"This is delicious," Rachel announced scooping another spoonful of vegan ice cream into her mouth, she can't believe she had forgotten about something which tasted this good. Although she had practically forced Quinn to tell her every piece of important information about herself in the hospital the small thing like Quinn's favourite TV shows or book or food she had learnt unintentionally, whether through observation or merely through passing conversation.
"Yup, I think cookie dough is my new favourite, but Mommy if you would have let me have cookie dough and chocolate I would know for sure." Beth told Quinn, hoping she could guilt trip her into buying her another scoop before they leave.
Choosing to ignore her daughter Quinn continued to enjoy her own iced treat. After the stresses and worries of the last few weeks she was determined to allow herself to enjoy the few small pleasures she was presented with.
"Mama, how many days is it until Christmas?"
"Six, why do you want to know baby?" Rachel asked curious as to why Beth was asking such a random question.
"Because, I sent my letter off to Santa last week, but you were in the hospital, has Santa got your letter?" Looking at Quinn for help Rachel didn't know how to answer, personally she was surprised Beth still believed in Santa. She herself as a child had ruined the illusion of Santa before she had even turned seven; she was so determined to see the mythical man she camped out behind the sofa all Christmas Eve only to be heartbroken to discover her father's placing the presents under the tree. Instead of helping however Quinn seemed to be making the situation worse, making little effort to hide her amusement she allowed Rachel little choice but to self manage.
Calling on all of her acting ability and technique, those of which that had made her an award winning highly respected actress she turned to face her daughter. "Of course Santa has my letter cookie; I gave it to your Mommy to post for me." Giving her wife a dazzling smile she found sick enjoyment in watching her wife's face blanch as their daughters inquisitive eyes landed on her.
"Have you sent your letter too Mommy? But Mommy, if everyone sends Santa a letter how does he make all the presents and deliver them?"
"The elves help him baby, and his magic." Quinn hoped her answer would satisfy her daughter, why did she have such an inquisitive why couldn't she ask Rachel, Rachel was so much better at thinking on her feet.
"Mommy is Santa a bad man? Jimmy Granter, a really annoying boy from my class, said that the elves are Santa's slaves? What are slaves?"
Payback, Rachel thought. "Erm, I don't know baby." Seeing that her daughter was about to ask another question Quinn decided to distract her, "You've nearly eaten all your ice cream Beth, shall I get you another scoop, which one was it you wanted, Chocolate?"
Watching her wife scamper off she couldn't help but smirk, her wife was such a pushover, she had a feeling that it was her who would be the disciplinarian in the relationship.
/
"Go get ready for bed Beth, bedtimes in ten minutes,' Quinn announced to Beth entering her bedroom. Hearing the turning of taps coming from the direction of her daughter's bathroom she began to collect and put away the toys which were littering the floor acting as potential safety hazards, knowing if she didn't do it nobody would and she was unwilling to spend half of the holiday arguing with Beth over the state of her room.
"Ready Mommy," Beth told Quinn re-entering the room.
"Goodnight baby," Quinn whispered tucking Beth into bed, kissing her on the forehead. "Mama will be in soon." She promised.
Edging the door open Rachel ducked her head into her daughters dark room, she had planned on coming in as soon as Quinn left however she had been holding a meeting with her manager over the phone in her office which had unfortunately over ran. It was the first time she had spoken to her and from what she could make out she seemed like a nice woman, eager for Rachel to hold interviews and get back to work yet cautious into putting too much pressure on Rachel. They obviously had a good relationship, a pretty even balance of friendship and professionalism. Taking in her daughter room however it appeared Beth had already fallen asleep, tip toeing inside however she thought maybe she could still get a goodnight kiss without disturbing her peacefully sleeping daughter.
Reaching her daughters bed she was surprised to find her daughter still awake. "What's the matter sweetie, why aren't you asleep?" she asked Beth kindly, conscious to keep her voice down, low enough so that Quinn who was just a few doors down wouldn't be capable of hearing.
"I was waiting for you. You always tuck me in better than Mommy does?" Touched that her daughter had waited almost an hour for her Rachel was happy to oblige to her wishes, reaching across she pulled the covers right up and wrapped them securely around Beth body.
"Better now sweetie?" Rachel was about to leave when her daughters voice called out to her.
"Do you remember nothing about me?" Beth voice was groggy, as though she crying. Rachel's heart broke, climbing onto the bed she gathered her daughter in her arms in an attempt to comfort her.
"Ssh, baby, it's okay." She soothed rocking her daughter back and forth. What could she tell her, the truth was she didn't remember anything from the last ten years. Of course she wanted to remember, there were so many memories she wished she still had, her wedding day, Beth, her career. But after all her doctors test and scans, all the attempts Quinn and she had made trying to uncover her memories she doubted whether she would ever regain them. "No baby I don't remember you."
"Does that mean you don't love me?"
"No, I do love you darling. You are my daughter, my baby. I love you and I always will." Rachel was finding it hard to keep her tears at bay and the sorrow that could be heard in Beth's voice was making it increasingly difficult. Continuing to comfort her daughter Rachel recognised her current technique was going little to improve the situation. Unconsciously she started humming, an unfamiliar tune but one that worked successfully as gradually Beth's breathing calmed down and her tears subsided, finally succumbing to sleep.
/
"Mommy...Mama...Wake up...Wake up...Wake up." Beth chanted running into her parent's room. Climbing on their bed she began jumping up and down skilfully dodging her Mommy's hands grasping out to reach and still her.
Groaning the pair began to wake, turning Quinn searched for her alarm clock, only to see the numbers shining mockingly in her face, 07:30. Sighing she sat up and pulled her daughter down, squeezing her in the gap between her and Rachel and tryed to go back to sleep. Seeing the pout form on her daughters face Rachel pulled her close. It had been a few days since Beth had arrived and after the first nights events, she had been mindful to spend as much quality time with Beth and Quinn as possible, determined to calm any fears either of them had which doubting Rachel's love for them.
"Why are you awake baby?" She asked curiously, usually Beth was as bad as her mother; she had to be forcibly removed from her bed if you expected her to out for any earlier than noon.
"Because it's Christmas Eve Mama and we still haven't decorated the house," Beth told her as if it was obvious. Laughing at her daughter's innocence Rachel pushed back the covers and dragged Beth out with her, leaving her wife to have a little while extra sleep.
"Come on Beth; let's go make Mommy some breakfast."
/
After breakfast Rachel took control, ordering Quinn to get changed she helped Beth pick out an outfit warm enough to brave the cold New York winters weather. Going to get changed herself, she was less than impressed to find they were now running behind schedule thanks to her carefree wife's desire to start and impromptu snow fight instead of waiting in the car meaning Beth had to get changed, yet again, out of her cold and wet clothes. Once they arrived at the tree lot however Rachel's annoyance disappeared allowing for a fun and enjoyable trip, one which soon turned into a healthy and competitive competition over who could find the perfect Christmas tree. It was Beth who won, not because her tree was the biggest, or tallest or prettiest but simply because she had perfected Rachel's signature pout, which both women found it impossible to say no to.
Returning home the trio began to transform their relatively normal home into Santa's snow kingdom. Not a surface of their house went uncovered: colourful ribbons, big bows, shiny baubles, flickering candles, strings of berries and nuts, these traditional decorations went alongside the more modern additions such as fairy light, paper chains and popcorn. And of course, perched proudly on top of the Christmas tree was the beautiful golden haired, glittered wing, silken dress halo wearing angel, placed there, along with Quinn help, by Beth. Adding to their festive feeling were sugary sweet, hot coco and Christmas Carrols, the latter eventually drowned out by Beth and Rachel's voices.
/
Later that night once Beth had been sent to bed, reluctant at first but was eager to comply once reminded Santa wouldn't come until she was asleep, Rachel and Quinn found themselves cuddled together on the sitting room couch. Wrapped in a blanket, drinking wine, snacking on chocolate holding their very own private Christmas movie marathon. Seeing as the clock was nearing midnight Quinn realised they would soon have to call it a night.
"Are you excited for tomorrow?" Quinn asked looking down at the beautiful brunette she held close.
"More than you can imagine," Rachel informed her. It would be her first Christmas, well first she could remember, she would be spending with her new family. Having one Jewish father and being Jewish herself although she celebrated Christmas she had never truly understood the romance and magic people associated with the event. To her it had been like any other holiday, just with more expensive presents and a lot more food. This Christmas however she wanted to focus less on the consumer aspect of it and focus on the meaning behind it, but to be with and appreciate your loved ones. "No present right," Rachel asked Quinn, they had made a deal stating neither of could buy one another a present. Rachel herself hadn't stuck to this agreement, after her doctor's appointment one day last week she stopped by Quinn's favourite jewellers', at least she guessed it was her favourite seeing as every item of jewellery in Quinn's jewellery box and her wedding rings were from this shop in particular. Call her a hypocrite but just because she brought Quinn a present that didn't mean Quinn could get her one, Quinn had done and sacrificed so much for her over the last month or so she wished to treat her and so something special.
"No honey, I haven't brought you any presents," Quinn promised leaning down and kissing Rachel, more than happy when Rachel deepened the kiss.
Later that night, certain Beth was asleep Rachel and Quinn turned into stealth mode, sneaking around the house they started retrieving the presents they had brought and hidden around the house for Beth. Whilst Quinn began eating the cookies and milk left out for Santa, Rachel put on a old pair of Quinn's wellington boots she used when out on construction sites and began creating a glitter trail of Santa's foot prints from the fireplace, to the tree and up the stairs. Exhausted the pair retired into their bedroom, knowing for certain it wouldn't be long until Beth woke them up again, only delaying their trip for a few seconds for Rachel to creep into their daughter's room and placed her stocking at the foot of her bed.
/
Beth looked at the alarm clock on her bed side table, 05:47, it hadn't even been a minute since the last time she checked and she had been awake since almost four o'clock. Sighing she went back to staring dreamily at the pile of presents at the bottom of her bed. She had been warned by Mommy that she wasn't allowed out of bed before at least six o'clock, if she did wake early Mommy said she became tired and grumpy meaning she wouldn't be able enjoy Christmas. She didn't mind if Mommy found out she had woken this early but she worried if her Mama did. If Mama found out she would be in trouble, she would make her go to bed early for the rest of the week, claiming she needed to make up for all her missed sleep. Wiggling down to the end of her bed she reached out one after another for the top few presents on the pile, shaking them, trying to find a gap to peek inside and guess what it is. Her efforts left her with little success however it did help the time go by faster. Checking the clock again it was now 06:08. Jumping out of bed she ran down the hallway as fast as possible towards her mother's room, throwing their door open she was no longer conscious of the noise she was making but impatient to wake her mothers and excited to go down stairs and see what Santa had given her.
/
Watching as Beth tore the paper off yet another present handed to her from Rachel Quinn was keen to catch every moment, alternating between the camera and camcorder. Laughing at Beth's reaction as she discovered even more musicals DVDs, Rachel had been very smug once learning Beth also held her obsession when it came to Broadway, taking into account all the dance, singing, acting and whatever else classes she took she was also more than likely to follow in her Mamas footsteps. Catching another excited squeal on the camcorder Quinn realised she now had an amazing array of footage to show Beth's future boyfriend (girlfriend) whenever introduced to embarrass her.
Sharing a sly glance with Rachel she discreetly handed over the camcorder before slipping out of the room to retrieve Beth's final and most anticipated present, before re-entering the room she called out for Beth to close her eyes, once receiving Rachel's conformation that Beth had followed instructions she made her way inside and placed the small white present in Beth's outstretched hands.
/
Sitting together in front of the fire Rachel and Quinn giggled as they watched their daughter cuddle and play with her new kitten. They had been unsure whether to get it or not, on one hand Beth had been going on and on about how much she wanted one, if they didn't give it her she would think she had done something wrong and Santa was punishing her, but on the other hand who would look after it. It could stay with the in New York but Beth lived the majority of the year out in Ohio, she could take it with her but that would be unfairly giving Puck more responsibility. They soon purchased it, Puck had reassured them that it would be fine, however it made it very clear that if the little fur ball ruined his furniture or started needing ridiculous surgery he was expecting them to pay for it, it was only fair he observed, sees as it was Rachel who had given Beth the idea to ask for one.
The pair had both gotten so distracted within in each other, whispering and playing it had taken Beth more than one attempt to call for their attention.
"Mommy, Mama, there are still presents under the tree." She informed them.
Presents, Rachel was confused. There should only be one, the necklace she had brought Quinn. Looking under the tree however she pulled out two elaborately wrapped gifts, one the present she had brought Quinn, the other addresses to her. Looking up and seeing the mischievous look on her wife's face she realised Quinn too had broken their agreement.
"Quinn," Rachel's voice rose, warning Quinn however unable to keep the smile off her face. "Rachel," Quinn called back playfully mocking her tone.
"Quinn I thought we agreed,"
"Agreed what darling," she asked smirking before sending a pointed look in the direction of their daughter who was watching their exchange, making it clear she couldn't finish her sentence or make a scene without renewing the Santa secret for their daughter. Accepting she had no right to be angry and knowing that secretly she would have been disappointed if Quinn had gone along with the agreement she made her way over to Quinn and handed her present. Lifting the lid off the box she found inside the most beautiful diamond bracelet she had ever saw.
"Wow Mama, that pretty," Beth admired over Rachel's shoulder, "You must have been a really good girl this year." Nodding she turned to Quinn, giving her a quick peck on the lips she quietly mumbled 'thank you' in her wife's ear before beginning to unthread the ribbon.
Once all present had been opened, the trio settled down to play a few goes at the new board games Beth had been given for Christmas. Becoming bored with the games however as soon as Quinn took the lead, five victories above both Rachel and Beth the less than gracious losers decided to end the tournament and go to the park, allowing Beth a reasonable amount of time in the park to play on her new scooter and with her friends from the neighbourhood before they had to leave for dinner at Santana's and Brittney's.