Kitty Sense

The girls sat in the car in silence, looking at the house in front of them. Both terrified for different reasons; Quinn for the risk of seeing Beth, and Rachel for potentially losing the only parent she thinks she has a chance with.

"Are you sure about this, Quinn?"

"No. Are you?"

"Not really, no. Should we just get it over with or maybe come back another day?"

"Lets... Lets just do this and be done with it."

They stood hand in hand on the porch while Rachel takes a deep breath and rings the bell.

"Hi, Shelby, do you think we could talk?"

"Sure, come in girls."

When they make their way to the couch, Quinn glances nervously around the room, looking for Beth while hoping she wasn't around as well.

"Beth is asleep upstairs, Quinn."

Blushing, "I'm sorry."

"You have no reason to be, don't even worry. You have ever right to be nervous right now. It's okay."

Rachel gave Quinn's hand a squeeze, hoping to comfort her. She smiled when she received one back. Neither girl attempted to let go.

"Shelby, I'm sorry for what I said yesterday. I know that I had no right to say what I did, and I can't apologize enough for doing it. It wasn't your fault that it happened and I'm sorry that I blamed you. Please don't hate me. I don't want us to stop trying. I don't have.. Please don't leave me again."

"Oh, Rachel," Shelby moved to sit on the table in front of the girls and took Rachel's free hand, wrapping hers around it. "I'm not going anywhere. I promise you. I know you were hurt and angry yesterday, and yes, what you said hurt, but I do understand that you lashed out over it. I forgive you for what happened if you forgive me. I'm sorry I went against your wishes and came over. I didn't even consider that they would be there, none the less discover that you knew who I was."

"I guess that doesn't really matter now that they're gone anyway. You can come by whenever now."

"I'll still try to do better with calling first instead of just showing up, okay?"

"Yea, okay."

Their conversation was suddenly interrupted by a cry from the baby monitor on the table. "Excuse me, I'll be right back." Shelby squeezed Rachel's hand again before letting go and leaving the room.

"Quinn, are you alright?"

"I think so? I know Shelby is going to come back with Beth so I'm scared."

"I'm right here Quinn, and we can leave any time, alright?"

"Ok. Just, don't let go of me?"

"Never."

When Shelby returns, she has a squirming Beth in one arm and a bottle in hand. "Quinn, did you want to feed her?"

"I- uhh. No. No, that's ok." She wanted to say yes, boy did she want to say yes, but she couldn't bring herself to do so. She's sure that she's a coward for turning down the chance. Now, all she can do is sit and watch as Shelby feeds her.

She's not sure how much time has passed or even what Rachel and Shelby discussed when she realizes that Shelby is no longer holding Beth, but rather the little girl is sitting on the floor staring at her. For the first time since she was born, Quinn gets a good look at her baby girl. She can't help but stare in awe at the actual human being that she created. She looks so much like her it's a bit frightening, but she can see Puck's influence for sure. Beth is looking back at her, as if studying her as well, her little mind trying to figure out who this person is that refuses to look away from her and looks like her.

Rachel breaks her from her concentration when she pulls her hand when she stands, forcing her up as well.

"Lets go home, Quinn," Rachel gently tells her.

She can see it in Rachel's eyes that she knows it's become too much for her to handle. Rachel is trying to protect her and get her out.

"Thank you, Shelby, for forgiving me. I guess we will see you sometime soon."

"You're my daughter, Rachel, I want things to work between us. You as well Quinn, you are welcome any time to see Beth, alright? I'm not going to hide her from you, obviously."

"Thank you Shelby," Quinn smiles at her.

Elphie sat herself on the couch next to Quinn, held tilted slightly to the side, as if studying her intently. Even in her simple kitty mind, she knows when something's not right with her girls, and right now, something is not right with her Quinn. Sure, she enjoys harassing her, but that's only because it's fun and she knows that Quinn will play with her if she does, while Rachel would just hold her. Quinn is just sitting there staring blankly at her laptop. She's not typing anything or even moving, just looking. Making up her mind, Elphie lets out a meow before jumping onto the keyboard, back to the screen and looking at Quinn.

The sudden movement startles Quinn "Elphie, what are you doing? I'm trying to.. Well I don't really know, but you're in the way."

With a quick grab, Elphie is back on the spot she had just vacated. Giving Quinn a quick glair, she hops back onto the keys and paws at Quinn's hand.

"Elphie, I told you already. Just stay down there, ok?" she tells the cat before moving her back once again.

Letting out a kitty sized huff, she wastes no time in hoping back up, this time pawing gently at Quinn's chest with a purr.

"Why can't you go harass Rachel, you goof." This time Quinn gives her a small smile.

When Elphie meows at her in return, she can't suppress the small giggle and eye roll. "Alright, fine. You win, happy now?" This time, she picks her up and cuddles the tiny cat to her chest, kissing her head and running her fingers through the short fur. Elphie is purring loudly in response, happy to have accomplished her task.

Just a few minutes later, Elphie has perched herself onto Quinn's shoulder, snuggled against her neck, still purring softly as she watches the screen as Quinn clicks and scrolls around. She has no idea what this "Adoption" thing is that she seems to be so interested in, but she figures as long as she's still sitting here, it'll help Quinn figure out whatever she's working on, or at least that makes perfect kitty sense to her.

A/N: I'm so sorry for how this chapter has taken me and for it being extremely short! I cannot shake the writers block that I currently have, but I'm going to try!