they separated again, he pressed his forehead to hers and watched her face. Her eyes were closed, her lips dark and puffy, and her chest rose and fell as she tried to catch her breath.

"You are so beautiful, Unique."

Suddenly she pulled away, burying her face in her hands. A sob tore through her and the tears started falling again.

He pulled her back to him and wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry, I didn't...I shouldn't have just...God, I always mess everything up."

She shook her head and lowered her hands. "No, you don't. You didn't. I'm just kind of overwhelmed. I'm afraid I'm gonna wake up and this is going to be a dream."

He brought his hand up and touched her cheek gently as she continued to speak.

"I never expected my first kiss would be now, with a guy I really like, who knows, you know, about me..."

Suddenly, with that statement, reality began to settle around Ryder. About her. About how she was a woman, but not fully. Despite his moment of clarity seconds ago as he kissed her, the truth was that the situation was still complicated. He may not be as confused about it all as he had been, but the world still was, and being with her meant they were in for rough times ahead. Was he man enough to walk that road with her?

Looking into her eyes, seeing the same fear reflected, but also the glimmer of hope shining through, he was pretty sure he wanted to take that chance.

He leaned in and kissed her again.