A/N if your are confused why Michael is our Finn..I adopted Cory's middle name (well one of them) and both Rachel and Finn's manager is a coincidence to Cory's other middle name :) I loved Finchel and wanted them together.
Finchel...Finn kept smiling to himself with the nickname Rachel had mentioned the night before. It just felt so right having her here with him and his family. Whenever he felt his mood was slipping, she took his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze to reassure him. He was waiting on Rachel finishing getting ready as they were going to visit Carol. 'Hurry up babe, we need to get there before Nurse Jen leaves!' 'Just coming!' Rachel called back. Rachel stepped in to the living room and Finn's heart soared. Dressed in simply jeans and a warm top, Rachel always managed to look stunning. 'Earth to Finn? Snap out of it babe!' 'Huh? Sorry just your so stunning' Finn replied walking over to her and placing a kiss on her cheek.
Twenty minutes later they arrived at Carol's and Nurse Jen, who was a friendly soul, filled Finn and Rachel in on how Carol had been. Finn and Rachel took their seats beside Carol and spoke quietly amongst themselves until Carol woke up. 'Hello my lovlies, nice to see you both again'. 'Hey mum, how you feeling?' 'Not too bad Finn, how are you Rachel?' 'Doing ok thank you Carol, getting used to the cold weather though.' Carol chuckled. 'If you think I'm going to let you two sit here all day keeping me company you have another thing coming.' 'But mum...' 'No but's Finn, I want you both to go and meet your sisters and have some fun.' Both Finn and Rachel looked each other, they knew that Carol wouldn't back down, so agreed to meet Hayley and Shelley.
Nurse Jane arrived as planned by Carol and said her cheerio's to Rachel and Finn. 'So where are we meeting the girls?' asked Rachel. 'Apparently by the ice rink, like it's not cold enough outside already but I didn't fancy arguing with my mum' replied Finn with a chuckle.
Hayley and Shelley waved when they seen Finn and Rachel walking towards them, they gave them a cheerful wave. 'So mum wants us to have fun and insisted that we go ice skating like we used to do as kids.' Hayley said whilst Shelley nodded in excitement. 'No way, you will not catch me going on that ice.' 'Why not Finn, you scared?' Rachel teased. Hayley and Shelley giggled. 'No not scared..just..apprehensive.' Rachel looked puzzled. Shelley laughed. 'He isn't apprehensive at all, he just doesn't want a repeat performance the last time he skated with us.' Finn glared at her as they began to walk to the reception to pay to skate. 'The last time he came skating with us, he dodged someone who was about to skate in to him, he fell on the ice and split his kecks!'
Rachel laughed, but then asked Shelley what kecks meant. Shelley explained that his trousers had split wide open and Finn was left embarassed by the whole situation. Yet they were all sitting together putting on their ice skates. The three girls stepped on to the ice and went around the rink and Finn still hadn't come on. Rachel skated up to where he was standing and held on to the barrier. 'Come on babe, I can understand it was daunting for you last time, but this time will be different, I can assure you on that one.' 'How do you work that one out Rach? There is no guarantee that I won't fall.' 'Maybe not but there is something different this time, I'm here' she said smiling to him. Finn rolled his eyes and eventually stepped on the ice.
An hour later they came off the rink laughing and joking with one another, some young girls were looking in their direction and approached them shyly. 'Uhm are you Rachel Berry and Michael Hudson?' Finn and Rachel nodded their heads. 'We seen your concert Rachel in NYC and the ending was awesome with you in it Michael.' Finn and Rach smiled and thanked the girls and in turn gave them their autographs and posed for pictures with them before going on their way.
The four of them wandered around the shopping centre and popped in to the local pub to have a meal since they had missed lunch and it was almost dinner time. Finn sad and looked at the three girls giggling away and laughing. Rachel noticed him looking and gently placed her hand on his knee, and he placed his hand upon hers. Finn was distracted by his phone lighting up on the table and it read 'Nurse Jane.' 'Jane?' Finn just nodded and then hung up his phone. 'We have to go now, mum's condition has slipped and we need to be home.' Finn said solemnly. Rachel darted over and paid for the meal and they left quickly.
It felt like a lifetime getting to their mums. Every traffic light was against them and Finn was losing his patience. Realistically, only ten minutes had passed since the phone call. Rachel knew if they didn't make it on time, Finn would eternally blame himself and she hoped that this wouldn't be the case.
As the four of them ran in to the house, Nurse Jane and Nurse Jen were in attendence. Carol was looking very grey and they all stood around her bed. Finn holding one hand and Hayley and Shelley jointly holding her other hand. Rachel stood at the bottom of the bed and watched was going on around her. She simply didn't know how to react. Tears were forming in her eyes watching three people she dearly loved, watching their heartbreak. She walked over to Finn and slipped her hand over his which was on Carols. Finn looked at her with a sympathetic smile, his way of thanks.
Carol opened her eyes and looked at them all. 'No tears please, did you all have a good and fun day' she whispered. Each of them nodded. 'Good, I want you to remember the fun you had today, it was what I wanted you all to have as my last request.' Shelley and Hayley couldn't help but let their tears fall. Each one of them took their time to whisper their goodbyes to Carol knowing that time was running out.
Rachel whispered to Carol, 'I will keep my promise to you Carol. I will look after Finn and will love him with all my heart.' Rachel then placed a soft kiss on her cheek.
Hayley then whispered to Carol, 'I love you mum, I will always love you and will do everything in my power to make you proud of me.'
Shelley whispered to Carol, 'I will never forget the time you accidently gave me food poisioning mum. I look back on it now and I laugh. No mature how my future turns out, I will let everyone know what a special lady you are. Love you mum.'
Finn stepped up. His hand ran through his mums hair and with tears in his eyes he made this promise to Carol. 'Mum, as much I don't want you to go and would love you to see all our future children grow up and love you as much as we do, I will make sure that they learn of you and keep our memories alive. I promise to look after the girls and I promise mum, I will be the man you taught me to be.'
Less than ten minutes later, Carol took her last breath with her family by her side.
Next chapter: Finn learns of a request made by Carol for her funeral