CHAPTER THREE

WAY THINGS LAY

WINTER 2010

RACHEL'S HOUSE

UPSTAIRS HALLWAY

Rachel was sitting on the high back chair that was just to the right of being opposite from the door to the guest room – nay; Quinn's room. She wanted to be on hand and ready for when Quinn marches out of that room. She didn't want Quinn to hunt her down for her much needed answers. After all there were just simply too many family members running around the Berry home at the present to make Rachel feel comfortable to allow Quinn on the lose.

Not for her own sake of course. She just wanted to spare Quinn any unwanted public emotional charged scenes at the moment. She wanted to ease Quinn into the whole Berry family slowly.

Outsiders would be shocked dumb if they ever learn this trait of Rachel's.

Rachel had been sitting in the chair since 7:30. She knew that Quinn would be waking perhaps after 8. So she wasn't impatient But she was a little concern when 9:30 came and still no sign of Quinn. She was debating in-warding if she should knock on the door.

The decision was taken from her when the door opened. Quinn took a step back at the sight of her. "Good morning Quinn. I trust you got all the rest that your body had been craving these past few days." She said with a soft smile. She remained sitting.

Quinn leaned against the door frame. Her arms crossed firmly across her chest. Her right eye brow raised high.

Rachel let her smile go. "Okay." She tapped her jean clad knees. "I have some explaining too do." Quinn raised her brow a quarter of an inch. "Alot of explaining too do." She tilted her head. "Would you like to go into either my room or your room."

Quinn just moved more firmly against the frame.

"Out here then." Rachel nodded. She was happy that she had warned her family not to come upstairs till early afternoon. "Just so you know, Quinn, I have told my family that this floor is off limits until you go downstairs. Don't worry, we have three bathrooms on the lower floors. We have also have living spaces downstairs – complete with guest rooms, center parlor. So everyone has plenty of things too do. "

Quinn tightly nodded.

"Why didn't I move your things down stairs you are asking yourself." Rachel met Quinn's eyes straight on. "I don't want you too feel like you need to pay rent. I also don't want you too feel separated from us. You are part of this family now."

Quinn let out a bark of laughter.

Rachel waited till Quinn was ready for her to continue.

Quinn's lips tightened as she lowered her arms. They wrapped around her waist now.

She's not upset. She's not nervous. She picks at her cubicles when she's nervous. She's vulnerable. Now to prove to her that I'm not going to hurt her. That I'm her rock. That she place her trust in me, and I would never abandon her. Rachel shifted in the chair. "My fathers and I moved all your things from the storage unite. I managed to set up your room – but everything else is up in the attic." Smiling, "The attic is actually one of my favorite places in the house. I think you may like it up there yourself. Especially during storms."

"You have free access to the house. You can come and go whenever you want. Just remember to let my dads know where you are – check in with them." Rachel stood her feet. Walking the few feet to stand right in front of the blond, "Welcome home, Quinn." She softly said. Reaching out with her right hand palm up.

"You know that I'll never forgive you for this, Rachel, right?" Quinn got out.

Rachel's hand lifted to rest against Quinn's cheek line. Quinn's eyes closed as she felt Rachel lightly tracing her cheek bone. Her eyes snapped opened, "Get your hands off me you bitch." She seethed.

Rachel's warm chocolate brown eyes shone with sadness as she obeyed Quinn. She just turned and walked towards the stairs. Quinn watched as Rachel placed a curved hand on the banister and start down the stairs.

"Why can't I just trust this? Her?" Quinn whispered as Rachel finally left her sight. Sighing she turned back into her room. Shutting the door behind her.

RACHEL'S HOSPITAL ROOM

SPRING 2011

"I can't believe that I wasted so much time." Quinn softly spoke.

Rachel's head tilted to the right. She was learning to move her heard to where noise was coming from. Only thing was – she had two ears for crying out loud. Every time she heard someone speak she turned her head towards them – but than something would make noise on the other side of her. She wanted to turn her head to the sound. But she didn't want to be rude to the person that was speaking.

Rachel Berry didn't want to be rude after all.

Rachel found that she very quickly grew to having headaches. It took a day for everyone to assure her that she wasn't being rude if she turned her face away from them if she heard a noise while they were speaking. But, Rachel still felt it rude not to pay full attention to her visitors.

Quinn finally had enough with having more than two visitors at a time. The only time she allowed it was with Rachel's father, and Shelby of course. Only because she knew Rachel's parents knew how truly painful it was for their daughter to deal with so many voices at one time. They were just content to sit silently with their child. But, Quinn put her foot down where the Gleeks were concerned.

Rachel did tell Quinn that she wanted Noah to visit anytime he wanted. That he didn't need a time limit. Quinn grew heated in her arguments against this move – but Rachel won out. As they both knew she would.

Quinn remained in the room whenever Noah was visiting. She never made any allowance to this strict rule of hers. She didn't trust Noah Puckerman where a sightless Rachel was involved.

"Quinn ..." Rachel breathed. She allowed her mouth to shut. There was no point in telling Quinn yet again, that she never wasted any time. That Rachel had always fully understood that Quinn had to fight her parents hold on her. Well her father's hold on her to be free of the hate.

There was a soft knock on the door. "Sounds like Samuel." Rachel said as she smiled.

"Hey." Sam said at the opened door. "I don't mean to be rude or anything. But both of the Mister Berry's said that Rachel is able to have visitors right now."

Quinn eyed her boyfriend in the eyes. "You didn't ask me."

"Don't be rude, Quinn." Rachel gently said. She held out her left hand. She smiled as she felt Sam's callused hand in her own. "I see that you have been working on a song Samuel." She squeezed.

Sam smiled. "I'm working on something. Something that I want you to sing Super Star." He sat at Rachel's feet. His fingers lightly taping the back of her hand. "I should have it ready right after you are released."

"I'm happy for you." Rachel smiled. "But; how do you know that I'm the best one to sing it? After all it may best suite Quinn's voice better than mine own."

"It's meant for you, Rachel Berry, and only you." Sam said simply. "I'll write a song for Quinn also. But this song is just for you."

"You don't have to write a song for me, Sam." Quinn quickly said.

"You know I will hazel eyes." Sam looked up and met her eyes.

WINTER 2010

RACHEL'S LIVING ROOM

Kristopher looked up as his little girl walked into the room. "So how is the new member of the Berry family doing?"

Rachel sighed, "I'm going to contact Shelby once again daddy." She felt tears in her eyes. "It's the right thing to do."

"Perhaps not." Kristopher replied leaning back against the couch's cushions. "I don't think this is the right time to open up wounds that aren't even one ounce healed."

"Daddy..." Rachel said in a warning voice.

Kristopher held up his hand. "Not this time Ray, not this time." He sighed as he lowered his hand to his lap. "I'm deeply concerned for you, Quinn, and especially Shelby. I don't want you three to be hurt. Not anymore."

"We will remain hurt the more time that Quinn is forced to stay away from her daughter." Rachel softly argued. She didn't want her voice to be raised to the second floor.

"Quinn is the only one whom is forcing herself to be away from Beth. Shelby has agreed to allowing Quinn and Puck to see their daughter whenever they wanted." Kristopher tilted his head, "I fully know that Noah Puckerman has seen his daughter."

Rachel's eyes widen. "How could you know that daddy?"

"Shelby told me." Kristopher matter of factually stated.

Rachel's hands shook at her sides. "M-mo …. Shelby has contacted you. When?" She licked her suddenly dried lips. "How many times." She whispered.

"Ever since she gave that Jesse punk the cassette of her signing to you." Kristopher kept his daughter's gaze. "When I first heard you playing it – I just knew that it wasn't made when she was living with Giov and I. She had made it after you were born. I knew that she didn't sneak the cassette into the house. I knew she sent that punk to sneak it in for her."

Rachel's eyes narrowed.

"I only blame that punk for hurting you, Rachel. I don't blame your mother. She was desperate to see you. She was still under that damn contact from reaching out to you herself." Kristopher sighed as he ran his hand through his hair.

"If you knew that she was reaching out too me – for me to find her – than why didn't you do anything?" Rachel hotly demanded.

Kristopher remained silent.

"If you didn't want her to get to know me till I was eighteen – then why didn't you put a stop to it!" Rachel voice rose. "How could you do this too me daddy?" Tears rolled freely down her cheeks.

"Ray -" Kristopher began to say.

Rachel held out her right hand, "You know daddy, I just don't want to hear anything you have to say on this matter." Shaking her head. "Not right now. I just can't." She turned, and fled from the room.

Rachel bumped into something hard. But the tears kept falling as she struggled to get away. She felt arms wrap themselves around her, and pulled her forward. "Just let me go." She begged as she tried to get her breath back.

Quinn just held on as the struggling Diva tried to fight out of her hold. She wasn't surprised at how strong Rachel was – she knew that Rachel had a daily work out plan and all. "Come on Rach. Let's get you somewhere private." She very gently led Rachel towards the staircase. She looked over her shoulder at Kristopher – she gave him a death stare.

At least Ray will have Quinn now. She's not going to trust me where Shelby is concerned. Giovanni was dead set against Rachel seeking out Shelby. He's going to be overjoyed now that Rachel has learned my part in the whole Shelby situation. At least Quinn is here now. Kristopher sighed as he lowered his head.

RACHEL'S BEDROOM

Quinn put one hand on Rachel's door – and short Diva chose that moment to break away. Quinn was faster and stronger – what with her cheer-leading training after all – she managed to open the door, and than wrapping her free arm back around Rachel's back. "No." She hissed. "You don't get to leave this. Not now."

"Let me go. Let me go. Let me go. Let me go." Rachel begged as she felt herself being dragged forward into the tight embrace. "God just let me go."

"No." Quinn breathed out as she backed into the Diva's bedroom. She shut the door with her foot.

"Let me go." Rachel whined.

Quinn just turned her body around so she could quickly lock the door. She knew that Rachel had said that no one was allowed on the second floor – until Rachel herself gave the all clear. But, she wasn't going to take any chances. After all Rachel said that until she herself went downstairs – well she had gone downstairs. She didn't know if Kristopher would think of telling the rest of the Berry intended family that the second floor was still off limits.

Quinn was a Fabray through and through. She fully knew that no Fabray wouldn't allow another family member's weakness to stop them from one upping them. She figured the Berry family was the same.

Rachel finally managed to get the strength to fight the body that was restraining her. She quickly moved her head forward. She heard a resounding thunk and a sharp cry. She jerked backwards – feeling the hands rip from her body. She whirled backwards and she felt herself fall backwards. She saw blackness as her head hit the carpet.

"Oh Rachel." Quinn sighed as she knelt down and checked the fallen Diva's pulse. She shook her head slightly to try to shake the pain from hitting it against the door. She raised her hand to brush the hair from right side of Rachel's heated face.

Quinn sighed. She shook her head gently as she placed her hands underneath, and around Rachel's body. She pulled the short Diva closer to her; as she slowly stood to her feet. She held Rachel against her chest as she turned towards the bed. Carefully walking over so not to jar the unconscious girl in her arms she made it to the bed. Leaning down she gently laid the brunette on the comforter. She twisted and grabbed the fleece blanket on the foot board. Covering the Diva she just gently stroked cheek bone.

She flashed back to that night when Rachel, Mercedes and she spied on Vocal Adrenaline at Camel high school. That was the night when VA's coach Shelby Corcoran was signing. Rachel knew that she was hearing her mother's voice. Because of the damn cassette that the Spawn of Satan; St. James; had snuck into Rachel's house two weeks ago.

A week before he dumped Rachel, and returned to Vocal Adrenaline. Once Mercedes and she had heard what happened, they demanded that Rachel, as New Directions co-captain go spy on VA and see what they had stolen from ND. They couldn't find the proof that they needed from the rehearsal – they were about to give up when Shelby went up on stage and sang, to show her team what she expected of them. Quinn had too admit that Shelby Corcoran had a terrific voice – and that it seemed awfully familiar.

Quinn actually banged her head against the wall in Mercedes brother's room as she realized how familiar Shelby was. She did after all pass it along too her daughter, Rachel. But she was just so stunned by Rachel's reaction to Shelby's voice that it stopped the wheels of her brain from turning.

Rachel had actually stood to her feet as soon as Shelby started to sign – and was heading down the isle. Even through both she and Mercedes had hissed that in order to spy – they had too keep a very low profile. That a good spy never willing got caught. But Rachel was so wrapped up in hearing Shelby's voice that she completely ignored them.

It was in a trance that Rachel actually floated down to the stage. Once Shelby caught sight of her daughter she hurriedly sent everyone away. It was after Rachel said 'You are my mother' that she and Mercedes decided to leave. But something had stopped Quinn from actually following Mercedes out of the auditorium.

'You are my mother.' Rachel said. There was something in Rachel's voice that caused Quinn too want to stay. She had a bad feeling about this whole meeting. It was as if she had all ready known what the outcome was going to be.

When Shelby said that she didn't want to be part of Rachel's life – she felt something break inside Rachel. Something that had never been broken before.

Whenever it came to Shelby Corcoran – Quinn swore to herself that she wouldn't kick Rachel while she was down.

Quinn had chosen Shelby to be Beth's adoptive mother – not because she was Rachel's biological mother. Well yes that was the major decision making on her part. But, it wasn't to rub Rachel's face in the fact that Shelby had her 'baby girl' that she always wanted – like how Santana had been taunting her all summer long.

No. Quinn choose Shelby because she was Rachel's mother. She prayed that given some time Shelby, and Rachel would find their way back to one another – and Rachel will be close at hand to be with Beth. Quinn trusted Rachel to protect and love Beth in her stead.

Quinn sighed as she rested her head against the back of the wooden headboard of Rachel Berry's bed. She really couldn't believe that she was comforting Rachel Berry in the Diva's room nerveless. Yes she fully admitted to seeing some of the bedroom in Rachel's daily my space videos. But actually seeing it with her own eyes – actually to be able to take it all in was way more personal. Quinn actually felt more at home in the room – than she ever did in her own.

Not that she would ever admit it. No way. No how.

Rachel whimpered.

Quinn made a shushing noise. "Everything is all right now, Rachel." She gently ran her fingers across Rachel's forehead. "I'm not going to allow you too be hurt." She promised.

"M-mom." Rachel softly cried.

Quinn fully believed that Rachel and Shelby belonged together as mother and daughter. That if there was any truly good mother and daughter bonds out there – then Shelby Concern and Rachel Berry had it going on.

"Do you want your mother?" Quinn asked.

"Yes." Rachel said.

"Do you love your mother?" Quinn asked.

"Yes." Rachel whispered.

That was everything that Quinn needed to know. She knew that she had chosen right for the second time in her life. First with Beth – now with Rachel.

(TWO HOURS PASS)

Rachel blinked slowly. She couldn't recall why she was still in bed. She fully knew that it was way past the time that she normally gotten up. Her body felt like it had it's morning workout. She smelt clean and fresh. So why was she still lying in bed?

She sat up and regretted it instinctively. She moaned as she brought her left hand up to her forehead.

"Easy there." A soft calm voice said to the right of her. She slowly twisted her head towards the voice and blinked. "Q-quinn?" She felt her throat scarce even more with talking – than just merely swallowing.

Quinn stood to her feet and walked over to the side table. Picking up the medium sized glass of water. Turning to face the Diva, she held out the glass. "Can you hold it on your own - or do you need assistance?" She raised a quizzing right eye brow.

Rachel reached out, and took the glass from Quinn's slightly shaking ones. "Thank you." She whispered as she placed the glass to her dry lips. She took a few swallows. Her brows crinkled as she thought about what had happened that morning in the living room. She paled. "I didn't mean for you to hear that, Quinn. I don't want you to blame yourself for my calling my mother, and allowing her to pretty much deny me as her daughter once more. But even through she'll deny me – she won't deny your rights to see Beth."

"I don't want Beth near me." Quinn quietly said.

"Your father is out of your life now, Quinn." Rachel said gently.

Quinn's right eye brow rose high, "Is he?"

"Do you still love him?" Rachel asked after staring silently into the blond's hazel eyes.

"No." Quinn sighed out. "I stopped loving him the moment he kicked me out after learning that I was pregnant. He only gave me thirty minutes to get my things. I didn't even have too time to think of what I truly needed to protect my unborn baby." Tears fell from her eyes. "After Finn kicked me out – and I couldn't bare to live with Puck any longer. I lived in my car. In the winter." Anger entered her eyes. "Do you realize how freezing our winters get at night?"

"I -"

"I knew that I couldn't go back home and beg for a place over my head. He would have just told me to that I deserved everything that I was getting. That I deserved to have my bastard baby die before he or she was even born." Quinn swallowed around the lump that was lodge in her throat. "How can I love man like that?"

"How can I forgive a man like that?" Quinn took a swallow breath.

"I don't know." Rachel truthfully said.

"Can you forgive your fathers if they treated you the way mine has me?" Quinn's hands rested on her stomach – as if still trying to protect Beth.

"In the long run. Yes." Rachel said. "Expect if they actually caused my unborn baby's death. That I would never be able to forgive."

"That's the difference between you and I, Rachel. You forgive anyone for anything. I never forgive." Quinn said in a dead tone.

"Then why are you still here?" Rachel asked.

"You never had anything that needed forgiven for." Quinn simply said. Standing to her feet she walked to the door. Twisting her head. "This doesn't change anything between us." She opened the door and left.

"It changes everthing." Rachel softly said to the open space between her bedroom, and the hallway.

END CHAPTER THREE