Thanks to the conversation he'd had with Mr. Schue, Finn knows he needs to talk to someone about how he's nervous about becoming a father and about being there with Quinn when she's in labor and everything. Finn has always talked to Mr. Schue about those types of things, the problem is though, even though Mr. Schue has served as his sort of father figure for the past several months, he isn't actually technically a father. And since Finn's own father died when he was just a baby, the only other sort of father figure in his life that he can talk to is Burt Hummel, his Mom's boyfriend.
Which is how Finn finds himself driving over to the Hummel's house on Friday night. Quinn's at Mercedes house for the night with Rachel, Tina, and Kurt for some sort of girls' night, so it's the perfect opportunity for him to talk to Burt. Finn pulls into the Hummel's driveway and walks up to the door and rings the doorbell. Burt goes and answers the door and is surprised to find Finn. "Hey Finn," Burt says.
"Uh, hey," Finn says, all of a sudden wondering what the hell he's doing here, I mean this is his Mom's boyfriend.
"What's up?" Burt asks.
"Uh, can I talk to you?"
"Sure, come on in," Burt says, opening the door and motioning for Finn to follow him into the living room. Finn follows Burt into the living room and sits down on the couch, Burt sits in the chair next to him.
"So what's going?" Burt asks Finn. "Is everything okay?"
"Well, I'm sure my Mom's probably told you by now about how the other night we ended up taking Quinn to the hospital because she thought she was in labor, but then it ended up she was just having Braxton-Hicks contractions."
"Yeah, you're mom told me about that, but that's pretty common."
"I know, it's just when Quinn thought she was in labor, I tried to act calm for her, but inside I was freaking out. I mean, I've gone to the birthing classes with her, I've been to all her doctor's appointments, but I just know I'm gonna like freak out or something ."
"Finn, every father-to-be is nervous, but I've seen you with Quinn and you're great with her. Remember that day Kurt and I helped you guys paint the nursery?"
"Yeah and she had that major meltdown."
"Yeah, but you handled it well."
"No, my Mom went and talked to her and took care of her for me."
"You did the right thing by giving her space. Look, you have been there with Quinn the whole time-"
"Except for the two weeks we weren't together after I found out that Puck's the biological father of her baby," Finn says interrupting Burt.
"Yeah, but you found out what actually happened and you guys got back together; you're going to be that baby's father. Finn, I can see it in your eyes when you guys are together, you guys really love each other."
"Yeah, we really do and I love my daughter too, I can't wait to meet her. I can't wait till we're our own little family. I mean, we'll still be living in my Mom's house for now, but we'll be our own little family. And one day we'll have a place of our own," Finn says smiling. "Can I tell you something, you just have to promise not to say anything to my Mom because we haven't told her yet."
Burt nods his head "yes."
"A couple of weeks ago I asked Quinn to marry me and she said 'yes.' Don't worry we're not going to get married until after we graduate, so it's like a little over two years away. I don't even have a ring for her yet since any little money we have goes towards things we need for the baby, but I'll get her one eventually."
"Congratulations, Finn. That's great," Burt says.
"Thanks," Finn says. "Uh, like I said what I'm nervous about right now is being with her while she's in labor. I just can't stand the thought of having to see her in pain."
"Yeah, she'll be in pain for a while, but then she'll hold your little girl and it'll be all worth it. Finn, when you hold your little girl… I can't even begin to describe to you how amazing it is to hold your child for the first time."
"Yeah, but in order for me to be able to hold her, Quinn has to go through labor first."
"Well, yes."
"But that's what I'm worried about. I mean, what am I supposed to say, what can I do to make to it easier on her?"
"Just being there right beside her, letting her squeeze your hand as hard she can, reminding her to just keep breathing when she has a contraction, and telling her she's doing great, those are the best things you can do to comfort her since you can't actually can't take away her physical pain."
"I know I can't take away her pain, but I wish I could. In fact, if I could I would give birth for her."
"I know you would, Finn. I felt the same when Kurt's mom was pregnant. But you can't focus on the things you have no control over. You might not be able to take away her pain, but you being there will make all the difference in the world to her."
"I know, any time she breaks down crying, which lately seems to happen several times a day, she always makes me promise that I'll be there right beside her the whole time. I mean, I've told her like a million times and she still needs to be reassured."
"That's because she's really vulnerable right now and she needs to be reassured time and time again. She knows that you'll be there, but the reassurance helps to make her feel not so scared. It all has to do with the pregnancy hormones I'm sure."
"Pregnancy hormones," Finn sighs. " I'm so sick of them making Quinn act all crazy! One minute she's fine, the next she's crying and freaking out because she's scared about giving birth and then she's bitching and demanding me to do something for her."
"Relax, within a month or two after the baby's born her hormones should be back to normal."
"A month or two? Great!" Finn says sarcastically. "You know, Quinn's changed a lot since she got pregnant, she's a lot nicer and sweeter now, to be perfectly honest she used to be kind of a bitch. I really want her to still be the nice, sweet Quinn I've gotten to know these past several months. I mean, I liked the old Quinn, but I really love the new Quinn, minus the pregnancy hormones that is," Finn says laughing.
"I don't think you have to worry about Quinn going back to her old self, at least completely. I think everything happens for a reason, even if we might not know what that reason is right away. I think this whole thing is going to make Quinn an even better person, stronger too."
"Yeah, it's definitely made her stronger in some ways. I mean, the night her parents kicked her out she stood up to her dad for me, she had never done anything like that before. And in a strange way this whole pregnancy thing has brought us closer together and it has definitely made us love each other even more. So, yeah, I think you're right, this whole pregnancy thing has changed Quinn for the better."
"Finn, you know Quinn isn't the only one who's changed, you have too."
"You think so?" Finn asks.
"I know so. I might have only known you for a few months, but you've gone from complaining about spending your Saturday afternoon painting the baby's room because it meant you couldn't play Xbox to staying up half the night with Quinn because she's miserable and then taking to the hospital at 3am because she thinks she's in labor. That's quite a change don't you think?" Burt asks. "I mean it's obvious the most important people in your life are Quinn and your daughter."
"And my Mom," Finn quickly adds.
"And your mom," Burt says.
"You know, I think you're right. I think I have changed. When I hear the guys talking in the locker room after practice they're all talking about how their hoping they'll get laid this weekend or about how big Santana's boob's look and I'm worrying about trying not to do or say anything that'll get Quinn worked up so she won't go into pre-term labor. Don't get me wrong, I liked being able to joke around with the guys and stuff, and I still do, but it just really makes me…I don't know," Finn says not really sure what he's trying to say.
"…Makes you put things in perspective," Burt says.
"Yeah, I guess that's a good way to say it," Finn says.
"Finn, I don't think many 16 year old guys are willing to stand by their pregnant girlfriend when it's their child she's pregnant with. But you the fact that you not only forgave Quinn and are going to raise her daughter with her…that's almost unheard of."
"Yeah, well I still see it as Puck being the one at fault, he is the one who got her drunk. Besides, I couldn't make Quinn have to go through everything by herself, 'cause it was definitely clear that Puck wasn't gonna do anything. Plus, even during the two weeks we weren't together I never stopped loving her, I tried to hate her but I just couldn't and that baby has always been my daughter…and always will be no matter what."
"I know that, Finn, and that just shows how much you've grown up and matured these last several months. You should be proud of yourself."
"Thanks, my Mom said the same thing."
"Well, I know your mom is real proud of you…I'm proud of you too. And I know I'm not your dad and I would never try to replace him, but I have no doubt that he's looking down on you and that he's really proud of you too."
"Thanks, that really means a lot to me," Finn says as he stands up to get ready to leave. "Anyway, thanks Burt, for talking to me and everything. I mean, I wasn't really sure who to talk to, I normally talk to Mr. Schue about this kind of stuff, but I figured I should probably talk to someone who actually is a father, and well, that kind of limited me to you. So yeah, thanks."
"No problem, and Finn, I'm always here for you if you want to talk."
"Thanks," Finn says. "I should probably get going, Quinn will probably back before too long."
"Okay," Burt says, as he stands up and follows Finn to the front door.
"Again, thanks," Finn says as he's about to walk out the front door.
"Don't worry, you'll be just fine. You're going to make a great dad," Burt says reassuringly.
"Thanks," Finn says, "See you later," he says walking out the door.
"See you," Burt says as he closes the front door.
As Finn gets into his car he realizes that even though he never really knew his Dad, between Mr. Schue and Burt he had some great examples of what makes a great father. He realizes just how lucky he is, some guys don't even have one father figure to talk to, he had two. Maybe, just maybe, he'd be a great father after all. He could only hope that he could be as good a father to his daughter as Mr. Schue and Burt have been for him.