I'm sorry I haven't updated in so long. Been super busy with school. High school is SO much harder than middle school, especially when you go to a high school like mine, where I seem to have a test every other day and a project due at least twice a week. The good news is I'm on Thanksgiving break, so I should have Chapter 4 up soon. Thanks to those of you who haven't given up on me! Please review so I know people are reading.

Chapter 3: The New Normal

The flight from New York to Cleveland for the burial was dead silent. The kids' stuff was being shipped off to the Puckermans' house and would be there when they went back to Lima.

Puck held Quinn in his arms on the flight. In front of them were the two boys, with the two girls across from the boys. None of the kids were talking. Everyone was still processing that Finn and Rachel were gone. It had all happened so quickly.

The burial would be small. Just the parents, siblings and children of Finn and Rachel. And the guardians of the children. The dedication at the graveside was very short, but Puck and Quinn agreed the kids probably couldn't handle a long service. The funeral director from the Cleveland funeral home led the family in a few prayers, then let the kids put flowers on the coffins before they were lowered into the ground. Finn and Rachel would be buried beside Jack's grave and the funeral director was the same one from Jack's funeral. The kids couldn't bear to stick around for the coffins to be lowered, so they said quick goodbyes to the family and then got in the car to Lima.

As they got into the car, Puck leaned over to Quinn and whispered, "Now what do we do?"

Quinn whispered back, "Guess it's time for on-the-job training."

Puck looked in the mirror in the car to see the four kids in the back seat. All four still had sullen, tired looks on their faces. He decided not to try to force them to talk. The kids would open up and talk to them when they were ready.

The deaths of Finn and Rachel were already hard enough for Puck and Quinn, who were just friends of theirs. They were more than "just friends" but had to acknowledge that this would be hardest for Ryan, Emma, Sarah and Grant, with the parents and siblings of Finn and Rachel a close second.

The car finally pulled into the Puckerman residence, where the moving truck was already waiting. Upon seeing the moving truck, Ryan turned to Puck and said, "Can we just unpack later?"

"Of course," Puck said, glad one of the kids had spoken to him.

"Where are our bedrooms?" Sarah asked.

"Both the guest rooms are upstairs," Quinn said. "I guess we'll just let the girls have the pink one and the boys have the blue one. The pink one has a double bed, and the blue one has twin beds. You girls won't mind sharing a bed, right?"

"Not at all," Sarah said as Emma shook her head.

"We'll try to find another house big enough for you each to get your own room," Puck said. "Until then - this'll have to do."

"It's fine, it really is," Ryan said.

Puck and Quinn led the kids into the house. Of course, in the living room was a photo of the entire Glee club when they won Nationals their senior year. The kids would see photos of their parents in the house.

"I want my mom and dad," Puck heard Grant say to Ryan.

"I know you do," Ryan said. "I do too."

Grant threw his arms around Ryan and began crying. Ryan hugged his brother back, looking close to tears himself. Emma and Sarah began rubbing their little brother's back, but they both also looked ready to cry.

It was clear how much these kids loved each other. They must have gotten it from their parents, who loved all with whom they came into contact with. Puck then decided not to enter into what the siblings were sharing. If the kids were to resent him and Quinn, he would understand. There was no way they could be their parents, not like Finn and Rachel had been.

"Puck!" Puck heard Quinn calling him and went into the kitchen.

Quinn was holding up an envelope. "These are some papers from the lawyer that we need to sign. There's also a letter from Finn and Rachel in here for us, but I wanted to read it with you - I didn't want to read it by myself."

"Of course you didn't," Puck said.

Quinn got out the envelope with their names on it in what Puck recognized as Finn's handwriting. Quinn opened the envelope where there were four more envelopes - one with each kid's name on it - then a letter for Puck and Quinn. Puck held Quinn's hand as they began reading the letter.

Dear Puck and Quinn,

If you are reading this letter, it means that we have both passed away. We've talked about it, and decided that the children be left to the two of you. Having to give up Beth was so hard for you and we hope that with our children, you can start the family you wanted.

We love and care for our children more than anything or anyone. We hoped the day when we couldn't be there for them would never come, but since you have been given this letter, that day has come. We had many people we considered giving our children to, but as our best friends, we wanted you two to take care of them. We trust you and know you will finish our job better than we started it.

Encourage the kids to continue to follow their dreams. Make sure they know how much we loved them and that we still do, and we'll be watching them from above and still be proud of them. Let them know that while we will forever be their mother and father, it's okay for you to become their mom and dad.

We have enclosed a letter for each kid in this envelope. Please give them to the kids and tell them how much we loved them, and that we still do.

Last but not least, please know how much your friendships have meant to us over the years. While we've had our ups and downs, we could not have asked for two better friends. It's thanks to Glee that the four of us grew close and because of that, we have so many happy memories of the four of us. We hope those memories can bring you comfort during this difficult time.

It's been said that true friends are like stars - you can't always see them but we know they're always there. That has been true of you two. Though we now live in New York and you're in Ohio, we've known we can always call you too, and the days we visit each other are among the best on our calendar. Thank you for everything over the years. We know you will raise our children to become fine young adults. We love you and will watch over you.

Love,

Finn and Rachel

Quinn was crying when they finished the letter. Puck just held her close. "She was my best friend," Quinn sobbed. "But in the early years of high school, I was so awful to her! I wish I could take it back."

"Being her friend was enough to take it back," Puck said. "He was my best friend, and I got his girlfriend pregnant our sophomore year..."

"That's probably the best thing that could have happened though," Quinn said. "If you hadn't gotten me pregnant, you and I may never have gotten together and Finn and Rachel may never have gotten together."

"Why did they have to die?" Puck thought out loud.

"Good question," Quinn said. She picked up the four envelopes. "When should we give these to the kids?"

"How about we just let them have them now?" Puck asked.

"Okay," Quinn said. They went upstairs to find the four kids sitting on the bed in the guest room - that was now Emma and Sarah's bedroom.

"These are from your parents," Puck said, giving each kid the envelope with their name on it. "They had these prepared for you in case we were in this situation."

"Our parents always were prepared for everything," Ryan said. "Well, except for one of their kids to be diagnosed with cancer."

"I'm not surprised they wrote these letters for us," Emma said. "They were Finn and Rachel Hudson!"

Puck exchanged a look with Quinn, glad the kids were willing to talk about their parents.

"Uncle Kurt told us that in high school once our mom told him that she would dream of her own funeral," Emma said. "Of everyone speaking about their regrets. I guess she felt unappreciated..."

"Well, both your parents were very loved," Quinn said.

"It's typical of our mom to think that way," Sarah said. "She always was a drama queen in high school. She says that's where I get it."

"If you want to read the letters now, you can," Puck said, feeling that since the kids seemed to be in a better mindset, they could be left alone. "We'll be in the living room if you need us."

The rest of the day was quiet and slow. Puck and Quinn agreed to let the kids take a week off before they started at their new schools. They were also taking a week off of work, both their bosses were very understanding. Ryan and Emma would both be going to McKinley, the same high school where their parents fell in love. Sarah would be going to Jefferson Middle School and Grant would be going to Washington Elementary School.

Puck and Quinn ordered Breadstix for dinner and assured the kids that they didn't have to go to their new schools for another week. There was too much stress in their lives right now already to deal with new schools just yet.

The kids went to bed early and Puck and Quinn were sitting in the living room, looking through their old high school yearbooks. Finn and Rachel had both been so involved in high school, they'd been leaders, they had a great future ahead of them. They didn't even get a chance to finish everything they could have done in life.

Quinn nudged Puck and they looked up to see Ryan and Emma standing at the top of the stairs.

"Hey guys," Puck said. "Want to come join us?"

Ryan and Emma came down the stairs. "Grant and Sarah fell asleep, but we can't sleep," Ryan said. "As the oldest we kind of feel responsible for taking care of them - but it's so hard."

"You don't have to take care of them," Puck whispered. "That's why your parents asked us to take care of all four of you."

"I miss them so much," Emma said.

"I know you do," Quinn said.

This was going to be a very difficult task. Puck and Quinn had always wanted a family. Now they had one and felt guilty about it.