"Momma!"

It was a cry that Rachel Berry was very familiar with. It was the cry of her daughter, Elizabeth Mae. Lizzie, for short. The brown haired, green eyed little girl had just celebrated her first birthday. Rachel spoiled her with gifts as she had been spoiled as a child. Rachel's fathers and best friend, Quinn Fabray were the only ones to attend Lizzie's party. Little Lizzie didn't know the difference, seeing as how these four adults were usually the only ones in her life. She was too young to realize that there was a person missing in her life; her father.

"I'm right here, angel." Rachel coddled the little girl in the wee hours of the morning, singing her softly back to sleep.

Just a few short blocks away from the one bedroom apartment Rachel dwelled in was none other than Sam Evans. He was freshly moved in to his studio apartment in New York City, ready to put his degree in technical theater to work. He had no idea that not even a mile away, Rachel Berry was singing his daughter to sleep.

"Hello, beautiful baby girl!" As usual, Quinn Fabray greeted Lizzie before giving Rachel a hug. Every Tuesday, the girls would meet for coffee at nearest Starbucks to catch up.

"Hello, Quinn," Rachel smiled at her best friend as she pushed Lizzie's stroller in front of her, heading up to the counter to place their usual order; a caramel latte for Quinn and an iced skinny mocha for Rachel. The pair took a seat in the closet booth and Rachel sat Lizzie in her lap, letting her play with the contents of her purse.

"So, how did the job interview go?" Quinn asked, taking a small sip of her drink. Rachel furrowed her brow.

"Not so well. The manager said I was over qualified," she said.

"Well, that makes sense. You're better than cheap pizza shop, Rachel," Quinn replied.

"I don't have many options, Quinn. A one year old isn't cheap, and my contract with the Starlight Café is almost up," she said, staring down at her drink.

"Then start auditioning again! You're bound to land a role," she said.

"I can't. I haven't left Elizabeth since the day she was born, if I got into a show I would be away from her all the time. Besides, I can't exactly afford child care at the moment," she said.

"Well, you have me," Quinn said, raising her eyebrows.

"I appreciate the offer, Quinn, but I can't spend all my time at the theater. Elizabeth needs her mother," she said. Lizzie clapped her hands and squealed at the sound of her name, then continued to dig through Rachel's purse.

"But Broadway is your dream, Rachel. It always has been."

"Well, dreams can change. Now my dream is to give my daughter everything I can."

The door of the café jingled as someone walked in. Quinn's eyes automatically went to the door, and then they grew wide with fear. Rachel, having her back turned to the door, raised an eye brow at Quinn's facial expression.

"A peppermint mocha, please."

Rachel knew that voice. She hadn't heard it for nearly two years. Her blood ran cold and she shut her eyes.

"Quinn… please don't tell me-"

"That Sam is ordering coffee right now?" she asked, her voice low. "Okay, I won't tell you."

Rachel took a deep breath and opened her eyes.

"Okay, okay. Maybe we can sneak out. There's an exit in the back, right? We just have to-"

"Quinn? Is that you?" It was too late. Sam had spotted the pair, though he didn't seem to realize Rachel was the one across from Quinn. He approached the table with a smile on his face. "Hey! How a- Rachel…"

It was obvious that Sam wasn't expecting to see Rachel. His heart started to beat faster, and flashes of the fateful night two years ago ran through his head. His eye was automatically drawn to the toddler sitting in Rachel's lap. The little girl just looked up at him, staring with big eyes.

"Hello, Sam." Rachel hardly recognized her own voice. It was hoarse. Scared.

"H-Hi," Sam replied, looking between Lizzie and Rachel. Quinn cleared her throat.

"It's nice to see you, Sam. Rachel and I were just leaving."

To avoid any further commotion, Quinn stood up, nodding at Rachel so she would follow her lead. Rachel nodded as well and stood, placing Lizzie back in her stroller. Her lips were pursed together to keep her from saying anything. In a hurried blur, the girl's left a stuttering Sam in the middle of Starbucks.

This was Rachel's worst nightmare.

(2)