Finn rose slowly from his reclined position, careful not to worsen the pounding headache he was experiencing. He looked around him, nothing but brightness and warmth and a sense comfort coming to him from all sides. He stood slowly, feeling his headache slowly fade away. He started to walk, but stopped and turned around. Standing behind him was a woman he knew he had seen before.

"You..." he began, pointing a finger at her. The woman smiled softly, nodding. He faltered for a minute, unsure of if he was dreaming or not. He knew he was dead, but he didn't know if he was in Heaven or Hell or purgatory or wherever. He just knew that he was seeing a woman he had never expected to meet.

"M-Mrs. Hummel? Kurt's mom?"

The woman nodded again, more enthusiastically, and set a gentle hand on his cheek. "My name's Elizabeth," she cooed, rubbing her thumb along Finn's cheekbone. Kurt's middle name, he thought, as his knees went a bit weak, and he leaned involuntarily into her touch. She smiled and looked him over with watery bright blue eyes. She stepped closer and set her other hand on Finn's other cheek, holding his face still as she scanned it over.

"Such a handsome young man," she whispered, smiling a beautiful smile with glimmering straight white teeth. Finn looked her over, tearing up at how much of his brother he saw in her. He hadn't been away but a few minutes, but it felt like his brother and his mom and Burt were nothing but distant memories that rippled in his mind like a pond littered with skipping stones. He put a hand in the woman's hair, feeling along the strawberry blonde curls.

"Finn," she whispered, moving to hold his hands. "Thank you."

"For what?" Finn inquired, watching her carefully.

She smiled and pulled his head down. She placed a gentle kiss on his forehead and mumbled against the skin "For protecting my baby."

Finn froze for a second, remembering all the times he had bullied Kurt as opposed to how many times he had protected him. He had to admit, the latter outweighed the former. He smiled softly, indulging in the motherly treatment. He pulled away after a few seconds, tilting his head to the side. "I was wondering... Kurt likes to call my dad his step dad, even though we both know he's gone, but... What do I...?"

"You can call me whatever you think is appropriate. As for me, I think I'll call you my son."

"Why would you do that? I'm not your son, we don't share any blood."

"Family expands beyond blood, Finn. You and Kurt don't come from the same families in any way shape or form, but he's just as much your brother as anyone else's is, am I right?"

Finn was a bit stunned silent, but he nodded and smiled. "Alright. I'm gonna call you mom, then. At least... Until my real mom gets here."

Elizabeth laughed soft and nodded. "And you'll be my son even after Kurt comes."

Finn laughed as well, smiling at her and pulling her into a hug. She smiled, hugging back and rubbing Finn's back. When they broke the hug, Elizabeth pulled back and licked her lips.

"There's someone else I think you should meet," she said softly, turning Finn around and clapping her hands softly. Finn's heart jumped into his throat and it took all his willpower not to break down crying.

"Dad..."