I hope everyone's enjoying the story. This has been one of my favorites I've written, and this is my favorite chapter so far. I hope you enjoy it. Please review if you want me to continue!

Chapter 7: Bonding

A few hours had passed, but for Finn and Rachel, it felt like a lot longer. Once again, one of their children was in the hospital. Emma didn't have cancer like Jack had, but this was upsetting nonetheless. Her forehead had been stitched up, but after the stitches came out the scar would fade. Her wrist had been bandaged, but in a few weeks the bandage would come off.

What wouldn't go away was the trauma that had been their daughter's middle school experience. Rachel felt like a total idiot. How could she not have figured this out earlier? Likely, Emma would be coming home tonight, but the doctors wanted to watch her, as head wounds could be serious.

About an hour ago, Nick's dad had brought Sarah and Grant to the hospital. Emma was asleep by the time Sarah and Grant got to the hospital. When they'd arrived, Sarah was crying, saying she didn't want to have to go through what they'd gone through with Jack again. Rachel had done her best to explain the situation to Sarah, who had calmed down, but was still pretty upset. The sisters had been having their ups and downs lately, but ultimately they still loved each other. Rachel had just told Grant that some mean girls at school had hurt Emma and she needed to be seen by doctors. She wasn't ready to explain bullying to Grant just yet.

The hospital room was pretty big, enough room for lots of people. Emma had fallen asleep, but was still surrounded by her siblings and friends. Ryan was sitting at the edge of the bed with Grant on his lap. Nick was close to Emma, gripping her hand. Sarah and Ava sat on the other side of the bed.

Finn nudged Rachel. "They seem to be taking good care of her, want to take a walk?"

Rachel nodded and kissed Finn.

Finn tapped Ryan's shoulder. "Your mom and I are going to step outside. You guys will be fine in here alone for a little, right?"

"Of course," Ryan said.

"Do you think she's okay?" Nick asked. "I mean, she's just conked out."

"She'll be fine," Rachel said. "She told her dad and me she hasn't gotten much sleep lately because she's been so stressed about everything. I think she just needs to catch up."

"We'll take care of her, don't worry," Ava said.

Rachel smiled at the group. "Thanks." She took Finn's hand and went into the hall.

"I can't believe we let this happen," Rachel sobbed.

"Rach, this is not your fault," Finn said. "We have no control over what happens at the school."

"I still feel terrible," Rachel said. "I just don't want this to keep happening."

"I'll be surprised if the bullies aren't expelled," Finn said. "Anything that makes a student end up in the hospital is taking it too far."

"I thought getting hit by slushies was the worst form of bullying when we were in high school," Rachel said. "That's nothing compared to what those girls did to Emma."

"She'll be fine," Finn said, putting his arms around Rachel. "She's a Hudson. She's a fighter."

Rachel kissed Finn. "I love you."

Finn kissed back. "I love you too."

"I don't know what I'd do without you," Rachel sighed.

"We'll make sure everything works out for her," Finn said.

"I'm afraid to send her back there," Rachel said. "Even if the bullies get expelled, it would be too hard for me to go back there after everything."

"Once she's had some time, we can talk to her about what she wants to do," Finn said. His phone went off.

"Who is that?" Rachel asked.

"I asked my parents to come up and stay home with Ryan, Sarah and Grant tonight in case we have to be at the hospital too late," Finn said. "They're here."

"Maybe they can take Nick and Ava home too," Rachel said.

"We'll see," Finn said. "Either way, I think we need to get all these kids home. Hospitals are upsetting for kids – and Ryan and Sarah have spent enough time in hospitals already."

Finn looked up to see his fifteen-year-old sister Ally walking down the hallway. "Hey Ally," Finn said.

"Hey Finn," Ally said. "Mom and Dad were having trouble getting a parking space, so they sent me in to get the kids.

"Two of their friends from school are here, too," Finn said. "Do you think one of our parents would mind using my car to take them home?"
"I'm sure they wouldn't," Ally said. "Could I step in the room?"

"Of course," Rachel said. Even though Ally was the kids' aunt, she had more of a cousin relationship with them. She was only two years older than Ryan and Emma. It was the same way with Rachel's sixteen-year-old sister Beth.

Finn and Rachel led Ally into the hospital room. Grant saw Ally and perked up. "ALLY!"

"Hey Grant," Ally said, taking Grant into her arms. "I came with Grandma and Grandpa, how about we go home now?"

"What about Emma?" Ryan asked.

"She'll be fine," Finn said. "Your mom and I will be with her."

"Call us if anything changes," Ryan said.

"We will," Rachel said. "Ally, you remember Ryan's friend Nick, right?"
"Of course," Ally said. "Hey Nick. I didn't see you there."

"Hey Ally," Nick said.

"And this is Emma's friend Ava," Rachel said. "They came to see Emma."

"We'll give you guys rides home, too," Ally said.

"Are you sure?" Ava said. "My mom could come get me."

"We're more than sure," Finn said. "I'll call your parents."

"Just keep me posted, okay?" Nick said.

"We will," Rachel said. "If there's anything noteworthy, I'll have Ryan text you two."

"Thanks, Mrs. Hudson," Ava said.

"Don't call us Mr. and Mrs. Hudson, call us Finn and Rachel," Finn said. He handed Ryan his car keys. "Give these to Grandma and Grandpa so one of them can use my car to take Nick and Ava home."

Sarah gave her sister a hug. "Wake up soon. I love you Emma."

Ryan gave her a hug too. "Feel better twin sister. I love you."

Nick and Ava both also hugged Emma before leaving with Ally. Rachel gripped Finn's hand as they sat next to the bed. She sighed with relief as she felt her daughter moving and saw her rolling around.

Emma opened her eyes. "Mom?"

"Baby," Rachel said, giving Emma a hug. "How are you feeling?"

"I needed that sleep," Emma said.

"How's your wrist?" Finn asked.

"It feels better," Emma said. "So does my head."

"We were so worried," Finn whispered.

"It's not like I was going to die," Emma said, looking around the room. "Where did Ryan, Nick and Ava go?"

"They went home, sweetie, it's been hours," Rachel said. "Sarah and Grant were here too, but you were asleep while they were here."

"So Ryan, Sarah and Grant are home all alone?" Emma asked, almost looking horrified.

"No, Grandma Carole and Grandpa Burt came in," Finn said. "And so did Ally. They're with them at home."

"When can I go home?" Emma asked.

"We'll see what your doctor says," Rachel said. "I'm just glad you're okay." She and Finn took their daughter into their arms, while also holding each other's hands. She didn't want to let Emma go.

X

Emma's doctor had wanted to keep her overnight. She didn't think that was necessary, but the doctor said that head wounds needed to be watched carefully, and she had had both a concussion and stitches in her forehead. Her parents had both stayed overnight with her and now they were on their way home. They'd told her she didn't have to go to school today, and they were letting her siblings miss school today too.

"Mom, Dad, what happened to Dominique, Tiffany and Brianna, do we know?" Emma asked. "Will I EVER have to see them again?"

Rachel sighed and looked at Finn. "Nick told Ryan that his dad told him they got a four-week suspension. We don't know anything about expulsion."

"I never want to have to see them again!" Emma protested in. "Why didn't they get expelled?"

"It's in the board's hands, Emma," Finn said. "Try not to think about them now. There's at least a month before they're allowed back there, if ever."

"I'm afraid of that place," Emma said. "Even when they're not there, the first thing I think of is them. It's so hard to go there every day, the site of the greatest pain in my life. I don't know if I can wait until next year to leave Miramar."

"Just try to relax today," Rachel said. "You've been injured, you need a few days off."

Emma had never been happier to see her house. She began walking in to be greeted by Sarah and Ally in the kitchen. Sarah and Ally ran up to her and gave her hugs.

"Hey guys," Emma said.

"Sarah and I made brownies for you," Ally said. Emma smiled. Since they were so close in age, Ally was really more like an older sister than an aunt.

"Thanks guys," Emma said. "So Sarah, you're taking today off too?"
"Yeah," Sarah said. "Grandma and Grandpa said that after being in a hospital AGAIN so soon, Ryan and I should just take the day off."

"I'm sorry you guys were back in a hospital again so soon," Emma said.

"Don't be, it's the fault of those bitches at your school," Ally said.

"ALLY! Do not talk that way with your nieces," Carole scolded.

"We hear all that and more at school," Emma said. "Where are the boys?"

"They're upstairs," Burt said. "Ryan's trying to teach Grant how to play on his xbox."

"That boy!" Rachel said. "We leave them alone for a night and Ryan tries to get his brother the same addiction he has."

"Don't let it bother you honey," Finn said.

"Of course it doesn't bother you, you're the one who got Ryan into xbox in the first place," Rachel said.

"I must say, they should come down and say hi to Emma," Finn said.

"That's right," Ally said. "Before Emma, Sarah and I watch a girl movie together."

"Be glad you're getting the day off of school, Ally," Burt said.

Ryan and Grant came downstairs. "EMMA!" Grant shouted, jumping into his oldest sister's arms.

"Be careful, Grant, she sprained her wrist," Ryan said, hugging Emma. "How are you feeling? I've been getting texts from the whole show choir asking how you are."

"It doesn't hurt as much," Emma said.

"That's a good thing," Ryan said. "Don't ever scare me like that again, okay?"

"Okay, I promise," Emma said, sitting on the couch with Ally and Sarah, eating the brownies as Sarah started the DVD. She knew at that moment that she had the best family ever.

X

After school that day, Emma was making bracelets with Sarah and Ally when she heard a knock on her bedroom door. Ally went to the door and opened it. Emma looked up and saw Ava. "Hey Ava!" Emma said, hugging her friend.

"I was worried about you," Ava said. "How are you doing?"

"I'm better," Emma said. "The mental affect is worse than the physical."

"I brought something for you," Ava said, getting a bracelet out of her purse. "I got matching ones for us at Target."

"Thanks Ava!" Emma said. "If you want, you can hang out with Ally and Sarah and me for a while."

"That would be fun," Ava said. "That's some pretty string you have for your bracelets."

"Ally knows some really cool patterns to make bracelets with," Sarah said.

"That's so cool," Ava said, sitting on Emma's bed with the girls.

Rachel came into the room. "I just wanted to check, Emma, want me to order Italian food for take out tonight?"
"Are you kidding?" Emma laughed. "You know I LOVE Italian food!"
"That's what I thought," Rachel said. "Ava, if you want and it's okay with your parents, you can stay for dinner."
Ava smiled. "I'd love that, thanks Rachel."

X

After dinner, Ava went home and Burt, Carole and Ally began heading back to Lima so Ally could go back to school the next day. Ryan and Sarah were both getting started on homework they'd missed the previous day, but Emma was excused from homework. She was watching an Indians game on TV with her dad and Grant when her mom came in with Nick.

"Hey!" Emma said, getting up and hugging Nick.

"Sorry I couldn't come by earlier," Nick said. "We had a soccer game and without Ryan, I pretty much had to be there for us to have any hope of winning."

Emma laughed. "Arrogant much, Nick?"

"I scored the only goal!" Nick said. "But we still lost 3-1 to Roxbury."

"If my brother had been there, you would have won!" Emma laughed.

"Say that if you want, Emma!" Nick said. "How've you been feeling, anyway? I've been thinking about you."

"It's better," Emma said. "I'm honestly more worried about what's going to happen when they come back again."

"Well I'm not letting you out of my sight when they come back," Nick said.

"Thanks Nick," Emma said.

X

Finn and Rachel were in the kitchen when Nick's dad arrived. "Hi Finn. Hi Rachel. I'm here to pick up Nick but before then, there's something I'd like to talk to you two about. I talked to the other board members and we agreed that if you want, because of everything that's happened, we can grant Emma an emergency intradistrict transfer to Roxbury."

Finn and Rachel looked at each other. Maybe this was the solution.

"I think we'll talk to Emma after Nick leaves," Finn said.

"Well, like I said, everyone on the board agrees Emma deserves the transfer, and if she wants it, it will go into effect immediately," Nick's dad said.

"Thank you," Rachel said. "We'll talk to her."

X

When Nick left that night, Finn and Rachel came into the living room, where Emma was looking at the newspaper. "Can we talk, honey?" Finn asked.

"Sure," Emma said. "Just to tell you, I didn't do anything to provoke the bullying!"

"This isn't about that," Rachel said. "Nick's dad is the board president, you know that, right?"
"Of course," Emma said.

"Well, we talked to him," Finn said. "He talked to the other board members and if you want, you can go to Roxbury for the rest of the year. You'd never have to see the bullies again."

Emma just began thinking. Going to Roxbury would mean getting away from the bullies for good, but she'd also have to leave Ava and Nick, and she'd spend less time with her brother… what would she do?

Chapter 8 preview: Emma makes a decision, with the help of Nick, Ryan and Ava.