Hello readers! I'm sorry for the long time between updates! I've had a pretty difficult week and couldn't find the inspiration to continue. Your reviews mean so much and I appreciate your words so much.
I wanted this chapter to be a strong chapter and to do the storyline justice, I hope it fulfills this for you all.
AD: I didn't find your review creepy, like I said, I appreciate the words people leave about my stories. I assure you I will finish this story. It has a plan written down in a notebook, that I'm doing my best to follow.
Also, I'm handwriting this story and then transferring it to my laptop, so updates take a while, but I want something concrete to look back on when it's all over. Anyway, enough of my ramble. Enjoy. :')
Chapter Thirteen:
Beth sat across from Quinn, Sam and Larry in the Evans' lounge. Quinn's stomach was lined with dread. It had been three days since Beth had re-entered her life. Three days were Quinn constantly thought about Beth, and the little life that was growing inside of her daughter's stomach. Sam gripped Quinn's hand tightly, that was the non-verbal communication Quinn needed. She knew everything would be okay. Larry sat close to Sam, confused as to who the stranger sitting across from him was and why she looked like his own mother. Quinn finally broke the silence. "Larry, this is Beth."
"Hi Beth, it's nice to meet you." He mumbled.
"Hi Larry, how old are you?" Larry turned to face Sam who nodded at Larry to answer the question.
"Seven, but I'll be eight soon."
"You're tall for seven, do you play any sports?"
"Soccer, my team won a tournament the other day." Larry answered his face lighting up. He loved talking about sports. "Woah, really?" Beth replied.
"Yeah! Can I show you my trophies? They're in my room." He dived off the couch and began to head out of the lounge. "Not right now, Larry." Quinn interrupted ruining the bonding moment between her two children. "Oh sorry." He apologised sliding back into his seat.
"Don't apologise sweetie, it's just Dad and I have to talk to you." Quinn looked to Sam for support. His jaw tightened. Sam too had been dreading this moment. Neither of them knew how Larry would react. They'd both secretly assumed that he'd be ok with it, he was only seven after all.
Quinn took a deep breath and looked to Sam who nodded. She felt his hand grip even tighter and he whispered in her ear, "I'm right here baby. Everything's going to be okay." Quinn closed her eyes and breathed deeply again. She opened her eyes and looked to Beth who was staring at the floor. She turned to Larry whose eyes were wide with anticipation.
"When Mum was younger Larry, she had a baby girl..." Quinn finally began. "Mum was too young to raise this baby. She gave her to a nice lady, someone who could look after her and raise her properly. Someone who could and would give her the best of everything, just like how Dad and I look after you and raise you. Dad and I are old enough to look after you Larry. We do our best for you Larry, but when I had this baby girl I couldn't look after myself as well as a baby.
I hadn't seen this baby girl since then...until now. She found me Larry. She found us. She found our family: you, me and Dad. This means sweetie, that you have a big sister. You have a sister like you always wanted." Quinn said. Her eyes stayed fixated on Larry. She could see the cogs working in his mind, behind his eyes. "Do you know why Beth's sitting in our lounge, Larry?" Quinn asked. He slowly looked at her and shook his head. Quinn hadn't expected him to piece it together instantly. "Beth's your big sister Larry." Quinn told him.
Sam who had stayed silent throughout finally broke his silence. "Beth's got a baby growing inside her tummy, when she has the baby that makes you an Uncle, just like Uncle Kurt and Uncle Blaine." Larry remained silent, trying to process the information. Quinn suddenly felt bad for overloading his brain with so much information. "You don't have to say anything right now Larry, but when you do, come and speak to me or Dad, ok honey?" Quinn told him. Larry slowly got off the couch and exited the lounge. They heard him run up the stairs and close his bedroom door. Quinn began to follow him but Sam placed a hand on her knee, stopping her. "I've got this." He simply said before following Larry's footsteps out of the room.
Sam slowly made his way up the stairs towards his son's bedroom. He didn't know what to expect when he opened the door. He knocked quietly and heard a muffled 'Hello' allow him entry.
"Hey champ, it's me." Sam said announcing his arrival. He saw Larry face down on his bed, face into the pillows. Sam gently sat on the edge of Larry's bed. "Talk to me, Larry." Sam commanded softly. Larry rolled onto his back and Sam noticed red circles had begun to form around his eyes. "I...hhh..ave a sis-sster." Larry stuttered.
"Yeah you do, that's pretty cool right?" Sam said softly, praying that his voice was calm enough to soothe Larry.
"I guess..."
"So why are you up here upset, Larry? You always wanted a brother or sister."
"I wanted to be the oldest. I wanted to be the one they looked up to, like a..." Larry trailed off as he searched for the correct term.
"Role model?" Sam offered.
"Yeah, I wanted to be a role model, like Uncle Kurt and Uncle Blaine are to me."
"Well, weren't you listening to me downstairs?" Sam asked. Larry looked confused. "Beth's having a baby, so you're going to be an Uncle." Larry shook his head. "No?" Sam enquired.
"Beth's too young to have a baby, what if she doesn't want to keep it, like Mum didn't want her." Larry told him. Larry's perception and brilliance astounded Sam. For a seven year old he was exceptional. "Firstly Larry, Mum did want to keep Beth, but she was even younger than Beth is now, so it wasn't possible for Mum to keep her and secondly even if Beth doesn't keep her baby, you'll still be an Uncle, just like Mum is still Beth's Mum." Sam finished. Larry looked up at him with concentration in his eyes. Sam knew what was coming next. "Dad, can I ask you something?"
"Of course son, what is it?"
"Didn't you want to keep Beth?" 'There it is' Sam thought. Sam knew he had to be honest, he'd regret it if he didn't.
"Well this was before I met your Mum, so I'm not Beth's dad, I'm only your Dad."
"Oh ok..." Larry said taking everything on board. "Well if you're not Beth's dad, then who is?"
"You know Puck who came around last Thanksgiving?" Sam asked, he watched Larry remember back. Larry nodded. "Well he is." That was the one part of Quinn's past that Sam hated. He hated that she'd slept with Puck and had had his baby. It was something that Puck had secretly hounded for during his brief time at McKinley, sure they were friends, but Puck still liked to taunt Sam with the fact he'd slept with Quinn and Sam hadn't.
"Are you ready to go back downstairs then?" Sam asked jumping back to reality.
"I think so." Larry mumbled.
"Why don't you take your trophies to show Beth?" Sam suggested.
"Do you think she really wants to see them?"
"Of course! Her little brother's awesome at soccer, why would she not want to see that?"
"Thanks Dad." Larry said hugging his father. Sam looked down at the little blonde boy as he hugged him. "For what?" Sam asked.
"For everything, for wanting to keep me and for everything I have." He said hugging him tighter.
"Mum and I always wanted you; just remember the time wasn't right for Mum and Beth. The time was always right for me and Mum when we got you. We love you so much Larry, always know that."
"I do, I love you Dad." Larry muttered.
They finally let go from their tight embrace, Larry moved over to the shelf on his wall and collected the trophies he wanted to show his sister. Sam followed him back downstairs pleasantly pleased with how that had just gone. 'Guytime' as Sam affectionately named it would always be special to Sam and his son.
They re-entered the lounge and found Quinn and Beth sitting exactly as they were when he left in an awkward silence. He silently rejoined Quinn's side as Larry slowly made his way over to his big sister with his trophies. Quinn and Sam watched the silent scene with glassed eyes. Quinn turned to her husband, kissed his cheek and whispered 'Thank you' in his ear. He caught her as she was about to turn her head back to the scene unfolding before their eyes and captured her lips in a sweet and short embrace.
A short while later Quinn heard Beth and Larry chatting animatedly from the kitchen. "This one's really cool Larry!"
"I know it's my favourite one."
"These all say winner, does your team ever lose Larry?" Beth asked.
"We try not to. It's the taking part that counts though." Quinn heard him reply, her heart burst with pride. "Why's your hair pink and not blonde like Mum's?"
"I changed the colour by magic."
"Really? Wow! My sister's a witch, that's so cool. Can you change it to another colour right now?" Larry asked intrigued.
"Well not right now, I like the pink."
"Why? Pink's a girl's colour. Blue is so much better. You should change your hair to be blue."
I think I'll keep it pink." Beth replied trying to contain her grin. She knew the exact reason it was pink and so did Quinn. Eighteen, the age of Quinn's brief rebellious stage, clearly Beth had inherited that from Quinn.
Quinn made her way back into the lounge with drinks. Sam had gone to the grocery store for supplies for their dinner. "Is Beth going to be staying with us Mum?" Larry asked as he took the water Quinn offered him. "I don't know son, why don't you ask her?"
"I don't want to intrude." Beth quickly interrupted.
"What does that mean?" Larry chimed in.
"Oh nothing honey."
"Oh ok...So Beth are you going to stay with us?" He asked, realising that she still hadn't answered his question. Quinn looked to her and nodded.
"I think so, if that's cool with you, your Mum and Dad?" Beth answered.
"Dad and I have discussed it Larry and we think it'd be good if Beth stayed with us for a while." Quinn beamed. Sam had been the one to offer the idea of opening their home to Beth. Quinn was surprised at how well he was taking to having Beth around.
"Larry, why don't you go and play upstairs for a while, until Dad gets back? I have to talk to Beth."
"Ok Mum." He replied diligently. They both watched as he left the room.
"He's so well behaved and polite." Beth said as the door closed.
"I know, he's so precious. He reminds me of Sam everyday."
"I don't know, the things he says, sound like what you'd say. Rachel would tell me stories of your eloquence when she started visiting when I found out I was adopted. Once I realised you and Rachel were friends, I had to know more about you, Quinn. She was the one who told me about your pink hair stage..."
"Nice cover by the way, saying you're a witch."
"Ahhh! I didn't. Larry did, I just didn't correct him. It was too cute to correct. You've got a great son there, I hope mine's half as amazing as him."
"You're having a boy?"
"Yes, I don't know what I'm doing with him yet, you know, once he's born, but I'm pleased to be having a boy."
"I think we should save this conversation for a little while longer. The boundaries don't want to be pushed too far yet." Quinn said. She wasn't ready for that conversation with her eighteen year old daughter, not yet anyway and not without her husband present.
They sat in silence for a while before Beth spoke again. "Do you know my father?"
"I did." Quinn replied softly.
"Did?" Beth replied noting the tense.
"I haven't spoken to him for almost a year. He came around for Thanksgiving and told us he was leaving Lima."
"Oh right ok." Beth replied trying to hide the disappointment in her voice.
"I can phone Rachel or someone and see if they have any details for him?" Quinn offered, noting the disappointment not only in Beth's voice but the disappointment that had set across her face. "Unless you want to speak to Rachel herself, she is your sister after all."
"Erm no, I know her and Dad had a 'romance' during high school, so that conversation might just be a tad awkward." Beth laughed. Quinn laughed too, clearly Beth didn't know about the very minor romance between herself and Rachel. Quinn definitely thought Beth would never need to know about that. Gosh, Sam didn't even know about that. Kurt was the only one who knew about Quinn and Rachel's experimenting period. "I'll phone her now if you want? Gosh, I haven't spoken to Rachel in a few years." Quinn offered.
"Yeah, she said that you two lost touch with each other after her and Finn got married and moved to New York permanently. She seemed sad when she told me this. I guess you two were close then?"
"Not during high school, I tormented her. I was head Cheerio and the top of the social ladder whereas Rachel was the bottom of the proverbial ladder. It wasn't until after I graduated college and was forced back to Lima that we became friends properly." Quinn told her. "Nicely sidestepped Quinn" Quinn thought. "Maybe for Christmas vacation we'll visit her." Quinn said. Neither Quinn nor Beth was sure who 'we' involved.
Quinn got off the couch and collected her phone from the coffee table. She opened her contact list and scrolled through the numbers. Blaine, Brittany, Finn, Hummel's Tyres, Joey, Kurt, Mercedes, Michael, Mike, Mum, Office, Puck, Rachel, Sam, Santana, Tina. Quinn's phonebook was limited. She kept in touch with those who mattered. She saw Puck's entry and skipped past it, she was positive he still had the same number but if she was being honest she wanted to speak to Rachel. It'd been far too long. Quinn hated losing one of her closest friends.
She pressed call and held the phone to her ear, it rang and rang. Quinn was about to hang up when a muffled 'Hello' spoke at the other end of the phone. "Rachel?...Yes it is Quinn. Sorry if I woke you up or anything...Oh yeah, of course! ... I'm sorry again... Oh the reason I called?" Quinn's mind went blank. Beth mouthed 'Puck' over to her and Quinn's mind sprang back into action. "You or Finn hasn't got a number for Puck do you? My cell got wiped and luckily I had some written down.." Quinn lied. "You'll text me it?... Yeah that'd be great, thanks Rach... Oh Rach, next time you're in Lima visiting, call me, I miss you! Sam can cook us all dinner." She heard Rachel laugh at the other end of the phone. "Well thanks again Rach...say hi to Finn from us all... Bye Rachel." Quinn hung up the phone and waited for Rachel to text the details she already had. Instantly her phone bleeped and there was the number in a text from Rachel. "Always so efficient was Rachel Berry." Quinn joked. "Now, let's call your Dad then." She continued, changing her tone from light hearted to serious. Quinn noticed Beth's jaw tighten. "We don't have to do it today. We can wait if you want, we can get to know each other as adults, then cross Puck's bridge when we get to it?" Quinn suggested.
"Thank you, but if we don't do it today we might never do it. Plus for the last eighteen years he's tried contacting me, it's not fair to omit him from this, is it?"
"You're right, I'll phone him now, or do you want to? He's your Dad." Quinn asked, she wanted Beth to know everything was up to her and that the ball was entirely in her court.
"Could you? Please? It's just obviously..I've never spoken to him."
"Of course I can, hopefully I have the right number for him. I'd be shocked if Rachel didn't have the correct number for everyone who we were in Glee club with."
Once again Quinn hovered over Puck's name and finally pressed the call button. Similarly to Rachel, Puck took a while to answer. His voice was more alert than Rachel's when he finally answered. "Hey is that Puck? ... It is Quinn...Thank gosh, I've got your phone number right, something major's happened here... Oh no, Sam and Larry are both fine!" Quinn always loved how Puck cared for her husband and son. "Well... it's Beth..she's found me and wants to know us...By found me, I mean she's sat on the opposite couch to me...she's staying with us for a while, Puck, she really wants to meet you too ... Are you serious? Puck don't make promises you can't keep ... Well text me when you get back to Lima ... Thanks Puck, we'll see you soon then! Yeah take care and goodbye!" Quinn hung up the phone and her eyes found Beth's whose eyes had been transfixed on Quinn throughout the entire call.
"Puck's driving into Ohio tomorrow, he didn't say where from but he'll let me know when he's back." She told her.
"Thank you. Thank you for doing all this. For opening your home to me, for phoning my Dad, I truly appreciate it." Beth said her eyes glazing over. Quinn moved over and pulled her daughter into a hug. The things Quinn couldn't provide for her when she was born where forgotten. Quinn was content on making things right now that she had been given a second chance.
I hope this was sufficient for you all, I don't know when the next update will be, but I hope it'll be soon.
I've just started my second year of University so I have a lot of studying to do. I promise it will be finished, we're about halfway there guys. I don't know how many chapters we're having or whether they'll all be as lengthy as this one. This was the longest chapter so far. My arm aches from handwriting it and then typing it!
I hope you liked my little Faberry reference. I love Faberry now. They're like my OTP alongside Klaine and Fabrevans (Ofc)...
- Klaine2314