A/N: I'm not sure if this is going to just be a part 2 story, a one shot or a story. I've only got the beginning written thus far. Just a little finchel freewrite I suppose :)


It was December 21st, 2015. Finn had arrived not even a full day ago in New York City to support his step brother Kurt in the production of a new show on Broadway. Kurt had also mentioned to his family that he was working alongside Rachel Berry.

His heart ached whenever someone brought up Rachel's name. He hadn't seen or talked to her in nearly three years. At the end of the summer in 2012, Rachel completely cut him off and he never understood why. Yeah, she had moved out to New York and he stayed back in Lima. He was going to the community college in Lima, working as an assistant to McKinley's football team. Sure, his life was simple, but he missed Rachel and all the mishaps they had.

He took his seat in the front row next to Carole, his step father Burt on the other side of her. His heart started to beat quickly when the lights dimmed. He began to feel like a nervous wreck. "What if she sees me? What will she do?" he began to think. Little did he know, she was already well aware of his presence that evening.

Rachel was in her dressing room when she heard a knock at the door.

"Come in!" she yelled.

Kurt entered, making Rachel smile in the mirror. She spun her chair around to him. "Excited?" she asked, holding her hands together in her lap.

He smiled. "You have no idea. But I actually wanted to tell you, my family flew in, they're here. Front row."

Rachel's eyes widened. "Like, Finn too?"

Kurt nodded. "Of course."

Rachel smiled. "Well, the show must go on!"

"Rachel." Kurt took a seat next to her, gently resting his hand atop of hers. "What happened? You were helplessly in love with him. In Lima, you did whatever it took to be with him."

"Five minutes!" The director yelled from outside the door.

Rachel looked at Kurt, grabbing a picture from the table behind her. "She did."

Kurt's eyes widened. "Are you serious? Wait? You never told him? Are you crazy?"

Rachel looked at him as he continued to speak. "And you couldn't tell me? Why? This little girl, she's a spitting image of both you and Finn and oh god, that's terrible! What about Carole and my dad…."

Rachel cut him off. "You think I haven't thought about all of this?" she practically yelled.

Kurt stopped talking, allowing himself to calm down. She did the same.

"I'm terrified." She whispered.

"He would've helped you." Kurt said quietly.

"I know. That's the thing. I didn't want to force him out here where he truly doesn't want to be. I don't want him to be tied down to me just because of that." She said.

Kurt shook his head. "He loved you. Everything you just said would've been invalid compared to…."

Rachel smiled. "Mckinley."

Kurt smiled back. "I want to see her. I have too."

Rachel smiled and leaned over to hug Kurt. "You will. I'm so glad I told you. I'm going to tell Finn, I can promise you…." She paused. "He's going to be so upset though, she's going to be three in April already and."

Kurt interrupted her. "But then he'll come around. He would be a fool not to."

She smiled. "Thank you."

Kurt stood up, giving her one last hug. "Let's go put on a show!"

She laughed and followed him out. Kurt was the main character so when the show started he went on, and a few minutes later the rest of the cast goes on stage for the number. From backstage, Rachel caught a glimpse of Finn, Carole, Burt and Blaine. Blaine lived in New York as well, though she didn't know that up until a few weeks ago. Her eyes settled on Finn, and her heart fluttered. She had the urge to run out there into his arms. Mckinley looked so much like him and it was so obvious when she looked out at him. Just then it was her cue, and she shook off all her thoughts.


Finn had been so proud of Kurt, but during the first number when the entire cast came out his eyes were glued to Rachel and only Rachel. She was as beautiful as ever to him and right then he knew he had to find some way to get her back. Whatever mistake caused her to leave him three years ago was not going to determine his future with her.

It wasn't until the finale did he realize Rachel already knew he was there. She stood directly in front of Finn as they bowed, and when she came up again she glanced right at him. She smiled and blew him a kiss, looking as if she were about to cry.

Next to him, his mother took his hand and squeezed it. "Oh Finn." She said with tears in her eyes.

"Mom." Finn said laughing at her as she cried over both Kurt and Rachel's performances.


Rachel walked backstage smiling to herself. It was a fantastic opening night, and she was extremely happy, but she wanted to cry. She knew things were about to go downhill, but all she wanted to do was find Finn. She knew that wasn't going to happen. She had to go get Mckinley from her babysitter's before midnight, just like every other night she had a show. She changed into street clothes quickly before she heard a knock on the door. She walked over and looked through the hole, smiling.

"Hey!" she said excitedly, opening the door as Elizabeth, her babysitter entered with Mckinley. "I didn't know you guys came here, oh did you enjoy the show?"

"Oh, we didn't see it, only the finale. Fantastic job by the way." Elizabeth said briefly, before explaining that she had to get to the airport which is why she had to drop her off here. Rachel paid her, well, as usual, and she was on her way.

Knowing she didn't have to rush out to get Mckinley was comforting. She sat down and relaxed, taking off makeup, letting her hair down at a slower pace. Just then she heard voices outside her door, followed by a knock.

She walked up to the door looking out to see Kurt, and Finn. She glanced over at Mckinley who was playing with her toys that Elizabeth had brought with her. She opened the door slightly, smiling at Kurt. She knew she couldn't stand to look Finn in the eye.

"Why hello, look who I-" Kurt went to say as Mckinley interrupted.

"Mommy!" Mckinley said, running up behind Rachel's leg.

Kurt's mouth instantly closed as Rachel closed her eyes, biting her bottom lip.

She opened the door further turning around to pick up Mckinley. "Yes dear." She said, kissing her forehead. "I'm right here baby." She said.

She looked up at Finn this time, who stood there wide-eyed and in shock. She knew he was both confused and upset, but he also looked angry.

"Finn…" Rachel said quietly, who refused to come in the room. "Finn, say something." She begged.

Finn shook his head, before glancing at Mckinley. He didn't even have to ask when he looked at the little girl because there was no denying that was his child. She had his eyes, and his mouth. Her mouth like Rachel's, and wavy brown hair, a mix of them both. He then looked at Rachel, who had tears in her eyes.

"Momma, don't cry." Mckinley said.

"Mommy's not." She said, looking at her.

The way they interacted broke Finn's heart. Why hadn't she mentioned this ever to him. He would've been there, he would've helped. He was livid.

Rachel then set Mckinley down. "Go inside, go play with Uncle Kurt." She had been so wrapped up in what had happened, she didn't even realize Kurt had gone around them into the room.

"Come here ya little munchkin!" Kurt said as Mckinley began to laugh.

Rachel smiled back at them, before shutting the door behind her, muffling their voices. There was a quiet silence until Finn broke it.

"How could you do this?" Finn asked. "Three years you cut me off completely, and then out of nowhere here you are again, with our child? And it never ever crossed your mind to tell me. I wouldn't have been mad, I would've been there for you!" he yelled.

Rachel's eyes teared up once more. "I wanted to tell you, I was scared…"

"That's not even an excuse." He said. "You ran away from me…"

She cried. "I know. I am so, so, so terribly sorry."

He nodded. "Sorry doesn't even cut it for the last three years I lost in my own daughter's life. Her first word, walk…" he looked bewildered. "How could you?" he repeated.

She sniffed. "I loved you too much. New York is never what you wanted…"

"But it would have been knowing this!" he yelled. "I loved you, Rachel. Since I was fifteen, it was you. You've hurt me before, but this, this is bad."

"I know…" was all she managed to get out through her sobs. "I messed up, bad, and everyday…it got…w-worse." She covered her face. "She looks so much like you, I-i-i…" she started crying uncontrollably.

Finn looked down at her and reluctantly pulled her into him. He hated when she cried, even if this was her fucked up situation. He ran a hand up and down her back, trying to comfort her. "Rachel, don't cry." He said quietly.

As they stood in silence, he rocked her, closing his eyes. He had missed her more than anything.

"I just missed you so much." She said, crying still. "It's been so difficult…"

"Shhhh" he cut her off. "I know. I know it's been, but I'm here now."

"There hasn't been a day where I haven't thought of you. I messed up so badly." She said.

He pulled away slightly, to look at her. He grabbed her chin and kissed her hard on the lips. He was entranced by the kiss. He had missed the way he felt when he kissed her. It felt like everything wrong in the world was gone, at least for that brief moment. He had never felt this way about anyone.

Once he pulled away, he resumed looking in her eyes. He wiped her tears and smiled. "Everything will be fine. We'll figure things out. I just, I can't help but not be angry at you. Rachel, you're still amazing. Even your mistakes, you're still my star." He said.

She smiled, looking up at him. "Please, don't forgive me that easily. I don't deserve it."

He shook his head. "Trust me, I haven't."

"I love you, so much Finn. You have no idea." She said.

"I have an idea." He said. "But, I love you."

They stood in silence for a few more moments before she pulled away. "So, do you want to meet your daughter?"

He nodded, going around her to grab the door handle.

The door opened, and they found Kurt on the ground with Mckinley, reading a book.

Finn smiled and walked up to both of them.

Mckinley looked up at him. "You're tall." She said.

Rachel looked at them, as Kurt stood and Finn kneeled down.

"Late night pizza?" Kurt asked as he approached Rachel.

"Late night pizza." Rachel confirmed, hugging him.

"Blaine and I will go get a table, you guys meet us there soon?" he asked.

Rachel nodded as Kurt exited.

"Momma!" Mckinley yelled, holding up the book.

Rachel got on her knees next to them. "Can we read this later, baby? Do you want to go get pizza?" she asked.

Finn looked at them. He was never an emotional guy but this was getting to him. It was upsetting knowing because of Rachel, he had missed all these interactions.

Mckinley nodded as Rachel grabbed her jacket, boots, gloves and hat. After she was ready, Rachel picked her up and reached out for Finn's hand.

"Mckinley, did you say hi to your guest?" Rachel asked as they walked out of the room onto Broadway.

"Hi." Mckinley said simply. "Look." She said to Finn, showing him her teeth. "I have them all." She said.

"That's awesome!" Finn said before looking at Rachel. "I'm not good at this."

She laughed. "You'll get used to it. Don't be afraid to be you, she won't judge you."

Finn smiled. "Mckinley?" he asked.

"Yeah?" Mckinley said.

Finn laughed. "Sorry, I was talking to your mom."

Rachel looked at him as they walked. "Yeah. It was…fitting."

Finn nodded, changing the subject. "Can I? He motioned to Mckinley.

"Of course!" Rachel said, stopping.

Finn took Mckinley from Rachel's arms and hugged her instantly. "Hey bug." He said. He didn't know why that came out but it felt normal. Everything about this felt abnormally normal. It was almost as if he belonged here, in New York City, with them.

He glanced over and looked at Rachel who was quietly walking forward, her hands now in her coat pockets. He could tell by her face that although she was content, the situation was bothering her. He wanted her to stop worrying about it at least for right now. They'd talk about it later.

Mckinley talked her mouth off to Finn the entire way there. He smiled. There was no doubt she was Rachel's daughter. "….and I can count wanna hear? One. Two. Three…" she began without even waiting for a response.

They entered the pizza parlor and the host immediately recognized her.

"Ah. Miss Berry. Welcome. Mr. Hummel has gotten you a booth right this way."

She greeted the host and followed, Finn and Mckinley behind her. She was acting awkward towards him but he shook it off. She would come around eventually.

Finn set Mckinley in the child seat at the end of the table between him and Rachel. Almost instantly, Rachel took over, taking off her jacket and gloves, giving her a toy from her bag to keep her occupied.

Their meal went normally, they all had a good time, and before they knew it they were paying the bill and heading out.

Once outside they all said their goodbyes and it was then that Finn told Kurt where he was going. Kurt understood and said he would let Carole and Burt know. Kurt and Blaine both kissed Mckinley's head, who was falling asleep in Rachel's arms before heading off in the opposite direction.

Finn and Rachel began to walk towards her apartment. It was an awkward silence until Finn spoke up.

"La Bella Notte." He said, remembering their first trip to New York their junior year.

She smiled. "It always is in New York." Just then she turned to face him.

"Could you please? She's getting so heavy now that she's older. I wish I had remembered the stroller." She said.

"Oh. Yeah. Sure." Finn said, reaching down, gently taking Mckinley into his arms. She was light, but Rachel was tiny. He wondered how she did it all by herself. Then again, it was Rachel Berry and no matter the situation, she always was in control. They walked in silence until they reached her apartment.