The responses to the last update where overwhelming. Thank you so much. Here's another little update. I hope you enjoy.
7 Years Old….
Quinn sipped on her caramel macchiato as her stylist showed her some outfits for the charity luncheon she was due to attend that afternoon in aid of cancer research. She was required to dress up, though luckily, because it was a lunch rather than a dinner, she could afford to be a little more casual in her appearance. So far all of the outfits shown to her consisted mainly of knee length dresses, skirts and blazers and pantsuits. Her hair, which was just passed her shoulders, had been straightened and her make-up artist had gone for a smokey eye and burgundy lips.
"What about the skirt with the white blazer?" Kurt asked as he pointed to the outfit lying on the bed. Quinn furrowed her brow and tilted it to the side. "I love it but do I really need to be showing that much cleavage? I mean what if there's an emergency and I need to pick up Charlie? I don't exactly want to be running around town in the middle of the day with my breasts hanging out," she stated and Kurt bobbed his head, disappointed that she was pretty much saying no to the outfit but understanding at the same time why she wouldn't wear it.
"Okay so why don't we go for the burgundy dress. If nothing else it matches your lips and you can wear it with your YSL heels that you love so damn much," Kurt suggested, holding up the item of clothing for Quinn to glance at. She glared at him when he dissed her YSL heels, those where possibly her favourite pair of shoes. "I'll have you know that when it comes to style I appreciate comfort, and those shoes, so comfortable," she replied as she put down her Starbucks cup. Kurt just rolled his eyes and made his way to the walk in wardrobe to seek out the black heels in question.
"Mommy," Charlie called out as she rounded the corner and entered the bedroom, rubbing her eyes and looking a little paler than usual. Quinn frowned when her eyes landed on her daughter and she raised up her arms and reached out, bringing the little girl closer to her to stand between her legs. "Sweetie, are you okay?" she asked, rubbing her hands up and down Charlie's arms. The brunette shook her head no, her eyes wet with unshed tears. "My tummy hurts," she mumbled, her hand's rubbing at her stomach as if the action would somehow make it all better.
Quinn reached up a hand and pressed the back of it to a clammy forehead then cupped rosy cheeks with her palms just to double check, she was definitely warm. "You've got a temperature," Quinn sighed, feeling sorry for her daughter. "C'mon, let's get you into your jammies and tuck you into bed. I'll make you some of that tea you like okay," Quinn said and Charlie nodded her head clinging to her mother as the blonde stood up and they made their way to the little girls' room.
Fifteen minutes later Kate arrived to get Quinn out the door and to the luncheon, knowing they had a schedule to keep. Walking into the living room, she plopped her clutch down on the table behind the couch that housed several framed pictures and some crystal candle stick holders. Moving through the house she stopped in the kitchen and grabbed herself a bottle of strawberry flavoured vitamin water from the fridge and then made her way upstairs to the room Quinn had designated for the sole purpose of preparing for events. Kate found it odd until the blonde explained that she didn't like the idea of people invading the private space of her bedroom, then it all made sense.
"Hey Quinn, you nearly ready to go? We have to be out of here in like half an hour," Kate called out as she approached the room where she assumed her boss would be. When she stepped inside she frowned when her eyes failed to find the blonde anywhere in sight, so she turned her attention on Kurt. "Where's Quinn?" she asked as she stepped over to the bed and glanced over the only outfit remaining on the bed. Kurt peeked up from his magazine and gave the assistant a smile. "She's tucking Charlie into bed. Poor thing has a tummy ache," he explained as he returned to reading his magazine.
Kate was about to say something when Quinn appeared in the room, scrolling through her phone contacts, she stopped when she spotted Kate. "Hey I was just about to call you. I'm gonna skip the luncheon. Charlie's sick and I don't wanna leave her," she said as she tucked the phone in the back pocket of the jeans she was currently wearing. Kate was about to say something when Kurt stood up shaking his head. "No you're not. You are going to go to that luncheon and you're going to help raise valuable funds for cancer research. I'll stay here and take care of Charlie," he said. Quinn shook her head.
"No, I can't…" before she could finish Kurt stepped forward and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Quinn, it's a couple of hours. By the time the tea and hot water bottle kick in and send Charlie to sleep she'll have forgotten the fact that you've even gone out. Go," he encouraged. Quinn looked him in the eye then turned to Kate and then back to Kurt. The event was pretty important, and should only be gone a handful of hours. "Okay, I'll go. But if Charlie needs me you call me straight away," she stated pointing a finger at Kurt his raised his hand placed the other of his heart. "Scouts honour," he replied.
2 hours later….
"Uncle Kurt!" Charlie called out from her room, unable to move. A minute later the man in question rounded the door and stepped into the room. "Uncle Kurt my stomach really hurts," she cried, arms wrapped around her middle and brown locks stuck drenched in sweat. Kurt's face morphed into concern and he took a seat on the edge of the bed, pressing a hand to his niece's forehead. His eyes almost bulged out of his head when he felt how hot she was. Not wanting to panic the sick little girl he stood up and pulled his phone from his pocket.
"It's okay sweetie, I'm gonna call your mom okay," he said as he stepped out into the hallway, taking deep breaths to calm himself down. Just as he was about to press the call button, he heard the front door open and the sound of Quinn and Kate's laughter coming from the front foyer. Running down the hall he bounded down the steps and his haste caught the attention of the two women. "Thank God your home I was just about to call you," he said and Quinn looked at him with a concerned expression.
"Why, what's wrong? Is Charlie okay?" she asked as she dropped her purse on the table by the door. Kurt pressed a hand to his chest and shook his head. "She's burning up and she says her stomach really hurts," he rushed out pressing a hand to his forehead. Without so much as a second glance at the man Quinn grabbed a hold of the handrail and ran up the stairs, heels clacking on the wood as she went, Kurt and Kate following behind her. Rushing down the hallway she made her way into the room and Charlie's heavy lidded eyes landed on her.
"Baby, what's wrong? Where does it hurt?" Quinn asked, keeping her voice calm so as not to scare her daughter as she pulled back the duvet so she could see where Charlie was motioning her hands. The little girl lightly placed her hand on her right side and tears leaked out of her eyes at the light contact. "Mommy it hurts," she cried and Quinn leaned down and kissed a sweat drenched forehead. "It's okay baby, we're gonna make it all better," Quinn reassured as she stood up and walked over to the chair in the corner and picked up the purple blanket.
"What are you doing?" Kate asked from the doorway. Quinn walked over to the bed and as gently as she could she lifted Charlie into her arms and wrapped the blanket around her. "I think it's her appendix. I'm taking her to the hospital," she rushed out as she passed by her two friends and made her way down the stairs, stroking her daughters' hair as the little girls cried into her neck. Picking up her keys, Kate followed behind and grabbed her purse. Kurt reached the open door and stood there watching as the others made their way to the car.
"I'll call Santana and Blaine and tell them what's going on and follow you in a cab," he shouted out and Quinn barely tipped her head in acknowledgement as she placed Charlie in the back with Kate and then jumped in the drivers' seat, and speeding off down the street. It took twenty minutes for them to reach the hospital and Quinn slapped the steering in wheel in frustration multiple times due to the traffic. When they finally found a spot to park, she jumped out of the car and carried her daughter all the way to the reception desk, her assistant trailing behind.
"I need a doctor," she almost shouted at the nurse as she approached the desk. The elder woman stood up from her chair and stepped around the desk. "Ma'am you'll need to take a seat in the waiting area with everyone else," the nurse said gesturing to the line crowd of people waiting to see a doctor. Quinn shook her head and furrowed her brow in determination. "This can't wait, I think it's her appendix, she needs to see a doctor, so please get me one right now!" Quinn demanded, which just seemed to piss the nurse.
"Ma'am don't use that tone with me. Now everyone here is waiting for a doctor you'll just have to do the same," she replied with a stern look but just as Quinn was about to protest a doctor appeared at the desk and noticed the tense stand-off. "What seems to be the problem?" he asked as his eyes glanced down to the pale young girl in the blondes arms. Quinn turned her attention away from the nurse and focused on the doctor.
"It's my daughter, she's got a really high temperature and she's got a pain in her right. Can you please take a look at her? I think it could be her appendix," Quinn pleaded, her eyes watching as the man pulled down the blanket a little and checked over the little brunette. Turning to the nurse he gave her that look of authority that told her he was in charge now. "Get her on a bed, I want blood tests and an abdominal x-ray run stat," he ordered before turning on his heel and walking back down the corridor.
The nurse led them through the emergency doors that blocked off the waiting room and brought them over to a vacant bed. Quinn carefully laid her daughter down and stroked her hair whispering that everything would be okay as Kate stood off to the side feeling slightly awkward. She wasn't sure why she went with Quinn in the first place, but she felt like both the blonde and Charlie needed that support and her legs started moving of their own accord. They both watched as the nurse drew blood from the little girl, Quinn keeping Charlie's eyes on her rather than the procedure at hand and when it was done the nurse disappeared to have them tested.
A half an hour later….
Quinn was growing impatient. She wanted someone to tell her what was going on, on top of that, Charlie was still in a lot of pain. They could only give her light relief until they figured out what was wrong and it did little to settle her. She'd also thrown up three times since arriving and all Quinn could do was hold her hand, which did little to make her feel useful. Just as she was about to blow a fuse the doctor from earlier arrived with a file in his hand.
"Charlie has a ruptured appendix. I've booked the theatre, we're gonna take her down for surgery right now," he said, speaking directly to Quinn who nodded her head, her fingers never ceasing their movement through her daughters hair. "Can I go with her?" she asked, hating the idea of Charlie being along. The doctor who had been checking the IV that had just been put in the little girls hand looked up at the question. "You can be with her in the pre-op room while we put her under, then a nurse will show you to the family room until the surgery's over," he explained.
Quinn glanced down at Charlie and leaned down kissing her daughter on the temple. "It's gonna be okay sweetie," she whispered just as a team of nurses showed up to wheel her down to the OR. Kate placed a hand on Quinn's forearm and it was enough to grab her attention. "I'll wait outside for the others and explain what's going on. Quinn just nodded her head, too focused on Charlie to speak and then walked alongside the trolley as it was wheeled down the corridor behind more closed off doors.
In the pre-op room, Quinn held Charlie's hand as the nurses hooked her up to heart monitors and other various wires. The little girl looked terrified but Quinn kept her attention solely on her. Since the stronger pain relief set in she seemed better. The anaesthesiologist walked into the room and smiled down at Charlie. "Hello Charlie," he said in a cheery voice and the brunette gave him a timid smile back. "I'm gonna give you some medicine and it's gonna make you sleepy and what I want you to do is look at your mom and count backwards from 10, can you do that for me?" he asked. Charlie nodded her head a little.
"Yeah," she replied in a small voice. Quinn cupped her daughters' cheek and kissed her on the tip of her nose. "I love you sweetie. I'll be right here when you wake up okay." Charlie nodded and the anaesthesiologist spoke up again. "Okay Charlie, are you ready? I want you to start counting right, now," he said. As the little girl began counting he administered the drug through the IV line and before Charlie made it to 5, she was out like a light. Quinn continued stroking her hair until she was asked to step back by a nurse.
"Please take care of her," Quinn pleaded, looking at the nurse who gave her a reassuring smile as the team wheeled Charlie into the theatre. Another nurse led Quinn out of the room and down the corridor to a family room and told her she would come get her once Charlie was out of surgery. Taking a seat, she rubbed her face with her hands and for the first time in a long time, she prayed for everything to go well. Appendectomy's were pretty routine these days, but still, there was always a risk when it came to surgery. Eyes fixed on the ceiling she said something she'd never said before, "Take care of our little girl Rach."
One hour later….
Charlie's droopy eyelids fluttered, feeling like lead weights as they struggled to stay open against the effects of the anaesthetic that she was slowly coming around from. Her blurred vision tried to focus on the silhouette of the person standing next to her bed and she felt fingers combing through her hair. When her eyes finally focused her little brow furrowed. "Mama," she said in a weak hushed voice. Rachel smiled down at her daughter and stroked her cheek. "Hi baby," she said. Charlie was confused, her Mama was in heaven, how was she there with her.
"Am I in heaven?" she asked, fighting to keep her eyelids open, wanting to see her Mama for as long as possible. Rachel chuckled at the question and shook her head. "No baby, you're not in heaven. You're in the hospital. Your Mommy's waiting for you," Rachel explained, her fingers continuing to stroke a pale cheek. Little brown eyes glanced up at an identical pair, "You're really pretty, like the princess in the movie," Charlie slurred, referring to the animated Disney movie Rachel had made before she passed away.
"Not as pretty as you sweetheart," Rachel replied reaching down her hand and gripping her daughters. Charlie's eyes closed for a moment before opening again and focusing on Rachel. "Are you an angel?" she whispered, too exhausted to put any real forced behind it. Rachel grinned and leaned down pecking a kiss to a cute button nose. "I'm your angel baby, always and forever," she whispered back. Charlie thought about it for a moment and seemed content with the answer.
"I'm sleepy," the little girl mumbled and Rachel cupped her cheek in her hand. "Rest sweetheart, your Mommy will be here when you wake up," Rachel said. Charlie frowned and looked to Rachel through hooded eyes. "What about you?" she asked, afraid if she closed her eyes, her Mama would disappear, and Rachel sensed this. Leaning down she whispered in Charlie's ear, "I'll be in dreams baby, every night when you go to sleep. I love you Charlie." Charlie nodded, her eyes finally closing under the weight as she softly whispered, "Love you too Mama."
That evening, as Quinn sat by Charlie's hospital bed, she heaved out a sigh of relief, slowly feeling the tension leaving her body. The operation had been successful and the blonde had been assured that Charlie would be able to go home in four to five days, depending on recovery. Gripping a tiny and in her own, she smiled when brown eyes opened and focused on her. "Hi baby," she sighed, running her fingers through brown locks. Charlie blinked a few times, adjusting to the brightness in the room from the lights.
"Mommy," she said, almost as if questioning if Quinn was really there. The blonde nodded her head and smiled. "I'm here sweetie." Charlie glanced briefly at the balloons in the corner of the room, a get well soon gift from Puck to brighten up the room, then she focused back on Quinn. "I saw Mama," she said, her voice low and hoarse. Quinn frowned as her brain registered what had been said to her. "What do you mean you saw Mama?" she asked, brushing a hand down her daughters arm.
"When I woke up, I saw Mama. She was standing by my bed," Charlie recalled a small smile on her face at the memory. Quinn seemed to finally catch on and realised that her daughter must have been hallucinating from the drugs or dreaming. Not wanting to upset her daughter, she played along and allowed the little girl to believe her Mama was really there. "That's great baby," Quinn replied. Charlie's eyes began to droop closed again. "She's really pretty Mommy," the little girl stated happily and a tear slipped down Quinn's cheek at the comment. "Prettiest girl I've ever met," the blonde replied, echoing a comment Rachel had made back in high school in regards to her.
At those words, Charlie slipped back into a dream like state and Quinn stood up, carefully tucking the blanket in around her. She had been thrown by the little girls' comments, but she had to admit, part of her secretly believed that Rachel had been watching over their daughter. Not quite like Charlie had envisioned, but in other ways. It comforted her to know that her daughter hadn't woken up scared, and with those thoughts she sat down in her chair and sent a silent thank you up to her wife.