Chapter 2
The occupants of the room stared in horror as LeRoy and Hiram Berry came barging into the courtroom. LeRoy was fuming, and Hiram seemed to be in shock. Finn pulled Rachel towards him protectively as Rachel clung to him, and the guys, Will and Burt stood around the newlyweds in a protective stance. The girls took Beth out of the room so she wouldn't witness what was about to take place. Shelby glared at Hiram and LeRoy as she stood next to Finn and Rachel.
"How dare you!" hissed Shelby to the two Berry men. "She's our daughter!"
"You're too late anyways," Puck added. "They had already signed the marriage license before the ceremony since they had no Ketubah. You have three seconds to get out of this room before I personally escort you out."
"You went behind our backs, Rachela, how could you?" LeRoy asked. "We told you not to ever see Finn again."
"And who are you to tell a grown woman and man what to do?" Burt butted in. "I know all about what you threatened my son with. Granted, I wasn't their biggest supporter the first time they tried to get married, but now, they've grown and learned from their mistakes and are taking responsibility for their actions."
Meanwhile, outside the courtroom, the girls were eavesdropping as Quinn sat with Beth on a bench.
"Mommy, who was that?" Beth asked.
"Those are Rachie's daddies," Quinn replied. "Momma Shelby gave Rachel to them so they could have a baby just like Daddy and I gave you to Momma Shelby."
"Why are they mad?" Beth pouted.
"Because they've never wanted Rachie to marry Uncle Finn," Quinn replied. "They want Rachie to be a star on Broadway and they raised her like a pig for slaughter."
"But I like Uncle Finn, he's funny," Beth replied.
"He is, isn't he," murmured Quinn with a smile.
"He calls me Drizzy," Beth replied and Quinn let out a loud laugh.
"He gave you that nickname before you were born," Quinn said to Beth. "It's a long story but he told me he thought your name should be Drizzle. I was mad at him for that."
"I like it though," said Beth as she looked at her feet and swung her legs.
"You understand why Daddy and I did what we did, right?" Quinn asked.
"You gave me to Momma because she wanted a baby," Beth said to Quinn.
"Yes, but Daddy and I were just babies ourselves when we had you, we weren't actually ready," said Quinn. "But Daddy and I are grateful that Momma Shelby is letting us get to see you and explain things to you because I know you would be confused growing up."
"Are you and Daddy gonna have another baby? Beth asked. "I'd like a sister."
"Maybe in a couple years," Quinn smiled. "Mommy is still trying to finish school so she can become a teacher and teach kids. Why a sister? Wouldn't you want a brother?"
"No, boys are icky," said Beth and Quinn laughed.
"Well, Daddy's a boy, and he's not icky," said Quinn.
"That's because he's Daddy," Beth replied. "There's a boy at my pre-school that eats dirt everyday."
"Ew, that is icky," Quinn murmured, but picturing in her mind Puck doing the same thing a few years back for a dare and she smiled.
Back in the courtroom, the tension was high as LeRoy Berry continued to argue with the Hummels and the newlyweds. The justice had immediately retreated to her office to call the bailiff for backup. Hiram just stood there, unable to say anything.
"How in the hell did you know we were getting married anyways?" Rachel asked her father. "We didn't tell anyone except those that we wanted to!"
"We received a phone call from an anonymous person saying that you two were getting married and that if we wanted our daughter to not screw up her life then to stop the wedding," LeRoy replied.
"Mr. Schue was the last person we called." Puck replied angrily.
"Yeah, all of us underclassmen were with him in the choir room when we got the phone call about four thirty," Sam added as the bailiff entered the courtroom.
"There's only one person I can think of that would still be hanging around school then," Finn growled. "Coach Sylvester." Rachel fumed as did Will.
"Excuse me gentlemen," interrupted the bailiff, "but I am going to have to ask you both to leave. You are causing a disturbance."
"Actually, I'm not," said Hiram. "I came with my husband to try and stop him from interrupting the wedding." He turned to Rachel and Finn.
"Rachel, Finn, I'm sorry for my behavior this past year and a half," Hiram continued. "I had no right to force you on the train Rachela, and Finn, I had no right to do what I did. I just want my little girl happy and I can clearly see Finn makes you the happiest you ever have been. And also, I wanted to come here because I know which one of us is your real father."
"What?" Shelby, Rachel, Finn, and the boys chorused. Hiram turned to LeRoy.
"LeRoy, I'm Rachel's biological father," said Hiram. Rachel and Shelby gasped. "I know this because our sperm was never mixed at the clinic. Your sperm wasn't up to the clinic's standards so they used only mine."
"Are you serious, Daddy?" Rachel asked. "You knew this whole time? Why didn't you tell me?"
LeRoy was standing in shock at the revelation as the bailiff tried to escort him out.
"Because I knew there would be a day when you would be getting married and having babies of your own and you would need to know the truth," said Hiram. "I'm so sorry, Rachela, can you ever forgive me."
Rachel cried and nodded and Hiram pulled his little girl into a hug.
"I knew it, I always knew it," Shelby murmured. "She just looked too much like me and too much like Hiram."
"LeRoy, I'll meet you downstairs," Hiram said. "You and I need to talk privately, maybe even back in Lima."
LeRoy exited the courtroom with the bailiff behind him and Hiram looked down at his daughter.
"Rachela, I'll call you when I get home," said Hiram. "I love you very much, and again I'm sorry your wedding day was ruined. I promise to make it up to you both."
"Thanks, we appreciate that Mr. Berry," said Finn, shaking his hand. "I promise to take care of your little girl, she's my life."
"It's Dad or Hiram to you now, Son," Hiram replied.
"Daddy, we weren't going to tell either of you when we were ready, but we wanted to tell you that Finn and I are having a baby. We didn't mean for it to happen, we got a little carried away at Mr. Schue's almost wedding on Valentine's Day."
"Oh Rachela, I understand, it happens," said Hiram. "I'm not upset with you about it, I'm not. In fact, I kind of want a grandchild just because I'm getting old." Everyone laughed, including Rachel who half-sobbed, half-laughed.
"I'll call you later and we can discuss NYADA future plans and stuff, okay?" Hiram asked. Rachel nodded and Hiram kissed her head. He patted Finn's shoulder and apologized to the Hummels and the others. He turned to Shelby.
"I'll call you later to discuss things, okay?" Hiram asked. Shelby nodded and Hiram waved to the group and exited the building. As soon as he was out of view, the girls and Beth came back in.
"What happened?" Quinn hissed as she handed Beth off to Puck.
"Hiram's my real dad, and he's not against the marriage or pregnancy or anything," Rachel replied.
"You're kidding!" Mercedes replied. "Did he know this whole time?" Rachel nodded.
"I have a feeling my dads are getting divorced now because of this," Rachel sighed sadly.
"Actually, your father and I have been talking for awhile and he told me it's been an ongoing thing since the day you got put on the train," Shelby butted in. "I was furious with them for what they had done to you, that's why I've been coming back into your life, because every girl needs their mom for the girl things and your fathers have just never understood women."
"Well, now that the drama's all over, how about we eat?" Rachel asked. "Baby wants food."
The group laughed.
An hour later, the group had arrived at Sardis. Finn and Rachel had called and made reservations at the restaurant that brought them back together junior year. They only saw it fitting that they have their wedding dinner there. The group laughed and talked for what seemed like hours. A shock came to the group, still dressed in their wedding garments, when a voice interrupted their meal.
"Hello there Miss Berry, it's nice to see you and your cute date again."
Rachel and Finn looked up and gasped. It was Patti LuPone.
"Ms. LuPone, it's so nice to see you again!" said Rachel.
"I see you married the cute one," Patti said with a smile.
"She sure did," Finn smiled at Rachel and then grinned at Patti.
"Ms. LuPone, these are our friends from the show choir we were in when we first met you," said Rachel. The group of New Directions chorused hello, including Kurt, who was star-struck.
"That's my brother Kurt and his boyfriend, they're your biggest fans next to Rachel," Finn thumbed over to the two boys, who looked ready to fangirl.
"Hello Kurt, hello boytoy, it's nice to meet my fans," said Patti. The group roared with laughter as Kurt and Blaine hugged the woman, thanking her for changing their lives.
"And these are my parents," Finn motioned to Burt and Carole.
"Congressman Hummel, I thought I recognized you," Patti replied as she shook their hands. "I read about your effort to keep Fine Arts in schools. Thank you for that."
"Thank you for inspiring my kids and their friends," said Burt. "We need to keep the creativity in schools."
"I agree," said Patti, reaching into her purse. She handed him a business card. "I understand you start your re-election soon. Give me a call, I would like to help with your re-election."
"Thank you very much," said Burt, astonished.
"And this is my mother, you might recognize her," Rachel motioned to Shelby.
"Shelby Corcoran, yes, it has been twenty years," Patti smiled and hugged her old Broadway friend.
"Hello Patti," said Shelby.
"I saw your show, and out of everyone, you were the only one I truly enjoyed," said Patti.
"Thank you for those tips again," Shelby smiled. Patti felt a tug on her leg and she looked down to see Beth smiling.
"Well hello there, and what's your name?" Patti asked.
"Hi, I'm Beth, I'll be three next month and you're really pretty," Beth replied. "I gots to be the flower girl."
"And don't you just look the part," said Patti, pinching Beth's cheek. "You're very pretty too."
"Shelby adopted Beth from us," Quinn replied with a smile as Puck wrapped his arm around her.
"Oh, I see, how precious, she really looks like you two," said Patti. "Well, I would love to stay, but I have a meeting to get to. I'm producing a new Broadway show. Shelby, Rachel, if either of you are interested, give me a call. Okay? Burt has my number there. That's my office."
"Thank you," Shelby and Rachel replied in shock.
"Wait, can we take a picture before you leave?" Kurt asked. "It would be nice for the bride and groom to remember this from their wedding day."
"Of course," replied Patti with a smile. Kurt asked the waiter to take the picture with his phone and after Patti and the group took the picture. Patti bid them goodbye as the group thanked her and as she left, Rachel beamed.
"Best Wedding Present ever," Rachel replied.
The group continued to eat their meal and reminisce about the good old days at McKinley.
"Regionals are coming up soon, do you guys have a plan?" Finn asked Will.
"Yes, we've got it all lined up," said Will. "I hope you all can come cheer them on."
"We'll try to," said Rachel. Just then, Shelby's phone rang.
"Hello?" Shelby answered as the group watched. "Oh hi, Marcie." There was a pause. "I'm actually celebrating my daughter Rachel's wedding at the moment." Another pause. "I see. And they haven't shown up? Okay, if you give me an hour or so I can be there. Not a problem, thanks for letting me know. See you soon." Shelby hung up and turned to the others.
"A couple of my employees never showed up to relieve my day shift workers," said Shelby. "I need to go into work. Puck, Quinn, would you be able to watch Beth for the night for me?"
"Sure," said Puck and Quinn.
"Great," said Shelby, handing them a key. "Here's the key to my brownstone. If you're hungry later there's plenty of food to eat in the fridge. Beth's bedtime is eight o'clock."
"Okay Shelby, thanks, she's in good hands," said Quinn. Shelby leaned over and kissed Beth.
"Be good for Daddy and Mommy, Booboo, Momma's gotta go to work, but I'll see you in the morning, okay?" Shelby asked.
"Okay Momma, I love you," said Beth, hugging her.
"Love you too, Sweetheart," said Shelby. She turned to the newlyweds and hugged them both.
"I love you both, I'm sorry I have to cut out so soon," Shelby said, kissing Rachel and Finn on the cheeks.
"We love you too Mom, and we understand," said Rachel, hugging her. "Go, before traffic gets crazy."
"Bye everyone, have a safe trip back to wherever you're going!" said Shelby after hugging the Hummels.
"Bye," the group replied. As she disappeared, Tina looked up from her phone.
"You guys, there's a carnival in Central Park!" said Tina excitedly. "We should all go there next!"
"Great idea!" said Rachel gleefully.
"A carnival? With ponies?" Beth replied excitedly. "And cotton candy? Can we go Mommy, please?" She turned to Quinn and made the signature Fabray Puppy Dog pout and Puck roared with laughter.
"Oh how can I say no to that face?" asked Quinn. "Why not, it's only three o'clock. We shouldn't be there much more than a couple hours or so."
"Well let's get going!" said Finn. "Waiter? Check please!"
Puck and Quinn carried a sleeping Beth up the stairs of Shelby's brownstone. Well, Quinn carried Beth, and Puck carried all of the stuffed animals and souvenirs that the former New Directions had won or bought for their adopted niece.
"Shelby's going to kill Rachel for all this stuff," Puck murmured as he turned the key into the lock and opened the door. He closed the door behind the three and they walked upstairs with Beth. They tucked Beth, still in her flower girl dress, into bed.
"There's no point in trying to change her clothes," Quinn whispered. "Beth would wake up." Puck and Quinn both kissed the top of their daughter's head and walked back downstairs and sat on the sofa. The two sat and watched some television for awhile when Shelby's house phone suddenly rang.
"Hello, Corcoran residence, may I help you?" Puck answered.
"Yes, I'm trying to get ahold of any next of kin that might be kin to a Shelby Corcoran?" answered the voice on the other end.
"Next of kin? Who's asking?" Puck asked.
"I'm Frieda Walters, I am with the emergency room at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital," said the woman.
"Is Shelby okay?" Puck asked.
"Are you next of kin?" Frieda asked.
"Sort of," replied Puck. "She adopted mine and my girlfriend's daughter a few years ago and we're babysitting for her. My name is Noah Puckerman.
"Mr. Puckerman, I'm sorry to inform you, but Ms. Corcoran was severely injured in an automobile accident," said Frieda. "Would you and your girlfriend be able to come down to the emergency room as soon as possible? And do you know if Shelby has any other family?"
"Yes, her daughter Rachel Berry-Hudson, let me give you the number," said Puck. He gave Frieda Rachel's cell phone number and thanked her and hung up.
"What happened?" asked Quinn.
"Shelby's been injured in an accident, we need to go to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital," Puck replied with a grim look on his face. Quinn gasped.
"Beth," Quinn replied. "What's going to happen to Beth?"
"I would assume if Shelby dies, we get her back," said Puck as they hurried up the stairs to Beth's room. He carefully woke up the little girl.
"Beth, baby, we need to change your clothes," said Puck.
"Wha-" Beth mumbled.
"Baby, we have to go to the hospital, Momma Shelby got hurt and we need to get you out of this dress, okay?" Quinn asked. "You can go back to sleep in Daddy's truck."
"Momma's hurt?" pouted Beth.
"Yes, Sweetie," said Quinn as Puck got Beth a change of clothes and Quinn helped Beth get changed.
"She okay?" Beth asked.
"I don't know, Sweetie, we'll find out when we get there," said Quinn.
Puck and Quinn arrived at Columbia Presbyterian a half hour later, Beth asleep in Puck's arms, to find Finn, a sobbing Rachel, and the others sitting in the waiting room of the emergency department.
"How is she?" Puck asked Finn.
"It doesn't look good, Bro," said Finn. "A drunk driver hit her head-on Uptown. She's in surgery at the moment."
"Oh Rach, I'm so sorry," said Quinn as she hugged her friend and Rachel sobbed into Quinn's shoulder.
"Me too Quinn, Beth doesn't deserve to lose Shelby," said Rachel.
"Don't get stressed, Rach, the baby," Quinn replied.
"I know, it's just that it's my mom, and we were just getting to really get to know each other," Rachel sniffed.
"Family of Shelby Corcoran?" asked a doctor as he came out into the waiting room.
"That's us," Will said to the doctor. He was selected as the representative of the group since Rachel was in a somber state.
"I'm sorry folks, but Ms. Corcoran died on the operating table," said the doctor sadly. The girls immediately consoled Rachel, who sobbed more as Finn hugged her and cried as well.
"I'm so sorry, Baby," Finn whispered.
"If you would like to see her, we can let you all back a few at a time," said the doctor.
"We'll go last," Quinn said to the others, motioning to Rachel, Finn, her, Puck and Beth.
"Okay," said Carole. The others went back in groups of four to say goodbye to their former teacher and friend and then Finn, Rachel, Puck, Quinn and Beth went in to say goodbye. Puck and Rachel immediately began to recite a prayer in Hebrew, as Finn silently said a prayer of his own.
"We'll have to make arrangements with her rabbi and her lawyer," Rachel spoke when they were finished reciting the prayer. "We need to figure out what happens with Beth, and we need to have her body prepared for burial."
Rachel spoke with the doctor and expressed the death beliefs of their Jewish faith and the doctor agreed, stating that Shelby's body would stay down in the morgue until they could arrange her burial. Rachel gave him her information and stated she would call in the morning after speaking with Shelby's rabbi.
"Now what's going to happen to me, Mommy?" Beth asked sadly.
"You're going to live with Daddy and me, of course," said Quinn. "We'll go back to Momma's and yours' house so we can get your things packed and then you will come live with us in New Haven, how's that sound?"
"Okay," replied Beth as she yawned in Puck's arms.
Back at Shelby's, Puck and Quinn had put Beth back to bed while Finn and Rachel made phone calls. The rabbi stated that Shelby's body must be buried as soon as possible so Rachel and Finn agreed to call the funeral home down the street first thing in the morning. They also made a call to Shelby's lawyer, and he stated he would get her will and come over first thing in the morning.
The group spent the night making preparations, including packing up Beth's belongings as well as Shelby's. They fell asleep around two a.m. and Rachel woke up about eight to the sound of her phone ringing.
"Hello?" Rachel asked.
"Hi Rachel, this is Michael, Shelby's lawyer, I'm sorry if I woke you up, but I wanted to call and let you know that I will be over around noon to discuss the will," said the lawyer.
"Oh, that's fine and thanks for letting me know," said Rachel. "We had a late night trying to pack Beth's things and sort through my mother's."
"That's also why I called, I wanted to let you know that the house went to you if anything happened to Shelby, so I wanted to give you a heads up when it came to taking care of the bigger items like the furniture."
"Oh, oh gosh," murmured Rachel. "Okay, thank you, we'll see you at noon." Rachel hung up and she turned to Finn, who was staring at her.
"What is it Baby?" Finn replied.
"Shelby left us the house," Rachel stated.
"Seriously?" Finn asked, sitting up right in the guest room bed.
"That was her lawyer, he wanted to give us a heads up that he's coming over at noon, and that he wanted to let us know the house is ours so we don't have to pack up the furniture or anything else important." Rachel sobbed.
"Hey, hey, it's okay Baby," said Finn, shushing the sobbing girl. "Hey, do you want to make breakfast for Puck, Quinn and Beth?" Rachel nodded and Finn smiled and kissed the top of her head.
"I'll start cooking, you lay back down and get some more sleep," said Finn. He got up and got dressed and headed down into the kitchen. Puck was sitting on the sofa, watching the news.
"Hey Bro, how's Beth holding up?" Finn asked.
"Alright," Puck replied. "Q and I explained everything and she understands that Shelby's in heaven and that Beth will come live with us now."
"Good," said Finn as he started to make breakfast. "I'm gonna make some breakfast, the lawyer is going to be here at Noon. Shelby left the house to Rach and me."
"Wow, and I'm guess Beth is mine and Q's again, right?" Puck asked.
"I would think so," Finn replied. "I think it would be in Beth's better interest anyways."
The girls walked into the kitchen at the smell of Puck cooking eggs and Finn frying bacon. After breakfast, they got showered and changed and at Noon, as Finn laid out lunch for everyone, the doorbell rang. Finn answered it and Michael stood at the door.
"Hello, you must be Finn Hudson, I'm Michael Wilkes, Shelby's attorney," said Michael.
"Yes Sir, please come in," Finn motioned to him. He led Michael into the dining room, where everyone else sat.
"Hello, you must be Rachel," Michael greeted Rachel as he extended his hand to her. "I'm so sorry for your loss."
"Thank you," Rachel replied.
"And you two must be Puck and Quinn," Michael said to the other two, shaking their hands as well. He looked down at Beth.
"Hello Beth, I'm so sorry about your Momma," Michael said, patting the little girl's shoulder.
"Thank you," Beth replied shyly.
"Okay," said Michael as he sat down and rested a manila folder in front of him. "Let's begin, shall we?" He pulled out his reading glasses and opened the folder and started to read.
"I, Shelby Corcoran, being of sound mind and body, do hereby make this my last Will and Testament, on this day, February Fourteenth, Two-Thousand and Thirteen." Rachel gasped.
"I understand your shock, she had just re-drafted it," Michael replied. He cleared his throat.
"I hereby bequeath the following to my oldest and only biological child, Rachel Barbra Berry. My current home at 29 E. 14th Street in New York City. I also leave her the sum of fifty thousand dollars, to be put towards her education at NYADA or any potential Broadway endeavors. Should neither of those happen, the money is to be used for any of my future grandchildren."
Rachel sobbed, now knowing what she had to do.
"I wish for custody of my adopted daughter be returned to her birth parents, Noah Puckerman and Quinn Fabray. Whether they are together or not, I want Beth to be with her biological parents. The rest of my estate is to be equally divided among Rachel and Noah and Quinn so that Noah and Quinn can raise Beth and give her a good life. Thank you Noah and Quinn for letting me be a part of your little girl's life. Beth, sweetheart, Momma loves you always."
Rachel stood with Quinn and Beth as Finn and Puck finished packing Beth's things up into the back of Puck's truck a few days later. Shelby's funeral had been small and somber. Beth was now legally Puck and Quinn's again after the two spent the last two days signing papers and talking to Social Services. Quinn had called her superintendent of her and Puck's apartment building and explained what had happened and he luckily had a 2 bedroom apartment available so they would move apartments when they got back to New Haven.
"Call us as soon as you guys get back to New Haven," Rachel said to Quinn, hugging her.
"We will," Quinn said. "We love you guys, we'll be back soon."
"Yeah, if anything, it might be you two that walk down the aisle next," teased Finn as Puck shut the rear hatch of his truck closed. Puck and Quinn blushed.
"I don't know, maybe not for awhile," Quinn smiled as she shared a glance with Puck. Puck scratched his head in thought.
"You may as well tell them, Babe," Puck replied, shrugging his shoulders.
"Tell us what?" Rachel asked curioisly as Finn looked at the two puzzled.
"Well, we were waiting to tell everyone cause we didn't want to steal your guys' thunder," Quinn started, "but Puck asked me to marry him the other night when you two got back together." Rachel gasped and Finn grinned as he hugged Puck.
"Really? You two are finally doing it and getting hitched?" Finn asked Puck.
"She said yes," Puck smiled as Quinn pulled a stunning ring out of her purse and put it on her finger. "It was my Nana's engagement ring, Mom gave it to me to give Quinn."
"It's beautiful," Rachel gushed as Quinn showed her the ring. "When? When are you two gonna get married?"
"Actually, we set our date the other night in the loft," Puck asked. "We were actually going to have a quick wedding in June. Just to get it done and over with. Neither of us want to convert religions, so we just want to have a Justice of the Peace marry us too."
"And you know you two will be standing up with us," Quinn said to Rachel. Rachel nodded and hugged her best friend as Finn nodded and hugged Puck.
"It's just going to be you two, Beth, our moms, my sister, maybe Puck's sister, and Jake," Quinn replied. "Everyone else is going to be so busy I know."
"Maybe, but I'm sure the others would want to be there," said Finn, shrugging his shoulders.
"Hey, we better get going so we don't get stuck in rush hour traffic," Puck said to Quinn. "Come on Monkey Face, Daddy's gotta put you in the booster seat." The three said goody bye to Finn and Rachel and hugged them again and the three drove away, leaving Finn and Rachel standing on the empty New York sidewalk.
"Well, come on Hudson, we have a doctor's appointment today and then I need to go speak with Madame Tibedeux about dropping Cassandra July's dance class." Rachel pulled him up the steps. "That and expose Brody and Cassandra to her. You're at least my witness for Brody."
"I can't wait to see our baby today," Finn smiled as he pulled her into the brownstone. He kissed her gently.
"Me either," Rachel smiled, kissing him back and she pulled him into the bedroom.
Rachel and Finn sat in her doctor's office a couple hours later, nervously waiting for Rachel's doctor to come in.
"It's probably too early to tell what Peanut is, right?" Finn asked Rachel.
"Well, I'm eight weeks, so we need to wait at least another month if not two to determine what the baby is," Rachel told Finn. "I really do think it's a girl."
"So do I," Finn smiled as he kissed her. The door opened and Rachel's doctor smiled at the sight of them.
"Isn't that what got you two in this mess in the first place?" teased the doctor. Rachel blushed as Finn laughed.
"Hi Dr. Greene," said Rachel.
"How are you today, Rachel? How is your morning sickness?" Dr. Greene asked.
"It was really bad last week but it's not as bad now," Rachel replied.
"Good," said Dr. Greene. "And I heard about your mom, I'm sorry for your loss."
"Thanks," said Rachel.
"And you must be Finn," said Dr. Greene, shaking Finn's hand.
"Yes Ma'am," Finn replied.
"Well, would you two like to see your baby today?" Dr. Greene asked as she put on a pair of gloves.
"Yes please," Rachel and Finn replied. Dr. Greene nodded and wheeled the ultrasound machine over to Rachel and turned it on.
"This is going to be a little cold at first, Rachel," started Dr. Greene as she held up the gel, "but it will warm up in a minute." She lifted up Rachel's shirt and squeezed the gel on to Rachel's belly. Dr. Greene placed the wand on top of the gel and Finn froze as he heard a soft series of thumps and wooshing.
"What's that?" Finn asked.
"That's the baby's heartbeat," Dr. Greene said with a smile. "Ah, here we go. Rachel, Finn, say hello to your baby." Rachel and Finn stared in awe as they looked at the screen. Rachel burst into tears at the sight of their baby.
"Finn, that's our baby," Rachel said excitedly as she looked up at him. Finn was still staring at the screen in awe.
"That's our little Peanut?" Finn replied in disbelief. Last time he was in one of these offices, he was with Quinn when he thought he was Beth's father. "She looks huge."
"She must be taking after you," Rachel teased.
"That's your little Peanut," Dr. Green echoed. "Would you two like me to print you a couple pictures?"
"Yes, please," Rachel nodded. "Can we get like four or five to give to our families as well?"
"Of course," Dr. Green smiled.
"Everything looks good right?" Finn asked Dr. Greene. "I mean, she's not sprouting extra arms or legs in there, is she?" Dr. Greene chuckled as Rachel put a hand to her face in disbelief.
"Everything looks perfect, Finn," Dr. Greene replied. "And I love how you're calling your little Peanut a she."
"We both think it's a girl but we know it's too early," Rachel replied.
"Actually, Rachel, the last person you saw miscalculated your gestation when you came in for the first exam," Dr. Greene replied.
"What?" Rachel and Finn replied.
"You mean I'm not eight weeks?" Rachel asked fearfully.
"You're actually sixteen weeks," Dr. Greene said. Rachel gasped and Finn's jaw dropped.
"Are you sure?" Finn asked.
"According to the scan and the measurements, your baby was conceived mid-November," said Dr. Greene.
"Finn, it was the night of Grease," Rachel murmured. "Remember? When I came over after we talked in the hallway?"
Finn continued to stare.
"How did you not know?" Finn asked Rachel.
"I don't know, I assumed my periods had stopped because of my dance class," said Rachel. "I only realized I was probably pregnant was because I spotted once before the wedding and then had the morning sickness on and off. Oh my god, I've been dancing hardcore with our little peanut."
"That's probably why you are a little underweight yourself, but the baby is a good size, so there's no need for alarm," Dr. Greene replied to Rachel's revelation. "Some exercise is good. As for the spotting, that's normal in the first trimester."
"Oh good," said Rachel as she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Anyways, before I print the pictures, I wanted to see if you two wanted to know if it's a girl or not?" Dr. Greene continued.
"Yes, please tell us," Rachel replied as Finn nodded. Dr. Greene smiled and as she moved the wand over the baby again, Rachel bawled as they got a better look.
"Finn, she's really a girl," Rachel sobbed.
"Really? We're really having our little girl?" Finn asked excitedly.
"That you are, that's your little girl," said Dr. Greene. She smiled as Finn and Rachel kissed and printed the pictures and handed them to Finn.
"I'll get you all cleaned up here and then I want to see you in a month for your next checkup," said Dr. Greene.
"Thank you for meeting with us, Madame Tibedeux," Rachel said later that afternoon as she and Finn sat in Carmen Tibedeux's office.
"When you told me what was going on, I had to do some of my own investigating," said Madame Tibedeux. "Brody Weston has been expelled from NYADA, and Cassandra July has been let go from her position for sleeping with Brody. We frown upon anything like that at NYADA. And you wanted to drop the dance class, why?"
"Because Finn and I found out that we're having a baby," Rachel said nervously.
"An unplanned but a loved one," Finn added. "She's going to be a star like her mother."
"As talented as the two of you are, yes, I am sure she will be," Carmen replied with a smile. "Congratulations." She said it so heartfelt and honestly that Rachel's jaw dropped in surprise.
"It's no surprise. I had my first child at a young age, and I was alone and without her father," said Carmen as she got up and walked over to a file cabinet. "I've been there, believe you me. It's hard, but I managed to finish school after I had her and look at me now."
Carmen pulled Rachel's file from the cabinet and set it down on her desk.
"Okay, let's find you some proper classes you can take that aren't so stressful," Carmen smiled as she made a note next to the dance class as "Exempt from completing until further notice".