Hey everyone. Thank you so much for all your support of the last chapter. I really appreciate it. I'm sorry it took so long, but I had lots of exams for school and stuff at work. Luckily, I'm on spring break, so you can expect more updates than usual this week :) Hope you enjoy this chapter and review if I should keep going!
Chapter 28: Past, Present and Future
"How are the babies doing?" Rachel asked, looking up at the screen. They weren't here yet, but Rachel and Finn were so excited to meet them. They couldn't believe how much they'd grown - now they actually looked like babies in the ultrasound rather than smudges.
"They're doing great," the doctor said. "With all the stress of a presidential campaign, plus everything else you guys have going on, I'd be concerned, but you seem to be taking good care of your body, and by extension, these two."
"Good," Finn sighed. With everything that had been going on, he was worried about Rachel and by extension, the babies. It seemed like she was eating healthy and getting as much rest as she could, but it was nice to have confirmation.
"So, have you two decided what you'll do when the babies get here?" the doctor asked.
"We're going to raise them together," Finn said. "I know we're not married, but we know we want to stick together and raise the babies. We're hoping to somehow get jobs in the Santos administration, if he wins... and if not, we'll figure something out."
"You two seem very responsible," the doctor said.
"It's great that our job has been willing to accommodate us," Rachel said. "And the Santoses' babies should be here any day now..."
"Yeah, having two pregnant women on the campaign has been... interesting," Finn said.
"Hey, I hope I haven't been TOO hormonal," Rachel said.
"Well, I guess it's not too bad," Finn teased.
"It's really great that you two seem to really be committed to raising the babies together, even though you aren't married," the doctor said.
"Who says we won't be married in the future?" Finn asked, then realizing he might have spoken too soon. He and Rachel weren't even engaged... but he could change that.
He wanted to get engaged again. It broke his heart that they hadn't gone through with it before. When he thought about getting married, he knew if he married anyone but Rachel, he'd be settling.
If he reproposed, would she say yes? Over the past year, they'd been through a lot together. He felt that their love was stronger than it had ever been before and that problems they'd had in their relationship in the past were gone. They had so many great memories together and he wanted to add more.
One thing was holding him back though - the way their family and friends had acted their senior year of high school had hurt. Granted, they were young and probably should have waited, but then when Kurt and Blaine got engaged a year later, everyone acted like... well, like people should when friends of yours get engaged. Finn was happy for his brother, but it definitely stung. He didn't want that to happen again.
"Finn, aren't our little ones adorable?" Rachel asked, interrupting Finn's thoughts.
Finn looked up at the screen. "Yeah, they really are."
x
Finn had made some arrangements - when Rachel was helping out a rally, he wanted to talk to his family members and friends. He had a few hours off while Rachel helped at the rally, so he was going to use this time to talk about his latest idea. First, he decided to call his parents. He had a feeling they were campaigning for Burt right now, but he needed to talk to them. Luckily, his mom picked up after the first ring. "Hi Finn!"
"Hi Mom," Finn said.
"How are you guys doing?" Carole asked.
"We're good," Finn said. "I think the campaign's doing a good job at reassuring everyone we can keep the country safe and that we aren't going to let something like what happened happen again... but at the same time, we aren't neglecting the other issues." He sighed. "It's all so stressful... our leads in the polls are always within the margin of error... and of course the first debate is in two days..."
"It'll be okay," Burt said. "I don't know why the polls are how they are, but I know Matt Santos. He's going to wipe the floor in that debate."
Finn managed a laugh. "Yeah." He hoped so.
"How's Rachel doing?" Carole asked.
"She's doing better," Finn said. He was tempted to tell his parents that he knew the truth... but he couldn't tell anyone. It was too risky. Rachel had talked to Kylie on the phone, but he wanted to let everything sink in before she got another piece of big news about her family. Of course, he was going to need Dad's permission before asking...
"That's good," Burt said.
"Yeah," Finn said. "Mom, Burt, I've been doing a lot of thinking... I want you to listen to what I'm saying. I've been with Rachel again for nearly a year now and I have a feeling this time, it's going to be forever. Rachel and me and the babies... we had time to grow during our time apart and then together when we joined the campaign... we've grown so much, I think... I love her so much... I don't want to think of life without her... I was miserable without her and every time I was with another girl, I just wished I was with her... I know we were doing it at the wrong time and for the wrong reasons when we were in high school... but I hope this time, you know it's for the right reasons. I love her so much and I want to spend my life with her..."
"So, are you saying you want to re-propose?" Carole asked.
"Yeah," Finn said.
"You know how much we love Rachel," Carole said. "We'd love to have her in our family."
"Yeah, she basically already is part of the family, between you and Kurt," Burt said.
"I really want to," Finn said. "But the thing is, when Rachel and I got engaged before, everyone was lecturing us about what a bad idea this was and how we were ruining our lives. We were too young back then, sure, and we didn't have our lives started yet... but when Kurt and Blaine got engaged a year later... everyone was acting like it was the best thing ever... and it hurt."
"For what it's worth, I told Blaine not to do it," Burt said.
"Rachel and I weren't in the right place, yes, but we'd been in a solid relationship with only minor problems for seven months," Finn said. "When Kurt and Blaine got engaged, they'd been broken up until a few days before. Don't get me wrong, I think Kurt and Blaine are meant to be, and I'm glad they made it a long engagement... but it upset me and I'm sure it upset Rachel, too."
"You don't need to compare yourself to your brother," Carole said. "You and Rachel are at the right time now."
"If you want to propose, go for it," Burt said. "I haven't seen much of you two, but from what I have seen and heard, you two are at the best you've ever been, individually and as a couple."
Finn had to smile. "Thank you!"
"I'm sure her parents would agree," Burt said.
Once again, Finn wanted to say something, but decided not to. "Thanks." He said goodbye to his parents - soon, he had a Skype chat appointment with the glee guys. Mike was actually dancing in New York for a performance now, so Finn could talk to Kurt, Blaine, Sam, Artie, Puck and Mike all at once on Skype. He wanted to see what they thought - and he wanted them to be his groomsmen at the wedding.
Finn logged on to Skype and called Kurt. When Kurt picked up, Finn saw all the guys on screen. "Hey."
"Hey," Blaine said. "How's that dreamboat candidate of yours?"
"Blaine, stop it!" Kurt said.
"He's driving Kurt crazy with this," Sam said.
"Eh, everyone has celebrity crushes," Finn said. "Anyway, I wanted to talk to you guys about something..."
"You already knocked her up, what happened?" Puck asked.
Finn wasn't sure if the guys were going to be help. "Well, if I do end up going through with this, I'm going to need groomsmen..."
"Wait, are you thinking of proposing?" Kurt asked. "Because I'm planning the wedding..."
"Well, I'm glad you're being supportive this time, because I was hoping you'd be my best man," Finn said. "Over the past year, Rachel and I have grown closer than ever and our relationship's grown stronger. Of course we have the babies on the way, but I'm not just doing this because of the babies. Even if there weren't babies on the way, I'd still want to do it..."
"Finn, that's great," Mike said. "You know Tina and I were supportive last time, and we will be this time, too."
"Thanks," Finn said. "Part of why I wasn't sure if I should tell you guys is when Rachel and I got engaged last time, most people weren't particularly supportive, but when Kurt and Blaine did, everyone was..."
"I'm sorry about that," Blaine said. "I'll admit, Kurt and I probably should have gotten engaged later. We made it a long engagement for a reason."
"Finn, we're behind you and Rachel," Sam said. "And of course we'll be your groomsmen. We always knew you two were going to be together."
"Thanks," Finn said. "I feel like everything worked out for Rachel and me... she and I had our time apart, but this time, it's going to be forever. I just have one request: don't tell the girls. I don't want her to know that I'm considering it."
"Your secret's safe with us, man," Artie said. "How's she doing?"
"She's doing as well as she can, all things considered," Finn said. "The first few days were a bit scary. She was making arrangements for campaign events and writing speeches without consulting anyone. But she's not doing that anymore. She does have moments when she's upset."
"Of course she does," Sam said. "That was messed up."
"It was," Finn said. "I know airplanes are operating again, but I don't think I'll ever be able to get on one again..."
"You're just lucky the campaign uses a bus," Blaine said.
"How's Beth?" Finn asked.
"She's with Kylie for the day," Puck said. "Kylie said they were going to Skype with Rachel this evening..."
"Yeah, it was a shock to Rachel, finding out about Kylie, but at the same time, I think it's good for her to have someone who gets what she's going through," Finn said. "Well, not entirely, since Kylie never even met Shelby... but you know. They've been texting and talking on the phone a lot."
"What about Rachel's biological father?" Kurt asked. "Do you think you guys might be able to find him?"
Finn had found him. "I don't know." He sighed. Of course he knew. "Anyway, I really appreciate you guys being supportive."
"Of course," Sam said. "Good luck with the engagement - and with the debate."
"Oh, we'll need that," Finn said. He did feel good that his parents, brother and friends were supportive this time around.
x
"Look Rachel!" Beth said on Skype. "I got a new Build-A-Bear!"
"You did?" Rachel asked. "That's so exciting!"
"Daddy told Kylie I didn't need another one, but I do!" Beth said.
"It's nice that you guys had fun today," Rachel said. She was alone in the hotel room while Finn ran some errands.
"Can you tell Rachel what else we did today?" Kylie asked.
"We watched the Santos rally!" Beth said. "You sang a good song, Rachel."
"Yeah, you did," Kylie said. "I was actually in the glee club at my high school, too. I was just in the chorus, but it was fun."
"That doesn't surprise me, we do have the same birth mother," Rachel said. "Beth, I wrote that song for the campaign specifically."
"That's cool!" Beth said.
"Next time the campaign's in New York, the three of us need to spend some sister time together," Kylie said.
"For sure," Rachel said. "The last debate's in New Hampshire, so I'm sure we'll stop in New York on the way there. We're moving out west now, then moving back east, since we have the first debate in California..."
"Are you guys nervous?" Kylie asked.
"A little," Rachel said. "Vinick's a nightmare, both as a president and as a person... hopefully seeing them side by side will help us get a lead in the polls that's not in the margin of error."
"The New York Times' poll this morning had you guys up by 3," Kylie pointed out.
"Yeah, but the margin of error is 4," Rachel sighed.
"Don't give up," Kylie said. "The country needs Santos."
"Oh, I know," Rachel said. "Believe me, I know."
The door opened and Finn came in with several boxes. "Hey!" Rachel said, smiling at the sight of her boyfriend.
Finn looked at the screen. "Hi Beth. Hi Kylie."
"Hi Finn!" Beth said.
"Since Finn's back, we'll let you go," Kylie said. "We'll talk again soon."
"Yeah, for sure," Rachel said before she said goodbye to her sisters and hung up the call, going to hug Finn. "How are you?"
"Good," Finn said. "These boxes were for you at the hotel desk..."
Rachel looked at the boxes and realized what they were. She'd hired people to clean out her dads' and Shelby's houses and send her anything she might find sentimental. She was feeling better, but now her sadness was coming back. She'd given them the names of all the hotels she'd be at for the next week, but didn't expect them to come so soon. "Wow..."
"What are these?" Finn asked.
"Some stuff for me from Shelby and my dads got sent over," Rachel said. "I guess it was considerate of the people I hired to send me some stuff... but still... it makes it more real, you know..."
"Yeah," Finn said.
Rachel figured the boxes from Shelby's would be the least difficult to go through since she'd had less of a relationship with Shelby than with her dads who'd raised her. The box was still difficult to go through. Suddenly, an envelope caught her eye. An envelope with handwriting that looked both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time written on it: "Shelby: please give this to our child."
Rachel knew what this must be. This was something from her biological father. "Finn, look." She looked at the envelope. "He wrote this... he held this in his hand..."
Finn looked at the envelope. "You should open it."
Rachel gulped. She'd been wondering for the past year who her biological father was... the answer was likely in here. She opened the envelope and saw a letter. "Finn... look at this... he wrote this..." She began reading the letter with Finn over her shoulder.
Hi. This is your dad. Well, I don't know if I should call myself that since you're being raised by another man. But this is the man who helped create you.
I don't know what to say in this letter. Giving you up wasn't an easy decision. Your mother and I weren't intending to get pregnant. It just happened. Neither of our hearts were in the relationship, but that doesn't mean your birth mother is a bad person. She's strong, smart and the most talented person I've ever heard. You'll probably be seeing her on Broadway one day.
As for me - believe me when I said I wanted to keep you, but I know I couldn't give you the life you deserve. I just finished my first year of college at the Naval Academy. My parents don't have a lot of money - they have to work really hard to just put food on the table for me and my siblings and I don't have what I need to raise a child. Believe me when I say I love you so much. I've loved you since the day I found out that you'd been conceived. I'm going to spend my entire life loving you and missing you. I know you're probably mad at me and I get it if you are. I wanted to keep you, believe me, but I love you too much. I want so much better for you than what I can do right now.
I want a good life for you. I hope you know that. The advice I'm going to give you sounds trite and stupid, but here goes: work hard in school, it'll be a foundation for a good career in the future. Do what makes you happy, because you can't make everyone around you happy, but you can make YOU happy. Stand up and fight for the things you believe in. When you find your passion, go after it, no matter what those around you say. You're going to get hurt in life, I don't want you to, but everyone gets hurt, so surround yourself with people who love you so when you do get hurt, you aren't alone. And as for guys or girls, when you find that special someone, you'll know.
You may not like me after reading this letter. How you feel about me is up to you. I'll love you forever, but I'm not saying you have to love me. If you do want to meet me, I'd love to meet you. Like I said, I go to the Naval Academy now, probably going to spend some time in the Marines and then go back home to Houston to do some work to make the community a better place. I don't know where you are, but I would love to meet you if you want to.
Good luck to you in everything and anything you do.
Matt Santos
Rachel felt tears coming to her eyes as she read the letter. "Finn... this is my dad..." Then she saw the name at the end of the letter. "Oh my God..." She felt like her breath had been taken away. This was why the handwriting had looked familiar. The man she'd spent the last year working for was her father.
"Are you okay?" Finn asked.
"I can't believe this..." Rachel said. Maybe she should have seen signs. She knew Matt had a child born in 1993 who'd been given up for adoption and that Shelby had spent a year at a college not too far from the Naval Academy. She knew that Shelby's college boyfriend who she'd had a child with was still in love with his high school girlfriend and then married her and that they had a son and a daughter. This was still a shock.
Finn pulled Rachel in for a hug. "I'm going to be honest, I've known for about a week. I was going to tell you, but then you found out about Kylie and I thought it would be too much at once..."
"How did you know?" Rachel asked.
"I was suspicious, and then I overheard Matt talking to Helen that he'd figured it out..." Finn began.
So Matt knew as well. "Is it weird that I don't know how to react, Finn?" Rachel asked. "You know how much I like him, but he's started a family, and he probably sees me as his aide... I don't want to feel like I'm barging in... and I need to think of Peter and Miranda too..." Those kids who she and Finn had been playing with for a year were her brother and sister. She knew that even though they'd gotten over it, they'd been upset to find out that their parents hadn't told them that they had a half sibling out there. She didn't want to create drama.
"He sounded like he had similar concerns about you," Finn said. "I'm sure if you went to him, he'd be willing to talk."
Then Rachel remembered how this had all gotten out - when Matt's friend had leaked the ultrasound photo. What would it do to the campaign if it was revealed that the child Matt Santos had given up for adoption had been working on the campaign all along? She didn't want to make things bad for the campaign and she wasn't going to ruin her own biological father's chances at the presidency. The election was only about six weeks away. She could only imagine how Vinick would act if it was discovered that she was The Santos Baby. "I can't. Not with the election so close." She wanted so badly to talk to him. She wanted her dad. She NEEDED her dad after everything that had happened. But there were a lot more people in this equation. And of course, after what happened with her and Shelby when they first met...
"I get it," Finn sighed. "This sucks, doesn't it?"
"Yeah," Rachel said. "I just wish people weren't so..." She didn't even know how to finish that sentence. She'd finally found her biological father, but she couldn't let him know she'd found him. And she also didn't know what type of relationship he'd want to have.
Rachel obviously wanted him as her father. She needed a parent, even though she was in her 20s. There were still lots of things she needed a parent for. The truth was, Matt had been more of a father to her in the past year than Hiram or LeRoy. He'd been the one she'd talked to about her feelings about getting back with Finn. He'd been the one who'd taken her and Finn to their first doctor's appointment. He'd been the one she and Finn had first talked to about the pregnancy. But he had so much on his plate now. He'd built a family. He had two other kids and two more on the way.
"I'm sorry," Finn said. "I should have told you when I found out... I get it if you're mad at me."
"I'm not mad at you," Rachel said. "None of us expected me to be in this situation... I don't know what to do, Finn. I don't want to hurt the campaign. I wish I could say that if I went to him, it wouldn't impact the campaign, but we both know I'm not that naive. We're running against a psycho. He would say all sorts of horrible things and I have no idea how the American people would react. As much as I like to think that they'd be open-minded, we don't know."
"Yeah," Finn said. "It all sucks, doesn't it?"
"It does," Rachel said. "I want my dad, Finn. I may be an adult now, but there's still so many things I need a parent for."
"I know," Finn said, hugging Rachel close. "I know."
x
"How do you think the debate will go?" Rachel asked as she and Finn walked in. Today, Finn and Rachel had spent the day going door-to-door before going to Stanford for the debate. The debate had been hyped up - every news station, newspaper and magazine had it on their cover. Additionally, people were talking about it a lot out in the open - at the hotel, the restaurants, everywhere.
"Well, I hope," Finn said. "He's good at debates."
Finn hoped to do something else soon - he wanted to pick out a ring. Since his parents had said that they would support him and his friends and brother were supportive as well, he wanted to find the perfect ring. He'd been looking at rings on his iPod and sent pictures to Kurt, trying to find the perfect one. His thoughts were interrupted when his phone vibrated with a new text from Kurt. Kurt had replied with a picture of one of the rings Finn had sent and the caption, "She'll like this one best. Trust me."
That had been the one Finn thought Rachel would like as well. Now he had a ring picked out.
Finn was a bit shocked when he entered - the debate hall at Stanford was completely full. The Santos campaign staff sat on the left side of the hall, the Vinick campaign on the right. Sue was in the front row, right in front of the podium where Vinick would be standing.
Finn tried not to show how nervous he was. He knew the debates had gone well in the primaries, but Vinick had already won the presidency once. It could happen again. He put his hand on Rachel's stomach and felt movements. "They want him to do well, too," Finn said.
"Yeah," Rachel said. Finn knew the past few days had been emotional for Rachel. Since she found out that the candidate was her biological father, she seemed slightly uncomfortable when she was with him. She wasn't really making eye contact with him and was a bit jittery. Finn just hoped Rachel would be doing better soon.
"Your babies seem to want him to do well, too?" Helen asked Rachel.
"Yeah," Rachel asked. "Yours too?"
"They won't stop moving," Helen said. "It hurts to walk around and I just want to stay in bed, but I wasn't going to miss this."
"Now you have me nervous," Rachel said.
"It'll be worth it," Helen said, wincing. "Sorry, they kicked pretty hard..."
"They're already late," Peter said.
"Yeah, they are," Helen said. "I just hope they don't decide to come on the bus..."
"Why do I have a bad feeling something like that could happen to me and Rachel?" Finn asked.
"You think?" Rachel asked. "I hope not..."
The moderator announced the beginning of the debate and the entrance of the candidates. Vinick gave a nasty look to his opponent before the first question for Vinick came: how was he going to deal with illegal immigrants from Mexico?
"Enforcement first; that's my policy. I will double the border patrol. Not just increase it; double it. We need to make a statement that says 'We mean it this time. We really are cracking down on illegal immigration.' And we need that statement to be heard loud and clear on the other side of the border where everyone knows how easy it is to get in to this country. I want everyone on the other side of the border to think about how hard it is to get into this country. That's the kind of Sensible Solution you can expect from the Vinick White House," Vinick rambled.
"Why not triple the border patrol?" Matt asked.
"Are you proposing tripling the border patrol?" Vinick asked.
"No, you're the one who's campaigning on doubling the border patrol. You want to double it, why not triple it? We just heard the speech. We get it. Why not triple the border patrol? I don't know how you're going to find room in the budget to double the border patrol with the tax cut that you're proposing. Why not double the border patrol? I'll tell you why not: because we already have. Since 1990 we've tripled, not double, tripled the border patrol along the Mexican border and you don't need me to tell you that it hasn't solved the problem," Matt said, leaving Vinick looking disgusted.
"Well, he made Vinick look like an idiot," Finn whispered to Rachel.
"I think I'm in labor," Helen said quietly so Finn and Rachel could hear.
"Oh crap," Finn said. "I'm going to see if there's a way to stop the debate and get Matt.."
"Don't," Helen said forcefully. "Labor last a while. It could be hours before the babies are here. I'm not ruining this for Matt."
"You look like you're in a lot of pain," Rachel pointed out.
"You two know what Vinick's like," Helen said. "He'll be horrible to Matt if we try to stop the debate."
Finn knew Helen was right, but he had a bad feeling these babies were on their way out. If he disrupted the debate, Vinick would definitely say something insensitive and his supporters would probably think that the Santos campaign looked bad. But weren't the babies more important than the debate?
"I'm not doing that to Matt," Helen said.
The debate continued and Matt continued to outperform Vinick, but Finn couldn't help but worry that the candidate's babies would be here before the debate was over. The winner of the debate was clear. Vinick didn't really answer any of the questions - instead, he found a way to go around most of them. Vinick's closing statement was mostly spent throwing mud at the Santos campaign with a few personal attacks thrown in there. Finally, it was time for the closing statement from Matt.
"Tax cuts are not a magic wand that you can wave at every problem. Senator Vinick is very quick to attack my plans, but the Presidency is about more than just saying no, no, no. You have to say yes to something. You have to do something. We don't have enough time for me to remind you about every policy difference that you've heard here tonight. But when you go to work tomorrow and you're talking about this debate, talk about the qualities that you want to see as a President; the leadership qualities. Ask yourself if Matt Santos is the kind of guy who's going to give up on the promises that he's made tonight because it's going to be too tough to get them done. Talk about what it was like for Matt Santos to go from where he was baptized 45 years ago to where he's standing tonight. Ask yourselves what it was like to do that. And then ask yourselves if you're ready to give Matt Santos the Presidency of the United States. I am asking for your vote now because I know that I am ready to do the job. I thank you."
Finn smiled as Rachel squealed with excitement. They'd nailed the first debate. But then Finn noticed Rachel's excitement turn to concern when he looked down. Rachel was standing in a pile of water. Finn looked at Helen in the chair. "I'll go get Matt."
x
"Why didn't you tell us your water broke?" Rachel asked Helen as she sat with Helen while Finn got Matt.
"I didn't want to make Matt look bad," Helen said.
"These are your kids!" Rachel said. "And his!" And her brother and sister. "Surely Vinick would at least understand that." She doubted he would, but she could say that.
Soon enough, Finn arrived back with Matt. "Helen, when did your water break?" Matt asked.
"About an hour ago," Helen admitted. "Matt... I've been here twice before... I think these babies are going to come out..."
This was making Rachel nervous for her own babies. "Oh God..." Matt said. "Well, let's get you to my dressing room they provided and just see if we can have medical help brought there..."
"This is what I'll need to do in less than two months!" Rachel said.
"This can be your crash course," Matt said. He turned to Finn. "You too, Finn. This can prepare you for what you'll have to deal with..."
"It'll be okay," Finn said to the (hopeful) First Couple. "The babies will be fine."
"Let's get to the dressing room," Rachel said. "There's a couch in there."
"Yeah," Finn said. "I'll get other campaign staff to call the ambulance and have them wait for it and direct them to the room."
"Thank you, you two," Matt said.
Finn and Rachel made arrangements with the rest of the campaign staff before they headed back to the dressing room, where Helen was on the couch with Matt. "The doctors should be here soon," Finn said.
"Thank you," Matt said, looking worried. "I just looked... I don't know if the doctors will be here in time..."
Rachel REALLY hoped this wasn't what it would be like for her... "Anything we can do to help while we wait for the doctor to get here?" She just hoped her siblings would be okay... and her... should she say... her stepmother?
"Yeah, maybe get some wet towels," Matt said. "Honey, I want you to push again on the next contraction..."
Push? The babies were really getting here... Finn looked down. "Um, I see a head..."
"Oh my God," Rachel gasped.
"Take my other hand," Helen said to Rachel. "I promise not to squeeze it too hard if you don't squeeze Finn's too hard."
"I promise," Rachel said.
Finn knelt at the end of the couch. "Okay, I do see a head, maybe she should push..."
After a few pushes, Rachel heard some cries at the end of the couch. She looked at the end and saw Finn holding the baby boy. "Oh my gosh..." She looked at Matt. "He looks just like you."
"We might need Rachel to hold him," Finn said. "I think I see her head, too, so I'll just wait here, and push on your next contraction."
"Who knew I hired two aides who could help with delivery?" Matt asked.
"I didn't know we could do this, either," Rachel laughed. She looked down at the baby in her arms. Her baby brother. She tried to stop herself from getting emotional, but she was getting to hold one of her little siblings. She'd gone from having no siblings to six in a few weeks.
"Okay, Finn," Helen moaned. "Here comes a contraction."
Once again, cries filled the room, and Finn held the baby girl as the doctors entered the room. "Well, the babies are here," Matt said. "Thanks to Finn and Rachel. This is Brayden and this is Lily."
"Wow," the doctor said. "I'm impressed."
"I just hope I don't have to give birth in a dressing room," Rachel managed to laugh. She looked again at her little brother and sister. They were here and she felt her heart swelling. They were so perfect. Would her babies be this perfect? She hoped so.
"Well, we should get mother and babies to the hospital," the doctor said.
Matt looked at Finn and Rachel. "Thank you so much. Another thing I need to thank you for..."
"Just don't make us do that again," Finn said.
"I'm done being pregnant anyway," Helen said.
"Well, you have some beautiful babies," Rachel said. She wanted to say how much she already loved her brother and sister... but she couldn't. "This made me a little nervous about doing it."
"I'm sure you'll do great," Finn said, putting his arm around his girlfriend.
"I hope," Rachel said.
"I know," Finn said.
"Well, if I need help, you're great with helping with delivery," Rachel said, kissing Finn.
Chapter 29 preview: Rachel continues to deal with finding out so much about her family that she didn't know as she and Finn continue to prepare for the birth of their babies. Meanwhile, it's time for the second debate, and the feud between the two campaigns reaches a breaking point.
