AN: okay, it's finished its done; there are two chapters left after this; so they will be up soon
oh yeah, and anyone out there watch 'Pramface'? I basically 'borrowed' from that tv programme to help me with this chapter, otherwise I would have never got it written.
AN2: Thanks WonderousPlaceForAnEcho for Beta-ing and putting up with me
Posted: 26/3/12
Names and Tantrums
20 weeks
When they told Rachel's fathers and brother they were ecstatic at the news. When they Skyped her fathers they included Jason in the conversation by phoning him and putting it on speaker because her was working at the time. This meant that Finn found out pretty quickly too (although Rachel was surprised Kurt hadn't already spread the news, he always loved to gossip)
Everyone was happy for the pair; how could they not be, it was great news. The fathers weren't even bothered that they'd kept it a secret so long
...
21 weeks
"So" Rachel started as she prepared her family's evening meal "I was hoping we could actually talk about baby names now" she stopped what she was doing and moved across, trying to not trip over Remi who was wandering back and forth waiting for any scraps to fall from above, so she could face Quinn "What do you think?" she asked her wife, who was sat at the kitchen/breakfast bar on the other side of the kitchen counter.
"Well" she took her attention of the magazine open in front of her and took a sip of the vitamin water Rachel had bought her "I'm assuming you've got ideas for some as you asked then"
"I had a few ideas, how about you?"
"A couple, but, you first?" Quinn leant her head in her hand, supported by her elbow on the counter top.
"Well, I have two favourites. One that I've come up with is Lily"
"Lily" Quinn repeated "I like the sound of that… I guess we can't call her gardenia"
"I don't understand… because they're your favourite flower?" she asked unsure
"Well that's become my favourite ever since I was discussing wedding bouquets with Kurt. When he asked me what my favourite flower was I said that I wasn't sure… he told me about the corsage 'Finn' got me" she looked sincerely into her wife's eyes, taking her hand and pulling her closer across the counter top "I know it was you…and Kurt being the know it all he is, told me the meanings behind that flower" she started lowly "there are a few; Good luck, joy, you're lovely, sweet love… and secret love" she kissed Rachel simply yet with soft subtle emotion before letting her stand properly again, a little dazed by the kiss "Even back then you were trying to be romantic for me"
"I just wanted you to be happy" she smiled, almost as if she was shy
"Well it was one of the best parts of that evening; the other was your date-"
"My fake date" she corrected
"Right, your fake date helped get rid of my date... and so what I lost prom queen... I got closer to you" she chuckled to herself "If only I hadn't let my own worry get in the way, maybe we would have been together sooner" she mused out loud
"I already said, I'm happy the way things turned out; the old me might have been too much for you" she shook her head "Anyway, we're getting off subject. You like Lilly, for our baby?"
"Yes, I really like that name; what was your other idea?"
"Well" she seemed nervous "I thought, and this was my number one choice, Lucy"
"Lucy... you are aware that's my name"
"But you don't use it" Rachel pointed out "and we're always saying how she's our and reassuring ourselves that she's both of ours... so I want her to share your name, and as you don't use that name, I thought it'd be nice to call her by that name..." she trailed off sheepishly
"I really like it... If you're sure"
"Wait" Rachel changed to surprised "you're just going to let me name her"
"Yeah" she smiled softly "My name ideas were just names, Lucy is thought about, and I kinda like the idea"
"What ideas did you have?"
"Just generic names; like Alexandra, Kelly, Jessica... things like that"
"Well; for her middle name then" Rachel suggested "You decide"
"I like, Alexandra. Lucy Alexandra Fabray" she said aloud "Is that too long?"
"No, I think it's perfect."
...
6 months
"Quinn" Rachel asked cautiously "I don't mean to bring you out of your little world" she said to the woman looking through the clothes racks "and you can get whatever clothes you want, even if you can't wear them for a few months" the blonde snapped her attention to her wife startling Rachel a little "But we did come shopping for maternity clothes" she reminded
"But I want to look at these"
"Fair enough" she partially conceded "But this is our lunch break and we haven't got long. I promise, if you want I'll take you normal clothes shopping this weekend"
"Normal!" she spat
"What I meant was, the clothes you're looking at aren't appropriate for now, but are what you'd usually wear" the brunette felt like she was talking to a child that was about to have a fit because they weren't getting their way... well she pretty much was except this was a fully grown woman, not a child.
She led the blonde gently by the hand to the maternity section not far from where they were already standing.
"I hate this"
"Oh, these clothes aren't any different to the others"
"Yes they are" she yelled holding up sweat pants "Look how stretchy they are"
"Well that's kinda the point" Rachel said, still keeping her voice calm. She took the item and returned it to the rack "But we need some more tops for you, anyway, remember?"
Quinn mumbled something under her breath then sighed heavily. Judging from her mood Rachel didn't feel like knowing what was said she just tried to be the best partner she could be in this situation
"What about this one?" she pulled a top out and showed it to Quinn
"It's cut too low" she gestured to round her neck
Rachel furrowed her brow "It's the same as the one you're wearing"
"Exactly and this is cut too low"
"Quinn you look fine" she meant that as a very sincere compliment
"No I don't I look awful, I'm a mess" she raised her voice, and a few people in the store started looking at the pair
Rachel glanced round noticing the others looking but just shook her head keeping her attention on the woman in front of her "Okay, calm down"
"I can't calm down; you have no idea what this is like!"
"Well no" she admitted, still keeping calm "But we're both in this together" from the fiery look that flared in Quinn's eyes Rachel really wished she had a time machine
"No we're not!" Quinn yelled making Rachel recoil "I'm the one who's given up everything, I was slim, pretty; look at me, now I'm just a big fat screaming woman!"
If Rachel had been observing this situation and not been involved she probably would have found herself laughing by now
"First of all" Rachel started softly, reaching out and taking her wife's hands "You shape is to do with a precious life you are carrying" of course it wasn't really necessary to point this out but Quinn seemed to be having some sort of break down "You are still beautiful and you always will be" she bought one of the blondes hands up to her lips and kissed against the knuckles softly "and I know I'm not going through the physical process as you are right now, but I'm here for you all the time, I'm doing all I can to make you feel comfortable and to make you happy. So you need to calm down for a second; for your own sake" she exhaled slowly and shakily, hoping she hadn't just worked Quinn up again "Now, I think we should get some lunch and have a sit down, Okay?"
The blonde nodded slowly, her face was pale, and she looked like she was a little humiliated. It was as if she had just realised where she was "I-I'm sorry"
"Oh Quinn" she cupped her wife's face, ignoring any spectators "you have nothing to be sorry about, things are just a little stressful at the moment" she kissed her gently before slipping her hand back into her wife's "Let's get out of here" she gestured with a nod of the head to the front of the store
Quinn didn't say anything she just bowed her head letting Rachel lead them out, she felt so embarrassed for her outburst but Rachel acted like it didn't happen.
These mood swings had quickly become frequent just like Quinn's size; one second it looked like she wasn't as far along as she was and the next... it was like she exploded, the little one had caught up with what the doctors/obstetricians were saying she should weigh by now. Quinn felt like she hadn't had enough time to adjust and Rachel wondered if that was some sort of subconscious factor to the frequency of the mood swings (well she didn't know, she'd never been around a pregnant woman so prominently)
...
7 ½ months
Quinn was woken when she felt the secure arms wrapped round her slide away and the warm body pressed against her back peel off leaving her suddenly cold "Where are you going?" she mumbled
"I've got to get those two ready for school and take them, then I'll be off to work" Rachel replied softly kneeling on the bed again and kissing Quinn on the cheek
"Don't go" she turned and swiftly wrapped her arms round her wife's neck, yanking her back down for a real kiss.
Rachel moaned against Quinn's lips, parting them ever so slightly, at which the blonde took advantage forcing her tongue into Rachel's mouth. Rachel's tongue was submissive when met by Quinn's as the blondes hands roamed up and down her wife's back
Rachel soon came to her senses and tore her own mouth away "As much as I'd like to stay here all day and do... this, I really have to get the kids up and let Remi out" she said, slightly dazed.
Quinn huffed a sigh and released her hold on her wife; just letting her arms fall back to the bed "fine"
"I'm sorry but there are things to do" she said with heavy reluctance, she just wanted to lay with her wife... and do things all day. "Sorry" she kissed her quickly on the nose "But I've got to go, you sleep" and with that she climbed of her wife and started the morning routine
.
Quinn was stirred from her half sleep when she heard the bedroom door open
"I bought you some toast, just plain spread on it because I wasn't sure how you're feeling" she said cautiously before placing the plate on the bedside table, with a cup of something; probably the caffeine free, god knows what else free, awful coffee they had both switched over to.
Rachel was already dressed for work and Quinn could hear the children downstairs arguing over something probably while they were, too, supposed to be eating breakfast
"You didn't have to do that" the blonde shuffled to sit up in bed
"Yes I did, I know you" she sat on the edge near Quinn before passing her the plate "It's my first day without you so, you'll either sit around the house and worry all day and not eat anything, or stay in bed to avoid worrying and still not eat" she playfully scolded
They wanted her to go on maternity leave now simply so Rachel could have a break, although she'd cover that with she was worried about her wife's safety (which was also the truth)
Quinn took a single bit of the simple toast before dropping it back on the plate. Rachel was on the verge of opening her mouth to apologise and then ask what was wrong with it what Quinn started crying
"Oh god, what have I done now" Rachel cringed
Quinn shook her head before using a very high pitched whiney voice "No, it's not that, its j-just... you're being so nice to me. And I know I'm a nightmare right now"
"No you're not" Rachel sighed putting an arm round her 'yes you are' her head said
"And then you bring me toast" still high pitched and squeaky, Rachel was relieve Remi wasn't in the room, she wasn't sure how this noise would affect her "You're the best you know that"
"I do now" she smiled but she was scared, usually Quinn was angry, pissed off..., sad but her mood swings had never went happy with tears... never. At first Rachel thought that would be better but now it was just freaking her out
"And-and-and now I'm..." she stopped crying "what is wrong with me, I'm crying at toast" and she's back in the room
Rachel wasn't sure how much longer she'd last before these mood swings sent her over the edge. She was just glad they seemed to happen when Alyssa and Logan weren't around; she didn't need them worried about their mommy
Let me know what you think...