Word For Thought:

Unfortunately, I own nothing.


[Trying To Conceive]

'You want me to what?'

'It's simple logistics really. We dated. We had a beautiful and passionate love affair but I'm with Quinn now. It only makes sense that you are the one to help us become a family. Our genes together would be…Broadway gold!'

'You do know that this isn't like asking me to sing a duet with you, right? Despite the fact that many would argue that I'm the best male Broadway star of our time.'

Shaking her head swiftly, Quinn reached for the man's hand, holding it loosely in her own before looking over at Rachel and speaking. 'What Rach is trying to say is that we would love for you to consider being a donor for us. We are very much aware of what we're asking and how huge this is but there is no one we would love more than you to help us complete our dream of being a family. Right, Rach?'

'I don't know if you know this or not but it is biologically impossible for us to have children on our own. You will be giving us the greatest gift possible.' Rachel said, reaching over and squeezing Jesse St. James' hand tightly.

'I think he knows two women can't make a baby, Rach.'

'Quinn, there is no need to be rude. I'm simply reinforcing the fact.'

'I know that but it's a bit redundant, don't you think? Obviously neither us of us have a pe…'

'Quinn! We're in public.' Rachel whispered harshly, her cheeks burning.

Quinn chuckled, leaning over and kissing Rachel's cheek tenderly. 'I love you.'

Rachel smiled, cupping Quinn's cheek in her hand. 'I love you.'

'As much as I love that you both found love and are happy together and don't mind expressing it in public displays of affection, can we please stick to the matter at hand? Like, I don't know, the fact that you just asked me to donate my sperm to help you make a human being?'

Quinn pulled away, suddenly serious and folded her hands over the table.

'You're right. I apologize. Look, I know how this might seem crazy and we would be more than glad to give you some time to think about it.'

'Not too much time,' Rachel cut in. 'We want to have a baby ideally by the end of this year'

'This year?' Jesse cried, nervously running a hand through his luscious locks, eyes wild and frantic.

'Rachel, we agreed to keep that part until later in the conversation' Quinn said with a roll of her eyes.

'Are you serious? So this has to happen like…now?' Jesse inquired.

'Yes,' the couple said in unison, smiling brightly at him. 'We have an appointment on Monday to discuss the process.'

'Oh. You guys really are serious about this...' he said softly, breathing out deeply.

'Of course we are!' Rachel assured, taking a sip of her coffee.

Quinn nodded, taking a forkful of salad into her mouth, eyes gleaming.

'Naturally Quinn and I would be the primary parents and make any and all decisions regarding the child's life and well-being but we are more than willing to involve you and take your input into careful consideration. You could be…an uncle of sorts.'

'We don't expect you to raise the child. We aren't asking you that. We…'

'We just need your precious seed, Jesse.' Rachel pleaded, eyes desperate, hands clinging to his tightly.

Jesse looked between the two, throwing his head back and erupting into a fit of laughter.

'Okay, let's do this then.'

'What!' Rachel screamed, several people turning worriedly in their direction.

'Are you serious? Just like that?' Quinn asked, eyes wide in surprise. '100% positive? You don't want to take time and think about this?'

'I'm positive! Let's have a baby! The world could use more of me, anyway.' Jesse shouted, smiling brightly at the pair of women before him as his mind racked up a million questions.

No, No, No Jesse. Stop while you can!

What had he just gotten himself into? Shit. His Broadway smile never faltering as teary hugs were exchanged, his brain began to mentally count the months left in the year.

11. 11 months.

In 11 months Jesse St. James would become a father to a child born to Rachel Berry and Quinn Fabray.

WHAT?!


[4 months]

'So have you two thought of names for our spawn?' Jesse asked, reclining back onto the couch, nibbling on a piece of celery as Quinn meticulously read What to Expect When You're Expecting for the 10th time.

'My spawn; and no, Rachel doesn't want to commit to anything until she really feels the name.' She said quietly, not looking up from the book. Her once barely noticeable swell had grown noticeably within the last weeks, surpassing the room that her shirts were willing to provide.

'Well what do you want?' Jessed pried, turning to face the blonde beside him, tucking his feet under his legs.

'I want what Rachel wants.' Quinn replied; eyes still set on the book before her.

'You're shitting me, right? You expect me to believe that Quinn Fabray doesn't have a list of baby names hidden somewhere in her vast walk-in-closet, away from her diva wife?' Jesse counted, leaning over and slapping the book shut.

'Rachel's not a diva.' Quinn said, glaring over at Jesse, a smirk forming on her lips.

'You're right. You can't call someone with natural born talent and determination like her a diva. She does volunteer for multiple charities after all...' Jesse agreed, pondering and looking off into the distance as if suddenly hit with a new realization.

Quinn laughed, tossing the book onto the coffee table, eyes suddenly bright with excitement. 'Well, I really like the name Lily for a girl…'

Jesse laughed loudly, clapping his hands. 'I knew it! Where is this list?'

'There is no list!' Quinn giggled, shaking her head, her blonde locks falling away and framing her face. 'Rachel would lose it if she knew I had a list.'

'How you can put up with her 24/7 I will never know, Quinn Fabray.'

Quinn laughed too, her hand resting delicately on her swell.

'Berry-Fabray.'

Jesse waved his hand in the air, as if to dismiss the correction, ready to make a comment about how whipped she must have been to allow Rachel to have the primary last name when he caught sight of her. A small smile on her lips and her eyes green and lively- she was positively glowing.

She really is beautiful.

'You're staring again, babe.' Quinn whispered, giving his hand a small squeeze.

'Huh?' he said, shaking his head, coming out of his revere.

'I said you were staring again.'

'You're beautiful.'

Quinn's cheeks flared, ducking her face, a failed attempt to hide.

'I mean it. Rachel's lucky to have you.'

'I'm lucky to have her.'

Jesse laughed, the pair never seeming to stop amazing him.

Two polar opposites had somehow fallen in love. He was glad Rachel had found her match. She had dated her fair share of people in college; none of them up to par with her expectations. He had loosely kept in touch with Quinn, the occasional message on Facebook on her birthday and the seldom 'hey, how are you?'. However, he can't say he was surprised that morning he and Rachel were supposed to meet for breakfast to find Quinn Fabray along side the infamous Rachel Berry, both smiling and tan, back from a spring break vacation in Mexico. Their hands were linked over the table. 'I have some news to share with you Jesse.' Rachel had said calmly, her actions betraying her said calm. 'I mean…we have some news.' She corrected, the widest smile on her face.

'Only a matter of time' he had said when all was said and done. 'I knew it all along.'

'And you never said anything?'

'And ruin all the fun? Never."


[ 8 months]

'I really think we should discuss our birth plans again.' Rachel whispered; her lips leaving a flame trail from Quinn's chest to her flushed face.

'My birth plan. We already agreed Rachel, I want the drugs.' Quinn argued breathlessly, her hands gripping Rachel's hips securely above her. 'I know what you're doing. Trying to bring this up while you seduce me isn't going to work.'

'But Quinn.' Rachel whined, her tongue drawing intricate patterns on Quinn's pale neck, 'you get turned on so easily. I can't help but want to use that to my advantage when satisfying my pregnant wife.'

'Rachel Barbara Berry.'

Rachel let out an exasperated sigh, pushing herself up and off the blonde, a frown on her face. 'Do you know all the dangers these drugs can do for our baby?'

Quinn chuckled, brushing a lock of hair away from her wife's face.

'Rachel. Our baby isn't the first and definitely won't be the last born to a mother who used an epidural. It's perfectly safe. I tried the natural route with Beth. I'm not doing it again.'

'You didn't have an option then.'

Quinn smirked, shaking her head in resolution.

'No. It's final. I don't know if I'll ever have another baby and I'd like to be a little saner than I was last time. Word has it I wasn't the nicest to Puck last time I was in a delivery room.'

'Puck's a bit of a dumbass though. Served him right.' Rachel laughed, lying along side Quinn, her arm draped over the swell of their baby, dropping the subject for a later date.

'He is, isn't he?' Quinn laughed, 'Apparently he is dating some new girl. A girl named Stacey. They met at work.'

'Stacey. Was she that red head he brought to Burt and Carol's anniversary party?'

'No, that was Amber.'

'Hm. I liked her. She was nice. Horrible dye job though. If you're going to dye your hair red, please to it professionally.'

Quinn chuckled to herself, snuggling deeper into the pillows as Rachel rested her head on her chest.

The pair laid in silence, basking in the time they had left with just the two of them. Rachel rested her hand on the swell of Quinn's stomach, occasionally resting her head against the bump to feel a soft kick.

'Do you think we'll be okay?' Quinn asked quietly.

Rachel knew what she meant. After Quinn has found out she was pregnant almost immediately after the first attempt, time seemed to be moving at the speed of light.

They had immediately called their respective parents and close friends, delighted to share the news that they were expecting. Rachel's Broadway friends had thrown them a surprise dinner, equally as excited for the pair. They had been caught up in the thrill of having a baby that they had ignored the other impacts a baby brought. Late nights soothing a crying baby, feeding the baby, changing the baby. Rachel worked late into the night and although Quinn could stay home, doing most of her writing from home, it wasn't a secret to both that once the baby came they would need to do some serious changes.

'I am thinking of cutting my time on Funny Girl short.' Rachel said softly. 'The understudy really is talented and I think she would really succeed given the opportunity.'

Quinn rolled her eyes, sighing in annoyance. 'Absolutely not!' she objected. 'You can't just give up your role like that Rachel. You've been working for this your whole life.'

'Sure I can.' Rachel argued stubbornly. 'Who else is going to help you, Quinn? This is a team effort. We are both doing this. Together. I knew that from the start and I'm not about to make you go through this alone. My family comes first Quinn, you know that. This is just a job for me! I want to…'

'Rach, you're a star! Not some struggling Broadway wannabe!' Quinn looked down at her wife, placing a soft kiss on her small brunette head nestled against her chest. 'This is your time to shine Rachel. You were made for Funny Girl. Barbra is no doubt off in some ridiculously expensive estate smiling that you were given this part. This is our life, baby. Not just a job. It's never been just a job, and I'm okay with that. Plus, we'll have you in the mornings and weekends, right?'

Rachel sighed, rubbing Quinn's swell with the palm of her hand.

'I just don't want to miss anything…'

'You won't. I promise. I'm the mother remember? I document absolutely everything.'

'Oh really? I hadn't noticed the 1,000 plus pictures on your camera of me sleeping. Is that a daily ritual or something?'

Quinn laughed, turning sideways as best she could and kissed Rachel firmly on the lips.

'I never want to forget the way you look lying next to me. Is that such a crime?'


[9 months]

'Here we have our cherry wood collection. Many parents love the antique feel it gives the nursery.' Jennifer, the sales clerk told the trio.

Jesse wrinkled his nose, shaking his head. 'I don't like it. Looks like something I'd burry my grandmother in.'

Quinn stifled a laugh, turning the opposite direction towards the white cribs.

Rachel bit her bottom lip, running her hands along the edge of the crib, trying to picture herself lifting their small baby. Did she see herself coming home from work lifting their baby from a cherry wood crib? Or a white one? Rot iron maybe?

By all standards, there were entirely too late in decorating the nursery. Quinn was due in exactly 3 weeks and 4 days and all they had done was painted their spare room and bought every single gender-neutral outfit they could find. They weren't sure if another baby would be in the books for them and with that they chose to keep the gender a surprise. Rachel naturally wished for a girl whom she could spoil and train to be a star. Quinn had other wishes, Beth still being a sore spot for her. Jesse just wished for a healthy baby. If only for his ego, he wanted to prove even his sperm was brilliant and exceptional in every way.

'I kinda like this one.' Quinn called out, looking intently at the white crib before her. Intricate carving on both ends of the crib gave it an air of elegance, as did the pale green bedding. It was perfect.

'What do you think, Rach? Do you like it?'

Rachel pushed her sunglasses up and took in the crib from a distance. This was it. She smiled at Quinn, walking over and wrapping an arm around her wife's waist before placing a kiss on the side of her head.

'I love it. This is it. Jesse! What do you think?'

Jesse joined the pair, taking a step back and looking at it as intently as Quinn had minutes before. 'I really like the carving on the ends. What are those? Weeds?'

'They're flowers.' Quinn corrected with a roll of her eyes. 'Perfectly carved flowers for a perfect baby.'

Jesse laughed, wrapping his arm around Quinn's shoulders opposite of Rachel and sighed, 'what do we say Mamas'? Is this our winner?'

Rachel nodded, looking over at Quinn for her approval. Quinn smiled brightly, eyes misting over. Rachel giggled, tightening her squeeze around her and looking over at Jesse.

'We have a winner!'


[Delivery]

'I'd say no more than 15 minutes, Quinn. Baby is in perfect position and contractions are right on top of each other. Everything looks great. Just take deep breaths for me and I'll be back to deliver us a baby!' said Dr. Bradford, patting Quinn's leg and standing up, draping the sheet back over Quinn's bottom half. 'You can go ahead and finish recording' he told Jesse, removing his gloves and stepping into the hall.

Taking it as his cue, Jesse pressed the record button, standing obnoxiously close to Quinn's face.

'Here we have our laboring mother, Quinn Berry-Fabray. Say Hi to the camera, Quinnie!' he urged in a high-pitched voice, clearly imitating her mother Judy. Judy had been visibly upset that Rachel and Quinn had decided not to have her in the delivery room this time around, and instead set her off with the rest of the crowd to the nearest waiting room.

Rachel's fathers had been in New York for the past week, awaiting the arrival of their first grandchild anxiously and now found themselves in the waiting room along side their family and friends, keeping them entertained with embarrassing stories of Rachel's childhood. Santana and Brittney had raced to the hospital immediately after Quinn's frantic call, followed closely by Kurt. Puck had caught a flight on the red eye and would be arriving within the next couple hours with promises of picking up Beth once she was out of school.

'Jesse, I swear to God if you don't get that camera out of my face right now I will get out of this bed and slap you across the face!' Quinn barked out, gripping onto the handles of the bed, eyes closed, breathing deeply as another wave of pain crashed into her body. 'Rachel! Can you do something about this?' she cried out, releasing the handle and pointing in Jesse's direction.

Rachel smirked, brushing Quinn's damp hair out of her face before placing a delicate kiss on her forehead. 'You're doing great baby, absolutely perfect. Almost there, Quinn. Just ignore him. Deep breaths, baby.'

Jesse walked over to the other side of bed, facing Quinn's back and zoomed the camera into their faces.

'I can hear your damn breathing, Jesse! Stop it!'

'You want me to stop breathing? I'm afraid I can't do that, Lucy.' He replied calmly, holding the camera steady as he recording the nurses checking the baby's heart rate via the strap wrapped around Quinn's belly.

Rachel gave the camera a thumb's up before turning back to Quinn, winking at Jesse as Quinn growled some obscenities under her breath.

Turning the camera to record him self, Jesse adjusted his baseball cap backwards and smiled widely.

'It is now 5:22 in the morning and we find ourselves in New York-Presbyterian Hospital dealing with what is about to be the miracle of life. Let's zoom in and take a closer look shall we?' Camera tightly in hand, Jesse made a quick tour of the delivery room before turning back to Quinn, standing behind Rachel to get a clear shot of Quinn's face.

'Here we have a rare species of Quinn Berry-Fabray. This female is incredibly beautiful and unbelievably strong. Only 1 in the entire world, she is native to Ohio but most recently resides in the wild lands of New York, New York. Quinn, can you say hello to your audience?'

Raising a perfectly defined eyebrow in his direction despite her apparent fatigue she turned onto her back slightly, glaring at the camera before giving a defeated sigh and waved tiredly.

'Hello, Audience! As you can see I'm not happy. I have a very annoying cameraman. Thinking back now, I don't ever remember asking you or giving you the okay to film this.' She said harshly, turning back onto her side and gripping the handles of the bed until her knuckles turned white.

Rachel laughed, waving at the camera as well.

'Hello future Berry-Fabray Baby! I'm your mommy! Can't wait to meet you! We are going to do so many things together. We're going to take trips to the muse…'

A loud groan from Quinn cut her off, Jesse turning the camera in her direction before the nurse called out, 'It's time! Dad, you might want to position yourself at the end of the bed for a better view?'

'One more deep breath Quinn, almost there.'

Crying out, she gripped Rachel's hand tightly; eyes squeezed shut against the pain.

'No! I can't! I don't want to! I give up!' she cried.

'That's it! Here's the baby!'

Jesse stood on the opposite side of Rachel, rubbing Quinn's leg awkwardly while the other held the camera, recording the entire ordeal.

'C'mon Quinn!' he cried, smiling at her encouragingly.

Quinn gave one final push before falling back onto the bed, breathing heavily, eyes set on the end of the bed where the doctor was holding up a baby.

'What is it?' she demanded weakly. 'What is it?'

Rachel cried, gripping Quinn's hand tightly in her own, placing kisses all over the side of Quinn's face, eyes blurred with tears as she looked upon their baby.

Jesse laughed, a wave of euphoria washing over him as the doctor placed a perfectly pink baby onto Quinn's chest, tiny fists waving in the air as it's lungs let out a loud cry.

'So what do we have?' Rachel asked, eyes desperate to know the gender.

Quinn pushed her self up a little, looking over at Jesse and smiling brightly before lifting the baby's pudgy slimy leg.

'It's a boy!' she cried, giggling excitedly as she placed a tender kiss on her son's forehead.

'A boy!' cheered Jesse, camera zooming into their son's perfect face.

Rachel continued to cry, her heart bursting at the seams. She had a son! Smiling at Quinn, she reached for her hand again, with the other pulling Jesse into an awkward hug across the hospital bed. Quinn sat up further, pulling Rachel down and kissing her passionately, her lips lingering on her own for a few seconds before giving Jesse a quick kiss as well.

'We finally have a penis in the house!' she squealed. Jesse laughed loudly, startling the now slumbering infant in his mother's arms and zoomed in further on the camera. 'And here you have it' he said into built in microphone, voice a bit shaky. 'You have now officially experienced the miracle of life. Welcome James!'