She Bounced! – Chapter 7

(I do not own Glee or any of the characters. All names are fictitious and appear only by coincidence.)

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Brittany was worried about telling her parents that she was pregnant. Her father, Dick Pierce had been very verbal against her marriage to Santana. He had refused to attend their wedding or accept that their marriage was legal or what he considered moral. Her mother Sally Pierce was different. She had wished that her daughter has discovered the man of dreams, gotten married in the traditional way, and settled down to have a houseful of blond babies.

But Brittany was her daughter; Sally Pierce hadn't disapproved the way Dick Pierce had. She tried to understand and loved her daughter unconditionally. She loved Santana too and welcomed her into the family.

Brittany didn't want her parents coming to New York and being blindsided with the news. She also knew that her father would explode when he found out the circumstances. That was when she decided to call her mom and give her a heads-up. She called when she knew that her dad would be at work.

Brittany's four-year old preschool class was at lunch with the assistants so she made her way back to their classroom and shut the door behind her. With sweaty palms she called the familiar number.

"Mom? This is Brittany, your daughter, how are you?"

"Oh Brittany, I know that you're my daughter. I'm fine. Is anything wrong? You usually don't call in the middle of a work day."

"I'm fine, how's Dad?"

"He's doing okay. His job is very busy right now, but it's busy every year during tax season."

"Mom, I called because I wanted you to know that you and Dad are going to be grandparents."

"Say that again?" Her mother asked dumbfounded.

"I'm expecting a baby. That's why I wanted you to come to New York. I was going to surprise you, but I was afraid Daddy would explode and ruin everything."

"But how Brittany? Did you and Santana break up and you found a boyfriend?"

"No Mom, Santana and I are very happy together. Do you remember Kurt Hummel and Blaine Anderson? We were in Glee Club together. We're good friends with them, and they live next door. They want kids too, but they're gay. We're kind of helping each other out. We went to this fertility clinic awhile back and made a baby with test tubes and stuff."

"Baby, you make it sound like some sort of a chemistry experiment. Did you really think this through?"

"Yes, Mom. We had to go through weeks and weeks of counseling. Santana and Blaine are both lawyers. They worked out the legal stuff."

"Brittany, I don't know what to say. I'm happy for you, I guess, but I have so many questions. When you give birth, who keeps the baby?"

"That's the beauty of it Mom. We all keep the baby. This baby has four parents."

"But who's the father?"

"Kurt's the sperm donor, but Kurt and Blaine are both going to be the dads. Blaine's going with me to my next baby doctor appointment. Rachel Berry had two dads growing up and she turned out just great. Her new musical is on Broadway now and we kind of wanted to take you to see it when you're here."

"Brittany, I still plan on making the trip to New York next week, but I don't know about your father. He's going to be all kinds of upset. I think it would be a good idea if he stays here in Lima, and I'll tell him when I get back. He's already making excuses that he can't be away from the office right now."

"I was hoping that Daddy had softened up by now."

"He has, a little, but having a baby with a sperm donor is going to be a hard pill for him to swallow. Baby, he loves you so much, and he always will. He hasn't turned his back on you; it's just that he wishes things had turned out differently. You marrying another woman isn't how he pictured things for his little girl when you were growing up."

"Mom, families come in all shapes and sizes. This baby is going to be loved no matter what. He or she is going to have two moms, two dads, eight grandparents, and bunches of aunts, and uncles, and cousins. Some kids don't have any."

"You're right baby. So I guess Carole and Burt Hummel are going to be grandparents too. Have you told them?"

"Not yet, we wanted to tell all of you at the same time.

Burt has been so understanding with Kurt. Maybe he and Dad could get to be friends and Burt could talk to him like he did with Mr. Anderson. Burt got him to see that Blaine was still his son and nothing was going to change that."

"Well, no matter what your Dad thinks, we have a grandbaby on the way! I think there was a Babies-R-Us coupon in the paper today, and I'm going shopping. Don't worry about your Dad, I can handle him. I love you Brittany and Santana too, please give her a hug for me."

"I love you too Mom. We'll all be at the airport to meet you!"

-/-

When the plane from Lima touched down in New York on Friday night, Jack Pierce wasn't on board. It was Carole, Burt, and Sally Pierce. Blaine and Santana had talked about inviting their parents for the weekend too, but decided to invite them the following weekend. It was going to be a big announcement for everyone and a few parents at a time seemed like a better idea.

Brittany ran to hug her mom and then whispered in her ear," Did you tell Daddy?"

"No, now yet," her mother whispered back. "I want to share this moment with you first."

Everyone was hugging and being introduced. "Mom, I think you know Carole Hummel. She's Finn Hudson's mom and Kurt's step-mom."

"Yes, I know Carole, she and I used to be grade-mothers together back when you were in grade school. I've known Burt for years. I worked in his last re-election campaign."

"I'm sorry that Dick couldn't make the trip, but I do understand tax season. I hired an accountant to do my books for me when Kurt left home," Burt laughed.

The Hummel's and Mrs. Pierce checked into their hotel and then came by the condos to see their kids.

"It's a shame that you're going to miss Rachel and Finn tonight, but Finn is at the piano bar tonight, and Rachel should be in the second act of her show by now.

"Finn will be off tomorrow, but Rachel has a matinee and an evening show. She said that she would get tickets for anyone who would like to go," Kurt smiled while taking everyone's coat.

"Oh yes, I'd love to go. Rachel has been so excited since her show was moved to the O'Neill Theater. I've never been there. Have you Sally?" Carole asked Brittany's mother.

"No, but I can't wait. I've never been to a real Broadway show. Kurt what is the show about?" Sally asked.

"The play is called The Kid and it's based on a true story. It's about a gay couple, Dan and Terry, who want to adopt a child, but are confronted with prejudice in the adoption system. That is where Rachel comes in. She plays Melissa a homeless pregnant teenager who can't decide if she should keep her baby or give it to a gay couple in an open adoption," Kurt explains.

"Sounds pretty serious to me," Burt frowned.

"It is, but there's a lot of humor that has been worked into the story and the songs."

"Is playing a pregnant woman hard on Rachel? I know that she and Finn have been trying without any success," Carole asked concerned.

"Rachel's doing great. You'll get to see her tomorrow in all her pregnancy padding. But anyway, that's not why we invited you to New York. The four of us have some something that we'd like to share with you," Kurt inhaled deeply."

"What is it son?" Burt asked.

"Well like Dan and Terry in Rachel's play, Blaine and I are a gay couple that would like to have children. Brittany and Santana are a lesbian couple that would also like to have children. Rather than go through the anonymous surrogate and sperm donor process with strangers, we decided to help each other out."

"What are you saying?" Carole asked confused.

"The four of us have decided to raise a family together. We went to a fertility clinic for help. Brittany and I went first and now she's expecting our first child. You're going to be grandparents! We're going to tell Santana's and Blaine's parents next weekend so please don't tell them."

"Is this like a commune?" Burt was shocked.

"Oh hush Burt! We're going to be grandparents and that's all that matters!" Carole squealed with delight as she hugged Kurt, then Brittany, then Santana, then Blaine.

"No Dad, our children will just have two moms and two dads. We're going to knock out a doorway between our two condos and have one big condo. That's were I hope you can help us dad. Finn will be off tomorrow, and we were sort of hoping that you could help us put the door in. We have the permits and the plans, but we can't get a building crew until spring."

"Wait, I haven't gotten over the idea of being a granddad yet. What do you think?" Burt said to Sally.

"I must confess that Brittany called me earlier and told me."

"Is that why Jack didn't come?" Burt asked.

"No, he doesn't know yet. I'll tell him when I get back. He is covered up with work until April 15th."

"Yeah, Daddy isn't going to be happy, but I hope he'll come around when the baby is born," Brittany said quietly.

"Me too," Burt hugged Brittany, "Me too."

On Saturday morning, Rachel was dragging Finn out their condominium early. Kurt was already dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt when he opened his door.

"Did you tell them?" Rachel was so excited!

"Yes we told them and Finn was right, Carole is beyond excited. Come on in, I've made coffee."

"Is Burt going to help us cut that door?" Finn yawned.

"Yeah he's already been here. Blaine has a lawyer friend with a truck so they've gone to rent some tools and buy lumber. Carole and Brittany's mom Sally should be here any minute."

"Oh my gosh Finn, our place is a mess! I've got to get it straighten up before they get here." Rachel was out the door in a flash.

"I'm kind of glad that she left Little Brother. I need to talk to you before everyone gets back." Finn was getting fidgety.

"What do you want to know, Big Brother?" Kurt asked curiously.

"If Rachel doesn't get pregnant this month I promised her that I'd get checked out. Since you went through all that at the fertility clinic, can you tell me what I'm in for? Are they going to x-ray my junk or something?"

"No, they're just going to check your equipment for abnormalities."

"Wait, abnormalities!" Finn gasped. "What kind of abnormalities?"

"And you'll have to give them a sperm sample in a cup." Kurt laughed to himself.

"How am I supposed to do that in a doctor's office?"

"Don't worry they have lots of magazines to help you out." Kurt was having a good time at Finn's expense.

"We're back!" Blaine yelled as he came through the door.

"And not a minute too soon," Finn muttered out loud.

"Finn it's good to see you Son, How have you been?" Burt asked as he gave Finn a hug.

"I'm fine Burt; it's good to see you! Did you find everything that you needed at the lumber yard?" Finn was glad that Blaine and Burt had interrupted their conversation. It was more information than he wanted to know.

Carole and Sally joined Rachel in her kitchen for coffee. Santana and Brittany were already there with muffins and juice.

Across the hall the sawing was making a dusty mess in both of the adjoining condos. The noise was so bad that Santana and Brittany decided to take Carole and Sally shopping. Rachel went with them until she had to leave for the theater before lunch.

"I'll make sure that the tickets are waiting for you at the box office. Look for me; I'll be the one wearing all the padding!" Rachel teased as she hailed a cab for the O'Neill Theater.

Carole, Sally, Brittany and Santana had a nice lunch together and then did a little window shopping.

"When will you know if it's a boy or a girl?" Sally asked her daughter as they looked in the window of a baby boutique.

"Dr. Merryweather said that we would do another ultra- sound sometime between 18 and 20 weeks."

"Are you using the same OBGYN as Rachel?" Carole asked Brittany.

"Yes, and Dr. Merryweather is very nice. I like her a lot. I just wish Rachel and Santana would hurry up and get pregnant too so we can do this together. That would make our kids about the same age too."

"Santana, I knew that you were going to try this too, but I didn't realize that it was going to be so soon."

"Yes Mrs. Pierce, I just finished a big trial, and now would be a good time to try. Blaine's going to be the donor. We really should head over to the theater if we're going to get there on time for Rachel's show," Santana quickly changed subject.

Outside the theater Carole called Burt to see how the condo renovations were going.

"Hi Carole!" Burt answered his cell phone. "We have the door cut through and all of the supports are in place. Finn is cutting the door facings right now. How long are you girls going to be gone?"

"Probably all afternoon. Why?"

"Because we've got plaster dust and saw dust everywhere. It's going to take awhile to get all of this vacuumed up."

"Are you going to finish today?" Carole asked.

"With the door yes, but we'll have to finish the floor tomorrow. Are you girls on your way to Rachel's play?" Burt wanted to know.

"Santana is getting our tickets at the box office window now. I gotta go Honey. I'll call you later."

Carole closed her phone and proceeded inside the theater with Sally, Brittany and Santana.

"These are much better seats than the ones we had the first time. Mine was sticky," Brittany whispered.

"That's because we're in a much better theater than last time," Santana whispered back before the house lights went down and the orchestra began to play.

When Rachel first appeared on stage, Brittany pointed her out to her mother. It wasn't hard to miss her. Rachel was portraying a homeless pregnant teenager. Rachel was so short and the padding was so over done that Rachel looked like she was as wide as she was tall.

The music was good until it came time for Rachel's solo. She was so much better than everyone else that it was astonishing. As she finished the last lines of Spare Changin' everyone in the house held their breath as her voice filled every corner of the theater. The song ended in a hush.

Rachel moved to exit the stage but seemed to wobble for a second. Catching her balance she turned right when she should have turned left. She was momentarily blinded by the foot lights and then it happened. No one knew if she fell or if she fainted, but she fell head first off of the stage into the orchestra pit.

The theater was silent for a second, not comprehending what had just happened until a cast member jumped off of the stage to help her.

Carole quickly got up and was pushing her way through the crowd to get to Rachel too. "That's my daughter-in-law, please let me by! I have to get to her!"

The director had quickly called 911 and members of the orchestra were gathered around her. Rachel was unconscious with a cut to her left forehead. The wound was bleeding slightly, and was already beginning to swell. The conductor was holding his white pocket square to the cut.

"Rachel, its Carole! Can you hear me?" Carole pleaded with her.

Two paramedics rushed in and pushed their way through the crowd. "Mam, are you related to this young lady?" One of the medics asked Carole as he slipped a collar around Rachel's neck.

"I'm her mother-in-law."

"It looks like she may have sustained a head injury. We will be taking her to St. Luke's Hospital as soon as we check her vitals and determine that she's stable enough to move. Do you know where that hospital is?"

"I do" Santana answered. Carole was numb so Santana made the call.

When Finn answered the phone she could hear the sound of power tools in the background.

"Hello," Finn yelled into his phone. He held a finger in his other ear so he could hear over the noise.

"Finn it's Santana. We're at the theater, but there has been an accident. Rachel fell off of the stage and hit her head. The ambulance just left with her on the way to St. Luke's Hospital. We'll meet you at the ER there."

Finn snapped his phone shut and told everyone to come with him. Rachel had been hurt and was on her way to the hospital.

When the four men entered the ER, they were still covered with plaster and saw dust.

"What happened? Where's Rachel?" Finn shouted as he ran up to the women.

"They have her in the back. The staff told us to wait here. They'll come and get us when they know something."

"Did she fall? Did she faint?" Finn demanded to know.

"Son, we don't know. She finished her solo and the she seemed to stumble a bit. She caught her balance but instead of leaving the stage, she tuned toward the edge and fell into the orchestra pit. I think the floor lights might have blinded her. She was unconscious when they took her from the theater," Carole stammered between sobs.

"I'm going back there!" Finn was heading for the door to the ER, but it was locked.

"Sir, I can't let you go back there yet," the receptionist said as she approached him. "Someone will come and get you when they're ready. You'll have to have a seat until then."

"But that's my wife. When they brought her in she was unconscious. I have to see her NOW!"

"I'm sorry sir, but it's hospital policy. I'll let them know in the back that you're here."

Finn couldn't sit down, but paced up and down the waiting room like a caged animal.

"Son, why don't you go to the bathroom and see if you can get some of that dust off of you while you're waiting," Carole suggested.

"I'm fine, I just have to know that she's alright."

At last a doctor came out and asked for the family of Rachel Berry.

"It's Rachel Hudson, Rachel Berry is her stage name," Finn corrected the doctor.

"We thought that she was an actress when they brought her in from the O'Neill Theater. Our staff was afraid that she was pregnant when she came in with all of that padding on so we started the appropriate tests. I'm happy to say that all of that padding protected her. She's awake now and except for a slight concussion and dehydration, your wife and baby are doing well."

"Wait, did you say baby? My wife isn't pregnant. She's just playing the part of a pregnant woman in the play she's in," Finn corrected the doctor again.

"Well our tests and a further examination of your wife indicate otherwise. She isn't very far along, but she's definitely pregnant. Because of all of that padding, I guess she bounced when she hit the floor. Anyway she's asking to see you. She's in exam room 5."

Finn rushed past the ER doctor and down the hallway looking for his wife. When he opened the door Rachel was on an exam table with a large black eye and a stitched forehead. An IV was attached to her arm.

"Hi Daddy, I guess they told you?" Rachel said sleepily.

"Oh Rachel, I can't believe it! We're going to have a baby! Are you okay? Santana said you fell off of the stage. Did you faint?"

"I think I fainted. I didn't eat lunch, and the doctor said that I was dehydrated and my blood sugar was low. My head hurts, but they can't give me too much for it because of you know, our Little Hudson."

"Our Little Hudson," Finn repeated as he let his gaze move to Rachel's abdomen. "Did the fall hurt him?"

"Didn't the doctor tell you? I bounced! You said I looked like a ball in my costume."

Finn was sitting beside his wife holding her hand to his cheek when the doctor came back in.

"Well congratulations, Mom and Dad. I guess you told your husband your big news.

"Is my wife and our baby okay?" Finn asked.

"Your wife has a slight concussion and is dehydrated. We would like to keep her here for a few days for observation and rest."

Rachel spent three days in the hospital recovering. Finn called the bar and told them to hire a replacement. He didn't know when he was coming back. Finn's job at the New York radio station was a different story. Finn was on the radio bright and early Monday morning telling his drive-time listeners about Little Hudson and how his baby was destined to be a basketball star. His wife and baby could bounce!

Until the next chapter, Thank you, Whistler Nights - Chapter 8 "All's Fair in Love and War" is now up.

Book for the musical The Kid was written by Michael Zam

Music by Andy Monroe. Lyrics by Jack Lechner

The song Spare Changin' is a song from the musical The Kid.