Chapter 2

As she drifted into sleep, Quinn found herself thinking about a night a little over 13 years ago. A night that would change her life in ways she could have never imagined then and still had a hard time believing.

It had been Regionals, they had just finished performing their last song, when it happened. Her mom came to talk to her and all of a sudden a pain in her lower abdomen made Quinn double over. The doctor in her now knew all the medical terms of what was happening to her, but back then, she had been a sixteen-year old kid about to have a kid and all she kept thinking that she couldn't do this, she wasn't ready and that she really hadn't made any decisions yet. She had needed more time, time to think, time to talk to someone, anyone, who could help her with this decision, this choice that was now approaching her at the speed of a bullet train.

But life didn't slow down or halt or wait until everything was laid out perfectly and her daughter wasn't waiting either. On shaky legs, supported by her mom and Puck and the rest of the club following them, she had somehow made it to the hospital and into a delivery room. Mercedes was on one side, her mom on the other and Puck somewhere else in the room being completely useless. Quinn screamed and cursed at all of them and somewhere in the back of her mind knew that she didn't want either of these three people with her when her child made it into this world. She had wanted Rachel there, but she had been too damn afraid to voice her feelings and now it was too late and she was about to make a decision that would affect the rest of her life alone.

When the pain began to increase, how that was possible, Quinn didn't even know, she lost all sense of coherent thought and just pushed until she heard the most beautiful sound ever. No mother had ever been so happy to hear a baby cry, Quinn was sure. And no mother had ever been so in love and proud of a daughter she only just met, she was sure of that too. And no mother would ever be able to give this baby girl away, but Quinn knew she had to. What other options were there? Looking at Beth in her arms, with her perfect little smile and eyes, Quinn's resolve melted slightly and she asked Puck and Mercedes to update the Gleeks and her mom to give her a moment alone with her daughter.

Her daughter, her child. Her own. How could she ever give this up? This feeling of absolute love, of knowing she would do anything she had to to keep this tiny human being safe and provided for. Unfortunately, as Quinn studied the face of her daughter, anything at this point in life meant giving her daughter to a complete stranger, hoping and praying for the best. Quinn felt like weeping and laughing at the same time as she had no idea what to do. Then, out of nowhere, Rachel was there, holding her closely, letting her cry while she held her baby, calming her with assuring sounds but never speaking. Later, Quinn would realize how absolutely amazing it was that Rachel Berry had never said a word during her breakdown but that the sight of Quinn Fabray holding her baby daughter had rendered her speechless for the moment.

Of course, that had only lasted so long. Quietly, Rachel had told her about her conversation with Shelby and how she had felt at that moment. How rejected and unwanted and just sad and how Quinn couldn't guarantee Beth wouldn't ever feel like that unless she kept her. How Beth deserved to know her mother loved her and Quinn deserved to tell her and not live with the regrets Shelby had. It was Rachel, who, with her all her talent and determination, told Quinn that Beth had already changed Quinn in the hour she had been with her and how Beth was possibly the best thing to happen to her.

Quinn had cried earnestly again then, and told Rachel how she wanted to keep her so much, but she was still sixteen and in high school and homeless for goodness sake and even if she wasn't, she didn't have money or a plan, just this love for Beth she couldn't even put into words. And it was Rachel again, who told her in no uncertain terms, that her fathers had been asking for months now why Rachel had not offered their guest room to Quinn and who would view it as their privilege to open their home to Quinn and her child. Rachel, who explained to Quinn something no one knew – that Rachel was to inherit an obscene amount of money when she turned 18 from her grandfather who had adored his only grandchild and that she would make Quinn equal to herself in the trust. Quinn had vehemently protested, the old HBIC persona flaring up just a bit, explaining she wasn't a charity case and didn't need pity from anyone, let alone Rachel Berry and her two gay dads. Rachel, undeterred, kept explaining that it wasn't charity, that Quinn would be her equal and it would be Quinn's money as much as Rachel's and that she wanted to do this. To be there for Quinn the way she deserved someone to be there. The way Rachel should have insisted on being there when Quinn rejected her tentative offer of friendship what seemed like a lifetime ago.

Quietly, she added, "I can be there for you and for Beth in whatever way you let me. I can be the best friend, the cool aunt," and then she added almost in a whisper and Quinn wasn't sure she had heard right, "or I can be a parent."

Quinn had just stared at her, and then looked down at the sleeping angel in her arms and back up at Rachel. Then, grasping the singer's hand tightly, she nodded, knowing she was tying her fate to this girl, this woman, in more ways than she probably should have at that moment. But, nothing, nothing had ever felt more right than knowing that this decision would keep Beth with her and maybe, just maybe, it was not too late to put voice to her feelings for the brunette. Rachel had smiled the biggest, most genuine smile Quinn had ever seen on her face and then excused herself to talk with her fathers, who had come with her from the hall the competition had been in. She promised Quinn she'd return soon and with a quick peck to her forehead, left the room. It was so sudden; Quinn didn't have time to respond before Rachel was gone.

As soon as Rachel left the room, fatigue overcame Quinn's body with all the events of the day and she gingerly got out of bed and laid the infant in the bassinet next to her bed. She looked down at her daughter and recounted the conversation with Rachel in her head. Had that really happened? Was it really that easy? Okay, so she was going to live with Rachel and have a newborn baby and school, easy maybe was not the word to use, but easier for sure. When she had had no hope to keep her daughter or to give her the life she deserved an hour ago, she now had possibilities and dreams and options. The whole world was open to them. All thanks to a tiny diva, who refused no for an answer. And Quinn had never in her life been so thankful for Rachel Berry's stubbornness.

The baby made a noise in her sleep, bringing Quinn out of her thoughts and back to reality. "What's wrong, baby girl?" she whispered, leaning down more, running her finger along the baby's face. Beth just opened and closed her mouth, then yawned, turning her head into her mother's touch and went back to sleep. Tears formed in Quinn's eyes and she whispered to Beth, "We'll be going home soon. You and I, we'll make the best family. You'll see. And maybe, if you want her to, Rachel can be part of it too." And the baby, as if she understood, what her mother was saying, had suddenly smiled at the sound of Rachel's name and Quinn took that as an affirmative.

She finally tore herself away from the sight of her baby and turned back to the bed, hoping for some sleep. She had no sense of time left, but it was either really early or really late, depending how one looks at these things. But of course, sleep was a thing of the past now and she better get used to it. There were conversations to be had and Quinn was not looking forward to them. Knowing that the decision she just made would give Beth everything made her feel slightly better, but not much. She had to tell Puck that she was keeping their daughter, but that she didn't want a life with him. She had to tell her mother that she had no desire to move back home, but that she was welcome to be a grandmother to Beth if she wanted to. She had to tell Mercedes she was moving out and moving in with Rachel and somehow she had a feeling Mercedes (or Kurt) would find a way to make even this situation about herself. Sighing, she sat on the bed, looking back at the sleeping child.

She heard a noise from the door and all three of the people she was thinking about were there together. All dog-tired and looking at her with eyes full of concern. Her mother was the first to break the silence, hesitantly walking toward the bed.

"Quinnie – there's a social worker here who wants to start the paperwork for the adoption. They need you to say goodbye now. I know it's hard, but sweetie, but it's for the best."

So the heartfelt declaration just hours ago was all for show. Quinn was not surprised; her mother was always changing her mind about everything. Her father probably would be back in the house before the end of the week. Quinn sat up against the pillows and caught a glimpse of Rachel, standing quietly in the doorway behind Puck and Mercedes, who hadn't noticed her. They smiled knowingly at each other, then Quinn turned to her mother.

"Actually, mom, I don't think so. Beth is staying with me."

There, she'd said it and was pretty proud of herself for sounding, when she was shaking with fear on the inside. Could her mom do anything legally? She was only 16, could her mom make her come home, let them take Beth? She closed her eyes, drawing strength from someplace deep within and opened them again, looking at her mother, then Puck and then Mercedes in the eye.

"I have decided to stay with Rachel. You all can be part of our lives in whatever way you want to be. Puck, you can be her dad, but you can't be my boyfriend, or husband or whatever you want to be to me. I don't feel that way about you, I tried, but I just can't be that with you. Mercedes, I will always owe you, but know that this is about Beth and what's best for her. Not about you and me or our friendship. And mom, I know you don't understand. But please, accept and respect my decision. I can't give her up, I love her too much already and she's only been with me for a few hours. We will be a family and I'll work as hard as I have to for her to have what she needs."

Quinn was wondering if whatever it was that made Rachel talk in paragraphs had somehow jumped over to her. She was breathing deeply by the time she finished and felt like all the fight had gone out of her. All three people looked hurt on some level and she felt awful for being the cause of those looks.

Mercedes was the first to recover, smiling at Quinn, then at Beth and nodding, understanding more than maybe Quinn herself in this moment. She made her way to Quinn, gave her a hug and whispered, "I understand completely. And I'm still here if you need anything, anything at all. I'll go home and get your stuff together to take to Rachel's. Her dads can come get it later. Don't worry about anything, we're cool." Quinn wiped tears yet again from her eyes and thanked the girl who had been nothing short of her salvation the last few weeks of her pregnancy. She knew it wasn't fair, but then life hardly ever was.

Mercedes gave Rachel a squeeze to her shoulder, murmured something in her ear about picking up Quinn's things and then left to meet the rest of the club in the lounge downstairs. Puck had stared at Rachel, confusion plain on his face.

"This is a joke, right? Berry? Quinn, that's my daughter." He sounded angry, not hurt. He was concerned with his reputation, not the wellbeing of the child sleeping not two feet from him. Quinn's resolve strengthened when she answered him.

"She's my daughter too, and this is what's best for her. I'm not saying you can't be part of her life. I want you to be, so much. We just can't be the family you have it in your head we should be." It pained her to tell Puck the truth. It would have been so much easier to lie, to stay with him and not hurt him this way. But Quinn wanted a chance at happiness too, even with the mess her life was right now, she felt she was still worthy of it.

"Well, then, I hope you live happily ever after. Don't count on me, that's so not what I signed up for. I'm out of here."

He all but ran from the room. Quinn, who had expected something like this, still felt like sobbing after his outburst, but Rachel was there again, holding her hand and running her fingers up her arms. Somehow that simple action calmed her instantly, and Quinn was wondering how she had made it through the last nine months without the calming touch of one Rachel Berry.

Her mother was left with the two girls, staring at Quinn like she had just grown another head, but she wasn't confused. She was disgusted that her daughter would choose this life. Quinn knew exactly what she was thinking and she prayed her mother would have the decency of just walking out of the room and her life, and not verbally assault her and Rachel and Beth. Especially not Beth. Quinn wasn't sure what she would do if that would happen. The light touch on her arm returned and she was calm again.

Leaning in close, Rachel whispered quietly to the blonde, "Whatever happens, you're coming home with us. Daddy's friends with the police chief and already talked to him about you living with us while being a minor. They'll work it out. She can't make you do anything, she can't take Beth. So don't worry." Quinn wanted to ask her if she really did have a sixth sense, how she had known what was gnawing on Quinn's mind and how to say exactly what she needed to hear to calm instantly. Quinn still looked at her mother unblinkingly, waiting for what was inevitable speech.

"Quinnie – you can't be serious. You're a child; you cannot possibly know the sacrifice and dedication it takes to raise a child yourself. Think about it, what will happen to you? Ms. Berry and her fathers will tire of taking care of you eventually. They're not family, they aren't obligated to be there for you."

Quinn vowed right then and there that Beth would never ever feel like Quinn had been obligated to do anything for her. She wanted her daughter, their life together. Whatever that meant.

"Give your baby to a family that really wants her, that can love her. Come home with me, we'll forget this ever happened. We can get you a personal trainer and you can be back on the Cheerios first week of school in the fall. Then you'll win Prom Queen and everything will work out the way it was supposed to. Now, let me get that paperwork for you to sign…"

She turned to leave. And Quinn had had enough. She breathed in deeply, looked at Rachel, who just smiled at her again, nodded and left the room quietly. Then, with a quick glance at the baby who was still sleeping serenely, Quinn faced her mother.

"Mom, I'm only going to say this once. So please, hear me when I'm saying that Beth is staying with me. She is my daughter, my responsibility, and I am her mother, if you accept that or not. I wanted you in her life, but after this little speech you just made, I'm not so sure anymore. We will be at the Berry's, should you change your mind about knowing your granddaughter at all. If not, please don't bother getting in touch with me. We're done here."

Quinn finished resolutely, no tears in her eyes this time. Her mother looked like she was about to laugh, but stopped herself when she saw the look on Quinn's face. The look of a mother who would do absolutely anything to keep her child safe.

"Well, don't come running back home when it doesn't work out. We'll put your things into storage. I will mail you the key."

With that, Judy Fabray walked out of the room and out of her daughter's and granddaughter's lives forever. Quinn felt like crying again, but she had done that for the better part of the whole day and she just wanted to sleep. Finally, with one last look at her daughter, who had slept through all the drama of the last hour, she allowed her eyes to flutter shut and fell into a blissful dreamless sleep.