Thank you to those who have stuck with this story. I'm running low on ideas and time to write this. If I can't get any more ideas this story will be wrapped up in the next two or three chapters. I hope you will leave a review and let me know what you think and what you might want to see if this were to be continued. Enjoy!
May 31st, 2015
It had been a week since Finn had started his job. He was loving working in New York. He loved being close to Arabellla and Rachel more. He couldn't wait for them to be the family they were always meant to be. It was only 14 days away. Finn, Rachel and Arabella were going to become one true family in two weeks. Two weeks! He couldn't have been more excited.
Rachel had been working on wedding plans with Kurt. It was going to be a small wedding. It was just going to be their family and the old Glee club. Rachel was nervous that everyone was going to be meeting Arabella for the first time. She didn't know what they were going to say or feel about the situation. She already knew how Santana and Puck felt about it. She could only imagine what Mercedes and some of the others would say.
Rachel had finally made the decision to meet Shelby. She was going to be going to meet her when Finn got off work. Carole and Burt were in town for a visit. Burt was going to be going back to Ohio to the shop the next day, but Carole had decided to stay and help finish planning the wedding. Rachel was so glad to have her.
Rachel came home from work to hear Arabella say, "Momma!"
Rachel chuckled and picked her up. "Hey baby. Mommy missed you so much today. Did you have a good day with pops, pop pop and nana?"
"Yeah! Nana is going to be here for long time."
Rachel smiled. "Yes she is. You are going to be getting a lot of time with your nana. Are you excited?"
"Yeah. Still see momma?"
"Of course, baby. You are still going to be seeing a lot of momma and daddy. Momma and daddy have to go somewhere tonight, but we will be back in time to read and sing to you before you go to sleep."
"Me wanna go!"
"Honey, you can't go. It is a big person's thing. We will be back early, though."
"Momma, no go. I wuv you!"
"Baby, mommy loves you, too. I'll be back. Nana can call us if you want her to. I know you will have a lot of fun with your grandparents."
Carole said, "Yeah, Arie, we will have a lot of fun. I'll make sure of it. Maybe we can make some cookies. What do you think of that?"
"Chocwit hip?"
The adults laughed. Carole told her, "I think we can make that happen. Then you, your mommy and daddy can have them."
"We share wit you."
Carole smiled. "Aww… Thanks, sweetheart."
The door opened and everyone heard, "Where are my girls?"
Arabella jumped out of Rachel's arms and went running to the door yelling, "Daddy!"
Finn picked her up and flew her over his head like an airplane. Finn said, "Okay. Here is one of my girls. Where is my other girl?"
Rachel smiled at the two in front of her. Most people imagined police officers to be stern and hard to deal with. Finn was the complete opposite. He was caring, loving and thought the world revolved around the little girl that was giggling in his arms.
Finn came over and kissed Rachel's head. He asked, "Do you really want to do this? No one is forcing you to do this."
"I want to. I need to do it."
Finn looked over at Carole, Burt and Leroy. He told them, "If you need anything at all let us know. I think Puck may be bringing Beth over to play with Arie while we are gone. I just wanted to give you a heads up. The girls love each other."
Carole said, "Don't worry about a thing. We have the little one under control. Rachel, don't let her psych you out. You are a wonderful person and we are so happy that we only have to wait two weeks for you to be part of our family. It has been a long time coming and we couldn't be happier about it."
Rachel smiled and replied, "Thank you, Carole. Princess, be good. Daddy and I will be back soon. I don't see this lasting too long. I just have some things to say and then we will be home."
Burt told her, "Take your time. We aren't going anywhere. Take as long as you need. I want to spend some time with this little girl before I head back to Lima."
"Don't spoil her too much while we are gone, guys."
Leroy chimed in, "It is our prerogative to spoil our only grandchild."
Finn wrapped his arm around Rachel and said, "Do whatever you want. We need to get going, Rach."
Finn and Rachel waved goodbye to Arabella and they were out the door.
Rachel and Finn were walking hand in hand towards where they were going to be meeting Shelby. Rachel saw her and asked, "Do I really want to do this?"
Finn stopped her and made her look at him. "Baby, I can't make you do anything you don't want to do. It is all up to you. I will be here no matter what you decide to do."
"I guess it is too late now. She has seen us. I don't think it is going to last long. I want to get home to our little girl and be the mother that she needs. I'm never going to leave her."
"Honey. Everyone knows that you will never leave Arie. You are the best mom ever. You are an awesome fiancée and you are going to be an even better wife."
Rachel smiled and kissed him. She took his hand again and they walked over to Shelby.
Shelby was about to say hello when Rachel held out her hand. She said, "I'm going to stop you before you say anything. There are some things I want to get off my chest. I think you owe me at least that much."
Shelby just nodded. She didn't want to upset her further.
Rachel took a deep breath and said, "I hated you. I just want you to know that you really messed me up. I was terrified of getting too close to anyone because they would leave me just like you did. I left Lima after I found out that I was pregnant because I thought Finn was going to be just like you. I didn't want my child to go through what I did. Missing someone that didn't care about them. I kept the most amazing man from his child because of what you did to me. I could have had a happy family all this time, but I haven't. You broke me. I never thought I would see you again and I definitely didn't think I would have the chance to say all of this. I'm doing this for my daughter. I guess one thing you did do for me was make me want to be a good mother to my daughter. I didn't want her to be heartbroken by a woman that gave birth to her, but didn't want her. I would never replace her with someone else's daughter." Rachel just sighed. She fell into Finn's side like what she had said had taken all of her energy.
Shelby was shocked at what she had heard, but she couldn't say that she didn't expect it. From what Puck had told her, she knew that Rachel was very upset and still broken from being left and from the adoption of Beth as well. Shelby said, "I can't tell you how much I have missed you and hated myself for leaving you like I did. I shouldn't have done that. I should have been a mother to you like you deserved. Now I don't know my first granddaughter."
"I'm going to stop you. Don't refer to Arabella as your granddaughter. She is an innocent child that doesn't know anything about you except that you are Beth's mommy. I don't see her finding out any differently any time soon. She has a friend in Beth. She doesn't need to be facing all the confusing and awkward that is her family."
"I understand that."
"This is harder than I thought. I just can't do this right now. I need to get home to my daughter and hug her."
"Oh."
"I'm sorry, but I guess I wasn't as ready for this as I thought. I am just too mad to try and forgive now. I know it has been years, but this is just something you can't forgive and forget. I really am sorry, but I can't do this."
"The last thing I want to do is upset you. I hope that we can talk at some point. I really want to get to know you and your family."
"Beth is still welcome at any time. Arabella loves her and she is such a sweetheart. I hope you won't hold my feelings against them. They have nothing to do with this."
"Of course. Arabella is welcome as well if you will let her. I promise I will keep all of this to myself. I really would like to get to know the little girl in any terms that you will let me."
"I guess I can allow that if Noah is present."
"Of course. Congratulations of the engagement and the upcoming wedding. I'm sure you are going to be a beautiful bride. The two of you will have the perfect family."
"Thank you. We are going to be going. I promise that we will come back to this, but with everything going on in my life right now I just can't do this right now."
"I don't blame you. You have my number. You can call at any time you want to."
"I will be calling you."
Rachel took Finn's hand and walked away. She looked up at him and asked, "So, how terrible am I of a person?"
Finn kissed her head as they walked and said, "You are just hurt. You are doing what you think is right for your family. Our family. You are brave for saying all the things that you did. That just shows how much you love Arabella and care about who has influence in her life."
"Thank you, Finny. I'm so glad you were there. It felt so much better to have someone at my side. Knowing that someone was there to support me."
"I will always have your back, babe. It's the three of us until the end of time. Now and forever."
"I wouldn't want to be with anyone else. You and Arabella are all I will ever truly need and want."
"Lets get home to that little girl. I would really like to get out of my uniform, too."
Rachel looked up and laughed. "I don't know. I think it makes you look hot."
Finn chuckled as he wrapped his arm around Rachel and the two of them walked back to the apartment. The meeting with Rachel may not have led to a rekindling, but it definitely cleared up some of Rachel's feelings. She knew she would eventually come back to it, but right now that wasn't her top priority. Her top priorities were being Arabella's mom and getting everything ready and perfect so she could be Finn Hudson's wife. She wasn't about to let anyone get in the way of those two thigns. She fought for what she loved and she was ready to go tooth and nail if anyone messed with Arabella, Finn, Leroy, Carole, Burt and Kurt. She even included Puck in that little family every once in a while. She only wanted all those in her life taken care of and happy at all times.