Thanks so much for the very nice welcome back, everyone. I really appreciated it. I know this chapter isn't my best, but you'll have to forgive me, I still am grieving. I really enjoyed writing Finchel, Klaine and Brittana with their kids. I hope the Finchel fandom can stick together and continue writing stories about what should be happening on the show and go over all our amazing memories. Hope you enjoy the chapter and review if you want me to continue.
And did everyone see Lea's tweet? Broke my heart for her. It was a beautiful picture she tweeted of the two of them. It's clear they loved each other so much and made each other so happy.
Chapter 45: Learning to Walk
"But Mommy, I want a purple pen!" Allie pouted.
Rachel looked at the school supplies list. "Allie, you can only get blue and black pens."
"But purple's my favorite color," Allie protested. She turned to her little sister. "Caylie, don't you think I should get a purple pen?"
Caylie giggled. "I'll take that as a yes," Allie said.
Rachel sighed. "Allie, your school supplies list says only blue and black. But I'll get you purple pens for home, okay?"
Allie sighed. "I guess that's fair."
"Of course that's fair," Rachel said.
"I wish Caylie could talk," Allie said. "She'd tell you that the school should let me get a purple pen."
"She'll be one in October, I'm sure she'll talk soon," Rachel said.
"I hope," Allie said.
"I can't believe you're going to be in second grade soon," Rachel said.
"I heard we have to start writing in cursive in second grade," Allie said.
"I'm sure you'll be good at it," Rachel said.
"I wish I didn't have to go back to school so soon," Allie sighed.
"I know," Rachel said. "I like spending all day with you."
"Anything else on my school supplies list?" Allie asked.
Rachel checked the list. "We got everything!"
"Let's get home then," Allie said. "Do you think Daddy will be home when we get there?"
"I hope so," Rachel said. Finn had gone to a political rally in Brooklyn with Blaine. The presidential election was this year, and Finn, Rachel, Kurt, Blaine, Santana and Brittany had all been involved with the Democratic campaign. Rachel had considered going to the rally as well, but she knew they couldn't put off Allie's back to school shopping much longer.
Then Rachel's phone went off. She looked and saw a text from Finn. "I'm at Santana and Brittany's apartment. I'll see you guys soon - maybe stop here?"
x
"That's it," Kurt said as he held Emily's hands, trying to help her to walk. Finn was at Santana and Brittany's apartment with Kurt, Blaine, Santana, Brittany, Bryan, Julia and Emily. The past few weeks, the three couples were devoted to trying to help their daughters learn to walk. Emily seemed to be making the most progress. Julia hadn't even stood up yet, but she was crawling. Caylie hadn't managed to start walking yet, but she was standing.
Emily took a few small steps, holding on to Kurt's hands.
"She walking dada!" Bryan said.
"Yes she is," Kurt said to his son.
"How's Caylie's walking coming?" Blaine asked Finn.
"Maybe we could do some practice once Rachel gets back from back to school shopping," Finn said.
"This would be a good time," Brittany said, holding Julia on her lap. "You'll probably get started soon, too, don't you think?" she asked, tickling her daughter.
"Hey, I didn't start walking until I was about one and a half!" Finn said.
"Maybe that's why you're such a bad dancer!" Santana teased Finn.
The group heard a knock at the door. "That must be Rach and the girls," Finn said as he went to the door and greeted his wife and daughters.
"How was the rally?" Rachel asked Finn.
"It was good," Finn said. "There were some good speakers."
"When the guy who's going to be president comes, can I come too?" Allie asked.
"I think you'd be bored, Allie," Finn said.
"Oh," Allie said.
"So, what are you guys up to?" Rachel asked.
"Emily walking!" Bryan said.
"She was?" Allie asked.
"Well, we were helping her to walk," Kurt said. "Julia still hasn't started yet."
"Want to practice with Caylie now?" Santana asked. "Maybe she'd like to with her cousins."
"That sounds good," Rachel said as she took Caylie out of her stroller.
"Can I help?" Allie asked excitedly.
Finn smiled at how excited Allie was getting. "Of course you can."
Rachel lifted Caylie out of the stroller. "Come on Caylie, walk like Emily was just doing," Blaine said.
Caylie giggled as Rachel helped her stand up. "Allie, want to take her hands?" Finn asked.
"Duh!" Allie said.
"Okay Caylie, walk with Allie," Brittany said.
Caylie took some very small steps as Allie held on to her little sister's hands. "That's it!" Rachel said.
Finn squeezed his wife's hand. "Our baby is walking."
"I thought I was your baby!" Allie exclaimed, letting go of her sister's hands. Caylie got back on her knees and began crawling around.
"You both are," Finn said.
"Some steps is progress," Santana said.
"Hopefully Julia will start walking soon, too," Blaine said.
"I'm sure she will," Rachel said.
"I walk!" Bryan said.
"Yes you do," Santana said.
"Want to try helping Julia out?" Finn asked. "While we're working on walking with Emily and Caylie, now might be a good time to work on it."
"She isn't even standing up yet, Finn," Kurt said.
"Let's at least give it a try," Rachel said.
"Okay, baby girl," Brittany said as she sat down with her daughter. She released Julia, who began crawling around, and knelt down, holding out her hands.
Julia crawled over to Brittany and reached up for Brittany's hands. "You'll have to stand up to reach Mommy," Santana said.
Julia giggled and started trying to stand as she reached up for Brittany's hands. Finally she stood, holding on to Brittany's hands.
"She did it!" Bryan said.
"Yes she did," Blaine said.
"Do you think she can walk now?" Allie asked.
"Allie, she just stood up, let's give her time," Rachel said.
x
Later that night at the Hudsons' apartment, Finn, Rachel and Allie practiced some more walking with Caylie. She couldn't do it without holding on to her parents' or sisters' hands, but she was getting there. Allie also wanted to read Caylie her bedtime story, so Finn and Rachel let her do that before Allie went to take her bath. Some time passed, and Caylie wasn't falling asleep.
"Want to sing to her?" Finn asked. "It always helps our babies sleep when we sing to them."
"I'd love to," Rachel whispered back as they sang to their daughter.
Finn: Love doesn't ask why
It speaks from the heart
And never explains
Don't you know that
Love doesn't think twice
It can come all at once
Or whisper from a distance
Rachel: Don't ask me if this feeling's right or wrong
It doesn't have to make much sense
It just has to be this strong
'Cause when you're in my arms I understand
We don't try to have a voice
When our hearts make the choices
There's no plan
It's in our hands
Both: Love doesn't ask why
It speaks from the heart
And never explains
Don't you know that
Love doesn't think twice
It can come all at once
Or whisper from a distance
Finn: Now I can feel what you're afraid to say
If you give your soul to me
Rachel: Will you give too much away
We can't let this moment pass us by
Both: Can't question this chance
Or expect any answers
We can try
But love doesn't ask you why
Rachel: So let's take what we found
And wrap it around us
Both: Love doesn't ask why
It speaks from the heart
And never explains
Don't you know that
Love doesn't think twice
It can come all at once
Or whisper from a distance
Love doesn't ask why
At the end of the song, Finn and Rachel noticed Caylie was asleep. Hand in hand, they left Caylie's room to say good night to Allie.
"I heard you two singing to her," Allie said.
"You did?" Finn asked.
"Yeah," Allie said. "My favorite of your songs is Faithfully."
"That's ours too," Rachel said.
"I'm really hoping I can get into the orchestra this year," Allie said.
"I'm sure you will," Finn told his daughter. "You'd better get to bed now, little missy."
Allie pouted. "Okay."
After putting Allie to bed, Finn and Rachel went to the living room to watch a movie together. "I'm thinking that I might want to try out for another show sometime soon," Rachel said. "I mean, Caylie's older."
"I know you're good enough," Finn said. "Though sometime in the future, I would like us to have a boy, too."
Rachel smiled at her husband. "I'll make sure that happens. Speaking of babies, Mercedes and Tina should be having their babies soon."
"I know," Finn said as his phone began vibrating.
"Who's that?" Rachel asked.
"It's Mike," Finn said. He looked at his phone and handed it to Rachel. Rachel read Mike's text. "Tina and I are proud to announce the birth of Evan Francis Chang!"
"She had her baby!" Rachel said. "It's so exciting!"
"I know," Finn said. "I can't wait to tell Allie tomorrow."
"Now all we need to wait for is Mercedes," Rachel said. "And all six of the original glee girls will be moms!"
Chapter 46 preview: Finn and Allie do something special together that I'm sure Cory would have loved to have done! Any guesses as to what it is?
SONG: Love Doesn't Ask Why by Celine Dion (performed by Finn and Rachel Hudson)