Disclaimer: Shocker-I still don't own Glee.
Running into the kitchen, Riley called out for Carole. "Grandma! Grandma!"
Carole paused in the act of spreading cool whip over the chocolate cake she had on the countertop. "Riley! Riley!" She mimicked as she bent down to Riley's height. "Did you have fun with Uncle Kurt at the park?"
Riley was torn between answering her and staring at the cake cooling on the counter. "I did! Grandma?" She caught her bottom lip with her teeth, "Is that cake for us?"
"Cake? What cake?" Carole spun around the room, completely overlooking the cake on purpose which caused Riley to giggle.
"Thatcake Grandma!" She said as put her hands on Carole's hip and turned her towards it.
"OH! That cake. Of course it's for you Princess. It's Grandma's special Butterfinger cake; I know it's your favorite."
Riley's voice was filled with awe, "Did you already break the candy?"
Carole pulled a Ziploc bag full of mini Butterfinger candy bars off the counter. "I was saving them for a special helper. Do you know where I could find a special helper?"
Jumping up and down Riley exclaimed, "Me! Me! I can be a helper!"
"Oh good. I thought I'd have to do it all by myself." She set Riley on a stool in front of the countertop and gave her a mini rolling pin. "Hit away Princess."
Riley was banging away on the bag of Butterfingers, chatting away with Carole about her time at the park with Uncle Kurt. Suddenly, a pair of arms scooped her up from behind and she was swung around.
"Carole! I can't believe you put our Princess to work!" Burt said as he nuzzled into Riley's neck, causing her to giggle. "Don't you know Princesses don't work? Especially not Princess Riley Ann Hudson, daughter of Prince Finn Hudson and Princess Rachel Hudson, granddaughter of King Burt and Queen Carole Hummel." He was trying to speak his best British accent, but it only served to cause Carole and Riley to laugh harder.
Kurt chose that moment to walk in the doorway of the kitchen and stare at his father. "Gee, King Burt I think you forgot a few people. How about niece to Prince Kurt and Duke Blaine? "He offered a slight bow to Riley as he continued, "But you Princess can just call us Uncle Kurt and Uncle Blaine ok?"
Her arm comfortably around Burt's back, Riley set her face right in the crook of his neck as she giggled at her Uncle. He was so silly sometimes.
"Well, I'm glad to be surrounded by such royal company," Carole stated dryly, "But since it's the maid's year off, maybe Prince Kurt could set the table? Hiram and Leroy will be here soon."
"Papa and Pop-Pop are coming to lunch here?" Riley clapped her hands as she bounced in Burt's arms. Even at her young age, she knew what that meant. Double the grandparents meant double the attention.
Kurt was in the process of grabbing plates from the cupboard and grumbling that he was on vacation and why couldn't Prince Finn set the table when he heard Riley's question. "Of course they're coming silly. They want to see you just as much as Grandma and Grandpa."
Riley was squirming in Burt's arms and he set her down only to have her march over to Kurt and stretched out her hands. "I want to help Uncle Kurt. If I help maybe they'll be here sooner."
Seeing the stubborn look on her face, Kurt searched for something that she wouldn't drop and break. She was Finn's daughter after all. Finally, his eyes alighted on her princess plate that had Belle, Cinderella and Snow White in front of Cinderella's castle on it. He grabbed that and a few forks and handed them to her. "Here you go Princess Riley."
She took the plate and forks and set them around the table. Hearing her parents' voices, she finished quickly and ran to find them.
Finn set their luggage down in the hallway. He hated to eat and run, but they had to head back to the airport right after lunch. These family weekends were always too quick. "I can't believe we have to go back already."
"Daddy! Can't we stay one more day?" Riley put her best pout face on, batting her eyes and putting her hands behind her back as she rocked side to side.
He crouched down to her height, "I wish baby. Don't you want to go home though and see Emma tomorrow?"
Her face scrunched as she pondered, "Well yeah, but I want to stay here too."
Rachel ran her hands over Riley's pigtails, tightening them as she went. "We'll be back soon baby girl ok?"
The doorbell rang then and Riley's saddened eyes immediately brightened. "Papa and Pop-Pop are here!"
Finn shook his head at how quickly her moods shifted. "Yep, they sure are. Should we let them in?"
Riley dragged him to the door, "Yes Daddy! Let them in!"
Finn opened the door to find Hiram and Leroy standing with a bouquet of flowers. They offered Finn and Riley a smile as they stepped inside.
"You brought me flowers?" Riley said her voice tinged with amazement.
Hiram nudged Leroy. He knew they should have brought two bouquets. Leroy recovered quickly, saying, "Of course! But I think Grandma will have to keep them since flowers here since flowers can't go on a plane."
Riley nodded sagely at them. "Grandma will keep them here for me then. She likes flowers too."
"Nice save" Finn mumbled under his breath before he spoke in a regular tone. "How thoughtful! I'm sure lunch is ready, why we don't we go on back?"
They made their way into the dining room, Riley chattering away about her time at the park with Uncle Kurt. Hiram and Leroy nodded along as everyone took their seats.
"And then Grandpa called me Princess Riley Ann Hudson!" She exclaimed as she placed her hand on Hiram's arm. "I like being a princess."
"Of course you do! You ARE a princess, just like Mommy was our star." Hiram told her proudly as he scooped salad onto his plate and a smaller portion out onto Riley's. He didn't miss her disappointed look at the salad and discreetly moved a few of the greens from her plate to his, earning him a big smile.
"Mommy was a star? Wow! Flynn bought Raquel a star!" Bouncing in her seat, she looked at Rachel. "Mommy you're like Raquel."
Covering her face with her napkin so Riley wouldn't see her smile, Rachel said, "Wow! Lucky me!"
They chatted back and forth through the meal, with Riley interjecting every now and again with bits of 'Flynquel' as she called it. The Berry's and Hummel's all laughed at the way Riley was unknowingly retelling her parents' past.
"Do you think someone will buy ME a star one day Grandpa?" Riley turned her eyes to Burt, silently pleading. Maybe if she batted her eyes enough he would buy her one someday.
"Oh I'm sure someone will one day princess. Someday a prince will buy you a star. Probably when you're 30." Burt calmly stabbed a piece of chicken with his fork, trying to ignore the salad that came along with it.
"30?" She said wide eyed. "But that's old!"
"And that's when you'll be allowed to date," Finn interjected.
"But Daddy!" Riley's bottom lip poked out.
"Ok, maybe 29. But that's my final offer." He tickled her side, causing her to giggle.
"Flynn and Raquel weren't 30 when they started dating." Kurt said as he picked up his water to drink. "As a matter of fact, I think they were 16 when they started dating!"
"See Daddy! Flynn and Raquel weren't 30!" She stabbed a small piece of chicken as she spoke. "How old were you and Mommy?"
"Mommy and I are different Riley." Finn replied smoothly as he automatically moved her cup of juice towards her outstretched hand.
"But why Daddy?" She questioned after she swallowed.
"Because I said so. Now finish eating baby, it's almost time to go."
Her eyes looked at her plate, knowing if they had to leave soon she had to finish quick to get cake. She quickly put the last three bites of chicken on her fork and spoke with her mouth full. "Grandma, I ate all my chicken!" Her eyes peered over into the kitchen. "Can we have cake now?"
Hiram's head swiveled away from looking at Rachel as he repeated, "Cake?"
"Uh huh! Grandma and me made my favorite!"
Scooting back from the table, Carole went into the kitchen, calling for Riley to come help her. She cut up the cake and handed it piece by piece for Riley to go serve. "Don't forget to ask for tips Riley." Carole grinned at her.
"Maybe I'll get a dollar!" Tongue poking out, hands firmly clutching the plate, Riley carried them out to the rest if the family. She paused sweetly at each place, earning a dollar from everyone but a kiss from her parents.
"That was excellent as always Carole. Can I help you clean up?" Hiram asked as he dabbed his face with a napkin.
"Don't be silly! Burt will do it" she said, earning a laugh from everyone as he protested jokingly from the head of the table.
"We hate to eat and run, but we really have to get back." Finn said as he stood and offered a hand to help Rachel up.
"We'll take you to the airport," Leroy stated, standing also.
"Thanks. Riley, go give love." Rachel calmly said, hoping Riley wouldn't cry about leaving.
Riley made her way around the table, accepting hugs and kisses from everyone. She followed her parents out to the car her head down in sadness.
"Riley baby, we'll be back next month. I promise. If you stop being sad, Mommy will tell you more of the story ok?" Rachel competently buckled her in, sitting beside her as Finn loaded the trunk and then sat on Riley's other side.
"You promise Mommy?" she said rubbing her eyes.
"Yep!" Rachel replied. She then hummed quietly, hoping to sooth Riley into a nap.
It worked like a charm. Finn carried her through security and held her until they could buckle her into the seat on the plane. Still feeling tired from the whirlwind weekend, Rachel placed a kiss on Finn's scruffy cheek before laying her head on his shoulder. "I like this scruffy relaxed Finn."
"I like relaxed me too; but my face is starting to itch." He placed a kiss on her nose. "Why don't you take a rest until we board baby?"
Settling her head against his shoulder she closed her eyes. "Finny?"
"Yeah, Rach?" He replied, carefully shifting Riley in his arms.
"Thanks for our date."
"I wish I had done it right the first time." He mumbled under his breath.
"It doesn't matter." She looked at Riley from her perch on Finn's shoulder. "Just look how far we've come."
He kissed her temple. "I know-lucky us. Get some rest baby; I'll wake you when it's time to board." Rachel closed her eyes and followed his instructions, waking 30 minutes later feeling somewhat refreshed. Riley however, remained asleep all through the boarding and ensuing plane ride home.
The next thing Riley knew they were driving in their car and heading towards home.
"Mommy?" She called out sleepily.
"Yes princess? We're almost home!" Rachel spoke softly in case Riley was going to go back to sleep.
"Can I still have the story? And see the star?" Her little hands were rubbing her tired eyes as she tried to wake up.
"Yes, baby. Let's see if I can pick up where Uncle Kurt left off ok? Hmmm, after Flynn bought Raquel a star, he decided he wanted to marry her too." Rachel knew this was going to excite Riley and she wasn't disappointed in the reaction she received.
Riley's eyes shot open as soon as she heard "wedding". "They got married?"
"They sure did! Raquel made Flynn wait for her answer for three days after he asked. It was ok; he wanted her to be sure of their decision." Finn ran his thumb over Rachel's left ring finger and the rings he had placed there. "Their friends thought they were silly, but they knew what they were doing." Finn said. "Lucy and um, whatever the heck I called Puck before actually came and were in the wedding."
"Lucy?" Riley said, full of suspicion, completely missing the fact that her father had said Puck's name. Had she been more awake she surely would have noticed that her Uncle Noah's nickname had been used.
After giving Finn a nudge for using the wrong name, Rachel jumped in to continue. "Yep, Lucy. All their friends came and it was really fun. At the next competition they even got to sing together again, and this time they won! They were champions!" Rachel said her voice still full of pride and excitement.
"Yay!" Riley exclaimed, trying to keep herself awake. The sun was setting as they drove and the stars were just starting to come out. She stared out her window and asked, "Is the Flynn star out yet?"
Finn looked up at the sky, not feeling Rachel's gaze upon him. He turned into their driveway, "Soon as we get you out sweetheart we'll show you ok."
Rachel unbuckled her quickly and passed her to Finn. He swung her up and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "See baby? There's the Flynn star."
Rachel smiled at the two as she interjected, "And it's the brightest star around. It watches over us everyday."
Finn swung his other arm around Rachel who was holding their carry on, "And it always will." He gave her hair an absent kiss. The three stood linked for a moment staring at the stars. "Come on. Let's go inside. We've got a busy day tomorrow." They turned and headed inside, with Rachel pausing to blow a kiss at the star before following them inside the door. She couldn't wait to finish telling Riley their story.
A/N: Next up, how Finn and Rachel got to where they are now. Thanks again to my own personal Forky Dork. You know I wouldn't do this without you. Also, to all those who have read/alerted this story? Thank you so much! I appreciate the read as always and always welcome comments, so feel free to press that little review button ;)