AN: Hi, yes this fic is still alive, I promise! Sorry it's taken so long. I've had this written for what feels like a month now and just haven't gotten around to finishing it.
Also, it is late, and I am tired. I wanted to re-read it again but it's just not going to happen, so, please forgive any errors. Thanks for reading :)
Chapter 10: The Gamble
When Mr. Hummel told me he hired a private investigator to find my mother, I knew it was only a matter of time until mommy dearest poked her head out of her groundhog's hole - the bitch couldn't hide forever. And though I knew deep down that seeing my shadow would send her right back into hiding - intent on six more weeks of "no-children" season - there was still a small part of me that hoped otherwise.
Not that I was in a rush to see her or anything. I was as interested in seeing my mom as Kurt would be interested in seeing me in a pair of OshKosh B'gosh overalls on "Marc Jacobs Monday". I just didn't expect it to happen so soon. I hadn't even come to terms with the whole she-packed-all-of-our-shit-and-left-me-for-dead-wi th-nothing-but-a-napkin-note-written-in-lipstick-s aying-she's-sorry situation. Yeah, Mom of the Freakin Year award. All I knew was, I was fucking angry and I sure as hell was not willing to face her just yet.
So, there I was, standing in the Hummel foyer when Mrs. Hudson herself turns from her perch on the living room couch and stands, with a big, fake smile on her make-up covered face like she's actually happy to see me. Her shaking hands catch my attention and I realize she's clutching a brand new SF Giants cap like her life depends on it and it dawns on me what the bitch is up to. Stone faced and willing myself to remain void of all emotion, I turned and stalked straight towards the pool house without a word.
Safely in my sanctuary, I face dive onto the bed with a groan. What the fuck did she expect - A happy dance and a fucking bear hug? Hell no. I'm not five years old anymore. I'm not gonna "forget" she decided to throw away her own kid like a used, dirty Kleenex when she shoves a shiny toy and an ice cream cone in my face - or in this case, a baseball cap. Not fucking happening this time.
Attempting to de-stress and de-headache myself, I take a few deep breaths and close my eyes, willing the tears forming there to back the fuck off. I refuse to shed another tear on her behalf.
I'm not sure how long I lay there, wondering when my life became Telenovela: "La Vida Tràgica de Finn", before my thoughts drift towards Rachel and sleep finally overtakes me.
-xxxxxxx-
I'm rudely awoken from my slumber by a loud knock on the pool house door.
"GoawayKurt!" I mumble in the direction of the door. "I'm yoga-ing."
"I believe the word you're looking for is meditating, Finn."
What the..?
I'm out of bed and lunging towards the door before I even realize I'm awake. "R- Rachel?"
She looks up at me through her ridiculously long lashes. "Can I come in?"
Confirming that she's here alone, I glance behind her and step aside, giving her just enough space to enter but having to brush her chest against mine as she passes. I'm smirking at my brief stroke of genius when I remember I just woke up and probably look like I did that time in kindergarten when I spent the entire day rubbing balloons on my head and pretending I'm "Beaker" from Sesame Street... I look like a fucking mess.
Shit. I'm fussing with my hair and smoothing the wrinkles out of my t-shirt when she turns to face me and I freeze like a deer caught in headlights, looking like a total fucking idiot. In an effort to distract her from my momentary lapse in bad-assness, I send her my million-dollar half smile and like a total stud, slowly run my hand through my sleep-tousled hair.
It works like a charm. Cha-ching. She smirks, brushing her hair behind her ear and glancing down at the floor, shyly. Not one to miss an opportunity to ransack her sweet bod with my eyes, I admire her tits, masterfully fit in her tight pink tank top, my gaze dropping down to where the hem of her short jean skirt lands on her shiny, bronze thighs. I shift uncomfortably as the fruit of my loom stirs, suddenly wide awake also.
"Wh-" I start before clearing my throat and trying again. Why the hell am I so nervous? "What are you doing here, Rachel?"
When her eyes find mine again, I'm taken aback by the sudden change in her demeanor. Her eyes seem almost... predatory. My eyes bulge out of their sockets when she begins to advance towards me, licking her lips like she hasn't eaten for days and I'm a slice of fucking tofu she wants to fry up in olive oil. Reflexively, I step back and away from her, abruptly terrified of this tiny, scary-eyed woman. What the fuck is going on? She saunters towards me, forcing me blindly backwards until my legs hit the bed and I run out of room. She corners me there with a wicked smirk. I swallow.
"I heard about your mom, Finn," Rachel says softly, placing her hand on my chest and lowering me down to sit on the bed. What? How the hell did she know my mom is in Newport? Beneath her hand, my heart races erratically, trying to pummel its way out of my chest as her other hand runs a finger down my stomach and along the waistband of my jeans, taunting me. She smiles, feeling me flinch and reveling in the power she has over me. I'm fucking putty in her hands – she can do whatever the hell she wants with me right now - and she knows it. Please do whatever you want with me, Rachel.
"I came to see if you needed some comforting," she continues with her finger still hooked into my jeans, pushing her lips into the sexiest fucking pout I've ever seen. Rachel's eyes wander down my chest and in a split second she grabs the hem of my t-shirt and rips it over my head and off of my body. Warning bells ring deep in the back of my mind, questioning who this strange woman is and what the hell she's doing until they're overshadowed by the growing lust in my pants. Yes! Yes, I need to be comforted. Comfort me, Rachel.
She gains my full attention then by slapping both hands on my knees and dragging her nails slowly up my thighs. With wide eyes I look back up at her face as she brushes her fingers against the growing bulge in my jeans. I snap my hand on top of hers to stop her movements before I blow my load too early. She licks her fucking lips again before tightly gripping my thighs and spreading them further apart so she can stand between them. She leans in towards me rubbing her wet lips against my ear, the warmth of her breath sending shutters down my spine as the sweet smell of her shampoo clouds my senses. This is not your first time at the rodeo, dipshit. Breathe. In, out, in, out.
"I lied, Finn," she whispers, breathing heavily into my ear. My breath catches in my throat when she leans back to look me in the eyes and spreads her legs, purposely flashing her pink lace panties and lifts them one by one onto my lap so that she's straddling me. Grabbing my hands, she places them on her ass as every ounce of blood in my body rushes south below the border to where her heated, wet center is separated from mine only by my clothes and the thin fabric of her panties. I dig my nails into her ass to keep my fingers from ripping every scrap of material separating her skin from my touch. Her eyes grow bigger as she settles herself on top of my boner.
"I'm the one who needs comforting," she adds, biting her lip in the sexiest fucking way I've ever seen and rocking her hips into mine forcing an "Uhhh" to slip from my lips. This is must be what heaven is like. I must be dead.
My brain erupts with obscenities in every fucking language but the only word I manage to croak out is,
"Rachel…"
I squirm uncomfortably, wishing I'd removed my goddamn jeans before my nap. I'm pretty sure I stole them from the Baby Gap they're so fucking tight right now. I stare at the ceiling, my gaze boring a hole in the roof. MailmanMailmanMailmanMailman MailmanMailman.
Rachel drags her nails down my chest, stopping to squeeze and play with my nipples as her lips attaches to my neck again. "I want you, Finn." She whispers against my neck before nibbling at it and dragging her tongue across my skin. "Do you want me?"
"Ohhh God, Rachel…I…"
"Ohhh God, Rachel?"
My face contorts into one of pain and confusion when I recognize the voice.
"Finn! Wake up!"
I groan and open my eyes, blinking my surroundings into focus. Reality hits me like a goddamn freight train.
He's standing over me with a shit eating grin on his face. "What the fuck, Kurt?"
"You were dreaming about Rachel weren't you?" He laughs, pissing me off further as I will my porno laden brain to conjure an answer. "You're sweating, Finn," Kurt says with an air of disgust. "We're having dinner with your mom soon. Go take a shower." I turn over, groaning and throw a pillow at him as he retreats to the door. "…a cold shower," he adds before cackling and slamming it shut.
-xxxxxxxx-
To say dinner was awkward would be the understatement of the year.
Whose bright idea was that dinner, anyway? I would rather have stuck Kurt's ugly hippo brooch through my eyelids. At least then I'd feel something.
Despite my mom's feeble attempt at appearing "stable" and "responsible" by throwing on a new dress – with the price tag still on it – and coating her face with the entire makeup aisle in CVS, I saw right through her charade. I've ridden the April Hudson "I'm sober now and things are going to change" denial-train one too many times. It's a non-stop express right back to Liquiorville - Every. Single. Time.
I made my opinion on the matter quite clear when I stood during dinner and stormed out of the room for the second time today, having heard enough about her supposed ex-drinking problem and her now ex-boyfriend. Living through it once was enough, thank you very much. I wasn't interested in another trip down memory fucking lane.
At least that was my attitude until she found me in the pool house and tugged on what's left of my heart strings with talk about how things really are different this time, how sorry she is for leaving me and that she'll never do anything like that again. Not that I haven't heard it all before but the look in her eyes and the strength in her hand squeezing mine brings me a sense of hope I didn't have before. And I caved.
I wasn't forgiving her yet – fuck no. But I was willing to give her another chance. That's what you do for family, right?
The bile in my stomach churns with dread about tonight's stupid charity event and I let out a heavy sigh; Casino Night. If history is anything to go by, this is not going to end well. My mom, gambling and liquor all in one room = disaster.
I force myself up to start throwing on another one of Mr. Hummel's suits, hoping deep in the pit of my soul that this time things really will be different; that I'm not placing all my chips on a bet I'm bound to lose.
-xxxxx-
With the oddly sober (but looking very pretty tonight) version of my mom on my arm, we follow Mr. and Mrs. Hummel and Kurt inside. I step off of the Newport Beach Yacht Club entry carpet and through the doorway right into the freakin' Las Vegas Bellagio, seriously. What I saw earlier today pales in comparison to this shit. It's amazing what a bunch of bored, rich housewives can do with a wad of cash and a ton of free time - all in the name of charity of course. I adjust my tie, feeling like fucking George Clooney in Ocean's 11 strutting through the doorway like I'm about to rob the place.
I leave my mom with the Hummels and head towards the bar to get us both a seltzer - so fucking lame. I'm impatiently taping my fingers against the bar - how long does it take to make a freakin' soda, seriously? - when a squeal to my right catches my attention. I turn just in time to catch Rachel in a tight black dress, clapping and jumping around excitedly with the biggest smile on her perfect face. Those real life tits from my dream bounce up and down in slow motion - freely, I'm 99% sure she's not wearing a bra - like she's Pamela Anderson in the opening credits of Baywatch. Only instead of holding a rescue tube, her hands are full of poker chips and it's fucking hot. Oh and that dress she has on? Is she trying to kill me? It's black and tight and it should be illegal. My mind drifts towards the dream I had earlier.
The bartender slams the sodas on the counter, snapping me back into focus and my heart aches when I recall what Rachel said earlier. "You were right... We're from two different worlds.." I send her one last glance and head off with the drinks.
I find my mom already at the blackjack table. "Thank you, honey," she says, thanking me for the drink and sliding half of her chips in to bet.
"Aren't you betting kind of big, mom?"
"It's for charity!" She leans in closer, her voice lower. "Besides, the count is way positive."
"You're counting? It's not a single deck."
"Oh honey, if I teach you anything in this world, the count goes way higher with multiple decks." She smiles and winks reassuringly.
"Blackjack!" The dealer declares.
"Oh!" My mom replies, acting surprised. "Woo!" She laughs, hugging me. "See honey? My luck is turning around already." I internally groan. Luck is never kind to the Hudsons.
She gives me some of her chips with, "I'll be fine. You don't have to babysit me," and after a few rounds pass and I feel confident she's not going to jump head first onto the booze train, I leave her be. Kurt finds me as I'm wandering through the slot machines.
"Got a sec?" He asks.
"What's up, man?"
Kurt nods his head towards the craps tables, before his eyes widen and he rambles on at a rapid pace, hands flailing as he speaks. "So, I was just walking past the table, didn't even know he was there until the dice flew off the table and into my leg. I bent down to pick them up and came face to face with Blaine. Blaine! Can you believe it? Anyway, he just stared at me with his hand out like he wanted the dice so I dropped them into his hand and he smiled - smiled at me! - before turning and chucking the dice. Next thing I knew he was clinging to me, calling me his lucky charm and insisting I touch the dice before every throw. And he keeps winning so it's true! I'm his lucky charm! Which is great if only - "
"Kent! Oh, Kent! Get over here, it's my turn again!" Blaine calls from one of the craps tables.
"Kent?" I ask Kurt, raising my eyebrows, trying to hide my smile.
He purses his lips, clearly not as amused as I am. "So far I've corrected 'Kevin', 'Kipp' and 'Kale'," he says, counting off on his fingers. "'Kale'! ... as in the seaweed. I mean, really?" Kurt sighs dramatically, in total Fancy Pants fashion, before Blaine wails "KENT!" yet again and Kurt stalks back to the craps table. The guy may seem annoyed that Blaine has yet to get his name right, but I know he is loving every minute of it.
After Kurt leaves, I scan the room, deciding enough time has passed that I should check up on my mom. She's where I left her, playing Blackjack. She catches my eye and smiles, but after noticing the worried look on my face, she shakes the drink in her hand and mouths "Tonic water. Go have fun", with a shoo of her hand. I return the smile and nod, somewhat relieved. Turing back towards the slot machines, my eyes land on the one person I've been dying to talk to all night.
Placing my hands in my pockets, I stroll over to the empty machine next to her and take a seat.. Rachel's eyes flick towards me. "Hi," I say.
"Hey," she replies, smiling. She turns her head towards the sudden loud laughter and cries of joy coming from the blackjack tables. "Is that your mom?"
"Yeah," I reply, hoping like hell that she wasn't lying to me and it's the excitement that's getting to her and not a bottle of vodka.
Rachel nods and pulls down the lever, waiting until it dings before speaking. "She came back, so, I guess that means you're going home."
"Yeah... I guess." I put some coins into my slot machine and pull the lever.
"Well, good luck with everything," she mumbles, swiveling her body to get up off the stool. I grab her arm to stop her.
"Rachel, wait, please," I plead. She turns back towards me, her face a mask of sadness, similar to her face on the night of the fire that's still burned into my brain. My stomach clenches.
Her eyes search mine, landing on my lips as she whispers, "I'll miss you."
A throat is cleared behind us and her eyes flick back up to mine before she shakes my hand from her arm. Rachel leaves before I have a chance to say another word. Jesse walks into my line of sight then, glaring at me before marching in the same direction Rachel went.
I'm frozen in place for a good minute or so, contemplating the words that slipped from those beautiful lips when I hear a loud crashing noise. I know the cause of the commotion before I even look in her direction.
Sure enough, April Hudson is sprawled out on the floor with a tray of spilled drinks and a waiter, hysterically laughing. By now, every pair of eyes at the event is focused on her.
"What the hell is your problem?" The waiter asks, offering his hand to help her up.
She slaps it away. "What's my problem? What's your problem? Just back off." She turns on the floor, attempting to get up when she sees me. "Oh, Finn. I-I must've tripped. It's these damn shoes," she stutters, gesturing towards her heels. "OOPS!" She yells, laughing. I crouch down to my mom's level, but don't move to help her up yet.
Out of the corner of my eyes, I see Rachel, pushing through the crowd and telling some criticizing jock pricks, "Hey, shut up." She stands there, looking uneasy like she wants to help but isn't sure what to do. Jesse the King Douche comes up behind her.
The room is quiet, besides the accusatory whispers of the onlookers and the muttering of my hysterical mother. "Why don't you just quit staring and help me up, ok? Get me up!" She yells. "I said HELP ME UP!" Mr. Hummel bends down next to me and tries to help her up but she struggles against him. I don't do a damn thing to help. I don't even move. I look away from my mom and up at Rachel. Jesse glances between us, steps forward and helps Mr. Hummel with my mom.
"Finally! Geez!" She mumbles, once standing.
Mr. Hummel pulls the keys out of his pocket and hands them to Kurt, who I hadn't even noticed before. "Kurt, why don't you go get the car. April, maybe you had one too many?"
"Noo, I -" she mumbles, swaying between Mr. Hummel and Jesse. "What are you looking at?" She spits towards an onlooker. "Finn. Where's Finn?"
Her calling my name enables me to stand, and I remove her arm from around Jesse and thank him for helping. "I'm right here, mom."
"Honey," she sighs, rubbing her hand on my chest. "I'm so sorry. I ruined it, huh?"
"It's ok, mom. It's ok," I repeat, leading her towards the door.
"No, I ruin everything. You hate me," she whines.
I shake my head. "I don't. I love you, mom."
Mrs. Hummel clears her throat from behind us and turns towards the room, speaking loudly. "It's ok, everyone! It was just an accident... She's with us."
I sneak one last glance back into the room and my eyes land on Rachel. She's standing next to Jesse. They're holding hands.
.
We put her to sleep in the bed in the pool house. I sleep on the couch next to her.
The bed is empty when I wake in the morning.
Exiting the pool house, I see her, packed and ready to go as she talks to Mrs. Hummel. When she turns towards me, I see the tears in her eyes. She smiles. She doesn't speak, she just waves.
After a moment, I wave back.
As she's walking through the back gate, I wonder if I'll ever see her again.
.
Once she's gone, I follow Mrs. Hummel into the kitchen. Kurt and Mr. Hummel are preparing breakfast.
"Hey," Kurt says, somberly.
"Where's uh -" Mr. Hummel starts.
Mrs. Hummel cuts him off. "Finn's going to stay with us now."
Kurt smiles. "That's awesome. I mean, that's awesome right?" He asks me, smile growing wider by the second.
"Yeah," I respond after a brief pause.
"Come on, I have so much to tell you," Kurt says, marching out of the kitchen.
I follow him, stopping in the doorway. I turn towards Mr. and Mrs. Hummel, my lips turning into a grin.
"I'll unpack later."
-xxxxxxxxxx-
AN: SO, please don't hate me for making April Finn's mom. It was the easy choice seeing as Carole is Kurt's mom already and the bigger character. And yes, I am aware of the fact that April is like a barbie doll and Finn is the size of a sky scraper so it's incredibly illogical that he would come out of her. Just imagine April to be much, much taller in this fic. ;)
Hope the chapter was worth the wait. AS ALWAYS, PLEASE LEAVE SOME LOVE! :)