House vs Home
"What's Quinn like Rachel?" inquired a young, naïve Beth.
And that's how it started, should Rachel tell her 'sister' Beth what she really thought of Quinn or lie and tell her what she wanted to hear? Either way it was wrong, if she told Beth about all the horrible things Quinn used to get up to then Beth wouldn't have this great image of her real mum in her mind anymore and if Rachel told Beth that Quinn was a nice person then she was lying.
After Rachel left school she went to study at Julliard, where she met up with Shelby and Beth. Rachel knew Shelby had adopted Beth and she'd come to terms with it, she was kind of happy that Shelby got to be a mom to Beth. They started spending more time together, Rachel would study hard all week and spend the weekend and maybe some weeknights with Shelby and Beth, if she wasn't spending time with Kurt or her other friends from Julliard.
When she graduated Julliard she'd already made a name for herself, she'd show those Lima losers that she wasn't one of them. Sure Rachel thought of some of the people she left behind mainly kids from glee, but did she really leave them behind or did they kick her out the door? Rachel matured at Julliard she learnt that… well she could be a little over bearing, confidence is good but she learned she needed to step back some times, and that's how she finally made friends. Rachel was a good person with a big heart so she really didn't struggle to make friends once she'd toned down.
Rachel made it big, she did what she set out to do, Broadway. And she was happy on stage, it was like being back in glee, she was part of something special and Rachel was special!
So taking a break from Broadway, Rachel went back to where it all started Lima Ohio, Rachel only ever got faint butterflies the first time she stepped out on stage for her opening night on Broadway but arriving back in Lima well Rachel was feeling heavily nauseous. Kurt and Mercedes had told Rachel not to worry but it was easier said than done. Rachel had matured and going back felt just like a step back. As she arrived in Ohio she saw those slushy cups and she knew it wasn't going to be easy but Rachel never gave up.
Shelby had relocated back to Lima with Beth; she got back her old job as a glee coach at Carmel High. Shelby just concluded that it felt like home to her. Strange, as Rachel couldn't think of anywhere less homely.
Rachel arrived at Shelby's for her 'vacation' the only thing Rachel was excited about was spending time with, whom she now considered to be her younger sibling, Beth. Beth knew she was adopted but that didn't matter because Shelby, Rachel, Leroy and Hiram where all the family she needed, but as they say young minds are inquisitive and so it was only a matter of time before Beth started asking questions.
Beth would look at pictures of her biological mum and dad through Rachel's old year book and finally she decided that she wanted to know, so Rachel went for the easy option;
"I'd love to meet her, I mean if its ok with Shelby. Is Beth big? Are her eyes still blue cause they say they change at first? Is she smart? Can she sing? She doesn't have a boyfriend does she? Is-"
"Noah! Slow down, Shelby actually asked me to meet with you and see if it would be alright with you. She's normal height and I resent that because small people are just as capable as tall I'll have you know Noah, She's very smart for her age in fact I think she's advanced and should be moved up a grade but her principal wont reply to any of my letters. As for a boyfriend Noah she's too young and at the tender age of 7 the only thing Beth's concerned with is singing as any 7 year old should be" Rachel finally took a breath after her long speech, diverted Pucks eyes and continued "Beth definitely has Quinn's eyes"
"…What erm colour are Quinn's eyes are they blue? And you're turning Beth into a mini you, maybe I should get a thesaurus before I meet Beth" Puck wondered and received a light playful slap to his arm
"Quinn's eyes are hazel, more green, couldn't possibly be confused with blue, I thought you were once in love with Quinn and yet you didn't see her eyes" Rachel looked at Puck bewildered how could he not remember those piercing eyes.
"I loved everyone who'd have some one on one time with the puckasaurus, and since when did you spend so much time looking at Quinn did I miss something in high school?" Puck asked with a sly grin and a wink
"Puckasauras? Please tell me you don't still call yourself that! And if you had Quinn shooting evils at you so many times you'd remember her eyes aswell, I still see them in my sle… So anyway is Monday good for you?" Rachel quickly recovered.
"Definitely, anytime, anywhere. I just can't believe I'm going to see her again, my Beth. I just hope she doesn't hate me" Noah started to get teary; yes Noah Puckerman had tears in his eyes. Seeing this Rachel held his hand and gave it a light squeeze.
"Noah, Beth doesn't hate you she just wants to know you, she's not going to run into your arm-" Puck started to move his hand but Rachel had a firm grip "- just one day at a time. I thought when I met my m… Shelby everything would … fit but it just takes time"
Puck and Rachel both got up to leave the Café, they left after a long overdue hug, having exchanged numbers and Rachel giving Puck the directions to the library, he wanted a thesaurus.
Rachel knew meeting Noah would be easy they left on good terms when Rachel went to Julliard he was actually the one Rachel thought the most about since she left. As for Quinn well Rachel was postponing that inevitable meeting for… well aslong as she could.
Monday finally came around after days of Beth asking lots of questions about her dad. Beth didn't really have a stable father figure, one that lived with her so she just wanted to fill that void; she didn't feel bad about meeting her dad because she wasn't replacing anyone.
"What time will Noah be here Rachel, I thought you said 12 and the clock's hands are pointing upwards, Do you think he forgot?" just as a worried Beth finished there was a firm knock at the door, Beth looked at Rachel silently asking if she could answer the door, Rachel nodded and Beth slowly strolled towards the door, she held the handle took a deep breath and opened the door to a smartly dressed Puck who was carrying a giant stuffed pony.
"Hello Beth, I'm Noah I'm your…" Puck paused looking towards Rachel not quite sure on what to say.
"Is that for me? I love ponies I asked mum for one but she said no" Beth asked with a happy glint in her eye, she slowly started to reach out for the teddy, Noah slowly handed the teddy over he was awe struck, here his daughter was after all these years stood right in front of him accepting his gift.
Beth turned back into the house to sit in the lounge beckoning for Puck to follow, which of course he did after shutting the door. Rachel, Noah and Beth all sat on the sofas in the Lounge; Beth beside Puck. They started to talk about school, Beth's love for music and her other interests. Noah started of awkward not knowing what to say but Beth took the initiative and rambled on as kids do, and so Noah eased more and more throughout the conversation, by the end they were talking freely. Just as it started to get late Noah disappointingly told Beth he had to leave.
"But, I'll see you again right because we're friends now you bought me a teddy, you're not going to leave me again are you?" a pouting Beth pleaded with Noah. Noah looked dumbstruck, unusually dumbstruck. He looked towards Rachel.
"Ofcourse We'll be seeing Noah again Beth he finally has someone to teach him how to sing and someone to play games with you try and stop him." Rachel smiled and looked towards Beth and Noah.
"You promise?" Beth directed at Noah.
"I promise and next time I'll bring my guitar" Noah answered
"Maybe if you ask nicely Noah will play your song Beth"
"My song I have a song, what is it? Will you play it?" Beth beamed at Puck
"Well when we, me and your … birth mother Quinn, found out we were having a baby. I wanted to name you Beth so I sang Beth to Quinn and I made sure Shelby called you Beth" Puck told an eagerly listening Beth
"Really that's why I'm called Beth, that's so cool. You have to sing it I've never heard it" Beth admitted to Puck
"I'll bring my guitar, you just get ready to listen to some awesome Jewish legends"
Beth quickly hugged puck and then ran towards her room with a big smile on her face. Noah meanwhile had tears in his eyes as he turned to talk to Rachel
"You know I've never been a crier cause well I'm a badass, but I get all … kinda mushy around Beth I have tears in my eyes right now, that's never happened before. I'm so glad she's accepting I was kind of worried she'd hate me for abandoning her." Tears actually spilled out of Pucks eyes at mentioning this. Rachel immediately put her arms around Puck in a light hug and whispered in his ear;
"You never abandoned Beth, you gave her a better life and seeing her now proves that to you, shes happy, healthy and loving all thanks to you for letting her have this life" Rachel pulled back and wiped Noah's cheeks, he had a faint smile on his face.
"You're right I know just I'm glad I get to see her again and I'm going to make sure she's spoilt and knows her Jewish legends how can she not know any Jewish songs Rachel, as a fellow Jew I'm disappointed" Puck finished with a light chuckle.
Rachel and Noah said their goodbyes. Beth waved to her dad through the window and Puck waved back before he went home.
Rachel was exhausted she'd been running around since she got to Lima and she was supposed to be having a break. She was happy to have reunited Noah and Beth.
A few days later and Noah was round at the Corcaron's again visiting Beth, with his guitar as promised. He sang Beth to Beth as she listened contently smiling. As the day went on Noah and Beth where getting on greatly, until Beth asked about Quinn.
"So do you still see Quinn Noah?" asked Beth
"Not really Beth after high school we just started work and that's it really" Puck answered, luckily Beth didn't notice that he was hiding something but Rachel did. Beth was happy with that answer and just continued playing with her Barbies.
Noah and Rachel moved into the kitchen, Rachel opened the fridge to make some drinks for herself, Beth and Noah. They sat down in the kitchen and started to sip their drinks neither one wanting to approach the elephant in the room.
Curiosity got the better of Rachel. "So do you know what Quinn's up to now? Just Beth is eventually going to want to meet her"
"I know what she's up to" Puck paused waiting for Rachel to let him know if he should continue, Rachel finally nodded and so Puck continued 'She's married to Sam'
Rachel was quite surprised to hear this, the last time she heard they'd split up. Sam was one of the good guys, so Rachel just didn't think they'd last. Maybe, Sam had done her some good over the years.
"That's nice, so she's happily married then?" Rachel couldn't help but be nosey; she balanced it by telling herself she was just asking for Beth.
"I honestly don't know Rach we don't talk, I just heard it from Finn." Puck was hiding something. Rachel would get it out of him.
"So what else do you know then? What does she do?" Rachel asked looking intently into Pucks eyes.
"Well Rach … she's working at Fabray building societies" Rachel was utterly shocked "Erm just so you know that's her dads business"
"I know that Noah! But, he's an absoloute-"
"Rachel where's my- who's a what Rachel?" Beth interrupted Rachel's undoubtable rant.