(To my last reviewer, I have always said they need a sarcasm font, but how's this, stick around and when I'm through with the 'What if', I'll give you a Finchel Christmas. No joke, I'll even name it 'A Finchel Christmas' and if I get inspired you'll get it before 'What if' is finished.)
Lima
"Hey Mom?" Marley called out as she and Finn walked in the house.
"Kitchen."
"Oh wow." eyes wide Finn was surprised by the meal prep going on in front of him, his mom could cook but she cooked simple things, Millie however didn't.
"Hey." Marley smiled hugging her mom from behind "Need help?"
"If you'd like." her mother smiled "Are you okay Finn?"
"Oh, yea...um what is all this...I mean it looks good aaand smells good." shoving his hands in his pockets he continued to take in everything on the counter. Marley gave his elbow a tug nodding towards the sink, Finn followed washing his hands at the same time as Marley whispering "What are we doing?"
"Homemade beef stew for next week." Marley whispered back.
"Oh." Finn nodded.
Millie smiled she had no idea what they'd said but whatever it was that was all it took and he was standing next to Marley on the other side of the island with a cutting board and knife in front of him ready to help. Marley had helped so many times she pulled over a few potatoes and started showing Finn what to do, handing him a peeler she explained "First we peel them and then we cut them into bite sized squares, everything the same size so it cooks evenly." Peeling was easy, Carole trusted him with peeling, it was the cutting of things she'd been leary on, Millie and Marley smiled when Finn held up his peeled potato with pride.
While he peeled another potato Finn asked without looking up "Mrs. Rose, we were wondering...my parents and me, if you and Marley weren't busy for the 4th of July if you would like to come over for a barbeque and fireworks?"
"That's so sweet are you sure?" Millie asked.
Finn gave a shrug and a grin "Yea, I mean it'll be fun, we don't have a pool or anything but we got frisbee, baseballs and gloves, football and Burt put in a basketball hoop, mainly for me and him but Kurt tries."
"They still talk about his kick." Millie chuckled.
Finn smirked giving a chuckle of his own "If he'd stayed on the team I know we'd have won more."
Marley smiled, glancing at her mom she asked "Is there anything you'd like us to bring?"
Finn's smirk changed to a crooked smile "Whatever you want, we start the barbeque at ten, it's kind of an all day kind of thing, lunch and dinner."
Finn left after helping prep the beef stew, hearing that he never cut vegetables with his own mom at home Millie took a few photos for him with his phone so he could show his mom his new skill, sneaking a few more pictures of the fun with her own phone Millie also captured the looks that Unique had told her about.
New York
"Come in Berry!" Santana called out before taking another bite of her ice cream, Brittany shook her head chuckling as Rachel stepped in the apartment confused by the decorations and unsure as to why Kurt had left her a note to come down until Santana ordered "Spill Berry." pointing at the empty spot on the couch.
Rolling her eyes Rachel sat down "Dinner was nice and he offered to go with me when ItalktoShelby." Rachel blurted.
"What?" Sitting up Santana put her feet on the floor she'd caught one word out of the last group said "Say that again, Shelby?"
"I..." Rachel exhaled clasping her hands in her lap "I haven't told Shelby, I'm not sure what to tell her..."
"So wait until you know what you're going to say." Brittany yawned "Practice your conversations, I used to with Santana, she gave me kisses when I got things right..." Brittany frowned "You practice with Kurt." Santana smirked.
"Just have the same conversation you had with your dads, she should understand." Kurt promised. "You're not ready to be a mom, you're focusing on your broadway dreams."
"Or just tell her you're knocked up and leave it at that, the rest really isn't her business." Santana quipped. "Now, date, kiss? Was there tongue?" Santana smirked seeing Rachel blush.
"R..really Santana th...that's none of your business."
Brittany laughed happily clapping "Totally tongue."
"You guys suck." Rachel pouted.
"Well..."
"Shut up." Kurt interrupt Santana who couldn't help but laugh, he knew exactly where her dirty mind went. "Spill, I'm manless, I need to live vicariously through someone and these two are like an old married couple." Brittany smiled cuddling to Santana's side her hand resting on the small belly, "See, this is a wild night for them." Kurt gestured to the duo disappointed.
"Bite me." Santana flipped him off before settling next to Brittany offering the blonde a bite of her ice cream.
"Do you mind if I invite him to our 4th of July party?" Rachel asked hesitantly.
"No bursting into random song." Santana pointed at the smaller brunette."It's all about the fireworks and food since booze is off the table this year."
"That's not nice San," Brittany chided, "you know they can't help it...it's like..."
"A sickness?" Santana offered with a smile when Brittany couldn't find the right word, Brittany wasn't sure that was the word she was looking for but nodded anyway. "One word about our decorations and I kick him in his jingle bells." Santana warned. "Now spill it." Rachel sighed giving in as Kurt pressed a drink in her hands, frowning at the brown liquid she looked up when Santana said "It's your kinda hot chocolate. Now was he a good boy? Opened doors, pulled out chairs or do we need to give him lessons?"
"It was fine Santana, we went to Lightly Fierce, he was a complete gentleman."
"Where's the fun in that?" Santana quipped.
"Do you want to hear this or not?" Rachel glared.
"Sorry, please continue." Santana held up her hand in surrender, Kurt took the spoon and empty ice cream container earning a "Thank you." from the Latina.
Rachel began her story with Kurt practically forcing her out of the loft and continued all through dinner, his offer to help her talk to Shelby, her offer of 4th of July and his asking her out on another date.
Lima
4th of July
Millie watched the blushing exchange of smiles between Finn and her daughter as the young man carried the small ice chest from the car, offering his elbow to Marley he took them around the side of the house to his parents, "Mom and Burt are back here, Burt's already at the barbeque, Mom's setting up the tables. Kurt stayed in New York this year so it's just us and a couple of the guys from the shop and their wives."
Burt liked to make sure everyone had a place to go for every holiday. "That's a lot of people." Marley scanned the back yard, the only one she knew was Finn, feeling her grip on his bicep tighten Finn glanced down at Marley.
"I'll introduce you to everyone and then we can go hide." Finn offered.
"Thank you." Marley gave him a small smile.
"Marley!" Carole smiled setting the platter of deviled eggs down, "You must be Mrs. Rose." Stepping away from the barbeque Burt joined his wife "Thank you for coming, I'm Burt Hummel and this is my wife Carole." heintroduced himself and Carole as his wife hugged Marley who was still holding Finn's bicep.
"Millie Rose."
Putting his hand on Finn's shoulder Burt whispered "Take the ice chest to the table, then introduce Marley around, I hooked the game system to the tv if it gets to much for her." Burt had seen the deer in the headlights look on the younger Rose. "Well Millie let's introduce you to the rest of the crowd."
New York
"How are we on the roof top?" Rachel asked looking around in awe.
"A key." Brittany looked at the brunette confused.
"No," Rachel shook her head remembering who she was talking to "I mean, before we were never allowed up here and I'm pretty sure it looked nothing like this." Rachel gestured around her. The roof looked less like a roof and more like a mini park with a small green house. "It's like whoever took over updated everything, they even added solar panels and I'm going to say a larger water heater, which I'm grateful for."
Brittany shrugged, Santana sat in the nearest chair yawning "We're up here, that's all that matters and there's a big ass table waiting for food to be put on it."
Jesse chuckled following Kurt, both boys and Brittany were carrying the food "Are other people coming to this dinner?" Rachel asked seeing the size of the side dishes.
"Wheezy's in town with Shane." Santana yawned again, poking her belly Santana talked to it "You two owe me the biggest coffee ever after I have you...don't kick me." Santana poked her belly again.
"Baby stop fighting with the babies." Brittany shook her head.
"They started it." Santana muttered giving her belly one last poke before settling back in her seat, Rachel laughed sitting in the chair next to Santana earning a glare.
"You guys behave we'll be right back." Brittany pointed warningly at the girls, closing her eyes Santana gave a thumbs up before resting her hands on her belly.
"Do you guys actually have a key?" Rachel asked, Santana knew what she was really asking.
"Yes Berry," Santana opened her eyes "Brittany got a key, this is the break room for the dance studio and being manager apparently has it's perks." Yawning Santana admitted smirking "Janitor closet was the last door I opened."
Rachel rolled her eyes knowing what the other brunette was hinting at, running her hand over her own stomach Rachel sighed "Are you going to sign the babies up for dance, or will Brittany teach them at home?" Rachel asked curiously.
"If they want to dance I'm sure it'll be both."
"Do you think, if he wants to dance Finn will sign him up?"
"I'm sure he'll do whatever he can for the baby, he's already got an apartment and multiple sitters lined up for when he has to work or go to school." Santana informed her.
"Marley." Rachel muttered.
Santana gave an exasperated sigh "What is your problem with my girl? She's helping him get ready for the baby."
"I don't know." Rachel answered honestly. "And I'm dating Jesse so it shouldn't even matter if they're dating."
"They're not, they're just friends." Santana shook her head "And I think it's hormones, they make us crazy."
"I think the others would say crazier." Rachel admitted.
"We have always been a little on edge." Santana agreed.
"A little?" Rachel laughed with her.
"Okay so I've been known to go Lima Heights from time to time and you sent someone to a crack house." Santana laughed.
Rachel chuckled shaking her head. "No one's ever going to let that go, it wasn't an active crack house." Rachel reminded. "Oh!" Rachel's hand shot to her stomach.
"What?" Santana struggled to sit up.
"I...I think the baby kicked." Rachel looked up from her stomach wide eyed.
"Scared the hell out of me the first time too." Santana admitted.
"There it is again." Rachel gasped, tears forming in her eyes she stared down at her stomach in awe.
Lima
Most of the neighbors lined the street in various lawn chairs as fireworks were lit up and down the middle of the road, laughing Finn ran back to the sidewalk, the kids squealed at the array of colors as the fireworks exploded. Grabbing his waist Marley pulled him back on the sidewalk as he stumbled teetering on the curb, arm around his waist she held her hand to his chest. Dropping his arm across Marley's shoulders he grinned down at her "Thanks."
"Just think, next year you'll be doing this for the baby." Marley smiled.
"Yea." Finn grinned at the thought, then his eyes widened "This'll be his first Christmas."
"And Hanukka." Marley reminded "I'm sure the Berrys would be more than happy to spend it with you, and Rachel."
New York
"He kicked me!" Rachel grabbed Jesse's hand pulling it to her stomach, Kurt smiled he'd never seen Rachel so excited.
Jesse's face lit up feeling the kick "Might be a football player like Finn or a dancer."
"We can only hope his dance skills lean more towards Berry." Santana chuckled then poked her belly "Stop it, that's my bladder not a trampoline." Squirming Santana tried to get up before muttering "Help." Offering his hands to her Kurt pulled Santana to her feet "This sucks."
"And it's only going to get worse the bigger they get." Kurt reminded earning a glare.
"Be nice." Brittany chirped at the duo taking Santana's hand "You okay?"
"Yea," Santana mumbled heading for the stairs "I have to pee again."
"Understandable, between the babies and all the water you have to drink." Brittany nodded walking with her. "We'll be right back."
"We forgot the chips." Kurt called out.
"We'll grab them." Brittany promised.
Once they were out of ear shot Santana shook her head amused "Who would have thought Jesse St. James would get her intrested in being a mom."
"Right." Brittany laughed.
Lima
Laying on their backs in the bed of Finn's truck Marley and Finn watched the city fireworks exploding overhead, his hands clasped at his waist Finn stared up in awe. "Everything's going to change."
"And you're ready for it." Marley promised leaning her head against his shoulder. "I saw the 5 gallon water bottle you had by your door with change in it, I'm guessing it's for him."
"Yea." Finn smiled. "I want to do so much with him when he gets older so I thought I'd start saving now, I mean I know it's silly but..."
"It's not silly," Marley shook her head "and when you're ready to roll it call me and I'll help, we can make a day of it." she chuckled.
"Movies and rolling change." Finn agreed. "Thanks Marley, you have no idea how much easier you've made all this." reaching down Finn took her hand giving it a squeeze, Marley shrugged blushing.
"That's what friends do, they help each other."
New York
Snuggling back into Brittany's arms Santana closed her eyes, it wasn't about the fireworks for her, it was being with Brittany, that was all that mattered, resting her cheek on the top of Santana's head Brittany sighed contently.
Rachel yawned leaning back against Jesse on the small bench they were sharing, wrapping his arms around her waist Jesse asked "Are you having fun?"
"Mmm-hmm." Rachel nodded "Thank you for coming." dropping her head back on his shoulder Rachel watched the dance of lights from the multiple fireworks displays "It's beautiful."
"Sure is." Jesse murmured looking down at the top of her head.