Chapter 7 – March – Sophomore – Age 16

Carol brought Finn back to the hospital bright and early the next morning. He got to give Charlotte her second feeding of the day. The hospital staff was quite pleased with Charlotte's health and there were able to take her home around noon. Ken, the male nurse on the maternity floor, actually wheeled Finn out to the car like they do with the departing mothers. They had bonded over the past two days that Finn had been here, and the wheelchair was all in good fun.

Finn got her all buckled into the infant car seat under the watchful eye of Ken. With a job well done, Finn sat in the back with his girl, while Carol drove them home. When they got there, Burt and Kurt were there with welcome home signs.

"Finn, she is so gorgeous," Kurt gushed, practically swooning over the baby girl. "I'm gonna have so much fun dressing her up."

"You can have free reign, but let's wait a few months dude," Finn agreed. Kurt was too enamored with the baby that he didn't even scold Finn for calling him dude. They got all of the stuff in the house when Finn noticed a large gift basket on the coffee table. "What's this?"

"Quinn never found out what she was having, so I wanted to get some girly outfits in addition to the gender neutral clothes you have," Kurt explained.

"You guys didn't have to do this," Finn said, feeling overwhelmingly grateful for the Hummel men.

"This gorgeous girl deserves some girly clothes," Burt said, peering into the baby carrier. "And don't you dare worry about work. You come back when you can, probably not before summer."

"Thanks Burt," Finn smiled. He was worrying about what he was going to do about work. This was just one burden off his mind.

"Carol, one of the sweet ladies from church stopped by this morning with a large pan of baked ziti. I had to rearrange your fridge a bit," Burt said, leading her further into the house.

"They've been so good to us," Carol said. "I'm really glad Mercedes showed us her church."

"I can't believe you're a dad," Kurt said. He took Charlotte's carrier and put it in the middle of the couch. Kurt sat down on one side while Finn sat on the other.

"It's still weird for me to say it," Finn agreed. He pulled the gift basket closer to him on the table and began to take the items out to look at them. There were four cute pink outfits, socks with ruffles, headbands with different colored bows, a few summer outfits that should fit her in a few months, and a personalized t-shirt that read 'My Uncle Kurt spoils me'. "This is really awesome."

"I'm glad you like it," Kurt replied. "So… people at school want to come visit."

"They do?" Finn questioned, surprised.

"Yes," Kurt replied. "I made up a schedule. And Mercy is first tomorrow with me. I only have two people a day coming, and I told them they can't stay for long. But it's really up to you."

"Two seems like a manageable number," Finn agreed. "Hopefully everything will go well."

"I'm sure Princess will be just fine," Kurt said, stroking her cheek softly.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Finn survived his first day with Char home. She was up every three hours to feed but would go right back to sleep after she got changed. Finn was able to get all of her stuff put away and get the house more set up for Charlotte. His first two visitors came at 3:15, as soon as school let out. Kurt just walked into the house and Mercedes was practically bouncing in excitement right behind him.

"How is the Princess today?" Kurt asked, bounding over to the bassinette where the sleeping Charlotte lay.

"Good. She is due for a bottle in another hour or so, so you picked a good time to come today," Finn replied.

"She is too cute for words!" Mercedes squealed quietly.

"She really is," Finn agreed. "When she gets up, do you wanna feed her?"

"Do you even need to ask?" Mercedes said. Finn blushed a bit.

"So how is everything at school?" Finn asked as they all sat around the living room.

"All everyone can talk about is what happened," Kust said. "I mean, Quinn did have the baby in the middle of Regionals."

"She back?"

Kurt nodded. "Came back today."

"She won't talk to anyone else," Mercedes said. "And she got Sue to let her back on the Cheerios."

"I figured as much," Finn shrugged. "Quinn was a good cheerleader."

"I thought she would at least show some emotion though," Mercedes said.

"I wish she felt something," Finn agreed. "Even in the hospital, she didn't even want to have Char in the same room."

"She is just hateful," Kurt said. "You manned up and she couldn't handle it."

"I honestly don't know how I could have ever walked away from her," Finn said fondly. "I don't want to imagine a day in my life without her now."

"And that's what makes you a good dad," Kurt said, getting up to walk over to the bassinette

"She is already loved by so many people," Mercedes commented. Charlotte began to wake up from her nap a bit ahead of schedule. "Oh, she's awake."

"My girl knows there are people here to see her," Finn said in a corny high pitched voice. He went over and picked up the tiny baby. Charlotte looked so tiny in comparison to her 6'3" father. He handled her with such tenderness and care that Mercedes nearly cried. "You wanna hold her?"

"Yes my goodness! Im'ma go wash my hands real quick," She ran out of the living room and washed her hands. When she returned, Finn handed Charlotte to Mercedes. Kurt took his time when he went to wash his hands. When he returned, Mercedes had a bottle in her hand and a baby in her arms. Finn looked on with a big old smile in his face. Charlotte sucked her bottle down.

"I can't really believe this is where my life ended up," Finn said. Mercedes held Charlotte up to burp her. "If you asked me last year if I would have a baby and that you two would be my best friends…. I would have thought you were crazy."

"It's true," Kurt agreed. "It feels like forever ago that you sent me that Facebook message. But in actuality, it was less than 6 months ago."

"It's definitely kinda strange," Mercedes agreed. "Now you're part of the family."

"I like my little family," Finn smiled.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Matt Rutherford and Mike Chang came the next day, right after school. They were still kinda freaked out that Finn now had a kid. They stood on the front porch after they knocked.

"Hey guys, thanks for coming," Finn smiled. After they shook hands, they made their way into the living room. Charlotte was asleep in the portable bassinette.

"How's it goin', man?" Matt asked. Mike snuck off to wash his hands.

"It's going. She sleeps a lot and eats real good," Finn said. Mike returned and looked at Charlotte with barely restrained glee. "You wanna hold her Mike?"

"Uh, yeah," Mike said. "I'll admit I was kinda wigged that you have a kid now. But now that I see her, it's so cool." Finn went to pick up his sleepy princess and carefully handed him to Mike. You'd think Mike was holding a china doll.

"How the hell did you make something that cute?" Matt asked. Finn laughed.

"I'm still trying to wrap my head around that she's mine."

"So what's the plan?" Mike asked. Charlotte was curled up on his chest, still sleeping. "I mean how does this work with a guy having a kid?"

"Well, I have it worked out with Figgins. Sue got me home bound for the rest of the school year. I'm gonna have teachers come and get me my work. Mercedes set me up at her church. They are gonna help me with child care so I'll be back in school come September."

"Football?" Matt asked. Finn shook his head.

"I gotta work at the church three nights a week, then two week nights and Saturdays at Burt's shop. I won't have much time for other things other than school."

"Sucks man," Matt said. "But at least you have your priorities right."

"I'm trying man," Finn said.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Finn was quite surprised that Tina had been paired up with Rachel for their visit. Tina was probably bribed something good to endure Rachel's company.

"Hey Finn!" Tina said excitedly. She hugged him and ran past to where Charlotte was laying in the bassinette wide awake. "Ohh, she's awake!" Tina ran into the bathroom to wash her hands and ran back to pick up the baby.

"Hello Finn," Rachel said.

"Rachel," Finn nodded and ushered her into the house.

Tina has Charlotte on her lap, just beaming down at the little girl. Charlotte began to whimper.

"Hang on, I'll go heat up a bottle for you," Finn said, hurrying to the kitchen to get one. Charlotte was nearly to the point of crying when Finn handed Tina the bottle. "Just have her head up and burp her after every ounce."

Tina nodded. Rachel came over to the couch where Charlotte was being fed.

"She has very good features, being as young as she is," Rachel commented in her clinical voice. "But that's to be expected seeing who her father is."

"Um, thanks," Finn replied. Rachel felt a bit off and he really didn't want her around Charlotte too much. Finn really didn't want her to be around himself much either. She always kinda creeped him out. It was bad enough that Shue made them solo together. Rachel got it into her head that they were soul mates. Finn sat down next to Tina. "So how's school going?"

"It's going," Tina admitted. "Coach Sylvester agreed to let us have the glee club next year."

"Sweet."

"I'm sure she heard our superior vocals at Regionals and knew we got gipped. She probably voted against us." Finn kept his mouth shut. Sue had texted him to say they lost even though she had voted for them. She also texted him a special congratulations.

"So you're still gonna do glee next year?"

"Yeah, I would like to. It's during school hours," Finn said. "Just no more football and basketball."

"But your popularity is dependent upon your being on the football team," Rachel exclaimed. "How will glee ever survive without it?"

"Well, we all sing pretty well," Finn said. "And that's kinda all glee is supposed to be about."

"My superior vocals could certainly carry us but it would be preferable to have some social clout from more well-known football stars."

"I'm not rejoining football, Rachel. I have a daughter now," Finn explained slowly, as if talking to a small child. "If you can't handle that, then you should just leave now."

Rachel gave a huff. "Fine." She stormed out of the house in the most dramatic way possible. She even slammed the door. This action caused Charlotte to wake up, let out a surprise burp and start crying. Finn scooped up the crying newborn into his arms and began to sooth her, bouncing her up and down and rubbing her back. Tina watched in awe.

"You're a really good dad," Tina said. "Screw Rachel. You're doing what you have to do. We should be damn lucky that you are coming back to school at all."

"My mom's the one who is encouraging me to go back. I looked into getting my GED," Finn said. "But she's right. I'd really be missing out on a lot. It would be hard to go back without any friends, but there are so many of you that care. It's a really good feeling."

"We would really miss you Finn Hudson. Don't you forget it," Tina said, poking him in the chest to emphasize her point.

"I'm glad I ended up being your friend Tina," Finn admitted. "You're always there with your simple logic and it always makes sense of what ever crazy situation I'm in."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The next two to visit were Artie with Puck. Finn helped Puck bring Artie in the house and got him situated on the couch. Puck went to wash his hands while Artie got his sanitizer on. Puck needed no prompting to pull the lady out of her bassinette.

"Hello there gorgeous," Puck coo'd. He had a big smile on his face.

"Dude," Finn chuckled.

"What, I'm a softie when it comes to my niece," Puck said, looking at Finn and cradling the baby.

"And between Finn as her father, and her Uncle Puck, poor Charlotte is never going to be able to date," Artie said.

"Of course not," Finn said. "She'll be my little girl forever."

"Poor thing," Artie lamented. "Get over here Puck, I can't exactly get up and see all the cuteness."

"Sorry bro," Puck said sheepishly. He walked over and laid Charlotte in Artie's arms.

"I talked to Mr. Bob. He isn't going to be able to come out and do Biology tutoring. But I offered to come over and help you with your work," Artie said, not taking his eyes off the slightly wriggly baby in his arms.

"You sure you're okay with that?" Finn asked.

"Yeah, Puck agreed to bring me by and babysit while we do our work," Artie said. Puck nodded his head in agreement. Finn looked dubious.

"I need one girl to like me," Puck said. "I'll start with her."

"No corrupting my girl," Finn warned. Puck shook his head, enthralled by the tiny baby. "You guys are awesome. I'm really grateful for that you're offering to do."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Brittany didn't even bother to knock at the Hudson's front door. She bound into the house. Charlotte was crying while Finn was bouncing her in one arm in the kitchen. He was in the process of fixing her a bottle. Santana filed in the house after Brittany. "Britts, you can't just barge into the house," Santana said. "What if the baby was sleeping?"

"Sorry," Brittany said, looking quite ashamed.

"Believe me girls, she's awake," Finn joked. He was finishing the bottle. Once the nipple was in her mouth, she quieted down and drank her bottle. "Come on in, make yourselves comfortable."

Santana was absolutely fascinated with the way Finn was feeding his daughter.

"She is so cute," Brittany gushed. She wandered over to sit next to Finn.

"She's my beautiful baby girl," Finn agreed, putting a big ol' smile on his face.

"You are entirely too sappy, Hudson," Santana commented, her arms crossed in front of her chest, hip cocked out, and a smirk on her face.

"Can't be too sappy if it's true," Finn pointed out.

"Fine, she's gorgeous," Santana admitted, moving closer. She stroked Charlotte's cheek. "You better hope she doesn't have blond hair."

"Why?"

"Because then she's gonna look like that puta, Quinn," Santana explained in a sweet baby voice.

"Language," Finn said. "No bad words around my daughter, even in another language."

"You're no fun," she teased, sticking her tongue out at him. Finn smiled. This little banter gave him a funny feeling inside. He filed that feeling away for another time.

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Charlotte was dressed in her personalized onsie that proudly proclaimed 'my Uncle Kurt spoils me.' When said uncle walked through the door. "How's my gorgeous girl today?"

"I don't think she's feeling too well, "Finn said, letting out a yawn. "She was up all night."

"You look like crap bro," Dave Karofsky commented as he stepped into the house.

"You would too if your kid was up all night crying," Finn said blandly.

"I'm kidding," Dave said. "Can I hold her?"

"Go wash your hands," Finn nodded. Dave went off and did as he was told.

"Do you wanna go take a nap?" Kurt asked. "I'll keep her for a few hours."

"No, I'll be fine, I'll just put on some coffee when Dave's back out here."

"Are you sure?" Kurt pressed.

"I'm sixteen and I have a daughter," Finn chuckled. "I'm not sure of anything anymore." Kurt laughed. Dave came out and waited for Finn to hand him the baby. She had finally calmed down. Once Charlotte was settled in Dave's arms, Finn practically scampered into the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee.

"I can't believe she's finally here," Dave breathed quietly.

"She really is a beauty," Kurt coo'd, stroking her hair gently. "I'm glad Finn told you about Charlotte."

"Really, why?" Dave questioned.

"He needs someone more like him on his side," Kurt said. "I'm like the gay best friend, but I don't have any manly references to go along with him."

"I think you guys get along fine," Dave said. A scent wafted up to Dave's nose. Kurt had good smelling cologne on. It did funny things to Dave's insides. All the feeling of hatred for feeling this way came bubbling up inside his chest. He felt abnormal for feeling attracted to Kurt. But he looked down at the tiny innocent baby. Dave leaned down and pressed a kiss to her warm, soft forehead. Those angry feelings were coming down. She wouldn't hate him if he was gay. Charlotte Amelia Hudson began the journey of self-acceptance and he felt a bit happy inside.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Kurt told him his final day of visitors would be coming by today. Finn mentally went through all the glee mates and came up blank. He was quite curious about who would be stopping by. The knock on the front door alerted him to their presence. He answered the door while Charlotte was sleeping in her swing chair. Finn was shocked to see Mr. Schuester, Ms. Pillsberry, and Coach Bieste.

"Hey guys," Finn greeted with a smile. "I didn't know you guys would be stopping by."

"After everything we've been through this year, I wouldn't not come by," Ms. Pillsberry exclaimed. She practically pushed past Finn to go see the sleeping infant. "Too gorgeous for words!"

"How are things going?" Mr. Schuester asked.

"It's not going too bad," Finn said, letting the two remaining guests into the house "She's sleeping pretty good. Eating pretty well. I'm really lucky."

"I'll say," Coach Bieste commented. "She's cuter than a June bug in summer."

"She sure is, my gorgeous girl," Finn agreed.

"I brought her a few outfits for summer," Coach said. "She's going to be the bee's knees, Hudson."

"Thanks so much," Finn said, smiling. "I love these times, but I really can't wait until she gets older. I have so many plan."

"I think you're doing a great job," Ms. Pillsberry praised. "I'm glad you went through with it."

"Me too."

"Have you called Sam and Wende since?" she asked politely.

"I mailed them some of the hospital photos. They helped me so much," Finn replied. "I owe them everything."

"I'm sure they'll appreciate the photos," Ms. Pillsberry said.

"You okay Mr. Schue?" Finn questioned. His mentor was staring oddly at Coach Bieste and Charlotte.

"I can't believe Quinn didn't want her," Mr. Schue breathed. "She walks around the school as if the past six months haven't meant anything at all."

"I expected this to happen, Mr. Schue," Finn explained. "My Quinn diaries are full to bursting with all the crazies. She actually assaulted me. I knew she would be just trying to get back to her former glory."

"But I thought that when she went through child birth, things would change."

"I don't think she will," Ms. Pillsberry said. "I don't have a formal degree in psychiatry, but I believe - based on what I've read - that Quinn is dealing with a Borderline Personality Disorder."

"Makes sense," Coach Bieste commented. They all looked at her. "What? She's in my gym class. I've seen the way she deals with her peers. I thought she was just all crazy into herself."

"Narcissistic personality disorder," Ms. Pillsberry confirmed. "That's which borderline I was leaning toward."

"Shouldn't she be seeing a therapist or something?" Mr. Schue asked.

"That's completely up to her. In her mind, there's nothing wrong. Unless someone call her out and it gets through then there might be a chance. But I've met her parents and in my professional opinion… she's screwed," Ms. Pillsberry put succinctly.

"It's her loss," Coach Bieste said, stroking Charlotte's head.