Chibi-Kari: I'm sure anyone that's been around children knows how intuitive they are and most of them feel a lot of empathy and are quick to make connections with people, but just as quick to break them. Beth's a little more mature than most kids her age, but doesn't really know how to deal with that. And Rachel on the other hand is hurt and stunted in the maturity department. They're a lot more alike than I probably make it sound with that statement. I've just made things a lot messier with this chapter, but I've given a little tiny bit of resolution to make up for how much more complicated things are getting. I don't own, but hearing from all of you helps me justify what I'm doing!

Forgive

Rachel couldn't believe this week. Beth. Jesse. Brian leaving soon. The entire musical practically imploding because of this fact. And now Noah Puckerman barging into her house and lecturing her. She'd have to stop mentally saying that things couldn't get worse because the universe just loved proving her wrong.

"I don't know why you can't just leave me alone! Don't you think me not answering your phone calls would be a big enough sign that I'm not speaking with you? A big flashing neon sign that even you shouldn't be able to miss! Hell, Finn and Brittany would have figured it out!"

Puck's eyes narrowed. "Now you're just being petty. I'll I'm saying is forgive her! Quinn really wants to get to know you now."

"You mean you want her to get to know me and since she's sleeping with you she's all good with that. Staying in your good graces?" Rachel mocked lightly.

"No. She found some pictures of us from Bonnaroo last year and was surprised that we were still in touch. She had been asking about you around the old Glee kids. She thought that Finn would know, but when he didn't she thought all chances of reconnecting with you were lost. I couldn't just pretend that I didn't know we were in those pictures together so I confessed when she asked. She's wanted to apologize for years. She could really use you as a friend and I know you guys would get along now. Come on you're my best friend, Rach." He pleaded. Quinn really wanted this and so did he. He couldn't stand not being able to phone Rachel up when something exciting happened or when he needed some support. She was always there to tell him how amazing he was and he didn't want to function without her support. And with Brian leaving she couldn't turn her back on him. There would be no one left. He glanced over as Brian took up residence behind his left shoulder in silent support.

"She wants to apologize for making my high school life hell? She wants to apologize for drawing pornographic images of me on the bathroom stalls? She wants to apologize for calling me Man-Hands and everything else she called me? She wants to apologize for ordering people to slushie me? Huh? Does she, also, want to apologize to giving birth to the little girl that took the only mother I had?" Rachel breathed heavily and she knew her face was red. She looked away from Puck and Brian only to see Jesse and Beth standing by her front door. She turned back to Puck her face braking out into an insincere smile. "You know what. Invite her over now. You guys can meet your daughter." She gestured roughly towards Beth before stomping off to her room and slamming the door.

The room was silent and Puck couldn't help but flinch as the door slamming echoed through the large apartment. He took a deep breath before turning slowly to face the little girl he dreamed about since his teenage years. The fight with Shelby ruined any chance he had to visit with her, but she was still a part of his soul and he couldn't leave the thought of her behind.

Beth's eyes widened. Her sister didn't even have to tell her. This was her father. Sure he had brown hair to her blonde and green eyes to her blue. But there was her chin and her ears. She obviously took more after her biological mother, but this was still her father. She could see herself in him. She looked up at her uncle as he placed a hand on her shoulder. They weren't going to leave now. Her sister obviously needed her support and now that her father was standing in front of her she could finally get all the answers she needed.

Puck's eyes were wide and his voice was breathless. "Beth."

The little girl pulled herself up into her highest stance. "So you know my name. It seems you were purposely ignoring all my life then."

"Beth." Jesse cautioned. She was volatile, but then her father was too. And Puck and Rachel having it out in the middle of the entryway was proof of that.

"I never meant for it to work out that way. Your mom and I just didn't get along so seeing you became too difficult." Puck tried to explain, but it sounded weak even to him.

"Well that would make two of us. My mom isn't the easiest to get along with, but you could have stuck with it. We all could have learned to live together." Beth tried to stop the tears that were threatening to spill. She had wanted a father so bad for so long and now that he was in front of her she just didn't know what to do. She was only ten! She shouldn't have to deal with this. Her father should have tried harder if he really had wanted to see her.

Puck only nodded. He couldn't believe how grown up she seemed. This was the same little girl that eleven years ago he dreamed of calling his own. Now here she was standing before him a little spitfire at ten. He could only imagine her when she would be older, but maybe he wouldn't have to. "You know…if you're in town for awhile maybe you'd like to get some dinner with me. Your birth mom and I live only about two hours away. I'm sure she'd love to see you too. We could get to know each other now." He wanted this more than anything. He wanted a chance to know his little girl. He wanted to be able to threaten her future boyfriends. Noah Puckerman wanted this since the moment that Quinn told him she was pregnant.

Beth's eyes narrowed. "This is the same woman that called my sister names?"

Puck raised his hands slightly. "Whatever Rachel's told you about Quinn isn't the whole truth. She's really not a bad person. Rachel and her just didn't get along in High School."

"I didn't hear anything from my sister. Don't you even try to start the blame game. If it were to come down between knowing the two of them it would be Rachel. I already have a mother and frankly I don't want another one." Her voice started rising in volume. "And everything that I just heard is all I know about this woman. If it's true I don't want to know her. I don't like bullies."

"Quinn wasn't the nicest, but she was going through a hard time." Puck tried to argue, but he didn't even believe it. There really wasn't an excuse for how she treated Rachel or anyone else. She was just a bitch. She'd changed. Now she was the sweet girl that he and Finn had always seen deep down in her. If only he could get Rachel to see that.

"Don't try to make excuses, Puckerman. Even if I wasn't there before babygate I heard how Rachel was treated. And that was before little miss perfect got kicked out of her house. Don't think I didn't ask around about the person tormenting my potential girlfriend before I even got there." Jesse sneered slightly. He had never liked the other man. He was the only real competition he had for Rachel back in the day and that same resentment seemed to still resonate.

"What are you even doing here, St. Douche?" Puck snapped. He still thought the guy needed to get punched in the face for egging Rachel.

Brian stepped forward with his hands raised. "Come on everyone. Let's all just calm down and get Rachel back out here."

"I hate you all!" Beth stomped harshly on the ground catching everyone's attention before stomping down the hall that Rachel disappeared into.

It seemed like a good idea to go after her sister, but now that she made it into the empty hallway she wasn't sure what she would say and if she really wanted to chance losing her father forever. But if there was one thing Beth knew it was loneliness and she saw it in her sister. Rachel needed her just as much as she needed her. She didn't know if she could stand being turned away again, but she couldn't walk away and let her sister think that one more person chose someone over her. Not after what their mother did.

She glanced around the various rooms before deciding to knock on the only closed door. She had heard a door slam when her sister stormed off. There wasn't an answer, but something like that wasn't ever something that would stop Beth. Last summer she learned how to pick locks with Johnny Jacobson and she would use that talent if she had to. Luckily when she reached up to try the door it was unlocked.

Beth realized that she hadn't felt this nervous the first time she walked into her sister's house uninvited, but it wasn't hard to realize the difference. They were both hurt now.

"Rachel?" Beth asked timidly as her sister came into view. Beth couldn't believe how small her sister looked sitting on the edge of her bed with her knees pulled up and her face buried in them.

Rachel looked up quickly. "What are you doing in here? Don't you want to go be with your father?"

Beth wiped away the tears from her own face as she watched her sister steel herself. "I want to know you. I didn't come here for them. I came for you."

Rachel's legs fell to the floor with a slight bang as she started sobbing. It was what she always wanted to hear and now she was finally hearing it. It felt different than what she had ever thought. She thought it would be like a weight lifted, but instead it felt like her heart clenching. All the things she said to this little girl. "I'm sorry."

She felt the bed shift as Beth climbed up and put her arms around her and whisper, "I love you."

Rachel couldn't stop herself and she didn't really want to when her arms wrapped around her little sister and pulled her closer.