So... that last chapter was really intense, huh? Well, as a late christmas gift, here's a fluffy chapter just for you guys. Thank you all for the reviews i've been given! I truly love this story, and I'm trying to keep it up. I'm home for about a week and a half more so I can update hopefully a lot! :) REVIEW PLEASE!
Her bags were filled with bricks, she was convinced. She could barely get the large bag off the belt at baggage claim. And she had to carry her carry along, and her purse. She was exhausted, hungry, and still a little terrified from the nightmare she'd had while on the plane.
That had been...something.
She never usually allowed herself to fall asleep on planes, for fear of that very thing. The nightmares. Rachel had frequent nightmares about things that scared her, perhaps because she so often got overworked about them. One of her most frequent nightmares involved her voice cracking on stage, or being too sharp, or faltering on the words of a very important song at an important event.
For the last hour of that flight, Rachel had been fine. She had calmed herself down by reading her book, What to Expect When You're Expecting. She'd been thinking of baby names alot, but wouldn't decide on them until she talked to Finn first. And so she'd sat for an hour, reading her book and listening to Barbra Streisand, Bernadette Peters, and Patti LuPone, not allowing herself to fall asleep again for any reason. She ate a little of what the airline served her for breakfast, but Rachel never was big on food that she didn't know the origins of.
And once she stepped off the plane, she could have kissed the ground. Rachel quickly walked through the bustling airport towards customs. That would take a while, she knew it.
Sighing, she prepared herself for the long line. And sure enough, the line was terrifying.
People from all countries of the world stood in line, waiting for their passports to be stamped. She was burning hot, perspiration pricking on her skin. Rachel fanned herself with her passport and papers slowly, trying to get some kind of air flow, but she was simply melting. Her feet hurt intensely, right in the arches and the balls of her feet. She thought she'd made a comfortable shoe choice, but apparently not. All she wanted was to prop her feet up and rest them for a while.
Groaning, she moved up the line, inch after inch. She frowned and stood impatiently, hating the way the line moved. Christmas would come faster than this.
A couple in front of her spoke rapidly in German to one another. The woman held the hand of a toddler boy with white/blonde hair and crystal blue eyes. He was almost scary how beautiful he was. He had a backpack shaped like a monkey on his back and a sucker in his mouth as he looked around the airport, intrigued by the hustle and bustle.
His backpack was monogrammed "Bruno" and had a few crayons stuck in the side pouch, along with a juice box.
Rachel flashed a small smile to the boy called Bruno and giggled a little when he smiled back at her, revealing his snaggletoothed mouth. And she put her hand on her stomach when she felt one of the girls move, and that made her smile, knowing that in a few short months she and Finn would have two babies of their very own.
And after nearly forty-five minutes in that line, she finally made it to the counter where a young male customs agent sat. He barely glanced at Rachel when he held his hand out for her passport and papers, and she handed them to him absentmindedly. She rested her hand on her stomach as he looked through them, then stamped her passport.
Rachel gladly took her things back and shuffled along out of the customs line and toward the terminal exit. Happiness overcame her when she realized that she was there, in the city that her husband was in, only a short distance from him. From his smell, his eyes, his hands, and his smile.
Rachel finally found baggage claim after nearly getting lost in Heathrow Airport. And she pulled them through the airport, even though she swore there were bricks inside instead of clothes, and she had to pee, and hunger pains struck her once again. But she would ignore all of it to see Finn. Just to see him was enough, just to hold him and let him feel safe again.
And then she was outside and the rain was pouring and the sky was a dark grey colour. She wouldn't let the dull skies sour her mood. She had stopped briefly to exchange some of her money for British Pounds, and tried her best to get a cab.
Though it was different from her home city of New York, she hailed a taxi fairly quickly and got into it, grateful for the warmth and comfort of the cab.
She quickly told the driver the place she needed to be, and looked out the window in wonderment at the city before her. It was huge, like New York, but so much older. It had character, and exquisite stonework. The streets were full of people and the roads full of cars. The fact that she was halfway across the world had not registered yet.
She simply took in the beauty of the city, through the drizzly rain. London was strikingly different than New York. But again, it was the same. She couldn't be sure.
Rachel hummed to herself as she sat though red light after red light, waiting patiently (okay, maybe a little impatiently) to see her husband.
And then the taxi stopped and the bearded driver held his hand back, requesting the amount of money needed. Rachel tossed him a fifty pound note to him, not caring that she overpaid him. But she was happy, because her good mood spread everywhere. And Rachel felt generous. Because her husband was alive, and he was here.
Stepping out of the cab, she grabbed both suitcases quickly, rolling them up to the front door and walking into the hospital, not caring about the strange looks she was getting from the people around her. Her heart beat fast in her chest, pounding against her ribcage.
As she walked along the smooth marble floors toward the reception desk, she wondered what he'd look like. Sure, she knew he'd be in rough shape, but she always prepared herself for the worst possible outcome, similar to the way she auditions for shows. She automatically prepares herself for a loss, incase it happens. Then, if it does, the sting is not so bad.
So Rachel imagined Finn in the worst possible way, preparing herself for any and all outcomes. And her shoes clicked against the floor as she stepped up to the reception desk.
"Um, hi. I'm looking for someone. His name is Finn Hudson.. Is there any way you can tell me what room he's in?"
The blonde receptionist glanced up at Rachel and gave her a small smile, nodding a little. "Captain Hudson is in the Intensive Care Unit. Only family is allowed."
"I'm his wife, Rachel Hudson." She told the lady, nodding a little. Intensive Care Unit? That did not sound good. At all.
The lady, whose name Rachel found out to be Patricia, looked Finn's name up in a computer, then handed Rachel a nametag to wear. "Room 604. Tell the nurse you're family and she'll let you right in."
Rachel nodded, took the nametag, and followed signs leading her to elevators. Rachel stepped onto an elevator with three other people. A man in a business suit with graying hair, an older woman holding a teenage girl's hand whom Rachel assumed to be her granddaughter, and a male doctor in pastel blue scrubs. The elevator stopped on floors 3, 4, and finally 6. She stepped off and immediately smelled the cleanliness of the hospital, especially this floor. A placard to the right of the elevator read "Intensive Care Unit" in bold, black letters.
She stepped off, lugging her suitcases behind her and her heart sped more, her breathing hitched, and she felt as though she'd pass out. Finn was here, waiting for her.
And what was she waiting on, just standing there?
No sooner had she walked past the elevators did a nurse in green scrubs stop her.
"Miss, I'm afraid you can't be back here unless your family." She told Rachel, speaking in a thick, Scottish accent. Her hair was fiery red, her skin pale, and her eyes green.
"I'm Captain Finn Hudson's wife. I have to see him, please." She begged, not wanting to admit that she'd actually beg. But for Finn, she'd do anything. She'd get on her knees and beg.
The nurse nodded. "Follow me then. And I am going to warn you now. He looks very bad, but his condition is stable. He's awake, but still shaken up a bit. His leg is in a bad way and we're going to have to do several more surgeries to fix it, but right now he's okay." She gave Rachel a small, encouraging smile and led her to room 604.
Rachel was required to scrub her hands and wear covering over her clothes, (kind of like a snuggie, she thought), in order to see him.
And once she'd finished, the door was pushed open and there he was.
He was thin, oh God, so thin. As she walked in to get a better look at him, he was nearly unrecognizable. His leg was wrapped tightly in white gauze and elevated so it wouldn't touch the bed. His face was sunburned and his cheeks sunken in. He had various scrapes and bruises across his body, but to her, he was still just as beautiful.
"Hi Finn." She told him, sitting down in the seat adjacent to his bed. Rachel reached for his hand, wanting to feel his warmth and softness.
Finn took it gratefully, using much of his strength to turn his head and lift his hand.
"Hi baby." He told her, smiling that same old goofy grin that Rachel couldn't get enough of. She was perfect to him, even though the way she held herself told him she'd had a long, stressful day. "I missed you." He said simply.
And that was enough to make her cry, because she did. Tears leaked from her eyes, and she wasn't sad. They were happy, pure and happy tears. Her wide smile spread across her face and she squeezed his hand, so happy to feel that he would squeeze hers back. "Finn...I...I don't even know what to do.. This is so surreal."
"Why? I always knew I'd come back to you Rachel. I love you too much to let myself die out there in that desert. Plus, you make some amazing banana bread. Couldn't let myself go without some of that." he told her weakly, his voice scratchy. Finn smiled at her, knowing that she would get tickled by that.
"Finn." She said quietly, the widest of grins on her face. Tears found a home on his blanket when they fell from her eyes. "Finn." She cried out, taking his face in her hands and just basking in the glow of Finn. Because he was here, and he was safe.
"I'm never going to let them hurt you, ever again. Do you hear me?" She asked him, looking into his eyes, her eyebrows furling. "You're never allowed to leave me. And I promise, I'll protect you forever."
Finn smiled into his wife's eyes. She was adorable, powerful, and so beautiful. That woman, she was a force to be reckoned with. Finn nodded, just thinking about Rachel and her tiny, five foot tall body, protecting Finn and his nearly six foot tall body.
And then he felt her lips on his and it felt so good. It was only what he'd been wishing for for months now. It was long, it was peaceful, and it was beautiful, to finally feel this again. To feel like he was normal and safe again.
And that's how he felt. It was right, even though his leg was messed up, and it was okay because she was here and her hands were warm and soft, just like they should be, and her hair was still brown, and she was still Rachel because she hadn't changed.
His hands found their way to her stomach and rested gently on the bump protruding from her. "Wow. That little guy or girl is growing fast." He said, smiling. "I still can't believe it."
"Actually Finn...There's something I need to tell you." She said, smiling a little as she sat on the edge of his bed, her hands resting on top of his.
Finn frowned a little, expecting some sort of bad news. "It's not my kid, is it?" He asked. He'd already been through this once in high school, and he hoped this wasn't a second time. "God damn it, Noah." he sighed, shaking his head.
"No, no Finn. It's most definitely yours. But the thing is.. It's not just..one." She told him quietly, a wide smile on her face. "It's twins. And they're both girls. I actually just had the doctor's appointment a few days ago."
Finn's eyes lit up at that. The thought of not one, but two mini me's running around his apartment made him ecstatic. And they were girls in there. Two tiny Rachels. What could be better(or worse)? "Rachel, oh my God." He said, shaking his head a little as the smile grew on his face. Tears pricked in his eyes and he didn't want to let it, but a tear rolled down his cheek. Thank you God, he thought. He'd stayed alive for a reason, and this was it.
His hands stayed on her belly, feeling the warmth of the two tiny humans that he helped to create. "So, how far are you?"
"Eighteen weeks. Almost nineteen. So that means just about five months left." She told him, her hands not wanting to leave their place on top of his. His hands were rougher, calloused, and scratchy. But they still had that certain softness and grace about them that only Finn had.
Finn smiled and ran his hands up her body, wanting to feel that she was real. This wasn' t a hallucination, was it? He figured not. It felt so good. It couldn't be ripped away from him. His hands traveled to her face and head, tangling in the curly, brown hair that he loved. "You're so beautiful."
Rachel shook her head a little, her cheeks flushing a little. "You are wonderful, do you know that? And I love you to pieces, but you should probably get some rest. I took the liberty of reading your chart when I was still outside, and I had the nurse fill me in on some information about your condition. You need sleep." Rachel told him, kissing his hands softly and sitting back in the chair next to his bed. She didn't release his hand, though. He would sleep, but she'd be awake, holding him, making sure he was okay. Because the truth was, if she lost him again, she would lose herself.
"Still thorough, as usual. That's the Rachel I know." He told her, laughing a little. His eyes closed easily and he let sleep take him because he knew she'd be right there when he woke up.
Rachel could watch Finn sleep for hours. And she did, for almost two hours. The rise and fall of his chest. The way his nose whistled when he let his breath out. The soft flutter of his eyes underneath his eyelids. It was all perfect to her.
The hospital room was cold, and smelled too sterile. The walls were a sickly, pastel green colour, and the floor was speckled linoleum. She stood and looked around the room for any of his belongings, but he had none here.
She stopped at the window and peered out at the sprawling city before her. It was still drizzling, but the sun had set now and it was very dark. She was sure visiting hours were over, but they hadn't made her leave yet. She didn't think they would, either. And if they did, Rachel would, naturally, be a diva and refuse to leave Finn.
Street lights outside burned bright and orange, and an elevated train, she assumed it was like the subway, rolled past quickly across the street.
Once she sat back down and took Finn's hand in hers again, he blinked a little and adjusted his eyes to the light. Finn smiled at Rachel, who was peering down at him, a small smile on her lips. "Finn." she breathed out, sort of relieved.
"How are you?" he asked, moving his hand to her face and cupping her cheek in his palm.
She laughed a little. "Starving. I haven't really had anything to eat in a while. The plane ride was just...horrible...so I didn't eat much on it."
"The cafeteria food is alright. I had some last night. You can go grab something if you want to. I'll still be here. Don't have anywhere else to be." He told her, smiling.
She grinned and stood up, reaching for her purse. "I'll be fast, okay? Anything you want?"
"A burger and fries." He said simply, nodding to her. "Thank you baby."
And with that, she left, making her way down to the first floor cafeteria to buy their dinner. She easily found his request, and settled on buying the same thing for herself. She had to provide nutrition to her babies, and a vegan diet was not the best thing for that.
So she returned to the sixth floor, scrubbed her hands and put the robe thing back on, and entered his room. "I brought you food." She said, smiling.
Finn sat up as best he could and smiled, reaching his hands out and puckering his lips. He was greeted with a kiss from Rachel and the bag of food placed in front of him.
They ate almost silently, because they were both starving. It was a comfortable silence, so neither one minded it. And once they'd finished, Rachel was exhausted, and Finn noticed.
He scooted over in the large bed, allowing space for someone just Rachel's size. "C'mon." He told her, patting the bed.
"Finn, you need to be comfortable. I'll just sleep right here." She told him, shaking her head.
"No, I'll be fine. The only way I'll get good sleep is if my wife is right here in this bed next to me. Now, do I have to get up and drag you over here?" He asked playfully, looking up at her.
Rachel shook her head and slipped her shoes off. She was sure this wasn't allowed, but she didn't care. Finn needed her and she needed him. Rachel crawled into his bed next to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his chest.
His arm pulled her closer, resting on her hip as it wrapped around her torso. She was close to him and that was all that mattered in that moment. She still smelled like strawberry shampoo and her skin was impeccably soft.
Rachel's legs tangled around Finn's one healthy one. And it was okay. She knew that even though they had a long road ahead, she knew that it would be alright. Because after four months of not seeing one another, they still resumed their routine like they'd never left off. It was still natural and loving and intimate.
And that's how they fell asleep, peaceful and happy in each other's arms. Cliche, but painfully beautiful.
REVIEW PLEASE OH PLEASE!