Fic: Five Times Finn Hudson Felt Like A Father
The first time Finn is a father to Quinn's baby is the day that's she's born. They had just won regional and there was that excitement and high in the air as they all went out to celebrate. He can remember it very clearly when it first starts. They were standing out in the backyard of Mike's Chang house laughing and talking when Quinn gasped. There was a puddle of water and Brittany laughed saying Quinn peed. Finn then remembers lots of screaming and Rachel bossing people around but all Finn can think of is the lack of Puck.
There really isn't much time to focus on that though because there is a baby coming and it looks like she's coming fast. Next thing he knows, he's in a car, trying to sooth Quinn as Rachel recites something she read in a book in Heath Class one time. Santana texts him to tell him that Puck's hooking up with some girl from Vocal Adrenaline. She adds that she didn't tell him the baby is coming and Finn is happy to hear that. Puck never deserved to be a father anyway.
They are wheeling Quinn away to the delivery soon enough and a nurse is handing Finn scrubs, telling him to 'hurry up and change Dad' cause this baby is coming fast. He looks at Rachel, his kind of sort of girlfriend who just waves him on and goes to call the Glee club. As Finn walks into the room, he cringes when Quinn screams, tears running in her face but hurries over to her side and grasps her hand tightly. She squeezing it really hard and Finn thinks she'll break it. Childbirth makes him uncomfortable.
"Okay Mom." The doctor says, "One more big push."
"No. I can't." She fights back crying and shaking her head.
"Yes you can." Finn tells her, his hand turning her head to face him. "You can do this. You carried her for nine months and this is the sucky part but you push and you scream and then she screams and your daughter is here." He knew it didn't really work like that but it sort of did in the movies. Quinn looks a little bit and sniffles and nods before listening to the count, pushing and screaming, squeezing Finn's hand harder making him scream and then they both shut up. There is this little high pitched wail.
Finn cries with Quinn, pushing sweaty hair from her forehead and kissing it, whispering how she did it and realizing that Quinn's never looked more beautiful then right then. She scoots over on the bed as they wait for the nurses to clean up the baby and he hesitates before joining her, his arm slipping around her when they put the little girl into Quinn's arms. There are both tears as she squirms around, no longer screaming loudly and she opens her eyes for the first time. They're hazel but even then, Finn can see the green in them. Puck is back in his thoughts and he hates the guy a little more for not being there when she's born.
Quinn's drifting to sleep and a nurse picks up the baby and then looks at Finn, "Do you want me to take her to the nursery or would you like for her to stay here?"
It's not his call. Rachel's probably still waiting and Quinn should have alone time but he just shrugs and shakes his head, "She can stay."
"Are you going to stay the night too Dad?" The nurse keeps asking things Finn doesn't really know but between a look at Quinn and the baby, he just nods. "Go back to the front desk and get a wristband from them."
So he listens, does what she says and comes back to the room. At first, he doesn't know what to do but the nurse sets the baby in his arms and he's holding Quinn's baby for the first time. She's so little that it scares him because he's so big but the really nice nurse keeps saying, 'You got it Daddy.' He likes the way it sounds, Daddy. The nurse leaves and it scares Finn more cause she's fussing in his arms. It's as if there is no other world than this little one here with Quinn and the baby. He tries to shush and sooth the baby but he doesn't actually know how. The only things Finn really knows about are chicken, football and singing.
"Hush little baby don't say a word." Finn croons bouncing the little bundle, "Daddy's gonna buy you a mocking bird."
Singing and holding his Drizzle while Quinn slept was the very first time that Finn ever felt like her father. He thought it'd be his last too but he was wrong.
A part of Finn knew not to expect a lot more from Quinn. He was dating Rachel and she was dating Puck and they had the baby, who got named Becca. Not Rebecca or Becky like Quinn kept saying but Becca. He liked it and he loved Becca. For his part, Finn was okay with being an uncle or whatever he was. They never really talked about how Puck missed the birth or any of it but they both sort of knew it was big and all. Rachel was intense and a lot different for Finn but he loved her. She wanted to go to New York and be a star and he didn't. Plus, Finn would not admit that he wasn't going to leave Lima unless Quinn and Becca did.
Puck screwed up but Finn had been expecting it. He couldn't understand why the other guy would want to leave Becca and Quinn but Puck said that he wasn't there for the screaming and the crying and the bitching and Finn couldn't argue. It also meant he really couldn't go to New York. Rachel was hurt but at the same time, she did understand. Puck didn't care anymore. It was hard convincing Quinn to move back in with him. And it was weird for a few months because Finn didn't know what he was supposed to do with a kid.
Quinn and Finn would go to class during the day and Carol would watch Becca. Then at night Finn would work and Quinn would watch Becca. He hated his job and it sucked being at the gas station late at night for twelve hour shifts but they needed money. It had taken about five months for them to save enough to buy their own place but it was tiny and rundown. It was still their first home. Quinn thanked Finn a lot too, saying he didn't need to do any of this.
During one stormy night, and one of the few nights Finn wasn't at work, Becca started screaming from her room. Finn jumped out of bed followed by Quinn. The sleeping together was new as well but the taller man couldn't sleep on the couch anymore. Becca was bundled up on her bed with tears streaming down her face and Finn think she looks like one really sad three year old. Quinn tries to comfort her while Finn watches but Becca shoves her off and wants Daddy. Quinn tried to explain that Daddy was gone and Finn knows she's going to cry. He knows he's not Puck.
Becca shocks them both when she points to Finn and tells Quinn 'Daddy's right there'. At first Finn's confused and then touched but goes to the bed anyway and scoops Becca into his arms. Quinn smiles sadly and Finn thinks it's cause she doesn't actually want him to be Becca's father. Regardless, he takes her back to their bedroom and puts her into bed, getting in and looking at Quinn who finally joins them too. Becca rolls to her side and leans into Finn, holding onto him as another crash of thunder comes from outside. He sooths her the best he knows how, "Unforgettable, that's what you are." He croons to her as his arms falls asleep under the little girl.
He's not real sure what it is to be a dad because he never had one but Finn thinks that they are suppose to protect their kids from the thunder storms. Becca finally falls asleep between him and Quinn and the older blonde just smiles and cries the whole time, stroking his cheek and thanking him more. He really feels like a father right then.
The years passed by and dragged on all at the same time. Somehow, they found a way to be in love again and had got married. No one knew, not even Rachel but it came out over time. At first, Rachel was hurt that she wasn't told and because she still thought that they could get back together. It's okay now because when Finn, Quinn and Becca went out for Becca's sixth birthday, they found Rachel had gotten back together with Jesse and was starring on Broadway with him.
They were happy, well as happy as they could be. Puck hadn't come around in awhile but there was an odd letter here and there. It was hard for Finn, fighting with the ghost of a memory of a father that Becca had once upon a time. Quinn was teaching at the local elementary school and Finn was working at the bank. It was long hours but they wanted a house for Becca to live in, not an apartment. The hours sucked and whenever Finn came home, he was exhausted and he didn't really want to do anything.
It always changed when he pushed open the door to their apartment and the little blonde hair, brown eyed girl flung herself at him and wrapped herself around his leg. Quinn looked on from the kitchen and smiled as her husband would pick up Becca and spin her around before taking her to the tiny table to eat. After dinner, Finn always sits down and tries to just relax but it's hard when Becca tugs on his hand and wants to dance and play. Quinn tries to shoo her away, saying that Daddy needs to relax.
It makes Finn think of Puck when Quinn does this. He's not around and he wasn't really all that helpful when he was. He knows he's not Puck, and he knows that he's not actually Becca's father. Laughing at Quinn, Finn loosens his tie and kicks off his shoes and stands, looking down at Becca.
"What are we doing?" He asks her as the soft chuckle of his wife fills his ears. When those brown eyes get big and wide and she runs off, the soft smirk comes back to Finn as he thinks of how happy he can make this little girl.
"There's a ball at the castle." Becca informs him when she comes back in a pretty blue dress that Rachel got her, "I need to practice my dancing. It's the only way the Prince will fall in love with me."
There's laughter at how Becca says this and even though Finn is totally exhausted and drained, with worries of the bills and family and life, this moment is all he wants. Finn lifts Becca into his arms and starts to sway around with her. She giggles and laughs and waves to her mommy who sits on the couch watching.
"Daddy there's no music!" She cries out with a laugh as the big awkward man she calls Daddy stumbles around. He stops, thinks and starts to sing to her again. It's Becca's favorite thing when her daddy sings.
"I will dance with Cinderella." Finn sings to her as he holds her close to him, spinning and moving with her in the confined space. "While she is here in my arms."
When the days feel like that, like it's all coming down and Finn can't do it anymore, he dances with his daughter and thinks of how he doesn't want to miss a moment of her life. He feels like a father when his little girl takes away all the bad and replaces it with pure joy.
For the most part, Becca's not a problem. Finn and Quinn have a happy marriage and they decide together that Becca is enough for them. She sings and dances and plays the piano and softball and is just perfect to the pair of them. When she turns sixteen, things start to change because she's older now. And she's the daughter of Quinn Fabray. Finn tries hard to be a good father, to give her freedom and limits but it's hard when she starts to date Matt or Mike or Mark or whatever the hell the football captain's name is. Fridays have become his least favorite day.
After the game, in which Becca puts on her WMHS Cheerio uniform, and gives both parents flashbacks to their own high school days, she goes out with the team and it drives Finn crazy. It doesn't help that on the Friday he's sitting in the living room waiting for her to come in, Puck stopped by. Gave him some speech about how it's his daughter and he's sorry. It scared the hell out of Finn because Puck was her father. Quinn reminded him that he had been her Daddy for all those years though. Still, it puts him on edge and when Becca walks in after 3, Finn can't control himself.
"Where have you been!" He yells at her, "Do you have any idea how worried I am? Why do I smell beer? Where you drinking young lady?"
"Dad chill out. It was one beer, I didn't even drive." Becca shoots back full of attitude. She's sixteen and she hates her dad. And her mom. They don't really let her do anything. And she's sick of hearing how they know what sixteen year olds do and how they get pregnant. She wasn't like them.
"This was that Matt kid." Finn says full of anger as Quinn comes from the bedroom rubbing sleep from her eyes.
"His name is Danny Dad!" Becca yells back frustrated.
"I don't care cause you aren't allowed to see him anymore!"
Quinn steps in at this point, telling them both to calm down. Finn listens, Becca doesn't.
"No! I'm tired of this. I can make my own choice Mom!" Becca's crying by now and looks to Finn, "I hate you. I wish you weren't my dad!"
When she storms off, Quinn doesn't chase her but instead comforts Finn, knowing that it must of stung. He's not hurt though because that's what teenage daughters do. They fight with their fathers and to Finn, it means she doesn't remember Puck at all. She doesn't remember the first two years and since neither ever told her, Finn doesn't want to. He's okay with her hating him because she doesn't really hate him. Finn waits for some time before he goes into Becca's room and kneels next to her bed. He can't help but smile at how much she looks like Quinn.
"It won't be like this for long." He quietly sings to her, moving the hair from her face, "One day soon that little girl is gonna be grown up and gone."
Finn always feels like a father after Becca yells at him. It means he's doing something right.
Finn sat at the table watching as Becca, twenty-two by then and a gorgeous young woman, danced with her new husband. It had taken all of him not to cry when he walked his little girl down the aisle. They hadn't even bothered to tell Puck that Becca was getting married, even though the two had gotten to know each other a little. They couldn't lie to Becca forever and once they did tell her the truth, she was mad but then understood. And she reminded Finn that it didn't matter because he was her father.
"Time for your dance with her." Quinn whispers in his ear as her arms wrap around broad shoulders. There's a small chuckle and his wife's lips on his temple before letting him go. The past twenty years of his life belonged to this girl and he knew that although he'd be a big part of her still, it was her new husband's job. Michael was a good guy, better than the idiots from high school and he did ask Finn for permission but he still doesn't think he's good enough for her.
Getting up, Finn walked slowly to the happy couple, noticing how wrapped up Michael is in his daughter. Clearing his throat, he tapped Michael's shoulder and smiled, "Can I cut in?"
Michael nodded and stepped away, going off to find Quinn to dance with. Finn watched him as Becca's hand found its' way to his.
"I love him Dad." Becca says chuckling as her eyes look at her father's face. He slowly turns back to her.
"He loves you too. Still don't like he's replacing me." More laughs.
"No one can replace you Dad." Becca whispers, kissing her father's cheek. "And thank you."
Finn pulled his head back a little and looked down at Becca, "For?"
"For everything Dad. For marrying my mother, for taking care of me, for raising me, even for grounding me all those times. Thank you for being my dad."
She didn't even need to say, 'because you didn't have to be.' The tears came slowly, welling up and threatening to spill over when the Emcee came on, "We've got a very special song and dance right now. Direct your attention to the center of the dance floor for Becca's father-daughter dance with the man who loved her first.
Finn didn't know what song his daughter had picked and when the first few notes played, the tears fell as the smile grew. "Wise men say, only fools rush in." Finn sang to her, squeezing her hand and pulling Becca a little closer, "but I can't help falling in love with you."
Besides the day that Becca had been born, Finn never felt more like her father.