Years can pass without the two soulmates connecting. But that is not an entirely uncommon phenomenon, as is outlined in all of the teaching material out there.

'Once the first connection has been initiated, it can be years before the potential soulmates come in contact with each other again. This is especially true in cases where the signs begin originating in childhood or the early teenage years. As the mates age, they will begin to get more markings, primarily initials on their wrists, outlined letters which will darken upon finding each other. Also 'soul tattoos' will begin to develop somewhere on their bodies, beautiful artwork of great significance to their partner, as the time draws nearer to their ultimate meeting.'

Rachel pays no mind to this as she starts high school. Who knows when she will actually meet this fabled Sebastian anyway. The only thing she even remotely grasps is that he has some sort of tie to Paris or France. Mainly because his name showed up on her body while she was on the trip there with her dads when she was 10.

So she does as any other teenage girl does when they start high school, she begins to try and date.  Even though she knows full well that none of these boys could be the one for her in the long run.  But better to do so than be a spinster just waiting around for someone who may not show up until she is 30.

Finn is her first boyfriend, not really stolen from Quinn, not exactly.  But that still doesn't stop Quinn from giving her death glares from across the choir room.

Rachel isn't entirely sure why, because she's seen Finn without a shirt, well in a tank top. And the name that is in bold block letters along his collar bone says Lucy. Plus he's got these initials that are just starting to fill in on his wrist taking on color, between what look like two fireworks.

LQF.

So whoever this Lucy is, Finn must be close to meeting her.

It doesn't matter to Rachel anyway, she's just killing time and having fun. Finn isn't meant for her and she is most definitely not meant for him. But as free as her other friends are with showing off the names or initials of their soulmates that are on their bodies, Rachel keeps the name on her foot carefully under wraps.

Not that she is ashamed, the complete opposite actually. She has known since that day in Paris when she was 10 years old who she was going to end up with when she gets older. The name, written in beautiful script, now cleverly hidden by her red ballet flats. But it is no one elses business really.

And she has been trying to imagine in her mind what he is like since that day. Her soulmate.

Her Sebastian.

The initials finally start developing on her wrist around the time that her nose gets broken during a dance rehearsal for glee club. The pseudo relationship she had with Finn is long over by this point, especially after it came out that he had sex with Santana.

While Rachel is recovering from a broken nose it is revealed that Quinn's real first name is Lucy, she was just going by Quinn, her middle name, to escape the ridicule that used to be associated with her at her old school. And in a rather crazy, harebrained plan, both she and Finn reveal their soul tattoos. His being a small cheerleader silhouette on his shoulder. Hers a small football on her ankle.

They are soulmates.

Which ultimately explains why Quinn was so hateful towards Rachel.  Because she was getting between Quinn and the person she was meant to be with forever.

Everyone in glee club thinks that Rachel will be broken up about this when she hears, but all she does is breeze into the choir room with a smile on her face. Wearing the cutest black polka dotted dress she owns, hitting her legs just above knee length.

Sliding into her seat after giving warm hugs to the new couple she crosses her feet at the ankles, black pumps leaving the name on her foot barely visible. Only the Seb can be seen, and just if you have a keen eye due to her nude stockings. Kurt, with his BDA initial marking on display, proudly flaunting his connection with Blaine, pats her on the knee and gives her a concerned look.

"Rach, are you okay with this??"

She turns to him with a rather sunny smile. "Actually Kurt, I'm quite happy with it. Honestly."

Before he can reply, Mr Schue walks into the room to start class for the day.

And no one is the wiser when she smiles to herself, glancing down to her hands clasped neatly in her lap. Thumb of her right hand secretly moving across the new letters she found on her left wrist that morning, situated neatly between two heart outlines.

SAS.

He's close. She can feel it.

~~~

Meanwhile in Paris, Sebastian is struggling with the news that his parents have just given him. Of their impending move back to America. He has spent most of his life living in France, they moved back to his mother's home country when he was 4. The family following Veronique's passion of art while his father, Richard, built up an international law empire. Linguistically Sebastian should have no trouble acclimating to the new country, he IS fluent in both French and English of course. That isn't the issue.

But to go back to America now, when he is so close to finding his soulmate... That is the hard part. She is connected to this place in some way, yet he hasn't been able to find her at all.

To 16 year old Sebastian it just doesn't seem fair.

And he knows he is close. Her name has been written on his chest, directly over his heart since he was 10. He's pretty sure it has something to do with that girl with the brown hair he remembered seeing skipping down the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. It showed up not long after that.

Sebastian stands before his bedroom mirror wearing nothing but pajama pants, glancing quickly around the room realizing that soon he will need to pack everything up as his parents ready for their upcoming move. What with his father getting that states attorney position in Ohio of all places.

His vibrant green eyes lock on his reflection in the mirror, carefully examining the name on his chest, the name of the person he is meant to spend the rest of his life with.

Her initials have finally appeared on his left wrist a few weeks ago, a direct line to his heart. RBB in small letters, artfully situated between two stars.

The pout on his face is prominent as he turns from the mirror to throw himself down on his bed. Whispering to himself as he punches his pillow in vain.

"Its not fair. It really isn't far. I'm so close to finding her. I know it. I can just feel it..."

Sebastian doesn't want to leave Paris, not when it has the inexplicable tie to his soulmate. But he has to. And right before he drifts off to sleep he whispers to his empty room.

I'll find you Rachel, I promise. And when I do I'll never let you go.