Thanks so much for your support on the first two chapters, it means a lot to me. I'm also at work on the next chapter of "Their Gold Star." I hope you guys enjoy this chapter (I do love writing Finchel, the Hudson family, Nicma and Ryva). There will be more of the other Gleeks in the upcoming chapters - definitely Klaine since they're family, and I'll bring Quick so we can have some Sardam moments. Enjoy this chapter and review if you want me to continue!

Chapter 3: Surgery

"Hey."

Ryan turned and saw Ava come in to the hospital waiting room. Today was the day of Rachel's surgery. Finn had told the kids that he and Rachel wanted some time alone before the surgery began.

"Ava, what are you doing here?" Ryan asked.

"My parents said I could take today off to be with you," Ava said. "Nick's coming too to be with Emma."

Ryan gave Ava a hug. "Thanks so much for being here."

"I'm sure your mom will be fine," Ava said, hugging back.

"I hope so," Ryan said. "We've already had one family tragedy, we don't need another."

"When are your grandparents getting here?" Ava asked. Hiram and LeRoy hadn't left town since they arrived the night Rachel collapsed. Burt and Carole had come to see the school musical, as had Shelby, and they were all planning to come back today.

"They should be here soon," Ryan said. "My uncles are going to try to come in from New York, too."

"I love your family, Ryan," Ava said.

Ryan smiled at his girlfriend. "They love you too, trust me." He put his arms around Ava, thinking about his mom.

"I love you," Ava said.

"I love you too," Ryan said back. He tried to get their minds off things. "So, are you excited for Sectionals in a few weeks?"

"I am," Ava said, seeming to catch on. They knew each other so well, it was as if they didn't need to say when they didn't need to talk about something. "Who do you think will get the duet?"

"Probably Nick and Emma, since we got the leads in the musical," Ryan said.

"We did win the duets competition our freshman year though!" Ava said.

Emma came over with Sarah, Grant and Zoe. "Hey, Ava."

"Hey, Emma," Ava said. "Where were you?"

"Getting a snack for Grant at the food court," Emma said.

"Thanks for being here for us," Sarah said to Ava.

"I'm your brother's girlfriend and your sister's best friend, of course I'm here," Ava said.

"I don't like Mom being hurt," Grant pouted.

"Neither do I," Ryan said, looking at his little brother. "Neither do I." He gave his brother a hug.

"None of us do," Sarah said.

x

"I'm so nervous," Rachel said as she sat in the operating room with Finn at her side.

"You've had surgery before," Finn said. "And you've delivered six babies."

"I know," Rachel sighed. She took Finn's hand, not wanting to let go of it.

Finn looked at his wife. "Are you sure you don't want me with you when they do it?"

Rachel sighed. Yes, she wanted Finn with her, but at the same time, she didn't want him to see them cut her open. Plus, hospital policies probably wouldn't let him be in the room. "I'm sure, Finn."

"I'll be spiritually with you," Finn said, giving her another hug. "And so will our kids and our parents."

"I love you so much," Rachel said.

"I love you too," Finn said back. He looked up at the clock. "I should go now."

"Promise you'll be in the waiting room the whole time?" Rachel asked. She didn't want him too far away.

"I promise," Finn said. He gave Rachel a kiss before going to join the kids in the waiting room. Rachel watched her husband leave, not wanting him to go, but knowing that the kids probably needed him.

x

Emma felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned and saw Nick. "Hey."

"Hey Nick," Emma said, hugging her boyfriend. "Thanks for coming."

"I'm sorry I couldn't be here earlier," Nick said. "AP classes are really inflexible with letting us take tests at different times."

"You're here now," Emma said.

"I brought something for you," Nick said.

"Oh really?" Emma asked.

Nick reached into his pocket and got out a pack of winterfresh gum. "I know gum helps you when you're stressed, and I also know that winterfresh is your favorite."

Emma smiled. "You're right about both those things." She got out a stick of gum and began chewing it.

After some time, the doctor came in. "Everyone's here for Rachel Hudson?"

Finn stood up. "Yeah, I'm her husband. How is she?"

"Well, the surgery's finished," the doctor said. "If you want, you can go see her. But we do recommend only a few visitors at a time."

Emma looked at her dad. "You can go in first." Of course this would be hardest for him. Her parents had been in love for so long.

"Okay," Finn said. "I promise, you guys can see your mom soon."

x

Rachel looked around the hospital room. Obviously her surgery was over. She'd woken up, but the pain was still there. The doctor would probably give her painkillers, but it still hurt. She tried comforting herself by telling herself that the cause of the initial pain had been taken care of, and she wouldn't have to worry about it again.

Finn came into the room. "Rach!"

"Finn," Rachel said, managing to smile at the sight of her husband.

"We're all so worried about you," Finn said, coming over to give Rachel a kiss. "How do you feel?"

Rachel shrugged. "Better, I guess."

Finn sat on the bed with Rachel. "I love you."

"I love you too," Rachel said, holding Finn's hand.

"When they were taking me here they said they want you to stay here for a few days so they can monitor how you are," Finn said. "But don't worry, I'll be coming every day, and so will the kids."

Rachel squeezed Finn's hand as Finn continued talking. "Rach, you're the strongest person I know. You'll be back to normal before we know it."

"I hope," Rachel sighed.

"Want to see the kids?" Finn asked. "They've been worried about you."

"I'd love to," Rachel said.

Finn got out his phone and sent a quick text message to the kids to come in. Within a few moments, they were in the room. "Mom!" Sarah exclaimed, practically running to Rachel's bed.

Rachel felt her spirits rise with the kids in the room, but did feel bad that they looked upset. "Hey honey."

"How are you feeling?" Emma asked.

"I'm better," Rachel said. "I'll be home soon, I promise."

"Come home now!" Grant said.

Rachel looked down. "I wish I could, but the doctors want to make sure everything goes okay."

"You guys should tell your mom who came today," Finn said.

"Who came?" Rachel asked.

"Nick and Ava," Ryan said.

"Aren't you two lucky?" Rachel asked, looking at her two oldest children.

"We are!" Ryan said.

Rachel took Finn's hand. "Guys, I'll be home in a few days." She was reassuring herself as much as she was reassuring them. "It'll take a while for me to get back to normal, but I will be back to normal.

x

The day after Rachel's surgery, Finn and the kids came to visit her at the hospital and spent the whole day there, but she insisted that they return to work and school the next day. Her mom and her dads were still in town, as were Burt and Carole, and Kurt and Blaine would be coming in from New York this weekend, so she wouldn't be completely alone.

Plus, Rachel did feel bad about her kids having to spend so much time in a hospital room. Her pain had gone down, thanks to the painkillers, but she was still feeling a little stiff. She wanted to get out of this bed, but she knew she couldn't. She felt trapped in this room. Right now she was watching a musical with her parents, but she just wanted to go home.

"Rachel, you didn't have to insist that Finn go to work and the kids go to school today," Hiram told his daughter.

"Yes, I did," Rachel said. "The surgery was two days ago. Finn needs to get the Gold Stars ready for Sectionals, Ryan and Emma need to do especially well in school this year with college applications due in another year."

"They could probably take some time off," Shelby said. "I'm sure the school would let them make up the work. And Sectionals is only the first round of competitions."

"I know," Rachel said. "I just want them to continue to have normal lives."

"You know how much Finn and the kids love you," LeRoy pointed out.

Rachel nodded. "I love them so much." She looked up at the clock. Rehearsal for the Gold Stars was starting about now. She hoped that Finn was enjoying his time with them. He'd offered to take over, but she still felt bad that she might be springing this on him.

Zoe started stirring in Carole's arms. "I think she's up from her nap."

"Can I see her?" Rachel asked.

"You don't have to ask to see your own daughter," Carole said, handing Zoe to Rachel.

Rachel smiled at her one year old daughter. "Hi sweetie. Don't worry, Mommy will come home soon."

Zoe started talking in baby gabber when Burt tapped Rachel's shoulder. "Rachel, you have your laptop, right?"

Rachel nodded. "Yeah."

"Finn just called, the Gold Stars have something to say to you," Burt said.

Rachel smiled. It would be nice to hear them perform. She told Burt where her laptop was, turned it on, and logged on to skype to see a call from Finn. She smiled when she saw her husband. "Hey, Finny."

"Hey Rach," Finn said. "The kids and I are getting ready for Sectionals, but first, we have something prepared for you."

Rachel smiled. "I'd love to see it."

Finn moved the computer for Rachel to see the kids. Music began, and she could tell that they were doing a number for her.

Nick: There is freedom within, there is freedom without
try to catch the deluge in a paper cup.
There's a battle ahead, many battles are lost.
But you'll never see the end of the road
While you're traveling with me.
Hey now, hey now.
Nick and Emma: Don't dream it's over.
Nick: Hey now, hey now.
Nick and Emma: When the world comes in.
They come, they come.
To build a wall between us.
We know they won't win.

Lizzie and Ben: Now...I'm towing my car, there's a hole in the roof.
My possessions are causing me suspicion but there's no proof.
Lexie and Evan: In the paper today tales of war and of waste,
but you turn right over to the T.V. page.

Gold Stars: Hey now, hey now. Don't dream it's over.
Hey now, hey now.
When the world comes in.
They come, they come. To build a wall between us.
We know they won't win.

Laura: Ooh yeah!
Jeremy: Hey now, hey now. Don't dream it's over...
Laura and Jeremy: Don't dream 'til it's over. Yeah! Oh whoa!

Ryan: Now I'm walking again to the beat of a drum.
Ryan and Ava: And I'm counting the steps to the door of your heart.
Only shadows ahead barely clearing the roof.
Get to know the feelings of liberation and release.

Izzy and Connor: Oh whoa, yeah!
Hey now, hey now! Don't dream it's over. Hey now, hey now. When the world comes in.
Meg and Ricky: They come, they come. To build a wall between us. We know they won't win! No they won't win!
Laura and Jeremy: Hey now, hey now. Don't dream it's over.
Gold Stars: Don't let them win!
Hey now, hey now! When the world comes in.
Emma: When the world comes in!
Gold Stars: They come, they come to build a wall between us.
Hey now, hey now.
Don't let them win!
Hey now, hey now.
Oh yeah!
Don't dream it's over.
Don't let them win!
Hey now, hey now.
Ooooooooo.
Don't dream it's over. Hey now, hey now. Don't dream it's over.

"They miss you," Finn said to Rachel.

"I miss them too," Rachel said. "Tell them I'll be back soon." At least she had lots of people who supported her during this.

Chapter 4 preview: Rachel goes home after the surgery and Kurt and Blaine come in from New York to see her. Finn tries to get the Gold Stars ready for Sectionals.