Rachel Berry was not a star.

And no, neither was Rachel Hudson.

But Rachel Hudson did consider herself to be a success.

She had a great husband, a beautiful daughter, and classroom full of wonderful students.

Well, technically they're students, even if they sometimes still wet their pants and their hardest lessons include learning their ABCs.

But, that aside, she was incredibly happy with the way her life was panning out.

Sure, she was back in Lima after spending four years in Columbus. And sure, it was weird seeing so many people that she knew from high school acting like adults.

Because they were adults.

But right now, she kinda disliked her life and being an adult. Because that probably meant that she wouldn't be able to curl back up in her bed and cry herself to sleep for the next seven years or so.

She really needed to get into the shower and get ready for work.

"Rach? Honey? Have you seen Hadley's pink Mary Janes? She won't let me put anything else on her feet and I need to get out the door and over to day care within the next five minutes!" Finn called down the hall from their three-year-old's bedroom.

She didn't respond.

"Rach?" he called again. "Stay here," he told his daughter before getting up and walking down to their bedroom. "Rachel? You okay?" he asked as he moved to the door of the en suite bathroom. "You've been in here for a pretty long time."

She pulled open the door and walked out. She was still in her pajamas but the shower was running and her face was wet from the tears she knew she had been crying, regardless of her own determination to handle this in an adult manner.

"I'm sorry," she whispered brokenly as she looked up at her husband. "I … I really thought I was this time."

He stared at her in confusion before she stepped slightly to the side so he could see five pregnancy tests line up along the vanity.

"Oh, baby," he whispered as he wrapped an arm around her and peered over to see that all said the same thing, in which pretty much amounted to Sorry, buddy, but your wife ain't knocked up yet. "It's okay."

She turned into him and pressed her face against his chest, tears sliding down her cheeks. "But we've been trying for over a year, Finn."

"I know, baby," he said softly against her temple as one hand held the back of her neck and the other ran softly over her hair.

His heart was breaking because hers was.

And this wasn't something he could do anything about.

-x-

"I just don't know what to do," he told Puck as he wiped some sweat from his brow

It was an unseasonably warm day for mid-September and the two owners of HP Landscaping were out at the Jewish Community Center, surveying the freshly -sodded front lawn. They kept several areas sectioned off to put various plants and flowers but, for the most part, they were operating under the "less is more" policy for the JCC.

"Shit, dude. You just gotta keep going. And from what Rachel tells San, you two really like trying."

"Dude, don't tell me about your pillow talk. It grosses me out," Finn told him before moving over to one of the muchled beds. "First, hand me some bitterroot. And second, it's not so much about her not being pregnant that bothers me. Don't get me wrong, I want another baby. Really bad. But it's more, I don't know, the fact that she's getting more upset ever month when she buys out the pregnancy tests at Meijer and she gets a whole bunch of negative results." He took the flower from Puck's hands before properly placing it in the soil he uncovered. "I don't know how to make her relax and just … let it happen."

"Like in a Grilled Cheesus has a Plan kind of way?"

"Shut the fuck up," Finn grumbled before tossing some mulch at his partner.

"You kiss your wife with that mouth?" Puck rejoins with a shit-eating grin before kneeling down next to Finn and planting some more bitterroot. "Seriously, though, dude. Just relax and let it happen. I mean, when was the last time you had sex with her and didn't think about making a baby?"

"Our honeymoon, probably," Finn said with a smile. "Wait. No. At Sam's wedding. In the coat room."

"I knew that was you, dickwad," his best friend responded. "Wait," he added, face scrunched up. "First, you owe me twenty bucks for the dry cleaning bill for San's coat. Second, wasn't it just about nine months later that …"

"Yeah," Finn responded with a goofy smile. "That was the night she got pregnant. She bitched for weeks because she would never be able to tell Hads that she was conceived during a round of dirty sex against a coat rack at Uncle Sam's reception."

"The fuck she wanna tell your kid where she got knocked up for?"

Finn shrugged. "How am I supposed to know?" He took a deep breath and grabbed another plant. "It's just … we both want a big family, you know? She was adopted and my dad died before I knew him. We're both only children and even though I had you and you were like a brother, I knew, more often than not, at the end of the day you were going to your house with your little sister and I was going to my room play Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle or Power Rangers on my Sega Genesis." He shrugged. "We don't want Hadley to grow up lonely."

"I get it, man. I honestly do. But charting this shit out and only doing it missionary at precisely five twenty three am isn't going to get Rachel pregnant."

"I really need to tell Rach to stop telling shit to Santana. Your girl can't keep her mouth shut."

"One of the things I lo – uhh, like about her," Puck responded with a grin.

Finn smirked and got up to grab a bunch of canarygrass. "When are you gonna make an honest woman outa her?"

"The fuck you mean? We're not even talking about that shit. Fuck, man," Puck ground out as he ran a hand over his head. "Stop talking about commitment and shit. It's making my balls crawl up into my body."

"You're disgusting," Finn guffawed. "And, if I'm not mistaken, you're the one who stopped sleeping around first. And you, what, tricked her into stopping too?"

"Would you shut the fuck up and work, dude? Swear to God I'd rather have one of those dumbass kids back rather than be out here with your Modern Male bullshit."

"Whatever you say, Puck," Finn responded with a grin. "Just let me know when you're planning to pop the question so I can have some tissues handy for Rachel."

"Fuck off," Puck muttered before slipping in his ear buds and getting back to work on the bed he was working on.

-x-

Rachel sat outside in the little playground they had set up for the kids on school grounds. The one for the kindergartners was away from the larger playground that the older children used. She liked it that way, mostly because it meant that she and whichever other teacher was on lunch duty (today it was Mrs. Applefield, her former kindergarten teacher) only had about thirty five children to look after.

She was trying her very best to be upbeat and not let anyone know how upset she really was.

All of the signs had been there. She was late (though that wasn't really an indicators, as her cycle was thrown off when she came off the pill), she wasn't feeling very well, some smells made her stomach churn. And she had just thought that this was it.

Clearly it wasn't.

She and Finn both wanted a large family. First, after what had happened in high school, she knew her husband wanted to know what it felt like to really be a father. She also knew that growing up without any family aside from his mother, he wanted them to have many children to ward away any possibility of loneliness.

And she knew that now, even if Kurt technically was his step-brother, it wasn't the same.

And she had always wanted a sibling as well, though she knew from a young age that her daddies couldn't give her one like she wanted.

She imagines that's why she got everything else she wanted growing up.

"Rachel, dear, are you okay?"

"Oh, yes, Mrs. Applefield. Uhm, Greta. Yes. I'm just fine."

"I know fine and you're not it, young lady," her former teacher and current colleague told her sternly. "So out with it."

Rachel sighed, her eyes glancing around the small playground twice to make sure all of the students were accounted for, before she ran her hands over her skirt and turned to Greta. "It's just … Finn and I are trying to have another baby. Actively trying. And have been for nearly a year. And this morning, I thought for sure when I looked at the screens on those five pregnancy tests …"

"… Five?"

"… that I would know for sure that I was pregnant again. But they all said I wasn't," she concluded as if Greta hadn't interrupted her.

"Maybe you should stop trying," Greta said.

"What?" the younger woman gasped in horror. "But I just got through telling you that Finn and I want a large family. And while Hadley is an amazing daughter and I – we – feel blessed to have her in our lives, we want more children."

"Yes, yes, dear," Greta nodded and patted Rachel's knee. "I just mean, stop trying. Stop planning it out. Just have a lot of hot, unprotected, sweaty, physical …"

"Greta!" Rachel cried in horror as she slapped a hand over the woman's mouth. "Please do not continue that thought aloud."

The older woman chuckled and pulled Rachel's hand from her face. "I'm saying just make love to make love. And one day, boom, you'll have a baby."

"Mrs. Hudson," a tiny voice called from the area of Rachel's knee, "where do babies come from?"

Rachel wished she had a desk to slam her head against.

-x-

When Finn got home from work he saw Hadley sitting in the living room with a bowl of dry Cheerios. His eyes scanned the couch and the kitchen but didn't see his wife.

"Gramma's in the bathroom," his daughter muttered, eyes never leaving the screen. "Momma's napping."

"Thank you, baby," Finn said as he walked into the room and knelt down to press a kiss to Hadley's forehead. "How was your day?" he asked as he flopped onto the couch and tugged at the collar of his polo.

Rachel had insisted they speak to Hadley as if she were an adult (within reason, of course) from the day she said her first word ("Now"), and Finn agreed. To a point. He still was known to let some baby talk slip out, but it was more of a habit to ask his three year old how her day was.

"Colored. Cartoons. Gramma made pie."

Even if she wasn't quite as loquacious as her mother.

"I smell flowers," the little girl added.

"Yeah, sweetie. I brought some home for Momma."

"Good," Hadley answered before directing her full attention back on the television.

"Oh, Finn! Honey, I didn't know you were home," Carole said as she walked into the living room and sat beside her son. "You weren't home when Rachel got here and she said she was feeling a bit under the weather so I said I would come over while Burt finished up some work at the shop. I have a lasagna in the oven."

"Real lasagna or Rachel lasagna?"

"Real lasagna," Carole chuckled as she gripped her son's hand. "She told me about this morning."

"Can we not make a big deal out of this, please? I know it is a big deal but," his eyes traveled down to Hadley before looking back to his mother. "Just not right now."

Carole patted her son's hand and nodded. "Sure, baby."

Carole stayed a while longer before turning the oven off, kissing her son and granddaughter, and heading home to her husband.

An hour later, after Finn had fed and bathed his little angel, Rachel came out of the bedroom in a pair of sweatpants and one of his old t-shirts. "Did I miss dinner?"

"Mom made real lasagna," Finn said as he brushed out Hadley's hair. "I can make some peanut butter toast for you if you're hungry. Trade off is that you have to brush out Wiggle's hair."

"Fair trade," she murmured as he wandered over and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. She took the brush from his hand and gently shoved him towards the kitchen. "I'm really hungry." Her eyes glanced down to her yawning daughter and she smiled. "And not just for peanut butter," she added.

"Yeah," the little girl chimed in. "Momma should have a banana too."

Finn was never in his life so glad that Puck wasn't there.

-x-

Later that night, Finn and Rachel sat down and talked about not actively trying anymore and just trying to let it happen.

They both agreed that when it was supposed to happen, it would.

But they might as well practice as much as they could. Because "baby making practice", as Finn called it, was one of the most fun things that two people could do together.

And practice they did. Every spare moment they had, one was attacking the other.

One day, Finn and Noah had to come over to rework the front of the school and she spotted him outside, polo sticking to his body with sweat, passion and determination in his eyes, and she just about faked an illness to be able to go home and have sex.

She almost considered inviting him into the teachers' lounge to break in the new couch the school board had just provided to them.

Well, she considered it but had to dismiss the idea when she thought about Greta or Maxwell, the seventy five year old third grade teacher, sitting on it and smelling sex.

She had no idea why she was so turned on by him lately, but she wasn't complaining.

And he certainly wasn't complaining.

-x-

When the middle of October hit, so did cold season at Heritage Elementary School.

First, it was Lyle Timmons with a nasty cough and watery eyes.

Then it was Jillian Mitchell with the sniffles and a "twisty tummy".

Then Carl and Craig Coons ralphed on the table during craft time. The rest of the table was sick within two days.

And then it was her.

She would wake up and feel ill, empty her stomach, drink some tepid honey tea, nibble on some toast and head to work. She didn't have a headache but she figured her vitamin supplements were helping with that. And with the lack of sneezing and coughing.

She hadn't like back in high school – she rarely got sick.

She was certain she had some kind of weird stomach bug.

By the fifth day, Finn was freaking out. Usually when Rachel was sick it was bad.

And not just for his sex life.

"Baby, I called Santana. She got you in to see her dad this morning. Want me to drive you over there?" he asked as he surveyed Rachel's pale complexion and her slightly shaking hands. "Did you throw up again?"

"I'm fine," she responded weakly.

"Don't even try it. Puck came over earlier and picked up Hadley and he and San are keeping her for the day. We cancelled our schedule and San took the day off. I called Marla and let her know that you wouldn't be in. So, let's go. Jeans and a sweatshirt, baby, and get your sick ass in the car."

"Nice, Finn," she muttered before shuffling into the bedroom to change.

By the time they got to Dr. Lopez's office, she was feeling better and insisting that he take her home to change so she could go to work.

Needless to say he told her that she was going in there and they were going to get to the bottom of her sickness and that was the end of it.

She made him pull over so they could make out in the car for a few minutes, feverishly whispering that she loved it when he was all take charge like that.

He had to file that bit of information away for a later date.

After about ten minutes of waiting, the nurse came and called Rachel back. She looked to Finn and he got up to go with her.

"Would you be able to give a urine sample?" the young nurse asked her.

"No. I'm sorry. I didn't plan to come in this morning and …"

"That's quite alright, Mrs. Hudson. Is there any possibility you could be pregnant?"

Finn tried not to let his heart break at her whispered, "I don't think so."

They weighed her and took her blood pressure (slightly elevated), temperature (a perfect 98.6) and pulse before telling her Dr. Lopez would be in with her in a moment.

When Carlos came in, they made small talk for a few moments, asking Finn how the business was and asking Rachel how Hadley and her class were.

He examined her head to foot and couldn't seem to find anything. "Tell me, Rachel, what are your symptoms again."

"Nothing," she told him with a shrug. "I feel fine."

"She's been pale and can't keep foot down," Finn said with a glance at his wife. He decided to ignore her glare. "Sometimes she shakes but that's only because she's either not eating or she's throwing everything up."

Carlos shook his head and made some notes on Rachel's chart. "Well," he said as he slid his glasses from his eyes, "I don't see any outward signs of illness. No redness of the throat, no fluid in the lungs. I think what I'll have you do is go for some blood work. We'll do a general screen, test for kidney, liver, stomach problems, thyroid and glandular issues, blood sugar levels … and we'll see what happens from there." He checked off a whole slew of tests and handed her the form. "Fast from 8 p.m . tonight, go get the blood work done tomorrow morning before work, and we'll call you when the results come in."

"Thanks, Mr. Lopez," Finn said as he extended his hand. "Tell your wife we say hello and that my mother and Burt would love to get together with you guys."

"Will do, Finn. And don't forget to bring that little angel of yours around soon. Elena wants to dote on someone's child since Santana is clearly not in the mood to give us grandchildren of our own."

"Yet," Rachel said with smiled before giving him a hug and allowing Finn to escort her out of the office.

-x-

So she did as asked and got her blood work done. Then she went on with her business.

She was still feeling queasy and Finn was still spazzing. Hadley knew her mother was feeling "icky" but simply snuggled next to her. Carole, Burt or Santana picked Hadley up from day care and Puck was … well … Puck.

So three days later, when a young nurse from Dr. Lopez's office called and asked her to come in for the results of her blood test, she felt a chill and called Finn. He picked her up from work and took her to Dr. Lopez's office.

"Finn, Rachel. Good," the older man said as they were ushered into his office. "I'm glad you both came. Please, have a seat."

They did as they were told and Rachel reached over and grabbed her husband's hand in support. He could tell she was afraid and, truth be told, he was nervous as well. What if there was something wrong? What if it was serious?

"Well, I do have the results of your blood work. Tell me, Rachel, why is it that when you were asked if you could be pregnant you said no?"

"Oh," she said, brows furrowed. "Two weeks before I took a few …"

"… five …" Finn deadpanned.

"… pregnancy tests and they all came out negative."

"I'm sure you've heard of false negatives," Dr. Lopez continued.

"Of course," Rachel continued, "But I selected the brands that promised the most accuracy."

Dr. Lopez smiled slightly. Finn gripped her hand tighter because he, for the first time, was catching on before she was.

"Even those can be flawed, Rachel. The only sure fire ways to prove or disprove pregnancy are blood or urine tests."

"Right. I understand that completely." She took a deep breath. "Now, please, Dr. Lopez. Please let me what's wrong with me. Is it diabetes? Stomach ulcers? Throat cancer?" she asked in fear.

Carlos and Finn shared a look and a smiled before Finn patted her hand and leaned over to press his lips to her forehead.

"No, Rachel," Carlos chuckled. "There's nothing wrong."

She stared at him blankly. "I don't understand," she said as she leaned forward in her seat. "If there's nothing wrong then why are we in here?"

"Rachel, you're pregnant," Carlos told her with a grin.

Rachel stared at him again. "Not possible. The tests said …"

"They were wrong," Carlos cut her off. "The blood test proves it. If you'd like, we can take a urine sample and prove it in just two short minutes. Our strips are a lot more accurate than the ones in the store."

"Fine," she said as she stood and marched from his office. "But if it comes back negative, so help me …" she said as she slammed the door behind her.

"Is there any chance it's going to come back negative?" Finn asked as the smile fell from his face.

"No," Carlos said with a smile. "She's definitely pregnant."

Finn grinned wildly and lounged back in his seat, shutting his eyes and clasping his hands behind his head. He was going to be a father. Again.

-x-

Five minutes later, Rachel was sitting next to him once again, her leg bouncing nervously. Carlos had gone out to read the results and left her and Finn to wait for him.

Dr. Lopez came back in with a smile and told them, "I would make an appointment with Dr. Chin."

Rachel shrieked happily and threw herself into her husband's arms.

-x-

Three days later she was laying on the table in Dr. Chin's office, her belly exposed and chilly from the gel Miss Nancy just squirted onto it.

"This should be able to help see how far along you are," she said with a smile as she placed the sonogram wand against her stomach. The older woman smiled as the screen flickered and they saw something barely the size of a peanut on the screen. "No more than a few weeks," Miss Nancy added with a smile. "Let's get the first picture." She pressed a few buttons and two copies popped out of the little machine. "Here you go. Dr. Chin will be in shortly."

"We're really pregnant," Rachel whispered as her eyes locked on the picture of the tiny life that is currently growing inside her.

"Way to go, baby," Finn whispered before kissing her. "I'm so proud of you. And I love you." He kissed her again. "But you're the one telling Hadley where babies come from."

Rachel let out a loud groan and wondered why they hadn't waited until their daughter was slightly older before having another baby. "I love you, too. And thank you."

"For what?"

"For giving me another baby," she whispered.

"It was fun," he chuckled. "And, you know, we can still practice for round three while we're still in the middle of round two."

"You bet your ass we can," she said with a grin as she pulled him down by the collar to kiss her again.

Finn loved Rachel when she was pregnant.

He got so much sex when she was hormonal.

And, to be honest, pregnant Rachel turned out to be a huge kink he didn't know he had last time around.

He couldn't wait for this time.