Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Thank God for fall break.

Ellie loved college, and she loved that she was at NYU, but honestly. She was at that point in the fall semester when she just needed to get away from school. Returning home and spending time with her family was just what she needed.

Although she was just about ready to kill Evan.

"Seriously, Evan!" Ellie yelled up the stairs. "Pick one instrument and practice it! I'm trying to watch the television down here!"

Evan was some kind of musical savant and had a knack for playing just about any instrument he touched. Currently, he kept switching between guitar, drums, violin, and saxophone. He was extremely talented and played each instrument well, but he was doing something where he rotated each after about fifteen minutes of playtime. Normally, Ellie could tune out the sound of Evan practicing, but she just couldn't do it while he was switching instruments.

"It's probably just one of your shitty reality TV shows!" Evan yelled back down the stairs. He banged on a snare drum to emphasize his statement. "You don't need to hear that crap anyway!"

Ellie was watching one of her favorite reality television shows (it was a guilty pleasure of hers), but it wasn't like she was going to admit that to Evan. What he didn't know wouldn't hurt him. Instead, Ellie said, "Don't let Mom and Dad hear you cursing like that!"

"No one likes a tattletale, Ellie!" Evan responded.

Rolling her eyes, Ellie jumped up from the couch and headed into the kitchen. As she walked, she pulled her phone out of her pocket and scrolled through the messages she had received. There was a group message going between all of her siblings, and she smiled when she saw that Scott had suggested they get together for dinner. Scott was still in his newly-wed bliss with Blaire, but it wasn't surprising that he was making time to see his family. That's just the kind of guy Scott was.

Abby, of course, had chimed in with a series of questions about Ellie's life at NYU: how was the beginning of her sophomore year? Was she having more fun than Scott did? Was she at least going to a few parties? Did she go to the sale at Forever 21? And more importantly, did she have a boyfriend yet?

Ellie tapped out a response to Abby that simply said she would answer all of her questions later. She added that she hoped Abby and Mason were doing well. Honestly, Ellie wasn't sure how Mason handled her sister sometimes.

Ellie found her mother standing at the stove, stirring something in a large pot. Whatever it was, it smelled absolutely delicious and Ellie couldn't wait until dinner. She also noted the size of pot and the way Rachel carefully stirred the contents so they wouldn't go over the side.

"It looks like you're cooking for an army," Ellie noted.

Rachel laughed. "Well, you know how the boys in this family eat."

Ellie laughed as well, because it was so true. Growing up, she could have sworn that her father and brothers had bottomless pits for stomachs. "Since you're making so much, would it be alright if I told Scott and Abby and their significant others that they can come over?"

"Of course!" Rachel said. "They should know that they can always come over."

The Hudson house was very open and people were constantly going in and out of it (especially Todd Puckerman, who often got into trouble and would escape to the Hudson house while his parents were angry with him). It was one of the things that Ellie missed most about being home. She loved that some of her family and closest friends were always around.

"And I'm going to call Sophie, too," Ellie added.

Rachel took a crusty loaf of French bread out of a brown paper bag. Setting it on the cutting board, she began to cut it in thick slices. "Then Todd will probably be coming over, as well."

Ellie peered into the pot and grinned when she saw that her mother was making some of her famous chili. "It's going to be a family reunion tonight, then."

"What's going to be a family reunion?"

Both Hudson women turned to the entrance of the kitchen and saw Finn standing there. He had a bouquet of pink tulips in one hand, and he held his other arm out towards his youngest daughter. Ellie beamed and threw herself into her father's arms. Both Abby and Ellie were Daddy's girls, and that wouldn't change no matter how old they got.

"How are you, princess?" Finn asked. He pressed a kiss to the top of Ellie's head as he hugged her. Rachel had a matching smile on her face as she watched Ellie and Finn. One of her favorite things to do was watch Finn interact with their children. Even after twenty-six years, that still hadn't changed.

"I'm great, Daddy," Ellie said. She hugged her father again and then stepped back, watching as Finn approached Rachel and pulled her into his arms. He held the bouquet of her favorite flowers towards her, pushing them towards her face just enough that the bulbs of the tulips brushed her nose. Rachel laughed and plucked the bouquet from Finn's hand, reaching up with her other hand to slip it behind his neck and pull his lips down to hers.

All four of the Hudson children were used to their parents being very affectionate. It was how they had grown up. While Ellie had joined her siblings in teasing their parents about it, she wanted a relationship just like theirs.

Finn kissed Rachel again and cupped her cheek, brushing his thumb against her skin. "I love you," he murmured.

A blissfully happy smile formed on Rachel's face, and Ellie smiled as well. Her parents were amazing, and she hoped that she had a life as happy as theirs one day.

Author's Note: So now you have some insight into Ellie's life. We'll be seeing a lot more of what's going on with the Hudson children (but don't worry, there will be lots of Finn and Rachel!). I'll probably revisit this chapter and do the dinner, as well. :)