A/N: Don't hate me. This story just came to me. Your support and reviews are appreciated! I don't own anyone related to glee or any plot points that may resemble those on glee. They are mainly for reference. I do however, own any original characters. I also don't claim to be a doctor of medicine, so any mistakes are mine.

924073

Chapter One

Finn twisted the wedding band around on his finger half a dozen or so times, his leg bouncing and just a general sense of worry and uneasiness filled him.

Until he felt her hand cover his, causing all movements going on to cease.

It wasn't supposed to happen like this.

His eyes shot up from where they had been staring at the floor and he came face to face with the owner of the hand.

His wife.

God. His beautiful, gorgeous, talented, young wife.

Did he mention it wasn't supposed to happen like this?

They shouldn't be sitting here in silence, as if they were waiting to be led to the guillotine.
"It's going to be okay" She whispered, linking her fingers with his. Her own voice was thick with worry and emotion. He looked deep in her eyes, just stared into her dark brown eyes searching for something, anything to hold onto.
"How can you say that?" He whispered, his voice catching. "Rach, how can you say that?"
"Because I'm trying to believe it...okay?" She closed her eyes, her fingers clutching his. "I just...I need it to be okay. I need to believe it will be okay after all"

They had only had eight years together. Eight. That wasn't near enough, not even close. It had been only eight years since she had stormed down the halls of McKinley High School, an accomplished Broadway star fresh off her Tony win for best lead actress for her portrayal of Fanny Brice in Funny Girl, threw open the door to his office and announced that she. was. home. And she would be his, and he would be hers.

It had only been seven years and eleven months since he'd whisked her away to Maui and married her on a beach with no one around except an officiant and the sound of the soft waves lapping at their bare feet.

It had only been seven years since they'd welcomed their little girl. And even less since they'd expanded their family to include two little boys with their mama's smile and a floppy eared dog who was man's best friend.

They had a life. They had a family. They had dreams.

It wasn't supposed to happen like this.

The doctor returned to the office where they had been sequestered. When the symptoms had appeared and persisted, she'd sought the best care, the best money could buy in all of Ohio. They'd traveled to Cincinnati for tests and examinations and it was where they sat now. The doctor, Finn swore his name was Dr. Lane, sat in front of them behind a big mahogany desk with a file in his hand. The label read a bunch of numbers, 924073. That's all his wife was to this older man in front of him. A six digit number. But to him, she was his Rachel. The woman he loved. The woman he let go, set free. The woman who had come back to him and their little Podunk town after she'd conquered the world and changed his. The woman who was his forever. His destiny, his life.

The older man looked at the pair of them, a sad look on his face. Finn felt Rachel grab his fingers tighter, squeezing the life out of his skin and bones. Just as she had each time she'd delivered all three of his healthy, large children. But this was different. This wasn't to inflict equal pain. This was to feel weighted, grounded. Real. Safe.

"Mrs. Hudson" Dr. Lane began, addressing Rachel before clearing his throat. "Mr. Hudson. There is no easy way to say this. All of the tests and examinations have indicated that you do have ovarian cancer."

Finn felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room. He turned to take in Rachel's face, the squeezing on his hand increasing was an indication that she was letting the words sink in, her jaw was clenched and her eyes were closed. He rubbed his thumb across her knuckles. What was he supposed to say? What was he supposed to do? This was his wife! This didn't happen to Finn Hudson's wife, other men's, stronger men's wives but not his. Not his Rachel. He watched her suck in a breath, her perfect lips puckering before she blew out a breath and opened her eyes.
"How are we going to beat this?" She whispered. Atta girl.

It wasn't going to be easy. No, it wasn't. Dr. Lane had informed them that while they had gotten to him and to medical help in a timely manner, the form of ovarian cancer Rachel was diagnosed with had formed tumors on the outside of her ovaries that were called epithelial tumors and was already starting to spread to other nearby organs. They'd found cancerous cells in her uterus as well as the effected ovaries. Rachel not only had ovarian cancer, but she had stage two ovarian cancer.

Finn's hands felt clammy as Dr. Lane spoke about the specifics of the cancer that was infecting his wife. He shuddered as he thought about it.

"Survival rate" She whispered as he continued to talk to them about the results. "I have young children. What is my survival rate."
"I don't like to speculate until we've determined a treatment plan..."
"Please." Her voice was laced with the tears he knew she was determined to keep at bay. "Before we go further. I need to know what I'm looking at..."
"Between 74-76%, according to research and providing you respond well to treatment"
"So how do you propose we fight this?" Rachel jutted out her chin much like she did when she was determined to do something. "I will be in that 76%."
Dr. Lane removed his glasses and took in the young couple in front of him. He knew from her file that Rachel was early in her thirties and he assumed Finn was as well. They had a whole life in front of them, Rachel had told him all about the three children they were trying to raise to be good people, two boys who liked to play football with Daddy and a little girl who loved ballet. This was the part of his job he didn't like. Destroying families, killing dreams while trying to keep the keeper of those dreams alive and well.
"I'd like to start with surgery, removing the ovaries along with your fallopian tubes and your uterus..."

Rachel felt hot, listening to the doctor talk but not really receiving the message that was being delivered. All that she heard in her head were words like cancer, surgery, ovaries, 76%. It didn't feel or seem real. She was going to wake up any moment, the last few weeks of her life with the pain and illnesses would be a distant dream and she would be back at home making vegan mac and cheese for her family. This was all going to be a dream that she was going to wake up from.
"So essentially, this cancer is going to rob me of everything that makes me a woman..." She said quietly. She felt Finn run his fingers over her knuckles. She couldn't look at him.

They sat in the van. They'd left the doctor's office silently, and had gotten into their minivan and drove, starting the 2 hour trek back to their hometown. Drove until Rachel broke down and asked Finn to pull over, off the highway. So that's what he did. He followed her lead. So they sat in the van, both staring out the windshield as the rain poured down on the van neither saying a word.

"I have cancer." She whispered, so lightly Finn had to strain his ears to hear her. He swallowed the lump in his throat as he listened to her. He heard her voice shake as she repeated the words a second time. He turned his body as much as he could in his seat and took her hand in his. She laced her fingers through his as they sat there, much like she did at the doctor's office. But she didn't meet his gaze, she just continued to look forward. "Finn..." She swallowed the lump in her throat, he heard her voice waver. He knew her strength was depleting. "Finn...I have cancer. What are we going to do?"

The sob that was released from her lips next was soul shattering, heart breaking and torture to his ears. She leaned onto the console in front of her and sobbed, her shoulder length brown hair coming to curtain her face. Her shoulders shook with sobs and she'd lost the hold on his hand. It was finally sinking in. Strong, determined Rachel was gone. Emotional, terrified and uncertain Rachel appeared in her place. His heart shattered as he listened to her and his hand immediately went to her back. She jolted as his touch for a moment but settled immediately afterwards. He grabbed for her hips and pulled her over the center console and into his lap. She buried her head into his chest, his arms coming around her body and his face burying in her hair. It was only then that he let his own tears and emotions bubble over. He couldn't stop the tears from falling anymore than she could. He kissed her head several times over before nuzzling his face into her neck, making her look up at him.

He swallowed the lump in his throat but the tears didn't stop. "We're going to fight this. We're going to fight this like the Hudson's we are. And we're going to kick cancer's ass." She managed a weak smile at the sentiment before placing a soft kiss on his lips before resting her head on his chest again.
"It's going to be okay Rach. I promise."

When they'd collected themselves the best that they could, Rachel slid back into her seat and they silently continued on with their drive back to Lima.
"Can you take me home first?" Rachel whispered as they had crossed the city limits. They had planned to go together to his parent's house to collect their three children. Maybe even have dinner there.
But now things were different.
Now she had cancer. She just wanted to sink into a bubble bath and never surface.
"Are you sure?" He asked carefully. "I'm sure Mom made..."
"Please." She begged. "I just...I can't face anyone right now. Just drop me at home please and go get my babies."
He nodded, hearing the absolute desperation in her voice.
"Of course. I'll bring home dinner too...okay? Maybe Chinese from..."
"I'm not hungry. You can take the kids to McDonald's if you want..." Her voice was soft, emotion laden.
"I'll bring you a sal..."
"It's fine Finn. Really."

He pulled into their cul de sac before he could further the conversation. She opened the door and walked the few steps from the van to the front door quickly. He saw how hunched her shoulders were and he wanted nothing more than to just run up the driveway and wrap her in his arms. But he had to get the kids. That's what she wanted. Probably what she needed. They needed normal, even if it was just one facet.
He made sure she was in the house before backing out of the driveway again and making the short drive to his mother and stepfather's house. They'd agreed to watch the kids today while Finn and Rachel made the trip to Cincinnati. He knew he was going to get it when he got there, his mother would have a million questions. They'd known Rachel had been sick and he knew where everyone's mind went when they found out Rachel was sick with anything other than the sniffles. Babies. Everyone assumed they were having another baby, even though they had insisted time and time again that they were done. Over. That was it. Rachel had had difficult pregnancies each time, given that each of their children, even their little girl had been huge.

He pulled into his parents driveway and parked the van. He stretched when he was out of the van and slowly walked up the drive slowly. He blew out a breath when he came to the door and took a beat before opening it. He was immediately met with the cacophony of noise his children were making and his heart ached. He followed the noise and found them in the living room playing Wii sports with his step-father and mother. His seven year old, Bianca was the first one to notice his presence after a good few minutes.
"Daddy!" She dropped the remote she was holding and clamored to the other side of the room where her father was standing.
"Hey baby girl" He smiled softly as the tall little girl launched herself at him. He kissed her head as he watched the game end and the rest of the family turn their attention to him. His mother, Carol smiled as the two little boys, Bryce and Brayden attacked his legs.
"Where's Rach?' She smiled, ruffling Brayden's hair.
"Oh. I dropped her off at home. She was really tired after drive..." He nudge to the kids and sent them to get their shoes and coats on while Burt joined Carol and Finn.
"So...what did the doctor say?" Carol looked at him curiously.
Finn rubbed the back of his neck. "I...Listen, she didn't want me to say anything. But will you guys come over tomorrow night? For dinner?" Carol eyed her son suspiciously.
"Of course. Is everything okay?"
Finn sighed. "It will be." He repeated his words again with more confidence but he wasn't sure who he was trying to convince more, his parents or himself. He just hoped he was right. Remember, it wasn't supposed to happen like this.