A/N : Written and posted months ago on LJ, cross posting here.

This is based off of the prompt where Shelby dies and the custody of Beth goes to Rachel and Quinn. This is unbeta'd but a friend read through it and said it was ok enough :D, oh and english ain't my first language.

Lima, OH

"I love you baby girl" was the last thing she heard, even if it was only whisper, amidst the paramedics counting, and the sound of the defibrillator charging and the wailing of the ambulance siren, she heard those 5 words loud and clear, and she know, somehow she understood the finality of it all, even if she refused to accept it.

They reach the hospital in under 2 minutes, to her it seems like forever, They pull her away from her mother, as they wheel her into the emergency room, and she scrambles free to follow, she didn't want to be separated from her mother, they were the perfect duo her momma says, there was nothing else that made sense to her.

She watches as doctor's try and resuscitate her mother, unmoving. She doesn't hear the doctor, ordering the nurses for a higher voltage, for more drugs, to pump air; she focuses on the line that was going up and down, the little heart that was beating in time. That is until she turned her focus back on her mother.

The only thing she hears is her Momma whispering, "I love you baby girl" until the wailing of a machine reaches her consciousness, until she sees one flat line, and the doctor snapping off his gloves, she hears him say, "time of death, 8:46pm."

"Momma!" she screams, rushing to her mother's side. She grabs the limp hand on the bed, it was still warm. "Momma please wake up, please, please wake up...You promised remember." She lays her head on her mother's chest like she always does when she was scared, clinging to her mother, unable to hear the steady heartbeat she always heard, unable to feel the steady rise and fall of her mother breathing, unable to feel strong arms wrap her in an embrace leaves her terrified, she keeps begging, each new word garbled, and muffled, "I'm scared Momma, I don't understand, please, please Momma, please wake up, please, I love you, Momma, please, please, I promise to clean my room when you tell me too, please just wake up Momma, please wake up, please...I won't bug you so much when you're busy, just wake up please, Momma wake up..."

She feels a pair of hands, trying to gently lift her from her mother, scared and confused, she turns around and clings to the doctor who minutes before tried to revive her mother.

"Why won't she wake up, why isn't she moving? I-I, what's wrong with my mom?" she mumbles against his chest.

"What's your name honey, is there anyone we can call?" he asks her gently, stroking her head.

"Beth, Beth Corcoran. I, I don't know, I-" she takes one more look at her mother, and was horrified when a sheet was being placed over her, then everything went black.

-

Manhattan, NY

Rachel was in the process of drying the plates, when suddenly one slips and crashes on the sink. The sound of breaking glass cuts through the apartment, prompting her lover to check up on her.

"Rachel, are you ok? Did you cut yourself?" was the panicked question, followed by Quinn rushing to her side.

Rachel's eyes were distant, staring at the broken plate. Unsure why the plate slipped, the only thing she knows for sure was that there was this pain in her chest, a feeling of loss. They quickly clean up the mess, and Quinn steers her towards the living room, once finally seated Rachel Clings to Quinn, shaking like a leaf.

"Baby, you're scaring me, tell me what's wrong?" Quinn pleads, clutching Rachel's body to her, uncertain and fearful of why her lover was trembling in her arms.

"Just hold me; I just need you to hold me." Rachel whispers, she was unable to explain what she was feeling, she just needed Quinn. She's startled when her cell starts ringing, giving Quinn one last squeeze before glancing at the phone surprised to see a lima area code, but an unknown number. Taking a deep breath to compose herself she speaks with a tremor in her voice, "This is Rachel Berry."

"Ms Berry, this is Dr. John at Lima Medical, this is about Shelby Corcoran there was an accident and she had you listed as an emergency contact. A car smashed against Ms. Corcoran's vehicle, hitting her side. She was mostly fine, just a few cuts and bruises, as well as her daughter Beth. But as they were being assisted by paramedics, Ms Corcoran started showing symptoms of a cardiac arrest, I am sorry to-"

Rachel cuts him off, "She's gone isn't she?" She whispers.

"My deepest condolences, Ms. Berry."

She let's out a strangled noise, and tries to swallow, her throat was constricted, and she felt like the walls of her home was closing in on her until she feels Quinn's hand squeeze hers, "I- and her daughter, is Beth, is sh-", at the mention of the girl Quinn carried for 8 months, their eyes meet.

"She passed out prior to this call, she witnessed her mother's passing Ms. Berry, and We'll be keeping her in for observation for tonight just in case, but child services will be taking her after that and until everything else is sorted out."

The mention of child services made her skin to crawl, She refuses to let Beth get tangled up in that not when her fathers we're in Lima and she and Quinn were on their way, "I'll have one of my fathers do just that. I appreciate you calling to inform me of this Dr. John. I'll be on the next flight out. Please take care of Beth until either of my fathers or I arrive."

She barely registers the Doctor's answer, instead focuses on Quinn, whose face had gone pale.

"Rachel is Be-, is she ok?" Quinn whispers, her hands shaking as she runs it through her hair.

Raising one hand, she touches Quinn's cheek and turns it so that they were face to face, wiping away a tear, "She's Alright, they're keeping her for observation she passed out after-." She didn't realize she was crying until Quinn started wiping away her tears. "She's gone Quinn, Shelby's gone. My mother's gone" Quinn just giver her a kiss, and holds her as she cries over the woman who gave birth to her, the woman that she now considered her mother and friend. She cries for Beth, who was now alone in this world, and she cries for her Quinn, who will undoubtedly think that it's her fault that Beth had to lose not one but two mothers in her lifetime.

She just cries, and doesn't even realize that Quinn had gotten a hold of her phone to call her fathers and her own mother. She just cries as Quinn calls a ticketing agent for the next flight out to Ohio. She cries for all of those moments she shared with Shelby and Beth, whenever she was in Lima. The few instances where all 3 of the women she loved most in life were all together having dinner, or doing touristy things in New York, instances where all three watched her on opening nights along with her fathers and Quinn's mother too. She cries while she watches Quinn pack some clothes to take. She cries over the fact that they were finally on the right track, that even with all the confusing lines that bound them together, they were family. And she just lost one of them. She just lost her mother.

On the flight out, she looks at Quinn who was gazing at the skyline below as if looking for answers. And as Quinn looks back at her, she knows they were going to make it through. Whatever happens they were a family and they were going to make it through. She rests her head on Quinn's shoulder, squeezing the hand she held. She feels a kiss on her forehead and a whispered "I love you; we're going to be ok." Closing her eyes she thinks to herself, we're going to be ok.

Dayton, OH

She wakes Rachel up the minute they land. For the most part of the night, she's been functioning on auto-pilot mode. Shelby was gone, that meant Beth was going to be alone. This made her heart hurt, add the fact that Rachel was so distraught that she had to arrange everything for their trip back, made her heart hurt even more. Rachel was never disorganized.

After the adoption, Shelby Corcoran insisted that she be part of Beth's life, saying she knew what it felt like to know you have a child out there, and to be constantly wondering. She said that once Quinn was ready, they could talk about it more. When Quinn mentioned it to Puck he surprisingly didn't want to do anything saying, "Look we gave her up, and I got past it. You should too. I had a daughter, but not anymore."

After giving birth, she stayed with Mercedes for another six months, before moving back with her Mother. It took them awhile to get used to the changes that both of them had undergone. Quinn was less Quinn Fabray, and her mother was sober. But the biggest change in her life was the tentative friendship she accidentally started with Rachel.

It was one of those summer days; she was walking through the park, when she notices a mother chasing her young giggling daughter. She stops in her tracks and feels a pang in her heart. She looks at them for an obscene amount of time, her gaze never wavering, until something makes her look further than the playing duo. She sees Rachel Berry, gazing at the exact same thing she was, probably feeling what she was feeling too.

She crosses over to where Rachel was sitting, and takes a seat beside her. "Hey", she says in greeting and was met with silence. They watch as the mother stands up to and take the little girl in her arms, vaguely hearing the little girl say "I love you Mommy". She tries to discreetly wipe away her tears, and she hears Rachel take a shuddering breath. They stay silent. Not making any sound. They watch as mother and daughter walk away.

"Do you miss her?" Rachel mumbles.

She never knew how she would answer this question, regardless of who was to ask, but somehow she felt like she needed to say something. She felt like she owed the brunette, she after all provided her mother with a daughter she could raise, the one thing she never could do with Rachel. In a way she feels as if she took Rachel's mother away from her. She wonders if the brunette hates her more now.

"Yes, everyday." she whispers, like it was some secret.

"Do you regret giving her away?"

"Most days I think I made the right choice, I wasn't ready. And Puck is definitely not ready. She shouldn't pay for the mistakes I made. But there are days like this, when I see something like that and I kinda wish I kept her that I moved back in with my mother. But I'm broken, so is puck, so is my mother. I don't think she deserved that. She deserved something better, not a life that would just end up ruining her too."

Rachel just nods.

This time she feels the need to ask questions, "Do you miss her?"

She hears Rachel take a deep breath and exhale it slowly, "I never really had the opportunity to know who she was really, so it seems pointless to miss someone that you only share genetics with."

"But do you miss her?"

"Yes, I miss what we could have been. But I'm not the little girl she gave up. She has one now."

"I'm sorry about that Rachel."

"There is nothing to be sorry for Quinn, I believe everything worked out the way it should. You found a mother for your baby, my mother found a child to love. I have no ill feelings towards you or Shelby. It really was too late for either of us to try a relationship of that kind maybe someday. But not now besides I have two amazing parents who love me and care for me and want me. I was not entirely left hanging. She served her purpose. She gave my fathers a child."

"It doesn't mean losing her didn't hurt any less."

"I suppose you are right, but like all underdogs, I shall overcome. I would also like to take this opportunity to apologize for not being there when you gave birth, even though I was told I should stay behind just in case, I feel as if it was absolutely selfish of me to do so, especially after feeding my masochistic tendencies by watching Jessie perform and practically begging Shelby for any form of relationship by transferring to McKinley and Co-coaching New Directions. And somewhere along the line I imagined being there for you would be unwelcomed."

"The whole thing was a blur really, and you wouldn't have been unwelcome Rachel. After I delivered her, when everyone started trickling into the room, I wondered where you were. I was a bit sad to find out that they left you alone, and that you didn't come. But given our past, I saw no reason for you to want to be there."

"You're my team mate Quinn, and as weird as it may sound coming from me, I would like for us to be friends. I know that our relationship has always been tumulus at best; I would like to put all of this behind us that is if you are amenable to this notion. I would really like it if we were to start anew"

She stands up, and she sees Rachel look at her feet. Moving in front the brunette, she holds out her hand, "Hi, my name is Quinn."

When Rachel looks at her, she sees the small gentle smile that she would learn to adore. Rachel stands up and takes her hand, "Hello Quinn, my name is Rachel."

Giving a small smile of her own she whispers the next words that start the rest of her life, "It's nice to meet you."

-

It wasn't easy, the first few months of their fragile friendship. After all they were still Rachel and Quinn. They had changed yes, but some habits are hard to get rid off. There were storm outs, and shouting matches and apologies and tears. But after awhile everything went smooth sailing, some would even say a little too smooth. Rachel was unbelievably perceptive and docile when it came to Quinn, and Quinn was sweeter and patient with Rachel. The transition from being friends to lovers was something that neither expected, but was very much embraced.

The most shocking part of that change was how accepting Judy Fabray was of the diminutive diva (The glee club was still waiting for WWIII). Rachel was after all an unstoppable force of nature, but Judy adored how Rachel took care of Quinn and by proxy her. The Berry's always made it a point to have mother and daughter over for dinner at least once a week prior to the change. Their parents seemed to gravitate towards each other too, Judy often found herself joining Aaron and David Berry for coffee or shopping excursions, that Rachel started jokingly referring to them as the holy trinity.

During the early stages of their fledgling love affair, Judy Fabray approached Quinn about Therapy. Quinn at first insisted that she was fine. But after having a massive fight with Rachel, where they had a brief separation, Quinn conceded. Slowly she was able to build her life back, even with this hole in heart that was always going to be reserved for Beth, she was finally able to truthfully say she was ok, and was getting better.

Quinn's life drastically changed after this, cultivating the friendships she had started with the gleeks, and strengthening the relationship she shared with Rachel. She and her mother were able to share the bond that they both always craved. And she gained a family, a better one. That involved two gay dads, a sober mom, an amazingly loving girlfriend, and eleven amazing friends plus a hip hop dancing teacher.

-

They grab their bags and make their way out of the terminal, spying her mother amongst the throngs of people; she grabs Rachel and starts walking towards her.

"Sweetie, you ok?" was the first thing out of her mother's mouth; unable to answer she accepts the kiss and hug given to her. Her mother turns to Rachel, and holds the brunette's face in her hands, gently wiping the tears that escaped her closed eyes. "It's going to be ok honey. Your daddy is with Beth, and your dad is taking care of everything else ok? We should go." Rachel just nods, and her mother scoops both of them in a hug. "I love you girls, we're going to be ok."

"We love you too, mom." they both say. It was time to make their way to Lima.

-

Lima, OH

Judy parks in front of the Berry residence. Rachel's dad comes rushing out the door, giving Quinn a hug (who got out of the car first), "Sweetheart?" he asks, looking worriedly at her tired eyes, "I'm ok." she whispers. He spies Rachel still sitting in the car, "Oh my poor baby girl." he says before getting in the car to envelope his daughter in a warm embrace, Judy just steers Quinn into the house.

"Dad, she's gone. My mother's gone. And Beth, And Quinn, she's probably afraid of what might happen to her, now that Shelby's gone. Oh Dad, I don't know what to do, I feel so lost." She mumbles rapidly as soon as she was in his arms.

Her dad just strokes her hair, telling her it was all going to be ok. That they were going to get through this together, that Beth would have somewhere to go, and that Shelby made sure of it. They stay like that for an hour, in the cold, inside a cramped car that was until he was able to coax her to come inside.

-

Inside the house, Judy sits beside her daughter on the couch, waiting for her to say something. "What will happen to Beth now?" Quinn asks

"I think that Shelby had a last will and testament made, way back. Aaron was able to get in touch with her lawyer. We'll find out more tomorrow," Quinn just nods in acknowledgement, "Are you ok sweetie? I know you said you were but, are you really?"

Unable to hold the facade anymore, Quinn breaks down into her mother's arms, "My partner just lost her surrogate mother, who is also the adoptive mother of my child. I know that she and I were able to make this thing between all of us possible. I don't think Beth understands that I'm her mother too. She knows that I gave birth to her and that somehow, her momma did the same for Rachel. That we all have this weird tangle of webs but it works, we're happy. But this, I don't know how this will change things mom. I don't know if I'll be strong enough for Rachel while being strong enough for me. My daughter just lost the woman she's always known as her mother and Rachel just lost the woman she now calls her mother, and I feel like I might just lose them both. What if I lose them both? I can't, Mom, I can't..."

And for the first time since she heard the news, Quinn breaks down. She cries for the woman that gave her Rachel, the woman who loves her daughter, she cries for two of the most important people in her life. She cries for the loss of a friend. She doesn't hear the door open, doesn't notice the couch dip, but when a hand runs through her hair, she turns around and holds on to Rachel, she'd know that touch anywhere. She feels her Mom hold both of them in an embrace. And feels Aaron do the same from behind Rachel. And together they cry, they all cry for the loss of Shelby Corcoran.

Once they had all calmed down, Aaron receives a call from David saying that they should all come to the hospital as soon as visiting hours start. Judy suggests they all try and get some sleep and makes her way to the guest room, Rachel grabs Quinn's hand and takes both of them to her room. Once they settle down in bed. Rachel kisses her forehead and whispers, "I love you, we're going to be ok." the stress catches up to them and they promptly fall asleep.

Beth wakes up screaming for her Momma, this in turn startles David Berry who was allowed to watch over her for the night. He rushes to her side and pulls her in an embrace.

"It's ok Beth, its ok."

"Uncle David, where's my momma, I want my Momma, please. Where is she?"

Her hazel eyes, so familiar, and her distress so acute it breaks his heart, "Beth, your mom, her heart, it- it stopped. I'm sorry."

"NOOOOO, you're lying! I want my momma. Momma!" she screams so loudly that one of the nurses comes in, minutes later followed by another with a syringe, "Please, I want to see my momma, I want to see her please." She begs the first nurse, trying to get off the bed; the nurse just holds her down, as the other injects her with a sedative. "Momma, where are you? Uncle David please, please I want my Mom-"

Tears run down David's face, as he watched the scene unfold, He hopes that they can all get through this loss, especially his girls.

-

Rachel wakes up, when she feels a hand running through her hair, opening her eyes, she locks gazes with red rimmed sad hazel eyes, "It wasn't a dream was it?" she whispers.

Quinn just shakes her head and gives her a kiss. They silently get ready and make their way downstairs. They simultaneously greet their parents with a hug and kiss before grabbing some coffee. Once done, they silently get into Judy's car and head towards the hospital.

As Aaron parks the car, he turns to his passengers, "Shelby's lawyer will meet us at home as soon as Beth is discharged," his voice cracks as he says Shelby's name, "to discuss some things with us." Rachel just nods, and Quinn squeezes her hand. They get out of the car, and slowly make their way inside.

"I want to see her Dad, if that's possible?" asks Rachel.

With a kiss to her forehead, "I'll find out, why don't you go ahead and check on Beth?" and with that he heads to a different direction.

Before either of them knew it, they we're standing before the open door, looking at a teary eyed David Berry, and a sleeping Beth. When he notices the new arrivals, he walks towards them, and almost crushes both girls with the intensity of his hug. He was about to speak when they hear a small voice.

"Rachel? Quinn?"

Both girls move towards the bed, each on a different side, Rachel lies on the bed, and Beth molds her body against her. Quinn sits beside her girls, and Beth tugs on her hand prompting her to lie behind the girl, so that she was sandwiched between them.

"Uncle David said that Momma's heart stopped, she's gone isn't she? Momma's dead isn't she?" Her face was against Rachel's chest. Not waiting for an answer, she cries.

Rachel just holds her tighter, and Quinn just holds both of them.

Moments later, as she watches Rachel hold Beth, Quinn spies the clear sky outside. She wonders why this day seemed so beautiful, when everything else she knew was falling into pieces.

-
When Aaron comes back, he nods his head towards his daughter, and she untangles herself from a sleeping Beth. Grabbing Quinn's hand they make their way to the basement morgue. Rachel runs her fingers through Shelby's face. Kisses her forehead and whispers 'I love you mom'. Quinn stares at her, unblinking. 'Thank you, for Rachel, and for loving my Beth' she says in her head.

Beth was released to their care by a special power of attorney that Shelby had had drawn up for either Berry men, they take her home and she enters a restless sleep nestled in Rachel's bed.

Once Shelby's Lawyer arrives, they all talk in the kitchen, while Quinn's mother prepared some sandwiches, since the circumstances of her death was sudden, It seemed imperative that you were made aware of her wishes. I have copies of her will right here." He says as he hands out a copy of the will to Rachel, and her fathers.

"It's rather lengthy, but to summarize, The house she lived in can either be sold or kept under the discretion of both Rachel and Beth as soon as she is of legal age. For Rachel, she leaves 50% of her personal savings as well as some stocks and bonds. She also wanted you to have this Rachel, "He passes her a letter." It was in the event that she dies before Beth was legally old enough. I don't mean to be insensitive but I won't be able to continue unless you read it, take Quinn with you. We'll wait here."

Perplexed by the turn of events, they make their way to the living room, to read Shelby's letter.

Rachel,

I know that we've spoken about this more times than I can remember or count. But one of my greatest regret was never seeing you grow up. I love you baby girl, and even if have Beth; you will always be my baby too. You were my first baby. The girl I carried in my body my flesh and blood. I love you and I'm so happy that we decided to start being a family, you and your parents, Quinn and her mom then me and Beth. I never in a million years thought I would have this, but I do and it's all because of you. You'll never know how thankful I am that I had you, that I found you, and that you let me be part of your life, even if I might not have deserved it. I hope I've earned the forgiveness you have given me.

If you're reading this, it means that I passed before Beth reached 18. I pray it never gets to that point. But if it does, I want you to take care of her, you and Quinn. It's probably too much to ask. But if there was anyone in this world who I'd want to take care of her who else would be better than her Rachel and her Quinn. But this will only take effect if both of you are done with college and already holding steady jobs. I know that Quinn is planning on getting a doctorate, and that this request is almost insensitive to a degree. But she's her daughter too, and I can't in good conscience have Beth stay with anyone else unless it's you or both of you.

If it isn't feasible then Aaron and David can keep her until after you graduate or ready, whichever comes first.

I know things will be difficult, Beth is often times stubborn (I wonder where she got that from Quinn?), she'll be difficult, she will be sad, but I know with both of you she will be loved, very much. Quinn thank you for giving me a daughter and giving me my eldest one back. This time around, I give you back your daughter, and give you my blessing for my grown up one. I know you love them both, and will do right by them. I love you Quinn, and I'm just as thankful for you as I am for Rachel and Beth.

Love,

Momma

Quinn re-reads the letter; Shelby wanted them to have guardianship/custody of Beth. She was going to raise her daughter. Tears run down her cheeks, as she looks at Rachel, who was softly crying beside her. "Are we ready for this, a child, a nine year old child?"
"Quinn, - do you-" "Rach, I-"

"Yes." They both say at the same time.

"I don't want to leave her here Quinn, I don't think I can."

"I don't want to either."

Shelving further discussions for later, they make their way back to the kitchen. Upon seeing them the lawyer gives them a brief smile and continues, "Yes or no ladies?" he asks.

"We accept." Quinn answers for both of them.

"Very well, with the success of Vocal Adrenaline, Ms Corcoran was able to amass, a large sum and gifts all legitimately of course. She also inherited a few titles and then some from her grandparents and parents. As per her request, upon her demise, all necessary taxes will be paid off and the left over sum be distributed to the following..." He proceeds to discuss each and every property and each and every penny that was to be distributed. Some money went to charity(I want kids to keep singing, I want a look so optimistic it can cure cancer), Aaron, David and Judy were given a hefty sum with specific instructions to go out and have some fun in the sun, (Judy you need more color on you, you're too pale). Some money went to a wedding fund for Rachel and Quinn (Make an honest woman out of my eldest Quinn, The whole thing is one me). A trust fund was set up for Beth (make sure she doesn't spend it all and that some of it goes to either her education, or to further her talent). After 2 hours of talking and signing papers, he was on his way.