A/N Hey everyone! I know this chapter is extremely short but I thought I give you at least something until I can update again. I am currently working on two other stories one is posted on here called Witness to Tomorrow for my friend Erica. The other I am typing up for my friend James that I will not be posting on here. So just enjoy this little snippet so you know what is to come. Hope you enjoy. Thank you for your support. Your all amazing thank you so much!
RACHEL'S HOUSE 12 1/2 HOURS AFTER QUINN'S FLIGHT. 8:30 PM
Rachel and Beth tried. They really did but for the first time ever in their separate entire lives. Could not muster up the energy or desire to watch any of the musicals or eat the junk food they bought nor eat the take out. Rachel and Beth felt like the house had become empty and quiet. Quinn's presence was painfully obvious in it's absence. The two were sprawled out on the couch miserably staring at the the paused 13 minute in movie funny Girl on the screen. They had no idea what to do with themselves and they have been that way all day. Quinn would be calling soon and Rachel and Beth stared at the open lapttop on the coffee table. They just laid anxiously waiting impatience clear on their faces.
2 minutes later and the laptop came to life ringing. Rachel and Beth scrambled upright with Rachel struggling the most. The brunette almost fell off the couch trying to reach for it. Thankfully, Beth grabbed it and handed to Rachel than jumped into Rachel's lap as soon as she pressed the accept button. The screen came to life with Quinn's anxious excited face.
"Mommy!"
"Quinn!"
Rachel and Beth shouted at the same time in excitement and began asking questions and talking over each other in rapid succession. Quinn was staring at them with soft adoring eyes full of tears. She had only been away from them for a few hours not even a whole 24. Yet, she was a mess. She missed them terribly and all their rambling was just hitting her that much harder. She giggled at their eagerness and did her best to calm them down and gain control of the conversation.
"Hey, hey, calm down. I'm here." Quinn said sweetly as Rachel and Beth made her eyes widened when they both simultaneously took deep breaths with their eyes closed and mumbling to themselves to relax with their left hand over their hearts. Quinn was fascinated and awed by the resemblence in their concentrated features. They both opened their eyes at the same time and shot her two identical show smiles that took her breath away. Quinn stared only for a moment than shook her head clear of the thoughts in her mind that were obviously impossible and shot them a show stopping smile of her own.
"So, How are my girls?-One at a time, though. So I can understand you." Quinn said. Rachel and Beth looked at each other in such familiar action of silent communication that kind of worried the blonde, if ever the two took over the world. Rachel nodded at Beth that she may go first.
"Hi, Mommy! I miss You! What's California like?! Is it big like New York?! Are their a lot of people?! Is the beach nice?! Are there any f-" Beth was firing question after question and Quinn's eyes widen a fraction. She had to cut in before her daughter passed out from not breathing.
"Whoa! Calm dowm down, sweetheart. Let me answer first than ask what you need to next, ok?" Quinn spoke sweetly and Beth nodded eagerly. She could see her daughters body thrum with excitement because she was fidgeting.
"First, I'm going to tell you that I miss you, again. Because I do. I miss you both so much. To answer your question California is beautiful but very hot." Quinn chuckled. "It's also very big and the traffic here is worse than New York. There are A LOT of people. I haven't gone to the beach. Though, I did see it during the car ride from the airport to my hotel. It looked beautiful as well. Now, tell me how are you?" Quinn ask her daughter with a questioning eyebrow.
"I'm ok. I just miss you and I just want you to come home because Rachel's boring without you." Beth said with a roll of her eyes.
"Hey!" Rachel said flushing in embarrassment. Quinn chuckled and shook her head.
"It's true! She's all 'I miss Quinn.' and sad." Beth said in a whiny voice and Rachel huffed crossing her arms before making her own mockery of the little blonde.
"I'm not the only one moping here. If anything your the one that's been sprawled out on the couch whining because 'I miss, Mommy. She would make me a special milkshake with a cherry on top, if she was here.' In such a woe is me fashion, I think I heard dogs howling in despair." Rachel said with snark.
"Yeah, well.. It's true. Mommy makes the best milkshakes." Beth said without an ounce of denial.
"Yeah.." Rachel said with a sigh. "She totally does and she can cook, too. So, wonderfully." Rachel nodded with a dopey smile in agreement as both Beth and Rachel's faces took on a dreamy look.
"So.. I'm only being missed because of my milkshake and cooking skills. Wow, I feel the love guys." Quinn deadpanned. Beth and Rachel had the decency to look a little ashamed.
"That's not all we miss. The house feels empty without you.." Rachel said with big sad doe eyes. Beth following right along with her both sporting that damn pout.
"Yeah, Mommy. We don't know what to do! We couldn't even watch Barbra because you weren't hear to fall asleep and snore through the movie!" Beth said dramatically with Rachel nodding her head in serious agreement with slightly wide yes.
"Hey! I do not snore!" Quinn said blushing deeply. Both Rachel and Beth gave her an identical look of 'Oh please, elephants have nothing on you.'
"Could you really not watch Barbra without me?.." Quinn ask shyly, full on blushing because she knew what a big deal it was if her girls couldn't watch any musicals let alone Barbra's without her.
"No. It was so.. I don't know.. lonely without you." Rachel said sincerely her eyes boring into Quinn's through the laptop screen. Quinn wanted to take the next flight out to New York just to be home with her girls again. This shit was torture only seeing them through a screen.
"I'm sorry. It's been hard for me, too. I know I should be enjoying my time in a new city but it just doesn't feel right. I don't know how I'm going to last a week. My suite feels so foreign and quiet because it's only me here. I wish you both were here with me.." Quinn said sadly. The 3 spoke for a whole 2 hours until Quinn told Beth it was time for bed. Rachel and Quinn decided it was best if Beth slept in one of the downstairs bedrooms next to Rachel's so if Beth needed her, Rachel could get to her easily.
Rachel kept the video chat going and Quinn waited while Beth washed up in the bathroom than climbed into bed.
"Um.. If it's ok with you Beth. I'm going to read you your bedtime story, tonight and your mom will stay on the laptop to listen because as she informed me. She never goes a day without giving you your bedtime story." Rachel said with a warm smile. Secretly cooing over that piece of information, the mother and daughter were so cute.
"Yes, please." Beth said as Rachel did her best to tuck her in from her wheelchair. Beth was situated and the laptop with a misty eyed Quinn was on the dresser getting a perfect view. The blonde was enthralled by Rachel's story telling. Rachel did way better at voice animation than she herself did. Rachel was theatrical and emotional. Making each character come to life from the pages just by her voice, facial expressions and hand gestures. Beth absolutely loved it. Rachel began using a much more feather light tone as she saw Beth's eyes drooping tiredly. Rachel claimed the story had a song and began to softly sing about dancing stars and smiling moons. Quinn swooned over the brunette and felt her love falling from the top of skyscrapers for the woman on the screen, who put so much effort in reading her daughter a bed time story.
"Goodnight, Beth.." Rachel whispered.
"Goodnight, sweetheart.." Quinn called out softly from the screen. Beth didn't hear either of them. She was already asleep.
Rachel took the laptop from the dresser and placed it in her lap. She rolled out of the room leaving the door a crack open. She wheeled herself to her bedroom and left it open a crack also. She placed the laptop on her bed and positioned herself next to the bed and shifted onto it, adjusting her legs in a comfortable position. She picked the laptop back up and placed it on her lap with a huge smile.
"Hi." Rachel spoke shyly. Quinn smiled bashfully back.
"Hi."
"So, how are you really?" Rachel ask.
"I meant what I said. It's weird and different without you both by my side. Especially, Beth because I have never left to another state before, let alone without her. It's a lot to adjust to." Quinn said honestly. Rachel felt bad immediately.
"I'm sorry. I kn-"
"Don't. It's only a week and it's just business. I'm not actually away on some vacation without her or leaving her just because I know I can. I'm working. It's my job." Quinn said. Rachel nodded.
"So, how are you really?" Quinn ask with a raised eyebrow. Rachel sighed.
"Honestly.. I miss you. A lot more than I thought I would but I'm ok. I am enjoying my time with Beth. She and I are going to take Lucy for her walk tomorrow. I have a package arriving at 3 pm that I'm excited about. It was put on hold for a month because of my accident." Rachel said grinning madly. Quinn's curiosity was piqued.
"What is it?" Quinn ask feeling the brunettes excitement.
"Uh Uh, I'm not telling. You'll just have to see when you come home to us." Rachel said sweetly. Quinn felt her heart ache and swell at the same time 'Come home to us..' Rachel had no idea what those words just did to Quinn.
The women stood up for another two hours talking about anything and everything that would prevent them from hanging up. Quinn had doozed of on her bed first. The two had placed the laptop on the bed beside them so they could lay down and talk as if they were in bed together. Rachel watched the blonde sleep with love shining in her eyes. She traced the blondes face with her finger on the screen and whispered "I love you, Lucy Q." Eventually the brunette followed the blonde in slumber.
7AM THE NEXT MORNING..
"Psst! Psst!" Rachel groaned as she rolled away from the sound. She swatted at the air trying to stop the excessive poking in her ribs but it wouldn't go away. Whatever it was, was annoying as hell. "Rachel.. Rachel, wake up." Rachel squinted a blurry eye open at the obviously up close face of Beth.
"Whaaattt, Beth? I'm sleeping.." Rachel groaned, her body feeling like led.
"I'm hungry." Beth huffed with her arms crossed. Clearly not happy with the adult child complaining before her.
Rachel groaned again as she sat up a little. "Than go make a bowl of cereal." Rachel said tiredly.
"I don't know how." Beth replied annoyed with that damn Fabray eyebrow aimed Rachel's way.
"You get a bowl from the cabinet than Pour the cereal into the bowl than get the milk and pour that into the bowl than grab a spoon and wala! you have cereal." Rachel sat as she dropped back down face first into her pillow immediately already feeling her body fall back to sleep.
"RRaaaccchheelll! Mommy says I'm not allowed to touch anything in the kitchen because I could start a fire!." Beth whined doing her best to shake the body awake.
"It's cereal, I think the kitchen will live." Rachel groggily mumbled out.
"Rachel, come on! I'm hungry and mommy's not here to feed me!." Beth complained. "I'll tell mommy you refused to feed me!" Beth crossed her arms in challenge. Rachel's head shot up and she stared down the little girl. Eyes narrowed she spoke as a teenager would to their younger sibling.
"You wouldn't?" In questioning slight challenge.
"Oh, believe me. I would. I also will tell mommy that your the one who ate the last vegan brownie she was saving for Alison." Beth said again with challenge. Rachel was doing her best not to laugh. The little girl was definitely Quinn Fabray's daughter. Her stance, her challenging eyes, that damn eyebrow and calculated stare spoke volumes. Rachel was planning to get up and feed her before Beth threatened her with Quinn but she wanted to see what lengths Beth would go to get to wake her. Now, she knows.
"Alright, fine! I'm up." Rachel said pretending to huff in annoyance. Beth grinned innocently. Rachel snorted in laughter as she slid into her wheelchair. The two rolled to the kitchen and Rachel went to the fridge. She frowned as she saw they were out of milk and there was barely any cereal at the bottom of the box. The only items to eat in the house, you had to actually cook and Rachel had no idea how the hell your suppose to cook eggs.
"Hmmm.. Hey Beth?"
"Yes?"
"Have you ever been to the international house of pancakes?"
"Woooaahh! You mean-"
"Yes! IHOP!"
"Yes!" Beth sqealed in excitement of never being there but hearing about it. The two hurried to their rooms to get ready.
STARCORP. L.A. QUINN'S TEMPORARY OFFICE.
Quinn has been up to her elbows in files all morning. It took 4 cups of coffee that morning just to get out of bed. Alison had laughed at the grunted replies she recieved from the zombie like blonde at 5 am. Quinn had told her on the way to the office that she and Rachel had spoken until a little past midnight. Quinn had gotten to the office at a decent time. The public opening with the giant scissors and all was a little much in Quinn's opinion because to her it was just a building but she gets why it was necessary. She was introduced at the board members meeting. She met them all except the CFO and was welcomed with open arms.
She had recieved a tour of the building and was walked through everything that was currently being set into motin. Rachel's company had several different branches of interest. The L.A office was covering the film production company and Label production company, Stargaze films and BQ productions. Anything entertainment was to be taken care of only through that office. Quinn had her hands full and she was still tired. She definitely needed to have Alison bring her more coffee. A knock at the door resounded.
"Come in." Quinn called out softly.
The door opened and a tall extremely handsome man with combed back blonde hair and peircing sea blue eyes, in a sleek form fitted suit walked in. The man could be a model and you could tell by the way he held himself that women have made it clear to him that he could have anything he wants.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Fabray. I'm Hayden Collins, CFO of this office. I didn't get to meet you earlier because I was on a conference call. I just wanted to stop in and introduce myself." His voice smooth and deep with a touch of softness that would have any woman salivating. His charm and confidence was oozing with suave masculinity in waves.
Quinn smiled in return and stood up. She rounded the desk not noticing how he drank in her curves with passion filled lust. He licked his lips at the mere sight of her. He had never met a woman so beautiful. She looked like she fell from heaven. Her high black high heels encasing what he assumes beautiful feet. Her long strong calves looked creamy, firm but soft to the touch . Her black pencil skirt and sleevless white blouse hugged her body deliciously. Her hair in soft full rings that bounced on her shoulders as she moved. Her stance and walk were graceful in their poise and dominanence enchanting him as her hips swayed. Her eyebrow arch was painfully sexy. Her rose full lips curving into a warm smile with blinding white teeth. The gold dangle earrings and bracelet on her ears and delicate writ caused his mouth to dry by the time her soft hand made the skin to skin contact with his. Her purfume intoxicating him before he knew what was happening. Hayden Collins was captured and enslaved by Quinn Fabray before she could even speak. Though when the words 'It's a pleasure to meet you..' Were spoken in that husky tone it stole his breath from his lungs. The woman was a goddess he knew he had to have.
RACHEL AND BETH IHOP. SAME DAY.
Rachel was trying not to laugh, right now. They were at IHOP and Rachel told Beth she could have whatever she wanted. Beth wanted pancakes and lots of bacon. Though, Rachel had informed her that she could have some bacon because that was unhealthy for someone her age. Beth agreed of course. However, she still wanted a ton of pancakes. Though, there were only a stack of six birthday pancakes in front of her. Beth was gobsmacked and staring wide eyed at them as if they were mountains of endless suger that would never run out. She had 6 pieces of bacon to enjoy it with and the little girl was pretty sure she died and gone to heaven.
"Beth?.. Honey? Are you sure you can eat all that. If not we could send it back an-" That did the trick.
"NO! I-I mean no, thank you. Don't worry Rachel. I got this." Beth said seriously as she stared down the bile of pancakes. Rachel couldn't hold it any longer and fell into a fit of giggles. Beth looked so determined.
"Ok.. If-If your sure." Rachel replied. Wiping her tears of laughter. Rachel can honestly say that she is completely head over heels for this little girl. The two began eating in silence. They were have way through there meal when Beth bitch slapped Rachel sideways with such an unexpected question. The brunette is pretty sure she got whiplash.
"Rachel?"
"Yes, sweetheart." Rachel replied while taking a sip of her lemon water.
"Do you know my daddy?" Beth ask curiously. Rachel choked than splattered in a coughing fit at the question. The brunette placed a hand over her heart hen she finally got herself under control.
"Excuse me?" Rachel ask in disbelief and fear.
"Do you know my daddy and are you ok? That looked like it hurt and you have water on your chin." Beth said nonchalance as she handed Rachel a napkin. Rachel stared at her flabbergasted. How the fuck was she suppose to answer that.
"Whe-Wha-Why would you ask me that?" Rachel ask nervously.
"Well, mommy said you and her went to school together and she said she went to school with my dad. So, I thought maybe you know him. So do you?" Beth ask without an ounce of fear. Her eyes held firm contact and Rachel felt so uncomfortable as if Beth could see through her soul and snatch it away at any second. Of course she knew Beth's father was but goodness! What the hell is she suppose to say. Noah was a dumbass. Who only thought with his dick. He has no real credibility and certainly doesn't even a flit of thought from his daughter's mind considering how he handled the news of the pregnancy. Oh god! Where was Quinn when she needed her. Rachel fidgeted under the little girl impatient stare.
"Um.. Well, Beth. Honey, Don't you think you should be asking your mother these questions." Rachel said as gently as she could.
"I already did. She said that we'll talk about it when I'm older and can understand the complex-compli-complexities of the situation. She never tells me anything about when she was a kid. I asked her one time if we have other family. Like did I have a grandpa or grandma. She said the same thing. I don't know anything and I just..." Beth sighed. "I just wanted to know.." The little girl whispered the last part out. It literally tore Rachel's heart into pieces. The brunette bit her lip in thought when she realized something.
"Hey.." Rachel called out. Beth looked up at her with sad eyes. She remembers when she was curious. Only to find out she had no family other than her mom and dads because both sides of her dads families wanted nothing to do with them and her mom grew up in foster care. She didn't know who her parents were so that left Rachel with only her parents.
"How about me make a compromise." Rachel said. Beth's eyes shined eagerly.
"Ok."
"How about I tell you about your mom when we went to school together but all your questions about your dad and other family we leave for your mother to explain to you when she's ready to tell you?" Rachel said and Beth nodding eagerly.
"Yes, Please."
"Alright, after we eat. We'll head home. I still have pictures and video's from high school. I'll show you those and tell you the story behind them." Rachel said with a smile.
"Thank you, Rachel! Thank you!" Beth said excitedly.
Rachel chuckled. "No problem. Now let's finish up here. The sooner we finish. The sooner we can go home and you can see everything." Rachel said with a smile and shook her head at the little girl adoringly as she tried to eat faster but Rachel told her to calm down. The brunette knew going down memory lane would be difficult for her but if she could Beth at least a little bit of who her mother is and how strong she is than maybe Beth would feel a little more connected to her mom. Besides what could it hurt.
