Chapter 9

Rachel sat and thought about what had happened a week ago at the mall. How something as simple as the sound of a newborn babies cries could send her into a complete frenzy. She hated it. She hated what she had become.

Finn walked into the room, taking a seat next to her on the couch. "How are you today?"

She looked over at him nodding a bit, "I'm gonna be okay, one day. I just don't think that day is today."

Finn moved the strand of hair that fell loosely on her face and nodded, "And I'll be right here every step of the way." He wrapped an arm around her, as she nuzzled herself into his side.

"Where's Lexi?"

"Santana took her out for lunch." He watched as she smiled a bit. She loved knowing that her friends were trying their best to help out.

"Rach, I have some bad news..." His voice trailed off. He didn't know how to tell her the news he'd just found out.

She jumped up a bit, "What is it?"

"It's Mr. Peterson... He had a heart attack. He's not doing to well Rach."

Rachel gasped as her hand covered her mouth and tears began to well up in her eyes, "When?"

"Last night, the doorman found him this morning unconscious on the floor of the apartment. We were listed as the emergency contact and they called right away." He too began to tear up a bit. Mr. Peterson had been their friend, their family away from home. "

Well we have to go. We have to go see him." She jumped up quickly wiping the tears from her eyes.

Finn stood up shaking his head, "No Rach, it's probably best if you stay here with Lexi, I'm gonna go and I'll see how he's doing."

"NO!" She nearly screamed at him. "I'm going too. Finn he's our family. And if this is more serious than we know, I want to be there, I want to see him one more time. And Lexi should get to too." The thought of their family losing Mr. Peterson was heartbreaking. For a minute she completely forgot about her own problems.

...

Rachel and Finn sat on the plane to New York, Lexi snuggled up in the seat between them. "You sure you're up for this." He reached over their daughter and placed a hand over hers.

She turned away from the window to face him and nodded, "I can do it. I have to. He needs us."

Finn brought their hands to his lips and placed a soft kiss on the top of hers. He knew this wasn't going to be easy. Rachel's first time back in the city. The severity of Mr. Peterson. It was a lot to take in for one man. They arrived in the city and headed straight to the hospital bags and all. Finn rushed up to the counter in the waiting room "Hi, we're here to see Mr. Peterson. My name is Finn Hudson, I got a call yesterday."

The receptionist looked up and nodded, "Mr. Peterson is in room 413. He's stable at the moment, so visitors are allowed..." She looked over Finn's shoulder at Rachel and Lexi. Rachel was crouched down adjusting her daughter's jacket. "Sir, I don't think it's best for a child to be in the room."

Finn looked back at his two girls. They'd explained a bit to Lexi about what happened, she was so little, she didn't really understand. She knew he was sick. "You don't understand, that's his granddaughter, we're all he's got left. She might be his saving grace."

The lady looked over once again at Lexi, the concern, confusion and sadness in her eyes, "Alright."

She handed him three visitors passes and directed them on their way. When they reached his room, Finn looked at the girls inhaling deeply, "Should I go in first?"

Rachel looked down at Lexi who was holding on tightly to her hand, "I'll go."

Finn reached down for Lexi grabbing her in his arms, "You sure?"

Rachel nodded hugging them both, "Yea." She slowly tapped on the door before pushing it open, "Mr. Peterson?" A coughing sound filled the room as she made her way in. There he was, looking so old and fragile. He carefully and slowly turned around. IV's coming from every direction. It nearly broke her heart as she teared up again. "Oh no, Mr. Peterson don't move."

He cleared his throat before responding, "Rachel? My sweet Rachel is that you?" She made her way to his bedside taking his hand in hers as he reached out for her, "Yes. It's me."

"My darling. You look beautiful as ever. What are you doing here?" The words could barely be made out as they left his lips.

"We came to see you."

"We?" He asked as his eyes lit up a bit. "You're all here?"

She smiled at the look on his face when he realized the entire Hudson family had come to see him, "Yes, Finn and Lexi are right outside."

He nodded and teared up a bit, "You came."

"Of course we did." She leaned down pressing a kiss to his forehead, "Of course."

Just then Lexi peeked her head through the door, "Momma?" Rachel looked up as Mr. Peterson slowly turned over to face the door again, "Mr. Peterson!" Lexi ran up to the bedside hugging Mr. Peterson as gently as she could and as far as her little arms would let her.

"Lexi, you beautiful girl you."

"Mr. Peterson, we came to see you becasue daddy says your sick."

Finn walked up behind Lexi "Mr. Peterson." He swallowed trying to push his tears away...

"Finn." He tried to reach his arm up to Finn.

Finn noticed quickly reaching out, "No, sir don't move."

"It's so good to see you all. I missed you guys." He looked around at all three of them and smiled as tears fell from his eyes.

Hours passed and there they continued to be with him. They enjoyed a quite dinner together in the room and as visiting hours came to a close Lexi was beginning to fall asleep on Rachel's lap. "You guys should get going." Mr. Peterson managed to choked the words out a bit as he looked over at Lexi.

Finn looked over at Rachel, "I can stay for a while more. You take Lex and head to the hotel."

Rachel glanced over at Mr. Peterson and back at Finn, "Would it be okay if I stayed?"

"You sure?" Finn wasn't comfortable leaving Rachel alone just yet, but he also knew that she wanted to be here. She nodded as she grabbed Mr. Peterson's hand. "Yea."

He stood up Lexi fast asleep in his arms, "Alright. I'll see you in a bit okay?" He kissed the top of her forehead before reaching out to grab Mr. Peterson's free hand. "You take care tonight. We'll be back first thing in the morning okay?"

Mr. Peterson smiled up at Finn shooing him out the door, "See you tomorrow son. I'll be fine.."

Finn mouthed the words 'I love you' to Rachel as he made his way to the door and into the hallway leaving her with Mr. Peterson. She helped him get ready for bed, watched as the nurses came in and gave him his medication. They'd even brought her a pillow and blanket to use if she decided to stay the whole night. She laughed as he tried to flirt with the young nurse.

"You're father is a very wonderful man, quite the catch if I do say so myself." The nurse smiled as she tucked him in to the hospital bed.

Rachel laughed a bit and nodded, "Yes he is." Mr. Peterson looked over at Rachel as a smile stretched across his face.

"Alright, well we'll see you two tomorrow night. The next shift is starting so your new nurse should be right in.. very nice meeting you Rachel." "You too, thank you for helping him." The nice nurse nodded as she made her way out.

"Rachel?" She looked over as Mr. Peterson mustered out a few more words, "How are you doing? Are you okay?"

Rachel nodded, "I'm getting there."

He smiled, "I missed that beautiful smile of yours. You're gonna be perfect again one day Rachel, I know it."

"I hope so Mr. Peterson. For the sake of my family, I hope you're right."

She forced a small smile and he could tell she was still hurting. "Rachel, can I tell you a secret?" He said, as he managed to wiggle his way closer to her.

"Of course." He patted the side of the bed next to him for her to join. Rachel smiled and snuggled up next to him..

"If Margaret and I had ever been blessed with children, I would have wanted them to be just like you and Finn, you know? I can't thank you enough for coming out here. For always being there. For being a part of my family. You took care of me, when my Margaret passed and I will forever be in your debt for that. And here you all are now... she loved you so much. Not a day went by that she didn't think about you, Finn and Lexi. I honestly believe you three are what's keeping me here. If not I'm sure she would have had me up there with her by now. But she knows you need me as much as I need you..."

He began to cough a bit as Rachel jumped up reaching for some water. As he took a few sips and coughed some more, Rachel grew a bit worried.. "Mr. Peterson?"

"I'm okay..." He cleared his throat resting his head on the pillow. She placed the glass back on the table and rested down onto the bed again.

"Do you miss her?"

"Everyday. She's still my love."

"But letting go, isn't that what we're supposed to do? Let go of our past."

"Letting go yes, but loving no, I will always love her. No matter what." He could hear Rachel sniffle and try to hide the tears that were about to stream down her face. "Rachel, what happened to you was not easy, I know. We had very similar situations, many times. She had four miscarriages in the time we'd been married, before we stopped trying all together. I only wish that she'd been here to help you."

Rachel blew her nose into the tissue she had in her hand, "I had no idea..."

"No one does."

"Mr. Peterson, how did she do it?"

"Just like you Rachel. She was strong. She had her months. Her time of darkness, but I never left her side, and one morning she woke up and realized that she still had a life to live, a husband to love. And that was enough for her... promise me Rachel. Promise me you'll never give up. You have a husband and a daughter who love you so very much. Family and friends. I believe in you. Don't give up my sweet girl. Don't give up."