Sorry me again; my sister (LeftMyHeartInParis) and I came up with an idea, we're taking one of the other persons fics and changing it just enough to fit our own otp. Not got a clue what or when she's got whatever planned, but here is my attempt. :/

Heavily based on LMHIP's fic 'Family, Friends and Falling In Love'

Also working title for this fic :/

Posted: 3/7/12

Growing a Family

Quinn Lucy Fabray sat in what used to be her daughters room.

Her husband and their daughter had been taken from her many years ago, 10 years ago to the day. The sweet baby girl she had barely got to know and the loving husband who had stood by her and supported her for 5 years before that were gone. It was time that she moved on, she felt alone, like she had for the past 10 years and she couldn't do it anymore.

As she sat looking at all the toys and things that she and her husband had bought their daughter for her 3rd and last birthday, she knew that they deserved to be used, to be loved again.

Quinn had loved her daughter the moment she was bought into the world (and not just thankful that the birthing experience was over, because she soon found out there would be more pain in that department), she had always wanted a child, but when hers was taken she hid, she hid her heart never wanting to get hurt again.

But now, after the loneliness in that 10 years, she wanted to fill that void.

She had the space, the things and lately the time; so decided to take a big step and make one child's life hopefully better. She looked at her watch and realised it was time for her to leave.

Thirty long, nerve racking minutes later and she arrived at the adoption agency. This whole process made her not feel like herself. At work she was strong, and often scary in her colleagues eyes, but she was good at what she did, but today she would soften and open up to someone new.

"Miss Fabray, you can go in" the woman behind the receptionist desk told her.

Quinn nodded in thanks and stood up, before walking into the office the receptionist had motioned to.

"Good morning Miss Fabray" Mrs Thomas the head of the agency said standing up behind her desk as the hazel eyed woman walked in and sat down in front of her.

"Good morning Mrs Thomas, its good to see you again. How are you?"

"I'm well thank you, and I hope everything is good with you too" the older woman said politely as she reached for a stack of papers that were set out on her desk

"Yes, everything's good; I'm a little nervous if I'm honest" she smiled weakly (so not her usual self)

"No need to be nervous Miss Fabray" the woman smiled encouragingly "All your paper work seems to be in order and the child services have approved everything so today is the day you get to make a child very happy" she said with a big grin.

Quinn nodded with an eager smile as the woman got up, gesturing for Quinn to follow. They left the office and headed back through the reception to another door, as they approached this door Quinn's ears were met with the sound of child's laughter and chatter

The friendly woman opened the door and Quinn immediately smiled at the sight of loads children ages ranging between 3 and 8 as that was the age the orphanage looked after. They were playing, chatting and just generally having fun, well as much as they could. "You can talk to some of the children and if you reach a decision talk to me, or miss James" she pointed to one of the women working in the room looking after the children "Who can help. And we can then talk with the child and then proceed with paper work if everyone's happy"

Quinn nodded and said a distracted "Thank you" as she kept watching over the children.

Quinn wasn't sure she would be able to make a decision easily as she looked over all the children. This wasn't like choosing a shower gel, or a loaf of bread, it was a life changing decision; although you didn't have to be a rocket scientist to know that.

Suddenly Quinn noticed a little blonde girl sitting in the corner reading to herself and a stuffed lamb that looked like it had some of the stuffing strangled out of it. She was quietly mumbling the words to herself and the floppy necked lamb.

"Hey sweetie, what's your name?" Quinn asked as she knelt down to the little girls height.

The little girl looked at her with a shy smile. Her brown eye's meeting her hazel "I'm Beth" she said quietly

"And who is this?" Quinn said to the lamb sat next to the girl

"That's Minty" she said picking up the grubby, loved toy and showing Quinn more closely. Quinn frowned slightly to herself, wondering if that was some dark humour; calling the lamb Minty... didn't you eat mint sauce with roast lamb. "What's your name?" she asked curiously, breaking Quinn from her thoughts

"My name's Quinn" she said with a smile already feeling a strong connection to the little light haired girl.

"Nice to meet you Miss Quinn" she said her smiled moving into more of a grin.

She laughed lightly at the way she had added 'miss' to her name, probably because the little girl had to with all the staff here "You can just call me Quinn" she said still smiling " Beth, how old are you?" Quinn asked.

"I'm four almost five" she said holding up five fingers "how old are you?"

The blonde woman loved the way the girl kept the conversation going "I'm 36... but I don't have that many fingers" she smiled even brighter as the little girl giggled

Quinn must have spent at least an hour sitting cross-legged opposite Beth learning all about the little girl (avoiding any sour subjects obviously) she quickly learnt that she was very inquisitive, very bright and could get very excitable about things she loved

"What do you work as Miss Quinn?" Beth asked, forgetting she didn't need to ass the 'Miss' and having talked about herself enough, she now wanted to know about her new friend

"I'm a cop" Quinn answered blunt yet soft wondering how the little girl would react.

"Cool" Beth said looking up at her with her big brown eyes full of excitement. And in that moment it hit Quinn.

"I'll be back in a minute" Quinn said suddenly to Beth, but she gave the small girl an encouraging smile to reassure her she'd be back

She nodded and said "Okay Miss Quinn" before turning back to her book. Quinn smiled getting up from her place on the floor by this interesting little girl.

"Have you made your decision?" Mrs Thomas asked looking up as Quinn knocked then entered her office.

"Yes I have" she said sitting down in the chair opposite the older woman again

"Who is it then? She asked leaning forward on her chair.

"A little girl called Beth, with blonde hair" she added in case there was another Beth "oh and Minty the lamb, he'll be coming along too" Quinn said, realising what being around the little girl was already doing to her.

"Oh Beth, she is a sweetie isn't she, but be its best that you know..." she trailed off as she got up and found the child's file (well the part of the file she was legally supposed to show a potential 'adopter') "well it's all here actually" she took a piece of paper out the file and showed it to Quinn

Quinn read through the details; all she saw was that Beth was vulnerable, and she needed a home and someone to look after her. Quinn hoped she could be that for her "I think I can handle it" Quinn said with a confident smile

"Okay then" Mrs Thomas said happily as she went to find the forms and start the process of adoption

Let me know what you think...