All these years later, I still love Glee and Finchel :) And I've become obsessed with reading Finchel fanfics. So I decided to write one of my own. It's based on the movie The Parent Trap, but there are some differences. Most obviously, it's Finchel, and it's sons instead of daughters. So, this story is AUish. Finn is still alive, obviously, and he is teaching at McKinley and helping with the New Directions. Rachel did not star in Funny Girl until after she graduated from NYADA and she never left to do That's So Rachel. The boys were conceived right before Finchel broke up at the end of Season 3, but you'll have to keep reading to find out exactly what happened with Finchel. Many other Gleeks will appear in this story. Anyway, enjoy, and don't forget to review!
Cody zipped up his suitcase and checked his phone, making sure the ticket was in there. This was it. He was finally doing what he'd been dreaming of his whole life - he was going to New York. The New Directions had won 15 straight national titles and Cody was sure he was going to lead them to a 16th. He was the first freshman to ever make it as the lead singer of the New Directions.
Finn knocked on his son's door. He knew this day would come. He knew that New Directions would be going to Nationals and that it would be in New York this year. New York. The same city where he and Rachel had their first Nationals. The city where Finn and Rachel had "the kiss that missed" on the stage. The city where they were supposed to build a life together but didn't. The city where Cody had wanted to go, but Finn couldn't bear to take him to. It would be too much. He knew Rachel was still living in New York with Cody's twin brother, Clayton. Kurt and Blaine came to Lima for holidays. It was as if they knew things would be too complicated for Finn to go there.
"Come in!" Cody called. He looked up at his dad. "I'm going to New York, Dad! I'm going to win Nationals MVP, I know it!"
Finn forced a smile. "I'm sure." He wasn't surprised that Cody was a singer. Cody had started singing along to commercials when he was a child. He had Rachel's genes, how could he not be a singer? Was Clayton one, too? After all, he also had Rachel's genes and was exposed to the best on Broadway.
"You should have come to chaperone, Dad," Cody said. He found it weird that his dad hadn't talked at all about his trip to New York with the glee club. He knew his dad was in the same glee club Cody was in now. He'd seen his dad's pictures in the choir room. "It might bring back fond memories of when you were in the glee club."
Yes, it would bring back memories. That's why Finn wasn't going. Sometimes it was hard just to help out with the glee club. "This is about you. But don't worry, I'll be watching the livestream."
"I've been practicing my solo nonstop," Cody reminded his dad. "Some of the kids at school told me they'll pour acid into their ears if they have to hear it again, but how are we supposed to win if I don't practice? And maybe there will be some people from Broadway at Nationals! They might see me and want to swoop me up for a production after I graduate..."
Finn knew singing on a Broadway stage was his son's big goal. A goal his mother had achieved at a young age. "I know you'll do that one day, but let's focus on winning Nationals now."
"What if we lose?" Cody asked. "What if no one else pulls their weight?" That wasn't what he was really worried about. What if he made a mistake? Or worse, what if someone else was better than him? Everyone would hate him if they lost Nationals. The streak would be broken. The other kids in the glee club sometimes didn't realize he was trying to help and he was worried they didn't really like him, they just liked that he had the best voice. They'd called him annoying and bossy.
"You'll lead the glee club to victory," Finn told his son. "I know it."
Cody gulped. He could probably tell his dad. "They like my talent. I don't think they like me. And if we lose..."
Finn had a feeling that was what was really on his son's mind. "I'm sure they like you. But remember, there are a lot of talented people in the glee club. Make sure they know you appreciate them."
"There are other talented people in the club," Cody admitted.
"That's right," Finn said. "There were a lot of talented people in the glee club when I was there, too."
Cody made a mental note of what his dad said. "I'm excited to see Uncle Kurt and Uncle Blaine and my cousins when I'm in New York, too! And I REALLY want to go to some Broadway shows!" In particular, he wanted to see Rachel Berry. He'd seen so many videos of her on YouTube and he wanted to see her in person. For some reason, he hadn't told anyone, not even his dad, about the strong connection he felt to Rachel Berry and her songs. He had music from Funny Girl, Evita, Oklahoma, West Side Story, Wicked and her current show, the Dear Evan Hansen revival, on his playlist. He hoped one day, he could have a co-star as talented as she was. Seeing a show could help calm his nerves about Nationals.
If Finn said no, Cody might get suspicious. "Pick out a show and I'll get you a ticket." He just hoped Cody wouldn't pick Rachel's show. He was sure his son would though. His solo was from that show.
When Finn left Cody's bedroom, Cody pulled out the photo of his mom that his dad had given him. His biggest dream, even bigger than singing on a Broadway stage, was to meet his mom. But his dad didn't even know where his mom was. His parents had split up when he was a baby, right after they graduated high school. He looked at his mom's photo. "I hope I make you proud, Mom."
Another late night. The one thing Rachel didn't like about her Broadway shows was that she didn't get to spend as much time with her son as she wanted. It was bad enough that she didn't get to spend ANY time with her other son or with his father. She was able to give Clayton a nice life, but she knew their life was incomplete. She wished she'd been able to go to his game tonight. Even though Finn hadn't been in Clayton's life, Clayton reminded her so much of Finn. His heart. His goofiness. His half smile. The way people gravitated toward him. And he was a pure jock. He'd become the first freshman this year in his school's history to become the starting quarterback, to be a starter on the basketball team and to be a starting pitcher on the baseball team. Unlike either of his parents, Clayton had no interest in singing, but he did play the drums in the school band.
As Clayton finished his homework, he heard the door unlock. His mom was home. Sometimes he didn't like to admit it, but life with a Broadway star mom could get lonely. He was proud of his mom's career, but he wished she could come to his games more, like the other guys on the team had their parents come. He wished his dad could come to his games, too. Since his mom wasn't athletic at all, he had to get it from somewhere. He suspected it was from his dad. He also had a feeling he'd gotten his height from his dad, since he was about a foot taller than his mom. "Hey Mom!" he called out.
Rachel went into her son's bedroom. "Hey, honey. How was your game tonight?"
"We lost," Clayton sighed. "The other team's pitcher threw a wicked curve. We really had no chance."
Rachel felt even worse now, even though she wasn't exactly sure what those words meant. "I'm sorry." If she'd been there, if Finn had been there, if Cody had been there, maybe the loss would have been less painful. "I'll try to see if my understudy can fill in so I can come to your next game."
"You'll have no idea what's going on!" Clayton teased.
"Yeah, but I want to see my son!" Rachel shot back. "I'll see if your grandparents can come too, and your uncles and cousins." Her dads had moved out to New York when she was in college. They'd been a big help with Clayton the nights of her shows before he was old enough to go to friends' houses or be at home by himself. She'd also rebuilt her relationship with Shelby. In fact, Clayton had gone to Shelby's Broadway day care before he started school. Kurt and Blaine were here in New York, too.
"I'd like to have you there," Clayton admitted. He also wished his dad could come see him play. His dad was the one thing he couldn't talk to his mom about. All he knew was that his parents were together in high school and split up after they graduated because they had different life plans. Still, he thought it was odd that they hadn't kept in touch at all. Didn't his dad want to meet his son?
Rachel saw the longing in her son's eyes. "I'll be there."
"Though I'm sure you'll get asked for autographs," Clayton teased his mom. Another disadvantage to his mom being so famous was that people always recognized him as Rachel Berry's son. He knew his mom wanted to give him a normal life, but they rarely went out without people stopping and asking her for an autograph. Sometimes, news outlets would come to his games and take photos. He didn't like that. Of course, if he ended up in the NFL or the NBA or the MLB, that would be happening. That was his not-so-secret goal, though he knew it was a stretch. Especially since the teams at his school were't that good.
"It kind of comes with having five Tony Awards," Rachel said. Five Tony Awards. That was what she'd always wanted. Yet, she couldn't share that moment with Finn and Cody. She felt sadness coming over her. Clayton had grown up before her eyes. He was about to finish his freshman year of high school. She'd missed so much in Cody's life. She just hoped he was happy, wherever he was.
Clayton noticed his mom looked upset. "Are you okay, Mom?"
"Yeah, I'm just a bit tired," Rachel lied.
Clayton knew what to do. He went to the kitchen and got his mom a glass of ice water and then sat down next to her on the couch in his room, putting his arm around her.
Rachel managed a smile. She'd feared she and Clayton would grow apart now that he was in high school and he'd start to resent her for being gone so much and for his dad not being around. But that wasn't the case. After a few sips of water, she reached up and hugged her son. "I love you, Clay."
"I love you too, Mom," Clayton replied, kissing Rachel on the cheek.