Hello! Hope you enjoy this father's day fic! Special thanks to Lauren for the idea! I own the plot, but none of the characters that actually appeared on Glee. Enjoy!

First Father's Day

Finn heard Rachel before he saw her. He rolled over on the bed, stretching his tired limbs along the mattress under the fluffy duvet that had been a wedding gift three years ago. Her melodious voice filled the hallway outside their bedroom door as he raised his hands above his head. His smile only got wider as her voice got louder, and eventually their bedroom door creaked open. Her voice filled the bedroom immediately, and his grin stretched to meet his eyes as their gazes connected from across the room.

"Look who's awake Gwens," Rachel singsonged as she carried the six week old toward the bed. The newborn merely yawned in response and curled and uncurled one of her tiny fists. "Daddy's awake, yes he is," she cooed as she slowly arrived at Finn's side of the bed. "You're supposed to still be sleeping," she laughed as he gently cupped the newborns body and took her from Rachel's arms to rest against his chest.

"And miss this?" he asked quietly as he settled the tiny girl on his chest. He gently lowered his head to press a kiss to her small head of dark brown hair, taking in the smell of the baby shampoo they had used on her when they bathed her last night before bed. "I could never sleep through this," he sighed. He had to be up early most days for work, and most days because of his commute into the city missed some early morning snuggles. Six weeks in and he still couldn't get enough of the precious little being him and Rachel had made. He turned his head slightly to find Rachel still standing beside the bed, a small smile covering her lips as her arms wrapped around her middle.

"Why don't you join us?" he asked quietly as he shifted himself on the bed so he was sitting more comfortably. The baby gurgled and smacked her lips as he eyes blinked slowly. Finn gently ran his finger over her chubby cheek .

A small smile crept over Rachel's face for a minute before she nibbled on her bottom lip. She reached over and pressed a kiss to Finn's cheek before pulling away. "I will. I just have to go get something from downstairs first, thought you would want your girl first," she winked.

"Girls," he corrected as he puckered his lips for another kiss. "I'll allow you to go if you're quick..."

"You bet," she winked before she pressed a kiss to the side of Gwendolyn's head before sauntering out of the bedroom.

Finn sighed as he watched her leave, his eyes lingering on her retreating form before turning to the little girl in his arms. He slowly pulled his legs up and moved the duvet from his lap before he placed the newborn down on his pajama pant clad legs. Gwendolyn, for her part gurgled before she settled on his legs. He smiled down at the little girl, extending his pointer finger for her to grab as she flailed her arms around. His grin only grew wider as she clasped her tiny little fingers around his. She had only been in his life for six short weeks, but as it was he couldn't imagine anything different. It was like she was meant to be in their lives and he felt blessed every time he got to spend time with her that she chose him to be her Dad. Gwendolyn Elise was a perfect blend of him and Rachel, he thought. Her eyes boasted Rachel's wide shape, but still resembled the slate blue she had been born with. She had his fly away hair that was currently a dark chocolate colour that rivaled Rachel's. She had dimples like his, and had been tiny like Rachel at birth. She often campaigned that she was sure the newborn's eyes were going to change to be just like his, but honestly he just found his baby was gorgeous and looked to him just like her Mama. She yawned from his lap and scrunched her nose the way Rachel always said was just like him before she turned her face to look at him again, this time with wide blinking eyes.

"What is your Mama up to downstairs, eh Gwens?" he asked softly as he shook his finger gently to shake her fist. She pursed her lips as she looked at him before grunting, just like she was trying to talk back.

"Oh is that so?" he smiled. "You and Mama are keeping secrets from me already, I am in big trouble..." When she grunted again, and some bubbles slipped from her lips as Finn chuckled. "Oh Gwen." She blinked her eyes up at him.

He brought the newborn up to his chest once again when he heard Rachel's light and quick footsteps ascending the wooden stairs. He placed a wet kiss on Gwendolyn's cheek.

"What's going on in here?" she sang as she quickly crossed the room, the same grin on her face from earlier. In her hands she carried a large tray that was filled to the brim with his favourite breakfast foods; pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs and a few pieces of toast. She placed the tray beside him before she climbed on the bed after.

"What's all this?" he questioned as he cuddled Gwendolyn close. He ignored her question in favour of placing another kiss to the baby's head.

"It's all your favourite foods," she smiled sweetly. "For Father's Day! It is your first one after all," she grinned. Finn allowed a smile to play on his lips before he leaned over and pressed a kiss to her lips quickly.

"You didn't have to do all this," he whispered as he settled back against the pillow with Gwen still in his arms.

"Of course I did!" she chuckled. She reached up and rubbed her thumb along his scruffy jaw. "It's just the first of a few surprises Gwen and I have for you today," she winked.

"Baby," he whined. It was no secret that Finn didn't like surprises, and he didn't like a big deal made out of things. He was the spoiler, not the spoilee. Gwendolyn's room and Rachel's jewelry box were both a testament to that. He worked hard, and he wasn't ashamed to say that he liked and wanted to spoil both his girls.

"Hush," she smiled. "Now come on, it's going to get cold..." Rachel reached her hands out in a gesture that in the last six weeks he had come to know meant that she wanted the baby. He gently placed another kiss to her head before gently handing her over to Rachel before pulling the tray into his lap.

When Gwendolyn woke up from her nap, Finn and Rachel decided since it was such a nice day out that they could take a family walk. When the phone rang, Rachel left Finn in charge of changing her diaper and outfit to prepare to go out.

Gwen squawked when Finn laid her down on the change table, her little fists getting riled up as he started to strip her of the cute "I Love My Daddy" onesie so he didn't get poop on it. Knowing his wife, she had probably planned her outfit for the day - being Father's Day and all - and he didn't want to upset her. He'd learned the hard way over the course of their three years of marriage.

"I know sweetheart, I know, but you got to admit - I am getting better at this!" he exclaimed as he unfastened the diaper, quickly cleaned her bottom before putting a fresh diaper underneath and doing it up. "See?" He made a funny face at her as he tried to quickly fasten her onesie but all he got back was a frustrated grunt along with a few tears from the little girl. "I know, I'm sorry, but it's all over. Come on, Daddy's got you," he whispered as he slid his large hands under her tiny frame and picked her up. Her cries continued as he held her against his chest, cradling her head as he began to sway a little bit. She began to settle as she realized he had gotten her clothes back on and her diaper was clean, her cries dulled to a slight whimper as her hand jerked against his chest. "Let's go see if Mommy is off the phone, okay?"

He could hear Rachel's loud laugh bouncing off the walls of the open concept foyer, and knew that she wasn't finished with her conversation. He wanted to hit the park before Gwendolyn needed another massive diaper change.

Finn walked down the stairs cradling Gwendolyn and immediately found Rachel sitting on the second to bottom step - which would explain why her laugh was so loud up in the nursery.

"I know Papa! She's changed so much since you guys were here! You should see her now!" He carefully stepped around her so him and Gwen could pass and made his way to the closet where they had stashed her stroller the last time they had used it. "She's got Finn's hair for sure! You can even see it in the picture I used in the frame! The little fly-aways at the back of her head are just starting to curl." He threw her a smile and nodded towards the closet and she quickly nodded before another laugh slipped from her lips. "I know! You guys will have to come up again soon. Maybe for Finn's birthday in August? Oh! But maybe by then I'll be ready to take her on a road trip," she bit her lip as she stood up from the stairs and walked over to where Finn had just gotten the stroller out of the closet. She cradled the phone between her shoulder and ear and reached out to open up the stroller so he didn't have to do it one handed. "Okay, yeah - I have to get going. I think we're going to venture out to the park around the corner since it's beautiful here..." he heard her pause as he walked over to the door to pick up her carrier and began to strap her in.

"Okay Papa, yes - I will. Happy Father's Day to you and Daddy too...love you!"

She clicked off the phone and placed it down on the step just as Finn managed to get Gwen into the carrier. She was starting to grumble about being in the seat, but experience told both Finn and Rachel that once she got moving she would be fine. Rachel walked over to where they were and reached up to press a kiss on his cheek.

"Papa and Daddy wished you a very happy first Father's Day," she smiled as she pressed a second kiss to his cheek before she came down flat on her heels.

Rachel noticed that Finn grew quiet as they stepped outside the house. He commanded the handle on the stroller, and she could see that his fingers had tightened around the handles and he even flinched when she placed hers on top of his for a moment. She was taken aback for a moment as she studied her husband as they walked, but because of the sunglasses he was wearing she couldn't quite read his eyes.

"Finn," she whispered.

He didn't say anything in response to her quiet plea, instead he chose to just keep walking forward. He felt her hand on his waist, her fingers found their way to the back pocket of the cargo shorts he was wearing. She walked quietly beside him, and in that moment Finn felt himself release a slow breath. Being together for years brought a certain comfort in situations like this; Rachel knew when to press and when not to - just like he did with her. In this moment, he appreciated it.

The truth was, over hearing her talking to her Papa on the phone had stung. As they walked up the pathway through the park he felt himself flooded with emotion as he clutched the stroller handle harder. They continued to walk until they found a quiet spot to stop. He waited as Rachel pulled an old blanket from the basket under the stroller before he gently unhooked Gwen's seat from the stroller. He moved slowly, and he felt Rachel's eyes on him the entire time.

He slowly sat down and focused on adjusting the visor of the carrier so the sun wasn't in Gwen's eyes too much. She stared back at him intently, her eyes slowly blinking a few times as he focused his attention equally on her. What broke the moment entirely was the feeling of Rachel's small hand on his back.

"Are you having a nice Father's Day so far?" she asked quietly just as the baby gurgled from her seat. Finn didn't take his eyes off the little girl, even for a minute. Rachel began to run her fingers slowly up and down his spine as she waited a few beats. "Babe?"

He sighed in response to her prod, finally taking his eyes off the baby to lean back on the blanket, stretched out completely. His body trapped her arm beneath him, but instead of struggling to pull it out from under him, she rolled onto her side to cuddle him from the side. She placed her other hand and her head on his chest and just waited for him to open up. He knew she would wait as long as he needed, but he could also feel her impatience.

"Do you think I'm a good Dad, Rach?" he sighed after a few minutes.

"What?" she raised her head slowly and rubbed her hand along his chest. "Of course I think you're a good Dad Finn! You're a wonderful father, Gwendolyn loves you so much..." she whispered. When her words failed to bring a smile to his face, she pressed him further. "Finn, what's on your mind?"

He swallowed hard before he raised his hand to take off his sunglasses. He dropped them beside him before raising his hand to rub his eyes one at a time.

"I just can't believe he's gone, you know?" he whispered quietly. So quietly that she almost didn't hear him. She patted his chest so he could un-trap her arm so she could sit up beside him. She scratched her nails along his chest. "He just...he just left..." He felt his lip tremble and he tried to turn his face away so she couldn't see him.

"Finn," she started. "Baby, look at me."

He rolled over on to his side so he came face to face with her. She reached down and ran her fingers over his cheek as tears started to roll down his scruffy cheek.

"I miss him," he whispered.

Rachel's heart broke for her husband right in that moment, much like it had over and over in the last four weeks.

Burt Hummel, Finn's stepfather, died suddenly in his sleep four weeks ago - with little to no warning for his stunned family. Rachel remembered in vivid detail the way her husband had crumpled when the phone call came from a distraught Carole.

Burt was the man who raised him. Finn lost his birth father long before he had been able to walk or talk. His mother had raised him on her own for ten years - before fate - and a flat tire - had introduced both Carole and Finn to Burt Hummel, and his 9 year old son Kurt. Burt had taught him everything he knew - about cars, football, life. He'd been the man to give him the sex talk, advice about his relationship with Rachel. He was even there when he bought the ring she now proudly wore on her finger. He had cried hard when he held Gwendolyn in his arms in the first few hours of her life.

And two short weeks after her birth - he was gone.

"Baby," she whispered. She chewed her lip as she continued to brush her finger along his cheek. Finn's heart thumped in his chest as a silence overtook them. The sounds of the park surrounded them, and both of them got lost in that for a moment. She drew circles on his chest as she thought about what to say. "Of course you miss him," she started softly. "I miss him too."

Finn released a slow breath as he allowed Rachel's voice to wash over him.

"And it's okay, to miss him," she whispered.

"I just wish," he started. "I just wish I got to tell him goodbye, you know. Tell him what he meant to me and..."

"Baby, he knows. He knows how much he meant to you. He knows how much you love him. He..." she tried to soothe. Finn sat up unexpectedly and harshly rubbed at his eyes. Rachel shifted her position so she was sitting up beside him. Both of them stared at Gwendolyn, who during the course of their conversation had dozed off. "He knows how much you love him," she repeated. "He was so proud of you baby..."

Finn rubbed his eyes once more and sniffled.

"What am I supposed to do now though?" he asked quietly. He leaned forward and gently tugged at Gwendolyn's carrier to bring her a little closer. She could tell he was itching to take her out, hold her. She had been his anchor during this whole devastating time. Rachel rubbed his back a little more. She saw his restraint crumble, and she didn't argue when he went through the motions and gently pulled the little girl from the comfort of her carrier and into his strong arms. Rachel chewed her lip as she watched him slowly lose his resolve as Finn gently held the newborn to his chest and bent his head to gently nuzzle her sleeping face. Gwen didn't seem to mind, patiently allowing her father to bask in her innocence.

His breath shuddered as he rubbed noses with Gwen, causing her to slowly flinch against his movements. Her arms picked up and flailed a little bit as she began to wake up in her Dad's arms.

"How am I going to know how to be a great Dad if he's not here, you know? I'm going to need his advice and I can't even...I can't even call him to ask..." He gently placed a kiss on Gwendolyn's hand as she raised it to him. Rachel smiled as she watched him press several kisses to her tiny fingers. She squirmed in his arms a bit as he adjusted his grip on her small body.

"Finn, look at me for a second..." she gently urged. She waited for him to tear his eyes away from the baby. But he didn't stop running his thumb along her little arm as she grunted in his arms before yawning.

Rachel scooted over and gently raised her hand to his cheek and gently brushed her thumb along his cheek where the tears had started to dry.

"Baby," she murmured. She gently ran her fingers along his cheek, along his jaw, and even over his ear. "He taught you how to be a Dad just by being the Dad you needed when you were younger," she started. Finn's eyes shifted quickly between hers and Gwen's stirring form. "And as you got older. Who he is, and what kind of father he is and wants you to be is all inside you. Because he raised you and loved you so much."
Finn ducked his head at her words, as Gwen kicked her legs out, squirming in his arms.

"All you have to do is ask yourself, what would Dad do," she whispered.

He clenched his eyes closed in that moment before he readjusted his position so that he was sitting up with his feet planted firmly on the ground, much like he had done this morning. Gwen grunted when he rested her against his knees, but settled as she looked up at Finn with her slate coloured eyes.

"It's okay to feel like this baby," she whispered as she changed her position so she was facing Finn more. She gently placed her hand over one of his that was bracing Gwen on his lap. "It's going to take some time to figure this out but Finn, I am right here," she rubbed her thumb over his. "I can't fix this, or take away how much your heart must hurt but I am not going anywhere and I will always listen. You are my husband and I love you more than life itself. It's going to be okay." She reached up and placed a gentle, light kiss on Finn's damp cheek.

Rachel leaned into Finn's shoulder as they both sat quietly. She watched as Finn gently ran his finger up and down Gwen's bare arm, almost absently in his emotional haze. She smiled as Gwen gurgled against his touches, before she broke out in her first, true smile.

"Oh Gwens," Rachel smiled. "Smiling for Daddy?!" she exclaimed.

Finn's own face broke out into a large smile as he looked down at the baby, his eyes crinkled with a sudden joy that Rachel associated with being around Gwendolyn. It was a smile that came out infrequently over the past weeks - only peaking when he was truly engaged with her. He chuckled as he gently moved his hands under her tiny body and brought her up on his chest, snuggling her close as he let out a few more watery chuckles. Rachel watched as joy radiated from every pore of his being. Her first true smile. Tears peaked in Rachel's eyes as she watched him snuggle her, burying his face in her cheek as he pressed a succession of kisses on her cheeks. A pretty smile graced Gwendolyn's face as it happened, and Rachel quickly grabbed her phone from beside her to take a picture.

"Did you see that Rach?" he asked as Gwendolyn began to get fussy. Rachel gently reached out for the baby. Instinctively she knew that she was probably starting to get hungry. "She smiled at me! She smiled at us!" She caught the giddy look on his face and as she took Gwendolyn from him and cuddled her to herself, she couldn't help but coo at the baby.

They were quiet as she got the baby settled and Finn got up to hand her the nursing cover they had packed.

Rachel brushed her hair from her face and looked over at Finn once Gwendolyn was settled. She blushed when she caught him staring back at her with a small smile on his face.

"What?" she whispered as her finger gently tickled Gwendolyn's bare leg under the cover.

"I love you," he whispered quietly. He gently leaned over and pressed a kiss to her cheek softly. "I love watching you with her. I'm so grateful for you."

She smiled bashfully as she looked away from him for a minute. She heard him take a deep breath.

"Thank you," he whispered so lowly she could barely make it out. She looked over at him and found him sitting in a different position, with his knees pulled up to his chest and his arms wrapped around his legs. The silver band of his wedding ring caught the sunlight and she smiled briefly. She opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted by Finn's low voice. "I don't know where all of that came from a minute ago..." his voice trailed off and she watched him dip his head so his chin rested on his knees. "I just..."

She raised her arm and reached out to run her fingers over the exposed skin of his neck, toying with the small curls at the ends of his hair.

"It's okay, babe," she whispered as she played with his hair. "It's what I'm here for..." she winked.

"Do you want your gifts now?" she asked later that evening. They'd curled up on the couch in the living room after a steak dinner that Rachel had made just for Finn. Gwendolyn was asleep in the crook of Finn's arm, cuddled in a pair of pajamas.

He raised his eyebrow as he looked at her. "There's more?" he asked quietly.

She gave him a soft smile and nodded her head before she stood up and stretched. She quickly went for the closet in the hallway. When she returned, her arms full with a couple of wrapped packages she watched Finn duck his head again.

"Rach," he whined as he shifted Gwendolyn slightly in his arms before he bent to put her down in the seat that was in front of the couch. .

"Finn, they're not from me. Well, one is, but the rest are from Gwendolyn," she winked. She watched him securely buckle the baby into the seat before sitting back on the couch.

"I guess if they're from my favourite girls than it's okay," he smiled.

Rachel marvelled at Finn for a moment, a small smile gracing her lips as his gaze found hers and they shared an intimate look. He'd bounced back from the emotional moment that he had had at the park earlier in the afternoon, and it was in quiet moments like these she truly treasured the man who was her husband. He was so strong, dependable, courageous. She couldn't imagine he was hers.

She sat down beside him on the large sectional style couch and curled her feet underneath her bottom before she handed him the first gift.

"This one is specifically from me," she smiled. "I just saw it and couldn't resist..."
Finn smiled as her tore into the paper, revealing a small box inside that held a gorgeous new watch.

"Rach," he sighed as he took it out of the box. The face was silver with a black strap. His own watch had kicked the bucket a few weeks ago after the funeral, and he hadn't had time to replace it.

"Flip it over," she whispered as she sidled up to him.

"World's Greatest Dad," he read from the inscription. He looked over at her. "If you say so."

"I say so," she smiled. "Now," she slapped her hand on his knee before reaching over for a longer package. "This one is from Gwendolyn. She is very excited to give it to you."

They both chuckled as they took a second to look at the baby who was fast asleep in her chair. Finn ripped at the paper gently. Inside was a framed piece of art, with Finn and Gwendolyn's first picture in the middle. The rest of the print was surrounded by words Rachel had chosen to describe her husband, with the name Daddy centered with Gwendolyn's birth date. She had found it online a week after Gwendolyn's birth and had known even then that she had to get it for him. She watched as he traced the words before his finger slid to the photo and traced over Gwendolyn's tiny body, or what he could see of it at least. She loved that picture for many reasons, but most of all because it radiated just how much Finn loved Gwen and how fast their bond had started. It both amazed and didn't surprise her at all how enamored they were with each other. When she was pregnant he had sang to her belly every night, and still did just to get the newborn to sleep.

"Rach," he whispered. "Thank you - this is...this is perfect for my office." He leaned over and pressed a kiss to her cheek before running his fingers under her chin to bring her closer to press a kiss to her lips.

"I saw it and I knew you had to have it," she smiled when they pulled away. "I love you."

Finn smiled as he listened to Rachel singing to Gwendolyn from down the hallway. He sat up against the pillows, holding the iPad in front of him as he waited for his Mother to answer his facetime call. He was beginning to think he had caught her at a bad time before the call finally went through. He smiled gently when his mother's face came over the screen and he immediately noticed that she was sitting outside.

"Hey Mom," he smiled softly.

"Finny!" she grinned. "Happy Father's Day sweetheart!"

He blushed. "Thank you."

"Did your girls spoil you?" she chuckled.

"Of course. Of course. Too much," he laughed as he rubbed his hand over his face for a minute. "We took a nice walk and we spent some time in the park," he trailed off. "Oh! And Mom, get this! Gwen gave us her first real smile..." his voice was joyous for a minute, the laugh lines crinkling around his eyes. But the smile didn't last long and Carole noticed immediately.

"Finn?" she asked quietly. Her closed his eyes for a minute to collect his thoughts before opening them to find Carole staring at him intently.

"I'm okay," he whispered. He let out a breath as the bedroom door creaked open and Rachel started to walk in, but paused when she saw that he was on the phone. He turned his head and gestured for her to come over before turning his attention back on his mother. "Just been a hard day...but my girls...they made it better of course." Rachel crawled up on the bed and curled beside him and laid her head on his shoulder.

Carole gave him a sad smile while greeting Rachel with a small wave. "He's watching over you, you know?" she whispered, her own voice getting thick.

He swallowed the lump that was quickly forming in his throat and nodded his head a little before turning and pressing his lips quickly to Rachel's hair.

"Be happy baby, he would want you to be," Carole whispered with her own tears piquing in her eyes.

A silence enveloped them as each of them got a hold of their emotions. Carole was the first to speak, clearing her throat to rid herself of the residual tears.

"I went to see him today," she whispered. "Talked to him a bit. I brought him the frame you guys sent over..."

Finn felt Rachel squeeze his arm as he took in a breath at the mention of the gift. Rachel had ordered each of their father's a father's day gift just two weeks after Gwen's birth, given that it would take 4-6 weeks for delivery. It was simpler than the one he had been given, but special nonetheless. Each of them boasted a first picture with Gwen. He hadn't even thought about trying to stop the delivery to his mother's house, it hadn't even crossed his mind.

"I think I'm going to figure out a way to leave it there," Carole offered. "Kurt thinks we can get some plastic, like a rain cover and maybe like a stand? That way his favourite girl is always with him."

Both Rachel and Finn sat there in silence for a moment. "Tell me about our girls smile! What happened?" Carole's voice broke through the heavily charged moment and broke out into her own watery grin.

Finn chuckled and wiped at his eyes before launching into the story about their afternoon at the park.

That night, Rachel woke up to find Finn's side of the bed empty. Disoriented when she looked at the time and saw that it was early in the morning and she hadn't heard Gwen cry, she stood up from the bed and stretched her tired limbs. She walked out of the bedroom and squinted when the night light they kept in the long hallway shone in her eyes. She covered her eyes and stood still for a moment, waiting to see if she could determine where her family was by sound. When the house remained silent save for the Grandfather clock at the end of the hallway she ventured downstairs into the living room. She stopped in her tracks when she arrived in the room, holding a hand to her heart as she took in the scene in front of her. Finn was passed out on the couch, with Gwendolyn safely cradled on his chest. His hand supported her back completely, and Rachel felt a lump in her throat as she stared at her family. Gwen had obviously woken and Finn had brought her downstairs so she could sleep.

She smiled at the gesture, but took a step forward to shake him awake even just a little. The couch was comfortable, but their bed was more so.

"Hey," he sighed. He lifted his free hand and wiped his eyes. "We must have fallen asleep down here...she was crying and didn't need to be fed or changed so we just..."

Rachel leaned down and pressed a finger to his lips. "Shhhhh...just come back to bed. Bring the baby..."

He nodded and followed her instructions, carefully swinging his legs over the side of the couch and carrying the baby upstairs.

When they were all settled in bed, the baby between them, Finn blinked slowly and his hand remained firmly on Gwen's bum - as if she was going to disappear any minute.

"Finn," Rachel whispered, her own eyes blinking slowly as sleep began to overtake her. "She didn't really wake up, did she?" she asked quietly.

"Yeah she did," he murmured slowly. "She just needed her Daddy..."

Rachel smiled as Gwen sneezed in her sleep.

"You're the best Daddy," Rachel smiled before she reached over and pressed a kiss to his lips. "Love you."

"Love you too," she smiled as she settled on her pillow, before placing her hand over Finns.