Growing à la Fois
AnniKay

Sam/Mercedes/Puck

Disclaimer: I own Nothing…Murphy, Falchuk, and Brennen along with Fox and others own this fandom and all the characters there in…Anything you recognize obviously belongs to the,

THANKS to everyone who has taken the time to review. Your encouragement helps more than you know. Take a moment and let me know what you enjoyed most about the update.

AN: This is the third story in the Learning French Universe. The New Directions begin their Senior year.

DRAMA AND DARKNESS IN THIS CHAPTER. DELVING MORE INTO QUINN'S TROUBLES.

To all my loverly FanFiction friends, DreaC, MariposaFria, Emzjuk, Thank you all for the amazing post and update. BTW ladies, I'm looking for the next big drama. I'd love to hear you thoughts. Still repping ya'll.

Chapter 10
Sweep Around

Sam Point of View

By the time we finally got Mr. Benton done at the store, Kevon and Devon were already at the Jones homestead getting the backyard together. Since the days were still long and warm…for Ohio, Kev and Dev, convinced Puck to uncover the pool. A quick text to Mercy let the ladies know that it had been transformed into a pool party/family dinner. She agreed to let Quinn and her mom know as well. We'd ultimately decided that it wouldn't have been right to have this shindig to basically welcome Shelby and Beth to the family without inviting Quinn and Judy Fabray. They were part of this now. I still have some serious trust issues with ole Quinn…though now I worry about how she's gonna hurt Puck and Mercy and Beth…not me. She doesn't have the power to hurt me anymore, unless it's through one of them.

Anyway, since the moms had done their culinary magic on all the sides the night before, and the meats were already marinated and ready for the grill, new didn't have a whole hell of a lot to do. We were smart enough to go ahead and get out the girls way in the bathrooms. So by the time the ladies rolled in we were all already dressed. As they headed upstairs to get showered and dressed, we concentrated on starting to cook things like the potatoes, and corn on the cob. My dad fixed up the baked beans in his cast iron kettle thing that he'd gotten from his dad, and he convinced Mr. Benton to cook them on the grill. Which is just awesome, cause man have I missed my dad's beans…they're better than awesome.

Quinn showed up with her mom about fifteen minutes early. Puck took Mrs. Fabray out through the kitchen to the backyard, while Quinn headed upstairs to say hello to Stacey. I decided to man the door. Something about Judith Fabray pretty much makes my skin crawl. Which is weird because she seems like a nice enough woman. But I guess in life there are just people who rub you the wrong way without you ever knowing exactly why. None the less, it turned out to be a good thing I stayed there, I'd have barely made it upstairs before I'd have been back to open the door for Tessa, Bubbie Ruth, Becah and Sarah. They didn't need direction at all. It might have been Bubbie Ruth's first visit, but Becah and the others pretty much lived here.

At six right on the dot the door bell rang, and I opened it to see Ms. Cochran standing there. "Good Evening, Ms. Cochran." I said politely, but all my attention was focused on the little brunette in her arms. She looked adorable in a little purple and pink romper dress. Her hair already long enough to be pulled into the cutest little pigtails ever. The pigtails were held in scruncies decorated with sweet little purple flowers with pink at their tips. "Hey there Puddin'…aren't you just pretty enough to make a hound dog smile." I almost cooed. Except for her eye color and a few small differences, this little girl was Puck all over. "Darn if you don't look like your Abah done spat you out." I said tickling her tummy.

I expected her to lean back and into her mother's embrace. Instead she reached for me. I looked askance at Shelby and when she nodded, I pulled the sweet little girl into my arms. With a satisfied grin, she patted my face and clear as day said, "Papa."

My jaw near hit the floor. I threw a quick glance at Ms. Cochran and she was smiling brightly, so I figured that she was okay with it. I chuckled and smiled down at the sweetheart in my arms. Less than a minute and I knew she was as much a part of my heart as her daddy. Even more this little girl was already calling me exactly what I wanted her; and all MeDe, Puck and my kids to call us one day…you know when we finally got around to having them; call me. "You've got a touch of the sight don'cha Puddin'? How did you know that that was exactly what I was hoping you'd call me when you got ready to? Yup, Puddin', I'm your Papa. And your Abah and your MeDe and me, we all love you to bits and pieces. Yes we do. We love you just as much as anything." I said as I tickled her little belly."Now let's go on out to the backyard, you've got a whole mess a people just dying to meet you." As I escorted them through the house, I carefully asked Ms. Cochran, "are you sure you don't mind her calling us-"

Shelby cut me off with a smile. "I'm sure Sam." She nodded. "I don't think I've ever heard well…I didn't realize that you…" she struggled with her words.

"Southern as a junebug sippin' a sweet tea on a wrap'round porch. Yes Ma'am. Born in Memphis and raised in Nashville."

She could only chuckle. Turning her attention back to my question, she followed with one of her own. "You know Sam, you and Puck will be the male figures in her life. I doubt I will ever marry, that is part of the reason I decided to accept the offer the four of you made to co-parent Beth. Puck is her father and you are her stepfather. Just as Mercedes is her stepmother." She said gently. "So you and Puck worked out the honorific situation?"

"Yes Ma'am." I nodded. "Abah is Hebrew for father, and we wanted to leave daddy open just in case you do marry and she wants to call him that. If they grow close enough for it, you know. So I went with Papa. Mercy…she figures that Quinn or one of her Uncles will teach this little Puddin' to call her MeDe anyway, so she might as well own it. But we decided that we're gonna leave it to you and Quinn what she calls her."

Shelby laughed at the face I made at the thought of getting involved in that discussion. "Well, Beth is a lucky girl she has an Abah, and a Papa and a MeDe and a Mommy and a Yetta Becah."

I lead the way out the backdoor. With a smile I continued for her, introducing people as I went. "Well our little Puddin' also has a Bubbie Ruth, her great grandmom, Granddaddy Sand, MeMaw Gabbie, SugaMama, and Pops, Nana Judy and George is still deciding since he swears that Benton stole Pops right off his tongue. Now Grandaddy San and MeMaw Gabbie are Papa's mommy and daddy. Yetta Becah is Abah's mommy and George, is pretty much Abah's Papa." I said trying to keep to terms that Beth would understand while introducing everyone to both of them. "Then we have her Uncles Kevon and Devon and Stevie, and her aunties Tessa and Sarah and Stacey. Kevon and Devon are her MeDe's big brothers, and Tessa and Sarah are her Abah's little sisters, and Stevie and Stacey are my little brother and sister." I finished.

I put the baby down so she could toddle a bit. There were way too many of us to fret about the fenced in pool. And I didn't even want to figure out whom to hand her too. Shelby was speaking to Ms. Becah and Dani-lady, so she couldn't take her. Besides I wanted to see where it was she want to go. I watched her closely as she toddled over to Quinn. Behind us I heard my mother say "that bitta baby is definitely Puck's child. Becah said that when he was little she used to despair 'cause was one of those 'never met a stranger' babies. Like Sam said, I'm technically his, Stacey and Stevie's mom…though Noah has half their friends calling me Angel-Mom now." She laughed. It's so funny, now that we've become part of this big ol' mess that is this new family, Moma always says technically. And I know why too. Cause if it comes out of her mouth, it's an order same as if whichever of the moms is your biological mother. Same for Dani-lady and Ms. Becah.

As the parents introduced themselves I walked over to join Mercy and Puck where they sat playing with Quinn and Beth. I'd barely settled in my usual spot next to Mercy, when Patrice and Tonya finally rolled in. Of course I had to pick. "I swaney you two never show up until all the food is ready and the work is done."

Tonya threw out a quick response in Klingon that basically told me to shut my mouth before she told the world that I was the misbegotten son of a retarded goat. While Patrice just asked me if I was jealous of her impeccable timing.

"Honey, you know I love you…but you're gonna be late for your own damn funeral. I've heard the stories. You couldn't even be on time for your own birth." Kevon laughed as he moved over to greet his girlfriend. Devon ran up and scooped Tonya into his arms and brought her over to join us all in playing with the baby. We all sat in a big circle and let Beth come to whoever she felt like. Where ever she went she was tickled, amused and otherwise lavished with attention. Amazingly enough she seemed to pick up who everyone was and maybe how much she was loved. It seemed like no time had passed at all before dinner was ready. Dani-Lady had pulled down Mercy's old high chair and cleaned it up so that Beth would have a seat of her own. So of course we had to relinquish the Puddin' back to her mommy for dinner.

Mr. Benton had gone all out, okay not as far as he went for the fourth or anything, but there were steaks, and white and dark meat chicken. He'd grilled hot dogs for the kids. Shopping's way different with a family like ours. Nathan's kosher franks have replaced Ball Park as the family go to hot dogs. We eat a lot less pork and often, especially when Ms. Becah is cooking dinner, we even eat kosher. Tonight in addition to our usual corn on the cob, the moms had made sure to include creamed corn and other soft sides that were Beth safe. After we'd all filled out plates, Mr. Benton stood up and gave us all a huge smile. I'm telling you Quinn swooned a little bit.

"Tonight, we're gathered together to celebrate, and thank the lord above that we have had so very many blessings bestowed upon us. When my wife told me that our daughter had found her one in five billion, I was overjoyed. Then she told me that it wasn't just one, it was in fact two…I'll admit that it was a lot to wrap my head around. And I could never have imagined that it would lead us here. We aren't just a family of five now. Through Kevon we've added Patrice, Devon has brought us Tonya, and they will be getting married next summer, right?"

"Yes sir…some time before the family reunion." Devon told him giving his girl a hug.

"Congratulations to my first born and his heart's home. Now Mercedes, though, she out did you both. She brought us Quinn long before she found Noah and Sam. Noah and Quinn they gave us Beth, who left us but she came home tonight and dragged Shelby, kicking and screaming if she has any sense, with her." He added with a grin. "Noah also brought us his mother Rebecah and his sister Sarah, Becah came with Bubbie Ruth and her brother Saul…then she managed to drag in George and Tessa. Sam-I-am, he brought us Gabbie and Sander, who I am spending way too much time with because I almost said imzadi earlier, with them came Stacey and Stevie. Now we may not be what most people think of when they hear the word family, but that's exactly what we are." He raised his glass. "To our family."

Dani-lady stood as Mr. Benton took his seat next to her. "Now I know full and well that I should hold back this announcement for another month, but I can't hold water. So I have another reason we should be celebrating. In about seven months, life last and nothing happens, Beth will have a little playmate. Benton and I are pregnant. One mo'gain. Now you may congratulate us and blame Noah and Sam."

"Whoa, I didn't have anything to do with it." Puck said throwing up his hands in the universal I surrender stance. He looked as though he was being held at gun point.

Everyone laughed, but I was feeling pretty much the same as Puck on this one. "Not like that, you idiot." Dani-Lady teased good naturedly. "I took it into my head that whenever you guys got loud, I'd distract Benton…"

"Basically, every time you three went at it like rabid weasels, she figured I'd lose the plot and go rushing in to rip off your arms and beat you with the wet and sticky end for touching my little princess. So she distracted me…and you guys made sure that I needed a hell of a lot of distracting. Though to be really honest, gross as it sounds, I blame MeDe. I don't know and I don't want to know…you three were just in her room doing vocal exercises…really loud, vocal exercises. And I will go to my grave believing that. It's a father's prerogative."

Bubbie Ruth looked around Quinn and Ms. Judy to say, "then I'd better give you three your gifts in private." She laughed cheekily. She looked along the entire table for a moment. "I guess I'd better give all the sixteen and over crowd their gifts away from prying eyes."

Apparently that was the drop that broke the dam for Judy Fabray. ""You cannot possible be condoning this…this…well all of that." She gestured to Puck, Mercy and I, leaving no doubt in any mind what she referred to. "I don't think that is a proper example for my granddaughter. They shouldn't be allowed near her until they stop all this…immoral behavior."

My mom looked at Dani-Lady and they both rolled their eyes. "Judy, there is a time and a place for everything and right here, right now…is neither."

"No." Judy continued undaunted. "I don't see how you could allow this to go on in your house."

"People in glass houses, Judith." Bubbie Ruth said just loud enough to be heard.

Now if I had as many skeletons in my family's closet as Judy Fabray, and Bubbie Ruth spoke to me in that tone, I wouldn't have said another word. But apparently she didn't see the danger inherent in crossing Ruth Mayzer right then. "No, it's wrong. I didn't say anything over the Fourth of July because it wasn't any of my business, but if they are going to want to be involved in my granddaughter's life than I have a right to object to their sick and sinful behavior."

I sighed. Before this could get any worse I wanted Stevie and Stacey and Beth away from this. Sarah, she looked like she was getting ready to back up Bubbie, but she didn't need to. "Tessa, can you please take the baby and Triple S and help them move their plates inside. They don't need to hear all this." I said quietly. This is gonna get real bad.

Shelby saw what was happening and she stood quickly. "I'll help you, Tessa."

Quinn stopped her. "No, if you're going to let us be a part of Beth's life, then you'll need to know. You need to hear this as well."

Patrice stood and helped Tessa get Beth and the other kids into the kitchen. We could all see them from where we sat, but they wouldn't be able to hear the coming shit storm.

Danica Point of View

I waited patiently for the kids to be situated in the kitchen before I turned to Judy Fabray and asked caustically. "Now, Ms. Judith Fabray, just who the hell do you think you are to bring your skinny ass into our home and tell us how to raise our kids?"

Judy looked at me like the superior bitch she believed herself to be. "I'm a mother and I am the baby's grandmother…you are not."

"Really…I'm not. Are you sure about that? Cause I'm fairly certain I have more claim to BETH than you do. Where was Quinn living when she gave birth? Who were her legal guardians? She lived here; we were her guardians, because as far as you knew, your husband had kicked her out of her childhood home for being pregnant. Who paid the doctors' and hospital bills for Quinn and the baby? Benton and I with help from Becah. Hell the state of Ohio paid more of those bills than you did." I noted the shock on the faces of Quinn and the thruple. Kevon, Devon and their girls were too busy shooting evil looks at Judy to register surprise. "If you are the baby's grandmother, so much more than I am, tell me, what time was she born? Who was in the birthing room? How much did she weigh? How long was she? Who was the first person to hold her? The second?" Judy stammered unable to answer a single one of my questions. "Here you go…I've got an easy one; when Benton and I came to bring Quinn her bag and we stayed with her and MeDe until they were ready to come home, when we held her as she signed those adoption papers, where were you? When we held her while she wept her heart and soul out, where were you?" I could feel the tears coursing down my cheeks as I got too angry and chocked up to speak.

"When all of us, including Quinn, were down in x-ray trying to see if Noah would need to have a cast for six weeks because he punched a hole in a vending machine, after watching his daughter walk out of his life, where were you? Who brought Quinn's maternity clothes? That was Danica, Cedes and I. that was Noah, hell Finn Hudson bought more for Drizzle than you did." Becah laughed humorlessly.

"Drizzle?" Judy made the mistake of asking.

Shelby looked at her in utter contempt as she answered. "When Finn thought that he was the father, he wanted to name the baby Drizzle. Because it was unique and he likes that kind of rain best." She said calmly. ""He still calls her Drizzle, says she will always have an Uncle Finn in her life to call her Drizzle if I'll let him. I've known them for a grand total of three weeks, and even I know that."

"Be that as it may…" Judy started again.

"No mother," Quinn interrupted. "You keep saying your granddaughter, but I've never even heard you call her by name. Not once have you even asked the questions Moma Dani asked you. You don't even know her real name do-do you?"

"Her name is Beth…short for Elizabeth…my middle name." Judy said haughtily.

"No." Puck said his voice devoid of any and all warmth. "Her name is Beth; I got it from a song. When Shelby asked me if I wanted it to be short for anything, I said Bethany, for the city in Israel."

"Judy, you need to examine the reason Quinn left home." Bubbie Ruth said quietly. "The reason that Quinn gave Beth to Shelby in the first place."

"The reason the judge ordered counseling…counseling you refuse to go to." Quinn said fiercely.

I gave Judith a long look. Something that she said earlier was bothering me. No, it was something she didn't say. I turned to Benton to see if he was thinking the same thing that I was. After a short nonverbal conversation, "Quinn, would it bother you to share a room with Stacey, if it would we can move Stacey in with Stevie so you can have your room back. I'd say just stick Sam on in with MeDe, lord knows he's in her room more often than not anyway." That was added that just to chap Judy's ass. "But his clothes would have nowhere to go; hers barely fit in her closet." Benton seemed to surprise everyone but me with the offer.

"I could share with Stacey, she's a sweet heart," Quinn answered sounding as confused as everyone around her looked. Well everyone but Bubbie Ruth. "But why wo…I? I mean, I know I fixed things with Mercedes, but I mean I'm hone with my mom. She needs me with dad gone."

"She may say she needs you…but I doubt that you will want to stay with her after tonight." He said honestly. He was always honest and blunt with Quinn, he loved the girl like a daughter, but he would tell anyone that she had a lawyer's heart and mind. If there is any way to mis/reinterpret your words, Quinnie will find it.

"Because, Honey, your mother knew." Gabbie said her voice tight with sadness for the petite blonde. No one was going to say exactly what Judy knew. That would only serve to hurt Quinn, but as I glanced around the table I could see that everyone knew, even George and Shelby had seemingly figured it out.

"No, she didn't." Quinn defended automatically.

Judy didn't say a word. She damned herself further with her silence as she just sat there looking at her hands which were clasped in her lap.

"Yes, she did." Bubbie Ruth said gently. "She knew. Because if she didn't know, she would have asked Danica what she meant by 'as far as she knew he kicked you out'. She knew and she did nothing. She let you go when you ran away. She wouldn't help him, but she didn't help you either."

Becah gasped and pinned Judy with a dagger sharp look. "You knew and you didn't stop him. How can you even call yourself a mother? No wait let me guess. You took the bullshit route. You blamed her. You blamed her for what your husband did to her. How could you blame a child for the actions of a grown damn man?"

Judy still said nothing. But Quinn wasn't silent any longer. "Mom, you didn't know. Don't just sit there. Tell them. You didn't know." My heart ached to hear this strong soul almost begging her mother to say the words that would make things better.

Judy sighed and finally opened her mouth. "I didn't know at first." I really didn't like the way she said that. But I held my tongue as she continued. "But Quinn you know your father. You know how he likes to brag and boast. He liked to lord his conquests over me. He used his affairs to manipulate me. He liked to show me how weak and worthless I was. 'I couldn't keep you from sleeping with your own father,' he'd taunt. 'And I couldn't keep you from getting knocked up like common trash'. He convinced me that you had simply managed to fool Puck into believing that claiming the baby. That Beth was actually his child, and you were covering for him with Noah, just like you'd first tried to do with the Hudson boy. He kept crowing that you were going to give him the boy that I couldn't. It wasn't until after you had the baby and gave her away that I realized that he was lying." She sighed again. "I realized that he lied, and you had done everything you could to protect your child from him, and I had not done the same for you. So I had the locks changed, 'caught' him with his secretary during one of their afternoon 'meetings' and started divorce proceedings. As soon as he was gone, I came and took you home." She finished guiltily.

"No," Benton said quietly. "You came and got her because someone, probably your divorce lawyer, told you that they only way you'd keep the house if your name wasn't on the deed if Quinn was living with you. And Russell Fabray would never have put his trophy wife's name on the deed to his legacy. So just you versus him, you've never held a job outside the home. Heck you never even worked inside the home as I understand it. So just you versus him and you not having made any measurable impact on the debt incurred in home ownership, nor in the upkeep of the home either…he'd keep the house. Especially if one of his golfing buddies is on the bench. But with a teenage daughter still in the home, and Quinn not wanting to live with him after everything he did to her. Everything was in Russ's name, the house, your credit cards, your car, any jewelry…all of it. As his wife, you don't get much if anything…but as the mother of his still underage daughter…that's a horse of an entirely different color."

Poor, sweet, little Quinn looked at her mother basically begging her to say that none of this was happening, that none of what we were saying was true. But the truth was written all over Judy Fabray's face. MeDe stood, and despite the fact that the girls still weren't as close as they had been, she went to Quinn and wrapped her in a comforting embrace. "You know, Que, with folks like yours I'm shocked you aren't even more messed up. You turned out better than you had any right to. You are always welcome to come back home, girl. But skinny ass white girl, if you think of leaving without saying goodbye this time…I will take you to the carpet."

Quinn wrapped her arm around my daughter and held on like her life depended on that connection. Noah and Sam seeing that Quinn was taken care of decided to take care of Judy Fabray. "You have gotta be the worst mom in the history of the world. And I'm including Kate Gosslin, the Octomom, that mom in Texas who helped to cyber bully that girl 'til she tried to kill herself and Tara Brooks*." Sam said meanly.

"You are the one who doesn't need to be in Beth's life. You look down on us because we love each other, but Cedes would chop off our dicks sauté them and force feed them to us if we even looked at our daughter wrong. You are a weak gold diggin' whore with less self-respect than the average hooker, I figured that shit out by the time I was fourteen, but you are a whole new level of pathetic." Noah snarled.

George spoke up, his voice gentle and kind. "Quinn, if you'd like, I'm certain that between Mercy's, Kev's and Dev's SUVs and Puck, Sander and my trucks we could have you packed up and out of that waste of air's presence by the end of the night. Heck, I still have tons of moving boxes." he offered. My sons made me proud by quickly kicking in to agree with George's offer.

"No, thank you, all of you." Quinn said pulling herself together. "I need to get some things settled with my mother. I have to look into other colleges and make sure that I can still afford to go to college." With a shudder Quinn turned to her mother and confessed. "I was actually going to stay in Ohio because I thought you needed me."

"I do…I do need you darling. I'll always need you." Judy finally rushed to assure her distraught daughter.

"Yes. I guess you will won't you. I may not know much about dad's business dealings for the last few years, but I do know that his estates are all left to me and Frannie. Even before our family imploded, he wasn't leaving you anything." Quinn all but snarled. She turned to my husband. "Papa Bent, how is daddy still making his child support and alimony payments? The judge deemed him a flight risk and denied him bond."

"He has probably set something up with his lawyer. Or maybe he simply has them set up as automatic withdrawals." Benton told her after a few moments' thought.

"Is there any…would there be any way that I could meet with him, daddy's lawyer. I know it's not Mr. Berry, and I know his first name is David, but I don't really remember his actual name….but I can find out. Could I have him explain what's been set aside for my education and everything?" She questioned.

"Any lawyer worth his salt shouldn't have a problem with that, dear." Bubbie Ruth answered gently. "Where did you really want to go?"

"Yale." Quinn said with a serene smile. "It's where my grandfather went. My grades and extra-curriculars should be good enough if I can ace the SAT."

"You know, we put Mercy, Noah and Sam into a six week SAT prep course that starts next week." Gabbie said contemplatively. "They are in the week night class. It meets three nights a week from six to seven thirty. The Kaplan lady said that it rarely fills up because most kids don't want to give up that much time during the week. You could probably still get in. they guarantee you'll score a hundred points higher than you would without it."

Judy shook her head petulantly. "I'm not going to pay for some course, just so you can go halfway across the world."

"Then I'll pay for it. I looked at the advertisement when MeDe signed up, it's five hundred. I can manage that." Quinn retorted defiantly.

"And if she can't, then I'll help and so will the rest of our friends." My little girl snarled at the older woman. "You might not be willing to act in your daughter's best interest…but we will." She finished gesturing at her men.

"So will we." Benton said for us.

"Us too." Gabbie, Sander, Becah and George said sneering at the society matron.

"And so will I." Shelby said strongly. "Something tells me that I'm not the only one of her teachers who feel the same."

"True dat." Noah said with a mean little smirk. "Sue Sylvester got you ex-husband arrested within twelve hours of finding out about what he did. Guess even the meanest, bitchiest, scariest, most reviled teacher at school would make a better mother than you."

"Gators make better mothers than her. They only eat their young." Gabbie groused.

"Quinn, honey, are you sure you don't want the guys to help you move in here tonight. Benton can get up with Leroy and the two of them can get your father's lawyer to meet with you first thing Monday morning. He can get everything settled for you and since you are still Russell Fabray's daughter, and he is probably on retainer, it may not even cost you anything." I spoke up. "I don't think you should be alone at home after all this."

"I'm sure, Mama Dani. You guys are full. I don't want to take from Stacey. She is so very excited about having her own room again. Besides Frannie said that rather than give the house to Mommy Dearest, daddy had the house put into our names. Mom can't ever sell it or even open a line of credit against the equity. She can't even dispose of any of the contents without Frannie and my agreement." Quinn told us with a snide look at her mother. "Guess daddy won after all."

"Quinn," I admonished. "Don't let her undo all the work you've done, all the progress you've made with your therapist."

"Sorry," Quinn mumbled. "Papa Bent, do you really think you could help me with Daddy's lawyer on Mondya morning…I have therapy after practice and I cannot cancel it."

Benton gave her a big, reassuring smile. "Of Course, Quinny. Dani and Gabbie can handle the office themselves for a few hours."

"Of course we can." I taunted.

Shelby looked around the table at all of us and seemed to come to a decision. "Quinn I realize that you do not know me as well as you know the Jones, but I do have a third bedroom. I was going to use it as home office, but I always end up doing my work at the coffee table anyway. You are more than welcome to come stay with me and Beth."

Becah laughed. "Quinn, I don't think that any of us are comfortable with you going home with that 'woman'." Becah sneered at Judy. "I was actually going to make Noah the happiest boy on earth and see if Bent and Dani would let him move in with Sam and give you his room."

Benton laughed a hearty, big guffaw. "Might as well. The boy is always here anyway."

Puck gave Bent a completely unapologetic smile. "Hey Sam and Sexy Mama are here. My mom and Sarah are almost here with us….of course I'm always here. Home is where the heart is." He turned to Quinn with a chuckle. "So where are you going? My house, Shelby's place, here…cause you know Moms D is getting ready to lay the mother of all guilt trips on you. She's gonna point out that she can't really be stressed out worrying about you going home with Dina Lohan over there. You might as well save us all some time and go ahead and cave."

I didn't even try to fake the front on that one. "Noah is right, Quinn. I'm not supposed to have any stress…or at least as little as humanly possible…for the next few months. I will rest easier if I know that you are with someone you can trust."

Tessa chose this moment to poke her head out the back door. "Um…yeah, the kiddles want more?"

We all exchanged looks and agreed to table out discussion. "You can bring them back out." Sander said with a smile. We waited until the kids were back out and settled with their seconds before finally starting to eat ourselves. Sander smiled over at Quinn, "you've got a reprieve for a little while, honey, but you better fix your mind on making a decision." He told her solemnly. Then he turned to Tessa and asked her how Beth managed to eat her first plate and remain so very clean.

Tessa blushed. "She was just so cute. She and I made a deal. She could sit on my lap to eat as long as she didn't get her food everywhere."

"Oh my. She got you on that one." Shelby laughed. "Beth is extremely fastidious. She hates the feel of food on her skin. So she always uses her spoon and is a very neat and tidy eater."

Tessa laughed good naturedly. "Little scamp. She got me. Already a little smarty pants." The redhead turned to her father to ask. "So Dad, how was the drive?"

"What, huh?" George asked quickly, trying to cover the fact that he had been making silly faces at a giggling Beth across the table. "Oh, it was great. Thanks to Ruth we made great time and miraculously we didn't have to pay a single toll."

Ruth laughed delightedly and gave us all a wink. "I haven't paid a toll to a male attendant since before most of you were born. And don't ask me the last time I got a speeding ticket."

We all had a merry laugh at that. Except Judy, of course. I'm surprised she is still here. "Judy, if you are uncomfortable, one of us can give Quinn a ride home." I said sweetly, then I pierced her with a look that would have made a martyr fear for their life.

"I drove us here, Mama Dani." Quinn said her tone making it clear that she wished her mother could leave. But that she was not going to give her mother her car to do so.

Ruth gave Judy Fabray a chilling, predatory smile. "Come up off your keys, Becs…I'll give Ms. Fabray a ride home."

Becah hesitatingly handed her mother the keys to her Avalon. "But Mom…"

"I'll be fine, Becah…you worry too much. Just have the little bubbelas all full and happy when I get back. I have gifts to give out after all." Ruth chided teasingly. Masterfully she had Judy bundled up and in gone in minutes.

It was like a pall had been lifted. We all ate drank and made merry with that horrible woman gone.

Bubbie Ruth Point of View

"You know…you are something. I mean I know plenty of you good Catholic women who call me sinful and sick if not for how I was born then for my genetics and faith…In fact, you are probably one of them. You have the nerve to judge my bubbelas for how they love, who the lover, and yet you had the gall to sit back and do nothing while you KNEW an abomination was occurring in your own home…to your own child." I said disgustedly.

Judy simply said, "Turn right at the next stop light."

I drove in silence until after I made the turn, and then I had to poke the bitch again. "So how do you stay with a man who is raping your daughter, his own flesh and blood just down the hall?"

She sighed and finally responded. "I really did think that she had approached him. Years ago, after she lost the weight and had the surgeries, she was constantly with him, always sitting on his lap, always traipsing in and out of his office like it was her right. When he came to me and told me that he 'was enjoying Quinn's company', that was his euphemism for all his affairs, I really did think that it had been going on for at least two years and he was only telling me because she was pregnant." She defended weakly.

"Yeah, that doesn't actually make it any better. It, in fact, makes it much worse. That means that for several years you thought your husband was behaving inappropriately with your daughter and you did nothing. You did nothing. And then when you knew for certain, you did even less." I spat angrily.

"What was I supposed to do? Everything is in Russell's name. Everything." She huffed angrily. "Well not everything. Quinn's precious car is in her name. Her jewelry is insured in her name. The heirloom pieces, I can wear them, but they are insured in Frannie and Quinn's names jointly. I cannot touch their trust funds. I can't touch their college funds. I'm forced to live on just a thousand dollars a month and half of that is technically Quinn's as well." She said petulantly.

"Poor thing." I said biting back my sarcasm. "How much are your bills every month?" She looked confused. "How much is your mortgage?"

"Oh, there isn't any mortgage. Russell had a twenty year one before we got married. And that was before Frannie was born and she's twenty-two now." Judy answered before giving me the next direction.

"Well how much is your car payment?" I asked growing suspicious.

She shook her head. "I don't know…the judge folded that into the things Russell has to pay for directly to the companies. Along with the utilities and Quinn's cell phone. Mine too really since its part of our cable package. Oh and my credit cards. Though I'm really only allowed to use those for household expenses and groceries. Russell still even pays Margot, our maid."

"So you get five hundred dollars a month that's just for you. Not for groceries or any necessities." I asked angrily. There are millions of people in this country who work every single day and would give a limb to have five hundred dollars a month after all their bills are paid."

"I can spend that pittance in one trip to the boutique or spa." She groused.

"You stupid, selfish, gold digging whore." I said cruelly. "Thank God Quinn is over eighteen. I want you to know I'm gonna do everything I can to convince that poor child to bring Accessory after the fact charges against you. Fraud too, cause I'm betting that you've not been spending anywhere near five hundred a month on Quinn."

"Why should I? Russell still pays all her credit cards off every month. And the judge didn't place any restrictions on what she can spend money on." The whiny bitch moaned.

"Yeah….I'm gonna have to ask you not to say anything else that is not needed to get you to your door. Because the more you speak them more I want to drop you off in whatever passes for the ghetto in Lima."

"You are simply jealous that I married well while you've had to work your entire life." She said haughtily.

"Sweetie, I'm a fashion coordinator for ABC. I select the clothing for the anchors and guests on every major news show on that network, in addition to all the New York filmed soaps. I have a career that I love that has allowed me to meet a dazzling array of famous people, and politicians. But even better than that, I have been able to give my two children everything they needed even after the death of my husband. I've been able to go to every play and recital, every chess and quiz bowl competition they have ever been in. My children and my grandchildren know that I would fight, kill and die for them. They always have and always will come first in my mind and my heart. There is nothing about you that inspires jealousy in me. You can't even call yourself a homemaker. You can barely call yourself a woman. You certainly can't call yourself a mother. As a mother one has one big test she has to pass. 'Did she do everything she could for her children?' you failed that epically. As a mother one has one huge question she should ask herself. 'Did I put my children before myself in everything, did I make sure that they will know how much I loved them even long after I am gone from this world?' I don't know about your oldest, but I'm damn sure that Quinn would tell you that the answer to that is hell no. Now we're here…get the hell out of my daughter's car. I'll have to have it detailed for her after having filth like you in it." I couldn't help but smirk as she got out trembling. She needs to tremble.

Mercedes Point of View

By the time Bubbie Ruth got back, we were finished eating and had cleaned up the back yard. Pretty much all the twenty five and under crowd was playing in the pool staying in the shallows and making sure that Beth in her little swimmers was having a blast. When she returned, she pulled Quinn off to the side. Well away from prying ears. I don't know what was said, but after crying in Bubbie's arms for a minute, Quinn came back to herself and even from where I was, I could see her spine stiffen. They came back over to the pool and Bubbie sent Puck and Sam to bring in the bags she had in Becah's trunk.

While they were running that errand for her, Bubbie plunked down on the side of the pool near where we were all playing with the baby, and she slid into the water completely unconcerned with her clothing to play with her 'bubbelas'. I got out and slipped my sundress back over my suit. Crossing to the table, I took a seat next to Quinn. I grabbed a handful of dinner mints from the container on the table and asked if she was okay.

"Ruth thinks I should bring charges against my mother. She knew and she did nothing. She even thought it had been happening for years, and she didn't care. Then there is the fact that she has been telling me that the child support degree only gave me two hundred fifty a month. Which really didn't matter, 'cause he pays for my credit cards, and puts money in my bank account and everything. So I really only take a hundred of it and I let Mom have the rest. I only need enough cash to buy my lunch and have you know extra water at practices and little stuff you know." She threw me a disgusted smirk. "Daddy pays five hundred a month in child support, and she pockets half, and then she still lets me give her the other hundred and fifty. I just…" She trailed off and I covered her hand with my own, hoping to give her strength.

"Do you want to bring the charges?" I asked quietly. I know what I would probably do, but it's not my decision.

Quinn shrugged. "Part of me does. But part of me just wants my parents to love me." she sighed. "I don't know what to do."

I nodded. I could understand that. "Well talk it over with your therapist tomorrow and decide from there." I said reasonably. "You are welcome here. You have options of where to go if you need to. Tonight you are surrounded by people who do care about you. And a little girl that you gave up part of your very soul to protect. Your parents might have flunked every single parent test, but you can honestly say you've already passed."

She threw her arms around me and quietly thanked me before moving back over to the pool to enjoy some time with her daughter.

"You are an amazingly insightful young woman." Ms. Cochran's voice startled me in the quiet of the evening.

"Ms. Cochran…I am so sorry that you've had to see all this." I turned to her. "He just wanted to welcome you back to Lima and show you that you have a place in the big, huge, mess that is this family."

"And you did. I will admit that parts of the night seemed to be straight out of that old SNL sketch Pretty White Kids with Problems. But you, this entire family that you've helped to build, it amazes me how giving and loving you all are. My own family is just my parents and myself. The only child of two only children. I didn't want that for Beth. Now she has five parents, numerous grandparents. She has aunts and uncles; eventually she'll have siblings and cousins. I want to thank you for that."

I laughed and told her she was welcome. But before I could assure her that it wasn't exactly my fault, Bubbie Ruth got out the pool with Beth and after wrapping the little girl in a big towel; she laughingly called out, "Beware Bubbies bearing gifts. Sarah, Stacey, Stevie, you three and this little punnum bear go first."

Stacey and Stevie looked at her with a joy that made my heartache. "You mean we get gifts too?" Stevie asked cautiously.

"Of course, boy chick, you and Stacey are my bubbelas now too." She told him sweetly.

"Wow." Stacey breathed. "That's so cool. We've only ever had MeMaw cause Grandpa passed away before we were big enough to know him and Daddy's parents…well I'm not sure about them."

"Well now you have a Bubbie Ruth too. And this Bubbie never comes all the way out here without gifts for each and every one of her bubbelas." She dug into a huge bag baring the distinctive red star of Macy's. "Now…it looks like my littlest boy chick goes first. Here you go Sir Stevie." She handed him a PSP box, and I really thought he was gonna pass out. She reached back in and came out with a Game Stop bag. "Now there was this adorable little gamer who helped me pick out some good games for a guy your ages. Sarah already has one, so you and she can trade games or whatever."

Stevie looked like he wanted to cry, but instead he settled for throwing himself into his Bubbie's arms. Of course, once wrapped in her embrace, he got even more overwhelmed and cried anyway. "I-I used to have a DS, but…"

"Sssshhh Bubbela," Bubbie Ruth hushed him pressing her finger against his full pouty lips that showed every sign of being just a big as his big brother's when he grew up. "It doesn't do to dwell on the bad things of our past. It can make you overlook all the good things waiting on you in the future."

Stevie nodded at her wise words. "Yes Ma'am." He said solemnly.

"Now enough sadness. Don't go too far. I've got a few other 'boring' things for you too." She laughed. Now let's see what I find next." She pulled a large shoe box out next. "Now Stacey, a little birdie told me not to bother getting you any of the gamer type things. So I thought and I thought and finally I remembered that my favorite thing to do when I was little was to go as fast as I could on my skates down the ave, or over some ice. Now since I doubt a GRITS like yourself has any idea how to ice skate, I got you these instead." She opened the box to reveal a pair of pink and white rollerblades. "Sarah and Becah can teach you to roller blade if Gabbie only knows how to skate, cause trust me…they are different enough to end up with you in a cast…I learned that the hard way."

"Oooooh and they're so pretty." Stacey cooed, as she gave Bubbie Ruth a huge hug. Bubbie Ruth returned it just as strongly, until Beth reminded them that they were sort of squishing her.

"Oh sorry my sweet little punnum bear." Bubbie Ruth soothed the toddler. She reached into the other bag and pulled out a toddler toy that had all the bells and whistles, literally and figuratively. That ball shook and made sounds, and taught ABCs and numbers. Ruth carefully sat the baby down at her feet and Beth immediately went to work discovering the toy's secrets. Bubbie reached back into the bag and came out with a hot pink Monster High helmet and pads set. "Now Stacey, my darling girl…you must promise me that you will never skate without these." She said carefully. "If you keep your promise…there could be a bike for you during Chrismaschuah."

"I'll wear them all the time. I promise." Stacey squealed as only a little girl can. She happily gave Bubbie another hug, before skipping over to show Stevie her gifts.

Sarah stepped up to her grandmother. "Come on Bubbie…you know that Puck and I got our patience from you…meaning that we don't have any." She prodded.

Bubbie just laughed. "Truer words have never been spoken. She reached into her bag and pulled out another Game Stop bag. "Here you go Mini-Me." she laughed. "Play them in good health." Then she grabbed a blue reusable bag and passed out the boring gifts of clothes and such for the young ones. Once they were all happy, she sent Tessa into get the adults. Because, of course, they were too cool to sit out here and play in the pool with us kids.

The parentals came strolling out acting like kids at Christmas. "Oooh Presents." My mom said happily.

"Yup." Bubbie Ruth laughed. "Sarah, you and the little ones head on in and play with your loot." Sarah tried to reach for Beth only for Ruth to block her. "Nope the Punnum Bear can stay. She's too little, she will neither care nor remember id I give the grown folks something naughty. Now scoot. Go help Stevie get his PSP all set up."

The trio took off with their stuff and Bubbie turned her attention to the plethora of bags at her feet. "lets see…oooh I think this one is for Tonya and D." she said as she pulled out two sexy Star Trek the Original Series uniforms. "Oh wait, where did I put the…oh here they are…the boots. Sorry hope you aren't into the Next Generation era shows…those unisex uniforms just aren't sexy. And I refuse to even acknowledge the existence of Seven of Nine."

"Bubbie Ruth…this is the Hotness!" Tonya breathed as she held the women's uniform against her tall frame. The red would look amazing against her skin, and it was so short it was the very definition of sexy. "Thank you."

Devon tried to mutter his gratitude…but it was next to impossible with his blood all in the wrong head. Bubbie just smirked. "You think that's something you should see what I'm getting you for your bridal shower. I was gonna give you them both tonight…but it's on back order." She smiled charmingly and back into the bag she dove. This time she came out with a small box. "This one is for Shelby. Don't worry it's perfectly innocent." She assured. "Don't want to scare you off. I was glad when Becah told me that you were gonna be here tonight otherwise Puck would have had to schlep this and Beth's gifts to school to give to you."

"Thank you Ruth. You didn't have to." Shelby said graciously.

"Of course I didn't. Gifts have no joy when you have to give them" Ruth Mayzer laughed.

Shelby opened the box and pulled out a gorgeous Pucci silk scarf. "Oh my. Thank you. This is beautiful." She breathed happily.

"I thought you could use it spice up those boring teacher outfits." Ruth laughed. The next thing she came out of the bag with, she passed to Tessa.

Tessa laughed. She had been gifted with the young writer's dream software. "Dad, it takes my word and types them into a word document. This is the best gift in the history of the world."

"Yeah. That Meyers chick, the one who made my sexy vampires as unsexy as possible by turning them into humanoid disco balls; she swears by it." Bubbie Ruth laughed.

Tessa bounded over and gave Ruth a hug, before darting into the house to go install the software on her laptop. "Thanks Bubbie Ruth." she called out behind her as she disappeared.

"Ahh teenagers." Bubbie smirked. "So predictable. Now back to the real fun gifts. Georgie Porgie…here you go." She handed him a gift box which he popped open to find several book including the Karma Sutra, A Beginner's Guide to the Wonders of Tantra, and The Joys of Sex, revised edition.

I don't know what was funnier the look on George's face, or the look on Becah's face. "Mom!" she screeched.

Puck looked over at the books and shuddered, until Sam whispered something in his ear that transformed his reaction to one of pure delight. He wandered over to sit next to his daughter. He grabbed her and put her into his lap with her new toy. Casually he shifted and started quietly trying to peak into the bags. But Bubbie Ruth was not new to the game. "Keep cheating, Noah, and you'll be the last one to get anything." She said without looking up from the bag she was rummaging in. "Ohh, Gabbie…Got yours right here." she crowed.

Gabbie rushed forward. "Really, I hope it's something that'll knock Sander's socks off." My southern mother-in-law laughed. Ruth handed her a big box. Inside was a whole selection of things I didn't really recognize. But whatever they were Gabbie not only knew what they were, she knew what they were used for. "Hot DAMN! Ruth Mayzer, I want to be like you when I grow up."

Before Sander could try to look into Gabbie's gift, Bubbie was handing him a box of his own. His looked like a combination of George's book box, and Gabbie's fun box. When he held up a book called the Comixxx Sutra, he threw back he head and let loose a full bodied laugh. "Damn it Boy…Ruthie Gal, you sure have managed to read me right."

"Well I do declare, Mr. Evans, your sweet southern twang is making this Yankee girl want to take a trip south of the Dixon-Mason line." Bubbie retorted in the worse southern accent I have ever heard.

Gabbie, Sander and Sam all busted out laughing. Sammy laughed so hard I had to support him just so he could stay standing. When he was finally able to talk he muttered 'Dixon-Mason' and just started laughing again. Eventually Gabbie was able to blurt out, "Its Mason-Dixon line Ruth, Mason-Dixon."

Of course Bubbie just shrugged it off. "Oh well History was never my subject. Now Benton, Danica, I found you guys the perfect gift but it is a joint one, sort of." She handed them each a box.

"Vibrating underwear..." Mom gasped. "You gave me vibrating drawers for Benton. Ruth, you just single handedly made the next stupid Dental convention, way more fun."

"Oh don't get too happy, Sweetheart, she gave me a pair for you too." Daddy laughed. "So you, my naughty little minx, won't be the only one having fun at the stuffed shirt convention. Ruth, I so owe you something big…what kind of car do you want? Oh or let me tell you about my brother-in-law, the Jersey state rep. He's rich, loves to get married, and never asks for prenups."

It was now Ruth's turn to laugh. "Hell, do me a favor, introduce him to Judy. I'm so good without a husband."

"Hell no. I said the next ex-wife to get rich off my brother was gonna be somebody I at least like and can be happy they are getting his cash." Mom snarked. Then she blushed and turned to Quinn with a sincere apology.

"Don't feel bad Mama Dani…I don't much like my mother right now either." Quinn said simply.

Ruth was back in the bags. Rummage, rummage, rummage. She came up for air with a dress box. "Here you are dear." She said passing the box to Quinn. "You'll need this more than ever for Yale." Inside the box was a darling Quintessential black dress.

"It's beautiful." Quinn breathed.

"Yeah and it was a steal." Ruth laughed. "I only paid fifty bucks for it, and it is vintage Chanel. Stupid broad at the consignment store couldn't tell a knock off from an original." The next gift went to Kevon. He got a whole box of porn. "Again, I went vintage. Which may turn you off women altogether, or it could just give you and Tricy something to laugh at. But these belonged to my late husband; they are the ones I could watch with him because the chicks didn't fake it."

"Bubbie, are you sure? I mean if they are that special, shouldn't they go to like Puck?" Kev asked.

"Oh no, doll. Noah saw one of those when he was younger. Completely by accident, but I will never forget his reaction. It was the funniest thing ever." Bubbie laughed.

"It's not my fault that lady needed a weed wacker rather than a razor." Puck defended.

"Oh now that will be funny as hell." Patrice crowed.

Bubbie Ruth handed her two costumes. The first was the naughtiest cheerleader costume I've ever seen. The other was an even naughtier school girl. Ruth didn't say anything, but she and Pattie seemed to have an entire conversation with their eyes. Which is a trip since they'd only met a few hours before. "Thank you Bubbie, they are fabulous." She said blushing redder than I had ever seen her blush before. Poor light-skinned people, when it came to embarrassment they can't hide it any better than white folk.

Becah took her box gingerly, like one might handle a bomb. She peaked inside and seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "Thank you Mom. That actually works out wonderfully."

"Oh baby. I know you too well to get you anything that will embarrass you. You hold grudges." Ruth smirked.

"Now for my favorite biological grandson, and his loves. Parents, if you don't want to know, now is the time to 'dip to the left' as they say." She said handing us three boxes. My dad, Sander and George all high tailed it back into the house. After only a moment's hesitation, Becah and Shelby followed suit. I opened mine to find the most beautiful purple and black lingerie set. It came with a full corset, a bustier, and a garter belt. There was a barely there thong, and a beautiful robe. Also in the box were a matching choker and a pair of six inch sky high purple suede stilettos with black accents. I cooed in appreciation. And turned to see what Puck had received. His box contained an assortment of things I'd only read about. Like the graduated anal balls, a couple of blindfolds and an array of butt plugs. There was a masculine black chocker in his set, as well as a set of restraints. Not handcuffs, these looked soft and plush on the inside and like hammered leather on the outside. The set had more than enough cuffs for two, and it looked to be designed not to damage whatever you used it to bind the person to. I think I started to drool.

Sam's eyes took on a glow as he opened his box, and I knew there would be no rest for neither Puck nor I this night. He rooted in the box like a kid in a candy store. He pulled out a paddle, and a flogger. He pulled out a weird thing that would make it seem like he had two dicks. He pulled out several toys and a glove that had little nubbins all over it. Then he reached the books. Books with titles like 365 Days of Sex, and Satisfaction Brought Her Back, and Knowing and Owning: a Guide to Being the Best of the Best. Finally Sam looked up from his haul to ask. "How? I mean do you have like Sexual Legilmancy? You get everyone what they want, and like the most. How did you know?"

Ruth Mazyer laughed a deep, throaty sexy sound that almost made me forget that this was Bubbie Ruth, let alone that I don't like chicks. "Sam my dear…Sexologists aren't made…they are born." She said enigmatically.

Stay tuned and see what our naughty little friends do with their wealth, and to see what else Bubbie Ruth has in her bags of Fun!

Sorry Chapter was hellalong, so I stopped here. Smut in the next Update.

And you know what I say...Reviews make the Updates happen FASTER.

TTFN

Anni