"Spiderman"
"I did it, Mommy!" Chris shouted excitedly as he blew out all five glowing candles on his Spiderman birthday cake.
"Great job, baby!" Rachel beamed, snapping a photo. She could hardly believe her little boy was five years old today. Hadn't they just brought him home from the hospital? She remembered how tiny he had looked, nestled between her and Finn on their bed as the two of them gazed at their little miracle.
Suddenly, Rachel's reminiscing was interrupted by Chris's wild laughter.
"Mommy, the candles are coming back!" he squealed with excitement.
"Wait, what on earth?" she gasped as the candles began to reignite, one by one. She watched in amazement as Chris huffed and puffed to extinguish the flames, only to see them light right back up again. Then she noticed her sneaky husband standing behind her son, looking like a big kid himself as he tried to stifle an incriminating giggle.
"Finn! Trick candles, for a five-year-old? Really?" she laughed. Finn grinned broadly.
"Here, let me help you with those, buddy," he laughed. "Daddy played a little birthday trick on you!" he said, helping Chris blow the candles out for the last time.
"Daddy, that was so cool!" exclaimed Chris. "How did you DO that, Daddy?"
Finn and Rachel couldn't help but chuckle at Chris's undying admiration for his father. He had been Daddy's boy ever since that beautiful September day when he arrived. Rachel remembered it all so clearly. Through the years they had dated and the short time they were married before Chris came along, Rachel and Finn always seemed to take turns leaning on one another. When money was tight and the rent was due, Rachel was the level-headed one to keep Finn from becoming overwhelmed by financial stress. When Rachel would panic over auditions and callbacks, Finn would always be the one to keep her grounded. When Finn was anxious and confused about what career path he wanted to take, Rachel always calmed his nerves and reminded him of his strengths and talents.
When it came to the birth of their first child, Finn was the one providing the assurance that everything would be fine. When she was pregnant with Chris, Rachel would get nervous about everything from carseat safety to vaccinations. Finn was always there to hug her to his chest, stroke her hair, and bring her back to reality with sound reminders, such as, "We're not the first people to do this, Rach!" He always said that she had all the brains in their relationship, but in her mind, he was always the smart one.
When she saw her son for the very first time, when the nurses placed him on her chest and she saw his sweet face looking up at her, she knew Finn was right about everything. And later when she watched her husband cradling their baby boy in his arms, softly singing to him, she knew that there was nothing that they couldn't handle together. They were a family.
"What song are you singing?" she asked him. He smiled lovingly at her and sat down on her hospital bed with Chris asleep in his arms. He began singing a bit louder so that she could hear his words.
"Somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly, birds fly over the rainbow, why oh why can't I?" he sang sweetly.
"Do you remember back in high school, when Mr. Schue sang that to all of us?" he asked, keeping his voice hushed so as not to wake their son.
Rachel nodded, a smile spreading across her face.
"I just remember holding your hand, and you putting your head on my shoulder," whispered Finn, "I remember that moment being so peaceful, and at the same time I was so excited about all of the possibilities, about our future. That's how I feel right now, I guess that's what reminded me of the song."
"I love you, Finn," said Rachel tearfully, "I will never forget the way I feel right now."
And she hadn't, she thought to herself as she watched her son glance up at her, his lopsided grin stained with blue icing. She kissed him on the top of his head.
"This is the best Spiderman party ever, Mom!" he said. "Can I open my presents now? Where's Daddy?" he asked, looking around the room.
"Oh, I think your dad might have one more surprise for you, sweetie," she grinned slyly. "Hey kids," she called out to their little partygoers, "I think SPIDERMAN is here!"
On cue, Finn flung open the door to their apartment and bounded in, in full Spiderman costume. Rachel burst into hysterical laughter at the sight of her 6'3 husband in head-to-toe red and blue spandex, but Chris and all eight of his buddies erupted with cheers and ran full-force at their hero, knocking him to the ground and climbing all over him.
"Hey! Hey, kids, careful! OUCH! Let Spiderman get up off the—hey, take it easy, guys! Spiderman's not wearing a cup!" Finn screeched.
"Hang on, Spiderman, I'll save you!" cried Rachel, barely able to speak through her uncontrollable giggles. There he goes again, she thought to herself happily, creating yet another moment she would never forget.
