Hi everyone. Thanks for all the reviews for the last chapter. I really appreciate them. However, I do need to say something else: while I'm glad you guys like my stories, please do not say mean things about other peoples' stories, especially not my friends' stories. I received a mean comment on my last chapter and people work hard on their stories. But thanks to the rest of you for the support and enjoy if I should keep going!
Chapter 10: Sighting
"And the final nominee for Best Replacement for a Lead Actress in a Musical - Rachel Berry from Funny Girl!"
It was true that she knew this was coming, but Rachel had to smile as she heard the official announcement. She was nominated for a Tony Award. She hugged Kurt, Santana, Mercedes, Tina, Kitty and Marley as the announcement came on. The girls and Kurt were having a girls' night at the three-bedroom apartment, while Finn and Blaine went to the two bedroom apartment for a guys' night with Sam, Artie and Ryder.
"Okay, I'm nominated," Rachel said. "It's official!" She didn't expect to get a Tony nomination in her first ever production. Even if she didn't get the award, this was a victory in itself. She grabbed the remote and turned off the TV. "Let's not focus on me now that it's been announced."
"Well, you've come pretty far from the days when you wanted everything to be all about you," Tina said.
"Those days are over," Rachel said.
"So, can I tell you girls something?" Kurt asked.
"Sure," Rachel said.
"With me graduating this year, I'm going to be working full time at Vogue starting this summer," Kurt said. "And Blaine and I have begun talking... about kids."
Kids? That definitely hit a chord with Rachel. It had been months and she didn't talk about it, but every day, she thought about her miscarriage and the child who she'd lost. She and Finn hadn't known what they would have done if the child was born, but now that the child was gone, she found herself wishing that the child was living here with them. Funny Girl was bringing in a pretty good amount of money for someone who wasn't even done with college, and she was sure Finn would get a teaching position at the high school after he graduated.
"You are?" Marley asked.
"Yeah," Kurt said. "We both always knew that we wanted to have kids... we might wait until after Blaine graduates though."
Well, that would give Rachel more time to get used to the idea. Maybe it was dumb that the thought of her friends having kids would upset her. She and Finn probably would have more kids, eventually. Their time would come. She couldn't bring being upset out on everyone else. She managed to force a smile. "I think you guys would be really great dads, but it might be a good idea to wait until after Blaine graduates."
"We probably will," Kurt said. "Is it bad that I'm talking about having kids with him?"
"You are married men," Mercedes said. "Married couples have children."
"Finn and Rachel almost did last year," Tina said before covering her mouth. "Sorry, Rachel."
"Don't worry," Rachel sighed. "I'm sure we'll have them in the future."
"There's nothing like being young and married in the most amazing city on Earth," Kurt said. "Even before marriage was legal in all 50 states, it was legal here. Here, we can have a family legally recognized."
"There's nothing wrong with wanting to take the next step," Kitty said. "Living here with Artie makes me really want to spend my life with him, and I'm already asking if you girls will be my bridesmaids. Well, Kurt, I'm sure you'll be a groomsman."
"You're definitely excited to get married, and you're not even engaged yet," Rachel teased.
"Yeah, but I want you girls as my bridesmaids," Kitty said. "Along with Unique and Brittany and my sister."
"Weddings are fun, of course we will be," Tina said.
"And I want you as maid of honor," Kitty told Marley.
"You're taking a headstart on your planning," Marley said. "But whenever it is, of course I'll be maid of honor."
"It's normal to want to marry the person you love, and want kids with them," Rachel told the girls and Kurt. "If I'm being honest... Finn and I have been talking about kids, too."
"Are you trying for another baby?" Santana asked.
"No, but we just know that we want to have one," Rachel said. "Just like Kurt and Blaine know."
"Just because you lost one baby doesn't mean you'd lose another," Kurt said. "I'm glad you guys aren't letting it stop you."
x
Finn had promised himself he'd let himself unwind tonight. He knew that he was stressed about everything with his father. He'd been staying extra late at the school to work with the kids for the musical, often to the point where the administration would ask them to leave. He had a feeling the guys had asked him to hang out because they could see how stressed out he was about everything. They'd ordered pizza for dinner and decided to go walking around New York for some fun. Artie, Blaine, Sam and Ryder were talking about plans for the proposal. Finn tried to help when he could, but he couldn't stop thinking about his father.
Then Blaine turned to Finn. "You're being pretty quiet."
"Just kind of tired," Finn admitted.
"Finn, you need to take your mind off things," Artie said as the guys approached Callbacks. "Come on, let's go in here and try out that mashup you were thinking you might have the glee club do for Sectionals."
"Yeah, you won't know what sounds like until you actually hear it," Ryder said.
"Okay," Finn agreed. He couldn't think about his dad all the time. He wasn't even sure if the mashup was ideal for Sectionals, but it was worth a try, and he did always enjoy performing with his guy friends.
The guys went inside and sat down for some drinks before they were called up to the karaoke stand.
Sam: Don't Breathe Too Deep
Don't Think All Day
Dive Into Work
Drive The Other Way
Blaine: That Drip Of Hurt
That Pint Of Shame
Goes Away
Just Play The Game
Finn: You're Living In America
At The End Of The Millennium
You're Living In America
Leave Your Conscience At The Tone
And When You're Living In America
At The End Of The Millennium
You're What You Own
Artie: One song glory, one song before I go
Glory, one song to leave behind
Find one song, one last refrain
Glory, from the pretty boy front man
Who wasted opportunity
Ryder: One song, he had the world at his feet
Glory, in the eyes of a young girl
A young girl, find glory
Finn: Just Tighten Those Shoulders
Sam: Just Clench Your Jaw Til You Frown
Ryder: Just Don't Let Go
All: Or You May Drown
You're Living In America
At The End Of The Millennium
You're Living In America
Where It's Like The Twilight Zone
And When You're Living In America
At The End Of The Millennium
You're What You Own
Artie: So I Own Not A Notion
Ryder: I Escape And Ape Content
I Don't Own Emotion - I Rent
Artie: What Was It About That Night
Ryder: What Was It About That Night
Artie: Connection In An Isolating Age
Blaine: For Once The Shadows Gave Way To Light
Sam: For Once The Shadows Gave Way To Light
Ryder: For Once I Didn't Disengage
Sam: Beyond the cheap colored lights
Blaine: One song, before the sun sets
Sam: Glory, on another empty life
Blaine and Sam: Time flies, time dies
Glory, one blaze of glory
One blaze of glory, glory
All: Dying In America
At The End Of The Millennium
We're Dying In America
To Come Into Our Own
And When You're Dying In America
At The End Of The Millennium
You're Not Alone
I'm Not Alone
I'm Not Alone
"That was a good mashup," Ryder told Finn as the Callbacks patrons applauded.
Finn smiled. "Thanks. I thought maybe the glee club could do a Rent mashup at Sectionals so they'd still be practicing for the musical, but it would be something different."
"Yeah, you're good at mashups," Sam added.
"Thanks," Finn said. "Sorry I was being so quiet at first..."
"It's fine," Blaine said. "I know this isn't an easy time for you."
"Thanks for understanding," Finn said. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a teenage boy, about high school aged, who looked so much like Finn did when he was in high school. As if the boy noticed Finn was looking at him, he turned and looked at Finn as well. Finn held his glance on the boy for a few more moments, the boy doing the same thing, before the boy and his friends left the restaurant.
Christopher and his family lived in New Jersey. New York was certainly close enough for Christopher's high school aged son to come here and hang out with his friends on the weekends. And this boy looked so much like Finn... he almost had to be Finn's half brother.
"Are you okay, Finn?" Blaine asked.
"I think that might have been Christopher's son... my brother... who was just here," Finn said. There was no getting away from this. Reminders of Christopher were following him everywhere.
x
"Did you have fun with Kurt and the girls tonight?" Finn asked Rachel as they got in bed together.
"Yeah, I did," Rachel said. "We had the TV on when they announced my Tony nomination."
"I wish I could have been there for it," Finn told Rachel. "So, the guys and I tried out the mashup I have in mind for Sectionals."
"And?" Rachel asked.
"I think it'll sound good," Finn said. "But Rachel... I think Christopher's son might have been at the bar."
"What?" Rachel asked. "But Christopher lives in New Jersey..."
"I know," Finn said. "But his son could have come to New York with his friends to hang out... New Jersey's close to New York. And he looked so much like me, it was too much of a coincidence."
"Is Christopher sending his son up here looking for you?" Rachel asked. "That is not okay!"
"I don't know," Finn said.
"You need to call the lawyer," Rachel said. "And you need to call your mom, too."
"Okay," Finn sighed. He knew Rachel was right, although he didn't want to upset his mom. He dialed the attorney's number first in hopes that he'd pass the message on to Burt and Carole. Unfortunately, the attorney didn't pick up his phone, so Finn left a message before dialing his mom's number.
Carole picked up almost right away. "Hi Finn."
"Hi Mom," Finn said. "How are you?"
"I'm fine, honey, how are you?" Carole asked.
"I'm fine," Finn said. "Mom..."
"Oh, tell Rachel congratulations on her Tony nomination," Carole said. "Her dads texted me and Burt to tell us."
Finn felt bad for making the mood worse. "I will. Mom, I think one of Christopher's sons was at the restaurant I went to with the guys tonight."
"What?" Carole gasped.
"I don't know if it was, but it was a teenage boy who looked a lot like me," Finn said. "He was looking at me for a few minutes and then he left with his friends."
"What is Christopher doing?" Carole asked. "He says he doesn't want you in his life, and now he's using his wife and his son as pawns..."
"Well, maybe it was a coincidence," Finn said.
"Still, I want you to call our lawyer," Carole said.
"I called him and left a message," Finn said.
"Good," Carole said. "I'm so sorry, Finn..."
"I just wanted to tell you," Finn said.
"Thank you for letting me know," Carole said. "Call me if anything happens again, okay?"
"Okay," Finn said before hanging up the phone and turning to Rachel. "My mom isn't happy..."
"Well, since Christopher says his kids don't know, there's no way of knowing if he was doing this on purpose," Rachel said.
"The way he was looking at me... he looked shocked that I looked so much like him," Finn said. "I doubt he knows who I am."
"Well, Christopher and his wife need to tell the kids the truth," Rachel said. "It's going to come out eventually."
"I just wish that things were easier," Finn sighed. "Like what you and Shelby and Kylie have."
"I know this sucks," Rachel said. "It sucked for me at first, too. But we're going to fix things."
Finn heard a knock on his door. "Hello?"
Kurt and Blaine came in. "Is everything okay?" Blaine asked. "Kurt's dad called and said to keep an eye on you. Did Christopher try calling or something?"
"Well, we don't know if his son even knew who I was," Finn said.
"Our parents aren't very happy about it," Kurt said.
"We can't really blame his son," Rachel said. "He probably doesn't even know who Finn is."
"Yeah, that's true," Kurt said.
"Part of what being a parent is not trying to make your kids take responsibility for your mistakes," Rachel said. "If you two really do want a kid, then you'll need to remember that."
Finn looked surprised, wondering what Rachel had said. "Wait, you two want a kid?"
"In the future," Blaine said.
"You two would be great dads," Finn said.
"Thanks Finn," Kurt said. "I think you and Rachel would be, too."
x
The next day, Finn's phone was ringing and he looked at the Caller ID, noticing that it was the attorney. Not sure if he wanted to know what was going on with Christopher, Finn picked up the phone. "Hello?"
"Hi Finn," Beau said.
"Hello Mr. Hunter," Finn said. "You got my message last night?"
"Yeah," Beau said. "I did call Christopher's attorney."
"And?" Finn asked.
"Well, he still says that his son doesn't know who you are, but he is a bit suspicious," Beau admitted. "He said he saw a man who looked a lot like him and that he's wondering if you're related somehow."
"Well, Christopher and his wife will have a lot of explaining to do," Finn said.
"They do," Beau said. "Christopher's attorney said Christopher was complaining about how you shouldn't have been there..."
Finn felt himself getting annoyed. "I live here! I can go and do whatever I want!"
"Of course you can," Beau said. "Christopher's attorney said he wanted to call you, but I reminded him he can't."
"Good," Finn snapped. Was there any way to get Christopher to see his side? Probably not.
Chapter 11 preview: The New Yorkers go back to Lima to see the fall musical and spend time with the New Directions.
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