Chapter 4: A Day With the Hudson's

Nervousness. Finn can't recall the last time he felt so nervous. It's a sunny gorgeous Saturday. He and Rachel thought it would be perfect to have a family day with Ella. He plans a picnic at their balcony, a movie night at the house which Ella gets to choose, and when she goes to bed it will just be Finn and Rachel.

There's just one big problem, he doesn't know what to wear.

He takes out two plaid shirts green and black or blue and white. He decides to ask Ella for advice. "Ella, which one do you think I should wear? This or this?" He asked holding up both shirts.

Ella giggles and hugs her bear Kelly. "Blue and white!" She simply responds.

"The princess is never wrong." He winks. He goes back to the bathroom in his room to go chance, followed by Ella.

"Daddy you wear perfume." Ella suggests. "Smell good. Mommy like dat!" Finn laughs. His little girl is something. "Daddies and men don't wear perfume. We wear cologne. It's for guys."

"Oh!" Ella shrugs. "P lease smell good." Finn continued laughing. "Can I change now so I can look nice for mommy?"

Ella nods happily. "Yes!" She slowly climbs on her father's bed carefully so she won't get hurt. "After I get ready, you're going to get ready." Finn says.

"Okay! I pick white dress with pink flowers!" Ella demands. "Pigtails!"

Finn looks at the mirror double checking to make sure everything looks okay. He sighed after hearing his daughter wants pigtails. He isn't the best with hair.

"I'll try baby girl." Finn responds. He comes out of the bathroom and picks up Ella. "Ready for the day?' He asked tickling her tummy.

"Ready!" Ella laughs. Being with Ella made Finn feel less nervous and more confident. He hopes nothing will ruin the day.

Carole Hudson offers to stay with Ella while Finn bought all the stuff he needs from the store.

Carole arrived when Finn attempted to do Ella's hair in pigtails. It was messy and Ella became upset. "Nana I not like my hair." Ella pouts. Carole can see Ella's lips tremble.

"Aaw baby..It's okay. Daddy was trying. I'll make it beautiful, okay?" Carole kisses the girl's cheeks. Ella sits on her Nana's lap. Carole gently has Ella's hair the way she wants it. "There you go. All done baby."

Ella hugs her Nana. "I love you Nana!" She said giving her a kiss. "I love you too baby girl."

"Nana? I like my mommy?" Ella asked as she starts to worry.

"I think you will." Carole responds.

"Daddy likes Mommy!" Ella says after observing the long phone conversations her daddy has had with mommy.

"He does." Carole rubs Ella's back. "Mommy sings like daddy. They sing to me?"

"I'm sure they can. They use to sing all the time."

"When?" Ella asked.

"In high school, after high school, and all the time...until..." Carole isn't sure how much her granddaughter knows about her parents. She stops herself before anything. "Let's go and help set up the picnic." She said with Ella in her arms.

"Kay Nana." Ella says. She wonders why her Nana stopped talking. Maybe she'll find out later.

Finn came home preparing lunches and placed them in the picnic baskets. He remembers how Rachel was a vegan. He made her a vegan grilled cheese and tomato soup. He made roasted garlic pasta with roasted tomatoes for him and Ella. He hopes that Rachel would like to try some later on.

He thanked his mom and Carole left hugging them goodbye. Rachel should be here any minute. He paced back and forth while Ella was watching Dora The Explora.

"Daddy stop. I dizzy." Ella cries. Finn took a deep breath and runs his fingers threw his hair.

"I'm really sorry honey...I'm just-"

"Daddy, I love you." Ella says opening her arms wide to give her father a kiss. "Princess, I love you too." Finn says returning the kiss.

Suddenly the doorbell rings. Rachel stood outside wearing a lavender sparkle dress with her hair down. Finn takes a good look. She's just so beautiful. He couldn't help but think. "Rachel, hi. You look amazing."

Rachel tries to hide the fact that she blushed. "Hi Finn, hi Ella." She greets them. "Thank you. You look amazing yourself."

FInn smiles. "Come in, come in." Rachel walks in and Finn notices she has a bag of gifts. "I wanted to give you guys something." She says taking them out.

Ella's eyes open as wide as they could. She's pretty excited to see what her mommy has got them. Rachel gives a green wrapped present to Finn. It's a white number one dad mug cup with a picture of him and Ella. "This is so beautiful. Thank you..You didn't have too.."

"Stop. I wanted too." Rachel smiles shyly. Ella now holds a pink wrapped present. She opens it to see a golden star necklace. "Pretty. I like lots!" She says. "Thank you." Finn puts the necklace on Ella. She follows the little family into the balcony.

She was quite hungry and surprised to hear that Finn cooked lunch. They went outside the balcony where the picnic baskets were with white sheets. Ella picked out the flowers.

They began to eat when Finn explained what he made. "Do you like daddy's cooking?" Ella asked Rachel after she took a bite of her grilled cheese.

Rachel nods. "It's fantastic." She said. Next she tried Finn's tomato soup. "This is so good." Finn smiles.

"Thanks you. I'm glad you enjoyed it." Finn says smiling at Rachel.

"My daddy is a good cook!" Ella smiles with pride.

"He really is." Rachel said stroking Ella's hair. Ella couldn't help notice how her daddy stares at her mommy. It's a look she's never really seen before.

The lunch was filled with stories and laughter. Rachel loved playing catch the butterflies with Ella and hearing her laugh. Finn captured every moment with his phone. Later throughout the day Ella requested to watch a movie. She wanted Frozen and Finn immediately puts it on. She cuddles with her daddy and Rachel sits closer next to Finn.

Surprisingly to Finn, Ella is very quiet while the movie plays. She lights up when her favorite song Let It Go comes on. She starts to sing.

"Let it go, let it go
Can't hold it back anymore!
Let it go, let it go!
Turn away and slam the door!"

She sings her heart out. It's one of her favorite songs. Rachel who's amazed at how tiny the girl girl but has a big beautiful voice.

"I don't care!
What they're going to say!
Let the storm rage on!
The cold never bothered me anyway!"

Ella sits back to listen to the rest. She thought of a great idea. "Daddy you sing with Mommy? Please?" She asked, more like begging. Finn glances at Rachel. The last time they sang together was so long ago.

Maybe it wouldn't hurt to sing. They want to make their daughter happy.

"I'm fine with it." Rachel r responds. Finn nods. The two young parents start to sing.

"It's funny how some distance.
Makes everything seem small

And the fears that once controlled me

Can't get to me at all!

It's time to see what I can do

To test the limits and break through

NO right, no wrong, no rules for me I'm free!"

Finn stopped. He listened to how they both sounded together. It was just like old times and he liked that. "Go!" Ella points to Rachel.

"Let it go, let it go!
I am the one with the wind and sky!
Let it go, let it go!
You'll never see me cry!"

Ella claps. She really likes her mommy and daddy singing together. Finn joins Rachel again.

"Here I stand

And here I'll stay

Let the storm range on!"

And they stopped, realizing how close they were. Rachel couldn't help but look into Finn's eyes. Before anyone knew it, Finn kissed Rachel on the lips. Ella gasps. Her daddy hasn't kissed anyone but her. "Finn..."

"I love you Rachel." Finn finally admits. He truly does, even after everything. He waits for Rachel to say something, anything.

"I...I...have to go. So sorry." Rachel rushes out to the door, leaving Finn, and Ella behind.

"Daddy? Where mommy going?" Ella asked softly. Finn didn't respond. He just hugged Ella wanting the feeling of hurt to go away.

Well, what do you think? Please keep reading and reviewing. How will things be for the Hudson family?

If I don't get a chance to update, Happy Thanksgiving and I hope you all you have a good one!