What Is In It For You? Chapter 11
(I do not own Glee or any of the characters.)
December 27th and Finn was on Quinn's doorstep bright and early that morning.
"Quinn, we've got to talk," Finn said when she finally opened the door on the third ring.
"Finn, what are you doing here so early?" Quinn asked. "Gosh, you do look like you've been to hell and back."
"I'm not contagious anymore, and we've got to talk. Has your mom left for work?"
"No she's still here," Quinn said pulling her pale pink bathrobe around her.
"Well get your shoes on, we can talk in my truck," Finn said turning toward the street.
"Wait, she'll be gone in a few minutes, wouldn't you like a cup of coffee while we wait?" Quinn asked.
"What I have to say isn't going to take that long," Finn answered trying to remain calm.
"Is this about my conversation with Rachel yesterday? Did she run straight home and tell you all about it?" Quinn smirked.
"No she waited until we were in our bed last night," Finn answered making a point.
"As I live and breathe, if it isn't Finn Hudson, Quinn let him in and don't leave him out there in the cold!" Judy Fabray gushed as she pushed past Quinn and pulled Finn inside. "How have you been? Quinnie said that you've had the chicken pox."
"Good morning, Mrs. Fabray," Finn said trying to be polite. "Don't worry; I'm not contagious any more."
"It's Ms. Fabray now. I have divorced Quinn's father. Quinn tells me that you've gone and gotten yourself married to the Berry girl. Is that correct?" Judy Fabray continued in her fake cheery tone.
"Yes mam, we've been married for about five weeks, and her name is Rachel, Rachel Berry Hudson," Finn answered Quinn's mother still trying to be polite.
"Well I would love to stay and chat, but I'm late for work as it is. I'll just leave you two alone to discuss what ever it is that has brought you over at this hour of the morning. Congratulations and give your new wife my best," Judy said as she kissed Quinn goodbye on the cheek and left for work.
"Now that she's gone, how about that cup of coffee?" Quinn asked Finn.
"Quinn, I'm not here for coffee and small talk. Are you going to contest Beth's adoption? Rachel got the impression that you might. I thought that this was all settled when we met at the lawyer's office the day after Shelby's death," Finn confronted Quinn.
"I don't know Finn. I'm thinking about it. I didn't know at the time that you were going to turn around and ask Rachel Berry to marry you. I also didn't know that Rachel was going to New York for four years and leave you here alone to raise Beth," Quinn defended herself.
"Rachel's going to New York to get the best possible education. She was accepted at Juilliard months ago. She'll be home once a month, and on holidays. It's not like she going to the moon for four solid years. And I was planning on asking her to marry me before she left for New York. We just moved everything up a few years. Beth and I are staying in Lima because we have a lot of friends and family who are willing to help us here. I'm going to work for Burt part-time, save my money, and go to the local community college. Those were my plans before Shelby was killed and Rachel was named Beth's guardian. Are you really thinking about asking for Beth back?" Finn asked.
"I might, I haven't talked it over with my mom or our lawyer yet. Finn I just hate to see Beth bond with Rachel and then Rachel takes off and pops back into her life every once in awhile. She bonded with Shelby, and then she was suddenly gone. I think that it is too much inconsistency in her life at such a young age," Quinn stated.
"Have you thought this through? You have a full ride to Kent State where you will probably meet the man of your dreams, earn a four year degree, get a great job, and live happily ever after. Have you thought about your life if the judge gives Beth back to you? Instant motherhood. No Kent State. No burden-free ticket out of Lima," Finn argued.
"Beth's not a burden; she's a gift from God." Quinn snorted.
"A gift that you didn't want until recently," Finn reminded her.
"Finn, Rachel is going to be gone more than she is here during Beth's formative years. Beth's going grow up just like Rachel did. Raised by a bunch of men. A young girl needs a mother figure in her life."
"What are you suggesting? That you and your mother raise Beth? Is that where you're going with this? My mom is going to be in Beth's life. Beth's already calling her Nana."
"No I was actually kind of hoping that maybe you and I could raise her," Quinn said shyly.
"Were you not at my wedding? Quinn, I'm a married man."
"You married Rachel for Beth's sake, not for Rachel. You wouldn't be married today if Shelby hadn't died."
"No, I wouldn't be married to Rachel at this very moment, but I eventually would be. We're just eighteen, remember? Shelby's death changed all of that. I love Rachel with all of my heart," Finn retorted.
"Do you love her like you loved me?" Quinn asked coyly.
"I only thought that I loved you. I didn't know what real love was when we were together. Rachel and I share a bond that's unbreakable."
"All marriages are breakable; look at my parents. You wouldn't break your marriage to be with Beth? To be with both Beth and I," Quinn asked hoping to make Finn choose.
"No, I love Beth, but Rachel is the other half of my soul," Finn countered.
"But Rachel is going to New York for four years. What are you going to do on those long lonely days and nights without her? What are you going to do if she out grows you? Finn, we are better suited for each other than you'll ever be with her. What do they say, you can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy? What are you going to do in New York? Hold her purse while she accepts her Tony Award. I doubt that the Broadway diva will want a grease monkey as her escort to all of her la-de-da affairs."
"We're taking this one day at a time, but there's one constant in all of this, our love for each other and for Beth. If we go to court and you win, you won't get me as part of the package. I belong to Rachel and she belongs to me. I will never be yours. You'll be stuck here in Lima with a child to raise, and your Kent State scholarship will be out the window," Finn fumed.
"Finn, you know that I could tell the Family Court judge that you only married Rachel to keep Beth with you. I could also tell him that Beth is going to be without a mother for the next four years. I'm her biological mother. There's no way that you and your wife could win. The court would be begging me to take her," Quinn volleyed back.
"And who would lose in all of this? Beth would. If you're holding out for me as some sort of a door prize, it's not going to happen. You can take Beth, but I'll be in New York with Rachel not here with you. Beth has lost so much as it is. Don't take this away from her. She has me and Rachel, and our families who love her as our own, because she is our own."
"What happens if you and Rachel decide to have your own brood of kids one day? Will Beth be the odd man out?" Quinn asked.
"No Beth is going to be the leader of the whole pack. Big sister in charge. To us she's isn't adopted. She's our child. If we have to take this to court we will fight you with everything that we've got, but think of Beth. She stands to lose the most," Finn said as he stormed out of the Fabray house.
Finn drove home and slammed the kitchen door as he entered the Berry/Hudson kitchen. It startled Beth who was eating her breakfast in her high chair.
"What did you say to Quinn?" Rachel asked.
"Too much," Finn replied.
"Is she going to contest the adoption?"
"She's thinking about it. You were right, she has this fantasy idea that if she gets Beth back, she'll get me too. Like Beth is some sort of bargaining chip. She threatening to tell Family Court that I only married you to keep Beth with me, and you're ducking out for the next four years. Rachel, I married you because I love you and I wanted too. Please believe me."
"I believe you. Does she not see that you're the one making all of the sacrifices? You're the one staying in Lima while both she and I pursue a college education. Finn, I can go to the Lima campus of OSU and stay here. They have a fine music department," Rachel offered.
"And do what, be a music teacher for the rest of your life? You have a scholarship to Juilliard. You have a shot at Broadway in New York. Unlike the rest of us, you really have a chance of achieving your dreams. I won't take that away from you. You would eventually hate me if I did," Finn reminded her.
"Finn Hudson, there is no way on Earth that I could ever hate you. Let's let Quinn simmer for awhile. I think when she tells her mom this half-baked idea; Mrs. Fabray will talk her out of it."
Finn sat down with Beth who had oatmeal all over her head and face.
"Baby girl, haven't you had enough oatmeal baths lately? I don't know what it is, but you can always calm me down, and make me smile," Finn said to Beth.
"Wait until she comes home one day with a boyfriend who has a nose ring and tattoos on her butt," Rachel smiled.
"She'll still be my little girl," Finn said as he wiped the last of the oatmeal out of Beth's blonde hair.
Three days later the call came from their lawyer. The adoption had been put on hold. Quinn was contesting the adoption.
-/- Until the next chapter, thank you so much for all of the review and adding my story to your alerts lists. Sincerely, Whistler Nights.