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For old readers!

This is a re-write of the first chapter, I did. I wrote this because I didn't think the first chapters owned up to the later ones, and I wanted to re-write them. So you may expect both some updates on the old chapters and some new chapter updates, the latter of which I suspect will be slower, because I have exams. It's still short, but it's more... full and I think it's actually better. I feel like I've skipped past everything too quickly. Some holes need filling (wanky) and I need to do this story justice, for I've come to care much for it actually.

For new readers

HI! Thank you for tuning in! Enjoy! :D

A way to know which chapters are final draw and which arent: The ones who are final draw have a name in the chapter-box. The ones who arent, haven't. I'm not gonna re-write chapters 14 and on. :)

Chapter 1 JFK

Summer had come early that year. Even here, when it was only march, the sun was already warming instead of just being sharp and annoying. None the less, Rachel Berry still didn't go outside without the company of her orange trench coat and warm black boots. She knew that the trench coat didn't really fit her New York style, which by the way was a definite improvement since the high school nightmare of a style. Being in New York had dampened her otherwise very flamboyant clothing choice, to more neutral colors and simpler pieces. This did not include reindeer sweaters and pants suits.

On a late March day, a Saturday to be exact, the sun was disappearing behind the tallest buildings. In the large amount of people on Broadway, the orange trench coat still stood out. Rachel was dragging a lean dark haired boy with her. The look on his face, beneath the never disappearing baby face, was twofaced. He looked like he was genuinely excited, but at the same time, his lips were sorting a pout and he wasn't really walking, but more letting her drag him along.

"Kurt, come on already, we're going to miss the show! I can't wait to see the new set-up of Wicked! It's going to be amazing!" she sang.

"I know, but did you have to pull me away? I hardly got to say one word to him…" Kurt complained.

"Oh stop it. You had plenty of time. You just chose to do a tongue-wrestle with him instead." The brunette scoffed and rolled her eyes at him. Though he knew she was right, their kiss hadn't been that long or violent as her description. He had just wished that she'd let him have the time to say an 'I love you' that wasn't hurried and said while getting dragged away, Blaine waving helplessly as the door closed.

They had reached the theatre and when seeing the poster which sported a blonde beauty and a green-skinned witch, they Kurt let the excitement rush over him.

The both tripped and Rachel clung onto Kurt's arm, giggling girlishly. Kurt was indeed very pleased that the old Rachel finally seemed to return, and in his head he cursed his brother for the last visit he had made to New York.

There was a low buzzing and "Defying Gravity" started to play from Rachel's pocket. Confusedly the brunette girl dug into her coat, getting her iPhone which cover sported a group photo of 9 people in red gowns all hugging. It was their graduation photo, on which Santana's lips were firmly attached to a blushing Brittany's cheek, while Kurt stood with his arms around the slightly wooly-haired Blaine. It was one of Rachel's favorite photos and Kurt and Blaine had given her the cover for her birthday.

Kurt watched curiously as Rachel slid the green button across the screen, above which said "Hidden Number". He heard her greet with an appropriate "Hello" and heard her gasp.

The voice Rachel had heard was a husky, delicate voice, one which she hadn't heard in years, one which she had almost forgot. She remembered their promise that they'd visit frequently, but everything hadn't worked out the way they'd wanted, and they'd lost contact. The husky voice had said her name, her voice cracking half-way through.

"Quinn?" the brunette whispered, causing Kurt to drop jaw and stare at the phone with mixed disbelief and excitement. The brunette's face was unreadable for once.

There was a long pause from Quinn before she spoke, her voice neutral to a point that was almost monotonous.

"Rachel, I need to talk to you. I'm in JFK and just…" her voice trailed off momentarily and returned; now begging. "Please Rachel. I really need to talk to you" it cracked. "It's really urgent…"

Rachel nodded, remembered that Quinn couldn't see her, then gulped and said: "y-yeah… S-sure…". She cleared her throat. "I'll be right there".

With a glance at Kurt that showed confusion, shock and worry, Rachel turned to look at Kurt, who was nodding.

"I'mma call Blaine. He can still make it; just give me your ticket and go. It sounded crucial" he said, receiving a grateful smile from Rachel, as she dug into her bag and found her ticket and handed it to Kurt. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek gratefully before turning on her heel, stepping out across the curb, hailing a taxi. The first few she called for didn't stop, and when one finally did, she practically threw herself into the backseat and yelled: "JFK!" The driver turned to her with a lazy expression.

"Calm down, miss. I'm not gonna drive any faster just because you yell at me" he said boringly. Rachel rolled her eyes, huffed and leaned back into the seat, not answering. The driver sighed and pulled out into the traffic.

The ride seemed to take forever. It was as if the driver intentionally drove slower than normally. She huffed several times, and when they finally arrived Rachel threw a ridiculous amount of cash at the driver, told him to keep the change and ran inside.

Suddenly, she stopped. Why was she hurrying? Was it the panic in Quinn's voice, or was it the longing for her best friend, a friend she had missed more than she dared to admit to anyone, even to herself. She looked around in the large amount of people, trying to spot the tall blonde. She wondered once more why it mattered so much, why Rachel had to see this girl; this long lost rival for the heart of a boy, whose name had been cast to the back of Rachel's mind; this boy whom she had almost married. But Quinn had sounded so disturbed, so panicky, like all she had known was tumbling down upon her. It made Rachel wonder what could've gotten the blonde so out of her otherwise very grounded state. Even though many said that the blonde was high-maintenance and ruthless, Rachel had a different opinion. Yes, Quinn had once slapped the brunette, but for most parts Quinn had always been calm and collected, even though she might not have been when she was pregnant, but really, who could blame her. But for most parts, Quinn had been so grounded when with Rachel. Though their friendship had not been so obvious at school where Quinn had to remain her reputation in whatever ways she could, but Quinn had also always been the one who Rachel would call whenever something went wrong, or when she'd panic about a test or something like that.

Rachel was ripped out of her thoughts when suddenly feeling a soft hand on her shoulder. It made her jump and spin around, looking straight into the hazel eyes that were so unjustified in her mind. Never could anything in her mind get all of the beauty of the eyes she was looking into. The green incorporated with the brown, creating such natural fluidness in the warm eyes. The eyes were framed by long dark lashes and fair skin. Her blonde hair had been restrained to the shoulder-length she had sported in senior year.

They stared at each other for a long second, before Quinn pulled Rachel into a tight hug. The brunette felt her heart beat rapidly at the closeness, and instinctively she breathed in, taking in the smell of Quinn. Shivers went down her spine, when she heard Quinn breathe in sharply as well.

"I've missed you so much" she whispered, causing goose bumps to erupt from Rachel's legs to her scalp. They held each other, just enjoying the closeness again, until a small hand tugged at Quinn's dark skinny jeans, and she let go.

"Quinny, who's that?" a voice somewhere to Quinn's left said. Rachel looked down and saw a tiny replica of Quinn. It was almost scary how much the two girls looked alike. The tiny girl clad in a white cotton tunic and a jean skirt with sewn on hearts and white leggings stood looking up at Rachel. The fair skin that the little girl had was the same as Quinn's and the eyes were just the same hazel color, framed by long light lashes. The blonde hair was slightly curled and tied into pigtails with white and gold ribbons. Her bangs were very long and swept to the side, embracing her perfect little dollish face. The nose was like a slide and her lips were thin and pink. She was the picture of beauty, so alike Quinn, and it made Rachel sure that this tiny clone could only be one person, Beth.

Rachel released Quinn completely and sat down on her knees in front of the girl, who backed a few steps, hiding behind her mother. "I'm Rachel. You're Beth, right?" the brunette asked.

"How'd you know?" Quinn asked, looking down at the brunette. Rachel looked up with a grin.

"She's a mini-clone of you Q"

"Oh…"

"Who are you?" Beth now asked Rachel. The question wondered both Quinn and Rachel who'd thought that Beth would know who her sister was, that maybe Shelby had shown her pictures of her.

"I'm Rachel" Rachel said, still confused. Did she really not know who she was? Beth looked like she was thinking hard for a second, then lit up in a grin and threw her arms around her sister with such force that Rachel fell back, now lying on the cold floor of the airport, the girl nuzzling into her. Both older girls had no idea what had just happened.

"You smell like my momma…" the tiny girl suddenly whispered. "Your hair… it smells like hers did" her voice was mournful and made Rachel worry. Why was Beth even here? What had happened that would make Quinn get Beth? Had something happened to Shelby without her knowledge?

With care, Rachel sat up, still with her sister's torso upon her. She now sat cross-legged as her sister smelled her hair. The brunette looked up at Quinn whose eyes shimmered as she sat down across from the two girls both of whom she loved dearly. She knew that she had to tell Rachel what'd happened, and that it would hurt her, but more than that, the reminder would also sadden Beth very much.

"Rachel, I need to tell you something. Beth, come here" she said, prodding Beth and gesturing for Beth to come closer. The tiny blonde released her grip on Rachel and turned to sit by her mother, who protectively let her arms embrace her daughter. She cooed soft words of comfort to the smaller girl as this began to sniffle, knowing what was about to be told.

"Rachel…" Quinn said, looking the brunette straight into her eyes. Momentarily Quinn allowed herself to float away in the chocolate brown eyes, before regaining focus. The eyes were framed by a frown. "Shelby got really ill about three ago. She was hospitalized with recurring ovarian cancer, stage IV. Half a week ago, she passed, having signed a DNR. I'm so sorry Rach…"

Half-way into the explanation, Rachel had started to shake her head in disbelief, knowing where it was going. She hadn't had a mom until high-school, but even then she and Shelby had never really been close. It was only now; the chance had really run out. She was motherless, not just because they, she would never have a mother, ever. Her sight fell on the half-shaking slightly sobbing girl in Quinn's arms, and suddenly the problems Rachel had felt by losing a mother was nothing compared to this little girl, barely a child, who had lost her everything within a few short weeks.

Beth looked up at Quinn, who stroked her hair and wiped away her tears. As the little girls Hazel eyes found the brown ones, her lips curled involuntarily into a dopey smile that was so like that of her father. Suddenly, the striking resemblance to her mother was washed from Beth's face and transitioned to a miniature female version of Puck, down to the scrunch of her nose.

"Rachel…" Quinn said, snapping the brunette out of her gaze. The brown eyes shifted from one pair of hazel eyes to another. The latter pair was shimmering with tears. "They granted me custody… Shelby wrote in her will that she wanted me to have custody of Beth. But … She deserves a father, and Puck deserves to know. He knew Shelby to, and I … I want him to have a chance of being a part of Beth's life." She said, her voice cracking several times. Carefully, Rachel grabbed Quinn's hand and squeezed it comfortingly.

There was no doubt, no hesitation within Rachel. This was something she had to do, something she wanted to do. She wanted to help. Her mind was euphoric at the thought of regaining her best friend. Nothing really mattered, except for the responsibility she felt towards the two blondes sitting on the cold floor of an airport. It wasn't a matter of wanting to help; it was a duty she'd gladly fulfill.

"I'll help, but I haven't talked to Puck for years, for obvious reasons with California and all, but I know that I have connections that might lead to where he is. I don't know if you remember, but when I moved here, I moved in with Kurt and later Blaine, and well, Kurt and Finn are brothers so maybe Finn knows where Puck is. There is however a slight chance that Finn may not be very cooperative but that's another story for another time. For now, I think that you should come back to our apartment, stay there for a few days and we'll figure out where to go from there, okay?" Rachel yapped, regaining her high-school attitude that made sure she was in control of things.

The look Quinn gave her was one of the utmost gratitude, which was mirrored in Beth's smile. Thus, the search for Puck began, though it may not have ended out how they imagined.