Author's Note: Hi Everyone. Okay, I know that it has been like forever since I last posted a chapter, but I cannot even begin to tell you how busy I've been at work. And how tired it's been making me. I just wanted to thank all of you for your reviews and hope to receive more because they are so encouraging. This chapter is short and I'm sure it had tons of mistakes, no matter how many times I proofread it, but I hope you enjoy it. Let me know!

Disclaimer: For all the time I spend thinking about this show, I really should have some shareholding in it. The original characters are mine.

Finn Hudson has had several life-changing events happen in his life. Most of which happened merely seconds apart from one another. And then, the mundane motions of everyday life would find their way back on course. This past week, Finn had had several of these life-changing events.

Event Number One: finding out about his mother. Finding about his mother's Stage IV cancer. Her Stage IV cancer that no one knew she had. Not even her doctors. Not even her doctors, before it was too late. Carole Hummel was a completely content woman enjoying her recent retirement when she went to the doctor because she was feeling lightheaded and got the prognosis that changed everything. No one knew what to do? Was it worth the cost and stress – both physical and mental – to go though the therapies? Carol was unsure. Burt was unsure. And Finn, being her next-of-kin, was being asked several questions on topic by family, friends, and physicians. Finn was not ready for this life-change.

Event Number Two: finding out he has a son. A real son with ten finger and ten toes and two eyes and all the other parts making up a human. These are the thoughts a person who just met his son ten minutes earlier in a busy hospital room, standing next to significant other. Not of a person who has a sixteen-year-old grown son. A man. It was causing Finn more pain knowing that he missed out of years of raising a son. Taking care of him. Teaching him. Learning from him. Getting to be the father that Finn always longed for. More than anything, for all of his life, Finn wanted a father. Some of those dreams were filled with Burt coming into his and his mom's life at sixteen, but there were was still a lot of unfinished business. Most of which Rachel knew about.

Finn was so conflicted. It hurt that Rachel kept this from him for so long, but then again, maybe she was right. If she had told him, would they have gotten married because that was what they were "expected" to do? Because "it was right"? Thinking about what that would have done to their relationship, it's very possible that it would lead to resentment and hurt towards one another. Hate. Whenever Finn thought about Rachel, he thought about love. And Finn loved the fact that whenever he thought about Rachel, he thought about love. If that were to be taken away, and replaced by another emotion (as it had several times in the past few days), Finn wasn't sure he would make it through… life.

Finn also really wanted to get to know Christopher more. Chris. Just knowing that was his name made Finn all warm and fuzzy inside. Finn remembers when he told Rachel that. That he wanted to name his son after his father. It was the afternoon she let him go to second base while he was having his Christ epiphany. They were taking a breather from making out, because the hickys on their necks were starting to form, and Finn said that he was fine with their kids being Jewish, and they could raise them however Rachel wanted, as long as if their son was named Chris, after his father. Rachel smiled widely at Finn's request, jumped back on to Finn, and they continued to make out for while longer before Rachel had to be home for dinner. (Side note: Finn couldn't help but smile at the fact that the next day Rachel wore a turtle neck to school.)

Christopher seemed like a really good kid. He was smarter than Finn, which made him proud, but he also seemed caring and in touch with his emotions, just like Finn at sixteen. Finn wanted to know everything about the young man. And it was killing him that he wasn't there for him for the several times he probably needed a father. Then again, Adam, Jonah's dad, most likely filled that role. Adam seemed like an okay guy. Finn hoped that he steered Christopher in the right direction. More than anything, Finn hoped that Chris would let Finn into his life; even just a little bit. Finn knew that was something he needed to earn, but he hoped that he could earn that fast. Before it was too late, and Chris didn't need him anymore. Although, it was possible that window of opportunity had already passed.

Finn was so preoccupied with the thoughts filling his brain, that he had forgotten it was his birthday. His 40th birthday. 40 years of experience and not much to show for it.

Christopher Berry had no idea how to feel. A person he had never met was dying and for some reason that was causing him pain inside. He hadn't looked his mother in the eye in days, because he still wasn't sure he could, not after lying to him like she did. He still wasn't over that. No matter how much he wanted to. Plus, she took away his car. That was just mean.

And the pain he was feeling about Carole was sharp and unfamiliar. No one close to Chris had even gotten sick the way that Carole was sick and it was killing him knowing that she was ill. And what was weird about all of it was that Christopher didn't know Carole. Not really. He'd only actually spoken to her once, but just know she was his grandmother and she was ill made him ache in places he didn't even know he had inside. Chris wants Carole to know that he cares about her lot and hopes to get to know her more, but he has no idea how to go about telling her this information.

Then again, was it his place to say anything? He didn't know these people and he never tried to get to know them, so why should they care about him now?

The Monday morning that it was time for the surgery, the Berry residence was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop. This was a rare occurrence for Rachel Berry. But Rachel was sick of talking about what was happening to Carole. Hell, she was sick of thinking about what was happening to Carole. She wanted her mind to be blank of the then thousands thoughts bouncing around. Each one more painful than the last. Even the tummy grumbles signaling 'I'm hungry.'

Chris walks down with his backpack and grabs an apple in the kitchen on his way out the door.

"Hi," he says to his mother, the word breaking the warm silence.

"Good Morning," Rachel replies hardly above a whisper.

"So, are you working today?"

"Yes, then I'm going to the hospital."

"Why?"

"Carole Hummel is having her surgery today. I want to be there for the Hummel's."

"Oh," says Chris, utterly conflicted by his feelings.

"Are you going to join me?" Rachel asks, clear that she would like for her son to be there for his father.

"Um, I don't think so. It's not my place," Chris responded. He did not want to intrude on the private family matter. And to be honest, he was unsure if he should think of the Hummel's as family.

"Look, Chris, I know that I have to earn back a lot of your trust. And I understand that. But I am still your mother and I feel that you should be there today. For the Hummel's."

"Mom…" Chris hesitates; he's unsure if she will understand. "I don't think this is my place. I don't know these people. Not really. And I'm not sure they will want me there."

"Chris, trust me. Finn… the Hummels… they would want you there. Carole would want you there. These people they care a lot about you."

"Yeah, now. Because they know I exist. I… I… I'm just not comfortable with this all yet. Please understand that I'm not sure how I feel about it all yet. I don't know these people and I need to get to know them in my own way. I'm not a little kid anymore."

Rachel sighed. She hated the fact that she completely understood how her son felt. She understood that he was conflicted. She understood that he felt betrayed. And she even understood that Chris was completely unsure what to do with this father figure that was now thrust into his face. It was exactly how she felt when she met Shelby. Rachel walked over to the fridge and took out a bottle of water. Downing half the contents in one gulp. "I know," she simply responds. "If you can, and I'm not going to force you, try to stop by after school."

"Maybe."

"Okay. Well have a good day," she says like every cheerful mom.

"I will try," Christopher responds as he exists.

The outcry of people who cared about Carole; who cared about Finn, Burt, and Kurt, was astounding to Finn. The cards, letters, flowers, care packages, and more which filled the Hummel house were heartwarming and overwhelming at the same time.

Finn had only gone to see his mom twice since he had been home. He had seen Rachel two times less since he picked up Chris in New York. Finn was basically just sitting in his room. Letting the thoughts his in his head swirl around in never ending figure-8's. The weekend came and went like it was nothing and then Monday was here. Living life like a lurking ghost.

Monday was judgment day. It was the day that Carole was being operated on. From then on, we would find out if they had to proceed with more therapies. If she was going to survive. If she was going to go through with more treatment. All these questions loomed in the balanced and people were looking to Finn to answer them. Were these people nuts? That's what Finn thought. Burt was able to be in the room with her while she was getting the procedure. Something that Kurt negotiated that made Finn eternally grateful. Finn knew that Carole needed her husband by her side today.

There was a defining silence that filled the waiting area of the treatment facility where Carole was undergoing her procedure. Kurt and Finn were surprised by the fact that all of New Directions came out of the woodwork to show their support; scattered about the waiting room harnessing the nervous energy in the circular pattern of the chairs. Even Mr. Schuester, who stood back in the corner. The only noise was the occasional sweaking of a nurse wearing hospital sneakers power-walking down the hall.

Christopher enters the ward when he arrives after school and sees his father from a distance. Luckily Finn does not notice Chris. Chris turns back around the hall and waits; too nervous to join. Sometime between finishing his lunch and starting the Spanish homework for Mr. Schue he still needed to do, Chris deceided to go to the hospital. Especially when Alison had told him she was meeting her parents there this afternoon, and that she understood if Chris didn't want to go. It's still dead silent as Chris ponders joining the group. The silence is almost comforting.

"Carole Hudson was my blank canvas," Chimes Kurt, breaking the silence, getting everyone's attention. "When Carole started dating my dad, I was overwhelmed with excitement about giving her a head to toe makeover. The best thing about it was that she was willing to let me make her over. Excited actually." He pauses and lets in a long breath. Everyone looks at Kurt, begging with their body language for him to continue. "When my dad proposed and Carole and Finn became permanent members of my life, Carole never tried to replace my mom. She never tried to take her place. She understood that I had memories with my mother, but she also was open enough to allow me to make new memories with her. I really love Carole and so does my father. They… fit… ya, know? And I feel lucky to have her in my life. She was just so wonderful and caring. She was never afraid to open herself to me and I was able to open up to her." A few tears fall from Kurt's face and Mercedes grabs his hand and squeezes it tight.

Chris stood around the corner listening to Kurt, his uncle's, speech and shook at the story being told. He recognized Puck's voice as he started to speak.

"I became friends with Finn because his mom was the pancake lady," says Puck and he receives several 'huh's?' in response. "When Finn and I were in Cub Scouts Carole would make pancakes for the early Saturday meetings just because that's the kind of lady she was." A smile grows on Finn's face as Puck continues. "Anyway, I knew it would be smart of me to become friends with the kid whose mom would always make the pancakes, so I befriended Finn. It was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life." Smiles grow on everyone's faces and Quinn squeezes Puck's hand; knowing that was hard for him to participate.

The lot goes quiet again and Quinn takes this as a good moment to speak. "When my parents kicked me out, Carole took me in, no questions asked. I don't think I've known anyone to do that. Well... besides Mercedes. Anyway, after... everything... happened, she told me I didn't have to leave. That Finn said I didn't have to leave." Quinn looks up Finn, both exchange a slight smile and Quinn continues. "And then, when I was living with Puck, Carole would call me every Sunday to make sure that I was okay. She would ask me if I was eating right and if I was going to the doctor and how Puck's family was treating and just making sure that I was okay and that I was healthy." She lets out a light laugh, "And then when she found out that I moved out of Puck's house and moved in with Mercedes, she reamed me out and screamed at me for like ten solid minutes on why I did not tell her that I was unhappy at Puck. Not that I was unhappy at Puck's," she says turning to Puck and looking at him directly in the eye. "But I just felt safer somehow at Mercedes. Anyway, Carole was pissed that I didn't tell her and up until Beth was born, she would call and make sure I was okay. Just because that was who she was. Even after all that happened. I don't think that I admired anyone more than Carole Hummel." Tears start streaming from Quinn's face and she tries her hardest to fight them back.

At this point, Christopher is unsure if he should enter. A large part of him wants to. He now understood why his mother was requesting for him to be there, but he was nervous. It still felt uncomfortable.

"Carol Hummel taught me how to be a mom," Chris hears Rachel say, and his heart sank. Rachel continued to speak. "I never got to have a mom and, well, the whole thing with Shelby was not nearly the mother/daughter experience I had hoped for. But Carole... Carole was wonderful. I feel lucky to even know someone who had such a large heart. She understood without my saying a word that I would love to have her influence on my life. Plus, I always felt that she liked having a girl around. No offence Kurt."

"None taken," Kurt replies quickly.

"I mean, Carole. She taught me how to grow up. How to be a lady. A woman. She was the female influence in my life I had wanted for so long and was too afraid to ask for. Somehow she knew that was the something I was searching for, without even asking. Maybe it was the way I dressed... I don't know," the group lets out a chuckle, "But she literally is one of the most important people in my life and I know that I raised Christopher from her example."

Chris can't help it - tears are falling from his eyes. He's never been a tear jerker, but at this moment, it felt right. They felt right. The tears were almost comforting after the fall Chris had experienced. The perfect moment of quiet occurs and he knows that this is his moment to enter. Slowly entering the waiting area, and seeing the makeshift circle the adults have formed, Chris is wonderfully relived when he sees an empty seat between Alison and his mom. They were probably saving it for him. Walking the gauntlet through the group to the opposite side from where he entered, Chris was aware that all eyes were on him. Examining his every move.

A wide, goofy grin spreads across Finn's face as Chris enters and takes a seat. It's slightly noticeable that Christopher was crying, but Finn doesn't pry, he just lets him take a seat. The group watches Chris enter and joy follows as he walks past. Brittany opens her mouth to say something and Santana grabs her head – coving her mouth – before she speak a word.

"It's for her own good," Santana says to the group as Brittany tries to wiggle from her hold. Everyone lets out a laugh; because it was simply too funny to keep it in.

A few moments later Burt walks in from the hallway. All eyes pan towards him and Finn and Kurt stand. Burt walks right up to Finn and says, "She wants to see you." Finn replies with a nervous grin and follows Burt's lead to Carole's post-op room.

Inside Carole's eyes are closed, but she does not appear to be asleep. "Hi," Finn says quietly as he takes a seat in the chair next to the bed.

"Hi," Carole replies, her eye still closed, speaking at the same low decibel as Finn

"My son is here," he says, still speaking softly, being gentle, afraid to break the glass.

Carole smiles, "I'm glad."

"Are you okay mom?" Finn asks, hunching down over the bed, his elbows resting on his knees.

"I won't know anything yet," she answers, turning her head toward Finn, finally opening her eyes.

"Was there anything you wanted to tell me?" he questions nervously, his eyes shifting from left to right, mentally preparing himself for the worst.

"No," Carole responds. "I just wanted to see you," her sugary sweet voice carrying around the room.

"I love you, mom," he says as a lopsided grin grows on his face and rests his head against the edge of the bed. Neither says anything for the rest of the time he's in the room. They just quietly appreciate each other's presence.

A few hours later, just Rachel, Kurt, Burt, and Finn are still at the hospital as Chris goes to the vending machines to get a snack. Most of the New Directions kids have left, going back to their lives or getting dinner at Breadstix. Chris wasn't sure if the people there showing their support lived nearby or far, far away.

"You know that stuff's crap," Kurt says, getting Christopher's attention.

"Excuse me?" Christopher questions.

"Its junk food. Its crap. You shouldn't be eating that," Kurt responds, walking up to Chris.

"Well, I don't see any other option," Chris gestures around the empty hallway.

"Well, c'mon then. We'll go get something. I'm sure your mom and dad are hungry too."

"But… but… won't they wonder where we are?"

"Kid, I'm sure that have other things on their minds and considering the disappearing act you pulled five days ago, I didn't think you'd be so concerned about Rachel wondering your whereabouts."

"Oh, you know about that, huh?"

"Oh, honey, Rachel made it clear that everyone on this side of the Mississippi knew about that," Kurt replies with sarcasm.

"Oh." Chris smiles; the two men walking towards the exit. "So, are you like my uncle or something?

"I don't know? Do you consider Finn, my step brother, your father?"

Chris doesn't respond, because he's still unsure of the answer. The two men just walk out of the hospital and comment on the surprisingly nice February weather. They walk to the diner down the street and get food for the five remaining people at the hospital. A mish-mashed family unit.

A/N: Hi, again. Thanks for reading. There is only one more chapter left and I hope to have it up soon. Obviously I made up those stories about Carole, but maybe you agree that they would have happened? I hope you have enjoyed the story and I want to hear more about what you are thinking. Please review and let me know. Thanks a bunch!