I DO NOT OWN ANY PART OF GLEE

Carole knocked on the door, "FINN! You're going to be late for school!"

Finn groaned from underneath the covers.

She opened the door and stuck her head in, "Finn?"

His mom pulled back the blanket and felt his head, he was hot and sweating. "Finn, do you feel okay?"

"Mom I"….he jumped up and ran to the bathroom where he proceeded to get sick.

She knocked on the door, "ask Rachel to get your work from school, you aren't going today."

Finn finally made his way out and back to bed to text Rachel, "sick. no school. Love you." Yep he sure did leave out the homework request, who wants to do work while they are sick?

She came back up with the thermometer. "Open…Is Rachel getting your assignments?"

Finn nodded, "Mmm hmm"

"Okay, let's see what we got." She looked at it, "oh honey, it's 101 just stay up here okay." Finn groaned again and pulled the covers over his head.

She went downstairs where Burt was eating breakfast. "Finn is really sick…will you try and check up on him when you come home for lunch or whenever you can?"

He kissed Carole, "Yeah…unless he's contagious, I don't want anything."

Carole looked back as she left and laughed, "Just peek in and make sure he's breathing."

She was on her way to work at about ten when she drove by Rachel's house. "Why is her car still here?' Mother's intuition kicked in. As she knocked on the door she could hear an all too familiar groan, "who is it?"

"Rachel, it's Carole…are you okay?"

Rachel opened the door and Carole couldn't believe that Rachel looked even worse then Finn did. She felt her head and it was hot. Rachel clearly thought she was going to make it to school this morning. "Sweetheart, where are your pajamas?"

Rachel looked out of sorts, "I got ready this morning and I guess I fell asleep down here and" ….Rachel put her hand to her mouth and made a run for the bathroom but she didn't make it and got sick on the floor. Then she booked it to the bathroom. Carole went to the kitchen to get cleaning supplies from under the sink. She saw the number on the fridge and could hear the girl getting sick and crying in the bathroom. She dialed the number and talked to Rachel's dad.

"Hi Mr. Berry, this is Carole Hummel, Finn's mother."

"Hi Carole, is everything okay?"

"Well, yes and no. Rachel is very sick, as is Finn but I think she's worse. I can't just leave her here and I wanted to know would it be okay if I took her home with me?"

Mr. Berry became worried, "Should we come home? Did she call you?"

Carole offered her soothing tone, "No no, it was just a mom hunch that she needed someone." Silence on the other end of the line. "I'm sorry I didn't mean that you didn't have that type of.."

Mr. Berry interjected, "No, no it's okay. If you don't mind, that would be terrific Carole. I'd hate to think she's that sick and has to look after herself."

"Not a problem at all." She gave the Berry's her home number so they could check on Rachel. They each said their thank yous and hung up.

Carole realized she hadn't heard Rachel for a while and it honestly panicked her for a moment. "RACHEL!" Another groan. "Okay just making sure." She cleaned up the carpet then went to the bathroom where Rachel had appeared to fall asleep on the cold tile.

"Rachel honey, you're going to come stay with us, I've cleared it with your dads. Just tell me where your things are and I'll pack them for you."

Carole had called work and told them she had not one, but two sick kids and she traded shifts with a co-worker. She brought Rachel in the house and put her in the guest bedroom, then checked on Finn…he was still passed out. She called the doctor and they told her it sounded like the virus that knocks you out almost a week. Keep them home and isolate them from anyone else in the family. When Burt came home she told him that she wanted to move Finn and Rachel down to Kurt's room since he was at Dalton.

Burt removed his hat and scratched his head, "Um, do you think that's a good idea. They are teenagers who are 'in love' and you want them sleeping in the same room?"

Carole chuckled, "Follow me" She opened Finn's door. His right leg was out from under the covers and he still had the cold compress Carole had left on his forehead. Besides the snoring and dry heaving he was for all intensive purposes dead to the world. She then opened the door to the guest room. Rachel was sprawled out with her head leaning on the trashcan. "Would you want to kiss that?"

Burt headed downstairs, "Good point, I'll move the beds to the one side and bring down the television for them."

Carole decided to get Rachel situated first then bring down Finn. He was so out of it he didn't notice the layout of the room had changed. It wasn't until later that night when his mom insisted he eat some soup. She turned on the light when he glanced over and saw the small hand and dark hair from underneath the covers. "Mom? Is that Rachel? How'd she get here?"

She whispered as to not wake her up, "Yep believe it or not, she's even worse than you are! You two aren't going anywhere for about three more days. I've already called the school and made your absences known." She told him how on a hunch, after seeing her car at the house she found Rachel by herself in the house. She had spoken with her dad and he approved of her being here, however as they got better they needed to behave themselves and not make her regret this decision of letting them be in the same room all day and night. Finn nodded in agreement, still that mischievous glint in his eye. His mom took his temperature again and it was still quite high. On the plus side he hadn't thrown up in about three hours.-a record for that day.

She propped him up and set the soup in front of him "Okay you finish this, I'm going to see if Rachel wants anything."

She got up from the right side of his bed. "Mom?"

She tucked his feet in at the bottom of the bed, "Yes Finn?"

"You're an awesome mom….to everyone." And smiled that crooked little boy smile that melted her heart.

Carole went over to Rachel's bed, "Rachel honey?" Finn watched as Rachel tried to prop herself up. Carole lifted the spoon, "Do you want to try some soup?"

"Ok" Finn had never heard Rachel sound so weak. She took three spoonfuls and threw up again in the trashcan. She then saw Finn.

"Ohh noo." She put her hands over her eyes. "How disgusting to see me like this."

He reached over and rubbed her arm, "Stick around, I'm sure you'll be seeing me like that soon."

Carole was rubbing Rachel's back, "You're both very sick, just take it easy. Burt brought the tv down for you." Carole moved Rachel's bangs. "Do you want to take a shower? You might feel a little better."

Rachel reached up and sighed, "I do but, I can't dry my hair and I probably shouldn't go back to bed with it wet."

Carole lifted Rachel's hair into a ponytail, "I'll dry it for you, we'll get you fixed up. Finn, finish as much as you can, but don't force it."

Before Christmas, Carole had bought Rachel and Finn pajamas for them to wear Christmas Eve so she threw them in the washer and dryer while Rachel showered. It was a little chilly in Kurt's room and the flannel pajamas would make them warmer. Rachel sat at Kurt's vanity while Carole combed her hair, "This is nice Rachel, with all men I never get to do these girly things."

Rachel's phone rang…Finn glanced over, it was Quinn. "Rach! Baby it's Quinn."

Rachel made a sweep with her hand, "Just answer it."

"Hey Quinn."

Quinn pulled back her phone to make sure she dialed right, "Finn? Did you and Rachel play couples hooky today?"

He laughed, "Nope, we're both really sick…my mom went over and got Rach and brought her back here, she's drying her hair for her right now."

Quinn could picture the moment in her mind, and her heart sank. This was not going to help the yearning for a mom Rachel had going on lately. "Okay, just tell her I called. Feel better you two."

After Carole was done, Rachel got up and walked toward the bed in her snowman pajamas, Finn grinned, "aww don't you look cute."

Rachel looked over and laughed, "I guess aside from the horrible sickness and pale face I look spectacular." He whipped off his covers to reveal his snowman pajama bottoms. "We match!"

Rachel brightened up "If not for being sick, this would be the cutest picture ever!" She sat down on her bed then ran to the bathroom.

"Wow, she is a lot worse off then me." He and his mom talked a bit waiting for Rachel to return to her bed. "Hey Baby, feeling better?" She groaned and climbed back into bed pulling the covers over her head but sticking her hand out so Finn could hold it.

Carole said good night and headed back upstairs. "I'll check on you later."

"Thanks Mom, thanks Carole!"

Finn grabbed the remote "Well what do you want to watch?"

Rachel peered at him from under the covers, even sick she looked adorable, "Doesn't matter I'll probably fall asleep soon."

The next couple days they watched movies, talked, slept and played games.

"FINN you're cheating! You can see where my battleships are!"

Finn laughed, "No I can't Rach!"

She sat in her snowman PJ's that Carole had washed every day because Rachel loved matching Finn. "Yes you can! Everytime you sit up straighter you're looking over!"

Finn turned red, she was on to him…but he shot back, "It doesn't matter anyway you keep moving them!"

Rachel was about to argue and then they both began laughing. Carole came downstairs, "You two are certainly feeling better! You missed the whole week of school, but you have the weekend to make everything up. Oh and I've talked to Mr. Schuester and Miss Holiday…we're all set for next weekend snowboarding."

Finn and Rachel jumped up and hugged Carole. "Thank you so much!"

She laughed, "You're welcome…it's set in stone, no one is backing out so make sure you two stay healthy. Rachel I'm going to keep you here tonight okay? It's getting late and it may storm tonight, plus I don't want to send you home alone."

Rachel smiled, "Thank you Carole."

Carole turned to go upstairs, "Remember I trust you two down here together one more night."

Finn rolled his eyes and looked at Rachel. She had a sad smile on her face and was playing with the string on her pajamas. "What's wrong Rach?"

Rachel sat cross legged on her bed. "I'm kinda sad I feel better."

He raised an eyebrow, "Why?"

"I have to go home."

"Rach, we're going to see each other."

She pulled her hair into a ponytail, "No, it's not that…I'm going to miss…Carole…I'd never been mothered before this week, it's completely different from my dads."

Finn sat on the bed with her and hugged her. "She's here whenever you want her Rach."

She leaned up and kissed Finn. "I love you. I can't believe you've seen me throw up, but I love you."

He made a face then moved to kiss her forehead, "oh I forgot about that" and laughed.

"FINN!" She playfully punched him as he laughed. He moved in and put his hand around her waist and brought her down further on the bed. She put her hand on his chest and shook her head. "Nope, we're being trusted. I'm not giving Carole any reason not to love me."

The next morning Rachel and Finn were in the kitchen. Kurt had come home the night before and stayed in the guest room. "So I hear you two stayed in my room for nearly a week, do I need to run a decontamination sweep and which one of you slept in my bed?"

Rachel and Finn turned red as Carole spoke up, "We put Rachel in yours Kurt."

Kurt sighed, "Oh thank goodness."

Finn turned to Kurt, "Hey, what's wrong with me sleeping in your bed?"

Kurt laughed, "Nothing, just love joking with you big brother."

Carole had made breakfast and was placing the food on the table. Rachel was really hungry, "Do you have any jelly?"

Carole pointed to the fridge, Rachel looked in the fridge but couldn't find it. Carole came behind her and handed it to her, "Thanks mom." Rachel couldn't believe what she'd just said and tried to hide behind the door. Finn, Burt, and Kurt all exchanged looks as they watched a frozen Rachel close the door and turn her back towards them and stand at the counter. Rachel wanted to disappear but she really couldn't move. "I…I…" She couldn't find the words to explain her embarrassment and started to walk downstairs.

Carole stood up and hugged Rachel tight. "I'd be honored anytime you want to call me mom, Rachel." Rachel couldn't hold it back anymore and sobbed in Carole's arms telling her everything Finn had already told her about Shelby. The boys left the room when Rachel broke down. Carole sat her down at the table with her. "Rachel, I'm so sorry you had that experience with your mother, if you ever want to talk more about it I'm here." She moved Rachel's bangs out of her eyes, "I've never had an opportunity to take care of a girl before. Honey, I enjoyed you being here this week too. Just because you are feeling better doesn't mean that has to end."

Rachel looked up with tears in her eyes, "It doesn't?"

"Of course not. As far as I'm concerned you are part of this family."

Rachel looked down at her hand in Carole's "Do you think she'll regret rejecting me? I know it's a little selfish, but I really want her to realize what a mistake she made and that I was her only chance to be a mom."

"I think she will, you are an extraordinary young woman Rachel and she will regret not being a part of shaping who you have become."

Rachel wiped her tears. "Thank you."

The boys came in putting their dishes in the sink. Finn walked over and kissed her cheek. "Everything okay baby?"

Rachel whispered in Finn's ear "She said it was okay to call her mom."

Finn looked at his mom while Rachel leaned on his shoulder. He mouthed the words 'thank you' to his mom. She patted his knee and went about cleaning up the breakfast dishes.

On Sunday the group went to the mall to get necessities for the snowboarding trip. Quinn and Rachel were joined at the hip talking about Finn's mother and how she'd been so kind to Rachel.

Rachel glanced over at Quinn, "So I asked Carole this question, and I want to ask you."

"Okay, shoot"

"Do you think Shelby will regret rejecting me? I hope she does I hope she realizes she missed out on her one chance to be a mom."

Quinn had to catch her breath, she knew now Rachel would never forgive her. "Well, she should you are awesome!"

Rachel pointed at Quinn, "No! you're awesome"….then she yelled, "Finn do we need to get snow boots?"

Santana watched as her former best friend stayed glued to Rachel's side. Everyone was quite surprised at how quiet Santana had been since agreeing not to bother Rachel. Puck didn't trust it and cornered her outside a store, "What do you have planned?"

Santana smiled, "Planned? What are you talking about?"

Puck grabbed her wrist, "You've been nice to everyone for almost five hours, what are you planning?"

Santana took back her wrist, "I promised, nothing else about Finn. It's old news. Chill out Puck." With that Santana walked away knowing in exactly 24 hours she would drop the biggest bomb on Rachel Berry that not even Finn Hudson could diffuse. Plus the trip was booked, everyone who agreed to go, now HAD to go.

She smiled her evil smile as Puck watched. Something awful was about to go down….

NEXT CHAPTER…IT ALL HITS THE FAN. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE REVIEWS, FAVORITES, ALERTS…IT'S ONE OF THE ONLY REASONS I'VE PUT UP THREE CHAPTERS IN TWO NIGHTS. SO GLAD YOU ARE STILL ENJOYING IT!