Life As We Know It

Chapter 11: Surprises and Feelings

Yesterday meant a few things for Finn and Rachel. Though neither of them could quite place their feelings for the other into matter, they knew something was there. Even when Rachel tried to shake off the thought of being Finn's fiancé every time she saw the ring, it wouldn't leave her. She told her head that it was all pretend but it didn't feel like it. She imagined having a fiancé made you think of them day and night, want to be there with them all the time. She imagined it feeling as though you were ready to commit your life and more to this one person and during each of those imaginings she saw Finn. But that was the thing wasn't it? He wasn't even her boyfriend let alone be her fiancé. The ring on her finger was for the sake of Cassie, and no matter how much her heart and her head were confused, Cassie should be and would be their main priority.

Finn woke up feeling as though he was ready to take on the world. For once, he felt good, like he was complete, even though there were many things missing in his life. Thinking back to the day before, he knew it was one of the worst days he'd ever had; having said goodbye to two of his closest friends and the parents of the child that was now his responsibility. But no matter how much darkness that day had, it also shed some light. He couldn't quite figure out why he was insulted by Santana and Kurt's accusation about the ring- that he didn't know the sentiment of it and was using it disrespectfully, even if trying to prove something.

Laying there with the sun streaming in on to his face, he finally figured it out. It hurt because he knew the sentiment of that ring all too well and knowing so, he gave it to Rachel. When he thought of the ring, he thought of commitment, he thought of loving one person for the rest of his life, he thought of growing old with this one person. When he thought of the ring he saw love, friendship and a future. These thoughts all brought one person to mind and that person was wearing the ring. Somehow his mother's ring looked right on Rachel's finger. It was like her hand was made to wear the ring that was made to fit her finger. It made everything seem complete. It gave him a sense of family and worth, something he didn't have much of while growing up. But he can't be in love with Rachel; sure, he loved her like a friend but it couldn't be that he felt for her that way. There had been moments but they both disregarded them to mean anything since they've always acted like that. Always. His heart told him one thing, and his head another; that this was all pretend and maybe they were just really good at their acting, because all this was in Cassie's interest and right now, that little girls happiness and welfare came first.

Still in his night wear, black shorts and a t-shirt, Finn made his way into the kitchen for breakfast finding Rachel and Cassie already there. While Cassie sat in her high chair, playing with some rusk biscuits, Rachel, who was already ready for the day, was sitting at the table munching on toast and looking at something on the laptop.

Walking over to Cassie with a big smile Finn greeted her. 'Morning Munchkin' to which Rachel replied 'Good morning' back to him brightly, only to look up and realise he was talking to Cassie and not her, causing her to blush.

Placing a kiss on top of Cassie's head and taking a piece of her biscuit, Finn turned to Rachel, flashing her his million watt lopsided smile, and said morning back to her.

Avoiding the awkwardness of the moment, Finn went on to make his breakfast.

'What are you researching?'

'I meant it when I said we'll be doing some research on parenting and that's what I'm doing right now' Rachel was focused on scrolling through the pages that had come up as she spoke.

Finn walked over to her and hovered over head as he took large bites of his toast.

'Why do we need to research parenting? We'll be great parents, Cass agrees' He looked towards Cassie who was happily babbling away as she made crumbs of the soggy biscuit on her hands.