They managed to make it through the end of the school year with minimal time lost.  They had managed to schedule all of Rachel’s doctor’s appointments around their school and Glee schedules.  Rachel managed to perform lead for all three competitions.  They had even come in 10th place in the country during their Nationals.  Rachel can’t help but to think they didn’t win because there she stood, seven months pregnant.  That couldn’t look good.  Oh well, there was still next year. 

After classes on the last day of school Blaine and Rachel headed to Rachel’s house for dinner.  It had been a regular occurrence since they began ‘dating.’  At school they played their part well.  They held hands in the hallway and would ‘steal’ kisses in the hallway. Everyone thought that they were crazy in love, the “it” couple among their friends. 

“If there is one thing I am happy about all of this is that I am due in the middle of the summer. It’s going to be so nice just sitting for a few weeks before she comes.”

Blaine nodded and smiled at her before he got lost in his thoughts.

There Blaine sat; he was next to Rachel who was laying on the exam table, nervous smile plastered on her face.  Misters Berry were standing behind Blaine, both with a hand grasping each shoulder.  Blaine doesn’t remember a time that he was this excited for something.  They were about to see their baby for the first time.  “Ready Rachel?  It’s going to be cold.”  The tech squirted gel on Rachel’s growing bump as she anxiously nodded.  All four pairs of eyes were focused on the screen in front of them.  “Oh look, see there are the feet, baby’s kicking at me.”  Rachel’s smile could have brightened the entire world.  Blaine was just trying to keep himself together.  “Okay I’m just going to take some measurements.”  The tech explained all of the measurements and what she was doing.  Blaine honestly really wasn’t listening.  His face was glued to the monitor in front of him.  It was a surreal moment.  He was looking at his baby.  “Oh look here’s the face, look the baby sucking it’s thumb.”  With that Leroy started to tear up and Hiram put his arm around his waist bringing him closer.  “Okay, I have all the measurements I need; do you want me to see if we can see the sex?”  “YES!”  All three of them exclaimed at once.  “Okay keep in mind I can’t tell you for sure 100% okay?”  They nodded as Blaine held tightly to Rachel’s hand. “Let me get a screen shot, okay!  It looks like, with about 95% certainty – it’s a – GIRL!”  Blaine immediately broke down crying.  He stood up and hugged Rachel and they cried into each other’s shoulders.  For the first time since they found out about the baby the tears they were crying were happy tears.

Snapping back to reality Blaine asked, “So how are you feeling Rach, do you want me to get you anything when we get back to your house?”

“I’m okay, just tired and my back hurts, I just need to get out of these clothes and put back on some pajamas.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Blaine, you need to stop apologizing.  I’m just uncomfortable, not dying.”  Blaine smiled at her as he pulled into Rachel’s driveway. 

Hiram and Leroy stood in the living room window watching Blaine, ever the gentleman, jog over to Rachel’s door opening it for her, taking her hand into his helping her step out of the car.  Blaine took her bag over his shoulder and interlocked their arms walking up to the house.  “Well, I wish they weren’t in this situation, but since we are already here, I’m glad it was Blaine.”  Hiram whispered to Leroy.  Leroy nodded silently.

Twenty minutes later Rachel managed to waddle down the stairs wearing a tank top and Blaine’s sweatpants.  It was the only ‘outfit’ that actually fit her at this point.  Since she was so short the baby had nowhere to go but out so she looked like she was carrying twins.  She joined Blaine on the couch and slowly, and painfully, attempted to lift her legs to rest them on Blaine’s lap.  Blaine saw her struggling so he reached down and pulled them onto his lap.  Without even asking he started massaging her swelling feet. 

Hiram and Leroy come into the living room with a tray of drinks.  Handing them out Leroy spoke up.  “Okay kids, we would like to talk with you.  Things are going to change a lot, soon.  Sooner than we are ready for –“

“What your father’s trying to say is that the baby is going to be here in a few weeks.  In two short months you two are starting your senior year.  We want to know what your plans are for college.”

“Oh well, we’ve been thinking a lot about it daddy.  Blaine and I both want to go to college in New York.  I am going to get into NYADA and Blaine wants to go to NYU.  Don’t worry dads, we aren’t going to forgo college.  We will figure out childcare and jobs.”  Blaine nodded in agreement.

“I am so proud of you both.  I know this situation isn’t ideal but we know if anyone can do it, it’s you two.  We want you to know that we are going to help you in any way we can.”

“Thanks daddies.”

“Yea, thanks Misters Berry.”

“Blaine stop with that Misters nonsense, you are family now.  And that brings me to our next topic.” Hiram started.

“Blaine, we want you to move in.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Rachel is going to need a lot of help, especially those first few months.  As much as we are going to support you two, we did the whole waking up five times a night with a baby thing, and we are not planning on doing it again.  You two will be moving away to college together anyway, may as well get used to it.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely, and we want you to move in as soon as possible, it will be too chaotic if we wait until the baby comes.”

“Okay, after dinner I’ll go talk to my parents.”

“Perfect.  Let’s eat.”

*x*x*

Blaine hasn’t spoken to his father since the night after Rachel’s sonogram.  His words still stung even as a memory.

Blaine sat with his mother in the sitting room showing her the pictures from the sonogram.  He was showing off his daughter.  He and his mother were laughing about the argument that occurred when they got home about her name.  Blaine had flat out refused to name is daughter Barbara or Eliza.  Richard walked into the room and went straight to the brandy he had sitting on the desk.  “What is all this about?”  Blaine rolled his eyes and his mother answered for him.  “Blaine and Rachel are having a baby girl.”  Richard took back a shot of the brandy and slammed his glass down on the table.  “You seriously can’t do any fucking thing right.”  “What now sir?  What could I have possibly messed up now?”  “You’re not even enough of a man to give this family a son.  An heir to the name.”  “Are you kidding me right now?”  “Blaine, stop it, you can keep up this façade for the rest of your life, I don’t care.  It’s not going to change the fact that you are a fag and not even man enough to have son.”  “With all due respect sir,” Blaine spat back “I am not a ‘fag’ as you so put it, and I am more of a man than you will ever be.  You are a shitty father and you have no right to talk to me like I am a piece of shit.  I am your SON, all I ever did was love you growing up and all you did was make me hate you.”  Blaine got up not even allowing his father the chase to retort.  He heard his mother call out after him but he wasn’t in the mood for her shit either.  He loved his mother but was sick of her not standing up for him.

Blaine now sat across from his parents, once again in the sitting room.  “What do you want Blaine, I have some business that I need to attend to.”

Blaine ignored the uncaring tone of his father’s voice and started to speak.  “Mom, Dad, I’m moving in with Rachel, effective immediately.”

“But, why?”  His mom asked, obliviously shell shocked.

“Because mother.  We are going to have a baby in a few weeks and Rachel needs the help.  It’s not like dad wants me here anyway, I am just an inconvenience to him.”

“Fine, you will still have your monthly allowance deposited into your account and your trust will be at your disposal when you turn 18.  I will expect you to return your key to the house when you leave.  Oh and you can keep your car, I have no use for it.”  His father abruptly stood and left the sitting room to go into the study.  His mother gave him a kiss on the cheek and went into the kitchen.  He knew she didn’t want him to see her cry.

And that was that.  Blaine went to his room and packed his things while taking a good look around.  This was the last time he was going to see this house.

*x*x*

Over the next two weeks Blaine settled in to the Berry’s residence.  He was already happier than he had been in years.  It was a completely different world than what he was used to.  The angst was replaced by joy, the hate by love.  This was something that he was happy he would be able to get used to.

Early in the morning of the 4th of July Rachel woke up with a start and waddled to the bathroom.  Five minutes later she was standing at the foot of the bed.  “Uh Blaine?”

“What’s up Rach?”  Blaine sat up sleepily, his eyes trying to adjust to the light.

“I don’t feel good.”

“What do you mean you don’t feel good?” 

“I’m all crampy and I- I’m bleeding.”

“You’re bleeding?  What did you cut yourself?”  Blaine asked in his confused state of consciousness.

“No, I’m bleeding, bleeding.”

“Oh my God.”  Blaine snapped out of his exhausted fog and flew out of the bed.  He started running around the room like a maniac looking for something.  Only problem was he was not sure what that something was.

“Blaine relax.  The doctor told me this would happen.  She said it’s normal.”

“But Rachel you’re not due for another three weeks, this isn’t supposed to happen yet.”

“Well it is and I need you to calm down.  I’m going to call my midwife and see what she says okay?”

“Okay, I’m going to take a quick shower. I want you to sit on the bed and not move, I will be right now, holler if you need me.”  Blaine was in her en suite shower with a minute trying to wash his body and his hair and fast as he could.  His heart was racing.  This was it.  He was going to become a dad.  Blaine Anderson was becoming a dad; at 17.  He was out of the shower and back in the room getting dressed before Rachel had even gotten a call back from the answering service. 

“Wow Blaine you weren’t lying when you said it would be quick.”

“I didn’t want to leave you alone.”  Rachel’s cellphone rang as Blaine stood by the vanity getting dressed.  He looked at Rachel through the reflection in the mirror and saw her wincing with pain. A contraction; this was really it.  He looked for his bag and threw all of his things in it; his camera, his chargers, and grabbed all of Rachel’s as well.  He zipped the bag and threw it by their door coming back to the bed to sit next to Rachel.

“She said I should take a shower and try to sleep some more.  That when the contractions get to five to ten minutes apart or when my water breaks to come in and she will meet me there.”

“So how far apart are they now?”

“I think maybe 15-20.  It’s not bad yet.  I’m going to shower.”

“Okay, take your time and leave the door open. I don’t think your dads will approve of me breaking down the door if something happens.”  Rachel giggled and did as Blaine said.  Twenty minutes later she was back, dressed and laying back in Blaine’s embrace.  She played the part of the little spoon that night as Blaine just rubbed her belly.  That was one thing that he would never get tired of and would miss when all was said and done.  There is something truly magical about being able to feel your baby kick and move around.  Blaine would spend hours with his head resting on her belly talking, singing, and attempting to joke with the baby.

Blaine and Rachel were nestled into the couch watching Funny Girl for the one millionth time.  Ever since Rachel had started showing, this became a regular occurrence.  He would sit there with her for hours on end resting his hands on that perfectly round belly.  Then one day, as Barbara sang the closing notes to ‘Don’t Rain on my Parade’ he felt it; a soft kick.  At first he thought he imagined it until Rachel grabbed his hands and asked him “Did you feel that?”  “Yea.”  He replied and the baby did it again. “Well she’s dancing to ‘Don’t Rain on my Parade’ already Rach, she’s definitely your daughter.” 

The two managed to fall back asleep for a few hours.  At 4:30 Blaine could feel Rachel tensing in his arms.  She was half asleep whimpering in pain.  The sound broke his heart and he felt absolutely guilty.  Here is Rachel, in pain, all because of him.  Her breathing returned to normal and Blaine rested his head again.  He was expecting for another contraction to come soon, but not as soon as it did.  At 4:34 Rachel curled into a ball and whimpered again.

Shit.  Four minutes. Shit.

“Rachel wake up, I think we should go to the hospital.”

“Okay.  Blaine it hurts.”

“I know Rach, I know.  I’m going to wake up your dads.  Put on your slippers and I’ll be right back. I don’t want you walking those stairs by yourself.”  Blaine shoved his feet into his Adidas sandals and ran banging on her dads’ door.  “Hiram! Leroy!  Wake up!  It’s time.”  He banged on the door again and ran back to their room, where Rachel sat curled and whimpering again.  He looked at his watch. Shit it was 4:38. Another one so soon.  “Come on Rach, let’s get into the car.”  He wrapped Rachel’s arm around his waist and they started walking out of the bedroom, Rachel clutching her belly.  Hiram and Leroy were waiting in the hallway, still in their sleepwear ready to go.  Hiram took the bag from Blaine and ran down stairs ahead of them and took Rachel’s bag that was waiting by the door.  It took almost ten minutes to get her down into the car, they had to stop TWICE for contractions. 

Hiram and Leroy jumped into the front seat and Blaine went into the back with Rachel.  He took out Rachel’s cellphone and called the midwife to let her know that her contractions were four minutes apart consistently and they were on the way to the hospital.  Blaine had never been so grateful that the Berries live a ten minute drive for the hospital.  Rachel on the other hand was quite miserable with the fact that those ten minutes were riddled with pot holes.

They get to the hospital and Leroy jumps out of the passenger seat before Hiram even has it as a stop. He runs into the Emergency Department entrance and goes to flag down a nurse.  Within minutes he is back with a wheelchair. 

That was the last moment that Blaine remembered coherently.  From there everything went so fast.  They took her up to Triage, and he dads had to wait in the waiting room, only one person was allowed with the patient in triage at a time.  While waiting for her midwife to come examine her she realized she had to go to the bathroom.  Blaine stood outside of the door waiting for her to come out.  All of a sudden he hears Rachel scream “OH MY GOD, I feel her head!  She’s coming!”  Blaine tries to shoulder the door but it’s locked.  The nurse runs over with the key to the door as Blaine stood there in shock.  The nurse helps her back onto the gurney and her midwife comes running down the hall.  She does the exam and tells a tearful Rachel and a shocked Blaine “You’re ten centimeter’s, fully faced, and negaitive one station.  You’re having a baby.”  The nurses in the room pull up the bars on the side of the gurney and start rushing her to a delivery suite.

“Hiram! Leroy! Come on, she’s having the baby now!”  Blaine yelled out into the hallway hoping they would hear him and follow them down the halls.  The nurses were at just short of a run to get her into the first open room the saw.  Blaine, Hiram, and Leroy jogged behind him.  Everything was a blur to Blaine.  He saw them put down the bars and literally transfer Rachel to the bed by the sheet.  Before he knew it her legs were up, the midwife was dressed and the nurse was instructed him to hold he knee to her chest. 

“Okay, here’s a contraction push for ten!” 

Within minutes (even though it seemed like an eternity for both Rachel and Blaine) they heard a cry.  “It’s a girl.”  The midwife says as she lifts her up for everyone to see.  Blaine cuts the cord as two very weepy Mister Berries take pictures.  Blaine was so overwhelmed.  He sat in the chair next to Rachel and just looked at her as they placed a very tiny, very messy baby girl down on her chest.  Blaine reaches up and touches her face.  At his touch the baby, his daughter, opens her eyes and looks at him.  Her eyes with the most beautiful shade of green he had ever seen in his life.  “Rachel, she’s perfect.”  He chokes out before his is blinded by his tears.

Twenty minutes later he is sitting in the recliner holding a cleaner, more clothed baby girl.  Rachel was sleeping peacefully in her bed and the proud grandparents stood next to Blaine, taking more pictures.  Hiram took Blaine’s cellphone of the table and took a few pictures of the proud daddy holding his baby girl.  Blaine was captivated by her.  He took off her little hat (which was pink and decorated with pink and purple curling ribbon – Rachel would get a kick out of that when she woke up) to look at her hair.  She had long (almost an inch and a half in some places!) dark brown wavy hair.  She was a mini Blaine.  He picked her up closer and held her by his face and kissed the sleeping baby on her forehead.

“Congratulations Daddy.”  Blaine smiled at them and we back to staring at his daughter.

“You two never told us what he name is.”

“Bernadette, it’s Bernadette Marie Anderson.”