A/N: Quinn meets Beth and Rachel confronts her mom. A lot happens here, I hope it was worth the wait! I think this is the longest chapter so far.

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee or any music mentioned.

Chapter 5: Daughters

Quinn arrived to glee early and saw Finn and Rachel having a hushed argument in the back of the room. She took her seat in the middle row, and pulled out a notebook. She had every intention to try to hear what was being said, but she didn't want to seem obvious about it.

"She has always been awful to you Rachel. Why are you always defending her?" Finn mumbled, but it was still audible.

Rachel slumped her shoulders, seemingly in defeat. "I don't know. Okay?"

"Hey, it's okay." Finn felt bad for the way Rachel seemed to take the blame for everything he said. He pulled her in for a hug and she sniffed a bit, trying to hold back tears. "It's just that you always forgive too easily. Quinn, Jesse. Sometimes, you should count your losses. Sometimes, people aren't worth it."

"People are always worth saving Finn, they're always worth forgiving." Rachel felt that if she forgave everyone their mistakes, then people would forgive hers. After all, no one is perfect.

Quinn struggled to listen, but she was able to hear every word. She admired Rachel's ability to forgive so easily. She depended on it, because if anyone needed an endless amount of forgiveness, it was her.

Glee was uneventful and boring or perhaps just the knowledge that as soon as it was done Quinn would be able to see her daughter made it seem that way. A few people sang, and then Mr. Shuester dismissed them for the night.

Quinn quickly grabbed her bag and rushed to her locker, Puck was there shortly after. He brought her to school today, so they could make one less stop before getting to Shelby's. She didn't talk to Rachel since the bathroom incident, but she was happy to know that Finn no longer gave her the death stare. She'd have to thank Rachel again.

As Puck pulled up outside the Berry's residence, Quinn hoped she could remain in the truck. Puck shut off the engine and unbuckled his seatbelt before turning to face Quinn. "You've been quiet since lunch. Are you nervous about Beth?"

Quinn smiled at the concerned look Puck gave her. "Yes. But unbelievably happy and excited too."

"She's beautiful. She looks like you, you know."

"Thank you."

When Quinn still made no move to leave, Puck spoke again. "Rachel's dads don't bite you know."

How could he possibly know she was worried about that?

"They're as forgiving as Rachel is. She had to get it from somewhere, right?" Puck continued. He had the same fears that Quinn most likely did, he bullied their daughter and they seemed fine with him.

They slowly made their way up to Rachel's front door. Puck rang the doorbell. Mr. Berry #1 (as Puck would refer to him) opened the door with a smile on his face. Quinn watched as the small, bespectacled man wrapped Puck up in a hug.

"Hey, Noah. We missed seeing you around here!"

"Sorry about that sir, I promise to stop by more often." Puck said smiling as he was released from the man's grip.

"So, who is this beautiful young woman? Is she why you've been AWOL?" Mr. Berry smiled.

"My name is Quinn Fabray, Mr. Berry, sir." Quinn stuck out her hand to shake his, but he pulled her in for a hug instead.

"Nonsense, none of this formality stuff. A friend of Rachel's is a friend of the family." He smiled as he let her go. "Please, no Mr. Berry and absolutely no 'sir.'"

"Daddy, please stop harassing them and let them come inside." Rachel chastised him from the foot of the stairs. He turned to her and his face lit up. Quinn admired their banter, and envied their bond. "Quinn, Noah. Won't you please come in?"

Quinn and Puck accepted Rachel's invitation and walked inside.

"So, Rachie, here tells me that you're going to see your daughter." Mr. Berry addressed Puck but Quinn realized that she was included in his statement.

"Yes, sir. If you'd like to see a picture I'm sure we could get one to show you." Puck answered.

"I'd like that. I hope she looks like your better half, here. No offense." Mr. Berry smiled.

Quinn grinned; she couldn't help liking the man. But a part of her wondered why he was being so kind after everything she did to Rachel. She couldn't help feeling a bit guilty.

"Daddy, you've embarrassed her!" Rachel squealed, and then Quinn realized she was blushing.

"We really have to get going, sir, Shelby's expecting us." Puck said into the silence.

Mr. Berry stiffened noticeably. Quinn hoped Rachel told him where they were going. She wouldn't keep that a secret, would she?

"No you wouldn't want to do that." Mr. Berry said firmly, his voice lost every trace of playfulness he once had.

Rachel tried to quickly shuffle them outside, but as they we walking out the door Mr. Berry recovered a bit and called after them, "Come back again soon Noah, and Quinn you are welcome anytime as well!"

Quinn turned around before reaching the truck, "Of course, thank you Mr. Berry."

When they all got inside and buckled up, Puck took off down the road. They sat in silence for several minutes before Quinn could no longer stand it.

"Please tell me he already knew we were going to see Shelby." Quinn replied pointedly. Puck shifted in his seat, hoping for the same thing.

"Yes, of course he knew! I wouldn't keep something like that from him!"

Quinn turned toward Rachel, who was in between her and Puck. She looked at her incredulously. She had a suspicion and decided to go for it. "But you'd keep that fact that you've been bullied in school from him?"

Rachel shifted uncomfortably and refused to look Quinn in the eye. Quinn had her answer, and it almost made her sick to the stomach. Puck caught on to the implication as well. "Rachel, you what? They don't know!" He was so upset he took his eyes off the road and stared at the girl. "This whole time, they've been nice because they don't know!"

"Noah watch out!" Rachel shouted pointed out the windshield.

Noah looked forward and saw a car coming toward them and noticed he had swerved into the wrong lane. We quickly jerked the truck back into its proper lane as we white gripped the steering wheel.

The three rode in silence the rest of the way to Shelby's house. The tension was noticeable when Shelby opened the door to greet them. She knew it'd be awkward, but she didn't think it'd be this bad. She worried if she made a mistake in forcing Rachel to join them. Before she could voice her concerns, Rachel spoke up.

"Good evening, Shelby! Thank you so much for allowing us to join you this evening." Shelby recognized Rachel's 'show face' instantly, and by the look on Quinn and Puck's face, she wasn't the only one.

Shelby led the trio inside and introduced Quinn to Beth. Quinn was so enamored with her daughter that she nearly forgot how upset she was. "Can I hold her?" She asked timidly.

Shelby nodded, but her eyes remained glued to her other daughter. Rachel hadn't spoken since they arrived. Puck quickly joined Quinn and began fawning over Beth. When Beth starting cooing at them, Shelby finally pried her eyes from Rachel and looked back at her baby girl. She couldn't help smiling at the scene. Quinn was in awe and she didn't even try to hide the tears that rolled down her face.

Shelby watched a few more moments, before she couldn't take the silence any longer. "So, I made dinner hoping you three would join me." She said forcing her 'show face' smile as well.

Quinn either didn't hear her or decided to let someone else respond because she never took her eyes off Beth. Shelby looked to Rachel when no one else responded. But Rachel remained silent as well. Puck replied to the unanswered question, but not before shooting Rachel a panicked look. It didn't go unnoticed. "I feel bad that you went through the trouble…"

"And we wouldn't want to have put you out for nothing, so we'd love to." Rachel jumped in, and answered politely.

Quinn tore her eyes away from Beth for a moment to study Rachel; there were so many things she wanted the girl to explain. But now was not the time. She returned her attention on the beautiful little girl in her arms, her daughter.

"Great. Now that that's settled, I'd like for you to give me a hand, Rachel." Shelby announced looking back at Beth before ushering Rachel to the kitchen. She didn't miss the look of concern on Puck's face or the silent fury on Quinn's.

Rachel helped Shelby prepare dinner. Setting the table in silence. Shelby tried to think of words to say to break the ice, but she began to fear that she had broken things beyond repair when it came to Rachel. And seeing the way that her friends cared about her, the protectiveness they exerted on her behalf, it made her proud to have her daughter elicit that kind of loyalty. Even if she didn't understand how it happened and why it was Puck and Quinn were the ones showing it.

Rachel was content to remain silent. Being here was hard enough, and now with Noah and Quinn upset with her. She was disappointed that they found out, she hoped it would have gone unnoticed. Besides, they should be happy that she didn't tell her dads about them, otherwise they'd probably never be allowed in her house. Rachel was brought out of her thoughts by the sound of broken glass.

"Shit!" Shelby screeched as she jumped away, hoping to avoid the broken shards. Rachel looked at the ground and saw a bowl of green beans lie broken on the floor.

"Don't move. Where's your broom Shelby?" Rachel inquired, and left to put her shoes on. She grabbed a broom from the closet that Shelby pointed to. And started sweeping up them mess. "You have to be more careful. Especially with a baby around."

That was the last straw. "Be careful? I am careful, it's just you're here. And they're in there and you won't talk to me!" Shelby couldn't control the fury in her voice. She was unaware that the raised volume caught Quinn and Puck's attention. Quinn, still holding Beth quietly made her way toward the kitchen as Puck followed behind her. Both stopped just outside the door, remaining unseen by Shelby or Rachel.

"I spoke to you. I have even been pleasant, under the circumstances."

"Under the circumstances. Rachel, you won't even allow me to talk to you. First at the piano when you were rehearsing, and then when you asked me to let Quinn see Beth."

"I won't let you talk to me? You sang with me. A song that…" Rachel trailed off.

"A song that what? That won you the part in the play? I don't understand, I thought you'd be happier."

"Happier? Shelby! Sure maybe I got the part in the play, but so did Mercedes and since she didn't want to share, she quit. And she quit glee, and then she went to join YOUR show choir. I lost my friend, and I only had two to begin with!"

"Rachel, honey."

"No, don't! You don't get to do that! Mercedes chose you. And Quinn, she gave her baby to you. And Beth is beautiful, and I know you love her. But…"

Rachel hated being weak. She hated that she couldn't control her emotions, and most of all she hated that it was Shelby who got to see the real her.

"You didn't want me. You went through the trouble of having Jesse seduce me."

"That wasn't part of the plan." Shelby angrily interjected.

"And he convinced me to search for you. I found you, and you rejected me. You wanted a daughter. Just not me. I wasn't good enough. And then…"

"Rachel, it isn't like that."

"And then, it almost broke me. I love my dads. I do. But you're my mom, or you know. You're my mother. And you left, with your perfect little daughter. And now. Now your back and you want me to be okay with it. To pretend. Shelby…you sang that song with me. And it broke my heart all over again. And then you steal another person away from me. What more do you want from me? I don't have much more to give you?"

Shelby was in tears. And neither she nor Rachel knew it, but so were Puck and Quinn.

"Rachel. I don't want anything from you. Accept maybe forgiveness. Maybe a second chance. I hear you're good at that." Shelby forced a smile.

"I don't think I can do that. I'm sorry. Now I would usually storm out at this point but since I am here specifically for Puck and Quinn, I will stay. We'll have dinner and I'll be polite. But you don't have the right to ask for anything more than that." Rachel said with finality. She finished sweeping up the mess and dumped it in the trash. Then she washed her hands and resumed her task of setting the table in silence.

A/N: Up next, the fallout of the big reveal! What'd you think? I personally enjoyed writing this chapter and liked how it turned out.

Daughters by John Mayer