Opening the curtains in Beth's room, Quinn was greeted by a frosty day with little promise of any sun. Beth groaned, her blonde curls spread out all over the pillow. At 6 years old she was NOT a morning person. Taking her clothes out of her little white wardrobe, Quinn laid them out on her dressing table.
"C'mon Beth, it's slippy out and you don't want to be rushing!"
"5 more minutes." mumbled the child, rolling over. Tutting, Quinn walked down the hall of the 3 bedroom apartment and flung open the kitchen door. After Puck had left 6 months ago, Quinn had been left to fend for herself and Beth alone. With a good job as a vocal coach for Broadway shows, she had bought the New York apartment for herself and Beth in the thought that it would cover up the memories of the dingy, Lima bedsit that Puck had rented for them. Quinn sighed, thinking of the boyfriends that could have given her a good life. Finn, who, for all his flaws, was a great guy at heart and would have been an amazing father to Beth. And then Sam... Now HE would have been an even better father to her...
After a few more minutes a groggy Beth stumbled into the white gloss kitchen and sat at the glass table, munching on waffles and sipping a smoothie. Quinn knew that when she was eating was the best time to attack the curls. It kept her distracted, although she still jumped when the brush got caught on a knot. Washing the breakfast dishes afterwards, Quinn looked down at her sud-filled hands. A child, yet no ring. Her church had been outraged when she got pregnant, which was another reason Quinn escaped to New York. The clock on the wall read 8am and Beth came back into the kitchen after brushing her teeth, dressed in a pink dress and white leggings with a white cardigan. Quinn smiled at her, emptying the sink and drying her hands on a nearby tea towel.
As she strapped Beth into the back seat, Quinn thought she saw a familiar face. 'No, it can't be him' she thought, getting into the car and driving away.
Later that evening, Quinn picked Beth up from Santana and Brittany's apartment 6 blocks down. They chatted animatedly all the way home in the car, snow falling heavily around The City That Never Sleeps. Holding her hand tightly so she wouldn't fall, Quinn led Beth inside where Beth waved at the concierge, who smiled back. Taking the elevator to the 7th floor, Beth babbled on about Sarah, her best friend, who lost her first tooth the night before. Quinn chuckled as Beth went on to boast that she'd lost hers first, even if it did come out after she ran into the wall. Quinn knew that Beth loved unlocking the door for no real reason, so she handed her the keys and told her to run on.
"Mommy?" came Beth's worried voice from around the corner. Quinn's eyes narrowed.
"Yes?" she replied.
"Who's this man?" Man? Beth knew everyone in the block, by the end of the first week she did. Quinn began to panic, her walk turning into a terrified run.
"Beth!" she gasped, breathless. But as she turned the corner her fear washed away. A feeling of shock came over her.
"Hi Quinn." smiled the visitor, who was crouched down beside Beth.
"Sam? What are you doing here?"