Author's Note: Given some of the questions in the reviews, I thought this chapter was necessary. (Finn and Rachel are both 23, Sarah is 19 and little Maddy is a year.) I also felt there needed to be a little more explanation for Finn's attachment to Maddy. Another flashback! Hope you enjoy! Possibly another chapter tonight. New Glee episode! =)

Disclaimer: I do not own Glee.

2 Months Ago

I was trying very hard not to let any doubt get to me. This was something I refused to let myself back down on. A poor little girl's mother was lying in a hospital bed and I had to do everything I could to take care of her. Make sure she was okay.

"Finn Hudson."

A large woman stood in the door way of the waiting room. Her fuzzy purple sweater clashed with her long plaid skirt, but her smile was inviting.

"Yes, that's me."

I shook her outstretched hand before following her into her office.

"My name is Nancy Kelling and how are you today?"

"Not too bad, a little nervous."

My leg shook in anticipation, I could feel my palms start to sweat."

"That's to be expected, of course, but let me ask you. Are you sure you want to do this? I know you're young, 23, just out of college, are you prepared to take care of a child?"

That was a lot of questions at once. But if I wanted to follow through with this I needed to be confident.

"Yes, mam, I'm positive. As for taking care of her, I'm planning on moving to the small town my mother lives in, Lima, Oh. I also have a job lined up that is willing to be flexible. I know this will be hard, but I have to do it."

Her eyes conveyed: "Oh honey what have you got yourself into?" But then she sighed.

"Now, this is not going to be easy. Messy paperwork must be filled out and you will have to attend a hearing. But I think with the right preparation you will be a perfect candidate for young Madison Jennings."

"Okay where do we start?"

Passing the background check and drug test was the easy part. I knew I wasn't a criminal and drugs never intrigued me. It was having to talk in front of a judge in a courtroom that had me biting my nails. Speaking had never been my strong suit, I fumbled over words, never conveying what I was trying to say. Miss Kelling assured me that I would be fine, that I had this.

"You're young, confident, and you have a clean record. The judge will most certainly not deny you."

"I hope you're right."

The courtroom itself was small, white walls lined with pictures of former judges. It reminded me of those courtrooms you see during those pet police shows on Animal Planet.

I sat at a table with Miss Kelling, there was no one to argue against me, which was calming. Turns out most cases like this only require a judge. And given that Sarah had no family, it helped my case.

"All rise for the honorable Judge Davis."

A balding man with a stern and possibly bored expression came walking up to his seat at the front of the courtroom.

"Shall we begin? Okay, today we are discussing the case involving the custody Madison Jennings. Her mother Sarah Jennings, 19, was involved in a car accident on July 17 and is currently in a coma. Mr. Finn Hudson has asked the court to allow him brief custody of Madison until her mother should awake. Is that correct?"

"Yes that is correct. Mr. Hudson came to me on his own accord in what I believe to be out of the goodness of his heart."

Judge David nodded and then turned to me.

"Mr. Hudson, it appears everything is in order. You have a clean record, seem like a good man, and have thought this through. My only question is, why?"

This was my moment. My mother always says to speak from your heart. Here goes.

"As you probably know, I'm the one that hit Miss Jennings's car. When I heard about her daughter I couldn't just let her sit in some state run home. Sure she's only one and I may not know Sarah, but I know that if I was her I would want my child somewhere happy. Not surrounded by a bunch of strangers. I have to do something."

He looked thoughtful and I was pretty positive I would get denied.

"After going over everything I've decided to grant temporary custody of Madison Jennings to Mr. Finn Hudson, so long as she provides a stable environment. This will continue until the mother Miss Sarah Jennings is in good health and at that time Madison will again be in the custody of her mother. Court dismissed."

I'd won. It didn't matter that I was scared out of my mind or that really was completely unprepared, all that mattered was I had Madison.

Leaving the court room doors a woman came and handed Madison to Miss Kelling. She was adorable and looked just like Sarah.

"Now Madison, this is Finn and he is going to take care of you for a while, until your mommy is better. Is it okay if I hand you to Finn?"

Arms stretched out I took her, she smelled like baby powder and her skin was soft. This could work. Then she started crying.

My mom graciously drove Madison and I to Lima. She bonded with her the entire way, making her giggle. I'd wished for a moment that this little girl was really ours. But she wasn't she was someone else's, I couldn't' become attached.

The first time I tried to feed her she spit the carrots back at me and cried for an hour. The second time I changed her diaper I put way too much baby powder on had no choice but to give her a bath. The third time I gave her a bath I somehow ended up in the tub covered in Johnson and Johnson bubble bath and soaked from head to toe.

It was a learning process Madison and I. Putting her to sleep at night was the worst of it all. We'd sit on the couch, her on my chest, covered by this punk ducky blanket, but just as I would slowly get up and set her in her crib, the crying would start. I would try bottles, rocking her back and forth, I even attempted driving around in the car. She would only fall asleep after wearing herself out.

When I found out Marley lived down the hall I was ecstatic. She had been babysitting for years and was a pro at putting Maddy down at night. I paid her ten dollars an hour and let her have free range of my kitchen. Mrs. Helms two doors down was always willing take Maddy at the drop of a hat. Which was great on the days when Marley had class.

I'd had Maddy for about a month when I met Rachel. I was late to work my first day, having dealt with a screaming one year old since about five that morning. When I saw Rachel for the first time, I couldn't blink, or talk. Which is why I stuttered a lame excuse about my tires and rain. She was breath taking.

That night at the video store I had left Maddy with Marley, who had suggested I go out and rent a movie. I did not plan on running in to Rachel. When she had invited me over I couldn't say no. I'd never tell her, but we both fell asleep. I hated leaving her there, but I had responsibilities. Rachel could not be in the picture.

So I ignored her for two weeks after that. Unsure of what to say, and still dealing with the state of Ohio over Maddy. Just because you win does not mean they ever leave you alone. Miss Kelling would come once a week just to check up.

Bowling with Rachel was freeing. I felt like my age again, on a date with a beautiful girl (except it wasn't a date, I think we'd decided we were friends), nothing but the night ahead. But then Marley text me and I was back to being Finn Hudson, pseudo parent.

When I got home that night I sensed a change in Maddy. She was coughing, visibly upset, I couldn't get her to calm down. Two spoonfuls of this nasty smelling cough medicine and a warm bath (water all over the bathroom) and she fell asleep. When I tried to put her in her crib, her arms became latched around my neck. She slept next to me that night. And in the morning when the sun rose, sending orange light through the window, I found her hands on my face, smiling. I was smitten.

Rarely did I take Maddy out in public. It wasn't that I was ashamed of her, it's just very few people in Lima knew about her. But Maddy had been so good that day, eaten her carrots and kept them down, so I figured why not. Bumping into Rachel was an accident, just like everything else monumental in my life.

Explaining why I had Maddy to Rachel was shockingly easy, once I started. She was understanding, confused maybe, but understanding none the less.

Maddy wouldn't sleep that night. She was ansy, excited, toddling about the living room with block in her mouth. I should have known change was coming.

It was around 2:45am when I got the phone call and 3:00 when I knocked on Rachel's door, Maddy asleep in my arms. I hadn't even noticed I was crying. Until I tried to speak. Maddy moved in my arms staring up at me. I found my voice.

And my world imploded.

A/N 2: So now we know how Finn got custody of Maddy. Next we meet Sarah! And reveal Rachel's past. Stay tuned!