Disclaimer: I don't own Glee only Maci.
Okay so this chapter was super hard to get out. I would write a little and than loose focus on where I wanted to end it. Then I went out of state for a few days, kind of let it sit where it was and then I came back refreshed and finally finished it. I want thank you all for your amazing words of encouragement. You all helped me so much in being my muse! xo
I would also like to give a HUGE thank you to joyofrediscoveringyou for editing this chapter, you're the best! Thank you! Without your help my poor grammar skills would totally kill this story, you rock!
x.
"Hey Uncle Kurt?" Maci questioned, swinging her feet back and forth as the two of them waited for Rachel to come back from the ladies room at the park.
"What can I do for you?" Kurt replies, picking at his cotton candy the three of them were sharing.
"Do you think if I asked Miss Rachel to take me to dance class, she would?" Her eyebrows raised in excitement of just thinking about taking ballet classes. "I want to dance."
"Honey, you do know that you have your fathers two left feet? Dancing is not in your DNA."
"Oh..." Her head dipping down in disappointment "Well what if I am good?"
"Can I ask you something?" Kurt took a long look at Maci, changing the subject to something that had been bothering him. "Why in the world would you want to dress like Miss Rachel now, considering of all the little dresses I've been trying to get you in? You know I bought you your first dress and your daddy put it on but you screamed so loud that we had to take it off. At first we didn't know why you were crying but figured out it was the dress. A piece of clothing made you cry that hard."
Maci shrugged really not knowing why "Miss Rachel is pretty, I want to look pretty like her. Miss Rachel wears dresses so I want to wear dresses."
"If I would have known that then I would have introduced you to Rachel a long time ago." Kurt mumbled
"Plus Uncle Kurt when you tried on that dress to show me how cute it was, it was a little weird."
"Don't you have something you can do?" Kurt grumbled crossing his arms across his chest.
"I'm going to go play now." Maci ran off from the bench her brand new dress that Kurt had picked out swooshing as she ran.
"At least she has some fashion sense now."
xx.
"Daddy no, I am doing just fine now." Rachel reassured her father as she got situated on the couch, preparing for a long night of relaxing.
"Are you sure honey? we can transfer a couple hundred into your account to help you out." Leroy offered, he knew his daughter had too much pride then to ask for money. He also knew what it was like to live in New York City since he had done it for a few years in college. "That new job of yours paying you enough money?"
"Yes I explained to you last week that I am starting to get back on my feet. With a few more weeks of paychecks I will start auditioning again. I need to make sure I have enough saved in order to afford my apartment and a few necessities. Please don't worry about me, I'm fine. I have enough to survive on."
"We just worry about you pumpkin." Her dad, Hiram could be heard over the speakerphone.
"I know that I've given you reason to worry about me before but now I've got a stable income coming in at the moment. I promise you that if I have any problems come up between now and whenever I will contact you both first."
"I just need you to be healthy and happy sugar muffin, if you have to nanny for a year to keep yourself living a healthy life then you do it." Leroy comforted her "Broadway will always be there."
"Yeah well I'm not so sure Broadway will ever want me."
"No way." Hiram yelled "You do not think such things Rachel Barbra Berry, do you understand me? You were born to achieve great things and you will. With a talent like yours they are going to be fools not to take you under their wing."
"Well there must be some real hard core Jokers in the city." Rachel giggled grabbing the remote from the table in front of her. "Well I'm going to get off of here and enjoy the rest of my night off. I work tomorrow or I'd call you. Finn has a game in Tennessee so he will be gone for the weekend. I'll call you on Monday afternoon when I know you both will be home."
"You be careful pumpkin."
"I will, love you both."
"Love you too!" The men called out, making kissing noises as Rachel clicked off. Throwing the phone back onto the table Rachel cuddled into a blanket pressing play on the DVD player.
xxx.
"What happens to all the trash when the trashmen take it away?" Maci questioned as they walked past the men doing their job
"They take it to a huge dumping place where all the trash is then some is recycled, burned or just stays there." Rachel informed Maci grabbing her hand as they hurried across the street. Taking the answer as it was Maci gasped when she saw all the dogs being leashed and walked.
"Whoa!"
"That's a lot of dogs right?" Rachel laughed at her round brown eyes widening at the amount of canines on those ladies two arms.
"Can we start doing that?"
"What, be dog walkers?"
"Yeah, I love dogs."
"I think we'll leave the dog walking to someone else."
"What did you do before you came with me?"
"Well you remember those movies we were watching these past weeks?" Maci nodded as they crossed yet another street "Well I sort of do that. I went to school for singing so I can be like Fanny and sing for people."
"Fanny, like the girl in that movie that you make us watch all the time?"
"Yes, her. I went to school to become a broadway singer just like her."
"You have a pretty voice, you should be in a show. Why aren't you in a show Miss Rachel?" Maci and Rachel climbed up the stairs to a little shop where they would be getting ingredients for dinner.
"Well just because I have a fantastic voice doesn't mean they like the way I look."
"You look pretty, anyone who doesn't think so too is a big stupid head."
"Although your choice of words is poor, I completely agree with you." Rachel smiled as she grabbed a cart. "They are giant stupid heads."
Maci giggled hiding her laugh in her hands right as Rachel lifted her into the cart.
"Now, what to have for dinner is the big question of the night." Rachel pondered looking around to see if anything sparks her interest.
"Can we make pizza?"
"You mean like fresh pizza?" Rachel raised an eyebrow as the little girl nodded "I think we can do that, good thinking there Maci. Pizza it is then."
"Booyah!" Maci pumped a fist in the air, she loves pizza.
"Can you please get the key out of my purse?" Rachel begged holding the bags in her hands as Maci sucked on a lollipop Rachel had agreed to get Maci for being so good in the store.
Opening the door with the key Maci led the way in Rachel went to flip the light switch but found that they were already on. Now that she noticed that, Rachel had also noticed how the TV was on.
"Uncle Puck!" Maci yelled causing Rachel to place the bags onto the kitchen table and following the noise into the living room only to find Finn and two other people sitting in the living room.
"What's up squirt?" The close shaven man held onto Maci as she climbed onto his lap. Clearly she felt like the odd one out. Rachel thought for sure Finn said he wasn't going to be home until after dinner. Clearing her throat, bringing not only Finns attention to her but the others as well.
"Oh duh" Finn stood up going over to where Rachel was standing, giving her a smile. "Guys this is Rachel."
"Hello." The blonde smiled placing her wine glass on the table. "I'm Quinn."
"Nice to meet you." Rachel moved her hair behind her ear, instantly feeling inadequate to her beautiful features.
"This fool is Puck." Finn swatted at his friends head.
"I'm his agent but been this jackasses best friend since we were four."
"Don't say bad words like that." Maci scolded poking her uncle in the cheeks, giggling when he puffed them up.
"I thought you weren't going to be back until after dinner." Rachel looked up at Finn questioning him "I hadn't made anything yet."
"No, you don't need to cook for us." Finn shook his head "I already ordered out, I figured that since it wasn't even five when we got here that I would catch you before you started something for you and Maci. I figured that it would give you a nice surprise night off."
"Oh..." Rachel drifted off, truly surprised "Well I guess I could get going."
"Please and leave me with these two fools?" Quinn smiled standing up leading Rachel into the kitchen leaving Finn to sit back on one of the chairs with Puck and Maci. Offering Rachel a nice glass wine, she accepted gratefully. "I would love another woman here to keep my mind in check. Puck and Finn with a child make for an interesting night, especially with a little beer in their system."
"I wouldn't want to impose." Rachel looked down at the brilliant red wine handed to her from Quinn.
"You wouldn't be imposing, in fact you will only add to the night." Her smile was contagious as Rachel joined in taking a sip. "Now come on in, kick back and lets watch this night get interesting."
Following slowly behind Quinn, Finn and Puck looked up as they both noticed Rachel had a glass of wine in her hands.
"Quinn gets the healthy, classy shit." Puck commented holding up his beer "You should have gotten yourself a beer."
"Plenty of them." Finn smiled leaning back into his chair, Rachel took that as a welcoming to stay longer.
"So listen, it's a good thing that you're here." Puck directed his attention to the brunette sitting with his girlfriend "As the Jets are on their winning streak we are going to have to do some publicity with the team as well as my boy Finn here."
"I hate it when you call it publicity." Finn mumbled opening another bottle of beer "Dude my daughter isn't someone who will be paraded around, you know that."
"I know that, we both know that Maci is good for your image." Puck tried reasoning "Ever since you've had the kid you've been better. We all know this Finn and..."
"I don't want to talk about it, just explain what's going to happen this weekend with Maci to Rachel."
"Dude I have Beth and Christine, you of all people should know how much I love these girls. I wasn't saying it to be some douche." Finn nodded, not saying anything as he continued drinking his beer while Puck directed his next words to Rachel. "The guys on the team are bringing their kids to Miami and they have a day at the beach with the NFL kids and their families or what not."
Trying to wrap her head around what he was saying. "So I have off this weekend?"
"No, you're coming with us."
"What?"
"Dude, you're supposed to ease her into the situation not freak her out." Finn glared at Puck before sitting forward as Maci hopped down off her uncle's lap running off into her bedroom. Rachel crossed her legs, now she was really confused. "If you are willing to, for extra pay of course, go to Miami this weekend with the four of us and help me watch Maci?"
"Usually I watch Maci but Puck and I will be bringing out daughters Beth and Christine with us this time since my mother won't be able to watch them and we already gave our nanny the week off for her vacation. The boys will be marketing all weekend but I will take the girls with me so you don't have to by yourself at the beach with Maci." Quinn offered
"This is important to Finn and his career, this weekend is major charity."
"That I want to do not just for publicity." Finn added in
"Whatever, are you in or not?"
"I mean what do I do, my regular things with Maci?"
"Yeah, just hang around me. We'll hardly see those two clowns all weekend." Quinn butted in "We can go shopping and just stay at the beach all weekend."
Really pondering on what she should decide, even when she knows that she doesn't have much of a choice. Plus she could really use the double paycheck with her rent coming up this month as well as her phone bill. Plus she's never been to Miami so that would be another plus. That and well Quinn seemed nice to be around and seemed to be good company.
"Okay, I'll go."
"Awesome" Finn smiled as the pager went off "It's the food."
"I'll get it" Puck got off the sofa going over to the door to go down to get the food.
"So what time do we leave?"
xxxx.
Five in the morning they had to meet at the airport, five?
Now Rachel was all for waking up early, in her teenage years she would wake up hours before school to perform her duties; but five in the morning to catch a plane? Rachel hadn't been up this early since she could remember. It kind of reminded her of her teenage days when she seemed so ambitious.
Literally dragging herself out of the cab, through check-in to grab her ticket and through security to meet with the rest of them, Rachel was beat. She didn't get home until nine the previous night and was up until midnight packing and what not.
She could not wait until she could go to sleep on the plane. Carrying her purse with her she found everyone else sitting by the gate looking just as tired as her. In fact Maci was asleep in Finn's lap as he sat in the chairs, eyes half closed. Quinn had a little girl with brown hair in her arms asleep and Puck with a little curly blonde haired girl in his who was also asleep.
With a little more than ten minutes to spare before boarding Rachel sat next to Quinn who groaned in welcome.
Closing her eyes, Rachel wanted nothing more than to board the plane and go to sleep. And that's just what she did as they seated and fasted their belts for the three hour journey to Florida.
xxxxx.
Rachel had her own room just about on the last floor of the Hilton. Never in her life had she ever had to have a key to access a floor she was staying at to even get to that floor at the hotel. The room itself was enormous, way more room then she would ever need by herself which was exactly what had been booked. Rachel had a suite all to herself. Finn had even said to order anything or do anything, that it was all on the team's budget for traveling. Either that or to use his card, take Maci out to do some things that he didn't care.
Which leads to her with Quinn the day before the beach charity event, shopping on the mall strip with her two girls and Rachel with Maci. Finn was off practicing with his team for Sunday's game as they were shopping.
"What do you think about this one?" Quinn held up a long summer dress that was pale pink, so pretty with her long blonde hair.
"I love it." Rachel smiled watching Maci as she was playing with Beth over near the sofas in the store. "Pink is really pretty on you."
"Well red is a nice color on you, you should get something." Quinn smiled handing the dress to one of the workers to hold on to. "You know, I heard Finn say you could use his card. Honey, I would be melting plastic by now."
"He already does so much to help me just by giving me a paycheck every week. I couldn't buy anything with his card, that's so unprofessional of me."
"Oh please, Finn makes so much money he wouldn't even realize it was missing from his account." Quinn handed Rachel a yellow blouse and held it up to her "Here, you will be getting this."
Quick to deny to blouse Quinn gave it to the worker. "Be a dear and hold this for her, she'll be purchasing this at the end."
Quinn was one determined woman, that much Rachel learned.
Laying out her clothes onto her bed as she prepared to have the rest of the night to herself to relax from the long day she has had, Rachel placed on her bikini. The sun was set and Finn had gotten back to Maci about an hour ago, relieving her of her duty with the child. Going to her own room she ordered in some room service before deciding to go down to the pool outside to take a swim.
Swimming was something that was limited in New York, when she visited her father's in the summer Rachel would love to swim. Instantly feeling guilty that not only was she wearing a new bikini but it was one Quinn had convinced her to buy earlier in the day. Quinn simply stated that if she bought it, they would be doing everyone in Miami a favor.
When she put it that way, Rachel had to buy it. Her black bathing suit apparently just didn't work as much as the red bikini that left little to the imagination, Quinn suggested. The top was able to be adjusted to fit five different ways but Rachel decided to tie it around her neck for night and slipped on the tight fitted bottoms. Placing a towel around her waist she slipped on some flip flops, grabbed her room key and made her way down to the pool.
Waiting for the elevator to come she heard a door close behind her only to find Finn sneaking out of Quinn and Puck's room.
"Hey" She waved smiling "What are you up to?"
"Maci wanted to crash with Beth tonight so Quinn volunteered to take her for the night, the girls are going to use the spare room in their suite." Finn walked up to her pointing to her outfit "Going for a swim?"
"Yeah." She blushed immediately realizing her lack of clothes as she wished the elevator would come a little sooner rather than later. "I don't have a pool to go swimming in back in New York so I figured I could catch up since I'm not watching Maci tonight."
"Yeah for sure, go enjoy yourself." Finn smiled then got a serious look on his face. "I can't thank you enough for flying out here and doing this for me. Charity is really important for me and for you to come out here with Maci to help out means a lot."
"Tomorrow should be fun, I'm looking forward to a day at the beach with everyone.. Quinn and I had a nice time today so we're going to all have a nice time at the beach with all the girls."
"You're awesome, seriously I can't thank you enough."
"Oh you do, especially when I'm able to pay my rent on time. That's a big enough thank you for me." The elevator dinged, opening for Rachel to step in. Pointing to it with her thumb she stood between the doors. "I'll see you tomorrow, have a nice night Finn."
"Yeah you too." He waved stepping back as she stepped in, doors closing as he still stood waving at her. As the doors closed she let her breath she had been holding in, he looked totally hot in that v-neck and that was not something she should be thinking.
xxxxxx.
"Beth Gene Puckerman, you better get your little blonde butt back over here right now!" Quinn yelled at the eight year old who refused to get on sunscreen like the rest of them. Her nose scrunched as she stomped over to her mother and silently waited for sunscreen to be applied on her. Once she was finished she went back to the sandcastle she was building. Quinn placed the bottle back into her beach bag and sat back into her chair. "I swear that kid, she has got an attitude and she isn't even in the double digits yet."
"I have a question." Rachel peered through her sunglasses at the blonde. "Just how big of a KISS fan are you and Puck?"
"You noticed, huh?" Quinn smiled shaking her head, quite amused "Noah loves the song 'Beth' and listened to it a bit through our relationship, if I should even put it that way, when I was pregnant with her. When Beth was born it sort of just stuck so she became Beth Gene, not my favorite choice of a middle name but I let him have that much. Now Christine was supposed to be a boy and he tried to get me to name him, at the time, Tommy which I wasn't totally against but he came out a she. She was named Christine like the song 'Christine Sixteen' and her middle name Ace, after deciding to keep the tradition."
"Wow, that is quite a story. All my fathers said was that I was named after the character on 'Friends'. Though I enjoy the show, I'm not sure if my name picking was that significant."
"Well at least you were named after something."
"True" Noticing Maci getting too close to the water for Rachel's liking she called out to the four year old to back up. The beach was crowded enough with the charity event and loud enough, she didn't need a drowned little girl or a lost one. Maci ran back up with Christine and Beth who all three kept on with the sandcastle.
It was hot for a day in early October as they sat out listening to the live band play. Looking behind the many women lined up at the beach watching the many, many, many kids play on the beach Rachel took notice to just how many cameras were around. The charity event was at full swing even at one in the afternoon.
"No way." Quinn whispered tapping Rachel on the arm pointing low to her right. "Look who it is!"
Squinting through her sunglasses Rachel's eyes then widened when she finally took notice to who she was pointing at.
"Oh, my god." Rachel whispered gripping Quinn's arm "That is freaking Bieber himself."
"Look how older he looks."
"He's still with Gomez" Quinn took notice and especially to the little baby who was tumbling in the sand "They've got a kid too, holy crap."
"They are our age, that is so weird."
"I'm sure there are tons of celebs walking around here that we just haven't noticed yet." Quinn looked back to the camera's flashing.
"Daddy!" Maci yelled waving up from her castle she and the other young girls were building the first block of wall. "Look Beth and I are building together."
"Looks awesome, it's going to be the best castle on the beach."
"Yes!" Beth high fived what might as well be her cousin. "Go get more water Chrissy, we need it for keeping the sand together."
The three year old grabbed her pale going down to the water just as Puck came strolling up with a few men in their swim trunks. Rachel immediately recognizing them from her favorite TV show that was on Tuesday nights. Clutching Quinn's wrist tightly as she stared up at the men talking to Finn, she couldn't believe that she was sitting in front of them.
"Ladies..." Puck smiled looking down at his girlfriend and Rachel "I would like you to meet Rich Freed, Drew Jules and Jillian Setter."
Gapping up at their ripped bodies that were practically glistening in the sun, Rachel was speechless. Absolutely speechless at the fact that her favorite male actors on her favorite show were actually, truly standing in front of her waiting for an intellectual response other than her mouth opened wide.
"It's an honor meet you." Quinn finally spoke up pulling her hand out of Rachel's death grip and holding it out for the three men to shake "I watch 'Hunted' every Tuesday, you all are very talented actors."
"Thank you." The tallest brunette, Julian smiled right as he looked down at Rachel "And who might you be?"
Blinking blankly, Rachel seriously couldn't believe that Julian was talking to her. "Rachel Berry, nice to meet you."
"Well Mrs. Rachel Berry..."
"No, I'm not married." Rachel was quick to fix, staring at his muscled body through her dark shades. "I'm single actually, very much single. Single, single, single!"
"Well Miss Rachel Berry it has certainly been a pleasure to meet you then." Leaning down he kept eye contact with the petite woman as he kissed her hand. His co stars waved goodbye as they walked away from the four of them.
"No freaking way." Rachel gasped looking over at Quinn not believing at all what had just happened. "No way did Julian Setter just kiss my hand, please tell me that I am dreaming."
"You my dear have got to get out into the celebrity world more, actually we just need to get you around men more often." Quinn smiled patting Rachel's shoulder in good spirit "Hang with us for a few more months, we'll introduce you to people."
"Anyway..." Puck looked to Rachel who was turned back watching the men leave the beach "Uh, we've got to take Maci with us for a few minutes."
Hearing her name Maci looked up from her sandcastle with large questioning eyes.
"Come on Maci, it's just for a few minutes. Daddy has to take some pictures and then you can come right back here with them."
"No" She stated with hard eyes as she went back to building
Finn knew that this wasn't going to be easy once she got to playing with the girls. and she wasn't necessarily to most go with the flow kind of kid when you got her around her friends. Something that she did not inherit from himself.
Looking at Puck for some help in getting her away from his kids, Quinn was the one to take the lead.
"Hey girls how about we try going to the bathroom while Maci goes up with Uncle Finn?"
"No" Christine yelled holding onto Maci's arm while they both kept packing sand against the sides of their castle
"How about we go try because you haven't been to the bathroom in a really long time." Quinn stood up to grab her two girls hands but they had something else in mind. Finn watched as his little girl turned to Beth and Christine giving them her the look, and he knew exactly what look that was.
"Maci..." Finn warned "Don't you even think about it."
"Beth" Puck growled noticing the same mischievous look, the three girls smile before taking off down the beach. Kicking off his flip flops Puck cussed up and down as he chased after the three girls. Grabbing Christine from behind as she lagged behind he brought her back to Quinn and Rachel who had gotten up to help the two men.
"I am going to kick her ass." Finn mumbled running after his daughter and Beth who were still running through the sand. For such a little girl she sure could run fast, unfortunately that was something that she got from him.
Both clearly thinking they were funny, ran into a crowd of people disappearing from Finn's sight.
"I'm going to go around on the other side." Hearing Rachel yell that gave him more hope that he would actually be able to catch the two girls. Going through those people Finn pushed them out of the way, nearly tripping over a few beach chairs.
Seeing Rachel catching up to them with Puck on the other side, Finn picked up the pace. Finally grabbing Maci in his arms Finn tried to catch his breathe along with his daughter who was struggling in his arms.
"No!" She screamed kicking his thighs "Put me down!"
"Stop it right now." Finn grabbed her feet to stop her from kicking him because for such a little girl, she could sure kick. "Maci, stop!"
"Here." Rachel held out her hands to take Maci and calm her down. Embarrassed from not only running through all those people who are now staring at the scene but for not being able to control his daughter; Finn gave Maci to Rachel.
Maci went into Rachel's arms no longer wanting to be in her fathers. Snuggling close into Rachel's neck Finn couldn't believe the one-eighty that she just managed to turn.
Watching as Rachel whispered things in his daughter's ear he had never seen Maci come down from one of her tantrums as quickly as she had just now.
Puck was yelling at his own kid who burst out crying, making even a bigger scene as Quinn ran over with Christine in her arms. But there was Maci, calmed down and now staring at him with large, red and tear filled eyes.
"Now what do you say to your dad?" Rachel whispered into Maci's ear, kissing her temple all while looking at Finn with a small smile.
"I am sorry for running off on you daddy." Maci whispered sniffling
"I'm sorry for making you do this stupid thing." Finn held out his arms as Maci climbed into them hugging him tightly. "I know you don't like going to these things and you're a super trooper for even coming."
"I like the beach." Maci assured him "Not the pictures."
"I think I'm going to take Maci back to the hotel guys." Finn rubbed his daughters back "It's been a long day for the best of us, I should be good right man?"
"Yeah go ahead, I'll tell someone that Maci ended up getting sick and you to leave."
"Thanks man." Finn patted his best friend on the back "Are you coming Rach?"
"I might be up later, I'm going to stay with Quinn if that's alright with you. Do you need anything or want me to help you with her?"
"Of course not, no go ahead. I will be fine with her for the night. I think it might be an early night for the both of us." Holding her closer to him he smiled at them all before walking away, he might have to rethink these charity events with Maci because she did not like the publicity part of it all not one bit.
xxxxxxx.
"I absolutely love this dress." Rachel pointed to Quinn's long black halter top dress as they walked down the strip mall that night, just the two of them.
"Thanks, Venus."
"I love that store, that's where I got this dress outfit." Rachel referred to her white shorts and black tank. "Their clothes are super cute, I've just never seen that dress.
"I figured that since it's too cold to wear it in New York that I'd bring it down here." Opening the door for Rachel to step in as they ordered themselves dinner, the two sat down in a quiet corner. "So tell me about yourself Rachel, where are you from?"
"Ohio."
"Really? So are the three of us, where at in Ohio?"
"Lima, but I went to Carmel because my fathers thought it would be better for me since I wanted to pursue a music career. Well Broadway that is."
"I wanted to be a musician as well, the three of us did. In high school Puck, Finn and a few others from our school had a band our senior year. We were going to try to continue our band in college when we moved out to Columbus while we were in Ohio State but with Finn on his scholarship and Puck studying his ass off to make sure he passed, we didn't have time."
"What did Finn play?" Interested in the fact that Finn actually had a musical background, she would have never guessed it in a million years.
"He's a drummer."
"Explains the amazing arms." Rachel laughed taking a bite of her sandwich
Smiling, Quinn leaned back into her seat staring at Rachel. "So Rach, if you don't mind me asking how have your previous relationships been?"
"Well, I had this boyfriend named Jesse for about three years. He was more of a diva than myself and found that not so attractive. I ended up dumping him and stayed low for a little to focus on my auditions. I dated here and there but nothing as serious as Jesse."
"So you've at least had experience?"
"Oh yes, as much as I might come across as the cat lady I am much into the physical need as any other woman. I just haven't been looking for anything serious especially when I was in serious need of a stable job. Thank god for Finn you know, if not for him I would be sitting in my old room in Lima depressed."
"Yeah... thank god for Finn." She said through her smile. "You know Finns single."
"I am well aware of that seeing as though I'm watching his child." Rachel laughed sipping her lemon water through the straw "But you know, good for him on focusing on his kid and career. I give him praise for doing so, not much men would be willing to put those things on hold."
"It wasn't all easy for him, Maci was a wake up call for sure." Rachel stayed quiet waiting for her to continue. "Let's just say Finn didn't necessarily know about Maci until maybe a month before she was born. He's had a rough journey with her."
"Are you serious?" Rachel bit her lip to keep her from asking deep questions without having the right to.
"When Finn got out to Columbus he and Puck let loose. In high school they were by no means contained but once they were free of all adult supervision they partied like normal college students. Puck and I weren't too official but when I became pregnant with Beth he started calming down. Finn on the other hand he wasn't as tamed, he went out with his team more often. Finn got an amazing offer when he was drafted into the NFL, to the Giants. Well he was determined to get himself in check before he moved to New York, he knew if he was going dedicate himself to the team and everything with it then he was going to need to be all in or nothing."
"So what happened with Maci?"
"She was a surprise, literally two days before he was going to move to New York a woman Nicole who Finn had no clue who she was, showed up. Finn freaked out because she showed up out of nowhere claiming she was pregnant with his child. Being a free agent Finn had no clue what to do but to accept that the kid might be his. He knew he had a record of sleeping with a few women here and there. He couldn't get a paternity test until the kid was born but knew he should stick around to at least man up if the kid was his. What Finn wasn't expecting was that Nicole announced she had Addison's disease which caused her to die during childbirth. When the tests were done to one hundred percent prove Maci was in fact Finns, even when Maci came out looking exactly like her father. Puck and I moved out to New York with Kurt and helped Finn take care of Maci. I had Beth so Puck and I could sympathize. He's had his ups and downs for sure but Finns a great guy."
"So she kept the baby a secret, her disease a secret and left Finn with Maci without hardly any warning?"
"Exactly, crazy right?"
"Well I've got more respect for him now, that's for sure."
"He's a great guy, any lady would be lucky to have him." Looking up through her lashes Quinn flashed Rachel a brilliant smile "You both would look adorable together you know, just the kind of lady I'd picture with my best friend."
"Oh no I couldn't, he's my boss. I adore Maci way too much to risk my relationship with her for a 'what if' relationship with Finn. I can't deny our chemistry but for the sake of keeping my job, I must not act on whatever I am feeling."
"So you're feeling something? I knew there was something else there."
"Like I said, those feelings will not be acted upon, ever."
xxxxxxxx,
Stepping out of her shorts and kicking them lightly aside, Rachel could literally not wait until she got into the pool. After what seemed like a never ending day Rachel really just wanted some time to herself. To not only have the pool to herself but to have it heated was just what she needed to finish her night off.
After her dinner with Quinn the two of them went shopping for a bit before Quinn was called back to the hotel for some mommy duty. Rachel knew Finn would have called if he needed help with Maci so she figured that he must have fell asleep with Maci, calling it an early night.
Stepping into the warm water the wading water from her body was the only thing to be heard as she leaned back to float. Her hair dipping into the water as she closed her eyes to the dimmed lights inside the glass where the pool was held.
The moon was glistening off of the glass as she floated through the water. Her ears dipped under the water, listening to nothing just as she loved to hear.
Feeling herself relax as if into a sleep she was startled as she heard a splash. Gasping, Rachel held onto her heart when she looked over to see Finn laughing over the side, where his arm was wet from making the noise.
"Oh, my god you scared the crap out of me!" Still catching her breath she watched as Finn laughed while kicking off his shoe dipping them into the water. She noticed his swim trunks on as well as his shirt that was still on his body.
"Sorry, when you went for swim yesterday I kind of thought it would nice. I didn't get to enjoy the ocean today so I figured I'd come down here when Maci fell asleep." Kicking the water around lightly with his feet, Finn noticed the concerned look on her face. "She's with Beth, those two are inseparable."
"Well now that I know that, I'll have to get them together more often when I'm with her."
"You and Quinn seemed to hit it off pretty well."
Rachel nodded pulling her hair back up and into a bun. "She's really interesting and easy to talk to."
"She's come a long way." Finn chuckled as Rachel felt deja vu from the conversation she had earlier with Quinn. "Quinn wasn't the most friendly girl in high school, sort of stuck up. She's had a major soul makeover that's for sure."
"Well we all change."
"Yep..." Finn led on dragging his feet through the water. "What about you, have you changed?"
"For sure, I mean in high school I was so driven to become this big huge star. To be this person who everyone wanted me to be, who I wanted to be but not authentic. I love performing, it's my life but as I've grown I have realized that there are things more important. I'm not where I want to be in life but I know there is a destiny which I need to reach."
"Are you trying to tell me that watching after my four year old isn't something you pictured yourself doing?" His smirk laid out on his face as she laughed going over to the side of the pool where he was sitting.
"No, but it's a nice break. Auditioning for shows almost every day was exhausting not only to my brain but my ego."
"I don't know how you people do that, I mean like performers. I used to get nervous as hell on that field playing in front of recruiters. Knowing that they're there watching everything that you do is nerve wracking. But that's the way it works, sometimes it sucks but you just have to work through it."
"Don't I know..." Sighing she leaned with her back against the pool looking out the windows to the ocean. "So how was Maci when you took her up?"
"I have no idea how you did it but she was like a freaking angel. I swear Rachel it takes me sometimes like a half hour or so for me to calm her down."
"I remember when I was little my daddy wasn't able to calm me down but then I can still hear my dads tone of voice when he'd go to soothe me. My dad would bring me real close and whisper in my ear, of course it wouldn't be good things like bribes if I were in trouble, but his tone would just make things so much wasn't so crass or mean, it was more of a quiet discipline. Still effective as you could tell."
"Seriously though that trick works wonders." Pushing his hands off the ground, Finn lowered himself into the pool lifting off his shirt and throwing it onto where he was sitting. Moving around in the pool Finn swam over to the other side to look out into the ocean. Watching the waves crash on shore he smiled, looking back at Rachel. "I always wished I could live at the ocean, in Lima there was a lake but nothing compared to going to an actual beach."
"One of my father's sisters has a beach house down in Myrtle Beach and during the summers we would go up there to stay. Myself, I love the beach. Water is like my second home when I have it available to me." Rachel joined next to him to watch the water crash ashore"Wherever there is water close to me, I'm there. Though the ocean water is just a little too cold for me at this time of year. The heated pool is good enough."
The both of them rested their chins in their arms as they watched the waves and the birds swoop into the water. The moon hiding behind the clouds every so often as the room was quiet. Rolling her head over Rachel stared at Finn as his eyes focused on the ocean in front of them.
He sure was handsome and he had these adorable freckles randomly sprouted upon his face, mainly near his nose. His hair stuck up in random places making it look naturally messy in a way that many would be jealous of. His eyes, though they may be small, were large in a way and warm like cinnamon; much like his personality. And as cliche as it sounded, Finn looked incredibly sexy under the moonlight.
Almost cursing herself for letting her mind wander that far and partially blaming Quinn for that, Rachel went back to looking at the water.
"Thanks again for coming Rach." He looked over at her, his eyes shining off the moon. Rachel's stomach actually fluttering at the sight of how gorgeous he looked.
"That's what I'm here for." She swallowed thickly, mustering a smile
"You're so great with her, I couldn't honestly picture a better person to watch over Maci." His voice lowering "You're like everything perfect in the world."
Blushing, she smiled in the crease of her elbow where her face rested.
Neither said anything else just shoulder to shoulder watching the water and oddly it was the most comfortable silence she'd ever experienced.
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Game day was stressful as Rachel had to take Maci to the bathroom nearly five times the entire game. She nearly complained about every food she placed in her mouth up until Rachel bought her cotton candy and wouldn't sit still to save anybody's. Rachel tried to understand that the child was four and wouldn't enjoy the game too much.
Watching it at home on a TV was way different than sitting through the game where there weren't any breaks to get food from the pantry or what not. No, Rachel was stuck chasing the child through the seats just as Quinn was for her own children.
Half time was spent out in the halls roaming around to drain the energy from the kids. Though that didn't work as they were in the fourth quarter of the game and Maci had to go potty again. Dragging through the restrooms for what seemed to be the millionth time with Christine this time as well, Rachel came back to a cheering stadium. Not even realizing that the game was over and the Giants had one with a fourteen point lead which seemed to be going over well with the crowd.
"Daddy won!" Maci high fived Beth when they got back to their seats as Quinn collected their belongings giving Rachel a very long and tired look. Going down to the field where Puck let them through the girls ran down the sidelines letting out all the energy that was obviously put from the adults into the children.
"I just want to go home and sleep the entire flight there." Quinn sighed leaning against Puck as he wrapped his arm around her waist pulling her in tighter. "This has been a very long weekend and now I know why we leave our girls at home."
"Christine don't eat the grass!" Puck yelled at his youngest who was receiving glared from the workers at the stadium. Moving everyone under where the men were changing in the locker rooms they waited there as they ran in the tunnels. About fifteen minutes later Finn came out of the doors, fresh in his jersey and gym shorts all clean from a shower.
"Daddy!" Maci yelled running up into his arms "You won!"
"We sure did, didn't we? Want to know why?"
"Why?"
"Because I had my little girl watching me the entire time." Rachel nearly had to choke back a snort that was fighting to come out of her mouth but caught herself.
"I sure did, you were awesome daddy!"
"Well I did it just for you." Kissing her nose, Maci giggled clinging onto him tighter "I have to do one interview and then we can go home, sound okay? Can you go with Miss Rachel for a few minutes and I'll meet you in the car to go to the airport."
"Home!" Maci yelled leaping down out of his arms, with grabbing Rachel's hand. Finn raised his eyebrows in amusement as Rachel was being dragged away with the rest of them to the waiting cars. Giving Finn a thumbs up he winked at her before turning to go do his interview.
Meanwhile in the car Maci is running singing along to her new CD Rachel had purchased for her as they sit in the car parked next to Puck and Quinn. Having their own trouble with a sleepy Christine and an over active Beth they shut their door to try and calm them down. It was about a quarter after six when Finn finally came out to the car apologizing for the interview running over time.
Maci didn't seem to mind as she curled against him singing the songs quietly to herself. Finn looked over, finally catching a breath of sanity from the whole day and gave Rachel a full grin. Returning it Rachel peered out the window as she bid Miami goodbye.
Boarding the plane was bittersweet as she had a pretty memorable time in the sunshine state. Her highlight of the weekend was making friends with Quinn. Someone new she'll be able to hang around back at home. Boarding the plane she found their row but before she could sit down she had Maci fighting her for the window seat. Not really caring too much Rachel sat next to her and finally Finn came at the end.
Not even twenty minutes into the flight Maci was passed out from such an exhausting weekend of fun and running. Curling up into her own seat, Rachel found it nearly impossible to get comfortable until she felt Finns finger tapping her shoulder. Looking up with questioning eyes she soon realized that he was offering a shoulder to lay on. Taking it with much gratitude Rachel leaned back against his arm and lying her head into his shoulder, finally able to become comfortable.
Rachel was out before she even realized that he fell asleep against her own head.
Authors note at the top!
