a/n so here you go guys, last chapter. it was one hell of a ride! thank you everyone who told me what they think, and for those who actually went and looked for this fic on LJ, you guys are awesome. i hope you like the ending. :D
Once home, it took awhile before the small girl stopped clinging to Quinn, and it took even longer for her to fall asleep.
To say that Rachel was furious was an understatement.
"Who the hell does he think he is? He was actually stupid enough to grab her and try and take her away? was her seriously that stupid?" Rachel mutters while pacing in front of the couch. "And he had the audacity to say he was going to fight us on this? he had the guts to tell Beth that he was her daddy? who the hell does he think he is?" she says loudly trying very hard not to scream.
"I just got her to sleep a few hours ago, I'd appreciate it if she can get through the night without waking up." was all Quinn could say
This stops Rachel's pacing, "I can't understand how you can be so calm about this Quinn, and He scared ou-your daughter. Beth was still shaking when we got home." Rachel says before flopping down beside her.
"And he's never going to get near her again; I'll make sure of it. He has no legal right over Beth. Shelby made sure of that, you know this. Please Rach, I need you to calm down." Quinn says softly. "I need you to calm down, and hold me ok?"
Rachel's anger melts away and she gathers Quinn in her arms, "Oh baby, I'm so sorry."
"I just got so scared when I couldn't find her, one minute I saw her walking towards me, the next I couldn't see her. Then the fear in her eyes and Pucks hand's on her arms and he was trying to take my daughter away. She looked so scared Rach; I just wanted to grab her run as far as I could. I never should have let her go without me." she says in such a defeated tone, holding on to Rachel for strength.
"She's safe, she's here with us. Noah will never get near her again, I'll die before I let it happena again." Rachel vows.
They spend the rest of the evening periodically getting up to check on the small child, who kept whimpering in bed tossing and turning.
-o-o-o-
"Mommy!" they hear Beth scream, Rachel reaches her room first, and tries to gather the young blonde in her arms, but once Quinn enters the room, Beth reaches for her.
"He was trying to take me away Mommy; he didn't want me to get to you." Beth tries to say between sobs.
"It's just a dream honey, You're here with me and Rachel, he won't get you here.." Quinn murmurs against her hair.
"Don't let him take me promise me." Beth wails.
"We promise. He'll never get you." Rachel assures her.
They stay huddled on Rachel's old room, Quinn gently rocking Beth back to sleep. As she tries to put the little girl back down, she clings to Quinn, "Mommy don't go." she whimpers.
Quinn couldn't stop the tears that flowed from her eyes, "Ok sweetie, I won't go anywhere."
She lies down with her daughter in her arms, Rachel cuddled close to them, As Beth reached for Rachel's hand wrapping it around her body, they hear her whisper, "I love you mommy, love you Rach."
They both cry, as Quinn whispers, "Mommy loves you too sweetie, Mommy loves you too."
Their eyes find each other, and they cry silent tears, as the little girl in their arms, sleep soundly safe in their embrace.
'I love you' Rachel mouths to Quinn.
'I love you' Quinn mouths back before adding, 'we're going to be ok.'
-o-o-o-
They never did hear from Puck. Which was sort of a relief since; everyone they knew wanted to pummel the guy. At one point Kurt tells them that Finn took care of it, Rachel immediately gave their old friend a call in thanks. Kurt didn't elaborate how he took care of it, but Rachel and Quinn were very thankful and agreed that the next time they were in Lima they should take Finn and his girlfriend out for dinner.
Things changed for the better from then on, Beth still would get the occasional nightmare about being taken away but after a few more sessions with Dr. Fields her nightmares tapered down to a normal rate. Quinn and Rachel on the other hand started to hover, much to delight of Beth and Santana. The latter using it as ammunition to tease her friends.
Beth never stopped calling Quinn Mommy, and sometimes slipped and called Rachel Rammy (a weird combination of Rachel and Mommy). Their parents however refused to be called any moniker pertaining to being grand parents.
"I know she's my grandchild, but I am far too young to be called grandma" Judy said one night earning laughter from all present, and an evil gleam in Beth's eyes. Beth would often call her aunt grandma when she was too far to hear.
When Beth turned 10, she had a small party with all of the important adults in her life and a few of her new friends in New York that night she saw a star shining brightly in the sky. She smiles before whispering, "I love you too momma."
On Shelby's first death anniversary, they all went home to Lima and spent the day watching home movies of Shelby and Beth. They all shared a few laughs and tears. And at the end of the day, they gave out a toast celebrating the life of Shelby Corcoran and the love she gave to her family.
Aaron, David and Judy finally went on that trip that Shelby wanted them to take. Once they got home, Quinn teased her mother about the man that kept calling asking for a date. "Mom, it's ok. You should go out with him, I'd love to see you happy again." they weren't surprised to find out that they were in a relationship soon after.
-o-o-o-
Manhattan, NY
It was just like any other day, Beth was at dance practice. Rachel was on hiatus and Quinn was busy working on her latest project.
It wasn't like any other day, twenty years ago, a small Quinn Fabray, defended an even smaller Rachel Berry when a not so small Dave Kafrosky pushed Rachel into the sandbox. After kicking the young boy's family jewels, Rachel gives Quinn a kiss on the cheek in thanks, before running back to her classroom. Quinn touched her cheek and blushed, there were butterflies in her tummy. That was the beginning of the end for her, but at that time she just didn't know it.
It was quite a shock for Quinn upon receiving a package from her mother, it was a few notebooks and artwork she had when she was younger. A drawing of a small blonde girl and an ever smaller brunette in argyle holding hands with a bunch of hearts made her wonder how it took her so long to realize that she was in love with Rachel.
"Hey baby, can you tell me if this is ok?" she shouts out.
She smiles as she hears Rachel shout back, "Sure baby, just give me a few minutes."
Rachel comes in, and gives her a thorough kiss before gazing at her desk, "So what should I be looking at?" she asks.
Quinn points at the book she's been working on for weeks, whenever Rachel was around she was half scared it would ruin her plan, and half excited with what will happen.
With a smile Rachel opens the book. Her smile grows larger as she sees an illustrated version of her and Quinn huddled close in looking out at the star speckled sky.
She turns the page and reads what illustrated Quinn was saying.
"I wanted to ask you a question and I wasn't sure what to say."
illustrated Rachel just like real life Rachel had a tendency to ramble and it get's a laugh out of the broadway star, "You know you can ask me anything Quinn, given the amount of time we've been together. It is safe to assume that there is no reason for you to fear voicing any of your concerns."
"This is oddly accurate Quinn." Rachel tells the illustrator.
Quinn just smiles beside her before whispering, "Keep reading."
She turns the page and keeps reading as instructed..
"I can't remember a time when I didn't think about you. Even when we were kids, I don't think you remember but when we were six Kafrosky pushed you in the sandbox, and I kicked him between his legs, cause I saw you cry. You kissed my cheek in thanks. I think that started it all."
"I remember." whispers Rachel.
"Keep reading baby." Quinn says again.
"I couldn't understand it at first, why I couldn't stop thinking about you. And we all know what happened after that, I was a bitch until Beth happened. I was lost and hurting and you were there. And for the first time in my life, I was ok with needing someone, I was ok with letting someone need me too."
Rachel flips through the next page, heart beating wildly.
"The first time we kissed, I knew I didn't want anyone elses kisses. The first time I slept in your arms, was the first time I ever felt truly safe. The first time that I allowed myself to let go."
Rachel feels tears flow from her eyes, but she kept reading. She had to know how it was going to end.
"You've given me so much, taught me everything that I am today. You taught me how to love, how to really love. And because of you I have this amazing life, this amazing family. And I just wanted to ask you..."
Turning the last page, she gasps at the picture in front of her, illustrated Quinn was kneeling in front of her Rachel. But it was the last page. So Rachel turns her head and looks at Quinn, who was holding a beautiful ring in her fingers.
"Rachel Berry, would you do me the honor of having you forever?" Quinn asks through her tears.
Rachel pulls her in for a kiss, before they do, she whispers 'Yes.'
-o-o-o-
They broke the news of their engagement to their parents via a very long phone call. Promises of visits to start wedding plans were made. Quinn's smile never left her face; the same way Rachel's hand adorning the ring never left hers.
The minute Beth comes running though the door she was buzzing with excitement, Brittany who took her home was pretty much the same. It was quite interesting to see both blondes hopping all over the place.
That night they celebrate with their friends with jokes and jibes over Chinese take out and champagne. Rachel just snuggled deeper into Quinn's embrace as they watched their friends bicker and argue what color was best, and where the reception should be held.
"Would you kill me if I asked you to just elope with me?" Quinn whispers.
Rachel laughs at this, "We haven't even started and they're already fighting over things. It's as if they're the ones getting married. I fear the possibility of a war coming, so I might take you up on that offer."
A few minutes pass then Beth asks a question, "So since Mommy and Rachel are getting married, shouldn't Santana and Brittany get married too?"
Santana just sits in her place from the couch mouth open, trying to form words. And Brittany just winks at the little girl. This earns laughter from all the other people in the room. Once Santana snaps from her stupor, she grabs a pillow and throws it at Quinn.
"You put her up to this didn't you." She screams.
Quinn huffs before throwing a pillow back, "Please she has a mind of her own, maybe you should ask your future fiance if she knows anything."
Brittany just laughs before pulling Santana closer to her, "Don't worry baby, our friends know if anyone is going to do the asking it would be me."
Kurt starts making whipping sounds and Mercedes falls off of the couch in laughter. Rachel and Quinn just smile at each other, as Beth squeezes in between them for a snuggle. Santana just pouts from her perch in Brittany's lap.
"B! don't say that." she whines.
"Oh hush you, we all know your whipped no sense in denying it now." Brittany mock whispers.
This just gets more laughter from their friends. Beth smiles from in between Rachel and Quinn. She kinda loved her family even if Rachel was right, they had their own brand of crazy.
The rest of the night ends with multiple calls to all of the other gleeks, a long detailed list of what needed to be done to make the wedding fabulous and a strict order from Santana that they were all to reconvene the next day.
Kurt then asks Beth if Brittany told her to say that, and instead of running away he laughs when the latina starts scowling at his direction. He laughs harder when she stops after Brittany puts a hand on her back whispering she wanted to go home.
After everything was cleaned up and put away. The newly engaged couple made their way to Beth's room. The small blonde nestled in Quinn's arms half asleep. Rachel takes down the covers, and Quinn gently puts her in bed, Beth then grabs and holds her little lamb tight against her body. Content as she was being tucked in.
"Mommy loves you sweetie." Quinn whispers giving Beth another kiss.
"Goodnight Beth" Rachel follows suit.
They both smile as Beth sleepily mumbles, "love you mommy, love you Rach, goodnight."
They slowly close the door and make their way to their room, Quinn pulls a willing Rachel in her arms, and slowly sways dancing to unheard music. Rachel couldn't help herself and started humming an unknown tune.
"I love you Rachel."
"I love you Quinn, we're going to be ok."
And after everything that happened, all the tears and the pain. Quinn knew, they both knew that they really we're going to be ok.
"Quinn, I would like to inquire as to what your thoughts about more children would be?" Rachel asks softly.
The taller blonde just smiles at her thinking forever couldn't start soon enough.
And through it all, they were going to be ok.