Hi everyone! I'm sorry it took me longer to update, I'm on vacation and haven't gotten as much internet access because I've been busy. I had the chapter ready, but haven't gotten around to posting it until now. I did get a comment saying that there've been too many weddings too close together, and I promise to tone down the next few. When I wrote the Barely Breathing epilogue, I didn't realize how close together the weddings were. This was a topic I wanted to cover, but I wasn't entirely pleased with how I did, but I hope I did okay. I hope you guys think I did a good job and review if you want me to continue.

Chapter 34: Don't Tell

The summer had been amazing for the Hudson family. After returning from DC, Allie began a day camp offered through New York's recreation department, which she was really enjoying. Rachel was enjoying having a lot of time to spend with Finn and Allie, which wouldn't have been the case if she was still on Broadway. Rachel's dads had come to visit, and so had Burt and Carole. They were so excited for the birth of their second granddaughter.

Caylie wasn't the only baby girl on the way for this generation of the Glee family though. While the Hudson family was in Washington, Quinn and Puck found out that their baby was a girl as well. A few days later, Brittany found out that both the twins were girls. All four couples were so excited for the births of their daughters.

Right now, Finn was at a yankees game with some of his friends from NYU, so Rachel and Allie were spending the day together. They'd just taken Coda for a walk in Central Park and were now making cookies at the apartment. It was nice for Rachel to have some time to relax with her daughter. Most of her time this summer had been spent getting ready for Caylie's arrival. Last weekend she'd gone to Marley's bachelorette party, and tomorrow was Ryder and Marley's wedding.

Rachel put the cookies in the oven, then went to sit in the living room with Allie.

"Mommy, what's Caylie doing now?" Allie asked.

"I think she's sleeping," Rachel told her daughter.

"What if she comes out of your tummy at the wedding tomorrow?" Allie asked.

"I don't think that will happen!" Rachel said. She was more worried that might happen at Artie and Betty's wedding, which would be in late September. At least the wedding would be in Ohio so she could take a train. There would be no way she could fly to LA that far in her pregnancy.

"I hope Coda and Nibbles like Caylie," Allie said.

Rachel gave her daughter a hug. "They will, I know it."

After a few minutes, the timer went off, alerting Rachel and Allie that the cookies were done. Rachel took the cookies out of the oven while Allie went to her room. As the cookies were cooling, Rachel noticed they were running low on milk and decided they should go to the drugstore down the street to get some. She called Allie out of her room and they went to the drugstore. On the way back to the apartment, Rachel felt her neck being grabbed. She quickly grabbed Allie's hand as she turned and saw a man who was at least 300 pounds trying to choke her.

"Get your hands off my mommy!" Allie shouted.

"Give me your money or I'll take your daughter," the man hissed.

Allie started crying as the man punched Rachel in the face. Rachel just wanted to hug her daughter and tell her things would be okay. She felt like her neck would snap at any minute. Nervously, she reached into her purse and handed the money to the man. At that moment, two policemen came over.

"Get your hands off that woman," one of the policemen said. "He's mean!" Allie told the other. "He hurt my mommy and told her to give him her money and tried to take me away!"

Rachel's heart broke when she heard how scared her daughter sounded. The man released her and one policeman led him to the car. Then Rachel threw her arms around her crying daughter.

"Do you two need to get to the hospital?" the policeman asked. "I think we're fine," Rachel managed to say. "Thank you." All she wanted to do now was go to the safety of their apartment.

"I can call one of my colleagues to take you home," the policeman offered.

"I'd appreciate that," Rachel said. She didn't want to walk home right now, she felt too scared.

Another policeman arrived and took Rachel and Allie back to the apartment. Allie was still crying on the way home and Rachel did her best to console her daughter, despite how scared she herself was.

"Allie, you can't tell anyone about what happened today," Rachel said. "Especially not your dad."

"Why not?" Allie asked.

"I don't want to upset him," Rachel said. "And with the wedding tomorrow, I don't want to ruin everyone's mood."

"Okay," Allie said.

Rachel held out her finger. "Pinky promise?"

Allie linked her finger in Rachel's. "Pinky promise."

Rachel didn't want to keep this all to herself though. She was also worried about her other daughter. She knew from experience that stress on the mother could be hard on the baby. She had to go to the doctor to get a scan to make sure everything was okay. Nervously, she sent a text to Santana. "Are you and Brittany both home?"

Santana texted back. "Yeah, us and Bryan. What's up?"

Rachel texted back. "Can Allie stay with Bryan and Brittany for a little, and can you run an errand with me? I just need a second person with me."

Santana texted back. "Of course I can."

"Mommy?" Allie said again as they walked up to the apartment.

"What is it, honey?" Rachel asked.

"Is Caylie okay?" Allie asked.

Rachel sighed. She was hoping that wouldn't cross Allie's mind, but Allie was pretty advanced for her age. "I'm sure she is. I am going to go to the doctor to make sure."

"Good," Allie said. "I was scared."

"So was I," Rachel said. "Now, while I go to the doctor with Aunt Santana, you're going to hang out with Bryan and Aunt Brittany, okay?"

"Okay," Allie said. "I promise I won't tell."

"Thank you," Rachel said, giving her daughter a tight hug before they walked to Santana and Brittany's apartment. Brittany turned opened the door. "Hey!"

"Hey, how are those little girls?" Rachel asked her friend.

"They're doing fine," Brittany said. "How's yours?"

"I think she's fine, too," Rachel said.

Santana came out with Bryan. "Hey, Rachel. Hey, Allie."

"Hi Bryan!" Allie said, excitedly running over to her cousin.

Bryan smiled at Allie. "She's so good with him," Santana said.

"I know she is," Rachel said, managing to smile. "So, Allie, we'll be back soon. Be good for Aunt Brittany."

"I will, bye Mommy!" Allie said.

As Santana and Rachel left the apartment, Santana turned to Rachel. "Rachel, what's going on? I know you."

Rachel closed her eyes and began shaking as she told Santana the story about what had happened earlier that day. "I just have to see if my baby's okay," Rachel said, rubbing her baby bump.

"Oh my God," Santana said. "We've got to go to the doctor, stat."

"I just didn't want to go alone," Rachel said. "But I didn't want to tell Finn because I know it'll really upset him."

"Of course I'll go with you," Santana said.

"Thanks so much," Rachel said, starting to cry as she rubbed her baby bump.

Santana gave Rachel a hug. "I'm sure she'll be okay."

The girls took a cab to the urgent care center, and Rachel was relieved when Santana explained to the doctor what had happened. The doctor did a scan and told the girls that the baby was fine. Rachel felt a little better, but she still couldn't get that vision out of her head. When they got back to Santana and Brittany's apartment, Finn was there as well.

"Finn!" Rachel gasped.

"Hey Rach," Finn said. "What's up?"

"Did you have fun at the game?" Rachel managed to ask her husband.

"I did," Finn said. "Next time, you and Allie should come too."

"Can we go home?" Allie asked.

"Of course," Rachel said. "Thanks for watching her, Britt."

x

Even though the doctor had said Caylie was okay, Rachel just couldn't get what had happened out of her mind. Finn asked her several times if she was okay, and she insisted she was, but she could tell he was suspicious. When she went to bed that night, she was almost asleep when she saw Allie standing in the door.

"Are you okay?" Rachel asked her daughter.

"Mommy, I'm scared," Allie said.

Rachel took Allie's hand and walked her to her room, trying her best not to wake Finn. She lay down on Allie's bed next to her and cuddled her close.

"I don't want people to hurt you," Allie said. "And I don't want to be taken away. I love you and Daddy and Coda and Nibbles and Caylie."

"I won't let anyone take you away," Rachel said, rubbing her daughter's back. "I love you."

"I love you too," Rachel said to her daughter. After a few minutes, Allie fell asleep, and Rachel went back to join Finn in their bed. She felt bad for keeping this from him, but she didn't want to upset him. She snuggled close into her husband until she fell asleep.

"Rach, wake up."

Rachel opened her eyes and saw Finn standing next to the bed, wearing his groomsman tux for the wedding.

"Hey, handsome." Rachel forced a smile.

"Are you okay?" Finn asked. "You slept pretty late. I had to help Allie into her flower girl dress."

Rachel giggled. "I'm sorry. Finn, you know how much I love you, right?"

Finn nodded. "I love you too." We'd better start getting ready for the wedding.

Rachel smiled at her husband. "You look ready."

"But you don't!" Finn said.

"Okay," Rachel sighed. She got out of bed and put on the light blue bridesmaid dress. Finn smiled at her once she put it on. "You look amazing."

Rachel managed to smile. "Thanks, you look nice, too."

"Ready to go?" Finn asked.

Rachel sighed. "Yup." She promised herself she would try to be as happy as she could while they were at the wedding.

x

"I think something's up with Rachel," Finn whispered to Blaine as they sat in the groomsmen room. He didn't want to take the focus off Ryder, but he knew that something was wrong. Rachel just hadn't been herself yesterday and today. She looked so scared.

"What do you mean?" Blaine whispered back.

"Are you guys okay?" Sam asked.

"Yeah, we're fine," Finn said. He tried to get Rachel out of his mind and turned to Ryder. "You ready?"

"I hope so," Ryder said. "The thing is, is she ready?"

"I know she is," Finn said. "She's been ready since I cast you two as the leads in Grease."

x

Next door, Rachel tried to get the thoughts of yesterday's events out of her mind as she sat with the bridesmaids. Only Santana and Allie knew about what had happened, and she intended to keep it that way until after the wedding. Right now, she focused on Harmony, the maid of honor, adjusting Marley's veil.

"You look really pretty," Rachel managed to say to the bride.

"Thanks, Rachel," Marley said. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Rachel said.

"You look a little out of it," Tina said.

"I'm fine, don't worry," Rachel said. "Are you okay?"

"I'm so excited," Marley said.

"Just don't throw up!" Kitty said.

x

The girls went to meet with the boys, and Rachel linked arms with Finn as they waited to walk down the aisle. As Allie walked down the aisle with the flower petals, Finn whispered to Rachel. "Rachel, are you sure you're okay?"

"Finn, I'm fine," Rachel whispered.

Finn sighed. They watched as Artie and Betty wheeled down the aisle with Daniel and Bryan with the rings, then Rory and Sugar, then Joe and Kitty, Sam and Tina, then Blaine and Santana, then Kurt and Brittany, and then it was their turn. Jake and Harmony were right behind them, and then Marley and her mom. When they got to the front, Allie joined her parents and clutched their hands. Rachel felt so worried that her daughter was still traumatized by the whole ordeal. She held Allie's hand as she listened to Ryder and Marley give their wedding vows.

"Marley, I remember the first time I met you," Ryder said. "I remember I thought you were special right away. I already knew you had to be cool because of the amazing food your mom made for us. We really bonded when we were in Grease. I guess part of the reason we're here today is thanks to Finn, who recruited me to play the lead opposite you in the musical. To this day, you are the one that I want. From becoming captains our junior year to moving to New York, it's been an amazing journey, and I am so glad that someone as beautiful and kind as you is about to become my wife.

Rachel smiled up at Finn as Marley began her vows. "Ryder, I am just so glad that you came into my life. When I switched to McKinley, I was used to being the girl that no one liked and everyone made fun of. But I met you, and you helped me grow. You encouraged me to share the songs I wrote with the world, and now I'm getting the confidence to work toward my dream of recording my own album. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you."

It had been another set of perfect vows. Ryder and Marley were pronounced husband and wife, and the wedding party proceeded off the altar. As they left for the reception in the church basement, Rachel took Allie into the bathroom. "Are you okay?" she asked her daughter.

"I am still scared, Mommy," Allie said.

"Well, don't worry," Rachel said. She felt so bad that she was so overwhelmed by her own fear, she hadn't paid enough attention to Allie. It was so hard to put on a happy face today, but she had to for Ryder and Marley. "I'm not going to let anything bad happen to you."

"Promise?" Allie asked.

Rachel gave her daughter a hug. "I promise."

"That guy won't come near us again, right?" Allie asked.

Rachel smiled. "That's right." She led Allie out of the bathroom, then went to join the rest of the wedding party.

"Everything okay?" Finn asked.

Rachel sighed. "Yeah, everything's fine."

Finn gave Rachel a kiss. After the wedding tonight, she needed to tell him. She couldn't hold this in any longer.

x

The wedding reception was amazing, and it had been great for the whole Glee family to be together. Ryder and Marley had left for their honeymoon, and the Glee alumni had gone to their respective houses. Rachel figured that now that they were home, it would be a good time to tell Finn. After Allie went to bed, she went to the living room. "Finn?"

"What's up, babe?" Finn asked.

"You were right when you thought something was wrong," Rachel said. "I just didn't want to ruin the mood at the wedding."

"What's wrong?" Finn asked, immediately looking scared.

Rachel looked at the floor. "Yesterday, Allie and I went to the store and I was robbed. The man told me to give him my money or he'd take Allie. He was choking me." Rachel started crying.

Finn gave Rachel a big hug. "Oh Rach. I'm so sorry you went through that."

Rachel began crying even harder as she relived the event. "It was horrible, Finn. I was worried about the girls. I went to the doctor and Caylie's fine, but I was so scared."

"Of course you were," Finn said. "I've got you. I won't let anyone hurt you."

Rachel threw her arms around her husband. Being in his arms always made her feel safe.

Chapter 35 preview: As Rachel gets further in her pregnancy, Allie worries her parents might love her less after Caylie is born.