Thursday had come and go, Santana spent the day with Brittany and the night with Dani, meanwhile Kurt and Rachel spent their day in classes while Beth spent hers at the Children's Museum with her Pre-School. Rachel took Friday off and so did Beth as they prepared Beth for her weekend with Quinn.
Quinn finished her classes early on Friday and said goodbye to her roommate who was headed home for reading week and leaving Quinn alone in the dorm room. She did a quick clean and dusted off all the photos on her dresser, her dorm room wasn't much, small but spacious and she wanted it to be perfect when Beth and Rachel arrived. She took a moment to study the photographs, the yearbook photo they had all fought Rachel on, but as always the tiny brunette had won in the end. There was one of the Cheerios, Brittany, Santana and herself front and centre as they always were. There was a picture of Quinn and Finn from happier times and one of her holding Beth in the hospital just after she had been born. On her nightstand stood two frames, her gifts from Rachel and Beth, her two most prized possessions.
She had a desk and a bed and a bookshelf stuffed into the small room as well and Quinn finally collapsed onto the bed once her preparations had finished. She quickly reached for her laptop and searched for a Vegan restaurant, wanting to take Rachel and Beth there before Rachel caught her train back to New York. To say Quinn was nervous about being alone with Beth was an understatement. She had already pulled all of her old Disney movies from their box and set up the old VCR, a feet that deemed almost impossible until Quinn's roommate pointed out she was hooking up the wires to the TV in the wrong order. She did groceries the morning before, mostly breakfast foods and snack foods and ingredients for the two to make cookies. She figured lunches and dinners could be ordered in or eaten out as Quinn was never much of a chef and feared burning down the building.
She checked the clock, Rachel and Beth would be arriving in less than an hour, she offered to pick them up from the train station but Rachel told her Beth was nervous and that she should probably just wait for them to come to her, in case Beth needed a little time, in which Quinn reluctantly agreed.
"Where is it?" Santana screamed as she began to toss her clothes around her bedroom, searching for the right outfit to wear. Tonight Dani and Brittany would be meeting for the first time, Santana opted for a night in rather than a night out. She pulled down a handful of board games her and Brittany had played many times and made sure the house was stocked with goodies. Silently she wished that Dani drank, because alcohol would surely calm her nerves.
"It's going to be fine you know," Kurt said making his way into the bedroom and scanning his eyes over what looked like a mass pile of only clothes, Santana standing in the middle, a puzzled look on her face.
"I can't find my cream top that goes great with these pants," Santana mumbled and Kurt immediately left the room, returning shortly after with the shirt in hand.
"Beth got sauce all over it, remember?" The boy asked tossing it to Santana. "Don't worry though, I got it all out, good as new."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you," Santana said quickly stripping while Kurt averted his gaze. "I could kiss you right now."
"Put a shirt on first and then we'll talk," Kurt said with a laugh, Santana joining in. "So I have an audition," Kurt spit out quickly.
"For?"
"Revival of RENT!"
"One of the few I know, please tell me you aren't auditioning for Angel because-"
"Mark, actually."
"Oh."
"Do you think I can pull it off? The part I mean?" Kurt said moving a pile of clothes and taking a seat on the edge of Santana's bed.
"Yeah I mean, you can sing and shit and you totally got this nerdy thing going on," Santana said in attempts of complimenting the boy.
"Thanks, I think." Kurt smiled wearily. "It's an open audition you know."
"So," Santana said as she began to throw clothes back into her closet and drawers.
"They are still looking for a Mimi."
"Oh that's rich, you want me to play a drugged up stripper?"
"I want you to audition, yes."
"Why?"
"I don't know, I think you would be great, a much as it pains me to admit. Also, I would love to have a friend on the cast, assuming we both get roles," Kurt said with the wave of a hand.
"And if I don't want too?"
"Your choice, I just thought I'd throw it out there."
"Well, thanks," Santana mumbled turning to the boy. "Does this outfit say I want my girlfriend and ex girlfriend who is still totally my soulmate to be friends and not rip each others faces off?"
Kurt laughed and nodded, "I do believe it does. I also don't think you have anything to worry about, if things get crazy I can help out. Plus Brittany's to nice to rip anyone's face off."
Santana smiled thoughtfully at Kurt and sighed, "I'm so nervous I think I'm gonna sweat through this outfit before-"
"Brittany?" Kurt said glancing towards the door where the sound of someone knocking was ringing through the apartment.
"Dani," Santana dead panned.
"Are you nervous?" Rachel asked as her and Beth stepped off the train in New Haven.
"Yes," Beth whispered as she readjusted her teddy bear in her right hand, her left clasping Rachel's hand firmly.
"I can stay if you want me too," Rachel suggested, feeling somewhat nervous with the whole situation herself.
"I'm a big girl," Beth said with a small pout on her face. "I can do this." Rachel wasn't sure if Beth was trying to convince her or herself, but she let it slide and lowered herself I front of Beth so she was face to face with the child.
"I love you, you know that right?" Rachel said while Beth nodded her head. "I am very proud of you, you're going to be absolutely fine this weekend. Quinn is very excited to have you all to herself."
Beth smiled and wrapped her arms around Rachel's neck, giving her the biggest hug she could. "I just want her to love me," Beth mumbled into Rachel's hair.
Rachel pulled back and looked into Beth's sad and worried eyes. "Beth!" Rachel said sternly, "Quinn does love you, she has loved you since before you were even born, I can promise you that."
"I just want to have a Mommy," Beth said with a shrug.
"Shelby will always be your Mom, even though she isn't here anymore."
"I know, but she told me when she went away that I would meet my real, tummy Mommy," Beth said as she crossed her arms across her chest. "And I want Quinn to want to be my Mommy,"
"Oh honey," Rachel whispered, "I promise you she does, she just doesn't want to be pushy with you."
"Rachel, can we go now, I don't want to talk about this anymore," Beth said politely.
"Of course we can," Rachel replied as she raised her hand and waved down a cab.
"Brittany, meet my girlfriend Dani," Santana said in a wavering voice, Kurt watching intently from the couch. "Dani, this is my best friend Brittany."
Brittany smiled sweetly and tilted her head to the side. "You're even prettier up close," she said sticking out her hand for Dani to shake. Dani laughed and thanked her, shaking Brittany's hand.
"Should we all sit, yes, that sounds like a good idea, let's all sit," Santana rambled nervously as she scurried to the couch and sat down.
Immediately Brittany went to sit beside her as Dani shifted awkwardly on the spot. "I'm sorry," Brittany mumbled, her cheeks turning red as she decided to choose the chair instead.
Dani sat down next to Santana, putting a possessive hand in the girls thigh as Brittany directed her attention to Kurt and began to tell him about MIT and how she wished she had been able to bring Lord Tubbington with her, because living by herself gets pretty lonely.
"You don't have a roommate?" Dani asked interrupting the two.
"No, at MIT each student has their own dorm room, they like us to have our own space to study and grow as student," Brittany explained. "My classes were tough at first, but they really help you create your own plans of learning and they don't deduct mark for writing in crayons," Brittany said laughing.
"It's good to see that not everything has changed," Santana said with a smile. "Still using the ones I got you last year?" She asked.
"I am, but the strawberry scented one is almost out," Brittany pouted, popping out her lip slightly.
"We'll get you more before you leave," Santana assured her, earning one of Brittany's special smiles that made her heart of stone melt to a puddly mess.
"Are you still dancing?" Kurt asked, "I hope you are because you're too talented to stop."
"Agreed," Dani said with a smile. "Yesterday Santana showed me some old videos from your Glee Club competitions and you can really move."
"Thanks," Brittany said shyly. "Yes I am still dancing, teaching actually, I got a part time job teaching at a Studio a few nights a week and one Saturdays, keeping a creative outlet helps me stay focused."
"You have changed, a lot," Santana said sadly as she got up from the couch and walked into the bathroom shutting the door behind her.
Dani immediately got up to follow and Brittany shook her head. "Would you mind if I-"
"No, go ahead," Dani said as she sat back down and watched Brittany go to the door.
"San, it's me, please open the door," Brittany said in a soft voice. "Please San." Brittany gave an excited little jump as the door swung open.
Quinn jumped off of her bed and ran to the door as soon as she heard Rachel's laugh coming from the hallway. As Rachel lifted a fist to knock, the door swung open causing Beth to laugh as Rachel jumped backwards.
"Are you psychic?" Rachel breathed out, still in shock with her hand on her chest.
"No, not psychic. Just have a good ear for the laughs of those I cherish," Quinn said as she pulled Rachel in for a hug.
"Quinn Fabray, you are such a sweet talker," Rachel laughed, returning Quinn's hug. "She's a little nervous," the brunette whispered so Beth wouldn't hear before pulling back.
"Baby girl, I have missed you so much," Quinn said as she reached down and lifted Beth into her arms. "We are going to have so much fun this weekend."
"Hi Quinn," Beth giggled, giving the older blonde a hug. "I've missed you too."
"Please come in," Quinn said moving aside and ushering Rachel inside. "You can leave Beth's things at the door, we will put it away later."
"I like your place," Rachel said as she looked around.
"It's not much," Quinn said with a shrug. "But it works for me." Quinn showed them around the shared kitchen and living room and showed them where the bathroom was before leading the two to her bedroom. "This is my private area," Quinn said as she put Beth down and watched as Rachel inspected the photos on her dresser, picking up the photo of Finn and Quinn.
"He was so handsome," Rachel whispered and Quinn didn't miss the tear that rolled down the girl's cheek. Without missing a beat, Quinn made her way to Rachel and wrapped her arms around the girls waist, resting her chin on the brunette's shoulder.
"He was," Quinn whispered. "You know, if you want, I can get you a copy of that photo."
"I appreciate that, but there is no need," Rachel said honestly. "I'm trying to move on and I'm trying not to hoard photos of Finn, besides I already have this one," Rachel laughed, setting the photo back down.
"You do?" Quinn asked a Rachel turned in her arms and faced the blonde.
"I do," Rachel said with a sad smile. "Carol and Burt had a few boxes of Finn's things that they were gracious enough to let me go through after the funeral and take what I wanted. This photo was in one of them."
"Quinn who is this?" Beth said interrupting the moment as she held up a photo.
"That's you and I, baby," Quinn said taking the photo and sitting down on the floor, pulling Beth into her lap. "This photo was taken only a few hours after you were born. I spent hours with you, all by myself. I asked a nurse to take this. This photo is my favourite photo in the entire world."
"I like it," Beth said smiling. "I was really small," the little girl said inspecting the picture in Quinn's hands.
"You were very tiny, you were early, by a week," Quinn explained. "You were actually born the day of our very first Glee Club Regionals, I went into labour right after we performed."
"How did my Mommy get me?" Beth asked and Quinn just squinted, trying to remember back to that day.
"Actually, I don't know how she-"
"I told her Quinn was in labour," Rachel said as she slid down on the floor next to Quinn.
"You did?" Beth and Quinn said together.
"She asked where the rest of our team went, I told her they went to the hospital to be with you," Rachel explained. "I told her you had a beautiful baby girl," Rachel continued as she reached out to run a hand through Beth's hair.
"Did you know she was going to adopt Beth?" Quinn asked curiously.
"I didn't."
"Oh," Quinn mouthed.
"But I've never been happier that she did," Rachel said with a smile that matched Quinn's, telling her that the girl knew exactly what she meant.
"Did you meet me?" Beth asked.
"I did, at the hospital, briefly."
"You did?" Quinn asked again.
"I came to check on you," Rachel explained. "You were asleep and the nurse asked if I wanted to see Beth, I did, so she brought me to the nursery."
"Was I as cute as my Mommy said I was?" Beth asked.
"Cuter," Rachel and Quinn said at the same time.
"What's wrong?" Brittany asked as she stepped into the bathroom and sat down on the floor in front of Santana.
"You're so different," Santana whispered. "Good different, but I feel like I've missed so much of your life," Santana explained.
"You're different too," Brittany replied. "We've missed just as much a the other, but we're still the same, you and I. I'm different, but my heart hasn't changed."
"I don't want to miss anymore," Santana cried softly.
"So don't," Brittany said bluntly causing Santana to laugh.
"I won't, I promise you," Santana said as Brittany leaned in and placed a kiss on Santana's forehead. "I'm so proud of you Brit."
"I'm proud of you too."
"For what?"
"Finally being yourself, for not hiding and showing the world your awesomeness," Brittany said with a smile.
"Thanks Brit Brit."
"We should go back out there," Brittany said standing up and lending Santana a hand to do the same.
"Everything okay," Dani said as the girls took their places back out in the living room.
"Everything's good," Santana replied as she wrapped an arm around Dani's waist.
"So Brittany," Dani said turning her attention to the girl. "Got any good stories about this one here," Dani said with a wonderment in her voice.
"She once pulled my pants down during out celebration of another Cheerios victory, on National television."
"She didn't!"
"On she definitely did," Kurt laughed.
"Santana, that's horrible," Dani said through uncontrolled laughter.
Quinn, Rachel and Beth enjoyed a quiet dinner at the restaurant Quinn had chosen and Beth and Quinn convinced the brunette to stay the night and catch the train back to New York after breakfast.
"The weather is bad and I would feel more comfortable if you waited until morning," Quinn whined.
"I want you to stay," Beth whispered after Quinn had gone to pay the bill. "Just for the first night, please Rachel," Beth said and that was all it took.
Rachel stayed the night. After borrowing a pair of Quinn's old Cheerios shorts and a tank top, Rachel said goodnight to Beth and slipped into the bathroom to change.
"All tucked in," Beth announced as she pushed the last section of blanket under the mattress and leaned down to give Beth a kiss.
"Will you sing me a song, Rachel always sings me a song before I go to sleep," Beth explained.
"Did you want me to get Ra-"
"No, I want you to sing me a song."
Quinn smiled, happy to oblige the tiny blonde headed child. "Okay, close your eyes my love," Quinn whispered before she began to song softly, lulling Beth into a deep slumber.
Goodnight big moon, sweet dreams, baby
If I could have one wish tonight
It would be that you'll always keep
Keep the starlight in your eyes
So one day you'll grow up, one day you'll walk out
In this big world on your own
And there'll be days when your heart will break and
You swear that all your strength is gone
And then you'll find a way to carry on
Heaven knows that it's a crazy ride
It's never perfect all the time
It'll pull you down and send you flying
So baby, hold on tight on this crazy ride
So don't be scared when you're in the darkness
The sun is swallowed by the ground
You'll think it's gone but it's hanging on
It's just on the other side of town
Even when it's lost it can be found
Heaven knows that it's a crazy ride
It's never perfect all the time
It'll pull you down and send you flying
So baby, hold on tight on this crazy ride
Heaven knows that it's a crazy ride
It's never perfect all the time
You know it's just a crazy ride
It's never perfect all the time
It'll pull you down and send you flying
So baby, hold on tight on this crazy ride
Goodnight, big moon, sweet dreams, baby
"Goodnight my sweet, perfect girl," Quinn whispered as she took one last look at Beth who was curled up under Quinn's covers with a thumb in her mouth and her teddy bear tucked safely under her arm. "I love you."