Chapter 14

January – Junior Year – Age 17

Things had changed since the Christmas party. Carol and Kurt were giddy over planning the July wedding. Dave came over to the Hummel-Hudson household more and would disappear with Kurt down in the basement when he thought no one was noticing, but no one was fooled. While they were free about things at their houses, more so at Kurt's', school was an entirely different ballgame. He only told a few people that he thought wouldn't betray him. This gave him a new group of allies in the form of the glee kids. But it was certainly funny the day that Dave came over and asked Burt permission to date Kurt. Burt gave him a hard time, but it was all in good fun, and he honestly found it amusing. But what was more, was that Finn and Santana had been talking more and more.

"Hey Tana," Finn greeted as she came over after church that Sunday.

"Sup? Where's my girl?"

"My Mom stole her. But we were going to bundle up and go to the park in a little bit if you wanna go?"

"That could be fun" she said. Carol had just brought Charlotte out, all bundled up in winter finery. "How adorable are you sweetheart!" Santana was practically cooing at the little girl. As she 'stole' the baby from her grandmother. Carol gave Finn a knowing look while Santana coo'd at the infant. Finn just shrugged and went to go get his coat, hat, and gloves. They had a heck of a time keeping the mittens on Charlotte's hands.

Once everything was packed away in the stroller, they set out for the park a few blocks away. "So, what made you want to visit today?" Finn asked, trying for nonchalance.

"I gotta have a reason?" Santana countered.

"Touche," Finn agreed. "It's always nice to hang with you."

"It better be" she teased. "But honestly, I can't stay away from these chubby cheeks for too long, or Charlotte's either."

"Oh," Finn chuckled. "You calling me chubby now?"

"If the shoe fits."

"Not cool. I try to work out when I can."

"You have to know I'm kidding," she said. "You don't have time to eat enough to be chubby."

"I know," Finn smirked. "I just wanted you to apologize."

"You wanted me to be nice? How dare you," she said, aghast. "I'm not nice to anyone."

"I beg to differ," Finn pointed out. "You are nice to Charlotte."

"I can't help that she is so freaking cute," Santana said in her baby talking voice. "And she's still so innocent."

"I don't really want her to grow up," Finn admitted.

"I wouldn't either, all this craziness around," she agreed. "Plus her mother is out there, that is bad enough."

"I know, sometimes I find myself wishing for a different mother for her," Finn sighed. "But I know things are meant to be."

"Plus, your kid got good looks from her," Santana teased.

"Excuse you, I'm adorable. My mommy tells me all the time." Santana just lost it. She couldn't stop laughing. This set off a chain reaction. Charlotte started to giggle. Then Finn couldn't help by fit in with the group. Their laughter carried them over until they reached the park. "Char, do you wanna go on the swing?"

Charlotte was excited for the swing and reached her arms for them. Finn knelt next to her stroller and began to release her from its confines. "Mmm, stroller meat," Santana all but purred.

"Now, you're gonna have to explain that one to me," Finn commented. He picked up Charlotte and began to situate her in the baby swing.

"Well, I can't really describe it," she began. "It's that feeling of 'man that guy is hot' when you see them with their kid."

"Really?" Finn chuckled. "You think I'm hot because I have a kid?"

"Not that specifically," she replied. "But the fact that you stepped up and took responsibility."

"Everyone keeps telling me that I've stepped up, but I don't really see it," Finn shrugged. "I couldn't imagine not having Charlotte."

"And that right there makes you different."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

They spent nearly an hour of pushing Charlotte on the wings. Despite the cold, all three of them were having a great time. Charlotte was smiling and giggling. Finn was taking pictures. Even Santana was playing around with Charlotte and taking selfies with the baby and Finn. They put Charlotte back in the stroller when she started looking sleepy. Within minutes she was passed out. They decided to take a walk around the outskirts of the park. They chatted about everything. It took another hour or two to walk around the park at a leisurely pace. By then, Charlotte was stirring, and it was time for her to have a bottle. They walked the few blocks back to the house.

"Today was fun," Santana said.

"Yeah, it was," Finn agreed. "I'm gonna get her into the warm and fed. You wanna…?"

"Thanks but I'd better go," she replied. "Thanks for a great afternoon."

"We'll have to do it again sometime." She smiled before she turned to walk the few blocks back to her house. Finn was smiling as he went into the house.

"What's got you all smiley?" Kurt asked as he was snuggling with Dave on the couch.

"Just got back from the park," Finn replied.

"But with who?" Dave asked. "I heard someone else out there."

"Oh yeah," Finn said, rubbing the back of his head nervously. "We went to the park with Santana." Finn began to unbuckle Charlotte from her stroller and set her down on the floor to crawl around.

"So you two are hanging out now?" Kurt asked. "Last I saw was you two at the Christmas party."

"I guess we've been talking since then," Finn sighed. "And she stopped by today."

"And she felt like accompanying you and Charlotte to the park?" Kurt asked.

"I guess so," Finn suggested.

"So…" Kurt led.

"So what? She's been really nice to me," Finn said. "And apparently she thinks I'm hot."

"She actually said that?"

"Well she called me stroller meat," Finn began. "But after she explained what it meant was a guy and his kid, its hot. So I'm taking that to mean she is calling me hot without actually saying that."

"That's as close to her telling you that you're hot to your face as you're gonna get," Dave commented.

"I figured as much," Finn surmised.

"So do you see this going anywhere?" Kurt asked.

"I don't see how it could," Finn sighed. "I mean, I have a kid who would have possibly wanted me. A kid in high school. No one wants that kind of baggage, especially at our age."

Kurt shrugged noncommittally but he was calling it. Something would happen between Finn and Santana would get together before the year was over.