"Ready, Quinn?"
Quinn looked straight ahead at the door in front of her and released the breath she had been holding.
Was she ready?
Two months ago, Shelby had adopted Quinn's daughter, the child that haunted Quinn's thoughts each and every day of those two months.
Rachel had kept her promise to Quinn, and they had spent most of their days lazily at the Quinn's secret safe haven. They had had picnics and went swimming in the cool river. Quinn had even convinced Rachel to climb her favorite tree.
They had sat in the sturdy oak together, their hands intertwined and Rachel's head leaning on the blonde's shoulder, and watched the river flow. Rachel would sigh contently, place her lips on Quinn's, and they would just be together.
It was their own personal heaven.
Now it was August, and in a few weeks their junior year at McKinley High would begin. Quinn had spent her time, well the time without Rachel, working out and getting her figure back. No matter how many times Rachel told her she that was beautiful, Quinn refused to believe it.
Summer mornings were spent running across Lima, her heart pounding as lactic acid filled her lungs, her music coursing through her veins. Whenever she felt herself slow down, she thought of Rachel, her brown hair and sweet lavender scent and it propelled her down the deserted streets of Lima while the sun peeped out of the sky.
A few days prior she had spoken to Shelby and decided that today would be the best day for her and Puck to come see Beth.
Quinn was petrified. She still was petrified, but Rachel had convinced her to go through with it because in her words "it was vital to the process of recovery for Quinn to visit her daughter."
In the end, Quinn agreed to go on one condition: Rachel had to come with her.
Rachel agreed with a kiss.
Now she found herself on the porch of a small home twenty minutes from the Berry residence. The home was humble, not too big not too small. There was a yard in the front littered with a few toys and decorated with flowers.
It was so… normal.
"I'm ready," she whispered.
Quinn grabbed Rachel's hand while Puck grasped at hers. Rachel rang the doorbell, and the three waited earnestly for the door to open. When it finally did, they were greeted by a short dark haired woman clad in an out of character pair of jeans and white T-shirt stained with what looked like vomit.
"Quinn! Rachel! Puck! Welcome! I hope you don't mind my… attire. Beth has been up since six, and well it's been a long day. Come on in!"
The three nervous teens entered the home, and Shelby closed the door behind them. Rachel hung back to give her mother a hug.
"Hey, Mom," she said as she hung on to the woman.
"Hey, honey. I missed you. How is Quinn doing?"
By this point Quinn and Puck had entered the living room, a comfortable space with a baby grand piano and a few couches to fill the room. Several blankets and a basket of laundry occupied one of these couches. Three baby books sat on top of the piano.
"She's doing okay, considering the circumstances. She is nervous to meet Beth, as am I, but I convinced her to come."
"That's my girl," Shelby said, earning another hug from her daughter.
They joined the two in the living room.
"Excuse the mess. Like I said, it's been a long day. Come on, she's in the kitchen. She is just enamored by this swinging chair I bought her. She sits in there all day and sucks on her little thumb."
The kitchen was a bright yellow and had large windows that let the sunlight flood into the room. A few empty bottles sat on the counter, and the sink was filled with a few dishes but it was homey nonetheless. The three froze in the entryway as Shelby went over to the infant in the swing. She gently lifted the baby into her arms and gave her a tender kiss on the cheek.
"Beth, honey, I have some people I'd like you to meet."
Quinn stared at her child, her beautiful baby girl. Her blonde hair had grown into small golden curls that covered her small head. She was dressed in a pink onesie with a grey elephant on it. There was evidence of dried drool on her tiny chin, but her skin was immaculate.
She resembled her mother in almost every way, save for her eyes. Those were from her father. The moment her hazel eyes melded with the infant's brown one's Quinn's heart melted. The infant smiled and began to gurgle and stretch its arms out for the blonde. Shelby placed her into the blonde's arms.
The infant entered her arms, and Quinn felt complete. She stared down into her daughter's eyes and smiled.
"Hi, baby," she breathed, a tear falling down her cheek.
The baby gurgled back in response and grabbed Quinn's finger with her tiny hand and enveloped the digit in a death grip.
The entire room melted away, leaving a baby and her mother, one completely oblivious to her mother's emotions, the latter floored by her daughter, her beautiful, perfect, daughter.
She brushed a stray blonde wisp of hair out of the girl's small face and reveled in the warmth radiating from such a small body. The blonde felt her soul being revived by the infant.
"God, you are beautiful," she breathed once more, her breath tickling the baby's face, causing her to giggle softly.
She heard Puck sniffle softly. Carefully, she walked over to him, and stood and looked up into his eyes, seeing the desire, the pain, the love in the pool of chocolate. Then she gently placed their daughter into his shaking arms that steadied once he held the child.
Quinn watched as Puck stared down at the infant and felt a hand encompass hers. Her head turned to Rachel who was crying, and Quinn wiped away those tears with her thumb.
"Are you okay?" she whispered causing the girl to laugh.
"Quinn, are you kidding? You're holding your child for the first time after giving her up, and you are asking me if I am okay?"
Quinn wrapped her arms around her girlfriend and pulled her close. Puck walked over and gave the baby back to Shelby who was also quite misty eyed.
"I-I'm sorry I can't do this," he choked out and proceeded to run out of the room.
"I'll be right back," Quinn said as she left Rachel alone with her mother.
Quinn rushed after Puck and found him sitting on the porch, his head in his hands as his body convulsed with sobs. She sat down next to him, wrapped her arm around his broad shoulders, and leaned her head into his chest.
"Quinn, I don't know if I'll be able to do this. I can't hold her and not want to take her away with me. It's- it's too hard. She's just so fricken beautiful. Those eyes, and her hair. She looks just like you- and, what if, Quinn? What if we had kept her? Where would we be?"
"I've thought about it a thousand times," Quinn murmured. "We would be miserable. And so would she."
The boy nodded and pulled Quinn into his arms.
"I never would have let you down, you know? If you had wanted to keep her, I mean. I'll never stop loving her. I'll- I'll never stop loving you either, Quinn."
"I know, Puck. I know."
The two sat for a while, breathing in the summer air and watching the sun begin to set.
"Let's go," she whispered, and Puck helped her up.
"Whatever you say, baby mamma," he teased earning himself a playful slap.
They walked into the house and found Rachel and Shelby singing to the infant in the swing, both entirely engrossed in the song. The two waited in the entryway until they sang the last line and then began to applaud the duo. Rachel blushed and ran over to Quinn.
"Hey, Quinn?" she whispered childlike.
"Yes, Rachel?"
"Can I-can I hold her?" she breathed nervously.
Quinn smiled.
"Go hold your goddaughter, Rach."
Rachel beamed and scurried over to the swing. Once she arrived, she stared down lovingly at her godchild. She saw Quinn so distinctly in the infant. She slowly leaned down and scooped the baby into her arms. As she began to rock slowly, she began to sing, the lyrics flowing off her tongue.
Nothing's gonna harm you, not while I'm around.
Nothing's gonna harm you, no sir, not while I'm around.
Demons are prowling everywhere, nowadays,
I'll send 'em howling,
I don't care, I got ways.
No one's gonna hurt you,
No one's gonna dare.
Others can desert you,
Not to worry, whistle, I'll be there.
Her body swayed as she rocked the baby back and forth while she made her way into the living room to face the window looking out into the yard. The baby's eyes were fighting to remain open, and Rachel sang the final notes softly into the infant's tiny ears. Her eyes seemed to be miles deep. She placed a kiss on her cheek and brought the baby closer.
"Hey, baby. I'm Rachel Berry, you're godmother. Quinn is your Mommy and well, I'll let you in on a little secret: I'm in love with her, baby, I swear to God I am. You are the luckiest baby in the world you know that? You have two mothers who love you so much. And I know that you are going to become a beautiful woman some day. I will try to be the best godmother you could ask for. I know your Mommy's a little sad right now, but don't you worry, I'll take care of her. I can promise you that, baby."
Suddenly, the brunette felt a kiss on the top of her head.
"Quinn, I- did you hear…"
"Every word," the blonde whispered as she leaned in to kiss the brunette's soft lips.
"I'll let you in on a secret too, baby. You know Rachel Berry, your godmother? Well, I'm in love with her too, baby. And I can promise you that I'll take care of her as long as she'll let me"