Thank you so much for the reviews everyone! I really appreciate it! This is a sad chapter, but I still really enjoyed it. Hope everyone's making it through the hiatus okay. Three weeks down, four to go... Anyway, enjoy the chapter and don't forget to review!

Chapter 13: Repercussions

"What?" Sarah asked. "What happened to Beth?"

"Beth was in a car accident," Finn said. "This morning on her way to school... she was texting while driving and didn't see another car that hit her."

Emma felt a sting. Was Beth okay? Was her baby okay?

"What happened to her?" Ryan asked. "Is she okay?"

Finn sighed. "She's pretty banged up. She had a concussion, but she's conscious again. They found some internal bleeding, but managed to stop it. She has two broken ribs and a broken leg."

Emma gasped. "What about the baby?"

Finn turned to face the kids at a red light. "The baby didn't make it. I don't know anything else, that's all your mom told me on the phone."

The baby didn't make it. Poor Beth. Even though she hadn't wanted to keep the baby, it was still her child. If she'd given the baby away, she'd at least know that the baby was out there somewhere with good people taking care of him or her. Now, that baby was gone.

The rest of the drive was pretty quiet. Even Grant seemed to understand that something wasn't right.

It was a two-hour drive from Cleveland Heights to Lima. As they arrived at the hospital, Emma sent Nick a quick text: "Sorry Nick, something came up and I can't go to dinner tonight." Since she didn't even know the full story yet it was probably a good idea to just call him later.

"Emma, give me your phone," Finn said.

"What?" Emma asked.

"I don't want you texting when we're in there," Finn said. "Beth's going to need us. I'll give you your phone back when we're done."

Emma groaned and handed Finn her phone. She just hoped Nick wouldn't be mad. They checked into the hospital as guests and saw Adam and Maddie sitting in the waiting room with Quinn's mother.

"Rachel's in the room with Beth," Mrs. Fabray said to Finn. "Quinn, Noah and Shelby are there, too."

"How's Beth?" Ryan asked.

"She's pretty upset," Mrs. Fabray said. "You can bring the two older kids with you to see her... the rule is you have to be thirteen to go see patients in this ward. I'll watch Sarah and Grant."

"Thank you," Finn said, leading Emma and Ryan down the hall to Beth's room. Emma suddenly forgot about having to cancel her plans with Nick. She just felt so sad for Beth. Rachel and Shelby were standing off to the side talking. Quinn was holding Beth in her arms, and Puck was kneeling by the bed holding Beth's hand.

"It's not fair!" Beth sobbed. "That was my child!"

"They're the ones who are the closest to knowing what she's going through," Shelby said.

"What happened to the baby?" Emma whispered so only Shelby, Rachel, Finn and Ryan could hear.

"They're going to remove the baby by c-section in a few days," Shelby whispered. "They want to give Beth's body more time to heal first."

Emma looked back over at Beth. Quinn was holding tight on to her, as if she'd never let her go. When Beth had been at their house during the first few days Beth had told Emma she feared that Quinn and Puck didn't love her as their daughter. There was no doubt in Emma's mind, looking at them, that although she wasn't legally their daughter, she definitely was by heart.

"We're right here, baby," Puck said to Beth. "We're not going to let you go."

"Never leave me!" Beth sobbed.

"We never will," Quinn said.

Emma put her arms around Rachel and felt an embrace of her own coming from her mom. With her body against Rachel's, she could feel Zoe kicking, but decided not to say anything, as she usually did when she felt Zoe kick. It would probably just make Beth feel bad.

"I love you," Beth said to Quinn and Puck.

"We love you, too," Puck said. "Beth, remember, even though you live with Shelby and don't have our last name, you still are our daughter."

"We've never loved you any less than we love Adam and Maddie," Quinn said. "We love all three of you equally."

"I wish my baby had made it!" Beth sobbed. "I was beginning to think I might get to see him or her once in a while, like how I get together with you."

"I'm sure there will be another chance later in life for you to have a child, Beth," Quinn said.

"Yeah, maybe with someone I love next time," Beth said.

"Beth, you have some more visitors," Shelby said. Emma felt bad having to break up the bonding Beth was having with Quinn and Puck. She knew what Beth wanted more than anything was a mother-daughter and father-daughter relationship with them.

Beth looked up. "Hi Finn. Hi Ryan. Hi Emma."

"We were so worried about you," Finn said, going over and giving Beth a hug.

"Yeah, we're glad you'll be okay," Ryan said.

"I'll probably be in the hospital for a few days," Beth said. "Rachel, Finn, could you guys stay in Lima until after the... well, Finn, did you tell the kids?"

"I did," Finn said.

"And of course we will, I'll contact the kids' schools," Rachel said.

"Thank you," Beth said.

"I'm so sorry," Emma said.

"Thanks, Emma," Beth said.

Emma went over to the bed. Beth gave her a hug.

"I love you," Emma whispered.

"I love you, too," Beth said. "You've always been like my little sister, even though you're my niece."

"That's what Ally says, too," Emma said, smiling.

"I'm scared about them cutting into me," Beth said. "I don't think I'll even be able to look when they take out the baby."

"We'll all be here for you then, Beth," Rachel said.

"I know you will," Beth said.

"And there's lots of people who love you who aren't even here now," Quinn said.

"You're not alone Beth, not at all," Puck added.

One of the nurses came in. "So, Beth, this is your niece and nephew."

Beth smiled. "Yeah, this is Ryan, and this is Emma."

"It's good to meet you guys," the nurse said. "Beth was telling us about you two. I'm just here to do a blood check, and then I'll be out."

Emma had to step back and hold on to Rachel when the nurse was drawing blood from Beth's arm. She had never had a stomach that was good with needles and blood.

Visiting hours ended at nine. Shelby was allowed to spend the night, but everyone else had to leave. The evening at the hospital was pretty hard. Beth was pretty upset still, but everyone managed to help her feel better from time to time.

When Finn, Rachel, Ryan and Emma walked into the waiting room with Puck and Quinn, Emma immediately noticed that Grant had laid across Sarah's lap to sleep. Sarah had her iPod plugged in, Adam was playing on his DS and Maddie was texting.

"Thanks for watching the kids," Finn said to Quinn's mom, lifting Grant out of Sarah's lap.

"They were all very good, though he fell asleep about two hours ago," Mrs. Fabray said.

"Thank you for doing this, guys," Rachel said. "I know waiting rooms are no fun, but Beth needed us."

"Where are you guys staying?" Puck asked Finn.

"I don't know, we're going to try to see if there's a room or two at the Hampton," Finn said. "I hadn't gotten around to making reservations."

"Well, you guys can always stay at our place," Quinn said.

"There's enough stress," Rachel said. "If the Hampton and the Holiday Inn and Comfort Inn don't have any rooms, we'll call you."

The family began to leave, Finn still carrying Grant, who was sound asleep. Rachel quietly told Sarah about what was going on in the hospital room. Sarah was clearly upset, and Emma tried to drown it out. Her parents, too, had lost a child, but they'd had him for five years before they lost him. Beth never got to know her child. She didn't even know the gender.

The family drove to the hotels and booked two rooms at the Hampton, one for Finn and the boys and one for Rachel and the girls. When they were heading to their rooms, Finn tapped Emma's shoulder and said, "Here's this back." He handed her her phone.

"Oh, crap! Nick!" Emma said to herself. She'd totally forgotten that today was Valentine's Day and that she and Nick were going to go out tonight. She turned on her phone quickly, seeing that she had a new voicemail message. She was scared. Nick was probably mad at her, she hadn't said WHY she was cancelling their plans. She dialed the voicemail and listened to the message. "Emma, I must say I wasn't expecting this. I've been cheated on before. I guess I expected it from McKenzie, but I didn't expect it from you. This is supposed to be the day for couples to spend together, but I guess you aren't going to spend the day for couples to spend together together if you aren't a couple." CLICK.

"Oh, shit!" Emma shouted, throwing her phone on the floor.

Sarah looked up. "Aren't I the one who's supposed to be the drama queen?"

"Not when my boyfriend sounds like he's threatening to break up with me!" Emma shouted.

"Did you two have a fight or something?" Sarah asked.

"No, we didn't," Emma said. "I just sent him a text that something came up and couldn't go out tonight. I didn't give the details because I didn't know the details. He thinks I'm cheating."

Rachel came out of the bathroom. "Emma, boys who've been cheated on in the past tend to be extra sensitive about it. You could have at least said it was a family situation."

"I didn't want to worry him," Emma sighed. "And you heard the whole thing, Mom?"

Rachel nodded. "I did. I know you wouldn't cheat. You know all about the negative impacts of cheating from the history your father and I have with it. Now, call Nick up and explain what's really going on."

Emma picked the phone off the ground and dialed Nick's number. It went straight to voicemail. She didn't expect him to answer a call from her. She left a message: "Hey Nick. It's Emma. There was a family emergency. I'm sorry about everything. I love you and hope we can do something else when I get home." She sighed and hung up the phone.

Her mom and Sarah were getting ready to go to bed but she didn't feel ready to sleep. She kept calling Nick's phone but there was no answer. Finally, she decided to call Grace's phone. Luckily, Grace picked up. Emma told her about what happened and asked her to ask her brother to call her. Then she just want to bed. It had been a long day. She just hoped Nick would forgive her.

Chapter 14 preview: Nick calls Emma and they make up. More Finchel family moments. Some sad moments for Beth.