Grace had gotten her first bike for her fifth birthday. Finn had every intention of teaching her to ride it, but being Ohio, it had poured rain all week. On Saturday they awoke to sun, streaming glorious golden beams, the daisies outreaching soaking up the rays. Finn woke up extra early, a stray beam poking through the curtain. He lay in bed watching Quinn sleep, stroking her blonde hair softly. When her alarm went off she awoke, startled by him. "I say we go to the park and teach Grace How to ride her bike." Quinn smiled, but rolled her eyes. "I have to go into the office. The Kensington's are closing on their house today." Finn smiled. "I'll teach her then."
Teaching her was easier said than done. Grace was his kid, clumsy and awkward. Also, being Quinn's child, she was dressed in an ostentatious white frock, dotted with pink flowers. Not exactly bike riding clothes. He held onto the seat, running alongside her. "Don't let go daddy!" She giggled her grip tight on the handle bars. Finn didn't mind he liked her needing him. They did many practice runs, one ending in scraped knees, and a small rip in her dress, until the sun was sinking low in the sky, a large tangerine disc blending into the horizon. "One last time and we have to go pumpkin." He said, Grace sticking out her bottom lip. He grabbed hold of her seat "We'll practice more later." He started running, Grace peddling with all her might. "Daddy let go. I wanna try." Finn sighed, letting go. To his surprise Grace peddled on, keeping her balance. "I got it daddy, I got it!" She squealed peddling farther away. "Yes you do baby." He said quietly, watching his daughter peddle into the sunset, no longer needing him to hold on to her seat.
XXX
The clock stood frozen on the wall. "Staring at it will only make it go slower."
Quinn looked at Puck arching her eyebrow "It can't move even slower. It's not moving."
Finn sat down next to the duo. He thrusted a tray a coffee at them. "It's true. That clock has said five after for at least twenty minutes."
Puck sighed. "Everything will be ok. I was a match; she'll get the transplant and be all better."
"Sure. Oh great Puck saves the day." Finn said rolling his eyes.
"What's that suppose to mean Hudson."
Finn stood up, silently leaving the waiting area. He heard the soft click of shoes on the title, and felt tiny hands on his back. "What's going on Finn?" Rachel said, smooth in gentle, not a harsh tone in her voice. Finn usually tried to hold back his emotions, trying to be the strong one. However there was something about Rachel, just the mere presence of her made him crumble like a cookie soaked in milk.
"Puck comes in there, saving the day. He may be her biological father, but I'm her daddy. He's only known her for a few weeks. I'm the one that stayed up with her during her bouts of colic, the one that broke out in red itchy dots, when she brought Chicken Pox home from school. I built her the dollhouse that's in her room, the one with a real oak table just like ours. I raised her Rachel. I'm her daddy. I watched her grow up, and now I'm here watching her peddle into the sunset, completely useless."
Rachel linked her fingers with his, a perfect fit. "You are not completely useless. Grace knows you are her daddy. She always will."
Finn looked at Rachel, her big brown eyes full of understanding. "I feel guilty you know. When I found out Grace wasn't mine, after I got over the shock, I thought about how my life would have been. Maybe I would have gotten into Ohio State, Maybe I would have moved out of Lima, Maybe, Maybe"
"Maybe we would be together." Rachel said. Their lips met, no denying this is what they had been longing for. Finn's hands explored her long brunette tresses, letting them get tangled up in them. Rachel's hands cupped the side of his face, eagerly pulling him in. They broke apart, both gasping for air.
"I never stopped thinking of you." Rachel said, smiling.
A smile grew across his face. "I love you Rachel."
She hugged him tight. "I love you too."
XXX
"Mommy?" Grace murmured.
Quinn jumped up throwing her blanket into the floor. "I'm right here baby." It had been a week since the transplant, a success transplant, Grace's white blood cell count improving by the day. However she was in such intense pain, they had medically sedated her.
"I'm thirsty." Grace said her voice scratchy and low.
"Ok honey. Let me get you some water." Quinn said, standing up. She walked over to the little table getting her little pitcher. She held the straw to Grace's lips, and Grace took a small drink.
"Thank you mommy."
"Anytime baby." She kissed her forehead. Grace's flesh burned against her lips. She put her hand against her head. Grace definitely had a fever. "Gracie do you feel ok?"
Grace yawned. "Just tired."
She patted Grace's hand. "Try to get some more sleep. I'm going to go talk to the doctor."
Quinn walked outside to the nurse's station. "I'm Grace Hudson's mom. I'm looking for Doctor Asper."
The nurse nodded. "Is there a problem?"
Quinn opened her mouth to answer but a loud fury of beeps and alarms went off. She turned around just in time to see a group of doctors rush straight into Grace's room.
