A/N: So, this hiatus deal is kind of kicking my ass because I haven't done a lot with it, but I do have the next few chapters planned out for this story. I just haven't found time to type them yet so I apologize. I hope you all are still reading this story because it's about to get drama filled.

Also, I'm giving it another shot at the banner for this story because the current one I have kind of sucks so I'll let you know when I get a new one. Until then I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter Seven: Explanations

Clay's eyebrows raise and he has pure shock written all over his face. Quinn slowly walks up to the door and looks at her boyfriend.

"Hi Clay."

Clay manages to get something out of his mouth.

"Since when do you have a daughter?"

"Maybe you should come in and sit down," Quinn suggest once Clay is actually inside the house.

Quinn and Clay take a seat side by side.

"I didn't know you had a teenage daughter," Clay whispers more to himself than anything.

Quinn rubs her temple.

"Look, I can sit here and explain myself to different measures, but to be honest there was always reason why I didn't tell you Clay. I didn't what we were or how you would feel. I mean you like Jamie and that's a give because he's adorable, but it's always different with a teenager."

Clay slowly nods his head.

"I haven't seen her around."

"She just came back. She's been for a couple of years."

Clay looked up at Quinn.

"Was she with her father?"

Quinn shakes her head.

"No and I don't want to discuss that part with you. If Brittany wants to do that, then it's up to her."

"Brittany," Clay smiles at the name.

"Yeah, I like that name too."

"So, is David her father?"

Quinn freezes for a moment, mostly because she doesn't know where this conversation is headed.

"She is legally, yes, but biologically no."

~~~/~~~/~~~/~~~/~~~

Sam and Brittany found themselves in Haley's back porch sitting on the deck.

"So explain to me something," Sam starts. "Why did you stay away for two years? I mean were you in legal trouble?"

Brittany closes her eyes and then opens them.

"No, I wasn't. I was only supposed to be there for three months, but those three turned into 24. I was angry at myself for letting my problem get to far without help. I was angry at my mother. I was angry at the world. I was just angry."

"I've felt that way sometimes. Being born and thrown into foster care sucks. I never really bonded with anybody and the years continued and no one wanted me until I was 15."

"At least you got that. Brooke seems like a very great person."

Sam smiles at the comment.

"She is. I love her and she changed my life and I can be the first to admit that."

"Yeah, I never liked admitting things. It took me a long time to admit that I was an addict."

"What's it like?"

Brittany turns to Sam and raises an eyebrow.

"Do you mean rehab?"

Sam nods her head.

~~~/~~~/~~~/~~~

"Haley, is Brittany stable?" Brooke says as she turns away from the window after watching her daughter and her new friend talking.

"She has her moments, but she's been dealing with them for two years."

"No one is stable in their life," Lydia says as she walks into the kitchen.

Haley and Brooke turned in surprise because they had thought that Lydia went to bed.

"Mrs. James I mean no disrespect towards Brittany it's just that I have my daughter to worry about."

Lydia smiles slightly.

"I know that. I am a mother as well and so are all my daughters, but Brooke you shouldn't judge. You can worry because that's what mother's do, but don't judge. Brittany has been through a lot and I am proud that she got herself together," Lydia turns to Haley for a split second and then goes back to Brooke. "Many don't know this, but Brittany was only supposed be there for three months. Everyone was mad at Quinn and David because they had thought that they kept her there, but they had nothing to do with it. It was all Brittany she decided that she wasn't ready and she might have been right or she might have been wrong, but she chose. So, to answer your question Brooke, Brittany is as stable as the rest of us."

Lydia heads to the fridge and grabs a bottle of water before walking out again. Haley turns to look out the window.

"I didn't know she chose that."

Brooke turns to her friend with a small smile.

"Haley, there are just some things teenagers don't want their family to know."

~~~/~~~/~~~/~~~

"Rehab is different. There are classes and group meetings. I did attend school, but only for a few hours a day and it was seven days a week. It was nothing about punishment it was about getting better and overcoming our addiction."

"Do you still have problems?" Sam asks gently.

"Every day," Brittany shrugs her shoulders. "There are times when I would want to reach for my next joint or my vial of cocaine and I realize that I don't have those things anymore not to mention with drawl seriously sucks."

"It kind of sounds like a group home only without the with drawl."

Brittany shrugs her shoulders.

"Some of the kids say that it's like that, but I wouldn't know because I haven't been in a group home, but it just depends on the day."

~~~/~~~/~~~/~~~

After Quinn finishes telling Clay about her story, Clay is just left stunned. After a few moments of silence, Clay offers Quinn a smile.

"You've been through a lot apparently. Now I kind of understand."

Quinn raises an eyebrow.

"Kind of understand, what?"

"The way you were guarded when we first met. You had told me you were having problems beyond the norm and now I understand."

Quinn smiles and nods her head.

"I was a mess. I felt as though I had failed with Brittany, but then when she told me that after three months of rehab that she wanted to stay I knew that she finally figured it out. She couldn't get there by herself, but she managed to stay by herself and that takes as much courage as it does to admit that you're an addict."

Clay gives her a look making Quinn laugh.

"I attend a lot of classes for parents with addicted children."

"I may not have children, but I know what it feels like to think you have failed. I was married Quinn to Sara and one day she just collapses and I couldn't do anything about it. I spent a few months bitter and kind of on auto-pilot, but eventually I got better. I don't know if I can be a parent or whatever, but I do know that I like what's going on between us and I want to give it a try and I'd like to get to know Brittany better, if that's okay with you?"