Finn walked down the hallway on his way to the kitchen to make school lunches.
"Ophelia Curry Hudson! Your butt better be out of that bed and getting dressed!" he hollered as he passed her door. He tried not to smile when he heard her groan from the other side.
He had just finished with Cory's lunch and was about to start on Opi's when his son came racing into the kitchen and hid behind his legs.
"Cory! Son, what are you doing?"
"Opi's gonna hit me daddy!"
Finn sighed. "Why would your sister hit you?"
"Well… I maybe… sorta, kinda hid her favorite shoes and possibly can't, umm… you know, remember where I hid them." The boy's cheeks turned a dark shade of pink and he wouldn't look his father in the eye.
"Cory!" Ophelia came stomping into the kitchen yelling. "Where is he daddy? I know that little stinker is in here somewhere!"
"Opi calm down and quit yelling. You're gonna wake up your mom."
That statement made the eight-year-old diva stop in her tracks. "Mom's home?"
Finn nodded as he continued to make his little girl's lunch.
"I want mom!" Cory demanded loudly.
"Son, mommy didn't get home until late from the cast party. You'll see her later, after school. Now, would you two please stop fighting and get ready to leave? We have to leave in ten minutes or we're all going to be late."
"Umm, daddy…"
"What Opi?"
"I may or may not have forgotten to tell you that I'm supposed to bring something in for the party in our class today." Ophelia toed at the floor.
"Oh, for the love of Grilled Cheesus! Ophelia! Come on, seriously?" Finn pinched the bridge of his nose trying to hold off the headache he could already feel coming on.
"I'm s-sorry daddy." Opi looked like she was close to tears.
Her father looked at her and narrowed his eyes. "Little Miss Hudson don't even try it. You and your mother! You both have three different types of crying and I am not falling for it today. Now, get your butt dressed. We'll have to stop at the bakery on the way to school."
He looked down at Cory, "and you, little dude, need to get your butt in gear too. Did you even brush your teeth yet?"
"Not yet daddy."
"Well hop to it! Both of you! We don't have all day." Finn barked out the orders.
Both children raced off immediately. Their dad didn't yell very often but when he did – look out!
…
Ophelia grabbed a different pair of shoes and slid into the bathroom nearly knocking her brother over in a bid to get some room at the sink.
"Move it squirt! I gots to brush my teeth too."
"Oooh, I'm tellin' mom. You're not supposed to talk like Auntie Tana."
"Ya, well, tell on me and the vintage Power Rangers Uncle Puck gave you may or may not have an unfortunate accident."
Cory's six-year-old eyes got as wide as they could. "You-you wouldn't!" he screeched loudly.
Ophelia snorted. "Try me."
The boy's lip started to quiver. "You're a meanie Opi! One of these days someone's gonna drop a house on you too!" He put his toothbrush back in the holder and ran out of the bathroom.
She smirked as she watched him go then turned back to brush her teeth only to come face-to-face with her mother's reflection in the mirror. The little girl turned pale.
"M-mommy?"
"Ophelia Hudson when you get home from school today we are going to have a long, long talk about acceptable behavior toward your little brother." Rachel raised her eyebrow at her daughter, almost daring her to say a word.
"Yes mommy."
"Now finish brushing your teeth and bring me the hairbrush. I might as well fix your hair since I'm up."
Rachel headed toward the kitchen looking for Finn. She found him putting all their things by the front door and she could see him checking things off his mental checklist. It always made her smile to watch him.
He looked up suddenly, grinning widely when he saw her. "Hey."
"Hi," she padded across the room in her slippers, leaning up for a kiss when she reached him.
His arms closed around her small frame and he lifted her up in the air, kissing her softly. Rachel wound her arms around his neck as she kissed him back.
"Did the kids wake you, baby?"
"Yes. Your daughter is quite the little terrorist. I'm not sure she should be spending so much time with Santana."
Finn chuckled as he placed her on the ground. "Rachel we talked about this, it's just dance classes. Tana and Brit own one of the best dance studios in the city."
"Well that may be, but, she is corrupting my baby! I just heard my sweet little Ophelia threaten her brother's Power Rangers for snitching," she huffed.
His chuckle turned into a full laugh. "That does sound like Santana."
"Not funny, Finn." She stomped her foot.
He laughed harder. "Tana not the only one Opi's picked up tyrant traits from," he smirked at his wife.
Rachel's eyes narrowed. "Finn, I know you're not implying that I am a tyrant, are you?"
"Absolutely" - he leaned down and kissed her on the nose - "not." He kissed her cheek. "It's not implied, if it's a stated and proven fact."
He laughed and jumped back, out of her reach.
"Arrgh!" Rachel put her hands on her hips. "You are not a funny man!"
"Oh, come on, babe, I'm just teasing you." He wrapped his arms back around her. "I love you, tyrant and all."
Rachel rolled her eyes. "You're lucky you're adorable, you know that, right?"
He just laughed.
…
Finn was helping Cory with his shoes while Rachel brushed Opi's hair.
Once the kids were ready to leave, Finn clapped his hands together, "Alright kiddos, let's get a move on. We still have to stop at the bakery. Everyone tell mom goodbye and give kisses."
Cory threw himself at his mom's legs. "I don't wanna go! I wanna stay with mommy." He pouted and turned his big brown eyes on his mom.
"Aww, baby," Rachel cooed at him and bent down hugging him close. "You have to go to school, sweetheart, but guess what? Mommy has the next two days off from the play so I'll be able to pick you up today and we'll go get take out for dinner, okay?"
He smiled brightly at his mom. "Okay mommy! I love you." Then he hugged her and kissed her again.
"I love you too, baby."
Ophelia waited until her brother moved away before approaching her mother. "Sorry about earlier, mom."
"I'm sure you are, but we're still gonna have a talk after school." Rachel smiled at her daughter before drawing her into a hug. "I love you. Now go have a good day."
"I love you too, mom." Ophelia squeezed her mother tight before turning away.
The two siblings decided to race for the elevator.
"Wait for me, guys!" Finn hollered.
He grinned over at Rachel. "Bye babe, go back to bed for awhile."
She smiled and nodded. "I probably will. I love you; have a good day."
"I love you more," he said as he kissed her goodbye. "Oh! And thanks for picking up take out, I can tell this day is just gonna be crazy."
Rachel stood there and smiled at the door for a few minutes, even after it had closed. She took a deep breath and shut her eyes to enjoy the silence. Locking the door before heading down the hall to her bedroom, Rachel muttered to herself, "I love my family."
Requested one-shot continuation: Finn is stressed in morning trying to get the kids ready for school and Rachel's still in bed because she went to an after-party and is sleeping in. Ophelia didn't want to wake up and is fighting with her brother Cory then she forgot something. It's just that kind of day… then take out.
I hope I got it right. Enjoy!
Hugs, Melissa
