I know I said this would be updated two days ago, but it took me a while to figure out why the site wasn't letting me open certain links, then I finally realized it was my virus protection causing problems and I feel a little silly now. Sorry again for the wait on this, and I hate to be that guy, but I do tend to update faster on stories that receive more comments… just sayin :)

He's running, hard and fast as hot tears flow from his eyes, Rachel in his arms. His shoes squeak against the tiled floor as he runs, a million thoughts coursing through his head. With everything happening in the news he was constantly on edge, and seeing her that way, crumpled on the floor, small and pale, blood flowing down her legs, he had to act immediately, he wouldn't be able to get an ambulance fast enough with everything going on, he had to get her there himself. He knows that there aren't supposed to be any symptoms, that you simply die without warning, but maybe this was some sort of new strain threatening to take his Rachel away before he could stop it. He couldn't let this happen, he couldn't lose her, he wouldn't.

He gets to the desk, trying to catch his breath long enough to try to explain the last several minutes.

"M-my wife she… I don't know what happened… she's bleeding," he cries, his voice unsteady and panicked. She's still passed out, and he holds her tighter, closer, as if trying to keep some unseen force from taking her away.

"Okay Mr. Hudson try to stay calm," the nurse says, trying to come off as soothing, but he can tell that she's overwhelmed, she must be with the car accidents today, two pileups in as many hours had the entire hospital staff frantically trying to save lives, but they would have to make time for Rachel, he would do everything in his power to make sure they did. "How far along is she?" the nurse continues.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Finn says, still crying.

She looks thrown and he still doesn't understand what's happening.

"Okay Mr. Hudson someone will see your wife very shortly," she says.

"No, she could be dying, someone needs to see her now," he exclaims desperately.

"There's been an emergency Mr. Hudso-

"This is an emergency!" Finn snaps.

"Finn… what's happening," Rachel says weakly, coming to.

"It's okay baby, everything's going to be okay," he cries.

"Is the baby okay?" she says, her voice faraway. Baby? What baby?

"Mr. Hudson, we promise your wife will be taken care of," the nurse continues before Finn can take the time to fathom the meaning of Rachel's cryptic words.

It doesn't take them long to see Rachel, but it feels like forever and as he waits for them to call him from the waiting room he fears the worst. He still can't understand what she meant by "is the baby okay?" Was she delirious? What did she mean?

"Mr. Hudson," his head snaps up at the sound of the doctor's voice and he scrambles up from his chair.

"What happened?' Finn says. Trying to keep his voice steady.

"She's okay, she's resting," the doctor says, causing Finn to exhale in relief. "But I'm afraid we weren't able to save the baby."

Finn's blood runs cold at the words. "Sh-she was pregnant?" Finn says, understanding, he was so panicked before he didn't even take time to consider that she may have been pregnant, she never said anything about it.

"About nine weeks," the doctor confirms. "I'm so sorry Mr. Hudson, but if you'd like to take your wife home now she's waiting for you." The doctor leaves then, moving fast, and Finn can't help but think that if this were any other time this would have gone differently, he would have been more comforting, referred them to a grief counselor maybe, but things were different now, a woman losing a baby just wasn't the kind of tragedy that demanded their time or sympathy, and Finn didn't know whether to be offended or scared, the truth is he's both.

They drive home in silence, neither knowing what to say to make things better. "I was going to tell you on your birthday next week," Rachel says quietly from the passenger's seat, it's the first words she's spoken since they drove away from the hospital. And he looks over at her, her face is the saddest it's ever been and it fills his own heart with sorrow. "I thought, what better gift than to find out you're having a little girl? It was a girl, I just knew it," she says, her voice choked. And he reaches over to take her hand, holding it in his because he doesn't know what else to do.

"This is my punishment," she continues. "It's my punishment for being so happy even with everything that's been happening," She continues. "I just thought that maybe this baby was a sign that things were going to get better, and for once I didn't feel so afraid anymore. But things are only going to get worse Finn and I don't want to lose you… and oh god I don't want to die," he can't drive anymore, he pulls the car over and unbuckles his seat belt and her own and takes his sobbing wife into his arms, rocking her, kissing her tears away while ignoring his own. Before he would have said anything to make her feel better, to put her mind at ease, but he can't bring himself to now. The virus didn't take Rachel, and he was so relieved, so beyond thankful that he still had her, but that didn't change the fact that it may have taken his baby, the one he didn't even know about until now. He knew that women lost babies for all kinds of reasons, but he just had a feeling in the pit of his stomach that they lost theirs for one reason and one reason alone. It was happening, it was real, and no amount of denial would stop it.

"I love you," he cries, as they cling to each other so desperately. It's all he can say anymore.

She's still sleeping when he wakes up, the sun seeping through the window, forcing his eyes open. He rubs his eyes and looks down at her. She was always one of the prettiest girls he'd ever laid eyes on, her hair thick and chestnut brown, her lips full and pink, her skin like honey, her eyes like wide saucers. She was still a beauty, but she was so thin, so weary. He loved watching her rest like this, it let him know she felt safe with him. He kisses her hair softly and moves away from her slowly, she's sleeping like a rock, it's the first mattress she's slept on since being forced out of their home, but still she stirs as he moves away, sensing the distance as she sleeps.

"Finn," she says groggily as he heads toward the bathroom.

"Try to get some more sleep princess, I'll be right back," He says as he heads to the bathroom, taking off his heavy layers along the way until he's down to his bare chest and pants, the cold air is a shock to his system, but he feels less stifled for the moment. He stops short in front of the mirror, it's been so long since he's seen his own face, since he's really looked at it. He runs one hand over his pale visage. He was always so handsome, or so he was told, now he doesn't recognize himself anymore. His pale skin has gone even paler in the years past, making his freckles and the dark rings around his eyes stand out strikingly, and five years of trying to conserve as much food as possible has taken it's toll, his cheekbones are hollow and his ribs stick out a little. He rubs the bristly hair on his chin, noticing that it's starting to go gray along with his overgrown hair. He used to dry shave at the house, now he doesn't really see the point anymore. He sighs and rests his hands on the counter, his eyes shut tight as he breathes deep.

"Hey, you doing okay?" he smiles weakly at the sound of her voice, and more as she wraps her arms around him and presses her face between his shoulder blades, kissing him there.

"Yeah," he says, his hand coming up to hold hers.

"It's light out now, maybe we can look around a little better," she says. "Maybe we'll find some fresh clothes."

He turns in her arms to face her and cups her face in his hand staring into her deep brown eyes like he's searching them. His lips quiver and his eyes begin to tear a bit as he looks at her, his brave girl, his reason for living, his only hope in a world without any.

"What's the matter baby?" she says softly, running her fingers softly through his hair. He doesn't answer, without warning he moves in, urgently pressing his lips against hers, making her take a step back. She doesn't hesitate for long before returning the kiss and wrapping her arms around his neck as he pulls her closer. He turns her around and hoists her up onto the counter, parting her thighs with his body as he kisses her and she unbuttons her coat, removing it and putting her arms around him again. He moves away from her lips and plants hot, firm kisses down her chin and neck and touches her, running his hands underneath her loose shirt, and feeling her warm skin and the way she flinches a little at the feel of his cold hands on her body.

"I'm sorry," he says quietly, no longer touching her, and at that she takes his big hands in her small ones and brings them up to her mouth, blowing warm air in them a few times, her big eyes still fixed on him as she does, after a few more breaths she takes his hands and places them beneath her shirt once again. They trade soft, loving smiles and kiss again but he needs more, being with Rachel always made him feel so much and last night was no exception, immersing himself in her warmth and feeling her gentle touch and hearing her cry his name, hearing how good he made her feel too, he needs more of that. He lifts her up into his arms as he kisses her and takes her back to the abandoned bedroom laying her down so gently, refusing to tear his mouth away from hers. He forces down his pants as she forces down hers and he crashes into her, pushing himself deep inside, becoming a part of her again, and he's so lucky, he still can't get over how much he owes whoever up there decided to spare Rachel, as cruel and merciless as she or he was in every other respect. He thinks about these last few years, everyone and everything they've both lost, how much of themselves they've lost, and tears begin to run down his face as he makes love to her, rocking against her fragile body with tenderness. This can't happen now, he thinks as he slowly unravels, they aren't close enough yet, he has to stay strong for her. She needs him. He continues to thrust into her, steadily, pushing her over the edge as he comes along with her, and he collapses into her, staying inside as she holds him tight and he cries bitter tears into her neck.

"It's okay sweetheart," she says, holding him, stroking his hair. He doesn't need to tell her what's wrong, she knows that he just needs to let it out before he can keep going. It's been a hard few weeks, right on top of an impossible few years. And he's spent it carrying their pain for the both of them, so she wouldn't have to, but there's time now, time to just fall apart for a little while. "It's okay to cry."

The daylight doesn't change much, the house was probably cleaned out years ago, if not by the original owners then by scavengers like themselves. They take time to bathe and eat first, then they get dressed and ready to brave the outdoors again. They'll cross into New Jersey that day, it will be the first time they'll cross a state line along their journey. They could have passed through Pennsylvania sooner, but Rachel had to see New York City one last time, he was against it at the time but now he's glad they did, otherwise they never would have ran into Puck and Quinn. He just hopes the experience is as positive the next time they come across someone new.

Stay Tuned Folks!