"Noah, what is it?" Shelby Corcoran, the former coach of Vocal Adrenaline asked, sitting beside Puck.
"Listen. I met my girl today", Puck motioned the baby, "and I wanna keep her".
Shelby stared intently at Beth, and then dropped her stare to the ground.
It was quiet for some time. Beth stirred in her father's arms, Puck stared at Shelby, and Shelby stared at Beth.
"Well. This is overwhelming. I suppose...I don't have a choice? Okay." Shelby whispered to Puck.
"So...?" Puck persisted, a hint of arrogance in his voice.
"Well, there's no rule that says birth parents can't change their minds before the actual adoption. " Shelby sighed, looking longingly at the baby, letting tears build up in her deep blue eyes.
"You're going to raise her?" Shelby asked, looking into his eyes.
"Yeah, me and...Quinn, but look, Shelby, you can visit Beth anytime you want, okay." Puck grinned."Here, have a nurse?"
"No, no. I'll be here tomorrow, if that's okay. I had better get back home" With that, she stood up, blew Beth a kiss and strode of in the opposite direction.
Puck watched her away, oblivious to the squiggling child in his muscular arms.
"Beth!" Puck announced, "I love you, kiddo."
As the sun began to set, and he and Beth had been outside for nearly 2 hours, Puck realised that Beth might be hungry.
Later that night
Slowly and quietly, Puck tiptoed into Quinn's hospital room.
Quinn's head whipped around, and spotted Puck.
"Hey." She said, noticing the baby-less man,"Where's Beth?"
"In the nursery." Puck crossed the room and sat by the bed.
"Shelby came over today." He said to Quinn.
"Oh. Why didn't she talk to me then?"
"I asked her to come. She agreed to let us keep Beth."
"We aren't keeping her, you idiot." Quinn yelled back, frustrated.
"Yeah we are", Puck replied.
"No. Even if we want to, how do you think were gonna do it?" Quinn asked angrily.
"I have a job." was the reply.
"Cleaning pools? Yeah, cleaning pools is going to get a child through school. You understand Noah? We don't want her. We can't have her. It was a mistake. We are going to make somebody else's life full of joy." Quinn had tears in her eyes.
"I've spoken to Shelby already." Puck replied all too confidently. "She even said that it's our choice until she's actually adopted."
"Noah. We have no place for her, no money, and I don't have any love for her." She whispered the last part.
"I'll clean out my basement, add a crib and some paint, and it'll be perfect, I'll get a new job, or apply for a loan, and you have love for her, Quinn."
Okay, since when are you so nice?" Quinn asked, shocked by Puck's pep talk. "I don't feel love for Beth. She isn't my child. For nearly 6 months she has been somebody else's baby. It's not that I don't love her, damn I'll love her no matter what, but I just don't feel the way a mum should."
"Quinn, babe, I know..." Noah replied, taking her hand.
"No you don't know. You love her, don't you? You feel special, and warm and fussy every time you think about her. I feel...empty." Quinn's voice quavered uncontrollably.
"Quinn, you love this kid with all your heart. You just have to, I dunno, chill or something.
"I love her, deep down. I really do. This unplanned kid has changed my life. But..." Quinn rolled onto her side.
"I know you do. Okay, I'll let you catch some zs, and I'll be back in the morning, with our Beth...Night Q".
Puck walked out the dark, cold hospital room. As he did, Quinn began thinking about Beth, and her school, and every consequence of keeping Beth until she drifted into an uneasy sleep.
Meanwhile, Puck tiptoed into the nursery. He had decided to stay the night. Dragging a nearby rocking chair beside Beth's crib, Puck bean to hum the tune to 'Beth', the song that he himself sung in Glee club.
"Love you Beth." Puck whispered, kissing her tiny head, as he bent down into the chair.
The room was quiet, with only the occasional whimper from a baby.
Upstairs, Quinn picked up the white hospital-room landline phone, and dialled a number. An answer came from the other end a minute later.
"Hello?" Shelby Corcoran asked, on the other end.
Ms Corcoran, its Quinn. Can you come to the hospital tomorrow, please?" Quinn asked urgently.
"Well sure, honey. What's the matter?" Shelby asked, slightly confused and panicked.
"I think Noah may have said some things...and, we need to clear it up."
"Oh, okay then."Goodnight Quinn, Shelby said.
"'Night." Quinn whispered, hanging up and replacing the phone on the bedside table.
Beth didn't know it yet, but in the morning she would have a loving family and home to go to.
I'm so sorry I haven't updated in a while, and I'm so sorry that this story is so short!
Reviews would be magnificent. Positive, negative, suggestions and opinions would be perfect!
Stay tuned,
-HelenaBCfan
