Chapter Eleven: I'll hold you tightly, I'll give you nothing but truth. You are my one and only, you can wrap your fingers around my thumb, and hold me tight.
"I gotta go. I mean, I really gotta go!"
There's an urgency in her tone that makes Sam sigh, signal to turn left and enter the next village. He can honestly say it has been the most interesting car journey he's ever had. Except, interesting is putting it quite mildly and understating the whole situation. He's been through a barrage of emotions, including anger, irritation, amusement and affection. He's a little irritated right now, because if Brooke hadn't got a bladder the size of a peanut, they would be well home by now. Having to stop at various towns and villages that they could have otherwise bypassed definitely makes a journey longer.
One must know, of course, that girls can't pee outside. Or so Brooke tells him, and is strongly supported by Quinn.
To her credit, Quinn drove the last hour and a half, but upon his request handed the wheel to him again. Quinn's a god awful driver, but he hasn't told her enough times yet to make her care. Brooke is fidgeting restlessly in the back as she repeatedly informs them of her precarious condition. He wishes Quinn would stop giving her juice boxes, then maybe they'd get home by tomorrow.
The only good to come from all of this, is that they're all suitably distracted from anything pressing and depressing. There's so much constantly going on in their little car, mostly thanks to Brooke, that their minds barely have a moment's peace to reflect. This, he supposes, is good because the fact that he's taking his best friends child to live with him is beyond comprehension - and to do this all with the girl he once proclaimed was the love of his life isn't easily processed.
Brooke hasn't brought up the living arrangements since they spoke in the Berry's dining room. Neither he nor Quinn want to remind her. "Guys," She whines, holding herself in a very ungraceful manner. Quinn only says something somewhat soothing and points out a little restaurant for them to stop at.
The car has barely stopped when Brooke tears off her belt and bolts out the door, leaving Quinn to rush after her hastily. Sam takes the time to kick back, turn up the radio and close his eyes for a second. He feels like he's been on the go for days, and truth be told, wants nothing more than to see his bed. However, he recognises that this fantasy may just be that from now on; a fantasy.
Four songs play in the time that it takes for the girls to return. Brooke looks satisfied, a wide smile stretched across her dainty face. The source of this joy of course comes not only from the large cookie in her left hand, but also the large bottle of orange juice in the other. Sam sends his companion a terse look, to which she simply shrugs.
"We had to buy something to use the toilet." Is all she says, sliding into the passengers seat. He stares at her for a moment longer in disbelief, and then starts then engine again.
Sam can't help but mutter, "Had to be the juice again." He spots the small quirk of Quinn's lips as he pulls out, listening to the crunching of his goddaughter in the back. It's funny how they're interacting, because they go back and forth between laughing at/with each other, and blaming each other. Either way, Quinn and Sam know where they stand and what they have to be for the child in their custody.
Brooke, in between chewing, pipes up then, "Can we make cookies when we get back?"
"Not right away," Sam answers first, appearing apprehensive. "Someday though, definitely."
She's quiet then, surprised they hadn't catered to her every whim. Quinn looks at her in the rear-view mirror, studying the small girls expression. She wants to make her happy in every possible way, but within reason. It's already six o'clock, and there's still one more hour of driving to go; there's no way they'd have time to bake. Not to mention that Quinn is in no state to operate a cooker, nor is Sam.
"Am I going to live with you forever?" Brooke's voice is quiet, and her eyes aren't glued to theirs like they usually are. Instead, she's examining her shoelaces with great intensity.
Quinn shares a glance with Sam, and then says firmly, "We're not going anywhere B, and you're going to stay with us for as long as you want."
Another beat of silence. "What if I want to go home?"
Sam and Quinn are aware that she doesn't mean Lima, but to her home with Finn and Rachel. Sam is completely lost for words, still having trouble looking Brooke in the eye, and opens his mouth several times but comes up speechless. Quinn, luckily for him, replies. "We're going to try and make our new house your home Brooke, and we'll do anything to make you feel at home."
Brooke falls back against the couch again, once again being uncharacteristically quiet. She sighs laboriously and then frowns, "Uh-oh." Sam catches her eye briefly in the mirror, and raises his eyebrows. "I gotta go again."
Brooke is fast asleep when they make it home. Her legs are sprawled across the seat awkwardly, because of the seatbelt tying her in, and her neck lies at an uncomfortable angle to the left. He silently elects himself as the one to carry her in, while Quinn retrieves their bags. Brooke has more baggage than one would think, and Quinn has a little hassle in gathering everything up in one trip. He would have just done two trips, Sam thinks to himself, but Quinn is too stubborn for that.
He stands waiting for her at the door because she has the keys. Quinn takes her time climbing the small flight of stairs, given that the lift is out-of-service, and this leaves Sam alone with Brooke. Reluctantly, he risks a glimpse at her small heart-shaped face, her tiny upturned nose and almond-shaped brown eyes, which are hidden by weary lids. His heart clenches at the sight. Even in her sleep, she reflects his best friends.
He wishes he could see it more positively than he does – like Quinn. As the thought enters his mind, Quinn finally enters the threshold. Her apartment is on the second floor meaning that the trek wasn't too bad for her, but she still gives him a glare as she dumps the cases and bags on the floor. Huffing, Quinn pulls her key out of her purse and unlocks the door swiftly.
She leaves their belongings in the corridor, making it clear that Sam has to carry them in. He groans, shifting Brooke in his arms in order to fit through the door, and wonders when Quinn considered him chivalrous and her unable to carry some bags.
After some initial, yet quick, squabbling, Sam carries their possessions into the sitting room and closes the door. Brooke is on the couch at this point, having not awoken through the move. Quinn and Sam stare blankly at one another, whilst glancing at the child every few moments. "What now?" resonates all around them, even if it remains unspoken.
Quinn shrugs in response to silence, "I'll carry her into my room. She can sleep there for the first night, especially since she hasn't been introduced to her new room yet; I wouldn't want her waking up in a strange place with no one familiar." They both know Brooke has slept in Quinn's spare room before, but neither argue.
Sam nods, "Sounds good. I'll take the spare room then… just call me, or whatever, if you need me. If anything happens." He sounds slightly reluctant to surrender Brooke to Quinn, but finds himself surprised at his acting. Sam is actually glad for the reprieve; he needs a break from his goddaughter. As horrible as that sounds, Sam is completely frank about how she reminds him of what he has lost. He reckons that though he doesn't say it, Quinn understands that.
She's grown to be so understanding. He feels as if he's grown to be demanding, but knows deep down that's not true.
Quinn slips into the bed next to Brooke that night, prepared for a long sleep and a peaceful one, at that. She took her time in getting ready for bed, wanting to make sure Brooke was definitely asleep before crawling in next to her. Although she has a double bed, she remembers how the girl invades the bed. Aside from this, Quinn is far too tired to deal with a questioning Brooke and simply wants some sleep.
She's surprised to find Brooke crawled up in a ball when she arrives at her bed, as it's a change to how she previously slept. Putting it down to ageing, Quinn climbs in and faces the girl. She's not sure how much time passes – sleep doesn't come, and she doesn't feel as weary as she did – but Quinn is perfectly content in watching the rise and fall of Brooke's form as she breathes. In her slumber, all of Brooke's excitement, joy and curiosity has vanished from her expression.
While that's not ideal, her expression is also void of any confusion, hurt or loss. She looks peaceful, and Quinn knows that that's hard to come by with this angel.
Gently tucking a strand of brown hair behind her ear, Quinn kisses her forehead and decides to wait for sleep. Her eyes flutter close, only to jump open as Brooke scoots across the bed to be closer again. Snuggling into Quinn's chest, she mumbles a sleepy, "I love you, Quinnie. Nighty night.."
The words are slurred, drunk with sleep, but Quinn hears them nonetheless. Her chest constricts and her eyes burn with the heat of a thousand suns, but she holds Brooke tighter. "I love you, too, B."
"You guys are here again!" Finn smiled gaily, walking in front of them without a care in the world. In reality, of course, he had plenty of worries and cares, but Finn wasn't in the realm of reality. In the hospital, only his family existed, and he loved it that way. He tried to make that atmosphere thrive in his home from then on, too.
His beautiful and perfect daughter came into the world two days before, but was being kept in due to her being a first-born, and she had a mild case of jaundice. Finn didn't mind though; she was fine, and still absolutely flawless. He would do everything in his power forever to protect her.
Quinn and Sam trailed behind him, hand-in-hand, as they had everyday since she was born. They couldn't keep away from their goddaughter – not that either he or Rachel minded. Brooke wasn't with Rachel anymore though, as Mommy needed her rest, but the others could still visit. He greatly enjoyed sending his daughter adoring glances through the glass, even if she didn't even know he was there. She'd know someday that he'd always be there for her; he just had to make sure he made that impression from the very start.
Quinn and Sam seemed much the same, but the former was a little more melancholy today. Finn didn't want to pry, so he simply pointed out the perfect being that he and Rachel created. He, Finn Hudson, had created something so beautiful with his girlfriend. It was scarcely to be believed.
Sensing that this wasn't a time for chatter, Finn decided that he would check on Rachel. Waving goodbye to his daughter, he turned to his friends, "If you stay for a while, you can hold her later. We get limited time due to the jaundice, but it's not contagious or anything," Finn said this as if they would have been scared of that prospect.
Sam sent him a tired sort of smile, "Thanks, dude. Congrats again, she's amazing." His hand was firmly gripping his girlfriend, almost as if he were preventing her from blowing away like a balloon in the wind.
"I know, right?" Finn grinned. "Take as long as you want down here. Visit Rachel, too, maybe… She's dying to tell people about how Brooke's foot moved to the beat of her singing."
Quinn raised her brow at Finn, "She does know that—"
"Hey, Rachel saw it. She knows rhythm when she see's it," Finn responded happily, before clapping them both on the back and taking his leave.
The lack of his presence was immediately felt by the couple, who were staring at their goddaughter with vastly differing expressions. Sam took a break from this after several minutes and looked at his girlfriend, whose beautiful features were marred by a look of sadness and bereavement. He squeezed her hand, "You know you did the best you could."
"I know," She whispered, "But it doesn't make it any easier."
She didn't want him to hear the crack in the voice, but there had been no escaping it. Swiftly, Sam brought her into his chest and held her there. She didn't move, simply stood inhaling his comfortingly familiar scent. "I do love Brooke. So, so much. I would do anything for her already, and she's not even my child. I just wish – I wish I could do the same for Beth."
"You committed the most selfless act for Beth, Quinn." He pulled away, lifting her chin so he could look at her in the eyes. Those beautiful hazel eyes had always held his attention – hell, they enraptured most anyone they came in contact with. Sam was no exception; he was only a mere mortal, after all. Brushing his thumb across her cheek to rid a determined tear, he told her sincerely, "I don't believe you could have done anything better for Beth."
Sam wasn't aware of it at that time, but Quinn Fabray swore right then that the next child she had would be with Sam Evans.
(Unfortunately for them, it wasn't quite under the circumstances she had imagined.)
Disclaimer: I don't own Glee or "Small Bump" by Ed Sheeran.
A/N: Hey everyone, I'm terribly sorry for the long wait for this update! I hope it satisfies. The story will mainly revolve around these three characters and their interactions now, with maybe some guest appearances - any guesses as to who? haha... I would like to just say that unfortunately, I know children who have lost their mother recently and are the same age as Brooke. Her reactions to this situation will be largely modeled upon their reactions.
Anyway, please excuse the tardy update. Thank you so much for your reviews so far, please keep them coming! Thanks for reading also, hope you enjoyed it.
CN.